The Missionary Review of the World — August 1901
OF THE DEED TO THE FIRST PROPERTY OBTAINED FOR MISSIONARY PURPOSES IN THE
OF THE HUNAN PROVINCE, CHINA.
This astonishing deed, a sight of which will rejoice the heart of every China missionary, consists of three parts. The first is the deed proper, and gives the description of the premises (outside the N gate of the city, on the east side of the street), and the agreement to sell and to buy; next come the names of the witnesses, or middlemen, and the date, the 25th year of the Emperor Kuang·sii, and so forth; and finally a printed form, at the left, completes the document. It is the regular form for t,he transfer of reaJ estate used at the Magisterial Office of the City and County of Chaug-sha. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
Old Series. I AUGCS'l'. j New Series. VOL. XXIV. No.8: f t VOL. XIV. No.8.
SO~1E PHOBLE~lS OF l11SSlO~S ON THE FOHELGN FIELD.
BY THE EIHTOH-lS-CHIEF.
Paul's experielll:e at Ephesus, " a great door, and effectual, opened"
before him, but" many ad vcrsaries," * has been a tYl1ical one through- out mission history. The opposing and obstructing obstacles, including hostile parties and hindrances of every sort, must be understood and appreciated; otherwise we shall get no true estimate either of the difficulties to be met, or of the success already secured. At some problems which continually confront the missionary, we purpose now to look.
Iiifferent fields present different problems, according to the character of the people, their ancestral customs, antiquated notions, religious faiths and superstitioll~, national prejudices, physical, mental, and moral habits, and general condition. Many hindrances are local, and some temporary; othcrs are universal and permanent, demanding a complete revolution for their removal. But to know what the difficulties are and to study carefully and prayerfully their nature and the true method of meeting them is absolutely necessary if the great warfare of the ages is to be carried on without repeated and disastrous defeat. It is not the part of a wise man to underrate the strength of his foe, or treat with contemptuous ignorance or' arrogance his resources ,and reserves. Certain hindrances are general, and may be passed by with a word of reference, such as those of climate, remoteness and difficulty of acccss, foreign and di fficult tongues, deep-seated idolatry and iniquity. Some of these must be met by an advancing civilization, with its increased intelligence and precaution, its facilities of approach by good roads and railways; others must be met by patient forbearance and persistent teaching of truth, backed by consistent practise of godliness. But there are special obstacles which pertain to special fields, and it is these which we desire now to consider.
For example, to begin at the remote East, there is the Sunrise Kingdom, Japan. When modern evangelical missions found entrance * I Cor. xvi: U.
there in 1859, there was a strong anti-foreign tradition which was expressed on the edict boards throughout the empire, forbidding even the Christian's" God " to set foot on the islands, and these· were not removed till thirteen years later. 'fhe Japanese, since 1593, had linked Christianity with anti-Japanese interests. 'fhe Jesuitical pol- icy of Romish priests, who were believed then to be conspiring to hand over the empire to the pope, had caused Hideyoshi to seize nine mis- sionaries and publicly burn them in Nagasaki; Sekigahara followed his exampIe, and issued a decree of expulsion in 1600; and the trag- edy of extirpation culminated in 1637, when the" Christian" party, after a siege of two months in the castle in Kiushia, surrendered, and it is said that twenty-seven thousand were either exiled or executed.
It took no little time to show the Japanese that Protestant mission- aries were neither intriguing Jesuits, papal minions, nor political spies, and to win for them the confidence of the government and peo- ple. It is one of the signal triumphs of missions that this was accom- plished so speedily. .
When the missionaries entered Japan it was, moreover, at the period of civil revolution; when the military usurper, the Tycoon, was to give way before the supremacy of the Mikado; and such a condition of national upsetting is not favorable to the planting of Christianity; the plow of revolution was turning up the soil, indeed, but the soil was not yet ready for the sowing. There was, beside, a characteristic national 'pride which has manifested itself more and· more boldly in its jealousy of all foreign interference. Japan has been progressive and aggressive; no hermit nation has come out of its seclusion and exclusion with a keener relish for all Western learning and progress; but Japan is bound to preserve its own independence. Assistance from any quarter is welcomed, provided that the assistance does not become control; but the moment that there is evcn the appearance of domina- tion-of influence becoming virtually a presiding power-resistance is manifested. Even the native Church, which virtually dates from 1872, has already thrown off foreign control and jealously seeks to manage its own affairs.
The missionaries had a still more formidable "adversary" to encounter in the low standard of morality, especially sexual morality.
This forbids a plain showing in public print, but a hint of it may be gathered from Dr. Verbeck's experience. In 1860, while walking alone, he fell in with a respectable looking woman who, with another woman, a servant, and two young daughters, was gathering tea leaves.
He said a few words to the mother, who immediately and unblushingly in the presence of the others, offered him the elder daughter for immoral purposes, assuring him that she was not too young, tho only thirteen! * What time and patience are needful to correct such * .. Verbeck of Japan," p. 85.
SOME PROBLEMS OF MISSIONS ON THE FOREIGN FIELD
abominations, especially when so many foreigners from" Christian" lands are but too ready to avail themselves of such a debauched public sentiment!
With all these hindrances, the Japanese have been found to combine overweening self-confidence and self-complacence with a peculiar tendency to vacillation. They are an unsteady people; they are, like others who are unduly self-reliant, prone to make mistakes, acting im pulsively and impetuously, and prone therefore to reaction. Patriotism is strongly developed, and often hinders a profession of Ohristianity. There is an undue anxiety to guard the national life from any outside control; and the readiness to receive and assimilate any outside notions, not obviously inconsistent with this patrio.tism, leaves the Japanese mind open to religious errors, and has even in the native Church caused a serious decline from sound doctrine. The recognized tendency is toward a broad Ohurch, with a loose organization and a vague creed.
Glancing now at the Middle Kingdom, we find quite a different state of things. The first obstacle there confronted is a language which, like the Japanese, is extremely difficult of acquisition, of which it has been said that it demands a constitution of iron, nenes of steel, the patience of Job, and the lifetime of Methuselah, to master it. But the characteristic Chinese peculiarity is self-conceit. Ohinl~ is the Celestial Kingdom, the Flowery Kingdom, and, to Chinese notions, the world kingdom. On the Chinese map it fills the whole space, and other nations are but as specks ill the remote distance, and in the Chinese mind the great empire is even more all-absorbing. Behind this conceit there are two great buttresses: first, Confucianism, and, second, competitive examination. The former furnishes a superior ethical system, and the latter a high standard of scholarship. Confucianism is not strictly a religion, but a moral and political science. Its author belongs to the sixth century before Christ. He taught several principles that, after these twenty-five hundred years, still sway the Chinese mind, even if they do not all affect their morals-such as ministry to the dead, ancestral worship, obedience to parents. But Confucianism seems to contain no traces of a personal god. This ancestral worship presents an almost insurmountable barrier to an open confession of Christ, inasmuch as the virtual worship of the ancestral tablet is to a Christian an act of idolatry; yet to abandon it would bc deemed treason to the whole line of ancestors. The high ideals of ethics, however corrupt the moral practises, still foster a selfsufficiency, as tho the Chinese had no need of the Gospel, they not seeing that it is not truth alone but power which comes with a pure Christianity. Chinese hatred of foreigners is proverbial, whatever be its causes, and such wars as the opium war have not tended to abate this hostility to "foreign devils." The competitive examinations
already referred to are a unique feature of Chinese national life. As many as ten thousand ,. bachelors," or successful candidates in the various departments or districts, present themselves at the triennial examinations in the provincial capitals, to compete for the licentiate's degree. Out of these some one thousand two hundred will Le successful, and these may at the metropolitan examination at Pekin compete again for the doctors' degree, which perhaps two hundred will obtain. This latter success insures immediate preferment. Such a system has a direct tendency to foster not vanity, but rather pride-a pride based on intelligence and competency-and leads the Chinese to look down with a lofty contempt on those who come proposing to teach them. They think they are intellectually and morally able to teach others.
In addition" to these obstacles is one more that may be mentioned: it is a sort of religious indifferentism. The three systems of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, are held so loosely as religious cults that one may belong to all three and not be accounted inconsistent. Hence we can not expect much decision of charader on purely religious questions; and it is not uncommon for one who is intellectually convinced of the truth of Christianity to ask whether he may not accept Christ and still worship his ancestors. lIe s~es no incongruity in accommodating one belief and practise to another.
As we pass further east to India, we find difficulties strangely unlike those confronted in China. In Loth countries intellectual pride is dominant on the part of the ruling class; but it is pride of a totally diverse nature. III India, whether it be a Brahman or Moslem, a Buddhist or Animist, he has at least a system of belief, somethiRg corresponding to a creed. The Chinese.. however attached to Confucianism as a system, have no religion in its proper sense, and if he has any conception at all of Deity, it is most vague and unsatisfactory. '1'he state religion, if such it may be called, .may be polytheistic, pantheistic, or atheistic, all at once. In India there is a caste system so intolerant and despotic that no man can rise out of the level in which he is born, and, while he has no hope of rising, he may by trifling violations of caste sink to a lower level, beneath even the lowest caste. Society is divided up into cells, but the cells do not communicate, and there is no passing from one to another. If the missionary begins work with the lower castes he can hope for no encouragement from the higher, and the rigid caste rules would Hot suffer converts to sit together at the same Lord's table if they belonged to different castes. If the devil had invented a system specially to bar out Christianity, he could not have been more ingeniously and diabolically successful than when he set up these caste barriers.
The Levant presents obstacles which are again peculiar to itself. We use the term, Levant, in its wide significance, as embracing all those important countries bordering on the Mediterranean, east-
SOME PROBLEMS OF MISSIONS ON THE FOREIGN FIELD
ward-the coasts of t;lyria, Asia Minor, awl Egypt-in fact, the whole territory east of Rome to the Euphrates. This is the theater of some of the greatest achievements of the race, and every part of it bristles with historic significance. Here also the Christian faith, finding its starting-point, returns to find its goal, but, alas! meets some of its most formidable foes. Nowhere have its triumphs Deen slower and fewer. Here Islam reiglls, its power and extent so far defying the ad vance of Christianity. On no system has the Christian missionary made so little deep impression. The Sun of righteousness here shines upon a mass of icebergs, which refuse to melt. Here are remnants of scattered Israel, with Judaism degenerate, but still resolute in opposition to Christ. Here are the Oriental churches-Greek and Armenian, Jacobite and Maronite, Nestorian and Coptic-all having a form of tmth and godliness, but mostly without its power. Christianity is with these ancient churches largely a matter of tradition rather than of action and vital force. Ignorance, wedded to intolerance, largely has sway. Mutual jealousies beget mutual animosities. Ecclesiastical leaders are also political officials, and all that is worst in the union of Church and State is here exemplified. Few are harder to reach with a spiritual Gospel than those who, entrenched behind trailitional and historical Christianity, and boasting of their being the original churches of primitive days, have lost the primitive faith and love and consecration.
1'hen, perhaps worse than all, this region is dominated by the "unspeakable 'l'tll'k." That word, Turk, has come to stand for all that is most repulsive in despotism, bigotry, cruelty, and a certain inflexibility of evil. The Ottoman power sits at the Golden Horn, and, weak as it is in many respects, it defies all Europe and Asia. The Ottoman Turks do not exceed nine or ten millions, and yet the Sultan of 'l'nrkey controls nearly one million seven hundred thousand square miles, and, in his immediate possessions and tribntary states, thirtythree millions of people.
Beyond these representative countries we find two other prominent mission fields which should have a glance. First, Africa, so vast, so varied in climate and races-a large part of it swayed by the Crescent, and effectually excluding the Christian missionary; the slayetrade still carrie(l on, mostly by Arabs, and difficult to snppress; deadly malaria that has made Africa the cemetery of missions; Hottentots and Bushmen of a low grade of intellect, in many parts fierce arid brutal tribes, and mauy other tribes on the lowest level of morals -much of Africa yet difficult of access, and under the death-shade of the worst paganism-here again llew difficultiml meet us. Then there is the whole vast area of the Romish Uhurch, embracing Southern Europe, South America, and many lesser territories-often the people nnder papal sway sunk in ignorance, superstition, and practical idolatry
which, if missionaries are to be believed, present obstacles more insurmountable than those of llaganism itself.
Such are some of the problems missions are called to solve. Let us not belittle them, and let us profoundly thank God for whatever measure of wisdom and success has been hitherto given in grappling with these great and formidable foes.
The methoils whereby these manifold perplexities have heen, and are to be, met deserve now our brief survey.
First of all, the most successfnl missions in every part of the globe haye depended, first and foremost, upon one great, divinely authorized weapon, the Jiure Gospel, faithfully and persistently J)}'eaclied. Christ has not been lifted np in vain. lIe draws" all men," that is men of 'all classes and peoples to himself, from the lowest to the highest. And a fatal mistake is made whenever anything else displaces or belittles the courageous preaching of Christ. 'Ye emphasize this, for it is in connection with this that the greatest wonders and modern signs have been wrought. Where the barriers seemed like walls that could be neither battered down nor scaled, preaching Christ has proven the power of God and the wisdom of God unto sal vatioll, and, after years of seemingly fruitless evangelism, suddenly and unaccountably the obstacles have given way as mists are dissipated before the sunrise. The great peril is that, because blessing is delayed, the preacher shall be discouraged and turn to other methods as his resort. It is ve.ry important that the preaching shall be in the vernacular. Interpretation has well been called illterr1lptioll. When in 1822 Hobert Moffat lamented to his wife that so far there was no apparent fruit from his preaching, that wise woman reminded him that not yet had he preached to the people in theil' own tongue in which they were born, but that as yet they had heard it only through interpreters who had neither a just understanding of, nor rea110ve for, the truth, and she besought him not to relax his efforts till he could with his own lips tell into their ears the Gospel message. From that hour Moffat gave himself without cessation to the acquisition of the language. An instance of the disadvantage of using an interpreter is given in his rendering of the sentence: "The salvation of the soul is a very important subject," which he rendered, "a very great sack "-a version ridiculously intelligible.
We must not forget that God has single<l out this one 'lVeaponoral preaching-as the all-conquering one, a~~d to abandon it for any other, or put any other in its place, is a confession of weakness, and a forfeiture of success.
Next to that, in practical power, is the translation (Iud diffusion of the Holy Scri7ltu1'e.~. We do not now refer to the utility of the Bible, as used side by side with the oral proclamation of the Gospel, or in buil<ling up and making permanent the native churches. The
SOME PROBLEMS OF MISSIONS ON THE FOREIGN FIELD
instances are countless where the simple reading of the Scriptures by men who had had no contact with believers has been blessed to conversion. Mexico and South America, Japan and Burma, Siam and India, and papal countries have been especially rich in examples of this fact. War introduced copies of the Wora of God into Mexico in the knapsacks of American soldiers; and when; in after years, missionaries followed, they found in some cases little groups of converted people who had fonnd the truth and the Christ through these stray copies of God's Word. God has set a special seal on this sword of the Spirit, even where there was no human hand to wield it; and where missionaries have been able to do little else, they have planted this, the original seed of the kingdom. III Madagascar, during the long period of exclusion of missionaries and persecution of Christians, what wonders God wrought by the Word, alone, the translation of which the missionaries providentially completed before their expulsion!
Next comes the Christian school, especially for the training of the young. Education, when conducted by a true missionary who never loses sight of regeneration as his ultimate hope, has been and is a mighty factor in solving the problems of missions. To introduce Western learning as such and for its own sake into Oriental lands is a doubtful, certainly not an unmixed, good. It is often destructive without being constructi ve; it demolishes the snperstitions that rest on i.gnorance, but too often only leaves students to be without any faith in anything. They give up their false gods and sacred books withont getting the true God- and loving His Book. Educated Hindus and Japanese are to-day largely agnostic and infidels, or at least unbelievers and skeptics. It is a qnestion how far it pays in the end to eel ueate and acnminate the heathen mind only to h;ave it in a state of utter irreligion. But schools lind colleges, where definite Christian teaching as such is the actual method used, and by instructors deeply imbued with the Christian spirit, can not but be a blessing.
The sanction of God upon medical missions has been too conspicuous to be doubted. In fact, here has been found the key that has opened long closed doors, as in Korea. The relief and cure of bodily ailments has ill coulltless cases, as in that of Li Hung Chang's wife, predisposed parties to be favorable to the missionary, and has often opened the heart, as nothing else had done, to the teaching of Gospel truth. The century's history show~ clearly that, as in education, if the medical missionary keeps before him as his goal the healing of sin sick souls, aI1<l wisely adapts his methods to that end, God is peculiarly with him. 'l'he ad vance in this form of ministry within the last half century constitutes a distinct epoch in missions.
The use of a Ghristian literature must not be overlooked among the means of overtaking the needs of men. It belongs among the secondMY agencies, but among them takes a front rank. When a
heathen people begin to read, it is of vast consequence what they read. And, to supply books and tracts, saturated with the spirit of Christ, as the basis of a new literature, is to lay foundations for a Christian State.
But one method transcends all others in importance, because without it all else is weak and comparatively worthless-the ac/ualwitnes8 of a Christ life. If the missionary exhibits a trawlformed character, his preaching and teaching, his whole ministry and method, have a savor which is of God. Mell, instinctively. look for the fruits of faith in the teacher of truth, and the sublimer the truth the more are the fruits expected to correspond. Here is the living epistle which is known and read of all men. This is practically the world's Bible, and alas! it is generally a very poor version, sadly needing revision if not entire reconstruction. It was the ch({}'({cter of Schwartz, George Bowell, and 'Villiam C. Burns in India, of Judson in Bnrmah, of Mrs. Grant in Persia, of Verbeck in .Japan, of Livingstone in Africa, of Patteson in Melanesia, of Crossley in Manchester, that made more impression than any words they ever spoke. And what every field most needs is the good.seed which our Lord teaches us is found in the" Ohildren of the Kingdom." Without Christ in the life, preaching and teaching, schools and medical missions are vain-the most complete apparatus of missionary work lacks its motive power. Here, ill a higher type of piety, a character thoroughly permeated by true godliness, lies the final solution of all the prohlems of missions.
'rUE CHANG-SIIA DEED.
BY ORIFFITH .TOU.s-, D.D., HANKO"", rnIXA. ~[issional"Y of the London Missionary Society.
This deed, the cut of which we have reproduceu,* has an interesting history;' It takes us back to the remarkable journey which was made by Mr. Sparham, Mr. Greigs, anu myself in Hunan, in April and May of 1899. In that journey we spent two days. April 27th to 28th, at Changsha, receiving officials and discussing various points of interest with them. The first point that came up was that of admission to the city. 'rhe officials at once allowed our l"rIM to enter, but begged us not to press it, on account of the examinations that were going on at the time. The second point was that of our being allowed to procure a honse at Chang-sha for missionary pnrposes. Seeing that entering the city would amount to nothing more than being carried into it and out of it in a closed chair, and that in the <lark, we came to the COllelusion that it would be our wisest policy to give up the first point, if • See Front.ispipce, opposite page 1)(;1.
THE CHANG-SHA DEED
by so doing we could secure the second. So we told the officials that, tho very anxious to enter the city, under the circumstances we would not press our right to do so if they would give us the permission to purchase a house at Chang-sha, stamp the deed in the event of our finding a seller, and protect the mission when once established. '{'his purpose was no sooner made than they jumped at it, thillking, no doubt, that any effort put forth by us to procure a house at Chang-sha would be labor lost. But, fortunately, we had already found a man who was willing to sell, and he was in the boat at the time, listening to the conversation between the officials and oursel ves. No sooner did they leave the boat than our friend expressed himself as perfectly satisfied and quite prepared to complete the bargain. The deed was written out on board the boat and the earnest-money paid. Having thus purchased the house, we sent word to the officials to inform them of the fact, and to request them to seal the deed according to promise. For this, however, they were not prepared. The fact is, they never expected us to succeed, and they never expected that their promise should be taken as serious by us. On the morning of the 29th we waited some hours to see if any action would be taken by the officials, but not a man among them would corne near us. The district magistrate sent his card, but would do nothing more. I sent my card to the military official in charge of the city, who had on the previous day shown great friendliness, but he went so far as to return it, and thus added insult to injury. Later on, however, a messenger was sent by him to say that tho nothing could be done at that time, the matter would be taken up and put through 0]) onr way back from Hengchou. Another emp(y promise, of course.
Seeing that the officials had come to their wits' end, and that to wait longer would be simply wasting valuable time, we resolved to proceed 011 our journey without further delay. On our way back to Hankow we called at Chang-sha again, and made another attempt to get the deed sealed. Mr. Peng, our native evangelist, took it to the yamen, and asked the magistrate to kindly fulfil his promise and stamp it with his official seal. The magistrate took the deed and bagged it, telling Mr. Peng that he would return it after consulting the higher officials. This was on the 29th of May, 1899. Thus began a fight between ourselves and the Chang-sha officials over this precious bit of paper, which lasted nearly .two years. 'l'he English consuls at Hankow gave us every help in their power, but. apparently to no purpose. The Chang-slllt officials had made up their minds to keep us out of the city, and we had made up our minds to get in. 'rhey fought hard, and but for the trouble of last year would have succeeded in carrying on the fight a year or two longer. The Hengchon riot, howeveJ", supplied us with the very leverage we needed in order to deal effectively with them and gain our point. It has been a
long fight and a hard one, but it has ended in a great triumph for the missionary cause in Hunan.
The deed was sealed in February and sent to Mr. Peng, who received it at IIeng-chou. lIe forwarded it to Hankow, and I received it on the 19th of March. '1'he sight of this deed, I need hardly say, made my heart glad. No foreigner hall ever held property in Ohangsha till now. Even the noman Catholics have not succeeded in gaining a footing in that famous city. We, however, have succeeded, and have the full permission of the Ohang-sha officials, both higher and lower.
It is now about twenty years since I first saw Ohang-sha. Ever since then it has been one of my great ambitions to establish a mission at that splendi(l center. For years there was nothing in the outlook to inspire hope. At one time it looked hopeless. 'rhank God, it is now a'n accomplished fact. But the opening of Ohang-sha really means the opening of lIlman. Being in possession of the capital, we shall have no great difficulty in securing a footing in any 01 her part of the province. Ohristians will, I feel sure, join in praising God for the good news.
P. 8.-1 am receiving very good news from lIeng-chou. Mr. Peng has returned' to the city several weeks sillce, and was received with every demonstration of cordiality by the officials and people. The magistrate had provided a large house for him, in which- he might live with his family and carryon his evangelistic work. He is surrounded by about fifty converts, who meet regularly for worship. lIe is now arranging to start building, so we are hoping to have our chapel and d welling-house at IIeng-chou restored before the end of the year.
ROMANISM AND PRO'rES'l'ANTISM IN FRANOE.
BY RE'. Hl:BEN SAILLENS, PARIS.
For the last seventy-five years France has been under the influence of secularism. Oon vinced, and rightly so, of the impossibility of reconciling the spirit of Home with the model'll craving for liberty and progress, the fathers of the present repn blic enforced a system of public education based on Agnosticism. 1'hey hoped that compulsory instruction, with a set of teachers more enlightened than the" friars and sisters" who had so long been in charge of the French youth, would not only rid the country from superstition, bnt also give the people a superior morality.
Every religious notion, therefore, was banished from the standards of the national schools–llot that disrespect was meant to the beliefs of anyone, but in order to leave perfect liberty to all in the matter of belief. Much blame, and even abuse, was poured upon the authors of
ROMANISM AND PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE
that system; even in Protestant countries the' French Ecole sans Dietl (godless school) was sometimes held to opprobrium. But we fail to see what else could be done if France was to be delivered from the baneful influence of Rome. In a country where the Romish Church is nominally the religion of the majority of the people-however loosely it is professed by them-no religious instruction can be given in the pu blic schools except the one which Rome approves of.
Far from being to blame for their attempt at secularization, those men-Gambetta, Paul Bert, Jules Ferry-who undertook the stupendous task of freeing :France of clericalism* are to be 'blamed for having not gone far enough. These measures in the domain of public instruction should have been accompanied by the disestablishment of the Church. It was a mistake to payout of the ~all1e exchequel'er the priest and the schoolmaster, who was to be his greatest opponent. Disestablishment would have opened the country, in a marvelous way, to Protestant evangelization, which would have provided for the people that religious element without which neither man nor society can liYe very long.
It is not to be wondered, therefore, that these 'half-and-half measures did not bring about the results which were expected from them. Notwithstanding the fact that everyone now can read and write in this country, the Church of Rome has not lost her hold on the people, nor has its morality increased. Crime, especially youthful crimt', has augmented. A new demon unknown in this country fifty years ago, alcoholism, has made its appearance, and is making greater havoc among us than among most of the other European nations, 'rhe relations of capital and labor are beeoming more and more strained. 'l'his, of course, is a general feature in the civilized world to-day, as well as the increasing boldness of the revolutionary and anarchists partj, and it would be unfair to single out France on this poiut. However, the impression has grown upon the people that secular education has been a failure, and this accounts for the religious reaction is which we are now witnessing in France. For there a religious reaction, The school system has not been abolished, but the Romish free schools compete with the national ones in a most threatening mallner; the governmen t is still anticlerical in its policy, but the bold denials of infidelity are llot as popular as they once were, and it s{;ems as if the people were slowly turning away from the apostles of emptiness. For, down in the heart of every man there is a craving for a higher ideal than money and pleasure-there is a thirst for a future hope which sciellce can not quench. FRANCE NEEDS GOD!
'['his movement should, therefore, cause the heart of all Christians * 1 Le CIEwicalisnle, evila llennelni 1, (Clericalisln-that is the enemy!) is the celebrated saying of Gambetta.
to rejoice; yet our joy can not be fnll, for, at the outset, the Church of Rome will get the benefit of this new disposition of the French people. It does so already. Never were thc Homish churches so well attended, never the pilgrimages so numerous. A few days ago sixty thousand pilgrims met at the shrine of the Virgin at Lourdes from all parts of France; and this, tho the largest, is by no means the only place of the sort in this country. Never was the exchequer of the Church so overflowiilg with the offerings of rich and poor; millions of francs are pouring in, month after month, in the coffers of the religious orders, the wealth of which has become so threatening for the welfare of the country that the government, tho unwilling to launch llS into a religious war, have been compelled to introduce before the chambers a bill against the unauthorized orders-a bill, however, which may prove impotent, as are all measures which are not sufficiently drastic and do not go to the root of the ed!.
Here are, briefly, the main reasons of this movement of "Back to Rome ": In the first place, the people really know no other religion. Catholicism plunges its roots in the ver" heart of the country, by its one hundred thousand priests, its innumerable monks and nuns, all recruited from the people, and in most cases from the peasantry, which is so powerful an element in France. On the other hand, Protestantism is utterly unknown in many towns and villages, except for the passing visit of a colporteur. "-herever it is known, the Catholic press and clergy take good care to disfigure it, by representing it as being a foreign religion-the religioll of those countries which have been for ages the rivals of :France (Englalld and Germany), thus exciting against us that most dangerous of all fallaticisms-jingoism. There are, as eyery one ought to know, six hundred thousand Frenchborn Protestants (the descendants of the noble Hngnenots), but -they are scattered thronghout the country; many of them are timid, otlH'rs have lost the faith of their forefathers, and it is not uncommon to meet Frenchmen who do not know the existence of French Protestantism. '1'0 the more thoughtful and enlightened part of our population Protestantism is puzzling, on account of tlie complexity o( its aspects under its various denominations. Bnt the great adnlltage of Homanism over us-one which, however, we are far from coveting -is its easy system of penance, of accommodation with the laws of heaven; Protestantism has the reputation of being mOl'p, exacting in its demands on the conscience and the life of man. For all t11ese reasons one can not wonder that a superficial awakening of the religions sentiment, which has not yet reached the hearts and consciences of the people, shoul<1 profit mainly to the old-established religion.
Another canse of the presellt growing popularity of Roman Cathol-
RO~IANISM AND PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE
lClsm is its wOllLlerful gift of adaptation to the politieal eOllditiolls of the country.
As long as the pope seemed to be Oil the side of the mOllarehists' party, the people, now intensely repnbL~an, would not listen to the priests. But a few years ago Home enjoined on all the bishops and clergy to accept without reserve the institutions of France, and stilI later the pope issued those famolls encyclical letters which, in a mild form, assume a socialistic tendency. The heads of the clerical party, the late M. Chesnelong, Comte A. de lftlll, Abbe Gamier, and IlIallY others, have organized Roman Catholic guilds of workingmen, labor demonstrations, etc.
..:. few striking conversions from infidelity to Homanism have had an enormons influence. I call only melltion M. Brunetiere, the gifted editor of La Rente des Dell," ..lfonilcs; ;1. Fran<iois Coppee, a poet and dramatist; lL Jules Lemaitre, a literary critic-all members of the AIXIIlclII Ie FrwII;aisc, all known previously as free· thinkers.
This movcmellt has been fortified by another, which is far from being peculiar to France alone: I refer to the revival of the nationalist spirit, which tends to strengthen ill every country the partiality to the native institutions, and especially to the national ehurches.
Notwithstanding all this, France is not really popish, and this revival of Homan Catholicism can not last very long. It mainly rises from ,Ill equivocal conception of what Homan Catholicism is. There are many among its present followers who would fain believe that Catholicism is one thing and Jesuitism another; that it is possible to-day for a nation to hold the first while repudiating the second. But anyone who has studied Homan Catholicism knows that whatever semblance of liberalism it may put on, it is dominated by the spirit of Loyola; and if the French hate anything, it is that spirit. Jesuitism has never been able to rule in France. Our national temperament is too frank, too open, to submit to it; hence the constant struggle of the French people against ultramontanism. If this paper were not already too 101lg, I could bring here many facts in snpport of this statement.
It is certain, thereforc, that whenever France awakens from her present delusion, and discovers that tbere is absolute imcompatibility between liberty and Romanislll, and that to be a Catholic ·means to be a slave of the Syllabus, shc will turn again, perhaps with greater disgust and violence than ever before, from the loathed system; and as she has bad a full and discouraging experience of mere secularism, whatever will there be left for her but to accept the simplicity and freedom of the Gospel? Thus, the prospects of a Ileal' future are for a new and thorongh French Reformation.
This is a bold word to write; yet symptom~ of this coming moyement are already showing themselves in the most marked manner.
There is a minimulll of tru til in the Church of ROIlle; she carries in herself the very means of her destruction. She has the Bible, which her priests are allowed to r'ead, tho it is forbidden to the lay people. Moreover, the wonderful progress of evangelical Christendom can not fail to strike many of her thoughtful members. We live in a time of world-wide information, and even convent gates are not so carefully shut against the modern magazine and the books of science that men could d well in medieval ignorance behind its walls. There are signs of disquietude among the clergy. Dpring the late two or three years over two hundred priests, many of whom are learned mEn, and for the most part truly religious, have left the Church of Rome. Most of them have joined Protestant churches. These men are editing two weekly papers in Paris-Le Chretien Franr;ais and Le Pretro Cunverte. The first one is the organ of those former priests who have embraced the views of what is called the New Theology, and who aim at establishing a new French Catholic Church, equally distinct from Rome and from t.he historic Protestant Church. The second is more strictly Protestant and evangelical. Weare told that there are among the French clergy thousands of priests who would follow the example of those two hundred if the question of material support for them were not in the way. This exodus of priests, tho yet small, is certainly the widest and deepest movement of the kind that has ever taken place in France since the sixteenth century.
Moreover, there is a marked and increasing success in the work of evangelization which is carried on hy a score of societies, notwithstanding the lack of means from which they all suffer.* In the southwest several new parishes of the Reformed Church have lately sprung up, the people themselves, in some cases, building their own place of worship. In one place the priest, M. Bonhomme, declared himself a Protestant, and his congregation, almost to a man, followed him. After a course of study in a school of theology he came back among them, and is now their pastor. Several thousands of people, in those districts and in other parts, have during the last few years joined the Protestant communities.
The pages of this REVIEW have often mentioned the good work , These are the principal societies at work in this country for the conversion of Roman Catholics: The Societe Centrale. organ of the French Reformed Church, the largest society at work. The Commission of the Free Churches. The ~1ethodist Committee. The Baptist Committee. The Societe Evangelique of Paris. The Societe Evangelique of Geneva. The McAl! Mission. The Mission Interieure. Also a French tract society, two Bible societies, besides an agency of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and Ie Depot Central. The whole annual expenditure of these societies can not be less than two hundred thousand dollars a year. most of which comes from the French Christians themselves. They ought to be able to spend ten times more.
AMONG THE DOUKHOBORS IN CANADA
started by the late Dr. H. W. McAll nearly thirty years ago, a work which has certainly been most useful in disseminating the simple Gospel, thus breaking the ground £01' ecclesiastical action. Ko. one can speak of it with more gratitude than the writer, for it was partly the means by which, twelve years ago, a mission church, formed of converts from Roman Catholicism, was established by him in the center of Paris. In those twelYe years seven hundred have cOllfessed Christ in baptism, three hundred and ten of whom are now in fellowship with us, while a large number have joined various other organizations in Paris and the provinces. 1'0 speak of the Baptist denomination alone, which the writer knows better than any other, the increase in Paris durillg the last twelve years has been sevenfold, and nearly all at the expense of Homan Catholicism.
These are but a few incidents of the present movement in the midst of the clerical reaction which I have described. May we not hope, and even believe, that when this cnrrent has passed away-tho, it may be, not before it has brought to liS a recrudescence of suffering and persecution*-the Spirit of God will still be at work among the people, deepening the religious feeling which as yet has not reached the moral depths of the nation, and causing them-or at least those of them who are sincere seekers after truth, and there are many such-· to embrace the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the only religion which will save France-poor France, tired of drifting from rank infidelity to dark and hopeless superstitionl AMONU THE ])OUKHOBORS IN CANADA.
BY NELLIE Eo BAKEl{, KINGSTO~, OXTARlO.
"And the heavy night hung dark The hills and water o'er, Vhen a band of exiles moored their bark On a wild New England shore."
The Doukhobor settlements in the undulating prairie lands of Eastern Assiniboia, Northwestern Canada, are the sequence of their immigration to Canada after long and terrible sufferings for conscience' sake at the hands of the Russian government. When at last the Czar, yielding to the appeals of influential sympathizers with these persecuted people, permitted their departure from his dominions, this" band of exiles," numbering some seven thousand souls, embarked in four large steamships from the eastern extreme of the Black Sea for their long voyage to St. John and Halifax. The vessels were • The cry of" Vive la Saint·Barthelemy!" was heard lately in a public hall, raised by six hundred voices-a Roman Catholic demonstration against Protestantism-a sign that our work teils.-R. S.
IVAN M.ACHORTOFF AND HIS WIFE.
Ivan came lJcforc the utlIer Duukhobol'ij to make arrangements with the Canadian government.
chartered and funds contributed through the London and Philadelphia Society of Friends on barely ten days' notice-a testimony to their world-wide sympathy with the oppressed. After this unprecedented pilgrimage across thousands of leagues by sea and thousands of miles by land they reached their destination, where, by persistent labor in the face of difficulties known only to the pioneer, they IJave at last been enabled to establish their homes and their "faith's pure shrine." Here it was my privilege to visit them, and ill some degree to come to know them.
Wild sunflower and coreopsis shone IJl'ight among the prairie grass, and the bracing Assiniboia breeze fluttered the papers from the tent table, as on one Sunday morning we sat chatting and resting. The sweet, rich notes of it Russian hymn floated to us on the breeze. Stepping to the tent door we could hear the low rumble of wheels on the trail, and soon a team came trotting around the willow bluff. A man and two women in a farm wagon drove up and alighted, making
AMONG THE DOUKHOBORS IN
impressive salutations. We were to go to their house. We said that we would go after dinner, but were told that dinner was waiting for us at their place. In the back of the wagon was a seat placed lengthwise, covered over with an Oriental rug, and the wagon-box was filled with hay. Snch preparations wou the day, and we llUrried for our hats, while bright satisfaction shone from the Donkhobor's eyes.
Driving past the. fields of grain and flax, we noticed neal' the poplar bluff groups of small, hi ve-like structures made of branches, and some of them partly covered with sods. These were the first temporary Doukhobor shelters. Beyond the poplars and willows we come to the homes of to-day. On each side of the village street is a row of snug, warm houses built of logs and plastered; the roofs are of sod, auda low chimney of sun-dried brick rises from the center of each house. One is a bath-house, where the villagers enjoy a -weekly 'l'urkish bath. In front of each dwelling is a little garden with nodding culti rated sunflowers and vegetables, and to the right and left of the village are the larger gardens. This village not being near a river, each honse has its own good well' with a tall well-sweep. The stable is attaehed to the house, and behind that are the beautifully trimmed staeks of prairie hay.
As we pass throngh the village the people bow to us, the men lift- RUSSIAN DOUKHQBORS IN HOLIDAY DRESS.
ing their caps with much ceremony. Their costumes are bright and picturesque. The dark fiat-topped caps of the men have a red piping around the crown and patent-leather peaks. Shining white, fullsleeved shirts bag into loose folds around their waists and meet the trousers of wonderful cut, also gathered at the top. Almost any garment would look well set off by the long Russian boots, the soft leather wrinkling about the ankles. Their coats and waistcoats fit to the waist, and the former have a long, gathered frock of more than eighteen inches from the waist down. Buttons are nsed, but only for ornament, as the actual fastenings are hooks and eyes.
The women's shoes are also of Russian leather, low shape, showing well-turned a~kles in wonderfully knitted stockings. On their heads they wear bright caps, over which they put handkerchiefs, tied under their chins. "Gassets," or sleeveless coats, cover their bright" waists." Their skirts are also of some bright color, and are caught up in front to show the fine, home-woven linen underskirt, with its red and white border. Their aprons are specially fine, with two or three bright strips and lace across the bottom.
The Doukhobor meal begins with tea, bread, and salt, then vegetable soup, fried potatoes, pancakes of excellent quality, and eggs. Other dishes are cheese-cakes, pie-crust served in many fantastic shapes, fresh sweet turnips, radishes, onions, and sometimes fruit. The guests sit down and the members of the household wait on them,
A~IONG THE DOUKHOBORS IN CANADA
merrily exchanging thoughts ill broken English and Russian, eked out by signs.
The interior throughout is finished iu yellow plaster, made from the clay that lies underneath the rich black Assiniboia soil. Their houses have four or five rooms, the largest compassed about by a seat, which is (Illite broad 011 olle side of the room. On this, each evening, some of the beds are made, a thick rug being first put over the boards, then a big feather-bed, fresh white sheets, square pillows, and a quilt. All this is neatly folded and put away during the day.
At the cud of the broad seat, in the corner,is the big brick ovena picturesque feature of every Dou khobor hou se. They llisplay much taste in oven-building, ll sing suu-dried bricks. At the other side of the room is a small, high table. The floor is of smooth-trodden A VILLAGE STREET IN THF. SOUTH COLONY ~ CANADA .
plaster and earth, kept beagtifully clean by sweeping with green bunches of prairie "broom." .
AHer thanking our hosts for the dinner, we are invited to rest on the broad seat, with our feet dangling in the air or resting on wooden footstools. Some of the villagers sing as they sit around the table, which has been cleared of everything' but the homespun linen cloth.
'rhe singers seem to think only of the hymn or chant, and the others listen attentively. It is curious but very beautiful music. Outside the deep-set window the sunflowers move in the breeze, and the sun shines in, enriching the beautiful colors in the costumes, and in COIl- trast bringing out the soft, wonderful shadows of the interior.
During onr summer's visit we slept many times in these houses.
Early in the morning the family would be astir, tho quietly, and by
the time we were dressed there was generally a row of children, washed and ready for the day, reciting the commandments, psalms, and other portions of Scripture. . It is a pretty sight, as they stand, their attention on the recitation and their faces full of earnest thought.
The mother or grandmother, who has been busy in the adjoiliing room, listens the while, and presently comes in; she bows, the ·bow is returned by the line of little ones, a few sentences are said back and forth, and then off go the children. .
Family affection is very strong among the Donkhobors, and the standard of .morality is high. The old people receive the greatest OOUKHOBOR BOYS OF THE SPIRIT LAKE SETTLEMENT, CANADA.
love and respect, and often have their sons, grandsons, and greatgrandsons living with them. The average family consists of four or five children.
In some districts the Doukhobors live in a community, in others each have their own gardens, stock, and fields. The strong bond holding them together is not tribal, but rather arises from similarity of belief. Their Sunday village service is held at daybreak in the largest room in the village, and is very impressive. It continues for about two and a half hours, the men and women standing on opposite sides of the room. The service consists in recitation of Scripture, chanting, and then greeting each oth er with the holy kiss. The men greet the men and the women the women. The men wear a fine
ROME PRINCIPLES OF RESCUE MISSION WORK
woven woolen sash of many colors, and the women wear a curious white knitted head-dress, over which is arranged a dark red silk handkerchief.
In· all the villages are good blacksmiths and carpenters, and the women will show with pride the heavy winter coats spun, dyed, and woven by themselves in Russia; also linen table-napkins, very long and narrow, which serve for a number of people.
Thus far the great problem which confronts the settlers has been to utilize the material at hand for immediate necessities. Their pioneering arrangements are so thorough and ingenius there is no doubt that they will use the larger conveniences of this country with the same skill as they come within their reach.
After having sojourned in scores of Doukhobor villages and hundreds of their homes. I believe that we have as important lessons to learn from them in Christlikeness as we have to impart. When we consider what these people have suffered through persecution, exile, and actual martyrdom for conscience' sake, and the fact that there is scarcely a family among them unrepresented by a father, brother, or son still in Siberin, we need not scruple to extend to them the hand of Christinn fellowship.
SO}IE PIUNCIPLES OF HRSUlTE lUSSION WORK.
BY :mss )[AIWAHET BLAKE HOBINSON, NEW YORK.
Editor of 'The Ilel'ald of Liuht; author of" Souls in Pawn."
The problem of the survival of the unfit is one that has always confronted the Christian world, for Christ was a worker among indiYiduals rather than the builder of an ideal society. The halt, the lame, and the blind, the mentally anll the physically unfit, were the ohjects of His special carr, while, very often, the objects of His SCOl'll awl the subjects of His clennnciation were those whom the world woul(I call the leaders among the fittest. There may be n natural" doctrine of election," but it is not determined in the sal;le mallller as its spiritual counterpart. In the natural it is the perfectiOlI of the best; in the spiritual it is the regeneration of the worst.· So we face the question of reSClle work and its relation to the Christian.
Mrs. Hallington Booth is certainly competent to speak on this subject, and it is with no uncertain sound th~tt she voices her opinion. III an interview with the writer she said: I believe in rescue work beeause I believe in God and in His power, and my experience with men and women convinces me that the one who is easiest to reach and help is the one who has never had a chance. The overpowering force of an unfavorable environment, and the degrading influences of a life into which none of God's purity enters, deform the best material ever given to flesh and blood to profit by. But let the Holy
Spirit speak to one whose life has been spent even under such circumstances, let loving hands be stretched out to help, and, tho it is not fully appreciated then, there is an eagerness to claim it that is rarely found in the one who has advantages, and has, out of sheer wickedness, chosen the wrong.
But if I believe in the work I do not always believe in the methods used. For instance, I do not believe that, as a rule, men should take any active part in rescue work among women. One may cite our Lord as the foremost rescue worker, but He was the Son of God, and while we accept His humanity without question, we can not class Him with the carnally minded Christians who foolishly rush into work for which they have neither the grace, the tact, nor the wisdom. A woman who talks with a Christian man about the details of her sinful life detracts from whatever delicacy she has, and does not add to his. Besides, he is not competent to advise her. He may say that he knows the world better than Christian women do, that he understands human nature better, and that because of his wide experience he is apt to be more charitable. We do not want charity for sin, though we do want tenderness in dealing with the sinner, and a woman can express that better and with more grace than a man. It is not necessary to know the world in an evil sense to deal with evil 01' to understand sinners. Our salvation was a living proof of this. But it is necessary to have the simple fait,h of a c;lild of God, the love that suffereth long and is kind, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A rescue worker should be a spirit-filled Christian, not a faddist, a sentimentalist, 01' a sensationalist. Then, too, men are apt to be misunderstood and their actions misconstrued in a way that those of a women could not, and while it is true that in Christian work we will be all called upon to suffer such things, yet we ought, if possible, to avoid all appearance of evil.
Public" testimony," as usually given, especially by women, I object to strongly. The pOol' girl has suffered enough from the results of her pa;;t life; let her commence to plant anew and forget the old harvest. It is the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that converts the soul, not a testimony of former wickedness. A duty that Christian workers ought to feel deeply is the need of getting redeemed men to view sin as a horrible thing. 'Carlyle was right when he said that" all progress begins with a sense of sin," and how can there be any deep sense of it as long as one speaks of it and dwells upon it, and finds that she is interesting because of what she knows of it. Has a physician usually the same shrinking from disease and its filthiness that a healthy-minded non-professional has? We know that he has not, and I believe that a good deal of spiritual retrogression among" rescued" people is because of the charnel-house exhibitions they give unblushingly, and which some Christian people encourage them to give. If a girl has no shame for what has gone before, we ought to create it in her, and if she has it, we ought not to take it from her or exploit it.
There is another and sadder aspect of it. The testimony that the young convert has given in the first flush of her confession is not held as {t sacred confidence, or as one given to the glory of Christ. The one who gives it is pointed to from time to time as one "our mission saved," her private affairs are discussed without delicacy or reserve, and often her family are dragged into it in a way that is positively shameful as well as unfeeling. In the business world this will injure her prospects, and no
SOME PRINCIPLES OF RESCUE MISSION WORK
matter how true her consecration, how high her family connections or social advantages are, she will walk among Christians in future, not as a Christian woman, but as a "redeemed" woman. I never talk to my boys about their sins, except from the purely spiritual side, and in the dealing of such questions as " I can not believe," "I can not hold out," "I am too bad," etc. As I do not want my own mind filled with vile pictures or my soul initiated into the secrets of Satanic rites, I am always careful about what kind of confidence I encourage. Those that deal with impure details I never want to learn about. I want the dear, true, and best hearts of my boys and girls. I want to see the hidden goodness, the submerged nobility. Let go of the past, I tell them; look out into God's future, and do not dwell on that old being who was not the real man you are now.
Miss V. O. Furry, who has been engaged for several years in mission work in New York's Ohinatown, heartily agrees with Mrs. Booth. The old grave-clothes ought to be left in the iomb where their owner walks in newness of life, and I am entirely opposed to the unfeeling and careless methods carried into rescue work at times. I know of three girls who lived wild and reckless lives some years ago, butwho were regenerated through the power of Ohrist and became new creatures in every way. Neither one ever gave a public testimony of their wrong-doing, and I believe that is one reason why they have all done so well. Discouragement will come to the best of us at times, and the fact that a girl has made the public her father confessor in a moment of warm-hearted enthusiasm will often embitter her life afterward. Besides, it is a great incentive to a girl to keep true and walk carefully if all her Ohristian friends believe in her; but if they know of her former life many are ready to look on her with suspicion whenever the occasion arises, and if she makes even a little misstep they are ready to say" What else could you expect?" And the girl knows that they are not confident that she will hold ou t.
Of conrse, every Ohristian should give a testimony to the grace of God and His saving power, but I do not believe in giving impure details or in having a lot of girls on exhibition in a mission. This method does more harm than good. When Ohrist told the sinful woman to go and sin no more He said not a word about retailing the story of her sin. The woman of Samaria testified that He told her all that she ever did and cried: "Is not this the Ohrist?" bnt she did not relate what were the things which she did. She simply preached Ohrist.
Some rescue workers may say that testimonies help others who were bound by similar sins, but the conversions of the Bible and thousands of others in our own day are opposed to the truth of this. 'fhe names of the penitant thief, the woman taken in adultery, "the woman who loved much," and the woman of Samaria have never been written; and the mere mention of their sins is all that we have, though much is made of their spiritual regeneration. It is as if the
Lord did not want to perpetuate the names of the sinners or the story of their sins as much as he did the beautiful attributes of their repentance and risen life, and the evidence of His Father's love.
rt is true that a man does not suffer from society what a woman suffers, even if he confesses to all that he ever did. But is it fail' to his wife and children that he should blazen forth (as I have heard men do) the fact that he used to beat his wife and do sundry other blaguardly things? Does it not degrade the wife every time she hears it, and will it help his children? How much better it would be for him to forget that, and if he spoke of his family at all, to tell what a Christian man's home is like and what is his interpretf'otion of loving his wife as Christ loved the Church. A story is told .of a little boy who went away from his club-room one night crying. A little friend asked him what was the matter, and he answered: "Oh, dat club makes me sick. It gets ns boys in to make us good, buL I never clone nuttin bad, so I c'n only be a lll'ivate. J)'odder fellers used tel' smoke an' shoot craps, an' dey is all generals."
Is it not sometimes the case that a sort of a premiu m is put on "the best" testimonies? "With this, natUl'ally, comes the temptation to make the story as thrilling as possible, and to live over again the real past, and enter into the imaginary things that sa'.or of the vile and the corrupt. Not long ago I heard a man in a Third avenue "mission, New York, deliver a ringing speech 011 his own badness, with a. few words about God in the end. I mentally thought, "That man does not kllow the vileness of his past Sill, ]]01' does he understand the purity of Christ." He is now serving a term in prison on Blackwells Island. A very large percentage of those who reveal the unclean Hecrets of their lives in missions find it easy to fall back again into the life they live over again every night. Every rescue mission worker knows this to be true, and he also knows that those who love Christ deepest, talk much about Him and little about themselves.
Are rescued men and women more tender and sympathetic toward the fallen than others? '1'here may be more of a sym pathetic under- standing, but real sympathy only comes with the" love of the brethel'll " that is imparted by the Holy Spirit, and if they have not Him, their experience will mean nothing. Mary Magdalene had no more love for Christ than did the apostle John, nor wonld the thief on the cross have had more zeal than had Paul. Dwight" L. Moody, Hplll'Y Drllm- mond, Mrs. Ballington Booth, and Cathrine Booth, Finney or Martin Luther lost no influence with sinners because their lives had been pure. On the other hand, I know of several rescued men whose coarseness of language in describing their former wickedness repelled many whom they might have helped. One sainted man I know lived for thirty years in awful sin, but whose consecration is so thorough that hill very face and laugh are so full of God and purity that one
can not possibly conceive of his ever being anything else than what he is now. Saints and sinners go to him for counsel and admonition, and many wealthy society women go to him to pray for them. The secret of it is in the Christ life he lives, not the deyillife he once lived. Put your redeemed sinner to work for God, not because of his past life, bu t because the life of Christ is made manifest in him. Make him a general practitioner rather than a specialist in certain sills. When he is a true apostle of God a loving Father will restore into him the years that the locllst hath eatell, and can even use his worldly knowlellge to the blessing of others if lie is a spirit-filled man and will read Go<1's lessons at each unfolding of the scroll.
Let no one think that I mean that" redeemed" men and women do not do a great deal of work, or are not capable of being mightily used for God. I ollly want to make clear that it is not their past sin that makes them great; on the contrary, that is the thorn in the flesh over which the grace of God has to hold constant sway. If they love much becanse they are fOJ'gi ren much, it is because they view sin rightly-:- at least, their besetting sin. If others who were never degraded outwardly by sin do not feel the great love that comes with forgivness, it is because they do not understand themselves. A r1eep seuse of sin always accompanies a truly c011secrated life.
A redeemed girl who was ollce well known in the" Tenderloin District" of New York had the followillg to say to me on the suhject of rescue work among women: It is women's work, and only they should deal personally with erring girls. A woman of the world has no faith in men, and yon can not convince her that their questions have a pure meaning. Of course, when she is converted she knows there are thousands of good and pure men, but she has to be educated up to it. I was converted through a good, pure woman, and tho I have led many souls to God since then, I have never once mentioned my own life, tho I have used to goo<l advantage my knowledge of the world. It has kept me from being deceived by imposters, and I have often used illustrations in talking to girls that revealed to them their own folly. They thought J got such knowledge in my work, and they clung to me because of their belief in my goodness, not because I had been one of them, for of this they were wholly ignorant.
Another girl in a Chicago jail said to me that she was sick 01 sin, and that she l~~t!ld its touch and wanted no one near her who had been as vile as she. This statement was occasioned by a redeemed girl (her fellow prisoner) who wanted to talk with her about her soul. Of course this is an extreme case, but it is by no means ~ rare one.
One of the knottiest problems that faces the rescue worker is the problem of work for girls. It is my belief that the model rescue mission should have two houses, one in the city and one in the country. 'rhe city home should not be stamped as a rescue home, but as a Christ ian home, and the old life should be left outside of its door.
If there are confidences given they should be held sacred by the women who receive them, and everything that savors of a desire to talk on unhealthy topics should be discouraged. Outsiders should not be permitted to enter the home and stare at girls as if they were curios on exhibition. Only those chosen to entertain and instruct should be allowed to visit the home, and they should be carefully chosen. The moment a girl is converted she should be removed at once to the home in the country, where a pure, healthy, Christian environment wiII be hers. 'rile city home for the unconverted girls are needed because a city girl (unless she be truly born again) wiII rarely consen t to a life in the country. -When God speaks to her soul she will be glad to leave the bustle and rush of her former life, and revel in the beauties of God's world. Her body may be broken by sin so that she should not be pressed into work immediately, but should have spiritual and physical help so as to be well prepared for – the battle of life. She should be taught a trade or helped to a pro- fession, ana she should not be allowed to take up the biuden of life until the song on her lips has become the swelling melody of her soul. Where one is compiling statistics for annual reports she might' not seem to be of great importance, but in the eyes of her Redeemer and in the eyes of all thinking people that finished work would be worth more than a hnmlred "cases" who were prayed with and given a bowl of soup.
There are thousands of brave, self-sacrificing rescue workers, men and women, in the great cities of the 'United States. '1'hey are doing much good and are giving their best to the work, but until they real- ize the sacredness of each individual life, and the failure of all social- istic schemes that sacrifices one for the good of the whole, or sacrifices the Spirit of God for methods and machinery, they will not find the secret of t11e survival of the unfit.
RELIGIOUS CONDITIO~S IN PHILIPPINES.-II.
BY HEY.•TAMES R. RODGERS, MANILA, P. r.
'1'he conditions already described are so patent and the needs so pressing that it is no wonder that we forget the scattered tribes of wild men who inhabit the backbone of Luzon, and are found in many of the other islands hidden from the gaze of the traveler and soldier. 'l'he only ones who have come into any notice are the Igorrotes of the northern provinces, whose faithfulness and trustworthiness are favorably commented on by the officers and men who have met them. But they were already more or less accustomed to the ways of the white man, and so I suppose would be included among the civilized.
Of the other tribes very little is known, for in the olden time Civili-
RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
zation only showed her brutvJ aspects to them, and their natural wildness seem~ to have become more savage and timid, and their object in life was to escape the beneficent (?) effects of the white man's civilization and religion. They were treated as little better than wild animals, and writers refer to the Spanish estimate of many of the peoples by repeating the injunction so often given to them:" When you see one of the wild men, shoot him." It was said that the Igorrotes were crnel and untrustworthy.
Experience has shown that when treated with fairness and jnstice they have proven trustworthy. It is but fair to suppose that the other tribes will also be amenable to fairness and kindly treatment. They do not seem to be fierce and untractable, but rather timid people, MACCABEES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
descendants of the original j;J'ibes who have all but sllccumhcd to the inroads of the new peoples who inhabit the iHlands.
The Protestant Church should not be one whit behind the Roman in their efforts to civilize and Christianize these tribes, but I doubt if their life as a distinct people will be very long. The proper method of reaching them with the Gospel will be for the Protestant people in each district to strive to reach those that are within their province and most easily reached. This will give to the native members of the Evangelical Church an opportunity for genuine missionary work, and will be a practical and economical way of doing this necessary work. 'I'he people are so scattered that a definite mission to the wild tribes would be a difficult and trying work. However, if any man feels called of the Lord to carry the Gospel, let him obey the call.
The evangelization of the southern islands offers problems that
are essentially different from those we meet in the Visayas and in Luzon. There, people are another branch of the Malay race and seem to have come in later. '1'l1ere is a small population of Filipinos in the fringe of towns that surround the Island of Mindanao. They are exotic and not nati ve to the soul, many of them traders from the north, and still morc uescendallts or exiles who were sent from different parts of the north for political or criminal delinquencies. In Zam boanga Spanish is the language or the people, as they represent so man,)' different dialects that no one of them sened as a medium of speech. Then, side by side with these Filipinos, and also in the interior, are the Mohammedan trihes, who are the most numerous and powerful of the Island of Mindanao, awl almost the only inhabitants of .Jolo, Basilan, and Paliwan. The missionary problem here is the same as in Borneo, the Straits, and probably similar to the Mohammedan problem in India an(l Persia.
When and how an effort shon1(1 be made to reach them I do not know. The commanding officer in one of the important southern towns said to me that he did not want any missionaries in his district for at least two years. His idea was that the confi(lence of tlw people in the American government should first be won by kindly and firm treatment before the Sl1 bject or religion ever appeared. It has been said many times that the ;Ioros do not think that the Americans are Christians hccause they are different from the Spaniards, but that they are a kind of second cousins to the descendallts oj Mohammed, possibly by his second wife. Professor Haines, formerly of Berkeley, and later on General "'heaton's staff, left here about six months ago for Mindanao, to found an agricultural establishment. His idea was to reach the Moros by justice and kindness, and thus disarm their suspicion of Christians before teaching them religious truth. The Word should be preached by the life before the tongue utters doctrines.
THE WORK BEIX(; nONE BY THE )IISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
Among the wild tribes and among the Moros nothing is being done as yet. '1'here was talk in the papers about two years ago of the Hawaiian church sending missionaries to the Mindanao tribes, but nothing has been heard of it since. Gnam, by its proximity to the Carolines, naturally has fallen ill the sphere of the American Board, and a mission has already been establi~hed there.
All effort in the Philippines so far has been exerted in Manila, Iloilo, and the adjacent towns. '1'h8 Presbyterian mission have a force of ten Americans OIl the field, of whom there are three ministers in Manila (two married); one minister and one physician, with their wives, in Iloilo; and one ministel' in Dumaguete. In this latter place land has been bought amI plans are being made for an industrial school. Another physician and his wife are expect(·d shortly. Dr.
RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Rhea Ewing, president of the Forman College in Lahore, India, is to spend some months in studying and organizing the school.
The Christian and .Missionary Alliance have one lady on the field, who for the present is working with the Presbyterian mission, as is also Dr. 1lice Condict, formerly of Bombay.
The Methodist mission hail, thanks to the work of a Christian layman, a most exeellent foundation laid when the first missionaries arrived in the beginning of 1900. They have now on the field two ministers (one married), and two ladies, one of whom is a physician in Manila, and 011e minister in Dagu pau. They expect shortly a miuister of experience to take charge of the English work, and another minister to occupy Vigan in the north.
The American Baptist Missionary Union is represented by two NEGRITOS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
missionaries-one in Iloilo, and the other across the strait in Bacolod Negros.
Two young men of the U uited Brethren are expected daily in Manila, to open work sOlllewhere in the islands.
The greatest credit for effective sOl'vice is due to the American and British Bible Societies. The latter was probably the first Protestant organization t,o attempt to reach the natives. The American society entered the field a year later. The two societies have a force of colporteurs and workers in addition to the agents, and are the pioneers, being the first to enter the new fields. About fifty thousand copies of the Seriptures have been eireulated since September, 1898. These have chiefly been single Gospels' in the native languages. Work on the translations' is going ahead steadily. The New Testament is
translated in Tagalog, tho not ready for publication, and Gospels have been published in Tagalog, Pangasinan, Pampan go, Ilocano, Bicol~ and Visaya (Ilongo).
The situation is the same with all the societies. More work urges than can be done, and all are agreed that this is the time for effective forward work. .
.I1SiollON FEDERATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The latest movement among Protestant missions in the Philippines is of great importance in the future Christian church in these islands. It will double the urgency of the call by promising extra efficiency in the work.
We have all felt the especial responsibility laid upon us of avoiding the mistakes of other fields, and of so laying the foundations of the evangelical work here that the greatest amount of good might be accomplished with the greatest economy and least friction possible. We realized that if we allowed a few years to slip by, division of fields would be impossible, and comity would be nothing more than an agreement to be on fraternal relations with one another as Christian· churches.
A providential gathering in the city of Manila for a few days of special representatives of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and United Brethren missions gave an opportunity for a conference on the su bject of mission relations. In fact, all the Boards at work here were represented with the exception of the Baptists, whose missionary in Iloilo was ill.
At its annual meeting in December last the Presbyterian mission addressed a letter to the other missions on the subject of comity, and the propositions laid down at that time were brought up again. In order to increase the efficiency of our work as evangelical missions, the following propositions were made: I. That the field be so divided that each mission shall assume the responsibility of the evangelization of a certain well-defined district.
II. That all missions adopt a common name for the Filipino churches that shall he raised up, "La Iglesia Evangelica Filipina," placing in hrackets when necessary the name of the mission under which it has been fostered-e.g., "La Iglesia Evangelica de San Fernando (Mision Methodista Episcopal)."
III. That the church be so developed as to produce and promote practical unity.
IV. That conference be had among the missions in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of general work, such as presses, newspapers, colleges, and so forth. After careful and prayerful thought over these propositions, they were agreed to hy all present, and later hy the Baptists.
In order to solve the problems suggested by the third and fourth propositions, Bishop Warne suggested that we form a federation of
RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN THE pHILIPPINES
mISSIOns and churches. 'l'his was heartily agreed to, and after two days' study in committee the Evangelical Union of the Philippines was formed. Its membership includes all representatives of evangelical organizations working in the islands, and such other Christian laymen and women, together with army chaplaim, as may be elected by the Executive Committee. It will have as its constituency all the evangelical churches in the islands. As these churches will be united by a common name and in this union, there will be very little to prevent the Spirit welding them together in the most effective kind of unity. Under the present circumstances such an association is better than one single church with its single government. For such a MOHAMMEDANS OF THE SULU ARCHIPELAGO.
church conld have schisms and questions, while the union, having no authority, will avoid to a great measure these dangers.
The union is to be governed by an Executive Committee composed of two representatives of each organization on the field. To it are to be submitted all questions that m(l,y arise between different missions. It is to meet incoming missions, and persuade them to join the union and assist them in choosing fields. It is to promote annual conventions of the union, and do all in its power to increase the efficiency of the work and cement the ties' of Christian fellowship among the churches.
After discussion in committee the first proposition for a division of territory was agreed upon. It necessitated some readjustment of fields and the withdrawal of some missions from some towns already occupied, but it resulted in a division that is fair and practical and that will add greatly to the efficiency of the work. The agreement is subject to revision after three years. The fear expressed by some
that it was unwise to limit ourselves by any hani and fast lines was met by the idea. that we accepted the responsibility for the evangel, ization of certaIn well-defined fields.
Beginning at the north of Luzon, the United Brethren assume the responsibility for the three provinces of Ilocos, Nortll and South, and 17nion. The mOll n tain and eastern proyinces are still open. The territory between the Gulf of Lingayen and Manila-that is, the celltral portion of Luzon-the Methodist Church takes as its field. While all the island of Luzon to the south and east of Manila is to be the care of the Presbyterian Church. Thi8 insures to. the missions nontiguous territory and similarity of dialects. The Lllited Brethren mission ha~ but one dialect to learn-the Ilocano; thc Methodist mission has three, with a possible five; awl the Presbyterian two. The city and province of .Manila is considered common ground. Fun conference must be had over new work.
III the Visayas the Baptists and Presbyterians had already clividea the islands of Panayand Negros. No one can accuse us of assumiug responsibility we can not expect to fulfil, nor of crowding out other missions, for Jlearly half of the islands are not mentioned.
In this action we feel that we have been definitely guided by the Holy Spirit, and it seems to ns now as tho this step is a guarantee of effecti ve service for the Master. We attain practical unity withou t sacrificing the individnality of any missiou. ,Ve trust that friction and rivalry between the different missions ani forever banished, and that the path has been made straight and cleared of all impediment that the Lord of Glory may have free course for His Gospel.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Ol<' THE EVANGELICAL UNION UF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS."
Article I. Xame.-The name of this society shall be the" Evangelical Union of the Philippine Islands."
Al,tide II. Objccf.-It shall be the object of this society to unite all the entngelical forces in the Philippine Islands for the purpose of securing comity and effectiveness in their missionary operations.
Article III. J[embel'shcip.-All regular appointees of recognized evangelical organiz~tions working in the Philippine Islands may be members of the Union. Other Christians, lay or clerical, may be elected to membership by the Executive Committee.
~h'tic1e IV. "1£(( nagclIlcnt.-There shall be a central Executive Committee composed of two members from each recognized evangelical organization represented in the union and working in the Philippine Islands. Each organization shall choose its representative in the committee. This committee shall consider and make recommendations upon all questions referred to them affecting missionary comity in the Philippine Islands. The Executive Committee shall elect its own officers.
Article V. General O.tricers.-The general officers of the Union shall * ,dopted by the cunference of missiunaries in Manila, April 24-26, 1901.
PROTEST~NT CHURCH OF GERMANY AND FOREIGN MISSIONS
be a president, two vice-preS"idents, a secretary, and a treasurer, tc be elected at the annual meeting on nomination of the Executive Com- mittee.
Article VI. Amendments.-This constitution may be amended upon recommendation of the Executive Committee at any annual meeting of the Union by a majority vote, due notice having been given of proposed amendment.
By-LAWS.
1.' The Executive Committee shall meet once a year 01' at any time upon the call of th~ secretary, for any special business to corne before the committee.
2. The Union shall have an annual convention, arrangements for which shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee.
3. One of the duties of the Executive Committee shall be to meet and confer with workers of any societies that are not now parties to this agreement, and to confer with and advise representatives of societies arriving in the future as to the location of their respective fields. Also to earnestly urge them to become parties to the agreement and to choose members who shall represent their missions in the Executive Committee of the Union.
4. The name .. Iglesia Evangelica" shall be used for the Filipino churches which shall be raised up, and when necessary the denominational name shall be added in parenthesis-e.g., ,. Iglesia Evangelica " de Malibay (Mision Methodista Episcopal).
OFFICERS: President, .;lAJOR E. 'V. HALFORD, M. E. Church.
REV. C. W. BRIGGS, A. B. M. U.
Vice-presidents, 1REV. E. S. EEY, United Brethren Church.
Secretary, REV. L. P. DAVIDSOX. Pres. Board.
Treasurer, MR. C. C. COLLINS, Y. M. C. A.
THE PROTESTANT CHUHCH OF GERMANY AND ITS FOREIGN MISSION WORK.
BY PROF. UEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.])., COLl:lI-IBuS, OHIO.
The Protestant Church in the land of Luther has not been a leader in the Gospel propaganda which has made the nineteenth century the greatest mission era in the history of the Christian Church since apostolic times. Even now the German Christians contribute only one-fifteenth of the sum expended by the Protestant world in this great cause. The bulk of the money raised for the work done is no doubt to be credited to the English-speaking churches, and the leadership of evangelical England and America in the G~spel crusade is undeniable. The Germans themselves keenly feel that they have not done what can fairly be regarded as their share in this world's conquest for Christ, and the practical men of the German churcpes are profuse in their praises for English and American activity and liberality ill the canse of missions, and frequently point
to the example of the English Christendom as an object-Ies&on for Germans to imitate and emulate. While the Germans have not been standing in the market-place idle, and have done more in the foreign mission field than is generally known or for which they receive credit, yet the fact remains that, considering the high intellectual development and the spiritual factors and forces over which the Church in the land of Luther commands, that Church has not done what it could in this all-important sphere of Christianity.
There are many reasons why the Protestant Church of Germany, which is the leader of the world in theological scholarship, has not been a pathfinder in this chief work of the Church, and they are principally found in. the history and the development of the Church itself. External and internal influences have united to prevent the growth of a strong missionary spirit within the German churches. Originally the Protestant Church of no country, not even England, was a missionary communion. In the field of foreign Gospel conquest the Roman Catholic Church has an advantage of nearly two hundred years over the Protestaut churches. The Protestant churches of the Reformation era had more than enough to do in perfecting their own organization and providing for their own home fields. But the Church of the Reformation could Bot have been a missionary Church, even if the missionary sentiment had been strongly developed among them. The reason for this disability is found in the fact that in the age of the Reformation the avenues to the foreign mission fields and the means of trade and transportation were entirely in the hands of forces antagonistic to the Protestant cause. Portugal and Spain were mistresses of the sea. The powers which controlled the outward destinies of the nations at that time were Roman Catholic. The Protestant Church would scarcely have founded missions among the people sitting in heathen darkness because the means of access, or at least the power to protect such establishments after founding, was lacking. The Catholic Church would never have permitted Protestant churches to engage in mission work in lands under its control. The Protestant Church could not engage in foreign mission crusade until Protestant powers secured colonial possessions and controlled the highways that opened to them. This was done when England and Holland secured that supremacy on the high seas that Catholic countries of Spain and Portugal could not hold. The English-speaking world had the opportunity to spread out its network of Gospel stations and took advantage of this opportunity, altho it would be unfair to attribute to this fact alone, or even chiefly, the prominence and predominence of English work in the foreign mission field. Had not the English and American churches been prompted by a vital Christianity and a keen recognition of their duties in this regard, their opportunities would not have been used as they were.
PROTESTANT CHURCH OF GERMANY AND FOREIGN MISSIONS
Germany has not had these opportunities, and perhaps, too, has not had this faith-at least, at as early a period and in the same degrees as there existed in the English-speaking communities. Germany has always consisted of a number of petty states, sometimes dozens and scores in number, weakly united into a confederate empire, and they managed to give so much trouble to each other that Germany as a state was practically a nonentity in the foreign field. Not until the· new empire was established in 1870-71 did Germany develop a colonial policy and seek to make her influence felt outside of her own territorial boundaries. Only since then has Germany been a world power, which has really made wonderful strides in her competition with other and older nations for the supremacy in foreign lands. But at the time when the great mission propaganda of the nineteenth century began, Germany was, in the foreign field, as little a factor as she was in the councils of the nations of Europe. The German churches accordingly never had the opportunities and possibilities under the flag of their nation to take part in the war against the stronghold of anti-Christian powers.
To this might be added the significant fact that in the beginning of the nineteenth century German Christianity was suffering from the rot of rationalism. Liberal and radical, or rationalistic, Christianity is always banen of good results. Advanced theology would never Christianize the world. People of this stripe can not give what they themselves do not possess. Even the revival of positive principles that was inaugurated by Schleiermacher was not of the kind that would produce acti vity in mission causes. During this period therc were only a few bright spots in the German Protestant Church in this department, notably that noble band of practical Christians, the great mission church of the Moruvian Brethren, and the adherents of the Halle pietistic movement. But the German churches as such had not the appreciation of mission duties and work which became so early in the century a potent factor in the English and American churches. For both external and internal causes the Protestant Church of Germany came into the field of foreign missionary work too late to become propagandists and pathfinders. These are the historical causes that have prevented the Church in the country that was the cradle of the Reformation from holding that preeminence in the great practical development of Gospel propaganda among the heathen people.
Other reasons for German inactivity may be found in the very organization and government or the German Protestant churches. In that country State and Church, or, rather, states and churches, are combined. There is no such an organization as the Protestant Church of Germany, which is indeed politically but not ecclesiastica,lIy united. There are no fewer than forty-eight different state churches in the land of Luther, each one governing its own affairs. independently of
the others.' In principle, however, they all agree-namely, that the state makes provision only for the immediate wants of the congregation, but does nothing whatever for the Church in addition. The state builds churches and schoolhouses, pays pastors and teachers, but that is all; for all the foreign and home mission work done by the Church, as well as all its charitable undertakings, are purely the result of voluntary effort on the part of the churches. The various missionary societies, of which there are now in all twenty-three, are all volunteer associations organized without any assistance or moral support from the Church or State governments, and there are no organizations of the kind within any special country or district of Germany. All are organized along the line of theological views, and are recruited from all the various other churches. Indeed, it had been rather an element of weakness to the Protestant mission work of the Germans that State and Church are united. '1'he German authorities are more than anxious to put their colonies on a firm footing, and they have found that the Catholic missionary is a better colonizer than the Protestant. The latter finds his highest idea and ideal ill the work of saving souls and in his oorvice of the Gospel. 1'he former is willing to lend his service to the state in return for outward protection in his work of making the heathen outwardly and mechanically members of the Roman Cath-olic communion. As a consequence even the Protestant emperor and other Protestant princes regard the Catholic mission prelates as lJersonm gratm, and permit them to exercise and influence the government policy that has in more than one case proved to be dangerous. It has been demonstrated by documentary evidence and first-class sources that the German occupancy of Chinese territory, which was really the beginning of the present Chinese trouble, was done at the express solicitation of the Catholic bishop, Von Anzer. And throughout this trouble the public press of Germany, almost without exception, has made bitter attacks on the Protestant but not on the Catholic missionaries in China, maintaining that the former are the chief cause of the Boxer revolts and the murder of so many missionaries. The Protestant government of Germany is not a friend of the Protestant mission cause and its work.
Yet, while Germany during all this period of mission activity has not been able, except to a limited extent, to do pioneer work in this line, and has not done a little in keeping others, there always haye been a band of practical Christians in the German churches who were eager to engage in this good work, and who, because they did not find the opportunity at home, sought for this abroad. In this way the Halle movement, through the Danish Missionary Society, send such pioneers as Schwartz and Ziegenbalg to India, and in the first half of the present century the German element in the employ of English societies was very great. An example in hand that could
readily be duplicated is found in the work of the London Society in that old home of Christianity in Africa-namely, Abyssinia. In the annuals of this work the most prominent workmen are such as Gobat, afterwards the second Anglo-Prussian Bishop of Jerusalem; as Kugler, Isenberg, the great Amharic scholar, Kraff, Flad, Bender, Mayer, KienzleI', Miiller, Stein, etc. All of these were Germans, and the most of them come from the mission house of the Basel Society. The same is true of the Jewish mission work carried on by various English societies-the majority of the workers have been either German missionaries or German-Jewish converts. Among these not a few have attained a worldwide reputation, such as the Picks and the Ederscheims. It is expressly to be noticed that many of the scholars used by English societies in their work of Bible translation, etc., have been German.
But in one department, at least, the German even now leads the world of mission workers, and that is in the theoretical field. Nowhere else in the Protestant churches are the theoretical problems of missions so thoroughly discussed as is done by the Germans. In the threevolu me work of Professor Warneck, of the University of Halle, the only occupant of a theological chair in Christendom devoted exclusively and alone to missions, entitled "Missions-Lehre," is the only really exhaustive scientific discussion for subjects of missions extant. Particularly strong are the Germans in the Biblical phases of mission problems, and this engaged the attention also of leading university men in other branches. In a collection of masterly essays, called "Skizzen," by the great New Testament savant of Erlangen, Professor Zahn, is one of the most thorough 'and excellent discussions of Paul as a missionary-an exceptionally fine analysis of the Pauline mission methods and manners. The Germans also make the introduction of the Biblical idea of missions into their congregation a matter of the greatest importance. In regular mission-hours (Missions-Stunden) the German pastor will once every month, or every two months, give his people a lecture or semi-sermon on a mission topic, usually in exposition of some Scriptural text. The Germans are laying the foundation wide and deep for the prosecution of Gospel work along evangelical and Biblical lines, and when the time comes and the German Christians have become as wealthy and liberal as the church people in England and America, then it is probable that the Germans, with their deeper conception of the current Biblical principles of mission work, will prove to be prime factors and forces for good in the world's conquest for the Savior. The future has, no doubt, wider and deeper opportunities for the Germans in store in this department of church work.
As at present organized, the German soeieties work entirely independent of each other. They differ in reference to doctrinal position, the Hermannsburg, Nendetteslau, and Leipzig societies being most prominent in their confessional and Lutheran attit.ude. A good
bird's-eye view of the work of these societies can be gained from the following schedule, prepared to show their status at the beginning of the twentieth century: -.d, w5. ci IIi "~':!'@": … ..!.~ ."-.~..<"..,.1,;">-'"I''"""rI , .b_e'0" NAMES OF SOCIETIES AND CHIEF FIELDS ,," '0 <1>I"0"0" <1> .w"8.c.'.§_-; ~~ ~ OF OPERATION. d ….- "'"" "..-..~:s! .,03 " M,"~Q. , 0 '00:"'– ""-050: .i':1I: . I'Q ::112 ~ '"" H'" ~;;::; Z '""' – – — — 1. :Moravian Brethren (Labrador, Alaska, In· dians of North America, West Indies, Ger· man East Africa, etc., Central Asia, etc.) …. 1732 131 91,283 2161 1,114 24,174 621,493 2. Basel Society (South India, China, Africa) …. 1815 56 4{765 207 58H 19,993 1.317,511 3. Berlin Society (I) (Africa and China)………. 1823 74 37,293 122 559 6,606 591,049 4. Harmen Society (Africa, India, Dutch Is· lands)…………………………………. 1828 91 77.819 144 980 13,988 5. North German Society, Bremen (Africa) …… 1836 4 2,407 19 21 1,037 752,803 6. Gossner Mission (India) …………………… 1836 20 43,348 44 305 4,368 144,000 7. Leipzig Society (India and Africa) ………… 18-36 45 18,538 52 286 7,587 239,597 8. Women's SOCiety for Women in the Orient 5!14,423 (North India) ……………………………. 1842 1 …… 9 3 316 26,089 9. Hermannsburg Society (India and Africa) …. 1849 55 50,163 62 303 6.P38 365,569 10. Berlin Woman's Society for China ………… 1850 11. Jerusalem Society (Jerusalem and Vicinity) .. 1852 1 "':370 4 11 100 17,526 6 4 5 370 119,438 12. Schleswig-Holstein Society (India) ………… 1877 7 1,103 14 16 632 115,700 13. Neukirch SOCiety (Dutch and English India) .. 1881 10 992 17 24 432 83,637 14. Protestant Society (Japan)……………….. 1884 3 112 8 7 130 89.955 15. Society for East Africa…………………… 1886 8 343 20 072 242,639 …. …. ~~ 16. Neudetteslau Society (South Sea Islands) ….. 1886 5 12 90 78,629 17. China Society……………………………. 18891 7 9 12 34 21.707 18. Society for Blind in China………………… 1897 1 3,358 1 …. S 19. German Basel Society (Africa) ……………. 1898 13 2.1421 7 50 1,300 51,204 20. Free Church. Hanover (Africa) …………… 1892 9 2,730 9 12 800 25,028 21. Basel Mission for China ………………….. 1895 3 5 …… 7,762 22. German Inland China Mission ……. ……… 1898 …. . ….. 23. Eisenach Mission (Africa)…………………. 1900 . ….. 1 9 14 32 — 1 …… …. 150 —- — – -1 – — Totals……………………………….. 551369,493 976 4,305 89,103 5449276 PIONEERING AMONG THE OANNIBALS.-II.
BY REV. SAlIIL"EJ, lIIcFARLAKE, LL.D.
For a time Pao's enemies prevailed, and the son of old Bula, who succeeded his father, had also to escape for life. 'J'his defeat of the king's party was regarded by Pao's friends as a judgment upon them for their hypocrisy-a view that soon became prevalent. In the midst of these troubles Pao, accompanied by a few influential natives from Mare, visited Lifu; but he was received with hostile demonstrations, and owed his safety, no doubt, to the influence of his Mare friends. His faithful few urged him to return to Mare for a little longer. So again he put to sea, with a sad, perplexed heart, no doubt. He had to learn that ou·r work is to surround the walls of idolatry and blow the Gospel trumpet; God will do the rest. Pao's trumpet had given no uncertain sound on Lifu; the blasts had been long and loud, and had echoed throngh every village on the island; now he was to retire till God threw down the walls that stood between him and his work.
The change that took place in the minds of Pao's enemies was remarkable for its suddenness and completeness. They felt the truth
PIONEERING AMONG THE CANNIBALS
of what he had said about their desolating wars; they heard with interest the glowing accounts of tlle transformation effected on Mare by the Gospel; they were losing confidence in their gods, and becom- ing more and more afraid of " Jehovah;" and the little band that Pao had left behind were zealous 5n desseminating as much of the truth as they knew; so that a few months after Pao left Lifu, mes- sengers arrived at Mare earnestly begging him to return and assuring him that those who had formerly been his enemies were ready to receive him with open arms.
We may conceive how Pao's spirit was stirred within him when he received this news, He was too impulsive to brook delay, and had but few preparations to make. His canoe was soon launched again and his mat-sail unfurled, and he and his companions flying before a trade wind to the sea of his labors. He was received with unmistakable demonstrations of-joy by th& people when he landed. He found that the wall had, indeed, fallen down flat, and that all they had to do was to go straight before them and take the city. They consequently threw themselves into the work with an ardor and heartiness befitting the circumstances.
Temporary buildings were erected in which regular services were conducted, and these were numerously attended. Schools were also established; and very soon some of the natives, to the astonishment of their friends, could name any letter in Pao's New Tes,tament, The wonderful change taking place in the Losi district, where Bula was supreme, became the talk of their enemies on the other side of the island, where Ukenezo was the great chief; the district was called Wet, and between the people of Wet and Losi there had been wars from time immemorial.
One of the most influential of the heathen priests, or sacred men, in the Wet district received a message from a friendly priest iu the Losi district, informing him that they were all going to embrace the new religiou, and urging him to adopt the same course. This priest, who had already heard much in favor of Christianity, declared his readiness to receive Pao and hear what he had got to say. Pao regarded this open door as providential, and determined to enter at once with the Word of Life. When he made known his intention many of his followers strongly opposed it, declaring that he would be killed by their enemies. Others, who began to comprehend better the design of the Gospel, were anxious that the Wet people should embrace it, and thus end their wars; all, however, agreed, that if he went he should be well escorted. In vain did Pao assure them that his God would protect him as He had done before. They seemed to think that neither he nor his God knew the character of their enemies half so well as they did. The result was that a large number of armed men accompanied him to the village of the heathen priest. Haneka
heard all he had to say, declared himself a Christian, and delivered up his gods to Pao. He then accompanied them to the great chief UkenizD, who, hearing of their approach, and fearing an attack, had two parties placed in ambush neal' his house for his protection. Altho no disturbance took place, the interview was too martial and Moham- medan-like to be productive of much real good.
The king declared himself satisfied with the gods of his fathers, and openly avowed his intention to live and die a heathen. For a time Haneka was the only man in Wet who dared to become a Christian. -He was a man of great influence, so great indeed, that even the great chief Ukenizo was afraid of him. Haneka's son. an energetic, fearless man about thirty years of age, joined his father, and became a means of communication between his father and Pao. This man was most indefatigable; he l'ieemed by his frequent intercourse with Pao to imbibe his spirit, and became really the evangelist of Wet, carrying Pao's messages from village to village, and running off to him with every hard question or case of difficulty. Numbers flocked to old Haneka at his home to learn about the new religion, and wherever his son Tubaisi went they gathered ronnd him to heal' and become converts; It was not long before Pao had udherents in almost every village in Wet, he himself paying them personal visits as often as he could; altho his life was frequently in great danger. It soon became a question "'lth Pao where he should settle as his headquarters. The spirit of the man was shown in his choice. All wanted him, of course, and the natives of the two districts very nearly came blows on the subject. He settled the question by building his house on the battlefield between the two districts. No coconut-tree, nor indeed food of any kind, was ever allowed to grow there. The idea of establishing a village at We was qliite amusing to the heathen party; even Pao's followers looked upon the undertaking as a hopeless one, and endeavored to dissuade him from it. Soon, however, a neat little cottage stood by the roauside on that dreary plain. So extraordinary a phenomenon was the subject of general conversation and astonishment, and there were but a few who believed that it would be allowed to remain. It certainly did not remain alone very long. Natives from the extremity of both districts gathered around Pao; houses were erected, groves of coconut-trees planted, and ere long it became the talk of the island that bananas were to be seen growing on the roadside at We, and even bunches of ripe ones were allowed to remain on the trees. Here was a palpable telling fact in favor of Christianity. We soon became a populous and flourishing village, with a neat lath and plaster church in its center, glistening among the COCOllut and banana trees, a pleasing illustra.tion of the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rOFe."
The success of Pao speIt failure to cannibal Oharley; even among the heathen his influence gradually waned. He knew that cannibalism and all the dark deeds of heathenism were doomed, and as he desired to continue the sort of life he had adopted, he embrace"d the oppor- tunity offered by a vessel calling at Lifn on its way to the Fiji islands, and leaving his harem and infamous example behind, he settled among the notorious cannibals of Fiji, where he spent the remainder of his life. And what a life! It should be a warning, as Pao's is an example.
This white heathen had left Hfu before my arrival. Of my work on that island the public have had an accou~}t in "The Story of the Lifu Mission." I conclude this paper with a brief reference to the last days of this noble pioneer evangelist.
During the illness from which he did not recover, he expressed a strong desire to make his will ( ! ) in my presence. Altho he was twenty miles from the place where I was living, I started at once to show the Lifllans a!l well as Pao my respect for him. Arriving in the evening, I presented myself at his bedside to receive his commands about the disposal of his property, which consisted of a scanty wardrobe and a few carpenter's tools, both of which were well worn. However, with Pao, the business was as serious as if he had been a millionaire.
He had a wife and two little daughters; one of the latter he dis- inherited altogether because she had not been attentive to him during his illness, preferring the playground to the sick-chamber. I remon- strated, but he remained firm. He then charged me to see that the following distribution was made of his property: 'fo a friend at Aitutaki-An old black cloth coat, the best he had. To a native at Haratonga-A carpenter's brace and bits. To another friend of the same island-A large auger. To his wife-Her own box, containing two dresses and a piece of calico. 'I'o the younger daughter-The remainder of his property, which consisted of a few carpenter's tools, all of which were specified; also what clothes remained after he had been buried in a suit. He desired me to see that his wife and children went to Raratonga by the Joltn Williams. Then he died happy. Thus passed away the apostle of Lifu-more like an apostle than many Oi-tlS. What a con- trast between his usefulness and will, and those of many professing" Christians! Pao was not qualified for the steady, systematic duties of a settled teacher; his work was simply that of a pioneer. On two occasions, accompanied by some Lifu men, he crossed over to New Oaledonia in a canoe, and sought to introduce the Gospel to those savage cannibals. His death was mourned by the whole population, and so great is the respect for his memory that many years after his death the natives and foreigners united inl'aising a monument to com- ~emorate his life and labors at Lifu. I write this account of the first two foreigners who settled among the savages and cannibals of Lifu as a warning and an example, showing to what depths civilized man may fall and to what heights savage man . may rise.
IN'l'ERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION.
EIGHTEENTH SESSION.
. BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., PRESIDENT.
Napoleon said: "Every age has its tendency;' the tendency of the present age is to unity." In nothing is this more manifest than in foreign missions, of which the International Missionary Union is a conspicuous illustration. It now numbers over one thousand living missionaries of all fields, and of most of the boards in the United States and Canada, with several of Great Britain, and even has representation from the continent of Europe. Of its scope and influence, Rev. Dr. F. F. Ellinwood, President of the Board of Trustees of the Sanitarium, said in a note of welcome to this body this year: In regard to the International Missionary Union, I think it scarcely possible to say too much of its broad and noble aims. In one respect these annual meetings have become the most truly ecumenical of all religious gatherings, and I hope they will continue to be held on and through the century. Already you have had from first to last representatives of all, or nearly all, the mission fields of the world, and the union has done much to break down barriers and render jealousies and rivalries of different organizations difficult, if not impossible. The spirit of comity, cooperation, and brotherhood has been greatly advanced. The wisdom of the wisest has been made common stock. In a very exalted sense Clifton has become the seat of a great missionary trust. The experience of the veterans has been capitalized, and in one sense concentrated, while in another sense it has been disseminated. Better than any possible treatise on the science of missions is the grand total of personal experience which has been gained, and as the years go on all missionaries, young or old, ought to be very wise.
The Union has been valflable also in its reflex influence upon the home churches. Every year hundreds of guests become witnesses of this fraternal interchange, catch the spirit of the occasion, and go back to their homes friends and supporters of the great missionary enterprise.
Dr. Judson Smith, secretary of the American Board, also one of the trustees of the sanitarium, in a communication to the Union said: " The International Missionary Union has already a great history, and has rendered a great service to the cause of missions .and has' yet a more hopeful future."
These assurances came with great fitness at this time, as since the preceding annual meeting Dr. Foster, the founder of the sanitarium, who provided for the entertainment of the missionaries here, had been transferred to a higher sphere. One of the speakers at the memorial meeting said: "Dr. Foster 'walked with God,' and one day he walked away with God." Mrs. :B'oster, who succeeded to the superintendency of the sanitarium, by mut.e eloquence of her personal presentation on the platform, underscored all formal words of welcome, and appropriated all the responsibilities of hostship which she and Dr. Foster have so funy met through a dozen of the eighteen years of the life of this Missionary Union.
The missionaries in attendance numbered one hundred and fifty-
INTERNATlONAL MISSIONARY UNION. 60~
six, wp.ich is one more than the largest representation of 1897, the hitherto high-water mark of answers to the roll-call. The countries represented were: Micronesia. . .. R Malaysia: . . . .. 1 Assam.. . … . .. 2 Mexico. . . .. . .. 1 China ……… 46 Hawaii…….. 2 S. America…. 1 India ………. 42 Aln. Indians… 2 Russia……. .. 1 Japan ……… 20 Korea.. ….. .. 2 Spain………. 1 Burma . ……. 12 Laos…….. . .. 2 Africa . . . . . . . . . 10 Italy. . . . . . . . . . 1 Total. ……. 156 Bulgaria……. 4 Turkey. . . . . . .. 4 Fifteen members of the union had <lied <luring the year, five of whom had been killed in the uprisings in China. These were: Rev.
and Mrs. C. W. Price, Rev. F. W. Davis, Rev. H. 'f. Pitkin, and Miss Mary Morrill. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, whose name ha<l for fifteen years lent luster to the roll, had ascended up on high from the coast of Maine, and Bishop E. 'V. Parker from the snow-line of the Himalayas in India- " From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, Through gates of pearl, streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: , Hallelujah! '"
CHINA.
Naturally China assume<l prominence in the addresses and <liscus- sions of the week. The sentiment of the whole body was expressed in the note of DI·. Judson Smith, already alluded to, and which was read at the great platform meeting on China-to-wit: In the foreign missionary cause it is a time of unusual promise. The signs of our sky are most auspicious. Even in China, where violence and bloodshed have broken ill upon our work and left wide regions in ruin and disorder, we must not forget the other rare and radiant signs that have arisen, the light of martyrdom, the spectacle of a glorious Christian example, the voice from blood that speaks better things than tha.t of Abel, and that assures us of a great and fruitful harvest in that populous land. The summons is of God, and the missionary host in China is to go forward and possess the land in the absolute assurance that where the martyrs have fallen the Church shall rise in fulness and strength, and the Celestial Empire come into and form a glorious part of the kingdom of God on earth.
Among the missionaries from China were several who had endured the hardships of the siege of Peking. Miss Edna Terry, M.D., had recently spoken in the church where, owing to her reported death at the hands of the Boxers, her funeral sermon had been preached; at her presentation at the ladies' meeting it was said, "She being dead yet speaketh." Rev. Mr. Whiting told thrilling tales, and Rev. Mr.
Gamewell in an hour's talk gave a masterly description of the siege, and emphasized the marked providences by which they were saved.
Rev. Mr. Sprague and wife. Rev. Mark Williams, and Miss Virginia Murdock. M.D., were of the Kalgan party who escaped by the "back door" of China over the desert of Gobi. Rev. Mr. Dreyer, of the
Ohina Inland Mission at Ping lang ~'u, gave a vivid description of the experiences of the missionaries, especially in Tayuen, when over thirty were butchered in the open court by the officers and mob. Mr. Dreyer's party of ten ladies, two children, a sick man and himself started from Kuh-U under guard, but with the mob all around. 'l'he servants were beaten, they were robbed on the road, threatened repeatedly from day to day; the way was opened for the forty-five days' journey through the turbulent province of Honan. 'I'raveling as prisoners, they were subjected to every indignity, while on every hand were reports of the disturbances. 'rhere came sickness, too, and the two children died. Through all this the native Christians stood nobly by their faith. Many died, many were wounded, but all stood faithful. Mr. Dreyer told of native Ohristians who had been obliged to drink the blood of martyred missionaries before being beheaded themselves.
Dr. Howard Taylor, son of J. Hudson Taylor, gave a brief sketch of the relation of the famine to the recent outbreaks. The drought of a year ago had stirred the Ohinese of Northern Shansi to seek its cause, and they hit upon the empress dowager's deposition of the emperor. Oonsiderable opposition to the government was developing when she took advantage of the Boxer movement to turn the popular feeling against the foreigners. Now the government is thoroughly discredited, and as the need of the famine district becomes more apparent there is an opportunity for the Christian world to proye the falsity of the charges against foreigners. In this connection reference was made to the relief fund started by the Ohristian Herald, of New York, and to be distributed by a committee of American missionaries, embracing Drs. Arthur H. Smith and Robert Lowry, and others. The meeting heartily commended by resolution this movement of Mr. Klopsch. Mrs. Taylor called attention to the fact that this famine gives promise of being even more severe than that of twenty years ago, when seventy million men and children were starving, and expressed the belief that just as out of that famine came some of the best workers in the nati'e churches, so out of this there might come some to take the place of those who had fallen as martyrs. This, however, would come only as the churches at home made manifest their love for these very people who had committed such crimes. Dr. Baldwin referred to the uniyersal testimony of the missionaries, even of the widows of those who had ,fallen, to their love for the Ohinese. Not one word of harshness has been heard even from those who suffered t.he most.
In regard to the moot question of the wisdom and safety of sending ladies to out-stations, where no male missionary was, the testimony was that a great deal of the pioneer work of India was dOlle b-y single women. Mrs. Stott, of the China Inland Mission, which has had far
1901.J INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION
the most of such agents in China, said they had been uniformly well received, and Mrs. Dr. Howard Taylor (nee Geraldine Guinness) said that no riot had ever broken out in any mission where there were only women missionaries. Miss Irwin had worked ten years in Quang-Kio Kiangsu, on the Kuungsu River, where from the extreme east almost to the west of the province there is a chain of mission stations worked by single ladies only. In the last ten years the whole district has been evangelized by two (( small-footed" women, who, with herself, had traveled many hundred,s of miles by wheelbarrolV only. She had seen over a hundred converted, and left a little church of eighty-three members. All the single women had been welcomed back by the villagers since the troubles had calmed down.
,TAPAN AND KOREA.
Rev. Mr. Gring, of the Protestant Episcopal mission, gave an historical survey of the missions in that land. Mr. Scott, who spoke of the changes that are taking place in the attitude of the people toward Christianity, in the social evil, due to the heroism of Miss Peckany, who braved the hostility of the most powerful class and compelled the State to declare girl slavery illegal; in the education law or rather in its interpretat.ion by the courts granting government recognition to schools that have the study of the Bible in their regular course. Miss Curtis told of the change in the Doshisha Oollege, bringing it back into line with Ohristian life, and then spoke of the work opening up among the lower classes which constitute the great majority of the population. Miss Deyo referred to the statement by some that Japan no longer needs missions, and dwelt upon the change taking place for the worse, especially among the young, which causes the leaders great anxiety. Still there is great yearning for better things, and the children are especially easily influenced. Miss Parmalee and Miss Alling followed with evidence of the great need of temperance. It used to be that, according to Dr. Verbeck, at least three-fourths of the men went to bed intoxicated, altho this was not often manifest in public life. This is still true in a degree, and there is added more publicity, but men are awakening to the danger.
Dr. .(Jorrell referred to the impression made on Japan by Ohristianity as an elevation of ideal, introducing a higher, nobler conception of life. Another influence excited has been that of honesty and Sabbath observance. One man not only closed his shop, but paid his employees for seven days, taking them OIl Sunday to the church· services aF' cbeir Sunday work.
Mrs. f:lwallen, of Korea, spoke of the delightful feeling that comes with the new life that is coming into the experience of its ten million people. This change has been very rapid. Already there are three thousand church members and five thousand catechists who have
thrown aside their heathenism and are ready for Church membership. A great element in this has been the great circulation of the Bible and especially the work of native evangelists. Some of these are employed in cities, others go all over the country supporting themselves and preaching. Some of these are men of great power. One, a RoLlen chief, has done noble work. Mrs. Swallen emphasized the fact that Korea had been forced to stand alone before she was ready for it, and needed the cordial support of Christians.
A]<'inCA.
There was early in the week a protracted discussion on the strategic points of missions throughout the world in the present century. Dr. Baldwin contended for Shanghai as against Peking, and Mr. Openshaw claimed that Hankou was the real center of Chinese influence, the center of railway activity, of trade, of language extension-of everything. Many other points were emphasized, as Port Said; some contended this was to be determined by present opportunity, and others that respect should be had to classes; the women of heathendom afforded the special power available against heathen society.
It was in contention for the relative place to be accorded Africa that Mr. Bunker, of Natal, sketched rapidly and vividly the strategic points along. Africa's backbone, commencing with Khartoum on the Nilc, already entered by many missionaries, and passing south through Uganda, where the Church Missionary Society of England has done such magnificent work; Lake Nyassa, where the Scotch societies are located, to Lovedale with its famolls industrial school, and Johannesberg, where there are snch opportunities as missionaries seldom see. With its bed of gold five thousand feet deep, and covering an area thirty miles in diameter, it is attracting not merely foreigllers but natives in great nnmbers from every section of the continent. Before th e war there were seventy thousand of. them. Soon there will be two hundred thousand. Gathered in compounds where they are easily accessible, the missionary may preach to them seven days in the week, any hour in the day, and through them reach sections hitherto practically untouched. Following Mr. Bunker, Miss McAllister, from Liberia, defended the west coast of Africa against the charge of being so unhealthy, claiming that it was the white man's fault if he died there any sooner than he would anywherc else. One special point of value, in her view, was the character of the women of the tribes, who were perfectly competent to hold their own with the men, and did so even in matters of public interest.
At another session Mr. Bunker spoke of the result of the Boer war being freedom for native evangelists such as had never. been enjoyed under Boer rule. Now these men of high character, great ability, and
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION
the most earnest spiritual life, can go from one end of the country to another with no hindrance. Miss McAllister, who went out to West Africa as a member of Bishop Taylor's self-supporting mission, told of the utter failure of every attempt to raise coffee, make molasses, or starch, so as to support themselves, and of the great success which attended their efforts when they devoted themselves to spiritual work.
ISLAM, ISLANDS, AND INDIA.
It is impossible to summarize the sharp points of statement about all the countries. Mexico was championed by Mrs. Brown in its Pan- American relations. Hawaii changes favorable to evangelism as the result of annexation were shown by Rev. 'rhomas L. Gulick. Micronesia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and other lands were represented by persons long familiar with them, and one young woman, Miss Abell, formerly of Micronesia, was delegated to our new possession-Guam.
It is impossible to give even a hint of the notable utterances on India by the prominent men and women from that country. Dr. Mansell, Dr. Humphrey, Mr. Lawson, and others, with the lady missionaries, made points enough of value to fill' many pages of this periodical. Dr. Downie spoke of the energy of Moslems for extension in India. The sixty millions of them in India were in close touch with the thirty millions in Malaysia and the Philippines, and the thirty millions in Ohina, and he urged strong reenforcements to reach them. Dr. Humphrey denied that Moslems are inaccessible, or that they can not be impressed.
The features of the week alluded to above were not more valuable than were others, and have been mentioned in disregard of the" survival of the fittest." The session on Medical Missions, the discussion on the work at home, the remarkable contrasts of Ohrist's Kingdom with world kingdoms of Dr. Baldwin's sermon on Sunday morning, the great farewell meeting, with sixty missionaries on the platform about to depart for foreign fields, the powerful devotional meetings throughout the week, all demand, but can not receive now, becoming notice. The unio,n publishes a full report of these sessions in "The International Missionary Index," which may be ordered of Mrs. O. C. Thayer, Clifton Springs, N. Y., at ten cents a copy.
ROLL OF MISSIONARIES IN ATTENDANCE AT EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.
NAME. FIELD. NAME. FIELD.
Abbey, Mrs, L. S……………… China. Bechan, Mis" Emily ….. , . , ….. , . Am. Indian.
Abell, Miss Annie E ………….. .Micronesia. Belden, Mr". W. H ……………. Bulgaria.
Allen, Rev. Ray……………….India. Benedict, Miss Harriet M…….. ,Japan.
Alling, Miss Harriet S ………… Japan. Bliss, Rev. Edwin M…………… Turkey.
Alway, Miss Hester …………… India. Bliss, Mrs. Edwin M…………… Micronesia.
Archibald, Rev. I. C………….. .. Bond, Rev. G. A………………. Malaysia.
Archibald, Mrs. I. C………….. " Bostwick, H. J ……………….. China.
Baldwin, Rev. S. L ……………. China. Bostwick, Mrs. H. J…………… ..
.Beach, Rev. HarlanP…………. .. Boughton, Mis3 Emma F. .. .. …. "
NAME FIELD NAME FIELD Braddock, lIIrs. Effie II ……….. India. Lawson, Rev. H. M…………… India.
Bradshaw, Rev. F. J ………….. China. Lawson, lIIrs. H. M…………… . Lawson, Miss Anne E ………….., Brown, Mrs. H. W …………….1IIexico.
Bunn, lIIiss Zillah A …………… Burma. Lawson, Christina H…… , …… .
Bunker, Rev. Fred. Robt ……… Africa. Logan, lIIiss Beulah …………… 1IIicronesia. Lyon, Rev. D. N ………………. China. Bushnell, Mrs. Albert.. . . . . . . . . . .. ..
Carleton, lIIary E., 1II.D……….. China. lIIalcolm, William, JlI.D ……….. "
Carr, lIIiss 111. E ……………… Burma. lIIalcolm, Mrs. William……….. "
Clancy, Rev. Rockwell………… India. lIIanly,Rev. W. Edward., ……… " 1Ilanly, Mrs. W. Edward ……… . Clancy, lIIrs. Rockwell……….. .
Clarke, Rev. James F …………. Bulgaria. Mansell, Rev. Henry………….. India. Mansell, lIrs. Henry"………… H Clark, Rev. E. W ……………… Assam JIIattox, R~v. Elmer L …………. China. ~lcAl1ister, lIIiss Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . Africa. Clark, lIIrs. E. W…. . .. . . .. .. . . . .. ,.
Cole, Rev. J:Thompson………..Japan.
Correll, Rev. I. H…………….. " ~lerritt, C. P. W., M.D ………… China. lIIerritt, lIIrs. C. P. W ………… . Correll, lIIrs. 1. H……… .. … . . .. ,.
Crane, Rev. H. A …………….. .India. Miss La Verne……………….. H Cronkhite, lIIrs. I,. W …………. Burma. Moody, Rev. Thomas …………. Africa.
Curtis, Rev. W. L ……………..Japan. lIIoody, Mrs. Thomas ………… . ~lurdock, Virginia, 1II.D . . . . . . . . . . China. Cushing, Rev. C. W …………… Italy.
Darmstadt, Miss Kate ……….. India. Openshaw, Henry J …………. .
Deyo, Miss Mary………………Japan. Openshaw, Mrs. Henry J … ~…. .
Downie, Rev. D………………..India. Owen, Rev. William C…………. India.
Dovnie, Mrs. D…. ,', .. "……….. '" Owen, ~Irs. William C … ……… ..
DowsIey" 111rs. A. ……………… 5I CInhdiinaa.. Parmalee, lIIiss H. Frances ……. Japan.
Dresser, lIIiss Ellen E …………. China. Parrott, Miss J. Emily. . . . . . .. . .. Burma. Perkins, lIIrs. H. P …………… China. Dreyer, F. C. H………………. " Phelps, lIIiss Fidelia …………… Africa. Faye, lIIiss lIIary D ……………. India. Porter, lIIiss Francina E ………. Japan.
Ferris, Mrs. Geo. H. " ……….. H Pratt, lIIiss Clarissa H ………… Turkey.
Fisher, Rev. A. N ……………..Hawaii. Price, JIIiss lIIartha E . . . . . . . . . . . . . Africa.
Fisher, Mrs. A. N……………… H Priest, Miss lIIary A ……………Japan.
Foote, Rev. Frank……………. India. Relyea, Miss Stella……………. China. Foote, Mrs. Frank. … . .. . . . . . . . .. H Riggs, JlIiss Mary E…………… "
Foreman, Miss Emily N………. " Roberts,1I1rs. J. S ……………. .
Freeman, Rev. J. H. …………..Laos. Roberts, Rev. W. H …………… Burma. Freeman, lIIrs. J. H ………….. . Roberts, lIIrs. W. H. . . . .. .. . . . .. .. " Gamewell, Rev. F. D………….. China. Gracey, Rev. J. T …………….. India. Selkirk, Thomas …………….. .
Gracey, lIIrs. J. T …………….. " Selkirk, lIIrs. Thomas ………… .
Griffith, lIIrs. C. M ……………. S. America. Schenck, Mrs. J. W ……………Japan.
Gring, Rev. Ambrose D……….. Japan. Scott, Rev. J. H ….. "'………… "
Gring, Mrs. Ambrose D……….. " Scott, lIIrs. J. II……. ……….. " Gulick, Rev. T. L …………….. Spain. Smith, lIIiss Laura C ………….. Africa. Hallam, Rev. E. C. B………….. India. Sparkes, Miss Fannie J ……….. India. Hallam, Mrs. E. C. B.. .. . .. . .. …. " Sprague, Rev. William P ………China. Hance, lIIiss Gertrude H ………. Africa. Sprague, lIIrs. 'Villiam P. .. .. . .. . . .. Harris, Rev. Edward N ……….. Burma. Stephens, Miss Grace…………. India. Harris, Mrs. J. E……………… .. Stone, Rev. Oeo. I…………….. .. Harris, Rev. H ……………….. Japan. Stone, Mrs. Geo. I ……………. . Harris, Mrs. H… ……………. " Stone, Rev. J. S…………….. . Hartwell, Rev. Geo. E ………… China. Stone, Mrs. J. S ……………… . Hawkes. lIIiss Harriet E ………. Burma. Hickman, Rev. Frank D. P ……. Africa. 'V. Stott, Mrs. Grace …………….. China. Holmes, Rev. Thomas…………China. Holmes, lIIrs. Thomas….. …….. " Swallen, Rev. L …………… Korea. Humphrey, Rev. J. L., JlI.D …… India. Swallen, lIIrs. W. L …………… " . Humphrey, Mrs. James L…….. " Inglis, Rev. Thomas E………… " Tague, Rev. Chas. Allen ………Japan. Inglis, Mrs. Thomas E………… Tague. Mrs. Chas. Allen………. " Irvin, lIIiss Grace……………… China. Taylor, F. Howard, M.D ………. China. Irwin, Rev. J. 111 ……………… India. Taylor, lIIrs. F. Howard………. ,. Irwin, :lirs. J. M………………. .. Terry, Edna G., M.D………….. " Kelly, Miss Martha E ………….Japan. Thayer, Rev. C. C., 1II.D ………. Turkey. Kingsbnry, Rev. F. L., 1II.D ……. Bulgaria. Thayer, lIIrs. C. C…………….. .. Kingsbury, lIIrs. F. L….. …….." Thompson, Miss Mary A ……… .China. Knight, Rev. Walter Perry……. China. Knight, Mrs. W. P……….. …. " Watson, lIIiss Isabella…………. Burma. Knss, Mrs. B………………….Russia. Whiting, Rev. Joseph L……….. China. Kurtz, Miss Susie I……………. India. Whiting, lIIrs. JosephL……….. " , Williams, Rev. Mark………….. " 'Williams, Mrs. George L………. " Worthington, Miss 111. C………. " Young, Rev. Egerton R ………. H. B. India.
Total. ………………………………………………………………………… 156
1901.J CHRISTIAN VS. HEATHEN LIBERALITY
CHRISTIAN VS. HEATHEN LIBERALITY.
BY HEY. EDWARD N. HARRltl, BlJRMA.
lIIissionary of the American Baptist Missionary lJnion.
To !nstitute a just comparison between the liberality of Christian people and that of the heathen in the support of religious institutions is by no means easy. '1'0 the casual observer the heathen might seem far to excel in this particular. When one sees the magnificen temples, the vast monasteries, the towering pagodas, the stately avenues and approaches erected by them in devotion to their false faiths, one is tempted to doubt whether Christians do as much in devotion to their holy religion. Even between Protestants and Roman Catholics in this country there appears a marked disparity to the disadvantage of the former, and on the foreign field the missionary is sometimes amazed to see Christian converts giving for the cause of Christ not a tithe of what they formerly spent on their heathen devotions, and giving that little grudgingly. Does our spiritual religion exercise less power over its followers than do its grosser rivals? is a question which has no doubt often suggested itself to the earnest Christian worker.
Only when all the phases of the varied problem are taken into consideration can this question receive adequate answer. First may be raised the question of fact: Do God's spiritual children really fall behind the children of darkness in giving of their means for the support of 'religion? As to the immense display of wealth on the part of the ecclesiastical forces of Roman Catholicism in this country, we know comparatively little of it represents the actual gifts of its adherents; and as to Ohristian converts in heathen lands, while a few may, because of faulty training or for some other reason, be remiss in their duty, it is probable that the vast majority respond nobly to the demands made upon them by their newly acquired faith. But among its converts in heathen lands. the Go~pel has scarcely had a chance M yet to show what it can do, and so anything like a just comparison should be taken, not between them and their heathen neighbors, but between the healhen in their own land and Christians here. And even in making this comparison much care should be taken to see that all the elements of the problem are alike. For instance, we ordinarily include under the head of Christian benevolences such contributions only as go directly for the support of the Gospel, unless indeed it be such additional contributions as are used for the supportof religious education, whereas among the heathen the gifts for religious purposes usually cover the total expenditure for educational purposes in the land. '1'he religious teachers are also generally the secular teachers, and the monasteries are quite as much schools for the youths of the land as asylums for members of the sacred order. In some countries the entire judicial system as well is in the hands. of
the priests. Now if to the contributions of the Christians of America for instance were added the cost of aU the school buildings that dot our land, the endowments of all our colleges, and the salaries of all the teachers and professors employed, the disparity between their contributions and those of the heathen in Siam or some similar Gountry would seem less marked, if indeed it did not altogether disappear.
But even when due care has been taken to make the comparison between heathen and Christian liberality absolutely just as regards these and other like superficial elements of the problem, there still remain certain considerations which, being taken into account, tend to reverse conclusions which might be founded on mere outward showing.
I. While t):1e gifts of Christian people the world over are purely voluntary, the contributions of the heathen for the support of their religions are made largely perforce of circumstances, or are the result of customs handed down from previous generations when such circumstances existed. In almost all countries which are under the dominion of heathen rulers, probably in all, except such asJ.apan, which have been more or less enlightened by Christian civilization, it is not, generally speaking, safe for any but. those in authority to become rich, for as soon as the ordinary citizen acquires a little property it excites the cupidity of officials and magistrates, and he is subjected to any amount of annoyance of one kind or another until he is glad to disgorge his possessions. The consequence is that as soon as a man gains a little competence he must either hide it or find some other way of placin-g it beyond the reach of his superiors. Now it goes without saying that to most men the chief satisfaction in the possession of wealth is in the display of it. In this country if a man becomes wealthy he buys houses and lands, and indulges in luxuries quite as much to impress his neighbors as to minister to his own comfort. But in heathen countries there is one way only in which the man of means may display his wealth without danger to himselfnamely, by devoting it to religious objects. WeaIth so given will be respected, for in all countries by a sort of law of Corban all religious offerings enjoy peculiar immnnities. The result is that what an American spends on horses and carriages and houses and lands the Chinaman or the Siamese or the Thibetan spends on his devotions, and the aggregate is, of course, enormous. So true is this explanation that it may be laid down as an almost invariable principle that the liberality of a people in matters of religion snstains an intimate relation to the character of its rulers. If they are domineering and rapacious, large sums will be spent on objects of devotion; but if they are lenient and easy-going, less will be spent on devotion and more on personal comfort.
Turning now to heathen countries which, like India and Burma, have fallen under the control of Christian nations, we shall find that
CHRISTIAN VS, HEATHEN LIBERALITY
while large sums are still devoted to religious objects, this is the result of habits and customs long established, which, in the nature of the case, could not be expected to yield at once to changed conditions. The East moves slowly, and time is required to change the settled p]'actis~ of centuries. Nevertheless, there is already complaint on the part of the priesthood that the contributions of the people are on the decline. It is, in fact, evident to everyone that independently of the aggressions of Christianity, heathenism is languishing. Of course several generations will yet be required to overcome entirely the power of customs established under centuries of heathen rule, bu t it is safe to say that even if the enlightening influences of the Gospel and of Christian civilization were never to reach a single heathen country, and nothing but absolute security of life and property could be assured to the people, the resulting freedom from fear alone would, in the end, tend to the enfeeblement of the entire heathen system.
II. While Christian IJeople are accustomed in greater or less degree to do their alms in secret, expecting to receive their reward from their Father in heaven, the heathen are wont to perform their devotions before men-to be seen of them. My acquaintance with heathenism is confined chiefly to Burma. 1'hat acquaintance leads me to believe that from end to end of that land never a Buddhist prayer is offered, never a Buddhist alms is given.. in secret, and I have little doubt that the same might be said of similar acts of devotion in all other heathen lands. That the left hand should not be allowed to know-should not, in fact, be made to know-what the right hand doeth is an unheard-of, an unthought-of, thing. The whole system of heathenism is built up as an appeal to the selfishness and vanity of man. If a worshiper goes to the pagoda, he rings a gong before him to proclaim his coming. If an offering is to be made, it is presented with an ostentation and display that to the Christian onlooker is ludicrous and amazing. If one is to undergo penance of any sort, it must be done out in the open where everyone can see it. While the heathen !pay seem lavish in their gifts, a little scrutiny reveals utmost economy of expenditure in view of the extravagant returns 'expected in the form of glory from men. Surely, as it is written, they have their reward; and without hope of the reward we may well believe they would not do the works. The practise of piety and philanthropy for their own sakes is unknown among them. The hypocrisy of some professing Christians is doubtless sad eno~lgh, bnt it is as nothing compared with the 8hameless lack of sincerity on the part of the heathen. Many are their forms of religion, but not one of them has what we mean by religion. A young man once asked me why we should send missionaries to the heathen to teach them Christianity when they already had such good religions of their own. He was all ungodly man of glight education and accustomed to -associate with
rude men, being a horse-jockey by trade, but I knew him to have some degree of sincerity, so I replied to his question, using language which I knew he could understand: There are many churches in this country, but might you not belong to any or all of them and still not be any the better for it? But wouldn't it be a good thing for you if you had religion, real religion? Just in the same way it is a good thing for the heathen tc get religion. They have their religions in abundance, but they still need religion, and that is what we go to teach them.
This is an absolutely true representation of the case. There are many heathen religions, some of which have been greatly admired, but not one of them teaches religion, and all the deeds of righteousness that have ever been performed in the name of these heathen religions have had as their object in some form, not the practise of righteous- ness and virtue for their own sakes, but for the glorification of self.
III. While among Christian people religion is practised as a virtue, among heathen people it is practised as a vice. All vices are the perversion of certain virtues, or at least of certain fUllctions the right exercise of which is virtuous. It is not, perhaps, so generally recognized that not only some but all virtues may be perverted so as to become corresponding vices. And the more intellectual and spiritual the virtue, the more subtle and destructive is its vice. The gambling vice is the perversion of the incomparable virtue which in its higher manifestations is called Hope, worthy peer of Love and Faith, and it exerts a power over its. victims incomprehensible to those who are llot touched by it. How is it that men can take pleasure in casting the dice when they know it to he a mathematical certainty that in the long run· they will lose? How it is that they should be willing to lose, to stake all they have and more, to risk the happiness of wife and children, to face disgrace and even death itself, merely for the sake of the mental excitement or irritation of uncertainty and suspense, is something that is not to be understood of those who have not experienced the gambler's intoxication: but it is nevertheless a fact, and this vice is the most subtle and powerful of all the vices commonly recoguized in civilized lands. I believe that those missionaries who have had most intimate acquaintance with heathenism iIi its subtler' manifestations will bear me out in saying that there is a vice of religiosity common among heathen peoples which holds a more powerful sway over its victims than any of the commonly known vices, and it is this which largely gives to heathenism its power. There is undoubtedly implanted in every human heart a religious instinct, but heathenism is always the perversion of this instinct, never itsrightfnl exercise. It is a vice from the power of which those practising it can be delivered by Divine grace alone.
Now the indulgence of a vice is an entirely different thing from the practise of a virtue. Virtue is naturally economical. It is the vicious who are extravagant.· .If, then, it should be shown that the heathen expends vastly more on the indulgence of the vice of religiosity than the Ohristian does in the exercise of the virtue of pure and undefiled religion-which I do not concede-it nevertheless need occasion no surprise, and need give dse to no thought of admiration for the heathen nor of condemnation for the Ohristian.
THE ANTICLERICAL MOVEMENT IN SPAIN
THE ANTICLERICAL MOVEMEN'I' IN SPAIN. * BY PROF. A. BEAUMONT, PARIS, FRANCE.
For the last two years Spain has been in the throes of an important movement on the part of the clergy against the bishops and higher eccle- siastics. The name "Anticlerical" has been chosen by the authors of the movement, tho in reality it might be called an "Anti-Papal" move- ment.
The leading spirit of this bold struggle for freedom is an eminent Spanish priest, Pey Ordiex. He was born in Vich, in the north of Spain, took his degree in the University of Salamanca, and for a number of years was a parish priest in Mallorca and Barcelona. He was first aroused by the arbitrary acts of the Bishop of Mallorca against a number of earnest priests who had the good of the people at heart. Next he inveighed against the rapacity of the same bishop and several of his colleagues, who, not content with robbing the poor people, also insisted on extorting all sorts of contributions out of the clergy. The despotism of the bishops became so offensive to this fervent apostle that he began to combat them openly in a weekly paper which he published and called El Urbion. This paper was soon suppressed by the Bishop of Mallorca, and Pey Ordeix then went to Barcelona. Here he founded a second paper, which was also suppressed, and then a third, El C081nopolita, which was condemned last November. A climax was reached when the Bishop of Barcelona ordered all his priests to keep a monthly balanced account of the dona- tions they received for masses. Pey Ordeix rose up and said: "If the bishop takes all his priests for robbers, why does he not sus- pend them? And if he wants us to keep an account of every little gift we receive for his inspection, why does the bishop not also publish an account of his receipts, and, above all, of the way he spends his money and fabulous wealth, for our inspection?"
Pey Ordeix was supported in his indignant protest by about two hundred priests of the diocese of Barcelona, and the bishop became so frightened that he called upon the government to arrest the refractory priests. The government took some steps in that direction, but halted for fear of a general disturbance. Pey Ordeix was publicly suspended by the bishop, and forbidden to enter a church. The heroic priest replied: "You forbid me to enter the church? ""VeIl and good; I can speak to the people in the theaters and public halls just as well as in a church. You forbid meto administer the sacraments, but I am free to preach the Gospel in the open air, on the streets and public highways. The day when I respected your tyranny and rapacity is over, and I shall go forth with as many friends as will follow me to preach Christ and the Gospel."
Pey Ordeix has become a hundred-fold more popular since the bishop suspended him than he was before. Not only do immense crowds gather at all times to hear him, but n"early two-thirds of the clergy of Barcelona are eager to support him and help his cause. During the months of February and March he went from town to town addressing sometimes audiences of several thousand people and rousing popular indignation against what he calls the yoke of clericalism. Like Luther, when he . first broke loose from the Church of Rome, Pey Ordeix seems to be still * Condensed from The Converted Catholic.
groping in the dark as to his ulterior direction, but one thing is plain, he hates clericalism, and tho he does not seem to realize it fully himself, clericalism is Romanism in the Catholic Church. In the first week of March he delivered an address to nearly two thousand people at Villa- nueva, at which the mayor and a number of government officials were present. His speech was one of the most fiery and impressive that could be imagined, and after he finished the people almost trampled on each other in their enthusiasm to go and shake his hand and encourage him in the good work. The following are some extracts from his speech: "I have come to speak against clericalism, and I shall do it without beating about the bush. In the clerical theory the idea of a God disappears, for the cleric usurps the attributes of God for himself. He strips God of His prerogatives and assumes them himself, calling himself infallible, so that we are supposed to believe blindly everything clericalism asserts. The clericalist calls himself indefectible, by which he means that even when he tells us falsehoods we must believe them true; his assertions. are held to be incontrovertible, and not only what he says, but also what he does, must we approve. Such is the clerical idea; in the parish it is the parish priest who is infallible; the bishop claims infallibility for the diocese, and the Pope for the whole Church and all Christianity. They tell us to believe all they say blindly; to reverence all they do; to obey in everything they command; never to distrust, never· to criticize, never to judge their actions or their motives. What do they do but set themselves up in the place of God? Is tliis not claiming omnip- . otence and omniscience for humanity? Clericalism supplants God in the human conscience; it dethrones Him in order to take His place, and in place of religion it gives you the priest.
"They speak very much and very piously of God in order to conclude by saying, 'I am God!' (Enthusiastic cheers greeted the speaker all through this part of his discourse.) " Clericalism wants to suppress the individuality in every man by making him a blind, obedient beast. It wants you to sacrifice your reason, and with your reason your intelligence. When the priest says black is white you are to believe him, for is he not your superior? Is he not your God? With reason they also take away liberty; you are not to know why anything is commanded; you are not to know why you ought to obey. You are supposed to be as a stone in their hands, like a beast that they can move and place where they like, and this is their ideal of human perfection and liberty. (Applause.) "Clericalism wants your conscience for itself. No individual is supposed to have a conscience, to be allowed to choose between right and wrong. All conscience is in the hands of the superior, who claims to be infallible. In the place of a man clericalism sets up a boast without knowledge and without liberty. What I am telling you is not an invention. I am taking these facts from the catechism, where you can all see them. These are the doctrines taught in the seminaries, and which the bishops want us to teach you. And they want you to be especially blind and obedient, and to bring all the money you can to the church without looking at it, without counting it. And then they raise an outcry when we preach against their infamous traffic, when we wish to drive the buyers and sellers out of the temple. Clericalism wants us to become mute, and when we were not silent they persecuted our periodicals and excommunicated the pages that held them up to infamy. (Loud applause.) "They say that we lie, and yet do you not hear them in their pastorals, in their sermons, always crying out for what is yours? They want everything; they say it is for God, for pious purposes, but it is for themselves. They pretend to be poor in order to get alms from the poor; they set themselves up as agents for the souls of purgatory, as representatives of the saints in heaven to have your alms, to induce you to pull out your purse, and to offer it to them on the pretext of piety and religion. (Applause.) " And then they have the audacity to say that you can not do without them; that in case the priesthood should fail you would no longer have
any communication with God; thus they make themselves lords and masters of heaven and of earth. As you see, even in politics they want everything. Religious government, they say, is to political or civil gov- ernment what the soul is to the body. As the body should not move without a command from the soul, SQ there should be no civil govern- ment without the intervention of the priest. Thus it happens that the parish priest assumes the functions of the mayor of the town; the bishop becomes governor of provinces; the nuncio becomes king; and the pope becomes emperor, claiming whatever else is on earth. They do not use the title of king or emperor; they want to have the power without the responsibility. The privileges are for themselves; responsibility, obedience, and slavery are for the laymen. This theory has been effectually put in practise by invisible threads called the confessional, the pUlpit, and spiritual direction of souls. The family, the city, the nation, is moved by these secret strings, and no one dares take a step without the intervention of the priests. These men plunge into the very depths of consciences, and there they exert their despotic, blind, absolute, and inquisitorial dominion. (Prolonged and reiterated applause.) "In a country, alas! where such theories have been put in practise there is no God; the clergy is God. All the scapulars and medals you are told to wear, with holy water sprinkled over them, are nothing but symbols of your slavery, symbols of idolatry. You are reduced to stupid, ignorant beasts without conscience, without virtue, and without honor. The most apostolic virtue is to obey blindly and to act like a brute. (Applause.) Why should it not be so, when among the greatest criminals in history we can mention popes, such as Sixtus IV., who had the Medicis assassinated (1478), and that in the very church where he was saying mass, and at the moment he raised the host in sacrilegious mockery? What are the virtues that such models can command?
" You have your political organizations. Fight clericalism whenever and wherever you can. Keep together. Call in whoever wishes to help you in the good work in your own way. You fight clericalism in politics, and we shall fight it in religion with the habit and the cassock, which we persist in wearing in spite of the bishops and excommunications. Let us all, cleric and lay, pursue the same end. Let us work together like brethren. And I beg you, wherever you see a poor priest, wandering about alone, outlawed by the clerics, excommunicated and suspended because he is anticlerical, give him your hand; comfort him; let him be your friend. Let him be a cleric, but a decided enemy of clericalism and its vices." (Loud and prolonged applause.) The enthusiasm excited by the discourse of Pey Ordeix was indescrib- able. It was midnight before the hall was cleared, and it was remarked that two members of the Spanish Cortes were present and applauded him throughout, accompanying him after the address to the railway depot. The lecture cre'ated a sensation in the Catholic press, and as Pey Ordeix has since given three or four lectures a week in Barcelona and neighboring places, the whole north of Spain is in a ferment, and on many occasions the people have formed in the streets and marched en masse to the Jesuit convents and threatened to destroy them.
As is evident from his discourse, Pey Ordeix, while calling himself merely anticlerical, is in reality a staunch Protestant. He can not attack the infallibility of the popes and bishops as he does the doctrine of pur- gatory, the wearing of medals and scapulars, and the confessional, with·· out putting himself outside the pale of the Roman Catholic Church.
Words matter little; the important thing is that in a priest-ridden coun- try like Spain a deep, popular agitation such as this should at last be started, and as Pey Ordeix has large numbers of fellow priests on his side, who support and encourage him, it is likely that the movement will have lasting and beneficial results.
JEWISH MISSIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE 19TH CENTURY.* BY REY. LOUIS MEYER, HOPKINTON, IOWA.
In the closing year of the eighteenth century no regular missionary labored among the Jews, and only one society for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to the Jews was in existence. The Institutum Judaicum in Halle, founded by the pious Callenberg in 1728, for the preparation of missionaries to the Jews, had been abandoned in 1792, a victim of the rapidly increasing German Rationalism. The Moravians, who had entered upon the work among the Jews with great enthusiasm in 1739, sending Rabbi Samuel Lieberkucher to Amsterdam to preach the Gospel to his Jewish brethren, had become discouraged and abandoned the work, soon after the death of Count Zinzendorf in 1760. The Esdras Edzard Institution in Hamburg, founded in 1667, was the only society, so far as we know, which labored for the evangelization of the Jews during the closing years of the eighteenth century, and which could report a few conversions almost every year. . In England, France, America, and all other countries, no attention was paid to the benighted Jew. While the Gospel was carried with ever increasing zeal to the heathen, the children of Abraham seemed to be forgotten.
Yet God had not forgotten them! The morning was very near. Joseph Samuel Christian Frederick Frey, predestined by the Lord to become the father of modern Jewish missions, had been baptized in 1798, and the beginning of the nineteenth century found him in the Missionary Seminary in Berlin, where he was preparing himself for the preaching of the Gospel. Before the century had far advanced the Lord opened the way, and in 1805 he began to preach the Gospel to the Jews in London, nnder the auspices of the London Missionary Society. In 1809 the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews was formed by Frey, Way, and others, and soon missionary societies for the evangelization of the Jews were founded in all parts of the world. The New York" Society for Ameliorating the Condition of the Jews" received its charter on April 14, 1820. The Berlin "Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews" was formed in 1822. The Basel" Society of the Friends of Israel" saw the light in 1830. The year 1838 brought an iucr.eaBed Iltlthusiasm for the evangelization of the Jews, when Mc- Cherne, Bonar, Keith, and Black were sent out by the Church of Scotland "to visit and inquire after the scattered Jews." To the Church of Scot- land God gave the great honor to first undertake Jewish work as a Church, and she started her first missions among the Jews in Pesth and Jassy in 1841. Since then, society has followed society for the evangeli,- zation of the Jews, denomination after denomination has obeyed the Master's call to preach the G<v>pel to the Jew, until now, in the closing days of the nineteenth century, we find one hundred and nineteen societies for the evangelization of the Jews, employing more than eight hundred missionaries in two hundred and forty-six stations (see my "Christian Efforts Among the Jews" in .Jewish Era, April 15, 1900). Of these societies we find thirty-seven in Great Britain, eighteen in Germany, five in Scandinavia, four in the Netherlands, two in France, seven in the remaining parts of Europe, two in' Africa, six in Asia, four in Australia, and thirty-four in America.
• Condensed from the Jewish Era, Chicago.
JEWISH MISSIONS AT THE CLOSE OF THE 19TH CENTURY. 61'
The most encouraging thing, as we consider the Jewish missionary field, is perhaps the fact that during the century so many den071t'inalions have entered upon the Jewish work as such, and we hope and pray that the day may not be very far off when Jewish work shall have the same rank with foreign missionary work in the councils of the churches. The following denominations are to-day engaged in Jewish work (we add the year in which the work commenced): The Episcopal Churches of . England (1815), Ireland (1889), Australia (1890), and America (1842, resp. 1878), the Church of Scotland (1840), the Free Church of Scotland (1843), the Presbyterian Churches of England (1871), Ireland (18H), Australia (Victoria 1896), and America (1870), the Lutheran Churches of Germany (1822, resp. 1871), Scandinavia (1856 and 1865), and America (1878), the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (1894), the United Presbyterian Church of North America (1899), and others. The oldest society is the Esdras Edzard Institution in Hamburg, founded in 1667.
The largest society, and the most influential of all, is undoubtedly the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews (Church of England), founded in 1809. It employs 226 missionaries in fifty stations and has an income of about $190,000. The largest undenominational society is the Mildmay Mission to the Jews in London, founded by Rev. John 'Wilkinson in 1876. It employs sixty-five workers in nine stations, and has an income of $45,000. Its chief work is the free distribution of the Hebrew and Yiddish New Testament.
Among the numerous missions in the United States the Chicago Hebrew Mission deserves especial mention, not so much on account of the magnitude of the work, as on account of the wise and prudent management, and the great influence it is exerting upon other missions. It is interdenominational, and was established in 1887 by that great lover of Israel, William Blackstone.
'Vhen we look at the manner in which the Gospel is brought to the Jetcs, we find several things of great interest. In general, the preaching of the Gospel is considered the chief means of reaching the stiff-necked Jews-and so it ought to be-and, in addition to preaching, all the larger societies sustain well-ordered schools, reading-rooms, and free dispensaries. Since the Jews are an intellectual people and in general well educated in their religion and language, the distribution of literature claims a more prominent place in Jewish work than in any other, and the missionary to the Jews has to be well supplied with New and Old Testaments and tracts in the different languages used by the race (Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Russian, Spanish, etc.). Hev. John 'Vilkinson, of the Mildmay Mission in London, was led by the Holy Spirit to distribute the New Testament (in Hebrew and Yiddish) freely among the scattered Jews, and he has done a great work during the last decade of the nineteenth century. It is well worth our notice that to-day any worthy missionary to the Jews is provided freely with Hebrew and Yiddish New Testaments by the Mildmay Mission, of which the Chicago Hebrew Mission is the sole agent in this country. During the last years Marcus Bergmann has translated the Old Testament into Yiddish, and a society has been formed for the distribution of this quite expensive book.
Since the work is considered peculiarly difficult, men are continually looking around for new methods of work. The late Mr. A. Ben Oliel, of Jerusalem, wrote and printed pamphlets of his own, and sent them by mail to "educated, wealthy and busy" Jews. William Greene, of the
Postal Mission to the Jews in London, approaches the Jews in personal letters, while A. E. Abrahamson, of the HebTew Christian Message in London, asks Hebrew Ohristians for testimonials of their religious experience, and sends these testimonials to the Jews. Wurts & Brown, in Philadelphia, started in 1898 the Jewish Bible Shop-Window Mission. Open Bibles in Hebrew, Yiddish, German, and Russian, as well as tracts in different languages, are laid in the show-window of a store in the Jewish quarter to attract the passing Jew. The pages are turned every day to cause inquirers to return, and Bibles, New Testaments, and religious papers are distributed freely by the person in charge of the store. Bible shop-windows of this kind are established in eight or nine cities of the United States, and claim to have abundant success. It is too early to say whether these shop-window missions are a step forward or not. Dunlop, of Philadelphia, established, in 1898, "Open-Air Work Among the Jews," traveling over the country and preaching to the Jews in the streets. Professor Stroeter became, in 1899, an "Evangelist in Israel," and is now traveling and preaching in Russia and Poland.
In regard to the amount of money which is spent annually in missionary work among the Jews, we can give only an estimate. We believe that during 1899 about one million dollars was spent.
It now remains that we consider t/Le field itself. Missionary work among the Jews is to-day carried on in every part of the world, and wherever the Jew is found to-day the Gospel is preached to him. Yet while some parts of the field have only one missionary for more than two hundred thousand Jews, other parts are simultaneously occupied by missionaries of different societies, which often not only fail to work in harmony, but oppose each other vehemently. We hope that the new century will bring about harmony among the different societies, so that the field may be properly divided and cultivated, and money be no longer squandered by sending new missionaries to' fields already occupied by other societies.
If we look at the state of the soil-that is, at the attitude of the Jews toward Ohristianity and toward the missionary who brings the Gospel to tbem-we can naturally only speak in general terms, which admit of exceptions in particular localities. Yet we can truly say that the attitude of the Jews toward Ohristianity is far more favorable in the present day than it has been at any period since Apostolic times, and the hostile opposition of the orthodox, as well as the reformed, or rationalistic Jew, is greatly~diminished and mitigated. But we must be careful to discern between the attitude toward Ohristianityand the attitude toward the missionary. In regard to the latter we Gan only say that very much depends on the missionary himself. The Hebrew Ohristian meets naturally greater difficulties than the Gentile, for the old prejudice against the "apostate" Jew remains unchanged, although -the progress of civilization has covered it a little. Add to this prejudice the fact that Gentile Ohristians, especially in America, often think that any Jew who claims to be converted is a missionary whether he be educated or not, and that many missionaries sent out in this manner, whether they be frauds or not, are a hindrance to real missionary work among the Jews; and you have the main reason why work among the Jews is to-day not as prosperous as we would like to see it. _The last years, however, have taught the Ohristians the lesson that Jewish missionaries must be just as well prepared for the work as missionaries to the heathen,
THE CHINESE REFORM EDICT
and the Institutum Judaicum Delitzschaianum in Leipzig, the Institutum Judaicum in Berlin, and other schools of the same kind a,re steps in the right direction.
In general, however, the attitude of the Jews toward the mission, aries has become an attitude of polite inquiry, and tho the audiences in Jewish mission chapels are still small, vehement interruptions and open outbreaks of violent hostility become less and less frequent. Open-air preaching seems to be most offensive, tho it is quite successful in particular localities. Missionary schools and kindergartens are well attended, free reading-rooms are heartily welcomed, and both have certainly a softening influence upon the Jewish people; and even the curses of the enraged rabbis can no longer keep their sick parishioners from the free dispensary and the Christian hospital. The Zionist movement seems to me a great hindrance, rather than a help, to missionary effort among the Jews, since it puts great emphasis upon the fact that "the acquisition of a publicly and rightly assured home for the millions of persecuted Jew~" is the only salvation of Israel. The true cause of Israel's suffering and dispersion-the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christis left out of the account, and the Jew is taught to look for temporal prosperity only. The great annual gatherings, however-the Zionist congresses, which are attended by ever-increasing numbers of Jewish delegates from all parts of the world-give the missionaries good opportunities to speak to the delegates individually of the true salvation of Israel.
After all, when we look over the field, we can truly say, "The fields are white to harvest." And the laborers? They are few; but the day is breaking. The Church of Christ is awakening from her long sleep and is coming to a knowledge of her long-neglected duty to the Jew.
And as the nineteenth century closes we stand with grateful hearts as we look over the Jewish field, and we exclaim, What has God wrought in the last century!
"For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead? "-ROM. xi. : 12, 15.
THE CHINESE REFOR;I EDICT.'
SIR RO'BERT HART'S EPITOllfE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENT.
Principles shine like sun and star, and are immutable; practice is a lute-string, to be tuned and changed. Dynasties cancel one procedure and substitute another; succeeding reigns fall' in line with the times and conform to their requirements. Laws, when antiquated, lose fitness and must be amended to provide for the security of the State and the welfare of the people.
For decades things have gone from bad to worse in China, and what calamity has been the result! But, now that peace is on the eve of being re-established, reform must be taken in hand. The Express Dowager sees that what China is deficient in can be best supplied from what the 'Vest is rich in, and bids Us make the failures of the past Our teachers for the conduct of the future.
The so-called reform of the Kang gan?" have not been less mis- • From The Ch"istian TVo,.k,
chievous than the excesses of the hybrid Boxers, and beyond the seas he is still intriguing; he makes a show of {:rotecting Emperor and people, but in reality he is trying to create palace dissension!
The fact is, such changes mean anarchy and not good government, and lucky it is that Her Majesty came to Our rescue and in a twinkling arranged matters. If anarchy was thrust aside, let it not be thought Her Majesty forbade reform. If We Ourselves were intending changes, let it not be supposed We meant to sweep away all that was old! No~Our common desire was to select the good which lay between; mother and son are of one mind-let officials and people fall in line!
The Empress Dowager has decided to push on reform, and, as a pre- liminary, sets aside such hampering distinctions as ancient and modern, native and foreign; whatever is good for State or for people, no matter what its origin, is to be adopted-whatever is bad is to be cast out, no matter what be its antiquity.
Our national fault is that we have got into a rut hard to get out of, and are fettered by red tape just as difficult to untie. Book-worms are too numerous, practical men too scarce; incompetent red-tapists grow fat on mere forms, and officials think that to pen a neat dispatch is to dispose of business. Old fossils are continued too long in office, and openings are blocked for men possessing the talents and qualifications the times require. One word accounts for the weakness of the Govern- . ment–selfishness; and another for the decadence of the Empire-precedent. All this must be changed!
Those who have studied Western methods have so far only mastered a smattering of language, something about manufacture, a little about armaments; but these things are merely the skin and hair-they do not touch the secret of Western superiority-breadth of view in chiefs, concentration in subordinates, good faith in undertakings, and effectiveness in work. Our own Sage's fundamental teachings-these are at the bottom of Western method. China has been neglecting this, and has only been acquiring a phrase, a word, a chip, a quality; how expect people to be prosperous and State to be powerful?
Let the high officials at home and abroad report within two months on t.hese points, and let each submit for our inspection what he really knows and what his experience really suggests! Let them compare native and foreign institutions and procedure, whether affecting Court, Administration, People, Education, or Military matters; let them say what is to be done away with, what is to be changed, what is to be added, what is to be adopted from others, what is to be developed from ourselves; let them advise how national reforms are to be made a success, how talent is to be encouraged and employed, how expenditure is to be provided for and controlled, how the soldiers are to be made what they ought to be!
After perusing their reports, we shall lay them before Her Majesty, and then select the fittest proposals and give real effect to those that are selected.
We have before now called for advice, but the responses were either concocted from newspaper sayings or the shallow suggestions of Dryasdusts, this one opposed to that, and none of them useful or to the point. What we call for now is something that shall be practical and practicable.
But even more important than measures are men; let men of ability be sought out, brought forward and employed!
What must be insisted on as a principle is that self shall be nothing and public duty everything, and, as procedure, that the real requirements of real affairs shall be so dealt with as to recognize fact and secure practical result. Hereafter, let the right men be selected, and let high and low cooperate!
We Ourselves and the Empress Dowager have long cherished these ideas, and now the time has come to put them in force. Whether the State is to be safe 01' insecure, powerful 01' feeble, depends on this. If officials continue to trifle, the statutes will be applied. Let all take note!
EDITORIALS
EDITORIALS.
The Y. M. O. A. Jubilee. highly civilized powers has oc- curred within thirty years. Dur- The jubilee of the American ing that period more than a hun- Y.M.C.A. was celebrated in Boston dred disputes between nations have from June 11-16, and awakened been submitted to arbitration, and great interest. The purpose was to in no case has any appeal to force set forth the growth in num bel's and for the execution of decisions been influence of the whole Y. M. C. A. necessary. '~ movement in America, the adaptation of the organization to reach The following paragraph from and mould young men physically, intellectually, and spiritually, and the platform deserves careful atto train them both for active spiritual work and leadership. Dele- tention and permanent record: gates were present from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and South "The Conference expresses its America. The work in cities and sense of the great importance of among railroad men, students, col- making the tribunal of arbitration ored people, in army, and navy, effective, not for the repression of and foreign lands, and the mis- diplomatic action, but for precludsionary aspects of the work were ing warfare where diplomacy fails. all embraced in this showing. It is essential that cases which President McKinley and the Lord threaten to lead to war should be High Commissioner from Canada, promptly brought before this Bishop Potter of New York, presi- court, and it is highly important dents of colleges, Principal Booker that minor disputes, which nations T. Washington, and others were may be less reluctant to submit to on the program, or sent letters of adjudication should also be brought interest and salutation. A son of before it, in order that precedents Sir George Williams, Mr. Howard may be created, and that the cus- Williams, was present in behalf of tom of appealing to the court may his father, the founder of the be speedily and firmly established. Y. M. C. A., and Earl Kinnaird We wish that the United States were among the London representa- might be foremost in submitting tives. The exercises elicited great cases to the tribunal which they enthusiasm. have had such an honorable share in creating. We would call the The Mohunk Oonference. attention of all who mold public opinion to a special opportunity, The Arbitration Conference, held that, namely, of strengthening the at Mohunk by invitation of Mr. feeling in favor of arbitration d.urand Mrs. A. K. Smiley, was large ing the critical period before the and influential. One fact was pre- court shall have come into full acsented of great interest: that the tivity; particularly should labor- Supreme Court of the United ers who bear the brunt of wars, be States, which, at its first session induced to use their collective had not one case brought before it, power to prevent them. In like is now one of the world powers. manner should Chambers of Com- All present rejoiced that the Inter- merce, Boards of Trade, Bankers' national Court at '.rhe Hague is Associations, and organizations of ready to act and established as such. manufacturers and merchants in In the platform adopted it is said: specific lines of business, as well as individual financiers, be induced to "No WUl' between great and use their power for the same oh- ject. Such action is called for in behalf of their own interests, and in behalf of those greater interests of humanity which are in a sense under their guardianship."
Another Zionist Oonference.
The Fifth Zionist Congress is to be held again in London this sum- mer, and All Souls' Church is put at its service by Rev. F. S. Web-
ster, the rector. Jews are expected defection among priests and people from all parts of the continent and the lands of their dispersion, and a both in connection with Protestant large supply of the Yiddish Scriptures are to be prepared for circu- propaganda and quite independent lation at the congress and during the solemn festivals and Day of of it. In France the priests who Atonement in September. It is therefore proposed to reprint the have left the Romish Church and illustrated Epistle to the Hebrews, which is now complete with Old hecome Protestants have been espe- TestGtment references, and prefaced with Leviticus xvi. and Isaiah Iii: cially numerous, and this has 13 to the end of chapter liii, setting forth the Atonement of the Mes- so alarmed the Church as to call for siah. A united missionary effort will be made to circulate these active measures to stop it. Spain Scriptures, and some 100,000 copies will be needed; £5 will pay for is the last to join in the cry of more than a thousand copies of the above important portions of Scrip- "Away from Rome!" and there it ture, and the same sum pays for a hundred copies of the complete is more anti-clerical in name but no New Testament. Only the printers and binders receive payment for less anti-papal in fact. this work, so that every penny that is subscribed goes directly toward In countries where she has had the production and free cit'culation of the Word of God. full sway, Rome and her emissaries Anti-Papal Movements in Europe. have long stood for oppression, All Europe has been moved by repression, and depression. Enuprisings against the Roman Catholic Church. We have already lightened reason revolts against the referred more than once to the agitations in Austria and France, and dictation of pope and priests, therein this number give an account also of the uprising in Spain. fore the people are kept ignorant.
In Austria the movement has Superstition helps to fill the coffers assumed a semi-political aspect and has shaken the foundations of the of the Church, and the confessional empire. Recently it has taken on a decidedly Protestant aspect and gives added power to the clergy. thousands have allied themselves to reformed churches. It looks as Priests with great power too often if the days of papal supremacy were numbered unless that hierarchy find the temptation to abuse it changes her methods and demands to suit the occasion. In Italy the too great, and become selfish, inrevolt has been less open and marked, but no less real. There dolent, and vicious. Therefore the has been a quiet but increasing people are degraded rather than elevated.
But in many places they await only a leader to revolt from the iron hand of. Rome. The evidences of the effect of priest-rule are too potent and numerous to require argument to prove its baneful effects. There comes a time when the people weary of selfish and incompetent teachers and leaders, and desire to see the Church puri- fied, the State freed, and their children educated. The crisis has alrea.dy come in Austria-it is com- ing fast in Spain and France, and will yet come in Italy. In Spanish America the State and Church are separate with few exceptions, and individuals at least are seeking the light. Let us pray that with the exit of papal dominion there will enter a reign of righteousness, and that the people will look to God as their ruler and Christ as their Savior and their Guide. *
1901.J EDITORIALS
Saved from Shipwreck. less, so far as present need is concerned. Poor MI'. Nasmith has nothing but his clothes Mr. Henry Frost and vValter he stands in. and I am in about the same con- dition. My Bible I did save; but my photos, Sloan, who left Shanghai April 23d, the manuscript of the "Story of the Mission in North America," and my Bible Readings after a very blessed visit to China are all gone. This last to me is a serious loss, for it will take me years to gather to- in this crisis of the China Inland gether again what Ihad before. Jllr. Nasmith has taken the spoiling of his goods in a beau- Mission work, on the second night tiful spirit, as he did also the shipwreck, being calm anll happpy through it all. As out, between 3 and 4 o'clock A.M., for myself, the spiritual blessings obtained from our experiences have been so rich and suffered shipwreck and narrowly deep and sweet that any loss or discomfiture has seemed scarcely worth thinking about. escaped with their lives. A few I did think I had been blessed in this last visit to China beyond the point of experi- extracts from Mr. Frost's letter, encing anything fuller or better; but what has occurred has exceeded all. Truly, since God received June 11th, will be of inter- appointed it all, I would not have been with- out the experience for anything. It has been est. He writes May 9th, from the a wonderful discovery to find out what God can do for the soul in time of need, and how steamer BaZcwrat, near Hong sweet even death may become when the Lord's rod and staff comfort you. All life Kong: will be different to us from this time on, be- cause of the memory it will hold. I do trust While we were all asleep the noble vessel we may never lose the sacred infiuences upon which we journeyed ran suddenly into which have been so richly and graciously a fog, and in a moment later went hard on to granted to us. some submerged Peefs, and then crashed into a mass of jagged rocks. We felt the vessel Rev. Dr. Maltbie D. Babcock, of sinking slowly beneath our f"et. Mr. Sloan New York, who died, at 43 years of was first on deck, going up without dressing, age, in a Neapolitan hospital, was and presently returned to tell us that we had a noble-hearted friend of missions. run Into an immense pile of rocks, the tops of A memorable sentence of his ad- which could just be seen through the dark- dress before the Ecumenical Con- ness and fog. The dear fellow then put his ference, New York, will be recalled arm over my shoulder, and with beaming when, speaking of the heathen, he face said, "Well, dear brother, I think we said: "You are wronging unborn are going to have the privilege, at last, of children by not putting the light in seeing the King." So it did seem as if our the faces of their fathers and turn, along with Mr. Cj)oper and others, had mothers. " Now is the time to come to finish our course with joy, and, work for the generations coming aside from the first horror of the thought of into paganism, that when they being drowned, the prospect was only bright come they may not remain pagan, and beautiful and blessed. So Satan was de- but may find an easy highway into feated from the first. Three hours later we Christianity already prepared for had found what God could do in delivering their childish feet. Dr. Babcock the soul that trusts in Him, for He not only sought to keep himself in what he gave rest and peace and joy, but also called an "aseptic condition" for his snatched us out of the very jaws of death. work as a Gospel minister. Being An hour after the accident occurred we invited by somegentlemenfriendsto were all safely away from the steamer in the smoke, he excused himself tactfully life-boats, and an hour and a half later, when by saying that a tobacco odor would morning dawned, we saw what was nothing unfit him for delicate ministries to less than a miracle-that God had lodged the the sick and dying. And, to the vessel between two great rocks, one at the offer of an opera box during the bow on the port side and one at the stern on season, he made similar reply, that the starboard side, so that the steamer could he must keep himself spiritually not turn over either way; and, as the tide went aseptic-a noble ideal for a worker out, she rested upon a reef, so that she could for God which may well be comnot sink further. And there she lies still, her, mended to every minister and misbow torn into ribbons for thirty feet back, sionary. her hull full of holes, her deck opened, the water in the hold, engine-room and in other parts, a total and unrecoverable wreck, but still above water, and a silent witness to the fact that God can save the lives of the saints. Truly it was a marvelous deliverance, such as has awakened the wonderment not only of ourselves, but also of godless and otherwise thoughtless men. We were safely landed upon a beach upon the evening of the day we were wrecked, and stayed there in roughly constructed tentR for three days, the men having slept for the first night in the open, and a passing steamer rescued us then and kept us aboard for two daJs until the P. & O. steamship Ooromandel was sent to take us aboard and to save what could be saved from the wreck. Mr. Nasmith and I have lost almost all our luggage; the only thing he has being a box of curios (I) and the only thing I have being my trunk, which I had carefully packed with my overcoat, rug, and other things as use-
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
A HISTORY OF AMERICAN BAPTIST MISRIONS. Romanists; and many will think By E. F. 1Ilerriam, Baptist Publication that too much confidence is placed House in Philadelphia. in the testimony of Romish writers, and in the somewhat careless Gammell's History, issued over a methods of compiling these statishalf century ago, was a valuable tics. But the book will be to many book, and full of both information a revelation, for very little is known and inspiration. But as it is now of that long period stretching beover a century since Baptist mis- tween the apostolic days and the sions began, and 87 years since the Reformation era, and Christians American Baptist Missionary are but half acquainted with the Union was formed, there is ample noble efforts of the Moravians and room for a new volume like this, others long antedating Carey's serwhich in 23 chapters gives us the mon at Nottingham. We comaccount of the Burmese mission, mend this book to students of misthe work in Assam, Southern s'ions who desire to trace the many India, Siam, and China, Japan, links that make the one chain from Africa, Europe, and South America, the beginning until our own day. Mexico, Cuba, and the Philippine The book has both a chronological Islands, as well as much interesting table and a Bibliography at the history of the Baptist denomina- close. tional work, in home missions, publication, woman's work, etc. Mr. DIE MISSION IN DER SCHULE. By Von Gustav Merriam's work will be a helpful Warneck. 9', Aufiage. Giltersloh, C. contribution to the centennial vol- Bertelsmann. 1901. 8vo, 203 pp. ume which will undoubtedly follow when the century of American Bap- This little volume is a classic in tist missions has been completed. mission literature. Its author The story of the Teluga work has easily stands at the head of writers perhaps no superior for fascinating on theoretical mission problems interest in all the history of the and as the occupant of the only mission century, and occupies chair in a German university dechapter xiv. It is told here anew voted exclusively to missions (i.e., with fresh attraction and power. in Halle), as the author of many mission works, and especially of Two THOUSAND YEARS OF MISSIONS BEFORE the only scientific. treatise on this CAREY. By Lemuel Call Barnes. The subject written on an extensive Christian Culture Press, Chicago. ·scale (his three large volumes on Missionslehre), and for 28 years This book supplies a decided lack, the editor of the thorough Allgeand is a capital piece of work. The meine Missions-Zeitschrijt. Wareffort has been to be at once care- neck is the leading mission authorful and accurate and catholic in ity on the continent. This volume, spirit. The author has gone to as indicated by the sub-title, "A original sources for information, Handbook for Teachers," has a and the book gives evidence of practical purpose in view-namely, pains and patience. It aims to to furnish the teacher of religious trace the apostolic succession of instruction in school, college or missions and missionaries through seminary with the outlines of the the entire period of Christian his- theory and historical data which tory. As for, half this time all mis- he needs for his work. After dissions originating in Europe were cussing the right of missions to a necessarily Roman Catholic, the succession must be traced through
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
claim in an educational curriculum and work. The reality of divine and the proper methods of teaching them there, "Varneck answers the healing; the wisdom of limiting fundamental questions as to the character and purpose of Christian rescue work (as a rule) to those of missions, arid this is followed by a brief tho thorough exposition of the worker's own sex; the crankithe mission ideas of the Scriptures, both in the Qld Testament in his- ness of some excellent people; the torical order as developed by the various writers, and then more ex- error of those who" trust the Lord tensively in the New, special attention being devoted to the for their daily bread" and live at teachings of Christ and to an analysis of the Acts. This is fol- the expense of others; the true way lowed by a brief SUI:vey of the history of missions, in which special to deal with falsehood and hypocattention is given to the methods and manners prevailing at differ- risy; and many hints concerning ent times an.d practised by different communions; and then comes a work for prisoners and girls-these chapter instructing how missions may be taught in connection with and other subjects are suggestively religious instruction, especially on the basis of Lutheran catechism, touched upon. arid' in connection with the teaching of geography. The last two The story has many excellent chapters, on the German colonies a~d on the mission work of Ger- points, and not a few weaknesses. many, are of special interest to the author's pe9ple. "Ve believe that The spirit is thoroughly Christian, a translation of one of the earliest editions of this excellent handbook and tends to inspire the reader to was published in English, but a new version of this enlarged edition a more consecrated life. * with data and detail to date, and wonderfully rich in material for lIUHAMMED'S LEHRE VON DER OFFENBARUNG, the student of missions, is really with some slight change a desidera- QUELLENMASSIG UNTERSUCHT VON DR. OTTO tum in our English literature. PAUTZ. J. C. Hinrich'sche Buchhand· lung, Leipzig, Germany. VIII. 304 pp. G. F. S. Preis, 8 Mark.
SOULS IN P;WN. Margaret Blake Robinson. Otto Pautz, Ph.D., of Ratzebuhr, 12mo,308 pp. $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Co. Pomerania, Prussia, has published New York life furnishes abundant a work on Islam and its Doctrine material for sermons and stories, humor and pathos, tragedy and of Revelation, founded on firstcomedy. These elements are woven into Miss Robinson's book in a very hand study of the sources, which interesting and skilful fashion. In the course of the narrative she has been very favorably received. takes occasion to introduce many helpful thoughts on Christian life The growing 'intimacy of rela- tions with the Eastern world is di- recting special attention to the study of Mohammedanism. This not only includes one-fifth of the Indian populations, and that the proudest fifth, as having once been rulers of India, but even in China is a more powerful influence than is commonly supposed.
This growing interest in Islam has called into existence in Ger- many a number of new periodicals, dealing in large part with Moham- t medanism.
LITTLE CHILDREN IN. BLUE AND WHAT THEY Do. By Florence I. Codrington. Illus- trated. 8vo, 77 pp. 2 shillings. Marshall Bros., London.
Few more bharming missionary books than this has been published for children. It has the interest of "Alice in Wonderland," with the value of being fact, not fiction. It describes the children in theprov- ince of Hu-cheng, China, tells where they live, how they look, their homes, their joys and sorrows,. their beliefs and education, and much else. By reading it, children old and young will become inter- ested in Chinese children and in missions, in spite oftliemselves. *
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICA. and Kobe, Japan; Valparaiso, Phillips Brooks A structure bearing Chile; Buenos A yres and Rosario, .Argentine Republic; Montevideo, House. this name has been Uruguay; in Gloucester, Mass., in reared in the Har- New Haven, Conn., in New York City, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Nor- vard grounds to commemorate one folk, Wilmington, Charleston, Sa- of the most eminent in the long list vannah, Galveston, Mobile, Pensaof Harvard's alumni. The house is cola, New Orleans; in Astoria and used in part to furnish accommoda- Portland, Oregon; in Seattle, Tation for undergraduate religious so- coma, and Port Townsend, Washcieties and other philanthropic as- ington. During the year ending sociations, 4 such societies having March 31st the society sent out 292 permanent quarters in the build- loan libraries, of which 95 were ing. The" Brooks Parlor" on the new. The total number of volground floor is used for social gath- umes in these libraries is 12,556, erings; the professors' wives, for and of new volumes 4,085, availinstance, have afternoon teas there able during the year to 3,609 seafor the undergraduates, and there men. The whole number of new the latter may receive their vis- libraries sent out is 10,812, and the itors. There is aiso a "study," reshipments of the same 12,869, with books and writing-tables, and making in the aggregate 23,681. a little hall for formal meetings The number of volumes in these named after the late Dr. Andrew libraries, 586,812, has been access- Preston Peabody. In the large ible by first shipment and reshipvestibule is placed a bust of Bishop ment to 415,724 men. The number Brooks, and over it is the inscrip- of libraries placed on United States tion: THIS HOUSE IS DEDICATED naval vessels and in United States TO PIETY, CHARITY, AND HOSPI- hospitals up to date is 1,069, con- TALITY IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF taining 39,049 volumes; and these PHILLIPS BROOKS. Another in- have been accessible to 125,313 men. scription gives in brief outline the In the stations of the United States events of the Bishop's life, and a life-saving service are 161 libraries, third inscription characterizes him containing 6,293 volumes, accessible thus: .. Majestic in stature, im- to 1,315 keepers and surfmen. petuous in utterance, rejoicing in the truth, unhampered by bonds of Baptist The total receipts of church or station, he brought by Missions. the American Baphis life and doctrine fresh faith to a people, fresh meaning to ancient tist Mis s ion a r y creeds. To this university he gave Union last year were $543,G50. The constant love, large service, high churches on the mission fields conexample." tributed $490,495, only a small part of which was included in the re- Work (or According to the ceipts of the Union, so that the Sailors. Seventy-third An- total expenditure on the missions was about $1,000,000. The churches nual Report of the in connection with the Union num- American Seamen's Friend Society ber 1,912, with 206,746 members, that organization has chaplains and 112,668 scholars in the Sundayand missionaries in Denmark and school. Of these 927 churches and Sweden; at Hamburg, Antwerp, 105,212 members are in heathen Genoa, and Naples; in the Madeira lands; 6,741 were baptized last year lslands; at Bombay and Karachi, India; at Yokohama, Nagasaki,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
in the missions to the heathen, and sionary Society now aidsthepreach- 5,280 in the European missions; a ing of the Gospel in 9 languages total of 12,021. In the missions to within the bounds of this Purithe heathen there are 3,482 native tan commonwealth. There have helpers, and 36,335 scholars in the been notable advances among the mission schools. The largest num- Armenians. The 9 French churches ber of baptisms were in the Telugu report 30 additions by ·con.fession, mission of South India, 2,223; Bur- while the German work in Clinton ma coming close after with 2,113. and Fitchburg has been particuiarly The largest percentage of increase fruitful. Mr. Vaitses continues his was in Africa, where the 953 bap- effective work in behalf of the tisms in the Congo mission repre- Greeks, of whom there are no less sent a growth of almost 50 per cent. than 3,000 in Lowell. Congregain the year. The total number of tionalism also has its roots in the missionaries reported is 472, includ- midst of Norwegian, Swedish, and ing one who has gone to open new Italian elements in our population, work in the Philippine Islands. while the Polish element is not overlooked. Baptist Home Missions.-The society having these in charge re- Presbyterian The last year closed ports 1,199 missionaries and teach- Missions. with a missionary ers, of whom 2 are in Alaska, 8 for c e nnmbering in Puerto Rico, 9 in Cuba, 20 in Mexico, 43 among the Indians, and 715, of whom 299 are men, and 416 144 among the Negroes. women. The native force numbers 583 ordained preachers and licenti- Southern The Southern Bap- ates, and 1,258 other helpers, mak- Baptist tist Missionary Con- ing a total of 1,841. There are now Foreign vention, at its re- 636 native churches, with 41,559 Missions. cent forty-sixth an- communicants-4,'181 having been added during the year; and 71~ nual session, gave schools are maintained, with 25,910 this summary of work in foreign pnpils. There are in Sabbathlands to date: schools 38,137 pupils, and 84 stu- dents are preparing for the minis- 00 11"ISSlon~ I • jUNnOatridv'eed 00 try. The Board has 117 mission aries. ~ ~ He1pers. stations and 1,182 out-stations, dis- .8- tributed through 13 different coun- ..d tries. COLTN- ""…d.. 05 ,,- … C"'0" 00 00 TRIgS. " :s ..d Ol " 'Oil:!: 05 S The Gospel In this .. newest" ,;i s '.0.. "> Ol ~ in Alaska. portion of the area Q .:!l .0 S'" ~ of the Union are 10. found something more than 25,000 -Ii"< Q) Indians and Eskimos, of whom '" :s O~ 7,600 are Protestants, 13,735 are under the care of the Greek Church, "' – and about 500 are Catholics. Ten —– — – – – – – –~- -~- Protestant societies are at work: China… 24 19 W 12 37 13 200 2,440 the Presbyterians with 8 stations, Africa.. 6 4 …2. 7 …2. 33 382 6 missionaries, 11 teachers, 8 school/! Italy …. 24 3 3 26 104 615 with 570 pupils, and 950 churcQ 1 members; the Moravians with 12 missionlj-ries and 778 members; the Mexico 36 7 8 14 16 1 208 1,314 Episcopalians with a bishop and 4 Brazil .. 35 8 9 12 20 1 449 1,932 5. 1 4 3 15 90 5 — — -. — – – Japan "2 – ._- —– Total 127 46 56 41 . 110 20 1,009 6,773 I Foreigners in Of the 448,572 immi· Massachu- grants in this coun- setts. try IrLst year, 39,474 came to the Bay State. more than to any other ex- cept New York and Pennsylvania.
Italian, Hebrew, and French consti- tute nearly one-third of the Massa- chusettscontingent. The Home Mis-
missionaries; and, besides, Bap- and instruction. Mr. Hubbard has tists. Congregationalists, Meth- had a hard struggle to support the odists, Quakers, and Swedish Lu- home. Once, when funds ran very therans. The Greek Church receives low, he took the opportunity that $60,000 a year from the Russian offered of earning a dollar and a government, and yet is steadily half a day by putting on the roof declining in influence. of a new Methodist church near by, rather than close his own doors. A New Synod In 1872 the Presby- When a freshman in Ann Arbor, in Mexico. terian Board sent Mr. Hubbard and his chum boarded its first representa- themselves for 71 cents a week, but he writes lie could do it in Cuba for tives to our neighbor republic, and 50 cents. The food at the school, the Presbyter:ian Church, South, consisting mainly of wheat (which followed two years later. The the boys clean, grind, and roast) work has been so successful that and of fruit, costs but 5 cents a day 4 presbyteries have since been apiece. Two dollars and a half a formed, 3 of them by the Northern month will feed, clothe, educate, Church, and all these united this year in sending petitions to the and train one child. * Appeals .general assemblies asking assent 'to the organization of an indepen- from other parts of Cuba are dent synod of the Presbyterian coming to Mr. Hubbard for the Church in Mexico. The request establishment of a work like his at was granted, and commissioners Matanzas. In Cienfuegos, out of a were appointed to bear to the new population of 30,000, there are 1,400 synod the congratulations of the poverty-stricken widows with chilmother churches. dren. At Cardenas the mayor states, that there are 50 orphan Orphans in One of the results children greatly in need of homes. What it will mean to Cuba to have Cuba. of the reconcentra- these children come under the in- fluence of a good Christian home, do policy of Spain instead of growing up uncal'ed for waifs, without training 01' responwas the appalling number of Cuban sibility, is beyond estimate.-The Outlook. children left homeless and helpless. Presbyterian- The first Presby- The insular government acted ism in Brazil. terian church in the promptly and energetically in its state of Santa Cath-' arina, Brazil, was organized Deestablishment of a special depart- cember, 1900, with 14 members, at San Francisco, one of the ports. ment for the care of these children, At Florianopolis, the capital, an- . other church was founded on the and assumed the gllardianship first Sunday of the new century, with 35 memhers. Mr. Lenington until sixteen years of age of every says that .the two men who were ordained elders belong to different destitute child legally committed political parties, were formerly bit- ter opponents, who scarcely spoke to~its charge. However, the need *Any who are interested in aiding this was still hard to compass. In 1899 charity may get fuller information by writing Mr. Elmer E. Hubbard (for five to Miss Grace Williams, Secretary, 610 Will· iams Street, Nashville, Tenn. years a missionary in Japan, and having given special attention to work for orphan children there) went to Matanzas and rented a small house, making a home for twenty boys. This Matanzas In- dustJrial Home has grown, until .there are now fifty children in two houses, one for boys and one for girls, who are sent to scbool and receive Christian training, care,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
to one another, but "they are new pensary attendances were reported. men in Christ Jesus and cordially It was stated that the society's inembraced each other" on that come had reached £20,634, the "joyous Sunday." Among addi- largest on record, besides £3,747 tions to this church during the raised in India. year were 6 young officers of the Brazilian army. The C. M. S. The income of this 19°0-19°1. foremost of mis- EUROPE. s ion a r y societies The Greatest The British and Bible Society. Foreign Bible So- reached a total of $1,681,434 (£3'23.- 686. ) These figures tell some- ciety is not only the thing of the story of growth: Staoldest (1804), but also has the larg- ions, 541. European missionaries: est income ($1,107,675 last year), Ordained, 421; lay, 151; wives, and prints the largest number of 356; ladies, 343, total, 1,2.1. Nacopies of the 'Vord. In 1900 the tive clergy, 375; native lay teachers, issues were over 4,900,000 copies. 7,515; native Christian adherents For the eighth time the annual (including catechumens), 281,640; figures have exceeded 4,000,000-in native communicants, 75,854. Bap- 1899 they were over 5,00Q,OOO copies. tisms during the year, 18,693. Out of every 100 copies issued last Schools, 2,325; scholars, IOt,401. year 17 were Bibles, 27 were New Medical work: Beds, ],493; in-pa- Testaments, and 56 were Scripture tients, 11,730; visits of out-patients, portions, chiefly Gospels or Psal- 689,639. The figures are approxiters. The sales by over 850 col- mate: as no returns have been reporteurs in 30 different countries ceived from some of the missions. exceeded 1,600,000 copies, while 616 Twelve European missionaries were native Christian Biblewomen in admitted to the diaconate by the the East read the Scriptures to Bishop of London, ] by the Bishop 40,000 women every week, and of Uganda, 1 by the Bishop of Lataught 2,700 to read for themselves. hore, and 2 by the Bishop of West- Every great British foreign mis- ern China, and 26 native Christians sion is supplied from this source were ordained. with the bulk of the Scriptures it needs for its work abroad. Thus, The S. P. G. The Society for the the S. P. G. draws Scriptures in 60 19°0-19°1. Propagation of the languages; the C.M.S. in 80; the L.M.S. in 50; the V.M.S. in 40; Gospel dates from Presbyterian missions in 50, etc. 1701~ and has had a noble career, and does work not only in be-· Zenana Bible At the recent annu- half of British subjects in divers and MedicaL al meeting it was far-off lands, but also for the benefit of the unevangelized. The Mission. reported that this number of ordained missionaries, society employs 154 including 12 bishops, on the so- ciety's list is 76l-that is to say, Europeans, 197 native teachers, in Asia, 254; in Africa, 196; in nurses, eLc., and 92 Biblewomen, Australia and the Pacific, 54; in at 36 centers in India. There are North America, 169; in the 'Vest 66 schools, with 3,739 pupils; access Indies and Central and South Amerwas had to 5,446 houses, with 2,883 ica, 52; and 36 chaplains in Europe. regular pupils under Christian in- Of these 131 are natives laboring in struction; the Biblewomen also Asia, and 52. in Africa. 1'here are visited 1,035 villages. At the hos- also in the various missions about pitals in Lucknow, Patna, Benares, 2,900 lay teachers, 3,200 students in etc., 20,047 patients and 61,634 dis-
the society's colleges, and 38,000 The more important figures are children in the mission schools in found in the table which follows: Asia and Africa. The income last year was $891,980. Total income, ………. " . . . . . . . . . $548,230 Foreign mission fields………… 15 Livingstone An ins tit uti 0 n Ordained European missionaries 110 College. which has been es- European medical miHsionaries.. 34 tablished for 7 Women's Society missionaries… 96 European evangelists…. .. . .. .. . 52 years for the purpose of training Tot,,1 European agency …… – – 292 foreign missionaries in the ele- Ordained native pastors… . . .. . . 38 ments of medicine and surgery, Native licentiates……………. 15 has recently become an incorpo- Native evangelists…………… 537 rated society, under the title of Native teachers………….. …. 1,062 Livingstone College. New prem- Other helpers. .. .. ….. . . .. …… 102 ises have been acquired at Knott's ~'om6n's Society teachers…… 474 Green, Leyton, and it is intended Biblewomen and other women that this building should be a per- helpers……………………. 135 manent memorial in London to the Total native agency…….. work of Dr. Livingstone. About 2,363 £4,000 have been subscribed, but it is believed that another £4,000 will (In addition there are 114 missionaries' be required to complete the work. wives.) Wesleyan According to the Principal stations ……………….. . 153 Missions. last report, the Ont-stations ……………………… . 673 Members in full communion ……… . 42,133 Wesleyan Society Candidates or catechumens ………. . 13,282 has now 319 principal stations, and Attendance at eight colleges and ~68 ,2,406 chapels and other preaching stations, the staff consisting of schools…………………………. 57,677 365 missionaries and assistants, )3,262 teachers and other paid The "New In a recent issue of agents, and 6,095 local preachers, Reformation" Le Siecle, M. Ie Pas- Sunday-school teachers, and other unpaid agents. There are 48,711 in France. teur Ro bert, of church members, with 13,597 on Pons, Charente Intrial for membership, and 96,501 scholars. The year's income on ferieure, had a remarkable letter current account has been with a on the campaign for freeing France trifling balance brought forward, from the clerical yoke. As founder £135,494. The Women's Auxiliary and director of L'<Euvre de Pons, for Female Education in Foreign M. Robert is a well-known and Countries and other benevolent highly esteemed worker. Address- 'purposes has expended £14,499, be- ing M. Y. Guyot, he writes: sides furnishing school material, clothing, etc., to many parts of the Everywhere Protestantism is being exmission field. pounded, I may say revealed; for it is abso- lutely unknown to three-fourths of our fel- United Free For the first time low-countrymen, and it meets with sympathy. Church the work of this The Reformation in La Correze is not an iso, lated movement. La Saintonge has been for Missions. body (recently several years the center of a most fruitful formed by the coa- Protestant propaganda. Several evangelical stations have been established in Les Chalescence of the Free Church and rentes in response to the wants and appeals of the United Presbyterians) appears. the Roman Catholics themselves.
I was led to establish the mission at Pons, five years ago, in consequence of the sympa· thy for Protestantism which was excited in that part of La Saintonge by the conversion of a priest, M. I'Abbli Bonhomme, cure of Saint Palais de Phiolin. We have received many invitations from 34 communes situated in a circumference of from 20 to 25 kilome- tres around Pons.
In consequence of this missionary activ- ity, 14 Protestant stations have been organ- ized in connection with the parish of Pons, where there was not a single Protestant by birth. Nearly a thousand Roman Catholics have become Protestants, not alone by show- ing sympathy to us, or by attending our ser- vices occasionally, but by signing themselves as members on our register, and formally
901.] GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
abjuring Catholicism. The number of Prot· renewed in them; and in their souls estant parochial electors at Pons are 5 times are prepared and accomplished the as many as they were 3 years ago; they deliverances which it experiences." have increased from 29 to 142. The funds for carrying on the work come from the mem- Protestants One of the best- bers. in Spain. known Protestant missionaries in In a long letter in a later issue of Le Siecle, the writer describes the Spain was until recently Pastor rise and remarkable progress of the Fritz Fliedner, a son of the famous new Reformation, especially in Les founder of the Kaiserswerth Dea- Charentes, and then observes: coness Home, and himself a promi- nentfigure at international conven- The movement would have been much tions of the Evangelical Alliance. more intense, and would have spread with Pastor Fliedner, who died recently, much greater rapidity, but for the failure of made his headquarters in Madrid, pecuniary resources. Meeting-houses and where he had been conducting excel- temples were not sufficiently numerous for lent schools and a successful Prot- the new converts. "If we could be sure of estant publication house, which has pastors," say the villagers, "we should be done much to spread Protestant many more in numbers." Forty heads of fam- literature throughout the penin- ilies in Medillac petitioned for regular worship sula. He also established congrega- in their midst; but months passed before any- tions and missions in a number of thing could be done in the way of meeting places. In addition to the English- their demand. The harvest is great and· the Spanish and the German-Spanish laborers are few. congregations resulting from the efforts of these men, there exists Good Cijeer Journal des Mis- also the Iglesia EspafioZa Re/or. (or French sions Evangeliques mada, anumberof Protestant com- Protestants. for January (the munions established and led by Bishop Juan Bautista Cabrera, who organ of the Paris years ago wasordained by the Arch- Missionary Society), reviewing the bishop of Dublin. He aims at the century which has expired, dwells organization of a purely native on the marvelous expansion of the Protestant Church in Spain. Forsociety's work, especially during merly a Catholic priest, he has be- the iast ten years of the century. come strong exponent of the Evan- It notes that through this develop- gelical clI-use. One of his leading ment of missionary work the whole principles is that the work should of French Protestantism has been be done only by native Spaniards quickened with new life, has felt a and not by foreigners, as only the new appeal to energy and sacrifice, former can successfully accomplish a new source of healthy emotion. the ends desired. All these moveof duty, and of blessing. No less ments have in their employ colremarkable has been the constant porteurs, who spread Bibles and growth of the society's resources, evangelical literature wherever the miracle, six times repeated, of possible. Aid also comes from the a large deficit cancelled almost as periodical Protestant press, of soon as it became known. And it which La Luz and EZ Christiano concludes thus: "1,'he society will are leading representatives. Nukeep its mission fields, and will ful- merically the Protestants of Spain fil its work, as long as it can count are not strong, but intrinsically the among its directors and friends a cause is stronger than surface insufficient number of hearts deter- dications might suggest. mined to embrace all this great work in faith, love, and prayer. Such hearts are the real missionary society and its true strength. Its unity and its life are constantly
Home MiS- On account 0 f supersede but strengthen. The Gustavus-Adolphus Association ex- sions in the p hen 0 men a I ists to support Protestant pastors Germany. growth of cities in in Catholic districts, while the Evangelical Bund seeks to prevent Germany, the home any 'interference with the rights of missionary problem has become a Protestants, and keeps the evan- most serious one. . Berlin has risen gelical p1lblic informed of move- to" a fourth' place among the world's ments in the Catholic Church cities; Munich has reached 500,000, affecting their interests. a growth of 22 per cent. in five years; Hamburg has increased by Statistics of There are now in 12 per cent., and ranks fourth German Germany 23 Protamong ports. Manheim has in- Missions. estant missionary creased by'4-3 per cent., Stettin by societies, with 551 50, Posen by 58, and N uremburg by 60. While in 1871 t.here were main stations, 880 missionaries, 96 but 8 cities with a population of female missionaries (unmarried), over 100,000, there are now 33. 136 ordained and 4-,169 other native During t.he sll.me period Frankfort- helpers, 369,493 Christians, and 89,- on-the-Main has grown from 60,000 103 scholars in 1,829 schools having to 300,000.• 2,610 teachers. First year's re- ceipts at home, 5,367,127 marks; A German " The Society for outlays, 5,449,276 marks (about $1,- "S. P. G." the Propagation of 350,000). This is about 1-14 of the missionary (Protestant) receipts the Gospel" has throughout the world. Thoroughbeen organized by a number of ness and sobriety in the lUissionary Lutheran pastors and laymen, who work are German traits; as wealth have been impressed by the needs increases liberality will no doubt of their Catholic fellow-country- in due time be added. men and the duty of carrying on active evangelistic work among ASIA. .them. The society ,vill aim at deepening the conviction among For the Energetic colporevangelical Christians of their responsibility to the Catholics around Jews tage work is being them. It will seek to strengthen .the hands of pastors working in in Smyrna. car r i e don in districts of mixed Protestant and Catholic popUlation. It will do its Smyrna by the utmost to help those working in strongly Catholic districts, to find agents of the London Society for able pastors, and to cultivate warm congregational life. The Scrip- Promoting Christianity among the tures and Protestant literature will be widely circulated. Evangelists Jews. Two weekly services are and Bible colporteurs will be employed. It will undertake the spir- held on Saturday mornings and itual care of Catholics who have joined the Evangelical Church, Sunday evenings. These are very especially the care of priests who may leave Rome. Two societies, well attended. The small mission working on a similar but narrower plan,. are already in existence, chapel has often been quite full on which this new society will not Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath. It has been of no infrequent occur- rence that between 40 and 60 adults have attentively listened to the message of the atonement. A sew- ing-class for women has been com- menced in order to get at the Jew- esses in Smyrna, of whom there are about -10,000. On Thursday evenings a number of Jews attend
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
the singing practice, which is al- of Great Britain and Ireland com- ways commenced and closed with bined, and I am not willing that prayer in. the name of the Lord this reproach should remain."
Jesus. Islam in More than one-third Sultan and Dr. Herzl, by invita- India. of the adherents of the tion, saw the Sultan Islam are in India.
Zionists. of T u r key at his Nowhere else are Moslems so acces- palace, and was by sible. Nowhere else is there such him decorated with the order of immunity to the mis::;ionary from the }fedjidjie in May last, and hostile resistance to his work and presented with a pin set in brill- from lawless effort to destroy the iI,llts. The exact results are not result of his labor. Nowhere else yet divulged. Dr. Herz! "offered is the Moslem, from the force of considerable monetary payments circumstances, so powerless for mis- in consideration of definite se- chievous aggression and malevo- curity of tenure, and what prac- lent resistance to the peaceful tically amounts to internal gov- efforts of evangelism. Perhaps in erning rights over great tracts no other land do we find Islam in a of land"; and Zionists, it is said, more orthodox form, and with so received the greater part of what many followers in a reasonable and they wanted, so it is rumored; but enlightened frame of mind to meet until the next Zionist congress the the advances of the missionary in truth will not be known. Mean- the prosecution of his work. Per- while this step-the interview with haps no land has yielded so many the Sultan-awakens very deep in- converts to Christianity with so terest, and is really a notable large a number of enlightened and event. faithful workers forChrist.-REV.
T. G. SCOTT. Let Britons In a recent anniver- Bestir s a l' y address, the South India These figures are Themselves. B ish 0 p of New- Statistics. for the C. M. S..
castle uttered ·to Diocese of Travan- his countrymen these solemn core and Cochin, giving a compar- words: "Was the appeal ever made ative view for the last decade: to.a nation so forcibly as it is made 1890. 1900.
to us? What nation has ever had Stations …………… '" 152 210 so world-wide a dominion? Con- 11 sider that great dependency of 1Europeans…. . 10 India, with its 300,000,000 of souls 19 28 so lately devastated hyplague and Clergy Native pasfamine! God has blessed our labors tors …….. . 597 in' India, and yet so far more has Agents (of all grades, l 264 America realized the need of win- males and females) 35,910 Baptized……………. . 22388 5,977 Catechumens ……….. . 3:549 lO,71R Communicants ……… . 6,5,';3 Schools …………….. . 2511 189 12,269 Scholars…………….. . 6,3,';! Income locally raised Rs.20.715 from all sources…… Rs. 8.789 ning India to Christ tha,t, as I have Buddhist Toward fellow-men frequently said before, a hundred Morality. Buddhist morality years hence, if England and America send out missionaries to India is based on the noin the same proportion as during tion of the equality of all; respect the past 30 years, India, for which is to be paid to all living beings. Great Brita-in is primarily responsi- 'The 5 rules of righteousness which ble, will owe its Christianity more are binding on all followers of the to America with its various Chris- Buddha are: tian bodies than to all the societies 1. Not to kill any living being. 2. Not to take that which is not given.
3. To refrain from adultery. face) they are forthwith dragged 4. To speak no untruth. 5. To abstain from all intoxicating liquors. into the meeting-room and made to To these are added 5 more for sit down. I was so amused to see members of the order, viz.: one and another just bundled in, 1. Not to eat after midday. their loads taken off their backs, 2. Not to be present at dancing, singing, and seated on benches, till the place music, or plays. was full. Then hymns were sung, 3. Not to use wreaths. scents, ointments, or and short, straight talks given personal adornments. to the audience. They bear it in 4. Not to use a high or a broad bed. 5. To possess no silver or gold.
The American The annual report wonderfully good part, for instead Marathi of this flourishing of taking offense they consider it Mission. m iss ion of the quite a joke. I do believe many on American Board that day when the Lord comes has recently appeared and is full of will thank God for being compelled interest. Toward the close of the to hear the Gospel."
report is given the number received Martyrdom of The "Blind Apostle Blind Ch'ang. of Ma~churia" is to communion at the close of each also among those period of five years. Thus in 1835 who have won a martyr's crown. He and a deacon were seized by the the number was 18, in 1860 it was Boxers and dragged to a temple. There they were told to worship 373, in 1890 it was 858, and in 1900 it the idols and burn incense. The deacon yielded, but old Oh'ang was 2,928. Similarly, a comparison would not. He told his persecutors, .. I can only worship the one living .of mission statistics for the year;; and true God. " When commanded to repent, he said, "I have repented 1875 and 1900 is full of encourage- already." When asked if he would believe .in Buddha, he answered, ment. Every department shows "No, I believe in Jesus Ohrist." "Then you must die," they said, an increase, thus: and as the sword came down to be- head him Old Ohang was singing a Missionaries ………….. From 27 to 37 hymn. Many of the Roman Oath- Stations……………… .. 6 .- S olic converts also showed great Out-stations.. ….. .. . … H 57 H 124 Churches ……………. " 23 14 49 Pastors….. 0…………. H 15 .- 23 5 .. 2S Preachers……………. .. 28 .. 47 Bible readers………. '" .• 15 H Biblewomen… ….. …… H 93 Teachers (men and wo- " men) ……………… . 48" 301 Schools………. 0_.0 •••• u 51" 159 Pupils ……………….. H 965 " 7,946 Contributions (Rs.)…… " 2,129 a 7,206 Communicants. .. .. .. . .. H Baptized children. . . . . . . . " 868 " 4,877 Total of Christian work- 741 " 3,738 ers ………………… " 112 H 499 Vil!ages. in which Chris- " 133 ,~ 373 bans hve….. :. .. … ..
" Compelling May their tribe not steadfastness.
Them increase. Ami s- Memorial Dr. Maud Mackey, to Come In." sionary writing Service to of Peking, sends from Naini Tal, in f Martyrs. home an account of North India, says: "Every Sunday, the memorial ser- from 12 to 2, a most remarkable vice which was held at Paotingfu, meeting is held by the Tibetan March 23d. On the desolate site mission. The Bible injunction of of the old cheerful compound a •compel them to come in' is temporary enclosure had been literally put into practise. Sunday erected and arranged for the occa- is the great market-day, which sion, not by Ohristian hands but numbers of Tibetans attend, to buy by Ohinese of the city. Upon an and sell. A number of workers arch at the entrance were charac- station themselves all along the ters signifying, "They held the streets, and as soon as they spy one, truth unto death." Inside, pots of by main force (withal with smiling beautiful flowers stood on tables,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. G35
and scrolls and banners decorated " It will be seen that the aggrethe matting walls. The 2 Roman gate appears small in comparison Oatholic priests in the city also with the former, but this is not sent flowers, with a kind letter of owing to the sparsity of their numsympathy. There were present at bers, nor, in most instances, to the service 18 missionaries, repre- their early escape, tho in some senting 4 missions; Chinese Chris- cases (as in Paotipgfu) this took tians, some of them from Peking; place. It appears rather to be due French and German army officers to the greater size of the Roman and Chinese officials at Paotillgfu. Catholic flocks, and to the circum- Mr. Lowrie gave his address in stances that in numberless cases Chinese, Mr. Killie, Dr. Wherry, they have extensive establishments and others taking part in English. which they had defended with A German band furnished low, earth ramparts, deep ditches, and sweet music. ." Asleep in fesus" rifles or even foreign machine-guns. was sung in English and "I'm bnt The number of such places successa stranger here" in Chinese. On fully defended is at present unthe day following a similar service known, but is certainly not a small was held at the south suburb. one, and thus far we happen to have heard of but two instances A Hint from The Berlin corre- where these defenses failed." Sir Robert spondent of the LIST OF ROMAN CATHOJ..IC LOSS OF LIFE IN THE Hart. Daily C h r 0 ni cl e sends home an BOXER L'PRISI!<G (FOREIGNERS).
article contributed by Sir Robert ci Hart to the Deutsche Revue, in OJ which this sage suggestion is made PROVINCE. ~ to heralds of the cross laboring in ci 13 China: ::O;J; 0 0 Eo< " Would it not be better for missionaries to distinguish between Ii: 12 (French). essentials and non-essentials, and Manchuria. 10 2 12 (5 French, 2 Italian, to resist every temptation of divest- Shansi ….. 5 7 ing their environment of its local 2 German, 2 Dutch). character, or the individual of his Mongolia … 7 .. 7 (4 Belgian, 3 Dutch), nationality. European domestic Chili ……. 4 4 (2 French, 1 Ger· manners and customs may appear Hunan …… of great significance to mission- Peking …… 2 …. man, t Belgian). aries themselves, but not one of 7 2 (Italian). them has anything to do with the 7 (5 French, t Italian, salvation of the soul, or with heaven. The object of missionaries t American). should be to make the Chinese Christians, but not Occidentalists." 35 44 Catholic In addition to the A Spiritual Rev. Eugene S. Martyrs. long list of Protest- Awakening Booth, Principal of ant missionaries in Japan. Ferris ~eminary of who were slain in the Boxer upris- the (D ute h) Reing, this one also should be scanned, relating to Roman Catholic loss of formed Church Mission, Yokolife, which was sent to The Inde- hama, Japan, writes under date of pendent by Rev. A. H. Smith. He June 11. 1901: suggests: TELL IT OUT TO THE CHURCHES: "The Holy Spirit has come upon the churches in Japan!" This is the thought that is upon the lips of many missionaries in this land to-. day. And why? Because wonder- ful things are being done daily. Missionaries meet one another and say. "It is wonderful, wonderful." "I cannot understand it!" Thank God, we don't have to understand it. Our eyes have seen and our
ears have heard, and the things we ing notices of the meeting and have seen and heard we bear wit- tracts. The church became over- ness. God the Holy Ghost is crowded, other churches in the moving upon the hearts of the neighborhood were opened, and on Japanese in a marvelous way. The Saturday, June 8th, I attended the oldest missionaries have never seen workers' meeting, which is he.Id anything like it in the history of daily at 3 P.M., and learned that Protestant missions in this coun- there were then 20 places for try. Other lands and islands have daily evening services, and it was in the past borne testimony to sim- proposed to increase the number ilar eagerness on the part of the to 30 this week. From the reports people for the salvation of God, that came in it was ascertained but never before Japan. Eighteen that on the previous evening 187 years ago Japanese pastors and had expressed a desire to learn helpers received a manifest baptism more of Christianity; 618 had ex- of the Holy Spirit, following the pressed ~uch desire since the pre- Osaka General Missionary Confer- vious Sunday. More than 2,000 ence, but the people were not have been brought under instruc- moved as they are now. Since the tion, many of whom may reason- Tokyo General Missionary Confer- ably be regarded as converts, having ence. held in October last, there had more or less previous intellect- has been among missionaries, Jap- ual knowledge of the Gospel.
anese pastors, and helpers a "stir- For two weeks the blessed work ring up of the Gift". that is in has been carded on in Yokohama them, and the result has been mar- with similar results. The people velous in our eyes. Nearly all are willing, and even glad, to come evangelical missionaries, Japanese to the meetings. Street preaching pastors, and helpers have fallen in has been possible through the line with the organization of the orderly behavior of the auditors, general committee appointed by and only -OIice, so far as I have the conference to inaugurate a heard, have the police interfered, twentieth century general evangel- and when that was brought to the istic movement. attention of the authorities, assur- Much preparation had been made ance was given that no further and much material prepared. More interference need be feared so long might have been prepared, but as care was taken not to interfere both fund and agents were limited. with traffic.
About three weeks ago in Tokyo, The secular daily papers have in the Kyobashi Ku district, given reports of the meeting in a a sound was heard, not of a friendly and sympathetic spirit "mighty rushing wina," but of the with favorable ~omments. TELL coming together of comparatively IT OUT TO THE CHURCHES!
a large number, many of whom AFRICA. were young people and children.
Backsliders and lukewarm Chris- Rome in the The late Cardinal tians were awakened from the Dark Lavigerie's " 'White sleep into which they had fallen; Continent. Fathers" have now meetings were continued daily. A in Africa 50 sta- poor dumb boy was among the tions, with a staff of 249 mission- company. He read the tracts and aries, 132 nuns, and 642 catechists.
saw the faces of the people. The This body of more than 1.000 matter was explained to him. He workers has gathered 67,190 neo- became an evangelist by distribut- phytes and lSO,08o catechumens.
GENERAL MISSIONARY' INTELLIGENCE
The" White Fathers" also control fruit. One colored man from J a- 184 schools, with nearly 6,000 chil- maica, Mr. Blackett, is already dren. The order is fed by 2 train- doing good work at Onitsha on the ing colleges in Jerusalem, which Niger, and two others, Mr. Binger together have 139 students. and Mr. Thompson, arrived lately The Nqrth This society has in London, were received by the Africa now 150 agents- committee, and in due course sailed men and women– for 'Vest Africa. We trust these Mission. three are but a first instalment.
generally, in North Africa' The hopes of the society when, besides 130 in' Egypt. after the emancipation of 1834, it This mission was initiated in the founded the institution in Jamaica, year 1881 by Mr. George Pearse, which subsequently was handed to Mr. Guinness, and Mr. Glenny. the Lady Mica Trust, and has now The first beginning was by Mr. trained these men, may even yet, Pearse among the Kabyles of Algeria. The Kabyles are in many in God's good providence, and after so long an interval, be fulfilled. respects a noble race–Moham- medans, but" not at all deeply im- The Gift The Church of Scotbued with Mohammedanism." of a Mission. land has been offer- The mission ;n Morocco, at Tan- ed an African misgiers, w~s initiated in 1883. The sion, along with an endowment and reserve fund amounting to- Tunisian mission was begun in ,gether to £37,000. It is the East 1885. The Tripoli mission was in- African Scottish Mission, founded augurated in 1887, and that in nine years ago by a mercantile Egypt in 1892. The principal mis- company of Christian men, and sion in Egypt is in Alexandria; endowed in memory of the late Sir but there are branches at Rosetta William Mackinnon, chairman of and Shebin-EI-Kom. The mission- the mission, and the late Mr. A. L. aries go out on their own initiative, Bruc3, its honorary secretary. It with the concurrence and under is on the railway to Uganda, and the guidance of the council. Some and its healthy site is 6,500 feet have sufficient private means to above the level of the sea. support themselves; others are supported, wholly or in part, by friends, churches, or communities, The Mission The Chronicle of through the mission, or separately. on Lake the London Mis- The remainder receive but little, except such as is supplied from the Tanganyika. sionary Soc i e t y general funds placed at the dis- speaks very hopeposal of the council. The missionaries, in devotedness to the Lord, fully of its mission in Central go forth wIthout any guarantee Africa. It is now more than twenty from the council as to salary or years since its earliest pioneers support, believing that the Lord, began their march from the mainwho has called them, will sustain land near Zanzibar toward Ujiji, them. the proposed center of the work. Three stations were founded at Tanganyika: Ujiji on the east side, Africans The plans matured Mtowa on the west side, and at for 3 or 4, years ago . Kavala Island, midway up the Africa. by the .c. M S. for lake. At each of these stations a training West In- school was opened, and frequent dian negroes for missionary service evangelistic journeys were taken in West Africa are now bearing round the lake. But the spiritual
results were apparently small. The Episcopal Church in San Jua.n, country proved unhealthy, a re- Puerto Rico. The proposed church moval was necessitated to the south will cost $10,000, and the remainend of the lake, and the almost ing amount has been subscribed. fruitless work at the northern part was abandoned. The present T..an- Bishop George 'V. Peterkin, of ganyika stations are at Kawimbi, Niamkolo, and Kamboli. At Ka- West Virginia, is now in Puerto wimbi a few converts have been Rico looking over the island in the won, and at Niamkolo there is interests of the Church. This same much influence at work among the Church proposes the establishment women. The regular congregation "of a diocese in the Philippine at the :Sunday services is about 700. Islands, with a resident bishop and At the Kamboli schools are about ministers. If this plan is effected 400 scholars. The first two con- this will be the first diocese of the verts were publicly baptized in Protestant Episcopal Church of May, 1900. To the south of these America to be established beyond missions is the country of the great the confines of this country. A wem ba tribe. To the west is that of the Kazembi. Into these newly A Late The Rev. Stanley opened spheres the representatives Word from Rogers, of Liverof science and commerce are push- Rev. James pool, has received a ing their way, and the doors are Chalmers. letter from the Rev. also open for the "messenger of the Gospel of peace.-Intelligencer. James Chalmers (dated British New Guinea, March ISLANDS OF THE SEA. 9th), which must have been one of the last written by him before the Dr. Paton's .unique interest at- massacre. Some of its sentences Return. taches to the meet- have a peculiar interest in view of ings to bid farewell the event which so soon followed. "Time," says' Mr. Chalmers, to the venerable missionary, Dr. "shortens, and I have much to do. John G. Paton, of the New How grand it would be to sit down Hebrides, which were held in Exeter in the midst of work and just hear Hall, London, on Wednesday, June Him say, 'Your part finished, 5. Seldom in missionary annals has come.' " He wri tes most hopefully the heart of Christendom been so about the prospects of his mission stirred as by the life of the aged on the Fly River, and looks forapostle of the New Hebrides; and ward to the time when many of the spectacle of the brave veteran the children now in training will returning to Australia and to his beloved islands-at the age of 78 become evangelists. "If," he says, '::"-determined to live and die in the sacred cause to which he has de- "the directors grant the flat-botvoted his life, should arouse the tomed vessel which I have asked missionary enthusiasm of London. for we shall be able to undertake We wish him Godspeed. the Fly River properly. At pres- ent the work has got ahead of us Episcopal George C. Thomas, and we must try to get abreast." Expansion. treasurer of the Mr. Rogers suggests that the churches shall take up the Fly Domestic and For- River mission in memory of the eign Missionary Society of the man who was its pioneer, provide Protestant Episcopal Church, has all the equipment he asked, and given $6,000 for the erection of an speedily send forth a strong staff of men who shall carryon the work so nobly begun.
GENEBAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
MISCELLANEOUS. Greek Catholic churches. The America as a It has been known average number of Jewish baptisms MissionarY for some time that is 1,500 a year, exclusive of the Roman Catholic Church. These Force. the French Cana- are distributed as follows: Luther- dian Catholic re- ans and Episcopalians, 800; other Protestant churches, 200; and the turning to the provinces from New Greek Catholic Church, 500. These England is a layman of a different statistics indicate that work among SOFt, far less tractable under the Jews is not in vain. priestly compulsion. It is interesting to find Mr. Bolton King, in The Law of Christ. the same his new book on .. The Italy of To- Service. yesterday and today," asserting that one of the day, would still seek chief re!1sons for optimism concerning the Italy that is to be is the lost, but He must now do it on the fact that so many Italians who our feet. He would still minister, have prospered in North and South but He must do it with our hands. America are returning to Italy with He would still warn and comfort their little fortunes and a wealth and encourage and instruct, but He of new ideas respecting life which must do it with our lips. If we remake it impossible for the Italian fuse to perform these offices for priest to handle them as he has Him, what right have we to call in the past.-Congregationalist. ourselves members of His body, in vital union with Him? How His A truly Christian Interest man grew inter- A Lesson If John Eliot and Grew. ested in missions. in Fat her Gab r i e I At first he began to pray, .. Lord, save the heathen!" Toleration. Druillette, Puritan After a time he prayed, "Lord, send missionaries to save the and Jesuit, could heathen!" Later on he prayed, "Lord, if you haven't anybody else spend weeks under the same roof to send, send me!" Then he changed his prayer, .. Lord, send me; but if (and that roof Eliot's) in prayer you can't send me, send somebody!" Finally, he changed and and consultation, drawn together' said, " Lord, send whom thou wilt; but help me to pay my share by the thought of the spiritual of the expenses." Then for the first time the Gospel to him be- destitution of the few thousand came a reality and giving to the missionary cause a pleasure. aboriginal inhabitants of New Eng- The Gospel Over 125 converted land, surely it should be easy for {or the Jews are now filling Jews. Protestant pulpits; those who are united in the fellow- converted Jews are ship of a common evangelical faith found in nearly all denominations, and 4,500 of them are in the United and a common spiritual religion to States alone. During the nineteenth century there were 204,540 confer in the most fraternal way, Jews baptized, 72,240 being in evangelical churches, 57,300 in Roman as they seek to give the .light of Catholic churches, 74,500 in the life to the thousand millions of earth's population who are still en- veloped in Pagan darkness.-REv.
H. M. KING.
DEATH NOTICES. George L. 'Ve regret greatly MacKay, to hear of the death, of Formosa. at 67, of Dr. Geol'ge L. MacKay, of For- mosa, whose work for nearly thirty years on that island has been so amazing a display of the power of God. He died on June 2d of can-
. cer of the throat. George Leslie by the Christians there. The funeral took place in the English MacKay, a native of Zorra, Onta- cemetery in Peking, March 27th.
rio, began this mission in 1872, The following words, spoken at the graveside by his friend and coland three years later was joined league, Mr. Biggin, well serve as a tribute of honor and affection: by Rev. J. B. Fraser, M.D., and That his work and love were not loElt in subsequently by Rev. K. F. Ju- writ large enough for all to read who will; the roll-call of true martyrs from his church noI', and still later by Rev. John is second to none in Peking, if any can equal it. They are men that he loved as his own Jamieson. Dr. MacKay married children, and no one knows how much their loss has meant to him. . . . He died at a Chinese lady, who proved very his post, as a man may wish to die. He has . given his life in the service of those who were' helpful in securing the attention dearer to him than life.
of Formosan women and in con- ducting the girls' school. He held from the first that Chinese evan- gelization must depend for large success on Chinese native agency, B. C. Henry, Rev. Benj. C. Henry, of China. D.D., of China, passed and he early sought to develop away June 21st at young men as teachers and preach- Morris Plains, N. J., at the age of fifty-one. Dr. Henry was It deers. The story of his work will be voted follower of Christ in his col- lege life, both in Canonsburg and found in a fuller form in Vol. VII., at Princeton, where he was gradu- ated. He offered his services to pp. 421, 491, and in Vol. IX., p. 81, the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and went to Ohina in 1873. of this REVIEW. His book, "From In all his mission work in China he combined with his consecrated far Formosa," is most valuable and piety a brilliant intellect and an aggressive will. Dr. Henry leaves interesting. His death in compara- three daughters and a son about to enter on his theological course. tive prime is a calamity to missions for which we can find no adequate comfort save in the control of a higher Master. A. T. P.
Joseph Mr. Stonehouse, of ) oseph Cook, One of the prophets Stonehouse, the L. M. S., was of Boston. of the nineteenth of China. recently murdered in North China. . century was Joseph He had been visiting several vil- Cook, whose death was announced lages near Tung-an to ascertain the damage done to the mission prop- on June 24th, at Ticonderoga, N.Y., erty. On Saturday, March 23d, he and a native evangelist left Hsin- at the age of sixty-three. He was an at six o'clock in the morning un his way back to Tung-an, traveling in every way massive-physically, in a Chinese cart. They were attacked by some 30 men, variously intellectually, spiritually. He was armed. The cart was riddled with shots, and Mr. Stonehouse fell a born leader of men, and nobly wounded on his side. He had a revolver, but apparently did not did he employ his heritage. From use it. The robbers immed'iately made off with all the missionary's deep conviction, reinforced by conthings, and Mr. Stonehouse was placed on a. plank and carried to a tinual and thorough study, he was neighbor'S house, where he died soon after. a pillar of conservative thought.
The body was brought to Tung-an From the wide sympathy of his and reverently prepared for burial heart, and from his superb courage, he was in the van of every reform.
For years he was, more than any other man, the mouthpiece of Boston Puritanism, and his "Bos- ton Lectures" made him famous throughout the world,
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1900
TENIHOTITI AND
Two Maori Chiefs of New Zealand. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
Old Serie8. t JULY. New Serie8. VOL. XXIII. No.7. f { VOL. XIII. No.7.
THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITY AND OBLIGATION.* REV. MALTBIE B. BABCOCK, D.D. Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York City.
To a Ohristian an opportunity is a claim. If I see a man ahungered and can give him bread, if I see a man wandering from the way and can show him the road, that opportunity is an obligation. Why do we read that Ohrist must be lifted up? It was simply the supreme opportunity of 'love that found the point of need and gave itself at the point of need. Why did Paul say: "I must see Rome?" Was he coerced? Paul had to impart something because he had something to impart. Jesus Ohrist could turn Saul into Paul and Paul had nothing to say about it to men who needed just what Jesus Ohrist had done for him. Those men were weak morally. Paul had power.' Those men were in darkness, and Paul knew the light. Those men were in degradation, and Paul knew Jesus Ohrist. What else could he do as a Christian? "I must see Rome, and if there is no other way to get me there, fasten your chains on my wrists and take me there as a prisoner, for I must see Rome that I may impart!" I am a debtor to Greek, to barbarian, to Jew, to sinners, to anyone who has not what I have. That is Ohristian chivalry. Show it the need and it leaps.
Opportunity is an obligation, and obligation is inspiration, and inspiration is in-spiritation, which means that the spirit of Ohrist is in me, and because I live you shall live also, and because I love, you shall love also, and you must love my way.'rhat is why Paul said: " W0 is me if I preach not the Gospel to the man who does not know it." Where would Paul be to-day if he were on earth? He would be in the thin red line out at the forefront where it runs up against the great black broad line. He said: "It is my ambition to fight where no one else has ever drawn a sword; let me be the first runner to go ahead with the news of life to the dead."
Christian friends, an opportunity is a claim. It is indisputable. If • Co~densed from an address delivered at the Ecumenical Conference on Foreign MissiollSo in Carnegie Hall, Tuesday eveDing, May 1, 1900.
Jesus' love is much to me, then I am logically bound to feel the interest of that love, sweeping into line every man who needs what Jesus can do-intensity and extensity, and all wrapped up together. If a light is bright here it will shine a long way. It takes very precious ointment to fill a whole house with its fragrance, but if Jesus Ohrist is everything to me, I know he can be everything to any man, and because I know it then wo is me if I will not do all that is in my power to let every man who does not know Jesus Ohrist share Him with me. There is no escape from this logic. If I love Jesus Ohrist, which means if I am loyal to Him, which means if I keep His commandments, I am in touch with everybody to the end of the earth who needs Him, and I can not wash my hands and say that you must excuse me from this matter. J esns Ohrist said: "Ye are to be my witnesses . . . beginning at Jerusalem "-that is New York Oity. I believe in city missions; so does every foreign missionary.-" In all Judea"- that is home missions-" and in Samaria "-what is that? That is the particular tribe or nation that you don't like. In Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and" to the uttermost part of the earth"-that takes in the last man. I tell you, beloved, your love has got a broken wing, if it can not fly across the ocean.
TWO ETERNAL CLAIMS.
Now, there are two claims that I would present, and they belong to the present situation, for, if you did bnt know it, we live in eternity; there is no past and future for the Ohristian-ah, yes, a future; but there is no past and there is no present; it is sil11ply a moving point that we are in, and in that moving point we live and do our business, or we don't do it. Now the present situation is the eternal situation as long as the Ohurch is under orders from our Lord. 1'he two claims are these: Fidelity and fairness. Fidelity relates to our God, and fairness touches our brother. Sentiment is beautiful. Let it operate. But it must crystallize in Him. "Lord, I am ready to die with Thee." " Peter, don't talk so fast or you will get in trou ble. It is not what .1 man thinks, but what he does that counts." 'rhey said unto Him, "Lord! Lord!" "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, but do not the things I say? "
How wide is the horizon to Jesus? It is a little one to us; it is growing small to many. But to Jesus the outside rim of the earth was the first horizon that He saw and the last He viewed, for when He was born, good tidings came, unto whom-the Jews ?-"unto all people." Then He said, "Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world," and" repentance and remission of sins shall be preached in ~My name to all nations." And lastly, "Go ye into all the world." See where that horizon is from the very start, beginning at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and" unto the
THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITY AND OBLIGATION
uttermost part of the earth." What are yon going to do with that if you say you don't believe in foreign missions and yet believe in Jesus? Why, it is simply impossible.
'I.'he early Church did what? It went everywhere, and the first thing you know Paul said that the Gospel has been trumpeted throughout the inhabited world. 'fhen the Church having won its fight got under the curse of Sodom-pride and fnlness of bread and abundance of idleness. Intoxicated with this power, like a mountain stream that comes down from the tops of the Persian hills and gets to be a stagnant pool on the plain, the Church went into its d~:J'::,:-__.a~ion, and the dark ages came. If the early Church could have only remembered Jewish history. What was the promise to Abraham? "I will bless you, but YOll will be a blessing to the ends of the earth and to all nations." I as a Christian, and the old Jew as a Jew, was to be placed only as a steward that I might pass it on. You remember how annoyed Jonah was? In the first place he did not want to go to Nineveh at all, and when he had to go, he sulked like a pouting child when he found that God would have mercy on somebody who was not a Jew. When Paul said, "I am going to preach to the Gentiles," the Jew caught up the dust and threw it in the air, and said, "Away with such a pestilential fellow." That is the reason why God took the Jewish candle out of the candlestick, and it went into darkness. It was for that reason that the Ohurch went into the dark agesit turned its candle into a dark lantern, and said, as long as I may see the light, I don't care who is in the dark.
THE LIGHT AND SALT OF THE EARTH.
In the Reformation the light began to shine again. Fellow-Ohristians, where are we to-day? Weare in the clear light.
Any man can see what Jesus meant to do for the world. He said: " Yon are the ligh t of your families." I hope so. " You are the light of the world." You are to shine so that the last man may have light from your candle. "You are the salt of "-the Ohurch-" ye are the salt of the earth." Go let you your light illu mine the darkness; go rub your salt into decay. Go where the darkness and decay are worst, for that is what .Jesus meant when he said, "LDve your neighbor." Who is your neighbor? The man that needs you is your neighbor. It may be that some child-widow or famine sufferer in India is YOUt· nearest neighbor, becausejust now for the sake of God's kingdo.n he or she needs you more even than your Sunday-school class needs you. Everyone of us marches up as Ohristian, not before the great white judgment throne, but before our Master as a servant to give an account how we have used our tools. The best tools, the greatest treasure, the most invaluable talent, is what? My personal knowledge of-Jesus Christ. I am to give an account before. my Mas-
ter for what I did in this world with what I knew about Him. Don't doubt it. "What shall I do with Jesus that is called the Christ?" is a question that stirs everyone who is thinking right.
Now the other claim is fairness. That makes my blood stir, for the old Saxon, and Anglo, and Dane, and Teuton is in my blood. I had good old pagan ancestry; you can see some of their places of worship over in England, and they believed in human sacrifices. 'l'hey used to take beautiful girls and put them in wicker crates a'nd shoot arrows at them to see which way their blood would run, that they might know what the gods were thinking about. 'fhose were my ancestors. Men proud of yonr Saxon, and Scotch, and Irish, and German blood, remembel' and honor the foreign missionary Paulinus, Patrick, Colombo, Gallus, who went out to those men and women, wild barbarians, pagans of the north, our ancestors, and preached to them the Gospel of Jesus Ohrist. I am the heir of that sacrifice; it is my heritage. They paid for it, and I enter into the blessing.
BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO BRITAIN.
0, that beautiful incident! It was near old York, men of New York. It was a great company that was gathered in a great hall. A stranger came and wanted a chance to speak to them. His name was Paulinus, little Paul, and they said, Shall he speak? and an old thane got up and said: "What is the life worth living? We don't know. It is just as tho a little sparrow flew into our house a cold winter night out of the dark, circled around, and then out into the dark again.. That is our life. We don't know where we came from. We stay here for a little, and then out into the dark we go. If this stranger can tell us anything, let him be heard." And then Paulinus prayed to them that they would come to God, and would find out what life was at the feet of Jesus. That is where our Ohristianity started-foreign missions, home missions, all of them-and I tell you that fairness means that I must do to others as men once did for me. 'l'here are millious to-day on earth that have just as good a right before God to know the best there is in life as you and I have. Why don't we tell them? Is it fail' that there should be millions of children born in the next generation to open their eyes in heathen darkness, when you and I opened our eyes in the light of a Ohristian day? You are darkening the lives of millions of unborn children by not puttirig the light of the love of Jesus Ohrist before the faces of their fathers and mothers.
I will not talk of the horrors that belong to Pagan religion, of the degradation of womanhood. You and I know Jesus, and know what He has been to us. Shall we not tell it to them that are in darkness? If your boy had just been recovering from diphtheria because your doctor knew of anti-toxine, and within twelve hours after he gave it
that labored breathing began to be more easy, and that terrible phlegm began to dry np and slough off, and he is all right now, and if out in the village yonder, you know there is a man whose boy has diphtheria, and they are holding his poor little feverish hands, and he is gasping for breath as they try in the old way to help him by calomel and the fumes of sulphur, and you let him suffer in the old way, and you per- mit his father and mother, so anxiously watching over him, to break their hearts in the same old way, and yet you know the new way to treat the disease, and you do not help! Just think of it! Picture it! Christian men and women!
THE CALL TO ADVANCE.
Now what is the opportunity? That and the claim are right tan- gled up together. The opportnnity is the claim. What the unchristian world in America and England needs is the advancement of Christian missions. Why? I do not believe there is any way in which the Church can so move men and women as to make an advance by faith into the great world beyond for Jesus' sake, and for principle. I do not say for the sake of commerce, but I say for principle. James Russell Lowell said: (( You can never test a man's principle until you know what he did for a principle." 'rhe Church needs the actual vitilization or the vital reaction of this thing. Look at that Moravian Church-the most missionary church, but with a perpetual revival at home. Now the heathen world is open. There are men living who remember fifty years ago praying for open doors. To-day they are all open. You have been praying for open doors, and they are open today in over four hundred languages. See how this great volunteer movement has sprung up. (( Here am I, your sons and daughters, send us: we are ready to go." The heathen world is open. Korea has already spurned Buddhism, and is waiting. The ltncient faith is tottering in India. The door of China is open to America as it is to no other nation. Dr. Laughlin says that the hand of God pushed back the reform movement there because the Christian Church was not ready to go in. China is not the (( yellow peril," but the golden opportunity. Oh, what an opportunity! Let the Christian Church say to poor, lame China, (( I have not come for your gold or your silver, bnt I come in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, to say, 'Get up and walk! '"
Now, we can never be the same after this conference. We are either going back into wilful disobedience, or we have got to go ahead. Every man is going to be true to something better, or else he is going deliberately to put a gigantic albatross around his neck, because light came and he would not live up to it. If you can not go, will you send your substitute? If two or three of you agree on anyone man, Jesus will be with you, and you can send a substitute. The rich can support missionaries, and the poor can support a native helper. Face your opportunity; feel its obligations, feel its inspiration, and if you can not go yourself, say, (( Jesus, here is my substitute, use him."
SOME NUGGETS OF THOUGHT GATHERED FROM THE " ECUMENICAL" MINES.
BY THE EDITOR-IX-CHIEF.
A book of proverbs might easily be culled out from the wise say- ings of the speakers at the recent conference on foreign missions in New York, and, tho these will appear in their appropriate setting in the reported adaresses, there are possible advantages in making a few selections from all this large body of material. First, to give them emphasis and prominence; again, to "whet the appetite" of busy people for a larger feast from the reports; and, yet again, that differ- ent utterances on kindred themes may be placed side by side under the same class, and so reflect light mutually upon each other and the general subject. We give a few specimens, and we naturally begin with the majestic theme that dominated the gathering, namely, THE WONDER-,,'ORKING GOD.
With God a thousand years are as one day. We should not lose sight of the other side of that truth-one day with Him is as a thou- sand years. God has not set a uniform pace for Himself in the work of bringing in the kingdom of His Son. He will ha~ten it in His day.-Benjamin Harrison.
God is the god of peace. "Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth." That is His way of making deso- lations.-Oharles TVilliams.
Nearly half a century ago I formed the China Inland Mission, and from the day of its inception to the present time, we have never taken up a collection, but depended entirely upon volunteer contributions, and we have never lacked for any good thing. Verily, we have taken no thought of tlle morrow, but like the children of Israel who gathered manna in the wilderness, those who gathered most had no surplus, and those who gathered least had no lack.-J. Hudson Taylor.
'fhe Russian ambassador told Dr. Schauffier, " My imperial master, the czar, will never allow Protestantism to set its foot in Turkey." Dr. Schauffier replied, "The kingdom of Christ, who is my Master, will never ask the Emperor of Russia where it may set its foot."
THE REVELATION OF GOD.
The highest conception that has ever entered the mind of man is – that of God and the Father of all men-the one blood-the universal brotherhood. It was not evolved but revealed. If you blot out of your statute book your constitution, your family life, all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what would there be left to bind society together ?-Benjamin Harrison.
J 1900. NUGGETS OF THOlTGHT FROM "ECUMENICAL" MINES
We must make a straight onslaught all the spirit of naturalism in religion. The fight is between Christ and the pagan religions.- George 1'. Purues.
The Bible and Christ are vitally linked and inseparable. The written Word is the Living Word infolded; the Living Word is the written Word unfolded. Whatever impairs the integrity and authority of the one correspondingly impairs the integrity and authority of the other.
The Bible is the oldest, safest, and best of all missionaries. It never grows old, gets sick or infirm, never dies, nor even needs a vacation; makes no unhappy marriages, forms no worldly or political alliances, never makes any mistakes, never contradicts itself, and is equally effective in any climate, and among any people.
THE DEEP DARKNESS OF HEATHENDO~f.
The study of these Oriental creeds and their fruits compels me to the conclusion that there is no resurrection power in any of them, and that the sale hope lies in the acceptance of that other and later Oriental creed which is centered in that Divine Person to whom Christendom bows the adoring knee.
Lying is universal. There is no truth and no trust between man and man; and no man trusts any woman. Immorality prevails universally.-Isabella Bird Bishop.
'1'he chief evil of Africa is the imminence and continuance of war. Death and famine largely result from this constant conflict of one tribe with another.-Robert Laws.
Arabia may contain six million souls who have heard of Issa-ben- Miriam (Jesus, Son of Mary), but who know Him not.-No H. Hutton.
OlfR DUTY TO MANKIND.
If we are not our brothers' keepers we can be our brothers' helpers. -Pres~<dent Jfc Ktn ley.
The greatest phenomenon of this century is the 'passion of men to save humanity, inspired by love of the Lord Jesus Christ.-S. B. Capen.
I derive the authority for missions from Christ's express direction, from His single word, "Go." His one injunctioll to the unbelieving world is " Come, come unto me." But to all His believing followers, "Go! go unto all the world."-.Augusf1tS H. Strong.
We are never told to attempt to do anything, but to do.-J. Hudson Taylor.
The word" witness" is found one hundred and seventy-five times in the New Testament, as the word most descriptive of the work, and it is synonymous with martyr.-H. O. Mabie.
THE GRANDEUR OF MISSIONS.
The most influential and endn ring work that is being done in this day of great enterprises.-Benjarnin Harl·ison.
I would rather plant one seed of the life of Ohrist beneath the crust of heathen life than to cover over the whole.crust with the social influences of Western civilization.-Robert E. Speer.
There is not in all Asia a people that can be molded into a better manhood than the Ohinese, and in a few years they will be coming into the Ohurch in numbers that will astonish you.- Wm. Ashmore.
The missionary enterprise is the dominant movement of the day.- Judson Smith.
MISSIONARY HEROISM.
They eount their labor no sacrifiee. "Away with the word in such a view and such a thought!" says David Livingstone. "It is emphatieally no sacrifice; say, rather, a privilege."- P7'esident McKtnley.
Men and women who have not only preached but have done)' who have made action follow pledge, performance square with promise.
Wo to the man who pities the worker. I am not sorry for L3 worker, but for the man who pities him. The life worth living is the life of the man who works, who does.-Governor Roosevelt.
Everett P. Wheeler said that Miss Shattuck stood for all the United States government stood for-righteousness and law, when a howling Moslem mob tried to enter her school honse and she interposed the dignity of womanhood and the power of consecration.
When General Funston was asked by a superior officer how long he could hold the place he replied, "Until we are mustered out." Our missionaries are doing that thing with no regiment back of them.- S. B. Oapen.
RAPID EVANGELIZATION.
We are to make Ohrist known to all men with a view to their salvation; evangelization, not conversion, is onr responsibility. Weare neither called to shrink from a burden that we may bear, nor to stagger under a burden we can not bear.-Robert E. Speer.
"It is my deep conviction that if the Ohurch of Christ were what she ought to be, twenty years would not pass away till the Story of the Oross will be uttered in the ears of every living man."-Q1wted from Dying Words of Simeon Oalhoun.
THE HOME CHURCH.
The greatest need of the foreign fields is a revived, reconsecrated, and unified home Ohurch.-Benjamin Harrison: The Protestant Ohurch is liberal with Bibles and stingy of men; it is willing to send a book. 'fhe Roman Oatholic Ohurch is liberal with men, and stingy of Bibles. When it wants a task performed, it sends a priest. The Ohurch of the future will send multitudes of men with the open Bible in their hands. It will be liberal with both Bibles and men.-Ex-Ohancellor McDowell.
NUGGETS OF THOUGHT FROM "ECUMENICAL" MINES
By no possibility can my hand reach four feet from my body. If I want to rescue a dying man from drowning, my whole body must move to enable my hand to reach him. The whole Church must move forward, if missions are to succeed.-J. Hudson Taylor.
The Moravian Church has three principles: every disciple's wode is witness for God; his !lOme, wherever he can best do his work and is most needed; his cross, self-denial for Christ!
THE SOURCE OF POWER.
We are commanded to "be filled with the Spirit." If not, we are living in disobedience and sin, the sin of unbelief.-J. Hudson Taylor.
It is by prayer that the missionary gains his greatest conquests. I have stood face to face with a savage and held on to his rifle lest he might shoot me for his meal, but it was not my strength, but my prayer, that overcame.-John G. Paton.
We are a supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth; we wage a supernatural fight and are taught by a supernatural teacher, led by a supernatural captain to assured victory.-J. Hudson Taylor.
For me to live is Christ. Christ multiplies himself through the self-multiplication of the individual Christian.-Augustus H. Strong.
CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS.
There is need of thorough training. Power for the missionary task will he found in education. Love, which we often call "the greatest thing in the world," can do less for suffering than skill.- Miss Thoburn.
The secret of the Moravians' success in mission work is that they do not attempt to adapt Christ to any particular field, but at once tell the story of the Oru3ified One. "We find the story of the 'Man who died for me' always sufficient."-Panl de Schweinitz.
Love has a wide sphere. Ohristian love begins at home, but it does not end at home. Like the circles set in motion when you throw a stone in calm water, it widens evermore, until it encompasses the globe.-Augllstus lI. Strong.
Charity is like a circle: it begins anywhere and everywhere, and ends nowhere.-David H. Greer. .
There must be consecrated giving. I am tired of seeing money " raised." We must learn to give it.-J. Willis BaM'.
The price of three battleships would put ten thousand volunteers into the field for a year.- Ex-Chancellor McDowell.
Knowledge and zeal are allied. Fuel does not make fire, but it feeds it. We must have the fire to kindle the fuel. No amount of mere information will create zeal, if there be no spirit of Christ within.
:mSCELLANEoes Sl:B.JECTS.
There is a witness in opposition. All men unite to praise the <lead. And we may solace ourselves when our good is evil spoken of by the evil minded, for we may assure ourselves that what we are doing is being feIt.-.Llfrs. Montgomery.
All these, the triumphs of applied science, are worthy only and in proportion as they contribute to the regeneration of mankind. Every invention, every work, every man, every nation, must one day come to this weighing platform and be appraised.-Benjamin Harrison.
Polygamy. If a man cares more for earthly pleasures and relationships than those of heaven he can not be admitted into that heaven. Even so he should not be admitted into the Ohurch.-Robert E. Speer.
Gospel Triumphs. One most notable example of widespreading and thorough conversion was that of 300 cannibals, who joined the Ohristian Endeavor Society, burned their idols, and implored the missionaries to give them two yards of calico apiece in order that they might put on some clothes.-.1ohn .1. Paton.
In Uganda is a great cathedral at the top of the great hill, called the" hill of peace," where 5,000 people assemble Sunday by Sunday to hear the Word of God from their own people, and their people are going out as preachers to every part, and supporting their own workers without any help from another country.-Dr. O. F. Hartford-Battersby.
I saw a missionary gathering on one of the Indian reservations, where ninety-nine per cent. were Indians, where all the details of practical mission work were carried out by themselves, and subscribing out of their little all, that the work might go on among their brethren who yet were blind.-Governor Roosevelt.
There are nearly 32,000 stations and substations; 11,000 churche's with 1,333,000 communicants, 84,000 of whom were adJed last year; over 15,000 Sunday-schools, with 800,000 scholars. The native contributions during the year, $1,841,757.-.1ames S. Dennis.
All statistics are fatally defective in that they do not count at all the real results. They never count the dead. Tens of thousands have been garnered, and it is in heaven, not here, that we should look for the triumphs. The student volunteers have given us a noble watchword, "The evangelization of the world in this generation!" But if any hesitate to accept it;let them take it thus, "'rhe evangelization of this generation," and they will see at once that every man and woman, however bad, however good, has a right to heal' of Jesns.
One thing is quite certain-the civilization of America and Europe will not do the work. Africans must save the Africans, Asiatics the Asiatics. "The White Man's Burden" is to influence the native Ohristians. The nearest way to the heart of a Ohinaman and the heart of a Hindu is by the throne of God.-Eugene Stock.
THE STORY OF EROMANGA
SOME NATIVES OF EROMANGA, NEW HEBRIDES.
THE STORY OF EROMANGA.
BY REV. H. A. ROBERTSON, EROMANGA, NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. Missionary of the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
Eromanga is the third largest island in the New Hebrides group. It has a circumference of about 100 miles, and is high and very hilly, some of its peaks being lofty. Traitor's Head, one of the highest, on the southeast side, was so named by Oapt. Cook when he landed on the island in 1774, and experienced the treacherous character of the natives.
Like the other islands of the Pacific, tropical plants and fruits grow in abundance, altho Eromanaga can not be caned a fertile island. In their plantations the natives raise very fine yams-a splendid substitute for potato-taro, bananas, a species of cabbage, sugar-cane, and nesi or paw-paw apple. Other fruits are the wevi, tan, yetu, and mango. Oustard apples, guavas, and pineapples also grow well if cultivated. Oranges thrive splendidly, and finally there is the omnipresent palm of the tropics, the coconut tree, from which food and so many other useful articles are obtained.
The Eromangan houses are remarkably well built and commodious. One called a Siman-lo is used as a cooking-house, general meeting room, and a place for general gossip. The principal weapons of war are clubs, bows and arrows. Spears are not used except in fishing. Eromangan men in their heathen state wore no clothing; the women on the contrary were well covered by long full skirts made from pandanus or banana leaves, or from the inner bark of the hibiscus. Women also wore a strip of native cloth thrown across their shoulders. Now both men and women wear European dress, altho the latter keep to their native costume for work on their plantations.
About the beginning of this century sandal wood was first discovered on Eromanga, and men from Rotuma came, opened numbers of stations, and carried on a brisk trade. '1'he sandal wood was shipped to China, enormous quantities being taken at one time, not however without much bloodshed. About the year 1843 the trade was taken in hand by Europeans, who continued in the trade until about 33 years ago. Some of these Europeans were honest and kindly, but others were unscrupulous and most unfair in their dealings with the natives.
THE COMING OF MISSIONARIES.
'1'he first attempt to introduce the Gospel into the grou p was made in November, 1839. That day was marked as memorable by the massacre of the sainted John Williams and his friend James Harris on the shores of Eromanga. The following year the London Missionary Society's brig Oamden, afterward the John Williams, came bringing teachers, who were, however, soon removed because of the hostility of the people. It was not until 1852 that teachers were again settled. Several years previous to this Dr. Geddie, from the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, had taken up work on Aneityum, but it was not until 185'1 that the Rev. George N Gordon and his devoted wife, from the same church, arrived at Eromanga. For four years they worked on amid many trials and discouragements, with now and then only a glimmer of light breaking in upon the darkness. On the 20th of May, 1861, Mr. Gordon, who was building a house on the crest, was decoyed by several natives into a narrow mountain track and there savagely tomahawked to death. His poor wife in agonizing fear heard the cries as she stood at an open dool', and scarcely had she asked what the noise meant than a savage dealt her a blow with his hatchet. A second blow on her neck was the death stroke.
When the news of this awful tragedy had been carried to the other side of the world, a brother came forward to take up the fallen standard, and the Rev. James Donglas Gordon arrived on Eromanga in, the year 1854. Alone he labored among the poor people who had so cruelly wronged him. At first he settled at Dillon's Bay, but when Mr. and Mrs. McNair arrived, he removed to another station. Mr.
THE STORY OF EROMANGA
McNair died in 1870, and his wife soon after left the island. Mr.
Gordon spent some time on the large island of Santo, and worked there with much success, using Eromanga as headquarters. He, too, laid down his life as his brother had done, for in March, 1872, James Gordon fell, the fifth martyr of Eromanga. Three months later Mrs.
Robertson and I settled here, the island then being in a state of civil war. The Ohristian party, or those who were friendly to mis- sionaries, numbered about sixty people, including women and children. They had gathered into Dillon's Bay for safety, and were living within a stockade. Soso, who was then the most advanced and intelligent Ohristian on the island, and who had been Mr.
Gordon's faithful friend and teacher, was at the head of this party. Of course, at this time, there were :no teachers in any other district, having fled from their enemies after Mr. Gordon's death. 'fhe only friendly people were the chiefs of Oook's Bay.
As soon as possible after land- ing, we started evening worship in the mission house. In these services we were helped by Soso, Yomot, and two Aneityumese, a man and a boy. Soso also started a class for catechumens, and to- AN EROIILNGAN NATIVE. ward the end of the year we observed the sacrament of the J~ord's Supper, when some new members were added, among them Yo mot, who had been a faithful teacher and elder for many years. Twelve of us sat down at that solemu feast in the old-time church built by the martyred Gordon. We were a small band, but strong in the assurance that we were not forsaken. About that time we sent out our first teachers. Soso was settled at Ramplln- tomasi, a district some miles south of us, but in a fortnight's time, he was sent home again, as the people were tired of the Gospel. He was afterward taken to Oook's Bay, where he did good and lasting work until his death. In a hurricane that came iu the following January, the frame· work of our new house was destroyed, and all our labor lost.
This same hurricane wrecked the Dayspring, but not till June did
any definite tidings come. Then after months of loneliness, discouragement, and opposition on the part of the natives, we caught sight of a strange black ship coming around the point. It was the Pamgonafterward rechristened the Dayspring-and it brought the Rev. Joseph Annand and his wife, from Canada. During that year the prospects on this island were somewhat improved; crowds of people used to come around us, naked and painted heathen, but so superstitious and so afraid of our supposed evil designs upon them, that they would never allow us to touch them, and in accepting any food from us, would carefully hold out a leaf on which we were to place the article. About this time five months were spent on Tanna with Mr. and Mrs. Watt, the missionaries of the New Zealand church. On our return we were much cheered by the evident care with which our teachers had carried on the work.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
In May of 1874 we had a special communion service at Dillon's Bay, there being with us, in addition to our own church members, several missionaries amI their wives, and the Rev. Dr. Steel, of N. S. Wales. When the mission vessel left I joined the mission party in order to attend the Synod meeting, but Mrs. Robertson preferred remaining on Eromayga during my absence. From that time many of the people began to ask for teachers, often tribes from distant villages would gather to see us at Dillon's Bay, and more and more interest was shown in the work. :Forty people from Uook's Bay alone came and pleaded that a missionary might be settled among them. We felt that this large island needed another missionary, but we and the people were disappointed in this desire. Soon the brightness that seemed to be spreading about us was again to be dispelled, for shortly after a cruel murder took place within a mile of us. A young man named Noye, who wished to renonnce heathenism, was at Dillon's Bay, and one evening strolled up the valley to a spot where some of his people were feasting. Returning, he passed about forty men gathered at a large cooking-house. Then, thinking, perhaps, that they might judge him cJ)wartlly, he turned back to where his supposed friend, a chief, was sitting, and began to talk with him. At a sign from the chief a man stole up behind Noye, dashed his battle-ax over his victim's head, and right into his heart. '['he murderers fled at once. On hearing the dreadful news we hurried to the spot, found the poor lad lying on the stony ground near the deserted house. After this cruel affair all was excitement and confusion, and we met with llluch to discourage us. About this time Atnelo and his wife, accompanied by a young Christian man, all Eromangans, went to Efato to help my fellow missionary, Mr. Annand.
In 1876 Mrs. Robertson and I, with our two children, spent four
THE STORY OF EROMANGA
months at Cook's Bay, the first months being passed ill a grass house, until our small lime cottage was ready. Our stay on the east side of the island apparently did much good to the people and to ourselves, tho we suffered much from fever and other sickness. Early the fol- lowing year our Cook's Bay house was dasbed to the ground by a hur- ricane which, with a great flood, did much damage at Dillon's Bay.
But just at tbe very time when we needed lUuch help and sympathy, our people were acting in a very strange and unfriendly manner.
Only four men gave us any help during the dreadful storm. What a glad sight when in April our little Dayspring arrived, and how wel- come the meeting with sympathetic friends! Our people then seemed somewhat ashamed of their unkindness, and tried hard- to atone for it.
In 1877 we visited Sidney, from whence we returned in the follow- ing April, strengthened and encouraged for our mission work. Never had the cause been more hopeful than at that time. The tide was be- ginning to turn, but the great need was for another laborer. By the vigorous efforts of Dr. Steel, money had been collected prin- cipally in N. S. Wales for THE MARTYRS' MEMORIAL CHURCH. the building of a new church. The lime church The foundatlon-Btonc of this church was laid by the Bon of the murderer of John "'''illiams.
having been destroyed, we were then worshiping in a grass building.
In 1879, USUS, the son of the murderer of John Williams, and who had just renounced heathenism, laid the foundation stone of the "Martyrs' Memorial Ohurch," and soon the building was completed.
Tfhat same year the Synod was held at Ollr station, and I believe the presence of so many European missionaries, with their wives and chil- dren, their sympathy with us and our Christian people, and the conse- quent cheer and brightness, had a splendid effect on the natives.
Shortly before Synod there had come the rumor of a proposed attack by the heathen party, and the alarm served to show in glowing colors the bravery and stanchness of our :B~romangan friends. From that time the whole work took a decided tone for the better, and through the following years we were able, with the help of our teachers, to extend our efforts to all parts of the island. One district, U repang, held ont for many years, indeed it was not until about ten years ago that the different villages in that district began to give up heathenism.
In 1881 our cottage at Narevin was completed, and some months were spent there before returning to Dillon's Bay to prepare for our homegoing. Shortly before we left the island, a chief named Norowo aJJd all his people renounced heathenism at one-time, the old chief laying down at my feet all his sacred stones and every relic of heathenism which he possessed, and guiding me to the place where stood a fine school house built by himself and his people, and held in readiness for the teacher for whom they then pleaded.
At the close of 1882 we left Eromanga for Canada, and in May of the following year reached Nova Scotia, aHer having beel: absen t nearly twelve years. On our return to Eromanga we found that everything connected with the mission had been well looked after by Yomot and the other native teachers, and our house and premises kept in beautiful order by Ohai, the woman in charge, an old and faithful servant and friend. After our return to the island, in 1885, the mission work went on apace; indeed, the days of heathenism and opposition seemed over forever, and yet, as late as 1888, an attempt was made against our lives. Fortunately Mrs. Robertson discovered one of the plotters hidden beneath the window of her own room. Before the alarm could be raised he and his accomplice fled and were far away. This, I am thankful to say, was the last sign of hostility.
A CHRISTIAN ISLAND.
Eromanga may now be regarded as a Christian island. There are still a few heathen in some of the inland districts, but none who are not friendly, and some of these so-called heathen often attend the services of the church in their village. Every year the Christian people gather and prepare large quantities of arrowroot, the proceeds of which go to defray the cost of printing the Scriptures, hymn-books, and catechisms.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated twice and sometimes three times yearly. At our last gathering at Dillon's Bay there were present with us about seven hundred people, of whom two hundred were church members. The different tribes came into this village days before, and every house and shanty in the valley was occupied. The Dillon's Bay chief and his people had ready large quantities of food wherewith to entertain their guests, and on Friday, when tlle food was divided among all the villages, everyone was hare; at work. In the evening, as we strolled through each hamlet, the large ovens-holes dug in the ground-were being heated, and men, women, and children were grating, roasting, and in various ways preparing their rich repasts. On Saturday morning a preparatory service was held, and all necessary arrangements made that afternoon that the following day might be in very truth a day of rest and gladness. On Sabbath forenoon the communion service was held in the large open grass church, built
THE STORY OF EROMANGA
especially for this gathering, as the" Martyrs' Memorial Church" was too small to hold the great throng of people. The sight of the church members sitting on the green sward-the men on the one side and the women on the other-and their quiet, decorous behavior, were enough to gladden any heart. The bright-colored dresses of the women and children lent a picturesque appearance to the scene. Many who were not church members gathered into the further part of the building, and the elders, several of whom took part in the service, were seated near my family and myself. A number of men and women then joined with us for the first time, and tho many had been taken away during the past year, and others were absent on acconnt of sickness A NATIVE CHRISTIAN TKACHER'S BOUSE, EROJrfANGA.
and inability to take the long walk, we felt that we had great canse for thankfulness.
After giving a short address to the congregation and engaging in prayer, I read from I. Oor. xi : 23 to tl.e end of the chapter, Paul's solemn words touching this sacrament, and as the emblems of our Lord's broken body and shed blood were passed down the long row of dnsky worshipers, every head was bowed in solemn silence as we remembered what God had done for this once dark Eromanga, and how many a savage heart had been brought fronl the bondage of sin into the freedom of RiA boundless love. Tall palms waved on every side, above was the beautiful tropical sky with not a cloud nor a shadow, within a fow yards of us swept the dark Williams' River, the stream once reddened by the blood of that noble saint, whose name it will ever bear; on the south bank were the graves of the martyred G.
N. Gordon and his wife, and that of the sainted McNair; many a mile from this spot was the lonely tomb of James Douglas Gordon, the last martyr of Eromanga, of whom we could not but think as some of his converts were sitting with us at the Lord's table that day. In such circumstances and with such food for meditation our hearts swelled and our eyes dimmed as we thought of the marvelous love of Ohrist and of the power of His Gospel, and we felt that with God all things are possible, and that blood-stained Eromanga was now indeed a land won for Him, and its people a race bought with a price, the ransom of the Cross of Christ.
A NEW ZEALAND CANNIBAL'S OONVERSION.* BY REV. DOXALD :lfACDOUGALL, B.D.
Auth6r of "The Conversion of the Maori."
There is no more striking illustration of the Gospel of Ohrist as the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth than the con~er!3ior of the Maoris of New Zealand; a whole nation of cannibals in aquatter of a century made nominally Christians through the preaching of the Gospel. Let me call to mind one or two incidents.
On a certain Sunday the Rev. Mr. Taylor, a clergyman of the Church of England, was administering the Lord's Supper. Among the communicants were two rival chiefs, Tamati Puna and Panara. When the forlller was admitted to the table, he happened to kneel next to Panapa, who had a few years previously killed and eaten hisfatrrer. This was the first time they had met. For a moment the old s'pirit of revenge seized Tamati. His face changed, his tongue protruded, and all the muscles of his body quivered. He sprang to his feet, and when he was about to give the fatal blow to his rival foe, his hand seemed to have lost its power. He came to himself, and walked out. In a few moments he returned a changed man, knelt llext to Panapa, and he burst out weeping and sobbing like a child. When the service was over, the missionary asked him" what was the matter," for his emotions were extraordinary. "Ah," he said, "when I knelt next to Panapa I recognized him as the murderer who killed and ate my father, and I could not control myself, but somehow I could not strike him, and as I walked out I heard a voice saying, 'Thereby ehall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one, another.' I thought I saw a cross and a man nailed to it, and I heard him say, , Father, forgive them.' 'rhen I returned and felt ashamed, and came back to the altar. It was the love of Jesus that meltoo my heart and ma,de me eat of the same bread and drink out of the same cup with the murderer of my father."
On another Sunday, four converted young chiefs, in their zeal for * See Frontispiece.
1900.J THE SOURCE OF POWER FOR CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
the Lord, went to preach to a desperate gang of natives, headed by a chief called Kaitoke, and as they began to preach and tell them of the love of Jesus, they were urged to stop, but the young men persisted, saying that the Savior had commanded the Gospel to be preached to all men. The savage natives threatened to kill them if they would say more, but they continued till they shot them, and killeu them. News of the tragedy spread. The whole community was in commotion. Heathen friends of the martyrs wanted to avenge their death. Missionaries and Christian chiefs used their efforts for peace. Hundreds of armed natives were ready to attack the enemy. When some young men stole away and fired several shots, others followed, and a battle took place which lasted for two hours. Several of the savages and Christians fell. Kaitoke was wounded and taken prisoner, after which his band laid down their arms and went to their homes. Haimond Peta, an old warrior, who was once the terror of his enemies, but had become a Christian, was one of the leading men in the fray. He died two years after a devoted Christian. Before his death, he said to one of the missionaries who was visiting him, " Don't ask the Lord to keep me here any longer. I have taken leave of my people and children; my heart is in heaven, and I long to depart."
Chief Kaitoke himself was converted the first time he attended church. When chief Wirema Patone saw him entering the meetinghouse, he became greatly excited and crieu aloud: "0 God, give the murderer a new heart." The Lord did give him it new heart, and he and several of his savage tribe embraced the Christian faith, and they were baptized.
THE SOURCE OF POWER FOR CHRISTIAN MISSlONS.* BY REV. J. HUDSON TA YLOR. Founder and Director of the China Inland Mission.
The strength of a chain is limited to that of its weakest link. If, therefore, we are connect'ed with the source or power by a chain, the weakest link will be the limit to which we can avail ourselves of it. But if our connection is direct and immediate, there is no hindrance to the exercise of the mighty power of God. "My sonl, wait thon only upon God, for my expectation is from Him."
God Himself is the great source or power. It is His possession. "Power belongeth unto God," and He manifests it according to His sovereign will. Yet, not in an erratic or arbitrary manner, but according to His declared purposes aHd promises. True, our opponents and hindrances are many and mighty, but onr God, the living God, is • Oondensed from an address delivered at the Ecumenical Conference in Carnegie Hall, Monday, April 23, 1900, 10 A.M.
Almighty. It is with Him that we have to do; on Him alone we have to wait; from Him alolle cometh our salvation and our sufficiency.
Further, God tells us by His prophet Daniel, that the people who do know their God shall be strong and do exploits; and they that understand among the people shall instruct many. If it be ordinarily true that knowledge is power, it is supremely true in the case of the knowledge of God. Those who know their God do not attempt to do exploits, but do them. We shall search the Scriptures in vain, from Genesis to Revelation, for any command to attempt to do anything. God's commands are always" Do this." His prohibitions are always, "Do not this." If we believe the command to be from God, our only course is to obey, and the issue must always be success.
Further, God's power is available power. We are a supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher, from a supernatural Book. Weare led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories. The risen Savior, ere He ascended on high said, " All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth, go ye thereiore"-disciple, baptize, teach all nations-" and 10, I am with you always even unto the end of the world."
Again, He said to His disciples, "Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Not many days after this, in answer to united and continued prayer, the Holy Ghost did come upon them, and they were all filled. Praise God, He remains with us still. The power given is not a gift from the Holy Ghost. He, Himself, is the power. To-day He is as truly available, and as mighty in power, as He was on the day of Pentecost. But since the days before Pentecost, has the whole Church ever put aside every other work, and waited upon Him for ten days, that that power might be manifested? Has there not been a cause of failure here ? We have given too much attention to methods, and to machinery, and to resources, and too little to the ~ource of power, the filling with the Holy Ghost. This, I think, has been the great weakness of our service in the past, and unless remedied will be the great weakness in the future. We are commanded to "be filled with the Spirit." If we are not filled we are living in disobedience and sin, and the cause of our sin, as the cause of Israel's sin of old, is the sin of unbelief. God is ready to fill us with the Holy Ghost, and to send us out all filled with the Holy Ghost to the uttermost ends of the earth. In answer to our prayers a mighty power may come upon our missionary laborers and native Christians in every quarter of the globe. 0, to have faith in the Living God!
It is not lost time to wait upon God. In November, 1886, we in the China Inland Mission were feeling greatly the need of Divine guidance in the matter of organization in the field, and in matter of
THE SOURCE OF POWER FOR CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
reenforcement, and we came together before our conference to spend eight days in united waiting upon God-four alternate days being days of fasting as well as prayer. The time was not lost time; we were led to pray to God to send us out a hundred missionaries during the next year. And, further we were led, in connection with that forward movement, to ask God for an increase of ten thousand pounds over the income of the previous year. We were also guided to pray that this might be given in large sums, so that the force of our staff might not be unduly occupied in the acknowledgment of contributions. What was the result? God sent us offers of service from over six hundred men and women during the following year, and those who were deemed to be ready and suitable were accepted, and were sent out to Ohina; and it proved that at the end of the year exactly one hundred had gone. What about the income? God did not give us exactly the ten thousand pounds we asked for, but he gave us eleven thousand ponnds, and that eleven thousand pounds came in eleven contributions; the smallest was five hundred pounds, and the largest was two thonsand five hundred pounds. 'fhe living God is available power. We may call upon Him in the name of Ohrist with the assnrance that if we are taught by the Spirit in our prayers, those prayers will be answered.
THE NECESSITY OF FAITH.
God is the ultimate source of power, and faith is the hand which lays hold on God. How important is that hand! I was traveling a short time ago in an electric car. We suddenly turned around the corner of a street, slowed down, and then came to a standstill. The conductor worked his lever, but in vain. We did not move. We were not off the track, but the trolley-pole had swung loose from the wire overhead; the contact with the sonrce of power was gone, and we could not move until that was rectified. If the contact of faith with the Living God be broken to any extent, may it not again be true that He can not do many works because of unbelief?
What is this faith which is so essential? Is it not simply reliance on the fact that faithful is He who promised, who also will do it? With this faith in lively exercise God can manifest Himself as He never has done. We are living in days of wonderful missionary successes, but we may see far more wonderful things in days to come.
Another important thought in regard to the Ohurch. It is not a number of isolated units, but an organized body. I can, by no possibility, get my hand four feet in front of my body. If my hand is to rescue a drowning man, the whole body must cooperate. Individuals have done, and are doing, all that is in their power, but the Ohurch as a whole must rise to its dignity and realize its responsibility to go forward. We must not confine our sympathies and interests to this
sphere or that sphere of labor. Not only must the missionaries go forth from beloved homes, but the whole Church must go forward in self-denial to the point of suffering. Soul-saving work can not be carried out without suffering. If we are simply to pray to the extent of a pleasant and .enjoyable exercise, and to know nothing of watching in prayer and of weariness in prayer, we shall not receive all the blessing that we may. We shall not sustain our missionaries who are overwhelmed with the appalling darkness of heathenism; we shall not maintain the spiritual life of our own souls as it needs to be maintained. We must serve God, even to the point of suffering, and each one ask himself in what degree, ill what point, am I extending the kingdom of Christ by personal suffering, by personal self-denial ? 'fhe whole Church must realize this. 'fhe body must cooperate with the hand, if the hand is to rescue dying men and women.
Beloved, you whose duty it is to remain at home, are equally sharers with those who go into the mission fields in this work; yours the responsibility, yours equally to share in the reward when Christ is glorified and His kingdom is everywhere made known.
MISSION WOHK IN SOUTH AFRIOA.* BY REV. WALTER SEARLE, LUTUBENI, TEMBULAND, SOUTH AFRICA. Missionary of the South Africa General Mission.
South Africa, which a few years ago became the land of promise to multitudes, consequent upon the discovery of its gold fields and diamonds, has now become the center of observation, and the arena of a desperate conflict between two powerful peoples, the British and the Boers. The civilized world is thus becoming better acquainted with the geography and topography of this sunny land, so attractive to Christians as a field of labor to win the souls of men, far more precious than the gold and diamonds which these natives bring from its mines.
One of the first essentials in sympathizing with the missionary and his work, is an intelligent apprehension of the place and people. Labor in Africa among a barbarian race, devoid of every outward form of religion, as well as of all culture, must be essentially different from service in China, with its countless idols, or India with its ancient learning. Here one can never meet a crowd of students in the street and ask them to accept a tract or purchase a Bible. We must literally teach them to pray, and they must learn to sing, by repeating • Mr. Searle has been for over seven years engaged in work in South Africa, and has intimate knowledge of the whole situation. During his residence in Pietermaritzburg he was pastor of three congregations, white (European), black (Zulu), and colored (Griquas or half caste), but for the last two years he has been living far away from white men, ministering to the sore needs of the natives, bringing to them something of the unsearchable riches of Christ.-EDiTOItS.
MISSION WORK lN SOOTH AFRICA
after us the hymns, line by line. To read the Word of God they must first be taught their alphabet.
In this vast land, known as South Africa, are several countries and diverse peoples. '1'here have been the two British colonies, Cape Colony and Natal, and two Dutch republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Under these governments are countries inhabited by depend- ent races, such as Basuto- land, Pondoland, Zulu- land, Mashonaland, and Swaziland. There are also people of the Malay and Asiatic race, Coolies in the tea plantations of Natal, who probably num- ber twenty thousand.
'1'he Bantu-speaking race include the Ama Zulu and Ama Xosa-the latter consisting of four large powerful tribes, one of which, the Amatembu, is my field of labor. It is generally believed that the s e Bantu-speaking people came from the north, driving be for e Fhem, or amalgamating to them the Hottentots whf'
then occupied the land.
The s e Hottentots had A ZUI.U MAN. previously exterminated This peculiar head-dress is much admired oy the natives.
the Bushmen, once the dominant race, few of whom remain. The remains of the Hottentot race are seen in a mixed people called the Griquas, the balf-castes between Boer and Hottentot. They are a religious and impressionable people and meet in large congregations in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, and elsewhere. At Kimberly there are in the labor compounds at least 5,000 of Kafir nativcs, and at Johannesburg it is estimated that at least 100,000 are gathered from all the various tribes.
If these can but hear the Word, they rna}" on returning home, take it ba.ck to their distant kraals. It must be said candidly and sorrow- fully that, besides the wages they have earned, they also take away the vices they have learned from the white men. To the glory of God, however, let it be known that numhers have at these centers of labor received the Word of God from the lips of missionaries, altho most
of the laborers in the mines have been driven away since the war began.
While we can not overestimate the importance of evangelizing these masses quickly, and of buying up the passing opportunity, it would be wrong to exaggerate the danger of their receiving the infection of vice in the white man's city. It would be a great delusion to suppose that the heathen goes from his native kraal in the innocency of his heart to learn to do evil and to cease to do well. Heathenism is essentially and unchangeably the same, and what Coleridge called the "unblushing exposure of Gentile unchastity" in the first chapter of Romans, will fit the life of the raw heathen in his native kraal, or A ZULU HUT AND FAMILY.
TWa shows the Zulu house, the method of carrying children, and of preparing food.
group of huts. There is nothing picturesque in these dwellings, made of wattle and daub, or of sod, with no opening but the doorway. In Basutoland and Bechuanaland the native huts are much better than those in Imbuland and Bomvanaland.
The interiors are bare of all furniture, except a mat to serve for a bed, and perhaps a piece of wood for the missionary to sit upon. Sometimes they are very unclean, and dogs, cats, goats, fowls, and calves may be found sleeping in the same room with man, woman, children, and perhaps a passing traveler. Is it to be wondered at that a great deal of immorality exists among them? Instead of being heavenly, spotless, childish, they are indeed "earthly, sensual, devilish."
Physically, these people have fine figures, but in their vanity
MISSION' WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA
delight to adorn themselves with beads, rings, feathers, or smear their bodics with red ocher. Their only dress is a blanket, and the red with which they stain it is the sign of heathenism.
There is something charm- ing in their ignorance and simplicity, but beneath this there is duplicity and deceit, so that the longer one lives among them the less one seems to know about them.
The Kafir is an adept at con- ccaling the truth, either by meeling a question with another, or by answering with the word Andan (I don't know). One thing, however, A ZULU DANCER. he can not hide, and that is his su perstition, compelling All Africans have their dances, some of which afe 1m. him to the observance of moral, others war dances, and others connected with tile incantatlons of witch doctors.
innumerable customs. "Why don't you go to Dr. Soga and get medicine?" said a trader to a sick chief, " Why do you think of offer- ing a beast in sacrifice?" The only reply waR that his father had done it, so the valuable ox would be slaughtered rather than pay the small cost of a bottle of medicine.
When this man was dying I went to see him. Hundreds had gathered to partake of the cooked flesh of the slaughtered beast, as, the sick chief having partaken of his portion, it was thought enough to propitiate the spirits with the smoke and smell. The glazed and dying eyes wutched me as I denounced the uselessness of the animal blood to appease the angry ancestors, and to remove the fatal disease, and then pointed him to the propitiation for sin. We find an explanation of the unresisting subjection paid to these tribal customs, in Christ's own directions to his first missionary, St. Paul. "To turn them from darkness to light, und from the power of Satan." Satan is better known among these people than is God. Their word for God is of Hottentot origin, .U-Ju:o. It is said they have a word for a Supreme Being, namely, Qamata, altho I have not heard it used, and those who have known it, confess that they do not know whether he made all a things or not. Indeed, they are race of agnostics. "Do you know God?" we ask, and the reply is, Anclimazi, "I don't know him."
The early missionaries accordingly called the Kafirs a race of atheists,
and their ignorance, their absence Gf prayer, altar, or temple, are in pathetic accord with the Savior's closing prayer-" Oh, righteous Father, the world hath not known 'fhee."
They have superstition rather than religion. They believe in Satan; in the imishologu, and in sprites. The 1m ishologn are the spirits of ancestors. The spirit of a departed chief is supposed to cause lightning, and if one is struck by lightning, it is not considered right to murmur. I have seen the people just before a thunder-storm hastily kindle fires outside to charm away the fatal stroke. I have known them to try to call down the needed raiu by capturing a peculiar bird called the insinglsi, which they slaughter and throw into the river as a propitiation. 'fhey believe in the existence of a fabled snake, or river god, called theicanti, and ascribe sickness to the power of this being. All sickness is traced to some malign influence. One lllan bewitches another. The witch doctor comes, and after incantations have been made, some one, at the doctor's insinuation, is pointed out as the unhappy scapegoat. 'fhe man is smelt out and his house burned down.
HEATHEN CUSTOMS AND SL"PERSTITIONS.
Before the British government controlled these people, cruel tortures often accompanied these smelling-out cases. It is needless to say that these superstitious fears are joined with reliance on charms to ward off the danger. These are worn round the neck, and consist of hair from. a cow's tailor teeth of some animal. These superstitions are not harmless vagaries, but pernicious errors, and positive barriers to Christian truth. God's Word indicates their character by the term "abommable idolatries." We may, therefore, expect to find associated with these superstitions, unclean customs, which pollute family and tribal life. There is polygamy, with its "lust of the flesh and pride of life," for the more wives a man bas, the higher and wealthier is he in the estimation of his neighbors. One chief near me has eleven wivAs. The marriage CUStOlll of buying the wife for so many cattle, causes them to look at female offspring as a sordid llleans of increasing one's wealth. These things are degrading, but there are others which are even more polluting. Two seem especially ingrained in the Kafir human nature, and rooted in the national life. ,. Abakweta" is associated with the attainment of manhood, and is the season of circumcision and seclusion during uncleanness, in a hut which is subsequently burned down. The whole period is considered to be one of license to sin and positive excitement to lewdness, and passions are encouraged at the lascivious dances held at village after village, when in the presence of women who arouse them by singing and beating of a rude drum, these' Abakweta men go through their antics, with their naked bodies besmeared with white clay, their heads fantastic-
1900.J MISSION WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA
ally and grotesquely adorned, and their waists wrapped round with large leaves, that rustle to the movement of the dance.
The young girls on reaching womanhood have their peculiar feast called Ntonjane. This is also a time of seclusion, followed by exhibi- tions of the dance. Both customs, the Ntonjane and the Abakweta, are accompanied with gross licentiousness, a licentiousness rendered a11 the more horrible when it is known that in addition to the ordinary course of human nature, which is" drawn away by its own lust and enticed," there ,is an additional evil arising from the sancNon of ancient cllstom, to the observance of which the elder people excite the younger.
So powerful is the hold of these customs, that when young men in our training institutes have professed Ohrist, they often lapse back, either temporarily or permauently, into the heathen rite of circumcision, to escape the scorn of the meu, who,- without it, debar them the rank of manhood, or to secure the favor of the women, who refuse marriage to all who have not been initiated.
One has to live among the heathen to see the full power of our adversary, the devil, and to learn that heathenism, from its very nature, presents a defiant attitude toward Ohrist and His truth.
There is no yearning for the light, but rather a desire to be let alone, like the demoniac in the Gospel narrative. Bunyan, with his fine insight into spiritual realities, tells us, in his" Holy War," that when Emmanuel demanded the surrender of the town of Mansoul, the citi- zens answered that they could take no action for peace or war without consulting their Lord Diabolus. "When the good Prince Emmanuel heard this answer, and saw the slavery and bondage of the people. and how much content they were to abide in the chains of the tyrant, Diabolus, it grieved him at the heart." We, too, have been grieved at the heart that the heathen are so content, but we have also shared our Master's joy over the sinners who repent in South Africa.
Much as the present war has disturbed m iss ion work in breaking up congregations and scattering the missionaries – as in Swaziland, for example- from which all our workers have been expelled, the issue will, we believe, advance the kingdom of God among the colored races, who watch its issue with A HEATHEN ZULU BRIDE.
keen interest. Some students of history think the very origin of the war is traceable far back to the native question of seventy years ago, when the slaves of the colony were emancipated and the Boers trekked across the Orange and the Vaal rivers. Be that as it may, our first duty is clear. We must evangelize these races committed to our trust, and in doing so we need two things preeminently-more workers and more power in these workers. We must evangelize. "W0 is me if I preach not the Gospel." We must give them this "good news," altho they ask for less. Alexander's courtier was snrprised to receive fifty talents when he had only asked for five. Then Alexander explained, that while five was sufficient for him to desire, it was not enough for his emperor to give. They ask for schools and medicine, but these are not enough for their Savior to bestow. He can give nothing less than His own salvation, with eternal glory.
THE WORK OF THE MISSIONARIES.
Last year the scholars at Lovedale numbered eight hundred. Often neither scholars nor parents have any higher motive than intel· lectual and manual training, but the directors plainly declare that they seek to establish Christian charader. The Christian instruction, therefore, proceeds in connection with the secular, and besides the Sabbath preachings there are half-yearly revival services, when special appeals are made for immediate acceptance of salvation. Besides book-learning, there is instruction in farming, gardening, wagou-making, and printing. Night after night nearly five hundred boarders gather in the large hall to listen to Gospel addresses. Many young souls come out of the valley of decision, having yielded to Christ, a strong assurance that the spiritual results of that Lovedale mission were abundant and abiding. At this Blythswood, I met a young certificated native teacher, who heard me at Lovedale when a pupil. Both Lovedale and Blythswood are connected with the Scotch Presbyterian Church. These institutions and others, such as Morijah in Basutoland (French), Clarkebmy Healdtown (Wesleyan), lnanda (American), in Natal, offer great opportunities for evangelizing the young. I have seen nothing so pentecostal as the revival beginning three years ago at one of the American mission stations, and spreading to the schools of lnanda and Amanzimtote. The simple instrument of this work of grace was Elder Weavers from America. The Gospel preached in the power of the Holy Ghost will save directly those under the influence of instruction, who have not yet been eonverted. The revival also taught that raw. red heathen, who were unprepared by education, could be suddeuly saved. A young missionary, Donald Fraser, well known in connection with the Student Missionary Movement.• is proving the power of the Gospel even on the heart of· the old gray warriors. hampered by ignorance and age; for several are coming to Christ. The young
MISSION WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA
received the blessing first, and saw their visions before the old men dreamed their dreams.
1'he South Africa General Mission, whose president is the Rev. Dr. Andrew Murray, helps other societies working in the land. Besides assisting the French missionaries, at one time it supplied a missionary for the Kimberly compound, in connection with another society. Nor has it neglected its own vineyard, for it has placed laborers in Gazaland, Zululand, Pandoland, Swaziland, Bonvanaland, Te~bnland, and Natal. Strategic points,sllch asJohannesburg,areoccupied,so as to influence the white population as well as convert the degraded black. The colonial feeling is not favorable to the Christianization of these races.
The white men must learn to regard their colored brethren with the mind and spirit of Christ, but it is deplorable that white women in Cape Town are teaching obscenity and lust. The very churches themselves need to be quickened into missionary zeal. To reach the Kafir races, missionaries have come over from the Berlin, French, American, Moravian, and British societies, while the Colonials who know the language refuse to preach. There are exceptions; there are workers in connection with the churches here. From Wellington, where the Rev. Andrew Murray resides, many have gone forth. One Sabbath morning I saw a number of bright young students in the seminaries sign their names as members of the Student Volunteer Missionary Movement. A change is coming over the churches, a great change since Livingstone met with opposition, a change since one farmer went into Cape Town asking permission of the governor to shoot the missionary Vanderkemp; a change since another farmer up in the 'fransvaal threatened to shoot the missionary Hofmeyer, a change which the influence of such men as i,he Rev. Andrew .Murray has brought about, but there is need for still greater growth; and by literature, and by conventions, and by missions to missionaries, we are aiming to create such holy living and Christian thinking that the conversion and sanctification of the heathen may be the business of the church. We deplore what the bright young African missionary Wilmot Brooke deplored as the vis inerti(J! of our church; we cry out like Mackay of Uganda for tens of thousands of workers; we know that like the government at home underestimating the vastness of the campaign, God's people here and in England and Europe are not alive to its importance. So we cry for reenforcements, and yet more loudly still we cry to God for His power in the workers that, by supernatural might, the heathen may be compelled to obey the Gospel, and by the fulness of the Spirit, the convert may live a life without reproach in the eyes of the white critics who unjustly scorn the school Kafir; and may show forth a fiery zeal for the conversion of their dark-skinned neighbors, so that the African may be evangelized by the Africans.
THE NEED OF SCIEN'rIFIC MISSIONARY WORK.
BY RIGHT REV. C. CLIFTON PENICK, D.D.
Former Bishop of the Prote"tant Episcopal Church to Africa.
Not many years ago it took all the sailing vessels leaving New York or like distant ports from forty-five to sixty days to cross the Equator, and likewise the same time for ships on the Equator to reach New York. Now a. good sailing vessel can do it in from eigh- teen to twenty days. Why? Because one day a young lame lieutenant from the navy appeared before the" Board of Trade," in New York, and made the startling (and to the board the seemingl.V wild) statement, that it could be done. Of course, the old conservative board did not entertain the proposition, but made short shift with and soon dismissed the supposed crank, who tired, disheartened, and hungry, went into an eating house across the street to get a lunch. But God went with him and sent a brave, clear-headed young sea captain to him who said: "Young man, I heard your statements to the' Board of Trade,' and they impressed me as true. I own a good ship, she is loading to cross the Equator. Send me Y()llf charts, I will sail by them and we will test this matter." The lieutenant thanked him, sent the charts, and sailing by them,-the captain in· his good ship crossed the line in some twenty days. So goes the story as I heard it of "Lieutenant Maury," the great mapper of the ocean and master of navigation.
Now I plead with all my heart for Christian missions what Maury has accomplished for navigation and commerce, viz., the reducing to scientific conclusion all data possibly attainable and then sailing the missions of the world by the charts of these scientific conclusions. How did Maury do this thing? Very simply. For long years every sea captain was compelled to keep a log-book, jotting down every day all facts of int'Jrest in his sailings, giving directions of wind, currents, etc. Very commonplace and dry data, you say. True, and when the dry old book was full, it was sent to Washington and dumped into the lumber rooms of the navigation department, apparently to rot into dust. But God sent Maury (by an accident he was permanently lamed in his twenty-third year), and so the navies of the world found paths for their wings, because this young man lost the use of a leg. He came to tbe Navigation Burean, got out all these old dry books, blocked into squares the seas of the world, assorted the data from every book, and assigned it to its respective block on the ocean's map, and so discovered for man's use the "rivers in the ocean," and the rivers in the air, making charts by which time was reduced from twentyfi ve to seventy-five per cent. to seafaring men, and expenses and perils at sea consequently reduced. So millions on millions of money and hundreds of lives are thus saved annually. This would never have
THE NEED OF SCIENTIFIC MISSIONARY WORK
been-could never have been-had not the data of the old dry "log- books" been assigned to their rightful place, and so like the "dry bones" of the prophet's vision, joined their fellows, and by God's ordering became vital and vast powerful armies of living power.
We do need just such work done and knowledge wrought out in the mission fields the wide world over. Yea, the home fields and cities need it too, for the workings of many everywhere are but gropings in a darkness that it is entirely possible to dispel by this scientific gathering and adjusting of information. But"leaving cities and home fields for Christian science, true, wise, and consecrated, we need for the whole missionary field, to block its every square mile, I would say using the parallels and meridians as simplest and most natural, and then form a central bureau, to which all missionaries the world over of every creed and every department will report everything deemed of slightest value to the human race. Upon the arrival of this information at the central bureau let it all be assorted according to its respective department, racial, ethical, medical, climatic, financial, industrial, and many other essential divisions, so as to enable the average student in any department of the science of humanity to get at what he wants directly by searching the records of anyone block on the known field. Each block should have its information of all sorts and in all departments kept to itself, yet so perfectly systematized as to be readily accessible. Until something like this is done, our efforts will ever be too much like the North Carolinian soldier said a certain Confederate major-general fought, "by main strength and awkwardness." And this awkwardness is costing in men, money, failures, and disasters, the Church of God in the mission fields to-day, as dearly in proportion as the blind navigating cost the commercial and sea-faring world before Maury's discovery. I say.it deliberately after thirty years hard and prayerful study.
The Church of God can ~humanly speaking) never have a scientifically ordered army of conquest until she first does something like this mapping and charting out of the needs, strong points, and perils of a world. It is impossible, and any mind of scientific bent by. thinking must know it. If it is possible to bring order out of these vast cross purposes of blind confusion, and so save many lives and bring victory instead of disaster, surely it is criminal not to do it. But do it, and we begin that order and great advance in the armies of the Living God, which He Himself describeR in Joel ii : 1-11. (Head it!) Surely this first and much needed step can be taken. This order can be wrought out of confusion, this criminal waste can be stopped. The armies of life and love can be steadied, formed, ordered, and led up along wiselychosen lines to victory after victory, until humanity is delivered. How, do you say? Let everyone, with all he or she has, cry, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And He will soon answer. But even now
good, wise, consecrated men are ready for this service. The task is great to bring order out of this confusion and establish a bureau of perfectly reliable information for the whole wotld, along with a great central source of the world's latest missionary intelligence from all fields, for the use of missionary publications, just as the" associated press" furnishes news to the secular ones. But as great as the task is, it can be done, and done all more easily, since Maury and "the associated press" have shown us how. What we need to do this are, first, persons of ability who will throw themselves heart and soul into the work, and I would seek these through the" International Missionary Union," meeting at Clifton Springs, N. Y., every J une. Next the systematic observing and reporting of all missionaries. as did the old sea captain. Then the glad gifts of God's capitalists (His stewards) for necessary expenses, and lastly, the whole-souled consecration of the Christians in all the churches to the great conquest of the world for life and love commanded by the Captain of our own salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ, who says, " As my Father sent Me, so send I you." When we give ourselves wholly to God, He will order this conquest, and give the kingdoms of this world to His Son.
TRANSFORlHA'l'IONS AMONG THE INDIANS OF CALEDONIA.* BY RIGHT REV. BISHOP RIDLEY, BRITISH COLBMBIA.
The diocese of Caledonia is in the far west of Canada, and there we ha,'e a population of some thirty-five thousand Indians. On the sea coast there are a number of tribes that are certainly more intellectual and progressive than any Indians this side of the Rocky Mountains. Food is abundall t with them, and they are well fed. They are not nomadic, but they are settled in old villages which are being now replaced by. Christian homes. It is a lovely country. It is too mountainous for agriculturists, but it is full of resource from mines, forests, rivers, and seas-resources which I think will make the Province of British Columbia the most prosperous of all the provinces of Canada. Amid all the lovely scenery 01 that country where I have been working, I have often seen the glories of those great peaks covered with the virgin snow like a splendid lacework on the bride, blushing in the morning sunlight, and at night and noon full 01 magnificence, so that you would say, surely people living here for ages must be near to God. But they are not. All were so degraded that some of our missionaries, in the beginning of their work have felt it *Condensed from an address at the Ecumenical Conference, delivered in Carnegie Hall, Wednesday meeting, April 25, 1900.
TRANSFORMATIONS AMONG THE INDIANS OF CALEDONIA
to be a wellnigh hopeless task to try to convert them, not quite know- ing how to begin.
We can reach the interior of the country by rivers, which are the great highways, winding among the mountains. When I first went there, in the evening after a long day's work ascending against the current, we would for the night camp, making our camp fire with caution, lest the smoke betray us to hostile people neal'. As soon as the cooking was done, we put out the fire most carefully and set a watch. Oh, the contrast now! '1'hen there was not a Christian from tidal waters for the hundreds of miles to where the rivers rise in the midst of the mountains. Now there is not a tribe or community without its church, and school, and band of Christians. Then it was perilous for the white man to ascend those rivers; now he is welcomed; and oftentimes at night, after supper, when we have prayers, my Indian crew lift up their voices in song, and sweet singers they are, and when ~hey have finished we hear from the other shore, from some island in the river, similar sweet sounds crossing the waters. Oh, how sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a land like that, where once Satan held full sway! Once, as I was speaking of the great spirit of evil, a man proudly arose and exclaimed: "I am Satan "-so accordant with their views of greatness were those things which I had attributed to the evil spirit. Do you suppose they wanted us there? Not at all. If we only went where we are wanted, we should stay at home. We go not because we are wanted, but because we are needed.
We meet with difficulties, thallk God! They are the condiments of life. We meet with persecution, and there is nothing to brighten Christians like persecution. I have had a brute leave a crew of one hundred and fifty men, and come within a foot of my face and deliberately spit in my face, and then knock me down and kick me with his foot. That very Indian afterward clasped my feet and begged my pardon-that man who spat in my face-and afterward they were all Christians. That lllan who did that which he felt to be an unforgiven sin, died in the faith of Christ, a triumphant Christian.
We have never had to appeal to government for protection. I shall not forget how the greatest chief and boldest pirate Oll that coast told me that he and his followers were overcome by the silent gaze of a small congregation of Christians, as the majority of the heathen, on one Saturday night, came in, commanded them to cease praying, tore up their Bibles, and, because they would not promise to cease praying, pulled down the church with axes and crowbars; then, because it was too heavy a task to complete the work of destruction, they set fire to it. One young fellow, a Christian, said, "Shall we not fight for the house of God?" and a senior Christian said, " No, .Jesns never fought, lIe died, and we will die rather than fight." These heathen, who were trying to provoke the Christians to violence, believed that there
was a spirit in these men that was enabling them to stand in silence and see the handiwork, which they considered sacred to God, burned to the ground. I would gladly see all the churches in my diocese burned to the ground to-morrow, if in each case it produced such splendid results as that did. It was the beginning of the conversion of the strongest tribe on that coast. I shall not forget what the chief told me soon after he was baptized: "From that night onward I dreaded the Spirit of God. Out on the ocean, or where the snow-peaks looked over the seas, there the Spirit of God followed me, and I was afraid; and when I hunted among those peaks the Spirit of God hunted me and I was afraid." At last he found a Christian, and said, "Can I be forgiven?" "Yes, if you are penitent," said the Ohristian.
The man who set the church on fire was before long holding the end of a tape-measure to mark out the best site in the town on which to begin a new church. As I drew near, he said, " Bishop, do you know that this hand set fire to the church?" I said, " No." "It did, and until I heard the native preacher say that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, I never had peace in my heart, and when I heard that, all my fear went away." These same men, in one great night, had a great renunciation of the past, and when the news was spread that the chief was converted, a meeting for prayer was held for seven hours and a half, and the crew was sent off fifty miles by boat, bringing the glad tidings to me, where fi ve years before a similar crew had set off to bring me the news of the destruction of the church. I said to the messenger, "Do you remember that you told me that Satan had won, and I said then,' No, Satan can not win, Jesus must win,' and you shook your head?" "Ah, it is all true now," said they. "What is at the bottom of it?" I asked. "Don't know," they answered. ,," Prayer," I said. "We have prayed five years for that chief, and God has given us the victory." Now he is the leader of a church army, and his wife is an officer in that army. We have seen the testimony of their life to the thoroughness of that conversion, and I am bound to testify that, altho I know life in England and in India and in this country, altho when I first knew them chastity was no virtue, and now I do not, know brighter Christian characters nor more moral Christian communities anywhere than there is among these Indians of British Columbia. We have a jail there, but it is the only decaying building in the place, since there has been nobody in it for twelve years, and now we are going to turn it into a coal house.
It is easy to show the contrast, but what comes between? Oh, the trial! Some people say that missions are the miracles of the age. I say that the missionary is the miracle. Do you not find it hard to be good at home, with all the accessories of worship, meetings for prayer, and all the help that you have? But go where there is not one in sympathy with you, and I tell you the tendency is to come down to
the level of those that surround you. The solitary man feels the force of Satan, sometimes the heart gives way, especially a young heart.
Some people almost are disposed to curse the Babel of tongues in the mission field. It is one of the greatest blessings to missions, for young men and women, coming out so full of enthusiasm, would make endless blunders if they could go straight ahead. But they have to be two years dumb, and that discipline of silence is of great help. It brings out the grit, and by the time the discipline has done its work, the missionary has learned something of the natives, and the natives have learned more of him or her. It is only when a man's words are backed by the light that they have got power. I know that God has put no premium on ignorance or stupidity, but He does not want all the cleverest people in New York to go ont in missions. At the same time He does not want the fools to go. Men who have faced these difficulties, been humbled before God, and emptied of self, have become God's instruments. With such tools in the Master-workman's hands, He perfects and completes His beautiful work. I have seen young characters developed until they have become missionary geniuses.
Among other agencies we have a large number of English ladies. Nearly half of them left homes of refinement and are maintaining institutions out of their own pockets. 'l'hey go down on their knees in the kitchen to scrub the fioor, so as to teach the Indian girls how to do it properly. We have in one place ninety-five boys and girls from varions tribes, and teach them trades half of the day and book learning the other half. Thus a continual stream is going out and is a means of uplifting all the nationalities, and of instilling into them new ambitions, and turiling them out to be most useful factors in the development of the country. Formerly they didn't want soap. I wish they had had it when I first went there. I remember seeing an old woman who was very sick, and I wanted to use a stethoscope on her chest, because I thought she had bronchitis. She was frightened, and it was in the depth of winter, and we don't wash out there very much, it is too cold-and neither would you, if yon had to go out of doors to wash-and she wouldn't unpin her garments at all until a young Indian woman took charge of her, and then it was like peeling an onion, but not half so pleasant. As soon as I got a little sound of what was inside of her chest, I rushed to the door to get a whiff of fresh air. Now they want soap, and these young girls want scented soap. And the young fellows now-why, I feel quite shabby beside them. They wear fine white shirts and white cuffs and collars, and they weal' gold studs, and they carry umbrellas with silver tops-they rarely raise them, but they carry them all the same.
All this goes to prove that the true foundation of civilization is the Word of God. If we go preaching to them some doctrines-say that
most beautiful doctrine of the Fatherhood of God-they would stare and wonder; or, even if you were to take up such a necessary truth as the Incarnation. What, then, must one do? Take them to Calvary straight. There is no other lever in the earth or ill heaven but that which is grand, long, and strong enough to uplift this poor humanity. It is the love of atonement that I have seen in the work of thirty-five years, and that alone, which leads to conversion; and, using that, no man has ever been ashamed.
Oh! that blessed work, uut what it has cost even me! I count it the greatest privilege of my life that among the hundreds of languages into which the Word of God has been translated, I can count two of them as my own handiwork. You have no idea what a joy it is to the Ohristian. One day a thoughtful man said to me, "Before you gave us the Book you threw links before us, and we picked them up, but it did not fasten us anywhere. You have given us now the chain, and it is a golden chain, binding us all together and all to God." That was the power of the Book. Another said, "When you first begun to teach us, it was like a door ajar, and the stream of light that shone in, showed the foulness of our hearts, and we felt it, but we were always looking in. Now the door is wide open and the house is full of light, and we look out and we see Jesus and we hear Jesus, and we follow Him on from Bethlehem to Olivet, right up to the throne of God."
This shows the power of the Gospel. I have seen tribe after tribe and nation after nation of Indians turned from savagery until they became saintly, and if anyone were to ask me about the evidences of the power of the Word of God, I could point them to the hundreds and the thousands that I have seen brought into God's Ohurch by God's providence.
THE GOSPEL FOR A WITNESS.
BY THE LATE REV. F. L. CHAPELL. Recently of the Gordon Missionary Training School, Boston.
This much quoted and much abused phrase from Mat. xxiv: 14 demands more attention than it has hitherto received in modern times. The Gospel, especially as considered in missions, is now largely preached as philanthropy, for the uplifting of man. The wretched conditions of mankind are continually set forth as motives for missionary effort. But this is not the New Testament conception of Gospel preaching, which presents it rather as a untness for God, a proclamation from God as to what He is to do in the world, and a call upon man to fall in with God's purposes. (See Acts iii: 18-21 and xvii: 22-31.) The New Testament preacher is an ambassador, who regards the claims of the government that sends him far more than
THE GOSPEL FOR A WITNESS
the conditions of the people to whom he is sent. Theocracy rather than philanthropy is at the basis of his mission. God has a government, and a plan for introducing that government upon earth. It is a good plan, and to man a new plan, and hence its proclamation is the Gospel; that is, the good news of the kingdom, which is to supersede the kingdoms of men. It is, in its ultimate aspects, somewhat political, material, and earthly, altho its proximate working is ethical and spiritual, for securing the heavenly contingent whereby this kingdom shall be brought to earth.
Its announcement is "for a witness," both as to the plan and also as to the power that is to execute the plan. Its aim is not so much to improve the present status of mankind, as to announce and prepare for the introduction of a future status.
Now, if this Biblical idea of the Gospel of the kingdom were more freely adopted, it would work various needed changes in preaching and in the aims of missionaries. It would show First, that the Gospel is for all conditions of mankind, especially for the highest, for those in high places of government and intellectual ability. The" good confession," which Jesus Christ witnessed, was before Pontius Pilate; Peter's Pentecostal sermon was before representativesout of every nation under heaven; Stephen's shining face was beheld by the whole Sanhedrin; while Paul was selected as a chosen vessel to bear God's llame and plan" before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." And we well know how literally he fulfilled his mission before Claudius Lysias, Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, Nero, and the whole Roman court, and to the assembled philosophers at Athens, besides being carefnl never to neglect" the children of Israel" in their synagogs. This Gospel of the kingdom was to go to the Jews first, because they are first among the nations, and because they have the idea of the messianic reign, but errastothemethod of its introduction upon earth. There is call to-day for preaching to those in high position. The monarchs on their thrones, the peace commoners at the lIague, the most learned assemblies of reform and education furnish legitimate and important fields for the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom. The world, with all its wisdom, is still ignorant of God's plans and purposes concerning it. University halls quite as much as the city slums noed the Gospel.
But, second" this New Testament idea of the Gospel shows it to be a most sublime and comprehensive annoullcement, including history and prophecy, and revealing a dispensational, yet ultimately complete, redemption of mankind from all evils-even from death itself. It is not a mere system of ethics for the mitigation of individual, present woes; but it shows God's plan for universal, eternal, immortal life for the world. It is, in its entirety, simply immense, taxing faith to its utmost, and enlarging the mind as no system of human philoso-
phy, reform, or education ever has. Note how Paul's discourse on Mars Hill swept from this creation to the judgment, a crisis day, and transcended the faith of earth's wisest philosophers! But what a wonderful good news it was to the few who did believe it! Such a Gospel as this needs to be preached to-day, when the human mind is reaching out for something satisfactory, comprehensive, and ultimate. This Gospel of the kingdom, as set forth in prophecy, is the only scheme that at all meets the crisis of inquiry and research that is now coming over the world. It is not ours to question whether it will be believed or not, but to proclaim it for a witness.
But, third.-Notice that this Gospel comes with the anthor£ty oj divine command that must be obeyed rather than as an optional human plea that may be disregarded. " The times of ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world." This Gospel of the kingdom is not a tentative theory, indefinite and uncertain in its application, but a divine behest, anticipating a time crisis definitely fixed, and wo to the man who does not comply with it. The ambassador of deity does not consult the will or the tastes of humanity, but speaks as olle having authority, and not as the scribes or theorizing writers. And this is the kind of preaching that is needed to-day. Preachers are not experimenters, but heralds of a swift coming and near approaching crisis in human affairs, wherein God is to show His mighty hand and reveal the marvelous consummation of His Divine program, long ago prepared and announced. It is not for the sinner to say whether he wants to be saved, but to decide whether he dare disobey the command of God. If that day overtakes any unawares, it must not be because witness has not been borne to it.
But, fourth.-This Gospel of the kingdom appeals to and is accompanied by supernatural facts as signs that the appointed crisis will come with supernatural potency. As Paul said at Athens, " He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that mall whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance to all men in that He ratsed Him from the dead." It was the healing of the lame man that caused Peter to say, "Repent . . . that He may send Jesus Christ, whom the heavens must receive until the time of the restitution of all things." Thus the herald of the Gospel of the kingdom not only speaks with divine authority, but appeals to, or shows, works of divine power as signs that supernatural potency is in existence and stored up against" that day." The resurrection of Jesus and the miracles wrought by the apostles, confirmed the testimony concerning the crisis day. Consequently the herald of the kingdom must have supernatural power with Him in order to fully witness. This is always needed to completest testimony, and, indeed,
to some extent, always accompanies the fullest preaching of the defin- ite Gospel of the kingdom. This actual supernatural element is needed in greater evidence to-day; and no true herald feels fully equipped without it.
Fifth.-This New Testament conception of the Gospel of the kingdom would properly put into the background matters of minor importance, that now, owing to traditional arrangements of men, crowd too much to the front. Questions about ordinances, church govern- ment, donominational prestige or growth, methods of administration, and many such things now obtrude themselves and impress or hamper the preacher or the missionary, so that the really great things he is to herald fall comparatively out of sight. But when these great things of the divine program, as revealed in the Scriptures, do really assume their proper importance in the mind of God's ambassador, those minor matters sink away into their deserved comparative obscurity. 'l'hen we find Paul, instead of desiring to report a large number of baptisms, as do some in our day, thanking God that he had baptized only a few individuals, since God sent him not to baptize but to preach the Gospel-that Gospel that was a witness of great things to come. And thus it will ever be with the herald who has his eyes on the great and grave issues of the coming kingdom, and the necessity of preparation therefor. He is witnessing to them, whether he is now making a fair show in the flesh or not. His Gospel is a witness of the great facts of the ages, rather than an exhibitor of the petty proprieties of the present hour.
Sixth.-Converts gathered under the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom as a witness would clearly understand that they were called for ftdllre service as well as for present salvation. Yea, more; they would perceive that even their salvation was to be fully revealed only in the" last time." Very often does Pete!· in the first chapter of his first epistle emphatically show "unto" what believers are saved, as well as from what they are saved. Here is a subject greatly neglected in onr day, and in consequence, backsliding is so very prevalent. The Gospel is not sufficiently presented as a witness of future supernatural events, and the present age as a time of training for future service. But rather it is held forth as a reforming agency in the present order of things. Hence civilization is mistaken for Christianity and gross darkness is on the world in consequence. No wonder that old Elijah, with his marked supernatural potency and exceptional career, must come from the heavens to break the Satanic spell of ullbelief that has taken possession not only of the world, but also of those who should be God's witnesses. Thus in many ways the Biblical conception of the Gospel as a witness of the coming kingdom would correct the errors into which the Church has fallen during the centuri~s of apostasy. And, in order to have this Bib1ical conception, we must resort to the Bible as the reservoir of divine truth, however much it may seem to differ from traditional and current ideas. Even if not believed, the Gospel stands as a witness, and, when the day of fact and fulfilment arrives, it will be seen that the witness was not in vain, bu t rather served as a test of faith. "' He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear."
APPEAL BY THE" BRAHMO SOMAJ OF INDIA.
BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, LL.D., NICE, FRANCE.
The" Brahmo Somaj of India," the headquarters of which are in Calcutta, has lately issued a remarkable paper. It is an " appeal"
addressed to "the venerable bishops, priest.., ministers, missionaries, and other representatives of Christ." The warm and friendly char- acter of the language used, both in reference to Christ and his "rep- resentatives," will take many by surprise. Here are a few sentences: You have opened up the path of India's regeneration. . . . The Bible which you have brought to this country is an inestimable boon; and the sweet and sacred name of your beloved Master, which has already revolutionized the world, is unto us a benefaction. . . . India is now Christ's, and Christ is India's; so deeply has he entered into its lifeblood.
The language is strong, stronger than any missionary would use; and the glowing words, we apprehend, will fairly apply only to the Brahmo Somaj-which is a very interesting society, hllt,limited in membership and influence. The Arya Somaj would protest against the language; and so, of course, would the Mohammedans. Let us look at things in the lumen siccum of truth. But while we dissent from the judgment expressed, we, of course, very heartily rejoice in the spirit which these remarkable words reveal.
But let us proceed with our consideration of this important document. It goes on to say: In the name of the Lord whom you so nobly serve, and to whom we too humbly try to offer our successful loyalty and homage, as well as for the interest of the National Church of Christ in India, we humbly appeal to you to consider what truths peculiar to India can be accepted by you and assimilated with the religion of the Master who is the hope of the nations of the earth. We rejoice to find that the day of exclusive and intolerant Christianity is fast disappearing.
Then after a graceful reference to Bishop Welldon,- and other "ambassadors of Christ," the appeal goes on to express The hope that something shall be done for laying the foundation of an Indian Church of Christ, in which the east and west shall.be harmonized-a church with the object of which we of the New Dispensation are at one, and for the restoration of which object we have.been laboring for some time past.
It is surely the bounden duty of the authors of the" appeal" to state what they consider to be "the truths peculiar to India," which they believe can be accepted by the Church of Christ. Christians will listen respectfully to tIle statement, and deal with it honestly.
Christians certainly will not expect that any" truths" that can be called" new," are now likely to be brought forward which, in loyalty to Christ, can be accepted; but it is quite possible that old truths may have fresh light shed upon them, and be seen to be capable of applications not hitherto fully recognized. By all means let the Somaj speak out. India, indeed, is not the whole of the East; and other Oriental nations mnst also, in their turn, be allowed to express their mind. Has the Somaj forgotten this? It speaks of "the foun- dation of an Indian Church, in which the East and West shall be
TlIE PROBLEM OF THE FAMINE IN INDIA
harmonized." Ohina and Japan must not be overlooked; no, nor Arabia and Persia. The message of the Gospel is for the world.
" We of the New Dispensation," says the appeal. These are illomened words. "The Ohurch of the New Dispensation" was a signature given to the Brahmo Somaj-his own branch of it at least-by Keshub Ohunder Sen toward the end of his career. This was when he had embraced the views of an extraordinary mystic, Ramakrishna Paramahansa. This man held not only that there is truth in an religions, bu t that all religions are true. Even so Mr. Sen declared that the supreme religion-the coming religion of humanity-was to be found only by blending an the religions of Asia into one, or as he expressed it, "fusing them into a new chemical compound." It is difficult to conceive how such a notion could have entered a mind that retained its sanity; but it was for this stupendous fusion and confusion that Mr. Sen contended in his later days. We had believed that the Somaj had awaked from his wildest of dreams; but if so, why still use so presumptuous a designation?
Still, one would fain believe that it is retained merely out of respect to him who in vented it, Mr. Sen; and let us cling to the hope that good may arise out of this friendly intercourse between the Somaj and the representatives of the Ohristian Ohurch. So may God, in His mercy, grant.
THE PROBLEM OF THE FAMINE IN INDIA.
BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
There is one tendency in the thonght of the people of this country relative to the famine in India, that ought at once to be arrested. 'fhis is the unfortunate disposition to assume, that because India is under the British government, therefore the peoples of the rest of the world have no special duty in connection with the great calamity with which it is visited.
There is no doubt but that the problem before the Indian government is the most difficult that any statesmen anywhere could be asked to grapple with. The very protection the Indian government has afforded to its subjects, has resulted in peace, order, and security, under which the population of that great empire has been increasing at the rate of three millions a year, thus every ten years adding a populatiou equal to one-half of that of the United States.
It used to be that Mahratta hordes swept the country with their marauding expeditions from Bombay to Bengal, "decimating the population and annexing the harvest." Iuterneeine quarrels and wars between the indigenous races were a great factor in keeping down any surplus population. But under the British government there has
been such strong police power, that practically from Cashmere to Cape Comorin, and from the Indus to the Irriwaddy, the people were left to pursue their industries; and the consequent thrift naturally tended to augment the population. The resources of feeding these under usual conditions kept pace with their increase.
But it is impossible for the British governmen t, or anybody else, to command the seasons. The natural cause of famine is the failure of the usual precipitation of rain. The Indian government has made herculean efforts, by tremendous irrigation plants and canals, to forfend against the calamity incident to the failure of the monsoon. Besides that, it has extemporized government employment for five million people with daily wages equal to their sustenance, and deserves the highest commendation for the extraordinary relief works. But after these five millions are employed and paid, there still remain fifty-five millions who could not be helped by the employment in public works. Scattered over an area twice the size of France, it is impossible to realize what these figures mean.- While no government in history has ever projected so quickly and so nobly such vast operations for public benevolence, it must be borne in mind that these men -who repair to the public works can receive hut little more than enough to keep themselves from starvation when food must be bought at famine prices. The working classes must be brought to the relief works.
Unless, however, some organization shall carry to the homes purely benevolent contributions, women and children must die from starvation. 'rhey can not leave their villages to obtain this, it must be conveyed to them. Millions of them are too weak to resort to even a comparatively near relief station. Food mllst be actually carried to them.
Thousands and tens of thousands of orphans, without anyone to look after them, must be rescued and fed, and, if they survive, must be subsequently put in condition for support and training. Those who personally may undertake the duty of being bearers of this relief, must face conditions which will tax their sympathy and their whole nervous and moral powers. It is impossible that one shall look into pinched faces, see sunken eyes and protruding bones of living skeletons, day after day, listen to the monotonous wail for relief, become hardened to the sight of unburied dead by the thousands, without an indescribable strain on all the vital forces, even tho this be partially offset by the strange strength which comes from the impulse of heroic benevolence.
It is with satisfaction that we have looked over the list of the hundred or more names or some of the foremost men of Greater New York from whom has issued an appeal to the citizens of this country to contribute for this India famine relief. They do not base this appeal on any other grounds than that of common humanity. They
'rtIEl PROBLEM OF THEl FAMINE IN iN1>lA
state that the famine is more or less acute among sixty millions of people, at least ten millions of whom are face to face with death by starvation. 'fhey declare that the extent of governmental relief of human destitution in India is without parallel in history. They say that American citizens, resident in India, unite with Lord and Lady Ourzon in testifying that not yet has the awful calamity reached its height. "In the presence of such suffering," they say, "all conditions, save those of pity, may well be forgotten. Americans ought to send at least a million dollars." This committee of one hundred, of which William E. Dodge is chairman, and John Crosby Brown, treasurer, gladly places itself at the service of its fellow-citizens to receive gifts of money for this purpose, and to immediately cable relief to the extent of these contributions. Hon. Seth Low, John D. Rockefeller, Oornelius N. Bliss, Geo. F. Peabody, Bowles Oolgate, John M. Oornell, and men of like standing who constitute this committee, afford highest guaranty to donors for the right use of these contributions. Messrs. Brown Bros. & 00. will receive contributions for this committee from persons anywhere on this continent.
The government of India has been always pleased to entrust the superintendence of the distribution of its famine funds to missionaries to the fullest extent to which they were able to take upon themselves these duties.
There is one marked influence which these great humanitarian movements have, whether of the government or of individuals from Ohristian lands, namely that of modifying race prejudices, and even creating religious charity among non-Ohristian peoples toward those who exhibit to them kindness and mercy, gentleness and love in these times of great distress. It seems awkward to use the phrase "the missionary value of famine," yet it has just now been used on Exeter Hall platform. The speaker said that it was after the famine of twenty-three years ago in southern India, that the widespread movement toward Ohristianity took place, and that a similar mass movement toward Ohristianity followed the famine in northern India three years ago. While nobody would fail to resent the use of this fact as an argument, it is easy to explain why it was a sequence. The poor and illiterate who do not understand the grand doctrines of Ohristianity, can understand the mighty ministries of love, which Ohristianity necessarily developes. What the gracious influence of education, and contact with Western civilization may be in preparing the way for the coming of the Kingdom of God among the leaders of thought, the kindness of the Christians exhibited in calamities, has been, in preparing the hearts of the masses to hear what those Ohristians had to say about God. Then, too, from the famine waifs in. the past have come some of the noblest and most successful Ohristian mission workers, men and women.
THE FAILURE OF ISLAM.* BY THE REV. D. S. MARGOLIOUTH, M.A. Laudian Professor of Arabic in the University of Oxford.
The number of the followers of Mohammed in Europe is steadily dwindling; in America, Islam is little known; large tracts of Asia are entirely under its sway; and in Africa it is not only dominant, but shows a tendency to gain ground. If it could serve as a half-way house between paganism and Christianity, its extension might be regarded without dis- may; but experifmce shows that there are no such half-way houses; the road from darkness to light must be unbroken; a half-way house is a bar to progress, because the force that should have lasted to the end of the journey, is not there recruited, but broken and exhausted. There is this further terrible difficulty in facing Islam, that it represents itself as an advance on the Christian system. It claims to be a repeal of Christ's code, just as Christ's code is a repeal of that which came before-it is a further advance. Hence the controversialist who deals with Islam has to unravel before he can weave; he has to disprove this pretension of advance and inclusion, before he can get those to whom he talks into the right track. It is invariably easier to instruct those who have been taught nothing than those who have been taught ill.
In Eastern countries there seem to be three great systems, founded by Moses, Christ, and Mohammed respectively; the adherents of each system are moved by emulation of the others. and do not readily tolerate the possession by another system of any privilege that theirs does not exhibit. As we know, the Founder of our religion has provided us with an example that we should follow His steps; and very few of the serious critics of the Gospel narrative have failed to express admiration for the character revealed by our Lord. But if the Founder of Christianity provides a model for imitation, the founder of Islam must perforce do as much; hence it has to be shown that his life was the most perfect ever lived. And so in books on the principles of Mohammedanism we read that the life of its founder was so perfect, that none but a prophet could have lived it. Now it so happens that that life has been recorded by contemporary historians who make little attempt to palliate it. That career represents one which has few equals in its atrocity; to suppose that God could have directly employed such a servant as that is to blaspheme. It must be confessed that the persons who surrounded Mohammed, appear to have been in general less hardened, but still he is the model, and in general his style of life in its minutest details is the model for imitation.
If the light that is within you be darkness, how great is that darkness! It is here that the association of a holy office with the career of conqueror and usurper is' most disastrous. It is the association of Mohammed's career with infallibility, and the representation of his bad book as the direct utterance of God, which is the source of terrible mischief. The social and domestic evils which the very name of Islam calls up, can not be rebuked or deplored without reflecting on the prophet's career, and without openly contradicting the so-called Word of God and the consensus of the most authorized teachers. Sin loses much of its *Condensed from a sermon preached in St. Aldate's Church, Oxford, on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Oxford C. M. Association, February 11, 1900, and published in the Church. Missionary Intelligencer.
1900.J THE FAILURE OF ISLAM
power if it be acknowledged to be sin, if it be open defiance of God's law; but when it claims to be what God has enjoined, and millions believe it, then, indeed, Satan has triumphed. Hence those chiefs who at different periods of this century have desolated Armenia, and not only Christian countries, but Arabia itself and the Sudan, could point with justice to their prophet and his dictates as the authorities for their conduct.
The true religion has always taught that God takes no bribes. Men may not, hy performing any number of ceremonies, obtain n license to commit sin; and when the maturity of mankind was announced by our Lord, ceremonies were abrogated altogether. The manifold and irksome ceremonies that constitute part of the daily life of a Mohammedan not only mean a return to that bondage from which mature man should be free, but they are thought to constitute an obligation to be repaid by the deity. The fact that a Mohammedan will probably have performed them regularly from boyhood constitutes a serious bar to missionary effort; for it turns him who would fain bring good tidings into a messenger of bad news. His message is that all this credit is imaginary; the sum amassed hy such long exertions does not exist. Go and tell the bankers that the gold coins in their vaults are all counterfeit; that the slightest test will expose it; that in a few days or hours no one will give commodities in exchange for it. He who brought such a message now would simply incur ridicule; for the owners of the coin could immediately convince themselves that the tale was false.. But supposing that they knew in their secret hearts that it was true; that they dare not go down into the vaults or test the coin for fear it should show base color; that numerous incidents coming into their memory all confirmed the news. What would happen to such a messenger? Even to-day he would not be safe from pistol or dagger. It is precisely such a message as that which the Christian missionary brings to those who all their lives have supposed that the five daily prayers, and the fasting month, and the pilgrimage to Mecca, are the service which God desires. They have to be told that all this is of no value; that what God requires of them is something very different, and far less flattering to their vanity; and that even so, what their discharge of it will represent is not assets, but a deficit. " When ye have done all, say, we are unprofitable servants."
If the message of the Gospel be in any case that of bankruptcy before it can tell of the greater and truer riches, what must be the character of the message to those whose lives have been spent in discussing the minutire of those childish rites, and whose profession is thought to be the most honorable that a man can follow? Truly it can only be the grace of God that makes the blind to see and the deaf to hear.
When in the Dark Ages Christianity was covered over with rust and blight, there was one sure remedy; for when the rust was scraped off, the pure GospM remained, and therein was the healing of the nations. By rendering the Gospel accessihle to everyone, by translating it into the homely vernaculars, the Christian peoples were reformed and the foe that had crept into the fortress ejected. But Islam has within itself no such remedy. The authors who insist on the literal application of the precepts of the Koran, are retrograde and fanatical; the spirit they arouse thereby is the spirit which, when let loose, turns the smiling country into a howling wilderness. Those, therefore, who would sincerely make men better try a different course. Their expedient is to read into the Sacred Book meanings that it never had; to interpret it arbitrarily;
and in order to present some authorization for their boldness in abrogating what is supposed to be God's Word, they are compelled to claim mystic gifts, and so practise imposture in order to make men true. Ideas which, fertilized by the sunshine of the Gospel, have reformed half Europe, are found imbedded in books by men who seem to be charlatans and quacks; in order to wean men from the Koran they profess to reverence it more than their fellows; in order to give them a model for imitation, they falsify their prophet's career, and asc:cibe to him whole systems of ethics in which he had no part. The food that is so provided is not plain enough for the sickly frames which it is meant to nourish. 1Vho can bring the pure from the impure? asks the Hebrew writer, and he answers, no one. That which is to bring men to God must be of Godmust be rooted and grounded in the plain and simple truth, must be far removed from violence and wrong, must not call black, white, nor bitter, sweet. Hence the efforts that have been made openly or secretly to reform Islam from within, were foredoomed to failure. Those who, by following the light within them, were able to find their way in that dark place, and tried to guide others right, claim our sympathy and admiration; but the remedy they applied was too weak for the disease.
One such system has during this century had a large following in Persia, where its adherents are said to be hundreds of thousands. It attracted some sympathy in Europe, partly because, at one time at least, it embraced in its program the emancipation of women. Moreover, there seemed ground for believing that this system was associated with a higher standard d conduct than that prevalent in Mohammedan countries; and the terrible persecutions to which those who professed it exposed themselves woke memories of the dark days through which Christianity, and afterward reformed Christianity, had to pass before it won the day. By professing to emanate from the Koran, such systems run the risk of effecting no permanent release from the evils for which that book is responsible; while if they professedly abandon it, they have no ostensible credentials; and tho it is true that the ideas of right, and truth, and liberty are capable of arousing spasmodic enthusiasm, philosophy does not appear to possess the power to influence large masses continuously. Greatly as we should prize such lofty notions, their dissemination would seem to be no substitute for the knowledge of Him from whom they come.
Therefore the Gospel is the only cure, and we have but to contemplate some of the simplest results of its promulgation to banish the thought that the desire to proselytize implies either arrogance or fanaticism. The substitution of the purity of family life for institutions that I do not dare to name; the substitution of a system that knows no difference before the law between one religion and another, between one sex and the other, between one rank and another; the substitution of reverent but loving intercourse with our Father in heaven for puerile washings, and prostrations, and fastings, and pilgrimages; the substitution of laws worked out by scientific methods from the simple principles of the Gospel for the opinions of fallible men as to the meaning of the dictates of one more ignorant and far less scrupulous than themselves-these few changes alone constitute what Isaiah expresses under the figure of a new heaven and a new earth. This is but part of the message of freedom for the captive, and light for the blind, and feet for the lame, which in the fulness of time was brought by Christ and His ministers.
SOME CENTENNIAL STATISTICS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
Hence the slowness with which missionary enterprise proceeds in . Mohammedan countries ought not to discourage, tho it may well sadden. It would seem to have been peculiarly the function of our country to show to Eastern nations what the fruits of the Spirit are; to prove to those who were fast bound in misery and iron, that God has cared for their liberation. The rigid impartiality which our government displays to all creeds, so far as they abstain from barbarous and inhuman prac- tises, its firm refusal to make itto any man's interest to turn Christian, seems to provide the condition under which the Gospel message will, if I may so say, receive the most favorable hearing. 'Vhen once the nations of the world begin to recognize as indissolubly connected with the name of Christian those virtues which we .call the fruits of the Spirit, progress will be more rapid. Thus when a traveler in the heart of Arabia tells us how for two whole years he was not safe for a single day from the spear of the fanatic, because he avowed himself a Christian, we fancy that country to be hopelessly lost; but presently when he tells us how those same fanatics thought he could be trusted where they would not trust their own coreligionists, and thus considered a Christian to be one who would not deceive, the prospect is not without a gleam of hope.
SOME CENTENNIAL STATISTICS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.* BY REV. JAMES S. DENNIS, D. D.
Missionary statistics, to be sure, are mere figures, but they stand for immense and thrilling facts. They are tame and passionless, if we choose so to regard them, but they glow both with the light of imagination and the force of electric action, if we look upon them as points of fire, where the living energies of the kingdom are focused. The variety and complexity of foreign missionary effort and the immense scope of its influence are manifest. An object-lesson in the practical unity of the cooperating forces of our Lord's kingdom is given in these summaries of a vast work, which represents fellowship in prayer to the same God, and brotherhood in toil for the same Master, on the part of all, of whatever name, who are truly called to this world-embracing and world-conquering service. The cumulative impetus of missionary operations is here brought to our attention anew as we stand at this rallying-point for another decade and another century of effort. 'Ve have reason to be grateful as we review what God has done, and to be hopeful as we look forward to what He will yet accomplish. t .. Condensed from a paper prepared for the Ecumenical Conference. Dr. Dennis' statistics are by far the most accurate and complete ever published. They surprised everyone by their grand totals. We look forward expectantly for his volume of statistics, which is expected in the autumn.-EDlTORS.
t In connection with the accompanying statistics of missionary societies, the following considerations should be noted: 1. The statistics of women's auxiliaries are usually included in the returns of the societies with which they are connected.
2. The date which is given for the organization of a society is that which indicates the time when foreign mission work was inaugurated.
3. The income reported is that which represents contributions for foreign missions only. 4. The summaries now given include the returns which have been obtained up to date.
STATISTICS OF THE INOOME, THE STAFF, AND
~ FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.
S~5'"oo … ",<> NATIONAL OR CONTINENTAL DIVISIONS. S,,"E /l)'1j 0.,0 0,,00 .:1So ——————–I—-I—-~— CLASS I. ; Societies directly engaged in[ conducting foreign missions. United States ……………. . 49 $5,403,048 1352 160 114 109 1274 1006 4,110 Canada………………….. . H 352,743 69 9 24 64 59 England …………………. . 42 6,843,031 1747 17 236 Scotland…………………. . 7 1,2811.684 188 139 47 664 958 1407 5,136 52 23 88 161 230 653 Ireland ………………….. . 4 101,930 32 Wales …………………… . 1 40,729 17 11 4 13 29 25 112 Denmark ………………… . 3 42,770 18 3 13 6 36 Finland………………….. . 1 28,860 10 11 3 32 France ………………….. . 2 268,191 48 10 20 Germany ………………… . 15 1,430,151 731 1 17 43 15 123 Netherlands… . ………… . 10 124,126 65 10 91 609 76 1,515 2 12 Norway …………………. . 4 2 81 3 Sweden ………………….. . 7 158,328 49 9 37 17 113 Switzerland ……………… . 2 166,036 85 2 2 14 49 37 187 Australasia and Oceania ….. . 26 34,3.37 15 1 2 13 11 41 Asia……………………… . 29 309.234 96 11 57 64 91 313 Africa …………………… . 28 97,569 48 6 4 104 39 81 282 216,705 217 3 33 31 347 West Indies ……………… . 11 262,620 166 17 64 24 270 Totals for Class 1……… 249 $17,161,092 4953 421 203 1244 3450 3119 13,607 CASS II. $171,607 18 19 12 1 50 Societies indirectly cooperat· 13,832 15 1 2 14 6 37 ing or aiding in foreign missions. 784,122 18 3 19 6 26 959 United States…………….. 16 103,032 14 5 11 8 17 53 Canada……. …… ……….. 1 England……… …… … ….. 30 20,402 4 2 4 10 Scotland. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ireland…………………… 1 9,795 9 2 13 24 Germany…………………. 3 Netherlands….. …. ………. 4 5,200 Norw"y…………………… 4 Sweden…………………… 1 1,352 2 3 4 9 Switzerland.. ….. .. . ……. .. 1 Australasia and Oceania…… 3 8,750 4 2 5 6 14 31 Asia…….. ……. ………… 24 3,OUO 28,645 78 77,994 2 4 Totals for Class II.. . . . . . . . 98 $1,227,731 74 11 69 1,255 CLASS III. $253,661 26 27 7 101 40 30 604 Societies or Institutions inde- 245,465 1 5 2 34 8 26 76 pendently engaged in spe- cialized efforts in various 96,520 1 5 2 3 6 20 departmen ts of foreign mis- sions. 4,125 United States…………….. 28 England………………….. 33 10,956 Scotland. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . 13 Ireland…………………… 1 101,440 5 7 16 8 115 151 Wales …………… ………. 1 Germany…………………. 4 1,452 1 1 2 HolJand………………….. 1 Norway…………………… 2 497 2 8 Sweden………….. ………. 1 Australasia… .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . 2 7 7 Asia……………………… 14 23,083 2 763 13 35 Afr~:~~;~ ~~'r' ~l~~~ ~~~:: :::::. 1~ $737'2:~ 36 52 151_ 157 63 199 _598 484 218 1470 3567 3403 15,460 Total for the world* …… 4491 $19,126,1202 5063 1 If the number of womeJ,l's auxiliary societies (88), not included in the total 449 of societies given of the worJd, both independent and auxiliary, will reach 537. but all other data in the" Comhined Totals 2 In reducing the income of European societies to United States currency, t'1e English pound sterling 40 cents, the German mark at 24 cents. the Finnish mark at 19 cents, and the French frank at 20 cents.
"'" The totals given for the world do not include any duplicate returns. From the total income are exmissions among the Indians of the Dominion of Canada conducted by Canadian societies, the financial contributions of home societies for tile aid of partially independent missionary organizations in Asia, already entered In the Income of said home SOcieties, and, finally, all government grants for educa·
RETURNS OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES
NATIVE HELPERS. STATIONS. CHURCHES. SUNDAY· SCHOOLS.
1575 1,513 16,605 1035 6,291 4,107 421,597 31,970 7,231 344,385 $628,717 1,257,425 73 230 8U 9,987 985 402 12,731 1,377 32,925 39 677 716 171.247 1810 12,158 4,744 278,518 20.093 2,875 26,257 1665 25,980 27.795 243 841 195 40,247 4,179 437 4,816 580,855 1,081,384 ; 23 93 21 4,588 652 95 11.615 52 2,909 3,026 393 140 3,596 365 410 206,240 91,667 15 10 54 300 5 397 419 3 3 361 18 6 5,160 14,421 7 493 i 500 11 388 35 I 3 1,320 564 240 7,064 330 5,100 16,561 40 174 10 14,788 110 12 1 36 499 903 204 154,356 4,545 75 890 56 108 10 1,027 22 8 41 18 8 5,041 151 26 676 49 344 218 35,289 1,904 1,921 42 300 342 46 69 3,447 183 103 8 62 3,881 326 160 6.284 6,464 276 1,961 558 749 6,326 744 35,979 161,7'05 357,436 71 693 71,637 2,620 30 220 250 83,895 14,940 40 32,667 689 9,993 953 78 1,806 1,884 291 132,280 1.394 2,000 50,811 58,241 5,1 217 222 102,554 2,020 2,639 26,988 31 31 65,138 182 2,463 1521 4,771 4,923 21,112 162,332 151 298 313 3,888 14,042 98' 4,400 4,507 34.618 202,984 105 5,469 5,574 182,912 1,005,960 4029 69,300 73,615 5233 25,586 10,993 1.289.2118 764,684 $1,833,981 4,327,283 243 243 14 1 1 $100 75,243 4 2,478 2,482 102 503 9 25,078 4 190 ~I 382 383 12 1 9 960 1,125 42 45 1 11 203 37 545 11 11 6 3 45 1 11 2 1 35 40 500 14 14 6 5 7 200 36 36 16 – – – – – – – – – – — — – – – – – – -:—— – – – – – 14 1,150 $1,225 76,328 3,207 3,216 145 541 17 25,561 37 7 63 70 53 4 4 474 $102 120 1 115 116 23 110 9 190 40 27 1,498 24 505 48 48 10 5 246 4 41 4,655 10,000 270 6 200 206 11 17 2,500 200 30 3,000 1 11 12 24 2 1 95 9 733 1 3 3 4S 48 70 4 2 40 14 3 143 $1,500 15 492 507 193 120 29 2,825 254 78 6,094 $6,551 $10,625 053 72,999 77,338 5571 26,247 11,039 1,317,684 84,186 15,032 771,928 $1,841,757 4,414,236 above uuder Classes 1., II.. TIL, be added to that number, the grand total of all the missionary societies of Classes I., II., and 111.," remain as given above. has heen estimated at $4.90, the Danish, Norwf'gian, and Swedish crown at 26 cents, the Dutch florin at Indian rupees haYe been reckoned fit three to the dollar. eluded funds spent for missions in Europe alllong both Protestant and Papal nations, also the expenses of outlay of all soeieties for mission work or church aid on behalf of foreign residents in the Colonies, the Australasia, and the West Indies, when acknowledged in the returns of $uch societies, they having been tional work. .
ECHOES OF THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE.
GATHERED BY D. L. LEONARD, D.D.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The Ecumenical Conference has stirred up the religious people of New York probably more than they have ever been stirred before.-The New York Sun.
The conference has asserted the missionary view of hfe and life's possessions as things not held by us as our own, to be used as we please or for our own ends, but to be regarded as trusts from God. We easily sink into a very tiny insularity. 'Ye call ourselves cosmopolitan, when we are as narrow as intelligent men can well be. Our own ends, our own community, our own nation, are the boundaries of our interest. We will think of the other side of the world if we can make money out of it, but not as bound by any ties of high motives or duty. This conference has called that view anathema. It has asserted that we can not, if we will, cut ourselves asunder from our brothers of other races or other faiths. All that we have of good we owe to them, and must give to them. If our religious faith is not so good that we must give it to them who are without it, then it is not good enough to be worth keeping ourselves. If it is good, and this conference has rested immovably on the conviction that there is nothing else in the world so good, then to refuse to pass it on to other men is malfeasance and dishonesty.-The New York Tribune.
The conference is, in many respects, one of the most important religious gatherings of the present generation. Foreign missions are sometimes criticized, and, as in the case of every other great work, there is occasionally room for criticism as to the methods employed or the wisdom and competency of individual missionaries sent out to the foreign field. But no true friend of missions can object to such criticism as that. Indeed, it is largely to discover and discuss the defects in the work that this great gathering has been called from the four corners of the world. The collective conscience of Christendom is profoundly impressed with the need of missions, not only to enlarge the area of the Christian faith, but to extend to heathen lands the priceless benefits of the civilization that has grown out of the Christian faith. It sees that great as have been the triumphs of foreign missions they might be and ought to be still greater; and it has, therefore, assembled a council of its representative leaders and its most famous missionaries to talk the situation over, and out of a personal conference gain a larger outlook and a fresher inspiration for the prosecution of the work in the future. That such a conference in the dawn of the new century should be held in the metropolis of the New World is a happy augury.-The New York Tr'ibgne.
Whatever may be our opinion of the value of missionary work, we can not repress our admiration of the missionary himself. Even tho we believe that the enormous sums expended have not been productive of adequate results, we still doff our hats to those who at the call of duty have given up all that they may do the Master's will. If, however, we may judge by the audiences which pack Carnegie Hall at every session, and by the numerous overflow meetings which have become necessary in order to accommodate the people, and by the general interest which this conference has excited both in this country and in Europe, it is safe to conclude that in the estimation of the majority the task to which our
ECHOES OF THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
missionaries have set themselves is well worth doing, even at the risks that are daily incurred. These men and women represent the real religious enthusiasm of the age. In comparison with them the religious life at home is flat, stale, and unprofitable. We do whatever it is convenient and easy to do, but nothing else. We are generous and emotional, but the element of self-sacrifice is almost wholly wanting. We prefer the "downy-bed of ease," while they do a hard and perilous day's work every day of the year. They leave their homes, surrender all family ties and all earthly ambition, and cheerfUlly adopt a life which costs them almost everything which most of us hold dear.-The New York Herald.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Ecumenical Conference, which ended last evening, was that upon which ex-President Harrison laid stress in his closing remarks-the extent of the popular interest in the subject of missions which has been revealed. There has come to be a general agreement among candid and intelligent people, the world over, that the missionary is a civilizing force, and once that conclusion is reached, the agnostic or the doubter must be concerned about his work only less than the devout believer. Moderation of opinion, and a lack of insistence upon the rigor of creeds were noteworthy characteristics of the addresses. It would seem as tho this spirit must help toward that greater economy of force which is sadly needed in missionary work, through the cooperation of societies which now often work at cross pur- poses, and waste both effort and money in rivalry in the same field.- The New Y01'k Evening Post. .
It was a demonstration to the world of the power of the Church. The meetings were enormous, four or five held at once in the biggest halls and churches, and all crowded. The world had to see that the Church amounts to not a little. The yellow journals placarded their wagons with" All About the Missionary Conference," and the car conductors, when they saw a crowd waiting on a corner called out, not "Broadway," but" Carnegie Hall." When the yellow journals and the car conductors "caught on," we may be sure that the conference's witness for the truth had attracted attention. Men that are given to gibes have been compelled to see that missions are of great interest to a multitude of people, and that those engaged in them are noble and sensible men. Such a magnificent speech as that of Mr. Harrison's will be translated into a multitude of languages, and will be quoted and have its influence as the utterance not of a missionary or a preacher, but of a lawyer, a general, a president of the United States. In such ways as this the faith and the enthusiasm for missions will be greatly increased.-The Independent (New York).
The delegates to this great conference are a very imposing and impressive body of men and women. They aggregate two thousand or thereabouts; they represent almost every important section of the globe, and there is scarcely one of them who has not been the hero or heroine of some tragic event. The short respite from onerous duties and grave responsibility which the missionaries are now enjoying, is richly deserved. Even the casual observer can read the story of strange experiences in their careworn faces. The dangers through which they have passed, the sacrifices they have willingly made, the constant uncertainty in which they live, have rendered them somewhat somber, less exuber-
ant than most of us who are in middle life, and plowed lines in their faces which generally come with advanced age only.-The New York Sun.
Let a large church floor stand for the platform of Carnegie Hall. Every seat holds a missionary. Yonder is the audience, whose numbers mount into the thousands as they fill the parquet and four galleries rising one above the other to the roof beyond. Here are the six hundred that rode into the jaws of death and into the mouth of hell. "Somebody blundered," says the worldling. But it was theirs to dare and do and die without asking any other than the simple command of Christ to "00." They went. Here they stand representing fifteen thousand Europeans and Americans, who have trained eighty thousand native helpers that are taking up the great burden of evangelizing their native lands. Among these heroes are six who were dragged out of their homes after the Turks had set the torch to the houses where they lived. There is Dr. Chamberlain, a former pastor of the Dutch Church in New York. Two books by the veteran from India suggest the perils which he has confronted. One is "The Tiger's Jungle," and the other is "The Cobra's Den." Near by is Dr. Paton, the apostle of the New Hebrides, who looked calmly into the rifle barrel of a cannibal and prayed until the murderous arm faltered and dropped its deadly weapon. The brave missionary was undismayed, and declared: "If I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, it will make no difference t,o me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms." President Sheffield invented a Chinese typewriter to print forty-five hundred characters, and he bears in his body a score or two of scars which show how he was stabb€d and left for dead. Dr. Schrieber there is the only man who has been at the opening of all three Ecumenical Conferences. He was a German missionary who found Sumatra heathen, and in seven years left his part of which was not Mohammedan, a Christian community. Here were statesmen to do them homage; admirals, generals, judges, government, state, and city officials of every grade; university presidents like Angell, of Michigan, and Seth Low, of Columbia, and Commissioner Harris, were on the program. Here was Captain Mahan, the founder of our new navy, and the U. S. minister at Siam, in whose arms the crown prince died, saying: "Mr. Barrett, if I am born again, I want to be born an American." Here were merchant princes Jessup, Dodge, Willis, James, and Pierpont Morgan; Capen, of Boston, King, of London. In the center of the group were three presidents of this republic; one past, one present, and one future chief magistrate, gathered to pay their honors to the greatest movement of the century.-N01·th and West.
Governor Roosevelt uttered a telling word Saturday evening when he said: "W0 to the man who pities the worker." If one wishes to see cheerfulness embodied one should study missionaries, many of whom truly bear in their bodies the" scars of the Lord Jesus." The conference, with its hundreds of delegates, will confer an inestimable boon upon our somewhat blase metropolitan materialism by vindicating the view that "love in action," and not money, "makes the world go round." The sneers of the captious at the cost of missions, and the jeers of the illinformed as to the luxury which is supposed to environ missionaries, are wide of the mark when one considers results of such amazing magnitude. Undoubtedly the pioneers had the hardest time of all. but they are not
EOHOES OF THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
to be pitied. A Scottish captain, Allen Gardner, went three times to carry the bread of life to the inhabitants of Terra del Fuego, but finally perished of starvation. 'Vhen his dead body was discovered they found inscribed on the rocks above his head the words, "My soul, wait thou only on the Lord, for my expectation is from Him." I doubt whether this devoted man was not, upon the whole, happier in life and death than those who pity his fate. The nonchalant way in which a graybeard missionary will tell you of the arrows shot at him and the knives sharpened to carve his body, smiling as he talks, drives pity out of court.-F1·cdcrick Stanley Root.
THINGS THAT WERE SAID AND DONE.
The greatest charity organization society in America, in the city of New York, for the amelioration of the whole land, is foreign missions. There are still many heathen in America-heathen practises, heathen notions. There is no "American" Christianity as distinguished from any other. There is only one kind of Christianity, that is a universal Christianity, and the Christianity which is simply "American" can never convert Americans. 'Ve are told that the Christian Church is not reaching the working classes-and why? Just because it is trying to reach the working class as the" working class."-M. D. Babcock.
Two notable little figures, who severs'! times appeared on the platform wearing the native Hindu dress, were the sweet-faced young daughter of Pundita Ramabai and her friend, a child-widow from her mother's famous school. Both are being educated at a school in New York City. Great interest was manifested in the former for her gifted mother's sake, and in the latter for her rare attainments as a linguist. Tho only about twenty years of age, she is familiar with five languages besides her own- Tungabsi, Marathi, English, Greek, and Latin-and has read Xenophon's "Anabasis," Homer's "Iliad," the Greek New Testament, and Cresar's "Commentaries." Few American girls can boast of such accomplishments.-Christian Endeavor W01'ld.
His one injunction to the unbelieving world is "Come"-"Come unto me." But his one injunction to all his believing followers is "Go" _" Go ye unto all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation;" "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." It is the sublimest order ever given on earth. 'Vhen I think of the breadth of the world that was to be subdued, of the time it has taken to subdue it, of the small numbers and the narrow views of those disciples, the audacity of that command see,ms almost insanity, until I realize that He is God, and that all other authority is but the shadow of His. Paul was the first great foreign missionary, and he tells us the purpose of foreign missions when he says: "For me to live is Christ." But Christ multiplies Himself through the self-multiplication of the individual Christian. He has kindled His light in our souls that we may give that light to others., How long has it taken us to realize that the command to "go" is addressed not to official servants, but to all Christians, and that Christ's purpose is to make every convert a missionary! His army grows as it goes. Every enemy subdued is to become a recruiting officer; and the whole population is to be enlisted as His forces sweep on. Christian love begins at home, but it does not end at home. Like the circles set in motion when you throw a stone into calm water, it widens evermore in
its gifts and its regards, until it encompasses the globe.-Pres. A. H. Strong.
Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, whose paper was read in her absence, made a plea for dignity and directness in giving. Her ridicule of church entertainment methods was heartily applauded-and justly, Of all the absurdities under the sun, the church entertainment can be the most demoralizing. A peculiarly lofty incentive attaches to the privilege of giving for mission work at home and abroad. The Japanese tea and bazaar lottery, with ten-cent fishing-ponds galore, removes all personal meaning of sacrifice or judgment in the contribution. If missionary offerings are below what they ought to be-as everybody admits-nothing is gained by a process of "wheedling" pennies by catchpenny means. "Dignity and directness!" A happy collocation of terms.-P. S. Root.
It is the moral duty of the missionary, without always claiming all the privileges to which he is by law entitled, to avoid giving needless offense to the people among whom he resides by disregarding their tastes and prejudices, or even their superstitions. For instance, the Chinese consider that the erection of a church, especially if it have a spire, in proximity to the magistrate's office, is calculated to bring disaster upon the city. A wise missionary will avoid selecting such a site for his church, even tho he may have bought the site and be legally entitled to erect his church upon it. I think the American missionaries have usually shown courtesy and delicacy and tact in accommodating them- selves to circumstances so as to prevent as far as possible friction with the Chinese.-President J. B. Angell.
Rev. F. W. Oldham, formerly of Singapore, spoke on the manner and form of presenting the Gospel to non-Christian peoples so as to per- suade and win. "The presentation," he said, "must be level with the understanding of the hearers. 'Faith cometh by hearing.' But the hearing is not merely of sounds falling upon the outer ear; it must reach the inner mind. Here, therefore, is great call for skill and thorough knowledge of the people addressed. Each people has its own mental characteristics. Ideas can only be adequately conveyed by him who has a knowledge of the mental processes that obtain among those with that particular type of mind. The preaching to a primitive South Sea Island congregation must necessarily be very different from that to a philo- sophical Hindu audience, or to keen rationalistic Japanese hearers. When the preacher is a foreigner, very great delicacy is necessary in avoiding the hurting of the national feeling or race prejudices. The Euro- pean particularly needs to remember the precept' not to think of him- self' or his nation and its ways' more highly than he ought to think;' and whatever the facts may seem to warrant, a flaunting of the superiority of his own people and their ways, as over against the ways of the' effete East,' can never pave the way for that lending of the heart to the power of the message which alone is the object sought in all preaching. I am persuaded that he is the best missionary who, when he reaches the peot pIe whom he is serve, ceases to be an Englishman, or an American, or a German, and loses all national distinctiveness in one great engulfing desire to serve those who henceforth should be his own. Attempt to dis- guise it as we may, if there be in us any secret contempt for the people, any lofty feeling of haughty superiority, any idea of comparative worth-
ECHOES O};' THE E:CUMENICAL CONFERENOE
lessness in the race or poverty of salvable material in the persons addressed, the message is without power, and rarely effects anything."
In heathen countries the successful evangelists of the future will be men who come from the people-men even who can not read and write. Their work is effective, tho rude. In matters of religion we are like the printer, and inclined to follow copy. We have much respect for precedent, forgetting that precedent was first an innovation. We must therefore expect to depart from some old methods. If the women of India are to be reached, the work must be done by women. In the great outlying regions beyond the confines of Christendom, multitudes may be found who understand the outlines of the Christian religion. Many millions of the people of India have advanced beyond paganism, and more or less tacitly admit the truths of Christianity. Account for it as you may, in all the mission fields we find the state of things nearly as bad as in English and American cities-that is to say, a great many baptized Christians who are worldly in their thoughts and aspirations, and lives, and they are mingled with the true believers. We need men there to do a work such as was done here by Moody among the professing Christians. Then there is a great mass who have never heard the Gospel at all. How are they to be reached if not by the native evangelist? Many good workers can be found among the class of people who might be called illiterate. Vhere are the reapers? In the recruiting of our evangelistic fOl'ce perhaps we have clung too much to our own ideals, and rejected too many of the little ones of the kingdom. The evangelist should not attempt to follow closely the method of Moody in convening and addressing great meetings. Mr. Moody's great and good work was new in many features. Circumstances vary, and methods must be varied. Christ stopped by the wayside and spoke to one or two.-Bishop Thoburn.
There is a work to be done on the foreign field which can be done only for women and by women. The work of evangelization, of organization, of establishing colleges, of building railroads, of founding government, of transcribing languages, of creating industries, can be done largely by men, but there is another work different, without which all these other activities will be thwarted and defeated, that can be done only by women, through women, for the world. Our Lord gave it to us in a picture when he said, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in a measure of meal until the whole was leavened." The final citadel of heathenism is in the home, and that fortress can be taken by' women only. It seems such slow work, this gathering of children into kindergartens, this friendly co.ntact with little groups of mothers, the teaching of needlework, this living one's own home-life through long, lonely years that seem to count for nothing. It is women's work, my sisters, the patient hiding of the leaven in the lump until the whole is leavened. And there is no one agency which has such power to hasten the triumph of the kingdom of our Lord as this hidden work committed into the hands of women. A thousand trained nurses to incarnate the tender compassion of Jesus, a thousand women physicians to carry into closed homes the gospel of healing, a thonsand kindergarten teachers to gather the children into the arms of the Christ, a thousand zenana visitants to carry fresh life into stagnant hearts, a thonsand missionary mothers to set up the white fragrance of their home in the darkness-
these are our forces, these the reenforcements that shall take the strongholds of error and darkness.-Mrs. W. lYE. Montgomery.
There are here and there to be found those who speak of the idea of the evangelization of the world in this generation as fantastic [md vis- ionary. And yet was it not Gordon Hall and Samuel Newell who, in 1818, issued an appeal to Christians to evangelize the world within a gen- eration? Did not the missionaries of the Sandwich Islands in 1886 unite in most impressive appeal to the Church to preach the Gospel to every creature within their generation? Did not the Shanghai Missionary Conference of 1877 express its desire to have China emancipated from the thraldom of sin in this generation, and its belief that it might be done? . It is significant that during this Ecumenical Conference it has not been the young men chiefly, but the veterans of the cross, who have exhorted us to a larger achievement. 'Vas it not Bishop Thoburn who said that if this conference and those whom it represents would do their duty, within the first decade of the new century ten millions of souls might be gathered into the Church of Christ? 'Vas it not Dr.
Ashmore who expressed the belief that before the twentieth century closes Christianity would be the dominant religion among the multitu- dinous inhabitants of the Chinese empire? And was it not Dr. Cham- berlain, in his burning appeal, that expressed the possibility of bringing India under the sway of Christ within the lifetime of some at least in this assembly? If these great leaders, after forty years' experience or more at the front, in the face of difficulties, are thus sanguine of victory, and sound the battle-cry, should those of us who are at home hesitate or sound the retreat ?-John R. Mott.
I was glad to read on the first page of our program those dying words of old Simeon Calhoun: "It is my deep conviction, and I say it again and again, that if the Church of Christ were what she ought to be, twenty years would not pass away till the story of the Cross would be uttered in the ears of every living man." And there came back across my memory this morning the words of that great resolution of the American Board at its annual meeting in Hartford, in 1836: "Resolved, That in view of the signs of the times and the promises of God, now is the time to undertake the evangelization of the world, with some scheme of operations based on the expectation of its speedy accomplishment." Sixty-four years have rolled by since then. The promises of God have not been broken. Each passing year has only touched with a new blaze of glory the signs of our times. We stand here to-day before those same promises, vindicated by two generations more of trial, face to face with an open and appealing world. Has the time not come now at last, after two generations, to begin to attain our end? Oh, that there might be such a rally to the Cross and the last command of Christ, as by the blessing of God before we die should fling the Gospel light around the world!-Robert E. Speer.
Many diplomats look upon the missionary as the man who succeeds in getting himself murdered or assaulted at inopportune moments.- G. A. King.
Christian nations have combined to suppress the sale of slaves. Is it too much to ask that they comhine to prevent the sale of liquor?- Benjamin Har?'ison.
BRITISIl WESLEYAN MISSIONS IN TilE TRANSVAAL
The greatest hindrances in mission lands, especially among barbarous and semi-barbarous natives, come from Christian lands in the shape of rum, gunpowder, and opium.-R. H. Gulick.
The devil hovers over India with his hands full of poppy-seeds.- A missionary from Burma.
The greatest foes of missions are prejudice and indifference, and ignorance is the mother of them both.-S. Earl TaylO1'.
There is no shut door anywhere on the field except that which is shut by our own hands.-Bishop Doane.'
In our theological seminaries we must not only educate the occasional candidate for the field, but arouse every man who enters the doors.-Cha7'les C. Hall.
You must no longer regard the missionary as the thing you put your money into.-G. A. King.
Every boy of fifteen is familiar with the achievements of great army and naval heroes, but if a company of young people is asked to name the heroes of the Cross, embarrassing silence foIlows.-S. Earl TaylO1'.
Every young man and every young woman should be a junior partner with the Lord Jesus for the salvation of the world.-Jacob Chamberlain.
Of all the evidences of Christianity that have smitten unbelief between the eyes, the study of missions is the greatest.-A. T. Pierson.
If any two or three of you agree on sending out a missionary to the field, I can promise you that Jesus Christ will be with you.-Maltbie D. Babcock.
Each church should support two pastors, one for the thousands at home, the other for the millions abroad.-Jacob Chamberlain.
He who faithfully prays at home does as much for foreign missions as the man on the field, for the nearest way to the heart of a Hindu or a Chinaman is by way of the throne of God.-Eugene Stock.
BRITISH WESLEYAN MISSIONS IN THE TRANSVAAL. * Our mission in the Transvaal, little more than twenty years old, presented, some fifteen months ago, on the last occasion when it was possible to gather in the statistics of our work, a state of affairs which twenty yea;rs previously the most sanguine could not have expected. No less than 12,000 church members and 46,000 attendants upon public worship were to be found in the various circuits of the Transvaal and Swaziland district.
It will be borne in mind that two great and closely related series of events have given us in that country opportunities that are altogether unique. There has been, in the first place, for many years past a very rapid increase in a population drawn from the various colonies, from Great Britain, from America, from the Continent of Europe, and even from the ancient East. That population, swarming toward great centers of activity, has presented a field for wise, energetic, and faithful Christian service which our brethren have been swift to apprehend and swift to profit by, and they were successful in gathering congregations and in building up churches of Europeans who have soon assumed the duties and responsibilities of such churches on a scale of liberality which has not been surpassed in our history.
*In the June number of this periodical will be found a presentation of what the Dutch Reformed Churches have done for missions. It is gratifying to present the following statements concerning the rnioNIlonary operations of the British Wesleyans in the Transvaal, made by the chairman of the last May meeting, as given in the Methodist Recorder, London,
The other event, striking and impressive. concerns the native populations. The discovery of gold in the district around Johannesburg, and the demand for labor consequent upon that discovery, drew to that center, as by magnet, scores of thousands of the natives of the country from the north, the south, the east, and the west. Tribes which it would have taken the Church half a century to overtake, had she been compelled to seek them in their remote dwelling-places, flocked together into one crowded center, and something like 200,000 native heathens were found grouped around those centers of eager, active life. There the hand of God had swept together not merely for the purpose of commerce and industry, but for the highest interests of humanity and for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Christ, the representatives of scores of tribes and sec- tions of tribes speaking various dialects of common tongues, and put them, as it were, in a ring fence accessible immediately to the concentrated efforts of Christian men. And with what result? Less than a year ago one of our most esteemed and capable South African ministers, the Rev. Geo. Lowe, who has spent many years in native work, presented a kind of vindicatory statement, an apologetic of a high-toned and admirable kind. He had been distressed by hearing unworthy, flippant statements, made by those who had taken no pains whatever to acquaint themselves with the facts of the case, who had caught up those old and unworthy cynicisms by which native Christians are always disparaged, whether it be in China, India, or Africa. He had had it brought to him, at second, at third, at fourth hand, that the so-called Christian native was only a Kafir spoilt, and the rest of it, and he was at the pains to write a dignified, temperate, and entirely Christian document in which he rapidly f,ketched the actual operations of that great center of heathen life, and the actual results which had already been obtained. They are, to my mind, the most impressive statistics which this society has presented for many and many a year.
Briefly, they are these-that in the native circuit, in the native mis- sion to the heathen on the goldfields of the vVitwatersrand district, a mission that has only existed nine years, there were two European ministers, four native ministers, thirty-two chapels, one hundred and five preaching-places, thirty-three day-school teachers, one hun- dred and sixty-nine local preachers, and two thousand nine hundred and thirty-five men and boys meeting in Methodist classes. "Week by week," he says, "we preach the Gospel to upward of fifteen thousand of these men, heathen by birth and upbringing."
A series of wise, intelligent philanthropies was carricd on for the general elevation and benefit (If those people. Thousands of them have been taught to read and write, and now they are scattered, scattered to the other side of the Zambesi into the Portuguese territory, down into Cape Colony and Natal, away toward the German provinces in the west-those two hundred thousand are for the most part scat- tered from that district, but thousands of them have carried with them in their scanty bundle a Bible and a hymn-book in their own tongue, and have carried away beliefs, ideas, inspirations, and consolations, which they have received from Jesus Christ and from His ministers during the past few years. Whatever may be the issue of the present war, it is most certain that the wealth buried in the soil will still be there and will still attract the capitalist, the engineer, the artificer, the mechanic, and all the industries that crowd around that center of occupation, and it is certain that the attraction of work and wages will bring tens of thousands of the native population of the far-lying regions who will once more concentrate in the region from whence they have fled. And so, please God, we shall take up our work again, and in the end it will be seen that the dispersion of Christians is not the destruction of Christianity, and that dispersions, tho they may embarrass fol' a while, and arrest the work in which we are engaged, yet may serve the larger purposes of God's plans as a whole, and that even now there is a diffusion, far out of our sight, among people of whom we know little or nothing, of that Gospel which during the last nine years has been preached with such fidelity and success among the heathen populations in the Transvaal.
EDITORIALS
EDITORIALS.
Prayer and Missions. definite and stupendous results be- Large increase of information gin to develop. At first, fifty years must be the outcome of this recent ago, the burden of prayer was for conference. But there must be the opening of doors, and, one after more prayer. Light and heat may another, the iron gates opened as be transmitted through a lens of of their own accord. Then disciples ice without melting the ice. Knowl- asked for money to be given to edge must be sanctified by prayer prosecute the work. At a critical before it becomes power. period, when the whole progress of For one I regard the increased missions was threatened, a spirit of observance of the monthly concert liberality was bestowed; in one year, and week of prayer as necessary the Annus Mirabilis, some twenty to true home work for missions. persons together gave about four The monthly concert is compara- millions of dollars. Then came the tivelya thing of the past. Once it prayer from devout souls for con- was a regular observance on the secration of our foremost youth; first Monday of each month; then and from the universities of Eng- it was merged into the first Sunday land, Scotland, and America, have evening; and now, if observed at come a great host, saying, "Here all, into the first midweek prayer am I, send me. " Now we need service of each month. Sometimes prayer, united and believing, for a home and foreign missions both spirit in the church at large, responclaim a hearing; sometimes mis- sive to the providence of God. sions get a bare mention or none at This, as Dr. Anderson used to say, all, the collection is abandoned, and is the greatest need of the age. * so the monthly concert has but a name to live and is dead. I once Hudson Taylor and Grattan Guinness. asked an intelligent church mem- In New York, lately, as in the ber if any 'monthly concert was kept in his church, and he said his London conference of 1888, Rev. J. pastor did not care to have the Hudson Taylor was felt to be one church used for "mere musical of the mightiest men of prayer at gatherings!" As to the January the conference, and a thoroughly prayer week, begun at the sug- consecrated man. Some forty or gestion of a beloved missionary in more years ago, he and Henry India, as a season of united prayer Grattan Guinness proposed to go on for missions, it has become a week a foreign mission together, but he of prayer for every conceivable persuaded Mr. Guinness to remain object, . personal, domestic, and at home and train students for the social, national and universal, and field. Mr. Guinness did so, and covering the whole range of ortho- five hundred trained workers were dox prayer, namely: thanksgiving, in 1888 in the field in consequence. confession, supplication, interces- Dr. Barnardo, the great founder of sion; and the original idea is lost. the Boys' Refuge in London, was No one thing is so to be lamented one of the earliest students in the as this general decline of earnest, Guinness training school, and Mr. believing, and united prayer for Glenney, of the North Africa Mismissions, for prayer has ~lways sion, another; so that to Hudson marked and turned the crises in Taylor and Grattan Guinness may mission history. Whenever praying be traced ultimately the Ohina Insouls unite in definite supplication, land Mission and the Harley House Training School, the. greatest
philanthropic work in London, and the issues which it brought before us, and the high character of the the conspicuous work in North- representatives composing it. * western Africa, where, in a few years, twelve hundred converts were gathered in one church, and A Prayer Oonference.
native pastors and evangelists have A general prayer convention been raised up. * was held, May 15-18, in Los Angeles, Cal., under the auspices of the Pen- An Interdenominational Board. tecostal Prayer Union of Southern We might well hail as a harbin- California. This is a movement in ger of greatest good, a sort of advisory committee, representing all the right direction. There is now the various boards and denominations, to whom might be referred a strong tendency to emphasize both questions of delicacy and the occupancy of unoccupied fields. prayer, literal waiting on God in Such men as Sir John Kennaway, Eugene Stock, Canon Edmonds, supplication for spiritual blessings. F. F. Ellinwood, Wardlaw Thompson, Judson Smith, J. T. Gracey, No one session of the late Ecuand J. Hudson Taylor, would command the confidence of the whole menical Conference was more bless- Christian world. Much work now overlaps; many great fields are yet edly impressive t~an that afternoon wholly unoccupied, and others are just opening to unreserved freedom meeting led by J. Hudson Taylor of communication. How shall these great fields be occupied for and Walter B. Sloan, in which God, with the smallest waste of men and money? This is the im- nearly the entire time was given perative question of the hour. We need a judicious representative not to exhortation, but to prayer. body of men, high in public confidence and esteem, who by corre- In the prayer convention of Los spondence and otherwise may consult as to the prompt and speedy Angeles, hours were given to silent occupation of every field now without a fairly adequate supply of waiting before God, and the themes mISSIOnaries. Some such measure will be the outcome of this gather- that were discussed were most helping, as we have already noticed elsewhere. ful to habits of devotion, such as, It is too early to make up an in- H There am I in the midst," "The telligent verdict on the great conference. But there is no doubt Practise of the Presence of God," that already its lines have gone out through all the earth, and its "Learning to Pray," " Men of words to the end of the world. We are more and more impressed by Prayer in the Nineteenth Century," the gravity and importance of the papers read and discussions en- " The Promises of God. " We should gaged in; by the real greatness of be glad of a similar convention in all our great cities. * " Self-Support" a.t the Ecumenical Conference.
The writer asked an eminent British delegate to the Ecumenical Conference how it compared or contrasted with that of London in 1888. He replied that it exceeded the London conference in numbers in attendance, but that there was more of discussion there than here. The one assertion in part explains the other. A great mass meeting is not favorable to free discussion. Men who have ideas have not always the voice for address in such a vast assembly as that of Carnegie Hall. The smaller au- diences in the churches in most
1900.J EDITORIALS
cases did not offer favorable condi- phasis was within the limits of fair tions for debate. '1'0 balance this, debate. the suggestion was made at one time that parties who did not se- Our view is that the discussions cure a hearing might be asked to were but the starting point of condense into the smallest space fuller debate in press and address. the points they would have made, Accordingly we quote from a com- and that these be passed to the munication of one of the most committee having the report in scholarly, amiable, and wise dele- cbarge to incorporate into the vol- gatf)s to that conference the follow- umes. Possibly this suggestion was not acted on because the com- ing, not at his suggestion, but to pilers of those volumes had already show that the subject admits of still a herculean task to condense the fuller elucidation. The writer says: papers and addresses into the space possible to give to them. The real problem of developing a native agency was not adequately It is not supposed that the dis- presented to the conference…. My cussions were exhaustive, and cer- mission has seven ordained pastors, tainly, as all formulated decision or evangelists, fully supported by was out of order, no conclusions the native church. The contribucould be said to be reached. The tions of these poor native Chrisdiscussions were adapted rather to tians are much larger, in proporprovoke thought and further con- tion to their means, than are the sideration in the future. No one contributions of a similar number supposed that in the limited time of Christians in the United States. they could be exhaustive. Theywill Outside of these pastors and evanprobably form the basis for a great gelists we have forty or fifty deal 0::' discussion in the press and preachers, mostly graduates of in other assemblies. Tungcho College and Theological Seminary, who are doing excellent On the topic of "self-support," work under the supervision of the according to the newspaper reports, missionaries, and are supported by ten of the speakers favored pushing foreign money. These are the the policy vigorously, four de- leaders of the native Christians, fended the money-aid rendered to and are steadily pressing them the feeble churches, and three took along the lines of self-help. a middle ground of "discrimination" in the administration, ac- The writer does not consider that cording as circumstances showed it this policy is "coddling" or " pauto be wise. There is no doubt but perizing" the Church. Yet he that there is great variety in the says" under the policy exploited at conditions of- the several fields, New York it could not be used." ** races, and environment. That there was any purpose to advance Interest in Medical Missions. any single policy on the part of those who arranged for or presided One of the most gratifying results at these meetings, or to limit the of the late Ecumenical Conference discussion in favor of any theory, was the increased interest in mediis not supposable, and would have cal missions, which reports from all been indefensible, if true. That there parts of the field stimulated. It is were earnest advocates who might quite evident that there is no dehave been predisposed to over ac- partment of mission work on which centuate one course or another, God has more conspicuously set his was probably true, and such em- seal and more universally blessed. We know not one part of the mis- sion territory in which preaching and healing have gone hand-in- hand without remarkable and far- reaching influence. Qne of our mOElt esteemed OOrrl;'-
spondimts, Mr. JamesE. Mathieson, connection between praying stu- 'dents in great hospitals and any of London, and himself chairman real and greater advance in this most blessed work for the perishing of the Medical Missionary Asso- world, which so much needs loving ciation of that city, writes: and sympathetic hearts, and skil- ful hands, and clear heads, in deal- The subject of medical missions has begun to exercise the minds of ing with human wo and suftering. thoughtful Christians, in proportion as greater heed is given to the In connection with the above let- New Testament teachings in this department of the work of the ter we may call attention to the re- Church, and in the measure in which obedience is rendered, port of Mr. Herbert V. Venham as first, to the example of our Lord's own ministry, and second, to His to the Medical Prayer Union in Loncommands in connection with healing and its union with Gospel don, that the numbers at the weekly preaching, Luke ix: 1, 2; x: 8, 9; and it may safely be predicted that meetings have averaged ten to in the future of missions there will be greater prominence given to, twelve for the last term, and three and larger expenditure bestowed upon, this branch of Gospel enter- or four at the midday prayer-meetprise, and particularly a'mong the peoples to whom access is most ing. This report has to do with St. difficult, as it is among Jews and Mohammedans. Bartholomew's Hospital, founded It is, therefore, interesting to 1123 A. D., where there is a Students' observe the chief element which (in Britain at least) has influenced Christian Association affiliated so many medical students in their decision to give their lives to this with the Medical Prayer Union. blessed line of things, which we may say, more than any other, is a dis- The object of the association is tinct following in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. Vhosoever fourfold: To unite in fellowship they be who hanker after "apostolic succession," there is a nobler students who believe in Jesus Christ path even than that: "Be ye imitators of Christ." as God the Son, and the only Savior In London (concerning which I of the world; to promote their speak with more knowledge than of any other center of large medical spiritual life, to lead other students schools) the formation of medical pr'ayer' nn'ion8 in the various great to become disciples, and to interest hospitals, within the past quarter of a century, has undoubtedly been all in extending the kingdom of the formative influence in bringing together men well disposed toward Christ. And tho the numbers in the Gospel; in leading many to decision' for Christ, and then, by the attendance may seem small, it is a compulsion of love to Him, making them willing to yield their lives, great matter to have maintained their skill, and their talents, to the noble work of the medical mission- such a union for a quarter century ary. In "Medical Missions at Home and Abroad," will be found a in such an institution. * list of the men with British degrees who are enlisted in this great cause. The Crisis in China. I am anxious to know how far the The situation in China is critical med,ical pr'ayer' 11mion has ad- in the extreme. The" Boxers" (/ vanced in the medical schools of Ho Chuan or "Righteous Harmony the great cities of the United States, Fists") are terrorizing the provinces and I wish it could be pointed out as in the recent great conven- of Shantung, Hupeh, and Chili.* tion in New York, how close is the They are a mob of revolutionists united by anti-reform, anti-foreign, anti·Christian sentiments. Already several missionaries have been mur- dered-among them Messrs. Brooks, Robinson and Norman (S. P. G. at Yung-Ching Station) have been murdered,and others are in extreme danger. At Pao-ting Fu, the Amer- Articles and references to this organization may be found in the REVIEW this year, as follows: pp.64 (Jan.); 112 (Feb,); 231 (Mar.); 432 (June).
EDITORIALS
ican Presbyterian, American Board but their treatment of the blacks and China Inland Mission have can not be called Christian, and missionaries, while the American they are certainly not progressive. Methodists, London Mission, and Much that is unjust has been said other societies are also working in against them as a people, but we the disturbed districts. believe it to be in the interests of Christian civilization that their The Chinese soldiers have proved dominion is ended in South Africa. useless to oppose the .. Boxers" Great Britain's course is not free whom they believe to be invulner- from blame, and we have therefore able. The empress is known to been unable to give our hearty sup- favor the organization, and has port to her cause. Many of her hoped that they would drive out the officials have coveted possessions foreigners. Too late she is discov- of the Dutch republics, and have ing her error, and the Imperial gov- not sought to avoid bloodshed. ernment may fall in consequence. The natives have suffered much The Powers have landed forces, and mission work has been at a and despatched gunboats and troops standstill. We earnestly hope that to guard their interests, but mani- peace may soon reign, that right- festly are not prepared to act joint- eousness may rule, and that Christ ly and promptly. may be more truly and widely lifted up that He may draw men Thus far the native Christians and women of every race, color, have suffered most, many having and condition, unto Himself. been killed and whole villages having been pillaged or burned. The Unfortunately, charges simiiar missionaries' lives are in the hands to those made against the Boers, of the Lord, who will bring good may be made against some of our out of this seeming calamity. His southern States. "Let the blacks servants are messengers of peace everywhere be treated as men with and, working in harmony with Him, immortal souls, as men who should and we firmly believe would be able be taught, and uplifted, and saved; do more to establish peace and no such Christian work will be righteousness in these disturbed fruitless. districts than all the armies and navies in the world. " Native Africa" and "Concessions."
Let Christians everywhere unite In the May number of the REin prayer that these heralds of the VIEW, Rev. D. C. Rankin, D.D., Cross and the native Christians wrote of the "Reign of Terror on may be guided, protected, and SllS- the Kongo." "Vould that the protained, and that the coming of the cess of "civilizing Africans off the Kingdom may be hastened through- face of the earth" were limited to out the whole earth. that "District of the Kassai." Alas! stripped of the embellish- South African Affairs. ment of cannibalism, the whole European process of conquering With the capture of Johannes- Africa is too much on the same burg and Pretoria, the war in South plane. And yet the great civilized Africa is practically at an end. world has lifted scarcely a protest There is no doubt that the British against this whole policy, except in will annex the two republics, and in the matters-important 8nough to time give th8m the degree of auton- be sure-of rum and firearms among omy possessed by Canada and depressed races-the firearms, how- Australia.
The Boere are a religious people,
ever, being prohibited, not so much gium, 01' Kongo, and Germany all because dangerous to the native adopt the same policy-of conraces among themselves, as be- quering the black man by the cause they are a means of defense black man, thus putting their conagainst the outrages of the Euro- quest on morally the lowest African pean conqueror. plane, arming one class to butcher another class, which has been ren- Surely there should be better dered helpless in the face of the means of elevating the " raw "arms of precision" supplied by lieathen," than any that have been the European "power," and "subas yet used by the nations that have letting" the contract to secure the been pleased to make a paper par- end in view. tition of the Dark Continent. We had hoped that when Great The importation of "arms of pre- Britain wound up the Nigel' Comcision" is prohibited to the native pany, because it could not secure a African, but tens of thousands of decent control of those vast regions fierce African Mohammedans are through a "commercial" adminissupplied with modern weapons, to tration, that she served notice subdue the natives to European thereby, that the "policy" of rule; and these, well armed, fight- "concessions" was to be done away ers by instinct and by heritage, are with. year by year recruited from semisavage, untamed Moslems, to aid A day of terrible retribution in the conquest of regions which awaits this policy. Disturbances have only a "scientific boundary," are rife all over Western Africa. as yet never occupied by the Now it is the threatened uprising "power" to whom the robber- of the natives of Ashanti, and again statesmen of Christendom have it is the revolt of the Budjas in the allotted them. All recognize that it Kongo, owing to the "revolting requires a native, black, mercenary atrocities on the blacks," of a subarmy to "materialize" these "de- ordinate agent of the Commercial limitations," not, in some cases, a Company. Anon, it is the preparathousandth part of which is yet tions for a " Holy War" in NDrth " occupied." Central Africa, under the powerful religious leader, El Senouosi, to There is a "system" which has "drive the hated Christians into gradually grown into respectability the sea," and the French are obliged and common recognition among to concentrate their forces to European governments, and is try conclusions with the move- "winked at" by Christian com- ment, which extends from the munities, who have never yet been Shire to Lake Chad in northeast made to realize what it' all means; Africa. or whose consciences have been chloroformed by greed and love of There might well be another conquest. And all this monstrous great congress of the fourteen process seems but in its initial nations, to devise some better way stage. That these nations will than government of depressed peocoolly proceed to "develop" Africa ples by commissions or companies, by "manuring" the soil with 01' "concessions." Africans, seems not only within the purview of a calm imagination, but Lest we seem to be prejudiced in to be assumed as necessary "prac- these utterances, we append the tical politics." following quotation from the Man- chestm' (England) Guard'ian, to We need not formulate" speci- show how it all is worked, espefications." England, France, Bel- cially the system of subletting tQ
EDITORIALS
companies, or governing by conces- add not only that the native does not understand what a boundary sions. meu,ns, but that he can ha,rdly be expected to understand it when, The Gtwrdian says: as in the French Kongo, the con- cessionaires themselves do not even The working out of the system know the precise limits of their con- is everywhere visible-in Sierra cessions. The system of territorial Leone, Lagos, the Gold Coast, and concessions has reached the height Nigeria, in the Western Sudan, in of its iniquity in the Kongo Free the French Kongo, in that charnel- State, where the government, in house, the Kongo Free State, in the the name of philanthropy, has con- German Cameroons and Togoland. ceded to itself immense tracts of In Sierra Leone we make the native land which it sublets to a few com- pay four-fifths of the revenue of the panies in which it retains a pre- colony in indirect tu,xation, and in ponderating influence. The French addition we tax him directly, re- are following the same fatal course gardless of treaties, customs, and in their Kongo possessions, and traditions. When he objects, we after according forty-foul' concesshoot him. In the Gold Coast, sions, they have now received de- Lagos, and in Nigeria, we compel mands for'seventy more concessions him. to work whether he likes it or in their other 'Vest African possesnot. If he refuses, we fine him, sions. The Germans have granted and we do not stop at fining him. enormous areas to similar com- We suddenly discover he is ob- panies in the Cameroons, and structing trade, and a "punitive" according to a publication just expedition burns down his villages, issued, no fewer than forty-three plantations, and grain stores. All companies in the Gold Coast have this, of course, in his own interest. received concessions for mining and In the Western Sudan, the native rubber-collecting purposes. ** is, on the whole, perhaps not so badly off as elsewhere, because, if Rev. Gilbert Reid's Defense. French rule can hardly be described as mild, it has undoubtedly brought At Rev. Gilbert Reid's request a certain degree of security to a land ravaged by invasions and we publish, in part, his defense of counter-invasions for eight centuries. In the French Kongo, how- his words in the tribute to his ever, France is inaugurating a policy which the Kongo Free State father, criticized in the MISSIONinitiated with ghastly results. Territorial monopolies have been given ARY REVIEW (Sept. 1899). He to speCUlators bent upon exploiting the native and the soil, without, of says: course, consulting the natural owner of the territory thus con- It is impossible to deal in full with the crit· ceded. The concessionaire becomes icisms which were based on what purported possessed of a "property" in which he exercises sovereign rights. The to be" translation of the Chinese" In Memnative becomes a serf, a slave. He must work for the concessionaires, oriam:' but in which Mr. 'Voodbridge (the toil for the concessionaires, produce author of the original criticism), acknowlrubber, and beeswax, and copal, and ivory for the concessionaires. edges he has" ruthlessly sacrificed elegance The concessionaire will pay what it of diction on the altar of perspicuity." Alas. pleases him to pay, since there is for such perspicuity, containing a H rough no competition. If the native carries his produce beyond the bound- translation: " aries of the concessionaire's "property," or if he harvests produce on The main point of the whole attack is that the "property" of a neighboring I have been inclined to "trim" and H cater. 11 concessionaire, he becomes a poach- Whether I am anything of a trimmer I leave er, and is liable to be "sniped," as the brass men were "sniped" by to the decision of the best missionar-ies in the Niger Company in the Lower China, who know me best. That I believe in Niger, because they would sell their produce beyond the Niger Com- adapting truth to the audience, and in a spirit pany's paper boundary. One might of conciliation, "that I might by all means save some," I am ready to acknowledge. If such a policy is a sound method of missions.
then what I did on receiving the news of my father's death will be commended rather than condemned. After the first overpower- ing sorrow, the thought came, Why shoulli not my father's death, as well as his life, do good even her" in ChinA,? . . . . May not a Christian far away teach people here? I
prepared an h In }lemoriam" aeeonling to (not by the attack) leads rile to thank God the style and fOrln adopted on Huch occa- for the thought whieh canle to Illy mind, and sions, and so far as I know, this iH the only the opportunity, even in son'ow. tu witness case in all the records of Inissions ill ClIiufl. for truth. Others have lost their parents, and llave mourned for theIn. but few Chinese. f'spt~d Our criticism of MI'. Reid was ally the nOD-Christians, havp ever knuwll of not intended to be unfriendly or the sorrl)W, anu hence have been quiLk to unjust. vVe had no thought that he charge lllissionaries with lack of respel't for intended to be false to his Master their parpnts and the departed. As I was it or his mission, but we thought Inissionary, aud Illy father a minister of the then, and still think, that in his Gospel, there seemed a chance to remove a desiro to be "all things to all men, " wrong impression by legitimate means The his "In Memoriam" was allowed result proved the worth of the attempt. to take a form that was not of a Over 200 nobles and mandarins sent honorary distinctly high Christian character. scrolls and banners, Blost of which were ad- vVe rejoice that Mr. Reid finds good dressed to the n18Jllory of Illy father, speak- to have corne from the document, ing of him as minister of the Gospel. If 11r. and trnst that it will be genuine, Woodbridge failed to detect that either IllY deep, and lasting. fat her or myself was a Christian, my COil stituency had no such troulJle. . . . An opportunity of helping a good work presents itself just now in Turning to the •. In IIIemoriam ., itself-n,)t Marseilles. M. Lortsch, formerly to the H rough translation "-the question in Nimes, has heen called to Mararises as to the accuracy of the statement seilles to take charge of the Free that there was" no distinctive Christian doc- Church, which is struggling herotrine, and it rnight have comefrolD Confucius ically to maintain a pure Gospel as well as Christ… The whole gist of what J standard, but is likely to have a described as Iny father's creed were the in defieit of about $500. The church sufficiency of Inel"e l11Ora1 teaching, and the gathers recruits only among the need of cOllfonnity to God's will. This was poor working cla,sses. Last Easter so understood by the intelligent Chinese. eighteen new 7nembe'l's were re- Furthermore, it, was the fact that my father cei ved, which is a sign of vigorous exhorted me to Inake nIyself familiar with and healthy growth. The general the Confucian c1assics, while bringing to teal' budget of the church covers about the teachings of the Bible, That he also ex- $1,100, bllt they can raise among horted me to cnltivate the relations of friends themselves not more than $600. ,. is true, for during seven years of Iny work under the Presbyterian Board, part of my Contributions Acknowledged. time was spent in settling rnissionary riots, and establishing peace and security. . . . No 182. Indian Furnille Sufferers …… 3 1.00 In the .. In Menloriam l it was distinctly stated that my father studied for the minis· .• 188. [).OO try, and was a lninister for forty years in six different parishes. It was also stated, as •. 1H4. 1.00 well as known, that I was a minister of the Gospel, and as such had come to China. " 185. 2,00 Therefore the truth and learning of the West, the doctrine and the righteousness, were un- " 186. 10.00 derstood as connected with the Gospel of I' 187. 5.00 Christ, tho that phrase was not used. as in the case of many books of the Bible. I also .. 188. 4.25 emphasized the two doctrines of immortality of the soul and resurrection of the body, as " 1R9. 8.00 the source of consolation and hope. 0 • • •• 190. 12.45 It is a waste of time to ent.er into all the "191. Pnmlita Ualllal",i's 'york …. . 5.00 minutire of the criticism made. In the preparation of the Chinese document I was aided .. 192. Indian Famil1e Sufferers ….. . 2.00 by one of the best Chinese scholars, and the best American scholar in China. Having •. 198. 15.00 a mission to perform in its distribution, such as none have hitherto attempted, a correct •. 194, 1.00 translation not only would be difficult, but an appreciation of its purport and value be " 195. 10.00 impossible for an unsympathetic person unacquainted with the circumstances. The 1913. 5.00 good to the cause by this "In 1IlenlOriam" .• 197. 22.00 •. 198. 25.00 .. 199. (C. L. R) " 5.00 •. 200. 1.00
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICA. rations, and the like. It is inter- Famine The Indian famine esting to note in regard to the use Relief Ship. relief ship Quito has made of $100, that $17.17 go for the three missions in Africa; $24.44 for sa i led from New the four missions in Turkey; $19.03 York for Bombay with a cargo of for the three missions in India and 200,000 bushels of American corn. Ceylon; $15.95 for the fonr missions The inscription across the entrance in China; $6.63 for the three misto the pier was, "Christian Amer- sions in Papal lands; $11.96 for the ica's Gift to Starving India." The mission in Japan; 91 cents for misend of the building was decorated sion work in the Hawaiian Islands; with flags and bunting, and the and $5.41 for the mission in Microship was dressed with colored flags. nesia and the l}forning Star. This The Quito was chartered by the· makes $91.50 going directly for the United States Government for missions out of each $100 received. The Chl'i8iian Herald Indian Fam- ine Relief Work, at a cost of $40,- The American This organization 000, and her cargo is valued at Bible Society. has recently held $100,000. The value of the same amount of corn in India would be its eighty-fourth $300,000. The cargo, which is the annual meeting. The reports showlargest ever carried by any vessel ed an entire income of $282,494, of on a like errand, comes from dona- which $31,841 were gifts from inditions received from people of every viduals, $33,728 from auxiliaries, denomination in all parts of the $29,681 from church collection~, country. Some contributions have making a total of donations of $95,- been received from Canada. The 304. The legacies amounted to eargo is consigned to Louis Klopsch $55,917; other sources of income and the Rev. E. S. Hnme, and the were, from the Bihle House, net indistribution will be in charge of come, $15,91B; income from trust the Interdenominational Mission- funds available, $31,050; available ary Committee. On the way to investments used, $21,570; returns India this vessel will stop at the from sales of foreign agents and Azores, Port Said, and Aden, and from missionary and other sociit is expected that she will reach eties, $43,813. The expenditures Bombay in forty days. were somewhat less than the re- ceipts, leaving a balance of $18,265, "How Money This is the title of against the previous balance of is Spent." a leaflet just issued $3,535. The largest items were by the American $151,876, remittances to foreign agents; for field agents at home, Board, which shows in detail that $15,802; for general executive exof each $100 received, 91%, cents go penses, $35,814. The total issues directly to the missions, while 8%, for the year at home and abroad cents are required to meet the ex- were 1,406,801 copies, of which 832,- penses of administration, such as 497 were outside of the United correspondence and agencies; sal- States. aries of officers and clerks in the secretarial and treasury depart- The American At the recent anni- ments; and publications of all Tract Society. versary of this soci- kinds. This is a rate of expendi- ety, the seventy- ture lower than that of banks, in- fifth, the report stated that since surance companies, business corpo- the organization in 1825, no less
than 13,300 distinct publications youths have been educated. "We had been issued, and that among have seen them become teachers, them the Gospel has been printed preachers, artists, adepts in law in 153 languages and dialects. Dur- and medicine, and we have had the ing the past year the society has joy of giving God's 'Word, directly circulated a total number of 2,724,- or indirectly, to 47 tribes and tribal 000 periodicals, and has printed in remnants among them." ,Vith the Spanish language Christian this showing from past efforts literature to the amount of 3,117,- there is encouragement to continue 400 pages. It has circulated also in their behalf with the expectation during the past year 6,500 copies of that the result will not be their the Spanish hymn book, the demand overthrow, but, even Inore than for Spanish literature being always heretofore, for their advantage. in advance of the means to supply. Had the efforts during the past Fifteen hundred copies of the Span- been of the nature of the present ish Bible text-books and 2,000 copies policy, then there would have been of the large Bible dictionary have many more than the 250,000 Indians also been circulated. During the which are now found. But the Inpast two years over 8,000,000 pages dian is hereafter to enter more into have been circulated in the army the life of the nation than he has and navy. in the past, and for his and its good also. During -the past seventy-five years it has issued over 689,000,000 From the Rev. E. J. Peck, copies of its various publications, Far North. missionary of the including tracts, books, and periodicals. This means the circulation C. M. S., writing of more than 9,000,000,000 pages of from Cumberland Sound concernthe best Christian literature. Be- ing his trials and triumphs, says: sides this, 4,900 distinct publica- " As the snow-house in which I am tions, approved by the Society's living is the largest in the village, Publishing Committee, and pub- our congregations gather here from lished wholly or in part by its time to time. The women sit on funds, have been issued at foreign the raised bank of snow used for missionary stations. The grants sleeping. I stand near the Eskimo made by the society from the time lamp, and others crowd round me. of its organization amounted to Our meetings are simple and hearty, $3,258,195, and the foreign cash ap- and I find that God makes up to one propriations for printing at foreign often by inward power and peace for missionary stations during the what we lose in the way of outsame period amounted to $735,054, ward comfort. I was led in faith to making a total of $3,993,250. claim for Christ the Arctic wastes still unevangelized. Having heard Our Wards, In an address given that some Eskimos were living on the Indians. not long since ]frs. the ice in the north, I thought it well to visit them to try to do some- Amelia S. Quinton, thing for their spiritual good. After president of the Woman's National passing through some very rough Indian Association, points to the ice, which was piled up in great following results of the present heaps, some ten feet high, we beneficent policy of our nation. crossed some smooth ice, reaching She says that under this policy 60,- our friends in the evening. There 000 Indians have taken their right- were some 9 snow-houses, with 50 ful homes, 185,000 have been taught souls. These poor creatures,living to earn their bread, 25,000 of their
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
but a stage above the brutes, put a central and diocesan societies and carnal meaning on almost every- administered by their executives thing one tells them. It is ex- amount to a total of £2,065,984. Of tremely difficult to make them un- these funds £548,881 were for home derstand the spiritual aspect of mis3ions, £428,273 for philanthropic God's character. We have been work, and £772,246 for foreign misbusy enlarging our grammar and sions. The total of the voluntary working out difficult points con- offerings of members of the Church nected with the dialect spoken of England is nearly £7,500,000 here. Our surroundings, through ($37,500,000), and into this total no the nature of the country, are grants from the ecclesiastical comgloomy enough. We finished to- missioners or from governnlent are day our ' spring and su mmer terms.' aomitted. For fourteen weeks we have been studying the language with scarcely National The movement a day's intermission. vVe can not Council of which has brought feel too thankful to God for His Free Churches. the non-conformist goodness in giving to each the needful health and strength." churches of Great Britain into a federation, continues EUROPE. to extend, and is one of the prom- ising features of church life on the British Aid In review of the threshold of the twentieth cen- for India. fact that England tury. The fifth annual council has been held in Sheffield, and was has such a costly attended by nearly 1,000 delegates. war on hand, attended with such They represented more than 600 excitements and distractions, it can councils, 44 of which had been not be charged that indifference organized in the past year. prevails as touching the terrible needs of India. The single fund of The Greatest Missionary Society. which the mayor of London has -The Church Missionary Society charge is near the £235,000 mark received contributions during the ($1,175,000). year just closed of m ore than $2,000, – 000. They consist of £247,173 to the The Voluntary The figures from the general fund, £80,620 to centenary Offerings of official year-book funds, £56,502 to appropriated con- tributions, and £20,611 to special the State of the Church of funds. This is £24,000 in advance Church. England relating to of last year.
the voluntary offer- An English The missionaries of ings of the members of that great "Faith" the North African communion are very striking. The Mission. mission go out on funds locally raised and admin- their own initiistered by the clergy for parochial purposes alone amount to £5,398,- ative, with the concurrence and 449, under which are included under the guidance of the council. £798,521 for maintenance of assist- Some have sufficient private means ant clergy and augmentation of to support themselves, others are clerical incomes; £1,177,288 for day- supported, wholly or in part, by schools and Sunday-schools; £3,- friends, churches, or comnlunities, 422,639 for general parochial pur- through the mission or separately. poses, such as maintenance of The remainder receive but little, church services, chllrch building, except such as is supplied from the support of the poor, etc. Besides general funds placed at the disthese sums, funds contributed to posal of the council. The mission-
aries, in devotedness to the Lord, directly raising the missionary roll go forth without any guaranty to 227 in all. from the council as to salary or support, believing that the Lord, Exclusive of 61 missionaries' who has called them, will sustain wives, 7 of the whole are honorary them, probably through the coun- missionaries-2 men and 5 women cil, but, if not, by some other working at their own charges. channel. Thus their faith must be Besides these, 16 of the missionaries in God. The council is thankful are directly supported by memhers when the Lord, by His servani,s' of the church in Scotland, who generosity, enables them to send supply the salaries for their" subout liberal supplies, but the meas- stitutes for service," or in other ure of financial help they render to ways. Of the whole number, 30 the missionaries is dependent up9n are medical missionaries-5 women what the Lord's servants place at and 25 men. In India 2 natives, their disposal.-North Af1"ica. and in Budapest 1, have local med- ical diplomas, making 33 medical missionaries in all.
Wesleyan The Vesleyan Mis- German Pastor Dohler has Missions. sionary Society re- Missions. published in the ports a f I' U i t f u I new Year Book of year. It maintains 315 central or the Saxon Mission Conference the principal stations, with 2,450 chap- full particulars of Germany's work els and other preaching places. in the mission field. According to The missionaries and assistant mis- Dohler, Germany has 16 Protestant sionaries number 366, while no Mission Societies, working at 485 fewer than 3,090 other agents, day- chief stations, and 329,686 converts school teachers, etc., are employed. in full membership, having in their Its missions are found in India, employ 786 European missionaries, China, 'Vest Africa, the Transvaal, 126 ordained and 3,995 other native , Mashonaland, and Rhodesia, Brit- helpers, besides 225 teachers, in ish Honduras, Bahamas, and vari- 1,634 schools, with 79,952 pupils, ous countries in Europe. The total while the total income was $1,086,- home income for the year amounts 507. The chief mission societies to £108,180. are those of the Moravian Brethren and the Basel Society. Scottish Free The statistics of Church this body, just pub- France The testimony as to Missions. lished, present V8. the rapid progress these facts: 166 mis- the Papacy. of the Protestant sionaries sent out to 47 central sta- movement in the tions in India and South Arabia, French nation, given by ex-priests Africa, and the New Hebrides at the St. James' Hall the other Islands, Syria, Constantinople, and Sunday, was most encouraging.
Budapest. Besides their own di- The Abbe Bounier said that of rect labor in preaching, teaching, 36,000,000 avowed Roman Catholics and healing the sick, and in trans- in France, there are not 6,000,000 lating and printing the Word of genuine. They are deserting their God in recently-occupied lands, churches in multitudes. During these missionaries work along with the last two years 130 priests have a staff of 1,149 Christian natives. come out from the Catholic Church, Of the 166 missionaries from Scot- sacrificing everything for the faith.
land, 98 are men, and 68 are women. Great popular assemblies hear them Of the men 61 are married, thus in- with enthusiasm, and the French
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
people are now coming to see that cum bed app~>,t'ently in their efforts a religious reformation is prac',ic- to reach the poorhouse. They had able and imminent. This move- no friends to help them. The great ment toward light and freedom has mass of the people have no thought, so far progressed at a much faster but the one inspired by hunger, rate than the Oxford Movement and the officials in charge of relief which began sixty years ago in works and poorhouses have their such a small way, and which to-day hands so full of work, that they has so completely dominated the can give no attention save to those English Church system. In Eng- immediately under their charge. land tmca1'(l Rome, under a false es- An" even more terrible experience timate of facts; in France, and Aus- befell Dr. McKaig, of the Jungle tria, and Spain, aU'ay from Rome, Tribes' Mission, residing at South because the facts are only too well Rampur, Gujerat, who in one day understood.-London Christian. found 16 corpses within two hun- dred yards of his house, and on the The Bible in A c l' 0 S s this im- following morning counted 10 more within the same distance. Russia. mense agency, Food for the Dr. Colin S. Valen- w h i c h embraces Famine tine, of Agra, Stricken. writes thus to the European Russia and Central Asia, Indian rVilness: lie scattered nearly 123,000,000 of " The report that reaches one from all the famine districts of the morpeople, of whom 8 out of every 9 tality aIllong children and those who are unable to eat or digest the inhabit rural districts. Tho onr food that is supplipd to them on relief works and famine camps is colportage sales (207,734 copies in simply appalling. vVere consign- ments of the following nourishing 1899) have been nearly 3,000 less and easily prepared food sent to missionaries and others who are than in 1898, we have had fewe"r interesting themselves in these poor people, I feel sure that the agents at work, who thus obtained, lives of thousands would be saved who would otherwise perish. The in proportion, better results. And names of some of these foods are Mellin's food, Nestle's food, Conwhile the total circulation in the densed Swiss Milk, Bovril, arrow- root, Indian corn -flour, etc., etc. agency for the year sank to 510,069 By consulting with medical men and others, many other valuable copies, a decrease of 13,000 copies articles might be added to the list. Those in charge of famine hospitals on 1898, this falling off is wholly in and orphanages, as well as in their visits to famine camps, could, by Scripture portions. The number of means of a little boiling water, pre- pare these foods in the course of a whole Bibles circulated has reached few minutes. Friends disposed to assist in this way might correspond 35,251, and of New Testaments 228,- with the missionaries in the fam- ine-stricken district." 280, both totals exceeding all pre- vious records. Such a result shows how often a portion bought pre- viously has led its reader to desire and obtain the more complete Scripture. Moreover, it should be noted that there is a strict rule of the Russian Church against issuing any Old Testament which does not include the Apocrypha.-Bible So- ciety Reporter.
ASIA.
Anent the The Rev. J. Sin- Indian Famine. clair Stevenson, of Parantij, Gujerat, during a walk of half a mile from his hou!3e, found 3 corpses by the roadside, of those who had suc-
How the Among means re- cases and 179 deaths: Bombay city, Hindus Fight sorted to to induce 727 deaths; Karachi city, 77 deaths; the Famine. the gods to send Punjab, 34 deaths; Central prov- inces, 28 deaths; Mysore States, 44 rain, Miss Thiede deaths; Hyderabad State, 92 deaths; mentions that the wealthy people and Aden, 19 deaths. in Vaga gave a feast to the poor; also that, hearing a wailing in the Life Springing During the famine fields one day, she found the village from Death. in India in 1877-8 girls were burning their dolls as a about 60,000 persons sacrifice, but when she asked if they had burned their "nice dolls from in southern India cast away their America," they had to say-poor idols and sought Christian instruchuman nature-" No, we burned tion; 2,207 of them became adour own dolls made of rags." herents of the Madura Mission of the American Board. This may Care (or the Readers of The Con- indicate the probable permanent Orphans. gregationalist will gains in missionary work arising remember the cable from the present work of relief. During the terrible famine in China published in its issue of April 5, in 1887-8 over 10,000,000 persons from the Marathi Mission, signify- perished, and our missionaries dising its readiness to care for 2,000 tributed $400,000 in relief, and won orphaned and deserted children if the hearts of many who had pretheir support were assured. Let- viously been suspicious of them. ters now at hand explain that cable. Not only are members of the mis- The Ongole The perusal of sion prepared to care for these Orphanage. George Mtiller's life 2,000 children and widows, but prominent and trusted Indian has moved H. Huiz- Christians are anxious to enter inga, at Ongole, India, to more into the same good work, and care faith and zeal in the Lord's for 500 more, so that the Marathi service. He is conducting a Mission and associated Indian similar work. and has already Christians are ready to undertake about ]50 orphans there. This ora great work for humanity if the phanage has just received a freemeans can he supplied. The gov- will gift from the children of a ernment has kept a register of all small boarding-school, numbering orphaned and deserted children. about 50 pupils. Vhen their mis- Those not restored to parents are sionary told them of the Faith Orto be given to institutions where phanage at Ongola, they resolved they will be honestly brought up. of their own accord to deny them· The Hindus have so few institu- selves a portion of their rice, and tions for such children that mis- to give it to the orphanage. In sionary schools will he practically this way they saved over ten rupees the only institutions available for ($3.50), which they sent with two the host of helpless little ones. letters, one from the boys and one from the girls. May He who sits Deaths (rom Over 3,000 deaths over against the treasury mark the Plague. occurred in a single their noble gift! These children, from the time that they heard it, week recently in without waitiLg to be asked, gave Bengal from the plague, and 4,725 out of their poverty all they posin all India. Of these, the Patna sibly could give. district reports 2,089 cases and 2,044 deaths; Calcutta, 857 cases TheW.C. T. U. is about to estaband 744 deaths; Saran district, 187 lish a home for inebriates in India.
fll:NERAL MIssIONARY INTELLIGENCE
Progress in Thirty – five years is meant that Christianity will Siam. llgO there were no soon move with gigantic strides. streets in B::mgkok. Drawbacks and checks there will All traffic was carried on by boats, be; but, allowing for them all, after and the numerous canals still com- taking into account the nature of pete with the street traffic. As the Chinese people once emanci- late as ten years ago there were no pated from their slavish allegiance mort than nine miles of paved to their literary class, considering streets in the whole city. To-day that they have no Indian caste to there are over forty-seven miles, keep them back, counting, as we and many new streets are being do, on the mighty power of God to opened up each year, on which the be provident in the last days, now old iron and wooden bridges are just ahead of us, we are safe in as- being replaced by modern steel suming that there will be such in- bridges. The king himself builds gatherings as the world has never one ste.el bridge each year out of seen.- William Ashmore, D. D. his private funds as a gift to the city. and this is opened to the pub- China Must be In her "The Yang- lic with some ceremony on his Christianized tze Valley and Be- birthday. by Chinese. yond," Mrs. Bishop The China that There will be a re- says: "If China is is to be. constructed China. All her material to be Christianized, or even largely leavened by Christianity, it must conditions will be changed for the inevitably be by native agency un- better. She will rise in the scale of der foreign instruction and gnid- nationhood; her foreign relations, iJ,nce. The foreigner remains a forher financial system, hel' judicial eigner in his imperfect and often administration, will be lifted im- grotesque use of the language, in mensely above the level where they his inability to comprehend Chinow are. New soil is always won- nese modes of thinking and acting, derfully rich. Old people once and in a hundred other ways; while emancipated from old ideas will a well-instructed Chinese teacher grow new ideas with an exuberance knows his countrymen, and what unwonted. The Japanese are an will appeal to them, how to make illustration of this. The Chinese 'points,' and how to clinch an aronce started in the same way will gument by a popular quotation move at a slower gait, but will sur- from their own classics. He knows pass them in the scale of magni- their weakness and strength, their tude. devious ways and crooked motives, and their unspeakable darkness It would be an achievement of and superstition, and is not likely doubtful value to humanity to have to be either too suspicious or too only a new material Chinese. There confiding. He presents Christianwill be also a regenerated China. A ity without the Western flavor. It purely materialistic China, well- is in the earnest enthlAsiasm of the equipped ironclads and Mauser Chinese converts for the propagarifles, and no ascendancy of moral tion of the faith that the great force, would be a curse to herself hope of China lies." and a menace to mankind. God has something better in store for The China Inland Mission reports humanity. By a regenerated China 165 stations, 198 out-stations, 353 is not meant that all China will be chapels, 730 missionaries, 14 ordainconverted; far from it as yet; but it ed native pastors, 193 assistant preachers, UO school teachers, U8
colporteurs, chapel keepers, etc., 79 terest about it is that it gives Bible women, 172 unpaid helpers; Christian churches the same rights total, 695 native workers; 7,895 and privileges as Buddhist societies communicants, of whom 5,187 are and temples. Indeed, in some men, 1,164 baptized last year; 252 respects it appears to keep a closer organized churches, 132 schools and watch and control of the Buddhists, 1,742 pupils, 5 hospitals, 26 dis- especially in the matter of requir pensaries, and 56 opium refuges. ing residence of Buddhist priests for recognition of one of their Sturdy I have just returned temples and the right of sale of Korean from attendin"g the property. No taxes are to be levied Christians. annual meeting of on "blJildings and premises used for the purpose of propagating re- the Northern Pres- ligions or performing services," or byterian Mission, and wish to give on "buildings established within you the benefit of a few notes: Out such premises for the residence of of 94 church buildings under the teachers of religion." The only charge of 1 station, ollly ) were point against which reasonable given any assistance whatever in objection can be raised is the folthe erection of their houses of wor- lowing: "No kyoshi [teacher of reship. At a church of 700 members, ligion] can give public expression to with an average attendance of his opinions on political affairs, or more than a 1,000, they meet in 2 engage in any movement of a buildings for worship, because the politica I character." seating capacity of neither building is sufficient. Even in the two The 2lfainichi 8hirnbun has a rebuildings large crowds are ofteD- markable article on the subject of forced to remain outside. They Christianity; an article which steers wish to erect one large building, a middle course, with much cleverand because the congregation is a ness, between condemnation and very poor one, the missionaries in approval. The writer sets out by charge asked for the privilege of asserting that the want of religious conf'ributing one-half of what the principles is beginning to be very new building would cost, or about keenly felt in Japan, and that 1,000 gold dollars. This request many eyes are consequently turnprovoked much opposition and ing toward Christianity. But he heated debate, as being contrary to then proceeds to attack the meththe idea of self-support on which ods of Christian propagandism in the native church is being estab- this country, and to suggest that, lished. A compromise was finally unless they are changed, the foreign effected, ill. which they were pro- faith has no prospect of gaining a hibited from contributing more strong footing. Briefly summed than one-third, with the under- up, his contention is that Japanese standing that the natives would do Christianity is in a dependent conall the rest.-Rev. Eugene Bell. dition. Buddhism owed its pros- perity in the past chiefly to the pa- Japanese The Japanese gov- tronage of the Court and the nobil- ity, and its present attempts to ob- Religious ernment has pre- tain State recognition are there- fore a natural outcome of its his- Laws. sented to the House tory and traditions. Christianity, on the contrary, claims to be free, of Peers the draft having no connection with the pow- of a law for the control of religious associations which, if we can judge from the reception it has lllet from the Japanese press, is likely to he passed. The point of special in-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
ers that be, and not relying on made navigation practically impos- then, in any way. Yet there is no sible. "Later reports show that element of independence about Major Peake from the north, and an- Japanese Christianity. It depends other expedition starting from Fort entirely on the foreign missionary Berkeley to the south, have met on societies. Vithout the aid they the river. The procetis of destroy- give to it, it could not stand for a ing the Budd is described, and shows moment. The churches are built, that not merely is a lane of water the schools endowed, with foreign cut through the mass of vegetation, money, and in consequence of that but that the whole is torn into frag- condition of dependence the Chris- ments. Mr. Villcocks, the engineer tian communities are obliged to to the Egyptian Government, has bow to the didation of lUen who shown that by planting rows of are often narrow-minded, bigoted, willows along the waterway the and intolerant. Until Christianity river will gradually be made to can assert its freedoIIl, the writer form banks for itself. When thus in the Ma'in'ichi has no hope of its confined the increased scour of the success in Japan.-Japan Mail. cnrrent would keep the weeds from AFRICA. collecting again. Moreover, vast quantities of water which now, be- New Mission At the German ing blocked by the weeds spread Proposed Consulate, C air 0, over the land, form swamps, and for Egypt. and subsequently at are eventually evaporated, would, the American Mis- by the improvement in the channel, be available for the irrigation of sion Church, Miss Lucy E. Guin- Egypt." ness was Inarried to Mr. Hermann Kumm, February 3, 1900. For many years Miss Guinness has More Room Miss Grace Brown devoted her literary talents to missionary work, as the editor of Needed in wrote from Cairo, Regions Beyond,and as the author of several well-known volumes. She Cairo March 13, describhas always, however, looked forward to personal work in the for- ing the good health eign field, and we now rejoice that her life will be used in connection which she is enjoying in tbe climate with the evangelization of the Sudan. Mr. Kumm has for two years of Egypt, and the work she is doing wOl'ked in connection with the North Africa mission, and has be- in her school: "Last year we had come profoundly interested in the Bishareen Arabs of Upper Egypt. 414 girls packed; yes, packed. I Mr, and Mrs. Kumm are proposing to establish a Sudan pioneer mis- am longing for some one to give sion, to be largely manned and financed from Germany.-Reg'iolls me money to put a top on this Beyond. building that my girls may go up higher. It is only one story high, but, oh, if it were two, how happy I would be! I went one day to the Abbas-the government school for girls-which is quite near my own, and I saw only 100 girls, but distributed about in so many spacious rooms. What a contrast! I have between 200 and Opening Gleaners' Un ion 300 regular attendants jammed of the speaks of inteIli- together until I can hardly walk Upper Nile. gence from the Up- among them, and to-day it is worse per Nile, relating to than ever, The house is full; they t he attempts to remove the vegeta- are on the roof; they are -in the ble growth which hitherto has yard! "-UnUed Presbyte'rian.
The Kongo for Christ.-The work noble fruits grows in the garden of of the American Baptist mission- God than is commonly supposed. aries on the Kongo had pentecostal It is true, it would show great inexblessing last year. At the four sta- perience of missions to imagine tions, Banz!', lHanteke, Lukunga, that we have here nothing but and Kifwa, 885 have been baptiz!'d. shining mirrors of virtue. But an The churches in the whole Kongo extreme still more opposed to fact is mission have added 40 per cent. to to imagine the grace of true convertheir membership. sion as something very rare, a sin- gular exception. The truth is, that A Negro as a "I was once asked even the soundly converted remain in many ways children, weak and Man and a in France," writes stumbling in walk, but none the less by grace recovering themselves, Brother. M. Christol from and that many again show them- selves thoroughly developed Chris- Bas utoland, tian characters, giving us the joyful assurance that they are thoroughly "whether it was possible to have a renewed children of God.-Mis- sionsnach1"ichten (Berlin 1.). negro for a friend. "Vhy not? New Marvels Bishop Tucker Many times we have received from Uganda. writes as follows spiritual h!'lp from our native to the C. M. S. In- telligence}' " "My chief hope does Christians, by a warning, by a not lie in Salisbury Square, but in our native agency. You will notice word fitly spoken, or by the man- in the statistics which have been sent to you, I believe, by this mail, ner in which we have s!'en some of that the number of our native workers has marvelously increased them accept a trial. It se!'ms to during the past twelve months. Last year the male and female me that there is progress among teachers numbered 980. This year, I am thankful to say, they have inthe members of the church. The creas!'d to 1,·W8, without reckoning the women teachers in North fact that we have had very few grave Kyagwe, who have been omitted from this list. The result of this relapses is certainly an encour- large increase in the number of teachers is to be seen in the large aging sign; their people are paying increase in the number of baptisms during the year (4772), without more attention to the sick. they are reckoning those at Nassa, the re- turns from which place have not going out to evangelize th!' neigh- yet come to hand. Last year the baptisms (including Nassa) boring villages with much more amounted to 3,586.
zeal; finally, Oil!' prayer-meetings "The income, too, has largely increased, from 3,341 rupees to 5,057 and Sunday services are much bet- rupees. Nor does this latter seem at all to represent the development ter attended, which makes the which has taken place in the minds enlargement of our chapel ever more urgent. OUI' congregation is in numbers the most important in Basutoland. 'Ve have more than 450 members of the church and catechumens. The war oc- cupied all minds for the last three months. The nativ!'s have not the least wish to join the belligerents.
Their sympathies, in our part of the country at least, do not go out toward to the Boers, who have always shown themselves hard and implacable toward them."-Jou1'- nal des Missions Evangeliques.
Converts in Would that the Africa. dear friends at home might universally come to understand that here in Africa a far greater abundance of
900.] GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
of the people in the matter of ward united with the Free Church glvmg. Nearly all the giving is of Scotland, followed. Then in subdone in shells, and shells during the sequent years the different Presbylast two years have depreciated terian Churches in Aust.ralia and nearly one hundred per cent. New Zealand joined, one by one, until 8 churches in all, with some "But perhaps the most remark- 25 mission families, were engaged able development of the work has in all the principal islands of the been that among children. You group, working it as one mission will see from the statistics that we nnder the supervision of a synod have now about 10,000 children which meets annually at some one (not reckoning South Kyagwe, the of the stations. The synod itself is returns having not yet come in) unique in that it has no presbytery under instruction." under it and no assembly above it; except that each missionary, so far THE ISLANDS. as himself and his field are con- cerned, would have final appeal, if Melanesian This mission dates necessary, to his own church. His- Missions. fro m 1849, by torically, too, the mission is unique, being not only the first mission of Bishop Selwyn. our own church, but the first for Melanesia-meaning " black is- eign mission of any British colonial lands,"-is a general name given to church." the series of groups extending for some 3,500 miles from New Guinea What Hath One wonders how to New Caledonia, and peopled for God Wrought! any who know the most part by the Papuan or black races. The New Hebrides is what is going on in a small group in Melanesia. The the world can remain in dou bt as mission staff of the Melanesian to the success of missions. Here is Mission now consists of Bishop a fact, for example, about New Cecil 'Vilson and 12 English clergy- Guinea. Some five-anel-twenty men, 2 English laymen, 12 native years ago there was not a spot in clergy, 400 native teachers, and 7 that great island, where the name English ladies. There are 170 mis- of God was ever heard. Now 117 sion stations in 26 islands. Chris- chapels can be pointed to in which tianity is established in many of He is worshiped, and there a large the islands, but large numbers are proportion of the people are to be still heathen. There are 12,000 bap- seen from time to time with open tized Christians in Melanesia, and New Testaments in their hands. over 12,000 more people under instruction. Over 1,000 persons are A Telling A t a meeting in baptized annually. St. Barnabas Speech. the Island of Mare, College, Norfolk Island, is prepar- during the annual ing 140 boys and 50 girls to become teachers, and at S~. Luke's, Siota, festival in May, after an address by Solomon Island, there are 70 schol" 11. Delord, an old Nata, 01' native aI's. pastor, rose and said: "My son has asked help for the work of God in New Hebrides Says the Presby- New Caledonia. Who will answer? Mission Work. byler'ian Record, Here are five francs and my new hat!" Nevel' did so short a dis- Canada: "This is course produce so great an effect. unique among the missions of the On all sides, great and small world. Our church led the way. brought all they could think of, and Foul' years later the Reformed the front of the platform was soon Church of Scotland, which after-
heaped with garments. The plat- has been raised and permanently form was fairly besieged with peo- invested for the salvation of New ple bringing their offerings. Um- York as Ohristi,,"n America thinks brellas, boxes of matches, articles is enough to appropriate for the of all kinds, figured in this singu lar spread of the Gospel throughout all collection.-JournaZ de8 Mi8s'iolls heathen lands. "-C. 11f. S. Intelli- EvangeZ'iqlle8. gence]'.
A Chinese Writer thus describes Foreign Mis- In the AUe Glaube New Zealanders in a Chinese pape)': sion Showings. for J aUllary 12, is "They live months without eating a mouthful of rice; they eat bul- an article on "Are locks and sheep in enormous quan- Foreign Missions Fruitless?" from tities, with knives and prongs. which the following information is They never enjoy themselves by taken: "North Africa is still the sitting quietly on their ancestors' citadel of Islam, but in the south graves, but jump around and kick Christian missions are active. In balls as if paid for it, and they have North Africa there are only 7,000 no dignity, for they may be found Christians, but in West Africa walking with women." there are 145,000, in the south 560,- 000, and on the islands 350,000, or MISOELLANEOUS. over a million in all. The negroes say 'the Christian religion has Heathen The selfish paro- power, ours will die.' Within 20 Abroad and chialism which has years the Uganda mission gathered at Home. always been a ter- 15,000 converts, ;llld 2,400 catechu- mens, while bver 26,000 attended rible hindrance to services. Farther India, with Cey- the growth of the Ohurch's mission- lon, has over 700,000 Christians, and ary spirit is not a vice of which the other islands have 200,000 more. Church of England or English The Batta mission on Sumatra has Christians generally have a monop- gathered, since 1861, at 23 stations, oly. The Gospel in All Lands, for 33,000 converts. In Ohina and Ko- April, quotes a New York pastor rea there are 180,000 Christia,ns, as saying he "never could under- con verted through 26 societies. Wo- stand why we think so much more men missionaries are especially of a heathen abrond than of one at prominent even as evangelists in home," and recommending tha t China. In Shantung, the province help to foreign missions should be of Oonfucius and Laotse, there are diminished in favor of work at 25,000 Protestant and 31,000 Catho- home, a sentiment which was, of lic Christians. In Japan mission course, editorially echoed and in- work began in 1872 with a church dorsed by several n~wspapers. In of 11 members, and now there are reply to this it is stated that New 50,000 Christians there. In Ocean- York has 1,003 churches, one for ica there are over 300,000 Chris- every 2,468 of its popUlation; that tians. A young Polynesian from if these 1,003 churches and their Raratonga, where there were once auxiliary buildings were placed 100,000 idols, visiting the British side by side, they would reach 20 Museum, saw an idol, and exclaim- miles, and their value amounts to ed, 'That is the first idol I ever $67,516,573; that this sum invested saw.' In Greenland and Labrador would realize an income nearly are 18,500 Christians. There are equal to what is raised by the 115,500 converted Indians in Oana- United States for the evangeliza- da, and 215,500 in Central and South . tion of the Pagan world-in other words, that" about as much money
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
Ainerica. In all America there are his church. The income will square 1,149,500, and in all the heathen his former subscription. Itisto be world 4,001,200." paid at the end of the year if the church is out of deht. If it is not The Missionary Chariot is travel- out of debt at that time the will ing slow, and the wheels at home gives the church three months in and abroad need oiling-a great which to make up arrearages; and outpouring of the Holy Spirit-lives if this is not done, the money goes consecrated more and more. If I to any Christian church in town went in for IllOttoes, mine would which is not in debt. If he had be "Christ All and All for Christ." made the proviso that it should go If Christ our Master, and Paul the to the State H;ome Missionary So- Missionary were more our ideals ciety, in case the churches were not we should move more surely and out of debt, it would be an ideal more quickly.-James Chalmers, bequest. New Guinea. Three Sorts Tschop (Job?) an Native Chris- ,Ve not infrequent- of Missionaries. Indian chi e f of tian Character. ly he a rna t i v e Zinzendorf's time, Christians severely said: "There once came a preacher criticized, their morality attacked, that must needs prove to us that their tone and spirit denounced as there is a God. Then said we: hypocritical or at least self-deceiv- 'Thinkest thou that we do not know ed and conceited. Can we say that that? Go back again from whence these charges are all false? If we thou camest.' Then came one who could, we should be able to say would teach us ye must not steal, that which St. Paul could not have tope, and lie. We answered: said about many of his converts. 'Thou fool. Thinkest thou that we At Corinth, for instance, not only do not know that? Teach that was there a gross case of public first to the people to whom thou scandal, but the apostle had to belongest, for who topes, steals, and teach the converts that immorality lies more than thine own people?' was not the purpose for which the After that came Christian Henry body was created; he had to re- (the Moravian missionary Rauch) buke them for their lawsuits, their into my wigwam and said: 'The divisions, for being" puffed up," Lord of Heaven sends thee word for intoxication, even at the Holy that He would gladly save thee and Communion; he had to teach them snatch thee out of thy misery; to how to act as regards social life in that end He has become man and connection with the surrounding has shed His blood.' And when he heathenism and demon worship; had done he laid himself quietly and he had to deal with many prac- down alongside of my bow and tical matters which seemed difficult tomahawk, and slept as peacefully to them, but which to us, with our as a child. Then thought I : 'Ah, inheritance of Christian teaching, what sort of man is that? I could seem obvious. How many a mis- easily have struck him dead, but he sionary has found these epistles is without care.' I could not forget specially applicable to some of the his words. Even in sleep I dreamed native Christians whom he has had of the blood of Jesus Christ, shed to teach!-From Month to j~Ionth. for me. Thus, by God's grace, be- gan the awakening among us." A Business A New Eng 1and Therefore say I: "Brethren, preach Man's Legacy. deacon; who was Christ, our Savior, and His pas- always a prompt business man, has left a legacy to
sion, if ye would find acceptance the other one having died while in wit h the heathen! "-lWissions- the theological seminary, preparblatt der Briidergemwine. ing to go to that field. Dr. John Scudder, Jr., joined the Arcot Mis- Roman Catholic Missions num ber sion, in India, in 1861, and, with about 3,000,000 native Christians the exception of two furloughs, in and 3,000 missionaries. Protestant America, had labored there conmissions about 4,000,000 native tinuously in evangelistic work for Christians and 6,000 missionaries. thirty-nine years. An earnest, de- voted, and vigorous worker, he will OBITUARY NOTES. be greatly missed by his colleagues and by the native church.-J. C. George H. C. One of the saddest Macgregor, losses of late years Rev. Daniel L. Gifford and his of London. was the death of wife have both been called home from their field of service in Korea. Rev. G. H. C. Mac- They were loved and honored misgregor, of London (Dr. Adolph sionaries of the American Presby- Saphir's successor), whose visit to terian Mission (North), and have the United States in 1897 and 1898 been faithful workers for ten years few of us are likely to forget. He in the Korean vineyard. Mr. Gifsuccumbed to an attack of spinal ford is the author of an excellent meningitis in the month of May, little book on "Every Day Life in leaving a mourning church as well Korea." as a weeping family. He was cne of the most acceptable of the Keswick Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.O., for teachers, and a warm and intelli- many years one of the ablest advogent advocate of missions. He was cates of foreign missions in the so gifted, yet so gracious, so intel- American Congregational Church, lectual, yet so spiritual, so exalted peacefully "fell asleep" at his in his devout life, yet so on a level home in Brooklyn, on June 5th, in with the common man, that the loss the sixty-ninth year of his age. is unspeakable. He was not yet Dr. Storrs was for some time presi- 40, and had not reached his zenith. dent of the American Board, and No man in the younger ministers of his addresses on missionary sub- Great Britain had apparently a jects have been among the most brighter future before him. powerful ever delivered. They have been gathered into a volume John Scudder, Rev. John Scudder, and will long be useful in stirring of India. M.D., D.D., of the missionary interest. Arcot Mission of Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, D.O., the Reformed Church in America, pastor of the Central Congregawas suddenly summoned up to the tional Church, of Brooklyn, a warm higher service from Kodaikanal, friend of foreign and home mis- India, May 23d, in the sixty-fifth sions, and one of the speakers year of his age. at the Ecumenical Conference, passed away in May, after a brief He was the eighth and youngest illness. Few men have been more son of Dr. John Scudder, the first earnest in their advocacy of a medical missionary sent out from united advance of the Church to America to India, in 1819. Of those conquer the world for Christ. eight sons, all born in India or Ceylon, seven were at one time members of the Arcot Mission,
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1897
AND DERWENTWATER
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: VOL. XX. No. 12.-0ld&Tz'e8.-DECEMBER-VoL. X. No. 12.-New &rie8.
SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS OF THE HALF CENTURY- KESWICK TEACHING AND METHODS.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
We are taught in the New Testament that truth and error find their allies in the manner and method of conduct as well as in formal teaching. Mute surroundings are vocal with testimony; the chosen symbols of holy influence are salt and light; the presence of a good man, and many other things beside speech, bear witness to the truth; and the personality of a wicked or worldly man has an influence of its own quite' apart from his utterances.
The "Keswick" movement has already received ample notice in these pages as one of the most conspicuous developments of the last half century. But at the time when the former paper appeared which treated this subject (February, 1897), the writer, tho he had been often in Great Britain, and in close contact with Keswick leaders, had never been present at one of those famous conventions, which have made the· English Lake district more historic than the" Lake School" of poets had already done. lIe acted the part of an impartial but interested observer, watching from without the influence exerted npon the religions thought and condnct of many thonsands who felt and acknowledged the power of Keswick teaching; and having been convinced of the Scriptural character and spiritual wholesomeness of this doctrine, and the practice everywhere found linkt to it, he unhesitatingly gave to it as emphatic an approval as his individual judgment conld carry. Moreover, the writer had been invited, in different quarters, both to address and to conduct meetings "for the deepening of spiritual life," and, as far as other duties allowed, such invitations had always been accepted, as they will be in • This periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rule, recommended by the joint action of tbe American Pb!lologlcal .Association and the Philological Society of England :-Change d or ed final to t when so pronounced, except when the e deets a preceding aound.-l'uBLIslIBBIl.
8i2 Il'IRITU.A.L MOVEMENTS OF THE IU.LF CENTUBY. [Decemb,er
future. This still further identified him with the Keswick movement, as, in a sense, a witness to its value and power.
Last April an important convention was held in London, England, at which the leading Keswick teachers of the city and vicinity gave careful and candid expositions of the truth which they hold and advocate. Part of the purpose of such convention was to furnish, in the metropolis of the world, an authoritative statement of this teaching, correcting misapprehension, and bringing these precious and vitalizing truths into touch with many who had never been at Keswick itself during the convention week. The way was singularly and providentially opened for the editor of this REVIEW to attend this London convention, and then to remain in England, holding a series of meetings, until the Keswick gathering itself; so that a visit of some four or five months abroad had its beginning and ending in connection with these two memorable weeks, each of which was occupied with the advocacy of these grand truths of grace and godliness. The opportunity referred to was gladly embraced, for there were some doubts that only such personal attendance at Keswick meetings could dissipate, and there was a strong desire" to spy out the land" and find out what weak points, if any, there were in the teaching now inseparable from the name of Keswick.
This recent visit to Britain inspires a second paper upon the Keswick movement, which is written after opportunities of a rare character for close investigation and observation. Not only was the editor-in-chief present at both these larger conventions, but at smaller ones in the interval, at Dublin and other places, where he himself was one of the speakers. The whole period of four months was passed either in public or private contact with men and women who have been most closely linkt with this movement; and the result of careful study, both of the formal teaching and the actual tendencies of the doctrine, was most satisfactory, confirming the opinion, previously affirmed in these pages, that this class of truths furnishes the great corrective remedy for the unspiritual drift of our day, and the great educative force for lifting spiritual life to a higher level. No one could come under the influence of a Keswick convention, in a receptive spirit, without feeling its power, and without an unspeakable yearning to have it essentially reproduced elsewhere, not as a mere adjunct to some already existing conference of Bible students or Christian workers, but transplanted with all its main characteristics, lest there should be lost any of the peculiar features which give it its unique power of impression, and without anyone of which it would cease to be what it is. The object of the present paper is to give the reader a glimpse, if possible an insight, into what it is which makes Keswick such a force in modern spiritual life. The impression left preeminently by the meetings both at London and at Keswick is that the teaching is not to be accurately judged apart from certain conspicuous surroundings which characterize the assemblies, and which give a unique character to the whole convention. Indeed, it may be doubted whether the verbal teaching is even the main feature of the Keswick movement.
This statement is put in this rather startling form partly for the purpose of compelling attention to some matters quite apart from the direct instruction given in the addresses. One may read the whole series of addresses as reproduced verbatim in the" Life of Faith," so ably edited, and yet miss what to us was the most conspicuous c:Qarm of the Keswick assemblies-the very aroma of the flower. It is quite common for persons who have little knowledge d the matter to refer to this teaching as a mere" school" of religious opinion, dismissing it as one of many modern types of doctrine, somewhat akin to some one of the observed tendencies of thought which differentiate one theological school from another. This is a great mistake. Keswick stands for a great deal more than the truth, orally proclaimed from its platform or promulgated through the press, and it is this other side which we wish now to bring to public notice for the comprehensiv;e understanding of the matter, and for the many deeply instructive lessons which are involved.
First of all, it may be well to refute a misconstruction which we can not but account as simply the fruit of misapprehension, and which we find embodied in the following paragraph from a prominent religious newspaper: " The Keswick movement in some localities has run into excesses, has caused divisions in churches, has produced self-righteousness, and caused men and women to say, by their actions, to fellow-Christians, 'Stand aside, for I am holier than thou.' This does not come from the indwelling of the Spirit of God; is the exact opposite of the results of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit Himself has declared through an inspired Apostle that' the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-Buffering, gentleness, meekness.' The people who declare themselves to be of such superior spirituality that they can no longer be associated with the membership of a Christian church are misled and mistaken, and are not led by the Holy Spirit."
It is one remarkable fact in connection with this movement that it has never been, found to cause "divisions in churches," not a man or woman ever being known, through its influence or under its teaching, to leave one communion for another. In fact, one of the conspicuous results has been that those who at Keswick meetings find newness of life, rather incline to stay where they are, ecclesiastically, and seek to infuse new life into dead and formal service. If Keswick teaching "produces self-righteousness and causes men and women to say' Stand aside, I am holier than thou,''' we have not met a single such case. In fact, again, it is one of the most notable fruits of this teaching that it produces humility, and considerate charity for others. As it insists that holiness is the result, not of a prolonged and persistent self-effort, but of a simple appropriation of Ohrist as the victor over evil, the whole tendency is to make men and women humbler, by reason of the conscious inadequacy of their own endeavors, and their entire dependence on the Spirit of God. Those who are most con- spicuous, as both exponents and examples of this teaching, are like the late Dr. A. J. Gordon, the last to assert their own sanctity. None of them would be otherwise than shockt, if any others should ascribe to them holiness or perfection. 'rhey repudiate 8011 such epithets, and are the more lowly in mind as they become the more lofty in aim and pure in heart. , It may seem strange to affirm it, but there are at least a dozen things in regard to which Keswick is a standing protest or witness, or both, and which are entirely aside and apart from the verbal utterances of its platform, but without which those utterances would b,e shorn of their real effectiveness. It may be well to enumerate, tho there are some things which evade analysis and defy description.
The methods and measures inseparable from a true Keswick convention are, we repeat, quite as important as the men who teach, or the truth formally taught; and they bear quite as distinct a stamp of peculiarity and individuality. For example, let us take careful note of the following particulars: 1. Direct dependence on Divine guidance. No step is taken, even in minute matters, without first referring it to God to know His will.
2. Absolute independence of human patronage: no alliance sought with great names, the rich, the nobly born, the leaders of human thought.
3. Singular indifference to mere numbers, no emphasis being placed upon crowds as a sign of success or blessing, or as the measure of encouragement.
4. Oonsequently, no catering to popularity; nothing is done simply to make the meetings "draw." There is no savor of sensationalism, however mild.
5. No reliance on eloquent speaking, as such. No program of speakers or subjects is ever publisht. Even the speaker's program gives no hint of topics to be treated.
6. The platform is one of witness. No speaker is askt to take part because of fame, learning, or eloquence, apart from a definite experience of blessing, which gives him authority to bear a testimony.
7. A definite result is uniformly sought in the practical life of the hearer, toward which all else is directed. Hence a definite type and order of teaching, the truth being presented, not at random, but with reference to its bearing on this result.
8. Immediate, visible, decisive action on the part of the hearer is urgently insisted upon-a surrender to God at once-prompt renun- ciation of known sin and obedience to known duty. Hence, much prominence is given to after-meetings.
9. f3acred song, as an aid to worship and teaching. Perfectly simple and congregational singing, and always chiefly, if not solely, with reference to the impression of the Word; not an independent attraction, but a subordinate adaptat1:on, preparing for, or following up, the truth taught.
10. Confidence in the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance. The pervading impression is that God has control, and hence one is pre- pared for that remarkable emphasis laid upon public and private waiting on God in prayer, which is seldom found elsewhere.
11. NQ appeal for money, even to meet expenses, save through boxes provided for voluntary offerings, it being a fundamental law of Keswick teaching to rest on God for means to carryon His work, rather than to look to monied men and women.
12. All Christiau disciples recognized as one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another; only the essentials of Christian doctrine being made prominent, without regard to minor differences.
The meetings are not controlled by anyone man, but by a com- mittee and council of godly men and women, who ll,re in hearty agree- ment as to all the foregoing positions. Keswick is the main annual center for gatherings in the end of July, but duriug all the weeks of the year, at various points in the United Kingdom, local conventions, for the deepening of spiritual life, are held under the direction of the Keswick leaders and teachers; and men and women go as missionaries both to home and foreign fields to spread the knowledge of these truths, and encourage the simple apostolic methods so blessed of God.
It needs but a glance to see that, however important the teaching at Keswick, these methods of condltct are no less essential to the whole mov61nenf as such, aud the writer's conviction grows daily stronger that, if there is to be a counterpart and not a counterfeit of the Kes- wick movement in America, it must begin from the beginning, upon a basis of its own. The methods in vogue at most of the existing religious gatherings, both in America and elsewhere, however justifi- able, are certainly in markt contrast. For example, we generally find dependence on organization, numerical strength, and secular attractions; every effort is made to draw the crowds, there is an announced program of speakers, if not of subjects; music is a studied attraction, sometimes a performance by professional artists, and singing is ~ultivated as a matter of art; constant effort is made to get famous, prominent, eloquent and popular speakers, and the . element of witness is not emphatic, or generally even essential. Whoever thinks of limiting the choice of speakers to those who have a definite experience, along a certain line of testimony? And how often are parties admitted to the platform of our summer gatherings, who are known as holding doubtful doctrine, if not encouraging questionable practice, but who are popular speakers? Nor do we know of any convention in America, with perhaps two exceptions, which definitely aims at securing an immediate and absolute surrender to the mastersbip of Ohrist, and the entire transformation of both inner and outer life of those who attend.
Ueference has already been made to a definite order in which truth is taught at Keswick. For example, on the first day or two sin is dealt with, and its immediate abandonment, the effort being made to bring one face to face with God as a judge, and to producing conviction of guilt, sin and need. On a succeeding day, such themes as the power of Ohrist, and of a true, vital union with Him, of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, and the proper use of the Word of God, as preventives of sin and promotives of holiness. On another day, the Life in God with its immunities, privileges, possibilities. Then as the convention week closes, service, its conditions, laws and qualificatIons, with special emphasis on the enduement.and the filling of the Holy Spirit, with a final meeting on Saturday, when the mission field and its claims are urged on the assembly.
This general outline is never filled in twice alike, so that it is not a mechanical cast-iron model or pattern, allowing no flexibility or variation. There are many advantages in such order of teaching. It moves onward step by step toward definite results, and it enables speakers wbo at any stage of the meetings make their appearance, to fall in with the purpose and purport of the teaching at that particular stage. And in the arrangement of the speakers' program-which is confidential and only for their own guidance as to the times of their addresses-regard is had to the fitness of particular men to deal with certain lines of truth, as demonstrated by experience.
While thus candidly regarding facts, we have no design of antagonizing methods that may elsewhere prevail, or of disputing the possible uses or advantages of other methods, all of which may have a place in God's plan. But one fact stands out indisputable: Keswick has its own methods, and they are so characteristic and so inseparable from its teaching that, if the teaching is to have its full sway, it mnst not be divorced from all that God has joined with it.
The question is constantly arising, bow can a similar type of teaching and method be given its fullest scope in this and other lands. It is obvious that there are no geographical limits to such nplifting and sanctifying influences. If our American churches and Ohristian life need anything, it is certainly jUl!t such new inspiration to holiness and self-snrrender, as Keswick has I!upplied for a quarter of a century' in Great Britain. While the writer of this paper has no plans of his own, but would be guided in all matters by the Captain of the Host of the Lord, there are some convictions which have become so clear in his own mind, that he ventures to expr(lss them to his indulgent readers and beloved fellow disciples.
If some convenient and central locality-perhaps more-than onecould be chosen under God's guidance, where meetings could be annually held in some tent or tabernacle, commodious and inexpensive; if there could be a right start, with supreme indifference to mere numbers, with careful avoidance of all men and measures not in accord with such simple and scriptural and spiritual aims and methods so conspicuously blest in the British movement; if, in a word, a similiar movement could grow up in this country, stampt from the outset with a certain definite character, and then kept within its original lines, unleavened with sensationalism and secularism, untold blessing might ensue to millions of disciples. And if we can do no more, we can devoutly pray that God would in His own way lead up to such a result.
One impression is especially strong and deep in the writer's own mind, that, wherever it is sought to have the counterpart of the Keswick movement, those who so desire must be prepared to start with a very small number of like-minded people. A large gathering at the outset might be fraught with actual risk. The greatest movements in spiritual life never do start with large numbers. The beginnings of this great reformation in British religious life were so small as to be now hard to trace. A few people, gathering in London at noonday in the Y. M. C. A. hall; then a hundred or so at a private residence, meeting by iuvitation; then, step by step, more and larger gatherings, until no place was found for the throngs. But more marvelous than the growth is the way in which, for twenty-five years, the Keswick platform has been kept free from mere popular oratory, and held its position as a place of witness along a line of definite teaching. What a temptation, as the crowds grew and with the crowds divers people of diverse opinions and preferences, to cater to the popular demand for fine speakers, especially if they were Scriptural teachers, famous orators, or learned expositors! But no. The apostolic succession of testimony has been preserved unbroken.
Keswick teaching is definite and unmistakable. It affirms a possible and practical deliverance from continuance in known sin; a renewal of the spirit of the mind, a dominion of love, an experience of inward peace; it maintains that it is a sin to be anxious, because, where anxiety begins faith ends, and where faith begins anxiety ends; that it is not necessary to be under the domination of any lust of body or mind, to live a life of doubt and despondency, or of interrupted .communion with God. Forfeited joy means broken fellowship. Keswick maintains that to every trusting, obedient soul, who dares take God at His word and count every commandment an enablement, there is an immediate deliverance from the palsied limbs tha.t make impossible a holy walk with God; from the withered hand that prevents a holy work for God, and from the moral deformity that bows one together, so that it is impossible to lift up one's-self to spiritual uprightness aud erectness. To those who are thus bound by Satan, He who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, still says, and for evermore says, " Thou art loosed from thine infirmity." Divine hands are ready to be laid upon us, and make us at once straight and strong to glorify God in holy living. These are the truths-none of them new, save in the emphasis laid upon them as real and present and practical truths-for which Keswick stands. Such truth is taught effectively, because it is taught only by those who, whatever else they lack, do not lack the personal experience of deliverance, but who can say, however humbly, boldly, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad;" and the sight of those who are thus healed, as of old, stops the mouth of cavillers, and emboldens the feeble faith of the hesitating and doubtful.
There is nothing to prevent an essential reproduction of this blessiug anywhere, if similar conditions prevail. If even a few who are entirely at agreement concerning these great truths and methods, are earnestly ready to start out on purely Scriptural and spiritual lines, and would meet and simply wait on God for further leading, and then follow step by step as He leads, what results for good might be the ultimate outcome! This vast country may be too broad for one gathering, but is there any reason why there should not be at convenient and accessible points a number of such conventions, where even a few are prepared to claim His promise, who, to the smallest number who can meet-two or three-says, "I am in the midst of them"- that reason does not appear.
One word in conclusion. The editor of this REVIEW, since the first paper on this subject was written, has been approacht by correspondents with the question, " How can a Keswick convention be reproduced in America?" To these numerous inquiries, for which there is not time at command to give individual answer, he thus publicly furnishes such reply as he can, distrustful of his own wisdom, but believing that the conditions of blessing do not vary essentially with change of scene or actors. God seems to be loudly sayiug to His people that He is waiting to bless them anywhere and everywhere, and He puts before us a pattern which has had His seal for a quarter of a century. Why attempt to improve on the pattern? and why attempt to secure like blessing in neglect of the pattern? Keswick has been a ~ountain of spiritual life, because four great scriptural laws have there found singular exemplication: habitual prayerfulness, prominence of the Word of God, unity among all believers, and dependence
ISRAEL'S MISSION TO THE WORLD
on the Holy Spirit. It may Beem an exaggeration to some, but we know of nothing nowadays which so closely reproduces the assemblies of tke primitive apostolic church / Believers meet from day to day to magnify scripture teaching, to sing holy hymns, to know no name but that of Ohrist, to acknowledge no presiding or administrative power but the Holy Spirit, to exhort one another to an essentially heavenly life; they continue steadfastly in apostolic doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers, and in a peculiar and sacred sense, none say that anything they possess is their own, but they have all things in common, and the I.Jord adds daily to the number of those who are being saved from sin unto holiness. Wherever these words reach responsive eyes and hearts, there let like-minded disciples gather and wait on God in prayer, and be content to go step by step. So far as the writer's time and other duties allow, he will be glad to meet with such brethren, and give such help and encouragement as he may. But God will raise up His own witnesses and helpers if His people meet and are united in the sacred symphony of believing prayer.
ISRAEL'S MISSION TO THE WORLD, AND THE OHUROH'S MISSION TO ISRAEL.
BY THE REV. DAVID BARON, LONDON, ENGLAND.
"Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; . that yemay know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside Me there is no Saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed when there was no strange God among you; therefore ye are my witncsses, saith the Lord, that I am God." Is. xliii 10-12.
"Ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts i. ; 8.
As we look at the passage quoted from Acts i, "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me," we can not but be reminded of the very similar words addrest by God, through the prophet Isaiah, to Israel as a nation, and we may well ask how is it, that instead of Israel at the present time witnessing for God among the nations, it is necessary that witness should be borne to Israel about their own God, their own Messiah, and their own Scriptures? The answer is given by the Apostle Paul in Rom. xi. 25, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel." It is true that certain leaders among modern Jews claim still to have amission, even at this present day, in their dispersion among the nations-a. mission~ as they say, to bear witness to the unity of God. But if we examine this supposed witness that the modern Jew gives to the unity of God, we find it very defective; for it is not a testimony to God as He has been pleased to reveal. Himself in His word-that is, as the infinite, yet personal triune, holy, loving God-but a testimony to an abstract formula with regard to the unicity of the Godhead. Of a personal, living God, modern Judaism knows, alas, very little. As a matter of fact, it is not due to the testimony to the unity of God, as given by the synagogue, that Gentiles have been brought to believe in one living and true God, but to the more truly Jewish testimony as given by the Jewish Apostle of the New Covenant, who went about preaching one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ the righteous; and one Holy Spirit, by whom the knowledge of God is communicated to man; and these three, ·one blessed Trinity. But, speaking generally, it is the boast of modern Jews that they are not a missionary people. Thousands of times have I had it thrown in my teeth by Jews in various parts of the world, who have said: "Why do Christians trouble themselves with trying to convert us? We do not try to convert anybody." My reply usually is: "Why don't you? If you boast of the fact that you are not a missionary people, you simply boast in your shame, you simply testify to the fact that you are not now answering to the purpose for which God called Israel into existence. Was not the very purpose of God in creating the Jewish nation, that they might be wit· nesses for Him to make known His name among the nations? The fact that you are not a missionary people is accounted for by the reason that you have no mission. In this respect it is true that the Kingdom of God has been taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. If you had a message you could not be silent, even if you tried, for you would find the word of God like a burning fire in your heart shut up in your bones, so that you would weary in forbearing to run and communicate it to others." Israel at the present day has no message. The Jews do not, and can not, bear witness for God, excepting that passive testimony which the diaspora gives to the righteous severity of God – a testimony which, would to God, Ohristendom took to heart, because it contains the solemn lesson to them, that they also, if they continue not in His goodness, shall be cast off.
But has the purpose of God in relation to Israel in this respect, that they should be His witnesses, been frustrated, or has it been already accomplisht in the testimony that the Jews gave in the past? No; the Jew has yet a future of testimony for God on the earth. "Blindnes~ in part," as the Apostle Paul said, "has happened unto Israel," and it is" in part," in a double sense. It is partial in its extent, for there is the remnant, according to the election of grace, who are not blinded, but can behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Ohrist even now, but I only want to dwell for a moment on the duration of this blindness. There is a great contrast in the Word of God in this respect, between the condition of the Jew now and the condition of the Jew in the future. "Blindness in part has happened unto Israel," says the Apostle Paul in Romans xi.; but we read of a wonderful transformation that is to come over the Jewish people. "Then," says the prophet, Isaiah xxxv. : 5-6, "the eyes of the blind shall be opened." The very nation that has been destined by God to point all the other nations to the Sun of Righteousness has been itself struck blind, but it is only for a time.
The present condition of Israel may be very beautifully illustrated by a touching incident. It was about a child who met with an accident and suddenly lost his eyesight. At first he did not know what had happened to him, and used to follow his mother about the house, crying: "Mother, mother, when will it be day? When will the sun shine?" The poor mother had not the heart to tell the child all at once that it was day, that the sun was shining, but that something had happened to his eyes. This is the condition of the Jews to-day. "We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness." But" the eyes of the blind shall be opened." Soon the cry will go forth, " Arise, shine, for thy light has come; the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee." And then "the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising." The prophet continues: "Then the lame man shall leap as an hart." I never read this verse in Isaiah xxxv. without being reminded of Acts iii., where we have the account of a notable miracle that had been wrought in the name of our Lord Jesus Ohrist. We read there about a poor lame man who was carried every day to the gate of the temple called Beautiful, where he begged for alms of all those who were going into the temple to worship God. One day Peter and John came along, and he askt alms from them also; but Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said: "Look on us!" expect something different from us than that you would receive from others; and we read that he gave heed to them, expecting something from them. But Peter said: "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" and he took him by the right hand, and the lame man, leaping up, stood and walkt, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.
My dear friends, that lame man is a type and parable of Israel. Israel is that lame man. Beautiful upon the mountains should be the feet of Jewish evangelists and preachers bearing the glad tidings of Messiah's Gospel to the nations; but Israel is lame now and outside the temple of God; that is, out of communion with God, because the temple was the visible symbol of fellowship with Jehovah. They are like the poor lame man also in this respect, that all their thoughts are fixed on money. Money, money; alms, business. I do not wish to say here, because it would not be true, that the Jew is exceptional in this respect. It is the tendency of the human heart that knows not the treasure that is at the right hand of God, to cleave unto the dust, and the Jew and Gentile are alike in this respect. I am only touching upon the fact that the Jew, like the Gentile, is at present occupied with worldly things, and he will readily deal with Christians in busi- ness. Peter and John have come to Israel and have said, "Look on us"; and, blessed be God, there is a remnant whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit of God to see that power to heal lies only in the name of Jesus, and they are now leaping and rejoicing. But as far as the nation is concerned, Israel is still sitting lame, incapable of going on any errand for God among the nations. For centuries it has been in that condition; but will it always remain so? Oh, no! There is a greater One yet than Peter and John to pass Israel again. We sometimes sing a hymn, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." He past by Israel once, and Israel was then already sick; but Israel let Him pass without as much as touching the hem of His garment, and Jesus returned unto His place until they would acknowledge their offence and seek His face. When He departed, He said: "Your house is left unto you desolate, for I say unto you, ye shall not see Me henceforth, until ye shall say, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Yes, Jesus will yet pass Israel again, and they will assuredly use the words of the prophecy from the cxviii Psalm, which He quoted. Jesus will say to Israel, "Look on Me," and the spirit of grace and supplication will be poured out upon the Jewish nation, and they shall look on Him, whom they have pierced. Jesus will again take Israel by the hand. "I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen; I will build again .the ruins thereof;" and ·then "shall the lame man leap as an hart," and a tremendous sensation will be created on the earth. This is the hope of missions, and of the evangelization of the world. When this national lame man is healed, all the people of the earth will see this wonderful miracle per; formed by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We read in the same prophecy that at that time in the wilderness shall waters break out. That is a picture of Israel's present condition-a wilderness, a howling desert, spiritually; but God has said that out of this wilderness rivers will spring up for the refreshing of the whole world.
Now, in the interval between Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ, and Israel's reception of Jesus Christ, when the Jews shall be reinstated as the witnesses of Jehovah on the earth, the Church of Christ, which is made up of Jews and Gentiles, is put into the very position of Israel, both in relation to privilege and of responsibility. (a) In relation to privilege: "Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people . . . and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," was God's word to Israel in Exodus, the Book of Redemption: "Ye are a chosen. generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased possession," says Peter, to all who have been redeemed with precious blood, whether Jew or Gentile. (b) In relation to responsibility: "Ye are my witnesses," saith Jehovah, "and My servants. • • . This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise," are God's words to Israel. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth," were the parting words of the ascending Christ to the Church, " that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
Yes, one of the chief ends of the Church's existence on earth is, that she may bear witness to the nations; and in her witness she dare not lose sight of the Jew, for, as the late Professor Franz Delitzsch once said, at a great missionary meeting, "Gentlemen, if you speak about the evangelization of the world, and forget the Jew, you are like a bird that tries to fly with one of its wings clipped."
But generally I find that in speaking to Christians about the Jew, it is very easy to carry them with you if you speak of the Jews of the past-the Jew of Bible history-or the prophetic Jew of the future; but when it comes to the actual Jew of the present day, and you want them to enter into the thoughts and mind of God in reference to Israel of the present, that is a most difficult task. Let me illustrate it practically. At the present day there is, perhaps, no country in the world where such a lively interest is taken in the Jew, and where so much is done in proportion for Jewish missions, as in Norway, altho in Norway itself there are scarcely any Jews. The Norwegian friends have missionaries in Budapest, and in Galatz, in Roumania; and they also support, financially, other missions to the Jews in Germany and in Russia. You will ask how this interest in Israel originated in Norway. Well, it originated, for the most part, in the prayers and devotion of a noble-minded Christian lady. About fifty years ago, when the cause of foreign missions was taking hold of Christians in Norway, this lady's heart was moved by the Spirit of God with compassion for Israel. One day, as the pastor of her church was coming down from the pulpit, she said to him: "I am very ~lad to hear you always pray for the heathen, but I wish you would also include poor scattered Israel." The pastor turned around rather hotly, and said: "The Jews I We have nothing to do with them. They have been cast off, and now it is the time of the Gentiles." She tried to reason with him, but it was of no avail. But one day she called on her pastor, and said .to him: "I have a very sad story to relate to you, and I am sure it will draw out your sympathy." He said: "What is it?" She replied: "Not far from here there lives a good man and his wife. They have one son, whom they love as their own lives. They did everything possible for him, but the son turned out most unworthy of his parents; he returned it only with disobedience and ingratitude. After a time, when his conduct beca'tne no longer tolerable, with great grief of heart, they let him go, and he is now a wanderer. Instead of this son of theirs they adopted a poor gypsy boy. They put him in their own son's room, gave him their own son's clothing and books-in fact, they treated him in every possible way as their own child. The boy was very happy, but the parents can not forget their own son. In the evening sometimes a mist steals over the mother's eyes, and a sigh escapes from the heart of the father, and when the boy asks what is the matter, the father answers, 'Oh, our son, our son; would that he would come back; there is room in our hearts for him as well as you.' But this the boy does not like, and every time that the parents mention their son, he gets into a temper. What do you think of that?" The pastor stood up and said: "Oh, the ungrateful youth; if I were the parents, I would let him go; he is not a bit better than the first." The lady paused a minute or two, and theu said: "Dear pastor, forgive me; Israel is that wandering son, and we are the gypsy boy; and altho God was obliged to send the Jews into captivity, and has' given over the dearly beloved of His soul into the hands of her enemies,' His heart has not ceast to yearn for them, and His 'hands are still outstretched all the day long to His disobedient and gainsaying people.' " Hearken! "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child, for, since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy on him, saith Jehovah." The pastor's heart was won, and the result was the first society that was establisht for the conversion of the Jews. The name of the lady was Frau Raguhild Haerm.
May God give us insight, my dear friends, into His thoughts and heart in reference to the Jewish people.
Our testimony to-day to the Jews is with regard to Jesus Christ, that " this Jesus," whom they crucified and think to be dead, is Israel's true Messiah, exalted to the right hand of God, a prince and a Savior. If space permitted, I should like to speak of the peculiar methods which we should adopt in our testimony to the Jew; and also as to the right kind of witnesses who should be sent forth by the Church, because I believe that, to this day, God has His instruments adapted for this work, and for that work, and it is not everyone who is called of God to be a missionary to the Jews.
On this point it will not be out of place if I quote from Professor Gustaf Dalman's last report of the Leipzig Institution Delitzschinnum, which is a seminary for Jewish missionaries, first founded by Franz Delitzsch, and now named after him, as to the necessary qualifications of one who desires to be a missionary to the Jews, with which I most heartily concur.
"(1) The missionary among the Jews must have a thorough knowledge of their language. This comprises not only a knowledge of the languages of Jewish literature, Hebrew, and Aramaic; and, if possible, a good practical acquaintance with the former, which is most extensively used by the Jews in their written communications, but also ability at least to speak German, and to understand Hebrew-German or 'Yiddish,' the vernacular spoken by two-thirds of the Jewish people.
"(2) The missionary must be acquainted with the religion of the Jews. Without this knowledge he will find it impossible to set forth our holy religion to Jews in such a way as to commend it to them, or even to be understood by them, much less to bring it home to heart and conscience. Those who are not cognizant of the world of Jewish religious thought can not conceive how unintelligible the terminology of our holy faith is to the Jew. Even the great scriptural key-words of Christianity: Sin, repentance, faith, righteousness, Redeemer, Christ· Messiah have a different meaning to the Jew, while, of course, all ecclesiastical terms are utterly incomprehensible to him. And thus experience has shown that the plainest and most heartfelt Gospel message coming from an untrained, tho earnest Gentile Christian, will sound as a dark riddle in Jewish ears.
"(3) The missionary should have studied the doctrines and sacred documents of the Christian faith in their bearings on Israel. Tracing the history of Israel through the Old Testament, and viewing their election and future in the light of law and prophecy, and noting the differences between the Jewish and Christian conceptions of Bible doctrine and statement, he should seek to obtain such a grasp of the Scriptures in this aspect as to be able to meet and answer any difficulty or objection that may be propounded by the enquirer or caviller.
"(4) The missionary must be conversant with the history of the mission to Israel, its nature, aims, and methods, and the lines on which the work has hitherto been carried on. Practical knowledge and insight is best obtained by commencing work under the supervision of experienced missionaries.
"Even for the Hebrew-Christian candidate special training is most desirable and necessary. As a rule, his knowledge of Jewish and Hebrew matters is insufficient and incomplete, in spite of his former surroundings, and tho his own faith be firm and clearly evinced, yet in the nature of things his grasp of Scripture truth can not be such as to fit him, without any further training, for the work of an evangelist among his brethren. We can not fix a high enough standard of attainment for those who desire to devote themselves to this work. A training that may fully qualify a man to go out and proclaim the Gospel to the civilized heathen world. is utterly insufficient for a worker among the Jews, altho we would never have ourselves or others forget, that technical qualification and even Scriptural knowledge is worthless, unless accompanied by a living faith and the burning desire to promote the interests of Christ's kingdom among His brethren according to the flesh. Better to send out no missionaries at all, than to send out such as are spiritually and intellectually unfit for their task."
Tremendous injury to the Jewish mission has resulted from two causes: (1) The putting into the work of "workers" both Jews and Gentiles, who were utterly unfit for the holy and delicate task of holding up the banner of Christ before the Jews; sometimes mere novices, whose characters were not sufficiently tested, or even brilliant impos- , ters, with some sensational stories of their previous history, who cap- tivated the hearts of some whose zeal for the Jewish cause is not according to knowledge. Oh! brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, believe me, in this part of the Lord's vineyard more particularly, we need not only the spirit of love and of wisdoI!1, but also of a sound mind, a spirit of Scriptural sobriety, not dissociated from a true Holy Ghost enthusiasm, for the salvation of a people in whom is bound up the hope of the world, but in whose midst Satan is entrencht more powerfully at the present day than in any other nation.
" (2) There is also a great lack of knowledge of the peculiar people, and of God's present and future purposes in and through them, which is accountable for certain methods in some Jewish missions, which, however much momentary sensation they may create, and however much interest they may arouse among Gentile Christians, can only work disastrously as far as the Jews themselves are concerned. I am not speaking as a theorist, but from knowledge and experience. After being permitted to serve the Lord in the evangelization of my people for about eighteen years, I am more and more of the conviction that in the Jewish mission, as in the Lord's work generally, it is not sensa- tion, but self-sacrificing hard toil aud patient continuance in well- doiug that will accomplish anything of permanent value for the glory of Christ.
Then, as to the manner of presenting the Gospel to the ~ews, a great deal might very usefully be said. For instance, Jewish opposi- tion is sometimes owing to the fact that Christianity has been pre- sented to them as a system, altogether detacht from, and, to some extent, opposed to Moses and the prophets. Now, in order to remove such impressions, tt is of the utmost importance in dealing with Jews to show them that the New Testament is in historic continuity and"
true order of sequence to the Old Testament, and that there is not a single essential doctrine in the New Testament, the roots of which are not to be found in Moses and the prophets. This will not be suc- cessfullyaccomplisht by always pointing the Jews to a few well-known Messianic passages, but by a methodic unfolding of Scripture as a whole.
Indeed, if there is one need greater than another in the Jewish field at the present day, it is that of men mighty in the Scriptures, who, in the power of the Spirit. shall be able to show to Israel how that, not only an isolated passage here and there, but that in the whole " scroll of the book it is written of Him."
Another thing to be borne in mind by the Church in its efforts for the Jewish people, is that Israel is a Diaspora,. and if we want to evangelize the Jews, we must not be satisfied merely by establishing a station here and there. There should be a return more to the methods of the Lord Jesus Christ at the commencement, when He sent His disciples out two by two from city to city to announce Himself, leaving the word to God and His Spirit to bear fruit.
There is a wonderful opening in the present day for Christian work among the Jews in countries where masses of them are found. It is not a week since I returned from my twelfth mission journey, and it has been my privilege, in the course of my life, to come into contact with more Jews than, perhaps, any other living missionary. I do not claim this as a credit to myself, because I believe there are others who could have done the work much better than I; but, as a matter of fact, in the providence of God, this has, I believe, been the case.
During this last journey, in some towns of Eastern Europe, we have had Jews listening eagerly, from early morning till late at night, to what we had to tell them about Christ. Some of you may wonder how we get at Jews in places where we have never been before. We have an easier task in this respect than our brethren who go among the heathen. All that we need do is to take a handful of suitable literature and a few New Testaments, and go into the Jewish quarter, where we enter into conversation with a few. We tell them: "We are your brethren, men of your own nation, but we have found Jesus, Him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets have written. We believe that our nation made a tremendous mistake when it rejected Jesus, and when it believes that Jesus is dead, just as the brethren of Joseph believed that Joseph was dead. We have come from a far country to speak to you about Him." We generally mention the place and time when we will be ready to receive them, and before the hour indicated the Jews begin to come to us.
We are usually two missionaries, and we have sometimes been p~ckt in our rooms with Jews, listening eagerly while we unfolded to them the Lord Jesus Christ from Old Testament Scriptures. In some places we hold meetings; for instance, in a principal town of Galicia, this last tour, at two hours' notice, about two hundred Jews gathered together. The second day we were in Cracow we paid a visit to the Bethhammidrash, where Jews, old and young, may be seen doing nothing else, day or night, but occupying themselves with solving the mysteries of the Kaballa, and studying the traditions of men. A few " saints" have no other home, and even sleep there at night. In different parts of this building, which is exceedingly filthy, these Jews, old and young, in groups or singly, were shouting to themselves, in a sing-song way, different parts of the Talmud, swaying themselves violently to and fro- all the time. We sat down and askt one if they had a Bible in the place. After a time he brought us one of the volumes of the Jewish Bible, which is bound together with thirty-two different Rabbinic commentaries. It happened to be the volume containing Ezekiel and the twelve minor prophets, and we opened it at Zech. xii. Reading from verse 12 to the end, we askt him who it conld be whom Israel had pierced, and for whom they will monrn so bitterly.
Meanwhile qnite a group had gathered ronnd us, all in their long· kaftans, reaching from neck to foot, and wearing the Peyoth (side~ curls), which the Galician Jew regards as the most sacred badge of piety. Some had never noticed the passage before, others lookt for explanations to the various commentaries. After disputing a good while among themselves. they all came to the conclusion that it refers to "Messiah Ben Joseph." Most Talmndic Jews believe in two Messiahs, Messiah Ben Joseph, who shall be killed, and Messiah Ben David, who shall reign. Of course, there is nothing about two Messiahs in the Old Testament, but of one Messiah, who, through suffering, enters into glory.
After pointing out that the one who is thus pierced is none other than He who will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication upon Israel, we told them that there is some truth in what they said. Our Lord was sometimes, on earth, called" the son of Joseph," altho He was truly the Ben David. When He came the first time Israel, in ignorance, pierced Him with the spear of the Romans. Since then, nothing but evil has come on us, but He will yet pour out His spirit of grace and supplication upon us, and we shall see Him; then in this great mourning our long sorrow of centuries will be turned into joy. It was wonderful with what eagerness they listened.
On coming out one Jew, who had first led us to this place, said to us: "This hour has been worth more than 1,000 florins to me, for I could see that your faith is grounded on the Bible, and that these Rabbis, with all their commentaries, could not answer yon." The next day this man came to us, saying that he was determined, with all his family, to become Christians. . There is a wonderful spirit of hearing just now amongst the Jews'in different parts of the world. My.dear Christian friends, it is no light thing that we now get the ear of the Jew to listen as to who this Jesus really was, whom the nation has hated for centuries without knowing who He was, or for what reason they hated Him. But we must sow before we can reap. Pray to God that the seed which is now being sown on a larger scale than ever before, may spring up, and that many Jews may call Jesus blessed. Pray also for "The Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel." There are difficulties, disappointments, and trials in the Jewish work, which none but a Jewish missionary knows, but,at the same time,I feel convinced that it is the work of God; and I feel, as I have never done before, full of hopefulness and confidence for the conversion of Israel -for the blessing of my people.
May God pour out the spirit of compassion upon Christians, and, 1 am sure, a reflex blessing will come upon the Church.
THE TIn. TO FAVO:a ZION
THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION.
* BY REV. A. C. GAEBELEIN.
.. The set time to favor Zion is at hand. "-Psalms 102: 13.
Thousands of years ago, Moses, the illustrious leader of God's people, who had brought them out of Egypt, and led them through the wilderness, cried out after,having finished his prophetic song and blessing: "Happy art thou, 0 Israel; who is like unto thee, 0 people saved by the Lord?" It was the last recorded word of Moses. Yes, who is like unto thee, 0 Israel? What a wonderful history and exist- ence their's is! What a high place this nation holds in God's calling and eternal purposes. "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." (Isaiah 43: 21.) Israel is God's standing miracle. Look wherever you will in connection with Israel and you see a miracle. A miraculous origin in the birth of Isaac, a miraculous ruin and dispersion, miraculous chastisements, humiliation and preservation-it is all wonderful. Think of their unperishable nationality and ubiquity all over the globe, their great wealth, and the strange desolation of their own land. All this had been foretold by their own law and prophets.
What does the inspired apostle say of them, his own people? He says, "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and service of God, and the promises." (Romans 9: 4). In his prophetic testimony concerning the future of Israel, Paul states in emphatic terms that "God hath not cast away His people." (Romans 11: 2.) Tho they have stumbled and God's righteous judgments have been their lot for so many generations, yet they are still His people." Furthermore, through their fall salvation came unto the Gentiles, and the divine record gives the glorious assurance that "if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" (Romans 11: 12.) Oh what a great blessing will yet come to this miserable, sin-laden world through a saved Israel. "In thy seed all nations of the world shall be blessed." Thus it was promised to Abraham, and has been already partly fulfilled in Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of God, but is to be again fulfilled when all the sons of Abraham, according to the flesh, accept their long-rejected brother and lay all their talents, gold and silver at His feet, who is King of the Jews and the Lord of Lords. "Salvation is of the Jews." The casting away of them was the reconciling of the world-the receiving of them will be life from the dead! And is there a future national conversion of • Superintendent of the Hope of Israel Mission, 128 Second St., New York City.
TID '1'0 "AVon ZI01
Israel promised by the true and living God? Yes. Israel is to be saved yet with an everlasting salvation-a nation to be born in a day and wonderfully restored to the land. " I will plant them upon their ,laud and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord." (A.mos 9: 15.) Hundreds and hundreds of passages could be quoted from Holy Writ showing what good things God has promised to Israel to be fulfilled in His own time. Paul reaches the climax in his 11th chapter to the Romans, when he says, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the ful- ness of the Gentiles be come in. A.nd so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, There shall come out of Zion a Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11: 25 to 27). Here, then, is the time and the means of their national salvation and restoration, the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy so often spiritualized and claimed by the Gentile Church. National blindness of Israel does not cease til] the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, tho individual Jews can be saved, and are being saved, at this time. The Deliverer, even this same Jesus, who will come in all His splendor and majesty at the close of Jacob's greatest trouble, and who will find His brethren in Jerusalem storm-tossed and tried like Joseph's brethren in Egypt-is He who will turn away ungodliness from Jacob and remember their sins no more.
The question at once arises, how soon will God show again His mercy to Zion? Is the set time for Zion's favor at hand? Will the long, dark night of Israel's awful dispersion and misery soon end? There are many signs which justify us to answer these questions hopefully in the affirmative. The nineteenth century has been one of great missionary efforts and triumphs. The Lord has given an open door among the nations of the world; has then His own people been forgotten? No. Israel, the accursed fig tree, barren so long, is budding again, and by the touch of the Holy Spirit is showing signs of returning life. When Ezekiel saw the valley of dry bones representing Israel's awful national and spiritual condition, he was commanded twice to prophesy. First bone came to bone, and flesh was given to the reorganized bodies; then he prophesied again, and the mighty, rushing wind, the Spirit, came, and the once slain but reorganized bodies arose and lived before the Lord. Gradually the Jewish people have been coming to the front and attract the world's attention. In spite of all the bitter persecutions from all nations. they have increased and are now more numerous, wealthier, and more influential than ever before in their history. But what interests every Christian most is the fact that the Israel of to-day is in the midst . of a revival of nationalism, and that a good part of orthodox Judaism is being reacht by the Gospel of the Son of God. Both the national
18!J7.J THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION
and spiritual movements among the Jews are the result of the Holy Spirit.
The writer noticed fifteen months ago, while traveling in those countries of eastern Europe which are largely inhabited by Jews, how the Jewish face is set toward Palestine and Jerusalem. Said one old Jew in Roumania, "No more hope for us in Russia, no rest here in Roumania; the only hope is our land." He voices the sentiment of hundreds of thousands of Jews in eastern Europe. Different societies for colonization in Palestine have started, and are on the increase all over the world. '1any schemes for the repossession of the land have been advanced. Jewish State is the longing cry of even the less orthodox class. Behind the tottering throne of the unspeakable Turk, there looms up the vision of Palestine's destiny and restoration to its rightful owners. Jerusalem is already becoming more and more a Jewish Oity. We have been careful in investigating the different and much varying reports of the number of Jews living in the Holy Oity, and we do not hesitate to give the number of Hebrews living in and outside the city walls as 40,000. These have gathered from nearly all countries of the world. In the land itself there are 40,000 more, so that the total Jewish population of Palestine is about 80,000. It is a remarkable fact that with this restoration, which Itas been going on now for years, there came a return of fruitfulness to the barren land. Many Jews in New York Oity use to-day at festive occasions wines which were made in the Holy Land. What a wonderful sight is this nationai movement of orthodox Judaism I Still more astonishing is the fact that during this century Jesus has been accepted by many of God's ancient people as the true Mes- siah. The New Testament in Hebrew has been circulated in thousands of copies by different societies for Gospel work among the Jews. There can be no longer any doubt that the Holy Spirit is moving among the Jews, and the remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11: 3), a first fruit of the nation is being gathered out now. Work for Israel started in England, which is yet in the lead by its many societies to acquaint Israel with their coming King. Joseph Rabinowitz, probably the most prominent Ohristian Jew of this cen- tury, has been a wonderful power for over ten years for the truth among his people in southern Russia. He is honored by his brethren, and we shall never forget the days we spent with him last year in Kishineff. Rabbi Lichtenstein, of Hungary, who has not severed his connection with the synagogue, represents another movement in Buda- Pesth. We found no difficulty whatever last year to converse with large numbers of Hebrews in towns and cities in Russia, Roun'lania, and Galicia, and found them open for the truth. Many,seemed to ask themselves, "After all, is not this Jesus of Nazareth our Messiah?" . We have already for several years sent to the East large quantities of
MISSION WORK IN THE BAlUIARY STATES
papers and tracts in jargon, publications of the Hope qf Israel Mission. We ·are therefore much in touch with the Jews in the above mentioned countries, aud know of several interesting and inspiring movements which have sprung up of late among them. In a city in Southern Russia, a Hebrew writes us that a number of Jews hold secret meetiugs for reading the New Testament. They have banded themselves together, and the writer begs for a supply of papers and tracts for his brethren. In Lodz, Poland, where the writer and also Mr. Stroeter preacht a number of times in a German church, a strong Jewish movement is now in progress, and the preaching services are attended by from 200 to 300 Jews. The pastor is asking for large quantities of our jargon monthly, the Hope of israel. In Warsaw, a city of over 200,000 Jews, Mr. Rosenzweig, who was baptized by the writer three years ago in this country, is being used by the Lord, and many inquirers and believers are gathering around him. In this country we experience no difficulty in getting a hearing wherever we go. With headquarters in New York we have reacht out to other cities, and find the Jews in our land willing and ready to listen to the leaders of the Hope of Israel Mission, who are both not converted Jews, but Gentile (German) preachers. Surely, the prayer, "Arise and have mercy upon Zion," is being answered to-day. The time to favor her, yea the set time, is coming nearer and nearer. Mayall those who love the Lord and His people, and especially who love His appearance, may they all pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
MISSION WORK IN THE BARBARY STATES.
BY EDWARD H. GLENNY, BARKING, ENGLAND.
It has often been askt how it was the primitive Church, which appeared to flourish so luxuriantly in the early centuries, was so totally extinguisht in the Barbary States. Several reasons may be given: One, that the churches were so divided and split up, that they were easily overcome by Mohammedanism; another, that they never appeared to have had the Scriptures in the vernacular Berber tongue, and further, the geographical fact that the Barbary States were practically an island, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean, on the west by the Atlantic, on the south by a desert more difficult to cross than the sea, and on the east by another desert across which there were only a few tracks. After the Mohammedan conquest the few professing Christians who were left in the Barbary States, were almost entirely cut off from their fellows in Europe, Asia, and Egypt. A few, however, did struggle on, and we find them writing a letter in 105lJ or 1054 to Pope Leo IX., askini for help. About 1074 Pope Gregory VII. wrote to the Moorish Sultan, interceding for the Christians. Some time further elapsed before the community thus severed from its fellows altogether died out.
In the days of the Crusaders profest Christians were as a rule too lacking in spirituality to attempt to evangelize the Saracens; their thought was to overcome them by the secular sword, rather than by the Sword of the Spirit. There was, however, one remarkable and interesting exception in the person of Raymond Lully. This (''hristian hero was born at Palma, in the island of Majorca, about 1235. He was of a rich and noble family, and held an honorable position in the court of the King of Aragon. He past the first part of his life in dissipation and worldly pleasures, but, when about 30 years of age, and the father of a family, he appears to have been converted, and renouncing the world, became a Franciscan friar. It then seems to have been laid on his heart to seek to convert the Mohammedans by persuasion instead of by force. To this end he studied Arabic and 'Turkish, and all the systems of philosophy, with a view to fitting him- self for his task. He said: "I see many knights who cross the sea on their way to the Holy Land, but come back without effecting their purpose. .It seems to me that the Holy Land can not be won in any other way than that whereby thou,O Lord Jesus Christ, and thy Holy Apostles won it, by love and prayer, and the shedding of tears and blood 1" Having provided for his wife and family, Lully visited Montpelier, Rome, Paris, and London, and altho kings and popes treated his spiritual crusade with mockery, he determined not to give up the effort, and in 1291 started alone for Tunis, when about 56 years of age. The Moslem teachers with whom he reasoned were less moved by his arguments, than by the earnestness of his character, but thinking that it might be dangerous to their faith to allow him to continue teaching Christian doctrines, proposed to put him to death, tho ultimately his sentence was reduced to banishment. In 1307, when over 70, he made a second attempt at Bougie, in Algeria, but was again banisht from the country. He then proposed to the Council at Vienna that missionary colleges should be founded in various places, and that a new order of religious knighthood should be establisht. His representations were so far successful, that Oriental professor- ships were founded at Paris and Oxford, and elsewhere. In 1314, when close upon 80, he went again to Bougie and instructed a little congregation who had become his disciples on his former visit. His favorite subject was, The J…ove of God revealed in Christ. He .urged with earnestness that whatever Moslems and Jews may teach of the love of God, it fell far short of the revelation of Christ's atonement. After a year of private work he made himself known, and as a result was stoned to death on June 30, 1315. Thus ended the first noble effort to re-evangelize North Africa. More than 500 years of Moorish oppression and piracy past before any further effort was made to reach these Moslems with the Gospel. After the French conquest in Algeria in 1830, the thought occurred to the Protestants of France, that they ought to seek to take the Gospel to these dark souls who were now subject to French rule, but the French government, fearing that such an effort might arouse Mohammedan fanaticism, forbade the work, with the result that further workers were sent to the Basutos of South Africa.
The next effort in these lands seems to have been made by Mr. Furness Ogle, a clergyman of the Ohurch of England. Having given up his charge, he went first of all to South America, in connection with the movement inaugurated by Allen Gardiner, but finding the climate too trying, he determined to visit Algeria. His efforts were mainly directed towards the Spaniards, but the Moors were not altogether neglected. He met with numerous difficulties in various directions, including French Roman Catholic rule under the Emperor Napoleon. After. seven years spent partly in Africa, and partly in Spain and England, this devoted man of God was wrecked and drowned on December 18th, 1865, with about 300 others, when crossing the Mediterranean. Few particulars of the last scenes are known, except that he stood with his Bible in his hand, calm in the midst of confusion. A French pastor who knew him said: "He was a man of heaven, a brother, a Ohristian of whom we were not worthy, and whom God has called to give him near to Himself a good and high place! "
The fourth effort to reach these lands was made by a London shipbroker, Mr. Wardlaw Scott, who had business dealings with the Morocco coast. He visited Morocco City, and through his influence a Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins went to Mogador with a view to reaching· the Moslems there. The cruelty and oppressio'n with which they became acquainted influenced Mrs. Hoskins' health, and before long the mission was abandoned.
In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. George Pearse, who had been laboring in France, visited Algeria with a view to circulating Scriptures and tracts amongst the French soldiers there. Whilst there, their attention was attracted by the Mohammedans, especially by the Kabyles, a branch of the aboriginal Berbers, who have peopled these lands for thousands of years. Having concluded the work in which they were engaged in Paris, at the suggestion of Mr. Grattan Guinness, who had himself visited Algeria, they re-visited the country in 1880, and while spending the autumn and following spring there, purchased a plot of land amongst the Kabyles to erect a mission house. At this time, without at all knowing what Mr. Pearse was doing, my own mind was directed to these lands, and, in the course of my inquiries, I was brought into contact with Mr. Pearse, and united with him and Mr. Guinness in establishing the mission to the Kabyles, which has since grown into the North African Mission. At this time there were no missions to the natives of the Barbary States, tho there were several pastors working amongst the French Protestants and missions to the Jews in Tunis, Algiers, and Mogador.
Since then other efforts have been inaugurated for making known the Gospel in these parts of North Africa. The British and Foreign Bible Society has establisht a regular agency in Algeria, and also in Morocco. They have now two agents and about ten colporteurs, but the amount of their sales is not at present very large. The French Wesleyans next began work amongst the Kabyles, and have now two missionaries and their wives at El Matin, not far from Bougie. Sev- eral independent workers, unconnected with any society, also took up work in Algeria.
In 1888, Mr. John Anderson, the editor of The Reaper, and now also the director of the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, visited Tangier, and seeing something of the operations of the North African Mission, determined to assist in the work of evangelization. Ulti- , mat~ly he establisht the Southern Morocco Mission, which, at the present time, has 18 workers in that region. Several missionaries connected with the Gospel Union, associated with Mr. and Mrs. Bax- ter, of the Christian Herald, have taken up work in the regency of Tunis. Mr. Hermann Harris also entered upon work there, and lastly the World's Gospel Union, of Kansas, U. S. A., have sent out eight workers to Morocco.
The following is a tabular view of the missions in the Barbary States. The classification is not very easy in the less organized efforts: LIST OF MISSIONS, WITH NUMBER OF MISBIONARIBS.
1. E~rftAT:i:I~1!~~~~_~~~~~~: ~~~~~~~~~~__________________ 75 Southern Morocco Mission ___________________________ •__ _______ __ 18 Independent Missionaries ____ . ________ . ______ __ ____ __ ___ _______ __ 12 French Wesleyans______ ______ ____ __ ____ __ ________ ____ ____ ______ 4 World's Gospel Union, Kansas, U. S. A__________________________ 8 117 2. Enga~ mainly in work amongst Jews and Europeans: Var[aonuds msoismsieoDNs,oirnthclAudfrinicganBMibliessiSooncwieotyr'kseargse_n__ts__a_n_d___c_o_lp__o_r_te_u_r_s_, 40 3. Pastors to European Colonists______ ___ ______ _____ __ ______ _____ ____ 12557 182 Most of the pastors referred to are to be found in Algeria, and are supported by the French Government. They do not, as a rule, extend their labors beyond the nominal Protestants whom they represent. Spiritual life generally amongst this community is not flourishing.
Representatives of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews of London have traveled in North Africa, and in some cases resided there for a period. The London Jews Society has, for many years, carried on its operations in Tunis, where it has large schools under the superinten- dence of Mr. Fladd. They have also work in Mogador, Morocco, where they have a native missionary and colporteur.
There is a vigorous Gospel work amongst the Spaniards of Algiers, carried on by a Spanish pastor and some helpers, and supported by an English lady. The North African Mission has also a Spanish Mission in Tangier, under the superintendence of Mr. Patrick, and there are other laborers who are seeking the salvation of the colonists from Spain. The McAll Mission maintained work in Algiers among the French for some time, but has now given it up. It is, however, carried on by Mr. and Mrs. Borel, and is not without encouragement. The Bible Society's colporteurs labor amongst all classes, but their sales are mainly amongst Europeans.
The Mohammedans of the Barbary States number more than 12 millions, as against less than one million Europeans and Jews. It is to these Moslems that most of the missionaries have gone. Considering the difficulties that always prevail in Mohammedan lands, the progress made gives cause for much thankfulness. It is true, we have not here to face the interference of Turkish officials, except in Tripoli, but, on the other hand, the jealousy of the French Government has very considerably hampered the work in Algeria. Especially amongst the Berber hill tribes is there ground for hope. Many of these speak their own tongue, and are imperfectly or totally unacquainted with Arabic, which is the religious language of Mohammedans, as Latin is of Roman Catholics. From amongst them a few in Algeria and Morocco have been led to the Savior. One is now a useful colporteur in the employ of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and in Morocco there is an interesting work going on amongst the natives of the Atlas Mountains, of which it is not deemed expedient at present to give particulars. Amongst the Arabs, also, some have been led to Christ. Satisfactory as are the results, not much can be tabulated, but those who remember the condition of the country 15 years ago, and compare it with what it is now, feel there is great cause for encouragement. The attitude of the people is very much changed, especially in those neighborhoods where they have come in contact with the missionaries. This result has been largely brought about by the influence of the missionaries' lives, and by the kindness shown in the numerous med- ,ical missions. As an instance of this, I remember, years ago, being told by the people of one of the Kabyle villages that they would never give up Mohammedanism, that, tho we labored amongst them all our lives, it would be in vain, and tho our children came after us and labored all their lives, still they would never give up their faith. Ten years later, in the same village, some had been converted, and the older people said: "Yes, Christianity is a very good religion; we are too old to abandon Mohammedanism now, but very probably our chil- dren will become Ohristians." Years ago, we were told, that if ever a Moslem became a Ohristian, he would immediately be killed. To-day, men who were Moslems, but are now Ohristians, walk at large, and it is seen that, even tho they may be persecuted in minor ways, they are not seriously molested. In some parts they know that in centuries past their forefathers profest Ohristianity, and were compelled to become Moslems through fear. These people are specially willing to listen, and we anticipate a glorious harvest in the not far distant future.
The Gospels and the Acts are now publisht in the Kabyle language from translations made by Mons. Ouendet, a Swiss brother laboring in the North Africa Mission. Other portions are translated, and will in due course be printed and publisht. In Algeria it is found best to use the Roman characters; in Morocco, Arabic characters are used so far as the work has been carried on by Mr. Mackintosh.
,The Tuaregs, who inhabit the Sahara, are a most interesting peo- ple, tho so fierce and warlike, that it is very difficult to reach them. They alone of all the ancient Berber races have preserved their written characters. The women as well as the men are reported to read and write, and, strange to say, the women hold a position of respect in their families, which seems unknown in any other Moham- medan land. At present they are quite unreacht by the Gospel, but it is hoped before long to do something for them.
Though only three or four days journey from London, there are still very large regions in all these countries quite untoucht by mis- sionaries. In the province of Oonstantine, in eastern Algeria, for instance, there are one million and a quarter of Mohammedans, with only a missionary and his wife and three other ladies to work among them. In Tripoli, only the city is occupied; the whole of the remainder of the country is untoucht.
The opposition of the French has made it necessary to close some of the mission stations, and in the province of Oran, with nearly one million of natives, there are at present only two ladies working among them. While, therefore~ there is cause for thankfulness on account of the progress that has been made, it is necessary to pray earnestly for an increast number of laborers, increast liberty, and, above all, for more of the power of the Spirit of God in the hearts of His servants and upon the consciences of those who hear.
What hath God wrought? The political power of Mohammedan- ism in North Africa is broken, the political barriers which prevented the Gospel entering have been broken down. It now remains for the Ohurch of Ohrist to go forward, not with carnal weapons, but with spiritual, and gather out from these long-deluded Mohammedans a people for the Lord.
METHODS AND RESULTS OF loIISSION8 IN BGYPT
METHODS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS IN EGYPT.
BY REV. ANDREW WATSON, D.D., CAIRO, EGYPT.
Mission work in Egypt is carried on at the present: (1) By a small Holland society, which has only one foreign missionary, whose work is restricted to two small places about eight miles north of Cairo, in which there are schools and evangelistic meetings. (2) By the North African Mission, which, a few years ago, sent missionaries to labor in the Delta among Moslems. Their labors are confined, for the most part, to Alexandria, and consist in teaching a small girls' school, in reading to and teaching patients, in attending the clinic, in holding conversations with persons in their homes and shops, and in occasional tours to the villages by means of the river and large canals. (3) By the Church Missionary Society, whose missionaries conduct mission work at three points in Cairo and the suburbs. In connection with this society there is a medical department with a new hospital at Old Cairo in a most needy district. There are also schools for boys and girls, and divine service on the Lord's Day and on other days. (4) The American United Presbyterian Mission, with which the writer is connected, commenced work in Cairo about the beginning of December, 1854, and is carrying on, at the present time, educational or evangelistic work, or both, in 197 places. The native Egyptians among whom mission work is carried on are, for the most part, either Moslems or Copts. The proportion of the former to the latter is about ten to one. The local government is Mohammedan. The customs and habits of the people are Mohammedan. Even the so-called Christians and Jews have, to a .large extent, adopted the sociology of the Moslems. Friday is the weekly day of rest, and Moslem holidays are those kept by the government. The treatment of women in the home is practically the same with the Copt and the Moslem. The opinion that they are naturally inferior to the men, and were created for the men's pleasure, ease, or profit is almost universal. Ignorance of the way of salvation is nearly the same among Copts who have not been subject to Protestant influences, as among the Moslems. The former know Christ as the son of Mary, but of salvation by the grace of God, through belief in a crucified Savior, of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, of Christian life in Christ, and the indissoluble connection betwee,u. true faith and a pure life of obedience, they seem as ignorant as the followers of Mohammed. Bearing the name of Christians, and being the lineal descendants of the primitive church of Christ in Egypt, the Copts are dear to us. We look upon them much as Paullookt upon the Jews as the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and it is our heart's desire and prayer to God that they may be saved. They have a zeal, but it is not according to knowledge. They are seeking for righteousness by fasting, by repeating psalms, by keeping feasts~ by building churches, but they do not seek it where it is to be found. They, like the Mohammedans, are sinners needing a Savior. The missionary work is to tell them of Him who is the pro- pitiation for the sins of the whole world-Mohammedan, corrupt Ohristian, heathen-and has issued to the Ohurch the great commis- sion: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- ture."
METHoDs.-The methods employed in conducting mission work are various. Itineracy, education, book distribution, Sabbath-schools, house visitation.
ltineracy.-Much was done in this line of work in the carly history of our mission. In those days the railway extended, only as far south as Oairo, and, therefore, the only means of easy communication with places south of Oairo was the Nile. As the Nile valley is compara- tively narrow, only occasionally being more than ten miles wide and often less, it was apparent to the older missionaries that most towns could be reacht with comparative ease from the river. So they pur- chased a Nile boat (the Ibis 'Ie), and made in it annual and often semi- annual visits, either to the north or to the south of Oairo. On these occasions the missionary on board took along with him a supply of Scriptures and other religious books. These books he sold on the boat or hawkt in the towns and villages. A resting-place was often found in the court of a Ooptic church or in a Ooptic school, or in some little shop. At these places books were sold, discussions held, questions askt and answered, and the Scriptures read, while invitations were given to visit the boat and attend the service in the evening, which was short, simple, intended to set forth the sinners' needs, and God's provision to supply them. Hundreds of villages were thus visited year by year, and seed sown, that grew and brought forth fruit to the glory of God. Subsequently, when a system of colportage was establisht for all Egypt, the sale of the Scriptures, etc., by the mission- ary was given up, and he restricted his labors to religious conversa- tions, and preaching with especial reference to the edification of the small nuclei of evangelicals, who, sometimes in spite of excommunica- tion and persecution, and sometimes, in consequence of them, met together at various places for prayer and the reading of the Word. As the number of native workers increast, and the field was appor- tioned between them, the necessity for itineracy by the foreign mis- sionary became less imperative. A system of volunteer visitation was devised by :pro Hogg, and carried out by the regular native workers.
'. By this plan the enlightened young men, and sometimes the middle- • Still doing service for Christ. aged, too, went out to the surrounding villages on Sabbath afternoons and read and talkt with whomsoever they met. In many places this system oontinues to this day, and has been the means of great good to those visiting and those visited. Many places have been opened in this way, and many have been brought to a knowledge of the truth and to a saving trust in the Lord. At the present time there are under the direction of the Egyptian Presbytery about 65 native workers. At the centers, as well as at the other places where they reside, nightly meetings are conducted throughout the year, as well as public worship and Sabbath-sohools on the Lord's day. In the absence of the regular worker at the other villages in his district, services are conducted by the teacher or by some brother recognized as best qualified to profit the hearers. These nightly meetings for singing, praying, and conference are generally held six times every week, and at present in 143 places, with an average attendance of 4,441, which, when we remember that the membership on Dec. 31, 1896, was only 5,355, is not a bad showing. These meetings, I think, form a special feature of religious work in Egypt, and have been one of the chief means of reaching the unbelievers, and edifying believers. I know many centers in which they have been continued for from ten to fifteen years.
Education.-This method of work has been used from the beginning. The reasons for it are various. In some places the opening of a school secured an entrance into a town ltnd a hearing among its inhabitants, when other means failed. Through the children the missionary gets access to the parents and other members of the family. Through the children a copy of the Scriptures finds its way to the homes, and is read, often aloud at first, to show how the son or daughter is learning to read. Through teaching. the children the number of those able to read the Scriptures and other religious books -is increast. The school-house affords a plaoe for a meeting of the adults to study God's Word, to sing God's praise, and to call upon Him for His blessing. Through the schools general knowledge is diffused, superstitions removed, bigoted opposition overcome. No fact is more potent than this, that the children educated in mission schools, whether they are of Mohammedan parentage or Coptic, are generally well-disposed toward the missionaries, often their sincere friends, and though they may not profess publicly their belief in the doctrines of our evangelical faith, they are no longer impelled by bigoted opposition to the truth, and often, in many ways, so conduct themselves toward the missionaries as to convey the impression that they wish them aU success. But the great reason for encouraging' education and employing this method of carrying out in spirit the great commission, is to secure thereby trained, intelligent, and pious workers.
Our veterans, now resting from their labors, saw from the beginning that the evangelization of Egypt could never be accomplisht by foreign missionaries alone, nor by them chiefly. Very early in the history of the American mission they saw the necessity of training natives to be workers for Christ in this land. To secure this end there must be, first, primary schools, where, from the earliest years, the principles and practices of our holy religion would be taught, and where habits and customs so numerous and so utterly inconsistent with the Christianity of God's Word would be rooted up. Then the higher schools, where the elements of the sciences would be learned, seemed also necessary, in order to meet the questions continually arising from contact with resideuts and travelers from the West. Then, too, the theological school for the special training of those young men who, after passing through the primary schools and academy, were moved to consecrate their lives to the service of Christ and the salvation of sinners. The primary schools, numbering now about 156, with an attendance of about 8,000 pupils, have only a nominal connection with the mission, and are, for the most part, parochial schools in connection with the congregations, or under the supervision of intelligent natives, and mostly at the expense of the natives themselves. The others are the higher schools, including the college at Asyut, in which the main object is the superior training of workers for the evangelization of Egypt. Of course, many are trained who seek employment in government and in the various branches of business; but without these training institutions, we could not have the workers whom we so much need.
The distribution of books.-Perhaps more than any other mission in the East we have used this means of reachiug the people with the Gospel. I am certain, too, that it has been greatly blest. The whole of the Nile valley, from Alexandria up to the first cataract, is now divided among 26 colporteurs, who are constantly plying their vocation, carrying along every street, and into every village and town, copies of the Scriptures in the language of the people, and many other books, such as "The Pilgrim's Progress," "Baxter's Call to the Unconverted," "'rhe Work of the Spirit," "The Only Way," and controversial books on "Mohammedanism and Romanism, aud Copticism," etc. This arm of the mission service imposes heavy burdens on the missionary directing the shopmen and colporteurs, and keeping a strict account of their sales, as well as keeping up the stock by purchases from places far and near, but I believe the good result abundantly compensates for all the outlay of time and labor. The number of volumes of Scriptures and parts put in circulation, and, for the most part, sold by the mission since its commencement, is 248,486, and of other books, either religious or educational, a much greater number. Until recently our mission has been the only means of supplying the people throughout the Nile valley with books of an evangelizing and purifying character, and it believes its work in this depart- ment has been a great blessing to many. Much more needful is this department here than our Church Boards of Publication at home. Outside of the two cities of Cairo and Alexandria no one can find a place in Egypt in which to purchase a Bible, or any religious book, except from the book-stores and colporteurs of the mission.
House-to-h01.tse visiting by the lady missionaries is an important method of reaching the women, and is used successfully in several large cities and towns in which foreign missionaries reside. They also employ, and superintend the teaching work of nearly 50 native workers, whose time is spent in giving religious instruction to women in their homes. In no other way can many women be reacht by the Gospel, and, tho this method of seeking opportunities for obeying the great commission is laborious, and attended with much that is hard on human nature to bear, yet it has proved very stimulating to those who have begun the Christian life, and very useful in bringing hearers to the public religious meetings.
REsuLTs.-There are many in Egypt, who, tho they have little sym- I pathy with the evangelistic department of the mission work, do not hesitate to ascribe to the mission the impetus given to the cause of education, and the diffusion of a healthy literature. Excepting Cairo and Alexandria, there were, in 1854, no government schools in the country, and no schools where anything beyond simple reading and writing were taught. Indeed, there was almost no desire for education. When the mission opened schools iu the villages, instruction was given gratuitously, and the parents considered they were doing a favor by sending their children to the mission schools. The missionaries, in their daily contact with the people, urged them to educate their children, and induced them to do so by showing them the advantages to be derived, both moral and material. Gradually schools were establisht throughout the country, more especially in the Upper Country, some of them independent, some by the Oopts and Catholics to oppose the mission schools, until now the provincial towns have their highclass government schools, and the' Copts and Catholics vie with the Protestants in encouraging education. The greater part of the pupils now pay tuition, from 25 cents to $5, a month, according to the number of languages and sciences studied. The number of readers, and the desire for knowledge have greatly increast, as may be seen from the number of daily, weekly, and monthly papers which are issued. In 1854 there was one newspaper in Alexandria and another in Cairo, but no one was seen selling them on the streets. Now there are many dailies, both in Alexandria and Cairo, and the weeklies and monthlies are still more numerous, while ~he hawkers of newspapers seem as numerous and persistent as in the West. Everywhere, in the cafes and shops, at the doors of private houses, at the stations of the railways, and places of public concourse, venders and readers of the newspapers can be seen. I do not pretend that this is the result of the mission alone, but I have no hesitation in saying that it has had a large share in bringing about this state of things, and in carrying on these evidences of growing civilization, as may be proved by looking at the present personnel of those who edit and publish the best papers in the country.
2. Next there are the converts to Christianity, those who have left the faith of their fathers and mothers and joined the mission com- munities by public profession of their faith in a personal Savior. There are at present about 5,500, not counting those who have died in the faith. While we can not assert that all these are true followers of the Lamb, seeking to glorify Him in their daily walk, still we are sure that many of them give good evidence of the reality of their conversion. Some who commenced well have fallen away, and others are tares that can not be rooted up; but enough remain faithful to encourage the workers, and to show that the Gospel is still the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. Comparatively few of these are from among the followers of the false prophet, perhaps sixty all told in the history of our mission, and one or two in the others.
3. The gathering and organization of a native church for the pre- servation and extension of the kingdom of Christ and the salvation of souls. To save souls has not been the only aim of the mission. It has also had in view the establishing of a native evangelical church, having the power of the Spirit for its own preservation and develop- ment. There are at present 40 organized churches, with their bench of elders and deacons and 23 native pastors. These pastors, with an elder, meet in Presbytery with the ordained missionaries, and take an active part in all the business connected with the 143 stations at which religious services are held more or less statedly. There are besides, under the direction of Presbytery already mentioned, 21 licenciates who have finisht their theological studies, 10 local preachers who are employed in religious work all the year, and 9 theological students for 5 months. These, in addition to 272 teachers, the great majority of whom have not made public profession of their faith in Christ as their personal Savior, may be reckoned among the results of the mission work in Egypt. Add to these the contributions of the native churches and communities for religious purposes, amounting to over *16,000 in 1896. These results, altho far from reaching what should have been teacht had the workers always been faithful, and the people realized their duty and acted in accordance therewith, yet they afford reasons for gratitude to Him who has promist that His word shall not return to Him void, and encouragement to the workers to be more, earnest and devoted in the future. THE OUTLOOK.-With the experience of the past, with the large number of foreign and native laborers now on the field, with the occupation of so many central points, with the large number of evangelical books in the hands of the people, and with the beneficent and religious work carried on in Alexandria, Tanta, Benha, Cairo, and Asyut by Christian physicians filled with the Spirit of the Great Physician, we would expect to see the kingdom of God extend rapidly and the number of believers greatly multiplied in the near future, and we have no little assurance and hope that this will be the case. Certainly there is great reason for encouragement to go forward in obedience to the Master's call; but I can not conceal the fact that I do not see a perfectly clear sky before us.
1. The leading Moslems everywhere are against us, and in secret use their influence to prevent the establishment of Protestant institutions, the spread of Christian principles, and the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges. The social proscription of converts from Islam is just as strong as ever. Books and pamphlets against Christianity are openly publisht and circulated, while the" powers that be;" tho nominally Christian, deprecate any attempt to publish replies, ou the plea of fear of disturbing the public peace. The principles of justice and liberty are often disregarded to please the Mohammedan majority. This being seen by them, only strengthens the feeling of their own importance as compared with non-Moslem sects.
2. The large number of Oopts educated in our schools, but unregenerated by the Spirit of God, have united in an effort to enlighten and civilize their own people. While they acknowledge their obligation to the mission for the education they have received, and the stimulus given along the lines of civilization, they have little or no sympathy with us in our desires to lead sinners to the Savior and teach the pure Gospel. They are establishing schools on their own account, and generally at places where there are flourishing mission schools, and by giving higher wages to teachers, and offering better terms to the pupils, and appealing to racial prejudices, they are doing not a little to break np the work of the mission, while they do nothing to evangelize their pupils.
3. Our own work has advanced to the stage of progress when some of the native converts naturally begin to think they can stand alone, and are becoming restive under the direction of the missionaries. We are, indeed, glad to see the spirit of a Christian manhood and independence developing; and if it showed itself in all lawful directions, at least in the more important directions, we would rejoice. But it shows itself more in wishing to control than in contributing, more in material things than in spiritual, and too often by those having the least wisdom and spiritual power.
The missionaries need the spirit of prudence and wisdom to guide
lIISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALES'rINE
them in doing their part to develop a vigorous, spiritual, and evangelizing native church in Egypt; for with a people consecrating themselves and their worldly means to the Lord, and a native ministry free from the spirit of the hireling, and burning with the desire to save souls, great results would soon be manifest.
THE GREAT NEED.-The great need at present here as everywhere, is the outpouring ofthe Spirit. Knowledge has been largely diffused, congregations have been organized, schools establisht, mission agencies of various kinds set in motion all through the land. What is wanting is the Spirit in mighty pentecostal power upon all. Lord, open the windows of heaven and give us this blessing I MISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALESTINE.
BY ERNEST W. GURNEY MASTERMAN, F.R.C.S., F.R.G.S.
A peculiar romance attaches itself to the idea of trying to bring the knowledge of Ohristianity to the Jews in their ancient land. From the first establishment of English missions to the Jews in the present century the idea of making Jerusalem the point of special aggression filled the minds of the originators, and so we find Jewish mission work begun among the Jews of Jerusalem as early as 1823. But ifromance points to Palestine as a land of special interest, practical work daily shows that it is likewise a land of special difficulties. These difficulties, too, do not in any degree diminish as time goes on. The powers wielded by the rabbis in the large communities, and by the managers of the recently organized" colonies" in the country districts, are bitterly opposed to all Ohristian effort and, it must be admitted, make it exceedingly difficult to carryon evangelistic effort as it should be. lt is scarcely ever possible for a Jew to candidly examine Ohristianity before throwing in his lot with the Ohristian missions. A little visiting of missionaries' homes, an occasional attendance at some service, and he is at once cut off from his community and friends. In European and American communities the Jews can neither watch each other so closely, nor have so many opportunities of persecuting the inquirer. In the Holy Land the community is practically self-governing, the Ohief Rabbi in Jerusalem being directly under the Sultan. The power thus swayed over the individual members of the community is consequently enormous, and were it not for eternal divisions and jealousies between its different sections, they certainly could make Palestine missions to the Jews well-nigh impossible. .
The Jewish population of Palestine proper may be put in round numbers at about 50,000.* Three-fifths of this number live in and around Jerusalem, and the remainder chiefly at Safed, Yebenes, Jaffa, and Hebron. Some 3,000 or so are scattered on the coast towns (Gaza, Acre, Haifa, Tyre, and Sidon) and throughout the country. There are indeed no towns and few large villages without some Jews -it may be one or two families only. Then another 3,000 or so must be settled in the recently started jewish agricultural" colonies."
The Jews in the four sacred cities, Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias, are largely immigrants, and a considerable proportion receive Haluka, or a pension from their co-religionists .in Europe. As many of these Jews have come to the Holy Land in failing health, to spend on sacred soil their declining years it is only fair they should . have some such source of support. Since the community has so largely increased in the past 15 years, the Haluka has had to be divided among an ever-increasing number, and consequently there has been less for each individual. The Haluka, being left in the hands of the leading rabbis for distribution, affords a good means for bringing to book any. family that has a son or daughter being drawn aside by the "enticers," i. e., the missionaries. A dutiful son must hesitate when he sees that his religious inquiries are about to reduce his family to beggary by causing their pension to be stopped. As may be supposed ~he Haluka is not enough for all, and so we find the poorer Jews in every part of the land in all kinds of trades: watr.hmakers, tailors, bookbinders, carriage drivers, pedlars, etc., and contrasted with the habits of the natives, they are diligent, clever and successful.
In Jerusalem the community has long ago overflowed the narrow limits allowed to them within the ancient walls, and now groups of houses havll sprung up on all sides, so that far more Jews live outside than inside the old city limits. The new groups of houses are usually known as "colonies "-each group being built and administered by a committee. One of the largest of such colonies is that built by Sir Moses Montifiore some years ago. It has come to .be one of the best known from its situation close to the new railway station at Jerusalem. These" colonies" must not be confused with the true agricultural "colonies," which have lately risen in such numbers in the land. These last have a very different purpose. They exist to train Jews to agricn4tural pursuits and to eventually demonstrate to the world the possibility of the Jews successfully living upon the land of their forefathers. They are the outcome of the now much talked of "Zionist" movement and the success which has attended at any rate some of them, has no doubt given a very great impulse to this movement. One of the most extraordinary misstatements about the land of Pales- tine is that recently made in the London Times, t professedly q lOted • Without Beyrout and Damascus, which would add another 15,000.
t Sept., 1897.
"COLONY" OF POOR JEWS, )fEAR
JEWISH "COLONIES" OU'l'SIDE THE WALLS OF JERl;SALEM.
lIlISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALESTINE
from the Chief Rabbi of London, viz., that Palestine is a dry, sandy waste, and already overpopulated. Now the colonies have clearly demonstrated, first, that the land in all parts yields a ready harvest to patient toil, and second, that the present unfruitful and sterile condition of this once rich land is due to want of cultivation. Let the land once be replanted with fruit-giving trees, let it be irrigated, let the terraces on the mountain sides and the ancient cisterns on all the hills be repaired, and the land may once again be describad. in Eastern imagery as "flowing with milk and honey." It would be beyond the purposes of this paper to enter into a full description of these colonies, but briefly it may be mentioned that about 150 square miles of territory has now been acquired for colonizing purposes, and that now, after a considerable expenditure of capital in original outlay, some of these are becoming really self-supporting. Upwards of a dozen colonies are now in full working order in Judea-two (includ- ing the largest colony of all Samaria) in Samaria, six in Galilee, and two in the Hauran. The houses are built on European models; exten- sive gardens, including often pleasure grounds, are laid out and when necessary, modern carriage roads have been made. It is possible to drive in carriages to all the colonies, including even the new ones in the Hauran; roads of upwards of 40 miles have only last year been made to connect with the railways and other colonies.
The healthy farm life is developing a race of stalwart agriculturists of very different physique from their ancestors of the European "ghetto." 'l'he sultan, evidently alarmed at the" Zionist" movement, is passing more and more stringent laws excluding Jews, and is making it increasingly difficult to acquire land. On the whole, it is probably much better that what has been done on a small scale should consolidate, and its lessons be learned before further ventures are made. Should, however, the Jews become united in their desire for acquiring Palestine, and should the wealthier ones come to the front with the funds, there is not the slightest doubt as to the feasibility of their repopulating its neglected areas, and transforming in a few years the whole land into a scene of fertility and plenty. All this, however, would, I fear, not make mission work easier~at least along its present lines. The colonies under Rothschild are quite inaccessible to any missionary efforts other than hurried visits, and even medical missions do not find much room for entrance, for good medical men and dis- pensaries are provided in all the larger cities.
The Jews of Palestine, as might be supposed, are from many lands, and speak many languages, but they have a common mode of com- munication among themselves in Hebrew. Judea-German and Judea- ,Spanish are the common languages of the Judean Jewish cities; but both Arabic and French are largely being introduced. Persian, Georgean, Turkish, and Mugleralin Arabic are also much used in Jerusalem. Great efforts are being made in some of the Jewish centres-and notably at Safed-to reintroduce Hebrew as a common daily language. The MISSIONARY SOCIETIES working among the Jews of Palestine are: 1. The London Society f())' the Promotion of CkriBtianitll amwng the J6'/JJ8, a Church of England society, and the tirst Jewish society to work in the country. Their permanent stations are Jerusalem, Safed, Jaffa, and Damascus. They also visit Hebron and other smaller centres by itinerating tours. They employ six ordained and four medical missionaries, and a staff of about thirty lay helpers. Several of the clergy and more than half the lay helpers are proselytes.
2. TlUJ Free Church of Scotland has stations at Tiberias and Safed. The European staff consists of one minister, one ordained and one unordained medical missionary; two lady nurses, and about eight native helpers.
3. The Bilhop of Jerusalem has a small work in Jerusalem and a station at Haifa. The bishop employs his chaplains (generally two or three), one native medical missionary, five or six European ladies, and a few native teachers.
Altho not actually in Palestine proper, yet near enough to be associated with this work, I may mention the station of the Eatooliiht Church of Scotland, in Beyrout, especially noticeable for its large and successful Jewish schools.
There are several small independent missions also, such as that of the Rev. Brother Oliel in Jerusalem, and of Mr. Joseph in Haifa.
The methods employed by all these missions consist of schools (both children's and technical), working meetings, classes in English, medical missions, and services. ~'hese last-mentioned are put last, because apart from some special means of gathering an audiencesuch as those mentioned before-they are not very successful. Openair services in the Turkish dominions are practically impossible. The medical mission hospitals and dispensaries, working meetings, magiclantern entertainments, school treats, etc., all, however, aflord opportunities for preaching the Gospel.
Of the schools, those for boarders, and of the medical missions, those with hospitals, are undoubtedly the most successful in every way. Boarding-schools for Jewish boys and girls exist in Jerusalem, and hospitals for Jewish in-patients in Jerusalem, Haifa, Tiberias, and Safed.
The new medical mission hospital at Jerusalem, under the London society, is a magnificent building, and probably for its size one of the finest medical mission hospitals in the world. It is built in the pavillon system, with every modern appliance. Unfortunately the Jews are making every effort to prevent its usefulness by preventing their co-religionists from attending, and by providing other hospitals and gratuitous medical advice. It is natural that .fanaticism should run highest in Israel's holy city. Indeed, this is the open reason for the present organized opposition.
As regards results, it must be confest there is much to discourage. The amount of temporal good done is great. Direct good by healing
CHURCH AND STATE IN RUSSIA
the sick, educating the ignorant, teaching of trades, the introduction of many Western things and ideas, and indirect good by the stirring up of a spirit of emulation, whereby the Jews of Europe have been shamed into helping their poorer coreligionists in Palestine. More important, too, undoubtedly a widespread knowledge of many of the great ideas of Christianity has now taken the place of utter ignorance and misunderstanding. To many of the Jews from Russia, etc., their old idea of our sacred religion must have been that it was 8 dense superstition, whose leading tenet was persecution of all who did not agree with it. Now thousands have come to understand that the religion of Christ is one of love, and a knowledge of the life of our Lord and of the New Testament is widely diffused.
There are, of course, baptisms yearly-perhaps an average of nearly twenty-and not a few who have learned the truth in this land have been received into the Christian Church in lands where there is greater religious liberty.
It .must be admitted, however, that if the number of baptisms were the only criterion of success, then compared with many other lands, Palestine is not a successful field. We, however, who are working here, believe that that is a false test, and that, in spite of the special difficulties, this, the land of Israel's past and of her future, is a land in which it is well worth while, and in which it is our bounden duty to try to plant the Banner of Israel's Messiah.
OHUROH AND STATE IN RUSSIA.-IL BY VLADIMIR SOLOVIEF.
From the beginning of the Muscovite epoch, Christianity lost its universal quality in the consciousness of the Russian people; it was changed into a religious attribute of the Russian nation. The Church ceast to be an independent social body; it amalgamated itself with the national empire and accommodated itself entirely to its political task and historical nature. Everyone who is acquainted with Russian history and with our present condition will recognize the truth of this.
The late Mr. Katkof often referred to it as to our principle of historical superiority. I allow myself to quote another more competent testimony, not on account of its great authority (which is not even necessary if the fact be clear) but because never before has the original cause of our clerical-imperial polity been shown with such plainness, eloquence, and historical truth. In his work "Ohurch and State, a reply to Count Leo Tolstoi," Nikanor Archbishop of Kherson and Odessa, writes as follows : " It is known why and how the Church and State met in Russia. • • • Our forefathers, freedom-loving nomads, having lived on their broad soil perhaps for thousands of years, decided to renounce their freedom and to call Varagian princes to their country; they told them 'Our soil is broad and habitable, but there is no order in the land; come hither and reign over us.' Thus the empire took its rise. But this first empire had neither a personal nor a local center. Rurik lived in Novgorod, but Oleg prefered Kief, and Sujatoslar set his mind on Bulgaria. The most important fact was that Rurik and his brothers did not bring with them the imperial principle, but the family and hereditary principle; which dismembered rather than united the Russian people. Then began the beneficent mission of the Holy Orthodox Church for the Russian nation and empire. We will not enter into details, but only name the principal traces of this clerical-imperial mission.
" The Orthodox Church brought with it to Russia the idea of , Grand Dukes,' as having been ordered of God; they were to be governors, rulers, and highest judges of the subjugated nations. This idea did away with the Varagian-Slavonic idea of the duke-a bold leader of the yeomen, over whom he reigns with fire, iron, and wood. The Church brought from Byzantium the idea of empire, setting aside the Varagian idea-that soil and people belonged to the dukes, and could be dismembered by them as personal possessions. The Church confirmed the unity of the national self-consciousness/ it bound the people through the one unity of faith to the one heavenly Father, to whom they prayed in one language, which from this time remained for all Slavonic tribes the one native and holy language. The Church created first one and then another sanctuary for the people in Kief and in Moscow; there it fixt the dwelling of the all-1tniting imperial power through their blessings, prayers, and the 'concentration of the clerical state. The Church brought to Russia the civilization, imperial laws and regUlations of the Byzantin Empire concerning rank. The Church alone collected together the small Russian principalities, which were even more divided than the old Slavonic tribes. From the beginning the Church had gathered together the Russian people, princes, towns, countries, crushed under the Mongolian yoke. The Church made out of the weak Muscovite prince a grand duke and more-a Tzar. The Byzantine idea of autocracy was thus transplanted to Russia. The Church bestowed the anointing oil of the old Greek Orthodox monarchs upon the Tzar of Moscow and all Russia. The consequence of this was that the Orthodox Faith united the Russians into a national unity, subject only to the will of the " , Anointed of the Lord.' "
Thus speaks the holy Nikanor. The spiritual powers of the Rus- sian people, represented by the Church, in accordance with this true picture, therefore devoted them to one historical task, the creation and strengthening of the absolute monarchy. We know how necessary this task was. In the Muscovite epoch the national political task demanded such great all-devouring measures, that for the conscious- ness of the people all other aims were shut out; the high principles of Christian universalism were forgotten, and their practical view of the world took on a heathenish character. The process of solidifying the State was a historical necessity, but it was united with deep abnormal events in the life of the people and led to spiritual degeneration. One should look upon the development of our national organism in the Muscovite epoch as on a tedious dangerous illness of growth. For example, one does not see in the reign of Ivan IV. the expression of a sound social life ; nor can. one see in such a God-fearing Tzar, who kills his bishop unhindered, a normal expression of the clerical-imperial circumstances. This illness of growth reacht its climax in the seventeenth century, and then followed the definite change. In the reign of Alexis Michavilvitch the principal aim of this unhealthy proces!:! was attained. Thanks to uniting Ukrania and Little Russia with the Muscovite Empire, both the extremes of the Russian nation were soldered together, and the name of Tzar and Autocrat of all the Rp.ssias was no longer a mere title. At this time also, in Moscow, the absolute monarchy, after a hard struggle, overcame the belated pretensions of a barren clericalism (affair of the patriarch Nikon) as well as an uncultured people's premature strivings after religious liberty (affair of old ritualism).
We know that the creation of the absolute monarchy in Russia was the work of the Church. As Nikanor says: it "brought up" the Muscovite Empire, amI this was its historical task. But how can the foster-father emulate his grown-up fosterchild? Having performed his duty, should he not withdraw? But in the name of the clerical power, the patriarch Nikon sought to destrcy abruptly the very thing npon which that power had workt successfully for many centuries. In Russia, the clericalism which inspired Nikon was but an abstract doctrine, without any historical ground to it. By confirming its spiritual power as an unconditional independent principle, and by placing it apart from and above the State and people, he provoked both State and people. There were in Russia no common elements upon which he could rely for the realization of his idea. Being obliged to look out for a support outside of Russia he applied to Byzantium, the source of our ecclesiastical system. He attackt Russian nationalism and set up against it Greek nationalism. "By birth, I am a Russian, but by education and faith a Greek," says he. These words prove the untenability of his enterprise. The~e was no necessity why the Russian people should change their native heathendom for another-the" Russian faith " for the" Greek faith." "Greek faith" might help Nikon in his work of correcting the errors in the books, but not in that of emancipating the Church from the State. The preponderance of the secular power over the clerical, against which Nikon fought, was but the repetition of what had taken place much earlier in Byzantium. The abstract-minded Nikon could only hope for aid from the Tzar-devoted Greeks against the Tzar himself. Nikon was handed over to his enemies and judged by the eastern hierarchy for conspiracy against the State. Only then Nikon saw in what relation the Greek faith stood to his clerical ideal. The Metro- politan of Kazan, Paissi Ligarid, explained to him that on the imperial armorial bearings, which Moscow had received from Byzantium, are the two heads of the Roman eagle. These are to signify two princip~l powers which in the same measure belong undividably to the autocrat, viz.: the power over the Empire and over the Ohurch, the administra- tion of secular and clerical affairs;-from this follows, that the Ortho- dox Tzar, and he alone possesses the fullness of power on earth, and that above him is none but God.
In this way the fundamental fact of our history was confirmed in a clear and simple formula, and was elevated to the height of an unconditional principle; Greek patriarchs presided over the council in Moscow (1667), and solemnly confirmed the notion of the Ohurch, as a function of the imperial organism. The council had with logical ,inalterability to condemn Nikon as well as the old ritualists, viz., in the one case from the clerical idea of the Ohurch as an independent and supreme spiritual power, and in the other case from the national democratic idea of the Ohurch as bound to the orthodox Russian people, which inalterably guarded the traditions of their homes. One can find sound ideal elements as well in the hierarchic protest of Nikon as in the democratic protest of the old ritualists against an official church. But it is plain that a practical result of this protest was neither possible nor desirable. It is clearly evident under what new arbitrary power the barren clericalism would bring the lives of the people. So far as the old ritualistic movement with its negative truth in relation to the official Ohurch was concerned, it was essentially the extreme expression of the heathen degeneracy into which Russia relapsed during the Muscovite epoch. The acknowleqgment of the unconditional inalterability of the local and temporal tradition, annihilated Ohristian universalism and Ohristian progress. In this, old ritualism showed its practical untenability. It confirmed itself as the national Russian Ohurch; that means the highest religious form of the national unity. But soon it transpired that the Russian people (in an important majority) saw the thing in another light. It chose for its bond not the religious, but the political form of unity; it declared itself not as a church, but as au empire. Who, amongst our people, knows anything about a Russian Ohurch, the patriarchs, etc.? But everybody knows and understands what are the Russiau Empire aud the Tzar. By wishing to represent Russian nationality in its unity, old ritualism became but a religious sect ;-instead of uniting Russia, it became subject to many a subdivision. – Translated by Nr$. A. S. Howe.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Specifio Dona.tions. Do They Help or Dr. Hardie's putting of the argument for specific work by specific persons is Hinder? substantially that which underlies all the attempts of the Student Volunteers In a communication from Dr. Hardie, in the several institutions, to support a whose articles on "Religion in Korea" missionary in whole or in part among will be read with interest, he refers to themselves. How this works may be the matter of specific work in missions. seen in the increast interest among the Dr. Hardie and his wife went to Korea institutions where this policy is purfirst in 1890, under the auspices of the sued. A.t the meeting of the Student Toronto Medical Students' Young Volunteers, in Cleveland, it was ascer- Men's Christian A.ssociation. Dr. Har- tained that colleges and seminaries die says: combined had contributed, during the preceding year, fifteen thousand dollars " In order to the best attainment of to foreign missions over and above the object of the mission, the carrying what they had previously given. Under on of foreign work also is necessary. the influence of this mission the dona- Zeal for any cause can be developt only tions steadily increast, until, in 1897, it in proportion as that zeal finds expres- was found that the colleges'alone, withsion in practice, and nothing else so in- out the seminaries, contributed that terests young people in any work as year over twenty-five thousand dollars having a part in it distinctively their more than they had given before the own. To make the matter personal, movement started. It was declared to to place them in a position where they be a conservative statement that the will think of and work and pray for our colleges and seminaries combined gave own mission and our missionaries is in- over forty thousand dollars that year finitely more effective in arousing in- for foreign missions. Now this stateterest than anything less definite could ment does not stand alone. It is acbe. To meet this need, the Canadian companied with another, which is sig- Colleges' Mission is carrying on medical nificant in this connection. This forty and evangelistic work in Korea." thousand dollars came almost entirely from between eighty and ninety insti- Dr. Hardie explains, however, the tutions, which were in whole or in part limitations of the design thus: "The sustaining representatives of their own foreign work of the Canadian Colleges' on some foreign mission field. The in- Mission stands to the work at home in fluence of this overflowed to a number the relation of means to end, and it is of individual churches, who, inspired not the intention of the mission to send by this example, concluded that they, out, under its own auspices, more than too, could advlillce their contributions to three or four missionaries. Its chief a figure which would enable them to aim is to 80 enthuse students with the support a missionary of their own. spirit of missions, and to so train and practice them in the organization, con- There is an element of this same induct, and support of missionary work, spiration from specific responsibility, that when they leave college to enter which also inheres in the several upon the wider sphere of life-work, it women's missionary organizations., The may be as zealous missionaries or intel- societies were carrying on some work ligent and self-sacrificing supporters of among the women of heathen lands bethe missionary boards of the various fore the women of the Christian denominations to which they may belong." churches took this department on them- class of givers who believe that the selves. There can be no doubt of thein- societies' officers have a much wider and creast impulse that stirred the women juster view of the total needs of the of the churches, when they came to be fields, and who are willing their con- responsible for a special department of tributors should "press the button and the general work. They, in the first let them do the rest." The writer place became far better informed about knows of some of the most widely ihe actual conditions of the women informed and zealous donors and sup- in mission fields, and set themselves porters of missions, who distrust their to a systematic study of foreign con- own judgment, and prefer that the re- ditions, which marks the movement as sponsibility of distribution shall rest one of the phenominal developments with the board with which they are of the century. A. like tendency of affiliated. increast interest displays itself in the adjustment of the societies by which It is only fair to say that most boards individuals are allowed to support indi- are in sympathy with the effort to in- vidual native agents, men or women, or crease the individual or local church specific orphans or Bible-readers. This interest in some specific work, as con- is only stated to indicate the advanced tributing to an extension of the interest interest which some classes of persons and knowledge of persons desiring it. take in something which is to them less It is nevertheless well that donors of vague than the work as It whole. this class shall be made aware of the operations of these special gifts on the It may be that this element inheres in home boards and on the foreign mis- , human nature, as it is certainly present sionaries. in donations to special objects in the bome churches, as well as in those Some time since Dr. Downie, one of abroad. Persons are found who will the editors of The Baptist Mi88ionarll contribute an organ, or a bell, or a Review, publisht in India, writing in memorial window costing far more than that magazine, gave reasons why the the same persons would donate toward entire scheme of specific donations the general church erection, which should be discouraged or even summa- included these same items. There is rily d"nied by the boards, stating at the little use quarreling with this feature same time that the Presbyterian MIs- of human nature. It exists, and it may sionary Society of the United States,and as well be reckoned with. The great several of the European societies, had Church of England Missionary Society abandoned the specific-gift system, recognizes it, and if we are correctly without experiencing the evil results it informed has on its books, accounts was feared would follow this course. with some two hundred or more Dr. Downie calls attention to the fact .that the officers of the societies experi- " Special Funds." Most of the societies ence great embarrassment in making up in one way or another admit a similar the schedules of their appropriations for specification on the part of the donor of the various fields. After canvassing the object which he desires to give. the whole field, and making an equit- Sometimes these lie outside of work able distribution of the funds according which is already included in the scope to the several demands, he says, they of the society, when the society must be must send the specific donations to some allowed to choose whether or not it can fields, increasing the amount to that become the channel of the donor's wish. field without being able to take from Generally, however, the donors of any item already appropriated to it, to special offerings select some object balance the claims. But Dr. Downie has I which the society can readily adopt, if better claim to speak from the stand- it has not already done so. point of the missionary on the field, and he declares that specific gifts often There is always, however, another make a heavy draft on the missionary's cases no great interval intervenes betime, as generally these specific donors tween the adoption of a special object want specific reports concerning their by a patron and the dropping of the special gifts. He thinks, too, that, as same. It is difficult to sustain the inrule, the native assistants who are terest. The donors are of~n disapspecifically supported are not benefited pointed in the person whom they have thereby. They are not selected because undertaken to support. Even a missionthey are better than others, but direct ary may have no special gifts oJ.! thrilling support and direct communication on experiences such as would intensify their part with the home giver often enthusiasm, and he may soon come to leads them to think themselves of be considered dull or inefficient. Dr. special importance, and to demand in- Strong is, however, favorable to a comcreased pay. Dr. Downie also thinks bination of the two forms of giving, if the missionary is sometimes led to happily balanced, provided the special undertake work that he would not donations are within the appropriations attempt, but for the hope of specific already adopted by the board. Even gifts for some specific helper or work, the Church of England Missionary and that this has a tendency to demor- Society, to which reference has been alize the reliable proceedings of the made, as opening a large number of more regular appropriations. Perhaps special accounts, reckons that these the Doctor might have made another " appropriated contributions" are only point in this connection on the disturb- to be recognized when they are in aid ance of the balance between several of work already undertaken by the fields of the same board. Some fields society. The Methodist Episcopal Misoffer far more tempting features for sionary Society has, on several occaspecial giving than do others, and they sions, made appropriations to specific can thus attract a disproportionate objects, contingent on the money amount by special gifts. being given specially for these objects. Dr. Scholl, Secretary of the Gene- It is only proper to say that some mIs- ral Synod of the Evangelical Luthesionaries seem to think they gain by ran Church, told at the Fifth Conthe very demands made for specific re- ference of the officers of the Missionary porting to the special home donor. societies, in an intersting and somewhat When, for instance, they induce a num- amusing strain, his personal experience ber of these specially-supported people in attempting to get special patrons to to write a quarterly letter to the home adopt specific objects on the foreign patrons about themselves, it must come field. By means of photographs of the, to the missionary for rendering into students for the ministry in the mission English that the patrons may be able of his church in India, with a little to understand it, and this gives the biographical sketch of each, he got 130 missionary an insight into their own of these specifically supported by indiputting of their work, or makes a reve- viduals. He then placed 150 of the lation of the character of the native native workers in the same way, and agent or protege, which may be of value, followed this with about 150 prayerand when the whole is reduced to sys- houses. He would present the phototem, they think it does not require much graph or design, and say, "Now there's time at their hands; some even say it an opportunity for some one to support can be done in one day. a worker or erect a chapel," and the response was generally prompt and. Dr. E. E. Strong, editor of the Mis- cordial. Dr. Scholl instances a plain Biona'l"/l Herald, is on record to the effect farmer in a country church as apt to that it is difficult to keep a prolonged say, "I can't comprehend your millions interest in these special objects, and he of heathen and hundreds of thousands is confident that it is the experience of the boards that in the majority of of dollars, but when you come down to But whatever Mr. Davis was to his twenty or thirty dollars for a minister, own church, to the church at large or I can handle that," and so he pledges to the cause of the missions in general, himself to the support of an agent when he will be widely remembered, and his previously he only gave five dollars. death will be widely mourned, by the Dr. Scholl, with all others who have missionaries who from year to year had experience in the matter, realizes have had the pleasure of meeting him that disappointment and disheartening at the annual sessions of the Internais liable to come to the special donor, tional Missionary Union. He was but thinks the time well spent in fend- always actively interested in the success ing off this in the first instance, and of that organization and his executive explaining it in the next. A. little ability and delightful spirit made him patience will, he thinks, put this all exceptionally valuable to it. His right, and the specific donor is all the suavity was charming, his broad more apt to grow to a wider view of charity opened his heart to all of whatmissions than if he attempted to grasp ever communion, while his fidelity in too much at first. The whole field is every duty assigned him, and his unso vast that it is vague in the minds of pretending but profund spiritual expera large proportion of givers. ience marked him as a rare leader of this noble host. Mrs. Davis will have J. T. G. world-wide sympathy extended to her from missionaries who appreciate her Rev. John A. Davis. own services to the" Union." In be- half of them all we venture to utter the The International Missionary Union Apostolic benediction. is again specially bereaved in the death of one of its principal officers-Rev. Religion in Korea. John A. Davis, of Nyack, N. Y. His ancestors were among the Dutch set- * By R. A. HARDIE, M. D., OF THE tlers who originally founded Kingston, CANADIAN COLLEGES' MISSION. N. Y. John A. Davis was graduated at Rutgers College in 1865, and at the Very conflicting statements have New Brunswick Seminary three years been made regarding the religion of the later. Being appointed almost imme- Koreans. Some have concluded that. diatelythereafteras missionary to China, strictly speaking, they have none. he spent some months addressing the Others claim that in addition to Buddchurches, and then sailed, with his wife, hism, which has now comparatively for Amoy. In less than two years after little influence, two distinct religions his arrival his health failed, and in 1870 prevail; the one enjoying the patronage he was obliged to return to America, of the state, and having the Confucian never again to be able to re-enter the code as its ethics, the other, a superfield abroad. But during all his excel- stitious fanaticism, confined to the lent service to the several churches of lower orders. We wish here to point which he was pastor, he maintained his missionary zeal, and his pen was * The Canadian Colleges' Mission is an outdevoted to the exposition of the needs of the heathen. His" Chinese Slave growth of the Student Volunteer Movement, Girl" alone has achieved a wide repu- and had ;ts origin in 1892, when the Young tation as inspiring the intensest interest, Men's Christian Associationof the University especially among young people, in and Medical Colleges of Toronto united prethe foreign mission work. His latest viously existing missionary interests with a production, "The Young Mandarin," view to forming an extended college movea sort of companion volume to the first ment, having for its object the fostering of named, shows the same graphic power. the claims of foreign missions in the minds and hearts of Canadian students. It has now mission circles in sixty different educa- tional institutions in Ontario and Quebec, employs a traveling secretary and publishes a monthly journal, The Canadian College Missionary, which is sent free to all sub- scribers to the funds of the mission. out that while Buddhism, Confucianism, the study of the Chinese classics was and other forms of idolatry exist, there }'evived, and for nearly five hundred lies at the root of all religious belief in years .the books of Mencius and Con- Korea a powerful and evil spiritism, fucius have been as devoutly reverenced which alone constitutes the real worship as in China. Possessing an excellent of all classes. ethical code, Confucianism served to Buddhism originated in India in the establish a measure of law, order arid fifth century, B. C., and was intro morality in Korea, but the inevitable duced into Korea about the year 371 A. tendency of the system to foster pride, D. by the Chinese Emperor, Ham An. selfishness, despotism, polygamy and In many respects superior to Confu- atheism, has probably more than cianism, which had over 300 years counterbalanced this gain. A highly before gained a foothold in the penin- cultured native says: "What Korea sula, Buddhism did much to advance might have been without Confucian the cause of civilization in Korea. teachings nobody can tell. But what About 1,000 A. D. it became, under Korea is with them we know too well.
royal patronage, the popular religion Behold her opprest masses, her gen- of all classes. But on the advent of eral poverty, treacherous and cruel the present dynasty, in 1392, various officers, her dirt and filth, her degraded circumstances brought the system into women, her blighted families-behold disfavor, and it was placed under ban. all this and judge for yourselves what But yet, to-<1ay, in many wild moun- Confucianism has done for Korea."
tainous retreats, hard by some gushing Confucianism is in theory one thing; spring, and overlooking most enchant- in practice, quite another. Eve¥ its ing scenery, may be found groups of much-vaunted filial piety not infre- monasteries, each containing from five quently means but a fearful reverence or six to a hundred or more monks, for the spirits of departed parents. An whose lives are devoted to the worship aged father or mother may be neglected, of the images which adorn the temples. ill-treated, even hurried out of life, but These shaven-headed vegetarians live all this is amply atoned for by a due fat, sleek and lazy lives, and although observance of the prescribed rites at looked upon by all classes as utter out- their graves. Pent up in the body, the casts-the lowest of all the low-yet spirits may be neglected and ignored, every spring-tide throngs of earnest but once set free they become powerful devotees may be seen wending their influences for possible evil, and must way to their sacred retreats, each with then be respected, reverenced, wor- an offerIng of paper, candles, rice, and shipt. Every person is believed to "cash." On the day of their arrival have three spirits. After death one of the pilgrims perform certain required these takes up its abode in the ances- ablutions,and early the following morn- tral tablet-a walnut slab, upon which ing, long before the sun has risen, their the name of the deceased is written- offerings are placed upon the altar, and another accompanies the body to the amid much beating of drums, clanging grave, while the third is said to go of cymbals, weird chanting of the either to the heavens or the "under- .
priests, and frequent bowing and pros- , ground prison," according to the life trations of the silent worshippers, lived in the flesh. For three years after prayers are offered on their behalf. the death of a parent, the eldest son.
But let us not think that this is the only morning and evening, worships before altar at which they bow. They are all the tablet in the room where the dead likewise slaves of ancestral worship, once lived, besides making numerous the only element in Confucianism offerings at the grave. In the cere- which savors of religion. mony before the ancestral tablet, the On the disestablishment of Buddhism, eldest son, robed in sackcloth, is attended by two younger brothers in parted parents, he was less successful, half mourning, and three friends or and to.day the real worship of Confu- relatives, one of whom recalls the good cianism, in Korea, at least, is Shaman- deeds of the departed. The tablet is ism or Demonolatry, a gross mixture of placed on the chair, an article, by the superstition, fetichism, sorcery, and sac- way, which at no other time has II place rificial ceremonies for the propitiation in any Korean household. Aftermuch of evil spirits, which are believed to enforced lamentation, bowing, pros· popUlate the earth, the sea, the air.
trating and calling upon the shade to The worship of the god of the hills, accept their ,. mean sacrifice," all retire the genii of trees and rocks, and in- for a time in order that the spirit may numerable household deities, keeps up in peace regale itself with the savor of a constant round of religious ceremony.
the offering, and then they return to Little temples, built at the summit of feast and wine themselves. After the every mountain pass, trees dedicated at third year the performance of sacrificial the entrance to every village, and in rights is limited to four or five times a every house rude fetiches–a wisp of year, the most important of which is straw, an empty gourd, a piece of old the tenth day of the tenth moon, when pottery – or some more pretentious any Korean absent from his native image, represent or become the shrines district, will travel from the farthest of spirit.demons, powerful and malig- limit of the kingdom, if necessary, to nant. To these they attribute all the be present at the grave on this date. ills of life. Sickness, adversity, mis- The hold that ancestral worship has on fortune, and disaster are but results of all classes-the low as well as the high their displeasiIre, which may be pre· -can not be over·estimated, and it is vented or appeased by offerings of always the hardest and last thing to be prayer and sacrifice. But the spirits given up by those embracing Chris· are not all necessarily l)lalignant, and tianity. To neglect this shrine is to with them is sometimes associated the become a political, social, and family idea of guardianship. A large vene· outcast-" a traitorous dog, unfit to mous serpent, often seen winding in and live." about the roofs of their dwellings, is But in this we are anticipating our lookt upon as the embodiment of the next division, for ancestral worship is gu,ardian spirit of their homes, and in its origin, purely Shamanistic. The therefore held sacred. To their firm primitive religion of China was un· belief in the existence of the dragon, doubtedly a vague monotheism, but the often found figured in their temples, Chinese and Koreans have always be- they bear ample testimony by casting lieved in the existence of evil spirits, into the watery deep food sacrificed to and in their interference in the affairs him. Many other mythical creatures of men, a faith, we believe, directly have their existence in the imagination traceable to traditions of the fall. From of high and low alike. But, over and a belief in the power of the spirits to above aU, they have a very imperfect, cause injury and misfortune arose the yet firm, belief in one supreme being, idea of propitiatory sacrifice, and this, to whom they say all things owe their united with the doctrine of filial piety, existence – Ha·na-nim, th8 Lord of and a belief in the immortality of the • Heaven. They know Him, however, not soul, resulted in ancestral worship. as a kind and loving Father, whom Confucius taught that the right towor· they may approach in worship, but ship heaven was confined to the Em· rather as a being to be feartld, one to peror alone, and in this his teaching has whom, in the last extremity of despair, been observed. But when he went we sometimes hear them cry, but hope- further and attempted to restrict spirit- lessly. Demons alone are the objects ism to the worship of the souls of de- of their worship.. Whether bowing
PRIESTS. THE
KOREAN DEMON WORSHIPPERS.
INTERNATIONAL DEl'ARTM¥N'l'
before Buddhistic images, Confucian last century Roman Catholicism found tablets, the ancestral grave, or the ac- its way into Korea from Pekin, and in knowledged altar of some evil spirit, the 1835, at the request of converts, the Koreans have but one name for it all- first French priest entered the country kwesin '!Jaba, d.smtmolai1"Jj, 0'1' devil-wO'1'- in disguise. Notwithstanding outbreaks sht"p. For the material objects, before of persecution and the martyrdom of which they bow, they profess no rever- both foreigners and natives, believers ence whatever, except as they are the multiplied until 1866, when political embodiment of evil spirits, who de- intrigue brought discredit on the faith, mand, as the price of peace and favor, and the name of Christianity became worship and sacrifice. What better synonymous with treason. In that year comment can we have on the words of two French bishops, nine priests, and Paul, in 1 Cor. 10 : 19, 20: "What say many native converts were cruelly put I then? That the idol is anything, or to death. One priest escaped to China, that which is offered in sacrifice to idols and a French squadron was at once is anything? But I say, that the things despatcht to Korea; but the force landed which the Gentiles sacrificed, they sac- was ignominiously repulsed, and withrificed to devils and not to God: and I drew after burning the city of Kangwould not that ye should have fellow- wha, thus rendering 10,000 people ship with devils." homeless. Gloating over its success, the government resolved to destroy the Is it not an awful thing that those new faith "root and branch," and to whom God made in His own image this end hundreds more, including should ever have fallen so low as to women and children, were martyred worship and serve the emissaries of with revolting cruelty. During the " the dragon, that old serpent, which same year the crew of an American is the Devil and Satan," by whom they schooner was murdered in theTa-Tong are "taken captive at his will?" And River, near the city of Ping-yUng, and yet it is, if possible, more awful that, in 1871 an expedition sent to avenge notwithstanding our Lord's provision this "unprovoked (?) outrage, won a for their deliverance "out of the snare victory of which the American navy of the devil," and His command to may well feel proud I" In 1876 the preach the Gospel that they might be Japanese succeeded in negotiating the turned from darkness to "light and first commercial treaty with Korea, and from the power of Satan unto God," six and seven years later treaties similar they should, for more than eighteen followed with the United States and hundred years, have been left to their Great Britain. But not until 1884 did fate. the Protestant church bestir herself to send the Gospel to this ancient and long NEW CONDITIONS. benighted people.
As early as 1000 A.D., Arab mer- So it has been in nearly every other chants trading in the East, visited and, mission field j commerce and trade, it is said, even settled in the peninsula. conquest and treaties, Roman Catholic During the sixteenth century the Portu- pioneering and martyrs preceding the guese visited Korea, and brought the entrance of our so·called evangelical name to Europe. In 1853 a Dutch Protestantism. vessel was wreckt on the coast, and the crew taken to the capital. Escaping to INTRODUCTION OF PROTESTANT MIS- Japan, after fourteen years imprisonment, they returned to Europe, where SIONS. one of their number recounted their adventures in a boQk, which was shortly To the Rev. John Ross, a Scotch after translated into German, French Presbyterian missionary in Manchuria, and English. Before the close of the belongs the credit of having first intro- duced Protestant missionary effort into Korea. His first visits were made to of these wives, who, on account of ' the Manchurian border in 1873-4. The family cares, are unable to take an Chinese character is the only officially active part in mission work' proper. recognized medium of written language But,if we count the whole 70, it means in Korea, and with his knowledge of but one worker to every 200,000 of the ihis, together with the aid of natives population, which is, for the most part, who could speak Chinese, Mr. Ross was scattered over wide extents of moun- enabled, during the next ten years, to tainous territory, that can be traveled superintend the translation of the whole only by pack-pony or on foot. But, of the New Testament into .Enmoun, an notwithstanding the inadequacy of the exceedingly simple alphabetical system force, and the difficulties of the situaof writing invented about the middle tion, the success of the misionaries has of the fifteenth century, and altho not been most markt. During the last taught in the schools, yet it is read by a year, in one district alone, and by much larger percentage of people than the workers of but one mission, 137 is Chinese. He also baptized a number converts were baptized, and 487 more of converts, some of whom have borne received as catechumens. The total great persecution for the cause of number of converts to-day is probably Christ. In the autumn of 1884, at the not far short of 3,000, nearly one-half solicitation of these same converts, or of whom are probationers received of oihers won by them, the first Pro- since the close of the late war between testant mission to Korea was establisht China and Japan. While many of in the capital by the American Presby- these have given evidence of their terian church. The first representative sincerity by holding fast to the faith, sent was a medical missionary, Dr. notwithstanding family ostracism and Henry Allen, who, on his arrival at public persecutions, perhaps the most Seoul, was given an appointment as encouraging feature of the work in physician to the American Legation- Korea is the large measure 'of self-supat once a guarantee of protection to his port attained, and the readiness with person, and of promise for his favorable which the native churches have underreception. But a few weeks had past taken the preaching of the Gospel in when an anti-conservative conspiracy new districts. Eight or ten churches resulted in an emeute, in which the first have been built with native funds alone, person wounded was Min-yong Ik, a and as many more partly so. Of the nephew of the king. The young noble native helpers, the majority are either was placed under the care of Dr. Allen, self-supporting or paid, entirely or in whose skillful treatment doubtless saved part, by native contributions. Some his life. The gratitude of the king for the congregations, in addition to supporting service rendered his nephew found ex- their own pastors, have sent forth evanpression in the immediate establishment gelists and colporteurs into the "reof a government dispensary and hospi- gions beyond." The total contributal, the confiscated property of one of tions for last year averaged over the conspirators being set apart for this seventy-five cents for each communipurpose. This institution has ever since cant. At first sight this may not seem been under the control of the mission a large sum, ,but when it is known that, of which Dr. Allen was a member. with few exceptions, the Christians be- The example of the American Pres- long to the lower and middle classes, byterians in opening work in Korea who live in straw-thatched mud·huts, was almost immediately followed by seldom costing more than $20 or $30, the Methodist Episcopal church, and and who can not make an average daily there are now nine boards at work in wage of more than ten or twelve cents, the peninsula, with an aggregate, however, of but 70 missionaries, and many in what shall we say? This, at least-that their liberality is much advance of that of many Christians at home. The in Korea, and that the events of the encouragement thus given should be a past two years have served to strengthen wonderful incentive to work for still her position there. It is believed by greater things, and the only way we many that if the country should pass to can truly thank our Lord and Master, Russia's control, the Greek church to whom we owe all past success, is would no longer allow Protestant evan- by making more self-sacrificing efforts gelization. Noone can speak of the in the future. future with certainty, but the present is It would be hard to imagine .a more ours, and judging by the success of the favorable soil upon which to work. past, it seems plain that we have but to The better class Koreans are an intelli- follow up our present opportunities to 'gent, educated and superior people. establish in Korea a Protestant church, Priding themselves particularly upon against which the fire and flood of per- correct deportment, they are always secution will rage in vain. ••The har- self-possest, polite and friendly, both vest truly is plenteous, but the laborers among themselves and to foreigners. are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord The lower orders are exceedingly super· of the harvest, that He will send forth stitious, it is true, but cheerful, civil, laborers into His harvest."
courteous, and hospitable to a fault.
Kindness to strangers is by all consid- ~erusalem Rabbis Alarmed.
ered a most sacred duty, and one may A missionary working in Jerusalem travel from one end of the country to sends us the following: The Rabbis the other, everywhere receiving the have occasionally issued interdicts • best the homes of the people afford. against all Jews-men or women of Best of all, the country is opening up Jerusalem, boys or girls-who go near to the introduction of Western civiliza- the missionaries to attend their preachtion, and there is no prejudice whatever ing, their schools, or their classes, reagainst Protestant Christianity. Dur- ceiving their books or tracts, also those ing the missionary's stay in any village who accept employment in the missionhis room is always thronged with visit- aries' workshops, and even those who ors, willing to listen to the Word as go to the mission hospitals for treatlong as there is strength to proclaim it. ment when sick. This has been my own experience, at The Rabbis have usually issued such least. interdicts on the eve of the Feast of We say that responsibility is meas- Passover, when it is tlleir duty to.disured by opportunity, and the great tribute amongst the poor large sums responsibility resting upon us in regard received by them from Jews in other to Korea, then, must be apparent to all. lands for this purpose, and, of course, And it is particularly important· that they withhold from all who are found to . the present opportunities be taken ad- disregard their intolerant edicts, such vantage of G.e once. In the light of a share as their poverty would entitle them to from the charitable contribunew civilization, superstition will rap- tions of their brethren abroad. These idly disappear. Shall rationalism and interdicts are publisht in printed plainfidelity take its place? If, when the cards duly stampt to admit of their beland is "empty, swept and garnished " ing posted at the doors of synagogues, and on walls in the Jewish quarters, of its present witchcraft and demono- and even on the houses of suspected latry, Christianity does not enter, the persons, and are read aloud in the serunclean spirit will return, bringing with vices at the' synagogues.
him "seven other spirits more wicked But this year, in their iDtolerant zeal, than himself," and the last state of these blind guides (whose fear towards God is taught by the precepts of men, Korea shall be worse than the first. and therefore brings them under the Again, all are familiar with the fact woe and the doom pronounced in Isaiilh that Russia has long coveted a foothold . 19: 13-16), have outdone themselves. They have publisht three interdicts in Annual Oonvention of the Central Ohina Ohristian Mission <Disciples of Christ). rapid succession, more virulent in lan- guage than heretofore, a sure sign of their alarm and anxiety at the progress REV. JAMES WARE, SHANGHAI.
and growing influence of the Gospel (By request of Convention.) amongst the Jews in this city and land.
To translate these textually would be The Ninth Annual Convention of the tedious work, as each of them covers above mission was held at Nankin, nearly two folio pages, one of which is from May 4th to 9th, inclusive. The following subjects were discussed: in small type and is full of abbrevia- "The Missionary Spirit in the tions and antiquated Aramaic and Churches." "Abiding in Christ the Ohaldaic expressions, incapable of main condition of success." " The accurate expression in English. Let it suffice if I give a summary of each, Holy Spirit in relation to our work."
with literal translations of certain por- "The Bible the Foundation of our tions. work." "The Strength of Unity."
The first, signed and sealed by the The reports from the field were of Chief Rabbi, is mainly against the mis- more than usual interest. Over one sion schools, and IS headed thus: hundred additions were reported from .. This is the Sentence of the Law." the various stations, while the deep in- The Chief Rabbi is known by the title terest reported on every hand, is greater "First in Zion," and no other Rabbi is than anything we have hitherto experi- thus styled. The interdict commences enced. The following were some of in these words: .. 0, my soul, behold the facts reported: I, the First in Zion, decree and order, Dr. W. E. Macklin and his sister, Dr. D. Macklin,~ave treated no less than by the power of the Holy Law, that no son of Israel shall take his sons or 15,845 patients, among whom they had daughters to the filthy school-houses several cataracts and amputations, all belonging to the tempters to evil, and of which were successful. Twent;r persons have been baptized from thlS· particularly to their schools outside work. Received in fees from well·tothe town, for he thereby puts clean souls in a pitfall, and whosoever trans- do patients, $840.22.
gresses against this order, by taking the Rev. F. E. Meigs, president of the souls of Israel into these schools, or Christian College, Nankin, said that a accepting from them the gifts of their great change had taken place in the spiritual tone of the school. He atcharity, behold, he is anathematized tributed this to the absence of heathen with the curse by which Joshua, the teachers, whom he has firmly decided son of Nun, annihilated Jericho, and not to employ. Quite a number of the behold, he is separated and banisht from the congregation of Israel, and students have come out boldly for Christ. . he shall rot in lies, and to Israel shall From Wuhu Brother Molland reports befall no harm. This is done with the a great number of inquirers, among sanction of all the Rabbis and chiefs of them being some Japanese. A special the·city of Jerusalem. He who listens feature of the work is a prayer-meeting, to us shall dwell in quiet, but whoso- after which the doors are thrown open, ever does not, may tremble at evil con- and the native members help in making sequences. Amen." known the Gospel to their heathen The second is headed, "Give glory countrymen. to God," and is in three languages- At Shanghai eleven have been bap- Hebrew, Judreo-Spanish, and Jargon. It is specially against the hospital of tised during the past year. The work the Church of England Mission has been greatly helpt by the conse- London Jews' Society, and is full of crated labors of the Chinese Bible persuasive, and tender expressions of woman, Mrs. Li, who is now sixty-two entreaty to the Jews, and of insulting years of age. Since she became a terms concerning the mission doctors Christian, some thirty-two years ago, and tempters. she had led no less than two hundred women to the Savior. The third is headed: "Thou shalt Most of the work of our mission is put the evil away from among you," on "virgin soil," as far as the preachand like the first is in the Hebrew tongue. It is signed, "In the name of ing of the Gospel is concerned. Alas I our masters, and with the sanction of all altho 1900 years have rolled away since the Rabbis and chiefs, and the courts the great command was given, there of justice, the tribunals of the congre- are still thousands upon thousands gation of Israel in Jerusalem, the Holy , who have never heard the name of ~" Christ.
FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY
III. -FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
Syria and Palestine,* The Jews. t BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON.
PRAYER NEEDED FOR SYRIA. Beirut, a well-equipt railway to Damas- cus, and another from Jaffa to J erusa- HENRY H. JESSUP, D.D. lem. The Imperial Ottoman Bank is an Anglo-French institution. But, on 1. Prayer is needed/or the native Sy- the other hand, intemperance, horserian evangelical churches; that they may racing, and gambling have come in on be 'baptized with new spiritual life, the land like a deluge. But the most with a new sense of responsibility in portentous menace to the morals of the support of their own institutions; Syria is the "Casino," now in process that they may become missionaries to of erection at Ain Soofar, one of the their own neighbors, and unite in a com· stations on the Damascus railway,about mon organization for aggressive work. 20 miles from Beirut, at an elevation of 4,500 feet above the sea. Here a 2. Pray for the tens of thousands of French syndicate is building a palace Syrian men and women who have emi- of gambling, designed as a refuge for grated from their native land to North the insane constituency of Monte Carlo, and South America and Australia, in when the license for gambling in Monquest of earthly gain. They are ex- aco shall terminate. It is to be a hotel posed to great temptations. Of those with every European luxury and atwho return, many are a curse to their traction; but the great attraction to native land from habits of drunkenness, the gambling world will be its sumpgambling, and other vices acquired tuous and dazzling g;ambling saloons. abroad. To this place will flock the crazed phalanx of prospective suicides from 3. Pray that the influx of a corrupt southern Europe, northern Africa, and European civilization may not prove western Asia, .hoping to find in Lebathe ruin of Syria. Much of good has non free scope for their passion for been brought here from the United gain. According to Mohammedan law, States and Europe. The colleges, sem- gambling is illegal, and it will be ininaries, common schools, printing- terestingto see whether the Latin-Chrispresses, orphan houses, and hospitals, tian pasha of Mt. Lebanon, who owes have been fountains of "blessing, physi- his appointment to the six great powers cal, intellectual, and moral, to this peo- of Europe, will legalize a gambling ple. The English have supplied Beirut den which is outlawed in every country with crystal cold water from the cav- in Europe. Well may the Syrian peoerns of Mt. Lebanon; the French have ple pray "From European civilization, built a superb harbor in the port of good Lord deliver us!"
* See also pp. 915, 931 (present issue). 4. Pray for the hundreds of young men and young women in our college, RECENT A.RTICLES: H Syrian Massacres," female seminaries, high schools and Contemporary Review (January). industrial training school, and the thousands in Protestant common t See also pp. 138 (Feb.); 299 (April) ; 857 schools. (Nov.); 889,899 (present issue). 5. Pray that we may have–liberty of NEW BOOKS: "Israel, My Glory," John the press. The restrictions on the print- Wilkinson; HMissions to Jews," Rev. W. T. ing of books, tracts and newspapers are Gidney; "Anglo-Israel," Rev. Thos. R. simply intolerable. Our religious books Howlett. are mutilated in the most idiotic and RECENT ARTICLES: "The Mission of Judaism," The Jewish Era (April); "Has JUdaism Been a Failure," North American Review (August).; "The Gilneral Situation of the Jews," Jewish Chronicle (September); "Zion- Ist Congress," Chamber's Journal (Oct,); "The Rejuvenation of the Jew," No. Am. Eeview (Oct.). arbitrary manner; the language of the Bynod began work among Jews in New York in 1895. Bible itself changed; whole chapters III. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: cut out, and no appeal allowed. The 1. Board of Foreign MiBBions has sustained a mission in Persia since Lord only can change the policy which 1870, and gives special attention to the Jews of that country. has made the newspaper press of the 2. PresOyteru of New York has sup- ported a Jewish miSSionary in the land a mere cipher, and the publication city since 1892. Yearly expendi- ture $1,800. of books a weariness indescribable. IV. SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST began 6. Pray that your missionaries may work in 1887 in Stanislau, Galacia. Publish .A Peculiar People (monthly). have the grace of patience, of patient V. REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH continuance in well-doing; that they undertook work in Cincinnati and Philadelphia in 1894. Estimated exmay hold on and never abandon their penditure $2,000.
posts, assured that in due time they VI. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is represented by the MeB8iah Mission shall reap if they faint not.-Condensed from The New York 008e'l"lJM'. . EinxCpehnicdaigtuorweshtiscOhOw. as opened in 1896.
AMERICAN MISSIONS TO ISRAEL. VII. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH has, through the (Jhurch Ealtension The most complete list of missions to and Oity MiBBionarll Society, a special mission to Jews and assists the "Hope the Jews carried on by the Christians of of Israel Mission," New York.
America, is that publisht recently in VIII. THE BAPTIST SOCIETY FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE JEWS was Tlte (Jltristian Nation (April 21, 28, founded in 1845, but has since been 1897). It was prepared with great care abandoned.
and accuracy by Rev. Louis Meyer,who IX. NEW YORK CITY MISSION began work for Jews in 1855 and now confor several years has workt earnestly ducts the Hebrew Ohristian Mission (Jacob Freshman). Expenditures for the evangelization of Israel. The $4,000.
following is the list of American socie- X. HOPE OF ISRAEL lfISSION (A. C.. Gaebelein and E. F. 8troeter, New ties, denominational and independent, York), was oJ'lened in 1892. A mis- sionary is supported in Warsaw and conducting missions among the He- large numbers of tracts are dis- tributed in Russia. Income $5,790. brews of this and other lands: Publications: Our Hope and Hope of I. PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL: "The Church !Society for Promoting Chris- Israel (Hebrew). tianity Among the Jews." Work begun 1840, organized 1859, affiliated XI. AMERICAN MISSION TO THE JEWS with board of missions 1878. Missions opened in New York, by Hermann in New York and Philadelphia. Warszawiak in 1895. Publication: Income about $7,000. Work con- Hebrew- 0 hristian. ducted by means of mission and in- dustrial schools and through the dis- XII. BROWNSVILLE MISSION TO JEWS tribution of Scriptures, Messianic, and (Brooklyn, N. Y.), conducted since missionary literature. Official pub- 1894, by Leopold Cohn. Expenses lication: GOBpd of t1te Oircumci8ion. $1,000.
II. LUTHERAN CHURCH. XIII. HEBREW MESSIANIC COUNCIL 1. T1te Zion Society for Israel. Or- (Boston, Mass.). Work begun in ganized 1878, representing the 1888, by Dr. Edward T. Niles. Pub- Norwegian Lutheran Church in lication: Paths Eternal. America. Stations in Merish and Odessa, Russia, and in Baltimore, XIV. HEBREW MISSION (Boston), con- Maryland. Income about $4,000. ducted by Rev. Sam. Frender since 8. T1te Evangelical Syrwd of Missouri, 1895. since 1885, have supported a Jewish missionary in New York City. Ex- XV. MISSION TO JEWS (Rochester, penditure about $1,500. N. Y.) was opened in 1894 but has 8. Joint Syrwd of Ohio began work been closed for the present. for the Jews in 1892, which is con- ducted by local clergy among their Jewish neighbors. 4. GerrTUln Dut1teran IOUJa Syrwd. Mission opened in Chicago in 1894. 5. T1te Swedish Lut1teran Augustana XVI. Work for Jews carried on by Creator, blessed be His name for ever, Rev. J. M. Goldberg in Providence, is not corporeal ; nor can in any man- R. I., since 1894. Expenditure $650. ner whatsoever be conceived to be cor- poreal; and that there is nothing in the XVII. HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL world that is like Him. (Minneapolis, Minn.) Work for IV. I firmly believe that: the Jews begun 1896. Creator, blessed be His name for ever, is eternal; and that He is the beginning XVIII. HEBREW MISSION SOCIETY, and the end of all things. (Minneapolis and St. Paul.). Founded 1892. Two Missionaries. Expendi- V. I firmly believe that the Creator, blessed be His holy name for ever, tures $2,000. ought alone to be worsMpt, exclusive of any other being. XIX. SOCIETY FOR THE EVANGELIZA- TION OF THE JEWS (St. Louis, Mo.). VI. I firmly believe that all the Founded 1896. words of the prophets are true.
XX. FIFTH AVENUE METHODIST VII. I firmly believe that all the CHURCH, (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Until prophecies of Moses our master (may recently conducted work among his soul rest in peace!) are true; and neighboring Jews. that he is superior to all the sages who went before or come after him. XXI. THE CmCAGO HEBREW MISSION was started in 1887, and incorporated VIII. I firmly believe that the law in 1891. Income $3,000. which we have now in our hands was given by inspiration to Moses. XXII. THE HEBREW MISSION (Cleve- land, Ohio). Founded 1893. IX. I firmly believe that this law will never be changed; and that the XXIII. MISSION TO ISRAEL (San Creator, blessed be His holy name, will Francisco). Opened in 1896. never give anothor.
XXIV. MISSION TO JEWS (Wilming- X. I firmly believe that the Creator, ton, Delaware). Started in 1897. blessed be His holy name, knows all the actions, and all the thoughts of XXV. MISSION TO JEWS AND GEN- men ; as it is said, "He hath formed TILES (Louisville, Ky.). Carried on the hearts of men, and is not ignorant since 1890. . of any of their works."
XXVI. WORLD'S GOSPEL UNION XI. I firmly believe that the (Kansas City). Supports a missionary Supreme Creator rewards those who to the Jews of Morocco (1894). keep His law; and punishes those who break it. XXVII. PRAYlilR CIRCLE FOR ISRAEL (Toronto, Canada). Was or~anized XII. I firmly believe that the Mes- in 1890 and supports a missIOnary. siah must come, and though His com- Expenditure $800 annually. ing is delayed, I will always expect it, till He d~s appear. XXVIII. MISSION TO JEWS (Montreal, Canada). Opened by Rev. J. Mc- XIII. I firmly believe that the dead will rise at the time appointed by the , Carter in 1896. Creator, whose name be blessed; and His glory magnified throughout all Non-Christian, educational and phil- ages, to all eternity.-Path8 Eternal.
anthropic work is not included in this Rev. W. T. Gidney estimates the Jewish population of the world at list nor are the efforts put forth in 10,000,000 (January, 1897). Of these in Europe, 7,701,298; in Asia, 260,000; connection with the regular Sabbath- in Africa, 336,500; in America, 772,000; in Australia, 15,138; total, 9,084,937. school work of various churches and congregations.
~ The Jewish Oreed.
I. I firmly believe that God, blessed be His name for ever, is the Creator and the Master of all things; and that everything was, is, and will be made for Him alone.
II. I firmlY believe that this Creator of all things, blessed be His name for ever, is One, by an unity peculiar to Himself, and that He alone has been, is, and will be our God.
III. I firmly believe that this
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
A New Deoade. most suggestive and quickening thought Our readers will be interested to as to the world's needs and evageIiza- know that some important changes are to mark the REVIEW in 1898. tion. This magazine will then enter upon its third decade of years. It was We hope the January number, for originally founded in 1878, by Rev. which special plans are in progress, will Royal G. Wilder. In 1888 it past at his death into the hands of the present of itself prove that the readers of the Editor and Rev. J. M. Sherwood, D. D., the articles of transfer being MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD signed by Mr. Wilder immediately before his death, as tho his life had only are getting a most abundant return for been prolonged to accomplish this last act. At the reception of this trust the their outlay. And we shall always be new editors at once determined to enlarge the plan of the REVIEW, to call glad of helpful suggestions tending to their aid the best help available from different denominations, and to spare to the further improvement of this link no expence in establishing the best missionary periodical in the world. between the churches and the world-' This, with the generous aid of the field. enterprising publishers, they have sought to do. Rev. F. B. Meyer and How the Debt was Paid. Rev. James Douglas act as British editors, and Dr. Gracey, Dr. Leonard, The Editor has askt Dr. Henry C. Rev. D. L. Pierson, the son of the editor-in-chief, and Rev. C. C. Starbuck Mabie to give the readers of the REof Andover. give grand help on this side of the sea, besides a large corps of VIEW an account of the recent successcontributors and editorial correspondents scattered over the world. ful attempt to lift the burden 6f debt And now as we begin a third ten from the American Baptist Missionary years. we hope to still further expand and •• enlarge our borders." A new Union. Here is Dr. Mabie's reply: calendered paper will be used, 80 that illustrations may be inserted upon the FACTS CONCERNING THE DEBT-RAISING same pages with the letterpress and set in the midst of the page. And a new OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONdepartment will be introduced, to be known as the Missionary Digest, which ARY UNION. will be a sort of religious Review of Reviews, comprising the best matter The next year after the Centennial contained in other missionary maga- (1892), when the Union raised $1,000,- zines and printed works bearing on 000, and sent out a large number of new similiar themes. We have long felt missionaries-23 families to the Telugu the need of a department, which, to field alone-in consequence partly of those who have limited access to other the panic the income so fell off, that the periodicals, would be a condensed following year there was a debt of summary of the best information, and $203,000. The next year the debt stood at $198,000, and the next at $163,000, and in 1896-7 it threatened to become $275,000. The Home Mission Society found itself in a similar condition, tho with a debt of less dimensions ($180,- 000 in 1896-7).
At the anniversaries of the societies, in May, 1896, so grave was the situation felt to be that the officials and influen- tial friends of both these societies felt it important to come together in close practical cooperation, and for united and more definite prayer to God that He would come to their deliverance.
Out of this grew the organization of a commission on Systematic Beneficence. This represented all the missionary and benevolent organizations of the deno- mination. Four great representative prayer conferences, of two days each, were held in last year in Boston, New York. Philadelphia, and Chicago. Great spiritual power and deep broth- erly love markt this movement from the first. All the state conventions and and India proper sent offerings, aclocal associations felt the power of the companied by the most touching letters. movement. It might be added that from the be- About November, 1896, certain Boston ginning of the late movement prayer laymen came to consult with the secre- has been increasing-the main reliance. taries of the Missionary Union. The upshot of it was a parlor conference of At the anniversaries in 1896, an enlaymen at the house of one of the Bos- tire session, half-day, was given up to ton brethren. This meeting proposed prayer only. At the last anniversaries. that an effort be at once made to raise in Pittsburg, in lieu of three annual $75,000 for the debt of the two societies, sermons, the whole day was given up in New England alone, and a commit- to prayer-meetings. In several cases, tee was appointed to help raise it. just at the inception of the debt-raising effort, whole nights were given to Meanwhile, Mr. John D. Rockefeller prayer. On one occasion, at the mission was made aware of the movement, and rooms in Boston, about thirty persons a few weeks after another parlor engaged in the service-a ni~ht never conference was called by permission of to be forgotten. This was pnor to Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller at their house Rockefeller's offer. in New York. "What hath God wrought!" At this meeting Mr. Rockefeller permitted the secretaries of the societies to -The following extract from the state that if there was a disposition on the part of the denomination generally Baptist Missionary Magaeineis pertinent to rise up and par off the debts of both to the subject on hand: the societies, (WhICh he estimated would be about $486,000, by April 1st, 1897), MISSION CHURCHES AND THE DEBT. he was willing to contribute the sum of One of the most pleasiug circum- $250,000 towards the object. This left stances connected with the raising of the $236,000 for the denomination to raise; debt has been the attitUde of the misbut it must be done right upon the heels sionaries and of many of the mission of the regular annual offerings of about churches toward it. We do not believe $500,000 then being made for the cur- there is any class of people who, accorrent work of the year. Could this be ding to their ability, have contributed so lar~ely toward the debt as the misdone? sionarIeS. Many of them have given Plans were immediately matured, from five to ten per cent. of their sala- ries, not to speak of the large gifts and Secretaries Morehouse, of the Home which they are called upon to make in Mission Society, and Mabie, of the For- the attempt to supply the pressing needs eign Society, took the field. It was of the work, which weighs so heavily through numerous parlor conferences, on their hearts and hands. As the misand the raising of numerous committees, sionarieshave told the churches on that the work was mainly done. their fields of the huge debt, hanging like a pall upon the great missionary New England was askt for $75,(00, society which had sent them the Gospel, the responses of sympathy and even of and raised $82,000. New York City, gifts have often been charming exhibi- Brooklyn, and North New Jersey were tions of the depth of the hold ~bich the askt for $75,000, and raised $76,000. .unselfishness of Christ has taken in the Pennsylvania, South New Jersey, and hearts of these Christians. District of Columbia were askt for $30,- 000, and raised about $31,000. Ohio, Udayagiri is in one of the poorest parts of our Telugu mission field. The for$12,000, and raised $13,000. Indiana poverty of the people is something befor $3,000, and raised about $6,000. yond the comprehension of people in Michiganfor $5,000. and raised about t.his country of plenty. The most of $5,600. Chicago and the Mississippi them live literally from hand to mouth; Valley region for $25,000, and raised earning each day only sufficient to sup- $26,000; the Pacific Coast for $5,000, ply their daily food; yet Rev. W. R. and raised nearly that amout. M.anley writes, "At our last monthly meeting I stated the case in regard to In a word, the amount raised by the debt of the Missionary Union, and the denomination was $253,000, which the Udayagiri Church at once voted to more than covered Mr. Rockefeller's send fifty rupees toward the payment $250,000. There were about 5,000 en- of that debt." We could give many tries on the SUbscription list, represent- other cases of the same readiness of ing all parts of the country and every sympathy and gratitude toward the mission field of the denomination. About $3,000 was contributed by the foreign missionaries, several of them sendin~ $100 each. Several of the native mIssion churches in China, Assam, Union on the part of the native churches, " To the Society in the UnittJd Sta,te8 of but the most affecting instance America, through which we have 'been which has come to our notice is the born again through the word of God letters sent by Rev. M. C. Mason from which liVtJth and alJideth,'from the elders the members of the Garo church at oj the church of Nisangram, .Assam: Nisangi'am. Mr. Mason says: "To the Lord Jesus Christ be praise, "I enclose herewith three letters and honor, and glory, and power for which I have just received from one of evermore. our village churches. I enclose also a " We have heard ofthe debt in which translation which we have carefully you through pity for our souls have be· made of two of them. The third is so come involved, and although our bodies like one of these that I have not thought are separated, our hearts are with you. worth while to translate it; this is from Your sorrows are shared by us, and in the young men of the church. As our petitions to God, the Father of out evidence that the sympathy exprest. Lord Jesus Christ, we always make in these letters is not words only, the mention of your debt, and if it please pastor sends me rupees, 127·9·9, to be Him, He may relieve you of this debt, forwarded to you. He says the money and further help you to extend His own was contributed as follows: from the kingdom to the ends of the earth. As Nisangram church, rupees 30; added by we have a large place in your hearts,'
the elders of the church, 20·14-3; added so, although, to live and to die together, by the young men of the church, 20; we wish you to have no small place in added by the women of the chur~, 31; our hearts, yet we are not ret suffifrom theChatcholjo church, 7·1-6; from ciently enlarged. But at thIS time to brethren of three churches, living at show our fellowship with your sorrows Santipur, 14-7; from the Smjonga and your joys we write this brief letter."
church, 3·3; from the Rongjulichurch, ,. THE SALUTATION80F THE ELDERS OF 1; total rupees, 127-9·9. THE CHURCH OF NISANGRAM.
" I have credited the Missionary Union ,. To the OjJlcer8 of TluJ American BapUst with this amount in our account, and Missionary Union, from the women of trust you will acknowled~e receipt. the churck of Nisangram, .Assam: "I gladly add that thIS thought of ., OUR MOST LOVING BENEFACTORS: sending aid to the society is entirely their own, The subject of the debt While we, like sheep, were astray, and was only mentioned at our association, just when we, being despised by every asking for their prayers. This pastor race, were going to ruin, through miswas not present, but he has evidently sionaries sent by you, we found the heard of it, and believes that true prayer Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. That is accompanied by works, and he has tlIere is anything of greater value than therefore collected this sum and sends it this we do not conceive. on. I wish the churches of our land would do as well as this Nisangram "Having heard from our teachers, the church has-it would do away with all missionaries, that by our receiving such debts. This contribution amounts to inconceivable kindness you have be· nearly four·fifths of a man's days' wages come involved in debt, we sympathize from every member of that church, in your sorrow. For, to save our lives, male and female, large and small-and to enlighten our ignorance you came to our aid. Weare like toddling chilfor the work here they have already dren. Forgive us our inability. Recontributed nearly five times this sum. member us in your prayers. Some will say, 'They must be rich,' " THE SALUTATIONS OF YOUR SISTERS but such would never repeat it if they OF THE NISANGRAH CHURCH."
could once come out and see them. Missionary Allianoe Funds. Nevertheless they are rich in good works, and are laying up stores where moth and rust do not corrupt." The editorial in the October number of the REVIEW, referring to the finan· The letters which follow read like cial methods of the Christian and extracts from the Apostolic Epistles, Missionary Alliance, has elicited the and when we consider that both the giving and the letters are the voluntary following reply from Rev. A. B. action of Christians, many of them formerly heathen, and all yet living in Simpson: the midst of heathenism, we can but wonder at the transforming and uplift· NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 1897. ing power of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ As the article contains statements . which are fitted to do some injustice to our work and create a false and unfavorable impression in the public mind tributors have been pUblisht. This official bulletin is sent to our contribuwhich I am persuaded you do not in- tors, and may be had by anyone on application. It covers the receipts sent tend or desire, I feel sure you will out from May 1 to August, 1897, and is issued quarterly, accord me the courtesy and justice of a Yours most truly ir:. Him, reply and explanation in your columns_ A. B. SIlIIPSON, President C. and M. A: With referenlle to your quotation As to the above communication, from the Episcopal Recorder, calling while the editor of this REVIEW would be not only just, but generous to Mr. attention to a letter from some one in Simpson and his work, his letter has cansed us no little surprise, as well as Maine, demanding an account of the gratification.
expenditures of the money we received Our surprise is due to the somewhat apparently equivocal language of his at Old Orchard, I will only say that communication. Of course, the writer would not designedly misrepresent, this is the first time that ml.' attention yet his letter is an explanation that fails to explain. Up to the present has been called to the edItorial you year no complete financial statement of the matters of the Alliance has ever quote, and as we gave the fullest infor- come to our knowledge. There has been, indeed, a so-called cash account, mation possihleat Old Orchard, and cov- or treasurer's report, of which the fol- lowing is one specimen. In connecered all these points in our annual tion with the report of the eighth year of the Alliance, we find on page 22 the reports, which are freely distributed at following our conventions, I thilik we would REPORT OF TIlE TREASURER OF TIlE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY ALhardly be expected to reply to all the LIANCE_ OCTOBER 9,1896. newspaper criticisms upon our work, Balance on hand Oct. 12, which ap'pear from time to time_ There 1895. _. __ …….. ___ …. $ 5,098.50 certainly was no intentional withhold- Total receipts during the ing of information, but every question year… """ _. _.. """ 107,420.77 brought up in th.ese conventions was .Total cash. _.. _. _. _. .. 112,519.27 Total disbursements ……• 106,576.93 frankly and fully answered. Balance on hand Oct. 9, With respect, in the next place, to 1896… __ '" ….. _… _. _ 5,942.34 your insistence that we should publish Securities and real estate received during the year. 33,000.00 full reports of our receipts and ex- Total receipts of tbe penditures, I need scarcely say both year…. __ . __ .. _. _.. 140,420.77 the Board of the Alliance and myself Securities and real estate formerly reported .. _. _., 49,200.00 are in complete accord with you. It is Total securities and the only proper course for any society or real estate ……. _., 82,000.00 DAVID CREAR, Treasurer. individual entrusted with public funds_ Audited lind found correct, With respect, however, 1.0 your state- Messrs. S. E_ FURRY, E. G. SELCHOW, ment that you have nef'er seen any- Auditing Committee.
such report of our receipts and expendI- tures, permit me to say that we have uniformly presented such a report at all the annual meetings of our society, and afterwards publisht and circulated thousands of copies of it, and sent it to our subscribers and the religious press.
I regret that you have not seen it, for at the request of the editor-in-chief, I had a second copy sent several months ago of the last publisht report and financial statement of our work. I take pleasure in now appending our two last financial reports, the one cover- ing twelve months presented at the fall meeting, October, 1896, the other covering the next six months up to March 31, 1897, when our fiscal year terminated under the new arrangement of the united societies, You will see by these reports that our expenditures are classified so as to show the particu- lar outlay for each field. All the minute details of these various expendi- tures are also entered in our books, which are always open for public inspection. .
I take pleasure also in sending you our last quarterly bulletin, by which you will see that even the numbered receipts sent out to our various con- We think it is very obvious this is no a numb8red receipt, unless that num-' proper financial statement of a great bered receipt is also among the pubpublic benevolent scheme that disburses lisht receipts, so that in the total amount hundreds of thousands of dollars of accounted for, each particuiar gift is other people's money annually. And, recognized as making up the entire inasmuch as in the capacity of a Review sum. Therefore, we repeat, that no we, feel bound to call attention to any such financial statement is worthy of the methods under cover of which dishonest name, and its annual publication does parties may carry on frauds, we can not supply the lack to which we have not avoid the responsibility of candidly called attention. A somewhat fuller criticising such a financial statement. statement of the sums spent on various It accounts for a total cash account of fields, and embracing fiftcen items of $112,519.27, and a disbursement of expenditure, is found on pages 98, 99 $106,576.93. But what assurance can of "Report and Retrospect," but even the public have from such an account here we find the same essential defect. that twice as much money has not been received? And who knows from such Our surprise at Mr. Simpson's letter a statement whether the money received was the greater, inasmuch as we had has been put to the uses intended by never supposed that anyone connected the donors? Let us leave our brother with the Alliance work denied-not Simpson out of the case, for we are not even Mr. Simpson himself-the fact discussing rMn but rMthod8. Grant- that no complete financial statement ing his transparent rectitude and guile- had been publisht in Pltst years. This lessness, we should deprecate in him lack the Editor has frequently spoken any way of conducting a great mission- of to the supporters of the A.:iance, ary scheme under the shelter of which and to Mr. Simpson also. Some have a scamp might perpetrate enormous exprest regret for the absence of snch frauds. And so let us imagine a case. full reports, some have acknowledged it A great alliance scheme like this passes, to be the one lamentably weak point in let us suppose, at Mr. Simpson's the Alliance's methods, and a few have death, into the hands of a thor- apologized for, or even defended it. Mr. oughly corrupt man, of plausibie pre- Simpson, in private conversation, retensions and a mock spirituality. From markt that "his people object to the a too credulous, gullible public he re- publication of the individual amounts ceives in one year $500,000 in money. given," etc., but we repeat, no one- Half of it he uses for his personal pur- not even Rev. Mr. Simpson-ever beposes, and publishes a brief statement fore denied the fact that full financial of ten lines, which accounts, in a gtme- statements had not been rendered to ral way, for $250,000, and is properly the public. Notably Mr. W. N. Conaudited. Does not anyone see that this ley, who recently died at Allegheny, is only a subtle cloak to conceal gigantic Pa., told the Editor that he considered imposture? The very appearance of this the one great defect in the Alliance business honesty and exactness becomes management-and he was one of the only a disguise for dishonest dealing, ablest helpers of the Alliance work. and no careful business :man can be deceived by such a. vain show; it is Again, our surprise at Mr. Simpson's only the untrained, unbusinesslike giver reply is not diminisht when we note or observer who fails to see the unsatis- that he does not say explicitly that the factoriness of this whole method. The "official bulletin," to which he refers, essential defect lies in this that no giver and in which every particular donation can trace his gift, or learn whether is acknowledged and numbered. has it ever found its way to its destination. only been publisht 8ince April last. From Nor will it do simply to send the donor his statement that "even the numbered receipts sent out to our various contrib· utors have been publisht," it would be inferred that such a method was part some friends of Mr. Ben·Oliel severely of the "uniformly presented annual censure the editor. The justice of this reports"; and had been in vogue ever complaint we fail to recognize. In the since the Alliance undertook mission first place the paragraph was a quota- work. But, when we come to look at tion from Dr. Barrows, culled from the the bulletin itself, we find that it is public journals, without comment, for "issued quarterly," but as this is dated what it was worth. Secondly, it was "September, 1897," and is "No.2," the exprest opinion of a man whose the first number must have come out greatest fault, in the opinion of many, not earlier than June last – so that the is his excessive charity, and who was remedying of this serious defect has the last man we would suspect of only been since we began to call the either a hasty or harsh judgment.
attention of Mr. Simpson and his friends Thirdly, as Mr. Ben·Oliel is getting to the unsafe and unsatisfactory finan- money constantly from various sources cial methods of the Alliance. for his ostensibly benevolent work, the Our gratification, however, is very public are entitled to whatever caution • sincere, notwithstanding our surprise. Dr. Barrows feels compelled to utter.
This official bulletin is a full statement, Fourthly, as the author of the para- from April to August 1897, of the num- graph, quoted from the Interior, is well bered receipts from 1 to 1300, with the known, and the charge of fraud was not amount represented by each, so that anonymous, the contention of those every giver can now see that his gift who object is not with us, but with'
enters into the great whole, which is to Dr. Barrows himself.
form the sum total of the annual expen- But, in order that justice might be diture. This is just what we have been fully done, the editor wrote to his life- seeking to secure, and we extend our long friend-than whom he knows no congratulations to Mr. Simpson for the truer gentleman-and called his atten- complete and business-like method tion to the complaints made about his which, though so recently adopted, will charges that the Christian Union serve as an example to those who are Mission in Jerusalem is a fraud, unde· carrying on the Lord's work as the serving of public support, and the fol- agents of His people, and whom it be- lowing is the reply: hooves to do His business in such a way 4812 WOODLAWN AVE., Chicago. as that no possible encouragement shall be afforded to those who are seeking by My DEAR DR. PIERSON: Your letter dishonest means to promote self·in- of Sept. 23, with the enclosures, was terest. We thank God if our candid duly received. and friendly criticisms have helped to promote this result. I do not wish to appear in 'the RE. VIEW as entering into any controversy The Ben"()lie) Mission. over the matter referred to. The in- formation on which I based the opinion During the absence of the editor-in· exprest was perfectly trustworthy. and chief in Britain, Rev. D. L. Leonard, would have been satisfactory to any who edits the department of Gen- fair-minded man.
Faithfully yours, JOHN HENRY BARROWS.
eral Intelligence in the closing pages With this letter we leave the matter, of the REVIEW, quoted a paragraph referring all who are dissatisfied to Dr.
from the Interior containing the words Barrows himself, who will, no doubt, of Dr. John H. Barrows, of Chicago, be quite ready to direct those who wish about the work of Rev. A. Ben- "information" which is •• trustwor- Oliel in Jerusalem. (July issue, page thy" and .. satisfactory to any fair· 003.) For the insertion of this ex- minded man" to the sources from tract from our exchanges, for which which it can be obtained. If Mr.
:Mr. Leonard alone was respoBSible, Ben-Oliel is worthyof public confidence, the more thorough the investigation impracticable, but 'it has nevertheless the more complete the vindication. We awakened much interest. The attitude should for ourselves gladly welcome of the leaders can not be thoroughly from any trustworthy source any evi- approved of, even by Israelites, as when dence of the economy. efficiency. and Dr. Lippe said in his opening address: spirituality of his work. such as would " We would look on his majesty (the set at rest the widespread distrust Sultan), if he would accept us, as our which forsome reason exists and which Messiah. " Such an utterance shows no vindication of Mr. Ben-OUel has clearly how far Israel has wandered thus far been able to allay. from God.
The Zionist Movement. The following is the program of the Zionists adopted by the Congress:- Whatever may be thought of the The aim of Zionism is to create for the ultimate outcome of the Zionist move· f,~~~n ~~~~~in~. publicly, legally assured ment, it is at least indicative of a revival of the Jewish national spirit. The In order to obtain this object, the Congress adoption of a Hebrew flag by the Jews. adopts the following means: of Chicago also points in the same direction. The Zionist Congress, ut 1. To promote the settlement in Palestine which some 250 delegates met at BasIe, of Jewish agriculturists, handicraftsmen, in- • Switzerland, August 29-31, was desig- dustrialists, and men following professions. nated by one of the leaders, " The First 2. Tbe centrallzation of the entire Jewish people by means of general institutions agreeably to the laws of the land.
S. To strengthen Jewish sentiments and national self-conscience.
4. To obtain the sanction of governments to the carrying out of the objects of Zionism.
Jewish National Assembly" for over Baroness de Hirsch has decided to eighteen hundred years.. The object found a colony near Smyrna for the of the movement is " the realization of one hundred and fifty families who the old hopes and aspirations of Israel." some three years ago, on account of This means the ultimate acquisition of the persecution in Russia, fled from Palestine by the Jews, and its conver- their native land. The colony, at the sion into a Jewish state, "a homestead express desire of the community, is to for Judaism, where it 'can develop ac- be ualled "Clara de Hirsch." A school cording to the Jaws of its own being." and a synagogue are to be erected in Resolutions were past to raise a National the center of the settle:nent. Fund of $50,000,000 by voluntary con- tributions. It is proposed to found a Here is another of the .. storm sig- Jewish Bank, to have in charge the nals" : ., The Presbyterian Church is care and investment of this fund. Literature is to be distributed, itinerant hearing from the drastic retrenchment lecturers are to be appointed, and" col- enforced upon its missionaries by reason onies" to be founded and supported in of the Board's diminisht resources. Dr. Palestine. Kellogg, Landour, India; Dr. Henry, It is said that the Pope, alarmed a Canton, China; Dr. Hunter Corbett, this movement, is seeking to influence Chefoo; Dr. Jessup, Syria, and others the Sultan to prohibit the further write of the effects of the policy, and acquisition of property by the Jews in the expression of opinion is unanimously Palestine. The immediate acquisition one of sorrow and dismay. One writer, and settlement of Palestine, by the Dr. Kellogg, writes in despair of 'the Jews does not, however, appear proba- decay, or absence of interest, in mission ble, since at the rate of 10,000 a year, it work in the Church, which is full of would take at least one hundred years for one-tenth the present number of wealth, and ready to spend it in many Jews to settle there. Jewish and ways, but not for missions.' A chief Christian papers for the most part hardship is the necessitated dismissal of speak of the scheme as visionary and many native teachers and helpers, who must now be relegated to secular pur- suits. The situation is certainly an unhappy one, which is not relieved by the fact that some of the denominations are making a more successful fight for missions and against curtailment of the work. And there are some pretty custom. From that time dates his lifeheavy Presbyterian balances still in the long fight for the principle of prohibibanks." tion-a fight in which he won unex- pected success in a state where the rum- The Rev. Dr. Thomas Laurie, who shop was firmly rooted. recently died at Providence, R. I., and whose contributions have not been Book Notices. infrequent in these pages, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1821, and was, "On the Indian Trail,". by Rev. therefore, seventy·six years old. Edgerton R. Young. Fleming H. He was a Presbyterian missionary to the mountain Nestorians in Kurdistan in Revell Company. This is another book 1842. After the massacre of the Nesto· rians, he joined the Syrian mission in written by this fascinating writer 1844, but ill health drove him to this country two years later. He labored in and speaker, whom we do not often Charlestown, South Hadley, and West Roxbury, Mass., until 1867, when again hear excelled on the platform in all the considerations of health compelled a rest. He traveled abroad for a time, qualities of an instructive and interest· and then returned to the pastorate. He was settled in Providence from October, ing lecturer. He has done much on 1867, to 1885, in active pastoral duty. both sides of the sea to awaken interest in the red man's salvation. If anyone His contributions to missionary liter- will read Chapter V., and learn how ature are well known: "Dr.· Grant the Indians were taught to read the and the !flotmtain Nestorians," "Wo- Book of God by the help of the syllaman and Her Savior in Persia," and bic character, he will need no other especially "The Ely Volume: or, recommendation of this, Mr. Young's, Missions and Science." This last is latest volume. best known, and is one of the best modern presentations of the general "Eye Gate; or, Native Art in the indebtedness of civilization to missions; Evangelization of China," by Wm. it is itself a sufficient crown for Dr. Wilson, M. B. London, S. W. Partridge Laurie's lifework. & Co. This book is wholly unique. It is a collection of native cartoons Neal Dow, the great prohibition lead- designed by the Chinese themselves as er, departed very recently at his home their own illustrations of the sacred in Portland, !fIe. He was born in that narratives. These pictures are parables city on March 20, 1804. He was, there- for the eye. They are conformed to fore, in his ninety-fourth year at the native ideas, usages, images, and custime of his death. The ninetieth anni- toms, and serve to concentrate attenversary of his birth was celebrated in tion on the truth taught, which would 1894 by Prohibitionists in various parts otherwise be dissipated on the novelties and seeming incongruities of the situa· of the country. tion. The book also contains a large amount of interesting matter about General Dow's attention was first at- China. tracted to the liquor question by his connection with the Portland Fire De· Books Received. partment, of which he became chief, with fourteen hundred men under him. HISTORICAL SKETCHES of the Missions On the occasion of an anniversary sup- under the Care of the Board of per of the fire company which he first Foreign Missions of the Presbytejoined, and of which he had been made rian Church, U. S. A. Fourth captain when only twenty-one years edition, revised and enlarged. old, he made a vigorous opposition to Publisht by the Woman's Foreign the providing of liquors, and carried Missionary Society of the Presbyhis point, in the face of a time-honored terian Church, Philadelphia. 75 cents, cloth.
A CONCISE HISTORY OF MISSIONS, by E. M. Bliss, D. D. Fleming H. Revell Comppny, New York, Chicago aud toronto. 75 cents.
ON THE INDIAN TRAIL, by Rev. Eger- ton R. Young. The Same.· $1.00.
SEVEN YEARS IN SIERRA LEONE, by Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D. James Nesbit and Oompany, 3 shillings 6d.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D., OBERLIN, OIDO.
Extracts and Transla.tions From Foreign President Peirce speaks disparagingly Periodicals. of the American missionaries among the Armenians. A much more eminent BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, person, Professor Bryce, speaks in the warmest terms, not only of the inestim- MASS. able benefits conveyed by the Ameri- cans to the Armenians, but also of their 'rHE ARMENIAN CHURCH. friendly cautiousness and moderation. Of course, they have had their narrow- In a late number of the New W01'ld, nesses and precipitancies. In those President and Mrs. Peirce, of Kenyon stagnant regions these faults, at the College, gave a full and interesting ac- beginning were, perhaps, among their count of the Armenian Church. Only chief excellences. How far they have it rests npon the antiquated theory, been from an essentially intolerant spirit that it is possible to restore the "Holy is shown by the joint Gregorian and Catholic Church" of the earlier Chris- Protestant services at Harpoot, Aintab, tians. It is true the Armenians are real- and various other towns. Of these ly a fragment of this great formation, President Pierce says nothing. When into which prevailing Christianity set- the missionaries preach regularly at tled in the second century. The East- Gregorian High Mass, and when the ern churches still remain on this foun- Gregorians celebrate their vesper serdation, and have become stagnant on it. vices, using their own altars and crosses, Western Catholicism has gradually in Protestant churches, it is plain that transferred itself into Romanism, giving both sides have learned, with St. Paul, to the ancient form another substance. that in Christ Jesus neither circumci- Anglicanism, again, keeping the elder sion availeth anything nor uncircumciframework, entered so deeply into sion, buHaith which worketh by love. Protestantism, that all attempts of reactionaries can never detach it. Such President Peirce querulously asks a high churchman as Charles Gore, we why the Armenians alone should not learn, frankly admits that the Angli- have the right to their own distinctive can movement was only a deeply dif- opinions. One would suppose from ferentiated form of the general Refor- this that the Americans came, like so mation. This was an essentially new many Turks, with revolvers pointed at departure, not from the Gospel, to the Armenians' heads. Undoubtedly which it gave a depth unknown since they oove a light to their distinctive Augustine, and a freedom unknown opinions, but if anyone thinks that he since Paul, but from Catholicism, East- has, in some points, better opinions, he ern and Western alike. . Reactionary certainly has an equal right to propose Anglicans can no more seduce Angli- them to all who care to listen. The one cans or Armenians to the Catholicism right conditions the other. The Board of 'Cyprian than they could seduce and the missionaries do but set their chemistry to alchemy. The future hearts on a revivication and purificachemistry may include many yet ne- tion of the Armenian Church, and such glected suggestions of alchemy, but it authorities as Bryce and Ramsay testify will not be alchemy. Even so the that they have accomplisht great things future Church may reinclude many for this. If, as the Rev. W. N. Champrofound truths and venerable institu- bers of Erzroom has suggested is tions of Catholicism, but it will not be possible, they should some day help to Catholicism. Christ is more than all effect a junction of Anglicanism and the formations of His Church.
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS
Armenianism, it will doubtless be to It appears, by an article of General an Anglicanism which appreciates the George Hutchinson in the C. M. lntelli- value of their previous work. The gencer, that in the early part of the last present writer is an Anglican, but he century the attitude of the British Gov- prays that he may never be given over ernment and of the East India Com- to an Anglicanism which can not heart- pany was notably different from the ily acknowledge the living Gospel of decided hostility into which the com- Christ wherever it is found. We do not pany, at least, afterwards declined. In remember to have seen the term 1717, and previously, the king, the " Anglican" or even the term "Catho- government, and the company all join lic," in the New Testament. in urging the Danish mission-the only Protestant mission then in India-to do INDIA. its best for the conversion of the Hin- "Many of the native gentlemen in dus. "In 1730 the Danish Madras Nasik, Western Indis, cordially wel- Mission received much encouragement come the visits of the missionaries. One and strength from the steady support old Hindu gentleman said: •Tho I am of the English governor; and the Archnot a Christian myself, and do not sup- bishop of Canterbury sent to it £168, pose that I ever shall be, as I am now accompanied by a warm expression of too old to change my religion, yet I his sympathy; and in 1750 the Court of sympathize most heartily with the mis- Directors granted a free passage to India sionaries; no one knows the amount of to the devoted and well-known missiongood they hjlve done in the country. I ary, C. F. Schwartz, and two of his am assured that a great future is before companions. In 1758 the great Clive them, and I wish them well in it.' " received the missionary, Kiernander, "0 Spirit of the living God, who warmly, and he and other members of didst in the beginning brood over the his council fell in with his benevolent face of the darkened deep. bring into plans and were not ashamed to ac- newness of life the hearts of men in the knowledge him as a Christian mission- Bengal Presidency. We pray for India ary."
as represented there, we plead for its JAPAN. simple village folk, untoucht by mod- ern civilization, and for its pundits and Professor Lange, of Berlin, writing learned classes, now in daily contact in the ZeitBehrijt fur Mi8si0n8k'und6, with Western culture. Before such says of the powerful Japanese Chin earthly lore the stately piles of Hindu sect of Buddhism: "A tract expound- faith are tottering to their fall, soon to ing the principles of this sect declares become a crumbled ruin. 0 gracious that men are tQo weak to struggle Spirit, Thou Divine Teacher, lead into through to redemption by their own truth that mass of erring, misguided strength, by religious and moral actions humanity. Purge out the leaven of alone, altho this is the original and all literature alien to Thyself. With essential teaching of Buddhism. To Pentecostal power visit with salvation demand this of men is to ask hens to the cities and the villages, the busy go into the water. A heart that be- marts, and sheltered zenanas. Forth lieves of its own strength is changeable from Calcutta, made alive to GOd, may as an image in the water; a heart that the word proceed, till in every village believes through the power of another Christ shall be preacht. In Burd- is strong as a diamond. He who pos- wan and the Nuddea district let the sesses the first believes in many Budd- truth prevail; and may Santalia lift has; he who possesses the latter, be- up holy hands to God for Jesus lieves in one Buddha, as a faithful Christ's sake."-Prayer sent out by the servant does not serve two masters.
C. M. S. Accordingly, the adherents of this sect
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
honor Amida Buddha as the head of the right of foreign missionaries of any all Buddhas. There comes to view the nation who abide faithfully by the laws remarkable phenomenon that a doctrine, of the land to settle in a French colony, which originally can only be called and work there just as French mission- esthetic, has made its way through aries could settle in a British colony.
·polytheism to monotheism. But we They are trying to save for the Mala- ·must never forget that Amida is to be gasy the open Bible and the free church eS!!entially distinguisht from the God life which they had received at the of the Old Testament, for he is wor- hands of their missionaries. •Why,'
shipt through an image; he is not the asks Mr. Cousins, •should the French creator and upholder of the world; he want to get rid of the British mission- is not eternal, for there has been a time aries who are 10yaltoFrench rule?' In when he was not yet Buddha, he is not a recent examination for admission to a almighty; he does not dircct the desti- high school, started by the French nies of men in this world, and does not government in Antananarivo, out of 800 punish sin; it is only in his great love candidates who sat for a stiff extensive and compassion to men, and in the exa~ination, a youth who had been wish that all may be saved, that he trained in the secular side of the Lon- comes nearest to the idea of God. don Mission College, came out at the Whoever now sets his full trust in the top, even beating in their knowledge of grace of Amida has no occasion to the French language all the pupi1e from leave house and home, and to seek re- Jesuit schools, in which the masters demption in cloistered seclusion far were Frenchmen."
from the tumult of the world. He need not refrain from marriage or from -The Rev. W. Huckett, of Voni- the eating of meat, etc. Accordingly, zongo, Madagascar, says of the Jesuits: this is the only Buddhist sect the priests " They have declared themselves to be of which have from of old been allowed our bitter foes. They wear the garb, to live and dress exactly like laymen. and they possess the spirit, of the me- They are not tonsured, and wear no direval times. All who possest the monastic garb. The office of priest is pieces of paper which they distnouted ·hereditary, and the high priest Atani is a were supposed to be true and loyal citi- descendant of the princely founder of zens, but those who did not were sup- the sect. Shiman belongs to the posed to 'be rebels; the possession of higher nobility; he is the primus inter the paper involving the embracing of pare, the most highly considered of all , Roman Catholicism. The Jesuits also the heads of the Buddhist sects." made use of the services of paid spies, MADAGASCAR. who were present at all Protestant meet- ings." Notwithstanding tpese facts, The Rev. George Cousins says in he sincerely hoped that the English The Chronicle: "The work is still go- missionaries would be ab1e'to live down ing on, tho greatly weakened and cur- the racehatred, lIuspicion and prejudice tailed. The missionaries of the society by steady work, believing in Christ's hold a certain recognized position in words that the meek shall inherit the Madagascar to day, and best of all, earth. He also hoped, as public opin- Protestant France is on their side. ion in France became enlightened, tha~ French Protestants are sending mission- the Jesuits would be "better muzzled,"
aries to join the English missionaries and that espionage would cease with in Madagascar, and their friends are the then state of siege. A large fighting a noble fight on behalf of re- number of the natives were sure to lose ligious liberty in Paris and all the great faith and become practically atheists, cities of France. They are contending and others would become, nominally, not only for religious liberty, but for Roman Catholics, but they would stlll read their Bibles, and follow out Bible are a white Frenchman; I am a Mala- teaching. .•• If the Malagasy love any. gasy Frenchman.' This shows you thing, they love their Bibles." As proof how energetically developt a character of the consistency and heroism of the he was. Thanks to him, the Protes- Malagasy Christians, Mr. Huckett told tants refused to be persuaded over to the stories of the martyrdom of Ratsimi- Catholicism. He was an obstacle, and kotona and his sons by brigands, and they have taken him out of the way. of the" judicial murder," as an English One Saturday evening the famous gentleman of the highest position in governor-general of this circle, R, sum- Antananarivo called it, of Raindriamam- moned him to A. He had him tied up in pedry, sixteen honors next in com- such a way and in such postures that mand to the prime minister, after the the poor man was one bruise. I thought arrival of the French. As Raindria- they were about to try him at once. mampedry was dying, pierced by Not so. As he has been guilty of noth- eleven bullets, in the presence of 50,000 ing except of having stood in the or 60,000 mourning Malagasys. the father's way, they prefer to detain him people said his face shone like the face preventively; he is given over as a spec- of an angel, and the French officers tacle to the curiosity of the passerby, said he died "like a gentleman." A no doubt to inspire them with a salu- priest had offered him baptism ., to save tary fear. As soon as he was in bonds, his soul,' but he replied boldly: "No, the priest precipitated himself upon I will die in the simple faith in which I A., and 1., as an easy prey. The Pro- have lived." testant teacher of the former village, menaced with the fate of R, has fled, It has been surmised that the Queen and is now at Antananarivo. At 1. the was banisht because she would not father has made his way into our school turn Catholic; but this is denied by the and carried off our scholars. The recolonial minister in the French Senate. ligious and school work is totally ruined "Under the French flag," said he, in these two villages." H every one is free to profess what creed he likes." This sanctimonious speech "Th.s procedure having succeeded, was received with explosions of laugh- there has been a relapse into it. Still ter from the senators. Mr. Pecksnift' in the same region, that is neighboring has evidently taken out letters of French to A., at T., the chief of the quarter, naturalization, and has risen to high named R., and the governor R, (both dignity under the RepUblic. Protestants) have been arrested and brought in chains to A. Soon after M. Escande, writing to the Journal came the turn of the pastor and our dell Mi88Wns, remarks that very many teacher at 1. Rumors discreetly spread officers, higher and lower, are scrupu- by the agents of the fathers give us to lously attentive to carry out Gen,eral believe that before long all the Protes- Gallieni's orders in favor of religious tant evangelists, pastors, teachers and liberty. but that from the nature of the governors, will undergo the same lot." , case heis better acquainted with those who, intentionally or not, serve as in- One Malagasy governor was told by struments for the Jesuits. Thus: the Jesuit that if he wished "to save ., The evangelist of Antananarivo has his life," he would have to turn Cathobeen arrested, sent to A., (the new resi- lic. But, like a true Jesuit, if he should dence of the commandant of A.) and be taken to task for this, he will be there bound in chains. It is this evan- sure to declare that he meant to "save gelist, who, at A., had placed himself his life from hell I" at the door of the Protestant church and had hindered the priest of A. from [Erratum.-On page 785 in the Ocentering. It is he also who, at A. had tober REVIEW, for "Gnostic dean" proudly answered the Father: 'You read "Gnostic dream."]
ENGLISH NOTES
English Notes. from day to day-people listen to the earnest addresses given them, but make BY REV. JAMES DOUGLAS, M.A. little actual response. The work has been much aided lly the use of lime- The Ohurch Missionary &ciety.- light views shown on a white·washed Work in Korea is made very difficult wall, illustrating the life of Our Lord because of the gross superstition of the and many parts of the Scriptures. The people; they are in continual terror- people are delighted with this and terror of the living, but most of all of the gather to listen and look wonderingly dead. The fear of demonsand spirits of and attentively. Both the stories and dead ancestors haunts and enslaves the the pictures are new to them,and touch people. They will not move after sun- them wonderfully. set from sheer fright. Mr. W. Reid, at Tripoli, finds his Rev. F. T. Cole writes telling of his time fully occupied in attending to both mission in the Santal Colony at the foot the spiritual and physical needs of the of the Himalayas. Part of his journey- people. Many come to the medical ings had to be taken through very mission, who would not otherwise be rough country on an elephant. The there, but for their bodily needs, and villages were all visited, and in many often in getting help for these troubles instances a hearty welcome was given, they obtain salvation for their souls. there being some Christian villages in this district, Mr. Cole having visited In connection with the medical mis· this colony before. It is hoped that Dot sion is a book-shop, where copies of the only in the Christian villages, but Bible and books helpful because of throughout the route taken, blessing their bearing on the Bible may be had. accompanied the words of testimony This is an interesting branch of work, and experience spoken. The special and is in favour among the more highly mission meetings held at Bhagalpur educated of the people. were most cheering; many stayed to the after.meetings and implored for- The London Missionary &ciety.-The giveness, and others testified to the Rev. W. G. Lawes, of New Guinea, blessing received. The lepers at the writes comparing and contrasting the C. M. Asylum were visited twice during condition of New Guinea twenty-two this mission, and stirring addresses years ago with that of the present time. given to the poor suffering lepers. Then " Darkness covered the land and gross darkness the people." Now, North Africa Mission.-Among the " The people that walked in darkness new workers, who have recently gone have seen a great light; they that dwelt forth to labor in North Africa, are Mr. in the land- of the shadow of death upon Harry Nott and Mr. Herbert Ernest them hath the light shined." Jones, who studied at Harley House and Cliff College, and also went through After twenty-two years, although the usual course of Arabic at Barking. much still remains of heathenism, a Both are young men of considerable great and marvelous cllange is manipromise. Their destination is Casa- fest. From East Cape to the Fly River blanca, Morocco. This mission has in the west, covering a distance of 700 recently received the generous gift of miles, are many centers from which £1,200 from one of the Lord's stewards. light is being-diffused. Ninety churches According to Mr. Morgan, the editor of are dotted like light-houses along the Tlte Cltristian, who has lately been coast. The appearance of the people traveling in Algeria and Tunis, the has changed-the wild look of suspicion work of the above society is showing has gone. The Sabbath is observed encouraging signs of the springing forth even in many heathen villages, while of the seed sown in past years. 1,350 men and women are profest followers of Christ. Seed-sowing in Casablanca continues
GENERAL MISSIONA.RY INTELLIGENCE
Drought has again visited Bechuana- able milestone in the march of the misland and the news from this part is very sion in Formosa. serious. This ill the third year in succession noted by the absence of rain, Aleppo.-Recently the Synod, at the and great distress is the rcsult. request of the Jewish committee, au- thorized the ordination of Mr. Christie Amoy.-Good work is being done in as missionary teacher at Aleppo. The connection with the three missions under field there, so far as its 115,000 Jews the pastoral care of Mr. Sadler. The are concerned, is quite unoccupied, mission in Hui-an district has 23 chur- though the work now being undertaken ches and outstations, while that in the may fairly be looked upon as the re- North River has now assumed a phase sumption of the work begun by Mr. of much interest, the Gospel touching Grant Brown of the United Presbytermen of the literary class, a class of all ian Church over 87 years ago. lIr. others in China the most difficult to Christie instanced, as one of the reasons teach. The third missio~ is that of the which determined his choice of this Teng-Chic, which is still in an initial special field, the feeling that he had stage, but not without tokens of encour- that but few have the care of the Jews agement. Two little chapels have been laid on their hearts. opened and eight persons have been baptized. THE KINGDOM.
Preabyterian Ohurch of England.- – TM Church Mis8ionary Intelligeneer The Hakka churches have at length tells of a woman brought up in the taken the first step toward self-support. highest ranks of society who found her Two churches are uniting for this object income suddenly reduced to what -the central, Wukingfu, and another; might well have seemed the very minithe two together providing a stipend, mum allowance for maintenance under and being allowed to call a minister. tolerable social conditions. She con- This event marks a long desired "for- trived' however, by di£pensing with ward movement" in the Hakka work. servants and by other self-denying " Tell the Church at home," one of the economies, to reduce expenditures to Wakingfu elders said, "that we are about one half of the diminisht income, ashamed of our slowness; we are like saving £70 a year to help missions. children who have been nourished too Then, by numerous means, as ingenious long by their mothers." as laborious, she earned a further sum of £200, assisting missions to the extent The work is extending in the Hakka of $270, nearly twice her own income. region. A new station has been opened And her life-one long act of self-denial at Sinsa; and the people are most ready as some would esteem it-is, by her own to hear the Gospel. At Phai.lIang, in confession "one long song of praise." the south of the Hakka field, desire is exprest for the opening of a place of -The man who finds the pages of worship; while not far from the station the missionary journals dull and unof Upper Sands, there is a place called profitable, simply confesses that his Lower Sands, where it is reported that taste has not yet been refined so as to the people in great numbers are desir- appreciate the surpassing interest that ous of worshiping God and are also attaches to the story of the endeavors eager to open a place of worship for of Christian men and women to extend themselves. the kingdom of God on earth. The man who says he has no time once a Hitherto the Presbytery of South month even to review the record of Formosa has not included any ordained achievement, and to Jtear the report of native pastors, but two groups of chur- the generous munificence of the Church ches are now about to call ministers. at large in behalf of these causes, in The .two ordinations will be a memorthat plea acknowledges that he meas- found, to teach and preach and live the ures values by a false standard, that he Gospel. Second, to equip them just as has never yet learned" what is of most mercantile agenis and explorers are worth" in news, in effort, in human equipt for the new climate and condi- aims and aspirations.-Assembly Herald. tions in which they have to live, and to furnish them, as far as possible, with -No friend of missions can afford the strongest weapons of civilization- to omit from his reading H. M. Stan- the printing press, the school, and the ley's article in the October Atlantic, on hospital. Third, to draw into the work "Twenty-five Years' Progress in Equa- as rapidly as possible an army of native lorial Africa." workers, that the Church in every land may belong to the people of that land, -Mr. Poultney Bigelow says in his and embody the Christ-life in their own book on "White Man's Africa" that forms of thought and speech. Fourth, one locomotive has done more toward to administer the enterprise on sound civilizing Africa than all the missionaries business principles.-Gospel in all Lands. since Livingstone. He says in the same book that civilization in the Portuguese -The Archbishop of Canterbury, possessions is at a standstill on account preaching in St. Paul's Cathedral at the of the dishonesty of the officials. How close of the Lambeth Conference, said: short-sighted of the Portuguese govern- "The Christian who has learned in ment not to import I). few locomotives some degree to understand that marin order to reform those wicked officials. ,velous love beyond all love, he as- Great is the logic of the anti.missionary suredly will find that of all things that traveler.-Advance. – he can do there is one beyond all else that will knit his very heart to God, -The Dial, in reviewing Sir Harry and that is the longing desire and the Johnston's book on Central Africa, and earnest labor to give to others what is especially his charges against the Chris- such It'blessing to himself. He is but ,tian missionaries, comes to their defense half a Christian who is content to rewith the following comment: "The ceive what the Lord will be graciously missionary is not likely to be a univer- pleased to give, and thinks only of the sally popular man in a community grace that shall enter into his own soul, largely made up of "aggressively un- and shall penetrate and purify his own godly" people, to whom his presence is life, and ::asts no thought upon the a restraint and his ways arc a rebuke; many for whom Christ died, and over and to whom, moreover, all profession whom the death of Christ has not yet of piety is "cant," and who would any real power, because they have not naturally resent a decent attitude of offi- heard of His name. That Christian ill not cial aloofness from loose ways and really living the full Christian life who loose company as savoring of "arro- forgets that which the Lord gave the gant demeanor," and the spiritual con- Church to do in the beginning, and ceit of the "unco guid." In point of takes no part in prayer for the converfact, there is, as it seems to us, a fund- sion of the world, and takes no part in amental rivalry between the African sending forth those that shall undertake missionaries and the army of self-seek- the task." ing or merely nomadic adventurers now streaming thither in the wake of the -Talk of bravery! talk of heroism I Rhodeses, Jamesons and Barnatos. The man who leads a folorn hope is a coward in comparison with him who, -The plan of foreign missions is on Tanna, thus alone, without a sussubstantially the same in all churches, taining look or cheering word from one and may be briefly stated: First, to of his oWn race, regards it as his duty send out living men and women, the to hold on in the face of such dangers, best and the best educated that can be We read of the soldier, found after nually imperiled and lost. There is a the lapse of ages among the ruins of close connection between medicine and Herculaneum, who stood firm at his extraordinary superstition and wickedpost amid the fiery rain destroying all ness'; and the sorcerer is summoned on around him, thus manifesting the rigid- almost all occasions, or the wizard, or ity of the discipline among those armies some prophetess, who professes openly of ancient Rome which conquered the to being in league with spirits of the world. Mr. Paton was subjected to no world. Sickness is supposed to be the such iron law. He might, with honor, work of demons, and the sorcerer is when it was offered to him, have called in with his wand. And in comsought a temporary asylum in Auck- parativelyenlightened Japan they beland, where he would have been lieve the power of healing is connected heartily received. But he was moved with a divinity, and thus there is no by higher considerations. He chose to worship more constant and continual, remain.-Bishop Selwyn, of John G. and no power possibly more believed Paton. in, in Japan, than that of Binzuru, the god of medicine." -A striking indication of the progress of Christian missions is seen in the -"You take the Bible to the transfer of emphasis from the early heathen, and they spit upon it, or bum YE'.ars of this century. The annual re_ it, or throw it aside as worthless and port of the Church Missionary Society harmful. You preach the Gospel to him calls attention to the fact that an early and he may regard you as a hireling report congratulated the SOCiety on the who makes preaching a trade. He fact that the work abroad was growing may meet your arguments with sophisso much that the committee had been try, your appeals with a sneer. You able to spend,the entire inco'flUJ! a thing educate him and he may change from a which had been impossible before. heathen to an infidel. But heal his The same interesting situation occurs in bodily ailment in the name of Christ, the early history of the Baptist Mission- and you are sure at least that he will ary Union. In 1885 the income was 80 love you and bless you, and that all you largely in excess of the opportunities say will have to him a meaning and for use on the fields then occupied, that power not conveyed by other lips."- at the annual meeting the Board was lJr. Poet, oj Beirut. instructed "to establish new missions in every unoccupied place where there -First of all, as our societies gather may be a reasonable prospect of suc- in prayer-meetings this month, let us cess, and to employ in some part of the unite in hearty thanks to God that He great field every properly qualified has called an increasing number of missionary whose services the Board medical women into missionary service may be able to obtain." In those days these last years. Has the noble profesthe prayer of God's people was for the sion of medicine ever made a nobler opening of new and wider fields for contribution to the good of our race than missionary effort. Baptist MisBionary through these bands of healing woxnen, MagarnM. gone abroad into lands of darkness 1- Woman'8 Workfor Woman. MEDICAL MISSIONS. -Twelve years ago the representa- -Says Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop: tion of the London medical schools in .. I think it is not fully recognized that the mission field was close on nz1,but toevery system of medicine prevailing in day the London School of Medicine for the East /ls connected with sorcery, Women has 81 representatives abrpad, demonolatry, and witchcraft, not to the London Hospital Medical School speak of brutal and torturing treat- has 17, St. Bartholomew's 10, St. ment, and the thousands of lives an- Thomas' 5, University College 8, while 6 other London medical schools have colleges, libraries, museums, hospitals, each 1 or 2.-Medical MU8wn8. etc.
-The Church Missiohary Society is -According to the Ertamintll' Rev. sending out 8 medical missionaries this R. S. McArthur figures it out that it year, whose faces appearin the October costs the Baptists, on an average, but Intelligencer, and an exceptionally tine $209.43 for each missionary, natives looking company they are. included; the Methodists, $269; the Presbyterians, $309.50, but the Chris- -The governor-general of Algeria tian Alliance, $499.10, tho Dr. Simpson, has given the charge of a medical mis- the head of the society last named, has sion in the mountains beyond Biskra to been claiming that his work far excelled a'woman graduate of the University of in the matter of economy. Paris, Miss Chellier; her chief work will be the care of the native women -We easily forget that not a few and children, and she has already gained organizations, which are not missionexperience by making two successful ary in name, are indispensable to the journeys into that part of thc country, work abroad; the Bible societies, for placing trained nurses at the various example. It will also be a surprise to stations. many to be told that the American Tract Society, for twenty-five years, -The deaconess movement first took has donated $100 annually to a single hold of American Methodism at the mission, that of the Lutherans (General general conference of 1888, less than 10 Synod) at Guntur, India. years ago, but it has spread like a fiame of holy fire until almost every nook and -Think of it! A. camp meeting of corner of our Zion are affected by it. 2,000 Christian Indians held in South The official duties of a deaconess are: Dakota a few weeks since. That" Mis- " To minister to the poor, care for the sion Conference" consists of represensick, provide for the orphan, comfort tatives from all the Congregational and the sorrowing, seek the wandering, save Presbyterian Churches among the Sioux the sinning. and, relinquishing all other of North and South Dakota and Nepursuits, to devote herself to these and braska, and the membership includes other forms of Christian labor." Was the pastor of each church, its deacons a more Christ-like mission ever design- or elders, the clerk and treasurer, and ated in terser or more expressive and one delegate; also from the woman's winning terms ?-Methodist OhriBtian missionary sewing society in each Ad'DOCate. church, the president, secretary, treas- urer, and a delegate, and from the Y. -The Chicago Deaconess Aid Society M. C. A. and Christian Endeavor Sosupports 20 deaconesses, who give their cietyof each church the same represen-. entire time to what may be termed tation. The questions discust were such practical Christianity, namely, visiting as these: How to increase th!) interest and caring for the sick, caring for of believers in the study of the Bible; homeless little children, and the help- What can be done to decrease the morless aged. The worthy poor are assisted tality of the Indian race? The educain finding work, and food and clothing tion of our children; How the Gospel are given in emergency cases. may be most speedily brought to bear upon the heathen mind; The self-sup- UNITED STATES. port of our Indian churches. The In- dians were very active in these discus- -The N. Y. Ti'lT!ell is authority for sions. The churches represented have the statement that during the" hard their 2 native missionary societies for times," 1893-'96, by certain men of the carrying on of work among the wealth not less than $121,000,000 have more heathen of their own people, esbeen given in the United States to found or endoW' such public institutions as pecially west of the Missouri, and in heart has been greatly rejoiced by the North Dakota and Montana. The 11 conversion of I) Chinamen in our Indian Congregational churches con- Chinese mission school. I baptized 3 tributed $1,056 during last year; and two weeks ago, and will baptize 2 more the 23 Indian Presbyterian churches, to-morrow night. Large crowds wit- $1,041. Besides supporting their own nessed the baptism. These Chinamen native missionaries last year, the Con- belong to the better c1ass-3 are mergregational Indian Native Missionary chants, and they give the most satisfac- Society gave $300 to the A. M. A. All tory evidence of their conversion. In of -which indicates plainly that to the the same letter Dr. Purser alludes to red man genuine goodness is possible, arrangements now being made by which even this side of the grave. 100 Chinese boys are to come from Hong Kong, China, to New Orleans to -The Methodist Church now ex- receive an English education.-Mis.ion pends about $9,000 a year in mission Journal. work among the Indians, among whom it supports in whole orin part 29 mission- -The Disciples are rejoicing that in aries, and has 1,513 Indian members their missionary giving the $100,000 and 436 Indian probationers. There mark has at length been passed. During are 31 missions, of which 18 are in the last four years there has been a gain Michigan, 5 in New York, 2 in Cali- in the receipts of more than $40,000. fornia, 2 in Washington, 1 each in l'Iinnesota, Montana, Oregon, and Wiscon- -While the Methodist church is ensin. The mission among the Navajos deavoring to pay its missionary debt of in New Mexico has been transferred to $100,000 by a subscription in shares of another church. $20 each, Bishop Hartzell writes from Africa that he and his wife will each -Mr. Edward Marsden is a Tsimp- take one, "the Congo mission con~ shean Indian of southern Alaska, and ference, few in numbers, but mighty in is not an Eskimo, as 1 he Outlook lately faith and sacrifice, will take 2,. and stated. He is by trade a steamship en- Liberia, struggling in her poverty to gineer and machinist; and, since he help herself will take 5 shares-9 in all graduated from Marietta College in from Africa." 1895, has been studying theology and law in Cincinnati. Next spring he re- -Recently there arrived in Chattaturns to Alaska as a preacher, educator, nooga 21 Mormon missionaries. It is and adviser to his people. said Chattanooga is the headquarters of about 400 of these emissaries of Mor- -Prof. J. W. E. Bowen, of Gammon monism, whose whole time is occupied University (colored), Atlanta, Ga., has in house to house visits, proselyting lately written an article, full of sparkle among thc mountain people of Tennesand force, in behalf of the higher edu- see, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carocation of the negro, whose burden is lina and Georgia. that we can not settle this question by the color of the skin. Do with Afri- -Be it known to all the saints that cans as with Americans, English, Ger- the Roman Catholic " Non-Catholic mans, French-give them a chance. Mission Work" now has no less than 15 groups, or bands, of priests at work -The Methodist Church has in the night and day, North, South, East and South 18colored conferences, with over West. to capture this land for the Pope. 1,700 preachers and over 260,000 mem- And this is the prayer they are bidden bers and probationers, and expends for to put up: "0 Immaculate Virgin, them this year, $43,545. Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother of Grace and Queen of the -Rev. John F. Purser, missionary at Kingdom of thy Son, humbly kneeling New Orleans, writes as follows: "My before thee, we beg thee to have a for the past 20 years been rigidly Im- special care of this country in which we posed and cheerfully endured for the live. It Was once dedicated to thee, work's sake in the Uganda Mission.
and it by right belongs to thee; all its The conscientious and persevering children are thy children. Again do patience of the missionaries through we consecrate it to thee, again do we the long years when it was not thought dedicate it to thee as thy own. We safe for women to join them in the place under thy protection all our field have not attracted much attention brethren, those multitudes who know from the outside world, but they have thee 80 little, or who know thee not at been noted by the committee with all. May thy prayers bring back these thankful appreciation. The latter have blinded ones to the light of the true never thought that celibate missions Faith'! May thy intercession lead us all were in themselves preferable either in to a closer union with thy Divine Son!" Africa or elsewhere, and they have de- EUROPE. sired both for the welfare of the mis- Great Britain.-While in the British sionaries, and in order that Christian Isles there is an ordained minister to family life might be exemplified by 1,088 of the population, the proportion Europeans in Uganda, to remove the in hcathcn and Mohammedan lands is restrictions at the earliest possible date. one missionary to about 220,000. Some of the considerations which had weight when the restrictions were im- -By the British and Foreign Bible posed, remain to-day unaltered. Others, Society a staff of 660 colporteurs are on the contrary, have been within the employed in carrying the Scriptures to past few months, and are being every remote districts in France, Belgium, day, greatly modified. On reviewing Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rouma· the question under the new conditions, nia, Servia, Bohemia, Italy, Spain, the committee have decided to relax Portugal, Poland, Russia, Siberia, Cen- their prohibition about a year hence, tral Asia, Turkey, Greece, Crete, Cy- and the special regulations which will prus, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, be applied, when the time arrives; have Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the been sanctioned and communicated to Canaries, South Africa, the Mauritius, the mission.-Intelligencer.
Persia, India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Su- The Continent.-The &ciete de8 Mia- matra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, China, 8Wn8 EvangeliquetJ de Paria had recently Japan, Korea, South and Central Africa, the joy, for the third time, of ending the West Indies and British North its financial year without a deficit. Not America. The greatest work is being only have the resources for the special done in Russia and Japan. Dr. Cust work of the Zambesi and Madagascar . has prepared a most interesting and re- abounded, but the gifts for the general markable table showing the languages work have been increast to 24,000 and dialects addcd to its list of transla- francs above those of the previous tions by this society between 1837 and year. The whole amount received was 1897. The number is 196, viz., 23 629,000 francs. European, 63 Asiatic, 32 of Oceania, 60 Aflican, and 18 American and West -The Belgian Missionary Church has Indian. grown in ten years from 26 churches to /h, from 17 pastors to 30, and the bud- -The Church Missionary Society get from 130,000 francs to 176,000,while sends out this year 85 new representa- 17 new places of worship have been tives to the foreign fields. built.
-The restrictions as to marriage -The year 1896 marks a develpment which Bishop Ingram thinks it would of some importance in the home depart- be w~ tQ impose in West Africa, have ment of the Swiss Romande Mi88ion since the Intercantonal Pact for Mission- -Sin'Ce 1884 the friends of Foreign work, sanctioned in 1895 by the Synod Missions in Protestant Germany have of the Free Vaudois Church and the contributed $1,125,000 towards the Presbytery of the Free Church in maintenance of Christian schools in Geneva, has also been adopted by the heathen lands. Synod of the Independent Church in Neuchlttel. The association therefore, -The German Relief Society reports of a third church with those two already an income of $90,000 in contributions, engaged in foreign work, has necessita- of which $40,000 were at once devoted ted the revision of the Traite d'a88ocia- to the relief work in Armenia, and the tion of 188S and the introduction of a same amount will be used for the estabnew element into the Romande Com- lishment of homes for 700 Armenian mittee; in accordance with a law re- orphans. Female physicians will be cently framed, this is, for the time sent to Oorfa and Van. being, composed of seven delegates from the Vaud canton, six from Neuchatel, -The" Pilger" Mission (St. Chrisand two from Geneva. The foreign chona), whose institutions are located department of the Society's work also on a hill of the Black Forest, near Basle displays evidence of progress. By the on the Rhine, and whose men are fonnd native church in Lorenzo Marques, as preachers, teachers and evangelists which with its annexes numbers nearly all over southern Germany, Austria, 900 converts, there was recently handed Switzerland and America, has again to the Swiss agent a purse of 500 francs, taken up the work of foreign missions or to speak more correctly, a tobacco- by sending two good men t6 northern pouch containing that sum in farthings! China. Others will follow in the near Lorenzo Marques is beginning at length future. to taste the sweets of restored peace; the assertion of Portugnesse power, un- -Luther Johannes, the son of Pera happy in its action, has proved bene- Johannes, the pastor of the Nestorian ficial in its effect, Heathenism in the Lutheran Church at Vasyrabad, in overthrow of Goungounyane has been Persia, will enter the mission college at stript of its prestige, its elements have Hermannsburg, in order to fit hhnself lost their cohesive force; trouble, in this for future work in Persia.. His father wide sphere, has opened many new is a graduate of the college. Some doors and softened many obdurate families in Alsace have been his friends natures. ,.All if an anticipation of such and supporters for years. an emergency, a larger number than usual of candidates have been led to ASIA. offer for foreign service-1S in all.- Islam.-Mr. Gladstone says (and Intelligenu'1'. pity 'tis, 'tis true): "The pain, shame, and mischief of the last two years in -At the end of the last fiscal year the eastern policy transcend entirely the Unity's Elder's Conference, which the powers of any langnage I co~ld use has charge of the foreign missions of concerning them. The sum is this: 1. the Moravian church,found itself facing A hundred thousand Armenians have a deficit of $29,009, though the most been slaughtered, with no security scrupulous economy had been exercised. against a repetition and with greater The missions of these were thus in a profit to the assassins. 2. Turkey is critical condItion, but in the exigency, stronger than at any time since the Mr. J. T. Morton, pfLondon, England, Crimean war. 3. Greece is weaker than a Quaker, offered to pay the entire debt at any time since she became a king. on condition "that no retrenchment be dom. 4. All this is due to the Euromade at any point in the mission field." pean concert-that is, the mutual hatred and distrust of the powers." -The Aintab hospital, bearing the church in Jerusalem. It is reported name of Azariah Smith Memorial, is that the German Emperor will visit the connected with the Central Turkey Col- Holy City for the purpose of opening lege. During the last year the number the church. of free patients at the clinics has been 2,993, while in the clinic for women Dr. India.-Not long since in an address Hamilton has treated 861 cases. In- given in London Mr. James Bryce gave cluding all out-patients and patients his impressions of religious work in within the hospital, 20,964 professional India, and declared that the longer one calls have been made. As indicating stays there the more evidence one has the diverse nationalities that find a that the future well-being of this counhome in Central Turkey, it may be try, and above all the extension, permastated that of the 201 patients in the nence and quality of British influencc wards of the· hospital, 123 have been depend largely upon the progress of Armenians, 60 Turks, 5 Arabs, 5 missions. Koords, 2 Syrians, 2 Jews, and 1 Gregorian. -For eight years in succession the growth of the poppy in India has not -A report received from Pres. prospered. The Indian Government, in Gates, of Euphrates College, Harpoot, the first' instance, fell back upon the Eastern Turkey, says that the total at- reserve stock laid up at Patna and tendance in the departments has been Ghazipur against unfavorable seasons. 646, of whom 64 are in the college A.'l no favorable season appeared, all proper, 81 in the high school and 801 in the reserve was swallowed up in the enthe intermediate, primary and kinder- deavor to put on the market as much as gartens. This is an increase of nearly would keep the sales up to the ordinary 300 over the maximum attendance at standard. Thereafter, the crops still any time previous to the massacres. continuing to be deflcient, a larger For tuition and board of pupils the acreage of cultivation was secured, but collcge has taken $3,307. The girls' without avail. The cultivators were department, with an attendance of 428, stimulated to do their best by an inis carried on in hired buildings, as all of crease of an additional rupee per seer, the .buildings of that department were but all in vain. The deficit this year burned two years ago. amounts, according to the Indian Gov- ernment statement, to Rs. 419,000, and -From Oroomiah, Persia, Mr. a Government estimate for next year is Blackburn reports that as fruit of the that there will be a loss amounting to revival last winter over 400 have been Rs. 1, 130,000. added to the church, and about 200 more would join at the next commun- -Among the 1,000 temples in Brindaion. This is the largest accession in ban there is one built by two rich bankany year since the founding of the ers of Mathra at a cost of $2,250,000. mission. The food of the idol costs $15,000 yearly, lind other expenses amount to -The Boys' School at Teheran closed $12,500. The managers of the temples a prosperous year on June 8. Of its in Brindaban are determined that no 134 enrolled pupils, 70 were Moslems, Christian place of worship shall ever be 50 Armenians, 13 Jews, and 1 Zoroas- built there. They kept out the Mohamtrian. medan mosque during the 800 years of Mussulman rule. Six years ago the -The new German church at Jeru- Methodist Church began work in Brinsalem, which has been in construction daban, and now the presiding elder of for some time, will be completed next Agra district, Dr. J. E. Scott, of which year. It will cost dbout £40,000, and it is a part, has 15 appointments. will be the most imposing Protestant -The Christian Alliance has 18 mis- literature for China, has also decided to sion stations in India, divided among make an annual grant of £100 for the the states as follows: 8 in Berar, 5 in same work, and expresses the hope that Guzerat,4 in Khandesh, 8 in Bombay. other missionary societies will help in a similar manner. -At a recent anniversary meeting of the London Missionary Society the Rev. -" We may safely estimate," says I. H. Hacker of Neyoor, Travancore, the Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, the founder askt his hearers to look at the results of the China Inland Mission, "that not of mission work with the eye of the less than 15,000 to 20,000 souls have prophet, who saw the king's chariot accepted Christ through God's working stopt by the floods of rain, and not with us during the last thirty years." with the eye of his servant, who only saw a cloud like a man's hand. The -In the China Mission of the English promise of ultimate success in India Presbyterian Church there are 18 minwas that "Christ is there." The in- isterial missionaries, 11 medical misfluence of Christ's teaching is sway- sionaries, 4 miSSionary teachers and 22 ing, molding, and guiding the lives of agents of Women's Missionary Associamen, and they are almost unconscious tion. The communion roll has risen of it. In this connection he told of a during the past year from 4,650 to native judge who scorned the idea that 4,946. 'l'he total membership, includthe missionaries could ever convert such ing adults and children, is 8,621. There as he to Christianity. "No," was Mr. are 15 native pastors supported entirely Hacker's reply to him; "I may not get by their own congregations. There are you, but my sons will get your sons, 53 theological students and 47 native and my daughters will get your preachers. daughters." -Mr. Whittemore writes of the -Since last November the Bishop of Whang Hai Doh section of the Pyeng Tinnevelli has been permitted to con- Yang field: "Last October there were firm more than 2,000 native Indian rcported from that province 8 churches, converts. or better, congregations. To.day, there are at least 23; more than all those con- -The experiment of the Leipsic nected with the whole station last Mission in buying large tracts of land year." and settling on them persecuted and impoverished Christian pariahs is imi- -The Wenchow Mission of the' tated by the Basle Mission on the West United Methodist New Oonnection Coast, the Scotch Mission in the Sengel- Church has increased fourfold in five pat province, and the Propagation years, and has now 7 circuits, 100 Society in Trichinopoly. chapels, 1,804 members, and 649 proba- tioners. Last year 200 members were -Ma Hnin Aye, the old Burmese added. lady of Tavoy, who has recently given 5,000 rupees to the Baptist Missionary -In Manchuria the Scottish United Union for the use of the Tavoy Burman Presbyterians and Irish Presbyterians mission, died May 20, aged seventy- join in building up one church. nine years. She had been in feeble Already there are: 1 native pastor, 17 health for It long time, and for nearly elders, 165 deacons, 63 chapels and 41 two months confined to her bed await- other places of worship, 5,802 members ing her release. aud 6,300 inquirers. The contributions were £700 last year. China.-The Baptist :M:issionary Society of London, in addition to main- -Mr. Denby, the United States Mintaining one of its missionaries while en- ister at Peking, has achieved another gaged in the preparation of Christian victory for the cause of missions in China. The Chinese Government has made of silver and, with a silver hair- hitherto maintained that, however will- pin, constitute the chief ornaments ing, it was unable to protect fully those which an average Korean woman pos- foreigners who go far into the intrior sesses; The type of Christianity in of the country. Mr. Denby has Pllrsis- Korea may be judged by the fact that tently claimed that it was able to do so, many wedding rings as well as consid- and was bound to do so; that mission- erable money have been sent from aries, or any other foreigners, have a Christians in the northern field down to right to go where they please in the Seoul to be used for relief in India. Empire, and to expect fuIl support of the Chinese Government wherever they 1apan.-The Japanese are very fond may be. Almost more important than of music, but our Western music is this is the privilege he has secured for most inharmonious to them. However, them of purchasing land. Hitherto as their music is just as unpleasant to this has been denied, and foreign prop- us, we are quits on that question. Some erty has been held in the names of of them have changed their opinions of Chinese. Now they are free to buy late years, but they used to say, "Chil- and hold property in their own names. dren, coolies and women may find Another scarcely less important conces- pleasure in European music; but an sion is the promise that governors who educated Japanese could never tolerate prove themselves careless about the en- it." That is something like the opinion forcement of law shall be adequately of the natives of India, whose mournful punisht, not merely removed from bltajana sound so monotonous to us. office and made to pay a fine often little "The English," they say, "have done more than nominal.-Independent. a great deal for this country; they can do almost everything better than we Korea.-Dr. H. N. Allen, who has can, hut they can never excel us in been nominated for United States min- music-never!" The Japanese ladies, ister to Korea, was one of the first like those you see in pictures, are very missionaries sent to that country. He carefully taught, and greatly enjoy is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan singing and playing for their visitors. University, and in 1884 he went as a medical missionary to China under the -Rev. Henry Topping writes in auspices of the Presbyterian Church, Gleaning8: "We have recently adopted and about a year later began work in the envelope system of weekly offer- Korea. During President Harrison's ings. We are much pleased that so administration he was in this country •'foreign' a eustom should be so graci- for two years in charge of the Korean ously adopted; and particularly, that embassy, and later was appointed secre- the regular passing of the collection 'tary of the United States legation in bag should be acquiesced in, for the Korea, which position he has since Japanese shrink from pUblicity in held. He had charge of the Korean giving money as they also do in receiv- exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago. ing it. They regard such publicity as vulgar, fit only for the shops. Their -The Korean Christians of Gensan, sense of propriety prefel's rather that in response to an account of the suffer- their salary be handed them in a sealed ing in India, brought generous contri- envelope without remark, or, better butions to Mr. Swallen. One man yet, left where they will find it. Therebrought $10-11. very large sum to a fore we rejoice in such evidence of Korean. Another, whose wages are their willingness to become a separate $10 a month, brought $2, and his wife and peculiar people for Christ's sake. II sent her two wedding rings, which in Korea are always worn in pairs, never -The proprietor of a large coal mine, singly. These rings are heavy and where 800 people are employed, has in- vited a Lutheran missionary to visit his mine regularly and preach to his associated with him in the attempt to people. This man is not a Christian, establish industrial missions In Africa. but he furnishes a place for meeting, We would by no means fail to give attends himself, and wants the men them their due meed of praise, tho taught Christianity, because he says it their proposed method of operation will make them honest, obedient and never commended itselt to our judg- virtuous. Thtl uniform testimony of ment. But we have often been told the missionaries is that the people that the scheme on which the good generally are willing to listen to the bishop planned.to prosecute his evangel- preaching of the Gospel, and that there istic work ought to displace the methods is very little open hostility. heretofore adopted and now in use by most missionary boards. Not a few :-Some proprietors of a silk factory individuals and churches liave with- in Yokahama, Japan, where over 100 drawn their support from the older or- girls are employed, desired a Bible ganizations in order to contribute to woman to come to their factory to hold this new effort, which seemed to them religious services, saying they would so economical and effective, and was gladly give one hour morning and prosecuted with such heroic' faith and evening for daily prayer and Bible confidence in God. But experience readings with the girls. must decide as to what is wise and eco- nomical. It is a question of methods. AFRICA. Certainly, in answer to that question, facts should be made known. It is -Whoso would watch the signs of with no desire to discredit what has the times for the Kingdom as touching been done, but solely to aid our friends the Coptic church in Egypt, will do in judging as to the best methods for well to read an article in the Contem- prosecuting the work of evangelizing pora'rll for May, by "A Coptic Lay- the world, that we call attention to man," entitled, The Awakening of the facts recently presented from the most Coptic Church. reliable source in reference to Bishop Taylor's industrial missions in Africa. -Bishop and Mrs. Hartzell left Bishop Hartzell, of the Methodist Liverpool October 2d, for Cape Town, church, the successor of Bishop Tay, -South Africa. After spending some lor, has just made his 11rst tour of these time in the study of the Wesleyan industrial missions, and he reports the mission and educational work in results as he now finds them, 10 years British South Africa, it is their in- from the commencement of Bishop tention to proceed overland to the Taylor's work. Within that period 50 seat of the Methodist missions on stations have been opened and 88 mis- the East Coast at Inhambane, visiting sionaries sent from foreign countries, on the way the Transvaal, and thence most of them from America. Bishop into Portuguese territory, where our Hartzell states that "the results have, missions on Inhambane Bay are situa- as a whole, been disappointing," and ted. It is the plan of the Bishop to be he gives the following facts. The exin Monrovia by February, 1898, in penses of the stations were far beyond order to hold the Liberia annual con- anything anticipated, and many of the ference at that time. After visiting the missionaries sent out proved them- missions of the West Coast again, and selves unfit for their work. Only 13 examining their progress since his for- of the 88 persons sent out 10 years ago mer visit, we hope to hear his report are now in the field-4 preachers, 1 from the field and his plans for future 'layman, and 8 women. Some have work.-PittBburg Christian Advocate. gone to other churches, but most of them have returned home. Of the -The Christian world justly ad- Inires the courage and Christian devotion of Bishop Taylor and the men 50 stations opened, 29 are said to be stroy him, and it is then that recourse occupied, but of the 29 "fully one-half is made to the witch-doctor to discover are doing but little_" As to the out- and to punish the supposed offender.
come of the industrial work, Bishop The wizard who causes the evil is gen- Hartzell states that coffee raising was erally credited with certain agents by depended upon largely as a source of whom he can work vast evils amongst income, but of the 45,000 or 50,000 his fellow-beings. One of these agents coffee trees planted, "scarcely 15,000 is the baboon, who is called at night to have been saved from being choked to perform various errands of mischief in death by grass and bushes," and that the kraal of the offending person. An- after careful inquiry at the 29 stations other is the lightning-bird, through now occupied he finds that the total whom the wizard can control the light- amount of coffee sold will not exceed ning. Another is the Tikoloshe, who $200 worth.-Misswnarll Herald. is a small evil spirit in the form of a -Mr. Charles Reeve, who has ini- dwarf."
tiated a mission upon" faith lines" at ISLANDS OF THE SEA.
Poona, is now traveling through the -The following statement recently Australian colonies, calling for recruits appeared in an English paper: To avert willing to accept service on such terms, the, ruin which threatens, where it has and scores are volunteering. Mr. Reeve not already overtaken, Evangelical returns to India at the end of the year missions in Madagascar under Jesuit with a strong contingent of laborers, intolerance, 5 distinguisht French male and female, accompanying him. Protestant pastors and professors have -The Paris Missionary Society is gone out, and are expected at Antanan- working in South Africa in Basutoland, arivo about this time. The Free east of the Orange Republic. There Churches of France united with extraare there 23 French missionaries, 3 ordinary enthusiasm tosend them forth, native pastors, 250 catechists and teach- pledging themselves at the same time ers, 16 stations, 140 out-stations, 15,000 not to neglect any of their existing adult Chriutians, and 7,500 school chil- missions. M. de Beynes, president of dren. The Bible was translated into the Paris Society for Evangelical Mis- Sesuto by CasaUs, lfabille, and Ellen- sions, declared to a crowded meeting berger, 1849-76. Last year a manual that while the revolt of Fahavalos training school was opened by the mis- showed the risks of civilizing barbarous sion, where young Basuto are taught useful trades. Chief Lerothodi was so natives, a worse insurrection threatened much pleased with this new enterprise that he assest his people $20,000 for Frenchmen in Madagascar-an insurthe building of another such school, rection against justice, the rights of which will be placed in charge of the conscience, and the faith of treaties. missionaries. The outrages of the Jesuits, as reported by MM. Kruger and Lawga, and the -The workers of the Society for the loyalty of the British missionaries to the Propagation of the Gospel experience new French regime in the island, have produced a strong impression on mem- bers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
much difficulty from the debasing ef- -Aneityum at the South, and Santo fects of the system of witchcraft on the at the North, about 400 miles apart, are people of Kaffraria. From a very in- the poles of the New Hebrides Group.' teresting account of their missions in Work first began on Aneityum fifty that country, we quote ~he following: years ago, and success was great. "Any sickness which is at all persistent Northward, island after island, has the or unusual is, I believe, supposed by mission grown. One of the latest the heathen Kaffir to be the work of stations fouuded is that of North Santo, some individual who is trying to de- where a Mr. McKenzie is settled, and here too the work prospers, and 12 con- verts have recently been baptized.
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1897
LISTENING TO A PASSION PLAY OF THE SHIAH MOSLEMS DURING THE MUHARRAM OH TIME OF MOUHNIN(i'
M,SSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: VOL. Xx. No. D.-Old &rie8.-00TOBER-YoL. X. No. D.-NMI' &riel.
GLIMPSES O}~ LIFE ON A PERSIAN HIGHWAY. t BY ROBERT E. SPEER.
There are two prevailing modes of travel in Persia, on foot and astride. The former is not popular. It is amazing to see what endurance the apparently indolent Persian, who will move when he must, and will work on the same terms, possesses, and with what untiring, unresting zeal he will work in some occupations, such as that of chavadar, which bring small remuneration, involve great risks, are full of hardships and can force no man to choose them. The chavadar is the Persian freight-car conductor. He owns a number of horses, and carries freight of all sorts, human and inanimate, to any part of Persia or even into Turkey. But no Persian will walk when he can ride, even tho to ride he must heap himself above a load borne by a patient, staggering donkey, one of those animals which make a mute, almost heart-breaking. appeal for a belief in the immortality of brutes. " Anything to do my work, to keep my feet off the ground," is the motto of the Persian traveling. Those who ride go astride, women and all. The camel drivers oft~n ride with both feet on one side, and when Dr. Vanneman accompanied the Shah's harem from Tabriz to Teheran, much of his work was to patch up camel drivers, who had fallen off in their sleep. The donkey riders sometimes ride with both legs dangling on one side within a few inches of the ground. All this is ultra laziness, however. The trowsered women r.ide alone, or sit behind the men. The side-saddle of one of the ladies of onr party was a sonrce of constant amazement in the country and villages. "Why she has no legs," cried the people on one side. " Yes, she has," cried those on the other, "they are both on this side of her." And so she rode along, a Frangee monstrosity.
Not all Persians go a-traveling, but all do, who can. .The four vit~l elements of Islam are the prayers, the fasting, the sacred. fifth • ThII periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rule. recommended.by the jo.lnt aetioIl of the American Philological Msociatlon and the Philological Society of England :-Change d or ed lInal to , when 80 pronounced. except when the e affects. pn!CedlDg IOUUd.-PulILrBmrBI. .
t A letter from Kangaver, Persfa, January 25. 1897.
GLIMPSES OF LIFE ON A PERSIAN mGHWAT
of the income, and the pilgrimages. A more consistent religion of works, as the matter has turned out in practice, could scarcely be invented, so on pilgrimages go all who can. There are many reasoqs for a Persian's remaining a settled part of one community, and for his children's standing in his place after him, but the traveling instinct has been cultivated by centuries of Islamic influence, and the highways are full of life and movement, fuller than such a thin population would justify, were it not for the religious obligation that drives thousands to waste in this way what has been painfully earned and is direfully needed at home. The travelers bound lor the. religious shrines, Kerbela, Meshed, Kum, converge into the great roads running thither, and the student of the people's life sees it unbared here.
Down one of these great highways from Tabriz to Ramadan, we traveled last October. Next to Teheran, Tabriz is the largest and most important city in Persia. It is the distributing point to northwestern and much of western Persia of the importations from Europe, especially Russia, which though commercially lethargic, would fain control the trade from the north. Russian oil, candles, and sugar pour down from the north and practically monopolize the north-western Persia markets at least. From the south great caravans bring rugs, tobacco, dates, honey, etc., and show the traveler the name of Bagdad in good Roman letters on the bales, if they have come from afar. Of all these caravans on this highway Tabriz is the point of departure or destination.
A Persian highway is not a manufactured road. It owes nothing to the hand of man. His foot treads it, if he is so mean as to walk, but he spends on it neither an effort nor a copper coin, and the functions of national and local government in the country do not include the construction or maintenance of either bridges or roads. Accordingly there are, in one sense, almost no roads. The highways, untoucht by wheels, save when some Khan or civilized traveler makes the painful attempt, or on Teheran-Kasv'in or Teheran-Kum roads, are simply a congeries of paths, diminishing to one in a constricted place, and increasing to a hundred or more on a broad plain, where a caravan of donkeys will move along abreast, like a regiment of dumb Sancho Panzas. No one digs a ditch. No one drains a bog. No one removes a stone. The road was unsurveyed, ungraded, and is uncared for save by a kind Providence, who makes his rain and frost, and snow and wind to come alike npon the Telford road and upon the Persian track.
The roads of Azerbijan, the north-western province of Persia, of which Tabriz is the capital, are infested by three kinds of thieves; the regular robbers, who have pluck to attack travelers, the authorized guards, who are often ex-robbers, or robbers who have lost theit pluck, and been appointed guards, so as to have legal authority to extort a small fee from a larger number, and the vampire customshouse rascals. Azerbijan is a fertile, populous country, and there are customs-houses on all its important roadll. Baggage or freight is not examined, but a small fee is levied. Some one finds a road much used -they are all found now in Azerbijan-and offers the governor so much for the privilege of establishing a customs-house. This helps to line the governor's purse, and so fulfil the purpose for which he is governor and paid for his office, and it fastens the leeches upon the roads to bleed a little each passer-by who has baggage or goods. No service is rendered in return, either by the leech or the government. The traveler must be-or pay for-his own police, and make his own roads, or be satisfied with the uncorrupted face of nature. The people do not love the customs-houses. Their ruins are to be found on many highways. Soldiers returning home, or marching by, love to demolish the impositions, and not infrequently their exactions become so great that some angry popular demonstration forces the government to interpose a. check. Near Taswich we passed a great building in ruins, thanks to the momentary flare of a sense of power and justice in a crowd of ragged, discharged soldiers, who, having served a government which takes and never gives, returning home without pay, took vengeance on the legalized throttlers of travel and trade. On the Tabriz highway, which runs into Persian Kurdistan, below Mianduab, there are no customs-houses. The government does not call all these establishments for the destruction of prosperity" customs-houses." When complaints are made, it will say, "Oh, that is not a customs-house; the man simply has a right to collect a small sum for each box or bale carried by." For that right some government official received his p6sklcas7t, or bribe.
The dread of the Evil Eye is heavy upon the Persian. He shudders at the evil which a complimentary word about his child will bring. Be puts the bone of an animal, a horse or a donkey, in the wall of a new house. A skull, or a jaw-bone, or a leg is over the door-way of many a village gate, or stable, vineyard, or house. In one wall I saw the whole skeleton of a donkey, buried in this public and ghastly way that the Evil Eye might not affect the garden within. Among the ignorant the cold, still eye of the camera lens is a terrifying thing. At Khokhurt, before its silent gaze, a group of children clung together, and then fied in shivering terror lest the glittering brass ring in the black box were the Evil Eye. The camera is often a safer defence than fire-arms. A crowd of naked, savage beggars fell upon us once ready for supplication or theft, as might be most expedient. The whole crowd fied in fear, running like deer across the desert, cry,ing, "Oh, he's killing us, he's killing us," when the clear, steady camera eye was pointed at them.
Bartimreus sits by the wayside, blind and begging, as he did when Jesus saw him and gave him vision. Often his home is in a pile of stones and he will rise as the sound of the horses' steps comes near and walk out into the road lifting up his sightless eyes and asking in Allah's name. But the lepers are most pitiable of all. Many cities and towns have each its little group of these representatives of uncleanness and sin. They sit at the gate or by the side of the road or against the wall of a bridge, wrapped about, desolate, only awaiting deliverance. Near Tabriz there is a little settlement at the foot of "Leper Hill." The lepers do not cry out complaints. Many of them do not ask with words, but the poor hand is stretcht out. for alms and the marred and wreckt visage, the ruin of a human face is lifted up with the piteous cry," 0 Oreator God! 0 Oreator God I" The appeal is to Him, the Oreator God, with whom is mercy and from whom is all deliverance. That leper cry sounds the depths of all power and peace, "0 Oreator God! "
Another denizen of the highway who arouses feelings not of pity and sympathy, but of intense loathing and disgust, is the dervish. No one who has not been in the East, where holiness is synonymous with asceticism, can understand the full force of the motives, which led Jesus to lay himself open to the epithets, "a gluttonous man and a wine bibber." It was absolutely necessary that he should make it plain that asceticism is not holiness. But Jesus' ideals do not prevail here, and the ascetic is the holy man. E,ery man who aspires to religious repu- tation or influence must present at least the external appearance of an ascetic life. The beerun or public apartment of the mollahs must be bare and unadorned, rich and effeminate as their anderun or inner apartment may be, and the supposed ascetic life of the dervish secures for him the greatest reverence on the part of the religious. The more • ascetic he is, the more ascetic he appears to be, the greater his reputation for holiness. As a result the dervish is the most blasphemous and loath- some thing I have seen in this land. He is the denial of God in more points than the open sinners. He is the personification of that which God detests. He is so unclean as to be foul and diseased. He does not work. He has no divine virility. " Quit you like men" are meaning- less words to him. His ambition is to attain to the utter uselessness of the life of a dog, who is a filth breeder, not even a scavenger. He whines and cringes and holding a faith which proclaims the Ohristian abject and unclean, sneaks at the Christian's heel and begs from the unclean hand! I have never seen anything to which it seemed more just and fitting that the Son of God, who loved cleanness and worked till his friends said he was beside himself, should say, "I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Apart from the representatives of human need and suffering on one hand and of putrid religiosity on the other, the highways have their multitude of beggars, traveling or coming out from village and town to beg from the pilgrims. With some begging is a supplement- ary means of increasing their income, with others it is a profession. A physical deformity is an aid but it is not indispensable, while a vigor- ous frame and full ability to earn an honest living are no impediments. The pilgrims have money. All their earnings many of them carry with them. They are going to Kerbela to accumulate merit, and all the merit that can be accumulated on the way by deeds of charity- whether the charity is a curse and a sin matters not-is so much gain. In the midst of these beggars and remembering that Jesus lived in just the same conditions, it is easy to understand the perplexity of those who stumble at Jesus' words, "From him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. Give to everyone that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again!'
The pilgrim caravans are of all sorts. Some are collections of poor laborers trndging on foot in a crowd. Now and then a man of sufficient standing to have "retainers," curious sycophantic parasites fostered by the peculiar conditions here, rides along, followed by his satellites. Often a man with his harem is passed. The women ride in the main in kajavas or cage-like boxes, covered with red and green cloth, and balanced one on either side of a strong, sure-footed mule or horse. It is hard for the horse and it is hard for the women who ride cramped up and roughly joggled. Many of the pilgrims on the Tabriz- Ramadan highway are from Russia. The territory taken from Persia by Russia two generations ago remains Persian in its customs and religions, and multitudes of poor and rich take the long journey (at least thirty-six days continuous travel by caravan time) to Kerbela. We saw these caravans going gaily and well equipt, and other caravans which had once been like them, returning drearily, foot-sore, and weary, ragged and plundered. ]'or the pilgrims are pillaged by every one. They have not been accustomed to have money or to travel, and at every stopping-place they are imposed upon and defrauded. About the shrines a great crowd of harpies hovers, mollahs and adventurers, and the poor pilgrims come away at last with one of the great obligations imposed by their religion met, and with much merit laid up on high, but with money gone, new vices learned, new fanaticism developt for the defense of new superstitions. The sight of one returning pilgrimage of Russian peasants I shall never forget, as begrimed and exhausted it toiled up a steep and rocky mountain. Two horses were left and were ridden by the women. One man led an old blind man by a rope, the rabble crept along in rags. " That is the way they come back," said one of the Persian servants with us. The sophisticated come back differently, but as Mecca spreads the cholera over the whole area from which its pilgrimage is fed, so Kerbela and Meshed especially spread poverty, vice, and superstition over Persia.
The pilgrims on this highway are all traveling to Kerbela, two days' journey south-west of Bagdad, where Hassan, the son of Ali, who was Mohammed's uncle, and married his daughter Fatima, was killed. Ali is the great prophet of Shiah Mohammedanism, and the Shiahs hold that both temporal and spiritual power should have descended in the hands of his posterity. Hassan and Hosein, his two sons, Shiahs regard as its martyrs, and celebrate their deaths each year in the month of Moharrem. Kerbela, accordingly, is its great shrine. Tho in Turkish and so Sunni territory, it is the center of the Shiah faith. Its great theological center is here. Here its dead desire to be buried. Hither its disciples come on their arduous pilgrimages, bearing the bones of the dead in long, suggestive boxes tied on the caravan horses, and distinguishable at once.
The pilgrimage is not productive of humility. On approaching a village the travelers will set up a long wail to let the people know they are passing through, and the simple people will run out to kiss their hands and ask for their blessing, or a little share in the great merit the pilgrimage earns. Coming out of the city of Khoi one fine morning, we saw the long, broad road filled with people bidding a large party of holy pilgrims farewell. Returning, laden with sanctity, the pilgrims have yet greater blessings to bestow. A company of welldrest Russian Moslems past us yesterday, the women clad in men's clothes, even to the Russian boots, and riding astride, and at each village the hands of this company were kist repeatedly. Raymond Lull's words are suggested at every turn: " We see the pilgrims traveling away into distant lands to seek Thee, while Thou art so near that every man, if he would, might find Thee in his own house and chamber. . . The pilgrims are so deceived by false men whom they meet in taverns and churches, that many of them, when they return home, show themselves to be far worse than they were when they set out on their pilgrimage." Men who have visited one of the Shiah shrines are called thereafter, as a title of honor, by the name of the shrine, "Meshedi," "Kerbelai," while those who have made the great pilgrimage to Mecca are called" Hadji," or "pilgrim."
One day, on the Tabriz road, near Ticon-tappeh, we met a large mollah, well clad, riding a fine horse, who greeted us cordially, and said in reply to our greeting that he was going to Kerbela for the seventh time. We askt why the arduous pilgrimages were undertaken. "They bring great holiness," he replied. We observed respectfully that he must be a very holy man, to which he assented with a deprecating nod of the head. "What good will the pilgrimage do," we inquired, "if the heart be wrong within?" "That is true," he said, " it would do no good," and he quoted a Persian ode about the two shrines, Medina-Mecca without, and the heart within, and the futility of visiting the former unless the latter be made holy and sweet. We askt him of the cost of the pilgrimages. He admitted that they drained the country of money, that they took the life-time savings of many and squandered them, that the money wasted would suffice to make good roads, drain the bogs, irrigate the desert plains, care for the diseased and the poor. " Our religion," he added, "provides for all these things, too." "Yes," rejoined Mr. Coan, of Oroomiah, who was with us, "it may provide for them, but where are they? Our book says a tree is to be judged by its fruits. Your religion produces unhappy homes, bad roads, poverty, waste, desert, swamps, and desolation. If it does not produce, it tolerates all these, with no attempt at all at remedy. Have you ever heard of the fruits of a pure Christianity? They are happy homes, commerce, and close social relations of peace, and progress among nations, comfort, thrift, prosperity and love." "Yes, Sahib," replied the moHah, "it is a great subject." The open mind was as absent as the open heart.
Other Mussulmans have two replies to this argument, however. Some say that the Christians being the devil's children, and the devil being the god of this world, he gives his children all present and carnal comforts, while the Moslem looks for his reward in the world to come. But this is the complete abandonment of the teachings of Mohammed and the practice of Moslems from his day until now. Mohammed had no more consuming conviction than that there is one God, the living and true, and that He is the world's sovereign. With him there had been no atheistic abdication of the sovereignty in favor of the evil one. And as for carnal comforts, the prospect and promise of them have been the life-power of Islam. Others meet the appeal to the fruits of religion by saying, "These are the dark ages of Islam. There was a time when Mussulmans held the learning of the world, and carried light everywhere, but now the reaction has come, and the light of Islam is shaded for a time, just as in the Dark Ages of Christianity the light of Christianity was obscured. Oompare the fruits of Islam in its luminous days with the fruits of the contemporary Christianity." To this there are obvious replies, but they do not always convince a man who knows just enough to know nothing of lucid reasoning or historic verity.
The Persian dislikes to grow gray. He is especially averse to a white beard. The shaved head saves him from gray hair. Accordingly when a man of long, lustrous black beard finds it turning silver, he suddenly appears with it dyed a glorious red with the dye of the blood plant, which is also used to color the finger nails and hands, with a stain that resembles the stain of nicotine or of the juice of walnut husks, tho it is less temporary than the latter. One of the most common and unfailingly ludicrous sights of the highway is an old red-bearded man, clad in rags, riding a small donkey, and keeping the little beast on a trot by working his half-naked legs, ending in great ark·like shoes, .in and out like two pu~p-handles. The feet do not touch the donkey at all, but the swinging motion is understood, and so long as it is kept up the swinging red-bearded patriarch and the wee, patient beast skip along merrily.
Bread and cheese are the staple articles of food on the highway or at home. The cheese is white and sour. The brel!.d is often delicious, if made of clean flour and well baked. It is almost invariably eaten damp, however, so that it may be easily bent and serve as spoon and fork. Pocket-knife or none is the rule as to knives•. Sometimes there are wooden spoons. As a rule all dip into a common dish, as our Lord and His disciples did in the Upper Room. The bread is thin and baked in the north in long, oblong" loaves," two feet or less in length and half as broad, and the thickness of extra heavy, coarse wrapping paper. In the south these sheets are round. There are other kinds of bread baked as cakes, or on hot pebbles, each of which leaves its indentation, but this is the common bread baked inurn-like, upright earthen jars, submerged in the ground, similar in name I}.D.d character,.and like to the ovens used by the Jews in Old Testament times (Lev. ii.4; 1 Kings xvii. 2; Isa. xliv. 15).
At Khokhurt, journeying south, the appearance of the houses sud- denly changes. Only flat roofs, used in the summer· as .the sleeping places of the village folk, were seen before. Here the roofs are all domed. There is no wood for use as rafters, so each roof is made up of one, two, three, or more domes, each with a small hole at the top, serving as the only entrance of light and air, save the door. In Bag- dad and other southern cities the spaces between the domes are filled up, making the roofs level and the houses warm in the cold and cool in the warm weather.· In the villages the domes remain, resembli:n,g a great community of gray ant hills. The single room of such a house gives no impression of the number of occupants. From subterranean caverns, through narrow and low-roofed passage ways, sheep; horses, cows, oxen emerge, and in the early morning march past the bed of the traveler, who has come in belated and been given shelter for the night.
As the traveler through Poland is surprised to see so few churches in the villages· through which the railroad runs, so the absence of mosques iii the villages of Persia is a constant surprise. To be sure, a Shiah mosque, which is never adorned with minarets, is not so con- spicuous .as the Sunni mos·que, but in most of the villages through which we past ,there seemed· to be no prayer-house, nor was the voice of the muezzin heard, calling the faithful to prayer; but Islam is evident 'in· the coarse conduct and words which greet European women, iIi the fidelity· of some bellevers to the hours of morning and .evening prayer wherever they may be, and in the general prevalence everywhere of that demoralization of life, that decay of fiber and sinew which one would expect in a country where Islam, on the con-
U ANYTHING TO KEEP MY FEET OFF THE GROUND
2. THREE HOLY MEN (DERVISBES) OF PERSIA. 3. MOBLEM WOMEN DRESSED FOR THE STREET.
GLIKP8ES O~ LIn ON A PERSIAN IDGHWAY
tention of its most intelligent defenders, and in spite of the blazing Christian light about it, is in its" Dark Ages."
One sees no drunkenness on the highways. Much may be justly said regarding the absurd plea that Itllam precluded the use of intoxicants, but the highway people are sober and its life a cheery, social, mutually helpful life. One cbavadar helps another out of a bog or a drift. If one man lies to you about the road or distance, another may possibly tell you the truth. While the majority follow the command given to the seventy, and salute no man by the way, many give a cheerfnl greeting and wish God's blessing even on the life and journey of an infidel. One Persian was able to go so far as "Bon jour. monsieur," but he answered the reply in his native tongue. The wealthier Persians, who have traveled at all, usually know French, but the native speech or speeches-Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Syriac, Hebrew, Kurdish-are the languages of the road.
']'he Persian fields and hills are absolutely devoid of trees, save where they grow by the water courses or in the semi-tropical districts. I could count on one hand, I think, the isolated trees seen on the highway to Ramadan. In the fall all is sere and brown, and the great flocks of sheep and goats dri ven out from some village or from some camp of the black huts of Kedar, crop over what the civilized eye sees only as a waste lacking any green herb or nutritious thing. Children of foreigners, born in Persia, look with surprise and amusement at the little, worthless tails of the sheep at home. They have been used to seeing sheep whose tails hang down behind as heavy and large often as a ham. The tail is wholly fat, and in a good sheep gives enough_ fat for the cooking of the mutton, and in Persia meat is served swimming in grease. Sometimes, tho seldom, the tail grows so heavy that, as in Palestine, a little cart must be attacht behind on which the sheep can carry around its tail. What a mighty moral is hidden here! Goats are cheaper than chickens for food. We bought one at Khaswayam for .fifty cents. A man came into the yard, and before our door killed it with his pocket-knife. Without other implements he cleaned it. A man stole its head and feet while the servant was not looking. The dogs came in and lickt up the blood and cleared off all traces of the butcher. An old woman came and prayed for the skin. The butcher brought the goat in on a tray. In a quarter of an hour our fifty cents was served before our eyes into a tray ?f fresh goat meat, and there was no evidence of the process of transformation.
One of the missionaries at home from Persia on furlough, was once' reported in a local paper's account of an address to have said that an unveiled woman was never seen in Persia. The local reporter knew no better, and he printed his ignorance. The missionary had seen more women's faces unveiled than veiled. In the cities and fanatical places the women of well-to-do homes are veiled upon the streets, but
ION KEITH-FALCONER, PIONEER IN ARABIA
the poorer women of the cities, and the great multitudes of village women, while occasionally drawing their head-coverings over their mouths, go about with open face. But this emancipation is no evidence of liberty. We stopt one night at the village of Tikontappeh, on the southern border of Persian Kurdistan. It. was a new town, built up in what here would be an enterprizing way. As we got ready our beds for the night, the woman of the house looked on with interest, and admired especially a coverlet made by Mrs. Coan, which led her to ask whether both the ladies of our party were my wives. We told her that our religion was different from hers; and askt whether her home was a happy one, whether her religion made her life sweet and desirable to her. "My husband is about to take another wife, Sahibs," she said; "0, Sahibs, our life is hell!" It is not hell with all, and many do not know that it is hell, because they.have grown up into a stolid endurance of its repression and its littleness.
The day before reaching Hamadan, the interYening ridges slip away and the snow clad peaks of the Elvend Mountains, which overlook Hamadan, and the wide, fertile plain, where Ecbatana lay of old, rise up cool, white and, in the warm weather, inviting and promising. But they are many miles away. The Persian highway gives the traveler many a far away vision. Above all others, there is one of a far away glory, before which the radiance of the Elvend peaks under the sunlight pales and dies away, when Persia even shall be full of the great glory, not of snow peak, fertile valley and quiet village, but of the Lord; and, after all, it is not very far away.
ION KEITH-FALCONER, PIONEER IN ARABIA.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
History, biography and philosophy teach by examples; they reduae precept to practice, and sometimes present the Book of Life in an illustrated and illuminated edition.
This heroic young man represented the flower of British civilization; and the lesson of his life is that the best is not too good for God's work, and the length of life is to be measured by service.
Oliver Wendell Holmes quaintly said that the training of the child begins a hundred years before its birth. Character has its heredity; it transmits its aptitudes. Something depends on blood as well as breeding; and Keith-Falconer might well have been proud of his noble lineage, which he could trace back through eight centuries. In 1010, when Malcolm II. was King of Scotland, Robert Keith, his remote ancestor, by valor and prowess in battle with Danish invaders, won the title of Hereditary Great Marischal of Scotland; and what he did for the Scottish crown, his descendant, long after, did for the crown and covenant of the King of kings-as a standard-bearer on the battlefield where Moslem and Christian powers contend, he won a higher honor and title as a Knight of the. Cross.
When, a little over forty years since, Ion Keith-Falconer was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, there began an eventful era, when more new doors were suddenly thrown open for missionary labor than in any previous decade of years since Christ gave his last command. Born in 1856, and dying in 1887, his life-story covers only about thirty years. Yet, in a higher sense these thirty years span eternity, for they wrought out God's eternal purpose, and left a lasting legacy of blessing to the young men of all generations, the true wealth and worth of which only eternity can compute.
His life may be viewed from four points: his boyhood, his college life, his home work, and his pioneer enterprise on the shores of the Red Sea. He was markt, as a boy, by four conspicuous qualities: manliness, magnanimity, piety, and unselfishness-rare traits in a lad. He loved outdoor sports and excelled in athletics, and grew to be six feet and three inches tall, and well formed, always conspicuous among his fellows. At twenty, President of the London Bicycle Club, and at twenty-two the champion racer of Britain, four years later he was the first to go on his wheel from Land's End to John O'Groat's Housevery nearly one thousand miles; and he accomplisht that feat in thirteen days-an average of nearly eighty miles a day.
If his stalwart manhood won applause, much more his sterling worth. He had inward strength and symmetry, and was too strong and brave in soul to be overcome of his own lusts, or enticed. He loved truth and had no patience with shams or frauds; and reminds one of the statue, which represents Veracity standing with open face, the mask of dissimulation lying at its feet, cleft with the sword of Sincerity. The Bible was the one book he loved; from the dawn of his intelligence he was its faithful and loyal student, and sought by obedience to get new knowleuge of its true spirit and meaning. .
Better than all were his unselfish piety and charity. To impart is the highest blessedness, tho few learn the bliss of giving, if at all, until late in life. Yet as a lad he showed deep sympathy with sorrow and suffering, and is remembered for his simple ministries to those who needed help. He went about, a boy of seven, reading and explaining the Bible in the cottages of poor peasants; and on one occasion having spent his pocket money for some baker's choice cakes, he bestowed them all, untasted, upon a hungry boy. The child thus forecast the man who gave his short life to teaching the ignorant, and himself became one of God's barley loaves to feed dying souls!
In college life, Keith-Falioner was an example of a fine quality of brains as well as brawn. He mastered "short-hand," and rivaled Pitman himself, and wrote the article, "Shorthand," in the Encyclopcedia Britannica. He had the genius of industry, and like William Carey, could plod. Conscientious in his curriculum, he applied himself to hard tasks, and overcame pbsiacles, until he rose to an enviable rank and won honors and prizes which the indolenhnd indifferent never secure, mastering not only the regular studies, but theology, Hebrew, and the Semitic languages, and the Tonic sol-fa system of music.
The missionary spirit burned in him, even in college days, tho the atmosphere of a university is not always stimulating to aggressive and evangelistic piety. He who at Harrow School, not yet fourteen years old, was, by the testimony of the masters, "energetic, manly, and vigorous," altho" neither a prig nor a Pharisee," was, during his career at Oambridge, which began in 1874, not only fearless in the avowal of his faith, but was moved by that passion for souls which compels unselfish utterance and effort. In temperance and mission work he both used and tested his powers and adaptations for a wider field of service. He led a band of students who, in an old theater, carried ou ragged school work and similar Gospel evangelism. Together they gave or· raised about eight thousand dollars to purchase the building, and there began a wide-reaching service, whose harvest is not yet wholly gathered and garnered.
A field in London next drew him. When yet but a lad of fifteen he had met F. N. Oharrington, then twenty-one, who was visiting at the house of his father, the Earl of Kintore. Between these two, notwithstanding six years' difference in age, an intimate friendship at once sprang up, which bore that blessed fruit of fellowship in holy work. Mr. Oharrington, now known as the founder and leader of the Tower Hamlets Mission in the East End of London, had, two years before, consecrated his life, at the cost of surrendering a princely fortune as a brewer, to uplifting and redeeming the East End drunkards and outcasts. When, late at night, he watched wretched wives and mothers anxiously waiting for their husbands outside the drinkshops over which waS the name of "Oharrington, Head & 00.", he felt a noble impulse to break off the yoke of the drink traffic; and, resiguing the eldest son's share in the business, accepted a smaller portion, which he laid on the altar of humanity, resolved that what was largely coined out of human woe, should be dedicated to human weal, in raising the very classes that the beershop had dragged down. Charrington began his work in a hayloft, was crowded into a larger hall, and then into a big tent; until an Assembly Hall was opened-now twenty years ago-where two thousand people were gathered night a.fter night fQr nine years.
Keith-Falconer's name is so inseparable from the work of Charrington, that it is no digression to give that noble enterprise ample mention. The two young men, moved by a similar impulse, were knit together, like David and Jonathan. During his Cambridge days Keith-Falconer often went to LondOll' to watch his friend's work, and give it help. He shared the opposition. and persecution that made Charrington its target, and the "mobbing" which rewarded .unselfish service to the slaves of drink, going with him to the police office, when he was arrested on false charges, as one that was turning the world upside down. Like Charrington, also, he had his reward in seeing drunkards reformed, gangs of thieves broken up, public houses deserted and for sale at half their cost, and homes redeemed from rum and crime.
During the fearful winter of 1879 the feeding of hungry multitudes occupied the attention of Charrington and his helpers, and led ultimately to the erection of that new hall which, with its buildings, cost $200,000, and is a perpetual benediction to the neighborhood. There, for over ten years, untold blessing has been imparted to thousands and even millions. In that grand audience room on Mile End Road five thousand people may gather under the sound of one voice; there, every night, a Gospel service is held; the days of mob violence are over; Mr. Charrington finds stalwart defenders in the poor victims whose yoke he has been the means of breaking, and the whole East End is being redeemed from its social curse.
In all this work Keith-Falconer has a share, as in its eternal reward. He, as honorary secretary, issued the necessary appeals, himself becoming a beggar for funds, and a donor to the extent of $10,000. As a college student he would hurry off to the metropolis for a week at a time, lend hand and voice as needed, visit the poor, teach the word, aid in administrative details, and then hurry back to his studies. His biographer, Mr. Sinker, says: "I could not but be struck with the similar expression on the faces of the two men. It was one in which joy and keen resolve alid humble thankfulness were strangely blended. One great work for God which Keith-Falconer had striven hard to further, he was allowed to see in its full completeness, carried on by men working there with heartiest and purest zeal. Not while anyof the present generation of workers survive will the name of Keith-Falconer fade out of loving remembrauce in the great building in Mile End Road."
All this work he did as a layman, who seldom spoke in public, but had learned the secret of "having a talk with a man "-and with one at a time-as Jesus talkt with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. While on a bicycle tour with a friend in Slltherlandshire, in 1884, he wrote to his wife, " We had a talk with the boatman on the Kyle, who said he had been praying and searching for years, but couldn't find Him." This form- of evangelistic and missionary work, getting in touch with an individual soul, and finding the key that unlocks the heart-a personal, private conversation about the most important matters-courts no publicity and escapes observation, but does not fail of recognition in God's Book of Remembrance, written for those who" think upon His name" and" speak often one to another."
The closing period of his life is forever linkt with Arabia. After he past his last examination at Cambridge, in 1880, Keith-Falconer gave himself to the study of the Arabic, including the Koran. He got from books what preparatory knowledge of that tongue he could, and then went to the Nile, and resided for some months with the missionary, Dr. D. W. Hogg, to acquire the colloquial language, learn the temper of the Arabic mind, and study the Moslem faith. Then in university halls for three years longer he carried on his research, translating the Kalilah and Dimnalt,* and meanwhile filling the post of Hebrew Lecturer at Clare College and of Theological Examiner.
This young man, not yet thirty, was married to a charming woman, Miss Bevan. In the midst of the finest classical surroundings, everything was calculated to root him at Cambridge, where before him lay a futuro of almost unlimited possibilities. He might have grown in such a soil until, like the palm, he overtopt others, and blossomed into a surpassing fruitfulness as well as a scholarly symmetry. Fame had her goal and laurel wreath in sight, but a holier calling and a higher crown absorbed him. He left all else to carry the Gospel message to distant Aden.
The life of Dr. John Wilson, of Bombay, had opened his eyes to the possibilities of a missionary career, and about the same time General Haig had called attention to neglected Arabia, and to the strategic importance of this particular point of approach and occupation. Aden as a military position controls tho Red Sea, and in a mercantile and nautical point of view sustains a relation to Asia and Africa similar to that of Gibraltar to Europe and Africa. In the year of Victoria's coronation-l838-the Sultan ceded the peninsula to England, and Aden was made a free port. It is but five hundred miles from Mecca and six hundred and fifty from Medina. Thousands from all parts of Arabia, entering the British territory every year, must see how the peaco, order, freedom, and good government, there prevalent, contrast with the tyranny and anarchy elsewhere found.
Keith-Falconer had an interview with General Haig, and in the autumn of 1885 went to Aden to prospect. On his way he began inducting his wife into the mysteries of Arabic, and quaintly wrote: "Arabic grammars should be strongly bound, because learners are so often found to dash them frantically on the ground."
• These were the so-called" Fables of Bldpai," or Pilpsl, an Indian Brahman and gyninoSOo phlst, of great antiquity. &arcely any book but the Bible has been translated into so many tongues, and its history is a part of the history of human development. Bidpsi has been . called chief of the philosophers of India. He determined to fix on Sheikh-Othman as his station, leaving. Aden to the Ohurch Missiouary Society. He explored the neighbQrhood, and thus proved to the inhabitants that not all Europeans are " clever people who get drunk and have no religion to speak of."
In the spring of 1886 he and his wife were again in England, and, on Easter Day, in the Assembly Hall at Mile End, he delivered, on " Temptation," the most striking address of his life. Did it reflect his inward struggle with the parting of the ways before him-nobility, wealth, distinction, on the one hand; seclusion, self-denial, obscurity on the other? Before the General Assembly of the Free Ohurch of Scotland, he gave, on Mohammedan missions, an address equally impressive in its way, which reveals his purpose and conception of the possibilities of service in Arabia. He said that he had been again and again urged to go to Arabia and set up a school, and that one day a Mohammedan wrote in a mysterious fashion: "If you want the people to walk in your way, then set up schools." The man was a Hadjee, returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he had been stript of all his money. Being offered a copy of John's gospel, he would not accept it; and, being further questioned, acknowledged that he liked the historical parts, but other parts made him fearful. He pointed to the talk between Christ and the woman at Jacob's well, "If thou knewest the gift of God," etc., and said" That verse makes my heart tremble, lest I be made to follow in the way of the Messiah."
'.rhis young Semitic scholar of Cambridge, already the greatest living orientalist, laid out a great w,ork at Sheik-Othman. He would have a school, a medical mission, and a depot for distributing the Holy Scriptures. He would study medicine himself and secure a Christian physician as coworker. He would work under the Board of the Scottish Ohurch, but pay all costs of the mission himself.
Just at this point, and greatly to his surprise, he was made Pro· fessor of Arabic at Oambridge. The position was partly honorary, its active teaching depending mostly on an associate; and it was accepted, with no divided purpose, for his mind was set on Arabia, but because his Cambridge work would augment his power to turn public attention to its needs. After a course of three lectures on "The Pilgrimage to Mecca," he again left at once for Aden, with his wife, and colleague, Dr. Stewart Oowen.
Thus in November, 1886, he laid the foundation for his mission premises and work. His character made such impression on the Moslem mind, that, within a few months, but few who came in touch with this Christlike man were willing to admit that they were followers of Mohammed, but were wont to say," There are no Moslems here!" The Gospel in Arabic found both purchasers and readers in those who ha:d read in this man the living epistle of God.
But the Aden fever proved a fatal foe. Both Keith-Falconer and 736 [October ION XlIlITH-J'ALCCNER. PIONEER IN ,ABAlIIA.
his wife were stricken in February, 1887, and fresh attacks rapidly weakened his stalwart constitution until, on May 11, he sank into quiet slumber and could no more be awaked. His biographer writes: "It was indeed the end. Quietly he past away. God's finger touched him and he slept. Slept? nay, rather awakened, not in the close, heated room where he had so long lain helpless-the weary nurse, overcome with heat and watching, slumbering near-the young wife, widowed ere she knew her loss, lying in an adjoining room, her- self broken down with illness as well as anxiety-the loyal doctor, resting after his two nights' vigil-not on theBe do Ion Keith-Fal- coner's eyes open. He is in the presence of his Lord; the life which is the life indeed has begun."
After five months of labor in his chosen field his body was lovingly laid to rest in the cemetery at Aden by British officers and soldiers- fitting burial for a soldier of Christ, who, with armor on and courage undaunted, fell with face to the foe. The martyr of Aden had entered God's Eden. And so Great Britain made her first offering- a costly sacrifice-to Arabia's evangelization. '
No doubt some will exclaim, '" To what purpose is this waste I'
for this flask of costly ointment, broken and poured out amid Arabia's arid sands, might have been kept in the classic halls of Cambridge, and even yet be breathing its perfume where scholars tread and heroes are made." To all such cavils of unbelief there is one reply, and it is all-sufficient, for it is God's answer: "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."
The Free Church, whose missionary he was, declares: "The faIl- ing asleep, iu the first months of fervent service, of the Hon. Ion Keith-Falconer, in the extreme Asian outpost in South Arabia, gives solemn urgency to his last appeal to the cultured, the wealthy, and the unselfish, whom that devoted volunteer for Christ represented when he addrest them in these words: '" While vast continents are shrouded in almost utter darkness, and hundreds of millions suffer the horrors of heathenism or Islam, the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circumstances in whic"h God has placed you were meant by Him to hep you out of the foreign mission field.'''
God makes no mistakes, and we are "immortal till our work is done," if we are fully in His plan. We may not penetrate the arcana of His secret purposes to learn the final issue, but, as Dr. J. W.
Dulles used to say, our disappointments are, rightly read, "His appointments." The short career of Keith-Falconer teaches a lesson -never more impressively taur,1,t-that nothing is too good to be given to God ou the altar of r ssions. His death sent an electric shock through the British kingdom and the wider Church of Christ.
But his distinction and accomplishments made it impossible for his
10K XEITH-lI'ALCOKBIt, PIOliBBlt Ili AlUlIU
life's lesson to remain unread. His fame gave a trumpet voice to his words and made his life vocal with witness. Admiration and love drew others to follgw in the steps of a heroism so divinely self-oblivious. The Church askt for one volunteer to step into the breach, and thirteen of the graduating class of the New College at once responded; but the response did not end then or there. In the very year of Keith- Falconer's death Robert P. Wilder and John N. Forman were going about among the colleges and theological schools of the United States and Canada, secnring from the best educated young men, volunteers for the foreign field. And now, during the ten years that have past since this martyr spirit of Aden went up to God, ten thousand lives of young men and women in Britain and America have been ofiered to God, quicken~d by this example of consecration. The Henry Martyn Memorial Hall at Canbridge, the: Hannington Memorial Hall at Oxford, and many other monuments of dead and living mission heroes enforce the testimony of the Cambridge orientalist. lIe, being dead, yet speaketh, and no voice of the last half century is heard more widely by the young men of the Church of Christ.
He sought to " call attention to Arabia;" and has done it in a way and to an extent that he never imagined. The workman fell, but the work goes on. Under Rev. W. R. W. Gardner and Dr. Young new currents of influence are flowing into and through Aden. In· 1888 a large number of Abyssinian children carried into Arabia from ruined homes and massacred families, for enslavement, were rescued by a British man-of-war and put into school in this mission for Christian training, to be sent back to Abyssinia as missionaries. Christian teachers, evangelists, and physicians have since gone to take up the work Keith-Falconer laid down. And, on both sides of the Red Sea, in Africa and Asia, the mission which he begun is likely to be the seed of other enterprises, looking to the evangelization of both conti- nents. The mission to Arabia has not come to its grave because its founder sleeps in the cemetery at Aden. On these southern shores of Arabia is a Church of England edifice, largely built from collections made in the mail steamers that ply across those waters. The Scots Church, partly paid for by money raised by the children of the Free Church of Scotland, is now building under an Arab contractor and workmen, some of whom are Jews. And so, curiously enough, Christians, Arabs, and Jews unite to erect Christ's houses of prayer in the land of Ishmael! Dr. George Smith, who recently visited Aden, testifies to the prosperityand hopefulness of the congregation there worshiping in connection with the Scots Church, and says that in the pioneering stage of the Arab mission it snpplies the spiritual life and enthusiasm of common worship and evangelical efiort. Dr. Young acts as military chaplain for the British infantry and artillery located at Aden, and he and
ION lUilITlI-lI'ALCOmm, PIONBEl IN AIUliIA
hill colleague undertake not only to furnish two sermons a week, but as medical missionariea to meet the demands of Arab and Somali, Jew and Paraee; thus, while nourishing piety in British resi- dents, reaching out to the varioua foreign populationil that need Gospel effort.
The British camp and the native town of Aden lie in the crater of an extinct volcano. What a typical place in which to plant God's tree of knowledge and of life! And the Bible is planted there. On a busy corner of the main street stands the British and Foreign Bible Society's depot, with Mr. and Mrs. Lethaby as its devoted workGra; and near by is the reating place of the body of Keith-Falconer. In the middle of a row of graves of British officers and men, each with Ito single cross above it, may be aeen the tomb of the first missionary that Scotland gave to Arabia.
Dr. Smith aaya of him: " He died at thirty, one yea.r younger than Henry Martyn, and was followed by the aged bishop, Valpy French, on the eastern shore at Muscat. A massive block of white Egyptian m~rble covers the grave, while there rises at its head an exquisitely pure slab, with an inscription, under a coronet which might well represent the martyr's crown. 'Ihere Dr. Cowen, who was then his medical colleague, and several officers and men of her British majesty's Ninety-eighth Regiment, as the sun set, laid all that was mortal of the young Scottish noble, scholar, and self-consecrated missionary of the Free Church of Scotland. The sacred spot is the first missionary milestone into Arabia.
"As the Keith-Falconer Mission, bearing its founder's name and generally supported by his family, this first modern mission to the Arab may be said to have begun anew in the year 1889. First of all, Principal Mackichan, when on his return to Bombay, after furlough, carefully inspected the Sheikh-Othman headquarters, and, with the local medical authorities, reported in favor of continuing and extending the plans of its founder. The mission is now, as a result of past experience, conducted by two fully qualified men, one of whom is married, who are working in most brotherly harmony, preaching the Gospel in Arabic as well as healing the sick. Its Arabic and English school is taught by Alexander Aabud, a married member of the Syrian Evangelical Church, from the Lebanon, but trained in the American mission in Egypt.
"All pver this neighborhood the medical mission founded by Keith-Falconer ill makin~ for it!!elf a name, and its doctors are received or visited at theIr dispensary, as the messengers of God. European and native alike, nat.ives from India and Africa, as well as the Arab camel driver!! and !!ubjects of the Sultan of Lahej-himself and hi!! family patient!! of the mission-turn to the missionaries with ~ratitude and hope, and will do them any service. Nowhere has the mfluence of medical mission!! in this early stage, of course preparatory, been !!o remarkable 81! in this Yemen corner of Arabia during the past !!even years." …
• Letter to the Free Ohurch oJ lYcotland M01-.thly, by George Smith, LL.D. In this man – one of the finest, brightest, and noblest young men of the century, some special traits shone which provoke to emulation.
First, his simplicity. The childlike. character, refined of what is merely childish, is the divine ideal of human perfection. We must not outgrow the simple artlessness, humility, docility of childhood, but rather grow backward toward it perpetually. The ideal child is inseparable in our minds from faith, love, truth, and trust; and these are the cardinal virtues of Christian character. To learn to doubt, to hate, to lie, to suspect, is to learn the devil's lessons, and any approach to these is just so much progress in Satan's school. This pioneer to Arabia never lost his simple childlikeness. His manhood was not an outgrowing of his boyhood, in all that makes a child beautiful and attractive. He never put on airs of any sort, but hated all hollow pretense and empty professions. His was that high art of artlessness; in his most careful work he did not lose naturalness, and in his most studied performances there was no affectation. He acted out himself, a genuine, honest, sincere man, who concealed nothing and had nothing to conceal.
Second, his eccentricHy. This word has a new meaning by his interpretation of it. He was wont to say that a true disciple must not fear to be called "eccentric." "Eccentric," said he, "means {out of center,' and you will be out of center with the world if you are in centllr with Christ." He dared to be one of God's" peculiar people, zealous of good works." While we are content to live on the low level of the average" professor of religion" we shall exhibit no peculiarity, for there is no peculiarity about a dead level. But if, like a mountain rising from a plain, we dare to aspire to higher and better things, to get nearer to God, to live in a loftier altitude and atmosphere, we shall, like the mountain, be singular and exceptional; we can not escape observation, and may not escape hostile criticism. Blessed is the man who, like Caleb and Joshua, ventures to stand comparatively alone in testimony to God; for it is such as these who go over into the inheritance of peculiar privileges and rewards.
Third, his unselfishness. Few of us appreciate the deformity and enormity of the sin of simply beiug absorbed in our own things. One may be a monster of repulsiveness in God's eyes through qualities that exhibit little outward hatefulness and ugliness to the common eye. Greed, lust, ambition, pride, envy and jealousy, malice and uncharity, may not be forbidden in man's decalogue, but they eat away the core of character like the worm in the apple's heart. Balzac, in one of his stories, revives the old myth of the magic skin which enabled the wearer to get his wish, but with every new gratification of selfish desire shrank and held him in closer embrace, until it squeezed the breath of life out of him. And the myth is an open mystery, to be seen in daily life. Every time that we seek something for. our-
ION ltltlTl[-PALCOl'fElt. PlonKa Ilf· AlLllSU
selves only, without regard to God's glory or man's good, our very success is defeat; we may get what we want, but we shrink in capacity for the highest joy and the noblest life.
l!~ourth, his concentraUon. Paul writes to the Philippians, "This one thing I do." In the original it is far more terse and dense with meaning. He uses two little Greek words, the shortest in the language (EY 8E), "But one!" an exclamation that no words can interpret. All his energies were directed toward and converged in one. Our lives are a waste because they lack unity of aim and effort. We seek too many things to attain anything great or achieve anything grand. Our energies are divided, scattered, dissipated. We follow impulse, which is variable and unsteady, while principle is constant, like the pole . star. We are too much controlled by opinions which change with the hour, instead of by convictions which, being intelligently formed, hold us, like the girdle of truth in the Ohristian armor, instead of our merely holding them. It is possible for a man or woman to gain almost any goal, if the whole energy be concentrated. How immense the importance, then, of getting a right purpose to command the soul, and then making everything else bend and bow before it!
God speaks to the young men and women of our day as in trumpet tones: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear! " An example, like that set before us in this life story, is one of God's voices. In Keith- Falconer the Holy Ghost saith, "Stop and consider!" What way is your life stream running? Are you living for yourself or for God and for man? Every man is his brother's keeper, and it is fitting that the first one who questioned this was Oain, his brother's mur- derer! Everyone is either his brother's keeper or slayer, for every life is saving or destroying other lives. We lift men up or we drag them down; there is no escape from responsibility.
No man liveth unto himself and no man dieth unto himself. Life is bound up in a bundle with all other life. We are none of us inde- pendent of the others, and we can not escape the necessity of influen- cing them for good or evil. Eternity alone can measure the capacity for such influence, for eternity alone can give the vision and the revelation of what life covers in the reach and range of its mighty forces. It is a solemn and august thought that, to-day, each one of us is projecting lines of influence into the unending hereafter. The life span is infinite. So lookt upon, this short career of thirty years did not end at Aden ten years ago. The building whose basis was thus laid is rising unseen and silently, and its spires will yet pierce the clouds. A seed was planted on the shores of the Red Sea whose branches will yet shake like Lebanon, and wave in beauty and fertility when the everlasting mountains are no more. The career of Keith-Falconer is still going on, but the cloud which is between hides its onward, upward path.
POLITICS AND lU8SIONS IN PERSIA
Once more we turn to that grave at Aden and read its simple inscription: TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF THE HON. ION KEITH-FALCONER, THIRD SON OF THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF KINTORE, WHO ENTERED INTO REST AT SHEIKH-OTHMAN, MAY 11, 1887, AGED 30 YEARS.
"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and, where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."
POLITICS AND MISSIONS IN PERSIA.
BY REV. S. G. WILSON, TABRIZ, PERSIA.
Muzaffir-id-Din Shah has now occupied the throne of the Kajars about a year. During this time the condition of the country and its sovereign has been far from satisfactory. The Shah is the victim of a chronic disease, and his tenure of the scepter is destined to be short. Several times it has been announced that he had the intention to go to Europe for medical treatment. Rumors of his death have been circul~ted. At one time the bazaars in Teheran were closed, business suspended, and riots imminent, owing to such rumors. Only the appearance of the Shah in public quieted popular apprehension. Not ouly illness, but fear of assassination, seems to keep the Shah in retirement.
Shortly after his accession, the Shah removed the prime minister who had served his father for so many years, and had shown great energy in holding the turbulent elements in check until His Majesty reooht his capital. The Sadr-Azam retired in disgrace to Kum, and the cabinet was reorganized, many of the old ministers retaining their portfolios. After a few months another reorganization was effected, the Amin-i-Doulah being recalled from the governorship of Azerbijan and made grand vizier. He is an enlighteneq ma.n, a great admirer / of European civilization, the patron of the Ferry Hospital in Teheran, and friendly to missionaries.
There has been a noticeable increase in Russian influence during the year. A consulate has been establisht at Ispahan. A wagon-road from the Caspian to Kasvin, leading to Teheran, is being constructed by Russian capital. The boundary between Moghan-and Ardebil has been pusht forward. A governor of Ardebil is said to have been induced, by a bribe of 50,000 rubles, to report to the government that a certain territory in question was of no value, and that Russia's desire for it might as well be gratified. Afterwards the inhabitants of twelve villages came to the Shah to protest against being expatriated in so summary a way. When the Shah learned the truth, the governor was divorced from the Shah's daughter, his property confiscated, and he was banisht on a pilgrimage to Kerbela.
Russia naturally desires to reap advantage from the disturbed condition of the country. Indeed, the vice-consul, who was at Tabriz during the bread-riots, is reported to have been censured for not having scored some points when the rioters fled to the consnlate for protection, and profest a desire to become subjects of the Czar. In Meshed;the consul showed a better knowledge of his duty, and made the local disturbance a pretext for calling in a band of Cossacks to guard the consulate. But the greatest show of Russian power has been at Tabriz. A servant of the Russian consulate was reported to have insulted a Mohammedan woman, the wife of a prominent mollah. A crowd quickly gathered to punish him. He took refuge at the consulate, and the mob turned to plundering Armenian houses. Four houses were looted, and many men robbed and beaten on the streets, before the government got control of the mob.' Then demands were made on the consul that the man be given up for punishment. The consul maintained his innocence, and refused to give him over to certain death. Popular excitement rose high. The mob threatened to return to looting the Armenian quarters, and even to attack the consulate. Armenians, to the number of 700, fled to the Russian and French consulates, and remained there for three weeks; the rest of them were confined to their houses; their schools, 8S well 8S those of the mission, were closed. It was uncertain what 8 day might bring forth. The consul told the government plainly that if order W8S not kept, he would call for the Cossacks in 48 hours. They came to the border at JuUa to be in readiness. The government took alarm, and made strenuous efforts to control the populace. Guards of soldiers were placed in the Armenian quarters. The mollahs exhorted their followers to be quiet, saying that otherwise the Russians would conquer the country, take off their turbans, and prohibit their call to prayer. So the Persians were cowed, and restrained their fanatical and plundering passions. The Shah's government, at the demand of the Czar, paid indemnity to the plundered, arrested and imprisoned the ringleaders of the riot, and gave a written promise of security for the Christian popUlation. The results wer.e a great increase of the already predominant power of Russia, and an improved position for Nestorians and Armenians, and greater security for all foreigners.
The Jews, too, have been passing through trials. Shortly after the above event, a renegade, Jewin Urumia, accused his brethren of having sacrificed a Mohammedan child at the Passover. A mob quickly gath. ered, and were about to take summary vengeance on the defenseless Jews, when the government, fearing further disturbance would give. Russia a coveted opportunity, exerted unusual energy, and restrained the crowd before they had injured anyone. In Teheran, moreover, It. mollaq gave a decree that the Jews should wear a distinctive dress, and have a badge of red on their coats, that they could be recognized, and Mohammedans not be contaminated by contact with them. The Jews appealed to the Shah, who answered them favorably. Still the populace was determined to attack them, and the Shah had a silver badge, of the value of a franc, struck off, to be hung about the neck of each Jew. In Ramadan, too, the Jew8 were in "reat danger during Maharren.
These riotoUl!! demonstration! against Christian! r.nd Jew! are, in part, the result of the bigotry excited among the Persians by the events in Turkey, for though Shiah Mohammedans, they show It. fellow feeling for their Sunni brethren, which was not anticipated, and glory in the victories over the Greeks a! those of Islam over Christianity. They had come to feel that there was no protection for Christians, and they could be plundered with impunity. Only the fear of Russia excited the government to a prudent activity, and prevented a. repeti. tion of the scene enacted in Turkey. This serie! of riots shows what the condition of life is in Persia at preeent.
During the past. year thousands of refugeee from Turkey have past into Persia. Not only have Armeniane from the villages along the border fled hither, but thousands of Nestorians abandoned their lands, their homes, their all to the Kurde, and took refuge in Urumia. The dangers to which they were exposed was tragically illustrated in the murder of the Nestorian Bishop of Ulumia, Mar Gabriel, three priests, and two deacons of the old church and their attendants. They were proceeding to the Metropolitan of Nochea. A party of Kurds, by command of a sheikh, murdered this band of harmless clergy, muti· lated their bodies, cutting their ears and noses, and ripping them up. Their bodiee were then dragged more than" mile and thrown over the Persian border, where they were found after ten days by a search· ing party. Much hM been done to relieve these del!titute refugees in Urumia., more than $10,000 having come from England and America for th.t purpose. Many were furnisht with passports to emigrate to Russia. Clothing and food have been distributed in Salmas, and now Pastor Fisher and wife, with the Misses Pollock, have come from Germany to establish an orphanage and perhaps a colony for the refugees. One scheme of ait! was to purchase cattle in Persia for the plundered villagers in Turkey. For this purpose the Rev. Mr. Allen, of Van, came to Persia, and purchased several thousand head of cattle. Diffi- culties were, however, put in the way of exporting them. It was found to be against Persian law to export cattle and grain. The price of meat was also raised by the extra demand, and the people of Khoi became clamorous against the exportation. Their opposition took the form of an extensively signed petition against Deacon Werda, the preacher at Khoi, who had negotiated for the cattle. He was accused of preaching the Gospel to Mohammedans, and baptizing converts, and his expulsion was demanded. The petition was ready to be sent to the Amir-i-Uizam, the governor-general, when Dr. Cochran waif fortunately called to Khoi, to attend a patient, and was able to procure the destruction of the document. The feeling against the export of cattle was so strong that the plan was abandoned. At present some anxiety is felt regarding the bands of Armenian revolntionists who are gathering in Salmos with the intention of attacking Kurdish vil- lages across the border. It is feared that they may provoke reprisals and lead to further massacres, without accomplishing any good. The Armenian bishop has endeavored to dissuade them from the enter- prise.
A reccnt event of importance to mission work in Persia has been, the visit of Secretary Robert E. Speer. It was the first visit ever made by an official of the board to the Persia Mission in the sixty years of its existence. Now that a Secretary has once ventured to take this ride of 1,500 miles over the rough mountains of Persia, and escapeiJ so successfully from an attack of typhoid, we hope he may quickly find courage to come again, and be followed by a rapid succession of official representatives. Mr. Speer's visit was a spiritual blessing to many of the missionaries.
Retrenchment has been the order of the past year, and greater cur- tailment is ordered for the present year. With this there has been ,.unusual spiritual activity. In 'fabriz there has been a markt friend- liness on the part of the Armenians, and an unprecedented readiness to hear the truth. In connection with the Memorial Boys' School a series of evangelistic services were held for three months after the week of prayer, which were attended as never before, and were the means of removing many prejudices and made a strong impression for evangelical truth. Hearts that had resisted all appeals during many years were brought to a decision to serve Christ. In Urumia a gracious blessing has been experienced in a number of the churches. The winter campaign, conducted largely by Mr. Coan, was one of the most remarkable in the history of the station. Large congregations of revived church members and inquiring siuners attended the services. The churches would not hold the numbers who desired to be present. The attendance of Old Nestorians and Catholics was specially large. Many of the refugees, too, received a blessing and the interest extended to the Armenian villagers as never before. Five hundred accessions were expected as the result of the campaign.
Quickly following this evidence of God's blessing came not only an order for an unparalleled retrenchment in the work, but another event which clouds the prospect for the future evangelization of the Nestorians. Prieste from the Russian Church arrived in Urumia in May. They had been invited by the Nestorians in an extensively signed petition to the Czar. The motive of the signers was to obtain political and civil protection. The insecurity of life and property in these parts has well nigh led the Christian population to despair. They felt sure of protection if they could come under the regis of the Czar. Hence the same people who some years ago invited the mission of the Archbishop of Canterbury now turn to the Orthodox Synod. The coming of the Russian mission was anticipated with intense interest. As one exprest it, the Nestorians had their horses saddled for months in anticipation of their advent. The missionaries arrived in 'fabriz under guard of a band of Cossacks, just after the Tabriz riots. When they arrived near Urumia, Nestorians and some Armenians, in all to the number of 8,000, came out to meet and welcome them. 1.'hey strewed their garments in the way, kist their hands, and even the dust of their shoes, prostratiug themselves before them and greeting them as "Our Saviors." Their reception was a grand ovation. They quickly followed up their triumphal entry by special visits to villages. At the edge of the village they would plant the standards-the holy Eikons-aud hold religious services. The people flockt to the services and all who desired were invited to partake of the Eucharist, after which their names were enrolled as members of the Orthodox Russian Church. Some whole villages have been thus enrolled. Among the leaders in this headlong rush to ;forsake Nestorians and the Syrian Fathers are Bishop Mol' Yohannan and Yoseph Arsenious, who has traveled extensively in America. These with the zeal of new converts are persuading and cajoling all they can to join the Russians. The movement is chiefly confined to Old Nestorians, who seem about to be swept out of existence, as far as Persia is concerned. Oh, degenerate sons of steadfast sires, who suffered exile and loss of all rather than call Mary the Mother of God, and you now run in hot haste to bow down to her image and pray to her as mediator. Not a few even of the converts of the Catholic and Protestant mis- sions are borne along by the flood, and the missionaries stand amazed. at the power of political and worldly motives to uproot conscientious convictions. Th~ mission is interpreted by the Persians to mean that the Russians are about to make a movement to occupy Persia.
The results affect most peculiarly the Anglican Mission (Ritualistic), whioh was establisht at the request of the Nestorians, and whose aim has been to bring the Nestorian Ohurch to acknowledge the first six councils. Now, after years of self-denying effort, they see their hosts flying to the refuge of Orthodoxy, but under the Russian banner. As their object to make the Ohurqh orthodox, is thus accomplisht in a way they could never have anticipated, they can rejoice even in tribulations. They will probably "fold their tents like the Arabs and silently steal away." Indeed, most of them are already taking vacations. That clergy who have subscribed to the XXXIX Articles, should be better satisfied to see their flock go to the Russian Ohurch than to the Evangelical Ohurch, must excite amazement.
As for the Protestant community, we yet confidently hope that the great majority of its adherents will stand firm and receive the blessing of those who endure temptation and come forth purified. When the chaff is blown away, the pure wheat will be all the more worthy to be garnered with care. .But it is a question whether it will be possible to do missionary work among the Russianized community, for should any repent at leisure, they will leave their new confession at their peril, and make themselves liable to temporal penalties, means of inflicting which will be found, tho they do not reside in the dominions of the Ozar.
The Ohurch mission at Ispahan shows aggressiveness and progress and at the same time is compast with difficulties and persecutions. The force of missionaries has been much enlarged, dispensary and hospital work increast, and a new station establisht at Kerman, and Bishop Stuart, the first English bishop in Persia, has been active in visiting the cities of southern and central Persia. As a natural result of this aggressiveness, opposition has increast, especially directed against the school of fifty Persian boys and the medical work for women. In January a mob collected in Jalfa, and drew off to prison three Persian pupils, one of whom had been baptized, and the other two were sons of a convert. Other converts were beaten, some were tortured and fined for sending their sons to the school. During the mob the colporteur, Benjamin Badal, who had been so efficient in distributing the Bible, was severely beaten. At the same time a stone, thrown at him by a Mohammedan, struck another Mohammedan and slightly injured him. Benjamin was charged with throwing the stone. Seventeen days afterwards the man died or was killed, and his death was laid at the door of Benjamin. A mob assembled to murder him. He fled to the protection of the Prince Governor, where he Wall kept from the mob; but, to appease them, he was chained and placed in the stocks. He afterwards fled the country. In the last of February the Mujtehid, Agha Najifi, ordered tha.t women should not attend the dispensary, aud that hospital in-patients should leave, and that a woman who was supposed to have become a Christian, should be thrown down a well and have stones heapt upon her. One mob against the hospital was dispersed by the British vice-consul. Subsequently a definite plan was made to attack the hospital, but a fall of snow of a foot and a half, the heaviest snow known since the mission was establisht, blocked the streets and deterred the mob. These persecutions continued through the spring, and, as usual, will give the work a back-set for a considerable time.
In January a document was sent by the Persian Foreign Office to all the legations which (omitting titles and abbreviations) reads as follows: SUOHAN, 16, 1314,. Year of the Monkey.
To tM Legation of tM United States, etc., etc.
According to the will of his high majesty, the glorious and mighty, the holy and illustrious king of kings (may his government and reign be forever), and according to his enlightened mind, it is determined in regard to all kinds of books whether heavenly, sacred, religious, or otherwise, that when foreign subjects wish to bring them to the countries of Iran to buy and sell, their purchase and sale shall be conditioned on the permission of the Department of Arts and Science of the High Government. Again, the transfer of such books from one city to another shall only be done after obtaining a permit from the department in which the names and number of the books must be stated. Otherwise they will be seized and detained, and the man who carries them sball be answerable to the courts. After thirty·three days this order will go into execution.
United States Minister, Mr. Alex. McDonald, protested against this order, and was informed that "the trouble had grown out of the free distribution of religious books by English missionaries in southern Persia; that the mollahs were much excited, and serious trouble was feared, for which the government could not be responsible. This step had been taken to quiet them and to preserve peace." After wards the government sent a modified order "that books of science, literature, and history, and such like, for instruction and learning, are free and, after obtaining a permit from the Department of Arts and Science, will in no way be interfered with. Religio!ls and heavenly books, even such as are necessary for the believers of such religions, shall also be by permission; but all books that are brought in for the propagation of foreign religions, and are giveu without charge to }{ussulmen, are prohibited. This prohibition is strict, so that if they come to hand, they shall be seized and destroyed. The government will not be answerable for their value."
Since the order was issued, nothing further has developt, tho Bibles ha.ve been imported and transported from one city to another. We trust nothing further may be heard of the order.
lD:SSION WORlt nt A.lAlIIA
THE DIFFICULTIES AND ENCOURAGEMENTS OF MIS- SION WORK IN ARABIA.
BY REV. S. Y. ZWEMER, F. R. G. S., BAHREIN, ARABIA.
When a large building is not yet in process of construction, and the foundations only are being laid, the p1an of the architect can best be seen from the model, and not amid the digging and stone-breaking and loose material. How much more is this true when the Great Architect is laying the foundations for His spiritual temple in Eastern Arabia? Even now, ten years after the death of Ion Keith Falconer at Aden, the foundations of mission work are only beginning to be laid in the peninsula, and there is so much rubbish about (the desolations of former generations), that it is hard for those who are at a distance to see much progress from year to year in the superstructure.
While other mission-fields can speak of harvest time, and give statistics of churches, schools and baptisms, Arabia, like most Moslem lands, is yet in the midst of early sowing, and the figures we can give all refer to the seed-tim~ of the written or spoken word.
But of difficulties and encouragements in this work it is easy to write, for there are enough of both to dishearten the boldest and to encourage the weakest. And lest our writing prove a stumblingblock to those who already have little faith in work for Mohammedans generally (altho that work has been signally blest within the last decade), we speak first of the difficulties; difficulties which, tho formidable, persistent and arduous, are not worthy to be compared with the glorious encouragements we meet in this same field of work.
Among the difficulties, those that occur first to the mind are: 1. Moslem Prej1tdice.-Some three years ago I received a letter from the Rev. W. A. Essery, honorary secretary of the Bible Lands Mission Aid Society, in which he wrote: "A word as to the task your mission attempts. It is to me the hardest in the whole mission field. To conquer Mohammedanism is to capture Satan's throne, and I think it involves the greatest conflict Christianity has ever known. In attacking Arabia, you aim at the citadel of supreme error occupied by the last enemy that shnll bow to the kingship of Christ." This is true; and yet the difficulty of work among Moslems has been emphasized more than sufficiently in proportion to the efforts made by the Church 10r their evange};zation. That the Mohammedan world is harder to reach, humanly speaking, than the heathen world, no one denies. But that the work for Moslems is a hopeless task, the recent history of missions in Sumatra, the Punjaub, Algiers, and Egypt emphatically disproves. Professor Lansing, of New Brunswick, one of the founders of the Arabian Mission, wrote in 1890: "If the smallness of the
KI88ION WOll': IN ,UUlSIA
number of converts from Islam to Christianity be pointed out, thil!l argues not so much the unapproachability of Moslems as the indifference and inactivity of Christians. The doctrine of fatalism, commonly accredited to Islam, is not one-half so fatalistic in its spirit and operation as that which for thirteen centuries has been practically held by the Christian Church as to the hope of bringing the hosts of Islam into the following of Jesus Christ." This also is true. But Moslem prejudice and Ishmaelitic intolerance are real, and must be faced. Our colporteurs meet this difficulty on their travels along the coast and up the river country. In some places, especially by the Shiah sect, bread and shelter are refused them, and religion discredits the justly famous hospitality of the Arab. Sometimes Bibles and other books that have been sold to villagers are collected by a fanatic mullah and consigned to the flames or the oblivion of an upper shelf in his house. A Wahabee from inner Oman, infuriated because he was worsted in argument at our Muscat Bible depot, attempted to give the colporteur a beating. At Amara, on the Tigris, the attempt was made to wear out our patience and good-feeling by repeated insult and annoyance. Books were stolen, torn, burned; dead vermin cast into our quarters, and the rabble hooted us in the street, until God gave us the victory and peace. At Bahrein a petition, signed by many of the merchants, w,as sent to the Kadi, asking permission to murder the missionary, but nothing came of it. Nearly everywhere in Arabia the prejudice against certain aspects of Christian doctrine are so strong, that without previous explanation, it would be unwise and unsafe to use the words Son of God, death oj Christ, Trim:ty, etc" in a coffee-shop.
2. (Jlimate.-A second difficulty to mission work in Arabia, at present, is climate. At present, we write, because those who have studied the geography of the peninsula know that in the mountain ranges of Oman and Yemen, as well as in some of the Nejd-lands, a healthful, bracing climate is the rule. Now, alas, while all work is still confined to the coast, we have perhaps one of the most trying climates in the world. The intense heat of summer (often 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade) is aggravated by the humidity of the atmosphere, and the dust raised by every wind. Nor are there rains or clouds to temper the excessive heat. In the winter, from December to March, the winds are often cold and cutting, and altho the temperature is then more suited to Europeans (35 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) it appears to be the less healthy season. The so-called Gulf-fever of the remittant type is very dangerous and convalescence is only possible sometimes by leaving the Gulf. Cholera and smallpox are not uncommon. Ophthalmia is rife. Prickly heat, in aggravated form, boils, and all the insect plagues of Egypt are a cause of suffering in their season.
3. Iso1atio1l.-"The work is great and large, and we are separated
HII!!SION WORX IN AIU.BlA
upon the wall, one far from another." There are only two missions at work in Arabia proper. The Keith-Falconer Mission at Aden (Sheikh Othman) is fifteen hundred miles from Muscat, our southern- most station. Muscat is six hundred and thirty-five miles from Bahrein, and the latter three hundred and sixty-seven miles from Busrah, as ships travel. The Scotch Mission has two missionaries, one of whom is married. At Muscat, whose" hinterland" has a population of more than 500,000, there is only one missionary. In the whole penins1lia, with a population of ten millions, there are at present eight missionaries, not including the C. M. S. Mission at Bagdad. All the vantage points hitherto occupied on the coast are painfully, shamefully undermanned, and the whole of the interior is without any missionary. This isolation, this loneliness, is often a discouragement, and therefore a real difficulty. Hope of reinforcements so often deferred makes the heart sick. It is not good for man that he should be alone. "The Lord sent them tUJO and two before his face into every city and place whither He Himself would come."
Of yet other difficulties it would be easy to write. The Arabic language, so rich in its vocabulary, grammatical intricacies, impossible gutturals, extensive literature and dialects-this language is a difficulty. In Turkish Arabia we meet with the Turkish system of misrule and oppression, which often adds difficulty to the work.
But we will turn to the brighter side of the picture, and note encouragements: 1. Political Ohanges.-This last of the nations and hindmost in the march of civilization is beginning to awaken to nineteenth-century life. When Phillips Brooks was on his eastern travels, he wrote to his children, " Last Tuesday we past Aden, and stopt there about six hours. I went on shore and took a drive through the town and up into the country. If you had been with me you would have seen the solemn-looking camels stalking along with solemn-looking Arabs on their backs, looking as if they had been riding on and on that way ever since the days of Abraham. I think I met Isaac and Jacob on two skinny camels, just outside the gates of Aden. I askt them how Esau was, but Jacob lookt mad and wouldn't answer, and hurried the old man on, so that I had no talk with them; but I feel quit~ sure it was they, for they lookt just like the pictures in the Bible."
And the greater part of Arabia is still wholly patriarchal. But Isaac and Jacob would be perplexed had they seen Aden harbor with its warships and commerce from every land, with electric lights and hotels and forts. Since this oriental Gibraltar became English territory, in 1839, rapid political changes have taken place in t;,,, p"u~u !mla, which have all tended to open doors for the Kingdom. Here again the hand of God is evident in history. To-day less than onefifth of the area of Arabia is under Turkish rule; and tha.t one-fifth
1!07.] KIllION WOHl!: IN ARAllIA
is gra8pt, not held, by the Sublime Porte, for it ill in continual rebellion.
The British protectorate at Aden has grown until it now embraces a tract two hundred miles long by forty broad, with a popUlation of 130,000. All the tribes on the coast from Aden to Muscat are subsidized by annual payments. Muscat became practically a British protectorate last year at the conclusion of the tribal war of the Sultan of Oman. The island of Bahrein became English some years ago, and the Union Jack flies over this center of the Gulf pearl-fisheries. English consulates or agencies exist at Jiddah, Hodeidah, Makallah, Muscat, Sharkeh, Bahrein, Busrah, and Bagdad. The slave-trade is interfered with. Cables and commerce stretch from Suez, around the peninsula, to Busrah. The postage of the Persian Gulf is Indian, not Turkish, and the rupee is forcing the piastre out of the market, since ninety-eight per cent. of the imports and exports are in English snips. English and American merchants are developing the resources of the country. Last year 150,000 tons of dates were exported from Busrah alone, and date-culture is a growing industry.
The interior of Arabia, always independent of Tnrkey, comes in contact more with Christian and occidental civilization, than with Ottoman. The Arab youth on the coast begins to read English, and looks towa.rd Bombay rather than Mecca. There has long been talk and now there is a proposition for a railway to India from Port Said, eastward along the thirtieth parallel to Busrah, to cost £12,000,000. (See the London Times, May 7th, 1897.) All this commercial activity and these political changes are full of encouragement to the missionary. There is a stirring among the dead bones.
2. Growing FriendUness of the Arabs.-This is in part occasioned by the contrast, now so plainly evident, between English and Ottoman rule, a contrast acknowledged by eVen the dullest fisherman of the Persian Gulf. And this friendliness extends to the missionary. Where on our first arrival we met with rebuff or prohibition to preach, we ndw find opened doors and hospitality. The village judge at Bahrein, once our bitter enemy, now rents us the building used for our Bible-shop. Where formerly the missionary was avoided, his house is now often a rendezvous for all sorts and conditions of men. To this result our dispensary work has naturally largely contributed. Controversial books (mentioned in a whisper in some parts of the Moslem world) are read, purchased, and in some cases have been eagerly sought for by inquiring minds. At Mnscat open-air preaching is now entirely possible, and at Sheikh Othman there is a small Moslem boys' school, where the Bible is taught. Arabian fanaticism has been exaggerated. Where it exists it is dne to ignorance and not to ill-will.
3. Increased Demand for the Word of God.-This is a great encouragement; "for as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and retnrneth not thither, but watereth the eartL and maketh it bring forth and bud . . • so shall my Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void."
The increase of the sale of Scriptures in the eastern part of Arabia (not to mention that in the Red Sea litoral, of which I have no statis- tics at hand) has been ·encouraging. This table shows it at a glance: I I I _I __ __~1892 __ ~~ 1894 ~_5 l~~ Less than 500 825 1760 2313 2805 Of these sales eighty-seven per cent. were to Moslems, the remainder to Jews, Sabeans, and Eastern Ohristians. From each of our three stations as a center, and from the northernmost limit of the Busrah vilayet for more than a thousand miles along the coast of Arabia to Ras-el-Had, our colporteurs offer God's Word to ull who will receive it, and speak with all who will hear. They are the real pioneer evangelists, and their work breaks down prejudice and opens the way for work of all kinds in .the future. It is especially hopeful that the sale of compZete Bibles and Testaments is on the increase where earlier sales of smaller portions have prepared the way. Besides the Scriptures, 947 religious and educational books were also sold last year. The letter of the Oman Arab, reproduced in the picture, is another illustration, how even in out-of-the-way corners they seek to possess themselves of the book of the Christians. In Oman the ship of the desert was in the service of the king once and again to carry boxes of Bibles over the mountain passes to the distant villages.
4. Strengthened Stakes.-Not only have the cords of our missiontent been lengthened since last you heard from Arabia in these pages, but our stakes have been strengthencd also. This is encouraging. The Scotch Mission in Yemen has received reenforcement, and has a more vigorous poHey than heretofore. Their hospital and dispensary at Sheikh Othman exert influence far inland, and receive patients from every part of Yemen. This work is even a better memorial to Ion Keith Falconer, than the pretty chapel built to his memory at Steamer Point. On a good site, behind the post-office, the building is used on Sundays and in the week for services in behalf of the soldiers and sailors of Aden. The children of the Scotch Free Ohurch supplied the means to build it.
At Muscat a rescued..slave school was opened last year, and now eighteen boys are receiving industrial training. The building formerly rented has been purchased, and, after some improvements, will be a suitable mission-house in this trying tropical climate. It is built of undrest stone, plastered over, and with the usual flat roof, and has a small garden surrounding it, outside the city walls of Muscat. With all its simplicity and smallness, it is the first" House of God" in all Oman. and will be a house of rest to those who seek Ohrist there.
C1IUKClI AND ST.A.Tl!I IN BUSI!I.A
From Bnsrah, as a center, the Bible work has extended until now branch-depots have been opened at Amara, on the Tigris and Nasariyeh on the Euphrates, at the latter place under specially auspicious circumstances. At our Busrah dispensary, under charge of Dr. H. R. L. Worrall, 4,345 cases were treated last year, of whom 2,670 were Moslems. The waiting-room of the dispensary is a daily pulpit, where we enjoy every freedom to preach Christ.
5. First .Fruits.-This is the crowning encouragement. During the year past we have had the joy of witnessing the ascent of at least two souls out of darkness into the light of life. A Turkish soldier first heard the word of the Gospel at Amara in the midst of all the fanatical disturbance there when our work was begun. By reading the Bible, and in conversation with the missionaries, he has come to accept Christ, and walks in the fellowship of the Spirit. His escape from all interference seems inexplicable, except it be that his position as petty officer in the army protects him. He has askt for baptism, but is first to receive more instruction.
'l'he other Moslem, of whom we know that he believed in Christ, was a llliddle-aged Persian, conversant with Arabic and a seal-engraver' by profession. He came to the Busrah dispensary suffering from consumption, and was a frequent visitor. Reading a copy of Luke's Gospel, he was deeply convicted of sin, and when we prayed with him in the house he wept like a child. A day or two later he found peace, and kept repeating the name of Christ. His disease was too far advanced to promise cure, and so he left Busrah to try and reach his family at Shiraz. We have not heard from him since. We accompanied him to the ship, and knelt between decks to commend him to God. Doubtless he fell asleep in Jesus ere he completed his long journey. But we shall see his face again when the harvest is gathered in, and full sheaves from Arabia, as well as first fruits, fill the garner of God on the great day.
CHURCH AND STATE IN RUSSIA.-L * BY VLADIMIR SOLOVIEF.
In the time of St. Vladimir (972-1010), by changing its national idolatry for a universal faith for which there is "neither Greek nor Jew," Russia freed itself from its heathenish isolation and exclusiveness, and acknowledging itself part of the one humanity, accepted its • One of RU88Ia's foremost living philosophers, BOn of the great hiMorlan1 and ~ melI~ qf ~1l~ ~1}.IH!~1 QhW<?h, 4~i,,11l tralsl~ted br Mrs, A, S, H.o….4!, true position and fulfilled its universal-historical fate. But the adoption of Christianity, if it is the real thing, does not ouly imply the performance 'of pious ceremonies, or the verbal confession of certain accepted dogmas. This adoption of Christianity laid on the converted people practical duties also; to reform their lives according to the principles of the true religion, and to direct their actions by its char- acter and spirit. Kiefian Russia * really marcht on this path, but naturally the first steps could neither be firm nor steady. In the life of the people remained much of barbarism and paganism, but there were also to be seen clear traces of the new spiritual principle. The moral disposition evinced by those converted under Vladimir, as in their care for the poor and unfortunate; their benevolent conduct towards their European neighbors, their horror of barbarous tortures was really Christian. These were the feelings aud opinions which a hundred years later were set forth in the "instructions" of Vladimir Monomachus. This disposition was nothing extraordinary or accidental; though not everyone lived so well as Vladimir, everyone thought as he. The quarrels of the dukes were lookt upon by the people as bad and sinful, they never agreed with them. As Kiefian Russia was placed between Byzantium and Western Europe, it easily accepted in addition to the truly universal principles of the Christian oivilization, the immaterial and passing forms. Western feudalism and the despotic centralization of the half-Asiatic Byzantium, were exceedingly strange to Russian life. In Kiefian Russia the obstacles to the formation of a Christian c~mmunity were less than in any other country; but these good external conditions were not sufficient to secure the fulfilment of this task. Being right in the way of the Asiatic hordes, which never ceased to press on the Christian world, Kiefian Russia had first of all to struggle for its own existence. This struggle had but little success, as the organization of the State was very weak. The young nation was in danger of perishing by violence before having developt its spiritual power, and it became an urgent necessity to create a strong state. The happy realization of this vital question was not achieved by Kiefian Russia, but it was the triumph of the Moscoyite Empire.t Giving themselves up to this national political task, the Russian people in the Moscovite epoch easily took the needed power (the strong state) as the aim of their political life; on this followed consequently a lowered and darkened religious and moral ideal. Most of the sins of the Moscovite Empire were accidentally committed; they depended upon outward historical circumstances. The Russian people in the far northeastern corner of Europe were in the thirteenth century physically isolated from the Christian world, and they concentrated all their forces on the ungrateful task of 0< Russia WI It then was, a dukedom centered at Klet. t Datlnl( trom the time when Moscow succeeded Klef as the capital, when Empire began.
OllURCH AND IIT…TB IN KUIlIlIA
!lolidifying the State, which brought about also a spiritual isolation, and the development of national pride and egotism. The linking of Kiefian Russia with other Christian nations, besides securing their cultural influence, had the advantage of obliging our people to feel themselves part of the European concert, and of holding up, tho at the beginning very feebly-some feeling of uuiversal solidarity. Opposed to this beneficial reaction, connection with the barbarous Mongolian hordes humiliated and opprest the Moscovite State. The iufluence of that connection was twofold, and a doubly bad one. From one side, subjection to a lower race, and permanent commingling with it, had a deadening effect on the Russians, especially as they were entirely cut off from Europe. It lowered both their spiritual and their political standards. On the other hand, it developt in the Moscovite Russians a national self-consciousness and pride, since they, tho lowered, retained the superiority of a Christian and historical nation. The permanent cousciousness of superiority in comparison with the Mongols was not abated by international relations in the other direction. With the Russian people, it was as with a man whose sole intercourse is with p{lrsons of a lower spiritual standard, through which he gets too high an opiniou of his own importance and value.
The national pride of the Moscovite Empire increased, especially in the first half of the fifteenth century; first, because through the burden of the Mongolian yoke, the feeling of their inward superiority over the Mohammedans was combined with a consciousness of outward power, and secondly, because their deliverance from the Tatars, and the final defeat of Byzantium, under the Turks, happened at the same time. .As payment for the Moscovite assistance, traveling Greek monks gave to Moscow the title of a third Rome, with the claim of an absolute importance in the Christian world. In ,this, our national self-consciousness found something like an ideal justification. In the Moscovite epoch, the Greeks, being independent and possessing a relatively high civilization, had a beneficial influence over the Russians. This influence imposed upon the young nation a historical discipline, by forcing it to acknowledge the spiritual supremacy of another nation, and to honor the foreigners for their ideal superiority. The erroneous extremes of Byzantinism were not dangerous, as they were counterbalanced by the reaction of the West. Matters acquired another aspect in the Moscovite epoch. The Greeks were no longer representatives of a spiritual enlightenment, or of a great Christian empire, or of a high civilization, but they were slaves of the infidels, beggars: and flatterers.
Thanks to these qualities, they could but strengthen the national self-consciousness of the Moscovite people. Thus through the spiritual isolation of the Moscovite Empire, Byzantian ideas were readily accepted by the people. Iu the power of theso historical conditions a spiritual and social organization which can not be called a truly Christian one, took its rise in the Moscovite Empire. Tho this organization had a religious ground, all its religion was reduced to "orthodoxy" in ceremonial worship, which laid upon no one any moral duties. It happened that this formal religiousness was united with benevolence and piousness, as well as with the utmost wickedness. St. Sergius was God-fearing and "orthodox," but as God-fearing and firm in faith was Tzar Ivan IV.-the Terrible. "Even devils believe," says the Apostle. According to Byzantian notions, nothing more than such a faith was expected from the majority of Christian people. The few who were not satisfied with this were obliged to leave, society, to go into the deserts or to become fools. The highest ideal of holiness, represented by hermits or fools, was essentially ascetic, and therefore could not raise the social morality to a higher level. The average life lay between those of such holy warriors as Sergius and Nil, and of God-fearing monsters like I van IV. The notion of an ideal perfection of the individual was retained in the national consciousness, but the principal conditions for real perfection, for moral progress, active, religion, the ideal of a common truth, was entirely absent. In the Moscovite Empire, as before in Byzantium, the religious and moral principles were entirely excluded from the sphere of political or social life. In this sphere, instead of the universal Christian ideal, something altogether opposite appeared. To the national empire was restored the absolute nature which was taken from it by Christianity. In consequence of the extreme separation of the Moscovite Empire from the civilized world, the former reaction against Christian universalism showed itself in its full power. Our forefathers believed themselves to be the only one Ohristian nation and empirej all others they called non-Christian, being unconscious that by this they deprived themselves of the essential unity of Christianity. The Byzantian Greeks, thanks to whom the national self-satisfaction was ingrafted in Moscow, became themselves its victims. With all their might they magnified the pretensions of the Moscovite Empire as sole defender and protector of the true faith, and the God-fearing land; tho then the question arose, could the Greeks, having lost the supremacy of Christian empire, and having become the slaves of infidels, guard the purity of doctrine and the fullness of faith? The answer to this question waR unfavorable for the Greeks; it decided that Russia was the only Christian and God-fearing country!
(To be continued.)
1897.J HAS lSLAM BEEN A RELIGION OF PROGRESS t 18 IT NOW?
HAS ISLAM BEEN A RELIGION OF PROGRESS? IS IT NOW?
BY BEV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., LL.D.
A high authority on the doctrines and philosophy of Islam is Rel'. Edward Sell, Fellow of the University of Madras, etc., etc. Some years ago he puhlisht the Faith of Islam. * There is now a second and improved edition, the result of fifteen years of additional study of Islam in its own Arabic sources. Mr. Sell is a missionary to the Mohammedans in Madras, and while faithful to his commission he has shown so much of tact as well as intellectual ability as to win for himself the confidence of all classes of the community, EuroI)eanS, Hindus, and even Mohammedans. His scholarship, his insight into the social and religious questions of India, and his fairness in discussing them are generally recognized. In these times when on the one hand so many apologists are lauding the benevolent and enlightened spirit of Islam, and on the other hand, the worst atrocities known' to history since the seventh century, are being perpetrated in the Turkish Empire, any new light which can be thrown upon this most potent and formidable of the world's man-made religions should be welcomed.
"I rest my case entirely," says Mr. Sell, "upon Mussulman authorities themselves; still more, I have ascertained from living witnesses that the principles I have tried to show 8S existing in Islam, are really at work now and are as potent as at any previous period."
The author contends that the more recent Fetvas delivered by the Ulema in Constantinople, show how firmly a Moslem state is bound in the fetters of an unchangeable law, and that the present practice of Orthodox Moslems, all the world over, is a constant carrying out of precepts given in the Koran and the Sunnat centuries ago.
There has been no change if indeed change is possible. The author explains how it is that travelers and casual observers, like Canon Taylor and Hopkinson Smith, gain the roseate impressions which they proclaim. They take individual exceptions as exponents of the character of whole communities. "In India," says Mr. Sell, " there are a number of enlightened Mohammedans, ornaments to native society, social servants of the state, men who show a laudable zeal in all social reforms so far as is consistent with orthodoxy. Theil nUinber is far too few, and they do not in many cases representorthodox Islam. These exceptio,nal individuals have felt the wave of west. em influence, modern science, social progress, and their highest virtues exist in spite of, and not as a result of Islam."
• TM Faith 01r.la….. J!y the ReT. 'Edward Sell, B. D., M. R. A. S. Pellow of the UniTereity of Madru: London, KelrAD Paul, Trench, Trubner &; Co. Second edition, revised and eniarced. From other sources we find evidence that intelligent Meslems in ' India have become aware that their cast-iron system has retarded the progress of Mohammedans, even as compared with their Hindu neighbors.
lIr. Sell's book is especially valuable for the light which it throws upon the period following the first bloody sweep of Mohammedan conquest. The history of Mohammed himself, his struggles to gain a footing by persuasion, his later militaryachierements, his private charseter so far as it is revealed, the production of the Koran with its civil and religious teachings, all these are well-known, and the remarkable military achievements of Omar, Omru, Othman, and others are also familiar to most readers. But at a later date, and especially during the Kalifates of the Abbassides of Bagdad, and the Omyades in Spain, endless discussions upon the interpretation of the Koran and the Sunnat, or traditional sayings of Mohammed, were rife, and new phases of Islam appeared which are not so well understood. There was also at Bagdad in the east, and at Oordova in the west, a revival of interest in Greek philosophy, which contrasted strangely with the antecedent history and the well-known spirit of Islam.
The apologists of Mohammedanism have made so much of the advanced learning of Bagdad and of Spain, and have so exaggerated the debt which the Ohristianity of the dark ages owed to the intellectuallight borrowed from Islam, that the discriminations which Mr. Sell has pointed out, will be highly valued. The truth is that philosophy and science were always exotic in even those Moslem nations which tolerated them at all.
" There never was any Arabian science strictly speaking," says G. H. Lewes,.in his History of Philosophy. "In the first place, all the philosophy and science of the Mohammedans was Greek, Jewish, and Persian. It really designates a reaction against Islam which arose in the distant parts of the Empire."
Ernest Renan, in an address delivered before the Oollege of France, uttered the same sentiments as follows: "Arabian science and Arabian philosophy are often alluded to, and in fact during one or two centuries in the Middle Ages, the Arabs were our teachers, but it was only until we were acquainted with the Greek originals. When closely examined, moreover, this Arabian science has nothing Arabian in it. Its foundation is purely Greek; amongst its originators there. is not a single pure Shemite; they were all Spaniards and Persians who wrote in Arabic."
Mr. Sell quotes even from a Moslem author (Musinir Mulk), the following frank confession: "It must always be borne in mind that in spite of the enormous progress made by the Mohammedans in the early centuries of their power, learning has never been popular among them as a nation, and science only flourisht when there happened to be a willing man to protect it." Such protectors were found in the Abbas- side rulers, AI Mammun and Harun Al Rachid of Bagdad, and" that great free thinker the Mogul Akbar of India." The philosophy of Aristotle had been translated into Syliac and Persian before the Mohammedan conquest, and under the protection and encouragement of the Abbassides, it was translated from these languages into Arabic by Nestorian physicians residing at their courts. The most eminent of these was Housin Ibn Ishak. Through the influence of these translations the study of philosophy spread rapidly in the ninth and tenth centuries. Books on grammar, rhetoric, medicine, logic, etc., etc., were multiplied only to be condemned a century or two later. The only true Arabic philosopher whose name has been transmitted was Al Kendi, born at Bosrah, on the Persian Gulf, A. D. 870; and he wa;; a rationalist.
A careful study of the list of eminent Mohammedan philosophers will show that they were not Arabs, and that they were not. Orthodox Moslems. Farabi, who lived in the tenth century, and was educated at Bagdad, denied not only the inspirations of the Koran, but all objective revelation of any kind. '
Avicenna, born near Bokhara, 980 A. D., was regarded with disfavor as a heretic. Ibn Badjah (Avempace), born near Saragossa, toward the end of the eleventh century, was violently persecuted by Orthodox lIIoslems. Al Gazzali, born in Khorassan, A. D.I059, was a famous scholastic; but becoming at length sceptical with regard to both religion and philosophy, he ended by embracing Sufiisn'l.
Averhoes, the last of the Moslem philosophers of note, was born at Cordova, A. D. 1126. He vas the most profound of all Mohammedan scholars, and a great admirer and exponnder of Aristotle. He was condemned as an arch-heretic by the Moslem doctors and by the Moorish King Al Mansur, and was banisht first to Lucena and finally to Morocco, where he died in 1198.
Philosophic inquiry had already been effectually supprest in the East, and now it thus received its death blow from the Moslems of Spain. Experience had shown that liberal studies of any kind transcended the narrowness of the Koran, and were at eternal warfare with the whole spirit of Islam. Since the twelfth century, intellectual progre!ls has rested under the most uncompromising ban in all Mohammedan countries.
It is an interesting fact, however, that what Spain lost iu suppressing the teachings of Averhoes, the Christian nations of Europe gained. It was from the schools of Cordova, that France, Italy, and England received the Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy, which the bigotry of the Eastern Church and the fury of the Moslem conquests had conspired to withhold from Christendom. Just as philosophy was about to go into fin'a. banishment from all Mohammedan countries, the Benedictine and Dominican scholastics, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Albertulil Magnus, and others welcomed it. And in spite of all the intellectual vagaries of these men, the Ohristianity of Europe received substantial benefit. It began to shake off the repression of four cen- turies of ecclesiastical tyranny and to show its real spirit. Islam recoiling from the light which its institutions could no longer endure, showed also its true spirit; the two changed places.
ETen Hinduism has shown greater progress than Islam. Within the last five years a Mohammedan newspaper in Oalcutta has striven to arouse the Moslem population of India to the fact, that in all the higher official appointments, Hindus far outnumber the Mohammedans in·proportion to their respective populations. This is a hard confes- sion for the conquering Islamic race; and the writer did not hesitate to charge the responsibility upon the neglect of Mohammedan society to keep pace with the movement of the times. On the other hand, Moslem papers of the extreme conservative stamp maintain that the fundamental principles and the essential spirit of Islam can not change. For example, Mr. Sell quotes certain criticisms of a Moslem paper in Oairo, of February, 1896, upon the sp!leches made by two Moslem speakers, at the dedication of a new Mosque in London, with reference to the adaptation of Islam to European ideas. Says the Egyptian editor, "I do not know what meaning they (the two speakers) attach to the phrase, but 1 do know that no adaptation or alteration of Islam will be accepted by any Moslem people. Islam as a religion, as a guide to man m life, in hIS duties to God and men, is divine and perfect. To say that it needs adaptation, is to say that it is neither divine nor pedect, and no Moslem can or will admit either assnmption. Islam as it is, is pedect, and is as wondl'dully adapted to the needs of man in England, or in the Arctic regions, as it is to the Bedouins of the African desert; and the fact that it is so, is one of the striking pToofs of its Divine origin." (Splendid instance iu which one gratuitous assertion may serve as proof positive for another!) Altho Greck philosophy had been !!upprest in all Mohammedan countries by the close of the twelfth century, yet various heresies and !!chisms haTe continued to arise through all the centuries, down to the present time. But everywhere the Mohammedan sects are alike in their repression of all that the world calls progress. The Shias of Persia, who maintain that the descendants of Ali, the cousin and sonin-law of Mohammed, are the only lawful imams, have developt various sects, known as Sufis, Karmathians, Fatimites, Ismailians (including the order of the Assassins), Babis, and Wahhabis. The one thing which these sects shared in common, was an element of Persian mysticism, tinged with Indian pantheism, which reacted against the hard and fast objectivism of Koranic authority, and at the same time weakened the moral sense and the feeling of personal responsibilit.y. With Sufis and Babis, the idea that the one only self lives and acta within us, led to ecstasies and fanatical fancies and fioul'isht most in quiet ascetic life. It was comparatively harmless, but it was destitute of any power.to regenerate S?Clety, or any elemen~ of prolZresil. With the Karmathlans, the AsS8SS111S, and the Wahhabis, on the contrary, the exemption which it offered from moral responsibility, gave free rein to those savage instincts which had prompted wars of extermina- tion in all ages of Mohammedan history. "If," they reasoned, "there is but the One Supreme Self, then practically, so far as human life and conduct are concerned, all distinction between good and evil disappears, and each man's passion or ambition is his only law." Such were the ethics of the Karmathians, a sect which arose in Mesopotamia toward the close of the ninth century, but finally found its home in Egypt, where it establisht the Fatimite dynasty. The Karmathians represented a combination of Islam, Persian Magism, and Ohristianity. Their leader even claimed to be an apostle of Jesus. But the spirit of the sect was an intensification of Islamic fanaticism and intolerance, tho chiefly visited on Islam itself. Mecca was attackt and conquered 920 A. D., the Kaaba was plundered and the sacred black stone was carried off to be ransomed, twenty-two years later, for fifty thousand ducats. 'rhe Karmathian or Fatimite power was broken alter a century and a half (909-11'71), but it was still represented for more than a century longer, by a form of religious fanaticism, which embodied its worst elements and became the terror of all the East. This was the order of the Assassins. Mr. Sell gives us only a glimpse of the early history of its founder, Hassan bin Sabbah, who was born in 1035. Professor Harvey Porter, D.D., of the Syrian Protestant Oollege at Beirut, in an interesting article publisht in the Bibliotkeca Sacra, of January, 1895, presents a much fuller account of the order-its long continued atrocities and its well merited fate. About the middle of the eleventh century, three schoolmates in a city of Khorassan, entered into an agreement, that whichever of the three should first rise to fortune should aid the others. One of the three, Nizumu'l Mulk, on becoming grand vizier of Alp Arslan, and later of Malik Shah, secured to the second, Om'r Khyyam, author of the famous Ruba'iyat, a liberal pension that he might give himself to his favorite literary pursuits. To the third, Hassan bin Sabbah, he offered the governorship of a province, with which, however, he was not satisfied. At the famous Fatimite University in Oairo was taught the extreme Shia pantheism of Babek, who had proclaimed the moral indifference of all actions, and the perfect freedom of men to give free course to their passions. These diabolical doctrines, strengthened by the Karmathian disloyalty to Islam as taught at Baghdad, opened the way for more than one strange sect. El Hakem, the sixth of the Fatimlte Kaliphs, encouraged by the Shia mystics, EI Dorazy and EI Hamsoh, founded the sect of the Druzes, who still exist in Syria, and who revere the name of El Hakem, as an incarnation of the Supreme Being. Aud to this day they observe the fatal ethics of Babek toward all mankind, except the members of their own order. None but Druzes have any rights which they are bound to respect. Hassan bin Sabbah had imbibed these reckless atheistic principles in Oairo, and when he founded the order of the Assassins in the year 1088, he cast aside all moral obligation toward God or man. And yet for effect he posed as a saint. He preacht a crusade, not only against the Abba.ssides of .Baghdad, but against all rulers .:Llld all government and social order. By m3!l.:J.S of the assassins' dagger he aimed to bring the nations tohis feet. He establisht himself in a remote fortress in the mountains, south of the Oaspian Sea, from which he sent forth his secret emissaries and which he never left during the thirty-seven years of hi. power. Upon the common ranks of his ordt'r, he enjoined a strict adherence to the Koran, and the traditions of orthodox Islam, but a select and limited number were initiated into his esoteric doctrines, which rejected all re.elation and all moral restraint. The only recognized law in the universe was his command. His ambition did not project a visible kingdom upholding armies, but a reign of terror in which by secret and murderous emissaries, hE; might control all king- doms. .K0 errand of death was too dangerous to be undertaken by his minions; no distance was too great for his avenging arm to reach. Among his victims was Nizam ul Mulk, his early friend and benefactor, and Nizam's master, Malik Shah, died probably through poison from the same source. These murders were continued for more than a century and a half. In 1102, the Governor of Hums fell a victim, and in 1119 the Governor of Aleppo and his son. In Persia large numbers who held various official positions, shared the same fate. Others were compelled by terror to advance the tyrant's interests.
At a later day, branches of the order extended into Syria and elsewhere. Some of Hassan's own kindred fell by llis order. At length " the old man ofthe mounta.ins," as he had long been called, died inl1is fortress, at the age of ninety, but a line of successors followed and the work of death w.as.con!inued. Thrice was the life of th~ great Saladin attempted, and It IS saId, that he finally made terms WIth the Assussins. Two Kaliphs, one a Fatimite ruler of Egypt, the other a Kaliph of Baghdad, were numbered among the scores and hundreds of distinguisht victims.
The Mohammedan rulers of the East seemed powerless, either single handed or in alliance. There was no visible army to be met upon the field. They were dealing with a treacherous unseen foe, like the pestilence which wasteth at noonday. Members of the order were lurking in their courts and were frequently found among their trusted servants. It is one of the many strange overrulings of Divine Providence that when the whole Mohammedan world was paralyzed and helpless before this extreme development of its own teachmgs, the reign of terror which had ruled Persia and all Western Asia for a hundred and seventy years, was finally broken by the sweeping invasion of the heathen Mongol Hulagu Khan. By him the order was entirely crippled in the East, tho it survived for many years in Syria. Among the Nusairi of Northern Syria, who also call themselves Ismailians, is still a small but wf'ak and harmless remnant. And the history of these strange Nusairi of Northern Syria, or that of the Druzes of the Lebanon, may equally well answer the question whether this type of Islam has aided the world's progress.
The Wahhabis of Arabia and India constitute another prominent and influential sect. It is comparatively modern, having existed only about one hundred and fifty yeurs. Most of its career has lain in this nineteenth century, and yet so far from giving any progressive impulse to the Mohammedan cult, it has proved the most reactionary element in the history of Islam. Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahhab, from whom the sect takes its name, was a native of Nej'd in Arabia. He was alarmed at the lUDt; which had crept into the worship of profest Moslems, and even 0 devout pilgrims. He thought he discoyered in tlle prac- tical worship of the sacred tombs of Mohammed and Ali a veritable idolatry. And the pilgrims worshipt relics as truly and disgracefully as the early Christian idolaters whom the prophet had condemned to death. Winning to his support· a powerful chief,whose son married his daughter, Wahhab establisht at Ryadh the Wahhabi dynasty A. D. 1742. The sword wus now iurned against lax and idolatrous Moslems as they had used it against the infidels. Never was Mohammedan warfare more remorseless. " As soon as you seize a place" said the allied chief Mohammed Ibn Sa'ud to his soldiers, "put the males to the sword; plunder and pillage at your pleasure, but spare the women and do not strike at their modesty." According to Burkhart, the Wahhabi chief on the day of battle would give to his men each a passport to heaven, or more strictly an order on the treasurer of paradise. "Plunder if you succeed, and paradise if you fall. Female captives in the one case, celestial houris in the other." This has been the religious (?) motto of conquest in Arabia from the seventh century to the nineteenth. And with half savage men of an unquestioning and fanatical faith, it has always been a spur to reckless daring and an element of success. It was no new device of Wahhab, except that he employed it against men of his own faith. It is all in the Koran. It wail so nnderstood and acted upon some months since by the army of the Sultan in Armenia, and if a different procedure was since observed in Thessaly and in Crete, it war; only out of regard to the full gaze of adjacent nations, and a wholesome dread of the indignation of mankind., Wahhabism had by the end of the last century extended over Oentral and Eastern Arabia. In 1803 the ruling Wahhabi chief made an armed pilgrimage to Mecca. Both Mecca and Medina fell into his hands, and a perfect wreck was made of all ihat seemed inconsistent with the high Wahhabi standards. Seven years later another chief, succeeding to his father's scepter, plundered the tomb of the prophet, and distributed its jewels and relics among his soldiers. This aroused the faithful of the West. The armies of Turkey and Egypt joined in a crusade for the rescue of the" Holy Sepulchre" of Islam, and after nine years of undisputed sway, the Wahhabis were driven out of Mecca, and the sacrilegious young chief was taken to Oonstantinople and beheaded (A. D. 1818).
In 1827, Seyed Ahmad, a Wahhabi of India, having gained many followers, ordered a jehs,d (war of extermination) against the Sikhs. But five years later the Wahhabis were attackt by the Sikh, Sher Singh, and Seyed Ahmad was slain.
Wahhabism has ceast to figure as a political power of any consequence, even in Arabia, but its :principles are still maintained and have a large following. Palgrave gIves interesting accounts of its strict requirements and its tyrannical espionage and censorship over all social, domestic, and even personal life. There is no other place on the earth where liberty of thought is so absolutely extinct, as in the Arabian province of Nej'd, and especially at Ryadh, the capital.
Mr. Sell, while reco~nizing the progressive spirit of such native Mohammedan authors lU India, as -:Maulavi Cheragh Ali and Seyed Amir Ali, whom he calls "Modern Mutazilas," after the old free thinkers of Baghdad, quotes even them in support of the statement that Orthodox Islam-islam is as moveless now as in the middle ages. The old Mutazilas were supprest and it is only the protection of British power that renders liberal Mohammedanism possible in India. and Egypt.
LOctober
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
mUTED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GlU.CEY, D.D.
Hymn of Sukkat or Patricius, (St. China. The" Higher Classes" in Patriok). China as shown by Mr.·Walker's article following this, are not an aristocracy of Patrlcius 80 witnessed for Christ one Easter blood, but of brains; they are only the morn, that the tlre·worshipers would have ruling class in the government and put him to death. They "liailed him before these are recruited from every part of King Leugeire, at Taral:i, the center of Druid- the social order of the Empire. Specifiism. He mused and prayed, and tbe follow- cally these" Higher Classes" which it ing are a ~rt of the verses he wrote on the is aimed to reach are named in the reoccasion.' Every miSSionary everywhere in port of the Society for the Diffusion of ~rll among heathen m~ht adopt the prayer. Christian and General Knowledge for lJ. T. G.] 1891, as follows: The Chief Civil llan- darins of the rank of Mayor and up- "May Christ, I pray, wards, estimated to number 2,289 ; the Protect me to-day Chief Military Mandarins of the rank of Captain and upwards would be 1,987; Against poison and fire, the Educational Mandarins of the rank Against drowning and 'wounding; of Inspectors of Counties and upwards, That so, in His grace aboundin&" 1,760; Professors of Colleges about 2,000; Leading Expectant Mandarins I may earn the preacher's hIre. who reside in each of the provincial capitals and who resemble members of "Christ, as a light, Parliament at home, as they are ad- Illumine and guide me. visers to the provincial government, and assist it in various other ways, about Christ, as a shield, o'ershadow and 2,000: Five per cent. of the Literati, cover me. (1) when examined for the degree of Literary Doctor at Pekin, (2) when ex- Christ be under me. Christ be over amined for the degree of Master of Arts me. (KIl-jen) in each of the twenty pro- vinces, (3) when examined for the de- Christ be beside me gree of Bachelor of Arts (Siu-tsai) in On left hand and right. the 253 prefectures and sub-prefectures. Christ be before me, behind me, about The last three classes combined are variously estimated from half a million me, to a million, say 600,000, and five per Christ this day be within and without cent. of these would make 30,000. Ten per cent. of tho ladies and children of me. the selected families of Mandarins and Literati, say 4,000. All these specified "Christ, the lowly and meek, and thus estimated would make in round Christ, the All-Powerful, be numbers 44,000 whom it is proposed to reach. In the heart of each to whom I speak, In the mouth of each who speaks to During the past period of Protestant missionary work, it has been considered me. useless to attempt to reach these cl&S8e8. In all who draw near me, They are the governing classes in a Or see me, or hear me. highly organized political structure, systematically opposed to all intercourao "At Tarah to-day. in this awful hour, I call on the Holy Trinity.
Glory to Him who reigneth in power, The God of the elements-Father, and Son, And Paraclete Spirit-which Three are the One, The ever-existing Divin~ty.
" Salvation dwells with the Lord, With Christ the Omnipotent word, From generation to generation- Grant Uj, 0 Lord, thy grace and sal- vation."
The Higher Olasses in Ohins..
J. T. G.
We devote the International Depart- ment thi. month to the consideration of 'he comparatively recent movement, specially designed directly and indirectly, to reach the hi~her classes in
INTlIlN.A.TION.A.L DEP.A.lTlDIN'l'
with foreigners 118 perilous to the na- it years ago, the higher classes could be tional peace, prosperity, and perpetuity. reacht if proper methods were pursued.
For thousands of years the Chinese have The importance of this branch of work esteemed themselves superior to every lies not in that these classes are more other people, and this entire body of worthy in the sight of God, but no mandarins, gentry, and educated classes nation can be saved unlesa all classes has been ignorant and prejudiced ate saved, whether high or low; and against innovations of any kind in any there should be concurrent effort to department of the social or political reach all as rapidly as possible. This order. The genius of the Chinese gov- "Society for the Diffusion of Christian ernment is paternal, and the people are and General Knowledge" publishes accustomed to pay deference to their two monthly magazines, the" Review rulers in a very uncommon degree. of the Times," edited by Rev. Young What the rulers disapprove is sure to J. Allen, D.D., and the" Missionary be treated at least with suspicion and Review," edited by Rev. E. T. Wil- distrust. Thus these " Higher Classes" liams. These periodicals make free have not been accessible to missionary use of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE effort, but the lower classes, the" com- WORLD, which is furnisht them gratuit- mon people," whom Lincoln is quoted ously by us to help on this good work.
as saying, God must love "because he The society named publishes also had made so many of them," have quite a large number of works, the heard the missionary and forty thou- tiLles filling fourteen pages, treating of sand or more of them are enrolled as religion and missions, biography of Christian communicants with possibly great reformers who became converts double that number as "adherents." to Christianity, and historical and scien- The purpose to reach these " Higher tific treatises. One of these publica- Classes" has, however, never be enab- tions has been placed in the hands of sent from the missionary heart. As every civil mandarin throughout the early as 1877 the China Missionary Empire of the rank of county mayor Conference entertained the project of and upwards. Special efforts are put producing a literature specially adapt- . forth to circulate these pUblications at ed to reach these literary classes. the triennial examinations. 'fhey have Little was done, however, but, in 1887, met with favor at the hands of some of Dr _Williamson started the movement the prominent Chinese, one vice- which resulted in the organization of roy sending a donation of a thousand the "Society for the Diffusion of Chris- taels. The Educational Aseociation of tian and General Knowledge Among China has fur some years, specially since the Chinese," supported by the Book 1890, sought to aid in the production of and Tract Society of Scotland. The suitable text-books for schools. These immediate aim was to provide books of are not only designed for mission comparatively high order for the most schools, but to promote the general intelligent classes in China, and books educational interests of China. They illustrated with chromos for families. recognize that this is no small task In 1891, Rev. Timothy Richard was amongst an ancient people with tradi- askt to become its secretary, and the tional respect for the learning it pos- English Baptist Mission, of which he sesses and a well-organized system of , was a member, generously voted to schools. The task is to introduce new continue his support in this new rela- method.s into their present linguistic tion. This met with special sympathy studies, lind to create a demand for of missionaries who were successful on mathematical and scientific knowledge.
other lines among the masses of the 'l'his society says China has as yet pro- people, who had hope, and some faith, duced no statesman or philanthropist ~hat. as Bishop Schereschewsky exprest interested in or equal to the needed reform; it must come from foreigners. only plan yet rati1led by the Chinese They hope that the changing conditions Government, and in a vast empire, im- DOW being forced on the nation may mobile, self-satisfied, and proud, it. is a develop such native talent to aid in this great triumph that even a beginning reform. Tpey have issued valuable should have included so much. works, covering almost the whole field of mathematics, natural science, mental That the failure of China in the conand moral philosophy, and other de- flict with Japan has put the nation into partments of western learning, until an attitude of inquiry as to .. how it there is no reason why a Chinese pupil happened, " is abundantly evidenced may not be given a general education, throughout the empire. To a degree, through the medium of his own lan- perhaps never known before, China is guage, equivalent to a college educa- willing to take a seat on the schooltion in Europe or America. No mis- forms of western nations. The higher sionary body in the world, it is said, classes, as defined at the beginning of can point to a more complete list of this writing, are accessible by indirect books which it has prepared for the methods as never before since the Taipeople among whom it labors. ping rebellion. Western nations, wisely or unwisely, supported .the dynasty On the same general line of friendli- then; they should not throwaway this ness and interest in reform among new opportunity to help the whole Chinese, Rev. Gilbert Reid has been nation to a higher civilization, and laboring for the past six years, pre- place her in the way of Christian reforeminently influencing the upper classes mation. through friendly, social intercourse, winning their confidence and coopera- On Dr. Martin's return to China, tion. He is warmly commended by Li whither he was invited to resume the Hung Chang, who, as senior guardian duties of president of the Imperial of the heir apparent; classical reader to Tungw~n College, he halted at Shang. his majesty, the emperor; senior grand hai and delivered an address before the secretary of state; minister of the missionary association at that city, a foreign office and earl of the first rank, copy of which he kindly furnisht us besides being viceroy of the province of for pUblication in this periodical. Other Chihli, exercises an infiuence second to matters have obliged us to layover the that of no man in the empire. General copy till now, but it will have aptitude Li acknowledges the difficulties of the in the present discussion of this departsituation because of the "suspicion, ment, and the more so, as Dr. Martin, prejudice, and self.sufficiency," which, since his return, has taken an active he says, are peculiar traits of educated part in the "forward movement" for Chinese, especially noticeable in their reaching the higher classes, assuming estimation of other countries-perhaps the direction of Rev. Gilbert Reid's because of the isolation of China from project in his absence, and otherwise western influence for many centuries. being urgent in the special efforts now Mr. Reid has obtained official sanction being made for the reform and inde. for the establishment of a hall or insti- pendenee of the Chinese Government, tute, on an international basis, to and the cultivation of friendliness beadvance the general enlightenment and tween Christians and the upper infiuenprosperity of the country, and to tial classes of Chinese, together with increase religious toleration as well as the promotion of western ch·ilization to teach truth. This institute, as pro- in' China. For forty-five years Dr. posed, includes an auditorium, a mu- Martin has been a resident in China; seum, a library, reception rooms, and over thirty years he was in government class rooms. Mr. Reid's scheme is not employ as president of the Imperial all that he desires it to be, but it is the College, Pekin; "learned not only in western scholarship, but, to a remarkable degree, in the Chinese books, hold.a high office in some region re- literature, history, language, thought, mote from home; and he will notbe and characteristics; highly respected as actually in office, but must await his an adviser and friend by Prince Kung turn or use money. If poor, he must and other' distinguisht officials," his meanwhile support himself the best he influence must necessarily be greatly can, perhaps do unworthy work for helpful along these indirect and direct his supmiors, or even let his wife sell Unes for conciliating the literati. He her charms to them. There ar~ also is a trusted friend of China, and will military examinations and degrees cor· throw himself zealously into any pro- responding to the lite>:-ary, but inferior gressive measures for China's good. to them in honor.
These litemti with the military and Conversion ofthe Upper ffiaBBesin Ohins.. the wealthy,constitute the upper classes.
But when a family once attains power REV. J. E. WALKER, FOOCHOW, CHINA. and wealth, it often perpetuates them; When missionaries began work in for fuere are short cuts for the rich and China, it was thrown up to them for strong; and wealthy and influential rel- several years that they were making no atives can advance a student both by converts; and when this ceast to be legitimate and illegitimate means.
true, it was urged against them 'that Hence leading families are apt to mo- their converts were all from the lower nopolize the honors with the usual classes, which tho not wholly true was increment of pride IUld self-importance.
largely so. But then, who and what Such are the upper classes in China.
are these upper classes? One might imagine them to be more In China, mnk and power are not accessible than like classes in other hereditary. The descendants of a very lands, and perhaps they are relatively distinguisht statesman may be ennobled so, but not as compared with the lower by special edict for aUmited number of classes of their own ~ce. What are generations, and the head man of the the obstacles in the way of reaching descendants of Confucius inherits a them? Superior intelligence? No.
title in perpetuity. But, in general, Better morals ? No. Pride and apathy rank and authority have to be acquired; are two main obstacles. The Chinese and the son of a laborer may attain are rather deficient in religious senti· high rank through success at the Utero ment and conscience; while as we go ary e:raminations. The successful' upward, there is an increasing addiction scholars at the prefectural examinations to sloth, gluttony, and sexual excesses.
receive the degree of "Cultivated Tal· The people with all their industry and ents," become privileged characters, frugality do not love these virtues, but and begin to lord it over their fellow· regard ease and abundance as the envied men. Next success at the provincial lot of a favored few. A Chinese girl examination wins the degree of " Pro- once said to the restless child of a mis· moted Men," which carries with it more sionary, " Why don't you just sit down lofty privileges and eligibility to the and do nothing, I think it's real nice? h office of county magistrate. Success in And a earpenter when told that a for· the imperial examinations at Pekin, se· eign mechanic's tools would cost a cures quite high distinction. At all hundred dollars, exclaimed, "If I had these examinations only certain fixt a hundred dollars would I be a carpen- numbers can pass; and of course it is ter? No, I would open a storeI " One much more honorable to stand at the thing which makes opium smoking so head of the list than at the foot. The fascinating is its pleasumble sloth.
man who stands first at the Imperial The Chinese distinguish four classes examinations wins thereby quite high of society, viz., scholars, farmers, arti· rank. But he will, perhaps, be sent to sans, traders. The scholar is especially
IK'I'JlJUU.TIONAL DEPABTlDIJ{T
distinct from the other three, a very characters on which they wish to state genteel person of weak physique with their money, paying so much for each Anger-nails half an inch long, to show pair thus markt. The lottery is illegal; that he does nothing rough enough to but if. the police interfere, they And endanger such fragile growths. Closely only leaves of a good book which limited as to what occupations he may apparently some idle pupil has been follow, he yet regards himself as one to daubing with red ink:. whom the world owes both special honor and afiluence. His legal priv- Missionaries hire literary men to be ileges are perverted into the privilege their teachers; and then teachers And to do as he will with any thing or any us ignorant of what they regard as the body in his power. He studies the essentials of scholarship. It would take ancient sages, not to cultivate virtue us several years of hard study to bebut to gain rank, power, wealth, and come even passably good Chinese thus becomes habituated to a sordid use scholars; and unless one is specially of high sentiments. It is truly said gifted with a remarkable memory and that .. there is some honesty among the skillful fingers, he can not hope to common people; but the literati and equal his Chinese teacher. So, as a the officials who are derived from them rule, we hire Chinese scholars at a few are the biggest rascals." They have dollars a month to do our literary work; been educated into the pride and hypoc- and few attempt to equal them on their risy of the Pharisee, yet withal are own ground. This further pu1fs up usually Sadducees; holding that death their pride. is extinction. A Chinese preacher said to a scholar who ,interrupted him, "I Finally, the literati haTe the upper am not talking to you; you have no hand under the present order of things. soul, you know you have not. I am and wish no change. They look upon talking to you common folks; you have the missionaries as their natural enesouls, you know you have." mies. Some years ago the United States consul at Foochow askt the' governor The literati owe their honors to a why it was that the literati were so system of education which is blind to hostile to the missionaries? He repUed: anything outside of itself. Its difficulty, ,, The scholar is accustomed to regard which confers distinction on the suc- the common people almost as his beasts cessful student, makes him seem half of burden and receive from them prodivine in the eyes of the masses; and found reverence; but as soon as they this is heightened by teaching all become Christians, they cease to respect classes to regard .. lettered paper" him. " This is in a measure true. To as something sacred. It is a sin even the enslaved mind that fears images of to light a fire with it; and the scholar wood and clay, the literary man is an at every stroke of his pen is producing awesome personage, but there is little something which the whole nation about him to command the respect of must reverence. Yet this is no barrier the disciple of Christ, who learns to fear to the use of "lettered paper" for bad God and work righteousness. Hence purposes. When a scholar is operating the missionary will sometimes reply to a lottery, he takes a page from some the charge that he has no converts from classic, and writes the characters by the upper classes, "No, the Chinese pairs on slips of paper, which he puts literary man is hard to convert, and not in his pocket. Then he takes out one worth much lifter he is converted." slip at random, and puts it in a box Yet we do make converts from this which Is then sealed up in a bag, and class, some of whom become very valuthe bag hung in the top of a tree. Then able helpers. all hands receive copies of the page, Shaowu, which has been my Aeld of aJld ~r~ Oil it the pair or pairs Qf labor, was half depopulated at the time Qf the Taipin~ rebellion, ret th~
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
number of gr.lduates was not decreast. ing of Peter's vision in Acts, 80 weak- Hence they are rather too common to ened his faith in it, that one day Mrs.
win markt distinction. Almost every B. easily induced him to eat meat.
family has its graduate, and there is less After he had been with us about four of pride and exclusiveness. When we years he profest to embrace Christianity began work there the literati laughed and was received into the church. But at the idea of "foreign spooks" coming we were disappointed in him. He to teach them. But now we have showed no inclination or ability as a several efficient workers from their preacher; while vague rumors troubled number. I will briefly outline the us as to his life and talk outside. He history of one such converted man with was still a Taoist at heart, and profest the degree of "Cultivated Talents." conversion to Christianity merely to Chang Sien-sen, Senior Chang, when please us. His real conversion came an orphan boy had been apprenticed to three years or more after he joined the learn a trade; but an uncle, perceiving church. As he afterward described it that he had talent, sent him to school; to us: we had set him to teach a boy's and while still quite young, he took his school, and every evening he would sit degree. In order to eke out his earn- down to look over the Scripture to be ings he If.arned the art of selecting taught the next day; and, as he read, lucky sites for graves, etc. He was a it was just as if some one stood at his man of genial temper, and more than side and would now and then give his average religious susceptibilities, but sleeve a twitch and say, "Now is not not over scrupulous as to truthfulness. that good? " He became genuinely He stood in high repute as a medium converted, and when a suitable occa- with the "divining pen." When no sion offered, he publicly confest his one else could make it work he could. past hypocrisy. He is now an eloquent If he could see a sensible answer to the preacher, skillful and sometimes severe question put to the god or spirit, he in handling proud disputers, but plain would make the pen write it; otherwise spoken and yet gentle in addressing an he would make the pen produce illegi- average audience. He owes it largely ble marks. But his mind was not at to him and a friend of his who was be- rest; and he plunged into the specula- fore him in the Gospel that we have a tions of the Taoists, and also joined a number of the literati among our vegetarian sect. Not finding satisfac- Shaowu Christians.
tion in this, he tried a stricter sect, and The defeat of China in her late war at last joined the sect of "The Former with Japan was preeminently the defeat Heaven," which is an eclectic combi- of the upper classes; and there is noth- nation of Confucianism, Taoism, and ing before her but defeat, until there is Buddhism, and aims to restore the a decided improvement among these Former Heaven, i. e. the Golden Age. same upper classes. If they really can Its members abstain from animal food not be reacht, woe be to China. But and practice celibacy, but live at home the task of reaching them, though hard, and follow secular pursuits. For over is not hopeless.
two years Senior Chang spent most of his earnings on this sect; and all this Western Science as Auxiliary to the time he never touched his wife; but Spread of the GospeL neither did he properly feed and clothe BY DR. W. A. P. MARTIN, her. Pr68ident Emeritus of the Imperial Soon after we opened work at Tungwen Oollege, Peking, Ohina.
Shaowu, he was employed by Rev. J. Among those interested in the en- B. Blakely as his personal teacher. He lightenment of these Eastern nations had not found satisfaction in all his there are two extreme views. Some vegetarianism, and the incidental read- there are who hold that the native raligions are good enough for the people, of my subject, missionaries are so far and that all they require for their up- from being agreed that they need to lifting is the intellectual culture and compare views, in order to attain that material civilization of the West. unity of action which is indispensable Others hold that with intellectual cul- to strength. ture and material civilization, we, as missionaries, have nothing to do-that In advocating a vastly extended use our business is with the heart alone, of education in sciences and arts, I re- that to implant there the hope of eter- pudiate the idea that education must nalUfe is the object we should pursue, in all cases precede the Gospel, or that exclusive of all side issues. Christianity is not in itself the most effective of all instruments for enlighten- With the latter I find myself in ing the human mind. "The man," fullest sympathy so far as feeling is said Tse Hsia, "who has learned what concerned. But when it comes to the he owes to his parents and brothers at question a8 to the mode of procedure, I home, and what he owes to his supemaintain that in order to win the world riors and fellow-Bubjects, tho you may to Christ, a vast variety of subsidiary call him unlearned, is, I say, an edu- .influences must go along with the cated man." If this is true of the Gospel. The commerce of Christian social and political ethics taught by nations in seeking new fields for its the Chinese sages, how much higher enormous expansion opens wider and and broader the education imparted by wider areas to the heralds of the Cross, the Gospel, even in its simplest form ! and where our governments extend protection to their merchants, they, In its ethics, faith in God imparts also, throw their shields over the work vitality to the human conscience, and of their missionaries. the conception of God implies that of the unity of the universe. The lofty Is it not meet that the political power .generalization which the philosopher and commercial predominance which 'slowly arrives at by a translation of spring from Christianity should co- the laws of nature the Christian conoperate in extending its blessings to all vert reaches at a bound through the the nations of the earth? open door of faith. The Gospel comes to him, moreover, associated with All things are overruled of God for something of history and geographythe furtherance of his spiritual king- lifting his mind above the limits of the dom; we have but to look back through "four seas" by revealing the unity the long ages of the past to see how the and fraternity of the human race, stars in their courses have fought wakes up the dormant imagination and against the powers of darkness. But sheds a glory over this common-place the question is not what agencies may existence by introducing us to an un- God employ, for it is His prerogative seen world, of boundless extent and to employ all agencies great and small unspeakable grandeur. -according to that power by which he is able to subdue all things to Himself. What but the simple Gospel was it The thing for us to ascertain is what that elevated the tinker of Bedford to auxiliary agencies we, as missionaries, a place alongside of Milton and Dante? may properly employ for the conver- The immortal pilgrim, while commandsion of men to the faith of Christ. In- ing the homage of such an erudite critic strumentalities many and varied as the as Lord Macaulay, shows no trace of gifts of the Spirit enumerated in the learning beyond the literature of the epistle to the Corinthians have, as a Old and New Testaments, accompanied matter of fact, been employed in all by a rich religious experience. Yet ages. In regard to many of them there was its. author by no means an ignoris no difference of opinion. But in re- ant or unlearned man-tho like Shakgard to those specified in the wording speare, he knew little Latin and less Greek. No! The man who with a ally when I was about to leave for the soul kindled into adoring love takes in United States, he handed me a paper the doctrines of the New Testament is implying that he was ready to become not uneducated, however humble his a Christian, provided he was not re- social condition. quired to renounce the worship of his ancestors. He won the coveted degree, I once heard Pastor Fisch of Paris but I have not since heard from him. relate how he had taken the learned but sceptical J ouffroy de St. Hilaire to But why refer to my own experience talk with a devout cobbler on tlle when we have on record the world- knotty questions raised in the epistle to renowned instance of Matteo Ricci? At the Romans. The professor was amazed a time when tlle interior of the Empire at the exhibition of a wisdom not de- was sealed against foreigners and rived from the schools, and went away against the Gospel the learned Italian with a strongedaith, saying to himself: made his way by the help of sciencc to "Out of the mouth of babes and suck- Nanking and then to Peking, where lings, Thou hast ordained strength." he and his successors were installed as Christianity then, where it is not mere- professors of astronomy-securing for ly preacht but taught, occupies in my their religion the favor of the Emperor, opinion, the very forefront among all and the adhesion of multitudes of the the varied appliances for enlightening people. But for their mathematics the popular mind. Let the Chinese those early missionaries might never embrace it and it alone will do more have penetrated beyond the confines of than anything else to place them on an the province of Kuangtung. intellectual level with the people of Europe. It was a Bible in thc hands Vastly greater are the demands for of a blood·stained mutineer, that trans· science at the present day. The Emformed the little colony of Pitcairn in- peror, like Kang Hi, makes himself to a Christian commonwealth; whose the patron of science, and he has done virtues and intelligence were the aston- what Kang Hi never ventured to do, ishment of the world. What the Bible introduced a scientific element into the did for that Island it might do even un- competitions for the civil service. The aided for the people of China; if they scholars of the Empire are awake as were first brought to accept It. But never before to the defects of their extraneous aids are often required to antiquated style of education. It was open tlle way for it. D'Aubigne tells not new arms, or numbers, but the UB the Waldensian pedlars in the,South new education tllat enabled the Japanof France made use of their attractive ese to gain the victory of thc recent wares to draw attention to the New war. This the Chinese are beginning Testament, which they drew from the to perceive, and in every direction we bottom of their baskets and offered as hear of fresh openings for the teachtheir choicest treasure. Not many ing of Western languages and science. years ago, a Szechuan scholar who had come to Peking to compete for the This state of feeling is well exhibited third degree, presented himself at my in a preface to a new translation of a house with a letter of introduction from work on Political Economy, from the a high mandarin. His object was to pen of a mandarin. .. Of what use," ask questions on physical seience; and he asks, .. are the metaphysical subtlehe repeated his visits many times, in ties of Buddhism? Buddha's native the course of which I gave him reo land has been three times conquered ligious books and talked to him on re- by foreigners-first by thc Afghans, ligious subjects. As the weeks went next by the Mongols, and lastly abon he had fewer questions to ask on sorbed by England. In China the science, and more about religion. Fin- higher principles of government have been handed down from the sages of antiquity, but such common matter as the production and distribution of audience and desired to know the wealth are not among them. Doubt- source of the wealth and power of her less their treatises on these subjects, Empire, she pointed to the Bible, and (he says with perceptible irony) per- placed in his hands a copy of the sacred ished in the flames of the Book Burner. volume. So the missionary should not The consequence is that a vast and fail to lead his learned inquirers to the magnificent empire has been left to run true source of that prosperity, which down into poverty and weakness until distinguishes Christian from non-Chris- it has become helpless in the presence tian nations. In this he is the more of its foreign foes. The people of the likely to meet with success if he is able West, when they know a thing, always in some degree to satisfy their thirst for put it in practice. They have courage secular knowledge by oral teaching, by to advance in the path of progress. But books, or by object lessons, in the form if we Chinese read their books as we of machinery and scientific apparatus.
read the liturgies of Buddha and dis- Let it not be imagined that I am ex- cuss their principles as we discuss the horting missionaries to enter on a new abstractions of metaphysics; what good policy. These three things have aU is to be lookt forY" been resorted to as aids to awaken at- What this writer feels and confesses tention and to impress the mind from is felt, if not confest, by hundreds of the very dawn of Protestant missions.
thousands of the literati of this land. Away back in the "forties" Dr. 8. R.
For us, I should say the present is a Brown, then in charge of the Morrison golden opportunity-were it not that school in Hongkong, prepared a little the word golden contains a suggestion book on political economy, in Chinese.
of harvest-whereas all that we dis- Who can tell the extent of the salutary cover is the breaking up of a hitherto infiuences proceeding from that now for- frozen soil. It is not harvest but seed gotten publication? One of his PUpilS time, the period of the year-the sea- was Tong King-sing, who organized the son-which decides whether the coming China Merchants' Steamship Company crop is to consist of grain or of tares. and opened the tlrst coal mine, which When Mencius was askt by the was workt with foreign machinery.
Prince of Liang, what he had brought Another was Dr. Yung Wing, who to enrich his kingdom, he replied, after having created an era in the edu- .. Humanity and justice; nothing cational progress of this country still more." In fact, there was nothing lives to aid in shaping the new enter- more that he was competent to teach. prises of the present day.
When the Christian missionary is greet- In the "fifties" Dr. Hobson com- ed with the same question he might menced the publication of a series of give the same reply – righteousness little books on natural philosophy, and humanity-and something more. chemistry, and medicine. Some of U Yes," he might say, .. I bring with these were the very tlrst to revcal to me all the forces necessary for the re- the Chinese the existence of those generation of the individual and the world·transforming sciences and to renovation of the State. " point them to something better in med- It is a great thing to have haughty ical practice than the quackery of their scholars like the writer just quoted, native doctors.
pocket their pride and sit as learners at Mr. Alex. Wylie about the same the feet of men of the West. They time while printing Bibles by the mU· begin of course with the externals of lion, found time to translate a complete modern civilization; but it is the mis- course of modern mathematics, and a sionary's own fault if they stop there. text book of modern astronomy.
It is related of Queen Victoria that Prior to the publication of these works, when a Maori chieftain was received in which mark an epoch in the history of China, the Chinese possest no mathe- 2. That a series of science primers matics beyond the first six books of might be prepared under the auspices Euclid, and no astronomy beyond that of some Tract Society with the special of the middle ages, when our little aim of imparting some knowledge of planet was believed to be the center of science to general readers. Science the Universe. might wing the arrow, but religion should be its point. Think you, that the Chinese, who emerging from the old school, has S. That each mission should be prolearned to place the sun on the Cen- vided with a museum, illustrating the tral Throne, will not be better prepared arts and sciences of the West. than before to accept Jesus Christ as the Sun of Righteousness? 4. That those missionaries who have a taste for such things be supplied I shall not follow out the history of with scientific toys of an inexpensive the educational and scientific work be- kind such as the magic lantern, graphgun by those three immortals. ophone or phonograph, optical, electric and steam apparatus. Suffice it to say that they were followed by an army of workers in the Finally that lectures on scientific field of education, and by a period of subjects for the general public be deorganized effort in the production of livered in chapels or schools, illustrated scientific text- books. To these earlier by objects, and always made to have and later workers whose names I can· a bearing on religion. not begin to enumerate are due nearly all the text books of modern sciences, By these means, as it seems to me, to be found In the Chinese language. the educated classes may be reacht and How these works are appreciated by by God's blessing be brought to the the more advanced thinkers among the knowledge of Christ and his great Sal- Chinese you may judge by a single in- vation. stance. Some years ago, a Chinese lit· erary man who afterwards became a Huber put a dozen bumble bees high official published an essay, in under a bell-glass, with a comb of some which he compared the benefits of commerce and Christian missions. Re- ten silken cocoons, so unequal in height ferring to the various sciences intro- that they would not stand steadily. To duced by missionaries from the arrival remedy this two or three bees got on of the Jesuits three centuries ago down the comb, stretched themselves over its to the recent period of renewed mis- edge, and with heads downward, fixt sionary activity, he declared that China owes more to missions than to their forefeet on the table on which the commerce. comb rested, and so with their hind feet kept the comb from falling. When Before I take my seat, I wish to sug- they were weary others took their gest four things that I deem of great places. In this constrained posture, importance, tho it is probable that most fresh bees at intervals relieving their of you have already taken them into comrades, and each taking its turn, consideration. they supported the comb for nearly three days, till they could get ready wax 1. That constant efforts should be made to supply the Chinese with more enough to build pillars with it. And and better text-books, adapted to the the first pillars having got displaced, demands of the new education-now the bees in the same manner rebuilt being called for in all the provinces of the supports. What an example and the empire-and that religion while it lesson to us, as the duty and privi1e~e should not be injudiciously lugged of coming to each other's support m in ought not to be excluded from emergencies I What a lesson for the them. friends of missions, in these days when the great organizations are at risk of tumbling into financial distress if not ruin, of giving up ourselves to the joint effort of holding up the cause until safer supports may be prepared for it to rest upon, and that we should all work together that the burden may not fall wt haeysB, eaen4thboeu unequally. Go to slug- gard! consider her wise ,
FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY
I1I.-FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
The Turkish Empire,* Persia,t Russian Empire,t Arabia,§ Mohammedanism,' Oriental Ohurches.
BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON.
CONDITIONS IN Tt.'RKEY. success. But the difficulties have been by no means settled, and it is well un- Armenia is having a comparative derstood that the Turks are not yet rest from the sword of the "unspeak- satisfied with the results ~of their past able Turk," but persecution has by no work, and still are bent upon the exmeans ceased, nor have the effects of pulsion of the missionaries and thE> the "year of shame" past away. An extermination of all non-Moslem suboccasional report of some massacre jects. or outrage comes to our ears, and there is untold suffering and distress, the knowl- The American Board has now about edge of which never reaches us. The 175 missionaries in Armenia, with some missionaries still stand nobly by their 800 native helpers; over 125 churches posts, and carryon the work of caring containing over 12,000 members. The for the needy, sheltering the orphan adherents number about 80,000. and teaching those who still seek Chris· tian instruction in the missionary 'OF HINTS ON THE STUDY ISLAH. schools and colleges. Blessed spiritual awakenings have followed the The Student Volunteer (British) gives persecutions in Harpoot, Aintab, Oorfa, and elsewhere-even Turks the following helpful suggestions as to being deeply imprest in some in- the study of Mohammedanism: stances. Schools are filling up, farmers are again going to their work with I. Some explanations of Mohammore confidence of reaping their crops, and general quiet is restored, except on med's success. the Persian frontier. The time is ripe for new advances in missionary work, (1). Mohammed's personality and his with more encouraging prospects of use of truths gained from Jews, Christ- .. See pp. 50, 51, 57 (January); 610 (August). NEW BooKS: "Letters from Armenia," ians and Hanifs. (2). Use of the Harris; "The Sultan and His Subjects," Davey. sword. (8). Paradise promist to dying RECENT ARTICLES: " Armenia and the forward movement," CO'fItemporary Review warriors. (4). Appeal to the passions (January); "The Armenian Church," New of men. World (March); "Turkish Reform," Cosmopolitan (March). II. Christian and Mohammedan doc- t See pp. 422, 463 (June); 506 (July); 721. 740 (present issue). trine of Divine sovereignty. ~ See pp. 754 (present issue). NEW BOOKS: "Russia Incarnate," Wab- (1). Mohammed's conception imper. zewski; "The Empire of the Tsar." RECENT ARTICLES: "Life in Russia." Frank feet, yet better than that of his con- Leslie's Monthly (February); "Prisons of Siberia." Blackwood (April); "Russia as it temporaries. (2). Both doctrines is," Conte'''porary Review (May). § See pp. 730, 748 (present issue). contrasted-Christian provision for fel· , See pp. 39 (January); 375 (May); 422 (June); 506 (July) ; 757 (present Issue). lowship and progress; progress of NEW BoOKS: "Islam," E. M. Wherry; .. Faith of Islam," EdWard Sell. Mohammedanism not well founded nor continuous; submission and fate '118. submission and faith; results seen in the history of both systems.
III. Doctrine of the Trinity and the two faiths.
(1). Mohammed's relatively superior apprehension of God, but only of God's umty and sovereignty. (2). Christian- ity's view of the Divine Man. (8). The Koran's inconsistency concerning Di- vine attributes, without our idea of Son and Spirit. .
IV. Mohammedan and Christian view of man.
(1). Results of Mohammed's view of man-Man a slave; Womanhood de- based; Home life a failure; Society without woman's elevating influence, and she a slave and plaything; yet Mohammed improved the condition of women in his day. (2). The Moslem's This is a specimen of Russian religious- defense-Polygamy in the Old Testa- ness.
ment; Social evils in Christian lands; Some years ago, when the compulsory Intemperance of Christian nations. conversion in mass of Protestant peas- V. How TO COMJllEND CHRISTIANITY ants in Livonia to the church of Russia TO MOSLEMS: was in process, a Greek Catholic superior pope exprest his surprise that (1.) Act along lines of least resist- Protestants were opposed to this change ance-Old and New Testament Script- of base. There was no ground for this ures ; Brotherhood due to this common opposition, he thought; for had not heritage; Superiol' character of our Luther at one time been the court.
Scriptures. (2). Christendom's atti- preacher of Queen Catharine of Russia?
tude should be changed and the Church This is a specimen of theological train- do her duty. ing in Russia.
THE PRESENT PROBLlllM OF ISLAM. At Warsaw the Emperor Nicholas I. Unfavorab~ feature8 .- was taking part in a religious ser- (1). Union between the temporal and vice in which, according to custom, spiritual power. (2). Divorce between the worshiper was to kiss the hand of morality and religion. (3). Ishmaelitic the officiating priest. The latter, in intolerance. (4). Destruction of the his confllsion at the presence of the family through polygamy and concu- visible head of the state church, failed binage. (5). The degradation of wom- to offer his hand. Thereupon the Eman. (6). Gross immorality. (7). Un- peror cried out: "Give me your hand, truthfulness. (8). Misrepresentation of you dog; I want to kiss it." This is a the person and teachings of Christ. characteristic trait in Russian church (9). Aggressive spirit in Islam. The life.
Wahabees. The religiousness of the Russian II. Tlte favorable features .- Church is an odd combination of ele- (1). Belief in the Unity of God. (2). ments. In it are remnants of the oldest times of Christianity, a certain barbar- Reverence for the Old and New Testa- iim nai1J6te, a lifeless formality from ment. (3). Reverence for Christ as the times of Byzantine sterility, and a prophet. (4). Respect for Christians wilderness of confused ideas. The and Jews as the 'people of the book.' Russian will not pass by a beggar with- (5). Hatred of idolatry. (6). Rever- out having either given him alms or ence for law. (7). Abstinence from in- having excused himself for not aoing toxicants. (8). Doctrine of absolute so. The duty of charity has found an surrender. (9). Growing infiuence of entrance into his very marrow and Christian nations in Mohammedan bones. Yet this same man will go to countries. (10). Islam completely en- his house, cross himself in front of the circled by Anglo-Saxon Christian pol- ikon, or saint's image, hang a piece of itical and civil power. (11). Moham- cloth before it. so that his patron saint medan belief in the purity of the Clll not see what he is doing, and then Protestant faith. (12). Confidence in enter upon a carousal that would dismissionaries. (13). Civilization must supplant Islam. (14). The superior grace a beast. Again, this typical facilities in the hands of Christians. Russian will on another day go to his (15). The Bible translated into the Ara- church, strike the fioor fifty times with his forehead, and two hundred times bic language. repeat the words: "0 Lord, have mercy on me ; " and then depart and as a wit- Piotures of the Russian Religion. ness take a false oath before the courts because his friend the day before had A strange and oppressive picture of secured his promise to do so for a drink religious life in Russia comes to us of 'IJOska, and considers himself satis- from a Leipsic paper, Oltristliche Welt, factorily justified when he tells the whose picture is drawn largely from judge that "even God Himself will Russian sources. It is condenst in the accept a bribe," meaning by this his Literary Digest as follows: accepting wax candles and paternosters for certain sins. The man himself is In a Russian court in Odessa some not conscious of his self-contradiction, years ago there was a trial between two and it would be useless to try to demonpeasants, one of whom had bodily mal- strate this to him. His conduct is treated the other. The injured party typical of the religiousness of the aver- had claimed that Almighty God was age peasant in Russia.
superior to St. Nicholas. The other The whole genius and character of resented this and abused his neighbor. ,Russian life, is steeped in passivity. It is characterized by a flight to escape the outcome of that most unfortunate struggle for existence, a fatalistic stand- struggle. The evangelical work, under point, which accepts everything, the leadership of Dr. M. D. Kalopowhether the result of one's own doings thakes, of Athens, has, ever since its or not, with the words, "It is God's inception, been suffering under the will. " Neither in Roman Catholicism false charge of being hostile to Greece nor in Protestantism have we a basis as a nation. So close is the union befrom which we can thoroughly under- tween the orthodox church and the stand the soul of the Russian people. state, that anything aiming at reform It can be understood onlv from its in the one was interpreted as disloyalty origin, precedents, and historical de- to the other. This feeling has been velopment. The curse which, from strong enough to cut off the little conthe time that Russia was Christianized gregations of the evangelical churches down to our own day and generation, in Athens, V010, and elsewhere, from has rested upon the Russian Church, is all social relations with their fellow its moral sterility; the fact that its countrymen, thus making progress a religion has no regenerative and pro- very difficult matter. But the part ductive power. which the evangelicals were able to play in the recent campaign has soft- The inability of the Orthodox Church ened the hearts of their opponents and spiritually to regenerate the people has restored confidence in their loyalty and been characteristic of it from the be- patriotism. For several weeks Dr. ginning. And DOW since Russia puts Kalopothakes traveled from point to forth the claim of representing a cer- point, along the army outposts, distain type of culture and civilization, it tributing to the eager soldiers and is well to take note of this historical officers Bibles or portions of the Scripand present fact. A prominent Russian tures, and comforting them with kind official some time ago spoke of himself words and deeds. His son, too, a as an "orthodox atheist." and this was journalist of no mean reputation, went no less a person than Prince Tscher- to the front repeatedly to secure accukassy. The possibility of such a posi- rate news for the European press, and, tion is deeply suggestive. sharing the hardships of Greek camp life, endeared himself to the heart of "Russia is not yet overrun with evan- many a soldier, while the name he gelists. There is room for the grand gained of being the most reliable old Gospel in all parts of the big empire. reporter on the frontier was a just If persecuted in one city, God's ser- tribute to his energies. Dr. Kalopovants would flee to another, witnessing thakes' daughter first spent, some as tlley go. Sowing precious seed they time in training hospital nurses at would find open doors and open hearts Athens, and then went to the front and throughout the vast dominions of Rus- was tireless in her care for the wounded, sia. It is yet virgin soil, and the various the sick, and the dying. Such proofs one-sided and superficial opinions of of loyalty could not but bear fruit; and Nihilists, Tolstoyists, Dukobortzis, and words of gratitude and praise have such like, are 8 proof that there are taken the place of slander and envy. searchers for the way of salvation who "Now we know," say the old church need to be told the old, old story of Greeks, "that our estimate' of you Jesus and His love. evangelicals was wrong; you are more patriotic than our own leaders." One I. Our brethren, the Stundists, are still soldier, who lay for some time in a persecuted and banisht. There is no hospital at the front, wrote to an change, nor is there any hope of a Athens newspaper: "While lying change as long as the present ruling wounded in the hospital, I have seen powers aim to hold church and state the king and queen, princes and foreign in one inseparable body. A Russian nobles, reporters and philanthropists; subject dissenting from the orthodox and the evangeUcal workers have Church is considered an alien; loses his right of citizenship, and is often banisht cheered us b'l their visits; there is only to remote parts of the empire." one class 0 men I have never seen darken the door, and that is our own The Evangelical Ohurch in Greece. priesthood. Those who should be our comforters and counsellors at all times CHARLES T. RIGGS, B.A. have completely deserted us in our last extremity. The only true spiritual Sad as is the condition of Greece, after the war, there is cause for joy in one friends we have are the evangelicals."
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
Northfield and Missions. -vention was that thllre might be a prac- tical outcome of the interest awakened, At the Northfield Conference this and that the Convention might be prac- year, the missionary interest on Thurs- tically in close touch with some specific day and Friday, August 12th and 13th, missionaries on the field. It was pro- rose unusually high. Dr. Harry posed to appoint a committee, with Mr. Guinness was in the chair and a num- Moody as chairman, to whom the ber of most earnest and thrilling ad- boards might refer the case of any dedresses were delivered. The blessed serving candidate whom they desired teaching of the London brethren, Rev. to send forth but were unable to sup- G. Campbell Morgan and Rev. G. H. C. port. It was thought moreover that, McGregor, which has never been sur- instead of dilliinishing the ordinary past on the Northfield platform, for gifts to the boards, it would tend to spirit.ual power, had led up to the point stimulate giving by availing ourselves where there was eminent fitness in of the quickened spiritual life due to missionary appeal, and the seed fell the helpful teaching always received at into a prepared soil. these conventions.
On Friday afternoon Dr. Mabie in- Mr. Moody felt constrained to oppose vited all missionaries present, and II. the measure, not because it was in confew others, to hold a garden party at flict with the boards, as the proposal his .. chltlet .. for conference and prayer expressly made them the channels of on the present emergency in missions; disbursement, but because he felt quite and the outcome of the meeting was a unequal to any new responsibilities, deep conviction that the time was ripe and because of difficulties that must for the starting of a fund, at Northfield, attend the administration of any such to aid young men who were approved fund. The proposal was accordingly by the boards, but whom the boards withdrawn and a modified resolution had not sufficient money to send forth presented in its place which had Mr. to the field. This conviction was deep- Moody's sanction. ened by the thought that it was at Mt. Hermon, just across the river, that in Some of the friends thought, and 1886, it pleased God to set in motion the they are many, that had Mr. Moody student volunteer enterprise, and that it simply declined to act in the matter, was at the Northfield Convention fol- but allowed the measure to go forward, lowing in the same year that the call throwing all responsibility for it on the for a world's convention on missions Convention, and practically adjusting was issued, which was realized two the whole matter so as to make it tribuyears later in the great Exeter Hall tary to the establisht agencies for con- Convention in London, in 1888. ducting missions, it might have been a blessing to the Convention and a Everything in the evening meeting great stimulus to consecrated giving. of Friday seemed to lead up to the pro- Within a half hour, $2,500 had been posal which was made by the editor of subscribed and some of it with pledges the REVIEW, that the Convention of annual payments for five and ten should start a fund for the purpose of years, which is a sufficient forecast of helping the boards to send out volun- the possible ultimate results. teers, whom the ordinary appropriations would not enable them to send forth, But our friend Mr. Moody was 80 but whom they approved as worthy seriously in doubt as to the expediency and suitable. of the measure, and so apprehensive that the spirit prompting it might be The reason for creating such a fund misunderstood, that it was abandoned in connection with the Northfield Con- in its original form, and donors were advised to turn their offerings into the natural and doubly.blest. And if such church channels directly and without opportunity is allowed to pass, there is a positive loss, not only of money, but any intermediate Northfield committee. of stimulus to higher standards of stewardship. While we would not Theabove simple statement will show encourage the idea that impulsive giv- ing is the truest sort of giving, Mr. how ab8Qlutely witlwut joundation was Finney used to say that aroused feeling is the winding up of the windlass, and such a version of the matter as has that action on the spot is the rachet that holds the windlass from unwind- been floating through the press. We ing. Yearby yearat Northfield, we feel that an offering, made under the influ- quote from the New York Obserur: ence of awakened spiritual life, would seal the impressions made, and help "Mr. D. L. Moody's common sense to fasten holy resolve and fix the soul and good judgment were manifested in God. And that was all the thought last week in his decision not to estab- and purpose of the mover and sup- lish an emergency fund to send out porters of this proposal for an emer- missionaries who can not go abroad gency fund. It is very certain that the through the regular missionary boards brethren who so advised "meant well," of the denominations for lack of funds. and equally certain that they did not Mr. Moody determines that money propose to displace the present mission- raised at Northfield for foreign mis- ary boards by "creating new ones with sions shall go to the boards already no particular moorings." Such state- establisht. The brethren who advised ments should not be carelessly made, Mr. Moody differently meant well, but as they do harm and injustice to such so did Peter when he askt the Lord if men as Dr. Mabie, himself one of the he and James and John should not most consecrated of all our missionary make three tabernacles on the Mount of secretaries. not to speak of the Editor Transfiguration. It is better to of this REVIEW, who has all his life strengthen the present efficient mission- advocated and aided the establisht ary organizations thlln to create new agencies of the Church, and two of ones with no particular moorings. whose daughters, with a son-in-law, These might soon drift into the control are on the mission field in connection of irresponsible persons and fail of with the Presbyterian boards. their original purpose." The Ohristian Missionary Alliance. So far is this paragraph from the In the September issue of this REtruth that it misapprehends the posi- VIEW, at the editor's request, Dr. Wil- son gave our readers a brief account of tion in toto. That the purpose was in the nearly a quarter of million dollars subscribed-in one day, Aug. 9, 1896, no wise to divert money from the some $101,500 being obtained, and $122,000 on Oct. 11 following-for the Boards into "irresponsible" channels, Alliance purposes. We were especially interested in what Dr. Wilson says in is sufficiently obvious from the fact that paper about the economy oj expen- diture in the administration of these that the Editor of this REVIEW made funds, that, except about $2,000 for the propo8al and Dr. Mabie 8econded it! rent, printing, etc., the whole of the money pledged goes straight to the Our purpose was distinctly to give the boards additional help. This is an ex- ample of how, without any intentiop.
to misrepresent, the public press may give a totally wrong impression.
The Keswick Convention in England, feeling the need of some annual offer- ing to give practical force to increast devotion to Christ, instituted a Keswick Mission Fund, and now there are in the fleld some fifteen missionaries, supported by the money subscribed at these gatherings. Every year the cul- mination of the meetings is found in this missionary offering. There is no doubt that, when hearts are deeply moved by the truths of the Word and the presence of God, an offering to God for mission work seelllS both field; and that, from one misssonaryon men; but to receive and disburse large the field eight years since, the number sums of money in benevolent and now exceeds three hundred, the income mission work without stated and ample having correspondingly increast from accounts rendered of the way in which ,5,000 in 1888 to $140,000 in 1896. this money is used, is to establish a These facts need to be pondered precedent dangerous in the extreme, prayerfully and conscientiously. We under cover of which gigantic public frauds may be perpetrated. have no official reports of this year's Rev. A. B. Simpson, about seventeen' meetings at Old Orchard as yet; but years ago, came out from existing the daily press, which the Alliance church organizations, and establisht a organ credits with both "kind and a people's tabernacle, about which has truthful " accounts, may be trusted for grown up a large and useful work. the main facts. It appears that on About midway in the intervening Aug. 8th were raised $71,000 for foreign .missions, some thirty thousand less period he was led out Into the estab· than last year, indeed, but a very large lishing of a missionary organization,· sum nevertheless, and indicating a very which has grown with almost unex- high flood-mark of enthusiasm. Also ampled rapidity. What was at first some fifty young people responded to simply a modest enterprise, seeking to the call for volunteers. Mr. Simpson link his work in New York city with affirmed that, almost without excep- foreign lands, has developt into a world· tion, the pledges of 1896 have been re- wide scheme, which may yet have a deemod-another very remarkable sign thousand missionaries in the field and a in its way. million of money a year for their sup- In the Boston Herald it is stated that port. But thus far we never have seen "W. H. McLaughlin, of North Scar· boro, has sent to the Portland papers one financial report of the money refor publication an open letter, in which he asks Rev. Dr. Simpson to render an ceived and of the manner of its diIJbur86· account of the disbursements of the ment. When, at times, the attention $100,000 raised at Old Orchard last year for the cause of missions." The of our friend, Mr. Simpson, has been letteraskt that such account be rendered before the taking up of the offerings called to this deficiency of annual statethis year. The writer of that letter justifies his demand on the ground that ments, his reply-the only one so far "from apostolic days the solicitors of money in the name of the Church have of which we have knowledge-was the been expected to render an account of their stewardship; and that the present following, which, to do him the amplest practice in some quarters, of making no public statement of the disbursement of justice, we now reprint verbatim from funds is an innovation that should be checkt." the editorial colulIlllS of the Alliance Whether the writer of this challenge organ. He says: be friend or foe, it is well to hearken to " Our attention has recently been called to an old falsehood circulated his suggestion, as both sensible and in several years ago from an unfriendly source to the effect that the accounts accord with the highest principles of of the International Missionary Alli- ance are loosely kept and thst the Treas· ethics. It is no imputation upon the urer's Annual Reports have not been properly audited. This old story has honesty or integrity of any man to recently been repeated in a most unfair manner and we feel it propcr therefore claim that he should render to the pub- to meet it promptly by the following certificate from the Auditors of the lic an account of money given by them accounts for the past two years and from an expert accountant whose stateand received by him in trust for certain ment is added: benevolent purposes. He may be not NEW YORK, February 27th, 1897. We hereby certify that we have careonly conscientious and capable and fully examined the accounts and the Treasurer's Annual Reports of the Inhonest, but the most self-sacrificing of ternational Missionary Alliance with all the necessary vouchers appertaining pIe and having their books examined to the business of the society in the annually by professional accountants, past two years of 1895 and 1896, and and they do well, for there can be no we find that in every respect they are reason why any secresy should be obaccurately and carefully kept. served in religious or benevolent work.
S. E. FURRY, Where such an annual exhib!t is E. G. SELCHOW, made, it closes the mouths of enemies and stills the doubts of friends. In- Audit0'l"8. deed, so convinced are we of the valne of this course, that we are of the opin- NEW YORK, February 27th, 1897. ion that no organization which does As a professsional bookkeeper I de- not adopt it has any right to appeal for sire to say that I have examined with public help. minute care the accounts and books of the International Missionary Alliance A clear financial statement, which and the Treasurer's Report for the past can be understood by ordinary people, two years, and I find that the books are such as Bishop Stevens makes annually kept in a most careful manner and by of the operations in the Special Juristhe most approved method of double diction of the South, is what is always entry and will compare favorably with needed, and should be always lookt the accounts of any good commercial for. We believe it is one of the reahouse. sons which has inspired our Church with entire confidence in that mission S. E. FURRY." work, and we believe that the example of Bishop Stevens should be followed So far, so good-but does this at all by all who depend upon outside help."
meet the conditions? The auditors do If to any it may seem that the Editor unequivocally testify to the fact that of this REVIEW is moved by any spirit the accounts are" accurately and care- of hypercriticism, let such look for a fully kept," of which no one who knows moment at the whole question both of these gentlemen have any doubt. But ethical obligation and of rational ex- they give us no conception of the pediency.
amounts of money represented as re- Suppose the Editor himself to be ceived and disbursed, nor of the actual made by his readers the receiver of channels in which they have found hundreds of thousands of dollars, to be their distribution. by him, and according to his best judg- At this very time, other paragraphs ment, used in connection with needy appear in other papers, evidently aimed Christian enterprises at home Jlnd at the correction of the same great abroad. And to make the case still defect as that which, as candid review- more emphatic, let us suppose that he ers, having in trust the education of has no restrictions laid on him as to the the public conscience, we feel bound io exact direction in which these monies insist ought at once to be remedied. are to be spent. Let us suppose on the We quote again, from The Episcopal one hand that no report is made to the :&corder: public, beyond the statement of two "A gentleman, in whose judgment well-known business men that his books we have the utmost confidence, writes to us concerning the importance of are perfectly kept and balanced; and, on missionaries making clear financial statements for the information of their the other hand, that every individual friends and others. Especially is this caution important for those who are gift is acknowledged by a number also acting independently and not under the direction of a board, which re- attached to the receipt sent to the conceives, acknowledges and pays out all funds.' tributor, and that, at least once a year, General Booth has shown his good a full publisht account is rendered, so sense in doing this with the large sums entrusted to him, and by this precau- that every giver may trace his gift to tion he has utterly foiled the attacks made upon his management of the its desired use, and that the public may financial affairs of the Salvation Army. We notice that some of the large Mis- know the sum total of all money resionary Boards are following his exam- ceived, and the exact purposes to which it is applied-can anyone question which is the immeasurably better and more proper way to administer tian village of freed slaves and other public funds? It will be observed that natives, who shall be taught in farming all money thus sent to this REVIEW and industrial arts; a village from for benevolent use is in these columns which the evils of slavery, polygamy, publicly acknowledged and accounted witchcraft, and vicious foreigners shall for. be excluded. The Roman Catholics and European planters have already lir. George Mllller and Mr. Hudson proved the feasibility of conducting Taylor are examples of men whose such a settlement on a self-supporting honesty is too indisputable to be ques- basis. This enterprise will be carried tioned. And yet each of these men forward on business principles, amI only publicly accounts for every farthing consecrated men and women will have entrusted to them for God's cause. a hand in it. Mr. Chatelain is well Every man and woman who sends to acquainted with the country and the either of them an offering, may know people where the colony is to be estab- exactly how much money is by them lisht, and has long studied the ques- received in any given year and just how tion of the physical, mental, and spirit- much goes to any particular purpose. ual emancipation of the fifty million We are not imputing to our brother slaves of the Dark Continent. Funds Simpson or his co-workers, any lack of are sadly :q.eeded to carry forward the honesty, self-denial, or any other high enterprize. Three hundred dollars will quality. But we do most earnestly plead send out and support a worker for one that no man who accepts a trusteeship year; fifty dollars will constitute a for benevolent funds shall set an share in the equipment of the station example that can be quoted by others and twelve dollars a year will support, who are simply using a too easily per- an adopted slave. All contributors will suaded public to carry on fraud. be kept informed of the progress of the work, and those supporting boys There is a very simple method, and or girls will be put in communication only one, for supplying all proper con- with them. Send contributions to Hon. ditions: Let every man or woman who Thomas L. James, United Charities is expending money for others, see Building, New York. that for every gift a receipt shall be sent promptly to the giver, and that The Tibetan Pioneer MiMion, under every such amount be in some recog- the leadership of Miss Annie Taylor, nizable form publicly acknowledged, has entered Tibet, and is located at so that the whole transaction of receiv- Gatong, across the border from Sikkim. ing and disbursing shall be open to the Here Miss Taylor has opened a shop public eye. This both increases con- and medical dispensary, by which she fidence in the administration, and puts is enabled to come into contact with a check on any dishonest, careless, or many Tibetans and Chinese. The fraudulent use of consecrated money. prejudice of the people is breaking down and many have become most The Pltil-African League, of which friendly. About one thousand copies Mr. Heli Chatelain is the able and con- of the Gospel in Tibetan have been dis- 'secrated Secretary and Manager, has tributed, besides many in Chinese. By for its object, the overthrow of the slave- means of traders, etc., these have been trade in Africa, and the establishment scattered far and wide throughout the of a Christian colony for the indus- country. Prayer is earnestly askt that trial, intellectual, and spiritual educa- the doors of this closed land may be tion of the natives on the table land opened wider to receivll the heralds of East of Bugola in South Central Africa. the Cross who are waiting on the Mr. Chatelain with four others expects threshold. to start for the field immediately, there to estll.blish a model unsectarlan Chris- The news which has been dropping At a meeting in Shanghai, under the in about the late earthquake in India, shows that the visitation was much auspices of the British and Foreign more serious than at first imagined. An entire railroad has disappeared, and Bible Society, it was stated that last it is reckoned that damage has been done over a wide area which it will year some 540,000 books were printed; take two years to repair. Between 4,000 and 6,000 natives were killed in 366,000 books were put into circulation, Assam. of which 358,000 were sold and 8,000 Mr. Booth-Tucker, commander of the Salvation Army, wants to raise given away. The books w.ere nearly $500,000 with which to establish what he calls a "Poor Man's Paradise," on always sold at a price to pay for the lands to be bought in Arizona or else· where on the line of the Santa Fe Rail- paper, and it is an indication of the road. His plan is to divide these lands into ten-acre lots, build houses upon remarkable progress of Christianity them, and remove to them faJpilies of the very poor from New York. that last year no fewer than 11,000 The indifference with which the were New Testaments in excellent Christian Church regarded foreign missions in the first quarter of this century binding. Some 210 colporteurs were was most astonishing. According to Mr. F. W. Hewes, during the decade at work, ~ving either part or the whole ending 1820, the contributions to foreign of their time, and they were very effecmissions were four-tenths of a cent tive means for the evangelization of the for every inhabitant of this country. people. Since then, excepting in times of financial disaster and during the Civil War, "And now the Rev. W. H. Noyes, there has been a steady increase, until who was sent to Japan a few years ago in the ten years ending with 1890, the by the American Board of Missions, at contributions amounted to twenty-two the demand of the 'liberal' party, has and two-tenths cents per head of total left the mission and returned to Amerpopulation. 1ca. He has become rationalized out of his old-time convictions. It is .. pity In 1870 William Rankin, Esq., now he could not have seen the end from the venerable ex-Treasurer of the Board the beginning." The sending out of of Foreign Missions, in referring to the this man who openly declared his befirst contribution under the new move- lief in a post-humorous "probation," ment of the Presbyterian women in our was in our judgment the most serious beloved Church wrote: "There rolled mistake our friends of the A. B. C. F. M. into the treasury a little cake of barley ever made, and the like of which we bread labeled 'Woman's Work for pray may never be repeated. Women' $7,000." What marvellous progress in these seven and twenty As one of the saddest events of 1897 years! The little barley cake has in- will be remembered, the death by creast more than forty fold, the figure drowning, in the wreck of the Aden, last year aggregated not far from June 9th, of Florence Mary Lloyd, $303,000. dearly beloved daughter of T. H. and E. Lloyd, of Leicester, England. She had been four and a half years a mis- sionary of tIle C. E. Z. M. S. in the Fuh-Kien province, China. She perisht off the Island of Boeotra, at the age of thirty years. We quote from a Leicester paper, Y. M. O. A. Echoes: She had ever been a devoted Chris- tian, and in 1892 testified the strength of her devotion, courage, and determi- nation by proceeding to far away China in the interests of her beloved Master. Letters have been received from her from time to time, bearing evidence of the assiduous way in which she was going about her Father's busi- ness, and was expected home for a rest. No human mind can account for the sudden removal from this earth of one who was so much beloved, and who had laborcd so carnestly in good works.
Before she' departed for the mission field, Miss F. M. Lloyd had done else, and sold for $40,000. This he much good work in Leicester. When spent in stock speculation, and finally she reacht adult age she became ex- died in an insane asylum." With all it ceedingly active in Christian service. was a fascination to get something to Her father being president of the spend, and in the getting and the spend- Y.:M. C. A., a good deal of her energy ing they bartered body, intellect, charwas naturally devoted to work in con- acter, and soul; and before what might nection with that institution. When have been their allotted time, they went she departed for China, the members of into eternity, bankrupt. the Y. M. C. A. felt they were losing a devoted friend, and presented her We have received, through Miss with Eadie's Biblical Encllalopredia, etc. Clara B. Hatch, $61 for the widows of • India under the care of Pandita Rama- Before proceeding to China, she spent bai, from the Boydton Institute Mistwelve months at a training institution sionary Society, of Boydton, Va. We at Stoke Newington, anu then joined rejoice to have our readers lend a hand the Fuh-Kien Mission of the Church of in this important and worthy work for England Zenana Missionary Society. the Master. She was stationed at Seingin, in the Hing Hwa district.
The following from The Paaijie may The following letter is from one of act as a deterrent to some infected with the Editor's most cherisht friends, the beloved young man who presided over the Klondike gold craze: In his' 'Story the Liverpool Conference of student of the Mine," Mr. C. H. Shinn says the volunteers in 1896. The letter is a site of what in later years has been private one, yet we venture to print it known as the "Big Bonanza" was for the sake of the thousands of young once in the undisputed possession of men who feel the keenest interest in all four men. Two were the original dis- that concerns Donald Fraser. coverers of tJ'J.e mine, and the other two were admitted as partners because EKWENDENI, Angoniland, ther had a prior claim to a spring West Nyasa, Brit. Cent. Africa, WhIch furnisht the only available water to wash the gold. At first the pans of 17th May, '97. surface dirt yielded on an average from Dear DR. PIERSON :-The hill air $40 to $50 apiece. Underneath was of Aogoniland is very bracing. I have the great quartz lode which during one had wonderful freedom from fever. later period of five years, yielded $105,- Indeed, tho I am now six months in 000,000. :Mr. Shinn says of one of the Central Africa, I have not had one four, what has been true of thousands hour's sickness. This is an answer to of others grasping for money: "Com- the many prayers that follow me. stock was wildly avaricious when For months past I have been silent, mining, and as wildly extravagant with unable to speak or understand. God his gold when obtained. He bought has been compelling rest that He may whatever took his fancy, and gave it do His work in me, before He begins away the next minute. His only pleas- to do it thlrough me. But now I have ure seemed to be in the spending of begun in a limited fashion. Yet surely money, and the most of his comrades never has missionary had a more were very much like him in this partic- thrilling introduction to active work. ular." Penrod, who held the title to We have seen the clouds break in this the spring, "sold his claim in the mine land during the past four months, and for $8,500 toward the close of the year, the Lord is pouring out a great rain. and soon spent all his money." Com- First there was the six-weeks'visit to stock, the bombastic boss of the camp, the out-stations when I could do little "two months after the ledge was but administer the sign, and 239 w,ere struck, sold all his interest for ,11,000. baptized. A fortnight afterwards I He loat every dollar he had, wandered started out again to talk in simple fashoff on lonely prospecting tours in Ne- ion with those who desired to make vada and the Rockies, and finally com- profession of faith, and in little more mitted suicide in :Montana." " :Mc- than two weeks I had spoken person- Laughlin (one of the original discover- ally with nearly 500 who came to see ers) sold for $3,500, and a few years me. later was cooking for a gang of men These things compel one to pray, and for forty dollars a month. He died a pauper, and was buried at public to hope. The vision of the coming expense." O'Riley, the other discov- Lord, and the sound of His footsteps erer, "hung on longer than anyone seem 91earer in this time of dawning.
Yours very warmly, DONALD FRASER.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D., OBERLIN, omo.
Extracts and Translations From Foreign our educated people are full of such Periodicals. contradictions.-EvangelueheJj M~na Magazine (quoted in the Chronillle). BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, -" Both the classes I have spoken MASS. about are fond of talking about the Fatherhood of God and the brother- INDIA. hood of men, and assure us that they believe in it as firmly as we Christians -Thousa.nds a.nd thousa.nds in India do. But the sa.me people go almost out now regard Christ as the greatest and of their minds when a conversion to most perfect man that ever lived, but Christianity takes place. Lately, when they continue heathen. They adapt a certain Brahman was converted, they the Gospel to their natural way of excited the mob, and lay in wait for thinking, and in life and character they weeks to murder both him and the remain unchanged. They will not missionary. The intolerance of the make any sacrifice for this ideal Christ, Liberals in India is often not a hair they will give up no heathen custom, better than the dark fanaticism of the however bad, still less will they sacri- orthodox Hindu. All parties are fice money or life. It is remarkable united in this, we will not have this how these people, who often appear so Jesus of Nazareth to reign over us, and hopeful, can not break loose from he who chooses Jesus for his Savior heathendom. They often lead a strange- and Lord does .not deserve to exist. A ly double life. There is a complete Hindu may be an atheist, a. drunkard, cleavage between the education which or a rascal; his friends may be sorry they have received at school and the for it, but it does not separate him from home life, where old tradition reigns. them; but if he becomes a Christian, a There are many who suffer under this gulf opens between them which never double life, others who hardly feel it, can be bridged over. As long as we and never attempt to fit their two points accomplish nothing, they speak of us of view into each other. The same as that noble army of missionaries, man will in the forenoon, in the midst whose courage, self-renunciation, and , of some enlightened companions, de- irresistible power is unique in the ,clare that superstition is the curse of world's history; but if one of them be- India, and that an end must be made of comes converted, then we are 'miserable it; and in the afternoon he will creep proselytizers, narrow-minded Philis- seventy times round a temple, dripping tines.' And to what low abuse the with perspiration, and muttering the polite Hindu can then descend. When names of the gods, in order to get rid a Brahman woman was baptized last of a cold in the chest. Or a man who year in Talacheri, her highly educated is in the middle of a university exami- brother came from Madras and rated nation, and does not know what to sa.y the missionary's wife as one of the on a certain subject, writes several seducers of his sister. When he was pages full of the name of Rama, and answered that no one had seduced his hopes that that will preserve him from sister, but that she had sought and being pluckt 1 A man in a similar po- found peace for her soul in Christ, he sition once wrote to me that he appealed cried in rage: 'Her soul indeed 1 I never to my good heart as a missionary, and observed that she had a soull she is if I would give him the highest num- only a beast!' "-ibid. ber of marks, he would daily worship me as his family god. The lives of
EXTRACTS AND TlUNSLATIONS
-" A remarkable man, named David, We see plainly a long survival of has arisen in Southern India, where so Gnosticism in the statement given to many unusual phenomena spring up. Mr. Schlesch by a Mohammedan, that He goes about preaching the Gospel, before the foundation of the world God and thousands flock around him. India created Mohammed and set him at his has never seen such crowds surrounding side in the form of a brilliant light. a preacher of the Gospel, and especially Mohammed then had manifested hima colored preacher; we hear of 8,000 or self many times on earth, before he was even 10.000 people being present. And finally born as a man. It was by the he has found out that what is essential concurrence of Mohammed in this is that a new spirit should. first of all. luminous form that the earlier prophets come over our native churches, in order spoke, and the Holy Ghost, mentioned that thousands of witnesses should arise in the Acts, is also one of his earlier for their Savior, instead of one. He manifestations. This representation, has recently gone through most of the of course, has not the least foundation great towns of India, and everywhere in the Koran, nor, apparently, in the his message has been with power. •Is authentic Bunna, or Tradition. Yet as there nothing unsound in the move- Mohammed, from sheer ignorance, has ment?' I hear many anxiously ask. fused Judaism and Christianity more We do not trouble ourselves greatly or less with Gnosticism, so the later thereat. We know by experience at Islam has from its doctrinal exigencies, home that, when God sends a blessing, volatilized Mohammed himself into a people spin out discussion about how sort of Gnostic dean. This tendency much per cent. of It is sound and how seems to prevail especially in the Permuch unsound, till all has gone happily man Bhilsm, which is deeply imbued to sleep again, and the question of with the pantheizing tendencies of the soundness often first of all." Aryan race.
-Our native brother Visuvasam, at a HERlIANNSBURG MISSION. late meeting of our mission, exprest his belief that as Paul had declared The present writer recalls, with some that blindness had in part happened to pride, that in 1853, when in Union Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles Seminary, New York, he met with an should come in, so it might be said that account of the launching of the missionblindness had in part happened to the ary ship Candace, by Ludwig Harms, caste people. until the fulness of the and translated it for his fellow-students, Pariahs should have been gathered in. who were not less profoundly inter- To this I was impelled to remark, that ested in it than he. Thirty-four years on the other hand it must be assumed have past, and that modest beginning that the Sudras were the wheel on has broadened out into results beyond which the Hindu community could be all that he and his fellow-students exmoved, and that therefore it behooved pected. In the January number of the us to set our shoulder to the wheel. Allgemeine Mi88WIUJ Zeitschrf/t is a full Missionary Schlesch, in Damk NiB- account of the present state of this siam Blad. mission, by Director Haccius, from which we extract a few facts. These two views, tho antithetical, do not seem to be necessarily opposed. Five years ago the native Christians of the missions numbered 14,799. At It is well known that Mohammed the end of 1896 they numbered 32,015. was very ignorant of both Judaism This increase of 17,216 in five years and Christianity, and that the little implies an average yearly growth of that he did know was largely derived 3,443. This remarkable growth, as from Apocryphal, or even from Herr Haccius, with good warrant, says, Gnostic and Manichean distortions. has been abundantly shown to be no
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
hothouse forcing. It has been sober, have heard that one of the most emi- regular and well advised, above all, nent Congregational ministers and . as respects the instructions required teachers of the United States-we for admission to baptism. Indeed, the ought rather to say the most eminent- Hermannsburg brothers have been once spent a Sunday at Hermannsburg charged with excessive cautiousness in during the lifetime of Louis Harms. this respect. If they have erred at all, At the morning service he was not a it has been on the safe side. They little dismayed at the energy with have a true German and Lutheran dis- which Harms attackt both the doctrinal like of shallowness in religious knowl- and the political opinions to which the edge. The abundant blessing which visitor was devoted, namely Calvinism they have received seems to imply that and Democracy. After ilie second ser- their carefulness has not diepleased the vice, however, he had a private inter- Lord of the harvest. The three mis· view with Pastor Harms, and came sions now occupied are the Zulu. the away from it feeling, as he said, that Bechuana in Africa, and the Telugu he had been conversing with an angel in South India. . of God. No wonder that such a bless- ing follows the work begun by such a The Zulu Mission has 3,170 members, man I 2,357 being communicants. The breth- ren are greatly helped, instead of being, MISCELLANEOUS. as so often in similar relations, thwarted and baffied by the neighboring Euro- -The words, directed from the island pean colonists. These are godly Ger- of Malas to the still inaccessible China: man peasants from our Saxon kinsmen "0 Rock I Rock I when wilt thou of the northern plain of Germany. open ?" commonly ascribed to St. This, it will be remembered, is the Francis Xavier, are not his, tho they original Saxony,. not the middle Ger- fully express his spirit and yearnings. man kingdom, which has, in some way They are actually, it appears, the words (we believe through an early acceptance of his successor, Alexander Valignani, of Saxon dukes), attracted the name visitor General of the Jesuit missions to itself. Of these German colonists in China and Japan. See IJamk Mia- Director Haccius says: "We can not siom-Blad for March, 1896.
forbear acknowledging. with thankful- -The Oalwer MiaBiomblatt relates an . ness, that most of these communities, amusing story. given by a missionary.
by their Christian life, by their living He was at home, and with a friend interest in the services and their love stopped to dinner with a wealthy, for their church, and by the strict childless farmer-pair, who had been morality of their conduct, give a good present at the previous missionary example to the young native congrega- meeting, and seemed much interested tions and to the heathen. How refresh- in it. The missionary's friend informed ing a picture in contrast with the matter him that this couple had formerly been of offense and the scandalous example active and liberal Christians, but had which in other regions is given by of late years seemed wholly taken up colonists; nay, by colonial officials, in money-making. However, they re- who have thereby injured the Chris- ceived the two gentlemen with great tian name and raised the greatest hin- cordiality, took their admonition as to drances to Christian Missions I " the danger of woxldliness in excellent The Bechuana Mission has now 26,- part, and inquired eagerly after addi- 979 members, having more than tional missionary news. At last, when doubled in five years. The number of the farmer chanced to be out of the communicants is 17,100. room, his wife slipped a gold piece into Of the Telugu members there are their hands, whispering: "Take this, 1,866, 1,515 being communicants. We but don't let my husband know, he is so
ENGLISH NOTES
close." When they took leave, the full, altho they are frequently enabled husband went with them a way, and to minister to the spiritual needs while on parting, put a gold piece in their healing the bodies of their many pahands, saying: II Don't let my wife tients. know of this, she is so close." Let us hope that when they found each other There have been one hundred and out they resolved to keep on crucifying fourteen baptisms in connection with the Mammon. C. I. M. since last Christmas, and many probationers are waiting to obey the -It seems, from the MisMim8blatt, that command and follow the example of the first money which Bishop Whipple, the Lord Jesus. after his consecration, received for his Indian missions, in Minnesota and Bapti8t MiBsioMlrll 8ocietll.-Many Dakota, came from negro converts in of the B. M. S. stations in India, north Africa. It is given as "300 marks," of Madras, have been severely affected by the recent earthquake. Telegrams i.' e., about '72. pour in from these stations, and infor- mation by letters is anxiously awaited. English Note& The plight of thousands of the poorer Europeans and Eurasians is pitiable, BY REV. JAMES DOUGLAS, M.A. and many are perishing through ex- posure to the monsoon which is just The China Inland MiBBion has com- beginning. pleted thirty-one years of service among China's millions, and now at the com- The district south of Agra suffers mencement of a new year of loving still most acutely because of the conactivity desires to thank God for His tinued famine. It is estimated that in manifold blessings, and to trust Him Agra alone 2,000 people are daily being for direction in the future. Loving relieved by the Baptist missionaries. kindness has been manifest all along It is important that the suffering peothe line, andfaith is the watchword for ple be helped to help themselves, and the future. A generation has past away to this end different work has been since the "Lammermuir" sailed with organized and divided among the the first missionary band to China, and people. during this time the promises of God have been proved again und again, no A most destructive fire at Russell room left for doubt or disbelief. Kondah has completely destroyed the mission bungalow at that station. In Mr. T. James, writes from Lu-Chau: ten minutes the fire had spread from .. We have many indications that the end to end, and in less than an hour Lord is about to give us a great bless- the whole building and its belongings ing. Just lately five new probationers were reduced to a condition of ashes; were received, and they all seem sincere not a trace of them remained. Some and earnest in their affection for the very valuable manuscripts of Mr. Wil- Lord Jesus. Of the fourteen baptized kinson's, in the Kondh language, were here since we opened in 1890, eight are destroyed. A very heavy loss, as there still with us, four are with the Lord are no other copies existing. and two left by transfer to Ch'ung- K'ing. Weare still a feeble people, -The Anuual meeting of the Women', mostly old and illiterate. Our prayer Missionary .488ociation in connection is that God may raise up some from with the Presbyterian Church of Engamong the young and intelligent. land was held recently in Sunderland. Help us by prayer in all our manifold The Rev. W. L. Mackenzie presided, need." and the church was filled with a sym- pathetic audience. This association has Medical work is very-much blessed completed its eighteenth year, and full and used in China. The doctors en- of hope and faith is beginning another gaged in it find their hands quite
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
year. The labors in China have been ter from the native Governor-General and are being abundantly blest, and was read, ordering the chapel to be the Lord of the living harvest is show- .. opened for worship according to the ing the field laborers how to work for faith of the Independent Protestants in His own glory. Miss Lecky, from connection with the London Mi8sionary Amoy, writes, stating the encourage- Society," the evangelist who read the ment arising from work in the schools letter said, ., I wish you all to join for girls and women. with me in saying' Long live France.' .. To this there was an immediate and In 1889 there was only one school in hearty response, and the people simulthis district-now, in 1897, there are taneously gave their acclamation in three, and about three hundred pupils their own language. It was· perfectly are at the present time being taught in spontaneous and illustrates how the those schools. Malagasy appreciates that simple act of justice on the part of the French Gov- There is never any lack of pupils, the ernment. girls are eager to come into the schools, and the influence is good and becoming A largely attended valedictory meet· widespread. At Chang-poo atone are ing was held on May 25th, at Union two hundred, who have past through Chapel, Islington, to bid farewell to the schools during the last five years. twelve missionaries, six of whom were returning to their respective spheres The Jubilee Mi8sionary Meeting8 of and the remaining six going out for the the PI'68byterian Olturch of England have 1I.rst time. recently been celebrated. Fifty years ago there were only six native Christ- 2he lVorth-~rican Mission.-Mr. ians in the great empire of China-now Reid of Tripoli writes encouragingly of there are 5,000 communicants in the the son of a Sheikh, who is a -teacher small part workt in by tllis mission. amongst the Moslems, who has been coming for some time to him, and who The young people of the various so- now privately professes faith in Christ cieties of Cluistian Endeavor and Sun- and asks prayer that he may have more day-schools have taken up the work in faith. He is entirely dependent on his Formosa, and purpose by God's help to father, who is a prominent Mohammeraise the workers and annual income dan; it is therefore extremely di1ficult needed. for him to make a public stand.
The mission in Wu-ring-fu is like an Mr. J. Edwards and Mr. Mott ate oasis in the desert-all around is dark- continuing the mIssIOnary journey, ness, heathenism, infanticide, crime, preaching the Gospel between Casasuperstition of the grossest kind and blanca and Tangier. The felt need in there this little band of worshipers of this part is very great, and the scarcity the true God are leading lives which of workers is sadly evident. The medwould not do discredit to English icinal part of Mr. Edwards' work opens Christians. a way for him, which would otherwise be a closed door; and from sunrise to Tl18 London Mi88ionary 80ciety.-The sunset preaching and practicing are besituation with regard to the society's ing carried on in full swing. The chapels in 1!Iadagascar scems in some habit of drinking among the Jews of aspects to have distinctly improved. this part is very common, many being Some chapels in the Betsileo province, quite intoxicated early in the morning, that had been claimed by the Jesuit so that by evening the greater number mi.ssi.onaries, have already been restored of Jews are under the influence of to the Protestants. strong drink. To reach these people, the missionaries must work early in In the Monthly Record for July is an interesting account of the reopening of a place of worship which had been taken from the people. When the letthe morning. This has been found ben- penses of 5 persons to go as substitutes; eficial and helpful. but Mr. Champion felt that the Lord called him. When this generoua. old The dry weather which has con- man· found that he could not turn his tinued throughout the months of grandson from his purpose, he paid all spring in Morocco is causing much his expenses while in Africa, and gave suffering amongst the poor. The crops money to the work besides. are failing and there is nothing left over from last year. The news, how- -The Earl of Shaftesbury was a ever, bas just come to hand, that splen- man of high ideals. He wrote in his did rains are falling this week, and it Is diary: "0 God, bless our land to Thy hoped that most of the crops will be service, and make every ship an ark of saved." Noah to bear the Church of Christ and the tidings of salvation over all the THE KINGDOM. waters of the ocean." "Every ship" on "all the waters;" not each carry- -Miss Helen Culver, when she form- ing a converted sailor or two, but each ally handed over to the University of a church of Christ. The Church is mis- Chicago her gift of four biological lab- sions, as a cause contains the reason of oratories, costing $325,000, and an en- its effect. A true Christian has the dowment fund of $700,000, said: missionary spirit by necessary conse- " This is the happiest moment of my quence, and true Christianity abhors life. I believe this money could not the sentiment that sailors are "too bad have been utilized to a nobler purpose to be noticed." Its true motto Is, than to devote it to that science whose "Every sailor for Christ and every object Is to assuage the sufferings of ship a church."-Sailor's Magazine. humanity and to make life endurable and enjoyable here on earth." -In the Dublin Re'Diew, Mr. E. H. Parker, who has served as a consul in -A story is told that when George China, Korea, Burma, etc., approves Selwyn accepted the Bishopric of New the method of medical missions as Zealand, a great ecclesiastical potentate mitigating the contempt exprest for exprest his surprise that one living Europeans. Were he askt, " What under the shadow of Windsor, and shall we missionaries do to save the with every prospect of the highest Eng· souls of the Chinese ?" his reply would lish promotion, was willing to go out be, "Fill your pockets with quinine, to a distant colony. "Perhaps," was stomach-pumps, and eye-ointments." the reply, -Julian Hawthorne, sent to India as "' He hears a voice you can not hear, special correspondent of the Oosmopoli- Which will not let him stay; tan Magazine, says this of the mission- aries there: "They are the only per- He sees a Hand you can not see, sons who know what Is actually going Which beckons him away.''' on in that land of misery, for they go about quietly everywhere, see every- "AllI" said he to whom the words thing, can not be deceived or put off were spoken, I II suppose that is it." the scent by the native subordinates. How infinitely blest above the puerile It was my great good fortune to be elevations of earthly preferment are thrown with the missionaries from the they who are accounted worthy to hear start, and I was able to compare their this Voice, and to see those beckoning methods and knowledge with those of Hands I the government people. "
-One of the pioneer missionaries of -One of the fruits of Li Hung the American Board to the Zulus, was Chang's visit to this country Is an order the Rev. George Champion. His decision to go to Africa came like a thunderbolt upon his grandfather, who offered him all his wealth if he would give it up, or he would pay the exfor 10,000 tons of steel rails for China's converts are added to the mission railroads. This 1irst shipment has been churches e'DM"1lllllllr, and more than 60,- made from the Carnegie Steel Com- 000 missionaries, native and foreign, pany's mill at Braddock, Pa. Japan are engaged in heralding the Glad Tid- has sent an order to the same company ings.
for 5,000 tons of •• T " rails, for light -Two-thirds of all the letters which railroading and horse cars. pass through the postoffices of the -What will Mr. Lummis say for world are written by and sent to peohimself, when he reads this arraign- ple who speak English.
ment in Life and Light from the pen of WOMAN'S WORK. Mrs. Gertrude C. Eaton, missionary in the city named: "We who have lived -A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, The more they're beaten, the better here for 1ifteen years, who have seen they be.-IndianPr01lerb. such great changes in so short a time, marvel that a man of Mr. Lummis's -Folded within the fragrant bud of keen observation of material things the Crusade movement of 1873-4 was could have deliberately shut his eyes a many-petaled rose, whose gradual to the share that Christian in1iuences effiorescence has revealed a flower of have had in this • Awakening of a wondrous complexity and detail, of Nation.' That he could have become such beauty and perfection as to make so familiar with the streets of Chihua- it the marvel of the closing century's hua, aud yet have ignored completely reform organizations. To persuade the stately church that crowns the men not to drink and not to sell was brow of the hill on the principal street the one method and purpose of the leading,to the Alameda, which he must Crusade Praying Bands; but they sOon have past many times on Sunday learnt that the vice of intemperance Is afternoons, and where he might have correlated with all other vices !.nd seen, any Sunday morning, a company miseries, and that it is deeply rooted in of 125 Mexicans, of all ages, engaged all social, political, and even religious in studying the word of God. We thought and life. The inevitable wonder that in his minute study of the sequence was the II do-everything pol- excellent public schools of our cit.y, he icy" of the Woman's Christian Tem- should not have inquired even for the perance Union, which aims to reach only 2 Christian schools in the place; and cut off every source of supply of that he should not have informed him- the alcoholic habit, and to extend a self and his readers that the 1irst school helping, healing hand to its helpless in the city to introduce modern desks, victims. Of about 50 departments of maps, text-books, and English, now in work which compose the petals of this demand in all the schools, was the mIs- rose of reform, and which are repre- sion school, known as the Oolegio Ohi- sented in the policy of the parent so- huakueme, and that at least four or 1ive ciety, the National W. C. T. 'U. of the schools in the State, where no schools United States, the World's W. C. T.
for girls existed, have been started, and U. has adopted 31. These are grouped carried on by girls educated in the in the general classes: Organization, same school." Evangelistic, Prevention, Educational, -In 1825, or about seventy years Social and Legal.
ago, there were iii connection with for- -An interesting letter about Pundita eign mission churches about 60,000 Ramabai's famine people, publisht in persons, ineluding all then known to The Outlook, mentions that older in- be converts from heathenism. In the mates of her Home in Poona volun- closing years of the century we are teered to mother the little new-comers.
able to count that more than 65,000 "One scrawny mite was adopted by a lassie of fourteen who had herself in -At the recent Christian Alliance infancy been cast out to die. When th& Convention at Old Orchard Beach cash other girls twitted her on the' monkey gifts for missions were received, face' of her portege~, she calmly re- amounting to $71,000, and about 50 plied: 'To adopt a nice and pretty young men and women volunteered for child is good, but to take an ugly one foreign mission service. is love.'" EUROPE. -The Canadian Church Missionary Society have sent Miss Louy Thomas Great Britain.-The Encyclical of to assist Mr. Sadleir in work among the the late Lambeth Conference points out Araucanlan Indians in South America. that-" The Book of Common Prayer Miss Thomas, who has been trained in contains very few prayers for missionary the Deaconess' Home, sailed for Eng- work. It hardly sceIDS to have been land in July and went from there to present to the minds of our great au- Chile. She will be the first South thorities and leaders in compiling that American Missionary supported entirely book that the matter should be in the by the Canadian Episcopal Church. thoughts of every one who calls him- self a Christiau, and that no ordinary UNITED STATES. service should be considered complete, which did not plead among other -The Baptist Missionary Union has things for the spread of the Gospel. 97 stations in heathen lands, and 1,026 Weare beginning, tho only beginning, out·stations; 165 missionaries, all but" to see what the Lord would have us with wives, 102 single women, 24 do. He is opening the whole world to physicians; 283 ordained native preach- our easy access, and as he opens the ers and 822 unordained, with 590 other way, he is opening our eyes to see it, native helpers; 99,564 chqrch mem- and to see his beckoning hand." bers, of whom 5,174 were baptized last year; 1,235 schools with 28,997 pupils. -Great Britain has raised by popu- lar SUbscription $10,000,000 for the re- -The African Methodist Episcopal lief of the starving in India. Such a Church has work in Haiti, Sierra fact is food for Christian optimism. Leone and Liberia, and is represented by 25 ~inisters, 30 teachers, and about -Within a stone's throw of White- 500 church members. chapel, surrounded by some of the very worst slums, stands the largest -The General Missionary Board of school in the world. It is presided the Episcopal Church supports a bishop over by a peer of the realm, tord in China, Japan, Africa, and Haiti, Rothschild, who is regarded with love whose combined staffs number 87 and admiration by every pupil. This clergymen, 8 physicians, besides lay- school educates 3,500 children, belong. readers, catechists, teachers, and Bible- ing mostly to the poorest foreign Jews, readers, to the number of 409. There and has a staff of a hundred teachers. are 973 scholars in boarding-schools It is' well-known that this is Lord and 8,625 in day.schools. The num- Rothschild's pet institution, and that ber of patients treated last year in were it not for his munificent support, the hospitals and dispensaries was the school would be unable to meet its 28,579; 4,600 were under daily in- vast expenditure. Free breakfasts are struction in schools, nearly 1,000 of given every morning to all children whom are in boarding-schools; and who wish to take them, no questions there were held during the year a total being askt. Again, he presents every of 23,174 services of public worship boy with a suit of clothes and a pair of and preaching of the Word of God. boots, and every girl with a dress, and The baptisms numbered 782, and the a pair of boots in the month of April, confirmations 851. near the Jewish Pa!lsover. A second his harness. A well;deserved tribute pair of boots is offered in the month of is paid to his high-toned character, his October to every child wbose boots are great business aptitude, and his largenot likely to last during the approach- hearted catholicity. ing winter. A very popular feature in the school is the savings-bank depart- -The Contineni:.-For Jll&ny years ment, instituted by the kindly presi- Pastor Fritz Fliedner, son of the famdent. In order to encourage habits of ous Kaiserswerth reviver of the order thrift, an interest of ten per cent. per of deaconesses, has been the leading annum is allowed on all savings. missionary of .Protestantism in Spain. Among his successful operations has -The Church Missionary Society been the establishment of a Protestant has medical missions in Egypt and College in Madrid, costing $50,000, East Equatorial Africa, Palestine and which is now under roof and rapidly Persia, Bengal and the Punjab, South approaching completion. This success and Mid-China and British Columbia, hIlS aroused the opposition of the with a total of 1,005 beds, 7,741 in- clericals, and the bishops of Vitoria, patients last year, and 500,874 visits of Santander, Leon and Valencia, together out-patients. with the archbishop of Burgos; have united in a strong appeal to the Govern- -The Twenty-second Annual Re- ment, demanding that this insult to the port of the Mission to Lepers iu Iudia religion of the State.be stopt, and that and the East mentions that more than the noble sacrifices of the people for 200 of the inmates of the di1fllrent leper the preservation of the integrity of the asylums have profest their faith in State be rewarded by such protection Jesus Christ and have been baptized. to their religious rights. At latest There are now over 1000 professing reports the Government has ignored Christians in the various asylums. this appeal.-lndepend6nt. There are about 900 adults and children in the: homes, and about 1,700 in -The" German Students' Union for institutions which the mission aids. Foreign Missions" conventld at Halle, The field of its operations embraces some days in April. Rev. Dr. War- India, Burmah, Ceylon, China, and neck, the newly-elected professor of Japan. The work is steadily increas- the science of missions in the university ing, and a steady income of £6,000 is of Halle, delivered an inapiring address needed to carry it on. on the question, .. Why ought foreign missions to be specially attractive to :'-The Annual Report of the National students? " Missionaries from India, Bible Society of Scotland has been Africa and Greenland were also present issued-a record of excellent service and gave the students interesting talks rendered to the cause of Bible circula- on foreign mission subjects. tion. It tells of 705,610 Bibles, Testaments, or portions, distlibuted by more -The Rhenish (Barmen) Mission than 500 colporteurs and agents in takes rank with the greatest of German 80 different countries of the globe. The organizations, having an income of income – for 1896 was £81,070, an nearly 500,000 marks ($125,000), 80 staadvance of more than £2,000 upon last tions and 168 out stations in South year. The most notable incident of the Africa, the East Indies (Sumatra, report is the retirement of the Rev. W. Borneo, New Guinea), and China; 109 H. Goold, from the secretaryship, missionaries (not including wives), and which he had occupied with distin- 18 UDJll&rried women, 18 ordained naguished ability and acceptance for 86 tives; 10,982 pupils in the schools, years. It is sad now to have to notice 27,464 communicants and 64,817 native his death, so soon after he had put off Christians (adherents). Last year 781 were confirmed. -Even from Russia good news re- can society has accorded during the lating to the Kingdom comes oc.casion- last sixteen years. This help has enally. Thus a friend of the society abled the Russian Bible Society to exnamed, writes from St. Petersburg: tend considerably its sphere of action. " For many years past the British and The propagation of the Scriptures: in Foreign Bible Society, by generous Asiatic Russia was the ardent deBire of activity and earnest prayer, has done a the Russian Bible Society, but the large work in the circulation of the want of means prevented its accom- Scriptures in Russia. The Gospels plishment. Now this has been atand Psalms would not be found in the tained. The colporteurs of the Rushands of the people everywhere as they sian Bible Society have borne the hardare to-day, if it were not for the untir- ships and perils of long journeys ing zeal of this Society. There is a through desert and forest, traveling Russian Bible Society which also through Siberia on horseback or in maintains a very successful work in river boats, across its steppes and along the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, its mighty rivers, visiting not only the but by far the larger share of the labor towns, but also the settlements, gold has from various causes fallen on the diggings, and convict prisons. In this British Society, which every year cir- manner 171,000 copies of the Scriptures culates many thousands of copies of the were distributed in Asiatic RusRia on Gospels throughout the Empire. Con the subsidy of the American Bible Sosidering this, the friends of the Society ciety in the course of sixteen years. will be encouraged by the following The Russian society has sold at a very statement made by an independent in- low price or gratuitously distributed quirer on the subject of religion in Bibles (to the amount of about $1,000 Russia, and lately publisht by him. annually) on the account of the subsidy 'The New Testament is probably in of the American Bible Society. In greater demand there than in any other this manner over 500,000 copies of the part of Europe, except the Protestant Scriptures were sold at reduced prices countries. The Gospels are undoubted- and given away in the period above ly the book dearest to the Russian. It mentioned, in both Asiatic and Eurois to be found in the workingman's pean Russia. room as well as in the peasant's cabin. Those who can read, read it to those ASIA. who can not read for themselves. Every new step gained by popular instruction Islam.-Rev. S. M. Zwemer, misbrings new readers. All that the peo- sionary in Arabia, supplies these cheerple have in the way of religious and ing facts in relation to work among moral training they get there. The Mohammedans :-Dr. Wherry says in influence of the book on the Russian his book on Islam: "In India many soul is not to be denied; in spite of hundreds of the followers of Islam ignorance and superstition the faith of have publicly abjured that faith and the people deserves the name of •evan- been received into the church." Dr. gelical,' if to be that it is enough to be Martyn Clark, of Amsitsar, writes: nourished upon the very marrow of "I should say quite one-half of the the Gospels.' " converts from among the higher classes in the Punjab are from amongst Mos- -The American Bible Society, which lems. Half of the Church Missionary has aided the St. Petersburg Society Society's native clergy are ex-Moslems. for the Propagation of the Holy Scrip- Exact numbers I cannot give you, but tures in Russia, has received a special I believe our next census will be startreport, expressing its high appreciation ling. Never was there such a spirit of of the generous help which the Ameri- inquiry, shakin~ of the dry bones and raging of Satan as nowadays." Rev. St. Clair Tisdall, of Persia, writes: .. Con- flowing by a crowd of English-speakversions from among Moslems are not ing Mohammedans. In North Africa, few. In the Punjab they may be num- a remarkable movement is in progress bered by hundreds, taken from almost amo~g Mohammedans and very many every position in life. In Turkey, a con- have accepted Christ, but I am pled~ gregation was gathered by Dr. Koene, to secresy concerning the particulars. but man after man vanisht-murdered for his faith, no doubt-and was never -The orphanages which have been heard of more. I have myself been established in Turkey seem to be fairly privileged to baptize Moslems of sev- provided for, at least for the present. eral different races; one an Afghan, Many friends from the continent of several Persians, one Turk and not a Europe have contributed liberally for few natives of India." In the C. M. S. the founding of these institutions at Intelligencer, we read of some Moslem different points. Mr. Hubbard, of converts in Persia imprisoned for con- Sivas, writes that in that city there are fessing Christ, and of a company of 5 orphanages, besides 2 at Gurun, con- Moslem women who read the Gospel by taining in all 280 orphans. of whom 230 night for fear of detection. At Bag- are supported by the Swiss committee, dad, there are converted Moslems in at the head of which is Professor Godet the Turkish army reserve, and at of NeucMtel. These Swiss friends Busrah, there is one awaiting baptism. expressly stipulated that the orphan- In Egypt, there have been scores of ages should be under the control of the baptisms, and last year a student at Al American missionaries. – Mia8ionary Azhar University and also a Bey's son Herald. confest Christ. Kamil Abd El Messia, who preacht Christ in Arabia, was a India.-We together, in England and Syrian Moslem convert. I know of others like him whose names, because America, 100,000,000 strong, with the they are stillliTing, it would be unsafe to mention." From Palestine we just same origin, the same history, the same hear that" the mother of the keeper of the Great Mosque at Jerusalem, lis- tongue, the same literature, the same tened to the Gospel attentively and rrpeatedly on hcr dying bed;" and faith, and therefore the same Christother women of the city have also believed. At Delhi, one in the royal commanded duty and 88sured hope, family, a Mohammedan Eurasian lady, was baptized last year. The Imam'of are set over the 300,000,000 of India in the village mosque at Batala and 2 learned Moslems of Bannu'werepublic- the providence of God. ' 1y baptized in the spring of 1896. Rev. Ihsan mlah, a converted Mohamme- -Several of the recent Indian papers dan, held revival services at Peshawur mention the matter of baptism as the last year and baptized 3 Mohammedans. chief test of an inquirer's sincerity. Rev. A_ E. Ball, of Kerachi, baptized The organ of one of the new sects, 2 Mohammedans, brothers, from the which aim at whitewashing the abomi- Khairpur state the same year. At nations of Hinduism, says: "The Bombay, 3 Mohammedan inquirers preachers of the Roman Catholic creed were awaiting baptism last autumn. have now adopted a more liberal line Rev. M. S. Goldsmith baptized 3 Mos- of policy in their conversion work. lems at Hydrabad in 1896, and the 'We have nothing to do with your special services held in that district last caste,' 88y they to the non Christians ; 'we only want to take care of your year were said to be attended to over- soul.' We commend this mode of con- version; and we hope the other Chris- tian sects in the country will follow in the footsteps of the Roman Catholics, and give up the baptidng affair. That sprin~ling of water does more injury to a Hindu than anything else. As long as 110 Hindu does not get himself sprinkled over with •holy water" so answer. Instead, he threw down his long, whatever his beliefs, there is basket and shovel, and away he went every hope of his effecting his escape for the jungle as hard as he could go. from the clutches of the Christians; He was afraid of the white face. Then but when he has once been baptized, they are exceedingly superstitious. I and has eaten with them, his reclama- thought we knew something about suption to the ancestral faith becomes a erstition in England. I have heard comparatively more difficult matter." something about thirteen at table, and spilling salt, but I never knew what sup- -Rev. C. B. Ward, for nearly twenty erstition was until I got to the jungles years a missionary, says: "One of the of Bankura. These people are full Of first things that we see when a famine l!uperstition. Their very religion itself strikes India Is the heartlessness with is nothing but superstition. They have which the heathen forsake their own no idea of a beneficent God. Their children. Some forsake them, thinking only idea of the Omnipotent Father is that If found deserted, it will be this. "Sir, what if that Almighty One thought that they are parentless, and should eat me ? .. That is what a man they will be cared for out of pity by actually said. Of spirits who may some one. Other parents give their work them harm they have any numchildren away, and still others sell ber.-Rev. G. W. OLVER. them for trifies to get something to eat with. One of the saddest sights of the -At Tanjore, in South India, where famine is the hordes of these starving the great missionary Schwartz lies children on the roads, in bazaars, in buried, the Leipzig Society has a large famine camps, and elsewhere. Since congregation worshipping in a fine the missionary came to India, thousands church, and a number of fiourishing of such have found a rescue from death educational institutions. The .. Bible and heathenism at such a time. Not Union of Young Lutherans" is much many of them ever find a hand of like a Y. M. C. A., or a Luther League charity among their own countrymen. of men only. Once every month all It is a dismal comment on the religion the teachers and evangelists of the disof some of the gentlemen who spoke so trict gather at the station to report to loudly over in Chicago a few years ago, the missionary and to be instructed in but facts are grim things. I doubt if it the Word. They are required to decan be shown that in all the famines of vote much time to mental improve- India for the last century, the Hindus, ment. All the teachers are expected . Mohammedans, or other religionists of also to improve their health by taking this land have ever succored 2,000 gymnastic exercise every evening. orphans, but up to date in the present famine that number has been received -The Indian Witnes8 in laudatory into orphanages, and are now being fed terms sets forth the advantages of and cared for by missionaries. I doubt the Wellesley Girls' High School at not before this year shall end, there Naini Tal, the Darjeeling School, the will be need that 10,000 be taken and High School at Cawnpore and Rancared for by missionaries or be left to goon, Burma. Such a resume gladdens die or grow up to worse if by chance patrons at home. they live." -The Lutheran Mission (General -It is ditlicult to get hold of a Synod) at Guntur, has recently opened Santal, because he iS6xceedinglytimid. a hospital at a cost of nearly $20,000 The first time I was travelling along for building and appointments. Of one of the jungle roads I called to a this sum Hindu and Mohammedan man who was tilling his field, and friends contributed $2,500. askt him the way, but did not get an -The whole of North India from the upper Ganges to A.ssa~ was rudely right, mister, you won't disturb me in shaken by the recent earthquake, said the least; you talk away and I'll stay to be the worst of the century. Tho outside here." For a while all was various missions suffered greatly the well tUl another stranger appeared who Welsh Mission in the Khasi Hills seems evidently had not breakfasted to his to have been most damaged. For it is satisfaction, for he at once proceeded stated that .. Every building belonging to purchase, and called aloud to !1 to the mission is in~ ruins and all the friend within the chapel to join him in churches built by the native Christians, eating fried cakes. This settled the many of which were large and built of business, for cakes and their owner stone with corrugated iron roof, are in were at once ordered off the premises. the same condition. The same is true The sermon is 8gain under way when of the station in Sylhet. The cost of an ominous scratching and the smell of erecting the buildings which have been sulphur from one of the back corners levelled was not much if anything gives warning of an intended smoke. under two lakhs of rupees. Besides all That too is nipped in the bud-the inthis scores of pukkha houses belonging tention-and again the sermon proto the native Christians have shared the ceeds. A little later another man same fate. There is hardly a stone comes in who recently lost his mother left upon a stone in the whole of the by death and so at once he proceeds to Khasi and Naintia Hills district, every prostrate himself before the preacher. building, both private and public, -Presbyterian Rec<ml. being in ruins. It would be difficult te exaggerate the extent of the damage -A campaign has been begun by done. It is marvellous that the mor· the Christians against the educated tality is so small. But as far as build- classes of China-a battle not with the Ings are concerned the mission is just sword, but with 25 letters. It Is well where it was when it began operations known what !l. difficult task it is to fifty.six years ago." learn to read and write even a small part of the 40,000 Chinese characters. Cbina.-In the Celestial Empire The various missions in China have there are medical missionaries as fol- long striven to Introduce the Roman lows: There are 100 male and 50 fe- alphabet, but these letters are awkward male physicians, 150 male native medi- to the Chinese, who are accustomed to cal students and 30 female students, 71 write with a paint brush and Indian hospitals treating many thousands of ink, and those who have learned writpatients, and the physicians attending ing in our Christian schools do not tind yet other thousands at their homes; it easy to get firm paper, pens, and ink. 'and 111 dispensaries, in which over Lately Mr. Wong, the pastor of the 223,000 patients are treated. About self-supporting Chinese church in Hong $70,000 was spent in medical work Kong, a brother of our ordained helper last year. Wong, has invented a new alphabet which, like the Chinese signs, can be -Last Sabbath's service had more written on Chinese paper with paint than the ordinary number of interrup- brush and Indian ink. Many of the most tions at Chang-te.Fu. The preacher distinguisht Chinese Christians build had scarcely announced his text when great hopes on the introduction of this before the open door appeared a fried character. They think the people will cake pedlar, evidently desirous during soon find out that they can learn it in a a lull in business of hearing what was very short time, they will no longer being said. He was promptly askt to need the old complicated signs, and go elsewhere to conduct his business the Confucian schools wbere these are where he would not disturb the meet- taught will become deserted. Tbus ing. He coolly replied," That's all the influence of the half-educated were New Testaments in excellent heathen teachers will fall away, the binding. Some 210 colporteurs were worship of Confucius will dwindle, and at work, giving either a part or the the study of his writings will be left to whole of their time, and they made the learned. School books and Christ- very effective means for the evangeliian tracts are to be immediately printed zation of the people. in the new character and circulated among the people.-Berichtt! der -The Basle Society will shortly RMiniahen MiBBiona Ge8eZlBchaft. celebrate the jubilee of its fifty years' work in China. The fouuder of its -Dr. O. L. Kilborn writes from Chinese mission, Herr Lechler, in spite Chen-tu: "Following a good Chinese of his seventy-three years of age, is custom, we have during this hot weath- still in the mission field and comparaer placed at our compound gate a tively vigorous, along with his wife. large crock. It takes two large pails The mission was preserved in the midst of tea to fill it, and it is usually filled of serious dangers during the troubles twice in the day. The passing poor resulting from the Chinese war, withman, laborer, or carrier, toiling under out the loss of any life, tho the mission his heavy load, stops to refresh himself station of Moilim was plundered by the with a drink ~f tea. And, while rebels. drinking, he often reads the Christian tracts pasted on the wall immediately AFRICA. before him." According to his diary, Brother Nye -The Quarterll(M888age (Episcopal), of the Congo Balolo Mission has a says: We have received from Mr. and varied experience. He is at Lulanga, Mrs. Felix R. Brunot, two devoted busy at brick-making, carpentry. friends of missions, the sum of $13,000, blacksmithing, housebuilding, etc., tor the purpose of building and endow- etc.• and realizes the "need of paing a Home for Lepers in connection tience." For example, a rubber with the medical work of our mission steamer stays the night at the landing, in China. The Home is to be estab- and the Belgian officer is entertained in llsht at Ngan-king, on the Yang-tse the mission house, and is apparently river, about midway between Shanghai interested in the worship and service of and Hankow. Dr. Edward M. Merrins praise, at which he is present. The 25 is already stationed at Ngan-king_ soldiers who accompany him are This generous gift is made with the allowed· to sleep in the brick-making devout wish .. that the blessing of our shed; but in the morning, after they Heavenly Father may rest upon the have gone, it is discovered that they Home that shall be erected for our suf- overturned the board upon which the fering fellow-creatures. " tiles he is drying were put preparatory to burning as an experiment, and all are -The British and Foreign Bible smashed save two I He says they had Society distributes throughout the been having a Bible reading that morn- Chinese-Empire the Bible in classical ing about the possibilities of a life un· Mandarin, 10 colloquial, Kalmuck, distracted by outward circumstances, Mongolian and Tibetan languages. and here was a test I Oh, theSe broken Last year some 540,000 books were tiles I "I did feel annoyed about it printed; 366,000 books were put into after all the trouble I had taken. It is circulation, of which 358,000 were sold, hard at these times to smile and feel and 8,000 given away. The books are happy_" Certainly; and much harder nearly always sold at a price to pay for on the Kongo, amid the nerve·strain of the paper, and it was an indication of fever and climate, than it would be at the remarkable progress of Christianity home. An attempt to vary our diet by that last year no fewer than 11,000 fish is equally unsuccessful. "I only caught one," writes Mr. Nye: "the forward as fit and proper persons to be fish were too artful for me and received as full members of the church, would keep sneaking the bait, and I who cannot read a verse of the New could not feel the bite, so I gave it up Testament, and are often otherwise as a bad'job." utterly unworthy. Whilst money is pretty easily earned, and comparatively -An English Weslayan missionary plentiful, and often squandered on the writes: We have in Johannesburg a merest trifles, the support of the relignative church that will seat 1,000 ion which they are so eager ,to profess people, and on a Sunday, as we enterthe is a thing which they are very slow building, it will be full. There will to take in as a Christian duty. Anothonly be about 30 women there, the rest er most unsatisfactory thing among will be young men,and half of them will professing Christians is the utter indifbe men who have come there to learn- ference which exists with regard to the heathen men, unbaptized men. The education of their children.-O. M. S. service has to be conducted in three languages-Dutch, Susutu, and Zulu. Ohronicle. We begin with a hymn in the Zulu language, follow with a prayer in Su· -English Friends are opening an sutu. and then the Lord's Prayer in Zulu industrial mission on the island of and Susutu. First, the congregation Pemba, off the east coast of Africa. join in Susutu. Then we have a hymn This mission is under the care of their in the Susutu language, and after that Meeting for Sufferings, and Theodore the lessons are read-1irst of all in Burtt and Herbert Armitage have the Dutch, then in Susutu, and then in the management of it. This mission is for Zulu. Then we have another hymn in the benefit of the 140,000 slaves living the Zulu language. Let us take a there who have recently been set free. service when a Zulu man is preaching. Twenty thousand dollars is the esti- We have him in the centre. He mate for the Initial expenditures of the speaks, and on the right of him is a work, of which $15,000 have, been conman who speaks Susutu, and on the tributed. This is a new field, but one left of hiIp. a man who speaks Dutch. of much promise. As he speaks in the Zulu, sentence by sentence, it is taken over-1irst of all -Rev. H. Bleicken, of the Leipsic by the man speaking S~sutu, and then Society, on his long journey from the by the man speaking Dutch, and thus coast of East Africa to the region of through three tongues the Word is snow-capt Kilima Njaro, and while delivered to the people. sleeping in his tent on the banks of the Pangani river, was suddenly awak- -Self-denial in any shape or form is ened by the furious barking of his dog. a very rare quality among the Bechu- Rising quickly, he saw a huge body anas. The grati1ication of the appe- turn away from the tent and plunge tites and passions of their animal into the river. A crocodile had innature is, alas, all too prominent every- tended to make his acquaintance. The where. Great as is the value they set evening before, while resting in the upon a profession of religion, and upon door of his tent, he was watcht by a being full members of the church, the leopard hiding in the grass near by. low estimate which they have of the The beast was suddenly ronsed and importance of such a profession, and of slunk away. the qualification demanded by it, is most painful to contemplate. Deacons -R. J. D. McAlister has lately reand other prominent members of our turned from Uganda and writes: Bicychurches have no hesitation Of shame cles are seen every day in the streets, in bringing young men and women and one of the missionaries has ridden all the way from the coast to Mengo on a pneumatic-tyre machine. This is certainly a remarkable trip, as he per- the Church of Rome have adopted the formed the entire journey in about version and have publisht an edition of three weeks. The matter of communi· the Gospel of Matthew, with some cations is one of the highest importance slight ,modifications, for use among and rapid strides are being made in their own catechumens and converts, this direction. The railway has now with numerous woodcuts and a' few advanced some 60 or 70 miles into the notes. The text of the Gospel occu-. interior, and on my way down I was pies 107 pages of the volume, and is enabled to travel in a comfortable 1irst- substantially that pUblisht by Dr. Hiram class carriage to Mombasa, along an Bingham in his edition of 1880. Of excellent line at a speed of 20 miles an the changes which have been made, hour. The line is being built on a some are due to a different system of thoroughly permanent basis, and excel- transliterating foreign words, a few to lent stations are being constructed. the adoption of a different textual There are 2 trains daily, each consisting reading, and many are of no account. of first and third-class carriages, and at "Father Edwlrd," the responsible lIombasa, which is the terminus, the editor, appears to be a careful scholar station consists of a series of fine stone familiar with lhe original Greek, and buildings with a large acreage of Jines earnestly desirous of supplying the and goods yards. The trains are Gilbert Islanders with the means of acalready being used by caravans, and quiring a knowledge of the Gospel. It the distance to Uganda is being re- is reported that 5,000 copies of this duced daily. Until the line gets within volume has been taken to the islands, a short distance of the Lake, the cost together with 3,000 copies of a book of of transport is too heavy to allow of Bible stories based upon a life of any great agncultural development, Christ, and other elementary works. but meantime the experiment of coffee- His adoption of Dr. Bingham's transplanting is proceeding satisfactorily. lation is an unlooked-for testimony to Another grcat development in the Pro- the fidelity of the version which the tectorate is the completion of a splendid Bible Society is now supplying, and wagon-road, right from the coast to which is not limited to a single Gospel, Uganda. This is now in full working or- but embraces the entire Scriptures of der, and before I left bullock-wagons had the Old and New Testament.-Bible arrived on the Lake shore. This will Society Record. not shorten the journey, but it permits of the transport of heavy material, -The newspapers announce a conmachinery, etc. Captain Sclater is tribution to the Mansion House Indian now preparing to take up by bullock- Famine Fund of £844 from Fiji. Let wagon from Mombasa a new screw- the fact be noted, and its significance steamer of 70 tons, for service on the be taken to heart. Sixty years ago, at Lake. the time of Her Majesty's accession to the throne, the entire Fiji group was ISLANDS OF THE SEA. inhabited by pagan cannibals. Its heathen darkness was unbroken by any Te Evagkerio Are Tapu. The Gospel ray of Christian religion or civilization. of St. Matthew in the language of Two Wesleyan missionaries, who had the Gilbert Islands. Printed at the already labored for some years in the Pontifical Press in Freiburg, Ger- Friendly Islands, had landed on the many, with the imprimatur of the island of Lakemba a few months pre- Archbishop, 1895. viously, and were the first messengers of the Gospel to the Fijian people. It is the unexpected that happens. The Missionary Report of the follow- The American Bible Society having ing year (1838) speaks of "that distant undertaken fo publish the Bible in the language spoken on the Gilbert Islands in the central Pacific, the authorities of part of the world, which, on account of small. It is true we stm meet with the peculiarly ferocious character of its opposition. The heir to the chiefinhabitants, is as yet but little known taincy came one day into one of our to Europeans. Before the sailor and schools, and said with an arrogant and the merchant will dare to frequent spiteful look, 'I hate to see these those" now inhospitable shores, the mis- Christians teaching anything.' This is sionary must prosecute his labor of natural, for this fine young prince love amidst privations and hardships; cares for nothing but brandy and evil and when he shall have' succeedcd in ways. Yet God's Pentecost will come ~aming and humanizing the people, to this region some day, and I see signs Fiji may then become what the once of it already."-Norslc MiBBionatitknde. savage New Zealand has already been made by a course of missionary labor -The Honolulu Friend publishes a and suffering-a place of safe resort." letter from Henry Nanpei showing a change of policy on the part of the -The natives of the island of Papua Spanish Government relative to ~ur have no concern about gold, silver, and missionary work on the island of Ponbimetalism. They have the single rum ape. Last October the Morning Star standard. The basis of barter and ex- entered one of the harbors and the change in arrack (Java rum), one-half missionaries on board were allowed to gallon of which is reckoned equal to land for the first time since 1890. one day's work at fishing or rattan cut- Crowds of their old friends met Mrs. ting. No money is used. When the Logan and Miss Foss at the wharf. native Papuan receives his rum salary, '( You cannot imagine," writes the nahe and his family drop all other occu- tive evangelist, " how delighted our poor pations, and devote every energy to its people were to shake hands with and consumption. The resulting stupefac- be embraced by those good people tion lasts for days, but, on recovery, whom they never expected to see again the family cheerfully proceeds by per- on Ponape." Captain Garland and his severing industry to acquire more rum. associates paid a visit to the governor, Of course, in a country where there is who has shown such kind consideration 100,000 gallons of rum to every mis- for the Christians on the island, and sionary, civilization makes slow pro- they were received and entertained gress. with the utmost courtesy. The gover- nor visited the Morning Star in com- -The Sultan of Johore has made a pany with Henry Nanpei and brought grant to Rev. J. A. B. Cook, one of ashore three cases of New Testaments the Presbyterian Church of England's in the Ponape language. It is a nota.- missionaries at Singapore, of a plot of ble fact that many of these books were land 300 acres in extent, for the purchased by Spanish officers. purpose of a Christian Chinese settlement. The grant is for 999 years. -The MiBsionary Herald has seldom given a more remarkable story than that -In spite of the troublous times in told by Mr. Price in his journal of the Madagascar, the Norwegian Missionary tour made in November last through Society is able to report progress from the Mortiock group. Here are separits West Coast Mission. "We have ate islands, with no resident missionary had a fruitful year and great peace," upon them, where gross heathenism writes missionary Fagereng from Tul- has been dominant, but the Spirit of lear. "The people have been more God has wrought upon the hearts of well-disposed. Many new places have these islanders and transformed the sobeen occupied during the year and sup- cial life of many of these little complied with schools. The church at- munities. No less than 5011 were retendance has been good, and the ceived into the churches of the islands church at the station has often been too during this tour, while the reception of others wail postponed til! after further testing.
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1891
HUGUENOT FEMALE SEMINARY. WELLINGTON, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH
MISSIONARY REVIEW. OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. 6.-0Zd Serie.~.–JUNE.–VOL. IV. No. 6.-New Series.
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.-XO. XVIII.
J [EDITORIAL, A. T. P.
THE LIGHT AT THE CAPE OF GOOD ·HOPE.
" IF you want most to serve your race," said Mary Lyon, " go where no one else will go, and do what no one else will do."
We propose to draw· in profile the outline of one of the most wonderful and fascinating stories of modern missions-the narrative of the founding of the Huguenot Seminary at Wellington, Cape Colony.
Wellington, about forty miles from Cape Town, is a gem set in a ring ~f mountains-the Drakenstein and Paarl ranges. It is now more' than two centuries since some three hundred Huguenots, who had fled from France to Holland after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, accepted the invitation of the Dutch East India Company, and settled at the Cape. What the Puritans were to America, these devoted refugees became to the Dark Continent.
·By law Dutch was the language of the colony; and so, in a few generations, the French ceased to be their language, and almost the nationality of these refugees was lost. Early in this century the colony passed into the hands of Great Britain, and the Dutch Reformed churches. already established, became largely supplied with Scotch Presbyterian pastors. .
One of these was Rev. Andrew Murray, who was settled over the congregation at GraafI Reinet. He married a Germano-Huguenot lady, and five of their sons now preach in the colony, while four of their daughters are wives of ministers. The second son, also called Andrew, is the pastor of the church at Wellington, and the now famous author of the most pr«>ciolls devotional books which perhaps during the past half century have been issued from the English press.
This man of God, Andrew Murray, nearly twenty years ago, buried two young children at his African home; and, as Mrs. Murray expressed it, " their hands seemed emptied and ready for some work with which the Lord was waiting to fill them." The bereaved husband and wife went in December, 1872, to the seaside to rest, and there they read together the
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
marvellous life of Mary Lyon. So thrilled were they by that story of heroism, that they sought to obtain everything that could further info}m them of the subsequent history of the Holyoke Seminary and its pupils, and eagerly devoured the story of Fidelia Fiske, the Mary J~yon of Persia.
Just at this time the descendants of those Huguenot refugees living at Wellington were proposing to build some monument or memorial.to their ancestors; and Mr. Murray was strangely and strongly impressed that the best memorial they could rear was just such a school for their daughters. The schools scattered through South Africa were neither such as the mind nor morals of the girls needed; few of them were fitted to train immortal souls for service here or glory hereafter. Every indication of human need and Divine Providence seemed to point to this as the time and place for a new Holyoke. And, after much thought, consultation, and prayer, letters were written to the Massachusetts Holyoke, asking for a graduate to found a similar school at the Cape of Good Hope.
These letters awakened unusual interest at the parent seminary, and were put into the hands of Miss Abbie P. Ferguson, a graduate of the class of 1856, who was at that time conducting a very successful work in New Haven, Conn. Her mind was 80 deeply impressed that God was calling her to Africa, that she could not rest until she had laid herself at the Lord's feet, to go wherever He might lead. She breathed a prayer that, if He was indeed calling her to Wellington, another might be found to share the work; and just then Miss Anna E. Bliss, of the class of 1862, offered herself as a companion in labor. Just at this time, across the Atlantic, special prayer was arising that Jehovah Jireh would provide a teacher, and so once more prayer and its answer joined, in a blessed harmony, man's performance and God's purpose. Before the letter~ reached Wellington, telling of the decision of these teachers, Mr. Murray, with characteristic faith, had sent passage-money to America; and when the news of the decision of Miss Ferguson and Miss Bliss reached the colonists, the open letters were bedewed with the tears of thanksgiving. They had asked one teacher, and God had given two.
Mr. Murray rehearsed the whole story of this marked leading of God, commended the proposed work to the Lord in prayer, and pledges were given on the spot to insure the support of the new school. Though not a rich people, in a few weeks $6,000 had been given by the Wellingtonians alone, one widow giving one sixteenth of the whole amount-all her little patrimony.
Miss Ferguson and her companion sailed for Africa in September, 1873, and arriven at Cape Town in about eight weeks. They found that a large building with grounds had been bought for the school, the life of Mary Lyon had been translated into Dutch, and many young people were ready to enter as pupils into the new Huguenot Seminary, or as teachers, to seek higher fitness for their calling. The seminary was formally opened, January 19th, 1874, anq the large assemblage which that day prayerfully committed the work to the – Lord will never be forgotten. During the first term there were forty Rtudents from fifteen to forty years of age; and the Bible and prayer were from the first the characteristic features of the school life, the first hour of each day being given to instruction in the Holy Word, and a half hour in the day beibg reserved for the quiet of personal communion with God.
The devout and earnest purpose of these teachers was to educate Christian character. God honors those who honor Him. One morning the Scrip~ ture lesson was on the new birth, and before that day had gone thirteen had taken their place on the Lord's side. Even those whom candor compelled to confess that they were unsaved, could not rest content without salvation, and when another meeting was called for those who felt that they were Christ's, everyone in the school came. And after all these years have put the confession to the test, nearly everyone has remained faithful, and not a few have been filling positions of singular usefulness.
Our space will not permit more than an outline of a history now covering nearly a score of yearil. But, as might be expected, the saved became saviours. Children were gathered from the street, and 8 Sunday-school was formed ; through the children access was obtained to their parents; cottage meetings-as many as fourteen, in or near the village-were conducted by the young ladies j the navvies and their families were reached by the same consecrated workers, and Wellington Seminary became a fountain of living waters.
The seminary building became too strait for the growth of the institution, and a new building became a necessity j its corner-stone was laid November 19th, 1874, the two buildings together costing $40,000. Two more teachers were sent for, and Miss Wells and Miss Bailey came from America, Noyember, 1874, and soon after, Miss Spijker, from Holland, to teach Dutch and French.
In July, 1875, the new building was ready for use j the pupils increased from forty to ninety, and the school was divided into two departmentsone preparatory. In December, 1875, Miss Landfear came from New Haven to share the growing burden of work, and still later Miss Brewer, of Stockbridge, Mass. j in 1877, Miss Cummings and Miss Knapp were added to the corps of instructors, and the standard of the school kept rising higher and higher both intellectually and spiritually.
During 1878, stimulated by the reports of the Ten Y-ears' Work of the Woman's Board of Missions in America, the Huguenot Missionary Society was organized, and became speedily the parent of many mission circles. Missionary offerings had been the habit at the weekly devotional meetings, and had been sent to Mrs. Schauffier, in Austria, to Dr. Bernardo and Miss Annie Macpherson in London, and to the Basuto, Natal, and East Indian missions. But now the work took organized form, and before the year closed a member of the school offered herself as a missionary, and subsequently went as their representative to the heathen in the Trans~ vaal. That same year-1878-the first graduating class left the Huguenot Seminary. To trace the after-careers of these four graduates may give some hint of the streams which flow from this fountain. One of the four (Miss Malherbe) was next year a teacher in her Alma Mater, and then took the principlllship of Prospect Seminary at Prretoria in the Transvaal ; Mi~s De Leeuw and Miss Mader started a boardiug-school at Bethlehem, in the Orange Free .State,similar to the Wellington Seminary; and during the first year had five more pupils than Wellington at the corresponding period of its history ; Miss Wilson went to teach in the Rockland Seminary at Cradock. In December, 1879, seven more young ladies received diplomas, and all became teachers. Meanwhile God continued to bestow His grace. and again in 1879 nearly all the inmates of the school became disciples of Christ. These nearly twenty years have been marked by a constant growth. In 1882 there was opened a model school, and a normal department was organized. Rooks, and chemical and philosophical apparatus, a Williston observatory and telescope, etc., were furnished by generous friends; and far and wide the" daughters" of Miss Ferguson and her fellow teachers scattered to diffuse new blessings.
In April, 1880, Miss Ferguson left for rest and change, and visited her native land, returning the next year. And in 1882 another building was erected, to accommodate .about forty more pupils-boarders; and during the same year, as already intimated, another building was opened for a model school for the training of the younger children of the village j and the pupils of the normal class have practice in the art of teaching, and can learn the most approved methods-kindergarten, etc.
The pressure of pupils and too little room made it necessary again to enlarge, and a cottage adjoining the school grounds was purchased. In i885 Miss Cummings, of Strafford, Vermont, one of the teachers, came home for a year's visit, and secured from Mr. Goodnow, of Worcester, a building costing some £3,000. The upper story, to be used as a chapel, will seat five hundred, and the lower floor is devoted to art-room and scientific class-rooms.
Last year the applications were so many it was again necessary to provide more room, and while hesitating whether to build or rent rooms near the seminary, the principal of a girls' school at the PaarL a village some eight miles distant, applied to the trustees to purchase' his building, failing health making it necessary that he and his wife should give up the work. Some of the village people were very anxious the school should come under the influence of the Huguenot Seminary, and after much thought and prayer the purchase was made. This school takes the younger pupils, 'making it a preparatory department, and one of the American teachers superintends it. This gives more room at Wellington for advanced pupils. The schools are called Huguenot Seminary, Paarl, and Huguenot Seminary, Wellington. There are now in the two schools over four hundred pupils. They have the same board of trustees, and are under the same principlll, The expense of buildings and grounds has outrun their income, and they have felt keenly the pressure of debt. But the friends of Christian education in the colony have responded nobly to the call for aid, and at different times Parliament has granted them appropriations amounting to £2,000, so that during the last year they had much rejoicing in Wellington over the accom- plishment of the long-desired freedom from debt. There is some indebted· ness on the Paarl school yet; but Dr: Dale, or Sir Langham Dale, the Superintendent of Education for the colony, gives them encouragement to hope that Government will give them help by and by.
In 1888 Mrs. H. B. Allen, of Meriden, Conn., a sister of Miss Ferguson, sent a circular letter to her sister's classmates asking for help to reduce their indebtedness, it being her sister's" jubilee year," and the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the Huguenots in South Africa. They were making a special effort ~o " go free" that year. Mrs. Allen secured about $200 in money, but interest and prayer which were, perhaps, worth more. And then faith was rewarded, for early in 1889 the grant from Government came.
The writer does not know just the number of missionaries who have gone out from the school, but there have been hundreds of .teachers.
Miss Ferguson made a famous journey in 1887-8. In October, 1887, she left the seminary for her year's vacation. The first three months of it she spent in visiting the missionary stations in the Midland and Eastern provinces of the colony, where some of the pupils are located as missionaries and teachers. She returned to Wellington in December, and met two of her pupils from Basutoland, who had just graduated, and returned with them to their home. They are the danghters of French missionaries who are in charge of the Protestant mission of Basutoland. They went by train from Wellington to Kimberley (where the diamond mines are), spent several days with school daughters there. A bullock wagon, drawn by fourteen oxen belonging to the missionaries, was sent from Moujah to meet them. Leaving Kimberley on the 28th of December, they reached Morijah on the lOth of January, outspanning in the heat of the day, and travelling often by moonlight. Two Christian natives, who had long been in the mission family, had charge of the party-Eleazer and Nkloroso.
I have before me the plan of. the journey as Miss Ferguson sent it from Morijah. Here are extracts from her journal: " February 5th at Hermon (Basutoland) ;. February 12th at Mofukas for the baptism of a sister of the old chief Mosesh, over eighty years old, and others. February 19th, Leribe, Mr. Colliard's old station. February 27th, Bethlehem, Orange Free State, with Mrs. Theron, one of our Huguenot teachers. March 3d, Heilbron, Orange Free State, where four of my Huguenot daughters liye. March 8th, Freeport. Orange Free State, the minister and wife from Wellington. March 12th, Potchefstroom, Transvaal, where I have several daughters. Here Mrs. Gonin, wife of the missionary at Saul's Poort, meets me with her bullock wagon, and we go on to Rustenberg, where one of my daughters is in the school. Her father is the principal. March 19th to April 20th, Saul's Poort, Mabie's Kraal, ~nd l1ochuli ; in all these places we have girls who ~re missionaries. The last of April I go to Prretoria (Transvaal), where we have girls teaching j then on to Wakkustroom and Utrecht with Mr. Murray's sister. The last of May to Rorke's Drift, where my friend, the Baroness Posse has a little mission work of her own. June and July I expect to spend in Natal with the American missionaries."
Miss Ferguson was detained by rains and full rivers, so that she did not leave Mochuli (which is half-way between the parallel 24° S. and the tropic of Capricorn, and half-way between meridian 26° and 27° E. just north of the Natwane River, almost in the torrid zone. It is not on the map) until May. Pietermaritzberg, the capital of the Transvaal, was the only place where she spent a night at a hotel. She arrived Saturday night, and her letter to friends had not been received; but she was found on the Sabbath and carried away to the home of Christian friends.
Early in August she sailed from Durban to Port Elizabeth, went to King William's Town, and on up to Graat! Reinet; then to Kimberley again in the interest of the mission work so near her heart, which has resulted in the Mission House, cared for by three of the Huguenot daughters; and back to Wellington the last of September.
Every letter speaks of the marvellous kindness everywhere received, and the wonderful openings for work. We have not spoken of the " Chautauqua circles" that have been formed all through South Africa. Miss Landfear, one of the Huguenot teachers, is the secretary for South Africa, and is introducing a class of reading that it! educating and elevating those who have left school. A circle has been formed among the native boys at Morijah.
If any of our readers will, on the map, follow this remarkable journey of Miss Ferguson through Southern Africa, they will see how many hundreds of miles she went; and let it be remembered tbat only one night in all tbat journey was spent at a hotel; in every other case she was the guest of "her daugbters"-the young ladies wbo had graduated from Wellington and gone into all that dark land to become teachers, missionaries, wives of godly men and ministers of the Gospel, an~ who are thus turning many a " Valley of Desolation" and barren waste of paganism into the Lord's garden! Are we not right in calling Wellington's Huguenot Seminary" the Light at the CapeY" To-day Miss Ferguson has under her care four hundred pupils.
We must add a word as to the progress of education in other parts of the land, which is largely due to the influence of Wellington.
In 1874, the year when the Huguenot Seminary began its work, Rev. J.
Neethling, of Stellenbosch, asked for a teacher from America, on behalf of the school committee, and Miss Gilsou came in response to the call in November of tbe same year. Beforethe year 1875 closed a boarding department was opened ; and the large and flourishing seminary now does for the Lord most excellent and efficient work both in training intellects and educating Christian hearts for the service of the Kingdom.
During 1875 a request for two teachers was sent from Worcester by Rev. William Murray, the minister there, to America. And, as at Wellington, the spirit of faith and prayer anticipated the arrival of the teachers in preparing for the school and sending forward the passage-money. The Misses Smith (two sisters), of Sunderland, Mass., responded. In April, 1876, the the seminary building at Worcester was completed. At the opening, Rev. Andrew Murray spoke on the great need of multiplying such Christian schools in Africa, and it was determined to ask for six more teachers from over the seas.
At the same time. Miss Helen Murray began work at Graaff Reinet, taking charge of the Midland Seminary, with twenty-five boarders and as many day scholars, until Miss Thayer and Miss Ayres arrived six months Jater. A reVival during the first term put the significant seal of God's approval on the work at its very inception, and nearly all the pupils rejoiced in Jesus. In 1876 Miss Lester left Woodstock, Conn., for the Bloemhof Seminary at Stellenbosch, and in April, four years after, was transferred to a similar work in Standerton, in the Transvaal.
During 1877 Messrs. Andrew and Charles Murray visited America, and in answer to their appeal for teachers, thirteen more went to Africa that year, one of whom went eventually to Swellendam. And when, in September, 1877, the Messrs. Murray returned, Rev. George R. Ferguson, brother to the founder of the Huguenot Seminary at Wellington, came with them, to take in charge a new school or institute for training of young men as evangelists and missionaries ; and has since been engaged in that work at Wellington.
When this noble band of workers arrived in 1877 to reinforce the educational mission work in Africa, a feast of rejoicing and thanksgiving filled an " eight days" like the feasts of ancient Israel. The windows were illumined, the flowers hung in festoons or bloomed in bouquets as on an Easter morning, and the Lord was magnified in the praises of His own. One day twenty-seven Americans dined together in the building where, four years before, two teachers began their pioneer work. The teachers at Graaf Reinet, too far away to participate in person, flashed greetings over the electric wires.
After a few days the new teachers began to disperse to Worcester, Graaf Reinet, Stellenbosch, Beaufort West, Swellendam, etc. Miss Clary chose Prretoria, because the work there was most difficult and discouraging; and Miss Ruggles undertook with her the journey to this field fifteen hundred miles beyond Cape Town.
We can follow no further this fascinating story. In 1880 eleven schools had already been established in South Africa under the care of these American teachers; eight in Cape Colony, two in the Transvaal, and one in the Orange Free State. Thirty-eight ladies had, previous to 1881, gone out from America to take charge of this work of education ; and the devoted man of God, Rev Andrew Murray, has generally had the privilege of applying for teachers, while Mrs. H. B. Allen, of Meriden, Conn. (sister of Miss Ferguson), has co-operated in the selection of those who should go.
No words can expr/ilss the blessing which has come through this period of almost twenty years to the whole of Africa through these grand Christian schools. They are building light houses, not at the Cape only, but all through the southern half of the Dark Continent. We doubt whether any work ever done for God has had, from the inception, more signal tokens of His approbation and blessing.
. Those who have visited Graaf Reinet have remarked that it stands close by the" Valley of Desolation," so called from its absolute barrenness and the absence of life. In fact, Graaf Reinet is itself simply a section of that barren waste reclaimed by culture and irrigation. How completely the whole aspect of this. part of the valley has been transfigured may be inferred from the fact that in the garden of Rev. Charles Murray eighty different species or varieties of roses may be ·found in bloom. May thiR not be a precious symbol and type of what the Huguenot Seminary and its companion schools are doing for the wild wastes of the Dark Continent, flashing out rays to illumine the midnight, and sending forth streams to irrigate the barrenness, until where darkness and dearth abounded there shall be a radiance as of a morning without clouds, and a fertility as of an earthly Eden !
" The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom like the garden of the Lord."
[Apropos of the foregoing, we gladly publish a letter from Rev. George S. Malan, of Montagu, Cape Colony, giving additional information about the work in South Africa.-EDIToR.] The Dutch Reformed Church of the Cape Colony counts upward of 100 congregations, with an aggregate membership of about 90,000 ; the number of souls being about 200,00'0. Our ministers are trained at the Theological College * of our church at Stellenbosch. Some four years ago one of the settled ministers of our church (Rev. Helm) was led by the Lord to give up his congregation in the colony and devote himself to mission work. Our church had already at the time five mission stations outside the borders of the colony. These were each under the superintendence of a resident white missionary, assisted by several lady workers as teachers, and by evangelists (native) for the work among the outlying kraals. To one of these stations, situated in the north of the Transvaal, our brother minister went as assistant to our veteran missionary there, who after nearly twenty * It was fouuded in 1859, and has since then supplied the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa with upward of 120 ministers. years of ,unceasing toil in the mission field, had grown weak and aged in the Master's service.
Our people were never adverse to mission work; and as a whole our church contributed well for the cause.
This was, however, a new departure. A minister giving up his congre- gation to go to the heathen was something unknown before. A new im- pulse seemed to be given in that way to the good cause. More liberal con- tributions followed, and greater interest. This was the result also of a visit to the colony, and of addresses given everywhere by our veteran mis- sionary (Mr. Hofmeyer), who was enabled to leave his work for a short time through the assistance afforded him by Brother Helm.
At the same time, or thereabout, a society was started among the theo!
logical students of the theological college, known as the Students' Mis- sionary Society, with the object of getting contributions for the cause, but most of all to create a love for mission work among the future m~isters of the church. '
Not long after the ministers of the church formed among themselves a Ministers' Missionary Society.' This society has since sent out a~d is now supporting two missionaries in Nyassaland, in the vicinity of the sta- tions of the Scotch church. One of these missionaries is a son of one of the ministers of our ,Church, a young Ulan of ability and promise, who passed through his full theological course here, and after that had a few years' training in medicine, etc., at the Edinburgh University. Last year -especiaI1y through the influence of some American teachers from Mt.
Holyoke, engaged as such at the lIuguenot Seminary, Wellington, a large and flourishing educational institute for young ladies-a Woman's Mis- sionary Society was formed, with several branches throughout the colony, for the purpose specially of sending out and supporting lady helpers to the missionaries at our various mi~sion stations.
Toward the end of last year the session of our Synod took place.
Brother Helm from the Transvaal mission field (Zoutpausberg) was present.
lie earnestly advocated the claims of the Banyai. This tribe of Kaffirs in- habit a very healthy and fertile country north ot' the Transvaal and east of Matabeleland. The king of the latter country, a savage despot, con- siders the Banyai as his slaves, and has hitherto, for obvious reasons, re- fused evangelists the right of settling and laboring there. Attempts made by our church in previous years to send evangelists there proved vain, and even fatal to the life of one of them. But what hath the Lord wrought!
The British Soutb African Chartered Company obtains from the imperial Government a ~harter to settle in and develop those 'regions, especially Mashonaland, which lies more or less in between Matabeleland and Banyai- land. This company goes there with an armed police force, several hun- dreds strong, for the protection of its chartered rights, builds forts, etc., in short, colonizes the country, and in this way forms an effectual barrier for the Banyai against the oppressions and despotism of the Matabele. All at once the Lord has opened Banyailand. Brother Helm had just returned from a visit to that country when he appeared in the Synod. And now the Synod has decided, on his urgent appeals, to send, as soon as possible, three or four more ordained missionaries, men fully trained at the theological college, to occupy the open field-some in Banyailand, and others to stay at Zoutpausberg, and so enable the church to establish there a Training Institute for native evangelists, who by the side of the white mis. sionaries can do the great work waiting for us to be done there. Surely the Lord reigneth among the heathen! His blessed Kingdom must and will come also in those dark regions of South Africa. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly !
MONTAGU, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA, January 26, 1891.
Dr. Arthur Mitchell, of New York, says of the rise and progress of woman's work for woman: "Great was the surprise of the entire Presbyterian Church when the first year the women sent to the Board *27,000, their greater snrprise when the next year it was $67,000, the third year, $87,000, the fourth year, $96,000, increasing the amount each year of the fifteen, except in one instance, until it has reached $250,000." Dr. Mitchell told of a good old doctor of divinity who, being on a committee on missions in the General Assembly, told in the report of what the women had done, gracefully Ilnd kindly giving them all due credit, but adding in humorous fashion, " You know the women are good collectors." "Can it be possible," thought Dr. Mitchell, who sat there listening, "that the good doctor does not know more of the sources from whence these women have their strength. I' They have three never-failing fountains from which to draw. The first, Organization. The work has been done systematically, until nearly all our churches have Woman's Foreign Missionary Societies, and even the children have their mission bands. Second, Information. They are far in advance of the men's Board in the number and character of their publications. They have, among other things, given to the world one of the best books on missions ever written, the " Historical Sketches of Missions." Influenced by Woman's Work, the Board improved the Foreign Missionary, until it seemed to have taken on a new life. Third, is the Sympathy existing between the women at home, who are interested in missions, and the missionaries in the field.
Dr. Smith, of Baltimore, says that he has, closely observed, from its be. ginning, this work of woman for woman, and at the close of fifteen years of trial and triumph, rejoiced to say that woman had found her tl'lle sphere in work for the Master, which leads her to the foot of the cross. The cross has always had a strange attraction for woman. Yes, even that plain wooden cross on Calvary drew all the Marys about it. This society has proved its right to a new name, Esther, the morning star, which shines brightly just hefore the dawning, and ushers in the glorious Sun of Rillhteousness.
TIlEl D1VINE AND SUPERNATUltAL IN FOREIGN MISSIONS
THE DIVINE AND SUPERNATURAL IN FOREIGN MISSIONS.
BY REV. EDWARD STORROW, BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.
IF anywhere we might expect to see Divine and providential manifesta- tions rising toward the supernatural, it is in the spbere of foreign missions, because they, in a pre-eminent degree, seek to honor God, express the mind and purposes of Christ, have their spheres of operation amid perils and dangers. encountered only that error and evil may be overthrown and God have the glory, which is His supreme righ~.
The missionary enterprise bears two features distinctly expressive of the Divine presence and blessing. First, these only can explain the origin, his- tory, and progress of the enterprise. Then there occur in its affairs a series of incidents which more than point at personal and supernatural intervention.
1. God must have put it into the hearts of His servants to form these societies. They are not after the manner of men, since they involve out- lay, trouble, responsibility, yet forbid any of the usual incentives of a return in money, honor, or personal aggrandizement.
2. These enterprises were all begun after much prayer. They not only were born and cradled in an atmosphere of prayer, but have lived in such an atmosphere.
3. There are manifold evidences of Divine interposition and guidance in the manner in which obstacles have been removed, openings made for their efforts, and snitable agencies for the most varied spheres provided.
4. In many instances the agents to begin the work and to nurture it into strength, both at home and abroad, have evidently been called of God and prepared for the spheres they have filled. So was it with Count Zinzendorf, the father and founder of the Christian Knowledge Society j the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel j the Baptist and London Societies j the American Board j the first Danish mission, and Mr. Hudson Taylor's. So was it with the pioneers: Hans Engedi, in Greenland j Zeigenbalg, Plutschan, Schultze, and Schwartz, in South India; Carey, ifarchman, Ward, and Duff, in Bengal ; Mor~ison, in China; Judson, in .Burmah j Moffat, in South Africa, and many others.
5. The manner in which, now for some three generations, this work has been sustained, and with steadily growing liberality, has nothing in the history of human effort to compare with it for disinterestedness, persistence, and widespread self-denial. It has come to pass that after years of detraction, some millions of people, unusually thoughtful and considerate of their expenditllre-most.ly belonging to the lower middle class of society -contribute spontaneously for th~ love of Christ, almost all in small sums. an aggregate amount of two and one half millions a year. (2 Chron. 5: 11-14.) 6. A Divine gnidance and control is surely seen in the direction Of tlJese ·societies. Considering that they h:l'1." had to originate policies; to enter on spheres but little known; to discover the best methods of opera- tion; to meet all manner of difficulties; to conduct their operations in countries most diverse, ·among all classes and conditions of non-Christian 'people, and to disburse annually an aggregate sum which has grown from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, one may marvel at the few great mistakes that have been made, the general good sense and practica- bility of their policies, and the honor and integrity with which their affairs have been conducted. No class of commercial, financial, or national under- takings can show a record as free from stain.
7. Equally noteworthy is the integrity of missionaries. Thousands of them have lived for years away from the rJstraints of civilized society, where the inducements to live loosely, to become mercenary, and to misuse power are strong. But how few have made shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience! Contrast the lives and conduct of missionaries in every quarter of the globe with those of adventurers, travellers, traders, where the two classes come into contact with barbarous or semi-barbarous races!
8. The success of missions. Their results prove them to be of Divine origin and to have the Divine blessing. Here it can only be pointed out, (1) that no doubt it always has been a most arduous task to make anyone a true Christian, or to overthrow the superstitions of any race in favor of Christianity. (2) That considering all the conditions of the stupendous problr-m, the marvel is that missions have been as successful as they are proved to be by the Divine change that has passed over the natures and the lives of hundreds of thousands of heathen people; by the change from heathenism to Christianity on the part of at least four million persons, and by many changes tending toward Christianity in the opinions, sentiments, customs, and condition of many races.
The only adequate explanation of all these facts and phenomena is, that connected with Christianity there is a personal God who interposes in human affairs, a Divine King who rules all things, and is guiding the affairs of the Christian Church (Matt. 28: 18-20; Eph. 1 :.15-23; Col. 1 : 9-20), and a Holy Spirit who potentially affects the thoughts, feelings, opinions, lives, and even moral·and spiritual natures of men (John 16 : 7-15 ; Gal. 5: 13-26; 2 Cor. 2 : 14-17.) Second, these great truths, assumed everywhere in Scripture, embodied in their history and the lives of saintly persons they record, find a plMe in the experience of the sen'ants of God now, and especially of those who have strong and simple faith, and choose their fields of action in heathen lands. (Ps. 35; 91; Mark 16 : 15-20; 2 Tim. 3: 10-13; 2 Cor. 11 : 16-33; 12 : 1-13.) 1. They are singularly preserved from the perils of the sea. The Moravian missionary ship, for instance, has sailed to and from Labrador for 120 years without any serious accident, though the voyage is an unusually precarious one. The case is so exceptional that the experienced Lord Gambier declared that he considered the continued preservation of this ship the most remarkable occurrence in maritime history that had corne to hi8 knowledge. * And this is but a small part of the MOr1lvian testimony. During 158 years, 2300 of their missionaries have sailed to foreign lands, hut only eleven times has shipwreck resulted in the loss of life. Of all the children of missionaries sent home to Europe in charge of friends, not one has per- ished at sea. And so it is with missions generally. A careful investiga- tion of the nautical affairs of any society will show how few missionary vessels have been lost, and how few missionaries or missionary families have perished by shipwreck.
2. Missionaries in some parts of Africa, India, and the Indian Archipelago have to live and travel where deadly reptiles and beasts of prey are numerous, but i.~ there an instance of one of them thus dying?
3. Their protection from violent men is very marked. The escape of five Malagasy refugees to England was a series of providential interventions. Three of them were chiefly sustained for six months in a forest by food brought by a friend a distance of fifty miles. One of them would have been apprehended by soldiers in a house where she was hiding had not the noise made by cr()w~ given warning of their approach. On another occasion she only escaped by lying in a bog with her head concealed in rushes. She was recognized by a slave, who told her master, but he would not believe her. A house in which she was hidden was searched, but she was not found. On their flight to the coast they had to travel by night, often lost their way, had to avoid villages, soldiers, and spies, to be ferried across a river swarming with alligators, where the boatmen were on the watch for fugitives. H~w they escaped was a marvel to their enemies, to themselves, and to their friends. t On one occasion Livingstone had to pass through a dense· forest along a narrow path. In one pIneo the path was obstructed, and men stationed to kill him. A large spear hurlcc1. past almost grazed his back. "As," he writes, "they IJ,re expert with the spear, I don't know how it missed, except that he was too sure of his aim, and the good hand of God was upon me." All his party were allowed to pass a certain place when another spear was thrown at him by an unseen assailant, and it missed him by about a foot in front.
Further on he saw a gigantic tree on fire, but felt no alarm until he saw it .come straight toward him and fall a yard behind him. Had the branches not previously been rotted off, he could scarcely have escaped. "Thus, three times in one day," he says, " was I delivered from impending death.
The first missionaries to the Fegeans were exposed to great perils, for not only were they threatened with death, but stood again and again before mfuriated men, who avowed their purpose to kill them, as repeatedly, and.
* "Brief Account of the Moravian Missionary Ships Employed for Labrador."
t "Madagascar: its Missions aud its Martyrs." without compunction they killed and ate their own people. "On one occa- sion they were told that they too would soon be killed. The king's Bon in a fury came for this purpose, and only with great difficulty was restrained. The peoplo seemed bent on mischief and murder. One night they assem- bled near the house of the missionaries, giving unmistakable signs of their intent. The missionaries and their wives resolved to die praying. But &S they prayed a ringing shout outside announced that the murderous purpose of the multitude was abandoned. * The autobiography of J. G. Paton abounds with providential occur- rences. These are some of them: Some of his converts resolved to visit an inland village much opposed to Christianity. They were told, "If you come you will be killed." They went, nevertheless, unarmed. Many spears were thrown at them. Some they evaded, others they caught or turned aside in an incredible ·manner. The heathen, amazed at these men coming unarmed, and instead of throwing back the spears, still pressing on in a calm and cheerful manner, desisted, perfectly overawed. The chief and all his tribe came into the school of Christ, and, Mr. Paton adds: " There is, perhaps, not an island in these Southern seas, among all those won for Christ, where similar acts of heroism on the part of converts can· not be recited by every missionary to the honor of our poor natives and to the glory of Christ."
For months, almost years, he lived through repeated outbreaks of sav- age hostility. Of one of these occasions he writes: "The inhabitants for miles around united in seeking our destruction, but God put it into strange hearts to save us." " My enemies seldom slackened their hateful designs. against my life, however calmed or baffled for the moment. When natives in large numbers were at my house, a man furiously rushed on me with his axe; but a chief snatched a spade, with which I had been working, and dexterously defended me from instant death. Life in such circumstances led me to cling very near to the Lord Jesus. I knew not for one brief hour when or how attack might be made; and yet with my ~rembling hand clasped in the hand once nailed on Calvary, calmness and peace and resigna- tion reigned in my soul" (Col. 1 : 19).
"A wild chief followed me about for four hours with his loaded mus- ket, and though often direCted against me, God restrained his hand.
" One evening I awoke three times to hear a chief and his men trying to force the door of my houso. God restrained them again; and next – m"orning the report went all round the harbor that those who tried to shoot me were smitten weak with fear, and that' shooting would not do. ' A plan was therefore set on foot to fire the premises and club us if we attempted to escape."
"One day, while toiling away at my house, a war chief, his brother, and a large party of armed men surrounded the plot where I was working.
* "Fege and the Fegeans." By Thomas Williams. They watched. me for some time in silence, and then every man levelled a musket straight at my head."
After a strange, terrible journey in the night through an unknown region, dangerous to strangers, and abounding with enemies, the natives who heard of his escape, exclaimed: "Surely any of us would have been killed. Your Jehovah God alone thus protects you and brings you home. "
On his final flight with a few friends, they lIaw, as far as the eye could reach, the shore covered with armed men, and, overwhelmed with fear, his native friends hopelessly exclaimed: "Missa, it's of no use, we shall all be killed and eaten to-day I" Nowar, a friendly chief, said to Paton: " Misse, sit down and pray to our Jehovah God, for if He does not send deliverance now we are all dead men. " Presently he said: " Missa, Jehovah is hearing. They are all standing still." So it was, though there was nothing whatever to oppose their advance; and presently the host turned and marched back in great silence.
Instances like the following have been by no means rare : Kapaio, a native of one of the New Hebrides, confessed, after he became a Christian, that for many months he was on the watch to take Mr. Geddie's life. He was a strong and powerful man, familiar with violence and bloodshed, and one blow from his club would have caused death. One night, as he was on the watch, Mr. Geddie went out of his house alone and passed close by the bush which concealed Kapaio. Now was the opportunity for which he had long waited. He grasped his club, but he was powerless to strike; a strange sensation came over him, and he could not hurt the man who was entirely in his power, whom he hated and came to kill.
4. The manner in which the temporal wants of missionaries are supplied is remarkable. No class of civilized men going among the uncivili2ed are really so dependent, or have as few material resources as missionaries, and yet in a manner which is extraordinary, their daily wants are met. Is there an instance on record of a missionary or his family dying of want excepting through folly or imprudence 1 And in many cases of exigency supplies have come evidently from God.
Dr. Fisher writes from the Garenganze Mission, South-East Africa, December 8th, 1889 : "Yesterday two circumstances occurred which we cannot doubt, were ordered by our blessed Lord. In the morning our meal bag which supplied us for three weeks was empty. We had told the nati,.es for five days that we wanted meal, but none came. In the afternoon meal was brought by five different women, which was all freshly pounded, the whole just filling our bag. Then six carriers came yesterday wanting their pay. I had no cloth with me, and wanted three different varieties in order to pay them. As it happened, three of the six loads which they brought were bales, and to my surprise each a different kind of cloth, so I was able to pay the men off. I took both these circumstances as the manifest and loving care of the Lord for us. "
S~me of the Moravian missions in the North of Europe and America supply a continuous series of such instances, since they are placed where almost all their supplies must be drawn from other countries, and the sup- plies, though often interrupted, hardly ever fail.
So it is with large numbers of missionaries who cast themselves directly on the providence of God. He honors their trust.
5. God answer8 prayer. Here is an instance: Two years ago the lo()al secretary of a branch of the Gleaner's Union obtained some African curi- osities from the C. M. House t,o exhibit at a Mother's Meeting. She was instructed to forward them next day to a clergyman in a distant town. She sent them off j and the same night, being sleepless, it occurred to her to pray that the clergyman, of whom she only knew the name, might use them effeotively, and that his influence might be instrumental in sending forth some young missionary from his parish. This she did, by the space of two hours j and from that day, every month for two year8, she looked in The Gleaner to see if anyone had been accepted from that town. In a recent number she found, to her intense joy, that the clergyman him8elf was going out! The world would call this a striking coincidence j what do we call it ?
So, when some of the friends of the China Inland Mission, moved by the wants of that great empire, united in definite prayer that the Lord would enable them to lIelid 100 more missionaries, the prayer was heard, and the 100 were sent.
The "Lone Star" Mission among the Telugus was saved from extinction and nurtured into extraordinary success by prayer. When it was very low, a missionary; his wife, and three native helpers on the first day of the year ascended a hill overlooking Ongole. They saw the large town and some fifty villages wholly given to idolatry, and, moved by the sight, each one in turn prayed that God would send a missionary to Ongole. The prayer was heard, though it was not answered for twelve years; but in little more than twelve other years the little church of eight souls had become 12,000 tried converts with a yet greater number of general adherents.
When the church numbered 143 members, they made it a special request, during the week of prayer early in 1869, that God would convert and add to the church during the year 500 souls. The number baptized into the Ongole church was 573, as well as 53 into the neighb,oring church at Nellore. And that was but the beginning of blessing.
At a special missioMry service, Dr. Ryland, And!:,ew Fuller, and others, solemnly agreed to pray for the immediate conversion of J abez, the son of Dr. Carey, then in India. Some time after a letter was received from Dr. Carey, giving details of the time and manner of his son's conversion, from which it appeared that he was converted at the precise time they had united in prayer.
The Rev. James Calvert, * acting on the idea that prayer and effort for 1he conversion of selected individuals would be honored by God, thus • The Life of James Calvert. prayed for the conversion of Thakumbau King of Fege. His prayers were heard, ~nd this greatly tended to bring about the man-ellous spiritual revo- lution witnessed in these il!lands.
6. The evidence is ample of Divine interposition and guidance. For instance, the chief of Fallungia, West Africa, prayed for twenty years for a missionary, and one was found in an unexpected manner. * So Barnabas Shaw was thus directed to his important sphere. He was not all~wed to settle near Cape Town, so he relilolved to seek a sphere in the interior. For a month he travelled on, not knowing whither he went; but as be halted, the chief of Little Namagualand, with four attendants, halted beside him. They were on their way to Cape Town in search of a missionary, now greatly desired by their tribe. They and he thought they saw in this unexpected meeting the finger of God; and Shaw's great success in subsequent years proved that they were not mistaken.
Hundreds of missionaries, looking back on their past careers, have been conscious that they were guided to their scenes of labor by God, and have noted numerous events in their history which neither chance, nor coincidence, nor human aid adequately explain.
So, too, of events. Our belief in a personal God and an overruling Providence justifies us in believing that He sent Carey to India to give so many versions of the Scriptures to the people. That He sent that copy of the Pushtoo Bible to the Afghan, who kept it " from fire and from water" for thirty years, so that when it was resolved to reprint this Serampore version, this copy was the only one that could be found in India; who guided that copy of the Japanese New Testament, floating in one of the harbors of that empire, into lands where it was greatly blessed by God; who sent through shipwreck and heavy loss the ruined merchant to Mr. Ross, of Manchuria, when he was at a loss to find anyone competent to assist him to translate the New Testament into Corean. Surely the God of Israel still guides His people, going before them in a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night.
And He avenges and punishes as well as guides. Listen! In January, 1878, the Day-Spring, the mission ship of the New Hebrides, was wrecked on a coral reef. She was bought at an auction sale by a French slaving company, who managed to get her off the reef, and intended to use her in the Kanaka traffic-a euphemism for South Sea slavery. This filled the missionaries and native converts with horror and alarm, for they knew that, deceived by the name, many simple natives would be allowed on board only to find, instead of a mission vessel, that they were entrapped for the most brutal, unjust, and cruel of purposes, and that revenge would perhaps be taken for the wrong done on the missionaries, as in the case of Bishop Patterson. What could be done 1 Nothing but cry to God, which all the friends of the mission did night and day, not without tears. Listen! The French slavers, anchoring their prize in the * "Remarklble Pl'ovidences, " p. 205. By the Rev. J. R. Phillips. bay, and greatly rejoicing, went on shore to celebrate the event. They drank and feasted and revelled. But that night a mighty storm arose. The old Day-Spring dragged her anchor, and at daybreak she was seen again on the reef, this time with her back broken in two, and forever unfit for service either fair or foul !
Speaking of the Europeans who trade in unrighteousness, Mr. Paton says: " Thousands upon thousands of pounds were made in the sandalwood trade, but it was a trade steeped in blood and indescribable vice. Nor could God's blessing rest on them or their ill-gotten gains. I have scarcelyknown one of the traders who did not come to ruin and poverty.
" The money that came in to the ship-owners was a conspicuous curse. Fools made a mock at sin, thinking that no one cared for these poor savages; but their sin did find them out."
So of the enemies and friends of the worship, as it was called on Tanna, Mr. Paton says: "This Miaki and his followers were a scourge and terror to the whole island of Tanna. They intensely hated Nowar because he would not join in their cruelties. Yet he and Manumauaud, Sirawia, and Taimungo continued to live long after war and death had swept all the others away. The first three lived to be very old men, and to the last they made a profession of being Christians." (Ps. 7 : 8-17 j Ps. 58 j Eccles. 8: 11-13 j Rom. 11 : 2-16 j Rev. 18: 4-8.) THE MISSIONARY CALL.
TUNE: "Still There's More to Follow."
Hark, the bugle call of God ! Down the ages sounding, " Go ye, and proclaim abroad News of grace abounding !"
CHORus.-Tell the news! Tell the news! Let the farthest nation Hear the sound, the world around, Tidings of salvation!
Let the sacred heralds go, Through the vales and mountains j Steady streams of trensure flow From the golden fountains! [CHORUS.
Go to woman, now enslaved [CHORUS. In her household prison, Tell her, you whom Jesus saved, He was dead-is risen J Hosts of God, march round the wall !
While the trumpet's pealing j Satan's mighty towers will fall, God's own power revealing! CHORUS.
A.T. P.
THE PENTECOST ON THE CONGO
THE PENTECOST ON THE CONGO.
BY J. R. MILLER, D.D., PHILADELPHIA.
THE Acts of the Apostles closes like an unfinished book. The truth is, it is an unfinished book, and new chapters are continually being added to it. The wonderful stories of modern missions belong really to the samevolume.
Few narratives of missionary experience in all this century surpass in thrilling interest the account of the work of the past twelve years at Banza Manteke, in Africa. In 1879 the Rev. Henry Richards went from Eng. land to Africa as a missionary of the Livingstone Inland Mission. He established a station at Banza Manteke, one hundred and fifty miles from the mouth of the Congo, and ten miles south of that great river. In its earlier years the mission was transferred to the American Baptist Missionary Union, and now there is a large Baptist church there, in the midst of a great heathen population, upon which it is pouring the light of the Gospel.
Mr. Richards came to this country last year to tell the wonderful story of the Lord's work on the Congo. This story is so full of interest that it is here condensed from the missionary's own accounts into a simple narrative.
Stanley travelled from Zanzibar around the lakes and down the Congo for a thousand days, and though many thousands of people passed before him each day, he did not find one that knew the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1879 two missionaries were sent out to penetrate this trackless region. They succeeded in getting some distance into the country to a place called Palabala. Mr. Richards, with some others, was sent to try to get, if possible, to Stanley Pool. But the difficulties were very great–insurmountable for men of any but intrepid courage and indomitable persistence. At length the missionaries reached Banza Manteke, and being unable to go any farther, they decided to stay there and establish a station. There were many villages near by, and the people were inclined to be friendly.
They had only one tent, and they built a hut of the long grass that grew all about them. There, in . September, 1879, Mr. Richards fonnd himself alone among people who were entirely unknown to him. He knew nothing either of their customs or of their language. He at once began to study the people, tut, not knowing a word of their language, found it very difficult. Some things, however, he soon learned. For one, they all seemed to be thieves. They would take everything on which they could lay their hands. He would look into their faces and accuse them of stealing his things, but they would deny it without the slightest hesitation.
Mr. Richards gives a most interesting description of his experience in learning their language. They had no dictionaries, no grammars, no books, no literature of any kind. No white man had ever learned the language. He took a note-book and determined to write down pbonetically everything he could hear, with the meaning that he supposed belonged to the word. In this way he soon had a number of words, phrases, and sentences, and at once began to use them. Although the people would laugh at his pronunciations and at the way he put his words together, he did not mind it, but persisted in his effort.
Some words he found it very hard to get. He noticed that the affection between the mothers and their children was very strong, and he wished to get the word for mother. At last he thought he had succeeded, but afterward he learned that the word which he supposed meant mother really stood for a full-grown man. He was three months in finding out the word for yesterday.
At length he began to try to get hold of the grammar of the language. He began with the nouns, and sought for the way of forming plurals. He expected to discover some modification at the end of the words, but could not detect any such change. After much experimenting he learned that there were sixteen classes of nouns, with as many modes of forming the plural. In like manner he discovered that there were seventeen different classes of verbs, with very many tenses besides the ordinary present, past, and future, each having its specific form. The shades of meaning in these variations are often very delicate and beautiful.
The language is not, as one would suppose, a mere jargon, but is really very beautiful, euphonious and flowing, with numerous inflections. When one has acquired it it is very easy to preach in it and to translate the Scriptures into it. Says Mr. Richards: "I think if some of our best linguists were to try to form a perfect language, they could not do better than to follow the Congo. It seems to be altogether superior to the people; and there must have been a time when they were in a high state of civilization, from which in some way they have degenerated."
After learning in this patient way enough of the language to use it a little, he" began to try to find out the customs, superstitions, and religiou of the people. He found that they believed in a great Creator, who made all things. He asked them why they did not worship this Nzambi, and they said they did not think He was a good God and they did not thank Him. He did not concern Himself about them j He was too far away. They had little images cut out of wood-some like themselves, with birds' heads, beaks, and claws; others like animals. These are their gods. They trust in them for protection from harm, sickness, death, or misfortune, hut never expect to receive any blessings from them. They arc believers in witchcraft, to which they attribute all evils and misfortunes. They have charms to counteract witchcraft. They have witch-doctors, for whom they send if anyone is sick. 'The doctor comes, and with a great many incantations tries to drive the demon out. Sometimes the doctor points out some person as the witch, and this person then has to take the test by poison. If he ejects it, they say he is innocent i but if it kiJll~ him they say he was ~uilty. The missionary at length began to show them that sickness and death, and all misfortunes, were due not to witchcraft, but to sin. He gave them the Bible account of the creation and the fall. Then he began to try to show them th/!-t God is not only a great Creator, all-powerful, but that He is also kind and loving. They would ask many questions, some of which Mr. Richards found it hard to answer to their satisfaction. He continued, however, for four years, teaching them about the creation, the fall, the flood, and the history of the Israelites, thinking it necessary to give them some idea of the Old Testament before beginning with the New. But the people were just as much heathen at the end of this time as when he first went among them. There was no evidence of any change. They did not feel themselves to be sinners.
About this time Mr. Richards was at home for a season of rest, and while there he spoke to one who had had much experience in mission work, saying he did not see how he could preach a Saviour until the people felt themselves to be sinners. He was advised to go back and preach the law -for it is the law that convinces of sin. So, on reaching Banza Manteke again, the first thing he did was to translate the Ten Commandments, and then he began to read and expound them to the people. They said the com- mandments were very good, and claimed that they had kept them. The most plain and personal applications of the law made no impression on them. So two years more passed with no result; the people were no better than when he first went to them. He began to grow hopeless of any good from preaching among them. He had gained their respect, and they were kind to him, but that was all.
At last, in his discouragement, Mr. Richards began to study the Scrip- tures anew for himself, feeling that there was some mistake in his preacb~ ing. In the early days souls were converted; why not now ~ Had the Gospel lost any of its power ~ If heathen then turned from their idols to serve the living God, why should not these people in Banza Manteke do the same? He studied the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, and began to see his mistake. The commission is not, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Law," but" Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel." .
It was the turning-point in the work of this lonely missionary. He determined to preach the Gospel. Five times in four chapters Peter ac.- cuses the people of the crucifixion of Jesus. Another thing that struck him was that the disciples were bidden to wait until they were clothed with power from on high. He felt that he had not this power. He went again to his work, determined to preach the Gospel, and cry to God for the promised power.
Then he had to decide precisely what the Gospel was. If he preached Jesus and Him crucified, the people would want to know who Jesus was.
He decided to take Luke's gospel, as this seemed the most complete and the most suitable for Gentiles. He began tran~lating ten or twelve verses a day, and then read and expounded them, asking God to bless His qwn Word. At once the people were more interested in the Gospel than they had been when he preached the law. As he went on he was greatly encouraged.
When he came to the sixth chapter of Luke, thirtieth verse, a difficulty arose. The people were notorious beggars. They would ask for anything they saw that pleased their eye-his blanket, his knife, his plate ~and whIm he would say he could not give the things to them, they would reply," You can get more." Here now were the words of the Gospel: "Give to every man that asketh of thee." The missionary was greatly perplexed as to what to do with that verse. He let his helper in translation go away, and went to his room to pray over the matter. The time for the daily serviM was drawing near. What should he do 1 Why not pass over that verse? But his conscience told him that would not be honest dealing with the Scripture. Time for service came j but, instead of advancing he went back to the beginning of the Gospel, reviewing the earlier part. Thus he would gain time for fuller consideration of the text. Still he could not find that it meant anything but just what it said. He consulted a commentary, and it said Jesus was giving general principles, and that we must use com::non sense in interpreting His words. But this did not satisfy the missionary. If we are allowed to interpret oue Scripture in this way, why not others? Leaving the meaning to be decided by " common sense" seemed a very unsafe course.
After a fortnight of prayer and consideration he concluded that our Lord meant just what He said j and he went and read it to the people. He told them that this was a very high standard, and it would probably take him a lifetime to live up to it j but he meant to live what he preached to them. After the address the natives began to ask him for things, and he gave them what they wanted. He wondered whereunto this thing would grow i but he told the Lord he could not see any other meaning in His words. However, the people were evidently deeply impressed by his course. One day he overheard one say: " I got this from the white man." Then another said: "I am going to ask him for such a thing. " But a third said: " No i buy it if you want it." The leaven of grace was working in their hearts. After that they rarely ever asked him for anything.
Mr. Richards then went on translating and expounding Luke's gospel, and the interest continually increased. The climax was reached when he came to the account of the crucifixion of Christ. There was a large congregation the day he read this passage. He reminded the people of the kindness and goodness of Jesus and of His works of mercy, and then pointed to Him nailed upon the cross between two thieves, and said: " Jesus never would have died if we had not been sinners j H was because of your sins and mine that He died." The impression was very deep. It seemed that indeed the Holy Ghost had fallcn~upon the people. He continued preaching. One day, as they were returning from a ser- vice, Lutale, the man who had helped him in translating, began to sing one of the Congo hymns. His face shone with joy, and he said: "I do be- lieve those words; I do believe Jesus has taken away my sin~; I do believe He has saved me." After seven years of toil and weary waiting and suffering here was the first convert at Banza Manteke. At once Lutale began testifying what the Lord had done for him. But the people became his enemies and tried to poison him. He had' to leave his town and live with Mr. Richards for safety. For a time there were no more converts. However, the people were stirred. By and by the king's son became a Christian. Shortly after this another man came wit,h his idols, and placing them on a table, said, savagely, that he wanted to become a Christian. He soon began to preach. So the work went on until ten were converted. These all had to leave their own homes, however, as they were threatened with death. The missionary now shut up his house, and taking these men with him, went from town to town preaching the Gospel. The people were greatly moved, and one after another came over to Christ's side. Two daily meetings were held, and inquirers were numerous. The work continued and was blessed, until all the people immediately around Banza Manteke had abandoned their heathenism. More than one thousand names were enrolled in a book of those who gave ~vidence of real conversion.
Four years have now passed, and Mr. Richards has carefully noted the results of the work. Most of the converts are holding on their way. About three hundred have been baptized. The Church is earnest and spiritual. There has been much persecution, but the Christians have not been intimidated by this. Many examples of earnestness are reported. Materials for a chapel (provided through the liberality of Dr.· Gordon's church in Boston) were brought to a point fifty or sixty miles distant, and the people carried them all the way to Banza Manteke, over rough roads. Some of them went four or five times, each trip requiring a week. In all there were about seven hundred loads, of sixty pounds each, and the whole thapel was thus carried, and without charge.
The people, thieves before, became honest. Liars before, they now became truthful. They have also become industrious and cleanly. The women want to dress better. The men are more energetic and industrious. Witchcraft, poison-giving, and all such heathen practices were put away by those who confessed Christ. Many brought their idols, and at the first baptism they had a bonfire of images, destroying thus every vestige of Idolatry.
This sketch of the work at Banza Manteke, given almost in, the words of Mr. Richards, though greatly condensed, is' sufficiently full to indicate the method pursued and the different stages of progress. The story is of intense interest, and is also full of instruction not only for missionaries in heathen lands, but for Christian workers in any field.
AN AFRICAN DEVIL'S BUSINESS AliD ITS ARAB AGENTS
AN AFRICAN DEVIL'S BUSINESS AND ITS ARAB AGENTS; OR, THE SLAVE TRADE OF THE PRESENT DAY: WHO CARRIES IT ON, WHERE ARE THE SLAVES USED, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THE BUSINESS?
BY FREDERIC PERRY NUBLE, NEWBERRY LIBRARY, CHICAGO, ILL.
I.-THE FIELD AND THE HUNTERS.
Draw a line from Cape Verde to Cape Guardafui. Coast southward along Somauliland until you strike the equator. Run inland to Lake Vic- toria. Prolong an eastern boundary from its south-eastern corner to Lake Nyassa, and down the Shire River. Follow up the Zambesi to its source in Lake Dilolo ; then draw a line to Stanley Pool on the Congo, and fol- low the curve of the Gulf of Guinea, but at an average distance from the sea of about one hundred miles, until we come back to our starting.point in Senegambia. Thus, generaJly speaking, the Sahara, the Indian Ocean, the great lakes, the Zambesi, and the coast lands of the Atlantic constitute the boundaries within which the devil's-business of man-hcnting is pur- sued. With the exception of the Guinea coast and the west half of the Congo State, there is scarcely a recess into which the Arab has not pene- • trated. His hunting-grounds comprise, (1) the independent Soudan, (2) the for-mer Egyptian Soudan, (3) the heart of Central Africa, i.e., between the Congo and the lakes, and the Zambesi countries.
1. First and foremost among slave-stealers stand people from the east coast. These consist of shore tribes called Swahili, of half-caste Arabs, of resident Hindus called Banians, and of Portuguese in Mozambique, or up the Zambesi. Their boundaries of action lie between the Aruwimi, Lakes Albert-Edward and Victoria, Lake Nyassa and Shire River, the Zambesi as far as Victoria Falls, thence to Lake Bangweolo, where only yesterday , the Arabs instigated the Awamba negroes to pursue a most destructive sys- tem of slaving among the inhabitants of its northern and western shores; down the Lualaba-Congo to Nyangwe, whence they swing 100 miles west to Lumami River. Not more than 400 Arabs operate here; but they employ armed negroes in such numbers-Tippu Tib alone being reportfld to have 2000 men in his pay-that perhaps] 0,000 bandits wage war upon the blacks in this section. Until now the Free State post at Stanley Falls, even under Tippu Tib's governorship, kept the Arabs east of that point. But now that Tippu Tib is at Zanzibar, impotent with paralysis, his hotblooded kinsfolk are swarming over the barrier, and are fulfilling the prediction that they must yet be battled with. In March, 1891, seeing that the Free State's forces stop their passage across the Aruwimi, the slaveraiders turned north, reached the Welle, and threatened the Free State's port on that stream. The situation is alarming in the extreme, for the Congo State has no adequate revenue for military purposes, and America has robbed it of the means to secure itself. Its principal stations have
R .A
T SLAVE TRADE MAP OF ocEA EQUATORIAL, REPRINTE 0 FROM "T'HE ARABS IN CENTRAL ArRICA AND ATLAlo<E NYASSA IJ BY J,STEVENSON,F:R.S.E ..
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-Tracl<s ofSlaveCaravan.r and S love-Hunter.r.
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AN AFRICAN DEVn!S BUSINESS AND ITS ARAB AGENTS
been Zanzibar, Bagamoyo, Kilwa, and Quilimane (all on the coast), U-nyanyembe, U-jiji, and Kazembe's toward the lakes, with Nyangwe and Stanley Falls on the Congo. The main lines of travel were three: (1) Erom Manyuema via Tanganika Lake, U-jiji, and U-nyanyembe to Bagamoyo, Kilwa, and Zanzibar; (2) from Lakes Bangweolo and Moero, with a branch across Lake Nyassa to Mozambique; (3) from Lake Victoria to coast towns.
2. Next in power for evil come the slavers of the Egyptian Soudan, with Khartum as their centre. This territory comprises the Nile basin of 2,000,000 square miles, reaching from the Blue Nile to Lake Victoria 1500 miles south,and to the Welle River in the northeast quarter of the Congo State. There the Mabdist and the Zanzibaris lock hands. When Baker was appointed governor in 1869, he fuund 15,000 Egyptians, or Turks, engaged in slaving; and the number cannot now be less. Emin's former province of Equatoria and West Abyssinia are their .latest victims- Khartum, Fashoda, Sennaar, Gondokoro, and (formerly) Massowah the depots. The export route is the Nile, or overland through Darfur and Kordofan. In 1873 these fellows annually smuggled 50,000 slaves into Egypt, Tripoli, Arabia, Turkey, Persia, and eyen Turkestan. There are reasons for fearing the number to be as large to-day. The power and organization of the Khartum slavers may be inferred from the fact that during the Brussels Anti-slavery Conference, 200 delegates assembled at Khartum to devise measures for suppressiug Europe and America's rum traffic with Africa. They resolved to girdle Africa with dhows, confiscate every vessel containing liquor, and sell the crews into slavery. May the worst men lose !
3. The third principal source of supply is the native Soudan. This is about 2500 miles long by 500 wide, and forms one vast hunting ground, with Arabs from Morocco, Tripoli, or Kabylia as Nimrods. From Wadai these marauders penetrate to a point among the cannibal Nyams and dwarfs as far south as the Congo. Captives are transported to the market of Kuka, on Lake Tc,had, where about 10,000 are annually bought by Barbary dealers, and marched across the Sahara to the Fezzan, an oasis south of Tripoli. There they are sold to the south and east coasts of the Mediterranean. The sufferings en route have been so dreadful that very many succumb; and travellers unacquainted with the road need only follow the bones lying right and left. From the West Soudan, via Sok6to and Timbuktu, slaves are also sent to Morocco, where almost every town has its market. Throughout Africa nearly all Mohammedan towns arc receiving and distributing centres for the" black beasts." Morocco owns 50,000 slaves, and annually imports about 4000.
4. There are also minor sources; these, however, being less only by contrast. (1) In Congo State a domestic slave trade is fiercely pursued by large, powerful tribes between Stanley Pool and Stanley Falls. In this western half, as in general through the central belt extending from Senegambia to Uganda, the possession of many slaves is indispensable to tho dignity and power of head men, both in this life and after death. Their. decease is the signal for human sacrifices on a huge scale. Near the mouth of the Mobangi-Welle the inhabitants sell their war captives to the cannibals of its upper reaches expressly for food, and the latter even wage wars for the one object of capturing" long pig." (2) In Lunda, between Angola and the southwest of Congo State, Portuguese subjects enslave its people than dose around the sources of Zambesi River. Cameron was, in 18'75, informed that slaves (at least a few) were still exported from the Portuguese west coast. On the east coast the Portuguese (African and European) ship" black ivory" from Mozambique and Sofalaland. In 1880 the British Consul at Mozambique City rated the annual export at 3000 louIs; but an increased demand for ivory afterward gave the business fresh impulse, the two trades being hand and glove. In 1888 a Portuguese officer, reporting from his post in the interior, said of its commerce ,: " The lole trade of this district at present consists in slaves." Thus Portuguese authorities demonstrate that under their flag the slave trade has so increased and strengthened that to-day there is a yearly export of 10,000 slaves to Madagascar and the Comoros. (3) At the Gulf of Aden slaving is very active in Somauliland, where the slaves are bought or stolen from the Gallas inland, from Guragwe, and the Shillooks or Denkas. Abyssinia has many markets; and former Mahdists have swept thousands of its native Christians into slavery in Arabia. (4) Across the continent the natives of French Loanga, the German Cameroons, and Ashantee and Dahomey hunt their fellow-men relentlessly. (5) Uganda seems to link the Soudan and Zanzibar trades, since M'wanga formerly stole and sold 80,000 people each year, while one competent authority rated that export at 180,000 slaves. Central Africa contains 41 slave routes, varying from 100 to 1'000 miles in length; 16 slave-producing areas of less or larger extent, and 6 regions (several larger than Ireland) which have been all but depopulated, if not utterly unpeopled.
H.-THE METHODS.
The methods of slaving involve the commission of every crime. Before 18'70 slaving was generally commerce j to-day it is murder and robbery. Invasion of peaceful communities, not seldom prosperous or semi-civilized, firing villages at midnight, massacring terror-stricken men as they start from sleep to fall amid burning huts into sleep that knows no waking; kidnapping women and children, or holding them as hostages for a ransom of ivory from yet surviving fathers and husbands j and gratifying every instinct of lust and cruelty-all constitute its ways and means.
We wish, however, to scan the inner workings of the system, and must, therefore, concentrate attention upon Zanzibar as being fairly enough typical.
Among its commercial classes, none before 1890 exercised so much influence on the trade of East Africa as did the Banian, who number thousands. The Arabs are nearly all in their debt j and if a trader planned to journey to Uganda or Nyangwe or Nyassa for slaves or ivory, gum-copal or orchilla, he would borrow $5000 at fifty, sixty, or even seventy per cent interest, and purchase goods. At his journey's end they would have more than trebled in purchasing power. Leaving Bagamoyo or Kilwa with a caravan numbering 100, 300, or 500 pcople, our half-caste, who is mer- chant or murderer, as circumstances permit, takes several months to reach U -nyanyembe. In the maritime district kidnapping is seldom attempted, for the natives stand ready to avenge the slightest affront with bloody hands, and to use firearms whenever opportunity presents itself. From U-nyanyembe (Tabora) routes diverge to U-jiji and Uganda. Passing to U -jiji, he might either purchase slaves at its market or push into Manyema, 150 miles beyond Tanganika Lake (so Stanley pronounces and writes). At U-jji 5 dotti of cloth worth $7.50 would purchase a slave worth $30 at Zanzibar, while $6 would purchase ordinary males, whose value at U-nyanyembe would equal $25. Leaving $3500 as capital, this secured 464 slaves who, if surviving the march to Bagamoyo, realized $13,920 there-a net profit of $10,420. Nor is there reason to !luppose that their value in 1890 was less at marine marts, whence they could still be exported; and often the traders did better still, almost always returning with an enormous margin of gain.
Manyema, in 1865 an unknown country to these Arabs, has for twenty years been an El Dorado of ivory. When the first slaver returned in 1867 with a wealth of tusks and with tales of fabulous quantities of the precious article, the beaten tracks of Uganda and of Tanganika's coasts to east and south became comparatively deserted. Nevertheless, in the long band of country extending from Lake Victoria to Zambesi's wave the slaver has since ravaged and ruined so ruthlessly, that many populous, fertile districts have been reduced to deserts, and in every village around the great lakes no woman or child wandering ten minutes away has any likelihood of ever seeing home again. In Manyema firearms made even small parties of Arabs invincible. This helplessness and the ridiculously low price of ivory led to the new era in slaving, to the methods of the present day, and the rise of the Tagamoyos Tippu Tibs, and Ugarrowall.
Ivory cost, in copper wire or in beads, from one half to one and one quarter cents a pound in 1870-its value in Zanzibar being from $50 to $60 the 35 pounds. To-day that amount is worth $105, and is bought with bullets and blood. The new-comers, urged on by greed and ferocity, began the practice of wholesale massacre. They would accumulate tusk upon tusk for years, till great piles were buried beneath their huts. Suddenly they would "one day pick a quarrel, seize herds and goods, and shoot the men, sparing only enough to carry ivory. They fired the village, and the march worse than death had begun. Multitudes perish merely as beasts of burden; but ·for every slave-porter escaping or succumbing, a man is stolen or bought from the nearest tribe. This supplies its losses by seizure from Beighbors, and thus the caravan, even on the road, Cfl'ates a constant circu- lation of human cl1rrency in every local centre traversed. The Arab wreaks a ruin even greater than the annihilation of tribes outright. He keeps the region in a perpetual ferment, pits chief against chief to prevent com- bination, and either makes tools of tribes likely to become dominant, or shatters them by instigating rebellion among their dependants.
It is in the Congo forest that the frightful atrocities of the Arab slavers reach the depths of hellishness. Within an area equal to France and the Iberian peninsula, Tagamoyo, Tippu Tib, and Kilonga.Longa have suc- ce8sively harried, kidnapped, and murdered, till exaggeration by the nar- rator is. sheer impossibility. The sailor was right who said, on seeing slavers, " If the devil don't catch those fellows, we might as well have no devil at all."
November 27th, 1883, when founding establishments in the :Congo State, Stanley met with the Arabs of Nyangwe. He discovered that this horde of banditti-for in reality and without disguise they were nothing else-had started in July, 1882, from a village half way from Nyangwe to Stanley Falls. The ban 1 numbered 300 fighting men armed with flint- locks, double-barrelled percussion guns, and a few breech-loaders; their domestic slaves and the women doubled the numbers. For 11 months they had raided the left bank of the Congo for 100 miles, and as far north as Aruwimi-mouth ; then they had spent 5 'months on Congo's east shore in the same cruel work. This territory comprises 34,570 square miles- exactly 2000 more than Ireland-and had possessed nearly 1,000,000 peo- ple. One hundred and eighteen villages, comprising 43 districts, had , been devastated to gain the scant profit of 2300 women and children, and about 2000 tusks. Stanley calculated that if those 118 towns had only 1000 inhabitants each, the Arabs had a profit of merely two per cent, and that after these captives had undergone the voyage to Nyangwe, camp life, and the pests which miseries breed, there would remain only a scant one per cent on the bloody venture.
Horrible as are these facts from slavery's charnel-house of horrors, they do not begin to be the worst. Five expeditions, each as great as the pres- ent one, had already come and gone with their booty, and had completely weeded the region. If each expedition was as successful as Stanley's acquaintances, the slavers got 5000 people safely to Nyangwe j but 5000 out of 1,000,000 is one half of one per cent, or 5 slaves out of 1000 per- sons-the poorest possible profit. The 2300 slaves had cost 2500 souls shot, and 1300 dying by the way j and at this rate the 5000 slaves surviv- ing at Nyangwe (of the 10,000 originally obtained) had cost 33,000 lives. Each of the very smallest infants Stanley graphically estimates to have cost the life of a father, and perhaps his 3 stout brothers and 3 grown-up daughters': "An entire family of 6 souls has Leen done to death to obtain that small, feeblc, helpless, useless child !"
" What," he asks, " was the cause of all this vast sacrifice of human life, this unspeakable misery? Nothing but the indulgence of an DId Arab's wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous instinct&. He wished to obtain slaves to barter profitably with other Arabs. Having weapons—guns and powder-enough, he placed them in the hands of 300 slaves, and de- spatched them to commit murder wholesale, as an English nobleman would put guns in the hands of his guests and permit them to slaughter the game on his estate. If we calculate three quarts of blood to each person who fell during the campaign of murder, this one Arab caused to be shed 2850 gallons of blood-sufficient to fill a tank of 460 cubic feet-quite large enough to drown him and all his kin."
Stanley's pen-picture of this camp is as vivid as if taken by instantaneous photography. "It was surrounded with a fence made 'of the hut-walls of the native town, which lay in ruins outside, square plots of raised tamped earth, with a few uprights alone indicating where it had stood. The banana groves had been levelled, and their stalks employed to form the fence. Within the enclosure was a series of low sheds, many lines deep, extending 100 yards inland from the immediate edge of the bank In length the camp was about 300 yards. At the landing-place were 54 canoes, varying in capacity from 10 to 100 people. The camp is much too densely peopled for comfort. There are rows upon rows of dark nakedness, relieved here and there by the white dresses of the captors. There are lines or groups of naked forms upright, moving listlessly, or standing; naked bodies are stretched under the sheds in all positions; naked legs innumerable are seen in the perspective of prostrate sleepers; there are countless naked children, many mere infants, forms of boyhood and girlhood, and occasionally a drove of absolutely naked old women bending under a basket of fuel or cassava tubers or bananas, who are driven through the moving groups by two or three musketeers. Mostly all are fettered; youths with iron rings round their necks, through which is riven a chain like our boat anchor-chains, securing the captives by twenties. The children over ten are secured by three copper rings, each ringed leg brought together by the central ring. The mothers are secured by shorter chains; around are grouped their respective progeny of infants hiding the cruel iron links that fall in loops or festoons over their mothers' breasts. There is not one adult man captive. Beside the shaded ground so thickly strewn with prostrate and upright bodies lie scattered or heaped in profusion everywhere the relics of the many raids. There is scarcely a square foot of ground not littered with something. All these littering the ground, or in stacks and heaps, with piles of banana and cassava peelings, flour of cassava, and sliced tubers drying, make untidy pictures and details, through which prominently gleam .the eyes of the captives in supreme and utter wretchedness. Every second during which I regard them, the clank of fetters and chains strikes my ear. My eyes catch sight of that continual lifting of the hand to ease the neck in the collar, or as it displays, exposed, a manacle through fl mllscle bein~ irritated b, its wei¥,ht or want of fitnilss. 130lllld or riveted by twenties, they wallow in filth. . Only the old women are t"ken to forage; they dig the cassava and search for the banana, while the guard, with ready musket, watches keenly for the coming of the vengeful native. Not much food can be obtained. What is procured is flung in a heap be- fore each gang, to cause at once an unseemly scramble. Many of the poor things have been fettered for months already, and their bones stand out in bold relief on the attenuated skin which hangs down in wrinkles and puckers. Who can withstand the feeling of pity so powerfully pleaded for by those large eyes and sunken cheeks ~"
As we listen to this eye-witness, it appears unthinkable that wicked- ness can go lower. Yet it is Stanley himself, who from Darkest Africa brought tidingS and tales of deeds of darkness befitting depths beneath the lowest depths of hell. He says: "In 1887 a half-caste Arab slaver and his Manyema banditti launched out on one of the most sanguinary and de- structive careerl, to which even Tippu Tib's and Tagamoyo's offer poor comparison. Toward the Lenda and Ihuru rivers they had levelled every settlement into black ashes, had even vented their rage for destruction on the plantain groves, had split every canoe into pi~ces, had searched every , island, and had penetrated into the darkest recesses whither a slight track ( could be traced, with only one dominating passion, which was to kill as many men and capture as many children and women as craft and cruelty would enable them. However far north or east these people had gone .they had done precisely as we had seen, and had reduced the forest to a howling wilderness. Through all the immense area they had left scarcely a hut standing. Assuming that their ravages had extended east, north, and south 105 miles from Ipoto, we have something like 44,000 square miles. Once we know where the slaving centres are, we may, with a pair of compasses, draw great circles round each, and park off areas of 40,000 square miles into which a half dozen resolute men, aided by their hundreds 'of (negro) bandits have divided three-quarters of the Congo forest for the sole purpose of murder, and of becoming heirs to a few hundred tusks of ivory. • •• There were Manyema headmen responsible to the chiefs for followers and operations entrusted to their charge. At alternate periods each sets out for his own special sub-district. The fighters con- sist of Congoans trained by the Manyema as raiders, as in 1876 Arabs and East Coast natives had trained Manyema. This extraordinary increase in the number of raiders on the Upper Congo is the fruit of the policy of kill~ ing the adults, but preserving the children. The girls are distributed among the Arab, Swahili, and Manyema harems, the boys are trained to carry arms, and are drilled. Grown tall and strong; they are rewarded .with wives from the female servants of the harem, and are admitted as partnera in the bloody ventures. So many shares of the profits are due the great proprietor; a less number becomes the due of the headman, and the remainder is the property of the bandits. . . . At other times all ivory over 35 pounds goes to the chief i that between 35 and 20 pounds belongs to the headman, while young ivory, or scraps or pieces, fall to the lucky finders. This intlpires every man to do his best. The caravan is well manned and armed by the great proprietor, who stays in his harem on the Lualaba. The headmen, inspired by greed, grow ferocious. The bandits fling themselves upon a settlement mercilessly to obtain the largest share of loot.- children, flocks, poultry, and ivory. • •• All this would be clearly beyond' their power if they possessed no powder. Not a mile beyond home would the Arab and his followers dare venture. It is more than probable that if gunpowder were prohibited entry into Africa, there would be a general and quick migration of all Arabs from inner Africa to the sea, as the native chiefs would be immeasurably stro~ger than any combination of Arabs armed with spears. Of ivory there is not a single piece nowadays which has been gained lawfully. Every tusk, piece, and scrap in the possession of an Arab has been steeped and dyed in blood. Every pound has cost a life. For every five pounds a hut has been burned ; for every two tusks' a whole village destroyed; every twenty tusks have been obtained at the price of a district with all its people, villages, and plantations. It is simply incredible that because ivory is required for ornaments or billiards, the rich heart of Africa should be laid waste at this late hour of the nineteenth century, signalized as it has been by so many achievements; incredible that populations, tribes, and nations should be utterly destroyed. Whom, after all, does this bloody seizure of ivory enrich' Only a few dozens of half-castes, who, if due justice were dealt them, would sweat out the remainder of their piratical1ives in the severest penal servitude."
IlL-THE RESULTS.
How many slaves are captured; how many lives lost annually! In Nyassaland and Zambesi, according to Cameron's latest (1889) statements, 525,600 each year become slaves. In the equatorial tableland, from the data furnished by Papal missioners, the figures mount even higher. Thill brings the total of Africans who annually lose freedom at the hand of tho Arab hell hounds between the Soudan and the Zambesi up to 1,050,000. Including the Soudan, from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, Ashanti, Dah6- mey, Loanga, the Cameroons, Lunda, the native slaving on the Congo, Somauliland, and Uganda, it appears certain that the grand total equals at least 2,000,000. It is as if a Georgiaj or Iowa, or Michigan were annually enslaved. The worst of it is, that Christendom has a real though ,indirect responsibility for those astounding figures, because the relaxation of the English blockade, the troubles in the Soudan and on the East coast, the connivance of Portugal, and French bulldozing in Madagascar enabled the slave trade since 1885 to increase fourfold.
Yet this host, moving every twelve months into the house of bondage, does not represent one half of man's inhumanity in the land of death shades. The mortality of the caravans varies from one-half to three- quarters, and even nine~tenths. We wonder that one slave in ten ever reaches his destination, when we hear the accounts of Cameron, Baker, Livingstone, Lavigerie, and Stanley. Lavigerie says: "When all that are captured are hurried off, a series of unspeakable miseries commences. The men who appear strongest, and whose escape is to be feared, have hands and feet so tied that moving becomes torture, and on their necks are placed yokes attaching several together. All day they march ; at night a few handfuls of raw sorgho are distributed ; this is all their food. Next morning they must start again; but fatigue, suffering, and privations have weakened very many. The women and the aged are the first to halt; then, to strike terror into the miserable mass, their conductors, armed with a wooden bar-to economile powder-approach those most exhausted, and deal a terrific blow on the nape of the neck. The victims utter a cry, and fall in convulsions of death. The terrified troop immediately resumes its march. Terror has imbued even the weakest with fresh strength. Each time one breaks down the scene is repeated. At night, on arriving at their halting-place, after the first days of such life, a not less frightful scene awaits them. The traffickers in human flesh know how much their victims can endure. A glance shows who will soon sink from weariness j so, to economize food, they pass behind these wretched beings and fell them with a single blow. The corpses, when not suspended on neighboring trees, remain where they fall, and close to them must their companions eat and sleep as well as they can. In this manner the weary march is continued, sometimes for months. Daily the number diminishes. If, goaded by their cruel sufferings, some attempt to escape or rebel, thl! masters cut them down, and leave them as they lie, attached by yokes. "
Baker shall be our next witness, describing a slave-dhow and its cargo. He ordered one searched, and the captain was astonished that search was considered necessary. Besides crew and soldiers, the skipper averred, there was not a soul on board, while the vessel had only com in the hold, and ivory beneath. "But," says Baker, " she appeared suspiciously full of corn"for a boat homeward bound. There was an awkward smell about the closely-boarded forecaStle that resembled that of unwashed negroes. . . . Abd-el-Kader drew a ramrod from a soldier's rifle and sharply probed that corn. A smothered cry from beneath, and a wriggling among the corn were succeeded by a woolly head, as Abd-el-Kader, having thrust in his long arm, dragged a negress forth. At once the planks boarding forecastle and stern were broken, the corn was removed, and there was a mass of humanity exposed-boys, girls, and women close packed like herrings in a barrel, who, under threats, had remained silent. The mainsail appeared full and heavy in its lower part. Upon unpacking, it yielded a young woman thus sewn up. We discovered about 150 slaves stowed away in a most inconceivably small area. The stench was horrible when they began to move. Many were lD Irons. I ordered the agent and the captain to be put in irons."
Yet the captives and human exports are far and away the slightest sectiOl~ of thf;J sufferers. Every slave, on the average, represents 100 victims. T.he populations blighted by the simoom of slaving number 150,000,000as many as the German and Rm!sian Empires together.
IV.-THE REMEDIES.
1. As the Zanzibar slave trade has so long been sustained by the capital of British Hindoos, England has moral respousibility for that traffic. Now she is mistress of Zanzibar and Pemba, and her East Africa Company controls the coast north, and has brought Uganda under English lordship. 'With Zanzibar as the maritime key of the situation, and with Cairo a future . centre of Saxon government over an area greater than India, England can lock this export traffic into the interior. Moreover, Germany is conquering lands between Zanzibar and the lakes, the Reichstag has forbidden marine export.ation of slaves, and domestic sl~very will be abolished from its African possessions as speedily as circumstances permit.
2. Again, it began to look, last February, as if the Great Powers would fulfil their solemn pledges for the welfare of Africa, which they have shamefully failed t<? live up to. In 1884 they declared the Congo State should not be used for the slave trade, and each. bound itself to employ all means at its disposal to end the traffic and punish the slavers. Had they enforced their prohibitions, the slave trade could not have attained its present proportions. They <leclared that " these regions shall not be used as markets or as routes of transit for the slave trade, no matter of what race j each of these powers binds itself to use all the means at its disposal to put an end to this trade, and to punish all engaged in it." In 1889 they met in Anti-Slavery Conference (It Bru!:lsels, and agreed that the following measures are directly and generally practicable: (1) Tribes concerned in raiding shall be held responsible. (2) Any tribe through whose territory slave caravans pass shall be held to account, and such chiefs or organizers of caravans as have been once convicted of slavetrade offences shall render security on starting from the seaboard. (3) Chiefs ou whose coast slave shipments occur shall be dealt with. (4) The police of the sea is to be maintained by joint European effort, maritime transportation being the point where force and united action can be made most effective. Vessels of 500 tons and under, unless slavers of larger tonnage be hereafter discovered, shall, on the high seas, be subject to supervision and detention. (5) Disarmament of the slaver is nigh. From 20° North to 22° South, and from 100 miles out in each ocean" the sale of firearms to Arabs or natives is prohibited. Arms must be deposited in Government warehouses, taken· out only on permission, and not in sale include the most improved weapons. Stanley has said: "for wholesale massacres of African aborigines there is only one remedy -the solemn combination, of England, Germany, France, Portugal, South Africa, East Africa, and the Congo State against the introduction of powder into any part of the continent, except for the use of their agents j and seizing every tusk of ivory." Now Christian sentiment must compel civilization to redeem itself by grappling immediately with the slaver of the Congo, for the Free State offers the most advantageous means of attacking these Manyuemans and Soudanese in the rear, while Stanley Falls is the West Point of the Upper Congo. The United States itself took part in this Conference, and the refusal of our Federal Senate to ratify the decree of humanity is a damning diegrace to America. How the country that shattered the shackles of 4,000,000 bondmen could shirk its duty and fasten fetters on the black man in Africa, passes comprehension. EYen Holland played the man and shames us.
3. Cardinal Lavigerie has awakened even papal peoples to their duty in suppressing slavery, and proposes to stop man-hunting at its source by the sword. The campaign to realize this object may take place, since several thousand young meu have foluTJteered and are preparing. In the Sahara these youth~ and the Peres Blancs are already proving themselves true knights of labor, as diggers of wells and planters of trees.· It is objected that these crusaders would merely destroy a few slavers and divert the trade to other routes. But Lavigerie's real idea is that every European Power should maintain sufficient military forces wherever in its possessions the black is hunted j but, if finances forbade, he would revive the medireval soldiers of the Church, its Knights of Alcantara, Lazarus, or Malta, adapt them to modern methods and needs, put them under the Pope, and at the call of any government remove them from place to place requiring their services. Small, inexpensive squadrons can achieve great results.
Whether or not we agree with Lavigerie on the means of employing force, it is absolutely certain that force is now an indispensable necessity in suppressing slave-stealing. The case admits no alternative to-day, for Africa is bleeding out her life-blood at every pore: the population is far too scanty, and va~t areas are relapsing into uninhabited wilds, impenetrable to missionary or merchant. The Arabs are bitterly hostile to European influences, mean to practice slaving as their right, wage wanton war against missions, and demonstrate that in Central Africa European and Arab cannot live together. Turkey intends to send Mohammedan missionaries into her African possessions.
What, then, are the warlike measures inevitable against the Arab? Simply this: protection of Arric's dusky, helpless children. This comprises the introduction of armed bodies into the interior as shepherds of the people, continental blockades against caravans, and as police patrol. At their head will be Europeans, in the ranks natives, as militia, or Sepoys, picked men and masters of gun-drill. As on the Congo, so on the East Coast, the Zambesi, the Niger, the Nile and the lakes, lines of military posts or commercial depots three days' journey apart, are opening. These will absolutely forbid slaving, abolish local markets, prevent the transporting of slaves, except domestics duly registered, and sweep away customs or duties levied on slave sales. Swift armed launches are to be put on all navigable waters, with a garrison or tWQ on the high, healthr platealls of ~a<?h llik~ and on the main traffic lines. Such a chain of fortified posts we may soon see from Suakim along the Nile and the lakes to Quilimane. This will cut the roots of the cancer, and constitute bulwarks behind which missions may advance-missions, which alone can work lasting good.
4. When the export over-sea, indispensable to the continuance of Mos- lem slavery, is destroyed, serfage cannot long continue. Closure of ship- ping ports must therefore be effected, though a tremendous 3000 miles task. The status of slavery must be denied further recognition by inter- national law, the traffic be banned as piracy, and the maritime routes be made so utterly unsafe that no Arab will dm'e risk his life.
5. Mohammedan slavery keeps Africo.Arab slaving alive. So the Brussels Conference brought public opinion to bear on Persia and Turkey, the sole independent slave powers there, and deprecated the influence of their domestic bondage. They should persuade the heads of all Mohammedan States to discourage the purchase of negro slaves, and hold Moslem rulers accountable for future slaving infamies. Zanzibar's new sultan has prohibited slave selling, and instituted measures that will steadily wipe out the whole institution. The British Anti.Slavery Society has pledged itself to suppress Mohammedan slavery, and very many facts prove that the prospect for slavery dying out from the Moslem East is better than that possibility of mediooval Christendom.
6. Colonization, commerce, and railroads afford Christianity the underhold in this death grapple. The prejudices of the natives against colonization, never very strong, will yield to fair and judicious treatment.' But tropical Africa cannot be colonized. by " Caucasians," and it may well be in the Divine statesmanship that the American freedman and none other is to save the brother in black and teach him to save himself. Liberia and its noteworthy success, despite every disadvantage, prove negro colonization to be no Utopian scheme, and with regard to the Congo State, Stanley assures us that if " American negroes form the majority of its citizenship, it would, with proper encouragement, make remarkable development, and in time become a great nation. If these civilized blacks are developed morally, their contact with the savages would be happy." Signs are not wanting that among the negroes of our New Soutb not a few consider. African evangelization their race duty; and that the wonder-working Providence of American history anoints them as apostles to Ethiopia. The task would require comparatively few of the 7,000,000 black Americans, for if less than ten per cent return, 500,000 chosen people would, within one century, accomplish the regeneration of tbeir mother country. Such colonies will swiftly develop legitimate commerce and native industries among the fairly active and workable populations.
Commerce strangles slaving by making its profits less tban those of lawful trade, though it needs to be protected by physical force before it can produce its effects. On the Congo commerce checks the slave trade, since Boma and Matadi are drawing the ivory trade of Stanley Falls away from Zanzibar. Grenfell avers that if once the railway, now rapidly building between tidewater and Stanley Pool, is completed, the Arab will find his occupation gone. On the East Coast the African Lakes Company was organized as a lay auxiliary of Nyassa Missions, and accomplished this by buying ivory at higher prices than slavers can pay. It also built Murchison Road round the Shire Cataracts, and Stevenson Road between Lakes Nyassa and Tanganika. These mend the breaks in the water route from Quilimane to Ruanda, and are for humanitarian purposes the most im- portant thoroughfares to Central Africa, as this line cuts the principfll routes to the coast, and several garrisons on it could throttle the slavers in transit. As to Uganda and Masailand, Mackay and Emin have affirmed that a safe road to the coast must unquestionably be opened. The British East Afric:m Company is building a railroad from Mombasa to Lake Vic- toria. The English, at Stanley's request, devote their Stanley fund to placing a steamer on that lake, and Germany is doing the same thing. Emin has established a fortified post on its south shore, after whipping Arab slavers in many encounters. U-nyanyemhe is his central station, but he will found four large commercial stations and several smaller ones on the Tanganika and elsewhere. An ivory tribute will, within three years, repay the expenses-$400,000. That does not appear unreasonable when we remember that since 1885 Tippu Tib has exported $500,000 worth of ivory, and that this includes the cnormous stock just brought to market by his 7000 porters. A Swedish expedition intends to plant stations from Lake Victoria to Tanganika for co-opcration in suppressing ~laving. The Germans will, of course, push roads to the latter lake. The British Company bas effected the emancipation of 5000 slaves since 1888, made compacts against slaving with tribes inhabiting 50,000 square miles, compels Arabs themselves to recognize that no native is to be held in servitude, releases slaves in caravans, and enables domestics to buy their freedom. On the Juba 30,000 runaway slaves recently asked to be taken under its protection. In Uganda, Mwanga pledges himself to assist, in the abolition of slaving. Thus the outlook for the speedy suppression of East African sla1Jing, and the march of Christianity even to the Great Forest, is full of promise.
The greatest efficiency of the iron horse in destroying the slave trade will occur on transcontinental lines bisecting the slave-belt~. A railroad from Congo mouth to Zanzibar, Stanley says, can be eatiily constructed, and would pay from the start. Another, 1000 miles long, runs from Cape Town to Kimberley, and the South African Company, which is to govern all lands between the Orange River and the Tanganika will prolong it to the Zambesi. (A railroad from the South already reaches Yryburgh in Bechuanaland.) The Niger Company controls the Low.er Niger, where it bas suppressed human sacrifines and checked slaving j before 1900 it wm control the independent Soudan as far as the Egyptian Soudan. There .it will be met hy English -agents, either by Anglo-Egyptian officials, who will have recovered. the Khartum country, or by the East African Company from Equatoria itself. Since tltat is their ultimate goal, then we shall see the proposed railway from Monrovia to the Red Sea, a French line from Algeria to Lake Tchad, aud the Nile made, by skilful engineering at its modest cataracts, a broad waterway from the Midland Sea to the inland seas. Such roads will accomplish far more than armies; and if Europe will Europe can within a decade shatter the Arab slave trade to atoms. God grant that the negro who talked with Jephson about railways prove a prophet of good, and" that when the railroad is made, Jesus Christ may go up with it."
James H. Richardson, M.D., of Toronto, writes a letter to the editor, expressing emphatic dissent from the article in the January issue on " Livingstone and Stanley." We perhaps owe it to fairness to quote portions of this letter. Dr. Richardson questions the propriety of coupling these two men as we have done, and thinks the aims, characters, and methods of the two are dissimilar and antagonistic. Dr. Richardson thinks Mr. Stanley has given sanction to practices which humanity and Christianity must deplore, and cites the Emin relief expedition as an instance. We give his words: " Think of the very first step-the investing, of that fiend, Tippu Tib, with the authority and pay of an officer of the Congo Free State in the very heart of the country where he had been pursuing his most nefarious deeds of rapine, plunder, and slavery j and in the appointment recognizing his authority for carrying them on above the Stanley Falls. Think of the contract with this miscreant to furnish 600 slave carriers. Mr. Stanley denied, in his lecture at Montreal, that slave labor was employed; hut his book (' In Darkest Africa,' vol. i1., p. 3) records, ' The utter unruliness of this mob of slaves which had maddened tne officers of the rear column.' In vol. i., p. 26], he describes the la~hings on these poor slaves, and says 'awful oaths of vengeance were uttered for all the indignities they suffered j' on pages 212 and 213 we have the record of the hanging of a , slave of Fayilla,' and the condemnation to death of two other slaves-one the slave of a man in Zanzibar, thc other a slave of an artisan in U-nyanyembe, both of whom must have been brought with the expedition all the way from Zanzibar.
" Think of the 357 rifles and the Maxim gun which poured out a deadly stream of 300 bullets a minute! Think of the invariable practice' of driving the poor natives out of their villages and taking occupation. The very first landing at Yambuya was of this character. Read the account (vol. i., pp. 113, 114) after parleying uusucce~s£ully for an hour, ' for leave to reside in their village,' the signal was given, the whistles wl:lre blown" the, boats were moored to the shore, and the horde of about 700, armed to the teeth, rushed up the bank, ' and when the summit was gained not a villager was in sight.' For ten or eleven months these poor villagers were kept out of their homes; no wonder that two days afterward, when Stanley
43i .A. CRITICISM OF STANLEY
started with his advance force, the poor natives drew themselves up at the entrance to their village to prevent it from being taken possession of, and no wonder they never tried the defence again, as they were mowed down by the bullets from the 357 rifles and the deadly Maxim gun. They seem to have vacated village after village in terror, as if the demon of destruction was let loose on them. See also vol. i., p. 152. On July 10th the expedition occupied one of seven large villages at Gwengwere, out of which' all the population had fled ;' on tho 11 tIl, he writes, ' as we were disappearing from view of Gwengwere, the population was seen scurrying back to their homes, which they had temp'orarily vacated for our convenience. It saved trouble of speech, exerted, possibly, in. useless efforts for peace, i.e., if they had not left peaceably they would have been driven out!
" Think of every village being raided for food, and provisions for ten days carried off without remuneration, and this not once. but every day. It may be said that these robberies, this occupation of their homes, this employment of slave labor, this authority conferred on Tippu Tib, were necessary to the success of the expediti.on ; if so, then the expedition was an unholy one. To do evil that good may come is as wrong in this case as in any other. " Dr. Richardson adds that, in his opinion, the sad story of the rear colJlmn " would not have been written if Stanley had done his duty. In 1'0. t, pp. 337, 338, 362, and 364, it is recorded that after a council on Lake Albert, not having found Emin, they concluded to retrace their steps and to ' hurry' on to find Barttelot and the rear column before it was a , wreck' as 'the only sensible course which was left to them,' and how he abandoned this' only sensible course' and left Barttelot to his fate because the headmen and officers wanted to go back to find Emin, and so lost four months and a half before going to Barttelot's relief. As to the abuse heaped on Barttelot because he did not advance without getting the carriers promised by Tippu Tib, one short sentence (vol. ii., p. 13) settles the question: ' Without Tippu Tib, or one of his nephews, such a column' (as the rear column) 'could not be taken through the broad extents of wilderness ahead.' "
The Australian Ballot System is a striking illustration of the benefits which Christian lands may receive from their efforts in carrying civilization and Christianity to heathen countries. Australia was formerly wholly heathen, but has become a Christian land by colonization and missionary effort. The conditions of life there rendered possible the trial of a system of balloting which it would have been very difficult to experiment with in any country of more established institutions. But after having proved successful in Australia it is now adopted in nearly all the United States to the great satisfaction of every intelligent voter. It pays for Christian countries. to send missionaries and colonists to lift heathen lands out of their ignorance and degradation. Every nation so raised to an enlightened religious condition will have some peculiar contribution to the welfare of the whole world which could come from no other people.-Baptist Missionary Magazine.
MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP AND LAWS OF THE BANTU LANGUAGES
THE MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP AND LAWS OF THE BANTU LANGUAGES, AS SEEN IN THE KIMBUNDU AND ISI- ZULU.
BY REV. l"EWIS·GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
The elementary grammar of the Mbundu language, by Mr. Heli Cha~ lain, is a very valuable and timely contribution to a better knowledge of that great family of Bantu languages, which is now known to extend all through South Africa, or, in general terms, East and West from ocean to ocean, aud from the Orange River to some five degrees North of the equator. The grammar is pnmarily designed for the missionaries, the natives, and the colonists of Angola and neighboring dist.ricts; and, for this reason, is written in Portuguese, which prevails to a large extent in that field. Otherwise it would seem to have been better had it been written in a language more widely known. The author of the grammar was well qualified for the work he has done, and has done it well. A native of Switzerland, having acquired a knowledge of six or eight languages aside from the French and German which were his mother tongues, he went out some seven or eight years ago to Loanda, in the Portuguese colony on the West Coast of Africa, as linguist of Bishop Taylor's self-supporting mission. Studying the Portuguese Oil his voyage out, he was well fitted for his work among tribes that spoke dialects of which comparatively little was known as yet in other lands, though they are spoken of by Dr. Cust as constituting the lingua franca of all Western Africa. Indeed, Livingstone speaks of a resemblance between this language and that spoken at Tete, on the Zambezi in Eastern Africa; and the inhabitants of Angola have always found the Mbundu language of great service to them in their travels far to the East.
Mr. Chatelain, giving himself to the study and development of the Bantu languages, has prepared a primer and a translation of John's gospel for his mission, a short vocabulary of the Mbamba, and another of the Umbangala. He is now completing a work on the legends and fables of Angola, and several new vocabularies of neighboring dialects. A more extended work is that of a dictiona~y of the Mbundu language, now in preparation, to be enriched by a comparative study of the Swahili of East Africa, of the Kongo on the West Coast, and by the fruits of the labors of the American missionaries in the Benguela district, together with the fruits of German missionary labors in the Herero of Damara-land. Dr. Cust, the learned and able author of "Modern Languages of Africa," a work published in 1883, speaks of the Mbundu as one of the most important in all West Africa; and, having given a sketch of what the Portuguese have done during the last two and one half centuries to master and make this language known, concludes by saying: "It must be admitted that a new grammar of it is still required." But now, a year since, writing an " Introduction" to Mr. Chatelain's" Kimbundu Grammar," he expresses himself as much pleased .that the matter had fallen into the hands of a scholar 80 well qualified to undertake it, and commends the work to the favorable consideration of African scholars. It will help to give some idea of both the Zulu and Mbundu languages, their general character, forms, laws; also Fome idea of the relationship, or points of similarity that prevail throughout the ('ntire family of South African or Bantn language~, of which Dr. Cust finds 168, aside from 55 dialects, if we institute a brief comparison between the Kimbundll of Angola, in the northwest of the field, and the Isizulu of Natal and Zululand, in the southeast-a geographical distance which puts the two languages nearly two thousand miles apart.
One of the minuter points of resemblance is, that both languages make open syllables; that is, each word and syllable ends in a vowel; and, at< a general rule, the accent falls on the penult. Each abounds in certain consonantal combinations, such as mb, mv, ml, mp, nd, ng and nz; but clicks and gutturals are found only in the Zulu. The vowel signs used in writing have in each the Italian value, and the abundance of these makes the flow of pronunciation in each easy and musical. In their radical element many of the words are the same, or nearly the same, and quite the same in respect to the principle and use of the incipient elements or prefixes of words, though in the forms of their several prefixes they generally differ. Thus, nouns: ENGLISH. ZUI,U. MBUNDU.
Person. s. umuntu. S. mutu. Mother. P. atu. Snake. P. abantu. S. mama. Death. P. jimama. s. umame. S. nioka. P. jinioka. P.omame. S. kufua. P. makufua. s. inyoka.
P. izinyoka.
s. ukufa.
P. ukufa.
So in verbs: ZULU. MBUNDU.
ENGLISH. uku tunga. ku tunga. uku luma. ku lumata. to sew. uku shinga. ku shinga. uku beta. ku beta. to bite. uku lima. ku rima. to insult. uku sala. ku sha:la. to beat. to till. to remain.
For" three" we find tutu in both languages; for" five" we find Manu in the Zulu and tunu in Mbundu. In the former uleu lamba means" to hunger," in the latter leu lamba means" to cook."
In each language the nouns are divided into classes according to their prefix or preformative, and according to the way in which the plural is generally made from the singular by some change in the prefix. Zulu nouns are divided, in this way, into eight classes, the last two of which are without distinction as to number; and, in the same way, Mbundu nouns are divided into ten classes. In the former, the prefix u, um, or umu, of the first class, is changed to 0 or aba to form the plural; as um/ana, " boy," abafana, "boys." So, again, ili or i is changed to ama; im or in to izim, izin, orama; isi to izi, izim, or izin; and um or umu (impersonal) to imi ; though nouns of the seventh and eighth classes have the same pre- fix, ubu or uku, in both numbers: thus, ubuso may mean either" face" or " faces." Nouns in uku are of a verbal character, being the same as the verb in the infinitive mode. In the Mbundu the prefix mu, of the first class, is changed to a, to form the plural; as, mutu, " person," aiu, "persong;" m'}', of the second class, is changed to mi, as mulundu, " mQlmtain," milundu, ,-' mountains. " So, again, ki is changed to i; ri to ma; u to mau; lu to malu,. tu to matu,. ku to maku,. ka to iu; and other forms to ji.
IIi both languages alike f'ach class of nouns has a fragmentary or genitive pronoun of a preformative character, which corresponds to the noun's ptefix ; one for the singular, and one for the plural, which, with the genitive particle a, denotes possession, or the relation of a subject to an attribute; thus, in Zulu, ilizwi lom/ana (loa-um/ana), " word of the boy," or " boy's word;" ~baniu benkosi (b-a-inkosi) "people of the king," or "king's people. " So in the Mbundu, muiue ua mutu, " head of man," or " man's head;" mitue ia atu, " heads of men."
In both languageR alike the adjective takes a prefix corresponding to the prefix of the noun with which it agrees; thus, in Zulu, um/ana umkulu, "the boy (is) great;" um/ana omkulu (a-umkulu) , "the boy (which is) great," i.e., "great boy;" abantu bakulu, "people (are) great ;" abantu abakulu, "great people." So in Mbundu; thus, muiu uonene, "great person;" kim~ kionene, "great thing;" ima- ionene, "great things ;" r'ital'i l'ionene, "great stone;" mata;'i monene, "great stones. " So, too, in respect to numerals. In the Zulu we have umuntu omunye, "one person;" abantu ababili, " two persons ;" izinkomo ezintatu, "three cows." In the Mbundu we ha-e mutu umoshi, " one person ;" kima kimoshi, " one thing;" ima itatu, "three things ;" matubia matanu, "five fires."
The grammar of the verb is essentially the same in the Mbundu language as in the Zulu. In the latter the infinitive has the sign uku, " to ;" as uku landa, "to love;" uku bona, "to see;" in the former, ku; as ku zola, "to love ;" ku longa, "to teach;" ku banga, "to make, do." In both languages alike the pronominal subject of the verb in the third person corresponds to the prefix of the noun for which the pronoun stands. Thus, in Zulu (um/ana, "boy") u bona, "he see~;" (aba/ana, "boys"), ba bona, "they see;" (inkomo, "cow"), i bona, " it sees;" (izinkomo, " cows"), zi bona, "they see." In the Mbundu we have (mutu, "person"), u banga, "h~ (or she) makes;" (atu, "persons"), a bar.ga, " they make ;" (kima," thing"), ki banga, " it makes ;" ' (ima, "things"), i banga, "they make." 'For the first, second, and third persons, preient tense, we have: IN ENGLISH. IN liIZULU. IN KIMBUNDU.
S. I love. S. Ngi tanda. S. Ngi zola. thou Iovest. u tanda. u zola. he (or she, etc.) lovt's. u (i, or Ii, etc.), tanda. u (or a, etc.), zola.
P. we love. P. si tanda. P. tu zola. ye love. ni tanda. nu zola. they love. ba. (or zi, etc.), tanda. a (or i, etc.), zola.
In the few following forms we have a comparative view of some of the modes in the two lan~ua~es : IN ENGLISH. IN ISIZULU. IN KIMBUNDU. '
Love, or love thou. tanda, or ma u tande. zola. Love yeo I love, or I do love. tandani. zolenu. I may love. I should love. ngi tanda, or ngi y a tanda. ngi zola.
ngi nga tanda. ngi zole.
nga ngi tanda. ngojo zola.
In the following we have a comparative view of a few tenses.
IN ENGLISH. IN ISIZULU. IN KIMBUNDU.
I love. ngi tanda. ngi zola. I loved. nga tanda. nga zolo. I have loved. ngi tandile. nga zolele. I had loved. ngi be ngi tandile. nga. zolele kia. I shall love. ngi y8 ku tanda. ngondo zola, or nganda ku zola.
IB respect to species of verbs, we find much of likeness between the Zulu and the Mbundu, as also between these and the Hebrew, in what is there called " conjugations." In the former from tanda, ,. love," we get the causative, tandisa, .. cause to love j" the relative, tandela, " love for j" the reciprocal, tandana, "love one another j" the reflective, zitanda, " love self j" the subjective, tandeka, " be lovely or lovable j" also other species. In the Mbundu we have from zola, ,. love," zolesa, " cause to love j" zolela, "love for j" rizola, " love self." We sometimes find two or more species combined j as, in Zulu, the causative and relative, tandisela, "cause to love for j" in Mbundu, zolesela, " cause to love for."
The mutual relationship and laws, or kinds of resemblance and difference that prevail in the great family of Bantu languages are seen, to some extent, in the goodly number of words that are found to be substantially the same in many of its members, though such words are often found in greatly differing forms. "Ve take two words, or, rather, one word in its two numbers, umunt!l, " person," abantu, " persons or people," as a good example of the unity in variety in some of the corresponding words in the cognate lauguages of which we speak. This word consIsts of two elements, one radical, the other preformative, which is also called "prefix." In Zulu the ,root is ntu; the prefix, singular, umu, plural, aba. And, of all the numerous forms which this word may take, whether in root or prefix, doubtlelOs the Zulu, as above, i.e., um'l1ntu, abantu, are alike most original and complete., For these Zulu words we find the corresponding words, in the cognate languages, to be, on the South, in the Kafir, umntu, abant'l ; on the West, in the Sesutu, motu, batu,. in the Sethlapi and Sechuana, mothu, bathu. Going northward and eastward, and coming into the Delagoa region, we find, in the Southern Tekeza, munu, banu or vanu,. in Northern Tekeza, amuno, vano,. coming to the Tete and Sena on the Zambe~ii, we find munttu, vanttu,. in the Quilimane, muntu, antu,. in the Maravi, muntu, wanthu. In the Makua, latitude 15° South, we find muttu, attu. In the Yao, on the eastern bank of Lake Nyassa, we have mundu, vandu or wandu; in Kiswahili, latitude from 5° to 6° South, mtu, watu,. then, in the Kinika, mutu, atu,. in the Kikamba, mundu, andu,. and in the Kisambala and Kipokomo, on the Pokomo, Dana or Tana River, near the equator, we have muntu, wantu.
Passing now to the southwest of the Bantu field, and moving northward along the West Coast of the c'ontinent, we find, in the Otyiherero or Damara language, omundu, ovandu j in the Sindonga, the language of the Ovambo, umtu, oantu,. in the Nano of Benguela, omuno, amana j in the Kimbundu or Angola, mutu, atu,. in the Kongo, omuntu, oantu j in the Benga, as spoken on the Corisco Islands, North of the equator, moto, bato,. and in the Dualla and Isubu or Cameroons language, motu, batu.
From what is already known of the many other Bantu languages, we have every reason to believe that the points of agreement and difference which we have. now passed in review are a good specimen of what prevail among the scores that still remain to he reduced to order in the great inland region that stretches through the interior, from four or five degrees North of the equator to the Orange River on the South.
Of how great advantage this relationship must be to the hosts of missioll9.ries, whose great work it shall yet be to reduce the still unwritten multitude of these Bantu languages each to its own grammatically exact order, and translate the Scriptures into them, it is hardly pOl)sible to give any adequate idea. If the writer, while preparing to go abroad, could have, had the means of getting even such a knowledge of these languages as may be gathered from this article, it would have been of more aid and saving of time to him than he can now tell.
We reprint from the African News a brief article on " The Spelling of African Names," by Heli Chatelain, which is appropriate to follow Mr.
Grout's paper: " Every reader of African publications and student of African maps must have been struck with the orthographic chaos which prevails throughout African nomenclature. The same town, country, people, mountain, or river is designated in different maps and b?oks, sometimes in the same periodical, with a variety of names which, to the uninitiated, present but few or no traces of similarity, much less of identity.
" This lamentable fact is due mainly to two causes: (1) to the hetero-
THE SPELLING OF AFRICAN NAMES
geneous spelling of European languages, from which the information is culled; (2) to the prefixes and suffixes of African languages, whose secret is understood by few African linguists, and even then imperfectly.
" ]. The nature of the first difficulty will be understood at a glance, on comparing the following table, giving the principal European ways of rendering the same sounds : English. Frencli. German. Portuguese. Spani87i. u 00 ou u u e e a e,(! tl x, eh nh Ii 8h eh seh eh nj dj ny gn tach, tj ao au dsch, dj ai, ae ai, ay elt teh all j dj ei ow (as in how) aou i a"i Thus the Magadoxo of the Portuguese becomes Magado~ho in English, and MagadoKcho in German, unless the Arabic form Mukhdishu, with its own national transliterations, be preferred by a traveller or map-maker.
" The British Government and the Royal Geographical Society have recently taken an important step toward bringing some order into the hitherto arbitrary nomenclature, by agreeing on a systcm of geographical speIling and transliteration which shall be followed in all official documents, and is sme to be adopted by the public at large. The value of the letters according to the new system is given on page 466 (October, 1890), of the African News j but one important article was omitted.
" In the names of places belonging to the German, French, or Portuguese spheres of influence, and, in the case of a few old names, the German, French, or Portuguese spellings are to be left unchanged. So, the readers will still be supposed to know all those langllage~, if they want to pronounce correctly. It follows, therefore, that the new spelling will be principally applied to the tranBliteration of native names in eOllntries controlled by England. It may be interesting for many to learn that the system recently made official is simply the one used by Krapf and his colaborers in Ea~t Africa, for the transliteration of Ki-swahili and other East Afril)an languages.
" The United States have just been favored with a Board on Geographic Names, whose duty it is to give the standard, to which all official publications will have to, and the unofficial will choose to, conform. It is much to be desired that our Board will, as far as possible, concur with the decisions of their colleagues across the water.
"2. The second cause of pnzzling spellings, the peculiar construction of African tongues, cannot be as snmmarily dealt with as the first. Only as our knowledge of the hundreds of dialects advance~, can the correct names be settled on, and the only rightful judge on the question is the acknowledged master-linguist of each separate language. Many of the names now generally accepted will have to yield to new ones, because they are not the names used by the natives of the 'place, but those given to travellers or missionarie~ by their native guides or carriers belonging to other tribeft, who adapt all the names they hear to their own national taste. Though quite insufficient for the scientist, a few points will be very useful to the general reader.
" Thus, in most Bantu languages, whose area covers the immense triangle between the Cameroons (now Kamerun), the Kilimanjaro and the Cape of Good Hope, the different prefixes, which puzzle so much the stranger, can easily be learned: Mu- mo- m- * mean man, e.g., Mu-ganda signifies a G"nda-man. Ba- wa- a- ma- t mean mtn. e..q., Ba-gar,da signifies Ganda-men. u- Ki- tlki- si- mean language. e.g., Ki-swaltili signifies Swahili language. Bu- mean country, e.g., Bu-ganda, U-gogo signifies Ganda Oountry, Gogo Oountry.
" When, therefore, an African name occurs, the prefix will tell you whether the name indicates a single man, a people, a country, or a lan- guage, and our table will tell you approximately, in case of doubt, which prefix you have to use. Never use Wa- or Ba- for the country, nor Bu- or U- for the people. Tbough less gross, mistakes are even then unavoid- able, alii a comparison of the prefixes used (1) by the Ba-ganda, and (2) the Ba-sutu will show: .
Man. Men. Country. Languap:e.
(1) Mu-ganda Ba-ganda Bu-ganda Lu-ganda (2) Mu-autu Ba-8utut Le-8utu Se-&utu " In Angola two neighboring nations are distinguished solely by prefixes, which were modified to avoid the confusion. Thus, in the language of Angola proper, ki-mbundu means the language of the a-mbundu (people), while ki-mbundu, applied to a person, signifies a native of Bailundo or Bihe j as to the language of the latter it is called u-mbundu, which is also used to express the negro color and natnre.
" Dr. R. N. Cust. in his excellent' Modern Languages of Africa,' cut the Gordian knot of prefixes and suffixes in Alexandrine fashion by ignoring them completely aud using the bare radical to indicate language. Ignoring them, however, docs not remove the difficulties for a long time j the specialists keep on clinging to their distinctive prefixes. The splendid language map, which accompanies Dr. Cust's book, has passed into the hands of many students of Africa, and has led them to use the radicals, which there designate the languages, for either countries or people.
"A treatise on the subject by a speciaJiRt in each of the few great. families of African languages would be timely and helpful to geograp}:lers and the reading public." ——————– The religion of the people of Syria is usually called by the Government Moslem and non-Moslem. The first includes Orthodox and Persian Moham- medans (Moslems and Metawalies), Druzes, Nusaireeyehs and Ismaileyehs and all Bedawee Arabs. Non-Moslems are Jews, nominal Christians (Or- thodox Greek, Papal Greek, Maronite [Papall, Jacobite, Syrian, Armenian and Latin Papists) and Evangelical Christians. The principal accessions to the church have been from the non-Moslem sects. Work among these is important. It aims to give them a pure Gospel and to remove all ground for the well-merited contempt in which nominal Christians are held by Mos- lems. This has been so far successful that, first, the religion of Evangeli- cal Christiant! is looked upon as a new religion and is respected by the non- Christian sects j second, the old sects are beginning decided reforms in their churches j and, third, the leaven of the Gospel is working in a most interesting and marked manner among the Moslems, giving the confident hope that the day is not far distant when a large number of them may be brought to Christ. Earnest prayer is asked that freedom of conscie'lce may be fully granted to all. – Ohurch at Home and Abroad.
• In nicknamee eometime. KOr and t TIl·.
t The French spell BOrBOuto, the English, ~Or8'ttu, the Germano, BOrBOto. The correct woulq be Ba-eOtO. the accented vowels sounded like u inj'ult, but long. THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA lIY W. A. I'lTANTON, EI'lQ., HAMILTON, :N. Y.
Now that 110 much interest centres in the Dark C0I1tinent; we seek for some comprehensive view of the great people wbo inha;bitjt. We hear· much of individual tribes, but very little of general races. 'Ve :rnow something of the Negro and the Congoese, but very little of the African man, in his diverse life and multitudinous types, from the M:editerranean to Cape Colony. Our view is 1>artial and one-sidlld, rather than complete 'and comprehensive. It will be the purpose of this paper to gather up the results of recent investigation, and present, as far ·as possible; a broad general view of the people of Africa. We will accomplish this be·stby considering, first, the ethnology, and second, the gener:;tl condition of the people j or, in other words, by seeking to discover who -the people are, and what they are.
I. Who are the people of Africa! 'Ve must remember at the outset t~at the population· of Africa is composed of two elements; the native and the foreign.. Thl'! foreign element consists of Europeans, Arabs, Moors, Turks, a~d Jews. With these we will not deal, as they are well known both as to race chamcteristics and general manner of living. We must not, however, classify 'the Arabs and Moors in exactly the same rank with the Europeans or. even the Turks. For the Arabs have been in Africa ever since 300 B. c., and· have thus become almost indigenous, in many cases amalgamating with the native races. But it is not this foreign element, however long it may have cxisted in the land, of which we wish to speak, but of the great undefined and unclassified native population. Any true classification of the people is almost an impossibility. The ethnology of Africa is in the utmost confusion. Every new explorer brings to light great and hitherto unknown races, as well as· establishing new facts in regard to old ones. As the case now stands, in the light of Stanley's most recent discoveries, the native population of Africa consists of six great races-B·erber, Coptic, Nilotic, Negro, Bantu, and Goriepine.. Mr. Stanley, in his most recent work, criticises the term " Bautu" as unscientific, on the ground that it simply means "men j" but, as all the best authorities employ it, and as it has become asseciated by constant use with the race to which it is usually applied, we think it best to retain it. All these six races are allied to a greater or less degree. They all spring from the great Indo-African or Indo-Ethiopic family. They are thus a mixture of the pure African type with the Asiatic. and differ in race characteristics according as the one type or the other predominates. Though thus allied, they present strong race distinctions, and hence deserve a separate classification. 1. The Berber. The Berbers are a race of great antiquity. They are descendants of the primitiv~ ~to{:k of the land. They vary in color from a black to a dark bronze or copper. They have hig~ cheek-bone!!, the nose sometimes flat, like that of the Nf>gro, and sometimes aquiline; lips formed like those of Europeans; eye!! expressive, and hair curled, but not woolly. They are without the slightest trace of what is generally recognized as the negro physiognomy. They are an athletic, strong-featured people, accustomed to hardship and fatigue. Though the various tribes differ much, they are all fine men, tall, straight, and handsome. The home of the Berbers is in North Africa. They extend from Morocco to Egypt, and from tho Mediterranean to the Soudan. The Shuluh of the Atlas district, the Kobyles of Tunis, the Tuaneks of Western and Central Sahara, and the Tibbus of Eastern Sahara all belong to the Berber genus, and speak the Berber language.
2. The Coptic. The Copts are descendants of the an~ient Egyptian… They are a mixed race, their ancestors h!1ving intermarried with Greeks, Nubians, and AbYRsinians. Their complexion is similar to that of the Arab-a brownish yellow; foreheads flat, hair soft and woolly, noses flattened like the Negro's, lips thin and straight, cheek-bones high, beards thin, eyes large, and bent upward like the Chinaman's. They represent all that is left of the proud blood of the Pharaohs. Their home is in Northern Egypt.
3. The Nilotic. There are three main divisions of this race-the Nubians, Abyssinians, and Gollos.
The Nubians are of a reddish brown complexion; their color in some cases approximating a black, but not like the ebony hue of the Negro. They are described as a handsome people, with beautiful features, fine expressive eyes, and of slender and elegant forms. They inhabit Nubia.
The Abys~inians are a IItrong and vigorolls race, of a copper hue, more or less dark, with straight noses, eyes clear yet languishing, hair black and crisp, but not woolly. They are a mixed race, and inhabit Abyssinia.
The Gollos are the strongest tribe of the Nilotic race. They are a large, vigorous, almost bulky people. Their color varies between black and brownish, some of the women being remarkably fair. As to type, they stand between the Negro of Guinea and the Arab or Berber. Their countenances are rounder than those of the Arab, their eyes small, deeply set, but lively. They occupy a large district in East Africa directly South of Abyssinia.
4. The Negro. The general physical characteristics of the Negro are too well known to need description. It is a mistake to suppose all Africans are Negroes. The Negroes form but one of the six great races. Their home is in the Soudan, stretching from Senegambia on the West, to the highlands of Abyssinia on the East. The Mandiogoes are one of the most powerful of Negro races. They inhabit Senegambia, are very numerous, and partially civilized.
The W olofs occupy the region between the Senegal and the Gambia. They are the blackest and handsomest of all Negroes, and are a mild and social pe>ple. Central Soudan is occupied by the FOlllahs. They are one of the most remarkable races in Africa, distinguished for their intelligence and friendliness, are fairly industrious and civilized, and speak a rich and harmonious language. Our knowledge of Negro races is confined, in the main, to those of the coast, who are of the lowest type. Of the vast inland tribes of the Soudan ah:~ost nothing is known. The heart of this great country has scarcely been penetrated, and is now the least known of any part of Mrica.
5. The Bantu. The Bantu race is the most marked and characteristic race in Africa. The Bantu is of a far nobler type than the Negro. Though there are many tribes and nations, they all have the same general characteristics, and belong to one great family.' They are thus described by a recent traveller: "The Bantu is a fine, tall, upright man, with delicately small hands and well-shaped feet, a fine face, high, thin nose, beard and mustache.
" The further you go into the interior the finer the type becomes, and two points about them contrast yery favorably with most of the coast racesnamely, their lighter color, generally a warm chocolate, and their freedom from that offensive smell which is supposed wrongly to characterize most of the Africans. Some of them are perfect Greek statues as regards the splendid development and poise of figure. " They occupy a greater extent of cOllntry than any other one race in Africa, stretching from the SO North of the equator to the Tropic of Capricorn; or by countIies, from the 'Soudan nearly to Cape Colony. Thus nearly the whole Southern half of Africa is the home of the Bantu race.
6. The Goriepine. The Goriepine race is composed of Hottentots, Korannas, and Bushmen. A description of the Hottentot will suffice for all. Where they originated is a mystery. The only people to whom they are thought to bear a resemblance are the Chinese or Malays. Like these they have the broad forehead, the high cheek-bones, the oblique eye. the thin beard, and the dull yellow tint of complexion; but there is a difference in regard to their hair, which grows in small tufts, harsh, and lather wiry, and in the formation of the bones of the pelvis. They are a race of dwarfs, rarely exceeding four feet six inches in height. They are lively, cheerful, good-hnmored, and by no means wanting in intellect.
These six races form the native population of Africa. The entire population, both native and foreign, is variously estimated from 200,000,000 to 350,000,0.00. Mr. Guinness estimates it at 350,000,000. Stanley places it at 250,000,000. A conservative estimate would place it between 250,000,000 and 300,000,000.
II. We ask, in the second place, what is the social and moral condition of this great people 1 As to civilization and social status, Africa may be divided into two .great sections. The division is marked by passing a line froni the mouth of the Senegal Rh-er on the West to Cape Guardafui on the East. The Northern half includes aU the States of the Mediterranean, Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia, and the Sahara. The Southern half embraces the Soudan, and Central and Southern Africa; or, as to races in the North, the Berber, Coptic, and Nilotic, in the South the Negro, Bantu, and Goriepine.
The Northern half has the characteristics of the Arabic civilization. The people are largely pastoral and nomadic. They have all the genius of the Arab, both for war and for trade. The Tuoricks and Tibbus of the Sahara are purely nomadic, living by means of predatory incursions and by tribute exacted from passing caravans. The Kabyles of Algiers and Tunis are the most industrious of Berber tribes. They till the land and work the mines in the mountains. The Copts of Egypt are an extremely bigoted people, of a sullen temper, very avaricious,. great dissemblers, ignorant, and faithless. They form the middle class, working chiefly as tradesmen and mechanics. The Abyssinians are, on the whole, barbarous and addicted to the grossest sensual pleasures. Their priests, among whom marriage is common, are but little better than the mass of the people. They are fierce and warlike, and have little regard for human life. In general, we may say of the Norj:.h African people, they are restless and nomadic for the most part, fierce and warlike, yet in some cases peaceable and industrious, proud; haughty, arrogant, energetic, and aggressive; in trade keen and versatile, with a strong native instinct for acquisition; in morals grossly sensual as the Abyssinians, or markedly abstemious as the Tuoricks of the desert or the Nubians of the Nile. In fine, they are characterized by both the virtues and the vices of the Arabic civilization and the Moslem faith. The stamp of the Arab and of Islamism is impressed on every race from the Mediterranean to the Soudan.
The Southern half of Africa is utterly destitute of any civilization worthy of the name. 'fhe people are for the most part in Ii primitive condition, not strictly savages, yet not civilized. As to social status, the people live mostly in independent groups under the command of a chief or king, whose domain may comprise only a few villages, or it may be a large extent of territory. In the Congo valley every village is independent, while in the South is the great Gorongange kingdom of Msidi, who is a most absolute despot, and rules by means of 2000 fusileers. In general the king or chief is tyrant and the people his slaves.
As to intelligence, there is a vast difference in different tribes. The best representatives, perhaps, of intelligence are the Bololo people, in the bend of the Congo. They clear away the tangled growth of t.he forest in their settlements, and sow the fertile soil with maize and mandroca. They are expert in the working and smelting of brass. They understand division of labor, and have divided themselves into farmers, gardeners, smiths, weavers, cabinet-makers, warriors, and speakers. They are intelligent, industrious, and friendly. The streets of their villages are straight and regular, running at right angles. Their houses are large and commodious. Far in the interior, however, we find a different state of things. Professor Drummond gives this description of the people in the Nyassa district: THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA.
" Hidden away in the endless forests, like birds' nests in a wood, in terror of one another, and of their common foe, the slaver, are small native vil- lages ; and here in his virgin simplicity dwells primeval man, without clothes, without civilization, without learning, without religion, the genuine child of nature-thoughtless, careless, and contented. This man is ap- parently quite happy ; he has practically no wants. One stick pointed makes him a spear j two sticks rubbed together make him a fire; fifty sticks tied together make him a house. The bark he peels from them, makes his clothes; the fruits which hang on them make his food."
There is one common characteristic of the Central African people. They are bom traders, and therein lies the hope of a future civilization for Africa. The commercial instinct is all-powerful.· They have actually created among themselves a true currency, though not a money one. " In the management of a bargain," says Stanley, " I should back the Congoese native against Jew or Christian, Parsee or Bonyan, in all the round world. Unsophisticated is the very last term I should ever apply to an African child or man in connection with the knowledge of how to trade. I have seen a child of eight do more tricks of trade in an hour than the cleverest European trader on the Congo could do in a month. Therefore, when I write of a Congo native, whether he is of the Bakongo, Bayanzi, or Bakete tribes, remember to associate with him an almost unconceivable amount of natural shrewdness and power of indomitable and untiring chaffer." As to morals, the picture is not so fair. The degradation is extreme and well- IJigh universal. Polygamy is everywhere practised. In the empire of Kasongo, 'Vest of Lake Tanganyika, the ruler is regarded as the husband of all his female subjects, except his mother. The idea of chastity seems to have been entirely lost. The value of a human life, especially of a slave, is unknown. Mutilation and death are the only punishments in vogue, even for the slightest offences. The slaughter of men, women, and children that accompanies the death of a chief is so revolting as to be almost incredible, had it not been attested by eye-witnesses. Human sac- rifices are common. The walls which surround. the palace of the King of Dahomy, on the West African Coast, are decorated with the heads of war- captives stuck on stakes. Cannibalism is not universal, but is prevalent among the tribes of the Upper Congo and about the Mobangi River, where the paths are marked by rows of human skulls, and the people wear neck- laces of human teeth. We shudder at the very mention of atrocities which ~ are of every-day occurrence among this people. From the dwarfs of the Great Forest of Upper Congo to the half-human inhabitants of the Kolohori Desert, and from the besotted Negro of Old Calabar to the degenerate Hot- tentot of Momagna land, the same blackness of moral degradation prevails with ever-deepening shades. All are not as atrocious or as degraded, but the few faint and s~attered gleams of light only serve to deepen and in- tensify the dense darkness that covers like a pall this truly benighted land. Africa has been likened, from her geographical form, to a woman with a
CONFUCIUS AND CHRIST COMPARED
huge burden on her back. Need I ask what that burden is! It is the crushing weight of a bondage more cruel and relentless than that of the Arab slaver, more deadly and destructive than that of the white man's rum -the bondage of a thousand years of ever-deepening sin.
CONFUCIUS AND CHRIST COMPARED.
In a recent issue of the American Missionary we find the vast difference between the power of the moral teachings of Confucius to affect the conduct, and that of the teachings of Christ, very clearly put by a converted Chinaman, as the following item will show: Hing Sing is a helper in the Chinese mission at Petaluma, Cal. He • reports in a letter to Dr. Pond, the superintendent, an interview with a pagan friend. Though his English is in dialect form, he makes it express very clearly his idea of the universality of the religion of Jesus, and its superiority to that of Confucius.
In the course of the interview his friend had acknowledged that it. was a wrong way to do to smoke and to gamble, and that it wasted money. " But," he said, to quote Hing Sing's own words, " you should not believe Jesus, for we have our own Confucius doctrine, which also taught us to be good. You should not believe Jesus, and should not imitate foreign doctrine.' , I answer him: " Gold have no limit, no matter from what country or nation, but pure and true, so that we call precious, for everybody can use it. Also the Jesus doctrine have no limit, from whateTer nation, but is the true, for we to imitate and believe.
" We loand Jesus was the Son of God, came down to saTe our soul, if we real trust in His name. I found our Confucius, he was virtue and good man. lIe can teach us to be good and honor, but he cannot save our soul. But we found J csus was the Son of God, for lie can give His Spirit to melt our wicked hearts into righteous and faithful and good man; our Confucius only can tell us between good and bad, but not able to melt our evil heart. How many our Chinese people understand our Confucius doctrine! Why should they not imitate and obedience his teaching? Smoke opium, gamble, swear, and other evil things, they know very well that was unrighteous, for why should they not imitate our Confucius what he has done, the good work, and obey his teaching 1 Ah, for he can only indicate to you the way of good, but he cannot inspire your spirit, but Jesus only can! Nothing impossible. When I was not a Christian I was gamble and I was swear, but since I became a Christian, never smoke opium, never gamble or swearing, and many of my friends was the same.
So it was illustrated, Jesus was the Son of God, can give ot His Spirit to inspire our spirit, to turn away from bad to the good."
A. WONDERFUL LIFE·BOAT
A WONDERFUL LIFE·BOAT.
BY CAPTAIN E. C. HORE, F.R.G.B.
If you turn to the map of Africa you will see, toward its centre, several large pieces of water known as the Central African lakes, and, in a central position among them, a long. shaped one called Tanganyika j its surface is 2700 feet above sea-level, and it is hemmed in nearly all round by high land crowned witb forests. Around the shores of that lake twelve different tribes of Africans have their homes j there may be seen market places where hundreds of natives bring their produce, such as mats, baskets, skins, bark cloth, woven cotton cloth, pottery, iron, both as hoes and axes, weapons and wire j copper, botb in pigs and manufactured into bracelets and otber ornaments, sugar-cane, ground nuts, palm oil, salt, honey, and butter, besides goats, fowls, fisb, and corn and vegetables of 'many kinds. , These are spread out for sale in the early morning in the market-places, which become busy scenes of barter and exchange.
For such busy and industrious people the lake forms a ready means of getting about; and much of the produce to be seen in those markets is brought there in canoes. These are wbat are known to us as dugouts– hewn out of solid trunks of trees from the great forests on the lake shores; they are clumsy-looking craft, following rather the model of the hippo- potamus than that of the swan, but strong and safe for all that j and tbe natives are very clever in managing them. These canoes are also largely used for fishing. I have seen more than 200 little canoes at one time out at nigbt catching whitebait. In each canoe a long faggot of dried reeds, witb one end alight and pushed over the bow of the canoe, served to attract the little fish in immense shoals. The fisherman, standing erect in his tiny-craft, and using a large hand-net, literally shovels them in. Tbe fish are then taken on shore, baked quite dry in the hot sun, and made up into little bolster-shaped loads wrapped round with leaves, and thus form,ing portable packages of preserved provisions, which are sent far and wide over the country. Other large canoes, some of them over forty feet long, are engaged in all kinds of trading enterprises between the different countries round the lake, and, especially, in the slave trade between tribe and tribe. For, although these fine people are so enterprising and industrious, there is everything with them that we think of as heathen and savage, the horrible curse of the slave trade having always kept them down, and no light of Christianity brightened their life into liberty and civilization.
But, a few years ago, there appeared on those waters a boat of most strange appearance and character for that remote region.. The Morning Star was her name, coming, let us hope, as the harbinger of the light and glory of a true daylight. She is a boat built of the best modern materials, and of handsome appearance, like a large sea-going life-boat, with three sails and eight oars, and flying at her masthead the peaceful device of the dove and olive branch-the flag of the London Missionary Society, to whom she belongs, and whose missionaries she conveys from place to place with a message of Jove and light to those natives.
And this is how the Morning Star got to 'l'anganyika : I went home from England to Central Africa in 1881 with a survey of Lake Tanganyika, and a report of the kind of vessel necessary for missionary work on that inland s~a. In due time the Good News, auxiliary steam yacht, was placed in hand for that purpose ; but, as it would be some time before she was ready for service, and a large reinforcement of missionaries were starting for Tanganyika, another smaller vessel was required, both for immediate use, 'and, afterward, to complete the efficiency of the boat service on the lake as tender for the Good News, or independently.
For this purpose I designed the Morning Star, 32 feet long and 8 feet beam. She was built from my design, by Forrestt & Sons, of London, in six complete sections, and ele'en smaller pieces, to be jointed together with bolts and nuts, each section and piece separately galvanized, and t:) form, when put together, a strong, sea-going life-boat. Each end section formed a complete air-tight tank, and two intermediate little cabins formed each of two sections, also being water-tight compartments.
To convey these sections overland six small carts or barrows, consisting of light wooden frames exactly to fit the sections, and wrought iron wheels and fittings, were made, also conveniently taken to pieces. All these sections and pieces and their carts, were conveyed in the ordinary way as cargo in a steamer from London to Zanzibar, where the strange enterprise commenced of conveying them overland to the centre of Africa.
From the East Coast of Africa, opposite Zanzibar to Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika, following the windings and zig-zags of the only possible paths, is a distance of 836 miles, without railways, vehicles of any kind, or even beasts of burden. On the heads and shoulders of Africans, or on carts drawn and pushed by them, the Morning Star was conveyed to the lake. Carried over first in small Arab dhows from Zanzibar to the coast (a distance of 25 miles), the sections, and carts, and loads were landed at Saadani, a native settlement or town under the rule of the Sultan of Zanzibar. There the carts were fitted together ,and the sections secured npon them, and, after a great deal of work and preparation (for the boat and its fittings formed part of a large caravan, consisting altogether of over 900 Africans, ten of our missionaries, and all their stores, besides African moneys in the shape of many bale~ of calico and other cloth and barter goods) started on their long journey.
For three and one half months the faithful African porters cut their way through broad belts of jungle, dragged the carts ankle deep through miry swamps, threaded patiently the winding forest tracks, slowly clambered over mountain barriers-often hungry, thirsty, and excessively tired, but never giving in or yielding to others the" honor," as they considered it, of .managing the cart, or carrying the piece of boat which formed their part of the work. In camp. gossiping over the fire at night, they would argue with one another as to how the boat would be put together, and to strangers along the road they would boast that they were ,,'partners" in the enterprise of conveying it to Tanganyika; and this, often, while they were hungry and thirsty by reason of the hard work it had cau~ed them.
At last Ujiji was reached, the carts causing a great sensation there, and great wonderment was expressed at the boat sections. I soon got settled in myoid quarters, and the boat-building was commenced. Day after day she grew in size and beauty as the various parts were joined together, until, all being finished, she was one day launched into the lake, a thing of beauty and strength, and a joy to us for years of work, during which she proved to us safety and comfort and speed.
As the Morning Star was being built, some of myoid boat'll crew (natives of Ujiji), who were. eager to go again with me voyaging on Lake Tanganyika, came, day by day, to look at the new craft; day by day, too, some cloud or doubt seemed to damp their ardor about the coming voyage, until at last, one day, they came along to have a special talk with me, and the difficulty was explained. They had beguu to wonder, and then to doubt as they saw the metal sides of the boat, and had finally determined to tell me that, although they would" go anywhere" and" do anything" for me, they really could not go " to sea in a saucepan." I told them to wait; and while I was preparing to depart from Ujiji and give up our house to its owner, the boat lay quietly afloat at anchor. Several times I took So~lC of these Wajiji sailors off with me to the boat to have a look, and in this way seeing her buoyancy and perfect tightness, they at last became convinced of her seaworthiness.
Our beautiful boat was complete, and her loyal crew ready for work; the new Morning Star shone forth upon the lake, and now, for more than five years (having become well known as the harbinger of peace and goodwill) has been afloat there, welcomed wherever she goes, conveying backward and forward, between our stations, our missionaries and their stores, proving herself to be a stanch and good vessel, and in her life and history fully entitled to the name of " a wonderful life-boat."
There she still remains (together with her larger companion, the steamer Good News, afterward built there) on Lake Tanganyika, 2700 feet above the sea, and 800 miles from the sea-coast, a remarkable evidence of the very practical nature of missionary work in that country, and a means by which our young people may, by contributing to her support, help in giving to Dark Africa the Light of the Gospel.
Any of our readers who wish to study African missions will find, we are sure, great help in Tlte African News, published by T. B. Welch & Son. While this admirable periodical especially reports Bishop William Taylor's work, we have found it full of information, and have taken the liberty to copy a short article in these pages.-EDITOR.
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVl'i:R, MASS.
-The Calwer Monatsbliitie1·, referring to David's ordinance, that" as his part is that goeth down to the battle, RO shall his part be that remaineth by the stuff, ,., remarks: "This is the word of a king, and is in force even to this dar. The cause is the Lord's. His are the laborers. His is the result. And He apportions the reward as He will. His truth finds application in a thousand ways. The simple Christian, who imagineR himself so far behind the missionary, and the missionary, who is tempted to imagine himself of special dignity in the kingdom of God, will one day find the Judge using another standard than that of either. Those .who look upon home .missions as an inferior work, and they whose sense of their country's need" makefl them jealous of everyone that is penetrated with the thought that ' the field is the world,' will both find at last that the question is not: ' Where have ye wrought l' but, 'How have ye wrought where ye were called to work~' 'If it is only good, then it is good. ' " Or, as the youthful Malcolm says: ., This, and what needful else That :Jalls upon us by the Grace of grace We will perform in measure, time, and place. "
" Inner missions," says the Monatsbliitter, referring to George Miiller's definition of himself, "are a Handlanger of foreign missions." A hand- Zanger is one who hands the materials which the craftsman uses. In Germany the mutual inosculation of the two interests is even more distinctly evident than here. It is no wonder,. then, that George Miiller has brought with him to England in the most eminent degree the instinct that refuses to separate them either in thought or act.
-The different departments of evangelistic work are corning so rapidly into intercommunication that we are as likely as not to find the fullest account of what is going on near us in some publication at the ends of the earth. This is illustrated by the following paragraph from the Bombay Guardian of November 22d, 1890. Even when it states facts already known, they seem to have a new meaning when they reverberate from hoary India: " We have frequently noted with thankfulness the progress of the McAH Mission in Paris. Now we learn that a large missionary boat, in connection with the mission, is to be anchored in the Seine. Daily services will be conducted in the cabin, which will contain nearly two hundred persons. The authorities have given every facility and protection. The Parisian prefect of police testifies to the good work which the mission is doing. He says: ' Every new McAll station means a reduction of po1ic~ force. Sixty persons now give their whole time to the missions, and froIl). 600 to 700 co-operate. There was an aggregate attendance last year of 1,200,000 persons in the 130 salles in all parts of France. In connection with this we may mention that in a paragraph in our last issue, on page 11, entitled' A Noble Giver,' alluding to this Rubject, the name of the writer-Dr. Pierson–was omitted. There is a holy emulation between the McAll Mission, the Salvation Army, aud the Belleville Mission of Mademoiselle de Broen as to which shall have the largest share in the leavening of the slums of Paris with Christian truth. They form an heroic trio. Things arc greatly altered for the better in Paris since the terrible record of 1871, with its petroleuses and communistic horrors." At least an elect remnant is being saved. The insurgents of 1871, as Mr. Hamerton remarks, should be called communards, not communists. The privileges which they claimed for the Commune, or Municipality of Paris, had no connection with any theories of communism.
-The Heidenbode informs us that the province-or as it is called there -the Presidency of Kedol, the newest field of evangelization in Java, now numbers 1000 professed believers, lately Mohammedans. This has been almost wholly the work of Javanese Christians, who show a remarkable zeal and successfulness in diffusing the Gospel which they have received. Everywhere, however, in the Dutch East Indies, Islam is advancing by natural increase, and by a steady reduction of the heathen populations under its sway. The Netherlands Government, which long directly encouraged the spread of Mohammedanism, is now beginning to be afraid of it, and is looking to its meani of suppressi.ng a very possible Moslem outburst of rebellion.
-The first re-marriage of a widow has taken place in the Pokarna callte of Brahmins.
-The (Jhronicle for November, 1890, speaking of the work ofthe London Missionary Society in Hankow, China, refers to the Hanyang Hill a8 being" so situated as to ghoe anyone who ascends it a bird's-eye view of the whole neighborhood. When our former foreign secretary, Dr. Mullens, came here many years ago, Dr. John took him to this spot as to one of the principal sights of the neighborhood, and he declared that in all his travels in India and elsewhere he had not seen any sight that impressed him more. Not that the view here presented to the eye is one remarkable for the beauty or grandeur of its physical ,scenery. A few low hills, a few lakes in the distance, the' great yellow Yang· tsze-here a mile wide-stretching away as far as the eye can reach in a north-easterly and a south-westerly direction, while from the northwest the tributary Han winds in and out till at last it empties itself here at Hankow (i.e., Hanmouth) into the larger river j these are the chief natural objects to be seen here. But it shows us one of the largest centres of human life and activity in the whole of Asia. To men and women who in any part of the world are carrying on the work of Christ, excellence of outward surroundings must always be estimated with reference to the presence or absence of their fellow-men. The first paradise of which we read was indeed a garden, the garden of the Lord, full of exquisite scenery, and of everything in nature that could delight the eye, but almost entirely devoid of living, sentient, thinking human beings. The last paradise is to be a city-the city of God. The difference is most significant. The Son of God rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth, and His delights were with the sons of men j and when once His call has been heard by any of His followers to devote their lives and strength to the one work of saving men, then every large hive of human beings, every city-even if only full of fallen, sinful, heathen human,ity, and not, as the New Jerusalem, full of saints redeemed from the earth-must always have a strong attraction and fascination sl1ch as no solitary region, however grand or picturesque its scenery, can ever have." The population of Hankow, on ship and shore, the Rev. Arnold Foster, who writes this, estimates at a million and a quarter, besides the throngs passing and repassing from other provinces.
-The Missions-Blatt of the Moravian Church, for JailUary, gives a New Year's benediction, which, coming from that centre, extends over all that are concerned for the work of the Lord throughout the world: "Th9 Saviour's rich blessing for the New Year. May Himself, the King of HiA Kingdom, greet thee, beloved Church of missions, with the greeting of His peace! May His grace and His truth 'permeate thy ranks anew, and deeply illumine thy innermost heart. Into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hast thou also been translated through the love of the Father j and thou dost daily experience that He who, born of the line of David after the flesh, has been manifested in power as the Son of God after the Spirit, hallows more and more them that come believil1gly to Him as a people of possession, being now risen from the dead. Be He then in the New Year also, as well the heart of our preaching, as also He for whom we adventure and surrender all that we have-life and limb, goods and blood. For who but He is it that hath redeemed and won us over from all our sins and from the dominion of death, and from whom alone we have received grace and apostleship to establish among all the Gentiles the obedience of faith in His name."
-The Brethren's Church hall decided to take up a new mission in North Queensland, among the aborigines, and another on Lake Nyassa, within the German " sphere of influence. " .
-The Moravian Mission in Greenland consists of 6 stations, in 2 gro~ps, and of 9 missionaries. Under their charge are 1608 persons. The rest of the Greenlanders are cared for by Lutheran brethren of the Church of Denmark.
-The death, by a fall from his horse, of the hereditary High Chief of the Mosquito State-a young man of twenty-live-suggests to the Moravian. brethren that, in the event of the extinction of the reigning family (happily not imminent), this little Protelltant State would be, by treaty with England, absorbed by the Catholic State of Nicaraugua. This, however, is showing itself ftiendly to the brethren, and now allows them to instruct their converts on both sider; of the line.
-The Missionary Record for December, 1880, gives statistics (thoroughly corrected) of the advance of the missionary work of the United Presbyterian Church in Scotland in thirty years. The term" missionary" includes ordained native pastors, Zenana misI'ionaries, and European teachers, but excludes all native evangelists and teachers: Missionaries. Home Contribntions for Foreign Work.
1859…………………….. 30 1840…………………… £3,300 1869….. , ………………. 63 1849…………………….. 12,800 1879…………………… 81 1859…………………….. 16,900 1889 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 1869…………………….. 29,100 1879 ……………………. 32,300 1889……………………… .40,500 No. Native Congregations. Members in Full Communion.
1859 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 1859……………………. 4,552 1869 •……………… ~. " …48 1869 ……………………. 5,740 1.879……….. " ., ……….. 63 1879……………………. 9,187 1889…………………….. 96 1889 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,899 Native Pastors. Native ContributiollS.
1859……… 1 (Rev. Tiyo Boga.) 1859…………………… £2,090 1869……… 7 1869……………………. 3,020 1879 . . . . . . . . . 12 1879……………………. 6,500 1889. . . . . . . . . 23 1889 …………………….10,470 "The missionary sympathy of the Church has been widening and deepening j the liberality of the Church has been expanding j the lands in which our operations are carried on are being more completely taken possession of in the name of the Master; while a native church in each of those lands is rapidly gathering around itself the love and devotion of the native population, and promises to become, in course of time, so vigorous that it will be able to manage its own affairs, and allow our missionaries to enter into new regions where they may still further extend the blessed work."
What is said here about the Jamaican Church, connected with the United Presbyterian Church, ought to be laid to heart universally: "Our Church in Jamaica is looking forward to such independence, and endeavoring to prepare for it. But this independence ought not to be sought in the near future. It is a distinct advantage, to the cause of Christ in Jamaica that our Church there continues to be in dependent union with a church life ~f wider horizon and riper experience. Its own church life gains through this union, possibly a firmer fibre, but certainly a richer tone and a greater influence upon public opinion. To force our Jamaican Church into a position of independence by any mechanical arrangement would be a mischievous policy. It would mean the undoing of results that have been gained, and might require a reconstruction of the agency at work after an inferior pattern."
The present writer, two of whose former charges have been happily incorporated into the Presbyterian Church of Jamaica, can wish nothing better for them than that the United Presbyterian brethren in Scotland may keep an eye on them for a number of years to come.
-The following paragraph from Central Africa, the organ of the Universities' Mission, gives, in a few lines, the whole African heathenismperhaps the darkest form of heathenism, the most utterly dismal and comfortless in the world: "Only gradually does the deadly atmosphere of heathenism dawn upon one. Lust, as strong, perhaps in some ways stronger than with ourselves, has nothing to check it. There broods oppression on a petty scale, with tragic burnings and poisonings, fear of lions, or sudden night attacks, and murders of a mother or ,near relative who has been half the little world of life-things that leave the child an old man in heart, cut off from our comfortable security."
-The Indian Witness of December 6th, 1890, says ~ ., The death of Sir Rivers Thompson, late Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, calls for a notice from the Christian press of the country. Respected even more than he was loved by all who came within the reach of his personal influence, he has left behind him a reputltion which any Indian civilian may envy. What he was in the dawn of his wider influence he was consistently in its meridian and at its close. An open worshipper of the living God, a friend of all agencies that sought to make Him known to dying men-a Christian in his conscienee, an Englishman to the backbone."
-The Mission Field, the organ of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, says: "Both by countenancing heathenism and by ignoring the missions, Christians in India retard the work. They do it doubtless unintentionally. Then they in some cases eomplete the mischief by depreciating the missions when they come home. It is an unfortunate fact that there is injury to the cause of missions, and to the zeal of the Church at home by those who, by having been in India, claim to be able to speak with authority, while as far as any actual knowledge is concerned, they are as ignorant about missions in India as they were before they left England. They take upon themselves the responsibility of repeating indiscriminate slander on the work of God, although they may be living close to strong evidences of God's grace and power." -The late Daniel Adolf Cracau, of Breslau, left, in 1887, a bequest of about £4,0,000 to the Moravian Church. The custodians of the trust are the German Emperor and the King of Saxony. Half the income is to be used for the conversion of the heathen, half for the ransom of slaves.
-The Moravian brethren, in their Periodical Accounts, cordially echo the wish expressed by the Rev. S. D. Fulton, in this REVIEW, that Protestant missions may soon be established in Nicaraugua, which, they truly say, bids fair to be just such a mission centre as the Apostle Paul • would h,.ve delighted in.
– The following reminds one of the suggestions of Gregory the Great to the Abbot Augustine, when sending him on his mission to con- vert our English forefathers. As Gregory was a man of deep practical in ight, his suggestions are always worth heeding. Speaking of the Melas, or religious fairs of India, the Mission Field says: "It is beginning to be generally felt that it would be well to have Christian Melas. The Mela is, in fact, valued by the great mass of the Hindus and Mohammedans merely as a holiday. It is the only holiday there is for the mass of the people.
Where the Hindu cannot attend one of his own he betakes himself to the Mohammedan, and vice versa. So will it be for the ordinary native Chris- tian. If he have none of his own he will be strongly tempted to attend those of his Hindu or Mohammedan neighbors. Accordingly there is a strong feeling that Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide should be treated as times for Christian Melas, and that the largest and nearest Christian station should be the centre to which the surrounding Christians should resort." The writer remarks that such gatherings may easily be kept free from all leaven of heathenism.
-The charges of " unscriptural optimism" and" unscriptural pessim- ism" are freely bandied back and forth in the Church between Christians.
The Bombay Guardian seems to hit the nail on the head in the following: " Every well.established Christian should be intenRely pessimistic and intensely optimistic. He should be intensely pessimistic of what he or any other man can do of himself, and intensely optimistic of what God can do through any child of His who fully surrenders to Him." .
-Henry Augustus J aeschke, late Moravian missionary iq the Himalayr.s, a lineal descendant of the first Moravian emigrants to Herrnhut, besides German was master of Polish, Danish, Swedish, and was acquainted with English, Hungarian, Bohemian, Latin, Greek, and after going to the East, already knowing Sanscrit, Persian, and Arabic (and doubtless Hebrew), he learned Hindustani, and Urdu, and lastly Thibetan. He was likewise an enthusiastic student of mathematics and natural science, especially of botany. But he obeyed. the call of his Church, to go to the dreary Thibetan regions, as unquestioningly as if he had been an unlearned artisan. "While at Ladak he lived at Stok, near Leh, in the most frugal and primitive fashion. His food consisted of oatmeal and porridge, and the woman of the house faithfully kept for him the egg which her one hen laid every day. From his curiously.shaped bedroom he had to climb to his study by a stair composed of five unequal blocks of stone, and his furniture consisted of a tottering table and a still more defective stool." He had no notion of being too valuable in Europe to be hidden away in the inaccessible uplands of Asia. In other words, he was a true Moravian.
-The Periodical Accounts for September says: "THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD holds on its way with growing interest and power. Dr. Pierson continues his graphic and informing missionary letters from abroad, and we join with many in gratefully acknowledging his manifold labors on behalf of' missions by pen and word of mouth." The editors also express a kind senljle of the value of the extracts from foreign magazines.
-The .Macedonier brings the same accusation against the Dutch Govern- ment that English Christians bring against the British, with the further aggravation, that whereas England is ready to ruin a foreign race with opium for the sake of gain, Holland is destroying her own subjects.. In a notice of a Dutch book on the opium question, it says: "It supplies con- , vincing proof that the Netherlands are every day heaping new guilt upon themselves and murdering, body and soul, the Javanese who are under their jurisdiction. Yet it gathers nothing but facts, and for every statement is careful to give its authority."
-Missionary Lazarus, in the ])ansk .Missions-Blad, gives a pleasant instance of how the seeds of truth blow about in India: "Yesterday afternoon we preached before a Telugu village called Karapet, which we had already visited two or three times. Just as we arrived, the people, who are all lapidaries, came out to bid us welcome. They then begged us to sit down, and began to sing a Christian hymn, ' Come quickly, flinner, come to the Saviour.' The hymn was in Telugu, and many of them sang it well. I asked thelll where they had learned it,. and found that they had picked it out of a tract I had left there, and had set it to one of their own melodies. I then addressed them, and taking advantage of their calling, depicted to them Jesus as the Great Lapidary, who deals with our nature as they deal with rough rubiefl, to cause it to gleam forth in the glory of a pure gladness. Thus we find that the leaves of healing are not spread abroad to no purpose."
-We find in the Bombay Guardian of November 8th, 1890, the most particular account we have seen yet of the happy development of missionary activity among the English Friend@. It says: "Any Church which tries to exist without a missionary spirit will inevitably perish. Aggression is the soul of life. About twenty years ago the Society of Friends awoke to this fact, and in England turned its attention to the lapsed masses at its doors. Now nearly all its meeting-houses have a mission attached, seeking to help the poor in soul and body. Mothers' meetings, clothing clubs, adult and juvenile schools, and other similar agencies, are vigorously prosecuted. A marvellous increase of spiritual life in the Church itself has resulted. Its foreign mission work has likewise developed almost entirely during the past twent.y years. Up to 1875 only 1 missionary was in the field in India, now there are 14. Madagascar has 22 j China, 4 j Syria, 10 j Armenian Turkey, 9 j Zululand, 3. American Friends are also carrying on mission work among. the North American Indians, and in Mexico, Jamaica, Japan, China, Alaska,. and Ramallah in Palestine. Thursday of this week was to be observed at the headquarters of the society in London, as a day of united prayer for missions, including a Bible study on the spirit of missions, and then a survey of the needs of both the foreign and home work." Thousands of the children of this venerable society, now found in other denominations, will rejoice at this sudden outburst of life after long apparent decay. May she renew her youth, and while coming to this greater distinctness of evangelical apprehension and activity. long abide as a witness to essential, over against all the overvaluations of ceremonial, righteousness.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BEY. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Black Fellows of Australia. colonist said to them: .. The few blacks will ultimately accept the Gospel of a FrnST PAPEB-MOBA.VIAN MISSIONS. crucified Saviour and be blessed there- • by, but the whites will hinder your BY~EV. A. HARTMANN, MOBAVIANTOWN, ONT. work, as they did the mission work of other societies." The first hindrance (Continued from page 217.) arose from the discovery of the gold nelds at Mount Alexander; the gold dig- I. FIRST ATTEMPT AT MISSIO:ti WORK. gers, coming from Adelaide, passing the mission station, damaging them in many Being repeatedly pressed to com- ways., This might have been borne mence mission work among the blacks with, but.the vulgar and disgusting in- of Australia, the Brethren's Church trigues of unprincipled whites greatly (Moravian) sent out two missionaries, hindered the missionaries in their efforts Tl1ger and Spieseke, educated laymen, to attract the natives to the place and to commence the work. In 1850 they to gain their confidence. Then, after arrived at Melbourne. They were very the exhaustion of the gold, many of the kindly received by the Governor, Joseph European immigrants took up land in La Trobe ; and the Bishop of the Angli- the colony, and also about Lake Bogs. can Church, as well as many ministers The missionaries were given to under. of other denominations, met them with stand that if they did not voluntarily true Christian love, and encouraged leave the land (on which they had set- them to do the Lord's work. tled by permission of the Government) steps would be taken to drive them After a long search in the northern away. districts of Victoria for a suitable place, they came at last to Boga Lake, which Meanwhile the missionaries went on had been recommended to them as the in their work, being strengthened by very best place, because it was a favor- another brother (Hansen) sent out in ite resort of the blacks. This Boga January, 1854. They also succeeded in Lake is about 200 miles northwest of gaining the confidence of a number of Melbourne, close to the boundary of the natives: Spieseke wrote: .. We have Victoria and New South Wales, and not not yet enjoyed the happiness of ob- far from the mouth of the Loddon serving the work of grace and of the river, emptying itself into the Murray. Holy Spirit in the hearts of the blaoks. Brethren, have patience with us, and The missionaries went back to Mel- believe with us, for we have reason to bourne, buying all that was necessary to be thankful for what the Lord has done carryon the work, and were permitted for us. When we oonsider how the ene- and authorized by the Government to mies of the Gospel have exerted them- make use of a certain portion of land selves to keep the blacks away from us, facing the lake, to build up a settle- we must confess that it is a wonder we ment. They little thought at the time have so many gathered about us, and that attempts would be made by some notice how they begin to trust us." whites to claim the land they had set- tled on. Much less did they think that We put it down as a fact that the mis- by their attempt to hring the natives sionaries would have succeeded if the under the blessed influence of the Gos. Prince of this world had not been per- pel, they would stir up the hatred and mitted to frighten them away. ill-will of white neighbors. ., There is no space allotted us in your columns to go into detail, and so we Heavy rains, followed by large 1I.00ds, made it impossible for them to arrive at Boga Lake before October 21st, 1851. They commenced their work in fear • and hope, and they experienced what a '< must sum up the diRastrous retreat of the missionaries now bitterly regret the Moravian missionaries very briefly. that they acted upon the impulse of the moment, and thus cut short a work In 1855 a neighboring settler, Imp- which was sure to bear fruit to God's ported by the District Court, claimed to glory, as the sequel will show. have a right to the land granted to the miRsionaries by the Government. Mr. II. Tager, the leader, being in ill health, had no inclination to enter on a legal RENEWAL OF THE MISSION WORK. process, as. he was advised to do. When, therefore, he found that he was For want of space we shall have to not righted after he had lodged his com- make just a mere sketch of the very plaint with the Government, he grew blessed and very successful issue of this impatient, and declared that on July second attempt. The two brethren ap- 1st, 1856, he would dissolve the mis- pointed (Hagenauer and Spieseke) have sion, as the authorities had failed to in every respect justified the confidence support him, and he had no mind to go placed in them by the Church. (Brother to law. A private individual has a right Spieseke was not to blame for leaving to actin this manner, but not a re- .Lake Boga ; he was subordinate, and spor:sible agent of a Mission Cburch did not agree with the move.) On May like the Moravian, for it was a breach 7th, 1858, they landed in Melbourne, of confidence. and were well received by the Gover- nor, Sir Henry Barklay, and numerous We quote the words of the Mission Christian friends. They were directed Board of the Moravian Church as laid to the Wimmera district, as most suitbefore the Christian public: •• It is true able for work aDlong the natives, and, that our mission work in Australia has after much travelling, a site for the for the time come to an end, an occur- establishment of a mission was found rence well calculated to humble us.. on the river Wimmera, not far from the How often, and not without reason, has sheep station Antwerp, belonging to the perseverance of our missionaries Mr. Ellerman, by whom they were reo been lauded when they were laboring ceived with open arms and helped. under various trials and difficulties, Here they obtained a grant of land of and under apparently hopeless pros- three square miles. The place was pects of success. How they kept to called Ebenezer. On January 10th, 1859, their post in a simple faith! Think of after humbly imploring the Lord's blessthe work in Greenland; think of the ing on the undertaking, the two mis- West Indies, where many brethren and sionaries started for the chosen spot, sisters went willingly into the jaws of and commenced clearing. Two natives death, and then think of the work here at first, and more afterward, assisted in in Australia, commenced with much the work, and by this means became aclabor and outlay, and carried on £or a quainted with the brethren. Soon the number of years; think of the giving natives gave the missionaries to underup of this mission, the necessity of stand that a carroboree–a kind of rewhich we are not able to prove. Think ligious dance-would be given in their that the missionaries left their post be- honor, which the missionaries could not fore every hope. was vanished to main- prevent. Mr. Ellerman provided the tain their position ; and then that they workers with food and lodging at his returned home without, and contrary home in Antwerp, twenty.two miles to, the permission of the Board. This distant, till they had built a home for is a painful confession, but we do make themselves. After eight :lays, Hageit before our dear Christian friends, and nauer commenced a school for the bow at the same time before the Lord, young men, and several made pleasing that He may again be gracious unto us progress. The women and girls were and exalt us in due time. We add that not forgotten. Clothing material had benches ; they made bedsteads, and a been provided by friends in Germany, box, etc. The youth Corney joined and Brother Hagenauer, though quite them. When the missionaries gave inexperienced, cut out and directed the them some kitchen utensils they were sewing of the dresses and pants. Later as proud and happy as kings. The rest. some ready-made clothing arrived from of the blacks looked on with astonish- Melbourne, which was a real boon to ment and pleasure, and after a time the missionaries. At the Sunday service sought to follow their example. For a the audience presented a remarkable as- whole year the missionaries had to fight pect. All had washed, and, so to say, against the difficulties which Brose from dressedthemselvegtoo-thatis, one had the heathen rites and dances, and the on a shirt, another a pair of pants, a superstition and degraded habits of the third a coat, and so on. .They had people, with no appearance of life from divided their clothes among themselves, God among them. But at last, in Januso that they might all appear at church. ary, 1860, the light sprung up and chased Amid all the work and anxiety of estab- away th.e darkness in the heart of Peplishing a home in the wilderness, the per (before mentioned), and he became missionaries never lost sight of their a new creature in Christ Jesus, though proper errand. But at first tbe only not without much conflict and many answer to the heavenly message was; slips and falls. One day Brother "Give me something to eat; give me Spieseke showed some Scripture prints; clothes; or, as when old Charley, after among others, one of the flood, and ana long, earnest talk and prayer, which other of our Saviour on His knees in Hagenauer had with him, pointed to agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. A heaven and asked if there were many day or two later Pepper came to him sheep and oxen there. Another time in the evening, saying, .. I want to came Diggy, and asked Spieseke for speak with you about my state. I don't flour. ,. What for?" said Spieseke, .. you know what is the matter with me. I have have done no work." "No," said Diggy, wept over my sins; last night I cried .. but I will go to prayers to-morrow." aloud. Just now I went to the river for The blacks showed a willingness to do water, and I thought, and thought, and all that was required of them. Their thought how our Saviour went that behavior at the meetings surprised night into the garden, and prayed till Spieseke, who knew their restless He sweat drops of blood, and that for habits, and looked upon it as a hopeful me." These words he spoke with much sign for the future. At times the wan- feeling. From that time a great change dering spirit came upon the natives, and was observed in Pepper, and be.came they vanished almQBt to a man. But two evident also to his brethren, for out of of their number (young Bony and Pep- the fulness of his heart he spoke to per) began to understand some of the them of the way of salvation, and of benefits of the coming of the mission- the Saviour whom he had found. His aries, and stayed with them, in spite of joy in God's Word, and his loving and the entreaties of their wandering com- tractable behavior showed that the panions. After the mission house was Spirit of God was at work in his heart. finished and the missionaries took up One Sunday evening, as the missionaries their abode in Ebenezer, these two young were returning from a neighboring stamen expressed a desire to give up their tion, where they had preached, they wandering life and build a house of found Pepper, surrounded by fifty of their own, which they did, with the his people, preaching to them the glad help of the missionaries-building it of tidings of the Gospel. Great was the bark, and finishing it off with I/, brick joy of the missionaries, who begged chimney, as the missionaries had done him to proceed, and afterward thanked their own. Inside were table, stool, or and praised the Lord for His grace thul! bestowed. After a time the request of mony. Even old people and little chil- Pepper to be especially instructed, with dren gave pleasing proofs of their be- a view to baptism, was acceded to, as it lief in and love of the Saviour, and became more and more clear that the many of them are now, we fully believe, work in him was of God. The 12th of rejoicing before the throne of God, .. hav- August, 1860, was the day of his bap. ing washed their robes and made them tism, and also that of the consecration white in the blood of the Lamb." Al- of the small church which had been ready in 1868 the number of converts in erected, and for which a new bell had Ebenezer had reached twenty. But be- been sent from Germany. Rev. Chase fore this time other laborers had arrived took the long journey from Melbourne; -two brides for the .brethren Spieseke from Horsham came friends, and the and Hagenauer, in May, 1861, who found neighboring sheep farmers came to· plenty of work among the women and gether to celebrate the event. That day the sick, besides caring for their own will not soon be forgotten by those who households. In November of the same were present. Pepper received, at his year, Brother Francis came from Engown request, the name Nathaniel. land,and when he left, after two years, Hagenauer says: " We felt that the Brother Hartmann and his wife entered blessing of the Lord was with us on that day." Of Nathaniel's further on the ~or1r, in which they continueCl course we will here say that though a true s!3rvant of Christ, he was Ii very for eight years. weak one; and though at times his light burned brightly, to the joy of his RAMAH-YUCK. teachers, at others he triell their pa· tience and grieved them by inconsisten- In the mean time a new work had been cies, which indeed was scarcely to be commenced in Gippsland by Brother wondered at in one so recently a hea. Ha.genauer at the request of the Presthen. He was the first of a great num- byterian Church of Victoria, who promber of converts who received the Gos- ised to provide the means if the Morapel with joy, and turned with repent- vian Church would send the men. It ance and faith to the Saviour, proving was proposed to name it .. Ramah," to by their lives, and often by their preach- which the natives added" yuck," " our ip.g; theirlove to Christ and the breth- home," thus showing their joy and apren: '~ 'these many names could be preciation. In Ramah-yuck the faithgiven.. Young Bony (baptized Daniel) ful efforts of Brother Hagenauer and was, at his earnest request, accepted as his wife met with success 8.Il in Ebeneassistant to the brethren who went to zer. In 1866 the first convert was bapcommence a mission at Cooper's Creek, tized, and received the name of " James in the interior (of which a hrief men- Matthew," and five months later Tomtion will be made later), but died on the my and Jack. In 1868 the number had ;way thither. Philip and Rebecca were increased to seventeen, and by the end placed in charge of the orphanage at of 1869 had risen to twenty-six. Ebenezer, and were most useful and consistent Christians. Philip also as- But these missions are not remarksisted in preaching, and often accom_ able for numbers, nor for the shining p~nied the missionaries on their evan_ lights among their converts, though, as geliziug tours among the still wander- was said before, some of these put to ing tribes. Dick-a-Dick 'was baptized shame many white Christians by their on what proved his death-bed. His consistency. Moreover, as sad diseases childlike and strong faith rejoiced the -particularly consumption-carried off hearts of the missionaries, and aston- many of their number, and others left ished all who heard his dying testi- the mission station to obtain employ- ment, it is easy to see that the work done was in many cases lost to slght, and, indeed, we shall only know when we see them in glory, how many of thll8e poor lost ones were rescued and saved. mankind, and that some will certainly The schools at both stations reached a be among the multitude surrounding high standard, that in Ramah.yuck the throne of God and the Lamb. having gained the highest marks for fOllr successive years, the only school in All the glory be to His name. Amen. Victoria which could show such results. So much for the general opinion that -The African Times says that a stam. the blacks could not learn. An attempt pede is reported among the" traders on was made to found a mission in the in. the Congo from the right to the left terior, at Cooper's Creek, which was bank of the river, except one Dutch given up on account of cost, and be- house, to escape the impediments and cause Lutheran missionaries had en· taxations of the Free State. The traders tered the same field, probably not know- say that this heavy taxation not only ing that our brethren were already there. applies to liquor, but to land tax, and Spieseke, after faithfully serving in even to canoes and surf-boats, and to the mission at Ebenezer for twenty white and black employes. years, died happily in the midst of his people, and was honored by them in his -Rev. Dr. E. W. BIyden, at a public burial. His place was supplied by dinner tendered him down at Lagos, Brother Kramer and wife, and Brother said, recently, that the Mohammedan Bogish. population of ,Lagos has increased with astounding rapidity during the last The natives are dying out fast, and thirty years. In 1863, Captain Burton the half breeds are not allowed to stay estimated the Moslem population at from on tj:le stations, so there is a fear that 700 to 800. In 1889 Sir Alfred Moloney our work in Victoria will soon be over. put them down at 15,000, and he de- scribes them as " the most orderly, in· But other fields are opening in tellectual, and respectable class of citi. Queensland; the latest news being that zens, composed of all the tribes of three brethren have been appointed by Yoruba. 'l'his is tb e official testimony our Mission Board. The country has borne of this people in all the settlebeen explored by Hagenauer with a view ments. They have spread over the to a speedy commencement of a mission whole of our fatherland north of the to the degraded cannibals of Queens. Equator from the Atlantic to the Red land. If we understand rightly, the Sea, from Lagos to Morocco, and from Presbyterians will supply the funds, Sierra Leone to Egypt." and the Moravian Church the men. Two other missions-one at Lake Con. Release of Mr, Penzot.ti dah, supported by the Church of England. and one at York Peninsula, sup- We have at last the satisfaction of reported by Friends-are carried on by cording the fact, which has already be· Moravian missionaries with much pros- come widely known through the daily perity and success. Lack of time and and weekly newspapers, that the long space forbids our entering into details and wearisome imprisonment of Mr. in regard to the blessed results of this Penzotti in Callao has been terminated mission among the aborigines of Aus- by decree of the Supreme Court of Peru. tralia; but enough has been said to The terms of the decision are not yet show that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus reported; but a telegram, dated Lima, Christ is "the power of God unto sal· April 3d, and addressed to a gentleman vation to everyone that believeth;" to in New York who has taken great inter. show that there is no respect of persons est in the case, announces in a single before Him, but that the Holy Spirit is word that he has been liberated. 1m. " given to all that obey Him;" to show prisoned for more than eight months, that the blacks of Australia are also in- on an accusation presented and urged cluded in the plan of God's salvation of , by a Roman Catholio priest, the Rev. of the terms offered the natives by the Jose M. Castro; charged with the offence Spanish Governor. He says the specifi- of violating the law in holding unauthor- cations of the Governor's trumped-up ized religious services; kept in a dun- charges against him were of three sorts : geon after he had once and again been (1) that I had been harboring the re- adjudged guiltless by the tribunals be- bellious Metalamin chiefs, feasting them fore which his adversary had summoned and buildingthem a house at Kiti. Also, him; denied the privilege of bail; (2) that I had been having meetings shrinking with inexpressible loathing with them and the Kiti king to influ- from the filth and impurity of the cell ence them against the Spanish rule. He in which he spent two hundred and also said, (3) that he had positive proof fifty nights with thirty or forty crim- that I was one of the principal leaders inals ; refusing to listen to the whis- in planning the breastworks at Oua.
pered suggestion that proceedings might And (4) as the mission was responsible be discontinued if he would agree to for the present outbreak of the Metala- leave Peru; constrained to send his min tribe, he did not think that we daughters out of the country, lest with- would be permitted to carryon our out a father's protection they might be_ work much longer.
comlt"victims of a foul consph:acy ; and ever hopeful that his sufferings would -Bishop A. W. Wilson, of the Meth- eventually lead to the promulgation of odist Episcopal Church, South, says religious liberty in Peru-he is now " that the agitation in Japan of the revi- vindicated and set free. Eight months sion treaty has affected foreigners in of imprisonment and the exp~nse of general, and missiona.ries to some ex- defending himself in three courts is tent along with the rest." Missionaries, what the administration of justice in he says, " have to be very careful about Peru awards to an innocent man! One their political positions.
cannot but ask What penalty would "This treaty agitation has raised up an have been in:tlicted upon him if the anti-foreign party, who want the Chris- outer door of the warehouse in which ti:l.n missions conducted only by native he talked to a small company of men Christians. 'I'hey want the natives to about the Gospel of Christ had not been formulate Christian creeds for them- locked, and if admission had been grant- selves. They do not want Christian ed to people without a ticket.-Bible creeds formulated for them by the West- &ciety Record. ern nations. They are fully able "to -Sir Edwin Arnold says, in the Daily understand Christianity and to formu- Telegraph: .. A new Japan is definitely late from the Bible creeds to suit themborn-constitutional, progressive, ener- selves. The idea of a representative getic, resourceful, sure to become great, government, as we have it, is not comand, perhaps, almost again as happy as prehended ; it is not in the mind of the she was of yore. Let the nations of the Japanese people. West receive and welcome as she de· serves this immeasurably ancient em- .. For 2500 years they have taken all pire which thus renews her youth in law from the Mikado, and I doubt not if the fountain cf constitutional liberties the Mikado would to-morrow withdraw and institutions." the Constitution, which gives repre- sentation to the people, the great mass of the people would quietly accept it as -The Daily Pacific Commercial Ad- coming from the source of all law-the vertiser of Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, Mikado. There would probably be a of March 14th, contains along letter from few murders among the student class, Rev. F. E. Rand, written at Ponape, to who would resist it, and there it would friends at Honolulu, giving an account end."
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
III.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Among other Alliances for Prayers for "Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Rev. Missions, we call attention to the xxii: 20). Prayer Alliance, of whi6h Miss Mabel B. Atwater, 334 Lexington Avenue, New " And this Gospel of the kingdom shall York City, is Secretary. It reads as be preached in all the world for a witfollows: ness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matt. xxiv: 14). Walch " In the Year of our Lord 1891. Shall and pray." the generation now upon the face of the earth hear the Gospel? Likewise we call attention to the Prayer Union for Arabia and the Ara- "First. It is our Lord's last command bian Mission. Gen. xvii : 18. (Mark 16 : 15). 'Every creature' cannot possibly mean only those on one Aden, Arabia, January 1, 1890. third of the globe. It is our Saviour's will (1 Tim. 2 : 4, 6). The Arabian Mission, begun in an- "Second. This generation will be lost swer to prayer and sustained by conunless they hear the Gospel (Rom. 1 : 20, 21, 28, and Ps. 9 : 17). stant appeals to the Throne of Grace, " Third. If this generation hear the comes to its friends with a New Year's Gospel, IDe must carry it to them, for to us the work has been committed (2 Cor. request. 5 : 19 ; 1 Tim. 1 : 11). On the threshold of Arabia, face to " Fourth. We cannot serve the next generation. Are we with David serving face with the greatness and difficulties our own generation (Acts xiii: 36)? of the work, and deeply conscious of " In the heathen world there are about 1,000,000,000 souls; 30,000,000 a year our own weakness, we ask you, who go into eternity without God. Our Lord said: ' Go ye into all the world have already shown your sympathy for and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Out of 35,000,000 Protes- the cause of Christ in Arabia, to join tant church-members only about 6000 have obeyed this command, one in us in stated, fervent prayer: every 5800. Evangelized, 116,000,000 ; unevangelized, 1,000,000,000. The field 1. That God's promise in regard to is the world. 'Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.' the children of Ishmael may speedily " And whatsoever ye shall ask in My be fulfilled, and that His blessing may name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John xiv :13). rest upon every effort put forth to give " Pray ye therefore the Lord of the them the Gospel. I harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest (Matt. ix : 38). 2. That many may be led to choose PRAYER ALLIANCE. for their field of labor this neglected .. , Depending upon the Holy Ghost to portion of the Lord's vineyard. bring it to my remembrance, I pledge myself to pray daily, IN FAITH, for the 3. For a special blessing upon the evangelization of the whole world during the present century; and the speedy missionaries of the Arabian. Mission: coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.' that they may live very close to the Master; that t.heir lives and words may ever point men to Christ; that God may be pleased to use their efforts in bring- ing many of the children of Ishmael unto Himself.
Will you join us in making these ob- jects a special burden of prayer at your Sabbath morning devotions throughout the year?
"The wilderness and the solitary plllce shall be glad for them, the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."
" He is faithful who hath promised."
.TAMES CANTINE, S. M. ZWEMER. " Speed on, ye heralds, bringing The latest phase of the Uganda revolu- Life to the desert slain ; tion-the flight of Mwanga, his appeal Till in its mighty winging, to the Church he persecuted, the vic- God's Spirit comes to reign. tory of the Christians. the J:eturn of From death to new·begetting, Mwanga, and his re·establishment in God shall the power give; the kingdom surrounded by chiefs and Shall choose them for crown.setting councillors professing the Christian And Ishmael shall live. faith-is a chapter in praise of meekness and mercy. In Uganda to.day the .. So speaks the promise, bringing , meek inherit the earth' and Iorgive. The age of Jubilee ness is proved to be the noblest re- To every home and tenting, venge." From Tadmor to the sea. The dead to life are risen; Goodness is sometimes better than The glory spreads abroad ; greatness. A missionary in India was The desert answers heaven, so feeble mentally that he could not Hosannas to the Lord !" learn the language. After some years -J.G.L. he asked to be recalled, frankly saying that he had not sufficient intellect for The St, Paul of Uganda. the work. A dozen missionaries, how- ever, petitioned his Board not to grant When Stanley urged Christendom to his request, saying that his goodness send missionaries to Mtesa's kingdom,' gave him a wider influence among the Mackay joined a party of eight to found heathen than any other missionary at an industrial mission to the Victoria the station. A convert when asked, Nyanza. In three years he alone sur- " What is it to be a Christian ?" replied, vived. For fourteen years, in jeopardy "It is to be like Mr. –" naming the every hour, he was yet the soul, the good missionary. He was kept in In- hand, the head of this great and model dia. He never preached a sermon; movement. The London Times called but when he died hundreds of heathen him ".The St. Paul of Uganda" : as well as many Christians mourned him and testified to his holy life and char· " He built, cut type, translated, print- acter. ed, engineered, navigated, diploma- tized; he de~ounced crime, preached It causes sorrow to many to learn that .the Gospel, acted as schoolmaster and Mrs. Phraner, wife of Rev. Stanley K. doctor; he befriended Emin Pasha, Phraner, died at Chang Mi Laos, in Junker and Stanley, and strove, alas Northern Siam, one month after their in vain! to save Hannington from the arrival. Mr. Phraner graduated last results of unconscious but heroic folly; spring at Princeton Theological Semi. he controlled the court so far as it could nary, was ordained by the Presbytery of be controlled; protected the brave Westchester, was married, and imme- Christian boys, and, in a word, through diately set out as a missionary to Siam. baptisms of blood and fire, won a He is a son of Rev. Wilson Phraner, church in the wilderness for the dear D.D., for many years pastor at Sing Lord and Master whom he served with Sing, N. Y. an absolutely single eye. No such story of Christian heroism has ever teen told Dr. Storrs, of Brooklyn, the President in our day. The boys of Uganda who of the American Board, referring to died in horrible tortures rather than whiskey in Africa, is said to have used deny their faith will rank with the this terse but telling sentence recently: noblest martyrs of Christian history. ., Every dollar gained in the Congo rum Every line in our Lord's Sermon on the trade ought to burn in the palm of a Mount finds its illustration and con- firmation in this extraordinary history. man who gains it, as if it were a part Proposed Colony on the Bellamy Plan. of the blazing asphalt that makes the pavement of the infernal regions." A ,despatch from Hutchinson, Kan., says: "John Caplieg, of Buffalo, N. Y., Baptist Missionary Centenary in passed through this city, March 26th, on 1892.-Next year the Baptists will cele- his way home from Beaver City, in No. brate the centenary of the formation of MlLn's-LlLnd, where it is proposed to lotheir Missionary Society. It is the old- cate IL co-operative colony to be organest organization of the kind in existence, ized on the Bellamy plan. He said that excluding, of course, the Society for the he expected the colony would be formed Propagation of the Gospel, founded this spring in time to put in crops, if nearly a century previously. William possible. The colony, he thinks, will Carey, of Leicester, Baptist minister, comprise about 500 people to start with, schoolmaster, and shoemaker, first raised and it is to be strictly co-operative." the question of modern missions in 1786. but not until 1792 was the Society Attempts similar to this have been launched. Historic dates and places made from time to time, but the bottom linked with the So.ciety·s inauguration has dropped out of them all Booner or will determine the time and centres of later. The only perfect state is that the forthcoming services. Carey built on Christianity. kindled the flame by a missionary sermon preached on May 31st at Notting- The revival among the Telugus in ham; on October 2d the Society was the last few months has been the notable formed at Kettering; and, on March event of the year. Four thousand con- 20th following, he was ordained for mis- verts in that mission have put on Christ sionary work at Leicester. At the open- in baptism. Upon one Lord's day 1671 ing meeting of the Society £13 28. 6d. was were baptized in a little over six hours, subscribed, which .seems trifling com- two men only at a time administering pared with the current average annual the ordinance. It must have been a income, between seventy and eighty grand sight to witness on the forenoon thousand pounds. The Society has a of that dllY the thousands of thirsty inbright record of labor in the East and quirers, many of whom had travelled West Indies, and latterly, since 1878, miles, sitting upon the ground in the on the Congo, where it employs over broad commons drinking in with rapt twenty mISSIOnaries. A centenary attention every word that fell from Dr. thanksgiving of £100,000 has been Clough's lips, as he expounded from proposed, and the increase of the Soci- the text, ., Come unto Me, all ye that ety's yearly income to £100,000. The labor and are heavy laden, and I will young folks connected with the Baptist give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, chapels and Sunday-schools are invited and learn of Me ; for I am meek and to raise one fourth of the form€r sum. lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest To the 120 missionaries and 306 evan- unto your souls." The words given of gelists at present in the field it is con- the Spirit to the speaker were indeed templated by the Society to send forth .words of eternal life to the hearers, and a hundred additional men and women. brought rest to many souls whose bodies The Baptist Union of New Zealand has were wearied by the long journey to this resolved to hold simultaneous centenary " Bethel" of their souIs. Thirty of Dr. gatherings. Once more I notice that Clough's co-workers assisted him in the "A Frii'md" has sent £1000 to the examination of the candidates for baptreasurer of the Baptist Missionary So- tism, and none were baptized of whose ciety. a similar amount having been conversion they did not find good evisent by the same person at the begin- dences. ning of several recent years. In this Ongole station the revival has been continuous now since 1877, and it may be doubted whether in all mission- sticks, and objects used in their idola- ary history another such case is to be try, and made a great bonfire of them. found. Mr. Mackay says that over 500 houses were cleansed of idolatry in his pres. The Right Heir, e:nce."
When the excellent Christian Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins, it may be re- was about to end his long and devoted membered, were to join Mr. Pentecost missionary life in India, he said, in view and assist him in his evangelistic work of all the Lord's goodness to him, "I in India with their singing. In are. make Christ my heir"- and then by his cent letter to the Hartford ReligiCYU8 will made provision as far as his world- Herald a member of the family writes as ly means would go, for carrying on the follows: work of Christ among the heathen after he would be gone. We can think of but " On the 17th of November we reached one addition to this plan: to make Calcutta. Here we stayed until the 1st Christ first of all the partner of our daily of January, 18111, helping Dr. Pentecost toils and profits. in his meetings, and doing a great deal of singing for the missionaries. We We are so crowded with matter of were entertained by Bishop Thoburn, great importance that we omit this the Methodist Bishop of India, and by month any distinct Department of the pastor of the M. E.church there. Monthly Concert. Our readers will not The Methodists are by far the strongest miss this, inasmuch as the whole num- in India of any of the denominations, ber is maiuly given to Africa, and is and they are ce~tainly doing a great and unusually rich in material from various grand work. About Christmas time Dr. valuable sources upon different phases Pentecost decided to turn his attention of the languages, customs, oppressions, to the educated natives, and as they and needs of the Dark Continent. were not appreciative of Christian song, he·advised us to make a tour of the cities Says the Ewminer: "The Rev. Mr. of India, helping the missionaries as Mackay has been in the Island of For- we go. So we left Calcutta, January mosa for a great many years. About ,a 1st, and next day arrived at Benares, dozen years ago he planned to visit a the seat of Hinduism. We sawall their district containing a number of villages vile worship, and the great ruins of bearing the name of Ka-le-oan. Not Buddha's first preaching places.••• being able to go he sent II native preach- We visited Cawnpore, the scene of the er. Mr. Mackay was enabled a few worst atrocities of the mutiny of 1857. weeks ago to visit the region. He Then up to Noradabad, where was being found the people having a wonderfully held the North India Conference. We clear conception of the Gospel and had some fine meetings, and got a peep wearied with their idol worship. They at the executive missionary body. told him that the Mandarin would not let them throw up idolatry, declaring "We have held a song service and that they would be rebels against Chi- sometimes two or three in every city we nese authority if they did so. Mr. have been in except Delhi, where we Mackay saw that official and gained his were not entertained. We ha"e helped consent to let the people do as they in the conferences and in every place liked. 'fhe people held a council, and have sung to large audiences of Euroat once determined to forsake idolatry. peans." Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins planned A temple recently built was turned over to sail for home on February 28th, and to the missionary, and became a Chris- stop in Egypt, Palestine, Italy, Gertian meeting:house. Parties went about many, and England, reaching home by the villages gathering up idols, incense midsummer.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
BY MRS. 1. T. GRACEY.
Woman's Foreign Missionary 22,156 subscribers, a children's paper, Union of Friends in America. Cor- the King's Messenger, is also published, responding Secretary, Eliza C. Arm- with 20,315 subscribers, Boston, Mass. strong, Centre Valley, Ind. A large amount of miscellaneous litera- ture is issued by the society. The consolidation of the various branches of the woman's societies un- Woman's Baptist Foreign Misder one board has been accomplished, sionary Society of the West.-Orwith a department of missionary litera- ganized 1871. Corresponding Secretary, ture, one of junior and juvenile work, Mrs. A. M. Bacon, 3032 South Park another of systematic Christian giving, Avenue, Chicago, TIl. and another of interest and organization. Home report of this society: Number Number of auxiliary societies 224, of circles 1243, number of guilds and with 3376 members, and 2140 members young people's societies 233, mission of children's bands (number of bands not bands 309. The fields occupied are the given). Amount of money received dur- same as those occupied by the society of ing year, $23,164. the East. The same periodicals also are circulated. The board supports 18 missionaries, 8 native evangelists and Bible readers, Foreign work: Twenty-eight mission- 51 children in homes or boarding- aries are supported, 3 of whom are medschools, 7 day schools with 304 pupils. ical; 79 schools, in whole or in part, with an aggregate of 1759 pupils; and 31 Work is carried on or aided in Mexi- native teachers and 49 Bible women co, Japan, India, Syria, China, Indian have also been supported. Territory, and in Alaska. During the year the Carpenter Memo- Friend's Missionary .Advocate is the rial Hospital, at Bassein, has been official organ. This paper has been opened. Receipts for the year, $34,674. owned by Mrs. Esther Tuttle Pritchard since its establishment, in 1886, until Woman's Baptist Foreign Misthe past year, when a centralorganiza- sionary Society of California.-Corretion was effected, she presented the sponding Secretary, Mrs. L. P. Huntspaper to the union. man, 1264 Eleventh Avenue, East Oak- land, Cal. BAPTIST WOMAN'S BOARDS. This society has been organized 16 Woman's Baptist Foreign Mission- years. Previous to 1889 only one misary Society.-Organi~ed 1871. Cor- sionary was supported, who was staresponding Secretary, Mrs. O. W. Gates, tioned on the Congo. Now they sup- Newton Centre, Mass. port 4 missionaries, 2 to Hakkas, of China, 1 at Seudai, Japan, and 1 at The home work of this society is rep- Swatow, China. resented by 1440 circles, or contributing churches, 702 mission bands, and 15,578 Receipts for past year, $2214. No re" members. Amount of money raised for port of home work.
year ending March, 1890, $99,007. Woman's Baptist Missionary So- The society has work among the Bur- ciety of Oregon. -Corresponding Sec- retary, Mrs. Clinton Latourette, Oregon mese, Karens, Shans, Chins, Kachins, City. Eurasians, Telugus ; missions in China, Assam, Japan; Congo Mission, Africa, This society reports 31 circles, with a and Europe. membership of about 500, 7 children's bands, with 220 members, and 11 young Fifty-one missionaries are supported; people's societies, with 345 members. 9 sent past year; 171 schools with 6119 Amount of money raised from October, pupils, and 67 Bible women. 1889 to October, 1890, $1730.
Official organ, the Helping Rand, with One missionary is supported in Now- its Church Board. It helps to support gong, Assam. and contributions made work in Shanghai, China. Has 2 misto support Bible readers in Burma and sionaries-I a physician-and 3 assist. in, China. ant teachers. Has 1 boarding.school with 12 pupils. Work is also carried on Woman's Missionary Union Aux- in Holland in addition to home work. iliary to Southern Baptist Conven- Receipts for year, $3216. tion.-Organized 1888. Corresponding Secretary, Miss Annie W. Armstrong, 10 Christian Woman's Board of Mis- East Fayette Street, Baltimore, Md. sions.-Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Lois A. White, No. 160 North Delaware Prior to 1888 the Baptist women of Street, Indianapolis, Ind. the South had been working for missions, but without a general organiza- Twenty·nine States report 882 auxtion. Auxiliary societies 1469. iliary societies connected with this bo.ard-156 organized the past year. The society contributes to the work Present number of members 15,086, of the board in Brazil, Japan, China, young people's circles 49, children's Cuba, Italy, Mexico, Africa, besides bands 380. work at home among the Indians and colored people of the South. Official organ,' Missionary Tidings, with 4459 subscribers. A children's The society has a general depot for paper, Little Builders at Work, has a submissionary literature in the city of Bal- scription of. 2000. Amount of money timore, where can possibly be found the raised for the year, $45,166. largest variety of missionary le!,fiets in the country. Literature has been sent The society has work in India, out to 14 States, and over 100,000 Jamaica West Indies, and in Montana leaflets and pamphlets have been dis- in the home field. An orphanage is tributed during the year. supported at Bilaspur, India, with 19 orphans, and a school with 27 pupils, Amount of money raised, $21,398 for and a hospital has been established in foreign missions, and $10,161 for home India. Number of missionaries or formlSSlons. Official organ, the Baptist eign workers not given in report. Basket, Louisville, Ky. Woman's Auxiliary to the Board Free Baptist Woman's Missionary of Missions of the Protestant Epis- Society. – Corresponding Secretary, copal Church.-Corresponding Secre- Mrs. J. A. Lowell, Danville, New Hamp- tary, Miss Julia. C. Emery, 21 Bible shire. House, New York.
The home work of this society is rep- During the past year a junior auxiliary, resented by about 250 auxiliary societies modelled upon the woman's auxiliary, and 57 children's bands. Amount of has been formed, and a paper called the money raised during year, $7694. Peri- Young Ohristian Soldier started. The odical, the Missionary Helper, with 1250 woman's auxiliary has its workers in 51 subscribers. dioceses and nine missionary jurisdic- tions. Besides their domestic missions, The main work of the society is in the auxiliary aids the work in China, India. The principal stations are Mid- Japan, Africa, Mexico, and Alaska. napore and Balasore, where zenana, Six missionaries have been sent to the school, and medical work are success- :field the past year. fully carried on. Twenty teachers, 5 Bible women, 13 male teachers, in all 49 The aggregates are all given for parish persons, have been supported. An Of- ladies' aid work and other mission work phanage at Balasore has 35 children, and combined. It appears that of an aggre 7 day schools with 270 pupils. gate collection of $542,197, about $36, 838 is spent in foreign work. But the Woman's Board of the Seventh- North American Indian work is includ- Day Baptists.-Corresponding Secre- tary, Miss Mary F. Bailey, Milton. Wis.
This society works in connection with ed in domestio missions. It is impos- eties, 437 auxiliaries, 176 mission bands; sible to follow here the classification members in auxiliaries 10,443, members which is made where the home and in bands 4869; total membership 15,- foreign work are in separated societies. 312. Amount of money raised from April, 1889 to April, 1890, $32,117. 'Woman's Foreign Missionary So- ciety of the Reformed Episcopal This board has work among the Ind- Church.-Organized May, 1889. Corre- ians of the Northwest, missions in sponding Secretary, Mrs. William H. China, Formosa, Central India, Island Allen, Philadelphia, Pa. of Trinidad, the New Hebrides, and British Guiana. Foreign statistics not This society, so recently organized, given in report. Periodical, Monthly raised during the year $4077. One mis- Letter Leaflet, with a circulation of 5500. sionary is supported in Cawnpore, India, and another went to Calcutta under the Woman's Foreign Missionary So- auspices of the Woman's Union Mission- ciety of the Presbyterian Church in ary Society. Money has been sent to Canada (Eastern Section}.-Organized Sierra Leone, Africa, to open a training- 1876. Secretary, Mrs. J. T. Thompson, school, and some aid given to Japan. 111 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, N. S.
Oa.nadia.n Societies. This society is represented by 6 Pres- byterian societies, 112 auxiliaries, 5 Woman's Missionary Society of young people's branches, 46 mission the Methodist Church (Canada).- bands. Work is supported in the same Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. E. S. fields as those of Western Division. Strachan, 163 Hughson Street, North Receipts for year $5340. Hamilton, Canada. Woman's Baptist Foreign Mis- This society, territorially, is divided sionary Society of Ontario.-Corre. into 5 branches, viz., Eastern, Western, sponding Secretary, Miss Buchan, 165 Central, Nova Scotia, and New Bruns- Bloor Street, East Toronto, Canada. wick, and Prince Edward Island branches. Number of contributing circles 173, number of bands 81. Money received Home force: Auxiliaries 358, memo for the year $7471. bers 8020, mission bands 153, members 4462. Amount of money received for ,Work is carried on in India at Akidu, year $25,560-an advance of over $3254 Cocanada, Tuni, and Samulcotta. At over preceding year. Cocanada a flourishing boarding·school is supported, with 26 pupils. The society has a prosperous work in Japan, a boarding.school at Tokyo, and Woman's Baptist Foreign Misseveral day schools. Also a large work sionary Society of Eastern Ontario among the French in Canada, and dur- and Quebec.-Corresponding Secretary, ing the year a French institute has been Miss Greene, 478 St. Urbain Street, established in Montreal with 43 pupils. Montreal, Canada.
Theyhave a work also among the Ind- This society has work the same as the ians and Chinese on the Pacific Coast; society in Western Ontario. It has support 18 missionaries, 12 in Japan about 50 circles. Money raised during and 6 at home. Periodical, Missionary year $1530. Other statistics not given Outlook, Toronto. in report.
Woman's Foreign Missionary So- Woman's Auxiliary to Diocesan, ciety of the Presbyterian Church in Domestic, and Foreign Missions of Canada (Western Division). – Or- the Church of England, Diocese of ganized 1876. Foreign Secretary, Mrs. Toronto.-Secretary, Mrs. W. Cum- L. J. Harvie, 80 Bedford Road, Toronto, mings, 321 Markham Street, Toronto, Canada. Canada.
This society has 25 Presbyterian soci- Number of adult branches 51, number of junior branches 17, members 1407. Periodical department in The Canadian Ohnrch Magazine and M'i,Ssion News. The human family living to-day con- Total amount of money raised for sists of about 1,500,0'00.000 individuals. 1890, including value boxes of clothing In Asia there are now approximately to needy missions, $12,236. about 800,000,000, densely crowded; on an average 120 to the square mile. In General Statistics, Europe there are 350,000,000, averaging 100 to the square mile-not so crowd- BY BEV. D. L. LEONARD. ed, but everywhere dense, and at all points over- populated. In Africa there Missionary Ammunition. – Every are 210,000,000. In America, North and pastor ought to see that every pew is South, there are 110,000,000 relatively supplied with the diagram first pub- thinly scattered. In the islands, large lished by the Church Missionary Society and small, probably 10,000,000. The of London, which pictures to the eye at extremes of the white and black are as a glance, and most effectively, the 5 to 3 ; the remaining 700,000,000 interspiritual condition of humankind by mediate brown and tawny. Of the race, means of a rectangle 4 by 6 inches, 500,000,000 are well clothed, that is, printed in various colors, to distinguish wear garments of some kind to cover the principal religions and divisions of their nakedness; 700,000,000 are semithe Christian Church, and divided into clothed, covering inferior parts of the some 1500 squares, each one represent- body; 250,000,000 are practically naked. ing a million souls. Thus the Jews oc- Of the race, 500,000,000 live in houses cupy but 8 squares, the Greek Church partly furnished with the appointments 84 squares, Protestants 125, Roman of civilization; 800,000,000 in huts or Catholics 190, Mohammedans 170, but caves with no furnishing; 260,000,000 the heathen 856, the latter and most have nothing that can be called a home, palpable fact being properly emphasized are barbarous and savage. The range by so many squares in jet black. And is from the topmost round-the Anglothen, to show what slight impression Saxon civilization, which is the highest has been made, what a tremendous task known-down to naked savagery. The remains to be performed after 19 centu- portion of the race lying below the line ries of Christian history, after 100 years of human condition is at the very least of Protestant modern (playing at) mis- three-fifths of the whole-900,000,000. sions, those awful 856 inky squares contain 2-only 2-near the centre that are -The various Protestant churches of snow white-standing, of course, for the Canada sustain 6 missionary societies, handful of converts made from heathen- and contribute to the foreign work an ism. What Christian heart can gaze aggregate of $165,000 annually (of unmoved upon such a lamentable de- which $100,106 is expended through the lineation? Presbyterian Board), have Ill3 missiona- ries in the fiela: and 380 native laborers, Then add to this another set of fig- and have gathered 8172 members into ures, which portray the physical, intel- their churches. lectual, and social status of mankind, and we have a working basis for an –The indications are unmistakable overwhelming appeal for a general and that the Huguenots in France, after sublime outburst of evangelizing faith centuries of extreme depression, and and zeal. And without doubt never after even lad apostasy from faith and were the facts relating to the condition fervor, are at length awakening to new of the race upon the material side set spiritual life. This fact appears espeforth so adequately in such brief space cially in the aggressive work undertaken as in the statement which follows. It to spread a pure gospel both at home has been before the public for some and abroad. They number some 600,000, years, and may therefore be quite famil- and are gathered into about 650 iar to many; and yet it cannot be reviewed and pondered too often: churches, though 30,000 or more are the seat of the IIiission. The work acsCdttered, and destitute of pastors and complished is made palpable in part oy places of worship. They sustain 3 Bible 125 chapels and prayer· houses, 341 consocieties, 3 book and tract societies, gregations, 6367 communicants, 223 many Young Men's Christian Associa- Sunday-schools, with 8151 scholars, and tions, 2 theological seminaries, 2 schools 194 day-schools, with 236 teachers and for evangelists, 4 societies for carrying 4423 scholars. Of these schools 171 are on evangelistic work, and a host of col- primary, 15 are high caste Hindu girls' porteurs. The annual contributions schools, 3 are Mohammedan, 3 boardfor home missions amount to $100,000, ing, and 1 industrial. In addition a and for foreign missions, $80,000. But college was opened in 1885, which now so limited are their resources and so has a teaching force of 19 and 361 stuheavy their burdens, they have sent one dents, and having as its chief object the of their number-Professor L. J. Ber- training of teachers and gospel workers rand-to America to raise here, if pos- of every kind. Money has also been sible, $20,000. raised ($15,000) for a hospital in Guntur.
Methodist Protestant Church.- -The Moravian Church, the pioneer Secretary, Rev. F. T. Tagg, Easton, missionary body in modern times, I!nte. Md. dating Carey and the Baptist Missionary Society by 60 years, with its" home .. Report for eight months ending De- membership of but 21,360, has in its cember 31st, 1890 : missions 30,591 communicants, and 87,263 in its congregations. Ten coun. RECEIPTS. tries are occupied, with 135 stations; 36 men and women were sent out last yelll, Foreign Fund..•..••.••…………• $3,452.12 making 355 Europeans and native as. Children'S Day…………..•……. 5,718.74 sistants in the field, with 1663 other Album F'und . . . . . . . . .• . . . . . . . . .. .. . 142.71 native helpers. In 113 Sunday-schools SpeciaL ……….•………………• 1,319.06 15,362 scholars are taught, and in 235 day-schools 20,629. The receipts for Balance, May 1 …… _. . ••• .. ….•. . 1,250.03 1889 were $100,115, of which upward of $40,000 came from non – Moravian Total. ……•…••…•••.•…….. $11,882.66 sources. Expenditnre•..•..•••…•..••.•.••… 11,371.15 The lal'gest mission is found in the Balance, Dec. 31…….. ..•. ………. $511.51 British and Danish West Indies, with 49 stations and 39,420 in the congrega. This society has 2 stations in Japan; 2 tions. Next come Surinam and Deme- churches, with 205 members; 15 mission· rara, South America, with 27,534 adaries and teacher/!; 3 Sunday.schools, herents, and South Africa, with 13,084. with 350 scholars; a college with 50 stu· Gnadenthal, the oldest station in South dents; an Anglo.Japanese school, with Africa, is to celebrate its centennial an attendance of 152, and a school for next year by the erection of a new women with 90 pupils, in all 292 under church, to cost £2000, of which the peo. instruction. A kindergarten will soon pIe on the spot hope to raise £1500. be opened, and the first native Japanese preacher has been chosen and will -The Syria mission of the Presbysoon be ordained. terian Board, North-especially with its large and thoroughly furnished printing General SynGd of the Lutheran establishment, and its Bible house at Church.-Secretary, Rev. George Scholl, Beirut-is one of the most important in D.D., Baltimore, Md. the entire foreign field. Besides Beirut, stations are maintained at Sidon, Trip- This society has 1 mission in Africa and 1 in India, and sustains in all 13 representatives from America, and 171 native assistants. The India field is in the Madras Presidency, upon the Bay of Bengal, and among the Telugus, covers about 5000 square miles, and contains 1,000,000 of inhabitants. Guntur is ali, Abeih, and Zahleh. This tahle progress has been for nearly fifteen will show how steady and general the years: STATISTICS OF THE SYRIA MISSION.
1876. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.
– – – – — – – – – – – American Missionaries .. _. .. _… . .. . …….. . 28 38 37 34 35 42 Native Laborers . ….. ' ………………….. . 120 Stations and Out-Stations ……………….. . 65 189 179 171 201 201 95 91 96 94 94 Church-Members ……………………….. . 573 1,301 1,440 1,493 1,534 1,615 Added on Profession…. .. . ……………… . 75 130 153 104 63 98 Average Congregations ………………….. . 2,642 3,891 4,293 4,289 4,522 4,640 Sabbath-Schools ••.•.. . ………•••……… 40 S. S. Scholars …………•……………….. 1,540 73 68 66 81 88 Total Schools. . ………… .. . ………… . 80 3,804 3.746 3,732 4,620 4,966 136 121 125 141 142 Total Pupils …………………………… . 3,509 5,665 5,344 5,391 6,299 6,172 This table of statistics, and the one summary covering eighteen others, which follows, though in a condensed while from four, the Free Methodform, are taken from the very valuable ists, the African Methodists, the Bap- American Board Almanac of Missions. tist Convention of the United States, Facts are set forth in detail concerning and the Friends, no report was reten of the principal societies, with a ceived : 'FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1889-90.
~ .; AMERICAN ~ ~ ci ]"o'" ~. .~'c"~.; LABORERS. '<""3 0 '~" 00 :og.~a SOCIETIES. rn.; ".8 "03 w "~ .:i 0""3,8" .;J .S ""..~- .co $ "03 S ."c 0 ""… ~" ~ 'c:3~ ….:I 'C E,,"~ rn ;:;I I'""< ~ 0 'C … ~" .":: "'C ,,~ 8~ ~ .c p~…. z" -;; 'C 0 Z 0 -<j —— — — —— — —— Meth. Epis.,North 52 :1 159 135 3,018 559 42,632! 5,563 30,049 $282,997 $885,197 Presb. Bd., North. 99 240 336 1,302 320 26,794' 2,753 23,935 Am. Board(Cong ) 96 200 333 2,417 387 36.256 4,554 47,319 lii,494 794,066 762,947 Bapt.. Miss. Union 64 1,382 131 200 1,343 712 81,072 7,099 20,615 54,844 440,788 Meth.Epis., South 4,014 244,176 Ref. Ch. (Dutch).. 18 . i4i 34 "35 97 "in 5,336 552 '4',i56 . fi,D03 117,000 15 26 364 Protestant Epis .. 52 168 74 39 210 38 2,631 264 3,876 5,527 189,183 ~aPt. South. Conv 37 124 33 45 86 62 2.213 409 675 4,681 109,174 resb.Bd.. South. 18 98 37 41 50 31 1,207 360 1,207 4,317 107,627 Unit. Presb Bds. 16 198 26 44 459 391 9,568 1,722 10,687 7,167 100,539 E ili~te:sn ~.t~~~ ~~: 113 151 ~ ~ –.: -.-: ~.495 3,351 –.:,871 ~,187 _278,914 1 Totals . . . . . . . . 580 3,474 1,054 1,296 10,020 2,721 236,187 25,963 174.891 $524,21J $3,977,701 PRINCIPAL FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES OF GREAT BRITAIN.
MISSIONARIES. zi ~ "" '" 'C.; " °8 ~.2 – – – – – – Ol SOCIETIES. w~ "03 ~=">= S" ~ "ol~o~~ oJ S Z S 0 03 – "rno );l "I'"< 0 =">-< 0 —– – —— Church Missionary Society. . . . . . . . . .. . …. 315 338 59 4,121 49,016 $1,145,240 Wesleyan Missionary Society. ….. . …. 363 343 6,284 34,086 703,115 Society for Propagation of Gospel ………. 499 2,447 66,593 625,190 London Missionary Society…..••………. 1)33 155 154 5,419 68.805 505,765 Free Church of Scotland…… .. ……… 209 80 35 660 6,620 480,535 Ba{,tist Missionary Society……………… 515 126 986 48.646 , 398,045 Chma Iuland Mission ……. .. ……….. 158 180 180 232 2,839 257,420 United Presbyterian, Scotch …………… 251 491 14,899 202,455 69 25 Established Church, Scotland. .. … … .. 30 17'9 825 156,805 Church of England Zenana MIss. Society .• Gl 113 639 135,000 – – – – Twelve other societies. .. ……………… 348 347 232 3,059 55;752 540,803 — Totals ………….. ……….. …. 3,353 2,167 – – – – —- 798 24,517 '348,081 $5,150,373 The second table of figures on the pre- so heroically founded by the late Mr. ceding page gives certain details con- Mackay before the waves of successive cerning 22 British societies, of which 12 revolutions swept over Uganda. In May are presented only in a summary. But next another mission party depart for the total of receipts is not to be taken as Uganda, under the tried leadership of showing the entire gifts of British Prot- the Rev. R. P. Ashe. 'lile Rev. G. H. estant Christians to foreign missions, for, V. Greaves, and also Dr. G. Wright, have according to Canon Robertson, their con- been appointed to it. "Six or eight more tributions in1889 amounted to $6,056,530. are at least required," says the Church Missionary Society, "in view of the -The Methodist Episcopal Church, wonderful openings for Christian work South, publishes a very complete table of all kinds in Uganda, in Usoga, at the of statistics of its Chinese Mission Con- south of the Victoria Nyanza, not to ference for the year ending September speak of the nearer territories of the 30th, 1890, and showing the results of British East Africa Company." five years' work. Two dist~icts are occupied, and 10 circuits, with 30 mis- Except the Scottish m~ionary camsionaries, male and female, and 6 nati ve paign of the Free Church of Scotland to helpers. Into the churches 345 mem- raise a sum of £20,000 for the fourth bers have been gathered; 22 Sunday- period of five years in the history of the Bchools are sustained, with 742 scholars; glorious Livingstonia Mission, no sim.iand 47 schools of all grades (including lar undertaking can be compared with an Anglo-Chinese college, with 146 stu- the remarkable endeavor of the Church dents), with a total attendance of 100l. Missionary Society to send forth 1000 In the 2 hospitals 2494 patients were missionaries during 1891 into the mis. treated last year. sion field. Partaking of the nature of a missionary revival, it is being achieved Foreign Mission Notes, with almost incomparable enthusi8Rm. Men and means are flowing into the BY REV. JAlIlES JOHNSTON, BOLTON, ENG- treasury of God. LAND. Mr. A. M. Mackay's Father. -The Africa – Bishop Tucker. – Clouds readers of the :MISSIONARY REVIEW in all continue to hang over Uganda. Bishop lands will welcome a glimpse of the Tucker had a rough journey inland, not- father of the late distinguished mission. withstanding the kindness of German ary, which the writer, favored with an officials en route. On reaching the con- intimate friendship, can supply. At fines of his new diocese he was seized the foot of Boniface Downs, east of with fever. By the attacks of this Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight, overlook. dreaded foe two of his ardent fellow ing the wide-stretching blue waters of missionaries were fatally struck down the English Channel, lies the charming at Usambiro. Their loss to the cause is home of this dear old man. It has been greatly regretted. Through the jealousy opened to receive many weary African of the French Roman Catholic mission- traveilers, who have left behind them aries, and the ever-threatening attitude souvenirs of the Dark Continent, or of the Mohammedans on Mwanga's ter· gifts from the gallant Mackay himself. ritory, the bishop finds the situation in From this spot were sent for yearll Uganda exceedingly perplexing. It is newspapers, books, etc., to Alexander not improbable that as soon as an inter- Mackay, who in turn despatched porview has been granted by Mwanga he tions bf them to his friend Emin Pasha, may make a hurried journey to England, in Equatorial Africa, when caravans to take council with the committee as to were.permitted to pass through the inthe future policy. Should the journey tervening hostile countries. The father be made, he will leave a small band of of Mr. Mackay is a native of Thurso, in men in Uganda to re-establish the work Caithness, originally, in all probability, as well as the export of slaves in his of Scandinavian stock, and his mother, territories, to the best of his power. of Banffshire. In his quiet Ventnor The following is the translation of the home, which he occupied on retiring from the Presbyterian ministry in Scot- copy Oll" TREATY: land, he has watched with practical solicitude the course of the missionary " I, Mwanga, King of Buganda, here- enterprise. Though bearing the silvery by declare, in the presence of Dr. Carl locks of age, it is a veritable inspiration Peters and Pere Simeon Lourdel (since to listen to his eloquent utterances on dead), that I prohibit the slave-trade in the redemption of the heathen world Buganda and the territories belonging from the yoke of idolatry. thereto, and that I will do my utmost to prevent the exportation of slaves from As Mr. Stanley promised Dr. Mackay, all countries under my jurisdiction. prior to departing for Africa, in 1887, to bring his son home "safe and "MwANGA, KA13AKA sound," it is not easy to imagine his disappointment when he learned that of Buganda. his long-absent "Alick," declined to leave his post. Greater and irreparable " SIMEON LOURDEL was the blow on the arrival, last year, of the tidings of Mr. Mackay's death. of the AlgerilJn Missions. Of this calamity the doctor has written, under date of February 7th, 1891, to the " CARL PETERS. writer: "The news of my dear son's death at Usambiro gave me a stunning " MENGO, May 16, 1890." blow. It came so unexpectedly that, for a time, I could hardly realize it, es- The arrival of this information, topecially as I half.expected him home gether wUh the adherence of all the some time during the summer. I have, European powers (now that Holland has however, learned to say, 'the will of the consented) to the General Act of the re- Lord be done,' and I have no doubt this cent Brussels Conference, will gi"e a event, like all others, has been wisely strong impetus in every quarter of the ordained by the Divine Disposer." He globe to the anti·slave·trade movement. alludes to the success of his son's memoir written by his sister, of which 8000 More African Missionaries.-Dr. copies have been sold. "Its perusal," George Smith says that he knows noth. he says, ., has led to the self-consecra- ing at all in history which equals the tion of some young men to the Lord, rapidity with which the civilizing, Chrisand to the evangelization of poor be- tianizing organizations had spread over nighted Africa." Mr. Mackay's trans- Africa during these fifty years. Although lation of the Scriptures is being dili- he has spent the greater part of his life in gently completed by three of his most India, where there has been great misintelligent converts and pupils in sionary enterPrise, "still, before Africa, Uganda. India paled. " I understand that the Mo- ravian Mission and the Lutheran Society King Mwanga and Siavery.- in Berlin were in communication with Though one is naturally sceptical of the doctor last January, asking his adany real change in the heathen passion vice and assistance respecting the des· of this African monarch, it is gratifying patch of missionaries to the German to report that Prince Hohenlohe Lan- African territory. It is remarkable to genberg, President of the Deutschen learn that instead of entering their own Kolonial-gesellschaft, writes of Mwan- " sphere of influence" from Bagamoyo, ga's resolve to forbid slave-dealing, they preferred the Scottish route via the Zambesi, the Shire, and Nyassa. Very shortly the Livingstonia Mission pur· pose sending a party of six men, two of whom are medical missionaries, to the north end of Lake Nyassa. The Mora- vians propose to send in their compnny four missionaries for work in Ge.rman territory, and the Lutheran Society will send three, or probably five, by the same that they have a right to cook or sell in missionary expedition. them, and turn them into shambles, or set up open.air theatres on the sideways. A Congo Missionary Heroine.- They cannot endure the institutiou of a Friends of the Congo Missions will re- pound. Dogs, donkeys, and troops of gret to hear that Mrs. Percy Comber, goats from time immemorial wandered who only went out in May last year, and where they pleased. Who was the worse was married to Mr. Comber in the for their liberty? The dogs never went August following, has fallen a victim to mad; they were the auxiliaries of the the malarious climate. Great sympathy hymns in devouring corpses scarcely cov- is expressed for her suddenly bereaved ered with earth. Why trouble about the husband. The name of Comber will be registration of births, deaths, and mar_ always honorably associated with Afri- riages ? Tunis, nevertheless, is making can missions and African exploration. steady headway in the path of progress. Their martyr roll on African soil in- cludes the names of Dr. Sidney Com- In this unevangelized region seven ber, Thomas Comber; Mrs. Hay, her missionaries of the North Africa M'tssion sister, Mrs. Thomas J. Comber, and are laboring. The darkness of the land now, Mrs. Percy Comber. By these, is appalling. Tunis is spiritually dead. truly heroic breath has been offered for Alcohol is the chief foe of the mission Africa's perishing millions on the Con- workers. Mohammedan insobriety is go watershed. notorious. A missionary writes of the Regency: " The longer I live in Tunis, The Niger Troubles.-A long doc- the more I see and hear of its awful ument has been issued by the Commit· wickedness, and the burden of souls is tee of the Church Missionary Society, very real to us. " It is pleasant to learn appointed to inquire into the charges that the Roman Catholic Italians in made by the English secretary on the Tunis are moved with the simplicity of west coast of Africa against the native the Gospel. mIssIOnaries. Briefly summarized, the report practically acquits of guiltiness Uzbek Turki Gospel Translations. the principal native clergy whom the -Thanks to the enterprise of the Brit· Rev. F. N. Eden took upon himself to ish and Foreign Bible Society, a part suspend, yet in two instances his de. of one of the most important biblical cision is confirmed. An English Church translations undertaken of late years, dignitary will possibly embark for the consisting of the four Gospels, is now Niger on a mission of reconciliation. passing through the press. It is esti- To the credit of the society, it should mated that Uzbek is the' language of be known that, promptly and exhaus· nearly 2,250,000 people scattered over tively, it invariably deals with the diffi· Russia ;r;. Asia, Bokhara, Afghanistan, culties whieh arise on its fields of labor. Khokhano, and Khiva, and is spoken by almost all the agricultural population of Tunis.-Of this J!'rench Protectorate these territories. The language is hard in North Africa, with a population of to acquire, as it is spoken in an exceed- 2,000,000 souls, the great majority of ingly rapid, shrill utterance. The transwhom are Mohammedans, a book of lation, reported to be quite worthy of considerable interest has just been pub- the society's repute for scholarly acculished, entitled" La Politique FranQaise racy, was commenced in 1884, by M. en Tunisie," whose author hides his Ostroumoff, a learned Russian gentle. identity under the signature of P. H. X. man who had lived many years in Cen- He speaks of the administrative diffi. tral Asia. His rendering has been most culties of the French resident as being caretully revised and, where advisable, very trying. The Tunisians like their amended by Dr. Radloff, Professor Sale. picturesque, old·world ways, and aro man~, Dr. Sauerwein, and M. Amischanot to be meddled with. Their idea is sisantz. that the streets belong to everyone, and Jewish Colonization in Palestine.- Government circles cause serious mis· "Yeax by year," remaxks Lieutenant· givings regarding the nation's welfare. Colonel Goldsmid, "the state of the Thus fax French influence has not raised Jews all over the world is becoming less the moral standard. The habits of life satisfactory instead of better. As the and non·Christian principles of Frenchresult of the persecutions in Russia and men are unmistakably introducing a Roumania Jewish colonies are being false civilization. In developing the refounded everywhere. They are even in sources of Madagascar, or promoting an initiatory stage in South America, commercial enterprise and colonization, and may likely be commenced in Cen- the French are utterly unfitted. The tral Africa. These schemes, Mr. Gold- export and import trade is nearly all smid thinks, are only deferring the evil done by English and American traders. day. He holds firmly that the Jewish Religiously, the work continues to prosquestion will never be settled until there per. In face of the disappointments is a Jewish state in the Holy Land. with respect to the action of the Govern- " In some countries," he says, " we are ment, the missionaries maintain a pow. persecuted. In others we are barely erful hold on the native communities. tolerated. I am not at all surprised at The London Missionary Society and the this. What other race with 80 glorious Society of Friends sta,nd on almosj; sima history as ours would tamely sit down ilar platforms, and attempt much in comand see the land of their ancestors in mon. It is regretted that the advanced the hands of a foreigner? Italy has re- sacerdotal teachings of the agents of the gained Rome, why should we not regain Society for the Propagation of the Gos. Palestine, instead of being contented to pel prevent co-operation with this body. remain tolerated by the peoples among Despite the energy of Roman Catholic whom we live ?" missionaries and their numbers, they are singularly weak and unable to gather Madagascar.-Political affairs are congregations. taking an erratic course on the island. The determined attitude of the more India-" Age of Consent" Bill.-Naenlightened and patriotic Malagassies tive papers are full of letters and distoward the French Protectorate, to cussions relating to the proposed measwhich I referred in the January issue of ure for raising" marriage consent" from the MISSIONARY REVIEW, is being neu- the age of ten to twelve. The bill is in tralized by the Malagasy Court. Either committee, and should reappear before by adroit negutiations, or intrigue, the the Legislat.ive Council next March, French are already on growingly cordial meanwhile, local goveTnments are colterms with the Government. The Eng- lecting native opinion in all parts of the lish adviser, the Protestant missiona. country. By the Mohammedans exries, and other tried counsellors, are to- pressing themselves favorable and, to day set aside for the French, while the a laxge extent, the Brahmo-Somaj, there queen, the prime minister, and the . is great anticipation of eventual sucladies·in-waiting affect French customs, cess. Orthodox Hindus in Upper· and and eagerly show their regard for the Western India are apparently unconofficials of the French Republic. As a cerned. The National Congress is neucorrespondent says: "The French rep- tral, according to its resolution not to resentative has but to go ahead cau- agitate on social questions. From Bengal tiouslyand circumspectly to obtain for comes the most pronounced opposition, his country all she can possibly wish though it is generally believed the meas· for." What the future will bring re- ure will be carried when it is universally mains to be seen. At present the coun- known that the bill does not interfere try, administratively, is in a lamentable with religious customs, or form a pre-. condition. .The increasing selfishness, Iude to corresponding acts of legislation. despotism, and lax morality noticed in
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 — January 1888
PROSPECTUS OF THE REVIEW FOR 1888
JOINT EDITORS: J. M. SHERWOOD, A. T. PIERSON, NEW YORK. PHILADELPHIA.
VOL. XI. No. 1.—Old Series.—JANUARY, 1888.—VOL. I. No. 1.—New Series.
TEN years ago the Rev. Royal G. Wilder, who had spent 30 years in missionary work in India, unable longer to continue in that field, established this REVIEW at Princeton, N. J., on an independent basis, and has conducted it until now with remarkable energy and ability and won for it a very high character in all missionary circles. Failing health constrained him a few months since (he has since been called to his rest) to relinquish, with great reluctance but entire acquiescence in God's will, the further conduct of it; and at his earnest request Rev. A. T. Pierson and Rev. J. M. Sherwood consented to assume the editorship and regular issue of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, beginning with January, 1888. In accepting the sacred trust, we realize the responsibility connected with it, and are anxious not only to carry on the work, so happily begun, but to enlarge the scope of the magazine, and broaden the field of its influence. Hence we propose at the start greatly to enlarge it, making it a monthly of 80 pages, give it a fine mechanical appearance, enlarge its scope, increase its literary and intellectual attractions, and bring it into harmonious relations with all the great missionary agents and movements of the age-in a word, to make it THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in fact 'as well as in name-a Review truly Representative of the Spirit, Policy and Work of Modern Missions in their Unity, Entirety, and Universality.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD will embrace the following departments and features : I. LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. We shall studiously aim to give to the REVIEW a high literary and intellectual character, putting it in this respect on a par with our best Quarterlies and Literary Monthlies. The Missionary literature of the world is already rich in materials, and is rapidly increasing in breadth and in the power of inspiration and instruction. The annals of the past, and all new materials in this department, will be laid under generous contribution to impart value and interest to the pages of the magazine. The ablest pens available, and from all parts of the wide field, will be enlisted in this service. Essays, addresses, biographies, missionary sermons, travels, discoveries, missionary life, and discussions of the vital themes and questions relating to the policies and methods,
which will arise from time to time in the broad field of the world's missions, will combine to inform, interest and inspire the friends of the cause.
A sharp eye will also be kept on the current issues of the press, at home and abroad, and whatever appears in books and periodicals of special interest to missionary readers will be brought to the attention of our patrons. Each month will present a resume of current discussion and press contributions to the Literature of the missionary work.
II. MISSIONARY ORGANIZATIONS. As far as space will permit, a detailed account will be given in each number of some specific part of the general field and of the particular societies operating on it, so arranged and apportioned as that the entire missionary field of the world shall be embraced in our report of each year, and due attention given to all important missionary organizations and agencies known to exist. Thus a bird's eye view of the universal life and operations of the grand missionary cause will be given in each volume. It will be a yearly Epitome of the History of Modern Missions.
III. CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. The editors will put themselves en rapport with all the chief Missionary Societies, Missions, and workers in all lands; they will establish Editorial Correspondents in every part of the field, so as to insure the latest and most reliable intelligence from every available quarter, and co-operate with the friends of missions everywhere in pushing the Missionary Cause to the front, and in imparting increased power and efficiency to the vast machinery of missions. They will strive to make THE MISSIONARY REVIEW a focal light and guide to "the whole sacramental host of God's elect." moving in concert for the subjugation of the world to Christ.
IV. PROGRESS AND FRUITS OF MISSIONARY WORK. This department will contain a comprehensive account of the leading missionary events of the month, embracing the receipts, disbursements and operations of the various societies; items of special interest from the various fields; facts, statements, experiences and appeals bearing direct on the missionary cause, and whatever else will be of special interest to all engaged in the work. This will furnish a practical Summary of what has been attempted and accomplished during each month throughout the entire field of operations.
v. STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS This department will be emphasized and made of the utmost interest and value to the friends of missions everywhere, and especially to pastors and those who conduct the Monthly Concert. It will be a unique and leading feature of the REVIEW. No pains or reasonable expense will be spared to obtain the fullest, and latest, and most reliable figures and statistics of the world's entire missionary operations, both in the Home and Foreign fields, and so to classify, arrange and tabulate them as to make them of the highest practical value. The labor in this department will be immense, but the result will be worth more than the price of a year's subscription to every pastor, every public library, every missionary society, and every intelligent friend of the cause of Missions. We mean to make the REVIEW an authority on this subject.
VI. THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS will be under the special charge of Dr. Pierson, who, in addition to being the pastor of a large and efficient church, possesses special qualifications for this service. His best endeavors will be put forth to make this important service increasingly attractive and profitable, and to suggest topics and methods in aid of pastors and others in the conduct of it that will make the REVIEW an indispensable aid to them, and to every church which observes the «Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions."
VII. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. This will be under the editorial charge of Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., of the « International Missionary Union," who will be able to make it highly conducive to the general purpose and scope of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VIII. EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS of special interest to missionary circles. These will be brief, condensed, and on a great variety of topics, which we have not space to discuss at length and yet shall wish to express an opinion upon.
If this ideal of the editors can be realized-and we believe it can be -THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, with God's blessing- for whose glory this work is undertaken by them-may become a great power for good. World-wide in its field and scope; independent of local and ecclesiastical boundaries and prejudices; fearless and independent in its expression of opinion and in its advocacy of methods and policies; consulting the highest interest of the Cause in its widest relations; having an eye on the entire field, and lending a helping hand wherever needed; and presenting a current history of that work, which is «the glory of the age," in all its departments and agencies and results, it must possess an interest and a value far above that of any other missionary magazine of the world.
We congratulate the friends of missions that we have been able to secure as Publishers of this Review, Messrs. Funk & Wagnalls, 18 and 20 Astor Place, New York, by whom it will hereafter be published.
This enterprising House is too well known in the book world, and in religious circles, to need any introduction or indorsement from us.
We expect to issue the January number at an early date, and succeeding numbers on or before the middle of each month in advance, to be in ample time for the Missionary Ooncert.
NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1887.
J. M. SHERWOOD.
A. T. PIERSON.
SALUTATORY
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
SALUTATORY.
[EDITORIAL.] CICERO says that the orator, in the exordium of his address, should establish between himself and his hearers a mutual understanding, and get with them upon a common ground.
The same law applies to the editor and author. It is highly important, that, at the very outset, the writer and reader should understand each other; and therefore we give these opening pages of this Review to a word of salutation and explanation addressed to all our readers.
Led, as we believe, by the Providence of God, we undertake to carry on a good work which originated ten years ago in the mind and heart of a beloved returned missionary from India, *and which has, by his hand, amid much physical suffering, been carried to its present stage of growth and success. God's workmen are constantly changing but His work goes on. We have yielded to what seemed a providential pressure thrusting us unexpectedly into the gap left by the necessary retirement of the previous editor from the control of the Review, and we shall seek to perpetuate and perfect what was originally designed and has been so far, and so well, developed under his care.
It does not always follow that even a good work needs to be carried on : sometimes it reaches completion, and addition is superfluous. In this case we conceive that to discontinue this Review would be disaster. So far is it from a finished structure, that thus far only the cornerstone has been laid and the foundation built; the scaffolding is not yet ready to be removed, and we are beginning a new story with such modifications as the building demands as it advances.
There is now room for more of the literary, the æsthetic, the intellectual; a demand, as circulation increases and a firm financial basis is secured, for the best labor properly compensated. We have no less aim than to make this Review the commanding Missionary Magazine of the World, sparing neither labor nor money to make it one of the foremost agencies for the evangelization of the world and the information, organization and co-operation of disciples in the direction of world-wide missions.
That such a Review is needed, we should be ashamed to argue. There are two great, potent factors which must enter into the solution of the problem of missions-the tongue and pen. The printing-press multiplies them both a thousandfold. It gives volume and compass to the voice, like the trumpet of a Titan, and it scatters the products of the pen, as though it had at command the hundred-handed giants that helped the Titans. Great is the power of type and of printers' ink! Surely we should leave out a whole division in mustering our forces, if, in going forth to a world's conquest for Christ, we should neglect the printed page.
Facts are the fingers of God. There is no logic like the logic of events; no demonstration like the demonstration of the Spirit. Apathy, and even antipathy, toward the work of missions, are turned into positive and powerful sympathy, when a true disciple learns how mightily God has wrought and is working with the little missionary band. Men, like James Hannington, who once were indifferent to foreign missions because they were ignorant of them, have, like the martyr bishop of Africa, found that a simple knowledge of the wonderful work of God's Providence and Spirit, even among the most depraved and degraded tribes, has lit a flame in their souls that could neither be quenched nor confined; a flame that has grown into a fire, a conflagration-consum- ing selfishness and worldliness; displacing the carnal lusts-appetite, avarice and ambition, by a divine ardor and fervor, passion for souls, and zeal for the glory of God.
To put such facts before the reader, in the most truthful and telling form, comprehensively and attractively, is one of the foremost objects of this Review. We shall aim to exhibit the miracles of missions, which are at once signs of Christ's messiahship, manifestations of the Power of God, wonders of the Spirit, and works possible only to Deity.
To secure a proper and perpetual stream of such information, we shall seek to secure a large number of tributaries. First, we shall, as fast as we are able, select a large and competent corps of editorial correspondents, who shall sustain a close relation to the Review, and by whose contributions these columns will be enriched. Next, we purpose to find at least one commanding personality in every great missionary territory, and especially at great strategic centers, who shall be as a living link between the Review and the various fields of Christian effort. Furthermore, we hope to secure able contributions from men and women of learning, piety and consecrated spirit, whose opinions compel respect, whose statements are accurate and authoritative, and whose suggestions are sagacious and practical.
The need of such a Review of missions is pressing. The demand is immediate and imperative. With all the existing channels for conveyance of information and the exchange of views, there is yet a wide gap to be filled. The work of missions is world-wide, and we need a missionary Review of the World; the need of man is universal, and so must be our survey; the whole church is called to this grand crusade, and the Review must be unsectarian and undenominational, gathering the whole army, with all its tribal standards, closely about the Tabernacle and Ark of God; the Christian nations are all united in the work, and hence the Review will be international; and as even the best methods are liable to be defective, and custom is often, as Cyprian says, only the" Antiquity of Error," a true Review will be critical though not controversial, and will aim, not only at a wide view, but at a close, careful, candid review.
The time is now especially ripe for such an undenominational, international, independent missionary organ, as a means of expression and impression, communication and co-operation, education and evangelization. Missions are comparatively modern. The Church slept for more than a thousand years; then slowly awoke to the sense of a world's destitution and her own obligation. Let us remember that it yet lacks five years of a full century since in Widow Wallis' humble cottage at Kettering, that first Missionary Society was organized in England, that was the pioneer of the whole host now numbering over one hundred organizations. And already, and within the lifetime of some veterans still living, the network of missions has overspread the globe. Surely it is time that in this special department there should be abundant and adequate agencies to put and keep before the reading public the entire progress and prospects of the grand campaign which is now conducted by all Christendom against the strongholds of the Pagan, Moslem and Papal world!
Such is our word of Salutation. The primary object of this Review is not money-making, but the informing of disciples, and the quickening of our whole church-life, the promotion of an intelligent interest in the work of missions everywhere and the inspiring of an unreserved personal consecration to the work. We desire the fullest support of a large constituency of readers, in what we undertake as an unselfish labor of love for the sake of Christ and His Church. As the circulation of the Review increases and its income allows, more and more will be expended upon the periodical itself, that we may give back to the reader and subscriber the largest returns for his investment; and it is our fond hope that by the abundant blessing of God upon our labor, direct and indirect results may follow, on the largest scale, in furthering and hastening a world's evangelization.
Gladstone says that eloquence in the orator is "receiving from the audience in a vapor what he pours back upon them in a flood. " We shall depend largely upon our readers for the inspiration in our work; and we hope that whatever is received from the subscribers to this Review by way of its support, they may find comes back to them in abundance; that, like the water poured on the roots of the cocoanut tree, which returns in the sweet milk of the cocoanut itself that falls from the top, there may be not only an equivalent rendered but something sweeter and richer by way of recompense.
IN MEMORIAM: REV. ROYAL GOULD WILDER
IN MEMORIAM: REV. ROYAL GOULD WILDER.
Born Oct. 27, 1816, Bridport, Vt. Died Oct. 10, 1887, New York City.
THIS heroic man, the originator and for ten years the editor of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, closed a life of service and suffering by a blessed entrance into glory, on the very day on which, to his successors in the editorial work, the REVIEW was formally transferred. He only tarried long enough to see the transfer completed and to bestow his blessing on the new administration, and then took his departure for the better country.
It is no mere tribute to a predecessor, however, that impels us to erect to him, in this first number of the new series, a memorial tablet. Though his kingdom came not with observation, and no trumpet was sounded before him, the veteran who, having passed his allotted three score and ten, has been honorably retired from earthly service and gloriously promoted to a heavenly sphere, was no common man. His name belongs high up on the roll of missionary heroes, among the "King's mighty men" and valiant ones, and we gladly open our series of missionary biographies with a pen profile of Royal Gould Wilder.
Few there be that find their way to their sphere of service through such a strait and narrow path. His was no "royal road to learning." He was one of twelve children, and the family knew what it was to struggle against poverty. The father's name was Abel, and he was born in Maine, near Portland, and by trade a ship-carpenter, but was also a shoemaker and farmer, ready to turn his hand to any employment to get bread for his wife and children, but unable to provide luxuries-even those of an education. His mother, Hannah Payne, descended from Robert Treat Paine, was of a high family and of rare ability. Her father was a school teacher until he was sixty, and she grew up amid education and refinement. Shortly after marriage she with her husband removed to Vermont, and during the year in which Royal was born there was a great revival, and his father and mother joined the church that same year. Afterward they moved again to Franklin County, New York, then regarded as somewhat "far west." It is certain that the family endured great hardships and were very poor for a long period of years-during the entire boyhood of Royal. In course of time the natural increase in the value of property, hundreds of acres of which were cleared by his father and brothers, bettered their circumstances, and to-day the three brothers and three sisters who survive him are living in comfortable homes, showing those elements of character which insure worldly success.
Royal went to district school in winter, and was the first to enter an "academy," as he was the only one to enter a college. With a keen relish for reading, before he was ten years old he devoured every religious book that came in his way, and even the papers of whatever date. His father's library was very small, but what it contained was not trash, and the young lad grew strong on such books as the "Pilgrim's Progress" and the "Saint's Rest."
When he determined to seek an education, his father could give him no help. His time and a cow composed the curious capital which was Royal's only dependence; and in the academy at Malone it was the beef from that cow that kept him at school the first term. Many a time he cut in one day two cords of wood, to relieve his father's financial distress or his own.
His first money he earned by selling melons at Malone, and the half dollar he got he kept his hand on, even in his pocket as he ran home, till a stumble compelled him suddenly to withdraw his hand, and away went the precious coin down a hole. Royal was not a boy to give up easily, and down he went on hands and knees, and dug away till he recovered his lost half-dollar. The incident was typical and prophetical of his future; only what he digged for was not silver or gold.
At thirteen years, began his religious life as an intelligent, conscious experience. He had been brought up to pray, and on one occasion, at least, had found the value of prayer. Going through the woods to find his brothers, and carry them dinner, he got lost and wandered about dazed and bewildered, coming back continually upon his old track. Then he knelt down and prayed for guidance; rose and determined to trust in God and go straightforward, following one direction; presently he emerged from the thicket, coming out into the very field where his brothers were at work. Here was another typical and prophetical incident. He got into many a tangled thicket afterward; but never did he forget Him who had led him out into light and safety, and in answer to prayer he was guided in every new experience of darkness and danger into a larger liberty and success.
Though he first consciously found Christ as a Saviour in time of revival, his religious life was singularly free from emotionalism. He had no sudden transitions nor violent revulsions of feeling. Mainly through an awakened conscience, a calm but quick sense of duty, and the study of the Word of God, he came to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. At that time his sister Hannah joined the Baptists, as that sect prevailed in the neighborhood where the family lived; but he preferred the Presbyterian fold, and at sixteen united with Dr. Parmelee's church at Malone. Never but once had he uttered an oath, and he never forgot it. His religious frame though always calm, was never cold; he was moved more by love and less by fear, more by deliberate judgment and choice than by sudden impulse or glowing enthusiasm. He knew he must found his whole Christian hopes upon the new nature regenerate in Christ; and believing that God had wrought in him the new creation, he enjoyed a quiet assurance seldom disturbed by doubts.
He studied by night by the light of pine knots, and worked by day to get the pine knots for his fire and the books for his study, until he entered Middlebury College in his twentieth year.
When he left home, his capital in life was less than ten dollars, most of which he had saved, and a dollar of which his mother gave him the morning he left home for college. He walked the entire distance, working his way over the lake by helping in the loading and unloading of the boat, and going barefoot part of the way to save his shoes. The same habits of frugality and economy and bodily exertion followed him through life.
From first to last he was a patient plodder. So desirous was he of a training for a useful life that he was willing to work from five o'clock in the morning till breakfast, and from noon till school again opened; that he might pay his board, cutting hay in summer, and splitting wood in winter, to earn the right to be a full-grown and well-equipped man. In college it was the hand on the axe-handle and the bell-rope that helped him through. When he was graduated in 1839 he had worked his passage; but he had won deserved honors, for, with his classmate, Foote, he stood-they two at the head of the class, and, strangely enough, they two had been born on the same day.
When he turned from the flattering prospects of a high position at home to spend his life among the pagans of Asia, he left a path that might have led him where one of his schoolmates, Mr. Wheeler, afterward came-to the Vice-Presidency of the nation. Foote, his twin honor-man, said to him: "Wilder, why bury yourself among the heathen?" Mr. Wilder was singularly attached to Mr. Foote, and for years they corresponded. Foote rose rapidly in his profession; very successful as a lawyer, he amassed wealth, and married a woman of unusual beauty. But death, in the midst of his prosperity, smote wife and daughter, and poor Foote blew out his own brains!
Mr. Wilder taught in Mississippi and Vermont; and then went to Andover for a theological course. There he found a missionary band, like the famous "Haystack band" of Williams, with the same constitution and covenant. Only twelve belonged to it, and even the professors seemed to feel little interest in it, but Royal Wilder became a member, heard Dr. Grant of Persia and Dr. Scudder of India, and others, speak on the great needs of a lost world, and so the missionary was preparing and maturing for his work. Here he had his first and last period of doubts about the Divinity of Christ. They were incident to the transition period when the mind was budding into full independence. Henceforth he was to feel too much of the Divine life of Christ in himself and see too much of the Divine power of Christ in others, to doubt that He was the Son of God. He was graduated from Andover in 1845. At the last, R. S. Storrs, Jr., was his classmate-and when he with five others of his class became missionaries, they all went to India, leaving Storrs to remain behind and become the Corinthian column of the Congregational Church in this country, while they departed for the regions beyond.
His missionary life was the final flowering of a gradual growth. No sooner did he believe himself to be a disciple than, like Dr. Duff, he began to feel the value of other souls and a yearning to save them. The idea of a mission to the heathen world was slowly and steadily taking form within him; first consciously turned toward the lost in other lands by reading Jonathan Edwards on Redemption, the story of "Henry and his Bearer" especially interested him in India.
During his college days Mr. Wilder became acquainted with a family living near West Rutland Village, Vt. In this family he found deep piety and a love for missions. The aged grandfather said, he thought he had not missed reading a page of The Missionary Herald for twenty years.
At the time of the departure of missionaries for the Sandwich Islands a collector visited this home to solicit funds. The devoted mother gave something, but her sad countenance that day showed her deep disappointment that the gift was not larger. As she gathered, with her nine children, for family prayers, she asked God to accept of one or more of her children for missionary work. A daughter in that group says of this incident-"that prayer struck me." This daughter was the one chosen to help cheer Mr. Wilder in his great work. For some five years the two were many a time alone at communion services. She shared with him the anxiety of the first months at Kolapoor when almost in despair of striking rock for the foundation of his church. She suffered with him the violence of the people who one night hurled a large stone through the window pane across the cradle of their little girl. She was his companion in such experiences as meeting a snake in the parlor, finding a scorpion on her son's coat, seeing a panther while on her morning walk, living for weeks in the mountains without seeing a white face. But she had also the joy of starting the first girls' school in a kingdom where not a respectable woman or girl could read, and of welcoming to the communion table, as the first native convert in Kolapoor, a woman.
Mr. Wilder's intention was to go to the Walled Kingdom. But Dr. Anderson, then Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., wanted him for Ahmednuggur. The greater need was to Mr. Wilder always the louder voice, and so he went to India. From the day of his connection with the Andover Band he had no hesitation in promptly, cheerfully following the leading of God.
When his vessel was ready to sail, he departed from Malone, and his departure was the means of a revival in which many were added to the Church. His father rejoiced to give up his son to such a great work as was before him. His mother, to whom he had been particularly devoted, and for whose sake he had walked from Middlebury to Malone to spend vacations, was dead.
The vessel rounded the Cape of Good Hope and consumed 121 days in the passage to Bombay. Mr. Wilder had given three months, at Newark, Delaware, to the study of Mahratta, and, after another three months in India, Mr. Ballantine, being called away, asked him to preach. The invitation was a joke, but Mr. Wilder actually accepted it and did preach. The native Christians were astonished and said, "We prayed for him."
In Ahmednuggur Mr. Wilder spent six years. The day he reached there, he found a seminary with from fifty to eighty boys. Very soon after his arrival, this seminary was put under his care by a vote of the mission. Within a year there were six city schools, and, within three years, twenty more village schools. Fees had been given to induce attendance; he did away with fees, and had a larger and better school.
He went to Kolapoor in 1852. This city was especially holy in Brahmin eyes, and never had been contaminated by the presence of missionaries. The day he got there the leading Brahmins petitioned for his banishment. But, undismayed, he got a foothold and worked five years for his first convert. His school was the entering wedge of all his success. At the time of his coming he found in Kolapoor 44,000 inhabitants, and only one school, in a back street, with twelve boys in it. When he left, a college building, at Government expense, costing $200,000, had been built, and «Father Wilder" was asked to make the address at the opening. He was too busy to comply, but his associate, Mr. Seiler, made the address, and took as his theme, "The Evidences of Christianity."
The cholera drove him from India in 1857, and by a remarkable Providence, he sailed the very day after the breaking out of the great mutiny of the Punjaub. Some of his nearest European neighbors were killed in that massacre.
To this period belongs his well-known disagreement with the American Board. He was an ardent advocate of schools and edncation, and next to actual conversion he placed the education of the Hindoos. He zealously urged the hiring of pundits and native teachers where Christian teachers could not be obtained, and refused to curtail his schools and school-work because he could not get just such teachers as he wished. This got him into a difficulty with Dr. Anderson, and resulted in the abandonment of his mission and his dismissal from the Board. Backed by his Presbytery and friends in this country, he returned to India in 1861, and went back to conduct his work on an independent basis. For twelve years he labored, supported by no Board or Society. However low the funds ebbed, he would never give up. At one time, in distress for means to carry on his work, he and his devoted wife covenanted to commit all to God anew in prayer; and the next morning's mail brought eleven hundred rupees from an unknown donor in Calcutta; and to this day the source of that benefaction is a secret. The mission received cordial support from Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay; Col. Phayre, Robert Arthington of Leeds, and others. But it was sustained wholly by voluntary gifts. These years of simple trust, leaning on God, were the happiest years of Mr. Wilder's life, and became the basis for his subsequent and enthusiastic .advocacy of the voluntary principle in missions.
In this enterprise he was largely aided by the English, because they thoroughly respected him, and also by the natives themselves. Sir Bartle Frere and other prominent Indo-Europeans have said that Royal G. Wilder did more for the present system of national education in India than any other man. From 1861 to 1869 he was a constant contributor to the Bombay Times and Gazette on that subject, and wrote the editorials for the former paper relating to educational matters. He was prominent in memorializing Parliament and inducing the Indian government to establish the present system of national education. The money obtained from his contributions to the Indian press aided, in no small measure, in the support of the mission that he conducted for so many years at Kolapoor.
At the date of suspension of schools by Dr. Anderson, Mr. Wilder's scholars numbered some 500 boys and 100 girls. He writes of this: "Our deepest conviction from all past experience assures us that the loss of these schools involves the sacrifice of our most effective agency for prosecuting our missionary labors. If our Deputation could exchange places and labor with us for a twelvemonth, we cannot, for a moment, doubt that they would advocate these schools with all the persistency and authority with which they now oppose them. Our friends in India have manifested a very kind interest in these schools from the first, and it may gratify them to know that their generous contributions have wholly supported them. Not a farthing of their expense has come from the home funds of the Board, since their origin." Before Mr. Wilder came home in 1857 the schools were reopened. While at home the mission was abandoned. His appeal, published at the time, gives the reason for his returning as an independent missionary. Upon reaching India he found that his beautiful church, the only one among 252 heathen temples, had been sold and turned into a Mohammedan mosque.* He was remarkably helped in getting the site for his second church. He closed the year 1863-the second after his return as an independent missionary-with a native church of eight communicants and four baptized children.
In 1855 an intelligent man visited him from the Putwardhun States, and showed so much interest in the truth, that he gave him a Bible, hymn-book, catechism and the creed. He returned to his country and was lost sight of for nine years. In a report of 1864 Mr. Wilder writes: "On our recent tour he was the first man to visit us at Sanglee, brought all the books carefully preserved, and read and repeated from memory portions of Scripture, the creed, a tract of eight pages, and the entire cathecism of forty pages; avowing his faith in the truths and doctrines thus learned."
After building a home and church Mr. Wilder devoted himself with renewed energy to village work. The report of 1872 speaks of the interference of the S. P. G. His characteristic firmness was shown in this experience. This was a sore trial to him, and in the Appendix to the Report of 1871, his reasons are fully stated for his course.
Mr. Wilder was very anxious to stimulate in native Christians a desire to work for souls, not because paid for doing so but from love to Christ. In 1873 he writes: "Only four of all our converts receive any support from the mission, and these, small monthly sums of Rs. 8, 7, 5 and 3 as Christian teachers. "
The property of the Kolapoor Mission he gave in 1871 to the Presbyterian Board, and in 1875 left the field of his labor, partly from considerations of health, and partly to educate Robert and Grace in this country. The time between his sailing for India and his resignation from the Board covered a period of nearly thirty-two years.
During those thirty years he had preached in more than 3,000 cities, towns and villages, had scattered over 3,000,000 pages of tracts, had gathered in schools over 3,300 pupils, 300 of whom were girls. In a parish of 4,000,000 of people he and his wife were the only persons to take care of their souls. Beside all this work he had been on committee for translation and revision of the Bible; and was one of the committee in the Mahratta language, spoken by 16,000,000 people. Up to the time he left India he had already written and published commentaries on three gospels, and had edited and translated many books.
His hand was not forgetful of its cunning, even as his tongue did not cleave to the roof of his mouth. Every nail in the roof of his church building at Kolapoor he drove with his own hammer, and when the houses went up to shelter converts' families he led in the work. In the early years of the mission, he wrote many articles for the press, chiefly on educational subjects; and it is said by those in high official position, that his anonymous letters in The Times of India influenced Parliament in adopting measures for the education of the masses. He was offered a very influential position in the educational department.
His whole policy in India was to watch for the opportunities to plant and support indigenous primary schools. He cared for no high colleges. His ruling passion was to lift up the masses. He graduated salaries of teachers according to the number and progress of their pupils, thus indirectly striking a blow at caste by setting a premium on numbers and proficiency, without reference to the class from which pupils came. He encouraged only a moderate allowance to helpers, on the ground that natives could not support men who received large salaries. Like Wheeler on the Euphrates, he felt that by the tithe system ten believers might support a teacher or preacher who was willing to live on their level as to expense.
Whereas when he first went to Kolapoor there was not in the kingdom one respectable woman who could write or read, only recently they have sent to this country for a governess to go to the palace itself.
Of incidents, this one may illustrate the power of direct prayer. One day he had preached in some eight villages. Disputations and popular indifference had made him feel discouraged, and thus wearied he sat under a tree to rest. While here a coolie came from his home, bringing provisions, bread, etc., and also the overland mail. The mail was the most welcome. Among other letters was one from a dear friend in Philadelphia. It contained words of warm sympathy and encouragement, and more than all, this assurance: "Brother Wilder, we are praying for you by name every Wednesday evening." The effect of this letter and the blessing which came with it were immediate. He rose from under that "juniper tree" with fresh realization of nearness to God. He walked two miles to a large town. He went, as was his custom, directly to the Pahtil-the head man of the town. He was in his court-room, surrounded by some fifty clerks, but received him in a polite, cordial way, and upon learning his errand ordered all the clerks to drop their work and listen. After Mr. Wilder had talked about an hour they urged him to continue, and before he closed those learned men were wiping the tears from their eyes. This is one of the choicest experiences in his life, showing the power of the simple story of Christ's love. No wonder he believed in special objects for prayer and gifts. His convictions of Missionary methods, both at home and on the field, seem to have been rooted into his very nature by deep personal experience. This was so of his conviction that native churches should have native pastors; that native churches should be self-supporting; that native Christians should be trained to responsibility, and taught to keep on a level with their neighbors, that they might win them, and show them that they had not become Christians to better their temporal condition. The prayer-meetings were largely reporters' meetings. From the Christians were expected accounts of services, interviews, discussions, etc. Sometimes he would call on them by name for their report of the week. These reports suggested very definite subjects for prayer. This was true also of the women's prayer-meetings conducted by Mrs. Wilder. Praying in meeting was a part of their Christian life.
Mr. Wilder was, so far as known, but once in peril of his life. On the outskirts of a village a mob gathered around him, and demanded money. Though mou:p.ted on his horse, the leader of the gang had hold of the bridle; so, for a few minutes, the missionary seemed completely in the power of the fierce men. With seeming Cf'mposure he entered into a conversation with them. Their interest increased; he held their attention until he noticed the grasp on the bridle gradually loosening. Watching a favorable moment he spurred his horse and with a boun~ was out of their reach.
On his return, in 1875, he himself crossed the Continent and left his luggage and property to come by sea. Rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his goods were lost in the vessel's wreck. But among those lost effects was his whole manuscript on the Kolapoor kingdom, with full diary of his missionary work.
During later years his home has been in Princeton. There his parlor has been the Sabbath afternoon gathering place for the students, and the training school for missions.
In 1877, he started THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. The readers of that Review will not need to be reminded of the causes which led to its establishment. Even before he went to the General Assembly and presented his vigorous, incisive criticisms of the methods and expenditures of the Presbyterian Board, he felt there was need of a periodical that would review missions from a point of prospect more elevated than any denominational one, and the REVIEW became the channel for the expression of his personal convictions founded on a long and large experience, and a means of presenting the status of all missions of all denominations throughout all heathendom and nominal Christendom.
He yearned to return and die in India, and nothing held him back but his waning strength and the REVIEW. But so soon as he felt that the REVIEW was provided for, he determined, notwithstanding his keen bodily suffering, to sail for Kolapoor. "My whole soul," he said, "would leap, could I go back. Could I not place twenty missionaries there at once?" That humble Presbyterian Church at Kolapoor was very dear to him, for in its construction his own hands as well as heart were engaged for months. When the church first built by him, was sold to the Mohammedans, and a mosque built on the old site, it is characteristic of his quiet persistence to have bought ground and placed the new church as near as he possibly could to the site of the old one, and his efforts to obtain that site make a very interesting story in themselves.
To the last his heart went out to Kolapoor, and he charged his son Robert to settle about fifty miles from there, in a district peculiarly destitute, where, when he once told the story of the cross, the people with weeping followed him quite a distance, yearning to hear more.
His dying eyes were fixed on Jesus. When the death of his daughter, in 1861, was referred to, and he was asked: "Do you expect to meet her in heaven?" he said, "Yes; but it is my Saviour about whom I think most."
In looking over Mr. Wilder's life, we are impressed with the singular appropriateness of the motto he chose for the REVIEW: "Nil desperandum, Christo sub duce," as applied to his experience.
As a young man, he was extremely retiring and bashful and painfully sensitive; and at times he has, to very intimate friends, expressed his amazement that God had used him, and accomplished through such material His work. It seemed almost incongruous to him that one so timid and shrinking should be thrust into such severe fighting in the forefront of battle.
Of the tender side of his nature few can form a true estimate. These things do not appear in any public reports.
His life closed very beautifully and appropriately when his work was done. The last Saturday, Oct. 8, he sent proof to the printers to complete the closing number of the last volume of his REVIEW, and on the very day when the final arrangements were completed for its transfer to other hands, "he was not: for God took him."
MISSIONARY PROBLEMS IN INDIA
MISSIONARY PROBLEMS IN INDIA. [EDITORIAL.-J. M. s.] IN the Andover Review for September, the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence gives an elaborate and valuable article on this subject, the gist of which we condense and reproduce, for the benefit of our readers. Written by one on the ground, and in an intelligent, and impartial spirit, his views and statements are entitled to respectful consideration. The "Problems" he considers have a world-wide interest and application, and to solve them for India, is, in effect, to solve them for the whole missionary world.
The Problems here discussed are I. Mission Oo-operation; II. What shall be the Treatment of Oonverted Polygamists? III. Who shall be Employed as Teachers in Mission Schools? IV. Instantaneous Baptism.
I.-MISSION CO-OPERATION. The organized union of different mission societies, which happily exists in Japan, and in Amoy, China, has not yet extended to India. Still there is no division or bitterness of feeling. In the main, the field of the several societies is well defined and generally respected. 'fhe Irish Presbyterians occupy Rajputana, the American Methodists, Oudh and Rohilcund; the American Presbyterians labor in the Punjab side by side, and on friendly terms with the Church Missionary Society; while the American United Presbyterians, alike in Egypt and the Punjab north of the Lahore, are fortunate in being almost without competitors. In the south, the Lutheran Missionary Society in Trevancore, and the Church Missionary Society in Tinnevelly, amiably divide the end of the Oape. The bounds of the Madura Mission of the American Board have been settled by agreement with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, dividing the field between them. In Madras, Oalcutta, and Bombay, and in a few other places, there are Monthly Mission Oonfederacies, where members of most of the missions gather for paternal intercourse and discussion. While the general Mission Conferences, like that of the Punjab, or of the whole country, held decennially-the last at Calcutta, 1883-have gone far to prove to the heathen world that Protestants are really united in spirit and aim.
The Presbyterian family take the lead in the movement for organic union. For years past, the Dutch Reformed, the American, Scotch and Irish Presbyterians, have met in a general alliance, seeking to accomplish in India what has been done in Japan. At their last meeting in Bombay, committees were appointed to press forward the work of union, and it was decided to establish a periodical for that purpose.
The evils of sectarianism are nowhere so serious as in great heathen cities, where missions compete, and sometimes conflict, one with another. The natives fancy the divisions greater than they are, and the converts sigh for a national church, and complain of the burdens imposed by reason of differences.
The City Evangelization problem, which astounds and confounds the Church at home, is pressing heavily on the Church in heathen cities. Says Mr. Lawrence: "It is difficult and painful to express my disappointment with most features of mission operations in the Presidency cities of India. The educational work, indeed, is excellent; in some cases, unequalled. The Christian College in Madras, at the head of which is Dr. Miller of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, may well rank as the best institution of learning in India. But other forms of work languish. Not only that: in many cases the fat school-kine have swallowed up the lean evangelistic kine, and there is an actual famine of God's preached Word for the heathen. One great reason for this neglect of important branches of work, one explanation of the weakness or restlessness of the native churches in these cities, and of the fact that in the three where so many societies concentrate there is but one native church which is strictly self-supporting-the Congregational Church in Bombay-is to be found in the rivalries and confusions of sectarianism.
In Calcutta, matters are still worse. The Bengali Christians have able and fluent leaders among them, some of whom show their sincerity by great labors and self-denial. Several are successful lawyers or government officials, who devote their spare time to gospel work, or even take charge of some church. One of these laymen has just been ordained to the preaching office by the Presbytery of the Scotch Free Church Mission."
But the question of lay baptism is exciting earnest attention. A test case has been brought for trial before the Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland, but not yet decided. Even such men as Ram Chandra Bose, well known in this country, favor lay administration of the sacraments.
"It is plain that some change in these city missions is needed before these great centres will become centres of Christianity. It is equally plain that we cannot expect to stereotype and perpetuate in the Eastern church the divisions which mark the Western church. The selfish desire of any mission board to keep its work intact and not to be swallowed up in a great union movement should be rebuked by Christians of every denomination, and the dangers of disorder and license should be checked by earnest sympathy with the aspirations of the native Christians on one side, and by earnest co-operation between all mission bodies on the other."
II.-THE TREATMENT OF CONVERTED POLYGAMISTS.
To us in the home field, this question seems very simple, but in India, and on other mission fields, it is a complicated and knotty problem.
"The opinion of missionaries on this subject is much divided, and the matter has been discussed at various conferences. An excellent statement of both sides of the question is made in the 'Indian Evangelical Review' of April, 1886, by Rev. J. J. Lucas, who has taken pains to inform himself of the opinions of many leading missionaries. My own impression, formed from conversation with a large number is, that a majority of the missionaries in India, especially of those longest in the field, would decline to advise a man to dismiss one of two wives, and that many of them would baptize him, in that state, while protesting against polygamy as unchristian. The Madura Mission not long ago decided to baptize converted polygamists who had acted in ignorance of Christian ideas, in cases where there was no way of separation without injustice. Of this decision the American Board has expressed its disapproval. But Mr. Jones, of that mission, avows the belief that the policy of refusing baptism to such candidates must in time be reversed."
To over sixty representatives of different missions, Mr. Lucas sent the following question: "Would you, under any circumstances, baptize a convert with more than one wife, allowing him to retain his wives ?" And an affirmative answer was received from the great majority.
Yet, Mr. Lucas himself opposes baptism in such a case, because of the apparent sanction given to polygamy, the temptation laid in the way of inquirers, the formation of two classes of Christians within the church, and the injury done to the church itself. Yet he would not ask the husband to put away either wife, but he would say, "Wait. Your first outward step towards Christ must not be marred by a cruel wrong and flagrant injustice. Wait, holding fast your faith, and time will bring a change." And still he admits that the majority of missionaries, if left free to act, would go further than this, though leaving much to be determined by the circumstances of each case. Mr. Lawrence was assured by old missionaries, that their opinions in this regard had been changed by long experience on the field.
III.-WHO SHALL BE EMPLOYED AS TEACHERS IN MISSION SCHOOLS.
Great trouble and perplexity are experienced in this matter. Hindus are hostile to the work of missions, actively so less perhaps than formerly, but have still to be carefully watched. Mr. Lawrence relates his experience in addressing a school of boys and girls in Bombay. He was obliged to use a Hindu teacher as interpreter. He spoke of the evils of idolatry, of the position of women, and of what each member of the school should do in opposing these evils. To his surprise he afterward found that the interpreter had added his own comments: to his words about idolatry he had added the remark that these were the sentiments of the speaker, not his own. The teacher had to interpose and say emphatically that they were the sentiments of the mission, and should be those of the scholars.
"It is supposed that a Hindu or a Mohammedan, secretly, perhaps, inclined to Christianity, will not do much harm while teaching mathematics or the languages from text-books chosen by the mission. It frequently happens, indeed, that the heathen teacher is himself converted while connected with the school. A Mohammedan boy in a school in Bombay came recently under the favorable notice of a government inspector, who, in commending him, expressed his purpose to find a place for him to teach. The boy left the school and was not seen there again. On being questioned as to the cause of his leaving, he said that he was afraid he should be made a teacher, and if he became a teacher, that meant becoming a Christian. But it is gratifying to find that the number of Christian teachers is constantly increasing, while that of non-Christian is constantly decreasing. In 1871, of 4,201 native male teachers in the mission schools, 2,206 were Hindus or Mohammedans. In 1887, of 5,943, but 2,462 were non-Christians. A much greater reduction may be expected during the present decade."
If only Christian teachers are employed, many schools must close, and the instruction given in others be far less efficient than now. The aim therefore is to secure at least a Christian head master or mistress, and Christians for religious instruction, while other positions are filled with Christian teachers as fast as practicable.
But for the present, Hindu teachers in part are inevitable. None desire more than the missionaries themselves to supersede them entirely, and none will so rejoice when a sufficiency of competent Christian teachers can be had. And to this end, says Mr. Lawrence: "Nothing can serve better than the Normal schools in charge of the Society for Vernacular Christian Education. In its excellent institutions which I visited in Dindigul, in South India, and in Ahmednagar, in West India, it receives to be trained as teachers Christian young men sent by any mission. And to the missions of the American Board it has furnished many of the best teachers in their employ. One of the greatest needs of India is devoted, well-trained Christian teachers, and anything which can increased their number is worthy of all the aid that can be given."
IV. INSTANTANEOUS BAPTISM.
This question has assumed prominence and importance largely by the remarkable conversions attending the preaching of Rev. Mr. Knowles, an English missionary, and his colleagues of the North India M. E. Conference, at the Hindu festivals. Mr. Knowles holds some peculiar views as to the gift of the Holy Spirit, on condition of faith, which leads him to press an immediate decision upon his hearers at these great religious gatherings of the Hindus. All who come forward and publicly declare their belief in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, he will baptize at once, taking their names and homes, and seeking to follow up the work thus begun. Hence the number of baptisms made of those who up to that hour were Hindus in full caste relations, is very large.
The same question is pressed in the Punjab, where the American United Presbyterian Mission has been very successful. Whole villages have come to Christ, and called for immediate baptism, and the United Presbyterian missionaries have granted it, with full admission to the church. The Methodists defer such admission, and the Church Missionary Society prefers, as a rule, not to grant immediate baptism.
There are serious objections against this policy. Many hearing the gospel for the first time get no just idea of its requirements. Their conversion to Christianity is liable to be so only in name and form. The danger is of getting into the mission churches a mass of Hinduism in reality, under the outward rites of Christianity, to say nothing of the scandal which their relapse into their old faith would bring upon the Christian life and faith. The evils of such a hasty admission into the church-membership without due consideration and teaching, are serious and damaging, even in Christian lands, and where public sentiment is comparatively strong and on the right side. What must they be in heathen lands, and even in India, where the church is feeble, and public sentiment for the most part hostile?
"In reply, it is urged that Christ has made distinct promises to those who are not ashamed to confess Him; that when this is done publicly, and with public explanation of the preacher, the church may claim the fulfillment of the promise. It is true, moreover, that Hindus universally attach great importance to Christian baptism, regarding it as a decisive act, which involves the breaking of caste and excommunication. If anyone goes so far as to take this step, so important in his own eyes, why should he not be baptized, followed up, instructed, and, at the proper time, received into the church? And is not this the way, after all, in which the bulk of the people of India are to be brought to Christ-not by preliminary education, which can reach but a few at a time, and may draw men away from Christ instead of towards Him, but by conversion, with instantaneous baptism to seal the act, followed by subsequent training in Christ? If the conversion of Indians occurs by masses, instead of as individuals, must it not be in some such manner, the old barriers giving way suddenly, and great bodies of the people becoming disciples of Christ while ignorant of Him except as their Saviour?"
There is great force and pertinence in these questions. Experience must, in the main, settle the matter in India, and in other mission fields. It is admitted, by the best informed, that very many of the Hindus acknowledge the truth of Christianity, and are looking for a widespread movement among their people. Immense and rapid changes are the order of Providence all over the Heathen, Pagan and Mohammedan world. It seems morally certain that only by some grand mass rising can India ever be brought to Christ. "For, of the majority of Hindus, even more than of other peoples, it is true that, like Wadsworth's clouds, 'they must move all together, if they move at all.' "
We have thus condensed and given the substance of this valuable article, largely in the words of its author. In reviewing it we are impressed with the fact that the Problems which press on the mission church in India, press also, with more or less modification, on the Christian church of America, and of other Christian lands. It is our firm conviction that the great lesson of the day of Pentecost has yet to be learned by the modern Church of Christ. While that glorious manifestation of Divine power was largely supernatural, yet there was a general expectation on the part of the mass of disciples-there was united, continuous, and importunate prayer on the part of the infant church, and a believing waiting for the fulfillment of the Master's promise given on the eve of his departure. Hence it was no surprise. They were "endued with power from on high" in answer to prayer, and thereby fitted for the emergency and the work it laid upon them. And they did not hesitate, in reliance on Christ's promise, to baptize on the same day the thousands of professed converts, though among them were some of the very murderers of our Lord.
And what did the disciples do when driven from Jerusalem and scattered abroad, but go straight into the great cities of the Roman world—into the very centres of idolatry, and heathen superstition, and philosophy, and corruption, and wickedness-and boldly plant in the midst of them the banner of the cross, and preach "Jesus and the Resurrection," to Gentile and Jew, to philosophers and peasants, to the high and the low, and straightway gather converts into Christian churches, and push on from city to city, and from province to province, till they entered Rome itself, and even invaded "Cæsar's household." Their simple reliance was "the gospel of the grace of God," which they carried in their hearts, and preached in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power, confident that Christ would verify his ascension promise, and that the Cross in the hands of the Eternal Spirit was, of itself, without circumlocution, or previous training, or litany, or visible machinery, able to convert the soul to Jesus Christ. It was the policy of faith-the policy of simple trust in God and the power of the gospel-and it wrought wonders. It went everywhere, "conquering and to conquer." And the nearer the church of our day, both at home and in the missionary work abroad, approaches this apostolic method, the more will God honor and bless her instrumentality. In no other way-on no other principle-can the mountains of unbelief and difficulty be removed; the infinite masses of vice, ignorance, irreligion, and
BIOGRAPHY OF MOFFAT
indifference, which now lie and fester in the great cities of the world, be reached and penetrated by the light and influence of the gospel, and the world of guilt, ungodliness, hostility, infidelity and agnostic materialism, be shaken, upheaved, cleaved assunder, and the Son of Righteousness find entrance. If this world shall ever be won to Christ, it will be by Pentecostal seasons of power and ingathering; by tidal waves of grace that shall sweep the earth from pole to pole, by sudden simultaneous movements and forces in the moral and spiritual world, that shall be irresistible and general in their majestic sweep, challenging the faith of the Church, overawing a guilty world, and "converting a nation in a day," in fulfillment of prophetic promise.
BIOGRAPHY OF MOFFAT.
The Lives of Robert and Mary Moffat, by their son, John S. Moffat. With Portraits and Illustrations. New edition with Preface and Supplementary Chapter. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. 8 vo, pp. 484.
[EDITORIAL.-J. M. S.] THE name of Robert Moffat has been dear to us ever since we read his thrilling "Southern Africa," more than forty years ago. The leading facts of his life have long been familiar to missionary readers; but in this Life we have the outlines fitly filled up by the hand of filial love. The picture, as now completed, only enhances our estimate of the man and of the importance and enduring value of his work.
Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, in his brief Preface to this new edition, which has just issued from the press of the Armstrongs, well says: "The name of Robert Moffat deserves a high place on the honor roll of modern missionaries. It is not so well known, indeed, as that of his son-in-law, David Livingstone, but it may well be held in reputation as that of the pioneer, without whose labors those of Livingstone and others would have been far otherwise than they were. When he went to South Africa in 1817, he found tribes of idolaters and savages, constantly at war with each other and with the white men, utterly ignorant and degraded. When he left it in 1870, churches had been called into existence, a permanent body of native pastors had been reared from among the Bechwanas, and the whole region had become largely civilized and Christianized."
On the day after his funeral, which occurred in August, 1883, the following leader appeared in the London Times, which is so remarkable, coming from such a source, that we venture to reproduce the substance of it. It is not always that the secular press bestows such just, discriminating, and lofty praise on our heroic missionaries and their achievements.
"Dr. Robert Moffat, who was yesterday laid in the grave, has left an abiding name as a pioneer of modern missionary work in South Africa. He was born in 1795, a year memorable as that of the foundation of the London Missionary Society, and in 1816 he entered on his career as one of the Society's missionaries. His first purpose was to proceed to the South Seas, but his final choice was the vast and yet unexplored field of the central region of South Africa. His chief work was among the Bechwanas. His picture of what they were when he first knew them would hardly now be recognized, so entirely have they changed under the new influences which Moffat was among the first to bring to bear on them. He found them mere savages, idol-worshipers, constantly at war among themselves and with their neighbors, ignorant of the arts of agriculture, and in the utterly degraded state for which we must seek a counterpart now in the more distant tribes whom the message of civilization has not yet reached. It was Moffat's mission to civilize as well as instruct, to free those with whom he was brought in contact from the curse under which they seemed to lie, to raise them to a higher life, and so to fit them to become recipients of the sacred message of good tidings which it was his main ultimate purpose to announce. His success within the limited field to which he confined himself-a field which has been now far overpassed by the subsequent labors of other devoted men, most notably by those of his own son-in-law, David Livingstone—was very marked. His first care was to make himself thoroughly master of the language of those to whom he was sent. For fifty years, he has declared, he had been accustomed to speak the Bechwana tongue; he reduced it to written characters, and, as an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, translated the Scriptures into it. The Bechwanas, under Moffat's guidance, became new men. Mission work grew and spread among them; what Moffat had begun to do was taken up by other hands; a permanent body of native pastors was created from among the Bechwanas themselves, and the whole region was raised out of the savage state in which Moffat had found it, and became in no small degree civilized as well as Christianized. To effect this, and to make it possible for others to effect it, was the chief business of Moffat's working life. He went out to South Africa in 1816. He left it finally in 1870. During that long interval the dark continent was attacked and explored in all directions. Scientific travelers and missionary travelers were busy pushing their way into regions to which Moffat never penetrated. It is Moffat's honor to have been the first in the field, to have laid, as it were, the stepping-stones by which his successors have been able to outstrip him; to have borne the burden and heat of the day in early missionary work, and at once to have given an example of devotion to his noble cause and to have furnished proof that the ground was not barren, and that even in South Africa the good seed might be trusted to spring up and to bring forth abundant fruit.
"It is the fashion in some quarters to scoff at missionaries, to receive their reports with incredulity, to look at them at best as no more than harmless enthusiasts, proper subjects for pity, if not for ridicule. The records of missionary work in South Africa must be a blank page to those by whom such ideas are entertained. We owe it to our missionaries that the whole region has been opened up. Apart from their special service as preachers, they have done important work as pioneers of civilization, as geographers, as contributors to philological research. Of those who have taken part in this, Moffat's name is not the best known. Moffat, it may be said, has labored, and other men have entered into his labor. Livingstone has come after him, and has gone beyond him, and has linked his memory for ever with the records of the South African Church. Speke and Stanley have become household names where Moffat has been unknown or has been forgotten. In his own simple words, it never occurred to him, while working among the Bechwanas, that he should obtain the applause of men. His one care was for those among whom he had cast his lot. He was an enthusiast, of course-a man would be worth little for missionary enterprise if he were not this at all events. But he was an enthusiast with a clear sense of the right means to employ for the accomplishment of his unselfish task. He had a message to deliver of love and of peace, and he must prepare men to receive it by instructing them in the arts of peace. The progress of South Africa has been mainly due to men of Moffat's stamp. In him, as in David Livingstone, it is hard to say which character has predominated, that of the missionary proper, or that of the teacher and guide. Certain it is that apart from the special stimulus they felt as proclaimers of the gospel message, they would never have thrown themselves as they did into the work to which their lives were consecrated. It was by no zeal for the spread of civilization on its own account that they passed weary years laboring and teaching among savage tribes, amid dangers of every kind, amid privations of which they themselves made light, but which only a sense of their high spiritual mission could have prompted them to face and undergo. One part of Moffat's work has been to prepare the way for others. He has given, so far, what promises to be a lasting stimulus. It is another question whether his own work will endure. . . . It is the missionary alone who seeks nothing for himself. He has chosen an unselfish life. If honor comes to him, it is by no choice of his own, but as the unsought tribute which others, as it were, force upon him. Robert Moffat has died in the fullness both of years and of honors. His work has been to lay the foundation of the Church in the central regions of South Africa. As far as his influence and that of his coadjutors and successors has extended, it has brought with it unmixed good. His name will be remembered while the South African Church endures, and his example will remain with us as a stimulus to others and as an abiding proof of what a Christian missionary can be and can do."
How this life work was performed; what a world of difficulty and opposition he encountered; with what tireless and persistent energy he wrought for more than half a century; amid what perils, hardships, discouragements and heroic endurances he stood at his post, this intensely interesting volume sets forth, modestly and lovingly, in fuller detail. Mrs. Moffat shared in her husband's work, and spirit, and missionary career. "Both," says Dr. Taylor, "were of such stuff as heroes are made of, and their names are worthy of a place in the peerage of faith, beside those which the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews has ennobled by his praise."
Robert Moffat was the child of poor, hard-working, and pious parents in Scotland, to whom he owed much of his shrewd sense, industry, frugality and ability to turn his hands to anything. He learned to be a gardener, but at 16 left home for a situation in Cheshire, where he speedily attracted the notice and sympathy of his employers. He was soon after converted and joined the Wesleyan Methodists, and quickly thereafter resolved to be a missionary. But parents, employers, and others, tried to dissuade him from his purpose. But he persevered at the cost of his place, but soon found employment with a Mr. Smith, a Scotchman of Covenanting descent, who entered heartily into young Moffat's plans. So likewise did their daughter Mary, some months Moffat's senior. She had been carefully and religiously brought up and schooled at the Moravian Seminary at Fairfield, whose traditions are so full of missionary romance. Here she spent some happy years, and had engaged in home-mission work. She was strongly drawn to Moffat, as he to her; and both earnestly devoted themselves to work among the heathen. This union of heart and work at home was subsequently renewed in Africa, where, for a long and eventful period they worked together as husband and wife.
As the biographer says, Moffat did not become a great missionary by virtue of his collegiate opportunities. He valued learning highly, but he had no chance to become a great scholar. But he had a knack of seizing what was essential to him, and a gift for forgetting what was useless or secondary. His studies, in face of the greatest difficulties, completed, he was accepted by the London Missionary Society, and would have been designated for the South Pacific with the venerated Williams, had it not been for his youth-he was only twenty years of age. Says the biographer: "During the discussions in the Missionary Committee as to how the present band of men was to be distributed, it had been first proposed that Williams and Moffat should both go to Polynesia; but this was overruled at the suggestion of Dr. Waugh, who deemed that 'thae twa lads were ower young to gang thegither;' so they were separated. On these small links hang our lives."
Moffat was not long in South Africa before he gave proof that years are not the only gauge of wisdom and self-reliance and tact in management. His first difficulty arose from the caprice of the Governor, who refused, on account of disturbances, to allow the party to proceed beyond the limits of Cape Colony. Moffat at once set himself to learning Dutch, that he might the more efficiently do his work when he did reach Namaqualand. At last the Governor gave his consent; and for more than a year in Namaqualand, and for more than five-and-forty in Bechwanaland, his life was one ceaseless labor and difficulty and danger, fearlessly faced. He was builder, blacksmith, carpenter, thatcher, ditcher-for he dug canal after canal to bring water to his garden and field-gardener and dairyman by turns-and everything to which he set his hand he did well-even down to darning and sewing, which he was thankful that his mother had taught him how to do.
His life at the Oape, and in Namaqualand, however, was but a preparation; his real work began at Kuruman, where he was assisted by his wife (Miss Mary Smith having joined him at Cape Colony, where they were married), whose noble character and remarkable gifts are brought out in the volume by means of her letters. She was helper, inspirer, and a strong supporter.
Soon after their settlement at Kuruman, Mrs. Moffat writes to her parents: " At present Moffat is applying himself with all diligence to the language, as the particular object of his destination here. He finds immense difficulties from the barrenness of the language and imperfect interpreters, but he is naturally too persevering soon to lose courage. This is his sole motive for undertaking a journey at present, in order to become familiar with it by being for a time out of the habit of speaking Dutch with our own people here.
I think it will also be of advantage to me in that respect; having so much to employ my time with at home I have little chance of learning much of it. You beg of us to pay particular attention to the instruction of the rising generation, but alas, we have no opportunities of doing this: the people instead of desiring that their children should be instructed, are afraid of their becoming 'Dutchmen,' so tenacious are they of their old customs and habits, and if a boy and a girl venture to come they are soon laughed out of it. Perhaps if we gave them a meal of meat every day or a few beads, we might have the place crowded-but on no other condition. Oh! how we were affected on reading an account of Madagascar, when we thought of the difference between that people and this; they so desirous and these such despisers of instruction. As to some of these people having correct notions of God and of heaven, death and hell, as has been asserted, you must not believe it; for daily conversations convince us that the wisest of them have most corrupt notions on these subjects. We are astonished at their dreadful stupidity about these things. My beloved parents, we have much need of your sympathy and prayers, and those of all other Christians. Could we but see the smallest fruit we could rejoice amidst the privations and toil which we bear; but as it is, our hands do often hang down."
Their faith was put to a very severe test. They toiled for years without any visible fruit. But though disappointed, neither were disheartened.
" 'Mary,' he said one day to his wife, 'this is hard work.' 'It is hard work, my love,' she replied; 'but take courage, our lives shall be given us for a prey!' 'But think, my dear,' he replied, 'how long we have been preaching to this people, and no fruits yet appear.' Mrs. Moffat rejoined in this manner: 'The gospel has not yet been preached to them in their own tongue wherein they were born. They have heard it only through interpreters, and interpreters who have themselves no just understanding, no real love of the truth. We must not expect the blessing till you be able from your own lips and in their own language to bring it through their ears into their hearts.' 'From that hour,' said Mr. Moffat, in relating the conversation, 'I gave myself with untiring diligence to the acquisition of the language.'''
At the close of the year 1822 Moffat wrote his brother: "I shall now give some particulars of our present situation. The most important is the cause of Christ. Alas! we still hang our harp on the willows, and mourn over the destiny of thousands hastening with heedless but impetuous strides to the regions of woe. They turn a deaf ear to the voice of love, and treat with scorn the glorious doctrines of redemption. This often causes our hearts to languish, while our eyes fail with looking upward.
"It is, however, pleasing to reflect that affairs in general wear a more hopeful aspect than when we came here. Several instances have proved the people determined to relinquish the barbarous system of commandoes for stealing cattle. They have also dispensed with a rainmaker this season. We rejoice in this, because his services and presence must ever form a strong barrier to the spread of the gospel. "We prayed and hoped that a good season would thoroughly convince them that the power of giving rain belonged only to God, but He whose footsteps are in the sea has been pleased to order it otherwise. The season has been so dry as to destroy their corn, except a little which happened to be sown on ground a little marshy. Nothing, however, has been said as to the cause of the drought. We continue on friendly terms with them, though we have also much to suffer, especially from thieves, who pester us on all sides."
God chose his own methods of bringing his servant into favor with this people and giving him a powerful influence in their affairs. The Niantatees, a terrible horde of marauders, came pouring down upon the western Bechwanas, who, if driven back, would have no option but to perish in the foodless and waterless wastes of the Kalahari. The people were panic-stricken. The dreaded enemy drew nearer every day. And still nothing definite was known of their purpose or strength. Moffat, choosing a few companions, plunged into the wilderness, and after perils innumerable (seeing nine lions in one day) accomplished his purpose and hastened back and warned the people, and roused them to action, and gave such advice, and exercised such strategy and commanding ability as resulted in saving the people from destruction. His forethought, coolness, courage, and sagacity excited the admiration even of these savages, and led the grateful people almost to worship him.
From this time on the mission brightened and the influence of the Moffats widened and deepened. Mrs. Moffat writes home to her father about this time: "To hear of the steady and growing piety of these sable children of Adam, together with the increase of Divine knowledge in the minds of others, must be reviving to the hearts of all who love the cause, but especially to such as are so nearly connected with this mission as yourself. Our gracious God has been very condescending to spare the lives of His unworthy servants to witness some fruits of missionary labor-a felicity we frequently despaired of enjoying in this lower world, where crosses and disappointments seemed to form so large a proportion in our cup. We now often wish you could be with us, to witness for yourself what we see. . . . The converts are going on well, and though the general commotion in the minds of the people has in a great measure subsided, we have solid reason to believe that there are many persons who are the subjects of an abiding conviction of their position as sinners before God, and are in the constant and diligent use of the means of grace, which we doubt not will be effectual through the Spirit in leading them to the Saviour of sinners. The Spirit of God has commenced His operations, and surely He will go on."
We have not space to follow Moffat through the long and fruitful years of his toil and sacrifice among this people, nor to describe his manifold labors in the wide field of Southern Africa exploration, civilization and Christianization; nor his intercourse with and influence on the career of David Livingstone, who married his daughter Mary; nor yet his great work in the matter of Bible translation and the circulation of the Scriptures as agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, laying the foundation of a Bechwana literature; nor his visit to England in 1838, and the wonderful interest he awakened in his native land; nor of his return to Africa and subsequent career there, till in a ripe old age, he returned to his native shores in 1870, and until the day of his death, worked on unceasingly in behalf of the cause to which his life had been devoted.
A single parting glimpse we give the reader.
"On Sunday, the twentieth of March, 1870, Robert Moffat preached for the last time in the Kuruman church. In all that great congregation there were few of his own contemporaries. The older people were for the most part children at the time when they had first seen the missionaries. With a pathetic grace peculiarly his own, he pleaded with those who still remained unbelieving amid the gospel privileges they had now enjoyed so many years. With a fatherly benediction he commended to the grace of God those who had been to him a joy and crown. It was an impressive close to an impressive career. Many years must pass before that service can be forgotten in Bechwanaland."
We note a single trait of Moffat's character. He was not a man of one idea; was not wedded to a system or preconceived methods, but studied to adapt himself to the existing condition of things. While he insisted that no civilizing processes were of any effect without conversion, he despised no means of gaining influence in order to lead the heathen to better modes of living, to improved methods of agricul- ture, and to thrift and settled habits.
" He was first a missionary; but he was also a great' captain of industry,' a man who, if he had devoted himself to any form of worldly enterprise, would probably have made a colossal fortune. He could govern men. He knew how to attach them to him, and could gauge their capacity with the eye of a master. He could direct each to the exact task suited to him, and, what is more, keep him heartily at it. Impulse and will went together, and he seldom missed his aim. A mere stripling of twenty-one, he tamed the redoubtable Africaner, and made him a humble follower and helper; he subdued Moselikatze, the warlike Matebele, and made him feel that the missionary was essential to him. His simple manhood and fearlessness, with great natural tact and independence, enabled him always to appeal to that side of their nature which was most open to him. And he could wait. It has been well said that the courage necessary to face indefinite perils, such as those to which Moffat was constantly exposed-especially in the first portion of his career-is greater than that which supports the soldier in the midst of excitement of battle. What a probation was that of the long years in the dry and waterless Kuruman, without the token of a single impression being made on any human creature! Shamelessly the people stole; neither grain could grow to ripeness, nor cattle or sheep be left in the fold, or a tool allowed to lie where a bit of work was being done, or a canal made, without the risk of the water being diverted before it reached the mission station. Many a time on returning from their out-door labors, or from a service, they found a stone in the pot instead of the meat they had left to cook. But all undismayed, Robert Moffat and his heroic wife toiled on, assured that their reward would come."* And come it did. He lived to see great changes wrought in South Africa and to lay the foundations of the South African Church with his own hands. The progress of South Africa has been mainly due to Moffat and men of his stamp. In him, as in Livingstone, it is hard to say which character has predominated, that of the missionary proper, or that of the teacher and guide. His mission largely was to prepare the way for others. He has given a great and apparently lasting stimulus, and laid Africa and the whole missionary world under great obligations.
On one point we think Mr. Moffat's testimony bearing on the policy of missions is entitled to serious consideration. We quote from an admirable paper in the Leisure Hour for November, 1883: "Much might be added in illustration of Dr. Moffat's extreme versatilIty in acquiring every industry or art which the exigencies of the place might demand of him. His treatment of the bodily ailments of the natives who came to him was almost prophetic of the medical missionaries, of whom so much has happily been heard in later days. Enough, perhaps, has been said to indicate the manifold resource and adaptiveness which helped to establish the memorable mission to Bechwanaland.
" The question of the bearing of civilization in such circumstances upon the work of evangelization is a weighty one, and the testimony of such a veteran missionary as Dr. Moffat would not fail to be of the greatest value. It is one, also, on which he has spoken with no uncertain sound, for the facts were pressed upon him at an early period of his work among the Becnwanas. After twenty-six years of missionary work he writes: 'Much has been. said about civilizing savages before attempting to evangelize them. This is a theory which has obtained an extensive prevalence among the wise men of this world, but we have never yet seen a practical demonstration of its truth. We, ourselves, are convinced that evangelization must precede civilization. It is very easy in a country of high refinement to speculate on what might be done among rude and savage men, but the Christian missionary, the only experimentalist, has invariably found that to make the fruit good the tree must first be made good. Nothing less than the power of Divine grace can reform the hearts of savages, after which the mind is susceptible of those instructions which teach them to adol'n the gospel they profess."–Leisure Hour.
"One of the great attractions of this biography is, that it faithfully presents Mrs. Moffat alongside her husband-a heroine in every sense of the word. There was no work in which she did not share-no enterprise or adventure however perilous-in which she did not take her part. For years she made it her work to accompany him in the wagon, when he meant to be absent for more than a couple of days, for the double purpose of insuring that he should have ordinary comforts (which in bachelorhood in Namaqualand he had been apt to overlook), and that she should learn what she could of everything. Moffat had laid it down as the result of his three-year-long single-life experience that, 'A missionary without a wife in South Africa was like a boat with only one oar. A good missionary's wife can be as useful as her husband in the Lord's vineyard.' She over and over again undertook journeys to the Cape without Moffat (whom she would not permit, for her sake, to leave his work for a moment), and with faithful Bechwanas and Hottentots only for attendants, who never failed her. She combined missionary help with attention to family matters, and conveyed back printing materials or other goods, which were needed and waited for. Once, when she was ordered to the coast for her health, she persisted in going alone.
Unfortunately this time they found the Orange River in flood, and could not get across. For a whole month in ill-health she had to wait on the bank in the hot weather. But she never got disconsolate or even depressed, and her power of taking the best and most hopeful view of things amounted almost to an art. This is how she tells of her suffering: " 'I was in company with Mr. Hume, who rendered me every possible assistance, but my health being in such a delicate state, I could not but suffer much from the extreme heat and exposed situation, and was severely tried. Frequently were we tantalized with the prospect of being able to ride through "to-morrow," but as sure as to-morrow came the river rose again, till all hope was gone, and we came at last to the conclusion to cross on a raft. . . . There were eighteen wagons altogether, and with hard labor we got everything over that dreadful river in less than three days without a single accident. How much have we to be thankful for! And it was gratifying to find that, for all I had endured, I was no worse, but rather better. Perhaps being obliged to take it easily was in my favor.'
"This so entirely expresses the character of the woman as she appears to us throughout these pages-patient, courageous, equal to any emergency, gifted with power of command such as few men have, and yet tender and true to every claim of womanhood-that we can only praise her sufficiently by saying that she rose to the same heights of unconscious heroism as her husband. To read of her must prove an inspiration in many a home."*
THE CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
THE CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS. SIR MONIER-WILLIAMS, Professor of Sanskrit in Oxford University, is universally recognized as an authority in all questions relating to the literature and faiths of the Orient. At the late anniversary of the Church Misssionary Society in London, he delivered an address which is so remarkable, that notwithstanding its appearance in other forms, we desire to give extracts from it a permanent place in this REVIEW. He says: "An old friend, a valued missionary of this society, founder of the James Long Lectures on the Non-Christian Religions, said to me a few days before his death: 'You are to speak at the anniversary of the Church Missionary Society; urge upon our missionaries the importance of studying the non- Christian religious systems.' Unusual facilities for this study are now at our disposal; for in this Jubilee year of the Queen, the University of Oxford has completed the publication of about thirty stately volumes of the socalled Sacred Books of the East, comprising the Veda, the Zend-Avesta of the Zoroastrians, the Confucian Texts, the Buddhist Tripitaka, and the Muhammadan Kuran-all translated by well-known translators. Our mIssionaries are already convinced of the necessity of studying these works, and of making themselves conversant with the false creeds they have to fight. How could an army of invaders have any chance of success in an enemy's country without a knowledge of the position and strength of its fortress, and without knowing how to turn the batteries they may capture against the foe? Instead of dwelling on so manifest a duty, I venture a few words of warning as to the subtle danger that lurks beneath the duty.
"In my youth I had been accustomed to hear all non-Christian religions described as 'inventions of the devil.' And when I began investigating Hinduism and Buddhism, some well-meaning Christian friends expressed their surprise that I should waste my time by grubbing in the dirty gutters of heathendom. After a little examination, I found many beautiful gems glittering there; nay, I met with bright coruscations of true light flashing here and there amid the surrounding darkness. Now, fairness in fightmg one's opponents is ingrained in every Englishman'S nature, and, as I prosecuted my researches into these non-Christian systems, I began to foster a fancy that they had been unjustly treated. I began to observe and trace out curious coincidences and comparisons with our own Sacred Book of the East. I began, in short, to be a believer in what is called the evolution and growth of religious thought. 'These imperfect systems,' I said to myself, 'are clearly steps in the development of man's religious instincts and aspirations-interesting efforts of the human mind struggling upwards towards Christianity. Nay, it is probable that they were all intended to lead up to the one true religion, and that Christianity is, after all, merely the climax, the complement, the fulfillment of them all.'
"Now there is unquestionably a delightful fascination about such a theory, and, what is more, there are really elements of truth in it. But I am glad of the opportunity of stating publicly that I am persuaded I was misled by its attractiveness, and that its main idea is quite erroneous. The charm and danger of it, I think, lie in its apparent liberality, breadth of view, and toleration. In The Times of last October 14, you will find recorded a remarkable conversation between a Lama priest and a Christian traveler, in the course of which the Lama says that 'Christians describe their religion as the best of all religions; whereas, among the nine rules of conduct for the Buddhist, there is one that directs him never either to think or to say that his own religion is the best, considering that sincere men of other religions are deeply attached to them.' Now to express sympathy with this kind of liberality is sure to win applause among a certain class of thinkers in these days of universal toleration and religious free trade. We must not forget, too, that our Bible tells us that God has not left himself without witness, and that in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Yet I contend, notwithstanding, that flabby, jelly-fish kind of tolerance is utterly incompatible with the nerve, fibre, and backbone that ought to characterize a manly Christian. A Christian's character ought to be exactly what the Christian's Bible intends it to be. Take that Sacred Book of ours; handle reverently the whole volume; search it through and through, from the first chapter to the last, and mark well the spirit that pervades the whole. You will find no limpness, no flabbiness about its utterances. Even skeptics who dispute Its divinity are ready to admit that it is a thoroughly manly book. Vigor and manhood breathe in every page. It is downward and straightforward, bold and fearless, rigid and uncompromising. It tells you and me to be either hot or cold. If God be god, serve him. If Baal be God, serve him. We cannot serve both. We cannot love both. Only one name is given among men whereby we may be saved. No other name, no other Saviour, more suited to India, to Persia, to China, to Arabia, is ever mentioned-is ever hinted at.
"What! says the enthusiastic student of the science of religion, do you seriously mean to sweep away as so much worthless waste paper all these thirty stately volumes of Sacred Books of the East just published by the University of Oxford? "No-not at all-nothing of the kind. On the contrary, we welcome these books. We ask every missionary to study their contents and thankfully lay hold of whatsoever things are true and of good report in them. But we warn him that there can be no greater mistake than to force these non-Christian bibles into conformity with some scientific theory of development, and then point to the Christian's Holy Bible as the crowning product of religious evolution. So far from this, these non-Christian bibles are all developments in the wrong direction. They all begin with some flashes of true light and end in utter darkness. Pile them, if you will, on the left side of your study table, but place your own Holy Bible on the right side-all by itself-aU alone-and with a wide gap between.
"And now, I crave permission at least to give two good reasons for ventur- ing to contravene, in so plain-spoken a manner, the favorite philosophy of the day. Listen to me, ye youthful students of the so-called Sacred Books of the East, search them through and through, and tell me, do they affirm of Vyasa, of Zoroaster, of Confucius, of Buddha, of Mohammed, what our Bible affirms of the Founder of Christianity-that He, a sinless Man, was made Sin! Not merely that he is the eradicator of sin, but that He, the sinless Son of man, was himself made sin. Vyasa and the other founders of Hinduism enjoined severe penances, endless lustral washings, incessant purifications, infinite repetitions of prayer, painful pilgrimages, arduous ritual, and sacrificial observances, all with the one idea of getting rid of sin. AU their books say so. But do they say that the very men who exhausted every invention for the eradication of sin were themselves sinless men made sin. Zoroaster, too, and Confucius, and Buddha, and Mohammed, one and all, bade men strain every nerve to get rid of sin, or at least of the misery of sin, but do their sacred books say that they themselves were sinless men made sin! I do not presume, as a layman, to interpret the apparently contradic. tory proposition put forth in our Bible that a sinless Man was made Sin. All I now contend for is that it stands alone; that it is wholly unparalleled; that it is not to be matched by the shade of a shadow of a similar declaration in any other book claiming to be the exponent of the doctrine of any other religion in the world.
" Once again, ye youthful students of the so-called Sacred Books of the East, search them through and through, and tell me, do they affirm of Vyasa, of Zoroaster, of Confucius, of Buddha, of Mohammed, what our Bible affirms of the Founder of Christianity-that He, a dead and buried Man, was made Life? not merely that he is the Giver of life, but that he, the dead and buried Man, is Life. 'I am the Life.' 'When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear.' 'He that hath the Son, hath Life.' Let me remind you, too, that the blood is the Life, and that our Sacred Book adds this matchless, this unparalleled, this astounding assertion: 'Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.' Again, I say, I am not now presuming to interpret so marvelous, so stupendous a statement. All I contend for is that it is absolutely unique; and I defy you to produce the shade of the shadow of a similar declaration in any other sacred book of the world. And bear in mind that these two matchless, these two unparalleled declarations, are closely, are intimately, are indissolubly connected with the great central facts and doctrines of our religion: the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ. Vyasa, Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, are all dead and buried; and mark this-their flesh is dissolved; their bones have crumbled into dust; their bodies are extinct. Even their followers admit this. Christianity alone commemorates the passing into the heavens of its divine Founder, not merely in the spirit, but in the body, and 'with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature,' to be the eternal source of life and holiness to his people.
"The two unparalleled declarations quoted by me from our Holy Bible make a gulf between it and the so-called Sacred Books of the East which sever the one from the other utterly, hopelessly, and forever-not a mere rift which may be easily closed up, not a mere rift across which the Christian and the non-Christian may shake hands and interchange similar ideas in regard to essential truths, but a veritable gulf which cannot be bridged over by any science of religious thought; yes, a bridgeless chasm which no theory of evolution can ever span. Go forth, then, ye missionaries, in your Master's name; go forth into all the world, and, after studying all its false religions and philosophies, go forth and fearlessly proclaim to suffering humanity the plain, the unchangeable, the eternal facts of the gospel-nay, I might al- most say, the stubborn, the unyielding, the inexorable facts of the gospel. Dare to be downright with all the uncompromising courage of your own Bible, while with it your watchwords are love, joy, peace, reconciliation. Be fair, be charitable, be Christ-like, but let there be no mistake. Let it be made absolutely clear that Christianity can not, must not, be watered down to suit the palate of either Hindu, Parsee, Confucianist, Buddhist, or Mo. hammedan, and that whosoever wishes to pass from the false religion to the true can never hope to do so by the rickety planks of compromise, or by help of faltering hands held out by half-hearted Christians. He must leap the gulf in faith, and the living Christ will spread his everlasting arms be- neath and land him safely on the Eternal Rock."
To this remarkable testimony, we add that of Professor Max Müller, who, in addressing the British and Foreign Bible Society, said: "In the discharge of my duties for forty years, as Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford, I have devoted as much time as any man living to the study of the Sacred Books of the East, and I have found the one key-note -the one diapason, so to speak-of all these so-called sacred books, whether it be the Veda of the Brahmans, the Puranas of Siva and Vishnu, the Koran of the Mohammedans, the Zend-Avesta of the Parsees, the Tripitaka of the Buddhists-the one refrain through all-salvation by works. They all say that salvation must be purchased, must be bought with a price ; and that the sole price, the sole purchase-money, must be our own works and deservings. Our own holy Bible, our sacred Book of the East, is from beginning to end a protest against this doctrine. Good works are, indeed, enjoined upon us in that sacred Book of the East far more strongly than in any other sacred book of the East; but they are only the outcome of a grateful heart -they are only a thank-offering, the fruits of our faith. They are never the ransom-money of the true disciples of Christ. Let us not shut our eyes to what is excellent and true and of good report in these sacred books, but let us teach Hindoos, Buddhists, Mohammedans, that there is only one sacred Book of the East that can be their mainstay in that awful hour when they pass all alone into the unseen world. It is the sacred Book which contains that faithful saying, worthy to be received of all men, women and children, and not merely of us Christians-that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] "Let the dead bury their dead! Follow thou ME.
Go thou and preach the kingdom of God." -Matt. viii: 21, 22; Luke ix: 60.
WORDS of deep meaning are those words, "life" and "death." The difference between them is the difference between holiness and sin; the distance between them is the distance between Heaven and Hell.
We are in a world of Death. It is full of the dead-those who have neither spiritual vitality nor sensibility; who lack all true spiritual life and all proper sense of the powers of the world to come.
God made man, like an ideal house, in successive stories. On the earthward side, the body, identified with matter; next above it, the intellectual, affectional and moral nature, higher up and nearer God; then above all, and crowning all, that which constituted the very "image of God," -the spiritual nature, the oratory and observatory, nearest to Heaven.
The fall of man shattered the whole house, but it left the upper story in absolute ruin. The spiritual image of God was effaced, while the whole man was defaced. That observatory that looked out upon the celestial scenery, became at best "a death chamber." The noblest, highest, divinest affections, affinities, and capacities of man were left in a state of decay; and so this world became the abode of the dead.
Yes; and the dead are burying the dead. All human history, without God, is one long burial. What is burial? It is the magnifying of the material and mortal; it is lavishing care and cost upon the body, when the invisible spirit has departed, and putting it out of sight and contact of the living. So are the ways of the world. That unseen reality and personality which we call soul, is habitually neglected, while lavish attention is given to the body; and selfishness, that it may revel in ease and indulgence, seeks to bury out of sight and touch of the living, the want and woe, sorrow and suffering of humanity.
The sayings of our Lord, which introduce these paragraphs, are far more comprehensive than may at first appear. Christ is not denying to a son the privilege of fulfilling the last sad offices of filial love to a deceased father. A soul has reached the crisis of history and destiny, and stands trembling and wavering upon the verge of a decision upon which hang eternal issues. To go just now, even to a father's funeral, with its elaborate ceremonial and tedious period of formal mourning, would prove a diversion that might prevent conversion, dissipating serious impressions and convictions. What if that son, drawn back into worldly associations, should lose all interest in things divine; and going to bury his father, should end in being buried himself ! But let us mark the grandeur of the scope of those two words of command: "Follow thou me !" "Go thou and preach the kingdom of God!"
Christ is the Lord of life. He came to give life and to give it more abundantly-not to bury but to revive; not to commit to the sepulchre but to call the dead from their tombs. "Follow thou Me !"
and so get life; then, "Go thou and preach the kingdom of God," and so give life.
We have intelligently chosen these words as the motto of this MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. Taking the two accounts as presenting the whole incident in its spherical completeness, we find here the entire duty of every human being, comprehensively expressed: first to be a follower of Christ, and then a preacher of Christ; receiving life from the dead, to go forth bearing the potent message of salvation, and so imparting life to the dead.
Our Lord thus sounds, in these sayings of His, the silver trumpet of evangelization, and down through the aisles of the ages, with growing clearness, rings the clarion peal. It is time that it had reached and rallied the whole church of God to the universal assembling of the Lord's hosts, and the universal onset of the army against the foe.
Evangelization is the one word that deserves to be emblazoned on the banners of the believing host. The one immediate, imperative duty of every follower is to become a "herald." To bring this gospel of life into contact with every living, human soul in the shortest possible time and the best possible way-that is evangelization.
The scheme is so grandly colossal that it fills the whole word of God, and reaches round the whole world of the dead. Like the wheel of Ezekiel's vision, it is so high that it is dreadful. Its rim rests upon the earth, but reaches to heaven.
God's gigantic plan of evangelization embraces the whole family of man. That family consists at this time of fifteen hundred millions of souls now living upon earth. More than one-half of this vast number have never yet had a copy of the Word, heard the sound of the good tidings, or even seen the face of a missionary. There are some thirty millions of evangelical Christians within the territory of a nominal Christendom; and the problem is how to bring those thirty millions into contact with the seven hundred and fifty millions who have not the gospel within the space of a generation's lifetime!
How can it be done? That is the absorbing question. We should utterly despair of doing it but for one fact: The Captain of our salvation has commanded it, and the existence of the order is the warrant for obedience, and the assurance of success. Let the whole church but take the attitude of obedience, and we should see wonders of achievement that would astonish us.
It is, nevertheless, very plain that the methods now employed by the church of God are inadequate to this great work. All Christendom sends to the foreign field to-day less than seven thousand workmen, of whom more than half are unordained laymen and women. The native Christian churches contribute some thirty-three thousand more, of whom nine-tenths are laymen. We have, therefore, a total of forty thousand Christian disciples scattered among the millions of Pagan, Papal, and Moslem communities. Were these evenly and equally distributed, it would still give every worker, male or female, native and foreign, ordained and unordained, a parish of 18,750 souls to reach with the gospel in the space of about thirty years, the lifetime of a generation.
"What are these among so many?" And with all the obstacles of foreign language and hoary superstitions to surmount before there could be even an approach or access to them. Our missionary workers-nay, even our missionary stations-are like stars set in the centres of vast vacancies. And, therefore, it is that with over 100 missionary organizations belting the globe, the unevangelized population of the world grows faster than the church; population strides more rapidly than evangelization can keep up with it; and there is to-day a larger number of unsaved souls on earth than during any previous decade of years.
Where lies the core of this difficulty? We have forsaken the standard set up for us by our Lord and adopted by the primitive church. To every human being our Lord's double message is "Follow me, and preach me." The command is representative. The only qualification necessary for preaching the kingdom is to be a subject in it; and every follower of Christ must be a fisher of men.
This is the doctrine of the New Testament, and this was the practice of the New Testament church. Our Lord laid down the law of evangelization: ALL ARE TO GO, AND TO GO TO ALL. The occasion on which, upon that Galilean mountain, He said: "Go make disciples of all nations," was, without doubt, the occasion on which he "was seen of above five hundred brethren at once," commissioning all disciples to make disciples.
And they accepted the commission. The persecution that followed Stephen's martyrdom scattered the disciples abroad, and they went everywhere, preaching the word.* Observe!-not the apostles, for they are expressly excepted, as remaining at Jerusalem. Philip, though only a deacon, not only evangelized but baptized. The careful reader of the" Acts of the Apostles" finds there the acts of a great many beside the Apostles. He finds there a vital truth of Scripture side by side with a vital fact of history. The obvious intent of our Lord was that every follower should be also a witness, warrior, worker, winner of souls. The so-called "ministry" properly exists in the interests of law and order, sound doctrine and safe polity; but does not properly exist as a clerical caste, drawing a line of division between the followers of Christ in the matter of work for souls. Neither the world nor the church can afford to confine or entrust this work of evangelization to a class. The world needs all disciples as heralds, if all men are to hear the gospel; and the church needs all her members to be workers if she is to fulfil her great commission, or even escape the dry rot of indolence and inaction. Growth there must be where life is, and action there must be where growth is. What we do not use we lose. Current alone keeps the stream from stagnating and freezing.
Go thou, whoever thou art, if thou followest the Lord, and preach the kingdom of God. This is a universal duty, an individual responsibility. It is not necessary to change our sphere, but only to pervade our sphere with a new spirit of life. "In whatsoever calling he is found, let every man therein abide with God."* Let him use the shoemaker's shop, the carpenter's bench, the merchant's desk, the artist's studio, the market stall, the senator's chair, the kitchen or nursery, the throne or palace, as the pulpit from which to preach Jesus. If, like Wesley and Whitefield, Moody and McAll, you can reach the multitudes with your voice, thank God for the privilege. But if not, perhaps, like John Pounds of Portsmouth, you can win the confidence of street gamins by a hot roast potato, or, like Maria Millis in the humble nursery, teach infant lips to pray, and sow in a child's heart the seeds of a mighty passion for souls that shall yet sway, with resistless persuasion, the Lords and Commons in Parliament! These opening words of salutation from the editors to the reader, are not the result of any sudden, transient outburst of feeling. Here are crystallized the solemn convictions reached or wrought by a quarter of a century of study and thought upon this great theme. Before the church stands a great problem, for which the Scriptures furnish the only practical, possible solution. The whole church must accept the duty of telling the old, old story. Each of us is his brother's keeper. Every hearer must become a herald. This is the theory of evangelization in a nutshell; and we have only to put this principle into practice, and the wisdom of our Lord's words will be demonstrated; we may thus bring the gospel to the ears of every living member of our ruined race before the bells of God's great clock of the ages shall ring in the natal hour of a new century.
"Go THOU, AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
A VIOLENT thunder storm once preserved the town of Basle from the shells of the Russians and Hungarians, who were besieging the place. The pious people, in gratitude, founded a training-school for Christian Missionaries. This was the origin of the Basle Missionary Society, which has sent out over five hundred devoted men to the heathen.
*1 Cor. vii.
MISSION WORK IN PAPAL EUROPE
MISSION WORK IN PAPAL EUROPE.
By WILLIAM CLARK, D.D., FLORENCE, ITALY.
[Dr. Clark has a right to speak on the subject which he here briefly intro- duces to the notice of our readers. During the past twenty-five years he has resided in Papal Europe and made its institutions, especially those of an educational character, a matter of special study. The female college which he has established at Florence is an important mission agency and deserves the sympathy and aid of American Christians, and especially of the friends of female Christian education. Previous to this-from 1850 to 1860-he was in the service of the A. B. C. F. M. in Turkey, having charge of the Bebek Theological Seminary, out of which grew Robert College.-EDs.) THE moral and spiritual transformation of Central and Southern Europe must be done for women and by women. Establishing evangeli- cal schools of higher female education is the great mission agency to be employed, and the agency the most successful of all others. It is not by any denominational propaganda arrayed against Popery, or by Protestant Mission Boards of England and the United States sending their forces into these countries with their agencies of sect. I have been intimately conversant with mission work in foreign and Papal lands for nearly forty years, and, with all my experience and observation during this long period, I am fully convinced that true and successful mission work can never be accomplished, especially in Papal Europe, by a strictly denominational agency. I speak what I know when I say that the greatest obstacle to the work of a true religious reform in Papal Europe for the last twenty-five years has been the introduction of different religious denominations, and the sectarian spirit that has characterized them. To do true Christian work in Europe, churches must leave sect at home, and carry alone the essentials of Christian salvation and Christian character.
In 1866, Hon. George P. Marsh, our honored Minister in Italy for thirty years, wrote me thus: "Garibaldi is right in saying that Italy must owe her salvation to her women. No country has produced, and none now produces, nobler women than this, and there never was a crisis when such could render greater service to the cause of humanity and truth than now." The union and independence of Italy, that have taken place since that time, have proved a powerful incentive in ennobling and quickening the life of woman. Nowhere is the regeneration of Italy more marked than in Italian female life. They now ask earnestly for a new and improved system of higher female education. They wish schools and colleges for women similar to those in America. Our system of higher female education has been made known in all these countries by the Expositions at Vienna and Paris. My classmate, Hon. John D. Philbrick of Boston, our Educational Commissioner at those expositions, made such a beautiful exhibit of our female schools and colleges as to make our system of female culture so popular that it is everywhere desired in all these countries, and desired as a system to take the place of the Convent system, with which from year to year they are more and more dissatisfied.
Establishing evangelical schools of higher female education would be setting up a great agency that would be attended with immense results, an agency having no sectarian taint to poison it, and most cordially welcomed by the people. In Italy, for instance, this agency affords us a rare opportunity of doing a most noble work for Italian young women of the higher classes, in bringing a high and ennobling religious influence, as well as a high culture among those who really have the destinies of their country in their hands.
The great obstacle to the regeneration of Italy, is woman. Educate woman, and bring her under a true religious influence, and Italy will quickly become a truly enlightened and a truly evangelized country. And this work is feasible, if means and lady teachers can be obtained among Christians of America. The present is a time so favorable for instituting a great enterprise and an undenominational mission agency, that I cannot but urge it upon the attention of Christian women in America. I have heard many Italians express deep regret that, in all Catholic Europe, there was not one superior college where they might send their daughters for a higher culture. Is not this fact a sad one, especially when we consider how much high Christian culture there is among the women of America and England? Is it true that this culture is really Christian and benevolent in its character? Why, then, are not greater efforts made to extend it among other nations? Establish, for instance, schools in Italy bearing the stamp of our culture and our religion. This would be the noblest possible way of doing mission work. It is not enough that we boast of our higher female education at home; we must consecrate it to the good of other nations.
We want $10,000 to make a college, already established in Florence, Italy, an agency of great good to all the Papal States of Europe. Similar schools we wish to establish in all the principal cities of Italy, Austria, France and Spain; and such schools will bring these countries into the kingdom of Christ. To the importance of this work we have the testimony and endorsement of the best men of all Christian nations. Lord Shaftsbury, J. B. Braithwaite of England, Sir William Muir, Prof. Calderwood of Scotland, Mark Hopkins, Dr. Roswell D. Hitchcock, Mrs. ex-President Garfield, and many others in our own land-all these speak of this agency as mission work of the highest importance.
Many years ago Mrs. Emma Willard, of Troy Female Seminary, gave $3,000 to establish a school for young women in Greece. This school, nobly sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Hill, has educated more than 20,000 Greek young women.
BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
James Hannington. By F. C. Dawson, M. A. A. D. F. Randolph & Co., N. Y.
This is a graphic story of the life and work of the first Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa. It has already gone through six editions in England, 'and two here. It is a thrilling narrative. There are many incidents of great interest in the volume; but the central figure is the manly, unselfish, heroic Hannington, whose martyrdom so shocked the Christian world. The reading of the book has suggested so many useful and instructive thoughts that it is the purpose of the editors to give hereafter a special article on the subject of this memoir.
The Cross and the Dragon. Rev. B. C. Henry of Canton. A. D. F. Randolph & Co.
Few books of 500 pages contain more interesting and useful matter. Mr. Henry is an acute observer. He has eyes and ears and knows how to use them: and he has the rare quality of being able, both by his tongue and pen, to reproduce in vivid, graphic style, those matters which are most apt to enchain the attention of the hearer or reader. This book will be one of the standard books on Missions.
Siam, or The Heart of Farther India. By Mary L. Cort. Published by Randolph.
This book, in size and style, corresponds to The Cross and the Dragon, and is not unlike it in value and power to interest and instruct. Few people know what a unique country and people are presented in this book, about which so little has been known until of late. The supreme king, Chulalangkorn, is a wise, intelligent, charitable monarch: like his father before him a patron of art, science and literature. In this empire all practical hindrances seem removed to missionary work. There have been no marked results which can be expressed in figures and statistics, but the gospel seems to be slowly but surely preparing for a great conquest. We advise everybody to read Miss Cort's book.
The Dragon, Image, and Demon: or, the Three Religions of China, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Iaoism, giving an account of the Mythology, Idolatry, and Demonolatry of the Chinese. By Rev. Hampden C. DuBose, fourteen years a missionary at Loochow. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. 12mo, pp. 468. 1887.
We give the full title of this book as explanatory of its contents. The work is profusely illustrated, and is gotten up in gorgeous yet appropriate style. Written by one who knows whereof he writes; who is familiar, from study and observation on the ground, with the system of religion and philosophy which he describes; and who has taken pains to gather information on a great variety of points little understood by the Christian world, it will prove a valuable addition to our missionary literature. The work is of interest to the general reader, as well as in all missionary circles. Even the London Saturday Review says of it: "It is a book likely to be widely read. Of the author's minute description of popular and household deities, and the mass of legend connected with them, the book and its curious illustrations can alone speak. Mr. DuBose has much to say that is fresh and suggestive, and he says it with force and conviction."
The Crisis of Missions: or, The Voice out of the Cloud. By Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 12 mo, pp. 370.
Like all their issues, the publishers have given this little book an attractive dress, befitting the character of the work. It is a marvelous book, in its power to inform, impress, and electrify the reader. The grouping of inspiring facts; the rapid action of the discussion; the intense glow of missionary feeling; and the irresistible array of motives and argume~ts and
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK
Providential movements, all conspire to challenge the reader's attention, thrill his soul, and cause him to hear "the voice out of the cloud," as he never heard it before. If our beloved associate had not written the book, I should use still stronger language. I am not surprised that the reading public are showing their appreciation of it by exhausting six editions of it in one year!
Woman and the Gospel in Persia. By Rev. Thomas Laurie, D. D. Adoniram Judson. By Julia H. Johnston.
The Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions of the Northwest, located at Chicago, is publishing a series of brief works entitled" Missionary Annals." The first in the series was a Memoir of Robert Moffat. The two, whose titles are given above, form Nos. 2 and 3. Others are in preparation. They are neatly produced, and sold at a small price, only 30 cents in cloth. .
The plan is an excellent one. Its execution will greatly widen the circle of missionary readers and create a demand for larger works. The materials for the sketch of Dr. Judson were drawn from Dr. Wayland's memoir of him, from Dr. EdwardJudson's "Life" of his father, and from "The History of Baptist Missions." "Woman and the Gospel in Persia," is an abridgment of "Woman and her Saviour in Persia," by Dr. Laurie, and was generously prepared by him and presented to the Board which publishes it.
n.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
THE seventh annual meeting of the Board was held at Springfield, Mass., Oct. 5-8, 1887. It was a remarkable assemblage, both as to number and character—one hundred and sixty-five corporate members and over 800 ministers. The discussion of two reports from the Prudential Committee was long and earnest, and resulted in an overwhelming vote sustaining the policy of the Board. Still it was not unanimous, and the outcome of the trouble it is impossible to predict.
The editor of The Independent, who was present, gives the following as the substance of the action of the Board:
"1. That the Board, acting through its Prudential Committee, will hereafter as heretofore assume and exercise the right to judge and determine upon the qualifications of all persons applying to it for appointment and support as foreign missionaries. 2. That, in the judgment of the Board, the Word of God teaches that the moral conduct of men in this life, whether living and dying in heathen or Christian lands, is determinative of their condition and destiny in the life to come, and hence that this Word excludes the hypothesis that any persons who in this life have failed to secure the great salvation through Christ will, after death, have another probation in which salvation will be offered to them, and by them may be obtained. 3. That all persons applying to the Board for appointment and support as foreign missionaries, if holding as a positive faith or a probable hypothesis the doctrine of a second probation or that of this life continued into the next life, are to be regarded as not possessing the proper qualifications for such appointment and support, since, in either case, their position is contrary to the Word of God, and is calculated in its natural effects to impair the power of that Word over human hearts."
The report of the year's missionary operations was highly encouraging, and the several papers submitted by the Secretaries, particularly "The Appeal of the Hour," by Secretary Smith, and "The Message and Messenger," by Secretary Clark, were inspiring in the highest degree. We regret that our space will allow but a bird's-eye view of the year's results.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
From churches, individual donors, and Sunday-schools, $218,427.58. From the four Woman's Boards, $148,530.82 (from Woman's Board of Missions, $89,304.60; from Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior, $55,248.12; from the Woman's Board of Missions for the Pacific, $3,678.10; from the Woman's Board of Missions for the Pacific Isles, $300); a total of donations of $366,958.40. From legacies, $98,414.59, and from the income of the permanent funds, $11,071.28; making the total receipts from these sources, $476,444.27.
From the Swett bequest, set apart to meet special calls for a brief period of years in the evangelistic and educational departments of our missionary work abroad, $154,319.96 has been appropriated for the purposes named, including, for Japan, $43,745, and for China, $34,762.83.
From the Otis bequest, set apart for new missions, $48,808.31 has been devoted to work in West Central and East Central Africa, in Shanse, in Northern Japan, and in Northern Mexico.
These amounts, added to receipts from ordinary sources, with balance in the treasury at the beginning of the year, $1,381.49, make the total $680,954.03. The expenditures of the year amounted to $679,376.90, leaving a balance in the treasury of $1,577.13.
GENERAL SUMMARY. 1886-87.
| Item |
Number |
| Number of Missions |
22 |
| Number of Stations |
89 |
| Number of Out-Stations |
891 |
| Number of Ordained Missionaries (11 being Physicians) |
168 |
| Number of Physicians not Ordained, 8 men and 4 women |
12 |
| Number of other Male Assistants |
10 |
| Number of Women (wives 164; unmarried, besides Physicians, 107) |
271 |
| Whole number of laborers sent from this country |
461 |
| Number of Native Pastors |
155 |
| Number of Native Preachers and Catechists |
393 |
| Number of Native School-teachers |
1,164 |
| Number of other Native Helpers |
325—2,037 |
| Whole number of laborers connected with the Missions |
2,498 |
| Pages printed, as nearly as can be learned |
18,650,000 |
| Number of Churches |
325 |
| Number of Church Members |
28,042 |
| Added during the year |
2,906 |
| Whole number from the first, as nearly as can be learned |
101,089 |
| Number of High Schools, Theological Seminaries, and Station Classes |
55 |
| Number of Pupils in the above |
3,623 |
| Number of Boarding Schools for Girls |
41 |
| Number of Pupils in Boarding Schools for Girls |
2,318 |
| Number of Common Schools |
878 |
| Number of Pupils in Common Schools |
34,417 |
| Whole number under instruction |
41,151 |
CONCLUSION.
Such is the brief record of that great work which the Board sustains in twenty-two missions among unevangelized people in all parts of the earth. In almost 1,000 populous centres a force of 2,500 laborers, foreign and native, is preaching the gospel in twenty-five different languages, and conducting a great evangelistic and educational work. Fifteen new churches have been organized, and out of a total membership of 28,000, nearly 3,000 have made profession of faith this year. In ninety-six high schools and colleges 6,000 picked youths of both sexes are in training to reinforce the native agency, besides 34,000 pupils under Christian instruction and influence in common schools. And above all, the Christian character of the native converts is assuming greater depth and earnestness, and their share in evangelistic work is steadily increasing in value as well as in amount.
THE FIRST MONTH.—The financial beginning of the new year is favorable, the receipts being more than double those of the first month of the preceding year; amounting to $30,668.57, of which over $22,000 is from donations.
American Baptist Union.
THIS Union represents some 600,000 or 700,000 Baptists in the Northern and Western States, and is the second oldest foreign missionary society in the country. Its 73d annual meeting was held in Minneapolis, Minn., May 27-28. We give an abstract of its annual report.
Its first field was Burmah, where it has planted a vigorous and self-supporting Christianity, which, with its admirable system of schools and its missionary spirit, is making constant inroads on heathenism. Since Upper Burmah was opened to the world by the overthrow of King Thebaw, the Union has been sending missionaries into that kingdom. It has also a strong mission in India, among the Telugus, thousands of whom were gathered in during the remarkable awakening in South India some years ago. Besides these missions the Union has others in Assam and Siam, China, Japan, Africa (in Liberia and on the Congo), and in Europe.
The European missions are in Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, and Greece, where their membership foots up more than the Asiatic and African missions. In Sweden and Germany the work may be said to have passed the missionary stage. There are regular churches, ordained ministers, and associations of churches and ministers. In Sweden alone there are 460 churches, a gain of 26 the past year, 483 preachers, and 31,064 members. In Germany there are more members (33,451), but fewer churches and ministers. The latter number 450, of whom 300 are unordained, and the churches count up to 168 only. The work of the year was very successful, if we may judge from the fact that there were 3,473 baptisms in Sweden, and 2,530 in Germany. An effort is being made to reach the Finns, of whom there are about two millions, who are said to be in a state of dense spiritual darkness. They seem anxious to know the truth and be saved. The amount of contributions in Sweden last year was $79,187.
Germany received $5,628 from the Union, raising among its own churches $98,900. The German Baptist Union, consisting of 13 associations, embraces missions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Russia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Africa. The mission was begun by Johan Gerhard Oncken, a German who married and settled in England and became an Independent. Traveling in Lower Saxony, as an agent of a Bible and a tract society, he organized a Baptist church in that kingdom and became its pastor. This was in 1834. Next year he was appointed missionary of what is now the American Baptist Missionary Union, and he went all over Germany and Denmark preaching and baptizing. From this beginning have sprung all the churches and missions in connection with the German Baptist Union. There is an association in Austria embracing 5 churches, 62 stations, and 930 members; one among the Poles, with 8 churches, 52 stations, and 2,624 members; two in Russia, with a total of 18 churches, 183 stations, and 5,026 members; one on the Baltic with 4 churches, 9 stations, and 1,206 members; one in Denmark, with 22 churches, 101 stations, and 2,181 members; and one in South Africa, with 3 churches, 16 stations, and 676 members. Of the 58,108 members which are returned from the Asiatic and African missions 26,574 are in Burmah and Siam, showing an increase for the year of over 700. A special difficulty in the work in Burmah is the fact of the division of the population in language and race characteristics, requiring distinct missions to the Burmans, the Karens, the Shans, the Kachins, and the Chins. And these separate missions are to be found in the same territory, in the same towns and cities. In Henthada, for example, there is a Burman, a Karen, and a Chin department; and the Karens are sometimes divided into the Red-Karen, Bghai-Karen, and Paku-Karen departments, and there are still other varieties of Karens. The majority of the members in Burmah are Karens, who are an inferior people and were formerly slaves to the Burmans. The total of baptisms in Burmah last year was 1,794. The appropriations from the Union aggregated about $100,000, to which the mission added about $35,000 for churches, schools, and general benevolence. The missionary force is 107, and the number of ordained and unordained ministers 513. Of the 510 churches, 310 are self-supporting. In the 7 stations in Assam are 1,922 members, gathered in 30 churches, of which four are self-sustaining. The field in India is among the Telugus. This was for many years a fruitless mission, but it now reports more members than the Burmah mission, and was the most fruitful mission last year in the list of the Union, returning 1,000 of the 1,668 net gain of all the missions.
The mission in China reports 1,516 members in 18 churches, of which 4 are self-supporting. There are 519 members in Japan, with 13 churches, only one of which pays its own expenses.
The African mission is yet in its infancy. A few years ago the mission received the Congo mission from the Livingstone Inland Mission, an undenominational organization, which had its headquarters in Cardiff, Wales. There are now seven stations on the Congo, one being at Stanley Pool and one at the equator, above the Pool.
The following is a summary of results for the seventy-three years of the Union's operations:
| Members in its mission fields |
125,530 |
| Number of churches |
1,265 |
| Number of preachers |
1,730 |
| Baptisms last year |
9,342 |
| Income of the Union the past year from all sources |
$406,639 |
The American Missionary Association
HELD its 41st Annual Meeting in Portland, Me., Oct. 25-27, 1887. Items from its Annual Report: The receipts of the year cover all the expenses of the year, wipe out the debt of $5,000 with which the year began, and leave $2,193.80 with which to start out on the coming year.
EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE SOUTH.
Total number of schools planted in the Southern States is fifty-four. Six of these are chartered institutions, fairly entitled to the rank of Colleges. Sixteen are Normal and Training Schools. Thirty-two are common schools, scattered throughout nine different States. In these schools are 246 instructors and 8,616 pupils.
CHURCH WORK.
| Number of Churches |
127 |
| Number of Missionaries |
103 |
| Number of Church members |
7,896 |
| Added during the year |
1,197 |
| Scholars in our Sunday-schools |
15,109 |
These statistics show a substantial gain over last year. Seven new churches were organized.
There has been during the year a quiet Christian work throughout the South, which has borne gratifying fruits, over 1,000 having confessed Christ for the first time. The Sunday-school enrollment has increased by nearly 2,000. They contributed this year for benevolence, outside of their own work, $2,322.51, and for their own church purposes, $16,014.50, making a grand total of $18,337.01. This was an increase over the previous year of $610.96 in their benevolences, and $3,075.61 in the total. This is an average contribution of $2.32 per member for every man, woman and child in these churches.
INDIAN WORK, chiefly in Nebraska and Dakota. The following is the summary:
| Churches |
5 |
| Church members |
370 |
| Added during the year |
43 |
| Schools |
18 |
| Pupils in Schools |
608 |
| Missionaries and Teachers |
61 |
CHINESE WORK.
| Missions |
17 |
| Missionaries |
28 |
| Pupils enrolled |
1,044 |
| Hopeful conversions |
150 |
| Given up to idolatry |
211 |
RECEIPTS.
| From Churches, Sabbath-schools, Missionary Societies and individuals |
$189,483.39 |
| Estates and Legacies |
52,266.73 |
| Income, Sundry Funds |
10,561.07 |
| Tuition and Public Funds |
28,964.81 |
| Rents |
478.10 |
| United States Government for Education of Indians |
17,357.21 |
| Slater Fund, paid to Institutions |
7,650.00 |
| Total |
$306,761.31 |
The total disbursements for the year have been $298,783.80, a decrease in the expenditures of last year of $13,467.
Foreign Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
FROM 52d Annual Report, closing Sept 1st, we glean the following facts and figures:
In Japan the advance is rapid. In Africa, notwithstanding the political disturbance at the lower end of the Missionary Jurisdiction of Cape Palmas, the workers are brave and true and the work is being systematically prosecuted; not only in the localities with which the Church has been familiar for years, but also in the regions beyond. In China, the evangelistic work, largely conducted by the native clergy, as well as the parochial work among the converts, and that of the day and boarding-schools and St. John's College, and the medical mission, each has its own story to tell of diligence and encouragement, notwithstanding the publications during the year which have given the impression that the work in China is suffering. Bishop Holly makes his own report of the labors of himself and of his little band of clergy in Haiti. It is a story of energetic labor amid discouraging conditions and with limited resources. All of these statements will be fully borne out by the particulars that will be submitted. Still the call is for more workers. The fields are indeed white unto the harvest. We thank God that the whole Church is praying, in the Litany, that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.
Analysis of Receipts for Foreign Missions in the Last Ten Years.
| Year |
Whole No. of Parishes* |
No. of Parishes Contributing to For. Mis. |
Receipts from Contributions |
Receipts from Legacies |
Total (Appropriations) |
Receipts from Contributions (Specials) |
Receipts from Legacies (Specials) |
Total (Specials) |
Gross receipts for the year |
| 1877-8 |
2,900 |
1,170 |
$91,539 67 |
$17,974 98 |
$109,514 65 |
$24,456 92 |
$6,000 00 |
$30,456 92 |
$139,971 57 |
| 1878-9 |
2,900 |
1,163 |
95,846 02 |
16,709 86 |
112,555 88 |
35,771 96 |
275 00 |
36,046 96 |
148,602 84 |
| 1879-80 |
2,900 |
1,217 |
†117,042 45 |
27,458 33 |
144,500 78 |
17,583 47 |
— |
17,583 47 |
162,084 25 |
| 1880-1 |
3,000 |
1,230 |
‡136,993 18 |
22,977 06 |
159,970 24 |
25,788 05 |
— |
25,788 05 |
185,758 29 |
| 1881-2 |
3,000 |
1,487 |
128,945 80 |
31,168 41 |
160,114 21 |
13,233 84 |
500 00 |
13,733 84 |
173,848 05 |
| 1882-3 |
3,000 |
1,375 |
§116,772 63 |
28,230 82 |
145,003 45 |
13,927 05 |
— |
13,927 05 |
158,930 50 |
| 1883-4 |
3,000 |
1,389 |
111,299 20 |
9,638 70 |
120,937 90 |
7,843 68 |
6,200 00 |
14,043 68 |
134,981 58 |
| 1884-5 |
3,000 |
1,412 |
103,223 31 |
76,087 47 |
179,310 78 |
17,017 16 |
2,000 00 |
19,017 16 |
198,327 94 |
| 1885-6 |
3,450 |
1,996 |
137,982 82 |
12,929 30 |
150,912 12 |
14,355 58 |
100,400 00 |
114,755 58 |
265,667 70 |
| 1886-7 |
3,450 |
1,814 |
126,410 74 |
6,926 42 |
133,327 16 |
21,781 79 |
— |
21,781 79 |
155,108 95 |
*From Church Almanac. †Including $4,250, specifically contributed toward paying off the Mexican Loan. ‡Including a single gift of $13,200, and also $2,000 for Mexican Loan. §Including $2,481.50 for Mexican Loan.
This table shows the exact resources for Foreign Missions of the Board of Managers since its organization in 1877. During the decade there have been but three years in which the contributions for the general work have exceeded those of the past year, and in two instances that excess is accounted for in the table. At the same time the amount received from legacies available for the work of the Society in Foreign Lands is much less than in any other of the ten years named.
The total receipts of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society for the year were $402,440.52, a decrease of $1,732.45 from previous year. The receipts for Domestic Missions were $219,439.33.
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.
ABSTRACT of the 50th annual report presented to the General Assembly at its meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, May, 1887.
No less than eight of the missionaries of the Board have died during the year, while seven ordained and three medical missionaries, and six lady teachers, have permanently withdrawn during the same time. To strengthen the posts weakened by this depletion, the Board has sent out during the year seven ordained missionaries, of whom six were married, eight medical missionaries, of whom two were ladies, and eleven unmarried ladies.
Work has been prosecuted among 11 tribes of American Indians, and the Chinese and Japanese in the United States; in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil and Chili; in Africa, among the inhabitants of Liberia, and those of the Gaboon and Corisco region; and in Asia in important centers of influence in India, Siam, China, Japan, Korea, Persia, and Syria. In addition to this the Board has rendered substantial assistance to the evangelical work in Papal Europe through approved societies on the Continent. There have been in commission during the year, 173 ordained missionaries, 30 laymen, mostly physicians, and 296 ladies. Besides these, the missionary force includes 134 native ordained ministers, and 154 licentiates, which, with 756 Bible readers, catechists, etc., makes a total force in the employ of the Board during the year of 1,543. Three hundred and ten organized churches are on the roll, with 21,420 communicants, of whom 2,791 were added during the year. These churches report contributions to the amount of $28,552. The aggregate attendance on schools of all grades was 23,329.
In the various fields occupied by the Board there has been much to encourage, and yet not a little to perplex and disturb. In some of the missions, the Holy Spirit has so sealed the truth upon the hearts and consciences of the people that precious ingatherings have been witnessed, and the joy of harvest experienced. In others it has been a time mainly of diligent sowing and patient waiting. When the deep poverty of many of those gathered out of heathenism is remembered, the contributions of native Christians for the support of the Gospel during the year indicate high attainment in the grace of Christian beneficence. In some parts of the field a noteworthy advance has been made in the measure of government favor accorded to our missionaries, as in China, Japan and Siam, showing that the mission work is commending itself to those in high position, and that the door of access to the nations is constantly widening. On the other hand, the restrictions of the French government, in the territory occupied by the Gaboon and Corisco Mission have become so severe, as virtually to tie the hands of our missionaries, and to drive them from the field. After repeated efforts to secure some modification of the restrictions imposed, the Board has felt constrained, at the urgent request of the brethren on the field, to take measures to transfer that mission to another evangelical body, should the way be clear, and secure a foothold, if possible, within German territory.
RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.
| From Churches and Sabbath-schools |
$360,231.51 |
| Woman's Boards |
248,649.59 |
| Individual and miscellaneous sources |
72,006.65 |
| Legacies |
103,269.84 |
| Total |
$784,157.59 |
| Expenditures of the Board |
$722,494.90 |
| Add the debt of last year |
57,853.28 |
|
$780,348.18 |
| Leaving a balance in treasury of |
$3,809.41 |
This shows an increase last year of $55,618.14, although $34,696.39 was a special gift for the debt in the previous year's receipts.
The Assembly resolved to aim at the raising of $1,000,000 for the current year for foreign missions.
EXPENDITURES AND STATISTICS OF THE MISSIONS.
For missions among 11 tribes of Indians, with which are connected 15 American and 13 Indian preachers, 2 Indian licentiate preachers, 3 American laymen and 35 women, 15 native assistants, 1,741 communicants, and 13 schools, with 422 scholars, of whom 194 are in boarding-schools—$28,839.79.
For missions to the Chinese in this country, with stations in New York, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles and other places, in connection with which are 4 ministers, 8 female teachers (unsalaried teachers not enumerated), 7 native assistants, 286 communicants, and 17 schools, with 779 scholars, not including pupils in Sabbath-school—$17,909.57.
For mission in Japan, at 4 stations and several outstations, with 12 American and 11 native ministers, 15 licentiate preachers, 2 American laymen and 31 women, 2,178 communicants, and 11 schools, connected with which are 1,184 scholars, of whom 200 are in boarding-schools—$63,166.27.
For 3 missions in China, with 13 stations and over 150 outstations, 36 ordained Americans and 15 ordained natives, 35 licentiate preachers, 8 American laymen and 49 women, 144 native assistants, 4,306 communicants, and 94 schools, with 1,983 scholars, of whom 572 are in boarding-schools—$102,626.57.
For mission in Korea, with 1 American minister, 2 American laymen and 3 women—$8,868.63.
For 2 missions in Siam and Laos, at 4 stations and 14 outstations, 11 American ministers, 4 native licentiate preachers, 3 American laymen and 17 women, 23 native assistants, 676 communicants, and 14 schools, with 380 scholars, of whom 112 are in boarding-schools—$37,928.20.
For 3 missions in India, at 25 stations, 13 outstations, with 35 American and 19 native ministers, 31 licentiate preachers, 2 American laymen and 57 women, 216 native assistants, 1,033 communicants, and 9,671 scholars—$113,317.21.
For 2 missions in Persia, with 5 stations and about 100 outstations, 10 American and 32 native ministers, 35 licentiate preachers, 5 American laymen and 30 women, 120 native assistants, 2,052 communicants, 115 schools, with 2,731 scholars, of whom 230 are in boarding-schools—$61,430.83.
For mission in Syria, at 5 stations and 86 outstations, connected with which are 13 American and 4 native ministers, 32 licentiate preachers, 1 American layman and 23 women, 143 native assistants, 1,440 communicants, 119 schools, with 5,172 scholars, 270 of whom are in boarding-schools—$55,248.22.
For mission in Liberia, Africa, 7 stations, 3 American and 3 native ministers, 1 American layman, 1 woman, 1 native assistant, 284 communicants, 5 schools, and 157 scholars, of whom 88 are in boarding-schools—$3,669.17.
For Gaboon and Corisco Mission, at 6 stations and several outstations, with 5 ordained American and 3 ordained native ministers, 2 licentiates, 1 American lay missionary and 9 women, 14 native assistants, 688 communicants—$20,216.79.
For missions in Brazil, at 9 stations and several outstations, with 10 American and 6 native ministers, 2 licentiates, 1 male and 12 female missionaries, 29 native assistants, 1,895 communicants, 21 schools, with 518 scholars, of whom 42 are in boarding-school—$50,640.59.
For mission in Chili, at 3 stations, 8 ministers, 1 native minister, 4 native licentiates, 6 female teachers, 11 native assistants, 449 communicants, and 3 schools, with 260 scholars, of whom 27 are in boarding-school—$23,089.59.
For mission in U. S. of Colombia, at 1 station, with 2 American ministers, 3 female missionaries, 5 native assistants, 66 communicants, and 1 school, with 50 scholars, of whom 10 are in boarding-school—$5,798.99.
For mission in Guatemala, at 1 station, 2 female missionaries, 12 communicants, and 1 school, with 26 scholars—$4,536.72.
For mission in Mexico, with 6 stations, and about 100 outstations, 8 American and 27 native ministers, 21 licentiates, 12 female missionaries, 29 native assistants, 4,314 communicants, and 20 schools, with 620 (partial report) scholars, of whom 51 are in boarding-schools—$80,597.82.
For missions in European Papal countries—France, Belgium, Italy, etc.—$4,354.70.
For Home Expenses—printing, salaries, miscellaneous—$36,727.93.
| Total receipts |
$784,157.59 |
| Total payments (including debt of $57,853.28) |
780,348.18 |
| Balance, April 30, 1887 |
$3,809.41 |
Financial Exhibit of All the Boards of Presbyterian Church, 1886-87.
| Board |
Balance, 1886 |
Debt, 1886 |
Receipts |
Expenditures |
Balance, 1887 |
Debt, 1887 |
| 1. Home Missions |
— |
— |
*$640,258.03 |
$604,937.02 |
— |
$21,687.77 |
| Sustentation |
$8,180.45 |
— |
13,198.00 |
16,423.60 |
$4,954.85 |
— |
| 2. Foreign Missions |
— |
57,853.28 |
784,157.59 |
780,348.18 |
3,809.41 |
— |
| 3. Education |
— |
2,600.92 |
67,149.59 |
84,657.10 |
— |
14,906.59 |
| 4. Sabbath-school Work |
— |
24,511.42 |
49,751.29 |
50,175.36 |
— |
24,935.49 |
| 5. Church Erection—a. Churches |
18,794.73 |
— |
84,080.14 |
97,343.79 |
15,837.36 |
— |
| b. Manses |
26,297.00 |
— |
1,022.46 |
10,737.34 |
9,767.12 |
— |
| 6. Relief |
5,685.92 |
— |
142,009.10 |
120,619.23 |
— |
21,389.87 |
| 7. Freedmen |
— |
6,200.81 |
115,203.83 |
123,134.26 |
— |
14,131.24 |
| 8. Aid for Colleges |
— |
— |
53,279.66 |
53,279.66 |
— |
— |
| Totals |
$58,958.10 |
$134,800.93 |
$1,950,109.69 |
$1,941,655.64 |
$33,868.74 |
$97,050.96 |
*Includes $13,368.28 for investment.
United Presbyterian Church.
Abstract from the 28th Annual Report, presented May 26, 1887.
The Board report a year of unusual interest. "Every department of the work has shown the signal presence and favor of God." In the Indian mission, 1,934 professed Christ. The native church increased from 2,176 members in 1885 to 4,019 at the close of 1886. A marked advance was made also in Egypt. At home additional interest has been shown. Women's Missionary Societies increased from 501 to 593; members from 13,585 to 15,004; and contributions to foreign missions from $10,765 to $13,803.
MISSIONS.
There are two—one in the Punjab, or northwestern Province of India, and the other in the Delta and valley of the Nile in Egypt. In the former, the mission embraces the eight districts, Sialkot, Zafarwal, East and West Gujranwala, Jhelum, Gurdaspur, Pasrur and Pathankot with their several hundred villages. The latter has the districts of Alexandria, Cairo, Mansoora, the Fayoom, Lower, Middle and Upper Thebaid, and is in as many as possible of the 12,293 town and villages that are in them and the country at large.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Missions 2, Stations 121, Foreign Missionaries 16, married women 16, single 20, Physicians 2. Total foreign laborers 54. Native ordained ministers 20, licentiates 9, other workers 346. Total native workers 375. Total of all laborers 429. Churches 31, Average Sabbath attendance 7,759. Communicants 6,161. Increase during the year (India 2,030, Egypt 311) 2,341. Baptisms 2,881. Sabbath-schools 138. Sabbath-school scholars 5,625. Other schools 192. Scholars in them 9,219. Contributions for church purposes $5,587. Appraised value of mission property $325,701.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. The receipts for the year were:
| Source |
1886 |
1887 |
| To balance brought forward |
— |
$400.00 |
| Presbyteries |
$43,342.46 |
48,339.56 |
| Sabbath Schools |
5,706.28 |
8,536.89 |
| Ladies' Societies |
6,796.19 |
8,803.48 |
| Individuals |
9,801.64 |
5,002.07 |
| Women's Auxiliary Bds. |
— |
1,626.76 |
| Interest |
884.43 |
1,994.99 |
| Bequests |
18,705.54 |
8,737.92 |
| Gibson Trust Fund |
716.23 |
902.13 |
| Total |
85,952.77 |
84,343.80 |
The Expenditures for the year were for the Egyptian Mission $37,620.45, for India $30,351.04, for sending out, returning, and new missionaries $4,325.60, for salaries and children of missionaries at home $5,056.02, for other necessary home expenses $1,899.07, for payment of debt to Quarter Centennial fund $5,091.62, and for payment of debt to Egyptian mission $3,248.70, making a total of $87,592.50. The contributions of the church were less by $3,648.70 than the expenditures.
CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
III.-CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
ONE of our esteemed editorial correspondents, Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D., writes us in the following inspiring words:
A World's Missionary Council.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW will, if God prosper the enterprise, fulfilling the hopes and prayers of its conductors, become in some sort a realization of a certain broad and beneficent idea lately breathed in a published volume. One of the editors of this REVIEW, in a book entitled "The Crisis of Missions," proposes in the serene boldness of faith, the plan of holding an Œcumenical Council of a new order, a Pan-Christian Conference in behalf of Missions in every part of the world. A "World's Missionary Council," he calls it.
The idea is inspiring. There is a tonic audacity in it. It has the spirit of the beginning of the era of modern missions. It might have been William Carey's proposal. Its motto well might read, "Expect great things from God."
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW is already in purpose something like a fulfillment of such a noble dream. It offers to be a council in perpetual session, to consult for the spread of the Gospel throughout the whole earth. It will do what it can to bring about, in God's good time, the actual convening of Christendom in a council to concert measures for the speedy evangelization of the world. The reflex influence upon present Christendom of an effort to make itself commensurate with mankind would be such a strengthening of the things among us at home that remain, and that, without such a forthputting like this of power to save, are themselves ready to faint—such a strengthening, we say, as would mark an historic epoch in the advance of Christianity comparable to that of the Protestant Reformation—comparable, but, perhaps, superior.
May that God who has promised His Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession, graciously accept each successive number of this REVIEW as one more prayer of His expecting Church,
THY KINGDOM COME!
China Inland Mission.
Letter from J. Hudson Taylor, our London Editorial Correspondent:
LONDON, Nov. 1st, 1887.
DEAR DR. PIERSON:
May I, for Mr. Radcliffe, as well as myself, reply to your kind letters about Editorial Correspondents? We are both so circumstanced that, while we should be very willing to be occasional correspondents, we could not undertake to write at regular intervals, or to any large extent. For myself, I must also add that perhaps half my time is spent in China and half in England.
We are both in hearty sympathy with you, and would gladly do anything in our power to help you. May the Lord make the REVIEW more than ever a blessing and a success.
Yours, faithfully,
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.
One of our editorial correspondents, Dr. H. H. Jessup, of Syria, writes a private letter, but it is of such public interest that we venture to print it. It was in acknowledgment of a copy of the little book on missions recently sent by the author to his old friend in Syria.—A. T. P.
BEIRUT, SYRIA, May 9, 1887.
MY DEAR BROTHER PIERSON:
I have just received a copy of your excellent book, "The Crisis of Missions," with your card, and write to tell you how highly I value the book.
Your preliminary word, that "the spirit of Christ is the spirit of Missions," is the keynote to the whole book, and should be the keynote of the life of every Christian disciple. One of the problems which I cannot solve, and which I shall be anxious to have solved when I reach the kingdom of glory, is this: "How will those Christians who say that they do not believe in missions explain their position to the glorified Redeemer?"
There can be no question as to your position on this great subject. I trust every young man and woman in our colleges and seminaries will be enabled in some way to read this stirring volume. But perhaps I was hasty in writing that sentence. For supposing that they should read it, and be stirred and thrilled by it as I have been, and hundreds of them should be led to say, "Lord, here am I; send me." "Churches of Christ, here we are; send us:" and all this in addition to the 1,500 mentioned by Dr. McCosh in his letter who have already decided to go, what would be the effect on the churches? Of one thing I am sure, and that is, that while a few "Thomas" churches might doubt and even despair, the great body of Christ's own children everywhere would be set on fire with the conviction that now is the Crisis; that God hath verily spoken to his people; that the silver trumpet has sounded the note of advance; that the church must either rise to the duty of the hour, or be swept aside, and another church be raised up to do the work.
I have just had under my roof that devoted man of God, Major General Haig, long in India, and now from England, who has just journeyed all around the west, south and east coast of Arabia, looking for openings for planting Missionary and Bible Stations; and his reports which are appearing in the Church Missionary Intelligencer are like the journals of an apostle.
The fact is that the last bolts and bars with which Satan clinched the gates of heathen empires centuries ago are dropping to the ground, and the rusty hinges are creaking open while the imprisoned nations stand wondering and waiting for the liberty of Christ.
Let us continue, my dear brother, to lift up our voices and call on our brethren and sisters everywhere to go forward.
I was greatly moved, when a lad, by reading Dr. Enoch Pond's "World's Salvation." But the facts and figures of that book, as I recall them, were far less stirring than those of your little volume. The darkness and the want then existed and were well described, but the open doors were few, and the actual call for men quite limited. But now the 1,500 candidates preparing to go could find work ready to their hands in Japan, or in Interior Africa.
The church's ear seems to be heavy and the church's hand to be shortened, while the Lord is calling louder and louder, and His mighty providence is moving on.
For years I have been waiting to hear Brother Moody's voice on this great subject of Foreign Missions, and now that he has thrown his heart and help and voice into the work, the Lord has granted a rich blessing. Your plan of apportioning out the unevangelized world among the Christian churches is a grand one. See how the nations of Europe are cutting and carving the continent of Africa for their own commercial objects! It is time that the whole world were thus taken possession of for Jesus our King.
We are working on quietly here in Syria. Our last annual report shows a greater advance than in any previous year, in additions to the church and in all other departments of our work.
Yours, affectionately,
HENRY HARRIS JESSUP.
Japan.
Rev. James H. Ballagh writes:
YOKOHAMA, May 4, 1887.
REV. DR. PIERSON:
Dear Brother—Knowing well your interest in mission work in general, and also something of your interest in particular in Japan, through your acquaintance with native brethren, now members of your church or residents of your city, I take the liberty to present the claims of an interesting field of work for assistance. It is to ask aid for help in erecting a church building at Tokosuka, the naval station in this part of Japan, and where most of their ship-building is carried on. There are extensive dry docks and works there, several marine hospitals, a fleet of vessels, and a considerable body of marines, besides a very live and enterprising population. Iniquity is also very active. The brothels are large, and thronged at night like a fair—the veritable Vanity Fair of "Pilgrim's Progress." To the outside world it is interesting as being a most beautiful land-locked harbor in an inner bay of Yedo bay, near Perry and Webster islands.
At this place the French Romanists had a fine chapel when they commenced work at the navy yard, but it has been sold for old lumber on their loss of influence in Japan. There is now an active Protestant Church of our United Church of Christ in Japan with 76 members. It is only of two or three years' growth. The work was commenced mostly under Dr. Saiki's influence, and, though himself a Congregationalist, he threw his influence in favor of a Presbyterian Church being established here. The Church meets in greatly straitened quarters at present. As the town is small, lots expensive, and few houses to let, the Church desires to build a suitable chapel. One thousand dollars will secure land and erect a modest building. $500 we hope to be able to raise here, and they would like an equal amount in gold from America. Their pastor, the Rev. Ito Tokichi, is an indefatigable worker and an excellent Christian man. The membership is largely doctors—naval physicians—and their families.
Hoping that some practical manifestation of the hearty interest which American Christians take in the establishment of Christ's cause in Japan may result from this appeal,
I am sincerely yours in Christ,
JAMES H. BALLAGH.
Revised Edition of Dr. Judson's Burmese Bible.
The following extract from a recent private letter of the Rev. Dr. Jameson, Baptist Missionary in Burmah, to his seminary classmate, Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D., will be read with interest. The date is Rangoon, Aug. 31, 1887:
"I am here for two weeks on the proofs, for I have agreed to give half my time to watching the new edition of Dr. Judson's Burman Bible through the press. I read each form seven times. Once correcting copy, and three times for typographical and other errors—besides verifying corrections. Of course I have good native help. But they need me as much as I need them. When I go back to my own district, I take my work along. For example, on that jungle trip, I corrected eight pages of the quarto for copy. After the Bible was printed, Dr. Judson made many changes in spelling, and the spelling of the Bible must be corrected from the dictionary. The whole must also be newly punctuated, and Dr. Judson's own corrections of the text must be made. When I am away, I leave the work in the hands of the Burman proof-readers, who do their best, and these forms I read only five times. But no form is put to press except when I am here. I will send you the next form with an English word in it, that will tell you where we are. When you receive it, you may comfort yourself with the thought that we are through that Book [Deuteronomy], probably."
India.
Communication from Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., Madanapelle, India, one of our editorial correspondents:
A Brahmin on the Bible.
In 1870, after three years of baffled effort, a lot was obtained in the bazaar street of the native town of Madanapalle, Madras Presidency, India, and a free reading room was erected and opened by the missionary in charge, Rev. J. Chamberlain, M.D., of the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church of America. It was designed to obtain a hold of the educated young men of the place. Well-stocked with newspapers, periodicals and books, and with copies of the Bible in seven different languages on the tables, and with Scriptures, tracts, Christian books and school books for sale, it was thrown open for their use on every week-day and evening, with the exception that on Wednesday evenings there was to be a Biblical lecture, which all were invited to attend.
On each lecture evening a parable, a miracle, a biography, a prophecy, a sermon on Christ, a historical account—as of the creation, deluge, Joseph in Egypt, the exodus, etc.—was taken up and illustrated. While it was endeavored to make the lectures attractive as a literary treat, the bearing of each subject on the gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation was never lost sight of.
From the beginning the room was always crowded on these occasions by intelligent heathen. At the close of one of these Bible lectures by Dr. Chamberlain, a Brahmin—one of the best educated in the place, not a convert—arose and asked permission to say a few words. In a neat address he urged upon his fellow-citizens the importance of availing themselves of the advantages offered for their intellectual and moral advancement, and in conclusion gave the following remarkable testimony to the Christian Scriptures:
"Behold that mango tree on yonder roadside! Its fruit is approaching to ripeness. Bears it that fruit for itself or its own profit? From the moment the first ripe fruits turn their yellow sides towards the morning sun until the last mango is pelted off, it is assailed with showers of sticks and stones from boys and men, and every passer-by, until it stands bereft of leaves, with branches knocked off, bleeding from many a broken twig; and piles of stones underneath, and clubs and sticks lodged in its boughs, are the only trophies of its joyous crop of fruit. Is it discouraged? Does it cease to bear fruit? Does it say, 'If I am barren no one will pelt me, and I shall live in peace?' Not at all. The next season the budding leaves, the beauteous flowers, the tender fruit again appear. Again it is pelted, and broken, and wounded, but goes on bearing, and children's children pelt its branches and enjoy its fruit.
"That is a type of these missionaries. I have watched them well, and have seen what they are. What do they come to this country for? What tempts them to leave their parents, friends and country, and come to this, to them an unhealthy climate? Is it for gain or for profit that they come? Some of us country clerks in Government offices receive more salary than they. Is it for an easy life? See how they work, and then tell me. No; they seek, like the mango tree, to bear fruit for the benefit of others; and this, too, though treated with contumely and abuse from those they are benefiting.
"Now look at this missionary! He came here a few years ago, leaving all, and seeking only our good! He was met with cold looks and suspicious glances, and was shunned, avoided and maligned. He sought to talk with us of what he told us was the matter of most importance in heaven or earth, and we would not listen. But he was not discouraged. He started a dispensary, and we said, 'Let the Pariahs take his medicines, we won't;' but in the times of our sickness and distress and fear, we had to go to him, and he heard us. We complained if he walked through our Brahmin streets; but ere long, when our wives and daughters were in sickness and anguish, we went and begged him to come, even into our inner apartments; and he came, and our wives and daughters now smile upon us in health. Has he made any money by it? Even the cost of the medicines has not been returned to him.
"And now, in spite of our opposition, he has bought this site, and built this beautiful room, and furnished it with the choicest of lore in many languages, and put in it newspapers and periodicals, which were inaccessible to us before, but which help us now to keep up with the world around us, and understand passing events; and he has placed here tables to write on, and chairs to sit on, and lamps for us to read and write by in the evening; and what does he get for all this? Does he make money by this free reading-room? Why, we don't even pay for the lamp-oil consumed by night as we read.
"Now, what is it makes him do all this for us? It is his Bible. I have looked into it a good deal at one time and another, in the different languages I chanced to know. It is just the same in all languages. The Bible—there is nothing to compare with it in all our sacred books for goodness and purity and holiness and love, and for motives of action.
"Where did the English-speaking people get all their intelligence, and energy, and cleverness, and power? It is their Bible that gives it to them. And now they bring it to us and say, 'This is what raised us; take it and raise yourselves.' They do not force it upon us, as the Mohammedans did with their Koran, but they bring it in love, and translate it into our languages, and lay it before us, and say, 'Look at it; read it; examine it, and see if it is not good.' Of one thing I am convinced: do what we will, oppose it as we may, it is the Christians' Bible that will, sooner or later, work the regeneration of this land."
Death of Rev. E. P. Swift.
Rev. G. W. Scott, of the Reformed Presbyterian Mission, India, writes Sept. 17, 1887:
The Rev. Elisha P. Swift died at his residence, Gujranwala, North India, Aug. 16th, 1887. His health began to fail about a year ago, when he had a fall while out in the district. Still he kept on with his duties, whether the weather was hot or cold, wet or dry, realizing that he was approaching the gates of death, preaching as a dying man to dying men. He was taken sick while in the district looking after the Christians he had baptized with his own hands, who were scattered through the towns and villages of western Gujranwala, many hundreds in number; for in some months he baptized as many as three or four hundred persons. His co-laborer, the Rev. J. P. McKee, was with him to the last. About a month before his death he was confined to his house with carbuncles, caused by diabetes, which caused him great pain. Yet he bore all with Christian patience, knowing that the Hand which afflicts is able to heal. His death was a peaceful and quiet one, surrounded by his wife and children, whom he leaves to mourn his loss. His funeral procession was a very large one, attended by several hundreds of people—the majority being from the Hindu and Mohammedan classes. These people, while opposed to Christianity, had learned to love the "man of God," and followed his remains to his last resting place, which is in the Church of England graveyard, close to the city of Gujranwala.
Africa.—Nothing was known of the interior of the Dark Continent until within a few years; now Africa is girdled with Christian missions. Between thirty and forty societies are working there. On the eastern coast the English penetrated to the great lakes, walking over the burning sands a thousand miles on foot, to plant the standard of the Cross. On the Congo River the Baptists of our own country have recently taken charge of the missions founded by Mr. Guinness, and their work is to be pushed into the interior—into the centre of cannibalism. Truly "Ethiopia is stretching out her hands unto God." The island of Madagascar, on the eastern coast of Africa, has been so largely Christianized that the natives of late gave some ten millions of dollars to Christian missions and evangelistic work.
To-day thirty-four missionary societies are at work in Africa, and all its 200,000,000 souls are practically within the reach of Christian missions; thirty-three societies have begun work in China, and all its 350,000,000 souls may be visited with the message of the gospel; more than fifty societies have entered India, and the light is dawning upon its 250,000,000; Turkey and Persia and Japan are filling with mission churches and mission schools; practically, the whole world is open, and the grandest day of opportunity for the kingdom of God that the earth has ever seen has fully dawned. If the cry of the lost nations reached the ear of those young men at Andover, with whom our work began, and would not let them rest, how that selfsame cry, to-day repeated from every people and land, and grown more articulate, must thrill the very heart of Christendom, and command instant and glowing response!—Judson Smith, D.D.
India.—The Church Missionary Intelligencer shows how the British Government and the East India Company were shamed out of their base patronage to Indian idolatry. Sir Peregrine Maitland accepted from the East India Company the office of Commander-in-Chief of the Madras army, and a seat in the Council—an office worth $50,000 a year—only on the condition that he should not be required to have any official connection with the idolatry of the country. He knew how the company had catered to the heathen ceremonies of India, even making large grants for their support. A few days after his arrival in Madras he received from the company's office in London a document sanctioning the appointment and payment of dancing girls in a certain Hindu temple, to which he was expected to affix his signature. He resolved to throw up his lucrative appointment and return to England rather than put his hand to any such scheme. The company declined to excuse Sir Peregrine, and, although comparatively poor, he sacrificed his $50,000 and returned to England. The annual festival of the goddess Yayagathal, the protectress of a part of Madras, was approaching; and the annual ceremony of marrying the East India Company to the image of this goddess was to be performed with great pomp. The goddess was borne in procession around the "black town," and then brought to government headquarters; a high official of the company came out, with a handsome cashmere shawl as a bridal present to the idol, and an ornament to be put around the bride's neck, the latter being used in native marriages in place of a ring, while repeating the words, "With this I thee wed," etc. The East India Company and the idol Yayagathal were thus pronounced husband and wife. Two missionaries in Madras united to caricature the scene. One wrote a minute description, the other with graphic pencil made a telling sketch of the nuptial scene. These were sent home. Bishop Blomfield carried them to the House of Lords, held them up to view, and declared that if the connection between the East India Company and the idol system of India was not abolished, he would send the letter and the cartoon broadcast throughout the land. This was sufficient. The absurdity and degradation were potent. Probably a petition signed by all the missionaries in India would scarcely have been so effective.—The Church.
There were in British India, according to the census of 1881, no less than 207,388 widows under fourteen years of age, and 78,976 of these were under nine. They can no longer legally be burned, but their earthly sufferings are worse than burning. Their widowhood is viewed by all Hindus as the punishment for horrible crimes committed in some previous existence. They are closely confined to the house; forbidden all companionship; confined to one meal a day, which they eat in solitude; obliged to conceal themselves in the morning, lest the sight of them bring bad fortune on the beholder; cursed, abhorred, suspected of every crime—and all this for life. Yet the doom of these innocent children is only the door-mat theory brought to its completeness. Because there is no one man living who has the right to tread them under his feet, they are trodden under feet of all.—Harper's Bazar.
There are in India 135,000 lepers—men, women and children—victims of the most terrible disease known to humanity. This society seeks to proclaim to them the blessed gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and, as far as possible, to relieve their dreadful sufferings, and provide for their simple wants.—Mission to Lepers in India.
At Lucknow, where so many were murdered during the Sepoy rebellion 30 years ago, 2,000 children, nearly all of Hindu Mohammedan parentage, recently marched in a Sunday-school procession. Two men in Dr. Chamberlain's hospital, on leaving for home asked for copies of the Testament read and explained to them while there. Being told that they could not read it, they replied, "When a peddler or tax-man comes around we'll make him read before we buy anything or pay our taxes." Four years after this, Dr. Chamberlain visiting a town some miles away, these men brought their whole village to him to be baptized.—The editor of The Star of India writes to The Independent: "There are no less than 36 missionary societies represented in India, besides ten or more private missions. The English Baptists were the first to enter this field (passing by the early Danish Missionary Society which sent the first Protestant missionaries to India in 1705), and the Disciples of Christ, whose mission dates from 1883, the last. All branches of the Church are represented. Europe and America, Great Britain, the Continent, the United States and Canada—all are here, laboring hand in hand for the uplifting of India. According to the statistical summary for 1885 there were 137,504 communicants representing the fruits of these missions."—In the Imperial Gazetteer of India, Dr. Hunter, Director-General of Statistics to the Government, says Christianity is now the faith of over two millions of the Indian population—a number twelve times as large as that of those who follow the teachings of Buddha. Whereas in 1830 there were only 27,000 native Protestants in all India, Ceylon and Burmah, in 1871 there were 318,363. The Government expends £170,000 per annum in supplying the spiritual wants of the troops and civil service.
Madura. There is worshiped by the natives a deity whose name means "Prince of Darkness." "They sacrifice to devils." The name of the village is "Temple Village," but it is a heathen temple. The ideas of these heathen, and even their language, are degraded by association with idolatry. (Compare "Hawaiian Islands," by Anderson, p. 291.) By religion they understand idol worship. When you tell them of Jesus living and dying 1800 years ago, they say their gods are 18,000,000 years old. When, on outbreak of war, the native disciples heard of the Missionary Board as straitened, they gave their jewels; one man gave a silver chain, worth half a year's savings, and children brought their toe rings and earrings and gave them to the mission treasury.
Revival in the Punjab. A remarkable work of grace is progressing in the English Church mission in Punjab, chiefly in and about Amritsar. Several prominent men, as well as people of low caste, have been reached. About 150 low-caste converts were baptized the previous year, but now the work seems much more extensive. Nothing like it in vigor and growth had ever been seen before in that region. The ingathering of low-caste people is affecting the Hindus, Sikhs, and the Mohammedans, and several of these higher classes have been reached. The missionary at Amritsar writes of the remarkable interest manifested in the simple story of the gospel: "Our compound resounds from morning to night with voices repeating to each other the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Creed, with bhajhans and bits of the Gospels." Much of this is the result of medical missions.
Japan.—English Books in Japan. The great spread of instruction in the English language in Japan has led to a great demand for English books. Over 85,000 English books of all classes were imported last year, as against 40,000 in 1885. The import of American books increased from 59,000 in 1885 to 119,000 in 1886. Sir F. R. Plunkett, British Consul at Tokio, remarks upon this: "An argument against a large import of educational works has hitherto existed in the fact that foreigners have no claim to the protection of the Japanese copyright, and any work that gained extensive popularity was sure to be pirated by Japanese publishers, and cheap editions of it issued that could be profitably sold at far less cost than the imported originals. This difficulty has been and can be got over by the co-operation of Japanese booksellers, and in this way not only is the benefit of copyright obtained, but the books are sold at lower prices than were formerly obtained for them by European booksellers in Japan." A large demand during the year for printing paper is traced principally to the publication of numerous translations of English works on law, political economy, history, and other educational subjects.—London Globe.
Japanese on Hawaii. The number of Japanese who have emigrated to Hawaii within two years is 2,859. Only about 100 of them have returned to Japan, and about the same number have died.
Greek and Roman Catholic Missions. The following statements respecting these missions are by Rev. J. Hartzler: "Bishop Nicolai furnished the statistics of the Greek Mission in Japan for 1886, as follows: Bishops, 1; foreign priests, 3; native priests, 11; deacons, 2; theological students, 104; whole number of native members, including baptized infants, 22,546. The Roman Catholic Mission in Japan reports: Bishops, 2; missionaries (all French), 59; native priests, 3; churches and chapels, 100; theological seminaries, 2; theological students, 72; catechists, 284; schools and orphan asylums, 69; pupils in the same, 3,340; total native membership, 32,294."
The Bible. The Bible is to-day translated, either wholly or in part, into 287 languages and dialects, including all that are widely spoken; so that the message of salvation from the printed page may reach nine-tenths of the entire population of the globe. The adherents of the religion of Jesus Christ to-day outnumber the followers of any other faith in the world. Christian missions number more than 2,000,000 adherents on heathen soil, and at the present rate of increase will include 20,000,000 before this century closes. Obstacles are not all overcome; the hardships and perils and heroisms of the work are not all past; Christian faith still finds itself often tried and courage is put well to the test, and checks and defeats enough attend the work to prove that the evil spirits of hate and murder are not yet exorcised: that still "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."—Judson Smith, D.D.
Increase of Protestantism. So extensive have been the defections from the established Greek Church in Southern Russia that the Holy Synod have appointed a commission to investigate the matter. This commission has now reported, acknowledging that these defections are great, and accusing their own clergy for their failure to discharge their clerical functions. The remedy for what they deplore seems to them to be greater zeal in attendance upon church services, more preaching, and more attention to church music. This report is substantial evidence of the power of Protestantism; and even the effort to withstand this new movement is very likely to help forward a needed reformation in the Greek Church.
Spiritual Progress in Persia.—The Church at Home and Abroad has an intensely interesting report of what has occurred in Persia within the last two years. This was the field of the old Nestorian Mission of the American Board, and is very dear to us still. A year ago it was reported that a larger number had been received to the church within the twelve months than during any former year. During the last winter more converts were won than in any of the first twenty-five years of the mission, though that period was marked by some memorable revivals. In Western Persia there are now 1,932 church members, in place of 713 fifteen years ago. During the revival which followed the Week of Prayer, the number of inquirers was over five hundred. This revival was conducted wholly by native pastors. Of the seventy-nine students in the college at Ooroomiah, seventy are followers of Christ. The western mission has ninety-four village schools, with over two hundred scholars. Dr. Labaree reports that the Moslems of Persia are more accessible than those of any other land. They are receiving large editions of the Bible, and those who have accepted Christianity, though a small company, have shown remarkable steadfastness and zeal.
An Egyptian papyrus, forty-two feet long and containing all the chapters of the "Book of the Dead," has been received and unrolled at the Sage Library, in New Brunswick, N. J. It was secured for the library by Rev. Dr. Lansing, a well-known missionary in Egypt. Experts pronounce it to have been written nearly 3,000 years ago.
The Bible in the Last Fifty Years.—The last anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society falling in the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign, the speakers naturally reviewed the progress of the Bible cause during the last half century, and made some striking comparisons. The Earl of Harrowby, President of the Society, said:
"Fifty years ago our receipts were £100,000; now they are nearly £225,000. Fifty years ago the Auxiliary Societies amounted at home to 2,370; now they are over 5,300. Abroad you had 260 auxiliaries and branches fifty years ago; now 1,500. Fifty years ago the annual issue of the Bible and portions of it from this Society was 600,000; now it is about 4,000,000. The cheapest copy of the book, half a century back, was issued at about two shillings; now the price is sixpence. The cheapest Testament then was tenpence; the cheapest now is Lord Shaftesbury's, and the price is a penny. And that is not done by any grinding of the people who produce these works. One of the first questions I asked when I had the honor of being called to occupy this chair was, how were the workpeople treated who manufactured the cheap Bibles; and by the testimony, not only of ourselves but of the outside press, I have assured myself that there is neither overwork nor underpay. Fifty years ago the Scriptures were circulated in 136 languages; now they are circulated in 280. Fifty years ago fourteen fresh languages of Europe had been honored by Bible publication. Now the Bible has been published in twelve fresh languages in Central Asia and Siberia, twelve in India, fourteen in China and Mongolia, nineteen in the Pacific, thirty in Africa and thirty in America. In this fiftieth year of the Queen's reign there is only one great language which has not a complete translation of the Scriptures, namely, the Japanese language."
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
IV. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION."
FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION.
The International Missionary Union is an organization composed of returned missionaries of all Evangelical churches, whether at home temporarily or permanently. It seeks to promote mutual sympathy and co-operation of missionaries in their work, and holds annual meetings for the discussion of important questions connected with the work and the diffusion of missionary intelligence. The fourth annual meeting was held Aug. 10-17, at Thousand Island Park, the entire body of missionaries being entertained without cost by the Thousand Island Park Association. The forenoons were devoted to business, covering discussion of methods and recommendation of measures calculated to increase missionary efficiency. The afternoons consisted largely of presentation of incidents, statistics and facts bearing on specific topics of missionary interest, while the evenings were given to more formal platform addresses.
The "Seventy" missionaries present were as follows:
From India: Miss Dr. M. A. Anderson, Congregational Church; Rev. and Mrs. Chandler, Congregational; Miss M. J. Frith, Canada Baptist; Miss E. Gibson, Methodist Episcopal; Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Gracey, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. A. Hazen, Congregational; Rev. G. J. Martz, Evangelical Lutheran; Mrs. Rev. G. H. McGrew, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. James Mudge, Methodist Episcopal; Mrs. Stella Nichols, Evangelical Lutheran; Rev. C. W. Park, Congregational; Rev. Dr. J. L. Phillips, Free-will Baptist; Rev. D. W. Thomas, Methodist Episcopal.
From Turkey: Rev. Dr. H. M. Barnum, Congregational; Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, Congregational; Rev. L. O. Lee, Congregational; Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Leonard, Congregational.
From Bulgaria: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Belden, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. D. C. Challis, Methodist Episcopal.
From China: Mrs. Mary D. Culbertson, Presbyterian; Rev. J. G. Fagg, Reformed; Rev. Benj. Helm, Southern Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. Spencer Lewis, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. John Murray, Presbyterian; Rev. Dr. Speer, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. C. A. Stanley, Congregational; Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Stuart, Southern Presbyterian.
From Assam: Rev. M. B. Comfort, Baptist; Rev. T. J. Stoddart, Baptist.
From Italy: Rev. Dr. Cushing, Methodist Episcopal.
From Jamaica: Rev. Dr. Douglass, Canada Methodist.
From Japan: Rev. and Mrs. W. C. Davidson, Methodist Episcopal; Miss Julia Gulick, Congregational; Rev. Dr. D. McDonald, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. J. M. McCauley, Presbyterian; Rev. J. H. Pettee.
From Siam: Rev. Dr. Wm. Dean, Baptist; Rev. and Mrs. Dr. S. R. House, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. Lisle, Baptist; Rev. Dr. S. Mattoon, Presbyterian; Rev. J. Wilson, Presbyterian.
From Germany: Bishop and Mrs. J. F. Hurst, Methodist Episcopal.
From Mexico: Miss L. M. Latimer, Methodist Episcopal.
From Burmah: Rev. and Mrs. C. A. Nichols, Baptist.
From Ceylon: Rev. and Mrs. T. S. Smith, Congregational.
Missionaries to North American Indians: Rev. and Mrs. Egerton R. Young, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. Dr. Geo. Young, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. E. Arnold, Methodist Episcopal.
Persons under appointment to foreign fields: Rev. H. F. Laflamme, Canada Baptist, India; Rev. J. F. Smith, Canada Presbyterian, China; Rev. J. P. McNaughton, Canada Presbyterian, Turkey; Miss Dr. May Carlton and Miss E. J. Hinckle, both to be sent to China this autumn under the auspices of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Thirteen mission countries were thus represented, besides which one native of Armenia, one of Japan, and a Karen took part in the exercises. Missionaries from Saskatchewan and Ceylon clasped hands in the fellowship of a common cause. Veteran and volunteer inspired, either the other. The utterances of Dr. Dean were rendered weighty by the fifty-three years of self-sacrifice and toil behind them. His address on "The Translation of the Scriptures into Chinese," will be found on another page in this Department.
Dr. Leonard had preached in Tarsus, Iconium and Cappadocia. Miss Gulick of Japan was born of missionary parents in Honolulu. Mrs. McGrew of India was born on mission soil in Buenos Ayres. Rev. Dr. Phillips and Rev. Mr. Smith of Ceylon claimed India as their native land, being of the second generation of missionaries.
Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, after more than forty years of missionary service, and with the weight of seventy years upon him, intellectually demonstrated that his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated. He was appointed by the A. B. C. F. M. to Constantinople in 1837, and was the father of Robert College. The manner in which he secured for the erection of this College the most desirable of all the sites commanding the view of the Bosphorus, makes a story of thrilling interest, and gives him the highest rank for diplomacy. For seven years he held on to a pledge of Ali Pasha, who, under the influence of a protest from the French Ambassador, crowded on by the head of the Jesuits, and a like protest from the Ambassador of Russia, goaded on by the Patriarch of the Greek Church, was openly declaring that it was not possible for the pledge to be redeemed; because the property was so related to that of these powers, that the college could not be erected on that commanding site. But notwithstanding all this, he held his position, until at the end of seven years he received a note from Ali Pasha saying, "You may begin the erection of your college as soon as you please." He had outdone the diplomacy of the head of the Jesuits and the French Ambassador, as well as of the Greek Patriarch and the Ambassador of Russia, and had secured from the Sultan himself by Imperial Volition a permit to build the college. This was infallible, and neither Ali Pasha nor any one else would dare call it in question. But this was not all. An order was given to allow all the material brought from England and France to enter duty free.
Here were men and women who had hazarded their lives for the Lord Jesus. The "beloved physician," Dr. S. M. House, had been gored by an elephant; Jonathan Wilson, a pioneer to the Laos mission, was imperilled, when his converts were slain by royal order. The younger brother and sister Lewis, of far Western China, had faced the fury of a Chinese mob that plundered and destroyed their chapel and their home, compelling them and their colleagues to set off in native boats on a 1,500 mile journey down the great Yang-tse-kiang to the sea. Here were those whose hearts had been kept from fear when 2,000 in a day were dying of cholera in the capital city of Siam, where they lived; men who had given bread to the famishing thousands in North China, saving many lives at the risk of their own; those who had ministered to the lepers and outcasts of India. Some had lived with the savage Santals in their jungle homes, and with the red men of our continent in their wigwams. Others, on their mission-preaching tours, had traveled in wheelbarrows, in sledges drawn by dogs, in palankeens, in jinrikshas, in birch-bark canoes, on elephants, on camels, and hundreds of miles on snow-shoes. One member had been speared by Malay pirates, and another, like Paul, had been shipwrecked and cast ashore on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. But whatever else had been their experiences or deliverances, all could speak of the blessedness of the Master's service, and of souls once without God and without hope turned from darkness to light and rejoicing in the Saviour they had found.
THE THEMES DISCUSSED.
"The place of higher education in mission work" was presented by Rev. Mr. Smith of Ceylon, who gave an interesting account of the development of the educational work of the American Board in that island. The prevailing view seemed to be that when there appeared to be a general desire among people for higher education the missionary should endeavor to meet it with Christian schools, where English should be taught, if desired. Astonishing statements were made of the eagerness among many to learn English. On "The voluntary desire of the heathen for the Gospel," and "Remarkable instances of Divine grace, as manifested in the lives of converts from heathenism," there were narrated incidents drawn from personal experience and observation of so valuable a nature, it is a pity they could not have been preserved in a permanent form. So great was the interest in some of these topics that the discussions were prolonged several hours. Even then not a tithe of the important questions was so much as touched upon. Bro. Davidson, of Japan, gave a vivid sketch of the wonderful revival which recently swept over that empire. He hoped that in fifteen years Japan will be Christian. Turkey, partially dismembered, was served one evening. Dr. Barnum, speaking of eastern Turkey, said that there was the cradle of the race. "The cradle does not need rocking, for the people are all asleep." "We jog the cradle now and then, and the occupants are beginning to open their eyes and yawn." Bro. Challis, of the Methodist mission in Bulgaria, told something of the outlook in that country. He compared the people, with their liberty-loving spirit, to Americans, and expressed firm faith that, in spite of the designs of Russia, God would overrule to give them independence and freedom.
One evening was given to addresses by missionary ladies on different phases of woman's work, and a special woman's meeting was held one afternoon. On Sabbath morning the large tabernacle was filled, when Bishop Hurst preached an excellent and inspiring sermon from "Whoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed," etc. The "mountain" was heathendom, and "whoever" was the Church, which should remove it by the power of faith. The theme was "God's day our day for the salvation of the world." The audience numbered over three thousand. The bishop also delivered, one afternoon, his excellent lecture on "Protestantism in Mexico." At the children's meeting on Sabbath afternoon there were several short and spicy talks and an exhibition of curiosities, singing in a dozen or more languages, and presentation of natives of foreign mission fields who were in attendance.
TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES INTO CHINESE.
BY REV. WILLIAM DEAN, D.D.
THE entire Bible was first translated into Chinese at Serampore by Joshua Marshman, D.D., in 1807-8, with the aid of Joannes Lassar, an Armenian, born at Macao, who was a good Chinese scholar. Dr. Marshman went out to India under the patronage of the Baptist Missionary Society of England. He was born in Wiltshire 1768, sailed for India 1799, and died at Serampore 1837, at the age of 69, having had 38 years for missionary work.
A similar translation of the entire Scriptures was made at Macao and Canton by Robert Morrison, D.D., who went to China in 1807, under the patronage of the London Missionary Society, and died at Canton 1834, at the age of 52, having 27 years of mission work in China. In addition to the Scriptures, the Chinese dictionary of Kang Hi was translated into English by him, in six quarto volumes—a great and important work, to aid subsequent missionaries in the acquisition of the Chinese language.
In Morrison's version of the Scriptures, William Milne, D.D., translated the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and Job.
Dr. Milne was born in Scotland, 1785, went to China in 1813, under the patronage of the London Missionary Society, and died 1822, at the age of 37, after nine years in the China Mission. During these few years he acquired a good knowledge of the language, had the superintendency of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, performed an important part in the translation of the Scriptures, and prepared some of the best Christian tracts we have in Chinese.
He is the man who (before the committee), when asked if he would be willing to go out as an assistant to the mission, replied, "I would be willing to be a hewer of wood or a drawer of water to help to build the Lord's house;" and perhaps no man ever did so much in so short a time for the Chinese mission as William Milne, the little Scotchman.
Another translation of the Scriptures into Chinese was made by Walter H. Medhurst, D.D., and his associates, which was called the Shang Ti mission. Dr. Medhurst went out as a missionary printer, under the London Mission Society, and became a prominent preacher and writer in Chinese. He was born in London, 1796, went out, in 1816, worked efficiently 40 years for the Chinese in Batavia and China, and died on landing in England, 1856, aged 61 years.
Another version was made by Charles Gutzlaff, D.D., born at Pyritz, in Prussian Pomerania, 1803, went out under the appointment of the Netherlands Missionary Society in 1826, landed at Batavia, visited Rhio, Singapore, Siam, and finally became Chinese Secretary to the English Government of Hong Kong, where he died in 1851, at the age of 48 years.
He was a man of portly form, quick motion, rapid speech, possessed a practical knowledge of various European languages, and a ready use of the Chinese colloquial and written language for missionary work and political purposes. His hasty action was not always promotive of the nicest accuracy, and his multitudinous labors did not allow of the most finished completeness in all.
Another version of the entire Scriptures in Chinese was made by Elijah C. Bridgman, D.D., Walter M. Lowrie and M. S. Culbertson, completed at Shanghai, which uses the term Shin for rendering the words Elohim and Theos. This, in most cases, has been a distinguishing mark between the versions made by the English and American missionaries. The former mostly use Shang Ti and the latter use Shin as the term for God.
Dr. Bridgman was born in Belchertown, Mass., 1801, and went out under the American Board to China, 1830; he died at Shanghai in 1861, aged 60 years; 31 years were spent in China, and he was the first representative of the A. B. C. F. M. Society in their mission to China, and to the end was a faithful and honored missionary. Dr. Culbertson went to China in 1844, finished the translation of that version, and died the day before they commenced printing it. He went up suddenly like Elijah in the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. One of his associates reported his departure by saying, "A translator translated." Josiah Goddard made an excellent translation of the New Testament in Chinese—some think the best extant—with some portions of the Old Testament also. His mission work began with the Chinese in Siam, and ended at Ningpo, China. Dr. Goddard was born at Wendell, Mass., 1813, graduated, the first in his class, at Brown University in 1835, graduated at Newton in 1838, sailed for the East the same year under the patronage of the American Baptist Board, spent a year at Singapore in the study of Chinese, landed at Bankok in 1840, removed to Ningpo in 1848, where he died in 1854, at the age of 41, after 16 years of efficient missionary service, in translating the Scriptures and preaching the gospel to the Chinese. Some may have labored longer to do less work. Men's lives are measured, not by the years they live, but by the work they do.
William Dean published two editions of the New Testament and one edition of the Pentateuch in Chinese, with a commentary on Matthew and Mark, Genesis and Exodus. Dr. Dean was born at Eaton, N. Y., in 1807, sailed for China in 1834, labored for the Chinese in Siam till 1842, when he removed to Hong Kong; returned to Bankok in 1864, and ended his missionary work in 1887, at the age of 80. He was 50 years in the service.
In 1843 a Convention of missionaries assembled at Hong Kong, to consult with reference to a new translation of the Scriptures in Chinese. There were present Medhurst, Dyer, and Stronach, of the London Society; Bridgman, Ball and Bonney, of the American Board; Dean, Shuck and Roberts, of the American Baptist Board; Bishop Boone, of the Episcopal Mission, with others, who spent days of prayerful endeavor to harmonize on some general plan of Scripture translation.
First there was a want of agreement on the proposition to make the Textus Receptus the model of a new version. Some thought we should make the original Hebrew and Greek the standard for a new translation in Chinese. Then came up a question regarding the rendering of the terms θεος, επισκοπος, βαπτισμα, on which there was a want of harmony of sentiment, so that it proved necessary to divide the Convention into classes, or for each one to go on in his own way, and look to God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead him to understand the meaning of the original text, and call in the help of native scholars to aid him to express it in idiomatic Chinese. In this way a number of versions, in a variety of style, have been prepared, and some portions of the Scripture have been made to harmonize with the Mandarin and the colloquial of the local dialects, and some have been Romanized, or the sounds expressed in Roman letters as used in English words, and the Chinese women taught to read them easier than to learn to read the complicated and multitudinous characters of the Chinese written language. One objection to this mode of learning to read is found in the fact, that learning to read Chinese in this way would limit the reader to one dialect or province, whereas learning to read in the Chinese way, prepares one to read in Chinese in every province, or wherever the Chinese language is written, as in Cochin China, Japan, and all over the world, where you find a Chinaman who can read his own language; the form and signification of the written character is the same, however the spoken dialect may differ.
In preparing the various translations of Scripture into Chinese, other persons, whose names are not mentioned above, have rendered important aid. Such men as J. R. Morrison, Chinese Secretary to the English Commissioner and the Government of Hong Kong; G. T. Lay, Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and various other missionaries, such as David Abeel, James Legge, Walter Lowrie, George Smith Bishop of Victoria, and, indeed, all missionaries to the Chinese, may have contributed, in some measure, to aid in giving the written word of God to the people for whom they labored orally, and all translators have depended upon Chinese scholars for the idiom and style of the language by which the idea is expressed.
LIQUOR ON THE CONGO.
AMONGST the resolutions of the Missionary Union none deserves more persistent and prominent advocacy than that relating to the International sanction of the introduction of Rum into the Congo Free State. The extension of European Colonial possessions and protectorates in Africa means a fearful extension of the use of intoxicants in the Dark Continent. We are assured, besides, that the article furnished for the Congo is a specially vile compound prepared for that market. A representative committee of missionary societies laboring in Africa have published a pamphlet entitled "The Liquor Traffic and Native Races," to be had of the secretaries of these societies. The Bishop of London presided over a meeting in London last spring which condemned the traffic and the government protection it has received. A meeting of members of the House of Commons, held to consider the subject, resulted in the expression of their readiness to aid in suppressing this trade and of the sanction the governments give it. Public meetings have been held in Manchester and Cambridge with like result. Bishops and Archbishops, and leading men like Canon Farrar, have entered the arena to oppose this great evil, which blasts the progress of civilization and missions, and hinders the elevation of the people. Archbishop Johnson, a Negro of Lagos, west coast of Africa, and member of the Legislative Council, is appealing to Africans to circulate petitions all along the coast, and the king of Belgium, with other prominent persons, encourages this West African remonstrance to the trade. It is high time the voice of the people of America was heard on this subject. The missionary societies might very properly take the initiative in a public meeting in Boston or New York. A remonstrance should be sent to our own government, that it may feel the force of public sentiment in the case. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishop of London, have addressed the following letter to the Bishops of the British Colonies and dependencies:
"My Lord: The attention of the Church has been recently drawn to the widespread and still growing evils caused by the introduction of intoxicating liquors among the native races in the colonies and dependencies of the British Empire, and in other countries to which British trade has access. Part of the mischief is certainly due to other traders than the British, but British trade, as exceeding in volume that of many other countries put together, is mainly responsible. This mischief cannot be measured by what we witness among our own countrymen. The intemperance is far greater; the evils consequent on intemperance are far worse. Uncivilized people are weaker to resist, and are utterly unable to control temptations of this kind. The accounts given of the numbers that perish from this cause and of the misery and degradation of those who survive are painful in the extreme. And besides the grievous wrong thus inflicted on the native races, reproach has been brought on the name of Christ. The English missionary who preaches the gospel, and the English merchant who brings the fatal temptation, are inevitably associated in the minds of the heathen people, and by many not only associated, but identified. It is asserted by travelers of repute that in many parts of the world the moral character of the natives gains more by the preaching of Mohammedanism than by the preaching of the gospel, for the former tends to make them sober.
"The evils of intemperance in the British islands have, as you are well aware, long engaged the attention of the Church at home. The report of the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury in 1869, and that of the Province of York in 1873, in each of which a large mass of evidence from every class of society was got together, had a painful effect on the public mind at the time, and they have served as trustworthy manuals on the subject ever since. The formation of the Church of England Temperance Society has organized and concentrated the efforts of those Churchmen who have been deeply impressed with the necessity of combating intemperance, and that society is daily growing in numbers and in influence. Owing to these and similar endeavors made by both Churchmen and Nonconformists, drunkenness has been and is still being diminished in these islands, and there is every reason to believe that before long public opinion will demand of the Legislature that steps should be taken to remove, wholly or partially, the temptations which now make it so difficult for weak men to lead sober lives.
"It is not for us nor for the bishops at home to suggest to your lordship or your clergy the best means for dealing with similar evils in our colonies and dependencies, and in the heathen countries in your own parts of the world. But we have felt it our duty to bring to your notice the painful accounts that have reached us, and to assure you of our warmest and most earnest sympathy with any efforts that you may see fit to make to deal with the serious difficulty. You may have the means of influencing your Legislature; you may do much to form public opinion; you can at least make it plain to all men that the Church is not, and never can be, indifferent to this great sin. In whatever you may be able to do in this matter you may be assured that the Bishops at home are supporting your action with their earnest prayers, and, where co-operation is found possible, with their most hearty co-operation."—EDWARD CANTAUR, W. EBOR, F. LONDIN.
A GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE IN LONDON IN 1888.
IN October, 1878, a General Conference on Foreign Missions was held in London. Upwards of 150 members represented nearly 40 distinct missions. Six American missionary societies were represented in the number. Much information was elicited, and considerable missionary stimulus was given.
Arrangements have been begun for the holding of another such conference in London, in 1888. Forty European Missionary Agencies are represented in the call, and the American societies are to be invited to send delegates. The Committee say that they "are most solemnly impressed with the conviction that there has never been a time, since the days of the apostles, when it was of more urgent importance than it is now, that all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity should labor 'in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace,' in order that 'the gospel of the kingdom of God' may be carried out into all the world and preached 'unto every creature.' They, therefore, entreat that earnest and continued prayer may be offered unto God by His people, that it may please Him in all things to direct their efforts, as a Committee, on behalf of the proposed Conference, and eventually to grant such an outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon its meetings, that His cause shall mightily prosper, and His name be exceedingly glorified in the ingathering of great multitudes in every part of the earth, into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus Christ."
The Committee have classified the ends aimed at under three heads, viz.:
1st. To turn to account the experience of the past for the improvement of the methods of Missionary enterprise in the foreign field.
2d. To utilize acquired experience for the improvement of the methods for the home management of Foreign Missions.
3d. To seek the more entire consecration of the Church of God, in all its members, to the great work committed to it by the Lord.
The following Topics have been suggested for consideration, subject to modification:
I. MODES OF OPERATION IN THE FOREIGN FIELD.
1st. Self-Support and Self-Government in Native Churches.
2d. How to Educate Native Evangelists and Pastors, and to stimulate the higher life and enthusiasm of converts for the conversion of the heathen.
3d. How to adapt Missionary methods to the different states of Civilization or Barbarism among heathen nations: (a) Education. (b) Woman's Work. (c) Medical Missions, etc.
4th. How to adapt Missionary methods to the different forms of Religion among non-Christian peoples; especially those having sacred books.
5th. The providing of Christian literature for Converts in all parts of the Mission Field.
6th. The proper treatment of such questions as Polygamy, Slavery, Caste, the Marriage of Infants and of Widows, etc.
II. METHODS OF MANAGEMENT AT HOME.
1st. Comity of Missions, or their relation to one another and to their respective spheres of labor; and the apportioning unoccupied fields to different Societies.
2d. The Choice and Training of Missionaries with reference to different spheres of labor.
3d. The nature and extent of the Control to be exercised over Missions by Committees or Churches at home.
4th. Support of Missions, and Finance.
III. THE MUTUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND MISSIONS.
1st. The reflex influence of Foreign Missions on Home Evangelization and Church life.
2d. The duty of Christians, in their personal and collective capacity, to obey the Lord's command to "make disciples of all nations."
IV. A POPULAR SURVEY OF THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS AND OF THE GREAT WORK WHICH REMAINS TO BE DONE IN "THE DARK PLACES OF THE EARTH."
V. THE CONSECRATION OF COMMERCE.
The Rev. James Johnston, F.S.S., has been appointed Organizing Secretary of this Conference, and has, by request of the Committee, come to the United States to secure, if possible, a good representation of the American Societies at the Conference. Dr. Johnston needs no introduction to the American churches. He was appointed to draw up the report of the Imperial Commission on Education in India, and is the author of important pamphlets, amongst which is that entitled "A Century of Protestant Missions, and the Increase of the Heathen during the Hundred Years," which has already run through an edition of several thousands. Mr. Johnston can be addressed care of Dr. Gilman, Bible House, New York.
Amongst the subjects discussed was "Methods of arousing interest in Missions among Home Churches." Rev. W. H. Belden opened this discussion with a valuable paper on "Simultaneous Missionary Meetings," and Dr. Spear spoke on "The Consecration of Wealth."
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
President, Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., Buffalo, N. Y. Vice-Presidents: Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., Rev. S. L. Baldwin, D.D., Rev. S. H. Kellogg, D.D. Secretary, Rev. C. W. Park, Birmingham, Conn. Treasurer, Rev. W. H. Belden, Bridgeton, N. J. Executive Committee: Rev. J. L. Phillips, M.D., Howard, R. I., Rev. E. R. Young, Rev. J. Mudge, Rev. M. B. Comfort, Rev. B. Helm, Rev. H. N. Cobb, D.D., Miss C. H. Daniels, M.D.
The following Resolutions were adopted during the session:
THE STUDENT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT:—Having learned that large numbers of students in the higher institutions of learning in this country and Canada are proposing to devote themselves to the Foreign Missionary work in obedience to the Saviour's last command, we wish to express our gratitude to God for this new proof of His own determination to secure the speedy coming of His kingdom among the nations.
And furthermore we wish to express the profound conviction which we have, that this uprising of laborers greatly emphasizes the responsibility of the churches at home; that it calls upon all who love the Lord to give these candidates for service a large place in their sympathies and prayers; and also to devise liberal things by their contributions, not merely for the support of a large number of new missionaries, but for greatly enlarging the sphere of missionary labor, and for speedily carrying the gospel to every creature. "How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?"
QUEEN VICTORIA'S JUBILEE—Resolved: That the International Missionary Union of different evangelical denominations do offer on this Jubilee year our sincere and hearty congratulations to Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India, on the signal prosperity, extension and glory of her reign. Some of our members saw her ascend her throne, and we would most gratefully acknowledge the great kindness and protection which we have enjoyed from officers of Her Majesty's government in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the islands of the ocean, where we have been called to preach the gospel of Christ. And we do supplicate Almighty God to continue the bestowal of His distinguished mercies upon Her Majesty, Her Royal family, and Her wide extended domain. May grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ be and abide upon Her Majesty forevermore. Amen.
BIBLE TRANSLATION—Resolved: That this Union, having heard from Bishop Hurst of the most interesting races of Indians in Mexico now numbering eight millions, who are an honest, independent race, friendly to Protestantism, and yet who have no translation of God's word, do hereby overture the American Bible Society to take such steps as will lead to the translation and publication of the word of God in the leading dialect of this most interesting race; and that our Secretary forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of said Society.
ON DR. TOURJEE'S OFFER—Resolved: That the International Missionary Union, having heard of the kind offer of Dr. Tourjee, of the New England Conservatory of Music, to furnish free instruction in music to missionary candidates, and believing that both vocal and instrumental music constitute an important auxiliary in all our work among the heathen, cordially recommend to such candidates the special training of the ear and voice with a view to acquiring and improving whatever of native melody they may find in their several fields.
ON LIQUOR ON THE CONGO—Resolved: That as missionaries of the various denominations in the International Missionary Union, we protest against the wicked and disastrous policy of allowing the introduction of intoxicating liquors into the free Congo State, and that we suggest to the secretaries of all missionary societies to exert their combined influence to induce the governing powers to change their policy to one of prohibition.
ON THE OUTLOOK ABROAD—Resolved: That the members of the International Missionary Union returning to their respective fields abroad be constituted an Outlook Committee, and requested to report to the Union, through the officers, movements of promise, signals of danger to missionary interests, and tokens of cheer in foreign lands, thereby increasing the efficiency of this Union and strengthening the bond that binds us together as one in the work and hopes of the Gospel.
PROGRESS AND RESULTS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
V.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS-MONTHLY BULLETIN.
IT is a sign of great good that not one man has yet been asked by the editors to accept a close relation to this REVIEW as editorial correspondent who has not cordially responded in the affirmative. Already we have secured Dr. J. T. Gracey, Dr. Josiah Strong, Rev. D. L. Leonard, Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., of China; Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D.; Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., and Rev. John Forman, of India; Rev. and Prof. Geo. Wm. Knox, of Japan; Rev. Geo. W. Chamberlain, of Brazil; Rev. J. Hudson Taylor and Mr. Reginald Radcliffe, of China Inland Mission, and Rev. H. H. Jessup, D.D., of Syria. We expect to enlarge this list until we shall have at least one competent correspondent in every great missionary land in the world.
The Eighth Annual Convention of the Inter-Seminary Missionary Alliance was held in Alexandria, Va., Oct. 27-30, 1887, and addressed by Rev. J. E. Grammer, D.D., and Rev. F. M. Ellis, D.D., of Baltimore; Rev. Jos. Packard, D.D., of the Theological Seminary; Rev. R. A. Goodwin of Petersburg, Va.; Rev. Wm. E. Griffis, D.D., of Boston; Rev. H. A. Nelson, D.D., and Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., of Philadelphia, and Rev. G. W. Chamberlain of Brazil. Papers of a high order of excellence were also read by Messrs. T. J. Villiers of Rochester, E. R. Chadwick of Bates Seminary, Isaac I. Gorby of Union, Benson Sewall of Bangor, Robert I. Fleming of Garrett, D. A. Murray of Princeton. So earnest, prayerful and consecrated a body of young men is not often brought together. We look for great results.
AFRICA.
—Cairo. The University of El Azhar. Dr. E. W. Blyden differs from Gen. Haig, in thinking the Mohammedans very active in propagation of Islamism among the Nigritian and Soudanic tribes.
—Madagascar. In the capital, Antananarivo, the Protestant school has 2,387 pupils. . . . The Queen recently attended the opening services of two Christian churches at Ambokimanaga. In fourteen years 700 Protestant chapels have been built in Madagascar, making the number now 1,200. There are 8,000 Protestant communicants, and all the churches are self-supporting. In the Protestant school at Antananarivo 2,387 children are in attendance.
The statement made in the Roman Catholic Review that the German government would allow but one missionary society (the R. Cath.) in its East African territory cannot be correct. From three societies seven missionaries have already gone to Zanzibar.
—Soudan. Emin Pasha pleads for British sway over the equatorial provinces of the Soudan. The missionaries unite in the plea. It is thought it would be a death-blow to the slave trade. Stanley's force found E. Pasha on the south shore of Albert Nyanza, and in health.
—Congo Baptist Missions. Rev. T. J. Comber, the courageous, untiring pioneer, so useful and so beloved, who was penetrating toward the interior, died on board the "Lulu Bohlen," while anchored off the Loango.
An Evangelical German East African Missionary Society has just been formed in Berlin, "to preach the German evangelical faith, and prepare the way for the introduction of German civilization into East Africa, where this year only Englishmen and Frenchmen have been at work." Whether the primary object is the advancement of Christianity or of German civilization does not yet appear.
—Professor Stewart, of Liberia, says it is estimated that for every missionary that goes to Africa 70,000 gallons of liquor are sent to that country. Who shall estimate the wretchedness and degradation of an African heathen under the power of rum and tobacco? And what a greed for blood the liquor dealers must have who, not content with killing 70,000 human beings in this country, extend their work of destruction across the sea!—Cent. Presbyterian.
CHINA.
—Nankin. The North China News states that a benevolent gentleman in the United States has subscribed $300,000 for the establishment of a university at Nankin. It is hoped that the amount will be increased by contributions to $500,000. Several missionaries are interested in the undertaking, which promises to be of great advantage to China, and incidentally to the cause of missions in that empire.
—Dr. Happer returns to China, having secured $100,000 for his Christian college, and $5,000 more toward endowment. He finds it hard, however, to get the money subscribed fast enough to go on with the buildings.
—Dr. Williams, after thirty-two years in China, thinks that half a century more of Christian missions will evangelize and even Christianize the Empire. Mr. Burlingame testifies that intelligent men of China put no faith in popular religions; and Dr. Bartlett adds that "this Gibraltar of Pagandom may become its Waterloo."
—A Christian missionary, on entering a new field in China, was kindly received by the Mandarin, who promised to do all in his power to help him. "I have not heard your doctrine," said he, "but I have seen it. I have a servant who was a perfect devil, but since he received your doctrine he is another man, and I can now trust him."
—The New Version of the New Testament prepared by Rev. Griffith Jone, of Hankow, is said to be superior to any other, and it is confidently expected that it will be adopted as a basis of a union version for all China. Such a book will be in a language spoken and understood by three hundred millions of people. Unlike India, China has really but one language, and if once the Bible were satisfactorily translated into that language the result may be something such as the world has never before witnessed. The book has worked wonders before. It will doubtless work wonders again.
—Tientsin. Mrs. Bryson says: "Some little time ago we commenced a special service for women at three o'clock on Sunday afternoons in the rooms used as a class-room for Mrs. King's medical school in Tientsin. We are getting regularly from twenty to thirty women and a large number of girls. The service takes the shape of a Sunday-school, our older and more intelligent members teaching the others. The women seem to be much interested in the service, and I trust that God's blessing will rest upon it."
—The Spirit of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church for October states that "the Chinese Governor of the large island of Formosa, in starting a College, has chosen a missionary to inaugurate and organize the institution. Such a step would have been regarded as a miracle one generation ago."
—"The North China Herald" of Sept. 10 publishes in a letter from Tientsin, where the great statesman of China, Li Hung-chang, has his official residence, the following statement, viz.: "A letter was recently addressed to Mr. Smithers, the American Consul of this place, requesting that he should see H. E. Li Hung-chang in regard to the location of the College which Dr. Happer is laboring to establish at Nankin, and requests His Excellency to memorialize the throne on the subject, giving all the particulars, that the future institution might also have imperial cognizance. As the Chinese are always partial to knowledge and learning, the Viceroy readily assented to the proposal. But he requested that, as the institution was to be founded at Nankin, the parties should address a written petition to the Viceroy at Nankin on the subject, and also present a copy to him, after which they would jointly memorialize the Emperor on the subject."
—In Canton, with its 1,500,000 inhabitants, are now opened fifteen Christian chapels, where the missionaries and the native ministers preach the gospel not on the Sabbath day only, but daily, and from two to four hours each day, to audiences varying from fifty to several hundred. After the sermon, Chinese evangelists continue the services. Free conversations and discussions follow; rooms are at hand for private conferences, and Christian books and tracts are kept in readiness and disposed of in large numbers. The preaching halls are thronged during the hottest months—July, August and September—and from noon until three o'clock—the hottest part of the day. Tens of thousands of visitors to the city have heard the gospel in these chapels and have carried it hundreds of miles into the interior. The missionary encounters these in the most remote places on his inland tours, and sometimes listens with surprise while they repeat the substance of the discourses which they have heard. The dialect used by most of the missionaries, in preaching, is the Pun-ti, or pure Cantonese, by which they have access to twenty millions of people.
FRANCE, in order simply to be prepared to cope with other nations, has within five years built 45,000 school-houses, at a cost of $80,000,000! What might not Christian America and England accomplish for missions, if the opportunity were appreciated! It is said that if a rod 71 inches long represents the income of the Presbyterian Church, one inch would stand for their gifts!
—McAll Mission in Paris. The attendance at the services has increased largely during the past year, although the number of stations remains the same. The McAll Mission Record says: "The missionary schooner 'Annie' having again been placed at the disposal of the Mission, a very interesting campaign was organized on the coasts of Brittany. Of this work Mr. McAll writes in a private letter: 'Brittany, so long supposed to be completely enthralled by Popish teachings, is now evidently open for the proclamation of the Gospel, and the people—a race much resembling the Welsh in many things, as well as origin—are kindly disposed. To them the message of divine love comes as a new and strange discovery, in contrast with the almost idolatrous ritual to which alone they have been accustomed.'"
JAPAN.
—Rev. George Wm. Knox, of Tokio, writes: "In the Tokio First Presbytery, the additions on profession of faith were more than 240 during the six months previous to April 1, an increase of 15 per cent. In the Tokio Second Presbytery over a hundred adults had been baptized. He himself took a trip of 250 miles to the north. At Sendai, the most influential city in the north, the Miyagi Presbytery was organized with five churches. Large meetings were held in the theatre, and most attentive and respectful congregations were present. Similar meetings were held for lectures at three other towns en route, and in all much interest was manifested. Opposition seems to have died away, and the best part of the people unite in saying that Christianity is a necessity for the further development of Japan."
—Tadmor in the Desert, or Palmyra, City of Palms, is a beautiful type of the Church of God among the gentiles, a historic parable of foreign missions. A great stretch of wilderness lay between Jerusalem and Babylon, arid, barren, without rest or food. King Solomon, Prince of Peace, had the pure water from the springs on the high hills conducted along the plains, and made "rivers in the desert," a very Elim for palm trees and springs of water, and called it "the City of Palms." It was a new Jerusalem transported into the wilderness, and making it blossom as a rose, providing a rest and a refreshment for the hungry, thirsty, weary pilgrim. What a figure of what the true Prince of Peace is doing to-day in the wilds of pagan lands!—bringing the streams from celestial springs to turn the deserts of sin into the Palmyra of Pilgrims.
—London Missionary Society. In fifty years the communicants in the missions have increased from 6,615 to 70,561, and the native preachers from 451 to 7,168.
—The Moravians have an important mission on the Moskito Coast, Central America, among a mixed population of Indians, Creoles and Spaniards. Begun in 1849, down to 1881 it had been quite successful, there being at the beginning of that year about a thousand communicants. A great awakening occurred, and all classes were most deeply moved. Bands of Indians at work in the forest, away from the mission stations, were seized by an overpowering conviction of sin, children at the stations knelt and prayed for forgiveness, and an almost universal awakening followed. It seemed to come spontaneously; it continued without special effort of the missionaries, and there was great excitement, which the missionaries labored to subdue as much as possible. The result of the revival was the adding of 1,500 or more to the list of communicants. Tested by time, conversions proved genuine; few have fallen away. A spirit of consecration possesses the older members, and the field of mission work is greatly extended. The natives no longer say that God does not love the poor Indian as he loves the white man, but rejoice in the revival as a special manifestation of God's grace toward them. Not a few heathen and dissolute characters were thoroughly converted and reformed.—Independent.
—The statistics of Presbyterian missions from the report of 1886 show the total number of communicants in the mission churches to be 20,294. This shows a gain during the last decade of nearly 136½ per cent.
—Some statistics appear in a recent issue of the Siglo XIX, of the City of Mexico, which will surprise many who regard an acquaintance with the Spanish language as merely an accomplishment. That it is of great use is proved by the tables submitted and the growth of our commercial relations with Mexico and South America. English is found to be spoken by 87,000,000 of people throughout the world; Spanish by 63,690,000; German by 53,000,000, and French by 43,000,000. Thus Spanish is second in importance, as a commercial language, being the only means of communication with a large percentage of the population of the earth. We must, however, take into account the fact that a larger part of them are of inferior importance to the bulk of the population of the United States, and of the other countries; yet it still holds that a vast extent of territory exists in which nothing but Spanish is spoken.
MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
VI.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
VI.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
THE following letter is from Dr. James L. Phillips, Chaplain State Institutions, Howard, R. I., a medical missionary "from Midnapore, Bengal, India, now at home on furlough, but earnestly hoping to return to his work abroad, in which it has pleased God to grant him 17 years, and very happy years, too."
REV. ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D.:
Dear Brother—I learn that you are to take up and carry on Mr. Wilder's Missionary Review, and I am delighted to know this. From the first number I've read it eagerly, and have done what I could to introduce it to friends in Europe and India. I most earnestly hope that by God's blessing upon your labors it may continue to hold its high place as a thoroughly independent, undenominational, faithful and fearless review of all missionary enterprises, home and foreign. So far as I know, it stands without a peer, in its own special province, in Christendom.
I should like to know the plans for the future conduct of the REVIEW, with a view to getting our pastors to subscribe. Some of our people have been taking it from the first, but hundreds more ought to.
Could you devote space in THE REVIEW to the Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions, which has fallen into sad neglect during these 20 years? I am continually hearing of Congregational and Presbyterian churches—the two churches that observed it most faithfully years ago, when I was a student in this country—that do not even have the Missionary Concert. In this State the Baptists are keeping it up, I think, better than any other church.
My proposition is: Let THE MISSIONARY REVIEW consult with The Gospel in All Lands, and draw up a Programme for the Missionary Concerts of 1888, so that our pastors may have ample time to read up and be ready. As dear Dr. Duff used to say, "the hitch is with the pastors." What an added power we should gain in all our missionary work, at home and abroad, could we establish, and faithfully sustain, in our American churches such a grand CONCERT OF PRAYER, by taking up each month the same general topic, and instructing, interesting and inspiring our congregations with it! I cannot doubt that British Christians would join us in this good movement, for they have held up the monthly concert better than we have in America. Could we not have something like the International Sunday-school lesson—the same verses of Scripture studied in many lands and languages? For months these and kindred thoughts have been revolving in my mind; and the reading of such books as your noble "Crisis of Missions" only adds fuel to the fire already kindled. If there be a work in which sect-lines must more and more disappear, it is this great work of the world's evangelization. Christians must come into close fellowship with Christ, be more loyal to His government by keeping His great and last commission, before the "greater things" he spoke of can appear. Believe me, my dear sir,
Yours, with high esteem and very sincerely,
JAS. L. PHILLIPS.
This letter was followed by another from the editor of Gospel in All Lands:
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 1887.
My Dear Dr. Pierson—I have just learned that you will have charge of the Monthly Concert Department of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. I have been arranging the topics for the Monthly Concerts for 1888 to be treated in Missionary World and Gospel in All Lands, and a letter from Dr. J. L. Phillips urges me to see if Gospel in All Lands and MISSIONARY REVIEW cannot agree on topics for next year. I propose those on the enclosed paper. Several are the same as those adopted by the Presbyterians North and South.
EUGENE R. SMITH.
1888.
January—The World.
February—China.
March—Mexico, Central America.
April—India.
May—Burmah, Siam and Laos.
June—Africa.
July—Islands of the Sea, North American Indians, Chinese and Japanese in America, etc.
August—Italy and Papal Europe.
September—Japan and Korea.
October—Turkey and Persia.
November—South America.
December—Syria.
[The above arrangement will be adopted.—EDITORS.]
THE WORLD FIELD.
IN looking at the great field of missions, we are first of all overwhelmed with its vastness. We talk of continents as covered with the death shade, but how vague are the terms we use.
Let us take Connecticut as the unit of measurement, with its area of 4,700 square miles. It is contained in Dakota 47 times, and Japan is about as large as Dakota. And now we begin to get some definite conception of the Island Empire of the Rising Sun that is just now attracting the attention of the world by changes so radical and revolutionary that the like have never before been seen.
But Japan, large as it is, is very small in comparison with other heathen and pagan lands. Japan could be contained in India 10 times, and even India could be contained nearly three times in China; or, to be more accurate, you might carve out of China two empires like India, and have left enough to make seven more like Japan, or three hundred and thirty like Connecticut. And yet out of Africa you might construct China and two Indias besides!
Next we are impressed with the vastness of the vacancies where as yet no gospel light has shone. Great districts that are themselves empires have never yet been approached by the heralds of the Cross. When Samuel Hebich reached Calicut in 1834, the whole coast from Bombay to Cochin was as yet unoccupied, and looking inland, Bangalore, Bellary, Belgaum were the nearest stations, each between one and two hundred miles distant. When Robert Moffat landed in Africa, in 1817, the greater part of that Continent's interior had never been trodden by a white man's foot. And even as lately as Stanley's passage across the continent, ten years ago this summer, he came out at Banana, at the Congo's mouth, having, since he left Zanzibar, seven thousand miles distant, seen no man who had ever heard the gospel! About the same time two missionaries of the China Inland mission went from Bahmo in Upper Burmah to Chun-King, in China, one thousand miles, without finding one gospel station.
A third thing that impresses us is the wonder-working of God in connection with the history of modern missions. The days of supernatural signs in the church were the days during which the church was one great evangelistic body. When evangelism began to decline, the dark ages came rapidly on; and only since evangelical faith was revived and the church reformed, and so prepared again to take up the work of world-wide missions, have the days of manifest supernatural influence returned. We do not hesitate to say that the history of modern missions is a history of modern miracles—manifest workings of divine power, as convincing in their way and as peculiarly adapted to the present age as any miracles wrought in the days of the apostles. Single men, like Robert Moffat in Africa, Robert Morrison in China, John Williams in the South Seas, Wm. Johnson in Sierra Leone, Zeisberger and Duncan among the Indians, have been permitted to see results that as plainly show the hand of God as when the paralytic took up his bed and walked, or Lazarus came forth in grave-clothes.
A fourth impression is made upon us by the long study of missions, viz., that if a man or woman wants to make the capital of life yield the largest interest, here is an investment worthy the full engrossment of all the aims and powers of manhood and womanhood. To some, a life given to Christ in the great field of foreign missions means a life buried, wasted, thrown away. And it is so, if the standards of the world as to money-making, selfish indulgence, aspiring ambition and worldly emolument are to be taken as the measure of success or failure. But if a higher point of view is once got and held from which to survey life, it is not so.
Follow Moffat in his fifty years of consecrated toil, the apostle of Africa. Not only did he lead the way as an explorer, even for the heroic Livingstone, but he translated the Bible into the Bechuana tongue, dialects of which, varying but little, are spoken over almost the whole of the Dark Continent south of the equator! We have no proof that to any person it was ever given to render into Saxon the whole of the Scriptures. Bede was engaged on "John" when he died; Wickliffe and Coverdale had helpers. But Robert Moffat was permitted to translate the whole word of God into the pagan tongue of South Africa—an achievement which, had he done no other service, puts him among the most distinguished of the world's benefactors.
But Moffat is but one among a host of men and women whose lives have shaped the destiny of whole continents. The quiet work of the preachers and teachers at Beirut is permeating not only Syria but the whole Arabic-speaking world. Bishop Taylor in Africa, leaning only on God, going almost single-handed among the most barbarous tribes, and making the very chiefs tributary to his mission work; Dr. Clough among the Teloogoos, baptizing ten thousand in less than two months, and breaking down caste in his noble schools; Royal G. Wilder, "burying himself" among the heathen, that in thirty years he might preach in 3,000 villages and cities, scatter three million pages of tracts and gather 3,300 boys and girls into Christian schools—these are examples of "wasted life." If so, let our lives be wasted. Such a buried life becomes the seed of a harvest that neither time can measure nor man estimate.
II. SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS.
The first Protestant sermon preached west of the Mississippi was preached by Samuel J. Mills, the father of the American Board. Desiring to get out of this "pinhole," he went abroad. He had before said: "I cannot suffer my influence to be limited by Atlantic, Mississippi, great lakes, or gulf."
Miss Tucker (A. L. O. E.) went to India as a missionary, leaving the field of authorship for the comparatively obscure field of mission work. Judge Tucker, of Futtepoor, was her brother. He served long in India, giving to missions $200 per month. To those who remonstrated as to his liberality, he replied: "Here are 86,000,000 adult population; 5,000 die daily; every day's delay means 5,000 souls!" At the entrance to the station he had four stone tablets erected. On two, the Ten Commandments; on two, John iii: 14-18. After the duties of his office were fulfilled, he preached Jesus. "If every hair were a life," said he, "I would give them all to Him." He fell in 1857, at the hands of the mutineers. On his sitting-room walls were inscribed: "Fear God," "Love your enemies," "Prepare for death."
The gospel is still foolishness to the Greek. He mistakes the twilight of the morning for the twilight of the evening; what light he sees in the gospel he thinks is the last lingering, fading ray of a declining day, instead of the precursor of a splendid noon.
Post-mortem Gifts. "Father was wont, at this season of the year, to look with great anticipation to the great missionary anniversaries. I desire to act as his steward and pay in his behalf his ordinary annual contribution, which I enclose."
"W. E. D."
"SACRIFICE IS GOLD IN HEAVEN."
Bishop William Taylor: "I feel such a yearning in my soul to help the Lord Jesus to convert this world, that I would gladly be multiplied into a thousand workmen, and then live a thousand years to help on this work."
John Wesley loved to scatter every penny above his scanty necessary outlay. In 1782, his income was £361 19s. (about $1,820); of this he spent for clothing some $30, and gave away the entire remainder with his own hands. His book steward the same year, by his directions, gave away $1,185 more. At the end of his days Wesley wrote: "For upwards of 86 years I have kept my accounts exactly. I will not attempt it any longer, being satisfied with the continual conviction that I save all I can and give all I can—that is, all I have. I never put sixpence out at interest since I was born; nor had I ever a hundred pounds together, my own, since I came into this world." He regarded riches as a "necessary evil," a "serious danger."
A very fine article on Foreign Missions may be found in "Appleton's Encyclopedia," from the pen of an eminent writer.
There is needed a far larger recognition on the part of Christians of the duty of a personal instead of a proxy evangelization. "You see the day is past when the Church could say, 'Silver and gold have I none,'" said Innocent IV. complacently to St. Thomas of Aquinum, as he pointed to the masses of treasure which were being carried into the Vatican. "Yes, holy father," was the saint's reply, "and the day is also past when she could say to the paralytic, 'Take up thy bed and walk.'" It is not simply gathered treasure, whether of gold, or of social position, or of culture, which can make the Church able for her duty, disarm distrust of her among all classes, and fill her with power for the compelling of the millennium. It is scattered treasure which will do it. It is as each one of her members does and keeps doing his share and hers of the priestly ministry of personal interest and invitation. Why should you be willing to sit in one corner of your empty pew on Sunday? Why should you not be restless until even from the highways and hedges you have compelled them to come in—shown by divine deed that God's house is for all, and at least done your share toward the disarming of any possible distrust?—Dr. Wayland Hoyt.
It is never safe to make an exception a rule of conduct. One of the best illustrations of this fact was given by the Rev. Dr. Lorimer, during the Minneapolis meetings, in a little dialogue, which, if not veritable, is certainly suggestive. Talking with a man who had professed to be converted, a minister said: "Have you joined the church?" "No; the dying thief did not join the church, and he went to heaven." "Have you talked to your neighbors?" "No; the dying thief did not talk to his neighbors, and he went to heaven." "Have you given anything to missions?" "No; the dying thief never gave anything, and he went to heaven." "Well, my friend, it seems to me the difference is that he was a dying thief, and you are a living thief."
France: The Paris City Mission, started at the time of the Exhibition in 1878, in 1880 fairly commenced work with a staff of three missionaries, subsequently increased to 13. Latterly, funds have failed, and the number has been reduced to six. The income has ranged at different times from $3,200 to $3,600. One-third of this money is raised by pastors and congregations in connection with which the missionaries labor; the rest by private subscription.
India: Bengal.—Ten native young men have responded to the call for missionaries to preach to the Bengali coolies in Fiji.
Ahmednuggur.—It is said that the A. B. C. F. M. is going to establish there a college to train young men in English.
Japan: The first Japanese missionary student to the Basle Mission is Geusi-Igutsi, who was instructed and baptized (John) in China. The missionaries who have had opportunities of closely observing him have great confidence in him.
Korea: There is a call for a woman to work among the native women, and the government will encourage schools, though open preaching of the gospel is yet somewhat restricted.
North American Indians: At the late Indian Conference at Mohawk Lake, it was said that the effect of the recent orders of the Indian Bureau forbidding the use of any other language but English in the native schools would close some twelve to twenty Dakota schools where native teachers are at work. Another order stops the government boarding-school children from coming to Sunday-school! What do such orders mean?
Palestine: The opposition of the Turkish Government to the Mission Schools in Palestine, so far as the education in them of Mohammedan children is concerned, has culminated in an order from Constantinople forbidding the attendance of Moslems altogether; and one father has been thrown into prison for sending his child to a Mission School.
Persia: Persia has had a remarkable spiritual awakening, beginning with the Week of Prayer. The revival extends to several villages. Many lukewarm Christians were greatly revived, and sinners of all grades, young and old, converted. Places of worship have been found too small to accommodate the crowds. Mr. Labaree, of Oroomiah, reported the work still progressing and spreading. In several towns there are from twenty to forty, and even sixty inquirers.
Scotland: Free Church of Scotland sends out 109 missionary workers, of whom 30 are laymen and 30 women.
Syria: Beirut.—Two young men, members of the Senior class in the college, offer themselves to African missions. Dr. Jessup commends them highly. They have taken all the deprivations and difficulties into account, and make no stipulation as to the nature of their work or the amount of their pay. Their familiarity with Arabic would be of great help.
Thibet: The United Brethren have recently established a station at Leh, the chief town of Ladak, or Middle Thibet, a province of Cashmere. Many persons who at Kyelang have been brought to the knowledge of the truth have returned to Leh. Permission to reside there was given to these missionaries by the maharajah, at the request of the Marquis of Ripon. The town is situated in a fine, open valley, surrounded by lofty mountains, and is close upon 11,300 feet above the level of the sea. The winter has been spent here by Mr. and Mrs. Redslob and their family, who, by reason of the climate of this elevated station, have had much sympathy with the ice-bound missionaries of Labrador and Greenland.
III.—MISSIONARY TEXTS AND THEMES.
The field is the world.—Matt. xiii: 38.
1. World-wide extent, and the period, all time.
2. Two kinds of seed, the word and the children of the kingdom.
3. The harvest is to be sure and abundant.—Is. lv: 13.
4. The results will be rapid and marvellous.—Amos ix: 13.
5. All mainly depends on prayer.—Matt. ix: 38.
"Missions, Past and Prospective." In the "Bampton Lectures" by Anthony Grant, 1843, the following is the outline of the argument:
1. The adequacy and tendency of the gospel to gain universal sway. Its adaptation to mankind at large is contrasted with other religions, as adapted to a limited area; there is not one so much better than others as to pay to attempt to propagate it extensively; and when this is done it is only as a defensive measure to prevent decline.
2. The Universality of the Message and tendency to unity. He well says that "The gospel is not to be in all places at all times, nor in all places at one time; but in some place at all times and in all places at some time."
3. Christianity is not a spiritual influence on the soul of man, solely; but rather a spiritual and visible institution in which souls are gathered unto the Lord and nourished unto eternal life. Body, soul and spirit benefited. The gospel is communicated through external and visible system, which is threefold, viz.: 1. The conveyance of spiritual blessings. 2. The education of man as a social being. 3. The perpetuating and propagating of truth.
The New Testament contemplates both voluntary and commissioned agents for preaching, combining the authoritative teaching of the Church with that of the written Word of God.
Preaching, teaching, living, are to go together: Non magna loquimur, sed vivimus.
"There is no question as to whether or not missions are binding upon Christians. Missionary effort is not a matter of choice but of obligation. Indeed, it is as much an obligation as baptism or the Lord's Supper. Christ gave very few detailed instructions for the guidance of his Church. He left her policy to be shaped by the Holy Spirit. But one definite injunction He did give, and that his last as the risen Saviour: "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This is not merely a commission for baptism. It is the outline of a policy—the missionary policy of the Church. It presents to us a command, a duty, a statement of the principal object of the Church's existence; with the encouraging promise, in view of the immense obligation, of power commensurate with the task—"Lo, I am with you alway." Missions are not optional. "Make disciples of all nations," is as binding as "This do in remembrance of me."
The Chinese are proverbially dull when first reached by the story of the gospel. Yet one woman in Shanse, though a cripple, came a long distance for a second visit to the missionary, and when asked what she remembered from the previous Sunday's talk, replied: "I am old, and my head is thick, and I have no memory. I only remember two things: That God is my Father in heaven, and that his Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins."
STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS
VII.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.
British Contributions to Missions in 1885. Rev. W. H. Scott Robertson has summarized and analyzed them as follows: Grand total, including dividends, interest and rents, $7,936,870, an advance over 1884 of $71,990. He includes Roman Catholic contributions, $33,440. It appears from his tables that the Christian world raises over $11,000,000 a year for Protestant Missions, while Romish Foreign Missions receive but $1,325,850, little over one-eighth of that sum. (Missionary Review, Feb., 1887.)
—While the Church of England in 25 years has spent on Foreign Missions $50,000,000, seven times that amount has been spent on Home enlargements, improvements, etc. From a careful examination of the statistics of Christian Missions, the Quarterly Review states that during eight years the ordained missionaries from Protestant Christendom have increased fifty per cent., and the total income seventy per cent.
—Foreign Missions in 1885-1886, as reported in Wilder's Statistical Tables:
| No. of Societies |
102 |
| European Ministers |
40,371 |
| American " |
83,420 |
| Total |
123,791 |
| Year's gain |
1,703 |
| Home Communicants (Europe) |
16,934,077 |
| " (Am.) |
11,856,134 |
| Total |
28,790,211 |
| Year's gain |
53,564 |
| Year's growth in Communicants |
386,958 |
| Less than last year by |
51,772 |
| Foreign Miss. Income |
$10,297,238 |
| Year's loss |
74,463 |
| Whole cost of administration |
830,000 |
| Year's increase |
21,355 |
| Per cent. of income |
8.78 |
| Increase in percentage |
.98 |
| Workers from Christendom (ordained) |
3,035 |
| Year's gain |
60 |
| Workers (laymen) |
1,167 |
| Increase |
435 |
| Workers (women) |
2,444 |
| Increase |
24 |
| Total workers from Christendom |
6,647 |
| Native workers (ordained) |
3,307 |
| " (not ordained) |
30,293 |
| Year's increase of native workers |
1,890 |
| Total No. of workers |
40,246 |
| Native communicants |
950,162 |
| Year's increase |
148,134 |
| Per cent. of increase |
18.74 |
These tables, of course, only approximate the truth. But some things in them are noteworthy. 1. The year's growth in communicants at home was nearly 52,000 less than the previous years (1884-5), and only 1.35 per cent.; abroad it was nearly 150,000, and nearly 19 per cent.
2. The total of workers has risen from 37,837 to 40,246, but still all Christendom sends but 6,647, while the native churches provide 33,600, five times as many. Christendom sends one out of every 4,332 members to the field; the native churches give one out of every 28! At that rate Christendom would have to-day one million workers in the foreign field, or one to every 850 of the unevangelical population of the globe!
—"The Independent" takes note that Dr. Daniel Dorchester has just made a fresh study of statistics, which are not specially flattering:
The total yearly receipts from all our American Home and Foreign Missionary Societies in 1850 were $1,232,123; in 1860, $2,525,549; in 1870, $4,225,952; in 1880, $5,939,845. Since 1880 the average amount has been about $7,000,000 yearly. The increase has thus been large, being four-fold for Foreign Missions and six-fold for Home Missions in the thirty years from 1850 to 1880.
But when we come to count the members of the Protestant churches we have a different story. The number of church members are given by Dr. Dorchester as having been 3,529,988 in 1850; 5,240,554 in 1860; 6,673,396 in 1870, and 10,065,963 in 1880. Now, assuming these figures to be correct, we have 35 cents per member given in 1850 for Home and Foreign Missions, 48 cents in 1860, 63 cents in 1870, and 59½ cents in 1880. In the last period there has been a falling off, and there has been no adequate increase since 1860. It must be that there is an immense number of church members reported who give absolutely nothing for missions; and it must be that the interest of those who do give is much less than it should be. An average of less than sixty cents in a year is vastly less than what ought to be given.
But when we come to the property test, the case is still worse. Supposing the church members to have just an average amount of the wealth of the country (we do not doubt they have more), in 1850 they gave to missions one and one-tenth mills to each dollar of their property; in 1860 this sum was reduced to nine-tenths of a mill; in 1870 to eight-tenths, and in 1880 to six and a half tenths of a mill. Thus we see that while the total gifts have increased five times, the amount given by each converted dollar has been reduced nearly one-half. This is very far from a creditable showing, and proves that not near as much sacrifice is made for the cause of missions as forty years ago.
The one great duty of the Church is to convert the world to Jesus Christ. Are the effort and the self-denial adequate which give sixty cents a member per year, and two-thirds of one-tenth of one per cent. of property?
—Foreign Missionary Organizations raised last year in the United States $3,898,944. The total gain in communicants was 22,069.—Wilder's Tables.
—Since the Methodist Board of Church Extension began its work, in the year 1865, it has helped to build 5,805 churches. It has collected and disbursed nearly $3,000,000.
—Presbyterian Growth. From the narrative of the state of religion to the last Assembly we learn that the additions to the membership during the year were over 52,000 on examination and 29,000 on certificate—the most fruitful year in the Church's history. The Boards received $1,915,987. Foreign Missions had the largest receipts ever known in the history of the Church, $784,157.59. Of this the Women's Boards contributed $248,649.50. The growth of the contributions of the latter is a remarkable exhibit of what can be done by "organizing the littles." In 1871 they reported $7,000. This amount has gone up by the following strides during subsequent years: $27,000, $64,000, $87,000, $96,000, $115,000, $124,000, $136,000, $170,000, $176,000, $178,000, $193,000, $204,000, $224,000, $248,000.
—Moravians have a noble missionary record. During the last century 25,000 of them have been sent to "the regions beyond," while $300,000 have been expended yearly, and nine vessels been kept busy in the interests of missions. This small band of disciples may well put us all to the blush by their sanctified liberality and self-consecration.
—Roman Catholics in China.—The Chinese Recorder gathers from a table of statistics of Roman Catholic missions the following facts: "There are in the various provinces of China 483,403 Catholic Christians, 471 European missionaries, 281 native priests, 2,429 churches and chapels, 1,779 colleges and schools, with 25,219 scholars, and 33 seminaries and 654 seminarists. In Corea, Japan, Manchuria, Mongolia and Thibet there are 130 European and 15 native priests, 227 churches and chapels, and 77,254 Catholic Christians. In the Indo-China peninsula there are 694,286 Catholics, and in India 1,185,538 Catholics. The grand total for these Asiatic countries is 2,440,486 Catholics, 2,639 missionaries and native priests, 7,293 churches and chapels, 4,469 colleges and schools, with 112,359 scholars, and 76 seminaries, with 2,746 seminarists. These countries are divided into 67 vicariates apostolic and 4 prefectures apostolic. Six of these vicariates are worked by the Jesuits. Most of them, however, are under the charge of missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris and the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Milan."
—There are 40,000 Wild Indian Children in this country. Of this number, all told, there are but 12,000 gathered in the Government and Mission schools, leaving 28,000 children to whom no school opens its door, and to whom no Christian missionary comes. There are at least sixty whole tribes upon whose darkness no ray of Gospel light has ever fallen, as pagan and as savage as were their ancestors when the first white man landed upon these shores!
—Perhaps the power of God has been manifest in the islands of the Pacific more than in any other part of the world. In the Sandwich Islands one pastor baptized 12,000 converts in 45 years. In the group of islands called the Philippine, the Society, the Friendly and the Caroline, the natives were savages and cannibals of the worst type; but they have exchanged their savage life for the life inspired by the gospel of Christ; and in those groups of islands there are nearly 200,000 native Christians. In the Fiji Islands, also formerly a centre of cannibalism, out of a population of 120,000 all but one-seventh are said to be attending the Wesleyan meetings, and the most of the remainder belong to other meetings; so that church-going there is quite universal.
—The Salvation Army, entering India five years ago, has now 120 English and 80 native missionaries.
—The Imperial Academy of Sciences has recently completed the publication of a translation of the New Testament into the language of the Calmucks. This, it is said, is the first attempt to make known to the Calmucks the text of the Christian Gospels. The initiative is due to the British Bible Society, by which the work of translation was confided to Prof. Pozneieff, of the Chair of Mongol and Calmuck Literature in the University of St. Petersburg. Two hundred copies have been sent to Astrachan and sold to the converted Calmucks of that province. The rest have been sent abroad for distribution in Asia by European missionaries.—St. Petersburg Dispatch to the London Times.
—The Australian Church, under the direction of the Bishop of Sydney, has resolved upon the establishment of missions in the English portions of New Guinea, which portion is about equal in size to the whole of Great Britain. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has appropriated £5,000 to aid the work.
—The "Ragged Sunday-schools" in London have 40,000 scholars and 4,000 teachers. Its president was the late and honored Lord Shaftesbury. His son succeeds him in the work. The income of the society, consisting wholly of voluntary contributions, amounts to $80,000 per annum.
—There are 400 Mormon bishops in Utah, 2,423 priests, 2,947 teachers, and 6,854 deacons. Salt Lake City is divided into wards of eight or nine blocks each, and a bishop is put in charge of each ward. Under him are two teachers, whose business is to learn the employment and income of every resident of the ward and report the same to the bishop. Then the bishop collects the tenth of each man's income and turns it in to the church authorities. The Mormons are as adept as the Roman Catholics in getting their hands into the pockets of believers.
—Two hundred and fifty millions of women depend for the Gospel upon the women of the Protestant Churches of America. Nine-tenths of the contributions to foreign missions are given by one-tenth of the church membership, while only one-half of the membership give anything. The average amount per member is fifty cents per annum—only the seventh part of a cent per day for the conversion of a thousand millions of people. An average of five cents a week from every member of the Protestant churches of the United States would bring into the treasury during a single year $16,500,000. Ninety-eight per cent. of the Church's contributions for religious purposes is spent at home, while only two per cent. is applied to the foreign mission field. There are 75,000 ministers in the United States, or one to about every 600 persons, while only one is allotted to half a million in heathen lands. There are 1,500 counties in China without a single missionary.
—There are about 600 native newspapers in India, all of which, with the exception of about half a dozen, are bitterly opposed to Christianity. Societies are now being organized for the dissemination of the skeptical writings of England and America. An important society is in operation from Lahore, as a centre, while another has its headquarters in Benares. The pictures of the gods best known to the Hindu pantheon are even lithographed in Germany and England and sold in Calcutta! Native rajahs interest themselves in circulating Hindu tracts, and have adopted shrewd methods to carry on their work. The Rev. Mr. Craven says he knows of one rajah alone who is printing at his own expense 2,000,000 of Hindu tracts, and intends to distribute them at the large fairs of North India. The missionaries, however, keep close watch over these antagonistic forces. They too are enlarging their operations rapidly. But the churches and societies which they represent should adopt far more liberal measures to furnish the millions of natives to whom they are sent with sound Christian literature. The passion for reading has struck every part of India. The people will have books and newspapers. It is for the western Christian world to say what their fibre shall be.—Dr. Hurst, in Harper's Magazine.
—The Chinese Recorder gives the following statistics of Christian missions in China to Dec. 1, 1886:
| Number of societies |
37 |
| Total number of missionaries |
919 |
| Men |
446 |
| Wives |
316 |
| Single ladies |
157 |
| China inland mission (men) |
92 |
| Various Presbyterian societies (men) |
93 |
| Methodist societies |
70 |
| Congregationalist societies |
53 |
| Episcopalian societies |
39 |
| Americans |
164 |
| English |
230 |
| Other nationalities |
52 |
Of the single ladies nearly half are American. Others are not named.
—The China Inland Mission has 43 married and 129 unmarried missionaries. Including wives and 117 native workers, the entire force numbers over 300. They are asking for 100 more for this year. Their operations have been continued for years, and the hundred new men are called for by way of celebrating the majority of the society.
—The Japan Mission of the Presbyterian Board are asking for ten new men instead of a hundred, and the question is whether the Presbyterian Church is able and willing to grant their request. What will the synods, the presbyteries and the churches say to their petition?
—The Chinese Governor of the large island of Formosa in starting a college has chosen a missionary to inaugurate and organize the institution. Such a step would have been regarded as a miracle one generation ago.
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
VIII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
A WORD TO OUR PATRONS.
Enterprises are nowadays so commonly started with supreme reference to pecuniary returns that it seems like an affectation of unselfishness to claim any other and higher motive in the wide circulation of this REVIEW. Nevertheless, the editors are conscious of no ulterior end but the arousing of the Church of God to a more vigorous prosecution of the missionary campaign. And in our effort we desire the warm, sympathetic co-operation of all our subscribers. We undertake the work with a deep persuasion that it is God's work laid upon us, and we care for no reward beyond the consciousness of His approval. We mean to make this REVIEW indispensable, if we can, to all who love the cause of Christ, and especially to all who wish to know the needs of a world-wide field and the progress of the Kingdom,
We wish to establish between the Church at home and the workers and warriors on the outposts a line of communication, which shall also be a line of supplies; to create and foster a living bond of active and intelligent sympathy; to know what is doing and needs to be done—what needs are met and what lack is felt; to mark progress and trace causes of defeat, to canvass methods and criticise defects, to prevent waste and relieve friction, to promote co-operation and allay antagonism, to stimulate giving and especially self-giving—such are some of the many glorious results we aim to further. The wider the circulation of the REVIEW the more rapid and widespread the success of our measures.
We want those whom God has blessed with means and a generous heart to put at our disposal a Fund for gratuitous distribution to those who cannot afford to pay for the REVIEW. For example, in this country and in England, there are some three thousand young men and women who have signified their desire and intent to go to the foreign field when their studies are completed, if the way shall open. Many of them are poor and self-dependent. Can any man or woman make a nobler appropriation than to put at our disposal such sum of money as may enable us to send the REVIEW to such young persons free for one year?
While at Rochester, two young persons came to one of the editors, who made an address there on Nov. 15, and said: "I have just read your book, 'The Crisis of Missions;' it has decided me to give myself to the foreign field." A similar scene occurred at Buffalo, next day, and at Alexandria, Va., a few weeks before. If some man or woman who cannot go himself, or herself, can, by the free distribution of such a missionary organ as this, make missionaries, what offering can be more acceptable to God? We are willing to be custodians of such benevolence and see that it is made just as powerful as it can be in furthering the work. And if there be any who cannot give, will they not at least pray that our work may prove to the churches the world over even a greater blessing than our hearts could dare to anticipate?
The fund is already started by a gift of $100 from the editors and $100 from the publishers, and a considerable addition will be made from arrears of subscriptions on THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, all of which Mr. Wilder put at the disposition of the editors. We want to raise $5,000 for this purpose.—P.
The recent meeting of the American Board at Springfield, Mass., was in many respects the most eventful one since its organization. It was generally felt that the meeting would be a battle-ground between the new theology, with its post-mortem probation, and the older, more conservative, and, we hesitate not to say, more Scriptural and evangelical position held by the Reformed churches for centuries. Happily, as we think, the issue of the battle was on the side of the old and not the new theology. The landmarks which the fathers set up will not be removed, and Dr. Storrs' manly and Christian letter, accepting the presidency of the Board—a letter too long to be reproduced in these columns—covers, to our view, the whole case.
In this letter of acceptance, he expresses the opinion that the question of the "new theology" is, for the present, practically settled, so far as the Board is concerned; and adds that a withholding of funds from the treasury, "if that should unhappily come to pass," would not change the convictions on which the decision was based. He frankly gives as his belief that it would be unsafe to allow the same latitude of opinion in the missionary field which local churches here occasionally allow, whether properly or not, to those who transiently minister to them. There is a loyal and royal ring in words like these: "This society exists for a purpose wide as the world, solemn as the Cross, connected with eternal issues. It is always responsible to the Lord of the Gospel for what its messengers proclaim in His name."
Dr. Noble of Chicago one year ago expressed on this subject, comprehensively and briefly, the practical bearings of the whole question. He said, in effect, that there are two ways which we may pursue: we may either spend our time and energy speculating as to whether mankind will have probation after death, or we may give ourselves to the endeavor to secure their acceptance of this great salvation in the present probation before death. "As for myself," he added, "I propose to give all my thought and powers to securing for men a present salvation." To all of which let all the people say Amen!—P.
In New Jersey, the week between November 13 and November 20 was kept as one of simultaneous meetings in the interests of Foreign Missions. The whole work was in the hands of five members of Synod, Rev. Dr. Augustus Brodhead, of Bridgeton, being Chairman. He lived long enough to make the arrangements and was then called up higher.
All-day conventions were arranged for in every one of the 219 towns in the State where there was a Presbyterian church. The convention was not held on the same day in every place, but some time within the week. Fifty-eight places were designated as centres, provided with special speakers at the evening meeting. The plan of the conventions was uniform: A morning prayer-meeting, followed by an open meeting for familiar conference as to the mission field, its work and workers; in the afternoon, separate meetings of ladies', young people's and Sunday-school societies and bands, and in the evening the main meeting, with at least two specially prepared addresses.
To our minds, this simultaneous meeting is one of the grandest plans ever adopted to arouse, concentrate and vitalize the interest in the great foreign Mission work. We hope to see the day when, throughout the whole land, simultaneous meetings shall be held, and, like the three annual feasts of the Jews, all the tribes go up to take part, bring offerings and carry back a new inspiration and blessing. The movement is timely, popular, grand, effective, and promises results far beyond our present calculation.—P.
MRS. WILDER, widow of the late editor of The Missionary Review, and Grace E. Wilder, the daughter, sailed for Kolapoor, Western India, on the 26th of Nov., under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Miss Grace was born there, and the mother spent thirty years of her life there in missionary work in connection with her devoted husband. She had a school of 300 girls, at one time, and gave Christian education to a large number of the native women of India, who regard her in the light of a mother. Denied the privilege of going back to her work, after twelve years' absence, in company with her venerated husband, she, after his death, begged to be allowed to go back with her daughter and resume active work there, as a Bible reader, on her own charges. Her first love is still fresh and strong, and poor India, for whom she and her life companion sacrificed so much, is dearer to her than her native land, and even the sons whom she leaves behind. The daughter inherits a full measure of her parents' spirit, and, having rendered her father important help on The Missionary Review, and received rare training for the work, consecrates her life to the same blessed service. And one son, now in Union Seminary, New York, who has gone among our colleges lately and helped to kindle the missionary spirit among the students, will follow his aged mother and youthful sister as soon as his studies are completed.
What heroism have we here! The timid maiden and the solitary, aged widow, parting with children dear, the comforts of a good home and the dust of her loved one, and braving the winter storms of ocean, embarks joyfully for her long voyage, to carry once more the message of redeeming love to her sisters in India, and with trembling voice to repeat to the children the sacred lessons she taught in early life to their mothers!
The God of the widow and the Father of the fatherless preserve and speed them on their glorious mission and spare them to sow the seed of an abundant harvest! Just before his death the husband and father said to the writer: "I consider it a privilege and a joy inexpressibly great to have been permitted to spend forty-two years of my life in the service of Christian missions, and my one desire to-day is, now that you have kindly relieved me of this Review, to be spared to go back to India and lay my worn-out body to rest among the people there, whom I love. Yes, I would gladly start, even if sure I should not live to get there and my body find a grave in the deep."—S.
"THE day is breaking,
We are living, we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time!
In an age on ages telling;
To be living is sublime.
Hark! the waking up of nations—
Gog and Magog to the fray!
Hark! What soundeth? 'Tis creation's
Groaning for its latter day."
Yes, the time is hastening. God is rolling on the ages with awful sweep and force. He is crowding a whole century of opportunities into a day. He is bringing the world together, so that the Church may compass it, know it, traverse it, a hundred-fold quicker and better than in former generations. Competent engineering authorities assure us that in five years we shall be able to go round the world in forty days; and go in all the comfort and with all the security of our modern civilization! And are not such facts the voice of God, speaking out of the cloud to His people to go forward?—S.
WE beg our friends and patrons to be a little lenient in their judgment of this our first number. The call to the editors was sudden and unexpected. It found them both full of work, and yet they dared not decline what seemed a call of Providence. We have done what we could, at short notice, and with the material and help we could command; and yet we have not realized our ideal. We hope to improve as we get familiar with the work and gather in a vaster and more select amount of material. We expect also to enlist competent pens to aid us in the Literary department, ensuring greater variety and ability. We have also arranged for assistance in Statistical matters, and fuller information from our Editorial Correspondents. The editors are mainly responsible for this initial number.—S.
As it is pleasant to know whose thoughts one is reading, the following rule will be adopted: All editorials will have the initial of the writer. The names of other writers will be given in connection with their contributions. To Parts I., V. and VIII. both editors will contribute. Dr. Pierson will conduct Part VI., while his associate will be responsible for Parts II., III. and VII.
Through an oversight, Dr. Pierson was not credited, as he should have been, for Mr. Wilder's Biography, on pp. 7-16. An excellent likeness of Mr. Wilder will be found in the number.—S.