The Missionary Review of the World — March 1897

PROMINENT SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS

MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

VOL. XX. No. S.-Old &neB.-MARCH.-VoL. X. No. S.-N6W &riel.

PROMINENT SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS OF THE LAST HALF CENTURY-THE WORK AT NEWPORT, ENG.

BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

"IN THE BEGINNING-GOD." These are the sublimely significant words which opeu the Book of Books; and they may serve as the key to all real advance in human history. Every true movement forward has but one ultimate source; its fountain is God, and we shall find Him to be its spring if we follow the stream far enough backward to its very fountain. There is no practical difficulty that hinders all true holy living and holy serving which is not also traceable at last, to the'lack of the Divine factor. God is not in all our thoughts: He is not recognized, in our plans, in our resolves, in our activities; His pres- ence is not sought, His guidance is not real, His power is not our supreme dependence, whenever we confront failure and find our work coming to naught. And, whenever a genuine and permanent growth or increase is found, those who have the key to the history can only shout: the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.

It is now a little over twenty-five years since, in Newport, Mon- mouthshire, England, a remarkable work of God began, the results of . which even yet appear in a manifold form. In a recent visit to New- port, where the writer held a series of most singularly blessed meet- ings for the deepening of spiritual life, the striking facts as to this great spiritual awakening were ascertained; and in view of the many and inarkt lessons which they embody, we avail ourselves of the only record now to be found-and which is now out of print-prepared at the time by one who was conspicuously connected with the history, Rev. J. Tinson Wrenford.* It is first of all to be noticed that God interposes in the extremity oj his people. Our unbelief and worldliness cause serious forgetful- • "God's Work at Newport, Monmouthshlre," pubJisht by S. W. Partridge & Co., London. ness of Him and departure from Him; and when we are at our wit's end, and all our resources and dependences fail us, then, and it is sad to admit it, then alone, do we turn fully unto God. Religious life commonly sinks to its lowest ebb before the flood-tides of God sweep over a community. It was 130 in Newport, From the narrative of Mr. Wrenfol'd we make copious extracts, for a double purpose: first, to perpetuate a record of a blessing 130 remarkable; and secondly, to emphasize the conditions upou which such outpouring of Divine grace depends, and may be enjoyed elsewhere.

Prior to the commencement of this se880n of blessing was a seed-time of tears. To the inquiry, frequently made of members ,of different communions, co Are you prospering? Is there much life amongst you?" the humbling reply W88 almost always returned, "Alas! we are not 88 we should be: there is much deadness of soul: we greatly need an awakening."

It pleased God (early in the year 1870) to put in the hearts of some of His children to meet together every Friday evening to pray, specially for a blessing on the services, teaching, and other means of grace on the approaching Lord's Day, and also that God would graciously pour out His Spirit on the church with which they were connected, and upon all other Christian congregations in the town. Amid various discouragements this little prayer-meeting W88 carried on week after week. At first ouly a very few 88sembled; but, at 188t, the room became inconveniently crowded. The Lord gave them the spirit of prayer and supplication, but withheld any special or signal indication that their petitions would be abundantly answered. They did certainly perceive a change in their own Minister's preaching, and remarkt upon it one to another. He himself, conscious of it, w881ed publicly to express his gratitude to God for the sustaining intercessions of the "praying band." At length, however, a deep impression was made on the minds of some who had thus continued together in prayer, that the Lord was about to commence a great work in Newport. Their faith had long been exercised: now they began to expect a gracious answer.

Just at this time the wish W88 exprest by members of the Young Men's Christian Association (with which several of these praying men were connected) that a meeting for 'United prayer should be held at an early date; and an earnest invitation was issued to " Christian men and women of all denominations," to meet together at the Victoria Hall, on Thursday evening, January 12th,1871, co to calIon the Lord (1.) for the descent of the Holy Spirit among them, and an increase of vital godliness; and (2.) for the conversion to God of many of their fellow-townsfolk during the coming year." This united prayer-meeting was attended by a large number: a most solemn spirit pervaded the assembly: the Lord Himself W88 in the midst, His presence being felt by many.

There was a short SC880n of praying and waiting again: the Lord "tarried"- but not long. The spirit of expectation continued, and, indeed, became intensified. At length came the "earnest" of the approaching co showers of blessing." On Sunday evening, February 16th, the preacher (who had himself on the previous day experienced a glorious deliverance from the buft'etings of Satan, and been brought out into "a wealthy place," a place of sunshine and certainty never before experienced by him), made an earnest appeal to any who were in an anx:ious and inquiring condition of mind, to remain at the close of the service. Several that night found peace with God, through Jesus Christ. The work of .. in-gathering" had commenced, although, as yet, but on a small scale. Several weeks P88t away, Every Sunday night inquirers were led to Jesus; and every week it became more and more apparent that the Lord was preparing the minds of many for the momentous cry, "What must I do to be saved? "

About this time special "Mission Services" were held at the neighboring town of Cardiff, upon which the Divine blessing was evidently resting. Among the preachers was the venerable Robert Aitken-so long and well known in England and Scotland in connection with evangelizing labors. An invitation to come to St. Paul's, Newport, was complied with. At the foot of the handbills announcing the forthcoming special services, was printed the text from lIalachi, " Prove me now herewitl., 8aith the Lord of Hosts, if I willwt open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall wt be room ewugh to receive it."

A very solemn spirit of supplication and expectancy pervaded the preparatory prayer.meeting, on Saturday night, March 25th, and on the following morning, Mr. Aitken preacht, taking as his subject the incidents narrated in the eleventh chapter of John's Gospel relating to the sickness, death and resurrection of Lazarus. Mr. Aitken spoke of realities. The anxiety of Mary and Martha, their affiiction, their grief. were real: the loving sympathy of Jesus toward His distrest diciples was also real: and so, too, His power over death and the grave. Jesus is still a real Savior-" the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." His words were, that day, addrest to many of His hearers: "The Master is come, and callethfor thce."-" Take ye away tlie stone."-" Lazarus, comeforthl"

In the evening Mr. Aitken again preacht, from Heb. xii : 24, and the Spirit accompanicd the word spoken. At the close an invitation was given to any who might be desirous of direction, and a large number remained, many of whom were evidently in a state of deep concern as to salvation: and that night, about seventy entered into the liberty wherewith Jesus makes His people free.

On the four evenings following, Mr. Aitken preacht, to crowded congregations, "the unsearchable riches of Christ," his sermons being characterized by great simplicity and fervency. With a power of utterance at times vehement, he besought the careless, the ungodly, the mere professor, to come to Jesus for pardon and eternal life. What he contemplated was the reality of all that the Gospel declared,-the reality of the sinner's necessity and danger,-of the allsufficiency of the blood of Jesus,-of the love of the Father toward the returning prodigal,-and of the power of the Son of 11an to forgive sins. To him sin, the judgment, eternity, heaven, and hell too, were terribly real. Hence the" reality" of all his appeals, remonstrances, and exhortations. The Lord owned His word upon each occasion, and every night crowds of penitents came for direction. The after-services were prolonged until nearly or quite midnight: and, even then numbers lingered, as tho loth to depart without further blessing.

* * * * * Thus were brought to the feet of Jesus the young and the old,-hardened sinners,-mere professors of religion of many years' standing,-backsliders,-the self-righteous-persons of almost all classes and descriptions. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, in some instances. whole families, were brought in-in other cases the remaining members of otherwise godly families were reacht by the Word. and led to the cross.

One precious feature of these services was the real spiritual unanimity and unity manifested by Christians of all denominatwns, from first to last. It seemed as tho the Lord's prayer was fulfilled, "That they all may be one," His people felt they were "one," not artificially or theoretically, but actually and truly, Distinctive titles, indicative of divisions in the family, were iorgotten. Church-~ men, Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, Brethren-all met together in the house of their common Lord, not a8 .. sectarians," but as .. Ohristian8;" with one heart and voice they prayed and praised; with one purpose they assisted, when ocC8Bion served, in directing the inquiring. The Spirit of the Lord was a spirit of love and fellowship to them all: and Jesus was Himself in their midst, breathing upon them, and saying to them, as to the disciples of old, "Peace be unto you."

After Mr. Aitken left Newport for his own parish, in compliance with the eamest desire of many, special services were continued during the five following days, and the Lord did not stay His hand or withhold His blessing. Every night many penitents were led to the cross, and found peace and joy in believing. Friday was a day long to be remembered. It was the commemoration of the crucifixion. A vast congregation assembled, and about five.and·thirty souls cast themselves upon the finisht work of Jcsus, and realized pardon and deliverance.

Thus closed the second week of the special services. Altogether six hundred BOuls had been brought to the Lord. Among the converts were persons connected with nearly all the congregations of the town. No attempt was made to proselytize; on the contrary, the converts were urged ordinarily to remain in connection with the communions to which they had formerly been attacht. Many congregations Were stirred up to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon themselves, and a reviving work began to make itself felt among the people. Special services were commenced at several churches of the neighborhood; and the power of the Lord was present to heal and to save.

In May, Lord Radstock delivered evangelistic addresses at Newport. Two halls were secured, each accomodating at least a thousand persons. Two addresses were given daily, and each evening the hall was densely crowded. His expositions and appeaIs-so scriptural, clear, eamest, and persuasive-were listened to with deep attention. The Spirit of God graciously applied the word, and again the Lord brought many souls' " out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder."

In June, Mr. Aitken paid a second visit to Newport; accompanied by his two sons, the Rev. R. W. Aitken, and the Rev. W. Hay Aitken. It pleased God to give His blessing to the Gospel message at each of the assemblies, conveNions taking place every night.

The congregations were extremely large. On one night, nearly or quite two thousand persons were crowded into the church, while hundreds thronged the approaches, unable to obtain admission. The services were prolonged to a very late hour, in consequence of the large number of anxious ones seeking direction. The result of this second mission was tllat three hundred souls were brought to the Lord, in connection with St. Paul's church alone.

Surely no one can speak of an aggregate of ()1U! thousand pro/eat ctm'De'l'BionB in a single parish within four months, without feelings of fervent gratitude to Him who alone can turn one sinner" from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Many hundreds besides were awakened and led to Jesus, in connection with other communions, in the same period of time, and the work of the Lord rapidly spread to several parishes adjacent. But yet further testimony has to be bome to the goodness of God in His dealings with the people of Newport. He did not withdraw His hand, and cease to manifest His power to save, but 011 the contrary, proved, in the six remaining months of the memorable year 1871, that He was always ready to respond graciously to His peoples' prayers, and to own their efforts for His glory in the conversion of souls. His disciples were stirred up to multiply and extend the means heretofore employed-nothing doubting as to the result. The Young Men.'s Christian Association commenced a daily midday prayer-meeting at their rooms, which proved a means of spiritual refreshment and strengthening to many. They engaged the large Victoria Hall, for special Sunday evening services, the London Evangelization Society sending down, week by week, experienced evangelists. From twelve to fifteen hundred persons were thus gathered on each occasion, a large proportion being not in the habit of frequenting any place of Divine worship. The Lord caused His blessing to rest upon this additional effort, and every Sunday souls were won to Christ.

Most markt and evident was the result of God's work upon a large portion of the Newport population. The Churches of Christ were revived. Christians were not contented with a bare spiritual existence. The surpassing blessedness of the •• higher Christain life" was sought and realized by very many. The old condition, so far removed from that to which believers should attain, became distasteful, and from the heart-gladly, gratefully, lovingly-proceeded the cry, .. All for Jesus!" Nor could they who had received so much at the hands of the Lord remain inactive. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" was the cry of many a willing worker; and, in a variety of ways, the desire to be useful found welcome exerciSe. And more than, perhaps, at any time before, Christians discovered that, notwithstanding all minor differences, they could "love one another, with a pure heart, fervently."

The people of the world were, at the first, evidently perplext by what they witnessed. The confession was again and again made, "I can not understand it." In some instances utter incredulity was exprest; while not a few attributed it to a sort of fanatical excitement, the effects of" which would soon pass away. The people of the world could not be expected to form a right judgment upon such a subject. It lay beyond them altogether; and their opinion of it could not possibly possess any value. .To the unconverted, the operations of God's Spirit must ever be an enigma which they can not explain. The Inspired Word tells us, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." That is decisive.

But what a solemn season is it to a congregation-to an entire communitywhen God thus wondrously makes bare His arm and manifests His saving powerI In concluding this narrative of God's great work at Newport, to what shall we trace it, so far as man is concerned? Shall it not be, first, to earnest, beliefJing pe1'8e1!61'inp prayer" for this very thing;" and secondly, to the real preadting of a. real Gospel? Our Lord's words are: .. If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Surely, this assurance ought to be sufficient. And as to the preaching, of what avail is it unless a real Gospel be preacht? It is to be feared there is much 'Unreality in the preaching of the present day. If men are really sinners-perishing sinners-then away with theorizing, with speculating, with mere ., opinions" and "views." Away, too, with all dead •• sermonizing," be it never so correctly and artistically done. The need of men's souls is awfully real: let them hear of a God really waiting to be gracious; – of a Jesus really able to save to the uttermost and as willing as he is able; – of an all·sufficient atonement really made and accepted;-of the precious blood of Christ, that can really cleanse from a11sin;-of a Holy Spirit really given to regenerate, guide, comfort, teach, and sanctify men's souls. Let them hear of a real heaven-a real hell-a real eternity; of real pardon for the guilty-real peace-real joy-reaIUfe; of a real approach of the sinner to the feet of a present Savior-of a real acceptance of Jesus, and a real surrender to Him, and then a real and most blessed discipleship, Away with mere ideasl with mere" hopes" and" trusts I" with all uncertainty and unreality!

This rea.lity of praying, preaching, and hearing was at Newport, the secret of the conversion of so large a number of souls to Ohrist-through the power of the Holy Ghost.

March

Why may not such a result be brought to pass, wherever sinners are found? Doubtless, the fear of the world's frown, prejudice, routine, dead formalism, a dread of "irregularities" and of "excitement" may hinder; but should not all hindrances be surmounted for Christ's sake, and that souls may be saved?

o for 1'eaWy in the p1'aying of God's people, reality in the preaching of God's ministersI 0 for men to preach, and people to pray, who have themselves been brought into a condition of conscious acceptance-pardon-life; who themselves are "in Chri8t," and who know, in their own daily experience, the sweetness of that "peace of God" which "passeth all understanding," and of that" joy" which is .. unspeakable and full of glory." 0 for reality / A. real lifting up of Jesus in the midst of perishing sinners-not that· 'doctrines" or .. views" (be they ever so correct) may be set forth, discust, demonstrated,-but that the guilty may draw near-may look-may livel 0 for the "real presence" of Jesus in our assemblies,- the real coming of the sin-burdened to Him there and then.- and the real reception from His willing hands of a most real salvation I So writes substantially, the original narrator of God's work at Newport. And, in thus perpetuating and extending this testimony to one of the most deep-reaching and remarkable spiritual movements of the last half century, we are confident that God means the whole church to learn a lesson.

What is that lesson? It is manifold in instruction altho it all bears in one direction. No one who carefully reads this solemn story of divine dealing can escape the conviction that a pecnliar stress is laid by these events npon united prayer, a pure Gospel, hand to hand contact 1vith souls, and simple faith in God's present power to save. Here was no grand array of unnsual and striking combinations. No far-famed evangelist was sent for to inaugurate a revival, there was no appeal to novelty, nothing dramatic, spectacular, sensational. The whole work began in the prayers of a few fervent believers for the church with which they were connected, and particularly their own minister. Their prayers first brought to him new blesl'ing and new power in preaching; then, as souls were won, the work spread to other congregations; the circle of prayer expanded and became more inclusive; differences of doctrine and polity were forgotten in the bond of unity; variety of congregational life was merged into community of work for souls. As help was needed, the most spirit-filled helpers were sought-and dependence was never transferred from God to man, but the power of a God-given Gospel and of a God-given Spirit was constantly and reverently recognized.

Contrast all this with modern efforts to secure revival. We read some time ago with a shock of awful surprise a private pamphlet prepared by a noted evangelist as a guide to committees who were making ready for his coming. It was full of dependence on "business methods," advertising-striking announcements, big posters, etc., etc. -everything must be done to create a publicfurare in advance. This is the way of the world, and it is now the way of the church. Boston

PROMINENT SPIRI'rUAL MO"VEMEN'l'S. 16~

wants a revival; and Mr. Moody must be at Tremont Temple, and Sam. Jones and Francis Murphy at other "temples"-and the men whom the people will flock to hear must be got-so says Dr. Ohapell, as he contrasts the revivals of fifty years ago with those of to-day. We have no design, as he had none, of reflecting on either of the abovenamed evangelists, but what we would emphasize is, that for a true revival whose results are to be lasting, our dependence is to be first of all on God, not on man. We must emphasize the preacher less, and the message and the Spirit more. The most wide-reaching revivals of this century have been associated with the most unexpected times and methods and men; they have been a surprise to those through whom they were wrought. They have been preceded by fasting and prayer, have begun often in a union of prayer between two or three burdened souls. We knew, for instance, a case where a few young men, who could find no better place wherein to meet, actually went into a church belfry, unwarmed, in winter, and there sought blessing for the congregation; their numbers slowly increast until the unfinisht room was too strait for them; and when their meeting was scarce known to the congregation, a mighty flood of blessing was already upon the community. Another case is known to the writer where a very ordinary preacher, speaking to his own people about parental duty and responsibility, felt moved to call on parents who were imprest with their own unfaithfulness, to come from their seats and stand in the aisle in token of repentance and earnest seeking for blessing. Out of the pews moved fathers and mothers, until the aisles were filled and they crowded about the communion table-and the place was turned in a Bochim. We are getting away from dependence on ordinarg means of grace. We do not expect any widespread blessing on the preaching of the simple Gospel and on prayer, and on personal contact with souls, and must have several churches united, and great meetings, with distinguisht evangelists and great choirs with far-famed Gospel singers, or we look for no divine outpourings. All this is unscriptural, unspiritual, abnormal. The Gospel would be a failure if it were not. And because our churches, and pastors, and the people at large have lost confidence in the ordinary use of Gospel means, and depend on extraordinary efforts alone, every interest of the churches is in peril. Even for missions we must have colossal meetings-some president or ex-president, or governor, or other celebrity must preside-some gigantic crowd be got together in some way; no matter if the speakers are not spirit-filled men, if they are only attractive-no matter if the assemblies are not composed of the more devout, if the numbers are large and the elite are there! These are the unspoken sentiments which have too often guided the arrangements, and repelled the Spirit of God and forfeited blessing. At risk o~ being accounted pessimistic and hypercritical, we repeat that, if the church wants greater prosperity in the life of her members, and in the abundance and constancy of her benevolent offel'ings, the Holy Spirit must be more honored; there must be believing prayer and faith in God's promises. God's arm is not shortened nor His ear heavy, but there are modes of doing and attitudes of being which He will never own with the sanction of His blessing.

Let any pastor undertake in his own congregation and parish work to follow a few simple rules, and see the result: 1. Get himself thoroughly n:ght with God, by abandoning every known sin or doubtful indulgence, and seeking first of all for himself the very type ·of life and character which he craves for his people.

2. Trust himself absolutely to the Gospel as the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation, and expect that God's word, faithfully preacht, will not return to Him void, in a single instance.

S. Give himself to prayer-giving time enough to get the sense of God in the closet; and never leaving the place of supplication until he gets a divine vision-a new impartation of life and power.

4. Go himself to seek individuals-not depending on mere pulpit exhortations-but remembering that souls are won by individual approach, and that all such contact will make his preaching more personal and effective.

5. Keep himself from all direct or indirect dependence on man; avoid seeking men's applause, or looking to man's patronage for support and encouragement. Let him study the Acts of the Apostles and aim at an apostolic church life.

6. Live himself a life of faith, depending on God for his support, daring to cut loose from the pcw system and take his support from voluntary offerings; and sedulously cultivate in his people the same spirit of direct leaning upon God.

7. Yearn himself over a lost world-cherishing a missionary spirit, and claiming the entrance into the holiest as the intercessor's place and privilege; and educating his people to regard missions as the indispensable proof and fruit of all spiritual life.

No man could follow seven such simple rules and patiently wait, without seeing a mighty work of God in his own life and sphere of labor. And it is only in such a new level of spiritual life and character and conduct of God's work that the permanent revival of missions is to be found. The stream needs a source more abundant and elevated-then the channel will be full and the current rapid. God is speaking, and it is not in this case, out of the cloud-no mystery attends His utterance. All the great spiritual movements of the century have hinged on supernatural interposition in answer to believing prayer. If we are to have other such divine interpositions, other intercessors must be found, mighty through the same means which were used by Daniel and Job, Elijah and Samuel.

MIZPAH CHAPEL 0];' C ()~ G Rl:G"TIONAL SLAY1G MISSION , :,IT. STANISLAUS lWMM, CA'J'IIOUC }'OLISIl CH1:RCn

CU;YELAXD, (l. CLEYELAND, O.

In this" Polyglot " chapel.f0ur la nguages are,cOll8tantly u ~ed: I'oli. h, IJo- llcllllun, GctllJan, amI Enghsh.

STRONGHOLDS

TAKING STRONGHOLDS.

CHRISTIAN WORK FOR OUR FOREIGN POPULATION.

BY REV. A. F. SCHAUFFLER, CLEVELAND, O.

When, during our Civil War, Vicksburg, strongly fortified and held by the Confederates, was III tourniquet fastened on the great main artery of this country's circulation, it became absolutely necessary to capture it. No cost of means or men was considered too great, for was not the lasting welfare, even the life of our nation, at stake? The more difficult the task, the more stubborn and fierce the resistance, the more determined, carefully planned, and courageously executed were the efforts made to take that stronghold. And when it was won and the stars and stripes waved over it, a thrill of joy went through the Northern States, and every patriot thankt God, took courage, and lookt more confidently for the final and lasting victory of freedom and loyalty. We have some Vicksburgs still.

It is little more than a decade since American Christians began to realize certain very serious dangers that threatened the stability of our free Christian institutions and the welf~e of our country, – dangers arising from the character and influence of some parts of the immense immigration of later years. . Americans are naturally optimistic, and have fondly hoped that the very atmosphere of "the freest country on earth" and our vaunted free-school system would not fail to transform all classes of foreigners in'to loyal and useful American citizens. But such unexpected and terrible events as the bloody Cincinnati riot of March, 1884, started by a mob of second-generation young Germans, who raised the cry, "On to the jail," and which resulted in the destruction of valuable property, the death of forty-five men and wounding of one hundred and thirty-eight, and the awful Chicago Haymarket bomb tragedy in May, 1886, whose perpetrators were chiefly foreigners, rudely waked us from our pleasing dreams and shockt us into something of a true sense of the situation. The Mafia in New Orleaus, the more recent Chicago Pullman strike riots, the bad eminence and dangerous power attained· by Gov. Altgeld, and many other less markt but not less really significant proofs of the activity of anarchic and revolutionary forces, have so emphasized the danger that threatens this nation from the presence in it of mischievous foreign elements, that of late strenuous efforts are being made to restrict emigration and to exclude undesirable foreigners. But whether such attempts are successful or not, the fact remains that there are immense portions of our foreign population, which, whatever possibilities they may present of future development into true American citizens, are very far from being now in sympathy with the principles and institutions which we most prize as the founaation of our nation's character and the condition of its prosperity. They are Vicksburgs, hard to win, but all the more necessary to gain for true freedom and genuine Christianity. Left to themselve/!, they will be a serious menace to our country's welfare; won for the Bible idea of Christian citizenship, they will help to make our nation that happy people whose God is the Lord, and which rejoices in peace and righteousness as the conditions of genuine and lasting prosperity. Perhaps we can best gain some adequate idea of the difficulty, urgent importance, and practicability of the great task which God in His providence has set His people in the whole northern and western part of our land by sending into our very midst such armies of foreigners, if we consider one of the nationalities thus providentially brought close to our doors and hearts. One element in our foreign population which does not naturally accept our conception of Christianity or readily adapt itself to our social, educational, and religious order of things, is the Polish. It is an important part of our immigrant population. Of our Slavic elements it is by far the largest, much outnumbering Bohemians and Slovaks (Hungarian Slavs) taken together, and constantly increasing in size and political influence. "Poland in America" is a Vicksburg which must be taken for Christ. It is a stronghold of Rome, that old and determined enemy of the Bible and of all true freedom and progress.

A glance at the tragic history of Poland, at the religious condition of the Poles in America, and at the efforts being made to reach them with the Gospel, will show how great and urgent is the duty to do the very best of missionary work for that interesting people.

I. HISTORY.-The early history of the Polish people is shrouded in the mists of myth and mystery. In his "Story of Poland" Morfill, .says: "The first undoubted historical event in which Poland is concerned relates to the year 963 A.D., when the Markgraf Geron conquered the heathen prince Mieczyslav, who ruled over the Poles from the Oder to the Vistula, and made him pay tribute to the German Emperor Otho I." In 965 Mieczyslav became a Christian, as condition of marrying the daughter of the King of Bohemia. Under Boleslas the Great Poland became a kingdom, and made great progress, building many new cities, and increasing trade, while Christianity was more widely spread and firmly establisht among the people, and schools were founded. There were no popular assemblies, society being organized entirely on a military basis. By the beginning of the 11th century Poland had absorbed nearly all the Western SJavic States, including Bohemia.

Poland gradually became the great power of Easteru Europe, which it continued to be till near the close of the 17th century. From 1541 to 1606 was the golden age of foland, which saw the rise of Polish literature, and during which Stephen Batory, Prince of Transylvania, a vigorous ruler, became King of Poland. He renounced Protestantism for the Roman Oatholic faith. During his reign the Jesuits were introduced into Poland, and a great contest took place between Protestants and Oatholics, in which the latter gained control, by aid of the Jesuits, who had in their hands the education of the country. The country was rent by adverse factions, and from that time began the decline of Poland.

In 1674 John Sobieski was made King of Poland, and earned the title of "Savior of Europe" by hastening with his splendid army to the relief of Vienna, besieged by an immense and victorious Turkish host, which he utterly routed in one battle, saying: "Not unto us, not unto us, 0 Lord of Hosts, but to Thy name give glory." Sobieski's valor changed the course of European history, but could not arrest the internal dissensions of unfortunate Poland, or save it from the envy and enmity of other European powers, which com- bined to bring on the final catastrophe. The first partition of Poland between Russia, Prussia, and Austria occurred in 1772, the second partition in 1793, and the third in 1795. The noble patriotism and magnificent bravery of Thaddeus Kosciusko, who fought against tremendous odds, availed not to stem the tide of ruin that over- whelmed Poland. 'fhe Poles lost their independence and their country, and Siberian mines and prisons attested the terrible severity of the punishment meted out to them by the victors.* The causes of Polaud's misfortunes are not far to seek. The chief ones are: 1st. The abnormal social conditions. The nobles, jealous of each other, and united in jealousy of their king, reduced the serfs to a. state of practical slavery, with power over them of life and death, and then finally bound them to the soil. 2nd. There was no Polish middle class. The burghers were Germans and Jews governed by . special laws. They could own no land, which was wholly the property of the nobles. 3rd. The influence of Protestantism was fiercely com- batted and overcome by Papal power. 4th. All education was in the hands of Roman Oatholic ecclesiastics. 5th. Poland had no natural frontiers, and was surrounded by powerful enemies ever ready to despoil her. These conditions promoted internal dissensions, decay, wasting wars with neighbors, disintegration, poverty, and ruin. It has been truly said that Poland was "the heaven of the nobles, the paradise of the clergy, the gold-mine of foreigners, and the hell of rustics." We may add that it became the grave of true liberty.

• We owe a debt of gratitude to Poiand,- for Kosciusko, like Lafayette, came to our aid during our Revolutionary War. "He joined the American Army as a volunteer, and was conspicuous for his bravery at the battles of Saratoga and Yellow Springs. Washington made him a Brigadier and afterwards Governor of West Point." He helpt us win the freedom he could not conquer for his own country. II. RELIGIOUS CONDITION IN AMERICA. It will surprise none who know anything of Poland's sad history and present opprest condition, that Poles are anxious to leave the land they may no longer call their own, in a large part of which government is systematically suppressing Polish nationality and language, and to found new homes in this conntry of freedom and opportunity. But with most of them it is true, "change the place and keep the pain" – or rather "the chief cause of the pain," which in their case is the tyranny of their Roman Catholic priests with the resulting ignorance, ghostly fear, bigotry, and violence. This makes their presence in large numbers a very serious matter.

It is impossible to obtain reliable statistics of the number of Poles in the United States, for many of them tell the Census official that they are from Russia, or Germany, or Austria, and are set down as Russians, Germans, or Austrians. But it is safe to say that there are between one and two millions of Poles in the United States. Chicago has about 70,000, Pittsburg 65,000, New York and Brooklyn 45,000, Buffalo, N. Y., 30,000, Detroit 25,000, Cleveland 8,000 to 10,000. I have before me a list of 79 Polish colonies in 14 States.

What an important social and political factor these compact Polish colonies are becoming, was pointed out by the New York Evening Post in its issue of April 13, 1892. The Post said: "In Milwaukee, Wis., there is a Polish population of 25,000 in a total of 200,000, and, as they are exceedingly clannish in politics, as in everything else, the Polish vote is cast almost solidly in a block, and this nationality already holds the balance of power in city elections."

The Pole is as much under the control of his priest as is the Irishman. For him the priest is God's representative, the priest's word is law, and the priest's anger most dangerous. Ayoung Pole, who afterwards joined our Bohemian Mission Church in Cleveland, unable to pay the priest's assessment towards building a fine new church, was summarily excommunicated, and thereupon thought himself lost forever, and he was much more intelligent than the majority of our Poles, mostly the descendants of the enslaved serfs.

Polish priests are very strong and even fierce in opposing not only all-Protestant influences brought to bear on their people, but also the Americanizing influence of the public school. They have kept their people secluded in Polish colonies and Polish quarters of the cities, where the butcher and baker and grocer are Poles, and have made it an unpardonable sin to send children to our public schools.

A priest told one of our colporteurs that he had burned seventeen Bibles sold to his people. And when one of our Polish missionaries called on him to ask why he refused his people permission to read the Word of God, the priest became so angry that he set his dog on his visitor; fortunately the dog had wound his chain around the priest's legs, and could not reach our brother. Another priest drove away a young Pole, now a member of a Protestant church, by charging him $4 for absolution, which the young man was unwilling to pay. One of our female missionaries who worked among the Poles in Toledo, 0., reported that the priest had roused the people very much against her, and forbidden them to buy any books from her, or to send their children to her sewing-school, and ordered that if she visited any of their houses, they should take a broomstick to her. But with all their I fear of the priest and servile submission to him, there is a spirit of growing independence and revolt abroad amongst Catholic Poles in the United States. Hence the frequent reports of mobs, riots, violence, and bloodshed in Polish parishes. Rence also the new movement to form independent Catholic Polish churches, of which there are quite a number already started in several large cities. Quite a large church of this kind was founded in Cleveland about two years ago. I have before me a copy of a Cleveland paper of December 8, 1894, in which there is a very remarkable account by a Polish editor of his efforts to start this new movement. He says, that as the Polish people are 'Very earnestly and patriotically devoted to their religion, the only way to lift them up is to reach their hearts through their devotion to the church. After he came to this country, eleven years before, he found out that" the Roman Catholic Church keeps the Poles in the worst kind of slavery for its own shallow and egotistical purposes." He asserts that for a Pole the priest is "almost a personification of God on earth," so that every Polish priest exercises a tremendous influence over his flock. But," instead of trying to ennoble them, to lift them up morally and mentally, every priest is trying to make them even more ignorant, more fanatical, more superstitious than they are." This is the reason, says the editor, "that they are so far away from the spirit of American institutions, that they are regarded almost as a blot on the civilization of the 19th century, as well as on the glorious Constitution of the United States." This editor started to spread the ideas of religious freedom eight years before by means of a paper publisht in New York. The paper was put under the ban by the Polish clergy over all the country. He made two other attempts, one in Chicago and another in New York, but "in each case the Romish priest won the battle." When he started this movement again in Cleveland, he determined to put a priest at the head of it. He pickt out one who had been driven away from the largest Polish church in Cleveland by his people on account of his alleged immorality and dishonesty.

But later the editor thought himself mistaken, and exprest the conviction that the priest had made his peace with Rome. This led to their parting company. But it seems that the priest had not been reconciled with Rome, and his church continues to the present independent of Rome. On one occasion, when celebrating the anniversary of the giving of a Polish Constitution, he invited one of our missionaries to make an address to his church, crowded full of Poles. It was an admirable opportunity to speak ta them of the true liberty with which Christ makes us free. This priest hb.s circulated Bibles and Protestant tracts among his people. This contest between the new church and the old has opened the eyes of many Poles, and led them to look upon Protestants and Protestant missionaries with much more f&vor.

As I write, a terrible conflict is progressing in the Polish colony of Bay City, Mich., where there are 6,000 Poles. An elderly priest was accused by his people of gross immorality and dishonesty in the handling of church funds. A riot ensued. The priest was driven away and the church closed. When the Sheriff appeared with the Bishop to reopen the church by force, they found a body of 400 Polish women massed against the church doors, and the Sheriff turned to the Bishop and askt whether he would command him to charge upon those women. The Bishop's heart failed, and the attempt was abandoned. Polish women routed the Bishop. All the twelve or fifteen Roman Catholic priests of Bay City stood by the Polish priest, but he had to go, so strong was the feeling against him. Another priest was secured in his place, but having refused to let the opponents of his predecessor see the church accounts, he involved himself in a fierce conflict, which has just resulted in his shooting two men and being under bonds for trial. The church is closed again, and excitement runs high. In the meantime Congregationalists and Presbyterians have united to commence missionary work for the people shut out of their own church and fighting for a purer priesthood. Quite a large number of Polish children attend sewing-school on Saturday and Sunday-school on Sunday, and the missionary finds open doors into many families and many hearts.

There is much such dissatisfaction with priestly abuses among Poles over all this country. The spirit of American liberty and the influence of Protestantism is having its effect. This leads to our third topic.

III. MISSIONARY EFFORTS FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF OUR Po- LISH POPULATION.-Missionary work for the Poles in this country is yet in its infancy. Our Poles are mostly the descendants of the serfs whom the Polish nobility enslaved while fighting for their own freedom, and on whom the church of Rome has fastened the fetters of ignorance, bigotry, and fear. It is hard to conceive the difficulties which at every step beset the missionary who wants to reach the· Pole with the Word of God. The common Pole is afraid of the priest, afraid of excommunication, afraid of consequent loss of his soul, afraid of losing his livelihood, afraid of violence from his fellow Poles. The latter fear is well grounded, for many of the Poles are ever ready for a fray. And yet patient and persistent efforts, prompted by genuine love for Ohrist and for misguided souls, have not been without their reward. There are grand possibilities in the Polish people. A people that has produced a great poet like Mickiewicz, a great astronomer like Oopernicus, a great composer like Ohopin, and many great patriots and heroes like Sobieski and Kosciusko, is a people well worth winning for Gospel truth and freedom.

The first Polish convert I ever saw, a man given to drink and gambling, and moved to attend Y. M. C. A. meetings and church services by a faithful German fellow-worker in the factory, and who subsequently went through a course of preparation for the ministry in the Slavic department of Oberlin, 0., Theological Seminary, has been laboring patiently and faithfully for years in Detroit, Mich. Many a one looking through the reports of his early years of labor, would have said that he would be justified in giving up the work, so great was the prejudice against him, and so small the apparent hope of success. In Detroit there had been the same sort of a split as later in Oleveland, and a priest who had been driven from the great Polish church on account of alleged immorality, succeeded in founding an independent Oatholic church, which still exists. At first it seemed as tho this would facilitate Protestant missionary work. But the missionary found himself accused by both parties of being the spy of ihe other.

Latterly infidelity has begun to appear amongst the Poles. This new tendency among the Poles, a very old one amongst the Bohemians, illustrates the fact that the church of Rome is not only the mother of bigotry, but the promoter of infidelity. But in spite of all the difficulties and trials he has had to meet, this faithful missionary has lived to see blessed results of his labors. The First Oongregational Ohurch of Detroit, which opened its beautiful new building for Polish services, has received thirty-six Poles into its membership. Thisforms virtually a branch church ministered to by the Polish missionary. No one who has not lived in a Roman Oatholic community, and who does not know the Poles from close contact and long observation, can imagine what true courage, strong faith, and genuine heroism it takes on the part of this people to come out from their church and expose themselves to the taunts and fierce opposition, often threatening personal violence, of their former coreligionists.

A Polish woman in Oleveland, who has for some years attended our services, was visited by our American lady missionary who has learned Polish, to whom she related her recent experience when, with her husband in the Roman Oatholic church, she heard the priest declare that no one could be saved but Roman Catholics. The wife shook her head so hard in dissent, that her husband, a bigoted Oatholic, wanted to put her out of the church. The missionary said to her, "I have long wondered why you still go to the Catholic church, since you do not

THE GOSPEL FOB THE DESTITUTE

believe what they teach." To which the woman answered: "I go only because my husband compels me. I will not pray to the Virgin or to pictures. I believe only those can be saved who trust in Christ and serve Him."

The Ohristian churches of America have only begun to make their approaches to this stronghold of Rome in our midst. As the· loyal patriots of our Oivil War cherisht no hatred of those who were fighting for slavery, so we harbor no ill-will toward our Polish brethren. On the contrary, it is because we love "the stranger that dwelIbth with us," that we long to make him free "with the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free," and save both him and our beloved land. Let us be up and doing, and remember that this difficult and important work requires not only self-sacrificing love and overcoming faith, but great wisdom in the study of the people, their language, history, and characteristics, and the careful adaptation of means to accomplish the great end sought, the deliverance of our Polish brethren from the thraldom of Rome, and the winning of them as allies in the greater work of making our whole nation that "happy people whose God is the Lord."

THE GOSPEL 1!'OR THE DESTl'fUE.

THE STORY OF THE NEW YORK CITY MISSION.

BY REY. W. T. ELSING, NEW YORK OITY.

A few weeks ago a New England farmer came to New York on a visit. He had read the accounts of murder, robbery, arson, divorce, suicide, and many other crimes in our sensational newspapers, and lookt upon New York as but little better than Sodom. When he heard that Mr. Moody was holding services in Oooper Union, the man left his farm, and set out for the Metropolis, that he might by his presence encourage Mr. Moody, whom he pitied as a solitary Jonah in onr great modern Nineveh. At the Oooper Union meetings he came in contact with other Ohristian workers, who were carrying on a quiet, but effective warfare against sin. The farmer became interested in city evangelization, and appointed himself a committee of one to visit the various mission stations. I found him in a Christie Street mission, which is conducted by a converted anarchist, who had also been a drunken butcher. The room in which the mission held its meetings had been a low drinking saloon. The pulpit consisted of a stand, on which beer-barrels formerly rested. On the wall were. arranged, in fantastic fashion, pipes, cigar-holders, plugs and bags of tobacco, packs

TIlE" LIGHT IlOVSE MISSION,' JACKSON STEEET, NEW YORK

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DESTITUTE

of cards, daggers, revolvers, and a rosary. "This is the devil's face," Bajd the leader, "and the old fellow's head is fast swelling, for every man who is converted brings his idol to be hung upon the wall." The room was crowded with tramps, drunkards, and anarchists. Some spoke in German, others in English. Some were in rags, workless . and homeless; others were provided with every apparent comfort, but all told the same story. The uplifting power of Jesus Christ had come into their lives, and they had become new men. At the close of the service the farmer said, "I had always heard that New York was a dreadful place, but I have not seen so many good things in all my life as I have found in New York dU);ing the past two weeks. I wish the good people of New York would come out into the country and stir us up a little."

There is no city in the world, except London, where more is being done to point the lost to the Son of God than in New York; to give even a brief summary of its Christian activity, would fill a large volumo/' It is our purpose, in this article, to give, a short account of one of the oldest and most potent agencies at work in the evangelization of New York City, and to say something which may be helpful and stimulating to those who are interested in the religious welfare of our American cities. We are more in need of accurate knowledge of what has actually been accomplisht in city evangelization, than of the elaboration of new schemes and untried theories.

The New York Oity Mission and Tract Society has a history:of seventy years' experience in Christian work among the masses, and even a partial knowledge of that history, on the part of those undertaking similar work in other places, might save both money and time. The City Mission was organized in 1827, on a broad evangelical, but undenominational basis. The original purpose was to promote sound morals and evangelical religion by means of tract distribution and personal visitation of prisons and hospitals. When the Society commenced its work, the city was almost entirely composed of Englishspeaking people. In 1835, the visitors connected with the City Mission distributed over 35,000 English tracts and books, while only 265 foreign publications were called for. The workers were all volunteers, who gave their Sunday afternoons and an occasional day during the week to this work. The entire city was divided into districts, each of which was in charge of a visitor. Over the district visitors was placed a ward superintendent, to whom monthly reports were rendered. Over the ward superintendents there was a general superintendent, to whom the ward superintendents made their reports. This arrangement, now impracticable for New York, would probably be the best way in which to reach every family in the smaller cities of our land. It was soon found that it was impossible to secure efficient work without having a superintendent who could give all his time to oversee and direct the district visitors. In this way arose the offioe of Superintendent of the Oity Missions, a position now so ably filled by Rev. A. F. Schauffier, D. D. It also became necessary to have permanent ward superintendents, these corresponding to the city missionaries of the pre~ent time. The ward missionaries commenced to hold neighborhood prayer-meetings, and, as the congregations grew too large to be accommodated in private houses, halls were rented as fixt meeting places. Experience taught those in charge of the work that permanent places of worship were necessary, and in 1866 the Oity Mission and Tract Society became an incorporated body, which now owns real estate to the value of *450,000. The cottage prayer-meetings have developt into institutional churches, in which from 40 to 50 weekly services are held. Women's organizations have become numerous in recent years, but as early as 1829 the womans' branch of the Oity Mission was formed. The power of this organization lies in the fact that it does not seek to work on independent lines, but is closely connected with the older society. The woman's branch has a separate board of directors, a. separate superintendent and treasurer, but in the practical work of evangelization the two societies have always been one. The spirit of the two bodies is beautifully illustrated by the fact that Mr. Morris K. Jesup is president of the male branch, and his wife president of the woman's branch of the society. Mr. and Mrs. Jesup through their ,;c~l~ perseverance, and generosity have been a great power in city c'lnugelization, one evidence of their interest with neglected masses being their gift of the De Witt Memorial Ohurch. The older society hBs charge of the erection of church buildings occupying new fields, Dud under its care the male missionaries work; while the woman's bmnch employs all the trained nurses and Bible women, who work in connection with the chapels and churches, as well as in the prisons and public institutions on Blackwell's Island and other places. The support of a trained nurse or Bible reader costs from $500 to $600 per year. These women are frequently supported by ladies of wealth. In addition to four commodious church buildings, the Oity Mission has a fine house at 129 East 10th Street, where the B1ible women and nurses find a pleasant home. A training school has been opened for missionaries, and all young women who are added to the missionary force must first spend 8 year in this training institute. At present there are about sixty persons employed by the Oity Mission Society.

Me~dS of work.-The Oity Mission seeks to touch the whole man -body, ind, and soul. It meets the man at every stage of life, from the little ts in the kindergarten to the decrepid old people, unable to enter the ()hurches, but who are sought out in their homes. There is not a need which the Oity Mission does not seek to alleviate, and everyone in distress may find a measure of help and sympathy in the City Mission chllfches. The greatest stress is laid 911 th«;l spiritlllW. work, because sin is at the bottom of most of the evils with which we come in contact. If we can bring people into right relations with God, they soon come into right relations with themselves and their fellow men. When there has been no soul improvement, all outward aid usually goes for nothing. Conversion of men to God is our chief aim and constant endeavor. We preach the Gospel in English, Ger- man, Italian, and Armenian languages, and carryon a successful work for the Chinese and the Jews. We do, however, a great deal of purely social and educational work. It is commonly believed that in the degraded and neglected parts of our cities social and educational work can not be carried on successfully in connection with church buildings. Experience convinces us that this is a mistake. The Jews and Roman Catholics patronize our penny provident banks, our read- ing rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, sewing schools, cooking classes, kindergartens and day nurseries in great numbers. Our social and educational work could not be better conducted in a secular building.

All of our City Mission churches are educational institutions as well as churches. One of these churches has sent out, during the past eight years, three public school, two kindergarten, and three music teachers, three trained nurses, two city missionaries, two foreign mis- sionaries, two ministers, and three physicians. Three young men are also now studying for the ministry. These young people were all converted through the instrumentality of the City Mission, and through the uplifting power of Christ in their lives became desirous to improve themselves, that they may be more helpful to others. All our churches could show similar records. These facts are encourag- ing, when we so frequently hear that the poor are opprest and down-trodden, and that in our day there is no possibility of their rising. "

Tke Government oj the Oity Mission Ol~urches.-Our doctrinal basis is the Apostles' Creed. A few simple rules have been prepared for the government of the churches. The pastor, with a number of workingmen, administer the affairs in each individual church. The greatest freedom is allowed, and the churches are practically self- governing. The executive committee of the City Mission appoints the pastors, but no man is ever placed in charge of a City Mission church who is not acceptable to the people. In case differences arise between the pastor and his official board, and the board attempts to pass measures, which are in the pastor's judgment unwise, he has the veto power, and the matter is then referred for settlement to the executive committee of the City Mission. Mr. Moody has recently criticized the whole system of mission churches, and there is, no doubt, a good deal of wisdom in his words, but if the wealthy churches, who now support mission chapels, were to follow the simple method of this society, there would be no force in his criticism. It is undoubtedly true that the ideal condition is one in which the rich and the poor meet together before their Maker in the same house of prayer, but we do not live in an ideal world, and we must strive to use the means best adapted to existing conditions.

The majority of working people in New York live in a kitchen and two dark bedrooms. They have no facilities for bathing, and in damp weather little opportunity to air their clothing. It would be impos~ sible to keep people who are accustomed to refined surroundings, and who have not au over-abundant supply of missionary ;eal, in churches largely composed of people from the tenement houses. The self~ respecting and better class of working people in one of our City Mis~ sion churches complained when the men in the Bowery lodging-houses, who were ragged and unwasht, began to fill the church, and we felt that they were justified, and made special provision for the lodging~ house men. The working people will be most at home in a church largely composed of their own class. Their churches should have an air of refinement about them, and be adapted for institutional work. A~ absolutely perfect system of ventilation is indispensible. The mission chapels should be manned with an efficient force of workers, and should be practically self-governed. If the church building is provided with ten or twelve Sunday-school class-rooms, each capable of seating fifty scholars, self-denying men and women will be found, who will esteem it an honor to identify themselves with the chapel work as leaders of these important classes.

Rescue Agencies.-There is in the minds of the most degraded people a certain veneration for a building set apart to the worship of God. People will go to a dime museum in their rags and dirt, but very few, who are sober, will enter a place of worship unless they are decently attired. The surroundingslOf even our Oity Mission churches become too refined for those most in need of spiritual quickening. The Oity Mission acted most wisely when, instead of lowering the tone and respectability of its churches, it planted out-stations in the most degraded courts and alleys. We had some most interesting experiences in these out-stations. Our aim was to reach those who would not enter our church buildings, either because they had no clothing, or because there was absolutely.no desire for spiritual things. We devised a system of movable missions. A degraded court was selected, in which forty-six !amiljes resided. We quietly rented two rooms, such as the tenants occupied as living-rooms. We had an understanding with the landlord for what purpose we desired to use the rooms, but there was no advertising whatever. The day before we opened the mission, we sent a wagon-load of chairs and a small organ to the court. The news that a wh01e wagon-load of chairs had been sent to one of the rooms was sufficient to fill every woman's head in the court with interrogation points. "What in the world is coming to this court, a wagon-load of chairs and an organ, but no pots, beds, or washboiler?" The women advertised our coming effectively, and the next day, when we hung up a red sign, decorated with a white rose, on the door, and sent a pretty card of invitation to every woman in the court to come to the "White Rose," the excitement and curiosity was sufficiently great to crowd our rooms to their utmost capacity. We commenced the service with coffee and cake, because no saloon in our neighborhood is ever opened without some free refreshments. One woman, who had left her children upstairs, started to leave when she had dispatched the refreshments, but we asked her to wait a little while we read from" the Good Book." As we began to read, a woman, who was sitting by my side, put her hand on my arm and said: "Look here, Mister, do you think it is right for that woman to blackguard me?" I said, "please do not disturb me until I have finished reading the Bible." I read the story of the rich man and Lazarus, and talkt to them about the two lives, two deaths, and the two eternities of these men. Ohl what a luxury to preach Ohrist to those who have never heard the message of mercy I Soon a death-like stillness fell upon the audience. The big tears ran down the faces of these weary mothers. I finally said, "before we close, I would like to know if any of you women desire to turn over a new leaf? Will any of you start for heaven to-day and try to bring your husband with you? If there are any such, will you raise your hands and we will pray for you." Reverently, but spontaneously, and as if moved by the Spirit of God, every woman raised her hand and we poured out our hearts to God in prayer. It was a wonderful meeting, and the power of God was present to save. I turned to the woman who had interrupted me and said, "My good woman, what did you want to say to me? " The anger in her face was gone, the tears were running down her cheeks, and with a choking voice she said, "Never mind, I have as bad a tongue in my head as any woman in this house. It was my fault as much as hers." For IPX months our rooms were filled every afternoon with children, and with adults in the evening. At the approach of hot weather we gave up the mission, and urged those who had become interested to attend our church. The next Fall we started in an entirely new locality, and passed through the same experiences. There were stormy times occasionally, the rougher elements frequently seeking to break up the services, but soon the moral sense of the community was with us, and we were left undisturbed. The value of these movable missions lies in the fact that it brings the converts into the church, with which the mission is connected, to be trained in Ohristian life and work. The best place to convert a man or woman is the rescue mission, and the worst place to leave them in permanently after conversion is the rescue mission. The church is the spiritual home of converted men and women, and the great defect of the Salvation Army and other rescue agencies is that they do not lay more stress in transplanting their converts into the churches. The great cities of America will be the storm-centers of the future. The Gospel of Christ will be the most potent remedy for the evils which now aftlict us, and the greater evils which may come upon us. The permanent remedy will come not through acts of congress or the legislature, but through the moral and spiritual elevation of the individual. Two years ago I saw a man whose eyes were closed, and whose face was horribly disfigured from cruel blows received in a drunken brawl. His wife and children were about to be evicted. The starving little ones were piteously crying for food. To-day this man is a volunteer care-taker in the infant class of one of our large City Mission schools. He came to me just before tl;te presidential election, his face beaming with honest pride and pleasure, as he said, "I have been nominated for assemblyman by the Prohibition Party!" Multiply such cases by the thousands, and the red flag will never be flaunted successfully in the faces of American citizens.

The Oross of Ligkt.-A few years ago a poor woman, with breaking heart, was sitting in her desolate rooms on the top floor of a tenement house. Comfort and happiness, and a home which she once owned had all been destroyed through drink. She said to her husband, "George, I hope I will be dead next Christmas, because when Christmas comes, and everybody is happy, you will make my life doubly wretched by your drunken conduct." He uttered a curse, slammed the door, and left her. She said, "Why should I wait till next Christmas, I can be out of all my trouble to-night, and I can bear it no longer." She went to the window, raised the sash, and was about to throw herself on the stone pavement five stories below, when suddenly her eyes' caught sight of a fiery cross, and she gave a shriek, "What is that, look, children, look!" The woman and her children gazed in wonder upon the cross of fire, and then called to their neighbors. The neighbors said, " Oh, that is nothing, that is only the cross on the top of the City Mission church. They are holding their Christmas festival, and they have lighted the cross." "Oh, no," said the woman, "that cross is the vision and voice of God to me. I was about to do an awful thing, and that cross stopt me." The symbol of redeeming love stood for an hour against the dark outline of the sky and vanisht, but hope did not die out in the woman's heart. She was present at the City Mission church on the following Sunday. She began to pray for her husband, and he also was converted. The saving power of the cross of Christ must be made known to all who are ready to perish in the dark places of our great city; in this blessed work the New York City Mission and Tract Society has been successfully engaged for seventy years.

"TlIBSE FROli THE LAND OF SINIlI." 18S

"THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM."

WORK AMONG THE CHINESE IN NEW YORK.

BY MISS CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS HALL, NEW YORK.

CHRISTIAN work for the Chinese in America. is unique. The young meu come from the opposite side of the world. They are opposite to -1lB also in customs and in manner of thought, so that even the Chinese idea has to be transposed before it is translated into our language. Methods to suit their need must therefore be opposite in many re- spects to those used in other missionary work in this country, and even methods usually successful in China do not always avail for the Chinese in America; and further, in San Francisco different circumstances require different methods from those in use in New York City. To look at Orientals and oriental work from an occidental point of view is usually to see the reverse of what is true. Hence the many adverse statements which Christian workers know to be false. To any thus misinformed, and in the spirit of Nathaniel would ask: "Can any good thing come out of China?" the reply is, as Philip's was, "Come and S88."

We see ~rst a stronghold for God; a stronghold for Satan. This characteristic of Greater New York marks its Chinese population. The righteousness of its two hundred or more communicants in evan- gelical churches is in contrast to their heathen kinsmen. It is said that – China has no darker spot than Chinatown in New York.

There are about five hundred Chinese Sunday-school scholars, prin- cipally laundrymen, who form a distinct class among the many grades in New York and vicinity. "Come and s8e" a Chinese Sunday-school in session. A Chinese prayer-meeting, attended by all the scholars, is held half an hour before the opening of school. This prepares the Christians to lead in evangelistic meetings, and brin&,s the Gospel to those who can not yet understand it in English.

"I see a number of the teachers are women," you say. "I do not approve of women teaching the Chinese," and add, with a smile, "I would not mind having an attractive woman teach me."

Truly, an American man's view of it, applicable, doubtless, to his own but not the Mongolian race. The little Chinese boy is taught reverence to mother as well as to father, and the village school-teacher in China is a highly respected man of authority. It is a sorry day fol' the boy if he disobeys, for when he gets home his parents punish him again. Thus early taught diligence and respect at home and school in .China, we find him a deferential, appreciative scholar in the Sunday- school here. I do not believe a Chinese ever acted in other than a proper and courteo~s manner to his lady teacher. You see most of the teachers have one scholar, and ask, "Why this waste of time on one man?" Experience has shown it the best method, especially with beginners. Given: Several Ohinese, kinsmen, of about the same age, ability, knowledge of Ohinese and English, willing to set aside the custom of other Ohinese Sunday-schools and be taught together. Given: A teacher of such tact as to hold the reins of instruction so that all the scholars keep pace and mutually increase progress, then the results may be satisfactory. There are several such classes.

Yonder see that Ohinese group. The older man, a typical Ohristian, his face aglow, his suited gesture, his rapid words in the mother tongue, show his earnestness. The younger men follow every motion, listen absorbed; now and then ask a question; he answers, glances around to see if all understood, and continues. The teacher who taught him is teaching that circle of Ohinese through him. Was it waste of time? It is evident that one scholar, having the whole attention of the teacher, must make better progress. ~'he teacher is a Ohristian friend that makes their hardworking lives more endurable; one to whom they turn for comfort in their sorrow, and sympathy in their joy.

An earnest young scholar profest his faith and was baptized. He was the first of the nineteen converts whom Dr. John Hall has since received into the church. This young Ohinaman was soon after called home by his mother's illness. After some years stay he returned. He had so faithfully taught and lived the religion of Jesus that his whole family became Ohristians. Our Ohristians in Ohina have a cemetery of their own. All the vast province of Kwangtung, from whence all the Ohinese come, is being permeated with Ohristianity. The young men, as they visit Ohina and return, tell of the wonderful changes the Jesus religion is making in their native villages. Truly one, even" a little one," prayerfully taught, becomes in time" a thousand." Is it waste of time to teach that one for God?

"Come and see." Oome nearer. Hear what is being taught. Here is a beginner learning A, B, O. "Ah! all that these Ohinese come for is to learn English!" you exclaim. That is the reason, doubtless, that attracts most of the Ohinese, at first. They know that their success here largely depends on acquiring the language. If any are so kind as to teach them, why shouldn't they come? But, I never knew an instance where, if the teaching continued, the prayerful teacher failed to bring that scholar to Ohrist. That one man saved, offsets all the failure, is worth all the energy and expense put into the work.

There came to Sunday-school a middle-aged Ohinese, with so sad a countenance that it occasioned remark. He had large, deep Bet eyes, fine forehead and evidently a refined nature. Tenaciously he held to the religion of his ancestors. He despised our religion. The very name of Jesus was hateful to him. In his laundry he never allowed it to be spoken in his presence. In vain his cousins had urged him to come to Chinese Sunday-school. One day his brother came from St. Louis, where he had been a regu!ar attendant in Chinese Sundayschool. "See," they said, "your brother he read, he write English, you older, you know nothing!"

Then he made up his mind that he would go and learn English. A new teacher came that Sabbath, and he became her scholar. With contempt he pusht the Bible away, but eagerly poured over the alphabet. There had been a fall of snow, she called his attention to its whiteness and purity, and made him understand that our God, for Jesus' sake, could make our souls "whiter than snow." When the man heard that, he bowed his head, and seemed to think deeply. He was so earnest to learn English, that she invited him to come to her home and study on Monday afternoons. She was a young woman of rare tact and deep spirituality. Long before he could read English, he was reading this "living Epistle of Christ." After a time, he reacht for a Bible and askt to read it, then he would read no other book. "Small words in Bible," he said. Now, he came, that through English, he might learn the Way of Life. The arrogant Confucianist became humble as a little child, at the feet of Jesus, and after two years of further study, he was received into the Ohurch. At that solemn service we sang his favorite hymn, " Whiter than Snow." Many spoke of his radiant face, not at all like the man who came that snowy day, to learn English. Knowing how timid he was, his cousins asked him, if he was not afraid to stand so long before so many. "No," he answered emphatically, "I not afraid, I stand up for Jesus one whole hour. In my heart I say, 'fear not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God!' " For several years the illumined face of that transformed man has been shining in his Ohinese !wme.

At another table the scholar is memorizing the Lord's Prayer. He points to the words, "Our Father." "What that mean?" His teacher, an elegant man of wide culture, explains. Still the cloud of mystery rests on the Chinese face. Suddenly there is a rift in the cloud. "My Fader, and your Fader?" "Yes." It is too wonderful, again he asks, "God your Fader and God my Fader, too?" "Yes." A burst of soul-light radiates from every feature, he has graspt the revelation. The Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of Man.

"Yes," you say, as the session closes, "it is very interesting, but do these Chinese really become Christians?" "By their fruits ye shall know them." When a man loves his enemies, prays for those who persecute him, denies himself that he may help the more needy; when his upright, industrious life is in harmony with what he professes, when the calm, genial face tells of the love, joy, and peace within, we say, that man is a Christian indeed. Such are our Chinese com-, municants. Of all Christians, I know of none under such strict sur- veillance-:-from friend and foe as they, and none better stand the test.

" But," says one, "does not hope of gain influence them to join the Church?" It may, in some instances, but it is the exception. The Christians find much to bear; much to give of time, energy, and means. They bear and give rejoicingly for Jesus' sake. Most of them have regularly attended, at the same time, schools of different deuomi- nations, and circumstances have led to their choice. No ancient wall of Church differences divides these workers, but Christ is all and in all.

Let their works show the reality of their faith. The Okinese Ohristian Union has met monthly for years, holding evangelistic services in each school in turn. The power of the Holy Spirit has manifestly been with them, and much good done, which only such zealous Christians could do. Their headquarters is at 8 Pell Street. Mr. Gong Yu is their newly elected president.

The Evangelical Band, composed of about thirty young Chinese, of different denominations, does aggressive work in Chmatown. They rent rooms at 8 Pell Street. With the help of Mrs. Blanchard and other Christian friends, they have a Sabbath-school every Sabbath evening at eight o'clock; at nine thirty they hold a Chinese Gospel- meeting. Mauy who would otherwise know nothing of Christ, are attracted, in the first instance, by curiosity to hear the singing or to learn English. This is the nucleus of the Chinese Union Church.

Already they have raised five hundred dollars toward the building fund. Mr. K. F. Pang is now president. 0/ the Methodist Ohurch The· Okinese Young Men's .Association found that comparatively few of their people m the city had the Word of God in their own language. They have, therefore, personally dis- tributed seven hundred and thirty-five Chinese New Testaments, and their work continues. Their headquarters, and those of the M. E.

Chinese Mission, are at 150 Fifth Avenue, in the M. E. Mission Board rooms (2.30 P. M. every Sabbath). Rev. Dr. S. L. Baldwin and Miss M. A. Lathbury are their efficient friends. Mr. C. Soule Bok, now a law student, is their able and spiritual leader and interpreter.

The Ohinese Ymtng Men's .Association of St. Bartholomew Guild, of the Episcopal Church, meets at 23 St. Mark's Place every Sabbath at six o'clock. Two Sabbath services, afternoon and eve:Q.ing, and Monday evening school, are held. The Guild has between two and three hundred members. Of one member, Mr. Lee Lea, recently returned to China, they hear that he devotes all his time to travel- ing from village tO,village, preaching the Gospel. Mr. Guy Maine, at whose eloquent appeal in behalf of the temporal and spiritual needs of his people the Guild was founded, has returned from China, and resumed hIS place as superintendent. He is planning a Chinese cam- paign in Chinatown. The Baptists are foremost in zeal. They have had large and power- ful Christian Associations, and done much missionary service. Mr. Fung Yuk Mow is the leader of the Morning Star Mission, founded by Miss Helen F. Clark, at 17 Doyer Street, and Mis. E. C. Potter, secretary. The Christian Sunday-school of the Calvary Baptist Chinese Sunday-school has united forces with them, and they hold the school there every Sabbath evening. The Tabernacle :Baptist Chinese Sunday-school, Second Avenue and 10th Street, under Dr. W. H. Bell, have long done faithful work.

The Ohinese of the Three OongregationalOhurches unite in sup- porting three missionaries in Ohina. The Rev. Sydney L. Gulick, now on the field, imprest his own spirit," rabid for missions," upon the Broadway Tabemacle Chinese Sunday-school, which he founded (Broadway and 34th Street, 2.30 P.M., Sabbath). The Superintendent, Dr. C. E. Bruce, 456 Lexington Avenue, is one of the "Beloved Physicians," to whom the Ohiuese are deeply grateful. Mr. K. F. Pang is the genial interpreter. The Ohinese Sunday-school of Dr. Behrend's Church, in Brooklyn, is one of this missionary trio.

Besides these, they send one of their own number as missionary. Mr. Yung Park, a member of the Pilgrim Oongregational Church, (121st Street and Madison Avenue, 2.30 P.M., Sabbath, of which :Rev. Dr. Virgin is pastor, aud Mrs. E. R. Solomon, superintendent). Mr. Young Park is an orator by nature, a deeply spiritual man, who, by thTehegrOacheinoesfeGModismsiuosntaarycc.oAmsspolcisiahtimonuc0h/. the Presbyterian Mission, superintendent Rev. Ruie Kin, 14 Umversity Place, have raised *2,000 (gold), to bnild a church that is to be self-supporting at San Ning City, China. They also regularly support two day-schools in that vicinity.·'l.These are Sabbath-schools on the Lord's day, and centers of influence. In the schools there are fort,-two boys and eighteen little girls. The fact that the girls have the :prIvilege of education, and are taught in the same room with the boys, IS eloquent tribute to the influence of the Christians of the Ohinese Sunday-school here, on the aucient customs of Ohina. There is a :prosperous and most interesting day-school for Chinese boys at 14 Umversity Place, thirty of whom came from Ohina last summer. When the Ohristians were askt to help rent a summer home for these boys, the 14th Street and 2nd Avenue Presbyterian Chinese Sunday-school, (2.30 P.M.), where Mrs. Reath has labored so long, and is so beloved, and the Chinese Sunday-school of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Mr. William Campbell, Superintendent, (7.15-9 P.M., at 9 East 59th Street), responded generously, and took much interest in these young kinsmen. 'fhe Presbyterian Chinese Mission has also a large school at 53 5th Avenue (2.30 P.M., Sabbath), and a Monday evening school at 14 University Piace. When the Rev. Mr. Ruie Kin was in China last summer, he was called upon to visit the homes and baptize the mothers, wives, children of those whom he had converted in America, and who had brought the Gospel home.

The Okinese Evangelist, a Chinese and English Christian monthly, ably edited by Mr. J. S. Happer and Mr. Guy Maine, of Canton, China, did effective work for three years – arousing interest, organizing Sunday-schools, etc. Mr. Yung Kwai (1327 Fifth Ave.), a scholarly, ChristIan Chinese, edits the New York Ohinese News, which exerts a wide influence for Christianity.

These and other Chinese Christian Associations show something of the results of the Chinese Sunday-school work. With the united effort of about forty Sunday-schools, however, only about one-twentieth of the Chinese population is reacht. From every school the cry goes forth-tell it again and again, untiloSome one hears and responds, "Oh for teachers! More teachers!" Nine thousand five hundred heathens

POLTGAlIlOUS APPLIOANTS

at our door, waiting to be taught the way to heaven. The red signs of the laundries cry out, as we pass, "Oh for schools! More schools! " Who can estimate the value of a soul saved! A Ohinese soul saved here, means the salvation of many yonder, the beginning of the undermining of the" Gibraltar of heathenism." Oh, that God would speak, and listening souls reply, "Here am I, send me."

POLYGAMOUS APPPIOANTS.-II.* WHAT MISSIONARmS THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THEM.

BY REV. DANIEL L. GIFFORD, SEOUL, KOREA.

REPLIES RECOMMENDING ADMISSION OR FAVORING LENIENCY.

Ohina.-Rev. Paul D. Bergen (N. Presbyterian), of Chinan-fu, thinks that "we have no right to make a man put away his extra wives. It is gross injustice to those put away, and also to the children, and also to the man, because all entered into the compact innocently. We have no mission rule, but I think without exception we would take what seemed a Christian man into the Church and let him keep his wives. Same in regard to wives who ought to continue to live with their husband."

Rev. Y. K. Yen (a native Chinese of the American Church Mission, Shanghai), says: My own opinion is that a polygamist ought not to be excluded, because: (1) He married in ignorance of Gospel law. (2) Concubinage is legal, and she married him in good faith. To be put away would be cruel to her, especially if she has children, which generally is the case. (8) If put away, she would have no home to go to, and thus be exposed to great perils. (4) During the infancy of the Church she ought not to have burdens greater than she could bear. .. God will have mercy." I need not add that no convert could marry a concubine. I have had such in my church and they have been forbidden Holy Communion.

Rev. Timothy Richard (formerly of Eng. Baptist Mission, but now connected with the" Society for Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge among the Chinese "), Shanghai.

(1) Never heard of such a practise in China as a •• perpetual catechumen" in regard to any subject. (2) Would allow a man with plural wives to enter the *We regret our inability to print the whole of this important discussion In one or even two Issues. The subject is one which can only be thoroughly understood and~ intelligently dlscust in all its aspects by one who has resided for years among polygamous people, who are being brought by slow stages from the darkness of heathenism Into the true light of the Gospel. Hence it is of especial importance to consider In detan the opinions of misSionaries, who have studi~ the question for many years on the lIeld.-EDlToB. Church, .1 but not to hold any office." (3) In answer to the question whether sUch a man should be required to put away all but one wife, he replies: .. No, no. Unless the extra wife or wives are willing for the nell" arrangement and proper compenaation be rendered to them and their children; otherwise compul- sory divorce would be cruel injustice and, of course, contrary to the whole tenor of scripture." (4) Receive her also into the Church on the same condition as No.2. My opinion coincides with the general practise of our mission.

Rev. A. G. Jones (Eng. Baptist), Choup'ing, says, that their mis- sion baptizes polygamists; but meets very little of it and has had only a few cases. The converts may "retain their 'ch'ieh' (concu- bines), and must support their children, but cau not take or hold office in the Church outside of their own congregation."

D. B. McOartee, M. D. (N. Presbyterian, of Tokyo,Japan, but for- merly of Ning-po, China), narrates an experience with such a man, in China, some forty years ago. While stationed at Ning-po, he made the acquaintance in a shop, of a Chinese gentleman, of the name of Kun. In a subsequent interview at the doctor's house, he gave him a Bible and some tracts. Ten years later they met again. Mr. Kun had become an applicant for baptism. Dr. NcCartee says: We found on conversing with him that he had carefully studied both the Old and New Testaments, and showed such evidence of acquaintance with the plan of salvation and of his having taken Christ as his Savior, and of his endeavor to do whatsoever He had commanded, that after a suitable length of time, the session of the Yu·yao Church (some forty miles from Ning-po) wisht that he might 'be received into their church by baptism. But we then for the first time learned that some years before having reacht the age of forty-five or thereabouts, and his wife not having born him a child, he had taken to himself a second wife (or concubine). . • . Mr. Kun's concubine had borne him a son, and Mr. Kun had no idea that he had done anything contrary to the rules and requirements of the Christian religion, but supposed that he was following the example of Abraham, the father of the faithful and of other Old Testament saints. The mission was for some time uncertain as to the proper course to be followed. My own view was that Mr. Kun had acted in good faith according to the laws and customs of his own country, and with no intention or consciousness of disobeying any of the commands of Christ. He could not legally put away his wilt! without cause and to make him put away his second wife, for no fault of her own, would not only be inflicting a penalty upon her which she had not merited, but would separate a mother from her own child, which would be cruelty. The matter was finally settled in that way. The church were advised that altho anyone who had been admitted into church fellowship, if he afterwards took another wife (or a concubine) while his first wife was still living, should be cut off from communion, two wrongs would not make one right, and that Mr. Kun should not be required to send away his second wife. And 80 the church acted and admitted him to baptism.

Rev. H. H. Lowry (Methodist North) Peking, doubts whether any rule can be laid down to cover all cases. Each case should be settled on its merits. Should not hesitate to receive such a man if otherwise perfectly satisfied with his sincerity. If one wife can be put away and supported without hardship to herself, he should insist on it. But nearly always it is the second wife who has the children, and is probably the favored one. In that case he sees no reason why the other could not be comfortably provided for by the husband. Of course, such a man should never be given office in the Church; and thinks the man must support both wives and the children. WouId receive the female applicant in such relations. It is a relation into which she entered without her consent, or perhaps any thought of wrong. Speaking of the actions of "Synods or Oouncils, etc., in the home land," he says, "They simply can not appreciate the situation. It is easy to formulate a very clear theoretical course of action, but in practise we find difficulties that they can not understand at home."

Rev. J. (J. Gibson (Eng. Presbyterian), Swatow.

The practise in our mission, • . . both here and in Amoy is to refuse baptism to men who have more wives than one. We have kept them in the posi. tion of unbaptized worshipers. . • . As to the wives in such cases, I do not remember that the matter of their being baptized or not has ever come before us. My impression is that if it did, we should receive them if otherwise suitable. • . • Oases of this kind have not been numerous with us. The people among whom we work are for the most part a poor farming class, and in the cities our membership is comparatively limited. Among the agricultural and small trader class the practise of polygamy is rare. . . • If the cases were more frequent, I think we should all feel it to be necessary to give the matter more thorough con· sideration than we have done, very probably with the result of a change in our practise. • . . I think we [in this mission] all occupy much the same position of provisional assent to the present practise, with a feeling that it may require reconsideration.

Of course, it is to be assumed, that the taking of a second wife by a church member would be treated as matter for discipline. . . . Should he be required to put away all but one wife? • . . (1) As Ohristian teachers we can not admit that the man has a right to dispose of the women without their own con· sent, and in cases where they did not consent, what could be done? I am quite clear that the man is bound to provide for these women for life. If he is to put them away he must do either of two things; (a) He may give them a separate establishment, and provide for their maintenance, while remaining himself quite apart from them. In this case they would remain under his control, and however good his intentions might be, no one who knows the Ohinese would think that to be a safe permanent arrangement. • • . Or (b) he may arrange marriages for all but one of his wives. . . • Here there are many difficulties. As a Chris· tian must he not seek Ohristian husbands for the wives whom he is marrying out? On the other hand, would we feel free to recommend these women as wives to Ohristian men who are not yet trammeled? Would they not do much better to take for their wives women who have not gone through any such painful experi· ence? Also will it be possible for him in all cases to find suitable husbands for these women? . . • Again, he has put himself into a very close relation, rightly or wrongly, to these women; has he a right, as himself a saved man, to put them once for all beyond his own influence and give up all opportunity of leading them to the Savior? . . • I can not think that it is in the spirit of the Gospel to outca3t in this way these women, who by no fault of their own, prob· ably without their consent having been askt, have been put by this man in the days of his ignorance into this falae position.

Now as to which wife he is to choose [in case he puts away all but one]. . • . He has absolutely no right to put away his first and legal wife. • • . To my mind the putting her away, with no fault alleged against her, would far more disqualify him from receiving Christian baptism than would the possession of two or more wives. . . • But may he retain her, and put away the others? If the other wives have no children, if they are willing to go, and if he finds a suitable Christian marriage for them which is acceptable to them, then I think he may put them away. But is it likely that these conditions could be carried out? I think not. From what I have said it seems clear that it is not open to him simply to divorce any of his wives. To do so would be adding sin to sin, and the lin is the more grievous that he is now a Christian man.

The existence of children still further complicates the situation. Whether they are the children of the first wife or of the others, he is their father, and their claim on him. not merely for support, but for a Christian training, is not affected by the sinfulness of his relation to his secondary wives. In many cases the chilo dren are likely to be the children of the secondary wife or wives, because the reason for taking a second wife very often is that there are no children by the first. For this reason the retaining of the first wife and the putting away of all the others will raise at once the very difficult question of the rights of the chilo dren. Are they to follow the father? Then they will be separated from their own mother. Are they to follow the mother? Then they will be separated from their own father, and moreover the father is by supposition a Christian, while the mother may not be. On the other hand, where ODe man has several wives, the mother of each child has a stronger claim to the possession of it than the father, who by taking several wives, has made a Christian home and the con. cllDtrated exercise of parentiallove impossible. In short, when there are children, there is no possible extrication of the situation by the rough and ready method of putting away.

Whatever the solution to be adopted may be, it seems to me that we are shut up to contemplate as unavoidable the continuance of the old relationship. It was. a wrong relationship at first, and the man sinned in entering upon it ; it is a wrong relationship still, its moral character being unaltered by the lapse of time. But the wrong done is in its nature permanent in its results. It is not a wrong which can be righted by an act of repentance and reformation. To change the status now would only be a fresh act of sin. The penitence must be that of the heart, but the wrong done can not now be put right.

If this be so, what attitude is the Church to assume? Is a man in this posi· tion to be baptized or not? . . . If a case came before us in which the Chris· tian character of the man was very plainly that of a renewed man, . . . I think I should feel inclined to admit them to baptism. But there are reasons of weight for refusing baptism. The church is in its formative stage; . . . their admission may tend to lower the tone of spiritual morality which we wish to keep as high as possible. You may fairly say to such a man that by refusing baptism you do not imperil his salvation, and that for the sake of warning, and for the common good of the whole Church you feel bonnd to keep him at the door. After a time, when the Church has made some growth and its moral tone is better establisht, it might become sa.fer to risk the a.dmission of such men. But at an early stage one such man might by his infiuence do a world of harm to the spiritual tone of the Church. . . .

On the other hand, it seems to be very much in the spirit of the Gospel, and ~n a~ord!nC(l witl!- apostolic practise, to ~mit iAto tbe Cburch verr imperfect elements, trusting to the working of the spiritual life present in it to eliminate the elements of evil. So slavery was dealt with. There must have been not a few slave-owners in the early Church. And one can not help feeling, that 1 Tim. 8: 2 distinctly hints that there were in the early Church some that had more wives than one. If a man is kept out of the outward church because of his having more than one wife, many dangers may arise in his family life. He worships under a stigma that lowers his self-l'el!pect. His wives and children may very likely feel it so much as to be deterred thereby from coming to worship at all. If, on the other hand, his wives and children should follow him in making a Christian profession, and are baptized while he is not, the man will feel that an injustice is done him by which his rightful influence as a Christian man over his own household is greatly weakened, just at the time when he has begun to desire to use it for good.

The one condition that I would impose would be the one suggested by 1 Tim. 8:2, that he should not be appointed to hold any office in the Church. I would explain the principles acted upon to the man himself, to his family, and to the congregation, protest against the wrong done, so that the Church's attitude may be unmistakable, and then in the exercise of the charity which believeth all things I would baptize him.

Rev. J. R. Goddard (Am. Baptist), Ning-po, believes that when such a man applies for admission, if he gives good evidence of conversion, he should be received. If he can put away all but the first wife without injustice, should be encouraged to do so. But having married them legally, while a heathen, it would be doi1ig a wrong and injustice to put them away against their consent, or without making adequate provision for their needs. If they have children it would bring a stain against their legitimacy. He would, therefore, fully explain to such a man, and also to the native church, the Bible doctrine of marriage, and as the lesser of two evils, would receive him to church membership with his plural wives.

Rev. J. Wherry (Am. Presbyterian), Peking, says neither the Presbytery of Peking nor Synod of China have a rule on the subject. He knows of three cases: In one case the man put away one of the women and subsequently was elected an elder; the other two were admitted, keeping their wives.

(1.) Inclined to think he would admit a man who had taken two wives in days of ignorance, if truly regenerate.

(2.) The only condition he would require in admitting is that the man satisfy his Conscience in retaining or putting away one of the wives. Still, if young, and second wife had no children, and could be restored to her father's household, or put in some safe retreat, might advise to put away if it could be done with her consent and quietly.

(3.) If he wishes to put away and can peaceably, should as a rule retai.n the first wife. If the second wife only has children, and the first wife ill willing and has a suitable home to go to, it might be wise for her to separate from her hus- … band. Wives Bent away should be supported or divorced only with their own consent freely given. "Whether the first wife should, even with her own consent, be absolutely divorced would, in my opinion, depend to a certain extent on the nature of the marriage contract and the circumstances connected with it, and the laws of the country under which the m.an lives." The divorced woman, if she 80 desires, should retain the children. He believes in admitting a female candidate in such relations. He believes that a weighty principle bearing ilpon this question is, "The right of every true believer in Christ to baptism."

Rev. J. L. Stuart (S. Presbyterian), Hangchow:- I would say that if he recognizes the sin and would like to restore what he has taken unlawfully, but can not do 8Owithout injury to others,let him be baptized.

Let him understand, however, that he should make all amends that are possible: 6. g. living apart if the woman be willing. Invariably the first wife should be retained as the only legal wife. • He should see that they are supported, or that they or their families can support them. She may marry another man. The children always belong to the father. The female applicant, if a concubine, may be baptized when the man, who is practically owner and master, refuses to give her up. I put her in the same category with minors, ser.

vants, slaves, apprentices, etc.; persons who are bound to others and can not act freely. Always try to change the relation when it is not in accord with the prin.

ciples of the Bible, but when this can not be done without violating some other Bible principle, let it stand, and treat the person bound by it as not a free agent and not morally responsible in that particular respect. Receive him on condition that when he becomes free he or she will use his or her freedom and conform to the law of God. The Gospel teaches men to do right, but not right in one direc- tion at the expense of right in another direction.

Rev. R. Lechler (Basel Mission), Hongkong, sends a copy of their church rules in Chinese. Commenting upon these, he remarks: He should not be required to put away all his wives but one unless he sees his way plain that no injustice nor injury be done to the innocent. • The first wife must be retained in China, otherwise his social standing would be ruined.

Of the second wives, he can retain those who have bome children; mere concu~ bines should not come into consideration. . The wives sent away must be supported by the former husband if they can not find a new husband. The children, at least all boys, go to the father by Chinese right. I had a case in Hongkong where the second wife of a heathen husband was converted.

The husband did not wish to part with her, but allowed her free exercise of the Christian religion. So I baptized the woman and had no occasion to regret it.

Dr. Ashmore. in the Ohinese Recorder of 1883, related an incident which was as follows: "An applicant had two wives, and was told that he must put one away.

Which one? The one last married. But the first wife had no children, while the second had several. Was the mother to be separated from her children? The discarded wife said to the missionary, 'Teacher, he is my husband; I am his wife. You say that he ought not to have taken me, but he did take me before he knew your new religion. He is the father of my children. I have a right to look to him for companionship and for protection. You make my children illegiti.

mate. You should not do that. You have no right to injure my children that way. You have no right to put me in the position of a disreputable woman, for he lawfully married me according to the usage of China. I had a husband; now I have no husband. I had a home; now I have no home. If I go and marry another man I shall break the law. I had one to whom I could go as the father of my children; now I can go to my children'S father no longer, nor may I dare to speak to him.' " When a man marries a second wife after he became a church member the course of a miSSionary is plain. But when Christianity finds a man living according to the custom of the country and the sanction of its laws with two or more wives, can not he be accepted under protest rather than do irremediable injustice and injury to the innocent?

Rev. James Oarson (Irish Presbyterian), Moukden:- This question came up and was discusst and settled by us as a Presbytery [Manchuria] a few years ago. We decided that the fact of a Chinaman having two wins should not be a bar to his receiving baptism; moreover, that he should not be required to repudiate or put away either, but at the same time that he should not be eligible for any office in the church. Of course it is not permitted under any circumstances for a man, once he becomes a member, to take to himself a secondary wife or concubine. It was my painful duty last year to excommunicate a man for this grave offense against the law of the church. He persisted in contracting the second marriage, altho he knew that he was infringing the said law and knew the consequences that it would entail. The members at the station (Fa Kuh Men) entirely approved of my action. . . . I remember we felt, when the question was under discussion, that a great wrong would be done to the unoffending wife if she were to be divorced from her husband, inasmuch as the marriage was contracted during the days of his ignorance. What would become of the divorced wife? What would be her status in native society, and how would the outside heathen world regard the action of the Christian church in thus separating husband and wife? By tolerating the evil under the above limitations we believe we are acting in the spirit of the Gospel, that the relationship may be sanctified and the whole household saved.

Rev. John Macintyre (United Presbyterian Church of Scotland), New-chwang:- We did not make a clean start. There were no women in those days to tell us who was who in the family, and some were baptized who would not have been if we had known all. . Thus I have been gradually educated into the belief that after all it is better in China to baptize as we now do, with the proviso that no fresh relationships be entered into, and that none compromised by the question of concubinage should ever, under any circumstances, hold office in the church. I have a friend in Sonth Africa who has had rare success among the .

Kaffirs. He has one rule: "Break up the pack; scatter the conCUbines." His story is a thrilling one. But I could not follow him. A glance into the story of Hagar is enough for me. I would leave them aU out of the church together or accept them together. . .

Rev. John Ross (United Presbyterian Church of Scotland), Moukden:- A few years ago the United Mission in Manchuria had the matter before them for final settlement. It was unanimously agreed that on account of the conditions of family life in China a man proved to be otherwise conducting himself as a believer should, could be baptized, tho he had a plurality of wives, but that he be not eligible for any office in the church; and that one of several wives be similarly admitted into the church. But that any member taking a second wife while his first was living would at once be put out of the church. This law has had to be enforced in the cases of three useful men who became inveigled into this forbidden relationship. We always consult our senior Christians in regard to every measure connected with church life, and the native eldership in the Presbytery were cordially at one with the Europeans there.

(To be Continued.)

CHRISTIANITY IN THE WES'!' INDIES

OHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST INDIES.

BY REV. DAVID W. BLAND, JAMAICA, W. I.

When we speak of the West Indies, we mean not only the numerous islands of the Oaribbean Sea, but also the colonies of Guiana on the northeast coast of South America. This, together with the diocese of British Honduras, is what constitutes the Ohurch of Eugland Ecclesiastical Province of the West Indies, of which the Bishop of Jamaica is now the Primate.

A study of the map will show this province to be one of vast extent, with a great variety of races and nationalities, and with different forms of government. Throughout the majority of the inhabitants are either of pure or of mixt African blood, freed from slavery a little more than sixty years ago, and speaking more than one European language -Dutch, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Danish, English. Everywhere the pure whites are, numerically, in the minority. There are, also, principally in Jamaica, Trinidad, and British Guiana, large numbers of natives of India and of Ohina, brought hither, since the cessation of slavery, as immigrants indentured to labor on the sugar plantations. To these must further be added the tribes of aboriginal Indians living in the forests of the Guianas, far from these aboard and difficult of acceBB.

Prior to the abolition of slavery, whatever Ohristian work was done in these West Indies was, from the nature of circumstances, very meager. Missionaries labored under tremendous difficulties. The planters with, perhaps, here and there a noble exception, were bitterly opposed to any enlightenment of the negroes, and either absolutely forbade the preaching of the Gospel to them on the plantations, or else placed such restrictions on the missionary as made his work hard and even perilous. And yet his work, hindered as it was, was not fruitless. Many an enslaved one, amid the cruel surroundings of those dark days, found peace and true liberty in the name of Jesus.

In 1834 freedom came in the British colonies, and with it a new era dawned, opening out great opportunities for Ohristian work, which the various Ohristian bodies have not neglected. Everywhere now they are faithfully and earnestly laboring to win these islands for Ohrist.

It is impossible to attempt, here, anything like an adequate account of what is being done in every island and on the mainland. A glance over the field, selecting such portions as may be considered centers of organization and work, must suffice. Everywhere the problems and difficulties, the conditions of life and work, are very similar.

Beginning on the mainland, omitting French Guiana, we find in Dutch Guiana, or Surinam, the Moravians doing an exemplary missionary work. Their labors there, particularly among the bush negroes, have been heroic and full of much worthy, without a doubt, of a place in miracles of missions. It is a matter of deep regret to hear of the financial difficulties threatening to hinder the progress of these zealous brethren here and in other fields, and all friends of missions will be anxious to see them removed. Next in order comes the colony of British Guiana with its three divisions of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo,-a magnificent country of immense resources and full of promise of a bright future. Here Christian activities abound. Among the Portuguese, who form a large section of the po,{>ulation, the Roman Church h88 a considerable mission under the JesUlt Fathers, aided by a body of nuns doing chiefly educational work; and among the general population the Anglican Church~ the Wesleyans, Moravians, and Presbyterians are energetically laboring. The Anglican Church, besides her regular parochial work in towns and villages, has also missions among the aboriginal Indians in the depths of the primeval forests extending to the frontiers of Brazil, among the Ohinese iu Georgetown and on the river settlements, and among the East Indians, or coolies, 88 they are called, scattered through the sugar plantations. This last work, for a lon~ time neglected, is of deep interest, and. by every branch of the Ohurch IS now being recognized as extremely important in its bearings on the evan~elization of India and Ohina. Very many of these people, after theIr terms of indenture are expired, return to the East, and among them often are Ohristian converts bearing the precious seed of Divine Truth, which they have learned in these lands, back to their old heathen homes. There their lives and testimony, as recorded instances witness, are a powerful influence in aiding the spread of Christianity. In Trinidad, the island nearest the mainland, are also considerable numbers of these eastern immigrants, and here, perhaps, the best work done for them in the West Indies is to be seen, the Presbyterians of England taking the foremost place. The bulk of the popUlation are of French and Spanish descent, and are adherents of the Roman Ohurch; but there is good Protestant work being done by the Church of England and other bodies.

The other West Indian islands, with the exception of Puerto Rico, Haiti, Ouba, and Jamaica, fall under two great divisions, formed by numerous small islands and termed the Windward and the Leeward ·Groups. Of the former, Barbados, and of the latter, Antigua, is each the center of considerable Ohristian enterprise. The Spanish island of Puerto Rico may be said to be entirely under Roman influence, altho I believe there is some effort being made from Antigua by the Anglican Ohurch to meet the needs of the small English-speakmg community.

Eastward of Puerto Rico lies the great island of Hispaniola, divided into the two black republics of Santo Domingo and Haiti, the former Spanish, and the latter French-speaking. Romanism is in both repub- lics the prevailing form of Christianity, but in neither has it done much to raise the people morally or intellectually. The degradation of Haiti is very great, the most barbarous practises, even sometimes cannibalism, being said to be prevalent. The Protestant Episcopal Ohurch of America has a mission here under the care of a resident bishop of African descent; and there are also missions of the Wesley- ans and of the Baptists. Passing by Cuba, where, so long as the revolution continues, all efforts of evangelization must be at a standstill, we reach Jamaica, the most beautiful, most prosperous, and most advanced island in the whole archipelago, and the scene of extensive Ohristian labors. There is scarcely a Christian denomination of any importance that has not its representatives in Jamaica; but the largest and most influential are the Baptists, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, and the Anglican Church. Everywhere the churches, chapels, mission-stations, and schools of these bodies are to be found; and, from Kingston as a base, Ohristian Endeavor Societies and the Anglican St. Andrew's Oross are spreading their operations. In almost all the towns Young Men's Ohristian Associations are organized..

A noteworthy feature of Ohristian work here is that the whole of the elementary education of the people is lookt after by the churches under a system of government grants, by which, under certain condi- tions, the building and repairing of schoolrooms is assisted, and the Rayment of teachers, graduated by results at inspection, assured. These annual grants amount to about $300,000. This denominational system of education is, however, very unsatisfactory, and is fruitful cause of much lamentable friction between the different Ohristian bodies. There is a fast spreading feeling that the time is come for it to be replaced by a national system.

From this survey of the field, cursory as it has been, it will be gathered that thero are considerable Ohristian forces at work in these West Indies; that there is a variety and mixture of races producing peculiar problems and difficulties; and that the bulk of those among whom the churches labor are the descendants of quondam African slaves. We have now to meet important questions :-what, with all this vast machinery, have been the results? Are the people being elevated morally and intellectually in a manner proportionate to the outJay? Is the Christianity seen in the lives of those to whom the Gospel is being unceasingly and faithfully preacht, and on whose education such large expenditure is made, of a satisfactory type? TakingJamaica as typical of the whole province, we are forced to answer in the nega- tive. There is, undoubtedly, much for which we have to thank God; there are many lives that are consistent, pure, and exemplary, of whom, indeed, it may be said that their conversation is in heaven; but, looking at the mass of our people, results are very disappointing, and there is a wide-spread anxiety concerning the future in the minds of all who desire to see something better than a mere superficial Christianity.

One great evil which Ohristianity has to combat here is the sin of sexual immorality, the fearful prevalence of which is seen in the distressing fact that, for years, official returns of the registration department have given over 60 per cent. of our population as of illegitimate birth. Nor do I think that any other of these Islands can show anything better than this.

Another distressing evil is the presence of gross superstitions, particularly of the dreadful obi, brought from Africa in the old slavedays. The Ohristian teaching of so long years has not yet eradicated this; it still lingers, and is a gigantic hindrance to the growth of a pure Ohristianity.

In an article which appeared a few months ago in one of our leading journals, attention was drawn to these two evils, and, from their presence and that of other things complained of, the conclusion was drawn that the churches in the island are" a failure." This conclusion was extremely unjust, as it omitted to fairly consider the difficulties around the churches in their struggle against these things. With regard to sexual immorality, some kind of legislation is sadly needed to assist the churches' efforts. More than one attempt has been made to obtain this; the evils threatening the whole community from this vice have been pointed out with no uncertain voice, but all without success. This year a letter on this subject, and others of a pressing

THE WAR AND THE GOSPEL IN CUBA

nature, was jointly prepared by nearly all the Protestant bodies, read simultaneously from our pulpits, and distributed among the people. It pointed out the degrading tendencies of this sin, and advised, among otlier things, the building of larger and better homes, in which decency and modesty would be inculcated in the minds of children from their earliest years. It is a sad fact that very many of the homes in which our children are born and bred are so wretched, so saturated with moral corruption, that the wonder is, not that so many fall away from virtue, but that any are able to resist the temptations to immoral lives. And with regard to the superstitions, it must not be forgotten that it takes a long time to completely remove the old ancestral beliefs from the minds of any people. I firmly believe, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, that their hold on our West Indian people is gradually weakening, and that, in the course of time, as the dark ignorance which in many regions yet prevails is removed by education, they will event- ually entirely disappear. But, disappointed as many of us may be, yet we are not discour- aged. In confidence that the long-wished-for results are only tarrying, we still go on preparing the way of the Lord, believing in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to regenerate all men, waiting for that outpouring of the spirit which, some day, is sure to come, and looking for a time when righteousness and purity will be the character of our people. That happy time may be far in the future; generations, perhaps, will pass away before it comes; meanwhile the Church works on in faith, and prayer, and hope.

THE WAR AND THE GOSPEL IN CUBA. * BY REV. ALBERTO .T. DIAZ, HAVANA, CUBA.

The Roman Catholic Church is largely a political church and in Cuba all politics are settled by the Catholics. When I first returned to Cuba as a citizen of the United States, and began to try to establish an independent church, many Cubans, who were hungering and thirsting for liberty, came to join the church, thinking that by being baptized they would become free American citizens. I explained that this was not so, and the result is that only twenty-seven hundred have been baptized, but they thoroughly understand regeneration.

There are now seventeen hundred members in my little church, and they are spreading their influence all over that island. They visit a certain number of homes in Havana every week, and do missionary work among them. This is the secret of so large a church. Our place of worship was intended for a theater, but has been converted into a church. It seats 3,000, and there is room for 3,000 more seats. We can have no sign outside of the church, as it is against the law. We can not tell openly that we have a church even; it is against the law. So you see all the missionary work is done quietly by the members. I would be put in jail for telling people where the church was located.

I have been in jail six times just for preaching the Gospel, but I am ready to go twenty times more for the same reason. I must tell my people all about the Lord Jesus, as it is in the Bible. I have been • Abridged from an address in the Calvary Baptist Church, Dec. 20, 1896. doing it for years and am not tired yet. At one time the Roman Oatholic Church wanted to make Columbus a saint and canonized him. I went to my church and said: "I know history; I know Columbus discovered Cuba and America, but ought that to make him a saint?" The result was I was taken to jail for preaching against a saint. I was eventually let go because Oolumbus had not yet been canonized.

It is sometimes hard to get a man or woman to accept Jesus Christ as He is represented in the Bible. My father was a doctor. I askt him to read the Bible, but he refused, saying it was an old book; he wanted something newer and more scientific. I took it to the Lord in prayer with my little sister, a child of ten, who finally said: "Why do you worry so about father? I will get him to read the Bible." Sunday came and she found father and said: "Father, will you read just these two or three verses to me? I am in such a hurry and want to know them by heart." He read them, but she kept asking him to repeat them until she knew them thoroughly. She went to school, and returning said to me: "Father has read the Bible, and if you will tell me what verses to get him to read I will have him read them." I markt some, and that night she said again to father: "Father, I am so tired, and I always read my Bible before going to bed. Won't you read it to me to-night? " And so every night he would read to her. One night about 4 o'clock I saw a light in my sister's room, and thinking the child was sick went to see her. The child was sleeping and my father was reading the Bible. I rusht in and kissed him and we knelt down together and he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Ohrist, and the next time we went to church he was baptized.

We have to be very particular about those we admit to membership, but when they are converted they quit dancing and other harmful habits and never go back to them; if they did, they would be excluded from the church, but we are glad to say that we never have to exclude any. We have persecutions, but we do not mind them, because every time our church is persecuted the membership increases and the old members are more fully consecrated to the Lord; so every time we pray, we say: "Lord, send us persecutions that we may be more faithful disciples of the Master."

The war was not unexpected. When it commenced nearly a thousand members of my church called for a meeting. They said: "You have been preaching to us about our liberty and freedom in Ohrist Jesus and these men are fighting for civil liberty and we, who have been so persecuted, feel we must fight for religious liberty." They are all in one regiment fighting for religious freedom. Ieould take no part in the war myself, so I organized a society, not only for the relief of our men, but for the sick and the wounded, the Spanish as well as the Oubans.

The war has been expected for seventeen years. Ouba has a population of one and a half millions, and Spain taxes them $29,000,000 every year. They tax everything. A doctor has to pay ten or fifteen thousand dollars to complete his education. Nor is that all. After he completes his education he has to pay $300 every year for the privilege of practising. If he has a horse, a tax of $25 is imposed, if a carriage, $50. If he puts a sign outside his door he is taxed 10 cents for each letter that is an inch long, and if the letters are two or three inches long, the tax is from 50 cents to $1.00 each letter. The taxation averages $25 a head for every man, woman, and child. I have from twenty-five to thirty pages of manuscript in my possession, proving the shooting of women and of children from six months to two years of age. I am well posted as to the horrible crimes that the Spaniards are committing every day, and that is why they put me out of the island. I knew too much and talkt too much. We are fond of the United States and would like to deal with her, but if we want to buy a barrel of flour from you, Spain has so arranged it down in Cuba, that it would cost us *24. Spain secures her flour from here and sends it from Europe to Cuba, making us pay *15 a barrel. We 'are allowed to have no trade of our own. A few years ago, if we sent our children to be educated in the United States, the father of that child could hold no official position, for his terrible crime. We have been praying and working to be free in Cuba, as you are in the United States, and we know that God will hear our prayer and will protect and help us as he helpt you. We are alone; we have no Lafayette. We have rung our Liberty Bell, but none has heard, and oh I how we pray they will hear and come to our help. I have been banisht. At four o'clock one morning policemen came to arrest me and my brother. They spent seven hours reading my papers and sermons and everything I had and then wanted to take us to jail. I said: "I have been sitting here very patiently, have not opened my mouth, but I want some breakfast first." The Spanish people are the slowest people you ever met. If you make a business appointment with them they will meet you and say" To-morrow." For instance, I have *20,000 in my hand, the first payment on our church in Cuba, and have been waiting a year to pay it. The man always says" I will sign the paper to-morrow." While we were eating, my brother entertained the policemen; they were our guests, and I wrote a telegram and slipt it under my plate without attracting their notice. My wife took it and sent it, and I was saved by that telegram. For eight days we were kept in jail, unable to read, write, or talk to anybody. After eight days they brought us to trial. I was an American citizen and refused to answer their questions. My brother answered their questions and laughed about it. We were taken back and had the sentence of death read to us, but to this I protested, saying I wanted to hear nothing about it. I knew I was to be executed the next day; I knew everything was ready. A soldier stayed by my bed all the time, every two hours a new one coming. I knelt down and prayed: "Lord, send me an angel and save me if you will." In the middle of the night the angel came. It was one of my church mem- bers who was sent in to keep watch. He askt me what he could do for me. I wrote several telegrams and letters, and he sent them for me. The telegrams were sent to the United States. The next day the jail door was opened.. My brother and I said farewell, and sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," with tears. It was natural; we were to leave wives and children, but instead of execution we were free. It is always my custom on leaving the jail to go to my church andJ finish the sermon I have been preaching, so this time I went. My people were all very much surprised. The papers had announced that we were to be executed that day, but I said to my people: "Don't be afraid; the same Lord Jesus Christ who opened the jail for Paul and Silas and Peter is the same Lord Jesus who opened the jail for us," and we had a revival lasting until half past one in the morning.

We went home, and the next day two policemen came with an

THE WANING INTEREST IN FORMGN MISSIONS

order from Gen. Weyler that my brother and I and my family should leave Ouba immediately, at SIX o'clock, the time the next steamer left. I said that was too quick. Nevertheless, I signed the paper and commenced to dress. I wanted two or three days to put the work into the hands of the mission board. We had a church, a school, and a cemetery in which were buried 17,000 Catholics, and which brought us five or six thousand dollars a year for the work. I went out and no one knew where I was. I stayed until half past six, after the steamer had sailed, and then came back. I arranged about the property and came here as an exile, but I have been treated better here than in Cubs. Pray for Cuba, and pray for the women who carryon the work of the church, and pray for your humble servant.

THE WANING INTEREST IN FOREIGN MISSIONS.* BY REV. RICHARD S. STORRS, D.D., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

It would be superfluous to argue for the blessing which comes with foreign missions; for everything which we have as individuals, in the way of character or culture, or of prosperity and happiness, by which we are differentiated from our savage ancestors in the woods and on the seas, has come to us from foreign missions, from the messages of the Gospel carried from Rome to the British Isles, from the subsequent messages sent under Augustine and his monks at the end of the sixth century, to the crude and fighting English people. Every happy home in which there is a Christian influence rests upon foreign missions. Every school in which instruction is truly and effectively given, every seminary of learning of whatever rank, every great university, the great libraries, all these, with all pleasant, happy, social customs, all just laws, prosperity, commerce, industry, power III the world-have come as the effect of foreign missions reaching our ancestors, and building them to a nobler and lovelier manhood than they otherwise could have attained. Every asylum of charity, every institute of beneficence rests upon foreign missions. It IS not the Anglo-Saxon spirit, as we sometimes say, it is not the confluence of life at this center from all peoples of the earth, which constitutes the basis for these great educational, charitable, beneficent institutions and influences. They come from foreign missions. And if we are ever blind to the value and glory of foreign missions it will be the worst example of civic ingratitude in the history of the world. Our just and humane legislation, our courts of justice, our republican institutions, our literatures, so far as they are enlightened and purified and purifying in effect, our hopes for the future, as well as our present prosperity and tranquillity, likewise come from foreign missions. These have been the builder by whom has been erected the entire personal, public, civic, and national development in which we rejoice to-day. And so it is natural that there should be an interest in foreign missions throughout the country-an interest in them not merely, tho primarily and supremely, because they reach individual souls and lead them toward the celestial and • An address delivered at the Interdenominational Rally for Foreign Missions held In Carnegie Hall, New York, on Friday evening, January 15, 1897. Reprinted with some abbreViations from the New York Independent. immortal life ; that would be an impulse to preach in the next village to preach in any neighborhood. Souls are there needing the Gospei as precious as the souls at Benares or Bombay, in Japan or China, or anywhere else.

Now there seems to be a diminution of the intense enthusiasm for foreign missions, which has been a characteristic and a glory in our national thought and life; and it comes, you observe, at the very point where we should expect just the opposite. Our means for promoting foreign missions were never so great as to-day. There have been added to our churches millions of profest Christian converts within the last twenty or thirty years. Wealth was never so abounding as now, in spite of the occasional alternating reverses in commercial affairs. In five years, before 1896, there were produced in America alone, beating all the rest of the world out of sight, nearly one hundred and ninety millions of gold, more than three hundred and seventy millions of silver; the products of manufactures have been immense beyond computation; the harvests of immeasurable abundance and bounty; the commerce of the country has been drawing to it the tribute of the seas from every ocean and every shore, wealth never so great as at this present time, and these millions of Ohristian disciples have their reasonable share of it and of its increase; and it might be expected that they would give more freely than ever before to this sublime' work which God has put partly into their hands. And then the missions themselves have never been so prosperous as they were three or five years ago, until these reductions began to cripple and almost imperil them. And these terrific outrages in the Ottoman Empire, at which we shudder and before which our blood stands still, are only the signs of the power which the Ottoman Government finds in foreign missions-the power to educate, the power to elevate; and ther come from the fear that by the onward working of these foreign mIssions, the Empire itself, the Mohammedan Government, will be overwhelmed or displaced. Missions were never so prosperous as recently; conversions never so frequent; the aggregate of church members in the missions never so great; the instruments for furthering missions within their own bounds-churches, schools, presses, individual labors, never so numerous and powerful as now. Everything has been looking apparently toward greater success soon to come; and yet at this precise point comes in this strange diminution of enthusiasm in our own land and churches for this sublime enterprise of God on the earth.

The question is one that faces us directly and must be answered. To what is this diminution of enthusiasm owing? Well, no doubt, it is owing primarily to the increasingly secularized temper of the Ohurch itself, which does not grasp spiritual things with the old vividness and vigor, which is more imprest by the temporal things which are beautiful and suburb to the sense, but which are transient and passing away. Unquestionably there is such a decline in the spiritual energy and intuition of the Church in this land as in others, and so comes diminution in the revenue of our treasury, a diminution not peculiar to one organization nor perhaps in the same measure to all, but as a general fact, common to all Ohristian denominations. And, for this lowering of the standard of Christian thought and Ohristian impulse and energy there are obvious causes; the increase of wealth in the community is one, and the eagerness for wealth and the power rapidly to acquire it, never equaled before in the history of the world. Then life is more fascinating, more entrancing with the younger and with those in middle age than it used to be. The machinery of life is more complex and intricate, and requires more expenditure of mental and moral force upon it to make it work, than it did in the earlier and simpler day in which we were, most of us, trained. Literature is more fascinating than ever before. 'fhe secular news of all the world comes upon us every day and almost every hour. And the result is that this great, solid, splendid earth pulls us to itself, holds us on the lower levels of aspiration and purpose and from the thought of God and his truth. The Church becomes ornate and sumptuous, but wanting in aggres- sive vigor. It walks in embroidered slippers and not iron-shod. It goes to what it calls its combat, in Sunday-morning dressing-gown and not in mail, and corselet, and battle mantle. It becomes very much like the petrified wood, agate, beautiful to look at, but all the pores of the living wood have been filled with substances foreign to itself, so that you can not melt it nor burn it, it will bring forth no fruit, and it will not ignite, altho beautiful to look upon. Sometimes that seems to me a fair image of the Church in our time, with all its splendor, with all its consciousness of power, but without the power to kindle others or almost to be kindled within itself. So it is that there comes this diminution of enthusiasm for foreign missions; that the ~eat unseen and stupendous things hold us less vigorously and contmuously than do the transient things of the earth to which our earthly nature gravitates.

And then, of course, it is to be recognized that there come in, in this comparatively chilled and torpid state of the Christian mind and life, a multitude of things that have to be met, of calls that have to be answered and which more or less interfere, no doubt, with the former enthusiasm for foreign missions. This great work of home missions -its.treasuries suffer also, and yet to a mind that thinks of the great- ness of the interests involved, it might almost properly take the place for the time of the work of foreign missions. Here we have seventy millions of people on this continent planted on the apex of the earth and reaching with its commerce around the whole globe. The work continually grows on our hands. It is a work of patriotism as well as of Christianity. It is a work that becomes more complex and more costly as it reaches out further-to New Mexico and Alaska-as it reaches different races, colored people, Chinese, Japanese, the Hungarians and Bohemians, and Russian Jews, who pour in such immense numbers into our country. Foreign missions and home missions interlock among us as never before, and we work upon these masses of foreigners that we may affect those from whom they come, to whom they return, and on whom their influence in the interval is exerted.

And then city missions absorb an attention never before given to them, and they do it directly; for the city is the center of the nation and one of the centers of the earth; and one of these great American cities with its enormous heterogeneous population reaching out to touch all lands of the earth through its affiliations with them, is a field for missionary work never surpast, one might almost say never equaled in history. Then there come in all the other institutions- every college, every seminary of learning has a trumpet-shaped mouth, like the mouth of the trumpet in the temple, calling for and receiving gifts all the time, from mites up to millions. Every institute of char- Ity needs help for the sick, for the blind, for the deaf, for those who are in ignorance, and want, and poverty; and the very stones of the streets would cry out against us if we did not meet those demands upon us. So it is that there are multitudes of things which come in before the American Ohristian mind in this comparatively tepid and torpid state of which I have spoken, which distract and arrest its attention and which hinder it from taking hold with the old energy on this sublime work of foreign missions. The foreign missions seem to be in danger of being left to take care simply of what is left after everything else has been attended to; and instead of leading the march of all Ohristian benevolence in a Christian land like this, it seems to be remitted to the rear. Now this is sad; not altogether unnatural, as I have said: and the question for us is what can we do to arrest the tendency and to turn the current again to the nobler direction, in which it moved so steadily and strongly in the earlier times?

One thing we can do is to take our stand by the side of Christ himself when he said, "The field is the world." What a magnificent conception, when he said, "all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth!" How they must have paused to know what his direction then would be for the use of that power ? Would he sweep the Roman Empire from the earth ? Would he set back the tides of the Mediterranean and overwhelm Italy ? Would he chastise with his divine vengeance the barbarous and cruel nations and tribes? " All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Never person trod the earth who could say that-say it truly, emphatically, without stirring fear in the minds of all who heard him. "All power is given unto me; • • • therefore, go make disciples of all nations." What an extraordinary sequence of precept to declaration I If there were no other point in the work of Christ to mark him divine, that would show the divinity in him, not of power merely, but of wisdom, and tenderness, and love; with God to stand beside him and enter into his conception of a world to be reacht by his truth, renewed, purified, uplifted, glorified, transfigured into the likeness of the heaven come down upon the earth. And until we do that we never can arrest this current from foreign missions toward other things of importance, but not taking their place in the supremacy of their nature and of their effect. And then we need to cherish in our own hearts, everyone of us, the enthusiasm which the early missionaries aud martyrs felt for the Gospel of Christ in its relation to individual souls as well as to communities; the enthusiasm which has been a great power in the Church, out of which came the revivals, now so infrequent and far from being spontaneous; that are now excited, if at all, only or chiefly by the impact of individual minds thoroughly concentrated on those they address. We need to have this euthusiasm in ourselves. It is only fire that kindles fire. It is only life that propagates life. It is only spiritual energy that stirs spiritual energy in other accessible and responsive souls. We need to be "prest in the spirit," as Paul was; or, if any prefer the later reading and rendering, "impelled by the Word," before he went to preach at Corinth; to have these fires burning in our hearts for the salvation of men, and their conversion unto Him who came from the heaven to the earth to uplift and redeem them. We need to feel for ourselves and to impress upon others that sublime part of the plan of God in human history which no man ever saw and graspt without being exalted and dilated in spirit by the vision of it. The plan of a campaign, the long preparation for the adVElnt, the coming and childhood, and work and death of the Divine Master; His glorious ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit-all parts of a plan that contemplates the absolute supremacy of the divine kingdom in the earth. That day when the lion and the lamb will lie down together-predicted, as we think, by the alliance of the lion and the eagle in our own time; that day when holiness shall be inscribed on the bells.of the horses; that day when righteousness and peace shall fill the whole earth-that is the aim and is to be the consummation of God's great plan for the world.

Sometimes there seem to be pauses in its progress; sometimes, perhaps, setbacks to its advance. But all the while, on broad, geueral scale it is moving onward to its climax and ultimate achievement. And when we see that, we know that the power of God is behind us and that we are keeping step with omnipotence when we are working in this sublime a,nd divine cause; and we need to feel and to make others feel what is the relation of this nation of ours, what part it has in this stnpendous work of God for the world. That is the only key to its history-the history of its early colonization by the English and the Dutch-Protestant people-the history of its early salvation from the Spanish and French domination and from the Roman Catholic power which at first seemed destined to overspread the land. That is the key to the successful prosecution of the long and wasting French and Indian war. That is the key to the Revolution, giving us a sepa- rate life, largely derived from and modified by English life, but under our own separate development in our own separate line of direction. That is the key to the providential men that came to us at that time and have come to us at every time when they were needed. That is the key to every event which has occurred in and since the overthrow of slavery in this country, in the tremendous crash of the Civil War.

Men talk of the logic of events. Here is the logic of events. They talk of the Nemesis. Here is the Nemesis in history. Everything which falls in with God's design in the earth is furthered and for- warded and leads on to other and nobler issues, and everything that stands against those plans goes down under their impact, either in silent decay, or in the swift and awful crash of ruin. That is the Nemesis of history. And God is all the while working forward through this and other nations of the earth, to bring about that which is already present to His supreme mind, already embraced in that vision which searches through the eternity. And then we are to remember that we are living in the dispensa- tion of the Spirit, and that this may be only the temporary interval before the coming of that period in which His power will be advanced for all of the Church. How wonderful it was that Christ put in that bar to the immediate advance of the Apostles; when the entire Gospel had been completed-everything from the advent to the ascension, when every precept was in its plac~ and every doctrine and every promise, and all the beauty of His example was before the minds and hearts of His disciples, and they had been commissioned to teach the Gospel, and they were eager to go forth on that great work, the further issues of which they themselves could hardly foresee, but whic~ they knew was to be a work for the glory of God in Christ and the welfare of mankind, and when they were eager for the service, almost like hounds straining against the leash, that they might enter it, comes that voice: "Tarry ye at Jerusalem "-at the city where the Lord had been hated and killed, at the city whose neighboring hill is already red with His blood, at the city where passions are fiercer because they have had this initial success. "Tarry ye in the city until ye be endued with power from on high." Ten days they waited, and then came Pen- tecost, and then they went forth with the power of the Spirit to proclaim the glad tidings of great joy to Scythian and barbarian, to Greek and Jew. Then Paul could say afterward, looking at Rome, center of power, adoring power, making its emperor a god because he had power: "I am not ashamed to preach the Gospel of Christ to you that are at Rome, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe." It is the only omnipotent force, the only power to which His almightiness is pledged. That came with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Now I have sometimes thought, looking on the depression of these times and the hindrances to missionary success, that God was saying to us in the same voice with which Christ spoke to the Apostles: "Tarry ye till the Spirit comes. Tarry ye and pray." And when that Spirit comes He will come suddenly, as He came at Pentecost, as came the angelic song, as the Lord's second coming will come-suddenly. But when He, the Spirit, comes ye will have power for the conquest of the earth. Let us remember that we are in the dispensation of the Spirit. Let us wait, and wait in prayer, for the coming of that divine energy which shall make the Gospel vital, energetic, divine, overwhelming to those who hear it, and shall carry it swiftly forward to the ends of the earth.

One thing more. Let us wait and work and pray in undaunted and exultant confidence, knowing that the end is to come. Christ did not die in vain. He shed his blood upon the earth, he dropt his tears upon the earth, that it might be in all its regions baptized unto God with water and with blood. He breathed his spirit into the air, that it might fill the atmosphere of the earth. He gave himself for the earth, and his disire for its salvation in himself is not less intense than wht'n he died for it, than when he rose over Olivet with his hands lifted in benediction as he went. God is not dead; his arm is not shortene'd. The swing of the universe to-night proves that. The Spirit is not dead. His power is shown in individual minds and hearts as lustrously as ever; and if we pray it will be shown in great com- JIlunities, in vast revivals, in turning the hearts of the children of men in every land unto the Lord Christ; and we are to walk and work, as well as wait and pray, in the knowledge, in the assurance, in the absolute certainty that the end is coming in the age of glory and of peace.

So let us not be discouraged by any temporary drawback or hindrances. Let us set ourselves to overcome the hindrances in our own hearts and in the hearts of others till the Ohurch glows with the heavenly light, till it is animated and nourisht by the heavenly temper, till the Ohurch on earth, quickened by Christ and illuminated by His truth, can at last take the world of mankind and present it before God as its tribute to him, who sent the Son, who loved the world, and who gave His Son unto the death for it, and who accepts it at last as the jewel in His infinite crown.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT

n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.

Missionary Economics j The Scribes in authors, and tho in most cases there were unnecessarily long prefaces con- Council. sidering the character of the men who were to listen to them, who were, or The returned missionaries of the va- ought to be, experts in the subjects rious missionary societies in the United treated; yet, once the discussion was States and Canada, have held thirteen entered upon, they all became concise, annual sessions, of a week each, for well-digested, instructive, and suggest. the purpose of discussing questions per- ive treatises. They were not intended taining to the foreign missions of the for the general public, yet it is our world, with most signal advantage to opinion that the great advance in intelthem and to the cause of evangelization ligence of the churches on missionary of the non-Christian world. In 1893 matters, not only justifies the presenta· the representatives of the several For- tion of such discussions to the public, eign Mission Boards of the United but calls for it. A very large number States and Canada met in council for a of the pamphlets containing the reports like purpose, and have assembled an- of the proceedings of this conference nually since. They have just concluded judiciously furnisht to the patrons of their Fifth Conference, in New York missions, would greatly augment concity, with a large number-some sixty- fidence in missionary administration, seven in all-officials in attendance, and enable the patrons of the societies with a dozen foreign missionaries add- to intelligently defend them against ed. January 12, the treasurers held a ,the criticisms freely current in many special conference, for comparison of quarters. The meeting itself marks methods of receiving and forwarding an advance. That these several repmoneys with safety, expedition, and resentatives have determined to sit in economy. During the next two days, such council annually, to find how to the following topics were presented in improve the methods of their adminpapers specially prepared for the con- istration will tend to increast confidence. ference. in each case a free discussion There is one danger to which their atfollowing: Self-support, Dr. Judson tention is already attracted, to wil- Smith; Uniform Statistical Blanks, Dr. there might be too great centralization Samuel W. Duncan; Gifts for Special of policy, if they undertake tofQrmulate Objects-Should they be encouraged? their general conclusions with a view to Dr. E. E. Strong; Form and Practical a binding effect on the several Boards. Use of Annual Reports, Rev. A. Wood- Legislation is beyond their province; ruff Halsey; The Economic Distribu- but they know it and are hence free tion of Missionary Force, Dr. S. L. frqm the criticism of attempting it. Baldwin; Furloughs, their frequency, The smaller societies are, however, in length, and profitable use to mission- some danger of being dominated by the aries and the work, Dr. W. W. Barr; consensus of opinion, and may miss, for Unmarried !Iissionaries, Dr. Ellinwood; themselves and for others, the great Ecumenical Missionary Conference in good of making new ventures, under 1900 in America, Dr. Judson Smith; new conditions. Where everything is The Student Volunteer Movement, Dr. so fraternal, however, as here, none Henry N. Cobb; Independent Missions, will welcome the results of new experi- Dr. A. B. Leonard; Chinese Indemni- ence more than the older of these repties, Dr. Ellinwood. It will be seen resentatives. There was a markt abfrom this that the conference is designed sence of the "we-know-it·all" spirit. to be of a most practical nature. The Everybody seemed 011 a school-form papers were worthy of their eminent eager to learn of anybody else. A very being so near the end of the century, it much larger representation of the lay- would be better to extend the time till men of the several Boards would be a 1900. The mission representatives in decided advantage to the meeting and Great Britain and on the Continent of to the general interests of missions. Europe had been generally heard from, and all responded with hearty approval The ladies of many of the Women's of the proposal to hold such a WorId's Boards met on January 15, and organ- Missionary Conference at the opening of ized a similar conference, to meet an- the twentieth century in the city of nually for like mutual benefit. As it New York, tho the precise date could was strictly pardaniBhin we cannot reo not be agreed upon with equal unanport what they did or said. Both these imity. The Churches of America will conferences will meet next year, the hail with great pleasure the holding of guests of the Methodist Episcopal such conference here. It ought to be Board, as they were this year the guests the subject of much devout thought. of the Presbyterian Board. It may well be askt what measures can be instituted to prepare for a great meet· The Conference has already reacht ing. Nothing short of a greater spiritu· practical unanimity on several ques- ality in the churches, with deeper con· tions, such as the following :-That one secration to the work of the world's mission should not receive into its memo redemption, will furnish the fitting en· bership those dismist on account of vironment for that great assembly. improper conduct from any other The world will then be full of wonder church; that native converts should be and exaltation at the material advance· discouraged from coming to Europe or ment of the present century, and the America for education; that natives of presentation of that class of themes the mission fields educated in America will divide the attention of the churches. should not be appointed on the same That need not be deprecated, but it will basis as regular missionaries ; that di- require a profound spiritual energy to rect preaching of the Gospel should concentrate attention on spiritual affairs. have precedence over all other forms of We ought to get ready to march into missionary effort; that they do not favor the twentieth century with the greatest the organization of a National Church spiritual force, intensity, and consecrain India; that the study of missions in tion. The holding of such a meeting theological seminaries should be pro- here should be accepted in the light of moted, and professorships and lectures a great trust, as well as in that of a on missions should be urged; that gifts great privilege. outside the regular appropriations should not be encouraged; within the For all this, a conference like that appropriations however, while some: whose proceedings we are reviewing, times open to objections, on the whole, must needs be one measure of prepara· would be welcomed; that all competi. tion. It will be well for all the Chris. tion for the services of native agents on tian agencies of the land to find how foreign fields between the agents of the they can, more and more, cooperate; several societies should be discouraged; and to this end they should cultivate that frequent visitations of official rep- a fuller acquaintance with each other·s resentatives of the Boards to the foreign methods and achievements. The whole fields is of imperative importance. forces of Christendom in this western continent ought to come up solidly The subject of most popular interest intelligel).t. as to their successes, their was the paper on the holding of an failures, and their needs. A special Ecumenical Missionary Conference. feature of the proceedings of the The London Conference in 1888 recom· Officers' Conference, which looks to the mended a decennial conference, which holding of simultaneous union mission· would bring the next conference in 1898, but on all hands it was conceded that ary meetings in all the great centers, sible for the selection of the portions will contribute to this. Eight divis- herewith presented.-J. T. G.] ional meetings were held in New York city, one evening during the time of A circular letter was sent to twenty the conference, and a great pan-denom- of the various Boards here represented, inational meeting was provided for in embracing the following inquiries as to Carnegie Hall on the 15th of Janu- the results of the Movement as shown ary which theoretically was the center in their experience: of a great number of similar massmeetings to have been held simultane- "1. Can you trace any inereatJtJ in ously in other great cities. This was the number of applicants for appointrealized in part, Chicago and a few ment to the existence and influence of other cities having arranged for such the Movement? assemblies. But the meeting in New York itself was not what it might have "2. Are you able to detect any imbeen, and other cities which would provement in the quality of 'Volunteer' have responded to the call for simul- applicants, or of those actually aptaneous meetings were debarred from pointed? If so, in what respects? the same through the shortness of the notice received. But all this can be "3. Have you noticed any quicken- I'vercome, if the Officera' Conference ing of missionary zeal in your churches will fix the date long enough in advance through the instrumentality of the S. to allow the churches to make suitable V. M., and have the Volunteers aided, preparation. They must remember to any extent, in the raising of funds . that this is a big country, and a few fol' their own support or for the other weeks' notice is not enough. They work of your board? might better advise the churches at once of the date for 1898. "4. Would you suggest any changes in the methods of working adopted by The papers of this conference are the leaders of the Movement?" worthy of a far wider reading than they will receive through the pamphlet form, To our surprise and gratification, and yet as they were prepared chiefly nineteen replies have been received. Of for members, it might interfere with these one only answers every inquiry in the desirable freedom of these dis- the negative; eMu may be styled as cussions, were the press to invade their , , non-committal," through insufficient meetings and publish all the discussions. opportunity for observation and ac- One paper, however, that was read by quaintance; jive give a qualified, and Dr. Cobb on the Student Movement, the remaining ten an almost unqualified was requested for use in this magazine, affirmative reply. with the privilege of selecting such portions of it as our space would allow us In reviewing the aims of the :Moveto use. It will be found in the follow- ment in connection with these replies ing pages. we unhesitatingly offer the following 'conclusions: The Student Volunteer Movement. 1. The steadfast effort to bring stu- BY REV. HENRY N. COBB, D.D., NEW dents to "a thorough consideration of YORK. the claims of foreign missions upon them as a life-work," and "to foster [Dr. Cobb presented a paper in the this purpose," should be followed by a form of a report to the Fifth Conference perceptible increase in the number of of Representatives of Mission Boards, those applying for appointment. And January last, which at our solicitation such has been the result. To this the was placed at our disposal so far as testimony of some of our largest sociepracticable. Dr. Cobb is not respon- ties is. emphatic. Thus one writes, "There has been a markt increase in the number of our candidates singe the Movement was more thoroughly organ- ized, and notably since the Detroit Con- vention. So far as we can judge, the majority of our candidates have been work and a better mental equipment."

given their early impulses toward the " We have one very promising yOlmg foreign field by the Movement." An- physician under appointment, who is other says, "The number 'of applicants an ardent member of the S. V. M.· I perceptibly increast from 1886 to 1894; think his course of preparatory studies and this increase, while doubtless due has been a great benefit to him, and he to several causes, was due in part to the has pursued it along the lines laid down Student Volunteer Movement." An- in the Student Volunteer."

other answers, "Yes. And what is So far as the educational work of the more, a majority of the men whom we Movement is concerned, we feel the have sent to the foreign field, in the force of the official statement respecting last four years, have been Student it : "A common preparation, aside from Volunteers." "Yes, very clearly," the regular studies of the curriculum, writes another. "In answer to a re- is needed for the work of the foreign cent call for an additional missionary, missionary. The Volunteers need to we received the applications of sixteen. know what special preparation is neces- Most, if not all of them, were led to the sary. They need to understand the step by their connection with the Vol- relative importance of the different unteer Movement." Another still, "De- lines of preparation. They need to • cidedly. Quite a number of men and learn how to economize to the best ad- women, in writing to us, have stated vantage the time at their disposal for that their first impulse in the direction this preparation. " Especially is this of foreign missions was received from true of our Theological Seminaries, the Volunteer Movement." And yet which are in general the immediate one more, "I think I am safe in saying sources of supply. If the testimony of that we have had ten offers for service the Movement is to be received they in the foreign work, where we had one offer a peculiarly hard field. "Another . previous to the organization of the problem confronts us in some quarters, Movement." and that is the dijJiculty of holding Vol- 2. What, then, is the quality of these unteers after they enter the '.1heological applicants? The object of the "mis- Seminam.* If they leave college with sionary study" proposed and guided by a strong purpose and are thoroughly the movement is, as it should be, to grounded in missions, the question of produce a better class of candidates. holding them does not present insuper- Has it done so? Again let the Secre- able difficulties. But even in such cases taries speak. " Weare under the con- it is a real problem to preserve the faith viction," writes one, "that there has and enthu8iasm of Volunteer8 who enter been a decided improvement in the imtitutiom where, to quote a prominent quality of Volunteer candidates. We Board SecretOll'1J, 'from the beginning to have noticed this in respect to two lines the end of the C<JUr8e the who~ pr88ump- of equipment; first, in the intelligence tion in the teaching and attit'!/.d(j of the of such candidates concerning the faculty is that the men are all going to heathen field at large and our own in stay at home. ' Add to this the constant particular, and second, in the stability pressure brought to bear upon them by of their zeal and the positiveness of home churches, and the solution of the their determination to serve in the for- problem is not simplified."

eign field." Another, "There has been This is a sad statement and full of a steady improvement in an intelligent ominous suggestions. May not a par- appreciation of the principle and motive tial explanation of the difficulty be underlying the missionary cause." found in the condition of missionary "Better in the matter of education and instruction in these seminaries so for- equipment and general fitness for the work." "A better conception of the * It&lics Qul'tl.-J. '1'. Q. cibly set forth in one of the papers of the proved the quality of the missionaries Conference of a year ago and in the who have been available or who have book on the same subject by Mr. been appointed. The volunteering has Adams? And if this be so, should we been usually done at an age when not welcome, and esteem of special young men have been most impressible, value, an agency which aims specifically and the most emotional of the young " to provide systematic, comprehensive men are usually the ones who volunteer. and progressive courses of study on Hence I would express the opinion, not foreign missions for the. use of stu- without hesitation, that the quality of dents," and to inform them by intelli- missionaries has not been, and is not gent study, intelligently guided and likely to be, improved by the Move- aided, as to 'their principles, history, ment." Except in the somewhat de- methods, needs and obligations? The spairing conclusion of the last quotation, courses of study outlined should not, the truth probably comprehends both nor are we able to believe they do, these statements. The Volunteer Move- make too serious a draft upon the time ment-and many others with it, even or strength of the average student in the Kingdom of Heaven-His like unto the average Theological Seminary, nor a net that was cast into the sea and needlessly and injuriously conflict with gathered of every kind." It could his proper duties in the institution. . . hardly be otherwise. It is for the Boards • 3. There is another aspect of the to sift the" catch," or such portions of question as to quality, which demands it as are brought to them, and, with and deserves special consideration. The such wisdom and insight as God may fear has been exprest that, through the bestow, select the best. . • . . enthusiasm created by the Movement, 4. The fear has been exprest lest the and the too wide circulation and too work of the Volunteer Bands should ready or too early acceptance of the tend to create a broad line of demarca- "Volunteer Declaration," those stu- tion between the members of those dents who are rather emotional than in- Bands, all having the missionary work tellectual, impulsive rather than sober- in view, and other students, as tho the minded, are led to volunteer; that, by latter might feel theIllSelves absolved the methods in use, the best minds are from all interest in and all concern not only not reacht but are tempted to about the great cause of missions. This hold themselves aloof from volunteering danger appears to have been clearlyapand in the end from missionary service. prehended in the statement of the main This would be most deplorable, if true. objects of the Movement before referred On this point the views of the brethren to. On it is said, "Essentially involved are more conflicting than on any other. in all this is the further object of the One writes, co Under the influence of Movement to create and maintain an this Movement men of positive mark in intelligent, sympathetic, active interest our Seminaries have been imprest with in foreign missions, among the students a sense of responsibility for the heathen, who are to remain on the home fleld, in and have thus been led to offer them- order to secure the strong backing of selves for service, who would not have this great enterprise by prayer and otherwise seriously considered the sub- money." In our opinion this is quite ject. Some of the best men who have as important as any other object of the gone to our fields in these latter days Movement, especially in view of the are the direct fruits of the Student growing demands of the great work, Volunteer Movement." On the other the backwardness of the Churches, and hand, another says, while stating that the deficient resources of all our Boards the number of applicants has been in- and Societies. The Boards may pos- creast, HI have had the impression that , sibly receive, as some have received, ~e Vol~nte~r Mov~ment has not im- many more applications than theT can accept. But the Churches can never this lost world to the knowledge of the have too many nor too active and ardent truth and love of our Redeemer. missionary pastors and teachers, men and women of learning and influence, In bringing this report, already far who abide at home. The multiplication too long, to a close, we can find no of these will be the surest way to in- better expression of our own feeling in .crease the ability of the Boards to ac- this regard than that which comes from cept all applicants who ought to be one of our correspondents, a member of accepted, and to send to the field all this conference. who ought to be sent. . . .. . .. It is my matured conviction that in 5. The avowed disposition and pur- this movement we may plainly discern pose of the movement to make its work one of the signal interpositions of our subserve the interests of the existing God on behalf of world evangelization. Boards and Societies, deserves the cor- It has failed, if at all, in accomplishing dial recognition of the Conference. Its all that was possible, because the Church endeavor is to secure to them an in- of Christ at home has been slow to discrease not only of "missionaries with cern the signs of the times. In other the right qualifications," but also of words, had our Churches throughout available funds for their maintenance, the land promptly accepted this moveand of intelligent missionary zeal in ment as a call of God to them for en· the churches to which they look for larged offerings to missions, I am conthe support of all their work. This fident that the achievements of the purpose clearly appears from the fol- Gospel in all our fields would have lowing statements in the report of been greatly multiplied. In this up- 1894: rising among the students of our in· stitutions of learning, leading to the •• The r68pO'Mibilitll of tM M0'D6ment consecration of so many of them to the doa not ceo.se until the Volunteer8 are foreign field, I can not fail to see the brought into direc' communication wjth faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God, their respeeti'1)6 Boards. Nor does it in answering the prayers of His people cease entirely then." . . for lab0rers. It seems to me, however, that brought face to face with the de- We believe there is an agency here of mands and the sacrifices which these which the Boards might make far very answers to prayer have involved, greater and more effective use than they our Churches have shrunk back and now do. It is no doubt true in general, failed to meet their part of the respon. that "returned missionaries have a sibility. It seems to me no better serstronger influence in both directions." vice could be rendered than the calling Yet the supply of these is necessarily the attention of Christians over all the limited. And there is much in the land, who desire to obey the great comsight and words of consecrated young mission, to the divine significance of men and women, whose hearts the the Volunteer Movement." Lord has toucht, and who ha'1J6 8tudied up Ute subjec' and arefull of it, to waken The Oountess of Dufi'erin's Fund. interest and move to conviction. Properly introduced and commended, ex- BY REV. A. MCLEAN, D.D•• CINCINNATI, perience shows that they are welcomed OIDO, SECRETARY FOREIGN CHRISby pastors and acceptable to the people. TIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Such influences can not be too greatly In India one hears much about this multiplied if the churches at large are " Fund," and of the great and good generally to be awakened not only to work it has accomplisht. One sees the the signiflcance of the Volunteer Move- spacious hospitals and dispensaries that ment itself, but also to that of the still have been erected and opened under greater movement and enterprise of its anspices. The origin of thisent~r­ which it forms a part, the bringing of prise is both interesting and pathetic. Tho the story has been told many times, that vast empire. In her account of it is so good that it will bear repetition. this interview Lady Dufferin said: "When I was leaving England, Her The wife of the Maharajah of Punna Majesty the Queen·Empress drew my was the victim of a painful and linger- attention to the subject, and said she ing sickness. She suffered much from thought it was one in which I might native doctors and received no benefit. take a practical interest. From that Her case was deemed hopeless. The time I took pains to learn all I could of prince heard of Miss Beilby, a medical the medical question in India as regards missionary in Lucknow, and besought women. I found, that altho certain her to come and heal his wife. She great efforts were being made in a few came and spent several weeks with her places to provide female attendants, and so treated her that she recovered hospitals, training.schools, and dis- her health. Soon after Miss Beilby pensaries for women; and altho miswas leaving for home to take her de- sionary effort has done much, and for gree. When she called to bid farewell years had been sending out pioneers into the Maharani said, "You are going to the field, yet, taking India as a whole, England and I want you to tell the its medical women were without that Queen, and the Prince and Princess of medical aid which their European sis- Wales, and the men and women of ters are accustomed to consider as abso- England, what the women of India lutely necessary." After studying the suffer when they are sick." She begged field and its needs and conferring with her to see the Queen in person and ask the chief men and women in the counher for medical assistance. Miss Beilby try, she organized The National ..1.880told her of the great difficulty of seeing ciation for Supplying Female Medical the Queen and presenting the message Aid to the Women of India. This Asso· in person. The princess said, "Did ciation is commonly spoken of as "The you not tell me that our Queen was Countess of Dufferin's Fund." good and gracious, and that she never heard of suffering without sending a The objects of this organization are message to say how sorry she was, and as follows: 1. Medical tuition, includtrying to help?" Miss Beilby exprest ing the teaching and training of women her willingness to do what she could. as doctors, hospital assistants, nurses, The princess askt her to write the mes- and midwives. 2. Medical relief, insage at once, " Write it small, DOctor cluding the establishment, under female Miss Sahib, for I want to put it into a superintendence, of dispensaries and locket, and you are to wear this locket cottage hospitals for the treatment of around your neck until you see our women and children; the opening of great Empress and give it to her your- female wards under female superintendself. You are not to send it through ence in existing hospitals and dispensaranother." In some way the Queen ies; the provision of female medical heard of this messsage and sent for officers and attendants for existing Miss Beilby. On reading the message female wards; and the founding of she said, "We had no idea it was as hospitals for women where special bad as this. Something must be done funds or endowments are forthcoming. for these poor creatures. We wish it S. TM Bupply of trained female nur8e8 generally known that we sympathize and midwivetJ for women and children with every effort made to relieve the in hospitals and private houses. It is suffering state of the women of India." eleven years since the Association be- gan its work. There are now sixty.two· About this time the Earl of Dufferin lady doctors and forty-four hospital was appointed Viceroy of India. The assistants at work. Over a million Queen sent for Lady Dufferin and patients were treated last year. The urged her to do what she could to annual increase of patients numbers bring medical help to the women of about one-hundred thousand. There to be unsectarian and national, and are sixty-five hospitals and dispensaries. therefore neutral as respects religion. These cost seventeen lakhs of rupees. No employe is allowed to proselyte or Ten of these are entirely supported by interfere in any way with the religious native princes. Two princes in Raj- beliefs of any section of the people. putana gave $190,000. Seven other Lady Dufferin and her associates sought hospitals are in course of construction. to arouse the conscience and imagina- There are two hundred and forty-three tion of the public at large, and to reach students in medical colleges or in train- all parts of the Empire and all classes ing classes. Scholarships have been of the community. They sought to given women in the schools in Calcutta, enlist and benefit the Hindu, the Mo- Madras, Lahore, Bombay, and Agra. hammedan, and the Buddhist. At the There are training classes in Cuttack, same time they were careful not to an- Lucknow, Allahabad, Rangoon, Nag- tagonize or interfere with the medical pur, and Benares. Students are encour- work of the missionaries. There is aged to go through these schools and work enough for all. then to go to England or Germany for their degrees. There has been much pre- This National Association has been judice in the way of the work. Sickness called one of the greatest charities in is regarded by many as a visitation for existence. It is one of the direct resin and can be cured only by expiations sults of missionary enterprise. The an· and incantations and other religious nual reports do not refer to Miss Beilby remedies. Others think women are and the Maharani of PUnn&. They unworthy of the medical treatment pro- prefer to say that the Association owes vided for men. It has been found its existence to the direct initiative of difficult to get women of the higher Her Majesty the Queen·Empress. That castes to leave their seclusion and pre- sounds better in some ears than to say pare themselves for this service. Gradu- that it owes its birth and being to a ally, however, prejudice is giving way, medical missionary. Nevertheless, the and the work of the Association is truth is known, and it can not be hid. growing in public favor. Recently the London Times referred to Lord Dufferin as an orator, a statesman, It will be noted that this is work con- and a diplomat, and added that the ducted by woman in the interest of work that would live longest and be women. A masculine physician is not most beneficent, was the work he did allowed to enter a woman's apartments. in connection with this Association for If he is called in as a last resource he supplying Medical Aid to the women may speak to her through a screen, but of India. he cannot see her and make a thorough examination. Many women would die Some Reoent Innovations at Oheung rather than to have a man come near them. For this reason women must be Mai, Lao Mission. trained as physicians and nurses. They must be qualified to treat all diseases BY BEV. W. C. DODD. that their sex is heir to. This means much for the elevation of the women of Most of them you in the home-land India. If the minds of a considerable wonld not call innovations, but develop· number are developt, if they take ments. But to the Lao people they some worthy part in the work of the come as something very new; and we world, and live no longer like a frog in will not quarrel about names. a well, others will profit thereby. It should be noted, furthermore, that this One innovation was the observation, is a benevolent work simply; in no sense this year, of Children's Day in the is it missionary or Christian. It aims Cheung Mal Church. The word got out that there was to be something un- usual, and something very enjoyable. People put their own construction on it. Some conjectured that it was to be like almost passionately fond of games. the native New Year-a time for throw- Hence it has been put on the hearts and ing water on everybody. Rev. Nan consciences of the missionaries that we Tab, As~ociate Pastor of the Church, are bound to lead our young people into even sent me a note, saying that he had Innocent amusements, or they will drift heard that there was to be some kind of into questionable ones. We have tried doings, he did not know what. He to meet this new duty by inaugurating hoped it would be appropriate to the several social features, none of them at day and the place. But after in was all new to you, but all of them innova- finisht, he turned to me and said: tions to this people. "Can't we have it every Sabbath?" And no wonder. Surely nothing so One has been the translation of a set enjoyable had ever before been wit- of Bible-History cards, which can be nessed by these sober-minded Chris- played as authors' cards are played. tians. There was marching into the These are not all finisht yet, but a few church; there was singing in concert, trials of them have seemed to indicate reading in concert, the Lord's Prayer that among the better educated they in concert; one class recited the Fourth will be popular, not only as a pastime, Commandment in concert; more than a but also as a course in Bible History. dozen other classes recited selected portions of Scripture in concert, beginning Another social feature has been that with the two infant classes, and ending individual missionary families have, with the Bible Class of Rev. Punyah; from time to time, invited the Lao minthere was a motion song by another isters, or the members of one of the class, and an English hymn by the chil- schools, or the members of a Sabbathdren of the missionaries. The only ex- school class, to the missionary homes, ercises which were not in concert were and have entertained them with pictwo prayers, two addresses, and the tures, games, microscopic views and benediction; and it is by no means cer- refreshments. These entertainments tain that the people did not wish that have seemed to be very PQPular. Grathese had been in concert, too. dually foreign games are being intro- duced and adopted, sometimes with It was a great day. And Rev. Nan amusing modifications. Tah, who knows a good thing when he sees it, wrote me a poem on the subject, But, after all, most of our innovations extolling the patience and the ability of are quite distinctly religious, not only those who had trained the classes, and in tendency, but in actual form. One had planned and managed this whole which the people at first resented as a affair. He and others have said that if most decided and unwarrantable innowe can not have it every Sabbath, they vation, was well begun last year, namewould· like to have it at least once a ly, the matter of urging systematic, month. scriptural giving. Sporadic example and teaching on this subject had been Another innovation this year is in the given before, but last year a movement social realm. We are beginning to have was begun all along the line. It is a second generation of Christians now, bearing fruit. One church, Lampoon after thirty years of mission work. First Presbyterian, at a congregational There are young men and women com- meeting held after a most thorough ing from our schools who are not con- ventilation and discussion of the sub': tent to spend their time in idleness or jcct had already been had, decided frivolous gabble. Their minds must without a dissenting vote to tithe as a have some employment, especially in the Church. And if they live up to that evenings, after their work is finisht. action, it 'IJJZ·ll be an innovation of a most As yet we have only a limited stock of welcome sort. Christian literature. This people are Another most welcome inroad into Christian-heathen ignorance is the organization of a Woman's Missionary a distinct dialect of its own. The work of the Methodist Episcopal Mission Society. It now has over thirty mem- began here over thirty years ago. Durbers, holds monthly meetings, and al- ing the period from the early sixties to ways takes up a collection, or rather a 1890, no foreigner lived in Bing-hua.

voluntary contribution. Some conse- There was generally a native Presiding Elder, and the missionary in charge, crated missionary effort, some conse- living in Foochow, made more or less crated native zeal, and some consecrated extended and frequent trips over the tithe-money is going into that Society; work, as time and other duties would and we know what will come out. permit. But it became manifest that the work Angels are rejoicing over that Society needed a more thQrough- supervision already. than it could receive in this way. The One of the best innovations, and one dialect being different from that of Foo- which might prove a real innovation if chow, few of the missionaries could use it effectively. In 1890 the writer was introduced into some home churches, transferred from Singapore, and apis what we may call the organizing of pointed to Bing·hua, with his wife, be- the church into a night-school to study ing the first foreign residents there.

the Word, village by village, commun- We began to hold short camp-meet- ings at the various village centers, ity by community. It is something beginning generally on Thursday even- .' after the plan outlined in "Methods of ing and closing Sunday evening, holding Mission Work," by Rev. J. L. Nevius, four services a day, beginning with a late of China. Each community is or- before breakfast prayer-meeting. Near- ly a score of such meetings have been ganized into a school, a leader is ap- held. Many hundreds have been clearly pointed, the members are put into converted in these meetings, and the classes, according to their advancement spiritual life of the whole Church has in study, and a record of attendance is been greatly quickened. That the work in this line has been kept. Also, the completion of anyone deep and genuine is manifest from the course of study by any class is noted. markt advance in self-support.

The courses consist of learning to read, Last year the three districts now reading in course, committing to mem- forming the Bing-hua Mission Confer- ence raised for pastoral support$12811.74 ory certain designated portions of the (Mexican); this ysar, $2,432.12, or an advance of $1,148.38; being an increase Word, explanation of Scripture. pas- of nearly 100 per cent. sa~es, comInitting of the Child's Catechism, and now that the Shorter Cate- In addition to this, a Bome Missionchism is just translated, it also will be ary Society has been organized. It was committed by the more advanced beglln by some of our most zealous classes. This work was suggested to native helpers toward the close Of the the people by the missionaries, but in many places it has been taken up by the last Conference year. Nearly $300 was people theInselves, and is being sus- given in 1895. This year there has been tained in a very gratifying manner. great enthusiasm about this collection, Surely the Spirit who inspired the Word and the sum of $1,431.78 has been will richly bless the study of it. raised.

May the time soon come when all The aggregate increase of money these things shall cease to be novelties raised for pastoral support, including and innovations, and shall become fix- the Bome Missions collection, reaches tures of the Lao Church. $2,283.00. Another such advance this year, and our native preachers will be A N6W Oonference in Ohina. entirely supported by the native church. There has also been a healthy increase BY REV. W. N. BREWSTER. in membership of 380 full members and 634 probationers, or a little over one On the morning of Nov. 26th, Bishop thousand altogether. The year has been Joyce opened the first session of the one of solidifying rather than expand- Bing-hua Mission Conference, com- ing. posed of the three southern districts of The Conference Session was memor- the Foochow Conference of the Metho- able. Nearly one thousand people were dist Episcopal Church. The Bing·hua crowded into the Jesse Lee Memorial Prefecture lies on the coast half way Church, which is the largest Protestant between Foochow and Amoy. It has Church in the Province.

FIELD OJ' MONTHLY SURVlIl'. 21~

III.-FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.

Mexico,* Oentral America, t West Indies, t City Missions, § Foreigners in America.,.

BY DELA.VAN L. PIERSON.

MEXICO. (3) There is need of the presentation of a reaaonablefaith to those who have Mexico still sorely needs the pure revolted from the gross Buperstitions of and regenerating Gospel of Christ. The the Roman Church in Mexico. Noth- recent attack on one of the Protestant ing sadder can be imagined than the missions there gives evidence of this funeral orations by prominent citizens at the graves of their departed com- as do the teachings and lives of the rades. No hope, no gleam of light for Romanists who occupy the land, and the future, only a troubled look into the condition of the ignorant and de- the great unknown, which: has received another soul. Many men of the liberal graded Indians and half-breeds. Much party now declare that they have done progress has been made since mission- with religion; yet numbers of these aries tirst went to labor in the land, but are in sympathy with the Protestant there is need that the people of the churches that encourage education, United States stretch every nerve to progress, and rational thinking. help raise these people to the true level of Christianity, before infidelity and (4) There is urgent need of Christians paganism I1tamp out their life. who know how to pray, with intelli- gence as well as faith; and the enlight- Mrs. James D. Eaton, of Chihuahua, ened fervor of many in our evangelical gives the following roosons for sending churches is one of the most hopeful missionaries to Mexico: . effects of the Gospel here.

> , (1) Many souls are tr:ving to satisf, (5) And there ds need of the Gospel , thems~lves with the husks within theIr for the sake of our own countryme,n here. Americans are comin~ more and reach, whil,e hungering for the Bread more to Mexico, to engage In mining, of Life. One poor woman feeling the railroad, agricultural, and manufactur- need of something, she knew not what, ing enterprises. There are said to be ventured to lIsk a priest to explain the several thousand of them in this State, forms of the church, the mass, baptism, some 700 in this city and vicinity. If etc~; but he only replied that she was a fool, who could not understand. Now home missions are a necessity in the that she had received the Word, and new settlements of the United States, fflels that Jesus is her Savior, that long- there is similar need o~ this side of the ip.g is met, and she is daily satisfying line. her hunger and thirst by the Word of Pioneer mission-work in Mexico W88 God.,and pra;ver. begun in 1862. Rev. D. A. Wilson of (2) There IS needed a Gospel of holi- Guadalajara writes: n68B in this land where religion and It is doubtless quite true, as has often morals are divorced. A people that have been allowed to break the whole been said, that " Protestantism entered decalog, and obtain an easy absolution at the hands of the priests; yes, even Mexico in 1847, between the covers of gain pardon in advance for crime to be 'committed, realize that it is a new the Bibles carried in the knapsacks of ~ospel which says, "Thy sins be for- gj.ven thee; go and sin no more." American soldiers," but the first effort to propagate Protestantism in this coun- try, so far as can be ascertained, from • The article promist on this sub~ect has a1u86th2.e*nticInsotuhreceasutwuamsnaboof utthtahte year faUed to reach us in time for publicatIOn. See year, .G9speZ in AU Lands (March) and The Mission Rev. James Hickey arrived at Mon- World (monthly). terer as an independent missionary, t An article promist on Central America haVIng previously labored for eight- has also failed to reach us. See Moravian PetrSioedeipcap.l Accounts (quarterly). een months as colporteur of the 195, 196, (present Issue). American Tract Society in Tex88. In NeuJ Books: "CUba and the Cubans," March, 1863, Mr. Hickey began to Ralmundo Cabrera; "The Island of Cuba," Prof. Ramsay, preach publicly in Monterey, both in – II See pp. 176,183, (present Issue). English and in Spanish, and on Jan. SO, Recent Articles: "Regeneration of the 1864, he organized the first evangelical Slums," Demorest's Family Magazine (Oct.); "The Problems of the City," C. R. Woodruft', church ever constituted in Northern Mexico, probably the first in the Re- American Magazine of Civics (Dec.). ,. See pp. 169, 188, (present issue). ' Recent .Articles: "Chlnatown in New York," .. It Is a misstatement that pioneer work Dem. Family Mag.). was begun by Miss Rankin, in 1865.

»- public. Thomas M. Westrup, one of it was declined on the ground that the the first converts, was ordained pastor, burden of responsibilities already unand has occupied that position almost dertaken in other countries was too continuously since that time. One year great. While we would not seek to after its organization, the church had prevent in any way the entrance of our twenty members. In Feb., 1864, Mr. English friends, so long as they can not Hickey was appointed agent for Mexi- come the American Churches ought to co of the American Bible Society, but see that the need is filled." did not receive the appointment until Aug. of that year, from which time -Not long ago the Roman Catholic forward the care of the church at Mon- Bishop in Jamaica issued a pastoral terey devolved more entirely upon Mr. letter charging the Protestant people of Westrup. Mr. Hickey workt continu- that island with •• lax ideas of moralously, and amid great trials and difficulties, but also with great success, ity," and adding: "Our Catholic poputhroughout the country from Monterey lation is, we are glad to say. singularly to Brownsville, Texas, selling the Script- free from reproach in this matter." ures, preaching, and distributing tracts It might be well to make known some from house to house, from the time he of the facts which have come under the first entered the country, until his death personal observation of one who has at Matsmoras, Mexico, in 1866. lived in Costa Rica, facts which so clearly reveal theimmoral tendencies of After the organization of the Baptist the boastful Romish Church. Mr. F. Church by Mr. Hickey, in the summer de P. Castells of San Jose writes: The of 1865, Miss Melinda Rankin visited Baptist Mission (supported from JaIllai- Monterey, and employin~ several of the ca). has planted churches in a number members of the church lU Monterey as of places on the Atlantic coast. Some colporteurs, left them under Mr. Hick- time since the Roman Catholic Bishop, ey's direction, and returned to the alarmed at their success, set his mind United States to collect funds for the on putting up rival churches in all work. She returned in 1866, and it was those places. He obtained the money through her influence, that the first by holding raffies in several parishes, Presbyterian Church in Mexico was where cognac, beer, and playing cards organIzed at Monterey, in 1869. This were the principal articles raffied; and church was composed of members from this on the Lord's dayt Not long ago, the Baptist Church, which had at that time received into membership 224 on a Sunday, the priests of San Jose persons in nine different towns. organized a concert in the Variaty Theater for the purpose of obtaining CENTRA.L AMERICA.. funds with which to help in building some church. They used the most vul- -The Greater Republic has recently gar music ever sung in Spanish musicsent its representative to Washington, halls and public houses. Not man, and he has been received by President weeks ago a public writer of thIS Cleveland. This federation including country, a liberal, called attention to all the republics except Costa Rica and the fact that the festivals of the Romish Guatamala, is formed for mutual protec- Church are but so many opportunities tion and influence in foreign relations; offered to the people for the most flagthe autonomy of the several countries is rant debauchery. in the main retained. Doubtless this greater Republic will soon include all Ah, the morality of Rome I It is the countries of Central America. easier for its emissaries to talk of it in a Protestant country than it would be The Moravians are suffering many set- if they were in any country where backs and hindrances from the Nica- Romanism is the prevailing religion. raguan occupation of the Mosquito Here. for instance, no one is surprised Coast. The government not only per- at hearing that Father So-and-So. tho mits but fosters gambling, Sabbath- a celibate, has 80 many children by so breaking, and the like. The officials many women. The llractise is far too are corrupt and no sympathy and little forbearance is shown to these mission- general for even his Bishop to be astonaries who have so long and faithfully isht. Priests think nothing of going workt in this field. to a club to join 8 gamblin~ party, or playing the usurer by lendIng money "An earnest appeal was made recent- at 30 and 40 per cent_I And somehow ly to the committee of the Church Mis- SIOnary Society, to open a new mission Sunday is the day when we see Romanin Central America for the purpose of ism at its worst. On that day the railreaching the still unevangelized Indians way, the clubs, the public-houses, the of that section. After some discussion theaters, the women of ill-fame, do far better business than in the six preeeed- ing days put together. IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.

In the January issue of this REVIEW, sionary societies, representing five de- we felt constrained to call attention to nominations, have a present debt oC the risk now confronting the work of $1,013,632, and would owe three quart· foreign missions. In that connection ers of a million dollars more, but for it was stated as our deliberate judgment, severe retrenchment." that at no time during the half century now closing, have missions to the hea- It is true that never was there such· then been at greater peril of collapse. an uprising of young men and women, This has been characterized by some as offering for the field; but it is also an unwarranted and extravagant state- alarmingly true that never was there so ment, and dismist by that easy modern inadequate a provision for sending those fashion of stigmatizing any discourag- who offer. Dr. H. C. Mabie, mourn- ing presentation of facts, calling it pe8- fully said, lately, that the A. B. M. U. BimiMn. One of our exchanges seeks to had been compelled to refusejivs out of make the editor inconsistent by con- 861JCn picked men, and that over 100 trasting with this " gloomy, if not hope- volunteers had offered, whom the union less view of the situation," the" glow- had not funds to encourage. We shall ing pictures of the missionary outlook," only make the situation worse by stig- which the same editorial pen has fur- matizing as pessimists those who simply nished, etc. call loudly for attention to the crisis DOW upon ns, and for much prayer and Without any undue jealousy for con~ self-sacrifice, in order to meet it. It is Bistency, the editor would simply say a profound conviction with the Editor that he sees no incongruity in these two of this REVIEW that God is marching contrasted views of the situation. Even on, far more rapidly than his people are if consistency were at risk, it is better following, and that to retrench now is to to be t:rue than even to be consistent. But retreat, and fall more and more hope~ there is no contradiction. The outlook le8s1y behind. The opportunity of the was never so hopeful; the risk was age is upon us, but we are not, as a never greater than to·day. It is the Church of Christ, proving equal to it. hopeful and promising outlook which And it is the duty of those who occupy makes'the risk so great. The world's an outlook which gives them a wider doors are open, and in most countries survey, and who see the danger, to peal we have reacht the middle stage of mis- out as with trumpet voice the warning sions-when the first stage of antagon- cry to God's people. Let the Church ism is past, but the third stage of self- arise, with greatly increast prayerful- support, and self.government, and self- ness, and multiplied gifts, and ten years propagation is not reacht. That middle may see results never seen before in stage-when the field is open and invit- mission history. ing, and the opportunity is great but short, when there is a clamor for more On Friday evening, Jauuary 15, a workmen and a need of greatly increased Missionary Rally was held at Carnegie effort and expenditure-that middle Hall, N. Y., representing all Christian stage is the existing condition in most denominations, both of the United mission fields. And it is just now that .states and Canad~. It was designed to the church, a8 a wlwle ana on the whole, be a sort of climax to the week of does not respond. Everything calls for prayer, and a starting point in aggres- . advance, yet, almost every organized sive missionary movement. The pro- Board is crying Retrenclt. gram was elaborately alTanged, and all the preparations were on a scale of Dr. L. H. Cobb, himself a devoted magnitude that befitted the occasion. mission secretary, evidently thinks the General and ex-Governor James A. – peril great. He says that "twelve mis-

Et>t'i'ORtAL DEPAitTMEN'r

Beaver was chosen to preside, Richard supreme work of the centuries, the S. Storrs, D.D., the Cicero of the Con- evangelization of the world, that on gregational pulpit, and Bishop Fowler, such an occasion, at such a crisis in af- whom the Methodists account one of fairs, with such speakers discussing their most attractive and effective speak- such a theme, the metropolis could fur- ers, being chosen to make the addresses. nish only about enough hearers to fill The evening was mild, and there was a an ordinary church buiidingl How self- very slight flurry of snow, but nothing evidencing Dr. Storrs's own words, that to hinder people from attendance. And the church needs most of all to tarrg yet it was a disappointment which must again before God in prayer, to be en- have caused the committee of arrange- dued with new power from on highl ments no little chagrin, that Carnegie Bishop Hartzell has left a very beau- Hall was not one·third full. By actual tiful and touching "Christmas farecount there were less than 1,200 people well," as he sailed for the field of his present to greet such master orators, bishopric in Africa. In it he recounts and exhibit interest in such a supreme the steps of surprise and surrender theme. It is no depreciation of Gov- which preceded his formal acceptance ernor'Beaver's stirring speech, nor of the of this trust-and all this reminds us emphatic utterance of Bishop Fowler, that successful workers are like Omar, to say that Dr. Storrs's address was im- not those who wantZthe place but whom perial. We undertake to reproduce and the place wants. Somehow an unusual perpetuate it in these pages, so far as earnestness and hopefulness seem to the grand body of thought is concerned. characterize this new choice of a s~c­ But the subtle aroma, the indescribable cessor to Bishop William Taylor. A quality, the personnel-evade the print- tinge of pathos has been added to this ed pages, and defy the reporters' art. departure by the surgical operation it There was a sweep and swing about it was found necessaty for him to undergo which were like the sway of a scepter before he left London. But God gave in the hands of a giant. It was a speech him an unexpectedly rapid recovery, that should have been heard by tens of and six days after he lay on the operathousands instead of a few hundreds. ting table, he was on his way to Liver- It showed, flrst, the immensity and in- pool to set sail, and his last words are tensity of the debt we owe to foreign like those of Paul to the Ephesians, missions in every department of our " Pray for us." civilization. Then it surveyed the vari- ous causes of the diversion of the pop- George Mliller, known to the whole ular enthusiasm and energy into other Christian world as the profound bechannels, and in dignified, but candid liever in the power of prayer, is now and careful terms, described the secu- ninety-two years old. He still makes larized church, ornate and sumptu- use of the gracions instrument which ous, but unspiritual and selfish; and he has wielded for so many years. The compared it to the wood agate which, direct answers which have come to him hO,wever ornamental, has its pores filled in response to his petitions, he says, with a substance foreign to itself and now amount to more than $7,000,000 in can neither be kindled, nor kindle any- money. They came in different ways, thing else. How anyone could hear but were so connected with his special that stately but stirring presentation of prayers that he believes they were tied God's historic plan for this world, and together in the gracious counsels of be indifferent to his own cooperation God. It is a wonderful story. with it, passes our comprehension. And yet it is abundant confirmation of Dr. It is a great but startling proof of the Storrs's indirect arraignment of the trend of unsanctified scientific thought church for apathy and lethargy in this that Mr. Darwin, who taught man's evolution from brute ancestry, virtually only present every grand principle and encourages the cultivation of a brutal selfishness. Witness the following para- motive of consecrated giving, but pregraph from the Descent of Man (vol i, page 161). He is referling to natural sent seven paradoxes that are very reselection as affecting civilized nations, and he says: markable. These Macedoniansseem to " With savages, the weak in body or have furnisht the most singular exmind are soon eliminated (i. e., they die or are killed off), and those that survive ample of Christian benevolence to be commonly exhibit a vigorous state of health. We civilized men, on the other found anywhere in Sacred Scripture; hand, do our utmost to check the process of elimination. We build asylums their giving was a sort of revcr8a~ of for the imbecile, the maimed, and the sick; we institute poor-laws, and our all ordinary experiences. medical men exert their utmost skill to save the life of everyone to the last 1. They gave out of the abundance moment. There is reason to believe that vaccination has preserved thous- of their po'D6rty, not out of the plenitude ands who, from a weak constitution, would formerly have succumbed to of wealth. smallpox. Thus the weak members of civilized £ociety propagate their kind. 2. Their wilUngnes8 exceeded their No one who has attended to the breeding of domestic animals will doubt that ability, instead of their ability, their this must be highly injurious to the race willmgness. of man. It is surprising how soon a want of care, or care wrongly directed, 3. They were urgent to be allowed to leads to the degeneration of a domestic give rather than reluctant, while those race; but, excepting in the case of the who received the gift were reluctant. to man hhnself, hardly anyone is so igno- take it, knowing how deep was their rant as to allow his worst animals to poverty.

breed." * 4. They made the greater gift first (of themselves), and the latter gift was The inference is plain: To build asy- the le88 (their money). Usuallr people lums, institute poor-laws, to vaccinate, give the least they can to beglll with, to seek to prolong the lives of the and have to be educated up to giving weaker, lower, more degraded, to carry themselves at the very last. on missions among the outcasts at home, or the savages and brutal pagans abroad, 5. In these chapters value of gifts is is misdirected benevolence, and in fact .reckoned, not by arrwunt given, but by no benevolence at all, for it is perpet- the degree of willi'l/{/ne8a and cltelYl'fu~­ uating a degenerate stock that should ne88 exhibited. be left to the process of elimination by disease or other means of extermina- 6. Weare here taught that increase tion! comes not by keeping, but by giving,- that the way to get more is to give In 2 Cor. viii.-ix. is the one discourse more, and the way to lose is to keep. on giving that makes needless all other treatment of this great theme. And it is 7. And the crowning lesson of all is noticeable that the two chapters not that they regarded giving, not as a privation to be evaded and avoided, but *Compare Morris' Present Conflict of a privilege and a blessing to be courted Science and Religion (p. 266-67). and cultivated.

Can we do better than to follow such a glorious example?

The Doshisha, the Japanese College, has drifted away from the moorings of its original Congregational evangelical- ism. In a publisht letter the president of this institution tries to justify the trustees, in virtually assuming the ownership of property, through the necessities of legal procedure committed to them in trust, and in perverting it from the uses for which it was estab- lisht by its founder, with the help of the gifts of Christians in America. Secretary Barton, of the American Board, has printed an open letter to President Hozaki in reply, showing that the Doshisha can not jURtify its departure. He enjoins plainly upon that body "not to think that by declin- ing further subsidy from the board and dispensing with the services of the mis- siouaries, they thereby release themselves from obligations to maintain the propaganda-but its main effort is to genuine Christian character of the in- make faith impossible or destroy it stitution." And he adds: "All the aid where it exists. This is the d.amning given by the Board and by American fact about Liberalism that in proportion Christians has been contributed from as it prevails, missions perish. In these the first for the purpose of establishing days of want and woe, superstition and and supporting an institution positively degradation, the liberal club has noth- and decidedly Christian and evangel- ing better to propose than to take away. ical. if possible, from Christ's disciples, their only real hope for this world or the When the Iron Duke gave a very next, and to interrupt a great work for difficult position to one of his veterans, the rescue of lost souls by tryin,'f to the reply was: "I go, sir, but first give prove that there is nothing worth bellevme a grip of your conquering hand." ing in the only system of religious faith What a privilege, when undertaking that has ever been able to uplift and the arduous work of making disciples redeem! of all nations, to get courage, hope, and assurance of success in advance by a The story of Uganda, which we hope grasp of the victorious Hand of our great General-in-chief who says, "Lo, I soon to have summarized in these pages, am with you alway." is one of the most marvelous in all his- The Christian Endeavor Union, of tory. _ New York City, has its Tenth Legion, which means, a body of Endeavorers Contrast the present condition of who give not less than one-tenth of their income to the Lord's work, and who, in matters with the days of Hannington's hopes to influence others to do the same, cruel assassination I "One hundred form themselves into an enrolled organization, with the understanding, how- thousand souls brought into close conever, that there is to be no publicity given to the names. There is none of tact with the Gospel, 200 buildings for the maChinery of organization-constitution, by-laws, elected officers, and worship raised by native Christians, meetings. Those who undertake to give God at least the tithe fill out an 200 evangelists and teachers entirely enrollment blank and receive a certificate of membership. This is a move- supported by the native church, 10,000 ment in the right direction, and may copies of the New Testament in circuthe glory of Cresar's immortal "Tenth Legton" be eclipst by the fidelity of lation, 6,000 souls eagerly seeking daily these young people to the stewardship committed to them of God. instruction, and the power of God shown When Mr. Moody was challenged by in changed lives; all this in the center the Manhattan Liberal Club to a public of the thickest spiritual darkness in the debate upon the merits of Christianity, he wisely replied in substance that his world." In the great church at Mengo, mind was made up in regard to the merits of Christ; he "knows what there are over 200 trees to support the Jesus has done for him during the last forty years since he has trusted Him.", roof. Each of these trees took 100 men "The time calls for action, not for discussion. Hundreds and thousands to drag it up the bill. of men and women are dropping into drunkards' and harlots' graves every There has been a remarkable growth year right here in New York. Now, let us all join hands and try to save of Christianity in Uganda, since King them. I will try to reach them with Mwanga ordered the massacre of Bishop the Gospel. . • . If there is any Hannington and so many Christian conmerit in infidelity, let your members likewise put it into practise. " There is verts, less than eleven years ago. Durno danger that liberalism will take up the gauntlet and undertake aggressive ing Bishop Tucker's recent visit to the mission work. Infidelity is not a country he ordained fi ve natives to the tp.i&eionarr forqe. It ~ inlleeq its deaconate and three to the priesthood, licenst twenty-two as lay readers, and confirmed more than two thousand con- verts. One of the natives recently or- dained was Samwili Mukasa, who, in 1890, was one of the envoys sent to the coast by the king to see the consul-gen- eral with regard to the political situation.

"His earnestness and devotion," the bishop writes, "are beyond all ques- tion " The ordination service was attended by from 3,000 to 4,000.

Rev. Dr. A. B. Simpson, leader of the Christian Alliance, is contemplating the foundation of a Christian Alliance settlement and camp meeting resort on the heights of the Hudson at Nyack, N. Y. He has recently purchased for the purpose twenty-eight aCTes of land hi~h up on Sou~q ~oupt~m QVeJ;lookin~ the river, the property in question being added: " All must admit that there is bought from Rev. Ross Taylor and good ground for a charitable judg- Charles H. Woerz. The Taylor house ment in this instance, in view of the edis to be utilized as an adjunct of the ucation, associations and general moral Berachah Home, now in West Forty- environments of one born of Jewish fourth street, and another building now parents, and largely removed during on the site is to be turned into an the greater part of his life from the re- orphan asylum. Other buildings will straining and corrective influence of the be erected, including a tabernacle, to Gospel of Christ." This declaration accommodate 5,000 people. makes the matter worse, as it suggests grounds for distrust. We wish this Those who remember the small be- case could be finally settled. Some ginnings of sixteen years ago, must be time since a commitee of which Dr. led to exclaim: " Wha.t hath God John Hall was a member, reported that wrought I" all charges against him had been ex- amined and found baseless. If Mr. Says the late A. J. Gordon, in his Warsawiak is entitled to confidence, wonderful work" The Holy Spirit in what ever be his errors of judgment, it Missions": would be well so to assure the public.

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or Apropos of the recent sesquicentenfigs of thistles? asks Jesus. Yea, 0 nial at Princeton, of the four hundred Son of God, through the engrafting of and sixty-nine graduates belonging to Thine own Divine Life even this miracle the period of Dr. Witherspoon's adis possible I ministration, it is said that one hundred and fourteen were clergymen, thirteen See the fruits of the Spirit hanging of whom became presidents of colleges; in rich clusters where once only the of the remaining three hundred and thorns of hate and cruelty aboundedl fifty. five, one-James Madison-was Forgiveness, that rarest and divinest for eight years President of the United grace, springing up in the heart of the States, one was Vice-President, six were man-slayer and cannibal! This is in- members of the Continental Congress, deed the crowning miracle of redemp- twenty became Senators of the United tion. States,twenty.three entered the House of Representatives, thirteen were Govern- It was this grace in lively exercise in ors of States, three were Justices of the the heart of a once savage New Zea- Supreme Court of the United States, lander which explained his singular and some twenty served as officers in behavior in rushing away from the the Revolutionary Army. And this, Communion table and then suddenly too, under the administration of a single returning to receive the sacred em- president. We have hoped that some blems. competent person would show Prince- ton's contribution to foreign mis8iom, Mr. Taylor, the missionary, observ- both in the way of direct work on the ing this action of his convert, askt an field and the creation of missionary literexplanation. The islander replied, ature. as well as prominent advocacy of "When I approacht I did not know the claims of the world-field, etc. Here beside whom I should have to kneel, is a department of Princeton's service to then I suddenly found myself close to the church and the world which is ns the man who slew my father and drank conspicuous, if the facts could be known his blood, and whom I swore to kill the generally, as any other. Who will write first time I saw him. The old revenge up this record? seized me, and I rushed from the table. But just then I seemed to hear a voice The Growth of Missionary Literature. saying. 'Hereby shall aU men know that ye are My disciples if ye have love The growth of missiona.ry literature one to another.' At the same time I is one of the wonders of this century, thought I saw another sight-a cross and the field is widening. Yale Univerand a man nailed thereon-and I heard sity has a special missionary library of him say. 'Father forgive them, they thousands of volumes, which would know not what they do.' Then I went have been impossible a hundred years back to the altar." ago. This growth may be traced in different ways. The recent action of the New York Presbytery over Mr. Warsawiak's case 1. The material for a good missionseems to us to require further steps in ary literature is now abundant. There justice to all parties. Without investi~ating charges against him, they de- is a, miI1,~ of literarr wealt4 Pl th,~ Ufe, clIned to ordain him, which, of course, they were at liberty to do, as there is no obligation to prd!l.w. lJut ther times, and labors of such men as Carey, There is still about $270.00 behind Judson, Duff, Livingstone, Morrison, on the fund, which we would be glad Nevius, etc. The task of shaping this to have made up.

material into good literary form has in- No new charges have been added spired the genius of scores of able during the past year, as the subscrip- writers. tions to volunteers are charged at a new 2. The 8tyle of modern missionary and special rate.

writing is very much improved, and For the Armenians we have received now demands and commands a high from W. M. Webb, for Anderson Bapliterary grade. Mere annals, dull and tist Sunday-school, Anderson, 8. C., lifeless, are not tolerated. In recent $15_57, and $5 from Miss L. M. Rood. missionary reviews, papers, and books, the arts of the printer, engraver, map- maker, bookmaker, and litterateur all ' Eugene Stock, Esq., of the Churh Missionary Society, has been releast combine. from editorial duties, for a time, to 8. The subjects treated now are speci- write up the history of the hundred years of that venerable organization, fic, not so general as formerly. Dr. B. whose centenary is close at hand. The C. Henry does not write of the whole task is very heavy, but no man is more Celestial Empire, but of special work in competent than Mr. Stock. He writes: and around Canton; Dr. J. L. Nevius, of specific work in the Shantung Pro· .. Our Secretary from 1802 to 1824, the vince; Dr. John G. Paton, of the New Rev. Josiah Pratt, started in 1813 the Hebrides. :for8t miB8iona1'1/ magaziM 61Je1' brought 4. As a result, Christian people are out. This was called' The Missionary reading missionary periodicals and Register.' He carried it on for nearl)' books with a growing interest. The thirty years, up to 1841, and it continued time has been when it was fashionable for a few years after that. It was from to know but little about missions. But the first a record, not of C. M. S. onlr, times are changin~. The Cross-Bearer's but of all the societies and missions m Missionary Readmg Circle, a three all parts of the world. Your REVIEW, inyears' course of systematic reading and teresting as it is, does not, of course, prostudy on missions in all lands, was in- fess to give a systematic history of all augurated six years ago, as an educa- the societies and missions, which the tional movement among our thousands Missionary Register did. Of course, of Christians who remain in the home missions were on a smaller scale in those land. The literature chosen for 1896-7 .days, but still they were extensive, and demanded the most skilful treatment to is as follows: The" Life of John Will- make their history clear. Gradually, iams," the "Life of Dr. J. L. Nevius," of course, the different societies began "Medical Missions," the "Life of Alex- to issue their own distinct periodicals, ander Duff," and the "Missionary Re- and in 1858 the Register was dropped. view of the World." So writes Rev. The earliest reports of the A. B C. Marcus L. Gray, President C. M. R. C., F. M., the Baptist and Presbyterian St. Louis, Mo., who will give further information to those who apply.

Boards, etc., appear, and in the year We have just learned the address of 1822 the two American missionaries in the author of the medical work to which Bombay, Hall and Newell, issued a reference is made in the February paper on the Evangelization of the REVIEW, p. 140.-" Medical Hygiene, whole world within a brief specified or cures for all diseases without drugs." time. The words, 'in this generation,' W. Frank Ross, M. D., Rantoul, are not there, otherwise the scheme is Illinois. Correspondents may thus almost exactly like the present S. V. M. U. plan It contains careful calcucommunicate directly with him. lations of the number of heathen in the Donations have been received by the world, the number of Christians in the editors or puQIishers for the Missionary church, the number of missionaries Volunteer Fund, and applied, as fol- necessary, and the cost of E1ending them out-very similar to the calculations lows: JamNe.s ZReeaidla,nWd _e_i_n_u_i_,_A__k_a_r_o_a_,$ 1.86 made by Mr. Wishard in his recent book. Have you ever seen this remark- S. KAo.reMa_o_f_f_et_t,_ _P__ye__n_g_ _B__a_n_g_, 8.50 able paper? I suppose it must be in the archives of the A. B. C. F. M. The Mrs. McEwan, of Italy (By Missionary Register prints large extracts Mrs. Bowie, Phila.) ______ 50.00 from it, which I havll read with the deepest interest. Truly there is nothing 65.36 new under the sun!"

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D.

Extraots and Translations from Foreign rightful Lord and Master, and to set Periodicals. before him in all, earnest love and patient sympathy, the grace, the glory, BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, and the power of the Eternal Son of MASS. God ?"

MOHA.MMED.A.NISM. -The Intelligencer, some time -The Rev. E. SELL, quoted in the back, commented very pertinently on Annual Report of the C. M. S. for Professor Max Mllller's assertion, that 1895-96, remarks on "the great barrier the Mohammedans have a more elevated which Islam sets up to hinder the conception of Christ than Christians, Church's onward march In the Eastern inasmuch as they ca.ll Him the Word world. Possest of a highly dogmatic of God, but refuse to call Him the Son religion, the dogmas of which are of God. Inasmuch as the Moham- sharp and well defined; accepting a medans have borrowed "Word of God ..

law supposed to be divine, complete, from the Christians, Max M1lller's and final; looking back to a history meaning can only be that it is an un- which records many former successful worthy conception of God to view Him worldly conquests, with occasional as capable of sustaining any relations gleams of borrowed splendor-the of mutual affection, either within the Moslem stands erect, proud to be such, Godhead, or beyond it. Such an ab- and utterly scornful of all other creeds horrence of love as a possibility to God and men. Has the Church yet realized is thoroughly Mohammedan. It S66IDS the greatness of this force thus arrayed strange, however, to hear a Christian against her, or estimated aright the declaring that He who, tho high, yet difficulties to be overcome? Century hath respect to the lowly, degrades after century past by, and the Church Himself by a relation of such intimacy, was silent. It is only within this cen- affection, and reverence, as that exprest tury that any very real and continued by Son and Father. Certainly Sonship effort-and that all too feeble-has been and Fatherhood are as central to Chris- made to place the true faith of the Gos· tianity as they are abhorrent to the pel of our Lord Jesus Christ before the coldness, hardness, and unutterable Mohammedan world. When, then, we uncleanness of Islam. We hope to remember our past neglect, the points bring the whole world yet to see that of contact in some matters of belief the ineffable pity and tenderness of between us and them, the conscious Fatherhood, ~aving its antecedent in groping after a higher light which some the eternal bosom of the Godhead it- MosleIDS have shown, the repudia- self, is the very crown and summit of tion of much that is narrow, super- the Infinite Glory. Word addresses stitious, and immoral by a few the mind, but Son, including Word, Mohammedans now in India, whose but bringing it out of its cold abstrac- ideas will doubtless lJ·ffect more and tion, addresses mind and heart, ad- more the educated classes ;-when we dresses the whole being of man. It remember all these things, are we not seems much to be regretted that Pro- distinctly called upon to try to under- fessor }Iax MUller should have allowed stand this great Islamic system, and his young Turkish friends to bring him then to seek to win the Moslem for his to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS

-In the Annual Report, the Rev. the London Society chapel bas been for F. F. Adeney, of Egypt, writes: two years turned into a barrack, and " The casual visitor stops to wonder at also the missionaries' dwelling-house, the grave Eastern in his flowing robes and likewise the S. P. G. schoolhouse, bowing reverently at the time of the Jesuits have meanwhile enjoyed the prayer, even in the open street. But he undisturbed" possession of their builddoes not consider that the very same ings, both of worship and instruction. man has very likely been cursing and It is true, this discrimination may have swearing, and cheating. and quarrelling been not so much in favor of Catholics just before he began to pray, and will against Protestants, as in favor of do so again when he has finisht. He Frenchmen against Englishmen. admires the stately intonation of the Koran, but he little thinks what his- All the English churches o! the provtorical absurdities, what sinful licenses, ince of Tamatave, save one, have been what cruel and bloodthirsty injunctions burned by the insurgent heathens, and it contains. the missionaries compelled to take refuge on the coast, or at Antananarivo. "The Moslem sheikh who teaches me Arabic has been enlarging to-day on The French government, before tathe superiority of Islam. He rejoices king possession of Madagascar, gave the over the massacres of Christians in the English government assurances that Tnrkish Empire. So narrow-minded is it would maintain liberty of conscience, he, that he declares that it is impossible and would respect the work of the to translate the Koran, and that all English missionaries. Of course, nobody nations are bound to learn Arabic in put much faith in its promises, tho we order to participate in the revelation of have tried to hope against Rope. France God. And so ignorant is he of the is mainly goverued by atheists, but by power of Christian love, that he believes atheists who always bear in mind the that were my wife to declare herself a words which the Protestant Guizot was Moslem, I should drive her from me. not ashamed to avow in his public He would kill all idolaters who refused capacity: "France abroad means Cathto become Moslems, and thoroughly olicism." The French despise and hate recognizes the obligation to flght against Protestantism as a Teutonic intrusion unbelievers. into the Latin world. English Protes- tants they hate with double hatred, "Would that people at home under- national and religious. But the bItstood how loveless the creed of Islam terest of all hatred is that which may is. Of real unselfish love a Moslem be called the irreligiously religious. It has no notion, and the great and crown- is the hatred of those who remain Cathoing Christian truth that God is love, is lic, tho they have long ceast to be to him an enigma. Power is his only Christians. It is in the hands of such idea of greatness, and consequently the men, principally, that the government weak suffer terribly in a Moslem coun- of France has long been, and it is in the try." hands of such men that it will probably long continue to be. Should the House MADAGASCAR. of Orleans come once more to the throne (which seems hardly likely), a -Altho the French goverument in less fanatical temper would probably a general way endeavors to maintain prevail, but not one less unscrupulous religious liberty in Madagascar, yet it abroad, in the endeavor to suppress is not to be supposed that it "forgets the Protestantism, at least English Protes· Protestant Guizot's declaration in the tantism within the French territories. name of his government: " France The policy of Louis Philip's government abroad means Catholicism." Thus, as in Tahiti is sufficient proof of that. M. Escande, the new agent of the Paris Society, reports: at Tamatave, while Of course, where a pretext is wanted,

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

it is always to be found. This is what government itself has as yet given any the Journal de8 Miasi0n8 for December, distinct intimation of an intention to 1896, says: expel the English missionaries from Madagascar, altho it may be doubted •• The news brought by the last mail how long it will be either able or disfrom Madagascar gives us to forsee evil posed to withstand the mingled flood of days for the Protestant missions. The ultramontane and of atheistic hatred, odious system of falsehoods and calum· which is thus availing itself of a hyponies which persists in representing critical pretense of patriotism. Just the Fahavalist jIlovement as fused with now, it is true, there is said to be a good Protestantism-altho the first victims understanding between France and have been Protestant missionaries, and England, which may for a moment altho of six hundred churches and delay the accomplishment of the evil chapels which have been destroyed, purpose. Good understandings between scarcely one hundred and twenty were the European powers at present, how- ·Catholic-this system has already be- ever, are a mere fortuitous concourse gun to bear fruit, and many indica- of atoms, likely to be followed in a few tions give us the presentiment of a days by as violent a mutual repulsion. period whose dominant character will Certain it is that ?rIr. Harold Frederick, be to assume, in many particulars, an .who is not apt to let his wishes take opposite position to the liberal and the place of facts, gleefully anticipates friendly administration to which M. the speedy expUlsion of all English Laroche has given his name. missionaries from every severed part of the wide colonial empire of France. "It is well to affirm it, in view of This gentleman is much too careful to the inundation of falsehoods which has have here made the wish the father of overflowed the press: up to this day, the thought. He avows that he could the attitude of the Protestant mission be equally eager for the expUlsion from has been irreproachable. The engage- India of the Zenana nurses, whom, for ments assumed before the minister by some reason, he segregates from the the directors of the societies which labor mass of Indian missionaries, and honors in Madagascar have been kept; the with the full cordiality of his hatred. missionaries, after having accepted with Yet he regretfully allows that it is out gratitude the new administration which of all question to look for the banishpromist to their churches religious ment of these from India. His joyful liberty and to the country the security alacrity of confidence, therefore, that and all the advantages of a good gov- the English Protestant missionaries ernment, have done all that lay within within the French colonies are all to be their own power to lend a cordial and sent packing, does not rest merely on unreserved support to this government. his hatred of missionaries. It doubtless It has required all the bad faith of rests on some solid ground of expectaimplacable adversaries to obscure as to tion. Even Protestant Germany mutthis point the truth, to which the im- ters against foreign Protestant missionpartial administrators bear witness. aries within her bounds. Great Britain Unhappily this testimony has not been seems to be the only power that has able to make itself heard everywhere, completely surmounted all such miserand calumny pursues its work." able persecuting suspicions. French- men or Germans, A.mericans or Danes, -The Societe de8 Mia8i0n8 E-oangel- Catholics or Protestants, all are equally iqu/J8 means to send out as many French welcome to her wide dominions, if they laborers as possible, so as to give can only do her subjects any good. a Gallic tinge to the Protestant work, This is one of the thousand proofs of and to blunt as far as possible the edge her "inexhaustible vitality." both of Jesuit and of chauvinistic slander.

It does not appear that the French

ENGLISH NOTES

English Note& gelistic branch-the fishing for living souls, and secondly, the pastoral branch BY JAMES DOUGLAS. -the shepherding converts, and the now numerous bodies of hereditary The Presbyterian Ohurch of England. Christians. -Rev. Dr. Dykes, in the Presbyimza,n Mes8enger, writes an article on "Chris- The SundaY-8chool MO'Vernent in India, tian Unity," setting forth, in the first can not be called a recent one, as it was place, the apparent disunion existing be- introduced for non-Christian children tween the various sects in the Church of nearly a quarter of a century ago, but Christ. He then points out that the it gives promise of proving Ii valuable real unity is the individual relation of means for influencing the children of each believer to the Lord. " A living the poorer classes of the community. union to the Personal Lord with all More than one-third of the total of that fiows from this:-here is what is schools and scholars are found in the common to all true Christians and to all north-west provinces and Oudh, where true Churchmen." the lIfethodist Episcopal missionaries, by whom the first serious attempt to The Olturch at OhaocluYtrfu has establish such a school was made in grown so large that the place of wor- 1872, have largely developt the effort. ship is no longer large enough to accommodate the number of people who The Zenana Work has many encourgather from Sabbath to Sabbath. There agements. Some of the pupils can read is an opportunity just now of purchas- English, and enjoy the "Life of Bishop ing a house in a good and suitable posi- Hannington," the "Schonberg Cotta. tion, near to the mission hospital and Family," etc. There have recently just inside the south gate of the city. been several baptisms among the The cost of purchasing and altering the women of the Zenanas, and the whole new premises is about £500, about £200 work shows mental and spiritual deof which has already been subscribed velopment which is most hopeful. or promist. " It is of the utmost importance that this center should be Work in Colombo.-Colombo is a worthily occupied, and it is hoped large, prosperous city, as the immense friends of the mission will respond growth and ever-increasing expansion quickly to this call." of its trade indicates. The Rev. A. E. Dibben reports an increasing English The Ohurch Missionary Society.-The congregation at Galle Face Church, and ninety-seventh annual report of the ever growing interest on their part in above society shows an evident forward the missionary work carried on in movement, both as regards the number Colombo and in the island generally. of missionaries, and also the way in Miss Child visits the homes of the which these workers have been received Mohammedan women, she writes:- and encouraged by the natives of the Oncof the most interesting things that various countries and districts in which has taken place in connection with the they have labored. The annual sermon house-visiting, is the reopening of a preacht at St. Bride's Church, by Rev. house that has been closed for two W. H. Barlow, D.D., put clearly years, because a young girl confest her before the listeners the opportunity faith in Christ. Her books were taken for present active service for God in from her, and she was beaten by her home and foreign fields of labor. The father; but still slle stood firm, and at text was "Behold, I have set before last the father has relented, and allows thee an open door," and these words her to be taught again. The girl's joy were taken as an incentive to immediate was unbounded, and she says, "I have action. In briefly reviewing the work forgotten nothing, it has all been kept of the past, it divides itself naturally in my heart. The last time I saw her into two great division-first, the evan-

GlllNlllRAL MlSSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

she said how much she was looking . hand in the fire and not know it, while forward to Christ's coming, and how you listen.' Truly Eastern imagery, yet very glad she would be to see him." I believe that woman is a true Christian at heart, tho she fears to confess it." The King of Two, IJaudi Ka~agama, stands alone among his chiefs in being THE KINGDOM:. a true Christian. God has wonderfully toucht his heart, and he realizes to a -Surely this of all times is not the very real extent that his duty is first to time to disbelieve in foreign missions; God. He is most regular in his attend- surely he who despairs of the power of ance at the classes, and sits daily at the the Gospel to convert the world to-day, feet of Jesus to be taught. He is show- despairs of the noontide just when the ing his love for God's work in a practi- sunrise is breaking out of twilight on cal way, that is, he is having built a the earth.-Phillips Brooks. house suited for the work to be carried on in it. -Says Prof. J. H. Goodell in TM Pacific: "The modern conception of Sla'I)(J'I'1J in East Africa.-The follow- the missionary idea must delocalize the ingresolution was past by thecommittee, thought of missions. It must soon be and has since been forwarded to Her impossible for one· Christian to ask Majesty's Government:-"That in the another: 'Are you interested in misopinion of this Committee the time has sions ?' As well may we inquire, fully arrived to give effect to the long 'Do you believe in living?' God has apd definite promise of Her Majesty's brought our ears literally to the beating Government, to abolish the status of heart of heathenism. The day is past slavery in the dominions of the Sultan when a church is just to take charge of of Zanzibar, including Mombasa and adjacent slums, the surrounding boardall the country within ten-mile limit. ing houses, or the Nob Hill of society. They would earnestly and respectfully To·day God has planted every church press upon Her Majesty's Government in the midst of heathenism. The throbthe urgent necessity for prompt and res- bing pulse of the unsaved world is to olute action in the matter." be feIt in every sanctuary. Every ear, unless it be purposely stopt, can de- Uganda. – On December 15th, the tect the fever-jump of our smitten committee welcomed back Bishop brethren the world over. The cry, Tucker, and were thrilled with his 'Come over and help us,' has become wonderful account of the spread of the universal. There are no foreign mis- Gospel in Uganda. sions. Distance is no longer. In the marvelous providence of God every North Africa Mission.-" Mr. Reid, point of our world is now home misof Tripoli, reports a very fair attend- sions. It is now time to realize that in ance at the medical mission during the the kingdom of God, as at present month. of October. The Bible shop opened, consolidated, and intermingled, had been opened as often as was possi- nothing is foreigu. nothing is far off, ble. Very few Arabs have visited it at nothing is separated from my own perpresent, but a great many Jews, to sonal interest and privilege. Africa is whom tracts have been given, and a your home and my home; Asia and the few Bibles sold." Miss B. Vining, of isles of the sea, and every spot on this Tangier says, "I have lost some of my footstool of God is our personal abode. girls from the class lately-their fathers The modern conception of the missionfeared they were learning too much of ary idea must make every business man the 'religion of the Christians.' One of feel as he goes to his office that he is my women the other day told a fliend, to make money for the conversion of in speaking of the teaching, 'The words the world; and every professional man are so beautiful, you might have your that his mission now is to live to bring the earth to loyalty in the kingdom of the nations have been steept in hea- God." Verily, that is God's truth in thenism for centuries, the conversion every word, and exceedingly well of a single person means more than lips spoken, besides. can express. The greatest hindrance to-day to the spread of the Gospel in -In 1850 you could buy a man in foreign lands is the attitude of Christenthe Fiji Islands for $7.00, butcher him, dom toward the heathen world concernand eat him, without even public re- ing the vices that are a part of our monstrance. To-day the Bible is in civilization. The missionaries will ever nearly every house, and on Sunday fail to reach the thinking men and nine-tenths of the people may be found women in heathen lands until the liquor assembled in the churches for public traffic is overthrown in America, and worship. What about the power and the opium traffic in England, until profit of foreign missions? foreigners can see the principles of Christianity exemplified in our govern- -The amount expended by the ments." churches of the Toronto Baptist Association last year in their local work was -This is the conviction which the $47,987. The baptisms reported were directors of the East India Company 318. That is one baptism for about and their friends embodied in a resolueach $150 expended. The amount ex- tion and past in Parliament in 1793: pended in the foreign mission work of ., The sending of missionaries into our the Canada Baptists was $33,954, and Eastern possessions is the maddest, the baptisms numbered 453, or one most extravagant, most expensive, most baptism for each $75 expended. unwarrantable project that was ever proposed by a lunatic enthusiast. Such -Dr. Hitchcock, of the American a plan is pernicious, impolitic, unprofit- Board, has been looking the matter up, able, unsalutory. dangerous, unfruitful, and 'makes this surprising statement: fantastic. It is opposed to all reason Adding to the enrolled students in 39 and so;;nd policy; it endangers the American colleges which are regarded peace and the security of our possesas Congregational all the scholars under sions "!fl! the care of the American Missionary Association in the South, and of the -A census of the world seems impos- Education Society. including the New sible, but it is going to be undertaken. West, as well as the students of the 7 The unparalleled labor is to be one of Congregational theological seminaries, the gigantic projects to celebrate the there are not more than 30,000, possibly advent of the twentieth century, and it not more than 28,000. How many is safe to say that a more stupendous pupils there are in Congregational undertaking has never before been deacademies we do not know, but it would vised. The scheme had its real inceprequire 250 of them, with an average of tion at the biennial meeting of the In- 100 pupils in each, to add to the above ternational Statistical Institute, recently to bring the total up to the number now held at Berne, Switzerlaud, where a under instruction in the schools of the committee was appointed to consider American Board. But this is only one ways and means. Anything approximabranch of the Board's work, yet this ting an accurate census of the populabranch is seen to be a vast education tion of the earth at the present time is, society. without doubt, an impossibility. In addition to the poles, there are many -Miss Jessie A. Ackerman, of the BpOts on the earth that have never been W. C. T. U., has been twice around the visited by the explorer, and others from world, and spent 8 years in travel which a census enumerator never would This is a conclusion she has reacht: get away alive. The population of the .. I take a very cheery view of missions and their outlook for the future. After earth is now estimated at 1,700,000,000, starving Armenians which amounted to guesses founded upon the observation $113.00. of travelers, and upon other guesses mentioned in treaties given by such UNITED STATES. countries as China, Persia, Arabia, and – The A.doonce gives these figures Turkey.-London Mail. concerning the gifts made last year for public purposes in the United States: -The editor of The Herald of Go8pel " Without taking account of the small Lib8rt1/ is pleased with the word "in- sums collected by various organizations terdenominational," but evidently has through the usual methods, the aggresome difficulty with it. " It does not gate of special contributions and large look exactly right," he says. "Itseems gifts was $33,670,000, nearly $5,000,000 odd not to have at least a hyphen to more than in 1895, and $13,500,000 more separate; but itfu18 right." than in 1894. Of this amount $10,854,- 000 went to charities, $2,135,142 to -That great Baptist Church, Tre· churches, $16,814,000 to colleges and mont Temple, in Boston, has fitted up $2,000,000 more to museums and art the sixth floor of its beautiful new galleries. building for the especial comfort of the many' young members of the church – The Oongregationalilt started a few who are at work in the business section weeks since a fund for the care and wherein the church is situated. There education of Armenian orphans, which is a fine kitchen, and a large tea-room. at last accounts approximated to The tea-room is bright and cheery in $25,000. all its furnishings, and here nourishing food will be fumisht at a low price. -It is pleasant to read in TM Ind.6- Near by are cosy rooms for men and penti8nt that there are 25,424,333 comothers for women, with desks to write municants and 136,960 ministers in the at, lounging chairs for comfort, places churches of the United States; but not for sewing, for newspaper reading, for so pleasant to be informed that the games,-in fact, a delightful Christian Union holds 19 kinds of Lutherans, 17 home, in the midst of the whirl and kinds of Methodists, 13 kinds of Bapuproar of busy Boston. The plan is as tists, 12 kinds of Presbyterians, 12 kinds practical as it is beautiful, and will do of Mennonites (only 52,944 in all), 6 much to commend to young people the kinds of Catholics, 6 kinds of Adventreligion of the Christ of Bethany.- ists, 4 of Friends, 4 of Dunkards, 3 of Golden Rule. Reformed, etc., etc., etc., etc. It looks as tho it was high time for 8O'TlUbod1/ to -The curfew ordinance, requiring "go back" further than to Wesley, children to be at their homes after or Calvin, or Luther, even to one Jesus. nightfall, has now been adopted by 200 cities, and city officials, parents, -The New York Tribune', Fresh Air school-teachers, and chiefs of police are Fund has issued its reports of last year's emphatic in their praise of its efficacy. work and a summary of that of its Mrs. John D. Townsend, who makes twenty years now-ended. Its expendithis statement in the North A._Wan tures for the year were $23,948, with Rsfliew, believes that, while prevention which 1,040 were sent for two weeks of crime is better than its punishment, into the conntry; 25,910 mothers and it is best to begin with care for children, children were given a pleasuring in the and also that the associations of the Fund's grove on the Hudson, and the streets in the night hours are productive day excursions made up the number of of crime. beneficiaries for the season, 40,600. In the twenty years, with $371,778, it has -A mission church in Chihuahna, helpt 347,269 children and adults, of Mexico, recently by the use of mite whom 151,324 were given the usual two. boxes made an offering for the relief of weeks' summer outing. -Below are given the average re- (b) The place for Foreign Missions in the plan of God. ceipts of the American Board by de- (c) Christ's yearning for a lost world. cades for sixty years: (d) The Holy Spirit and Foreign Mis- 1833-43, $35,909 sions. (e) The penalt,Y of disobedience. 1848-53, 86,909 (f) Foreign MIssionary motives.

1853-63, 134,718 (g) Apostolic Missionary methods.

1863-73, 250,138 1873-83, 509,979 -During 48 years the Presbyterian 1883-93, 798,033 Foreign Board has supported 453 mis- -The Oh'I'iBtian StandaJrd (Disciple) sionaries of all classes among 21 tribes says: We will soon enter Africa. The of Indians, at an expense of $525,600, Springfield Convention urged the Ex- given by the churches, and of $520,000 ecutive Committee to enter at once. entrusted to the Board by the Govern- The committee hopes to be able to send ment for educational work. Over 3,000 2 men, but if 2 can not be sent, 1 will were received during that time as combe sent early in 1897. Before another municants, not counting the nearly year rolls around we hope to be able to 2,000 more transferred by the Amerireport that our missionaries have en- can Board.

tered the Dark Continent, and have set -An interesting feature of the recent up their banner in the name of the meeting of the Synod of Washington, Lord. Idaho, was the presence of 30 Christian -The Methodist Episcopal Church Nez Perc~ Indians. They were minis- has appropriated $586,800 for foreign ters and elders and their wives. One missions for the current year. Of this of the evening services was conducted sum China receives $114,000, Japan wholly by them; one of their number, $46,576, Korea $14,285, India and Rev. James Hays, preaching the ser- Malaysia $142,436, South America mon. Mr. Hays and many of the others $71,348, Mexico $49,500, the rest going were trained in Miss McBeth's theolog- to Europe and to Africa. ical school. The whole company were -The Presbyterian Church gives out the frnits of the labors of those sainted this most excellent scheme for monthly 'missionaries, Spaulding and Whitman.

concerts. At the end is appended the -Word comes from Massachusetts subdivisions of the theme for January. that since the first publication of a list Jan.-The Bible and Foreign Missions. of unoccupied farms in that State five Feb.-Evangelistic Missionary Work. years ago, nearly 300 farms have been .March-Missionary Administration. Bold, most of them to Americans. We Aprit-Native Christians. hear little concerning that subject in Jfay-Woman's Work. Vermont now. We have few unoccu- June-Foreign Missionaries, pied farms and those are not giving us July-Mission Printing Presses. any uneasiness. Weare not likely to Aug.-Reflex Influence of Foreign see again such an emigration as in the Missions. past, and many who have gone out from &Pt.-Missionary Schools. our borders would gladly return if they Oct.-Medical Missions. were able. In this connection the Nov.-Influence of Christianity on the thought of Secretary Merrill is still per- Social Life and Civic Institutions tinent, "Abandoned farms are not so of Heathen Lands. dangerous as abandoned principles."

.Du.-The Home Church and Foreign Our churches must see to the latter in- Missions. dustry.- Vermont Ohronicle.

BmLE AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. -Cambridge (Mass.) voted no-license at the late election, for the eleventh (a) The place of Foreign Missions in the consecutive time, with the largest Word of God. majority in the city's history. 1,881. A and locations of all medical missionaries prominent factor in the fight was Father holding British degrees, 239 in number, Thomas Scully, who ~ctively opposed a net gain of 23 over 1895, and estimates the saloon. Also Mayor W. A. Ban- that the United States and Canada are croft, who addrest and, presided over represented by about as many more, several meetings. Many business men while the Continent is credited with but shut down their shops for noonday 10. About 500 physicians are now in rallies, factories, foundries, and stores the foreign field. being turned into rallying places. Cam- bridge seems to be permanently in the -The Manchester mission has just prohibition column. observed its anniversary. It lllaintains crowded preaching services at the Free -Rev. Lyman Jewett, one of the Trad hall, the Central hall, the Grand modern heroes of faith, has recently Theater c Varieties and various chapdied in Fitchburg, Mass., at the age of els. It has concerts, lectures, lantern 85. Entering the Telugu mission in exhibitions, Bible classes, guild meet- 1848, by 1862 it had proved so barren ings in bewildering variety. Its relief that the Baptist Board seriously debated and rescue and preventive agenCies, the wisdom of closing it. Mr. Jewett conducted by a large staff of paid and was at the meeting and exprest his unpaid workers, form a network of determination to return and die there, philanthropic beneficence that practiand concluded by saying that somebody cally covers the city, including a labor must be sent along, at least to bury yard, men's home, preventive and trainhim. And not many years later came ing home for girls, night shelter for those astounding revivals. women, casual ward for men, medical mission, district nursing among sick GREAT BRITAIN. poor, maternity home, servants' regis- try employment bureau, food depot, -At the Foreign Office recently Mr. cottage mission, girls' institute, lads' G. N. Curzon received a deputation club and other departments. from the Society of Friends, headed by Mr. J. A. Pease, M. P., in reference to -Honored as is the work of the the abolition of slavery in Zanzibar. Religious Tract Society, few persons Several members of the deputation regard it as a great auxiliary of urged that the abolition should be foreign missions. Many will learn with immediate, and that there should be no surprise that it has publications in 219 intermediate system of apprenticeship. languages, and that large grants of Mr. Curzon, in reply, said he repeated Christian literature, always to the full and endorst the pledge previously given extent of the means at the society's disby the Government as to the abolition posal, are made to the leading missionof the legalstatua of slavery in Zanzibar ary societies. In the course of the' life and Pemba. As to the manner in of the Society no less a sum than £685,- which that was to be effected, the mat- 000 has been so expended. Last year ter was under consideration, and no the grants amounted to £32,561. The decision had been arrived at. The value of Christian literature for con- Government wanted to secure the bona verts surely needs no words to emphajld8 freedom of the slave from any legal size it. In another way the R. T. S. trammels, and at the same time to does excellent service. Where missionavoid any sudden economic convulsion aries have printing-presses in the and consequent political and social dis- mission stations. the R. T. S. makes turbance. There was a danger that grants of paper for printing, and has there might be a large exodus of freed expended in the last fifty years £62,- slaves from the plantations. 000 upon this object.-Ohurch MUl8ion- arg intelligencer. -Medical MUll/ions at Home and Abroad for January gives the names -The Luganda version of the whole ASIA. Bible is the latest issue of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The shape Is)am.- Cyrus Hamlin is always cer of the book is singular, and the ex- tain to say something whenever he planation of it is no less singular. It is speaks or takes his pen, but seldom has ihree inches broad, or thereabout, and he uttered himself to better purpose or the Bame thickness. The Bible Society more forcibly than in his recent article in this carried out the instructionsgiven on "The Failure of Islam." An en- to them without asking the reason why. grost copy ought to be sent to His When they did ask, they were told Serene Highness, whose thorny seat is it was in order to fit the book into on the Bosphorus. Qne of Huntley and Palmer's 2-lb. biscuit-tins, leaving room at the side -An item from the MiBsWna'1"1f for a.little book, ., Oxford Helps to the Herald says: How many Sunday- Study of the Bible," and at the end for schools are there in the United States prayer and hymn-book. These tins are that are obliged to enforce a rule that somewhat plentiful in the country now adults can no longer be permitted to so many Europeans are residing there, attend because there is no room to and they protect the books from the accommodate them? Such is the case voracity of white ants and other insect with the Sunday-schools in Aintab, plagues.-Idem. Central Turkey, which are now held at noon, and have a membership of over -An anonymous friend has offered 3,000 children. More than half these the Church Army £1, 500 for the special children .belong to the old Gregorian purpose of extending the society's work Church. While the Sunday-schools amongst the outcast, on condition that are thus prospering, inquiry meetings a further £8,500 is subscribed for the are held and are largely attended. And same purpose, in sums of £25 and up- it is in that same city of Aintab, that wards, by the end of February. In not long since Prof. J. Rendal Harris, response to an appeal issued, over of Cambridge University, England, and £2,600 of the required amount has his wife, spoke in one day to audiences already been subscribed. numbering nearly 11,000.

-It is now definitely decided that -The American consul at Erzerum, H. S. Newman shall accompany Theo- writing Nov. 21 in a letter made public dore Burtt to Pemba, in Africa. It is by the State Department, puts the numa responsible and hazardous enterprise ber of orphans at 50,000 and adds: in behalf of free labor in the African German charitable or religious sociisland, and with the hope and prospect eties are preparing to establish industrial of helping the cause of freedom, and orphan asylums at Oorfa, Cresarea and mayhap, indirectly, helping the Govern- elsewhere, and the Kaiserswerth deament to remove a stain from the flag of conesses of Germany have made pro- Britain, but especially that true Chris- vision for receiving Armenian orphans tianity may thus find expression among at Smyrna. and 30 have been sent there Mohammedans and others.-Engli8h from here. The British Government Friend. or its ambassador at Constantinople has initiated a movement .leading towards -A most interesting and important settling a number of widows and their volume of about 300 pages has been children on the island of Cyprus, more publisht by the English Friends, giving particularly. at present, at least, those the papers and addresses presented at within the province of Erzerum, which the recent Darlington Conference on number in the cities of Erzerum, Er- Foreign Missions, and abundance of zinjan, and Baibourt 2/049 who are information concerning their work in wit~oilt means and are recipients of foreign lands. The showing is most relief. creditable•. -The command to .. begin at Jeru- This was more effectual than all the salem" was literally observed by the rest. He helpt his fellow at the yoke early promoters of medical missions, for half an hour, and then down he for one was establisht in that city as came. 5. This time the irate driver far back as 1824, and the number of out- graspt the tail of the reclining animal patients visiting the English Mission and, taking it in his mouth; bit it merci- Hospital for Jews at Jerusalem last lessly. This was as effectual as the year was 12,335, not including dressings Chile powder, but made the biter some to wounds, sores, etc., which numbered trouble to get the hair all out of his 11,880. The in.patients numbered 879. mouth. 6. His last resort was to put a Many sick Jews had to be refused for live coal under the brute's caudal ap- lack of room. The patients came from pendage. This brought the cart into Cairo, Alexandria, Damascus, etc., as the village. If any minister in America well as from Jerusalem. The new hos- ever came across such ingenuity on the pital which is building will have 40 part of an American farmer in dealing beds, 15 more than the one used at pres- with a balky horse, to divert his mind ent, which was built in 1832. So still from wearying thoughts, let him speak. walks The Great Healer through the On another occasion I was called upon old city, over which He wept, in which to decide a case of considerable gravity. He workt, and in which He prayed A poor man, in a comer for cash, borand died.-Medzca& JlfiBsiouOll'1/. rowed 10 rupees ($2.50) of a neighbor, and made over his wife to him as secur- India.-A Hindu named Aaron was ity for the same till such time as he the first native Indian convert educated could pay the debt, which was without and ordained a Christian minister. This interest in view of the kind of security was in 1733, by Ziegenbalg. There are given. Our poor man saved until he now 1,000 natives ordained to the min- had 10 rupees in hand, and then called istry of the Reformed Churches. upon his neighbor to take his money and return his wife. The neighbor was so -I have heard more than once the well pleased with the security he said opinion exprest that a missionary's he did not want the principal back.- life was a very humdrum sort of one, and greatly wanting in the spice of in- R4'D. O. B. Wa1'd. cident. I do not accept the idea and propose to pen a few incidents in proof. -H. F. Laflamme, a Oanadian Bap- Some time since, while traveling over tist missionary, gives this vivid picture the country, I made note of the numer- of an outcaste Sunday-school: There ous and ingenious resorts of an unso- the children are, 77 of them, a tangle phisticated native of India to make a of lank arms and lean legs, their halfrefractory bullock that showed his de- naked bodies glistening with oil, or termination not to pull any more by grimy with filth accumulated by rolling lying down in the road, bend his shoul- in the gutter. The larger girls are disders once more to the task. 1. He tinguisht from the larger boys by prodded him with his nail-pointed gad. having one end of the cloth skirt, com- This made him move on a little way mon to the costumes of both sexes, pass when he dropt 'down again. 2. He up over the shoulder, and form a sort got a long whip and tried this on him, of loose waist. The smaller children ineffectually. 3. He wound a rope dress in a small cloth, the size of a around the nose of the obstreperous pocket-handkerchief. 'rhe hair crop, quadruped so tightly he could not get long, straight, black, and tangled, inhis breath. This brought him to his dicates the girls; that of the boys is feet and secured five minutes pull at the shaved off close to the shining black yoke. 4. He applied. Chile powder scalp, with the exception of a short (powdered' red pepper) to both eyes. tuft, or top-knot, used by their elders as a handle by which to pull them, wIlen recalcitrant, into the path of duty. matter of Sabbath observance. The They crowd together like a flock of Sabbath is a blessing they are slow to I crows over 'a new find of spoiled grain. appreciate. Living, as so many of the Chinese do, on the verge of starvation, -What woe, unspeakable and unim- they are slow to see the advantage of aginable, has deE.cended upon the hap- one day's rest in seven, when there is a less millions of India, when to the chance to earn something on the seventh awful scourge of the famine, the even day. As an example of Chinese povmore deadly infliction of the plague has erty, one man who had a wife and sevbeen added. The stories are quite past eral children, once gave as the reason belief that half the population of Bom- for his absence from Sabbath worship, bay have fled the city in panic terror. that they had no food in the home and he had taken the family over to his -The Rev. Robert Spurgeon, of father's house in order to get a meal Barisal, India, declares that there are there. districts in Barisal with populations of 800,000 and 500,000 without a single -The contention that the only hope preacher, tho when an occasional visit of missions lies in the education of chilis paid the people listen eagerly, and dren and not in the vain attempt to purchase copies of the Scriptures and convert adults finds a strong refutation tracts. What must the divine Head of in the work of the late J. A. Leyenthe Church think of these neglected berger in China. During his missionary opportunities? life he baptized 940 adults, 46 of whom were between the ages of fifty and sixty, -What a strange picture to our West- and 27 were over seventy years of age. ern minds this experience gives I A pupil in a mission college; then a dis- -An American professor in Peking tinguished graduate of the university University says of the Chinese church, and a great linguist; then a magistrate; of which he is pastor, that it is rapidly then a wandering fakir, who, while a coming up to self-support: "If the fakir, carried about with him one book Methodist Church in the United States only, and that the Bible; and, lastly, a would do as liberally in proportion to Christian brought to Christ by reading its ability, it would give about $15,000,- the Bible which he had carried about 000 annually for missions." Our conwith him while a heathen mendicant. verts are better than we are, more lib- We must go back to the earliest cen- eral, more self-denying, and more turies to find a similar picture.-Free prompt in their gifts. Ohurch Monthly. Korea.-After being well-nigh ship- China.-According to the Rev. S. wrecked at the hands of her officious L. Baldwin, who has spent over 20 pilots from abroad, Korea has entered years in China, the following are the upon a quieter era of reform, under infigures relating to this agency in that fluences nearer at home. The Re· land: "There are 100 male and 50 fe- pository, published in Seoul, remarks: male physicians, 150 male native med- "We gladly recognize the existence of ical students and 80 female students, 71 the progressive party and the good work hospitals treating many thousands of it is aiming to do: The widening and patients, and the physicians attending repairing of the main streets; the careyet other thousands at their homes, and ful cxpediture of government money; 111 dispensaries. in which over 223,000 the presence of capable foreigners in the patients are treated. About $70,000 law, war, and police departments; the was spent in medical work last year." dismissal of incompetent clerks; the redistricting the country into thirteen -A missionary of the China Inland provinces; and the fixed salaries of Society writes; Weare having a little governors and magistrates, tOlether difficulty at present with some in the with the littliting of their power and are continually discust in these papers, privileges," Add to these the royal and from a Christian point of postal service in 11 cities and 14 smaller view. The influence of the Christians towns, and we have a hopeful outlook upon the great moral reforms of the for the future. day is undeniable-they are practically under Christian leadership. The ChIis- -Rev. G. H. Jones writes: "In tians have already added largely to the Korea the Protestant mission work is commercial and industrial strength of carried on at 40 different places. The the nation.-The Outlook. storm of war and desolation has driven us ten years nearer our ultimate goal. -There are 15 publications in Japan The chief results have been the relief of devoted to the interests of women. Of Christianity from misconceptions of the these 3 are Christian. It is said that people, the mastery of a hitherto un- the late war with China has given a known tongue, and the successful great impetus to female education in inauguration of a Christian foundation. Japan. In the Mitsui Bank, of Osaka, Woman's work has been specially suc- the book keepers are all women. The cessful. The Protestant missionaries fair sex is also pretty well represented number 82. Of these 35 are Presbyter- in some of the Government offices. ians (31 from the United States and 4 from Australia); 26 are Methodists -The Y. M. C. A. of Tokyo has on from the United States (24 of the Meth- its roll the names of 347 members, odist Episcopal Church and 2 of the active and associate, and 186 young Methodist Episcopal Church, South); men attend the Association's night 12 are of the Church of England from school. England; 5 are Baptists from the United States; 4 are independent. In -A census of Christian charities in October, 1895, there were reported 42 Japan has been prepared by Rev. Mr. congregations, 528 baptized members, Pettee, of Okayama, in which are given 567 probationers or inquirers who had the names of 37 schools for the poor, given evidences of conversion and were having 1,317 pupils; 6 "homes" for applicants for baptism: 445 Sunday- various classes of persons, having 106 school scholars. The mission of the inmates, besides 22 orphanages having Methodist Episcopal Church was com- 1,189 inmates. There are also reported menced in 1885. It now reports 9 male 16 hospitals, and 4 institutions for the and 15 female missionaries, 122 mem- Ainu. Some of these charities were bers, and 288 probationers. organized and are supported by mis- sionary societies, but the greater portion Japan.-It is a striking fact, which owe their origin and maintenance to those who question the power of the individuals or churches, native or the Christian movement would do well foreign. The oldest of these charities to consider, that out of the half dozen are a school for the poor and an orphan so·called great papers (Dai Shimbun) of asylum at Yokohama, organized in Japan, two are avowedly under the 1871 by the Institute des Soeur de St. guidance of Christian principles. These Enfant Jesus. The next oldest is an two are the Kokumin Shimbun (the orphan asylum in Tokyo founded by Nation) and the Mainichi Shimbun (the the same sisters in 1873. J)a$'lu News). No Japanese, certainly, would dispute the correctness of this -Count Ito, the reforming Chancelclassification. One may doubt, possibly, lor of Japan, has persuaded the empress the religious influence of these journals; to wear European dress. His object in but they are stalwart champions of doing so is to help to secure for Japan- Christian ethics, and they have a wide ese women a higher social position. At hearing. Questions of public morality present they have assigned to them an inferior place in society. and Count Ito's notion is that by dressing like Europeans their standing will be raised. " If the your rifle, when you are getting a bead women," it is argued, "begin to wear on a fidgety buck, and bite in some foreign attire, their husbands will be painful spot just as you are about to obliged to modify their houses and pull the trigger. Other insects annoy their whole manner of living." you. Big moths, inquisitive about your lamp, enter your room at full speed, AFRICA. flutter noisily about your lamp, or try -There is little of Africa now that is to commit suicide inyour soup, leaving not controlled by either Portugal, Italy, the fluff of their wings floating on the Germany, France, or Great Britain. surface. The jigger burrows into your Germany possesses an area five times flesh, and starts in to raise a family in a as great as the original extent of its little white bag beneath the surface of own country. The African possessions your skin. The proverbial little ant is of France have been multiplied by five a terror to mankind. The large brown within the last decade. The only re- driver-ant, marching in swarms of milmaining portion of the great continent lions, with giant-ants as leaders and ofnot under European protection, the ficers, is a dreadful enemy. They move Sudan, is in process of conquest, really over the ground like a dark-brown ribby Great Britain, tho nominally by bon a foot wide, devouring every living Egypt. thing they meet, from a grasshopper to a goat, if the beast can not escape. -If the Kongo River were laid down Their heads are furnisht with terrific in Europe, it would extend from St. nippers; if you are bitten, and attempt Petersburg, in the north, and Smyrna, to pull away the insect, you will flnd in the east, to Athens and Naples, in the that the head remains in your flesh. south, watering the whole of Europe They will enter your house; no matter with the exeeption of northern Scandi- how well filled your larder was before navia and eastern Russia. the visit, it will contain nothing but -The English and German mission- bones afterward. The white ant does aries in East Africa introduced the cus- not bite you; his particular province is tom of raising a white flag with a red to destroy your most valuable property cross upon the flag-staff in their stations -your best trunks, your favorite shoes. on Saturdays, in order to tell the neigh- In one night he will so attack a wooden borhood that the Lord's day is on the box that when you lift it in the mornmorrow. The natives consequently call ing the bottom will drop out; he will Sunday" flag-day." eat a living eucalyptus·tree, and when he is in the district the poles of your -The late Mr. E. J. Glave wrote, in house in a few months' time will crum- the Century: "A word as to African ble into dust. At a certain state of his insects. In the swamps the mosquito is existence he has wings, which he sheds a vicious little fanatic. He assails you at your meal-times into your dishes.

in clouds without the slightest provo· Scorpions and tarantula spiders are only cation, and remains till killed. He is a occasionally met. Large beetles come keen observer, and if you are sitting in from long distances to see you, and end any posture which stretches your gar- their journey by striking you in the ments tightly over your leg, you feel a face. Many insects of smaller caliber sharp sting which tells you the mos- settle on the back of your neck, and quito has noticed the fact. A small hole when you try to brush them off sneak in your mosquito-net he notices at once, down your back. Small saw·flies feel and will struggle through it, a wing and particularly curious about your right leg at a time, and when inside calls to eye when the left one is closed and a few friends and tells them the way he you are trying to get a bead on a entered. They perch on the barrel of buck." -Extraordinary steps have been with the intrigue and fatalism of the taken by the authorities of Cape Colony Moslems, and the well-known ignorance to arrest the progress of the rinderpest, of the superstitious Mograbin Jews, which, making its way southward from the workers see little encouragement, the Zambesi, has desolated Rhodesia, but their trust is in the Lord, who has stript Khama's people in Bechuana- purposes of grace in Morocco as well as land of their most valuable property, in other countries. and threatens to desolate the entire southern section of the continent. At -The American Sudan Mission has its first irruption infected herds were already 4 stations and 18 workers near promptly slaughtered-one of the the source of the Niger at Falaba, and causes of the revolt of the Matabeles now proproses to send another set of was the refusal of the authorities to workers to occupy Timbuctoo. Two- compensate the native owners for cattle thirds of the inhabitants of the Sierra thus slain. Then an attempt was made Leone hinterland speak the Mendi lan- to prevent the infection spreading south guage, and the Mendi are the Waganda of the Molopolo River; strong patrols of the West Coast, so the possibilities were establisht on the southern bank- seem to be considerable, even though but in vain. A fresh boundary line- the surer way to reach the Sudan as a a fence of wire-was then constructed Whole be through the Hausaspeaking by the Cape authorities, at great ex- nations. pense, from the German territory on the west to the Transvaal on the east, -The Presbyterian Church of South and continued down to the south. The Africa has now its General Assembly, plague leapt this barrier, and appeared in which are represented the Free in three native localities. These were Church, with 3 presbyteries; the United promptly fenced in. A double fence Presbyterian Church, with 2 presbywas then built right across Bechuana- teries; the separate presbyteries of Natal, land, with a five mile interspace, and Cape Town, and the Transvaal, and the this belt is incessantly patroled to pre- congregation of Port Elizabeth. The vent the crossing of cattle. In all, united body claims to have 13,000 comsome 1,500 miles of wire fencing has municants, of whom three-fourths are been constructed, and the work has natives. Outside this community there cost, including the police and patrols, are 2 other Presbyterian churches in over $2,000,000. South Africa-the Dutch Ref(lrmed, with 160,000 members; and the Basuto -The annual report of the Central Church, with over 9,000 members. Morocco Medical Mission gives us some idea of the anxieties which be- -Dr. George F. Becker, of the set the work of Dr. Robert Kerr and United States Geological Survey, who his helpers. The Mission carries the has just returned from mining investi- Gospel to the Jews, Moors, Arabs, and gations in the Transvaal RepUblic, re- Berbers in the center of Morocco. ports that that country contains the Rabat and Salee, with an aggregate most stupendous gold deposits the population of 55,000 souls, 5,000 of them world has ever seen. Within 15 miles Jews, form the basis of operations, of Johannesburg, he says, on What is while the tribes lying between bring up called the main reef series, there is an the population to upwards of 400,000. amount of gold practically in sight, Owing to civil war and the unsettled estimated to be worth $3,500,000,000, state of the country, no itinerating work or nearly as much as the entire volume was possible last year, but the medical of gold coin now in the world. For mission was frequented by many of the the present gold is being taken out at people, 4,491 cases being treated during the rate of $100,000,000 a year, and it the nine months ending Sept. 30. What would not be surprising if, within a few years, the South African gold output equalled that of all the world be- way, and that he hoped they would be sides. Most startling of all is the report which Dr. Becker brings from another met on the coast of Kavirondo by the American mining expert that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the new steamer supplied by the Stanley gold deposit, instead of being 30 miles long, is practi(~alIy 1,200 miles long. and Record Fund and conveyed thence -The Pennsylvania Bible Society to their destination, thus saving a fort· contributes $500 to pay the expenses of a second edition of the Tonga New night'smarching. The new Government Testament, for the missions .of the Methodist Episcopal Church in East steamer, which was put together at the Africa. The translation was made by the Rev.E. H. Richards, superintendent mouth of the Lake and was the first to of East African Missions. He will superintend the issuing of the new 1I.oat upon its waters, has suffered a disedition. The American Bible Society does the printing. aster at Bukoba, the German station on -The death of Baron Von Eltz adds the west coast, where it was driven on another name to the roll of those who have fallen in their enthusiasm to bring the rocky shore by a storm. Christ's kingdom of light and peace to Africa. He occupied the post of Com· -Writing by the last Livingstonia missioner for the German territories east of Lake Nyassa., and by strenuous mail from Ekwendeni, the headquarters efforts against the Arabs, had contributed in no small measure to the ex- of the mission which has tamed the tinction of' the slave trade in his district. To his children, as he called the Ngoni on the western uplands of Lake German missionaries in our African Interlaaken (the land between Tanganyika Nyasa, Dr. W. A. Elmslie reports con· and Nyassa), he was full of kindness. -Blantyre Life and Work. tinued progress up to the end of last -The missionaries of the Leipsic July. The 17 schools, with above 1,000 Society in East Africa are rejoiCing that they henceforth will receive their mail eager scholars in daily attendance, were regularly every three weeks. If they were in Alaska or in the Hudson Bay all in operation, and all studying the territory they would be glad to get it every three months I And we spoiled Word of God. which they purchase for children of civilization grumble if our morning paper is late a few minutes. themselves. Revs. E. Ovir and K. Segebrock, two young Leipsic missionaries, were mur- -We may give thanks to-day that the dered by Arusha and Meri robbers, October 20, on their way to the Meri spirit of place is so wide-spread. Folmountains, where they were to establish a new station. lowing hard after the good news about -Bishop Tucker, now in England, the Venezuelan difticulty comes the states that the Uganda party, who left the coast November 28, were to go tidings that Italy has resigned 'her pro· the 1I.rst 14 miles of the journey by rail- tectorate over Abyssinia and has recog· nized the independence of that plucky African countrr., whose Christian king and soldiers, It will be remembered gave the Italian army the most ignO:- minious drubbing several months ago. It was feared that Italy, to maintain lier military standing, would continue this expenSlye and bloody war at all costs.

Now that the present treaty has been concluded onreaigbnroabdetawnedenlibethraesl ebatswis~ peace will countries, and one more long step has been taken towards the recognition of the oft-ignored fact that weak and " uncivilized" nations have rights that should be respected.-Golden RUle.

-King Menelek of Abyssinia claims to have treatad the Jews more kindly and justly than others have done. •• There are more than 300,000 of them in my kingdom," he said lately to a missionary; "and though they enjoy almost complete independence, they are obedientand industrious subjects. They never conspire, pay all tributes, and respect our abuna as much as do the Christians. If they are worse in Eu- rope, it is because the Christians, too, are worse. Our Lord Jesus forgave them on the cross j why should we persecute them?"

The Missionary Review of the World — February 1891

THE REGIONS BEYOND

MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

YOLo XIV. No. 2.-0Id Series. –FEBRUARY.–YOL. IV. No. 2.-New Series.

I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.

THE REGIONS BEYOND. * [EDITORIAL. ] The old Greeks were a worldly-wise people. In the Olympio games they showed their sagacity. Three pillars stood in the ancient stadium, respectively at the starting point, midway, and at the goal or turning point. On the first was inscribed a Greek word, whose force was, "Show yourself a man !" "Do your best!" On the last was a word which migh~ be rendered, "Stop here !" "Arrest your steps!" But on that midway pillar was the imperative ::i;'7rEVOE, " Speed you !" "Make haste !"

How much philosophy there was in that! No risk was greater than the· risk of overconfidence when success was but half attained. A racer, who at first outran the others, and at the middle of the course found himself ahead, would be tempted to 'relax his efforts; and so some athlete, who had reserved his strength for the supreme effort at the end of the race, would pass him by and get first to the goal.

Paul was a trained athlete in the spiritual sphere; and the law of his life was, "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Spinoza wisely said that there is no more fatal foe to all progress than selfconceit and the laziness which self-conceit begets. To think and feel that we have already attained or are already perfect, is the narcotio that brings on the sleep of the sluggard and the slothful.

The motto of the great apostle of the Gentiles was, THE REGIONS BEYOND. He would be satisfied with no other man's method of measurement, with no narrow circumference of present attainment. He yearned to evangelize-to preach the Gospel in the Regions Beyond, and not to boast in another man's canon or measure as to territory already embraced in the scheme of labor.

That motto of Paul is the trne watchword of the Church in this new age of missions. After all the work of a century, we have only * The substance of an address at anniversary of China Inland Mission, Mildmay Hall, London, England, May 21,1890, and stenographically reported.- A.T.P. just begun. We are not even at the midway pillar; and God says, " Speed ye! Make haste! Forget the things behind and push for the Regions Beyond." And this will we do, by the grace of God!

This grand motto suggests various important applications: 1. The Regions Beyond, in the literal sense,of territory thus/ar unclaimed and unoccupied for Ghrist. If this great work of evangelizing the world is ever to be done, we must penetrate the deceptive halo of mere enthusiasm and come to the bare, hard facts of a world's destitution and degradation. Zeal is good, but zeal according to knowledge is better. To know the facts is to be oppressed with a great burden, for souls. To judge from what is sometimes said or written on missions, one wonld suppose that the work, not only of evangelization but of conversion, is going on so rapidly that we might wake any morning and find the whole world brought to Christ. Let us get past and behind this rose-colored cloud, and look at those great bald facts that, like those stopy shafts of eternity, the crags of the mountains, lift their awful forms before us-I,500,000,000 of human beings-enough, if they were moving, single file, past a given point, one every second, to consume fifty years, day and night, in passing, yet going down to the grave at the rate of more than one every second! Death, three times every century, sweeping the entire population 'of the globe into eternity, like chaff from a threshing-floor, to make room for a new generation! And this process going on for nineteen centuries, uninterruptedly, so that, since Cllt'ist was born, nearly sixty generations have lived and died, most of whom never heard of Him! What if all that host might be supposed to move in procession at the same rate we have already imagined! It would take over a thousand years! And, while we are talking about evangelizing the world, and some enthusiasts are prophesying its speedy conversion, is it not true that there are to.day more unsaved souls in the human family than there were last elmtury, or even last year? With all our missionary effort is not t 11e world';; population advancing faster than the churches of Christ are gathering converts? Surely it is time the church should fully awake to her responsibility. We act as though we had ages before us in which to preach, and the unsaved had ages before them in which to be reached, whereas our term of service and their term of life must very soon expire. The China Inland Mission found the germ of its being in the fact that, in Inland China alone, were eleven great populous provinces where as yet no missionary had gone to reside; and, in ten of the eleven, missionaries are now permanently working. Let the church not shrink from facing the facts: the destitution still unreached is appalling. What are 700 missionaries in China among 350,000,000 of souls? One missionary to half a million! About the same proportion of missionaries amc,ng the 250,000,000 or 300,000,000· of India, one to about 400,000! In Siam, with from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000, about a score of men and women, laboring among the native Siamese and Laos people, every male missionary having an average parish of a million souls, and cities with a population of 200,000 having not even a Bible-reader or native teacher!

Consider Africa's need! How little is it understood. Even a missionary journal gave currency to the misleading statement that the Dark Continent is " tolerably well supplied wi.th missionaries, as thirty-five missionary societies are now at work there." If you go across Siberia and down the eastern slope of the Kong Mountains, through the three Soudans, of the Niger, Lake Tchad and the Nile, 3,000 miles to the Red Sea, and if 400 miles north and south of your line of travel you could survey the land, you would find 90,000,000 of people with scarce one missionary! And farther south, in the Congo Free State, you might travel from Equatorville east to the Great Lake stations, and there is another territory 1,000 miles long by half as many broad, whose 40,000;000 of people when Stanley passed through Uganda had not yet seen a missionary! Doubtless Africa has to-day at least 200,000,000 of people who never saw a Bible or heard the first proclamation of the good news. And yet Africa is " tolerably well supplied with missionaries! "

Am I not justified in saying that we must get beyond and behind all this illusive glamour of ignorance and imagination? Yes, beyond evanescent touches of sympathy and passage of resolutions, and do something for souls that are dying without Christ.

In all the world we have six: thousand 01' seven thousand missionaries, representing 30,000,000 of church members-one for every five thousand! Whereas, if Protestant churches gave out of their membership one in three hundred, it would Imt 100,000 missionaries in the field, exclusive of the native helpers, who have for the last half century outnumbered four or fivefold the missionaries from Christian lands. These are, doubtless, familiar facts; but Sydney Smith said that for purposes of impression repetition is the only figure of speech worth a farthing. These facts must be beaten in by repeated blows. We must not only strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking. Never will the people of God take up the work of missions as they ought until they both understand and feel the emergency and extremity of a dying world and their own opportunity and {)bligation with reference to it.

As to opportunity, there was never any such before. We live in ~ays more augustly awful than any in previous history. I would rather live in this year 1891 than to have lived when Christ walked the earth. Grand as would have been the privilege of seeing the Lord in the flesh and being closely associated with Him then, this day of grace offers us opportunities of service and privileges of fellowship which, in their way, are even more transcendent.

The regions beyond, of the whole world, now lie open before the children of God. Fifty years ago the burden of public and united prayer for missions was that God would open the doors of the nations to the preaching of the Gospel. In those days Japan was like a vessel hermetically sealed; China was the walled kingdom, fifteen hundred miles of solid barrier shutting out "the foreign devils;" India was 'in the selfish clutch of the East India Company; the islands of the sea were held by cannibal savages, and Africa was not even explored. A hun- dred years ago it seemed as though there was no chance of reaching the vast bulk of the race with the Gospel. A great wall of idolatry, superstition, prejudice, surrounded the nations, with here and there a solitary breach; now, that whole wall is down, wit.h here and there a. fragment remaining to oppose our advance. Let those who see no God in history tell us how changes so stupendous have been brought about inside one century. No human being, no combination of human elements could ever have done this. But" one day is with the Lord as a thousand years," and there have been single historic" days" in this period, in which He has wrought the work that ordinarily would have taken a millenium.

That one year 1858 may be selected as the annus mirabilis of modern missions. During that one year doors were opened giving access to one thousand millions of the human race. In that year, 1858, Great Britain, after two hundred years of exclusion, made her treaty with Japan. In that same year China, by the treaty of Tientsin, threw open not only her p.orts, but her interior, and provided that any Chinese subject might embrace the Christian faith without molestation or persecution. In that same year India was transferred from the sordid East India Company to the British crown, and Victoria became Empress of the Indies. In that same year the revolutionary changes in Papal Europe laid the basis of Free Italy. In that same year David Livingstone sailed a second time for South Africa to complete his pioneer path for missionaries. In that same year Benito Juarez, in Mexico, overthrew the monastic system, confiscated the estates and revenues of the Papal Church, and opened the way for Protestant missionaries to enter Central America. And in that same year Elizabeth Sale, of Helensburgh, Scotland, successfully penetrated the zenanas of Hindustarr, and led the way in woman's work for woman!

Was there ever such a year as 1858? Within less than a twelvemonth doors of approach were opened to from thirty to forty millions in Japan, three hundred to four hundred millions in China, two hundred and fifty to three hundred millions more in India, including all her millions of women and girls, two hundred and fifty to three hundred millions more in Africa, besides the hosts in Papal Italy and Mexico! When Paul and Barnabas came back to Antioch from their first mission tour, "they gathered the Church together and rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." But did God ever open doors of access in Apostolic times with such rapidity and on such a scale of grandeur as in your day and mine? Who shall dare say that the days of supernatural working are past, ",hen such miracles qf Providence are performed before our ~ery eyes?

The apathy and lethargy of the Church of Jesus Christ are alarming, for they suggest a deadening of sensibility. We are like those that walk amid a blare and glare and flare, and whose eyes and ears are dazed and dulled by the glory of the scenes in t.he midst of which they are moving.• This year 1858 was not the only wonderful year in modern missionary history. In 1878 there was such a mighty movement of God's grace in India that sixty thousand people turned from idols in Tinnevelly and the Telugu country within six months! And it was in that same year that some twenty persons gave upwards of $4,000,000 to missions, as though God would show what on the one hand His grace could do among the heathen, and, on the other hand, in prompting a higher Christian liberality.

The Regions Beyond, thus marvelously opened to the Church, are a perpetual challenge to us to occupy till He comes. We need to get down on our faces before God for a greater Pentecostal baptism than the Church has ever yet known. All our efforts lack unity and harmony and business methods. On some mission fields a score of different denominations will sometimes be found, working side by side, in a comparatively small district, while in the Regions Beyond millions are without a single missionary. And our home fields are often overstocked in comparison. When in Scotland, on my mission tour, I found in one village, of perhaps 1,200 people, five fine church buildings with as many educated pastors; the entire church-going population could have been accommodated in one of those buildings, and cared for by one of those ministers, while the other four, with the money that their buildings cost, might have been evangelizing the interior of Chin.a, India or Africa, where each man might have a parish of from one million to ten million souls! There is something wrong in the Christian Church when denominational zeal outstrips that nobler zeal for the evangelization of the vast multitudes that are absolutely uncared for. It would seem that something is wrong, even in the basis of our missionary work, when the Church of God can calmly look on eight hundred million of human beings that, eve~ yet, after nineteen centuries, have not so much as heard whether there be a Christ or no ! When Rev: Geo. W. Chamberlain first went to Brazil, he found 10,000,000 of people in a nominally Papal land, who scarcely knew what a Bible was. One old patriarch of four score years, to whom he gave a Portuguese New Testament, and explained salvation by faith, said to him: "Young man, this is what I have long been waiting to hear. But where was your father when my father was alive that he never came to tell my father how to be saved?" Some such question as that we must all answer, if not before we die, at the judgment seat of Christ.

These Regions Beyond-this te;ritory unclaimed and unoccupied for Christ-should at once be possessed. Christ distinctly outlined for His Church her missionary policy: it is not concentration but diffusion. We cannot too often ring out this truth. Some have urged the American Board to concentrate its forces largely upon Turkey, and then, when Turkey is thoroughly evangelizeQ, it will, they say, furnish evangelists for the Regions Beyond. A similar policy has been urged upon the Presbyterian Board in New York as. to Japan, and the Church Missionary Society as to India. The argument is that we should unite our forces upon a limited field till it is thoroughly Christianized, and then make the newly converted people an evangelizing force to push on to the furtJlermost limits of the earth.

This looks well and sounds well at first suggestion; but is it scriptural? Our Master made no such discrimination. " Go ye into all the world," " unto the uttermost parts of the earth," and "'preach the GORpel to every creature." Those are onr marching orders. The policy of concentration more or less limits the area of the work of the Church. To follow such a policy is not to go into the Regions Beyond. We are tempted to choose fields comparatively neal', attractive, promising; fields offering prospect of large and quick harvests; and leave the more distant, destitute, degraded races of mankind to utter neglect. vVhile we are concentrating on Turkey, Japan or India, what is to become of the other millions of mankind that have only one lifetime in which to hear the Gospel?

Again we would peal out in the dull ears of a sluggish Church the signal of opportunity and obligation ! We are to take whatever men and women we can get and whatever money and other means we can gather and do just as OUI' Master bade us-go everywhere and to every creature with the Gospel, and do it at once. And when the Church of God will do her simple duty with faith in her Lord, the miracle of the loaves and fishes will be repeated on a larger scale in human history. 'fhe small provision, which seems nothing amil1 snch a vast multitude of hungry souls, will, when brought to the :Master and used along the lines of His command, again illustrate the miraculous mathematics of God. As we subtract from our supply, He will add to our resources. As we will divide, He will multiply; and He will increase for distribution what we decrease by distribution.

We write it solemnly and with profound conviction and deep emotion: Christ waits to see the travail of faith in the souls of His people before He can see the travail of His own soul in the redemption of the race! Never will that largest and last blessing come to our mission work until we emphasize evangelization. for which we are responsible rather than conversion for which we are not responsible; until we abandon our worldly-wise centralization and concentration and adopt the divine policy of universal extension and diffusion, going with all speed even to the uttermost parts of the earth and bearing among all nations our witness to our I.ord and His cross. From His cradle to His tomb, and from His sermon on the Galilean Mount, to His last commission, perhaps upon the same Mount, we seem to see but one commanding signal: it is a Hand pointing ~ TO THE REGIONS BEYOND. [To be continued. ] EACH religion has an appropriate symbol. The cross has come to represent Evangelical Christianity, as the crucifix does the Papacy, and the Greek cross the Greek Church. The wheel of endless transmigration may well stand for Buddhism, the iron ring of caste for Brahmanism, the crescent for Mohammedanism, the sun-disk for Parseeism, the tablet for Confucianism, the dragon for demon worship, the stone for fetichism, and the axe for a destructive atheism.

" BECAUSE iniquity abounds the love of many shall wax cold." No believer can afford simply to breathe a polluted atmosphere, and if his work for God compels such associations he must frequently go, as Christ did, apart with God, and on the lofty mountain tops breathe a pure air, taking long and deep inspirations of that purifying and strengthening oxygen and ozone. Prof. Bernard used to illustrate our unconscious accommodation to a vicious atmosphere by placing a sparrow under a bell glass receiver, with ail' enough for three hours respiration. Then, at the end of two hours, he put a sccond sparrow under the receivel', and it fell over dead, while the formcr bird was able to sustain the process of respiration for the remainillg hour. So there is a law not only of physical but of spiritual toleration. We learn to live in a polluted atmosphere, to accommodate ourselves to a low level of spiritual life. Could we come suddenly from a pure society into the carnal and worldly and selfish atmosphere often found even in Christian churches, we should be stifled. Let us live much with God, in the closet, and so learn to detect and flee from a contaminated atmosphere. May this law not explain in part the high consecration of true missionaries? They can maintain spiritual life amid snch surronndings only by mueh COil verse with God.

THE MISSION OUTLOOK

THE MISSION OU'l'LOOK.-II.

BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, M.A., LL.D., NICE, FRANCE.

We proceed to speak of the foreign field. And first we ask what progress has been made in the evangelizing of the nations generally?

We sometimes hear even the friends of missions assert that the progress is deplorably small. 1Ve ask-small in comparison with what? If the answer be-small in proportion to the effort made, the answer runs clean counter to our deepest convictions. Considering how little man has done or tried to do, the blessing from on high ap- pears to us most graciously, most marvelously large. The seed we sow never perishes; it brings forth fifty, sixty and a hundred fold. Just compare the progress made in modern times with what was witnessed when the Gospel was preached even by apostolic lips. Some thoughtlessly speak as if the miracle of Pentecost had been frequently repeated through the early centuries. It was not so, even during the first. The highest estimate which we can possibly form of the number of professing Christians in the year 100 is not half a million, including childre'n, and some authorities make it considerably less. But, during the last century, more than 3,000,000 have been rescued from heathenism by Protestant missions alone. The Lord is pleaaed to bless our poor, initial efforts far beyond what we had reason to expect-for very feeble and faltering have these efforts been; and His marvelous goodness ought to impel us to run henceforth the way of His commandments.

1Ve are fully aware of the retort which is frequently made: "Yes, you have gained perhaps 3,000,000 from heathenism during the last century; but the heathen population of the world has been increased by a vastly greater number; and there are far more heathen now than there were a hundred years ago." True, but the Christian population of the world has been increasing too. Proportionally it seems to increase twice as fast as the heathen population; and by the end of the present century-that is, ten years hence-the Christian inhabitants will actually increase more rapidly than the heathen inhabitants. Of course, we may be told that merely nominal Christianity is of no value. But that is not true. Just compare the state of Europe with that of the heart of Africa! The last accounts, supplied by Stanley and Mackay, regarding interior Africa, are as horrible as the descriptions which Dante gives of hell. Europe is no paradise; but neither is it a pandemonium.

1Ve are amazed at the erroneous conceptions as to the progress of missions existing in quarters that ought to be well informed. A few years ago a journal of high name asserted that the conversions to Mohammedanism in British India were about a hundred thousand annually. More recently an anonymous writer in one of our most inflnential magazines maintained that the conversions to Islam were every year about 50,000, and that India was steadily becoming Mo- hammedan. It was of no use for missionaries to protest against these assertions; on such subjects they, good men, are supposed to be hopelessly prejudiced, and it is for able editors to put them right. But next comes Sir W. W. Hunter, whose knowledge of Indian sta- tistics is unquestioned, and he informs us that, so far as statistics are available, the general population of India, in nine years, has increased 8 per cent., but the Christian population 30 per cent.; and that, tak- ing Bengal as a sample, while the Mohammedans have increased 11 per cent. the Christians have increased 64 per cent. That particular error, then, is finally disposed of. So much as regards numbers; but what about character? No doubt there are black sheep in the flock. Missionaries are sometimes detleived by inquirers, and the children of {)onverts in heathendom are very like young people in Christendom. Still, there has been generally-we suppose universally-a remark- able elevation of the Christian community in intelligence and cllarac- tel', and, as a consequence, it has risen and is rising in position. In ~ndia, government returns show that crime' exists among native Chris- tians only to one-fifth the degree which obtains among the Hindus. We believe the same thing is tl'Ue of converts in China, Japan and Siam. It is remarkably true throughout the Dutch dominions in the islands of Eastern Asia, as we may have occasion to show a little farther on.

Letus now glance at the chief mission fields separately, beginning at the East: JAPAN.-The progress in this empire during the last twenty years ()r so in which it has been possible to preach the Gospel in public, has " been steady, and, as compared with that in other countries, even Tapid. Recently, among the educated or half e,ducated young men there have been manifestations of a feeling of dislike to foreigners; and probably the cry of " Japan for the Japanese" will wax louder and louder. The strong feeling of nationality will affect the missions and their ecclesiastical arrangements. Quite possibly foreign mis- sionaries will be told, before ten years are come and gone, that their presence is no longer needed; and this not scornfully or bitterly, but from a conviction that Japanese Christians can manage their own affairs and evangelize their countrymen better than foreigners can. For our part, we respect their feeling; and though we desire no abrupt severance of existing ties, we trust to see, ere long, the great spectacle of a national church in Japan-self-supporting, Eelf-gov- erned and self-extending. We say a national chttrch. The mission· aries are laudalby exerting themselves to reduce the number of eccle· siastical divisions among Christians. The Presbyterians have all united; they had almost coalesced with the Congregationalists, when a bar was unhappily interposed-from, America, if we mistake not. The Methodists wish to unite; and so do the Episcopalians and others.

Excellent, so far; but the Japanese Christians long for one grand, national church; and they will have it if foreigners do not interfere.

Em Oriente lux. Very probably the problem of union, at which the chutches of Europe and America are toiling, will receive its solution from the minds and hearts of more far-off Eastern Christians. That ought to humble the haughty West; but all of us, we trust, would heartily rejoice in the result. When we speak thus, we dream that there will be one grand united church holding the principles of the Reformation. The Roman and Greek churches will doubtless remain apart from this, and from each other, in Japan as in other places.

The new constitution of Japan gives full tolerance to Christianity, and the Gospel may now be preached over the length and breadth of the empire. Are the two old religions-Shintoism and Buddhism- likely soon to pass away? Some have answered yes; but we fear not. Shintoism is a vague, colorless creed, and one naturally leaps to the conclusion that it cannot long contend against the Gospel. But it is the old, ancestral faith; nearly all the vaunted glories of Japan are connected with it; and, probably, it will die slowly, as did the religion of Rome, even after Constantine's profession of Christianity.

How difficult to forget the national traditions handed down for more than two thousand years; how difficult to throw off the religious ideas they embody! Buddhism is an alien faith, though in itself more definite than Shintoism; but it may not perhaps survive its rival.

Confucianism has been the creed of many of the higher classes, and its worldly, cold philosophy may content them for a good while longer-all the more readily, because it can easily combine with the ancestral Shinto worship. • KOREA comes next-the'" hermit nation," as it used to be called; "the land of the morning calm," as it calls itself. Korea had very little distinctive religion. Shintoism was little known; Buddhism was proscribed; Confucianism influenced only a few among the higheF classes. Vague, confused superstition was all in all. But Korea happily has an easy alphabet, and multitudes, even of women, are able to read.

The beginnings of Protestant work in Korea are due to the Rcv. John Ros~, missionary of the (Scottish) United Presbyterian Church in Manchuria. He tra~slated various portions of the Scriptures illto Korean, from the year 1873 onwards. These were circulated in Northern Korea, and the result was truly remarkable-indeed, few things in mission history have been more so.* Then came the Ameri- can Mission, in 1884, being begun by Dr. Allen, a medical missionary, • See Report of Foreign Missions of (American) Presbyterian Church for 1890. In a spirit which does them much honor the Americans speak most war..lIy of the labors of the Scottish Mission, which preceded their own. whose professional skill was greatly valued in the highest quarters. An Episcopal Methodist Mission has followed, and recently an Angli- can one. Two laborers from the General Assembly of Victoria, in Australia, co-operate with the Presbyterian Mission. So far a mar- velous blessing has rested on the work. The opening of Korea has . been more sudden, and more complete, even than the opening of Japan.

CHINA.-In connection with China the eye first naturally fixes on the late Missionary Conference held at Shanghai. It was very large, very harmonious, very earnest and very hopeful. Of the arousing call to the Church of Christ to send China a thousand missionaries within the next five years we have already spoken. Especial stress was laid on the work of women. Dr. Williamson, since then, to the great loss of China, deceased, said that the permanent Christianization of China depends on the women, and that the women can be reached only by women. The conference did not take any narrow view of Christian work, and one of its solemn declarations was: "We hear a loud call to the Christian Church to supply Christian educationists for China." Lastly, it came to a most important resolution regarding the translation of the Scriptures into Chinese. Hitherto there have been rival versions, and interminable disputes aA to the rendering of im- pOl·tant words (even the name of God among them), and when the conference met, agreement on long-contested points seemed utterly hopeless. But the" great mountain" became" a plain," and satis- factory means were proposed for the preparation of versions in the high classical language, the colloquial :Mandarin, and an intermediate dialect. In addition to these there is a considerable number of local '. dialects, and arrangements were entered into by which versions into these will be made, or, if already made, harmonized. Had the Shanghai Conference achieved nothing more than this, all the labor and expense connected with long journeyings and a session of more than a fort- night would have been richly repaid.

SIAM.-Buddhism is the established religion in Siam; but here, as elsewhere, the name veils a mass of childish superstitions. The chief mission here has been the American Presbyterian, which began its work in 1840. Its operations are carried on mainly in the northern part-Laos. Some twenty years ago there was a severe persecution of the Christians; but, for some years past, opposition on the part of the government has completely died away. Education and medical work receive decided encouragement from the king and the high officials. All the missionaries seem to be full of hope.

NETHERLANDS, INDIA.-The Dutch possessions in Eastern Asia are so called by the Hollanders, though they have no connection with IIindustan. (They are part of Indict extra Gangem.) Until of late the Dutch authorities discountenanced missions, if they did not actively oppose them. '1'0 this day religion is at a low ebb among the Dutch inhabitants of Eastern Asia, and the clergy are often ,avowedly rationalistic. But the missions have done much faithful work, and the blessing from on high has rested on them. We give some remarkable figures in a note. * We understand that the oppo- sition of the authorities to missions has entirely ceased. They admit that the native Christians are visibly superior to the heathen (incluiing Mohammedans) in industry, cleanliness and morality. The owners of plantations in Java prefer native Christian laborers to all others. Let it be observed that, though the Mohammedans are zealous in proselytizing, yet the conversions from Islam to Christianity have been very numerous, especially of late.

INDIA. t-In this great field the battle between the Gospel and heathenism becomes hotter every day: "All reports of religious affairs are growing in urgency and interest."! 'l'he next Decennial Missionary Conference takes place two years hence, and the proceedings may be expected to be of absorbing interest.

There are vast diversities between different parts of India. Even the languages spoken amount, according to the census report, to 106, and some have reckoned as many as 132. The diversities among the inhabitants are astonishingly great. To use Lord Dufl'erin's words: "At one extremity you have the naked, savage hill-man, with his stone weapons, his head-hunting, his polyandrous habits, and his childish superstitions; and at the other extremity you have the Europeanized native gentleman, with his refinement and polish, his literary culture, his Western philosophy, and his advanced political ideas."

Even a lifetime barely suffices to supply a full, comprehensive idea of India. We are, therefore, continually in danger of drawing too general conclusions from particular facts. And hence come such ,conflicts of opinion as to the state of things in India. Some already tell us they can hear the wailing cry that" great Pan is dead"; § while others declare that, as yet, he has received no serious wound. We, therefore, entreat the friends who pay a cold-weather visit to India, and then rush home to proclaim the conclusions they have reached, to specify the part of the Indian Continent which they have studied and think they understand. On the other hand, we must request the men who knew India ten or fifteen years ago to remem- *Christians in Java (1873)….. …..•….• 5,673 " (1889) …………….. 11,229 in Snmatra (1873). .. .. .. . ….. 2,500 (1889) . .. .. .. .. …. 12,000 in all Dntch India (1873) …… 168,672 (1889) .•.••.250,000 ~ an increase of 66 per cent. nearly.

These figures are given by Inspektor Schreiber, of Barmen.

t Many of the principles we state regarding missions in India will apply to missions ,generally. :j: Last report of British and Foreign Bible Society, p. 184. § Ibid, p. 185. bel' that change now proceeds rapidly, even in what used to be called the" unchanging East."

The accessions to the Church of Christ in India continue to be chiefly drawn, as heretofore, from the races generally called abori-.

ginal-such as the Kols, Santals, Garos, Khasias, etc. (as in Burma from among the Karens). It was high time that missions should exert . themselves in behalf of these tribes; for, ere long, they would cer- tainly have been merged in the general Hindu population; the ab-.

sorption was steadily going on. We lately noticed an assertion by a high Indian official to the effect that Hinduism is gaining rather than losing ground. Quite true, in a sense. Uncivilized races are influenced by the civilized races near them; their vague demon wor- ship gives way before the more definite Hindu mythology, and their marriage and funeral rites fall gradually under the control of the Brahmans. Races that live apart eSyape this influence in a great degree; but those that have intercourse with the Hindus become more or less Hinduized. True, they are not received into the Hindu com- munity-they are not taken into caste; they are, so to speak, tied on to the great mass, not ingrafted into it. Other races, such as the Dhers, of Gujarat, or the Mhars and Mangs, of Maharashtra, no longer live apart from the Hindus; they are attached to the villages-permitted, not indeed to live in them, but around or near them. Among such races the progress of the Gospel is not much slower than among the more sequestered aborigines.

It is cheering to watch the steady elevation of these hitherto down-trodden races. The Brahmans, of course, sneer. Often have we heard them say, "We are too wary to swallow your bait, and so you go to those wretched outcasts." In truth, the missionary goes to all; but the proud Brahmans, as a rule, despise the message; while, in many cases, the poor and despised do not. And the reception of the truth raises and refines; the very expression of the countenance is changed. Then, when the children of converts are carefully taught and trained-and that this should be done is a most pressing, sacred duty-they compete, on no unequal terms, even with the intellectual Brahmans.

Thus the wrongs of ages are gradually becoming redressed; a social fabric, based on a new foundation, is slowly rising; and, by and by, the Christians will be not only the men of light, but the men of leading, too. .

Among the middle and higher classes the visible progress of the Gospel, as shown in the number of baptisms, is much slower than among the races we have just referred to. Hitherto it has been very difficult to reach these classes except through schools and colleges.

This is still true of India generally; but there are already exceptions to the rule, e~pecially in the largest cities. If evangelistic addresses were attentively listened to only when delivered in English, one might fear that the language, more than the meaning, formed the attraction; but earnest appeals in the vernacular, when the speaker wields it with any power, are also becoming acceptable. The change is immensely important. Educational missionaries ascribe it to the influence of Christian education, and we think they are right in doing so.

Attacks on educational missions continue to be made, as they have been for fifty years; but we see no new argument advanced. ""Ve suppose they will be repeated; but the missionaries will patiently toil on-aye, no kind of mission work is so toilsome as theirs, and assuredly it is not from a love of ease they take to it-and while they heartily rejoice in the extension of all kinds of missionary effort, they cannot, in faithfulness, give up their own. Education, both lower and higher, has become a necessity in India. Who is to give it? Government is disposed to withdraw more and more from its higher institutions, and (in a spirit which does it much honor) is expressing its belief that only those in which religious instruction is given can meet the necessities of India. Are Protestant missionaries to abandon the work?

Hoc Ithac1l8 velit, et magna mercentur AtridaJ. Nothing would delight the natives more; nothing would delight the Romanists more. The moulding of the higher thought of India would then be in the hands of these two classes. We hold that too much has been conceded already to the cry of " preaching, not teaching." The Cathedral Mission College, in Calcutta, in connection with the Church Missionary Society, founded by Bishop Cotton, was given up in 1880, under the impression that there were needlessly many colleges in Calcutta; but the demand for higher education has greatly increased since then, and the missionaries of the Church Missionary Society regret the closing, and for this reason, among others, that they now cannot get into touch with the influential student class as they used to do when their college was in existence.

Some people talk of educational missions as if they were merely educational. Is there one such mission in all India? We believe not. People who criticise what they call" Dr. Duff's system" should try to understand what that system was.

The fullest examination of this question with which we are acquainted is contained in the" Revised Special Report of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Church of Scotland on Educational Missions in India." The document comprises 213 pages, and embodies the opinion of eighty-four persons, connected with various churches, who were deemed well qualified to pronounce an opinIon on the important question proposed; and it shows that, after most patient and prolonged inquiry, the General Assembly of the Church resolved to maintain its educational efforts. The report deserves to be studied as a valuahle rer,ertory, not only of opinions, but of facts. We read that wheu the apostle and his companions were tossed up and down ill Adria, they "cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day." When some one rejoicingly pointed to the first streaks of dawn on the Eastern horizon, we wonder whether he re- ceived the chilling rebuke: "The dawn is nothing; we are waiting for the sunrise." But so speak many now. They do not believe in pro- cesses and preparations. They expect the sunrise immediately to follow midnight. Each of the higher religions of India covers as large an area as it did before; and many sorrowfully ask what im- pression, then, the Gospel is making on them. 'Ve reply that the Gospel never comes into real contact with heathenism without affect- ing it, and the influence exerted is in direct proportion to the com- pleteness of the cOlltact. The moral teachings of Christianityap- peal to natural reason and conscience; they carry with them their own bright evidence, and are acce})ted without much delay. The deeper mysteries, such as the divinity and atoning sacrifice of Christ, are, it may be for a long time, vehemently opposed by many; nor need we wonder at this, seeing that ., no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost." But when the Gospel is fully and faithfully proclaimed, it is never long proclaimed in vain. The truth is revealed to some; and these profess their faith, and, if need be, are prepared to suffer for it.

Now, in India, the higher religions are being shot through by the arrows of light; that is to say, the moral teachings-and much of the teaching regarding God contained in the Gospel is st.eadily penetrat- 'ing the mind of heathenism. The professors of heathen religions may deny that they borrow from Christianity; they may not be aware that they do borrow, but that does not alter the fact. One of the most noteworthy proofs of what we now affirm is supplied by a statement lately made by the high priest of the chief division of the Bombay Zorastrians, to the effect that the attributes ascribed in the Avesta to Ahuramazda are the same as the Old Testament ascribes to Jehovah. The statement is far from correct; but the high priest honestly believed what he so strongly affirmed. The wish was father to the thought.

We need hardly dwell longer on this. Every student of church history will see in it only a repetition of what occurred during the first three centuries. Heathenism was then compelled by the presence of the Gospel to remodel itself. "Reformed heathenism adopted features borrowed from Christianity, and even grew to be an imitation of it."* It thought to save itself by so doing. But by and by, as the lamented Liddon expressed it: "Conversions came with a rush."

Our readers must have been surprised to hear of the late sugges- * Uhlhorn "Conflict of Christianity with Heathenism," Bk. II., ch.3. tion, made by at least one man of influence, that the Bible be added to the Hindu sacred books. A very natural proposal, in the mouth of one who recognizes the steady onward march of Christianity, and would fain come to terms with it before it is too late. But the pro- gress of the truth is still more fully proved by the alarm that is so widely professed and the vehement efforts to oppose it-Hindu tracts,.

Hindu preachers-these are now sent forth in great numbers; and the Gospel is mercilessly attacked. The large society called the "Arya Samaj," gives in to Christianity so far that it surrenders po- lytheism, idol-worship, caste, and child-marriage, and permits the re-marriage of widows. It falls back on the Vedas as the sole author- itative scriptures, and, by torturing Sanskrit terms, it finds Christian and modern ideas in them. It is ienscpreecaisailnlgy.a f"rIafi d•woef cCohnrt iins tuiea nt oscshl eoeopls, ". Its propagandism is zealous and it cries, " our temples will soon be Christian churches."

But it is in vain that the Arya Samaj has abandoned three-fourths of Hinduism in order to save the remainder. Christianity is, so to speak, in the air.* It affects all the religious thinking of India; and its influence is seen in the remarkable attempts at reform which are happily becOI~ing so frequent. People may call these only social re- forms; but in India what is social is also religious. The Rajputana chiefs, bolder than the British Government, have limited marriage ex- penses and fixed the minimum marriage age for men at 18, and for women at 14. This is a stupendous change; and it involves stupen- dous consequences. The persistent efforts to encourage the re-mar- riage of widows; the refusal of the barbers of Bombay to shave the heads 'of widows; the formation of a social reform association, which held its third annual meeting in December, 1889, where it was noted with interest that several Hindu ladies were present; these and similar movements are, to anyone that knows the people of India, full of interest and promise; and, we repeat, that they are traceable, directly or indirectly, to the influence of Christianity. We spoke above of ideas changing; but there is also, though to a less extent, a change of institutions.

We have been Ilpeaking of Hindus. But the Mohammedans in India are also moving. Their antipathy to vVestern education is con- siderably mitigated. That enlightened man, Sir Synd Ahmad, tells us that his college at Alighar is flonrishing. If so, Moslem bigotry is proportionally declining.t Meantime, the uneducated Mohammed- ans-note especially what has happened in the north at Peshawur- * Since this was written, we find the same expression quoted in the Church Missionary Society Report. p. 172.

t A high Indian official, Sir Auckland Colvin, has said: "An Alighar col- lege man has become synonymous with a man of liberal ideas, advanced edu- cation and independent character." We have seen this college. We have ob-· served that its alumni are Mohammedan in little more than name. are as greatly terrified at the progress of Christianity as is the Arya Samaj among the Hindus. Zenana mission teachers are objects of especial dread to Mohammedans, as well as to Hindus. Let our sisters thankfully and strenuously persevere; their work is telling greatly.

[To be continued.] THE Church of God cripples all her mission boards and mission work by a selfish withholding of money for the Lord's cause, and then wonders at the slow progress of missions in fields where retrenchment makes all advance impossible. This absurd contradiction reminds us of the wars of Arminius (Hermann), Prince of Cherusci (16 B. C.- '16 A. D.) The Germans bored holes in the tongues of the Roman lawyers and judges, and then said, " Now, rattle away /"

ONE of the McAll workers in Paris was very much affected at finding a poor working woman, already in a dying condition, who bad strayed into one of the salles and there for the first time heard of Christ as the Good Shepherd of souls. She was trying to recall and put together in an intelligible shape the few hints she had picked up at that meeting, mere fragments of gospel truth, and when she found one at her bedside who could give her the whole truth about this great Saviour her joy was so great that she forgot even the agonies of dying! And yet there are literally millions of souls in France hungering for just such a Gospel.

MATERIALISU, like other forms of infidelity, has a basis of insincerity. At a meeting in Liverpool an evangelist publicly said: " I do not believe there is an honest man ill the world who really believes that we are all simply matter and go out of existence at death. If there is a real materialist in this audience I would like to see him." A man rose up and shouted: "Well, here is one." "Come up here," .said the evangelist, " I want all these people to see a man whose mother died like a dog, and that was the end of her." "You are a liar," shouted the man, " she was one of the best women that ever lived, and she's in h.eaven to-day /" The fellow was fairly. caught in his' own trap. He quite forgot for the moment his own creed!

THE efforts of churches which are not evangelical and which lack all true missionary spirit to found mission enterprises, simply to appear aggressive and seem abreast of other professed believers-in other words, to save themselves the humiliatio.n of a significant contrast-have always ended in disastrous failure. Often, instead of Christianizing the helthen, they themselves become heathenized. Those impulsive spurts in the direction of missions remind us of a significant phrase in the psalms, in which, referring to the triumphant passage of Israel over the Red Sea, the sacred writer adds, "which the Egyptians, assaying to do, were drowned /"

MISSION OF THE AMERICAN BOARD IN NORTH CHINA

A CONDENSED SKETCH OF THE MISSION OF THE AMER- ICAN BOARD IN NORTH CnINA.

HEXRY BLODGETT, D.D.

The history of the North China Mission is closely connected with that of the Shanghai Mission, and through that with the history of the Canton Mission, the first of the American Board, and of the American churches in China.

Mr. Bridgman, the first American missionary to China, arrived in Canton in the year 1830, twenty-three years after Dr. Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to this empire. In 1847 Mr. Bridgman , went to Shanghai as a delegate of his missionary brethcrn to assist in the translation of the Bible. This resulted in his permanent residence in that city, where he died in the year 1861. The translation made by Messrs. Bridgman and Culbertson into the written language of China is still in use, while the twenty volumes of the Chinese Re- pository, edited by Dr. Bridgm;tn, remain as an invaluable thesaurus of matters relating to China and the far East. .

In the year 1854 Messrs. Aitchison al,ld Blodget were sent out by the Board to join Dr. Bridgman at Shanghai, thus forming the Shanghai Mission. Mr. Macy joined the mission in 1858, making the fourth ordained missionary.

During the years in which the mission was continued at Shanghai, Dr. Bridgman was engaged in translating, also taking the pastoral care of the church connected with the boarding-school of girls, under the charge of Mrs. Bridgman. The three younger members of the mission were engaged in the usual work of teaching and preaching, as they were able, both in the city and the outlying country. 'rhe rule established soon after the opening of the" Five Ports,"

of twenty-fonr hours absence only, from one of the ports, was soon broken at Shanghai, and before long became a dead letter, Mission- aries made frequent tours into the interior. In the autumn of 1858 MassI'S. Aitchison and Burdon (now Bishop Burdon of Hong-Kong), after many journeys in the country together, took up their residence at Ping Hoo, a city of 100,000 inhabitants, seventy miles southwest of Shanghai. Here Mr. Aitchison remained for the winter, but re- turned at length to Shanghai in hope of commencing a mission in the llorth of China.

Such a movement seemed very desirable both to the Board, and to the memhers of the miRsion. Shanghai being the northernmost of the fi ve ports then opened, various European and American Societies had designated their missionaries to this city, so that, before the open- ing of China in 1860, more than thirty lahorers, representing as many as ten or eleven bodies of Christians in different countries were con- gregated there waiting for restrictions to be removed as a signal for advance to all parts of China. The year 1859 was one of sore trial to the Shanghai Mission. Mr. Macy died in April; Mr. Aitchison accepted in June a place offered him in the American Embassy, then about to proceed to Peking, in the hope that it might result in fixing his residence in the Northern Capital. He had only been eight days in Peking when he was taken ill, and after eleven days of suffering, died August 15th en rm£te to the .seaboard. He was buried in the Gulf of Chihli. In the autumn of the same year Mrs. Blodget was compelled by failure of health to re- turn to the United States.

In the following spring, 1860, Mr. Blodget for a like reason was forced to quit Shanghai. He went first to Japan, and, after two months at Kanagawa, embarked on a British transport, bound, for Taku to join the fleet about to rendezvous at that place. The ship ar- rived at her destination August 19th, just one year from the time, when, near the same spot, Mr. Aitchison was lowered to his watery grave.

A few days after her arrival the Taku Forts were taken, and in a short time all North China was open to the missionary and the mer- <lhant. Tientsin became an entrepot of foreign trade, and Peking the place of residence of the ministers of the various treaty powers of the West.

Early in September, of this year, Mr. Blodget landed in Taku, and on the 8th of November took up his residence in the city of Tientsin, being at that time and during the following winter the only Protestant missionary in this newly opened province.

The city was then garrisoned by the allied English and French forces. A lodgment was readily obtained in the barracks of the British soldiers, ana Christian work was commenced at once, both among the soldiers and the thronging multitudes of Chinese, who received with great friendliness the newly arrived missionary.

In April of the following year, 1861, Mr. Blodget had the happiness of welcoming to this field the Rev. J. Innocent, of the English Methodist Mission, and in May the Rev. J. Edkins (now Dr. Edkins), of the London Mission.

A journey to Peking in the month of May showed how entirely the country was open to travel, and to Christian effort; nor was any objection offered to passing about freely within the walls of the capital, even to those in no way connected with the legations.

During this month a chapel and houses for residence were rented within the city of Tientsin, and the Sabbath services were removed from the temple court, in which they had been held, to this place. Blind Chang, the first convert, was baptized in June, 1861. He was a 'veale man in humble life, but there is hope that he died a Christian.

Several journeys were undertaken, in this and the following year, for the exploration of this new field, as also for direct missionary ef- 'ort. These journeys extended to Teh-chen, in Shantung, on the South; to Pao Ting-fu, the capital of Chihli; to Tai Yuan-fn, Ta T'ung- fu, in Shansi; to Chang Chia K'eu (or Kalgan), on the Northwest;. also to T'ung Cheu and other cities east of Peking.

The Rev. J. Doolittle, of Fuhchau, spent the winter of 1862 and 1863 in Tientsin assisting in the work of the mission. Mr. Blodget spent the greater part of the winter in Peking, but returned to Tient- sin in view of the departure of Mr. Doolittle for Fuhchau. The mission was reinforced in 1863 by the arrival of the Rev. C. A. Stanley in March, and the Rev. L. D. Chapin in May. They took up their residence within the city walls, in houses which had been pur- chased the previous autumn through the aid of the late Dr. S.. W. Williams. Subsequently, on the ground of health, the residence of the missionaries was changed to the settlement, southeast of the city.

The principal labors of the missionaries have been in preaching the Gospel, and in the distribution of Christian books, both in the city and in the country. A day-school of boys has generally been maintained, and at times a few boarders have been taken in and cared for. The project of a higher institution of learning at Tientsin, in which the English language should be taught, has often been before the mis8ion, and has met with much favor.

The work of this station received a great impulse in the years foll0'Ying the famine of 1877. At that time the missionaries, furnished with funds to the amount of $10,000, more or less, by the liberality of Christian nations, threw themselves unreservedly into the work of famine relief, in which they were assisted also by members of the station at 'l"ungcheu. Their principal labors were in the region of P'ang Chuang, the central place of their work in Shantung. ~Iultitudes of the starving people were relieved in their distress. In this and the following years the missionaries found open doors and open hearts to the preaching of the Gospel. Several hundreds turned to the Saviour. The church was greatly enlarged, and a new station at P'ang Chuang was the result. The life of MI'. Smith, at one time greatly endangered by famine fever, was spared, and his labors are continued at this new station.

The importarice of Tientsin as the port of entrance, not only for Northern and Western Shantung, but also for Northern Ho Nan, for Shansi, Chihli, and inner Mongolia cannot be overestimated.

The station at Peking was formed in 1864. Though frequent visits had been made to this city by Mr. Blodget since May, 1861, it was not until February, 1864, that he took np his permanent residence here. Through the timely assistance of Dr. Williams, the present mission premises were purchased in March, and a chapel was opened in one of the rear buildings almost immediately for public preaching. This was a new departure for Peking, and one which attracted crowds of curious listeners. The pr~mises had been purchased from the Chinese for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; but that Society, being cramped by its own laws, was unable to take them over, and allowed this advantageous location to pass into the hands of the American Board.

On July 1st, Mrs. Bridgman arrived in Peking, having left New York when only partially recovered from a dangerous accident, and narrowly escaped the Alabama on the way. Mrs. Bridgman at once set herself to establish a girls' boarding-school, which has been continued ever since that time, and is now known as the" Bridgman School." She also gave to the Board the entire sum which had been expended for houses, lands and school buildings, amounting to not less than $5,000. In 1868 she left Peking, broken down in health, and spent the remainder of her days in Shanghai, where she died, in 1871. While in Shanghai, though in feeble health, she laid the foundations of a boarding-school for girls, and a dispensary, which, by her will, have passed into the hands of the Woman's Union Mission of New York.

The mission force in Peking was increased in November, 1864, by the arrival of the Rev. J. T. Gulick and Mrs. Gulick; and again, in August, 1865, by the arrival of the Rev. C. Goodrich and Mrs. Goodrich. A month before their arrival, in the early part of July, Mr. and Mrs. Gulick left Peking for Kalgan, to open a mission station in that city. The next reinforcement was by the coming of Mr. and Mrs. ·P. R. Hunt and Miss M. H. Porter, in 1868.

Miss Porter very soon took charge of the Bridgman School; Miss Chapin joined her in 1872. Under the efficient management of these ladies, and of Miss Haven, who arrived in 1879, t}Jis school has maintained a high character, and has been of the greatest service in training up young women suitable for wives for the native helpers, able also to take some part in Christian work. This school has formed the nucleus for efforts for women, botb in the city and in the country.

Mr. Hunt after twenty-seven years of service in India, came to Peking with the enthusiasm of youth to establish a mission press, and also to take charge of the financial affairs of the Mission. The press he established in 1869. It was at the time, and still remains, the only press of Protestant missions in North China. The money used for this purpose was supplied by the indemnity fund received from the Chinese Government after the burning of the mission press in Canton in 1858, and was originally given to the Board by the Bleecker Street Church, in New York, for the establishment of that press. Mr. Hunt was a skillful printer. vVork done by him was well done, whether in the establishment of the press, or in printing the books which issued from it.

During the nineteen years in which Mr. Hunt and Mr. Noble, who succeeded him, had charge of the press, there were printed on it, for the American Bible Society, the version of the New Testament, in Mandarin, prepared by the Peking Committee, that of the Old Testa- ment, also in the Mandarin, prepared by Bishop Schereschewsky, the Psalms and various portions of the New Testament; for the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, the four Gospels, with notes on the same; for the Church Mission Society, the book of Common Prayer; a series of Sabbath-school lesson papers and other works, for the North China Tract Society; a treatise on theology by Mr. Sheffield; several editions of a hymn book by Messrs. Blodget and Goodrich; a geography by Rev. L. D. Chapin; a smaller work on geography by Rev. L. W. Pilcher; a treatise on physiology by Dr. Porter; tracts and books by Miss M. H. Porter and l-Iiss M. E. Andrews, and, in addition, a con- siderable list of tracts and books not here enumerated. From the first this press has done a select work for local convenience-rather a large work for distant parts of China.

In commencing chapel preaching in Peking Mr. Blodget was assisted by the late Rev. VV. C. Burns, whose memory is still fragrant in the minds of some who heard the Gospel at that time. Subsequently Messrs. Goodrich, Holcombe and Roberts, each during the time of his connection with this station, labored in evangelist.ic work, both in the city and in the country. These are now succeeded by Messrs. Ament and Aiken. A good degree of success has attended these efforts, and frequent accessions in the city and at the country stations indicate a, constant growth in the membership of the church.

The boys' boarding-school in this station was discontinued in 1869. Two day-schools for boys have usually been maintained in the city, and at present there is one day-school in the country. There is also a day-school f~r girls in the city.

Perhaps there is no large city in Europe, or even in the whole world, more open to every sort. of evangelistic and educational labor, and to all the eleemosynary institutions of the Christian church than is Peking at the present time..

'rhe Kalgan station was opened by Rev. and Mrs. J. T. Gulick in the summer of 1865. Great difficulties were encountered in the early days of this station in renting houses and procuring suitable places for mission work. In the end unwearied patience, combined with great skill and prudence and unbounded charity in caring for the sick and needy, secured the desired result.

This station was reinforced in 1867 by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, in 1868 of lIr. Thompson, in 1870 of Miss Diament, and subsequently, after Mr. and Mrs. Gulick had left for Japan, by .iYlt-. and Mrs. Sprague, and Mr. and l-Irs. Roberts and Miss Dr. Murdock.

Healing the sick and a boys' day-school were from the first carried on jointly with evangelistic work at this station. After the coming of Dr. Murdock, a hospital and a diRpensary, including an opium refuge, were opened. A girls' boarding-school was established by Mrs. "Villiams, which is now under the charge of Miss Diament. The buildings for the school were erected largely by funds contributed by one of the mission families.

The Yu Cheu Valley, seventy miles southwest of Kalgan, has hitherto been the most fruitful part of this field, and in the city of Yu Cheu it is now proposed to estahlish a new station. Kalgan and Yu Cheu are solely in the charge of missionaries of the American Board. Other societies are not likely to enter this field.

Kalgan is located at a pass in the great wall. It has an outlook upon the rolling pasture lands of Mongolia. The roving Mongols are often seen in the streets of the city, and pass through in numbers on their way to Peking, or in their pilgrimages to Wu'l"ai in Shansi. The missionaries have often proposed labor for these sons of the desert, and something has been done among them. One convert to the Christian faith has been baptized in Kalgan. It has been suggested that one missionary should devote himself to this work.

The station at T'ungcho was opened by the Rev. L. D. Chapin in 1867. No serious difficulty was experienced in securing' residences. The people in 'l"ungcho have from the first been friendly to the missionaries. The station was reinforced in 1868 by the arrival of Miss Andrews, and in 1869 of Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield; Miss Evans reached T'ungcho in 1872; Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich, after their return from the United States in 1872 spent a year at Yu Cheu, and thence removed the following year to 'l"nngcho. Dr. Holhrook arrived in 1881, Mr. 1nd ]frs. Beach in 1883, Dr. and lVirs. Ingram in 1887, and Miss Miner in 1888.

The boarding-school for hoys, early established by Mr. Chapin, has been enlarged, and expanded by the efforts of Mr. Sheffield and others, so that it has now become the Mission High School. To this pupils are sent from all the stations of the mission to go through with a thorough course of study, in the hope that many of them will enter the Christian miuistry, and that all will hecome helpful in one way or another to the cause of Christ.

The course of study embraces a thorough knowledge of the Chinese classics, learning to compose in the written language, a familiar acquaintance with the Bible, including the study of Bible history and geography, and the committing to memory of quite a number of the books of the New Testament, also some of the more impo]·tant branches of gClleral knowledge and Western science, such as geography, mental and written arithmetic, algebra, geometry, chemistry, mechanics, phy~iology, geology and astronomy. It is de8iglled to extend the course and introduce higher branches as fast as the needs of the sehool and the circumstances of the mission make it expedient. The high school is to become the college. Connected with this high school is the theological seminary of the mission, designed for those who are prepal'ing to enter the ministry. Here the various departments of exegesis, systematic theology, church history, sacred rhetoric and the pastoral charge are attended to, so far as the attainments of the students and the circumstances of the case will allow. A great and an increasing amount of medical work has been done at this station from the first.

Through the energetic labors of Dr. Holbrook a hospital and dis- pensary were opened, the work in which is now vigorously carried forward by Dr. Ingram. Dispensaries are also opened at two country stations not remote from T'tmgcho. It is proposed that medical instruction shall be given to some of the students at this station.

General evangelization, both in the city and, to some extent, in the country, has been carried forward at thif station, in connection with the work of teaching, with hopeful results.

T'ungcho is the port of Peking, twelve miles distant from that city, with which it is soon to be connected by rail. Its accessibility by water and its abundant accommodations have made it to be chosen as the place for the annual gatherings of the mission.

The station. at Pao Ting fu was opened by Mr. Pierson in 1873. At no other place has so great difficulty been experienced in obtaining suitable residences for mission familieR. For more than a year Mr. Pierson lived in a Chinese inn, and until the present time he has occupied rented houses in a crowded ,part of the city. It is only within two years that the desired plot of ground has been purchased, in the southern suburb, upon which buildings have been erected to accommodate one or two families. Happily there has been no collision with the authorities or with the people. By uniform kindnessand prudent management all causes of offense have been avoided.

Here, as in Kalgan and T'ungcho, medical aid, though administered by unprofessional hands, has from the fhst been a most potent agency in removing prejudice and opening the hearts of the Chinese. After the arrival of Dr. Peck, in 1880, this branch of the work fell to llis care. Large numbers of patients flocked to his hospital and dispensary from the city and the surrounding region of country. Under the care of Dr. Merritt, who arrived in 1886, this useful work is still continued.

A school for boys, and one al.so for girls, in each of which there have been some boarding pupils, have been maintained at this station. "Vork for women has been carried forward b~r Mrs. Pierson and Miss Pierson. Colporteurs under the direction of 111'. Pierson have labored extensively in all that part of the province.

Pao Ting fu, as being the provincial capital, is a place of much political importance. Its situation at the head of river llavigation renders it a commercial emporium for grain, salt and various kinds of merchandise. All missionaries for Shansi pass through Pao Ting fu. This is the highway for officials passing from the capital to the south- western provinces of the empire. The place is well chosen as an im- portant and convenient centre for missionary labor.

The station at P'ang Chuang was the outgrowth of the work ~t Tientsin. Mr. Hou, a man whose name is held in loving remem- brance by the Christians of that region, heard the Gospel in P'ang Chuang from a native helper, and went himself to Tientsin to learn more of this new way. In the Gospel he found the truth for which he had elsewhere sought in vain, and was baptized in 1872.* "Within a few years he became himself a helper, his house the headquarters of the missionaries at every visit, as well as the centre of the famine re- lief work, and his village was afterwards chosen as the residence of missionaries designated to the Shantung station of the American Board. From the year 1872 the work in this region graduallyex- panded until, at the end of 1877, the annual additions brought the membership up to forty-three, representing twelve different villages." 'rhen followed the long to be remembered famine of 1877, and the famine relief, and the subsequent enlargement of the church, in view {)f which the mission resolved, in 1880, to open a new station at P'ang Chuang.

It has been usual in China, in all the missions, to locate mission- aries in large and important towns and cities. P'ang Chuang is al- m08t, if not quite, the only case of a mission station established in a rural district quite away from any city 01' great mart of trade. Yet the missionaries here have a great work on their hands. They are in the midst of a very populous region of country, so that within a radius of six miles there are approximately 150 villages and hamlets, {lontaining 60,000 inhabitants. In more than sixty of these villages they already have church members, and the lines or" their efforts are constantly reaching out into the outlying villages, towns and cities which are not distant from their central station.

The fact is, moreover, to, be remembered, in considering the location of this station, that in China the reverse is true of that which took place in the Roman Empire. There the villagers, or pagani, were the last to embrace the Christian faith. In China they are the first.

The greatest success of Christian missions in China have been thus far among the country people. Not only are they more simpleminded, but they have also less to fear in becoming Christians from loss of wealth or position, 01' of the means of earning their daily bread. The most independent man in China is the small farmer, who owns a few acres of land, and by daily toil earns his daily bread.

After some delay in the purchase of land and erecting houses, and * "Skellches of a CountryPal'ish," by Rev. A. H. Smith. further delay, occasioned by the opposition of a recusant magistrate, happily overcome by the friendly aid of the United States officials, the missionaries took up their abode in P'ang Chuang, in 1882, with a most cordial reception, and lively demonstrations of affection and gratitude on the part of the people. These kindly feelings have con- tinued, for the most part until the present time.

The labors of this station at the present time are the oversight and instruction of the native helpers, the care of the churches and dayschools, teaching the scriptures to men and women, and the wider range of evangelistic work. There is daily preaching to the dispensary patients, and regular preaching both at the central station and at the six outstations.

The medical work begun by Dr. Porter, and now carried forward by Dr. Peck, has been as in other parts of Ch,ina, of the greatest value to the. Christian name. The hospital, established largely through a gift of the late Dr. Williams, bears the name of this early mis8ionary of the Board, and devoted friend of the Chinese. Its fame has extended to regions far and near, and brings to the village of P'ang Chnang patients from all grades of society, some of whom have come hundreds of miles, and even from other provinces, to be healed of their diseases.

A commodious and tasteful chapel has been erected at this central station wholly by the offerings of members of the church, and of other churches in the mission without any assistance from the funds of the Board. Some of the outstations, stimulated by this example, are now moving in the same direction.

The field of labor set before the missionaries at P'ang Chuang is immense. Fifteen miles north is the city of Teh Cheu, with its surrounding towns and villages. The southern part of the province of Chihli, the northwestern part of Shantung, and the northern part of Ho-nan, all densely populated and covered with walled cities, tOWIl8, villages and hamlets, are easily accessihlo from this central station, and all invite the labors of Christian missions.

One step forward into this unoccupied region was taken in 1886, by the occupation of Lin Ching, a Department city forty miles southwest of P'ang Chuang, by the Rev. F. ~I. Chapin. The following' year premises were purchased for mission residences, and, ill 1888, Messrs. Chapin and Perkins removed their families to this new station. A kindly reception to the missionaries has been given by the people. The medical work of MI', Atwoo(l, who labored at this station for a time, and later by ~lr, and :;HI',", Perkin~, has heen, as ellSewhere, rno~t helpful' to the evangelistic work. Should the day evo!' come when the Chinese are as eager for the Gospel as they now are for the medicines of the foreign physician, the conversion of the Chinese will be at hand. The mission in North China is of recent origin, but it has been abundantly blessed of God. After more than thirty years of labor in Canton the American Board had but one station and several tens of converts. This was in the early stages of the China missions. In North China the Lord has given us in twenty-eight years five stations in the most important cities of Chihli, two stations in the western part of Shantung, and in these seven stations more than 1,000 converts. '1'he work laid upon the mission is great. The encouragements- to its performance are also gl·eat. The outlook for the future is full of promise. If the mission and its supporters go forward in humble trust in the ever present Saviour and in patient endurance of labor and trial, they will have the honor of being used by God, with other branches of His Church, to establish the Kingdom of Christ in these populous and powerful regions of China, into which ill His providence they were the first among Protestant missions to enter.

A PRIEST, finding a young Irish lad in his parish in possession of a Bible, att~mpted to take it from him on the plea that it was the prerogative of the spiritual father to feed his spiritual babes with " the sincere milk of the Word." " Your ri verence," replied the lad~ "I would rather kape the cow mYAelf."

A CLERICAL wag says that where denominational and sectarian feeling gets the upper hand in a community, even the church bells become intolerant and get a sectarian twang in the ears of the people. The Presbyterian bell seems to peal out, " Or-tho-doxy-orthodoxyl" the Episcopalian, "Con-fir-ma-tion-confirmation I" the :Methodist, "Come to the al-tar-come to the altar!" the Congregationalist, "Inde-pend-ence-independence I" and the Bapt5st, " '1Vant to be dipped-want to be dipped 1"

THE Island of Sumbawa (Sunda series) has the Tomhoro volcano on the north side. In 1815 was a terrific convulsion lasting over three months. '1'he sound was heard 1,000 miles off at Snmatra; the sky was dark with ashes at Java, and the sea covered with them to a depth of two feet for many miles. Awful whirlwinds swept over the land and sea, and out of 12,000 persons only 26 survived.

And yet, even such distress and desolation imperfectly represents, as in a figure, the awful destruction carried to body and soul by the prevalence of heathenism and paganism. Vice is deified and cruelty enthroned. Read Alexander Mackay's just-published memoirs, and get a glimpse of the atrocious cruelties of heathenism. It reminds us. of Java's Valley of Death, half a mile in circuit, where the prevalence of carbonic acid gas makes impossihle the survival of either animal or plant life. The JlIuseo Borbonico, at N aples, ~uggests that Pompeii lay in such a valley.

BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY

BUDDHISl{ AND CHRISl'IANIl'Y-A CRUSADE WHICH MUST BE MET.

BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.

On the 9th of November The New York Herald published an article of four columns and a half, over the signature of Baron Har- don Hickey, a professed Buddhist and missionary chosen to promul- gate Buddhist doctrines in the United States. To an interviewer of another paper Baron Hickey has expressed the belief that America is a peculiarly favorable field for the spread of Oriental doctrines.

The design of the article referred to, which was plausible and rather ably written, was to prove that the history and doctrines of the early Christianity were largely borrowed from Buddhist sources. A reply which was sent to '['lte Herald was refused admission to its columns, but inasmuch as this crusade is being waged in all parts of the United States where it ought to be met by the defenders of the Christian faith, that reply is herewith given in the columns of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. "While well-established Christians and friends of miRsions are not to be disturbed by slich assailment~ as those of Baron Hickey, it is to be remembered that there is a vast border- land lying between the Christian church and the infidel associations of the country, and that it embraces millions of people, especially of the young, and' so long as our weapons of defense are so numerous snd so potential, it is not wise to leave this broad, neutral territory to the mercy of the enemy. The fact that many of the most influential and extensively circulated of our secular papers discriminate in favor of skepticism and irreligion, as being more sensational, renders it all the more necessary that the Christian church should be alert, and that through every legitimate avenue, the clear and convincing truth of Christianity should be as widely circulated as are the manifold errors of our time.

The assumption that Christ became a follower of Buddha is not new. There lies before me, a Buddhist Catechism, by Subhadra. which makes the same allegation. It declares that" the fundamental tenets and the personal character of the founder of Christianity are of Buddhist origin"; that "Jesus was an Arahat and attained Nirvana." Hardon Hickey goes farther and calls him the Maitreyeh whom Buddha predicted. There are a few truths mingled with Baron .Hickey's statements which should be distinguished from his erroneous conclusions. It is true that a limited intercourse was established between India and Greece by the conquests of Alexander, 327 B.C. A few references to Indian customs are found in Strabo, Arrian and Pliny, but it is the wildest assumption to claim that an influence which was so faint even in the great commercial marts, reached and moulded the peasant population of a J udean village, or that the influence was distinctively Buddhistic. Again it is true that asceticism prevailed throughout the East; but that th~ fasting of Christ was borrowed from Buddhism is absurd. ·Moses bsted forty days in Sinai centuries before Buddha was born. Besides, Indian asceticism belonged to Brahmanism and not to the Buddha. It was, indeed, practised by the Essenes, as it was also by the ancient Druids, the Peruvians, the },Iexicans, and even the Hottentots. Among the Jews there was an ascetic school of prophets at Gilgal centuries before Buddha's time.

The field of controversy on which Baron Hickey draws his sword has beeu fought over for the last hundred years, and the parallels which he presents have been exploded over and over again. A century ago Lieutenant Wilford espoused the theory that the entire civilization of Egypt, Palestine, Greece and Rome, including Christianity, had come from India. He importuned the pundits to search for manuscripts, and for a consideration they met the demand. He filled the magazines of Europe with his discoveries. But at last he was constrained to confess publicly that he had been the dupe of Brahman fraud.

A Frenchinan by the name of J acolliot has made a similar attempt in our own time, aiming to show that the life of Christ was a plagiarism upon the story of the Hindu Krishna. He, too, collected manuscripts and translated them; but Professor Max Muller has honeycombed his pompous displays of Oriental learning, and remanded him ~o the same category of dupes with Lieutenant Wilford. In volume V. of "Chips from a German Workshop," he says: "Much of the socalled Sanskrit is not Sanskrit at all, and J acolliot's ancient Vedic quotations are not Vedic and not ancient; they simply belong to the last half of the nineteenth century."

Ages ago Porphry adopted the same tactics, alleging that many things in the life of Christ had been anticipated by Pythagoras; and Julia Domna, wife of Severus, prompted Philostratus to work up a life of Apollonius of Tyana, which should match the history of Christ. (Uhlhorn's" Conflict," etc.) The very latest charge of plagiarism against Christianity has recently been made by the Aryas of India, who allege that the Westminster catechism has stolen its doctrinal statements from them.

Baron Hickey leaves us a little in doubt as to whether the copying from 13uddha is charged upon Christ and his immediate disciples or upon the "creed-mongers of Alexandria" at a later day, or whether all were concerned in the fraud. He thinks that there is no doubt that Christ studied Buddhism and became a disciple, and that Buddhist influence widely prevailed in Palestine. This implies that the Gospel history was in the outset strongly colored by the Buddhist narrative, and that Christ Himself adapted the events of His life to the Buddhist story. The emphasis, however, is put upon the plagiarism of the Alexandrine "creed-mongers." In replying as briefly as possible to Baron Hickey, I "hall endeavor to cover all these im- plications : In strong contrast with these cheap assertions of Alexandrine {lorruption and plagia)'ism is the frank admission of such keen critics as Renan, Yeiss, Volkmar, Schenkeland Hitzig, that the Gospel story as we have it was written during a generation in which some of the companions of Jesus still lived. Renan says of Mark's GORpel that "it is full of minute observations, coming, doubtless, from an eye-witness," and he asserts that :Matthew, Mark and I"uke were written "in substantially their present form by the men whose names they bear." These Gospels were the work of men who knew J eSUSj Matthew was one of the twelve; John, in his Epistle, speaks of him- self as an eye-witness. They were written in a historic age and were open to challenge. Thcy were nowhere contradicted in con- temporary history; they tit their environment and their age.

How is it with the authenticity of Buddhist literature? Oldenberg says: "For the when of things men of India have never had a propel' organ;" and Max Muller declares to the same effect that" the idea of a faithful, literal translation seems altogether foreign to Ori- ental minds." He also informs us that there is not a single manuscript relating to Buddhism ~'hich is a thousand years old, and scarcely one that can claim five hundred years. For centuries after Gautama's time nothing was written; all was transmitted by word of mouth. Buddhists themselves say that Pali canonical texts were written about 88 B.C.

Any fair comparison of the two histories should confine itself to the writings which are regarded as canonical and whose dates can be fixed. No more importance should be attached to the later Buddhist legends than to the "Apochryphal Gospels," or to the absurd "Ohristian I"egends," which appeared in the middle ages. The Buddhtst canon was adopted by the council of Patna, 242 B.C. The legends which Baron Hickey compares with the canonical story of Ohrist are not included in that canon, or, at most, very few of them. 'rhoy are drawn from certain poetical books written much later, and holding about the same relation to the Buddhist canon that the" Paradise Lost" and" Paradise Hegained," of Milton, bear to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Who would think of quoting "Paradise Lost" in any sober comparison of Biblical truth with the teachings of other religions?

Even the canonical literature, that which is supposed to contain tlIe true history and teachings of Buddha, is far from authoritative, owing to the acknowledged habit-acknowledged even by the author of the Dhammapada-of adding commentaries, notes, etc., to original teaclIings. Not only was thi8 common among Buddhist writers, but (lven more surprising liberties were taken with the narrative. For example, the legend describing Buddha's leave-taking of his harem is clearly borrowed from an earlier story of Yasa, a wealthy young householder of Benares, who, becoming disgusted with his harem, left his sleeping dancing girls, and fled to the Buddha for instruction. Davids and Oldenberg, in translating this legend from the" 11aha- vagga," say, in a note: "A well-known incident in the life of Buddha has evidently been shaped after the model of this story," and they declare that" nowhere in the Pall Pitakas is this scene of Buddha's leave-taking mentioned."

As another evidence of the way in which fact and fiction have been mixed and manipulated for a purpose, one of the legends, which has of-ten been presented as a parallel to the story of Christ, repre- sents the Buddha as repelling the temptation of :Mara by quoting texts of "scripture," and the scripture referred to was the Dhamma- pada. The blunder here is amusing; first, because the Dhammapada was compiled hundreds of years after Buddha's time, and second, there were no "scriptures" in Buddha's time, for nothing was written till two or three centuries later; and third, Buddha is made to quote his own subsequent teachings, for the Dhammapada clai.ms to consist of the sacred words of the" enlightened one." l10st of the legends of Buddhism were wholly written after the beginning of the Christian era, and it cannot be shown that any were written ill their present form until two or three centuries of that era had elapsed. T. Rhys Davids says of the" Lalita Yistara," which contains a very large proportion ofthem, that" there is no real proof that it existed in its present form before the year 600 A.D." The" Romantic Legend" cannot be traced farther back than the third century A.D. Oldenberg says, "No biography of Buddha has come down to us from ancient times, from the age of the Pali texts, and we can safely say that no such biography was in existence then." Beal declares that the Buddhist legend as found in the various epics of N cpaul, Thibet and China, "is not framed after any Indian model (of any date), but is to be found worked out, so to speak, among Northern peoples, who were ignorant of, or indifferent to, the pedantic stories of the Brahmans. In the Southern and primitive records the terms of the legend are wanting. Buddha is not born of a royal family/ he is not tempted befo1·e his enlightenment/ he works no miracles, and he is not a Universal Saviour."

The chances are decidedly that if any borrowing has been done it was on the side of Buddhism. :Mr. Hickey's assertion that 30,000 Buddhist monks from Alexandria once visited Ceylon (and he giyes this not as a legend but as a historic fact) is absurd on the face of it; hut that a Christian colony settled in 11alabar at a very early day is at tested by the presence of thousands of their followers even to this day. Christianity has always been restrictive and opposed to admixtures with other systems. It repelled the Neo-Platonism of the "creed-mongers" of Alexandria (they borrowed from Plato, not from Buddha), and it fought for two or three centuries against Gnosticism, Manichaeism and similar heresies; and the assumption, in the face of all this, that the Christian Church went out of its way to copy Indian Buddhism, must be due either to gross ignorance or to reckless misrepresentation.

On the other hand, it is in accordance with the very genius of Buddhism to borrow. It has absorbed every indigenous superstition, and entered into partnership with every local religious system from the Devil worship of Burmah and Ceylon to the'raouism of China and the Shintoo of Japan.

In its long-continued contact with Christianity it has changed from the original atheism of Gautama to various forms of theism, and in some of its sects, at least, from a staunch insistence on selfhelp alone to an out-and-out doctrine of salvation by faith. This is true of the Shin and Yodo sects of Japan. :From recognizing no God at all at first, Buddhism had, by the seventh century A.D., a veritable trinity with attributes resembling those of the Triune God of the Christians, and by the tenth century it had five trinities with one Supreme Adi-Buddha over them all. Each reader must judge whether these late interpolations of the system were borrowed from the New Testament Trinity which had been proclaimed through all the East many centuries before.

Buddhism is still absorbing various elements through the aid of its various apologists. Sir Edwin Arnold has greatly added to the force of its legends by the Christian phrases and Christian conceptions which he has read into them. Toward the close of the "I"ight of Asia" he also introduces into the Buddha's sermon at Kapilavostu the teachings of Herbert Spencer and others of our own time.

Even the" analogies" of the Buddhist legends, as a late apologist calls them, are undergoing a rapid development. Professor Seydel was ingenious enough, with the help of fact and fancy, to make out fifty-one" parallels" to the Gospel history; Baron Hickey has up to date" one hundred." Doubtless still more are to follow.

In discussing the specific charge of copying Buddhist legends in ~he Gospel narratives, we are met at the threshold by insurmountable improbabilities. To anyone who nnderstands the spirit of Judaism and its attitude toward heathenism of all kinds, it is simply inconceivable that the Christian disciples, whose aim it was to propagate the faith of their Master in a Jewish community, should have borrowed old Indian legends, which, by the very terms of Baron Hickey's supyosition, must have been widely known as such. And our Buddhist friends must admit that it is a little strange that the Scribes and Pharisees who were intelligent, and 3S alert as they were bitter, should never have exposed this transparent plagiarism. The great concern of the Apostles was to prove to Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the Christ of Old Testament prophecy. The whole drift of their preaching and their epistles went to show that the Gospel history rested squarely and uncompromisingly on a Jewish basis. Peter and John, Stephen and Paul constantly" reasoned with the Jews out of their own Scriptures." How unspeakably absurd is the notion that they were trying to palm off on those keen Pharisees a Messiah who, though in the outset at Nazareth he publicly traced his commission to Old Testament prophecy, was all the while copying an atheistic philosopher of India.

It is equally inconceivable that the Christian fathers should have copied Buddhism. They resisted Persian mysticism as the work of the devil, and it was in that mysticism, if anywhere, that Buddhist influence existed in the Levant. Whoever has read 'l'ertullian's withering condemnation of Marcion may judge how far the fathers of the Church favored the heresies of the East. Augustine had himself been a Manichean mystic, and when after his conversion he became the great theologian of the Church, he must have known whether the teachings of the Buddha were being palmed off on the Christian world. The great leaders of that age were men of thorough scholarship and of the deepest moral earnestness. Many of them gave up their po!'sessions and devoted their lives to the promotion of the truths which they professed. Scores of them sealed their faith by martyr deaths.

But even if we were to accept the flippant allegation that they were all imposters, yet we should be met by an equally insurmountable difficulty in the utter silence of the able and bitter assailants of Christianity in the first two or three centuries. Celsus prepared himself for his well-known attack on Christianity with the utmost care, searching history, philosophy and every known religion from which he could derive an argument against the Christian faith. Why did he not strike at the very root of the matter by exposing those stupid" creed-mongers" who were attempting to playoff upon the intelligence of the Roman world a clumsy imitation of the far-famed Buddha? It was the very kind of thing that the enemies of Ch:'istianity wanted. vVhy should the adroit Porphyry attempt to wor~.;: up a few mere scraps of resemblance from the life of Pythagoras and why should the wife of a Roman emperor employ a man to trump up precisely such a story as our baronial friend now asks us to believe, when all they had to do was to lay their hands upon familiar legends which afforded an abundance of the very articles in demand?

But altogether the most stupendous improbability lies against the whole assumption that Christ and His followers based their" essential doctrines" on the teachings of the Buddha. The early Buddhism was atheistic. This is the common verdict of Davids, Childers, Sir Monier Williams, Kellogg and many others. The Buddha declared that "without cause and unknown is the life of man in this world," and he recognized no higher being to whom he owed reverence. The "Buddhist Catechism," to which I have already referred, shows that modern Buddhism has no recognition of God.

It says (page 58): "Buddhism teaches the reign of perfect goodness and wisdom without a personal God, continuance of individuality without an immortal soul, eternal happiness without a local heaven, the way of salvation without a vicarious Saviour, redemption worked out by each one himself without any prayers, sacrifices and penances, without the ministry of ordained priests, without the intercession of saints, without divine mercy." And then, by way of authentication, it adds: "These and many othel's which have become the fundamental doctrines of the Buddhist religion were recognized by the Buddha in the night of his enlightenment under the bodhi tree."

And yet we are told that this is the system which Christ and His followers copied! Compare this passage with the Lord's Prayer or with the discourse upon the lilies and its lesson of trusts-I appeal not merely to Christian men, but to any man who has brains and common-sense-was there ever so preposterous an attempt to establish an identity of doctrines? But what is the evidence found in the legends themselves? Several leading Oriental scholars, and men not at all biased in favor of Christianity, have carefully examined the subject, and have decided that there is no connection whatever. Professor Seydel, of Leipsic, who has given the most scientific plea for the so-called coincidences, of which he claims there are fifty-one, has classified them as: (1) Those which have been merely accidental, having arisen from similar causes and not necessarily implying any borrowing on either side. (2) Those which seem to have been borrowed f~om the one narrative or the other, and (3) those which he thinks were clearly copied by the Christian writers. In this last class he names but five out of the fifty-one.

Kuenen, who has little bias in favor of Christianity, and who has made a very thorough examination of Seydel's parallels, has completely refuted these five. (See" National Religion and Universal Religion," page 362.) And, speaking of the whole question, he says: "I think we may safely affirm that we must abstain from assigning to Buddhism the smallest direct influence on the origin of Christianity." He also says of similar theories of De Bunsen, "A single instance is enough to teach ns that inventive fancy plays the chief part in them." (" Hibbert Lectures," 1882.) Rhys Davids, whom Subhadra's "Buddhist Catechism" approves as the chief exponent of Buddhism, says on the same subject: "I {lan find no evidence of any actual or direct communication of those ideas common to Buddhism and Christianity from the East to the West. " Oldenberg denies their early date, and Beal denies them an Indian origin of any date.

Let us now ctmsider Baron Hickey's analogies seriatim: 1. "The genedogies of both Buddha and the Christ are traced from their fathers, not their mothers." This parallel would fit }Iohammed as well as Buddha. The whole argument rests upon the assumption that the mother of Buddha was a virgin, which is con- trary to canonical Buddhist history. The Sacred and Historic Book of Ceylon translated by Edward Upham, tell us that Buddha was born in wedlock. The late King of Siam, in a sketch of the Buddha, says that "he was born of natural generation." Subhadra in his Catechism says that "his parents were King Suddhodana and Queen Maya." Even the wild J ataka legends of Ceylon declare the same. 2. Baron Hickey declares that the conception by the Holy Ghost, announced by Gabriel, corresponds with Maya's dream of the white elephant. But his story of the white dove is manufactured for the purpose; no such myth was ever held by any Christian sect. 3. He compares the coming of the wise men with frankincense with the Brahmans who hastened with congratulations to the palace of Suddhodana. There is no canonical authority for the latter, though it was a common custom, and would have no significance. 4. "As Herod was afraid of the child, so King Bimbasara told his ministers to search the land to find whether any famous child had been born." Herod meant murder; Bimbasara, according to the Jataka legends, merely sent to inquire about the great teacher and his doctrines. 5. "The Simeon of the Bible corresponds with the Brahman Asita, an aged man who came to see the thirty-two marks and the eighty signs of the Buddha." This is a clumsy after-thought. How should anybody be looking for marks of a Buddha on a Hindu baby thirty years before Buddhism had been thought of? 6. "The presentation of Jesus in the temple is similar to a corresponding one in the childhood of the Buddha." This is one of Professor Seydel's" evident cases of borrowing." But such presentations of children were required under both the Jewish and the Hindu systems, and the claim of any particular parallel is weak. 7. "In his twelfth year Jesus was found in the temple, discoursing with the doctors, so, also, the father of Buddha found his son in the wood, surrounded by sages, etc." This does not agree with the Sinhalese legends, which say that the Buddha's youth was given to pleasure, and that his zenana contained 40,000 dancing girls. 8. "The Buddha bathed in the stream N aranjana, and J esu~ was baptized." This bath occurred when Buddha resolved to abandon his Brahmanical asceticism; he no longer regarded dirt as a means of grace. Whoever has seen a Hindu fakir besmeared with wet ashes will realize the significance of Buddha's "j:>ath, and, there- fore, of Baron Hickey's parallel.

9. "The forty days' fast in the wilderness is· common to both teachers." If any borrowing were required it would have been done from the life of Moses, who fasted forty days in Sinai. Buddha. never fasted forty days. The" Mahavagga" tells us that after his "enlightenment" he passed twenty-eight days i'njoyou8 meditation. His "Middle Path" shunned fasting as one extreme. He had begun to eat. He received his enlightenment on a full stomach-the first in six years.

10. There is no real parallel in the temptations of the two, though both are said to have been tempted. Buddha was tempted, according to Southern legends, several times and in respect to differ- ent things, but not at the beginning of his ministry.

11. "The heavens opening and the voice from heaven proclaiming the teacher are to be found in the Buddhist scriptures." Where?'

12. As to Buddha's Sermon on the Mount, high and breezy summits were often resorted to, especially the Vulture's Peak. It· was an incident of a hot climate in both caseS.

13. "The first disciples of Jesus, and even Jesus Himself, were at first followers of John the Baptist. The number of disciples in both accounts was at first five, afterwards sixty. "(?) As a matter of fact, Christ's disciples were not graduates from the school of John, but were called from their fishermen's boats. Instead of being a teacher of Jesus, John felt unworthy to unloose His shoe latchet.

14. "Both performed wonders." Buddha particularly disclaimed miraculous powers: the miracles were subsequent embellishments.

1.5. The incident of Buddha's walking on water needs a more particular statement with time and place and authority.

16. That both he and the Christ had a presentiment of death is very probable.

1 7. It is quite possible, also, that, among the thousands of Buddha's converts, were courtesans; but that the rich and brazen Ambapali who invited the Buddha and his disciples to dine, was the model after whom the Gospel narrative 'formed the picture of the crushed and penitent Magdalene, is far-fetched.

18. As for triumphal entries into cities-if a crowd of followers is meant, both, probably, had many-Christ at Jericho as well as at Jerusalem. Buddha is said to have been followed on one occasion by twelve hundred people, and King Bimbasara is said to have interviewed him with 80,000 of his overseers! 19. (( Both systems were missionary religions from the start." This is true; but how paltry is the notion that a mere motive of imi- tation prompted the wide-spread evangel of Christianity!

20. Weare told that (( Buddha fed the hungry," instead of which he was a mendicant and carried a beggar's bowl, and never performed a miracle.

. 21. As to the question asked of Jesus by the by-standers: (( Did this man sin or Bis parents that he was born blind?" If metempsychosis was in their minds, they could have borrowed it from the Greeks who had held it from the days of Pythagoras.

As to the general question, there seems to be little need of assuming that these shadowy coincidences denote borrowing on either side. Many of them are merely fanciful and are the work of modern apologists. Many others are such natural correspondences as might spring from similar causes. If incidents have in any case been borrowed, the chances are much greater that all-absorbing ever-changing Buddhism has been the copyist.

New York, November 25, 1890.

[The editor is constrained to add that the article which is printed above is, as he thinks, the most painstaking production that Dr. Ellinwood has, perhaps, ever written. It is felt by many who have seen it before it appeared in these pages that it ought to be put in some permanent form. Rev. Dr. Paxton, of Princeton Seminary, has pronounced it "a perfect rejoinder." vVe make a great mistake if we assume that merely ignoring and" pooh-poohing" at the active and aggressive movements of error are going to meet the case. The war is upon us. The old fathers of the early churcn did not confine themselves to pious denunciation. Think of Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose, Origen, how they fought with the beasts of Ephesus, and how magnificently they conquered the haughty heathenism of Greece and Rome. This paper will undoubtedly be reprinted in tract form.] WE often speak of ourselves as only" instruments in God's hands." It is our privilege to think of ourselves, if we are truly His servants, as agents. An instrument is a dumb, senseless, lifeless thing, which has no active, intelligent power even to co-operate with him who handles and uses it; but an agent (ago) is one who acts)· however, in behalf of, and under control of, another, yet acting intelligently and individually, as Aaron spoke under Moses' dictation. Even the ox and ass yield a voluntary, intelligent obedience, and are far above the plo}V they drag or the goad by which they are urged on. Weare God's agents, and He worketh not only by us, but in us, both to will and to work. (See Greek of Philippians, ii., 13.)

THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF'THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

II. THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH.* BY PROFESSOR HENRY WOODWARD HULBERT.

It would be difficult to point out a scene of more dramatic historic interest than that laid in the upper room of prayer at Jerusalem in the year 30 A.D., between Thursday, May 18th, and Sunday, May 28th. The Master had gone, never to return to quiet again the doubt of a Thomas with a material argument. He had left them unexpectedly, but His parting words contained a promise and a command. The little, trembling church, ~he muscles of whose lips had hardly ceased articulating the question: "Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" was waiting with breathless expectation to be clothed upon with power. There sat restless Peter, the echoes of whose blasphemies had hardly died away. There were John and J ames and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of J ames. There were the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his. brethren and others, swelling the number of names to one hundred and twenty-one hundred and twenty poor, weak men and women in the midst of a rich and powerful civilization with as many millions. The minute hand in the great clock of destiny was rapidly nearingthe critical point. The child of many promises, the dream of patriarchs and kings and prophets, the only tangible outcome of the life and death of Jesus the Messiah-the fate of all seemed to hang in the balance. The whole future of the world-its wide-spread lands, its. unnumbered billions (present and to come)-lay in the prayers of a few broken-hearted, yet believing souls. 'Vho could have predicted the result?

Let us notice, in a cursory way, the geographical conditions. which surrounded this little church of six score members on May 28th,. 30 A.D. Putting aside very largely the profounder conditions, moral and intellectual, we ask: What were the natural, political, commercial, linguistic and racial features of the known world which were to compose the environment of the primitive church as it commenced its conquest of the globe? An answer to this question will involve a study of (1) the extent of the known world at that era, (2) the character and extent of the Roman civilization, (3) the commercial and' military relations of this civilization to outlying barbarism, (4) the spread of the Latin and especially the Greek languages, and lastly (5) the wide dispersion of the Jewish race throughout the world.

Take an ordinary school globe and cover up on it all that portion unknown to the geographers, 30 A.D., and we are at once impressed with * For article I. of this series see MISSIONAl!.Y REVIEW OF THE WORLD, Jan- uary, 1890, pp. 26-32. the small extent of the known world. It seems like a mere toy as contrasted with the great bustling earth of to-day. As far as civilization was concerned that was nothing more than a Mediterranean world. A stretch of three thousand miles east and west, and of fifteen hundred miles north and south contained it all. Britain was still unconquered. The fierce Parthian, hardly weaned from his pastoral life in Central Asia, was the greatest organized enemy of Rome. He had learned a little bit of the lesson of civilization from the conquered Persian, but he was still essentially barbaric. India was superficially known by navigators, and far-away China was reached by caravan routes. Travelers occasionally brought in reports of strange lands an.d peoples; captives struggled back to the confines of civilization with marvelous tales of Hyperborean paradises, and one-eyed monsters; but all about this confined areaof terra cognita lay the great, impenetrable cloud-land of terra incognita. The Pentecostal church prayerfully faced the Roman civilization, but what of the vast stretches of sea and land still veiled from their eyes, but included in their }faster's last command? In spite of ignorance, which they shared with the wisest of antiquity, the apostolic leaders were able to grasp the thought" every knee shall bow and every' tongue confess to God." Their faith was wider than the known world. They were assured that there could not be " Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman, but Christ is all and in all." Peter's vision on the housetop at Joppa, teaching the impartial love of God to every human soul on earth, was the most comprehensive social lesson the world ever received. The apostles and the earliest evangelists are supposed to have done missionary work far outside the limits of the empire, going as far as India and Sonthern Russia.

But the immediate task before Christianity was the conquest of the centres of civilization-the Roman Empire. Let us notice the geographical characteristics of this Mediterranean world as related to the company of Christian believers in J ernsalem. (1) It was an empire of cities. Rome began with a city, she conquered cities, and from beginning to end her genius was municipal. In the East this was not so strictly true as in the West. The nomad life of the Orient could not be so easily brought and held together; but Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt were honeycombed with thrifty cities. Christianity must needs then handle cities and their thronging population. As the apostles looked out upon the Roman empire they found from four to five thousand cities to be reached. For three or four centuries Christianity was destined to be municipal in its methods, and this gave a determining bent to the whole future of the Church. (2) The tideless }:Iediterranean furnished easy access by water from city to city. It was covered with sails employed ill a thrifty commerce. The Roman fleet swept the pirates from the seas and gave security to the humblest craft. A great number of the cities were situated on or near the sea, and a map of the coast looks like a string of pearls broken only at the Bosphorus and at Gibraltar. (3) Splendid Ro- man roads connected all parts of the empire so that news was carried rapidly and power was quickly concentrated and distributed. From Jerusalem one could walk over these superb roads, a few years later, all the way to Scotland, with only the narrow bodies of water to cross, a distance of 4,080 Roman miles (3,740 English). Along these highways trudged the messenger of the Gospel, from city to city, counting the mile·stones as he went, and wondermg, perhaps, whether the words of the prophet were not fulfilled: "Cast ye up, cast ye up: prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people." (Isaiah Ivii~14.) (4) Over one hundred million people were thus by land and water ways compactly drawn together in a territory containing less than two million square miles. Geographically considered, no portion of the globe furnishe.s so interesting a bat~le·field for religious conquest as the territory of the old Roman empire.

Roman civilization spread itself outside its own regions by two methods-commercial and military-and Christianity must needs follow in the track of merchants and armies. Caravan rontes came streaming in like rivers into the common basin of the Mediterranean, through the trackless Sahara from Central Africa, down the Nile from the Great Lakes, from Yemen along the Red Sea, from the Persian Gulf through the Syrian desert, and from Mesapotamia, where was centred the trade of Central Asia. To this husy mart on the eastern border of the empire, came pouring in the treasures from the Persian Susa, from Hyrcania and from Bactria, which in turn drew npon China through Statio Mercatorum and upon Hindustan and Farther India through Clisobra.

Turning from the land trade to, the sea, the routes are no less numerous or patronized. The whole coast of Southern Asia was familiar to the merchants and regular routes by sea were open, find· ing their natural termini in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Along this extensive seaboard on the Indian Ocean the rude craft crept timi,lly without the compass, but the markets of Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome were well stocked with the dainties of the far East. Another thrifty line of commerce found its way from the great river systems of what is to.day Russia, down through the Bosphorus. Still 3nother line came pouring into the outlet of the Mediterranean from distant Britain, and daring navigators pushed along the coast of the North Sea, and even penetrated the Baltic lands in search of trade. If a little later we find Christianity firmly planted in far-away places let us not be astonished. The door was providentially open and the missionaries of the early church could easily enter. A very large portion of the earliest evangelists were merchants, and the laity from the first have furnished the main agencies for the spread of the Gospel.

Garrisons of Roman soldiers were stationed all along the borders of the empire. These military barracks soon became centres from which Christianity could spread outside the civilized world. The new religion took easily to the Roman camp and these isolated spots along the Rhine, the Danube, the Euxine and the Euphrates became points of light. Tracing the legend of St. George back to the facts of which it is a distortion, we find that he was one of these Roman soldiers. When the armies pushed beyond the boundaries of the empire Christianity was sure to go with them. Christian soldiers captured and enslaved by barbarians were the means of converting whole nations.

Another geographical condition of the greatest importance to Christianity was the wide extent of the territory over which the Greek and the Latin languages were spoken. The administration of civil and military government was through the Latin. The language of business, science and literature was the Greek. At the opening of the Christian era Hellenistic Greek was the lingua Franca of the Roman world. Greek colonies had been established all around the :Mediterranean, and these had determined the language of commerce-there has never been an instance in history where the language of commerce has failed finally to win its way to every station of life. It is a truism that Greek letters and arts conquered Rome more effectually than the legions of the Republic had overcome the Peninsula of Hellas. The New Testament was composed in this universal language, and all through the early centuries Christian churches were Hellenistic. Later on the Latin tongue took the supremacy in the 'Vestern world and still remains the liturgical language of the majority of Christians.

But more important to the Christian Church than any of the conditions mentioned was the geographical distribution of the Hebrew race. Everywhere synagogues were the early preaching-places of the apostles, and the majority of the Christians of the first century were of Jewish extraction. Christianity, as the fulfillment of the Old Testament religion, naturally turned to the be,lievers in that Revelation. Providentially, it seems, these seven millions of people, with their monotheism, their nobler conceptions of God and their purer ethics and life had been scattered broadcast over the Roman world and even beyond its boundaries. The Sibylline oracle says that "every land and every sea" was filled with them. Strabo, writing of the century before Christ, says that the Jewish people had already come into every city and that it was not easy to find a place in the world which had not received this race and was not occupied by them. Josephus, Philo, imperial epistles, as well as the Acts of the Apostles, tell the same story. Forcibly torn from their country, frightened away from Palestine, the battle-ground of the Asiatic world, enticed away by flattering offers from Ptolemy, Seleucidae and Roman governors, lured to the most distant climes by the hope of gain-this race started out on the most singular career history can show us of a nation keeping its nationality without a national terri- tory.

Let" us notice more particularly their whereabouts in the year 30 A.D. There were three centres about which the Jews were gathered in masses-Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia-although some parts of Asia Minor and Cyrene in Africa might almost be ranked with the three·mentioned. At the time of which we are dealing there were, according to the latest and best authorities, four million Jews in Syria from the Taurus range to the Sinaitic peninsula-a population twice as large as that occupying that same region to-day. Jerusalem, Damascus and Antioch were the centres; but we may suppose that every city and village in Syria had representatives, and that houses of prayer were found everywhere.

In Egypt Philo (an Alexandrian Jew born about 20 B. c.) estimated that there were one million Jews out of a total of nine million inhabitants. The city of Alexandria had several quarters occupied exclusively by this race. Prayer-houses were found all over the city. Jews were scattered overthe Delta and up the Nile we know not how far. The Falashas of Abyssinia to-day indicate a powerful Jewish influence on the upper Nile at an early period. The Jewish sect of the Therapeutre had their chief seat on Lake Maroetis. The influence of the Alexandrian Jews was all out of proportion even to their great numbers.

There were one million Jews in Mesopotamia and Babylonia, on the very b,:mier of the empire. These were the descendants of those members of the ten tribas and of the Kingdom oi Judah, who had been carried away in captivity and had not returned. In fact, after the so-called return from captivity these eastern communities seem continually to have grown by accessivns from all parts. J osephud count:'! these colonies of his people not by thousands but by millions. The Talmudic schools of Babylon were equally influential with the western schools. Elsewhere it is estimated that there were scattered one million Jews, making seven millions in all. They seem to be living everywhere in Asia Minor. Strabo divides the inhabitants of Cyrene into four classes-citizens, agriculturists, metoikoi andJewsshowing that this race, so troublesome to the Roman authorities, was numerous there. We find traces of Jews all along the north coast of Africa. In Thrace, Macedonia and Greece we know from the Book of the Acts that they were plentiful. Agrippa's epistle to Caligula. also gives ample evidence. At Rome and Puteoli there were large colonies of Jews-Cicero, Suetonius, Philo and Josephus are our witnesses for Italy. They were found in Spain and Gaul in all the cities. 'Herod Archilaus was banished to Vienne and Herod Antipas to Lugdunum (I,yons) both in the Rhone Valley. Outside the Roman empire we know there were Jews in Ethiopia, Southern Arabia, Ar-' menia, Iberia, Chalchis, Crimea, II.):rcania, and even in distant China.. In fact, it is difficult to mention a district of the known world at the date 30 A.D., which did not have representatives of the Jewish race.

These, then, were the more important geographical conditions that faced the Pentecostal church of six score members. There was the Roman empire with its roads and harbors and languages. All about this lay unknown lands and tribes with theil' unnumbered millions. Scattered all over the known world were the Jewswho furnished just so many open doors to the religion ,of the Messiah. It will be the object of succeeding papers to show how the little church threw 'itself fearlessly into the conflict, and won province after province for the kingdom of its. Master, and to show how we have entered into their labors.

THE RAPID GROWTH OF ASIATIC POPULATIONS.

. This is written you from one of our inland stations, one of ~ group of a dozen villages right round about. The one thing that always strikes me in a Chinese town or village is the number of small children that are running loose all around. One thing is certain, the population of this already overgrown empire is certain to be kept ur.

More than that, it is growing within the past twenty-five years with increased rapidity. One estimate puts it now at a yearly advance of four millions. We dwell on the growth of our own population at home, but China is advancing nearly three times as fast. Forty millions in ten years is enough to start and stock a new nation.

Japan, too, is growing rapidly in numbers. A few years ago the people were estimated at thirty-seven or thirty-eight millions. Now the government puts them at forty millions. India, too, shows remarkable results. The census is taken there with great care by the British government. The last census was taken in 1881. Since the previous one taken along from 1867 to 1872 in the different provinces, the gain had been 15,010,304. In all these cases the population is by natural increa~e, and not, as in the United States, by immigration.

These are solemn and impressive figures taken in their 'bearing 011 Christian r'nissions. It will not do to wait till the Jerusalem folks are all converted. ""V. ASHMORE. Swatow, Ohina.

ARE WE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST?

ARE WE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST?

[FOR THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.] " 'Vhosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."-Luke xiv: 33.

"One thing thou Iackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow me."-Mark x: 21.

" But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet."-Acts v: 1,2.

Examining ourselves, as individuals and as churches, how many disciples of Christ can we find, according to the criterion He has es- tablished in the explicit rule and the explicit injunction above quoted?

No dodging! Let us not get behind the pretense of a heart forsaking, while our hands tenaciously grasp the bulk of our possessions. Let us at least not mock God and" lie unto the Holy Ghost," by saying, "Yes, Lord, I give all to 'fhee," while we actually give nothing, or a dole, or a tithe; lest we join ourselves with Ananias and Sapphira.

in infamy as well as perdition. " Itwere better not to vow."

But all of us members of evangelical churches have thus vowed.

We have all made the profession, or pretense, of Ananias and Sap- phira. 'Ve have consecrated ourselves and all that we have-our persons, our possessions and our children to the Lord. WHERE then are the proceeds? Are they fully laid at His feet, according to the profession? Or is a " part" of them" kept back"? Is it an honest profession, or a lying pretense like that of those two dreadful monu- ments of the Lord's indignation at hypocrisy in the Church? 'Ve do not know how large a part Ananias and Sapphira kept back. Proba- bly it was a small proportion, such as they thought would not be noticed. How many modern Ananiases and Sapphiras are agreeing together to tempt the Spirit of ~he Lord, while joining in the com- muniun of His supreme self-sacrifice, by keeping back, not a minor proportion, but NEARLY ALL, of that which they have solemnly and Imblicly dedicated.

Far be it from us to judge one another. But let us remember that there is a Judge, and that if we would judge ourselves we shoald not be judged. Let us not flatter ourselves, or each other, with vain hopes in Christ that are explicitly excluded by His own reiterated warnings. Can sinners hope for heaven Who love this world so well ?

And are not the ministers of Christ themselves derelict if they €ncourage, even tacitly, the assumption of discipleship on the part of those who give no evidence of a bonafide assignment of so much as thcir pr-operty to the Lord that bought them?

W. C.

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS. 12::>

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.

BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK.

-De Macedonier gives the following statistics for Java: 'Vest Java, 11 missionaries, 21 congregations, 20 helpers, 1,963 souls; Bagalen, 4 missic;maries, 60 congregations, 2helpers, 5,937 souls; Salatega Mission, 5 missionaries, 18 congregations, 6 helpers, 534 souls; East Java, 9 missionaries, 27 congregations, 54 helpers, 6,276 souls. Whole number of souls, 14,710. In 1886, 10,979. Increase, 3,731; yearly rate, 11i per cent.

-De Heidenbode, the organ of the Nederlandsche Gereformeerde Zendingsvereeniging (Netherlands Reformed Missionary Association) says very pertinently: "When the sigh ascends from the churches to heaven: 'Lord, the 1,000,000,000 souls of the unchristian world have no bread,' whatis his answer? The same as in the wilderness to his disciples: 'Give ye them to eat.' He was compassionately willing to feed the hungering multitudes, yet he sent down no bread from heaven, and brought up no fish from the sea. The disciples were to give them what they had, and this He blesses, so that there is enough and to spare. Even so, He does not preach the Gospel to the nations through angels, or send down Bibles from heaven in all the varying tongues of earth. We are to give them what we have, and He will add the blessing. "

-The Journal des Missions for September, 1890, gives account of the baptism at Thaba-Bossiou, in Lessuto, of 90 adults.

-The following letter of welcome from King Lewanika, on the Zambesi, to M. Adolph Jalla, is not a bad letter from a heathen king: "To the new missionary, health! Come soon with the peace of thy God. I thank thee for thy letter. I too would fain see thee and salute thee soon, new missionary! I shall soon rejoice to see thee with my eyes. Health, health, it is I who love thee.-LEwANIKA."

-The Journal des Missions, .speaking of the efforts making by some governments to decoy the missionaries into the service of their particular interests, says: "Woe to the herald of the good news of Christ's free salvation who lets himself be enticed by a worldly master, under the cover of promoting civilization, into the service of colonial interests! Here, as elsewhere, everything goes to show that no man can serve two masters, that the church and the world are two distinct domains, that the salvation of souls and the supposed interests of colonists are the most often mutually incompatible."

-The definitive recognition, by England, of Madagascar as under the protectorate (a polite way of saying under the dominion) of France, has led to well-founded apprehensions concerning the London Society's missions there, which have Christianized the ruling tribe of the Hovas. We remember only too well the declaration of the Protestant Guizot: "France abroad means Catholicism." To be sure, the treaty expressly provides that" in the island of Madagascar the missionaries of the two countries shall enjoy a complete protection, religious tolerance, liberty for all forms of worship and for religious instruction are guaranteed." But who believes that if the Jesuits once more came to govern France they would allow it to keep this treaty except evasively? And England is not now the England of Cromwell, or even of Chatham. However, the Protestant steadfastness of Queen Pomare and the Tahitians will doubtless be emulated by Queen Ranavalona and the Hova churches. It is a matter of great thankfulness that the Protestant mission of our French brethren on the Zambesi is likely to be rescued from the ignoble clutch of Portugal and assigned to the benign guardianship of England. The inroads of the children of Mammon, unhappily, cannot be restrained by any power. " Never," says the Journal, "has the world witnessed a partition so gigantic. Whatever may come of it, He that sitteth in the heavens (says yet) I have set my Ki.ng upon my holy hill of Zion."

It is not to be understood, of course, that all the French colonial officers are hostile to Protestant missions. Some are themselves Protestants, and others are friendly to every elevating influence abroad, Protestant or Catholic. M. de Brazza, the great agent of extending the French authority along the right bank {)f the lower Congo, has himself urged the Societe des Missions to establish its mission on the Congo, and promised it his best support. And, although since the loss of Alsace-Lorraine, the French Protestants are only some 600,000 out of 38,000,000, yet their greater mental freedom, more earnest religion, and higher moral standard, make them an antagonizing power manifold greater than their numbers against both atheism and ultramontanism.

-Dr. Warneck, in the Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift, in answer to a deprecatory remark of Major Wissmann, that Protestant missions ought not to shrink from criticism, observes very pertinently that Protestants criticise their own missions rather too much than too little. Roman Catholics, possessed as they are with the instinct of infallibility, do not criticise theirs at all.

Major Wissmann puts the Roman Catholic missions in Africa above the Protestant, as putting the labora before the ora (which they would hardlyacknowledge), declaring that the Protestants reverse the order. Dr. Warneck replies that they do neither the one nor the other, but, as commanded by Jesus Christ, teach faith in Him, which then becomes the inner principle of both prayer and labor. Dr. Wissmann, like most of such men, seems to regard the Africans only in one light-their relation to the labor market. But, as Dr. Warneck remarks, the Catholic missionaries have bought children (doubtless with the most benevolent intentions) over whom they have power. The Protestants exhort to industry free people, over whom they have only influence. The immediate industrial results, therefore, are more noticeable on the side of the former. The lasting results will turn more largely to the credit of the latter. Even now Major Wissmann acknowledges that, industrially, the Livingstonia Mission equals the best Catholic misl!ions. The trouble with the Catholic missions is, that however benevolently they treat their converts, in so many cases they do not teach them how to go alone.

Dr. Warneck remarks that, although where the Roman Catholics, as in China, have been laboring for three centuries, they have naturally an absolutely greater number of converts, yet they seldom have relatively so large a number if we compare time, outlay, and number of laborers, and that in fields where they and the Protestants have both labored for nearly the same time, the absolutely greater number of converts is almost everywhere on the Protestant side, excluding the European immigrants whom the Catholic reports count in, and whom the Protestant reports count out. Even in East Africa, to which Major 'Wissmann principally refers,the Catholics (not including Uganda.the statistics of which are undetermined) only claim some 2,000 converts, over against some 4,500 of the Protestant missions.

"The present Protestant missions proceed simply in theway of the apostolic missions, when they put their confidence, not in the forms of outward worship, but in the power of evangelical truth. And to-day, also, we do not find that this confidence puts us to shame, as is shown by the results of our missions, e.g., in the South Sea Islands, as well as in West and East Africa, where we have gathered fully a million of free Christians from among the heathen into well organized, and in part already independent, churches. We may well allow that the outward worship of the Roman Church has a certain share in the results of her mission; but much more are these owing to other outward means, e.g., purchase of children, concession of temporal advantages, employment of the civil power, connivance with heathen irregularities, etc."

-In' view of the sharp national animosities, which have attached them- selves to the relations between the Anglo-American Stanley and the German Emin Pasha, the following judgment of Stanley, founded on his latest book, from the great German missionary magazine, is of much value. The Zeit- schrift, has throughout, while genuinely German, held itself clear of all exag- gerated nationalism, in matters which concern universal.humanity and the kingdom of God: "This book leaves no doubt that in Stanley we have to do not only with one of the most heroic, circumspect, enduring of travelers, but also with a warm friend of mankind, a great student of human nature, a wise dealer with men, and a conscientious performer of the commissions assigned to him. He is not lacking in self-consciousness, and the energy with which he is wont to act sometimes verges on recklessness; but without the inflexible firm- ness, which ever and anon degenerates into harshness, he would never have overcome the absolutely gigantic difficulties which lay in his way, and never have attained his end. But Stanley is by no means merely a valiant man of iron will, he has also a warm heart, is full of motherly carefulness, fidelity and devotion to his friends, white and black, nor is he wanting in humility and a sound feeling of piety." He would hardly be a Welshman if his sense of religion were not strong.

-The Societe Centrale Protestante d'Evangelisation, in its forty-third an- nual report, that of 1889, says: "It has a faith, and it confesses it. In this re- gard it has gone beyond the Synod of 1872. It used to be said, as it still is: Why these doctrines? Is not life enough? Bring near the prophets, remove the doctors; inflame the heart and take no care about the head. Inflame the heart with what? The heart, too, has need of reasons, and the reasons of the heart are the very doctrines which you reject. According as these doctrines are pre$ent or absent, religious fervor increases or declines. History teaches us that in all times moral is closely connected with doctrinal relaxation. Why, then, should we separate the prophets and the doctors, as if they did not belong together? They imply each other, they do not exclude each other. Let me only cite three names: St. Paul, St. Augustine, Luther-three glorious prophets and three illustrious doctors. But for the doctrines which it has adopted and propagated, the Central Society would not have done what it has done, for it would neither have felt nor kindled the same confidence."

-" France is divided into two camps, of equal passion, if not of equal strength. The religious society anathematizes the civil society; the civil society anathematizes the religious society, and ever and anon the one point on which they seem to agree is that it is the duty of each to murder the other. Lost in this tumult of battle, what are we doing, we, French Protestants of every denomination? We maintain religious faith and bless social progress. We show France how she may be at one with herself, and be at the same time Christian and liberal. If, weaned of their bitter and resultless struggles, civil and religious society are minded some. day to make peace, they will make it, not under our name, indeed, but on our territory. The triumph of Protestant principles, whether under Protestant forms or not, is the religious future of our country, and of every country." Free religion, not in the infidel but in the Christian sense, as against the compelled religion of the middle ages.

-The Danish churches raised for missionary purposes in 1888, about $24,000. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN EXTRACTS.

-The Church Missionary Gleaner for October reports as ready to go out six university men, six clergymen from the Islington school, nineteen single ladies and four others. Adding the wives-" whom we must never leave out of account "-and there is a total of ninety-one new missionaries. "But the day is rapidly coming when that will seem quite small."

-It seems that, as with the ark of old, each African tribe has been afraid to keep the bones of Bishop Hannington, being persuaded that the wrath of heaven has attended each attempt to detain them, until at last they are given to an Englishman who comes from the coast "by the route which Hannington" in his last moments, declared that he died to secure!"

-Miss Ridley, lately gone to China, says in the Gleaner: "I do not do much else but study. I am standing, as it were, on the brink of a wonderful ocean –this difficult, interesting and fascinating language-just playing with a few of the drops."

-It is known that the aborigines of Japan are the Ainos, or Ainus, now mostly found in the northern island, Yezo. They are very degraded, but are said to be rather of our type of race than of the Mongolian. It has been questioned whether they have retained any religion. But the Church Missionary Society missionary to them, Rev. J. Batchelor, writes in the Gleaner, that " they firmly believe in a God who is the life giver and benevolent sustainer of all, and they thankfully and dutifully acknowledge His gifts and mercies."

-It is known how highly the Church of Scotland, both Established and Free, values education in India. It is now, in the Established branch, engaged in reviewing this whole question, and corresponding widely with authorities in Indian affairs. Some of the answers deserve reporting: Sir Charles U. Aitchison, late lieutenant-governor of the Punjab, is very sure that if the chasm now yearning in Hindu belief is filled up by an unchristian theism, the church will have all the sapping and mining to do over again. He mentions the American College at Lahore, as one of the types of schools that ought to be multiplied through India, giving university training, together with the steady personal application of Christian truth by cultivated men. "God forbid," he says, "that I should undervalue preaching and evangelizing. I believe India is only waiting for some native St. Paul to turn by thousands to the Lord. But the more active you are in your schools the better you will be prepared for that day when it comes." Even now, he says, the most and the best converts are from the schools. f Sir William Wilson Hunter says that a Christian government cannot give anti-christian, and, in India, cannot give Christian teaching. The result is deplored, deservedly, by the natives of India. Missionary schools alone can make good the lack. Such schools the government feels free to aid. " It would not do," he says, "that just as Hinduism and Mohammedanism are entering the field of education more largely, Scotland should withdraw from it. Alexander Duff and John Lawrence," he remarks, " went to India in one fear. One saved India for England; the other rescued Christianity from sinking again into such a degradation as that into which the uneducated' Portuguese Christians' had brought it."

Sir William Muir, Sir Henry Ramsay and Sir Richard Temple give similar testimony.

The Rev. Robert Clark, of the Church Missionary Society, thinks that there are friendly Hindu and Moslem teachers whose influence is positively better than that of some nominally Christian teachers. He calls them "Hiram's Carpenters. " It is an error to suppose that the Scottish Establishment in India spendo chiefly for schools. £2,492 is spent for them; £5,488 on evangelistic work.

The Rev. D. Mackicham, D.D., of the Free Church, remarks that there are fewer conversions now at such schools than at first. This he attributes (1) to the great modifications of Hinduism, giving a temporary resting-place to many; (2) to the religious indifference of the age; (3) to the stronger political life awakening in India, carrying off much moral force–all temporary causes, but operative at present.

The Rev. A. Clifford, of the Church Missionary Society, says that "Dr. Duff's converts are the backbone of the native church in Bengal." Few, but mighty.

Bishop Caldwell and Mr. Sharrock declare that these higher schools are the unly way of reaching the higher castes. The Roman Catholics, moreover, are waking up to the importance of education, and the question is, into which scale enlightened India shall be thrown.

James Wilson, Esq., twenty-five years missionary in India, says that the condition of India, that is, especially of Hinduism, with iis compact society and overmastering religion, is unique. Individual conversions cannot be there, at present, the main end. India is a mighty rock to be tunneled, and educa- tion is the process of tunneling. The rate of conversion among the aborig- ines, who may be called the soft rock, does not at all give the rate among the Hindus, who are emphatically the hard rock. As yet, no method of labor has gained many conversions from Hinduism proper. That mission schools have not, therefore, is not against them, while for ultimate results we may well re- gard them as an indispensable agency.

The Hindus are beginning to be alarmed at the absence of ethicai teaching from the government schools. One Hindu journal, quite independent of direct missionary influence, calls for the introduction of a little book, called" The Precepts of Jesus," compiled by Rajah Ramahun Roy, the original leader, I believe, of the Brahmo Somaj. Says Mr. Wilson: "I have nothing to say against other methods of spreading the truth; but I, for one, have no regrets that so many years of my life were spent in India in diffusing among the young people of that country knowledge of any and every kind, including that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation."

Judge Roberts, of the Punjab, brings like testimony to the grievous decline of morality and integrity which has followed the divorce of religion and education. The Rev. S. S. Allnutt, M.A., late of Cambridge, nowof Delhi, says that this system starves the HiNdu conscience, already weak, and leaves the intellectual to struggle with. the animal nature, aggravated by an English propaganda of atheism, "rampant, vaunting, undisguised." The vile Bradlaugh has recently, we remember, visited India, partly to prosecute this apostolate of hell. Even the Mohammedans, it appears (except the heretical Shiites) disdain to acknowledge sin before God, or profess repentance of it. Mr. Allnutt wholly condemns the too usual practice of allowing heathen teachers to give formal instruction in Christain doctrine. _ The Rev. John Paton, formerly chaFllain in Bombay says: "Convert all the aboriginal types and leave the Brahmanical castes untouched, and you have only touched Hindu religion by the fringe. Neglect neither Aryans nor non- Aryans, nor the methods best suited to the genius of either. A mighty citadel (and no citadel of heathenism compares with Hinduism) must be besieged with infinite patience and manful use of every form of appliance." Principal Miller, of Madras, says that the Jesuits have a broad outlook, and the Protestant missions, as yet, a narrow one. Shall educated India, he asks, be Jesuit or Protestant? He strongly condemns the helter-skelter mutual emu- lation of Protestant schools. One-fourth of their revenues, he says, have been spent in paralyzing another fourth.

Mr. Mozumdar, the Brahmo Somaj leader, says that he knows mission school graduates above others by their superior moral principle and greater firmness of character.

A Hindu jurist, callmg for religious education in government schools, de- clares it better that a few should embrace the faith of Christ than that all should become practical atheists.

The Rev. John Monson, B.D., of Calcutta, says that if Protestants do not want Protestant Christianity in India to be absorbed by Roman Catholicism, they must not relax, but intensify, their efforts for the higher education.

The Rev. Johr. Crawford, B.D., says: "Christ has gained, because natives have seen men of all Christian creeds in Britain establishing Christian colleges."

The Rev. Herbert J. Thomas remarks: "The best that the natives of India can say of the English Government is that it is without religion; and they think no better of the English on that account, as their newspapers abundantly show."

On the other hand, various eminent authorities, among them Sir Monier Williams, speak doubtfully as to the results of these schools.

In 1863 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland decided that its higher schools in India should be deeply modified, in the direction of much fuller instruction in religion. Thus modified, it appears to be the mind of the present Missionary Committee, that they ought decidedly to be maintained, as being a needed counteractive to the irreligion of the government schools, and as peculiarly agreeable to the Scottish genius. The General Assembly is yet to take action on the report of the committee.

The Colonial and Continental Church Society, an Anglican institution, formed "to send clergymen, cathechists and schoolma:sters to the colonies of Great Britain and to British residents in other parts of the world," is important among those many semi-missionary societies called into being by the peculiar nature and relations of that dominion" on which the sun never sets." Its total income for 1889-90 was £35,668, of which £17,600 was raised at home, the remainder in the colonies and on the continent. The society takes a part in the Indian missions of British America. It also aims at commending to the French-Canadians a purer form of the Gospel. It appears to represent principally the evangelical school of the Church of England. We observe that the Marquis of Salisbury is one of its subscribers, and that his eminent competitor is not. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel seems to do the same work for the High Church party, although it is an extensive, and in various places rather an interfering, foreign missionary society.

-The Church Missionary Intelligencer for October, 1890, remarks: "The British Empire at the present time is five times larger than that of ancient Persia under Darius; it is four times larger than that of Rome under Augustus; and it is one-eighth larger than all the Russias put together; it is three times the size of the United States, sixteen times that of France, and forty times that of Germany, if we leave out of account her recently acquired territory in Africa. Now, if we admit that God guides the affairs of men, surely there must be some sufficient reason fot placing such. vast popUlations under our control, and when we remember that all these pos~essions have come to us since. the Reformation, it seems as if we had in this fact a hint as to what the reason is!"

-The same number of the Intelligencer, warning against expectations of what may be called a tumultuary movement of conversion in India, says: "In very truth there is no possibility in India of such a thing as a popular movement. There is no public opinion-how could there be in a body of 250,000,000 of people, of divers races, speaking a great number of different languages, and disintegrated by the cleavage of caste, by no means conformable to the strata of society? The conversion of a whole caste would render that of the next above it none the easier, rather all the more difficult. The ocean of Indian thought has been for ages stagnant; there are in it neither tides nor prevailing currents. But the w~ter of life is pouring into it, and creating, at all events, local eddies, which go swirling onwards steadily, spite of their back-waters, towards the throne of Christ."

-The Intelligencer quotes from two organs of·two branches of the Brahmo Somaj the two following declarations: "Christ Jesus. . is as much necessary in this age and in India as He was 1,800 years ago in Judea. As sinful children of men, we, the people of India, are as much in need of the Living Son of the Living God as the people of Judea were in days gone by." "In Christ, humanity, possessing nothing, not even a stone to lay its head upon, declared nothing good but its Father in heaven, surrendered itself wholly to His will, was tortured and killed, and finally was raised to eternal glory and everlasting blessedness. Humanity was reconciled to divinity, and the earth witnessed the rare spectacle of a divine humanity reigning over her." The editor remarks: ,. There is something of a perverse current there, a tendency to philosophize away the realism of Christ's redemption, which is characteristically Indian. But let the Indian mind take its own course-it will be guided at last to the personal acceptance of Christ."

The Rev. Worthington Jukes, of the Afghan Mission of the C. M. S., speaks of a baptized convert of ten years' standing, Hazrat Ali Shah, as being a lineal descendant of Mohammed. He has given up his government appointment to devote himself to mission work.

-The Intelligencer, complaining of the abundance of orthodoxy and the lack of moral feeling in the negro Christianity of West Africa, remarks: "It is not a Luther that is wanted; it is a John the Baptist." Yet it remarks that there is enough of the right spirit to be making a visible impression on the Mohammedans.

-It is known that there is a difference of opinion among missionaries, here and there, as to the use of the native instead of the European dress. There can be no doubt, however, as to the wisdom of Dr. Harford-Battersby's course on the Upper Niger. He says, in the Intelligencer: "For the first time adopted the native dress. Found it very comfortable, and well adapted to the climate. The turban, I believe, is far the best protection from the sun; the tabe, or gown, which is very loose, admits of free ventilation, and at the same time can be modified to suit almost any change of the weather except rain. Below we have the loose trousers and sandals for the feet-very comfortable. It is delightful altogether to have discarded boots and socks." Elsewhere it is remarked how pleased the people are to have the white men condescend to dress like themselves!

-The Intelligencer for October gives from the Matin the following statistics of Roman Catholic missions, mostly French, in Central Africa. The Catholic Missions of Lyons have in the Kingdom of Benin 6 stations, 1 college, 10 schools, 8 orphanages; on the Gold Coast, 6 stations, 3 schools and orphanages; on the Niger, 2 schools and 2 orphanages; in Dahomey, 8 stations,4 schools and 5 orphanages. The Brethren of the Holy Ghost have in Cimbabasie 4 stations, schools and 1seminary; in Gaboon, 6 stations, 3industrial schools; in Senegambia, 15 stations, 1 seminary, 1 printing office, 16 schools, 1 industrial school, 1 orphanage and 1 asylum; at Sierra Leone, 2 stations and schools; in French Congo, 7 stations, 5 schools; in the Lower Congo, 9 stations,l seminary, 5 schools; in Zanzibar, 11 stations, 6 schools, 2 hospitals, 1 industrial school. The White Fathers (Cardinal Lavigerie's missionaries) have in Nyassaland 2 stations, 3 orphanages, 4 schools; in the Sahara, 7 stations; in Kabylia, 1 station; in Nizab, 12 stations, 8 schools, 2 seminaries, 8 orphanages; Upper Congo. 2 stations, 4 schools; in Unyanyembe, 2 stations; at Zanzibar, 1 station; at Tanganyika, 3 stations, schools and orphanages.

-The Intelligencer remarks: "India is becoming more and more visited in the cold season, not only by politicians, and litterateurs, and students, and sportsmen, but by the messengers of Christ. The' missioner' is becoming as distinct a variety of them as the' missionary.'"

-The Bishop of Lahore, at a recent C. M. S. meeting in India, referred to the noble work opening in Kashmir. He said that many converts had recently been gathered in, and all over the district congregations of seventy or eighty met in the simplest of little churches for worship. These churches had not cost more than a rupee per sitting, if he might use that term, for, with the exception of the Bishop, for whom, in consideration of his infirmities, a chair was provided, sittings there were none [laughter]; the people all sat on the ground. The simple service was conducted and joined in with great fervor, and his heart was much touched by a beautiful cUdtom they had of repeating Jai Prabhu Yesu (Victory to the Lord Jesus) as they rose at the conclusion of their service.

STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

Mr. Max Wood Moorhead writes that: " A Conference of the Student Volunteer Movement is to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, February 26th to March 1st. "The objects are: (1) To bring volunteers and secretaries of foreign mission societies into personal contact; (2) to acquaint the Church with the character, scope and purpose of 'the movement'; (3) to stimulate and arouse to action student volunteers. Christian citizens offer to entertain a thousand guests, and volunteers in hundreds will probably avail themselves of this hospitality. "Such a convention will give secretaries of various boards in the United States and Canada opportunity to confer with candidates, and define the relation which should exist between them; and societies will communicate their spirit and their methods. "The following societies have been invited to send representatires: Young Men's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, the American Inter-Seminary Missionary Alliance, the Canadian Inter-Collegiate Missionary Alliance, the United Society of Christian Endeavor, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Epworth League, etc. From many missionary agencies comes the cry of' Debt!' 'Retrench!' The Church seems largely indifferent to the Master's appeal for laborers. We earnestly hope and pray that this gathering may result in a renewed spirit of obedience to the command of Christ, and, consequelitly, the actual sending forth of many laborers. "Foreign missionaries, now at home on furlough, from' every quarter of the globe, will be present. "Will the readers of THE REVIEW pray that all prepartions may be in conformity to God's will, and that all who participate in the coming Conference may be led by the Holy Spirit?"

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT

II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

EDITED AND· CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.

Editorial Items.-[J. T. G.] mission agents, whether English or It will be gratifying to the friends African, that are, in their jUdgment, "vessels meet for the Master's use." of humanity everywhere, to know Earthen vessels they may be; we do that at the last Holland signed the not look for perfection in human in- agreement of the Brussels Confer- struments or instrumentalities; but .ence, authorizing a tariff for revenue ~ve do deeply feel that true missionary work is the Getting forth of the Lord in the Congo Free State, to raise a Jesus Christ both as Saviour and as special fund for the suppression of the King and that this work must be slave trade. If she had held out in done 'by those who, however feeble in themselves, do know Him as their her refusal to concur, the entire Brus- Saviour and obey Him as their King, sels Conference would have been a and who seek, by the power of the failure, as it required unanimous con- Holy Ghost, to be examp~es ': in w<,>r?, in conversation, in chanty, m spInt, sBeenrtlinofTtrheeatysio~f-na1t8o8r5y, powers to the in faith, in purity." to make it ef- -It would be amusing, if it were fective in this modification of the free not so serious, to note the present con- troversyabout mission comity. Here trade clause of the original constitu- are the Baptists criticising the Method- ists for entering Rangoon, and the tion. Lutherans in turn criticising the Bap- tists in. Guntur because they "im- -It is time the good people of this mersed several of their teachers under discipline for irregular conduct." Then country gave a half-hour to the man- we have the Church of England Mis- sionary Society complained of by the ner in which the United States Gov- Presbyterians in Persia, for interfer- ing with their constituency, and so on, ernment is made to play the part of sometimes with cause, and, possibly, sometimes without cause, for we do procuress in the case of Chinese w0n;ten not claim to pass judgment on any of these cases. And all this comes on us at San Francisco. We are not saymg when the brethren are reading essays and making addresses on missionary a word now in favor of letting the comity. We printed in May last an able paper read before the Calcutta Chinese in, nor about our disreputable Missionary Conference on this subject by Bishop Thoburn. That met with a violation of treaty with China; but rejoinder in the same conference by Rev. Mr. Clifford, and now the subabout those who are let in, and the ject is treated in the December num- ber of The Church Mis.'lionary Intellipurposes for which they are admitted.

No Chinese can be landed without a writ of habeas corpus from the district court of the United States. Eleven thousand of these have been issued in order to land Chinese men and women, and ninety-nine out of every hundred of these women are known to be brought hither for the vilest uses of white men as well as Chinese. The President and his Cabinet ought not to allow the majesty of law to screen slavery and lust after this fashion.

-Here is a model utterance by the gencer. The writer concludes by Church of England Missionary Society saying facetiously: "The American in connection with some administra- missionary, though often a magnifitive difficulties in one of their West cent specimen of a Christian gentle- Africa missions, which might well be man is, nevertheless, to the end an adopted as a manifesto by all mis- American, given to going ahead, and -sionary societies: not absolutely beyond the temptation of filibustering. And the English The Committee are solemnly deter- missionary is apt to be ineradicably a mined in humble dgeivpeentdheenSc~eciuetpyo'ns Divine' strength, to support only to mission agenCies and John Bull, accustomed to dwelling on an island, and with no particularpen- next ten years, and hence it is now chant for being interfered with by two-hundred-fold greater than it others." But during the while in was at the beginning of the present which these various brethren discuss century. and re-discuss the modifications nec- essary in the mission co-operative Mr. Gladstone says we have not only policy of the past, a writer in the Har- multiplied wealth in a ratio that is un- vest Fieldsuggests some modus vivendi precedented in the world's history, that the work be not hindered. but we have multiplied the variety of pleasures which wealth commands, What About Our Surplus Wealth 7 also, in a correspondingly unparalleled degree. The New York World recently pub- lished a list of the richest people ia the Archdeacon Farrar is credited with United States, with a rough estimate the statAment that the working-classes of their wealth. We say rough esti- of Great Britain are saving annually mate because when one of these five hundred millions of dollars, and gentlemen, in a legal proceeding, tes- the British nation fifteen hundred miltified, as is asserted, that he could not lions. tell within ten or twelve millions of dollars what his fortune did amount The Japan Mail some while ago to, he only represented the rest of the said there was wealth enough in a very wealthy persons whose fortunes single block of warehouses, between are in part in more or less fluctuating Cornhill and Regent streets, in London securities. It is not assumed there- to buy up the whole of Yeddo, Japan, fore, by us, that the article referred and possibly five times over. It is disto presents precise knowledge, and tinctly the Christian nations that are in some cases may be grossly incor- adding in geometrical ratio to their rect. surplus wealth.

Nevertheless, the outline stands sub- Allowing all this to stand for the stantially representative of the facts moment, take another factor, as well in the case. Here are the names, then, established as careful and consciof seventy-five individuals whose for- entious computation can make so intunes are estimated at more than five definite a propo~ition. It is stated millions of dollars. It includes three after careful examination that the inmen thought to be worth over one crease in the wealth of the Protestant hundred millions of dollars each, and Christians of the United States equals thirty-five individual fortunes which five hundred millions of dollars anexceed ten millions of dollars each. nually. That amounts to the assertion that every three years Protestant The leading statistician of Great Christendom in this country accumu- Britain is made responsible for the lates an aggregated surplus fortune, statement that the increase of the equal to the total estimated fortunes world's wealth between the years 1800 of a hundred and twenty-five of the and 1870 was greater than that of the wealthiest persons in the land, or that eighteen hundred years preceding each year Protestant Christians in this century; and, still further, that the United States lay by a fortune the increase of the wealth in the equal to the sum total accumulated world between the years 1870 and through many years by the Rockefel- 1880 was equal to that accumulated lers, Astors, Goulds and Vanderbi~ts, between 1800 and 1870. In other as estimated by the World's table. words, the world doubled its wealth in the first seventy years of this cen- Now, we have not a word, at this tury, and added an equal sum in the writing, to say about the special dan- gers to any community, in any coun- try or century, of such vast augmenta- tion of wealth. Mr. Gladstone has done well to point out that it is indi- economies; after-we repeat the sumrectly a fertile source of the negative mary-after it has used all it needed, religious tendency of our day. But given all it would, and wasted most we do not propose to moralize about wantonly, it yet has a reserve of unit in one way or another. What we spent fortune reaching the enormous write to accomplish is this: to press sum of $500,000,000 annually! home on every Christian in the land who has any surplus, who one year And this is not supposed to be thE> with another, or after an interval of "saving" of the irreligious or ignorant, ten years, finds he has accumulated but of the very best type of Christian some" savings," the question: What commonwealth. What ought we to are the special obligations growing do with this surplus? What account from savings? will we render of it at last? Not one- sixtieth of so much as these' , savings" If annually the Protestant Christians is given to save the world outside of of this land are accumulating five our country, adding what men give times the wealth of the few men who while living and leave after death. own a hundred millions of property after a lifetime, or as the accretions of We cast no reflections. We read no more than one generation, what is homilies. We prescribe no action.' this same Protestant Christendom pro- We only put an interrogation point posing to do with these five hundred before one part of the Christian millions of annual surplus? It must Church in the richest and most luxube borne in mind just what the charac- riant land on the globe over against ter of this is. It is not what these the increment of its savings. Christians now want. It is what is left. After our Protestant Christen- J. T. G. dom has supplied all its wants, catered as far as it pleases to all its whims, The Press in Heathen Lands. spent on its viands all it cared to indulge in, wornjust" as good or expen- BY J. T. GRACEY. sive raiment as it has pleased to buy, indulged itself in art and literature The area of the reading population and travel, spent on the education of of the worla has been vastly extended chilUren all it could be induced to within the century, and in heathen spend, made merry the Christmas and lands as a direct result, in large part, of other holidays, indulged ~n all lawful, the modernmission. In India the Hindu possibly some questionable amuse- and Mohammedan readers are increasments, hospitably and socially enter- ing at present at the rate of a million tained friends and neighbors; after it and a half a year. Before the translahas, besides all this, generously spent tion of the Bible scarcely one-thirtieth in charity and benevolences, sustained part of the population of Bengal could all the churches, built all the colleges, read, and at the beginning of this cenand subscribed as liberally as it could turythat vast province and its Bengalibe induced to subscribe for missions speaking millions had no prose literain this and other lands; after it has, ture; now it is extensive and rapidly in a word, been as public-spirited as increasing. it pleased to be in forwarding all humanitarianism and religion while What we say of Bengal is but typiliving, and bequeathed all it would to cal of the rest of India and of other be spent or given away after death parts of the Moslem and heathen -spent, donated, squandered, be- world where the mission has entered. queathed; and after it has wasted untold thousands, being reckless of Not to delay with further illustra- tions in heathen lands, though the literary vaulting of young Japan is a tempting theme, let us take a single illustration from Moslem literature. That we will select, not from Delhi or Lucknow, which furnish most start- publishes newspapers in a dozen oJ' ling and arousing facts of recent liter- morelanguages,would ofitselfindicate ary ventures, but from the dead-line the relation of the mission to literary of the Moslem intellect in the coun- activity. Butthe intent of this present tries lying on the eastern borders of paper is to call attention to the use the Mediterranean. We pass by the which is being made by the press of twenty millions of pages of Arabic some heathen lands in antagonism to literature issued in Beirut in 1889 by Christianity. Illustrations are abun-' the Presbyterians, because it is Chris- dant in Japan and in Moslem lands. tian, and even the great dictionaries, We will, however, limit ourselves to grammars and chrestomatics in Ara- selections from India. bic, of the Roman Catholic press at Beirut, for the same reason. All of the six hundred native news- papers of India, except a half-dozen, The Moslem literary stir is indicated may be set down as inimical to Chris- by the officially reported pUblications tianity. In all the larger Indian cities in Constantinople in three months of there'is a fair proportion of youths 1889, of which 143 were Turkish, 3 who have received an English educa- • Arabic, 2 F re~, and the others tion, many of whom are bitterly hos- in Armenian, Neo-Greek, Bulgarian, tile to Christianity. There is an abun- Servian, French and Italian. dant supply of imported European infidel literature sown broadcast Egypt is not a country to which one among these young men. But not is likely to turn to find the freshest only is the newspaper turned against literature. But the presses of Cairo us, but organizations modeled after are turning out works of vast impor- our Christian tract societies have been tance. The Turkish, dictiona~y, established and are in active operation. "Kamus," and the "Tag-al-aurus," The" Free Thought Depot" in Madras the great dictionary of classical Ara- issues a list of 124 separate works, in- bic, seven volumes-of the total ten- cl_ding 34 publications of Bradlaugh, of which have been issued in rapid suc- 19 of Mrs. Besant, 16 of Ingersoll, and cession, and which will cost, perhaps, others of Paine, Voltaire and other forty dollars, mark anything but a well-known infidel publicists. Inger- Dead Sea or a. low Nile of literary soll's lectures have the largest sale. interest. Some of these have deceptive titles. "A Bible Hand-book for Mission The modern newspaper has become School StUdents and Inquiring Chris- a power in these lands. Beirut pub- tians" and " The Bible Dissector for lishes eight political and four literary the Use of Mission School Students" and religious periodicals. Damascus, are illusive titles. The" Elements of Aleppo, Jerusalem and Bagdad have Social Economy" is said to be a most their newspapers. demoralizing advocacy of free lust, in which marriage is denounced. This We have said the missjon was the tract literature is being circulated by source or occasion of much of this benevolent contributions like those literary culture in all the lands where made to our own tract societies. Edu- it has entered. That might go with- cated natives are paying monthly sub- out the saying, but that we wish to scriptions of ten dollars to disseminate fasten responsibility on the mission to these tracts and books. One rajah in foster and direct, if it cannot control, Bengal is known to have subscribed the agency it has created or awakened ten thousand dollars for this object. into energy. That a single American Others are spending great sums for missionary society should have re- the purpose of printing literature in duced, through its agents, perhaps advocacy or defense of their own twenty languages to writing, and have published approaching three thousand writings in fifty or more dialects, and religions. Some of them are appeals of Jesus, and make a great pretence of humility. But inwardly they are to their own people to arouse them- saying: "Alas, has it come to this, selves because of the aggressions of that we should be beaten by these the Christain forces. people !" The famous poet, Shakspeare, Some of these tracts and booklets has' said: "Good wine needs no push." He means that if a thing really posare rejoillders to Christian books. sesses worth it needs not be puffed. Rev. Dunlap Moore's tract entitled For instance, a spicemonger, when "An Examination of Jainism" is an- his goods are worthless, makes a great swered in "A Reply to an Examina- display of them, and ostentatiously in- vites everybody whom he sees, saying: tion of Jainism, " or, in native words, "These are good spices; come and " a slap on the Christian face." Some buy." Not so the man who has really are curiously mixed. Here is one on good ones. People go to him wherever " A Warning to the Cow Protectors and he may be. Now you see missionaries going about. They say that the Bible, an Answer to Christians," one part de- which is impure and has not a grain fending cow killing, the other part of truth in it, is the word of God, and filled with sneers and taunts at the they shout in every street: "Come, missionaries. A Christian tract, " The brethren. This is an excellent religion, Choice of a Guru," claiming that Jesus a good caste." Why do they thus Christ is a world teacher, is answered shout? Because if they do not, not one person will go to them.

in another tract, "An Examination ***** of Jesus." Christians cast suspicion upon the More curious, however, is the cate- story that Hanuman (the monkey- -chism of the Hindu Tract Society, god) leapt over the sea to Ceylon. But an equal objection lies against the with sixteen questions and answers story of Christ walking on the sea. By bodily from the Westminster Cate- holding hi,. breath a person may leap chism, including the definition of God. an immense distance; but no amount of suppression will prevent a man All this is done because it is "good, and from drowning. To say that it will is Christianity borrowed it from Aryan- a lie. From incidents ,like these it is ism, which is chronologically the pre- clear that the Bible is the work of decessor of Christianity." man and not the word of God, and that But others are bitterly and blas- even Jesus Christ was only a man phemously antagonistic to Christianity like the rest of us. itself, and contain most wanton attacks on the Bible. This is illus- ***** llilissionaries say hat idolatry is child's play. But surely the worship trated in a wildly blasphemous Aryan of the cross is a superstition worthy of tract, published by the Hindu Tract scorn. It is only on a level with the Society, entitled "Jesus Christ a play of children who put up broom- Fool." It is said by the editor of the sticks and call them soldiers. These people put one stick across another Harvest Field to be too shocking to and worship it because Christ died on such a cross. They call our worship be translated for English readers. He, idolatry: we may well call theirs stickhowever, presents two ".mild" para- worship.

graphs, as he styles them, to show Now, there is really in all this the animus of the publication. We nothing to discour~ge, however it,may copy these for the same purpose: shock. We have long been familiar There are many sects in this world, with attacks like these from much and usually each sect contents itself with the practice of its own religion. better brains, and have learned how But it is not so with these Christians. futile they are.

They are bound to increase their num- But othertracts show still a different bers, and so they sent out missionaries, while they themselves remain quietly vein. Here is an extract from one published by the Arya Samaj, transat home. Is this just? These missionaries are ignorant and very covet- lated from the Tamil: ous. 'Vhen they are beaten or abused Missionaries come from Britain at or mocked they quote the commands a great cost and tell us that we are in heathen darkness, and that a bundle ing and virtual destruction that are of fables called the Bible is the true imminent. Hence the organization Vendanta (inspired book) which alone of clubs, the publication of tracts, can enlighten us. They have cast pamphlets, and articles in newspapers, their net over our children by teach- the appointment of learned men ing them in their schools, and they among them as preachers and defend- have already made thousands of Chris- ers of the old faith, the relaxation of tians, and are continuing to do so. caste rules and restrictions, and the They have penetrated into the most various other devices that are now be- out-of-the-way villages, and built ing employed to defeat the purpose of churches there. If we continue to the Lord and His people, and prop up sleep as we have done in the past not an effete and decaying system. And one will be found worshiping in our it is no small tribute to the value of temples in a very short time; why the the agency that we employ that our temples themselves will be converted opponents have taken a leaf out of the into Christian churches! Do you not Christian book, and are, in many know that the number of Christians is places, sedulously imitating our exincreasing and the number of Hindu ample. We engage evangelists and religionists decreasing every day? pay them; so do they; and when the How long will water remain in a well available local talent is not sufficient which continually lets out, but re- they look elsewhere, as is evidenced ceives none in? If our religion is by an advertisement for preachers incessantly drained by Christianity that has recently been appearing in without receiving any accessions, how the Bombay daily papers; the publican it last? When our country is cations of the several tract societies turned into the wilderness of Christi- are sought to be refuted by tracts and anity will the herb of Hinduism grow? leaflets, well written both in English We must not fear the missionaries and the vernacular, published and because they have white faces, or be- circulated under the auspices of a cause they belong to the ruling class. Hindu tract society; and Christianity There is no connection between the and its teachings are steadily maligned government and Christianity, for the and misrepresented with an ability Queen Empress proclaimed neutrality and an earnestness worthy of a better in all religious matters in 1858. We cause. must, therefore, oppose the missionaries with all our might. Whenever In 1786 the youthful Spaulding they stand up to preach, let Hindu preachers stand up and start rival wrote to F. H. Jacobi that he had preaching at a distance of forty feet from them, acd they will soon flee heard Biester say: "We must not reaway! Let caste and sectarian differences be forgotten, and let all the lax our efforts, and then in twenty people join as one man to banish Christianity from our land. All possi- years' time the name of Jesus, in a ble efforts should be made to win back those who have embraced Christianity, religious sense,will be no more heard." and all children should be withdrawn from mission schools. That was in Germany, and since then The Missionary Herald, of the Pres- Germany has furnished a large pro- byterian Church in Ireland, review- portion of the most intelligent and ag- ing the report of the Hindu Gujarat gressive missionary force in the world.

Tract and Book Society, says: But the stern fact remains that we The Hindus ha,e at last realized have created an agency for the adthat there is something in Christianity itself, and in well-directed Christian vancement of Christianity, which the effort, that is not to be repelled by any of the rough-and-ready methods heathen are turning against us; and, hitherto tried; Christianity is to-day felt to be an aggressive power, mov- worse, which we are not using ouring with an ever-increasing force, which must in some way be resisted, selves with anything like the I:;kill or and its influence counteracted, if Hindu society is to be saved, and the in the proportions that we should do. antiquated fabric of Hindu religious and social life is to escape the remouId- We have created a vast reading community of Christians also without giving them anything like an ade- quate supply of their literary needs.

We have not utilized the press at all commensurately with its place, power and opportunities. This is a field where the societies might combine for co-operative work much more largely than they do. There should be a great by that time India would adopt her pan-mission council on the subject reform. A few friends and organizaof missionary literature distinctively tions pledged her $10,000 annually. for non-Christian lands and for Roman Of $25,000 required for a permanent Catholic countries. There might be building, $18,000 have been raised. economic distribution of the material which would help to make much Of her work for the school in Bommore of the funds already contributed. bay, Ramabai writes as follows: It is a subject demanding special consideration by specialists.-J. T. G. "Besides visiting families, I have found it necessary to gather women Pundita Ramabai's Work. together and acquaint them with my The cultured little Hindu lady, work. I have, therefore, now and Ramabai, is carrying on a unique then, to invite ladies of the high castes, work against great odds, and we de- get up entertainments for them, leclight to note her success. A conversa- ture on different subjects, and encourtion which a missionary had with her age and implore them in various ways some time since was thus reported in to take an interest in women's educathe Bombay Guardian: The missionary tion and progress. They will not asked and she answered as follows: listen to me if I begin at once to talk " Are you saved?" to them about my school and its ob- " Yes." jects. They have been taught to dis- " Do you believe in Jesus Christ as like widows and look down upon their your Saviour? " education. So we have very carefully "Yes." to approach them, show them the " Many people believe in Christ in beauties of intellectual pursuits, make their heads and not in their hearts. them realize the superiority of en- Do you believe in Ghrist with your lightened life to one of perpetual heart 7" ignorance, talk to them about the "Yes." blessedness of useful life, and thus "Are your sins forgiven through gradually teach them to look upon Him?" themselves and the widows as beings "Yes." who have more value than cats, dogs, " Praise the dear Lord." or mere puppets in the hands of men. It will be remembered that she More opposition to our work is to be opened the school for Hindu widows met from women than from men in at Bombay in March,1889. We so- certain quarters. Many women of licited from Miss A. P. Granger, the Bombay are now beginning to take secretary of the Ramabai Association, a interest in our school, as they have contribution relating to the work that been several times invited and enterhas since been developed, and we now tained here." have the pleasure of making extracts from Miss Granger's reply. Miss Granger favors us with the fol- In March, 1890, one year from its lowing statements: opening, the school numbered twentyseven pupils, twelve of them being " In view of its ultimate dependence high caste child-widows. Five child- upon Hindu support alone it was dewidows have since been added. In- cided to move the school to Poona, on struction is given in Marathi, English the 1st of November, the objections and Sanskrit, and also in sewing, etc. first made by the Advisory Board to Ramabai asked the assistance of this its establishment there, having been country for ten years only, belieying removed. The larger expenses of an English city like Bombay, and the su- perior advantages of Poona as a stronger hold of Brahmanism, are the two most important reasons for this C'11anJ:0. " Ramabai's first idea of the location the Uriion, in this country, whose ad- of the school for Hindu widows was dress he knew. Poona. On many accounts she felt it would be wiser to place the school The library of the International there. She was, however, overruled by others and the school was opened Missionary Union is as yet an experi- in Bombay. The officers of the asso- ciation do not hesitate to state that it ment. This little sheet is sent out, has been fully as successful as they anticipated. It is not on that account after some unavoidable delays, to all that a change is now being made. A suitable building with ample grounds the members whose present address have been secured for the Sharada Sadan, at a moderate rent and wise can be ascertained, chiefly to test the arrangements made for the conduct of the school and boarding depart- question of the call for such a library. ment. On account of her approach- ing marriage, the teacher who went We have pleasure in presenting a list out from this country has resigned her position but an efficient successor of such books as we have thus far se- had been found. It was expected that all the boarders would go with Rama- cured, with an approximate indication bai to Poona. of the postage on each. Whoever " In view of this change we would ask more earnestly than ever before wishes to take out one of these books for the sympathy, support and prayers of the American people, and will close is requested to send this amount of . with Professor Max Muller'stribute to the character of our head: 'I have postage to the librarian, and after never been in India; but I have known many Indians, both men and women, keeping the book one month to return and I do not exaggerate when I tell you that some of them need fear no it by post, prepaying the amount comparison with the best men and women whom it has been my good necessary. A book may be renewed fortune to know in England, France, or Germany. Whether for unselfish- if desired a second month when not ness or devotion to high ideals, truth- fulness, purityand real, livingreligion, asked for elsewhere. I know no better hero than Keshub Chunder Sen, no heroine greater than Any donations of books or pamph- Ramabai; and I am proud to have been allowed to count both among my lets or money for the library will. be best friends.' " thankfully received; also any sugges; International Missionary Union Notes. tions as to how lt can be made more Circulating Library.-The librarian of the incipient circulating library of useful to the members. the International Missionary Union, is the Rev. James Mudge, East Pep- POSTAGE. perill, Mass. He recently sent the fol- lowing circular to all the members of Our Indian Mission, Gordon………….. 2Oc. London Missionary Conference, 2 vols, .. " 15c. Indian Evangelical 'Review, vols. 2, 3, 4, 5, 1874-1878……………. _………. " .. 14c. Romance of Missions, Miss M. A. 'Vest … 14c. Siam and Laos, Dr. House and others……13c. Decennial Conference, Calcutta ………. 120. Missionary year-Book……………. " .. 12c. Among the Turks, Dr. Hamlin………… 120. On Horseback in Cappadocia, Barrows…. lOc. Two thousand Miles in Mexico, McCarthy. lOc. Letters from India, Bruce……… …… 8c. Great Value of Missions, Liggins…. ….. 7c. India, J. T. Gracey …………………… 7c. Woman's Medical Work, Mrs. Gracey….. 7c. Ann H. Judson………………………. 7c. Sarah B. Judson………. ………… 7c. Memorial Papers of the Marathi Mission .. 30. Natural History of the Marathi Bible.. …. 30. Africa in a Nutshell, Thompson …. ,…… 20. China, J. T. Gracey …………………. lc. Open Doors, J. T. Gracey……… …….. 1c. Moravian Mission in Alaska, Hamilton … lc.

Also THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD for 1888, 1889, 1890 in separate numbers, anyone of which can be ordered as above, postage four cent.s, thus enabling any member to refer to any article or articled. Most of the papers read before the Union in these years are to be found herein. The next meeting of the Interna- when the pressing claims of India, tional Missionary Union will be held at Clifton Springs, New York, June 10th China, and especially of Africa, were to 17th. We give the notice thus early that missionaries in this country may the subject of conversation, resolved be the better enabled to make preparations to attend; and that those abroad to memorialize the Society with refermay know when to send their greetings, their suggestions, or their papers. ence to a great forward movement. Essays and letters are solicited from members now on the foreign field as That memorial seems to have prothey constitute the" Outlook Committee." All such papers or correspond- duced a profound impression upon the ence should be sent to Rev. J. T. Gracey, 161 Pearl Street, Rochester, committee of the Church Missionary N. Y., or to Rev. W. H. Belden, Secretary, Bristol, Conn. Society, and they have caused the -The members of the International memorial to be printed and widely Missionary Union, will note with active interest, we trust, the appeal that circulated with the earnest desire that Rev. Arthur H. Smith and Dr. Henry D.Porter, both members of the Union, they may be guided by the Divine make in the December number of the Missionary Herald for aid for the Spirit in their deliberations on· the Chinese suffering from flood and famine, over not less than 4,000 square matter. It is stated that the Church miles of the Chihli Province. Thousands of families are homeless. The Missionary Society is supported, even Famine Relief Committee in Shanghai, after giving $60,000 for relief of nominally, by less than a third part of the sufferers has closed its books, but the distress still continues. No two the Church of England, and it cermen within our knowledge could more judiciously distribute the few tainly is a courageous thought to add thousand dollars they ask for than to its present staff of European misthose two brethren,and we are quite sionaries one thousand within five or sure, the need will continue for some six years. Yet such is the proposal. while yet. Send money to Mr. L. S. The memorial makes certain sugges- Ward, No 1 Somerset Street, Boston, tions as to these reinforcements, es- Mass pecially the following: 1. That evan- gelists should be sent into the mission One Thousand Additional Mission- fields in groups, each group being as- aries !" sociated under a leader. 2. That the services of lay-workers should be used The English Church Missionary So- much more than hitherto. 3. That ci€'ty presents a scheme for the send- mechanics and working men and ing forth, within the next five or women whose hearts God has touched six years, from the Church Mission- should form parts of these groups. ary Society alone, one thousand ad- The suggestion of such an increase in ditional missionaries. At the Kes- the working forces is startling simply wick Convention, in July last, mem- because it is such a sudden increase bersof the Church Missionary Sodety to the present numbers. That portion gathered at the house of a friend, of the Church of Englantl which operates through the Church Mission- ary Society is amply able to provide the money, to provide the workers and the supplies for such an advance, and the need is imperativ€'. And what is true of Christians in England is true of Christians in America. The forces might be and ought to be doubled and trebled. There are abundant means of support in the hands of those who bear Christ's name. Young men and young women are in training, and a large portion of them have already pledged themselves to this work. Shall not the Christian churches of America, and the Consti- tuency of the American Board espe- cially, anew and at once "attempt great things for God, and expect great thingR from Him?" It is time for a grand forward movement. There are men enough and wealth enough in our churches to respond to the present call for an advance, if there is a will to do so.-The Missionary Herald.

EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS

IH.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

-After much painstaking in proof- of population not later than October, reading, the electrotyping process is 1892.

chargeable with a bad blunder in the -At the recent meeting of the January issue of the REVIEW. The American Board, in Minneapolis, the top line of page 5f belongs on page 5f) "Committee of Nine" reported that If readers will make a marginal note contributions to missions have not kept on the page to this effect, it will avoid pace with those to other benevol.

confusion. ent causes. No explanation was at- -The year 1892, which marks the tempted but they implied that the dis- 400th anniversary of the discovery of cussions and division of feeling as to America, also marks the centenary missionary policy, might account for of the formation of the first great this relative decline of receipts for missionary society of England, whose foreign missionary work.

distinctive purpose was the evange- The meeting presented many at- lization of the world. It was on the tractions and not a few wholesome second day of October, 1792, at Ket- lessons. Dr. N. G. Clark's paper on tering, that William Carey and his "Higher Christian Education as Re- brother Baptists formed the now lated to Foreign Mission Work ;" Dr.

famous Baptist Society, and laid thir- G. K. Alden's discussion of " Mission- teen pounds, two shillings and six ary Motives;" Dr. Judson Smith's pence on God's altar, as the beginning paper on the" Missionary Outlook,"

of the great enterprise of organized and Dr. Storr's address as President, foreign missionary work. were among the most notable features It is our deep conviction that it of that great annivprsary. The papers would be a great mistake if this referred to, must be read to be appre- memorable era were allowed to pass by ciated. Dr. Clark pleads for higher without another great 'Vorld's Con- Christian education in order to pre- vention, such as was held in London, serve and turn to account the religious in 1888. If such a gathering could sentiment of the people among whom begin at Kettering, in Andrew Ful- we labor; and for the sake of a native ler's old' chapel, with a consecration ministry adequate in character and in meeting in the house of Widow Beebe numbers to meet the intellectual and Wallis, which is still standing, and spiritual wants of their countrymen where that society was formally or- and to share with missionaries in the ganized, what an inspiration would responsibilities of establishing such such a beginning afford for an un- Christian institutions as shall secure paralleled series of missionary assem- the success of the missionary enter- blings! The end of a century seems prise. He holds that the " men must an appropriate time for the gathering be reared on the ground." Dr. G. K.

up of the results of missions in all Alden sets forth as motive forces: (1) parts of the world, and the projec- "Profound convictions as to this pres- tion of new lines of enterprise and en- ent sinful and perishing world and its deavor for the century to come. Is great need. (2) Profound convictions it too much to hope that this next as to the superabounding riches of century of missions may not have divine grace in Jesus Christ, the great passed Ulatil the whole world shall provision. (3) Profound convictions of have been acquainted with the Gos- the personal command, the personal pel? 'Ve hope that at an early day trust, and the personal responsibility the leaders of missionary enterprises to bear the good tidings at once to all in all parts of the world will co- men." Dr. Judson Smith says Chrisoperate to call such a world's con- tianity is becoming the dominant revention in some of the great centres ligion of the world; communication between all parts of the world is be- -In the August number for 1890, coming easier; the world, with only the statistics are given for Protest- here and there an exception, is ac- ant missions in China, which are re- cessible to the Gospel; and that mod- peated in the December issue, page ern missions are successful. At home 934, as the strength of the United missionary contributions are being en- Presbyterian force. Of course, the lat- larged; the supply of missionaries is ter is an error. It should read: "As increasing, and the church is com- furnished by the Presbyterians." mitted to mission work as never before. -The late Dr. Alexander William- son, of China, was identified for some -In Scotland the question of dis- 30 years with the London Missionary establishment has produced no little Society, then with the National Bible excitement. It seems almost certain Society of Scotland, and the United to come before the next Parliament. Presbyterian Church. As a translator There is certainly a religious interest and distributor of religious literature among the Scottish churches. The in the Chinese tongue, he filled a attendance upon church services is, we unique position, and to these labors -venture to say, better than in any was singularly devoted. His extensive other country in the world. The travels, researches, grasp of missions, number of praying men, and especially passion for a more economic distribupraying young men, struck us with tion of the working force, made him peculiar force in recent visits to Scot- an authority. His" Journeys in land. We cannot conceal our pro- North China," ranks as a standard found solicitude for the progressive work. His late wife, a most gifted theology which is moving many, we woman, wrote "Old Highways in fear, away from the old landmarks of China." Dr. Williamson died of nethe faith. No doubt there are many phritis, possibly due in part to his arwho are interested in these questions duous toil in thfl recent Shanghai intellectually, whose hearts are per- Conference. His prodigious activity fectly loyal to Christ and the truth, is rivaled by few of the most devoted but we fear the flffect of this ad- workers in the Middle Kingdom. vanced theological opinion upon the younger clergy of Scotland. At the -China owes to Christian missionsame time so deep is the interest in aries a great debt for information on a missions in this land of martyrs and vast range of topics. But a little while missionanes, that the practical work ago, the Chinese were wholly depend. of the churches, both at home and ent on the Peking Gazette; now they abroad, is largelyantidoting the influ- have some twenty-eight publications. ence of this skeptical opinion. The missionaries have supplied an enormous number of translations of We can never more speak or write of European booksonscience, geography, Scotland without the feeling which a history, mathematics, philosophy, etc. son would have for his mother. We They have translated the Bible into add the words of Dr. W. M. Taylor: not less than twelve Chinese dialects, "I say without any hesitation that and are now busy at fifteen more. when interesting foreign missions are Dr. Legge's investigations into the maintained in a church to the normal ancient systems of the Chinese phipoint, all other activities and agencies losophers are embodied in Professor at home will go of themselves and as Max Muller's" Sacred Books of the things, of course, while, if there be a East," and American authors have lack of devotion to that noble enter- given the world the "Middle Kingprise, nothing else will be prosecuted dom," and the" Chinese-English Dicwith either enthusiasm or success." tionary." So writes Mr. Johnston, of These are true words. Bolton.

THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS

IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

lJy J. T. GRACEY, D.D.

China. –.:.. China is a vast field. many centuries they have been in full That is a statement that grows by enjoyment of them, and on every side· every line of comparison we can lay. the evidences of long-established Here is a late attempt by Rev. Dr. wealth and commercial enterprise are· B. D. Gray, in the Foreign Mission observable.

Journal of the Southern Baptists (see " From the great wall to the frontier December number; it is published at of Tong-king, and from Thibet to the Richmond, Va.): . China Sea the country is dotted over "A single province of hers con- with rich and populous cities, which verted would be equal to the conver- are connected one with another by sion of whole nations elsewhere. Con- well-trodden roads or water highways.

vert anyone of her eighteen provinces In these busy centres of industry mer- and you would have more than all chants from all parts of the empire Brazil and Mexico. Anyone of a are to be found, who are as ready to dozen of her provinces would be more deal in the fabrics of the native looms, than the conversion of all Italy. As porcelain, tea and other native pro- goes China, so goes Asia. She is to- ducts, as in cottons, metals and day the citadel of paganism. Secure woolens of Europe.

her to Christ, and you secure all her " The rivers and canals are crowded dependencies, as Thibet, Turkistan, the vessels bearing silks and satins Mongolia, Manchuria and Korea. from Cheh-kiang .and Kiang-su, tea Break down her idols and you de- from Gan-hwuy and Ho-nan, and rice throne the greater part of heathenism from the southern provinces to parts at a stroke! " of the empire which give in exchange CHINESE EMIGRATION. for such gifts the corn and other pro- Dr. R. H. Graves says: ducts which they are able to spare."

"There are 50,000 of these in the. In the matter of the language, Dr.

Philippine Islands; 50,000 in the Eng- Douglas says: lish colony at Singapore, where they " By means of their three classes of own four-fifths of all the real estate; characters, the hieroglyphics, ideo- 50,000 more in the Malay Peninsula; grams and phonetics, the Chinese 1,300,000 in Siam; thousands in Cochin have been able to express and pre– China. and thousands more in Borneo, serve the thoughts and sayings of theit Java and Sumatra. The colonies greatest and wisest writers through a founded by the Spaniards, Dutch, series of centuries which dwarfs int« French and English are being rapidly insignificance all Western ideas of filled up by Chinese. In the Sand- antiquity. For thirty centuries China- wich Islands there are more Chinese men have been accumulating stores of men than men of the native race." literary wealth, which are of them- China is a fertile region. Professor selves sufficiently important to attract Douglas, at University College, thus the attention of scholars and to stir described it: the literary ambition of students, and "From one end of the country to which do so in almost every country.

another the land blossoms as the rose, But by the fresh discoveries of Messrs.

and yields to the diligent and carpfu} De Lacouperie and Ball, not only is a tillage of the natives enough and to new interest added to the language, spare of all that is necessary for 'the but it is brought into close and inti- comfort and well-being of man. Nor mate relation with the tongues spoken have these advantages become the by the great civilizing nations of the.

recent possessions of the people. For world." Great changes are taking place in every form and righteousness too.

China. Rev. Young J. Allen, D.D., The doctrine of mediation is recog- LL.D., read an able paper before the' nized.

Shanghai Conference on this topic, in 4. They have some knowledge of a which he classified these changes as: true and living God, a power on whom (1) Compulsory, or those necessitated cOu.;}try, family and individual pros- by force or treaty obligations. The perity depends.

compulsory occupation by the allies, 5. They possess an implied knowl- in 1860, of the imperial capital was edge of immortality. Their emperors followed by a treaty which gave com- never die, they ascend.

merce and missions the right of un- 6. There is a providential prepara- molested access to the entire land. (2) tion. China is open from end to end.

The semi-compulsory changes, or At the Shanghai Conference this was those initiated with a view to adjust- called in question as to Ho-nan, but ments. The Chinese knew that the Hudson Taylor said it was politically treaty must be fulfilled, and that in open, though persecution and oppos- reorganizing their government they ition were great.

could not do better than copy the OBSTAOLES AND DIFFICuLTIES.

strong points of their late adversaries. 1. To the heathen becoming Chris- Hence, the innovations of foreign tians. No one can state the ca.'le of military camps, arsenals, customs, the Chinese better than the Chinese, schools, coast surveys, etc. (3) Spon- and so we "let a native Chinese taneous-voluntary changes. Inter- Christian minister state the point of national relations become cordial. The the difficulties of the native Chinaman press is callEJd into requisition, news- in learning about Christianity.

papers and books are translated. China Rev. Y. K. Yen, speaking at the has become conscious of her wants, a Shanghai Conference, said: mint, banks, post.offices follow. (4) "We must understand the peculiar Imperial, or those which define the character of the Chinese. (1) They position and policy of the country. have hazy ideas about gods. A Chi- ADVANTAGES AND HELPS. nese who went to the United States Rev. Dr. Williamson pointed out was written to by his father that his some while ago, in Evangelical Chris- sixth mother was well. What can a tendom, that there is a providential man who has six mothers know of a preparation in China for the reception mother's love? (2) The Chinese have and spread of the Gospel. hazy ideas about sin, which they con- 1. There is an educational prepa- found with crirpe, treading on one's ration. They say: "The mind is the toes, being late to dinner-the same man." The competitive examinations character for all. (3) They have hazy have quickened theinteUect of China. ideas about a future life. At a This gave rise to schools. Hence the Chinese death-bed there is never a large percentage of readers. Then word about future happiness, but only there is one written language for the about mourning and money. If they whole empire. There is asocial prepa- did Rot think the gods could affect .

ration. Through the observance of men's bodies the temples would be filial obligation has trained the nation deserted and ancestral worship would to subordination to law and order. decline. They are not to blame. It is There is no communism nor nihilism their misfortune and not their fault.

here. Divine authority can be easily The Chinese cannot see Christianity as taught. we see it."

3. There is a moral preparation. This is jUtlt what Rev. Judson Smith, The heart is recognized as the seat of D.D., has said in other language and on morals. Benevolence is urged in an opposite side of the globe: "It is not simply the greatness of anity yet they can be reached. He the population of China that makes her evangelization difficult. It is said his church in Monkdon included rather the institutions of the Chinese; it is the Chinese character; it is the in its members five or six Mandarins, Chinese history inwrought into insti- tutions; instinct in the life of the men with literary degrees; that many people. Making them a nation of themselves, exclusive, caring not, others of the Mandarins are at heart knowing not, heeding not of aught that goes on in the world outside of Christians, and many more very them; not desiring the arts we are so ready to bring them; not wishing the friendly. institutions that we would gladly see thrive among them; scorning the The mission schools are becoming a faith that we deem their life and their salvation." power for good in China. One would 2. To native Ohristians. The same fancy that there would be great preju- Christian native, already quoted (Rev. Y. K. Yen), said again at the great dice against the teaching of Christimissionary conference last year some very sensible things about the difficul- anity in connection with secular eduties to the mission work growing out of the conservatism of the Chinese. cation, but it is amongst the marvelous He said that "the Chinese Christians are not in the same favorable circum- providences of God that in scarcely stances as Christians in other lands. The former have fifty generations of any heathen country does this long heathenism behind them. They have much to contend with. We should prove an obstruction. not expect the same enterprise, activity and piety as from from foreigners. The teaching of Christianity does Missionaries often speak disparagingly of Chinese Christians. This, consider- not inure to the disadvantage of the ing the circumstances, is unreasonable and unjust. Western civilization is mission schools in China. We can furmarked by diversity. Eastern civilization by uniformity. Chinese are nish no better evidence of this than is not active physically, morally and spiritually. If I were active physi- found in the report to Government in cally I should not have this queue today. If any other Chinese would cut Hong Kong, made in 1889: off his hair and shorten his skirts I would do so too. They have a load Referring now to the 7,101 scholars upon them. All Chinese worship is who attended, during the year 1889, for selfishness. They have no knowl- schools under the· supervision of the edge of God; no recognition of being education department, there were as His sons." many as 4,814 attending voluntary schools, where they received a Chris- All classes are reached in China. tian education, whilst 2,293 scholars Rev. John Ross said at the London attended government schools, receiv- Conference that while the literary ing a secular education. The secular class in China are opposed to Christi- government schools are, as a rule, bet- ter provided for than the voluntary religious schools as regards money matters, house accommodation, school materials, staff, organization, and dis- cipline, and when charging fees, keep their fees far below the rate charged in voluntary schools of a correspond- ing class. Nevertheless, the voluntary schools, which freely teach Christian- ity without the restraint of any con- science clauses Whatever, and are in every respect conducted as denomi- national mission schools, receive from the public double the amount of pat- ronage bestowed on government schools. This clearly shows that parents of children, in Hong Kong, as Europe. prefer, on thewhole, religious to secular education, even when the latter is cheaper.

This was made by Dr. Eistel as in- spector of schools. It only confirms the judgment of Dr. F. Stewart, who was inspector of schools, but who died recently, who said: The advance in education is one of the most gratifying features in the progress of the colony. There is yet twenty-eight, is introduced at court much to be done, and female educa- by Lao-tse, is appointed chief magistion is only in its infancy; but the trate of Chung-too, introduces praclines on which the system is moving tically ajury system; for thirteen years seem to be correct, and time alone is becomes a homeless wanderer, and required to reclaim those portions of henceforth abandons himself to letters the field which remain untouched. and religion, and wanders from court to court to obtain converts to his ideal THE RESULTS ARE ENCOURAGING. government. He died, having prac- tically remained unrecognized us a The statistics at the Shanghai Con- successful reformer. After his death ference last May, showed: Of foreign his teachings became powerful. Every missionaries, men, 589; wives, 390; year 66,000 animals are now offered single women, 316. Total, 1,295. Na- in sacrifice to this sage. Here is the tive helpers, ordained, 209; unor- chorus chanted in the great sacrificial dalned, 1,260; female helpers, 180. ceremony to him: Medical work, hospitals, 61; dispensaries, 43; patients in 1889, 348,439. "Confucius, Confucius I How great is Con- Churches, organized, 520; wholly self- fucius! supporting, 94; half self-supporting, 22; one-fourth self-supporting, 27. Before Confucius there never was a. Confu- Bible distribution, Bibles, etc. Total, cius; 665,987. Communicants, 37,287; pupils in schools, 16,816. Contributions by Since Confucius, there never has been a. Connative churches, $36,884. fucius; MEN AND WOMEN ARE WANTED. Confucius, Confucius I How great is Con- fucius! " Ministers and laymen are called for. The Shanghai Conference asks soberly The emperor himself offers this for 1,000 men in five years. Their ap- prayer to Confucius: "I, the emperor, peal was published ,far and wide. offer a sacrifice to the philosopher Then there have been specific appeals. Confucius, the ancient teacher, the The mISSIOnaries of the Baptist perfect sage, and say, 0, teacher, in churches in America, now in China, virtue equal to heaven and earth, have appealed to the Baptists of whose doctrines embrace the past America alone to send 100 men. time and the present. . . • in reverent observance of the old statutes, with Oonfuoia.nism and Oonfuoius. victims, silks, spirits and fruits, 1 carefully offer sacrifice to thee. Mayst "Great men have short biogra- thou enjoy the sacrifice." (See Duphies," says Carlyle. The rule is not Bois's" Dragon, Image and Demon," broken in the case of Confucius. The p.l24.) outline of his biography can be given in a paragraph. He was born in the " If the Chinese," says an author, State of Tsow, B.C. 551, of noble an- "pay divine honors to any being in cestry whose record reached unbroken heaven, or on earth, or under the for over two thousand years backward earth, it is to Confucius." from his cradle. His father was a soldier of great prowess and of daring CONFUCIUS AS A FOUNDER OF A bravery. He was married at nineteen, rose from keeper of the public stores, RELIGION. to the cnarge of public lands. At twenty-two he taught letters, ethics, Fairbairn says, in his "Studies in devotion of soul and truthfulness. He the Philosophy of Religion and Hisearly became cosmopolitan: "I am tory," that" without Confucius China a man who belongs equally to the had been without a native religion." north and the south and the east and the west." He studies music at Dr. Legge, in his "Religions of China," boldly corrects this erroneous statement. Religion in China does not date from Confucius. His grand- son asserted that Confucius only "handed down" and "displayed" the ancient teachings and took them of etiquette, taking the place of ethics: for his model. Confucius himself said a skeptical denial of any relation be- he was a" transmitter, not a maker" tween man and a living God, taking of the doctrines of the ancients. Cer- the place of religion, while there is tainly the "transmitter" gave color encouraged a sort of worship of human to that which he transmitted. China genius, combined with a set of des- does not owe its national religion to potic political theories. But who Confucius. But if he did not originate can honestly call this a religion? " it, neither did he discountenance it or alter it'in any sensible degree. But Over and over we are told that Con- Confucius did emphasize the moral fucianism is not a religion, only a duties as taught or implied in the system of morality. This needs large religion of the ancients as of first im- modification. So far as the element portance and of much easier compre- of worship enters into the element of hension than the speculative side of religion it is distinctly, pervasively, theology or the religious superstition penetratingly, a religion. about the unseen. Dr. Faber pointed this out with One thing has been plainly pointed emphasis at the late General Conferout as to the effect of Confucius' large ence of Missionaries at Shanghai. "Religion," he says, "pervades every emphasis of practical duties. Dr. movement of official life in China. Matheson (St. Giles Lecturer) says: A glance at the Peking Gazette will convince the most skeptical of the "Since the days of Confucius the truth of this statement. We find there speculative element has declined and mentioned not only worship of ances~ the Chinese mind has sought truth tors, of Confucius, of innumerable almost exclusively in the path of deified worthies, but also of the duality morals." of heaven and earth, of sun, moon, stars, wind, clouds, rain, thunder, the Much has been written about Con- ocean, mountains, rivers, the four fucius in relation to the "Golden regions, the four seasons, the years, Rule." He is credited with being the months and days. Astrology, selection originator of this. But Dr. Legge, of lucky and unlucky days, omens, than whom he has no stouter cham- charms, exorcism and other superstipion, says here he tarnished a doc- tiQlls are sanctioned by imperial trine of the ancients rather than pro- authority." (See The Messenger, Shanghai, June, 1890.) claimed it. Confucius is said to have CONFUCIANISM AS A THEOLOGY. advocated the negative side of the Golden Rule: "Do not unto others This same Dr. Faber, at another time, what you would not that they distinctly pointed out some of the should do unto you." But the ancients aspects of absolute negation in Conwe~t further than that. Lao-tze fucianism as a religon. He says: taught: "Return good for eviL" But Confucius said: "What then will you 1. "Confucianism recognizes no return for good? Recompense injury relation to a living God." with justice, and return good for good." How nearly this shades, how- 2. "It makes no distinction between ever, to the Christian teaching! the human soul and body, nor is there any clear definition of man, either IS CONFUCIANISM A RELIGION? from a physical or psychological point of view." The China Review contained years since an article in which the writer 3. "All men are said to possess the said: disposition and strength necessary for "Confucianism pure and simple is, the attainment of moral perfection, in our opinion, no religion at all. The but the contrast with the actual state essence of Confuciani"m is an anti- remains unexplained." quarian adherence to traditional forms 4. There is wanting in Confucian- have no rights in relation to their ism a decided and serious tone in its parents; subjects are like children; of treatment of the doctrine of sin, for, human rights there are none-first with the exception of the moral retri- and last there are only duties. Po- bution in social life, it mentions no lygamy is sanctioned and presup- punishment for sin. It is devoid of a posed, so is polytheism. Filial piety deep insight into sin and evil. extends even to worship. In ordinary life the son must" manifest his rever- 5. It "knows no mediator, none ence, in his nourishing of his parents, that could restore original nature iJi in his endeavor to give them pleasure; accordance with the ideal which man when they are ill he feels the greatest finds in himself." anxiety; in mourning for them, when dead, he exhibits every demonstration 6. "Prayer and its ethical power of grief; in sacrificing to them he dis- finds no place" in his system. plays the utmost solemnity."

7. There is, with the exception of Confucius taught the supreme value ancestral worship, which is devoid of of personal character. The" charac- true ethical value, no clear conception ter of Alexander of Russia was worth of the dogma'of immorality. a constitution," says Colton. Confu- cius would make every character a 8. "All rewards are expected in constitution and by-laws besides. To this world." be and not to appear is the correctest thing. The wise man will assail his Confucius plainly held that these own vices and not another's: "I am are things beyond the grasp of human not concerned that I have no place; I intelligence. You cannot figure to am concerned how I may fit myself yourself the nature of God. You for one." The substance of three cannot certainly know that there is hundred pieces of the "Book of any point of contrast between His Poetry," says a recent author, may be nature and yours; hence prayers and expressed in: "Have no depraved sacrifices are of doubtful utility. All thoughts." this lies in the region of imagination; it may represent truth; it may not. "The man who, in view of gain, Neither can be demonstrated. Yet he thinks of righteousness, in view of did not forbid worship. "Sacrifice as danger, is prepared to give up his life, and who does not forget an agreement if your sacrifice were a reality; wor- however far back it extends-such a man may be reckoned a complete ship Shin as if Shin were really man. . . . "Man is born for uprightpresent." But meanwhile your chief ness. They who know the truth are concern is with the visible and palpa- not equal to those who love it, and ble nniverse and with the homely they who love it are not equal to those tasks of life. The opposition to Chris- who find delight in it." tian points of theology is entire and fundamental. But the rule of right is not indivi· dual conscience, but rather the uni- CONFUCIANISM AS A MORAL FORCE. versal conscience of mankind. Man must do all this without any help, hu- In what way and sense is Confu- man or divine. He fails, and Confucianism a moral force? There must cianism does not attempt to account be something in it by which it has for the failure. It only stands alongheld sway for these centuries. Espec- side of the failure and says man was ially in the face of sundry marked born to be good. It does not even furdefects in its ethical teaching. It con- nish an example. founds ethics with ceremonies and politics, it asserts that certain musical The sceptre of authority, of all pomelodies influence morals; its system of social life is tyrannous: women are slaves, and may be bought and sold ·as sheep in the shambles; children litical power, hence the centre of all guised as a Thibetan, accompanied by political government is morals. a Sikkim Lama, who was a sub-in- spector of schools employed by the "Withal," Mr. Edkins says, "Confu- British government. cianism has not made the Chinese a moral people. They exhibit a lament- Yet, it is not true that we do not able want of moral strength. The know much about the country and standard of principle among them is the people. The" Cyc10predia Britankept low by the habits of the people. nica" has a quite elaborate article, in They do not appear ashamed when which a great deal of information is they are discovered to have told an condensed, and there are many sources untruth." (See Edkin's "Religion in of information about this land. China.") We summarize from sources,learned Archdeacon Hardwick says: "How and popular, too numerous to name, many are the points in which Con- in the following statements: fucian tenets are opposed to Christianity, it were superfluous to enumer- THE COUNTRY. ate. The opposition in respect of doctrines is entire and fundamental. Thibet, or Tibet-for there seems no It is the opposition of nature and of preference in the spelling-or to use grace, of unregenerate and regenerate the native name, Bodyul " The counprinciples, of sight and faith, of earth- try of the god," or Bhotiya, or lyand of heavenly, And how vast Bhoots, is a section of table lands ten will, therefore, beth~ revolution in the to sixteen thonsand feet above the moral nature of the Chinaman if he sea, stretching from the Upper HimashaH ever learn to practice the un- laya Mountains and those of Yunnan, worldly lessons of the Gospel." (See on to the mountains of China in one " Christ and Other Masters," p. 57.) direction, and to those of Turkistan in another. It is difficult of access in all Confucian conservativism is essen- directions and equally difficult to travtial and inherent. It is the greatest erse. The world owes the Jesuits a obstruction to all progress. debt here as in so many other places for the earliest maps, though here as Thibet. elsewhere those made early in the It is quite the fashion to dismiss eighteenth century were crude and Thibet with the statement that very often misleading. There is no exact little is known of this country and its survey had, except in Western Thibet people. That is only true in a very where, as in Kashmir, it is the most qualified sense. The ordinary student complete. may not have a hand-book, as he has of Bavaria or Switzerland, and the The Britannica is full enough on casual reader may not be easily re- climate, products, industries and ferred to anyone or two volumes many other common matters to have from which to find at a glance what it suffice t-o refer our readers to that he wishes to know of what is known, source. and only now and again has any European been permitted to make any THE PEOPLE. personal investigation by actually traversing the country, as did Alexan- The most probably correct estimate der Csoma de Koros, who made his of the population is from a Russian way from Hungary to Thibet on foot; source which puts it at six millions. or as an enterprising Hindu, Sarat Chandra Das, who, it is alleged, re- The people themselves are worth n.. cently made a tour in Thibet dis- fuller note than a mere reference. The Turanian family of races separate into two great divisions-the Northen~ and the Southern. The Northern com- prehends the Tungus, t,he Mongol, the Tartar, and the Finn branches. The Southern includes the Malay, the Bhotiy,a and the Tamil races: The represent the Chinese government in Indo-Bhotiyas are in the northeast Thibet. These direct exclusively the countries of India, on the Himalayas foreign and military administration and in the valleys of the Brahmaputra. of the country. The civil and relig- The stronglanguage of affinitybetween ious government is left in native these tribes in Burmah and in Thibet hands. The number of Chinese troops is manifest if the chain of gradual rarely equals 4,500 men. modifications from tribe to tribe is followed. But the original Bhotiya The Dalai Lama is the supreme race are Thibetans, and they live in authority in civil government. He Thibet, not alone, but with Mongoli- resides in the famous temple palace of ans who are supposed to have been Potala near Lhasa. He is an incarsettled there since the days of Genghis nation of Buddha, and his soul passes Khan. from him into another body when he dies, in order that there may be a per- The HoI' or Horpa occupy the west- petual incarnation of Buddha at the ern part of Northern Thibet, and ex- head of the Thibetan affairs. They tend into Chinese Tartary or Little do not shout, but they might, with pe- Bokhara. They are nomads, not culiar propriety: "The king is-dead; agriculturists, and more Tartar than long live the king!" for the Dalai Thibetan in their habits. They are Lama never dies. He only disappears mostly Buddhists. But some of them in the form of one man to reappear are Moslems even within Thibet: at the same instant in the form of Turks in blood, Bhots in language. some infant born at the moment of In Ladak both the creed and the liter- the apparent death of the king. They ature are Buddhist, but in blood and search the land to find this childlanguage they are Bhot. Ladak's po- Buddha, place him on the throne, and litical relations are with British India run the Government through a vice. and Kashmir. The Bhot element in roy till he comes to maturity. His its distinct type can not be seen but duties are simply to sit cross-legged in in Chinese Thibet. his temple, and from time to time ex- tend his hand in benediction on his In appearance the Thibetans re- worshipers. semble the Chinese and the Mongols, though, according to Hodgson, many This joint headship of state and of the mountaineers differ entirely church has inhered in the Dalai Lama from the Turanian, and approach the since 1640. There are many other Aryan type. No absolutely white grand lamas, but they are subordinate skins are seen, but often a very pale to the Dalai Lama who is at once brown complexion with red hair and emperor and pope. Below these still gray eyes, and a good deal of bloom are monk-lamas, who act as scribes, on the children's faces. In appearance physicians, sorcerers, etc. It is frethey resemble Chinese and Mongols, quently the case that the correspondnot Hindus, and are more athletic ences of Lamaism with the Roman than either. They are of the same Catholic form of Christianity are overfamily as the Burmese, and their emphasized, at least very incorrect languages are like. Yet Thibetans inferences are made from these. The have no tradition or notion of a pro- Lama ceremonies of baptism, confirgenitor of the human race. There is mation. The ecclesiasticism of pope no caste, yet the social habits are and cardinal, archbishops, priors, Hindu in most r~spects. Polyandra monasteries and nunneries, abbots, prevails, and Polygamy obtains. etc., are all here. But these similar- ities are often strained, and the differ- Since 1720 Thibet has been a depend- ences in them are very great. ency of China, under the Viceroy of Sze-Chuen. Two imperial delegates Lamaism is a compound of Shamanism, Sivaism and Buddhism. The But Thibet was not without a re- Thibetan form of Buddhism is, how- ligion till it imported Buddism and ever, wholly unique. Writers are Sivaism from India. It had an earlier constantly saying this is the strong- creed, though but illy formulated till hold of Buddhism without any ap- Buddhism came. It is known as the parent discrimination. Buddhism in Bon Religion. Eighteen principal ,"ods Burmah is one thing; in Ceylon it is are enumerated. Originally it was a another thing; it is still another sort of nature worship, mixed with thing in Thibet. It is not in its ori- a superstitious element; later on, ginal purity in Thibet. It is strongly adopted from Shamans and the Sivamodified by surrounding religious ites of India, and now further mixed notions. It was born in Thibet contem- with Buddhist ideas. poraneously with the Sikh religion in the Punjab and with the Lutheran CHRISTIANITY IN THmET. Reformation in Europe. In its monasteries in Thibet are preserved heaps The Roman Catholics nave tried to upon heaps of Buddhist literature, the introduce Christianity on the Chinese language Thibetan, but the alphabet border. They began this in 1846, and being Indian, and they may date from made some inroads till 1865, when the second century. They differ in their mission property at Bonga was their language much from the spoken destroyed by fire by the Thibetaus. language of Thibet to-day. Again they endeavored to work, but in 1887 were again driven out, only For much of this class of informa- two of their nine centres being untion one must search ethnological and touched. philological works, like Brace's "Races of the Old World," " Latham's On the west the Moravians have Philology," Hodgson's great works, sought to enter the country, but have and other books like Cunningham's had to stay in British Lahore. They Ladak (the title has gone from us just commenced this mission at the sugnow). gestion of Gutzlaff, in 1853, by send- ing Messrs. Pagell and Hyde, two Max Muller, too, will often let in laymen, who endeavored to reach light, as for instance, in his" Chips," Thibet by way of Russia, but were deetc., where he says: feated in the attempt, and then tried the -India route by way of Simla, in "People have complained of the 1854, to Kyelang in Lahore, and eslength of the sacred books of other tablished a mission house 10,000 feet nations, but there are none that ap- above the sea, and at Poo, in Kunaproach in bulk to the sacred canon of war, in 1865. At this latter place they the Thibetans. It consists of two col- number forty converts. They have lections, commonly called the Kanjur done a large amount of translation of and Tanjur." Scriptures, grammars, etc., into Thibetan, and sent these into Thibet, The Kanjur consists in different where it is said all the lamas can editions of 100, 102 or 108 volumes read, and the lamas, remember, folio. It comprises 1,083 distinct number eighty thousand! works. The Tanjur consists of 225 volumes folio, each weighing from -Father Agostino, a preaching four to five pounds in the Peking edi- friar, has been addressing flocks of tion, which edition was sold for $3,000 people in Rome, and among them by the Emperor Khian-Lung. A copy even skeptical scientists. He is an of the Kanjur was bartered for 7,000 impassioned orator, and has been oxen, and a copy of Kanjur and called the "modem Savonarola." Tanjur together was sold for 1,200 Nevertheless, he is an ignorant Romansilver roubles. (See Vol. XX., ist and worships the Virgin. " Asiatic Researches.")

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

-Mr. H. W. Frost writes that the Missionaries employed, 121; days inundation in the region about Tient- labored, 23,182; stations supplied, 710; sin, in province of Chihli, was caused miles traveled, 200,443; sermons by very heavy rain-falls in the moun- preached, 12,029; Exhortations and tains: The waters spread with unex- other religious addresses, 6,587; total ampled suddenness. Mud villages sermons, 18,616; baptized into mission were completely dissolved, and swept churches, 1,893; received by letter away with their inhabitants; some and restoration by mission churches, who escaped with life lost ~he crops 2,267; total received by mission Dn which they depended for the eight churches, 4,160; professed conversions, months to come. Probably 4,000,000 2,619; churches assisted in organizing, Df people will depend on charity, in 103; prayer meetings assisted in orthis province alone, until May next. ganizing, 405; Sunday-schoolsassisted Active relief committees are at work, in organizing, 250; prayer meetings ascertaining the extent of the calam- led, 3,224; elders or bishops assisted ity, and devising means of help. The in ordaining, 43; deacons assisted in government is repairing the embank- ordaining, 98; pages religious literments, and has issued an imperialre- ature distributed, 522,789; reliigious script ordering Tls.60,000, to be dis- visits, 28,611; church houses built in tributed among sufferers. All this, connection with labor, No. 39, cost, however, is inadequate to raise the $29,965.00; books, Bibles, etc., distrirecipients above the bare preservation buted, No. 2,406, cost, $1,061.03; colof life. Rev. G. W. Clarke, of the lected for State missions, $35,357.77. China Inland Mission, writes, that to keep these people from November 15th -The Dutch Reformed Church of to March 15th, at two cents a day for Cape Colony, which has 175,555 bapadults and one cent for children up to tized white members, is coming, says twelve years, would cost $9,000,QOO. the Rev. Charles Starbuck, under Even now famine is upon the people Scottish and English Stimulus, to who can get but one meal, and that show a much more animated missionvery poor food, every twenty-four ary zeal. "Stellenbosch, with its theohours. Here is a chance not only to logical institute, is very especially a help the starving, but to reach them focus of missionary zeal." Among the with the b.read of life. The judicious others, the Wesleyan Missionary Sohelp given in 1871, 1878, 1888, re- ciety is most prominent. It has (in the moved many prejudices against mis- west) 9 stations, 6 missionaries, 96 na. sionaries and resulted in soul-saving:. tive helpers, 1,476 communicants, 1,467 scholars. The South African If any feel moved to contribute, a Wesleyans are quite independent of draft on London, England, sent to the the British conference. In the whole Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Cor- Colony they have 71 stations, 156 poration, Shanghai, China, or a post- churches and chapels, 55 clergymen, office order or New York draft, sent to 1,198 native helpers, 16,840 communi- Mr. H. W. Frost,No. 30 Sheeter Street, cants, 88,000 baptized adherents, 218 Toronto, Canada,will be forwarded to schools, 310 teachers, 13,803 scholars. the relief of the suffering millions. "But no other British society laboring in South Africa compares with the -Mr. J. B. Cranfill, superintendent Scottish societies as respects' capabilof missions, incloses summary of ity, sobriety and diligence, combined Texas (Baptist) mission work, from with true evangelical piety." The Free September 30,1889, to September 30, Church of Scotland has 9 stations, 10 1890: ordained Europeans, 2 ordained na- cational and industrial training. The tives, 23 native helpers, 4214 commu- United Presbyterians have 11 stations, nicants, 12,113 baptized adherents, 12 missionaries, 60 native helpers, 2,307 3,510 scholars. Their institute at Love- communicants, 8,080 baptized adherdale (largely assisted by the colonial ents, 43 schools, 1,735 scholars.-Illu8government) is a great force for edu- trated Weekly.

Foreign Mission Notes, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.

The Missionary Death Roll. secrated in Edinburgh on All Soul's Bishop Callaway.-At the close of Day, 1874, he settled at Umtata, March last, in his seventy-third year, around which grew up a small town, passed away the Right Reverend a pro-cathedral, a theological training Henry Callaway, D.D., first bishop of college for natives, schools for native St. John's, South Africa. Born in and European boys and girls, a hospi- Crediton, Devonshire, on the 17th of tal, and other institutions. Through- January, 1817; he early attached him- out his wide diocese he toiled with self to the Society of Friends. He inexhaustible zeal. On the failure of pursued the medical profession with health, in 1886, he formally resigned marked distinction, in London, and returned to his native land. True though his interest in religious ques- to the apostolic spirit, he devoted all tions and pre-eminently his strong his property to Spring Vale when he convictions on missions ultimately in- withdrew, and subsequently gave to duced him to join the Established the Established Church a sum of Church. On the formation of the £2,000 on his retirement. Bishop Cal- See of ~atal, he responded to Bishop laway will rank with Africa's most Colenso's call and was ordained laborious and enlightened missionary at Norwich Cathedral, August, 1854. heralds.

After a voyage of fourteen weeks to Mr. A. M. Mackay.-By the death Port Durban, he was appointed in the of this eminent missionary a lament- capacity of priest, in September, 1855, able blank is created in the Uganda to St. Andrews, Pietermaritzburg, the Mission. Most probably this event oc- first church erected in Natal. He ClIrred at Usambiro, on the southwest speedily became a conspicuous worker of Victoria Nyanza, 750 miles inland.

among the heathen and in the study Mr. Mackay was born at the Rhynie of the Kaffir language. Three years Manse, Aberdeenshire, in 1849, where later he obtained a grant of 3,000 acres his father was a noted Presbyterian of land, a day's journey from Rich- minister. Educated partly at home mond, where he founded the famous and at the Northern University, he Spring Vale Station, a prolific centre later went to Berlin in order to follow of Christianizing influence. He as- the profession of engineering. There sisted in reducing the Kaffir language he won no inconsiderable reputation to written form, and chiefly in trans- for ability and accomplislmIents. Mr.

lating nearly the whole of the Scrip- Stanley's historic letter, inviting mis- tures and Prayer Book. In this sionaries, in 1885, to the dominions of tongue, followed by a literal transla- Mtesa, moved the young engineer in tion in English, he wrote a book en- Germany to offer himself for service titled, "Zulu Nursery Tales." On the as an artisan missionary to the Church Scotch Established Church founding Missionary Society. He was readily in 1873, the Bishopric of Independent accepted, and on the 27th of April, Kaffraria, lying between Natal and 1876, sailed with the first party.

Cape Colony, Dr. Callaway was of- His desire to go forward on landing fered and accepted the. charge. Con- was frustrated by a serious illness. During his months of waiting by the classes. A pamphlet named "Times seaboard he made important surveys of Refreshing in Spain," recently pub- and laid out a useful road as far as lished in Glasgow, contains a bright Mpwapwa. When the news of the narrative of his toils for the better tragic deaths of Lieutenant Shergold school accommodation of the families Smith and Mr. O'Neill on Victoria Ny- connected with the Rio Tinto Com- anza came to hand, he resolved at pany, and increased facilities of wor- every hazard to join the lonely re- ship. He was equally esteemed by maining missionary, the Rev. C. T. the officers and seamen at the ship- Wilson. In December, 1878, he ping port for whom he opened a res- reached Mtesa's capital. Through a taurant and readiug-room, and as ~uccession of hardships, perils and ca- steadfastly sought their spiritual wel- lamities, he displayed the highest de- fare.

votion and splendid fortitude. House Rev. T. German Jones.-By the and boat-building, implement-mak- unexpected decease of this notable ing, teaching agriculture, managing mISSIOnary, the Welsh Calvanistic the printing-press, and proclaiming Methodists are bereft of one who held the message of eternal life, occupied a foremost position in the mission his nights and days among the tribes cause in the East. An overworked of Uganda. Under threat or in cap- system compelled him to sail from tivity he tarried within Uganda Ter- Calcutta, with his wife, on the 17th of ritoryuntil he was driven forth by the last March. The relatives and friends Mohammedan revolt in 1888. At his who repaired to Gravesend to await temporary abode, Usambiro, every the incoming steamer were terribly one knows how faithfully he succored shocked to learn on her arrival that the followers of Stanley and Emin on the home-voyaging missionary died on their coastward march. His decease the previous day, April 14th. In many robs the Church Missionary Society of respects his career was a remarkable its most conspicuous foreign agent,and one. A native of Anglesey, he was the whole missionary world of one of employed for some years as a working the most energetic and successful mis- quarrier. On completing his studies sionary pioneers of modern times. in Bala College he was called to the Rev. James Lundie, M.A.-To ministry of the Welsh Calvanistic the deep sorrow of the English and Church. His foreign labors began at Spaniards at Huelva, Spain, this be- the mission station of the Khasia loved missionary died unexpectedly Hills, India. By an unremitting en- on the 21st of March. At Edinburgh thusiasm he was witness to abun- University, where a few years past he dant spiritual harvests. His services received the Master of Arts degree, to the British government at the time two of his brothers on that occasion of the Indian mutiny were the means had the same honor conferred upon of averting a general rising in the them. One of the latter, Mr. Marsh- neighborhood. All through the awful all Lundie accompanied him to Spain cholera plague in India he labored un- and there ultimately succumbed in flaggingly, e5pecially in bearing the the Master's cause. The third of the stricken to the crowded hospitals.

brothers, the Rev. John Lundie, re- For his devotion on successive famine presents the Scotch United Presby- outbreaks he won the public thanks terians in Kaffraria, in which capacity of the Indian authorities and the he is sustained by a genuine mission- grateful affection of the poorest classes.

ary partner. The subject of this me- With fine literary tastes he combined morial notice was on the eve of com- an extensive and profound Oriental pleting special work for the benefit of scholarship. A large concourse of the English residents and the native mourners and spectators attended the funeral at Smithdown. Cemetery, here. My church, after many years Liverpool, on April 18th. of imancy and adolescence under another, and a part of the time under United States. my ministry, is giving signs of growth. New Orleans, June 30, 1890. EDITORS OF THE MISSIONARY RE- My church is a missionary church, VIEW:-As chairman of the Assembly'S and our young members are being dili- Standing Committee of' Foreign Mis- gently trained as soldiers for the war, sions, at Chattanooga, it was my duty and I hesitate not to declare that the to shape and present the favorable re- Church is so essentially missionary in ,sponse to an overture from the pro- her constitution, that to neglect or to fessors of our colored institution at do slackly this work, is to forfeit the Tuskaloosa, to begin a mission in the charter received from the King. Dark Continent. ,Two missionaries, -one white and the other black, are Yours, in our dear Lord, now on their way to Africa, and our R. Q. MALLARD. Assembly, at its late session in Ash- ville, resolved W reinforce them with Lutherans in all Languages. four additional laborers as soon as the means could be realized. In order to The Lutheran is a church of many deepen the interest of our people in languages. The latest statistics show this new mission, and stimulate that of her baptized membership greater generosity and prayerfulness, throughout the world 32,000,000 speak I sent the article enclosed, entitled, German, 5,300,000 Swedish, 2,500,000 "Wheah's Appeal," to our organ, The Norwegian, 2,300,000 Danish, 2,048,- Southwestern Presbyterian. Possibly 000 Finnish, 1,250,000 English, 1,113,- it might he made of larger service in 000 Hungarian, 624,000 Livonian, 480,- awakening interest in the evangeli- 000 Courlanish, 272,000 Esthnian,70,000 zation of a land long neglected, but French, 70,000 Icelandic, 48,000 Bohetoward which the eyes of the whole mian, and that in every other civilized -civilized as well as Christian world are tongue she is well represented, num- bering in the world 28,406 educated now being turned.* ministers, 38,381 church edifices, and 50,061,280 baptized members. This Your REVIEW, which I have only of church, though taking its origin in late been able to take, is invaluable to Germany, seems to know no fatherme in the preparation of missionary land or mother tongue. She is at sermons, and in the monthly concert home everywhere. of prayer, which I have always observed in my ministry. It is of great Wesleyan Missionary Society.- value in keeping my own soul stirred The society is reported struggling -on the matter which engaged the last against financial difficulties, for the thoughts of our dear Master before He relief of which an earnest call is made. mounted the throne. Your REVIEW Notwithstanding a carefully admin- ~nables the soldier of the Cross to istered expenditure, the current inmount occasionally above the dust and come does not keep pace with. it. smoke of the battle to the serene Possibly for the decrease the embitmountain-top, whence he can, at a tered controversy with Dr. Lunn and glance, survey the entire field of con- Mr. Hughes may be partly accountflict, only to descend with heightened able. The majority of the older courage to his place in the host. British missionary organizations re- gard the obstacles in the way of rais- Allow me to thank you warmly for ing their necessary incomes as multithe help you are giving m~ in my work plying rather than diminishing. The birth of numerous modern societies • We regret that space compels us to omit largely explain this dilemma, for they this strong appeal.-ED. draw upon supporters identified with " Word has been received from the long-established agencies. illustrious Department of Instruction The Salvation Army derives a at Constantinople, addressed to the princely income from the Christian government guarding the interests of public, whereas, General Booth does Syria, to the effect that there has been not aid any other organization, even issued an imperial order in favor of those traveling on corresponding lines Mr. Henry Jessup, a subject of the to his own. honored American republic, based Interest was shown at the Man- upon a statement and petition ad- chester Auxiliary of the Wesleyan dressed by him, permitting him to Society, attended by the Rev. W. H. publish the Weekly Neshra, which Findlay, M.A., of Negapatam,and the had been previously suppressed, this Rev. Professor Patterson, of Madras, permission being granted on the con- in the presence of two old-time Wes- dition that the paper shall not treat of leyan advocates of missions. One of· any political matters, nor of any oc- the veterans, who presided, Mr. Oeo. currences whatsoever which may taktf Cussons, was within a few days of place within the empire or outside its completing his eighty-eighth birthday; borders, but shall treat solely of re- the other patriarch, Mr. John Napier, ligious, scientific and moral questions.

has already entered on his ninetieth But this permission is restricted by the year. The occasion was made deeply condition that nothing shall be printed memorable by the masterly defence in it which directly or indirectly of educational work amid the great opposes any of the religious beliefs centres of population in India. Pro- current in the governments ruled and fessor Patterson held that the policy guarded by the Sultan, and also by the which had been maintained for many condition that a copy of the contents years by the Protestant missionaries of the paper be sent before it is in regard to this phase of activity was printed and published to the govern- wise and justified by its results. ment censor that he may sanction its printing and publication after he has -Liberty of the Press in Turkey. ascertained that in no respect, in The Neshra, an Arabic newspaper single words or in sentences, has there published by the American mission in been any infringement of this condi- Beirut, Syria, was suppressed without tion. The exalted local government cause, months ago, by orders from will inform him of the nature of this Constantinople. Efforts have been concession. "

made, by interviews with the local Turkish soldiers, hemmed in by authorities and by petitions to Con- bayonets and cannon, shout at the stantinople, by the intervention orthe close of their daily reviews, "Long United States consul and of the am- live the Sultan!" American Chris- bassador, to secure permission for its tians interested in the redemption of resumption, but all in vain until the Turkey will wait for further proofs of pre~ent time. the fostering care of the Sultan's gov- An Arabic paper from Beirut, re- ernment before heartily echoing this ceived here recently, publishes the fol- prayer.-Church at Home and Abroad.

lowing notice of the Sultan's gracious edict, from which our readers can Jews.-Baron Hirsch gives $10,000 judge of the nature of the " liberty of a month toward the relief of the Jews the press" in Turkey, and of the re- exiled from Russia and seeking homes strictions to which the missionaries in the United States. The American are subject in their work. This is a Hebrew says: literal translation of the Arabic "A census of the district south of copy:' Houston street and east of Broadway shows Russian and Roumanian Jews were clothed with different clothing; far in excess of one hundred thou- and were of different habits and ways sand, and the average increase by im- of life. Yet I never realized the one migration is about twenty thousand ness of the human family more than I per annum. The committee propose did that day. The poet says, "One using the Hirsch fund in educating touch of nature makes the whole world these people so as to become self-sus- kin." But one touch from the hand taining by entering trades or occupa- of Christ can do far more than that. tions which are new to them, and to It can abolish all differences, makes enable them to amalgamate rapidly us feel that we are the children of a with the people among whom they common Father, saved by a common work or dwell. Classes have been Saviour, heirs of a common inheriopened for teaching children sufficient tance, pilgrims to a common home.- English to prepare them to attend the Samoa, Past and Present, by Rev. public schools; for instructing adults Oharles Phillips. in English, in American history, methods and customs; for fitting girls Monthly Bulletin. for other occupations than tailoring, for making men handy with tools, -A Chinese society of Christian whereby they can more rapidly obtain brethren, organized in East 39th renumerative employment. It has Street, New York City, has, on the first been proposed to teach them various floor, a room for religious meetings, trades, and put some at agriculture, and, on the second, apartments for and so scatter them in different voca- the sick and homeless. It began with tions. With the aid of the employment twenty-six members, who paid $70 bureauofthe United HebrewCharities, per month for the house. positions have been found for a large number of men, the Hirsch fund pay- -A school for the Chinese, opened ing the expense of transporting them at Kelley's, North Carolina, called the to the points where they are to work, " Oriental Academy," began with and in some cases tools have been seven pupils direct from Canton, and given them." is on a farm, and the system is indus- trial. It is designed for Chinamen Samoa. – A South Sea Com- wishing to be educated, but prevented munion. At the close of a service by race prejudice or lack of funds several hundreds remained to com- from entering an American school. memorate our Lord's death. For bread The school is non-sectarian, is under the natives have often only the kernel the auspices of leading Chinamen, of the cocoanut, and for wine only the and will offer opportunities for selfmilk of the cocoanut, the natural support. bread and wine of the country. The scene was very striking. Only four- -In the Sabbath-school of the teen years since the mission ship first Clarendon Baptist Church, in Boston, approached the island. Then they whose pastoris Rev. Dr. A. J. Gordon, were only a herd of naked savages. is a class of one hundred of native Now" clothed and in their right Chinese. They support three of their minds," numbers of them gather countrymen as preachers in their own around the table of the Lord. There land. seemed hardly any point of resemblance between preacher and people. -A united prayer-meeting in con- We were of different races; spoke nection with the week of prayer, for different languages; were of different woman's work in the mission-field, coloring; ate different kinds of food; was held in Exeter Hall, Friday, January 9th, at 3 P. M. Representa- tives of various zenana societies were present and took part in the proceed- said that not until the end of the ings. seventeenth century did the popula- tion number more than 60,000,000, If -A converted Chinaman on our so, what remarkable growth has Pacific coast sold himself as a coolie characterized these last two centuries, in New Guinea, for the sake of work- notwithstanding famines, droughts, ing among his own countrymen. pestilences and wars. Within the last Before he died he was the means of two centuries has occurred the two the conversion of two hundred of his notable reigns of Kanghi and Keincompanions. lung, each lasting nearly sixty years, and were characterized by tranquility -The statement is again made that and good laws. The educational Mr. C. F. Studd, one of the China system also stimulates the increase of Inland missionaries, placed his for- population. The cultivation of silk tune of $500,000 in the hands of the engages a large number of persons, trustees, the interest of which is to go from the tending of the mulberry to the mission, while he shares the trees to the last step in the production common lot of missionaries. Whether of the fabric. About one in nine of this statement is true or not we are not the people is a washerman, one in ten able to say. is engaged in the cultivation of the soil, one in 100 is a bricklayer, or a -Laotsze Yaotze Nahtsze, a cele- stonemason, or a carpenter, and one brated philosopher of China, founder in 120 is a tailor, while one in 140 is a of the Tabu Sect, or Sect of Reason, blacksmith. was born 104 years before Christ. His name means" old boy," because -France is now much the largest he is believed to have been eighty land owner in Africa. Her territory years old at birth. will extend from the Mediterranean almost to the Gulf of Guinea. Even -Forty societies are at work in the great Sahara will now be under China, with between eight hundred French control. and nine hundred missionaries and teachers: -From mid-China we have news of a remarkable revival, great numbers -Dr. J. G. Kerr, of the China Mis_ being brought out of the darkness of sion, read a paper at a meeting of the heathenism. The Rev. George Clark Medical Missionary Association, at has preached to audiences numbering Shanghai, on May 20th, last year, his 4,000. Even the intensely cold weather subject being "Medical Missionaries did not prevent the people from in Relation to the Medical Profession." coming night after night. Stanley He lays great stress upon the moral Smith reports two hundred and ten value of the work of those who, to- baptized at one time and as many gether with the healing of the body, more inquirers. offer to the people that religious faith which has produced the best men and -A missionary home and business women, husbands and wives, citizens agency has been established at No. 8 and neighbors, and governments upon Seward Road, Shanghai, of which Mr. the face of the earth. Edward Evans writes: -Canton is a real Chinese city, but "It is designed as a halting-place Hong Kong is simply:a British settle- for all arriving and departing missionment. aries, of which there is now a large travel through Shanghai, which, with -The population of China is be- the exception of Hong Kong, is the port lieved to be, according to the most re- of entry for all China for Europe and liable statistics, 380,000,000. The America. The China Inland Mission people show a marvelous energy in multiplying. They thrive upon what others regard as starvation diet. It is has recently erected a beautiful and you can lift first the children of the commodious place, costing over rising generation. $50,000, for its own missionaries. The American Presbyterian is the only -At a recent session of the SociaL other society, of all who are repre- Scientists in Saratoga, N. Y., Dr. T. sented in China, who have any home W. Couthers advocated a practical for its missionaries in Shanghai. method of treating drunkards. He' All the more need is there for a Chris- would put the inebriate on the plan of tian home to welcome and shelter and the small-pox patient and put him into pass on new arrivals, often suffering quarantine till he recovers. He would after sea-sickness' of a long voyage, take away his personalliberly, declare and bewildered with the new and him both incapable and irresponsible, strange sights and conditions they are and so strike a death blow at' the entering. The missionaries in the saloons with the pauperism and crime interior have need also of some one to that proceed from it. receive and forward supplies sent them from home, and purchase such things -Samoa has recently attracted'. as they require for home use. The much attention. A large proportion agency is designed to meet this need. of the Samoans are Christians, and a The home is not supported by any missionary says that he would be denomination or society, and is a willing to match any twenty men, simple effort of an independent women and children that he might worker. It is to be carried on so as to meet there against any twenty met at just cover its expenses." random in this country as to their knowledge of the Word of God. -Rev. Dennis Osborne (India) baptized over 500 persons last winter, -In Africa the number of missionand hopes for similar success this sea- aries exceeds five hundred and the son. number of converts four hundred thousand, increasing by about twenty- -Count Campello is addressing five thousand a year. During the very large gatherings in Italy, urging past five years Africa has furnished his hearers to renounce Papacy and more than two hundred martyrs. affirm the infallibility of none but Jesus Christ. He presses the Gospel -A Missionary Reading Circle remessage upon the careless and skepti- cently organized at Columbia, Mo. cal, but his preaching is not unmixed It is an endeavor to unite young with politics. people in a systematic course of read- ing upon the subject of missions. The -Rev. John McNeil, who succeeded course will cover about three years, Rev. J. Oswald Dikes at Regent Square and those who engage in it will be Church, London, is to be relieved examined and certified as graduates from his evening service, that he may upon the completion of the course. proclaim the Gospel in destitute The course for the first year covers regions in London and round about. the lives of Judson and Livingstone, Mr. McNeil has very remarkable gifts Dr. Strong's charming book, "The as an evangelist, and it seems as Missionary Review and the Crisis of though he should not be confined Missions." The admission fee is fifty within the limits of anyone church. cents per annum. We would be glad if such reading circles might be estab- -The motto of Dr. Guthrie's whole lished in every part of our country. Ragged School work was " Prevention Information is what is particularly better than Cure." It is impossible to needed to awaken missionary con· raise the lower classes in towns unless science,