The Missionary Review of the World — February 1915
FOI2
MISSIONA~Y FllQES I. The Christian spirit of German soldiers at the front is seen in the fact that some have sent part of their meager pay to help meet the needs of the missionary societies. (See page 105.) 2. A successful business man recently gave this pointer to 700 ministers: "If you ask a man for ten dollars for missions when he is accustomed to do business in tens of thousands for his own benefit, he despises the smallness of the enterprise. It is belittling to the Kingdom of God." (See page II9.) 3. A remarkable fact is that the Christians of "heathen" China have recently observed a day of prayer for the warring "Christian" nations of Eu.rope. Chinese government officials wefe present at many of these services. (See page 81.) 4. "By one of the great providences of God," says Mr. Basil Mathews, of London, "Dr. John R. Mott, -the Chairman of the Continuation Com- mittee of the vVorld Missionary Conference, is an American, a neutral, and is one of the greatest reconciling personalities in the world to-day." (See page 109.) 5. The pastors of nearly half of the Protestant churches in France are now in the army. (See page 152.) 6. The same notice boards in Changsha, China, which a few years ago held edicts proclaiming death to the "foreign devils," recently displayed posters advertizing Mr. Eddy's evangelistic meetings. (See page 82.) 7. The wild, warlike Vaziris on the northwest frontier of India have told the British government to take away its troops as they will be respon- sible for the present for the peace of that part of the world. (See page 149.) 8. A Peking shop displays this sign every Sunday ~"To-day is worship day." This 1ilent me~sage proclaims a new idea to passers-by, who have always worked seven days in the week. Sunday is now observed as a day of rest in Chinese government offices and colleges. (See pages 82 and 94.) 9. More than half of the population of the United States now live under prohibition laws. (See page 86.) 10. The Constitutionalist government in Yucatan, Mexico, has issued decrees closing all saloons, under penalty of death, suppressing cock-fights, lotteries and gambling, and freeing all slaves. (See page 85.) I I. The zeal of South African Christians converted in Johannesburg, is shown by the fact that, without missionary help, they have established churches in the interior and have erected chapels. (See page 84.) 12. The British government in India has invited American missionaries to take charge of a settlement of robbers in the JIadura district, and offers to meet most of the expense. (See page 148.)
DING LI MEl-THE CHINESE STUDENT
(See the sketch of Mr. Ding's life on page 130) I IE OF THEW RLD'
Vol. XXXVIII, No.2 FEBRUARY, 1915 Vol. XXVIII, No. 2 Olel Seri•• New Series 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111 111I11I11111I111I1111I11I11II1illI ACHINESE PRAYER FOR EUROPE "We meet here this afternoon to pray SECOND time the officials of for peace, and I am exceedingly glad to the Chinese Republic have called have a part in these exercises. As I see upon the Christian churches in it there is not a man that does not desire the land for a season of special happiness-not a man that does not deprayer. On April 27, 1913, prayer sire to see peace reigning everywhere was sought for. China, to-day it throughout the world. This war, the is for those suffering from the terrible result of militarism, has torn the world war in Europe. By the advice or in- to pieces. The President of the United vitation of President Yuan Shi 'Rai, States tried his best to act as peacemaker Sunday, October 18, 1914, was set but adverse forces were too strong. And aside as such a day of prayer for now man having reached the limit of his Europe, and representatives of the resources, we come and pray for' help Republic were present at many of the from Heaven, services. In Amoy, for instance, there were pres,ent the Taotai Wang "The Book of Odes tells us that the Shou Chen; the Su-beng Magistrate, great God rules all under Heaven, and Lai Ju Lin; also Hsin 'Kuei Fang, with splendid power influences the nathe second in command of the Amoy tions of the world for peace. The His- Forts; Wang Ch'en Chang, Chief of torical Classic says: 'Heaven pities the Police; and Chen Ngen Tao, Diplo- people and most certainly hears their cry matic Officer of Amoy. The Taotai in the time of need .. .' Heaven does spoke in part as follows: not want strife, and will assuredly under- stand your purpose. Washington was a man of prayer and in the time of the Revolution a portion of every day was The editors seek to preserve accuracy and to manifest the spirit of Christ in the pages of this REVIEW, but do not acknowledge responsibility for opinions exprest, nor for positions taken by con~ tributors of signed articles in these pages.-EDITORS.
spent in prayer. Lincoln also, during the School in Peking is an officer in one Civil War in America, spent much time of the Methodist churches, and a in prayer, and at such time as the present prominent member of the Board of we do weII to remember his words and Communications is Superintendent of manner of prayer. He did not pray es- the Sunday-school. pecially for the success of his own armies -not that his soldiers might prove vic- Similar leaders for the next gentorious, but, that war might cease and eration are being trai~ed in mission the whole world be at peace. schools to-day. Within the past four years the principal of the Peking "Recently President Wilson called for a day of universal prayer in behalf of Intermediate School, Mr. W. W.
the struggle in Europe; we are thus but Davis, has built it up from 80 pupils following his example in meeting here to 571. Starting with a few small this afternoon to pray that war may Chinese buildings, his space equipcease and universal peace be established ment has been rapidly enlarged so throughout the entire world. And so that many hundreds of students are to-day unitedly and with one voice in now lodged in half a dozen Chinese unison with this whole nation, we lift compounds or courts, and spread our hearts in prayer. God is not afar their bedding on any available spot. off. He is at all times near-in recipro- During chapel services part of the cal relation-and so will hear and bestow students in this school are forced peace in answer to prayer-prayer of unbounded, unlimited power." to stand under a Chinese mat in the Much has been said about Con- open court. Equipped with a modfucianism becoming the national re- ern dormitory and recitation hall the ligion, but such a spectacle recorded school would be self-supporting.
has not the appearance of China's T adoption of Confucianism. The TRANSFORMATION OF HUNAN HE province that was longest religion of Jesus Christ has taken a mighty hold on the Chinese officials closed to Christianity is to-day and people. May the day soon come one of the most open to the teach- when they shall be fully convinced ing of the Gospel.
that Christ is the only Savior, and In Changsha, Hunan' province, that His is the one religion that where the Yale Mission is located, China needs. Mr. Eddy had remarkably successtul meetings. A thousand Confucian TCHRISTIAN LEADERS IN CHINA students asked to j oinBible classes. HE influence of Christian men This is the capital city which long and women is being felt in many rigorously excluded Christian mis·· commercial centers in China to-day. sionaries. In October of last year In one of the busiest streets of posters announcing the evangelistic Peking this sign is hung out every meetings were hung on the same Sunday: "To-day is worship day." notice boards that a few years ago This is striking to the Chinese, who held edicts proclaiming death to the for forty centuries have worked "foreign devils." Fifteen years ago without ceasing, bartering and selling mobs would have driven out the every day in the year.. The Presi- evangelists; to-day three thousand dent of the Government Normal gathered thrice each day to hear the
OF THE
Gospel message. To-day the mission- years ago, a Confucian Atheist, and aries were welcomed at the gate by a hater of Christianity. At his the same man who in J898 was thrice father's death-bed the young man driven from the city and beaten by asked Dr. Hume, of the Yale Mis- angry mobs. Those who then shouted sion, to pray for him, and last year "kill the foreigner" werer in Octo- when face to face with death in a ber, replaced by the throngs of stu- prison cell during the revolution, he dents who struggled for tickets of ad- prayed to God as his Heavenly mission to the Gospel meetings. In Father. He was baptized last Christ- J900 Dr. Frank Keller, of Yale, nar- mas (1913), and to-day stands boldly rowly escaped from Changsha with his before throngs of students to pro- life while his property was looted. claim Christ as his own Savior and Here in J902 two China Inland mis- the only hope of China.
sionaries were murdered and only This is only a sample of how God four years ago riots occurred that is calling out the new leaders to wit- compelled foreigners to flee while ness for Him in China as he called their churches were burned. forth Paul, the Apostle, nineteen The wonderful contrast to-day can centuries ago, to witness for Him only be accounted for by the power ill Asia Minor and Europe.
of God. The ground on which the pavilion was erected for the evan- EVIL AND GOOD IN NORTH AFRICA gelistic meetings was given by the CHRISTIANS at home have some governor himself, who sent a message difficulty in realizing the dan- of welcome. The governor's band gers that confront residents of such was in attendance, and after the Moslem communities as those found meeting played, "God be with you till in North Africa-in territory con- we meet again." Fifteen Confucian trolled by France and Italy. A pri- principals of schools had joined in vate letter from Tangier, Morocco, inviting the evangelists, and the describes the disturbances there due editors of local papers sympatheti- to the war. The letter, quoted in cally reported the meetings. North Atrica, reads in part: "Re- The three thousand students who cently there was a great panic-all attended welcomed the most earnest, the shops and houses closed; troops outspoken Christian messages and everywhere. The Moors and the the pavilion was crowded a half hour French surrounded the German and before the time to begin. The claims Austrian Legations, and took the of Jesus Christ were presented as the ministers and their whole staff pris- only hope for China and for the in- oners, and marched them on board dividual Chinese. A thousand stu- the French warship. The mountain dents responded to the invitation to tribes have been incited to come and study further the Christian religion. raid Tangier."
The interpreter at these meetings In the midst of turmoil, such as was the son of a former governor has interrupted Christian missionary ·of four provinces and a nephew of work in most Moslem lands, the a former Chinese min.ister to Great North, African Mission of the Amer- Britain. This young man was, four ican Methodist Church has held a
conference at Algiers. Encouraging Johannesburg, who have gone back reports of progress came from to their homes in the Transvaal and every station. Bishop Hartzell, still further into the interior. At who has since proceeded to one place this, "an indigenous African South Africa, writes: "At Constan- l'vfen and Religion Movement," was tine two very important legal de- begun by a man named Fezi, who on cisions have been rendered, one by returning home after his conversion a French judge and the other by a in Johannesburg nine years ago, first native Arab Cadi. Each of these brought his own brother to Christ.
gives the right to a Mohammedan Four years ago several baptisms took guardian to place a boy or girl in place in the community, and these our Christian hostels. In one case, people have now built six chapels a father protested, but was unworthy over a belt eighty miles long. The of trust, and the judge threatened church membership is 140, and there him with imprisonment if he did not is ,not a single mission station in the leave the child alone. district which has'a population of at "A great forward step has been least fifty thousand.
taken in the publication of literature Mr. Bridgman is doing heroic work in the vernacular languages, both in the Zulu Missions. He is a mis- Arab and Kabyle, including hymn- sionary, statesman, teacher, and ex- books, the catechism, and popular ecutive as well as preacher. The tracts on religious subj ects. Bible Zulu mission runs its work depart- stories have been put into popular mentally: (I) The churches, 26 of rhyme, to be committed to memory them with 240 outstations; (2) pri- and sung by the Moslem children." mary schools with 5,600 pupils; (3) Those who are interested in the higher schools for boys and girls, work recently begun by the W orId's besides a theological seminary, with Sunday-school Association for Mos- a total of 41I students; (4) publi- lem children will recognize the im- cations, nearly seven million pages portance of this last sentence. Rev. being issued last year; and (5) the Stephen Trowbridge and his wife, medical work, ministering to some who are assigned to the work for 5,000 patients annually. In connec- Moslem children in the Levant, have tion with ail this, the mission handles recently begun their labors in Cairo. about $82,000 a year, of which The Moslem "Holy War" is con- $60,000 is raised in South Africa.
ducted with swords and guns to REFORMERS IN YUCATAN exterminate the infidel. The Christian "Holy War" is conducted with W RILE the elimination of Huerta loving words and deeds to regenerate from the Mexican tdngle has the infidel. This method must win. not yet brought peace and prosperity, AN AFRICAN "MEN AND RELIGION the new constitutional government MOVEMENT" has issued some important decrees REV. F. B. BRIDGMAN, a weII- that indicate higher moral and politi- known missionary of the Ameri- cal standards. In Yucatan, the far can Board, describes the evangelizing eastern province of Mexico, to which work done by men converted in reference was made in our November
OF THE TIMES
number, a decree was issued closing vention was a great inspiration and all saloons, and imposing a death encouragement to the Christians."
penalty on all who violate the decree. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS UNITE T Two days later cock fighting was FOR PEACE supprest, lotteries and gambling were prohibited, and all slaves were eman- HE various international Chris- cipated. tian organizations have a special opportunity and responsil·ility for How successfully these decrees promoting peace and good-will. Ancan be carried out time only can tell, other of these organizations,' the but they indicate the intention of the Young People's Society of Christian, constitutionalist movement. Thost' Endeavor, which has bral!:hes in who have lived in Mexico' know how almost every country in tIle world, strongly the lottery and gambling in- has started another ,!,orld-wi Ie peace stinct has taken hold of the people. movement. The trustees of the Indian peons have now been given United Society have voted to estababsolute liberty to serve where it lish a distinct department of Chrissuits them best, and to change their tian Endeavor for the promotion of residence without having to pay Peace. Appropriate topics will be debts which have hitherto kept them provided every year in the list of the slaves of their employers. This prayer-meeting topics used by 80,000 liberty to the debt slave is a blow societies throughout the world, and to the haciendado who must now special Peace literature adapted to give better treatment to laborers if Christian Endeavor societies will be they are to be willing to work for prepared. A Christian Ende"vor Inhim. ternational Peace Union has also On November i3th "A decree was been organized, to which anyone is issued prohibiting the kissing of eligible who will sign the following images in the churches, and ordering pledge: all fonts of holy water to be taken "As a follower of the Prince of from the churches. Rules were also Peace I will seek to promote goodmade for the conduct of services. will among men and peace on earth; All foreign priests have been expelled I will work as I have opportunity tofrom the State of Yucatan." ward the abolition of war, and will Under the Huerta regzme the endeavor to cement the fellowship of Protestant mission worker at 11una people of all nations and denominawas compelled to leave the town be- tions throughout the world." cause of persecution, but now, writee Rev. Charles Petran of the Presby- A MILLION TESTAMENTS FOR terian mission: SOLDIERS T "The' Presbyterian congregations HE American section of the Vorld's Sunday-school Associain the States of Yucatan and Cam- peche and. Tabasco held their annual tion is attempting to raise a fund of Sunday-school and Christian En- $50,000 by "nickels" from a million deavor convention at Muna, Novem- Sunday-school scholars, to put a mil- ber 5th to 8th, with an attendance lion Gospels or Testaments in the of 1,000 to 1,500 present. The con- hands of a million soldiers in-armies
now engaged in war. Each book is of our day. This has been a re- to contain the inscription, ·'Presented markable feature, so far, of the by an American Sunday-school European war. Russia at the out- scholar." break of war put a stop to the sale of vodka all through the vast em- A stream of Testaments and Gos- pire, with results so surprizingly pels in various languages flows beneficial that it is said the change steadily, day by day, from the Bible will be made a permanent one. House, New York, to Red Cross or- France stopt the sale of absinthe, ganizations, field hospitals, and other and prominent French writers are helpers of the sick and wounded, now advocating the prohibition of all regardless of nationality. These fonns of alcoholic drinks. Lord Kit- books go out as free gifts from the chener has prescribed no liquor for Bible Society, and great numbers of the English Army while it is on the special khaki editions are supplied to Continent. friends who distribute them among the troops. The London society One of the most significant events has also sent a half million more in America is the great student concopies of the Scripture to the troops. vention which was recently held in Topeka, Kansas, under the auspices of The Scripture Gift Mission of the Intercollegiate Prohibition Asso- England has already sent out 1,750- ciation. One thousand students were 000 Gospels and Testaments, nearly present. These men, and those whom half of them to British and Terri- they represent, are the leaders of totorial soldiers and sailors. About a morrow, and it is their convictions quarter of a million Gospels have which will1argely shape the policies of been distributed among the French the country. troops and the German prisoners of war. The way in which the books During the past two months five have been welcomed by the men of States have voted out the sale of all nationalities indicates an unusually liquor within their borders-Virreceptive mood. The Empress of gInIa, Oregon, Colorado, Washing- Russia took twenty thousand copies ton, and Arizona. There are now with her when she went to the front. fourteen States in the Union that Reports tell of copies of a gospel are dry territory. Alabama and being passed along the trenches where Idaho also have elected legislatures the men have nothing else to read. pledged to prohibition, and legis- Bible readings and prayer-meetings lative enactment to that effect is exare held in the bomb shelters; and pected soon to follow. About 75 there are many true conversions in per cent. of the area of the the fighting line. United States is now dry terri~ory, while 52,000,000 of the people, more THE MOVEMENT AGAINST than half the total population, now live under prohibition laws. In the INTOXICANTS recent elections in Ohio 77 counties out of 88 voted dry, but the liquor THE way in which the movement vote in the "swamps" of Clevelanrl and Cincinnati carried the State. against alcohol is spreading, not only through the United States, but over the world, is one of the marvels
EVENTS
February 8th-Death of Alexander Mackay, 1890, 25th anniversary.
16th to I8th-Laymens' Nlissionary Movement (Presbyterian Church, South), Charlotte, N. C.
23rd to 2sth-La)'meIlS' Nlissionary i1,1ovemcnt (Presbyterian Church, South), Dallas, Texas.
26th-First anti-Christian edicts in Madagascar, 1835, 80:h anniversary. 26th-Samuel N. Lapsley sailed to found Kongo Missions (South Presby- terian), 1890, 25th anniversary.
March 13th-Birth of James C. Hepburn, 1815, 100th anniversary. 29th-Birth of Isabella Thoburn, 1840, 75th anniversary.
April 1st-Birth of William C. Burns, 1815, IOo~h anniversary.
May 12th to 17th-Southern Baptist Convention, Houston, Texas. 20th-Death of John Eliot, 1690, 225th anniversary. 29th-Founding of the Basel Miss. Soci ety, 1815, IOoth anniversary.
June 4th-Birth of George L. Pilkington, 1865, 50th anniversary. 4th to 14th-Y. W. C. A. Student Confaenee, Blue Ridge, N. C. 18th to 28th-Y. W. C. A. Student COllferenee, Silver Bay, N. Y. 25th-Jubilee of the China Inland Mission, founded 1865. 23rd to July 2nd-Y. W. C. A. StudeJlt Conference; Eagles 111ere, Pa, 25th to July 4th-Missionary Education Movement, Blue Ridge, N. C. 30th-::'I1artyrdom of Raymond Lull, 1315, 600th anniversary.
July 2nd to lIth-Missionary Education Movement Conf., Asilomar, Cal. 6th-Five hundredth Anniversary of Martyrdom of John Hus. 7th to 12th-Fifth World Christian Endeavor Convention, Chicago, Ill. 9th-Martyrdom of nine Malagasy Christians, 1840, 75th anniversary. 9th to I8th-2vIissionary Education Movement Conf., Silver Bay, N. Y. 16th to 25th-Missionary Education Movement Conf., Estes Park, Colo. 20th to 30th-Y. T+T. C. A. City COTlferenee, Si!ver Bey, N. Y. 21St to 31st-Y. W. C. A. City Confe1'cnee, Blue Rid{!,e, N. C. 22nd to 30th-Missionary Education Movement Conf., Ocean Park, Me. 23rd-Baptism of Africaner, 1815, loath anniversary.
August 6th to I6th-Y. W. C. A. Student Conference, Asilomar, Cal. 6th to Isth-2v!issionary Education ]I!ovement Conference, Lake Geneva. I3th to 23rd-Y. VV. C. A. City Conference, Lake Geneva. 13th to 23rd-Y. W. C. A. City Conference, Estes Park, Colo.
A MISSIONARY'S MULE-LITTER CROSSING A llRIDGELESS
DR. SUN YAT SEN AT A MODERN RAILROAD STATION, TSINANFU TRAVEL L) CHINA-ANCIENT AND MODER)f
Transformation of
BY REV. R. C. FORSYTH, TSINANFU, SHANTUNG, CHINA .Missionary of the English Baptist .Missioll IlTl-HE Chinese nation has great trunk lines is now the settled an authentic history of policy of the Government. The lines , some four thousand from Peking to Hankow, Peking to L. years, and yet more Shanghai, and Tsingtau to Tsinanfu ~ changes have occurred are in daily operation. The journey within the last fifty on the Peking-Hankow line, in either years than in all the previous mil- direction, occupies about two days of leniums. continuous travel, with sleeping ac- commodation and all other modern Thirty years ago I made a journey conveniences. Already over 5,000 of about 250 miles in eight days by miles of railroad is being operated hard travel, twelve hours a day. The in China, and in a. few years this rough mule litter was my "palace mileage will be more than doubled. car." and had only a covering of Nearly all the railways are owned reed matting to keep out the cold or by the Government and are controlled ram. The mules walked tandem with and operated with profit by Chinese. the Ushentzu" (litter) slung between them. The peculiar jerk and roll The POItal Syltem as if on the ocean instead of on dry land, made some people sick. The The European postal system is now equilibrium was sufficiently precarious in use in all parts of China. When to warrant great care, as a sudden I landed in China in r884 the mails swerve of the animals would upset for the interior had to be received the whole structure, with some danger by agents at the coast port and sent to life or limb or, at least, the dis- overland by foot messenger, who agreeable experience of being plunged made the journey of about 250 miles into a quagmire. in seven or eight days. Letters and papers were sent and received once To-day, however, a journey of in a fortnight, and the mails from equal length can be made by railway London took about two months to with comfort in about nine hours. reach the destination. Now in all The beginning of railroads in China the important towns, especially those was made in 1876, when a line of connected with the coast by rail, twelve miles was built from Shanghai deliveries are made at least once a to Woosung, at the mouth of the day and in some Provincial capitals Huang-pu river. This undertaking four or five times a day. Letters was so strenuously resisted 'by the are conveyed from London to Tsin- Chinese, and caused so much excite- anfu in fourteen days, and before ment among the populace, that the long will be delivered in even less Government was compelled to buy time. the line and transport the rails to the island of Formosa, where they To most of the inland towns letters, rust away unused. The buil.ding of papers and parcels must still be con-
OLD-TIME CHINESE SOLDIERS PRACTISING ARCHERY MODERN FOREIGN-DRILLED CHINESE TROOPS FIGHTING IN Cl:IINA-ANCIENT AND MODERN
19I 5J THE TRANSFORMATION OF
veyed by foot messengers, and so stage is evidenced by the number the carriage of parcels is expensive, who wear ordinary Chinese clothing yet postcards can be sent all over with European hats and shoes. The China for one cent each an:d letters queue, which was forced upon the for three cents. Considering how Chinese men by their Manchu con- short a time this system has been in querors in 1644, is now being rapidly operation it is astonishing how much discarded. When the Manchus tried has been accomplished and with what to compel the women to unbind their ease and accuracy the system is now feet, they utterly failed; but now the being worked throughout China. women are more and more coming to Probably no European country is realize the beauty and convenience of more cheaply or efficiently served natural feet as God made them. It than China, until recently, the most is quite common now among the backward of all countries. The younger women and girls to discard system is at present being worked at the cruel and hideous custom of foot a loss owing to the expensive use of binding.
foot messengers, but with the exten- Another conspicuous change is seen sion of the railways the postal de- in the uniform and accoutrements of partment will be an increasing source the soldiery. In 1885 I found the of revenue. Manchu soldiers armed with bows and arrows and drest in ill-fitting gar- Steam Communication ments; some of the foot soldiers were On sea coast, lakes, and rivers of armed with matchlock muskets, and China some steam boats have traveled other obsolete weapons, while some for many years, tho the fares are had only spears and shields. Now, still very high. The passenger and under European military instructors, freight traffic is enormous. When the entire army has been remodeled, Hongkong was ceded to the British all the soldiers carry modem rifles, Government in 1841, the island had no and are drest in soldierly uniforms traffic, and was merely a barren rock. suited to the seasons of the year.
I t has now a place in the shipping Barracks are built and furnished as in world next to that of New York. By Europe. The men are chosen from a far the largest share of this traffic is better class than formerly, and are conveyed by British vessels; and the better paid. They have proved their number of foreigners in China who efficiency by putting down in the short are of British nationality exceeds space of two months a most formid- that of all other countries combined. aole rebellion having its center in Nanking.
Changes in Manners and Customs Chinese society has been revolution- Changes in the Large Cities ized within the last twenty years. In In the year 1900 all thought of dothing, for instance, the loose flow- adopting western ideas was scouted lng robe is being rapidly replaced by by the Chinese and the people se~med the tight-fitting European style of gar- possest with the idea of resisting ment, a less picturesque, but more everything foreign, and adhering convenient costume. The transition rigidly to their ancient customs. To-
day all this is changed. Some of the ings and residences is now largely Provincial capitals are now lighted, adopted and it is becoming more and at least in their main streets, with more common. The electric teleelectricity, and are vigilantly patroled graph is in daily use in all large by policemen in uniform. The streets cities, and in most of the important in Peking have been gradually trans- towns messages may be sent in Engformed. Main lines of traffic of lish to all parts of ~he world. The telephone is also in common use and THE FORMER FEMALE BONDAGE even Marconigrams can be trans- mitted from Peking to various centers Typical Woman with Bound Feet in the Provinces. The native city of Hankow, which was for the most ample width traverse the entire city. part destroyed by fire during the These are macadamized, frequently late revolution, is now to be rebuilt. watered by hand to prevent raising in modern style with all the conthe dust, are lined with trees and veniences of modern civilization. lighted with rows of electric lamps. They are worthy of the capital oi. the In some cities public parks and great Republic. The officials now open spaces are being reserved for dress in European costume and drive the public, model prisons are being to and from their residences in hand- built, and large halls for the transsomely appointed broughams, instead action of public business are now of the old-time, rough, springless carts formed in all the provincial capitals. or sedan chairs borne on the shoulders by carriers. The entire remodeling of the ju- dicial system is one of the many Foreign style in government build- reforms to which the officials of China are now committed. Until this is accomplished no first-class European powers will be willing to allow their nationals to submit to her tribunals. Soon China, like Japan, will rise to the position of other great powers and will impose her laws impartially on all who live with- III her jurisdiction.
The New Republican Government This is, perhaps, the greatest of all the recent changes in China. The ease, completeness, and celerity with which this enormous change has been made is the more astounding the more it is understood. Those who know China best, were as much sur- prized and confounded as were any others. The change seemed utterly at variance with all that anyone
TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA 9I
acquainted with the people. would dynasty. Now, in their turn, the have predicted. From what one Manchus have been put aside as knows of the habits and customs of utterly incompetent, and have been this ancient people, of-. their almost- compelled to retire without blooduniversal reverence and respect for shed. This is a remarkable instance the past and rigid adherence to cus- of wisdom, discretion and toleration toms rooted in their remote and on both sides, especially on the side venerable history and daily practise, of the Republican leaders. none could have believed that their _ The reasons for this sudden change THE NEW FREEDOM FOR WOMEN IN CHINA A Christian Woman Js Conference at Weihsien, May, 1913. Three hundred Chinese del egates attended, 25 of whom traveled on foot an average of 27 miles. Nine of these were over 70 years of age entire thought and system could have are, perhaps, not difficult to find. been "so completely altered and in so There had been gradual preparation short a time. The transition from for it during many years. The an Imperial Government to a modern scholarly classes fr0111 whom, for Republic is one which would have many centuries, the rulers of the been beyond belief a few years ago. nation have been almost exclusively chosen, came to realize that unless The Manchu dynasty has disap- radical reforms were speedily instipeared as suddenly as it arose, nearly tuted, the nation would soon cease to three centuries ago, when the hardy exist. The object lesson of Japan, band of warriors frori1 Manchuria once controlled by China, rapidly seized the reins of government from transformed from the position "of an the worthless rulers of the Ming
inferior crace to that of a first-class Am&rica, brought: back new ideas power, .was brought home· ·to the and put their talents at the serv.ice thoughtful and influential student of their country. All the noted ttlclass when the Japanese fleet utterly formers were men of this type. " destroyed the Chinese navy and forts in Wei-hai-wei. The lesson was . The influence of Christian liter~ further enforced by the victory over Russia. This was a most startling ture also and of Christian missions has been very marked and is be- coming more and more recognized.
THE ANCIENT CHINESE "COURT OF RIGHTEOUS (?) JUDGMENT".
IThese have now been replaced with modern courts modeled after those of Europe and Arheric.a revelation to the Chinese. Western Christian men have been plac~d in education and other sources of en- prominent positions in the governlightenment had also been at work ment service and have not found that for some time. The Government had their frank avowal of belief in the chosen able men to represent it in Christian faith has hindered them Europe and America, and these from attaining the rank even of brought back new ideas which bore Cabinet ministers. fruit. Veteran statesmen like H. E. Li Hung Chang· visited the great The First President powers of the West. Young men of ability, who were sent by. the Perhaps the greatest individual government to study in Europe and element in the change to the present form of government is in the person
·, . , THE: TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA'
pi. H. E. Yuan Shih Kai, the first still acknowledged in at least parts of President of the Republic. He dis- Mongolia and Tibet. tinguished himself first as an officer in. the Chinese army, when fighting One of the most astounding changes the Japanese on the banks of the of recent times has been the sum- Yahl river. Subsequently he became mary suppression of opium growing the Governor of Shantung, in place and opium traffic throughout China. of the notorious Yu Hsien, who mas- The government practically forced sacre-d so many missionaries in Tai the British and Indian governments ytlari fu. Yuan was then trans- to discontinue' this infamous traffic, ferred to Tientsin, as Viceroy of the and has thus brought to a close what PrQ~;ii:)ce . ofChihli, and gained the goodwill of. the foreign community PRESIDENT YUAN SHI-KAI hy his lavi~h hospitality. When called to 'the, support of the tottering The Modern Ruler of China Manchu Government he found the forces ,in opposition too strong for has been for so long a disgrace to hini, and· he was suddenly thrown out the British nation. of office. He retired. to his ancestral home in the Province of Honan and Equally drastic measures have quietly awaited.· the dCrMJuement. been taken against rebellion and in- After four years the Manchu Gov- ~ompetence in the Parliament. Four ernment recalled him when the revo- hundred members were summarily I~ltion broke out, and by consummate expelled and the remainder were left skill and patience he persuaded the powerless to act. Careful selections Manchus to retire and to accept the new republic.
President Yuan has succeeded beyond all expectation. This is freely admitted by alI who are able to take a just estimate of the difficulties. to be faced and overcome and the large measure of success already attained. That the new RepUblic, tho now only two years old, has been able to put down a very formidable rebellion is a very notable instance of its virility. Loans have been negotiated with the Quintuple group representing the leading financiers of Europe, and these have been secured on fairly equal terms, and without loss of dignity on the part of the Republican Government. The rebellious soldiers have been quelled and brought to obedience, and the rule of China is
THE ANCIENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF CHINA Rows of old Examination Stalls. used £o.r Civil Service examinations based on the writings o f Confucius. T hese have now been torn down to make way for modern univ ers ities will have to be made in the prov- the westernized student class in the inces if the Parliament is to work government service. These young harmoniously with the Executive for men exercise a wide influence in the the best interests of the country. various parts of the country from which they come.. Sunday is now Religious Changes observed as a rest day in all the gov- ernment offices and colleges, and all Another .very significant evidence students are free from class attend- Df change is the attitude of govern- ance on that day. The temples are ment and people toward Christianity. largely forsaken by intelligent people, Heathen practises and superstitions and those who frequent them are in have largely lost their hold on the the main the peasantry, the largest minds of, the people. Idolatry is fast proportion of them old women. becoming obsolete, especially among
TRANSFORMATION OF CHINA
One instance of the decline in and girls are being brought up to idolatrous practises is that the pil- despise the idols in the temples and grimages made to the sacred moun- to worship the only true God. In tain of T'ai Shan, in Shantung, are the surrounding country are found reduced very considerably in recent thousands of Christians, and the years. This mountain is the most chair coolies, who carry VIsitors up famous of the five sacred mountains the mountain side, are Mohammeof China, on whose heights Yao and dans. Shun, the ancient kings, worshiped, and where Confucius himself bowed Christian schools, Christian liter- ature, evangelistic preaching, and MODERN SCIENTIFIC EDU CATIoN IN CHINA The main haU of the Christia.n Institute at Tsinanfu. Shantung down. The pilgrims to the temples patient, persistent teaching in every and shrines onT'ai Shan used to large city and in many villages have come from all parts of China and brought idolatry into general disher dependencies, and were said to repute. number over a million persons from all ranks and classes. In 1912 I In the city of Tsinanfu, where I found the road up the mountain am now residing, immense changes almost .deserted and no one seemed have taken place in recent years. In to be in any of the temples. On~ <)f the year 1900, at the time of the the priests confest that in rece,_,' Boxer troubles, the inhabitants of years the attendance had largely de- this city were in intense excitement, clined. Three missions are repre- so much so that aU foreigners had sented· in the city of Taian, at the to retire to the coast. Now there are foot of the sacred mountain. In the hundreds of foreigners peacefully mission schools hundreds of boys residing in the city, attending their various vocations. Their lives have
been carefully preserved through all Museum would do great credit to the recent revolutions. Preaching is any town or city in England or daily and nightly carried on to America, and is unique as being hundreds, and at times even to thou- wholly devoted to the Christian prosands of interested hearers. There paganda. This building is visited by are here three Protestant places of hundreds of thousands of persons of worship and two Roman Catholic all ranks and classes annually, and ANCIENT SUPERSTITIOUS RELIGIOUS OBSERYANCES IN CHINA The famil~ engaged in the worship of ancestors cathedrals, with thousands of wor- all who come get some knowledge of the Gospel of salvation. shipers in constant attendance. Al! this progDess has been made There is a Christian Institute,* whose within the last few years, and the triumphs already achieved are but a doors are open every day of the week foretaste of the still more wonder- ful advance which we may venture and often at night. The Institute to prophesy will be accomplished in the near future in this thoroughly *There is an Institute building, designed for the awakened, the fast-changing China. use of the soldiers of the garrison, numbering some "These are days when we witness the thousands of men, the only Chinese Soldiers' In- birth of a new civilization in one of stitute in China. There i. a Y. M. C. A. for the the greatest nations on earth." young men and students; a kindergarten, with 200 pupils; live Sunday-schools, with hundreds in attendance. A medical college, with some SO students, and a hospital, with 100 beds, will soon be attached to it. The Arts College, from Weihsien, and the Theological College and Normal School, from Tsingchoufu, in connection with the Shantung Christian University, are to be removed, and are planned to be built outside the south suburb wall, close to the Institute and Medical College in Tsinanfu.
CHINA EXEMPLIFIED IN NANKING CHRISTIAN
Students of Nanking University marching to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Republic A Notable Union Work In China THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF NANKING BY PRESIDE:-<T A. J. BOWEN, NANKING, CHINA ANKING offers the cial evangelistic associations, in which Chinese and foreigners unite to make IlNJ'~ most .striking illustra- their work more effective. The uni- tion of thoroughgoing fying power of a great and common and successful union task is breaking down denominational work in China. It is, barriers, as the real object of our ~ however, only typical, task is more clearly realized-the for similar UDlon educational work is winning of men and of nations to carried on with great success in half allegiance to Jesus Christ. a dozen other large centers, and co- operation in a lesser way is prac- The Growth of Union Work in Nanking tised in many smaller centers. Union effort is not limited to educational The union work in Nanking had work, for 1110st of the translation, its origin in prayer and in deep printing, and distribution of Chris- searching of heart. The missionaries tian books in Chinese is done by did not sit down and, in their wisinterdenominational societies. dom, reason out that union was sen- sible and best. Neither did they drift Evangelistic work is permeated by into cooperative relationships. All are a very large spirit of cooperation and profoundly convinced that God Him- federation, and nearly all of the self has been leading them. Prayer and eighteen provinces have now provin- heart-searchinghav·e brought greater
faith ancI trust in His leadership, and awakened Chinese young women who have made ;].11 eager to follow His will. desire a larger life and service. The management is in the hands of a local Nanking has been benefited, also, in Board of Directors representing the the spirit of fellowship that has missions participating. marked its missionary history from its earliest days. The union institu- Dr. Tsao, a very efficient Chinese tions there are a tribute to the pio- physician, is in charge, and carries neer missionaries, who so imprest forward successfully the work begun their spirit upon the standards and by the late Dr. Lucy Gaynor. ideals of mission work that obtain in Nanking. The University of Nanking began its actual work in February, I91O, by Union educational work was first combining the h i g her educational undertaken by northern and southern work of the Presbyterian, Disciples, Presbyterian churches, who joined in and Methodist missions in Nanking. conducting a Union Theological Sem- About a year previous to this, the inary in I906. Later, the Disciples Presbyterian and the Disciples had and the northern and southern Meth- effected a union, and these, with the odists entered into the plan to form Methodist school, form the present inthe Bible Training-School and the stitution. The work illustrates many Affiliated Schools of 'Theology. It of the advantages and possibilities of was thought best to work together union enterprise. a few years before completing the formal organization, and merging the In the spring of I9I I the East property. Five Chinese Christians China Union Medical College was oract with an equal number of foreign- ganized and located in Nanking, iners on the Board of Management, and cluding the three missions in the Union the faculty, Two courses of in- versity, the northern and southern struction are offered, Oile for men Baptists, the southern Presbyterians, with coIl e g e preparation, and the and the southern Methodists. At first other for men with less preliminary this Medical College had a separate training. About one hundred stu- board of managers, was on an independents are now enrolled, and the in- dent financial basis, and in all restitution has the warmest support of spects independent of the University. the Chinese in all of the churches of Each mission was to furnish a physithat region. The theological de- cian on the teaching staff, $2,000 for partment is entirely independent of property, and an annual grant of the University, tho there is close co- $300 for running expenses. Having operation between faculties and stu- no buildings or adequate equipment dents, in the beginning, its students lived in the University dormitories, and used The Union Nurses' Training-School its class-rooms and laboratories. As was founded in I908 to train young yet only two classes of students are Chinese women as nurses in homes under instruction, a beginning class, and hospitals. Seven denominations and those who were studying mediare supporting the institution, and its cine in the various mission hospitals. graduates are in great demand. This offers a splendid field for the newly The Union Bible Training-School for Women was organized in I91O,
A NOTABLE UNION WORK IN CHINA
but did not begin work until two The East China Union Medical years later. Seven societies are sup- College became the Medical Departporting this school, and its students ment of the University in 1912, and are chosen from the various mission came under its Board of Managers Bible training-schools and from the and Board of Trustees. Eight physigirls' high-schools. It aims to give cians, with the highest qualifications, only advanced courses of study. are on the staff of this department. It is acquiring its own hospital, and During the summer of 1913 a is erecting an operating pavilion at Un ion Women's College for the Yangtse Valley was projected, to be the cost of $5,000. The University located in Nanking, but actual work has not yet been started. Some ten staff of phyeicians, together with th" or twelve women's societies are in- other 'physicians in the city, and the terested in this enterprise, and it may Nurses Training-School, will operate fill a growing need and occupy a a small hospital for foreign patient large place in the future development that has been built recently in Nanof "young China." king.
A Typical Union University About a year ago representatives of the Hangchow Medical College, con- The development of the University ducted by the Church Missionary Somay be taken as an example of union ciety, met with the authorities of the edt1cational possibilities in Chi n a. University, and worked out a satis- What has taken place in Nanking is factory basis of affiliation. This also taking place, in general, in five or medical school for thirty yeats has six other centers in the Republic. The been doing very effective medical basis of union is that each fully co- teaching under the able direction of operating mission shall provide $40,- Dr. Duncan Main.
000 in property or money, support In the winter of 1911, when the revolution began, most of the misfour teachers, and make an annual sionaries were obliged to leave the interior, and a very successful Langrant of $3,000 for current expenses. guage S c h 0 0 I was conducted in Shanghai. Twenty-seven societies All property, even that originally were represented among its students owned by the Missions' Boards, has and teachers. This experiment led been turned over to a Board of Trus- to the expression of a strong desire tees in America, who are elected by for a permanent language school conthe Mission Boards. It is not an af- nected with the University. The first filiation or a federation, but an or- year of this new department (1912) ganic union, that can acquire and was successful beyond our highest exhold property in its own right. It is pectations, and its sec 0 n d year incorporated under the laws of the opened with about fifty in attend- State of New York, whose Regents ance. It is expected that this Lanpass upon candidates for degrees. On guage School will render very large the field the missions appoint mem- service to the whole missionary combers on a Board of Managers to rep- munity of central China. resent the Trustees and the missions, and to have general direction of the A Teacher-Training Department institution.
THE PLAN OF THE QUADRANGLE OF NANKING UNIVERSITY was opened in 1912, and rendered this department is one of very great very effective service when the re- importance. volt of 1913 closed all government and private elementa'ry schools in University Relief Work Nanking. Many of the old classics teachers were out of employment and The very distressing famine of destitute, and all of their movable 191 I-12 in the regions north of the possessions had been taken by the river from Nanking sent thousands soldiers. They had no western learn- of refugee families south seeking reing, such as must be taught in gov- lief, and Mr. Joseph Bailie, one of ernment schools, and their lot was a the University staff, was set aside to hard one. As a means of affording help distribute foods and supervise relief, sever.ty-five of these old clas- relief work. He was so instrumensics teachers, selected upon examina- tal in interesting the Chinese in more tion from nearly three hundred ap- permanent forms of relief work that plicants, were received into the train- the University has been glad to have ing departments, and were given a him devote all of his time since then short course in the elements of west- to two lines of work for the poor, ern education, and some modern ideas which give splendid promise of great of effective methods of teaching. The usefulness to China. The one is· the Relief Committee has given the Uni- conducting of experimental work in versity some financial aid to make it planting tens of thousands of trees possible to take in these men at ve·· on one of the barren mountains just little cost to themselves, for they had outside of Nanking, where nearly a little to give in the way of fees. thousand acres of mountain-side h]~ been acquired. The other is an ex- The need for trained teachers to periment in colonization work, wher:: man the government, private, and families from the famine regions are mission schools is so pressing that enabled to settle on the large tracts
THE NORMAL SCHOOL BUILDING AT NANKING UNIVERSITY of waste land thirty to forty miles ated, but it is also entering into larger north of the city. In this region large relationships with the four provinces areas 116 waste, which, before the Tai of east central China. Plans are be- Ping rebellion, were cultivated and ing perfected for the closest possible populous. The Chinese gentry and coordination and affiliation of all of officials have turned over nearly ten the educational work. of these provthousand acres of this land near La; inces , with their popUlation of nearly An-hsieti. to Mr. Bailie's Colonization one hundred million . Nanking is Association, which is composed of looked to as the center for the unirepresentative Chinese officials, mer- versity work of this part of China, chants, and scholars, and foreigners . and most of the neighboring colleges Refugee families who have proved are discussing a basis of union or afthemselves worthy are being located filiation with the University. The on this tract of land. When another aim of those engaged in educational serious famine comes, a group of six work in east central China is to deor eight destitute families will be set- velop a unified system of education tled about this already established for that region, with practically unifamily, and will be taught by them form courses, leading from primary how to make this land productive schools through the University. enough for self-support. Some Advantages of Union Through this kind of work the University hopes to demonstrate to Many advantages result from this the Chinese that the barren hills and union work at Nanking. It has broadunproductive wastes can be made to ened the vision, as well as the scope, support life and yield a fair income. of our possibilities. Enterprises are being successfully carried forward The Union University is not only seeking to render varied service to the community in which' if is situ-
that never would have occurred to Moreover, this union work is placanyone mission or church to try sin- ing before a r~pidly growing Chinese gle-handed. Union has made an ade- church the right ideals of Christian quate educational program not only life and fellowship. The Chinese will desirable but possible and essential. surely find it more difficult to' believe that the Father sent our Lord into Again, union in Nanking is dem- the world if we carry into our work onstrating to the mi-ssions and to SOME RECENT GRADUATES OF NANKING UNIVERSITY churches in the home lands that dif- for them the dissensions that apparferences in doctrine, government, and ently so often actuate Christian peopractises are not of sufficient import- ple in America. It is a commendable ance to keep the most diverse bodies effort to answer our Lord's prayer apart when they realize the great- "that they may be one that the world ness of the task before them, and the might believe." We, who by our very opportunities pressing on every side. profession claim to be teachers of the Practical, effective, Christian union glorious Gospel of Christ, the Gospel is possible in China. The question of love and of humble service for will arise) with ever-increasing fre- others, must exemplify its spirit in all quency, and with more and more in- of our relationships with other Chrissistence in the home lands, "Is not tians. These union enterprises put greater union and cooperation at us in a rdationship of the largest home as advisable and as imperative possible service to those whom it is as it is in non-Christian China?" our duty to serve.
War and German
BY M. SCHLUNK, INSPECTOR OF MISSIONS, HAMBURG, GERMANY HE war has descended and money. Unspeakable privations and an iron will are requisite to . like a dreadful fatality. success, but we are firmly convinced T For years its shadow that it could not be the will of God that the crime of Seraiewo should had repeatedly dark- remain unavenged and truth and justice be disgraced. Thousands m ened the horizon, but have learned to pray again, the thanks to the efforts of church services have been visited our Government, together with the more than ever, and behind the strong will of our Emperor, the evil fighting army stands a praying nation. has again and again been removed. ·This time, however, it was not to be. We have also felt the war to be a Indeed, only one opinion prevails judgment. The whole nation is among the whole German nation, that bowed before God in earnest penithe Emperor and the Government tence; it is willing to accept whathad used every possible means con- ever punishment God considers necessistent with German honor, patience sary. 'ATe can not believe that we and forbearance, to prevent the cat- are responsible for the war, for we astrophe. Finally, however, as our feel, with our Emperor, that we are enemies continued their armaments acting in self-defense. Russia was the whole German nation, regardless joined by France, France by Great of political parties, recognized that Britain, and these by Japan. We war for the defense of the father- were surrounded by arms on all land was inevitable. Millions of sides. The deep earnestness of our Germans left their homes, their nation grew and our watchword refamilies, and their work; high and mained: God is still our mighty and low hurried to take up arms to safe stronghold. The enemy can not defend the existence and the honor overpower us. of their native land, or else to devote themselves to the work of Christ Effect on Missions behind the battle-scenes, under the sign of the Red Cross of Geneva. One must be aware of the feelings The whole German nation is united of the German nation in order to in a desire that by conquest we may comprehend the effects which the war obtain a warrant for a lasting, has had on our missionary work. honorable peace. At the moment when mobilization began, missionary work at home came The tide of national enthusiasm to a standstill. The missions at engendered a wave of religious Basle, Barmen, Berlin, Niesky, and awakening and deepening, for which other centers, were obliged to close many have long been wishing. We their seminaries at once, because are all aware that great sacrifices nearly every able-bodied pupil must be made, sacrifices of noble hastened to report for military or lives, sacrifices of strength, health
sanitary service. The teachers of the Several mission boards, however, missionaries volunteered for pastoral managed to remit the most necessary work or other service. Thus the amounts at the beginning of hostili work at home decreased considerably. ties. The missionaries in all the Missionary festivals were also stopt foreign fields have been obliged to in the first weeks, not only because attempt a new organization of their all railroads were placed at the dis- work, in order that they might mainposal of the Army, but also because tain it independently, spiritually as the general interest was so absorbed well as economically, with a reduced by the war that nobody could give a staff of European workers. This thought to such festivals. refers chiefly to the numerous mis- sions in British colonies. The minds The effect was also immediately of all have been somewhat eased by felt in the missionary income, which the British authorities allowing a for a short time entirely ceased, so continuation of our work under certhat it appeart?d as if the war would tain conditions. It has been possible cause the missions the· greatest fi- also to maintain a slight connection nancial difficulties. This would have between the leaders at home and the been all the more fatal, as many mission fields by way of neutral German societies were in a very countries. critical situation. The Moravian Mission had not given up their work The greatest uneasiness, however, in Unyamwezi, German East Africa, has been aroused by the opening of notwithstanding great difficulties; the hostilities in the German protector- Berlin' Missionary Society had begun ates. Samoa and Togoland, West a very successful campaign against Africa, were first attacked, then the the ever-returning deficit, and hoped Japanese attacked Kiau-chau, and at at last to balance their accounts last nearly all the German protec~ without new debts. The North Ger- torates have been drawn into the fight. man Missionary Society saw its debts This has caused great difficulties to growing in an alarming manner. the German missionary societies. First Thus the most disastrous catastrophes of all it has compelled the German were threatened. Governor, because of the small number of defenders, to call also Great Britain's share in the war the missionaries capable of military disturbed the world's traffic and ren- service to take up arms, notwithdered matters more alarming. Mis- standing their ordination. By these sionaries on the way from the mis- means the North German mission in sion fields to their homes might be- Togoland was robbed of almbst half come prisoners of war and communi- of its small number of workers, and cation with 'the missions would become the messengers of peace fought for impossible. England has captured life, against white and black soldiers. German missionaries who were out- In the same manner the missions of ward bound, and by the disturbance the Berlin, Barmen, and Basle soof facilities for exchange has pre- cities in China, Province of Canton, vented the German missions in the were robbed of a large percentage of British territory from receiving the their workers, because the Governor necessary means for their existence.
WAR AND GERMAN MISSIONS
needed them for the defense of Kiau- devotion to mission congregations. chau. The missions in Kamerun, In answer to appeals sent out the German East Africa, and in the Boards have received from known Pacific Islands, from which no news and unknown friends large and small has been received, have doubtless gifts. Soldiers at the front have sent had a similar experience. remittances from their pay. Letters as well as personal interviews have The great cause of regret is that the proved that the religious wave ~hich missions have become the scenes of has caught the whole nation has also conflict. How insignificant are these reached the missions, and has deep- exterior obstacles and disturbances in ened the devotion to the missionary comparison with the fact that, in a cause. This explains why some of decisive hour, the leading nations of the German missions have had even Europe that conduct these Christian higher receipts than last year. If missions, are engaged in this war the receipts of other missions have which involves the destruction of decreased and keep on decreasing the work of missions. during war time, it must be accepted as inevitable, considering the many This war of the world renders the gifts for the alleviation of the suffer- mission fields, designated by the ing engendered by the war. There Edinburgh conference as most im- will be no permanent loss to German portant, a prey to the ravages of war financial power, nor is there any and incites heathen against Christians. danger of a famine, rumors of which We feel that this is the greatest blow have been spread abroad. There is that could have been struck at the no fear of lasting. financial damage missions of the world at the present to the German missions. time. The nations which had repre- sented Christianity so much all over In view· of these facts, which have the world should do everything in become apparent during the first .their power to extend the Kingdom months of the war, the leaders of the of God, and to prevent such im- German missions have declined to measurable damage. The natives in accept help from British as well as these heathen lands ought not to see from neutral parties. When British the horrors of a war between the friends of the missions offered to leading evangelical nations of Europe. help our German missionaries abroad, The blow to Christian ideals and we begged them to transmit this aid standards is of far greater conse- to the French Protestant mission, quence than the financial difficulties which is in great straits. Fraternal due to the disruption of commerce aid was asked only for the mission- through the war. aries on the battlefield in case of need; so far as financial aid is con- Immediately after the first excite- cerned, we reserve the right to re- ment had subsided following the fund the money advanced. German breaking out of the war, it be- missions have also willingly received came evident that there was no pres- the aid of neutral friends, to keep . ent danger of financial damage to in some touch with the mission fields German missions. We have been put abroad. to shame by the way in which the evangelical churches have shown their
We confide in the financial power prevent the truth from being known and the warm-heartedness of the Ger- in neutral countries. We can only man Christians, without the slightest pray that the British nation will learn doubt that they will readily give all the truth with reference to Germany, that is needed to pay the debts in- since an understanding and conficurred during the war, as well as for dence can only be based upon truth. the continuation of the tasks imposed upon us by God. As to the tasks which await us after the war only one thing is cer- There rests upon us a heavy sense tain: no matter which way the scales of responsibility and anxiety as to are turned, only a Christian nation, the future cooperation and unity ready for any sacrifice to God, will with British Christians. The German be able to solve the problems which nation feels keenly the war as a will confront us aftee r the war. wrong that has been caused by Eng- Therefore, our earnest prayer is that land. This feeling is increased by God may purify His people in Gerthe many false and, for the greater many by the hardships and the judgpart, senseless reports, that are being ment of the war, and will thus make spread abroad, and the attempts to them more worthy of His service.
British Christianity and the War ·BY BASIL MATHEWS, LONDON, ENGLAND Author of "Livingstone, the Pathfinder," etc.
~~.=..~O/ N all the "far-fiung conciliation. Of both war and mis- battle line" of modern sions, we can say, they have their missions, wherever the center in Europe, but their Clfcum- Gospel has been ference is everywhere. preached (outside the Even as I write Turkish soldiers Americas), the boom of bent on war are rolling down the cannon and the crack of rifle have railway line from Damascus to been heard. The beacons of war Arabia and passing the little station have blazed from Tsing-tau to Mad- . where you get the glorious vista of ras, from Penang to Paris, from the blue waters of Galilee, and where Samoa and the islands off Papua to the good news of Christ's missionary the Orkneys and the Baltic, from kingdom was first preached. Zanzibar through Central Africa Is it true, then-as we have been (where one 0 f our missionaries tells told by Professor Cramb-that "Corus "Hell is let loose") to the sica has conquered Galilee?" Has 'Kamerun country; from the South of the "decisive hour" of Christian mis- Africa (where Moffat and Living- sions been lost, never to return? Has stone pioneered for peace) to Salon- Nietzsche (whose disciples are not ica and the Gulf of Smyrna, where confined to Germany) thrust the Paul proc1aim~d the Gospel of Re- "Pale Galilean" from' His throne?
CHRISTIANITY AND THE
Has the Church of the West left the women ever gathered together- harvest of the East to rot in the French and German, Dutch and fields while she beats her sickles into American, Japanese and Indian, swords? Is the name of our God British and Chinese, Negro and Norblasphemed in the East because of wegian. When we had entered the us? Will the brooding East at the hall we joined in that great prayer dawn of her new life declare, "We beginning "Our Father!" can not listen to the claims of a creed of love whose followers hurl Then we faced together the leap their whole energy of mind, body of Japan into her place among the and spirit into a wild Armageddon Powers, the awakening of China, the of slaughter ?", giant of the East who shook the worId as she rose from slumber, Our answer to the questions re- the seething unrest of renascent poses on two great evidences-first, -rndia, the onrush of Islam in Africa, the reality of our faith that Christ the impact of our traders in every is actually King, secondly the re- island of the Pacific, the most corded effects of war on missions in amazing synchronization of opportuthe East. nities and necessItIes for world- evangelization that Christianity has Effects of the War at Home ever witnessed.
But, first, I would like to illustrate To-day, however, in the hour of in a personal way the depth (as we opportunity, we have hurled all our have already shown the geographical forces, not into seizing it unitedly, breadth) of the effect of war on the but into destroying one another. Tohome field of cooperation in missions, day Dr. Richter and Herr Axenfeldt (that other great German missionary It was in a little restaurant in leader, who, not two months before Edinburgh, that I first met that chief the war broke out, moved the misamong the modern historians of sionary secretaries in England proworId-missionary enterprise-Dr. J u- foundly with a great exhortation on lius Richter-the Professor of the "Love") are in Berlin, and we are 'in Chair of Missions in the University England. Our nations are hurling' of Berlin. His eyes, through his shell and shrapnel at, one another till spectacles, gleamed with enthusiasm the very foundations of the walls of as we talked of the amazing promise the citadel of God which were laid which the World Conference, at at Edinburgh are shattered. From which we were then present, held sky and land and sea, with bomb within it for the future of the world. and shell, torpedo and mine, the labors of our love are being blasted Then we walked back together to to pieces. the great hall and stood at the top of the great stone steps that lead Yet even here happy qualifications up from the iron gateway and the are needed. On the side of interflagged courtyard into the Assembly national cooperation. as between the Hall. The sight, unique in all human British and the great German sociehistory, seemed to authentica.te our ties, which have over eight hundred hopes. Up the steps came the most German missionaries on British terwonderfully varied body of men and
ritory in South India and South and sympathy, and for their readiness Africa, cooperation is, for the time, to render any .possible assistance to smashed! But a fraternal letter received in December by the London German missions which may be in Missionary Society from the German Ausschuss, a Committee equivalent distress. . to the North American conference of Boards, in answer to a message of "It is a great thing for us and for fraternal greeting from our directors, our isoIated missionaries in the field reveals the opening already of a new era of possibly deeper understanding that our common faith in our Lord than ever. Jesus Christ, and the commission en- "Missions-Sekretariat, Basel, trusted to us 'by Him, is a bond of "18th November, 1914. unity which links together, those who "To the Secretaries. of the are widely differing in political con- London Missionary Society. viction and national feeling and makes "DEAR FRIENDS, them ready to help and serve each "We have received, through the Rev. other. F. Wiirz, two precious documents from your Society. "As the war is going on and pressing "The one was the Resolution passed more and more severely upon all conby the Directors of your Society on September 29th, regarding the War ditions of life nearly all over the and Continental Missions, and expressing to Continental ?vfi~sionary Societies, world, many opportunities will arise both French and German, their' deep Christian sympathy in the serious diffi- for the mutual exercise of such Chrisculties entailed upon them by the present disastrous war. tian fellowship, and in many cases German missionarie, will be among "The other was an extract from the Minutes of your South· India District those who need this comfort most, Committee, dealing with the trying con- owing to the difficulty of communicadition of German missionaries in that part of India, with copy of a most kind tion between their home-country and letter of sympathy addrest to them. nearly all their fields of labor. Ve "Both documents have been brought to the knowledge of the German Mis- wish to assure you that every act of sions-Ausschuss, while the resolution ()f your Directors, which you kindly sent kindness and every encouragement us in several copies for distribution, waf handed over to the leaders of German shown to our brothers and sisters in societies.. the field by their British fellow-work- "On behalf of the German Missions- ers, will be gratefully appreciated, Ausschuss' I would ask you to convey both by them and by us, and if, in the our sincerest thanks, both to the Directors of your Mission and to the course of events, British missionaries South India District Committee, for these expressions of their fraternal love should be in distress for whatever reason, we trust that they would find in their German brothers the same fraternal spirit which now characterizes their own actions.
"May it please God in His mercy soon to restore peace between the two Protestant sister-nations which have such an immense common task in the'
non-Christian world, and may they be drawn together even more closely than before in the service of our Lad Jesus Christ.
'Vith warm regards, I remain, dear friends, "Yours sincerely, "(Signed) DR. TH. (EHLER, "Chairman of the Missions-Ausschuss."
CHRISTIANITY AND THE WAR
By one of the great providences of was at war on the Continent, and God, the chairman of the Inter- when the Colossus of Napoleon national Continuation Committee of straddled over Europe, that the the Edinburgh Conference is an modern missionary movement had its American, a neutral; and is one of period of greatest growth. The Bapthe greatest reconciling personalities tist Missionary Society, founded in in the world to-day. British and 1792, the London Missionary Society Germans may not talk to one another in 1795, the Church Missionary Sothrough the smoke of war, but we ciety in 1799, the Religious Tract can talk with Dr. John R. Mott. In- Society in 1800, and the British and deed, he who has been thrice invited Foreign Bible Society in 1804, with by President Wilson to become the the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary American Ambassador in Peking, Society in 1813, started their world knows the men of leading in London, enterprise for the kingdom without Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Petrograd, frontiers. Constantinople, and Tokyo, and commands the confidence of four con- It was when bread was IS. 5d. a tinents, may easily become a factor quartern and 3 per cent. stock of supreme importance when the feU to 54~; when King George was hour for peace approaches. hooted as he opened Parliament and assailed thl'oughout the streets with War and Missions in History yells of "Give us bread"; it was when all England trembled at the If this is the situation to-day, what V1Slon of Napoleon sailing from is the story that history has to tell Calais to invade our shores, that our of the relation of war and missions. intrepid forefathers, while success- The story is as full of radiant and fully holding their own at home, steadying cheer as it is of apparent launched out on their great campaigns patadox. of peace abroad.
The first modern missionary so- Not only have missions been initiaciety, the Society for the Propaga- ted in war time, but in subsequent tion of the Gospel, was founded in wars have carried on their campaigns 1701, during a period in which we with extraordinary vigor. The Criwere at war with France, when a mean War in 1854-55, with the war French invasion was threatened, and with China· and the Indian Mutiny seriously contemplated. The great following hard on its heels, strained epoch of foreign missionary advance the resources of Britain. But the from 1790 to 1815, when most of the story of the Society for the Propagreat societies were formed and when gation of the Gospel, the London the Society for the Propagation of Missionary Society, B~ptist Missionthe Gospel itself took on a more ary Society, and Church Missionary specially foreign missionary cha.r- Society, indeed of all the great soacter, was one of devastating war cieties during these years, is one of accompanied by terrible domestic advance. The facts of the Francoscarcity. Prussian war years also reinforce strongly the evidence that war, by It was thus, in the Revolutionary some strange quickening of symand Napoleonic era, when Britain
pathies, stimulates the support of the Then men are declaring on al1 missionary enterprise. hands that this must be the "War that will end war," the men with The experience of all the mission- the greatest vision are seeing that you ary societies during the months fol- simply can not end war even by the lowing the British declaration of war united will of Europe. Plans have been on August 4, I9I4, gives precisely made for a great armament factory in the same impression. In nearly every Peking-a Krupp or a Creusot for case the societies find their funds China. There can be no peace apart in a better position than they stood from Asia. In.a word, the cause of war in twelve months earlier. Intimate is a great paganism of heart, and the day-to-day contact with the corres- only hope of lasting and glorious pondence coming into one of the peace in all the world is the uni- British missionary societies shows versal reign of the spirit of Christme- that a large body of the sup- the establishment in all lands of the porters of Christian missions are Kingdom of God. resolved that, tho it may involve drastic sacrifice on their part, the I am filled with an unquenchabl~ great work of spreading the Gospel exhilaration and hope even in the of Reconciliation among races and face of this new hell, which, indeed, nations shall not flag in time of war. cries out for a new heaven and a new earth. The fact is that the British people, whatever war-drain may have fallen Corsica may have moment<rrily upon their financial resources, are eclipsed Galilee, but Corsica ended richer in spiritual assets than they in St. Helena, while Galilee, after were last July. Those fatal legacies the dark hour of Crucifixion, blazed of prosperity, the frivolous flippancy into the immortal glory of Resurrecand cynicism of spirit, the growing tion and the conquering progress of grossness and the sensuous preoccu- the enduring dominion of Christ. A pations, the querulous carping divis- light we never expected to see comes ions among our people, hClve all to-day from Christ's strange apocbeen scorched up in a flame of de- alyptic "When you hear of wars and votion. In every street in Britain to- the rumors of wars . . . then they day, the essential missionary char- shall see the Son of Man coming acteristic of Christianity-sacrifice, in power." With Christianity apcarelessness of personal safety in parent defeat has always been the devotion to a common cause, the gate of life, the Cross the prelude surrender of trivial differences for a of Resurrection. With the follower great unifying aim, simplicity of life, of Christ it is always true that: forgetfuiness of social anel racial barriers, endurance, generosity-all . . . We fall to rise these are more vital and active than Are baffled to figbt better they have been in the lifetime of any Sleep to wake. of us.
A Pastor's Missionary
MINISTERS OF WESTERN NEW YORK MEET TO STUDY EFFICIENCY BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON HE fratricidal strife in ~ absolute necessity to How may the message and power T . . Europe is but another of Christ be taken to the regions . proof that the religion beyond so as to enrich foreign fields without impoverishing the parish at of Jesus Christ is an home?
the human race," said These are some of the problems that confront every pastor, and the Col. E. W. Halford in his opening solutions. were convincingly presented in the recent convention of ministers address at Rochester. Creeds and at Rochester. The general compre- hensive theme discust was "The forms will not save the world. The Church at work for the Community, the Nation and the World," and seven power of Christ must be exprest in hundred ministers of the various evangelical communions in Western the lives of His followers in order New York met for a three-days' session (December 7th to 9th). They that men may know what Christianity represented churches with a combined membership of 150,000, and many of really is. It is time for the Church the pastors received a new conception of the function and power of the to reveal Christ or to get out of the ministry, a new realization of their vital relation to Christ, and a new way. vision of their responsibility and opportunity in leadership. "My people are destroyed for lack The program was unique. It was of knowledge," said God in the days planned and carried out by the Lay- men's Missionary Movement and only of Hosea, the prophet, and the people those who had a message born of practical experience were asked to of America and of the world perish take part. Each speaker revealed simply what God had wrought in to-day for the same reason. They him and through him. He spoke as a prophet, and the power to speak lack true knowledge of God, of the had cost him much in sacrificial servIce. world and its needs, of the marvelous The Foundations work God is doing in the world, and The foundations, on which the subof the power and methods that have sequent constructive work was built, were laid in the address by Mr. made modern miracles possible. Charles G. Trumbull, of the Sunday -Vho is responsible for this lack of knowledge and for the consequent destruction? In the olden days the priests and false prophets were charged with the neglect of duty.
Can the pastors escape responsibility for too often misleading their flocks and for failure to feed them with the right food?
How may sickly churches and church-members be revived?
How may idle and selfish Chris- tians be led into sacrificial service?
How may local congregations be made a power to transform the com- munity?
School Times in his simple narrative "By this the three great lacks or of how he had learned the great needs of my life have been miracusecret of efficiency-letting Christ live ously met: in him and work His will through him.! This young man had seen ( I) "There has been fellowship visions that had become realities, and with God . . . many men before him saw clearly the causes of their failures and the path- (2) "There has been victory over way to success. Among other certain besetting sins. . . . things Mr. Trumbull said: (3) "The spiritual results in service "There is only one life that wins have given me such a sharing of the and that is the life of Jesus Christ. joy of Heaven as I never knew was Every man may have that life; every possible on earth." man may live that life." The Rev. Hugh Burleson, the hon- "The resources of the Christian ored Secretary of the Domestic and life are just Jesus Christ." Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, followed "If we would only step out upon with a powerful address on the "Test Christ in more daring faith, He could of Discipleship." do so much more for us." He said: "Are we points of con- "I 'had always known that Christ tact between the world and Christ was my Savior, but I had looked or points of resistance? Do we upon Him as an external Savior, one hinder or transmit His life and who did a saving work for me from Power?" the outside; one who was ready to come close along side and stay by "Are you seeking power for yourme, helping me in all that I needed, self or sharing it?" giving me power and strength and salvation. But now I know some- The Tests of Discipleship are: thing better; I realize that Jesus (I) "A realization of Jesus Christ Christ is actually and literally within and of our responsibility. The crisis me; and even more than that, He of missions is found not in the situhas constituted Himself my very being ation in foreign lands but in the (save only my resistance to Him), conditions existing in pulpit and pew." my body, soul and spirit." (2) "A practise of brotherhood, "This life that wins is the life of not patronage. What shall we think of Jesus Christ; it may be our life for the condescension of those who think the asking-in absolute, unconditional that it is a great benefaction for surrender of ourselves to Him, our them to give their brothers the wills to His will, making Him master things that their Father left to them of our lives as well as our Savior- in His will? we let Him enter in, occupy us, overwhelm us with Himself, yea fiIl "You can not keep your Christianus with Himself unto all the fulness ity unless you are giving it away. of God." (3) "Peace for the world. Give 1 See "The Life That Wins," Su..du.,-Sc/oooJ Christianity a chance. Men have Times. Philadelph.ia, 2c. each. said that education or science or international intercourse, or world commerce or great armaments would bring peace. They have failed. .Only
A PASTOR'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE 1I3
Christ's message of world brother- causing his soul to shrivel, but he hood will avai!. The golden rule awoke to the danger and took a trip must be infused into national ethics." to the mission fields. When the sight of real heathenism struck him, avarice The Problem of Wealth left him and he determined to leave money-getting and devote himself to The place of money in a man's the business of missions. For some years he has given his services to the life and in church work was force- United Presbyterian Board of For- eign Missions and is now engaged in fully presented by two business men, promoting the Cairo Christian Uni· Mr. A. A. Hyde of Wichita, Kansas, versity. Mr Inness said: and by Mr. George Inness of Phila- "Ninety per cent. of the laymen can not defend their program of delphia. These men have known the life."
temptations and power of wealth and "Giving t.he Gospel to the man who never knew it is the essential have experienced also the joy and part of the layman's business."
satisfaction of surrender of their "Never have I met a non-Christian man in America who has not at some wealth for the larger work of the time consciously turned Christ down. The heathen have never had the Kingdom. They mercilessly brought chance."
home to the ministers their cowardice "When you cut the nerve of opu- lence, you will have no trouble in in failing to preach against the sin of securing ministers and missionaries."
covetousness and their responsibility "Until you have seen heathenism you can never really know why for leading wealthy parishioners to Christ came."
know the blessings _of stewardship. "Vhen a soul is lost that's awful; but when a whole nation is lost that Mr. Hyde, whose address will be is more awful."
published here later, related from his "The sin of unbelief took away Christ's life, but the sin of covetousexperience the ruin that had threat- ness has for 2,000 years deprived Him of His Kingdom." ened his family through wealth, the "When a man tips God with a blessing that had come through gratuity as he tips a colored porter on the train, the minister has a right reverses, and the new opportunities to hold him over perdition until he makes him give up." that a return of prosperity had "It is' the covetous rascal in the brought when money was wholly pews that makes the administration of the mission boards cost so much." consecrated to God. He said: "The life of the missionary abroad "The imperative message of the constitutes a challenge to you and to pulpit to the rich is the curse of material wealth selfishly used."
"As men's bank accounts and bonds and material investments in- crease, their souls shrive!."
One well-known philanthropist wrote: "This money I have given away (about 30 per cent.) is the investment that gives me most pleas- ure." Mr., George Inness2 was a banker, .a hardware and a lumber merchant and. had large investments in Cana- dian wheat lands. – Money was ¥. " -~ Se<i-"Why I Glad I Stopt Getting. Rich," etc. Laymen's M,ss,onary Movement, N. Y.
me to live the same kind of a life have (I) a program of intensive and of service and sacrifice at home." extensive education; (2) a program of prayer to include the whole "The world will be redeemed when world." the manhood of the Church is ready to walk with Christ to· Calvary." "The greatest human reality in the lives of constructive Christian leader- Work, Study and Prayer ship of all times has been interces- sion. The New Testament reveals The organized work of the Lay- only one activity of Jesus Christ men's Movement and the purpose, since the resurrection-He ever methods and results of the Every liveth to make intercession-there- Member Canvass were convincingly fore He is able to save unto the presented by the Chairman of the uttermost." Executive Committee, Mr. James M. Speers, and by Mr. J. Campbell "The climax of the spiritual equip- White, Executive Secretary and ment of the battling saint is inter- Chairman of this Conference.3 The cession-Take the whole armor of practical value of study and prayer in God . . . and over all prayer." the promotion of intelligent interest was set forth with power by Mr. W. Preachers and their Work E. Doughty, Educational Secretary, who said: Dr. Charles H. Patton, Home Department Secretary of the Ameri- "Now abideth information, obliga- can Board, offered some very praction, continuation, but the first of tical suggestions on "The Science these in importance is information." and Art of Missionary Preaching."4 and Rev. J. C. Robbins, Candidate "Facts are the fuel that keep mis- Secretary of the Student Volunteer sionary fires burning. If there is an Movement, told of practical ways in iceberg in your church, then you which recruits may be obtained for haven't been giving them the facts." Christian leadership.
"We need a program of education, Among the most helpf.ul addresses of prayer, and of enlistment for were those that revealed the definite service in every church." experience of ministers and laymen in the city and country parishes. "Great impulses will die out into Mr. Hyde narrated the remarkable whitened ashes unless we put them experiences of the organized "Gospel into a practical program." teams" in Kansas and Oklahoma; Dr. Worth M. Tippy described the "I was led to devote my life to successful work of Epworth Memthe missionary cause by contact with orial Church in Cleveland in making living missionaries, and by the study the church a community force;5 and of missions. At not one point in Dr. Harlow S. Mills thrilled his the development of my missionary audience as he pictured the way in passion was there a pastor at any which the narrow, apparently dying focal point to grasp my life and work of a country parish was revived thrust me out into service." "To be printed later in the REVIEW. "If we are to develop missionary 5 See "The Church a Community Force." Mis.. interest in a local church we must sionary Education Movement. New York.
• The literature on these subjects is available from the headquarters of the Movement in New York.
A PASTOR'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE lI5
and made to serve the country and ation of our fellow ministers, the folthe world.6 lowing policy: Foreign missions were a vital part "I. That in private and public minof the program and after the ..d- btry we will strive conscientiously to dresses of Robert E. Speer7 and represent the Prince of Peace in His Professor Sam. Higginbottom7 and love for enemies in overcoming of evil Dr. W. F. Oldham, no pastor could with good, and His sacrifice rather than return to his field indifferent to the violence. That we will neither justify call of the world or unconscious of War, nor advocate preparation for it. the value of a world-wide vision and service to bring life and power even "2. That we will ever strive to cultito the local work of the church. vate a spirit of understanding and good- Dr. F. H. Divine, secretary of the will with ministers of all other com- American Baptist Home Mission munions, in order that we may in- Society, rendered a like service in telligently cooperate in our common presenting the "Divine Program of task of Christianizing the world. Home Missions." "3. As pastors, we recognize our re- Two sets of resolutions were sponsibility for leadership in the Uihole passed as one result of the interest 'lt orld program of Christ, and pledge awakened. One series' was adopted ourselves to a more intelligent and seriby the conference as a whole, and ous endeavor to that end. the other, somewhat shorter, was adopted as a policy by the 250 Bap- "4. That our people may be saved tist ministers present. This latter from the sin of covetousness and that we give below, as it indicates the they may enjoy the supreme privileges practical results looked for by them of partnership with Christ in some from the Convention. worthy degree, we pledge ourselves to a more serious study and promotion of "We believe this to have been the Christian stelmrdship of both life and mightiest Missionary Conference in the possessions. history of New York. "5. 'vVe solemnly pledge ourselves "The compelling facts and the in- anew to the intercessory life, and, as spiration of the Holy Spirit of God God's appointed leaders of the churches, have uplifted us all. We can not be we will do our utmost to get our church satisfied with our past ideals and members to give themselves to the life achievements as ministers, or with of intercession. We will also strive to those of our churches. We have seen, form intercessory prayer groups among as in the presence of God, the appeal- our members and among pastors of our ing need of the non-Christian world, communities with definite objectives. the unchristian destructiveness of War and the preparation for War, the small- "6. We agree to aid our members in ness and inadequacy of the church's undertaking a definite plan of soul present propaganda of her Lord's King- 7!'inning. dom, both at home and abroad. "7. We promise to report the message "Ve, therefore, earnestly indorse for of this Conference to our churches, ourselves and urge upon the consider- and we hereby agree to do our part to bring the same message to every Bap- 6 See "A Country. Parish," Missionary EduC3e tist church in western New York." tion Movement. A similar set of resolutions, in 1 To appear later in the REVIEW. even more elaborate form were adopted by the convention.
Some Pastors' Testimonies "In the past I find" that I have been trying to please men, now I The last two hours of the Con- am going back to lift up Christ before vention were marked by a calm but my people and to please Him." powerful overflow of heartfelt thanksgiving and purpose, exprest in brief *** sentences by the ministerial delegates. Those who had been accus- "This Conference has revealed to tomed to move multitudes of hearers me my mistakes. I am going back had themselves been moved in the with a new note and power 111 my deep springs of their lives. Prayer, preaching." Bible study, lifting up of Christ, personal work, a new missionary *** emphasis in preaching, were the impressions made. Here are a few "I have caught the passion of samples: Christ for the rescue of His·· Other Sheep." "I have received a clearer vision of the Cross and its meaning than *** ever before and have determined, with God's help, to practise more "I came here discouraged, with intercessory prayer and to do better the feeling that God had forsaken work for the Master." me; I go back to my field with new strength and courage." *** *** "This has been the greatest experience in my life. Christ has been "As a result of this Conference I more clearly revealed to me, so that expect that God will enable me to I have forgotten about myself, and bring things to pass in my own have more love" for His church parish and to lead my people to a and my fellow ministers. The other new sense of their responsibility for pastors of 'our town have agreed with the world." me to enter upon a united campaign to reach the whole community." *** *** "The possibility of Christ living in me has come with new power, and I "I have seen here that my own have a purpose to render sacrificial life must first be transformed before service." I can be used to transform the community." *** *** "I have learned to think in world- wide terms, and as a result have a "I feel that I have sinned against larger vision of God's program and God and my people in not giving my part in it." them a better vision of the worldwide work of God and our duty *** toward it." "I have a new idea of what God *** can do through consecrated man and am determined that He shall have "The Bible has been illuminated for an opportunity to use me." me in this conference, and I feel that I am going back to my work a new *** manl' "I have come to see that aU Chris- tians are one in Christ. The differ- ences do not count. Christ is all in" all."
A Business Man's Investments*
BY MR. A. A. HYDE, WICHITA, KANSAS ANY of us go through good member, as members go, in out- ward forms of religion and morality. EMJ life,and, after seeking the material things of The Lord blest me also in a mate- life, come to the con- ~ c 1u s ion reached by rial way, until ! came to be worth King Solomon of old: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." $roo,ooo–a pretty fair sum for a man in the West; but the thought John the Baptist came preaching: that their father had plenty of money "The, Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." did not have a good influence on my Then Christ came preaching: "The children. I think such knowledge Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"; and always tends to have a bad influence' when he gave instructions to his dis- on children. Mine were given to ciples and apostles, he said, "Go and pleasures, and some of them started preach, saying the Kingdom of Heaven on the, downward grade. If anything is at hand." This was nineteen hun- wrings the heartstrings of a man or dred years ago, and what do we find woman it is when their children are to-day? Is the Kingdom of Heaven on the road to ruin. Then the Lord here? Is this terrible war and those saw fit to take away the money, and, sixteen-inch guns-which the armies within three or four years, I found can not afford to fire unless they des- myself with $roo,ooo or more introy' a great number of men-bring- debtedness. ing the Kingdom of Heaven? Yet, I believe that the Kingdom of Heaven That was the greatest blessing to is nearer to-day than it ever was be- me and my children. They woke up to fore. the realization that it was not too late for them to mend their ways. We In God's sight, is the American na- passed through a few years of the tion doing any more to bring the bitter experiences of poverty, and yet Kingdom of Heaven to this earth we always had enough bread and than are the Kaiser and the King and butter, and could buy a soup bone the Czar? occasionally or some cheap meat. The father and mother, as well as the When I was seventeen I went West children, learned something of what to take a clerical position in a bank life meant during those years. in Kansas. After ten years I was married, and the Lord blest us with Then I went into another business, three girls and six boys. I was and the Lord prospered me so that brought up in a Christian family in money ,began to come in still greater New England, where I joined the abundance than before. I began to church in my boyhood, and, after- wonder whether I was going to have ward, was llsually considered a fairly the same experiences again. Instead of taking so much time for the daily * From an address at the Ministers' Convention in Rochester. December 7-9. 1914.
newspaper, I made a practise every n am e s of four or five hundred morning of taking a half-hour alone wealthy men and sent each one a with God's Word, with the door shut. letter asking about the satisfaction Thus I fed on God's Word, and asked they received from material invest- Him that we might not make the ments, and from what they were giv- mistakes of our early days, but that ing away for the upbuilding of God's we might train those children to ex- Kingdom. I received nearly' one hun- perience the true satisfactions of life. dred answers-one of the most strik- ing came from a philanthropic, well- The teachings of the Sermon on the known man of wealth, who wrote as Mount in reg a r d to accumulated follows: wealth came to me as a revelation, altho I had read them from my boy- "Those investments which have hood, and knew them by heart. turned out well have troubled me more than the losses. It is the dol- "Lay not up for yourselves treas- lars I possess that keep me anx- ures on earth, where moth and rust ious; my permanent investments have doth corrupt, and where thieves not made me a good man. I do not break through and steal." think money ever helps a man moral- ly, and he is a splendid man who can I had had experience with thieves keep money from hurting him. As breaking through and stealing accu- for money given for philanthropic mulated wealth, with banks failing, causes, the best investments I have and with stock worth $200 a share or ever made are the investments for more being declared worthless. A the common good. I generally number of enterprises that promised give away about 30 per cent of my large returns failed to materialize be- net income. These are the only incause of poor management, because vestments I have made that really of miscalculation in various ways, be- make me happy. The causes of need cause of change of circumstances. to which I have turned deaf ears hurt And, after worrying over these mate- like a wound. Money is a cancer, rial enterprises for years, and attend- and if we let it go it will kill us. Ining directors' meetings. and having herited money is a curse to our chilmy life shortened by anxiety over dren. There is a joy in making these investments, I saw that laying money by giving society value reup material wealth in this world did ceived. No man should bar his chilnot bring satisfaction, but brought, in- dren from that privilege." stead, distrust of my fellow man. I realized that accumulated wealth was That man's experience agrees with a source of worry, a shortening of the teachings of the Scriptures, and life, and deleterious to character, and if we would take part of the time that the time spent worrying aT every morning that we waste on the these investments and in attending newspaper and would study God's directors' meetings and looking over Word we would know what is worth reports, might be put to much better while in life. Such knowledge of advantage for my own satisfaction, the Bible is the great lack of the for the good of my family, and for Christian Church to-day. We are the benefit of the community. soldiers of the Cross, and do not A few years ago I secured the
A BUSINESS MAN'S INVESTMENTS II9
know God's "Book of Tactics." nor men of his church to a good dinner.
the plan of campaign it teaches us, I spoke to the best of my ability, nor how to obtain the true satisfac- and, afterward, stopt for a moment tions of life. We go through life before going to the train, to listen to as babes in Christ, and reach Heav- what the pastor said. Here it is: en, if we reach it at all, as stunted "Men, you have listened to this talk souls, because we have not God's by Mr. Hyde. This church has not Word in our hearts. been doing its duty in regard to for- When I awoke to a realization that eign missions. Our amount in the my own experiences bore Qut the church records is very small. Some teaching in the Bible, that accumu- of you men here could give ten dol- lated wealth was a curse, I next toO'( lars a year to foreign mlSlons just the second part, "but lay up' for as well as not."
yourselves treasures in h e a v en." There were bankers there who Most men who look for good invest- could have given $1,000 as easy as ments in this worId are always ready $10.00. It is a sin to deliver such a to listen to any man who has a first- message to men who are being curst class investment that will pay IO or by the devil. God says: "Ye can 20 per cent. profit. At first I not serve God arid mammon," and was willing to listen to such men, these men are serving mammon. It but after a while I began to look is the responsibility of the minister around with the same enthusiasm to preach this truth to them, and it for the Lord's investments. Most 0 ~ will do them good. I f you ask a us turn these opportunities down, on man for ten dollars when he is used the plea that we have so many ob1i~ to doing business in tens of thou- gations, and must look after ow Sands for his own benefit, he despises credit. Ve put money into material the· smallness of the enterprise. It things, and when God's causes come is belittling to the 'Kingdom of God, we turn them down. How many are and he knows it. If God has given there who seek God's investments a Christian man the ability and the first? One of the greatest mistakes opportunity to make money, He will that ministers make to-day is in their hold that man responsible for the way ministry to the rich. Nine times out he uses his money, just as He will of ten, a man of wealth, when well hold the minister responsible for the along in life, has learned that material way he uses his brains and his investments are not satisfying, are a opportunities to preach the Gospel.
curse to his children, and are short- Ministers have a right to say to any – ening his life. Most men of means man, "Your money is becoming a are not as helpful to society as be- curse to yotl. The Kingdom of God fore they became rich. Ministers is calling for money as never before, should go to men who are able to and never were the opportunities so give largely, and ask them for large great as to-day for building up the things. Kingdom of God. Consecrated men One minister wanted to start a are ready to give their lives in God's campaign for foreign missions, and service, but they have not the means invited about one hundred of the best of support, and it is the wealthy men
of our churches who are to blame." is forfeited. I have only raised God has poured out His wealth to $4,000, and the gentleman who wrote church-members in the United States that letter said that he knew a man as never before, and the means for in Wichita, Kansas, who usually had advancing the Kingdom of God ar money on hand for the Lord's causes, in every city, and are in evidence all and he gave we that letter to you." over this country. I put Mr. Gillette through a pretty Since I learned this lesson I have close examination as to his work, for made it my business to seek 0ppOI I thought that possibly the letter tunities for doing God's work, and might have been found by him. Then always try to have something on han(' he showed me a letter from Dr. for emergencies. Many opportuni- Howard Agnew Johnston, of Colorado ties are offered to me to make mate- Springs, that read about like this: rial investments, but I always have "On my r e c e n t missionary trip one answer to all: "My friends, I around the world, I had the pleasure have a better investment than you c of visiting the Association in Seoul, offer to me if you search the whole Korea, and can safely say that it is a world over." They usually open their worthy investment for anyone who eyes, and wonder what that is, so has money to invest. I have given that I get an opportunity to preach Mr. Gillette some money, and only the Gospel to them. regret I can not give him more."
I have had some wonderful exper!- I turned to Mr. Gillette, and said: ences. It is a pleasure to help when "That is a good letter; you can have men are at their wit's ends and are on your $1,000." their knees praying that God will in some way further His work in which Tears came into his eyes, and his they are interested. lips began to tremble, as he asked me if he could pray. That prayer brought About three years ago, one Satur- tears to my eyes, and the memory of day, at noon, a young man came to that day will last as long as I live. my office and handed me a letter of introduction from a man in Denv.er. r know what it is to receive good I read: "This will introduce to you Mr. F. B. Gillette, Secretary of. the dividends from investments, to cut Young Men's Christian Association coupons, etc., but the satisfaction that in Seoul, Korea. He will tell his comes from such an experience as story better than I can in pen an(' that is a thousand times more satisink." fying than the laying up of million,S of dollars in this world. The trouble Then the young man stated his case with men who lay up earthly treasas follows: "The International Com- ures is that their treasures increase mittee have given me permission to but their souls shrivel, and their come to the West to raise $10,000 characters are jeopardized. There for the equipment of our new build- are very few fortunes accumulated ing in Seoul. One man in N ew York these days without stepping beyond the bonds of brotherhood. will give $5,000 if I will raise $5,000 God help us that we may know more,' and unless at midnight to- how to use God's money so that God's night I have $5,000 raised the option Kingdom may be built up thereby.
STUDYING HOME MISSIONS AS A SOCIAL FORCE _
Maryland Ministers studying country·life problems at the State Agricultural College, in August, 1914 Home Missions as a Social Force BY REV. CHARLES L. THOMPSON, D.D., LL.D.
0 rapid has been the tion. Indeed, nothing of permanent value could remain because the eter- ISI development of social nal values of the future life were forces in mis.sion work the only ones. considered. that there is some dan- ger lest they hold too There is scarcely even a ruin to tell large a place on the where the feet of those early mis- stage of Christian activities. This sionaries trod. The record of their emphasis on social force is of recent labors is found in the volume of the growth. One need not go very historian, but never along the path far back in the history of missions to of their missionary enterprises. The discover an almost radical change of wilderness, a generation after their emphasis and perspective. labors, was empty of any sign that ever they had preached and toiled. Slowly at first, but steadily, the history of home missions in America Individual Evangelism has been a history of the broadening of its contents and meaning from the The evangelical missions of a hunindividual to the community. The dred years or more ago were also first missionary enterprises of the conducted almost wholly from the country were exclusively individual- standpoint of the individual. The istic. It was the man the missionary evangelists in the mountains of Kensought-the man in his relations to tucky and Tennessee gathered great eternity but separated from relations multitudes around them, preached a to the community in which he lived. gospel of personal salvation, wakened whole States to the call for the sur- The Jesuit mIssIons along the render of individual will to the will northern borders of the United States of the Master, but made little appeal were a crusade for individual salva- that was calculated to reform comtion-but that salvation meant only l11unities where those converts lived. the deliverance of the soul from fu- A t times social immorality even flourture penalties. As a result of those ished side by side with revival acmissions, which were heroic in the tivities.. highest degree, nothing of permanent The same may be said of the cirvalue remained to another genera-
cuit riders in. the Central West. sought that territory, and pledged There are no finer examples of themselves to missionary service for Christian heroism and the devotion its redemption. They were splendid of men who left eastern homes or men of iarge intellectual caliber, of went out from eastern seminaries at unsurpassed spInt and. devotion. the call of scattered settlers through- Wisconsin is a State of high moral out the vast regions of the Missis- ideals to-day largely because those sippi valley, They were burdened with men and others like them put the one great message,-the appeal for stamp of their devotion upon it in personal salvation, and the meaning the early days. Their work was of salvation itself centered largely, largely individualistic. In new and sometimes exclusively, around the scattered communities it is almost idea of preparation for death and necessarily so. The social forces had readiness for Heaven. Such work, scarce found themselves. The indiwhen successful, was marked by re- vidual, the family, the church-these vivals of religion which had a marked comprize the moral life of small hameffect on the moral tone of communi- lets and scattered communities. With ties. Multitudes pro fest faith in this limited impact on the growing Christ; they were enrolled as mem- life of the State it was quite natural bers in churches which grew, with that the minister should find the limitthe growth of the neighborhood, to be ing of his field and of his responimportant factors in the spiritual tone sibility. of those regions. It was scarcely, therefore, a matter This individualistic meaning of for surprize that the social forces of home missions continued far on to evil suddenly or slowly springing up recent times. It marked all the around him awakened the missionary western home mission development. to the fact that his ministry had not Under its influence churches were met all the needs of the people to founded, membership was increased, whom he was giving his message. and church ordinances were observed Moral and religious forces were not in thousands of western communities. adequately organized, and, with un- This work of the home missionary organized Christian elements, he was is responsible for any thing of high conducting a battle against evils enmoral tone now to be found in the trenched and growing strong almost villages, towns and cities of the West. before he was aware of their exist- Senator Hoar of Massachusetts, not ence. These evil forces were so long before his death, said on the thoroughly organized that he was not floor of the United States Senate able to meet them on equal terms. that he who would make record of Or, perhaps, seeing the enemy gainthe rapid advance of western civiliza- ing, and realizing that his message tion must take the home missionary was not equipping good people for into first account. successful battle, he has declined the fight, and has gone on preparing I recall the signal home mission people for death and Heaven, scarce achievements of Wisconsin as they knowing that this was not wholly were fifty years ago. A band of fulfilling the command of the Mashalf a dozen Princeton graduates
MISSIONS AS A SOCIAL FORCE
AN EXAMPLE OF HOME MIS SIONS 'AS A SOCIAL FORCE Italians studying English in classes at the Green Street Church, San Francisco terwhen He said, "Go and evangel- are emerging and confronting all ize all nations." good men which can not be dealt with by passive goodness. Christianity vV'e would not undervalue these is coming to a battle line which she did not elect-but which she can not early individualistic missionary la- decline. It is not too much to say bors-because always the individual that a spirit of intellectual unrest, tells on the community for good or regarding the province and capacity ill. A good man is, as Christ said, of our religion to deal with life in preservative salt and informing light. its social relations has come over Character tells far beyond any con- many earnest minds-an unrest scious intent. God has ordained that which is turning many people for the the Gospel ' of the Kingdom should time being away from the Church, act by contact; and whether men and making them inquire whether will it or no, what they are becomes there is not some better way to meet a force to make others like them. the troubles of society than any which the Church can suggest and Confronting Social Problema supply.
But the social force of home mis- Socialism is the concrete expression sions has a wider and more definite of that unrest. The Church has not meaning; a meaning prest on the accomplished what she was founderl consciousness of the Church by the trend o'f modern events. Problems
for-has not incarnated the spirit of gospel and tully meet her duties-not her Master-has not carried out His to individual men, but to men in program. Therefore, those who hold various corporate relations-this is these views seek for something else. her confession and the signal of her They will not find it. The panacea awaking strength. Nor is it to her for human ills, individu~l or cor- discredit that a battle call has forced porate, is not in denying or ignoring her awaking. Ever in all centuries the power resident in the Church, she has matched the occasions. She but in awakening its activity and giv- has been resourceful to meet what ing direction to that power. the times demanded. She has known The present time is full of signs for what time she has been called to that the Church must arise to her the Kingdom.
responsibility as the one efficient The time has now fully come when moral and spiritual force of the the Church must address herself to world, or she must lose her influence. meet and repair the wrongs of so- More is at stake than her orthodoxy. ciety, to which she has long been Her right to moral leadership is at measurably indifferent. At the best, stake. A few generations ago such she has been complaisant where she a statement would have been cause should have been antagonistic and for alarm, for not only was' the uncompromIsmg. If any say that so Church flat doing her full duty to- we will lose hold on or fail in em- ward the social life of the world, she phasis for the necessity of personal was not even – conscious of her fail- salvation it must be said that only ure, because no attack that threatened by maintaining that emphasis can her life was made upon her. Creeds there be any good hope for a suc- were questioned, and she defended cessful social battle. Only the men herself bravely and successfully. She and women who by personal faith and held her own dogmatically. The consecration have taken hold of the truth was hers-and hers was the hand of God-only they will be fit or logic by which she could maintain it. efficient in the broader struggle for But the attack has shifted. Men the redemption of men.
are not so much concerned about ~odern ~ethods the propositions in which the truth is formulated. They are now ques- Let us now glance at the lines tioning the life the Church is living along which the Church is trying to under the banner of those truths. meet her social obligations .in the Is she squaring herself with her doc- home mission enterprises. When the trines? In many past ages this ques- missionary was preaching only to tion would have had piercing power. scattered settlers on frontier farms, It still ha~ edge and point. But the his personal message may have one hopeful and assuring sign is in seemed to comprise his duty. To tell the fact that the question is no longer the man on the farm to be a good wholly from the outside. The man, a good son, husband, father, Church herself is raising it more and perhaps once a year to vote an sharply than her enemies. That she honest ticket, may have measured his has failed to fully interpret her own duty. But quicker than he could
realize, the settlement became a com- tion she alone can effectively give or munity, the village became a town, has thrown her power with worldly perhaps a city. Then came the at- powers that were increasing human tntlOns of life. People were thrown burdens and postponing human against each other-were bruised, brotherhood. beaten, enraged. Then came social alienations, conflicts-classes ranged The hopeful sign is that a change on this side and that. Injustice came is coming-has come. The Church, in, and with it came reprisals, and too slowly for her own good, but at before the preacher knew it he was last,. is taking her leadership in social in the midst of a battle. Civilization reconstruction. That leadership was was bringing on its problems. Life slipping away from her. Other and was no longer simple. It was com- less competent hands were reaching plicated and difficult and dangerous. for it. Now the missionary forces feel they must come to close quarters Now what had the preacher to say! with social troubles and heal them or Men were at war with each other, be beaten in their chief commission. and it was neither satisfying nor commanding to tell them to be good Take the questions of class antagand they would go to Heaven when onism with all that goes with them. they die. It is said it is no use to The Church was on the verge of talk peace just now to the contending losing .the people-and losing the hosts in Europe. They must first people would mean defeat. Not 10 fight it out. And so it is not enough per cent. of the working classes attendto speak eternal peace to men in an ed church. More than that, a feeling economic or industrial fight. They of hostility was growing up which. must first settle the battle on hand. boded no good for either Church or Show them the way to a right kind society. Working men in London of a victory in that battle and they while cheering the name of Christ will be ready for the next message. were anathematizing the C h u r c h. Something must be done. Within the So the gravest home mission prob- last decade something has been done. lem to-day is a social problem, and if the Gospel has any social force First, the Presbyterian Churchnow is the time to bring it out. Un- and in swift succession the Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, less the missionary in the mining and other churches, have addrest themselves to a social gospel for the camps of Colorado has conceived his meeting of social questions on the message in these ampler terms he is basis of Christian truth and the winhaving a hard time of it. He will ning of alienated or indifferent peopreach eternal hope to dull ears of ple back to the Church-the best those whose earthly life seems to friend of the working man. them an eternal despair. The Gospel ca~e to build God's Kingdom among The success of these efforts has men by establishing relations of jus- attested the willingness of people to tice, charity and brotherhood. That yield to the highest appeals and to Kingdom has not yet been built. Not acknowledge the old-time power of only so-too often the Church, the the Gospel over all classes and congreat builder, has declined the media- ditions of mankind. It were too
much to say that full success has been ed communities of the East; Indeed, achieved until the Church becomes the crowding largely makes the miscourageous enough to cIa i m her sion field-certainly in its social asright to speak to both sides in the pects. Hence New York is the greatconflicts between labor and capital, est home mission field in the country. and to speak with equal emphasis. There the greatest extremes meet, and She must not only be kind and con- there is the collision between classes, siderate to the one class, she must acknowledged or supprest, the sharpdare to impeach the other class with est and most threatening. its serious wrongdoing, with its greed and lust for power, and am- It is further accentuated by the bition for conquest. It is easy for race question also in its most acute the missionary in the slums of New form in the metropolis. And of the York to open chapel doors and give immigration question it may truly be welcome to over-burdened men and said the social gospel is the only women. It is not so easy for the effective solution. Unless Christian preacher on the avenue to arraign truth can be brought to bear on our capital for its merciless grip on those vast amalgam of races, all educaover-burdened people. But until pity tional and philanthropic movements and courage shall go hand in hand will largely fail. These aliens-not the missionary has a hopeless task. the off-scouring, but for the most part the best of the races, whence It is to be feared the equal em- they come, the people with vision and phasis is still lacking. Missionary longing and hope-need many things organizations are fairly well equipped at our hands; but nothing so much to meet the social needs growing out as a gospel not only of personal salof poverty and tl're wrong industrial vation but of social power which shall conditions which make poverty. They teach them how to live among stranhave given themselves with hopeful en- gers in brotherhood and helpfulness thusiasm to the task of making the –how to have a share in the moral unchurched mas s e s feel that the tlpbuilding of the community. Church is their friend and can be their savior. But the work will lag, In yet another direction does the and the fruits of it fail until the social force of home missions strikmessage and the missionary efforts ingly appear. I refer to the upbuildcease to be one-sided. There must ing of rural communities. That there be a repetition of the messages of is any problem in country life is a the old prophets denouncing extor- new idea. Of all regions the country tion and oppression, and making it was supposed to be free from probplain that those who persist in such lems. Life there was simple, direct, things must count on the uncom- comfortable, healthful and indepenpromising opposition and arraignment dent. What occasion had the farmers of the Church of Jesus Christ. for knitting their brows over social conditions? Their only trouble was In this view of duty to society it an occasional failure of crops; but, is manifest that home missions is not granted full garners, all the rest was an enterprise of the West only. It easy. has a special call to the more crowd- But students of economic, indus-
15] HOME MISSIONS AS ASOCIAL
trial and moral conditions in the ing themselves of country institutes country have reached very different to learn the science of rural upbuild- conclusions. They have sou n d e d ing; so many who had fallen into the notes of warning which in the. last ruts of country ministerial life, are few years have sharply turned the shaking themselves out of them and attention of missionary societies to are springing with avidity to the new the missionary call of rural communi- calling of vitalizing the moral and ties. Some of the facts challenging religious life of farming communities.
this attention are changes of popula- Did our young preachers but know tion from owners to renters; from it, here is the best post-graduate American to foreign elements; deser- course available to those who want tion of farms in many sections; in- to get intelligel;1tly to the springs of efficient school system; decline of American life; the finest clinic to values, unproductive farming meth- learn how. to deal with the broken ods, and decline of morals. So ef- body of community life.
fectively have these and other causes With such purpose and power are of country decline operated t hat the missionary societies giving them- thousands of c h u r c h e s have been selves to meet this problem before, in abandoned or closed. northern sections, it becomes as acute The call on home mission organiza- as it is in some sections of the South, tion is to resist the whole order of one may easily prophesy that soon this deterioration and to establish a our beautiful country regions will re~ new order which will bring thrift, cover, some of that charm-social and intelligence and morality. It shall not inlellectual-which entranced preach- be enough that the Gospel be faith- ers like Jonathan E d war d s and fully preached. The country minister Horace Bushnell in generations past.
must know conditions-must be re- Then the country will once more be- sourceful to meet them. It is some- come the fountain of civic. life, and times said it is not a minister's busi- by its flow to the cities save them ness to teach farming. To which it from the industrial, social, and poli- may be replied-if he is not broad tical iniquity which now abound.
enough to see when farming is badly Our civilization is bringing many done, he is not observant enough to perils in its train. Society is stag- be helpful at any point of country gering under them. But let us cheer construction. up. Let the social power of the One of the finest signs of the times Gospel once be fully let loose upon is in the fact that so many young these perils and they will lose their preachers see their chance; so many grip. In their stead will come the young and older preachers are avail- righteousness which exalts the nation.
KEEPING UP TO DATE In aJl lines of business to-day men read their trade journals. Doctors read their medical Pilpers, lawyers the law journals, and preachers a great many things: every man reads something bearing on his line of work. Every Christian should be engaged in the business of the Kingdom of God, and it should be the primary duty of each one to be informed about the progress of events connected with this Kingdom. No man can escape this responsibility for intelligent interest and information. Many ways may be suggested for keeping abreast of the present-day events, but we must read missionary papers.
Disintegration of the
l{eligions in Japan ':'
HEN that which is per- But forty years ago, when the influence of Western civilization came in like i Wi i feet is come, that which a flood and overflowed our land, the is in part shall be done learning of the Vest, political, legal, away!" With these and economic, was perceived to be far words the Rev. T. more minute and solid than the teach- . Watase, a Japanese ing of Confucianism. Gradually this became clear, and students became Congregational minister laboring in numerous; and when a constitutional Korea, concludes his interesting and government was established Confucianoriginal discussion of "The Process of ism lost its political importance. At Disintegration in Existing Religions," the same time the political teachings in the Shinjin magazine. contained in Confucianism became de- tached and distinct. That which had the This writer holds that each of the force of political maxims, adapted to great religions of Japan, considered as the use of a modern government, was a historical phenomenon, is of a com- appropriated and the rest was rejected. posite character, containing, besides the Then, too, the new educational spirit strictly religious elements, also ele- and policy were to raise the intelligence ments related to civil government, edu- of the people. It took an interest in cation, and philosophy. Upon such a cultivating the dignity and power of mass the new thought that is flooding man as a human being, and so natur- Japan acts much as an acid might at- ally diverged from a system that tack a mineral, with the result that merely aims' ultimately to make men disintegration takes place. The separ- rulers. What in the old was in harate elements, no longer held together mony with the modern system of eduas a system, either attach themselves cation was selected and adopted: so to those elements in the new civiliza- on this side also Confucianistn was tion to which they have affinity or are disintegrated." altogether lost. Now about Buddhism? "The his- This thought, applied to Confucian- torical Buddhism of Japan-the Bud- ism, works out as follows: "Among dhism of the 'Greater Vehicle'-is a religions, if it may be called a religion, philosophical system rather than a Confucianism is the first to yield to religion. When this is subjected to the process of disintegration. Analyzed, the analytical or disintegrating pro- it is seen that the parts which make cess, the philosophy is brought into the up the system are mainly rules for light; and then, when this is compared government, and these again appear as with the approved philos'Ophy of the essentials in education, but little is' world, the result for this form of taught about pure ethics, and still less Buddhism is as disastrous as that which about pure religion. has overtaken Confucianism."
"Now, while life-force dwelt in Con·· Discussion of this kind has' been fucianism, other things, as questions of government, law, and economy, were all subordinated or appended to it.
• Prel'ared under the auspices of the Christian Literature Committee of the Conference of Federated Missions. very much stimulated this year by the Christianity and Buddhism. I believe action of Mr. Tokonami, Vice-Minister that I am a Christian and a Buddhist of Home Affairs, in calling a confer- at the same time," but then, Dr. Kato ence of representatives of Buddhism, is not a profes'Sing Christian. Shintoism, and Christianity at Tokyo in February. It is not easy to estimate The Rev. D. Ebina is not reckoned the success or failure of this confer- among the conservatives. He belongs ence, but at least it has stimulated admittedly to the liberal wing of the interest in discussions related to religion Kumai (Congrgeational) body. It and its problems. In general, the may be inferred, therefore, that the Protestant press welcomed the confer- general position of the Christians is ence, the Roman Catholic journal at least as strong as his when he says looked upon it with suspicion, the in the Shinjin, of which he is the Buddhists condemned it, and the free- editor-in-chief: "Those who plan to thinkers ridiculed it. However, not blend Confucianism and Christianity, even the Protestants were unanimously or Confucianism, Buddhism and Chrisin favor. One of the smaller journals, tianity, or Buddhism and Christianity, the Sambi no Tomo, in an editorial or Shintoism and Christianity, do not entitled, "Are our Leaders Crazy?" know the real nature of Christianity. declared vigorously that for the Chris- Not only so, they must be called tians to attend such a conference was persons who do not understand the to debase the Savior and to confuse history of religion, and who will be- Him with what is low and vulgar. It queath not a little misfortune to future considers the words of the resolution generations." Such a disposition to adopted to be boastful, as' if to make blend religions is most agreeable to the Christ the patron deity of the Imperial mind of Japan to-day, but after all House. "If God purposes to bless the it is only temporizing. Imperial House," says the editor, "He will do so, but it is not for us to be Comparatively weak as' Christianity so condescending as to put Christ in still is in Japan, the Christian writers the list with civil government, educa- feel in themselves already the calm tion, Buddhism, and Shintoism, and to assurance that they are the heirs of offer His blessing." the future, that they have no need of anything the old systems have to con- From many quarters come reports tribute, and that there is no occasion that since the conference the interest for compromise. Certain people in in Christian preaching is deeper and America or Europe, may write with that the audiences are larger. On the respect, not unmingled with awe, of other hand, the Kirisuto Kyo Seka-i, "Bushido," but a Japanese writer in (Congregational) recently said that the the Fukuin Shimpo (Presbyterian conference had also helped to strengthen and Reformed) does not hesitate to and extend the idea that Christianity calI it "~ modern Don Quixote." and Buddhism were, after all, not so different, but that they might be easily This attitude came out prominently harmonized. Such an idea no doubt in the discussion of a project to erect exists more or less among non- a Shinto shrine to the memory of the Christians, but we have found no trace late Emperor. To the educated this of it in the Christian press. To be would be simply a monument, but the sure, Dr. G. Kato says in the Unitarian common people would regard it as a organ, the Rikugo Zasshi: "I think that place in which to pay divine honors to it is not impossible to harmonize the spirit of His Majesty, and the Christian press opposed it. The Shinto religion will some day be only a memory.
A Remarkable Chinese
(S ee Frontispiece Portrait) DING Lr MET is one of the most remarkable fruits of Christianity in China. He was born in Shantung Province, and is a Christian of the third generation. In his early young manhood he decided to enter the ministry, and went into <l theological school. When twenty-eight years of age he became a pastor, just at the beginning of the Boxer uprising; he was tortured by the Boxers in the magistrate's yamen, being beaten with heavy bludgeons and bamboo staffs. After five hundred blows, during which he had stedfastly refused to deny Christ, he was put into a foul dungeon, where, after regaining consciousness he began to preach Christ to his fellow prisoners. The Boxers planned to continue his torture later, uut Christians were praying for Ding, as they prayed for Peter in the days of Herod. Before his enemies could carry out their intention a German officer, who had been incensed at the magistrate's refusal to receive him, brought his soldiers into the city, seized the magistrate, and set free the prisoner. After the close of the Boxer rebellion, Pastor Ding took charge of a self-supporting church in Tsingtau, but a few years later was released to take up evangelistic work among students. In the spring of 19IO, when he visited the Union College at Weishien, none of the students had decided for the Christian ministry, and the religious life was very low. A short time after Pastor Ding began his work there the students began to pray, and, one by one, they volunteered for the Christian ministry, until one hundred and sixty men-the best in the college, including a gifted Chinese professor-had renounced their earthly ambitions, to enter the service of Christ.
He is one of the most respected and successful Chinese Christian workers in China. At I Chou fu lAOO inquirers came out in response to Pastor Ding's evangelistic work. In 1907 he was sent as a delegate to the World's Christian Student Federation Conference in Tokyo, Japan, and later attended the Japan- China Presbyterian Union at Shanghai. In 1908 he was elected President of the Federation of Missions in Shantung, and in 1909 was a delegate to the National Christian Endeavor Convention at Nanking.
In spite of all his success, Pastor Ding is a man of very modest and quiet demeanor, is a thorough Christian gentleman, and a man of unusual power. He is preeminently a man of prayer, and on his prayer-list are the names of hundreds of Christian leaders, not only in China, but in other lands, and for each of these he prays daily. Every place that Evangelist Ding Li Mei visits feels the power of his personality and message; many young men turn to Christ, and large numbers enter the Christian ministry. He is the founder of the Chinese Student Volunteer Movement for the ministry, which has been organized to include students in various provinces of China. He was the first Traveling Secretary of this Movement.
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– OF -" r"J!I> / BEST METHODS ,.,…………….. ,.,…/'
J CONDUCTED BY BELLE M. BRAIN, COLLEGE HILL, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK UNIFYING WOMAN'S WORK. IN THE LOCAL CHURCH REAT as the results of worker at a conference in New York. "Going out, I passed one on the street. mG ~ Woman's Work have It struck me as queer that while we had been, some leaders seem prayed for Chinamen in a missionary meeting, I had never yet thought of to think it should be con- doing anything for one in my own town.
ducted along broader ~ lines and with greater unity than at present. Altho he had passed before I got thus In some churches the viewpoint is far in my thinking, I turned and called narrow. Women work for Home and to him. Thus began an acquaintance; Foreign Missions in separate societies now we have organized a Chinese work that have little fellowship; and too often in our church with a regular class. Ve there is friction between them and the had never thought of it before."
societies whose activities are entirely A Suggested Remedy local. The missionary women take little interest in the local work and the In view of the oneness of the work "Ladies' Aiders" care nothing for mis- and the need of cooperation, some leadsions. The Best Methods editor was ers have come to feel that it would he amazed to learn, not long ago, of well if all the women's societies in a churches where the spirit of rivalry runs local church could be merged into one so high that when a new woman comes organization with many departmentsto the church (especially if she be the "omnibus societies," some one has called wife of a new pastor) she is "rushed" them. Others equally alive to the situa- by the different societies after the order tion do not favor thi".
of college fraternities! Such union societies are called in some Yet the work is all one, The terms churches "Woman's Associations"; in city, home, and foreign, as applied w others, "Woman's Unions," or "Woman's missions, can not be found in the Bible. Guilds." The plan of organization is They are human inventions, and through practically the same in all. It includes a broadening of vision and better com- the following points: prehension of the scope of missions will I. -A central set of officers in control eventually pass away. Home missionary of the entire body.
societies are finding their work largely 2. As many departments as there are with foreign peoples, and foreign mission- lines of work.
ary workers are coming to realize that 3- A small membership fee, payment they have a duty to the Blacks in of which makes a woman a member of America as well as in Africa, and that a the Association and all its departments.
Chinese in the United States is as well 4. Voluntary offerings payable either worth saving as his brother in the to the department treasurers for their Celestial Empire. "At one of our meet- special work or to the Association ings we prayed for the Chinese," said a treasurer to be divided according to some
previously agreed ujlon scale of per- Second Tuesday: centages. 3.00 p.M.-Home Missionary Depart- ment. 5. One day in each week set apart as "Woman's Day" on which the depart- Third Tuesday: ments hold their meetings in rotation. 9.30 A.M.-Sewing meeting. I1.00 A.M.-Church and Home Depart- A Model Woman's Asaociation ment. The practical workings of a Woman's I2.30, A.M.-Basket Lunch. Association can be best understood by a concrete example. Through the kind- Fourth Tuesday; 3.00 p.M.-Foreign Missionary Departness of Mrs. Everett E. Kent, the presi- ment. dent, we are able to give the following account of the Woman's Association in The controlling aim of the Associa- Eliot Congregational Church, Newton, tion as stated in its handbook is to draw Mass., which has had a long and success- within its circle every woman in the ful experience. Eliot congregation, the ideal being, not large gifts and arduous labors from the The Association is manned by seven few, but gifts of money and of service officers-president, two vice-presidents, from each according to her ability. recording and corresponding secretaries, treasurer and auditor. There are three "I am glad to testify," sayS' Mrs. Kent, departments, Home Missionary, Foreign "to the advantage of uniting the women Missionary, and Church and Home, each in any church, thereby doing away with with itS' own officers, and there are eight the petty rivalries and one-sided viewstanding committees-Finance, Hospi- points which have, I believe, had a contality, Relief, Library, Entertainment, siderable place in church life. Our House, Literary and Work. With the Association was formed seventeen years exception of the Eliot Guild, a young ago by Mrs. William H. Davis, wife of woman's organization, all the junior Dr. Davis, at that time our pastor, societies are departments under the Asso- There were then the usual Home and ciation, their leaders being appointed by Foreign Mis'sionary Societies, the Sewing it. The officers of the Association with Circle, etc. I can not speak of conthe officers of the departments, chairman ditions then, as I was too young to have of the standing committees, and leaders a part in them; but I do know that in of the junior work constitute an execu- other churches the women who belonged tive board which meets before the to the 'Ladies' Aid' had no interest in monthly busine~s meetings and at other the Missionary Society and vice verN, times at the caii of the president. and that any sense of the largeness of the work of the church was greatly lack- The annual membership fee is 25 cents, ing. For years we stood among the payable to the Association treasurer, who pioneers, but to-day the movement is also receives gifts for the Church and spreading fast. Home Department. Contributions to Home and Foreign Missions are paid "Next year we hope to have a Home directly to the treasurers of these de- League; and are planning ways to bring partments. in shut-ins and business women and busy mothers to share in the work through Tuesday is "Woman's Day" in the study of the text-books, interesting Board church and during a given month a literature and exhibit boxes." woman may have a part in all its varied activities. The schedule is' as follows: The Attitude of the Boards First Tuesday: In order to get the attitude of the 9.30 A.M.-Sewing meeting. various Women's Boards on the unifica- IO.30 A.M.-Business meeting. tion of woman's work in the local church, the foHowing questions were sent to
OF BEST METHODS
eleven organizations representing nine we have found that where the plan has denominations: been tried the foreign missionary in- I. Do you favor the merging of all the women's societies in a local church, in- terests have suffered. The merging cluding the Ladies' Aid, into one organiiation? serves to strengthen the local work of 2. If so, what steps are you taking to the Ladies' Aid at the expense of the induce your auxiliaries to make the change? work farther afield."
3. What proportion of your auxiliaries There are, however, many individual are so organized? . officers who are greatly in favor of uni- 4. Do you put out any literature on the sUbject? fication, even in Boards which are The answers reveal a wide difference, opposed to it. "In the multiplicity of both in opinion and practise. Two organizations, the Baptist Woman's Foreign engagements that confront the women Missionary Society and the Southern Presbyterian Woman's Auxiliary, are of our churches to-day these union decidedly in favor of the union idea; four are decidedly opposed to it; three organizations are bound to increase," exprest no preference whatever; one favors it only under certain circum- says the secretary of a board whose stances; one is divided on the question, some of its officers opposing, same favor- officers are not heartily in favor of it; ing it under certain conditions, and some regarding it as ideal. "and we must see to it that our mission- One board reported that so far as ary work is conserved by having the known not a single one of its auxiliaries was organized on the union plan; nine right kind of organization. The wrong were unable to give the exact number so organized; one, the Woman's Congrega- kind was brought to my attention by a tional Board of Missions, reports that more than 200 of its I,200 auxiliaries are caller yesterday morning from a church Woman's Associations or Unions. where they have a Woman's Union meet- Only one organization, the Squthern Presbyterian Woman's Auxiliary, is ing once a month. The meeting begins making any effort to induce its societies to become unions, and it alone puts out at eleven o'clock. From eleven to twelve any literature on the subject, tho the Baptists are agitating it through their once in three months they have a foreign magazine, Missions. missionary meeting; once in three months The reason for the opposition of so many of the Woman's Boards is well a home missionary meeting; and once in exprest by the president of one of them as follows: "We do not favor the three months the meeting is devoted to formation of Woman's Associations in which all the women's societies in the their local church work. After this they local church are merged into one organization. We have comparatively few have luncheon and in the afternoon a societies so organized, and I may say that speaker on some popular (!) subject such as suffrage, anti-suffrage, etc.
"This shows why our missionary so- cieties do not favor such organizations, for they often mean much Jess time devoted to the study of missions. But they are bound to come, and the thing for us to do is to suggest an ideal plan and steer those churches contemplating such unions away from their objection- able features." .
The following letter from another sec- retary whose Board reported against unification contains many strong points and is worthy of careful study: "I do not happen to know of many societies organized in this way," she says, "but in regard to those I a~l1 familiar with, I can say that they are a tremendous success. I shOUld advise by all means in starting a new church to organize the
women as one society, with different with the world fields and gained a wider departments, for not only does it make vision-women whose interests formerly impossible the deplorable divisions of the had been wholly in the local work; (3) women, but I believe on the whole that the work is presented as one big whole- the missionary department would receive local, city, country, the world. This;s greater attention and greater interest, broadening, to say the least.
surely, by the larger number. This, how- "Perhaps there is some danger that ever, would depend to a great extent such a society will enter too many fields.
upon the leaders in the church. Our women are called upon to support "Vhen it comes to reorganizing a the Associated Charities in our city, to society which has been running a loag have a representative in the Y.M.C.A.
time in the old way, there might be Auxiliary, the Presbyterian Hospital, etc.
difficulty unless there was in evidence a Then there is the que;;tion of how far real spirit of unity and a desire for we should go into civic questions in a better methods. This, however, has been woman's society, but I am not prepared c10nein the last few years with a large to say that this is a danger, so long 2.S degree of success in the First Congre- the bigness of the work abroad and its gational Church, which is the moth~r vital importance is held aloft. I am church of the town. They are delighted growing to feel that the bigger we are with it and a number of other churches at home, the bigger we will be to under- have reorganized their women's societies take the big problems of the foreign as a result. field."
"The First Presbyterian Woman's So- It is a significant lact, that has no ciety has never known any other form little bearing on the present discussion, of organization and they are very con- that in August, 1912, when the Southern fident that there is no method to compare Presbyterian Church, which is taking with it. Our church, the Second Presby- such advance steps for missions, organ- terian, followed the plan of the First ized its Woman's Auxiliary, it recom- Church, and we know nothing else. Of mended that in every church all the course, as we never have suppers or women's societies, together with the bazaars or entertainments for raising organized women's Bible classes, be money we do not have the Ladies' Aid united in one organization with different problem. Our women sew for the departments. The latest of the evan- various charities of the city. All the gelical denominations to organize its women's societies here meet twice a W oman's Work, this action was taken month, and generally for all-day meet- after a thorough investigation of the ings with luncheon. In societies where forms of organization in use in other there is a strong Ladies' Aid, an hour churches. "Enlisting all the women of could easily be found for transacting' the Church in all the work of the such business, and they could sew for Church," is their aim and ambition.
their church instead of for charity, but Under the efficient direction of Mrs.
all would be present for the missionary W. C. Winsborough, superintendent of program. the Woman's Auxiliary, many churches "My arguments· are (I) it unifies the have already reorganized their work on work, doing away with the old divisions these lines, and tho the new order of and consequent ill-feeling and jealousies; things has been in operation less than (2) all the women of the church listen three years, the beneficent results are to the program or take part in it. I already being felt. Attendance at the have seen wonderful development of the meetings is larger, the gifts to all causes women as they have come in contact have greatly increased, and the interest
OF BEST METHODS
in missions is growing deeper all the the six Vice-Presidents passed into the while. parlor and stood on each side of a table, behind which stood Mrs. Bettie Waters. A Unique Wedding Ceremony The chords of this grand old hymn soon merged into Mendelssohn's "Wedding When societies have been in existence March," under the deft fingers of Miss for half a century or more it costs some- Boddie, our church organist. thing to change the form of organizatio'1, even tho the members recognize the Mrs. E. B. Wright, President of the wisdom of it and believe it to be best. Home Mission Society, acting as bride, "When a society dating back in organ- and Mrs. M. I. Hoskins of the Foreign ization to 1848, and having a prestige of Missionary Society, as groom, marched sixty years of varied and unbroken slowly forward and stood directly in front service, was, with others, merged into a of the table. Mrs. Waters, whose name united whole," says a Southern Presby- has been closely allied with the woman's terian worker, "every man and miss-ionary work of North Alabama for woman possessing any sentiment felt as thirty years or more, was chosen to officiate tho a great tree in the forest had been on this occasion, being a charter meml- -,r felled. But the sort of faith Paul of both societies, having assisted in the eulogizes gave strength and courage to organization of each. She gave a short 'forget the things that ate behind and history of the societies, of their many press forward toward the mark.''' struggles in the past, and exprest much joy at their having reached the happy day At Silver Bay last summer the Best of union. Her words of er.couragement Methods editor heard of a wealthy and and cheer were an uplift to all present. aristocratic church in a New York After the unification ad<lress, the memsuburb, where the women shed many bers of both societies joined hands and tears when their beloved missionarv sang, "Blest Be the Tie That Binds." society was merged with others into ~ Woman's Association. Yet, believing it A Woman's Year Book to be best, they heroically made the sacrifice. Five or six years ago,JIlt the suggestion of the Rev. John Clark Hill, D.D. (at that In a Southern Methodist Church in time the pastor), the various organi- Northern Alabama, where the women zations of women in the First Presbyhad been working for Home and Foreign terian Church, Springfield, Ohio, unittd Missions in separate societies, it was in the publication of a "Woman's Year decided, after much thought and prayer, Book," which proyed such a help that to consolidate the two. Each had had a it has been issued annually ever since. long and successful history and it seemed It includes the Voman's Missionary hard to see them go, yet the members de- Society, the Local Aid Society, the Oakcided to make the consummation of the land Local Aid and Mothers' Club, the union a joyous and happy occasion. This Young Woman's Study Club, the Girls' took the form of a unique "wedding" Club and the Cradle RoIl Ten, and gives held at the parsonage, the contracting the officers of each organization, toparties being the presidents of the two gether with the dates of all the meetings, societieS'. The following account of it the reports of the several treasurers, and is reprinted from The Missianary Vaiee: the members and monthly programs of the Missionary Society. The large number of guests were received by the hostess, Mrs. Ira F. Hawkins. The The little booklet (3~ x 5~ inches) Presidents and Vice-Presidents assembled contains 24 pages, and is a model of wise in the dining-room adjoining; and to the arrangement and concise statement. It strains of "Onward, Christian Soldiers," not only affords a convenient directory of all the women's societies, but binds
them together and unifies their work, to wise or possible to merge all the societies some extent at least. There is no pool- into one organization, this is an excellent ing of funds and no central control, but plan. It does much to foster the spirit once a year, at the annual meeting of the of harmony and cooperation, and in Missionary Society, they all come to- churches where the ultimate unification . gether and give complete reports of their of woman's work is desired but must be work. accomplished by slow degrees, it might serve as a first step toward that end. In churches where it does not seem A PHYSICIAN'S CHART OF FOUR SOCIETIES SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS REMEDY CHURCH OF LONGV1EW Lack of balanced rations; Supplement present diet witb Long distance vision only; Home Mission food. This Church-Membership …….. 400 Inability to see clearly objects varied menu will attract all Missionary Societies in classes of women and growth close at hand. in membership and increased Church .•…………••.••. 1 interest wiJI result in both Home and Foreign Mission NAME: The Foreign Missionary work. Society Society Membership ••.•••••. 16 When Organized? ••…••.. 1899 Study and give to Foreign Mis· sions only.
CHURCH OF SLOW VALLEY 13piritua] Anemia; Appoint wide-awake Program Mal-Nutrition; and Social Committees; Secure Missionary Society of 60 mem- Slow Starvation; at least 30 subscriptions to the bers Dwarfed Development. Survey; Place 30 or more Praver Colendars; Organize a Average attendance ….•••••. 15 Study Class. Study Classes •..•••…..•.•.. 0 MiSSIOnary Surveys taken ..•.. 0 Prayer Calendars.•..••……•0 LADIES' AID OF Busy TOWN Near sighted vision. Let each member earn part of Wasted time, and Poor Arith- her dollar at home, :inet .sJ>end 2S Members. Work hard six some of the society time -in months to prepare for Bazaar, metic. study and prayer for WORLD- hy which $25.00 is made for WIDE Missi()I1s. Mountain School.
CHURCH 0]1' PROGRESS HILL Growth Steady; Pulse Normal; Continue same diet, exercise and Vision Perfect; Circulation outlook. Long life and much Church-Membership …….. 150 fruit is uncertain. Members in Missionary Natural: Splendidly Healthful.
.Society _. _….•..••.••. 50 New Members .••.••.•••••• 10 Increase in gifts to all causes •…….••••••••••20% Surveys taken ….•••••••••40 Prayer Calendars ….•.•••• 50 Study Classes .••..•.••••••• 2 —c-From the Missionary Survey.
How the Bands Solved a Schenectady than 200 women in the congregation, and Problem less than half of them in the society. How to win every woman-they aimed Three years ago the Woman's Mis- at nothing less-was a much-discust sionary Society of Emmanuel Baptist question. Many things had been tried, Church, Schenectady, N. Y., found itself but as yet nothing had solved the probwith 100 members on the roll-not a bad lem. showing, most societies would think. But the devoted workers in the church were At last one woman had an inspiration. far from satisfied. There were more Why not divide the society into groups.
OF BEST METHODS
and put a leader over each? The work came up for consideration all she executive committee liked the suggestion had to do was to call a meeting of the and after much prayerful consideration captains and they at once took it up with formulated the following plans and put their bands.
them into execution: The plan does not seem to deteriorate I. The society was divided into ten with time. The Best Methods editor bands and a captain was appointed for had the privilege of being present at the each. The division was largely, but not annual meeting last March and listen~d wholly, along geographical lines, women with pleasure to the fine reports of the in one neighborhood generally being officers and the captains of the bands.
grouped together. She was also present by special invitation 2. No rules were laid down for the at the entertainment given in honor of conduct of the ball;ds, the captains being the winning band.
left unhampered in their work. They The following points concerning the might hold meetings or not as seemed work of the bands are reprinted from best, try any new plans or methods that an article written for The Helping Hand promised to be helpful, and take up any by Mrs. Jones at the request of its editor, line of missionary work that specially Mrs. Helen Barrett Montgomery: appealed to them. "As a rule the bands hold meetings in 3· The following system of credits was their homes. In many cases the women devised, and each captain asked to keep bring their sewing and spend the after- a careful record of the work accom- noon, tea and sandwiches being furnished plished by her band: by the hostess. Some of the bands ha ve A new member secured for the SocietY… 5 a prearranged program. In others the A meeting of the band ………….. , … 2 captains are prepared with clippings from Each member present at the meeting of the magazines or some topic that will start a discussion. At one meeting all the Society ……………………… I sorts of objections to missions were A new subscription to The Helping Hand.2 brought in, one member having been A new subscription to Missions ……….2 appointed to answer them. It was a A renewal to either of the above maga- fine meeting.
zines …………………………… 1 Each quarter's dues paid in promptly …. I Each baby secured for the Baby Band.•.•1 4· At the end of the year when the "Several of the bands have 'adoptect'
reports were all in, the band that made a missionary, and many a little gift such the best showing was to be entertained as a pretty little new-style neckpiece by the defeated nine. or a dainty apron has found its way to Under the efficient leadership of the the sister on the field. Several Christ- president, Mrs. F. K. Taylor, and ;:tn mas boxes were sent out, and one band unusually devoted corps of helpers, the had a different member write a letter bands worked wonders in Emmanuel each month to their missionary on the Church. At the end of the first year foreign field. The letters in response the society had made large gains in mem- were wonderfully helpful. Some who bership (the winning band alone reported were lukewarm became quite interested twenty-five new members), a number of through the personal touch.
new sUbscriptions to the magazines had "The second year a number of young been secured, and the increase in interest women who had joined, but were em- had been very great. It was found ployed during the day and could not possible to do away with collectors, as attend the meetings, were formed into each band looked after its own offerings, a separate band. They grew rapidly in and the president found her work some- numbers and held their meetings in the what lightened. Whenever any special evening. They easily 'won out' the
second year and were rewarded with a or printed page is good for reference in Progressive-information Supper. Our the future. When a woman joins this membership at the end of the second band she is given a letter describing year was about 180. more in detail the work that is being attempted. It is a regular follow-up "In summer, when so many band mem- system. bers are away that there are too few to hold a meeting, two or three bands meet "Once a year the bands disorganize together, each band receiving a credit. and are reformed, bringing together a One band has appointed two of its mem- new set of women. This increases the bers as a special lookout committee. circle of acquaintance besides giving Their work is to greet each new woman each one an opportunity to find the right member of the" church when she receives groove. We work primarily for the the right hand of fellowship, tell her missionary cause, secondly for the soabout the society and invite her to join. ciety. The bands are merely incidental They are provided with printed programs -a means to an end. The rivalry is of the society, together with small insets entirely friendly, and by the meetings in prepared by their band setting forth the one another's homes, sociability is progeneral facts in regard to the society and moteld. But the entertainment in the the bands. What goes in at the ear is homes must be kept very simple. The liable to be "forgotten, while the written more simple, the less formal, the better."
Customary Officen LEADER OrganizatioR and Usual Officers and and Secretaries of Moets every Sunday meetin1! same plan following Commitflome and Foreign as Woman's Society; tees: Visiting Com- Missions, of Y. P. includes all y~)Ung mittee, Charit work and Christian Committee, Social !Lducation. Mem- ladies in church. Committee, Pastor"s bership includes all Aid Committee, Lowomen in church, The quarterly meeting of the Auxiliary is :al Church Commit- !!nd Society meets' the clearing-house for all the woman's work ()of !e. Meets three monthly on "Church the church. It is usually held in the evening. time. each month. day." Study and All the congregation is invited to atte~d. Re· ports of all the departments composlOg the give to all the causes Auxiliary are presented and new plans of work of the church. outlined. A social hour follows.
WOMAN'S WORK IN THE LOCAL CHURCH PREPARED BY MRS. W. C. WINSBOROUGH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA Superintendent' of the Woman's Auxiliary, Presb yterian Church. U. S.
E ITODI
WHAT NON.CHRISTIANS SAY OF mentary on the effectiveness .of Chris- tianity, but is the result of failure to I THE WAR put into practise the teachings of jesus NTELLIGENT non-Christians recog- Christ. nize the difference between real and nominal Christianity, between the Christ THE NEED FOR INTERCESSORY ideal and the defective realization of PRAYER that ideal in national and personal life. It is nevertheles.s true that the masses DR. JOHN R. MOTT writes in the of mankind do not think deeply and Intcrnational Review of Missions: there is naturally a grave danger that "There is greater need to-day than ever the present European war may be us~d before of relating the limitless power as an argument against the effective- of united intercession to the missionary ness of Christianity. enterprise. A time of unexampled op- portunity and crisis like the present is Bishop Montgomery, the secretary cf one of grave danger. There have been the Society for the Propagation of the times when in certain parts of' the Gospel, at a recent meeting of the world the situation confronting the Anglican Board of Missions, discust Church was as serious and as inspiring the effect of the war upon missions as it is to-day; .but has there ever been abroad. He quoted the Peking Gazette, a time when sin,ultaneollsly in so many which remarked: "The sight of eighteen non-Christian lands the facts of need to twenty millions of men engaged in and opportunity presented such a rethe brutish work of slaughter in the markable appeal to Christendom as filth of blood is indeed a terrible com- now? mentary upon the influence of Christianity in Europe during the last r,200 "We should be on our guard lest we years." devote a disproportionate amount of time and thought to investigation and The attitude of the non-Christian to discussion and to plans for the utiliraces, the Bishop thinks, will eventually zation of availab!e human forces, and be determined by the way in which the not enough of attention to what is imwar is prosecuted from a moral point measurably more important-the relatof view, and by the manner in which ing of what we do personally and corpeace is finally established. It must not porately to the fountain of divine life be a war of aggrandizement for more and energy. The Christian world has territory, or for a big indemnity. the right to expect from the leaders of Nothing will arrest the attention of the missionary forces not only a more non-Christians more than such an atti- thorough handling of the facts and tude. methods, but also a larger discovery of superhuman resources and a greater ir- The sympathetic brotherliness of radiation of spiritual power." British and German missionaries on the field will be taken as a true evidence of The Bishop of Upsala, Sweden, has the power. of Christ. It will be of joined with the Bishops of Finland, great advantage if everywhere in non- Hungary and Norway, the Archbishop Christian lands the truth is emphasized of Denmark and pastors of Lutheran that this war is in no sense a com-
and Reformed churches in Holland and sionary movement is the danger of seek- Switzerland to ask the Christian ing to secure for missions wider recogchurches in America to pray for peace. nition by laying stress on secondary considerations in place of the primary A STUDENT DAY OF PRAYER motive of obedience to the will of Christ. The temptation is strong in the advocacy D R. MaTT has just sent out a new of missions to place in the forefront the call for the observance of the Uni- contribution which they make to civiliversal Day of Prayer for Students called zation and culture, and to appeal on this by the World's Student Christian Feder- ground for increased support. The conation. Enclosed with this call was a re- tribution is real, but it is only an inprint of Mr. Beaver's article, which we cidental result of missionary work. To published in our January number, on enlarge upon it may interest thoughtful "The War and the Way Out." It was people, but wholehearted and enthusiastic sent with a perso~al letter, to every workers for the cause can be won only Student Christian Association, in order by directing attention to the heart and to emphasize the unusual urgency of inner spring of the movement. There adequate preparatlOD Tor this Day of is no vitalizing energy in secondary Prayer. Dr. Mott says: "The present motives. No support of missions that world situation constitutes the most comes from some other way than that of powerful call to prayer ever extended to the Cross is worth having. North American students. It is a time for penitence and true searching of FROM A MISSIONARY VIEWPOINT heart to discover wherein we may be responsible for unbrotherly relations, such JNthaotu· gr eJnaenrouuasryfrnieunmdbsermiwghet suggested as have involved our fellow students of cooperate Europe in the testing and temptations of war. A majority of the students in the in the way of sending the REVIEW to belligerent nations have enlisted; thousands have been slain and wounded. But miSSionaries on the frontier. Many when all international fellowships seemed to be breaking, the leaders and letters that have come to tis from members of our Christian Federation were held together by the bonds of these advance guards of the Church prayer. Shall we not, therefore, pray in confidence that the self-sacrificing de- indicate how greatly such a gift would votion of European students to their country may inspire the students of be prized and how valuable it would North America with more intense devotion to Christ's greater work of re- prove in their intellectual and spiritual construction ?" life and work. We quote from one of Students and friends are asked to observe Sunday, February 28th, as this Day these letters just received from a mediof Prayer. cal mlsslOnary of the Presbyterian THE PERIL OF FALSE MISSIONARY MOTIVES Church (South) to Korea. He says: DR. W ARNECK of Germany ha~ "I most heartily second your appeal written in the Allgemeine Missions- Zeitschrift, on the temptations of mis- for the REVIEW to be sent to missionsionary workers, and shows that one of the greatest perils that besets the mis- aries at their stations. Some years· ago, Mr. Louis Huggins, an elder of the First Church of St. Joseph, Mis- souri, asked the missionaries at differ- ent stations what magazines they would like for the coming year. I named the MISSIONARY REVIEW, and the Journal of the· American Medical Association, and for several years he sent these two. I can not tell the immense benefit they have been to me. They have added greatly to my efficiency as a mis-
EDITORIALS
sionary and have given me a greater POWER AND MACHINERY knowledge of the missionary problems and how to solve them. . . . I believe M ANY earnest workers confuse the Boards could well afford to include power and machinery. Some dis- the MISSIONARY REVIEW as a necessary credit emphasis on one, some neglect part of the missionary's outfit. . . . It the other. We have heard missionary would also add largely to the solution advocates uphold the principle of of the Home Base question if the securing and sending out spirit filled REVIEW could be put in the hands of men and women without any special every pastor. The minister is the key emphasis on intellectual equipment or to the whole problem. If the mission- organized work. Others have put so ary committee would start their work much stress on the need of intellectual by seeing that the pastor is supplied attainments, of sufficient money and with the REVIEW, that would be a long proper organization that the spiritual start to success in enlisting that par- life and power necessary seemed to be ticular Church in missions. . , . overlooked. Both machinery and power are necessary for the most effective "Then there is a great body of other work, but the greatest and most Christians to be reached with the in- irreparable loss is felt when men fail spiring messages that make the REVIEW to put first the dependence on God's a power. Is there not some way in Spirit, for abiding results. Dr. John which this clientele can be largely in- Timothy Stone, of Chicago, recently creased? . . . This would, I believe, said: s'oon result in a deeper, more prayerful, more sacrificial interest in the evan- "The world has comparatively few gelization of the world." extraordinary tasks to perform, but It has countless ordinary tasks. There are "FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES" few extraordinary men, but the world is filled with ordinary men whom God ATTENTION is called to the new can use if they will let Him. We need feature which first appeared in the the vision of the Most High. We need January number of the REVIEW, back a fuller realization of the presence of of the Frontispiece-in "Fuel for Mis- our God to solve the problems, local .sionary Fires." This fuel consists of and general, individual and collective, striking facts that may be found in the problems within the local church the pages of the current number, and and the problems within the church at that are there elaborated. These facts large." are suitable for Church Calendars and quotation in the pulpit, or in mission- THREE PRINCIPLES OF GIVING :ilry meetings. When a church or an individual has no interest in missions, T HE members of a negro church in .it· is either because there is a lack of Jamaica resolved to give money for Christianity or a lack of information. the support of a native evangelist, who It is a duty and a privilege for pastors would preach the gospel to their yet and 'other Christians, with the mission- unsaved brethren. They elected a ary spirit and vision, to furnish the treasurer (so says Frauen Missions .facts and so kindle and keep alive the Blatt), and appointed a day for remission fires. We hope that a large ceiving the money. When all were use will be made of these "fagots" present the treasurer, an aged man, selected from the monthly store fur- proposed three principles which were nished by the REVIEW. unanimously accepted:
All will give something. Prayer has also even a larger place Each will give as much as he or she is than usual in the conferences of the Home and Foreign Mission Boards .,f able. North America, which meet in New Each will give cheerfully. York and in Garden City, Long Island, January 12th to 14th.* After several had brought forward their gifts, an old negro, who was An interdenominational prayer servknown to be rich, stept up and laid ice was held on Friday, January 8th, $2 on the table. The treasurer returned in the Church of St. Nicholas, New it otnd said, "Dis gif' may be accordin' York, under the auspices of the to de furst princ'ple, but, brudder, it is Woman's Missionary Continuation Com- not accordin' to de second." The negro mittee. On Sunday, January loth, the took back his money and returned to afternoon and evening were given over his seat. After a moment he returned to special prayer meetings in prepara- and threw down $20 on the table, as tion for the Home and Foreign Mishe remarked sullenly, "Hyar, maybe dat sion Conferences, and joint nOODday is enough." Quietly the old treasurer prayer services were held on subsequent returned his money, and replied: days. It is not surprizing that the "Brudder, dis may be accordin' to de conferences this year were marked by first and second princ'ples, but it am unusual power and by an even greater not accordin' to de third." Again the spirit of fellowship and cooperation negro took his money, and, full of among the various boards and ~o wrath, sat down in a corner of the cieties. church. After a time, however, he returned, and smilingly approaching the The Home Mission Council, which table, gently placed on it one hundred met in New York, January 12th to dollars with the word!>: "I give dis gif' 14th, made definite progress in their cheerfully in de name of de Lord discussion of work for American In- dians, immigration problems, a de- nominationalprogram for missionarY Jesus." Then the old treasurer jumped education, the country church, and up and taking both hands of the interdenominational problems.
negro, cried out: "Dis is all right, The Foreign Missions Conference at brudder, it agrees with all three prin- Garden City, January 13th and 14th, c'ples I" faced squarely many questions of Would it not be well if each of us pressing importance. The address by would consider these three principles in Dr. John R. Mott on "The War and our giving? Missions" was a masterly and stirring review of the situation. Other timely PRAYER AND CONFERENCE ON topics discust were the native Church MISSIONS and its autonomy, missionary finances, interboard work, and United Mission ONE effect of the crisis brought on campaigns. by the world war has been to send Christians everywhere to their knees. These union conferences in America, In England, France, Germany and England, Germany, and the mission America there are many signs of in- fields are exerting an increasing increased earnestness; churches are more fluence and promise larger things for largely attended; prayer meetings are the Kingdom of God. increasingly intense and revivals have been reported both among soldiers in • A fuller report of these conferences will be camps and among civilians at home. given in March.
WODLD-WlD,E
MISSIONADY NEWS THE CHINESE REPUBLIC were praying that a spiritual awakening might come to the school. From the Statistics of Missions first meeting there was a profound interest, and altho most of the boys THE latest statistics of evangelical had never experienced a revival of this Church membership in the republic sort, as soon as the invitation was given of China give 470,000. There are 546 to come to the front and seek God's forordained Chinese pastors and 5,364 un- giveness, a great number came forward, ordained workers; 4,712 Chinese Chris- many with tears confessing their sins. tian school-teachers, 1,789 Bible women, and 49<> native assistants in the hospitals. Out of a school of one hundred and Chinese Protestant Christians contrib- twenty-five students, fifty-eight acknowluted last year $320,000 for Christian edged conversion, seven of whom are work. There are 85,241 Chinese boys from government schools. Twenty-eight and girls in the primary and day mission made pledges to give their lives to the schools and 31,384 students in the inter- preaching of the Gospel, including one mediate high schools and colleges main- of the teachers. Twenty-nine took the tained by the evangelical church. The first step in joining the Church at the hospitals number 235, with 200 dispen- morning preaching service on the last saries, where 1,322,802 patients were day of the meetings, and a number gave treated last year. their Tames as desiring to take further steps. They are anxious to select lead- Revival in a Chinese School ers to go to the out-station schools and conduct three-day revival meetings. M R. J. B. WOLFE, a missionary of the American Board, writes of a Evangelization of Chinese Cities revival in the boys' high school at Taiku, Shansi. This school is' supported by THE Presbyterian Board of Foreign the students of Oberlin, a college that Missions and the China Council and has erected a memorial to the alumni the Shantung Mission have undertaken who perished in the Boxer uprising. A a new evangelistic enterprise called the series of revival meetings was conducted China Cities Evangelization Plan. Dr. last spring by Tseng Kuo Chih, pastor Charles Ernest Scott, one of th~ most of the Methodist church in Tientsin. active missionaries of the Board, is en- Many boys had come into the school deavoring to raise funds for this work during the past year from government in the province of Shantung. The main schools and had heard very little about lines of the work are to be in the hands Christianity. Many pupils had taken the of the Chinese native leaders. The first steps in church membership but had ancient walled cities, with other centers, become cold. There was also a large which have heretofore been inaccessible, nucleus of students hungry for a spiritual are now open to missionary work. MI'. blessing, and these began to pray that Scott says: "If we do not quickly meet a revival might come. A large number this opportunity, and give them the of friends, both Chinese and foreign, Gospel, to take the place of what they. heard about the proposed meetings, and
have given up, the tide will turn, and and 35 who have been officials. Canton we shall lose our opportunity. General Christian College Association cares, Li Yuan Hung, Vice-President of the through Bible classes, for the spiritual Chinese Republic, himself· a Christian, needs of 250 men who are working on has urged the missionaries to press this the campus, and publishes a newspaper. upon the Home Church. Five years hence it will be too late. The task, as A Leader of New China outlined, involves an expenditure of $IOo,ooo-the biggest single task that T HE three missionaries of the Forhas ever confronted the Christian eign Christian Missionary Society Church." stationed in Nantungchow, China, have a great opportunity to cooperate with Chinese in Mission Councils Chang Chien, president of Yuan Shi Kai's cabinet, and one of the greatest T HE North China Mission after fifty men of China. He has his great mills years spent in laying foundations there and is making Nantungchow and and in training Christian workers has district a model for China. He has come to an epoch-making time, re- opened schools in the city, village, and organizing so as to give the Chinese country, in the temples, setting the equal share in its councils. Mr. Stanley idols in the alcoves at the side and and Pastor Li are the two chairmen. using the main part for modern schools. Seats in the chapel at Tungchou arc To train teachers he has built with his arranged so that the men face the own money a normal school for 480 women. Each has a special seat, one men, and one for 300 women, and is~ Chinese woman with one foreign lady. trying to train leaders for this great The summary of "needs" that this new, work as best he can. He has asked energetic and democratic body compiled the Mission to' help him and has preincluded this statement: "Lintsing sta- sented them with the finest piece of tion presses its request for a man phy- land in the city for their own school. sician. . . . The China Medical Con- He has built a hospital and has asked ference held in Peking, in 1913, emphati- them to provide direction for it through cally affirmed the principle that no medi- a medical man. He has built an orcal work in hospitals should be left in phanage which has 500 boys and girls charge of a single physician, and this in it, and has asked that one of the was afterward strongly affirmed by the missionaries take full charge while he National Conference in Shanghai." supports it, and has said that he would be glad to have Christianity taught in it. The Chinese Y. M. C. A. He has built a great museum, an agri- cultural school, and a hotel to accom- I Na recent Sunday School Times, modate an occasional foreigner who Professor H. P. Beach p~ctures the comels. marvelous advance of this society since its b~ginning in 1885. There are now Christ in a Chinese Prison 68 secretaries employed, all Americans. The members in Shanghai number 1,140 MORE than one report has come .If in the educational department, a number the Christian work carried on in a greater than in any other foreign asso- prison in China, the name of which is ciation. In Shanghai also, the first boys' withheld, lest the desire of those in building has been begun, which is to charge to do the best for all the prisoners have accommodation for 1,500, class- might possibly result in the withdrawal rooms for 500, and a dormitory for IOO. of the privileges. The Nanking Association's building has enrolled 151 bachelors of arts, 6 masters, Every Sunday morning four or five foreigners or Chinese go to this prison
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
and hold a service in the different wards, sian Press. The demand for school being welcomed very warmly both by books, which came with the introthose in charge and by the convicts. duction of Western learning, gave them their opportunity, and the Many confess Christ as their Savior, Commercial Press forged to the front and ask God's blessing when they have as producers of just what the new China their food. The coming day will de- was requiring. In I906 the printers were clare the results of the work. inc9rporated as one of the earliest com- panies formed under the modern com- The Colporteur and the Doctor mercial law of China. The- Christianity of the company is everywhere apparent. C OLPORTEUR CHING, of the SpaciouS', well-ventilated workrooms American Bible Society, left his present a marked contrast to the stuffy horne in South China a few months ago, apartments in which other printers in to visit a famous market town in the China must spend long hours. Clean and interior, hoping to put his gospels, as he comfortable blocks of dwellings, for rent said, "into the hands of men there who at moderate prices, have been erected quite unconsciously would become un- especially for the employes. School paid colporteurs, and carry the books privileges, from kindergarten to highinto villages and hamlets that no news school,. are maintained for the children of salvation has reached yet." of the work people. A small hospital has been opened by the company for em- In a ten days' journey, Ching made ployes sick or injured. A wbrk-day the acquaintance of an itinerant native limited to nine hours, with a Sunday doctor, bound for the same town, to sell holiday-this, too, is a feature almost his plasters-believed by the Chinese to never found in a Chinese workshop. be a remedy for almost every ailment. The employes are all well paid; a bonus Ching preached Christ so effectively that in proportion to the record and importbefore they had arrived at their destin- ance of their work is given, and a ceration the doctor had yielded to His tain sum is set apart as a pension fund claims. for retired workmen or the families of those who have died in the service. The two Chinamen put up at the same Heathen rhina never before witnessed inn and selected a spot in the market such a sight as this. where they could stand beside each other and display their wares. This was a Why the Sunday-school is Needed id satisfaction to both Ching and the doctor. China When the former made a sale, he THERE are 100,000,000 children uncalled attention to the efficacy of his der ten years of age in China. In neighbor's plasters, and the doctor would say to his purchasers: 'If you want, to the near future they may be taught alfind the way to happiness, buy one of most entirely under a government systhe books that the preacher is selling. tem of' education, and will be less ac- I know ,what I am saying. I have cessible to the Christian day.:school. The studied them, and have found peace." Sunday-school must give them religious education. A Christian Chinese Business House The Chinese Christian churches gen- A MAGNIFICENT illustration of erally lack young men and maidens. Congregations are 80 per cent. adults, ,, Christian business progress is the and many little children, but few youths Commercial Press, Ltd., of Shanghai, between I5 and 25 years of age. They which was established in I897 by three y~ung Christian Chinese, two of them employes of the Presbyterian Mis-
must be won and held for Christ by the ties took prompt and vigorous action for placing of a new emphasis upon the de- the suppression of lawlessness. partments of the Sunday-school which minister to this age. JAPAN-KOREA The youth of the boarding-schools and Emperor Yo.hihito'. Gift colleges need to be trained in voluntary Christian service. The training of T HE Japanese themselves value the .Ieaders from among the promlsmg work of the American missionaries young people for the work of the local in Japan, as is strikingly shown in the church falls naturally to the Sunday- recent gift by the Emperor of 50,000 school. yen ($25,000) toward the equipping of St. Luke's International Hospital in To- The laymen of the churches need a kio. A Japanese National Council is wide field for expressional activity in associated with the foreigners in the real Christian service. The Sunday- control of this institution, which has .school offers this field. grown out of the work of the Protestant Episcopal Mission. Count Okuma, the More Opium Used in Shanghai Premier, is its president, and made the announcement of the imperial conti:ibu- D R. ARNOLD FOSTER, for 42 tion at a luncheon on November 9th, years missionary of the London when several representatives of the' Missionary Society, has appealed to the government were prs:sent. chairman of the Council of the Shang- hai Municipality on the question of The chief significance of this gift lies opium licenses. He points out that :n not in the amount gIven, but in the fact O~tober, 1907, there were 87 licensed of the gift. It is said to be without shops in the International Settlement; in precedent, and marks the desire of the . May, 1914, there were 663 of such shops. Emperor to pay just tribute to a work In 1907 the average monthly revenue well done on behalf of his nation, and from opium licenses, "dens," and shops also to cement more closely the ties combined, was T ae[s 5.450. In May, which bind Japan and America. 1914, the revenue from licenses to opium shops alone was Taels 10,995. Sunday-school Work in Japall Superstition and Riots M R MOODY once said that if we ( ' REAT as has been the advance of can save one generation we will J European civilization in China, such put the devil out of business. To save stories as the following, told in China's this generation by training the youth in Millions, remind us of the ignorance and morals and religion is what the World's superstition which still hold sway in Sunday-S<;hool Association is trying to many mind". A census of diildren un- do. The value of this work is being der 14 years. of age had been taken at realized by national leaders in the the instance of the Board -of Education Orient, especially in Japan, where the in the district ()f Kinhwa, Chekiang. national association, organized seven This gave rise to a report that foreign- years ago, now affiliates over 1,600 ers were building a bridge, and, for the schools, with an enrolment of over 100,- s1pport of the foundations, the spirits 000. About 20 books for teachers and olchildren were wanted. As the result, workers have since been written in Jap- many government schools were de- anese or translated. Great conventions stroyed, and some missions were threat- have been held annually, and in Tokio ened; but the civil and military authori· 1,200 Sunday-school children wer,e gathered in one Sunday-school parade. That gathering sent a great Sunday-
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
school balloon over the city, from which Christian nations in Europe flying at hung a streamer, "God is love," and each other's throats. What does Christhousands saw this balloon with its mes- tianity amount to, anyhow?'" Mr. Hunt sage. But this is only the beginning, looked up in surprize, and said: 'Do you and great results may be expected from think so really? I am sure this will not the World's Sunday-School Convention, 'be the case in Korea. The Korean which is to be held in Japan in 1916. Christians will say at once: "You see, brethren, they have some Christialls A PrQleat from Japan who are real. Christians, and some Chris- ' tians who are so only in name over BISHOP McKIM of Tokio has for- there, just as we have here in Korea." warded to President Wilson the And the Korean Christian who believes following resolutions, passed by the the Bible, as they all do, will have scrip- American Episcopal missionaries in ture proof for his statement in less than Japan: five minutes. Christianity in Korea is on too firm a basis to be shaken by this Whereas, it has been reported that in war or by anything else.' That is the the coming elections in the State of land where SOUl-winning is made a con- California, candidates for election to dition of church-membership. What a the Legislature have been asked to blessing if 'Christendom' would stand pledge support to a bill or bills deliber- boldly on the heights with converted ately depriving Japanese residents in heathenism."-Sunday-School Times. that State of their rights to lease land for any purpose whatever; and "Scripture LiateniJla" in SiaJD Whereas, in our opinion, such legis- AUNIQUE feature of Christian worlation would be in direct contravention ship among the Laos is the "scripof the purpose of the treaties between ture listening," much used in the Budthe two countries, and would offend a dhist services, and supposed to be meritruly friendly and intensely patriotic torious. It consists of the reading of people; considerable portions of the Bible by one person, the congregation listening. Therefore; be it resolved, that as Many have the books and follow the such action would appear an act of readet with the eye as well as the ear. manifest injustice . . . we appeal, in Rev. Robert Irvin, agent of the Bible the strongest terms possible, to the Society in Siam and Laos, writes~ "I bishops and fellow members of our am convinced that this is the proper lmerican church to do their utmost, by method for this people. By it not only all legitimate means, to discourage such the monks, but many of the common action until the diplomatic authorities people, commit to memory large portions of the two countries shall have had time of the Buddhist Scriptures, even entire to solve the problem by peaceful means. books and sets of books. Our Chris- –The Spirit of Missions. tians are not as intelligent in our Scrip- tures, nor as interested in them, as they A Chriatian Korean View ought to be. Our preaching is Western, and as foreign to the people as we are. "WE may go to heathen lands to get At our service yesterday I read the en- a clear, straight view of some tire Thessalonians with only a few words of explanation here and there to make things. Several ministers were recently clear something they. could not underdiscussing the war in Europe, one of the stand." grQUp being the Rev. William B.Hunt, of' Korea, Somebody remarked: 'Well, I suppose our poor missionaries will be up against it now, for these people in Asia will be saying, "Look at these
INDIA councils. The twenty-eight different mISSIOns working in the Bombay Presi- Government Appeal to Missionaries dency organized a council over a year ago, which has been doing effective GOVERNMENT officials in Madura, work. South India, have approached re- The Educational Board of the Coune presentatives of the American Board cil has been occupied largely with plans with the proposition that they take for a Christian Woman's College in charge of a criminal settlement to be Bombay. " The Council has approved of made up of the robber caste of Kellars- securing a half-time literature missiona" strong, manly people, tho lawless arid ary for work in the Marathi language, " notorious robbers. There are nearly an,d another in Gujarati. The Council 200,000 of these Kellars scattered has been responsible also for a successthrough the Madura district. The ful language school, and a missionary American Board missionaries have been survey of the Presidency is assigned so successful among some small villages to another committee. of the caste that· the government desires to place the whole responsibility for Canadian Baptists in India them in the hands of the mission. The authorities offer to set aside a large CANADIAN Baptists are ce1ebrati~g, tract of land, which would be used in this year, the 40th anniversary of teaching the people improved agricultural methods and give a place for the founding of their Telugu Mission schools and for improved homes. The in India. In March, 1874, Rev. John Indian government will put up the neces- McLaurin and wife landed .in the city sary buildings and pay all expenses ex- of Cocanada to lay the foundations of cept the salary of the missionary in what is now a flourishing mission. charge. The progress made is revealed by the fact" that there are now twenty-two I Baptiat Work in Danger mission stations, 8g missionaries, 64 N India the world war is embarrass- churches, 9,792 communicant members, ing the work of the foreign missions. and 20,000 adherents. Since the open- For some years the American Baptists ing of the mission over 16,000 conhave been supporting three stations in verts have been baptized on profession the Te1ugu country, in cooperation with of faith. Nothing approaching the the Mennonites of South Russia. "mass movements" that have visited other missions has been experienced in Since Russia became involved in war, Cocanada, but every year the missionhowever, the Mennonites have been able aries have had the joy of welcoming a to send almost nothing for this work. goodly number of new converts. The Unless the American Baptists can as- native churches are making rapid sume these obligations-about $4,500 strides in self-government and selfannually-the field work represented by extension; the three associations uniting sixty-four native preachers must cease, during the past year to form the schools will have to stop, and the entire "Baptist Convention of the Northern work will be so seriously crippled that Circars," the first president being Rev. one or more of the stations may have Nicodemus Abraham, of the McLaurin to be entirely closed. High School staff. Already a number of the churches are entirely self-sup- T Bombay Council of Missions porting, which includes not only the HE meetings in India under the support of a pastor but of evangelists auspices of the Edinburgh Continu- and teachers for the mission school ation Committee demonstrated the value of representative interdenominational
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The past forty years have witnessed of unity and concord, and of self-deny- great changes, perhaps the greatest of ing devotion, must prepare the way of which has been the "conversion of atti- the Prince of Peace. The Waziris (one tude" on the part of the people. At of the most turbulent of the frontier first they were bigoted, suspicious and tribes) have told the government that opposed to the Gospel, and the caste they may take away all their troops people were determined to root out the " from the frontier here, for they (the "new religion" wherever it appeared. Waziris) will be responsible for the Now all is changed, and tho there are peace of this part of the world."
still instances of petty persecution, on the whole the attitude of the people IS MOSLEM LANDS cordial and appreciative. . Work in Palestine Suffers Plague in Picture Carda THE CM.S. Palestine Mission has been seriously hampered by the war. S lME young native workers from So threatening was Turkey's attitude the Methodist training school in during the first outbreak of hostilities Ballia, Northwest Provinces, India, had that steps were taken, in cooperation an unusual interruption in their work with the London Jews Society, to withone day when, after preaching in one draw many of the missionaries. The of the villages, they proceeded to dis- shepherding of the 2,300 native Christribute picture cards to the children. tians in "the mission happily can be Just at that moment a hostile Brahman committed to the nine Palestinian paslandowner passed by. Stepping up, he tors, but all the schools have been cried out, in a voice of authority, closed, and the beneficent work of the "Fools! Don't you kno:w that those hospitals at Jaffa, Nablous, Gaza, and cards contain plague and cholera germs, Salt has for a time been brought to and that the teachers are sent here by an end. the missionary to scatter them!" A letter from Nazareth, dated Octo- That was enough. Superstitious, ig- ber 28th, states that that village had norant and full of fear, the people been· converted into a garrison town, believed the Brahman and instantly with over three thousand" soldiers in dropt their cards. They knew that the barracks. Food was exceedingly cholera had broken out in their village scarce in Jerusalem, and ali gold was since these men began to visit them, locked up in the Ottoman Bank, and and believed that the young men had outside the city were three large camps been sent by the Government to wipe where thousands of men were drilled out the district and thus to prevent hard by German non-commissioned another mutiny! officers. Christians liable for military service had to forfeit £36 if they did Bannu in War Times not go up.
I N the January number of Mercy and Dangerous Cathedral Canons Truth, Dr. R. J. H. Cox, of the I T is reported from Cairo that Turkish Baptist medical "mission on the North- officers in Jerusalem, having learned west Frontier of India, writes: "We from a frightened lad who knew only seem to be more united now in" India, a smattering of English that two and the thought of the Punjabi and the "Canons" were attached to St. George's Pathan rubbing shoulders with the Brit- Cathedral Church, and" refusing to ish and French breaks down many bar- accept the assurances that those Canons riers. Tl:!e war will do untold good in had nothing to do with artillery, tore the end, and, by bringing in this spirit
up the floor of the edifice and destroyed some large mission schools. The suppart of the Communion Table. ply of rice, a staple upon which they depend for food, was exhausted. The AFRICA schools of the county in which Mon- rovia is situated are still in operation, Egypt a British Colony altho there is some scarcity. The military attache of the United Stares GREAT BRITAIN took formal pos- Government has made inquiries as to session of Egypt as one of the what quantity of rice will keep the protected provinces of the empire De- schools going for the next three cember I8th, deposing the Khedive, months, and the bishop made request for Abbas Hilma, who has come out openly twenty-three. tons. There is' a possion the side of the Germans. Impres- bility that the United States may try sive military ceremonies in the principal to arrange a shipment for that purpose. cities of Egypt marked the transfer of sovereignty from the Sultan of Turkey A Christian African Chief to the monarch of Britain. Prince Hussein Kemal, an uncle of the deposed THE Congregational missionaries in Khedive and a favorite son of the Chiyuka, West Africa, have been late Ismail Pasha, has been appointed greatly helped by the faithful Chris- Khedive in Abbas Hilma'S' stead. tian chief Kanjundu. His newly elected' Prince Hussein was educated in Eng- successor is also a Christian. Rev. land, and is in appearance and sym- John T. Tucker writes of this new pathies more of an Englishman than leader, Chikosi, as follows: "Chikosi is a Turk. an Elder of the church, and a very fine preacher; he has a commanding pres- Trustees for Cairo University ence and a splendid type of face.. He fills his position with dignity and judg- TWO hundred thousand dollars has ment and .is determined to help for- been promised for the Christian ward the work. He never hesitates to preach when on journeys, thus exert- University in Cairo, as a part of the ing a really great influence over other endowment fund of two million which chiefs who may hesitate before surit is estimated will be needed. A Board rendering what they deem to be all the of trustees has been organized in New dignities of their office, viz., polygamy, slavery and beer drinking. Of this York City, with Dr. J. K. McClurkin last Chikosi replied to some villagers who wished permission to brew beer; of Pittsburgh as president; E. E. Olcott, 'Everybody knows that beer makes the president of the Hudson Bay line, people err and swerve from the "white" treasurer; Dr. Charles R. Watson and path, the path of righteousness. No! George Innes of the United Presby- I will not permit beer drinks in my terian Board as secretaries. Among district.' the members are Professor George L. Robinson of McCormick Seminary, "On another occasion he said: 'Just Ralph W. Harbison of Pittsburgh, as Kanjundu caused "the words" to go Professor Harlan P. Beach of Yale forward so do I desire. The teachers and Professor W. B. Hill of Vassar. were his advisers and he loved and honored them. I am in the hands of Progreas in Liberia the teachers like my predecessor. My BISHOP FERGUSON of Liberia, under date of October 12th, writes greatest desire is to s'ee all the people telling of the difficulties encountered serve God and be.Iieve in the Lord because of the war. Owing to the Jesus Christ.''' lack of provisions it had become necessary to suspend the operation of
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Uganda in War Time Society has continued to maintain the missions. British friends of the mis- T HERE has been some fighting in sions are now undertaking to raise '1n British East Africa, the Germans emergency fund for the work of the having crossed the frontier at several Paris Society 111 the French colonies. places. But the general course of life has not been much changed by this, The Curse of Alcohol in Africa and the Church Missionary Society secretaries hear that missionary work at M PAUL RAMSEYER of the Ba- Mombasa has been given new oppor- • suto mission in South Africa tunities by the war. About 3,000 describes the advancing danger from natives of Kavirondo and 1,000 Df alcohol among the South African Bunyoro, in the Uganda Protector.ate, blacks: "Many Boers are carrying on have gone to -Mombasa, and the mis- a profitable illicit trade among them. sionaries are allowed to work among Fines of from £300 to £350 make no them. great impression, so lucrative is the traffic. The natives sell their cattle to In Uganda all the Church Missionary get drink. When these are gone they Society missionaries have put them- have recourse to theft. On Sunday I selves at the disposal of the govern- went to see the prisoners at MatatieIe. ment to give any help they can, the There were twenty-one, twelve of them clergymen as interpreters and chaplains. being Basutos. Six were condemned and in working among the wounded, for assault, a dozen for theft of sheep and the doctors and nurses in carrying or· goats. All had committed these on the hospital at Mengo, which on crimes under the influence of alcohol. the outbreak of war was offered to the Alcohol is the black's worst enemy. government as a base hospital for any Those who sell it are the vilest men on wounded Africans, Indians, or Euro- earth. They should not be punished peans. The government accepted the with fines, but with terms of from ten offer, and one hundred beds were put to twelve years' hard labor. The blacks at the immediate disposal of the mili- can not refrain from drinking. They tary authorities. The boys of the are the merest children." Church Missionary Society schools at the capital are very anxious to help. A distinguished missionary, Mr. Don- Two squads of them have been chosen ald Fraser of Nyassaland, describes beer for service at once. One, of six "as the greatest enemy of the economic cyclists, has been sent off to carry and moral welfare of the Nyassa nadispatches, and another, of forty boys, tives." General Gorgas, who has been is being trained for ambulance work. invited to the Rand to advise with the great mining corporations as to the French Mission. in South Africa hygienic improvement of the Rand mines, is equally explicit: "On the sub- T HE outb'reak of War has placed ject of alcohol for the native I believe the Protestant missionaries of the that it is an unmitigated evil. It is in Paris Evangelical Missionary Society, no way necessary for his health; in now at work in British South Africa, fact, is always hurtful. In the Panama in a serious position. For over eighty zone prohibition has increased the effiyears these missionaries have carried ciency of our working force so much on their work in Basutoland, and for that generally the men in charge of the twenty-five years they have .heen at laborers in the different districts have work in Barotsiland, on the upper asked to have' their districts inclttded Zambesi. Tho both territories have within the prohibited area. I believe passed under the British flag, the Paris
that it would be best for the native on for the loyal contingents of troops the Rand to have no alcohol at all." arnvmg from various parts of the British Empire. Arrangements have Better Feeling in Madagascar been carried out by the Bible Society HE hope that one result of the to present Testaments to each member T war would be the more friendly of these contingents from Canada and relations between the French Adminis- Newfoundland, from the States of tration and the British missionaries in Australia, from New Zealand, and Madagascar are being realized. Two from the over-seas colonies and pro- years ago the government tried to tectorates.
suppress the half-yearly meetings of During the mobilization in Central the Isan-Enim-Bolana on the ground Europe, 130,000 Gospels were dis- that it was an illegal association. Last tributed among German and Austrian autumn a deputation of missionaries soldiers; 160,000 Gospels have been waited upon the Administrator to ob- given away in the French army; while tain the views of the government as the Society's agents have circulated to holding the gathering of this great immense numbers of Russian Gospels.
organization, which is a kind of blend among the troops of the Czar.
of the National Free Church Council, the Congregational Union, and the French Protestants and the War Church Congress. .The government NOWHERE, perhaps, among the strongly encouraged the missionaries to Allied Nations has there been such hold the gatherings, and begged them a response to their country's call as not to interfere in the slightest degree among the Protestants of France. Of with the usual program. The meet- the 450 pastors who form the National ings were held accordingly. Union of the Reformed Church of EUROPE-GREAT BRITAIN· France about 200 are already in the army, and about 200 churches are with- Bibles for the Soldiers out a pastor. The spiritual needs of THE British and Foreign Bible So- their soldiers are not forgotten. They ciety has been carrying out a have one Chaplain with each of the careful and comprehensive distribution twenty-one army corps, one at each of of the Scriptures among our sailors twelve great French fortresses, one and soldiers. A lady giving away with the Mediterranean Fleet, and over GQspels, writes from the Soldiers' fifty at the various hospitals through- Home, Aldershot: "If the Bible So- out France, to which the wounded and ciety's Committee could only see the sick soldiers are being sent. The men taking the Gospels, they would Religious Tract Society of Paris has-'
feel they were well worth· giving. The been doing what it can to provide the openings among these crowds of new Chaplains ~ith literature, but it is recruits are unprecedented, and their· difficult to get any printing done in eagerness to receive the GQspels won- France at the present time, and they derful. I have never, in all my many have appealed to England for help. The years in this work, known anything Committee of the R.T.S. in -London like the spiritual awakening among the had sent by the end of October 33,000 men." Testimony similar to this is booklets free to the Paris Tract Society received day by day from camps and for use among the Fren~h troops. For hospitals and recruiting centers all the same purpose about 5,000 Frenclr over, the country. booklets were sent free to M. Ie Special provision has also been made Pasteur Hirsch, and to Monsieur Ie
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Pasteur Guex, of the McAlI Mission, "The better elements, both Moham- Paris. medan and Christian, are driven from the country. The reactionary elements, Waldenaians and the War engineered by young Turks and Aus- trians, are in control. T HE American Waldensian Aid So- ciety, of which Bishop Greer of "It looks almost certain that nothing N ew York is president, reports that will be settled in Albania until after the Waldensian Church in Italy is in the war, whenever that may be." desperate financial straits as a consequence of the European war. The NORTH AMERICA usual income of $50,000 which has been contributed yearly to the support Student Volunteer Gathering. of the Waldensian missions by Eng- STUDENTS have found inspiration land, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden and from large missionary conventions Denmark, has been almost entirely cut and have been arranging similar gatheroff. In consequence of this, the ings on a smaller scale. The Connectipastors, evangelists, teachers and col· cut Valley Missionary Union, which met porteurs are threatened with starvation at Smith College the first of November, and their work with a disastrous re- brought together a finely representative duction in its extension and intensity. body of students from the colleges of During centuries of persecution, endured that section. The Student Volunteer for the sake of faith and freedom, the Conference held at Geneva, New York, Waldenses have trusted in God and in early in December at Hobart and Wiltheir Christian brethren of all Protes- liam Smith Colleges, assembled over tant churches for aid in maintaining two hundred and fifty delegates from their work, which has always been :.tt- twenty-five out of town institutions. tended with great difficulties, and they have not trusted in vain. In the A Woman's Missionary Day present crisis the Waldensians look to THE women of New York City and the American Aid Society as the one source of help that is so imperatively vicinity held an interdenominational needed. missionary day on November 7th, when the principal speaker was Mrs. Helen The Albanian Situation Barrett Montgomery. The Triennial Conference was held in the same city, REV. C. T. ERICKSON, who was in January 15-16. America last year, has been kept from returning to Elbasan by the dis- Work of the Federal Council tracted political conditions there. and is now in Italy. Passports into Al- THE Executive Committee of the bania were refused him in Rome, and, Federal Council of the Churches indeed, Italy has taken off all her of Christ in America at its meeting in steamers on the Adriatic. Mr. Erick- Richmond in December, took action on son is staying at a small place on the a number of important matters, among Adriatic about opposite Durazzo, watch- which were the following: The Presiing events, working among Albaniall dent, Professor Shailer Mathews, and refugees and studying the past history Dr. Gulick were appointed as ambasof the Albanian nation. sadors to the churches of Japan, to sail January 9, 191 5. The Administrative While in Rome, he managed to get Committee was' instructed to communiinformation as to recent events in cate with the various ecumenical or- Albania ano writes: ganizations and the constituent bodies of the Council relative to a World Congress on matters of general interest to the Christian churches of the wo~lq.
Measures were adopted for the organ- same enthusiasm they expend on white ization of the churches in local com- institutes. They are visiting negro munities in the interest of International schools as they have never been visited Peace, and approving the preparation before; are helping to provide funds and publication of a book by Sidney for industrial supervising teachers and L. Gulick to be placed in the hands giving care and attention to the proper of all the pastors of the nation in this construction of new school buildings." interest. A new Commission was created, entitled "Commission on the Missionaries at Union Seminary Church and Country Life," with Gifford Pinchot as Chairman' and Rev. Charles THE Board of Directors of Union O. Gill as Field Investigator, its first Theological Seminary voted in May, ~ work to be a state-wide survey of Ohio.. with headquarters at Columbus, I914, to establish as soon as the neces- Ohio. sary funds could be secured, a Depart- ment of Foreign Service, whose pur- Medical Mission Survey pose, to quote the resolution, "shall be to provide adequate training for in- T HE International Health Commis- tending missionaries, and courses use- sion (Rockefeller Foundation) is ful and appropriate for such mission- making a thorough investigation of the aries on furlough as may desire them." medical missions of the world by cor- respondence. The commission is seek- In order to carry out this plan, the ing to learn the nature and equipment Board has appointed the Rev. Daniel of medical missions in order to deter- Johnson Fleming, M.A., M.Sc., Organ- mine their ability to cooperate in the izing Director of the Department uf extermination of the book-worm disease. Foreign Service. Mr. Fleming, who Later a similar investigation is under for ten years has been a missionary in consideration with reference to leprosy. Lahore, India, was to begin his work about January IS, 1915, and while he Southern Interest in Negroes will give certain lectures on foreign missionary subjects, he will devote DR. WEATHERFORD, who is work- himself especially, at the outset, to the ing for a better understanding be- preparation of a complete plan of the tween the white and the black popula- proposed department. It is hoped that tions of the South, reports a new, a full announcement may be made genuine interest among the whites in within a few months, and that the negro problems. active work of the department may begin not later than the autumn 0'- "I make bold to assert that there have been more volumes on the negro 19I 5· read by Southern white people in the last five years than were read in 'all Medical Missionary Conference the fifty years preceding. Two thousand copies of our books were placed in the THE successful interdenominational hands of some of the busiest people in conference of medical missionaries a certain section. Within two months, more than 1,600 wrote in reply that the held in December, at Battle Creek. book had been rearl with eager interest. Michigan, brought together 200 mis- Fifteen thousand college students ha'e sionary workers-almost all physicians read and studied a book on this subject who have seen service on the foreign in three years. Scores of county super- field-representing practically every mis- intendents of education are holding in- sionary denomination in ·this country. stitutes for colored teachers with the As usual, the delegates were entertained by Dr. J. H. Kellogg at his sanitarium.
Upon recommendation of the com- mittee on resolutions, whose chairman
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
was John R. Hague, field secretary of 2. For the support of this parish so its the African Inland Mission, the con- great work need not be crippled by debt ference voted to petition the various and deficiencies, even tho the building American mission boards to take some be in ruins. concerted action to provide a union medical college for women in south 3. For a Restoration Fund so that we India. may rebuild our beautiful church home and equip it for worship and work, for services A plan for teaching Bible women in and for service. missionary fields the elementary principles of nursing was voted practicable This was the order in which this and useful, and a general increase of congregation who had been "tested by medical missionaries in connection with fire" rated its own responsibilities, placall principal stations was urged.-The ing missions first, current expenses sec- Continent. ond, and the restoration of their burned church home last. As a result they "MThe Diocese of the North Pole secured pledges for nearly $33,000. Of Y diocese is at least famous for this was pledged for missions, $4,854 one thing, and that is-it con- -an increase of $2,901 over the pretains the North Pole!" This is the ceding year.-Spirit of Missions. way the Bishop of Mackenzie River speaks of his huge diocese of land and LATIN AMERICA river with only 6,000 inhabitants. The people, chiefly Indians and Esquimaux, Sunday-school Workers Visit South with here and there a white man en- America gaged in the work of a fur trapper, are scattered about all up and down the FRANK L. BROWN, of Brooklyn, country, and journeys of enormous Joint General Secretary of the length and many perils have to be undertaken to reach them. The Bishop World's Sunday-school Association, and has labored in this country for twenty- others, who are to tour South America three years. It is said of the Esqui- on the Kroonland in the interests of maux that they are an intelligent race, Sunday-school work, sailed from New who are not only quick to assimilate York on J annary 21st. After stopping a1l the truths which are taught them, at Havana and Kingston, and passing but themselves act as missionaries, through the Panama Canal, they will eager to pass on to others of their visit the chief cities of South America, tribes' the good news which has so holding conferences with missionaries changed their own lives.-The Church- and native workers. man. The "Ins.tituto Ingles" Tested by Fire THE morning after St. John's HE boarding department of the T Presbyterian Mission's School for Church, Jersey City Heights, N. J., Boys at Santiago de Chile is, as usual, full to overflowing in the school year w<:s destroyed by fire, the rector, Rev. of 1914. This is in spite of the keen George D. Hadley, announced the competition by the Church and State organization of a committee to canvass schools, which are the best in Latin the parish, in which enlisted 193 callers America, and also in spite of the great to visit the entire communicant list. financial depression through which They were to secure support: Chile is passing. The total matricula- tion of the school in 1914 will he I. For missions and charities so that our around 275. Of this number the maown trouble might make us think first of jority, of course, are Chileans, but others worse off, there ate representatives of all the neighboring republics. The desire on
the part of parents to educate their OBITUARY NOTICES sons in the Instituto Ingles is due not only to the fact that good instruction i:; Earl Roberts on Missions given, but, in an increasing degree, t,) the fact that the students are not only THE recent death of Earl Roberts instructed but also educated morally and makes it appropriate to recall a letspiritually. The Christian work in the Instituto is well organized. Prayers ter that he once addrest to Army ofare held every. morning, and each boy ficers on the subject of missions, in must have a copy of the New Testa- which he said: "You will most cerment and use it in the responsive read- tainly come into contact with the repreings.-Assembly Herald. sentatives of various Christian mission- ary societies, whose special work it is THE ISLAND WORLD to show to non-Christian peoples the love of the Christ whom we profess to The Flag and the Cross serve. We commend these mission- aries to you as a body of men and THE presence of the American gov- women who are working helpfully with ernment in the Philippines is a the government, and contributing to the elevation of the people in a way imposhelp to the missionaries in many ways. sible to official actioll. ". e would sug- Dr. Maurice A. Rader, superintendent gest that you use all olJHortullities of of the Methodist work in Manila, making yourself personally acquainted pointed out, in a recent address, the with the work they are doing, and the yalue of the government educational character of the converts. Most missystem. In other mission fields, nine- sions will bear looking into, and we tenths of the missionaries are in school- are convinced that if you will do this, rooms, and the American government you will never afterward condemn or has freed the Church from this work in belittle them." the Islands. Such progress has been made in training teachers, that to-d3Y Admiral Mahan instead of the II,OOO American teachers, there are less than 700, and 5,000 THE death, on December 1st, of Rear- Filipinos are now teaching in the Eng- Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, lish language, and progress has been made along all lines. He says also that U. S. N., was recognized as an inci- God has planted the American flag in dent not only of national but of interthe Philippines to demonstrate to the national importance, for his works upon Orient what democracy can do for an naval strategy were authorities through- Eastern race. out the civilized world. Yet, tho by profession a man of war, he was by Mr. Roy H. Brown, of the Presby- practise a man of peace-a devoted and terian Board, calls attention to the ease faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Far of communication secured by the gov- less widely known than his books on ernment roads and the inter-island naval tactics were his writings upon steamers. As Roman roads and the ecclesiastical and devotional subjects. Greek language made possible the rapid Few laymen have equaled him in this spread of the Gospel in apostolic days, particular. In 1900 he was elected to so the advantages of American govern- the Episcopal Board of Missions, and he ment and the use of. the English tongue served continuously until its reorganizaare helping the cause of Christ in the tion in 19IO. His wide experience in Philippines to-day. foreign affairs made him a most useful member,
Education of Women in Japan. By The foundation of modern
Margaret E. Burton. Illustrated. With in Japan was laid by Christian mis- bibliography. 12mo, 268 p.p. $1.25 net. sionaries. Unlike China and India, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, Japan from the first sent the children 1914. of the higher social grades to mission To Miss Burton we have learned to schools. Upon the foundations since 1872 the government has been building look for clear and adequate treatment worthy structures of its own. The of the important theme of woman's present difficulty of Christian schools education in mission lands. Wi·thout to keep pace with those of the governexuberance of style, but with directness ment because of inadequate funds-the and sympathy she gives the results of firm, but reasonable requirements for her careful studies, made at close range. government recognition, now received Especially timely is the discussion of by but one-third of the Christian the educational problem of Japan. "All schools-the necessity of Christian Asia is the ship, Japan is the' rudder," higher education, if Japan is to be was a saying of Joseph Cook, which is won for Christ-these topics are well even more significant now than when argued and illustrated. he made it. The influence of woman, moreover, is a more potent factor in The book culminates in the earnest the Sunrise Kingdom than we have plea for the speedy consummation of realized. Miss Tsuda, who is herself the plan for a Union Christian College an illustration of her words, has said: for Women in Tokyo-a plan which "The women of Japan are· powerful to has become urgent and definite in Japan a degree which you can not understan<l. and now awaits the final approval of They have always had a hand in every- the Mission Boards for its opening in thing in Japan." Miss Burton tells HS 19 16. that, tho Japanese women in theory have been powerless, in reality they "The Education of Women in have greatly influenced the currents of Japan" is a valuable book for referlife of their people. Their authority ence, as it supplie, an essential chapter wilhin the household is absolute, so that in the history of education and of the in some respects it has no counterpart progress of Christ's kingdom. among vVestern women. The Call of the East. By Thurlow Fraser. Especially interesting is Miss Bur- Illustrated. 12mo. 351 pp. $1.25, net. ton's history of that brilliant period Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, 1914. between the sixth and twelfth centuries Formosa is a "Beautiful Isle" of when the intellectual life of Japan received great impetus from the culture unusual fascination, and with a unique of China and "female education took missionary history. It is here made its rise almost spontaneously." In the the scene of a romance that captures earlier part of that period there was the reader's attention, contains much "no limit to the activities of women," valuable information, and must con-_~ in religion, in philanthropy, in liter- vince many doubters as to the real ature, and even in politics and war. character and value of Christian mis- sions. The story contains love and ad-
venture, wit and pathos. Dr. George work in Cleveland, and here describes Leslie Mackay, the picturesque apostle the methods used with such success.
to Formosa is one of the heroes, and a Other city pastors will do well to study few of the other characters are drawn his work.
from life. In his power to describe The Making of a Country Parish. By exciting experiences with graphic pen Harlow S. Mills. J2mO, J:26 pp. 50 Mr. Fraser reminds us of Ralph Connor; cents, net. Missionary Education Movein character delineation and humorous ment, 1914. touches, of James S. Gale; and in the What Dr. Tippy has done for the forceful. presentation of the case for missions he vies with Harold Begbie. city Dr. Mills has done for the This is an excellent story to put into the hands of young people and of country parish. He has shown how ignorant objectors to foreign missions. God can enable a man to make the Church a power even in the most dis· couraging field-city or country. Rural pastors will find invaluable help in Dr.
A Revelation of the Chinese Revolution. Mills' experience. By John J. Mullowney. Illustrated, 12mo, 142 pp. 75 cents, net. Fleming H. By-Products of the Rural Sunday- Revell Co, 1915. A Chinese compatriot is the author, , school. By J. M. Somerndike. 12lU0, and Dr. Mullowney the editor, of this 169 pp. 60 cents, net. The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1914. The Sunday-school is both a mission- picture of General Hwang Hsing; the ary agency and a missionary training ~'real" leader of the Chinese Revolu- school. These chapters show how the tion. The author is opposed to Yuan school may be made more efficient in Shi Kai and his methods, and his views. both-especially in rural districts.
are from this' standpoint. Mary Webb and the Mother Society. By Albert L. Vail. 8vo, IIO pp. 50 cents Bamboo: Tal~s of the Orient Born. By net. American Baptist Publication So- Lyon Sharman. 8vo, 81 pp. $1.00, net. ciety, 1914. Paul Elder & Co, San Francisco, 1914. Mary Webb was a cripple in body, This book of varied tales brings us but not in spirit, and was closely nearer to the heart of the Chinese for it is written sympathetically ,by one identified with the founding of Ameriwho lived there in the impressionable vears of childhood. The information can Baptist missions. Her life story is limited, but the missionary spirit is is beautifully told and may well prove evident. an inspiration to others. The reading of a sermon by Dr. Emmons gave her a passion for missions.
The Individual and the Social' Gospel. Pioneers-Studies in Christian Bio- By Shailer Mathews. 16mo, 84 pp. 2S graphy. By K. J. Saunders. Paper. 8 cents. Missionary Education Movement, annas. Association Press, Calcutta, India. 1914. These excellent brief sketches .of Social Christianity is to-day a pop- Martyn, Chalmers, Bannerji, Neesima, ular study. It has been too much Ibrahim, and others, are well fitted for neglected and may now be over em- school and college study circles. phasized. Dr. Mathews here gives Though Wars Should Arise. By Mrs.. some brief practical studies in the work Howard Taylor. r6mo. 6d., net. Mor- gan and Scott, London, 1914; 30 cents. that Christianity does in transforming China Inland Mission, Philadelphia and Toronto. the individual, the home, the school This is a spiritual message for the and society.
The Church-a Community Force. By present crisis in missions and Chris- Dr. Worth M. Tippy. 12mo, 80 pp. 50 tianity. It will be welcomed by many cents. Missionary Education Movement, a heart that is shadowed by the war clouds. 1914. Dr. Tippy has done a remarkable
ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
Sun Children and Moon Children. By Jesus the Missionary. Studies in the life T. 8vo. IS. Church Missionary So- of Jesus as the Master, the Model, the ciety, London, 1914. Pro.totype for: all missio.naries. On many The text and illustrations are both Scnptures, InterpretatIOns are given which haye been worked out on the misyery attractive to children of eight to sion tield. By Rev. Hugh W. White. 16mo, 140 pp. Presbyterian Mission twelve years. The Sun Babies of India Press, Shanghai, China, 1914. and the Moon Babies of England become friends. The Growth of the Christian Church. By Robert Hastings Nichols. 2 volumes, A Highway for God. Annual Report of 12mo, pp. 163, 224. $2.00, net. Presby- the Sudan United Misllion, 1914. terian Board of Publication, Philadelphia, The pictures and charts make thi s 1914. report unique. It is a work of art. The New Life in China. By Edward THE WORLD OUTLOOK Vilson Vallace. llIustrated, 12mo, pp. This new popular monthly is some- II4. Is.,net. United Council for Mis- sionary Education, London, 1914. thing new in missIOnary magazines, Trail Tales of Western Canada. By F. and does great credit to the artistic A. Robinson, B.A. 3S. 6d., net. Marand editorial ability of Dr. S. Earl shall Bros., London, 1914. Taylor and his associates, of the Boar,] The Missionary Speaker and Reader. of Foreign Missions of the Methodist IS., net. Carey Press, London, 1914. Episcopal Church. The articles are of fascinating originality and interest and Thirty Years in Moukden. By Rev. Dr. the illustrations are superb. The first Dugald Christie, CM.F. 8s. {d., net. Foreign Mission Office, Edinburgh, 1914. number (January, 1915) is devoted to North Africa and is decidedly "popu- The Gospel in Futuna. By Rev. Dr. lar" in its literary articles and pictoriOlI William Gunn. 6s., net. Foreign Misfeatures. "What I expect to see in sion Office, Edinburgh, 1914. North Africa" (a humorous sketch), and "vVhat I saw in North Africa" ': a Jaya: Which Means Victory.. By BeJreport by the editor), are in striking trice M. Harband. 6s. Marshall Brothcontrast. The three-color cover IS a ers, London, 1914.
work of art. Bible Illustrations from Persia of To- The aim of the World Outlook IS to day. By the Rev. Edward J. Clifton. 3s. 6d., net. Marshall Brothers, London, reach the uninterested and compel missionary interest and sympathy. The 19 1 4. Judson, The Hero of Burma. l:y Jesse price is $1.50 per year, but we take pleasure in offering it in combination Page, F.H.G.S. 2S. 6d. Seeley, Service with the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE & Co.. London, 1914. WORLD for the price of the REVIEW. A Congo .Pathfinder: W. Holman Hunt Among African Savages. By John H. $2.50 (to new Subscribers only). Send Veeks. 25. Religious Tract Society. for the January number and you will London. 1914. have a pleasing surprize. On Trail and Rapid by Dog-Sled and NEW BOOKS Canoe. By the Rev. H. A. Cody, M.A. The Present World Situation. By John' 2S. 6d.• net. Seeley, Service & Co., Lon- don, 1914. R. Mott. 8vo. Student Volunteer Move- ment, New York, 1915. A Missionary's Life in the Land of the Samuel B. Capen. By Chauncey]. Haw- Gods. By Rev. Isaac Dooman. $2.00, kins. Illus., 8vo. $1.25, net. Pilgrim net. Richard G. Badger, Boston, 1914. Press, Boston, 1914. The Layman Revato. A Story of a Rest- The Gospel and the Mala. By Frederick less Mind in Buddhist India at the time Lamb. 120 pp. Is. Wesleyan Mission of Greek Influence. 4to, lOS pp. By Press, London, 1913. Edward P. Buffet, 804 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, N. J., 1914. The Village of Hope. By Kheroth Mo- hini Bose. 131 pp. IS. 6d. Marshall Brothers, London, 1914.
Cecil Robertson of Sianfu. By F. B. Meyer, D.D. Illustrated, 168 pp. Cloth, 2s., net; paper, Is. 6d., net. Carey Press, London, 1913.
Unknown Mongolia. A Record of Travel and Exploration in North-West Mongo- lia and Dzungaria. By Douglas Carru- thers. Foreword by the Right Hon. Earl Curzon of Kedleston. 2 vols., illustrated. 688 pp. 28s., net. HutchiIl- son, London, 1913.
Beyond the Pir Panjal. By Ernest F. Native Tribes of the Northem Territory Neve. 8vo, 178 pp. 2s. 6d., net. Church of Australia. By Baldwin Spencer, Missionary Society, London, 1914. C.M.G:, F.R.S. Illustrate¢, ix., 516 pp.
Tales of the Arabs. By M. E. Hume Macmillan, London, 1914. Griffith. Illustrated, 179 pp. Is. 6d., net. Church Unity in Japan. By William Im- R. T. S., London, 1914. brie. 53 pp. Kyobunkwan, Tokyo, Veiled Women. By Marmaduke Pickthall. 1914. 16mo, 320 pp. G. Bell & Sons, London, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Their 1913. History, Iconography, and Progressive In Far New Guinea. By Henry Newton. Evolution through the Northern Budd- Illustrated, 304 pp. l6s., net. Seeley, hist Countries. By Alice Getty. London, 1914. ~ General Introduction on Buddhism, Greeks in America. By Thomas Burges. translated from the French of J. Illustrated, 256 pp. $1.35, net. Sherman, Deniker. £3 35. net. Clarendon Press, French & Co., Boston, 1914. London, 1914.
The Kingdom and the Farm. The Prob- PAMPHLETS lem of the Country Church. By Harlan L. Freeman. 75 cents, net. Fleming H. Is Church Attendance Worth While? Revell Co., New York, 1914. By Bergen D. Stelle. 10 cents per copy. Old Andy, the Moonshiner. By Martha P. D. Stelle, Upland, Pa., 1914. S. Gielow. Illustrated, 12mo. Boards, 50 cents, net. Fleming H. Revell Co., New Money and Missions. By a Business Man. 5 cents per copy. Laymen's Mis- York, 1914. sionary Movement, New York, 19T.1. History of the American Baptist Foreign White Heroines.in Africa. By Constance .Mission Society. By Thomas S. Bar- E. Padwick. 63 pp. 4d. United bour. American Baptist Foreign Mission Council for Missionary Education, London, 1914. Society, Philadelphia, 1914. Our World Family. A Study for Juniors. By Helen Douglas Billings. 96 pp. Cen- A Part of the World Program. A Manual tral Committee on the United Study of for the Use of the Superintendent of Missionary Education of the County Foreign Missions, West Medford, Mass. ~unday-school Association. By Eliza- The Immigrant Gateway. A Missionary Demonstration. Being the Representa- beth D. Paxton. 66 pp., 20 cents.
tion of the Entrance of Immigr;mts Into Missionary Education Movement, New the United States, and of the Examfna- York, 1914. tion Conducted by Officials of the Immi- Report of the Work of the Bureau of gration Service to Determine Their Fit- Education for the Natives of Alaska, ness to Enter. By Reuben L. Breed. 1912-13. United States Bureau of Edu- Missionary Education Movement, 156 cation, Bulletin, 19l4, No. 31, Whole Number 605. Government Printing Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913. From the Bread Line to the Pulpit. Office, Washington, D.C., 1914.
The Story of How I "Came Back." The Student Christian Movement at By Frederic J. Baylis. With an intro- Work. Being the Report of fhe General duction by John H. Wyburn. 16mo. Committee of the Movement for the Col-· 43 pp. Fleming H. Revell Cd., New York, 1914. lege, year 1913-14. Pp. 77, 6d., net. Student Christian Movement, London, The Cross in Japan. A Study of 1914· Achievement and Opportunity. By Negro Year Book. An Annual Encyclo- Fred Eugene Hagin. Illustrated 12mo. 367 pp. $1.50, net. Fleming H. Revel! pedia of the Negro. 1914-15. Monroe Co., New York, 1914. N. Work, Editor. 25 cents, 446 pp. Negro Year Book Publishing Co., Tus- The Ban of the Bori. Demons and kegee Institute, Ala., 1914. Demon Dancing in West and North The Folly of Federation Between the Africa. By Major A. J. N. Tremearne. Church and the World. By R. E. Neighbour. 64 pp., 10 cents. Charles Illustrated, 497 pp., 21s. net. Heath, C. Cook, New York, 1914. Cranton & Cusely, London, 1914. The Evangelical Union. Report of the Missionary Travels in Central Africa. Churches and Organizations Constitu- By F. S. Arnot, F. R. G. S. Introduc- ting the Union. 1914 Annual Meeting and Missionary Directory. Evan- tion by W. H. Bennet, xix., 159 pp., gelical Union, Box 436, Manil<l., P.r., 2s. Holness, London, 1914. 1914.
The Women of Egypt. By Elizabeth Cooper. Illustrated, 300 pp., 6s. Hurst & Blackett, London, 1914. A Central African Parish. By Egbert The Italians. A StUdy of the Countrymen C. Hudson. Illustrated, 96 pp., 15. net. of Columbus, Dante, and Michael Angelo. (Immigrants in the Making Series.) By Simpkin, Marshall, London, 1914.
Our Opportunity in the West Indies. Sarah Gertrude Pomeroy, A.M. Illus- By Benjamin G. O'Rorke. Illustrated, trated. 61 pp. 25 cents, net. Fleming H. 136 pp., Is. ,uf. S. P. G., London, 1913. -Revell Co., New York, 1914.
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1908
CATHEDRAL, BRITISH EAST
This beautiful cathedral was erected by public subscription in memory of Bishop James Hannington, Bishop H. P. Parker and Rev. Henry vVright-all of the Church Missionary Society of England~
of the World VOL. XXXI. No. 6 JUNE, 1908 VOL. XXI. No.6 Old Series New &ries Published by Funk &; WagnaUs Company, ""-60 E. 23d St., N.Y. Isaac K. Funk, Pres., A. W. Wagnalls, Vice-Pres. and Treas" Robt. Scott, See'y SIGNS OF THE TIMES A GREAT MEN'S MEETING ary addresses; (2) that all the ad- dresses were given by laymen-none When Christian laymen take hold of whose business in life is usually cona work it usually goes and goes for- sidered preaching the Gospel but men ward. This was the case with a great who are most prominently known in Men's Foreign Missionary Meeting business and political and literary cirwhich packed Carnegie Hall, New cles; (3) that the dominant note was York, on the evening of April 20th, one of unity in the great campaign. with a throng of men over 3,CXXl When the Christian laymen have their strong. No women were allowed ex- way, the minor denominational theocept in the boxes. The music was led logical distinctions will be overlooked by Mr. Charles Alexander and ad- and the great essential unifying feadresses were made by Hon. Charles H. tures of the Gospel will control the Taft, "Secretary of War and Am- Church of Christ. bassador of Peace," by Mr. John R. Mott, who presided, Mr. J. Campbell MEN IN Tl'IE SOUTHLAND White, Secretary of the !–aymen's Movement, Mr. Silas McBee, editor of Another large missionary conven- The Churchman, and Hon. S. B. tion, of laymen of the Methodist Capen, president of the American Church, was held at Chattanooga, Ten- Board of Commissioners for Foreign nessee, on April 21st and 22d. Hun- Missions. Secretary Taft spoke dreds of business and professional men strongly, even enthusiastically of his came together, many of them traveling conversion to the need and value of hundreds of miles to consider the Christian missionary work as a civili- King's business. One of the most nozing agency. He spoke from observa- table addresses was that of the British tion and experience and declared that Ambassador, Han. James Bryce. It is it was time for men to "wake up" to significant that public men, like Presithe fact that "Christianity and its dent Roosevelt, Taft, Bryan and Bryce, spread are the only basis for our hope are giving their unqualified support to of modern civilization." a cause which a century ago was de- spised and rejected in public circles as The great significance of the meet- a fanatical plan of religious enthuing came from the following facts: siasts. ( I) that a great company of menmostly busy laymen-should gather to Ambassador Bryce spoke as a Chrislisten for over two hours to mission- tian statesman who recognizes the duty of preaching the Gospel to every creature, both because of our Lord's com- The plan of this united campaign is mand and because of the obligations wotthy of adoption elsewhere. It preresting on favored races. Like Secre- vents overlapping and competition. tary Taft, Mr. Bryce emphasized the Surely the power of God is evident in need for Christian men' to counteract this awakening of the laymen to a the evil example and corrupting in- deeper sense of their responsibility for fluence of non-Christian traders and world-wide evangelism. travelers. He emphasized the duty of governments to put a stop to the un- MORE VOLUNTEERS WANTED righteous and harmful dealings of men of civilized lands with the natives of The increasing opportunities for less enlightened nations. Let the gov- Christian work in the mission fields ernments enforce the laws of right- due to the material and spiritual eousness while the missionaries preach awakening of the East is leading our the Gospel of peace and holiness. mission boards to call insistently for 196 new recruits. The candidate sec- MEN ON THE PACIFIC COAST retary of the Student Volunteer Move- ment has recently sent out a list of im- In the West also men are taking up portant posts that should be filled the campaign. On the Pacific Coast, immediately by competent men and the district secretaries of all the for- women. This list calls for 81 ordained eign missionary boards recently united men, 26 men teachers, 21 physicians, in a campaign, under the auspices of one superintendent of building operathe Laymen's Missionary lVIovement, tions, and one Sunday-school organand conducted meetings in Spokane, izer; also 22 women Bible teachers, 21 Seattle, Portland, Oakland, Los An- school-teachers, 9 women physicians, geles, and San Diego. Denominational rallies were held in each city and 5 nurses, 6 kindergarteners and'2 muunited meetings were aclclrest by the General Secretary of the Laymen's sic teachers. Almost every board and Movement and by one of the members every fielel joins in this appeal to of the Laymen's Commission to the Christians who are r(''l.dy and able to foreign field. hear and heed the great command of our Lord to His Church. We will Among the results reported are that never cease playing at missions and whereas last year the gifts (for relig- go to work in good earnest until we ious work in America) of 112,000 have the heart conviction, as :11 r. Wilchurch members in these cities, liam T. Ellis has well said, f1at "It amounted to $2,492,500 and only is the business of the whole church to $116,000 was given to work in the re- give the whole Gospel to the whole mainder of God's world, the men de- world." cided to make a strenuous effort to increase these foreign missionary gifts MORE GOOD STEWARDS WANTED to $47°,000, or fourfold. Many individuals and churches are voting to The call for more men necessarily devote at least one-fourth of their involves the call for more funds to benevolent offerings to foreign mission support them in their work. In spite of the fact that the women are awake work. and the men of the Church are wak- ing up to their responsibility and more money is being given to-day for for-
SIGN:S OF THE TIMES 40
eign missions than ever before, it is and Victoria aggregate nearly 1,000 a sad fact that 1110St of the mission miles in length, so that only the difboards are this year facing heavy de- ficult stretches of the Upper Nile reficits which threaten to cripple their main to be conquered. If those who work. love the Gospel perform their part, not so very difficult, then this will not be It is easier to point out the cause known much longer as the Dark Conthan to find and administer the rem- tinent, for "Ethiopia shall stretch out edy. The Laymen's Movement and her hands unto God," and the light other advance work have increased will drive out the darkness. more largely the gifts to special funds than to the general work. The de- "Many wonderful things have almands on the treasury have been ready come to pass in these first hours heavier than ever before, due to a ne- of God's day for Africa," says Bishop cessity for increasing some salaries of Hartzell. "Exploration has done its missionaries and for keeping pace with principal work as to the main features the growing demands of the work. The of the continent, and now the details financial crisis has also prevented some are being rapidly completed. Medical generous givers from contributing as sciense is mastering the causes and largely as usual. There is money remedies of malarial diseases. Every enough in the hands of Christians for phase of industrial activity is advancall the requirements of the work at ing rapidly. International diplomacy home and abroad, what is needed is has practically completed the blocking that our Lord's trust funds be more out of continental colonial empires. faithfully expended. Too many of us The native blacks are being tested as are laying up all our treasures on linguists, teachers, men of business, earth; the only life and the only laborers, and Christians, and are provwealth that is safe is that which IS ing that they have great capabilities invested in the King's business. for success when properly understood and assisted. Christian missions are ACHIEVEMENTS IN AFRICA everywhere being recognized as pow- erful, permanent, and necessary fac- Within the limits of this huge con- tors in the uplift of the people. Martinent already no less than 7,000 miles velous results in so brief a time! Still, of railway are in operation. Next 'to in the presence of what remains to be the explorations of Livingstone and clone, they are only the first rays in Stanley, the famous Cape to Cairo the eastern sky, heralding the coming scheme of Cecil Rhodes may be day." ranked in importance among achievements which make the Dark Conti- ABYSSINIA OPENED TO THE GOSPEL nent easily accessible to the missionaries of Christ. The telegraph is al- This lancl with its 150,000 square ready in operation from Cape Town miles, and 3,500,000 inhabitants, has to Alexandria, and nearly half the dis- hitherto ranked with Tibet and Aftance is spanned by iron rails and lines ghanistan as inaccessible to all messenof steamers, including a steel bridge gers of Christ. Now according to reacross the Zambesi at Victoria Falls. cent reports King Menelek, who seems The three lakes, Nyasa, Tanganyika, to be possest of not a few excellent
qualities of both mind and heart, has very under any name and that the partially opened the doors. For some more civilized governments joined years a Swedish missionary society has hands to put an end to the abuses been watching and waiting upon the brought about 'by men's greed for northern border, scattering also cop- gold. ies of the Bible. When one of these was presented to the king with the re- SIGNS OF A REVIVAL IN EGYPT quest that their introduction be forbidden, he replied: "I have read these Encouraging reports come from the books and they are good; let the peo- American United Presbyterian mission ple read them too." An order has in Middle Egypt where the Spirit of also been issued that all children above the Lord has been manifest in love seven years of age shall go to school, and in power. The attitude of the nacoupled with the promise to pay the tive workers is in delightful contrast salaries of any competent teachers with that of a few years ago. whom the missionaries may supply. During last year I26 were added to SLAVERY UNDER PORTUGUESE to the church at Menhari and within the past few months many other Not only in the Kongo State are churches have been richly blest. men and women held in practical sla- Last summer Dr. Watson visited the very by the king of Belgium-in spite Island of Sharona and 42 new memof international law-but in the col- bers were received into the church onies of Portugal on the West Africa and more were admitted later. In coast barbarous systems prevail-sla- another neighboring town on the very of the worst kind under the name banks of the Nile, 37 new memof "indentured labor." General F. bers cqnfest their faith in Christ Joubert-Pienaar, who served in the and eight backsliders were restored to Boer war, says that the Portuguese gov- church fellowship. Fourteen others ernment imports thousands of slaves have been admitted, and since then 30 every year to its coco plantations to more are being instructed more fully take the place of those who die from in regard to the duties and privileges fever. The slaves are secured through of Christians. Similar reports come native chiefs and the contract is a farce from many stations. of which the poor Africans understand nothing. They are cruelly treated, and Not only does the spiritual life manas most of them die before their so- ifest itself in the number added to called contract expires, no wages are the church, but also in the desire for paid. Husbands are taken from their pastors and evangelistic workers. Anfamilies and children are tom from other manifestation of spiritual life is their mothers with unspeakable inhu- the effort put forth to obtain pastors. manity. General Joubert-Pienaar himself lost most of his property and was AN AWAKENING IN MANCHURIA driven from the colony because of his opposition to this cruel traffic and its Liao-Yang, one of the. stations of attendant evils. It is time that inter- the United Free Church of Scotland, national law ceased to recognize sla- has been greatly stirred by a spiritual awakening which is directly traceable to the revival in Korea. One of the missionaries who had visited Korea, held a series of services for Christians
OF THE
in February. Special prayer-meetings was appointed on ways and means of were held for months previous in promoting the ideal set forth by the Liao-Yang and many surrounding conference. out-stations and when Mr. Goforth of Hunan began his meetings the people It is worthy of note that the only were in a receptive spirit. After a apprehension exprest was lest some prayer by Chang, one of the native denominational boards in the home elders who had been to Korea, the countries should obstruct the movewhole congregation was greatly stirred ment, as has happened in former inand broke forth into weeping and stances. In educational work union is praying. Day after day three or four already accomplished; one printing hundred came together. Many made establishment serves all the missionconfession of sin and were filled with aries; a union hymnal has been in use the Spirit of God. The missionaries for years. Now a union university write of it as a very sacred, awe-in- is planned, land for which has been sespiring time and yet joy-bearing for cured at Chentu, and contributions all. One exclaims: "How easily the have been and are being made for the wheels go round when God's Spirit missionary colleges included in it. Will moves the machinery." Christians at home follow this lead toward world-wide Christian unity? In Mukden a similar blessed revival was experienced, not by human might SELF.SUPPORT IN JAPAN or power, but by the Spirit of God. Ezekiel'3 vision of the valley of dry The Japanese are forging ahead bones was actualized in the spiritual toward the ideals of self-government, resurrection of many. Churches full, self-support, and self-extension. Two confessions sincere, generosity, service more Presbyterian churches have reincreasing, righteousness, love. cently become independent. One in Otaru has in this way celebrated its ONE CHURCH FOR WEST CHINA fifteenth anniversary. The Lebanon Church in Tokyo has also become In Chentu, a large city about 700 self-supporting and sends a letter of miles west from Shanghai, China, a thanks to the Presbyterian Board for missionary conference was held last its past aid. January, at which the unanimous resolve was made that "This Confer- The year 1907 in Japan showed a ence adopts as its ideal one Protestant remarkable development of the evan- Christian Church for West China." gelistic spirit. Millions have as yet This was agreed to by a hundred and never heard of Christ but everywhere fifty missionaries, representing nine the evangelists go, crowds gather to different societies at work in that pop- hear them. At Kokawa, recently, ulous region of 60,000,000 people. twelve hundred gathered and listened They also made a practical beginning to nine speakers who held forth from by resolving that their various six to eleven-thirty in the evening. churches should receive each other's members by transfer. Episcopalians, C0NDITIONS IN PERSIA Friends, Baptists, and Methodists readily agreed to this. A standing From time to time disturbing recommittee of two from each mission ports come of the turbulent state of things in Persia. Russians are said to be massing troops on the northern
boundary and on the western border settle in the different countries of the the Turks are making raids, mu;-der- western world, stay clannishly toing whole villages. Even Urumia is gether, and make energetic efforts to threatened. The government is unsta- propagate their doctrines. The numble and the blossoming promise of re- ber of converts to Mohammedanism in ligious and civil liberty seems to be England is said to be quite large, six blighted for the present. In the laws hundred of them living in Liverpool of the new constitution, Islam is de- alone. Among the Mohammedans of clared to be the religion of the realm English birth are Lord Stanley of and nothing opposed to it is to be tol- Alclerley, Mr. Cardinson from Scoterated. It is a time to pray for Per- land, the well-known lawyer Le Mesia and the heroic missionaries work- surier, the great pianist Miss Delbaste, ing there. the painter Miss L. A. Chiffner, and Lawyer Quilliam, who is the head of Six years ago the first 2'.Iohamme- the Mohammedan congregations in dan boy was admitted to the Presby- Eng'and. The man who is planning terian mission school in Teheran. The and pushing the campaign in behalf number grew until in I906, I28 of the of l'vLohammedanism in Britain is Mo- 230 students were Moslems. Last hammed Abdullah al Mamum Suhrayear most of these Mohammedan pu- warcly, a native of East India and an pils left the school because they able lawyer in London. wanted a voice in the management of the school. Later they asked to be In Australia and in America, Motaken back but none of the leaders hammedanism is said to be gaining were pennitted to return. A rival ground also and mosques are to be school was founded with the help of built in New York and Adelaide. In the government but was soon aban- Germany Mohammed Adil Schmitz du doned on account of the continual Moulin, a native of Rhenish Prussia, discord that prevailed. The mission preaches Mohammed's doctrines. He school has not suffered from the with- was a mining engineer in Kalembang drawal of those excluded as it is rec- upon Sumatra for many years, was ognized as "the only school in there converted to Mohammedanism Teheran worthy of the name." Awak- and married a Malay-Chinese wife. ened Persia is demanding a better ed- He is a ready writer and speaker and ucation. Better educated Persia will therefore exerts considerable influence. demand a better government. Better governed Persia will make it possible Thus Mohammec1anism is not satisfor the people to choose to follow a fied with its propaganda among the better religion than that of the false heathen of Asia and Africa, but knocks Prophet. impudently at our own doors and se- cretly gains recruits from among those MOHAMMEDANISM IN THE WEST who have never been willing to yield to the claims of Christ. According to a writer in a German magazine, "Ueber Land und l'lfeer," PROGRESS IN NEW GUINEA Mohammedanism is spreading in the Occident. It is stated that large num- The spirit of inquiry among the bers of followers of the false prophet Papuas, which was so manifest last year is continuing and the number of
believers in Christ is rapidly increas- priests and intelligent members of the ing. The number of baptisms reported State Church are desirous of a wider is much larger than in previous years liberty of thought, expression, and and the laborers feel greatly encour- practise. Opportunities are mUltiply- aged. In Siar IS heathen were bap- ing for bringing to the attention of tized a short time ago by a missionary the subjects of Russia the truths of of the Rhenish Missionary Society evangelical Christianity.
who had purposely waited a long time Large numbers in Russia, who are before he admitted these earnest in- not members of the Orthodox Church, quirers into the church. The mission- are already evangelical Christians at aries of the Neuen-Dettelsau Mission- heart, and among these much can be ary Society reported 253 baptisms of done.
heathen Papuas during the past few The evangelical Christians in Rus- months and a large number of men sia, of all denominations and of no and women applicants for baptism. A denomination, are attempting to or- new station in the Kela district opened ganize for more united and aggressive by the Neuen-Dettelsau missionaries work. While the first attempt, made a short time ago attracts audiences of last summer, was not wholly success- from two to four hundred heathen on ful, something was accomplished. The the Lord's day, altho there is no build- work of the Young Men's Christian ing yet erected and the hearers are Association has become a well-recog- exposed to the hot sun or to the dis- nized organization in St. Petersburg, agreeable rain. In this way the en- commanding the confidence and coop- couragement which began to come to eration of a large number of able lead- the faithful missionaries upon New ers. The Bible, through the British Guinea a year ago, continues. and Foreign Bible Society, is given THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA free circulation throughout the coun- Religious liberty in the Russian em- try, and all duly accredited colporteurs pire has dawned, even tho the mani- of that society are looked upon and festo of the emperor has not been treated as a privileged class.
formulated into law and local officials The Russian Evangelical Alliance, are still in doubt as to the extent of with a charter for carrying on every freedom. The fact remams, says form of evangelistic, charitable, pub- Dr. Barton of the American Board, lication, and educational work, was re- that in widely separated parts of the cently reorganized at St. Petersburg, empire there is a far greater degree with provisions for opening branches of liberty of worship granted to-day in other parts of the empire.
than was given three or four years The Methodist Episcopal Church ago. The censorship of the press has has opened work in St. Petersburg been abandoned, altho the government and the Baptists of Russia have started is ready to bring charges through the a theological school in Lodz for which civil or criminal courts against any Baron Uxkull is raising money.
who publish matter regarded as detri- There are now twelve students but mental to the administration of na- in the summer a second class with tional affairs. There are also many about twenty is expected. The stu- indications that a. large number of dents are eager to learn and are mak-
ing rapid progress in the knowledge because they have apparently expected revof the Bible. As Russia is a conglom- olution, which would not only be unnatural eration of various nations, many of the students are of German descent; two but undesirable. The Porto Rico of IB98 are Russians, one Estonian (a Mongolian tribe), and some Lettish; and was essentially a part of Europe. They one is a Cossack. At the Sunday were dissatisfied with Spanish rule-or evangelistic services the hall can misrule-and received the American solscarcely accommodate all the hearers. diers with a hearty welcome as their There have already been several con- deliverers. versions including that of a soldier. Ten years ago, when the American RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN FRANCE flag went up, there were six hundred awl sixty thousand people over ten years of Mr. Soltau, now at the head of the age, not one in five of whom could read McAll Mission, in speaking of the and write his own language. After four state of religion in France, calls at- hundred years of Spanish rule, the pertention to the fact that it has a popu- centage of illiteracy was greater th:m lation of thirty-nine millions, of whom in any state in the Union; greater even not more than 650,000 are Protestants. than that of any other island in the West Allowing for Jews and other non- Indies. Only six per cent of the children Christian sects, there remain about of school age were in schools, which thirty-eight million nominal Roman were in every way inferior to the average Catholics; but the priests confess that public school in the United States. not more than four millions can be said to be following their teachings. At present there is not a town of any The people are drifting away from all size on the island without its school belief in the Church, and from the con- building provided with thoroughly modern trol of the priests. A religious census equipment and taught by American or comin the Department of the Seine and petent Porto Rican teachers. In addition Marne revealed the fact that less than there are well-ordered high schools in the two and one-half per cent attended three large cities on the island and an Inmass. In villages of 500 inhabitants, not sular Normal School where more than a more than ten attended mass. France is hundred young men and women are prenow open to the simple Gospel of paring to become teachers. Christ. It is what the people need. Another change is :n the Porto Rican CONDITIONS IN PORTO RICO home. In 1900 more than half as many men and women were living together by Dr. E. Raymond Hildreth, of San mutual consent as were legally married Juan, writes that there are many un- because most could not pay the priests' mistakable signs of progress in Porto wedding fees. With the coming of Protes- Rico. He says: tant missionaries and teachings, hundreds of these have been united in marriage, The one word which best expresses the and are learning the significance and advancement is-evolution; and the reason sacredness of the Christian home. why many Americans have made harsh criticisms about conditions here has been But without personal religion, educa- tion, self-government and mat~rial pros- perity will never suffice to transform Porto Rico into a self-governing State. Following the soldiers have come the Protestant missionaries. Churches and chapels, schools, hospitals, and dispen- saries have been established and day by day more and more Porto Ricans are being brought into direct contact with the pure transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
URGENCY OF THE CRISIS IN ASIA *
BY MR. JOHN R. MaTT, M.A., F.R.G.S. General Secretary of the World's Student Christian Federation.
The present urgency and crisis in been announced, when I visited Seoul the Extreme Orient is unmatched by recently, that in Independence Hall, any other crisis and opportunity which located outside the city wall, to com- has confronted the Christian Church. memorate a certain event in connec- It involves the destiny of nearly 500 tion with the relations between Korea millions of people of Japan, Korea, and China, there would be held a China, Manchuria and Mongolia. mass-meeting of men of the gentry Among these multitudes massed and other important classes. These around the further shore of the Pa- were to be admitted by tickets. The cific Basin, the forces of youth and tickets had been distributed with age, of radicalism and conservatism, care through the city. The meetof growth and decay, are seething and ing was to convene at two o'clock.
struggling for the mastery. What re- At nine o'clock in the morning of that ligion shall dominate these changing week-day the men began to stream out peoples? Or shall it be no religion? beyond the city wall to this, the largest Talk about crises is overdone, but will hall that could be obtained. By anyone who is familiar with the facts twelve o'clock every place in the hall, question that the present is the time which would accommodate 2,500 was of times for the Far East? taken. When some of us, about two The Triumphs of Missions o'clock, drew near the place where the The present is a time of urgent and meeting was to be held, we noticed supreme crisis in the Extreme Orient, the landscape lined with Korean men.
because of the recent remarkable tri- We wondered at it, because it was one umphs of Christianity in the Far of the bitter cold days of January.
East and the great importance of You know they do not reckon cold pressing the advantage which these over there by so many degrees, but triumphs afford. Think of Korea, a by so many coats. Well, this was a nation which is now being swept by a day when they were wearing five spiritual revival of national dimen- coats, and we could not understand sions. The awakening in that country why there were so many standing out- may well be likened to the Welsh re- side in the piercing cold. When we vival in point of pervasiveness, power arrived we found the hall crowded and transforming influence. There is with 2,500 men, and there were 3,500 one body of Christians in Korea more outside. We took possession of which, during the year had nearly 10,- a Buddhist temple, which was soon ODD accessIOns. Another Christian crowded with as many as could enter; communion had nearly as many. but the larger part of the great crowd There comes vividly to memory a had to stay outside in the open air, scene which indicated the eagerness where they stood, listening intently of the Korean people to hear the pres- during the addresses of several speak- entation of the Gospel truth. It had ers. The meeting in the hall lasted '* Condensed as reported for Men's Missionary Convention, Philadelphia. Printed in full in uThe World-Call for Men of To-day," Presbyterian Board of Publication, Philadelphia.
some thr.ee and a half hours. Never tian teachers and preachers to prop- have I known greater eagerness in erly follow them up; and therefore, to attending to the facts connected with make it safe and wise to encourage the mission and the claims of Jesus their being baptized. This spiritual Christ. Over 200 of those strong movement is touching not only the young men of Korea bowed their masses, but likewise the educated knees that day for the first time before classes. Six years ago it seemed to Jesus Christ the Savior. This incident be impossible to get men of the lit- is indicative of the moving of the erary and student class to attend evan- Spirit of God among the higher gelistic meetings or to go to hear classes and the lower classes in North apologetic addresses and lectures. But and Central and Southern Korea. The a few months ago large halls and spe- field is dead-ripe! It is the last time cially constructed pavilions, in which for the Church to withhold her hand to hold Gospel meetings, were invaria- from thrusting in the sickle. If the bly crowded to the doors by students present attack of pure Christianity is and other influential classes of young adequately sustained, Korea will be men. Some of the most remarkable the first non-Christian nation thor- ingatherings into the kingdom of our oughly evangelized in this modern for- Savior have been in connection with eign missionary epoch. the keen, educated classes of China.
At the end of the first thirty-five Moreover, we have had evidence in years of missionary history in China recent years that not only numbers are there wt<re six converts to Christianity. being reached, but that the Holy Spirit The Bishop of Mid-China told me, is developing a type of Christian in when I was out in China for the first China which commands the admira- time, about eleven years ago, that tion of the Cluistians of the West.
when he reached China there were They have stood firm against every only fifty Protestant Christian com- wind that blows; even against the municants, but that that year (IS96) fiercest blasts of cruel persecution.
there were SO,ooo. Now there are at They are now developing a spirit of least 180,000, and some claim that the independence, initiative and leadership number is as high as 250,000. If we which gives promise of wonderful ad- include the adherents to all Protestant vances in the years before us.
bodies, the number would be swelled It seems incredible that within the to nearly one million. Dr. Milne 100 lifetime of people in this Conference years ago predicted that in 100 years there were posted up in different parts there would be one thousand commu- of Japan official edicts, offering re- nicants and adherents to Protestant wards of so many pieces of silver for Christianity in China. Think of one revealing people found either profess- million, or 1,000 times as many as his ing or propagating the Christian faith; prediction reached! Not only so, but and that, in contrast with this, there there are great mass movements are now not less than 60,000 Protes- shaking parts of China to-day, and tant Christian communicants in Japan.
literally thousands of people are being What means much more is the fact held back from baptism because there that if you were to talk to-day to are not a sufficient number of Chris- educated leaders of Japan about the
URGENCY OF THE CRISIS IN
religion of that country they would on the mainland of Asia. At the mention two religions, Buddhism and Student Volunteer Convention of Christianity; but if they made any dis- North America, nearly two years ago, tinction between them it would be in we received a cable me.sage from the favor of Christianity. The Japanese leaders of the Christian Student have developed a spirit of independent Movement of Japan, couched in this leadership which will compare favora- language: "Japan is leading the bly with that of the most aggressive Orient, but whither?" It was a stri- and resourceful of the Christian na- king message. Certainly Japan is lead- tions of the West. Great spiritual ing the Orient! Japan is leading the movcments have been in progress in Orient commercially and she has be- that country within the past few years. come the dominant political influence Notable among them is what has been in Asia. She has been gifted with a known as the Taiyko Dendo, a revival wonderful international sense. She is the like of which one has seldom, if leading the Orient educationally. At ever, witnessed. This revival touched the present time it is said there are all strata of society, and swept not less than I,OOO Japanese teachers throughout the Japanese islands. The at work in all parts of China. While most striking thing about it was that the Occident has been rubbing her it was carried on so largely under Jap- eyes concerning this opportunity, J a- anese leadership. There have been pan has seen it and seized it. More- two events within the past few months over, she has been welcoming within that should in themselves startle us her cIoors the flower of Chinese youth.
because of their significance. One was Possibly we have not been aware of the notable campaign, waged among the fact that there are scores of In- 750,000 Japanese soldiers by the dian students in Tokyo. There are Young Men's Christian Association. nearly 700 Korean students there, also One of the oldest missionaries of Ja- not a few students from the Philip- pan said to us that in his jl1dgment pines and Siam. There have been as the Gospel was preached with fulness many as I5,000 students there at one and power to more of the vigorous time from China, and even now there and aggressive classes of men of Ja- are several thousand. Without a pan over there on the Manchurian doubt Japan is leading the Orient edu- Plains, during the Russian war, than cationally.
during the same period by all the mis- When I returned from the Far East sionaries working in Japan. The six years ago I could not say what other event was the World's Student I now can with great conviction, Christian Federation Conference last namely, that if some great catastro- April, and the associated evangelistic phe to-morrow made it necessary for campaign which have done so much all the missionaries to withdraw from to arrest the attention and awaken tn~ Asia, Christianity is so securely spirit of inquiry among the educated planted in the lives of the Orientals and influential classes of the Japanese that it would spread from them to all empire. parts of the East; and were Christian- Let us bear in mind what a mighty ity to die out in the Occident, in my work of God in Japan makes possible judgment it has such propagating
power in Asia that it would ultimately lose their heads. I have formed the spread back to us. This is what we impression, in conversation with their ought to expect if Christ is living in leaders, that this victory has humbled these Eastern peoples. It is incon- and solemnized them. They have not ceivable that He be pent up and not ceased going to school; they have not reach out until at last He encompass relaxed their intensity of application every man. Believe me, the spiritual to learn. The reason I say this now tide is rising in the Far East, and it is is to protest against the impression always wise to take advantage of a that prevails in some quarters that it rising tide. is too late to influence Japan; that the The Changing Eaat time of crisis for Japan has passed.
It is a time of supreme crisis in the It may have partially passed, but it Far East, not only because of the tri- has not wholly passed. Japan is still umphs of Christianity and the desira- fairly vibrating with modern life. It bility of pressing the advantages is not too late to change Japan.
which these triumphs afford, but also Japan is leading the Orient, but because of the stupendous changes whither? Is it to be into paths of mil- now in progress in that Far Eastern itarism, mercantilism and gross ma- world, especially on the mainland of terialism, or shall Christianity bring Asia; and the great desirability of her full influence to bear upon Japan Christianity bringing its full influence and cause Japan to exert a truly al- to bear while the conditions are still truistic influence? The place to bring plastic. power to bear is at the point where Japan has achieved greater progress power can be most widely distributed: in one generation than any other na- and surely, so far as the Far East is tion has achieved in two, if not in concerned, Japan is that place.
three, generations. She has gone to I shall not linger upon the changes school to the whole world, and has that are coming over Korea. Suffice learned her lessons with remarkable it to say, where are there ten millions facility. Seldom does a man find of people in the world to-day upon himself upon an ocean steamer that whom the currents of modern life have he cloes not find among his fellow been turned more abruptly and with passengers one or more J apanese- greater directness and power than not cruising about the world in search upon the Korean people since the Rus- of pleasure but journeying with seri- sian War? Since that war, railways ous intent to study some institution, have been extended in Korea; there some process or some experience of is being established a system of mod- some other nation or people, deter- ern education; the government is be- mined, in turn, to make this knowl- ing completely reorganized; a new edge tributary to the national great- system of finances is being introduced; ness of the nation they love with an countless social, political and other almost insane patriotism. And they changes are being effected. The pres- have not ceased to go to school. Peo- ent is the time of times to impress ple thought that when they won their Korea with Christian truth and spirit.
great victory over Russia they would In China we see the most marvelous
8 ] THE URGENCY OF THE CRISIS IN
changes. China has made greater in the other cities throughout China, progress in the last five years than any and they give news from all parts of other country of the world. She has the world. The printing presses, secmade a more radical adjustment to ular and religious, are not able to keep modern conditions than has any other pace with the demand upon them for nation in the same period of time. Sir the printing of translations of West- Robert Hart, that sagacious observer ern works about various phases of our of things Chinese, in commenting on civilization, development and history. the recent changes in China, said, The anti-opium crusade is now being "During the first forty-five years of waged with vigor. The practice of my residence in China the country was footbinding is being broken up. It has like a closed room, without a breath been decreed that China shall have of fresh air from the outside world. constitutional government after a few She was not in the least conscious of years of preparatory work. These the existence of outside nations. Dur- changes seem almost unthinkable ing the past five years breezes from all when we pause to reflect on the conparts of the world have been blowing stitution of the Chinese mind, on its through China." Dr. Griffith John, unchanging attitude through centhat Nestor of China missionaries, turies. said that if there had been associated with the changes of China the blood- But the greatest changes in China shed which had characterized the re- are those pertaining to education. She cent changes in Russia, the eyes of the has sent Imperial commissions to civilized world would have been fo- Europe and America-not as a matter cussed upon her, and. nothing would of courtesy, not as a matter of curioskeep back the nations from going to ity, but to learn with a view to going her relief. back to China to bring about changes. They have since shown by their works What are some of these changes? that they are carrying out their inten- Eleven years ago, 200 miles of railway tion. Chinese students are being sent in China; to-day there are 3,700, and, in in increasing numbers to the Occident. addition, 1,600 miles building, and 4,- I estimate that we now have possibly 000 miles more projected. Eleven years as many as 1,000 Chinese students in ago, there were a few telegraph wires; the universities of North America and now lines reach all the provinces. Europe. When we recall what it has Only a few years ago there was not meant to Christianity that the first one modern post-office; now there are Japanese students who came to the 2,500 post-offices, and an average of Occident were befriended, we will one new one being added every day. recognize the desirability of our mak- Ten years ago, there was only one ing friends of every Chinese student daily paper published in Peking, the who comes among us. Let us Chris- Peking Gazette. and it was devoted to tianize as many of them as possible; publishing the edicts of the Imperial let us neutralize all the others-that government; now there are ten dailies is, so influence them that none of t~em there; one of these is a woman's daily, will return to China antagonistic to so they can go us one better. Be- Christianity. This will be highly mulsides these there are papers published tiplying work. China is also sending
students to Japan. This has come This is a development of a few years.
about largely within the past two or There are, literally, not hundreds, but three years. As recently as April thousands of these modern schools and there were 15,000 of them in Tokyo; colleges which have been started 650 of whom came from the Sz-chuan throughout China. China has deter- province of western China, before the mined to have the modern education.
gates of Tibet. To go from there to She has made up her mind to give Tokyo involves a journey of eight her millions of youth western advan- weeks, or the equivalent" in time of tages. Japan now has over 5,500,000 going round the world to get to col- of her youth in schools. The same lege! Fully 1,250 of them came from proportion will some day give China the exclusive province of Hunan. over 50,000,000. The day is coming, That was the last province to let the and very soon, when China will have missionaries in, and that within a dec- more students than any other nation ade. And more recently still it was of the world.
resisting the introduction of the tele- China is in the midst of an intellec- graph. Yet now this most reactionary tual revolution. It is not yet a religious province is represented by a larger revolution; but it may become so. At number of young men in Japan than present her education is purely utilita- in any other province in China. Think rian. Why does China want western of it, 15,000 young men coming out of education? Solely that she may acquire the proudest nation under heaven! the the military, naval, industrial and most secluded nation in the world, well financial power of the West. May God called the Walled Kingdom, to sit at help us to infuse China with Christian the feet of their conqueror! Is this thought, Christian spirit, Christian in- not something absolutely unique? fluence ! The next ten years are Where has there ever been a parallel? packed with possibilities. How we Is it not indicative of a most striking should strengthen the educational mis- change? sionary establishment in China! How The most wonderful of these edu- we should seek indirectly, as well as cational changes has been the blotting directly, to influence the character of out more than a year ago, at one the government and gentry schools!
stroke, of the old curriculum of stud- China and Korea are still in a fluid or ies, and the substitution of Western plastic condition; they are not yet set learning in the examinations for the or crystallized. It is for Christianity, "civil service. This has been followed largely, to say whether they shall be by the springing up, like mushrooms, set in Christian molds or materialis- all over China, of modern colleges tic molds. Japan sees it, whether and high schools. Yuan Chih-kai, we do or not; and unhappily, her in- Chang Chihtung and Tuan Fang, fluence is going to be materialistic, three of the most enlightened viceroys, excepting that of her Christian have been leading off in this educa- Church. I am overwhelmed as I tional reform, and others have been think of this Chinese educational op- following. In the province of Chihli portunity, and of the changes in alone there are already 3,000 modern China. When, in the history of the schools, with over 30,000 students. human race, have such vast numbers
URGENCY OF THE CRISIS IN
of people been undergoing such radical sions, with their unifying influence. changes? I believe that we are going Other causes have been the last three to see reproduced in China, during the years wars in the Far East, and the next fifteen years, on a colossal scale return of the Japanese students from what has actually taken place in Japan Tokyo, with their hearts burning beduring the past thirty years. Religion cause of what they have learned of the is the most fundamental thing in civ- opium war with England, of the unilization. If a race with the traits of just exclusion acts of America and the Chinese determine on a certain at- Australia, of the seizing of their territitude toward religion the danger is tory by Russia, Germany, France and that they may not change again for a Japan, and of the building in their thousand years. The danger is, that own capital city of legations, which Christianity will not realize this suf- remind one of great fortresses stocked ficiently, and therefore will fail to pour with munitions of war and manned in her full strength in time. with foreign troops. Put yourself in the place of an ambitious Chinese stll- . The Spirit of Nationalism dent, and under such conditions would not the national spirit assert itself in Why is it a time of supreme cnsls you? How do we find it exhibiting in the Far East? Not only for these itself? In the many articles bearing two reasons, but also because of the on the subject, which have been writrising spirit of nationalism and of race ten by the Chinese; in frequent referpatriotism. Missions have had to ences to our "country" in periodicals reckon with this in Japan from the and speeches; in the text-book on pavery beginning. May there not have triotism prepared by Yuan Chih-kai; been a providence in it ? For has it in the use of the Chinese flag on modnot made us wiser to deal with other ern school buildings; in the singing races? May the lesson not be lost! of patriotic songs in the schools-all We have heard most suggestive and this would have seemed incredible ten convincing things concerning the years ago in China outside the mission rising national spirit in India. It is to schools; in the societies organized to the infinite credit of Britain that she study how to prepare a national conhas made possible the very develop- stitution; in the boycott against Amerment of that spirit. Some do not ican and other foreign goods; in the realize that in the Philippine Islands, anti-opium crusade; in the creation of and in Siam, the same national spirit a modern army-they have now under has asserted itself. The spirit of na- modern drill in two provinces 150,000 tionalism is also moving among the troops. Speaking of the new army in Koreans, and the hopelessness of their China reminds me of an essay that a situation lends an element of real Chinese student wrote. In speaking of pathos. the growing military power of China, he said, "Weare first going to conquer In China one finds the most marked Japan; next we are going to conquer example of growing consciousness of Russia; next we shall conquer the nationality, and of a desire to acquire whole world; and then take our place national independence and power. as the Middle Kingdom." Among the causes are the spread of railways, thus knitting the country together, and the work of Christian mis-
There is not only this rising national if she fail to improve the unparalleled spirit, but also the spirit of racial pa- opportunity in the East. My anxiety tnotIsm. Lord Salisbury maintained is not lest there be a great awakening that there is such a thing as race in the East, but lest there may patriotism. The cry is spreading over not be a corresponding awakening Asia, "Asia for the Asiatics i" We of the Church in the West. I am burcan no more resist, even if we would, dened with a sense of solicitude lest this rising national and Oriental feel- the western Christians may not see ing, than we can resist the tides of this door-this great and effectual the sea. But we would not resist it. door. You ask what will follow if We remember that the nation and the they do not see and enter it? One rerace are as much the creation of God sult will be that we will become calas is the family. We remember that loused and hardened, and unresponthese mighty powers are to be allied sive to the moving of the Living with Christianity and never placed in Spirit. It is a law of our nature that antagonism to it. What has it not if we do not respond it becomes more meant in Japan that from the begin- difficult to move us the next time. ning patriotism was associated with What could God do, if it is not irrev- Christianity? And what will it not erent to ask that question. What mean in the other Eastern countries? could God do that would likely appeal We do not know when we may be put to us more than what He is now doing out of China. Even if we are not in the East? There is something put out within ten years the Chinese startling in the thought that we may Christians may take things into their pass into such a state that even the own hands, unless the signs fail that moving of the Living Spirit may not one studies in Japan, and that one even deeply touch us! now traces among the Chinese people. Another serious result which will, In twenty years there will not be follow will be wide-spread hypocrisy. a demand for many more new mission- To know duty and do it not, is hypocaries in China. The next five years risy and is also sin. The startling mean vastly more than the fifteen thing about hypocrisy is that it not years which will follow the next five only damages OLlr character and deyears. May Christendom assert her- stroys confidence in our religion on the self in answer to the wishes of her part of those outside the Church, but Lord and evangelize while there is yet condemns to outer darkness millions time the unevange1ized parts of the who but for our sham profession mainland of Asia, and above all may would be ushered into His marvelous we devote large attention to raising light. up, training, and energizing the native leadership of the Chinese Church! Another alanning consequence will be that, failing to become conductors Reflex Influence on the West of His truth, we shall cease to be con- ductors of His power. That will re- Another reason why this is a time sult in the grave peril that we shall of supreme crisis, is because of the become incapacitated for dealing grave and even disastrous reflex in- strongly and effectively with the tasks fluence upon the Church in the West, at our own doors. May something
URGENCY OF THE CRISIS IN
move us! May some one move us, faithful intercession on the part of and save us from the perils of luxury, many Christians. There is a striking of selfishness and of ease, call out the providence in the fact that, just as best energies of our minds and hearts, these wonderful doors have been and stir us to act in line with the indi- opened in the Far East, the Holy cations of the Holy Ghost! Spirit has been calling into being the How to Meet the Crisis Young People's Missionary Move- Vhat can we do to meet this su- ment and the Laymen's Missionary preme crisis in the Far East? There Movement. These two Movements should be a masterly and united policy constitute the complement to the Stu- on the part of the missionary leaders dent Volunteer Foreign Missionary of Europe and North America with Union. They are essential to it, and reference to facing this great question. it is essential to them if this Eastern The time has come-has it not?- crisis is to be successfully met, and if when we should come together, not the world is to be evangelized in our simply to congratulate and criticize day.
one another, or to exhort one another, The Watchword or to educate one another, but to face "The Evangelization of the World these great crises, to study how they in this Generation" should be made a are to be met, and how better to co- commanding reality in the life of ordinate our forces and to introduce every Christian in this convention, and practical means of cooperation and through us in the lives of Christians federation. Our statesmanship should generally. Let us keep it as an ideal; be characterized by comprehension. and let us translate it into terms of We should face the whole field, and self-denial; for this watchword must not simply take it up in parts. We be not only regarded as an ideal, but should face our whole generation, and must also be worked out in action.
not merely grapple with emergencies. This is a truth, not only to be contem- We should face the whole range of plated, and to stir us, but also to be missionary purpose. We should pay done. Whether or not the watchword due regard to the principles of strat- is needed for any other part of the egy with reference to places, to classes, world, it is certainly needed for the to times, to methods. Would it not Far East, because whatever we wish to be wise to let the next great Ecumen- do in the Far East must be done in ical Conference, to be held in Edin- this generation.
burgh in June, 1910, be devoted to God help us to work, and so to plan, these large and urgent questions, and not as tho we had two or more have it conducted on the lines of the generations in which to do the work, recent Shanghai Centenary Confer- but as tho we had but one; or, it may ence? be, but part of one.
There should be prompt and vigor- There must be far larger and more ous development of the great and heroic dedication of lives to the work comparatively latent resources of our of evangelizing the world and estab- western Churches, the laymen and the lishing the kingdom of Christ, if the young people. Then we will have all CriSIS in the Extreme Orient is to be the money needed. Then we will have met. There is need, and that immedi-
ately and imperatively, of a great God the Holy Ghost must be honarmy of workers. Great as is the need ored in this great enterprise. We for more young men of ability in our must how ourselves in reverence be- Western lands, to give themselves to fore Him. In our creed we say, "I the work of the Christian ministry, believe in God the Father Almighty even greater is the need for a large number of the very best students of . . . I believe in the Holy Ghost." Europe and America to go as mission- Therefore let us be consistent, let us aries to the Far East. They are be logical, let us be genuine, and so needed to press into unevangelized re- work and speak, so pray and act, as gions. They are needed to protect our those should who have profest faith present investment of lives, and to in a superhuman religion. The ground make them most highly productive. of our hope and confidence in meet- They are needed to dominate the edu- ing this eastern crisis rests not chiefly cational standards of the East by sheer upon the strength and extent of the force of merit, efficiency and spiritu- missionary establishment, not upon the ality. number and power of the misionaries, not upon the methods and agencies Above all, they are needed to enlist, evolved through generations of experitrain, lead and inspire a host of native ence, not upon the brilliancy of the Christian preachers and teachers. But, leadership of our forces, not upon the let it be emphasized, there must be fulness of the treasury, not upon men and women of ability, as well as statesmanlike policies and plans, and of courage, character and consecra- the skill of our strategists, not upon tion. This is vastly more important watchwords and inspiring forward than numbers. We need those who movements-not chiefly upon these will be statesmen. We need those things, but upon the fact that the with power to lead and inspire. We great God is still pleased to dwell must have the pick of the universities, in men and women with pure if they are to guild and mold the lead- and humble and obedient hearts ers of the new Far East. I do not -"the Holy Ghost, whom God forget that God will take some who hath given to them that obey Him." are not thus conspicuously strong, and Therefore, let us turn from the crisis will use them to confound the mighty. in the Far East, and face the crisis in Japan had killed, wounded and dis- our own lives. Are we willing to yield eased in the late war 457,000 men, in ourselves absolutely, unconditionally to the supreme effort to preserve the bal- the sway of Christ, to do His will and ance in the Far East. The Japanese not our own? Each one of us has willingly laid down tens of thousands this infinitely potential, this awfully of lives to capture one position in the solemn power of choice. May we not Liao-tung Peninsula. "Thy people be found wantin~·, but be true in the shall be willing in the day of Thy exercise of the highest office of the power." Is not this a day of His human will. powe~? Is He not shaking nations? At such a time can we withhold our Our wills are ours we know not how, Our wills are ours to make them Thine !" cooperation?
A LAYMAN'S IMPRESSIONS OF MISSIONS IN ASIA *
BY JOHN B. SLEMAN, JR., WASHINGTON, D. C.
A study of missionary work and its portunity to meet personally many results in a brief tour must neces- men and women whose. names are sarily be very superficial, and espe- household words in their respective cially so when the thought and atten- denominations. Added to the experi- tion of the Christian workers in the ences at these great gatherings were Orient was, for the time being, cen- many weeks of travel from place to tered on the World's Student Chris- place in Japan, China and Korea, tian Federation Conference at Tokyo meeting missionaries, visiting their and on the great gathering of mission- homes and the churches, hospitals and aries at Shanghai for the Morrison schools under their charge. There Centennial. were also opportunities for conversa- While these events prevented a close tions with consuls and business men study of the mission stations under and with Japanese, Chinese, and Konormal conditions, they gave op- rean officials.
portunities to hear from all the great The present time presents opportu- leaders, to listen to discussions by ex- nities for the evangelization of the perts and to follow up in conversa- Orient which are in every way extion with missionaries of every grade, traordinary. This is especially true ideas gained from observation or pre- in China and Korea. No more rev- vious study. olutionary action was ever taken by One can never forget the impres- any nation than that which China sions of the essential unity of Chris- took several years ago when she abso- tian thought throughout the world lutely abolished an educational system and the universal application of the two thousand years old and substi- Christian religion to the needs of men tuted in its place a system patterned and women everywhere, produced by after· our own. The full significance the gathering of the Christian stu- of this move and its relation to the dents and professors of twenty-five propagation of Christianity can only nations at Tokyo. The single fact be understood when one realizes that that the· first world's gathering of up to the time of this change the lite- any sort ever held in the Orient rati, or educated leaders of the Chinese should be a coming together of the were, with but very few exceptions, forces of aggressive Christianity as beyond the reach of the missionaries.
represented by one of the most influen- N ow they are the most accessible class tial classes in every nation was of tre- in many respects because of their great mendous significance, and its meaning anxiety to learn quickly everything was not lost upon the Japanese nation, that is Western.
as was evidenced by the utterances of The graduates of mission schools public men and by the editorials of are in great demand as teachers-they the Japanese press. have peculiar advantages for teaching The great gathering of missionaries Christianity along with their secular at Shanghai gave a most valuable op- duties. If the mission schools could * M1', Sleman has recently returned from a four months' trip to the Orient. He went as a member of the Centennial Commission of the Laymen's l1issionary Movement.
be greatly enlarged immediately, so Some Criticisms of Missions that many more teachers could be trained for the government schools, There are very few criticisms of this permeating influence could be Christian missions in the Orient that more widely disseminated. It· would do not have as their cause the nigbe statesmanship of the highest order gardliness of the Church at home. Of to place at the disposal of our mission- course there are inefficient missionaries in China the funds and the work- aries, but they' are few, and there are ers to greatly increase the output of stations which might better have not the mission schools, not only to pro- been opened until they could be vide teachers for government schools manned more effectively. My prinbut also to train Christian workers of cipal criticisms, however, go back to every sort, especially, of course, young the Church at home. It is absurd to men for the ministry. build a fine, large hospital and then leave only one physician to look after In Korea a condition exists which it. It is uneconomical in every way is unparalleled :n the annals of mis- to consume the time of men who can sions. The prophecy in the hymn preach and teach and translate, in which speaks of the coming of "a building houses and keeping account nation in a day" is literally being ful- books. It is poor policy to have so filled in the Hermit Kingdom. The many important decisions made by exwonderful revivals, the unprecedented ecutive committees and boards who activity of Korean converts in evan- are ten thousand miles away and who gelizing their own people, the eager- can not by any possibility know the ness to learn and teach-all signify a circumstances and special needs in condition which warrants all the help given cases. from us in the way of workers and equipment which the missionaries Far greater latitude in administradeem wise. tion should be given to the mission- aries on the field. In the denomina- In both China and Korea the oppor- tions where there is a responsible head tunities for medical missions are es- on the ground, the beneficent results pecially obvious, not only for the influ- are very obvious. ence upon the patients treated, but even more for the training up of the My observations led me to believe modern medical fraternity of these na- in large, typical representative work tions. In connection with their hos- as distinguished from a wide scatterpitals the missionary physicians are ing of small stations. The larger the establishing medical schools. Think of missionary community the greater the what it will mean for China and Korea influence, and, after all, the great duty to have the physicians of the future, of foreign missionaries is to establish Christian men! In Seoul we beheld the type and let the native reproduce the production of one of the first it in kind. The formation of larger books on modern medical science to be stations, too, prevents many of the issued in Korea-printed from a vexed questions of personal relationmimeograph by Korean medical stu- ships which inevitably result in many dents in the basement of the Severance places from the living together of Hospital. small groups segregated from com- panionship with other foreigners.
A LAYMAN'S IMPRESSIONS OF MISSIONS IN ASIA
Throughout our entire tour in the ica on the subject of foreign missions Far East we were imprest with the has been greatly influenced by the force of a remark made by Robert E. dwellers in port cities in the East and Speer to the effect that the evangeli- it is time that this influence was com- zation of the world was not to be bated. accomplished by the technical mission- ary agencies alone. At every point of Moreover, the Christian community contact with heathenism the represen- in a port city in the Orient has the tatives of Christian nations have mis- same duty to perform with reference sionary opportunities. The men who to the conduct of the municipal affairs represent its in business and diplo- as it has in a city of America, and it matic circles in the Orient are often can not be excused from the initiation in positions of greater influence than of and active participation in all move- the missionaries. We must in some ments needed to reform the moral way see to it that these men worthily and political status of those com- represent a Christian civilization. It munities. is not too much to say that many of them in the past, and still a great Another point of vital importance many in the present, are a hindrance to the missionary cause which this and not a help to the propagation of trip made very clear was the influence the truth of God. Their lives are of the action of America and England not above reproach and often there as nations toward such nations as is active opposition to all things re- China. This is not the place to dis- ligious. cuss exclusion laws or similar gov- ernment enactments, but it is the place The problem of influencing foreign- to say that such acts on the part of ers dwelling in the port cities of the our government which involve real Orient is one of the most vital of all or fancied injustice to the people of missionary questions. The very tap- the Far East are at times a very real root of hostility to and criticism of bar to effective work. The cultiva- foreign missions is to be found in tion of an enlightened public opinion these communities. As they are the on the subject of our relations as a only communities with which the ordi- nation to the nations of the Orient is nary traveler comes into contact, their an indispensable part of the really views, as well as their viewpoint, are effective evangelization of those couninevitably transmitted to those who tries. reach these countries. Christian business and professional men traveling I t was inspiring to the visiting in the Orient can do great service to laymen from America to meet the the missionary body by cornering splendid missionary leaders of the .some of the critics in the port cities. Christian forces on the field and, if They can be made to eat their words the remarks of the missionaries were of criticism in many a case because a safe criterion, they themselves were so often they are absolutely ignorant greatly stimulated and encouraged by of the facts. Public opinion in Amer- this visit evidencing as it did the new and enlarged interest of the Church at home in the work abroad.
PICTURES OF MISSIONARY LIFE
CENTRAL AFRICA STORIES OF HARDSHIP AND SUCCESS IN BONGANDANGA. KONGO STATE BY REV. AND MRS. A. E. RUSKIN, KONGO BALOLO MISSION Within the horseshoe bend of the and one of the most important edifices Kongo River, in the very heart of of all,-the printing-house. Further darkest Africa, are millions of people back on the main road to the neighbor- for whom the Kongo Balolo Mission ing towns, stand the chapel and school- was founded in 1889. Three stations house, two large buildings, but not were opened: Boginda, Lulanga, and too large for the numbers who come Ikau, and still the pioneers prest fur- together to hear the Word of Life. All ther inland, until, in March r89I, work these houses, with the exception of the was commenced at Bongandanga. printing-house,are thatched with palm- Bongandanga is on the southern leaf, and among the palms, the orange bank of the Lofoli or Lopori River, a and mango-trees appear very pictur- tributary of the Lulango, on which esque.
are the stations of Bonginda and Ikau, The Bongandanga of the present is and which flows into the Kongo close naturally,after fifteen years' work, very to the Lulanga station. The mission different from the place as it was buildings at Bongandanga stand on a found by Messrs. McKittrick and Cole hill, the beginning of a plateau which when they paid their first visit to it extends for some miles east, west, and on March 29, 1891. At that time there south. The town is only about one was nothing but the densest forest, and and one-half degrees north of the it was with difficulty that a landing equator, 25 miles south of the Kongo, could be effected for the little mission '
and 130 miles east of Ikau, the nearest steamer "Pioneer" in which they trav- mlSSlOn station. There is a steep as- eled. At first sight of the steamer cent of about one half mile from the all the natives ran and hid in the neigh- landing-place, which is simply a clear- boring forest, and it was not an easy ing on the river bank, so densely sur- task to persuade them to return and rounded by forest trees that the path converse with the strange white men.
is difficult to find. After a time they came back, one by The station on the hill consists of one, and later in larger numbers, many three good houses built of wood on of them no doubt drawn by curiosity brick piles, in front of which is a large to see these wonderful people with space where grass is grown as much white skins. The missionaries went as possible. There are no stones or up into the town, borrowed a hut from clay at Bongandanga, and the white one of the old men, and established sand under a tropical sun is very try- themselves there. The first thing they ing to the eyes. Wide verandas to all did was to tell, as well as they could, the houses not only assist in cooling the old, old story of jesus and His the interior, but also temper the strong love, to the crowd of listeners who light. Behind these houses are the gathered round to hear it for the very stores, cook-houses, carpenter's sheds, first time.
LIFE IN CENTRAL
The first missionary in charge at . kept under perpetual supervision; and Bongandanga, Mr. Richard Cole, he was also in constant demand among greatly endeared himself to the peo- the town people to dress the wounds ple, and was much used of God in of those injured in battle, talk pala- their midst. Even to the present time he is spoken of by the natives as "Our father," or "Our own white man;"
and Mrs. Cole is remembered lovingly by men and women who were in her school as children.
During the past fifteen years be- tween twenty and thirty missionaries have been engaged in the work at Bon- gandanga, and six of that number have laid down their lives in the midst of the work, and their graves on the station are a constant witness to the constraining love of Christ.
Judging from the journals of the pioneer missionaries they were con- stantly shocked by discoveries of the terrible customs of the natives round about them. Cannibalism and witch- craft were practised openly. There were constant intertribal wars, while BONGANDANGA CHIEF deceit and immorality of every kind were rampant. An unwritten language Notice the custom of tying up the beard, prac· tised by men of influence. This man has become a faithful Christian.
had to be learned from people who had not the remotest idea of teaching it. vers, and settle disputes. There were The most elementary truths had to be many intertribal fights, and the taught, as the natives had no idea Ngombe cannibals frequently came whatever of a personal God, no sense across the river to attack the Mongo of sin, or of their need of salvation. . villages and had even threatened to Yet in spite of these difficulties it was attack the mission station.
not long ere they had the joy of seeing All this began to tell on Mr. Scar- the first-fruits of their labors in the nell's health. At the close of one of conversion of one or two of the those busy days, he told one of his younger generation. personal boys that he was going home.
When Mr. and Mrs. Cole removed "What?" said the boy, "going home? to Bonginda station, Mr. Scarnell was How? There are no steamers coming left alone at Bongandanga. Besides this way: how can you go?" The mis- preaching and teaching, he had to su- sionary answered, "I shall flyaway."
perintend the men and boys in build- "Flyaway, indeed! are you a bird?"
ing his house and keeping the station asked the lad. But the meaning was in order. His cook and domestic boys soon made plain for, pointing to a spot were all raw natives, and so had to be near the chapel, Mr. Scarnell said,
"When I am dead, bury me here by the for the dead so characteristic of the chapel." African in his desolate bereavement. Before their eyes were dry, the native The sun was high in the heavens, drums were beaten and the news had next morning, when one of the boys been sent round the district. They awoke to find that Mr. Scamell had made a rough box and buried him in not called any of the men to work; the spot he had indicated near the and looking at the sun, he exclaimed, chapel. "What is wrong? The white man must have overslept! I will call him." Up to this time the natives had a He knocked at the door, but received superstitious belief that a white man no answer: he waited and as he lis- was immortal; but when the Ng6mbe tened, he heard a groan. The boy then cannibals heard that Mr. Scarnell was quietly entered the room, and found really dead, they threatened to come his master prostrate with hemoglobi- and. steal away his body so that they nuria. Other boys came in, and to- might become possest of the supergether they watched beside the mis- natural power which they believed sionary, feeding him and passing him him to have. The boys watched the medicine bottles as he was able to over the grave, and during each point them out and ask for them. night fired off the missionary's shot- Faithfully they watched him by turns gun at intervals, and so succeeded at night as well as by day, until at in keeping away the Ng6mbe. length the temperature rose rapidly, and the patient became delirious. Then Three days after Mr. Scarnell's the boys took fright at his strange death, the canoe which Efomi had sent words and ways and ran away, leav- to Ikau to inform Mr. Ellery of the ing Mr. Scamell alone. In the eve- missionary's sickness returned with ning, they returned with Efomi, one of Mr. Ellery himself. the friendly chiefs, but there was no answer to their knock. They opened Other missionaries took up the work the door and found the room in dark- at Bongandanga and it was not long ness. One of the boys opened the win- after this that the church was formed, dow shutter. "See," said one, "he is and among the first members were praying;" but another said, "No, he is three of Mr. Scarnell's personal boys. not praying!" They drew near, and "One soweth, and another reapeth." found that the spirit had fled from the This was a season of great blessing body of Mr. Scamell as he knelt with and ingathering; but Satan would not hands stretched out over the bed as easily give up his kingdom, and so tho in prayer. raised up opposition.
His body was taken up tenderly by Efomi was not yet converted, but he the savages for whom his life was laid soon had an opportunity of showing down, and then Efomi said, "His his friendliness to the missionaries. mother is not here to weep; no other The natives of Basankusu, a town 120 missionary is here to mourn him; miles down the river from Bongancome, children, let us weep." They danga, attacked and killed two State crouched down and began to wail na- officials and sent messengers to Bontive fashion, that long monotonous cry gandanga to incite the natives there to attack and kill the two missionaries, Messrs. Haupt and Cooke. Crowds
LIFE IN CENTRAL
gathered together in the forest and evil design, and they returned to their surrounded the mission station, armed homes. for the fight. Efomi went out and reasoned with them, saying, "Why do. In the meantime some steamers you wish to kill these white men? laden with State soldiers arrived at Have you forgotten the repeated at- Basankusu, and the natives there were tacks of the Ngombe on our villages? severely punished for their murderous If you kill the white men, will not the deeds . iVhen this news reached Bon- Ngombe come again? Moreover, they gandanga, Efomi was thanked for havhave come to teach us about God: if ing prevented the same thing.
Efomi was faithful to the mission- THE SCHOOLHOUSES, KONGO BALOLO MISSION, BONGANDANGA, AFRICA we kill them, will not God do some- aries to the time of his death in 1902. thing terrible to us ?" Tho never a church member, he gave unmistakable signs of his conversion, They answered, "Basankusu have and his last words were, "I am a child killed their white men, and we will of God! I am a follower of Jesus!" kill ours! Stand back, Efomi." The only thing which debarred him from church fellowship was polygamy. Finding argument useless, Efomi Humanly speaking, but for Efomi the warned them, saying, "Take care, lest mission work at Bongandanga might when you have killed them, you will have been stopt altogether, but we befind that you have commenced a fight lieve God raised him up to avert the with God! But if you will fight, come catastrophe and save the lives of his on; we also can fight: if you will kill servants. these white men, kill me and my young men too." Here Efomi and his war- There followed years of strenuous riors lined up, prepared to defend the effort to teach the people the Gospel missionaries, each grasping his shield by lip and life, by precept and exand spear. This sufficed to check the
ample; and the missionaries had the fetishism seemed to have obtained a joy of seeing many converted to God. new hold on the people as they vainly As was almost inevitable, there was tried to combat sleeping sickness by also at times the sorrow of having to means of charms and fetishes. Gamreprimand and even suspend from bling, which was scarcely known prechurch fellowship some who had run viously, had become very popular well, but had grown weary and gone among the young men, and ultimately back to the old ways. proved the downfal! of several mem- bers of the church. In addition to Toward the end of the year 1901 this, the station is, unfortunatelv sitthere came a terrible visitation to the uated in the territory of the Abtr: one whole district of our mission in the cf the great rubber trusts of the form of an epidemic of smallpox. It Kongo, and at that time the natives was particularly virulent at Bongan- of Bongandanga were opprest and danga, and as the months went by, and shamefully treated by the agents of the the scourge became worse, many of Company and their black emissaries. the natives gave up all attempts at iso- When the missionaries took a decided lation. The disease spread rapidly, stand against such maladministration, until the mission station was sur- they found themselves boycotted to rounded by it and some of the mission such an extent that they could not purboys were attacked by it. The deathc chase so much as an egg from the rate rose to five, six, eight and even natives, who were under threat of punten a day; and we believe it was in ishment if they sold to us. The misanswer to prayer that none of the mis- sion work, especially the school work, sionaries took the disease. The native was opposed in every possible way church suffered terribly, and a num- and some village schools closed. ~at ber of the brightest and most helpful urally this opposition had a bad effect members were taken to be with the on the heathen whose motto is "Might Lord. is right." And even some of the Christians who were not strong in the Not long after the first signs of that faith were drawn away into sin. terrible and mysterious malady, sleeping sickness, appeared and during the These and other trials sent us to last few years has decimated the pop- our knees in prayer; a daily prayerulation of Bongandanga. One of the meeting was arranged and attended by strangest symptoms of this disease is all the missionaries. Week after week, that it produces in the patient a lack and month after month, we prayed, of moral sense, causing him ofttimes and it was a great test of faith when, to commit actions and tell falsehoods, instead of the showers of blessing for for which he seems irresponsible. This which we prayed, things apparently disease also began to lay hold of sev- grew worse and worse. -Sometimes eral church members, and carried off we thought we saw the little cloud, the the best of those who were left by the precursor of the showers, but when we smallpox. looked again it was gone. At last, after eighteen months of constant When we returned to our station in prayer, we disbanded the church, for 1903, we found very few church mem- the few remaining members had albers left, and these had become indifferent and apathetic. Super:'tition and
LIFE IN CENTRAL
most all fallen into sin o f some kind. you love us, if you will send 'Mama' Some had countenanced, tho they had home alone to come back and teach not actually practised polygamy; some us; and she loves us, or she would not had imbibed the gambling spmt; let you return." others had gone back to the old heathenish practises of fetishes and Much prayer ascended to God at charms, and the few who had done this time on behalf of the backsliders none of these things were so indiffer- and it was decided to set apart the ent that they had no desire to attend first week in February for a special evangelistic effort. Many friends in Tl-IE HOME OF MR. AND MRS . RUSKIN AT BONGANDANGA, KON GO ST A1'r.: prayer-meetings or to take part in E ngland also joined in special prayer evangelistic work. for the mission. A t that timc (Feb. 1-8, 1906), there were only two mis- Few home-workers can understand siona ries prescnt at Ilongandanga, as the terrible sorrow and disappointment M r. and Mrs. Gamman had gone to the Conference at Stanley Pool. The meetof that day in Jul)" 1905, when the ings commenced on the Thursday, and were held morning, afternoon and evechurch, the object of so many hopes ning , some in the chapel, and others in and aspirations, the cause of so many the open air. In all thirty-four meetfears and sorrows, and the subject of ings were held in the eig ht days, so much prayer was definitely dis- because the people would not go away banded; and it seemed almost as tho without hearing more. The Holy the whole of the work would have to Spirit Himself took the leadership of be commenced over again. the meetings ; and there were no ser- mons, for sometimes the missionaries At about this time Mrs. Ruskin was could not even speak, but stood still obliged to go to England for her health and when Mr. Ruskin returned alone to Bongandanga, the natives said, "Now we know that
and saw the salvation of God. From I would not have given up this fetish, the first, there was a spirit of prayer if a man had stood over me with a and expectation, and a great breaking loaded gun and commanded me to do down among the backsliders, espe- so or die; but now I part with it for- cially on the second day when Bongoli, ever. Jesus save me." Another stal- a former evangelist, confest with tears wart fellow stood up and said, "With to having gone astray on account of a this hand I killed two men before the Jove of money, and besought the Lord white men came here,. I was also a to receive him back into His service. cannibal; can God forgive me?" The Sunday morning a few words were answer came from the restored back- spoken on Acts xix :19, and after that sliders, "Yes, He can." "Then, Lord, the meeting was thrown open. This save me to-day;" was his prayer.
was the signal for numbers of people Others, both men and women, confest to come forward, in fact there was a to terrible and degrading sins, but the continuous procession of people who power of the Lord was present to heal came to confess their sins and to aban- them.
don their charms and fetishes. At the When the steamer reached Bon- close of the service, much later than gandanga, bringing Mr. and Mrs.
usual, there was found a great heap of Gamman back from the Conference, charms, fetishes, stolen goods, illgotten and Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey from gains, things won by gambling, etc., England, it can be im"~ined with piled up in front of the chapel, all of what joy they heard the good news, which had been willingly given up for even before they landed, "The Lord the sake of Christ. Some stolen goods has sent the blessing, and the Holy were put aside to be returned to their Spirit has been working in our midst rightful owners, but by the desire of wonderfully!" And how the joy deep- the people who had resigned them, all ened as the days passed and they saw the rest were either burned or thrown the marvelous change which had taken into the river. place in so short a time. .
The things to be burned were piled The church was formed again with up outside the chapel, and as soon as five members, and others have been the fire was lighted, all the scoffers, added since. It is a small beginning; who had been opposing the giving up but God is able to do great things of the charms, ran off, almost falling through feeble instrumentality, and over one another in their haste to get His strength is made perfect in weak- away; for there is a native superstition ness.
that if the smoke of a burning fetish The young Christians are growing envelops a person, it will bring him in grace, and becoming very helpful either death or calamity. in the preaching of the Gospel and in The meetings were continued, and other ways, and the people from all on the next Sunday there was round the district are eager!y listening another bonfire and some of those to the Word and begging for teachers.
who had fled from the smoke One hopeful sign is the eager of the first were present at the desire for every copy of the Word of second and burnt their own fetishes. God as it comes out. Those who can One old chief said, "A little while ago read devour it hungrily, and those who
MISSIONARY LIFE IN CENTRAL
can not willingly listen to the reading. Scripture portions, a part of the New Almost the whole of the New Testa- Testament which we hope will soon ment is now translated and is being be completed, a series of booklets and printed at Bongandanga. It is also leaflets, and also a quarterly magazine noticeable that many, tho not all, of in English entitled, "The Kongo Ba- those blest in the awakening were 1010 Mission Record," form some of those who had been trained in the mis- the work of the printing-house staff, sion school and were able to read the who are all natives of Bongandanga.
Word for themselves. The greatest needs for all this work The following departments of work are prayer and men. Will not you are carried on at present: The preach- make a special note of some of these ing of the Gospel in the station chapel things, and pray daily for God's bless- and in neighboring towns and villages, ing and a constant outpouring of His as well as further afield by means of Spirit on all the work! Think of two itinerating journeys whenever· and missionaries for all that work! and wherever possible; an inquirers' class think of the thousands around them in which are several members, both who have never yet been taught! and male and female, in which they receive pray, if you never have before, that special instruction; the weekly prayer- the Lord of the harvest may thrust meetings; a preaching class, composed forth laborers into His harvest.
of young men who study the Bible Money, of course, is necessary; but if together with one of the missionaries, prayer has its rightful place, and in preparation for future evangelistic hearts are made willing to do God's work; a Gospel meeting and sewing will, the silver and gold, which are class for the women only, which is a His, will flow into the treasury.
very hopeful feature of the work at In the work at Bongandanga, there present. There is also a mixed day- has been light and shade, the hard- school held on the station, attended by ship and the compensation, the sorrow all the domestic boys of the mission- and the joy, the suffering and the aries as well as many town children. success. Critics of missions, who are The translated Scripture portions form to be found even among Christians, the chief text-books for the school, and looking at the cost in money and in the salvation of the souls of the chil- lives, may say with Juclas: "To what dren is the chief aim. purpose is this waste?" But in the The work of translating and print- light of the souls that have been saved ing goes on apace, and the printing- and promoted to glory, and others press provides good work for those who are now living for God, it can who have passed through the school no longer be considered a waste of and for the young Christians. School- life or money to take the Gospel to books, hymn-books, Gospels, and other the heart of Africa.
AND THE GOSPEL*
BY REV. LOUIS MEYER, CINCINATI, OHIO I. The Land and the People not well speak. In ancient times the Abyssinia, an independent kingdom races were well mixed in this country, of East Africa, has an area of about and Arabian and African blood be- 150,000 square miles.. It is a strange came intermingled. However, it is Alpine country, the native injIabitants a splendid people which inhabits of which imagine that, at the time of Abyssinia now. The black color is creation, God forgot to extricate their the most prominent, but all its shades, country from chaos. But in reality up to olive-brown, are seen, and the it is a country where volcanic forces features are almost noble. lIany of once were more powerfully active the nobility have stately figures, and than elsewhere. Its table-lands are they present to the observer a picture ten thousand feet high, while the peaks of manly strength and beauty as they of the mountains rise to almost fifteen pass by upon their goodly horses, the thousand feet and are covered with skin of a lion around their shoulders, eternal snow. Rushing and thunder- a diadem with towering heron feathers ing waterfalls are found here, as well upon their heads, and the heavy spear as murmuring brooks and gently flow- in the strong fist. The Abyssinian ing rivulets, which are bordered with women wear mostly white garments green meadows. A few lakes are with many folds which are fastened scattered over the land, upon whose with a cord around the waists, while placid blue waters hippopotami, wild their ornaments consist in chains of geese, pelicans, herons, and small wa- glass or amber pearls and bracelets ter-fowls are to be seen. The most made of tin. The nails of fingers and beautiful of these lakes is Lake Tana, toes are colored red. The hair is close to whose shore the town of Gon- shaven, and the vanished eyebrows dar is situated. Of these rivers we are intimated by a curved blue line, name only two: the Atbara, one of the so that an Abyssinian woman makes largest tributaries of the Nile from the a rather peculiar impression. Nude East, and the Bahr e1 Asrek, sometimes figures are not seen, except a few called the Blue Nile, which has its small children.
source in Southern Abyssinia. Abyssinian habitations are very Almost every climate of the earth plain. They are round, with a point- is found in Abyssinia. Thus, in the ed roof and look very much like great river-valley and the lowlands grow beehives. The churches have the same all the tropical plants, while in the form, but are recognizable by the tow- highlands grain, corn, and vegetables ering cross upon the roof.
of the milder zone are cultivated and The ancient language of Abyssinia even the potato has been planted with is the Ethiopian, but it became a dead success. language many centuries ago, so that Into this country, so greatly favored it is understood by few, and spoken by nature, its inhabitants seem well by none. The official language, used to fit. The population is about 3,510,- in law, announcements and publica- 000, but of an Abyssinian race we can tions of the court, is the Amharic, but J(. Based chiefly upon the book by Paul, "Abyssinia a!1.d the Evangelical Church." (German).
R~lIgious
j)joisjons Of Jlfrlca.
Fa.rItDI/.,to • AIJJII't N'y~nu… 75f) (BD6t) T HE RELIGIOU S PROBLEM IN AFRICA THE CA P E TO CA IRO RAILROAD The vrogress in the Christianization of Africa ' is thus presented The progress in the construction of thi s great plan, originated by Cecil in the Illustra te d .Il. iissio·nary Neu's. Rhod es, is thus present e d irt Th e A m e ri can Monthly Review o f Revie'Ws.
" With man it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all thin gs are possib le."
19QBl ABYSSINIA AND THE GOSP£L
it is by no means the mother-tongue was wrecked on the coast of Ethiopia of all Abyssinians, and different lan- and the two nephews of Meropius guages are used in the different prov- were the sole survivors of the disaster. inces, for instance in Tigre, Schoa, They became slaves and were sold to and the land of the Gallas. the king of Abyssinia, who soon learned to love them and raised them Of the religion of the ancient Abys- to honored positions. Finally, a short sinians we know nothing. An ancient time before his death, he gave liberty writer makes the unsupported state- to both and upon his death-bed made ment that they worshiped the dragon. Frumentius the administrator of the The Blue Book of Missions states that kingdom and the guardian of the in Abyssinia are 3, IOOpOO Christians minor heir to the throne. Edesius (Coptic Church, 3,098,000; Roman returned to Tyre, but Frumentius did Church, 2,000); Mohammedans 50,- his best for the temIJoral and spiritual 000; Animist fetish-worshipers 300,- welfare of the land of his adoption. 000; and Jews 60,000. The Abyssin- Having caused Christian merchantmen ian Jews are called Falashas, which from Egypt to come and settle in name means exiles or emigrants. Abyssinia, he went finally to Alex- Some say that the Falashas are de- andria to visit Bishop Athanasius and scendants of the old Jewish Himyarite ask his help in spreading the Gospel kingdom of South Arabia and are not among the people of his country. Jews in race. Others hold the more Athanasius made Frumentius a bishop plausible theory that at the time of and the head of the missionaries which the Babylonian captivity some Jews he sent with him. Frumentius refled into Egypt. They sailed up the ceived the titles Abba Salama (father Nile and established themselves in of peace) and Abuna (our father), what is now Abyssinia. The religious and this last title is still applied to classes among the Falashas are, as a the head of the Abyssinian Church. rule, acquainted only with the Penta- The connection of the Egyptian and teuch, and especially its ceremonial Abyssinian Churches also still conlaws. Their places of worship are tinues, and the Abuna is always imconstructed after the plan of the ported from Egypt. Tabernacle, and in their worship an altar and sacrifices are chief features. Under Frumentius and his succes- The services consist of prayers and sors, Christianity made such rapid propsalms, music, dancing, incense, and gress that the whole land was Chrissacrifices. Their fasts and feasts are tianized about the year 500. And numerous, but alas! Sanbat, the god- with the spread of Christianity in dess of the Sabbath (probably Ash- Abyssinia came the missionary spirit toreth), receives especial honor. which offered the Gospel to the sur- rounding multitudes still in heathen 2. Rise and Decay of Christianity darkness and created the Ethiopian translation of the Bible. But sud- In the days of Constantine, the first denly disaster came. Theological dis- Christian emperor, Meropius, a Chris- sensions severed all connection betian physician of Tyre, accompanied tween the Eg-vptian and Abyssinian by his two nephews, Frumentius and Church and the remainder of Chris- Edesius, undertook a trip upon the waters of the Red Sea. Their ship
tendom, and soon after Mohamme- Wednesday and Friday are fast-days, danism began its mighty onslaught when no eating or drinking is to be upon Africa. Abyssinia was enabled done between sunrise and sunset, or to withstand it, tho North and North- only bread and vegetables are to be eastern Africa succumbed, but alas! partaken of after the total fast until Abyssinian Christianity was badly the ninth hour. Advent, Lent, etc., crippled under the continuous troubles are also kept as fast-days. of the wars, and gradually it decayed and became the counterfeit of Chris- Many saints are worshiped. Mary, tianity which it is to-day. The Chris- the mother of God and queen of the tian churches in modern Abyssinia heavens, is given the highest place have three courts, like the ancient among them. But it is the general temple in Jerusalem: the court of the doctrine that fasting, giving of alms men (women must remain in the fore- and of large presents to their confescourt) ; the holy place for the priests, sors, and kissing of the doors of the which can be overlooked, however, churches insure eternal happiness to through holes in the walls; and the believers. holiest of holy, where the sacramental dishes are kept and the sacramental The sacraments are charms, not elements are consecrated by the high- means of grace. Baptism is preceded est priest who alone can enter it. In by circumcision, and children are imthe holiest of holy the tabot( the holy mersed, adults are sprinkled. After ark) is kept. In the festal proces- baptism a blue cord is fastened around sions it is carried about under a great the neck, a badge which is not removed umbrella, and young and old rever- till death. The bread of the Lord's ently bow and kneel before it. Supper is soaked in wine and fed to the communicants with a spoon. Men The chief priest is called the Abuna between twelve and forty years of age (see p. 43 I), who has been called the are debarred from the Lord's Supper, Pope of Abyssinia, tho he is depend- because they are thought unable to ent on the king. Monks and nuns are keep the sixth commandment. The numerous and are ruled by the Et- marital relation is not kept holy, and schege, who is also the confessor of plural marriages are frequent. Wedthe king. These monks and nuns are ding ceremonies are scarce. said to be lazy, living in licentiousness and luxury, and utterly ignorant. The It has been said, that Abyssinian priests are not much better. They can Christians are in morality far below read the ancient, sacred Ethiopic trans- the Mohammedans and show all the lation of the Bible, tho few of them vices and lusts of the wild inhabitants unJerstand it, and know by heart the of Africa. Tho nominal followers of long formulas of their liturgy and Christ, the Abyssinians are lazy, lying, the Niccean creed. Sermons are un- drunkards, and voluptuous in the exknown. treme.
The first and seventh days of the 3. First Effort to Bring the Gospel week are kept holy, and the year has VVe have no time to discuss the man- 180 fast- and feast-days. Every ner in which the Jesuits, aided by Portugal, came to Abyssinia during the 16th century and attempted to
AND -THE GOSPEL
bring the country under the power of had a long and heated discussion with the Pope. Be it enough to state that them. The Abuna was present and the Jesuits were finally driven off, and from that time on became a warm that to-day the Roman Catholic Mis- friend and patron of the missionary.
sions in Abyssinia are insignificant After their arrival in Abyssinia he and under control of the Lazarists of recommended Heyling so highly that Paris. the sons of prominent Abyssinian In the year 1635 the first Protestant families were entrusted to his care.
missionary came to Abyssinia. His Soon the German missionary gained name was Peter Heyling, and he was the favor of the king, who honored the son of a pious goldsmith in the him in many ways and finally gave German city of l.ubeck. Having re- him one of his daughters to wife. In ceived a good education in his home spite of honors heaped upon him, Hey- city, he went, in 1628, to Paris to ling remained humble and lowly study law. Soon he joined a circle minded and never forgot his great of pious countrymen and in spite of purpose of bringing the Abyssinian the great temptations of the wicked Church back to Christ. He made no city grew rapidly in grace until he at efforts at proselyting, but tried to last decided to become a messenger of revive the decayed Church from with- the Gospel in foreign lands. His in. A translation of the Bible into the attention was directed to the decayed Amharic seemed most important, and Christian Church In Abyssinia- he commenced it, translating first the it is said, by his friend, the famous Gospel according to John. But he had Hugo Grotius – and he decided no printing press, and the translation to consecrate himself to the work in was available to only a few.
that country. Little is known about the further In the year 1632 he started from work of this forerunner of modern Paris and immediately had to face missibns who went out trusting in God, great difficulties. But he overcame without the backing of any Church them all. Many months he spent in or Missionary Society. It is said that an Egyptian cloister in the midst of the in the year 1652 Heyling received desert, learning the Arabic and Syrian permission from the King of Abys- languages. Then he went to Cairo sinia to visit Cairo. Richly loaded to look for an opportunity of reach- with valuable presents he started upon ing Abyssinia. The Lord soon sent his journey. When he arrived upon it. The Abuna had died, and King the island of the Nile, which is called Basilides of Abyssinia sent an em- Suaguena (Suakim) , the Turkish bassy to Egypt to ask for a new Pasha saw his treasures, arrested him, Abuna. Heyling was permitted to and gave him the choice between Moaccompany this embassy on its return hammedanism and death. Heyling's trip and thus assured of safe conduct. loyal answer was: "I shall not deny While the embassy was resting upon . my faith. Do what pleases you." an island of the Nile, the Jesuits who Then his head was cut off, and thus just then had been driven out of perished the pioneer missionary to Abyssinia, came along, and Heyling Abyssinia.
3. Missionary Work Among the Falashas Saalmuller and Waldmeier, soon after. The king showed them many favors, Almost two centuries passed before ennobled them under the title, "Chilthe missionary forces of the Evangel- dren of the King," and presented them ical O1urch again entered Abyssinia. with costly apparel. He employed The laborers came again from Ger- them in the making of guns, the laymany, but they were sent by the great ing out of roads, the blowing up of British Church Missionary Society. rocks, and kept them so busy that they From r830 to 1843 these missionaries found no time for any missionary among whom we find Gobat, Isenberg, effort. Blumhardt, and Krapf, labored faithfully. The Bible was translated into Flad found this very difficult, and the Amharic and was printed in Malta, he prayed fervently that God might but disaster again befell the work. give him an opportunity to preach the Gobat, the most respected of the mis- Gospel. God answered his prayer sionaries, was forced by sickness to speedily. Flad had often mentioned return home, and the other mission- the Falashas in his letters to the aries were ordered out of the country friends in Europe. Thus the attention soon after. The Abuna did not favor of the London Jews' Society had been their work; Roman Catholic priests directed to these black Jews, and it engaged in intrigues against them; had been decided to send a missionary and on account of political difficulties among them. Heinrich Adolph Stern, Englishmen were hated. Thus the himself a Hebrew Christian, was the English Mission to Abyssinia was man chosen for the work, and when he closed for the time being. arrived in Abyssinia, Flad at once joined him. Thus was commenced But in the year r846 Gobat became missionary work among the Falashas, Bishop of Jerusalem (Church of Eng- the Jews of Abyssinia. The Negus land) and immediately he decided to and the Abuna put no obstacle in the attempt once more to bring the Gospel way of the missionaries, and the Gosto Abyssinia. He persuaded four lay pel was preached in all its fulness. brothers from St. Chrischona (Basel, The work was crowned with success, Switzerland), Flad, Bender, Maier, and many believed, but alas! had to and Kienzle, to start for that closed submit to baptism by Abyssinian country. All were good mechanics, priests and ]0111 the Abyssinian and Gobat recommended them heart- Church. The missionaries were lookily as such to his old friend Theodorus ing hopefully into the future, when II., who had ascended the throne of suddenly the work was destroyed. Abyssinia as Negus Negest (King of kings) in the meantime. Theodorus Theodorus became enraged against granted them permission to enter the England and France. Without warncountry as mechanics, and the Abuna ing, he imprisoned the English consul welcomed them, because they were and all the missionaries in the mounnot ordained, and gave them permis- tain fortress of Magdala. Great was sion to distribute and teach the Bible. their suffering. Frequently they were In the middle of the year r856 the threatened with death. Yet, amid four lay brothers reached Abyssinia, trial and suffering, they bore a full teswhere they were joined by two others, timony to those with whom they came
AND THE ,GOSPEL
in contact. At last Lord Napier ap- The Swedish Evangelical National proached Magdala. Theodorus, see- Society sent out its missionaries at ing that all was lost, released his first to the heathen Cunamas, a tribe prisoners. The next day Magdala on the borders of Abyssinia. The was taken, and Theodorus killed him- work, at first quite promising, had to self. Then Lord Napier withdrew, be abandoned on account of fever about Easter 1868, and left the un- among the laborers and political diffi- happy land to itself. What a pity that culties in the country. Then the faith- he withdrew, for since that day Abys- ful missionaries settled west of Mas- sinia proper has been closed to all saua in the small village of Eilet. A European messengers of the Gospel. few years later a school for native boys was opened at Monkullu, a little Flad, who is still living in South farther west from Massaua. Its first- Germany, attempted seven times to re- ling was Onesimus, a heathen Galla enter Abyssinia, but his reception be- slave, who was educated in Sweden came more unfavorable every time. and proved of great help in the mis- He was forbidden to settle in the coun- sionary work afterward. try and, worse than all, a storm of fiendish persecution broke loose The heat around Massaua was alagainst the Christian Falashas. Their most unbearable to these missionaries possessions were taken from them, from the north of Europe. Fever and their Bibles were torn to pieces, caused the death of victim after vicyet they remained faithful. And to- tim. Yet faithfully they remained upday the work among the Falashas goes on their post of duty fifteen long years, on in spite of persecution and oppres- fresh soldiers of the cross taking the sion. The few men converted through place of fallen ones at once, until at the instrumentality of Flad and Stern last they could enter the province of many years ago, continue to preach Eritrea, which had become an Italian the Gospel among the Falashas, and colony after bloody battles. At last souls are won to Christ, and the pre- they were on the borders of coveted, cious seed is sown, with increasing firmly closed Abyssinia and in the very enthusiasm, though almost in secret. mountains to which they had often looked with ardent desire. Three A new source of danger for this stations have been founded in the proprecious work seems to be in the fact vince of Hamasen, which touches that the Jews of Europe are beginning Tigre, the northern province of Abysto show some interest in the Christian sinia. Of these stations (Zazega, Be1work among the Falashas and propose lesa, 'and Asmara) Asmara is the to come to the help (?) of their Abys- most important, because the printingsinian brethren in their battle against house is located there and much Christhe teachings of Christianity. tian literature has come from its presses already. It is said that the 5. Work on the Borders of AbY$Sinia late Ras Makonnen ordered a copy of each product of these presses. Tho Abyssinia proper has been closed to European mIssIOnaries At first the Swedish missionaries (Protestant) since the year 1868, an- intended to work from within the other effort to reach its inhabitants Abyssinian Church, like Heyling, but from its borders has been going on during the last years.
the opposition of the priests forced The Swedish National Society has them to build churches and to organize on the borders of Abyssinia 10 stacongregations. They are aided by na- tions and out-stations; 34 missiontive helpers, whom they educated for aries, men and women; 32 native the work. The most prominent one workers; 15 schools; 356 scholars; a of these native helpers is Tajeleny, an hospital and dispensary; a printing- Abyssinian from the province of Am- house, and 566 professed Evangelical hara. He seems to enjoy the favor of Christians, of whom 252 are commuthe governor, and it is reported that nicants. the king said to him, "Be of good courage and fear not. None who West of Abyssinia, in Omdurman, highly esteems the Bible is hated in near the ruins of Khartoum, the mismy domain." sionaries of the British Church Mis- sionary Society have commenced the Tokens of a spiritual awakening in preaching of the Gospel, and the wonthe country reached by these Swedish derfully prosperous Egyptian Mission missionaries, part of which country of the United Presbyterian Church of belonged to Abyssinia until a few years America is reaching farther and farago, are numerous. From many ther south from Egypt. Surely, it places comes the news that Abys- looks to the observer as if siege is besinian Christians begin to search the ing laid to dark Abyssinia with its de- Bible, and in Schumanegos the Evan- cayed Christian Church by Christian gelicals, thrown out of the Church by forces which surround it almost in a the priests, have built a church of circle, and as if the time of its opentheir own. Among the Gallas, south ing unto these forces can not be far of Abyssinia, a few souls have been away. Sooner or later, it must come, won to Christ by pupils of the Swedish for the Lord has promised that the Missionaries in Eritrea. Gospel shall triumph.
THE MISSIONARY AND THE TURKISH EMPIRE BY REV. JOHN HENRY HOUSE, D.D., Missionary of the Anlerican Board, Turkey The work of the Christian mission- servation and, because of their subtilary is largely, tho by no means en- ity, neglected and despised by the tirely, within the spheres of religion careless observer. Now the difficulties and education. These spheres, how- in any effort to ameliorate the condiever, comprize a large and important . tions in the Balkan Peninsula are so part of human life. The historian of great that the student of the situation, any period of a nation's life can not I believe, will welcome any ray of light neglect to record the results which are that can be discovered in that direcbrought about by important move- tion. ments within these spheres, even tho One would suppose that the diplothe movements themselves have been mats would be at their wits' ends in slow and somewhat hidden from ob- trying to save the situation in Mace-
MISSIONARY AND THE TURKISH EMPIRE
donia. Politically, it seems continually accomplished along this line must be a to grow worse rather than better. distinct gain. I will confess to a thrill Within the last thirty years the states- of joy yesterday when a Moslem men of the six great European powers friend told me he was ordering his life have made strenuous efforts at bring- according to that rule of Christ.
ing about some solution of the prob- Racial Hatred lems which here confronted them. The The sorest evil here to-day is the ra- Russo-Turkish war ended in 1878 with cial hatred that everywhere prevails. It the St. Steffano Treaty. This was con- is not so much the hatred between Mos- sidered by Europe to be an unsatis- lem and nominal Christian, as between factory solution and was displaced by nominal Christians of different nation- the Treaty of Berlin. It was found alities, but of the same religious rite; inconvenient to carry out some articles Greek persecuting and killing Bulga- of this latter treaty and in conse- rian, and Bulgarian persecuting and quence, after about twenty-five years killing Greek; Servian arrayed against of comparative quiet in the Macedo- Bulgarian and Bulgarian against Ser- nian part of the Balkans, the sky again vian; Greek against Rumanian and became murky and the gathering Rumanian against Greek. Now all storm called out the Miirstey Program these different nationalities belong to of Reform. Then when this did not one religious body-the Greek Ortho- succeed there was added the Inter- dox Church. This racial hatred puts national Finance Commission, and a dark blot upon the Christian name now, latest of all, we hear of proposed in general and is entirely opposed to judicial reforms. Meanwhile, to the the teachings of Christ. Here certain- people of these regions, the situation ly is work for the true Christian mis- seems to grow worse rather than bet- sionary. He is the minister of the ter. It is not our desire now to criti- gospel of love. He preaches not only cize anything that has been or is being the duty of love to God but also the done in the political world, but sim- duty to love our brother man, of what- ply to call attention to the immense ever nationality he may be. He it is difficulties of the situation, so great that must proclaim the doctrine that that all must gladly hail any help true Christianity raises men into a which rrlay come from the religious higher brotherhood than that of com- and educational workers in this re- patriots.
gion, and the design of this article is The work of the missionary has not to state briefly what the American been an entire failure in this respect.
workers along these lines are doing. It has been his privilege to see Greek The missionary's work is a founda- and Bulgarian and Servian bow to- tion work-an effort to enthrone con- gether in prayer in the same church science in the hearts of men and and to join in the praise of God in women, and thus make Christ's golden different languages but with the same rule the rule of their lives. If this tune, and to regard each other as truly could be universally accomplished in brethren. And we believe that this these regions there is no one but be- doctrine is the only true solvent of all lieves the situation would be imme- the race hatreds which exist in this diately relieved, and whatever can be part of the world. We teach that all
men are created of one blood, with one ply impossible to continue the work.
Father and one Savior, who is mighty Sometimes we have been obliged to to remove all barriers of nationality or have the stamp of the provincial cen- race. sor upon every book, even if it has Weare ready to be perfectly honest been approved by the central govern- and confess that in these latest days ment. The colporteur is frequently even evangelical Christians of differ- stopt in his work and obliged to carry ent races in one place have of late his stock of books to the police station come to distrust each other. The ex- where they are sometimes kept for days citement of the times has become so and the colporteur himself is obliged to great that some sincere and good men, wait daily upon the police officials, al- like Barnabas of old, have been swept ways with the possibility of his being along with the tide into the maelstrom imprisoned on the suspicion that he of race hatred, but it is left to the mis- may be carrying something inimical to sionary to protest against this and to the government. Now in the face of hold up the true Christian ideal, and sl~ch difficulties as these it has been he must believe that in the end the necessary oftentimes for the mission- true Gospel of the unity of the races ary to simply brace himself up and in Christ must and will prevail. hope against hope while he urges on Then take another contribution of his men to be true and faithful to God the missionary to the final solving of and their high calling. There is one the burning questions of this region. such worker whom the writer places It is a part of his duty as a Christian in his own mind among the living leader to keep his pioneers out in every Christian heroes. He is not a man of part of the field. His pioneers are large mental gifts but a man of coura- the colporteurs who, in order that they geous faith in God, persevering with- may scatter the Scriptures and other out wavering in the line of duty, when good books, visit the most distant many would have felt themselves ex- towns and villages of the country. He cused from the formidable dangers reaches many places which he can and difficulties on every hand.
never visit himself if! this way. The Now, in the face of such a situation, devout and courageous men who thus is it not marvelous that we can quote travel over dangerous regions, with the following from the report of our the simple faith that God is with them, book work in 1906: "Our three col- and that He is able to save them from porteurs reported 90 cities, towns and the perils which surround them on villages visited, and about 1,650 miles every hand, are the pioneers of the traveled with sales of 1,642 volumes Christian press, and the missionaries of the whole or parts of Scripture and through that press, thus supported, 2,421 other books and tracts-a total have done and are doing an uplifting of 4,063 volumes in 17 different lan- work whose influence it is not easy to guages !" Who can ever estimate the estimate; and the providence of God uplifting influence of such a work as which has so signally favored this this upon the various population of work even in most perilous times has these regions, and can we call any been most wonderful. There have problem hopeless that can show such been times when it has seemed sim- elements in it?
Extent of Missionary Work at what they saw in that distant re- Our work is scattered over a dis- gion. A large congregation of evan- trict some 400 to 450 miles long gelical Christians, a thriving school and 100 to ISO miles broad; from Mi- and young men and young women, trovitzu in Bosnia in the northwest, preachers and teachers, who could con- to Sketchy (Xanthi) and Gurneer- verse with them in the English lan- tljina in the southeast, and scattered guage. The Turkish General, as well about in this region we have our as these Englishmen, was delighted to twelve village schools (and we could see the neat well-built houses in which have more if we only had the teachers these people lived. If they could have and the means), where the uplifting visited the studies of these preachers power of education is connected with they would have found small but select the sweetening power of religion. The libraries of English and Bulgarian character of these schools depends books where they could have spent largely upon the character of the profitable hours in reading if they had teachers. Here you have an example cared to do so.
of the stamp of some of these teachers. Our last educational enterprise is One of onr young women teachers (a seen here near the large and rapidly Bulgarian) was recently asked by growing city of Salonica. It is the another teacher in the Greek Catholic "Thessalonica Agricultural and Indus- schools, "why she was content to teach trial Institute." It is an attempt to as she did with such a small salary, counteract the tendency, unhappily when a teacher of her ability and ex- evident on every hand in this region, perience could get far more with of educating the village boy away from them." She replied: "You know that the agricultural and industrial life. The we do not teach for money but for the graduates of the various national gym- good we can do." This simple-hearted, nasia, of which there are many in all but bright-faced and happy disposi- this region, as a rule, despise labor tioned teacher we have just sent to with the hands and consequently the answer a call in a new region among village life. As the professions are the mountains of ancient Thrace, two oversupplied they are adding to the days' journey from the city of Sketchy sad woes of this unfortunate land the (Xanthi). What may one not expect educated proletariat. Thus it is that from these beacon lights in a land the village life is left in its backward filled with moral and spiritual dark- and semicivilized state, and the towns ness? are filled to overflowing with men who While the writer was engaged ill are unwilling to engage in manual and bringing about, in connection with productive labor, while they are not others, the release of Miss Stone in unwilling to fill the wine-shops and the depths of the Rilo mountains of cafes and lead a lazy or a boisterous the Rhodope range, three English life according to circumstances. A newspaper correspondents who had prime minister of Bulgaria told me followed us to those wilds, and who, some years since that they would have I have good reason to believe, had no 400 graduates of their gymnasia that prejudice in favor of missionary work, year and they did not know what they exprest themselves as greatly amazed were to do with them. "They come
knocking at our doors," he said, "seek- teach, besides the usual school studies, ing for office and our offices are full. agriculture, gardening, horticulture, Such men make trouble for the silk culture, carpentry, and building, government. We never have trouble with the hope of adding other trades from the artizan. He works hard dur- when means shall be found to do so. ing the day and sleeps well at night, Christian ideals are always kept bebut these students are in the cafes stir- fore the boys. The change which we ring up discontent and trouble while see in our boys after two or three the artizan sleeps." Now it is to rem- years in our school gives us great edy this evil that the missionaries have hope for the future of this enterprise. established this school with its five The school is interdenominational years' course of study. A half a day and meant for any or all nationalities, is spent in the schoolroom and the the unifying language being the Engother half on the farm or in the shops. lish, while it is expected that we sh:11l It contemplates giving village boys be able to give a good education to a good all-round education of the each in his own tongue. May we not heart, hand, and mind, which will also hope that this enterprise is a real bring to this country what it has not . and practical effort toward the salunow, the ideal village life. Here we tion of the vexed "Eastern Question?"
THE CHATTANOOGA CONFERENCE THE LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT BY DAVID K. LAMBUTH, NEW YORK The Christian world gives about sectional nor denominational in spirit. twenty-two millions of dollars annu- In the breadth of its resources lies its ally to foreign missions. America and peculiar greatness. Great Britain together give about eighteen and a half millions, leaving From April 2I to 23 a Conference something over three millions for the was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. rest of the so-called Christian world. Eleven hundred delegates of the The evangelization of the nations rests Southern Methodist Church organized upon the shoulders of Anglo-Saxon themselves into a Laymen's Mission- Christianity. The task is great, and ary Movement. Gathered from all in view of it nothing is of more sig- parts of the Southern States and even nificance than the determination of from the Pacific coast, these men rep- Christian laymen to make the enter- resented all the enterprises and proprise of missions a business matter. fessions of the aggressive South, and The evangelization of the world can they were manifestly in earnest in their not be accomplished until business determination to put the missionary men's methods and business men's enterprise upon their consciences and money are consecrated to it. Altho to execute it with businesslike energy. less than two years old the Laymen's They recognized the responsibility of Missionary Movement has spread well their Church to carry the Gospel to over the whole country. It is practi- 40,000,000 of the unchristian world, cal and it is powerful. It is neither and voted to raise the sum of $3,000,- 000 annually to support 1,600 mission-
CHATTANOOGA CONFERENCE
aries in the prosecution of this work. work on the foreign fields, does not They elected an executive committee, in any wise subtract from the essen- of which the secretary of the General tially undenominational character of Board of Missions of the Church is an the movement. In the face of the fun- ex-officio member. Mr. John R. Pep- damental unity of all churches in the per, of Memphis, Tennessee, member activities of foreign missions nothing of the General Committee of the Lay- less than the broadest sympathies are men's Missionary Movement in this possible. Denominational lines sepa- country, and of the International Sun- rate the organizations, but not the pur- day-school Committee, was made pose and spirit. Thus the entire coun- president, and provision was made for try puts itself on record. Missions a secretary and an aggressive cam- have been played at long enough.
paign of organization and education, There is tremendous power and in- and a budget of 15,000 dollars was spiration in the united movement of raised for the expenses of the next Christian laymen, expressing itself in two years. Plans are being perfected this national fashion.
for the direct education of the 50C>,- The Conference at Chattanooga was 000 laymen of the Church on the needs opened by an address from the Hon.
and responsibility of missions. A J ames Bryce, Ambassador from Great Medical Missionary Society was or- Britain. Before an audience of 4,000 ganized for the purpose of interesting people he gave a notable expression of the 10,000 physicians of the denomina- the broadness of Christian statesman- tion in medical missions, and a cam- ship. He declared that the inexorable paign was begun for the enrolment mission of Christian nations was to of an Emergency Corps of IO,O::X) men preserve and elevate the unchristian who pledge themselves to respond to peoples with which they were thrown sudden calls for money to meet press- in contact. Our duty did not end with ing demands upon the foreign fields. missionary subscriptions, nor with the This is business, and energetic busi- gathering of congregations alone, but ness, in missions. The work of the demanded of us that we infuse into Church has too long been left to the every phase of national life the spirit clergy and to women. It was a nota- of Christianity, and strengthen the ble fact at Chattanooga that it was hands of Christian governments in necessary to restrain the enthusiasm their dealings with savage or semi-civ- of many who insisted that in view of ilized races. Nations like individuals the needs the provision made was too are bound to impart the truth with small. "If we as business men are to which they are in trust. The ends of undertake this enterprise," they said, the highest statesmanship are really "we must do it in a really adequate coincident with those of missions.
way." Since the white man has forced him- The fact that for the conservation self upon the rest of the world he is of power the laymen will work morally responsible for the conse- through regular denomination:;l chan- quences of this contact. It is unfor- nels and supply motive power and re- tunately too true that he carries evil sources to the established boards as well as good. He defrauds and rather than attempt to administer the abuses, he traffics in liquor, he con-
taminates with his vices, he breaks seeking an intangible something which down ofttimes what moral force there they have not yet found. Just here is was in the customs and religions of the opportunity for Christian missions the uncivilized peoples. And no nation in the largest sense. The influence can escape the duty which these facts which Christianity may come to exert bring upon it. The very laws of jus- upon the social and political forces of tice demand that we reflect in our in- the Orient will affect international desternational relations the commission tinies. which Christ laid upon us of teaching all the world. Such was the gist of Dr. S. H. Wainwright, twenty years the Ambassador's remarks. a missionary in Japan, brought out startlingly her perilous position. She The day for caviling at missions is has won a place among the powers. passed. The testimony of such a She has planned and executed a great statesman and scholar as Mr. Bryce campaign. She has begun a career of is of the utmost importance, not that industrial progress and a commercial it is needed to prove the validity of advance upon the continent of Asia. Christian missions, but that it indi- But it is not yet settled whether cates a new era of international rela- Japan has the inherent power and wistions. The principles of missions have dom to fulfil the promise she has made. become a vital factor in the world movements of the day. Possibly the During its three days of session the most striking feature of the conference Conference was also addrest by Hon. to a student of social developments S. B. Capen of Boston, Dr. Josiah were the signs of the change in the Strong and Mr. J. Campbell White, of scope of the missionary enterprise. In New York. the past few years, particularly in Asia, there has been a marked en- Dr. Strong, in his presentation of largem<>nt of the field of Christian in- the problem of the city, pointed out fluence and a corresponding enlarge- that in our attempt to free our instiment in the conceptions of missionary tutions from the corrupt domination leaders. There is a different tone. which is throttling American cities, the Looking beyond the evangelization of South, because of its greater homothe individual alone, missionary activ- geneity and its less aggravated urban ity has become a factor in molding na- conditions must be looked 10 as a tionallife. The peoples of the East are source of strength and progress. It making great strides in self-conscious- is unnecessary to emphasize the fact ness. National policies are taking that the active Christianity and the shape. The material civilization of the broad view which characterize the Lay- West is being copied, but there is a men's Missionary Movement must ingrowing sense on the part of think- evitably express themselves in applying ing men that something more potent Christian principles to our own nathan forms is needed to make the na- tional life just as practically <cnd effitions of Asia self-sustaining. They ciently as abroad. There is no genmay not know altogether what that uineness in a missionary spirit that is, but it is increasingly apparent to does not do that. the impartial observer that they are The Conference was addrest, in ad- dition, by prominent laymen and min- isters of the Southern Methodist
I9Q8] A CHRISTIAN ZULU CHIEF
Church. There is no movement in the country, regardless of denomination, country with so large a promise as are being brought nearer together than this great enterprise. There is power ever before in the accomplishment of in it and money behind it for world this great purpose. Another forward evangelization, and it means, further- step has been taken in the progress of more, that business men over the whole missions.
A CHRISTIAN ZULU CHIEF BY REV. W. C. WILCOX, IFAFA, SOUTH AFRICA The number of Zulu chiefs who the other day, which is the best I have become true Christians is so know, that has been built entirely by small that it is a noteworthy thing the natives themselves. He said it when one such is found. As a rule cost $750; but that is besides the work they can not read or write, and de- which the people gave, for it would spise all the ways of civilization. When have cost twice as much. The walls they have been taught and civilized, are of concrete smoothly plastered; before they become chiefs, they gen- inside they are nicely tinted and overeral1y go back to heathenism after they come into power. Dinizulu, son THE CHRISTIAN ZULU, CHIEF, NDUNGE of Cetewayo, King of the Zulus, was taught when in exile at St. Helena, head the ceiling is neatly varnished. but he is scarcely different from other The roof is of galvanized iron and on heathen ch iefs now. Another chief of three sides is a spacious veranda one of the largest Zulu tribes in Natal which serves for an overflow congrewent to America and spent several gation which can hear through the years in school there, but now he can open windows. hardly be uistinguished from other heathen. But a remarkable exception At the back are two cozy rooms is Ndunge, chief of Ama Qwabi near which can serve for vestry or class- U mzumbi. He was converter! before he became chief and was taught in our evangelist's ' training-school at Amanzimtoti. He has never given up his religion nor the ways of civilization. He is an active Christian, industrious and frugal and in company with his people has bought a farm and built a brick house good enough for any civilized farmer. He has always had a school and church on the farm, and when there is no preacher or missionary from the mission station he himself conducts the services. He has just finished a new chapel, dedicated,
THE ZULU CONGREGATION AT THE CHURCH BUILT BY A ZULU CHIEF rooms or, as Ndunge said, for the and he said, "0 God, as we are offer- "missionaries." There is no steeple, it ing this house up to Thee, Thou art looks more like a dwelling-house, but answering as Thou didst of old, with as steeples are useless ornaments in a voice from heaven and sending a this country, bells not being hung in shower of blessing upon the roof," them, I am glad he had the good sense and all the people said, "Amen." not to go to the needless expense. N clunge worked with his own hands, In the remarks which N dunge pounding stone for the concrete till macle, it appeared that the house was they were maimed and his people not built by him as chief, but by all begged him to stop. Think of that! the people as the house of God. He i Zulu chief, of the class who de- praised the efforts of the women, most spise all sorts of labor, doing a work of whom were from the kraals and to which is chiefly done by convicts in whom a shilling is a rarer thing than this country! He sets a good example a gold eagle to most white people in for some of our native preachers and comfortable circumstances. They even missionaries, who are all too gave $1.25 apiece, besides their work. quick to think they can not work with their hands any more because they are This is one of many examples which preachers. may be shown in this land of what can be done by voluntary contributions. In the dedication prayer offered by It is certainly the ideal way to ad- Sivetshe, one of our native ministers, vance the kingdom. But the plan as he was praying, there was a fright- which is now being pursued on our ful crash of thunder, and the rain mission reserves of compelling the poured down upon the iron roof with people to pay rents for an educational a deafening roar. But the good man fund is anything but ideal. Instead was not disturbed. He took it rather of being glad to do it, as Ndunge's as an answering voice from on high, people were, it makes them bitter against us missionaries.
CONTINUED REVIVAL IN
IlY REV. HENRY MANSELL, D.D.
The Editor of The Indian Witness, protest and plea for Anglo-vernacular quoting from a writer who is in need school work, which convinced me that of a "Science of Missions," ventures all kinds of teaching that might open the remark that it would pay the so- the eyes of the people to see Christ's cieties in Great Britain a hundred- love, and all work that might open fold to unite in the support of a chair their hearts to receive the Gospel mesof missions to be held in one of the sage, was worthy to be said and done. universities and reduce to a science all The wise men who composed the the lessons learned in the nineteen committee that closed the schools and centuries of missionary activity, and the English work mentioned above prevent all the waste of effort that might make any amount of michief in seems thrown away in trying one missionary work, for nearly all the nonmethod after another of missionary Christian countries have problems of work. One of Bishop Thoburn's their own that no professor in any unimost popular books is "My Mission- versity in Europe or America can solve. ary Apprenticeship," in which he There are many languages and diafrankly confesses that he made many lects in southern and eastern Asia, and mistakes. Most missionaries do make it has always been an accepted theory many mistakes, but we who were as- with all missionary boards that every sociated with him in his making and mIssIonary going to a country where correcting mistakes look on his mis- a foreign language is spoken should sion work as just as successful when give his first attention to acquiring a he was blundering as when correcting colloquial use of the vernacular. His blunders. Every kind of missionary Honor, Sir William Muir, once said to work in every country has been criti- me that, after acquiring the vernacucized and condemned or commended lar, if our missionaries loved lanat one time or another, and yet it is guage, and were called to write books certain that every kind of mission for the growing Christian Church, we work done for non-Christians or nom- should not try to make ourselves masinal Christians, in Christ's name and ters of all the classical languages of for His glory, has received His bless- India, but do as he and his brother ing and prospered, whether the doer Jolm had done, one take the line of knew or did not know of its success. the Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and He- Just before the writer came to In- brew, and another the Hindi, Pali, dia, forty-five years ago, the Ameri- Latin, Greek and Sanskrit. But no can Board of Foreign Missions had professor of missionary science would sent out a committee to investigate be able to tell which one would be their work in India with power to better fitted for either line of language. act and this committee had just closed Missionary boards have generally all Anglo-vernacular schools and for- been level-headed enough not to send bidden pastoral work to be done for any cranks to the foreign fields, and English people and to preach only to it is to be hoped that they will conthe heathen. So the first book that tinue to use their common sense. fell into my hands was Mr. Wilder's Some cranks have come to India as
free-lances and have been supported to the writer it seems better to give by other cranks at home and have, up theorizing and, as most successful most of them, done very poor work missionaries do, to first and foremost which has not remained. begin to save souls and build them up Rev. Dr. Weitbrecht, in the last into Christ and with that work. study Indian Witness, writes heartily favor- language, customs, and theories as he ing the chair of missions. He thinks may find leisure.
something has been done in reducing The best that could be done has to a science what has already been been done and is being done by all written in books, pamphlets, reports, the great missionary societies in Eu- criticisms, etc. The editor of The In- rope and America, where they select dian Witness says of Dr. Price's arti- young men and women of good cle on the question of self-support sense, quick perception, good morals, what may be truly said of every mis- good health, well educated and sound- sionary question concerning social, re- ly converted, and send them out to ligious, and other problems in the the various mission fields to learn the East. Their solution by degrees, by language of the people, study their experience in localities, based on con- habits, modes of thought and religions, siderations gathered from wider ex- and show by intense love and sympa- perience: "We do well to remember thy that Christianity is the best re- the facts that justify this statement." ligion and Christ the best and only This problem varies greatly with the true example to follow. So the sci- conditions in different countries, in ence of missions will be a good book different parts of the same country to write for those who want to write and at different stages of development an additional scientific book or to crit- of the Christian community. It varies icize the book that may be written'
from Korea to Japan, China and the on it. But "a more excellent way"
Philippines, the Straits Settlements, has been found to advance the mis- Burma, and most parts of India. It sionary cause through all the world, is one question in large Christian that is, to pray for the continued and communities and another in small. It continual revival that now prevails in is one question with the village Chris- so many parts of the world, especially tian of the rural class, it is another the non-Christian parts of the world.
with his grandchild who may have According to this Scripture, "more graduated from college. things are wrought by prayer than Other considerations also affect this world dreams of."
this problem. The many nationali- For some years the week of prayer ties in southern and eastern Asia have for mISSions, called first by the so many languages and dialects, sainted India missionary, Dr. Morri- modes of thought and varieties of son, has been called for by all the manners and customs, that the uni- leading missionaries of India, headed versity professor would find it diffi- by the metropolitan bishop, and now cult, nay almost impossible, in a life- for three or four years special prayers time to solve all the problems and have been called for by all the mis- reduce to system all the requirements sions for the revival of God's work of the foreign missionary work. So in the churches and missions of India,
CONTINUED REVIVAL IN INDIA
the deepening of the spiritual life of young people, especially girls, to pray, believers, and the conversion of the repent and confess their sins. They non-Christians in India. The Chris- soon found pardon, peace, and holy tian world has been mightily moved joy, so they could witness for God by the Holy Spirit to pray for revival and exhort, and "the testimony of power throughout the world and Jesus was the spirit of prophecy." It thus the revival broke out in Wales was the children who were the lead- and came to the Khassia Hills and ers, as led by the Spirit. Men and through many missions here to stay women missionaries and teachers and to increase. Long before this, were led to look on and could only when (California) Taylor, the evan- say, "It is wonderful." Now more .gelist, was invited to come to India, than two years have passed only to nearly forty years ago, constant see the work of revival deepening and prayer was offered for him that a broadening.
mighty revival might result from his The revivals have reached out far- preaching. The prayer was answered, ther at every wave. Lately they have nominal Christians were made real occurred among non-Christians. Hin- and spiritual, and our church was du girls have collected money and revived, became an evangelistic, re- bought Christian tracts and Gospels, vival church and has been growing and given them to idolaters, and better ever since. preached to them Jesus and thus has The revival in Wales was the direct been illustrated and exemplified the answer to prayer inspired by the Holy last call of Christ to the unconverted: Spirit given to the young people of "Let him that heareth say come."
the Sunday-schools, Christian En- There are increasing numbers of deavor, the Epworth League, and young men joining the Students V01- Student Volunteer societies, and the unteer Movement and young men of prayer and faith of the whole Church education and ability are willing to in all countries and Christian de- give up the chances of better secular nominations. It spread through Eng- employment, and consecrate them- land and many places on the Con- selves to the service of the Master and tinent, to the Welsh settlements in hold themselves ready for His South America, to the Welsh mission work. All the missions of northern in the Khassia Hills in India, and India are increasing in the number of from there to all the missions in In- converts by thousands this year, and dia, where the Spirit was poured all praying with increasing faith for abundantly upon Christian schools and the greater general revival and ex- orphanages, leading children and pecting it to come.
THE S. P. G. HOUSE IN
BY MISS J. QUIGLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND An event of great importance in Bishop Montgomery, Secretary of the history of missions was the dedi- the Society, read a telegram of con- cation on April 9, of the new head- gratulation from the American Board quarters of the Society for the Propa- of Missions, and said that the only gation of the Gospel. The service approach to luxury in the new house was conducted by its president, the was the oak paneling of the Board Archisbishop of Canterbury, assisted room, a gi't from the American by the Bishop of London. In the new Church. A debt of f820 still re- house in Tufton street, Westminister, mains and of this amount fIlO was the Society will be able to develop subscribed by those present at the its work in a way that was practically service.
impossible at 19 Delahay street. The The house consists of a basement new departments which have sprung and ground floor above which are up during recent years-such as the four stories. On the ground floor are Children's Branch, Laymen's Mis- the publications' and treasurers' de- sionary Association, Braille, an in- partments and the home organization creased library and publications de- secretaries' offices. Above that are the partment-have been sadly handi- chapel, Board room, the head secre- capped by want of space. The new tary's and the lay secretary's offices.
house is practically in readiness for On the second floor are offices of the the forthcoming Pan-Anglican Con- children's department and the library, gress and Lambeth Conference, which and the third floor is given up to the will bring friends of the Society from Women's Work department. The top all parts of the earth. story includes a missionaries' room, or The service of dedication was most prophets' chamber, which was in ex- simple and impressive. Led by the istence and kept up at private expense Archbishop and Bishop, the mem- at 19 Delahay street until the last few bers of the Society walked through years when the room had to be uti- the house 111 procession, recltmg lized as an office. A new department Psalms 46, 47 and 48. The Arch- will be opened a" soon as possible for bishop offered prayer on each floor medical work and the valuable curios and blessed special gifts in the chapel, -used for exhibitions-which have where a short service was held. In a been stored elsewhere, may now be brief address he said that the site accommodated at headquarters. The chosen, near the Abbey and the chapel is very simply arranged, and Church House, had been sacred from it is hoped that gifts will be forthcom- time immemorial, if tradition spoke ing to supply many requisites for that truly. He described the S. P. G. as a and other parts of the building. The Society or brotherhood of men and cost of this great undertaking, inclu- women which had for more than two ding site is, roughly speaking, about hundred years been allowed the splen- £38,000 ($19°,000), none of which did task of extending among men the has been taken from the SUbscriptions world over the kingdom of our Lord given for the regular work of the So- and Savior Jesus Christ." ciety. With a view to even greater
CHRISTIAN PROGRESS IN JAPAN
extension of work, an adjoining piece 748,000 pictorial post-cards have been of ground has been secured at a sat- issued. About 60,000 letters are reisfactory rate, an opportunity that ceived annually, not including the might not recur in this much sought- immense number received for redirecafter part of London. tion. The women's department re- ceives quantlttes of clothing and Those who are inclined to think the needlework for export which they new building too commodious for the pack and send out winter by winter Society's work, which they think may to the mission stations. The chapel be done in small offices, have no idea is naturally the central point of the of the actual output of work. Since whole work. Here, every morning, several magazines, including East the whole staff assembles for a brief and West, and Church Abroad, have service, conducted by Bishop Montbeen added to the list of publications, gomery, before beginning the day's the work of one department alone has work, and here the missionaries come increased enormously. Millions of to be dismissed by solemn service becopies have to be stored and packed fore they leave for some distant post on the premises (upward of 5,000,000 abroad. Prayers are held daily at copies of Church Abroad are sent out twelve, and those who can leave their annually). About 10,000 missionary work meet in the chapel. boxes are sent out every year, and CHRISTIAN PROGRESS IN JAPAN BY REV. H. LOOMIS, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN The coming of so many representa- suit is not yet apparent, and also a tives of Christianity from different decided increase in the number, as countries to the Young Men's Chris- well as aggressive power of the Christian Association Conference, and the tians. Evangelism has become a defvisit of General Booth, awakened a inite and successful agency for the quite general interest in Christianity propagation of the Gospel, and bein Japan during the past year. The lievers everywhere are waking up to result has naturally beeh an increas- feel a responsibility for the salvation ing desire to possess a copy of the of those who as yet have no knowl- Bible and to understand its teachings. edge of God. With many this has been a matter of curiosity; with others there has been The number of adult baptisms in a conviction, more or less deep, that the Protestant churches during 19Q/5 Christianity is the one true religion, was 6,465-an increase of over fortyand alone adapted to satisfy the deep six per cent, as compared with 1905. hunger of the soul. The number of baptisms in 1907 was still greater. The reports are not As conditions have differed, results yet complete. Rev. Dr. Davis says, have been various. There has been "There is a greater readiness to listen much of seed-sowing of which the re- to the Gospel and accept Christ, es-
pecially among young men, than has to them that he fully endorsed their been known for years." plans, and added, "It is my hope to One of the missionaries is sending give all possible assistance toward the out every month 2,000 copies of a moral betterment of the conditions sheet for the assistance of those who under which the students live; and as are engaged in Bible study. It is I understand this is also the ideal of estimated that more than a million of your Young Men's Christian Associa- the people of Japan, while not yet pro- tion, I shall be glad to do all in my fest Christians, are taking the Bible as power to further it." To the young their guide. men of Japan he has sent this mes- Attitude of a Leading State.man sage: "Young men, read your Bibles. Follow the life of Christ. His teach- A remarkable testimony to the ing is not out of date." The largest power of Christianity is furnished in Bible class in Japan is in connection the request from Prince Ito, who, as with this school and numbers about Governor-General of Korea, has sent two hundred and fifty.
a request for missionaries to work An important and significant devel- among his people who have become opment of opportunities for good is residents of that country: It has been the supplying of the American college reported that before the edicts against graduates to teach English in the J ap- Christianity were removed he supplied anese Government schools. The re- funds for the circulation of the Bible; quest came unsought to the secretaries and a donation of IO,OOO yen was of the International Committee in made by him for the expenses of the Japan, and they have taken special recent Y. M. C. A. Conference. It pains to secure men who unite Chris- is one of the glorious and marked re- tian character with teaching ability.
sults of the war that the religion of The demand for such teachers has the Bible has secured and retains a grown until now there are twenty- popularity among all the Japanese that three who are thus employed. Their it never had before. The result is earnestness and sympathy, as well as inevitable that God's Word is going ability, have won the confidence and to be more and more sought for and esteem of the pupils and their asso- studied. ciate teachers, so as to give them a One of the ablest and most influen- large and valuable sphere of influence.
tial men in Japan is Count Okuma. There is no hindrance to their teach- As the founder of one of the largest ing Bible classes and doing other and most important educational insti- Christian work out of school hours.
tutions in the country, as well as the The result is the instruction of large leader of a great party, his opinions numbers of those students in the have great weight. As he advances truths of the Bible, and also breaking in years he is becoming more and down prejudice. The value of such more allied with the Christian move- work may be realized in part when we ment, and is giving his influence, as learn that during the year 1906-7 the well as means to help it forward. fifty-three Bible classes taught by In an interview with some repre- them hac! an enrolment of 1,270, and sentatives of the Y. M. C. A. he said an average attendance of 646; of
CHRISTIAN PROGRESS IN JAPAN 45
whom 67 received baptism, and there At one time two hundred and fifty are 178 inquirers. signed cards expressing their desire to be Christians. A church has been or- Chinese and Korean Students ganized with sixty members, and twenty more are being instructed preparatory to The presence of such a large num- baptism. ber of Chinese students in Japan presents a very serious and interesting There are about 500 Korean stuproblem. One of the best authorities dents in Tokyo, of whom fifty are supin China, Dr. Arthur Smith, has said, ported by the Korean Government "There is an opportunity of doing and the rest of their families or themmore for China to-day in one year in selves. The superintendent who is Tokyo than all the missionaries have employed by the Korean Government been able to do in China during a cen- is a strong Christian man, and is lendtury." Bishop Bashford says, "The ing his assistance and influence to the fact that they are away from the Korean Young Men's Christian Aspagan environment and influences of sociation. They are exposed to great their home lives, that they are at a temptation, and at the same time afturning-point in 1ife, and that they have gone to Japan with their minds open ford a: splendid opportunity for evanto Western' ideas, and therefore peculiarly open also to the faith of gelical effort. Western nations, and the fact that A Christian Korean has been sethese young men comprise the future leaders of the empire-all unite to cured to work among them; and has make the work among the Chinese met with much success. When he students in Tokyo superior to any other single piece of evangelistic work first came in November, 1906, there in the Chinese empire to-day." were but six Christians in the whole In an account of this work, ]. M. number; but with such energy and Clinton of the Y. M. C. A. says: faith has he worked that there is now a permanent Bible class of more than These young men represent the best 120 earnest believers as the result of classes of China. They come from every the evangelistic meetings held just beprovince and from families of every sta- fore and during the Federation Contion in life; with ambitions of the low- ference. est and the highest standards, but each with a fire burning within him for China. There are also in Tokyo some thirty Hence the political, educational, social Filipinos and about the same number and religious life of new China hangs on from India who have come to Japan what use these men are to make of their for the purpose of study. Both future. They are the men who are to groups have had more or less of return to their native land to become Christian teaching, and a few are China's leaders in every phase of her earnest Christians. Others are anxlife. Surely the influence which these ious to study more along that line. students are to exert upon China can not They too are being helped to a be overestimated. Some 450 to 650 have knowledge of God and the way of life been enrolled as members of the evening by being taught the Bible. Such are educational classes and 200 as members of some of the wonderful opportunities the Young Men's Christian Association. afforded here in ] apan for the exten- sion of the Redeemer's Kingdom.
A SOUTHERNER ON COLORED EVANGELIZATION *
BY HON. W. CALVIN WELLS, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI My opportunities for studying the awaken our pity, our commiseration, negro question have been superior to and they are those whom we should those of most men, my experience and Christianize and elevate. The physi- observation having covered a period cian, when called to see a patient, first of more than fifty years. I was a diagnoses his case, and his greatest slave owner, was reared on a planta- skill is required in doing so. The tion where my father owned three or skill of the lawyer is most earnestly four score of slaves, everyone of called into exercise when he underwhom I knew intimately, and during takes to learn all the facts and tht the Confederate War, I wa·s attended law of his case. So in considering by a negro from that plantation as a the question, what shall we do for his body servant, who was three times betterment, we should first consider captured by the Federal army, and as his real condition, what was he when many times deserted it to return to set free, what has been the result of me. He shared the dangers of war his own efforts and that of his white with me, cared for me when sick, and friends in that time.
carried me back to my father and The Real Condition of the Negro mother just before the surrender, a physical wreck. . But for his care I The negro has practically been free would most likely have died. for forty-two years. He was a slave In 1871 I began practicing law and in his own country, to a large extent, when brought here and sold to the during the days of Reconstruction, I slave owner. He started even with sometimes had a negro for a judge, the white man five thousand years sometimes as juryman, often as client ago, and when he was seized or bought and witness. Except as judges and jurymen, this has continued down to in Africa and brought here, he was this day. During most all of these then on a par in civilization with those years, I have had the negroes as serv- he left behind. When he was emanci- ants, as tenants on several plantations pated in 1865, he was then infinitely and as laborers. more civilized and Christianized than his brothers he left in Africa. On mv With these opportunities, I have father's plantation, the Ten Com'- studied the negro with an earnest de- sire to know his real condition, what mandments were the law, and a viola- would Christianize and elevate him, tion of anyone of them brought a and at the same time preserve the reprimand, and sometimes punish- rights of the white people who come ment. Many of them belonged to the in contact with him. In dl of this I Presbyterian Church, and while they have never forgotten my indebtedness were not compelled to attend services, to him, and have never hated him. they were permitted to do so, and The negro of which I write is the many of them took advantage of it.
common negro-which means ninety As soon as free, they broke up their per cent or more of the race. I have families, isolated themselves from the nothing to say of the other ten per religious influence of the white race, cent represented by our own greatly established their own churches, had admired and much loved Sheppard, or their own preachers, and absolutely Booker Washington and his confreres. declined to hear a white man preach They constitute so small a part of the the Gospel. race that I do not now consider them. The white people of this Southland The vast masses of illiterate, degraded have spent millions of dollars in try- negroes who live on the plantations or ing to educate him. He had the same in the slums of the city, these should opportunities to better his condition.
* From The Christian Observer. financially, morally, and intellectually, feel the strength of the white man's that a poor white man had (and at arm if they undertake to assault her. that time the white men were all The number of illegitimates are im- poor), and yet the result I now an- mense, and bigamy or concubinage is a nounce, without the slightest fear of common thing. The pilfering and contradiction, the negro is worse than stealing is so common everybody exhe was forty-two years ago. Practi- pects it.
cally, they are as poor as they were Not only is he worse in morals, but then. In the comforts of life they he is more slothful and lazy than he have but little more than they had has ever been. The country practi- then. There are a few exceptions. cally belongs to the white people, and When the negroes had been free twen- the negro is tolerated because he is ty-five years, I asked one of my wanted as a laborer, and when he father's old slaves how many of those ceases to labor, then he is not wanted. who had belonged to him had then, I can produce now hundreds, yea, twenty-five years after freedom, bet- thousands, perhaps tens of thousands ter houses to live in, better clothes to who will say what I now assert, that wear, better food to eat, and better the negro is a poorer laborer than he medical attention when sick, and he was even five years ago, and growing promptly answered, "Not one." . worse every year.
Intellectually, there is practically no The antagonism of the races has improvement. True, some of them can been intensified during the past few read and write a little, but they are years. If things go on in the future in abject ignorance. as they have gone in the past, before two decades there will be a war of How about the morals? About races that will astound the world. We seventy-five per cent of those above stand on the brink of a volcano, which twelve years of age are members of is likely to break forth at any time. the church, and yet they have the very poorest conception of morals, and Our Duty to the Negro worse practise of what they do know.
This includes a large number of their Such being his condition, what are preachers. I could tell of the most we to do? Educating his mind has harrowing, disgusting, degrading not bettered him. The resources he things of their preachers, that I have has himself used have not elevated learned in the practise of my profes- him. His church and religious privi- sion. I do not say that all of their leges have not advanced him. Shall preachers are immoral, but there are we go on in the same way, and hope very many of our people who believe for better things? If, in forty-two they are. The blind leading the blind, years, he has not been elevated and is the history of the race. bettered by the means and processes Fifteen or twenty years ago, and used, how can we hope that the future prior to that time, we never heard of will bring us anything different.
a negro committing an assault on a What then is the remedy? The Bi- white woman. And now you scarcely ble and the grace of God are the only read a paper that you do not read of remedies I can see, and I believe they such occurrences. Time was when we are the only remedies. There is a would place our white women under growing sentiment among whites that the protection of negroes. Now, we the negro has no soul. The answer is, dare not leave them where a white that we have the same evidences that man's strong arm and brave heart can a negro has a soul, as we have that not protect them. I do not mean to the white man has a soul. While the say that every white woman has to vast masses of them are fearfully de- have a white man stand by her with generate, we all know that some have a drawn pistol, but she has to be given abundant evidence of souls where brutes will know that they will saved, I will not discuss this. The
negro has not only a soul, but the sal- our Baptist brethren with their ten vation of that soul is, to a large ex- thousand ministers, and the Method- tent, placed upon us. ists with a. stil1 larger number, should The Committee on Colored Evan- give even as little as one sermon a gelization, appointed by the General month, the tendency upward, in my Assembly (Southern), reported as to judgment, would practically begin at what was the duty of our people to- once.
ward the negro. Those resolutions Central Mississippi Presbytery en- read as follows: joined upon its ministers to preach at Your committee further recommends least once a week to the colored peo- that the General Assembly request all ple, and I wish the General Assembly the ministers of our Church to preach would do the same.
the Gospel to the colored people, and The next thing enjoined by our Genthat, unless prevented by the providence of God, they preach at least one sermon eral Assembly, is the formation of a month to the colored people within Bible schools for the negro preachers, their bounds. to be carried on by our ministers. The negro preacher is the influential man Your committee further recommends that our ministers conveniently residing near· each other organize and conduct with that race. What he recommends at convenient places within their bounds, generally goes just as he directs it. unless prevented· by the providence of Some of them are good men, many of God, institutes of theology or schools of them extremely immoral. But what- Bible training, and invite thereto the colored ministers within their bounds, ever they are, if our ministers would teach them the truths of the Bible, it and teach to them the great truths of would make them better and give them the Gospel. some knowledge to carry their peo- Your committee further recommends that a svstematic distribution be made of our literature to the colored people ple. If this were done all over this through our Church sessions at their Southland, a great good·would be acrequest especially that relating to our complished. If all the white ministers international lessons.
These resolutions were unanimously would do this, a brighter day would adopted. Three things were enjoined soon dawn on us. upon our people. Again, our Assembly enjoins on the I. That our ministers preach to the officers of our churches the distribunegroes at least once a month. tion of our religious literature among the negroes. The history of the evan- 2. That our ministers form Bible gelization of the world gives numerous schools and teach the negro preachers. instances of a tract, or a part of the Bible, being the instrument of bring- 3. That the officers of our churches ing souls to Christ. In almost every distribute religious literature among negro family, there is some one who them. can read, and when this literature gets into the family, the reader wiII have as The Bible has been the only instru- listeners the remainder of the family. ment that has elevated and Christian- God only knows the good that can be ized the human race. It wiII be suf- done in this way. They are sadly in ficient with the negro, if we can only need of Bibles, and if the Christian get its principles instilled into him. people of this Southland would exer- We are taught, and it is true, that cise themselves, and take advantage of "The spirit of God maketh the read- the opportunity of doing good in this ing, but especial1y the preaching of the way, another impetus would be given Word, an effectual means of convin- toward the elevation of the race. cing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and com- The Difficulties of this Work fort, through faith unto salvation." What an immense power for good it wiII be if our fifteen hundred preach- I propose now to enumerate some of ers would even give one sermon a the difficulties in the way of carrying month to the negroes. And then if out this program.
1908J A SOUTHERNER ON COLORED EVANGELIZATION
1. I speak of race antagonism which this discussion, but as it is an element is not peculiar to the Caucasian and that enters into the difficulties to be the negro but exists between the dif- met in the evangelization of the negro ferent races of people in all the world. I will refer to it briefly. Political Between the negroet: and the whites domination is the fear of the whites this has been intensified during the and this is practically universal. The past few years. The negro never average white man reasons thus: In passes a day that he does not hear a large number of States the negro is from the lips of some white person, now disfranchised and for the time beif not absolute abuse something derog- ing we have nothing to fear. But if atory to his character. He sees the we educate him, elevate and Christianwhites hating him and then he ize him, then he will say that he is hates the whites worse. The Christian fit to have the ballot placed in his people, indeed all white people, ought hands and take part in governmental to cultivate a spirit of forbearance affairs. There is no answer to this and show an interest in the negro's but to say that it is true and the only advancement. Love begets love and remedy I see is to so formulate our laws the negro will like the white man bet- as to perpetually disfranchise him and ter if he finds that the white man is let him understand now that he is never interested in his advancement. A bet- to vote or hold office. It would go too ter feeling ought to be fostered be- much into politics for me now to untween the races. dertake to state how this can be done, but in my judgment it can and will 2. During the past forty-five years be done. But it ought to be done in difficulty has been found in getting such a way as to assure our white peo~ the negro to hear a white man preach. pie that there never will be a time Happily I am glad to say that is pass- when a member of the negro race will ing away and I think they will gladly be allowed to vote. He ought to be hear the white minister preach now. satisfied with having the government It may be our ministers will not protect his life, liberty and property, always get large audiences but let us and this can be done without his havremember that our Savior preached ing the right to vote. once at least to an audience of one. 6. Another difficulty in the way of 3. Another trouble may arise and colored evangelization I will discuss, that is, the jealousy of the colored is the fear on the part of the whites preachers. This of course is to be of amalgamation and with it social avoided. I do not think it would be equality. That this is a serious probwise now to organize churches among lem and a real difficulty I think is them, and their own services ought true. The remedy for this is stringent not to be interfered with. And what- laws strictly enforced to prevent the ever money they have to give let it danger which is properly feared. go to their own preachers, and to keep Again I come too near politics to furup their own services. Tact of the ther discuss this objection. This, like white ministers will have to be brought the preceding difficulty, ought to be into play. so settled that the whites will not fear it, and then the white people will be 4. I turn now to the difficulty in the glad to do everything possible to eduway of colored evangelization which cate and Christianize the negro. arises from the white people. There is none more universal and none more There is one other cause of the to be deplored than the inconsistency great decline of the negro. There are of the Christian whites. Thl' negro no criminal laws in our statute books, knows a white man belongs to a su- or known to the common law as it perior race and watches his conduct exists here now, the execution of with great aptness to learn from him. which deters the negro from commit- ting crime. Our penitentiary system S. I do not propose, nor would it be proper to do so, to bring politics into
as administered in Mississippi is a tude of the question we are now called financial success but practically worth- upon to solve. less toward the prevention of crimes. A negro comes out of the prison a The Only Satidactory Solution hero with his own people and thought none the less of by the whites. When properly considering this sub- ject we are drawn to the conclusion Another difficulty in the way of the that it is impossible for man to make evangelization of the negro is the fact a satisfactory solution. But "Man's that he is entirely wanting in self de- extremity is God's opportunity" and to velopment. This is true of the negro Him alone we must look for its soluin all ages and in all places. Nearly tion. seventy years ago Dr. J. Leighton Wilson went to Western Africa and The Bible and the grace of God is spent eighteen years there preaching our only salvation from the terrible to the negro. He spent ten years at consequences of our unfortunate conone place and eight years at another. dition in the law. How is the grace My information is that the negro there of God to be obtained? Of course did not take what he learned from Dr. every Christian will answer by the Wilson and from that develop a Chris- prayers of God's people. How many tian civilized manhood, but went back of our people are wrestling in prayer again into barbarism. The history of to God to save the negro and ourselves Haiti as written by Sir Spencer St. from the terrible calamity that stares John and published in 1884 tells a us in the face? I appeal to all men story of declension for nearly a hun- everywhere, to pray daily and with all dred years, until cannibalism and other earnestness to the God of all grace to barbaric customs became extremely Christianize and elevate the American common. One shudders as he reads negro. I can not leave this question its pages and compares the negro then without appealing to our people for and there with his condition here. the negro because he IS poor. We sometimes see articles in newspapers Verily one will be convinced that his- elaborating on what property the ne- gro has accumulated since he was tory is repeating itself. He was con- freed. A few have become wealthy sul from Great Britain to Haiti for -some of these have had it thrust upon them by inflation of the values seventeen years, and went there with of property and these are among the ten per cent of whom I am not wrino ideas of the rightfulness of slavery ting. Of the ninety per cent who live and work in the country principally on and without prejudice against the ne- farms and those who are in the poor gro. On this subject he says: "I now districts of towns and cities, not one agree with those who deny that the in a thousand has money enough to negro could ever originate a civiliza- purchase one month's supplies for his tion, and that with the best education family in advance, except perhaps he remains an inferior type of man. during the harvest seaSon. He has as yet shown himself totally unfitted for self-government, and in- God said to the children of Israel capable as a people to make any prog- "The poor shall never cease out of the ress whatever. To judge the negro land; therefore I command thee sayfairly one must live a considerable ing; open thine hand wide unto thy time in their midst, and not be led brother, to thy poor and to thy needy away by the theory that all races are in the land." capable of equal advance in civiliza- The duty is upon us, the opportunity tion." is. here, shall we be equal to it? A careful reading of this book will give one a conception of the magni-
BIBLES IN MOROCCO *
BY W. SUMMERS British and Foreign Bible Society Agent in North Africa and the Peninsula.
A glance at a political map of Africa faced death thrice in one week when will show that the only two remain- on a visit to the town of Sheshuan, in ing independent natives states in that the Khamass country, where Sir Harcontinent are Christian Abyssinia and ry Maclea:1 was held in captivity.
Mohammedan Morocco. The latter is Translation work is being carried known to the Arabs as "Moghreb-el- on in the three Berber dialects of the'
Aksa," or the extreme west, and is country-Rifi, Susi, and Berberi, as the only one of the old Barbary States well as in the Arabic colloquial of the which retains its independence. It is cities and plains. The Jewish com- not unnatural, therefore, that the munities in the different centers of Moors proudly boast of a bravery popUlation are provided, at less than and prowess superior to that of any cost price, with the Old Testament other people, whether Mohammedan which their forefathers so jealously or Christian, and consider themselves preserved for us, and the New Testa- the trustiest repositories of Islam. In- ment is persistently offered to them deed so true are they to the fiery Mo- as the book which will tell them of hammedan type of earliest days, that their true Messiah and of the advent they still observe the customs, the of the year of jubilee.
phrases, the dress, and the polity of Thus no section of the population Mohammed's lifetime, and follow the is left uncared for, and men of all philosophy and ideals of the early Cal- classes are reached. The illiterate ifate. Familiar intercourse with the slave and the sun-browned day la- nomad Bedouin carries one even fur- borer, who know little more than the ther back, for their manner of life is letters of their alphabet, eagerly spell that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. out the homely words of St. Luke Some twenty-five years ago, the Bi- which tell them of the Father's love; ble Society undertook definite and sys- while the present Sultan, Mulay Abd- tematic colportage work in Morocco. el-Aziz, was induced to accept a spe- During these years the Society's la- cially bound copy of the complete Bi- borers have traveled, as far as pos- ble in beautiful literary Arabic, which sible, the length and breadth of the he promised to read and venerate.
land, selling the Word of God to Missions Moors, Jews, and Europeans. The itinerant Arab "dooars" (round There are now several missions es- camps) of the plains, the stone-built tablished in the country besides a few villages pitched on strategic positions workers who labor independently. The on the mountains, the commercial whole missionary force, including cities such as Fez and Rabat, and the wives, reaches a total of over sixty, cities of sanctuary such as W azan and most of whom are engaged in medi- Sheshuan have all been repeatedly cal missions, schools, classes, visiting, visited-and the Gospel commended translation, and evangelistic work. We and its acceptance urged upon their have had unusual difficulties to over- inhabitants. Colportage work in such come, but the spiritual results give a country is done at much personal cheer. There is a group of native risk. In addition to the hardships of Christians in Fez, another in Tangier, travel in a land where there are no and still another more recently brought roads, or inns, there are the dangers together in Marrakesh (Morocco City).
arising from intertribal discord, the Besides, there are isolated believers in impulsive outbursts of fanaticism, and different towns and villages. One of the ever-present enmity against Christ these native Christians, who was con- as the Savior of the world. I have verted some fifteen years ago, and • Condensed from The Bible in the World.
known to us as "El Kaid," having "First, I am a Christian, and then been an officer in the Tangier battery, a Britisher," was Mr. Steven's reply. became a colporteur of the Bible Society, and while engaged in that work After further conversation, during was done to death by a crowd of fanat- which the Scriptures were discust and ics in the town of Larache. Another the Gospel preached to them, they renative colporteur is employed by the marked among themselves, "He is not Society, but works under the direction like the other Europeans; he believes of the North Africa Mission. in God, and is one of those good peo- ple who follow the Messiah." They One of the many prominent per- bought several volumes, and on leavsonages in the Moorish imbroglia is ing wished Mr. Steven success, and Ma-el-Ainain, the Shinguitee Shereef swore constant friendship. and Saharan sorcerer, who is said to be encamped with his armed followers A conversation held with a Jew who in the vicinity of Mogador. In Sep- visited the depot, when read in the tember, 1906: he passed through Casa- light of the spoliation and massacre blanca when the Gospel was preached that community has suffered during to his followers. They were known the sack of the town, shows how sadly locally as "the men in blue," for they pathetic is their spiritual as weJl as wear garments of blue serampore. Be- their political condition. He entered ing of a fierce and fanatical disposi- the depot during one ~f the fasts looktion they deeply resented the growing ing dejected and spiritless. influence of Europeans in the country. They had made several minor attacks "Why don't you Christians fast?" on Europeans' places of business, and he queried. in the course of their street sauntering they entered our depot. Their first "Why should we?" was the reply, "seeing that Christ is the end of the question was: Law." "Are you a Jew or a Frenchman?" "Neither," was the answer given. With a sigh he said, "Ah! could "Then what are you?" was the in- we but believe that, what joy there would be in Israel!" After further solent demand. conversation he left saying (like the woman at the weJl), "When the Mes- siah comes, He will reveal all things."
NATIVE EVANGELISM IN OLD CALABAR * BY REV. A. W. WILKIE, B.D. Missionary of the United Free Church of Scotland.
A good deal has been said about Efik was at war with those tribes to Efik people not being missionary, and which we now as missionaries wish to of their unwiJlingness to go out as carry the Gospel. Europeans forget evangelists to other tribes. It is one that past but the native does not. The of the sad facts that, while every- European, again, is welcomed as a where there come calls for teachers missionary while the native Efik finds and evangelists, no men are found people unsympathetic, if not contempwilling, even when their support is tuous, for the hatred of tribe for tribe guaranteed. is very strong. The missionary spirit was not born in England in a day, But it is unfair to Efik to draw and there are many still so dull that hasty conclusions from that fact. Pos- they think we should spend our enersibly we are asking for an ideal of gies among our own people. We are Christian work which is as yet beyond trying to teach native churches to be them. It is a very short time since • Condensed from The Missionar, Record.
NATIVE EVANGELISM IN OLD CALABAR
missionary chmches from the first, but a large farm district belonging to Bas- we should not be discouraged if they sey Duke, who has built a good school do not immediately fulfil our high and supports a teacher there, and the hopes. I would rather judge them by average attendance of children is over their earnestness in carrying the Gos- ninety.
pel to those of their own language Ikot Uba belongs to Chief Eyo who have not the opportunity of hear- Effiom, one of our most respected el- ing through any of the sources pro- ders. His place is full of children.
vided by the Europeans. Eyo Effiom has for some time sup- I have been more and more imprest ported a teacher there, who teaches with how much Efik is doing in this the children in the week, holds a cate- way. A month or so ago, we visited chism class for the older people, and Uwet on the Calabar river, and were on Sundays has a service. He is a delighted with work which was being boy from Akunakuna, who was with done there. One of our chiefs, who Mr. Marwick, and then in the Insti- recently put away his wives and joined tute. Eyo Effiom was busy building the church, is the political agent for a church for his people with wood and the district, and since his "conversion" iron. All the expense of building and has been trying to help the people in of teacher he is bearing himself.
.Uwet. A government school has been Further inland is Ikot Nakanda, the started there, but on Sundays this only "recognized" out-station of Duke chief has gathered the people together Town. The teacher here is not very for a service, which he conducts regu- strong, and has uphill work, but he is larly himself. We found a most in- doing well. At this place a band of teresting congregation there. On the young men came to meet us to take other side of the river another chief us to Essigi, the farm district belong- has a farm, and he also has com- ing to Cobham Town toward the Rio menced regular services and classes Del Rey river. They were full of for the people. These two men are kindness all the time we were with working together to build a church at them. They have themselves built a U wet, and are willing to support a very good school, and support a teacher between them. teacher, who is a member in Creek At the Akpabyu farms, on the east- Town Church. The people in Essigi ern side of the Quo river, we stayed were intensely earnest, and I have in the large farm belonging to the never felt so happy in Calabar as oboft of the town. He is not a church while we were among them.
member, but he has allowed a mem- Judged by our standards, their ber of his household, who is in com- schools may seem very primitive, and munion with us, to hold a meeting the teaching elementary, but there is every evening in his yard; and on on every side so much work being Sunday all work is stopt, and the peo- done that we may be too hard on ple come from long distances to a Efik. If they are to work outside their service. This, for the chief of Duke own town, they must go among stran- Town, is a big advance in the right gers. The work in Efik has not been direction. Another of our members a failure, but from my point of view takes a district beyond the chief's, and a great success. The missionary en- on alternate Sundays holds service in thusiasm for other tribes will come, six or seven villages. Beyond that is but we cannot manufacture it.
EDITORIALS
THE FORECAST OF A SPIRITUAL going on, which is exactly in propor- tion to the disregard of this weekly PANIC day of worship and rest.
A fellow editor, in the columns of Not only the Church but its minisa religious periodical, finds in the try have fallen into neglect, if not conaspect of moral and spiritual life, con- tempt. Worship has lost most of its ditions analogous to those recently emphasis, and people who go to found in the financial and commercial church go to hear some favorite orasphere. Despite the boast often heard tor or, it may be, singer. The assemof Church growth, philanthropic, edu- bling of ourselves together is not recational and missionary progress, and garded as an institution of God, not missionary activity, he notes incontro- to be forsaken at the beck of private vertible signs of loss of faith-that caprice. The ministry, once revered "lack of confidence" so disastrously as God's ambassadors, have corne to analogous to the causes of financial be thought of as mere chosen leaders panic, and he instances four signs of or convenient organizers, perhaps a coming crisis: hired servants of the Church-the preacher and pastor is counted a sort 1. Loss of faith in the full and per- of president of a religious club, whose fect inspiration of the Word of God; words and acts are as open to criti- cism as any other man's. 2. Loss of confidence in the divine claims of the weekly rest day; And it need not be said that the Lord Jesus Christ is being rapidly de- 3. Loss of confidence in the Church graded to an inferior position. He is as a divine institution; no longer to thousands an infallible mouthpiece of God, but a human 4. Loss of confidence in the author- teacher reflecting to a large extent the ity and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. errors or mistakes of his day. Even his divine incarnation and miraculous These are grave signals, and they resurrection are doubted if not denied. certainly exist. The modern doctrine that the Scriptures contain the word These conditions demand not only of God, rather than are the word of candid recognition but combined re- God, leaves to individual judgment to sistance. There are many thousands decide what is the shell and what is who are disposed to be silent and the kernel, and to reject whatever of- avoid controversy, who are true to fends individual taste or is distaste- the faith once delivered to the saints; ful to one's own notions or habits. We and they should bear witness. Silence have no longer any final court of ap- and inaction sometimes become a sin peal to which to refer the variant and a crime. There should be projudgments of human reason and opin- test. Even seven thousand who have ion, and are at sea without chart, not bowed the knee may so keep in compass or rudder-certainly without hiding as to leave a prophet of God any external guide by which to steer to feel himself alone in fealty to Je- -our pole-star is gone. hovah. Collective opinion is but the combination of individual convictions; The Sabbatic law is written 011 and corporate action depends upon man's very constitution. He is an personal attitude. One man who ineight-day clock. The hebdomadal law tensely feels a peril and dares to act, is curiously imprest on the very tablet has more than once led a revolution of his being, as for instance in fevers. or reformation. John de W yc1if, Body and mind both demand the Martin Luther, Savonarola-these are weekly rest, and where it is invaded a few out of many whose single voice or neglected, harm inevitably ensues. became God's trumpet-call and the Yet we are told that Sabbatic laws and restraints are "Puritanical" and antiquated. Meanwhile there is an obvious moral and spiritual decadence signal for a crusade. We must not souls. But let us observe that, of all allow so-called "leaders" to speak per- these, the major part center in service. verse things unchallenged, or conduct Some of them have to do with standruinous movements unresisted. It is ing before God and Christian seIfworse than foolish to wait for the mastery; but soldier, husbandman, panic to burst into violence, before workman, vessel, servant, teacher, acting. Let men who believe dare to emancipator-all exhibit different asspeak. Let disciples keep the Lord's pects of usefulness-warring for truth, day free from travel, social engage- sowing and tilling the world-field, ments, and festivities and secularities, preaching and teaching the Word, and and set an example of reverent church setting souls free from their chains. going. Let the ministry magnify their high caIling as ambassadors, and It is encouraging to remember that maintain their true authority as such the kingdom of service is not always by keeping within the limits of their conspicuous to human eyes, and comes instructions. Above all, let us remem- not with observation. As powerful ber that when we dare to stand on churches are sometimes found in small God's side, He stands also on ours. plain meeting-houses, God's best serv- ants sometimes hide in humble homes. THE LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVE- Prominence and usefulness are not MENT synonymous. N either is a small circle of usefulness to be despised; a light This interdenominational enterprise that doesn't shine beautifully in the is advancing at rapid rate. Perhaps family circle at home, is not fit to take in nothing is progress more noticeable a long way off to shed its beams elseand notable than in the enlarged finan- where. cial schemes. In Richmond, for example, there is a determination to Rev. Hunter Corbett was told that double next year the $27,000 raised he had buried his life in China. His last year, and nearly fourfold that calm answer was-"perhaps so; but at amount is proposed a little further on. this moment there are at least two thousand converts there who daily In St. Joseph, Mo., they undertook pray to God for me." to increase gifts from $12,000 to $50,- 000, and in one congregation $20,000 JUDGMENT ON A BLASPHEMER is already secured. In Atlanta, one congregation undertakes to multiply Rev. Isaac D. Colburn, twenty years its gifts fivefold, and already are well in Burma, in his own work witnessed on the way to success. In Montreal, and records a remarkable judgment of 3°,000 members gave $100,000 last God on an evil-doer, which is closely year to missions, home and foreign; parallel to that inflicted on Elymas, the and undertake to increase this two and sorcerer. a half times within two years. Wherever this matter is forcibly presented, In the district of Thongzai, British the churches seem waking up to the Burma, a company of native disciples sense both of responsibility and of had assembled on the bal}ks of a pool ability to meet it. This also we wel- to witness the baptism of several concome as a conspicuous sign of the verts, and the surrounding rocks and times. hills were covered with spectators. N ear by stood a father and his son, THE MANIFOLD ASPECT OF the former already conspicuous by DISCIPLESHIP most bitter opposition to the Gospel, and most strenuous efforts to dissuade One chapter in Paul's Epistles (2 his heathen neighbors from becoming Tim. ii) presents a disciple in a ten- Christians. As the native pastor was fold aspect. As son, soldier, athlete, opening the services, this opponent husbandman, workman, vessel, serv- broke in with most blasphemous interant, saint, teacher, and emancipator of ruptions, mingled with all manner of
obscene gestures and lascivious demon- More than that, they found one ba- strations, the preacher's repeated re- cillus peculiar to the bank-note: the monstrances only stirring him up to bank-note microbe, so to speak, be- more flagrant outbursts of wicked- cause found nowhere else. It thrives ness. and fattens and multiplies on the pecu- The father and son then stript them- liar paper of which a bank-note is selves, plunged naked into the water, made.
and as the pastor was about to bap- '0/e have long been persuaded that tize a convert, the old opposer cari- there is a moral microbe that fattens catured the ceremony, seizing his son and thrives and multiplies on hoarded by the heels and ducking him several gains. There is something about ava- times, pronouncing over him the bap- rice that promotes rapid degeneration tismal formula; and even coupling the in the department of the affections.
name of the Trinity with the most hor- The man of money becomes more and rible blasphemies. more self-absorbed, indifferent to hu- The services were, of course, ar- man want and wo, and like the idol rested. Among the company was a he worships, cold, hard, metallic, un- native evangelist, Sau Wah, who, be- til he himself is changed into a human fore conversion, had been a powerful coin and, as has been quaintly said, Karen chief, a noted warrior, and a "drops into his coffin with a chink.·'
much dreaded opponent of the Gospel, The only way to kill the bank-note mi- but who was absorbed in preaching the crobe is to cultivate the habit of un- Christ whom he once reviled. With selfish ministry to human sorrow, stern and commanding bearing, Sau suffering and need. Missions are the Wah rose up and enjoined silence. divine antidote to Mammon. There Then turning to the old man in the is a power in systematic benevolence water, he said "0 full of all subtilty which counteracts the fearful tendency and all mischief, thou child of the devil, of greed to mental and moral atrophy.
thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt THE PREACHING THE PEOPLE WANT thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" Mr. John H. Converse writes that he recently sent out several hundreds As he spake, the hush of God fell of letters asking laymen to say what on the assembly, with awful power and kind of sermons they most wish to impression. The disturbers, as tho hear. Out of one hundred and two smitten with terror, fled from the pool, replies from Presbyterians, who in and ran up the hillside. But, before some cases indicated more than one going many rods, both fell prostrate. sort of sermons as those they liked, The service was shortly concluded, and the summary was as follows: Christians lifted them up and bore them to the village. But the father Guidance in Christian Life 93 proved to be dead, and, altho the son recovered consciousness, the stroke Evangelistic 63 proved fatal, and within a few months he was also borne to burial. Expository S1 Doctrinal . . 22 Current Topics 16 Critical 5 A PARABLE OF NATURE It will be noticed that, out of these 250 votes, only 21 are for any sermons Some years ago two scientists of but those which are strictly biblical Vienna made a series of bacteriolog- and evangelical and assume the inical experiments on a number of bank- spiration and authority of the word notes which had been in circulation of God. A conspicuous Englishman, for some time. The result was start- after much study of the subject, says ling. On each bank-note they discov- that the reason why the working ered the presence of 19,000 microbes classes so little go to church is that of disease-some of tuberculosis, some they hear so little gossip when they do. of diphtheria and some of erysipelas. AFRICA reach the Moslems, has for the past The Power of the Press in Africa ~even-and-::-half years brought them A recent article in the Aurora, gives III touch WIth scores of towns and vilan impressive view of what the mis- lages; hundreds of copies of the Scripsion press is doing for the uplifting of tures, and thousands of booklets and Africa. In September, 1889, work tracts have been scattered through the was begun by Mr. Thomson on a country, and many thousands have small Albion hand-press, with a lim- heard the simple proclamation of the ited supply of type. Now a double- Gospel in mission stations, schools, demy cylinder machine is run by an book depots, and dispensaries, as well electric motor, and the stock of type as by the wayside, in the fields, and is multiplied more than a hundred- crowded markeFplaces. fold, and is supplemented by a stereotyping plant. Now this "Egypt General Mission" is calling for seven new workers. Men The primary and most important are urgently needed at Ismailia, Abou use of the mission press is the print- Kebeer, and Tel-el-Kebeer, not to ing of the Scriptures in the native languages. Before printing there is the mSspuaeanakkitnho,efiarnsusdtcahotitohpnelasr.ceRsTedahseSrPeeoaarrtpeoSrsutcsd~raetns~ work of translation, revision, and rerevision. No fewer than ten native of towns in the Delta, easily accessible, languages have been dealt with, and and thus far utterly unreached with in these there have been published in the Gospel.
all about 41,500 portions of Scripture. A Revival in Wed Africa In addition to these, upward of 7,500 Perhaps the last place where we religious catechisms and instructional should look for a spiritual revival booklets have been issued, together would be among the, till recently, barwith nearly 20,000 hymn-books in barous and degraded dwellers on the seven languages. swamps of the Niger Delta. Yet Bishop James Johnson informs us that For school work, over 42,200 prim- the African Christians of that region ers have been printed in eight lan- have lately had such a visitation many guages, and 11,000 second readers in being subdued and broken down' under two of these, as well as 7,000 first, conviction of sin day after dav in their second, and third books. gatherings for prayer at – Okrika' backsliders returning to the fold, and All this is simply the work of the the heathen destroying their idols. It Livingstonia Press. There are three is clear that the great need of our misother mission presses III Central Africa.
Ten Yean in Egypt sionary campaign is for more fervent prayer that the Holy Spirit may de- Ten years ago, on January 31, 18g8, scend in power on workers and conthe first party of "The Egypt Mission gregations. Band," landed in Alexandria. Their object was to preach Christ to the Mo- New Thing. at New Lolodorf hammedans of Egypt and the Sudan, and, with that object in view, they Dr. H. C. Weber of the American have settled in places where there are the fewest Christians (nominal), and Presbyterian mission in West Atfhriincga~ most followers of the Prophet of Ara- writes of a few interesting about MacLean Station (February 1st to November 1st, 1907) : bia. After Alexandria, new centers Twenty-two members have been added were opened at Belbeis, Chebin-el- to the church. Kanater, Suez, Ismailia, Abou Kebeer, Tel-el-Kebeer, and Cairo. A monthly Two hundred and sixty-four people have Gospel paper, specially designed to been enrolled in the lower inquiry class.
The new church, seating about seven hun- dred people, will be given by the people to the Lord and dedicated free from debt ears! However, this does not make it upon the first Sunday of January, 1908. any easier for a woman to become a Christian, because then she feels it Ten companies (of two each) of school- wrong to assert herself and hit back; boys spoke the Word to 30454 people between Friday noon and Sunday noon.
Out-schools, or town schools, have an at- and thus she is at the mercy of her husband, and it is very little mercy she tendance of 349. Each is a Gospel center. gets when she refuses to comply with So eager are the people for the Word that heathen customs. they pay all expenses of the teacher and school, that they may be taught the way of life.
Biang (an elder in this church), who Missionary Work in German East Africa spends his entire time in evangelistic work, when given a sum of money, for six months' Pastor Paul of Lorenzkirch has exwork, immediately gave one-third of it hibited at the German Colonial Expotoward the Lord's house. The Sunday-school attendance for the sition in Berlin statistical tables of all first three Sundays of November was as missionary efforts in German colonies, follows: 476, 402, 466.-The Assembly H er- from which we gather the facts referald. ring to German East Africa as espe- cially instructive. German East Africa, An African King Helping Millions The favorable attitude of the is a colony extending from the coast a heathen king of Barnum, in Kamerun, of the Indian Ocean to Lake Tangan- West Africa, toward the work of the yika and Lake Nyasa. It contains missionaries of the Basel Missionary population of about eight millions upon Society, is becoming still more pro- 384,000 square miles, and the vast nounced as he becomes better ac- majority of its inhabitants are fetish quainted with the Christians. A short worshipers.
time ago it became necessary to open Six missionary societies, two Eng- a second preaching station in his capi- lish and four German, viz. : Moravians, tal, Fumban. The king ordered the Berlin I, German East African So- erection of a suitable building with 200 ciety, Leipzig Missionary Society, Uni- seats, and no help was expected from versities Mission to Central Africa, the missionaries in the work. The at- and Church Missionary Society, have titude of the king influences his sub- 64 stations and 204 outstations, in jects, and the new chapel is well filled which 80 ordained, 4 medical and 63 at all services every Lord's day. On lay European missionaries were at account of the rapid progress of the work on January I, 1907. The num- work in Barnum, the Basel Society ber of native Christians was 8,219, has decided to erect a substantial build- while 655 heathen (as far as could be ing for missionary purposes in the ascertained) were baptized in 1906 and capital, Fumban. 3,053 remained under instruction. The A Land Where Women are Tyrants force of native helpers, paid and vol- untary, consisted of 508, and the 35 I A most experienced missionary in schools were attended by 16,793 pu- Basutoland has declared that the men pils. The Universities Mission, which there are much more often ill-used by commenced work there in 1861 has their heathen wives than vice-versa. gathered the largest number of native The fact is that these women, by their Christians, viz.: 5,149 and also the labor in the fields and their domestic largest number of pupils, viz.: 4,6(;i1 in work, support the men; consequently 116 schools. Berlin I, however, seems the latter are dependent upon their to be the most prosperous in the work wives, instead of its being the other in German East Africa. Tho it com- way about, as with us, and the field- menced its work there only in 1891, work making them strong and vig- it has now 17 stations and 129 out- orous, the women are usually quite stations, with 20 ordained and 16 lay able to hold their own if ill-used-e.g., missionaries, and its congregation;, they sometimes bite off their husbands' have a membership of 1,209 native Christians. Remarkable is the number Swediah Methodists Enter Africa of inquirers, which was 835 on Janu- A few months ago the Swedish ary I, 1907, and it is well worth men- Methodist Church sent out to the for- tioning that especially large numbers eign field its first representatives, dis- of these inquirers came from those sta- patching two to East Africa with tions which suffered most severely in Inhambane as their destination. A the late uprising. Even in Milow, mission press was sent with them.
which was completely destroyed by the An Ex-African Monarch's Baptism rebels, a considerable number of the A little over a year ago, in the natives have come forward as inquir- Uganda protectorate, King Anderega'
ers. In educational work, Berlin I, is and his fellow believers of Bunyoro, far behind the Universities Mission, sent a native evangelist, to the Sey- the Moravians, the C. M. S., and the chelles, to teach Kabarega-a former Leipzig Missionary Society, since it re- notorious king of Bunyoro, who, as a ports only 39 schools with I,I6g pupils. State prisoner, was in banishment. In Medical Missions in German East Africa. February, King Anderega, his son, The German Colonial Office a short writes of his baptism. A once bar- time ago made a thorough investiga- barous and brutal slave-raider has tion of the medical missionary work found the light of God!
carried on in German East Africa. Testimony to the Uganda Mission Rev. Julius Richter publishes the re- Mr. Winston Churchill, M.P., after suits of this investigation in the All- a visit to Uganda has recently said: gemeine Missions-Zeitschrift, from No greater contrast could be experiwhich article we copy the following enced than the spectacle of Uganda, after one traveled slowly through the East interesting facts: African Protectorate for hundreds of miles meeting native savages whose method of All missionaries sent by German soci- showing you honor was to paint their eties to Africa receive a rudimentary med- skins in every color under the sun to ical training. These societies are the Berlin, deck their heads with feathers and their the Leipzig, and the German East Africa bodies with shells, and dance to a mon- Societies, and the Moravians. The Berlin otonous hopping dirge around the chair Society organized in 1907 a course for the in which the visitor took his seat. Once instruction of brides of missionaries, in in Uganda, you went into another world. which provision is made for general med- You found there a completely established ical instruction, while many of the wives polity-a state with everyone in his of missionaries and of the single woman place and a place for everyone. missionaries add to this a shorter or longer course of instruction in nursing. Many of You found clothed, cultivated, eduthe wives of the missionaries of the Ger- cated natives. You found 200,000 who man East Africa Society are also trained could read and write, a very great number as nurses. Some of the missionaries of who had embraced the Christian faith the Berlin Society and of the Moravians, :;incerely, and had ab:lfldoned polygamy who seemed especially qualified, have taken 111 consequence of theIr conversion. You special medical courses. found, in short, in Uganda almost every- thing which went to vindicate the ideal All stations of the different German So- which the negrophile had so often cieties are provided with drugs,. bandages, held up before the British public and and surgical instruments, while some have before the House of Commons, and a dentist's outfit also. Many trained nurses in regard to which he had so often ill have been sent out, and two more are ready other places been disappointed by the to be sent out by the Leipzig Society. hard logic of facts and the disappointing trend of concrete and material events. The German Societies have only one phy- We owed a great deal in Uganda to the sician now in German East Africa (in Usam- development, on, he thought, an unequaled bara), but they are ready to send more as scale, of missionary enterprise. In some soon as suitable men offer themselves. The other parts of the British Empire he had English Societies at work in German East found the official classes distrustful of Africa, (the C. M. S. and the Univer- missionary enterprise. In Uganda he sity Mission) are also short of medical found them very grateful. missionaries. Leprosy :tnd epidemics of smallpox demand especial attention in the densely populated country. A Native Church Arising in South Africa b~ visited by his excellency in such a capa- C.lty. H?n. F. R. Moor, minister for na- The Swiss Romande Missionary So- tIve affalfs, gave a fat ox to be killed for ciety, which represents the Free the feast on that occasion, and Mr. G. S. Churches of the French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, commenced its Armstrong, member of the assembly, gave prosperous work in South Africa in another. The government was represented 1875. To-day it has missionaries in by Mr. ~amuelson, under-secretary for nathe Transvaal, where its fine medical tive affaIrs. YOll will be pleased also to mission at Elim and its Normal school lear~ that our school has been accepted to at Lemana are located, and in Lorenzo rec~lve a government grant as other schools Marques, Portuguese East Africa. of Its class. During the past years the missionaries of the Swiss Romande Society have Pray t.hat we may be guided by the spirit attempted to organize the numerous of God III all our work. native Christians into a native church which may become self-governing and AMERICA self-supporting in the near future. Assemblies of native workers have been " Get Together " held in three important sections of the field during 1907, where topics of spe- . Not. enough prominence has been cial importance were discust. At the meeting held at Lorenzo Marques a given m the religiou~ press to a pheremarkable thing happened. The native churches had agreed to send a nomenal feature which characterized young man to the theological school of the Paris Society in Basutoland and the fifteenth annual conference of forhad guaranteed the expenses for one year ($300). Moreover, the student's eign mission boards held in New York traveling expenses amounted to $75 additional and the Missionary Board City several weeks ago. As reported at Lausanne had paid that amount. When the delegates heard this, they by one present, the above phrase was were indignant that the Board had paid money which they had expected "the keynote of an after-dinner speech to pay themselves, and they refused to accept the gift, showing a remarkable by Dr. A. S. Lloyd, secretary of the spirit of independence and liberality. Some of these native Christians refuse ~rotestant Episcopal Missionary Soto hire out their carts and horses for carrying beer and whisky from the C1~ty, whose message was an eager and wharf in Lorenzo Marques to the railway station, while all of them are for- ~msome plea for Christian unity." bidden to rent their premises for ~ut on the foreign field church divisaloons. S10nS are a burden and a hindrance. Dube'. Zulu School AI~ we need to do is to humble our Rev. John L. Dube, head of the Zulu Christian Industrial School p~lde, confess we have magnified our writes from Ohlange that: differences, rather than our common Sir Matthew Nathan, the Governor of Natal, consented to perform the opening faith, and follow the lead of the men ceremony of the new building which took place on the 25th of November. The pres- at t?e front." Every turn of his efent governor shows a deep interest in the matters t? develop the native people, and fective argument was punctuated with we feel hIghly honored that our school will the colloquial appeal. "Let's get to- gether." It was evident that the for- eign mission boards of the country had got together; that the effort made timidly, and with many safeguards and limitations fifteen years ago, has surpassed all expectations in uniting the foreign missionary workers of America. "Here were gathered the representatives of twoscore societies oi~fgthweOUl:kn ited mSatantyescaonudntrCieasnasdiad~ do- in by Side, With considerable variations in policy, scope, and methods of work.
a~d let discussing vexed questions of missionary operation with as much mcaulmtunaelssi,ntefrreastteransalthocotnhfeidyenwcee~e and but the corporation of one board. Noth- ing so imprest one who followed these meetings for the first time as the spirit of union and cooperation emphasized dertake to increase the amount to mis- _ in all the sessions." sionary purposes, to $977,000, an in- . Getting Together in Home Missions crease of $632,000. The total increase undertaken in twenty-two cities of For the first time the Home Mis- Canada and the United States, is sion Boards of the United States came together in New York last month and $1,510,000 from a total of 447.403 discust, as an organized union, a live church members.
religious topic vitally affecting condi- A Confucian Temple for New York tions in the home field. The topic was The term Y. M. C. A. will soon be- "The Religious Care of the Immi- come ambiguous as to the organizagrant." Rev. Dr. H. L. Morehouse, tion it is intended to represent. We of the Baptist Home Mission Society, now have not only the Young Men's presided, and there were present offi- Christian Association but the Young cials of the Congregational, the Meth- Men's Catholic Association and now odist, the American Bible, the Episco- there is talk of founding in New York pal, the American Tract, the Church a Chinese Young Men's Confucian As- Federation's National Council, the sociation. Reformed, the Presbyterian, and other bodies, with liberal repre- In this connection the Chinese are sentations of workers among im- planning to erect a $100,000 Confumigrants in other cities. The new cian temple in New York's Chinatown. Home Mission Council, under which Minister Wu Ting Fang recently adthis first conference was held, has just drest a large audience of his fellow been organized, and includes officials countrymen advocating the organizaof all societies working in the home tion of a Confucian Society and the fields, all religious bodies in the building of a temple. United States. This building calls for lecture- rooms, gymnasium, reading-rooms and The Laymen's Uprising a large assembly hall. It is to serve During the last six months, the as a place for social political and re- Laymen's Missionary Movement has ligious gatherings of the Chinese.
held campaigns in twenty-two cities in Chinese Y. M. C. A. Branch the United States and Canada. In fif- teen cities in the United States, con- The Chinese of New York are to taining 2,S46,o00 people, 31O,S8S com- have a circulating library containing municant church members were modern European works translated reported. They gave to religious work into their native tongue. At the same in America last year, $S,40S,Soo, and time the Y. M. C. A. will establish to similar work abroad $297,4S0. They either in Pell, Mott, or Doyers street have decided to undertake to raise a the only branch in the United States total of $1,17S,000 annually for for- designed for the exclusive use of Chi- eign Christian work, an aggregate in- namen.
crease of $877,SSo. In many cases, Edwin W. Gaillard, Supervisor of two years or more are taken in which Work with Schools for the New York to work up to this higher standard. Public Library, took up the matter of During the same period in Canada, the the library at the request of Dr. F. F.
Laymen's Movement has held cam- Tong, who was the first charter mem- paigns in seven cities, containing an ber of the Y. M. C. A. at Tien-tsin.
aggregate population of 950,000. Of Recently twenty men, prominent in these, 136,818 were reported as Prot- Chinatown, met and elected Dr. Tong estant church members, who gave to president, K wai F. Pang, secretary, local Christian work last year, $2,- and Mr. Gaillard, treasurer. The or- 043,775, and to home and foreign ganization will be known as the Chi- missions, $344,S37. They voted to un- nese Literary Club, and will be supplied with books issued from the under prohibition in the United States; now there are 36,000,000. In eight Commercial Press of Shanghai, the months State-wide prohibition has Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist cleared the saloon from an area as Missions. great as that of France. In that area there is a solid block of territory 300 New York Evangelistic Committee miles north and south by 720 miles east and west, in which on the first The results of the tent and open-air day of next January a bird can fly work carried on during the past three from the Mississippi to the Atlantic summers have been so encouraging Ocean, and from the boundary of Tenthat· the Evangelistic Committee of nessee to the Gulf of Mexico', without New York City have plans well under looking down upon a legalized saloon. way for a campaign to be conducted on no less extensive a scale than in previous years. Great Britain and Ireland could be set As in the past, tents will be located down over this space without covering it. There would be IO,OOO square in the heart of the foreign populations. miles of "dry" territory left as a bor- Great blessing has attended the work der.-FERDINAND COWLE IGLEHART, in among the Italians and Germans, and the Review of Reviews. among the score of nationalities in the notorious Five Points district. A World's Temperance Centennial Even greater emphasis will be placed on the work among children On April 30, 1808, there was or- which has always been a most con- ganized at Moreau, Saratoga County, spicuous and encouraging part of the N. Y., the first temperance society in general plan. Services for business history. This organization is still in men and working men, will recognize existence, and holds at least one meet- the importance of a closer relation- ing annually, for the election of offi- ship and more active association of cers and the transaction of business the Church with the commercial and necessary to its perpetuation. It is laboring classes. Efforts will be made proposed to celebrate the one hun- for close connection with the churches dredth anniversary of the founding of of the city, and for intelligent coopera- this society, by holding a World's tion with such organizations as the Temperance Centennial Congress at City Missions of the various d~no.m Saratoga Springs, N. Y., near Moreau, inations and the Home MISSIon from June 14 to 30.
Boards.* All temperance societies, of what- ever name or nature, throughout the War Upon the Saloon entire world, are most cordially in- vited to participate in this unique cele- Iri two-thirds of all the territory of bration. the United States the saloon has been abolished by law. Forty years ago The various nations will be invited there were 3,500,000 people living in to send representatives. Medical asterritory where the sale of liquor was sociations and historical societies will prohibited. Now there are 36,000,000 also be asked to fraternize in the work. people under prohibitory law. Since The President of the United States that time the population of the coun- and the Governor of New York will try has scarcely doubled, while the be invited. population in prohibition territory has increased tenfold. There are 20,- The Oldest Women's Missionary Society 000,000 people in the fourteen In connection with the question as southern States, 17,000,000 of whom to when and where Christian women are under prohibitory law in some first organized for the promotion of form. In 1900 there were 18,000,000 the world's evangelization, it is stated * Contributions may be sent to the committee at that the honor belongs to one which was formed in 1803 at Southampton, 541 Lexington Avenue, New York City. Mass., and tradition has it that one than $ro,ooo.oo will be given this year of the charter members gave $12 to for the improvement of the schools, foreign missions when she had 12 and in assisting to open schools at patches on the gown she wore. From new stations.
this society members have gone them- Why Not Volunteers for Home Missions? selves, or have given their sons and daughters, as missionaries to Liberia, The Home Mission Herald for Asia Minor, Persia, China, and the April tells of a young man who felt Pacific Islands, as well as to the In- that it was his duty to offer himself dbn, the black man and the white, of to go to the foreign field as a misour own land. In recent years, this sionary. He resolved, after a visit to society in a small country town has Ellis Island, to consecrate his life to numbered about 30 members and con- missions at home, saying: "Instead of tributed annually $60 to $70. Last year, going to the heathen, God is sending when an advance to $75 was asked the heathen to me." This periodical for there was a temporary hesitation, raises the question, "Why not volunbut the treasurer now reports $89 to teer for Home Missions? Why are their credit. not more consecrated and talented young men and women asked to give Good News from Berea themselves to a life of service in the Andrew Carnegie has given a prom- hard places in our own land?" Some ise of $200,000 toward Berea's adjust- of them are volunteering for the home ment fund of $400,000 to enable the field, but then there is need for many college to provide separate schooling more.
for white and colored students in ac- A First Convert in Mexic::o cordance with the laws of Kentucky. From a sketch of the Mexico mis- For the new school for colored stu- sion, prepared by Rev. A. T. Graybill, dents, land must be purchased, and we learn that during the Mexican war four buildings at least are needed: a two American officers left a Bible with woman's dormitory, a men's dormi- a young married women living in a tory, a main school building and ~n Mexican hut about thirty miles above industrial building. The work wIll Matamoros, which resulted in her con- begin with the training of colored version. This woman was the first to teachers. It is earnestly hoped that greet Dr. and Mrs. Graybill, of the other friends will come forward with Southern Presbyterian mission, on gifts to support this needed work. their arrival in Matamoros. Her son, A Good Use of Children's Day a barroom keeper, was engaged to teach the new missionaries the Spanish The Southern Presbyterian Executive language. He was the first convert, Committee of Foreign Missions is call- and by inviting his friends to the coting upon young people of the Sunday- tage of the missionaries opened the schools and churches to contribute, in way for the first actual missionary connection with the observance of work of this church in Mexico. The Children's Foreign 'Mission Day, May barroom boy is now the well-known 31, an amount not less than $ro,ooo.oo Rev. Leandro Garza Mora, one of the to be distributed among the ro mis- most remarkably used men in preachsions located in 7 countries in 4 con- ing the Gospel in that country. tinents of the world. The generous gifts of the young people in the past, EUROPE including the building of the first A Livingstone Semi-centennial Kongo boat, the raising of about $40,- The Livingstone Memorial Meeting 000,00 for the second "Lapsley" and at Cambridge recently was one of the the contribution of nearly $ro,ooo.oo most interesting celebrations of the last year to the Hangchow Girls' year. In 1856 the great missionary School encourage the hope that more had already gone far beyond his mis-
sian charge in Bechuanaland. He had will witness a culmination of effort in discovered Lake Ngami in the holding a simultaneous mission in heart of the Kalahari desert; he had every church. Handbooks for the journeyed twice to the Zambesi; and guidance of missionaries are being in his last expedition he had discov- prepared, and every detail is being ar- ered and named the Victoria Falls, ranged to secure a concentration of and followed the river's course to the interest on the problem of the world's coast. He returned to England for a evangeli~ation.
short rest, and fifty years ago addrest Home Mi.llion Problem in London a meeting in the Senate House at Cambridge, which is one of the land- The Bishop of London organized remarks in missionary history. With the cently a replica of his famous Wall glamor of adventure on him, and with street service in New York by holdthat single-hearted earnestness which ing a crowded midday service for city was his chief endowment, he swayed men in St. Michael's Church, Cornhil!. his great audience as perhaps no ora- Some 500 invitations had been sent tor has ever swayed a university gath- out to representative city men. If he ering. His final words were long to himself, said Dr. Ingram, did not work be remembered: "I go back to Africa from morning till night, and give to try to make an open path for com- everything he possest to the work, he merce and Christianity. Do you carry would not be doing his duty. But the out the work which I have begun; I people to whom God looked next to leave it with you." His appeal was the Bishop of London were the very not fruitless. The first fruit was the men in that church that afternoon. Universities' Mission to Central Africa There never was such a problem in with its dioceses of Zanzibar and N v- the history of the whole world as Lonasa, and bishops such as Macken;ie don. It was not merely that London and Marples were worthy inheritors of was great already, but that no one the Livingstone tradition. The Scot- knew when it would stop growing. tish Churches have their prosperous The population increased 40,000 a year stations in the same country, and one in his own diocese, which took in and all look to Livingstone as their 4,000,000. For nine of the best years founder and inspirer. of his life he lived among the poor, and nothing struck him more than the The Orient in London awful division between rich and poor. They were like two cities-separate The London Missionary Society existences. Their problem was how under the direction of the vet- to bring the love of God to every liveran secretary, Dr. Wardlaw Thomp- ing child in London. Life was a stewson, and of Rev~ A. M. Gard- ardship and not an ownership. He ner, the organizing secretary, is to desired them to make their City Asmake a special effort to awaken the sociation for the Bishop of London's churches to their missionary oppor- fund a first charge on their re~ources. tunity. They propose to utilize a number of new agencies, chief of which is the great missionary exhibi- The Regions Beyond Missionary Union tion to be called "the Orient in Lon- Dr. Harry Guinness and his wife don," from June 4 to July I1. This have recently completed twenty-one aims ·to bring before the eyes of many years' service at Harley House, Bow, historic and stirring events in the mis- the training college of the Regions Be- sion field. In this great pageant per- yond Missionary Union. In that haps I5,000 persons will participate. period, not only has the Union devel- During August there will also be oped and extended its work in Africa, summer schools and institutes, and India and South America, but it has during the early autumn months a sent out trained men from Harlev general campaign, while November House into almost every missionary
MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
society. Altogether, 786 men and whether Catholics or Protestants.
women have gone forth. A meeting Paris is also fuller than ever of for- of thanksgiving for this great work eign women students, taking advan- was held at Queen's Hall, when Lord tages of the opportunities so long open Kinnaird presided over an audience to them there. There are at the pres- that filled every seat. Lord Kinnaird ent time 851 foreign women actually paid high tribute to Dr. Guinness's working for the degrees at the Sor- varied work, and especially referred to bonne, besides large numbers attend- his pioneer work in the Kongo agita- ing courses of lectures there. This tion. Lord Kinnaird exprest his grat- takes no account of the enormous itude to Harley House for stiU sound- number of foreign women studying ing forth the old Gospel and sending art or music in Paris.
out missionaries "who believe their This field is by no means neglected.
Bible from cover to cover." Dr. H. For French-speaking women students, Grattan Guinness, founder of the Re- small Christian Unions have already gions Beyond Missionary Union, has been formed in Paris, Montpellier, and just returned from a five years' tour Lyons. Madame Pannier, 20 Rue des of the world. During his absence he Tournon, Paris, is the leader of the visited seventeen different countries, work in Paris, and undertakes to find including t:anada, Cuba, Japan, Ko- suitable lodgings for any French- rea, China, the Philippines, New speaking women students coming to Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Paris.
South Africa, and the Canaries. English-speaking women students Rev. F. B. Meyer to Africa are well-provided for through the . work of the student hostel in connec- Our friend and colleague, Rev. F. tion with the British and American B. Meyer, of London, has recently Young Women's Christian Associasailed for South Africa where he is to tion. Here every imaginable help, recarryon an extensive mlSSlOn. In a ligious and social, is extended to them, farewell address at Harley College, of and a most efficient staff of secretaries, the Regions Beyond Missionary Un- are doing a broad work. Everyone ion, he said: "I go forth to Boers and who knows of girls going to study in Britons in South Africa and I am Paris should put them in touch either hoping to help to bind the two peoples with Madame Pannier or with Dr. closer together through the Gospel of Richardson, Student Hostel, 93 Boulethe deeper life, through that vision of vard St. Michael, Paris.-The Student the kingdom of God on earth, as well World. as in heaven, which I go tel preach."
Women Students in France The Basel Missionary Society It is becoming increasingly impor- One of the noblest of evangelical missionary societies is that of Basel. tant that a strong work should be de- Its fields of labor are India, South China, the Gold Coast of Africa, and veloped among women students in the Cameroons of Africa. Its statis- France. French girls are beginning tics for 1907, according to the latest to study in large numbers at the uni- issue of Die H eidenbote, are: 63 chief versities, while new lycees are con- stations; 385 missionaries of whom stantly being opened for girls, the sup- 141 are wives and 18 unmarried wopression of the convent schools having men; church members 53,569, with created a large demand for govern- 2,701 baptisms last year; 571 schools ment education. These lycees while with 30,410 scholars. The income last giving a first-class education, are year was $380,325, of which upward staffed by women, very few of whom of $62,000 was derived from "trade have a definite Christian position. The and industries in India and Africa." tendency of the lycees therefore is to shake the faith of the girls in them,
Netherl..nds Missionary Union ASIA The annual report of the N eder- The Length and Breadth of Islam landsche Zendingsvereeniging is the more interesting as the Union is cel- We too often forget, when thinkebrating its fiftieth anniversary this ing of Mohammedanism, how widely year. Its field of work is the western it is diffused, and rest with an impart of the Island of Java, Dutch East pression that Turkey, Persia and In- Indies, where its eleven ordained mis- dia contain about all to whom the sionaries and sixty-six native helpers Koran is the sacred book. Therefore are working upon ten stations. There such figures as these are instructive: are now twenty-four congregations with 2,260 members, of whom 1,176 Central and Western Africa … . 30 ,000,000 are communicants. The missionary Arabia ………………….. . 3,500,000 schools were attended in 1907 by Afghanistan ……………… . 4,000,000 1,057 native boys and 449 native girls. Southern Persia ………….. . 2,500,000 The. annual income of the Union was Russia in Caucasus ………… . 2,000,000 $24,667, and the year 1907 closed with Russia in Central Asia …….. . 3,000,000 a deficit of $4,324. Khiva …………………… . 800,000 Mindanao (Philippines) …… . 250,000 The New Rua.ia Siberia ………………….. . 6,100,000 China …………………… . 20,000,000 Out of the troubles of that most distressful country God is making Gospel Gains in Moslem .Lands good to grow. At present there is no censorship, and literature of all sorts Weare apt to take it too readily is being poured into Russia. There for granted that Islam is invincible; is just now no religious persecution, as tho the rule was once a Moslem and many people and priests are leav- always a Moslem. No doubt the Mosing the Russian Church. Everywhere lem heart is hard and flinty, yet by dithere is visible a great spiritual awak- vine grace can be, and in cases not ening. Two years ago an evangelical a few actually has been, softened and alliance was formed, consisting of renewed. Dr. S. M. Zwemer has rethose who had been persecuted for cently written to the Sun: "The fact their faith. In some villages where is there were converts from Islam to this movement has been felt a moral Christianity even before the death of reformation is visible; drunkenness Mohammed, and have been ever since has almost disappeared. Kharkov, in all countries where the Gospel has which is the Russian Keswick, is the been preached to Moslems. In North headquarters of the new movement. India there are 200 pastors and A paper now exists to represent the preachers who were once -followers of movement. It is called The Friend; Islam; in North Africa at one stait is published in St. Petersburg, and tion 30 became Christians in 106; in is edited by Mr. Prochanoff, the chief Sumatra the Rhenish Missionary Soengineer of the city of St. Petersburg. ciety has 6,500 converted Moslems, So the word of God grows mightily 1,150 catechumens, and 80 organized and prevails. churches; while in Java there are 18,- 000, and between 300 and 400 adults The Theological School for Russia are baptized every year."
Baron Uxkiill, who has been in The Sultan Founding a Hoapital! America to raise money for the training of evangelical preachers in Rus- Rev. H. H. Jessup writes to the sia, has just returned home having Missionary Herald of the Irish Pressecured over $3 I ,000 for this seminary byterian Church that the Turkish govin Lodz. There is still need of about ernment not to be outdone by foreign $20,000 more. The Baron also re- institutions, has founded a medical ceived $2,000 for the first Baptist college and hospital in Damascus, and chapd in Siberia-in Omsk. is building a large hospital and indus- trial school in Beirut. The latter is of vast proportions, with three im-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
mense edifices side by side, and ac- the reading of the prize poem, excommodations for hundreds of stu- claimed, "Only a Christian could have dents. written that poem. No Hindu could have done it. It is the influence of A Gift for Arabia Christ which enables a man to take such a view." At the banquet, ten- A friend of the Arabian Mission in dered the Hindu president, the Chris-' Albany, N. Y., has shown her devo- tian poet also was a much honored tion to the work by the gift of $6,000 guest, and it was a sign of remarkable for a hospital in Arabia, to the Board progress that Hindus and Christians of Trustees of the Arabian Mission of sat down together. the Reformed Church. There are those who have the spirit of the For- Work for Fallen Women of Northern India ward Movement and are setting the pace for other large givers. Dr. The Gossner Missionary Society, Zwemer asks "who will signalize this which has done such blessed work year of God's favor by completing the among the heathen Kols of Chota endowment for the Arni Industrial Nagpur, reports the opening of the School? Who will help by a munifi- first home for fallen women among cent gift to complete the $200,000 for the Kols. Mrs. Boy, who was instruthe regular work of the Board? We mental in opening the first kindergarappeal to the large givers. This is the ten there in 1894, is in charge of this day of their opportunity. much needed new branch of the work, while a Dutch lady furnishes the fi- INDIA nancial support for the first year.
Growth of Christian Infiuence in India Medical Missionaries in India The N ordisk Missionstidskrift, one A recent issue of Medical.Missions of the best missionary magazines, in India contains a list of all the medigives a number of instances to prove cal missionaries at work in that counthe working of the Gospel among the try. They number 313, a net increase millions of heathen in India. The of 12 during the year. The women Hindus and Mohammedans of Dehra, graduates are in the majoritY-I87 in Northern India, decided to hold a against 126 men. There are also 124 thanksgiving meeting for their pres- European or American trained nurses ervation in a great earthquake. A on the staffs of the various mission Presbyterian missionary was invited to hospitals. The nurses have been inpreside at the meeting and the pastor creasing at a proportionately higher of a native Christian congregation rate during the year, from 98 to 124, offered the first prayer. In Ahmedd- -and this may be taken as an indicanagar a Brahman high official upon tion that the work is becoming more his death-bed asked that a native Chris- highly organized. The medical mistian teacher be called to pray with him, sionaries represent practically all the altho the native Christian was of low Christian denominations engaged in caste. Professor Tilak, of the Theo- work in India and a variety of nationlogical Training School of Ahmadd- alities. England, Scotland, Ireland nagar, is a famous Marathi poet in and Wales are all well represented, as West India. well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand among the colonies. A large A short time ago he won the prize number hail from the United States, at a great gathering of Marathi poets, and we note the name of a woman medwhere many of the court poets of ical who represents the blend known Indian princes were present. The sub- as American-Welsh. Of continental ject for the contest was the compara- countries Germany is well to the front, tive value of the active and the con- and the Basel Mission in Calicut and templative life. Professor Tilak sang the South Marathi country, owes its the praises of the active life of service. A leading Hindu poet, who had listened with interest and attention to
origin at least to Switzerland. Much singing than comes from the lips of more recently the Swedish Church has taken a share in this philanthropic these poor, hoarse, broken-bodied lepwork, having sent out a doctor and two nurses who are at present settled ers, as they sing the praises of Him at Madura and Tanjore in the South. The Salvation Army now has two hos- who has redeemed them and has writpitals in India, with a staff of European doctors and nurses, one at Nag- ten His name upon their foreheads. ercoil in Travancore and the other at Anand in Gujarat. And how out of their poverty they The Minion to Lepera give to the India National Missionary Large numbers of these hopeless Society. The Bibles and hymn-books people offer themselves for baptism, 542 during the year 1907. While this they provide for themselves and every represents results on the spiritual side of the work, there can also be no doubt week their ten or twelve annas toas to the immense extent to which the sufferings of the lepers are being alle- ward the new house of worship. My viated. heart leaps as I hear their testimony. In February a successful conference of the various superintendents of asylums One man from the village interrupted in India was held at Purulia, in Bengal. Many workers among the lepers the preacher last Sunday and said were present. .The decisions arrived at by this conference of experts in "What book tells about this Jesus who leper work, will carry much weight, both with the authorities and the pub- loves the lepers." The preacher told lic. One of the most important of these resolutions declared that in the laim it was the Bible and the leper unanimous opinion of the delegates "leprosy is contagious, and the only asked for a copy that he might read solution of the leper problem in India is wise, humane, but complete segre- it and said: "If I had heard of this gation of the diseased leper from the healthy community." Jesus before I would have believed in The mission to lepers is extending Him. I will tell all my friends of its beneficent operations to lands further east. It is about to build the first Him. He is the one India needs to asylum for the lepers of Korea, at Fusan, in the district adjacent to which know." s. HIGGINBOTTOM lepers are found in great numbers. The new asylum will be attached to The Gospel Changing Hindu Hearts the work of the American Presbyterian Mission, and will be under the charge The following cutting from the of a qualified medical worker. A be- North India Church Missionary ginning is also being made in Siam, Gleaner is a straw showing the direcwhere an official recently described the tion of the current: "A Christian girl lepers as "dead people." student at the Campbell Hospital, who would have finished her training this Leper Services in Allahabad year, died suddenly, and the grief ex- prest by all who knew her was a tes- The church services on Sundav timony to her beautiful life and earnest morning under the trees are an iri'- Christian character. When arrangeever had more enthusiastic or hearty ments were being made for her fuspiration. Not Sankey or Alexander neral a number of the Hindu students came forward and insisted on paying all the expenses. But more than this, these young men would not allow any hired hands to touch the coffin, and asked if they might be allowed to act as bearers at the cemetery. Such sym- pathy, which disregards caste rules and finds expression in so truly chiv- alrous ·an action, is a sign of the times that will be warmly welcomed."
CHINA Vastness of China Two facts may give some concep- tion of the vastness of the problem of the evangelization of China. In the United Free Church of Scotland there are some 1,600 ministers. That is about
MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
equal to, if not more than, the total toning the same, and the Lord's prayer number of male missionaries in China. Suppose that the ministers of the following in unison. N ext, after a United Free Church were the only trained forces to supply the spiritual song by the students of the Woman's needs of Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Aus- Union College, representatives of 14 -tria, Italy and Spain, when could they overtake the task? But the popula- different organizations presented their tion of China is equal to the population of all these lands. Here is greetings through appointed delegates; another fact: If all the bibles, testaments and. Scripture portions that have with songs interspersed, among them ever been published by the British and Foreign, American, and Scottish Na- one rendered by two Chinese from the tional Bible Societies, could be put into the hands of the Chinese people, Roman Catholic cathedral, with a third a single copy to each, one-fourth of the population would still be left without officiating at the organ. The Greek a copy. Christians also sang a song which was Unique Gathering at Peking greatly enjoyed. Finally, the whole Under this heading the Chinese Recorder for March says: "February 12 audience rose and repeated three times., there was held one of the most unique meetings ever heard of in China, and 'Hallelujah,' which was followed by it mav be in the world. Thirteen missiona~y bodies of all creeds met and the Greek Christians doing the same in sang hymns and offered prayers. Fully 800 persons were present, in the their own stately music. Thus ended Church of the American Board. The invitations were issued and the pro- this meeting which, from beginning to gram was prepared under the inspiration of one man, the pastor of the end, was thrillingly interesting and up- North Congregational Church, Rev. Jen Ch·ao-hai. Mr. Jen has long lifting." . been disturbed by the divisions of the Christian hosts, and as the New Year The Passing of Opium approached he thought he would try and make a practical effort. The president of the government college at Fuchau, Ling Hie Ding, is "He was greatly surprised at the also the president of the Anti-Opium cordiality with which he was received League, and is proving a most enerat the Russian mission, and from a getic and efficient leader in the crusade Roman Catholic priest who welcomed against this vice. In this government the plan, saying he was willing that school are students from every part of his members should attend. At the the province, and hostility to the opium Anglican and other missions he met traffic forms part of the teaching and the same cordiality. In due time an instruction which they receive in this afternoon gathering was held, with institution. They become thoroughly Pastor J en as chairman. A song was impregnated with the spirit of their sung by members of Peking Univer- leader in their desire to see the counsity, followed by reading of Scripture; try freed from this vile traffic, and after each passage the assemblage consequently when they return to their said 'Amen,' the Greek Christians in- homes to spend their vacations they make it their chief business and occu- pation to help uproot and destroy this evil. In many places throughout the province they have organized anti- opium societies and have been the lead- ers in raiding the opium dens. Last month when a company of these stu- dents returned to their home near Sin- giu, in the Hinghua Prefecture, and found that the people in that neighbor- hood had planted their fields as usual with poppies, they fearlessly went out and destroyed every plant. The people not having a clear conscience that they were doing right in planting this crop-, and realizing what a strong sentiment was growing up against it, meekly submitted without making the least re- with a total of 112 foreign mlSSlOnasistance. ries,including wives and single women workers. The total number of com- But a small fraction of the ground municants, December 31, I905, was that has formerly been devoted to the I,624. If this force of 1 I2 persons cultivation of the poppy is being used should be equally divided into small for that purpose this year; in some groups of three, each group comprilocalities where only last year, as far zing a married man, his wife, and ·one as the eye could reach, nothing could single woman worker, there would be be seen but fields of growing poppies, 38 such groups in all. Distributed now only one year later the whole is equally throughout the province, each changed and not a single plant remains band would then have a parish of 788 to be seen.-Fuhkien Witness. square miles, and each such parish would contain a population of a little Chinese Treatment of Animals less than 1,000,000.
Miss Jean Cochran calls our atten- JAPAN tion to an error in the statement quoted in our February number in re- Buddhism in Japan gard to the Chinese consideration for the brute creation. She says, and her The Keisei Shimpo, one of the reassertion is borne out by other mission- ligious papers of Japan, remarks in a aries, that the Chinese seem to have recent issue that it is not at all easy no feeling for the suffering of animals. to find out the exact state of Bud- Poor emaciated creatures are over- dhism. "We know," it says, "that there loaded and unmercifully beaten, open are 109,810 temples and 73,3IO priests, sores are probed to make their donkey~ but as to the number of believers there go and often, rats, chickens and other are no available reliable statistics. creatures are tortured without ap- Some sects boast of having 1,000,000 parent reason. adherents and others as many as 2,- 000,000, but the question which we The Religious Needs of One Province put to ourselves is: How many people are there in this country who are pre- China's Milliolls, the organ of the pared to confess their belief in Bud- China Inland Mission, which has by dhism openly? The answer, which far the largest work in China of any truth compels us to give, is, 'Astonforeign missionary society, is now pub- ishingly few.' It is plain that the temlishing month by month a series of ple registers are entirely misleading articles upon the problem of the evan- guides as to the number of adherents gelization of China. The February any sect may have. Thousands of number presents the situation in the names found in these registers should province of Honan, which is taken as be erased, for those whom they reprefairly representative of China as a sent have drifted off to 0ther sects or whole. There are 106 walled citie~ have become Christians or sceptics. in the province; 26 have missionaries; Among those who actually profess 80 have none. In this respect Honan Buddhism a very large number do so is not quite up to the average of the from purely worldly motives or from provinces, for in all the empire there fear of future punishment. Those who are 2,033 walled cities, of which 476 have imbibed the spirit of Shaka, those have missionaries, while 1,557 are who are permeated with devotion to without them. In area Honan is some- the interests and happiness of their. what larger than England and vVales; fellowmen, are lamentably few." in population it surpasses England and is nearly equal to France. Protestant Christian Growth in Japan missions were commenced in the province in 1875, but no permanent foot- The number of adult baptisms in the hold was secured till 1884. There are Protestant churches during 1906 was now some ten societies laboring there, 6,465, an increase of over forty-six per cent as compared with 1905. The KOREA number in 1907 was still greater, but Keeping Sundll7 in Korea the reports are not yet complete. One missionary is sending out every month In Korea, every fifth day is market 2,000 copies of a sheet for the assist- day. On that day every farmer, merance of those who are engaged in Bi- chant, mechanic-everyone is accusble study. It is estimated that more tomed to come and bring what he has than a million of the people of Japan, to sell. A man generally makes more while not profest Christians, are yet money on market day than on the taking the Bible as their guide. other four days doubled. Of course, every few weeks market day comes A remarkable testimony to the on Sabbath. The Korean Christians power of Christianity is furnished in have to endure the sneers and jeers at the request from Prince Ito, who, as their ungodly neighbors when they Governor-General of Korea, has sent keep the ordinary Sabbath day, but a request for missionaries to work when Sunday is market day, they sufamong the Japanese who have become fer considerable financial loss, by stayresidents of that country. It is one ing away from the market. Yet we are told that on a recent Sabbath marof the marked results of the war that ket day in Chunju, more than 1,000 the religion of the Bible has secured men and boys were counted in Saband retains a popularity among all the bath-school. This is heroic faith, and Japanese that it never had before. is worthy of the highest commenda- tion. Would that the home Church An important and significant devel- kept the Sabbath as bravely.-Chrisopment of opportunities for good is tian Observer. the supplying of American collegegraduates to teach English in the J apanese government schools. The re- quest came unsought to the Y. M. . Walking Fifty Miles for Bible Study C. A. International Committee in Ja- A recent letter from Rev. Eugene pan, and they have taken special pains Dell tells of a Bible Study Class of to secure men who unite Christian 300 men which was held for two weeks character with teaching ability. at Kwanju. Twenty-five of these men walked over fifty miles to attend this Growth of the Congregational Churches study class, and all the members of The last issue of the Christian the class paid all their own expenses.
Movement in Japan gives the most re- In closing this letter, Mr. Bell re- cent statistics of missions in the em- marks, "As is well known, the bulk of pire. From these tables we take the mission work in Korea is done and following items relating to the cooper- paid for by the natives themselves.
ating work of the American Board Of five native helpers in my field, two with the Kumi-ai churches: are supported by the mission and three Missionaries, inciuding wives (men 24, wo- by the native Church," The new Ko- men 25) ………………………..• 70 rean Presbytery began its career by .
Japanese ministers (ordained 54, unor- 91 appointing and sending, on native sup- I dained 37) ………………………. 23 port, an evangelist to the island of Japanese Bible-women ……………….
Communicants …………………….. 12,604 Quelhart. Adult baptisms during- year…………… 1,749 Preaching places not organized churches.. 35 Korea: One Missionary's Work Organized churches …………………. 87 Rev. L. B. Tate of the American Churches wholly self-supporting ……….. 50 Presbyterian Mission (South), ex- Cburches partly self-supporting- ……….. 67 amined last year 1,517 people; 851 for Sunday-schools ………….. _… _. . . . . . . 38 the first time; 320 new catechumens and 236 others, making 556 on the roll; Teachers and scholars ………………. 10,428 375 were baptized-three times the Haised by Japanese churches for all pur- number received by the whole Presby- tery of Missouri and about three times B!.~~~~g-~~h~~is":::::: ~:::::::::::::::: :$29'72~ Total students …………………….. ) ,369 554 Day-school students ………………… 38 Theological students ………………… I nm~te~ of orphanages and homes (2 in- 1,240 stItutIons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. the number received in all our The Filipino ChriltilD churches in St. Louis and Kansas City, p'. Rev. S. Hibbard in speaking of Mo. Of his 30 meeting places, 3 are the ChnstIan character of the Filipino, new, 4 new church buildings and 12 says that we must be careful to dis- old ones improved. His people con- tinguish it from the worldly and un- tributed to various Christian work the converted character with which many equivalent of 12,000 days' wages. Americans have come in contact. Mr.
Korea: One Woman', Work Hibbard continues: Miss Mattie Tate, of the same mis- We have had examples in Cebu of sion, this vear has broken the record on what stuff the Christian converts are under most trying circumstances. In itinerating. She has attempted to fol- one of the small towns of Cebu lived a low all of the men's work and has had man named Casiano, a Protestant. He classes in all three of the outstations. kept talking about his new faith so much Eighteen classes have been held, an that he was deemed an undesirable char- acter by th~ j?s.tice of the peace, and immense amount of teaching. She w:as placed In .JaIl. The charge against walked 135 miles, making seven trips, hIm was that hIS brother owed the priest spending a good part of the work-year three dollars for having married him. in the country. These classes varied When a procession was passing, three men and a policeman entered his cell from 6 to 82 in numbers. The work and demanded that he kneel down while assigned Miss Tate would keep a small it passed. He refused and the three men mission busy. and the policeman proceeded to sit on him.
A few days later a policeman entered ISLANDS OF THE SEA his cell at night and asked him to kiss The Head-hunten of Borneo a crucifix and go free. Again he refused. At last, after twenty days in jail, he Rev. H. L. E. Luering writes In the London Christian: escaped and made his way to the city of Cebu, where the missionaries brought The "head-hunting" propensities of the the matter to the attention of the au- Dyaks are well known to the students thorities, and the justice of the peace of ethnology. The leading thought in the taking of heads is the idea that the resigned. Casiano was an iguorant felconqueror could secure the "soul" of the low and was in jail twenty days; he did conquered and add it to his own, increas·· not know that he would ever regain his ing thereby his courage and strength, and consequently his reputation as a freedom; but there was never a thought of being false to his simple profession in hero, so long as the head of the victim remained in his possession. It is, there- the little chapel when he was baptized. I have just visited a congregation in fore, the custom of the people, after battle, to wrap the severed heads in a the north of Negros Island, and spoke loose crate of rattan, and smoke them to an audience of four or five hundred. over a fire of damp wood and leaves. Most of the people had walked not less Then they hang the ghastly trophies than a mile to the service, and many had in the houses in bundles having an un- corne six and seven miles, bringing the canny resemblance to gigantic clusters of grapes, each head forming a berry. children with them. One walked horne These war-trophies are considered by after the morning service and brought the Dyaks their most sacred possessions, his little child for the evening service, and guarded with the utmost jealousy so that it might be baptized. He must have walked twelve miles over the mountains in the midst of a heat that was simply prostrating.
and vigilance. Their loss would mean OBITUARY not only a considerable decrease of per- sonal prestige, but also the loss of a Bishop Charles H. Fowler part of the "soul," i.e., of courage and Bishop Fowler, who was recently· called to his reward, as missionary strength. bishop of the Methodists, organized Pe- I hav~ often had the questionable priv- ilege of sitting under the bundles of heads in the Dyak houses as the seat of king University in NorthernChina,and honor, and to examine them closely. Nanking University in Central China, Anakoda Unsang, who claimed to be my and the first M. E. Church in St. Pefriend, was not a talkative man, but, when roused from his usual stolidity, would tersburg, Russia. The $21,000,000 relate the circumstances of many a battle twentieth century fund, he suggested. and victory in the past with apparent He was a noted orator, and left a deep impression on his generation. gusto, not unwilling to declare his courage and reputed invulnerability.
THE MISSIONARY
THE UNFINISHED TASK. By James L. and numerical results of mISSIOns. Barton, D.D. I2mo, 2II pp. 50 cents Bishop Mylne's conclusions are that cloth, 35 cents paper. Student Volun- the book of Acts furnish us with the teer Movement, New York, 1908. best manual of missionary methods: ( I) that a man should confine his This text-book for mission study work to a district rather than seek classes gives in brief compass the ar- to cover a province, concentration guments and facts which should lead rather than diffusion; (2) caste is to men to complete the task of evangeliz- be treated from the outset as in deadly ing the world. The outline is clear antagonism to the Gospel and so should and simple, the reasoning logical and be exterminated; (3) the educational the facts forceful. It is an appeal to mission has had its day and has done reason and conscience-marshaling the its work in India, except to give Chriswell-known facts relating to the mis- tian training to converts; (4) the ultisionary motive, the condition of non- mate success or failure of work for Christians and the achievements and Hindus must depend most of all on the resources of the Church in such a way discernment exercised by missionaries as t9 impress any thoughtful man or in guiding their people to ultimate inwoman. Dr. Barton first considers dependence. the meaning of our Lord's Commission and the obligation of Christians to HEATHENISM UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT. By fulfil it. He then reviews the extent Wm. Remfry Hunt. Illustrated. of the non-Christian world and the ob- 12mo, 152 pp. Morgan & Scott, Lonstacles to be overcome. Finally he de- don, 1908. scribes briefly the missionary successes of the early Church and Mr. Hunt, for some years a misof the nineteenth century and the pres- sionary in China, has been deeply iment available resources of the Church. prest but not opprest by the dark ways It is an unusually complete and con- of heathenism. He sees the light densed presentation of the missionary breaking on this darkness and believes call to thoughtful Christian young men that a great change is already taking and young women. place. The picture of conditions in China shows the foulness of heathen MISSIONS. TO HINDUS. By Bishop Mylne. customs and the failure of heathen I2mo, 189 pp. $1.00, net. Longmans, creeds. Incidents from personal expe- Green and Co., 1908. rience bring out the lights and shadows of the scenes, and the excellent pho- Dr: Louis George Mylne, for twenty tographic illustrations are well chosen years Bishop of Bombay has given Ul> to deepen the impression. We would in these lectures a valuable contribu- not recommend reading the book as a tion to the study of missionary meth- pastime but the reader could scarcely ods in India. There is too little study fail to become convinced that China of methods even among missionaries. sorely needs the Gospel of Christ and Haphazard plans and unformed ideas, needs it now. the dependence on personal experience for the formation of missionary poli- BREAKING DOWN CHINESE WALLS. By Elcies, has resulted in much wasted en- liot I. Osgood, M.D. Illustrated. ergy and sad failures. Bishop Mylne 12mo, 217 pp. $1.00 net. Fleming H. has made a study of India, the Hin- Revell Co., New York, 1908. dus and missionary methods adapted to work among them. All will not There has probably been no greatagree with his conclusions, but they er factor used by the Spirit of are worthy of close study. He dis- God to overcome Chinese prejucusses caste, Hindu theology, Hindu dice and win friends to the Goscharacter, how to meet the caste prob- pel of Christ than medical missions. lem in city and village, and the moral Dr. Osgood, who has for eight years conducted a hospital in central China,
gives many instances connected with two and a half million of Protestant his hospital and dispensary work and Sunday-school scholars in the world visits in the homes of the people to over two million are in Roman Catho- shoV just what the medical missionary lic and non-Christian lands. There are sees and the results of his work. It also two hundred thousand Sunday- is a practical, concrete, delightful school teachers in mission lands. story of Dr. Osgood's observations and experiences. MISSIONARY PICTURES. 25 by 30 inches. 75 cents a set. Order from Denomina- THE WONDERFUL STORY OF UGANDA. By J. tional House.
D. Mullins. I2mo, 235 pp. Illus- The Young People's Missionary trated. Church Missionary Society, Movement has published a novel series London, 1907. of pictures for use in Sunday-schools. They are enlargements from photo- This is a second edition of an im- graphs, 25 by 30 inches, so that they pressive piece of missionary history can be seen across the room. A brief brought up-to-date with Supplemen- story accompanies each. The six subtary Chapters. It shows what has jects already published are been done in the banner mission of the Church Missionary Society. FOll.EIGN MISSIONS: (I) A Wayside Shrine in Japan, (2) A Dog Preach- THE KONGO CRISIS. By H. Grattan Guin- ing a Sermon (Burma), (3) A Chinese ness, M.D. Pamphlet, 6d. S. W. Christian Student. Partridge & Co., London, 1908. HOME MISSIONS: (I) An Italian Rag- The contrast to Leopold's regime in picker's Home, (2) What is a Typethe Kongo State and England's rule writer (Indians), (3) Boys from the in Uganda is immeasurable. One is Street. Christian-the other devilish, one aims at the betterment of the native races These can be used to splendid adand the other at their exploitation for vantage for Sunday-school talks. private greed. The story of Leopold's inhumanity is vividly portrayed and NEW BOOKS arouses indignation; we trust that it will bring about reforms. THE LAND OF Mos.QuES AND MINARETS. By Francis Miltoun. Illustrated. I2mo, SUNDAY-SCHOOLS THE WORLD ROUND. Thc 442 pp. $3.00. L. C. Page & Co., Bos- official report of the World's Fifth ton, 1908. Sunday-school Convention, Rome, Italy. Edited by Philip E. Howard. HISTORY OF WESTERN TIBET. By Rev. A. I2mo, 422 pp. Illustrated. $1.00 net. H. Francke. I2mo. 2S, 6d, net. S. W. World's Sunday-school Executive Partridge & Co., London, 1907. Committee, Philadelphia, 1907. THE PROGRESS OF THE KINGDOM IN INDIA. This is a well edited volume giving Dr. Jacob Chamberlain. I2mo. $1.50, the story of the World's Fifth Sunday- net. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1908. school Convention in Rome, of which our esteemed associate editor, Rev. F. THE SOCIAL EVIL IN JAPAN. By U. G. B. Meyer, was elected president. The Murphy. I2mo, 172 pp. 50 cents. report includes an interesting account Methodist Publishing House, Tokyo, of preparations, cruise, meetings, and 190 8. exhibition, with reports of the addresses and many other valuable fea- THE NEZ PERCES INDIANS SINCE LEWIS AND tures. The missionary side of Sun- CLARK. By Kate C. McBeth. I2mo, day-school work was emphasized in an 272 pp. $1.50, net. Fleming H. Revell address by A. C. Monro of England, Co., 1908. and by numerous reports from the world-field. These are eye-openers on HOME MISSIONS STRIKING HOME. By Jothe progress of the Sunday-school seph Ernest McAfee. 12mo, 127 pp. work in mission fields. Of the twenty- 75 cents, net. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1908.
WINNING THE Boy. Lilburn Merrill, M.D. I2mo, 160 pp. 75 cents. Flem- ing H. Revell Co., 1908.
A LIFE WITH A PURPOSE. (John L. Thurston.) By Henry B. Wright. 12mo, 317 pp. $1.50, net. Fleming H. Revel1 Co., 1908.
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,
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1890
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO THE JEWS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No. ll.-Old Series.– NOVEMBER. –VOL. ill. No. 11.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE DUTY OF CHRISTENDOM TO 'I'HE .JEWS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
That most intelligent and devoted friend of missions, Robert N. Cust, LL. D., of London, has published recently in the Church Missionary Intelligencer, an able article on the changing phases of the non-Christian religions, in which occurs an interesting monograph on "Neo Judaism." Dr. Cust is a member, not only of the Administrative Committee of the Church Missionary Society, but also of the London Missionary Society to the Jews, and he is equally qualified to speak of the operations and the successes of both. More than this, he is a man who thoroughly acquaints himself with the character of those systems which he hopes to see displaced by the Gospel of Christ. He confesses that great success has not as yet crowned the efforts of Christian missionaries among the Jews, either in London or in the cities of the Continent and of northern Africa. But he is none the less certain as to the duty of the Christian Church. He states that the Jews now number not less than 7,000,000, and are, therefore, a much more numerous people than were ruled over by David or Solomon-more numerous, in fact, than Palestine could possibly have supported.
If Dr. Custis correct in this estimate-and he seldom errs in matters of fact-the return to the Holy Land must be hastened, or it can only be re-occupied by representation. For what race, unless it be the American Negro, increases so rapidly as the Hebrew? Wherever the environment is favorable, and he has an equal chance with others, the Jew is the most thrifty of men, not only in money-getting but in the number and healthfulness of his children. Where the native American imagines that he cannot afford to marry, and must be satisfied with the" club" instead of a home, the Jew rears a prosperous family, and in the end endows them with wealth.
That the Hebrew race have suffered great persecution during the past centuries, must be confessed to the shame of the Christian Church. They have found in Europe as well as Africa and western Asia, another and much longer Babylonish captivity. But that this has been wholly due to religious prejudice cannot be affirmed. The tone and implication of Shakespeare's" Merchant of Venice" must rest on a basis which, even in his time, was historic. Probably the prejudice and contempt entertained toward the race by their Roman conquerors was fully as strong as has ever been exercised by the most bigoted of Christian nations. Nay, the latter .prejudice may have been in part an heirloom of the former.
The strangest prejudice and the greatest injustice and oppression now visited upon the Jews, so far as the Christian powers are concerned, are found in eastern Europe, where the doctrines of Christianity have the slightest hold, and where governmental policy and the bitterness of industrial competition must be held responsible for the entire crusade. One million of Jews are now being banished from Russian territory, not because of their faith but because the Government does not regard them as desirable subjects.
One thing is certain, whatever prejudice exists against the Hebrew population in the United States, does not arise from differences of .faith. Their best friends, both in this country and in Great Britain, are found in the Christian Church-certainly in the Protestant Church.
Some months since, the question was sent out to different men of prominent positions among us, "What is the occasion of the prevailing prejudice against the Hebrews ?" , Generally the re.sponse given was, "We are not aware of any prejudice." . Several clergymen disavowed any feeling of the kind. But Rev. Edward Everett Hale was cre~ited with charging the hostile feeling to a difference of religious faith.
As the implication was that of a prejudice now existing on the part of the American churches, we must earnestly protest against it. Mr. Hale cannot be aware-possibly he has forgotten-that four or five years ago, U. S. Minister Strauss was chosen to represent our Government at Constantinople on the recommendation of the missionary boards, and that petitions from the missionaries in the Turkish Empire were sent to Washington asking that he might be appointed for a second term.
The hostile feeling against the Jews in this country grows out of business relations. It is not cherished by Christians as such, but by those who have had to do with them in trade, or by those who have been employed by them in manufacturing. The trades unions, largely composed of infidels and Nihilists, would probably be found to represent the most bitter of all the animosities that they encounter. Whether it be just or not, there exists a feeling that the chief oppressors of poor needle-women are Jews. The industries in which unfortunate and starving females engage, as a last resort, are mostly in the hands of this class of men, and when the ruinous rates at which manufactured garments are produced in the attics and tenement houses of desperate poverty corne to be known, it must not be thought strange if popular sympathy and indignation are aroused. Some Americans join in the same extortion, but their miserable plea is that .competition compels them to do what others do. As a rule, women do not "strike." They suffer on and die, and their employers prosper .and live on Fifth Avenue.
There are among our Hebrew citizens thousands of worthy and honorable business men who suffer unjustly from the prejudice which .other thousands of their race have brought upon them, and it is to be hoped, that on the one hand, public opinion will become more discrimjnating, while on the other, the example of the nobler Hebrew tradesmen will raise the standard of honor and humanity among all their race.
Another thing which creates prejudice against the Jews may be regarded as a mere accident of their phenomenal thrift. At the summer resorts they are deemed undesirable guests on account of rough and disagreeable manners. This is no proof that the average of the race is more clownish or swinish than other races. Quite as disagree- ,able companionship might be found among the Irish, or some classes of native-bom Americans, but the difference is, that these are not found at first-class hotels; with them, there is a different relation between manners and money. Financial competency reaches a lower stratum in Jewish society than in any other. It extends to classes among whom the gentle amenities of life are unknown, and even good grammar is wanting. And the same habit of overreaching, which has made the money, is carried into all the contacts and experiences of hotel life.
Now, it is quite time that the common notion that Jews are suffering from any narrow religious prejudice of the Christian Church were laid aside.
How is it in Mohammedan countries where a common rejection of Christianity might be supposed to draw both classes of rigid Monothists together in full sympathy? In no Christian country-not even in Russia-is there so bitter a hatred, so degrading a bondage for the ~ews as in northern Africa-particularly in Morocco. They are thrifty in money matters, even there. It is impossible to impoverish them by any ordinary measures of oppression. On some accounts it is for the interest of impecunious Moors, and even of the officials, to have such a class from whom to borrow money, and by whose energy business shall be kept from stagnation, but as to indignitIes of every kind, the treatment meted out to them is almost incredible. They must wear a prescribed attire, and dwell in a certain quarter, and submit to many special police regulations; while in taxation, the only question is how far the life blood can be drawn with safety.
It seems strange that in their wide range among the nations, these people who are not a nation, cling to the Mohammedans and the Christians. Though the world is open before them, and they do not seem bound by local attachments, they are never found among the heathen. Opportunities for money-getting have been great in the East; almost every other race of Europe and western Asia-ancient and modern-has been lured by the wealth of India or China or the southern Archipelago, but never the Jew. His financial counterpart, the Parsee, is everywhere found in the East, driving bargains with Jewish sagacity, in opium or in spices and coffee, but the Hebrew has never crossed their track. Even in those centuries where he has suffered the greatest disabilities in the proscribed "Jew quarters" of European or Levantine cities, it seems never to have occurred to him to join the rush of Persians, Pathans, Macedonians, Portuguese, Dutch, and English, after the wealth of the heathen Orient. He preferred to be snubbed and crushed by Christian and Moslem nations, and to find solace in that money-getting passion which, in the course of centuries, has become a nature.
Hertzog alludes to the fact that the Jew confines himself mostly to temperate latitudes; he is not found in the tropics of either hemisphere. And our readers hardly need to be reminded that he is always found in the cities. Who ever heard of a Hebrew farmer ?-at least this side of Bible times. The Nomadic character has forsaken him. He is no longer a keeper of sheep. Yet, no other race except the Hindu or the Mongolian has shown such tenacity of life and such unimpaired vigor. The Romans who crushed the national life of Israel, on the one hand, and t].}e Assyrians who enslaved and scattered the chosen tribes, on the other, have alike perished, while the seed of Abraham, driven everywhither, have survived and are more numerous and a hundredfold more thrifty than in the days of Solomon and his glory.
The financial power of Jewish bankers on the Continent of Europe has become proverbial. The author of La France Juive claims that French politics, as well as finance, are largely controlled by the same race. We have, in our day, seen a D'Israeli climb to the heights of power in England, and wield a magician's wand over Queen and Parliament, and finally win for himself a statue in the consecrated shrine of national heroes and statesmen.
On this side of the Atlantic, the main business thoroughfare of our great metropolis is exchanging the names of its old American firms for the names of German Jews. 'l'hey are sure to become not only a great financial power but a strong social and political element in this country. The logic of their twofold increase-by natural generation and by immigration-renders certain a great future development.
Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that a better state of feeling is springing up. If the Jew has been rather Ishmaelitish than Israelitish it is not wholly his fault, though it is in part. On both sides, there should be confidence, and among business men of the highest grade there is already a clasping of hands over the old "wall of partition.'" Dr. Cust quotes from an address, delivered this very year, by Dr. Adler (not Felix), in the great synagogue in Aldgate, in the presence -of the Lord-Mayor, himself a Jew, in which the Rabbi alluded to the influence exerted by that synagogue. "Many a soul-stirring service," said the speaker, "has been witnessed within its venerable walls. Whatever the event that moved the hearts of England's sons-when a great victory evoked national rejoicing; when a sovereign had been _stricken down by illness, and when it pleased the Lord to send him healing; when a joyous jubilee was kept, and when death had entered -the palace-every event was commemorated in the great synagogue with the voice of prayer and supplication, of praise and thanksgiving, proving that the Israelite then, as always, was steeped to the very lips with loyalty. Nor were the administrators of the synagogue unmindful of the needs of their fellow-men-though of other lands and -creeds. Whether the appeal came to relieve a famine in Sweden, or to diminish the sufferings of English prisoners in France, or a plaint reached these shores from the hunger-stricken children of Ireland- the authorities of the great synagogue were ever ready to aid and to succor."
The benefactions as well as the exalted character of a Moses Montifiore are fresh in the mind of every reader. And that love of fair play which is so strong in the character of Englishmen, is welcoming :such men as he to their confidence, and is appreciating the philanthropic efforts of the great synagogue.
Instead of clinging to an old religious grudge against the race, Christian London is the focal centre of interest ih their welfare. Mis- -sions to the Jews at home and abroad are multiplied, and the strong :prayer of faith is offered up by thousands of devout Christians that God 'Will redeem His own chosen people by the blood of an accepted Christ!
It must be confessed that the Christian Church at large has seemed to be apathetic in regard to Jewish missions, but it has been rather the apathy of despair than of indifference. There has been too great .a readiness to "turn unto the Gentiles" and to consider the engrafted "wild olive" the real tree. At the London Missionary Conference of 1888, Mr. James E. Mathieson quoted the late Dr. Schwartz as saying, '''You Gentile Christians take all the sweet promises to yourselves, out you leave all the curses to the poor Jews." And in continuing, Mr. MathieRon alluded to a custom of the Scotch ecclesiastical bodies .()f rising at the close of their sessions (though they usually sit in prayer), and singing with marked solemnity: "Pray for the 'peace .()f Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee," etc. "But they do not mean Jerusalem," he added, "and they do not mean the Jews: they mean the Established Church and the Free Church of Scotland." 18 Dot this something like "robbery for burnt offering ?"
But, however, the Church, a8 a whole, may have negleeted her duty, there have always been those who have God's chosen people in their hearts. Count Zinzendoof, the founder of the Moravian Mis- sions, took a warm interest in the Jews, and he had the great joy, in 1735, of seeing a prominent Jewish rabbi become a member of the' Moravian Church, and a successful missionary among his people. "Everywhere," says Dr. Fleming, Secretary of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, "he won the esteem of the Jews, and not long since, a gift was sent to the Moravian Church at Herrnhut by a Jewish family who cherished the traditions of bless- ing through Rabbi Lieberkiihn."
The London Society, above named, has been at work for over eighty years. Nor is it alone. There are altogether eight Jewish missionary societies in England, five in Scotland, and one in Ireland. Together, these employ 312 agents. On the Continent of Europe, the societies number 27. America has seven, with 34 agents. Thus 48 societies with 377 agents are striving to win God's ancient people to· tlileir own Messiah. That their labors have not been wholly in vain is shown by the estimated fact that 100,000 Jews have been baptized in the last seventy-five years, and that with their children the number' of believers may be set down at 250,000. Among these have been many distinguished men.
Though these numbers are not relatively great, yet it is believed that the breaking down on both sides of an unrelenting prejudice, has been a far greater result and one which opens the way for blessed in-gatherings in the time to come.
There are certainly some valid grounds of hope for the Jews, even aside from the Divine promises. They are less tenacious of their old faith than they were formerly. Though still more or less clannish, yet they are more than ever disposed to break down barriers and be like other people. They are getting tired of the real or imagined stigma and reproach attached to their name. Each successive generation cares less for the old shibboleths and more for the privileges of social life without distinction of race.
It is seen that the prophetic situation is awkward. If the Messiah has come, who, and what was He? If He has not come, when will He appear? If sacrifice symbolized a promised Redeemer why is it not 'kept up? Why is the Moslem permitted to hold century after century, the only place of sacrifice, unless to show that its meaning is done away and its necessity gone? Perhaps it is in despair over such questions as these that multitudes of Jews are driven to Agnosticism., More and more Jews observe our Sabbath as a day of rest, and their Sabbath-schools inevitably tend toward Christian ways. It is well-nigh impossible to prevent their children from coming intosympathy with the Christian institutions and customs which prevaiL around them. Two or three years ago a liberal-minded and philanthropio Jew in Italy offered an immense sum of money to be devoted to the edu- oation of children in Russia, and recommended that Jews and Chris- tians be educated together. His idea was that the race distinction should be ignored, and that the young of his people should be allowed to become absorbed in the national life wherever they might be, and that gradually the distinction between Jew and Gentile should dis- appear. It may be, that social abs!)rption, intermarriage, the assimi- lating influence of the common school, the fading out of the Jewish pride and prejudice of race are to be factots in God's plan of recovery. Doubtless, they will have a part to act, but God's express will is that the Gospel shall be ,faithfully preached meanwhile, and that prayer be .offered for His people. '
Surely the Christian Church owes it to itself to present no higher consideration to promote the spiritual enlightenment of the Jews. We ourselves need this effort, if only tt> remind us continually how much we owe to the race that ga,ve us the Saviour of mankind-if only to keep fresh in memory the great missionary whom the Jewish race gave as the Apostle to us Gentiles. Our indebtedness for the Chief of the apostles will never be paid. The Gentile world, with its Christian institutions, is a monument of the great fact that it is possible to overcome the most inveterate Jewish prejudice, and to win the stoutest Pharasaic heart to Christ. If Paul could be converted and could convert thousands of others of his own faith, the Christian Church has no right to despair. Jew:ish synagogues were the first cradles of the nascent church in all lands. They opened their doors to the apostles for the planting of the first germs of truth, and Jewish converts everywhere gave character and steadiness to the ignorant Gentile church.
But, how shall the Jews of our time be reached? The London Society, as the result of eighty years of experience, answers this question under the following heads: (1.) By striving to win their confidence by removing prejudice: (a.) Never speak sneeringly or disparagingly of them; overcome the habit in ourselves and others. (b.) Manifest sympathy with them as a nation and as individuals. (c.) Win confidence by medical missions.
(2.) By preaching the Gospel as the apostles preached it-proving from their own Scriptures that Christ is the promised Messiah.
(3.) By encouraging a diligent, oandid, and prayerful study of the whole Bible-the Old and the New Testament in their connection.
(4.) By educating Jewish children. In a school supported by the Society, in Palestine Place, London, where 595 Jewish boys have been educated, the master, after 28 years of service, does not know of one pupil, who, after pursuing a full course, has relapsed into Judaism.
(5.) By assisting poor Jewish youth to obtain positions and Imcouraging them in seeking a subsistence.
(6.) By training promising young men as missionaries. tt should not be forgotten, as an encouragement, that the Jews are worshippers of our God, have a large portion of our Bible, are sharers of our civilization, speak our language, and are-or ought to be-our friends as well as neighbors, and are even before us, heirs of the covenant of promise !
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF MADAGASCAR. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] To an English boy, Robert Drury, wrecked near Port Dauphine, the Southeastern cape of Madagascar, we owe the first full account of the savages on this great island. He saw the captain and crew, who escaped with him from the angry sea, pierced with the lances of the inhospitable natives, till out of over a hundred only a dozen survived, and he himself was saved only to be enslaved. This was early in this century. He found the country divided among many warring tribes; might the only right, women and children carried off like cattle and made slaves; woman, so degraded that even the King's daughter, wife or mother, cringed before him and licked his feet. Heathen ceremonies of the most absurd and degrading kind were matters of daily occurrence. A wooden charm called an owZey, borne up by forked sticks, was worshiped with incense. Fortune tellers, or umossees, held the people in the bondage of superstition, and lived upon their ignorance and credulity. The Malagasy were the victims of magicians, and constantly fought and plundered one another, The arrival of a European vessel was the signal for wholesale crimes of lust and trading in human bodies and: souls. All who had slaves drove them to the seaside.
Half a century ago the Hovas held the interior portion of the island, and their King or chief, who was called Radama, had come to the throne in 1808. With these Hovas and their sovereigns the modern history of Madagascar is mainly concerned, Morally and spiritually the picture is very dark. From three to four thousand natives were sold, it is said, every year, and the spot where they caught the last glimpse of home, and the first glimpse of the sea that was to bear them into hopeless exile, is even now called the''weeping pZace ofthe Hovas." Though they had courts of law, bribery was so common that trial was a form and a farce. Honesty was scarce known, and children were trained to falsehood and deception as a virtue. Punishments were savagely cruel, devised to give long, lingering pain-burning by slow fires, drowning in boiiing water, poisoning by tangena, beating, starving, hurling over precipices, crucifying. 'fhe tangena was a substitute for trial, and thousands died every year from this poison, while those who proved their innocence by outliving the dose were wrecked in health.
The people were a nation of thieves as well as liars. Madame Pfeiffer's property was stolen while at the house of the Chief Justice, but }'ecovery was impossible, where even high officers stole. Even graves were robbed, bodies stripped, and every article of value buried with the dead was an object of ruthless plunder. The nation was so wedded to lying and thieving that Christianity was objected to because it taught people to be true and honest. They were so far lost to all virtue that they resisted any influence that promised moral improvement. .As to the homes of Madagascar, there were none. A native never I:lpoke ,of family or family ties. Madame Pfeiffer's travels had brought t.o her knowledge no people so immoral, and her pen refused to chronicle what her eyes and ears were compelled to see and hear. The worst vices were so universal as to seem natural. A man might put away his wife for no cause and take a fresh one as often as his caprice or passion led him; female virtue was of so little account that it did not ·even affect the legitimacy of offspring. Children born on unlucky days it was no crime to strangle, drown or expose to the trampling feet of cattle.
The Hovas were not an irreligious people-idols filled the land. ·Gods were so plenty that anything new, which they did not compre- hend, though it were a machine or a photograph, they deified. Their idols were conceived as having all power, but neither knowledge nor .goodness, virtue nor love; they were simply human greed, cruelty,mean- ness and malice, invested with almightiness! monsters of lies and lusts.
Among such a people-of whom the French governor of the Isle of Bourbon said, "You might as well attempt to convert sheep, oxen or -asses, as to make the Malagasy Christians "-among such a people the gospel has gone to win some of its mightiest triumphs.
The first obvious step that God took was one of preparation. He -gave Madagascar political unity. King Radama in his reign of twenty years"proved himself the Cresar or Napoleon" of his realm, making him- self master of the whole island except two districts in the South,and this rendered easier the spread of a new faith, as the unification of the Roman Empire had done eighteen centuries before. Radama was at ·once a general, a ruler and a reformer. He had with all his faults and vices a patriotic spirit. Contact with European civilization had becn sufficient to satisfy him of its superior type, and he first opened the -door to civilization and Christianity that he might secure the progress .and prosperity of his people. He made a treaty with Britain, abolishing the slave trade, though domestic slavery still prevailed in his own ,dominions; and seeing t~e benefits accruing to even heathen lands from the gospel of Ohrist, he welcomed the pioneer English mission- -ary, in 1820, to his capital Antananarivo, and kept his word, which pledged to him and others who might join him royal protection.
The missionaries reduced the language of the people to writing, and in teaching and preaching had all their time and strength employed. -God gave them the king's patronage; an adult sch,ool was opened in the palace court yard, and by his favor a central model school was -opened for training native teachers for the villages round about; and when murmurs arose against the missionaries, because their teachings lessened respect for the native religion, Radama had the independence ;and the indifference to go on with the work of education, at heart -caring nothing for the idols that the Hovas worshipped. In 1826 the first printing press was set up in the i.sland, and a new literature began to be created. The people were slowly waking from the sleep of ages. But at the death of Radama, in June, 1828, not'om~' convert had yet made a confession of Christ. The king himself was a progressive sovereign, but he was led simply by worldly wisdom. It was civilization and not Christianity, as such, that he encouraged. He was too intelligent to have faith in priestcraft and witchcraft, but too carnally minded to embrace Christianity or even attend preaching services.
And now opens the era of a most bloody and cruel persecution. One of Radama's wives, Ranavalona, took forcible possession of the throne, mounting it by murdering all rivals. If Radama was the Cresar, she was the" Bloody Mary," of Madagascar. From twenty to thirty thousand victims fell annually a prey to her cruelty. She was as reckless as Nero, as treacherous as Judas, and as selfish as Cleopatra. Her chief amusement was a bull-fight, her imperial journeys were·· destructive raids that left famine in their track, and her whole rule was that of a despot that cared neither for the liberty nor life of her subjects. She would waste tears over the death of a favorite bull, and lavish honors on its burial, such as not even the decease of her whole· family would have drawn forth. Had her reign been long, the island would have been a depopulated desert; and as it was, it has been calculated that half of the population perished under her. bloody sceptre. We purposely draw her hideous portrait that it may be seen what wasthe natural flower of the Madagascar society, and under what a deadly influence the infant church of Christ there struck down its tender' roots and unfolded its stalk.
There was everything, humanly speaking, to prevent the gospel from getting any hold in Madagascar. The soil was thick with the awful growths of a paganism of the lowest type; and a queen who had neither justice nor mercy was ready to pluck up the first plant of godliness, 01' burn over any field where the seed of the gospel might spring up. Among her first acts was the prohibition of all preaching and the breaking up o~ the schools. 4fterward, probably from motives of policy, she permitted the missionaries not only to make converts, but to organize native Christian churches, and, in 1831, twenty were baptized, among them "Paul," who had been a famous heathen diviner, but who had become a humble learner in the school of Christ.
As soon as the work of conversion thus began in earnest, the queen Bet herself resolutely against it. Her hatred and cruelty were so satanic' that a pall seemed to have fallen upon the whole people. The preaching went forward, and the queen was besought not to persecute the· new disciples. But it was all in vain. In March, 1834, a royal proc– lamation was made in the ears of a hundred thousand people drawn. up on the plain, Imahamasina, declaring war against the new faith•.. Converts were branded as criminals, and required to accuse themselves within one week on pain of death. Astonishing as it may seem, the, great body of these native disciples stood firm. Praying for help, trusting in God, they appeared before the judges and confessed their faith in Jesus. In these days of peril these Malagasy Christians spent whole nights in prayer, by their fidelity to an unseen Saviour exciting the astonishment of their very enemies. The queen contented herself in this case with degrading four hundred officers and fining two thou~ sand others. A week httor she demanded all books to be delivered up. As all literature on the island was the creation of the mission press, this edict was aimed against the Bible. But the brave Malagasy would not give up the Scriptures, which some of them had walked a hundred miles to procure.
The strong hold of the gospel upon the native J,J:ovas could be ac- counted for on no philosophy that excludps the power of God. Al~ ready twenty~four hundred of the queen's officers were among the con~ verts, and in the army the best and bravest soldiers were also soldiers of Christ. In vain were they placed in the most exposed positions in the battle: they still routed the foe. Thirty~thousand Hovas could read the Scriptures. Many cast away idols and superstitious charms.
Large congregations met at the capital and the influence reached hundreds of miles in every direction. No fault could be found in the Chi-istians of Madagascar, except that founl! with Daniel in Baby~ lon-they believed in their God. Wheu compelled to cease public labor, the missionaries worked privately, and besides teaching the people, published the complete Old Testament and" Pilgrim'S Progress." Then, driven from the island, they left the young church of Christ without a foreign mi~sionary among them, in July, 1836; and for twenty-five long years, persecution which had bared her red right arm continued to make it a crime to confess Jesus as Saviour aud Lord. .
Ranavalona 1., ather coronation in June, 1829, took two of the na- tional idols in her hands and said, "From my ancestors I received you; in you I put my trust, therefore support me.. " And, robed in scarlet.
and gold, those idols were held at the front of the platform to overawe the multitude while the ceremonies went forward. Here was a throne literally pillared on idols, as her reign abundantly proved.
There .were four eras of persecution, lasting respectively for fourr seven, three and. two years, together reaching from 1835 to 1860, with intervals of comparative quiet. The third was the most severe.
Christians met secretly in each other's houses, and traveled sometimes twenty miles to mountain tops, to praise and pray and read the word of God.
A woman of high family, Rafaravavy, became a sincere disciple and opened one of the largest houses in the capital for Christian worship. Despite the queen's hostile attitude, she continued to hold Sunday .evening meetings. She refused to reveal the names of her fellowworshipers, and the queen in a rage ordered her put to death. While -expecting cruel tortures, she retained her serene composure; the peacc {)f God filled her soul. Her life was spared, but her property in part ~onfiscated. She continued to meet believers, however, and the number of converts constantly increased. These persecuted disciples, bereft of human teachers, looked only to the Holy Spirit as teacher, and became themselves instructors of others who could not read. Their .quick sensibilities made them weep at the bare mention of Jesus. Rafaravavy's house was assaulted by a mob, and she was led away, as ~he snpposed, to execution, and put in irons; but a terrible conflagration that same night was snpposed to have alarmed the queen and .aroused her supe;stitious fears, and the penalty was delayed. At last .sentence of perpetual slavery was inflicted on all who had been seized in Rafaravavy's house, and Rasalama, another of the women, was speared while kneeling in prayer. Thus, on August 14, 1837, the first Mada- .gascar martyr died witnessing for Jesus. Two hundred converts were .enslaved for Jesus' sake at this time. Some of those thus enslaved to traders, afterwards escaped, but astonished their masters by returning to them accounts of their goods, with money obtained from sales. Fugitives hid three months at a time in forests. Wanderers often 'came into contact with lonely dwellings, where little congregations hitherto unknown gathered for Christian worship.
These are fragments of this remarkable story of Madagascar which read like the highest romance of Christian chivalry.
In 1839 some fugitives, on their way to England, stopping at Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, met with fellow-converts. Unable to communicate freely with these converted Hottentots, their Bibles be- -l'ame actually vehicles of converse. The Malagasy and Hottentots turning to the same passages in their respective translations of the Word, in this way made known to each other their sentiments. For .example, the Hottentot disciples pointed to Ephesians ii : 2 : "Among whom we all had our cop,versation in time past," etc. The Malagasy disciples responded by Eph. ii : 14, 15: "For He is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition." Also Gal. iii: 28: "Ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Again, the Hottentots pointed to John xvi: 33: "In the world ye .shall have tribnlation." The Hovas replied by Rom. viii: 35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?" etc. When was e'Ver the Bible put to a more beautiful use even by the most mature Christians? Then they sang the same hymns to the Bame tunes in different languages. Verily, "Multm terricolis lin~um; celestibus una." Then the Hottentots made them a voluntary contribution to help pay costs of their voyage, and knelt on the beach commending them to God. And these were Hottentot" dogs" and Malagasy "asses!" How soon and strangely they had developed into Christian men!
When these fugitives reached England, in May, 1839, they wrote a letter to their suffering fellow-disciples at home, which for beauty and purity of Christian sentiment might have graced the fame of Paul, theapostle and writer of epistles. For three years they stayed on British shores, winning universal esteem and love, and furnishing an unanswerable proof of the reality of the gospel. When, in 1842, they returned to Mauritius, their mission station at Moka became the asylum for other fugitives from persecutions at Madagascar. The queen was only enraged by the escape of her victims. She became the more bloodthirsty. She ordered her soldiers, when they found any Christians, 4J;0 dig a pit, cast them into it, pour boiling water on them and then fill up the pit, and go in search of others on whom to wreak similar vengeance.
Meanwhile, the patience and fidelity of these poor disciples confounded their very enemies, and constrained them to admire and wonder at a power so mysterious that could take away the fear of death, even in forms so horrible. In July, 1840, nine perilons, recaptured out of sixteen who had fied, were put to death by the spear of the executioner, and among them PauZ the Aged, the converted conjurer and preacher. And still the Gospel made conquests in these, the darkest days.
Two years of respite from persecution passed by, and a second era of cruelty began about June 19, 1842. Two converts were seized while returning from a missionary tour among the Salaklava tribes, and tortured to induce them to reveal the names of their fellow-disciples, but in vain. These lambs went to the slaughter without opening their mouths to betray other believers.
A few months later the queen was wrought to fury by the act of some imprudent person who affixed to the wall of a house in the capital a leaf of the New Testament, underlining Matthew xxiii, 13, "Woe unto you," etc. Construing this as a personal insult, she required the unknown offender to confess in four days, under penalty of being cut into pieces as small as musket balls. As no confession followed, the queen arrested several Christians and selected two, whose bodies wereliterally chopped as fine as mincemeat, and then burned to ashes! And the only ground for attaching to these disciples the guilt of this offence was that they knew enough to read and write!
Strange to say, it pleased God that the only son and heir of this atrocious Jezebel should, at the age of sixteen, become interested in the very Christians who were the,objects of his mother's persecuting rage! Rakatond.-Radama was one ofthat illustrations of that paradox of heredity, that a lamb should be born of a hyena. His gentle spirit was the exact reverse of his mother's ferocity. Where she delighted in cruelty, he delighted in kindness; he hated blood-shedding even as she thirsted for it. Of course, the people soon found out where to go for sympathy and succor. He cut the cords of those who were bound, and released those appointed to death; and yet the natural affection existing between the son and mother prevented a rupture between them.
About tliis time, 1847, Ramaka, called Rasalasala, or the BoZd One, arose, a mighty preacher, the first in the Madagascar church. Prince Rakatond was drawn to hear him, and was so impressed that he had Christian teachers come to the palace to instruct him in the Scriptures and pray with him. So far as he could he prevented all executions, .or, at least, modified and mollified the severity of the sentence against accused disciples. Though he never seems to have become a convert himself, he often attended OhrIstian worship and befriended the converts in every possible way. His cousin, Prince Ramonja, older than he, yet singularly like him, and also a favorite of the queen, joined him in the chivalrous defence of the persecuted followers of Jesus. The nephew of the prime minister went further than these two royal princes, and openly declared himself a disciple, and so the gospel once more invaded "Ooosar's household." His uncle threatened him with the loss of his head, but he calmly answered, I l( am a Ohristian, and if you will, you may put me to death, but I must and will pray." He might be assassinated, but could not be in- timidated, as Ourran said of himself when conducting the defense of Bond.
To recount all the fascinating story of the Malagasy's sufferings would require a volume. But we seek rather to portray in outline the main features of this romance of missions. One of the most affecting memorials of this persecution may be found in the fragments of Holy Scripture afterwards brought home by Mr. Ellis. During this famine .of the written word, the more educated converts copiAd out portions .of the blessed book, and these were found, worn, soiled and rent, with the toru edges carefully drawn together and sewed with fibres of bark, .or repaired with pieces of stronger paper; and giving evidence that they had been buried in the earth or hidden in smoky thatches, to conceal them from the eyes of the malignant persecutors.
In 1849 a third era of persecution began with the a~sault upon Prince Ramonja. A kabar or business meeting was summoned at Andahalo. rrhe queen addressed a message to her subjects, asking «why it was that they did not give up praying," in view of the :severe penalties affixed to the crime of apostasy from the gods of Madagascar.
The Ohristians made mild but firm answer, refusing to recognize idols. Rainitraho, a noble of royal blood, was among Ohrist's conlessors, and his heroism was so contagious that the officers stopped the -examinations lest the whole people should be carried away with his example. Four nobles were burned alive, and f.ourteen others hurled from a precipice 150 feet high, and their families sold as slaves; 117 were publicly flogged and compelled to labor for life in chains; 1,700 were fined, and Prince Ramonja was degraded from his rank. The -prince royal was accused of being a Christian, but the queen was too indulgent to her only son to take notice of the charge.
No acts of violence could sway these simple Malagasy converts from Jesus. They calmly replied, "None of these things move me." They sang a hymn of "going home to God," as they were borne to ~,x:ecution, and prayers and praises ascended in the very flames that wrapped the stakes. Once, indeed, the flames were extinguished by a sudden rain, and a bow appeared, one end of which seemed to rest on the very posts to which the martyrs were tied. The spectators were overwhelmed with awe, but the fires were relit, and the martyrs gave up the ghost.
To the precipice near the palace, .JI.mpamarinana, fourteen prisoners were then led and hurled over its awful edge, bounding from ledge to ledge until they were broken on the granite rocks below, and one of them was heard singing as he fell. One timid woman, Ranivo, who was kept to the last, compelled to look over the edge of the cliff upon the mangled bodies below, in answer to the '6ntreaties of friends that she would save her life by apostasy from Dhrist, only begged to be hurled from the precipice too. And yet the word of the Lord had free course and was glorified. Converts was still gathered. Believers numbered thousands. In at least seven places in the capital secret meetings were held.
Rainiharo, one of the ministers who had placed Ranavalona on the throne and propped her persecuting policy by his influence, died, and this period of relentless persecution came to a close. The prince royal, Rakatond, now became associated with his mother in the government: The time now seemed to have come for the return of the expelled mIsSIOnaries. The London Missionary Society, to whose planting the gospel owed Its harvest in Madagascar, sent a deputation, composed of the veteran missionary, Rev. William Ellis, and the Rev. Mr. Cameron, to prepare the way for re-establishing the mission which for about eighteen years had been broken np.
Mr. Ellis found two parties on the island, led respectively by Prince Rakatond and by his cousin, Ramboasalama, the former favoring Christ~anity and all its noble institutions; the latterin league with idolatry and all its vicious associations. But Mr. Ellis found the church of Christ in the island stronger than before persecution began, and the knowledge of the gospel spread to the remote parts of the island. Not until his third visit, in 1856, did he reach the capital. But when he did, he found that just the fruits which the blessed gospel had produced in the most enlightened communities, it had borne in Madagascar. Disciples had there fought the same fight of faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and burning with zeal for God and passion for souls. Closet and la:mily prayer were more common than among disciples in London; the word of God was daily searched as for hid treasure, and the meetings for worship were attended at all risk. . The fourth and last persecution may be traced to a plot to depose the wicked queen. June, 1857, was fixed as the time for carrying out the design. Mr. Lambert, a Frenchman, first sought aid from Louis Napoleon and the English prime minister, Lord Clarendon, in relieving the misery of the Malagasy. When the hope of foreign interference failed, he is said to have enlisted the co-operation of Prince Rakatond with some of the nobles and soldiers, in' the plan of revolutionizing the government by native aid alone. No violence was to be done to the queen's person; she was simply to be removed from the throne, and her son to be proclaimed king. But ou the eve of accomplishment the plot failed, and when the knowledge of the conspiracy came to Queen Ranavalona's ears, she refused to allow anyone to hint a suspicion against her son, and like Nero when Rome burned, fixed the guilt of the whole plot upon the poor innocent disciples of Christ. A traitor who had professed conversion gave the queen a list of seventy whom he charged with a share in the conspiracy. Prince Rakatond got hold of this list and tore it in pieces. But the bloody queen must have some victims for her new fever of rage, and so another kabar was called. Not more than three hundred Christians were found, as they had fled in bands so numerous as to put to flight the detachments of soldiers sent to capture them. The infuriated queen declared that her search should extend to the bowels of the earth and the very beds of lakes and rivers; but the more she raved the more calm and cautious were the followers of Jesus; only Prince Rakatond's energy and interposition prevented the destruction not only of hundreds of natives bUl of the six Europeans who were on the island, including Madame Pfeiffer, the traveler. They were, however, banished and barely escaped from the island with their lives.
Christians were pierced and tortured with spears and then beheaded. More than two hundred suffered punishment, most of them men of mark, and stoning was now for the first time employed as a new and cruel mode of execution. Iron necklaces were attached to the necks of others and they were thus linked together and compelled to constant companionship until death ended their sufferings; if one died the rest had to drag about this body of death-a revival of the hideous forms of ancient torture. Fifty-seven Christians were thus chained together and banished to a distant province. This was the last triumph of persecuting hatred against the little church in Madagascar. For thirty-two years Ranavalona had held her red sceptre. She had sought to trample upon and stamp out with iron heel the humble plant of renown that was growIng in the soil of this great island. But God used all this rage of this modern Jezebel to test and develop the faith and love of disciples. The tan.gena draught, the boiling caldron, the rice-pit, the awful precipice, the chain, the spear, the stone, the stake-all united in vain to compel these poor~ ignorant, persecuted disciples to disown their newly-found Saviour. For the first time iu the history of modern missions God permitted a. feeble church, just planted and scarcely rooted on pagan soil, to undergo It quarter of a century of persecution, having scarcely a parallel in violence and cruelty. That church was literally anu emphatically isolated; not only on an island, but cut off from sympathetic contact and communication with the Ohristian church in otber lands, and yet it more than survived; for a,t the end of that twenty-five years, when, if not plucked up by the roots, it might have been expected to be found feeble and half dead, it was strong and firmly rooted, and among its precious fruits were many of the soldiers, the nobles and even the royal household. Many thousand persons had been sentenced to various punishments by the" Bloody Mary" of Madagascar, for theirfaith; and yet when, in 1861, persecution ceased, the Christian popUlation was fivefold greater than before she began to exterminate them; and more than this-this Plant of Renown had spread its roots through the very soil of society, and its branches reached afar; the perfume of its golden blooms pervaded the very atmosphere; its fruits were to be found in every home. The whole community was undergoing transformation. The name of Christian had become the sign and synonym, the pledge and promise of truth, purity, fidelity, integrity-new virtues were growing, where vice had sprung up rank as weeds. A miracle had been wrought. A Supernatural Power had been at work. The Spirit of God had breathed new life into Malagasy hearts.
July, 1861, came and the queen died~ and Rakatond, as Radama II., became king. His first act was to proclaim his policy of toleration. The era of religious liberty had dawned for Madagascar. He proclaimed deliverance to the captives and the opening of prison doors to them that were bound. Exiles returned home, slaves were set free; it was a year of jubilee. Idols were banished from the palace, and to show his contempt he sent some Christians to burn the very shrine of one of the national gods, while he looked on to witness the impotency of the so-called" deity." Radama was a reformer, but not a Christian. He was tolerant of the gospel, and so he was of rum, and 60,000 gallons flooded the island in a week and debauched whole villages.
It was now safe for Mr. Ellis to come again and resume missionary work, and in November. 1861, he sailed for Madagascar. On his arrival, with Radama's permission, he secured the sites made sacred by the blood and ashes of the martyrs, for the building of churches; and so the houses of worship in Madagascar to-day are monmilents and memorials of the faith and faithfulness of those who there s~ered for Jesus.
!;Ir. Ellis's arrival was the signal for a triumphal march through the island. Delegations of disciples met him, and processions went ont to welcome the veteran missionary. Throngs of worshippers assembled. at early dawn. .A second service would begin by 8 o'clock in the morning. Every encouragement was now given to the devoted missionary from the hut of the poor to the palace of the king.
Radama II. fell a victim to a conspiracy within a twelvemonth. :ge who had never shed blood was strangled by assassins, in May, 1863, and his widow, under the title of Queen Rasoherina, ascended the vacant throne, the first constitutional ruler of the Malagasy. She reigned five years, and her subjects enjoyed full liberty of conscience. 'rhe work of evangelization went rapidly forward. Nevertheless the government was not Christian, and at her coronation, which was on Sunday, the priests and idols were conspicuously in the foreground.
Congregations multiplied and converts increased, and a native ministry was trained up, and a native Christian literature created. The thirst of the native Christians for the word of God was insatiable, and every mark of a Christian home was to be found in their domestic life. Marriage was honored and divorce discouraged. Contributions were liberal, aud the missionary spirit led to abundant labors to spread the gospel by both home and foreign missions.
The queen's health was failing, and before she died, it is believed, her mind turned from her old idols, which she had placed in her court and carried on her journeys. She died in April, 1868. Her youngest sister took the throne as Ranavalona II. And now, for the first time, Madagascar had a Christian as well as a constitutional ruler.
He who would see the marvelous change in Madagascar, need only contrast the coronation of the two queens-Ranavalona I. and Ranavalona II. One took place June 12, 1829. Then the Bloody Mary of Madagascar took two of the national idols in her hands, and declared: " I received you from my ancestors. I put my trust in you, therefore support me." And then the scarlet-clad images were held at the front corners of the platform to awe the superstitious multitude. On September 3, 1868, a Christian queen was crowned, and the ceremony befitted such a monarch. 'I'he symbols of pagan faith were nowhere to be seen. In their place lay a beautiful copy of the Bible, side by side with the laws of Madagascar. A canopy was stretched above the queen, and on its four sides were four Scripture mottoes: "Glory to God"; "Peace on earth"; "Good-will to man"; "God with us." Her inaugural address was interwoven with Scripture dialect, and instead of Ohristianity it was now idolatry which became a suppliant for toleration. And all this took place seven years after Ranavalona I. expired! Astrologers and diviners were no longer to be found at court; Rasoherina's idol was cast out of the palace. Government work ceased on Sunday, and the Sunday markets were closed. In the palace court services of divine worship were instituted, which are kept up to this date. Ohurches now grow rapidly, sometimes fivefold in a year. The Madagascar New Year, formerly an idolatrous festival, now became a Ohristian holy day; and the queen's address declared, "I have brought my kingdom to lean upon God, and I expect you, one and all, to be wise and just, and to walk in His ways." Just one month later Ranavalona II. and her prime minister were publicly baptized by one of the native preachers, in the very courtyard where, a few years before, the bloodiest edicts had been issued.
In the queen's examination by the native ministers, it transpired that her first serious impressions were traceable to a native Ohristian who, when she was a mere child, sought to impress her with the truth as it is in Jesus. It was Andriantoiamba, one of the four noblemen who were afterward burned as martyrs, who thus sowed the seed in that young heart that afterward ripened into the first Ohristian queen of the island. Two days before their baptism the queen and the prime minister, were wedded, and shortly after both publicly joined in the Lord's Supper, thus magnifying the Ohristian family and the Sacraments of the church of God.
Such an example was likely to be followed. Almost all the government·officers of high rank, and among them the chief idol-keeper, the astrologer of Rasoherina, came forward to receive baptism. Oongregations multiplied beyond all means of accommodation. One hundred new buildings were in demand; 37,000 persons attended worship, an increase of 16,000 in a year! On July 20 the cornerstone of a chapel, designed for the use of the queen and court, was laid in the very courtyard of the palace.
To-day in that palace courtyard the traveler may see a beautiful house of prayer. In gilded letters upon two large stone tablets forming part of the surbase of the structure, appears engraven the following royal statement, read at the laying of the corner-stone in 1869 : "By the power of God and grace of our Lord Jesus, I, Ranavalomanjaka, Queen of Madagascar, founded the House of Prayer, on the thirteenth Adimizana, in the year of our Lord Jesus Ohrist, 1869, as a house of prayer for the service of God, King of kings and Lord of lords, according to the word in the Sacred Scriptures, by Jesus Ohrist the Lord, who died for the sons of all men. and rose
THE INHERITANCES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD
again for the justification and salvation of all who believe in and love- Him. ":For these reasons this stone house, founded by me as a house of prayer, cannot be destroyed by any one, whoever may be king of this my land, forever and forever; but if he shall destroy this house of prayer to God which I have founded, then is he not king of my land, Madagascar. Wherefore I have signed my name with my hand and the· seal of the kingdom.
" RANAVALOMANJAKA, "Queen of Madagascar.
" This word is genuine, and the signature by the hand of Rana- valomanjaka is genuine.
"RAINILAIARIVONY, "Prime Minister and Commander-in-Ohief of Madagascar."
If you should visit this island to-day, you would find four sacred sites occupied by memorial ehurches. .I1.mpamannana, the summit of the martyrs' precipice; .I1.mhohipotsy, where Rasalama, the first martyr, w~s speared; .I1.mhatonakan,ta, where so many were kept in prison; and Faravohitra, where the rainbow rested over the burning pile, and where the first stone of the church was laid exactly beneath the spot where the remains of the martyrs were found.
Is it possible to account for changes such as these, wrought within the space of sixty years by the simple preaChing and teaching of the gospel, unless the power of God is indeed behind the Bible? If there ever was a wonder that compelled even the sceptical and the unbelieving to exclaim, "What hath God wrought I" it is to be found in the story of Madagascar.
THE INHERITANOES OF NATIONS ALLOTTED BY GOD.
BY REV. A. W. PITZER, D.D., WASHINGTON, D. c.
"God's works of Providence are His most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing all His creatures, ordering them and all their actions to His own glory."
Individual life cannot be detached from God and His overruling Providence; and nations rise, flourish, decay and die in accordance not merely with natural law and second causes, but also, in accordance with His eternal purposes and plans. Before man was created, or human history had begun, God had a fixed place for every nation and a definite phm for every man's life. Nor has this Divine decree· and Providence ever impaired the freedom and responsibility of the individual or the nation, nor is God the author of man~s sin, nor is the efficiency of second causes diminished.
The nations of the earth come to their separate places of inheritance on the globe, moved by various motives and impelled by different forces. Restless for change, greedy for gain, envious of their neighbors, ambitious for fame, filled with cruelty and thirsting for blood, the nations of the past and the present have freely worked ()ut the problem of national destiny. And yet, it was the Most High God, whose Providence divided to these nations their inheritance, and who decreed and settled the bounds of all kindreds, tribes and peoples; and to each and to all He said, "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." There is a philosophJt of history, but the Godless historian has never seen it-a philosophy of history human, yet divine-that m"akes full estimate of all human forces at work in the world, but fails not at the same time to see the mighty Providence of God in the onward march of all earthly things.
The Most High God located the nations of the old world and the new. He planted the Egyptian by the waters of the Nile, ,flowing from the ever-living lakes of equatorial Africa; He gave to the sons ()f Ham the "dark continent" teeming with life and filled with food; from central Asia His hand led out the people after the confusion of tongues at Babel to the Euphrates and Tigris; to India, to China, and to the islands of the great seas that wash the coasts of the Asiatic -continent. To the sons of J apheth, the Cimbri, the Tartars, the Medes, the Greeks, the Muscovites, He gave northern Asia, Asia Minor and Europe.
The ethnology of the lOth chapter of Genesis remains an unchallenged chart of the nations to this day. Fifteen hundred years after Moses incorporated in his writings this chart, and after he had sung this song, another descendant from the family of Shem, stood in the midst of Mars Hill and declared to the wisdom-seeking sons of Javan that God had made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath deterniined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him.
God, then, has a purpose concerning this race and world of ours, and His overruling providence is silently, but irresistibly, conducting the races and nations along the great highway of human history. He plants and He plucks up dynasties, kingdoms, nations and empires, and orders, controls and governs all things according to the counsels ()f His own will.
What, then, is that supreme purpose of God, to the development and accomplishment of which, all agents and agencies, all forces and events, all kings and empires are made subservient and tributary? Surely it must be an object worthy of God Himself, and commensurate with His all-embracing and resistless providence. It is nothingless than the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth, in visible sovereignty and glory. Devout worshippers of the true and living God in all ages and lands have cried in prayer to -Him, "Thy Kingdom Come." In his last song, Moses tells the children of Israel encamped on the plains of Moab and in sight of the promised land, why it was that God had divided to the nations their inheritance and fixed the bound- aries of the peoples. He had taken Israel, the seed of His friend Abraham, as his possession and portion, and, in relation to their number and location on the globe, He had arranged all other nations and peoples.
The Kingdom of God is to come on earth through Israel; for sal- vation is of the Jews; and David's greater soil' is yet to sit on David's throne, and hence God's people, His portion must be the centre around which and for the sake of which, all national movements, great and small, shall revolve.
The little strip of land on the western border of the continent of Asia, not 200 miles from north to south, by less than 100 miles from east to west, washed by the Mediterranean Sea, almost in sight of the life-giving waters of Africa's great river, and touching to the west- ward, the isles and lands of the Gentiles, is the divinely ordained home of the chosen people, and the geographical centre of all human history until the Kingdom of God shall come in power and glory.
Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Rome, all the nations of modern Europe have gazed with greedy eyes on this historic spot of earth.
Canon Farrar, in deAcribing this land, as it spread out in beauty before the eyes of Jesus of Nazareth, says, "Pharaohs and Ptolemies, Emins and Arsacids, judges and consuls, have all contended for the mastery of this smiling tract. It had glittered with the lances of the Amalekites; it had trembled under the chariot wheels of Serostris; it had echoed the twanging bow strings of Sennacharib; it had clashed with the broadswords of Rome; it was destined to ring with the battle-cry of the Crusaders, and thunder with the artillery of England and France. Here, Europe and 'Asia, Judaism and Heathenism, Barbarism and civilization had met and struggled for supremacy."
The careful student of history cannot fail to see that the destinies of the empires of the Old World were determined by their relations to this land and its wondrous people whom the living God had chosen for portion and possession.
If he in<iuired why this land and people were so important in the history of the race, the answer is easily given. From Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Malachi, by words and acts, God made Himself known to this people. He came into this earthly realm, and became a factor in human history. Israel received from God the truth unto salvation in trust for all the nations of the earth. They are the divinely appointed trustees of this sacred deposit-to hold this in trust and preserve it pure, for all the families of man, is their high calling and providential mission to all tribes and races and nations. The history of Israel, therefore, will have relations that reach out and embrace all lands and all peoples.
To the Egyptians, God gave the fertile valley of the Nile, that, here in the midst of this ancient civilization, the !!Qns of .Jacob, His chosen, might be developed from a clan into a nation, and be taught and trained in all the wisdoms and arts of this mighty and marvelous people.
To the Assyrians he gave the lands along the Euphrates and the Tigris, t.hat here might be founded an empire that should, as His minister of justice and judgment, at the appointed time, sweep the kingdom of the ten tribes from the land of their fathers.
He, too, ordained that Assyria should be wasted by Babylon, and that Babylon should become the hammer of the whole earth, and should carry His people, Judah, captives to that far-off land, that in the horrors of the seventy years' captivity they might forsake idolatry forever. And when God has accomplished His purposes concerning Israel with Babylon, then He raised up the Medes, who broke down her broad walls, and burned her high gates with fire, and Babylon became heaps of ruins, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment and an hissing without inhabitant_ The Hebrew pi'ophets depict with the utmost minuteness and clearness the relations of the nations to Israel, their providential places in history, and how God used them to extend on the earth the knowledge of that truth given to His chosen and covenanted people. Isaiah foretells the fate of Moab, of Damascus, of Egypt, of Tyre, of Assyria, and of Babylon. Daniel in vision, and under the symbol of a beast, beholds in succession, the empires of Babylonia, the Medo- Persian, the Greek and the Roman, and even the destruction of the old Roman empire, and the ten kingdoms of modern Europe, that continue until the return of Jesus our Lord, from the heavens.
God divided to all these nations their inheritance; He fixed their boundaries; He appointed their providential mission; He determined the days of their dominion, and the day of their destruction; their highest use and chief end were what service they rendered in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Egypt furnishad the tempOl'ary home of the Israelites; the Babylonish captivity cured them of idolatry; the Persians restored them to their own land; the Grecians prepared the language to contain the Gospel of the son of David; and Rome builded the great highways whereon the apostles of our Lord carried the glad tidings to the ends of the earth.
Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the son of God, was the climax and culmination of the revelations of God to the Hebrew people; and when He died upon the Cross, the inscription over His head, testifying to His kingship, was written in the world's historic language!;l, the Hebrew, tIle Greek and the Roman. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, did whatsoever God's hand and counsel had determined before to be done. To this great central and germinal event all the ages had looked, and all nations had oontributed. The wise men from the east spake not for themselves merely, but for others, when they said: " Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His 'star in the east, and have come to worship Him." God's kingdom must come on earth through Him, who is both David's son and David's Lord.
The Risen Christ, from His father's throne in heaven, exercises now an invisible, but resistless, dominion over all nations, kingdoms and empires, and the nations still come to their inheritance according to the divine appointment, and as they serve to make known on earth the sacred truth given in trust to the Jews, they prepare the way for the coming. Lord, by proclaiming the glad tidings of that kingdom that shall never end.
God still determines the appointed times of the nations and the bounds of their habitations, with reference to their relations to His son, Jesus Christ, and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. Many nations shall yet say: "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths;' for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
So far as nations have had any history, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that history has been connected with and tributary to the extension and establishment of the Gospel of that Risen Lord among all the peoples of the earth: for that Gospel must be preached to all nations, as God's witness, before the Kingdom of Heaven can come in power and glory on this earth.
The movements of men and nations through eighteen Christian centuries have been guided by the divine eye, and controlled by the divine hand. 'fhe dismemberment of the old Roman empire, the rise of the kingdoms of modern l£urope, the growth of the Papacy, the career 'of Mohammed, the wars of the Crusaders, the darkness of the Middle Ages, the 'revival of learning, the persecutions of the Church by Rome-Pagan and Papal-the invention of printing, the translations of the Scriptures, the reformation of the sixteenth century, the exile of Christians for conscience sake, the use of the mariner's compass, and the opening up of new and unknown lands, were not less directed by the Almighty God of heaven, than Israel's march from Egypt to Canaan, and the times and bounds of the nations of the Old World.
Nowhere is the overruling providence of God more clearly seen than in this our land, and in the history of the people of these United States. Israel's God and our father's God divided to us this rich inheritance; and He has appointed our time and fixed our bounds, that we might not only seek the Lord ourselves, but should give His -Gospel, committed in trust to our custody, to all the nations. Morde- ~ai's question to Queen Esther comes with fearful emphasis to the rulers and people of this republic: "If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whe'ther thou art come to the king- ·dom for such a time as this?"
Our forefathers brought with them to this new world that fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom, that liberty of conscience to worship God that could not be enjoyed at home. With them came, too, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, the inspired and infallible Word of God; the family as the basis and unit of all true life in both Church and State; the sanctity of the oath unto God as the hope of a pure administration of justice in our courts; the divinely .ordained rest of the Lord's Day, not for a holiday but for a holy day -in short, they brought with them, not monarchy, nor anarchy, not .communism, nor atheism, not infidelity, nor materialism, nor papacy, but God-fearing piety and customs founded on the Word of God.
We have come to the Kingdom at such a time as this-a time when there are no longer any hermit nations, nor Chinese walls of ·exclusion; in a wider and deeper sense than ever before, every man may now say, "The world is my parish." Steamships supersede sail vessels, the engine does the work of a thousand men and horses, the :Bun paints our pictures, electricity illumines our cities and sends our words with lightning speed around the globe. All the ends of the .-earth are brought face to face in the great struggle for existence; .and all races and nations jostle each other on the broad highway .of life. Surely the Anglo-Saxon Christianity of America must have .a mission from the God of Heaven to all the races and nations of the .-earth. "The wheels of history are the chariot wheels of the Almighty, .a.nd with every revolution there is an onward movement toward the goal of His eternal purposes," to establish here on earth the Kingdom .of God in supernal splendor. .
The providential mission of this nation is to give the blessed Gos- ]>el of the Son of God to all peoples of the earth. The weary and :sin-stricken children of Adam, of every continent and island, of every tribe and tongue, in their darkness and degradation, look, with long- ing eyes to us for light and help and healing. "Come over into Mace- .donia and help us," is the despairing cry borne on every breeze and from every land beneath the skies-from China and Korea, from In- .dia and Japan, from Persia and Papal Europe, from the South Ameri- .can Republic and Mexico, from the islands of the oceans and the "'dark continent" of Livingstone and Stanley.
We hold the Gospel, not merely for ourselves but in trust for a
THE CONGO MISSIONS
lost world. We have the men and the money, the missionaries and the agencies, methods of transit and transportation, in more than abundance, to give the Gospel in ten years, as God's witness, to every nation under heaven. The supreme duty of this nation is to realize her sublime providential mission, and bear the blessed light of the Gospel to all the dark places of the earth, to the habitations of men now filled with cruelty. There is no second C~lumbus to be born~ noi' any new continent to be discovered. This is the "last days," and this "the ends of the earth," the light that shines across the' Pacific from San Francisco and Portland reaches to the very lands where first that light was kindled "Now or never," is the world to be eV2..ngelized by us.
THE CONGO :MISSIONS.
BY MISS HELEN F. CLARK, NEW YORK.
[Mr. C. J. Laffin went out to Africa llilder Bishop Taylor, but when his Congo Mission failed, he worked independently, though unofficially associated with the A. B. M. U. He sent us various notes from the Congo. He has just returned to take a medical course, then goes back to Central Africa. He has furnished Miss Clark with the facts and experiences of his three years' mission tour, which she here puts into form, under his supervision. The paper, being reliable and fresh from the Congo, cannot fail to be of special interest at the- present juncture.-J. M. S.] The question of evangelizing Central Africa is one that now en- grosses the attention of aggressive Christianity in both England and America. The best plan of work, and the character of the workers, is largely discussed among the various boards and missionary com- mittees; consequently any light that can be thrown upon these topics by missionaries who have been upon the field, and are, therefore, best qualified to give an opinion, is gratefully received.
Mr. Laffin spent his iiz-st few months in Africa in the vicinity of Vivi and Isangila, but afterwards pushed on up the Congo river 800' miles to the equator, stopping at Equatol'ville station, forming theacquaintance of various tribes along the banks of the Congo and lesser streams.
From the first he was keenly interested in the methods of work followed in the various mission stations which he visited, and carefully studied their every detail. Then followed much practical work Qn his o,*n part among the natives as he traveled throngh the country and mingled with them.
As an independent missionary, Mr. Laffin founded no station, nor reported his work to any superior, but to the great Master Himself, but wisely spent his time in examining the country and the conditions under which he must work, and in forming his own opinion as to the wisest and most effective way to prosecute that work.
The Africans he came in contact with are a peculiar people, and must· be dealt with in the utmost candor and with straightforward simplicity. With them no half-hearted work is possible; no clouded testimony in word or life will receive the 81ightest regard from them.
Nothing but sterling Christianity in word or deed will convince them that the Gospel you preach is true; but the testimony clearly borne, and the life that will bear the sharpest scrutiny, will bring a multitude of hungry hearts to God. Perhaps the work done is more satisfactory in Africa than in any other country, for the man or woman who is converted is converted in deed and in truth, and becomes at once as aggressive for the truth as the missionary himself. Mr. Laffin has vouchsafed the following interesting facts under the heads of "What has been done in Africa;" "What is being done," and" What can be done," which we give, as nearly as possible, in his own words.
FIRST-WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
There are, at the present time, four societies prosecuting active work in Central Africa: the American Baptists, the English Baptists. the Swedish Society, and the Congo Balolo Society, who have a combined working force of about 80 missionaries in all, occupying 20 mission stations. Of these stations 13 are situated on the lower Congo and Cataract region, below Stanley Pool, and the remaining 'l are on the upper Congo and in the Balolo district. Thus far 'l churches have been organized-all among the Bakongo people-which aggregate about 1,500 communicants, with half as many more who profess conversion, but whom the missionaries are keeping on probation for a short time. Besides these regular stations, there are in this vicinity from 15 to 20 out-stations and preaching-posts, all manned by able native evangelists. It is but thirteen years since the first missionaries penetrated the Congo districts, and but ten of these have been spent in actually publishing the Gospel, for the first three were spent by the little band of sturdy English Christians in fighting fevers, and in trying to conciliate the hostile natives. Since that time, one tribe only has been, to a large extent, evangelized-that is to say, the Gospel has been preached the length of the land upon which this numerous and powerful tribe of Bakongo people live. The difficulties experienced by these indomitable pioneers seem almost beyond belief. During those first three perilous years the missionaries were driven from place to place and were not able to settle anywhere. They found it difficult to establish any communication with the natives~ since the black men regarded them with the utmost suspicion and distrust, and gave them almost no opportunity to acquire the native language. In the course of time, seeing that the strange whites were neither slave traders nor state officials, the suspicion of the natives finally gave way to confidence, and their would-be friends were allowed to found their station in peace, and to begin the publication of those good tidings which afterwards brought peace to so many troubled souls among them.
The greatest difficulty in reaching the interior has ever been in getting above the falls in the great river, about 100 miles above its mouth. To navigate the stream at this point is impossible. Therefore, all stores and baggage for the interior must be conveyed a distance ·of 250 miles around in sixty-pound packages, which the lithe and .agile natives bear upon their heads. The steamboats for the upper .congo were taken apart and packed in this manner, and rebuilded upon the upper side.
There are thirty-one steamers now running upon the upper Congo, three of which are missionary boats, the others belonging either to the Government or to the traders. Two more mission steamers are now in process of construction for the lower Congo, and one for the upper.
Stations have been established among three other tribes, but as yet only one convert has crowned their labors. Here the difficulty <>f acquiring the language hinders the missionaries. There is no written language, and the tongue must be acquired slowly and unsatisfactorily by mingling with the people as often as they will permit, and there is no missionary upon the field to-day who has mastered it sufficiently to talk intelligently, without having frequent recourse to an interpreter: In these distant stations on the upper river, isolated from @ne another, it has required a long time to gain the confidence of the natives, but the past few years have sufficed at last to convince these distrustful people that the white man really came to them from an unselfish motive, and he has now won their hearts, so that to-day these perse:vering workers have a firm footing in the three tribes, and are ready to branch out into large work as soon as their numbers are re-inforced by the arrival of new missionaries.
WHAT IS BEING DONE.
As to what is being done, perhaps the most successful of all the ~fforts put forth, is that of the native evangelists. This, of course, brings us back to the Bakongo people along the Lower Congo.
Of the members of these churches, a very large percentage-considerably more than half-are persevering, energetic, aggressive Christian workers-such workers as put to shame the feeble and childish efforts of many Christians in our own land.
To them, black man or white man, State official, of however high degree, or slave, of ever so mean a degradation, is either a "son of God" or a "son of the Devil." They know but two classes, and if you are not avowedly of the first, they immediately pronounce you in the second, and proceed to give you the Gospel on the spot. They fear no man, soldier or government-official, trader or traveler, brother African' or slave, and one of the first questions asked, upon formingone's acquaintance, will be, "Kanzi, ngeye mUJana' nzambi?" (are you a son of God?) If the -answer is in the negative, they very frequently respond, "B08i mUJana' mbungi /" (Then you are a child of the Devil.) After which they present the Gospel to you with all the eloquence and clearness of which their incomparable language is capable.
These workers are continually organizing themselves into bands of twenty or thirty, and with neither scrip nor staves, they go from village to village, preaching the Gospel, and often remaining away for weeks at a time.
The missionaries freely acknowledge that one native is worth threeor four white men as an evangelist. They speak with marvellous oratorical effect; indeed, they are said to be born orators. "A sermon that I heard from one of them," says Mr. Laffin, "waf> as fi,ne as ever I heard in either Europe or America, not only in point of delivery, but in its clearness of reasoning, and in its profound perception of spiritual truth."
These bands of workers go out invariably at their own expense. Besides these unpaid volunteers there are some 25 native evangelists who go individually to out-posts and preaching-stations, and who are nearly all self-supporting or are maintained by the native churches. The natives believe the Gospel at the mouths of their own people far more readily than they do from the missionary himself; consequently their work is of vastly more value in the general evangelization of a tribe than is that of the white man.
But the simplicity of the native evangelist is, as a rule, altogether spoiled by transportation to America or England.. A taste of European life robs him of his unconsciousness of self, and, thereafter, he looks down upon his kindred and will no longer associate with them, but must live as we live, and wants more luxuries than any missionary would allow himself. These people frequently travel half a day's journey, bringing their food with them, in order to attend divine service.
The loyalty of the native Christian to God's Word is marvellous. While the people are perfectly obedient to the Supreme Being, they will bear no dictation from us whatever. If we insist upon their conforming their lives to any precept or principle which we may lay down, they immediately begin to reason the matter with us. If therule be a scriptural one, they insist upon our finding the text, when we must read it to them and translate it into their own language. But if the scripture bears out our words, that is an end of all controversy; thereafter, it becomes a law to them, or as they style it in their own beautiful native tongue, "The Lord hath said it, and we must obey." On this account we are obliged to discriminate accurately in our teaching against what is purely a matter of custom with us, since they will learn nothing from us save that which is scriptural. But when they are told not to lie, or cheat in business, or to steal, seeing it in Scripture, they immediately desist.
As an illustration of this, I will give you· an incident in my own experience. Traveling through strange villages one day, I saw a woman by the roadside with a pawpaw beside her. I asked what she would sell it for, and she named a price; I bade the boy who was with me take it away for our noon-day meal. "No, no," she cried, "the pawpaw will not be ripe enough until to-morrow; go on down the road, sir, and you will find plenty more that are ripe enough to eat now." I then learned that she was a Christian. She had heard the Gospel from a native evangelist who had ollce come to her village to preach, and she had received the truth, and, although untaught in the principles of Christian living, yet by the Holy Spirit's help, had instinctively perceived the right.
When the surveyors for the Congo railroad, which is now being built, were laying out the road through a certain tract, one of them approached the chief of the neighboring tribe, and, as is customary, offered him a glass of rum. The chief thanked him for the courtesy, but declined the rum with these words: "That is what destroys the bodies alld souls of my people. As a Christian I cannot take it."
I come now to our last proposition:.
WHAT CAN BE DONE }N CENTRAL AFRICA.
The whole of the Congo Free State is now open to mIssIonaries. This district contains about 1,680,000 square miles of country, all of which is accessible through the Congo and ,its tributaries. This immense system of rivers affords at least, according to explorations up to date, 10,000 miles of navigable waterway above Stanley Pool. This district contains from fifteen to twenty different tribes, speaking as many different languages, and numbering in the aggregate, as near as may be estimated, from thirty to eighty millions of souls. The best known of these tribes, the Balolo, is calculated to number ten millions of itself. Many parts of the interior are said to be particularly healthy and free from malaria and fevers. Dr. Summers, in speaking of Luluaburg, calls it a very healthy place, and states that at night the thermometer will sometimes fall to the freezing point.
There is not known to be a single town in the interior, or Central Africa, that will refuse to receive a missionary, if once satisfied that he is a missionary. To them the yoke of a foreign government is so galling that the very sight of the men in its employ, as a rule, arouses all their enmity.
The Congo Free State obliges all vessels to fly its flag, and wherever the missionary goes he is marked as a State man, and only undeniable proof will suffice to convince them that the missionary is lIot an enemy in disguise. To them, words prove nothing, and deeds purporting to flow from an unselfish motive are an unsolvable .enigma; hence, it is only the" heroes," who can persevere without the slightest show of fear or alarm, and endure the suspicion and the consequent tribulations until their identity is established. This some- times takes a long time. In the case of the first missionaries on the lower Congo it required three years, and it has required almost as long a time for the faithful pioneers on the upper river to gain an .entrance and a footing.
In Africa, the women missionaries are the happier. Nothing is feared from them, and they are allowed to go in and out at their pleasure without molestation. Their presence in a party has more than once spared valuable lives to the Congo work. At one time a small party, including two ladies, sailed up an unexplored river, and at night-time they attempted to land and camp for the night. The natives immediately assembled, and ordered them off. They expostu- lated in vain, insisting that they were not foes, but missionaries de- siring to be their friends, but they refused to believe them, and they were forced to take refuge on a sand-bar for the night. In the morn- ing their men came out, and examining their boat carefully, and find- ing no arms or weapons such as the State men carried, finally permitted them to land and make friends with them, but averred that it was only the presence of the ladies that had kept them from killing them immediately on their approach.
At one time, in company with two blacks from a village where I had been working, I rowed up another river a distance of probably .eigM or ten miles, when, coming within sight of a strange village, We were surprised to hear a hasty alarm sounded, and instantly a multitude of the brown-skinned fellows rushed to the banks of the creek, armed with bows and arrows. Then, with a peculiar beating of drums, a message was telegraphed down the creek to the adjoining village, and from there the alarm was sounded on to the next, and the next, till at last the hoarse din died away to a faint sound, and finally hushed to our ears altogether, while up and down the river-bank were gathered the wild people eager to wreak their vengeance on our defenceless heads.
I surely thought it was all over with me, and the blacks by my side had settled themselves stoically to meet their fate, when far off came the hurried tang-tang-tang of a message swiftly sent back. The word had gone even to the village I had left, and instantly came the response: "Let him alone! He is a missionary!" Then the assembled blacks apologized, and treated us with the utmost cordiality and friendliness, saying: "We have no complaint againt the ambassadors of God." Weare always called by them "ambassadors of God," and native Christians are called" witnesses of Jesus Christ." The mIssIonaries in Africa, as a rule, count the work of onEl' woman worth that of twelve men, since they can go anywhere, even among the fiercest tribes. Their motives are never qnestioned, and they are invariably listened to with the greatest respect. Miss Silvey went about among the Bayansi tribe with perfect freedom, althongh they are by far the most formidable of all the tribes yet known. They are also the most inveterate of the cannibals, since they buy slave- children and slaughter them for the markets, as we do cattle. Miss Silvey spoke to them only through interpreters, since their speech. has not yet been reduced to language. Miss de Hailes and Mra. McKittrick work quite as freely among the Balolo people.
These inland tribes are, as a rule, a fine, powerful people. They are not Negroes but Bantus, and are of a choclate brown color, with thin, well-curved lips and fine features. They are wonderfully energetic, pushing and business-like, and, if converted, will make princely evangelists, since they fear nothing, and will make long journeys from home, remaining away many mouths at a time. While they are suspicious of the white men, they have no hatred for them unless they have done them an injury. Government representatives they count their mortal enemies, but the missionaries, when they are once known to be such, are invariably welcomed.
The missionary's first step is to gain the confidence of the people,. and then it is easy to win their affections, and his opportunity to preach the Gospel is unlimited. When they believe in you they believe your gospel, and are quickly won to God and to abide by His. Word.
At first they will give you two motives for not believing yC!u: 1st, The improbability of people doing anything from a purely unselfish motive. 2d, The impossibility of it. Therefore, they are not willing in the beginning to believe that Jesus could possibly have loved and died for them. But the life of a missionary among them, self-sacrificing and exhibiting unfeigned love for their souls, becomes at last incontrovertible proof of the truth of the Gospel, and they accept it gladly and fully.
But one· great question troubles them, that has troubled many Christians before, "If it is all true and Christ's unselfish love begets a, like love in your souls, why is it that you never came to us before, why do not more come now?" Christian reader, can you answer it ?'
One of these men said to me one day, "White man, my heart is hungry for something, and I don't know what it is." After he was converted I said to him, "Well, have you found out now what it was that your heart was hungering for?" "Yes," he answered, quickly; " It was hungry for salvation !"
, My advice to every missionary coming here, would be, not to try to educate the people, not even to make the civilization of these tribes
THE RO~IANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT
their initiatory effort, but to make their one effort, first and last and all the time, to PREACH THE GOSPEL !
Any child or adult will refuse to come to school after the novelty wears off unless paid for it, but when converted, they Clamor at once to be taught to read, that they may search the Scriptures for themselves.
It is most unwise to attempt to Europeanize them. It is far better to leave them Africans still, since the Word teaches them all that is required for purity and wholesomeness of life and morals, and customs are only galling and useless to a people so differently situated from us.
It would require, probably from twenty to thirty missionaries per tribe to equip Central Africa; after which, the work of the native evangelist becomes the main factor in the gospelizingof this darkened land.
The Jesuits, backed by the government of the Congo Free State, are coming into this region like a flood, from the west, and the Mo- hammedans are coming in almost equal numbers, from the east. Hence, whatever is done for the spreading of the Gospel here must be done quickly.
THE ROMANCE OF GOEDVERWACHT. BY REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINITZ, NAZARETH, PA. Goedverwacht is a Moravian mission station among the Hottentots in South Africa, almost a huudred miles due north from Cape Town. The Moravians began missionary operations, both in Guinea and in the Cape Colony, in 1737, but this particular station was not founded until 1858. Like many tales of fiction, so, too, the veritable romance of Goedverwacht is founded upon a most peculiar and very complicated testament, which became intricately involved with the history of the mission, and upon which for a time its very existence depended. In 1810, a certain wealthy Dutch farmer, by the name of Buergers, purchased a beautiful, well-watered, fertile valley, of some 900 acres, in the Piquet mouutains, and, by means of his Hottentot slaves, transformed it into a prosperous little colony, which now bears the name of Goedverwacht. Here Mr. Buergers lived most contentedly uutil the year 1838, when the emancipation of all slaves should take place. To his great displeasure he noticed that his slaves had become filled with spiritual desires, and, as soon as they became free, would forsake him and move to a mission station. In order to prevent this, Mr. Buergers chose six of his slaves whom he valued most highly, and told them, that if they would remain with him and care for him up to his death, he would will them his entire estate. He drew up his will accordingly, decreeing that these six slaves should hold the estate in common, but that it could not be sold until the last of the six slaves died, and then it must be sold and the proceeds divided equally among the living children of these six slaves.
This will was considered an insult to his white neighbors and relatives, but it was drawn up so skillfully, that all attempts to upset it proved utterly futile.
Thus, in 1843, six poor, despised Hottentot men and women, having faitlfully fulfilled all the conditions of the will, suddenly became wealthy real-estate owners. The property did not fall into unworthy hands. These six gathered to- gether their friends and relatives, and soon had a colony of over 500 souls, and they at once _proceeded to take measures to have their spiritual wants sup- plied. For this purpose, they applied to the Moravians for missionaries.
The Moravians in their work among these peoples, have always found it best to gather their converts into little villages around the mission-houses, which, for this purpose must, of course, stand upon ground owned by the Church. Owing to the peculiar conditions of the will, they could purchase no land there, and so had to serve these Hottentots as best they could from a neighboring station. However, a flourishing congregation of Christian con- verts was gradually gathered. – In the meantime, the six owners began to die off. It became apparent that the time when the estate must be sold, was fast approaching. If the Moravian Church could not purchase the estate, the flourishing mission-work would be destroyed. The surrounding white farmers could scarcely await the time when tJtey could avenge the imagined insult of making Hottentots equal landowners with themselves. They openly boasted of the sums they would pay, and de- clared they would resell the land to the highest bidders. The Mora-vians, with their scanty means, could not compete with the fat purses of these hostile farmers. The future looked very dark. The survivors of the six would gladly have secured the possession to the Church, but the courts had decided that, under the will they were powerless.
In this extremity, the good brethren put in motion the mightiest force of which the Kingdom of God knows. They and their converts prayed-prayed unceasingly, prayed in Africa and prayed at home, prayed constantly-for the roofs over their heads, and the ground under their feet seemed to totter and tremble. It was an invisible power, but it was silently at work.
In the meantime, the courts had decided that, according to the letter of the will, only the actually living children of the original six, and not their grandchildren, would be thp heirs of the estate. Further, that unless all the heirs were of age the estate must be sold at auction to the highest bidder.
Further, that even if all were of age, if there was a single one who refused to agree upon a price, it would again have to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. In either of those two cases the estate would be lost to the Moravians, and their faithfulla bor of years scattered to the winds, and the scene of their prayers, and tears and triumphs for Christ become the abode and property of godless men. On the other hand, the courts had decided that, if all the heirs were of age, and if all were unanimously agreed, then they could sell the estate at private sale for any price they chose, no matter how low, and to whomsoever they chose.
:::'inally the fate -of the entire mission depended upon the life of one old womaa, the last survivor of the original six slaves. At length, on December 28, 1J) j, old Christine, who for thirty-eight years had lived the life of a true Chri~tian, died in her ninety-third year.
At once the hostile-minded neighbors began to tempt the poor Hottentot heirs with fancy prices. What would be the fate of the mission? After thorough investigation, the court decided that there were thirteen heirs ac- cording to the letter of Buerger's will, and as one of these thirteen died after Christine, the three children of that one were also heirs. By the merciful overruling of Providence the life of old Christine had been preserved just long enough to permit the youngest of these heirs to become of age. The power of prayer began to be evident. But were these all willing to sell their valuable estate to the 'Moravian mission, and not only to sell it to the mission, but also
HIDDEN SPRINGS-oR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE
for a price the church could afford to pay-which must be one far below its value? Upon this now hung the fate of this flourishing mission. The count- less prayers of the believers had not been in vain. The numberless difficulties and delicate negotiations cannot be detailed here. Suffice it, therefore, to say that a prayer-hearing God so ruled the hearts of these fifteen heirs that they voluntarily adopted the unanimous resolution to sell their estate to the Mora- vian Church for the moderate sum of £750 on Jme 30, 1889. Each heir re- ·ceived £51 and 15 shillings, of which nearly everyone at once returned £1 as a gift towards a church building, and some more. However, there is still a need for much more before all the expenses of the transactions can be paid ;;'nd th!" necessary church buildings erected. But the Lord, who won the hearts of the self-sacrificing heirs, will also move the hearts of Christians to give of their' means to upbuild this noble mission.
What is the" moral" of this tale? A prayer-hearing God can overrule the testament of one who cared not for the Church, can guide the decisions of {)ourts, can defeat the machinations of malicious men, can guide the hearts of poor Hottentots.
And further, when Christians at home are earnestly, and non-Christians are sneeringly, seeking for permanent results of missionary work among debased people, here is again a shining example of the precepts of Christ entering into and controling the practical life of converts. Imagine fifteen Ameri- {)an nominal Christians of all ages and conditions, not rich, but really poor, deliberately refusing a fancy price for real estate, when it could be honestly gained, and being satisfied with a very moderate figure, out of love for the Lord Jesus and pure loyalty to the Church. It would have been so easy to have simply put the estate up at auction and taken the highest bid, and no one could have acpused them of the slightest crime, as the world goes. But higher, more Christlike principles controlled these poor South Africans. See how Christ has transformed these poor, degraded, down-trodden, despised Hottentots! God bless their self-sacrifice to them and their children!
HIDDEN SPRINGS-OR HOW MISSIONARIES ARE MADE.
BY MARIA A. WEST, SARATOGA, N. Y.
In the deep recesses of the forest and mountain solitudes, far away from human sight and pen, God prepares the hidden fountains which send their pure, perennial streams down to.the valleys below, causing life and beauty, verdure and fruitfulness, to spring up on every side, and filling the rivers which flow onward to the great sea, to carry its blessings to the distant places of the earth, till the desert shall revive and blossom as the garden of the Lord.
And, as in the economy of nature, so, also, in the Kingdom of Grace, the most powerful and· permeating forces are often those that are secretly, silently working, nnheralded and often unknown, but set in motion by the Divine Hand which keeps the heavenly record, and marks the onward flow and fruitage, through time and through eternity!
A remarkable instance of this hidden spring of far-reaching influence, l}as recently been brought to light, and is especially worthy of mention at this time, when its power is strikingly illustrated.
In the year 1837, Mrs. Francis G. Clewe-born in the year 1801-and living at Genville, a village four miles from Schenectady, listened to the preaching of a missionary sermon, at Hudson, which, as she said, "Converted her tQ missions, as much as she was ever converted to Christ!" Her first query was, "What can I do? " The result was the formation by her, of a Woman's For-
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
eign Missionary Aid Society. Perhaps the first one of the kind in these United States of America.
At the first meeting of this new-born society. she pledged one dollar, as her free-will offering to the cause. To obtain that sum, she walked four miles to Schenectady, secured some vests to make at one of the shops, and then walked home again with her work. And, at every meeting of the society, she never failed to bring an offering for herself and for each of her children, while they were still ~mall. One of her daughters died, but the gift in her name was still continued, with the words, "And this is for Ann." Her yearly offering sometimes amounted to $20,00, and was sent, now to the American Board, and then to another foreign missionary society, in which she was also interested. For this sacred purpose, Mrs. Clewesometimes reared "missionary chickens,'
sometimes planted a piece of land, or set apart a portion of her butter and eggs. And, during all those fifty or more years of her consecrated life, this "mother in Israel" continued to hold the missionary meeting of the society she had originated in her own home; even if none were present but herself and one of her children, a chapter was read, a hymn sung, and prayer offered-and this, not monthly, but every week! One of the original members of that little society is still living and testified that when Mrs. Clewe was too ill to rise from her bed, the same order was observed; and that she would "turn herself," and offer a fervent prayer for missions and missionaries throughout the world, and pleading that some of her descendants might thus be used of God.
September 9, 1889, she was called from the earth to the heavenly Kingdom, being 88 years of age, and, like a shock of corn, fully ripe. Her last earthly home was with a daughter in Schenectady. And now, a grandson of this noble Christian woman, of whom the world never heard, is appointed as a missionary of the American Board for West Central Africa; soon to depart with his young wife and little child for that "dark continent." To some in that city, where this young physician, in the opening of his career with all of earth's allurements before him, had every prospect of success, this decision seems the height of folly-like the throwing away of a life and all that makes life worth the living. They have not seen the silent working of the sacred leaven in divine preparation for this culmination. They little think that it will have its fullest manifestation and justificationon theday when' 'all the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and when Christ shall reign over all, for ever and ever."
The consecration of any life, in fellowship with Christ, receives added dignity and grandeur from partnership with Him, "who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, that He might bring many sons unto glory," and "see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied," When they shall come from the east and the west, the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God-"A great multitude, whom no man could number-of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues." The glorious harvest-time of souls, when the "new song" shall arise: "Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood-to HIM be glory and dominion, for ever and ever, Amen !"
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
M. Alfred Casalis, speaking of the Basutos, to whom he, like his father be- fore him, has now become a missionary, says: -''How can we fail to experience a closesense of unity with this little nation, so desirous of maintaining its unity and independence? It is undoubtedly, the influence of the Gospel which has alone protected it from partition and complete annexation to the invading neighbors who covet its land so greedily. .Are we sure that God may not have a great destiny in store for this pettv people? Whence shall come the missionaries capable of resisting the terrible climate of the Zambesi, ifnot from Lessuto-from that school oftheology modestly founded at Morija, and which, perhaps, in the near future, will give us a chosen band ()f native pastors? On the day when these 200,000 Basutos shall be Christians, we shall have at our disposal an incalculable force, a veritable Christian army, ready to carry afar into the interior of this Africa, still buried undera darkness so deep-the blazing light of the Gospel."
Pastor Schneller, of Bethlehem, writing, in the Allgemeine Mission3chrijt, says: "Talking lately with a priest of the Greek Church, I quoted something from the Acts. He retorted, 'You Protestants always make so much of the Old Testament and its Acts of the Apostles. Only quote some books of the New Testament, I know all of them.' The same priest, wishing to convince the people of the unsoundness of our doctrine of Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer, proved his point as follows: 'These poor Protestants! Why, they are for be- mg saved through Jesus Christ alone. DQYou believe that Jesus is able to save anybody whatever, without the help of saints? If He could, why must Judas Iscariot perish by the very side of the Lord? Why did He not save him? Why must the impenitent thief be lost by the very side of the much-praised atoning Cross? Why? Because they had not the saints! And the poor Protestants have not a single saint to help them, they have only Jesus and cqnsequently they are bound for hell.' "
Before our Anglican Church, to strengthen hersel'f against Rome, becomes too earnest for union with the Greek Church, she had better counsel her to re- vise her teachings of her clergy a little. Profe~sor Mahaffy says, that he can understand proposals to unite with the Roman Catholics, on one hand, or with the Protestant Dissenters, on the other, but, after traveling in the East, proposals to unite with the Greek Church, are, to him, an inexplicable marvel, uuleas, of course, as some parts of the Greek Church are said to have shown a disposition to do, she maintaining her own distinctiveness, welcomes the vivifying stream ()f Protestant warmth and enlightenment. At least she is not pre-committcd by an assumption of infallibility.
-"When, often, on the spot where Jesus did his greatest works, one sees how the Lord, together with his .Gospel, has become a stranger here; how, in the home of Christ, faith in Christ has been distorted into an unrecognizable caricature, it must come into the consciousness of every evangelical Christian, that, if anywhere in the world, our evangelical church has a great and momentous task to accomplish in the home of the Gospel, however great the difnculties may be."
"Almost every one in these lands," says Herr Schmeller, 'lknows only himself and his own interests, without regard to others, were they even members of his own family. His cold indifference represses the development of men that might have a benevolent interest in promoting the common weal, whether in village, city, or province of their native country. Where here are friends of the people, friends of the fatherland? The people have not even the idea of such a thing. The inhabitants of one quarter of a village or town only too often regard those of another quarter not only as utterly foreign to them but as hostile, which gives rise to perpetual feuds. To bring about unity or to carry through any unanimous purpose, is no more possible in a city or village than in the country at large. Yet, it is in just this state of disintegration that the Turkish government finds a strengthening of its own security, and it favors this accordingly."
-January 1,1888, the following were the missionary statistics of the Nor- wegian Miasionary Society.
Ordained missionaries, 41, (1 being a physician); 6 unmarried ladies, 1 layman, 16,555 church members, 87,500 school children, 44,000 adherents, 16 native pastors, 900 native teachers and evangelists, $81,050 contributions from Norway, and $12,000 from America. The fields of labor are Natal and Madagascar. The Schruder Mission in Natal, has 2 missionaries, 1 single lady, 352 bapt,ized members, 130 communicants, and 124 school children. Income, $1,505. The Santal mission h India, has 3 or4 Norwegian missionaries, and a revenue of $8,918. It now works independently of the Gossner Mission.
The sum totAll of Norwegian missionary contributions for 1887 (omitting the $12,000 from America), amounted to $91,841.76. The population being 1,913,000, this average, about 20 cents ahead.
-Herr Nather, of the Leipsic Society in South India, speaking of some famous- of bathing festivals on the banks the southern Ganges, the Kaweri remarks; "They avail for the cleansing away of ceremonial sins; for other than cere- monial sins the heathen do not really know."
-M. Teisseres and M. Allegret, missionaries of the Paris Society, after a stay of about a year with the American Presbyterian missionaries, on the Gaboon, were. in April, about leaving for the Congo, under a convoy furnished by the French government.
'-The Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift for June, 1890, in a detailed article treating of the present condition of Protestant missions in South Africa, says, that the Cape Colony is growing poorer. Much of it is incapable of sustaining ths growing population. Moreover, the almost entil'e withdrawal of imperial control has given the colonists opportunity to repel the laws restricting the manufacture and sale of brandy. This is one of the many ways in which England has done immense harm by being too eager to throw responsibility off her shoulders before the tid. She staggers "Under the too vast orb of her fate." The latest statistics of the Cape Colony, (1888-9), give: Christians of European descent,. belonging to established congregations, 267,817. Colored Christians, 234,329. Chureh sittings, 287,825. Average church attendance,172,428. Sunday scholars, 57,678. Nearlya quarter of thecolored people are baptized. Twenty different Protestant denominations are laboring in the country with 547 clergymen. The different churches receive from the colonial government, £190,432, yearly. Of this, about $150,000 may be counted for proper missionary work. The Boer (pronounced Boor) party, however, now in the ascendant, is unfriendly to these grants. Cape Town has 41,704 inhabitants, of whom 8,000 or 10,000 are Mohammedan Malays. Among the half-breeds of the west of Cape Colony, the Rhenish, the Berlin SOCieties, and the Unitas Fratrum are the principal laborers. The Berlin Society has 11 stations, 13 ordained European missionaries; 87 native helpers, 11,138 baptized adherents,' 3,918 communicants, 2,378 scholars. Contributions, $9,300. The Berlin Society (in the west), has 7 stations, 8 missionaries, 74 helpers, 4,335 baptized adherents, 1,843 communicants, 614 scholars. Contributions, $4,688. The Moravians have (in the west) 11 stations, 20 brethren, 2 native ordained missionaries, 239 helpers, 9,145 adherents, 2,218 communicants, 2,154 scholars.
The Brethren's Church, on July 9, 1887, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its first arrival in South Africa, 'Its work is still important and fruitful, but suffers under a growing difficulty. Not laboring in colonial villages, but in distinct stations, it finds its people sinking more and more into poverty, because of the scarcity of arable land. Their people are therefore widely scattered, many being in the diamond fields, whither they are followed by colored 'Diaspora laborers.' "
The Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Colony, which has 175,555 baptized white members, is coming, under Scottish and English stimulus, to show a much more animated missionary zeal. "Stellenbosch, with its theological institute, is very especially a focus of missionary zeal."
Among the others, the Wesleyan Missionary Society is most prominent. It has (in the west): 9 stations, 6 missionariE'S, 96 native helpers, 1,476 communicants, 1,467 scholars The South African Wesleyans are quite indepepdent of the British Conference. In the whole Colony, they have 71 stations, 156 churches and chapels, 55 clergymen, 1,198 native helpers, 16,840 communicants, 88,000 baptized adherents, 218 schOQls, 310 teachers, 13,803 scholars.
"But no other British society laboring in South Africa compares with the Scottish societies as respects capability, sobriety and diligence, combined with true evangelical piety."
The Free Church of Scotland haa9 stations, 10 ordained Europeans, 2 ordained natives,23 native helpers, 4,214 commnnicants, 12,113 baptized adherents, 3,510 scholars. Their institute of Lovedale (largely assisted by the colonial government) is a great force for education and indus· trial training.
The United Presbyterians have 11 stations, 12 missionaries, 60 native helpers, 2,307 communicants, 8,080 baptized adherents, 43 schools, 1,735 scholars.
-Of the 500,000 or more of Protestant Christians in India, 7,000 live in the city of Madras ~tself. South India is still the great seat of Christianity, its in- habitants being not Aryans but Dravidians, and, therefore, being related to Hinduism somewhat as the Turks are to Mohammedanism, which they have accepted, but which is not native to them, as it is to the Arabs.
-Missionary Lazarus says of the moral condition of the people of Madras an admirable example of south India at large), that, like Greece in Paul's day, the things that they do "are a shame even to speak of." But whereas Paul's admonitions show plainly that his converts had but imperfectly extricated themselves from "the moral chaos surrounding them," "it may be confidently said," declares Mr. Lazarus, himself a native of India, "that the native church of Madras has raised itself above the abominations of the encompassing hea- thenism. Devil-dances, drinking-bouts, quarrels and tumults, unchastity, prac- tised under the cloak of religion, and similar abominations, are absolutely foreign to the native Christians. Such exhibitions of godlessness as are common among the lower classes in Europe, are unknown to them. The Hindus have an immeasurable vocabulary of vituperation, but I do not remember to have ever met with a native Christian that made any use of it. No native Christian has been sent to the gallows, or convicted of crime before the courts." Mr. Laza- rus, it should be remembered, is here speaking only for the Protestants; cases of crime, among the native Christiahs, it would seem, are mostly of Roman Catholics, though among these also, it is rare. The Mohammedans in M&dras, though vastly less disposed to crime than the Hindus, make but a poor show compared with the Christians generally, and seem to sink out of sight, com- pared with the Protestants.
This great superiority of the Protestants, is, however, rather an inference of my own than a distinct statement of Mr. Lazarus, and may bean exaggeration.
"The native Christians, moreover, are as good as wholly emancipated from faith in astrology and palmistry, from child-marriages and compulsory widowhood, from neglect of the education of their children, from the foolish marriage-system involved in caste, from polyandry and polygamy, from perjury and prostitution, and other violations of the moral law, which are so general among the Hindus, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin. Even if no wider results had been reached, this alone would have been a great achievement, which must be ascribed to the steadfastness and faithfulness with which the missionary pioneers have administered their difficult trust.
"The more positive virtues are less satisfactorily developed, yet, I may venture to say, that for family virtue the Christians have established a solid reputation. Hypocrisy, however, suspiciousness, mutual detraction and backbiting, hardness toward the poor, prodigality, fickleness, pride of birth, are faults only too common among them. . . . If 'cleanliness is next to godliness,' our people have not yet discovered it, or at Ip,ast have not yet applied their discovery. In this respect they are inferior to the Hindus of the same social level. As to the English standard of moral obligation, there is much of it to which their apprehensions are not yet at all awakened." It should be remembered, however, that the English are by nature, a much higher development of mankind. "As respects the higher, active virtues, which our Lord pronounces blessed, poverty of spirit, sorrow for sin, forbearance, hunger and thirst after righteousness, compassion, purity of heart, willingness to suffer for righteousness sake, the whole moral scale, the highest that humanity can attain, of these we find in the native Christians only the first feeble shoots. There are, of course, honorable exceptions, which, in reference to deve~opment of character and Christian virtues, may easily stand comparison with European Christians, hut they are not man:r." "But when we consider the infection which lies in the air of India, together with the dullness and inertness of the people, and all the various forces, which join to work against the development of the moral sense, and also consider that the mass of the native Christians comefrom the most deeply sunken social stratum of the Hindus, there is certainly occasion for surprise and thankfulness, that the moral standing of the native church is so much higher than that of the Hindus. Thus, the last are higher than the first, as compared with the most of those who stand outside of Christianity."
"Docility, tractability, respectfulness, sobriety and meekness, trust in Providence, and careful discharge of religious duties, are, indeed, traits of our converts; but they are not peculiar to them. They were traits of the Indian character long before Christianity came hither. And it seems surprising that so eminent and learned a man as Bishop Caldwell should have described them as distinguishing traits of our Christians. They are genuine Indian traits, just as courage and capacity, sincerity and manliness, vehemence and violence and energy are genuine European, or, if you will, specific Anglo-Saxon qualities."
Mr. Lazarus thinks, that until pains are taken to secure a higher grade of catechists, we must make up our minds to a comparatively low grade of native Christians. He tells his fellow-missionaries some plain truths: "If the missionaries are to raise the native standard, they must take pains to learn how to speak elegant and accurate Tamil, a thing which, I am sorry to say, receives less attention here in Madras than in old days. Clergymen must not be content with their Sunday services. They ought to establish Bible classes for youth and grown people, as well as for children, and make these entertaining, so that they can mspire native Christians with a taste for an intelligent and thorough study of the Holy Scriptures, and in particular, of the life and work of our Lord. By these, and like means, there will !3pring up a clearer, purer and more thorough conception of what Christianity is, and this will thus exercise a growing influence upon the moral condition of the native church."
• Mr. Lazarus severely criticises the mission1l.ry schools of south India: "These schools are often Christian in name, but heathen in effect. Their main element is made up of heathen boys, and there is only a little fraction of Christian children. Most of the teachers are heathen, the rector is often a Brahmin. The director of the mission prefers heathen to Christian teachers; the former are 'wiser towards their generation than the children of light.' They are more creeping and busy; this is taken by the easily-believing director as humility and zeal; Oll the other hand, he cannot bear with the faults of 'the own children of the family.' What makes matters worse is, that the instruction in br Christianity is committed to the 'Bible teacher,' who is often a poor native Christian of the catechist class, who is nothing accounted of either his pupils or his fellow-teachers. Thus, the whole is under strong heathen mfluence; the Christian element is as a drop in the bucket. Think what it means to be eight hours daily, year out and year in, in contact with a hundred heathen lads and teachers, whose mouths overflow with abominations, and whose hearts are leavened with heathen rottenness. Such a contact cannot otherwise than strikingly infect and corrupt the young Christian's soul before he comes under the missionary's immediate influence. I speak from sad experi- ence.."
Mr. Lazarus is utterly opposed to the appointment of heathen teachers in Christian schools, in any case whatever. He also uses some plain speaking toward the English missionaries in South India: "The fault lies with the native Christians as well as with the whites, that there is so little mutual affection between them. Yet, the latter, as belonging to an older and more developed church, which is renowned not less for piety and philanthropy than for zeal and learning might be expected to be first to lay plans of love toward their weaker brethren. . . Impelled by the Saviour's self-sacrificing love, a messenger of God ought to be able to lay aside his pride of race, to overcome his prejudices, to condescend to the native level, and by free and familiar intercourse, to endeavor to lift the native Christians up to l1imself, and thus, with his Lord, to strive to develop the native church into a glorious church, not havin~ spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.' Only by the exercise of love can the mISSIOnary lead the church on and up. He ought, at least, to show himself as often in the homes oofort he native Christian s as at the dinner-tables of his c~untrymen. It is bettoc !"-:m to exercise his influence
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
in modest native civility, than by a presence at games of ball or on croquetgrounds. It is pleasanterto see him befriending the poor, than doing homage. to the rich. In brief, all his works, all his walk, ought to be such as to call back into living remembrance the days when the Lord of heaven lived and walked in intimate converse with His own disciples."
Mr. Lazarus bears emphatic testimony to the inestimable good wrought by missionary labors in South India. But he desires, speaking the truth in love, to lay home to the hearts of some of the missionaries, considerations which they have great occasion to weigh, if they would see established in India a stable and richly developed native church.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Tke New World of Central Africa; With a History of the First Christian Mission on the Congo. By Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. London: Hodder & Stoughton. New York and Chicago: Fleming H. Revell. $2.00. Central Africa, by means of God's wonder·working Providence, is in- deed, become a "new world," to us. And the great Powers of Europe have hastened to improve their opportunity to extend "the spheres of their ir:tluence" and establish their "protectorates" over its vast areas. This is well. This is a part of God's wise and comprehensive plan for Africa's enlightenment and regeneration. This secures the rapid introduction of civilizing agencies, the development of its immense resources, the protection of life, the extinction of slavery and civil and religious liberty to all its teeming millions. The Church of Christ, also, is astir to enter this new world with the missionary, the Bible and the school, and conquer it for One greater than Cresar. And this book is just what the exigency calls for. It tells just what we want to know. It shows, briefly and intelligently, what has been done and attempted for the evangel- ization of Africa. It is well written-written with a purpose; written by one whose whole heart, as well as that of her husband and family, is given to the missionary cause. It is pro- fusely illustrated. It gives us vivid pictures of the "dark continent." It gives facts of momen· 100us interest. Take this: "The Congo and its tributaries have been already explored to a length of 11,000 miles, giving 22,000 miles of river bank, peopled with native villages. In his journey across Africa, Stanley gazed on the representatives of tribes numbering at least 50,000,000, and to none of them has the message of mercy ever been proclaimed." And this: "From the last mission station on the Upper Congo, a journey of 1,000 miles would be needed to reach the near- .est stations on the east-those on the great lakes. Seventeen hundred miles to the northeast, lies the Red Sea, and there is no mission station between. Two thousand, two hundred miles due north is the Mediterranean, and no mission station between; while 2,500 miles to the northwest are the .stations of the North African nUssion, but no single centre of light between I Seven hundred miles to the west is the Cameroons Station, but the whole intervening country is unvisited; and in the south-west, the American Mission at Bihe, is fully a thousand miles distant. "-J. M. S.
Daybreak in North Africa. By Mrs. F. T. Haig. London: Partridge & Company. This is An account of missionary work in Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli. Our readers have heard from time to time from this region, from one of our correspondents, Rev.E. F. Baldwin, of Tangiers, Morocco. The mission here is but a few years old, and is but little known and feebly supported. 'The North African Mission had no child's play before it when it sought to carry the 'Gospel to Mohammedans in that part of the world where Mohammedanism had most completely triumphed over Christianity, and had, for more than a thousand years, held undisputed sway over Berbers and Arabs alike. The success of the Gospel even against such fearful odds is proof that Islam is not invincible. Here, as elsewhere, the testimony is that Mohammedan power is passing away. But eight years have passed since the effort began, and what hath God wrought I Mrs. Haig says, "At the present time there are 51 missionaries occupying 12 dilferent statious, in connection with the North Americar: Mission. beside a nnmber of in- .dependent workers [Mr. Baldwin, for one, who has been quite successful], several of whom be· gan work with the help of the Society, but afterwards preferred working on separate lines." The book is modestly and pleasantly written and well illustrated. It encourages hope and labor for Africa.-J. M. S.
A Friend of Missions in India. The journal of Rev. Henry S. Lunn. London: James Clarke & Company. Our readers will remember that a flerce and prolonged controversy has agitated the missionaries and friends of the London Missionary Society (Wesleyan,) for a year or two past,growing out of serions criticisms,which appeared in the Methodist Times (London), respecting the administration of the Society and the habits of living on the part of it. missionaries in India, etc. The anthor of this work, and the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, editor of the Methodist Times, were chiefly responsible for stirring up this severe controversy. In the last number of the REVIEW we gave the report of the Special Committee appointed by the Society to investigate :this whole matter.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
The chief interest which attaches to this book is the fact that It consists of "The Cyclo- • styled Indian Journal," in the form of twelve letters, which Mr. Lunn wrote while in India as a. missionary, "thirty copies of which he sent to thirty circles of friends in England." These letters of course, laid the foundation for the discussion and warfare which followed. And when, after his return to London, he wrote a series of anonymous articles to the Methodist Times on "A New Missionary Policy," which the editor strongly 'endorsed, the writer's identity with the letters sent home from India was seen by all who had read the Journal. Bitterness of feeling, at home and abroad, and angry discussion was the result. The missionaries demanded a thorough investigation and persisted in their demand, and, at length got it, and got a vindication. Hap- pily the war Is now ended, and, apparently, all parties are snbstantially satisfied. The lesson from It all isobvions, and should be laid to heart-Young missionaries are too apt to criticise those of age and long experience.-J. M. S.
A ThousandMiles on an Elephant. By Holt S. Hallett. Dedicated by the author to the Ameri- can missionaries in Burmah and Siam. Blackwood & Sons: Edinburgh and London. This book is the record of a tour of exploration by Messrs. Colquhoun and Hallett for a railway from Bur- mah to China, through the Shan States of Northern Siam. Dr. J. N. Cushing, whom the author designated as the most learned Shan scholar, accompanied the exploring party as interpreter. They met a cordial welcome and much helpful information from Dr. McGilvary and associates of the Preshyterian Mission to the Laos of Chiang-Mal. They there enjoyed a refreshing rest after their tedious jungle-travel from Burmah. Thence onward through unexplored regions of unwasted resources of commercial wealth, and opening an easy access to the hoards of superstitious spirit-worshippers of the Shan tribes in northern Slam, and leading to the unharvested fields of commerce in China, and giving to the disciples of Christ an open door to the uncounted myriads of her inhabitants when these explorations shall result in a living railway from India to, the middle kingdom.
The book is Wllitten in an attractive style, presenting a clear picture of the dwellings, character and customs of the people, the forests of teak timber and other wood that shelter herds of elephants and buffaloes, poniesand cattle, tigers and monkeys, chickens and peacocks,with rich fiE-Ids of rice, sugar, tobacco and tropical fruits. which include pineapple, pumelo, plantin, orange, lemon, mango, mangosteen, durean, custard-apple, and in great variety and rich fiavor the fruits generally found in the tropics. Extensive plains of fertile soil still remain uncultivated for want of facilities for the transportation of the productions. It has been intimated that the Burmah·Siam-China railway, for the extension of British trade and the civilization of" south-eastern Asia, may be classed with the Slez canal and tbe American Pacific railway as one of the grand works of tbe century. We think it in harmony with the call for a thousand missionaries for China, and the Christ-command to preach the Gospel to every creature.-W. D.
Personal Life of David Lit,lngstone. By William G. Biackie, D.D. London: John Murray. This is one of the hest worth reading of all missionary hooks. I am now reading it a second time aloud to my family. For fullness of detail, intense interest, graphic portraiture of character and freedom from exaggeration, it stands very high. And I would recommend all readers· ol the REVIEW to get it.-A. T. P.
Life of John Hunt: Missionary to Fiji. By G. Stringer Rowe, London. This Is one of the most kindling books I ever read. Mr. Hunt was a pioneer, and hurned .out his life's fiame in his holy zeal for God. He died October 4, 1848, at the age of 36, but he had lived a century, judged by the standard of effective work. This hook is full of the rarest inspirlition. It is one of the finest evidences of Christianity it has fallen to my lot to examine. He, who has any doubt of the Divine Power unto salvation, should read this book; and yet. valuahle, as it is, we have seldom seen a copy of It in any missionary library.-A. T. P..
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
A leaflet lies before me setting forth with personal and peculiar interest· the Students' Foreign MissionaryUnion because of its origin. of Great Britain, not yet one year old. Some facts concerning this organi- "It began in one Howard Taylor's zation will be of interest to the read- study, on his return from Northfield, ers of this REVIEW, because of the Massachusetts, and in the hearts and tremendous significance of a new prayers of a group of missionary men student movement abroad, and vol- at the hospital, shortly before he sailed unteers will regard the movement for China." A London correspondent goes on to say "Two large and influential meetings were lished volume of letters edited by her held in connection with its foundation: one at sister, under the title "In the Far' Spurgeon's Tabernacle, when he (Spurgeon) East." Miss Wilder's name is familiar delivered a grand missionary sermon on Mark to readers of THE REVIEW by reason xvi: 15, to as many London students as could of her occasional letters to that peribe gotten together (and the great building was odical, and to young women in our full to doors and roof), and one at Exeter colleges and connected with Y. W. C. Hall." A. She is known through her mes- sage to them, entitled, "Shall I Go?" The Union numbers 165 members, which has already reached its Fifth all men. London has 74 members, edition. Miss Wilder's pamphlet, "An Cambridge 6, Oxford 5, Edinburgh 32, Appeal from India," should be read Aberdeen 3, Bangor 1. Besides these with very great care in order to be there are some scattered members and understood rightly, and not' read merely, but pondered on-not because some fu. Ireland, making the total of of any obscurity on the writer's part, but rather by reason of the meaning 165 men. of statements-which meaning does The membership consists of all not lie readily on the surface.
students who accept and sign the fol- "The fact that our Saviour is using us in the lowing declaration: salvation of souls, and for hastening the day of His coming-that is certainly the reason "It is my earnest hope, if God per- for our staying in India. So we who are here mit, to engage in Foreign mission would say to you in America and Canada, this work." is the strongest appeal we can send you for coming to India. The presence of the moving The objects of the Union shall be: cloud was sufficient reason for the Israelites 1. To band together students who to follow. Does not the presence of God's feel called to Foreign missionary work. Spirit, as now felt in India, convince us that 2. To urge the claims of the Foreign He is calling a large portion of our volunteer Mission field upon Christian students band to work for Him here I" everywhere, and to advocate the formation of missionary associations in In refutation of the popular notion connection with the various universi- that Africa presents the greatest need ties and colleges where they do not al- for missionary workers, the writer ready exist. says, "Do you say there are large 3. For the furtherance of its objects tracts in Africa unoccupied? True. the Union shall use the following Yet, relative to its population, India agencies: Meetings of members, meet- must have some 119 more missionaries ings in universities and colleges, de- to equal the missionary force of putations, correspondence and indi- Africa." vidual effort, and the pUblication of an occasional paper. Miss Wilder has corresponded with On the ground of respect for and ap- missionary agencies of the Protestant preciation of the work of the authors denominations in India, and in brief of these appeals from different coun- extracts which she gives from letters tties, the appeals, though without any from various districts, a very adequate pretence to literary merit, should be. and true picture of India's needs is read with undivided attention, and in a receptive and prayerful spirit. presented~ Mr. Forman's views on Foreign missions are familiar to us through his From the Central Provinces one addresses delivered in our colleges, in 1886-87. Miss Geraldine Guinness, writes: author of "An Appeal from China," "I am persuaded in my own mind noticed in the last number of THE RE- VIEW, has already shown herenthusi- that the most eventful period in the asm for, and consideration to her history of missionary effort in this work in China, as disclosed in the pub- country is rapi~ly approa?hing. Th.e Lord is preparmg for a time of gI01:1- ous in-gathering. These souls will need the care of his children." Arcot Mission of the Reformed the answer to every difficulty, hin- drance or disappointment." Church: "Never, in my somewhat long ex- Unoccupied fields: "The Nizam's dominions are now perience, were the claims of India ap- open; population 10,000,000. Only a parently so urgent as now. A restless, beginning has been made in the Conaalmost feverish spirit of inquiry per- rese portion on the west. Much of vades the community." India is but nominally occupied. The region about Jhonsi and Bhopal is Madura Mission, American Board: said to have 10,000,000 unprovided for, "To-day, one brother has four sta- except for the mission at Jhonsi, and tions, another three, and two others a native worker of the American two each. How can they do justice . Board at Lalitpun. to the work? They are all driven to "In closing: To you who have finthe verge of desperation and ill-health. ished your course of study, and waver We thank God that we have recently not at the question of ultimate comreceived into our mission-circle one of ing, but of coming this year, I would· that large band of consecrated stu- say, Satan is taking advantage of our dents. How we long, and pray, and delays. Our aboriginal tribes, numwrite, and implore, that more be bered at some 50,000,000, now very acsent !" cessible, are said to be getting rapidly absorbed into Hinduism. In large Marathi Mission, American Pres- cities, where for years there has been much undermining of old faiths, inbyterian Board: fidelity, materialism, and theosophy "An earnest request has been sent are being pressed u1>0n the attention of the people, and there is danger of for sixteen new workers. In Kolha- seven unclean spirits coming in place pur State alone there are 1,097 vil- of one. lages; it would take a missionary a "We need you now. We pray God whole year to preach once around to to send you to us, filled with the Holy the village population of that single Spirit. It is useless to preach Christ State." to minds steeped in ignorance and idolatry, in any other way than in the From the Akola Field, Mrs. Fuller power of the Spirit."
writes: "The greater need is the quality of the men. We need anointed menmen who know Christ, who find in God Africa.-Progress. Letters from gether for the good of the country. the missionaries in Uganda say that There is still considerable bad feeling King Mwanga has been almost wholly and jealousy, but there seems to be no stripped of the despotic power which prospect now of the open rupture that he and his fathers for centuries have recently threatened. The parties have exercised. He is now of little import- taken an oath, signed by their leaderll. ance in his own country-white influ- agreeing that whatever their disputes ences are in ascendancy. The King may be they will not spill one another's can get nothing that he does not ask blood, but will depend upon sober for from his chiefs, who are under the arguments and arbitration to settle all control of the Protestant or Catholic their quarrels. religion. This is a great change for the young King, who awhile ago killed The Mohammedan party seems to a bishop, imprisoned white mission- be entirely defeated. Thus a remarkaries, and slaughtered native Chris- able change has been wrought in tians by the score. No heathen are Uganda, where a while ago the allowed to hold any office in the new Mohammedans ruled everything, and Government. Many of them are per- by their influence upon Mwanga and mitted to remain in the land, but there his successor, Karema, drove the is not a chief among them. The great whites out of the country and threatoffices, of which there are about six ened to retard the progress of white very important ones, have been enterprises and of all civilization in equally divided between the two Central Africa for half a century to Christian parties. come. Now the Mohammedans have been driven from power in a series of There has been great danger of bloody battles, their influence is enserious clashing between the Protestant tirely gone and the Arabs are fugitives, and Catholic sects. By the advice of Uganda is a British J?rotectorate, and both Catholic and Protestant mission- the white missionarIes, recently peraries they have, however, decided to secuted, are the power in the country. bury their differences and work to- Never before was the prospect so bright for the rapid extension of European of the most valuable concessions' influence and commercial enterprise granted her by Germany. The history in the African lake region.-N. Y. of English rule in India shows how Sun. adroit she is in turning the office of protector to her own advantage. [Uganda is the field where Bishop Hanning- The situation of Zanzibar was not ton was murdered by Mwanga, and where the likely to escape the attention of the- slave-stealers. Their interest lay in lamented Mackay spent his brief but heroic making the road from the villages which they depopulated to the coast as life. Stanley speaks in warmest terms of this short as possible. On the journey, however short it may be, many of mission, declaring it "a most remarkable suc- their victims died from fatigue and exposure to the sun. Zanzibar was cess." Of Mackay, in whose house at the near, and it was also convenient. There the dealers came from Europe sonthern end of Victoria Nyanza, he took who had commissions from the Turks and Egyptians to supply them with grateful rest, "sipping real coffee and eating slaves. There, too, vessels might be chartered to carry away the living home-made bread and butter for the first time booty to other ports. So Zanzibar early became a mart of commerce in the in thirty months," he says: "He has no awful traffic. The efforts of Germany and England have largely suppressed time' to fret and groan and weep, and God this trade in Zanzibar, and under the protectorate of England we may be knows, if ever man had reason to think of sure it will not be revived. The mar- kets will now be better occupied by 'graves and worms and oblivion,' and to be the trade in ivory.-African News.
dolefuland lonely and sad, Mackay had, when, Chi n a. – A great evan~elizing after murdering his Bishop, and burning his agency. – The Chinese, especially pupils, and strangling his converts, and those in the southern part of the em- clubbing to death his dark friends, Mwanga pire, are going out from China in all turned his eye of death on him. And yet the directions. They are not only going little man met it with calm, blue eyes that to many adjacent islands and those never winked. To see one man of this kind, more remote in the Pacific, but they working day after day for twelve years, are settling upon all the coasts of bravely, and without a syllable of complaint south-eastern Asia, pushing up an the or a moan, among the 'wilderness,' and to rivers, and in every place holding hear him lead his little flock to show forth tenaciously the ground on which they God's loving kindness in the morning and His settle. They are a great colonizing faithfnlness every night, is worth going a people, and, if only the Gospel is long journey for the moral courage and con- given to them, they will assist greatly tentment that one derives from it."-J. M. S.] in the redemption of the lands to Zanzibar.-The importance of which they go from sin and darkness. Zanzibar, as a key to Central Africa, was recognized early in the era of ex- They seem to be destined, in the good ploration. What New York is to the United States, what Liverpool is to providence of God, to become a pow- Great Britain, Zanzibar is to Equatorial Africa. In his first expedition erful evangelizing agency, and a great Stanley made it the base of operations, and he went there again, in 1879, to blessing to humanity. . organize his second expedition. It lies on the east coast of Africa, seven Bishop Thoburn, writing from Sindegrees south of the equator. Its chief markets and the seat of the govern- gapore, says of these Chinese colonment are on the island of Zanzibar, but the adjacent country on the main- ists: land is also under the Sultan's domin- "'fhe more I see of our mission work ion, and is also called Zanzibar. It is at this point that the caravans from the in this part of the world, the more do interior strike the coast, and from I bQcome confirmed in the conviction there the explorers, Burton, Grant, which I received the first time I Stanley, Cameron and others, hired visited Rangoon and saw the Chinese their carriers and set out on their ex- there; mingling as they were with the peditions, and to that place they re- Burmese, that God would use them as turned, and came once more into com- a great evangelizing agency all up and munication with civilization. It was Stanley's first business, in organizing the Congo Free State, to establish a chain of stations extending from Zanzibar to Nyangwe and the lakes. Under the new arrangement with Germany and England, the latter country has acquired the right of "protecting" the Sultan of Zanzibar, which is one down these coasts. They are not only converts are mostly gathered from the most energetic people to be found in this region, but, strangely enough, the poor, he argued that it was better they seem more accessible to the Gos- pel than any others; and those of them so. When a house is to be lifted, jackwho are born in Malaysia will be able to speak the vernacular of the coun- screws are put in at the bottom. If try in which they live, and this, added to their knowledge of English and the roof was grappled it would be only Chinese, will qualify them for usefulness on the widest jossible scale. the top that would be lifted. Strange are the ways 0 Providence!" -Spirit of Missions. Hawaii.-Rev. W. A. Essery, in a recent address in London, said: England.-There is much in the "The gospel has won the victory English papers of the increasing flow over heathenism in the Sandwich Islands. It was a peculiar joy to me of converts from the ritualistic section when I found myself in Honolulu. On a certain sunny Easter Sunday of the Anglican Church to the Church morning I wended my way to the old stone church, a large square sanctuof Rome. The activity of the priests of ary, built of blocks of reef coral that had been cut out of the sea for. this Rome is very great, and their boastful- purpose by the early converts. I ness is greater. But the Pall Mall Ga- stood in the pulpit and spoke to an zette concedes that the tide sets rapidly eager audience of the purpose of {lne way. In a recent issue it says: Christ's gospel, the many triumphs thereof I had seen in all parts of the " The conversion to Catholicity is recorded world, and exhorted them to cleave of Rev. Dr. Townsend, superior of a mission to the Lord. Where are the idols the house of Oxford University at Calcutta, and people worshipped a hundred years this so soon after a similar step taken by Dr. ago? More of them are preserved in Rivington, principal of a similar institution at the museum cases of the London Mis- Bombay. Itis also given upon good authority sionary Society than I could hear of that Drs. Tatlock, Beasley and Clarke, sta- in the islands to-day. All around me tioned respectively at Christ Church, Clap- were proofs of how the gospel had ham, Helmsley, Yorkshire and St. James', raised and civilized the community. Liverpool, will shortly enter the Catholic The entire money cost of converting Church. Since the beginning of the Lenten these islanders, which was done by season no less than 100 Anglicans have em- American missionaries, was less than braced Catholicity, and this in one parish the cost of one first-class British ironalone. At Brighton, a centre of ritualistic clad. Christ's gospel has been wafted activity, the number of converts is reckoned to New Zealand. Last Good Friday at 500 persons." twelve months I landed at Gisborne, in Poverty Bay; it was about three India.-Bishop Thoburn's picture o'clock in the afternoon. Going up over the same beach where Captain of the poverty of the people of Asia, Cook had landed a hundred years before I heard the music of a churchespecially of India, where families going bell; turning in its direction I came upon a wooden, weather-boarded live on five cents a day, and thousands church; stepping inside I saw a con- gregation of Maoris, the natives of of growing children go to bed hungry New Zealand. The clergyman had just started the service, men and every night, drew forth a chorus of women had their Bibles and prayer- books, and all were taking part in the groans and sighs as well as generous worship of Him whose sorrows are remembered on Good Friday. It was gifts. He mentioned, as a sample: a a simple sight but it gladdened the heart to find Christ's name honored in man who was paid $2.50 per month, the ends of the world. And so from these illustrations we learn that the whose wife, by hard work, added 28 missionary spirit is once more a power of life in the earth, and that the work cents per month to it. This had to of Christianizing the nations has actually commenced, and is making be divided among a family of five, real progress."
none of whom could have enough even Japan.-The new Constitutional of their own coarse food (rice mixed Government assumes control of affairs with weeds). "Five hundred millions of the people of this world," said the Bishop, "will go to bed hungry to- night. The tramps of this country would be 'swell' in any part of India." Speaking of the fact that missionary in November. The Parliament will a considerable interval, iinds the <Jontain many liberal-minded men. changes that have recently occurred There will be manifest in it four dis- so marked and suggestive that he is tinct parties: the Conservatives, the induced to indicate some of the most Conservative-Radicals, the Moderates, prominent. He writes as follows: and the Radicals. All of them, " On approaching the city from the west, in former years, there were however, have more or less ad- scarcely any buildings except the Russian convent and the Monteiiore vanced notions, and have no desire to Almshouses to intercept the ·…iew of the city walls; now the whole plain is go back exclusively to the old order covered with private residences and colonies of Jews, whilst near to the ()f things. The Moderate party is Jaffa Gate· are large numbers of shops called Kaishinto. It took its rise in already tenanted and numerous others in course of construction. This ex- 1882, and has been very active in the tension beyond the walls has become necessary on account of the rapid agitation for and adoption of the increase of the population. I am in- formed by Mr. Moore, British consul present Constitution. It is very pro- here, that within the last three or four years about 20,000 Jews have come to gressive in its aims, and favors "gov- Jerusalem for permanent residence in and around the city, and that of the €rnment by party, treaty-revision and entire population of about 70,000 it is estimated that nearly 40,000 are Jews. the reform of almost all departments of He also stated that the influx of Jews into other parts of Palestine during the government." The Conservative- recent years has been entirely without precedent. The principal streets,which Radicals came into recognition in 1888 but a few years since were almost impassable in rainy weather, have and have adopted as their motto, been paved with stone, a new wide street has been opened up through a "United in great things-differing in densely-populated quarter, and five hotels are now open for the reception small." They are, as yet,few in num- 6f the annually-increasing number of visitors and traders from all lands. bers, and not very influential. The " Public works of importance have Jihu-to is the real Radical Party. been executed, and others are in pro- gress. The road from Jaffa to Jerusa- I lem, at one time all but impracticable, has been reconstructed by an eminent -Appeal from Baptist missionaries. engineer-over it our own and other "At a conference of the missionaries carriage services are in full operation ()f the American Baptist Missionary -a good road has been formed from Union, held at Yokohama, June 11, Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and another 1890, it was resolved, in view of the from Jerusalem to Hebron; several great needs of this iield and the en- others are rapidly approaching comlarged opportunities for work in this pletion-from Jaffa to Nablous (She- <Jountry, to beseech God, and, under chern), 40 miles; Jerusalem to Jericho, Him, the missionary union and the 20 miles; Caipha to Nazareth, 20 Baptists of the north, for a speedy re- miles, and Nazareth to Tiberias, 18 inforcement of twenty-three men. miles. Jerusalem has hitherto been almost wholly dependent for its water "That there has been a crisis in Ja- supply upon its large underground pan is admitted by all, and this crisis cisterns for the reception of rain water, has not passed away in the late revul- which, after a summer's drouth, often sion of feeling against foreigners, al- proves insufficient in quantity and though, we believe, it has changed in almost unfit for use. The Governsome of its phases. The situation is ment is now about to introduce an more urgent and pressing than ever. unfailing supply from a spring of pure There remain as many souls to be water beyond Solomon's Pools-about reached; the work has been increased nine miles distant. A large flour mill, in difficulty, and our time for its ac- established by the Messrs. Bergheim, complishmentis diminishing.
[This appeal is urged by many "very startling and solemn facts."-Ens.] Palestine. – Anything indicative of an awakening and a revival of energy in the Holy Land, especially at Jerusalem, must prove of especial interest to every Christian who is watching "the signs of the times."
A correspondent of the London Christian World, now on a visit to the Holy City for the seventh time, after having proved both a great benefit try to commerce, are without preceand a financial success, others, with dent in modern times. Viewed in large steam power, are in progress of connection with the numerous and erection; soap factories have com- active efforts being made by various· menced operations, and at Jaffa steam religious agencies throughout the saw-mills have been established. conntry for the evangelization of the Colonies of Jews following agricul- people, and the conversion of the' tural pursuits, stated to be successful, Jews, these facts must encourage are located, one about five miles from every lover of God's ancient people to Jaffa, and a larger one at Limerin, hope that His set time to favor Zion is near Cresarea, originated and assisted fast approaching."-Exchange. by the Rothschild family. The beforenamed rmid to Jericho is being con- The Silver Law's effect on misstructed by the Government, who sions.-Strange as it may seem, the have taken up all the land available in Silver law seriously affects Christian the best parts of the valley for the de- missions. Weallknowwhatithasdone velopment of an extensive scheme of for the silver barons. It has made a agricultural operations, which, with fine market for their ore, and lined such a temperature, so fertile a soil, their pockets, not with their own coin, and well watered by the copious but with good, merchantable money. stream from Elisha's fountain, should stamped with the seal of the United promise abundant and remunerative States Treasury. It has raised the crops. Grapes, bananas, sugar-cane, price of silver, and therefore accomcotton, and various fruits and vege- plished the purpose for which it was tables have for some time past been forced through the two Houses at cultivated here with much success. Washington, It has enriched mine- The increased amount of rain which owners; has it blessed anybody else? has fallen the last few years in Pales- We will wait to see. Meantime, it is tine has had a most marked effect in having a disastrous effect on the mislarger and more abundant harvests sionary societies which make largeexthan hitherto known. penditures in foreign lands. By rais- lUg the price of silver it has so ad- "The most important results, how- vanced the rates of exchange for all ever, of all may be anticipated from those countries which have a silver the railway about to be constructed standard that a large percentage of between Jaffa and Jerusalem. As every dollar transmitted to the various rumors in former years have pre- fields is lost in discount. vailed which have never been realized, I called upon Mr. Frutiger, the banker, The dealings of the societies, it to whom the concession has been should be explained, with Mexico, granted by the Turkish Government, Brazil and other American countries, and was assured by him that the with India, China, Japan, Syria, Pernecessary capital had been subscribed, sia, and other Asiatic fields, are all and that the works would commence conducted on the silver basis. In makimmediately npon the close of the ing appropriations for the year, the sorainy season in the early spring, and cieties make them on the basis of an pushed on urgently to completion. exchange rate, averaged on the rates of The influence such a line of communi- the previous years. -While this rate difcation between Jerusalem and the' fers in different countries, it has avercoast may be expected to exert is in- aged less, the treasurer of the Presbycalculable, for as a natural sequence terian Board, Mr. Dulles, informs us, the harbor, which is now inaccessible "than 80 cents to the dollar for all to Mediterranean steamers, must be countries. " deepened and enlarged, and the rocky barrier which prevents ingress re- Now for the effect of the Silver Bill moved. on exchange. Mr. Dulles writes us: " It is contemplated to snbsequently "I find, by reference to my records, that on extend this line via Gaza and EI-Arish over the Short desert to Port Said and April 9th, our bills sold in Chiua at 77~ (this Ismalia on the Maritime Canal, thus connecting with the railway system is discount on the Mexican silver dollar); on of Lower Egypt for Cairo, Alexandria April 21st it had risen to 79~; May 28 to 82li; and Suez, and to the Fayoum and Upper Egypt. Such important action July 15th to 86jf; July 28th to 88.03, which is for the improvement of the Holy City and the development of the resources thelast date at which I had advices of actual of Palestine, and opening up the coun- sales; or a rise of 15 per cent. This will serve as an example. In fact, our estimates were made below 77, the first price above given; but assuming the variation as above, it means that when we contract to pay a native helper or incur any other form of expense for a given number of Mexican silver dollars, we must now, in order to meet our accounts, add 15 per the Church's history has recorded' a cent. to our disbursements of American gold. similar advance, although that ad- This is not a simple illustration, but the state- vance is relativelv small in the light ment of an actual fact." of the unexampled growth of popu- lation, even in non-Christian lands. The rise in India is somewhat less. The ten missionary organizations of On April 15th £500 yielded 6,832 the United Kingdom have become 65; rupees; on May 14th, 6,357: on July the 27 of all evangelical Christendom 21st, 6,140. The last· advices, says have increased to 185. The sum of Mr. Dulles, show that the rate is still half a million sterling raised to evanrising. Withal, the market is so gelize the world has grown fivefold uncertain, that 60-day bills cannot be -to two millions and a half. The sold at all. The rates in Mexico are living converts, then under 400,000, higher, even, than in China and India, now form native Christian communivarying from 15 to 20 per cent. ties three millions strong. The mis- sionary band, ordained and unor- What is true of the Presbyterian dained, was then 760 strong, and Board is also true of the American not 12 of these were women or Board and other societies. A note natives; now it is a host of nearly to us from one of the 'secretaries of 40,000, of whom 2,000 are women, bethe American Board says its expen- sides missionaries' wives: 33,000 are ditures are affected, "not only in India natives, and of these, 3,000 are orand China, but in Japan and Mexico dained. Besides all that Carey and as well-fields in which fully one-half his imitators had done to translate the of our total expenditures are made." Word of God, we see now in other 41 The Western Christian Advocate says languages the Old Testament, and in a "special appropriation of about other 64 languages the New Testa- $20,000 to meet the increased cost of ment. Our empire has grown till we exchange" in India will have to be have become responsible for a fourth made by the Methodist Missionary So- of mankind. The English speaking ciety at its meeting in November. race were only 22 millions when Carey The cost of the Silver Bill to the So- made his survey; we have increased ciety will be, the Advocate estimates, at the rate of nearly a million a year, fully $40,000. till in and outside of Christendom we are 113 millions. Our wealth has The outlook is a serious one for all swollen even more rapidly. Our the societies. A large increase in the mother-tongue, the Queen's English, incomes of the societies will be neces- has become the Christianizing and saryto pay the same bills as informer civilizing speech of earth, carrying to years. Says Mr. Dulles, speaking for the thousand millions who are still barthe Presbyterian Board: barians in the Hellenic sense, even as Greek influenced the hundred millions "It is early to calculate the etl'ects of a of the Roman Empire, that Divine revelation which, to all who believe it, change of 15 to 20 per cent. upon appropri- is the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. Save in the ations of $900,000. Without entering into the very heart of Asia-Mohammedan, Buddhist and Russian-The Spirit of merits of the silver-question or venturing God has opened every door, as our fathers prayed.-Free Church (Scotprophecies as to the results, it certainly is un- land) Annual Report.
likely that silver will fall much below its pres· Farewell Meeting in Boston under ent value, and those who are considering the the direction of the secretaries of the American Board, in view of the early obligations of the Church to foreign work departure of missionaries for the several fields under the care of the must bear in mind the unavoidable demand Board. The missionaries were intro- duced by Dr. Clark and Dr. Smith, acupon them this year, and indeed in subsequent cording to the fields to which they were destined, and addresses were years, on account of the special change in the made by Dr. Herrick and Mr. Bartlett, for the Western Turkey Mission; by rise of silver. " Messrs. Hill and White for the Japan Mission; by Messrs. Lay and Jeffery Upon the churches the burden must for the missions in India, and by Mr. fall. It will not do to cut down former Ransom for the Zulu Mission. When appropriations by 15 or 20 per cent.; therefore, it will be necessary for them to increase their contributions by that amount. If last year a society appropriated $500,000, it must appropriate this year, to keep up its work, $575,000 or $600,000.
What a pity the extra percentage cannot be assessed on the silver barons! -The Independent.
The Missionary Age. The Victorian has been emphatically the missionary era. Since the immediately post-apostolic days, no half century of
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
the name of Mrs. Ransom was read, Dr. sent to the field since the last annual Alden stated that she was a daughter report is now 54, a greater number of Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun, formerly than has been sent out by the of the Mission to Svria. The Rev. Board during anyone year for the past James D.Tracy, of theMadura Mission, 50 years. The number of missiontemporarily in tIns country, extended aries appointed since the last annual the right hand of welcome to Mr. Jef- meeting of the Board is 63, 22 of fery, who goes to the same mission. whom are men, representing all the The exercises occupied two hours, Congregational theological seminaries and were listened to with the closest of the country, excepting Bangor and attention and deepest interest by a Oakland. These facts, taken with the large audience. Thirty-four mission- very handsome increase in the receipts aries were named at this farewell meet- of the Board during the past year, and ing, either now on the way or soon to the good reports of work. from all go to their respective fields; going out parts of the mission field, give abunfor the first time. The total number dant occasion for thanksgiving and of new missionaries that have been good courage for the future.
III.':"'-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Madagascar. where we hope shortly to build a dwelling- house, leaving the town of Ambatondrazaka to Antsihanaka, May 1, 1890. our friend and colleague, the Rev. E. H. Strib- DEAR EDITons:-Herewith I enclose a copy ling, thus extending the mission. We are of circular on the subject of a Cottage Hos- already about 100 miles, or four days' journey, pital, which it is proposed togo on with imme- from any other missionary, and a new hospital diately here iu the heathen province of Antsi- has become an absolute necessity. We intend hanaka. You will note that this mission is to to build a suitable structure to accommodate be extended by our removing a day's journey about sixteen patients, and this comparafurther north, where we hope to have much tively small effort will cost about £250. It is blessing on the work in future years. I need our earnest desire to build it without assishardly trouble you with details, other than to tance from the society, if possible, and so we say that the Christian public at home should are making known the present position of not be allowed to run off with the generally- affairs to personal friends, and to the friends accepted idea, which is false, of the "ad- of missions in general. To the former, we vanced religious and social condition of the would suggest this as a fitting opportunity for island," referred to in a letter received yester- affording encouragement to lonely workers in day from a Christian friend at home. The a far country, which, added to the far higher fact is that Madagascar is about one-third consideration of helping on the work of God, simply evangelized, and that one-third -about we hope will prove a sufficient inducement to three-fonrths-civilized. The work of deepen- help forward this particular object. Almost ing and spreading the spiritual life is only the whole of the working expenses (except now beginning in the above one-third of the the very important items of medicines and island. The work of evangelization and estab- medical appliances) have been obtained for lishment of new missions is being carried out the last two years without any help from the in about half of the remaining two-thirds, society, our patients paying more than twowhich, like here in Antsihanaka, is heathen, thirds of the expense of board and nursing; without missionary agencies at all; and the many of our native friends, too, having conrest is in "gross darkness." tributed to this object." The above is only a very general way of looking at it as a whole, but still it will give a LETTER FROM DR. BROCKETT. good idea of how things really are here. Brooklyn, July 28, 1890. With kindest regards, DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I was very much in- JAMES G. MACKAY. terested in that part of Dr. Pierson's letter, in your August number, which treated of the [We regret that space permits only important questions of education and evan- gelization in the mission fields, and the coman extract or two from the printed parative success of the two methods, education first, and then evangelization, or evangeliztlr circular accompanying this letter.- tion first, followed by Ohristian education. EnS.] As I have been for many years studying these questions carefully, with reference to the , .. And now to come to the point of our re- missions of most evangelical denominations, I port. Our present hospital served well for a beg leave to offer a few thoughts, which Inay beginning, .but is now too small for us. Further, the directors of the L. M. S. have agreed to our removing to a more healthy spot at Imerimandroso, a day's journey to the north, be of service in the settlement of the difficult who had the privilege of hearing Rev. Dr. J. problem. E. Clongh, the Apostle to the Telugns, tell of his experience in endeavoring to carry the 1st. I find in our Lord's missionary tours in Gospel to that [,,,ople, will ever forget how Palestine that He devoted His instruction this matter presented itself to him. The mis- and preaching to .. the common people, who sion to the Telugns was founded in 1836, and heard Him gladly"-to" publicansand sinners, in 1866, thirty years later, when Mr. Clough who thronged to hear Him, and almost trode reached Ongola, there had not been a hun· upon one another to listen to the gracious dred native Telugns converted. There were words which He spake." He opened no about fifty members of the single church there, sChools, rabbinical or other, for Pharisees and but some of them were Tamils, English sol- Sadducees, practised no asceticism like the diers or sailors, or men of other nationalities, Essenes, but the burden of his discourses was and not to exceed 25 or 30 were Telugns. concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. There was one native assistant, and sChools had been maintained for instructing the chil- I cannot find that the Apostles opened any dren of Brahmins. The missionaries were ex. school to instruct or propagate the Gospel cellent men, men of deep piety and learning, which they preached. Paul tells us that it and thoroughly in earnest in their efforts to pleased God that by the foolishness of preach- win souls. But, somehow, they did not sucing mlln might believe, and that not many wise, ceed. The Brahmins were very friendly, ana not many learned were brought to the knowl- often called on them to discuss questions of edge of the truth-that" He had hidden these science, and if pressed on the subject of perthings from the wise and prudent, and revealed sonal religion, would reply that they were exthem unto babes." Throughout the Acts and amining the Christian doctrines, and were the Epistles, whether they were preaching to very favorably impressed with them, but Greeks, Romans or Barbarians, the theme desired time to consider. They did not wish was Christ, as the Saviour and Redeemer from to mingle with the lower castes, but thought sin, and no time was spent in endeavoring to they should, in time, come over to Chriscivilize or educate the people before convert- tianity. ingthem. When Mr. Clough came to Ongola, in 1866, 2d. I think it will be found in all modern they pursued the same course with him, and missions that the great snccesses have been at first deceived him; but his faithful assistachieved by following in the line of Christ's ant had preached the Gospel to the poor outexample. In almost every Asiatic mission casts (pariahs) at one of the out stations, and field there will be found two distinct classes, had sent some of the converts in one Saturday often of different origin, the one aristocratic to Mr. Clough for examination and baptism. and lordly, generally the ruling race, educated The Brahmins heard of it, and sent a message after their fashion, and looking down with to him, begging him not to disgrace himself contempt upon their ignorant inferiors. In and them by having anything to do with these India, this class are the Brahmins, proud, in- low and degraded people. The Brahmins telligent, in some respects the superioI'S in could not visit him Or hold any intercourse inteliectual culture of even the best European with him if he thus polluted himself. Mr. a,pd races. Their inferiors, who are gi-ound down Mrs. Clough devoted themselves to the study to the lowest degradation, are the men of low of the Word of God and prayer that night. caste or no caste at all. the pariahs or out- They found that they had erred in respecting casts. persons; they humbly confessed and repented of their sins, and the next day openly went to Many of our missionaries and missionary one of the large tanks in the city, baptized societies have made the mistake of trying to these converts, and preached the Gospel to convert the Brahmins first. They were so re- the poor, who had gathered by thousands to fined and cultured, so polite, and took so witness the ordinance. The Brahmins were much pleasure in discussing-religious ques- furious: they showed tHeir displeasure by tions with the missionaries, and sometimes cutting his acquaintance and reviling him confounding them with their dialectic skill, publicly, but the common people heard him that the poormissionaries indulged high hopes gladly, and received the word with joy. Bapof gathering a church whose members should tisms were constant, and in the ten years all be converied Brahmins, and through whom (1867-1877) preceding the famine, the church the whole nation should ere long Le brought at Ongola alone had received 4,394 members to Christ. It has now been about a hundred by baptism. After the famine, and Mr. (now years since missionary labor was commenced Dr.) Clough's noble and self-sacrificing efforts in India. Has anybody ever seen or heard of to relieve the sufferingcaused by it, the people a church there composed wholly of converted began to press into the kingdom of God, and Brahmins, who, as being all of. the highest to take it by violence. In 1Si'8, 8,691 were caste, did not need to break its bonds and defile baptized in six weeks-2,222 of them in one themselves by associating with Sudras or day-and during the 13 years since the ,,-ork Pariahs? Converied Brahmins there have certainly been, but never those who came in cempanies and retained their caste. Those has gone forward steadily, till on the first of was the only God to be worshipped. Now, January, IS90, there had been during the pre- contrast with this the Karen Missions in Burvious year, in the thirteen stations of that mah. Beginning in 1828 with the baptism of mission, 3,340 baptisms, and the number of a single convert brought to Christ by Dr. Judliving members at that date was 33,838. A son's efforts, it spread through Tavoy, Moullarge majority of these are people of low caste, mein, Rangoon, Bassein and Henzada within or of no caste, but of late the higher castes a dozen years, and has now extended wherehave begun to come in, and some Brahmins ever there are Karens. These people were among them. Of course, schools were neces- very poor; they were cruelly oppressed by sary after this rapid evangelization, and they their Burmese rulers; they were illiterate; have been provided liberally. There are sem- had no written language, till the misinaries for training native preachers (many of sionari.,s reduced their languages to writing; these poor people have developed remarkable they were not idolaters, and while they had abflities, both asscholars and preachers); there some:ideas of a Supreme Being they had never are high schools for girls and boys, and sta- heard of Christ, yet they came to Him at once tion-schools for instruction in the vernacular. when they did hear of Him, and in such num- In some of the stations there are caste schools bers, that for three years and more, under the for girls, in which ·the Bible is tanght, and fierce Burmese persecution, the thOllsands very soon the bonds of caste give way. The who were willing to die for Christ could not girls in these caste schools do not seem to be receive Christian baptism. They have in sixty superior in intellect or ability to their outcast years become an intelligent and powerful peosisters. There are connected with the mission ple, advancing from semi-barbarism to civilinow 47 missionaries, f!7 of them women-IS are zation, education and administrative ability, in America or Enrope. There is pressing need till the Government of British India, whose of at least 20 more missionaries. The number subjects they are, are putting them into places of native helpers is 421, of whom 204 (67 01'- of honor and trust in the place of the Burmese, .dained and 137 unordained) are preachers. whom they have found dishonest and untrust- The appropriations of the Missionary Union worthy. This wonderful change has come for all departments of the work in 1889-'90 solely by the preaching of the Gospel of ,yere $67,972, of which about one-half was for Christ, and in their case evangelization preschools. Here, out of 54 years of mission ceded education. They have had comparawork, only 24 have been productive of large tively few American missionaries (they have visible results. now 57, of whom only 20 are men). They have 560 native helpers, of whom 125 are or- Take another instance, which illustrates my dained pastors and evangelists, many of them point still more fully-the Baptist missions in the peers of our pastors in city or country, Burmah. Dr. Judson entered upon his mis- 492 churches, with a membership of 28,000, and sion to the Burmese in 1813. No abler or more an adherent population of about 175,000. Over· devoted missionaries have been connected 40,000 have died in these sixty years. They with any missions in the world than Dr. Jud- carryon Home and Foreign Missions with son and some of his associates; they were great success. Of course they have schoolslaborious, patient and persevering to a degree over 400 of them, with 11,000 pupils, all receivalmost beyond belief, yet six years elapsed ing an elementary Christian education; ten or before the baptism of the first convert. At twelve academies-some teaching English, but the close of the first Burmese war (1824-'26) all giving instruction in the Scriptures; a theothere were not more than 30 converted Bur- logical seminary, a college, and two highmese living, and now after 75 years of very grade high schools (boarding}-one of them earnest labor, with a large force of mission- with over 400 students. Their native preachers aries constantly in the field, and 63 (20 men are well educated, and their schools have reand 43 women) now at work, there are only ceived the highest praise from the Govern- 29 Burmese churches, with about 2,000 mem- ment Commissioners and inspectors for their bers (probably 4,000 or 5,000 have gone to thorough and critical scholarship. They are heaven in these 75 y£>-&rs). The reasons of growing spiritually; aboU:t 1,850 were bapthis scanty return are not far to seek. The tized the past year. Three·fourths of missionaries are not in fault; they have done their native pastors and four-fifths of the their work faithfully and well. They relied schools, including the costly high schools and to some extent on schools, in many of which college, are supported by the native churches, English was taught. The Burmese were and every church has a chapel of its own, proud, intelligent, imperious, and cruel in built by native Christians. Their contributions temper, bigoted in their Buddhism, and looked to church and benevolent purposes, taking all down with contempt on all other nations, es- their churches together, average $1.75 per peeially upon the Karen tribes, whom they member, while in the missions, where they held in a sort of peonage. They were glad of have plans of systematic beneficence, they the schools, because their children coul~ learn come up to $3.25 per member, and this where English, though they hated the English peo- $50 a year is considered a liberal salary. Here" ple, but they insisted that the Lord Buddha most certainly, education followed evangeli· missionary life does not allow of much time zation. for writing, but I am going to do better in the I might go on to speak of the Mallegassy, who certainly were evangelized before they future. In the meantime I send you an article had anything more than the most meagre education, but are now rejoicing in many good written by my husband, Rev. F. E. Hoskins. schools; of the Kohls, of Central India, Goss· ner's converts*-in this mission, also, evangel- On.him has fallen Mr. Dale's mantle, and it ization preceded education, and indeed educa· tion has not proceeded very far yet; and of is a heavy one, eombined with the study of many other missions of a like character, did space permit, but the points I want to make Arabic. We are feeling especiaJIy burdened are these: at this tillIe, as word has COme to retrench 1. That among the nations who profess and maintain the systematized false faiths- Zahleh station ($554). Buddhism, Brahmanism, Tauism, Moham- medanism – and even, in a somewhat less If we ask which of the out stations we will .degree, the doctrines of the Greek and Roman Cathoftc churches, and who have' a written close, it is like asking a man which of his chil- langnage and literature defending and ex- pounding their respective faiths,. progress in dren he can spare best. With the present evangelization will be slow by any method, and education will help very little, if at all. state of the Government, if we close we will Comparatively little impression has been made in Siam, in the Buddhist portion of not get permission to open again. It is hard China, and in Burmah, upon the Buddhists, .and general scientific education, however com- fighting to hold what we have, and no pros- plete it may have convinced the intellect, has not touched the heart. The same is pect o~ getting more. Turks and Jesuits make equally true of the educational assaults which have been made upon Islamism among the a trying combination. Three girls' schools Turks and other Mohammedan nations. That system of faith has too strong a hold upon have been closed; each one had over seventy the weakness of human nature to be readily relinquished. It does not seem that either the pupils; $40 each would run them to the end adherents of the Greek or the Roman Church have been often educated into Protestant of the year. Can yon not stir some heart to Christianity. Indeed, the results of the educative process have very often found to enure help us? Think of the large sums that were to these religions, e. g., Cardinals Manning, 'Wiseman and Newman, and many bishops raised at Northfield. and other perverts. We have church buildings that need repair; 2. It seems easily demonstrable that our Lord'S plan was to begin missionary work. we do not see how they can stand another with the poor, the lowly, the illiterate and the sinful; to present the dying, risen and glori- winter. fied Saviour to those who are conscious of t.heir You must pray that we may have patience need of such a Saviour from sin; and when the Gospel has lifted them up to Christian under discouragements, wisdom in' facing manhood and brought them to work for the salvation of others, then Christian education many vexing questions, and a great outpoursteps in, and prepares them to lead the hardened idolaters, by the force of a holy example, ing of God's Spirit. to Him who alone can save them. In my sister's absence I have the little organ L. P. BROCKETT. you sent her.* • Syria. During the last ten days I have had a guest Zahleh, Aug. 19, 1890. who formerly lived in Zahleh, so we have had DEAR DR. PIERSON:-YOu asked me to be one of your" Editorial Correspondents." My over a hundred callers, everyone has had a.
* I think the missionaries of the Society for glass of sherbet, about half have been fed; the Propagation of the Gospel, who have ab- with a little maid (Jeannette) to look after, sorbed tbis mission, overrate the conversions among the Kohls. They took over only 7,000, do you wonder that I do not write more? But and their latest report gives only 11,954 communicants. The 32,000 were only adherents. notwithstanding all, I have read the REVIEW for July and retailed its contents to my caIlers.
How we wish you could have extended your mission tour to Syria! You mustspend some time with us when you do come. Our home is near to the grand old ruins of Baalbec.
For some years I have been gathering suo perstitioI!s of these people. Very odd, and of course have their infiuence; and if sueb articles would be acceptable to you, will send one.
Mr. Hoskins is away for the day. Since Jan. 1st he has traveled more than 1,500 miles, 1,200 of these in the saddle, in all weathers and all hours of the day. Yours sincerely, Mas. F. E, HOSKINS.
Moravians not Lutherans.
Nazareth, Pa., Aug. 20, 1890. In the August number of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW (page 634), in the "Table of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Foreign Missionary Work," we find as the 27th Society (sic) the Moravian Church included among the Lutheran Mission- ary Societies, with the foot-note: .. The 110- * This little parlor organ was sent as a help in carrying on Sunday-school and prayer ser- vices. It was given by Bethany Church, Phila- delphia.~A. T. P.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
ravians have the same confession of faith as stuecke des christlichen Glaubens klar und the Lutherans." einfach ausgesprochen sind. Die Freiheit der " Gewissen unsrer Geschwister wird dadurch This is a very inaccurate and misleading in keiner Weise gebunden, insonderheit in statement. The official statement of the doc· solchen Laendern, wo die Augsburgische Kon· trine of the Brethren's or Moravian Church, fession nicht dieselbe Geltung hat, als in as determined by her General Synod, contains, Deutschland. ") among many other statements, this paragraph (freely "trausJated): "In common with all The peculiar position which the Moravian Christendom, the Moravian Church subscribes Church holds among the continental churches to the doctrines enunciated in the so-called makes it necessary for her to take some Apostles' Creed, and acknowledges further notice of the Augustana in order to retain her that in the 21 doctrinal articles of the Augs· legal standing and to carry on her work un· burg Confession the chief points of Christian trammelled. As a matter of fact the Moravian belief are clearly and simply defined. The Church technically has no "confession" of freedom of conscience of our memhers, how· her own, and binds herself to no confessioR of ever, is in no wise infiuenced by this state· any other church, while in all essential p<>ints ment, especially not in those countries where she agrees with the creeds of all Protestant the Augsburg COnfession is not of SO much Churches. She gladly co·operates with any importance, as in Germany." Results of the Protestant Church that will work with her. General Eiynod of 1889 : However, Moravians, as such, are in no sense of the word Lutherans, and Moravian mission (" Die Bruederkirche bekennt slch daher mit work has nothing whatsoever to do with the der gesammten Christenheit zu den im apo· Lutheran Church, although the Moravians stolischen Glaubensbekenntniose enthaltenen gladly and thankfully acknowledge that they Lehrsaetzen, und erkennt weiter, dasz in den have frequently received aid both from Ger· 21 Lehrartikeln der Augsburgischen Konfes· man and American Lutherans sion als dem ersten und allgemeinsten Be· kenntnis der evangelischen Kirche, die Haupt- PAUL DE ScHWEINITZ.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Kingdom of God in the Land of planet on which changes of most sig- its Origin. nificance in the tife of races of men, have, in recent years, taken place most [Condensed from an address of Rev. George rapidly, you must leave behind the F. Herrick, D. D., of Auatolia College and great cities of this land and of Europe, Marsovan Theological Seminary, at the 7th and pass over into Asia. Annual Meeting of the InternatIOnal Mission· ary Union, June 12, 1890.] I. GLANCE AT RECENT OTTOMAN mSTORY. Occidental life is proverbiaIlyrapid; Oriental life, we are all sure, is ex- Reference is not now made to tke ceedingly slow. We travel by ex- press a thousand miles a day. The restless and aspiring empire on the Asiatic still plods on horseback along ememe margin of Asia. I do not a bridle path, or, more recently, in assume to tell of India, where, accord- a springless wagon, over his twenty- ing to those best informed, the English four miles in twenty-four hours. He language has already become the lan- smokes his nargileh, and takes no note guage of all arms of the Government of time. He scratches the ground service, of travel, of all schools; the instead of plowing it; he threshes one vehicle of a progress whose silent his grain as his ancestors did 3,000 and bloodless revolutions are in happy years ago; he puts off his shoes contrast to the numberless revolutions and wears his hat when he enters a that have characterized the life of dwelling; he pulls a saw instead of India for thousands of years.
pushing it, he builds a city with mole I point to the fact that, twenty-nve tracks through it, and if he makes years ago, the Ottoman Empire posstreets at all, it is an after-thought, sessed a territory fully as large in and he burns out the needful spaces; Europe as in Asia, and almost equally by his watch it is always twelve o'clock as large in Africa. The dismember- when the sun sets. And with all this, ment of the empire in respect of terri- if you would find the portion of our tory and its depletion in respect of population, within a qnarter of a hopeful indication of possible entercentury, has been with a rapidity that prise seen in Turkey in modern times. would be startling if we could be Meantime Russia – that essentially startled with anything which is at Oriental Power illy domesticated as once distant and Oriental. yet in Europe-has played her game with singular fatuity in South-eastern Roumania and Servia are inde- Europe. There is no Power, great pendent kingdoms, Montenegro and or small, Slavic or Greek, German, Bulgaria are independent princedoms. French, Italian or English, that will Greeceis enriched by some of Turkey's consent to see Constantinople in the fairest provinces in Thessaly and control of Russia. We should not de- Epirus. Egypt is as much under spise those smaller States, anyone British control as India. Syria is of four can mass a trained army under European protection. England of a 100,000 men, and little Greece holds Cyprus, Austria dominates Her- can launch a fleet that would rival zegovina and Bosnia, Russia has ac- our own navy. But there is one quired Batoum, the most important Power, viz: Austro-Hungary, to which Black Sea port, and Kars, the key it is a question of life or death to keep fortress of Asia Minor. Russia out of Constantinople. The great northern Power may count on In place of 44,000,000 of pop- Austria's opposing her march southulation, the Ottoman Empire now ward and westward by the full force has about 23,000,000; the proportion of her army and her navy. It is of Moslems to Christians has greatly almost equally impossible for Russia changed. They were about equally to push far into Asia Minor on the divided; ?ww the Chritsian population east. She may take and hold Erzroom is but little more than one-fourth of easily enough. She may, perhaps, pass the entire number. Van and even Harpoot, where the Christian population is proportionally The seeming strength of Turkey large, and she may, if she will, push on during the years which followed the to the Euphrates, but she may not Crimean war was fictitious and de- pass on into the heart of Asia Minor. lusive. The semblance of prosperity There, from the Black Sea to the was kept up by immense loans at ruin- Arabian Desert, and from the Euphous rates. "Let the evil come when it rates to the Mediterranean, the Ottowill, so it be not in my day." So runs man people will live, and an Ottoman the Oriental proverb. Turkey was Power will rule for long years to come. rushing on to bankruptcy, at the very Nor is it easy, in the light of history, moment when she was constructing or on principles of justice, to see how an iron-clad fleet, and building palaces the Turks can be driven from Constanon every eligible site at and near Con- tinople, where they outnumber all stantinople. She did not build roads other races put together, or from nor develop her mines, nor undertake Adrianople, their ancient capital and commerce or manufactures, nor es- a Moslem City. tablish schools, except on paper. For two years after the commence- The record of the last disastrous war ment of the present Sultan's reign of twelve years ago is well known. Turkey exhibited the farce of Consti- Strangely enough, ever since then, the tutional Government, played at a policy of the Government of Turkey Parliament with representation from has been studiously cold toward Eng- the different races. But all this was, land, and friendly toward Russia. in the expressive language of one of the ablest mi.nisters our Government We must not fail to give the Turks ever had at the Sublime Porte-HoN. the credit of covering Asia Minor, within the last ten years, with a net work of carriage roads, built without the aid of foreign capital-the most Horace Maynard, "for EUl"opean con- and acknowledge the obligations of sumption." friendly European powers ?"
II.- TURKISH PATRIOISM. "That is all very well for you to There has, under the present Sultan, say," replied my friend, "but for us been a reaction against the liberal the problem is not to be solved in that ideas that prevailed during the years way."
following the Crimean war. Many "Do you mean to tell me," I asked good things can, with truth, be said of again, "that you would prefer to per- the reigning Sultan. He certainly de- ish, as an independent people, rather sires to secure justice and the welfare than owe your continued existence of all his subjects, but he is not a and your future prosperity, with what- liberal man, as we use the term. He ever that would necessarily imply of does not see that the traditions and European influence, to th,e aid of responsibilities of his House, with all Christian nations ?"
that these imply, constitute the load ,'Yes," he promptly answered,"that of lead which leaves him hopelessly is precisely what I-what all faithful weighted in the race with the rulers Mussulmans-mean."
of his age, even with the rulers of Can any true American fail to feel States which have been erected out of a thrill of responsive sympathy with what was just now his own domin- the patriotism, the devotion to ances- ions. If he would but cultivate a tral faith, which underlies that an- relation of real friendship toward swer? And does not such a spirit fur- Christian and especially Protestant nish a new incentive to bring the bless- and English-speaking' nations, the ings of our own civilization within Ottoman State might yet justify its the reach of every race in western place on' the arena of material, com- Asia-not to impatiently force a Chris- mercial, and even of intellectual and tianity, weighted with the gravest e),- moral progress, in western Asia. rors of teaching and of example, upon One chief reason why the Ottoman Moslem races, but, watchfully keep- Turks have been so greatly misunder- ing step with the unfoldings of God's stood and maligned is that we, of the providence, to exhibit before Moslem 'Vest, in defiance of a wise maxim, eyes, at all points, the winning graces none too often quoted, have never of truly Christian example?
taken the pains to see and consider We should never forget that when the Turkish problem from the stand- Islam rose, in the first half of the sev- point of the Turks themselves. Less enth century, it was confronted by, vituperation and wholesale, and really and was a protest against, some of the unjust, condemnation, and more con- most corrupt forms of Christian doc- siderateness would greatly benefit trine and worship, some of the worst every party in interest. caricatures of Christian living, in Some time since, in conversation Arabia and northern Africa, that the with an enlightened Turkish official, world has ever seen.
on the Bosphorus, I criticised the un- Those reckless raids from Europe wisdom of his government in deliber- into Asia, called, in bitter irony, "holy ately keeping foreign capital from en- wars," in the eleventh and following tering Turkey, to construct railroads centuries, violently repelled Moham- and develop her mineral resources. medans from Christianity. How could "But," he replied, "if foreign capital they do otherwise? The expulsion of be welcomed the interference of the Moors from Spain, early in the foreign powers must be accepted sixteenth century, under the greatly too." over-praised Queen Isabella-is any "What harm can it do to govern- 'right or justice discoverable in that ment or people," I asked, "to receive movement on the Christian side, ex- ,eept the right of might? The author worldly men; examples-that is, more read, some years ago, in Turkish, cer- . than 10,000 members of evangelical tain trenchant articles of historic cri- churches in Asia Minor now–of his- ticism, from the pen of an enlightened fellow country~en who are true, liv- and acute Turk, which presented a ing disciples of their master. Evan- long array of facts from the history of gelical worship attracts, it does not Christian Europe, in a fashion not repel the Moslem. Protestant Chris- likely to win Moslem minds to an ac- tian doctrine does not, like the bald eeptance of Christianity. "orthodoxy" of the Eastern Church, And not only in the earlier years, set his reason continually at defiance.
but all down through the later centu- We must not, however, suppose that l"ies, in all western Asia, the Moslem, the Turks officially recognize the right with his clear-cut doctrine of God, or contemplate the contingency of and his sharp recoil from every sem- Mohammedans becoming Christians.
blance of idolatry in worship, with his To this degree, religious liberty is not sobriety and his generous hospitality, yet a fact. Still, in the face of dif- has pointed, with a certain contempt, ficulty and opposition, scarcely con- to the Christians around him, as less ceivable by us, some Mohammedans sober, less truthful, less hospitable, have become Christians, have lived less manly than himself, with a form and died as shining examples of Chris- of religious worship redolent of idola- tian confessors as the early ages ex- try, while his own is simple and pure, hibited. To-day there is, in a town even if it be exposed to the charge of of Asia Minor, a young Turkishwoman lifeless formality. who witnesses a good confession in the We do not say the Moslems' charge house where she was born, enduring against Christil¥lity and Christians is repeated beatings and living down cal- true. Clearly it is not true, but it is umny by Christian gentleness-who not strange the charge is made. The told her Christian sisters, only in ans- vitality and the vigor of the. Christian wer to their inquiry one day in meet- races, their better morality, their men- ing, why her arm was in a sling, that tal and moral elasticity under centu- her brother's last beating broke it.
ries of oppression, is one of the marvels Once, in conversation with one ~f of God's government of Asia. Why the most liberal and best educated do the Christian races remain in kindly Turks of the present age, a man who neighborhood to the Moslem races, has, at one time or another, filled all through western Asia, but to be to nearly all the highest offices of the them in the coming years, the means ~tate, I referred to a well-known of the largest blessing? And who are case of religious persecution that had to be theagents, and what theagencies, recently occurred. He drew me up for which those races have silently sharp on the expression, "religious and sullenly waited for so many gen- persecution," and said, "No religious ,erations? persecution is possible under our Gov- m.-OUR GRAND OPPORTUNITY. ernment. A man's faith is his own, It was, in God's providence, com- between himself and God only, and mitted to American Christians, to re- Government cannot interfere with it."
~stablish vital Christianity in the land "What, then, shall we call the ~f its origin. Call it duty, call it high case?" I asked.
privilege, thEl responsibility, the un- "Why," he replied, "it is perfectly "dertaking, is ours, to put the Bible into plain. The man renounced his ances- Moslem hands and then set before his tral, the national, faith, in which he ~yes living examples of a true and a owes duties to the State. All right, so pure Christianity by which alone the far. But he has publicly avowed his Bible is illustrated to the conviction of renunciation, and declared himself a Christian. In so doing he has com- we that we should withstand God!" mitted a civil offence, and it is, for this The Church of Christ sends out her alone, that he is arrested and pnt un- challenge, "You can do nothi-.g der discipline." against the Truth but for the Truth !"
That is, being a Christian is all right Nearly sixty years ago the Turkish for a born Moslem, if only he will never Government demanded that those say he is above a whisper. pioneer missionaries, Goodell, Schauf- fler and Dwight, be sent out of the In the meantime, as the years have country. Our ambassador, Commo- passed, the Christian races have reo dorePorter, communicated the order. sponded, more and more widely, to evangelical influence. It has pene- "Do you order us to go ?" they asked: traLed all parts of the country. Ameri- "No, I only notify you of the de- can Christian philanthropy has, mand of the Government, and of my through the several departments of inability to protect you," the work, planted the Christian home, "Then we notify you that we de- the evangelical church, developed cide to stay," they replied. Christian education, created through Political events, which shook the the press a periodical and permanent throne and resulted in the destruction Christian literature in the several lan- of the Janizaries and the introductiou guages, begun to establish Christian of European forms of law, hastened philanthropic institutions, and every- on and the missionaries were forgot- where fostered, together with loyalty ten. During all that crisis, and up till to the' existing Government, ideas of the close of the Crimean war, the freedom and of justice. American cit- leading mind, the most imperial presizens have established institutions, an ence at the Turkish capital, was that extensive Bible-house, churches, high- Christian Statesman, Lord Stratford' schools, colleges and seminaries. They de Redcliffe, of England. have acquired property in a hundred As evangelical influence extended different places all over the country. among Armenians, Greeks and Syri- These business interests have become ans, the persecuted Protestants found the care of our Government through aid and comfort from the Turks, as its-official representatives. The power the Jews who rebuilt the temple found of the United States flag is second to aid and protection from Cyrus. none. The Turks have no reason for Twenty years ago, in the Koordislt jealousy of the great republic across mountains, above the city of Mosul, a the sea. Illiberal men, in the govern- young Arab Koord, a born Moslem. ment and out of it, are jealous of was dipping deep into Mohammedan evangelical progress, and wish it had lore, at the feet of a famous teacher, not gained so strong a foothold in the his total wardrobe, a shirt; his food, land. But many Turks see that ,they the coarse bread of the tribe; his bed, also may profit by those ideas that the ground. He committed the Koran Protestant Christianity everywhere to memory, he acquired a most involves and develops, viz: The su- thorough knowledge of' Arabic, of premacy of truth and justice, the in- Moslem law, tradition, history, sciviolability of the individual consci- ence, and interpretation. He found" ence, and individual and social edu- one day, the binding of an Arabic cation and elevation. Bible which had been destroyed. Afterwards, when a teacher at Mozul, IV.-DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS. he sought, found, bought a Bible in Arabic, read and studied it, was in- The modern history of western Asia structed in it by Deacon Michah, as is a history of divine interpositions, Apollos by Aquilla, accepted Christi- These have been so accentuated, that anity as true, accepted Christ as his. men of the world, however highplaced, may well exclaim, "Who are Slaviour, was obliged to flee his part come, found him interested in anti- of the country, came to the Bible trans- quities, of which there are specially lators'room,in the.Constantinople Bible fine relics near where he had lived.
House, and aided in giving the Bible to In fine, we made ourselves as agree- the Ottoman race, a special aid very able as we knew how, not forgetting few men living could have given; to give His Excellency a cordial invi- found of God, led of God, and taken tation to visit our college and other home-to God when,the work was done. schools. "I was just about to mount Permission was asked to print the my horse to do that wnen you called,"
Biblein the Osmanly, and was refused. he said. "Ah, indeed," we replied, After long months of argument, of "then, our call and invitation are propositions and counter-propositions, quite opportune!" They were indeed.
the Board of Censors unwittingly did Thus forewarned, all was in readi- the greatest possible service to the ness at the college to receive the Gov- spread of God's Word, by condition- ernor with all respect. We showed ing the permission on the placing of him all through the buildings; he ex- the statement of the fact of Govern- amined classes, asked to see our text- ment permission on the title-page of books. Among our books he found every copy; and the time when the one of his own composition, and, nat- final version was launched was fixed urally, was not displeased with the by the Author of the Word Himself. It delicate compliment. He visited the was just as the last war closed, just as girls' boarding-school, enjoyed the the last sharp crisis of the Eastern choral singing, and, as he mounted question was attracting all eyes, that his horse at my door, he leaned over, God, by his Word, in the language of and said, "I have been greatly pleased all the people, sent forth His challenge with all I have seen; you may rely on to the Cabinets of Europe, set His wis- me for a report every way favorable.
dom face to face with their folly. And I wish we had such schools in every between that time and this, inquiry city."
concerning the Bible has become as And he meant what he said, as after common among TUl:ks, as before it echoes clearly showed. God's special was rare. They inquire from curiosity, guidance was conspicuous at every it may be, but many do buy and read point of this incident.
God's Word. V.-THE OPPORTUNITY MET.
Four years ago, just as Anatolia The evangelical centres in Turkey College was organized under that now number more than 300. These name, a demand was made through are the centres of influence, extending the local government that we procure from the extreme western border to· from the central government at Con- the farthest east, and from the Black stantinople a formal recognition of Sea to the Arabian desert. The in- our college. Meantime, one morning fluence of the evangelical press is the we learned that the Governor-General leading influence in the department of had come to town over night. We literature. The newly established, hastened to call upon His Excellency, and rapidly growing girls' boarding and invite him to visit our schools- schools, have already revolutionized all the difference in the world from the country in respect of female ectu- which side the invitation comes. In cation.
the court-yard of the house where the But there, as everywhere, the col- governor was entertained were horses, lege is the leader; and Robert College saddled and ready for mounting. We on the Bosphorns, and Syria Protest- were received in audience, praised the ant College at Beirout, and Euphra- public-spirit he had shown in the tes College at Harpoot, and Central province from which he had recently Turkey College at Aintab; and now. the last four years, Anatolia College at guiding all in the interest of His Jllarsovan, in the heart of Anatolia- church, is, by our hands, re-estab- these are the challenges of Christian lishing His Kingdom in the lands of America to the darkness of Asia. Its origin.
Once the comparative importance of The work will not stop for discus- educational and evangelistic agencies sion and criticism. The army of God was a subject of animated discussion will march right onward, and with in missions and missionary societies, accelerated step; and the legacy we .and among the churches of this coun- will commit to those who come after try and of Great Britain. This dis- us will be to hand on our Lord's com- -cussion is a thing of the past. Edu- mission, "Go, make disciples of all the cational work, as represented and led nations," and the testimony and as- by Christian colleges–colleges in- surance we will offer to the diffident tensely Christian and Biblical-is shall be, that the Master ever fulfills His promise to be with His chosen, pressed, and to be pressed to the ut- amid all toil and conflict. Great will most possible-that is, just as far as be the multitude, who, with no alloy resource.9 can be obtained with which of sin, will chant the Hallelujahs of to carry on the work. On this all are the heavenly choir. . agreed. There is no consensus of The Brussels Anti-Slavery Oonference. those interested in the evangelization -of the world which is more perfect; The Christian world has occasion to .and the economy of administration of rejoice in the late Brussels Conference these institutions may be shown by the of signatory Congo powers, and to statement that the actual sum used to carefully study its proceedings. Per- run Anatolia College is one per cent. haps it is not too late-it is rather ·of the cost of running Yale or Cornell doubtful if it may not be too early-to University. The American Christian pass in review what it did. College-these three words are used .advisedly-The American Christian King Leopold of Belgium was the college is the hope and light of Asia. official source of the Convention; but This institution, with its Biblical in- delegates from Great Britain, Austriastruction, with its thorough culture, Hungary, Belgiuin, Congo Free State, with its pervasive Christian spirit, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, with its development of manly, self- Italy, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, reliant Christian character; this in- Sweden and Norway, Turkey, the stitution, in which the preachers and United States and Zanzibar, were the teachers are prepared for their present. work, in which men of affairs are trained for the responsibilities that are The object of the Conference was coming upon them in all eastern lands plainly as possible stated in the circuin this fl.nd the next generation: this lar of invitation issued by Leopold, American Christian college is the which was "the necessity of effectively pledge of a Christian home, of a per- preventing the slave-trade in the inmanent and self-propagating church, terior of Africa, the capture of slaves of all true progress and harmony of destined for sale, and their transport races, of the gradual realization of by sea, which can Qnly be stopped by free and just government in those the organized display of force greater lands of Asia, for ages and centuries than that at the disposal of those who oppressed and groping amid the dark- take part " in the traffic. ness which has enveloped them. This was not the first Convention of Seen or unseen by our eyes, God, the great Powers held to consider the by His Word in every language, by main question. What is known as the Christian example, by education, Berlin General Act had already pro- vided that "All the Powers exercising rights of sovereignty, or any influence 6, ThQ Liquor traffic. 7, General Proin the territories in question,undertake visions, and 8, The Custom's regulato watch over the preservation of the tions of the Congo Valley. native races, and the improvement of their moral and material conditions THE SLAVE TRAFFIC. of existence, and to co-operate in the suppression of Slavery, and especially 1. The maritime trade in slaves was in the negro traffic; they will protect first considered as the part where and favor, without distinction of na- united action could be made most ef-· tionalities or worship, all religious fective if agreement could be come to. The sensitive point here was on the· scientific or charitable institutions and "right of search," whether on the high seas, or in territorial waters, over all undertakings, created and organized sailing vessels,under any Hag, suspect-· ed of being engaged in the slave-trade. for this object or tending to instruct France was specially sensitive on this· point. She, after a month, suggested the natives and make them under- a series of new measures for the pre- vention of the abuse of the French stand and appreciate the advantages Hag, and for checking the crew and passenger-lists at places of departure, of civilization." call and destination. The British government proposed a compromise, It had been fUrther provided that, subjecting only vessels of 500 tons, and under, to the right of supervision and "In accordance with the principles of detention on the high seas, which was agreed to, unless slavers of over 500 the law of nations as recognized by tons shall hereafter be discovered.
the signatory Powers, the slave-trade 2. The suppression of the foreign market was also a delicate and difficult being forbidden, and the operation part of the general question. It is the existence of slavery in foreign counwhich on land and on sea furnish tries which keeps alive the maritime traffic. Abolish that in countries outslaves for the traffic also being consid- side of Africa and the motive for the slave traffic on the high seas is extinered as forbidden, the Powers which guished. The eastern market for exercise, or shall exercise, rights of slaves must be broken down, as a part sovereignty or any influence in the of the general plan to destroy the territories forming the conventional African traffic in slaves. basin of the Congo, declare that these territories cannot serve either as a It is readily seen that this touched market or as a means of transit of most delicate lines of diplomatic slaves, of whatsoever race they may courtesy. Had Turkey been invited be. Each of these Powers undertakes to this general council, to learn that to employ all the means in its power the combined European Powers would to put an end to this traffic and to interfere here and thus with her terpunish those who take part in it." ritorial authority ? Was anyone of these Powers to find in this Congress a It was, however, recognized that dictator domineering its independence as a State? This was, indeed, a delithese most excellent provisions and cate matter. The Conference could do no less, however, than deprecate the understandings were too inoperative, influence of such domestic slavery, and it thus brought the force of Euroand the British House of Commons, in pean public opinion to bear directly March 1889, said so. In August of that year the Queen of Great Britain said in her speech that the King of Belgium had consented to call the Conference of which we now write, and it convened in Brussels November 18,1889.
The three great topics which it traversed were the slave-traffic and the means to suppress it, the importa- tion of fire-arms and the liquor traffic.
The chapters of the work as completed deal with-1, Places of capture of Slaves. 2, The Caravan routes. 3, The Maritime traffic in slaves. 4, The Countries of destination. 5, Institu- tions created for the purpose of insur- ing the execution of the general act.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
()n Turkey and Persia in the matter l.-The territory to be regulated ()f slavery in those lands. The rash- in the matter of fire-arms extends n€ss of this influence is manifest. through 42 degrees of latitude (from 20 degrees north to 22 degrees south), An effort was made to provide for from coast to coast, and a hundred the regulations of caravans for the miles seaward. prevention of slave-trading expeditions. It was sought to exact security 2.-The principle of prohibition is from the chiefs and organizers of laid down, with exceptions. The ~aravans, and for the examination of arms are to be deposited in Govern- ~aravans at their places of destination ment warehouses and taken out only inland, as well as on the coast. No se- on permission, and are not to include curity from caravan organizers, how- the most improved weapons. €ver, was feasible, as these caravans seldom return to their starting points THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. with the same elements. They are renewed from place to place among the If the rights of humanity are to be tribes they pass, remain long at the conciliated with the interests of trade, ~entre, and return to the coast at dif- so far as such interests are legitimate, ferent points. The security, how- as the Conference proposed to attempt, ever, it was agreed, is to be demanded the liquor question had to be dealt ()f those who had already been con- with. The Conference distinguished demned for slave-trade.offenses. between regions where no traffic in liquors had begun and those where it FIRE-ARMS. already existed. For the first of these, the British delegates proposed absolute But slavery was only one feature of prohibition, and for the second, a the great task to which the Powers heavy duty on the importation of had pledged themselves to each other, liquor. The Conference agreed to the when they undertook "to watch over prohibition in the cage of races with the preservation of the native races, whom at present no trade exists; but and the improvement of their moral it was not so easy to reach a concluand material conditions." sion on the other cases. The powers had themselves agreed to Free Trade in From 80,000 to 100,000 muskets and the Congo Basin; how could they then rifles, mainly the disused arms of Eu- now agree to a duty on liquor in that ropean standing armies, are imported districr, and yet, how could they keep annually into Zanzibar alone, and this great channel into the interior of these fire-arms are bartered to Arab Africa from becoming contaminated traders for ivory and other inland with the liquor traffic, unless they products. If the negro is to be pro- prohibited or restricted by the impotected from the slave hunter this slave sition of a duty? The races of the hunter must be disarmed. That was second class, or those among whom a the argument. But there are great traffic in liquors is already established, trade interests which require arms it was agreed that there should be al!l for their conduct and defence. France impost of l~d. or 3 cents per quart, here, was zealous for total prohibition this duty to be subject to advance at throughout Africa. Others would the expiration of three years. limit the territory. Two things seem to have been decided upon: V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Brazil. to a republican form of government The year 1890 is the most eventful without bloodshed, renders it proper of all years in Brazilian history. The that the November concert of prayer fact that an empire has given place for Brazil should be largely an occasion for thanksgiving. Civil liberty is fol- standpoint. Whoever will examine lowed as it always has been by liberty our constitution will there read that ()f conscience. There is now perfect the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion ~ualityofreligious privileges among is the religion of the State; that the Emperor, Senators, Deputies, and all all sects. the public officers, are obliged by pub- The following outline of the pro- lic and solemn oath to maintain and defend it, and that the criminal code clamation of religious freedom issued establishes punishments for any of- after the establishment of repub- fence against it.
lican order will show how completely " A people that, by its fundamental the new authorities have overthrown law, gives special privileges to Roman the assumptions of the Papacy. Catholicism, and seeks by oath to "The text of a decree of the Provisional . guarantee it; that requires its profes- Government of the United States of Brazil of .January 7, 1890, states in substance: sion as a condition of holding office; 1. That Federal and State authorities alike that considers penal all offences against it, ought to be regarded as profoundly religious, eminently Cathare prohibited to expedite laws, regulations, olic. But an observer, looking only or administrative acts establishingor prohibit- at our political Constitution and penal ing any religion, or to create distinctions code, would infer that Brazil is a dis- between inhabitantsof that country on account sonant chord in the infernal chorus of ofreligious and philosophicbeliefsor opinions. imprecations against the Catholic 2. That all religious denominations have Church.
equal rights ~o liberty of worship, and to gov- "But," continues the writer, "let .em themselves in accordance with their us look on the other side of the picture.
respective creeds without being constrained in Whoever reads the history Qf Brazil the acts, private or public, which pertain to in these latter times will learn that the the exercise of this right. Government destroyed, by an edict, 3. The liberty hereby instituted shall em- the religious orders, J?rohibiting the brace not only individuals in their personal receiving of any nOVItiates; that no .acts, but also churches, associations, and insti- country pays such insignificant sal- tutes in which they may be Joined; to all of aries to its church officials; that two which belongs the right to organize and main- bishops were shamefully imprisoned tain their corporate existence in conformity for observing faithfully the Pontifical with their creeds and policy, without the Bull; that the priests are hindered on interference of the Government. every hand in the fulfillment of their duties; that any act directed against 4. That patronage with all its Institutions the Church is applauded; that a .and prerogatives is hereby abolished. bishop, respected even in Protestant countries, here has not the privileges 5. That the legal capacity of churches and of the most humble citizen. As to religious denominations to acquire and admin- the churches, some are already fallister property is recoguized within the limit ing into ruin, while others are comof the laws concerning mortmain, securing pletely stripped of their parapherto each their possession of their present nalia." properties, as well as their houses of worship. The writer goes on to show that the Over against this full and complete guaranty of freedom, the following attitude of the press is no more favorquotation from a Brazilian Catholic paper of ten years ago will show what able to the Church than the Governthe ideal empire was supposed to be in those bygone days. It is a jere- ment. With the exception of five or miad uttered by a bigoted Catholic editor over the inroads which had al- six Catholic papers in the whole em- Ieady been made upon the old regime • f intolerance and oppression, even pire (there is the difficulty) the press under the mild and progressive sceptre of Dom Pedro II. of the country is either indifferent or . "What is the religion of the Brazilian people?" says the writer. openly hostile to the Apostolic Roman " At present, this country (Brazil) is Catholic Church• in an abnormal and contradictory Yet, bad as the case seems for the Catholic, the writer spurns the idea that Brazil is, or is to be, a Protestant country. "Here and there a Protest- ant Church, frequented by a few dozen souls, is all that we see of Pro- position, viewed from a religious testantism. It is clear that with such a state of affairs soon there will be no ernment. This fact doubtless pre- religion at all in Brazil." vented Brazil from becoming a repub- Well, the evil has not mended, as lic during that series of revolutions in seen from the writer's standpoint, and the Spanish States of Central and to an enlightened American reader it South America which followed as a seems that just such specimens of result of Napoleon's usurpation of narrow bigotry as this must have power in th(l Spanish Peninsula.
been the very means of bringing about The home revolution, which oc- the fulfillment of all dark prophe- curred in Portugal in 1820, led the cyings. people of Brazil to demand a govern- More than-was predicted has been ment quite distinct from that of the fulfilled. Doubtless, it is in the mother country, and in 1822 it was power of the priesthood to obstruct declared an independent sovereignty, the extension of Protestant freedom under the heir-apparent, Dom Pedro L and enlightenment to a greater or less A year later the Portuguese court em- extent, but the civil authorities are on barked for Portugal, no more to re- the side of equality, the press willcast turn, and in 1825 Dom John formally its influence in the same direction, abdicated in favor of Dom Pedro I., and the whole spirit and drift of the and the independence of Brazil was age are against the hierarchical as- acknowledged by Portugal.
sumptions which have so long cursed In 1831, Dom Pedro I., alarmed by the country. another movement toward republi- Now that Brazil has joined the large canism, as he thought, abdicated in group of American republics, with favor of his son, Dom Pedro IL, then all the religious freedom enjoyed by five years old, and embarked for the most highly favored, a glance at Europe. Some injudicious republican its eventful history will be in place. agitations which occurred during the The country was discovered in 1499 regency prepared the country for an- by the Spaniard, Vincent Yonez Pin- other trial of monarchy, and on the con, though it was first settled by the 23d of July, 1840, Dom Pedro II. was Portuguese under Alvarez Cabral in proclaimed emperor.
1500. Other small Portuguese settle- This remarkable man, thus pro- ments were made between 1500 and claimed the sovereign of a vast empire 1550. of 3,288,000 square miles, or nearly as Rio de Janeiro was settled in 1558 large as Europe, doubtless owed his by the French as an asylum and a long reIgn to the enlightened and mission field for the Huguenots. By liberal policy which he was wise the adverse influences of shipwreck enough to adopt.
and the treachery of Villegagnon, the While the Spanish-American repub- leader of the colony, it was utterly lics were tossed with political convul- broken up, and Protestantism, as well sions, Mexico alone having experienced as French influence, was swept out of over fifty between the years 1821 and the country. 1867, Brazil, with quite as much real Brazil came under the power of political freedom as they, held on her Spain in 1578 by the assumption of peaceful way. Dom Pedro became em.
the crown of Portugal, but was re- peror at the age of fourteen, and con.
stored in 1648 on the accession of the tinued to reign for nearly fifty years.
Braganzas to the Portuguese throne. Few sovereigns have been able to In 1807, upon the invasion of Portu- maintain a sceptre so long in the gal by Napoleon's army, King Dom midst of a mercurial people, and sur· John VI., appointing a regent at Lis- rounded on every side by nations with bon, fled to Brazil and established which revolution seemed to be the- there the seat of the Portuguese Gov- normal condition of political existence._ But in late years the more advanced priesthood has so long been associated of the Spanish republics have attained with habits of profligacy and vice. and to greater stability; the increase of the hollow sham of mere official sancwealth, and the multiplication of tity, that the intelligent classes have manufacturing and commercial il;l- become infidel, while every form of vestments have rendered the ruling error-8piritualism, Theosophy, Nihilclasses more conservative, and their ism, and even Mohammedanismrapid and prosperous development have been imported; and a paralysis has spurred the aspirations of Bra- of general indifference has settled upzilians for complete freedom. At the on the country. same time, the gloomy outlook. of a possible reaction toward It tyranni- Yet, there are not wanting many incal absolutism under the probable stances of encouragement, especially successors to Dom Pedro's throne, led in the country districts, where the in- Brazilian statesmen to the conclusion fluence of foreign contact has been that the opportune moment had al- little felt. In the last reports of the ready come for a Republic. Brazilian Mission of the Presbyterian Board (North). there is evidence that The world was, therefore, suddenly the most fruitful source of results is startled by a peaceful revolution, the native ministry. The chief inwhich had been precipitated in the gatherings of converts into the quiet evening of Dom Pedro's reign. churches during the last year were in rather than wait for the dubious congregations ministered to by native morning of a bigoted and impracti- pastors. And the argument thus furcable sovereignty in the hands of his nished for the education of young nafanatical daughter. tives for this important field is strong and significant. Thus, under the pressure of an irrepressible longing for liberty, on the The Northern Presbyterian Mission part of the people, there have been reports at the close of 1889, 9 churches three notable embarkations of royalty and 5 ordained missionaries, -8 nativQ for Europe. First, in 1825, when Dom preachers and 22 teachers. The num- John VI. acknowledged the indepen- ber of communicants is 1,009-153, or dence of the Brazilian Monarchy under about 11 per cent., having been added his son, Dom Pedro 1. Second, in 1831, during the year. when Dom Pedro I., alarmed at the appearance of republican tendencies, The great educational centre of this abdicated in favor of his five-year old mission is at Sao Paulo, where 395 puson, Dom Pedro II., and, with what pils of all grades are under instruction. seems a cowardly desertion, left him Under the efficient management of alone and returned to Europe. And, Dr. Lane and his associates a noble last of all, when Dom Pedro, nearly work has been accomplished during 60 years later, was obliged to renounce the year. Dr. Chamberlain, who has a sceptre which he had swayed with labored in connection with the Sao rare moderation for half a century, Paulo institution for many years, is and sail away an exile to the land of now in this country raising funds his fathers, to find there so soon a to endow it as a college for the traingrave for his empress as well as for ing of native ministers and teachers. his life-long hopes. The success gained by the few native pastors during the year is too instruc- Brazil enjoys now perfect freedom tive to need enforcement. of opinion, but it is rather late to reap the harvest which might have been A NATIVE MINISTRY. gained years ago. Other things being equal, a native The cause of religion has so long preacher familiar with the idiom of suffered discredit, the idea of the his mother-tongue, and at one with the people in all his habits of thought, can reach his countrymen far more ons mission in the Argentine republic, effectively than a foreigner. Besides, at with five ordained missionaries and least three natives can be supported as 15 native preachers. Eight stations cheaplyas one missionary. If we add are occupied,.of which Buenos Ayres to this, the fact shown in the Brazilian is the chief. I reports, that four-fifths of the con- In Uruguay there is but 1 ordained verts have been won in the out-stations missionary, but 8 native preachers are under native preachprs, we have a at work; 7 stations are occupied, the pretty strong argument for the educa- largest of which is Montevideo.
tion of more Brazilians and for the Paraguay, Brazil and Peru are also building up of a strong and efficient occupied by the Methodist Episcopal college and theological seminary. Church, each with OIie station. In While at Sao Paulo a given number all these South American missions, a of men shall be trained for the first total membership of 882 is reported, rank of preachers and leaders, it is also 688 probationers. The total num- felt that an institution of a different ber of adherents is reported at 8,935.
grade and, perhaps, having something The missions are apparently charac- of the industrial element, should be terized by remarkable vigor, and all opened for the practical preparation friends of the cause will rejoice that of a clsss of men of lower grade of an influence so directly opposite to the scholarship to be employed in evangel- droning and stagnation of the Rom- istic work in the interior districts. ish church for nearly three centuries Probably this diversity of education past is now awakening these south- should be observed in all the South ern races.
American republics. The enterprise with which the mis- The old order of things is every- sions are carried on is shown by the where passing away. The days when fact that the mission reports $222,290 ignorance was the safe cover for in church property-viz: in churches, religious oppression have gone. Under $190,290, and in parsonages and or- the new impulse imparted by republi- phanages, $32,800, can institutions, schools and colleges The contributions reported in the will be multiplied by Government, and missions in 1889-90 are reported at they will be indifferent in religion ex- $11,205 for self-support, and $13,666 cept so far as they are infidel. for other purposes-a total of $24,871.
The Roman Catholic Church, by a Of conversions 89 were reported, and radical and politic change, will either 335 baptisms of infants. These vigor- compete on the ground, or will im_ ous missions are represented by only port well educated 'priests from Eu- 6 ordained missionaries. " . rope, and Protestantism must not be THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH open to contempt as the repreSenta- (SOUTH).
tive of an ignorant ministry. Some Missions in Brazil begun in 1875. The men must be well prepared, others first Conference was held in 1887, at must not be out of relation and sym- Sao Paulo. There are 7 local preach- pathy with the rural masses-all ers, and 288 church members. Eleven should be filled with a devoted.spirit. Sunday-schools with 33 teachers OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. and 339 pupils are reported. Three Of the flourishing mission of the church buildings at Rio, Piracicaba Southern Presbyterian Church in Bra- and Juiz de Fora are valued at $52,938.
zil and the missions of the Northern Contributions dur-ing the year amount- Presbyterian Church in U.S. Columbia ed to $2,221. Bishop Granberry's re- and Chili, there is not space to write port credits the Woman's Missionary in the present article. The Methodist Society for all the educational insti- Episcopal Church (North) has a vigor- tutions of the mission, viz•• 2 colleges,
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
with'4 missionary teachers, and 13 as- the inhospitable shores of Terra del sistants and 143 pupils. Fuego, grew the South American Mission. His heroism roused all the MORAVIAN MISSION IN SURINAM, DUTCH best manhood, as well as the most de- voted Christian sentimentof England. GUIANA. It was resolved that, by the grace of God, so noble an attempt should not In this interesting Mission 17 sta- fail. It was another of the many in- tions are reported with 71 "mission- stances in which sacrifice and death ary agents," and 377 native helpers. have brought forth more abundant The communicants are 8,313, baptized fruit than a long and laborious life adults, 7,408; baptized children, 8,901; could have accomplished. By the re- candidates, new people, etc., 1,640. port of 1888, the South American S0- Total, 26,262. The missions carried on ciety received contributions, amount- by all Protestant societies in the three ing, with legacies, to $70,000. They Guianas are all attended by peculiar came generally in the form of indivi- hardships. These hot and malarious dual gifts. and from every land in countries have been settled from time which Englishmen wide. to time by the captives rescued from slave-ships. In fact, they were, in It will be remembered that the the early days, regarded as rendezvous late Charles Darwin, after actually for all refuse and castaway classes of seeing the work done in Terra ael humanity, and the population consists Fuego, became a supporter of the S0- -of colonies of English, Dutch, French, ciety. and Spanish, with every cross and grade, with bush-~egroes (the larger The work takes on a wide variety. -class), Indians and Asiatic Coolies. It is directed largely to the Indians in Terra del Fuego, Patagonia, and Para- The susceptible and half-savage guay, but also to chaplaincies in the bush-Negro, on the banks of the low ports and for the seamen of all nations. .and marshy rivers, affords the hope- It embraces the Falkland Islands, ful, because fruitful, field of labor for Terra del Fuego, Wollaston Islands, 1he self-denying Moravian. the Argentine Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chili. Of almost equal interest with the mission in Surinam, is that of the Mo- The Earl of Aberdeen is its presiravians on the Mosquitoe Coast. It dent, and many eminent names of reports 12 missionaries, and 490 com- England, both clerical and lay, are municants. among its vice-presidents. It has 1 field superintendent, 29 clergymen, THE SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION. and 5 native helpers.
The romance of missions will not' The annual reports of the society, esdie out till the name of Allen Gardner pecially those relating to work among shall' be fotgotten. Out of the melan- the Indians, are deeply interesting. choly circumstance of his death with that of six associates, from starvation, while trying to found a mission on VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
.Important Official Documents From from Downing Street, London, under Sierra Leone, West Africa. date of August 28, 1890. We have not space to give the documents entire, The Editors of this REVIEW have but quote the main facts which conbeen both surprised and shocked to cern the Christian public, and espereceive a copy of sundry official com- cially all the friends of missions. One munications "relating to some Ameri- of these documents is from Dr. Ross, ('an missionaries who have latelyar- Colonial Surgeon at Freetown, and rived" at Freetown, specially directed another from Sir J. G. Hay, Governor to us by order of Lord Kuntsford of Sierra Leone, transmitting Dr. Furthermore Dr. Ross states that he understands these "missionaries. Ross's lengthy report to Lord Kunts- intend going due east into the interior, guided only by a compass;" that they ford, of the home Government, Lon- have been "living as the natives, in the hope that by so doing they will don, and one from him through his sec- gain the confidence of the people;" that they "have been eating native· retary, transmitting the whole corres- food, cooking and washing for them- selves and even collecting their own pondence to the editors of the MISSION- fuel, in this rainy weather." Of course· that they should expose themselves to ARY REVIEW, calling special attention fatal fever and should actually court death by such manner of proceeding to their contents, and "to a notice, is not strange.
headed the 'Soudan Missionary Move- Such is the purport of the commu- ment,' which appeared at page 555, of nications referred to; and the Editors of this REVIEW feel compelled to say the REVIEW for July, 1890." in this connection, that up to this time These documents inform us that sun- they had never had the least intima- dry "American missionaries .have lately arrived at Freetown with a tion that this "Soudan Movement" view of proceeding due east into the was characterized by any such fanat- interior for evangelizing purposes;" that "three of their number have al- icism. We felt that, like other move- ready died," and that "the first inti- ments originating among well meali- mation Dr. Ross had of their being ill was by receipt of a letter ing but inexperienced persons who from Mr. Kingman, reporting that are young in years, it needed a head, two deaths had occurred in the 'Mis- wise counsel and sound discretion. sion House' that afternoon," (July 9th). Even now we see no reason to recall a.. "On Inquiry," continues Dr. Ross, "I gathered that no medical man had word of commendation of the singubeen asked to attend the deceased, the lar unselfishness and heroic consecrawhole party being staunch believers in the 'faith-healing' doctrine, nor had tion that appear to have marked these any medicine been taken." Further- pioneers, but we confess to being asmore Dr. Ross "remonstrated with tounded at the statementscontained in Mr. Helmick, another member of the this correspondence. Itis a sad affair, p~rty," but could not obtain from little less than wanton suicide. To him any satisfactory promise that they persist in such a policy would not would in future depart from the course they were adopting, nor did he only ruin this whole movement but' mention that there were any more inflict a lasting damage onall missionpersons suffering in the house. To ary enterprises and compel sensible prevent this. neglected tropical fever from assuming a virulent and con- people to wash their hands clean of tagious form, the bodies were at once buried by his order and the sanitary all abetting such supreme folly and policeman sent to disinfect the house, practical madness. Certainly the destroy all infected bedding, clothing, editors of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF etc. On the 10th of July Mrs. King- THE WORLD, have not the slightest man was found in the last stages of exhaustion from neglected fever, sympathy with such disregard of all which had then assumed a malignant proper precautions, not to say defiance type, she having been ill nine days before; and in spite of all that could be of all sanitary and social laws. done Mrs. Kingman died on the even- From the inception of this moveing of the 11th.' "Mr. Kingman was ill also and visited by Dr. Ross, who ment we have said to these western strongly urged him to take medicine. Finding Mr. Trice ill, Dr. Ross re- brethren, "move slowly; gel compemoved him to the hospital, and at last tent medical advisers, and experienced prevailed on Mr. Kingman to be treated, on the ground that his "action explorers, .that you may not risk endangered the whole coummunity." health and life by needless exposure." Dr. Ross felt "compelled to keep the God not only gives a "spirit of power missionaries from going into any other house than their own, and stopped and of love, but of a 80und mind 1'" all communication with other white poeple." We repeat the advice. Call a halt! their own lives dear unto themselves, bui and let it be fully understood that no have obediently gone forth to proclaim the man or woman goes to Tropical Africa joyful Message. to throwaway life on a theory, and -endanger the lives of others by pro- "Our beloved friends believed that nothing moting infectious disease. was too precious for their Saviour, and have made the supreme offering of their lives, and, A. T. PIERSON. standing to-day, where we may again see the J. M. SHERWOOD. broken body of the Christ and hear His words 'As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I On receiving these communications you, ' we are confident that there are -many the Editors felt bound to transmit a who will gladly offer themselves and take the (lOPY to the brethern in Kansas, who place of these messengers who have been are more closely connected with this called home, and, by His grace, plant the ban- movement, expressing also our sorrow ner of the Cross in -darkest Africa. -and apprehension as to the disastrous effect of such a course as that pursued "Asking that continual prayermay be made in Africa, not only upon this, but all to our Lord so that indeed He may speedily other mission enterprises. We have a send His messengers to the uttermost parts of reply from Geo. S. Fisher, Esq., dis- the world, I am, claiming all responsibility for these peculiar views, and saying that these "In the hope of His coming, sincerely thine, pioneers had no such views when they "GEORGE S. FISHER." left the west, but on their way a certain well known advocate of " faith heal- The National Missionary Convention ing" in New York City got hold of them and infused into them his views which met at Indianapolis Septem- <If the subject. We mention this in ber 3d to 9th, inclusive, was, in some ·order to attach responsibility to those respects, a remarkable gathering; not -to whom it 'belongs; and that responsi- in point of numbers, for but a few hundred visitors were there, and resibility, in our judgment, is a very grave dents of _the town were largely kept out of the city by the excessive heat. <lne. But there were signs of the Holy In response to our inquiry, Mr. Spirit's presence and power. Mr. Robert E. Speer, traveling secretary Fisher sends us also the following more of the Students' Volunteer Movement, -cheerful news concerning the surviv- and GeorgeS. Fisher, Esq., of Kansas, as well as Augustus Nash, of Neors.-3. M. S. braska, and Rev. T. C. Horton, of St. Paul, were among the leading spirits. "Ourvery latest Information is to the effect that, Mr. Kingman and Mr. Trice, the colored After watching the Convention with man, have both recovered, and that the others a careful eye, and noting the addresses have had no sickness whatever. They are now made and the tone of general feeling, waiting until the arrangements can be ef- we were constrained to acknowledge :fected so that they can leave Freetown, cross that there were signs of a Higher the Kong Mountains, and enter upon their Hand than man's in the whole miswork, if the Lord will, and enter among the sionary movement of which this is one Mandingo tribes." expression.
Also the following, which we read The band of intending missionaries with many "falling tears:" that we found there, were nearly all young-under thirty years. Moved "The enclosed letter is sent out with some by the awful destitution of a hundred :faIling of tears, but with much peace of heart, millions who, in Africa, are utterly for none who are conversant with the history without the Gospel, they have felt of the spreading of the Gospel in the dark more needed there than here, and have lands, will be surprised orcast down by reason practically offered thelllseives to go ~f these words: abroad to the Regions Beyond-most of them to the Soudan, some to China "'Except a corn of wheat fall into the and other lands of the Orient. No ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it <iie, it bringeth forth much fruit.' This scripture has indeed been fulfilled many times in the history of the early church, among the lllartyrs, and those who have not counted doubt there is some zeal that needs to so that this snall be a gift to the be tempered with knowledge-no Lord's cause for His servants' use doubt a good deal of imprudence that when at home for a season to gather experience will correct and chasten. new strength for further toils. Dr. A.
There is excess of enthusiasm that J. Gordon, of Boston; D. L. Moody, should be restrained, and impulsive Esq., S. P. Harbison, of Pittsburgh; activity that must be wisely guarded. Dr. Munhall, and a few others, will But there seems to be also a passion for be asked to act as counsellors in the souls, a self-surrender to God's work, completion of the plan; and it is not a certain abandon of confidence in his designed to ask any help from a~yone Word and guidance, that we would but leave to those of ~he Lord's people gladly feel were more general in dis- who may feel so inclined to assist in ciples of more mature years. We rearing the cottages. The ground is· should say that not less than fifty already paid for, mostly by one indi- young men and women were present, vidual; and already unsolicited con- whose faces are set toward the deso- tributions have been made to the ex- late regions of the earth, and who are tent of $650. Any who are so disPosed only waiting for the door to open. may send contributions to the editors of There were present several of these this REVIEW and they will be promptly young men who have been traveling acknowledged. Ultimately, after the through the States, mainly o( the cottages are built, a report of the work West, presenting the needs of the per- will be printed and sent to the par- ishing millions, and urging consecra- ties contributing, with pictures of the tion of men and of money to supply houses erected. A. T. P.
their need of the Gospel. These "trav- A Remonstranoe that Should be Heard. elling secretaries" have gone like primitive disciples, carrying nothing "Pardon me, if I seem presump- in their purses, and their unanimous tuous, but do you think the' Presby- testimony was that they ~ave lacked terian Church is moving in the right nothing. Some who heard them wit- direction in its efforts to remove the ness, publicly confessed that, though heavy indebtedness of the two Boards? they had been prejudiced against the Does it not seem that a curse, rather movement, they felt constrained to than a blessing, will follow one form say this is the Finger of GOd. A. T. P. adopted, viz. : cutting down the meagre' salarie.s of our missionaries, and leav- The Home Rest for Missianaries at ing them with no escape from this. Northfield, Mass. iron rule? Is not this 'muzzling the ox which treadeth out the corn?' I By a strange fatality a part of our do not know when anything has so editorial note on this topic in our last burdened me as this mismanagem!'nt issue was left out. We said further on the part of the Assembly. Surely, that these 15 acres of land are to be some better plan could have been laid out in a sort of park, to be named adopted there. This is something like Livingstone Park, in honor of. David 'making bricks without straw.' Livingstone, and it is proposed to erect a few economical and conven- "In my own mind it is clear that ient cottages on these grounds, to be this great debt could have been made furnished rent free to returned mis- the means of rousing the Church to sionaries who are at home for rest and a sense of its responsibility as nothing recuperation. It is desired to have else could have done. It would have these cottages free to those who oc- called out a special day of preaching cupy them without reference to de- on the subject of missions-humili- 1'I.0mination; and to enlist various ation and prayer-aday of collections. benevolent people in their erection, for the debt alone, making at least two Sundays of the fifty-two to be de- voted to the great work of the church. The letters one reads from missiona- ries on the frontier a,re pitiful; and if the church does not hear will not God avenge II "Pardon me, but I feel I am only saying what many must feel. I do awakening in this country. His 00- not like to seem to criticise over-much, dresSB evinced considerable familiarity but it makes me sick at heart to be at with the present situation of things in ease in our luxurious churches and India, and appreciation of the diffi- notice the indifference, the want of culty and importance of the mUwion reference to this, the most, crying evil he had undertaken. I have known; for it is from thosepoor missionaries that part of the money Among other things he said: already collected (?) is wrested–not voluntary offerings, but oppressive "There are 5,000,000 Hindus, young men, taxation, in a sense. " who speak English. We aregoing to reach them. They have never been evangelized. Oc- The above letter is from one -of the casionallya lecturer like the Rev. Joseph Cook largest and best known givers in the will drop in among them; but he is gone in a denomination, and we publish it, first, week. What they want is preaching every because such a munificent giver has a day for six months. All has been touch and right to be heard; and again, because go sofar. We go to preach and not to prove the this church and other denominations Gospel. Disabuse your minds of one thought. ought to know how their principal We don't propose to convert India. Weonly benefactors look on such a mistaken policy as retrenchment; -and thirdly, intend to do our share. It we come back because we feel in absolute accord with these sentiments. God will never without having made any visible impression, bless any policy which is practically we won't feel disappointed. Fifty blows may robbery both of Him and His poor be necessary before the rock of heathenism is and faithful servants, It cannot be split. We hope to strike one of those blows. our duty to do wrong, and we believe The Hindus say that as the English go to this course, whenever and wherever India they drop their religion in the Red Sea, adopted, is dishonoring to both the hoping to lind it there as they go back. The church and to God. There must be people of India are profoundly religious in some way of meeting a crisis like this their way. They look on our missionaries as beside doing an' aditional wrong. being merely men who are hired to conquer This policy reminds us of the man who their religion with our own, just as they were borrowed money to pay a debt! and politically conquered by the English. They the fact that at this time of the judge our religion not by our missionaries but world's history a great denomination by the English people among them, sevencan Bound the cry, Retrench! while tenths of whom are there to trade and not to every call of God says Advance! is it- set a religious example. Belf a melancholy sign of the times. We know one city where a craze for "We will go first to Calcutta., where we will expensive church-buildings has led to open an evangelistic mission and begin on the the abandonment of large and com- English themselves. From them-having by modious edifices for others that cost the help of God brought them to a condition enough more than the old to pay thill where they can exemplify and reflect the debt by the excess on each building. Gospel-we will proceed to evangelize the Eng, lish-speaking Hindus. After them, Provi- EDITORS. dence permitting, we will evangelize the half- breeds. We hope to make a break among the Dr. Pentecost's Farewell Words. high castes. Don't think we are pl"oud be- cause we are going to work among the high We were present at the farewell castes. We have chosen them because nQ service in Dr. Meredith's church in work of evangelization has ever been done Brooklyn, of which he was formerly among them. Finally, we are doing this work pastor. He gave an outline of his strictly at our own expense. If anybody feels plan of evangelistic work in India. He moved to chip in and help us pay our current is sanguine that a great break in expenses, all right. But we are not begging. heathenism will begin there, which Persoually I will pay my own expenses. We will be followed by a wide-spread are a voluutary mission, repreaenting no society and no fuud."
May he not be disappointed in this bold undertaking! May India be moved as never before! He needs and asks and deserves the earnest prayers of Christendom. He remains a month in England and then sails for India. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins, who have aided him in his €vangelistic Alloa, Scotland, has recently gone to his reward, in his eighty-seventh work, will accompany him in this year. He set an example of benefi- cence which will be fra~ant in Scotforeign tour. J. M. S. land and in all the Christian church for many years to come. His liberal- The Tribune (New York), in a re- ity toward foreign missions is very cent editorial entitled, "Why Foreign conspicuous; but scarcely less so to- Missions Languish," exhibits the most ward all home missionaryschemes also. surprising ignorance of the subject. AUoa, where he built up his fortune, The very reverse is true. Instead of witnessed its dispensing in all good being in a languishing condition the works. He supported missions in the cause of foreign missions was never destitute neighborhoods, provided for so active, so promising, so full of en- the free entertainment of infirm minterprise, so far-reaching and world- isters at Criefi' Hydropathic; and gave, wide in its scope and plans. The great as few men since apostolic days have English societies in 1889 expended given, great sums to God's cause. He $13,000,000 in the work; and our has spent a vast fortune of $1,000,000 American societies full $6,000,000! on missions; and, out of the small anmore than in any former year! Does nuity reserved to keep him from acthis look like languishing? tual want, he managed to give, at the time of my visit to AUoa, another Quite as false is the reason assigned 250 pounds sterling; and, as a letter for the decline of missions. It argues from Dr. McAll informs me, his last they "languish" because the Gospel if! act of giving was the sending of $500 presented so as to repel rather than more to the same great work of French attract, by men not properlytrained. evangelization. He was an office- It is sure that the prevailing methods bearer in the United Presbyterian of mission work are radically wrong. Church, and one of the brightest orna- Now thousands of the ripest scholars, ments of that beautiful body of breththe broadest culture, the most distin- ren, of whom we may say on personal guished gifts, the noblest educators, knowledge that it contains some of the and the most eminent and useful men noblest examples both of piety and of in the Church to-day, are found in the generosity which the United Kingdom foreign field! Methods radically wrong furnishes. That dear old saint gave that have civilized and evangelized not grudgingly nor of necessity, but whole nations, converted millions of cheerfully. Self· denial became to him souls in heathendom, established a habit and a delight for Christ's sake. schools and colleges, and hospitals, To press his hand and look in his eyes and Y. M. C. A.'s all over the world! was one of the rare privileges of that Does not the Trtbune know these recent tour of missions in Scotland. facts? Such stupendous ignorance is He was the patriarch of givers, and, enough to bring Horace Greeley up we trust will have a numerous spiritfrom the grave to weep over the pa- ual progeny who shall emulate an per he made so grand a power for good. example that has few rivals since the This attack on missions is a very feeble days of Barnabas of Cyprus. echo of Canon Taylor's charges two years ago, the falsity and grossness of A. T. P. which were abundantly shown by testimony that could not be set aside. Bishop William Tay:or seems to be The Tribune is late in reviving a man of great common sense. He these exploded charges.-J. M. S. says that on the dead level of heath- enism all genius is excluded; any in- A Princely Giver's Death. ventor is liable to the charge of witch- craft, and the poison draught is the David Paton, Esq., of Tillicoutry, inevitable doom of one who im- Canada, and for years residing in proves upon the crude implements of his ancestors. In the South of Africa the men wear two coats, one of red paint, the other of grease well-rubbed in; and women dig, hoe, gather crops, carry burdens and do other hard work. To educate an African without chris- tianizing him is to train a polite loafer. He instanced the educated native known as "Hodge," who, with a tine culture, turned to Paganism, put on
ORGANIZED lIIISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
the breech-clout and took six wives tian church, he will again let loose this and set up a harem. The educational system of false religion to drive out plan must include all industries that an infernal rum traffic let in by prepare for a life of self-support. The Christian nations! Already are 300,- short and sure cut is to be found in 000 mounted followers of the False rearing in Africa Christian industrial Prophet said to be overrunning th{l homes, adopting about 12 children Dark Continent. under five years of age. Young chil- A. T. P.
dren are not yet heathen and must be The India Sunday-school Union, prevented from becoming such. It is having secured the hearty' co-opereasy to get boys but not girls, to adopt. Girls are a marketable commodity for ation of the British Sunday-school polygamous purposes. The only way Union, has been planning a large ex- tension of its work. Dr. James L. at present is to redeem them from this Phillips, 17 years medical and educapolygamous slavery by a virtual pur- tional missionary in Bengal, has been {lhase. They are sold in infancy for appointed general-secretary of the the future harem of these polygamists, India Sunday-school Union, and sailed and if not redeemed will be claimed ~ven after adoption and education. from New York for Europe. He will A young and pretty girl was thus speak in behalf of this promising movement in the chief citIes of the adopted by a missionary's family and United Kingdom during September iirained as a converted woman, and and October, and then embark for -one day claimed as the betrothed wife Bombay, where he will enter upon his -of a rich polygamist. She was al- work, attend the Punjab Sundayready pledged to a converted young school Convention at Lahore in Thr man connected with the mission cember, and reach Calcutta for the .and presents were freely given to annual meeting of the India Sunday- -secure her release from the prior con- School Union in December. All India iiract. Apparently she was released seems ripe for Sunday-school exten- sion at this time. and the marriage consented to. But afterward under pretext of a visit to It has been our privilege to make the her parents was, with her husband, acquaintance of this beloved brother induced to go to their home, and -on entering the village her young while home on a furlough. Failing husband was literally hewn to pieces, to find us at the office, where he called and she was tied to a tree and whipped to say good-bye, he left us a very kind every two hours till she consented letter from which we make an extract: to go and live with this wretched pagan. That is a glimpse of woman's "Now I go back to my dear India, condition in the dark continent. where I was born, as general-secretary Meanwhile all the work of missions of the India Sunday-school Union, is threatened by the awful flooding of with headquarters at Calcutta. For Africa with rum. Hamburg alone two or three years I shall be on the -exports by two companies annually move constantly all over India, organ- .200,000 tuns of liquor, not to speak of izing and pushing Sunday-school what France, Spain, Portugal, Eng- work. My post is a new one. I am land and New England are doing to called back to India by my brethren ]lOur into that land an Amazon river of all the churches. Our Sunday- -of rum. If Mohammedanism were let school Union there, as here and in Eu- loose, it would soon put an end to this rope, is international and inter-debusiness, for Islam's banner is the nominational, like the evangelical banner of total abstinence and pro- alliance work in the U. S. A., with hibition. It may be that as God at the which I have been connected as gen- beginning let loose Mohammedanism eral-secretary at Philadelphia for a as the scourge of idolatry in the Ohris- year." J. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
SPecIAL'l'IELDS. square miles, including 30 towns and 3,579 vil· lages, and containing a population of 3,286,889, INDIA. of whom 2, 835,382 are Hindus and 284,889 are American Marathi Mission. Mussulmans. (A. B. C. F. M.) Stations, 5; outstations, 107; missionaries, REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1889. 27 (of whom 11 ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' Stations at Bombay, Ahmednagal', etc. wives, 6 other ladies); n~tive helpers, 302 (of This mission covers a territory of 16,9i4 whom 18 pastors, 21 preachers); churches, 33; ordained); churches, 22; communicants,. communicants, 2,115 (1,197 male, 918 female); 2,466; additions not reported fully, about 300: added on profession, 192; schools, 127; pupils, schools, 40; average attendance, 583; Sunday- 8,280,(2,461 male, 819 female); Sunday-schools, schools, 19; average attendance, 626. 124; pupils, 4,718 (of whom 1,688 Christian); Jlatients treated at dispensary in Raburi, new, Malayalan Mission of the London Mis- 5,052; old, 9,428; total, 14,480 (of these, 12,045 sionary Society, South Travancore. Hindus, 2,059 Mussulmans, 76 Parsees, 41 R0- man Catholics, 259 Protestants). The report for this mission comes to us in four parts: the Trevandrum, Quilon and Ne- PROGREIlS IN TWENTY YEARs. yoor districts and the mission seminary.
Number of churches, 1869, 22; 1889, 33; net In the six stations there are 9 ordained mis- gain in twenty years, 11. Received on pro- sionaries; 18 ordained native ministers; 22S fession of faith, 1869, 53; 1889, 192; net gain in other native helpers; 273 congregations; twenty years, 139. Number of communicants 5,659 church members; 521 admissions; 718- at close of the year, 1869, 677; 1889,2,115; net candidates; 311 schools; 10,560 boys under in- gain in twenty years, 1,438. Contributions by struction, 3,504 girls-total scholars, 14,064; native Christians, 1869, 1,651 rupees; 1889, patients registered iu mission hospital anddi&' 4,630, rupees; net gain in twenty years, 2,979 pensaries-Protestant Christians, 13,874; Ro- rupees. Number of schools, 1869, 35; 1889, 127; man Catholics, 1,698; heathen, 12,116; Moham- net gain in twenty years, 92. Number of medans, 676-total, 28,SfU. Publications, by pupils, 1869,667; 1889,8,280; net gain in twenty London mission press, periodicals, 52 numbers, years, 2,613. 116,600 pages; tracts, 33, S23,100 pages. South Travancore Tract and Book Society has. From this it will be evident that the number published since 1833, when it was formed by of communicants on the church rolls, the con- the union of tract societies long existing at tributions of native Christians, and the num- Nagercoil and Neyoor,442,549 monthly maga- ber of schools, have trebled in the last twenty zines, 181,200 tracts, 28,500 catechisms, 13,500' years. The number of pupils is five times as books, 3,146,900 handbills, and 260,000 Glad IDany as then attended our schools. News for Children, in Tamil-4,072,649 publi- cations. American Madura Mission, South India. Basel German Evangelical Missionary- Population of district, 1,775,000. Stations Society in Southwestern India. at Madura, Pasumaleli, Battalagundi, etc. Canara, Coorg, South Mahratta, Malabar. Stations, 7; out-stations, 25; missionaries, 36 Stations, 24; European miSSionaries, male, (of whom 13 'ordained, 1 lay, 13 missionaries' 66, female, 40; native agency, pastors, 15" wives, 9 other ladies); native helpers, 448 evangelists, 106; other helpers, 27; teachers,. (of whom 17 ordained pastors); organized 27'8; communicants, 5,160; additions, 1M;: churches, 35; communicants, 3,562; added on schools, 121; pupils, 6,707. .profession, 272; schqols, 156; pupils, 5,410; Sabbath-schools, 146; average attendance Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa. 4,151; patients treated at dispensary, new fi,066; old, 6,504; total, 15,570 (of these 4,775 Connected with the Presbyterian Board of' Hindus, 3,272 native Christians, including Ro- Missions, Canada. manists, 815 Mussulmans. New patients, 3,055; old patients returned American Free Baptist Mission, for medicines, etc., 7,224. The number is less. Southern Bengal, than the last year by 225, due to the fact that there has been less sickness and that fewer Population, 3.817,65.~. Stations at Balasore, soldiers have been admitted. J ellltSOre, Midnapore, etc. Methodist Episcopal Church, (North)t. Stations, 11; missionarles,25 (of whom 9 are North China Mission. ordained, 1 lay, 9 missionaries' wives, and 6 other ladies); native preachers, 17 (of whom Peking, Tientsin, Shantung, etc. 5 are ordained, 12 lay); other native helpers Stations or circuits, 20; ordained missionanot enumerated; organized churches, 11; ries, 15; missionaries' wives, 14; other ladies, communicants, 646; added, 55; schools, 105; 9; native ordained preachers, 6; unordained,. pupils, 3,619. Considerable medical work 10; teachers, 20: other helpers, 22; members, seems to hav" been done, but no statistics are 782; probationers, 517; averagtl atten<jancegiven. Sunday worship, 931; Sunday-schools, 10; scholars, 746; Theological schools, 3; st.udents, Canadian Baptist Telugu Mission. 40; other schools, 27; scholars, 529, Population reached 3,000,000. Stations: Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby- Akidu, Cocanada, Bimlipatam, Bobbili, etc. terian Church, (South).
Stations, 9; missionaries, 30 (of whom 11 Secretary: REV. M. H. HOUSTON, D.D., Nashare ordained, 10 missionaries' wives, 7 other ville, Tenn. ladies); native helpers, 74 (of whom 8 are [By some error the statistics reported for municants, 625;' additions, 100; schoQls, 37, pnpils, 916; medical work, out-patients (at-· this society in the September number of the tendances), 59,311; in-patients, 1,459; visits at homes, 647; surgical operations, 2,868. REVIEW were drawn from the report of 1889,in- stead of from that of 1890. Dr. Houston has kindly called our notice to the error, alld sent corrected ftgures.-EDs.] General Baptist Missionary Society.
REPORT FOR YII:AIl ENDING APRIL 1, 1800. Secretary: REV.WILLIAHHILL, Mission House. 60 Wilson St., Derby, England. Receipts. . REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING HAY 31, 1890. Balance on hand ..••••••..•••… $ 8,457 59 Receipts.
From churches……………….. 49,812 90 Collections, etc …………….. . £3,257 4 5· Legacies …………………. .. 1,497 4 11 Sabbath·schools….. .•.•• •••••••••. 8,673 50 Miscellaneous ………………. . 693 17 10 Missionary societies ••••……••.• 27,258 80 Legacies……… ..•••••••• ••••.•• 14,927 02 Miscellaneous… ••••.•••••••• •••.• 8,652 88 Total for general purposes … ,£5,448 7 2· Speclalfunds……… ………… 225 17 6 Total ••••••••….••••.••.•••••• $117,782 69 In India…. ………………… 2,929 9 6 In Rome……. … . .. . .. .. . ..• … . 149 0 11 Expenditures.
Three Brazil Missions•..•.•••••..•• 5 36,100 32 China llissions.• '" . • . •. • . •. • ••.• •• 24,701 71 Total. ………………….. , £8.752 15 1 Japan •••••••••.•.. ••••. .• 12,814 31 Pavments.
Congo . •.. .••• . • …. . . . . . . 4,000 00 Balance due May 81, 1889…….. .. £20 12 11 Greek • •• ••••• ••••• •• • . . .. 3,453 70 Orissa Mission ……………… .. 3,27013 2- Italian . . . . ••.• •• . . . •.••• •• 1,200 00 Agency…………………….. . 31517 7 Indian •••• • • ••• • •••• ••.. . • 6,490 00 Publications………………… . 171 12 0- Mexican U •• ,. • • • • ••• • •••• •••• 7,870,29 Incidentals. .. • • . .. .. …. .. …. . .. 144 5 7 Totalfor Missions. •••••.••.•••• $ 96,680 33 Assurance, Annuities, and Capi· General Expenses. . . • . . . . ..••. . … • 8,663 02 Balance on hand (including Relief tal, etc ……. " …………… . 1,441 0 4- Fund)….. • •. .. • . .. • ••.• .•••• •••• 12,489 34 In India, (see ahove) ………… . 2,929 9 9 In Rome, ……… "… .. 449 011 Total…. • • •• . .. •••••…•••••• $117,782 69 Balance to new account •••••••••• 10 3 STATISTIcs. Total……………………. £8,75215 .; STATISTICS OF ORISSA MISSION. ~ .,; -d .,; ..:=:l Stations, 4; 15 out·stations, 8 missionaries,. g 0 4 missionaries wives, 4 other female mission· s:l .'"~ -d aries, 21 native preachers, 18 chapels, 1,376 ..= ~ ~'>" church members; 1 orphanage, 122 members; '" :0;:~. '" ~ 12 schools, 641 scholars; 12 Sunday·schools, 751> • oji o[ '" '" " ] '" .$8 ..0= Z members. Local contributions, 8,411 rupees. ~~ '".." ~ » UjUj..~'Si"~1II-5..:.l..r9 ~ '" .9 f/1 ~ s:l ,Q s:l oj Baptist Missionary Society. '~I'~ ~ oj oj ~O A Secretary: ALFREn H. BAYNES, ESQ.,F. R.A.S•• 1 gl§ ~ g! Baptist Mission House, 19 Furnival St., j ~::: Holborn, London, E. C. ~ <I .S .S ~ REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890 ::l8 Receipts. !,! ~ ! ~ — 8 – – zz 8 oj oj ::l Balance from last year, on Special — – ._- -~ Fund, and Widows" etc., 00· count…………………….. £4,894 14 9 Brazil… 3011 10 510 670 126 224 165 $1,400 China .. 1113 16 .. 15 158 12 245'260 165 For debt……….. ………….. 2,405 2 ;;. Japan •. 19 8 8 5 2 766 151 305 130 651 General Fund . . . …. …. .. • . 68,331 0 1 41111 Special, etc., account…. ……. 3,978 9 6 Greece. "c:' ~'" Total receipts…………… £74,714 12 0 28 ~ 15 … Balance over·drawn on General Italy .•. 1 .. ~ 0 Fund……………………… 2,472 3 1() Mexico. 51 2 Africa •. Z Total …………………. £82,081 10 7 2· ·8 40 …… Expenditures. 4 '3 450 71 ··~~r~ 635 Balances. Debton General Fund. £2,862 3 6 2 .. General Fund. … .. £70,346 2 10 Special, etc., account 6,761 10 3 Total. 116 3741 1931 2,072 360 1,207 845 $2,851' £77,107 13 1 1 Total expenditure……….. £79,969 16 7 American Presbyterian, (North), Mission Balance on hand on Special,etc., in Oanton, Ohina. account ……………..•.••. 2,111 14 () Stations, 2; out-stations, 28. Foreign missionaries, ordained, 8; lay, 6; mediC'.a.l, 4; mis- Total. ………………… £82,081 10 '7 sionaries' wives, 11; other ladies, 6 (1 medical); total, 31. Native 'ordained ministers, 3; other native assistants, 84; churches, 8; com- STATISTICS. Income of Funds ••..••..•••••• " 21,796 51 Government Grants-in-aid, etc…. 8,017 47 I 15 J,'"<ll i1 ~ " oj0;oj "" O.:goj $440,788 07 0; • <ll ~ U-"0=l -UC"=l Balance due April, 1890…… …… 7,942 06 ., 1=:1=l'd …. ~~.[~ ) .0 Total. …………………….. $448,730 13 """'Iaj.9 ~;;<;ll In addition there has been added to the Per- ~ ~1ii S manent Fund, $118,739.68, making the gross ! I~"' ""E"" O~~w";";d''§''~ receipts for the year $559,527.75. …. O·S ."E.:~~ -~= Expenditures. t'l Burmah ………………………. $151,290 85 z~ Assam ……………….. _…….. 22,31258 – – – – — – — — 38 Telugu…. ….. . ….. ……. …… • 64,778 India .,. 147, 57 94 9 4,129 231 15 4,027 Ceylon .• 104 4! 25 868 160342.0..3.,.1.9.0 Siam ………………. ………. 1,373 95 ,China..• 60 21 10 60 1,049 China…. …. …………. …….. 31,605 25 ~!fe~~ine 157 8 1 58 Japan ……………………… , 39,122 72 20 15 75 2 2 69 Africa…….. ……………. ….. 43,780 42 3 1 ••. Europe …………………. …… 32,984 57 Enrope •• 60 W.Indies 111 641143.73 18 1,860 210 .. 409 $381.248 72 12 6,135 423 5 Home expenses. .. …………….. 39,71387 – – – – – – – ,Africa.•• – 10 25 5 .' Publications…. ……………… 1,671 40 43 12 4 143 Annuities…….. ……….. ….. 11,92';) 58 — S440,55657 – – – 515 119319 99 14,316 1,053 47 7,896 Balance due April 1, 1839………. 8,173 56 American Baptist Missionary Union. Total. . •. …. .. . • . . . … •.. • . .. $448,730 13 Secretary: REV. J. N. MURDOCH, D.D., Tre- mont Temple, Boston, Mass. REpORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, lR90. Receipts.
Donations ………… _………… $212,96294 Legacies……….. … ………… 91,935 49 Woman'sBoards…. … …….. ..•. 93,94922 Miscellaneous ……………….. 12,126 44 STATISTICS.
Mission· Natives. .,. ! j aries ~ ~o0~ joj~o~i ~1~~p~;1~"1'.~~jjoi ~ r/.lo)i:j~il<OO 0 ~ a.: 00 Z '21-593 45li7 116 "Bn~-rm-a':'h-..-.-..-.-.-..-.- ..-.-..-.- .•-.-..-.-.. 021 520 29,689 2,039 444 12,669 – $52,633 I Assam .. …… … ….. .. .. 7 64 11 14 22 54 30 1,937 185 87 1,900 740 381 Telugu ………. …………. 13 635 21 26 204 217 72 33,838 3,340 460 4,934 564 China (inch!ding Siam)………. ' 8 59 18 23 25 17 1,535 61 23 325 521 Japan …•… …….. ……… 8 27 15 26 29 17 10 lO5 158 6 216 311 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Africa……. ….. …… …….. 7 4 23 16 5 8 5 386 156 10 471 75 Total…………………… 64 1382 133 192 8191437 654 68,290 5,939 1030 20,515 $54,844 ,Europe …………………. 917 707 70,003 5,638 169,425 TotaL ………………….. 64 ii2 133 100 i7a6 4a7.WtI38,29311.57711OOO 2O,5i5J~ Ohurch Missionary Society. Collection 0 f Funds…….. 13,739 13 2 The Secretaries, Church Missonary House, Administration. 10,596 11 5 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London,E. C. £215,222 11 0 REPORT FOR' THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1890. Deduct, charged Receipts. to Special Fonds.. …. 8,193 6 7 Through Associations.. £146,771 6 10 Total Ordinary……. '" .. £207,029 4 5 Direct to the Society, including Special Funds…………….. 17,556 8 1 Legacies23,862 7 9……… . 56,046 4 8 Disabled Missionaries' Funds 1,646 10 ..
Rent and Interest …………. 4,05215 9 Total Ordinary….. ……. £208,516 17 10 Total Payments……….. £224,585 12 6 Special Funds… …………. 51,765 13 7 Balance carried to Contin- 35,696 18 11 Total Receipts…………. £26a,282 11 5 gency Fund: OrdinaryRe- Expenditures. ForMissions…..£I82,845 3 2 ceipts……… £1,487 13 5 Disabled M i s- Special Funds.. 34,209 5 6 sionaries, etc.. 7,941 3 3 —– Total…… ……………. £260,282 11 I:>
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
STATISTICS.
Natives, Eurasians, Missionaries, etc, ~ ~ ~..$.~; , g i 'I 3 __________________I§~ ~ ~ i~ ~ h ~ ~j~;. ~ _~_~_§__~_~____ ~ ~ @ ~ Africa ……………. ,…………. 5 59 30 17 15 48 293 9,826 445 108 8,8U Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and Persia.. 3 13 16 6 9 9 107 597 4 50 2,575 India…………… …… ………… 8 96 128 14 15 144 2150 26,942 1,577 1191 47,184 21 Ceylon.,……………… ………… 1 14 18…. 2 15 446 2,363 172 229 11,345 Mauritius…… …… .. …. .. . …. . 1 7 81 3 51 542 108 25 1,562 S!~':t~:::: .. ·:::::.~:::::::::::::::·::: ~ ~ 171 …. 19 1~ ~ 2,~~ .~ Iii 2,~ 1 38 151 2 27 378 2,631 5 1 18 2Q 65 2,455 109 58 1,424 3.835149;016 3,llo i700 ,= 59 286 75:"'581 New Zealand ……… ".. N. W, America and North Pacific .. " 6 55 321 4"..
-~L====·.~: ;iii 3t5 "286152 VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa-It is said that the annexations of Their professed object is to convert the Afri- Great Britain in Africa amount to over cans to their faith; and their modus oper- 2,000,000 squa.re miles, "Spheres of influ- andi is to civilize them first, and then to make ence" they are termed, not annexations. We Trappists of them. Their largest monastery care not what they are called; we are glad is at l'IIarianhill, in Natal. At present it con- to know that under the flag of Great Britain tains 170 monks, and in a convent, half a mile the slave trade cannot live. Under that flag, away, are 135 nuns. There are 300 native boys the Bible may be printed and scattered with· and girls under tuition, and the knowledge im- out "let or hindrance," Under that flag, parted is almost entirely industrial. The rear- missionaries of the cross will be safe, and can ing of bees is one of the important industries, go about their work unmolested, Ambitious Papers are published in four languages. They and grasping England, men may call her, but have a church capable of holding 2,000 people, she carries into her colonies, all over the world, the light of civilization, to brighten -Harvest Field. the faces of their ignorant and degraded. -The grant of an immense territory -Rapid progress all along the line is being along tbe Zambesi river has been made to the made in the opening up of the new world of Duke of Fife and some English colleagues, Central Africa. Europe has 'such vast re- The region embraces nearly 300,000 .square sources of power and wealth to bring to bear miles and is very rich both in soil and mines, on the enterprise that the rate at which civili- The company has power to abolish slavery zation is advancing on barbarism is surpris- and restrict the liquor traffic in its domains, ing. and missionary work will be as free there as in India. -To explore Central Africa.-The Siecle says that a French expedition to explore Cen· – The Portuguese have released the British tral Africa is being organized. It will be African Lakes Company's steamer, which divided into three sections, which will start was seized by Lieutenant Continho, Thecrew simultaneously from Algeria and the Niger of the steamer have also been released, and Congo rivers, and converge at Lake Tchad, -The Roman Catholic missions at Uganda will be strengthened by a new party of priests, -The Universities' Mission in Central who were ordained in the cathedral of Car· Africa employs seventy Europeans at four thage, June 29th, According to Roman Cathoprincipal centres in Africa and on Lake Nyassa, where a church steamer is maintained, lic usage, the feet of these 20 "messengers of Bishop Smithers is the leader of this mission, which extends over 25,000 square miles, peace" were devoutly kissed by all priests present, including high dignitaries. Cardinal -The Trappists, an order of Jesuits, have Lavigerie even kissed the feet of two black lately begun work in South Africa on a large surgeons, formerly slave·boys, purchased by scale, In Natal they have an estate of 2Q,OOO white monks on the Nile. acres, and in Griqualand of 500,000 acres, Belgium.-The Government has voted a loan of $5,000,000 to the Congo Free State. The expense of the founding of this State, and introduction into-the-familyof nations, has been Catholic Church has moved against the here- borne chiefly by the king, at an expense of tic, and suppressed his services by the power $~,OOO to $300,000 a year_ In return for this of the civil law. During the present year Diaz grant, King Leopold makes Belgium the heir, and his helpers have been arrested,sent to jail, ten years hence, of his African possessions, and harassed in all possible ways. Diaz is ont which it is believed will one day prove a great on bail, but the courts hesitate and keep him source of revenue_ and his friends in suspense. The intervention of the American Government has been in- -Pastor Anet's Christian Missionary voked. Church of Belgium, added to its members last year 500 converts from Romanism and infidel- England.-The report of the Bible Car- ity. It employs 4 evangelists, 7 Bible-readers, riage Mission in England, shows tbat this so- ,and 5 colporteurs. ciety is doing an important work in the rural parts of the country. Over 49,000 Bibles and Canada.-The Presbyterian Church in Testaments, and about 367,000 books, tracts, -canada has, in all, 326 distinct fields of home etc., were circulated in 270 villages and towns. mission work, and 990 preaching places. The In these places the Gospel was preached, number of missionaries employed last year with many conversions as the result. was 329, of whom 121 were ordained ministers and liceL. iates,and 208 students an.d catechists. -Another new missionary band of special 'The average Sabbath attendance at all the interest is about to go forth in connection stations was 43,065, the number of families with the Church Missionary Society. Rev. Bar- connected with them, 11,701, and of communi- clay F. Buxton, son of Mr. T. Fowell Buxton, cants, 13,907. The progress made in the Pres- has offered to go to Japan with a smaIl party bytery of Manitoba may be given as a speci- of missionaries, undertaking both the direction men of the result.q. It was formed 19 years and entire charges himself. Mr. Barclay is an ago. Winnipeg had tben a popUlation of 421, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. It is pro- now it has 22,892. Manitoba had then 19,000, posed that Mr. Buxton's party should occupy now it has 150,000. Then Presbyterianism stood the town and district of Matsupe, an import- third relative to other denominations, now it ant place at the west end of the maIn island heads the list. In meeting the expenses in- of Japan. volved in this vast home mission undertaking, the church acknowledges grants from the ~Mra. Hannington, widow of Bishop Han- Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Church nington, who was murdered in 1885, near <>f Scotland and the Free Church. Uganda, conducts a weekly missionary prayer meeting, in Brighton. -The Toronto medical students' Y. M. C. A., which has 179 members, has just sent one France.-Cardinal Lavigerie opened the <>f their number, Dr. Hardie and his wife, as a Anti-Slavery Congress, in Paris, with an admissionary to Korea, and have agreed to sup- dress, in the Church of St. SuIpice. He highly port him"for a period of at least eight years." praised the enthusiasm of England in the anti- His destination is "Fusan, where he is to co- slavery work, although it was headed by <>perate with Mr. Gale, of University College Catholics. He said he, did not desire the im-, Y. M. C. A." $1,800 is requisite for outfit and mediate abolition of slavery, as that would support for the first year. entail starvation of slaves, but that man-hunt- ing must be immediately suppressed. China.-TheChina Inland Mission hasestablished in China, 16 opium refuges, 3 hospi- Germany.-According to Bisho» Warren tals, and 5 dispensaries. The churches num- the members of the Methodist Church in Gerber 66 and chapels 110. many average, in their contributions, $4.40 per member annually, while the largest incomes -Dr Douthwaite, of the China Inland Mis- among them do not exceed $1.25 per day." sion, Che-Foo, says, that in the late famine district in Shan·Tung, there are now over a. India.-Some of our missionaries in India thousand applicants for baptism. have been caIled on to stand at the bar of the civil courts. Rev. J. J. Lucas and Rev. -The government has indemnified the Henry Forman were summoned before the Presbyterian Board to tbe extent of over a High Court in Allahabad, to answer for the thousand dollars for property destroyed by a baptism of a youth of eighteen, who had promob, in 1885, in the province of Kwong-Sai, fessed to be a convert to Christianity, and China. It has taken our United States lIIin- who had acted throughout of his own free ister a long while to securethis justreimhurse- will, and with intelligent comprehension of ment, but the final action is encouraging, in what his act meant. The judge was a Mothat it recognizes the right of foreigners to hammedan, but so clearly arrayed before him hold property in interior cities. were the facts in the case, and so explicit was the law, that the decision rendered was Cuba.-The Rev. A. J. Diaz, an evangelist that the missionaries had violated no law of her Majesty's empire, and the yonng convert <>f the Southern Baptists, in the Island of was his own master in religious affairs and Cuba, has been wonderfully successful in at liberty to dwell and worship where he preaching and organizing churches. He is a pleased. The case was regarded as an Ironative of Cuba, and preaches with great ease and freedom in his own tongue. The Roman portant one, and the judgment rendered years that the Chinese have been able makes the work of evangelizing the youth of to plant themselves in the country he India much easier and less dangerous. traveled through, so hostile have the na- tives always shown themselves, It is said -The Woman's Christian Temperance that in Thibet nearly every crime is pun- Union of Singapore has organized 'a mission ished by the imposition of a fine, and tha~ for the benefit of European sailors that visit murder is by no means an expensive luxury. tht.t port. This, of course, greatly increases the danger of travel in that remarkable land. Ireland.-The Irish Church Mission So- <:iety seeks to give a pllre gospel to the Irish United States.-The Presbyterian Wo- Roman Catholics. A good work has been done man's Mission Society received for last year through this instrumentality. Fresh impetus $337,842. The society was able to support the has been given to it by the munificent be- following missions: Indians:–ll3 schools, 164 ,quest of $150,000 by Mrs. Susan Hopper. teachers, 2,264 pupils. Mormons:–37 schools, 99 teachers, 2,374 pupils. Mexicans :-32 Korea.-A missionary, Mr. Appenzeller, schools, 67 teachers, 1,627 pupils. South:-16 in the Fndependent, says, that when mission schools, 48 teachers, 1,213 pupils. Total. 118 work began in Korea, the missionaries pre- schools, 361 teachers, 7,47'8 pupils.-Mid·Consented a Bible to the king. The prime minis- tinent. ter took the Bible to the palace, showed it to the king, and then, with the klng's approval, -The Universalists, after an existence of tore it in pieces. Years afterwards, a Ken- more than a hundred years, send out their tucky man presented the Korean minister at first missionary. Washington with a bottle of the best Bourbon whiskey for the king. This was accepted. -The Annual Report of the International 'Then the Christians of Kentuckyresolved to Medical Missionary Society, shows that 7,356 show the king, at as early a period as possible, new cases of disease and injury were treated that the country produced something better during the past Society's year; 14,717 attendthan whiskey. Recently they sent, through ances were given at the dispensaries, of which the Korean minister, three Bibles, one for the there are 7 in New York and 2 in Brooklyn; king, one for the prime minister, and one for 1,641 visits were paid to the sick in their own the foreign secretary. The present has been homes. DuriIig the eight and a half years of 4Ccepted. the Society's existence, over 32,000 cases were treated, about 70,000 attendances were given -Roman Catholic missionaI'ies have at dispensaries, and over 14;000 visits were been in Korea 200 years, yet have never Is- made to sick at their homes. This Society sued the Bible In the native language. They co·operates with all existing Christian agenhave translated the New Testament but have cies, as far as possible, and establishes medinot put it into print, and the only copies, cal missions at Gospel missions, or mission made by hand, cost from $10 to $20 each. churches, wherever practicable. The presi- dent is Boudinot C. Atterbury, M. D.; the -Sad News.-Dr. John W. Heron, Medi- treasurer, Cleveland H. Dodge, Esq., No. 11 <ml Missionary of the Presbyterian Board in Cliff Street; and the medical director, George Seoul, is dead. He died of dysentery. The D. Dowkoutt, M. D., 118 East 45th Street, New loss is great, 'for he was Superintendent of the York City. The Society deserves the liberal Royal Hospital in the capital, and had won the support of Christian people. {lonfidence of the King. His infiuence in the foreign comniunity and in Seoul was also -The receipts of the American Board for very great. the year ending Septemb"r 1st, are $617,723. This amount is $69,025 in excess of last year. .of-Moravian Missions.-The latest statistics Of this increase $22,876 is from donations, the our missions show an increase over last balance is from legacies. During the year 64 year of 620 communicants and of 1457 In the new mission aries have been appointed. 22 of total membership of our congregations in the whom are men: 54 of. these new recruits have foreign fields. The number under the direct already been sent to the field. This number care of our missionaries DOW amounts to 87,263, is in excess of any year since 1837.-The Adand of these 30,591 are enjoying the full privi- vance. leges of communicant membership. These are solid figures, and we thank God for the un- -Secretary Ellinwood of the Presbyterian mistakable token of His blessing on our work Board of Foreign Missions writes, that the in Asia, Africa, America and Australia.- new value put upon silver has so affected ex- Periodical Accotlnts. change in all the foreign countries where silver is the chief medium, that the purchasing power Thibet.-Mr. W. Woodville Rockhill, of the Board's appropriations is diminished formerly of the American Diplomatic Service, from 15 to 20 per cent., and the rate of exhas recently returned from a long and peril- change is constantly fluctuating. A heavy, <>us journey through Thibet, the unknown needless tax is thus laid upon the missionary heart' of Asia. For 700 hundred miles he cause for the benefit of a few silver kings. passed through a country where no white man had ever set foot, journeying, of course, in disguise. It is only within the last few
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE NOVEMBER NUMBER
INDEX OF CONTENTS NOVEMBER NUMBER.
PAGE PAGE I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS••••••• 801–842 plore Central Africa, 877; Universities' IT.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI- Mission, 877; the Trappists, 877; Roman Catholic Missions in Uganda ………… 877 GENCE•• – …………….. _…. 842–850 IIT.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE… 85O-S54 BELGIUM.-Loan to the Congo Free IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT ••• 854-862 States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877 V.-MONTHLY CONOERT OF MISSIONS 862–867 BRAZIL.-Political Changes, American VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT Missions, etc., 862; Other South Ameri- can MiSSions, Brussels Anti-Slavery Con- TOPICS …… _……………. 867-873 gress……………………………… 86(t vn.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK BURMAH AND SIAM.-"A Thousand AND STATISTICS. .. ……..–873-877 Miles on an Elephant. " …………….. 842 VIIT.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS; MONTH- CANADA.-Presbyterian Church, 878; LY BULLETIN ……………… 877-879 Toronto Medical Students' Y. M. C. A… 878 IX.-INDEX TO CONTENTS. .••••• •• • ••• 880 CHINA.-A Great Evangelizing Agency, 845; Inland Mission, 878; Presbyterian Authors. Board Indemnified …………….. : …. 878 EDITORS.-A. T. Pierson. The Miracles ENGLAND.-Flowof Converts to the of Missions; The Wonderful Story of Church of Rome……. .. . … .. …… 846 Madagascar, 808; Editorial Notes. J. M. Sherwood, Book Notices, 841; Editorial FRANCE.-Anti-sla.very Congress …… 878 Notes …………………………….. 871 GERMANY.-Generous Giving………. 878 HAWA H.-Rev.W. A. Essery's Address Blackie, William G., D.D., "Personal Life of David Livingstone, " noticed………. 842 on the Victory of the Gospel ………… 846 Brockett, r,. P., M.D., Education and INDIA.-Lunn's Work; "A Friend of Missions in India," 841; Poverty of the E.vangelization…………………….. 850 Clark. Miss Helen F., The Congo Missions, 826 People, 846; Missionaries in Court. 878 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D.• The Duty of Chris- IRELAl'U>.-Irish Church Mission So- tendom to.the Jews, 801; Brazil and its ciety ……………………………. 879 Missions. Other South American Mis- sions………… _._ ……………….. 860 JAPAN.-The New Constitutional Gov- Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- ernment, 846; Appeal from Ba.ptist Mis- ment …………………………….. 851 sionaries. ……………………….. '" 847 Guinness, Mrs. H. Grattan, "New World of Central Africa," noticed…•…. __ .. 841 JEWS.-The Duty of Christendom to …. 801 Haig, Mrs. F. T.,"Daybreak in North Afri- ca," noticed…. …….. …………… 841 KOREA.-The gift of a Bible to the King, Hallett, Holt S • "A Thousand Miles on an 879; Roman Catholic Missionaries, 879; Elephant," noticed……….. .. .. . •. 842 Moravian Missions ………………… 879 Herrick, George F., D.D., The Kingdom of God in the Land of its Origin…….. 854 MADAGASCAR.-TheWonderful Story Hunt, Life of John; Missionary to Fiji, of its Evangelization, 808; Letter from noticed ……….. _…………………. 842 Rev. James B. Mackay…. .. …. . 850 Lunn, Rev. Henry S., "A Friend of Mis- sions in India, " noticed ………… "…… 841 Moravian Missions in Surinam………… 867 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer Moravians not Lutherans……………… 853 Movement ………………… …….. 842 Pitzer, A. W., D.D., The Inheritance of PALESTINE.-An Awakening of Life Nations Allotted of God….. ………… 820 and Energy………. .. …… 847 Schweinitz, Rev. Paul de, The Romance of Goedverwacht ………………….. 833 South American Missions ……. _…….. 866 Starbuck, Rev. Chas. C., Translations from Foreign Missionary Periodicals………. 836 Turkish Empire, Dr. Herrick's Graphic West, Maria A.. Hidden Springs, or How Sketch of its Present Condition .. _. . . .. 854- Missionaries are Made.. .. .. … . . . . .. …. 835 THIBET.-A perilous journey………. 879 Countries and Subjects. UNITED STATES.-The Silver Law's AFRICA.-The Congo Missions, 826; Effect on Missions, 848;.Farewell Meeting New World of Central Africa, 841; of Missionaries in Boston, 849; Presby- Daybreak in North Africa, 841; Dr. terian Woman's Missionary Society, 879; Blackie's Life of Livingstone, 842; Mwan- Report of International'Medical Mission- ga Stripred of Despotic Power, 844; ary Society, 879; Receipts American Editoria Notes on Uganda, 845; Zanzi- Board ………………………. _…. 879· bar, 84.5; The Slave Traffic, 861; Fire- arn1S, 862; The Liquor Traffic, 861; Great Statistics of Foreign Missions. Britain. Sphere of inlluence, 877; to ex- American :r.larathi Mission, 873; American Madura Mission, South India, 874; Amer- ican Free Baptist Mission, South Ben· gal, 874; Canada Baptist TeJugn Mis- sion, 874; Malayam Mission of L. M. S., Basel G. E. M. S., Southwestern India, 874; Mackay Mission Hospital, Formosa, 874; M. E. Church (North) N. China Missions, 874; American Presbyterian (North) Mission in Canton. China., 875; B. F. Missions of Presbyterian Church (South) Report for 1889-90, 874; Ameri- can Baptist Missionary Union, 876; Church Missionary Society…… • … 876·
The Missionary Review of the World — August 1888
562 THE BICENTENARY OF BUNY.A.N'S DEATH
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. B.-Old &ries.–A UGUST, _ _VoL."I. No. 8.-Ne1II &rlu.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE BICENTENARY OF BUNYAN'S DEATH. [EDITORIAL.-A: T. p.] NEXT to inspired writers no man is more conspicuous for both the quantity and quality of his influence than John Bunyan.
As he was born in 1628, and died in August, 1688, this year and month bring the two-hundredth anniversary of his death. The eyes of all the world will naturally turn to the author of the greatest English classic, the" Pilgrim's Progress," and the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD gladly offers its pages for a tribute to a man whose wonderful allegory has already been translated into nearly one hundred languages and dialects, and is to-day next only to the Bible, the most useful aid to the missionary in winning souls to Christ and training believers for service.
John Bunyan was in the best sense an evangelist, a missionary, and a producer of literature, at once evangelical and evangelistic. The son of that Elstow tinker, wild and wayward in boyhood, comparatively uneducated, God had for him a career of service for which He trained him in the school of poverty and obscurity. He gave him an imagination which was both a temptation and a terror to him as an evildoer, but which after his conversion became the mighty instrument for weaving the golden tissues of the greatest of allegorical narratives.
It was perhaps a blessing that Bunyan had access to so few books, for as the Bible constituted the bulk of his library he was not tempted to dissipate his mental energies upon literary trash or even inferior products of the press. After his conversion, his simple faith accepted the Word of God in its literalness, and he read it so assiduously and reverently that it became permanently lodged in his memory; and when in Bedford jail he was left to an enforced solitude, and wrote the" Pilgrim's Progress," as a means of employment and amusement, his thoughts naturally ran in the dialect of Scripture, so that this marvelous book is little more than a vivid Scriptural dialogue.
The vivid imagery of this allegory may easily be accounted for-first, by his unusually active and creative imagination; and secondly, by his actual faith in angels and demons, heaven and hell. These. were realities and verities to him, and they were ever present to his inventive fancy. His brief experience in the army in 1645 may account for the military captains and martial adventures so abundant in the fascinating fable.
He was about twenty-one years old when the tide of his life took a turn, and its whole direction was changed. Those who would know more of his biography may find it in the guise of allegory in «Pilgrim's Progress." Every step of Christian's way the author had trod before he wrote the book. It was Bunyan himself who fell into the Slough, sought Mr. Legality, fled from the thunders of Law, found help in the Evangelist, entered the wicket gate, was taught and refreshed and equipped at the House of the .Interpreter, climbed the Hill Difficulty, fought with Apollyon, got into the Doubting Castle, and reached the Land of Beulah.
From the day when John Bunyan was baptized by Mr. Gifford in the River Ouse, he began to be an evangelist. The tinker had a tongue, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth spake. Believing the doctrines of the Reformation, the universal sin and need of man, the reality of eternal life and death, the freeness of grace and the fullness of salvation, he was compelled to speak. In 1655 he began to preach, at first in a private way; but as he showed a genius for preaching, especially to the masses, he could not be hid, and his spreading fame caused the Bedford Church to release him from his duties as deacon, that he might follow, unhindered, his obvious divine calling. His popularity and power were immense. By some he is ranked the foremost preacher of his day. In his annual visits to London twelve hundred people have been known to gather before daylight, thronging the doors of the chapel where he was to preach at early morning.
It is worth while to remark that this remarkable success as a preacher was due to no sen3ational oddities or heretical notions. He was thoroughly evangelical. He pricked men with the sharp needle of the law, and then drew after it the thread of gospel consolation. He believed in total depravity, and he preached it. He believed in damnation, and his warning trumpet gave no uncertain sound. His theology was that of Paul, and Augustine, and Calvin, and Luther, and Knox, and Wes- . ley. Whatever books he had not read, there are three with which he was thoroughly familiar: the Word of God, the grace of Christ, and the heart of man.
A thoroughly evangelical faith begets an evangelical spirit. He was ready to preach anywhere if he could get at souls. If shut out of chapels, he would go to barns, or the woods, or the green fields, like Whitefield, and he was so much a missionary and a martyr that he would not keep his mouth shut. Even Bedford jail heard his prayers and his preaching, as the Prretorian guard were compelled to hear the gospel from the prisoner to whom they were chained. His twelve years imprisonment is not hard to account for. The Pro-. tectorate of Cromwell had passed away, and with the Restoration came the revival of the Act of Uniformity. To worship in any other than parish churches made the offender liable, first to three months in jaiL then, if persisted in, to banishment, and even to death.
Bunyan would not be silenced, nor would he consent even to evasion to escape the hand of law. When he was arrested in 1660, Bible in hand, the magistrate, Wingate, leaned to leniency, and would have discharged him from custody if he would have promised" not to call dissenters together," which might mean anything or nothing, as he pleased. But Bunyan was God's witness, too earnest to keep still when bidden to preach, too honest to hide behind an equivocation; and so he went to jail, and as the door shut upon him said: "Were I out of here to-day I would preach again to-morrow." He might have been pardoned out in 1661, but pardon could avail nothing for a man who would repeat the offense as soon as he was out of jail; and so he stayed in his prison, with but one brief respite of release about midway in his long experience of confinement.
What a blessing in dark disguise was that twelve years in jail! The talking tongue is generally the foe of the thinking brain. Here he could talk but little, and he had leisure to think. Reason and imagination had time for a new creation, and the ripest product of these years of meditation was this immortal allegory.
The popularity of "Pilgrim's Progress" probably exceeds that of any other book. Even those who do not read the Bible read this, and the charms of the book are many. First of all it is a story, a continuous narrative, full of plots and counter-plots, characters and incidents, interesting to the very close.
Again, it is robed in the dress of the marvelous. It is like a fairy tale, fascinating the reader with the superhuman and supernatural, giants and goblins, dragons and demons, good angels and fallen spirits; and withal these fictions are facts for vividness and realistic effect.
Again, the allegory charms. Under the guise of parable lies the mighty moral meaning. The very names are the keys that unlock the fable. Great Heart, Fickle Mind, Obstinate and Hateful tell their own story. The House of the Interpreter, the Valley of Humiliation, the Hill Difficulty, Beulah Land-who does not at once know what they represent! And what wit and wisdom are comprised in the allegory!
Most of all this story, marvelous, mythical, allegorical, is a mirror of the human heart. The reader sees himself, and a mirror has a strange charm even to the homeliest of us. The very ugliness of our deformity attracts us by the exactness of its reflection. Even those who are repelled by Bunyan's theology are attracted by his accurate dissection of the heart of man. The styl~ of the" Pilgrim's Progress" is enchanting. Bunyan drove his nails with the short hammer of the Saxon, and no wonder. He had studied that Saxon Bible that is the purest Engiish book in the world. The ray of light comes with great clearness through a transparent window-pane, and Bunyan's style is so translucent that his conceptions are never bedimmed in their passage through the medium of transmission. It is not to be thought strange that the "Pilgrim's Progress" is one of the first, if not the first, of all the books which missionaries at home and abroad seek to make accessible to those to whom they preach and among whom they labor. Next to the Bible, upon which it is perhaps the most popular and helpful commentary, it has been the greatest preacher of the gospel which the printing-press has ever created. What a blessing that such preachers can be made by the million! This pictorial representation of a human soul in, its spiritual progress from the first awakening consciousness of sin, guilt and peril to the full enjoyment of a conscious salvation, God has made a mighty witness to His word, and a moving witness to the heart of man. And why? Because human nature does not change. Spiritual experience in all the ages is almost as stereotyped as the customs of the Orient. Science and art and letters may change, but humanity still echoes to the humanity of antediluvian ages, and the allegory that faithfully portrays the human soul can never be antiquated or out of date.
Bunyan never dreamed how useful God would make his pen when his tongue was in fetters. It doubtless seemed to him that life's opportunities were almost lost to him behind the doors of Bedford jail, but God saw that the way to make him a missionary for the whole world, and for all the ages, was to lock him up for twelve years-another example how" God moves in a mysterious yvay, His wonders to perform." Moreover, Bunyan did not write his book for the public eye, but for his own. entertainment and profit. He was like a child that suddenly strikes a rippling rill and unconsciously follows it till it broadens into a river and loses itself in the serene sea.
How would Bunyan's heart have thrilled with joy had he foreseen that the Lord would use his humble allegory in every land beneath the sun to awaken sinners. in the city of Destruction, and guide disciples all along the pilgrim's way to the consummation beyond Death's river.
The various stages of the pilgrim's journey are unique in interest and suggestion. Does the sinner ask how to get rid of his burden of guilt? Here he is taught that it is not by the works of the flesh nor the deeds of the law. The Obstinate will of sin, the Pliable will of the half-persuaded will not get him past the Slough, and Legalism can only bring him into a greater peril. He must go through God's gate and find deliverance at the Oross.
Does the believer as~ how he shall grow in grace and knowle'dge? Let him. see in the Interprt:lter the Holy Spirit opening his eyes to the hollowness and shallowness of things worldly and temporal and the beauty and excellence of things divine and eternal. Does he seek to be a growing Ohristian aud a valiant soldier? He must climb the Hill Difficulty and not seek to evade or avoid struggles or conflicts. God's resting-places,· like the Palace Beautiful, crown the heights of hills up which we toil, and Beulah Land lies beyond the place of Apollyon's assault.
That Palace Beautiful, how. it reminds us of fellowship with God, that makes the Ohristian graces our constant companions, gives us rest in His peace, glimpses and foretastes of the coming glory, and arms us for the fight b6fore us. Everywhere the allegory is but a veil of golden tissue through which we clearly see the features of the truth.
It would not be consistent with our limited space, nor indeed our primary purpose, to follow further into detail the beauties of this allegorical prose-poem. We had designed nothing more than to pay a deserved tribute, among the thousand offerings which this bicentenary will prompt, to Bunyan's great work, as a missionary agency. The whole Ohristian world delights to read the" Prilgrim's Progress"; from childhood to old age it fascinates the reader with a charm ever new. Even Papists, with a few expurgations, are glad to use it. And when it was translated into the Japanese and Oree languages, for use among the Buddhists of the Sunrise Kingdom and the red Indians of this Occidental world, it was at least the eighty-second time that a new language had robed this versatile tale of the human heart.
He who has the missionary spirit cannot be shut out from a dying world. The cell of the prison will become the pulpit for a world-wide evangelism. 'rhe tongue will find utterance, if only to the ears of a jailer and fellow-prisoners. The pen will become a tongue to tell the story of redemption, and the press will bepome the ally of the pen in making its voice universally heard and immortally effective. What a blessing was Bedford jail, that made John Bunyan the omnipresent and undying preacher to the millions whom his voice could never have reached through the centuries during whiCih his voice is hushed in death!
If our lives are given to God, they may be safely left in His care. Not a hair of oui' head will perish. The lamp we have sought to light at His altars and then to place high up upon His lampstand, He will not put under a measure or quench in darkness. We may think our influence circumscribed and even lost, when He is but enlarging its circumference and extending its dominion. How wide is the circle of true missionaries and how enduring the period of their power! Two hundred years have passed since the tinker of Elstow breathed his last. But like the fabled grave of another beloved John, at Ephesus, the very earth heaves with his breathing. He is not dead and cannot die.
A ROMANCE OF MODERN MISSIONS
In every hamlet of Ohristendom and every center of gospel light in heathendom, Bunyan still teaches sinners how to become saints, and pilgrims how to make progress in holy living.
Such a life and such a book as Bunyan's would have been impossible had he held lax views of gospel truth. Loose notions of law and penalty, the guilt of sin and the need of Jesus, forfeit stalwarlness of Christian character and energy of endeavor. We may call evangelical doctrine illiberal and narrow, but it is the backbone of all evangelism. Somehow, on just such diet, have been nourished the most heroic men and women among the martyrs and missionaries of Ohrist. Because these" severe" truths are God's truths they give to character masculinity and muscularity, and to influence both power and permanence. It is because this great work of John Bunyan's is true to God and man, to the awful fact and guilt of sin, to the dreadful penalty of broken law and the blessed deliverance of penitent faith; it is because this allegory is true to the Bible, the Ohrist and the Holy Spirit, that God has chosen, as one of the chief commentaries upon His Holy Word, Bunyan's" PilgVm's Progress."
And is this death-what men call endless sleep? When Life's high powers in ceaseless action keep? In every land remote, in every age, The pilgrim shall peruse this charming page, And learn through wicket gate to find the Way That leads from darkness to the Land of Day; Shall at the Cross lay every burden down, And pass the river to the goal and crown. He is not dead who guides the faltering feet To where the saints in tearless triumph meet; Who, when his tongue is still, by magic pen Proclaims the gospel to his feUQw-men ; Who, by a hundred voices, loud and clear, Is still discipling nations, far a.nd near. If this be death, what is it not to die, Like stars whose deathless ray illumes the sky?
A ROMANOE OF MODERN MISSIOS.
BY REV. J. W. BASHFORD, PH.D., BUFFALO, N. Y.
[Concluded from page 487.] THE great northwest region beyond the Rocky Mountains was supposed to be practically worthless. Public men naturally believed that our western coast was as cold as the eastern on the same parallels of latitude. They were not aware of the great warm current in the Pacific which raises the temperature of the whole northwest region as far east as Dakota. In fact, many leading statesmen were opposed to the extension of the American Republic west of the ROcky Mountains. Senator Benton of Missouri, father-in-law of Gen. Fremont, and author of "ThirlyYears in Oongress," perhaps the best-informed Senator west of the Mississippi, said in 1825, "The ridge of the Rocky Mountains may be named as a convenient, natural and everlasting boundary. Along this ridge the western limits of the Republic should be drawn, and the statue of the fabled god Terminus should be erected on its highest peak, never to be thrown down." Senator Winthrop of Massachusetts quoted Benton's remark in the U. S. Senate in 1844, and heartily approved it. In 1843 another U. S. Senator declared in the Senate Chamber that he would not give a pinch of snuff for the whole territory west of the Rocky Mountains, and thanked God for His mercy in placing these mountains as our western boundary. Even in 1846 Senator Winthrop declared that we would not be straitened for elbow-room in the west for a thousand years, and that neither the west nor the country at large had any real interest in retaining Oregon. Even Gen. Jackson, a western man, held the opinion in 1825 that our safety lay in a compact territory and a dense popUlation. Webster in 1845 a.pproved Gen. Jackson's view, and said, "The Government is very likely to be endangered, in my opinion, by a farther enlargement of the territorial surface." This sentiment, combined with the opinion that a desert tract more than 700 miles wide lay east of the Rocky Mountains, that the mountains themselves were impassable, and that the western coast after it was reached was worthless save for hunting and trapping, combined to make the transfer of this territory to Great Britain a matter of light concern. In fact, it was simply due to divine Providence on the one side, and to our national pride upon the other, that this territory was not yielded to Great Britain in the Ashburton treaty of 1843. It was a second matter of divine Providence that the Methodist missionaries had entered Oregon and taken a sufficient number of settlers over to outnumber the Hudson Bay Company. It was a third matter of divine Providence that Dr. Whitman and Gen. Lovejoy should attempt the most heroic ride recorded in history, and that Dr. Whitman should be permitted to complete the journey.
A new phase is now put upon the question. A man stands face to face with Daniel Webster and President Tyler and assures them that they control a territory of boundless possibilities west of the Rocky Mountains. A personal residence of six years and the eight years' experience of the Methodist missionaries show the climate to be remarkably mild. He claims that with the poorest cultivation they have produced crops which outstrip the most careful husbandry in Virginia. The fish in the rivers almost interfere with navigation by their abundance. Mr. Tyler and Mr. Webster would as well talk of ceding to Great Britain' all New England as of yielding the northwest part of the United States. Better still, the claim that 700 miles of desert lie east of the Rocky Mountains and that it is impossible to enter Oregon from the east is a story of the Hudson Bay Company. The Doctor himself had a wagon in Oregon which he took through the mountains in 1'836.
President Tyler showed how his credulity was taxed by his reply: "Your long ride and frozen limbs bespeak your sincerity. Your missionary credentials vouch for your character." The President evidently thought his statements needed the support of his missionary credentials. Dr. Whitman simply asked that no farther action should be taken in regard to the boundary west of the Rocky Mountains until he could lead a band of emigrants .over and prove that the passage was open, the climate mild, and the soil rich.
Whether or not Webster distrusted Dr. Whitman we cannot now fully settle. From all the accounts we are inclined to think that the great Secretary believed he was in contact with a half crazy western land agent, though he knew that Whitman had no title to a foot of land in all Oregon. But Tyler gave his personal pledge that he would not sign a treaty until Dr. Whitman had time to lead a colony to Oregon. Nor was the effect of Whitman's visit lost on Mr. Webster. In a. letter to Edward Everett, then Minister to Great Britain, in 1840, Mr. Webster had said: "The ownership of the whole country is very likely to follow the greater settlement and larger amount of population." So he was in hearty sympathy with the effort Jason Lee had already made, and with Dr. Whitman's proposal to take emigrants to Oregon. In his next letter to our Minister to England, after Dr. Whitman's visit, Mr. Webster is ca.reful to claim the territory which the Doctor had described in such glowing colors: "The Government of the U. S. has never offered any line south of forty-nine, and never will. It behooves all concerned to regard this as a settled point." Again, near the close of the letter, he says: "England must not expect anything south of the forty-ninth degree." England was expecting territory south of the forty-ninth parallel larger than New England, and would probably have secured it had it not been for the missionaries. Mr. Webster leaves no doubt as to the importance of the missionaryoccupation of Oregon, in a remark which he later made to a friend: "It is safe to assert that our country owes it to Dr. Whitman and his associate missionaries that all its territory west of the Rocky Mountains and south as far as the Columbia River is not owned by Great Britain."
Meanwhile Gen, Lovejoy was not idle. He was spreading reports of the soil and climate of Oregon. Whitman had a brief circular printed in St. Louis announcing that he would lead without charge a colony to Oregon. Dr. Whitman in June 1843 met Gen. Lovejoy at a point on the Missouri, not far from the present site of Kansas City. Over two hundred families of emigrants had been collected by their joint efforts. Dr. Whitman piloted the company safely across, and when in September 1843 his long line of 200 wagons with 870 American settlers filed through the Blue Mountains into the valley of the Columbia, the Americans outnumbered the English five to one. The Americans at once organized a provisional government to counteract the influence of Gov. Simpson and the Hudson Bay Co. They elected Dr. Elijah White, who had been sent out by the Methodist Missionary Society in 1836, governor; and this government was obeyed until the United States organized the Territory five years later. The Secretary of the Interior, in a decision awarding the Methodist Missionary Society its property at the Dalles, said: "From 1834, when the American missionaries first penetrated this remote region, a contest was going on as to which nation should finally possess it; and that probably depended upon the fact as to which could first settle it with emigrants." (The Hudson Bay Company and Jesuit priests were on the one side.) "On the other were the missionaries of the American Board and the Methodist Society, who had established their stations among the Indians and who attracted the tide of American emigration that turned the scale in favor of our government, resulting in the establishment of the Territorial Government of Or.egon, wholly American in interest which exercised all the functions of government until the erection of the Territory of Oregon by Congress in August, 1848."
The inspired author of the Gospels mentioned as a token of divine favor that Peter caught a fish and found in its mouth a stater, $1.10, by which he was able to pay the temple tax of Jesus and himself. The salmon fisheries of the Columbia and its tributaries yielded last year over $15,OOO,000-about twice as much as the contributions of the entire Christian Church for missions. Would not a Paul or a John to-day find larger illustration of the divine Providence? A territory larger than all New England with finer climate, richer natural resources, and facing the most populous part of the globe saved to our government by missionary enterprise is God's way of saying to the Christians of the nineteenth century, "A hundred fold in this world and in the world to come eternal life."
But this is not the end. It took three years after the Americans began pouring into Oregon by the thousand and were outnumbering the British five to one to induce Great Britain to sign the treaty. Noone dreams that the boundaries would have been settled in 1846 had not a thousand Americans through missionary effort reached Oregon in 1843. But in less than three years after the papers were signed by Great Britain gold was discovered in California, then belonging to Mexico. When the negotiations for our western boundaries had dragged along since 1783, and Great Britain was so loth to give up her claims to that territory, do you suppose that had she waited until gold had been discovered and reports of untold wealth had spread l~ke wild-fire-do you suppose that she would then have signed away her claim?
But there is another important fact which made it necessary that the Oregon_ question should be settled not only before gold was discovered in '49, but before 1847. The south western part of th~ United States, embracing part of Texas and all of New Mexico and Oalifornia, was owned by 'Mexico in 1846. A few days before Great Britain signed the final settlement, war had broken out between Mexico and the United States. Had this information reached Great Britain in time she would at least have delayed to sign the settlement of July 18, '46. Then, in our war with Mexico of '47-'48, Mexico would have been backed by Great Britain. With this international alliance the war would have been prolonged until the discovery of gold in Oalifornia in '49. This discovery would have led Mexico and Great Britain to redouble their energies for a share of this western continent. How rapidly these events press upon each other! How certain it seems that only the missionary settlement of Oregon, which resulted in the yielding of all claims by Great Britain before she learned of the Mexican war, alone saved us from a great international contest with two powers, one of them the greatest upon the earth! You say we could have waged the war and won against both foreign powers? Possibly. But the United States could far better afford to give the Methodist Missionary Society and the American Board each a million dollars a year in peI'petuity than to have incurred the cost of this gigantic war, to say nothing of its bloodshed and desolation. These Flathead Indians were as truly messengers from God as was the vision of Macedonia which came to Paul; and Jason and Daniel Lee and Marcus Whitman were following plans as miraculous and providential as Paul in leaving Palestine and starting toward the west.
But the acquisition by the United States of territory of vast extent and boundless wealth in the West was not the end of this missionary enterprise. We sent our brothers out from our homes to bless others. They indirectly helped us win the greatest blessing for ourselves. The Oregon and Oalifornia questions were settled in our favor in 1848, only thirteen years before the Rebellion. We were then called upon to fight the great battle between freedom and slavery. You remember that east of the Mississippi river the free territory of the United States embraced a little over 400,000 square miles, and the slave territory nearly 500,000 square miles. After crosing the Mississippi river and running through Missouri the line embracing the slave popUlation fell rapIdly south. It was this western territory into which slaves had not yet been brought that restored the balance in area to the side of freedom in this contest; and Oalifornia, which had been acquired for the extension of slavery, was providentially settled by northern enterprise and poured her money and men into the Union side in that gigantic struggle. Suppose this territory had been held by foreign powers or that we had been still battling for this rich gold field against Great Britain and Mexico, and suppose that Mexico had been backed by France in the interest of absolutism and the Roman Oatholic faith, as was the case during the Rebellion, do you not see that it would have been, humanly speaking, impossible to free the slaves and preserve the Union?
The divine Providence is the key to our national history. The British lion chained at the 49th parallel of north latitude; Mexico backed by France rendered powerless by the previous conquest of her western territory; and California pouring her gold and her men into the Union side during the struggle for freedom are God's providential way of saying to a missionary age, "one hundred fold in this world and in the world to come eternal life. "
Once more, while we sometimes entertain an undue prejudice against , the Roman Catholic Church, yet no candid man can doubt that the Protestant faith is far more helpful to free institutions and to modern civilization than is the faith of Rome. But the contest in Oregon was a struggle between the Jesuit and the Protestant. Had not Jason Lee gone to Oregon in '34 and led out American missionaries and settlers, had not Marcus Whitman followed his missionary call in '35 and led over nine hundred more American settlers in '43, had not the four or five thousand American settlers organized a provincial government in '43 and elected a Methodist missionary governor, the Jesuits, backed by Great Britain in the north, and by Mexico and France in the south, would to-day hold our western coast and shape its civilization for the twentieth century. A territory larger and richer than the Atlantic seaboard saved to our government, the whole Pacific slope thrown into the balance of freedom in the greatest contest of the nineteenth century, and the civilization of the richest part of the globe started under Protestant auspices for the twentieth century is God's providential answer to the faith of Jason and Daniel Lee, and Marcus Whitman and H. H. Spaulding and the unnamed heroes and heroines who died for the Oregon mission, and whose bones rest in unknown graves in the valley of the Willamette. When the popUlation of that golden coast rises to thirty millions, will not the landing-place of the ship that sailed from Boston with Methodist missionaries in 1836 be the Plymouth Rock of the Pacific, and Whitman Institute and Willamette University be their Harvard and their Yale? Will there not arise a Longfellow or a Buchanan Read to sing of a ride more heroic than Sheridan's, and of far greater importance than that of Paul Revere? Will not a spiritual descendant of a Mrs. Hemans arise to sing of a second pilgrim band who left home and native land not for freedom to worship God themselves, but to carry light to those who sat in darkness?
572 EGYPT'S RETURN AND HEALING
EGYPT'S RETURN AND HEALING.-No. II.
BY CHARLES S. ROBINSON, D.D., NEW YORK.
WE have already contemplated one phase of prophetic announcement concerning the ancient kingdom of the Pharaohs, and have seen how rapidly was fulfilled the prediction that it should become desolate, that the nation should be scattered and wasted. The princes of Zoan before long showed themselves fools, and the princes of Noph were deceived to their ruin, for the mouth of the Lord had already spoken their doom.
But now there is a second verse of equal force, and of a serener temper, far more hopeful for the depressed nation. He who smites here covenants to heal; there are certain conditions annexed to the promise He makes, but these are only the common conditions of pardon in case a penitent is forgiven. Egypt must" return," and the people must be eager in "entreaty" for the blessing engaged: "And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them."
We keep in mind what has been said concerning the loss of political integrity, the dorninance of foreigners, the changes of the atmosphere, the pestilence, the vices, and the destructive rains of heaven. The worst of this, however, is found in the debasement of the nation's feeling. Egypt has lost heart, and so is altogether gorie astray. Let us consider also that with these violent interjections of an outside and dangerous European spirit among the people, the old reverences are gone. A Mohammedan will stop in his prayers any time to ask a traveler for backshish; he is not in earnest, but is working under a mere mechanical pressure of tradition, so much to the square inch. No patriotism, no loyalty, no public spirit, no interest in anything can be found worth mentioning in all that land. Intrigue is the basis for· each form of government, and assassination is the plan of revolutions. No homes are established; the family tie is almost nothing. There can grow up no sentiment, no poetry, no imagination, under such a regimen. It would be preposterous to think of such a thing as -embalming Joseph or Jacob, or having any pomp of real feelmg over any leader or friend whatsoever. We read the romances of "Uarda" and "The Sisters," written by the historian Ebers; such scenes of venerable and youthful life, with love and fidelity and truth in them, could not be discovered there in Egypt now. It was a crime, long generations ago, to pledge the sacred mummies of one's father and his ancestors; but one might redeem an abhorrent pawn like this in three months. If he did not he fell into infamy the most scorching that could fasten itself upon an Egyptian in that'grand old age. One king, belonging to the fourth dynasty, Asychis by name, is mentioned by Herodotus as the earliest known man to put in peril his ancestor's body; and the Father of History denounces with an unusual vigor so frightful a scandal: "He who stakes such a pledge and fails to redeem the debt shall sleep, after his death, neither in his father's tomb nor in any other, and burial shall be denied to his descendants." Thus did that reverent era punish the villany of ingrates.
Now contrast this with the modern treatment of mummies. For the I last hundred years has been conducted a traffic in the contents of ancient sepulchers. Pyramids have been broken into, mausoleums have relentlessly been pillaged, bodies been used for fuel, burning the faster because of the resins and gums with which they were embalmed. Modern funerals are a mere mockery. Processions are met in the street as coarse and tumultuous as anywhere among the heathen; a singing, swinging, screaming throng, full of gesticUlation that means nothing, proceeding afterwards to the residence of the departed man for a festivity at the expense of the heirs. The dignity of the former generations is all swept away, and a shallow hypocrisy is flaunted in its place.
Add to all this the devastations and demoralizations of the wars which have been waged on the soil of Egypt. The history of the region around Cairo and Alexandria is nothing but a bulletin of siege and rapine. The Nile has run with blood more than once since the day of the ten plagues. Lately, the moral destructions have been by far more serious; for intemperance and immorality have become rampant. I have myself seen viler pictures, more indecent photographs, on public sale in the windows of Cairo than I ever saw in Paris, even during those awful days just before and after the Commune. And drunkenness is the beastliest of sins when it lays hold of those Mohammedan renegades. If one disobeys the Koran, and dares the loss of heaven, for the sake of giving himself up to intoxication, his sin will burn him soul and body.
Thus it appears that the scourge has fallen on Egypt as the prophet predicted. Does one insist, then, that still there is hope for a country so lost? The answer to that question is found in the same way as was the answer to the other we have already considered. The "smiting" and the "healing" seem to have followed the usual law of divinely ordered providences. As we did before, we must look at particulars.
Now, one of God's processes in the fulfilment of prophecy is what we call restoration. He deals invariably with remnants. Some abiding good is supposed to be left behind whenever such ruin is wrought. The old times come back again, and the ancient standards are raised afresh into prominence. There is intense significance in the expression used in this verse of Scripture that we have just now been quoting, for the declaration is made that Egypt shall "return even to the Lord." There is implication in this that Egypt has had a history of obedience heretofore, that the seed of the gospel has once flourished there. Can any facts be found to substantiate such a claim? Has this African continent an honorable record of religious life worth "returning" to now ? Not before Isaiah's time, perhaps, but in later years of ecclesiastical annals there was great service credited by the churches to Egypt.
When Herodotus, the Father of History, began his best book of Oriental annals, he said as his opening sentence: "I shall now speak at greater length of Egypt, as it contains more wonders than any other of the lands and is pre-eminent above all the countries for works that a writer can hardly describe." But Herodotus, poor heathen that he was, could not know that the greatest glory of that spot was to be found in its singular relations to the gospel of God. There the church was begun; there the dispensation of the law was fashioned; there Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was housed from the violence of Herod; there the prophecy was fulfilled, "Out of Egpyt have I called my Son." Thus this almost forgotten strip of territory naturally grew to be the earliest of the great centers of Christianity in wealth, intelligence, and doctrinal orthodoxy. For some scores of years one stronghold of the patristic faith was conspicuous along the northern shore of Africa. There a fresh hold was gained by the use of the Greek language; there the Pentateuch was transiated by the noblest scholars of the age; there council after council was held, in which the greatest errors were silenced which ever harassed the churches, and the grandest doctrines were proclaimed which ever buildcd them up. The Scripture says those good old days are to come back again, and that strip of land redeemed from the sands is yet to grow fruitful and beautiful with graces for God's glory. It may not be far away from even our time when there may be another good Augustine at a new Hippo, another Aurelius at some Christian Carthage, and another Athanasius to stand lor the truth at a more glorious Alexandria than those ages ever knew before, in the purer Egypt yet to be !
Add to this a fresh proof: the declarations of prophecy concerning Egypt are more profuse than those concerning any other nation, unless perhaps we except Assyria.. God will see what is best in the past faith, and will restore it. He will see what is best in coming histories, and will secure it. He will accept kindly and gently what Egypt herself is doing to grow wiser, holier and better, and when He fin,ds a feebleness which is open to pity, He will not break the bruised reed.
Influences are at work already. War has been like" the breaker" promised of old, and has opened strange sluices of information, and of course has awakened new interest. Prayer and effort are going steadily through the land hand-in-hand, and tokens of unmistakable prosperity are beginning to appear. Civilization is opening the path for gospel grace. To us the crescent on the Turkish flag does not seem to be the symbol of the young moon, but of the old ;' it is waning rather than waxing. The stamp of a firmer tread is felt now on the Egyptian soil. The sound of a voice sweeter than that of the muezzin from an old minaret is often heard in that desolate country; singing comes forth from some of the dwellings; prayer is offered publicly by converts in dedicated houses of God; missionary work "has been prospered marvelously in that unpromising land, and God is fulfilling His covenant rapidly. An American Sunday-school has been in progress there in Cairo for several years. The experience is almost weird, when one winds his way through a labyrinth of streets crowded with Turks and Nubians, cafes and Punch-and-Judy stands on every side, bands playing and trains marching, soon to find a sheltered room, clean and bright, in which he listens to the teachers from his own far-away country as they give the New Testament lessons, just as they would at home, to a large throng of pupils, old or youug, as it happens, from ten to seventy years of age, all devout, interested,full of zeal as they read what God is doing for their souls, and what He has covenanted to do for their troubled nation by and by.
They repeat the Lord's Prayer in the beautiful Arabic; they sing, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," and hymns like that. And one scholar, an earnest Christian, sent this message to be delivered across the ocean: " America is a good land; everybody loves Jesus. Ask your girls to pray for our people, that we may all begin to love Him and serve Him too."
And, finally, the most practical proof of the divine covenant as to Egypt's ultimate conversion is found in the entrance of the British influence and rule there. The coming in of foreigners is not a curse, but rather a benediction to Egypt. The finances are better managed in these days than they have been for centuries before. The national indebtedness is more firmly provided for; the bonds have risen from seventy to one hundred per cent. lately; blood and treasure have not absolutely been wasted on that soil by the best intelligence of Great Britain through these years. Say what we will concerning England's domination in the East, one thing at least is true: no civilized Christian man or woman has visited the lands of the Bible, traveling along among the heterogeneous peoples, and crossing the frontiers of miscellaneous governments, without feeling at the moment when the border-line of any British possession was reached: "Here is law and order, here is truth and decency and sa.fety! Happy is the nation that hears the tread of a foreigner so beneficent, a stranger so kind, a conqueror so noble!"
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.-NO. VI.
[EDITORU:L.-A. T. p.] THE MCALL MISSION IN FRAN,CE.
THERE is a class of phenomena connected with modern triumphs of the gospel in unpromising fields which is so remarkable that it should be placed conspicuously by itself as an example and proof of a supernatural force at work. There are some barriers which have been removed so suddenly, so unexpectedly, so peculiarly, that tb,e hand of God has been very marked in connection with them: they have subsided even before they have been encountered by the advancing mission band. It is to one of these examples of the subsidence of obstacles that we now call attention.
The promise that "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," is not only a prophecy but an illustration of the world's evangelization. The time is coming when the good news will have spread in every direction like the omnipresent sea in its vast bed. The disciples of Christ have only to be faithful to their great trust, and. like the pulsations of great tidal waves swept onward by mighty winds like the breath of God, the knowledge of the Lord shall JI).ove onward till it touches every foreign shore, advance into every strait and bay and estuary, and "sound the roar of its surf-line" from Greenland and Siberia to the southern capes and Australia, and from Britain and Iceland to Japan and Polynesia. The gospel is destined to be all-pervasive, like the sea, the air, the light. God is giving us some hints on a vast scale how He may bring all this about.
The sea may flood the land either by the rising of the ocean Or the sinking of the shore, and the subsidence of the land is in effect the upheaval of the sea, since the comparative level is reversed. How often have disciples rejoiced to observe those mighty movements of God's grace, which, like the rapid rising of some far-reaching tidal wave; have flooded extensive districts of the world with the knowledge and the power of the gospel; and devout souls look and pray for the day when that great prophecy shall find its fulfilment, and some such wave o~ revival shall sweep over the whole habitable globe. But it behooves us not to forget that without this startling upheaval of the sea the ocean can make its bed on the continents if they sink below its level. Often in the history of missions has God gone before His people and, by the slow or sudden subsidence of opposing obstacles and barriers, prepared the way for the flooding of the land; and in many cases systems of false faith, or customs of formidable antiquity, that have stood like mountain barriers of adamant to keep out the gospel flood, have actually disappeared, as though the Himalayas had suddenly sunk out of sight, leaving China and India to flow together. In fact, the more carefully we study missions the more we shall see that the false faiths of the world are almost if not altogether without exception in a state not only of decline but of decay. An unseen work of undermining is going on, and some day we may all be startled by the general subsidence of barriers which have hitherto seemed as deep- founded and as high-reaching as the everlasting hills. We content ourselves with one example, which may be used both to demonstrate and illustrate this truth.
The eyes of the world are to-day on France, beholding with aston- ishment the wonderful work of God there. Yet this is but an instance of this subsidence. France has been the right arm of papal power for centuries, and seemed, a century since, likely to develop the antichrist.
How little we knew what preparations were going forward for the in- flowing of the gospel tides, and what a divine power was conducting this preparation !
In 1877, Paul Bouchard, ex-Mayor of Beaune, wrote an open letter to the bishop of his diocese, renouncing Romanism and transferring his adhesion to Protestantism, on grounds of consist~cy and patriot- ism. It was not the act of a man converted to a nel-ta.iih so much as disgusted with an old one. ' He forsook the State religF8~' as a patriot and political economist, denouncing Roman Oatholicism as the enemy of social and political progress, the ally of ignorance and superstition.
His act was one echo of Gambetta's declaration that the Romish Ohurch is the enemy of French republicanism-" clericalism is the foe of France." But he went beyond Gambetta, for he reproached him with atheism; Bouchard took this great step alone, and boldly wrote five tracts for the people, giving wider expression to his views.
At the same time Eugene Reveillaud, a lawyer, journalist, orator and statesman, born and bred a Romanist, a college graduate and a free- thinker, had his eyes opened to see the rottenness of Romanism, and became the champion of Protestantism, on similar grounds to those of Bouchard, and wrote a pamphlet on the "Religious Question and the Protestant Solution." Oompelled to give up the Papal Ohurch, he felt he could not be without a church and a religion, but had as yet no change of heart. The faithful Huguenot pastors boldly taught that Protestantism required more than a mere renunciation of Romanism : and in July, 1878, in the Protestant meeting-house at Troyes, Reveil- laud arose and addressed the congregation, declaring his conversion, and manifesting a remarkable baptism of the Spirit. From January, 1879, his tongue and pen have been enthusiastically given to the evan- gelization of France. He publishes a weekly paper, Le Signal, and and goes everywhere-to halls, theaters, ball-rooms and barns-to address the people, showing them the need of a new gospel of faith, repent- ance and holiness. .
Our generation has seen no religious movement to compare with this arising of a whole people. "There is Protestantism in the air." In Avignon, the old residence of the popes, Renouvier adds to his "Critique Philosophique" a "Critique Religeuse" to chronicle the Protestant movement; and in Belgium Emile de Laveleye writes on the "Future of the Catholic Nations," a warning to all peoples of the inevitable results of Romanist supremacy.
The rapid and radical change that has come over France no one can conceive who has not been there during this quiet religious revolution. Scarce a century ago Protestants were tortured and murdered, till even Voltaire's atheism vented its invective against perseccution for religious opinion, and shamed France out of her course. Then came the reaction of atheism, but no religious liberty. But under McMahon, a majority of nine ministers of the Waddington cabinet were Huguenots, though the Huguenots represented but one-twentieth of the population. November 2, 1879, Protestant worship was held at Versailles, in the palace of Louis XIV., and not far from the chamber where he died, beneath the room where Madame de Maintenon induced him to sign the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes nearly two hundred years ago.
The news. of one week ~ould fill a journal with startling itemspeople assembling in hosts everywhere, in halls, tents and open airlistening with intense interest to denunciations of Romish priestcraft, and the good news of grace: and families, fifty at a time, coming out to take their places with the Protestants. It is scarce three hundred years since the St. Bartholemew masssacre in 1572, and yet the nation is turning from Rome. The McAll Mission has developed with a rapidity unparalleled in church history, establishing new preaching stations as fast as men and money can be obtained, and finding everywhere an open door. The tides of a pure gospel that surged vainly against mountain barriers for centuries are now rushing in like a flood. But it is a case of subsidence. The tide has not risen so much as the barriers have given way, and so France is being covered with the knowledge of the Lord.
But let us not hastily dismiss this marvelous story of missions in the very citadel of the papacy. Go and study the work of McAll and his associates. See that man at the very crisis of affairs called suddenly and unexpectedly to take the lead of the most conspicuous movement of modern times. He did nothing to prepare the way; he knew nothing of the grand movements that had made the way open. He simply went to Paris on a visit, but it was God who was guiding. He had made the hole in the board, and now set the peg in it, as Sydney Smith would say. Never in the course of history has the right man, at the right time, dropped into the right place, if Robert W. McAn did not in 18711 Before, he. would have come too early; after, he would have come too late. He did not know, and could not, the ot e~ernaJ fitness thinlSs. Let us bow" and say with Pharaoh's magicians, "It is the finger of God." The steps in this history it may be worth while once more to put on record, for the encouragement of our faith that there is a supernatural factor which cannot be eliminated from the work of missions.
In the summer of 1871, Rev. Robert W. McAll and his wife, visiting Paris at the close of the terrible war with Germany, and led by a 'deep desire to reach the poor, priest-ridden workingmen with the gospel, were giving away tracts in the hotels and on the public streets, when a workingman said: "If anyone will come among us and teach us, not a gospel of priestcraft and superstition, but of truth and liberty, many of us are ready to hear."
Mr. McCall returned home, but above.the murmur of the waves and the hum of busy life he heard that voice, "If anyone will come and teach us • . • we are ready to hear." He said to himself, "Is this God's call? Shall I go?" Friends said, "No!" But a voice within said, "Yes." And he left his English parish and went back-back to Belleville, whence, in days of anarchy and violence, issued forth the desperate mobs to burn and destroy and kill.. There, in January, 1872, in the Rue Julien La Croix, he opened one little hall in a faubourg of 100,000 desperate, lawless communists; one man conducting a gospelmeeting to save millions! In the midst of men known as assassins he had no weapon but a pocket Bible-his" double-barrel revolver," and in a district worse to work in than St. Giles in Londou he began to tell the old story of Jesus. Soon the little place was crowded, and a larger room became a necessity; and sixteen years later that one gospel hall has become 112, in which, in oue year, have been held 14,000 religious meetings, with a million hearers, and 4,000 services for children, with 200,000 attendants. No such history is to be found elsewhere, and no statistics can adequately represent the results of a work so apostolic in principle and. pattern. These many services are "recruiting offices" for new volunteers for the Lord's army; no new sect or church is formed, but converts are gathered, and then fall into the neighboring churches. But the work is only at its beginning. The cry comes from all parts of Frauce for new stations, and the work needs only more men and more means to be indefinitely multiplied.
The McAlI Mission is perhaps the most remarkable movement of Providence in modern times. At the critical hour of the history of France, God raised up the right man for the place and the work. It was in the very period of transition, when, breaking with Romanism and the clericalism which Gambetta declared to be the foe of France, the uation was left without a religion, and in danger of drifting into infidelity and atheism. Mr. McAll, hearing the call of God, fell almost unconsciously into his place in the divine plan, and introduced a mode of worship without a vestige of superstition or a relic of empty formalism and hollow ceremonial. He was building more wisely than he knew; but the Architect who callea him to the work had. prepared the material for the structure, and guided in its erection. Without those very principles that underlie the work of the McAll Mission there could not have been this phenomenal success. Those very principles are a proof that God is in the work.
1.' The Gospel for the Masses.-The leader of the movement and his fellow-helpers are moved with compassion for the multitude~ that have no true knowledge of Ohrist and faint for spiritual food, scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Mr. McAll has confidence in the adaptation of the gospel to every need of every human soul, in the accessibility of the common people, and in the susceptibility even of the criminal classes to approach.
2. The Pmoer of Pass'ion for Souls.-Who dared to hope that this priest-ridden people, ignorant, superstitious, hardened and halfatheistic, would exhibit such readiness to receive the Protestant gospel? ·But love is omnipotence; and before it even the barriers of a strange language melt away, and the iron doors of distrust and hatred open as of their own accord. Simple love for souls, unmixed with self-advantage, was the moving-spring of all this work, and proved resistless. When Mr. McAll began his work he could not speak French. but he could utter two sentences in the tongue of those workingmen. One was, "God loves you," and the other, "I love you"; and upon those two, as pillars, the whole arch rests.
3. The Attraction of a Free Go.<pel.-From the first free distribution of tracts on the streets of Paris until the work reached its present grand dimensions nothing has at once surprised and drawn the workingmen more than this, that for all this ministry to their good they have not been asked a centime! The feast spread on a hundred tables has been without money and without price. They have associated all that is called religion with a tax, heavy and oppressive. The priests have fattened on the money paid for masses for the dead, and cathedral churches have been reared out of poor men's scanty wages. But all this is an unselfish labor, for which no return is asked.
3. The Simplicity of Gospel Work.-These methods are at the farthest remove from ritualistic formalism and ecclesiastical ceremony. Any place of meeting is good enough where the people can be com- fortably gathered. A Bible, a simple stand, a small reed-organ, a few' hundred chairs, a plain, earnest address, singing, prayer, hand-to-hand contact-this is all the machinery of the greatest mission movement of modern times! A bare hand reached out to the poor workingman, through which may be felt the warm throb of a loving heart, with not even a kid glove between to act as a non-conductor-that is the secret of power.
5. The Exemplification of true Ohristian Unity.-The effect is both unsectarian and undenominational. No lines of division appear between workers, and no "tribal standards" are unfurled. Christ's is the only name known. They are "all one," and hence "the world believes." The energies often expended in contests and conflic~s, or at least rivalries and jealousies among disciples, are here all turned into the channel of pure evangelistic work.
6. The Moral Eilucation of the Oommon People.-~r. McAll saw in Belleville extreme poverty and misery side by side with mental and moral degradation. He felt that material and spiritual conditions must be remedied together, and that the gospel was the lever to raise the whole man to a higher plane. Hence the prominence given to schools and class instruction.
The work has been successful along all these lines, and the more successful because projected along all these lines. In recognition and encouragement, the "Societe Nationale d'Encouragement au Bien" presented McAll with a silver medal for his devot-ion to humanity, and the" Societe Libre d'Instruction et d'Education" with another medal for services rendered to popular instruction. These public acknowledgments of McAll as a philanthropist and educator were aside from all questions of religion; while the Government also recognized his work as the best security for order and good citizenship, declaring his gospel stations the best" police measure" for the prevention of disorder and crime.
This humble man came to Paris, and removed the barriers between the "unchurched and churched," and came close to the people; gathered the multitudes into his "halls," making those halls not only nurseries of piety, but grand training-schools for future evangelism; meeting papacy and infidelity, not controversially and negatively, but experimentally and positively. And here, where it was thought there was no field for evangelization, a foreigner proved papal France to be the foremost missionary field. And so among this mercurial people, whose very blood is quicksilver, God is carrying on a work whose depth and reality are beyond all question. The gospel is God's remedy both for infidelity and instability, and so far and so fast as the gospel permeates the French nationality every noble characteristic develops.
McAll has put in motion a host of agencies, all evangelistic. Mission stations, with schools, classes, mothers' meetings, prayer-meetings, evangelists, visitors, tract-distributors.-everything thoroughly evangelical, variations of one key-note-" Christ crucified." The labors are great, of providing speakers for so many meetings, and with no free day but Saturday. The appliances are very comprehensive and complete, avoiding only open-air preaching, which conflicts with muni- cipallaw. The methods are very simple; no expensive buildings or outlay-a clean, whitewashed wine-shop or commodious room, adorned with texts and provided with platform and seats. And, withal, no mission anywhere is more economically, honestly and conscientiously
THE WORLD'S MISSIONARY OONFERENOE
conducted and administered. Every centime is accoqnted for in detail.
Here, then, even in France, long supposed to be the most hopeless field for Protestant missions, we behold another of the modern miracles which constrain us to exclaim, "What hath God wrought I"
THE WORLD'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.
LETTER FROM REV. A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
[Our editorial associate is present, as .. delegate-at-Iarge from the churches and societies of the United States," and an active and prominent participator in the doings ot thhl Grand Oonncil. The readers of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD will be treated to graphic sketches of its inter· esting and important proceedings from his facile pen, as well as enjoy the reading of many of the important papers given to the Oonference, obtained by Dr. Pierson's personal presence and ac- qnaintance with many of the leading workers in the mission field. We give belOW the first Instal· ment, as an earnest of good things ~come. We have kept back the press to be able to give at this early date an acconnt of the opening of this world's council, which is sure to mark a new epoch in the religiOUS history of the world.-J. M. s.] LONDON, June 11, 1888. My DEAR DR. SHERWOOD :-Saturday, at five o'clock P.M., the great World's Conference on Missions assembled in Exeter Hall. Great as were the expectations that had gathered around the occasion, they were all surpassed by the reality. It had been the thought of the commit- tee that, before entering formally upon the business of the convention, a reception should be given to the delegates, affording an opportunity for free, familiar and social intercourse and acquaintance. Tables were set at the opposite ends of the great hall, capable of accommodating hundreds of persons, and after supper a few words of welcome were to be spoken, and a short prayer and praise service was to conclude this first general meeting. But all these arrangements proved inadequate; they were divinely displaced by the unexpected throng that crowded Exeter Hall and made locomotion almost impossible. Where thousands had gathered hundreds found but little room for freedom of movement; and so we all rejoiced to have the well-planned arrangements give way to the necessity of readjustment, and we conformed to circumstances. We were glad to stand where we hoped to sit, to fast where we expect~d to feed, and to be held as in a vise where we meant to go about and shake many loved hands. As I stood on the upper platform and looked over that augustassem- bIage, I said to myself, This is indeed the grandest ecumenical council ever assembled since the first council in Jerusalem I What a fitting commemoration with which to mark the completion of the first cen- tury of modern missions; what a fitting inauguration with which to in- troduce a new century of evangelism I The promise of our Lord is: "Where two or three are gathered to- gether in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Such a promise . and such a gathering must challenge the faith even of a very weak disciple. For when were the conditions of the promised presence more amply fulfilled! If there be such a thing as meeting "in His name,'~ surely it is to be found here. From the East and the West, from the North and the South, from every continent and the isles of the sea, representing every Ohristian denomination, missionary field and missionary agency or organization, delegates have gathered. The veteran missionary secretaries are here, the war-scarred soldiers who have fought for fifty years the battles of the Lord. They come as the maimed and scarred martyrs gathered at the council of Nicea, over 1,500 years ago. The authors of great books on missions, the editors of missionary magazines which chronicle the progress of the campaign of the ages, the eloquent pleaders by tongue and pen for the speedy evangelization of the world, the translators of Scripture into the many languages and dialects, missionaries from ,aU lands, and natives who have been converted and transformed into evangelists, pastors and teachers-these are here. Godly women, representing the legion of women's boards and auxiliary societies which have come to the front and kept at the front in the march of modern missions, are also here. Again we say, and deliberately, there never before was such a gathering" in His name." Ohrist has waited nearly 2,000 years since he gave His last command, before He has seen His whole Ohurch gathering by chosen representatives to plan a world-wide campaign for His gospel; forgetting all minor differences or divisions in rallying about the one ark of the covenant, and in obedience to providential and gracious signals, sounding the trumpet for a new onward, forward march!
It was obvious from the first that the Master of assemblies was in the midst. After a season of mutual introduction the Earl of Aberdeen-a very courteous, noble, simple, unpretending Ohristian man, yet in comparative youth-took the chair and called the great assembly to order and announced the opening psalm: "All people that on earth do dwell."
Those who would set an operatic quartette upon the stilts of high art to "perform God's praise" should have heard two thousand people sing Old Hundred then! And those who have been known to admire eloquent prayers, addressed to the audience should have heard the beloved Webb Peploe, as he led the vast audience in prayer that took hold of the very horns of the altar in importunate and earnest pleading for such a blessing as should surpass exceeding abundantly all we ask or think. It was a marvelous prayer, because it was so self-oblivious. He prayed in the Holy Ghost, and in praying with him we all draw near to the mercy-seat where God is enthroned. The blessing he asked had already come.
After a few graceful words of greeting from the Earl of Aberdeen, the Rev. Dr. Underhill, the veteran Secretary, now retired from active supervision, gave a resume of the various steps and stages by which, since the first comparatively private conference in 1854, in New York City, with Dr. Duff, the thought and plan of a world conference had grown in scope and in realization. Ten years ago a conference similar to this had been held at Mildmay, but it had no such cosmopolitan character, and was but a. herald preparing the way for this colossal gathering. To give any adequate idea of this masterly address we should be compelled to reproduce it entire, and even then the aroma of a flower is not more elusive, as to the printed page that may represent the form and even hues of a blossom, than is the ethereal atmosphere that invests such an address from such a man I Rev. Mr. Wigram of the Church Missionary Society then spoke, followed by the Rev. Dr. A. C. Thompson, the beloved representative of the American Board, who in a singularly graceful speech in behalf of the American delegations, left absolutely nothing to be added by the rest of us. Remarks were made by representatives of the German and French Societies, and by the Secretary, Rev. James Johnston. Hudson Taylor of the China Inland Mission led in prayer and the assembly adjourned. It was difficult to part. Handshakings innumerable followed, until slowly the great crowd separated, reluctant to leave a place manifestly filled with the Holy Ghost.
It was quite remarkable that in a land where aristocratic institutions prevail, there was no parading of great names, either at this opening· meeting or on the programme. We saw no man save Jesus only. As the Secretary justly said, it is a compliment and tribute to many of the men whose names are on the programme that they are not well and widely known. It is because in a self-oblivious spirit they have buried themselves among the heathen, and from these living sepulchers they have been called by the voice of this Conference to tell of what they have seen and heard amid the dark places of the earth, full of the habitations of cruelty, and to bear witness to the gospel, which, to the highest and lowest alike, is still the power of God unto salvation.
No meetings of the Conference, as such, were held on Sunday, but the delegates, scattered throughout the city, either occupied the pulpits or sat as worshippers in the churches. Neither Spurgeon nor Canon Liddon were well, and many were disappointed in not hearing them. There is on the part of the best people in London a conscientious objection to the use of the horse-cars and steam-cars on Sunday, and meetings at Exeter Hall were opposed because they would necessitate much needless travel on the Lord's day.
But Monday's meetings opened with a prayer-meeting at 9:45 in the large parlor adjoining the assembly rooms, which meeting was itself one of the richest and most Pentecostal feasts we ever attended. God poured out a spirit of grace and of supplication, which became for the whole day a fragrant anointing, and filled the entire house with its odor and atmosphere. It is now definitely ascertained that 150 delegates are present from the United States, representing 51 societies; 27 from Canada, representing 6; 22 from the Contine.nt of E~rope, representing 13; and 1,060 members, representing 52 societies in England, Scotland and Ireland. There is thus a total constituency in members and delegates of 1,259, represe:uting 122 societies.
In attempting to describe or chronicle these great gatherings, the like of which the world has never seen, we labor under two embarrassments: first, an embarrassment of riches, for thus far we have heard not one poor paper or weak speech; and, secondly, an embarrassment of limitation, for, not being ubiquitous, we find it impossible to be in two places at one and the same time, and hence cannot attend all the sectional meetings held simultaneously. At 10: 30 on Monday two meetings were held for members only, at one of which Missionary Methods were discussed, especially as to the selection and training of missionaries; and at the other, Medical Missions. At three P.M. again there were three meetings, one for discussion of Missionary Modes of Working; another, an open meeting, on the Increase of Islam, and a third, in the great hall, on China. Similarly in the evening, two meetings, one on the Jews, and the other in the large hall on the Condition of India, China, Africa, and the world at large.
This will afford a general notion of the modus operandi, and make repetition needless. And as the best way to promote brevity and interest in these editorial communications, I will henceforth simply touch on great salient features of the Conference, and refer in particular to the addresses and paperB, which, for originality of suggestion or practical value, seem to demand individual recognition.
Without invidious distinction, we may select the remarkable paper of Henry Grattan Guinness, the well-known evangelist and missionary trainer, as a representative of the papers read in the morning. Clear, practical, pungent and powerful, it captivated the assembly. And we have secured it for the pages of this REVIEW, and it may be expected entire in the next issue.
The general drift of the morning discussion was in the direction of a thorough qualification, both intellectually and spiritually, for the work of missions. It was insisted that it will not do to send abroad inferior men and women; that the strain and drain upon the faculties and resources are such as demand the best equipped and most thoroughly furnished men and workers. But we were glad to hear emphasized the pre-eminent need of spiritual anointing. The man who is not ready to preach anywhere is fit to preach nowhere. Love for souls is the highest genius-inventive, versatile, omnipotent, sagacious. During a course of training there must be constant contact with souls, to keep up vital warmth and prevent a cold intellectuality, a scholarship that is unspiritual and unconsecrated. The whole day was a feast of fat thillgs. But the great meeting of the evening was'the crown of the whole. The Earl of Aberdeen took the chair, with the Countess at his side. The' address of Prebendary Edmonds on the Condition of India was one of the brightest, keenest, sharpest and most brilliant we ever heard. It was a two-edged sword, and its edge was not keener than its point was piercing. For example, he made the Tabernacle in the wilderness a type of our duty. There were some things behind the veil which were still obscure; but before the veil were three others quite plain: the table of shew-bread, the candelabra and the altar of incense. God means that, in order to personal and national prosperity, there shall be three requisites-first, bread on the table; second, light in the house; and third, an altar of prayer. And wherever one or more of these is lacking, we are to seek to supply it.
Again, he said that the " Light of Asia" was the light of Oxford and Oxford Street; that it was Oxford thought read into Oriental systems. Again, he remarked that in India the great lack was the lack of a sense of individuality and of personality, and told a story of two learned Brahmins discussing as to whether God has or has not personal attributes. Both contestants received a prize for the conclusiveness of their respective arguments / He beautifully spoke of the 119th Psalm as stamped with the most impressive. personality in the conception both of God and of man. It contains the pronoun" I" 140 times, "thine" 180 times, "me" 100 times.
Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, of Chfua Inland Mission, then briejly, but with great power, outlined the history of missions ill China, and the present condition of the people. He referred to the numbers of the Chinese, their intelligence and industry, perseverance and resolution; succillctly referred to the great resources of the country, illstancillg the colossal coal deposits, capable of supplying fuel to the world for 2,000 years. Then he rapidly, by a few strokes, sketched the history of Chinese missions-Apostolic, Nestorian, Roman Catholic, Jesuit, the defect of all which was that they gave the people no Bible. Then came Robert Morrison, whose first work was to translate the Scriptures. Mr. Taylor arraigned the opium traffic as the sum of all wrongs and villaillies, and affirmed that when the first British ships bore to the land that fatal drug, an injury was inflicted that in one day works still more harm than the gospel can offset in a year. He calmly said, with deep emotion, that the opium habit works more damage than drink, slavery and the social evil combined.
It fell to the writer to make the closing address, a general survey, At that late hour all that could be done was rapidly and in outline to sketch the Present Position and Condition of Christian Missions. Amid all our congratulations we must not forget our humiliation, for while completing the first century of modern missions, it is only the first. Ohrist has patiently waited for nearly 1900 years to see of the travail of His soul. The evangelistic activity of the first centuries gave place to secularism and selfishness. A thousand years of the dark ages succeeded, during which Christianity scarcely survived. The Lutheran Reformation'revived apostolic doctrine, but did not revive apostolistio activity and evangelism. The church had to wait three centuries more before she recognized her duty and debt to a lost world. And even now the bulk of Christian disciples do not feel their individual responsibility for the lost. We do work by proxy. We erect great societies and boards, and by them girdle the world with a network of missionary organizations, and content ourselves with trifling gifts and sending forth some 5,000 or 6,000 men and women, while the converts from heathenism furnish five or six times as many workers as all Christendom! We give ten millions of dollars a year to foreign missions, while in London alone enough wealth is buried in ornaments, jewelry and silver plate, to carry the gospel round the world in ten years. During the nineteen centuries that haVtl pass€d away, not lesS than fifty entire generations have perished, and these have included not less than an aggregate 30,000,000,000 souls, or twenty times the present population of the globe.
The question is, Can the problem be solved, of reaching with the gospel the unsaved millions of the race? Of'course it must be solvable; for our Lord never would commit to His people an impossible task. If we study the gospels we shall find God's way of solving the problem outlined. It embraces some important factors, which we have comparatively failed to emphasize. Two of them I desire to make very prominent: first, individual call to direct labor for the unsaved; and secondly, the supernatural power of God. Had these been as prominent in the life of the church as they should be, the work of the evangelization might already have overtaken the population of our globe.
In my address at Exeter Hall I dwelt upon these two necessary requisites to the successful prosecution of mission work. We must return to the primitive conception-every believer a herald. In the 13th chapter of Matthew, our Lord gives us two parables of the kingdom : In the first He teaches us that the seed is the Word of God; in the second that the good seed are the children of the kingdom. Only as we take both together do we get the whole truth. If we would sow the world-field, we must scatter side by side with the seed of the Word the seed of Christian lives, the Word made flesh and dwelling among men, as the Master did. The world will never be brought to the knowledge of Christ by the Bible alone-but the Bible with the man and woman beside it. We must send forth colonies of disciples to plant Christian homes amid the dark places of the earth.
And, secondly, we must have hearty confidence in the supernatural factor in missions. We have had a book on "Natural Law in the Spiritual World ;" let us have another on Supernatural Law in the Natural World. In these days of naturalism we are in danger of practically denying the direct Divine hand in history. Nothing more attracted me to the study and advocacy of missions than the manifest interpositions of superhuman, supernatural power. Nothing short of God's own hand ever opened within one generation the door of all these kingdoms, shut and sealed a century ago. The children of Israel, led by the pillar of cloud, had no plainer proof of God's presence than the ordinary missionary band. The parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan, the route of Amalek, and the falling of Jericho's walls, were not more conspicnous signs of God's power than the marvels wrought in modern missions.
The Conference ought to yield two permanent results. First, it ought to revive in our hearts the sense of the supernatural, and drive us to importunate prayer. All our machiuery, our organizations and agencies, even the multiplication of money and men and means, can accomplish nothing without the providence and Spirit of God. This we must not only acknowledge, but realize anq. feel. The greatest lack in modern missions is, after all, the lack of believingprayer. All great results for the kingdom have been and will continne to be wrought in answer to the prayer of faith.
The other result should be energetic and enterprising action. We should forget that in which we differ and emphasize that in which we agree. Our tribal standards should be set up abont the Ark of God, and we should move together about that ark. The King's business requireth haste. A soldier of Queen Victoria, being asked how long it would take for the army and navy to carry a proclamation round the world and publish it everywhere, answered, "I think we could do it in about eighteen months." In the days of Esther, the decree of Ahasuerus was translated into every language spoken in the empire, and borne through the whole hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from the Bosphorus and Nile to the Indus and Ganges, in less than nine months! What might we not do with the help of the printingpress, steam navigation, the telegraph, and all the appliances of modern invention, if the church would but give herself to the glorious work! We might publish the gospel to all living peoples before the end of the present century!
Sounding the imperial clarion of advance along the whol~ line of battle, moving as one host, let us pierce the very center of the adversary, turn his staggering wings, and unfurl the flag of the Cross upon the parapet of every stronghold of the Devil.
DR. CHRISTLIEB ON MEDICAL
DR. CHRISTLIEB ON MEDICAL MISSIONS.
[The AllgtrMine Mi88ions-Zeitschriff; for 1888 contains a profoundly valuable article by Dr. Theodore Christlieb, continued through several numbers, upon Medical:Missions. The Rev. ehas. C. Starbuck has translated for us the salient passages of this article, which we give to our readers.-EDs.] "ALL genuine missionary work must be in the highest sense a healing work." So writes that vigorous missionary pioneer, Mackay, from that newest martyrland of missions, Uganda. As certainly as sin disintegrates soul and body, and these are most strictly conjoined, so certainly also must a complete redemption extend itself over the whole personal life, and therefore finally over the body. Therefore, forgiveness of sins, or preaching of the gospel, and bodily healing, are only two sides of the same comprehensive salvation, brought nigh to man in Christ, although its realization in the two spheres may be widely divergent in time. Therefore we see Christ not merely Himself preaching and healing as He goes around, but also sending forth the disciples' to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick,' giving, on the one hand, especial power to the Twelve 'to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease,' and, on the other hand, commissioning the Seventy (Luke x : 9) to heal the sick and to announce that the kingdom of God was at hand, here even giving the commission of heaHng the precedence. Nor is this power of healing given merely as a sign confirmatory of their mission, but as a manifestation of 'the universal compassion of the gospel,' which brings help for every harm.
" Though there had been now and then sporadic instances of medical skill applied by the English to missionary ends, it was the practical Americans who first gave this impulse a definite form, the first regularly trained and designated Medical Missionary having been Dr. Peter Parker, sent out by the American Board in 1834 to Canton. In a few years the London Society sent Benjamin Hobson after him, inaugurating the principle in Europe.
"It is little known that to the magnanimity of an English physician England in great part owes her influence in the East. In 1636, Dr. Gabriel Boughton, having cured a princess of the Great Mogul's court, who had been badly burned, asked, as his only reward, leave for his countrymen to trade with India. This was the beginning of English power and civilization in the East.
" The first, or at all events one of the first. missionary physicians, strictly so-called, sent out by a missionary society, was Dr. Otis R. Bacheler, sent out by the American Baptists (as I think) to Orissa in India, and still laboring there." [Dr. Christlieb has here confused the larger Baptist body with the Free Baptists, to whom Dr. Bacheler belongs, and who have long been associated with the General Baptists of England in preaching Christ" where Satan's seat is," in the very region of the temple of Juggernaut.] "Before 1861 there were not over twenty missionary physicians in all heathen countries, and before 1871 probably not more than forty at most. In 1878 there were ninety or one hundred, and by 1885 there were from one hundred and seventy to one hundred and ninety regularly graduated physicians in the work. The Edinburgh Medical Missions Society had, in 1871, an income of $6,240; in 1881, of $26,400.
"Notwithstanding that the number of missionary physicians since the beginning of the last third of our century has grown so rapidly and gratifyingly, yet in the majority of the heathen cities in which they labored half of the sick remained almost wholly excluded from this benefit-the female half. Especially in India, where the women of the upper classes regard it as / contrary to religion and propriety to show their faces before men, where, as a rule, not even the heathen physicians (hakims) are summoned to treat the cases of sickness in the zenanas, the way is completely barred to the Chris- tian male physician. Nor is this. merely true of the wealthier. ' All Hindu women,' writes Mrs. Weitbrecht, after a wide tour of inspection in 1878, 'whether rich or poor, are completely neglected in time of sickness. Preju- . dice and usage banish medical help. Fever, ophthalmia and other conta- gious ills·propagate themselves without check in the dark, filthy dwellings. From this results the enormous mortality among women and children, or chronic diseases, one of the chief hindrances of zenana missions. A female medical mission in the center of every populous district is one of the most crying necessities of India.'
"How rapidly, with growing confidence, the work increases; how rapidly the sphere of effectiveness widens out, in spite of the strange phenomenon of a female doctor, especially to the Hindu mind; nay, in spite of the great dread felt at first, especia.lly by women of the higher classes, of losing caste under Christian treatment, appears from the register of the Presbyterian Female Hospital at Lucknow. It was opened in 1883, and in that year had only thirteen patients. In 1886 it had 212, besides 2,712 outside patients and 6,930 distributions of medicine. The Church M. S. has nine ladies in service, more or less medically trained. In Travancore last year there were 4,946 patients receivin~ medicine. In Lodiana, in 1887, the Fern. Ed. Soc. supplied 4,985 patients with medicine. The Zenana Mission in Amritstar (the seat of the Sikh religion) in 1887, with a staff of six female physicians and one nurse, received 242 patients into the hospital, assisted at 454 births, visited 4,000 patients at home, and supplied some 30,000 with med- icines. Really it does seem as if Col. Higginson was authorized to concede that Christian missions accomplish something toward' making the condition of barbarians a little more comfortable.' Dr. Lowe of Travancore speaks of the disinterestedness of his native medical helpers. Though receiving only twenty-four cents a day, they have refused offers of three and four times as high wages in order to maintain the missionary work among their people. Missionary physicians, hospitals and dispensaries are indeed multiplying in In- dia, and extending their operations so fast that it is almost impossible to keep up with them. And the movement has now passed beyond missionary circles, and under the patronage of Lady Dufferin, as representing the Empress, has become national. The Female Medical Aid Association in its first year en- joyed an income of $110,400. 'The cry for capable lady physicians goes through the whole land.'
" All agents of this national society are forbidden to exercise any mission- ary influence. This prohibition is remarked upon by Dr. Christlieb as fol- lows: "Doubtless this undertaking is thoroughly well meant by its found- el'll. Upon this broad basis help can be much more quickly procured for the neglected world of invalid Hindu women. To the female physician, who merely comes as a sympathizing human being with her skill for the body, the prison-doors of the zenana will swing open much more quickly than to the Christian woman who leaves out of sight neither sick body nor sick soul. This explains the enthusiasm over this new foundation, and the shower of wealthy gifts from England and India which has watered it. And yet we must inquire: Will this fruit of Christian culture be permanent, grafting itself into Indian society, without its root concealing that from which, never- theless, it is, in its deepest origin, derived? Does a right view of moral edu- cation, or even of the history of culture, warrant us in playi~ into the hands of the haughty rationalistic assumption that Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are religious equivalents, or have eyen an equal level of scientific right, viewed merely from the medical point of view? This is very nearly the same as to say that they all three signify the same; that is, signify nothing. Against whom is the edge of this anti-proselytizing principle turned? Practically against Christian physicians, and the course hitherto held by missionary practice. Hindu doctresses are not touched by it, and hardly Mohammedans, allowing that there should ever be any, and that Western science had not dulled the energy of their fanaticism.
"Imagine a Christian lady attending at the bedside of a patient mortally ill. She sees death approaching. She does her best for the relief of the bodily distress. But for the restlessness, or it may be the torpor of tbe spirit, for the deep distress of soul which often oppresses the sick one far more heavily than bodily pains, she may not offer a word of Christian truth or evangelic gospel comfort! With the saving light in her hand she yet may not venture to cast a beam into the darkness of the poor heathen soul, even when she sees it deepening into the darkness of death! Her lips for this are as good as sealed. What cruelty to the poor patient, and to the compassionate physician no less. Will the young Christian Hindu women, who are now sent by local corporations to study medicine at Agra, be able to prevail on themselves to be silent before their Hindu sisters concerning that which has become the bliss of their own life and the .rest of their own heart, concerning their faith? It is to be hoped not.
" And when, as above all in India, the use of certain medicines or other remedies clashes severely with religious prejudices, will it not often import to remove or at least to mitigate such scruples? And so far this necessity involves an interference with religious opinions. And abo¥e all: does Christ's commandment to preach the gospel, which assuredly embraces India, apply only for well women, and not also for sick? Has any person, or' any society, a right to restrain it? And must a reference to the Saviour of all the world necessarily be made in an importunate, wearisome, hea-dlong manner? Can there. not be a friendly, heartily sympathetic offer of salva.- tion, such as shall awake a living hope, and finally implant in the uneasy spirit a divine peace, a state of mind which can only react favorably upon the bodily condition? How often do humanitarians, out of mere respect of man, fall into pure cruelty! How certainly, on close examination, the Christian interpretation of love to our neighbor app~'oves itself as the only genuinely human interpretation!
"Lady Dufferin allows that the' quiet influence of Christian virtues' must be permitted the agents of the society. No doubt. No gracious permission of royalty or its representative can be required for that. It is its own authentic warrant. But to the catalogue of Christian virtues, under some circumstances, it also belongs to confess with the mouth, not merely by quiet example, as the latter can only inspire respect for the person of the physician, or at most for his religion, but cannot alone help the poor patient out of his heathen ignorance into true faith and peace. The appeal to public policy, while entirely intelligible from the Vice-Empress of India, can never justify the position in Christian eyes. For, as we judge, the more said about earlier government policy in India the worse the case turns out. Heathen customs of worship, not merely endured but for long years supported (and sometimes, it is hinted, l'upported even yet by donations to temples, etc.), have proved, not only as viewed by Christians, condemnable, but to be also a.
mere short-s~hted opportunism) contributing perhaps, for the moment, to avert popular tumults, but in the event mOl"'J.lly injurious to the government, as giving to many thinking Hindus an impression derogatory to a power which could prove itself so weak as virtually to deny its own Christian faith.
"The assumption that, however it may be with certain Indian princes. the Indian people object to female physicians who bring the gospel, is far from being of universal validity. Otherwise, how is it to be explained, that the 'General Council of Education in India' some time ago, when strongly urging a multiplication of girls' schools, acknowledged that 'the natives decidedly prefer girls' schools conducted by the missionaries to those conducted by the Government or by natives.'
"Therefore, with full acknowledgment of the noble designs of Lady Dufferin, the periodicals representing medical missions have, so far as I can see, unanimously declared this principle of silence as to religion to be unpractical and largely impracticable, indeed, unchristian, and therefore for the more earnest Christian women morally impossible of acceptance.
" In China also the medical missionary institutes are hardly less numerous than in India. They already extend from Hong Kong and Canton to Peking, and even into Mantchuria and Tartary. The number of missionary physicians, male and female, at present working there, Fomosa included, already exceeds 80. Of this whole number Continental societies at present reckon not one; 38 are British; 44 American, including Canada. Among these the heaviest representation is of the American Presbyterians, 14; next the M. E. Church, with 10; the A. B. Q. F. M. English Presbjt:erians and China Inland Mission, 8 each; London M. S., 7; English Wesleyans, 5; Church M. S., 4, etc. The most comprehensive single medical mission of China is that of the English Presbyterians in Swatow. The hospital was opened by Dr. Gauld in 1863. It can now accommodate 200 inmates, and has elsewhere in the town a lepers' department. In 1885 there were in all 3,867 patients from 1,824 localities, besides 1,770 treated at home, Of 944 operations 544 were ocular.
" Many societies can already look back upon a series of names of physicians which have become names of renown in the missionary history of Asia.: the American Board upon the consecrated zeal of a Dr. Scudder, or a Dr. Parker in Asia; upon Dr. Osgood, who died, 1880, in Foochow; who, in the hospital there, in nine years treated 51,838 sick persons, and at whose death thousandS of heathens raised a loud lament; upon Dr. Grant, who in his medical practice found twenty times more opportunity for intercourse with Mahommedans than his clerical colleague, and whose memory is to this day a power among the poor Nestorians and wild Koords, for whom he offered up his life; upon his successor, worthy of him, Dr. Wright, of whom an intelligent Nestorian said, 'his influence is that of a prince '; upon Dr. H. A. West in Sivus (Asia Minor), who by his simple method of treatment freed the natives from the terror of the measles, which were there as destructive and dreaded as the small-pox; who educated a company of most capable native physicians, and received therefor from the Turkish government a most emphatic expression of thanks; a man whom his innumerable surgical operations (one hundred and fifty simply for stone) rendered a celebrity even in Europe and America, who in cases innumerable opened the eyes of the blind; who, for services which at home would have brought him in hundreds, yes, thousands of dollars, would accept nothing, contenting himself with his simple missionary salary; who, go where he would, was surrounded by the sick, ~he lame, the palsied, so that the nativ,es often said of the simple, unpretentious man: 'He is like Je~!Us.' And so with the'Presbyterian and other missionary societies.
"It is worthy of note that two stations in Western Asia, at which missions have proved themselves peculiarly effective, Aintab and Ooroomiah, were founded by missionary physicians.
"Of late years Syria and Palestine are, of all Turkish provinces, the most abundantly supplied with medical missionaries. And here again Beirlit, already mentioned as a centre of medical missions, where the American Presbyterians have five professors and doctors of medicine, partly for instruction ani partly for missionary practice. In Tripoli (of Syria) three-fourths of Dr. Harris's patients are Turkish women, who even overcome their usual aversion to showing the foreign doctor their faces; nay, invite him into their houses for further treatment. It is, he says, a moving spectacle to see fifty or seventy-five white-clad, deeply veiled Turkish women listening reverently to the Scripture lesson which always precedes the treatment, and to hear them ratifying the prayer with a loud' Amen.' Dr. Harris is an Englishman.
"In Jaffa the London Mildmay Institute has a female medical mission. Here, in 1886, a roomy hospital for women was dedicated, for the building of which a firman had been secured from Constantinople, and which cost some $24,000. It is open every morning at 9, but the patients begin to gather by 6. Of the 231 persons received into it in one year 180 were Moslem; 11,176 received outside treatment. In the wards every evening the holy Scripture is read in Arabic, and, as the latest report says, 'the black eyes of the sick women fix themselves as eagerly upon the reader as if they would fain drink in every word she utters.'
"As a final notice of Mohammedan countries, we must not pass by the latest, singularly self-denying essay of medical missions, that of the young Scotchman of rank, the Honorable John Keith Falconer, in Arabia. This admirable Orientalist, not unknown in Germany itself, son of Lord Kintore, in 1885 went in connection with the mission of the Free Church of Scotland to Aden, and at his own expense established the mission station, Sheik Othman, at some leagues remove from the town. Having returned to England and been appointed professor of Arabic at Cambridge, he taught there a short time, but in 1886 returned to Aden with the missionary physician, established at his own expense a little hospital and free dispensary, preached the gospel to sick and well, distributed Bibles and tracts, and was about to travel throughout Arabia with one of the chief Bedouin tribes when death overtook him in May, 1887. To the service of the Lord he had given up his eminent academical position, his Oriental learning, his social rank, his ample means, the bright morning of his wedded life, and his well-proved physical vigor."
Dr. Christlieb remarks that,' in comparison with the medical missionary work of the two Anglo-Saxon nations, the three or four German medical missionaries form a rather humiliating contrast, although more of such work is done than is registered. On the other hand, the Kaiserwerth deaconesses are aecomplishing an excellent missionary work in the Orient. "If they are not academically trained doctresses, they have yet been thoroughly trained in hospitals and deaconesses' houses to the care of the sick, and, along with the teaching sisters in schools and orphanages, render uncommonly important pioneer services to Protestant missions. Theil' quiet work receives fuller and fuller recognition both from Christians and Mohammedans, especially as being,'for the most part, older than that of the English female physicians. In Alexandria, where their work began in 1857, they have a hospital With 11 deaconesses, who daily tend 66-70, yearly 1,100-1,200 patients, while the clinics are visited by nearly 3,000• .. The oldest field of labor of the sisters is Jerusalem, where, in 1851, on Mount Zion, near the Anglican Church, they opened, under the direction of Fliedner, a hospital 'for the sick, of all religions and confessions.' This hospital, after successive enlargements, now receives over 450 patientsyearlyj while 8,200 visit the clinics. Four sisters are in charge. The original aversion of the Mohammedans to the' dogs' house' was soon overcome, In 1862, of the inmates 178 were Mohammedans; in 1863, 278; in 1864, 312. At present over one-third of all treated are Moslems. They, too, 'listen gladly to the message of reconciliation,' while to many Christian patients also a clearer light rises here upon the true substance of our faith. As a traveler was telling a Mohammedan-a former patient-about the German victories, the latter replied: 'It is the Prussian sisters who have conquered us.'
"German love has of late also extended its compassionate care to the poorest of the poor and sickest of the sick, the lepers of Palestine, by means of the Lepers' Asylum in Jerusalem, erected 20 years ago by the CountE'ss von Keffenbrinck. This is conducted and served by the Unitas Fratrum, the domestic chaplain being the former German pastor at Jerusalem, and the resident physician Dr. Chaplin, of the English Mission to the Jews. The imposing new building, situated not far from the Templar Colony, and dedicated in 1886, witll room for some 30 patients, was last year occupied by 24 patients, mostly men. An Arab evangelist gives a Bible lecture twice a week, which the inmates willingly attend. The Word of God, says the latest report, often prove& to these afflicted ones a deep consolation. It moves the heart to hear a leper, with his hoarse and hollow voice, from which all the resonance is gone, uttering the words of the Psalmist: 'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord!' Leprous children, so long as they yet have fingers, learn to read and write. The faithful house-parents (Tappe and now Franz MillIeI') maintain, even here in the Orient, to a surprising extent, the fame of the Herrnhuters for neatness and clea.nliness.
Dr. Christlieb, after speaking of a German-Swiss medical missionary who went to Calicut, in India, last year, and whose consultations in the first three months stood 640,950,1,332, raises the question, "How are we, in Germany, to find physicians of the true Christian and missionary spirit ?" and proceeds: " And with this question we come to the deepest ground of our altogether disproportionateinferiority in this branch of missionary activity. Itisfound in the almost universal prevalence within our medical faculties, both among teachers and students, of a naturalistic spirit, hostile to revelation, for which, indeed, the way has often been prepared, both directly and indirectly, in the Gymnasia. On the other hand, in the English-speaking world, especially in Scotland, but also in America and England, the Christian and missionary interest among young medical students is positively strengthened by not a few even of their most eminent teachers. With us, a student of medicine, though perhaps of a Christian family, has the greatest possible difficulty during his course of study even to keep hold of his Christian convictions. AmolJ.g his companions, the very thought of engaging in missions would be utterly unintelligible. It would make him a target of scorn. Who in these circles concerns himself about the extension of the kinglom of God, a phrase which, almost without exception, is for them a dead letter. Who among them so much as casts a look over missionary literature. unless, at most, now and then. to glean from it some newly-reported fact of natural history? Yet
THE DRINK TRAFFIC AMONG NATIVE
even in Germany we find medical students, here and there, in our missionary associations. Missionary societies in Germany may therefore be exhorted, when looking for missionary physicians, 'Seek, and ye shall find.'
"So much respecting the development and diffusiqn hitherto of medical missions and their auxiliary institutions in our Protestant missionary work. Considering that, independently of medical missions in Christian lands, there are to-day, of regularly graduated Protestant physicians, male and female, in Africa and Madagascar, 37; in China, Formosa and Corea, some 86 or 88; in India and Burmah, at least 76; in Siam, 3; in Japan, 14; in the Pacific, 6 ; in Mohammedan countries, some 40; and that, moreover, in Turkey, India, China and elsewhere, there are dozens of deaconesses and nurses, with no mean measure of medical knowlege, we are well entitled to declare that the branches of this great growth are already world-embracing. Weare now in a better position to give a compendious judgment respecting the necessity and the value, the methods and the present results of missionary medical practice."
THE DRINK TRAFFIC AMONG NATIVE RACES.
[The Bev. Henry Duncan, Convener of the Church of Scotland's Committee on Intemperance, contributes an important paper to the Church 0/ Scotland Home and Foreign .Mi88ion Record on the effect of the drink tramc among native races. Some months ago the same writer gave a stakling account of the" Effects of the Liquor Tramc on Native Races." Since then fresh light has been thrown upon the subject. It has been discussed in both Houses of the British Parliament, and the different churches and temperance organizations abroad are combining in an earnest effort to grapple with the evil. Nor is the voice of American Christianity and civilization silent. Protests, petitions and remonstrances have gone forlh from many of the leading Christian bodies in this country. The state of things is indescribably awful. This diabolical tramc is cursing Africa to·day far worse than ever the slave trade did. It muat be stopped, and the responsibility rests with the three great Protestant nations that are mainly responsible for the introduction of rum into and are flooding the Dark Continent with it-namely, Great Britain, Germany and the United States.-EDs.] " ONE of the minor difficulties of the problem lies in the fact that the traffic is carried on by men of different nationalities, and that no single government has the power of preventing or even controlling the traffic. All that can be done in the meantime seems to be to collect and disseminate information on the subject, in the hope that a plain narrative of facts will lead to such a rousing of the conscience of the Christian Church, and such an awakening of the European and American powers to the gravity of the question as will issue in combined and energetic action lor the suppression of a traffic that is a disgrace alike to our Christianity and our civilization.
"In dealing with the subject, it is extremely desirable that we separate the case of the native races of India from that of the native races of Africa and of other parts of the world. Not that there is no room for earnest action in regard to India, but because the cases are in many respects so widely different that what is true of the one is by no means always, or in the same sense, true of the other. Confining our attention, then, just now to Africa, what are the facts with which we are confronted? Briefly these, that British, German, French and American traders are pouring alcohol into the Dark Continent in such quantities and in such forms as to produce the most disastrous results, not only on the moral and spiritual condition of the natives, but even on their physical and commercial interests-that, in fact, as has been said by an eminent traveler, 'the great continent of Africa is being ruined by rum.' One or two facts will make the meaning of this statement clear.
" It is a well-known and admitted fact that native races cannot partake of alcohol in its European forms without sinking into a state of decay and degradation. Men sometimes speak as if the decay of the native races was a. necessary consequence of the advance of civilization. But clearly there is nothing in civilization to account for such decay. Sir John Thurston, Assistant High Commissioner in the Western Pacific, states the case tersely and truly when, repudiating such an idea as regards the natives of these islands, he says, 'Arms, gunpowder and alcohol are the solvents under which native life disappears.' And yet, in the face of this fact of the total inability of these native races to survive the introduction of this agent, there is carried on at this moment by professedly Christian men an enormous trade in alcohol in its most destructive forms. The merchants of Mauritius senttheir refuse rum, which was worthless in any other market, to the recently-converted island of Madagascar, and, despite the entreaties of rulers and people, forced upon them a trade which has done much to nullify the work of Christian mIssionaries for many years. It is the same on the West Coast of Africa. As the Archbishop of Canterbury said lately in the House of Lords, 'There is a trade rum and a trade gin which aret neither more nor less than liquid fire, mere poison, which destroy in a very short time the men and women who consume it, and they consume it without stint.' So deadly is it that among the natives, we are told, some of it goes by the name of death! And this, which ruins body and soul, imported by men who are members of our churches and subscribers to our missions I It is perhaps not to be wondered a.t that men who are destitute alike of principle and humanity should yield to the temptation to engage in so nefarious a traffic when 700 per cent. can be gained by it. But surely the Christian Church should protest in the strongest possible manner against a traffic which is a Q,isgrace to Christendoml "But the evils of the traffic consist not only in the character of the spirit that is imported, and its general effects upon the native population. It is only when certain testimony which has recently come to hand is carefully considered and weighed, that the full extent of the evil can be at all appreciated. The Rev. Horace Waller, F.R.G.S., not only says that 'the degradation of the wretched tribes of West Africa has reached a depth which is appalling,' but testifies to his having seen hundreds of native girls lying in a 'state of intoxication round the wagons of the spirit-sellers. And that his is no exceptional experience appears from the testimony of others no less trustworthy. Dr. Clarke, speaking of South Africa, saysthat he has seen thousands of girls lying drunk round the traders' wagons. And Mr. Moil', of the African Lakes Trading Company, writes, 'I have seen boys and girls of fourteen and fifteen getting their wages in rum.' In fact, there ar~ parts of the country in which there is practically no other currency. Let the church consider such .appalling facts as these, and then say whether it is possible that Christian mission work should be successful when all this shame and degradation and ruin is connected in the native mind with the Christian name. ' The time has surely come,' in the words of Mr. Joseph Thomson, the great traveler, 'when, in the interests of our national honor, more energetic efforts should be made to suppress this diabolical traffic. There can be no excuse for its continuance, and it is a blot on Christian civilization.'
"One of the most pathetic circumstances connected with the whole subject is to be found in the pitiful appeals which come to us from the natives them- selves. Sensible of their weakness, they have appealed again atld again to the Christian people of this country and the governments of Europe to pro- tect them from a temptation they feel powerless to resist. Quotations from such appeals could be given to a large extent, but space will not permit.
THB HBRO-MISSIONARY. • I!i9'l
'There has broken out, I Mr. Waller tells us, 'not only in one or two,but ';'n several densely populated tracts of Africa, an intense desire to shake off the drunkenness which has arisen as a contact with civilization.' 'Why,' asks the Rev. Mr. Johnson, the able native pastor of Lagos (into which small island, with a population of 37,000, Europe imports 1,231,302 gallons of spirits, 1,205,160 gallons of which are' trade rum' and' trade gin,' described above) -' why should European proximity to Aflica be Africa's ruin?' Archdeacon Farrar, in a powerfully written article in the Oontemporary Review (now reprinted in pamphlet form), tells us that in 1883 the natives of the diamond fields implored the Cape Parliament to have public houses removed from them for a distance of six miles, and that their petition was refused. Strange that the cry of weakness and helplessness should be so shamefully disregarded, and that nations that stand in the forefront of civilization and missionary effort should turn away from such appeals, and force upon unwilling peoples that which is working their complete destruction I "Hitherto, our own special mission field at Blantyre has escaped the blighting curse that has fallen on other parts of Africa. But we should realize the fact that if, through any of these changes which are always possible in an unsettled country, drink should be introduced among the native population there, our mission may be wrecked, and the labor of years wholly lost.
"It is earnestly to be hoped that measures will speedily be taken to deal practically with the facts now set forth. There is no lack of facts to prove the greatness of the scandal. The difficulty is to get the citizens of this country, the men in power in the State, and even the Christian people in our churches to look them in the face, I trust therefore that the Church of Scotland will take her place among the other branches of the Christian Church and throw herself heartily into a cause with which is so closely bound up the success of her missions and the progress of the cause of Christ."
THE HERO-MISSIONARY.
BY ROBERT NEEDHAM CUST, LL.D.
[We are Indebted to the distinguished anthor for an early copy of this remarkable address, delivered In Henry Martyn Hall, to nndergradnates of the University of Cambridge. The part we here present gives ns pen portraits of three heroic missionaries of world-wide fame. The latter part oCthe address sketches graphically the Heroic Missionary Society, taking as his type the MoraVian Church. We hope to give that In our next number.-EDs.] As a member of the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, I am not likely to undervalue the plodding day by day, and year by year, of the simplehearted missionary, who, like Rebman and Krapf atMombasa, in East Africa, and William Smith and Leupolt at Banaras, worked on from year to year, and only left the scene of their quiet labors when failing powers compelled them to do so. Such uneventful Ii ves do not strike the imagination so much as that of the hero-missionary, whose career is short, but brilliant: it may seem unjust, but it is so always; tho bravo man who leads the forlorn hope, or gains the Victoria Cross by risL:nc hi/: life, obtains a niche, and his career is an incentive to others: the faithful old soldier has nothing but the feeling of duty done to reward him, and the thought of him will not rouse others to deeds of valor.
My subject is the Hero-Missionary and Heroic Missionary Society. It is hard that the man must die to be deemed a hero, but so it has been at all times from the days of Achilles to our own times. Death throws a halo round the departed one. Some examples have been brighter in death than in life; it is another illustration of our Lord's remark about the corn of wheat, "If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." I have selected three great characters, Allen Gardiner, .Coleridge Patteson and John Williatns, as types of the hero- missionary, and the lf:oravian Missionary Society as the type of the heroic mission.
ALLEN GARDINER-THE PIONEER MISSIONARY.
Life is such a tangled web that it is only as he a.pproaches the end of his career that the worker can see the pattern of the web at which he has been working all his days. He has had only one portion of the pattern exposed to his view, but he has been permitted to work at that faithfully and patiently, though it may be only a leaf or a flower, and he is able to do it truly, strongly and firmly; but the hero-missionary seems in his youth, or in the early part of his career, to have grasped at some purpose unseen to all but himself; he wishes to accomplish something which the world will not let die; a.nd to some few this is granted. In others the one only life which the worker had to offer is not sufficient; but the Master accepts the will for the deed, as young McCall said on his early deathbed, "If the Lord's will be to take my- self, and not the work which I would do for Him, His holy will be done." 'Ov 01 eeOI tplAoV(fl, !JvrJU/coVUIV VeOl.
Heroes, being men of marked character, are deemed by the vulgar herd to be eccentric: their very superiority prevents their being duly estimated. The circumstance of their death shakes weak faith, but the true Christian through death to life sees clearly how God of seeming evil works lasting good. To die for one's country is a great gain; to die for one's Saviour, to fill up what remains of His sufferings, is sweeter. Such was the life of AHen Gardiner: no doubt he was thought to be an enthusiast, and crazed, and a bore; butthe opinion is now changed. His story is simple: he was an officer of the navy who lost his young wife early. He thus went per crucem ad lucem, and thenceforth consecrated himself to the missionary service heart and soul, and he kept his vow: to be a pioneer missionary to the most abandoned heathen was the great object of his life. He was neither qualified for ordinary mis- sionary work nor would it have satisfied him to have reaped the harvest which others had sowed. His was a harder and more thankless task, but none the less blessed.
He tried many countries, but found no opening; his missionary spirit, like a dove let loose from home, wandered about seeking a place of rest. At length he definitely chose South America as his field; he was prevented by the Roman Catholic priests from settling among the wild tribes on the continent.
He found at length a spot where even the Spanish priests would not care to follow him, at the most southerly point of the island, separated from the mainland by the Straits of Magellan, within a small distance of the Antarctic Circle, the Island of Terra del Fuego.
The possibilities of the human family are not to be found in one single race, or at'one particular epoch, or in one region of the world. Grace is sufficient for them all, and the missionary, who brought captive to the feet of his Mas- ter the poor Eskimo, the halI-brutal Fuegian, the cannibal of Melanesia, oJ.' the short, stunted races of Australia, glorifies his Saviour by showi~g that the gospel message was designed for all, can be understood by all, that Christ died for all, and that there is no other way of salvation but through Him. The message is so divine, and yet so clothed in ulfiversal humanity, that it finds its way to the spiritual necessities of all, and satisfies the heart's cravings. The student of missionary chronicles has added this new weapon to the armory of the theologian. Darwin, one of the gentlest and wisest of heathens (for he that is least of the kingdom of heaven is greater than him), when he saw the inhabitants of Terra del Fuego, declared that their intenect~ ual improvement was beyond the efforts of man; but he lived to replace that hasty opinion by the following: "The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's wand."
Both nature and man were against Gardiner: the climate rendered the country most dreary and inhospitable: the sky rarely cleared: rainy squalls in summer alternated with the snow and sleet of winter: the winds were ferocious. The people belonged to the Patagonian race, of a dark color, with long black hair: they had low foreheads, flat and thick noses, scanty clothing, wretched habitations, and they were arrant thieves, cruel, and, when brought to bay, furious wild beasts: the women possessed some traces of gentleness, but were treated as slaves. Gardiner's first attempt to land and house himself on land was a failure: the conduct of the natives was such that he had to retreat and return to England. NothingJlaunted, he determined to have a floating home, and to keep his reserve stores at the Falkland Islands. He could not collect sufficient funds to buy a suitable vessel, so he supplied himself with two decked boats: two catechists and three pious sailors accompanied him. The Ocean Queen steamer deposited the boats and men with provisions for six months at Banner Bay in Terra del Fuego: they had given up all the ties of home for Christ's sake, but they were called upon to make a greater sacrifice, even of their lives, and none of them were ever seen alive again. It reconciles us to our common humanity, that men are always found, when the cause of Christ requires it, to face the greatest danger at His bidding. These men all died of starvation, Allen Gardiner being the last survivor. When, months later, the frigate, sent out to make inquiries, arrived, their dead bodies were found, and their journals and letters: one by one they had died, but there was no despair, 110 imputation of blame to others: "Poor, weak though we are, our abode is a very Bethel to our souls, for we feel and know that God is here." " Asleep or awake, I am happy beyond the power of expression." Allen Gardiner penned a farewell letter, expressing his unclouded joy in the Lord, his perfect resignation to His holy will, but eamestly imploring that the mission should not be abandoned, and sketching out a plan for future operations, which was acted upon. In his death he antICipated the coming of this Master's kingdom. He rejoiced to see the day-dawn of the gospel: he saw it, and was glad. His last words were, "Great and marvelous are the loving-kindnesses of my gracious God unto me. He has preserved me hitherto, and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feeling of hunger or thirst!" Here the journal ends: but one letter was dated a day later: "Yet a little while, and through grace we may join that blessed throng, to sing the praises of Christ to all eternity. I neither hunger nor thirst, though five days without food: marvelous loving-kindness to me a sinner!"
I remember the news of this sad tragedy reaching India in 1852, and many a sigh was wafted from India to the South Pole. His life was not given in vain: the pioneer's work was done: and the Lone-Star Mission was estab- iished, which has worked northwards intQ the mainland of South America, and is now spreading itself among the heathens of Paraguay. Bread cast on the waters is found after many days.
'Humanly speaking, but for Allen Gardiner's determination, and the interest excited by the sad end of himself and his noble companions, this footing would never have been made good. When nations and tongues are assembled beforE. the great white throne, Allen Gardiner will be there with his savages: "Lord I behold, with the talent, which Thou gavest me, I have gatheIed these poor sheep into Thy fold I" * BISHOP COLERIDGE PATTESON.
Differing in everything-in method, in gifts, in training, in result, but with the same spirit, that of lowly and entire self-sacrifice, was the career of Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of the Islands of Melanesia, which lie 120Q to the West, and in a more northern latitude. I knew Patteson as a boy at Eton, and he had the advantage of a University education, and I well remember Bishop Selwyn the elder going out as Bishop of New Zealand. He also wal:' of the hero type, strong, brave, wise and determined: he had established. the mission in the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands, and he chose Coleridge Patteson to be his coadjutor and his successor: there is something sad and solemn in the details of the selection of the lad by the bishop, and the surrender of him by the parents: the mother, like Hannah, consecrated her son to the Lord, and the grand old father made the great sacrifice of his eldest boy, for he never saw his face again. How foolish, and even wicked, seem the efforts of parents to retain their children whea the Lord has unmistakably chosen and called them I Every act of this beautiful life stands out in the pages of his biography: whether in his solitary ~hip cabin, or lonely hut, he was a great writer of letters, and they tell us unconsciously of his exalted character. He had no settled home, but .he had a settled plan, devised by Bishop Selwyn, and worked out by himself. He had to deal with a black, woolly.ifmired Negrito race, savage, inhospitable, cannibals, not so low down in the scale of humanity as the natives of Terra del Fuego, for they possessed some arts. and they spoke numerous distinct languages. The training-school on Norfolk Island, the mission ship taking up and putting down lads at the different islands, thus accustoming the people to his presence, acquiring a knowledge of their languages, and creating a confidence in his kindness: these were his methods. As his blessed ship passed from island to island, it left a track of light, of mercy, and loving-kindness. and his plans seem to be realizing. We read in his journal: " I think of the i~lands, and see them in my dreams, and it seems as if nothing bad been done; lint, when I think of what they were a very short time ago, oh t I do feel thankful indeed, and amazed, and almost fearful."
He was so far more blessed than Allen Gardiner, for he saw some fruits of his labors: brighter prospects of more fruit: the harvest was ripening: laborers, both European and native, were gathering around him: the time for putting in the sickle was at hand.
"Hundreds of people are crowding together, naked, armed, with uncouth cries and gestures. I cannot talk to them but by signs: lmt they are my children tuno. May God enable me to do my duty by them I "
The great Controller of the lives of men had provided him fellow-laborers from an unexpected quarter: lads whom he found on Norfolk Island, descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, who, having married native women of Tahiti, left to their offspring a legacy of the blood of Europe and Ogeania united in their veins in.a mixed stream; these lads were endowed with singular sweetness of character and ardent faith. Two were killed by poisoned arrows during the lifetime of the bishop: one died with him. It is well known that the bishop was killed at the Island of Nikapu: I need not tell the sad story: he died for the sins of others, so closely did he tread in the * Story of Allen Gardiner (7th edition), Marsh & Stirling, 1887. steps of his Master: a boat floated qut containing his body with a palm branch laid upon the five wounds: and at the age of 46 his warfare was accomplished, his hero life was ended. The poor lad, however, lingered a few days in in- tense agony under his. wounds, and made tlfe following remarks. when he saw his leader's body, showing the spirit which had been imparted to him by his contact with a hero• .. Seeing people taken away when we think that they are most necessary to do God's work on earth makes me think that we often think and talk too much about Christian work: what God requirea is Ohristian men. He does not need the work: He only gives it to form a perfect charaeof the men, whom he sends to do it."
.. It is all right now. Do not grieve about it, because they did not do this thing of themselves,for God aUowed them to do it. It is very good, because God would have it so, and because He looks after us, and He understands abont us, and now He wille to take away us two (me and the bishop), and it is well…
The poor lad's knowledge of the world was limited to Pitcairn Island and Norfolk Island. His faith had not been weakened in the schools of learning.
The bishop had by his own hero life brought Christ home vividly to his im- agination, and in his simple eloquence, with dying lips, the poor lad sought to palliate the offenses of the ignorant savages, who had killed him in re- venge for the wrongs which they had suffered at the hands of others, and to justify the ways of God to man. Who can say that Coleridge Patteson lived and died in vain? If you seek his monument, read the annals of the ever-ex- panding Melanesian Mission, spreading from tribe to tribe, and from island to island.* JOHN WILLIAMS.
John Williams belonged to an earlier generation. He had accomplished his course while Patteson was an Eton boy, before Allen Gardiner had conceived his great idea. He was indeed an ajla~ ILVopi:w, and seems to have been specially brought upon the scene by a wise Providence at a moment when his peculiar gifts were required. Oh! if we could only un- derstand, and be satisfied, that we are all of us but pots in the hands of the potter, made suitable for the work which is laid upon us! Williams' educa- tion, intellectually and even religiously, had been very defective: the hour of his call came at the appointed time: as he was going to a tavern to meet worldly companions, he was overtaken by a lady in the streets, who persua- ded him to accompany her to a place of worship, and this chance event was the commencement of his great change of life: he had energy of character, strength of faith, ardent desire to preach the gospel, and a wonderful power of conciliation: he could moreover turn his hand to anything in the smithy, or carpenter's shop: he proved his capacity to build a seaworthy vessel: he could saw timber, or teach in a school: his object was to rouse the people to the duty of introducing new arts and reasonable requirements, Such was the man who was sent out to preach the gospel in the Island of Tahiti in 1816; early in his career he wrote to his mother, that he prayed that he might be faithful unto death, and his prayer was heard, for it was so : he had a heart too large to wish to keep the duty of evangelizing the vast region of Oceania to one denomination of Christians: he invited all the churches of Protestant Christianity to take tHeir part in the holy crusade.
Early in his career he conceived the idea of evangelizing the whole region, and he lived to see great progress in carrying it out. His plans were bold and original, but always practical, and which would work. There was noth- ing in him Utopian, sentimental or illusory, and success crowned all his en- deavors, though he did not live to see it, and half a century's experience has * Life of Bishop Patteson (2 vols.), Yonge, 1875. confirmed the justice of his views. He could not rest satisfied with the tiny . populations of Raiatea and Rarotonga (of which island he was the first discoverer): the fervor of his spirit led him to desire, in spite of the inadequacy of his means, to go on from island to island, and plant a living Christianity; for he formed and carried out the bold conception of training converted heathen to become teachers and evangelists in other heathen islands, a truly divine method, and blessed beyond his utmost dreams. It seems almost fabulous, if subsequent years had not proved the reality. He came, he saw he conquered: like a giant he strode over leagues of sea, and anticipated difficulties seemed to vanish before him.
There was no steamers then, and few sailing vessels; but he built his own, the "Messenger of Peace," and he dauntlessly navigated the vast realm of Oceania, dotted with many hundred isles; in the last year of his life his exertions in England enabled him to provide a better and larger vessel, and the steam missionary ship has long superseded his slow means of progress. After his return from England in 1838, he made his first attempt to evangelize the black races in the New Hebrides: he landed with success in 1839 on the Islands of Futuna and Tanna: on the Island of Erromanga he was killed and devoured by those whom he came to save and bless. The last words in his journal before he started on this fatal voyage were, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I finish my course with joy. and the message which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of His grace." The last sentence written by him ~m the preceding evening was, "This a memorable day," and almost his last words, "Oh, how much depends upon to-morrow! "
The darkness which for a time shrouded Erromanga was like the darkness before day, the precedeI' of an exceeding light, which has overshadowed the New Hebrides. John Williams had been unwilling to build on another's foundation, for he was a pioneer, and the settled desire of his soul was to preach the gospel in regions beyond, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to his hand; but he paved the way for others. It is a wonder that he had been spared so long from fever, shipwreck, the poisoned arrow, or accident by land and water; for 23 years he had been permitted to carryon his work, his blessed work, the beginning and continuation and end- Ing of which had been predestinated at his birth: if he died. at the age of 43 he had accomplished a work left undone since the beginning of time, the linking of these scattered islands together in one blessed chain. Love to his Saviour and the souls of men, faith in the veracity of the divine promise as to the universal diffusion of the gospel, conviction that the gospel was suited to and intended for the wants of the most debased of mankind, and the only cure of human ills: these were the great principles of this hero-missionary.
John Williams is described as having no personal interests apart from his people. A missionary who is unable to identify himself with the people among whom he labors cannot under any circumstances be an efficient laborer, and if he has any other object in view but thus to identify himself, he has mistaken his vocation. A man who never allows himself to forget that the people are not his equals according to his European notions, though in the sight of God they are in very deed his equals: who cannot ov('rlook the fact that they are rude, noisy, naked, and in some outward matters even offensive; who cannot admit them at aU times into his own simple ha.bita.- tion, but treats them as if they were servants, and confines his intercourse with them to the hours of his public duty: such a man is destitute of the one great qualification of a hero-missionary; such a man will not bring souls to
BRIEF NOTES ON BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
Christ; his name will not sound stirring in the legends of the converted tribe; he will not be hailed as a father on his return, and wept for as a father when he dies; the mention of his name will not stay the attacks of wild heathen tribes, as it is reported in the biography of John Williams that they spared a village for his sake.
The Hero-Missionary, with' his supernaturally enlarged and enlightened powers of vision, looks over the barriers which limit the view of the less gifted. He admits, indeed, that segregation from the civilized world, want of opportunity, a different climate, a difference of race, an absence of culture have made men differel'lt, but not necessarily inferior; he recognizes the innate weaknesses of every son of Adam, which, if uncontrolled, turn men into devils, and the germs of innate goodness, which exist in all, and which, if developed by the touch of the Holy Spirit, can transform some, whether their skins be white, black, yellow or red, into angels. It has shocked me to hear how some missionaries speak even of their own flocks. As regards the people of North India, who are of our own Aryan bone, I can certify that they are good and loveable; and in myoId age I have learnt to love and esteem and honor men of pure negro race, who appear in some matters to be even of a higher type than my own countrymen. No doubt St. Paul was of the highest type of gentleman and scholar of his period; yet we find in his writings no assertion of a superiority over his converts, some of whom were slaves, and yet dear brothers: we find in him, though aHebrew of the Hebrews and a Roman citizen, no assertion of caste over the Galatians. Ae came in contact with all men-of Europe, Asia and Africa, Jew and Greek and Roman, bondmen and free-but none were to him common and unclean. Alas, how far below this standard many of our missionaries fall! * BRIEF NOTES ON BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
PM Life Qf William Carey, D.D. By George Smith, LL.D., author of the "Life of Duff,I, and "Life of Wilson," etc. London: John Murray. Svo, pp. 389. With portrait and illustrations.
Weare indebted to the distinguished author for this beautiful volume, which contains beyond all question the first and only complete biography of this world-renowned missionary. As we propose at an early day to pay our respects to this intensely interesting and instructive and grandly written work at considerable length, we simply now chronicle its appearance and express our unfeigned pleasure in reading it. The missionary world could afford to wait nearly sixty years to get a memoir of William Carey so complete and satisfactory in all respects as the present one is. At his death, in 1834, Dr. Marshman agreed to write the life of his great colleague, but he died too soon after Carey to begin the task. Several biographies have been written before the present one, but they are all very incomplete, and on many accounts unsatisfactory. The author of this noble volume went to Serampore less than a score of years after the great missionary's death, and there as editor of the Friend of India, came to know the work done by him for India and for Christendom, and collected there, on the very theater of Carey's long services, the materials, out of which, with those gathered from other sources, he has wrought this finished and skilfully constructed biography, which deserves to rank, and will rank, among the foremost in the annalsof the missionary world.-J. M. S.
Medical MisBiCJn8: Thdr Place 'Und Pwer. By John Lowe, F. R. C. S.E. London: F1l1her Unwin. 12mo, pp. 392.
The high value of medical missions in saving the world is rapidly growing * Life of John Williams. Prout, 1848. in the public estimate. This book contains an exhaustive account of the benefits that accrue from the use of the medical art as a Christian agency.
Mr. Lowe is eminently qualified to write on this subject, having himself been so long engaged in the same field. Some may think that medical work is too strongly insisted upon by him as a necessity to missionary success; but, bating possibly a little excess of enthusiasm for the grand work which has engaged the labor of his life, we may, on the whole, accept his conclusions as sound, and commend his book as timely and important.-J. M. S.
Ro1Jert MorrlBon. By Wllliam John Townsend, General Secretary of the Methodist New Connex- Ion Missionsry Society. London: Partridge & 00. l2lno, pp. 160.
This neat little volume gives a pleasing memoir of the first Protestant missionary to China. It is evidently prepared with care and discretion, and will be read with interest. The opening of China to Christianity and to western civilization, and the interest felt in the evangelization of that great kingdom, makes this a favorable time to issue such a work, specially adapted to interest the young in our churches and Sunday-schools.-J. M. S.
A lIlimp86 at Indian JIi88ion-lI'ielll and Leper Aqylu11I8. By Wellesley O. Bailey. London: Shsw & 00. 12mo, pp. 188.
The author of this interesting volume is Secretary to the Mission to Lepers in India, and he here gives an account of a journey made on behalf of this afflicted class in 1886-87. It is hoped that its publication will awaken a greater interest in their spiritual and temporal welfare. It is sold for the benefit of the lepers. The book is of general interest, as it touches upon the work of twenty of the leading missionary societies of the world.-J. M. S.
27Ie Life qf DaVid Livtng8fJ0n8. By Mrs. J. H. Worcester, Sr.
The Life qf Hen1'1/ Martyn. By Mrs. Sarah J. Rhea.
The Woman's Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions (Chicago) has added th~se abridged memoirs to its series of "missionary annals." The series is an admirable one. Theyare gotten up well, and sold for 30 cents each in cloth; paper, 18 cents.-J. M. S.
m'mp868 qf Maori-Land. By Annie R. Butler. Price, $1.25.
Kem and 8aigiroj or, Lights and Shades of Lile in Japan. By Mrs. J. D. Oarrothers. Sl.50.
The American Tract Society publishes both these volumes. They are well written and illustrated. They are adapted to create a lively interest in missions on the part of the young. They form part of a Series.
Alden's Manifold, (Jyclopedia is a new departure in book-making. It is a small, compact duodecimo, which aims to combine the advantages of an encyc/Qpedia, a biographical dictiona1'1/ and a leIricon. Five volumes are issued and twenty·five more are to come. And Mr. Alden offers the complete set at $8.35 paid in advance, or 4() cents per volume in cloth, 55 cents in hslf morocco.
We are glad to call attention to this remarkably comprehensive, complete and unique production. It is valuable in the line of missionary biography, etc. For example, in the first volume is a short but very complete article on Abyssinia, Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albigenses, America, etc., full of valuable information relative to home and foreign missions. In subsequent volumes we find other articles on Brainerd, Boer, Bogermann, Bogomili, Bohemia, Bombay, Katherina Von Bora, Boro-Buddor, Borromeo, Brahma, Brahmasomaj, Bible, Bible Society. Having had occasion frequently to consult the volumes now out, we say unhesitatingly that single articles on missionary themes have proved worth the price of the work, not to refer to the wider range of topics pertaining to generalliterature.-A. T. P.
Proceedings 01 86C(}f1,(j Convention of Christian Workers in the United 8tate8 and Canada. Held in Broadway Tabernacle, N. Y. Olty, Sept. 21~, 1887. 60 cts., two copies, SI. Rev. J. O. Collins. New Haven, Oonn.
Such is the title of a pamphlet of some 300 pages full of suggestlons for all
OORRESPONDENOE AND GENERAL
true millsionary workers at home and abroad. It Covers all great qnestions of evangelistic activity. The paper by Dr. Beard on the McAll missions is invaluable. But this is only a specimen of the careful, often exhaustive, essays and addresses which are packed into this closely printed pamphlet.-A. T. P.
The Biblical IlluBtrator. By Rev. J. S. Exell, A.M. New York: Randolph,& Co.
'Though not directly a missionary volume, this work will be found to stimulate every form of missionary work. It is a book of rich stores of analyses of Scripture, with illustrations, anecdotes, similes, emblems, gathered from a wide range of reading. We have examined it with care and delight. It will be a help to any Bible student. How far it may help in preparing missionary sermons and addresses may be seen by consulting this abundant storehouse of truth and fact, under such texts as the following: Matt. ix: 36-38; x: 1-16; xxviii: 18-20, etc. This volume is confined t~ Matthew. We hope others will follow, equally deserving to be called mines of gold.-A. T. P.
H.-CORRESPONDENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
Ohina. the college the necesSity of increased contribu- tions, in order to provide the necessary buildings LETTER from Dr. Rapper, President as soon as possible. I hope that those who have the matter under consideration will decide imof the Christian College, China: mealately and send their contributions to the treasurer of the Board of Foreign Missions of CANTON, Apri12, 1888. the Presbyterian Church, who will forward DEAR MESSRS. EDiTORS.-I am much obliged them to me. In the January REVIEW there apto you for the favorable reference vou made peared an item copied from the NO'ftk (Jhina in the Febrnary number of THE REVIEW to New., stating that some benevolent gentlemen the effort to establish a Christian College in the United States had subscribed $300,000 for in China. You and your readers will be inter- the establishment of a university at Nankin. ested to know that some classes have been This was a misstatement. Some one wrltliig annonnced in a rented building. They com- from Tientsin to the NO'ftk (Jhina New. made menced on the 28th March. I have received the mistake. He changed the fact, which was thirty pupils out of some eighty applicants. that I desired to secure $300,000 for a Christian The number of applicants would have been college, into the statement that some.one had greater, but that it was known that only a few given the $300,000. I will be very thankful inconld be received, and none under sixteen years deed if some Christian givers will make this of age. Of these six are Christian young men SUlD an accomplished subscription, and thus who have returned from the Sunday-schools for secure the establishment of a well-equipped and Chinese in America. Two of them are sons of thoroughly furnished institution. It is hard to native pastors in the Ningpo Presbytery, who conceive any other way in which such a sum of wish to get a college education. They are Chris- money would accomplish a greater Christian and tians. One has passed through the Presbyterial educational work than by establishing a Chris- Academy, and the other has nearly completed the tian college among the 300 mUlions of China. COurse in it. And five others are sons of Christian parents here in Canton. These, I trust, will Yours in Christian work, give a Christian infiuence among the students. _ A. P. HAPP:rm. The fact that only thirty could be received when there were eighty applicants shows very impres- LETTER from Rev. Gilbert Reid: sively how desirable it is that the college buildings should be erected as soon as possible. It PEKING, March 14, 1888. is very desirable that the bmlding shonld be DEAR EDITORB.-I havejust received the first ready for use in January, 1889, at which time of number of the Dew series of THE MISSIONARY year students will be making their educational REvmw. I am delighted with the whole arrangearrangements for that year. ment. Nota8ect, but the (Jhurchistoappearbe- fore us. Progress is the watchword. Good for the I am using efforts to secure suitable grounds people at home, and good also for us missionaries. as soon as possible. The asking price for desir- Some such medlUlD is needed for the growing able sites range from $500 au acre to $1,000, ac- work everywhere, and I hope that soon China cording to location near the city. As we need may appear like Japan as the land of urgency in twenty acres, the cost of the ground will take a evangelizing. To one who catches the spirit ot cousiderable out of the estimated sum of $50,- the people, and especially the government of 000 for grounds and buildings. As the sum al- China, great things are already in sight. Educaready secured is not snfilcient to purchase that tion is the opening wedge-an education in Westamount of ground, it presents to the friends of em studies, but not to iguore Chinese knowl- power. When in clistre!ls, the Mohammedan cries: "AUahu akbarn I" [AUah is great] edge; an education aa far as possible on Ohi- which means: "I have to submit, thoug" I am like a stone in the hand of a mason. AUah nese lines, but not necessarily to the separation knows it best: it is His will. What will we do against it ,,,' of Christianity. What we need for China are Now, is not such teaching antagonistic to the educated men imbued with the Christian spirit, Christian's faith' Does not the Christian love a Father, a Preserver, who is tender and carefnl r and living the Christian life, who know how to He trusts himself also to the superintendence of the Almighty; but this Almighty God is not give tkem8e1ve8 to China and educate the nation bound by fate, his law is principled in tbe love for His children, in order to give them eternal to the true paths of wisdom. Such men wonld bliss. He sent His only Son, that men might be united to this Son by faith, and by means of Him be countenanced by the government; and if obtain an eternal inheritance in heaven.
such do not appear at the call of duty. men of In a few words, the contrasts of Mohammed- anism and Christianity may be described thus: skeptical teaching will not be lacking at the Allah: a king with a heart uninfiexible, man his slave; God: a Father in heaven, man His call of interest or fame. GILBERT REID. child. Islam: the state of being subdued; Ohristianity: eternal love. As for our Lord Holland. Jesus Christ; though reckoned in Koran among the prophets which brought new laws or dis- LETTER from Rev. W. D. Schuur- pensations: i. "e., Adam, Noah," Abraham, mans: Moses, Jesus and Mohammed; only two of HAARLElIf, May 18, 1888. these prophets are held in high esteem and men- tioned with reverence, namely Abraham (or DEAR EDITORS.-As I did not receive the Ibrahim) and Mohammed. The first has founded February number of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW the trne faith, i. e., Islam, and the last has af- firmed it and propagated it with vigor and ('n- OF THE WORLD till May 11, I conld not earlier ergy everywhere. The prophet has subdued every one who wonld not accept the Islam; he take notice of what had been said by Canon is a conqueror with a sword in his hand; he has been triumphant in all places, therefore he is Isaac Taylor about" The Progress of Islam." called Mohammed * the praiseworthy. Jesus is also called a "nabi" (prophet), but he wa.s a After reading the article, I wondered how such weak person. He was revealed the .. Indjil " (gospel). but he had no power to propagate it. a lea~ned man should be so little acqnainted Only twelve persons "al Hawaryuna" (the Apos- tles) believed in Him. That the Moslems regard with Islam itself and the manner of its spreading onr Lord" as a perfect pattern of humanlty," I never heard; ou the contrary, there is a legend in the different parts of the world as to proclaim accepted as a trne narrative or statement by many Mohammedans, that relates, "When the the .. Faith of the Prophet" to be "a stepping- Jews had the intention to seize our Lord their eyes were blinded by Allah; in consequence of stone from heathenism to Christianity," and "that it they seized another person, who thus W88 crn- cified. Jesus was taken away by Aliah, who its teachings and methods might well be adopted placed him in a country and invested him with kingly power. Soon afterwards he became so by the promoters of Christianity." proud that he pronounced himself to be Allah. For this crime he was severely punished. After In consequence of the Canon's assertion, as be- receiving forgiveness he stirred up an insurrec- tion against Allah, and invited his grandson, Wa ing not in accordance with what I myself have Djudja (Dju dja wa Madjuj Gog and Magog), to join him. Now Mohammed was sent to subdue seen and read, I feel urged to write a few lines Nabi Isa (the prophet Jesus), and to be his suc- cessor." According to the opinion generally reabout" Islam and its progress," which I offer ceived Jesus stands in rank to Mohammed like a servant to his master. Even at the last day, you for your REVIEW. when every man will be rewarded or punished as his deeds were good or bad, Mohammed will For mauy years I lived in a Mohammedan *Mohammed-laudatus, a verbo hamlda -laucountry (Java), and dally had familiar inter- davit. course with Mohammedans of every rank, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old.
I have studied the Koran, especially the relig- ious precepts, the religious tracts or catechisms, that are used in priest-schools, and in this way I came to the following couclusion: The Moham- medans have their Allab, the Most High, who dwells in gloom aud finstemiss, far from men.
He is a great king, who rnles by the Book of Fate,* which is the law of his kingdom. He is called the mercifnl, notwithstanding a man is judged according to his deeds; these are weighed, and when the bad deeds are more or heavier than the good ones, be it a dzarat (atom), then he is doomed to hell. The Lord Himself does not interfere with His human ,creatures; like a king, He has His messengers, His angels, that have revealed His will to His favorite Mo- hammed, who has written down this revelation in the Koran, in order to be a dahUl (guide) for all men. The Lord is great, He may do what He likes j man ought to trust himself to His *See Sale's translation of the Koran, chap xcvii. and the notes: also the French transla: tion of Kasimersky, same chapter. The Arabian word Kadr and its derivations have in most cases the meaning of Fatum. What I call the Book qf Fate is meant by Sale as "the preserved table by God'8 tl/,rone ." receive knowledge of the ultimate !'ate of men, curslons to get slaves; even anows a man to and M will command Isa to act as his servantexecutioner ; M will give to Isa the keys of make his wife his slave, whom he may buy and heaven and hell in order to bring into his place every man according to his deserts. Iss, there- get rid of at his pleasure. Islam ftatters the fore, will act as doorkeeper of Mohammed. Every Mohammedan I me~ with had the opinion convert with a paradise where he may enjoy that the Nab! Isa has made himself Allah, and though they did not dare openly accuse him of such pleasures as are desired by a sensual man. blasphemy in the presence of a," white man" (a Christian), I often heard them do so when in And last, though not least, Islam inspires hate familiar intercourse with their fellow-countrymen that embrace the same religion. against .. white men "-Christians, European How then can it be Baid that the Moslem re- and American, the conquering race. The Mogards our Lord Jesus as a perfect pattern of humanity' hammedan missionary persuades the black, Moreover, though according to Islam man's brown or yellow nations not to be Christians, blessing or eternal doom is written in the Book of Fate; notwithstanding every one is obliged lest they will be subdued in a political sense by to work out his own salvation, especially by means of prayer or spending alms. The Mos- those" Kafirs" (infidels), those" dogs," those lem has no SaviO'llr who has died for him; he cannot become a new creature because he does robbers, who come with their religion. feigning not know anything of a Spirit of Life who will work in him eternal life. He does not man's salvation, but really with the intention of have either medium or mediator, by whom he can get into commnnion with our Father in taking possession of his life and his conntry. heaven. How then can it, be said that in the Koran or in Mohammed,anism are" undeveloped The Arabians and their missionaries invite the seeds of Christian truth." The seeds in the Koran when developed cannot but separate men heathen to join the ranks of their Prophet in orfrom God, as Islam separates man from man when not having the same opinion in matters of der to form one vast standing army to fight in rellgion_ Islam is very unlike Christianity, as it preaches subjugation (literally) to all who will the Holy War to conquer the" Nazarani "(Chrisnot embrace its faith. As the gospel bids ns to love all men, even our enemies, Islam proclaims tlans)_ the holy war against the Ka1l.rs, the infidels. The follower of Mohammed subdues every These things may account for the" rapid progheathen Or Christian (when it is in his power) by the sword; the disciples of Christ use spirit- ress of Islam and the comparatively slow growth ual weapons to bring into the obedience of faith. of Christianity in Mohammedan countries and Mohammedanism is not a stepstone to Christianity, but an obstacle, a hindrance to the in heathen lands where our missionaries are spread of the gospel. All missionaries know, as I know from experience, that a heathen once confronted by the emissaries of the false Prophet. converted to Mohammedanism Is ftlled with bitter and increased animosity against the gos- I could give many examples, especially from pel and against Christians. the East-Indian Archipelago, to illustrate what A word as to .. the progress of Islam." That its progress is more rapid than that of has been said above about Islam and its prog- Christianity must be ascribed to the following facts: Islam in most cases, when seeking the con- ress_ Perhaps in the future I may write you version of a people, only requires them to utter the formula: "There is no God but Allah, and again On this important matter, that the readers Mohammed is his Apostle," and be circumcised. This done he is a Mohammedan. Islam, at least of TilE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF TilE WORLD its propagators, leaves untouched the heathen customs and habits, even the superstitions, that may know how to judge of the worth of the Mohave a very immoral character. Iolam, in followin::- the example ofits prophet, allows a man hammedan religion, and also that all Christians to have mOre than one wife, besides many con- CUbines, which is very much to the taste 01 may be convinced that all hands ougM to be put Eastern and uncivilized people_ Islam permits slavery and the slave trade, and marauding; ex- to work to remove the great bulwark of Moham- medanism and conquer the world for our Lord Jesus Christ. Yours affectionately, N_ D. SCIlUURMANS.
Brazil.
LETTERfromRev.E. Vanorden,San Paulo: We purpose to establish in the City of San Paulo, the headquarters of Protestantism in Brazil, printing and bOOk-binding workShops for the production of a sonnd evangelical literature, in order to interest the minds of children, to sat- isfy the desire for Christian knowledge on the part of adults, and to counteract the great evils which immoral and infidel publications are alarmingly producing. We cannot leave our young men and women, edncatedin our schools, withoutgood books_ Our 3,000 church members, their families, and the large number of attend- ants at our services, must and will read some- thing, and if we do not provide good books for them, they will be tempted to read the transla- tions of French novels which are being scattered all over the empire in fearfnlly increasing num- bers.• The necessity for such an effort is not only felt by ~e Brazilian native pastors and converts, who have already organized the Brazilian Evan- gelical Tract Society, but one of Brazil's most eminent scholars, Gen. Couto MagaJbaes, has developments with eager interest.- given 81,000 towards this object, and he thinks EDS.] that the friends of the mission In Brazil should follow his example. DEAR EDITOBS.-At this station we are meet.- ing a very great deal of opposition from We must have onr own printing-press, because the chiefs. The head chief has ordered the we caunot pay the high prices exacted by good people to stay away from our meetings, and workshops or be satisfied with the bad or slow few dare disobey. They fear the chief, not work done by cheap printers. The Religious for his kingly power, but because of his Tract Society of London is qulte willing to aid " fetishes," and because they know he could In this work. They will make aud have already at any time get up a charge of witchcraft made grants of paper and of money toward against them. Of course the witch doctors are evangelical publIcations. one with the chiefs in their opposition to the gos- pel, and they are glad of any" cue" to indicate In connection with this printing-Office it is proposed to open a depository of Bibles and books e., who may be "ndoki," i. in league with Sain different languages in a conspicuous place, iu order to reach the large number of Italiau and tan or " a devi!.," German emigrsnts who are constantly arriviug. Some of the converts, too, have given us a Already there are in the Province of San Paulo 80,000 Italians. 50,000 Portuguese and 25,000 Ger- good deal of sorrow. One has been accused of mans. adultery. He says he is innocent, but the peo- ple say it is trne, but the proofs we cannot well The British and Foreign Bible Society has in- get at. He, in turn, blames his own (the head) strncted their agents in Rio de Janeiro to co- chief, who is his principal accuser. Ouly about operate In establishing such a depository; the a year ago a similar charge was brought against American Tract Society has made a free grant the said chief ere he was appointed chief of the of $300 worth of books for the same purpose, place, and it was proved to be true; so it may and it Is expected that the Presbyterian Board of be the young man is not guilty. Two others Publication will also give us substantial aid. At have not shown the" true color" on one or two present we have hardly eight or ten books occasions ; but a ch811ge was arranged for them, adapted for children or young people. where amongst new associates they would have a good chance of making a new start. The property of the press will be vested In a Board of Trustees, and as soon as the BrazUlan At the same time there are some tokens of Evangelical Tract Society is incorporated, trans- good being done. From Banza Manteke I learn ferred to its Board of Directors, which is com- that the chapel sent by American friends is proposed of foreign missionaries and native pastors. gressing rapidly; Mr. Lewis, sent out from Bos- The cost will be between $7,000 or $8,000, in- ton, being an experienced builder, It is running cluding freight and duties on material, of which up very quickly. Work is deepening there 83,OOOhavebeen secured. It will be entirely self- though there are few new cases of professing supporting and be the means of scattering mil- conversion. At Lukunga station there is a relions of pages of religious matter among the cent baptism and several professing conversion. people. They are expecting "a harvest time" there soon. Congo Free Sta.te, Afrioa.. Dr. Sims has sent me, from Stauley Pool, the PACAVALA STATION, A. B. M. UNION, } tlrst chapters of John's Gospel in liltcke, which April 12, 1888. I hope to print for use at the Pool and beyond. We have recently had Mr. Harvey's translation [We allow our correspondent to of "Mark" in Kikongo, and Mr. Richard's give facts and express his views in Luke iu Kikongo is also in the printers' regard to Bishop Taylor's mission, on hauds. From the B. M. S. (Eng.) there come the principle that free discussion is reports of good health and good work. From best. The principles and methods on Bishop Taylor's party come rather discouraging which missionary work should be reports. One went to England by last mail and conducted are far from being settled. another is dying of some chronic disease. Three We have yet much to learn, and this have spoken to me against the plan and work of REVIEW will welcome light from their mission, and they have tried what could whatsoever source it comes. We be done. Only a small part of their steamer have given Bishop Taylor and his has left Vivi, and I helieve not a plate yet has mission frequent hearing in these passed Isangila, tlfty miles beyond, while the pages, and shall rejoice in his success greater part of those who came to bnild the as much as any of his friends. And steamer have gone home or left the mission. still we are far from being assured of One steamer that came out after the bishop's is the wisdom of his policy, and await by this time almost atloat.
Would it not be better for the Methodist Church to establish a mission here that would spend the Lord's money in .. cultivating souls" and "farming the Lord's kingdom," rather than proceed on what seems to us wastefal alas I not so clear. For a Turk to promw Is lines f Let them send one or more missionaries one thing, to perform is quite another. We to each of the stations, and, if wanted, also hailed the assurance that there would be no several Christian workmen along with the mis- more trouble over the school question. Our sionaries. Those set apart for the work of the work in Asia Minor and Syria lies chiefiyamong gospel could be relieved of all business and the Ansairlyeh, whom the Moslems -claint as Mohammedans. A partial account of them will seculsr duties by the Christian artisans, and the be found In a book called" The Asian Mystery," written by the Rev. Samuel Lyde, an English Lord's work would take root now and souls clergyman, who was the first missionary to these people, and worked in the mountains near Latdying In darkness would receive the light. akia. This work was begun in that region more The command to the church was not, "Go than thirty years ago, and there is now a fiour- ishing church there and a number of schools. ye forth and cultivate farms, and do what gospel In Cilicia we began work among them six years work you can find time to do"; nor does Paul ago, and already our hearts have been gladdened say, "Go and support yourselves." Let the by the baptism of several yonng men, and this church attend to the spreading of the gospel, and winter we have had large schools both for boys those who cannot "go forth" let them help and girls in Adaua. Tarsus. Merslne and two vilothers to go who can go, but lack the means; lages on the east coast of Mersine, Karadawar and let those in whose hands the Lord has and Karadash. These were mostly composed of placed In trust plenty of money to pay their Ansairiyeh and Orthodox Moslems. Sometime own expenses, also go out. Christians at home ago a number of the schools in Syria were closed think that because the Lord does not send their by order of the local authorities. Our schools money through a missionary society He has have been threatened for two years, and l8st very little claim on it-not more than a tenth at fall they were all closed except that In Mersine, the outside; but I think the Lord looks at it in which is in American premises. Orders having another light. I believe to hundreds in America been given to open the closed schools, we did and in England, He has given the needed money, so, and there was an immediate increase in the the mental talent and bodily energy. that they number of pupils, which showed how the work might go out as the Lord's agents-like Keith was regarded by the parents. Relief from the Falconer of the Scotch Missions, and like num- famine was given to all who came to our schools. bers In the China Inland Mission. The school in Karadawar, which was not at fir&! very large. after having been closed by the local Thank God for these bright examples, and authorities locking up our rented house and above all for the glorious example of Jesus taking the key, and then being re-opened had Christ, who left His Father's house in the glory 106 pupils. Seeing no other way to compass the above and took " long and trying jouruey destruction ofthe school the Governor of Mersine through the land of Judea and Samaria to the imprisoned the chiefs of the village, and under Cross of Calvary, that through His life and pain of having soldiers quartered in the village death might become kuown to those then lying compelled them to sign a declaration that they in sin, the love of God and His infinite salvation. did not want the teacher, and thus forced the villagers to remove their children. This effectuo that the churches-Methodist, Baptist and ally closed the school.
any other .. ist" or "ian" that proclaims sal- The teacher who had been at Karadash had vation fall and free thl'ough God's crucified been for a considerable time absent, but last Son-WOUld rouse themselves and send forth winter, when the order came from Constantinolaborers into this poor, degraded land I ple to allow the closed schools to be opened, we sent Daoud Saade, the former teacher, to that Yours in the Lord's work, place. All went smoothly, and there was a Jos. CLARK. fiourishing school until two weeks ago. Mr. Saade was then arrested on the charge of being Asia Minor. a Russian propagandist. After being kept under arrest for several days, he was taken to Adena, INTERESTING letter from Mrs. Mary but in a day or two he was marched back to the E. Metheny of the Reformed Pres- village under escort, and ordered to open his byterian Mission : house for search. This he refused to do, as being a Greek subject they had no right to enter MEBSINE, May 10, ] E88. his hou&e except in the presence of a Greek EDIToBs MISSIONABY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. official. He told them if they chose to search -I notice in THE REVIEW for May this state- his house they must do it on their own responment : .. The good tidings comes from Syria that sibility. This they did, seizing his books and the late attempt of the Turkish authorities to papers and taking them and him back to Adana. force uew and intolerant restrictions upon the The school-books were examined and foimd to cause of'Christian education has been earnestly bear the Imperial stamp. They then examined resisted by the diplomatic representatives of the different powers; that it has utterly failed and has finally been withdrawn." It is true that the .. diplomatic representatives," urged by Hon. Oscar Strauss, United States Minister, and Consul Bissinger of Beirut, have made strenuous efforts to have the obnoxious law prevented or repealed. Whether it has" utterly failed" is, the letters, and tlie ~vernor-general in an inter- emment would seek redress? How long must the view with Dr.Metheny, the AmerIcan missionary, declared that they proved hinI to be a very selfish/jealousies of these Ohristian nations shut bad man, and very treasonable sentiments were contained in them. Dr. M. afterwards out the light of the gospel by which they enjoy found that the paragraphs were these: "I hope the work of yonr hands will prosper, and that snch glorions privileges Y the Lord will open a wide door for the gospel. " "You say, • Send my remittauces by a faithfal Thanks for the earnest and stirring words man.' That means either that you must bring them or that I must take them." It so happened which reach us every month in the REVIEW. My that it was the Doctor himself who had written these suspicious sentences, so that Daoud was to husband, the only male missionary in our mis- be tried for letters written by another man I It seems that they concluded that there was no sion here, is so engaged in the '?ork, and espe- toundation tor the accusation as a Russian spy, so they changed the offense and charged him cially in tbis case of Daoud's, that he has not with having reviled the Sultan. The ground for this appears to have been that eight or nine days time to write abontlt, being very feeble albest. after his first arrest, and, as the villagers spon- taneously testity, nnder great provocation and Our force is very small, my husband-minister, ill-treatment, he said that as a Greek snbject he was not under the Snltan. In an interview with physician, treasurer, overseer of schools and of Mr. Dawson, U. S. Consul in this place (of whose indefatigable efforts to have justice done everything else; Miss Sterrett, pioneer in the in this matter it is impossible to speak too high- ly), the Governor-general claimed that this case work among the girls, and her assistant, Miss had nothing at ail to do with the matter of the schools. Mr. Dawson then said, .. Very well, Joseph. This is all the force for the thousands then. Shall we send down another teacher?" Thns hemmed in, the Governor-general said, of Arabic-speaking people in this region. We .. No. That could not be allowed, as Karandash was a Moslem village." Thns the true reason expect Dr. Henry J es,up to be with us next Sab- appeared. bath. Yours in the work, Now, yon will observe that this flagrant ont- rage has taken place after the snpposed settIe- M. E. METHENY. ment of the school question. Daoud is still in prison, notwithstanding the prompt and contin- Madagasoar. nons remonstrances of both the U. S. and the Greek Consnls: tbe former as representing the ANANTANARlVO. March ffl, 1888. interests of American schools in Turkey, and DEAR EDlTORS.-I have to acknowledge, with the latter In defense of Daoud's rights as a Greek many many thanks, the receipt of the first num- subject whose passport is in the Consul's hands. ber of the new series of THE MISSIONARY RE- This all goes to show that it is useless to hope VIEW, as also the numbers of the old series dnr- for any justice, unless there be force enough in ing the year 1887. I need not say that the maga- the hands of the other powers to compel the zine was to me full of interest and its pro- Turks to fulfil their express agreement in this gramme fnll ofrich promise. It is being circulated matt1lr. among the members of our social circle here, and I hope will be voted into oor Magazine Mr. Saade is an educated gentleman and a stu- Club, whicb, however, contains members ont- side the missionary band. dent of theology. Is there no remedy for such I am sending by this mail a copy of the Re- port of the L. M. S. Madagascar Mission for a state of affairs as thi~ Y 1885-6, printed in the island. The succeeding My desire to have the Christian world know one I cannot get a copy of, and we are not print- ing one this year. The L. M. S. annnal report, to what extent evangelical work is possible printed in London, will convey the latest infor- among Moslems prompts me to write the above mation. This report, however, will perhaps for your REVIEW. Liberty of conscience for enable yon to see something of the working of Moslems is a thing that does not exist. Many this mission, as it could not be seen when , Moslems freely express their belief in the New mixed np with other missions, as in a general Testament, but the knowledge of the persecu- report. tion that must certainly follow deters them Since the pnblication of the report the mis- from professing it openly. How long will the sion in the Sihfinoka country, to the north of so-called Christian powers sit by and see these Imerina, has been re-established by the Rev. E. things? Does not the Hatli Humayon give them H. Stribling and Mr. J. S. Mackay, and an en- the right to interfere? How long would Ameri- tirely new mission commenced by the Rev. G. cans engaged in mercantile bnsiness be treated A. Shaw (formerly at Tamatave) on the south- as missionaries are often treated before the gov- east coast, in the Miltit&naus District, among the Til.imClro and TaUasy and Taisilka tribes. This new enterprise has been met at the very commencement with difficulties arising trom civil war between the tribes, which the Hovas power they profess to acknowledge has not been able to quell. Teachers from the Native Mis- sionary Society in Imerina have been employed in the district for some time past, but Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are the first Europeans to settle in the district as miSSionaries, and are deserving the sympathies and prayers of all friends of missions.
The government return of schools in Imerina for 1882. which I also enclose, would ,probably fairly represent the state of the case at the pres- of the Roman Catholics and others, who offer ent time. None of the missionary societies have cheaplJ'l' alternatives to the people. any responsibility for these retnrns, as they were collected and arranged entirely by the na- Wishing every success to your undertaking, tive government. and bidding you, in the name of our common' Saviour, God·speed, I am It wonld be misleading, ,however, to snppose that becanse there is an edncational depart- Yours very truly, ment with a really trnstworthy man at the head, J AJl[ES WILLS, L. M. S. and because they are able once in a while to get np snch a statement as the enclosed, that there GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. is really any efncient governmentsystem of edu· cation In Imerina. The work and organization -A Noble Tribute. Travelers in and paymeBts are left entirely to the missionary foreign parts do not always bring societies, and the government keep their finger back with them a favorable report of on these organizations, just as they do on missions among the heathen. All everything In this paternal system of rnle. The edncational system of our societies is exerting a the more welcome was the cordial great inBnence on the people. It is questionable, however, whether the religions and spiritual testimony of Lord Brassey in his Influence of the missions keep pace with the in- capacity as chairman at the annual tellectnal. meeting of the Church Missionary From some of the statements in THE MISSION- Society in Exeter Hall last week. ARY REVIEW it is clear that, in common with the vast majority of people, you have far too His Lordship has been a great voyhigh an idea of the extent and depth to which Christianity has inBuenced this country. Imer- ager round the globe, and he has ina, the home of the Hovas, is only as a small table to a large room, in the center of which It nothing but praise for the work of stands. The remainder of the country, with gospel missions. In his excellent the partial exception of Betsilio, Is as dark and speech he said : heathen as Central Mrica, and the Christianity of the Hovas is but very superficial. The sta- "I have been on board the storm-tossed vestistics we publish are correct, and any others' sel in which a good bishop of the Anglican would be false; yet they mislead. People who Church was engaged in carrying the gospel to read the number of preachers and church mem- the distant and storm-bound and ice-bound bers apply the same standard that they would In shores of Labrador. I have been In the stormy America or England, forgetting that it is only waters of the Straits of Magellan, and have seen twenty years ago that the idols were burned and at what sacrifice and by what eBorts the gospel the people in tens of thousands pressed into the is carried to the savage people of Tierra del church suddenly, bringing all their ignorance Fuego. I have aeen the devoted missionaries and superstitions with them. It was no gradual who are'sent forth by the United States at their Infiltering, such as the missionaries conld con- work at Beyrout and Lahore. On the occasion trol (and they were fewer in number than now), of a recent journey, both at Amritsar and Agra, I but a great Inrush, like the Hoang·Ho, suddenly saw what devoted men, and not less devoted changing its channel and depositing "its silt in womeu, were doing in the great cause of the another province. It is wonderful what has education of heathen children. I have had the been accomplished, and doubtless there are privilege at the Island of Tahiti of listening to a many sincere and devout Christians, but the French Protestant pastor, a man of great cnlgreat mass are still destitute of spiritual appre- ture, a man who had formerly held the post of ciation of the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ. teacher to one of the most distinguished nobles Whilst we praise God for what has been done of our land, and I have heard that man deliver a by divine grace, don't let us expect too much sermon which was listened to with great attenfrom these people, and do not think of them as tion by his native audience. The last missionenlightened, self-denying Christians, burning ary station which I visited was that estabwith missionary zeal to carry the gospel to the lished by yourselves in Darnley Island,' We outlying tribes, if not to Africa Itself. had the pleasure and the privilege of taking the wife of Mr. Hunt, your missionary, In The statement that $10,000,000 have been the S'IIhIlieam from Thursday Island to Darnley raised here for Christian purposes must surely Island. At Darnley Island we met your own be a misprint. The country is very poor, and mission schooner, which had brought:Mr. Savthe people are very fond of money, and although age from Murray Island to Darnley Island to in the aggregate a good round sum is raised meet his newly arrived colleague. We spent a year by year, yet we find great dtmcnlty In get- most Interesting day with Mr. Hunt and Mr. ting their quota from the churches for educa- Savage at Darnley Island. We saw the place of tional, church building, missionary and other worship on the island-a humble but picturesque objects; and this is Intensified by the presence building; we saw much of the native teacher and his wife, persons whom it was impossible to know without feeling the greatest admiration and respect for them. We heard a most inter- esting narrative of the dtmcnlties and efforts which are involved in carrying the gospel to the Turning from 1837 to 1886 we find a savage races of New Guinea. We heard, and it remarkable advance in funds, agenwas impossible to hear the story withont a thrill cies and results. The British socieof admiration, of the devotion which is shown ties have increased from 10 to 31; the by the native teachers acting under the guidance 7 in the Umted States have risen of their English leaders in this great canse. The to 39, and the 10 of Continental greater the peril, the more imminent the pros- Europe to 30. The number of forpect even of death, the more earnest is the en- eign ordained missionaries is now thusiasm of the native teachers to go forth into 2,980; of lay missionaries, 730; of this dangerous field." lady missionaries (including wives of missionaries), 2,322; the number of Lord Brassey went on to declare nati ve Christians is 2,750,000, and the total income of all the societies is that it is England's highest mission £2,000,000. Of this sum £780,000 comes from the United States, £210,- and imperative duty to civilize, edu- 000 from Continental Europe, and £1,010,000 from British Christians." cate, and Christianize those in for- -(English) Illustrated Miss'y News.
eign lands whom her influence can -Victory Will Come. The age is reach. He made a strenuous appeal one of intense life in all departments for increased help towards the so- of activity-in commerce and indus- ciety's operations-an appeal backed trial pursuits, and the church must up by a generous donation and the be alive to keep pace with it. The promise of continued support.-The coming century will not be one of un- Ohristian. broken tranquility. There will be -In 1837 there were in Great Brit- wars and rumors of wars, internal ain 10 missionary societies; in Amer- conflicts as well as struggles between ica, 7; and on the Continent of nations, which, with the new inven- Europe, 10. The total income of the tions of weapons of war, may be more British missionary societies in that destructive than any ever waged be- fore. But whatever the passmg year was not more than £300,000; years may bring, this we know, that the Church of God will live, and will their missionaries, lay and clerical, have to do its great work in the world. For this it needs to be prepared. New about 760; their lady missionaries avenues are opening before it. The past half-century has seen an adand their native ordained ministers, vance, greater than many centuries before, in the modes of communiless than 12 each, and their converts cation between different countries, whereby distant nations are brought less than 40,000. The Continental nearer to each other. Even the Dark Continent is being piel'ced on every and American societies united had side. Explorers are ascending the Congo to the Great Lakes, and plantnot more than one half the income, ing the flags of European countries on the highlands of Central Africa. the missionaries and the converts of To the church it belongs to see that commerce does not outrun the gospel, the British societies. The heathen so that our boasted "civilization" may prove a blessing and not a curse. and Mahommedan population of the At present, rum on the Congo causes more destruction than all the misworld was estimated at one thou- sionaries can repair. These are dansand millions in 1837; and, laboring gers which the church has to conamong these vast masses of people, front at the same time that it recogthet'e were in Africa perhaps 65 Prot- nizes the splendid opportunities openestant missionaries; in India, 180; in ing before it. We are not blind to Burmah only 6. For the evangeliza- the former, and yet we have untion of the millions in China 12 mis- bounded faith in what the future will sionaries had been appointed; Japan, bring. When we think of all that Siam and Central Asia were without will take place in the century to any; most of the islands of the Pa- come, we are almost ready to pray cific were in darkness, and a thick cloud hung over the missionary work of Madagascar. On the whole continent of America, north and south, the missionaries did not exceed 25, and of these more than half were lHol'avians. The most successful and promising missions at that time were in Polynesia, where good work was being carried on by the London Missionary Society, the American Board, and the Wesleyan Missionary Society. that we may not taste of death until lives and wealth, it is, on the other hand, conwe see at least the approach, the soling to redect on the immense services which faint dawning, of millennial day. But missionary enterprise has renf.ered to Africa, to we trust we may look down upon it the world at large, and to Gr~at Britain in parfrom the heights above. For the ticular. When the history of the great African present, let every man spring to his states of the fnture comes to be written, the duty, intent to work while the day arrival of the drst missionary will, with many lasts, knowing that the night com- of these new nations, be the first historical eth in which no man can work.-The event in their annals. Almost invariably it has Evangelist. been to British missionaries that the natives of interior Africa have owed their first acquain- -A Veteran Missionary. Rev. Jas. tance with the printing-press, the steam-boat, Chalmers said recently in an address and the saw-mill. Most of the great lakes and in London: rivers of this little-known continent have been navigated, in the first instance, by the steamers "I have had twentyo()ne years' experience of British missionary societies, which may now among natives; I have seen the semi-civilized and be seen plying on Tanganyika and Nyassa, on the civilized; I have lived with the Christian the Upper Congo, the Niger Binue, and Zambenative, and I have lived, dined and slept with the si. Indirectly, and almost unintentionally, miscannihal. I have visited the islands of the New sionary enterprise has widely increased the Hebride2,which I sincerely trust will not be hand- bounds of our knowledge, and has sometimes ed over to the tender mercies of France. I have been the means of conferring benefits on science, visited the Loyalty Group; I have seen the work the value and extent of which itself was careless. of missions in the Samoan Group; I know all to compute. For missionary enterprise in the the islands of the Society Group; I have lived future I see a great spherQ of usefulness."-H. for ten years in the Hervey Group; I know a H. Johnston, Vice- Consul at CamerOO'fl8, West few of the groups close on the line, and for at Africa. least nine years of my life I have lived with the savages of New Guinea, but I have never yet -The death of the Sultan of Zanzimet with a single man or woman, or with a single people, that your civilization, without Clu·is- bar removes the most noticeable of tianity, has civilized." Testimony such as this is worth volumes of theory. all rulers in the Dark Continent, and -" In every corner of the world," one whose character has been felt in says Mr. Froude, "there are the same phenomena of the decay of es- the work of opening up Africa to the tablished religions. Among Moham- whites. He was not without some medans, Jews, Buddhists, Brahmins, of the elements of greatness. Born traditionary creeds are losing their hold. An intellectual revolution is in 1835, Bin Said was only fifty-three years of age at the time of his death, sweeping over the world, breaking down established opinious, dissolving and was not forty when this ruler of foundations on which historic faiths have been built up." This condition the Eastern Coast of Africa-with an constitutes the summons to the island and a capital c:ontaining little church of the Living God to bestir itself to the grandest opportunity less than 100,000 inhabitants -had which it has ever had to conquer the made himself felt. He represented the nations for Christ. No nation can aristocratic Arabic dynasty which long survive the decay of its religion, and the decadence which Mr. Froude for more than a century had held points out is the indication that the sway over the African negroes of the world is preparingforChrist.-Spirit territory familiarized by Dr. Livingof Missions. stone and other explorers. In 1873 Africa.-" If the immediate success of the British missionaries in sprea d Sir Bartle Frere went on a mission, ing their religion over barbarous on behalf of the British Government, Africa be doubtful, if the aver- to the ruler of Zanzibar for the pur- age type of their converts seems an unsatisfac- pose of suppressing the slave trade. tory product ofBo much labor and expenditure of The result 0 f this was an acquiescent treaty on the Sultan's part, which led to a friendly visit of the Sultan to England in 1875. He was welcomed by Under-Secretary Bourke in the name of her Majesty's Government. He also visited Paris, and before leav- ing England concluded a second treaty, and subsequently did much to suppress the slave trade, nothwithstanding the political antagonis~s invoked by him, if by Our exertions the wound and dangers resultingfrom his policy. is stanched and the sick man made whole." He protected the missions against no little opposition. The effect of his -In a single year 3,751,557 gallons death upon missions has yet to be seen, and, of course, depends wholly of spirits were imported into Africa. upon the character of Said Khalif, who becomes the dead Sultan's; suc- The sources of supply are England, cessor, and who is eleven years of age.-Christian at Work. Germany, :portugal and the United -The Liquor Traffic.-In the Brit- States.
ish House Of Gommons, April 24th, '-The Soudan in Africa is 2,000 Sir John Kennaway, on the motion miles long, 500 miles broad, and con- condemnatory of the liquor traffic tains about 60,000,000 of a population.
among native races (which was car- Mohammedans have proselytized ried in an amended form), thus re- these. The Protestant churches of ferred, in concluding, to the work of England and America have sent out the Church Missionary Society, of to this wide field two missionaries.
which he is President: One of these, "a S6udaneselad," saw "I have urged upon the House the acceptauce his father murdered before his eyes, of this motion On the grounds of morality and expediency. I think it will not be out of place was afterwards sold into slavery, was if I ask for it on behalf of the great mi6sionary societies, which have done so much to spread at last rescued, brought to England, Christianity and civilization. The Church Mis- sionary Society, in which I have the great honor educated, and is now baek to Africa to fill a position of responsibility, has always made Africa her first object. She has lavished as a herald of the cross. Surely the her treasure, she has sent forth of her best and church will speedily send at least one bravest on behalf of the negro race in Western, miSSionary for every million persons Central and Eastern Africa, and not a few of in the Soudan,-Presb, College Jour- nal. them have laid down their lives-martyrs as real and true as any to whom the church does Austro.Hungary.-Dr. Somerville . honor. We have present to-day-present in this House, a listener to Our debate-an evidence of of the Scottish Free Church has spent the labors of the society, in the person of one taken as a slave, educated by her, ordained, con- five months in evangelizing work secrated Bishop of the Niger-8amnel Crowther, who has in every sense proved himself worthy in Austro-Hungary, and has preach- , of his high calling and shown the real capabili- ties of his race. ed in about fifty towns and cities.
.. But the Church Missionary Society Is only Many obstacles were encountered,but one among many. The Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel, the Universities' Mission, many encouragements were met with. the Scotch, the London, the Baptist, and other societies, are all working for the same end-all Among the latter was the permission find themselves thwarted and repelled by the same evil influence. Is it always to be so f Do granted by the authorities to hold we need more than to have the mischief brought hbme to us, to make a great effort to put a stop public religious meetings for Jews to it f Among England's greatest men lie very near to where we nOw sit the remains of David and Gentiles (a decided innovation), Livingstone, and engraven on· the stone which the heartiness of reception and co- covers them are words of his which remain as his undying legacy to us, the keynote of our pol- operation on the part of the ministers, icy, and stimulus to Our exertions in the present distress. In burning words he, from his grave, the thronging of the people in multi- •invokes Heaven's richest blessings upon any, tudes to hear the gospel, the readi- be he English, American or Turk, who shaH do something to remove the open sore of the ness with which the Jews came out world.' We are not dealing to·day with the to listen to a Christian Gentile, and slave trade, but with a sore, in the opinion of many, as pernicious. Ours may be the blessine: the general stirring in the towns where the mission was carried on. On one occasion Dr. Somerville ad- dressed an audience of 7,000. In many of the towns in Hungary there is but a single congregation of the Reformed Church, embracing 15,000 or 20,000 members. As to the Jews, not only dId they attend the ordinary public meetings, but, when on sever- al occasions Dr. Somerville gave a public address, specially to them- selves, they came together in crowds, both men and women, even to the number of 1.500. Instead of referring to controversial points, Dr. Somer- we are hoping for much blessing." Dr. Pruen, of the same' mission, ville adopted the plan of showing writing also from Ch'entu, says: how much Christianity owed to the "We have opened a new house for Jews, and having gained the ear and om' mission in this city near the hearts of his audience he then set Manchurian garrison, and so are forth Christ as the crucified Messiah. having crowds of visitors. The gos- pel is being preached, and I am see- Bengal.-R~v. R. Wright Hay, late ing patients twice a week."-China of the Cameroons, in a recent letter Medical Missionary Journal. from Dacca, Eastern Bengal, says: -One of the best provisions re- .. In Dacca there are sevp.ral thousands of cently made by the Chinese Governstudents resident during the greater part of ment is that which requires every the year, in attendance at different colleges, foreign missionary to hold a passport and I am thankful to say that there is the from his own government, declaring beginning of a work among these. It had been his nationality. French officials have a great joy to me to meet some twenty stu- affectp.d to assume a p'rotectorate over dents in a Bible-class every Sabbath morn- all Roman Catholic missionaries of ing, and to witness the intense interest with all nationalities and their converts. which they read and inquire into the story This has been found to have more of of Jesns. I have also lately started a week- the French flavor than the Chinese evening class for the study of questions taste requires. It is now proposed to arising out of the Sabbath lesson, and have deal with men according to nationalbeen much gratified by the devout spirit ity and to recognize them under their manifested, whilst personal intercourse with own proper colors. This is an impor- Individual students convinces me tha t many tant step in the right direction. of them are feeling after God. I have also an opportunityof reaching English-speaking -The great Island of Hainan, off natives through a service held in the mis- the south coast of China, is the newsion chapel every Sunday evening, which is est of the Presbyterian missions. For getting to be pretty well attended by Hin- the first time in the history of misdus, Brahmos, and occasiQnally Moham- sions its people hear the,gospel. medans." -Referring to the work in Shantung Brazil. – Christian people in the Dr. Arthur H. Smith of Pangkiach- United States ought not to lose sight wang writes to the Chinese Recorder: of the fact that Brazilian society is passing through a period of change, " The work of the English Baptist Mission at and that all social changes are crises Tsing Chu Fa in Central Shantung deserves to be better known that it may be much more care- -that the fate of this nation hangs fully studied. The modesty of its founders and upon the manner in which Christian their indefatigableindustry have prevented them from appearing in print; yet here is a mission people do their duty during the next composed for many years of but two missionaries and a native pastor, which, within thirteen years ten years-the forces of Rome are [rom the baptism of its first convert in this rebeing trained to meet the crisis with gion, has two elders, eight stewards, about sixty country stations (each with itsownleader), above that far-seeing, patient cunning for 1,500 members (with additions, after eighteen which Rome is noted. Shall the months' probation, at the rate of about 100 per annum), contributions averaging half-a-dollar a church of Christ in North America member, a central theological school, a central let this ripening grain fall ungather- school (or boys with numerous country schools, a respectable Christian literature ofits own creed? Young, strong men and women ation, and only fiye persons receiving foreign are wanted who can preach and teach pay-the native pastor and four evangelistsand sing of a purer, better Christian- three of whom are assigned to the regions beity than is known here.-Brazilian Missions. yond. 'No cash and no consul' has been the China.-Dr. Perry, of the China motto of this mission from Its inception; and Inland Mission, writes from Ch'entu, while it has experienced the Same obstacles as Szechuan, that he has "already found an open door to several official families in this great city, and a goodly number are attending the dispensary twice a week. There is a church of thirty members here, and all other aggressive Christian work, its results Baptist mission, sustained by the are well worth careful examination. The work Home Mission Board of the Southern of the Baptist Mission is exceptionally compact; Baptist Convention. In January, and now that the mission has received a great Dr. Tichenor, the Secretary, Mr.
number of new recruits, it is looking toward Adair, the Treasurer, and Dr. Mc- the opening out of new statious to the west." Donald, visited the mission. Mr.
-In the city of Pok-lo, on the Can- Diaz was ordained at Key West, Fla., December, 1885. In the month folton East River, a Confucian temple- lowing the first Baptist church was keeper received the Scriptures from a formed in Cuba, with him as pastor.
colporteur of the London Mission, After two years there are six Baptist became convinced of the folly of churches and twelve preaching-sta- tions inand about Havana, each havidolatry, and was baptized by Dr. Legge. He gave up his calling, and ing a Sunday-school. The churchset to work among his acquaintances members number 1,100, the scholars 2,000, and the congregations 5,000.
and friends as a self-appointed Scrip- There is also a church at Matanzas. ture reader. He would go through /The churches are all crowded, people standing at the doors and windows. the streets of the city and the coun- The people seem to have lost faith in try round with a board on his back Romanism. There is need of a meetcontaining some text of Scripture. ing-house in Havana and in other So successful was he, that in three places. Mr. Diaz and his brother, and his mother, and many of his labor years' time about 100 people were ers, seem remarkably raised up for baptized; and so mightily grew the this work. word of God and prevailed, that sur- prise and hostility were excited, and India.-A Brahmin writes to a Mada fierce persecution broke out. The ras paper on the decay of Hinduism. Christians were driven from the vil- He says, "Hinduism is a corpse, out lages, and their property was plun- dered. The colporteur was seized, of which the life has fled, and yet it and twice within forty-eight hours is a living force." The writerexplains dragged before the literati and called these seeming contradictions by upon to recant. This he refused to showing that the moribund, inex- do. He was therefore tortured by being suspended by the arms during pansive creed is still able to perform the night. The next morning he ceremonial functions. The late tour was brought forward in an enfeebled of the Madras governor was marked state, pale and trembling, for a Bec- by continued demonstrations, in which prayers for the protection of ond trial. The officials and mandarins were cowed into submission by the gentry; but this brave old man temples and the preservation of their was still firm in his resolve to cleave to his Bible and Christ, and expressed tithes formed the chief part. Tae Brahmin writer thinlrs that the a hope that his judge would some day , embrace the new doctrine. This was "cream of Hindu society" regards more than they could tolerate, and, their old faith as dead. He mentions like the judges of Stephen, they ran caste as the only saving element in upon him with one accord and killed Hinduism, and thus refers to the difhim on the spot by repeated blows of their side-arms, and threw him into ficulty felt by all friends of reform: the river. Thus perished the first "Another cause of the survival ofthe strength Protestant Christian martyr in China. and integrity of Hindnism is the Intellectual in- Cnba.-The Baptist movement in consistency and moral cowardice of the general- Cuba is wonderful, as all things are ity of the so-called reformers. Mighty as they that are begun by the Lord without are In feats of words, carried on in a foreign lan- guage-which consequently gives an exaggeratthe planning of men. Rev. A. J. ed notion to foreigners of their earnestness and Diaz, the originator of the work, the courage-they are in practice the tame follow- .. Cuban Paul," was himself convert- ers of orthodox priests and Ignoraut women.
ed by a Christian nurse who read the Bnt this state of things cannot last forever. The Bible to him while he was sick in disciples of Spencer cannot always dwell In New York. The one bright and hope- peace and amity with the followers of Shank- eracharya. The dense ignorance of the masses ful spot on the Island of Cuba is this will melt away before the spread of edUcation. The opposition to reform will daily become remark among the Hindus that the old form of weaker and weaker. The ranks of the progres- immolation by tire was preferable as a fate for a sive party will be swelling day by day. The young woman, or even for an old one, than wid- courage inspired by increasing numbers will do owhood. DistreSSing beyond our conception what constitutional courage-rather the want of must be the life to which suttee is a bleSSing; it-has failed to achieve. The fate of Hinduism and yet suicides are occurring in India almost is therefore sealed, although it will be some every week, prompted ouly by the terrible suf- time, probably a long time, before that consum- ferings incident to enforced ·widowhood. Who mation takes place."-Indian Witne88. can remedy these terrible mischiefs endured by -Discouraging Facts. An Indian women In Asia except female medical missiona- Brahmin has lately published a tract ries f They are wanted all through India. They on infanticide, in which he shows are wanted in large numbers. They are wanted for zenana work, for teaching, for all kinds of that the murder of 12,549 infants has iustruction in mission schools and secular estab- been made public during the last fif- lishments of varions kinds. An angel from heaven itself, as has often been said, would not teen years. This, we are told, repre- be welcomed in Hindu zenanas more cordially than a well-instructed female physician." 3ents only a fraction of the murders committed. J apan.-Japan is not only growing spiritually and intellectually, but is – Brahmins Searching the Scriptures. "We pushing ahead commercially at a :auld mention some twenty or thirty places in which Brahmins have formed themselves into 8abhaa (societies) for tbe sole purpose of studying rapid rate. Recent statistics show surprising results. For instance, a the Bible. No missionary has the entree to their tt'ade of $95,000,000 last year nearly doubles that of 1880, which was $51,- meetings, and their existence is not talked about outside. Yet their questions come to us, sometimes anonymously, always secretly. During the last month the writer of this has sent an- 000,000. In 1878 there were nine.
swers to more than a score of such questions- miles of railway, which have been exall of them serious, and many of them very acute. tended to 151 miles. Eleven railway They were answers, not to an individual, but to companies were started in the year varions bodies of Brahmins, and would receive due discussion. Even in the monasteries of this 1887, which also gave birth to 111 land, and by some of the high-priests of Hindu- large industrial companies in three Ism, the Sanskrit Bible Is to-day a book anxious- citie3 alone. Two important naval ly studled."-The Harvest Field. stations have been formed and are being fortified, and the first modern -The number of foreign mission- waterworks in the empire were com- , aries, European and American, labor- pleted in October last. With the exing in India, Ceylon and Burmah, is ception of these last works everyestimated at 689. Native laborers, thing has been done by native skili ordained and unordained, are counted and native capital alone. This is not by the thousands, while the number a bad record for a country where the of baptized Protestant Christians is feudal system was in lull swing reckoned at 500,000. Medicalmissions twenty-five years ago. are a powerful ally•. Zenana mission work is a godsend to millions of wo- men in India. A royal lady in India -Protestantism in Japan. According to the sent to Queen Victoria a petition in a statistics for 1887, there are at present working locket, asking for medical relief for in this empire the representatives of twentythousands of women in India. The four missionary societies. Seventeen belong to the United States, four to England, and one each Countess of Duffel'in, wife of the Vice- to Canada, Scotland, and Switzerland. Japan roy of India, learning of this appeal, has proved such an attractive and promising has established training-schools for field of labor that the number of societies Is nurses among the native ladies. greater than one would expect in view of the comparatively recent date at which the land Joseph Cook says: was thrown open to Christian etiort. Of course, " Between Cashmere and Ceylon, according to the number of workers varies greatly. Three an authentic and most recent official statement, have but one man each; while one has forty-nine there are 21,000,000 widows, and half of these male and female workers, not including the were never wives. Even under the rule of a wives of the missionaries. The 8um total of Christian empress, paganism makes the condi- foreign workers is 25.1.
tion of India yet so desolate that it Is a common Six missions have combined the results of their labors in the " United Church of Christ in I Japan." This body includes all the Presby- as an experiment the giving of Christian lectnres terian and Reformed Churches, save the Cum- for Jews exclusively twice per week in different berland Presbyterians. The Congregationalist parts of the city. Up to the time of his report Mission has decided to join this union, thus they had been increasing in interest and attendmaking it the most extensive of all the Protest- ance. ant bodies in the empire. " At one of the society's anniversaries in Bir- The total Protestant membership shows a mingham recently 400 Jews and Jewesses were – gain cif five thousand over the figures for 1886 ; present, and gave also liberally for the work of a grand gain, and yet how painfully small when the society. Dr. Cassel, who has been at work we consider the thirty-five millions still without In Berlin five years, reports 60 baptisms, 20 of the fold. These figures, however, by no means which took place last year. The HailYrai, a indicate'the limit of Christian infiuence. Japan Jewish organ, is our authority for saying that in is being permeated with Christian truth, and we I Vienna 248 Jews were converted last year to trust the time is not far distant when the em- Christianity. Recently the Rev. Canon Bell pire shall be thoroughly reached with the gos- made this statement: 'Ten days ago I was in pel. Amsterdam, and went into the Portuguese syn- agogue, which is one of the finest in the Nether- Christianity is not persecuted, and its most lands. There are in that city 50,000 Jews. And vigorous opponents, the Buddhist priests, use a few years ago there were only a few Christian infidel arguments against it in their public lec- Jews there, now they are counted by hundreds, tures, trusting more to modern 'free thought' and the work of conversion is going on rapidly.' and materialism than to the ancient Buddhist teachings for their weapons of offense against "The movement of Prof. Delitzsch of Leipzig the new way that is putting their craft in danger. Is a wonderfnl step towards the conversion of the Jews. In nine of the German universitiea HAKODATE, JAPAN. GIDEON F. DRAPEB. he is starting a movement for mission work amongst the Jews, and already over 300 students Jews.-[The Indian Evangelical of the universities have enrolled themselves as Review for April contains a valuable members of a special school for traiuing to this end. article on " The Jew." We give extracts from it which are of a mo~t " With the mention of the name of Joseph Rahope!ul character.-EDs.] binowitz, who was a lawyer and a Jew, but who has been converted to Christianity, I must close. " Have we any indications that the Christian He has given up his profession and preaches' Our religion is having any Impression upon them 1 I Brother Jesus.' It was his ind ependent study of think there is every evidence that a great work the Scripture which led to his conversion. He is being commenced in this direction. There are is exerting a wide-spread infiuence." many agencies at work to this end, and amongst the number is the London Society for the Pro- MadagasCBJ:.-" As is well known, motion of Christianity amongst the Jews. Its on the death of Radama I., one of name defines its object, and its efforts are widereaching. This society was conceived in 1809, his widows, an adopted child of his when there were but 35 believing Jews in all Engiand. In 1813, H. R. H. the late Duke of father, but by no means a chief Kent, accompanied by members of Parliament member of his seraglio, succeeded and other high Officials, in the presence of thou- in usurping the crown, which she sands ot people, laid the first stone of the Hebrew confirmed to herself by murdering Episcopal Chapel and Schools in Palestine Place, nearly or quite all her husband's London. Since then the work has gone Rteadily family. She as~umed the name of on. The late Earl of Shaftesbury was deeply interested in it, and for 39 years only once failed Ranavalona I. Radama II., her son, to take the chair at its anniversaries. The so- whose brief reign succeeded hers, is ciety employs 140 agents, consisting of 24 ordained missionaries, 25 lay and medical mission- plainly esta.blished, by the date of aries, 44 school teachers, 47 Scripture readers, his birth, to have been illegitimate. colporteurs, and other lay agents. Of this number 89 are Christian Israelites, and 17 ordained The evil woman has succeeded in esministers of the Church. tablishing her own race, though not " In very many places the Jews are anxious to her own descendants, upon the throne hear the word of God as explained by the mis- in place of the line of her husband. Sionaries. Iu a Jewish paper in London, whose But her family has become what she sole object is to oppose Christianity, the editor most hated, a Christian dynasty. tells his readers that they 'cannot afford to lose great numbers e1'ery year,' that' they (the Jews) She seized the throne in 1828 and died are being caught in the net,' they are most in 1861, having reigned just a geneanxious to attend mission halls, etc. ration. We all know what followed- .. In PariS, last March,:Mr. Mamtllch undertook the expUlsion of the English mission- aries, and the scenes of cruel and heroic martyrdom, resembling those on Lake Nyassa will be cut off from lately enacted in Uganda, under the civilization, owing to the demands young tryant Mwanga. Mr. Shaw made by the Portuguese. These sta- sums up it thus: 'Ranavalona I., tions, and a great trading establish- who has been compared by some to ment besides, were founded on the the worst of the Roman emperors, to faith of invitations from the British Nero or Caligula, and by others call- Government, and have flourished to ed the Malagasy Catherine II., whom an unusual degree. They are now she resembled in her vices, without threatened, on the one hand, by the having any of the redeeming qualities Arab slave-catchers, who are in full of that empress, commenced a relig- energy again, and on the other by th~ Portuguese, who claim the right ious crusade against Christianity. of imposing any duties they please on All kinds of inhuman cruelties were the Zambesi, and of annexing a strip practiced upon the converts, and of territory right across Africa. If many of those of the highest rank these claims are allowed, .the sta- suffered death or imprisonment for tions must be broken up; but the English Government is unwilling to their determination to serve the true disallow them, because it is essential for the progress of South Africa to God. Some were burned, others purchase Delagoa Bay, which the Government of Lisbon will not sell buried alive, others scalded to death, without territorial compensation. The position of the churches is amost some speared, and others cast from painful one, made so by the tempo- rizing policy of the English Governthe rock on which the capital is built, ment. Certainly it would be a calam- ity to concede to the Portuguese the and dashed to pieces in the valley right of closing the access of the South African colonies into the intebelow.' rior of Africa. There is trouble, if not war, in that matter in the future. " The missionaries were gone, but Turkey.-One ofthe most successful had left behind them the Word of missionaries in Oroomiah is a blind God, the blood of the martyrs, and Armenian from Harpoot, Turkey.
the presence in the furnace of Him He knows the Bible thoroughly, and, riding on a miserable little donkey, whose form was that of the Son of which is led by a one-eyed, deaf God. Therefore, as a Swedish maga- man, he goes boldly from village to zine has lately summed it up, the village preaching the gospel. His church of a few hundreds which blindness protects him, and the peowent under the cloud came out of it ple crowd to see the wonder-a blind a church of 37,000, and has now in- man reading. creased, including in the term all the -Dr. Jessup, of Beirut, writes that avowed adherents of Christianity, to "the Sultan of Turkey has set his a church of 400,000. Of these the seal Of imperial approbation upon 32 major part, that is, the Christians editions of Arabic Scriptures, allowadhering to the London Society, ing them to be sold, distributed and which first brought Madagascar the gospel, present, according to the An- shipped without let or hindrance."
nual Report for 1887, the following Of the books issued by the Beirut statistics: press,290 have passed under examina- Principal stations or districts. . ••. . 28 Out-stations. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . • 1,1:!:! tion in Damascus by the government English missionaries…….. …… Female missionaries (not inclnding .., officials, and have received authoriza- 4 wives). ………….. ……… tion.
Native ordained ministers.. . … . •• 828 Telugus.-In 1878, 2,222 Telugu Native preachers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,395 converts were baptized in one day. Church members……………… 61,723 Native adherents. . . . •. ••. . •. . . . . . • 230,418. Schools……….. .•…•••. .•…… 1.043 Scbolars. . . . . . •. .. . •. . .. …….. . . 97,891 Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ••. . . . . . • •. . . . • £589 19 5 Local contributions……….•…. £2,410 17 11 -Be'll. O. O. Starbuck in Andover Be'IIiew (June).
Scotland. – The Scotch churches are afraid their large mission-stations
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
It was done by si~ administrators, ening. The shrewdest busluess men ten me though only two baptized a.t one time. that they cannot foresee the future, but it looks dark. It is a time rather for taking in sail than -It is said that Dr. Luther F. for puttiug on more sail. This mission is, at Beecher, then pastor of the church best, but a 'lone star,' with no prospects of in which the anniversary meetings mnltiplication," etc., etc: were held, first applied the term "lone star" to the Telugu Mission. This was probably the origin of the In the debate on the question of abandoning or re-enforcing the Telugu name, caught up as it was by the ad- Mission, Dr. Beecher very earnestly advocated abandonment. He said: vocates of re-enforcement. Dr.
" The commercial horizon is dark and threat- Smith's poem was written in the evening after this speech of Dr.
Beecher, and appeared in the next morning daily. " Shine on, Lone Star, thy radiance bright."
IlL-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE" INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."
The Opium Ourae in Ohina. pany, which was abolished thirty BY THE REV. JOHN LIGGINS, ASBURY years ago amid the contempt of the PARK, N. J. ' civilized world. In many respects IN a recent speech in London, Mr. there was a great change for the John Bright referred to the opium better when Indiawas brought under war which England waged with the more direct rule of the Queen China in language of emphatic con- and Parliament, but, alas! the demnation. He said: greatest iniquity of all, the enforced "I am snre scores of times in the year, when opium traffic with China, was con- I am enjoying the beverage which we get tinued by the Indian, and sustained chiefly from Cbina, I am shocked to think of by the Home Governments, because the barbarous cruelty with which we have treated that people, who, so far as all Europe is of the large revenue derived from it. -concerned, are the most peaceful people in the The iniquitous trade has been of whole world. You know that the beginning of the war was opium, the compelling of the incalculable injury to China, and a most formidable obstacle to the Chinese to admit a drug which they did not Christianization of that empire. It 'wish to admit, which they thought hurtful to has also caused much demoralization their people, and which they bad a right to exclude, but which we forced upon them." and misery in India, as the opium vice is spreading there also. It has Remarking upon this statement, the Friend of China says: also worked much injury to India in "The whole story of the opium question is other ways. It causes, or increas~s, the periodic famines, owing to the told in these few graphic words. We hope Mr. perversion of such a vast area from Bright will co-operate with our Parliamentary food crops to crops of poison, and the friends in tbe further measures wbich it Is government traffic shocks the moral sense of the better class of Hindoos. necessary to take in order to relieve England of complicity with the odious traffic."
The abominable trade was begun by Warren Hastings and other agents The greatest and best of all the of the East India Company, and Earls of Shaftesbury, in 1881, un- England's opium wars with China, equivocally condemned "the posi- which as Dr. Arnold of Rugby, Mr. tion of a great imperial government Gladstone, the Earl of Shaftesbury manufacturing the opium, selling and other eminent Englishmen have the opium, and entering in aU the said, are among the most infamous details of retail dealers. It is," he in history, were instigated and fo- said, "a nefarious traffic, and a na- mented by this dishonorable com- tional abomination." The terrible evils of the vile traffic, .. We were listening yesterday to a description of the horrors of the slave trade-of the untold and the very formidable obstacle it is multitudes who must have perished before reaching their destination. But, having labored to the Christianization of China, con- many years in China, my solemn conyiction is that all the misery and sin and suffering caused tinue to be referred to by travelers by the slave trade are not equal to the wrongs in1licted upon China by the opium tramc. That and missionaries. The distinguished may seem a strong thing to say, but it is not at all too strong. I could not possibly describe Miss Gordon Cumming, in her the incalculable misery which I have witnessed as a result of this curse which we introduced "Wanderings in China," Vol. 11:., into China. As a medical miSSionary I have been into many homes where people were enpage 307, says: deavoring to kill themselves by taking opinm, to escape from the greater evils they had " We all know the seqnel, and the storY!Jf the brought upon themselves by the habit of opium two utterly nnjustifiable wars whereby Christian smoking. If you love your country, pray God Englaud not only forced unwilling China to le- that He will raise up a standard against this galize the import of the drug which is rnining horrible, awful curse, and that He will deliver millions of her people, but (like a schoolmaster us from the guilt of it." exacting the price of his birch-rod) compelled her to pay heavy war indemnities. In short, in The Lady Dufferin Movement. the matter of the opium trade, England has acted precisely like one of those hateful 1Iies WE have been studying with some which alight on some fat and comfortable cater- care what is known as the "Lady pillar, and despite its vain struggles, deposit in Dufferin" medical movement in Inits luckless body the eggs whence in due time hat- dia, 'and are led to caution medical ches a crop of vile maggots, to prey on its vitals. women, who desire to devote them- selves to medical missionary work, "The British ollicial conscience has lulled from entering this service without a careful study of its character and itself, Cain-like,* with the assurance of having aim, and the limitations which will be imposed upon them as evangelno responsihility in the destruction of China- ists. The movement is, so far as men, while gaining a solid advantage in the we can detect, after the uttermost revenue of about nine million pounds sterling, stretch of Christian charity, purely which has annually enriched the Indian treasury humanitarian. As such we have from this source. So year after year Britain only kind words for it, though we has turned a deaf ear to every remonstrance believe it might have been made from luckless China, or from those who seek much more than that, and we feel her weal." regret that it was not so made at outset. The objects for which" The The editor of the Missionary Her- National Association for Supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women ald, in a recent number, says: of India" was formed are classified in the Third Annual Report of the " The deep resentment existing in the minds "Countess of Dufferin's Fund," pubof many Chinese against foreigners, on account lished January, 1888, as follows: of the opium-traffic. is well showu by an incident narrated by a member of the China Inland .. I. Medical, Tuition: including the teach- Missiou, who reports having found one day, in ing and training in India of women as a large house, three women sitting together, doctors, hospital assistants, nurses and midsmoking their pipes-oue an old lady in her wives. ninetieth year. As SOOn as this old lady caught the name of Jesus in the conversation she arose .. n. Medical, Relief: including (a) the esand, coming toward the missionary, said: • Do not mention that name again I I hate Jesus I tablishment, under female superintendence, I will not hear another word I You foreigners of dispensaries and college hospitals for the bring opium in one hand and Jesus in the treatment of women and children; (b) the other I' Later, takiug the book from the hand opening of female wards, under female of the missionary, she read a few sentences, but superintendence, in existing hospitals and seeing the name of Jesus, she contemptuously shut the volume, saying: • Take it away I Take it away I I do not want your opium or your Jesus I' Can anything be sadder than having our holy faith thus connected, thoagh wrongly, in the minds of the Chinese with a vile traffic 1"
The Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, M.D., the founder and principal director of the China Inland Missions, and who has traveled very extensively in China, said, at the Mildmay Confer- ence, London, in June, 1887: * .. Am I my brother's keeper r" dispensaries; (e) the provision of female religion cIau2e, so, as so<>n as I could do it medical officers and attendants for existing qnietly, I closed it np." female wards; (d) and the founding of hospitals for women where special funds or en- The Indian 'Witness says, "There dowments are forthcoming. was not the slightest use for the In- dian Association or Lady Dufferin's "III. The Supply of Trained Female Nur- committee introducing the clause ses and Midwives for women and children in they did" ; and Medical Missions at hospitals and private houses." Home and Abroad asks, "Why this never-ending fear on the part of This, practically, is a medical ser- our Indian Government to acknowlvice for women exactly the counter- edge essential Christian rights, the part of the Government's system of right of Christian missions, the medical provision for men which has right of individual Christian confesobtained all over India, and is purely sion?" "Maya Christian," it asks, a secular, though certainly a benevo- "come under any such bond? May lent enterprise. It will not hinder a Christian woman· say, 'I promise and may help medical missionary that, working among dying women, work indirectly. But if any· young my lips shall never be opened to Christian women, graduated in medi- offer them, in Christ's name, the gift cine or as nurses, zealous to do evan- of eternal life ? ' " gelistic work in connection with their profession, think of responding The greater anomaly here arises to the demand for persons skilled from the fact that this movement deand trained for medical work in the rived its initial inspiration, ensample Dufferin system, we must caution and hope of possible success, from them against so doing without care- Christian medical missions by wofully weighing the rule of that aRSO- men to women, and these had met ciation which says, "No employee of with no obstacle on account of relithe Association will be allowed to gion, but were successful to such exproselytize, or interfere in any way tent that they were not equal to the with the religious beliefs of any sec- demands made on them. Woman's tion of the people." If this does not medical work among heathen women absolutely debar them them from is distinctly and divinely Christian, speaking on religious subjects to and yet this association divorces it their patients, and practically from from its ackno.wledged source. carrying the gospel to hospitals or homes, it is not easy to discover how A Great Obstacle in India Removed. the English language can be made to inhibit such deeds. IT is with unusual gratification that we learn that the British Govern- We in nowise depreciate the coun- ment is to discontinue its relation tess' scheme for the relief of suffer- with a system of camp-regulated liing, but from the distinctively mis- centiousness in India. It is some sionary stand-point it is not an arena time siBce the moral sense of Great affording scope for the medical mis- Britain rose in its might and consionary. Dr. Sarah Seward was en- demned the Government system of gaged as a medical missionary at licensed lust that had obtained in Allahabad, India, and lent her aid the British Isles. But the State regfor awhile to the countess' associa- ulation of this iniquity was not distion, but withdrew from it, and said, continued in the army of India; and through Woman's Work for Wo- it has recently been exposed as sinmen: gularly monstrous, facts having been brought to the knowledge of the "I gave up the Dulferin work in October Christian public of England which (1887) ; they could not hamper me, as I was have exasperated them intensely. distinctly promised that I should not be fettered, but they wanted that all assistants paid by them should come under the non- Mr. Alfred S. Dryer, who became ed demand for "more and younger widely known a few years since when women," together with the fact that he exposed the continental traffic in English girls, went to India with the these women were not found to volintent of opposing the system for regulation of harlotry among British unteer to meet the military demand, soldiers, and has been revealing, as and as a consequence had to be huntfar as regard to common decency ed and procured through the exercise would allow, something of the state of direct official force, only intenof things he found. The Christian sified the righteous indignation of of London has from time to time the British Christian public. At the published diagrams to illustrate Mr. meeting in Exeter Hall, Rev. Hugh Dryer's letters, and the effect of the Price Hughes moved the following agitation has been to stir the moral resolution: and religious sentiment of Great Britain to demand, not merely a " This meeting, representIng all sections of modification, but the out-and-out the Church of Christ, learns with deep and abandonment of the connection of burning indignation that the India Office, after the State with licensed prostitution. having been forced to admit the authenticity of We have read these published letters a terrible official document known as the during several months past, and had Circular Memorandum of June 17, 1886, purposed lending the force of our issued by order of the Commander-in-Chief in utterance, and possibly of American India, giving authority to obtain attractive-lookpetition against this abomination, ing harlots, and plenty of them, to provide but are happy in the tidings that houses of ill-fame, and other abominable sugsuch action on our part has been gestions of a kiudred nature; this meeting is rendered unnecessary; at least we astounded to learn that the India Office proposes hope the cablegram means so much. simply to suspend, instead of utterly to repeal, the system under which such atrocities are per- A great public meeting to demand pretrated, and this meeting pledges itself to from Lord Cross, the Indian Secre- carry out, both in this country and in India, an tary of State, the instantaneous and agitation for repeal till repeal is gained_" unconditional abolition of the system of State-provided vice in India, was He said there was no nonsense held in Exeter Hall, on Friday even- about the resolution: ing, May 18, under the auspices of the Gospel Purity Association. Mrs. "Requisitions for the class of women referred Josephine E. Butler, and several to had been made by various commanding offimembers of Parliament were sup- cers, and one, the officer in command of the Con_ ported on the platform by mission- naught Rangers, had asked the Commander-inaries, clergy and ministers of all de- Chief to request the cantonment magistrate to nominations. The bishops of the give all possible assistance to procuring them_ Indian Empire had strongly memori- Let them imagine what that meant in a country alized the Indian Government against where there was no constitutional government_ the continuance of this iniquity, Not only so, bot in at least one part of India a and 300 missionaries joined in the sort of recruiting officer had been appointed for petition to Parliament for its aban- the purpose who was to receive a capitation donment. grant on the victims brought in_"
The specific character of the gov- It is not necessary, as we now ernmentregulations, such as that the judge, to enter more largely into the number of women should be "sllffi- subject. cient," that the women should be "sufficiently attractive," that they If the British Parliament, on June be "young women," and the repeat- 5, responded to the demand of Brit- ish moral sentiment and uncondi- tionally repealed all legislation licens- ing and regulating a great system of iniquity which the British army had inaugurated and which was spread from end to end of the Indian Em- pire, that I is something for Chris- tian gratulation, though rejoicing be still tempered with a sense of indig- nant shame that such a system was ever contemplated, much less en- stringency of its regulations against forced for an hour. This has been a the importation of liquors. In April, great obstruction to Christian work 1887, they prohibited their importa.- in India. And the horrible anomaly tion entirely into about one-third of of State-procured women to' pander their telTitories. In May, 1887, they to the base passions o.f BritiSh made a further regulation imposing soldiers in State-provided harlot's penalties on the payment of wages houses, in juxtaposition witha State- in spirits throughout the whole of provided Christian Church, is an ef- their territories. The matter of the frontery of deviltry that human his- decadence of these native races and tory has not often equaled. Thank the destruction of commerce among God! it is to be no more. Missiona- them in consequence of the introducries like those of Seetapore, who have tion of European intoxicants has at been compelled to pass such quarters last forced itself upon the British on their way to preach Christ's gos- Parliament, and on April 24, when pel to heathen women, must have Mr. McArthur moved in the House of had the courage of an infinite faith in Commons, "That this House, having the discharge of their duty. regard to the disastrous physical and moral effects of the liquor traffic Sturdy British moral sentiment has among uncivilized races, as well as again set an example that will lend the injury it inflicts on legitimate new fire and force to all who are commerce, is of opinion that Her struggling with giant iniquities. Majesty's Government should take " Men of thought and men of action" steps to suppress the traffic with will shout, "Clear the way!" An- natives in all native territories under other "brazen wrong" has" crum- its influence or control, and that bled into clay! " whenever self-governing powers are granted to crown colonies, stipula- Rum and the Native Races. tions should be made for the effectual THE General Assembly of the protection of the natives against the Presbyterian Church, held in Phila- sale of strong drink." delphia in Ma,y, spoke in the following unmistakable way about the drink In supporting this, he said that traffic on the Congo and amongst England did not alone conduct this other uncivilized nations: trade. During 1885 more than 10,- 000,000 gallons of the vilest spirits WMreas. The exportation of intoxicating were sent to Africa, of which England sent only 311,384 gallons, liquors to heathen lands has become a most Germany 7,823,042 gallons, and others alarming hindrance to the civilization and smaller quantities. Christianization of the inhabitants thereof, and as this tramc is assuming snch proportions in the He said that they at .home had great Congo Valley of Africa by virtue of an some international treaty in which our own Government is a party ; therefore "protection in the Adnlteration Acts, but in warm countries, inhabited by races unac- Re8olved, That the Assembly views with customed to such liquorR, the natives had, with shame, horror and apprehension the progress of the exception of Madagascar, no protection this tramc by civilized nations with ignorant and whatever; there was no supervision, no examheathen lands; that this Assembly nnite, as far ination, and the drink sold was so bad that it as possible, with other churches in an effort to speedily decimated and destroyed them. This induce Christian Governments to abolish and traffic was bringing abont wholesale murder in prevent the horrible practice of carrying intoxi- the islands of the Western Pacific over an extent cants into the uncivilized nations of the world, of 3,000 miles of coasts. In Africa the picture aud that a committee be appointed to lay this was almost as dark. The consnmption of strong .whole matter before his Excellency the Presi- drink was increasing and leading rapidly to the dent of the United States, with the request that demoralization and destruction of the native he would present the facts to Congress, and ask races. No doubt, in parts of South Africa the that such steps may be taken, with the least possilXe delay, as will free us, as a Christian nation, from all complicity with this ruinons tramc, especially as re!,(ards the treaty concern- ing the Free Congo State.
We do make some headway. The Royal Niger Steamship Company has for some time been increasing the Government bad not complete control, bu. In or Protestant, and the latter are otber parts they have full sway, aDd m some of quite indignant that either Grover those places the natives fared as badly as at the Cleveland or the President of the Cape Colony. Once the passion for brandy was United States should have sent a gift roused, it became msatiable, and the natives which indirectly was a recognition of were destroyed. A native king wrote begglog sovereignty. that the traftic might be stopped. If not, his people would have to abandon their town, and A correspondent writes us from go Into the desert to escape frem the white Italy as follows: man's brandy. He believed we were morall,. bound to protect the natives over whom we had " I wonder if you are inoorested in been called to govern. Even the motive of seIC- European, in Italian politics. Of interest ought to Induce us to take such a course, course we here follow them with because to a manufacturing countr,. it was of interest. From remarks that I somethe utmost importance that we should have a times see in our home papers, I nota wide range of customers, and the native races that our Italian politics are often sadwould, if protected a.gainst this evil, become ly mixed up and misunderstood. It valuable customers. He recollected hearing the is, of COurse, a difficult thing for late Dr. Moffat, who laboced so long and so sue- American journalists to have a just cessfully in Africa, state that when he first went idea of conditions here, just as it is to Bechuanaland there was not £5 worth of difficult for Italians to form a just British manllfactured goods sold in that district, conception of our ways. Of course, but before he left tens of thol1sands of pounds the Pope and his jubilee have occuworth were sold annually. And this is the case pied a prominent place in the eye of where Christian civilization extends." this public, but I think it must be conceded that it has not been the suc- Sir Edward Kenneday, in support- cess that was hoped for. It would ing the resolution, said the thought seem that the Pope hoped by its is that means to make some advance toward the regaining of the temporal power, "co.tact between Europeans and the native and he must have been .disappointed races must necessarily result in benefit to the in the very guarded tone of the comlatter. It ought to be so. If the proper intiu- munications from those monarchs ences were brought to bear and the evil infin- from whom he perhaps expected most ences were kept away, U would be so; but to a efficient aid. But he no doubt flatgreat extent we defeated our own objects by in- ters himself greatly on the attentions troducing among those races that which was not received from Protestant rulers. You for their good, but for their harm. The African will have noticed, I do not doubt, especially had a tendency to be corrupted. In that he celebrated his jubilee New addition to making large quantities of his favor- Year's morning. I wonder if the ite native drink, the African acquired a liking papers on the other side of the sea refor the rum and gin which were imported by marked the fact that the miter which European merchants in large quantities. The he wore on that occasion was the gift result was that he became careless of every- of the Emperor of Germany, and the thing else, and had no money left to purchase chalice which he used was Queen Victhe manufactures of Manchester. Mr. Joseph toris's gift. In our English prayer- Tholl¥lon and Sir Richard &rton had showed meeting during the week it was comthat Africa would even be the gainer if the mented on that two Protestant rulers country reverted to the old state of slavery and should have furnished so symbolic the importation of liquor was given up. There gifts for that occasion. Italian newswere dilllcuities in the way, but similar diffi- papers commented on the fact. But culties were overODme by. Wilberforce and Sir that which occasioned most surprise, FowellBnxtonin overthrowing the slave trade." and was perha:ps most commented on by Italian journals, and most deeply Grover Oleveland's Present to the Pope. regretted by Protestant Americans WE say "GroverCleveland," rather than His Excellency the President, because it is claimed on the occasion of his sending a gift, a very appropriate one, by the way, to the Pope on his jubilee that he acted in his individual and not in his official capacity. The distinction,.however, is quite too ltice for the Italians, eiMler Romallist resident here, was the fact of a. girt pontiff seemed to him illogical.' from the President of the United When will our Protestant nations States. They may say what they recognize that it is not only illogical, like about its not being sent by him in but that it is dangerous ?" his official capacity. that the Secretary of State knew nothing of it, and Recent Ohurch Action on Missions. as much more as they please, but that was an occasion when the man THE General Conference of the could not separate himself from his Methodist Episcopal Church, at its office, and before the eyes· of the Jast session, had some very liignifi.- world it was not Mr. Cleveland, but cant action concerning its foreign the President who sent a gift to the missions, a part of which interests Pope. the general Christian public. Two tendencies have been manifest for "In marked contrast is the action of some few years past. One looking to the preservation of the foreign misthe Italian government in regard to sion-fields in organic relation simi- lar to that which obtains in this counthe Mayor of Rome. He is a devoted try, and to the erection of a worldand bigoted Roman Catholic, and wide Ecumenical Methodist Episcopal just before the New Year went to call Church; the other looking to the ulon the Pope, expressed his salutations timate autonomy of the great diand those of the city. It was said visions of the foreign church, in althat he went in his private capacity, liance and closest sympathy with the not in his official relation. The ac- home church. The latter view obtion was not ordered by the munici- tained more fully in the action of pal council, nor the. subject consid- this General Conference, and the ered by them, and they held it was Methodist Episcopal Church of Japan distinctly his private act; but the was authorized to effect a union with government at once declared that on other branches of Methodism in that such an occasion the man could not country, and to erect the Methodist separate himself from the official, Church of Japan. A part of the acand that a government officer might tion is as follows: not perform such an act, and promptly demanded his resignation! Reaolv~d, 1. That this General Conference will not interpOfle any objection. to the Japanese "The Italian Government has sent Methodists declaring themselves independent of no gift to honor the Pope's jubilee. . the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, provided they She knows the toe she has within her unite with one or more of the other Methodist borders. I wish our own loved Churches in Japan. America would wake up to a realiza.. tiOli of what an enemy to all her in- 2. That whenenr it shall he made evident to stitutions she harbors with a certain the Bishop in charge of Japan and to the Board calm indifference. The Pope makes of Managers of the Missionary Society that it Is a very gracious reply to the gift of the desire of the Methodists of Japan to be so the President, but to me the words declared independent, and whenever arrangeseem to contain a threat, a moral ments satisfactory to said Board of Managers purpose, which he and the Jesuits and Bishops shall have been made, securing the have never surrendered. One of the real estate in Japan of the Missionary SOciety of Italian papers had this item on it not the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, the said Bishop long ago: 'King Oscar of Sweden is and Board shall proceed to make all the arrangethe only sovereign who has not taken menta neco.sary to the independence of said part in the festival of the papal Church and ita anion with the Canada Methodist Mi••ion or any other Methodist missions In jubilee. He replied to the committee Japan.
for the jubilee that the participation 8. That in ca.e, during the present quadrenof a Protestant prince in rendering ninm, the Methodiet Church of Japan shall be homage to the Roman Catholic created In harmony with the spirit and purpOfleB ofthi8 action, the General MissionaryCommittee and Board may coutinue, under proper regnla- tions, appropriations and payments to the work in Japau, and that onr people in this conntry be encouraged to continne to manifest th8ir interest in the eTan~elical, educational, pnblishing and other work In that country.
4. That our mi8Bion in Japan be advised, in the drat place, to earneetly seek a nnion with aU the bodies of Methodi.ts in Japan, that the,. may nnite together in laJing the foundations and eatabllshina the dl8cipllne of the new church. The same tendency was manifested served as 1 day of prayer, when all onr churches by the definition of the powers of a and Sabbath-sclIoola and Christian homes may Missionary Bishop as co-ordinate with unite in speech and song and prayer and service those of the General Superintendents to deepen interest in, and consecration to, the (the other Bishops) within his partic- work of giving the gospel to the heathen world. ular field j and by the erection of "India and Malaysia" into a Mis- "That the week following this Mission Sabsionary Episcopate, with Rev. James bath, or some other week soon succeeding, be de- M. Thoburn, D.D., as Missionary· voted to " simnltaneons meetings" at centers ot Bishop. inftnence within the bonnds ot the respective Synods, tor which Synodical or Presbyterial Anotherimportant adjustment was Committees shall make proviSion, inviting the made by providing for the organic co-operation of the Secretaries of the Board and relation of missionary work which the different missionary agencies in the respecthad developed somewhat out of the ive fields. Such an arrangement made and carusual order, under Missionary Bishop ried into effect by the Synod of New Jersey last William Taylor of Africa, and the year was greatll fruitful. "Bishop William Taylor Transit and Building Fund Society," who have " That we eDJoin upon pastors and church oMhitherto conducted what are known cers a wide dissemination of the current litaraas "self-supporting missions." The ture of missions, that the people may keep pace with the miKhty movements of our tinie and may realize the possibilities of power and vic- tory before the chnrch, assured that a snstained and large-hearted Christian liberality must be conditioned on intelligence, and that a swift step throngh God-opened doors is the only loyal answer to the order of the King.
.. That we make not less than a round million dollars as our joyfnl offering to God this coming year for laying at the gates of our beloved Zion this golden and matchless opportunity to possess much land lor Christ."
following was adopted: . -Signs of the Times in India. Rev.
R68olfwl, 1. That the Missionary Bishop for T. J. Scott, D.D., writing from Ba- Africa be and is hereby authorized to continue reilly, India, says: "The two most his efforts to extend the Methodist Episcopal notable points in India to-day are, Church in Africa on the plan of self-supporting first, a remarkable stir among Hindus miasions. to get Government to interdict the killing of cows, or rather of the cow 2. That we direct that all property acquired In kind. The movement began with the the prosecution of the self-supportln/L mission new sect of the "Arians," as they plan, be held by and for the Methodist Episcopal call themselves. A second phase of Church. the times is a growing alienation be- tween Moslems and Hindus, partly 8. That the Ji[!ssionary Board be advised to over the cow question and partly appoint a standing committee on self-snpportilli: over the National Congress movemissions conducted on this plan. ment which is very generally headed by Hindus. The National Congress 4. Tha.t. missionaries employed and chnrches meets annually and means more of organized under this plan shall be entitled to the India for the natives. Moslems fear same righta and amenable to the discipline or that it means more of India for Hinthe church the earne as missionaries and dus, hence their opposition to it. The churches in other fields. Congress is a native movement."
5. That Missionary Bishops In charge of self- -IN a missionary sermon, Rev. W. supporting missions be instructed to report an- BUally to the Missionary Board the condition or all self-supporting missions, including the number of missionaries, the number of stations and circuits, and the number of communicants in each; and a finaucial exhibit of ali receipts and expenditures.
6. That the Argentine Republic~Uruguay, the Southern province of Erilzil, raraguay and Chili be organized into an annual conference, to be called the South American Conference.
7. That the General Ji[!ssionary Committee be requested to organize the Portugnese stations in Northern Brazil into a mission.
S. That the name of the Liberia Conference be changed to Africa Conference, ita boundaries to include the whole of Africa.
The General Assembly of the Pres- L. Watkinson of England lately dealt byterian Church adopted the follow- with some considerations touching ing: missions with which we are familiar in general literature, and some of the .. That we recognize the advantages of co-oper- recommendations of critics. One of ation and union already secured In foreign fields, these was that we should attend to and approve the continuance of the same, ac- questions within our own borders and cording to the advice of preceding assemblies. let the great world of pagan"ism alone. The scientific reason assigned for this .. That in accordance with the su!!gestion oftha was, that in this world there was a Board, we recommend that a viSItation of the missions by the Secretaries be made not less frequently than once in ten years, aad not more fr~~~J:ft:'e~~a~b!r: ~Fagovember be oil- I 628 INTBBNATIONAL DKPARTlmNT. [AUGUST, Jaw permanently active, by which and yet at last it bore roses upon its degraded tribes are carried forward to the utmost civilization and refine- top. ment, and that we should stand by and let this internal 'force operate. -ANENT the criticisms that Chris- Then, little by little, debased peoples tian missionaries present a too spiritwould be lifted to the level of an accomplished and noble civilization· ual view of religion to barbarians, and Upon inquiry, however, as to whether that they would make greater prothis was an explanation of the whole question, we are told there is also gress by withholding part of the another law, not of evolution, growth and development, but a law of degra- truth, read the following: dation, by which noble organisms are carried backward to simplicity and .. But men say to·day, 'Cannot you accelerate utter debasement. Now, when we the progress of Christianity f' And they ree-' look within the circle of Christendom, ommend us to modify our doctrine. Max Miiller we find the law of development, says-and he has to a considerable extent symwe find peoples slowly approximating pathized with missions-that evangelical Christo a magnificent ideal; but outside tianity can never hope to triumph in India. that circle we see the law of degene- What Christianity do they require f A purified ration-magnificent civilizations go- Christianity-that is, a Christianity from wllich ing back, great peoples becoming you have eliminated the Incarnation, the Atonemore ignorant and corrupt. This ment, the Resurrection, and the Fnture; and law could only be arrested by bring- that purified Christianity would commend itself Ing into the midst of the race the su- to an Intellectual race, and we might count our perhuman wisdom and inspiration of converts by thousands inst~ad of tens. What Christian doctrine and faith. These must we say to this f Did we triumph in Fiji critics say the Christian church should with an emasculated Christianity? The apostle !et the pagan world alone. Do they Paul went to II most refined people, and they let it alone politically, educationally listened to him, and when he Came to the resur- or commercially? Not for a moment. rection of the dead some mocked. What did As we say, if these are good, super- the apostle do? Did he go to the, race with a natural faith is better than all. Chris- "purified Christianity" after that? No, with tianity made us what we are, and perfect consistency he continued to declare that maintains us at the dizzy height at Christ died for our sins according to the Scrip- which we stand; we cannot afford to tures, and how He rose from the dead, and will let the pagan world alone, because it come again to judge the earth in righteousness. will not let us alone. If we do not We aim not at civilization-that is a sweet acci- civilize the pagan world, it will de- dent-but we aim at the spiritualization of the . moralize us. During the last fifty race, and when we look into history we can say years there has been a revival in Eu- with Paul, only with greater emphasis, 'We are I rope of Oriental philosophy. Where not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the < do the notions of nihilism, atheism, power of God unto salvation to every one that and pessimism come from which to- believeth.' Then they say we must modify the day work so disastrously in our liter- moral standard, Christianity is too exalted, and ature and life? From the East; and if we will only accommodate the ethical claims unless we convert the East, it will of Christiauity to the weakness of mankind we convert us. Mission work is great, shall have ten thousand converts where to-day but we are on the winning side, and we have only ten. But God will not make the may remember the words of the hair's-breadth of a compromise with sin. Men Italian poet, who saw the thorn, all outside say: Briug the law down to the race; winter long, intractable and fierce, Jesus Christ says to His Church: Bring the Church up to the law, and take an eternity to do it. They also say if we want to' get on faster with Christianity we must revise the methods, begiu with an intermediate system, and so find our way little by little to the magnificent design of Christianity. But the Bible teaches us that we can take the pure truth to the most debased peoples, aud they have a faculty for its imme- diate recognition. The teaching of Christianity is that the lowest man has a faculty for the high- est, and the common people hear Him gladly who spake as never man spake. We have every reason for encouragement, and although men speak of the slowness of it, truly we may feel that its, progress is marvelous."
THE. ](O~Y CONCERT OF IIIISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF. MISSIONS.
PAPAL EUROPE. to 1875, England gained 119 per cent. ; Prussia, 72; Austria, 27; France, 12 ; IT is one of the wonders of the a.ges or, taking excess ofbirths over deaths: that changes so radical and revolu- if Fl'ance be represented by 1, Austionary should have taken place in tria will be represented by 3, Russia Europe. In the age succeeding the by 5; but Prussia by 6, and Britain Council of Trent, Papal Europe em- by 81 In 1825 Protestant population braced the oldest and grandest of was to Papal as 3 to 13; and, in 1875, monarchies: the German Empire as as 1 to 3. the political and military center; France as the intellectual and social The transformations in Italy are center; Spain and Portugal as the incredible to one who has not wit- "center of expansive force"; Italy as nessed them. Where two-thirds of the historical and ecclesiastical cen- the people could not read or write, ter of all. Papal Europe then repre- education is now compulsory. Where sented all the old, polished languages the very conscience of the people and every great historical city, an- seemed paralyzed, and the sense of cient university, and every influential personal responsibIlity and accountanucleus of letters, art and civiliza- bility dead, we have seen the church tion, except those developed after the party in Rome opening numerous Reformation. schools, issuing cheap literature in large quantities, establishing soup- In Luther's era Rome held Europe kitchens, relieving poverty, and inin her firm grasp. Great moral and forming ignorance. Where the Pope political revolutions have cut oB.: Eng- swayed with an absolute scepter, Pius land, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, IX. was a prisoner in the Vatican, Sweden, Prussia, and part of Ger- bewailing the losij of temporal power; many and Switzerland; and even the and it is obvious to the world, if not countries that have not thrown off to the College of Cardinals, that even allegiance to the Pope have under- the spiritual scepter is very loosely gone great change. Papacy has lost held, if not already broken. The beyond calculation or restoration, and Pope will never again make emperors in nQwhere more surely than in Italy bow as penitents before him, or toritself. "Papal Europe" has now a ture heretics in thedungeons of the different meaning ; Protestantism has Inquisition. been, and is, steadily gaining in numbers, wealth, prestige and in power- The ignorance which is the mother intellectually, morally, politically and of superstition is giving way before spiHtually. the intelligence that is the handmaid of faith and devotion. In fact, as to The balance of p01ver has been act- the Papacy, we mark a grand crash ually reversed since 1789. At the in the whole wall which has shut out period of the Reformation, Spain and the Bible and the pure gospel from Portugal and Austria were the domi- the people. It is like the falling of nant powers in Europe. Spain, that the ramparts of Jericho before the made England quake at the terrors of trumpet blast of joshua's hosts ; and her" Invincible Armada," had three wherever the army of God faces times, perhaps six times, the popula- Romanism, every man may march tion of England; now England, after into the breach straight before him all the millions she has sent to colo- and take the city. nize India, America and Australia, has still twice the population of We can hardly credit it that Spain. During fifty years, from 1825 Protestant churches and Protestant schools are multiplying within the The" twelvehundredandsixty " days walls of the Eternal City; that Rome of dominion seem to have expired. itself is open to the circulation of the No man can foresee the changes that Bible and the preaching of t4e Cross; within ten years may yet t8.ke place. that under the shadows of St. Peters There are many indications that there and the Vatican Protestants may not only worship unmolested, but is to be a Reformed Catholic Church, carryon the work of evangelism; that the Bible cartsroll out of Madrid, on a great scale, in which those who and in the very Spain whose name is within the Papal communion hold to the historic synonym of the Inquisi- evangelical truth shall find a refuge tion the people should so clamor for from companionship and complicity the Word of God that copies cannot with error and heresy and iniquity. be printed fast enough to meet the Rev. W. T. Bainbridge, whose demand; that in France, that right " World Tour" did so much for misarm of the Papal power for centuries, sions, met in Asia many Catholic land of the exiled Huguenots and of priests who seemed to have been inawful st. Bartholomew, both French fluenced by the accompanying evan- Chambers order elimination of priests gelical missions; and there are many and nuns from government schools signs in the British Provinces and within five years; and the greatest in our own Republic that Roman work of popular evangelization ever Catholicism, in close contact with known should now be in progress, Protestantism and remote from the and the government aid and encour- Papal centers, is being essentially a.ge the McAll stations as the best modified by such contact. The future possible police to restrain and reform may show us a great exodus from that mercurial people, whose very Rome, of those who "comeoutof her blood, like the Irishman's, is quick- that they be not partakers of her sins silver. nor receive of her plagues." Nay, even a reconstructed church, that Savonarola's dying cry was, "0 casts off the cerements of the sepul- Italy, I warn thee that only Christ cher and comes forth in a new life of can save thee! The time for the purified faith I Holy Ghost has not come, but it will !" What if that martyr of Fer- SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. rara could have seen Italy's history from 1848 until now! Where in 1866 God's Hand in Our History.-In a Protestant preacher was expelled 1588 Great Britain did not possess a for preaching, twenty years later Leo foot of land on this continent. France XIII. says to his cardinals, "With and Spain possessed all. In 1688 deep regret and profound anguish we Spain owned vast tracts of North and behold the impiety with which Pro- South America, and was in effect still testants freely and with impunity supreme. France claimed much, and propagate their heretical doctrines, her possession seemedsecure. France, and attack the most august and sa- Spain and Portugal carried out the cred doctrines of our holy religion- behests of the Pope wherever they even here at Rome, the center of the hoisted their flag. There was no tolerfaith and the zeal of the universal ation of Protestantism. It was about . and infallible teacher of the church!" two hundred years ago that France claimed the St. Lawrence and the What we may now see or have seen whole territory which it drains, and in Italy and Spain and France, is but also the Mississippi valley down to the Gulf of Mexico, and westward to a type of what to a greater or less Texas. In 1788 France and Spain still held much territory, though their extent is true of all lands held under grasp upon the continent was much the nominal control of the Papacy. less secure. By this time all Acadia TEXTS .A.ND THEMES. and Canada. was lost. And now, in Darkness and the Shadow of Death. 1888, Spain does not control an acre of Continental America, and France ISAIAH ix : 2: "The people that has nut an inch of territory on the walked in darkness have seen a main-land of North America, and great light: they that dwell in the very little in South America. At land of the shadow of death, upon this moment Great Britain and the them hath the light shined." United States possess all North America, with the exception of Mexico and A divine description of the condia few small "Central" American tion of people without the gospel: States. As a result, we have free in- " WALK in DARKNESS"; •• DWBLL stitutions, free churches, a free press, in land of DEATH-SHADE." the Bible and the public schools. The thought grows intense as it Progress in India.-The progress proceeds, and the terms more emand success of modern missions is phatic: from dark~ess to deathnot only enc.()uraging, but indeed shade; from WALKING to DWELLING. marvellous. Considering the nqmbel' of persons employed in foreign Darkness is coupled with distress. missionary work, the achieved suc- (Of. chap. viii: 21,22.) Walking in cess is greater than in the home darkness is especially distressing and field. The Ohristian Guardian, in perilous. Men dread to be overtaken referring to Sir William Hunter's by a moonless, starless night in paper read before the Society of mountain passes and gaping crev- Arts, in which he bears strong testi- asses or unknown districts. The mony in regard to the rapid progress very gloom seems to be oppressive of Christianity in India, gives the and pei'ilous. following statistical facts of much interest: These people to whom the prophet refers, however, DWELL in darkness; .. In 1851 the Protestant missions In Indlllllnd they are not simply traveling Bnrmah had 222 stations; in 1881 their stations through, in which case the night ithad increased to 601, or nearly threefold. The self is transient, and the journey tonumber oC their congregations or churches had, ward light. But DWELLING in darkin the same period of thirty years, mnltiplied ness as a. permanent abode. from 267 to 4,180, or nearly fifteenfold. In the I18me way, while the number of native Protest- Death-shade implies darkness most ant Christians increased from 91,091 in 1851 to profound and unbroken. Compare 492,882 in 1881, or fivefold, the number of com- the Egyptian plague of darkness of municants increased from 14,661 to 138,254, or three days' duration. (Exodus x : 21, nearly tenfold. The progress, therefore, is not 22.) "Darkness that might be FELT," only in numbers, but also in pastoral care and as though something tangible in that internal discipline. The chief means by which pall of gloom. these eDormous increments have obtained has been the larger use of native agenc,.. A native Some idea may be formed of this Protestant Church has, in fact, grown up in In- plague, which was next to the last and dia, capable of supplying, in a large measure, its only surpassed by that in horror and 0'lVll staW. Instead of twenty-one ordained na- terror. Darkness profound and pertive ministers in 1851, there were, in 1881, 575 ; manentmeans not only no LIGHT, but and the native lay preachers had risen from 493 no heat and no life. Vegetable life to the vast total of 2,856." thrives only in light. So animal life. Shut a man in utter darkness, and This is but one field of missionary you drive him to madness or suicide. effort, yet it gives us a sample of Hence shadow of death. Literally, what is being done, and the progress death-shade, such as in the place of that is being made to win the world the dead 01' SHEOL, implies a certain to Christ.-Methodilt Recorder. fatal quality in this darkness, ten- dency to destroy all true life.
Man's condition, indepQndent of God's interposition, is one of intellect- indifferent to VICE, even to nakedness. ual, moral and spiritual NIGHT. But it is not the indifference of inno- cence, but of iniquity and abandon- 1. Darkness of ignorance. Even ment. highest culture may leave sublimest realities unknown. Athenian wisdom Atheists in Siam have no hope but went side by side with ignorance of of a higher transmigration. The God. "The unknown God." And soul may go into the white ant or red so of immortality, even Plato could ",nt, buffalo or elephant. Priests in but muse and surmise. Godlessness temples preach to Siamese in aha"'" leads to intellectual apostasy. The dee, a language none understand. most brilliant minds have crowned folly with wisdom's diadem, and said The annual license for gamblingin their heart, "There is no God." houses in Bangkok is lSeveral hundred Systems of philosophy have left God thousand dollars, and gambling saout, as Humboldt did from his" Cos- loons numbered by thousands. mos." 3. The darkness of moral estrange- 2. Darkness of idolatry. ment and alienation. "Evil, be thou Ps. cxv : 8: "They that make them my good," is the last expression of are LIKE UNTO THEM." Idols are help- iniquity. This is the very shadow of less, dumb, stupid, powerless; the death: when a man is left to coneffect of idolatry is to bring idolaters sume himself by his own vices. into similar condition. This is illustrated by the history of Polytheism. If these lost souls were in the pit Men began by worshiping grandest of perdition, it would be too late; but objects-sun, moon, fire; then silver they are not yet hopelessly, remediand gold representations of men, lessly lost. Some of them "have etc. ; then wood, stone, down even to seen a great light"; have received gree-gree and fetich. knowledge of GOD and of SELF. Idolatry opposed to religion. (See Life and immortality have been Paul on Mars Hill.) Opposed even to brought to LIGHT, and with light has REASON. It is itself consummate come warmth: LOVE, life. FOLLY. – It is not enough to see the light- Isa. xliv: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. A mall as men have walked in darkness, manufactures a deity out of the log, they must, when they see the light, part of whieh he uses to warm his body and roast his food! walk in it. The African takes mud, mak~s an Thousands who see in the light, idol, bakes it in the sun, stands it up against a tree, and WORSHIPS mud yet strangely grope in the darkness; that would be regarded filth on one's outwardly dwelling in land of the garments. light of life, they still actually live in This is not only so among the more the death-shade! All history demon- degraded. The children of Israel strates that no mere intellectual made a golden calf at Sinai, after- progress can prevent spiritual death. ward at Bethel and Dan. The Canaa;nites seemto havebeenthe I The late King of Siam was an edu- principal inventors, yet among them wickedness appears to have conspicu- cated man, an astronomer, etc., yet ouslyabounded. The two civilizations he gilded an image of Buddha daily, moved side by side, thus early in his- made of cast-iron, the same material tory demonstrating that no intellect- from which his cooking utensils were ual activity could insure the eleva- made-the "RESIDUE A GOD." tion or prevent the degradation of the race, independent of religion. This is only a type of the inteUect- ual, mocal and spiritual degradation He who said "Let light be, and of heathen people. They become light was," and dispersed the deep darkness when as yet light was not born, repeats that grand miracle in a moral sphere. (2 Cor. iv: 6.)
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
V.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
– The American Board of Foreign Bacon, Mill, Darwin, HnxIey and Herbert Spen- Missions reports the death of the cer were read. Agnosticism was spreading, and Rev. J. W. Smith, M.D., a mission- the speaker asked for Christian effort to provide ary physician at Koloa, Sandwich an antidote to its inftuence. The Rev. Eynon Islands, in the seventy-seventh year Davis, who boasted that there was not one atheis- of his age, and forty-sixth of his tic book published in Welsh, a!ld the Rev.
work. Sixnewmissionaryfamiliesare Canon Fleming strongly commended the' Pres- needed for the Madura Mission in the ent Day' series of the society's publications, next six months. The mission field embraces 10,000 square miles j with a intended to meet the modern forms ofunbelief. population of about 2,000,000, divided into twelve districts. Thirty – six Sir Harry Verney also spoke and expressed a churches have been gathered with 3,000 members, and a nominal mem- warm interest in the cause."-London Times. bership of over 12,000. The dedication of a church is reported at Shuchi, Africa. – Addititional intelligence near Kyoto, Japan, and wide openings at Kumamoto. Among the In- has been reyeived concerning the condians of Mexico the doors are opening, and the calls are coming faster fiicton Lake Nyassa between the Engthan ever. Among the Zulus a great work is going on, and reinforce- lish Consuls and missionaries of the ments are earnestly asked for, as three of the laborers have been in Scotch Free Church and the Arab the field thillty-nine years. In their West Central African Mission, Mr. slave-traders. Dr. Kerr Cross wrote, Currie of Bailrudu and Mr. Sanders of Bihe, have explored the regions January 27, that both Consul Hawes north and north-east of their stations. hoping to find a favorable site for a and Consul O'Niell advised the misnew station. In the Central Turkey Mission a delegation of Armenians sionaries to leave the country for six came to the missionary at Zeitoon with a petition, signed by forty months and return with more guns heads of families, begging to be enrolled as Protestants This was in- and plenty of ammunition j others creased afterwards to sixty-five. felt that any absence would mean -Pure Literature. "Much stress was laid at the abandonment of the mission, and would encourage the Arabs, with the the eighty-ninth annual meeting of the Religious consequent discouragement of all native allies. It was finally agrMd 'rract Society, over which Lord Balfour of that the members of the African Lakes Company and Dr. Cross should Burleigh presided, at Exeter Hall, on Friday fortify themselves at Chirenje, and that the consuls should go to the livening, on the work which this great organi- coast and send to the besieged men such reinforcements as were needed. zation has accomplished in the diffusion of pure This was done. The native chiefs adhere to the mission and are bitterly and Interesting, as;well as religious, literature. hostile to the Arabs. It appearsthat it is but a small section of the Arabs The whole number of its issues last year was who have engaged in these slave- trading raids. Dr. Cross is perplexed OTer 76,000,000, and since the formation of the as to what course he shall take. Hith- erto he has taken no part in the society 2,602.390,390, which have been published fighting, offering his services to alIas a surgeon, and he hopes to maintain In 191 languages and dialects. During the twelve this position, and to show that the mission means peace. Unless the stamonths the outlay amounted to 41,7081., the tion is wttacked and defense is neces- sary, he will take no offensive meas- Chairman remarking that the profit in the trade ures. At last accounts the African Lakes Company, which is a commertransactions entirely covered the expensesoC cial and philanthropic company, en- gaged in the work of opening the management, so that all the contributions were region about Lake Nyassa, had re- ceived telegraphic information that devoted to missionary objects. The Re'v. J. Karonge, a station on the northwest coast of the lake, had been reoccu- Piper,for thirteen years a missionary in China and pied, but that the Arabs are still hos- tile, and an attack is apprehended.- Japan, gave illustrations of the value of Chris- Mis8'y Herald.
tian books and tracts among the dense popula- tions of those lands, a large proportion of whom are readers. In .Japan English was th.. vehicle of Buropean civilization, and the works ot -The Transit and Building Fund dead of Havana are buried in the ~aptist cemetery. It is stated that Society of Bishop Taylor's self-sup- eIght thousand persons have applied porting missions makes a financial report for the last four years, or from for membership in the churches though many of these are ignorant July 1, 1884, to March 24, 1888. It of the true qualifications for church shows total receipts of $153,341.24 in membership. the four years, of which $993.16 re- France.-The annual meeting of main on hand, and the rest has been ~xpended, partly for the South Amer- the Societedes Missions Evangeliques, ICan ",,:ork, but chiefiy in Africa. held in Paris, April 19, was supple- Ai giers.-On the 20th oAflNgoievresm, wbe~r mented by a second gathering at 1887, in the suburbs of their Maison des Missions, April 22.
opened the first Presbyterian church Full and delightful services are re- of Northwestern Africa. The beau- po:ted: The re~ent religious awak- ~iful edifice of freestone and marble enmg In connection with their mis- IS the gift of Sir Peter Coats to the sion among the Basutos of South Synod of the United Presbyterian A~ri.c~ furnished matter for special reJOIcmg and gratitude. The number Church of Scotland. of candidates for baptism at Morija had risen by the first of March to Arabia.-The Keith-Falconer Mis- nearly four hundred. Among the ~ebruary baptisms was that of a sion in South Arabia is at last fully sloIsntgersoinfcMe doesahde.sh,SthheeisBmasouretothkainn"O''~ hundred years old. One of the naequipped. Dr. Paterson, the new tive helpers says that he has never heard anyone speak of her love to medical missionary, is in charge, with the Saviour like this woman. Last February a large and fine industrial Mr. Lochhead as his assistant. The, school building was dedicated at Outing, which has been wholly built committee asked the Rev. W. R. by the apprentices of the school W. Gardner, who had volunteered without cost to the French Missionfor Africa, to go to Aden asan ordain- ary Society. edmissionary; and Mr. Gardner who As to the financial situation of the will be presented to the Free Church Society, says their Journal, "the Assembly, with great self-denial gave up long-formed plans to carryon Mr Keith-Falconer's work. .
Assam.-TheChristian Santals who ha:ve. settled ill: Assam have begun a miSSIon of theIr own among a native tribe, the Metsches.
Bolivia.-Bolivia, which has an area of 500,000 square miles and a report is good, but ought to be popUlation of 2,000,000, is without a better." The general expenses amounted to 288,495 francs, and the single Protestant missionary. Two deficit of the year was 5,476 francs. American teachers, encouraged by Bolivian gentlemen and recommend- Greece.-In Greece the Governed by the Presbyterian Board of Mis- ment permits the free distribution of sions, expect soon to establish a the Scriptures, and protects the colschool in La Paz, the capital. porteurs. The gospels in the origi- nal (old) Greek are used as a reading Cuba. – The Southern Baptist book in the higher classes of the Board has sustained a mission in primary schools. Gospel preaching Cuba, which it characterizes as one of the most remarkable works of is yet on a limited scale, owing to modern missions. In little more than two years since the organization of the lack of qualified preachers. the first church, 1,100 have been bap- India.-Malayalam Mission, Tratized. Nine native preachers have been engaged. Daily schools as well vancore. From the annual report Il:s Sunday-schools have been estab- for 1887 in connection with the lIshed. The interest of the people is London Missionary Society, we see that this mission, which com- menced in 1838, and is now under ,~hown by their contributing $4,610 the charge of the Rev. Samuel Ma- m one year. The report says that teer, has a district with an area of almost one-half the population of a:bout 632 square miles and a popula- H~v~na are in sympathy with the tIon of 253,280, congregations nummiSSIon, and that nearly half the bering 46 with 7,241 adherents and 1,026 church members, 55' schools , Jewesses were baptized in Christ and 1,710 scholars, and that the Church, Mount Zion, Jerusalem. native contributions during 1887 This is the largest number ever adamounted to 2,382 rupees. The gos- mitted into the church there at one pel has been proclaimed by both time. Several other candidates are European and native agency; evan- awaiting baptism. The three daughgelistic services have been held; ters of Joseph Rabinowitz, the leader Bible women have faithfully labored of the Hebrew Christian movemont among the women; the medical mis- in south Russia, have lately been sion has actively carried on its opera- baptized.-Presbyterian Journal. tions; and the services of the press -A German paper states that "at have been engaged, issuing maga- Vienna last year 363 Jews became zines, handbills, etc. Christians," and another paper says -The Marathi Mission of the Amer- that "at no period since the first ican Board has increased its list of century have conversions from Judacommunicants from 707 to 1,776 in ism to Christianity been so frequent the last thirteen years. The number as they are at present." who can read has doubled in the Madagascar.-In fourteen years same period, and there has been 700 Protestant chapels have been decided growth in spirituality and built in Madagascar, making the morals. present number 1,200. There are -The Lutheran missions among 8,000 Protestant communicants, and the Tamils of South India amount to all the churches are self-supporting. 14,000 adherents, 22 European mis- The Queen recently attended the sionaries, 12 ordained natives,.6 can- opening of two Christian churches didates, 56 catechists, 241 teachers, at Ambokinanga.
149 schools and 3,653 scholars. Japan.-The different Presbyterian -At the last Calcutta missionary and Congregational churches in Ja- conference, Mr. Ball said: pan, feeling the need of union, have "The most cheering thing in onr work to-day been in correspondence upon the subis the demand for the Scriptures. A Hindu ject,and have reported favorableprogdoctor bought 100 copies of the Gospels recently ress. A constitution has been formed to distribute among his frieuds ; and a still more by a joint committee of seven missionextraordinary fact is that a Hindu priest has aries and thirteen natives. The matbought some Bibles and given them away. The ter will now be left to the action of missionaries who have attended melas this year the churches. -The English and American Episreport au unprecedented sale of Bibles." -Dr. Baumann of the Church copalian missionaries agree to co- Missionary Society recently asked a operate, and will educate their clergy well-known Brahman in Calcutta if in one theological school. he ever read the Bible. The man -Native converts in Japan, with looked at him, and th{'n replied, "I average wages oflessthan twenty-five have read the New Testament 83 cents a day, contributed lastyear $27,- OOOto mission work. During the year, times, and the Old 27." -In the college and schools in 3,640 adults were baptized, making a connection with the Free Church of total membership of 14,815. There Scotland mission at Madras there are are now 193 organized churches, 64 about 1,800 students. of them self-supportmg, 93 native -In Ceylon many high-dass Bud- ministers and 169 theological stu- dhists have joined the SalvationArmy, dents. and two stations have been formed. Mexico. – According to statistics, -It is stated that the Maharajah of there are in Mexico, including all Darbhauga, of Bengal, has given evangelical workers and work, the $25,000 for a hospital and dispensary following elements and agents for in connection with Lady Dufferin's evangelizing this people: 86 centers medical work. His gifts for benevo- of operation, 393 congregations, 48 lent purposes the last eight years foreign missionaries, 44 unordained foreign workers, 43 missionary ladies, reach fully' 1,700, 000. Jews.–:Dr. SomerVIlle of the Free 31 ordained native preachers, 65 Church of Scotland is having extra- unordained natIve preachers, 96 ordinary success in his evangelization teachers, 49 other helpers, 12,000 mission to the Jews of Austria. His communicants, 503 pupils in graded meetings in Vienna were crowded, schools. Besides this, we have ten and a strong impression was made, Protestant papers, and several presses that are actively engaged in scatteras at Prague. -On Christmas eight Jews and iIIg religious literature over the land. Altogether, there have been issued thing like reliable estimates by Ro- 50,000,000 pages of religious literature man Catholics of their strength in in Spanish since Protestantism first pagan lands. We regard with interentered Mexico. There are 10,000,000 est therefore the following figures inhabitants in Mexico; this gives quoted from the Madrid Directory, them five pages of religious literature 1888, apparently with approval, by each. The value of mission property Les Missione Oatholique : is nearly $600,000. "There are in India and Ceylon 1,235,631 Poles.-It is estimated that there Catholics, besides 586,386 under Portnguese are over 70'0,000 Poles in the United States. They are almost universally patronage, 1,722,0.17 in all. 'Adding 1,191,935 in Romanists, are very clannish, and can be reached only by a native min- China, Indo-China, Japan and Corea, there apistry. Mission work in their behalf is but just now receiving the atten- pear to be 2,918,952 Catholics beyond the Indus." tion of Christian societies. This seems remarkable. We can Roman Catholic. – The activity believe it to be near the truth. It is important to remember that Roman and success of Roman Catholic mis- Catholics count all their adherents of sions in the East should not be under- whatever age; also, that they have rated. The total working force of been at work in Eastern lands for the papacy in China/roper, Korea, centuries. When these considera- Japan, Manchoria an Thibet (suze- tions are kept in mind, the results rainties of China), Indo-China and will strike one as proof of wonderful India, is 2,440,481 baptized per~ons, weakness. Only three millions in all 2,639 missionaries and native prIests, Eastern Asia, and they without the 7,293 churches and chapels, 4,469 col- Bible, without religious literature, leges and schools, with 112,359 schol- without a native priesthood, and ars, and 76 theological institutions, without the power to propagate their with 2,746 students. In Syria, of the own faith, but still under foreign 700,000 people accessible by mission- tutelage as much as their ancestors aries, more than one-half recognize were three centuries ago I Surely the Pope of Rome as their spiritual Romanism is not conquering the head, and Jesuits are found in full Asiatic world! force. In fact, Protestant missions in Syria closely resemble missions to -Out of a total population of Roman Catholic countries. At the same time, Protestantism there has 1,549,000 in the Province of Quebec proved strong enough to elicit the active propagandism of the Romish it is shown that there are 1,475,000 church. When the Arabic Bible of Drs. Smith and Van Dyke'lwas com- people professing the Catholic faith, pleted and scattered through Syria, directed by one cardinal, two archthe Jesuits accepted the implied bishops, seven bishops, one apostolic challenge, and, going back to the or- prefect, and 1,546 priests and reiginal Hebrew and Greek Scriptures ligious. There are 957 churches, 28 rather than to the Vulgate, they pro- seminaries and colleges, 232 convents duced an edition of the scriptures in and 69 hospitals. The different ecthree volumes, and in the choicest clesiastical districts into which the and most literarv Arabic; a strange province is divided, are peopled as proceeding Or;t the part. of ~ church follows, by Catholics: Quebec, 729,- which practlCally demes Its own 000; Montreal, 619,000; Ottawa, 137,- Douay version of the Scriptures to its 000. In the Diocese of Quebec there people, and one entirely self~defen are 666 priests, 400 churches, 108 CODsive. This edition of the SCrIptures vents, 18 seminaries and colleges, 25 has been fully circulated, and has hospitals and 1,927 schools.-St. Louis been the means of bringing many to World (Oatholic). the truth; and when Protestantism opened its school and its college at Persia.-In the old Nestorian mis- Beirut, it was closely followed by sion of the American Board, more Romanisthigh schools and the Jesuit converts have been made during the college at Beirut, which are now full last year than in any previous year of pupils, Rome evidently means of the history of the mission. During business, both in eastern and west- last winter's revival, which was conern Asia. ducted wholly by native. pastors, there were over 500 inqUIrers. Of -We are always glad to see any- the 79 students in the college at Oroomiah, 70 are Christians.
Zulu. – Two hundred and thirty- two Zulus were baptized in the Herr- mitnnsberg Mission among the Zulus last year. There are now 1,529 Zulu Christians.
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT
VI…..:….EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT EVENTS.
Our Indian Mission Schools. teach in the vernacular only with a view of reaching those Indians who cannot have the ad- THE late General Assembly of the vantage of instrnction in English.
Presbyterian Church appointed a 5. A theological class of Indian young men, committee to confer with the Presi- supported wholly by mission fundS, may be trained in the vernaculsr at any missionary dent with reference to the order of school supported in whole or in part by missionthe government virtually prohibiting ary SOCieties, the object being to prepare them for the ministry, whose subse'luent work shall teaching in English in our mis- be confined to preaching unless they are employsion schools. The com~ittee have ed as teachers in remote settlements where Engpromptly discharged the duty as- lish schools are inaccessible. signed them. The President desired 6. These rules are not intended to prevent the to "have submitted in writing such possession or nse by any Indian of the Bible, changes as would be acceptable to the published in the vernacnlar, but such possession Assembly." This was done on a per- or use shall not interfere with the teaching of sonal visit to Washington, and the the English language to the extent and in the result is given by Dr. Thompson, manner hereinbefore directed. Moderator of the Assembly, in a letter to Dr. Field of the Evangelist. Practically this settles the matter- He writes: for the present. The President" fully " • • • He [the President] gave us full met the views of the committee." hearlug and promised an early consideration. I have to-day received the order in its new form, He could not have been expected to and it will be gratifying to our church not only, but to all the churches interested in this work, do more. But we do marvel that to know that the views of the committee have been fully met by the government. the committee wholly ignored the " The President expresses • the hope that the PRINCIPLE involved in this whole conclusion reached, as embodied in the paper herewith sent, will settle the troublesome ques- bungling and extraordinary matter. tion.' We believe it will. It conserves the policy of the goverument to give the Indians a That is the chief offense; the appliknowledge of the English language as rapidly as pOSSible, and it restores to our missionaries their cation of it is of secondary importjust right to teach and preach to the Indians in •the tongue in which they were born.' " ance. The government assumes the ORDER REGULATING THE INSTRUCTION OF IN- RIGHT to regulate mission schools, DIANS. and exercises that right in this very 1. In government schools no text·books and no oral instructiou in the vernacular will be al- " Order." (Read 3d, 4th and 5th lowed, but all text-books and instruction must be in the English language. No departnre from items.) "May be conducted," etc. this rule will be allowed, except when absolutely necessary to rudimentary instruction in Eng- " A theological class of Indian young lish. But it is permitted to read from the Bible in the vernacnlar at the daily opening of school men may be trained," etc. when English is not understood by the pupils. Do we live under the Czar or under 2. In schools where Indian children are placed under contract, or to which the government con- the stars and stripes? tributes in any manner, the same'rule shall be observed in all secular instruction. ReligiOUS The committee should have struck instruction in the vernacular may be allowed in such schools, both by the text-book and orally, at the root of the outrage, and insistprovided not more than one-fourth of the time is devoted to s'lch instruction. ed on a repudiation of the principle 3. In purely mission schools-that is, in schools on which the government has issued toward whose snpport the government contrihutes nothing-rehgious and other instruction everyone of its "Orders." The may he conducted in the manner approved by those who maintain the schools, provided that battle may have to be fought over one-half of the school hours shall be employed in instruction in Enldish. again. Mr. Atkins' place is vacant 4. Only native Indian teachers will be permit- in the Indian Bureau. It is underted to teach otherwise in any Indian vernacular, and these native teachers will only be allowed so stood that Mr. Upshaw seeks. the to teach in schools not supported in whole or in part by the government, and where there are no place, and if he gets it trouble will government or contract schools where English Is taught. These native teachers are allowed to break out afresh. Herbert Welsh, Esq., Secretary of the Indian Rights Association, says: .. The real control of the Indian Bureau since the incoming of the present administration has not been so much in the hands of Secretary La- mar, its distinguished nominal head, or Com· missioner Atkins, as in those of Assistant-Com- missioner Upshaw, a politician of the narrowest type, whose devotion to the spoilS system of ap- pointment has brought the gravest scandal upon the Indian service."
Sorry we are that when this important question was up for adjudi- many leave their fields and work to welcome cation it could not have been settled me and attend services. Don't think all such, in a way to put it forever beyond the and a thousand times as much more, will carry poyver of politician, demagogue, or President to reopen it.-J. M. S. me away. Different motives will be at work, and I claim, without any sham modesty, to know WE take the following from The something about all these things, and also to Missionary for June. We share in the feeling of the editor expressed take them into account. In one word, don't think these people will be baptized in 1887 or in the first paragraph. Certainly we 1888. At the same time it is a glorious, a grand are departing widely from the prac- opportunity. Two men came up for 300 hymntice of the first preachers of the gos- books. If any one should be disappointed at pel. Is not the condition of things results from all this, I. for one, will not be. I in Japan and China to-day quite as will see what I expect, and if God exceeds our favorable for the direct oral preach- expectations, so much the better, and, at auy rate, I will give Him all-all the praise and ing of the Word as it was in any glory, for ever and ever. This is the region part of the Roman empire in Paul's travelled most by me, barefooted, many years day? While it is necessary to lay ago, when going in amongst the savages." broad foundations for permanent fruits, let the church stick closer to WE have received from Robert N.
the letter of her divine commission Cust, LL.D., one of the ablest leadand the example of apostolio days.- ers of missionary thought and life in J.M.S. London, a "Classified Catalogue of "We have thought for some time that one of the chief dangers of mission work lies in the the Missionary Enterprises of all edncational feature, which is allowed often to displace evangelistic efforts. Mr. Du Bose states the Protestant Churches and of the that out of the hundred and more ordained missionaries in Japan, only thirty, perhaps forty, are Greek Orthodox Church in the engaged in preaching. •Little work is done in the towns, villages and hamlets. Preachers World," specially prepared for the listen to the siren voice of the native press urging them to teach school.' recent Missionary Conference at "Missionaries In Japau have spoken with ad- London. It is a work that must miration of the willingness of the Japanese to listen for hours at a time to the preaching of have cost him much and patient in- Christtan truth. This happy feature of the work is not confined to Japan. Dr. Mackay, writing vestigation. It is exhaustive in its from Formosa, says that in preaching at Tek- Cham he had to preach five consecutive sermons fulness. Its permanent value for before the people would disperse. At the end of each discourse the audience said they would reference isvery great. It is the first sit there till he spoke again. attempt to supply a catalogue of this " No missionary among the Chinese has reaped a richer harvest from his work than Dr. nature, and it deserves general recog- Mackay. It is interesting, therefore, to see the estimate he puts upon the work of sowtog. nition and circulation. The extent of • Shall I call the crowds I saw and addressed,' mission organized work, as here he says, writing of one of his evangelistic tours, • the kindness, the welcomes, the apparent in- shown-the names, respective -fields terest, etc., a great movement, an awakening, and connections of no less than 223 a revival? Not so. I have never yet seen here societies being given-will be a surwhat would be called a revival in the West. I prise even to the well-informed. mean in the common acceptation. And I have not seen fruita anywhere during all the past We have space for onlythe abstract: years without hard, hard work, and we have no business to look for fruits unless solid, real, GREAT RRITAIN AND ITS COLOl!lIES. bard, genuine work go before. Taking all in all, I never saw such willingness on the part of Undenominational………………….. f!'f 80 many Chinese as during this trip. I never Episcopal …………………………. 25 saw Buch a tremendous reception; never had so Methodist …………………………. 6 Congregationalist.. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Presbytertan……………………….. 7 Friends……………………………. % Bible Christian. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . •. . . . . . 1 Baptist……………………………. 2 Plymouth Brethren. .. . •. . . .. .. .. . .. ….. 12 Miscellaneous.. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . … 5 Colonisl…………………………… 26 . ~1l3 FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Germany………………………….. 20 Switzerland……………………….. 4 France ……………………………. 1 Denmark ………………………….. 2 Sweden …………………………… 8 ~~;:r:~:::: ::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::: ~ Netherlands ……………………….. 14 United States (North America) …..•….~ 110 Grand total.. .. ….. .. . •• …. ••.. . . .. 223 God is Marohing On. ization and for Christian missions if ~ Dr. A. J. GORDON, taking Jacob as this array of women reformers and a type of Christ, says: pleaders were all enlisted under the " Our Immanuel has been serving six millen- banner of the Cross, and with singleiums for his bride, the church, and the seventh is close upon us in which I expect the marriage ness of heart were preaching the of the Lamb; and because the thne is short God evangel of spiritual redemption I leems to be iu haste to gather in the guests for Woman's organized power in human the bridal feast. society is for the first time seen and "For quick resuits and large returns there was never .uch an age before. • Man's extremity is felt. Henceforth it will be a tremen- God's opportunity,' we are wont to say. What it I tum it about and reverently say that' God's dous factor in the world's thinking extremity is man's opportunity.' It is such now. He is pushed Cor time; He is straightened and acting. Unhappily, while there for help. He will hire in at the eleventh hour it laborers have not come at the first. He will is much to rejoice in and hope for in take reformed drunkards and converted gam- it, no intelligent observer and stublel'l!, salvation armies and traveling gospelers, dent of the times can avoid grave it only His work can be done before the night fears. At least there is abundant cometh in which no man can work. It Is God's extremity, and therefore man's opportunity. Ob- reason for earnest and constant ligation presses a pound to the square inch where once it pressed an ounce. The Lord is prayer on the part the church· for in a hurry, and It becomes ns, as never before, to be in haste. We have a magnificent oppor- the descent and power of the Holy tunity on this continent, and we have magnifi- Ghost upon these countless rallying cent resources if only we will use them. Let us have done with glorying In our numbers then hosts of female agitators, thinkers and give attention to our opportunitiell. It is and actors in these stirring and not more men, but more man, that the Church of God needs for the accomplishment of His work. eventful times.-J. M. S. John Wesley, looking over the needs of a lost world, made the startling exclamation: 'Give .. The International Couneil of Women, in me a hundred men who fear nothing but God, !lession in the city of Washington Crom March hate nothing bnt sin, and Ilre determined to 25th to April 1st. makes public announcement know nothing among men but Jesns and him that fifty-three different organizations of women crncilled, and I will set the world on Jlre with have been represented on its platform by eightythem.' Therefore 1 exhort that we all, and al- seven speakers and delegates from England, together, do these three thlnga : France, Norway, Denmark, Finland, India, Cansda and the United States. Of all these " (Jqntemplate. Lift up yonr eyes round about, organizations but four are of national scope, and and behold whllt lIelds are white unto the har- three are of national valne. The subjects of vest, what wide and effectual doors are waiting education, philanthropies, temperance, industo be entered. tries, legal conditions, social purity, political conditions and religion have been discussed. "Cin8ecrate. Boast no more of numbers or While no restriction has been placed upon the resources. For' It Is not by might nor by fnJlestexpression of the most widely divergent power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' The views upon these vital questions of the age, it is meekest man among us with the Holy Ghost cause for rejoicing that the sessions, both execuresting upon him is stronger than the strongest. tive and public, have been absolutely without Therefore, through all our borders let us fall on friction. our faces and wait upou God anew for the enduement of the Spirit. .. It is the unanimous voice of the council that all Institutions of learning and of professional "~ntrate. Too long have we been using instruction, including schools of theology, lllw our wonderful prosperity as a magnifying glass and medicine, should, in the interests of hufor enlarging our own importance and so minis- manity, be as freely opened to women as to men; teriug to our self-complaceucy. Let us use It that opportunities for industrial training should henceforth as a burning glass for concentrating b. as generally and liberally provided for one our religious IBlIuence, and bringing it to be&r sex as for the other; and the representatives of upon a perishing world, kindling the love of organized womanhood in this coun~1I will stead- God where now there is only the love of sin and Ily demand that In all avocations in which men seU,80 shall we do our part towards setting the and women engage equal wages shall be paid for world on fire for Christ." equal work, and finally that an enlightened so- ciety should demand, as the only adequate ex- The Great Women's Oounoil, pression of the high civilization which it is its omce to establish and maintain, an identical WHAT a grand power for evangel- st..ndard of personal purity and morality fOl men and women. to Is Christianity a Spent Force? They would not, coul" not, be responsible for what thllY consider my idiosyncracies. What Bishop Huntington of Central New then f Why, down with the brakes I So, in- stead of freedom at the front, to be led by the York preached some time ago to the God of missions, I would be under the command of good men nine thousand miles in the rear." students of Cornell University on the "Courteously and strongly said! text," Ye are the light of the world." Maria Theresa lost Silesia and the seven years' war by thinking to man- We append :ilis closing touching par- age armies in the field from Vienna. Bishop Taylor evidently thinks a agraph: missionary army in Africa cannot be directed at New York by good men "You must be struck with dismay, as I am, at 9,000 miles in the rear. It has a look that way."-Ohristian at Work. the growth of great iniquities, the recklessness of material ambition, the rivalries of gain, the The MiSJ!ioilary Language. excess of pleasure, the terrible prevalence of in- THE rapidity with which the Engtemperance and lust, the prostitution of law, the lish tongue is becoming the com- mon language of the commercial, abuses of the press, the frightful disproportion learned and religiOUS world is note- worthy. Providence iii making it of waste and charity in wealth. Where, my apparent that, as the English-speak- ing nations are to take the lead and brother students, do we take our place? On be the chief factors in commercial supremacy and in the evangelization which side do our uncompromising will and our of the world, so the English language unfiinching courage and.our cheerful self-sacri- is to be the vehicle of thought and civilization-in other words is to befice tell? We cannot throw up the contest with come the Missionary Language of any despairing excuse that our cause has lost its this globe.-J.M.S. leader or its nerve. Test it where the night has The fact that at the recent National Conlasted longest. On the Dark Continent, within gress in India all the speeches and proceedings less time than It takes you to complete your uni- were in English is a striking illustration of the versity cOU1"fe, three pillars of holy fire have wide diffUSIOn of that tongue. There were gathered at Madras seven hundred delegates opened pathways for the feet of the Lord into the from all parts of India, Afghanistan, Nepaul, deserts. As !took my text I laid down a famous and Sclnde. They spoke nme different lanbiography-that of an intellectual English girl, guages, and the English was the only medium through which the proceedings could be satispassing in her early years with honor the most factorily conducted. Great Britain's colonial advanced mathematical examinations by the pa- enterprises have been probably the largest factor in spreading a knowledge of English. It pers of Oxford and Cambridge, rapidly master- is found also that In countries like Java, where Great Britain has no control, the knowledge of ing many sciences aud many languages ; a type English is steadily growing. Not long ago the of our eager modern culture, too, In this, that French language was the medium invariably employed in all international conferences. At the while these conquests for awhile satisfied her last Berlin conference, however, English and mind, they left her heart hungry with unbe- German, as well as French, were employed. The other leadiug languages of Europe have gradulief; yet gradually, rationally confronting all the ally been insisting on recognition on an equal footing with French in their proper domain. It problems fairly on either side, she rose to a clear was Mr. Canning who led the way when at the foreign office he ordered that certain correspondvision of the truth as it is in Christ crucified and ence, hitherto writ~n in French, should be sent in English. .. The time will come," said Bi.- risen, bronght her splendid learning an offering marck in 1863, "when I intend to have all my dispatches written in German, and when I shall at His altar, and in South Africa, with the heroic find means to make them understood even in love of a missionary to the natives, died' in the France." He kept his word, and both the Engcon1!dence of·8 certain faith. ' Far northward, fish and German tongues have profited by the a volunteer or'the Cross from Scotland, vigorous considerable decline of French as the internain every attribute of manliness, makes his solita- tional language of diplomacy and polite society. ry way into the hiding-places of that Ethiopian -New YllI'k Sun. idolatry with the burden of. its salvation on h!s conSCience, and now the kmgdom of heaven .IS THE universality of the movement pressing iu after hi1jl to seek two hundred mil- which originattld and· accomplished lion souls. Just before he died alone there, he the great London Conference is shown wrote in his journal, •My Jesus, my King, my by the fact, that, while the entil'e Life my All' Accept me, and grant that before revenue of all Protestant missions is this' year en'ds I may finish my task I' lA.'ter rather less than $12,500,000 per anstill all over England, on a week-day mortling, num, the societies taking part in the throngs of worshipers of every class, from the Conference have an aggregate anuniversity and the palace to the digger in the nual iMome of fully $10,000,000. ground, gave humble ,!nd hearty tha~ks to God for their graudest soldIer, dead, who m those far quarters of the earth fought, commanded, suffereLdo~pdroayf ehdosatsn.d made peace, in the name of the These are not sigus, my friends, of a spent force, a decaying worship, or an eclipsed faith. "
IN the address of Bishop Taylor be- fore the Methodist Conference, he says: " • Why not work under the missionary com- . mittee f' you will ask. My methods are so di- verse from theirs that the two can't be mixed up in tbe same 01lice any more than can a coal y~rd and a milliner's shop. I am informed on hlgb 01liclal authority that my method8 are wrong, and that I am deceived and deceiving the people.