The Missionary Review of the World — February 1890
PROTESTANT MISSIONS A Ht:NDRED YEARS AGO AND NOW
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No.2.-01d Series.–FEBRUARY.–VoL. III. No. 2.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. PROTESTANT MISSIONS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AND NOW RESPO:NSIBILITY AXD ENCOURAGEMENT. BY REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, F. S. S., LONDOX, E:NGLAXD.
In our pamphlet, "A Century of Protestant .Missions," we fixed ou the year 1786 as the period of their commencement, and. we have seen no reason to alter that date as a fair approximation. Foul' of the greatest missionary societies ill the world can trace their 'origin to within a few months, if not to that very year; not in the formal organization of their outward framework, but to what is the true birth of missions, the union of spirit for prayer on behalf of the heathen, and the earnest desire for their conversion by the preaching of the Gospel. Not only the fathers of the Baptist Missions, but the founders of the Church Missionary Society, and the London Missionary Society, had their spiritual birth at that time; and the Rev. Dr. Coke was sent out to found missions among the heathen in our colonies in the West Indies that year by vVesley and his fellow laborers.
Missions, like their ~Iaster, are born f!'Om above. . Born of the Spirit, and that was the period of the Epiphany of the missionary spirit, which is ever latent in the Christian Church, though it may long lie dormant, and even seem to die. .
It has often been in my heart to follow up that pamphlet, "Century of Protestant Missions," which was of set purpose written to arrest thought on the great work which still remains to be done in the vast unoccupied fields of the heathen world, by another, showing the means for a much greater work in the future, and the encouragements to prosecute it with new vigor and hope. "A CentUl'y of Christian Progress," which came ont in an ill complete form, owing to the pressure of other duties, was confined to oue aspect of the subject; and the limited time at my disposal will ollly allow me now to put together a few facts, which may, with God's blessing, stimulate aud strengthen the Churches of Christ; in the words of Carey, "to attempt great things for God, and to expect great thing~ from God." I.-THE lI11SSlON ~'IELn.
Let us glance at that field, which" is the world." The first thing that strikes us is the great increase of our knowledge of the world and its inhabitants. A hundted years ago the vast regions of heathenism were comparatively a blank to the minds of most Christians. Of the hundreds of millions in China, we knew little beyond the meagre inf()rmation to be gathered f!"Om the journals of The Polos, and of Roman Catholic Missions, and from a few traders on the coast, ignorant of the language of the people. Vast tracts of India were untrodden by the feet of our countrymen, whose almost sole concerns were trade and conquest. Africa was a terra incognito beyond a few miles from Egypt and the Cape, except for a few bold but imperfect explorations up the Nile and the Niger. Our maps of the interior were either a blank or a blunder-deserts and plains, wbere lakes and rivers, a~d mountains ha,'e been discovered, with a teeming population and fertile soil.
This vast increase of our knowledge acts ill a two-fold way on the Christian Church. First, it excites interest in, and sympathy for, the poor and the perishing; and second, it awak.ens a sense of responsibility for those with whom we seem by our knowledge to be brought into personal relations. The qnestion, ""Vho is my neighbor?" acquires a new meaning and a wider scope. Our fellow man who has fallen among thieves, is now found by the Samaritan spiI"it in the Church, not on the way down from Jerusalem to the neighboring city, Jericho; he is found wounded by sin".and robbed of his Divine inheritance by the idolatries of heathenism and the deceptions of the false prophet in all lands.
This feeling of sympathy and sense of responsibility are greatly intensified by the facilities for eagy and rapid communication with all parts of the world. It makes us realize that we are now in that period of prophetic history, when "many shall run to alll~ fro, and knowledge shall be increased." The whole world is now at our door. It is only a few weeks easy travel by land or sea to reach the most distant parts. By post and telegraph we know daily what takes place in the most remote regions. ';Ve seem to hear the sounds of sorrow and woe in the dark places of the earth, and to feel the anxious beating of the hearts of the thousand millions of the world's inhabitants wh'o are ignorant of God and of His Christ.
n.-THE OPENINGS IN THE MISSION FIELD.
If we compare the world a hundred years ago with what it is now, the calls to work and sense of responsibility will be intensified a thousand fold. When our Protestant missions began China was hermetically sealed. It was death to preach the Gospel in Japan. India was closed against all missionaries; even our own countryman, Carey, had to seek shelter on a little plot of ground owned by a foreign power. South America was tabooed by the Church of Rome. T~e difficulties experienced by African travelers were enough to deter the most adventurous, and Asia Minor was inaccessible, while Mohammeda.nism stood in its pride and independence.
These countries from which the missionary was thus excluded were peopled by the highest and most advanced races outside the pale Qf the Christian Church. Almost the only peoples accessible to the missionary were the inferior and debased races, inhabiting the soft and enervating islands of the South Seas, or the freezing latitudes of the Polar regions; races living under conditions inimical to a high development, and, in most instances, races which were dying out under the double pressure of native vices and the evils attendant on modern «ivilization. Along with these, missionaries had access to certain tribes of Africa, on their native soil, or transplanted to America and· the 'Vest India Islands, under the degrading influence of slavery.
These were not the races whom the wisdom of man would have selected, and but for the overruling providence of God shutting up the new energies of the awakened Church to the degenerate and apparently hopeless specimens of the human family, they would proba.bly have been thought beneath or beyond the reach of the Gospel remedy. That such beings have not only been delivered .from idolatry by the simple prea'ching of the Gospel, but made to shine with the beauty of holiness, giving all the evidences of a nature regenerated by the spirit of God, and abounding in the fruits of righteousness; the strongest proof of the Divine origin and power of Christianity on the one hand, and the clearest demonstration of the disinterested character and aim of Protestant missions on the other. There was nothing to be gained by the churches from conquests over such as these, save the blessing of the Lord on those who obey His commands, and thus enjoy His favor.
But now the whole world is open to missionary enterprise; we can not even name the countries which have been thrown open. It would occupy too much of your space. There is only one isolated little nook from which missionaries are absolutely shut out-the one exception which confirms the rule, and, if we mistake not, even that one exception is likely soon to cease to be one. By her insults to Britain's power and attacks on British interests, Thibet is preparing the way for the overthrow of her clerical exclusiveness.
There is one feature of the great change which has come over the world during this last century, for which the Church is not sufficiently grateful; of which, in fact, no one seems to take note, viz.: that among the nations of the earth thet'e is not one Kingdom ruled over by an independent idolatrous Ruler. The small States in India, under Hindu Rulers, are no exception. They are all under British dominion or influence. EYen .Assam, Tonquin, Corea, and such like powers, are directly uuder the influence or control of the Briti~h, French or Chinese governments; and even the last is monotheistic in its national worship. Thibet, the one apparent exception~ is under Chinese protection. The tribes under the yoke of naked savages we do not reckon among the nations and kingdoms of the world. This overthrow of idolatrous rulers is not the work of Christian missions; but it has been chiefly brought about by Christian powers~ and is surely a part of the Di vine purpose for preparing the way of the Lord. 'l'hat the rulers of all civilized or semi-civilized nations- ill fact, all nations with anything corresponding to or resembling civil government-are monotheists, is well fitted to encourage the mission- ary spirit, and the hopes of the Church. He who has put down the idolatrous power will fulfill His prophetic word, «the idols he will utterly abolish."
HL-THE ENLARGElIIENT AND INCREASED RESOl7RCES OF THE CHURCH.
The altered position of the church in relation to the heathen world, is a cheering fact, and should be a powerful factor in the future. A hundred years ago the numbers of professing Christians of all the three great sections of the Christian Church, were less than 200 millions, now they are over 430 millions; and of this great increase in a hundred years, by far the larger share falls to the Pro- testant Church. vVhile the Roman Catholic and Greek churches only doubled their numbers, the Protestants multiplied nearly foul' fold.
The numbers, as given in our" Century of Christian Progress," stand thus: 1886, Increase 4 fold. less than 2 fold', 1786, 137,000,000 205,000,000 2 fold, Protestants. ' …..•…. 37,700,000 89,000,000 Roman Catholics …… 117,000,000 Greek Church, … , …. 46,000,000 200,700,000 431,000,000 In our brochure, "A Century of Protestant Missions," we called attention to the fact, that while Protestant missions had gathered three millions into the fold of Christ ill a hundred years, the heathen hall increased, by the ordinary birth rate, by 200 millions, in the same time. But if we take the entire increase in the nominally Christian population, which was in the same period 230 millions, we alter most materially the relative numbers, and find that the Christian is rapidly overtaking the heathen and :Mohammedan popUlation of the world. . In 1786 the entire population of the world was probably about ·1,000 millions, of which profesl'ling Christians were 200 millions, forming 20 per cent. of the whole, and 25 per cent. of the 800 millions of heathens and Mohammedans. In other words, the Christians were 1 in 4 of the heathen and Mohammedans. In 1886 the population of the world was estimated at 1450 millions, but the Christians of all ~enominations had risen to 430 millions, that is, 43 per cent. of the 1000 millions of the heathens and Mohammedans, or about as 1 in 2, .or more nearly 1.02!-.
If we take only the Protestant population at the two period,s, the relative change is more striking still. In 1786 the 37 millions of Protestants were to the 960 millions of heathen and Mohammedan population only 4 per cent., or as 1 in 26. In 1886 the 137 millions were to the 1313 millions, 10 per cent., or as very nearly 1 in 10. But the gain is not only in numbers; in learning and science, in wealth and power the gain is greater fat·.
Take this rapid and great increase in the nnmbers and resources .of the church in connection with the opening up of the whole world to evangelistic enterprise, and have we not a clear instruction of the ~esign of God? The one condition, without the other, would have had little significance. If the world had been open, but the church poor and weak and few in numbers, there might have been an excuse for indolence, although the memory of Pentecost and the little company in the upper room, might have inspit'ed even a feeble few to sttempt great things in the name of a risen Redeemer. If the church had been large and strong, but the world closed, she might have taken it as a plea for attempting little. But when we see an open world, .easy of access, and a church so prosperous and powerful, there is not the shadow of an excuse for idleness. There is every encouragement, snd the loudest call to a supreme effort for the evangelization of the world. The heathen are calling, God is commanding His people to srise in His might, and to take possession of all nations, in His name. It is at her peril that the church of Christ neglects the call of Provi- (lence, which is the voice of God.
IV.-FACILITIES FOR lIUSSION WORK NOW, AXD A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The advantages for a new crusade are inconceivably greater in .our day, as compared with what they were in the days of our fatherR. Then the work was new and untried. The few specimens of work (lone were not models of wisdom, or examples of success. Some were .of value as a wal'l1ing, rather than encouragement. Everything was new and strange, all had to be built up-the very foundations had to be dug. Can we wonder that mistakes were made? It would haye been a miracle if they had not. The condition of the savage tribes smong whom they began was so entirely different from anything in bome experience, we can only wonder at the co.)urage, and faith, and wisdom, of the early founders of our missions.
The tools with which they were to work had to be invented and nlade. Languages had not only to be leal'l1ed, they had to be fashioned and clothed in the forms of written speech. The fleeting sounds from the lips of savages had to be coined into visible words, snd construed in harmony with the strange usage8 of people innocent of grammatical rules. Dictionaries had to be made out of the crude materials of these hitherto unformed tongues, requiring the greatest nicety of ear, and the utmost accuracy in reducing sound to its equivalent in words; and last, but not least, the translation of the Word of God had to be made unto these newly formed languages, and fickle and restless savages had to be taught to read the sacred page.
The amount of this kind of work that has been accomplished is. almost incalculable and incredible. All this is clear gain, which does not need to be repeated in these languages, which now number probably 400, in all parts of the habitable globe. New missionaries, going to these nations and tribes, find their work in acquiring the language of the people comparativaly easy-a clear gain to the church in time and money and men; making spiritual results, under God, more easy and rapid.
Compare also the present with the past in respect of the numberof laborers with which we start this new era in missionary effort. Our fathers had to begin with a mere handf~l of laborers, untrained and inexperienced, with no knowledge of the habits and customs and modes of thought of the various peoples among whom they werll to· work. They had no native helpers or preachers to assist them in theirwork. Everything was against them. The possibility of the preach· ing of the Gospel saving and sanctifying such depraved natures as· those of cannibals, was an untried problem. The natural way would have been, like the first Moravian missionaries, to prepare them by education and civilization for the Gospel message. But, with a sublime faith in the Divine commission to preach the Gospel to ever.1f creature, they went forth with no weapons of modern science or learning, but with the sword of the Spirit, and with that they fought and conquered.
Now, how different are the conditions in the mission field, with 7,00(} European and American missionaries at work, half the number ordained ministers, and nearly all of them educated men and women, acquainted with something like 400 languages, or distinct dialects. But what is a greater advantage than these for aggressive work, ~re the native evangelists, now making little short of 30,000, and of these, nearly 3,000 are educated native pastors, placed over congregations of their countrymen. Greater than even these advantages, arc the three million of converts, two-thirds of whom are either active or passive witnesses for Christ iu the midst of their heathen countrymen -lights, all the more conspicuous from the darkness which surrounds them.
Take in connection with these advantages in the mission fields of the world, the vast increase in the number and resources of missionary societies at home, with the augmented means, their more complete organization, their knowledge and experience of the methods.
DR. PIERSON'S JIlISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND
which have heen lllostowned of God for the conversion of the heathen, their closer touch with the churches, the increase of missionary spirit in England and America, the great wealth in the hands of Christian men, the favorable disposition of most of the ruling powers of the world,-and we have a condition of matters such as could not have been dreamed of a hundred ycars ago, and which lays an immeasurably greater responsibility on the Christian conscience and on the churches of Christ; while they are fitted to put doubt and unbelief to shame, and to inspire the greatest courage and hope in the breast of missionaries abroad, and Christians at home. Surely God is speaking loudly to all, to seize the present opportunity, and make a supreme effort for an advance along the whole line.
We close with a word of wal'lling. There is a danger of trusting to the great increase of knowledge, and numbers, and wealth, and :power. We do well to remember the words, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." We have enough to h-Jmble us in looking to our sinful neglect in the past, when we tr.ink of the generations of men we have allowed to go down to the grave in darkness, while we had the light. We have enough to Bol.emnize us, when we look to the work which lies before us in the future; not only the one thousand millions of heathen and Mohammedans, Christless and hopeless, but the hundreds of millions of the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, corrupting the truth of God and dishonoring the Lord who bought them. Let our attitude be that of humble, earnest, prayerful effort, and devout, hopeful expectancy, trusting "in the living God who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
DR. PIERSON'S MISSIONARY CRUSADE IN SCOTLAND.
[It is known to most of our readers, that in compliance with the earnest request of the leading friends of missions in Scotland, our Associate has gone there to complete the work he began after the rising of the London Conference on Missions in 1888. We give below the first of a series of letters on his mission and its results, which will appear in successive numbers ·of the REVIEW. If all of them shall possess the extraordinary interest of the first, they will surely be read with heartfelt interest and gratitude to God. We invoke the prayers of our readers in behalf of Dr. Pierson in this mission of love, for such it is, May the reflex influence of this mighty wave of missionary interest on the other side of the ocean reach our shores, and mark a new era in the history of the cause among us !-J. lI1. S.] Jfy Dear Dr. Sherwood: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, Nov. 27, 1889.
There was no need of coming to Scotland to " kindle the flame of a Missionary Revival," as the brethren of the Committee were pleased to suggest. It is quite obvious to me that a revival of missions is already in progess, and that all I can hope to do will be to feed ancl fan a flame already burning.
The good ship Etruria had a very rough passage, through a very "choppy" sea. 'Ve were rolled to and fro, and tossed up and down, and found it quite har.} to keep ollr.~elvei> in 0111' berths at night ,or maintain our standing, or even our sitting, on deck by day. N evertheless we landed at Liverpool quay at about 7 o'clock on Saturday evening, November 16th. The brethren came to meet and greet Ufl, and bid us " Welcome in the name of the Lord," and cheered us as a similar embassy comforted Paul at the "Three Taverns." There is no disposition either in England or Scotland to allow our sojourn to be one of idle lounging or pleasure seeking. Ve found arrangements made at Liverpool for a series of meetings, beginning with one on the very night of our arrival. In fact, no time could be spared even to attend to "customs," and so leaving our kind host with }frs. Pierson to look after the luggage, I was hurried off in a cab to Gordon Hall, where a large and select company of the Christians of Liverpool were gathered to offer a cordial welcome. Canon Burbidge was in the chair, and the familial' face of ~lr. Reginald Radcliffe beamed close at his side. At this meeting I made a brief address on the "Present Aspect of }fissions," and was greatly cheered by observing a very manifest spirit of prayer prevailing. This was my first impression, and that impression has been constantly emphasized and intensified during these eleven days.
As I intimated, my sojourn on this side of the water is not likely to suffer by lack of employment. I left Liverpool for Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, November 20, having already held in that city seven meetings, closing with a grand and enthusiastic gathering in great George Street Chapel, which will hold easily two thousand people. The attendance at all these meetings evinced an intelligent and hearty sympathy with the }fissionary cause, and furnished an auspicious forecast and foretaste of the gratifications in store. In Edinburgh, on the night of OUI' arrival, a marvellous assembly convened in the Hall of the Church of Scotland, Principal Cairns in the ohair. Rev. Dr. Lowe, Chairman of the Committee, having direction of the meetings, remarked to me that no more significant gathering had ever met in Edinburgh. The various denominations, which have been divided by conscientious differences of opinion, and have sometimes waged wars, not without much bitterness, came together with a profound and sincere sympathy, to further the common cause of a world's Evangelization. }fen that had met in the arena of theological and ecclesiastical controversy, and engaged in fierce conflict, came into that Hall on a common footing of cordial good will, rallying around a humble advocate of world·wide missions, forgetful of all past issues and minor differences in the one absorbing object-giving the gospel to tMs generation.
The Chairman was Dr. Cairns, a very proper man about whom to gather; It has been said of him that "no man carries under his hat, through all Scotland, a bigger brain." Eminent as a preacher, a writer, a teacher, an ecclesiastic, he is eyen more conspicuous as a. Christian. His charity is pre-eminent, and in the atmosphere of its gentle glow, the ice of antagonism and apathy may well mdt away. The students made a sort of cartoon, not long since, in which they represented "Principal Cairns' introduction to the Devil." He is made to say to his Satanic Majesty, that he has "heard very unfavor- able reports touching his moral character," but that he has "no doubt these reports are very much exaggerated, and that on furthel' acquaintance they will be able to get on together very well." The jest, as Horace intimates, hides behind a laugh a serious truth; for the dear Doctor is always looking for and hoping for the best from everybody.
The object of this first meeting was to express a hearty welcome from all the bodies represented, and to assure me of the most cordial co-operation in the purpose of this Mission Tour of the (;hurches. The welcome was given with all the enthusiasm of true Scotchmen. These people are not so easily moved as some, but when they do move it is with great momentum. Meeting after meeting followed, the details of which space does not allow m.e to give; suffiJe it to say, that, as in Liverpool, they have followed each other in quick succession, on Thursday in the great Synod Hall, on Friday in the Free Assemhly Hall, mainly for )Vomen, on Saturday morning in Moncrieff Hall, fO!' the students, when even the standing room was all in demand; then after two sermons on Missions, the Sabbath evening found me confronting an immense audience at the U. P. Synod Hall, where the most marked movement of the Spirit of God which I have ever witnessed in such a gathering, subdued and melted all hearts. My subject that night was" Individual Responsibility with reference to Missions," and as the duty and privilege of individual giving', and especially prctyill[J, was urged, and the grand promises to prayerful souls were arrayed before us, a sudden hush fell upon the whole assembly; there was a. painful silence, and many bowed in tears before God. As fOI' the speaker, it was with him as with Daniel, when, in his vision beside the Hiddekel, "there remained no strength in him." (Daniel, x :8.) The sense of the divine presence was positively overwhelmillg; no man could produce such an impression; it was manifestly of God, and all felt it to be the gateway of Heaven.
Such a meeting has but one explanation. Ever since it was known that this Mission Tour of the Churches was determined on, and that arrangements were definitely made, there has been an unusual spirit of prayer. Those who on their hearts bear the precious interests of God's kingdom, in this land of Martyrs and Missionaries, began praying in secret and praying in little circles, for a mighty manifestation of God's presence and power. Instead of looking to any man, there has been a disposition to fix the eye of faith and prayer on God alone, and those that honor Him, He will hOllOI'. Of all the meetings I have ever attended, I remember not one in which God more plainly set all human instruments aside, to speak for Himself in the language that has no human speech as its expression and can be heard only by ears open to the still small voice. Some persons were so moved that they had to leave the hall. When the meeting adjourned all left in silence, and since then, token after token of the blessing keeps coming to our knowledge. The next day we received a note in a lady's hand, enclosing the money which would buy "one pail' of four-button kids," in response to an appeal which I made to Christian women to forego luxuries for the Lord's sake, and turn the money to His treasury. The same day brought a half sovereign, the expression of like self-denial; and a letter, enclosing two pounds, ten shillings, the proceeds of a bracelet, sold for the I"ord's sake. These are but a few signs of God's presence and of a coming harvest of missions. Every day brings increasing encouragement. "Ye can only praise God, and give glory to Him.
With Sabbath evening's meeting the series of gatherings in Edinburgh closed for the present, fifteen meetings in all since the Etruri(t anchored in the Mersey River, eight days before. 'Yith Monday we began, accompanied by Mrs. Edge, recently returned from Canton, China, and Rev. Henry'Rice, on a furlough from: Madras, India, to visit cities and towns in the neighborhood of this Scotch Athenl'l. On Monday we held two meetings in Leith, on Tuesday in Peebles and bnerleithen, and to-day in Dalkeith. The afternoon meetings are principally for the women, and the evening assemblies, held in the largest available places, are crowded to overflowing. 'Ve were told yesterday that meetings so large have not been known even in times of great political excitement. Surely God is marching on, and a new departure in missions is at hand.
'Ve cannot bring this letter to a close without remarking upon the grand men and women who in this great Scotch metropolis are arrayed on the side of Christian faith and Christian Missions. 'Ye seem to be back in the times of old when there were "giants on the earth in those days." Think Qf a series of meetings in the interest of }Iissiom~, held day after day, with such men as Principals Cairns and Rainy, and Sir 'Villiam Muir, in the chair; when such men as Rev. Dr. Andrew 'l'hompson, George Smith,LL.D., Dr. 'Velsh, Professors Laidlaw, Blaikie and I.indsay, and 'l'homas Smith, D.D.; Reverends 'Vm. Balfour, tVm Stevenson, 'Vm. Robertson, John McMartrie, Dr. Norman McLeod and Dr. Alison; Duncan McLarew, Esq., and John, Smith, Esq., Professors Calderwood and Johnstone and A. R. Simpson, M.D.; with Reverends W m. Grant and R. Craig, and I . ord Kinnaird, from I"ondon, Principal Simon, Mrs. ,Jane .Millel', representing the Friends, and a host of others, came together to OffCl' the right hand of fellowship in behalf of all branches of the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist~, Episcopalian~, Friends, etc. The Committee having in charge the details of my Tour of the Churches have made singularly complete and satisfactory arrange- ments. They have secured one or two 1'Iissionairies, now at home from their fields, to accompany me. Mrs. Edge is a ready and accomplished speaker and gives vivid glimpses of Chinese home life and sociallif~, showing the marked influence of the gospel in modifying and transforming especially the women and girls of the Celestial Empire. Rev. Henry Rice is one of the most fluent, intelligent and strik~ ing speakers on Missions that it has been my good fortune to hear. He touches with rare skill the salient points of Missions, and gives both picturesque and impressive views of East Indian religions and customs. His book, recently published, on " Native Life in India," printed by the London Religious Tract Society, compresses into a brief Rpace an immense amount of interesting and instructive matter. He is full of missionary zeal, and zeal according to knowledge. It is with not a little gratification that we add such a man to our REVIEW list of Editorial Correspondents, and announce a series of articles as ab.out to appear in these pages from his instructive and attractive pen.
The details of these meetings we have given to some degree, because these pages will be read not only in Great Britain and the United States and Canada, but in far off lands where Christ's Godly messengers are telling the old, old story. Such a movement at the great centers of Christendom will be felt at the outermost bounds, as a mighty heart throb pulses warm life blood to the extremities of the body. And we bid all missionaries in God's name, "Be of Good Cheer." There is a revival of missiollary knowledge and zeal at home, and it means blessing abroad. The key note struck at the opening meeting was" the gospel to be published through all the world in this generation," and this thought seems to be taking possession of the most earnest, prayerful and consecrated men and women on both sides of the sea. God has given us a thousand facilities unknown to our ancestors. lIe has thrown open the doors to the nations and challenged us to enter in and possess the land. "Vhat are we waiting for? AU things are now ready. A united movement all along the lines-more men and women to the front, and the Church of God backing them up with more money and prayer and sympathy; more Godly parents giving their children to God and to Missions from the cradle; morc enterprise for God, pushing the conquests of the cr08S as we push seculal' and scientific endeavor for objects infinitely less i~portant – who can tell what glorious and speedy results may follow a true awakening of the Church of God to the duty and privilege of proclaiming the gospPl to every creature!
THE CHARITIES OF GERMANY
THE CHARITIES OJ!' GERMANY.
BY REV. A. n. BRADFORD, D.D, ~rO~TGLAIR, X. J.
[We offer no apology for embracing "C'harities" in the gospel of Missionary work. The mission of the Master did not overlook them-nay, specially honored them. The Church of Christ has ever been foremost in this work, The true Missionary will find work to do wherever the poor, the suffering, the unfortunate and criminal classes are found, and they are found in great numbers in, Christian lands as well as in heathen. We are sure this paper will be read with ini!erest,-J, M. S.] I Christianity has been called "the romance of the poor." What- ever controversies have marked the history of the Church, and how- ever deeply stained its pages may be with tears and blood, from the first its progress may be traced in the development of charities. It created charity. Paganism had no place for the aged, the infirm, for children without friends. It peopled its schools of gladiators and houses of prostitution from those who, in our time, are beautifully called "the children of the public." Charities are the necessary fruit of Christianity. ,'rhe world has not yet grasped the significance of the incamation-God entering into human conditions to save the outcast and the sinful. 'Vherever Christ has been preached, instantly there have arisen institutions whose object has been the amelioration of human suffering. Philanthropy and Chl·ist.ianity are inseparable.
Lecky, in his History of European Morals, says: "The high conception which has been formed of the sanctity of human life, the protection of infancy, the elevation and final emancipation of the slaveclasses, the suppression of barbarous games, the creation of a vast and multifarious organization of chllxity, the education of the imagination by the Christian type, constitute together a movement of philanthropy which has never been paralleled or approached in the Pagan world." * One form of Christianity devotes its energies to making conver- sions; another form seeks by Christian nurture to place around the children of the poor and vicious such conditions as shall make the new life a second and better nature.
Dr. Channing, in an eloquent passage, says: " Society has hitherto employed its energies chiefly to punish crime. It is infinitely more important to prevent it. And this I say not for the sake of those alone on whom the criminal preys. I do not think only or chiefly of those who suffer from crime. I plead also, and plead more, for those who perpetrate it. In moments of clear, calm thought, I feel more for the wrongdoer than for him who is wronged. In a case of theft, incomparably the most wretched man is he who steals, not he who is robbed. What I want is not merely that society shall protect itself against crime, but that it shall do all that it can to preserve its exposed members from crime. It ought not to breed monsters in its own bosom. If it will not use its prosperity to save the ignorant and the poor from the blackest vice, then it must suffer, and deserves to suffer, from crime. If the child be left to grow up in utter ignorance of duty, of its Maker, of its relations to society, in an atmosphere of profaneness and intemperance, and in practice of falsehood and fraud, let not the community complain of its crime. It has quietly looked on and seen him, year after year • '.,1. II, p,lUO, arming himself against its order and peace; and who is most to blame when at last he deals the guilty blow?"
The conception of Christianity which recognizes in it a gospel for the whole life of man, for man physical as well as spiritual-this gospel of a healthful environment as well as of free forgiveness-is day by day coming into fnIler recognition.
The subject of Charity in Germany is too large for one paper, and. therefore this is chiefly limited to those forms of philanthropy which are known as "Child-saving." 'rhe one exception is that universal chai'ity at Kaiserswerth which could not, with propriety, be classified in any department of philanthropic work but seems rather to embrace them all.
The work of child-saving was begun in Germany in 1695, by August Hermann Franke, in the city of Halle. Franke was a German minister and teacher, and Professor in the University of Halle. "He commenced with a capital of three dollars and a half. ,Vhen he received it, he said: 'With this I must do a great work.'" Halle is a beautiful city of about 70,000 inhabitants, ill N orthel'l1 Germany. It is best known as the seat of one of the largest German Universities. It has always been a center of evangelical theology. It must be rememc bered, however, that that term is more inclusive ill Germany than in America. The University has been a favorite with American students, especially in its theological department. Halle is distinguished not only for its institutions of learning, but equally for its orphan asylums, which Ol'iginated as fullows: It was the custom for beggars, on certain days, to seek alms at private houses. Not satisfied with merely giving them bread for their bodies, Franke began to catechise them, both the old and the young. He discovered among them such utter ignorance of religion that he began to think of providing a school for them. "He opened a little school in his study; in less than a year he found the place too small. He was pained, however, to see that the children's home-life destroyed what his school had builded up. He therefore formed the idea of taking the entire training of a few children upon himself. A house was purchased for this school; twelve were received into it. The next year a new house was purchased."
Rapidly the institution grew. There was no capital, and yet the work flomished. Faith and prayer were his capital. Franke himself said: "From week to week, from month to month, has the Lord crumbled to me, even as one crumbles the bread to little chickens." A Home for Unmarried Women followed the Orphan Asylum; then a Home for Widows. Around these centers schools were founded in which students of the University became teachers. One curious means of help was devised by an eminent physician who gave the institutions the receipts for some very valuable remedies. The sale of the medicines added greatly to the revenue of the charities. They were widely sold in Germany, and even in America and Africa. Another auxiliary enterprise was the Orphan House Book Establishment, conducted by a man named Elers, who put his income at the disposal of the Orphan House, and was content to receive clothing and food. The work among the orphans and the poor at home was followed by Missionary and Bible work in Germany and foreign lands.
There is little about the managem'ent of these charities to distinguish them from others. Dormitories, laundries, school rooms, and play grounds are everywhere the same. The difference between institutions of this kind is chiefly in the system. The congregate and the cottage systems both have their advocates. The Asylums at Halle belong to the former class. His friend Elers once asked Franke as to who had taught him this work. His reply was, "My mother's love." The secret of his marvellous career is in that answer. When King Frederick William first saw the Orphan House, 1713, and was conducted through the book-stores and the warehouses, he was amazed; and he asked Elers how much he got out of all tIllS r " Your Majesty," replied Elers, "only just what you see." Then the King clapped Franke upon the shoulder and said, "Now I see how he accomplishes so much. I have no such servants."
The establishment still remains, and its influence is boundless. The buildings are a quarter of a rile in length, and six stories high, built around an oblong court-yard. In the court-yard is a bronze statue of Franke, by Rauch. In the Asylum are sheltered about 500 children, while schools, a labratory, a printing office, and many charitable associations find a home under its hospitable roofs. If Franke had been a soldier and displayed such courage and zeal, his country would have built him a splendid monument in the capital. If he had been a Romanist, he would have been enrolled among the saints. He was both a soldier and a saint, but he needs no monument and no canonization, for his works do follow him.
The ancient city of Erfurt is picturesque and quaint. It is chiefly celebrated because of its connection with the history of Luther. There he was a monk and a professor. There he had that terrible inward conflict which ended with his discovery of the Bible in the library of his monastery. In that old church he preached. There are still the cells in which he lived and worked. '1'he very place where he found the Bible is still in good preservation. If you would find that old church and monastery ask almost anybody for the "Martinstift." The monastery has been born again. It is now a school, and a home for poor children taken from the streets and prisons. The principle of management is not different from that of other institutions of the kind, and the advantages offered are not so numerous as in some other homes. As in the asylums at Halle, the congregate system is in uSe. Two things especially distinguish this home and school. First, it is not only for children from the street, but from the prisons also. A prison with children in it is a school where criminals are trained. This was clearly recognized by Rector Charles Reinthaler, who founded the Martinstift in 1819. The second fact which distinguishes this institution is that it is the noblest monument to Luther in all Germany. Germany honors Luther as Scotland honors Bruce; His figure in the attitude of a preacher, or a doctor of philosophy, is at Eisenach, at Eisleben. at Erfurt, at Wittenberg; but this home for the homeless, which is nobler than any bronze, is his most appropriate memorial; for it is an unfailing benediction to those who are as desolate as he was in Eisenach, where Frau von Cotta was charmed by the sweetness of his voice, and divided with him her living.
Vienna is, in many respects, the most beautiful, and I think in all respects, the most corrupt capital in EUI·ope. Its buildings surpass even those of Paris. St. Stepheu's is hardly inferior to Notre Dame, and the Votive Church is, in its way, quite as wonderful as La Made- leine. The University buildings are the most splendid for the.purpose in the world.
Two facts conspire to make "child-saving" especially imperative and especially difficult in Vienna. It is imperative because of the vast number of illegitimate, and consequently neglect.ed children. There are about 50,000 women in Vienna licensed to lives of shame, and, perhaps, as many more who are not licensed but whose lives are equally illicit. The number of homeless children where such moral conditions prevail is always large; and to care for them without increasing vice or diminishing the con- sciousness of responsibility on the part of those who bear children, is always difficult. The difficulty is increased by the poverty of the lower classes. There are rumors of dynamite conspiracies in Vienna. They were to have been expected. People who are oppressed, as the poor are there, . will sometimes break their chains and rebel. Women who work all day on buildings, doing what we call hod-carrying, get 40 cents; masons get 75 cents a day. Women who make shirts get 75 cents a dozen. Farm-laborers are cared for, and get from ten to twenty cents a day for doing what, in this country, in harvest time, a man would get $4 for doing. Meat costs about the same there as in New York, but meat is not for the poor. Nowhere in the world is woman's labor so poorly paid. Women in the postoffice and telegraph departments get from $5 to $7.50 a month, and "find themselves." They never have a home furnished with their work; that favor is only for men, and rarely for them. On the other hand, there are numerous day-nurseries, or creches, provided by the government, where the children of the poor may be placed while the parents are at work. Crime and suffering are compulsory where such wage~ are paid.· When pe0ple thus treated learn their power, the existing social order always trembles. That time has already come in Vienna.
Seeking what was being done in that city of splendor and infamy to relieve or to prevent pauperism and crime, I was directed to the Waisenhaus, a Roman Catholic institution, under the direction of " The Brothers of Christian Love." This, in its equipment, is the most complete institution of the kind I have ever seen. It is supported by its endowments. The congregate system is in. use. It has four dormitories, and provides a home for three hundred and sixty boys. After the uniform excellence of the appointments, that which especially distinguishes the institution are the facilities afforded for education. For instance, in the musical department I counted six pianos and three organs, in as many rooms. In other rooms were other instruments. The Museum of Natural History, one of the best equipped in the city and filling a;n immense space, is in daily use. The wash rooms are as interesting as the school rooms. Each boy has his towel and his box: of toilet articles, and the neatness and order are perfect. The older boys rise at five, and those younger a half-hour later. Their study-hour is from quarter before six to quarter before seven. A very large proportion of these boys are waifs. They have no idea of any other home. No motives of love inspire them. The poorest learn trades, and the higher class prepare to be clerks or to enter the army. The fact that they do not know their parentage does not indicate that their parentage is unknown; on the other hand, it is often known, and it is no contradiction to speak of waifs of "higher" and" lower" classes. The order and advantages of the institution were well nigh perfect. The Brothers were exceedingly courteous, and yet there was something about them which was positively repellant. I left the place feeling that it was not good to be there. "The Brothers of Christian Love" are evidently affected by the moral atmosphere around them. The Superior, for instance, spoke of woman, and of unfortunate children, lightly and flippantly. He seemed to have no profound appreciation of the misery he was seeking to relieve. I may do him injustice. Individuals often receive the censure which belongs to the social order. The Waisenhaus is a wonderful institution, but splendor of equipment and perfection of organization can never compensate for the absence of moral earnestness. Thus one of the most splendid charities in Europe made on me the impression of being simply a great machine for providing for illegitimate children. "The Brothers of Christian Love" may be the noblest and most self-sacrificing of men, but the environment of corrupt social life seems to have affected their ways of looking at things. if not· their characters and principles of work. It could hardly be otherwise.
The location of Hamburg is as beautitul as are the buildings of Vienna, and its residences, especially around the Alster Binnen, are worthy of this location. It is the commercial center of Germany, to that Empire what Glasgow and Liverpool are to Great Britain. A few miles out of Hamburg, at Horn, is the Rauhe Haus, which divides with Kaiserswerth the glory of being the most prominent charitable institution in the nation. It consists of a series of buildings around a small park. Each house is a home by itself. The dor- mitories and school rooms have nothing peculiar about them. "Vhat especially impressed me there was the attention given to industrial training, and to the religious nurture of the children. There is a ~ystem of mutual education going on all the time. The teachers, ", Brothers" they are called, who have charge, a,re preparing for other work. They are to be city missionaries and are serving their apprenticeship with children from the lowest and vilest city wards. A man who knows a street boy knows a city's darker side. The boys are training the men and the men are trainiJlg the boys. The " Brothers" remain, I think, for three years.
Three characteristics distinguish the Rauhe Haus. It is a congeries of families, each with its 110me and home-life; it provides industrial education of a very thorough kind; and is a place for the training of city missionaries as well as outcast children. It has it higher department called the Pensionate, where those fitted for it receive the same instruction as in the best German Gymnasia. This institution was founded by Dr. John Henry Wichern and his mother, in November, 18;:13. Dr. Wines says: "The fundamental idea of the Rauhe Haus is that of the famil:y, and it is the mother of all those child-sa,ing institutions, of which the number is continually increasing, that have since been organized on the family plan." Perhaps the finest example of the perfection to which this plan may be carried, is the village of Girls' Homes, at lIford, Essex, neal' London, which is a part of the wonderful sPl'ie~ of charities founded by Dr. Bernardo. There are thirty beautiful brick houses built around a small park, each with its own "Mother," and family from the London slums. But the Rauhe Haus antedated Dr. Bernardo's Homes by at least forty years.
Some one asked Dr. ",Yichern how he was able to produce such wonderful changes in the conduct of children under his care. His reply reveals the secret of his success: "By the word of God and music." The religious training of the children is given the first place. Everything is made bright and beautiful. When possible, each child has its own flower bed; flowers help in the work of educa-. tion. Dr. Wichern once said that "the man who cannot play and enter into the plays of chhhood with his whole heart, is unfit to be an assistant in a child-saving institution." I cannot better describe the spirit of this institution than by quoting words spoken at a public meeting held in Hamburg prior to its opening, by Syndic Sieveking. He said: " The children's institution was not to be a workhouse, nor an orphanage, nor a place of punishment, nor a house of correction; but an institution that allied itself to the family, to the gospel, to the forgiveness of sins, to the first and last thought, that is to the essential nature and work of Christianity." * It is impossible even to mention all the names of the distinguished workers in the field of Charity in Germany. Pestalozzi, the founder of the Kindergarten, did a noble work, but in it the religious element was lackin£,. "At the age of eighty he saw for the first time what he had been striving for for his whole life, when, in 1826, he visited the institution of the venerable Zell'er at Beuggen. When the children of that institution presented him with a beautiful wreath, as they sang one of their sweet hymns, Pestolozzi said.to Zeller: 'This is what I wanted to accomplish.' His mistake was that, in his school at Stanz, there was no place for religious instruction." t In these child-saving institutions in the German Empire, there are' fewer girls than boys. Some of these Homes are managed by the State, and children are sent to .them as punishment; but these must not be confounded with what is done by individuals. There were about three hundred and sixty of the institutions in 1880. Wurtemburg leads all the German States in this work.
" The Deaconess Institution of Rhenish",Yestphalia," at Kaiserswerth, is the most remarkable charity in.Germany, if not in the world. On a dismal day in August I visited Kaiserswerth. The ride from Cologne by train is about one hour to Calcum, and then about a halfhOllr by carriage. The country around is flat and damp, like most of • Wines' State Prisons and Child·Saving Institutions, p. 74. t Wines' Child-SaVIng Institution, p. GOO. that along the lower Rhine. We were set down at the post-office, and then sought the institutions. We could find little besides; they make the town. There is a famous Roman Catholic church, but it attracts little attention. But first, how did we come to be interested in Kaiserswerth? By reading the lives of Elizabeth Fry, Agnes Jones, and Florence Nightingale. Elizabeth Fry unconsciously inspired its ol'lgm. Florence Nightingale and Agnes Jones both resided there and received the instruction and studied the examples which were to stimulate their lives of heroism and sacrifice. A young German pas- tor, Fliedner by name, was settled in Kaiserswerth about fifty years ago. A period of financial depression compelled him to seek foreign help for the continuance of his work. He went to England. He met Elizabeth Fry who was in the midst of her career in the London prisons. From her words and example, Fliedner was moved to go home and attempt the same work. Soon after his return a degraded woman, named Minna, a discharged prisoner, came to him for help.
There was no room in his own house, but there was a little summer- house adjoining. He gave her a home in that, where she could be under the watchful eye of his wife. Soon another homeless and abandoned woman came to him. She, too, was sheltered in the sum- mer-house. There was no place for them to sleep except an attic in the same building, to which they climbed by a ladder. When they reached this place of rest the ladder was removed. That was the beginning of the Deaconess Institution at Kaiserswerth. Now it contains the following departments of philanthropic work: The Mother-house and Hospital where the deaconesses chiefly reside; the Penitentiary where women discharged frolll prison find a home until they can get a new start for a better life; the Training College for teachers, with an infant school; the Orphanage; the Lunatic Asylum for women; the House of Evening Rest for deaconesses no ionger able to work; Paul Gerhard's Home for women, chiefly invalids; a school f()r the training of deaconesses; a school for girls; numerous hospitals, etc., etc.
The exterior of the buildings is severely plain and simple. Many of them are connected. The halls are apparently endless. All is quiet, cleanly and cheerful. In one room children are taught; in another, babies are tended; in another, the sick are nursed; in another, girls just out of prison are trained to industrious and virtuous habits; in another, surgical operations are performed; another is a chapel; another is a parlor for old women; all around are little bed-rooms; and in all is the appearance of a charming and beautiful home. Our guide through these institutions was Sister Charlotte Drude, a tall, gaunt, angular, but exceedingly attractive German woman who has been long in the Sisterhood. Her hospitality and enthusiasm were boundless, and her love for philanthropic work an inspiration. The present Director at Kaiserswerth is Julius Disselhoff, a son-in-law of the founder; and a son, a second Pastor Fliedner, is the chaplain.
Kaiserswerth has literally reached around the world. It is now fifty years old. The Training-school for Nurses, at Salem, near Rati- gen; an Orphanage at Altdorf; a Boarding-school at Heldern; the :Martha'sJIome at Berlin, with infant and elementary school attached; the :Martha's home at Dusseldorf, with infant school; the Home for Prisoners, and the Asylum at Brandenburg; the Convalescent Home for Deaconesses and Children at ""Vallbaum, are all owned by the same society and managed and served by these Sisters. Outside <>f Germany, there is the Talitha-cumi Hospital and School at J erusalem; the School and Orphanage at Smyrna; the Hospital at Alexandria in Egypt; the Orphanage and Boarding-school at Beyroot, in Syria; a Boarding-school in Florence; and minor stations in almost all lands. The Deaconess work of modern times was begun at Kaiserswerth. It has increased marvellously. In 1880 there were fifty-three Central Deaconess institutions, with more than forty-eight hundred Deaconesses working in more than fifteen hundred different places. They were like angels on German battle fields. They nurse, and they preach; they bind wounds, and tell "the old, old. story." For both <>ffices they are trained. No vows are taken. At the consecration to the office, the new Deaconess _promises to be true to her calling, and to live in the fear of God and according to His holy Word. They nurse over 50,000 patients annually, and consequently preach Christ to at least the same number. Theyare the most persuasive preachers, for their message goes to hearts already opened by gratitude. They can leave when they choose, to go to their friends, to marry, to do what they will. Few choose to return to society. Those who wish to become Sisters pass through a course of preparation extending over five years, under the direction of those with whom they are later to be associated. They can be sent anywhere, but may decline any service. N one do decline. They realize that their place is in the midst of the world's suffering, and they covet the hardest posts, like soldiers in battle.
The rooms for the Deaconesses are plain, but comfortable. One into which we were shown was decorated with flowers for a Sister who was, in a few hours, expected home from work in a foreign land. She was worn out and sick, and was coming home to rest; and it was a place as sweet and inviting for one weary with anxiety and labor as the most exacting could desire. The Sisters receive no pay fOJ: anything they do. Their only reward is the consciousness of serving Christ and humanity. They are cared for while they live, and buried when they die; God takes care of the rest. Some belong to the nobility, some to the middle classes, some to the poor, and all to the Kingdom of God.
This Deaconess institution has started others like it in different parts of the world, and thus its work is both direct and indirect. In England and the United States similar Sisterhoods are already in operation, and the sphere of woman's work in the amelioration of human ills is without discernible limit. The seed sown by Pastor Fliedner has grown beyond his most sanguine dreams. Incidentally he came in contact with Florence Nightingale and Agnes Jones. The
THE JUBILEE OF THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION
former has revolutionized the war-hospitals of England and all the colonies, and effected sanitary reforms wherever the English armies have gone. The latter, in a few short years of service in the Liverpool workhouse hospital, effected reforms among workhouse hospitals hardly less remarkable in their way than those of her more illustrioU'S sister. The influence of these women is felt in almost all institutions for child-saving and for the alleviation of pain, and the reform of criminals in Great Britain and America. The mustard seed which Fliedner planted is already a great tree whose branches reach into all lands.
No attempt has been made in this paper to compare the methods of charity in Germany with those among English-speaking people. In many respects they are radically different, but in more respects alike. It is enough to say that charity is the expression of love, and love is not limited by social or racial distinctions. Its forms of manifestations are everywhere the same, and so charity employs substantially the same methods and works toward the same ends among all people.
THE JUBILEE OF THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.
BY REV. ROBERT STEEL, D.D., SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WAI~ES.
In November, 1839, fifty years ago, the" Apostle of Polynesia'~ -John Williams-gave his life in an eNdeavor to pioneer the gospel of Jesus Christ in the islands of the New Hebrides. He had heard of the savage cannibals of Eromanga, and of the many atrocities committed by them; but as he knew the effects of Christianity on some of the Polynesian isla-nds, he was anxious to extend its blessings .to other groups. He had awakened an immense interest in South Sea Missions by his visit to England and by the publication of his "Missionary Enterprises." No book of its class ever created so great a sensation. The Archbishop of Canterbury, after perusing it, declared that it read like a new chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Peers and Peeresses not only read it, but sent their donations to aid the work of evangelization in Polynesia. The press reviewed it with favor. In a few years 40,000 copies were sold. John 'Villiams became the hero of the hour, and many sympathizing friends breathed their benedictions as he sailed away on his new mission for the extension of the gospel among the isles of the Pacific. It was not long after his return to the scenes of his triumphs in Raratonga and Samoa that he set his heart on a visit to the New Hebrides. It had been one of his philanthropic utterances: "It is our duty to visit surrounding islands. For my own part, I cannot content myself within the limits of a single reef." He, therefore, took twelve native teach('rs as pioneers and sailed in the Oamden, under Captain Morgan, for the New Hebrides in 1839. As the vessel neared the group he was all anxiety as to whether the savages would receive him in a friendly spirit, and allow the landing of a few of the teachers to prepare the way of the Lord. The first island of the grOtlp at which the vessel touched was Futuna, a huge rock which rises up 2,000 feet above the sea. The natives there were friendly, but there was not opportunity for making arrangements to locate teachers. It was otherwise at Tanna. The harbor of Port Resolution was a safe anchorage, and had been visited by European traders. The chief promised protection to the Samoan teachers, and three were left. To Mr. Williams this was a notable event. lIe wrote of it in his journal thus: "This is a memorable day, a day which willbe transmitted to posterity, and the record of the events which have this day transpired will exist after those who have taken part in them have retired into the shades of oblivion."
He little thought that the very next day would be rendered still more memorable, not indeed by the landing of teachers, but by his own martyr death at Eromanga, on the 20th of November, 1839. He landed, along with Mr. Harris, a young man sailing in the Camden, and seriously thinking of giving himself to missionary work. CaptainMorgan and Mr. Cunningham also landed. All seemed pleasant at first, and the party proceeded inland along the banks of the river at Dillon's Bay. Suddenly a shout was heard. The natives became hostile, and it was necessary to seek safety in the boats. Captain Morgan and Mr. Cunningham were nearest to the shore and got into their boat. Mr. Harris was struck and fell into the river. Mr. 'Vil- Iiams was clubbed just as he reached the bay. No help could be given, and their friends in the boat saw the natives spear and kill both Williams and Harris. Arrows flew around the boat, and the men had to pull for their lives. The bodies of the martyr pioneers were dragged into the bush by the infuriated cannibals for their horrid feast. When the vessel reached Samoa great sorrow was awakened by the heavy·tidings of the death of John ·Williams. From island to island the wailing cry arose, "Aue Williamu! Aue Tawa!-Ala~, Williams! Alas, our Father I"
But as of old, "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the <lhurch." It was at once resolved by the mission brethren in Samoa that another effort should be made to place Christian teachers on blood-stained Eromanga. The Rev. T. Heath offered to lead the forlorn hope on the condition that if he also fell, another man should take the colors. He succeeded in his effort, and in 1840, six months after the death of 'Villiams, two Christian Samoan teachers were landed. A veteran survivor of that eventful period, the Rev. A. ,Yo Murray, author of the "Martyrs of Polynesia," "The Bible in the Pacific," and other works on missionR, visited the island in 1841, when Mrs. Williams was on boanl the mission vessel on her way to England and saw the scene of her devoted husband's death in the cause he loved. The teachers were fOl:nd alive, but they had a tale of living martyrdom to relate, and had experienced so many sufferings and hardships that they had to be removed. In England, after the sad intelligence of the death of the heroic vVilliams, it was also resolved by the directors of the London ~lissionary Society to· endeavor to plant the standard of the Cross at once as near as possible to the spot where the apostolic pioneer had fallen. Two young missionaries, with their brave wives, were forthcoming, ready to take their lives in their hands and go on the perilous enterprise. Messrs. Nisbet and Turner reached Tanna in June, 1842, and got what seemed a hopeful reception from the chiefs and natives of Port Resolution. "But," Dr. Turner says, "we had not been twenty-four hours on shore until we found that we were among a set of notorious thieves, perfect Spartans in the trade, and like the ancient code of Lycurgus, the crime seemed to be not the stealing, but the being found out." For seven dreary months the little mission party tried all their arts of conciliation in vain. Difficulties increased, and their lives were in imminent danger. At last, in dead of night, they had to seek safety in an open boat, but they were driven back. It was a critical condition for them to occupy; but providentially a trading vessel called the next day, and they got a passage to Samoa, where for many years they rendered fruitful service to the work of missions, and in the closing years of their residence trained many native teachers ana pastors and aided the work of translation and revised translations of Scripture, till thcy carried through the press an edition of the whole Bible with references in the language of Samoa. The London Missionary Society'S vessel from year to year sailed through the New Hebrides group, and the deputies on board, as Mr. Murray minutely testifies, watched for opportunities of locating teachers on several islands. Much is due to the brave enterprise of these devoted brethren in connection with the New Hebrides .Mission, and it becomes us, as we recall the work of fifty years ago, to record the fact that it was the London Missionary Society that pioneered the gospel to these islands where, in subsequent years, the Presbyterian missionaries had their trials and triumphs. It was their vessel that conveyed the first Presbyterian missionary. It was one of their missionaries that stayed with him during his first year. By their deputies he was visited and cheered from time to time. The Jubilee honors and rejoicings of the mission mu~t, therefore, be shared by that great society.
The first resident missionary on the New Hebrides was a Presbyterian-the Rev. John Geddie. He was a native of Banff, in Scotland, but had been taken in his infancy to Nova Scotia, where he became, in course of time, a student for the ministry. He was licensed to preach when he was only twenty-two years of age, and was ordained as a pastor at Cavendish, in Prince Edward Island, within a year thereafter. He was connected with a church compara- tively small and poor, and unable to afford more than a scanty income, often much in arrear', to its ministers, yet he had the courage to pro- pose that a Foreign Mission should be adopted. It is recorded that when he made known his views" there was not a man in the church who thought it practicable. Many looked upon it as utterly chimeri- cal, and were ready to pour contempt upon it as folly, while even his f~iends received the proposal with a smile of incredulity." The Church had in all only thirty congregations in the Provinces, and most were poor and str·uggling. Mr. Geddie, however, persevered, and in the course of a few years, carried his motion in the Synod. Vhen the proposal to seek a missionary was made, it was carried only by a majority of one! The attention of the Board was directed toward the islands where John Villiams laid down his life, and at length it was agreed that New Caledonia should be the field of their mission. That island had been named by MI'. Villiams to the Secession Church in Scotland as a sphere that might be occupied by their agents. Mr. Geddie belonged to that branch of the Presbyterian Church in Nova Scotia. He offered himself to the work~ and was accepted. He knew how little could be expected in the way of support; but he was not to be daunted. After visiting all the congregations of the Synod, and endeavoring to excite a prayerful and liberal. interest in the mission, he stw.died medicine for a time. In November, 1846, he sailed along with his wife and family. He was detained at Boston for two months before he found a vessel sailing for the Pacific, and even then the port to which a passage could be got was Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, far from the contemplated sphere in the South Seas. Six dreary months were spent in rounding Cape Horn ere they reached Honolulu, and seven weeks passed before a passage could be got to Samoa. Mr. Geddie had, however, an opportunity of seeing the working of the IIawaian Mission, and afterwards that of Samoa. Vhen he reached the latter place, he found that no opportunity could be got to reach New Caledonia 01' the Loyalty Islands for six or seven months, when the mission vessel John TVilliams wottld call. Besides, there then seemed no opening in these islands, as the energetic Bishop of New Zealand (Dr. Selwyn) had expressed a wish to conduct missionary work there. One of the islands of the New Hebrides afforded a single gleam of hope, and Mr. Geddie, with the advice of brethren at Samoa, agreerl to undertake a mission there. The venerable MI'. Murray, who still sllrvives, was a chief adviser and helper of Mr. Geddie during this period. It was proposed that one of the Samoan missionaries should accompany Mr. Geddie for a year, and the Rev. Mr. Bullen was chosen to do so, but amidst preparation for the expedition Mr. Bullen died. The Rev. T. Powell at the last moment offered to go with Mr. Geddie, and they left in July, 1848., They reached the most southerly island of the New Hebrides-Aneit- yum-where some native teachers had been settled, but what was the surprise of the mission party to find eight Roman Catholic priests and eight lay brothers already established in the island! The mission vessel then cruised throughout the group, calling at the stations where native teachers had be~n left. It was hoped that Mr. Geddie might find a home on the island of Fate. An awful tragedy had, however, taken place there the previous year when the British Sovereign had been wrecked. The crew were all saved with one exception. The natives appeared at first to treat them kindly, but it was only to allay suspicion. The whole of the survivors, twenty-one in number, each being placed between two savages in a march, on a given signal were brutally massacred, and their bodies, divided among the villages, were cooked and eaten by the cannibal people. It was selfevident that a missionary could not at that time be safely settled in that quarter. The mission vessel returned to the South, and Mr. and Mrs. Geddie, with an assistant, found an opening at Aneityum, where they settled under the protection of the chief at the harbor. The Rev. 'r. Powell remained with them for a year. The Roman Catho- lic priests and brothers left soon after and never returned. The Geddies had to pass through a hard and trying expet:ience in dealing with a people so low and savage. Their property was stolen, their hollse threatened with fire, and their very lives imperilled. Meantime the horrid custom of strangling widows on the death of their husbands continued. Inter-tribal fighting was chronic, and people wel'e afraid to go from one side of the island to the other for fear of being killed, cooked and eaten. There was little to encourage the mission party. They were, however, cheered by a friendly visit of Bishop Selwyn, who remained a fortnight on the island, and traveled on foot with Mr. Geddie to see as much of native life as he could. He kindly offered the use of a cottage at Auckland to Mr. or 1'lrs. Geddie should they need a change for a few months to recruit their health. On his voyage in 1852 the Bishop conveyed the Rev. John Inglis and his wife, with all their furniture, house and luggage, to Aneityum. Mr. Inglis was a minister of the Reformed or Covenanting Church in Scotland, and it was a pleasing circumstance that an Anglican prelate thus aided the Covenanter. Bishop Selwyn ever after kept up this friendly relation, and also introduced Bishop Patterson to these brethren. He even asked Presbyterians in·New Zealand to contribute, and on one occasion brought over £100 to Messrs. Geddie and Inglis.
By the time Mr. Inglis had settled on the opposite side of the island, the tide had turned in favor of Christianity at ~fr. Geddie's station. Fifteen had been baptized, and the I.ord's Supper had been observed on the visit of the London Missionary Society's deputation that year iu the John Williams. The two missionaries occupied different sides of the island, but labored with equal zeal and great cordiality. They preached, taught in school,., translated Scriptures, composed, and Mr. Geddie printed a class-book, built premiseA, and exercised an influence for good all over the island. Young people were all taught to read and write, congregations were organized with elders and deacons, fifty day-schools established, and over 2,000 persons admitted into the visible Church by baptism. The whole people were evangelized. It was a marvellous change in a degraded and cannibal people. At length the whole Scriptures were translated, and first the New, and ultimately the Old, Testament were printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in London, but paid for by the contributions of arrowroot from the Christian converts. After a visit to Nova Scotia in 1863, where he got the translation of the Book of Psalms printed, Mr. Geddie returned with the honorary degree of D.D., from the Queen's University in Canada, to resume his labors. But he had to retire in 1872, prematurely aged by his toils and exposures. He died at Geelong in the end of that year, leaving a widow, one son and four daughters. Two of the latter were married to missionaries on the New Hebrides. He was a noble, self-denying pieneer, and led many into the fold of Christ. He had a happy way of dealing with the natives, and was also very handy in work. It was my privilege, by the kindness of a few friends, to place a wooden tablet to his memory on the wall of the stone church he had erected at Anelgauhat, Aneityum. The record of his labors, inscribed on it in the native language, concludes with these words, " ,Vhen he landed here in 1848, there were no Christians, and when he left here in 1872, there were no heathens." Since first published, this inscription has gone round the world, increasing in value, as it was retold, until the latest account makes the tablet marble and the letters gold!
Mr. Inglis continued at his station till 1877, and then retired to carry the Old Testament through the Press in London. He also published his translation of the Shorter Catechism and Mr. Geddie's abridged translation of the first part of the" Pilgrim's Progress," and some hymnl'l. He added a Dictionary of Aneityumese. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Glasgow, and in a green.old age still served the mission both by speech and by books in Scotland. His patient toil, his wise management, his clear style of instruction, and his benevolent life, aided by his late excellent wife, did much for the Christianity of Aneityum. It is meet that both Dr. Geddie and Dr. Inglis should be held in grateful remembrance for their successful efforts in bringing a whole island of cannibal people into the peaceful fold of the Good Shepherd. Ainidst a decreasing population the cause of Christ has flourished on the island, and the contributions ot
"TO EVERY CREATURE."
arrowroot from the Christian church at Aneityum nearly supported their resident minister-the Rev. J. H. Lawrie. 'fhis church was the first of the Papuan race embraced within the visible kingdom of God, and it became the pioneer of others among the thirty islands of the New Hebrides.
"TO EVERY CREATURE."
BY REV. J. HUDSO"Y TAYLOR, OF THE CHINA I"YLAND MISSION.
We are nearing the close of another year, and of an important decade in the history of Missions. In our own Mission the last ten years have been specially important; at their commencement the pioneering journeys of ~fr. (now Dr.) Cameron and others of our brethren were not yet completed; woman's work in inland China was barely com- menced, and not at all in the western provinces; during this period the number of our stations and out-stations has been about doubled, and the number of missionary workers more than trebled, for in the year 1880 we had but 91 missionaries, including wives, while now it considerably exceeds 300. This decade has witnessed the out-going of the 80 missionaries whom God gave us in response to our prayers for the 70, and in the following year of 40 others, among whom were the well-known Cambridge band; many prophesied the early return of the members of this band, but we are thankful to know that they are all engaged in diligent service in inland China, and that each one has been blessed and made a blessing.
Then we have to praise God for the 100 missionaries given us in 1887, and for the more than fifty who followed them last year, including the first American party. 'Ve rejoice in first fruits gathered in many of the more recent stations, and that over 1,000 were added to our native churches by baptism during the years 1887 and 1888, with continued additions during the current year. 'Vhile some converts have undoubtedly been received prematurely, causing subsequent trial and disappointment (a result which the experiencc of the oldest missionary cannot always avert), a large proportion are showing by the fruit of the Spirit that they have really been born of God. For the 80 little missionary churches now connected with the C. 1. M., we give to God unfeigned thanks, as also for all those gathered in other districts by His honored servants, the missionaries of the various European and American societies.
When we turn, however, from the total number of Protestant communicants-under 40,000-to think of the population of China, the contrast is appalling; double, treble this number to include adherents, and suppose each adherent to be a centre of light to ten of his countrymen, and you reach but 1,000,000 of China's vast population. The Master's words are" to every creature;" how far we are from fulfilling them! In 1877 thc Confercnce of Missionaries assembled in Shanghai appealed to the Christian Church to evangelize China in the present generation, and many hoped it would be accomplished within the present century. More than half the time before the close of the century has passed, and not one-hundreth part of the people have been reached, y~t this generation is the last of sixty since our Saviour gave the command, which, as Dr. Pierson has well pointed out, has laid the responsibility on the church of each successive generation to give the gospel to each individual living in its own period.
How are we going to treat the Lord Jesus Christ in reference to this command? Shall we definitely drop the title Lord as applied to Him, and take the ground that we are quite willing to recognize Him as our Saviour Jesus, so far as the eternal penalty of sin is concerned, but are not prepared to recognize ourselves as bought with a price, or Him as having any claim to our unquestioning obedience? Shall we say that we are our own masters, willing to recognize something as His due, who bought us with His blood, provided He do not ask too much; our lives, our loved ones, our possessions are our own, not His; we will give Him what we think fit, and obey any of His commands that do not demand too great a sacrifice? To be taken to heaven by Jesus Christ we are more than willing, but we will not have this Man to reign over us.
The heart of every true Christian will unhesitatingly reject this proposition when so formulated, but have not countless lives in each generation been lived as though" it were a proper ground to take? How few of the Lord's people have recognized the truth that Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all! If we can judge God's Word instead of being judged by the "Word; if we can give to God as much or as little as we like, tlien we are lords, and He the indebted one, to be grateful for our dole, obliged by our compliance with His wishes; if, on the other hand, He is Lord, let us treat Him as such. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" "If ye love Me keep My commandments." Thank God, an increasing number of His children are truly seeking to crown Him Lord of all, and are searching the Scriptures daily that they may know His will, in order to do it, praying continually, "Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end."
To all such the Master's command, "To every creature," will come with great power; knowing it to be His will that every living human being shall be evangelized, everything that prayer and effort can do towards its accomplishment will be felt to be a privilege as well as a duty; each will ask himself, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" Will not the very youngest believers pray and give, and interest their young companions? and what mighty power there is in the simple, trustful faith of a little child who believes in Jesus! Will not those who are older recognize the probability of their being personally called to missionary labor and make definite preparation for it, that if pcrmitted a share in this holy enterprise they may be the better fitted? Shall it not become a holy ambition to all who have health and youth to court the Master's approval and tread in His steps, in seeking to save a lost world? and shall not Christian parents encourage their enthusiasm, feeling that they have nothing too precious for their Lord who gave himself for them?
There is no impossibility in our Master's command. Were the Government of England to determine on the conquest of a distant land, they would think it a small matter to land 10,000 troops in any part of the world's circumference; and the Church of God to-day could easily, within the next five years, effect the evangelization of everyone of China's millions. No very great effort was needed in America to secure the signature of over 3,000 college students to a pledge that if God opened the way they would devote themselves to missionary enterprise. Were the enthusiasm and devotion of all our churches aroused, and not merely that of a few individuals, more than that number of effective workers might easily be found on each side of the Atlantic for China alone. But no such numbers are needed in order that every man, woman, and child in China should hear the gospel once, at least. If, in addition to the workers now in the field, one thousand whole-hearted evangelists, male, and female, were set free and kept free fur this special work, they might reach the whole number of China's millions before the e::rd of the year 1895, and this allowing two years of the five for study of the language and preparation for the work. Estimating the population of China as we do at 250,000,000, there will be about 50,000,000 of families; if fifty families were reached daily for one thousand days by each of the one thousand evangelists, every creature in China could be reached in three years' time, leaving the evangelists two or three Sundays for rest each month. If it be said that unexpected hindrances would be sure to arise, it should be noted that this calculation takes no account of the help to be given by the one thousand missionary workers now in China, mainly devoted to pastoral work, to shepherding and feeding the converts; and it takes no account of the help to be given by native Christians, which would, of course, be immense and invaluable. Shall a work which one thousand workers might accomplish in three years of steady work, after two years of preparation, be thought of as chimerical, and beyond the resources of the Christian Church?
But is it reasonable to suppose that a missionary evangelist could reach on an average fifty families a day, and this all over China? In reply we may draw attention to the fact that a large proportion of thc Chinese live in courts or quadrangles containing from four to ten families each; were five the average, then to take the gospel to ten such courts would accomplish the necessary task. And this would llOt nee<1 to be uone unaided, for each missionary evangelist would easily secure the companionship of one 01' more .native Christians as helpers. There are, it is true, a few (though but a few) parts of China where the people are so hostile that we can scarcely' call them now open to this kind of effort; but it must not be forgotten that the Opener, who still holds the key of David, has given His word of promise to be with such workers "all the days." And no such effort could be made without an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church universal, which would include the native Christian churches of China, and make the tens of thousands of native Christians, apart from the foreigner, a mighty power for the evangelization of their .own people. God gives his Holy Spirit to them that obey Him. Even if the churches were unwilling to take it up, are there not 500 Christian workers in Europe who might go out at their own charges and do this grand work? But shall we suppose that the Episcopalians of England, and the Presbyterians of Scotland and Ireland, have. not each among them 100 men and women fit for this glorious enterprise? that the Methodists of the United Kingdom could not provide another 100, and that Congregationalist and Baptist churches could not each supply a similar contingent? VlTe may feel well assured that the United States of America and Canada would not be behind, and thus the 1,000 evangelists might easily be forthcoming.
How shall a project like this be translated from proposition into practice? First, by earnest, believing prayer; this was our Saviour's plan, and it has been left on record for our guidance: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send fOl·th laborers into His haryest." 'Vhen we sought for the C. 1. M. the 70 and the 100 in prayer, and accepted them in faith, we received them in due course from His mighty, loving hand.
Then, if there is to be the fullest blessing, there must be the united simultaneous action of the whole body of believers; it is by "the effectual working in the measure of every part" of the members of the whole Body that its growth and building up are to be effected.
Third, There must be intelligent co-operation and such division and sub-division of the field that one part have not an undue share of workers while other parts are neglected.
Fourth, There must be Christly giving on the part of individuals and churches of their real treasures to the Lord for His service, and Christly service by those who go forth in His name. By Christly giving and service, we do not mean that which is done for Christ's sake merely, but that which is done after Christ's pattern. His service began with emptying Himself, involved toil and suffering all along the line, and enrled only with the perfect accomplishment of the object for which lIe came iuto the world.
THE CREDULITY OF SKEPTICISM
Fifth, There is no time to lose, for if we commence at once, millions of those now living in China will have passed away before the message can reach them.
Will each of our readers join us in prayer that God will send out 1,000 evangelists for China very speedily, and personally ask Him the question: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Let us not forget that to preach the gospel to every creature, is not a mere human project, but a divine command.
THE CREDULITY OF SKEPTICISM.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
The credulity of unbelief has become proverbial. There are instances which would be amusing if the subjects were less serious, and their treatment less bitter. Almost as a rule the wildest and most preposterous theories are held by men and women who have made shipwreck of faith. They above all others are ready for a seven-fold possession.
A remarkable instance of excess of faith was brought to myatten- tion not long since, in a book entitled" The Bible in India." Looking on the title page for the authorship, I at once recognized the familiar llame of Louis J acolliot, an intense French infidel whom Professor Max Muller had mercilessly ridiculed in his lecture on "False Analogies." The book was published by a well-known firm in New York, and has doubtless given great comfort to many a foe to Christianity_ M. J acolliot, while acting as a judge in the Courts at Chandel' N agore in the Madras Presidency, warmly embraced the idea that all the religions of Western nations had been derived from India, and that a little searching would find the sources of the Old and New Testaments in the Sanskrit manuscripts. He gave his leisure hours to Sanskrit. He found pundits who were even more ready to promote his purpose than he had imagined. They produced manuscripts, he translated, and the bonanza which he had struck well nigh turned his head. He had not learned, as had others who had preceded him, that a two-fold appeal to the race pride and the cupidity of the impecunious pundits would bring forth Sanskrit treasures of any desired variety or extent.
The essential history, the ritual, and many of the important prophecies of the Old Testament, were found in a Hindu mould, and the god Krishna, 01', as Jacolliot spelled it for greater effect, "Christna," was clearly foretold. New Testament parallels in abundance were also produced, and the mercurial Frenchman was in ecstacies. He could not satisfy his enthusiasm with a plain statement of results; he must work off his overpowering emotion by the following apostrophe to India: "Soil of ancient India, cradle of humanity, hail! Hail, venerable and efficient nurse whom centuries of brutal invasions have not yet buried under the dust of oblivion! Hail, fatherland of faith, of love, of poetry, and of science! May we hail a revival of thy past in onrWesternfutnre. I have dwelt midst the depths of yonr mysterious forests, seeking to comprehend the language of your lofty natnre, and the evening airs that murmured midst the foliage of banyans and tamarinds whispered to my spirit these three magic words: Zeus, Jehovah, Brahma! ..• "
"How often have I heard on the evening air, hoarse moans, wailing complaint that seemed to rise from desert marshes, sombre pathways, rivers' banks, or woody shades, etc.! Was it the voice of the past returning to weep o'er a lost civilization and an extinguished grandeur ? Was it the expiring groan of Sepoys mowed down pele mele by grape, with their wives and, children, after the revolt, by some red-jackets who thus revenged their own pain? "
. . . " Then it was that I sought to lift the obscuring veil from the past, and backward trace the origin of this dying people, who, without energy for either hatred or affection, without enth~iasm for either virtue or vice, seem to personate an actor doomed to act out his part before an audience of statues. How glorious the epoch that then presented itself to my study and comprehension. I made tradition speak from the temple's recess, I inquired of monuments and ruins, I questioned the Vedas, whose pages count their existence by thousands of years, and whence inquiring youth imbibed the science of life long before Thebes of the hundred gates or Babylon the Great had traced out their foundations . . . "
"And then did India appear to me in all the living power of her originality -I traced her progress in the expansion of her enlightenment over the world- I saw her giving her laws, her customs, her morals and her religion to Egypt, to Persia, to Greece and to Rome. I saw Djenimyand Veda-Vyasa precede Socrates and Plato-and Christna, the son of the Virgin Devanagny (in Sanskrit created by God), precede the son of the Virgin of Bethlehem."
J acolliot's theory applies to the Greek and Latin classics as well as to the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The civilization of Egypt has also been borrowed from" the fatherland of faith, of love, of poetry and of science." The Justinian Pandects of Rome were traced to the Laws of Manu, and all the best institutions known in Europe were shown to be parts and parcels of the one great heirloom.
The facile adaptation of derivative names was enough to astonish the most learned philologists. They are generally thankful for slight analogies between European and Sanskrit roots, but no sooner had J acolliot's pundits been made acquainted with the renowned names of the Greek classics, and furnished with some historic clew, than they brought forward original Sanskrit counterparts whose verbal resemblances and whose meanings were startling.
Hercules was derived from Hara-Kala, Rhadamanthus from Rhada manta, Andromeda from Andha ra meda, Centaur from Kentura, Minerva from Mana rava, J upitel' from Zupitri, Pythagoras from Pittia-guru, and Pl'otagoras from Prataguru. Otber nations of Europe had been favored with vocabularies, and had dared to make only the slightest possible changes. Odin came from Yodin, Swede from Suyoda, Scandinavian from Scanda-nava, Celts from Kallata, Gauls from Galota, Baltic from Bala-taka. Philologists have found in true Sanskrit abundant resemblances to roots of European languages. Each branch of the race developed many changes, but that one of them furnished names to order for all the others is a unique hypothesis. It is to be regretted in the interest of the theory that the resemblances had not been toned down to fainter lines; the average credulity of readers is ovel·taxed; the clever work is over- done.
After witnessing the completeness of this linguistic performance no one will be surprised to know that the leading New Testament in- cidents are reproduced almost entire. 'Vhat is known as the" Krishna Cult" is worked to the greatest advantage. Nothing of originality is left to the Christ of Judea.
Among the demigods of the Hindu mythology Krishna figured as a good-natured and rollicking Bacchus. Nothing is known of him in the earlier Sanskrit literature, but in the epic known as the :Mahab- harata and in the Vishnu Pm'ana he appears· as an incarnation of Vishnu. After the rise of Buddhism, Hinduism had discovered its lack of a more sympathetic being than had yet appeared-a god among men who should unite with the powers of deity something like the Buddha's sympathy and pity.
Around Krishna, therefore, there grew up an increasing interest- not that he furnished an ethical model, for his history corresponded very nearly with that of the lascivious satyrs of the Roman mythology, but because he was warmly and sympathetically human. The Krishna Cult was not fully developed until the early centuries of the Christian era, and it pl'Oceeded along two lines. In its popular aspects it kept pace with the growing corruptions which appeared in the Tantras, and were illustrated in the immoral orgies of Siva worship. The festivals in honor of Krishna were, and to a very recent date have continued to be, occasions of unspeakable vice.
The other line of development was theoretical; Krishna was treated as a Divine Counsellor and friend in the Bhagayad Gita, whichthough embracing older materials-was probably composed about the fil'st or second century of our era, and the Bhagavad Gita has, in its. high ethics, often been compared to the New Testament, though falling far enough below a parallel. But the legends by which Jacolliot matches "Christna's" life with leading incidents in the life of Jesus were partly the growth of those later centuries in which Hinduism was brought in contact with Christianity in Southern India, and partly the probable work of our author's own subsidized pundits. Even if the scholarly criticism of Max :Muller had not befaJIen this unfortunate author, the Frenchiness and pruriency with which he clot{led the story of Adam and Eve (" Adima and Heva") ill the Garden, as well as the general extravagance of his statements, would have aroused suspicion. The learned Oxford scholar seems to have felt that some sort of apology was necessary for treating with seriousness so absurd a case of pedantry, and he found it in the fact that so much credence was given to the book. But he proceeds to say that" many of the words which M. J acolliot quotes as Sanskrit are not Sanskrit at all, others never have the meaning which he assigns to them, and as to the pas- sages which he assigns to the Vedas, they are not from any old Sanskrit writer, they simply beloJig to the last half of the Nineteenth Oen- tury." lIe regards them as "simple in:ventions of some slightly mischievous Brahman who took advantage of the zeal and credulity of his employer." And he adds" that such is the interest, or rather the feverish curiosity, excited by anything that bears on the ancient religion, that J acolliot's book has produced a very wide and very deep impression. .In fact, 'if anytldng were wanting to show that a general knowledge of the history of ancient religions ought to form Ct part of our education, it was tlie panic created by tlds book."
But there had been earlier instances in which zealous opponents of Christianity had sought and found the evidence which they desired to prove that Christianity was a plagiarism upon the Sanskrit literature of the Hindus. Voltaire was carried away with enthusiasm when some one presented to him a copy of a portion of the Veda which corresponded in a remarkable degree with the teachings of the Bible. No time was lost in turning this new evidence against Christianity to the best possible account.
But after a time it appeared that an overzealous Jesuit missionary, thinking that the end would sanctify the means, had written certain Sanskrit texts designed to convince the Hindus that the Bible and the Vedas were to a large extent in harmony. This very immoral and fallacious project, however, proved most futile, and the only result was to dupe the arch infidel, Voltaire.
Some years ago Lieutenant "Wilford, who had read Sir ·William Jones' theory that Greek mythology was largely borrowed from that of India (a theory which Sir William finally abandoned), conceived the idea of tracing the teachings of Christianity from the same source. He proceeded to persuade the Brahmans that a thorough search among their ancient records would disclose not only the Greek mythology, but the Old Testament history. He was persistent against their reserve and reticence. He related to them the principal events of the Old Testament record, and at the same time promised ample rewards for their labor. At last the pundits yielded. They resolved that what he so eagerly sought should be supplied. 'faking his stories from the Pentateuch, they adapted them to the Sanskrit style, and brought forth astonishing results. Even Sir ·William Jones was COI1vinced, and congratulated Lieutenant vVilford on his success. The story of Noah was reproduced with a truly Indian picturesqueness. But when at last it was found that a forgery had been committed, that upon leaves which had been inserted in the ancient manuscripts the pundits, under pressure, had rendered in correct Sanskrit all that thev had heard about Adam and Abraham, Lieutenant Wilford did n;t hesitate to confess publicly that he had been imposed upon; yet, as Professor Max Muller says in his account of this matter, the mischief had in the meantime been done. Lieutenant vVilford's Essays had been read all over Europe; they retained their place in the volumes of the" Asiatic Society," and to the present day some of his state· ments and theories continue to be quoted authoritatively by writers on ancient religions.
Speaking further of J acolliot, Max Muller says" he has no doubt found out by this time that he has been imposed upon, and if so he ought to foilow the example of Colonel Wilford, and publicly state what has happened. Even then I doubt not that his statements will continue to be quoted for a long time, and that Adima and Heva (supposed Sanskrit for Adam and Eve), thus brought to life again, will make their appearance in many a book and many a lecture room."
The whole theory of those who would make India <, the source of all faith and love anu poetry and science," rests upon an erroneous assumption as to the antiquity of Illdian chronology. Sir VilIiam Jones was among the first to fall 11I1~ler this errol', and all his dates have been rectified by the consensus of later scholarship. As for the position assumed by Jacolliot, that Egypt b01'ro"ed her faith from India, it need only be said that the chronology and the monotheistic faith of Egypt can be traced from a period at least several hundred years earlier than any well esta.blished date of Indian history. There is ]]0 certain evidence that either the Yedas or any national records were committed to writing much earlier than 300, B. C., and it can only be a matter of conjecture that Europe or Palestine possessed any extended knowledge of India before the invasion of Alexander and the revelations concerning her institutions which were made by IVlegasthenes, the ambassador of Seleucos, his successor.
It may be said, with great propriety, that Christians,' as well as skeptics, have sometimes been very sanguine and even credulous in regard to those phases of heathen faiths which seemed favorable to their views. Max Muller mentions some instances among the earlier Jesuit Missionaries in China. 'l'here were certainly some serious mistakes of the kind on the part of the early Spanish Padres, who fancied that they found many elements of their faith in the traditions of the Aztecs of Mexico. Within our own generation illusive hopes were very generally entertained in regard to the Christian tendencies of the Brahma Somaj in India, and especially the remarkable utterances of Cheshub Chunder Sen. But no such elaborate theories as those of J acolliot have been built upon these fond hopes, which were "too
THE MORAVIAN MISSION ON THE KUSKOKWIM
good to be true." The persistency and intensity of such illusions can be found in full force only in the minds of those who are too wise and cautious to believe the Christian revelation. Any misrepresentation of missionary enterprises, or of the truth which missionaries teach, has always a charmed vitality.
A malicious story which I found more than a dozen years ago in Japan in relation to the building of a Missionary chapel, has been refuted at least a hundred times only to spring up with fresh life again and again. The scene at first was laid in Japan and concerned the Reformed Mission in Yokohama, but I have since seen it re· produced in new dress, located in Shanghai, and published with great particularity as an incident in the American Episcopal Mission of that city. Two years ago my attention was called to an ar~icle in a sporting paper in New York, entitled "Outing." There I found the same old story with the scene laid in Chefou, and given with all the gusto of some ignorant and conceited globe-trotter who had probably either I forgotten where he had heard the story, or where it belonged, or who had located it where he was more familiar with the ground or could present it with the most picturesque effect. The story, though false to the core, is annually heard by hundreds of Pacific steamer passengers who receive it as a clear, straightforward record of truth and verity.
THE MORAVIAN MISSION ON THE KUSKOKWIM.
BY REV. PAUL DE SCHWEINIT.
A lady missionary, returning from China, says: "One does not to have to be a hero any more in order to be a missionary; one goes forth prepared endure all things heroically, and finds that friends at home have so thought of and cared for every want that there is scarcely any call for heroism at the station." That is as it should be. Those who remain behind by " the stuff" should bountifully supply every need of those fighting at the front. But there are fields of labor, which, even in this day of easy and rapid communication and transportation, and in spite of the warm love of Christian friends at home, remain heroic in every sense of the word. Let the following simple historic narrative of one of the newest of the missions undertaken by the Moravian brethren witness to that. Missionary heroism is still extant among these pioneers of modern missions.
In the winter of 1884 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, of the Presbyterian Church, appeared in Bethlehem, Pa., to plead for a missionary to the Eskimos of Northwestern Alaska. He presented the oouse to the Moravians in this wise: That these Eskimos were so degraded, so debased; that the conditions of missionary labor among them were so severe, so dreary, so cheerless; that these forlorn people were literally so God-forsaken, that he could find no one who was willing to carry the 116 THE MORAVIAN lIIISSION ON THE KUSKOKWDI. [Feb.
gospel message to them in their inhospitable regionR, where they dwelt in unspeakable degradation. 'As a last reso~·t he came to the Moravians. No man cared for the souls of these degraded heathen savages-would they have mercy upon them? That was an appeal which the Church that had sought out the Hottentots of Africa, and the Innuits of Greenland and LabradOl', could not resist. Five of the students who were to graduate from the Theological Seminary that year expressed their willingness to go. Two were afterwards chosen.
First an exploratory tour was undertaken by a veteran missionary, accompanied by one student. They found, as is usual in such northern climates, the Eskimos living o~ly in small groups here and there, scattered over a wide stretch of country. The description of their degrada~ion had not been exaggerated in the slightest degree. Filthy and disgusting in their habits, to an extent that forbids description in public print; their morality at such a low ebb that they may practically be said to have none; parents willingly making prostitutes of their daughters from nine or ten years on, ruthlessly taking their daughter from one man and giving her to another, if they thought they could make more by it; the related crimes of killing off helpless aJ;ld old people and unwelcome infants being considered the incontestable right of the persons otherwise responsible for their support; and so on through the revolting catalogue. Their form of religion was so low that it could scarcely be dignified with the name. Priests they had none-only "sachemR," i. e., medicine men. They live principally on fish, of which, in the short summer, a sufficient quantity must be caught to last through the dreary winter. However, they met the missionaries in a friendly manner, and the latter felt justified in selecting a site on the Kuskokwim river for a mission station.
Now that it has become fashionable to run summer excursions to Alaska, it no longer seems so out of the world; but these excursions run only to Sitka. Few have any clear idea of the extent of the territory. Roughly speaking, Alaska is as large as all the Northern lakes east of the Mississippi; and the Moravian mission station on the Kuskokwim is as far from Sitka as Baltimore, Md., is from Minneapolis, Minn. There are no means of communication with the station, except once a year, and then only through the kindness of the Alaska Commercial Company. When once there the missionaries are absolutely separated from all civilization, from all help, from all supplies, for a whole year. Everything must be taken along, as nothing but fish and some game can be procured there.
Nothing daunted by this report, the little band of missionaries prepared to start. On account of the low moral condition of the people, and the unfortunate relations existing between the few white traders and the natives, in order to avoid all possible suspicion of evil, as well as for many higher and nobler reasons, it was absolutely necessary for the missionaries to go out married. They were all young people-the men just a year out of the seminary-and all leaving the refinements of civilization for a desolate country, where they would first have to build a house with their own hands before they would have where to lay their heads. The ordination service of these two devoted young men was impressive beyond description. Their names are worthy of record: The Rev. "William H. Weinland and his wife, Caroline Yost; the Rev. John H. Kilbuck and his wife, Edith Romig. The former had been on the exploratory tour. The latter is a full-blooded Delaware Indian, the son of a chieftain. He had received a full course collegiate and theological education. He is probably the first Indian ordained by the Moravian Church. Now he, as a representative of the Church which had reclaimed his people from heathenism, in turn went forth as an apostle to a much more for- saken and degraded people. There is a true apostolical succession! "He had served one year among his own people in Canada in the ab- ,sence of the regular missionary upon the exploratory tour mentioned before. His wife is an American, who married him in the genuine old- time Moravian spirit, being filled with an unquenchable zeal to serve the Lord in this forsaken corner of the earth. One lay brother, Hans Torgessen, leaving his family behind, accompanied them, in order to help them in building a house.
June 19, 1885, the little band reached the Kuskokwim. Battling their way up the river in a violent storm, Hans Torgessen fell overboard and was lost! A year must elapse before help could reach them, yet strong in the strength of Christ these young men, fresh from college though they were, girded themselves to erect a house, and with their young wives prepared to face the unknown horrors of an Arctic winter, ill provided, on account of the loss of time caused by this accident, both in provisions and in shelter, for its hardships. 'rhe Church at home waited the outcome in dread suspen,se-a year. Then came the heroic message: 'Ve are, thank God, alive; and we will·remain. Send us help and we will start a second station! The history of that and succeeding winters was full of thrilling incidents -lack of space alone forbids their narration. There was no wood at hand, the woodland beginning far inland, and laborious journeys up the river had to be undertaken ~o gain fuel as well as !ogs for building purposes.
In 1887 a second station was begun at Nushagak, and in 1888 an assistant sent to the Kuskokwim, but the two stations afforded little companionship to each other, as nearly 200 miles of almost impassable ~ountry lie between them. That on the Kuskokwim has been christened Bethel; that near Nushagak, Carmel.
In spite of tremendous obstacles missionary work was at once begun. Of course, in order to gain the adults, the language had first to be learned, but for the children a school was at once opened. Only the history of the station on the Kuskokwim can be followed. The missionaries were not in a populous country, as China, Japan or India; the children had to be laboriously sought from village to village, and the only way to teach them was to keep them at the Mission House. That meant to board them, to clothe them. The task thus set the noble wives of the missionaries can scarcely be appreciated by us dwelling amid the conveniences of civilization. All were thus brought into constant personal contact with the most disgusting features of the most degraded heathenism. The work, however, went bravely on.
But, alas! the vessel which brought the new missionaries to Carmel, to the consternation of the Church at Home, was compelled to bring Mi~sionary Weinland and his family back to the States, completely broken down in health. (He has since undertaken a mission among the Indians of Southern California, in the San Jacinto Valley, made famous by H. H.'s "Ramona.") The Kilbucks heroically resolved to remain alone and hold the post until re-enforcements came, or death called them away-Mrs. Kilbuck the only white woman in that desolate region among degraded heathen.
The next year brought electrifying news. Scarcely two years had the missionary been there, and he could but imperfectly stammer forth the message of the cross in that uucouth language of the North, when its stolid people awoke, and the bleak and desolate land began to blossom with the fruits born of such self-consecration. The simple yet wonderfully impressive Moravian Christmas, and especially the Passion Week services, made a deep impression on the natives. From far and near they gathered, besought the missionary to come to their villages too; that they would build chapels for him; that they "wanted a share of the blood of Jesus to take away their bad" (sins). In Greenland the Moravians labored five years before they made a single convert. When Karjarnak was baptized the hard-tried missionary sent the message home: "Sie wollen nem "-they want to be saved now. And when this historic message was sent from bleak Alaska, after two years' labor, the Church was thrilled with holy joy. The appeal sounded forth for re-enforcements, for aid for the noble woman, who, alone of her kind, was battling for the Lord in the stronghold of Satan in the North. Eighteen responded-four single sisters, three single brethren, one widower and five married couplessome of the latter volunteering to leave their children behind. But before the chosen ones could be sent, a terrible winter had to intervene. Mrs. Kilbuck became sick. It was evident that she would have to go back to the States, or an experienced nurse be sent to her. Think of the dreary months of waiting! This noble couple resolved to separate. The wife would travel as soon as spring broke to the
TRANSLATIOlS FROM FOREIGl :lIISSIONARY :lIAliAZDIES
States, with the children. The husband would not forsake the post, but labor Oil alone. Heroism has not died out, and the Moravians are still the gens eterna! This resolution had to be, if possible, communicated to the church. They heard of Lord Lonsdale coming down from the Arctic regions, and in the midst of winter Missionary Kilbuck had to start out to meet him. Seventy-three days elapsed before his return to his sick wife, left alone with the assistant. Terrific storms, temperature 59° below zero, tell the story. He was given up for lost. His noble wife resolved then, if the Lord gave her strength, to remain herself alone with Assistant "Veber at the post! But her husband, miraculously preserved, returned, the message brought by Lord Lonsdale reached the States in time. But there was no time for a new call for volunteers. Aid had to be sent at once. A person of experience was required. The heroine was found. The official item, without any ostentation, simply announced in Moravian style: "Sister Bachman has received and accepted the appointment to Bethel, Alaska, for one year"-that was all. But those who knew, knew that that meant that the wife of the presiding bishop of the church had been willing to leave her husband and family to serve the Lord among the Alaskan Eskimos!
The re-enforcements are now there. The last message proclaims Mrs. Kilbuck's recovery. With characteristic Moravian caution, only 22 converts have been actually admitted to church membership, but the awakening still continues. Another year must elapse before new information can be received.-So ends this narrative. It has been simply told. Lack of space forbids dwelling on single acts of heroism. All that must be read between the lines. But it shows that Mi8sionary heroism has not yet gone out of date; that there is no nation so degraded that the Lord cannot find some who will go as His apostles; and where His word is proclaimed, there it never returns void unto Him!
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
More and more it impresses itself on the minds of missionaries, how much less competent they are than the native helpers to reach the inmost minds and hearts of the heathen. These words of a native preacher give us a glimpse of this: "Agreeably to our missionary duty, we go so often as opportunity offers into the various villages and houses and preach Jesus Christ, the crucified. But the manner of preaching, as it is used in the ordinary congregations, does not please the Hindus. They are not accustomed to listen attentively to a continuous and somewhat lengthy discourse. Therefore, it is hard to obtain an auditory for such a sermon. And if any means are resorted to of enforcing attention, they endeavor to disturb the preacher by all sorts of objections. .At such times they all talk in a body, to no intelligible effect. Therefore, it is very useful to proclaim the gospel with intervals of hymns and psalms, sung to native melodies. All Hindus are delighted with such songs, even when they do not understand their purport. For the Hindus hold noth- ing so high as song. So often, therefore, as we go out to preach to the heathen, we first sing to the accompaniment of violin, cymbals, kettle-drum, and other musical instruments, hymns of our native composition, and thereupon we preach." It seems that in the Madura district the native helpers of the Leipsic mission go through the heathen villages three days in every week, preaching three times every day, relieving each other in turn. The presence of a white missionary, however, they say is a great additional attraction. "On one occa- sion, when a great idol feast was in progress, and we had {;:ome into the neigh- borhood with music and song, there appeared the priest of the pagoda with his son. They not only urged the nume;ous company of hearers to be seated and listen quietly, but made us sit in the veranda before the pagoda for three hours, sitting themselves as hearers. Finally the priest despatched his son to perform the ceremonies before the idol, and said: 'All that we do is only for our belly's sake. We know that all that you say is true, and that your Veda (the Bible) shows the way of salvation. Come back here every year, and teach the true religion.' As a farewell honor he offered all of us the usual tribute of betel and areca nut." .
-The Berichte of the Rhenish Missionary Society remarks, in speaking of the first Christian Chinese family at Bandjermasin, Borneo, of whom it gives a very interesting picture taken from a photograph: "The first Christian family in a church to-be newly established is of great significance. Even in the Acts we find names of the tlrst families tbat received baptism. So long as only men and youths become believers at a station among the heathen, the Church has no thoroughly constituted existence.. There is lacking to it its nerve, the family with its family worship, Christian training with prayer, in brief, Christian domestic life. "
-A Missionary of the Rhenish Society in Southwestern Africa, remarking that under the influence of Christianity the natives and half-breeds are becoming weaned from their nomadic ways, and are settling into more steady labor on their stations (aided of late by providential affluence of rains), adds: "That Christianity brings also earthly blessing is plain to be seen in the case of our Church, especially with those who have learned not only 'Thou shalt hallow the Sabbath day,' but also, 'Six days shalt thou labor.' He who learns this with us may assuredly hope for earthly blessing also."
-In view of the terrible increase of necromancy inour own country, thefollowing words of Missionary Fehr, of the Rhenish Society, on the Island of Nias, SJimatra, have more than a far-off interest: "The fact that, in all the sicknesses and distresses prevailing among us, no one of our Christians has allowed himself to be misled into sorcery and sacrificing, is a cause of thankfulness to the grace and protection of God. In such times of trial the thoughts and hearts of men are wont to be revealed, and it then appears whether or not the faith of Christ has already struck abiding root in them. And in truth it does require an energy of faith and no common confidence in God, for people who have grown up in heathenism and idolatry, when they see their nearest and dearest at death's door, to remain steadfast, and to refrain from resorting to any forbidden means of help. Herr Fehr says: "When people pass over from heathenism to Christianity they commonly suppose that the good God must now be especially gracious to them and bless them, because, they say, he is surely stronger than our idols. And how glad the missionary would often be, if, to such young beginners, especially in cases of sickness, the Lord would give experience of his especial help and kindness, that in this way, too, they might experience and learn that the Lord is the true Helper. But in many cases the Lord does the very opposite of this, that no one may flatter himself with false hopes, and thereby be misled into crooked ways. Here in Lololofaoso, for instance, there was a leading family, which, after long gainsaying, had tlnally inclined to Christianity, and had begun to visit the public worship. Soon after, however, their little son was taken sick, and, in spite of all medicine and all our prayers, died. Almost at the same time the child's grandfather was attacked by a very long and painful eye-trouble, so- that he was almost beside himself for pain. Under these circumstances the confidence of the family in the cause of Christianity suffered a great shock, yet thus far they have continned nniuterruptedly faithful in coming to church. How earnestly, in such cases, one is tempted to wish that he had the apostolic gift of healing."
-It is sometimes said that in Greenland the Danish Lutherans and Mora- vians have haptized the last heathen Esquimaux. This, 1 believe, is true as to the natives of the West Coast. But lately the natives of the East Coast have been coming across to the Moravian brethren. This inaccessible region was once far milder in climate, and was, as we know, the seat of a flourshing Danish colony, from which Eric the Red, or his son (1 am not sure which), is said to have come down along the shore of New England. But some 600 years ago a sudden lowering of the temperature took place; long piles of icebergs began to line the coast; the last bishop of the colony consecrated at Trondhjern, in Norway, set out for his diocese, but ~either he nor his people were ever heard of again. Whether these Eastlanders that are resorting to the Moravians are a mixed race of Eskimos (Esquimaux) and these old Northmen, or pure Esquimaux, 1 do not know. It is said that a European has lately made his way across Greenland from east to west. If so, we shall know more about the region so long mysteriously secluded. Missionary A. Riegel, in t¥ CalweJ' Missionsblatt of June, 1889, writes: "Having been able in my last report to give account of 6 newly baptized Eastlanders, this letter will report 50 additional baptisms of heathen. The first family dwelt very quietly among us, and we took a good deal of satisfaction in them, although they were little enough advanced in Christian knowledge. The man had a boat, indeed, but got little by it, so that the family was none too rich, especially as in the winter the man fell sick. The sickness increased till spring, and then the Lord took hhn to Himself. He felt disquieted in view of his family, but was glad to go home. The countrymen of this man, who had returned to the East Coast, kept their word and came back. In September they came to this station and made ready for living here by putting up three houses; expressing the desire to become Christians, they received catechetical teaching, and at Easter were baptized.
'Unhappily they were very sick and wretched, and several died; nor did they earn any too much, for there were fewer seals and birds than usual. As this naturally implied a scarcity of winter provisions, it came sometimes very near to famine with them. Since Mayall the people, the newly baptized among them, are at the summer-grounds, that is, the seaward islands; yet unhappily we only hear of a very scanty take of seals. This raises forebodings for the coming winter, yet the Lord may secure them an ample autumn fishery. How these neophytes will develop' spiritually, remains to be seen. We cannot expect that all will turn out to be of the best quality.
" You believe that there must come a time when the Greenlanders can maintain their churches and their Christianity without European pastors, even though under European oversight, 'and with European money.' If you had added this last, 1 too should not doubt of the possibility. That the Greenlanders will themselves voluntarily meet the costs of their churches and schools, only he can believe who does not know the Greenlanders. But it will be practicable to maintain paid catechists, upper and lower, at the different settlements, to work under Europear. direction. 1 believe that is the aim of the Danish Mission, because they can secure hardly any pastors or missionaries for Greenland. "
There we see Christiauity struggling to live, chiefly because the race that professes it is struggling to live. -Primitive, uncivilized natures, in whom self-control has never been devel- oped, are subject to very extraordinary mental affections, which, it is true, are sufficiently common among ourselves. In Amalienstein, South Africa, there lately died. aged 71, a cripple, Elizabeth Klaasse, doubtless a Kaffir or a Hottentot, who, in consequence of a church quarrel, in which she had taken part, had sunk into melancholy, and for nearly twenty years had only jumped along like an ape, muttering unintelligibly, and repelling all pastoral attention, until finally Missionary Schmidt succeeded in inducing her to pray with him, and to come to church once more. Thenceforth she was never seen sitting in the church otherwise than with a radiant face; "she followed the preaching as a bird of prey does his quarry, nodding in smiling assent to all that was said."
-Missionary Bieger, writing in the Mededeelingen of the Dutch Missionary Society, gives, in a single sentence, a powerful impression of the deadness of soul engendered by Mohammedanism, which knows absolutely nothing of inward spiritual experience, takes absolutely no account of it. Herr Biger has labored in Java, where the people are almost all Mohammedan, but has lately gone to the little island of Savoe, where they are or have been heathen. He remarks: "What I have not seen in Java in fourteen years, I have seen here in four months-a tear; the genuine witness of the fertilization of the sinner's heart by the seed of the gospel.·'
-Christianity in the East Indian Islands has the greatest prevalence in the Minahassa, the northermnost of the three eastward stretching arms of the island of Celebes. Heathenism being largely overcome, at least in various districts of the Minahassa, of course the number of adult baptisms will be apt to diminish. In 1887 there were in the Minahassa: Adult baptisms, 476; infant baptisms, 5,021; communicants received, 1,182; school children, 7,240; Christians on the Island of Savpe, 3,783.
-M. Duvoisin, of the French Basuto Mission, speaking of finding himself overwhelmed, in addition to all his evangelical cares, with the labor of building, says: "I have already passed through trials of many sorts, but there is one of which I had not yet had experience, that of feeling one's self overwhelmed on all sides, and of finding one's self anew, day after day, in presence of a task for which one is not made, and from which, on the other hand, he cannot withdraw himself. But I have found that this also is good. I have understood better than hitherto this word of St. Paul, • Cast down, but not destroyed,' and I begin to realize the fact that when the Lord invites us to cast all our cares on him, he doubtless means all, the task of building not excepted."
-The extensive awakening among the pagans of the Basuto country has declined, although not until after large additions to the churches. M. Duvoisin remarks: "The outward circumstances were only too favorable. In the Lexuto–as elsewhere, I imagine-temporal and spiritual blessings are a little like the two buckets of a well. Now the late harvest has been most abundant, there is in the country a great number of mabele; that is, for the pagans, numerous and riotous gatherings around great pots of yoala, gatherings which, too often, take place on the Sunday; and for Christians, leting, that is, mild ale, at discretion. Unhappily these latter have not yet learned to use all things as not abusing them." "Yet, if there is in our churches a current of evil which draws away more than one, others again yield to the attraction which draws them to the feet of the Saviour, and these latter, I will believe, are the more numerous."
-" The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."
OUR VOLUNTEER MISSIONARY STUDENTS
This is painfully illustrated in the description given by M. Louis Jalla of the Barotses, the heathen dwellers on the banks of the Zambezi. "These people are children in many respects, but they are true savages, cruel, ferocious, even in every direction. Their pleasure lies in witnessing suffering. It is very hard to bring our boys to kill a hen before plucking it. How jolly it would be, said some men one day, if we could flay an ox all alive! When a man is condemned to death, they do not give themselves the trouble to kill him. They only half strangle him, fixing their nails in his throat, and then conduct him to an islet in the river, leaving him to die there of hunger."
Yet these same people, who are very fond of receiving visits, are, at home, polite and affable. The women also, at least those of the higher ranks, making an ambition of keeping their houses neat and in good order. They esteem themselves much honored by receiving visits from the missionaries, who seem to be slowly, but surely, weaving a network of Christian influences around them, in a dreary, unwholesome region, one of the most ill-provided in the world with the means of enjoying even common comforts.
-Our French Protestant brethren have a mission in the French possession of Senegambia. The following, by M. Escandre, is a lively description of the }fohammedan negroes, the chief part of the population of the town of Saint Louis: "A new comer recognizes them at once; you see them pass in the streets, furnished with enormous rosaries, which they are telling in a very absent-minded manner. Then, women, babies at the breast, all are loaded with gre-grees (amulets), enclosing fragments of the Koran, which, it appears, possess marvellous properties. Then, when the hour of prayer is called at the corners of the streets, on the square, and chiefly along the river, you perceive files of natives bending to the ground, like a thicket of reeds before a breeze. Take care not to enter one of their shops at this hour, for, in the very middle of your purchases, you would see the merchant leaving his business in the lurch and begin his interminable genuflexions, your objurgations not being of the slightest avail. You needs must summon up your best patience, or walk off, until his salaam is at an end. The other evening, from my balcony, I noticed a woman making ready for these exercises, and stationed myself to observe her. You would scarcely believe it if I should tell you that having had the curiosity to count on my fingers the number of times that she kissed the ground, I arrived at the respectable figure of thirty-one. Her salaam had lasted twenty minutes by the watch! She must have been, doubtless, a great sinner, some penitent Magdalen, or possibly she had terrible arrears to wipe off, for you are aware that the Koran authorizes such adjustments."
OUR VOLUNTEER MISSIONARY STUDENTS.
" Upon the young men of this generation God lays a responsibility never before known." Who are the responsible young men of this generation? They are to be found in our educational institutions, and they represent a host. Two million young men will graduate from our schools and colleges in this generation, and, surely, we ought to be able to give one per cent. of this number to Foreign Missions, which would mean the "evangelization of the world." It does not seem possible that there could be 20,000 young men "willing and desirous, God permitting, to be foreign missionaries;" but the fact is, if the number increases as it has since this movement was inaugurated, it will not be long ere the pitiful cry that is coming from across the seas from the millions in darkness and death, will be heard by thousands of our best educated young men and ,,·omen. The number of ,olunteers up to the Northfield meeting was 3,847, of whom at least 1,000 are young women. Since that time, through the aggressive efforts of leading volunteers, the number has increased 500 more. Volunteers may now be found in nearly every country in the world; 195 have already sailed for the foreign fields. These 195 volunteers settled as follows: 29 in Japan, 28 in India, 12 or 13 in Africa, 46 in China, being distributed in 21 different fields, and representing 25 different organizations. Forty-nine institutions in the United States and 5 in Canada are contributing , to send out or support their representatives, pledging last year between $26,000 and $28,000, of which amount all but about $3,000 was pledged by students.
A remarkable fact, to be especially noted by those who are wont to criticise the movement in thinking that it is opposed to our Missionary Boards, is that, with the exception of five or six institutions, which are State institutions, and hence undenominational, all the money has been sent to the several Boards, and the missionary sent out is connected with the Board representing the church of which he is a member.
This, in general, is a bird eye's view of what is being accomplished by the movement. In particular, the work of Mr. R. E. Speer, the present traveling secretary of the movement, is very interesting and profitable. He has been speaking since Sept. 4 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and is now about to enter upon an active campaign in Ohio. During that time over 500 volunteered, and about $4,000 were pledged either to the support of some alumnus in the field, or to swell the funds for the Young Men's Christian Association building that is to be erec- ted in Tokio, Japan. Up to November 9, Mr. Speer had visited 27 colleges, 7 city associations, 17 churches, besides attending 5 State conventions. Among the colleges visited were 5 State universities and 4 normal schools, where the religious life is very low. In spite of this drawback, in these 9 institutions there were 65 new volunteers, an average of 7. At a normal school at Fort Scott, Kansas, there were 15 volunteers and $364 pledged, and at the State Normal School of Missouri, they intend to raise $500 for the Tokio building, three college professors have volunteered, and the Secretary of the St. Paul Young Men's Christian Association, who has a burning desire to.go to the Soudan, when he told his wife of .his intention, she answered, "Go! I'll go with you." A missionary of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union volun- teered, giving this as his reason: "The fact that the heathen could not get the gospel now even if they wanted it, was enough to call him fron: a field, needy, to be sure, but where the people could have the gospel whenever they wanted it." A lady physician, whose daughter had already volunteered, offered her services at a young woman's convention in Nebraska. Can any more beautiful sight be imagined than to see mother and daughter ready to leave home and friends for the sake of their dying heathen sister! At the Kansas young women's convention, the whole delegation, consisting of 36, vol- unteered before they returned home. St. Paul had so many volunteers, 26, that they intend to put some of their business enterprise into missions, by sending a Golony to the Soudan, and one gentleman showed a determination to have his representative in the field by signing the following paper: "I am willing and desirous, God permitting, to support a missionary from St. Paul." Minneapolis, St. Paul's great rival, has raised a large sum for the Tokio Young Men's Christian Association building. At a meeting in Iowa, an incident occurred which may affect not a few Christian parents. Mr. Speer was teil- ing the story of how an old l.o.linister appealed to an audience to make a per- sonal consecration of themseh-es to missions. When he finished speaking his
GENERAL ~IISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
own daughter came forward and knelt before him, but raising her the old man said: "I did not mean you, my daughter." The next day, after relating this in(:ident, an old gray haired man came to Mr. Speer, and said: "You have hit me. My daughter wished to go out from the Methodist Board. and they wanted her, but my wife and I held her back," and then he added signifi- cantly: "We have not felt so well as before." How many parents there may be who are thwarting the will of God and are saying in their hearts, "vVe have not felt so well as before."
It will no doubt be interesting, now that so many volunteers are in the field, to hear what they think of the battle while they are at the front.
Mr. F. W. Brown, a volunteer from Hillsdale College, Michigan, writes from India, while on a mission boat on the Byturney river, near Orissa. He says: "How goes the work? Here I am in this hot ]jed of idolatry. We feel that we are on the eve of a big break here, and are looking for it soon. The Lord hasten it on. I went to Puri to the Ratti Jutra; I saw enough to tire my soul. They stoned us while preaching. I have the stone that a wall opposite me kept from hitting me on the head." Mr. S. R. Gulick writes from Japan calling for 34 volunteers to go out under the A. B. C. T. M. He says the movement is an inspiration to the soldiers in the front, and they are looking b~ R~R n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
ACrica.-Mr. Stanley has emerged in his path, and which to the average on the western shore of the Indian man would have seemed insurmount- Ocean from his marvelous mid-Afri- able. True, he is as yet his own hiscan march, the most successful ex- toriographer, but there is no reason to plorer in the world. It would be diffi- doubt a narrative the very simplicity cult to imagine a narrative more and modesty of which gives it the wonderful or fascinating than that of stamp of tJ,"uth, and in which the his journey from the Aruwimi to the humblest of his followers is made to Albert Nyanza, through a forest larger share in heroism with himself. There than France, and through the matted is no attempt at advertisement. "Nothundergrowths of which the starved ing happened," he writes in his acand dwindling column crept at the count of the march from the Albert rate of less than three miles a day. Nyanza to the coast, "save a fight or That awful itinerary, filled with fever two with theWanyoro," though on that and fighting and hideous sufferings, march he discovered that the Muta continued for more than five months Nize was the source of the White Nile, before the hundred and more thin a discovery which other men would skeletons emerged into the plain re- have deemed glory enough for a life gion; and with food and plenty about time. And yet there is a full apprethem, began to take heart and hope. ciation of the horrors of the journey, But more fighting awaited them, with and of the importance of its results, the dreary counter-march back to the as well as the expression of a reverent Aruwimi, disappointment and waiting and unfaltering faith in God, who had and horrors on end, consuming nearly led him on his way, and turned what a year more, until, in February last, seemed defeats into success. No other the explorer met Emin and forced his explorer has endured and overcome reluctant consent to be relieved. Dur- so much, adding to his own burdens ing all this time Mr. Stanley never lost responsibility for others and for rehope or changed his tone, or permit- sults, and yet has so steadily grown in ted himself for a moment to be over- himself and in the estimation of the come by the new obstacles that rose world. Great cities vie for the honor of entertaining him, and nations, with the journalistic reporter who went to find Livingstone at Ujiji in 1872, and African possessions to develop, are the wise, hardy, heroic, broad-minded and indomitable rescuer of Emin bidding for the assistance of the boy Pasha and discoverer of the heart of Africa, is far greater than usuaUy befrom the Welsh poor-house. For he longs to human life. Few men so distinctly find their mission, or reis pre-eminently a man of action, ceive such enhancement of personal power and character from rendering with a genius for the government of the service to which they are called. We may well enter his name in the barbarous peoples, and it is on the list of providential men, like Colum- bus, William the Silent, Washington organization and government and de- and Livingstone, raised up for a i7eat purpose and divinely guided till their velopment of the black races that the work is done. It is not the least strik- ing part of our first messages from world must rely if anything is to be this man, as he emerges again into the light of 'blessed civilization,' accomplished in Africa. But while that he recognizes the divine' hand in the thrilling experiences and delivermankind will not withhold its meed of ances of these three memorable years. And it is an eminent sign of the place praise from Mr. Stanley, there is a he has won in the popular judgment that the secular press, no less than the darker side to his success-the fact religious press, takes note of this de- vout acknowledgment and justifies it. that in its first great contest with the "For the moment the withdrawal of Arab for control of the Dark Conti- Emin Pasha leaves the vast and popu- lous territory of the Soudan stripped nent, Europe has suffered defeat. of every civilizing, restraining and uplifting influence from without, and The gallant explorer has survived the opens the way for the Moslem faith and the accursed slave trade to revive march through the tangled forests of and flourish in that imperial domain without let or hindrance. But this the Aruwimi, but the darkness of situation cannot long continue. Stan- ley's exploit has powerfully drawn night has closed in behind him, and the thoughts and interests of the civ- ilized world to this great center; and of aU that Europe has won in the past it is next to impossible that some one of the great powers should not assume ten years, nothing remains but Egypt, the responsibility of giving order and stable government and protection to the scattered stations on the Congo, the native tribes, and access for for- eign commerce and missions, throughand a few points on the shores of the out this splendid country. It will be thought an intolerable thing that the Indian Ocean. Wadelai, Darfour and path thus first broken by this intrepid explorer should be closed up as soon Khartoum are garrisoned by Arab as it has been opened, and one of the richest and most populous parts of the armies, as are the Central Soudan States; and encouraged by their recent successes, they are bent on the con- quest of Abyssinia, and the re-conquest of Egypt. The tide will turn, of course, for Africa will not be aban- doned to barbarism, but more vigor and means will have to be put into the task, and the fact brought home that civilization can march only where there are highways.-The In- terior. I -" Stanley and Africa."-Dr. Jud- son Smith, in the Oongregationalist, writes most intelligently on this sub- ject. We have space for only his closing words: "What results may we expect from this great expedition? It is too soon to ascertain all the facts, or to draw aU the inferences. Without doubt this brilliant and heroic exploit will distinctly add to Stanley"s steadily rising repute as a man, a philanthro- pist, a scientific explorer, and a mili- tary leader. The contrast between whole continent left to fall back again the Arabs were up in arms. The into primeval barbarism, or the deadly blockade of the coast maintained by blight of Mohammedanism and the Germany infuriates the rebels because infamous slave traffic which it fosters. it stops their traffic, and they will, it The challenge to the Christian world is feared, massacre all the missionaries to enter this fair domain, and fill it on whom they can lay hands.
with the Christian faith and the benefi- Missionary interests have become cent institutions which flourish wher- very extensive in East Africa. The ever that faith holds sway, is as bold Church Missionary Society and the'
and inspiriting as we can well con- Universities Mission, of the Church of ceive. England; the Established and the "Almost the last word which we Free Church, of Scotland; the London have from Stanley declares his convic- Missionary Society, the United Meth- tion that the mantle of Livingstone has odist Free Churches, and the Church fallen upon him, and his purpose to of Rome, all have missions on the devote his life to the exploration of coast or in the interior. The Church Africa. We would fain believe that Missionary Society has two distinct above this man's thought presides the lines of missions-one with its basis same divine purpose which controlled at Mombasa, in the English Sphere of his predecessor's life and shapes the Influence, with eight stations, some fortunes of the nations and the ages, of which are on or near the coast and and that through all his varied and some in the interior. One is in the heroic efforts that which was the in- neighborhood of Mount Kilimanjaro.
spiring aim of Livingston's marvelous The second line of stations is that career-the evangelization of Africa- which stretches from Zanzibar to shall be hastened apace. May the. Uganda. There are nine stations in Church of Christ, in all lands, give this line. The Universities Mission heed to the solemn and imperative has twelve stations, one ~ Zanzibar, call of the hour, and see to it. that four in the Usambara country north along the track which has thus been of Zanzibar, four on or near the River broken the light and freedom and Rovuma, and three on the east shore heavenly hope, which are the one of Lake Nyassa. The two Scottish priceless treasure of history and civil- Churches have the Free Church five ization, shall press in with resistless stations on Lake Nyassa, the Estab- power to scatter the darkness and lished Church one on Lake Shirwa, at redeem the nations !" the south of Lake Nyassa. The route -Missionary Interests in East to this region is by the Zambesi and Africa.-The massacre of German Shire rivers. The London Society missionaries at Dar-es-Salam, on the goes further west than any of the East African Coast below Zanzibar, other societies, and plants two sta- has been followed by the massacre of tions on Lake Tanganyika. The an English missionary named Brooks, United Methodist Free Churches have with sixteen of his followers, at Saad- two missions in the Mombasa region, ani, a point nearly opposite Zanzibar. and one in Gallaland. Three German These massacres, committed by the Protestant Societies have five stations Arabs and natives under their control, -three in gaIIiland, one in Zanzibar in the rising against the Germans, and one in Dar-es-Salam, where one were not unexpected. The course of of the massacres took place. It is the the Germans, who had no experience Berlin Society which maintains the with African Arabs or natives, was last two stations. These are all the Pro- such as to provoke hostility. They testant missions between Wito and the established their commercial enter- Rovuma River; but there are German prise last August, and in a few weeks and French Roman Catholic stations. In all, there are 13 missions-six congregation also was urged to estab- British, four Germans, and three lish a fellowship meeting for the study French. One society, the Church of Scripture on Sabbath morning. A Missionary, alone has spent $500,000 proposal to visit every household in in the last 30 years in East Africa.- South Formosa was well received.
Tlw Independent. • With. a view to its being carried into China.-One of the most success- effect, it was resolved that each ful of the Chinese Missions is that con- preacher on his return to his station 'ducted by the Canada Presbyterians should make out a list of the towns and the English Presbyterians in the and villages in the neighborhood; that Island of Formosa. Mr. Mackay, of the preachers should bring these lists the Canadian Mission, has been from to the next meeting of preachers in the first as one of the people, and has May, so that the field may be divided taken a wife from among them. He out among the various churches. The is a man of apostolic devotion and subject of self support was most ear- simplicity, and has wrought a great nestly discussed, and a determined work among the Formosans. The effort to increase the number of self- English Presbyterians occupy a dif- supporting churches was agreed to.
ferent part of the island, that to the To this end the church where the con- south. They, too, have made large ference met agreed to help out a use of native talent in the spreading neighboring church at Kio-a-thau by of the gospel. Recently they held a contributing what it lacked. After conference of preachers and office- the conference, when the preacher bearers, all the preachers except one for that station returned to his work, being present. They were examined he told his people that it had been carefully, and good reports are given arranged that for the four months.
of them. In the conference these they were short they were to look, native preachers spoke earnestly in not to the home church, but to the favor of self-supporting churches, and church in Taiwanfoo. This caused stated that they would rather receive them to reconsider the matter-it their salary from the native brethren seemed a shame to get money from a than from the Missionary Board. neighboring congregation; and they Though the money comes to them sent back WOl'd that they would not more promptly from the Board it need the money, that they would be often subjects them to the taunt, responsible for the whole twelve " You preach the foreigner'S doctrine months themselves. This released the because you eat his rice. " Each church at Taiwanfoo, and it gave the church represented in the conference help it had offered to Kio-a-thau to sent a dollar toward the expenses. another struggling congregation.
The missionaries gave a dollar each -Uneasiness at Pekin.-We learn for the preachers, and the balance, from Pekin that there is a feeling one dollar, was contributed by the there of great uneasiness as to the sta- church where the conference met. bility of things in China, The young The conference agreed to recommend Emperor and Empress are believed to each congregation to follow the ex- be unlucky, as there has been nothing ample of one station, where the but disaster since their accession.
worshippers are classified as readers There is no loyalty in China in our and non-readers, and one of the for- sense of the word, and there are great mer told.off to teach one of the latter. fears that troubles will arise from the In this connection the importance of general distress inevitable in this com- a large-type Romanized New Testa- ing winter; and if there were any man ment was mentioned, for which ar- of eminence who saw any advantage rangements are being made. Each to be gained from raising a rebellion it would go haru with the present dy- hope that this mission would be auded nasty. The misfortunes which have happened since the present Emperor's to the other missions carried on by the accession have revived the discontent that was felt at the irregularity of his Reformed Church. Owing to its large succession, which found its expres- sion at the time, as will be remem- and growing indebtedness, however, bered, in the suicide of one of the Cen- sors. We would earnestly echo the the Board of the Church felt com- remarks of our New Chwang COlTe- spondent, and impress upon the naval pelled to decline to assume this new authorities that no treaty port in the empire ought to be left without a man- responsibility, while at the same tllle of-war this winter. There is no special antipathy to foreigners; but expressing a great interest in it. their safety may easily be involved in some tumult that has arisen from Hence the present character of this causes entirely unconnected with their presence.-North China Herald. miSSIOn. The funds for its support Egypt.-The Rev. James Cantine, are contributed upon a syndicate plan.
the first missionary of the recently or- The mission has found a number of ganized Arabian Mission, sailed on the City of Rome last month. He will warm friends and supporters in vari- . spend the winter in Syria carrying on his Arabic studies. In early spring he ous denominations, and the work is will be joined by Mr. S. lf. Zwemer, of the Theological Seminary, New progressing in a very encouraging Brunswick, N. J. The two will then proceed to their field of work-South- manner. J. G. L. western Arabia-in connection with Keith-Falconer Mission of the Free Eng-Iand.-Letter from Bishop Church of Scotland. The chief object of this mission is to do pioneer work, Taylor.-" I have just arrived from and especially (i. e., not exclusively but equally) in behalf of lIoslems and the Congo. My principal business, on slaves. The brief history of the Keith- Falconer Mission shows alike the great a hasty trip, to return to West Africa need and great encouragement for undertaking this work at once and in a few weeks, is to complete ar- carrying it forward vigorously. This mission is for the present, at least, in- rangements with the builder of our dependent, in the sense that it looks for its support to any without refer- steamer to send a master builder from ence to denominational adherence. This was not the prefelTed way of his yard to put her together and see founding anu carrying on the mission, but it was the way to which the found- her afloat as quickly as possible. Hap- ers were shut up if the work designed and desired was to be accomplished. pily, delays are not always failures, It was hoped that this mission would be founded by and under the charge but often essel1tial conditions to ulti- of the Reformed Church. The action of the last General Synod led many to mate success. I believe it will be so in regard to our unexpected delays with the steamer.
" The teaching force of all the facts in the case brings us clearly to the conclusion that the planting of mis- sions extensively in the great and populous countries of the upper Kassai and Sankura, requires that we have a chain of missions, and a transport agency and facilities, extending from the sea to the centre of the Con-· tinent, giving us, by the way, a neglected, densel}: populated region, belonging to the Congo State, on the north side of Lower Congo,100 by 250 miles in extent. The older mis- sions are working on the south bide of the Congo, so that we shall in no way encroach upon them. So, as a part of these foundation alTange.ments on the Lower Congo, essential success on the Upper Congo waterways, "'e find that our steamer is needed, by twenty to one, more on the Lowpr Congo than upon the Upper. We shall build her at Vivi, to carry mission- tricts they come after, but often asso- ciate with the mayor, the doctor and aries and mission goods from ship'il the priest. The Sta,te considers them to be of such importance that it frees side at Banana 100 miles up the river them from military service, pays their salary, and at the age of sixty grants to Vivi. them pensions. The number has be- come so large that some have asked if "In connection with this we will the work of the Normal schools should not be suspended. At this time, when build a steel launch, to be propelled the enemies of the Republic try to underrate the services she has renby oars and sails, to carry up river dered to France, I feel it a duty to vindicate the good work she has done. ' cargoes through the middle passage Her efforts to raise popular education have not only been great, but very of Congo, 88 miles, from Isangila to successful. "
Manyanga. When this is developed, India.-A Hindu Lady Reformer. -During Bishop Thoburn's recent then we shall require a small steamer visit to Bombay he caned on the Pan- dita Ramabai at her own home. This for the Kassai and the Sankura. vVe lady's name is almost a household word in England and America; her needed such a boat in 1886, when we devotion to the women of her country is well known. He thus describes his had a force waiting at Stanley Pool, visit: "I found her busy, but not care- worn, in the midst of her various who would have met Dr. Summers, projects for elevating her race, and especially those of her own sex. One who entered by the Angola route, of her cardinal ideas is that the status of Indian women must be raised to at Luluaburg, but we could not on the level of true womanhood. Her little daughter was in the room, and any of the five little steamers on the I asked her name. ' I can her Mano- ram,' she replied. 'The birth of a Upper Congo, about the time of his daughter is considered a great ca- lamity in India, and so I named her arrival, get a passage for one mission- " Heart's-delight " as a protest against the bad notion.' The Pandita is giving ary. Now there are a dozen little special attention to temperance re- form, and I was only too glad to steamers on those waters. and we can promise her whatever assistance I might be able to render her in her get passage to take up a successor to good work. She is I;>eginning to real- ize that her work will encounter diffidear Dr. Summers and others also, culties in its progress, but thus far she shows no sign of discouragement. to keep our promise to the Bashalange Her chief enterprise, that of founding a home for Indian widows, has not people and other nations beyond, till yet passed beyond the experimental stage, but she seems satisfied with the we can complete arrangements below, success thus far achieved."-The Har- ~'est Field. as aforesaId, for planting of missions in those far interior countries on a broad scale. WM. TAYLOR."
France.-Rev. J. C. Bracq says: "The public 8chooois of France have never before approached their present state of thoroughness and efficiency.
It i8 to the credit of the Republic that she has made greater efforts in that direction than in any other. She has increased her war budget only two- thirds, while that of popular educa- tion has risen from 24 millions of francs to 130 millions. The teachers have better preparation in the Normal schools, larger salaries, better houses to live in, while their school buildings form a pleasant contrast with those of the past. They have also large as- sociations for mutual improvement and for the defence of their interests that could not have existed under former governments. Their social position is equal to that of teachers in the United States. While they are much respected in cities, in rural <1i5-
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
South America.-The Ameri- fact that during the past ten years 264,542 copies have been circulated, can Bible Society reports that Bible of which 90,484 belong to the first distribution was fifty per cent. larger half of the decade, and 174,038 to the last year hi South America than in last half. These figures are exclusive any former year. The number of of the work of the Valparaiso (Chili) Bibles, New Testaments or parts dis- Bible Society, which sold during the posed of by sale or gift (mainly the year 4,563 copies, and during its exformer) was 51,862. That this large istence of 28 years has distributed increase was not the result of mere 54,417 copies in the Republic of Chili. spasmodic effort is evident from the I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Brazil. candidates for the Gospel ministry. To the churches of this Presbytery were added during SAO PAULO, Oct. 17, 1889. the last year 133 infants by baptism and 187 DEAR DR. PrERSON: Knowing you to be an on profession. Permission was granted to ardent friend of foreign missions, I take the organize two new churches. The reports of liberty of sending you an item of news. all the pastors were very cheering; each one reporting fields much too large for one man During the late sessions of the Presbytery to occnpy. of Sao Paulo, its licentiate, Senior Benedicta Ferraz de Campos, was examined for ordina- This Presbytery, in harmony with the Standtion. His final examinations and sermon gave ing Committee on Home Missions of the evidence of 'Very fine talent. His knowledge Synod, is seeking for means to sustain and in Greek was especially noteworthy. A very teach a class of eleven young men, married large congregation assembled on a Monday and single, for a year, in purely Biblical innight to witness the ordination, when the struction, and then send them out to occupy pastorof the church, Rev. E. Carlos Pereira, the many places where the good seed of the preached the sermon, and Rev. Carvaihosa Word has been planted and is bearing fruit. gave the charge to the candidate. Both sermon and charge were especially appropriate Yours truly, to the occasion, but the crowning act was the . J. B. KALa.
final setting apart of the candidate by the Ohina. laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. By invitation of the Presbytery, the repre- [Do not fail to read this letter from sentatives of other Presbyteries and of the a remote corner of this vast empire. Methodist and Episcopalian Churches, were -EDS.J invited to take part; so that upon the head of SINING, &AusUH PROVINCE, N. W. CHINA., the young candidate were laid the hands of Sept. 24, 1889.
different representatives of the Christian DEAR EDITORS: Your April number of THE Church. 'Twas a beautiful sight and one MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLn contained which made a solemn impression upon all: an article on "The China Inland lIiission, " by that union of sympathy and brotherly love, ( Prof. Hulbert)in which are a few statements which could lay aside all differences and ..nite which require some modification.
in so solemn an act. The candidate was very He says:" Wben I say the work is compre- deeply affected. We certainly have reason to hensive, I give no idea of the vast area covered believe that" the laying on of hands" in this by the Inland lIIission. Its laborers may be case brought with it the blessing of the pres- found from the borders of the Mongolian desert ence of the Holy Spirit. Wbat an inspiration and the boundary line of Siberia on the north, our newly ordained brother has received! to the banks of the Bramapootra river and "May the Holy Spirit ever bless his ministry." the valleys of the Himalayas on the south; The two young men, Messrs. Morris and Kin- from the Pacific ocean on the east to the solineg, sent ant from the seminary at Alexan- borders of Tnrkestan and the unknown pIa· dria, Va., are winning for themselves and the teau of Thibet on the west." Mr. Stevens, of church they represent golden opinions. They this Mission, is located at Bhamo, on the banks expect to accompany the newly ordained min- of the Irriwady, in Burma. 1111'. Geo. Parker ister, Mr. Benedicto, to his field of lahor, and has recently returned from a journey across there study the langnage, after which they the desert of Shamo to Hami, Urumtsi, and expect to choose for themseh-es a good wide Iti, making only a few weeks' stay there, and field of labor, of which there are many. then returning to Lanetes. He also visited The Presbytery of Sao Paulo recei,ed three KokomoI' with a Russian exploring party. With others he crossed the border and entered into Turkestan, as far as Kashgal' and Yark, Jllongolia for a few days, from Ninghia amI and a fourth to Kokonor and Tsaidami. It Rweihaachenj, in N. Kausuh and N. Slausi. matters not which side of the Atlantic you live, come and be spent for Jesus, and take pleas- Possibly the Mission may be contemplating ure in ,', necessities" for Him. Sell all you further extension. But at the present I be- have, if needs be, to pay your passage out lieve I am right in saying that, with the above here, and what you haven't got ask God for, exception, the work of the Inland Mission is and tell his people. Get one of these places entirely confined to the provinces of China right down into your heart, find out every properl I suppose it takes as long to get to scrap of informa(,!on you can about it, wrestle Sining as to any place in China-four or five in prayer for it night and day, aud the proba- months' journey from the coast. Coming here bility is that every obstacle now in your way we crossed no excessively dangerous moun- will be removed, and you'll be out, where your tains, and no burning deserts. I have not heart has been already, before many months heard of any brethren of this Mission who had have passed. That is something like the way I came to China, and now am being drawn to· any experiences very much out of the com- Thibet. mon, though we settle often in teeming cities. I have not heard of any member of the Mission For Thibet, lIIongolia and Turkestan, the attaching himself to Nomadic tribes of Chinese language would be almost an essen- Mongol Tartars, living in miserable tents, and tial, for they are a part of the Chinese em- roving from place to place, with no fixed home, pire. The Turkestan party might commence no familiar fireside, but wandering over the in the Mohammedan towns of this province Tartar plains at the will of wild chieftains, or (Kausuh), getting their Chinese education as the scantiness of pasturage for flocks de- while picking up useful hints for Mohamme- mands. dan work. 'Ve have Turks, called Salah, within four days of Siuing. A knowledge of There are members of the Mission on the Arabic would be useful. Persian is more use- Chinese border of Kokonor, and let us pray ful in Turkestan. Mongol could, I fancy, God that before long Christianity may be easily be picked up here. knocking at the doors of Slamaistic faith; but though in many cases the Slamas are friendly For Thibet, at present, the Indian door and and kind, I have never heard of any workers Sychnan are closed to us. To work Thibet any- of the Mission having had the opportunityoffer- way, will require much prayer; the Chinese ed to them, by Thibetan officials, of entering are very suspicious of us; but this Kausuh the country of the grand Slama quietly amI border appears the most open, Passports without danger of molestation. lIfr. Gilmour. would be required for all these, and we must of the London MiSSion, is pioneering in Eastern pray hard that that difficulty may be removed. Mongolia; haven't you got a score of young Don't let us mind about fixed salaries. Get fellows wishing to join him? Then the Mora- the money to bring you out, and then look to vian Mission at Leh, and a Bible agent at God for the rest. 3Iarried or single, come Iskutsk in S. Siberia. With these exceptions, along. £100 per man should bring you from am I not right in saying the whole of Thibet, England to this corner of the empire, and Mongolia, Turkestan and Siberia are without give you a bit in hand. Look all the difficula Protestant missionary. "There remaineth ties well in the face, and then make up your yet very much land to be possessed; let us go mind. If you can't trust God, don't come. up at once and possess it, for we are well able, because the Lord of Hosts goeth forth with Yours, in the Lord's service. our armies." We haven't got to wait for orders to go forward; they were given more than CECIL POLHILL TURNER. 1800 years ago. When acting in obedience to Him, t~e power of God, the Holy OPENING OF WORK IN KIRIN. Ghost, is upon us, and then there is no room Our work gradually grew and people begun for failure. You will probably receive this to see we had not come to do them harm, but letter as the new year opens. Suppose all who good, One little boy, whose parents were read it pray for at least 20 workers each for dead, had for some time been troubled with Thibet, Mongolia, and Turkestan-in all 60- sore eyes. He spent nearly all his spare before the close of 1890. Let us ask for men money (3s. or so), a great deal for him, upon full of the Holy Ghost; men willing to rough native doctors. to no avail. By God's blessing it for Jesus; men who don't mind being cold, on our treatment, he was soon made all right. hungry and wet, and robbed, and, if need be. He, of course, could not k""p the good news to <i¥ing, because death brings glory. himself, but published it abroad, and soon Dear brother, who reads these lines, come great numbers came thronging to us to have out and join our band. Then let us go two by their eyes cured. We were very closely two through Thibet, to Slaosa, and on to watched by government officials in every Rashmir; along the high-road through Kausuh thing we did. Soon their favorable report to Hami, Urumtsi, Iti; another lot branching brought us invitations from Mandarins and off to the north to Kobats, Uliasutai; It third gentlemen of all ranks. Thus did God open up our way befon' 1)S. 'Ve then sought and gained an interview with July 9. -At evening service the church and one of the chief magistrates, and through yard were so full the pulpit was placeq in the him got permission of the Governor·General open door that all might hear. The Lord to come and establish a Mission and hospital. helped while preaching from "What shall I do to be saved?" All who were seriously After spending a few days longer looking thinking about their souls were asked to raise out for a suitable house, which, however, we hands; nearly 100 responded. did not find, we again returned to Monkden. Thus, through the Divine blessing, the way July 10. – A meeting for men only, but about seems clear for our going up, perhaps early 200 women came begging to stay; talked next year, and establishing ourselves in this about "Saving faith:' Two young men, large city of Kirin, the capital of the northern doubters for two years, de<'ided to serve and province of Manchuvia. confess Christ.
A RESIDENT MISSIONARY. July ll.-A mother's meeting; 400 present; many remained for inquiry meeting; over 20 Turkey. took part; earnest prayers in Turkish, Arme· nian and English, offered with tears of re- THE GREAT REVIVAL AT AlNTAB. pentance, reminded us of "Pentecostal Days. " I too could not keep back tears of joy; 35 [So remarkable a work deserves the arose, giving themselves to Christ. "Not unto fullest information. Although we us, not unto us, 0 Lord, but to thy name give have given some account of it already, glory." P. M.-Another woman's meeting. To we are quite sure our readers will be my surprise the church and yard were full; greatly interested in this detailed 1,600 to 2,000 present, most of whom were record of it, taken from the diary of Gregorians; 8 Mohammedans-a large gather. Rev. H. G. Jenanyan, of "St. Paul's ing; pulpit moved to the door so all could Institute," Tarsus, who took an active hear. part in the revival. We are indebted to his wife for this graphic view of the July 12.-The Holy Spirit's work among inmemorable scenes.-EDs.] dividuals is wonderful. Thus I am taught W/Ult and how to preach. Henceforth our serv, Aintab, July 2.-Having an urgent invita· ices will be union in the First Church, which tion from the pastor of the Third Church, the holds 2,000 to 2,500. The women's side is smallest one, with a congregation of about smaller, but to-night they filled their own and 200, to hold special service, this evening I one-third of the men's. " Not by might, nor preached my first sermon; only 150 present. by power." 'Text, "To think of latter end." July H.-At morning, in the Third Church, July 3.-Preached to about 300, one half of two new Sunday-school classes organized. whom were Gregorian Armenians. All listen- Church members promised to visit two by two oed attentively to, "Son, give me thine heart,~' the neighboring houses. Evening service in ~nd the Lord gave the words to speak; hoping the First Church. From 300 to 400 could not for great results, I pray and believe. enter the full house, but crowded near win- dows and doors. "Almost persuaded" was July 5. -This evening preached from, "Thy my subject; asked those who would like to sins are forgiven." God gave a blessing to have a prayer meeting to remain; only a few -over 500 present. My heart is rejoicing. An hundred left, but their places were at once inquiry meeting, 22 decided for Christ; 15 filled by the waiting throng outside. In this backsliders returned to the Lord; an infidel meeting over 100 rose deciding for Christian youth is earnestly seeking the light. life. This was the largest congregation to which I ever preached. I better realize the July 7, Sabbath. -Morning preached from power of simple gospel preaching. "Christ our pattern;" over 1,000 present; church full; hundreds in the yard. Evening July 15.-Much time is occupied with callservice in First Church; 1,600 present, one-third ing, conversation, preparation and preaching. of whom were Gregorians. "Jesus" was the Morning scrvice for women in Second Church: theme, and the eagerness with which they lis- 60 remained for inquiry, most of whom gave tened was an inspiration to me. "O! Lord, good proof of conversion. Afternoon met bless, encourage, and fill me with thy Holy with Christian Endeavor Society, giving a Spirit." Bible reading, "Christ our example. " These are good workers among the women, and their July 8.-Went to church one hour before numbers are now doubled. The following day service-was surprised to find both men and I preached in the First Church to a full house; women's side filled with women coming early 30 arose for prayer. to find room, thus crowding ant the men. At once began preaching; dismissed the meeting July 1/.-Morning held a service in the Grethat the women might go and the men come gorian house in the city suburbs; over 300 in; but most of them kept their seats on the present; every corner full; a few Protestants, :IIoor; the men were obliged to stay in the yard several Mohammedans. Afterward called on while I preached a second sermon for all. two palsied women confined to their beds for The need, desire and interest is wonderful. years. Among those who called. one man July 26.-Rev. T. D. Christie, of Marash, said: "I have done all known wickedness, hearing of this revival, came to help us. We been in prison three times-one Sunday I are very glad, for there is great need, and he heard you preach, since then I am surprised has large experience, and is very valuable in at the change in me; can't tell what and such work. Ever since the Adana revival, where I am-never prayed before, now pray- where we were together, I have greatly ening always; would like to tell others of this joyed working with him. He will give much change but fear they will not believe, but will of his time to personal work among new contry and show them by my life." Evening verts and inquirers. A large gathering in the meeting with young people; two pastors and First Church, Mr. Christie taking part; 45 exone college professor took part-it was a pressed desire for salvation. To-day a youn", season of great blessing. man came to a missionary, returning several small articles stolen at a fire eight months July 19.-Many young people come for per- ago. He confessed his sin with tears, saying sonal conversation-three boys and two girls he could not rest till his conscience was clear, earnestly pleading to be taken in our Tarsus he having recently given his heart to Christ. school. Thus far 17 applications from this city, and if we only had accommodations it July 28, Sabbath.-Morning attended First would be a grand thing to give a Christian Church Sunday-school; found 26 children had education to these young converts, who could decided for Christ; their tearful confessions be the means of blessing to their people. and simple faith was such that I went to the " My Lord, thou knowest and seest the need, adults, related the fact, while Pastor Mardagive opportunity as thou givest desire, grant ros earnestly spoke on "Where art thou ?". enlargement and blessing to St. Paul's Insti- The meeting was very solemn and blessed;' tute, take away all obstacles for its progress." many hard hearts were melted. Afternoon Evening meeting, where the three pastors Mr. Christie and I preached; at the close' took part. Their faith has been greatly nearly 500 remained for a testimony meeting; strengthened by seeing what the Lord has 28 took part, giving interesting accounts of done in our midst. their conversion. All hearts are grateful for such an outpouring of the Holy I::lpirit. July 21, Sabbath.-After Sunday-school and a good prayer meeting, a woman came, say- July 29.-By invitation, went to an Armeing, "Here are three Mohammedan women who nian meeting; was permitted to speak some would like you to talk and pray with them." words of truth, to which all listened atten-' I gladly responded, going to where they sat, tively; 5 priests expressed interest. Afterlith faces veiled; knelt down and prayed. noon 22 children and 14 young men came to I Evening, large meeting in First Church, more inquire the way of salvation. Missionaries, Gregorians came than ever before. Previously and native pastors are working heartily and they besought their priests to invite me to in full sympathy. preach in their church, but a few wealthy members objecting, the people came to our July 30 to Aug. 3.-These days have been church to hear the tl"".1th. This has been a especially devoted to church examination. day lonj:( to be remembered for its fullness of Preached only once; in the three churches 267.' blessing. came forward. So many interesting facts and testimonies, I cannot begin to write them. July 22.-Women's meeting. Holy Spirit, at Enemies are reconciled, notOrious crinlinaIs the close of sermon. asked all who wanted to converted, drunkards reclaimed, parents re-' come to Christ to arise; 22 responded, one of joicing over wandering children, whole famiwhom, 80 years old, was a great opposer to lies coming together to unite with the visible the truth, but now her groans and tears melt church. Said Pastor Mardaros: "I have been many hearts. Afternoon, 11 callers, compan- here thirteen years, and can it be possible ions in wickedness, now Christ's followers. that this great blessing has come to this city, Said they: "A month ago if anyone would even on Aintab!" "Yea, this is the Lord's tell us of such a change we would not believe, doing and wonderful in our eyes." now we tell others but they believe not." Aug. 4, Sabbath.-This is the crowning day July 24.-Children's meeting; 500 present. of the revival. At morning, by invitation, Theme, "Christ and the children;" 150 re- went to Episcopal Church; small congregamained for inquiry meeting; many prayed, tion; large building; unfinished for lack of confessing their sins. We hope all these are money. I preached, •. Fear not, little lIock." accepted by·the dear Saviour. Union service at noon; large attendance. I preached to those who will to-day join tl,e July 25.-Missionaries and natives urge me church, .. Lovest thou me?" (We all felt the to remain that these services may close with Holy Spirit's personal presence.) The reply a communion season and accept new converts. on hundreds of faces was, "Thou knowest that We all hope for a grand harvest. Evening I love thee. " After the sermon those who will service for new converts; 400 present. The unite with the church arose, 248, a large band prayers and testimonials were very interest- ready to serve Christ. They all repeated ing: over 25 took part, even 4 women ventured together after me the three verses beginning, to pray. "Who can separate us from the love of for inquiry, most of whom found salvation.
Christ1" Any who were seeking Christ were Among the new converts are several who invited to remain after service; 140 respondAd lately mocked at religious things.
-22 by words and 83 by rising expressed Aug. 21.-Temperance day; I preached their new decision; among them were 20 from, "We will not drink wine." Reading a children, whose deep conviction was very few passages at the close, asked- those who, Dlanifest. Evening there was communion in like the Rechabites, would promise thus, to the three churches-new members accepted; express it publicly. Over 1,000 arose. What an former members more hmnble and grateful. encouraging sight. Next day, in the Women's It was a day of holy consecration for us all. meeting, Mr. Christie preached; 45 remained Aug. 5 to n.-The work is so interesting, for inquiry; many blessed prayers and con- the plea so urgent, we have decided to remain fessions. During these two weeks 365 came two weeks longer. This week I preached five for church admiSSion, far more than we, in times to full congregations; many new con- our weak faith, expected. The Lord is work- verts-one a noted gambler, another an infi- ing mightily.
del, whose public confession was touching to Aug. 25, Sabbath.-Union service at noon for many. I visited 20 houses with Pastor Gara- missionary cause. After preaching I asked bed. The pastors have decided to have the people, as a slight token of gratitude to another comnlunion soon. This gives me God, to organize a Missionary Society and hope that Vartina Bajis's (a good mother in support some preachers in needy cities. Mr.
Israel,90 years old,) expectation will be ful- Christie also spoke encouraging words. All filled. One day in church she said, "I am responded well; a committee was organized, a praying for 500 new converts." A good brother collection taken amounting to 2.400 piastres said, "You are expecting too many, mother.~' ($95); during this week the gift of 600 piastres "I have prayed for them, and they are sure to to Third Church poor pastor, 1,400 piastres come. " I quoted, "According to thy faith be debt to First Church pastor; and this contri- it unto thee." bution is, for these poor people, about the Aug. 12 to 17.-Examinations for church ad- same as $5,000 in Ami'rica. Can we ask a mission; a new children's society (Zion'8Mes- better proof of revival work?
sengers) organize(!; their work is to visit Evening communion in each church; 286 houses each morning and hold half-hour new members accepted, hearts glad, families prayer-meetings with the children; they also happy, and the day blessed, to be long, long collect money to purchase Bibles for needy remembered..
Sunday-school classes. This week I preached During this revivai 534 new members were four times and gave a Bible reading; 31; newly added to the three churches on confession of decided for Christ. Now I am preaching on faith, while many are secret followers, not the various dnties of church members. The quite ready to come out now. Such an addi- evening of the 13th the theme was, "Seek tion to the awakened churches will no doubt the peace of Jerusalem." At the close, asked prove a great power and advance Christ's all who would vow anew to fulfill their church kingdom in Aintab and vicinity. "So then duties, to rise. All members solemnly respon- neither is he thatplanteth anything, neither he ded, a sight that gladdened our hearts. We that watereth, but God that gi11eth increase."
hope, after this, the weekly meetings, which, The two following days I preached to many before the revival, were attended by from 10 hundreds.
to 20, will be crowded, and instead of a few, The sermOD, Aug. 27, "Go forward," was scores will take part in the blessed prayer- my last charge. I did not tell the people of meetings as they do now. A deacon said, "I our departure, that we might leave quietly.
have complaints to make against you preach- Next day we left Aintab for a season of rest ers; before this I could pray ten minute. and among the mountains near Marash. I am speak as long as I wanted in prayer-meeting, glad Mr. Christie could remain and carry on not taking anyone's time, but now so many are the good work. The pastors are working ear- ready and waiting to take part, I cannot find nestly, and we hope and pray that a greater even one minute to thank God for all he has bleSSing is still in store for Aintab. "0 Lord, done." carryon Thy work; visit the needy, hungry Aug. 18, Sabbath.-Two more new Sunday- churches, and glorify Thy almighty name."
school classes organized in the Third Church. TARSUS, Nov. 12, 1889.
Our teacher of St. Paul's Institute has been much blessed in his efforts to work among WORLD'S CO)l'VENTIO)I' ON MISSIONS IN young people. He preached weekly in a Gre- 1892.
gorian Society of 200 young men; his visits LETTER FROM REV. WM. 11. M'CAUGHEY, PHILA.
and conversation brought many into these DEAR DR. PIERSON: With regard toa World's new Sunday-school classes and the church. Convention on Missions in 1892, there is a Union service at noon. I preached to a full movement on foot looking in this direction.
house. The following day after the sermon, In the Central Presbytery of Philadelphia Rev.
H Now is the day of salvation," 250 remained R. D. Harper moved that a committee of five
I~TER~ATlO~AL DEPARTMENT
be appointed to confer witll a committee of return you to your native land. I am, yours the Baptist brethren on this subject. The committee was appointed, and I have the honor truly, W. H. MCCAUGHEY. to be one of the five. The first meeting was held early in October. The Baptist brethren Rev. L. S. Tugwell, of the Spanish and were Russell·H. Conwell, D. D., Geo. C. Bord- Portuguese Church Aid Society, writes us to man, D.D., and John Peddie, D.D. Dr. Harper say: "You will be glad to hear that we are was made chairman and Dr. Conwell secre- receiving enconraging reports of the work in tary; and these were empowered to call a meet· Spain and Portngal from the Rev. H. E. Noyes, ing of representative men of differentdenomi- the editor of Light and Truth, who is now just nations. Such a meeting has been called to concluding a visit to our brethren of the meet at the Baptist Rooms Nov. 11th. Per- Spanish and Portuguese Reformed Churches. haps this is all known to you, but if not, I He has been greatly cheered by all he has know it will be a real pleasure for you to hear seen, and his highest expectations have been it. The plan, as projected, is on a large scale. Calling, as it does, for special buildings, it exceeded. One of the most hopeful features will require a great deal of expense and hard in this movement is the self-denying zeal, earwork; yet, with you, I feel that it would be nest devotion, and patient perseverance of the one of the grandest movements of the century. pastors, evangelists and teachers in their ardu- With an earnest prayer that God may bless ous but blessed work for the Master." your work while abroad, and in his own time [Dr. Gracey, in sending us this item, says: "Tugwell deserves encouragement, for he has had a long, hard pull. All the work of this society originated with him. "-J. M. S.] IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Our Relations with Latin America. It affords more miles of navigation than all The meeting of the Representatives the rivers of Europe combined, and more than the Mississippi with its several tributaries. of the Republics of the Three The tide from the Atlantic reaches two hun- dred and sixty miles up the stream, and ocean Americas-North, Central and South -in our national capital, forces to ships of twenty-four feet draught can find the front questions about the duty water enough the year round at a distance of which new conditions promise to a thousand miles from its mouth. Vessels impose on the Protestantism of of from sixteen to twenty feet draught can go 'twenty-seven hundred miles into the interior the United States toward the fifty of the Continent, and a comparatively small ,millions of people in Spanish America amount of money-a mere fraction of the -a population numerically about sum that has been spent upon the Mississippi- equal to our own j just below our will furnish a path for a four thousand ton horizon, Latin America contains vessel from New York or Liverpool to the very heart of Brazil, by way of Buenos Ayres. "
some three thousand natives of the The vast resources of these Southern United States and about ten millions Republics are certain to tempt Euro- of European subjects, the nucleus of pean immigration as well as com- the forces which are to make a new merce. The Italian Government sends world out of the " New World " Co- a steamer every month from Genoa to lumbus revealed four centuries since; Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, and for the Americas are being re-dis- another to Valparaiso, Chili. There covered. are five French lines of steamships If the reader has doubt of that, let connecting Marseilles, France, with him try a geographical study of South ports of Brazil, Uruguay and the America, and test whether he has Argentine Republic; and a line from realized its physical conditions. We Havre to the North and East Coast of venture to assign one lesson as a sam- South America. There are German ple, taken from a government docu- steamers running from Hamburg to ment: the West Coast of South America as " The Rio de la Plata, or the River Plate, as far as Guatemala. Belgium has a it is commonly known, offers a more extensive semi-monthly steamship service to system of unobstructed navigation than any Brazil and Argentina. The Pacific river in the world, and, with the exception of Steam Navigation Company has rethe Amazon, pours more water into the ocean. cently latmched four magnificent artificial land transportation, present steamers for England's South Ameri- and prospective. A railway from can trade, t,vo of them being larger Boston to Buenos Ayres seems vision- and faster than any hitherto in that ary perhaps; but it is worth fixing commerce, being of 6,500 horse power our thought on. Within three years and 6,000 tons capacity. past railroads have been actually built, and routes surveyed, for at least Of course, the concomitant of all one-third of the distance between this is an influx of Europeans into Buenos Ayres and Bogota-one-third, South America and Central America. and that the hardest one-third to con- The Argentine Government pays the struct, has been actually completed pasmga of the immigrant, keeps him or is constructing. for days after arrival, and forward:; him atgovernment expense by steamer There are two lines built, and two or train to the farms of the interior, lines for which concessions have been gives him land and seed, and six dol- granted, which, with shorter ones allars a month for the first year. This ready in operation, leave but about Republic received more European im- 2,000 miles of road to be constructed migrants in the first six months of to make the chain complete. That is last year than in twelve months of the no such task as was our Pacific Railprevious year. The Mexican Govern- road. The Republics along the line ment pays the steamship companies are anxious for its construction, and sixty dollars per head for each immi- are ready to guarantee five to seven grant landed in the next five years, per cent. on the capital invested. Some and an average of forty-five dollars five distinct routes are proposed for each for the succeeding ten years. this inter-continental railway, one of which leaves 3,252 miles to be built, These facts, and vastly more of the another 2,616, and two others, roundsame genus, plainly indicate that the ly, 2,000 miles. The route which immediate future is to bring new con- leaves the least mileage to be conditions to us on the south. It seems structed runs from Buenos Ayres to just as plain that America is to be Jujuy, thence to Bogota, and about evangelized by Americans. Protestant 1,000 miles are now operated. The Europe evidences little interest in the lines would pass throughout its whole spiritualizing of these newly-rising length through countries teeming people, and we have been laggard and with the most valuable articles of half-nerved in what we have done. commerce. These are the EI Dorado It is not an easy thmg to kindle enthu- regions of the ancients. "Stripped siasm about Protestant work in South of all poetry," says the Report of the American fields, though we do warm United States Government, "immense up a little more readily of late to work mines and deposits of precious metals in the Republic of Mexico. If the do exist in Bolivia, though too remote contact of steamer and rail accounts from highway and habitation now to for this it may not be long till we have be explored." largely similar conditions with the more southern States. The Director of the United States 1tfint said that under favorable cir- "Ve cannot enter into the political cumstances Chili, Bolivia and Peru question of the duty of the govern- might add fifty million ounces of silment to improve our ocean highway ver to the world's stock annually. conditions to South America; but, " Every spade that turns the clod rethat aside, the overland communica- veals the silver" in the basin of the tions are, prophetically at least, in Cerro Pasco in Peru. The region sight. At the risk of dropping some through which this proposed road of our readers at this point, we ven- would pass, when the other twoture to present something about the thirds are completed, yields even now, When a body as representative as apart from gold and emeralds and that sends out a manifesto, it should, diamonds, six hundred million dol- at least, secure the attention of the lars' worth of commerce annually. Christian public. It deals with some of the more recent criticisms on Mis- With the celebration in 1892 of the sions, and we may assume it, therefour hundredth anniversary of the fore, to be of wider interest than the discovery of this continent, we will circle of patrons of those specific be face to face with problems of pro- missions. They first emphasize the foundest importance in reference to fact that India is not one, but many this Western Continent. Whether we countries, with many languages and are to have a World's Missionary Con- an extensive literature, but partially ference at that time does not yet ap- explored. Omitting Moslems, the bulk pear, but that the Protestants of North of the population about Madras as a America ought to face calmly at that center are non-Brahmanical. But time the question whether the Ameri- Brahmans have grafted the Hindu cas are to be evangelical, we do ear- caste system on to Dravidian ancient nestly believe. It is sad to think of tribal systems. After describing modthe multitude to the south of us, weary ern Hinduism (the indescribable) they and sick with Popery and Jesuitism say that with the people about them to the edge of revolt against all truth, all thought is contemporary, presentand certainly against all ecclesiasti- ing an epitome of all thought, ancient cisms. This four hundredth anni- and modern, that of the West with versary ought to see the broadest and that of India 2,000 years ago. The best minds of Protestantism ready old social order has been infracted, with great schemes for the religious and hence disturbance and disintegrauplifting of those Republics, whether tion, and a social freedom without by missionary or merchant, by teacher, internal standard. Altogether they mechanic or farmer. A great upris- are in the midst of intricate condiing might be inspired, and a move- tions, and feel called to every possible ment organized for aggressive work. sacrifice. They then name the forms Hundreds of Protestant mechanics, of missionary agency which they Use. we are assured, can find a field where they may make a good living and find They venture to defend such of opportunity to help evangelize those these measures as have been recently lands. A council of eminent leaders and widely criticised. They say of should prepare for at least an Ameri- Higher Education that "the withcan Missionary Conference in 1892. drawal from the mission field of this agency, which, after all, absorbs but a Missionaries Answer the Oritics on small fraction of our numerical Mission Economy. strength, would leave a blank, for the filling up of which no hostile critic The Missionaries of the several Pro- has yet made any practical suggestestant churches in Madras, India, tion." have sent out "An Open Letter to the Churches," which is signed by four Referring to the question of Missionmissionaries of the Church of Eng- ary Economies, they say the salaries of land Society, four of the London So- European Missionaries have not been ciety, six: of the Englis~ Wesleyan, six questioned in India, and they think of the Free Church of Scotland, three them fairly reasonable, no class of Enof the Church of Scotland, one Ameri- glishmen, not even artisans, receivcan Baptist, two American Methodist, ing so small allowances as Missiontwo Danish Lutheran, nine represent- aries. ing'the Madras Christian College, and one the Bible Society-38 in all. • The Salvation Army has been much lauded as illustrating greater pOSSIble economy in the conduct of Missionary opportunity to acquire language in so work. They say the results of the brief a period. The number has been Salvation Army labors are not tabu- terribly reduced, and the wear and lated, and hence a true verdict cannot tear of their way of living is largely be hoped for; but in their part of In- responsible for this. Their very plan dia the Army has not been successful. of operations increases health and life It has swelled its ranks from converts risk, and affords no corresponding in- of other churches, many of whom crease in efficiency, have returned to their old fold. It has They refer next to the Roman Cath- only labored where other Missions olic priest as a missionary model.
had planted themselves. They have The rate of increase for these missions found it easier to appeal to Christians has for twenty-five years been lower than to Hindus for support, and have than that of the Protestant missions.
diverted funds from other Christian The Protestant Church is not ready work-only the merest fraction of to insist that all its missionaries shall their support has ever come from non- be celibates. In<Ea has had enough Christians. The Army has carefully of asceticism according to prescribed avoided districts where no missionary Hindu rules, unless it should appear work is done by others. in the form of a great Hindu reformer.
Nor have the agents of the Army To Hindus generally, Western men g-ot into greater sympathy than others will not appear to be real ascetics, but with the natives. The text of the manufactured and spurious. More- letter on the matter of Europeans over, there is nothing Hindus corre- adopting native dress runs as follows: sponding to the Christian home, in .. For at least two cellturies. the Englishman which woman fills her place of honor, has been a familiar figure In India; to this gen· and where unity and affection dwell eration he ill! now almost as familiar as the Mus- together. Nothing is more necessary Bulman. To HinduB, his dress seems to be even and instructive to Hindus than the attractive. While no Hindu dreams of adopt· exhibition of that family life which is ing the Mussulman costume, thousands of Hin.
dus are now adopting the English dress. It is the rich fruit of Christian faith. Of impossible, therefore, that what is familiar and course, the other phase of an economiattractive can at the same time be specially reo cal agency implies that cheaper men, pellant. All who know anything of human na· men of less intellectual furnishing, ture will agree, that not by a particular dress, but by intelligence and true sympathy do we even of less moral endowment, may find access to the hearts of men. Soul must be used, that the standard of the mistouch soul, and eating curry and rice with one's sionary force might be lowered. Refingers and weaJ.ing long hair are poor substi. ferring to this, the open letter says: tutes for a. knowledge of the language and "Outer conditions will adjust themthoughts of Hindns."
But, after all, can there not be a selves and will never hinder mission- cheaper agency employed with ad- ary work if the agents supplied by the vantage in the mission field? That is churches are what they should be, l't current question. Multitudes of and here we earnestly plead that the thoughtful friends of missions are standard of attainment and efficiency asking that question. Does not the be maintained among all Europeans Salvation Army prove that? This who come to India as agents. If it be " open letter" replies that the cost of lowered, nothing can be gained, but its European agents in India has never . much may be lost. Imperfectly been made known. The number of equipped Europeans can only take a deaths among them is exceptionally place as the rivals of imperfectly large. The number disabled by sick- equipped native agents, than whom ness is very great, as compared with they will be more costly, and-less other missions. The average stay in effective."
India is very brief. They have little They say they need a class of native agents more highly trained than any lem by living as the Chillese live, eating their they yet have had. They appeal for food as they cook it, sleeping on their k'ang men to reach the thousands of Hindus beds. and very closely imitating their mode of who have been educated in schools life; but a part of these, at least, having decided and colleges, more or less acquainted that nothing is gained by such a life, and that with Christianity, and who have im- health and fitness for service are endangered bibed some of its moral thought, but thereby, have returned to a more Western man- 'who have not found the path to true Der of living. Simplicity is not imitation. We light. They wish, too, for some few are not Chinese, and no amount of imitation men of learned leisure to produce will make the people think we are." a Christian literature in the vernacular. "Year by year," they say, "the The other writer discusses the quesreading public increases, as does the tion of lower-salaried, and thus a less demand for Christian literature; but expensive, even if a less furnished miswe cannot give them the best, as we sionary agency. He does not think ought." that the nllssionary who uses the smallest amount of money is there- They say it has been matter of re- fore the cheapest agency. gret to them" that the criticism rece~ly bestowed on Indian missions so .. Commercially, the investment that brings in much has referred only to details of the largest proportionate returns-the largest secondary importance, and so little to percent.-is the cheapest_ So financially, and the essentials of the missionary prob- every other way, the missionary that accomlem." plishes the largest amount of efficient results is, as a rule, the cheapest. By' efficient results' They close their "open letter" say- is meant living, active, self-propagating ing: "The progress of Christianity is churches, a wise and earnest native ministry,etc. that of 'the truth as it is in Jesus,' The missionary that accomplishes nothing is breaking the spell of an antiquity not only expensive, but a •dead capital,' though which overawes, and scattering a he were to use only 100 Mexicans a year J while manifold error which has long bewil- one using 5,000 in successful work may be the dered men. And because we know cheapest." that here in India the battle is the Lord's, we rejoice in the certainty He affirms that sbtistics prove that that the victory is His also. And all the man or the Society that works flesh shall see the salvation of God." with least proportionate expenditure, reaches the least proportionate results, And now we have two other per- and that nine-tenths of the efficient resons discussing these features of mis- sults in China have been from Missionsionary economies in China whose aries who live comfortably, from their views are set forth in The Chinese own national standard of comfort. Recorder, the first we give being a There is little economy in a merely strong advocate for the simplest possi- numerical increase of missionaries. A ble style of living for missionaries, so few well-trained, suitably cared for, as to destroy the impression that mis- able to create and direct a native force, sionaries are lovers of good living, and are cheaper than many of the cheaper so as to avoid a style of living so far sort trying to do the work themselves. beyond the reach of the people as to It is on the line of this power to create arouse their cupidity rather than fur- the middle man, the efficient native nish them an example. But even tIllS force, that, he says, "comparatively a advocate of simplicity says: very small number of the number of foreign workers now in China have .. Living <u rimply as the average teacher or accomplished very nearly all the efmerchant, does not mean that we live as they ficient results so far. It is a notorious do. The former is practicable; the latter is im- fact that several of the smaller practicable, and, therefore, unwise. Some very societies have done some of the best earnest men have endeavored to solve this prob- and largest work."
He fortifies this position by quoting from Rev. John Ross, of Manchuria, speaking at the London Conference: "Let all the missionary societies manned, but is now in the same position as pick out, not as many men as they can find, but pick out a few, choice in Loando, awaiting good workers to man it. all respects, spiritually, mentally, in- tellectually, physically-let there be a Nhangupp<po.-From Dondo we .. take it few choice men, let these train the natives, and the natives will do the afoot" fifty·one miles over l1i1ls, monntains and work. It seems to me that this is the only way you can get the work vales, by the old caravan trail of the ages, to properly done." Nhanguepepo Mission station. Our property Bishop Taylor's Industrial Missions. there is worth about $6,000. It was deSigned Bishop William Taylor sent an ex- tended report of his work in Liberia, to be 8. receiving station, in which our new- and also in Angola, and in the Congo country. We condense the latter por- comers might be acclimatized, taught native tion of it, as this mission has attracted a good deal of attention and been the languages, and prepared for advauce work. subject of considerable criticism: Under the superintendency of Brother Withey Mamby.-Two days above Congo mouth we land at lIIayumbo, and proceed in boats seven- a great preparatory work has been done at this teen miles up an inland lake to Mamby, where Mi.s Martha Kah is stationed. When we settled station. It has, however, become specially a there it was in the bounds of the" Free State of Congo," but later the published decrees of the training school for native agency under the Berlin Conference putit under the wing of the French government. The French authorities leadership of one young mau of our first have recognized and registered our native title to 100 acres of good land, and are not unfriendly party from America, Karl Rudolph. We to US by any means; but .. by law" forbid us to teach any languag6 but French. Good has already have an organized Methodist Episcopal been done at Mamby, and is being done. Ow· ing to this disability, we have proposed to aban· Church at this station, composed of thirteen con- don it, but Martha Kah is entirely unwilling to leave, and as it is our only footing in French verted native men and boys. The work of each territory, and as they hold a vast region, peo- pled by numerous nations of African heathens, day is distributed; two of our boys called" pas· we have thought it best to hold on to Mamby. tors" have the care of about 100 head of cattle Loanda.-Passing the mouth of the Oongo River, we proceed by steamer over 300 mUes to belonging to the mission. Several boys are the beautiful land·locked harbor of St. Paul de Loanda. The Portuguese town bearing that taught to yoke and work oxen in sled or plow; name has many massive buildings. includillg churches in ruins, dating back over 300 years. several boys bave learned to be stone-masous,. It has an estimated population of 5,000, a few hundred of whom are Portuguese (one English and when I was there last were engaged in house of business), the rest being Negroes. From the beginning we have had adequate self· building a stone wall around the cattle" cor· supporting resources in Lo..nd.. from the Portu- guese patronage of our schools, and have now, ral." One boy is trained to business in the lit· but at present we lack the teaching corps requis· .; ite. tIe store. .
Dondo.-From Leanda we proceed by steamer Pungo Andongo.-Pnngo Andongo Station has oisixty miles" south by sea, and cross the bar into the mouth of the Ooanzo River, as large a8 the cro.sed the lines of sustentation and of abso- Hudson, and ascend 180 miles to Dondo, at the head of steamboat navigation. Dondo is a noted lute self-support, and is making money to open trading center, and has a population of about 5,000, mostly Negroes. We had a good property new statious in the regions beyond. in Dondo worth about $5,000. Its school work and machine shop were self-supporting when Malange.-An onward march of sixty·two miles brings us to Malange, a town of probably 2,000 population, and noted for its merchandise. Our people there are Samuel J. Mead, P. E ,"his wife, Ardella, retined, well educated, and a tine musician, at the head of our school work.
Willie Mead, head of the mechanical depart-.
ment; his wife is especially engaged in teach iug missionaries. Robert Shield, a young mis~ sionary from Ireland, who was brougl1t up at home for a. merchant, runs a small mission store at Malange, preaches in the Kimbunda, and has a growing circuit extending among the villages of the surrounding country. Uur na- tive Church, organized at Malange at the time of my visit, had" the number of twentY'one, all probationers, of course, but baptized and saved. Our property at Malange is worth prob- ably i6,~00. Samuel J. Mead has charge of a big farm, and making it pay. Brother fillie trained four native men to run two pit-saws, and in the last year or two has turned out $1,500 worth of lumber, which sells for cash at the saw·pits. These meu are also preachers, and preach several times each week in the Por~ tuguese language. In labor, money. and build· ing material, they have recently completed a new two-story mission house and other mission improveonents, amounting to an aggregate cost of $1,200, without any help from home.
LulU<.lburg.-From Malauge a tramp of 1,000 miles northeast will bring Us to Luluaburg, in the Bashalange ·country. discovered by Dr. Pogge and Lieut. Weismann in 1883. Th-: ..tot yet built a mission bouse in Pluky. Miss Governor-General of the independent State of McNeal teaches school in a native bonse in the Congo, at my request, gave to Dr. Summers. midst of the town, and preacbes on Sabbath one of our men from Malange. permission to days under tbe sbade of a bread-fruit tree.
found " station for our mission at Lnluabul'g. Her scbool house is crowded, and sbe has six of which he did, and built a couple of houses bel' boys and three girls converted to God, wbo on, it, and was making good progress when be testify for Jesus in bel' meetings, and belp her became worn out by disease and died. I bope in bersonl-saving work. Probable value $800, 80011 to send a suceeSBor to dear Dr. Summers. in land. Miss Barbara Miller assists her tem- Kimpoko.-From Luluaburg a week of foot porarily, but her specialties are kindergarten traveling northwest will bring us to Lueba, at and mllsic, awaiting tbe opening of the tbe junction of the Lulua and Kassai rivers. academy.
Tbence, in a little steamer descending tbe G'araway.-Twenty miles nortbwest of Cape Kassai river about 800 miles, we sweep through Palmas. Miss Agnes McAllister is in cbarge of U Qua mouth·· into the Congo, descending tbe station, and Miss Clara Binkley bas special wbicb 70 miles we will tie up at Kimpoko, near cbarge of tbe educational department, botb the northeast angle of Stanley Pool. We. working togetber as missionaries. Aunt Rachel, opened this station in 1886, designed as a way a Liberian widow woman, runs the farm and station for our transportation to tbe countries produces indigenous food enougb to feed two or of the Upper Kassai. At Kimpoko we made an tbree stations. This is a station of great irrigating ditch a mile long, drawing from a promise. Probable value, $1,200.
bold mountain creek an abundant supply of Matumba.-One hundred miles by steamer water to insure good crops at all seasons. We down tbe Congo to Banana brings us within an have there about ten acres ,under cultivation, hour and a half by cars of our mission station and grow in profusion all tbe indigenous food at Matumba. Miss Mary Kildare, a superior that we can ll.I!e. Brotber Burr, who is our pre- teacher, linguist and missionary, is our sole oc- siding elder at Kimpoko, writes that Kimpoko cupant of the station at Matumba. I bougbt of has been nearly self-sustaining from the be- the government nearly ten acres of good ground ginning, but entirely 80 since the beginning of there for nearly $120, baving previously bought this year. They are building a new mission- the native title. We bave a comfortable little bouse this dry season, about 15×80. In tbis bouse of galvanized iron, 22×24 feet, set on pil- work they may require a little help-a rew bales lars six feet above ground. Tbe bouse is divi- of clotb from borne. At a low e,timate our ded into two rooms, 12 x 12 feet, and a ver- property in Kimpoko is worth at least $1,000. anda 12×124 feet, enclosed by balu.trading and Manyanga.-From Kimpoko we go by oars or a gate, and is used for schoolroom. She bas steamer twenty miles to the lower end of Stan- now a scbool of twenty scholars. Sbe does her ley Pool at LefYjJoldville. Thence by foot 100 preacbing mostly in the villages; tbe bouse is miles to South Manyanga (which is called the in an enclosure of nearly an acre~ surrounded Nortb Bank route; by the Soutb route we walk by a bigh fence with strong gate wbich is locked from Leopoldville 231 miles to Matadi or Lower up at 9 P. 111. daily. Itook her recently a box of Congo), Liberian coffee seed, which she has in a nursery Isangila.-From Manyanga we go by a launcb growingbeautifully, and sbe bas a fruit orchard of three or four tons capacity, propelled by oars coming on.
and sails and currents, 88 miles to Isangila. We Our property at Matumba is wortb $1,000.
bave bad a station at IsangiJa for over two years, We, two years ago, started three stations be- on which we bave built good native houses, but tween Vivi and Isangila-Vumtomby Vivi, Sadi bad not bougbt the site of the Government till Kabanza, and Matamba. We built pretty good my last visit to the land office at Barna. The houses at a total cost of $30, not counting our site, containing 7Yz acres. cost us nea.rly $80. A labor.
good garden spot. Ollr bretbren dug a yam Since tbat, Brother Reed and wife and from their garden in Isangila when I was tbere Brotber Bullikist, very good people, sent out by a few weeks ago, which weighed twenty-two Dr. Simpson, of New York, have opened a pounds-more wholesome and delicious if pos- station nearly midway between Vnmtomby sible than Irisb potatoes. Our paying industry Vivi and Sadi Kabanz.., so when we get ready tbere will be in the transport line of business. to go out to found new stations, we sball prefer, instead of resummg work at those vacated, to • As our Vivi Station is at tbe higbest point of small steamer naVigation, so Isangila. is the go into the more populous regions of the inte· lowest point of the middle passage of the Congo rior. The Congo State bas a strip of country from Isangila. eighty-eight miles to Manyanga. densely populated, 100 miles from the north Our site at Isa.ngila_with improvemeuts 19 worth bank of tbe Congo, and extending from Banana $300. 250 miles to Manyanga, all unoccupied and open Pluky.-Across Hoffman river, from Cape to U~. except a few new stations near the Congo.
Palmae, is the beginning of our h.ru Coast line So God is opening a vast field for us 011 the of stations. Miss Lizzie McNeal is the mission- Lower Congo as well as on the Upper Congo ary. Though two years in the station, we have and Kassai. Death of lIfissionaries.-The list of writer that those societies who print eminent dead has been lengthened of full and succinct accounts of their late by the addition of missionary work in a variety of forms, and keep- names. ing the same 'steadily available to outsiders as well as their own sup- Mrs. SarahB. Lansing, wife of Rev. porters, become most fully established Julian Lansing, who for the past in the public confidence, and ulti- thirty years has faithfully labored as mately command the fullest support. a missionary in connection with the It is quite curious to watch the filter- United Presbyterian Mission of Egypt, ing process which goes on from these has deceased. She was born in 1820. prints, larger or smaller, through the She was a sister of the Rev. Dr. Dales, press and public assembly. of Philadelphia, Corresponding Secretary of the United Presbyterian Board -Now that the Christian world is of Foreign Missions. In her mission depressed, if not discouraged, by the work she has suffered many hard- entire collapse of England's policy in ships, and at one time, while at the Soudan for the suppression of the Damascus with her husband, had to slave trade, by extension of the Kheflee for life under persecution. dive's jurisdiction from Khartoum to the Central lakes, it is with peculiar Rev. C. W. De Heer, of long service interest and some fresh hope that we in the Gaboon Mission of the Presby- learn that the Sultan of Zanzibar has terian Church, died at Clifton Springs, published a decree that after Novem- N.Y. ber 1, 1889, all slaves entering his dominions shall be declared free; and The Methodists of India have been that after January 1,1890, all children sorely stricken of late in the succes- born of slaves in his dominion shall sive loss by death of Dr. McCoy, of Cal- also be free. A single generation will cutta; Rev. Mr. Gray, of Singapore, thus see the end of slavery in this and also Mrs. Rudisill, Mrs. Winter greatest of slave centres. The Arabs and Mrs. Hopkins. in Zanzibar do not seem to have waked up to the effect of these two edicts on The Church of England mourns the slave trade. the death while she rejoices in the life of Bishop Sargent. He was sev- -At the meeting of the Anti-Slavery enty-four years of age, and furnished Conference in Brussels the Belgian another illustration of missionary King said he felt hopeful in regard to longevity, he having served fifty-four the steps now being taken for the supyears in India. He went to Madras pression of the slave trade, though when barely twenty years of age, and he had little hope that domestic slavery entered the society's service. He has would be done away with for many served in the Episcopacy for twelve years to come. Perhaps not, but the years. On the celebration of his foreign market for slaves can be cut jubilee in the mission he addressed off, and if the foreign market for ivory 1,400 of a Christian community, of were cut off a large motive power of whom sixty were native clergy. the slaver would be destroyed. But, after all, there is a long, tedious task -The General Assembly of the ahead of the humanitarianism and United Presbyterian Church haf' for- Christian evangelism of Europe and mally requested Rev. Andrew Watson, America in uplifting this Dark Con- D. D., to prepare a history c f < their tinent. But it can be done, It must Egyptian Mission to be publishea by be done, and it will be done. It is their Board of Publication. This is being done. to be commended, and the example should be imitated by all societies -The Free Church of Scotland sends whose work is at all historic, even if out a leaflet appealing to the children it be small. A close observation of the subject for years has shown the
ThE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
to aid the Sheikh-Othman slave refuge. Woman's Board. There are five This is the present headquarters of the native helpers in this mission. Keith-Falconer Mission to Arab Muslims. It is a large native village about -A missionary in Korea, writing to ten miles north of Aden, with a fluc- us recently, says: "I hope I have tuating population. The children in convinced you that we have great enthis refuge now number sixty, thirty- couragements in regard to the work, eight boys and twenty-two girls. They notwithstanding all you may have were dragged over three hundred heard to the contrary. The work has miles to the African harbor called not stopped; it cannot stop. Even Tajora, whence they were being taken were we all to leave Korea to-day I in dhows to Arabia to be sold as believe it would still go forward, and slaves, but were captured by a British eternity show grand results from the gun-boat and taken to Aden, and the seed-sowing already done. Just now Government asked the missionaries to the obstacles do seem somewhat fortake charge of them. What is known midable. I want you to pray the obas "The Arabian Mission" of this stacles down, or pray us above them. country, of which Prof. J. G. Lansing, We read in the Book that there is a of New Brunswick, N. J., is an active 'faith which subdued kingdoms.' projector, has decided to co-operate That is the kind we want brought to with this mission at Sheikh-Othman. bear on Korea."
-The Friends Mission at Ramsallah, -We gave a full account in former Palestine, ten miles north of Jerusa- numbers of the Patna case, as it is lem, founded by members of the called; that of Luchnion, the Hindu Friends' Society in England, has re- girl who fled to Miss Abraham to escently been transferred to the New cape the bondage of a so-called mar- England Yearly Meeting, and is now riage, but which in fact was a sale of known as the" Eli and Sybil Jones her person to a life of shame. The Mission. " The General Board and Calcutta Missionary Conference petithe Woman's Society of that yearly tioned the Government of India to remeeting co-operate in this work. verse the decision of the magistrate There is a Friends' Church at Ram- remanding her to this ignominious sallah, and twenty-five to thirty ap- bondage. The Government replies plicants for membership are now that it is unable to disturb the finding awaiting admission. There are five of the Courts in the case, as it was schools, two in the village for boys supported by the testimony. The and two for girls, also a training home High Court acknowledges the wrong just opened, with about eighteen done, but cannot see any "possible jimpils. There are three lady mission- measures that are practicable to undo aries, all of whom sailed from New that wrong." This is a most humili- York since June. Two of these ladies, ating confession for a strongChristian the assistant physician and the teacher Government to make in the premof English, are in the employ of the ises, and the matter ought not to rest here.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLI1'WOOD, D.D.
The Religions of Ohina. the hills; every store and shop has its In one sense there is no country so little altar with burning incense to the full of religions as China. The gods god of good luck; every house is built and shrines are, if possible, more with reference to geomantic influence; ubiquitous than in India. Gods of the " fung shuay" is consulted in all mat- river, gods of the trees, gods of the tel'S of life; the whole land teems with hearth, gods of the kitchen, gods of the emblems of polytheism. First is TA01TIS!.1. Nevertheless, the Taouist priests have To this system the above named remained as a power in China. The in- liuperstitions chiefly belong. Its tellectual classes would disclaim any founder, Laotze, lived about 500 years confidence in them, and there are few B. C., and was already a public of the laity of any rank who would call teacher when Confucius was born. themselves distinctively Taouists, yet But Laotze's system, which was all classes, high and low, resort to these rationalistic and highly mystical, was professional necromancers on special above the comprehension of the people. occasions, and particularly when in Its ethical standards were pure and trouble. lIen claiming to be Confu- lofty, but cold and censorious. It had cianists are Taouists by turns, and no element of sympathy. Its philos- many costly Taouist temples have ophy was impracticable, as compared been built by the gifts of the wealthy with the precepts of Confucius, and in extremis. Much is given also by its discouraged and disgusted author way of financial ventures, as the god of died at length a voluntary exile in a wealth falls into the Taouist category.
remote western province. Laotze was The whole Joss business belongs to a true philosopher, propounding orig- this system, and it constitutes a large inal theories, while Confucius had lit- element in the practical religion of the tle originalty, but was a skillful com- Chinese wherever they are found.
piler of the ancient observances and CONFUCIANISM.
traditions. No uninspired teacher has " Quong fu tze" was a cotemporary ever taught a more exalted system of of Laotze, though several years private, social and political ethics younger. Attracted by the fame of than Laotze, but his transcendental- the great philosopher, he went to hear ism had little power with the people, him. Bnt there was little sympathy and the virtues which he commended between them. Confucius seemed to were disproportionally of a negative the older and morbidly critical Laotze kind. He feared the effect of general as only an ambitious and conceited education as fostering conceit, and young pedant. On the other hand, civilization as leading to corruption. one visit to the old philosopher seems His only god was reason (Taou), and to have sufficed for his young rival.
the mystical and pantheistic character Confucius gaye his attention to the with which he invested it-its imma- ancient records and traditions, and, nence and indwelling as an efficient winnowing out the abundant chaff, force in all things animate and inani- presented what he considered the mate-opened the way for the count- wholesome wheat. The Ancient less superstitions which now bear the 81100 King he rednced from 3,000mon- Taouist name and fill the land. His ographs to about 350. Unfortunately, successors fell far short of his sublime in his strong leaning toward Agnos- philosophy and his moral purity, and ticism, he is believed to have ruled out only preserved his mysticism as a most of the passages which related to basis for every species of jugglery and the worship of the Supreme Being.
imposture. The all-prevailing " Taou" 'Vhat he sought to establish was a took the form of spirits dwelling in purely ethical system bounded by the Ih'agons, in men and lower animals, confines of the present life. He ig- and even in trees. Certain uncanny nored all that related to the unseen animals are especially regarded as world or to the hereafter. Beginning embodiments of spirits. It peopled with the domestic and social relations, t118 land with elves and hobgoblins. he endeavored to build up society as As a disembodied essence it also ap- a pyramid, with the King or Emperor peared in the vague influence known as the head. The State was his uni- as " fung shnay." verse. In reply to some questions about the unseen world he said: eties of Buddhism. The most popular " We do not know life, how can we form of Buddhist worship is that paid know death." He magnified the re- to Quanyin, the " Goddess of Mercy." spect due to parents and to all ances- She is supposed by Beal to be identical tors, and .that came to be the only with the Avolokitesvara of Northern real worship of strict Confucianists. India and Thibet. Avolokitesvara is His ethics were out of true proportion. a later mythical personage of whom The rights of the father and the hus- Gautama knew nothing. He is a livband were exaggerated even to tyran- ing god, and therefore able to hear ny, if not to the power of life and prayer, while the Buddha is extinct. death. Woman, as woman, was not He is a Bodisat (one who will become duly honored. Only as a mother, or an incarnate Buddha at a future time). the mother of a husband, did she re- When Fahieu, the Chinese pilgrim ceive respect. As such she might even who visited India at an early day, was bea tyrant. overtaken bya stormat seaheprayed to Avolokitesvara for real help: prayers That Confucianism is a mastBrly offered to Buddha are only expected to piece of statesmanship, that it solidifies produce reflex influence on one's own the whole fabric of authority and uni- heart and promote self help. fies all the forces of the home and the social bond, none will deny, but it In China this Bodisat is worshipped is not a religion. Its ethical stand- under the conception of a virgin ards are for the most part high, and princess who won Nirvana, but postall history represents its author as a poned it, and still lives in one of the virtuous exemplar as well as teacher. heavens to bless suffering humanity. This worship is wholly alien to primi- Confucius found his country dis- tive Buddhism, but it is more sympatracted by social and political dis- thetic and seems better adapted to orders, and he confidently offercd his human necessities. i services to various provincial princes as a governmental adviser. His suc- There is also in China a popular cess was not great in this attempt, Buddhist worship of Amitabba, anand he was obliged to be content with other Bodisat, ·.,yho presides over a gathering about him a multitude of real heaven beyond the setting sun. disciples, to whom he taught that The chief hope of the masses is not ethical system which, since his death Nirvana, but a re-birth into one of the and through all subsequent ages, has heavens, or at least into a higher and exerted so vast an influence. more favorable earthly state. The number of those who may be regarded Confucianism is the controlling sys- as distinctiv'ely Buddhists in China is tem of China. small, beyond the limits of the mon- astic orders. Those who are at times BUDDHISM. Buddhists, and who cherish some Bud- dhist hope for the life to come, are This system was introduced from mostly concerned in this life with the India early in the Christian era. countless popular superstitions of Through successive centuries Chinese Taouism. They may frequently be scholars and religionists went to India found consulting' the Taouist jugglers to study its teachings on its own soil. or in the joss houses offering paper The type of Buddhism introduced into money to the god of wealth. China was chiefly that of the Mahayana, known as the Northern Bud- All the religions of China are overdhism, and which was already depart- lapped and blended together, and we ing from the atheism of Gautama and must remind those apologists who are promulgating various theistic doc- anxious to swell the comparative forces trines. of the non-Christian religions, that it China is now said to be the theatre of more than a dozen different variis not good arithmetic to set down the is so much easier to reiterate than to whole population of China to each of investigate and learn the truth. the three systems. Other doubts are raised of a pre- THE PRIMEVAL FAITH OF CHINA. cisely opposite nature.. "Are not the noble Confucian ethics all sufficient A presentation of the religions of for China?" "The Chinese are astute, China would not be complete without reflective, proud of their country and at least a brief reference to that im- their creed, why not let them alone ?" pressive imperial worship which is Thus, from the extreme position that paid by the Emperor in the Temple of all effort in their behalf is bootless, Heaven in Peking. The subject is owing to their depravity, we are carworthy of an extended paper, but there ried to the opposite and contradictory is only space to say that it is believed, assertion that it is gratuitous, as they with apparently good reason, to be a have a philosophy of their own which l'elic of that primeval worship which we could scarcely hope to improve. was rendered to the true God. The Then there is the still further question prevalence of polytheism has not whether it be possible to change the wholly eradicated the conception of religion of a nation so populous and so One self-existent and ever-living God, vast, and whether with all our effort the Creator and upholder of all things. and sacrifice, the total result is not The offering of a whole burnt offering ridiculously inadequate. Yet notonce a year by the chief ruler, as the withstanding all this variety of dark King of Salem was once the " priest of prophesying, China is, perhaps, the the Most High God," seems indeed a most important mission field of the relic of something of which we would world to-day, and lays a larger degladly know more. Drs. Martin and mand than any other upon the faith Legge, two of China's foremost for- and effort of the Christian Church, eign scholars, do not hesitate to regard andespeciallyof the American Church. it as an obscure perpetuation of the primitive worship of Jehovah. Alas! First. In common with the other that it is an imperial monopoly, fm' Mongolian nations, China presents a even the common people often seek very significant claim by its geosomething iligherthantheir basesuper- graphical position. As the Missionstitions. The sailors of the Fukhien ary Churches of Europe look eastward Province, when overtaken by a storm, toward these Mongolian races, they make offerings to the gods of the sea, find a twofold barrier in their way. but when that does not avail, they Russia on the north and the Mohamthrow them all away and pray to the medan powers on the south rise up Supreme God of the Heavens. like mountain ranges to shut them off. An oyerland propaganda seems im- CHINA AS A MISSION FIELD. possible. Russia is quite as impenetra- ble to western Christianity as the EYer since the publication of Mr. Turkish Empire, while farther south, Pumpelly's " Across Asia and Ameri- even to the southern point of Arabia, ca," his example has repeatedly been Mohammedan fanaticism raises its followed in the cheap assertion that formidable barriers. India might find no Chinaman is ever really converted access from the south, but the Himto Christianity. He is too material- alayas rise between. Burmah may i"tic to appreciate spiritual truth, it is one day open a passage, but Burmah said, or he is too crafty to be credited itself is dark. The highway of salvain any profession he may make, or he tion to China is by the sea, and it is is too stolid to be aroused from his straight across the Pacific that our Confucianphilosophy. It is hard to re- path lies open. Yokohama and San fute false utterances of this kind when Francisco -are now separated by less once they have gained currency. It than thirteen days. As in all the lands men and women of a higher past, so now the indications of Provi- type than I met in China, of a finer dence all point westward, and our spiritual experience, of a higher spir- American people, with their wealth itual tone, or of a nobler spiritual life, and intelligence and Christian in- and I may say with conviction that fluence are in the van, or should be, there are in the native churches in of this great movement for the con- China not only the elements of stabil- quest of the Mongolian races. ity, but that steadfast and irresistible Second. The character of the revolution which will carryover the Chinese presents a special argument whole empire to the new faith."
for a forward movement. Like the Rev. Jolm L. Nevius, D.D., who Anglo-Saxons, they are aggressive and has spent over thirty-five years in cosmopolitan. Their industry and China, declares that he has nowhere enterprise reach out over the world. found a higher type of manhood than They are found, whenever permitted is presented by the native Christians to enter, in all North and South Amer- of Shantung, and he has given many ica, in the island groups of the Pacific, proofs of their Christian fortitude.
in Australia, in New Zealand, in Sin- Nowhere in our generation are there gapore and the Straits of 1I1alacca. more striking instances of the genu- They are everywhere remarkable for ineness and self-help of Christian con- their thrift, and in spite of all the hin- verts than in China, considering their drances that can be interposed, this great poverty. In large portions of wonderful race is sure of great future the Shantung Province churches are influence in the world. No other na- almost entirelyself-supporting, though tion is so industrious, so frugal, and, poor to a degree which Americans considering its age, so well preserved cannot realize. As a rule, they have and so likely to continue in power provided their own places of worship.
and influence. Instances such as these are given: Just now China is awakening to a Of a Taouist priest in a country vil- new sense of its latent possibilities and lage, who, on becoming a Christian pressing to the forefront of the great convert, at once began to preach to empires. Moreover, in spite of all that his neighbors without salary, and is said of the deceitfulness of the China- he gave not only his time and man, it may safely be said that the men 'labor, but the principal part of his of no other race are more fully trusted house for a chapel; of a poor man in whatever industry they undertake. who, out of his narrow means, recent- No others are so law-abiding and ly gave a cottage for a school and peaceful as citizens, and that even chapel; of a woman who, though the without the privilege of citizenship. only believer in her village, persevered In places of trust they rival the Jap- till she had secured a Christian school, anese even in Japan. The thrifty in- which grew into a church; of a little dustries of Singapore, and Malaysia, congregation which, upon its organi- and the Sandwich Islands, are largely zation as a church, subscribed upon in their han,p.s. the spot the whole salary of their pas- I Third. The Chinese will compare tor for a year; of an intelligent widow favorably with any other race in their who left her home and went to Peking capacity for strong and controlling to learn more of the gospel, that she Christian faith. This point has been might teach her neighbors. ,Could all abundantly attested. The late Fleming similar annals of the Church in China Stevenson, who had visited the mis- be gathered together they would form sion fields of China in person, gave a large and interesting volume.
the following testimony: Fourth. The numericalresultswhich " I have found nowhere in Christian have been gained in the Protestant missions of China within the last Thibet and its Religion. few years are certainly remarkable, Perhaps in no country has Buddhism and only excelled, perhaps, by those of become so intrenched, no where else Japan. Two years since it was stated has it so monopolized all thought and at the annual meeting of the Ameri- aspiration, or so molded and concan Board that in a single decade trolled the people, as in Thibet. At the number of converts in the dif- the time of its introduction from India ferent missions of China had increased by way of Kashmere-it had scarcely from 13,000 to 32,000, and this ill spite gained a footing before the seventh of bitter persecution on the part of century-the system of Gautama had relatives and friends, and notwith- undergone important changes. It had standing the prejudice created by the drifted from the atheistic position of wrongs and outrages committed by the early Buddhists of India and Cey- lon and had adopted a vague and fan- Christian nations. II tastic theism, at the same time that it had received various admixtures of Fifth. There is great hope for China devil worship and sorcery. It had and great encouragement for mission- developed a trinity of supernatural perary labor in the new order of things sonages, who were destined to become which is fast placing her abreast with future Buddhas, though not until Vestern nations. The railroad and after various incarnations for particuthe telegraph line have come to stay, lar service~ on earth. This proved a national defences are in progress, min- convenient doctrine for the priestly eral wealth will be developed, and magnates of Thibet. It encouraged education is to be encouraged in all the claim now set up, that two of these practical Sciences. The late Viceroy beings are incarnate in the Grand of Canton, in a memorial to the Gov- Lama at Lhassa and the Puntsheu ernment, asking royal sanction for a Lama at Kroshis Lunpo. railroad from Peking to Hankow, The Thibetan King Srong Tsan said: "For China to return to the iso- Gampo, who introduced Buddhism lation of her past is a hopeless task. 622, A. D., was the first to be wor- It only remains for her to assimilate so shipped as a divine incarnation. In much of modern progress as will enable 822, A. D., the second son of the last her to outwit her astute Western com- King of Thibet instituted a bitter perpetitors." He adds: "I was myseff. secution against the Buddhists, and opposed to the introduction of rail- they were mostly driven from the ways at first, but when I came to country. Civil disorders followed till Shanghai and saw the progress possi- the Buddhist missionaries, Atisha and ble, I could not deny the sight of the Brom Ston, regained the best ground eye." The imperial permission has and restored prosperity to the Buddhist been given for building this road, and order. But what proved still more if the conservatists have burned the important to the stability of the sys- Temple at Peking in the hope of scar- tem was the fact that for ages there ing the Government with the supposed has been an alliance between Thibet displeasure of heaven at these innova- and the Empire of China. In the tions, they are too late. The shadow thirteenth century, A. D., Kublai on the dial of the nineteenth century Kahn, grandson of Jenghiz Kahn, is too far advanced. China is open to made the Lama at Lhassa " Tributary the gospel now; it may not be so when Sovereign of the Country and Head she becomes strong enough to dictate of the Buddhist Church," and as a rethe terms of her treaties. She may turn he was officially crowned by the copy the exclusion laws of Christian Lama as sovereign oyer the vast Mon- America. She may rule out British gol E,mpire. Kublai Khan thus be- Christianity with British opium. It is the full hour of opportunity. came a convert to Buddhism, and the practice of polyandry. The Lamas are Lama of Thibet became high priest held in great reverence, and some of or spiritual head over all Buddhists of them are high-minded and good men.
the vast empire including China and As each Lama at death is supposed Mongolia. The Lama was simply an to enter into a new-born infant, whose ecclesiastic invested with these spe- identity great pains are taken to estab- cial powers. The seat of government lish, a long regency must in each case was, and still is a Buddhist monastery intervene, and this is filled by some -the Emperor of China being the real honored monk. The infant when ruler. found is addressed as if, he had just About 1390 Tsoongkapa, the Luther died and risen again. The following of Thibet, came forward as a reformer. is an illustration: He purged out the base alloy of Sakt- In 1774 WalTenHastings, Governor- ism (the worship of Siva and his wives) General of India, sent an ambassador and the low superstitions which had to Thibet. On his arrival, the Lama grown as parasites on a corrupt Bud- to whom he bore messages had died, dhism, founded many monasteries, but he addressed the newly-born suc- and reformed the observances of the cessor as the identical Lama, express- monks and nuns. His influence so ing the Governor-General's sorrow at weakened the supremacy of the Dalai his recent death, and his joy that he (Grand) Lama that, by Imperial edict, had again returned to fill the world his jurisdiction was divided with the with hope.
Pautsheu Lama. Both of these, as Time, that has wrought changes above stated, are incarnations of the and revolutions in the other nations of Divine Bodisatvas. the world, has brought little chang'e Lamaism might, therefore, be called to Thibet, and now in our day systems a sort of theocracy, subject to the of error like Esoteric Buddhism and Imperial Government of China. Ec- Theosophy, desiring to secure the very clesiasticismcontrols and characterizes highest authority for their wild as- everything. The great monasteries sumptions, are deriving that authority are the leading institutions, and their from the Mahatmas or monks of Thi- monks and nuns number thousands. bet. It is contended that there, by The inhospitable character of the long continued meditation and great country and the lack of encourage- bodily mortification, they have ac- ment for industrial pursuits seem to quired the power to discern the favor monastic life. thoughts of others, and that they are An astonishingly large proportion conversant with all that transpires in of the people of both sexes are buried distant planets. It is favorable to in these religious houses. An observ- these extravagant theories that Thibet ing traveler long ago remarked that is so far off, so high up, so snow-coy- this withdrawal of so many able- ered, so unknown. It would seem to bodied men from active pursuits is be one of the most difficult strongholds compensated by the fact that no army from which to dislodge a hoary system is necessary for defence, and there is of error. Buddhism in Japan is worn too great a torpor in both the people lightly by government and people.
and the spirit of their institutions to Buddhism in China is only a guest of think of conquest. There is little soil the nation, though having strong fol- to cultivate and no market for manu- lowing among the lower classes. The factures, and why not spend much of more intelligent resort to it only in the national strength in meditating on time of trouble. Buddhism in Siam the law of Buddha? is regnant and strongly entrenched, Population is kept down not only but not so deeply seated as to exclude by monasticism, but also by the s~range a liberal spirit. Siam is an open and,
EDITORIAL NOTES OX CURRENT TOPICS
so far, a welcoming mission-field. But Some encouragement has been met Thibet has little contact with the na- with by the faithful and self-denying tions, and is not touched by the spirit missionaries, and though the fruits of the age. Yet even Thibet has not are meagre tJ:1ey have no thought of been despaired of as a mission-field. retreat. They have translated por- tions of the Scriptures into Thibetan, The Moravians, whose province it and at two stations they have printing has been to enter inhospitable fields presses at work in mUltiplying copies which no others were likely to choose, for the use of the people. Rev. A. C. established a mission in the lofty Thompson, D.D., in his admirable mountain town of Keyelang in 1856. book on "Moravian Missions," says, They experienced great difficulty in very justly: "Seldom have Moravian reaching their chosen field, and when laborers had a severer trial of their settled at last they found themselves faith and patience than amid these at the great height of 10,000 feet strongholds of Buddhism. But in that above the sea. Dark skies, almost dreary , Dwelling of Snow,' near the perpetual snow, except in narrow headwaters of the Indus, the Sutlej valleys, scanty vegetation and general and the Ganges, they have enkindled gloominess and sterility are thenatural a beacon light; they are occupying characteristics of the country. The advanced posts and preparing a base pessimism of the Buddhist faith seems for movements into Thibet proper, and well suited to the general environ- into China from the west." ment.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Need of Oaution. last, wholly an individual work of faith, looking for support to no other In view of censure, already noted in orgauization, nor to any system of these columns, as rather freely applied solicitation of funds, public or private. in a certain quarter to a work of evan- It seems, therefore, to be in no proper gelization among the Jews which has, sense the "mission" of any other enjoyed the confidence of the Christian body, to which a' detailed account of ministry and people of all denomina- proceedings would be due; nor yet in tions in this city for a number of such a sense a child of the Christian years past, we have availed ourselves public at large as to invite an account of information from a disinterested of that sort, which might be thought source in which we have confidence, to savor rather of uncalled-for ostento the following effect: tation than of duty, precisely as it would in the case of a~y other of our The Hebrew Christian Church in city churches. Nevertheless, all con- St. Mark's Place, of which the Rev. tributions have been publicly acknowl- Jacob Freshman is pastor and founder, edged in detail, and the general dishas been organized about eight years, position of them explained in the during which it has steadily grown Annual of the church and in the quarup from the feeblest of beginnings to terly issues of The Hebrew Christian. an effective centre of evangelization, Contributions have thus been classed not only in this but in other cities of in three kinds: (1) All collections and this country, in Paris, and even in donations, not expressly otherwise Jerusalem itself. Although enjoying d3signated, have been devoted to the advice and sympathy of other church and missionary expenses, exchurches, through an invited Commit- clusive of the support of the pastor; tee of leading pastors and laymen of (2) such donations only as have been the several denominations, who have never ceased their fraternal interest ,expressly designated for personal use in its affairs, it has been, from first to have been appropriated to the necessi- tions towards reducing the mortgage ties of the pastor, leaving him wholly to a small encumbrance. J. M. S. dependent on the providential response to faith, without salary or visible We rejoice to see that Senator Mormeans of support, and subject at times to severe trials; (3) contributions des- gan, of Alabama, has introduced a ignated for the building fund, which are at once turned over to the bus- bill instructing the Committee on Fortees of the church property, for the extinguishment of the debt thereon. eign Relations to ascertain and repOlt To these may be added a fourth fund, now closed, 'which was confidentially the best methods for increasing trade contributed for Mr. Freshman's recent missionary journey to Jerusalem, re- and commerce between the Congo sulting in the establishment of a branch mission in that city under the Free State and the United States, and charge of a Hebrew Christian convert, supported by the little church in St. the obstacles, if there are any, in the Mark's Place and its friends. Further, concerning the accounts: to the trus- way of such trade and commerce and tees, who are men of well-known and high Christian standing, and also to other intercourse. The resolution is the distinguished clergymen and laymen who constitute the advisory com- timely, in view of the statement that mittee, full' and systematic book accounts are understood to be ahvays the United States did not formallyacopen, including the detailed expenditures to which invidious reference cept the conclusions of the Berlin has been made; and auditing committees have made actual examinations Conference, and therefore holds no and published reports thereon. It i~ possible that self-appointed investiga- political or civil rights for its people tors (perhaps unconsciously prompted through the malice of a certain crafty in tile Congo Free State. One of the Jewish Sanballat, or Gashmu) may have failed to obtain a search warrant avowed objects of Senator Morgan is which it would be impertinent to ask. It is well known that the Jewish per- to secure those rights; another is to secutor referred to has exerted himself persistently to undermine Mr. encourage the wealthy and enterpris- Freshman's work, not only by scurrilous articles in the savory columns ing negroes of this country to emigrate of the Truth Seeker, but also by cunning communications to the leading to the Congo Free State, and engage friends of the work, and to editors of religious newspapers, one of whom in trade or in such other beneficial enhas perhaps been induced to listen, in ignorance of the character and mo- terprises as may be open before them. tives of the man. In the interest of commerce and mis- The cost of the church property has been about $25,000, of which $15,000 sions, and especially of the future of have been paid, and substantial prog- the colored race, we hope CongreH>'I , ress has been made by recent subscrip- will rise to the dignity of such a sub- ject, and by prompt and enlightened action afford evidence that it under- stands and appreciates the significance of Africa's present condition, the result of a series of marvelous proyidential interpositions. We cannot but regard the opening up of the Dark Con- tinent by a brilliant succession of heroic explorations and the extension of European gm'ernments over im- mense areas of territory, and the in- troduction of railroads, enterpriHf', commerce and Christian civilization, as shedding light on the" Negro Prob- lem" among us. We earnestly hope that our Government will take a wise and active part in the matter of the Congo Free State, and in all otlwr feasible ways for the benefit of Africa. J. 11. S.
Facts from Mission Fields.
The year 1889 is the fiftieth anni- versary of the martyrdom of John "Villiams. who fell on Erromanga. relating to their own missions, which It is a very remarkable and significant we give from month to month. Its fact that his murderer's youngest son plan of sending out monthly a letter is to-day, as a professing disciple, ad- giving in condensed form the latest dressing crowds in Sydney, New South news from their various fields, is an Wales; and his oldest son, now past admirable one, and we wish other so- 60 years, has asked to be instructed in cieties would follow the example. It the way of salvation, and is now being is, in fact, an advance sheet of fresh taught by the missionaries on Erro- and important news, and the facts are manga the way of life! What hath eagerly caught up by busy editors and God wrought! Truly the "field is given to the public. J. M. S.
the world, and the good seed are the " The American Board Almanac of children of the kingdom /" John Missions" for 1890 is a thing of beauty Williams died and was buried as God's as well as utility. It is crowded with seed, and here is a part of the visible matters of interest and information harvest. respecting missions. It is sent by mail Hayti presents in its past history for 10 cents a copy, $1.00 a dozen, $6 and present condition one of the worst a hundred. Send orders to C. E.
types of paganism. Cannibalism of Sweet, 1 Somerset St., Boston. See our the worst kind prevails. Not simply advertising sheet in January number are human beings eaten, not only are for fuller account. J. M. S.
those who are devoured captives or prisoners taken in war or by violence Our associate, Dr. Pierson, is meet- ing with great success in London and forcannibal purposes, butfamily feasts Scotland. Enthusiastic crowds, fill- ing the largest churches and halls in are held where those who partake ac- Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and wherever he goes, flock to hear his tually eat the flesh of a member of the addresses. He has averaged two or more addresses a day, we believe, family / Children are devoured as a since he landed at Liverpool. In his last letter he says: " Every day is filled delicacy by their own mothers, who with engagements to the 1st of May, and even June if I will consent to reassert and justify their right thus to ap- main." The interest is intense. All ranks and classes and denominations propriate the fruit of their own womb. are engaged in the work, and impor- tant results must flow from it. This is under no pressure of hunger or J. M. S. want. .It is simply a proof of the fact that the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cmelty. An attempt was made by a governor of Hayti to suppress the atrocity by exe- cuting those engaged in such a canni- bal feast, but he was driven from the throne and compelled to take refuge in the neighboring island of Jamaica, the condition of which, under the in- [We have received a letter from an fluence of a pure gospel, is a sufficient aged minister of Christ, in the course of which occur the following signifi- . refutation of the charge that missions cant words.-EDs.] are a failure. These two islands, side " My attention has for forty years been fixed upon those professors of religion who may be by side, are a standing monument of called •average Christians.' They compose a very large part of the Church, and questions the respective influences of the gospel like these have often arisen: Are they Chris- tians? Are they a help or a hindrance to th" and paganism, even when a nominal cause of Christ? Ought not special efforts to be made to reach them for their own sake and Christianity like Romanism touches for the sake of the cause of Christ?
its awful death shade. A. T. P. "I was not a little surprised some time ago to find in Dr. Geikie's • Hours with the Bible" We desire here to express our indebtedness to the Baptist Missionary Union for various missionary items the following very strong endorsement of this sionary MassConvootion of the Northclass (p. 317): ' No career could have been west," under the auspices of the Methmore uneventful than Isaac's, but it showed at odist Episcopal Church, to meet at least that a path of modest retirement may Clear Lake Park in July of this year: honor God as much as one of more prominent "Rev. A. T. Pierson, D. D.: action. Our Lord's authority is vouchsafed for his having passed from earth to heaven at ,, Your suggestion some time ago his death.' It seems to me that there is great that the Church should gather toerror just at this point through all branches of gether an Exposition of 'the Results of the Church. I have no recollection of seeing Missions from all parts of the world, anything published bearing upon it except in and the suggestion of the Spirit of a volume of discourses by Dr. Skinner, en· Missions that at the next World's titled 'Religion of the Bible,' issued about Fair would be a good place for the the time I left the Union Seminary in 1841. In display of such an exposition, ought the first discourse, on 'Spiritual Religion,' he to be acted on, and that without dequotes Dr. John Mason Good as saying, on his lay. Three years would be short death-bed, 'I have taken what unfortunately enough time to gather and arrange the generality of Christians too much take-I the materials. We are 'about to gather have taken the middle walk of Christianity.' the material for a Missionary Museum The discourse which follows is a description of on an extensive scale at Clear Lake, spiritual religion, not of the 'middle walk.' Iowa, for use in our Annual Conven- It seems to me an appeal to average Christians tions. I think that our Missionary urging them to consider the nature and re: Secretaries could be interested in the sults of their religion; might be made that matter and all materials gathered would have a great awakening effect. Just could be used at the World's Fair, and here is one of the chief reasons why the cause then be dispersed to our different Misof missions is not more flourishing: average sionary Centers for continued and Christians regard missions as something which perpetual use. You ought to be able may be passed by without endangering their from your central position to interest standing in the Church or their final salvation. all the Missionary Boards. I would It seems to me, judging from the fullness and like to be informed of the prospect, pungency of your writings on missions, that and would be glad to assist. We could this whole subject must have passed through interest all our missionaries. Let me your mind. An article of yours in the' New hear of the prospect." York Observer' of July 25, entitled' First the Kingdom, 'bears in that direction and encour- A subscriber congratulates the ages me in asking you to put before the Church, editors upon their success during the in the form which seems best to you, an appeal past year, and says: to average Christians. You have the eye and ear of the Church, and can make yourself " You have given us a magnificent heard as few others can. Will you not try i11" magazine. I hope you will be pros- perous and successful in the coming We feel such sympathy with the year. If you would place before us above, that we purpose in due time to for Monthly Concert in tabulated form, the complete missionary forces prepare for these pages an appeal to in the respectiye fields presented, you the average Christian. It is the great would give what is greatly needed. body of the Church that need arous- What the more progressive friends of ing, and that, so far, are doing next to missions desire is not simply their respective denominational forces, sucnothing for missions. Out of a con- cesses, cost, etc., but with their own gregation that numbers from 4,000 to that of all other societies-' the u'orld 5,000, it has been found, by actual in- rather than the society view of the vestigation, that only 386 are known to work." contribute anything regularly to the support of the Gospel! How large then We think our brother scarcely ap- must be the proportion in all Christendom who have no active interest, by gifts or even by prayers, in the great mission work of the world!
We have received the following suggestion from Rev. S. P. Marsh, of Iowa, Corresponding Secretary of the "Mispreciates the imnl>nse labor he would earth," they ,"vould exclaim: "What lay upon our overtaxed shoulders hath God wrought!" That first con- when he asks each month a complete tribution of £13, 2s. and 6d. has showing of each field treated. More- grown to between two arid three mil- over, one entire department of this lions of pounds a year. That cottage REVIEW is given up to the exhibit of is, we understand, still to be seen.
just such facts, so far and so fast as The English Baptists ought to buy it we are able to gather reliable figures. and make it a missionary museum Vould it be wise to encumber our where the relics of idolatry and super- pages with such repetitions? By a stition might be preserved as a witness little careful search in these pages any of what God has wrought. A. T. P.
pastor may collate on anyone field all the figures at our disposal. A. T. P. Asceticism in Missions."
The crisis of missions is evidently [Our editorial correspondent and translator of our foreign magazines upon us, and this seems to be the grow- sends us the following, which also ex- presses our own jUdgment.-J. M. S.] ing conviction in every part of the " I am glad to see Dr. Ellinwood's field. A missionary who has labored sound and healthful paper on Asceti- cism in Missions in the January RE- 26 years in India says: "India is now VIEW. There seems to be setting in a craze for this. But, at home or abroad, ready for our work, and if this crisis asceticism for asceticism's sake is neither Protestant nor Evangelical. is not met by the Church at least two For a definite end, individual or social, it may, like everything else, or three generations will pass before be sometimes eminently serviceable, but to set it up in a vague way as an equal opportunity can be offered." a model to strike people with admira- tion, is really nothing but a particular From Brazil the word comes: "This fashion of " striking an attitude." It is the beginning of all the wretched land is ready; thousands would accept uneasiness and trickery of self-salva- the gospel if they only had preachers."
One writes concerning China: "A thousand missionaries are worth more now than ten thousand ten years from now. As for Japan, it is melted and waiting for moulding. What shall the mould be: Christianity or infidel- ity?" A.T.P.
1892 ought to be kept as a great an- tion.
niversary, and Kettering ought to be " It is a wonder that those who are the place of pilgrimage. disposed to think that it is a source of When we think of foreign missions strength in Roman Catholic Inissions we must not forget that, strictly speak- do not consider that their mission- ing, they are the outcome of the aries are unmarried, not because they present century. It was in 1792 that are missionaries, but only because twelve Baptist ministers met in the they are priests. And as to asceti- little cottage of Widow Wallis, at cism generally, the Jesuits-the mis- Kettering, and formed the first En- sionary order by pre-eminence in that glish society proper for" propagating Church-are, for Roman Catholics, al- the gospel among the heathen." most the least disposed to asceticism Since then what marvelous Iniracles for its own sake. They are ready to have been wrought! What gigantic undergo any amount of privation in strides taken by this magnificent the way of their work, but are very movement! If these twelve men little given to affecting it where it is could come back to-day and see how not providentially imposed. Sim- the little "mustard seed" has de- plicity of living is a Christian and a ,eloped till it has become a mighty missionary obligation. But an affec- tree ., whose branches co,er the tation of luxury and an affecta-
1:;6 QROAXIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
tion of squalor are the two opposite producing, he yet adtls: "To the great evils which the Christian and the mis- laboring, toiling mass of the Indian sionary ought to avoid, although people there could be no more benefi- doubtless he ought to incline rather to cent influence than the daily coming bareness than to sumptuousness. Dr. in and going out among th~m of a Ellinwood's article is just the right Christian missionary and his wife thing. CHARLES C. STARBUCK. and children. To millions of their " Andover, Mass." Indian fellow-subjects the missionary We add a word on the subject from family was the great daily object Sir William Hunter, who is constantly lesson of the Christian life. But referred to as the highest authority on besides these millions there were hun- civil and political matters in India. dreds of thousands of men of a cul- In a recent address before the British ture which demanded another method Baptist Missionary Society he defines of attack." "This certainly," says " Asceticism" as "merely a life of the Missionary Herald, from which quiet self-denial." He speaks of it as we get this testimony, "is a weighty one of the methods to be employed, testimony, and it commends itself to and by no means the sole method. all who hold the doctrine set forth by 'While he bears solemn witness to the Paul, • I am become all things to all ,aluable results which the celibate men that I might by all means save luission brotherhoods in India were some.' " T. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS. * Woman's Missionary Societies of Oanada. general society. They have a successful work in India-schools and Bible women-but no I. Woman's Foreign Missionary So- ciety Presbyterian Church in Can- statistics are at hand. Income for the year, ada. $5,000. WESTERN DIVISION. Ill. Woman's Baptist Missionary So- Secretary, Mrs. Shortreed, 218 Ontario St., Toronto, Canada. ciety of Ontario and Quebec.
Periodical: Monthly Letter Leaflet, Toronto. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. H. H. Fields-The New Hebrides; Trinidad, Brit· ish Guiana, West Coast; China, Honan; For· Humphrey, Toronto. mosa; Central India, and Indians of Canada. Ho-me Force-Presbyterial societies, 25; aux- We are obliged to use last year's annual re- iliaries, 4m'; mission bands, 156. Income for port, as that for 1889 is not issued at the time the year, $80,000. we write, and as the society is organized into EASTERN DIVISION. provincial divisions it is not quite easy to pre- Mrs. Burns. President, Halifax, N. S. sent a summary of their work in our brief This division has 9() auxiliaries, 35 mission space. bands, and 4,000 members, and income for the year $6,000. During the year two Presbyterial Field.-The stations in India occupied by societies have been formed and six auxiliaries organized. Fields the same as Western Di- this society are Cocanada, Samulcotta and vision. Tuni. . II. Woman's Baptist Missionary Union of Maritime Provinces. IV. Woman's Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, Canada. Corresponding Secretary, lIIrs. John March, St. Johns, N. B. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. E. S. Strachan, 113 Hughson St., Hamilton, Onto This society occupies the same fields as the This society is divided into five branches. [* The Home Work of the M. E. C. in our There are 800 auxiliaries, with 7,173 annual and 39Q life members, and 123 mission bands, January number, page 76, second column, 20th with 3,511 members. Income for the past line from top to 32d line, inclusive, got mis- year, $22,806; an increase of $8,285. placed in the make-up, and connected with that of M. E. C. South, whose Home force was This society has work among the Indians, already stated. Please connect it with the the French, the Chinese in America, and previous Society, No. XII.-EDs.J Japan. Four ladies were sent to Japan this past year. They have a very successful board- ing school at Tokio, with 150 boarders. A new school has been opened at Kofu.
Publication department in the missionary Outlook. V. Woman's Auxiliary to the Board N. ,V. Periodical: OurSistersinOtherLands of Diocesan, Domestic and Foreign Missions, Church of England. 14 Paternoster Row, London. '
The headquarters of this auxiliary is To- Fields and Force- China, Swatow, For. ronto. They collect about $15,000, and have a departmeut in the Canadian Church Magazine mo~a, Amoy, the Haka Country, Singapore, and Mission News. No report of distinct work. IndIa, Rampore, Bauleah. No summary of European Woman's Missionary Sooieties, statistics is available. They conduct board- I. Indian Female Normal School and Instruction Society. ing, day and Sunday· schools, and hospital 2 Adelphi Ten'ace, London, W. C. Periodi- work. Income, $3,755. cal: The Indian Female Evangelist; quarterly. V. Central Committee and Church Woman's Association of the Scot- Fields and Force.-Bombay Presidency, 13 stations: Madras, 2; Northwest Provinces, tish Episcopal Church. 9; Orissa, 1; Punjaub, 1. Missionaries and assistants, 63; native teachers and Bible women, ~onvener, Miss H. Mackenzie, 28 Nelson St., 175; Zenanas visited, 1,353. Eight years ago Edmburgh. Office of ASSOCiation, 122 George the mission staff numbered 106, now 238; St., Edinburgh. Periodical: The Jllission then there "rere 26 schools, now 66. Then, Chronicle. total under instruction 1,296; now 4,150. Medical treatment in 1888 given to 9,338 Fields-South Africa and India. That in patients. In 1881 the income was $34,710. In Africa was begun in 1873. and lies in Indepen- 1888 it was $67,885. dent Kaffraria, a district about as large as Scotland; that of India is at Chamba, a dis· II. Ladies' Society for Female Edu- tant part of the diocese of Calcutta. The pres· cation in India and South Africa. ent number of members co·operating with the (Free Church of Scotland.) committee is 3,080, and the annual subscrip- tion amounts to $1,925. Offices of Free Church, Edinburgh. Periodical: Woman's Work in Heathen Lands; qnar· VI. Ladies' Association for the Christerly. J. and R. Pro'lane, Paisley, Edinbnrgh. tian Education of Jewish Females (Church of Scotland). Fields and Force.-India and Africa. In India five principal stations, includiug Cal- Secretary, Miss Tawse, 11 Royal Terrace, cutta, are in Bengal; Western Indian ineIudes Edinburgh. the stations Bombay, Poona, Berar, and Jalno. ~ladras and Nagpore are centres with Fields-They support schools in Smyrna, a variety of work. Africa includes Kafraria Salonica, Alexandria, Constantinople and Beywith Lovedale and other stations, Transkel rout,with missionary ladies at each place, and and NataL a total of 16 assistant teachers.
The grand total of missionaries is 34, of VII. The London Bible and Domeswhich 13 are in Africa; native Christian agents tic Female Mission. number 181; total, 215. The pupils count 6,738, of ,vhich 1,758 are in Africa. Income, Office, 2 Adelphi Terrace, Strand, London, $44,065. W. C. Periodical: Bible Women and Nurses. Cassel & Co., London and New York. III. Church of England Zenana Mis- sionary Society. Besides a large and most noble missionary work in the poorest parts of London, carried Office, 9 SaJisburySquare, London, Periodi· on through Bible women and Bible women cal: India's Women (bi-monthly); Daybreak nurses, this Society operates on some foreign (for young people, quarterly). JaB. Nisbet & fields, but we have no data of that part of its Co., 21 Berners St., London, ·W. work.
Fields and F01'ces-India, China, Japan. VIII. British Syrian Mission Schools Missionaries 105; assistants 57; Bible women and Bible Work. 139; native teachers 368. Over 7,000 children in scbools. Medical work also is carried on. Corresponding Secretary, Bliss Poulton, 18 This year the Society has commenced work in Homefield Road, Wimbledon, London. Peri· Ceylon for the first time. Income 1881, $68,200; odical: Daughters of Syria. Seeley & Co., 1888, $138,265. Essex St., Strand, London IV. Women's Missionary Associa- Tbe mission originated to relieve the con- tion of the Presbyterian Church of dition of the 20,000 widows and daughters of England. the Maronites and Greeks, whose husbands and fathers were massacred by the Drnzes in President of General Committee, I<lrs. H. 111. 1860. The work has been extended and ar· Matheson, Heathlands, Hampstead, London, rests general attention, Fields and Force-It operates at Beyrout, Damascus, Hasbeiya, Mount Lebanon, Code- Syria and Tyre. The Jllount Lebanon depart· ment has 7 stations, making the total of sta· tions 12; foreign workers 21; native workers 120; adherents 920; schools 29; scholars 2,779. The income is $1,120 IX. Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wes- ants, 30; native Bihle women, 55: native school leyan Methodist Missionary So- teachers, 59; boarding and day schools for ciety. girls, 50. They have a normal school for training Bible women at Calcutta, also one at President and Treasurer, Mrs. Lidgett, 69 Delhi. Income, $31, .55. Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, London, S. E. Issnes quarterly papers. XIII. Church of Scotland Ladies' Association for Foreign Missions, Fields and Force-Europe, Spain, and Italy, India, Ceylqn, China, Africa, South and West. including Zenana Work. It supports 86 missionary workers. The annual report has no su=aries, hence it is Periodical: News of Female Missions. R. difficult to properly present this work. They and R. Clark, agents, Edinburgh. report checkerd success in India. At Negapatam, India, the members of the Hindu Tract Fields and Force-India, Calcutta, Madras, Society have been lecturing and distributing Poona (Zenana mission, orphanage, female tracts, warning their fellows against Christian medical mission), Darjeeling, Sialkott, Chamschools, with only too painful success. ba; Africa, Blantyre. Missionaries appointed in Scotland, 15; in India, 11; native agents, Their income has slightly fallen off this year, 6; male, 76; female, 82; non-Christian, 24; being $38,140, and they close the year with a scholars, 2,522; Zenanas visited, 59; houses small debt. regularly visited, 200; patients at Poona dis- pensary, 2,526. Income, $33,450; the largest in X. Ladies' Committee of the London its history. Missionary Society. XIV. Zenana Mission of the Irish Office, 14 Biornfield St., London Wall, Lon- Misswnary Society_ don. Periodical: Quarterly News of Woman's Work. John Snow & Co., London. We have only the local report of the mission in Gujerat and Kattiawar with the Zenana Field. and Force-China, India, and Mada- Mission before us. It appears from this that gascar. Lady missionaries, 36; wives of there are two missionary ladies engaged in missionaries, 45; schools, 148; pupils, 7,507; educational and Zenana work at Surat, and native teachers,l38; Zenana agents, 114; Ze- one in medical work; als02 assistants and 6 nana pupils, 2,982. Income, $28,760. native Christian agents, and 15 non-Christian teachers. At Borsad there are two mission' XI. Ladies' Association for the Pro- aries. At Ahmedabad there are others; also motion of Female Education (So- a medical mission, and 8 native Christian ciety for the Propagation of the agents, with 9 non-Christian teachers. Anand Gospel). and Broach also appear as stations.
Office, 19 Delahay St., Westminster, Lon· XV. Miss Walker – Arnot's Tabitha don, S. W. Periodical: The Grain of Mustard Mission at Jaffa. Seed Gardner, Darton & Co., 2 Paternoster Building. Hon. Secretary, Miss E. Walker-Arnott, 24 St. Bernard's Crescent, London. Fields-India, following the lines of the Dioceses of the Church of England, including that This simple organization has been in existof Rangoon, Japan, Tokio and Kobe; Mada- ence 25 years. The field is designated in the gascar, four principal stations; South Africa, corporate title, which we give above. The following the lines of the five Episcopal dio- boarding school numbers 60 residents, of whom ceses; Capetown, Zululand, etc., India. Mis- 12 were Javesses, and the day schools 100 sionaries, 45; native teachers, 85; Japan mis- pupils. The receipts last year were $4,825. sionaries, 3; native teachers, 2; Madagascar missionaries, 6; native teachers, 14; South XVI. Helping Hands Zenana Asso- Africa missionaries, 7; native teachers. 4. ciation (Young Ladies)_ Total missionaries, 61; native teachers, 105. It speaks well for the ladies of England, that Office, 42 B. Fulham Road, London, S. W. of these, 12 are honorary missionaries. Publication: It utilizes India's Jewels for pub- lication of its correspondents. XII Ladies' Association for the Support of Zenana Work and Bible The society co-operates with the Indian Fe· Women in India,-Baptist_ male Normal School and Instruction Society at Jaunpore, Benares and Lucknow; "ith the Mrs. Angus, Honorable Secretary. The Col- Church Missionary Society at Brindabun: with lege, Regents Park, London. Periodical: Our the 'Church of England Zenana Mission at Am- Indian Sisters; quarterly. Elliot Stock, 62 ritzar, and with the Ladies' Association of Paternoster Row, London. the S. P. G., and the London ~1issionary Society at Belgaum. The distinct branch, Fields and Force-Stations in India, at prin- known as the Nurse's Missionary Association, cipal cities, 18; lady Zenana visitors, 42; assist- trains as nurses those who wish to assist mis- sions abroad.
1890.J PROGRESS OF MISSIO.TS-lIIO.TTHLY BLLLETIN
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Afrlca.-The Niger Mission. Rev. W. -A general conference of Chinese mission- Allan, of West Africa, thus summarizes the aries will meet at Shanghai May 7, 1890, and vast changes that have taken place since the continue for ten days. Rev. J. R. Goddard, of Gospel was first preached at Bonny, in Africa: Ningpo, is the secretary.
.. The worship of the iguana is overthrown, -The totals of missions in China are: 39 the priest is a regular attendant at the house societies, 526 male missionaries and 597 of God, and the iguana itself converted into an women; total, 1,123 miSsionaries; 162 native article of food. The Juju temple, which a few ordained helpers, 1,278 unordained, 34,555 comyears ago was decorated with twenty thou- municants in the churches, and 14,817 pupils sand skulls of murdered victims, I found rot- in schools; $44,173 were contributed by the tingawayin ruin and decay. Ipassedthrough churches the past year, and the net increase the grove which was formerly the receptacle in membership was 2,295.
of so many murdered infants, and I found it France.-The Statistics of France for had become the regular highway from the 1888 contain some sad facts respecting family town to the church, and that the priest was life. Compared with 1887 the decrease in mar- now a baptized Christian. I went ashore and riages was 212, while there were 6,360 less than addressed 885 worshippers, including the in 1886. There were 1,702 more divorces than .. king, the three former heathen priests, chiefs, in 1887, and 1,758 more than in 1886; the total and a multitude of slaves, and was thankful number waS 4,708. The decrease in the num- to ascertain that the work of conversion was ber of births since 1887 was 16,794. Since still going on; for. in addition to 648 persons 1884 there has been an annual decrease in already baptized, of whom 265 are communi- births. In 1884 there were 937,758 births ; in cants, there are over 700 at Bonny alone who. 1888, the number was 882,637. In illegitimate are now under instruction. " – Missionary births there is, however, an increase. In 1881 Herald. they were 7.5 per cent.; in 1888, 8.5. In the -In Northern Africa has lately been dis- Seine department 25 per cent. of the births covered a river that has worn a bed through were illegitimate. The official report states the rock 300 feet deep, and then makes a per- that if it were not for the illegitimate births pendicular leap 650 feet, while all around are there would actually be a decrease in the deep, yawning chasms and gigantic peaks. population of France.
-The pupils o{the Huguenot Seminary at -Miss Grant Brown, who with two other ladies lately made a mission tour in Corsica, Wellington, South Africa, have formed the Huguenot Missionary Society, which sends out reports that wherever they traveled they held from its ranks missionaries to labor among the daily meetings which were thronged by people heathen in Africa. The lady principal, Miss eager to learn the truth. The work met with Ferguson, and the other teachers, are all much opposition from the priests; but the earnest' Christians, and seek to lead all the civil authorities were generally friendly, and pupils to Christ. in several villages the mayors offered the use – The Moravians have projected a mission of rooms. In one village three men volun· teered to stand every Sunday in the market on the Victoria Nyanza, but have been unable place, and read the Gospel to their countryto establish it by the lack of funds. Just be- men. There is no Protestant church on the fore the opening of lheir General Synod this island. year news was brought that a legacy of be· tween $25,000 and 30,000 had fallen to the Germany.-According to the Statisti- Church, and it is probable that the work will cal Year Book of Germany for 1889, the latest speedily be carried forward, as the men are data on the religious status of the country are ready. these: 29,369,847 Evangelicals, 16,785,734 Catholics, 125,673 other Christians, 563,172 Deymah. -A Mission School is to be established by Rev. E. W. Kelly, of lVlandalay, Jews, 11,278 confessors of other religions or on the very spot where Dr. Adoniram Judson, professing no religion at all. The Evangelicals the first missionary from America, suffered include Lutherans, Reformed and the United the cruel imprisonment at Oungpenla. Church, .:. e., the union formed in 1817 in Prus- Chlna.-Rev. J. W. Stevenson writes sia and sorne other States between the two from Shanghai: "I am happy to report 27 Protestant confessions; the Catholics include 'baptisms this week, viz., 12 at Gan-ren, 7 at Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics and old Nan-k'ang, by Mr. McCarthy; 3 at Chau-kia· Catholics; the other Christians represented k'eo, by Mr. Coulthart; and 5 at Ning-hai- are United Brethren, Baptists, Mennonites, chau, by Mr. Judd. Mr. McCarthy baptized in Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists.
all during his tour in Kiang-si 66 persons, and Quakers, Irvingites, German Catholics, Free he reports quite a number of inquirers. At Religionists and Dissenters. In 1871 the pro· Chau-kia-k'eo a great fire has devastated the portions were these: 25,581,685 Evangelicals, place, and 3,000 families are said to be burnt 14,869,292 Catholics, 82,158 other Christians, out of house and home." 512,153 Jews, 17,156 of other or no religion. The most noteworthy features of these figures pany did everything possible to keep mission- is that while the Evangelicals and the Catho- aries out of India; now the British East African lics have grown in equal proportions, the Company has invited the Church Missionary number of " other" Christians has increased Society to place missionaries at all the stations in much larger proportion. This is evidence of the company as fast as they are opened. sufficient that the propaganda made by the various denominations of England and Ameri- Italy.-Ten thousand Italian priests cain Germany has not been unsuccessful. This have secretly signed a petition to the govern- is one of the factors that is slowly but evi- ment praying for protection against the tyr- dently surely at work toward the disestablish- annyof the Vatican. They have been prom- ment of the Protestant Church of the land of ised assistance by several deputies, who will Luther. plead their cause in Parliament.
-The Sixty-sixth Annual Report of the Japan.-It is said that there are more Berlin Society for the Promotion of Christian- than 1,000 pnpils in a single, rapidly-growing ity amongst the Jews shows than two mission- Sunday-school in Okayanla, Japan. aries and one colportenr are employed by the Society, and that its income during the year -Results oCa Japanese Earthquake, Ac- 1888 amounted to 25,593 marks 42 pfennigs cording to the official return of the damage (about £1,279), which, with a balance of caused by the recent earthqnake at Kumamo- 46,34i marks 54 pfennigs from 1887, made the to, in Southem Japan, the loss in that pre- total receipts of the year 71,925 marks 1 pfen- fecture alo!le-an area ronghly equal to that nig. The expenditure was 41,219 marks 46 of a medium-sized English county – was as pfennigs, leaving a balance of 30,705 marks 55 follows: 234 houses completely ruined; 239 • pfennings in hand. Pastor Hausig, a former partially destroyed; 19 persons killed, and 58 missionary of the London Soci8ty, is secretary injured; at 893 places there were fissures in of the Berlin Society. the ground; roads were destroyed iu 137 places; forests injured at 17; building lots and – The Gustavus Adolphus Society, to carry cultivated land at 3,336 places, and embank- the gospel into Catholic countries, last year ments at 45 places; 24 bridges were entirely received $230,000, 01' $5,600,000 since 1832. The destroyed and 41 damaged, and the water in society has had 1,444 applications for aid from 138 wells became muddy and unfit for con- Roman Catholic countries. sumption.
Indla.-Perhaps one ofthe most notable Korea_A traveler in Korea writes: testimonies to the success of miSSionary labor "Buddha 'worship, as conducted among Koin India and other countries was made during reans, is a species of idol-worship. Diviners the recent Baptist Union Conference at Bir- walk the streets in the persons of blind men mingham, when Sir W. Hunter, before a gath- lTUh long staffs, W]lO anllounce their pl'esenee ering of 4,000 people, gave his experience of with a peculiar professional cry. Demonmissionary work. He simply dealt with the worship prevails in various superstitious pracnlatter as, to use his own term., "' a secular tices, to ward off disease and other ills of life." man and a layman," and in doing so pointed out that during the ten years from 1871 to 1881 Russia. – Twelve hundred converts the Christian popnlation of India had increased 64 per cent. as compared with the 11 have been baptized in the Baptist Mission in per cent. increase of the general popnlation, Russia in the past two years. The lliission is and that the Indian native Protestant Chris- principally among the German colonists in tians had now grown up into a native Protest- South Russia. There is also a snccessful misant Church, with their own pastors, number- sion in Ronmania and Bulgaria. ing 576, and their own native lay preachers, 2,756 in number. "Missionary work," he 8weden.-The minutes of tile Swedish added, "is one of the greatest and best works Augustana Synod gives 291 ministers, 582 conat present going on in India; it has been rich gregations, 425 church edifices and 191 parsonin results in the past, and is fraught with in- ages, valued at $2,503,304; 74,2,'J4 commnnicalcnlable blessings for the future." cants, 5,935 baptisms, 3,263 confirmations, 288 parochial teachers, and 11,506 pupils. Synodi· -The Mission College at Ahmednugar has cal treasury, $1,526.44; education, $16,414.4f; won for itself such a high place among the home missions, $15,901.63; foreign mission" govemment officials that they have increased $6,60•.39; orphan homes, church extensioll, their grant-in-aid nearly fourfold for a term etc., $27,749_54; congregational expense", of five years. The school for girls nnder the $511,986.40; total, $580,823.58. charge of the Misses Bissell, in their fine new. building, is a busy hive or Christian instruc- -Baptist progress in Sweden is one of the tion, full of hope and cheer. Five new village most remarkable religious movements of the churches have been organized during the year present time. Revivals are constant. In in the vicinity of Ahmednugar, Mr. Robert twenty years the nnmber of church members Hume.being specially active in mission work has advanced from 7,900 to 32,308. The bapin these rural districts." tisms in 1888 were 2,390.
-Seventy years ago the East India Com- -Swltzerland has 1,162 Sunday·schouls, with 5,459 teachers, and 84,000 scholars. Sweden has 3,340 Sunday-schools, -with 15,000 teachers and 220,000 scholars. Austria' has 140 Sunday-schools, with 312 teachers and 4,51!) scholars.
The Missionary Review of the World — February 1889
THE VINDICATION OF MISSIONS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD~ VOL. XI. No.2-Old series.–FEBRUARY.–VoL. II. No. 2.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. THE VINDIOATION OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] ALL along the lines Satan seems to sound the signal for an assault on mISSIOns. Perchance the day has dawned, foreseen in apocalyptic vision, when" the devil is come down, having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time'" (Rev. xii: 12). Oertainly there is, just now, a very unusual commotion among the foes of Ohrist and His Ohurch, and it is manifestly caused by the unparalleled progress of Ohristian missions.
Satan is a master strategist. His favorite device is to employ respect~ able agents, and, best of all, professing disciples, to do his business. He disguises the personnel of the attack by getting them to hold the bow while he directs and discharges the venomous arrow. And so we find leading journals of America and Great Britain, and even a Oanon of the Anglican Ohurch, indulging in unfair and unfriendly criticism, and actually trying to prove" Ohristian missions a great failure" !
As to that" distinguished clergyman of the Ohurch of England," too much notice has been taken of him already. lIe has bought a cheap notoriety by his antagonism to missions, without ever earning a costly reputation by his defense of the faith. In the November issue of the Ohurch Missionary Intelligencer our friend" K." has given him and his paper an examination and an exposure so searching, so skillful, so analytic, so critical, that it leaves nothing for any other reviewer to do., . That scholarly article we wish everyone might read. It is at once a dissection and a castigation, reminding us both of the scalpel and of the scourge. The accomplished writer, with keen analysis of character and thorough knowledge of missions, cuts quick and deep beneath the cuticle of snperficial information and professed impartiality, and reveals the real ignorance of facts and perversion of the truth which vitiate th':) Oanon's essay. lIe calmly and coolly exposes and elucidates the entire structure of that misleading, if not malicious, paper, and justifies the judgment already pronounced upon its author by a very competent observer, that the" like of him for pretentious inaccuracy was hardly ever seen." In another aspect that reply isa terrible castigation. Long before "K." gets through, his victim is, figuratively speaking, dead under the scourge; and we wonder why the whipping goes on, unless it be on the principle of the boy who kept on beating a dead dog, because, as he said, "he wanted to show all living dogs that there is punishment after death." We hesitate to refer further to the Canon's essay, for it is not magnanimous to kick a foe who is already hors du combat, not to say lifeless. But while an author may not be worth notice, his false and fallacious statements and inferences may demand contradiction and exposure. 'Ve may not hope to overtake error, which" runs around the earth while truth is pulling on his boots," but we will do what we canto undo the mischief already wrought. Even out of the bramble may come a fire which, jf not quenched, sha1l devour the cedars of Lebanon; and so we undertake to address to candid minds some of the mighty facts and weighty considerations which, to every careful observer, are a triumphant vindication of missions.
It needs but little learning and less logic to see that the basis, on which the Canon rests the great missionary failure, is unsound. It will not bear investigation. First, as to the facts, so far as they are facts, there is nothing new. No intelligent student of Christian missions is taken by surprise or trembles with alarm. The main body of the. statements, based on comparative statistics, the most ardent advocates of missions, and even missionaries themselves, have not only conceded but furnished. He who has read Christlieb and Croil, Anderson and Stevenson, George Smith and Thomas Smith, Gammell and Goodell, Laurie and Livingstone, Bainbridge and Bartlett, Doolittle and Dorchester, Warneck and Wilder, Gordon Cumming and James Johnston, has seen these" vital statistics," facts and figures, fully set forth; indeed to Dorchester's" Religious Progress" and Johnston's" Century of Christian Progress," Canon Taylor probably owes no little of his own material. But while we concede the facts we dispute the inferences. Many a good scientist or statistician proves a poor philosopher or logician ; and even those who have gathered and classified these very facts follow them with no such induction, as is plain from their attitude toward missions, some of them being the foremost leaders and most eloquent pleaders of the whole mission host!
That is a false maxim that" facts and figures cannot lie." They may be arrayed in a garb so delusive, and arranged in a relation so deceptive, as to justify the quaint counter-saying, that "nothing can be made to lie so badly as figures, unless it be facts." For instance, the increase of popUlation is contrasted with the increase of Christian converts, and the former is shown to outstrip the)atter by ten millions a year; and this is one of this Canon's shots, by which he proposes to demolish Christian missions. But look at the comparative agencies producing these respccyve results. Suppose we estimate the unevan· gelized population of the Eastern Hemisphere at 1,000,000,000, and their annual net increase at 10,000,000, or one per cent. The whole Christian Ohurch at home sends into the mission field only some 6,000 men and women, and last year the "Ohurch 1-fissionary Society" alone reported 4,000 converts, or sixty-seven per cent. upon this whole force; while the entire gain from the whole mission field, in the last fully reported year, was more than 150,000, or tlOenty-five hundred per cent. If now we count into the working force the 30,000 laborers who .. are converts from heathenism, even yet the results are amazing; for, while the popUlation of these non-OhI'istian countries grew by one per cent., the number of converts advanced by over jour hundred per cent. upon the whole number of workers in the 'field! Does that look like failure?
But while we find fault with Oanon Taylor's figures and his worse .inferences, we most of all find fault with his sinking the Ohristian in the mathematician. Figures cannot exhaust facts. ~'here are results that cannot be reckoned by numbers or reported in figures, and the greater part of the actual fruits of missions cannot be thus estimated . or tabulated. Think of the direct results in the elevation of man as man, and in the creation of Ohristian communities in the very heart of heathenism and paganism! The gospel lever has lifted whole peo- ples to a higher level during this century of modern missions: new dignity has been given to manhood and womanhood and honest toil; new sanctity to marriage and family ties; new security to life and liberty, property, and happiness; cruel customs, degrading supersti- tions, caste distinctions, have been modified and even abolished; and there has been a wide diffusion of snch ennobling conceptions as the Universal Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of man!
To. all tbese and many other direct results, we must still add the indirect influence of the gospel-refining, subduing, civilizing, even where it does not renew, sanctify, Ohristianize. There are many changes which stop sbort of conversion, which are both invaluable and inestimable. Dr. Lindley declared that when a naked Zulu got so far toward Ohristianity as to put on duck pants and a calico shirt and sit on a three-legged stool nine inches high, he was about nine thousand miles above his nude neighbors. Before Ohristianity entered India, lepers were treated with shocking inhumanity, many of them being buried alive. Not only has a stop been put to this cruelty, but for fourteen years there has beon a special Ohristian mission to the 135,000 lepers of India. Rev. James Ohalmers, the veteran missionary, after twenty-one years of experience among cannibals; after visits to the Loyalty, Samoan, Society, and New Hebrides groups; after ten years of life in the Hervey Islands, and almost tcn more among the savages of New Guinea, declares that he has never yet seen a single mall or woman that has been civilized without Ohristianity's influence; and he declares that the gospel is the only true civilizer, and that if this wel,"e all, it is worth while to send Christian missionaries to the field.
If Canon Taylor thinks missions a failure, he ought to have been wrecked, like a certain Scotcl~ seaman, on that islanl! in the South Sea, where, eight years before, a whole ship's crew were thrown ashore, escaping the devourillg jaws of an angry sea only to be roasted in can- nibal ovens and eaten by remorseless savages; yet here natives in English dress and with English words of welcome now. pulled their canoes toward htohsepitsainblkeinCgl~'isshtiipal, l eager to reseue the perishing and invite them tG homes. lIas CarlOn Ta,ylor heard Mr. Calvert and Mr. 'Yebb tell the story of Fijian missions? How heathenism has been so swept awuy that the visitor canllot believe that those people, polite as Parisians and honest as Norwegians, were wild cannibals a generation ago! How, out of less than 112,000 Fijians, over 100,000 are attendants on Christian worship! How, where fifty years ago there was not one Christian, there is to· day not one avowed hcathen 1 How there are over 1,200 placcs of ChriRtian yorship and not one cannibal oven or heathen temple! And yet Christian mi~sions are « a great failure"! Is it not rather the Canon himself?
ThG argument by which the Canon wonle1 reduce CIJristian missions to an absurdity is itself capable of an easy reductio ad absurdum. He calculates that at the present rate it would take from 300,000 to 1,000,- 000 years to convert the worh1-a result 'rather remote for any of us now living to hope to see! What a shallow argument against missions!
Shall we haul down the flag of the cross before this noisy cannonade?
Beholl! the logical inference as to all other work-reformatory, benevo- lent, philanthropic. 'Yhat if it can be demonstrated that, notwith- standillg the Herculean labor of temperance reformers, it would take, at the present rate, 1t million years to male every man a total abstainer or even to clear the world of drunlmrds, ronld that prove the temper- ance work a failure or lessen the value of mdivjdnals already rescned and homes already redeemed from this curse? Give the Canon's argu- ment a broad enough application, and all existing philanthropies would cease to-morrow! There arc in operation a thousand forms in which unselfishness ministers to want or woe-asylums for the blind and deaf, the incurable, the cripple, the insane; refnges for homeless orphans and midl11ght missions for lost women; soup-houses and cof- fee-rooms for the poor, lllght-schools and lodging-houses for bootblacks and newsboys. Blindness, prostitution, crime are said to be on the increase. All our best efforts canJlot overtake human poverty and misery. Shall we then pronounce all beneficent work a failure and abandon all eleemosynary institutions?
'fhis is a "distinguished clergyman of the Church of England."
'VeIl, how does he measure values? After the law of a carnal com- mandment, or after the power of an endless life? Hesults that affect a human soul-its character, history, destiny-are not to be gauged by quantity, but by quality; not to be counted by numbers, but weighed in the scales of God. Who shall measure the worth of one human being, of one human life, of one home redeemed from poverty and misery, lust and filth, rum and ruin? One child's possibilities for evil or gooel suggest a profound heig1lt alH1 depth which even the mind of a cherub and the heart of a seraph could not sound or explore. Even if eternity be left out of account, for the sake of benefits accruing in this life we shall still run the uneqm>l race with human sin and suffering, though we never supply all nleds or banish all crime and wretchedness.
Oanon Taylor's preaching, it is to be hoped, saves here and there one out of the thousands about him. Does he consider his ministry a failure? If so, why not doff his canon's robes and take up some work that pays better than preaching? The fact is, if he be a true disciple, his heart is better than his head, his love is sounder than his logic, and so he goes on patiently, rescuing here and there one soul from the awful wreek of faith and hope and love and life- because he cannot help, it. And so Ohristian missions are the necessary vent to a pent-up fire in our bones which makes us "weary with forbearing, so that we cannot stay" from the telling of the old story. It is because love, the expansive, expulsive, explosive law of the new life, will work to save, though the more abundantly it be lavished the less we be loved!
This question, "Do missions pay?" is a characteristic sign of our materialistic and commercial age. We have a supreme contempt for such methods of measuring duty and responsibility. A dIvine command is our authority for Ohristian missions, and their sufficient vindication. With results we have nothing to do, however discouraging. But since this Canon and oth~rs like him set up such standards of measurement, we cannot forbear to show that even on this basis mis- &ions are triumphantly vindicated. The witnesses that testify to the magnificent successes of missionary labor are legion. They may not, in the Oanon's eyes, be men of the highest learning, but they speak what they know and testify what they have seen; and their knowledge, however limited, cannot be offset by his ignorance, however extensive.
This paper in the Fortnightly Review hints that the quality of converts on mission fields scarcely justifies the expenditure in lives and treasure. Is the m'erage very high in the home churches? Where is the pastor who does not mourn over the dead driftwood that somehow gets into the current and then lodges in some bend of the stream to block all progress? Half of our church members give no sign of vital godliness. In a land wher~ the yery "atmosphere" is Ohristian, professing disciples trample on the whole decalogue, and even the churches are the shrines of idols. Oan we reasonably e:xpect a higher average of genuine a~d steadfast l)iety where the whole atmosphere is poisoned with paganism? But what are the facts? Whether judged by holy living or by ample giving, by faith or by works, the average convert in Turkey and Persia, Siam and Burmah, Ohina and Oaffraria, is far beyond the home standard, as the best missionaries testify with re- markable unanimity. Out of their poverty they give with an abun- dance of liberality that }mts to shame the gifts of our richest and most generous donors; and while Protestant Ohristendom sends to the direct mission work abroad only one out of every 5,000 members, these small churches, gathered on heathen soil, give at least one out of every hundred. .
In all.Oanon Taylor's comparisons of Ohristian life on these differ4 ent fields, there is the same obvious warping of facts by the determina- tion to make out his case. He repeats the common error of those who would applaud morality at the expense of piety, and who uniformly appropriate for the contrast the best specimens of the former with the worst of the latter. If the converts in the home and foreign fields are to be compared, we insist upon fairness and equity. Let us take for our examples those whose education, capacity, environment, oppor- tunity, most nearly correspond; and even then let us take into consid- eration every circumstance to which charity would accord a hearing in the court of reason and conscience. For a plant to live at all in a desert is a greater proof of vitality than for the same plant to thrive with lux.
uriance in a well-watered garden; and only they who, on pagan soil, where even the language has no terms for spiritual ideas, have seen the plants of godliness grow like flowers of Eden, can feel the full force of the proof that a divine Husbandman has been at work I But here, again, something besides numbers is to be taken into ac- count.. '1'he most subtle substances evade analysis, and the most im- portant results defy representation in the crude colors· of the mathe- matician or statistician. Theodore Parker rose from reading Judson's life to declare that if missions had produced but one such hero, all costs were repaid. With as profound persuasion do we affirm the same of multitudes of single converts in the foreign field. Foreign missions would be a grand success had they produced no results beyond creating, out of materials found in such soil, such men as Asaad Shidiak in Syria, .
Deacon Guergis in Persia, Kho-Thah-Byu and Sau Quala in Burmah, Africaner in Namaqualand, Kamehameha III. in Hawaii and Rona- valona II. in Madagascar, Tawai and Miti in New Zealand, Tubou and Bulu in Raabai and Finau in Vavau, Motele and Moshesh in Basuto- land, Pomare in Tahiti and Papeiha in Raratonga, Kayarnak in Green- land, Aquilar in Mexico, Leong-on-Tong in Ohina, and Brindelbund and Das Maitra in India; not to mention hundreds of others who are not individually named, like the converts of Uganda, who sang of Jesus till their tongues were crisped in their martyr fires! One might as well try to weigh in a scale the worth of a sunbeam as to estimate by mere arithmetic the value of transformed men and women, who in the ceuters o.f pagau, papal, heathen and M()hammedan communities shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life. The unconverted pagans themselves often confess amazement at transformations of character so radical, and, with Pharaoh's magicians, are compelled to say, "This is the finger of God!" When the vindictive Indian learns to forgive, the brutal cannibal to be compassionate, the cruel savage to be gentle, the treacherous Turk to be faithful, the sordid Ohinaman to be unselfish, the vile Hottentot to be chaste, there is a creat-ive energy at work. This is more than ;eformation or transformation' it is a miracle. It contradicts nature and natural law, and argues a new nature, a new birth, a new creation. He who does not know how repeatedly and unmistakably such transfigurations have been realized, even amid the habitations of cruelty and the shadow of death, is not a competent witness as to the value of missions, and no man who does know these facts can or will pronounce missions a failure.
Moreover, when a man writes on the great missionary failure, first of all we would like him to settle the meaning of terms. What is a failure? Manifestly the opposite of success. And what is success? This is the accomplishment of a plan or purpose. In the last analysis, the success or failure of Ohristian missions must depend upon the real purpose of Ohristian missions.
Weare constrained therefore to raise the question, What is the purpose of the gospel in this dispensation? There is a grand distinction which even students of the Word and advocates of missions often overlook. With the work of conversion we have nothing to do, and for that we are not responsible. Our mission is one of evangelization. "Go ye into aU the world and evangelize-preach the gospel to every creature." Our Lord Ohrist never said that it was our duty to convert everybody, nor did He promise such a result. We give the community a free school, though not every boy that goes to school will turn out a scholar. Weare to give the community a free 'gospel, though not every hearer does turn out a convert.
"This gospel must first be preached for a witness in all the world." This means no superficial, hasty, formal proclamation of the good news of grace. It means thorough work, the implanting and erection of all the institutions of Ohristianity. Everywhere men are to be confronted with the Ohristian church and home, school and college, society and civilization. They are to see demonstrated before their eyes, and by the logic of events, what the gospel of Ohrist can do for the man, the woman, the child; what it can do to elevate labor, dignify humanity, abolish cruelty and eve!! discourtesy, supplant caste by a true equality, and lift all society to a higher level. The contrast will thus be made to appear between the religion of the Nazarene 'and all other faiths. The Mohammedan, heathen, pagan, will be compelled to confess the I immense superiority of a gospel that is not satisfied with mere evolu.
tion, but demands revolution; and that, not out of ruins but upon them, rears a temple to God, in which unselfishness, benevolence, ch:J.rity and purity arl' the white-robed priests. That is pr~aching the gospel as a witness, and it gives to all men a fair chance for intel- ligent choice. Such is the purpose of the gospel in the present age, and such is the commission of the church during this dispensation, viz., worrd-wide evangelization; and so far and so fast as the church accomplishes that mission, however few or many be the professed con- verts, so far and so fast does the church succeed in missions, for she is doing the very work her Lord has given her to do.
While it is not promised that everybody who hears the gospel shall be converted during thIS age of gospel wItness, great reAUlts have accompanied, and greater WIll follow, the missionary efforts of the church of God. Already results that rival Pentecostal wonders have been realized. McKay at Formosa gathered 1,200 converts at the Lord's table on the twelfth anmversaryof his advent to that island,.
William Johnson saw Sierra Leone transformed into a Ohristian state within seven years. Dr. Clough, at Ongole, baptized 10,000 converts in three months in 1878. The South Seas were Ohristiamzed in forty years, from TahIti to New Gumea. A thousand spires dIsplaced can- nibal ovens, in the Fiji group, in less than half a century Transfor- mations have taken place within the memory of men still living, that are as inexplicable by any human philosophy as the creation ·of a world out of nothing. Madagascar, Polynesia, the Karens, the Zulus, the Maoris, even the Japanese in our own day, furnish modern miracles as astounding as the cleansmg of a leper, the empowermg of the Impo- tent, the exorcising of the demoniac, or the raIsmg of the dead.
The fuller exhibition of the fruits of missionary enterpnse must be left to a future paper on the "ExpOSItion of Missions." But, as a specimen both of the success of missionary labor and of the witness of impartial observers, we refer the reader to the recently published" Life and Letters of Oharles Darwin." In contrast with Oanon Taylor's as- sault, let us OLce more summon this apostle of materialIsm from his grave, to give his testimony. Mr. Darwm, though not a Ohristian, had the. greatest reflpect for the good in Ohristianity, and was great enough to.acknowledge it. 'l'his isthe way in which he answered some shal- low critics of foreign missionaries. We give space to his testimony be- cause it deserves to be quoted in full. After his visit to Terra del .Fuego, he wrote : "The Fuegians are III a more miserable state of barbarism than I had expectpd eyer to have seen a human being. In this inclement country they are ahsolutely naked, and their temporary houses are like what children make in summer with boughs of trees. I do not think 'any spectacle can be more interesting than the first sight of man in his primitive wildness. It is an interest whioh cannot well be imagined until it is experienced. I shall never forget this when entering' Good Success Bay'-the veIl with which a party received us. They were seated on a rocky p~int, sur~'ounded by the dark forest of beech; as they threw their at'ms wildly around th,eir heads, and their long hair streaming, they seemed the ;troubled spirits of another world. . • . There is in their countenance an expresion which I believe, to those who have not seen it, JlJust be inconceivably wild. Standing on a rock they uttered tones and made gesticulations than which the cries of domestic animals are far more intelligible."
'Admiral Sir James Sullivan testifies that JUl'. Darwin" often ex- pressed to him his conviction that it was lltterly useless to send missionaries t~ such a set of savages as the Fuegians, probably the very lowest of the human race." But subsequently, about 1869, he wrote to the Admiral" that the recent accounts of the mission proved to him that he had been wrong in his estimates of the native character and of the possibility of doing them good through the missionaries, and he requested the Admiral to forward to the society an inclosed check for £5, as a testimony of the interest he took in their good work." Yet later, in 1874, 187'9, and 1880, he wrote: "I am glad to hear so good an account of the Fuegians, and it is wonderful; the progress of the Fuegians is. wonderful, and had it not occurred, would have been ,to me incredible. I have often said that the progress of Japan was the greatest wonder III the world, but I declare that the progress of Fuegia is almost equally wonderfu1. It is truly 'wonderful about their h<?nesty and their l::tnguage. I certainly should have predicted that not all the missionaries in the world could have done what has been done." * Again Mr. Darwin writes: "In our passage across the Pacific we only touched at Tahiti and New Zealand. Tahiti is a most charming spot. Delicious scenery, climate, manner of the people, all in harmony. It is moreover admirable to behold what the missionaries both here and at New Zealand huyc effected. I firmly believe they are good men working for the sake of a good cause. I much suspect that those who have abused or sneered at the missionaries have generally been such as were not very anxious to find the natives 71w1'al and intelligible beings. They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifice and the power of an idolatrous priesthood; a system of profligacy unparalleled in any other part of the world; infanticide, a consequence of that system; bloody wars, where the conquerors spared neither women nor children-that all these things, have been abolished, and that dishonesty, intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced hy the introduc- tion of Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is a base ingrati- tude; fOJ' should he chance to be at the pointof shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will mo~t devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have extended thus far."
Weare compelled to leave the "pretentiously inaccurate" paper of Canon 'I'aylor with these brief comments on the" facts" it presents and the inferences it draws. Its answer must be found in the mis- * Vol. ii. 307, 308.
MISSIONS TO THE LEVANT
sionary annals of the entire century since the pioneer English mis- sionary went to India. There is not a true worker on'the field who will for a moment be disturbed by the recklelOs shots from this eccle- siastical gun. Nor will the missionary enterprises of the ch,urch be for one hour arrested or delayed. Infidels have been trying for cen- turies to overthrow the Word of God by scientific speculations. So soon as some new "fact" or "law" is discovered, they make haste to load up their guns and fire, expecting to see the defenses of the Christian faith totter and tumble under the tremendous shock of this scientific artillery. But 10 ! the 'fortress stands, with not even a hole or breach in the wall. And when we come to examine what was hurled against the walls, we find not some huge, heavy shot of solid fact, but a mere paper-wad of fanciful theory that took fire from the powder before it was out of the mouth of the gun!
We seriously apprehend that in this noisy assault on missions there is more flash and roar than force and nre. This gun kicks so badly that it were better to be before it than behind it. And when the smoke c1ears away and the effect of the assault is seen, this" distin- guished clergyman" will find himself famous only for his blunders, while his inexact statements and illogical conclusions may have led many a reader, like Nathanael, to come and see whether any good thing can come out of Nazareth, and to confess that the despised Nazarene is the Son of God and the miracle worker among the nations! These attacks, whether from nominal friend or from pro- fessed foe, are like the wild dash of the birds of the night against the crystal inclosure of that superb light that shines on the colossal statue in New York harbor: the assailants beat themselves into insensibility, while the light shines on undimmed, and the grand statue, reared on granite pedestal, stands unmoved and immovable, still guiding the watching sailor to a peaceful harbor.
MISSIONS TO THE LEVANT: THEIR PROBLEMS, METHODS . AND RESULTS. .
BY REV. EDWIN M. BLISS. [Our readers will be interested to know that the writer of this int~resting series of papers has but recently returned from Constantinople, where he spent several years as assistant agent of the American Bible Society for the Levant. Hence his thorough knowledge of the subject which he dis- cusses.-EDs.] UI. THEIR RESULTS.
IN considering the results of missions in the LfJ,ant we note: 1.
The development of the agencies employed. 2. The direct· effect ot those agencies in the establishment of evangelical communities and churches. 3. Their indirect effect upon other communities in the line of intellectual, social, and religious life. 4. The type of character developed as a foundation for the future. 1. The development of the agencies employed. The success of an undertaking is often measured in a degtee by the amount invested in it. The work: of the American churches in the Levant, commenced by the little band who sailed from Boston under the auspices of the then infant American Board, is now carried on by seven organized American societies-six representing the Congregational, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Reformed Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian, and Methodist denominations, and one, the American Bible Society, representing all, and helping to unite all upon the one foundation of the Word of God. There are also two colleges-Robert College at Constantinople, and the Syrian Protestant College at Beyroot-independent in endow)llent and management of the societies. Three more, at Harpoot, Aintab, and Marsovan, in Asia Minor, with endowments and boards of trustees, but practically under management of the societies. Two more, at Oroomiah, Persia, and Osiout, Egypt, under direct control of the' societies. There is also the Bible House at Constantinople, connected with no society, owned and managed by a board of trustees in New York, the income from which goes. toward Bible work, supplementing that of the societies. The Disciples of Christ and the Baptist Union are represented by a few native preachers, whose work has been, so far, almost entirely among the existing evangelical churches.
These different organizations are represented oy 133 American gentlemen, mostly ordained and married men, and 119 single ladies. They are located in 42 central stations, and have nearly 500 out-stations connected with them. Over 1,700 native preachers, teachers, and colporteurs work under their superinte·ndence. There are 185 churches with 15,226 communicants; 763 schools with nearly 33,000 scholars; 43,000 copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in part, have been distributed in one year. Unfortunately the statistics of religious and educational books are not kept distinct by the different societies. A general estimate of 50,000 books, 100,000 text-books, a.nd 400,000 tracts would perhaps represent the work of a year. Aside from these are the periodicals, 5 weeklies and 6 Ip.onthlies, the latter chiefly child's papers. One weekly in Bulgarian reached a circulation of over 4,000. '}'he medical work has assumed great proportions. Herc again no statistics arc given, but to say that 25,000 cases are attended yearly would probably be within the truth. These all involve an annual expenditure of Amel"ican funds amounting to nearly $500,000. How much the native communities contribute in salaries of preachers and teachers, tuition, cost of books, and general community and church expenses, it is impossible to say without better data than are furnished as yet. The value of property in land, buildings, school, printing and binding apparatus, stock of printed sheets, bound books, etc., is very great. In Constantinople alone it is over $400,000. These figures indicate the amount of the investment that the American churches have made in evangelical wo.rk in the Levant. The question then CDmes, Is this investment so. placed as to. secure the widest pDssible returns? The 42 central statiDns include nearly every city Df size and impDrtance in Bulgaria, RDumelia, Asiatic Turkey, NDrth Persia, Syria, and Egypt. AttentiDn has been paid especially to centers of pDpulation. There is prDbably no. country where the annual shifting Df the population is so great as in Turkey. Oonstantinople, Smyrna, Adana, even such interior places as Harpoot and 'Oesarea, are thronged by men who. leave their village homes for a few months or a few years to earn a little and then return. These are the peDple that are most easily reached, and there is scarcely a hamlet, frDm the Balkans to. the Persian Gulf, from the Oaucasus to. LuxDr, that has not some one or more Df those who have been reached by preacher, teacher, or colpor-. teur in the larger cities. There is also a regularly organized system by which the whole field is visited each year. The results are brought into. discussion III native presbyteries and uniDns, and then into annual meetings of the missionaries, where plans suggested on the field are scrutinized mDst carefully, matured, and put into. actiye operation. In fact, as a matter of business management Df the sums committed to their care, the missions of the American churches to the Levant have often won the highest encomiums from those who have taken the pains to examine into the matter.
2. The direct effect of these agencies in the establishment of evangelical communities and churches. The statistics already given show 185 churches with 15,226 communicants. Of these abDut 1,200 were added during the past year. If we follow the style of arithmetic in vogue with Oanon Taylor and others, this would give a cost to the American churches of about $400 per convert, tofay nothing of native contributions. Of course it is easy to say that this cost includes the expense of a vast school system, a large amDunt Df publication, etc. But as all these have for their aim the actual conversion of men, the number of such conversions must constitute, it is claimed, th(> real test of succelOs. Education, publication, etc., are all good, but are legitimate for a missionary society only as they have direct results in Ohristian life. What are these direct results, as shown by open connection with Protestant evangelical Ohristianity? Are they accurately measured by the membership in PrDtestant churches alone? NDt in the Levant, any more than in America. Hardly even as much. The position of the evangelical churches there, is not unlike that of the Puritans of two and three centuries ago. Membership in the old Oriental communions is a mere form, even more civil than religious in its character. A man partakes Df the sacrament very much, as he registers his name as a voter here. This, Df cDurse, is not true of all, but it is true to a great degree. When men leave the:se churches to CDnnect themselves with Protestants, they are actuated by differing mDtives. Some do it under the pressure of the longing fOl' a closer communion with God than is possible for them in the formalities of the old service; others from intellectual conviction that the Protestant worship is -purer an.d represents a truer faith than their own; others in disgust at the corruption of the priesthood; others in protest against ecclesiastical domination in civil as well as in church life. Were all these to be gathered into churches and enrolled as communicants, as they would have been by Xavier and the Moslem mis3ionaries over whom Canon Taylor waxes so eloquent, there would be 500 churches, and the communicants would be numbered not by tens but by hundreds of thousands. 'fhe missionaries in founding these churches have realized that the acceptance of Ohristian doctrine, the practice of Ohristian worship, amounts to nothing without Ohristian ll/e. With the exception, perhaps, of the first class referred to above, most have joined the new community with little or no conception of what Ohristian l~fe meant. They have come, for the most part, with old views, old practices, still in full sway. To bring them at once into the young, uneducated churches would have been to bind all to the level of those around them, with little or no hope of a pure, elevated Ohristian character. There have thus grown up around the churches large communities with many strong, intelligent men, accepting to the full, evangelical doctrine and worship, but remaining noncommunicants, because the heart does not seem yet to have accepted what is clear to the mind. 'fheyare passing through a process of education, and it is from their number chiefly that the additions to churches come. How to guide the churches so as to admit to thorn only those who have some conception, faint though it may be, of a true Ohristian life, and a genuijle purpose, however weak, to lead that life, has ever been a most difficult task, akin to that of Gideon in his assault upon the Midianites. 'fo gauge the direct effects of Ohristian missions by the membership of native churches alone would be as incorrect as to claim that Gideon's three hundred represented the whole result of Mosaic teaching.
3. The indirect effect of these agencies upon other communities-in the line of intellectual, social, and religious life.
At one time, Rev. Dr. Van Dyck, the veteran missionary to Syria, said, as he started for a village on Mt. Lebanon, "I am going to – – – to start three schools." "What do you want of three schools there?" "Oh, I am only going to manage one. But just as soon as I get mine started, the Maronites will start one and the Druses will start one. 'l'hat makes three." So it has been all over the Levant. Wherever the colporteur or evangelist has gone the teacher has followed. With the advent of text-books" things new and old" have been opened up out of the storehouses of ancient history and modern science. Ohildren have learned that the world is wider and older than they had supposed. Parents have learned from their children and have begun to
TO THE LEVANT
question the correctness of the views in which they have been trained. A very large percentage of the geographies, histories, and general text~ books have gone, not into schools but famllies, and families too not in any way connected with the Protestant communities. The result has been a general quickening of intellectual life. The old communi. ties found that men were beginning to think for themselves, and real~ ized that they must guide that thinking or it would wander far from their control. Hence, on every hand, schools have been started- Armenian, Greek, Bulgarian, Maronite, Moslem. These have been in some cases heavily endoweu, furnished with the best modern appli~ ances available, yet even so they have not been able to keep pace with the evangelical schools, as is shown by the fact that, periodically, anathemas are hurled from the old altars against those who dare to place their children under the baneful influence of Protestant teachers. Not long ago there was a most earnest appeal in the Turkish papers of Constantinople for teachers who could meet Protestantism on its own ground, could grapple intelligently and successfully with the questions of modern thought. They said, "The time is past when the dictum , of an Imam carries with it conviction. Men are thinking for them- selves, and if we would hold our young men true to the faith in which they were born, we must show them that we are the equals in thought of those who would entice them away." 'l'he result was a series 01 statements about Protestantism of much the same grade of accuracy as certain recent paragraphs on missions in the Evening Post of New York, and renewed press censorship so severe as almost to destroy the character of mission newspapers. No one can go through even the remoter sections of Turkey without seeing on every hand the signs of an intellectual life such as has not b8'en since the days when Byzan- tines fought over Greek prepositions in the baths of Constantinople; and there are few, even of those opposed to missions, but will admit that this is due primarily to them. The influence of Christian missiOl1E on the social life of the East has been most marked.
Scarcely, even under the caste systems of India, has the power of social custom been more severe than in the Levant. Fifty years ago ,there was little or no family life. The men during the day were at work, in the evening at the coffee-shop. rrhe wOmen bore children, cooked and served meals. The wife could not sit at the same table or tray with her husband, shared in no way the responsibilities and honor of the home. Marriage was a matter of barter and sale. Social entertainments were of the lowest grade. Oonver3ation turned almost solely on pyrsonal scanda1. Personal purity had not sunk as low as in some other countries, but it was by no means high. Business was purely a matter of keen wits, never of fair profit. He who could cheat most was the best man. This has not all changed. Else America might go to school to Asia. There has been, however, a wonderful
MISSIONS TO THE
improvement. There are comparatively few Turks now who would consider it an insult to receive inquiries after the health of wife or daughter, and the rigid, seclusion of the harem is more and more a thing of the past. In many a home the mother shares with the father the honor of receiving a passing guest, and the daughter feels free to express her feeling toward the suitor for her hand. The evening finds books and newspapers on the table, and the Vermont farmer who astonished Dr. Hamlin with his inquiries about Fuad "Pachy" finds his counterpart in the Koordish Sheik who talks intelligently about Bismarck and Giers, Gladstone and Boulanger.
The power of Ohristian missions over the religious thought and life of those who do not openly declare their adherence to evangelical Ohristianity is shown in many ways. Up to the present year there have been distributed by the Americ11ll Bible Society not less than 800,000 copies of the Scriptures. Add perhaps 700,000 by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and we have one and a half millions of copies put into the hands of the people. These have been in about the pro- portion of 1 Bible, 3 Testaments and 5 Portions, i.e., single Gospels, Psalms, and Proverbs. When it is remembered that the immense majority of these have been sold, and that certainly not more than one-half, if more than one-third, have gone into evangelical families; when it is remembered too that book-purchasing is not in the Levant what it is so often in America-that it almost uniformly represents a genuine earnest interest in the book-some idea may be gained of the unseen influence that is being exerted all over that great country.
A Bible Society colporteur in the inn of a small village on the Black Sea coast, was challenged to argument by a group of young men thoroughly versed in European infidelity. Being an uneducated man, he found it difficult to meet them. 'fo his utter surprise, a Turkish priest sitting by, asking him for a Testament, took up the argument, and utterly silenced the young men, who left acknowledging their defeat. To the colporteur who expressed his thanks for the timely aid, he said: "Go tell the gentleman at the Bible House not to be discouraged. There are many like myself who read this 'good Book, accept its faith, and are trying to lead the life of Ohrist. We do not openly confess Him, for we feel that the time has not yet come, but it will come, and then you will see the fruit of the seed you are sowing." Among the most significant facts in the religious life of the old Ohristian communities of the Levant are the changes that have been brought about in not a few places in the church services. Worship before pictures has been very generally discouraged, and in some cases the pictures have been taken down. It is becoming an increasing ambition on the part of the clergy to be known as good preachers, and many an earnest gospel sermon is given from pulpits where, until recently, nothin~ 'Yll,tlheard but an intoned liturgy in an unknown tongue. Sabbath-schools and Bible-claSiles have been established, and at the present time the Am~rican Bible Society is printing in Con- stantinople ail edition of the ancient Armenian Bible, at the com- bined earnest request of Gregorian and Papal as well as Evangelical Armenians.
4. 'rhe type of character developed as a foundation for the future. The en,rnest, thoughtful supporter of foreign missions will and must meet this question: What relation have these results to the ifuture? Weare glad of what has been and is being done; glad for every soul brought to a truly Christian life; glad for the growth in intellectual, , social, religious life of those who cannot see their way clear to join our numbers; but America cannot [tlways snpport the East. Foreign missions must inevitably have something of the exotic in their nature. A real live Christianity must be in a sense indigenous to the land where it lives. Is the character of t-qe native evangelical Christians such as to warrant the belief that in due time they will be able to develop their own life,' normally, successfully, and independently? For the answer to this we must not look to statistics of increasing or decreasing contributions. 'rhese are very apt to be misleading. Fam- ine, war, pe8tilence, emigration, taxation, all enter in as dlSturbing elements. In not a few cases increased missionary expenses are coin- cident with decreasing demands from native churches, because new doors are opened and new work commenced. Neither is the increase in church membership a very safe guide, as may easily be inferred from what has already been said. ,The correct flnswer can be funy gained only as we go into the churches, attend the meetings of pastors and helpers, learn their methods and their spirit, and this must be done, not only along the seaboard but in the interior. Anyone who will do this will find large churches managing all their affairs, financial, executive, religious, with skill-and success; local unions and presbyteries consulting earnestly and courteously in regard to the interests of the one great work; home missionary societies snpporting and conducting operations in outlying districts; Young Men's Christian Associations, not patterned after those here, but developed according to local needs and opportunities. Undoubtedly much is lacking. A single generation under such con- ditions as obtain in the Levant can hardly suffice to deyelop a Chris- tian people of the highest grade. There are not a few native pastors that are overfond of foreign money, seek unduly to copy foreign life. But they do not represent the great number of those who from pulpit and desk, by the roadside and in the home, are seeking men to lead in the life of Christ. There are church members who do not give of their substance as they shonld, but the proportion who give conscien- tiously the tithe, and even more, would put to shame many an Ameri- can congregation.
1889.J DELITZSCH'S HEBREW NEW TE:STAMENT
It.is easy for the chance traveler or" superficial observer to find occasion for legitimate criticism. Not so easy for even the carefnl sympathizer to judge accurately the forces that are working for the development of communities. 'fhose who know best and most intimately the local internal life of these communities and churches have the most faith in them. They recognize that mistakes are made, but they believe that throughout these lands dear to every Christian heart the life planted by the apostles, nourished by the church fathers, almost overwhelmed by the adhesion of an unconverted empire, held in bond for centuries by an ignorant ecclesiasticism, is now reasserting itself, and will erelong more than regain it.~ pristine purity and strength.
THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF DELITZSCH'S HEBREW NEW TESTAMENT.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.D., COLUMBUS, O.
ALTOGETHER the most remarkable and unique work in modern mis- sion literature is Delitzsch's Hebrew translation of the New Testament. According to the latest reports, officially sent out from Leipzig, the modern headquarters of Jewish Christian enterprise, the British and Foreign Bible Society, since the first appearance of the new version in. 18'1'8, has published no less than nine editions, making a grand total of 80,000 copies. The literary success of the work, aside from its great merit as a mission agency, is indeed phenomenal. Fully 60,000 copies have been disposed of among the Jews of Southeastern Europe and Western Asia, and have all been employed in the gospel cause among the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 'The present is an exceedingly timely moment gratefully to call attention to this great literary monu- ment of modern mission enterprise.' It was in 1838, or just fifty years ago, that the first specimen chapters of the new translation were given to the world. For forty years the now venerable veteran labored incessantly and with characteristically German diligence, perseverance, and scholarly accuracy on his important task. In 1870 he published a translation of the Epistle to the Romans, with a full introduction on the history and present status of the Hebrew New Testament problem, together with extensive notes from the Talmud and the Midrashim! " in which he elucidated the methods and pri.nciples pursued in the work and gave the reader a clear insight into the intricacies 01 the problem and the thorough and scientific manner in which the author was solving it. It is accordingly now just one-half a century since the labor of love for Israel was undertaken by Delitzsch. It is proposed to celebrate this peculiar literary and mission semi-centennial in a manner suitable to the cause. An appeal has been published, addressed to the pupils and friends of Franz Delitzsch, asking for contributions toward the estab- lishment of a permanent fund, the income of which is to be used for the spread of this New Testament in Israel.. The appeal is signed by Pastor Wilhelm Faber; the energetic young leader of the Institutum Juda£curn of Leipzig, who has for the last six or eight years been giving his whole time and attention to this work, and has made eight long mission tours among the Jewish Diaspora of the East. A jubilee of this sort is certainly deserving of the sympathy and co-operatioh of active mission frienJs everywhere.
Another reason for drawing attention to this work now is_the fact that the version. is now to be issued in permanent shape and form. While the first nine editions were going through the press corrections of greater or less nnmber and extent were made in each edition. Hebrew scholars all over the world have taken a deep interest in the literary character, correctness, and finish of the work. Suggestions have been made by some of the best,specialists in this department, and these have been duly weighed and measured by the translator, who himself is doubtless the greatest Hebraist of this generation, if not of this century. How carefully this has been done by him is clear from a report, published in English by Delitzsch some six years ago, in / which he discussed some of the principal suggestions made, and made special acknowledgments to Professor Driver of Oxford for his valuable aid. In this way it can be candidly saia that probably no work issued within our day and date has been so searchingly examined under the critical microscope and has for so long a time been constantly before the eyes of our unofficial college of Hebrew scholars all over the world as has this Hebrew version of the New Testament. Accordingly it is a work of rare literary and critical correctness. It 1S now thought that it has reached the stage in which it can be given out in a permanent shape, and the coming tenth edition will be the first in that form.
The work is issued i.n two sizes. It ori.ginally apl)eared in a small 12mo form of 471 pages. The type was very small, but still clear-cut and easy to read. In this shape alone the first six or seven editions appeared. Later it became clear that its mission value would be enhanced if it could be published in the same type and size as the Old Testament Hebrew text and be bound with the latter, thus constituting the one Holy Writ of the two covenants in the sacred tongue of the chosen people. This was done, and it has proved to be a wise undertaking. The Jews in examining and studying the writings of the New 'l'estament do so solely with an eye to their relation to the Old, as the fulfillment and completion of the latter; To have the two together in ono cover naturally facilitated this work a good deal. As this edition of the t.wo Testaments in Hebrew can be had for about one dollar and· a half, no pastor able to understand this venerable tongue should be without a copy.
It would probably be hard to say from which side this noteworthy pUbhcation presents the greater number of attractive features-from its literary or its mIssionary. No doubt our readers are interested more in the latter, and these in themselves constitute an interesting chapter in the annals of this present mission century. On the face of matters it is certainly remarkable and almost beyond credence that a book written in Hebrew should be the most widely circulated specimen of the non-popular mission literature of the day. Jnd yet when certain facts, not all of which are generally known, are taken into consideration the strangeness of the phenomenon at least in part disappeared. It is generally accepted that the Hebrew is a dead language. This is one of the many popular mistakes of the times. It is true that for the Jew as we see him in America. and Western Europe the Hebrew is only a sacred language, which he uses pro forma in his synagogal worship and often does not understand any more than the Roman Catholic does the Latin of the mass. But the Jews of the western world and Western Europe are modernized, more or less superficially, and are by no means the representatives of genuine Judaism. These must be looked for further East. Of the six and one-half million Jews constituting the Jewish Dispersion, about four mil1:ons are found in the East, and for all of these the Hebrew is the only literary language in which they can be approached. They themselves generally speak not a pure Hebrew, but a jargon; but the pure Hebrew is the language of their books, papers, etc. It would be worse than a waste of effort or time to offer them a defense of the claims of the Ohristian faith in any other than their own literary tongue. They are a most peculiar people, and in the mission efforts among them this peculiarity must be taken into con-' sideration as a most important factor. They are the exact opposites of the Western Jew, who is ever willing to compromise with modern thought, if it only accrues to his social or financial benefit. The Eastern Jew is a conservative of the conservatives. The adherence to the ways of the fathers, so characteristic a feature of all Semitics, is especia~ly strong in him, and has made his system of religious beliefs and customs little better than a petrified formalism of the Talmudic centuries that have gone before. For them religion and religious instruction is unthinkable except in the sacred tongue.
It is for this peculiar people that the Hebrew translation of the New Testament has been made. The underlying principle in the undertaking was that the New Testament is the best commentary on the Old, and If the erring children of Abraham in the Orient could be persuaded to compare the words of the New Oovenant with those of thO Old they would, more readily than by any other way, learn that, as the Old is the necessary foundation of the New, so the latt~ is the necessary completion of the Old.
The adoption of this method of reaching these people was not a new discovery, nor is Delitzsch's the first Hebrew translation of the New Testament. Away back m the first Ohristian centuries there existed a Gospel for the Hebrews, which was doubtless a Hebrew translation (not the Hebrew original) of our present Matthew. During the Refor- matIon period a translation of this kind was made. Later portions were again translated, espeeially under the influence of the original InstUutum Judaicum of Callenberg, in Halle.. The present century witnessed repeated efforts in this direction. Especially was this true of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews.
With much expense and labor edition after edition was issued, 'until the final issue of 1863. This last is in general a good production, but not by any means equal to the work of Delitzsch. Shortly after the pUblication of tHe latter, an entirely original Hebrew translation was published as a posthumous work of the Jewish missionary Salkinson, and was edited by the Jewish scholar Ginsburg, the editor of the Mas- sorah. This, however, has not proved a satisfactory work in all par- ticulars. It also is extensively used for mission purposes.
How wise it was to select the Hebrew as a literary language for the mission work among the Jews of the East is apparent when we lo~k at the extensive use made of this language for literary work in general.
8alkinson himself has published a magnificent Hebrew translation of Milton's "Paradise Lost," and also of Walker's" Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation"; S. Hoga, a Jewish convert, has translated in ele- gant style Bunyan's" Pilgrim's Progress" and the "Old Paths" into Hebrew. The Book of Enoch has been translated into this tongue, also the Koran, Goethe's "Faust," and even Sue's "Mysteres de Paris." Periodicals, both religious and secular, in large numbers are published in Hebrew; some of them, as the IIamelliz of St. Peters- burg, are very influential. .
Just what the extent of the blessing achieved through this New Tes- tament is and will be of course no man can tell. That it has done great good is certain. There are ministers in the Lutheran church of Ger- many and America now who were converted in Russia from Judaism through studying this translation. It is also certain that the demand for the book is great among the Jews, and that there are many Nico- demus souls there who come to Jesus by night, but fear publicly to proclaim their newly found faith. As no Testament is given or sold to a person unless the missionary or colporteur is reasonably satisfied that the person receiving it will read and study the book, it lS evident that there is a real and not an imaginary demand for It. And this willing- ness and eagerness to search for the truth in the New Covenant book is the most pro~ising feature ln Jewish mission work in the Oriental lands. Faber's reports, published under. the auspices of the Leipzig Institutum Judaicum, are filled with accounts of eager anxiety on the part of these people to read of the M9ssiah. To bring them this news in an acceptable manner has been and is the great mission of Delitzsch's Hebrew New Testament. He has aided materially in solvmg one of the most intricate of mission problems.
A PILLAR ON THE BORDER OF EGYPT
A PILLAR ON THE BORDER OF EGYPT.
BY CRAS. S. ROBINSON, D.D., NEW YORK.
"PEOPLE are SO wofully like sheep I" thus once wrote Thomas Carlyle's piquant wife: "all running where they see others run-all doing what they see others do; have you heard of the wonderful Bishop Colenso! Such a talk about him too! And he is not worth talking about for five minutes-except for the absurdity of a man's making arithmetical onslaughts upon the Pentateuch with a bishop's little black-silk apron on !" This outburst of the indignant woman, made twenty-five years ago about an almost forgotten prelate, reminds us of the French proverb so often quoted: "It is always the unexpected that happens." Only we now propose to parody it by saying tl,lat it is always the absurd that grows popular. Just now it is the wild attacks on the books of Moses, forced forward by a desperate skepticism, which are drawing the crowd. It is God's own wisdom which has snddenly unearthed the mummies of Rameses's dynasty, making Egypt for a while the most conspicuous of lands.
In a previous article we have spent some space in showing how an irresistible pressure of Western ideas and civilizations is continually changing the face of Egypt and turning the people away from Oriental customs and worship. At that time it was announced that some sort of illustration must be adopted to serve as proofs of the prophet's open prediction that evangelization would immediately follow in the advancing steps of civilization. New Testaments would soon begin to arrive upon the cars. t can make that my theme in the present paper.
Still it seems to me that I can reach my end more safely by taking my readers with me again in a kind of tourist's ramble. We are to think with our eyes now. Arguments are not to be spun for an indoors debate when the question is one of fact and not at all of philosophy. Let us take a railway trip, the first and the simplest the country has to offer, going up the usual course after landiI)g on the frontier. It is worth while to keep looking out of the car-windows, from the moment when an Arabian official receives us at Alexandria to that when an enthusiastic American missionary welcomes us into his home in Cairo.
Of all the unearthly-looking fellow beings you ever herded with, you may be sure the people, eastern and western, who throng the trains and pour forth at each station are the most inexplicable and the most indescribable. Dresses in most Oriental countries denote rank, lineal descent, nationality, and occupation. Bnt who can interpret the inexhaustible variety of shades and discriminations presented in even this one day upon such a thoroughfare as the overland route to India across Egypt I Persians, Armenians, Copts, Turks, Frenchmen, British, Syrians and Greeks, besides the aborigmes of the region itself-aU of these our careful dragoman pointed out one after another in the single crowd we saw at the midway station-I cannot put down the Arabic name they called it by-lazily watching our arrival, halt and departure.
Dean Stanley, in speaking of the usual presentations hereabout, uses a most apt similitud~. He compares the lines of camels, the solio tary traveler who shows himself now and then, the stiff trees, few and far between, to the rude views of a magic lantern. Anyone who has o in the old times before photographs came in vogue ever seen tilOse preposterous paintings on glass for the Sunday-school exhibitions which were offered during such historic years as Biblical illustrations, will recognize some original models immediately. So clear is the atmos- phere that any object in the wide reach of landscape seems startlingly vivid and plain, even at a great distance. Along the tops of the low ridges and swells of land caravans are outlined upon thl) blue sky with an almost miraculous distinctness; and ~o stately and rigid, so precise in step and so ungainly in proportion, are the camels especially, that an observer can hardly refram from imagining they are mere figures shaved along, like so many fancifully-colored slides, into the groove of a lantern poorly focussed and dimly lit. Occasionally a lonely Arab appears in the field of view; then a company of merchantmen, resem- bling perhaps the Ishmaelites of old who bought Joseph; then a big 'rurk upon a small donkey; and all are so angular and awkward that anyone (if he has ever Leen in the stereopticon line) feels like begin- ning a lecture.
We became commentators upon this ride as usual, receiving at many points a happy explanation of some Scriptural text. A new building attracted my attention, and as upon nearer inspection I found that the walls were filled with cut straw, it became worth our while to ask the question as to customs in such matters; this resulted afterward in our visiting a quite extensive and busy manufactory of brick rIose by the station. There we learned with the aid of our eyes all we needed to be told; for the men were at the moment molding the square blocks of wet clay and chopping the stubble with which to mix them, while stretched out over the field were great patches of levelland covered with those which were already drying in the sun. No one can know the thrill that comes over the mind of a tourist when he sees such things, until he is in the midst of surprises, all going to prove that the same processes, the same habits, the same traditions, are found now as in Moses's time.
The maidens were coming in as the blazing noon drew on, with an awkward weight of some sort of grain which they had been industriously gleaning, done up in huge bundles and carried on their heads. This we noticed had not been cut with scythe or sickle, but the damsels had in their own fashion pulled it up roots and all. 'l'hus the proper untitheses of the royal preacher was reached in exact language when he spoke of "a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is . planted."
We observed also that large areas of land which had evidently at no great time back been covered with water were now ,baking under sun- ' shine as hot as if it had been the glow of a blast-furnace. Some portions of the soil had hardened as it dried; workmen were actually cutting up the caked ground with axes, and the plow was following along behind. Then first we really appreciated the admonition of the man of God: "For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your {aUoio ground, and sow not among thorns." These are the words of Jeremiah, and no doubt he addressed them to the Jews; indeed; Hosea says the same thing under the same figure: "Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." But scholars have ;;ettled 10:J.g ago that Jeremiah wrote his prophecy in Egypt, in full sight of what he daily interwrought into the forcible rhetoric he was wont to employ.
These are good exercises for a weary railway ride in desolate Egypt, especially if one is really jammed up against the uncleanest sort of things most of the time! As the day waned we drew closer, evidelltly, to some great center of population. A grove of palms appeared now and then; a few tamarisks with feathery branches; occasionally a white tomb with a diminutive dome over it ; then a train of camels, or a Mussulman cn a donkey. Just before our tickets were taken preparatory to an arrival, far off upon the right our attention IYas arrested by three vast masses of majesty, pinnacling their triangular shapes against the clear blue heaven, silent yet speaking, tranquil yet fllll of exciting history. And he must be tame of heart and dull of spirit tvho can now without emotion look for the first time on the Pyramids of Ghizeh!
Piazzi Smyth, astronomer-royal for Scotland, has prefixed to his interesting book, "Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid," a verse from Isaiah's prediction concerning this kingdom of the ancient Pharaohs-a verse which he makes the motto for the whole volume: "In that day shall there be an altar to the I.ord in the midst of the land of Egypt; and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord." He considers that the great pyramid is what the prophet intended by an "altar" or "pillar "-that is, a monument acknowledging the true God. The commentators do not agree with. him in this. Addison Alex- ander calls attention to the usage of the Hebrew language;. he the rather accepts the "altar" as a sign of devotion, and he does not refuse such a "pillar" as the sign of monumental or commemorative' acknowledgment. 'But he quotes other passages to show that an altar in the midst of the land, and a pillar at its border, denote altars and pillars throughout its whole extent. He translatesone· of the verses: "And Jehovah shall be known in Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day."
Josephus has been quoted as saying that he was the one who gained permission from ptolemy Philometor for Onias to erect the temple in Heliopolis for Jewish worship, and that he did this by showing him the passage from Isaiah under our study now, for this convinced thp, king.
At this point we must pause; thus much of the verse is absolutely fulfilled: Egypt is beginning to speak the language of Oanaan; civilization is changing the East into its own likeness. The rest of the prediction will be brought to pass soon: Egypt is to be converted unto God. The declaration of Isaiah is very explicit: there shall come one day when the land of Egypt shall change its form of religion, which is now that of the prophet of Islam, and receive the service of the Lord, the gospel of Ohristianity; then its life will be laid on God's altar. We have the fair permission to strengthen our faith with this prophetic promise that the cities of the Egyptian land will soon begin to see the true light that is shining for them; they will cry unto the Lord a great cry because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour.
Our illustration is just at hand. In witness of afact so specially welcome to every friend of foreign missions, and so honorable for a testj… mony to the zeal of one branch of our American Presbyterian d~nom ination, I shall close this article with a note lately received and published in the public prints, written by one who has been familiarly acquainted with Oairo itself and with its vicinity for many years: "Years ago, right opposite Shepheard's Hotel, was au open space, where dragomans piched their tents, so as to show travelers intending to take the trip across the desert to Sinai, or through Palestine, how the thing was done.; Now the dragoman's occupation is mostly gone; the railway and the steamship have made him a 'lost art.' Where the tents were pitched in front of and beyond Shepheard's are magnificent blocks of buildings, one of whichis the large edifice (covering a square) of the American United Presbyterian Mission.
" There is no thoughtful man but will rejoice when religious toleration, under the regis of England, shall cover this land as this day it covers India. Our United Presbyterian brethren hll.ve not awaited that time. Their works for the Lord here are already known in our own land. It is a proud sight for me to look upon the British soldiers flocking to the mission church in Cairo to attend the Sunday service, the week-day prayer-meetings, and the temperance meetings; but it is a grander sight to see the schools of these American United Presbyterians filled with Copt and Moslem children-to see large audiences of converted men and women on the Sabbath day come .up to the house of the Lord; and it is a thing of the moral sublime to find that now not a year goes by in this ancient land without more than two hundred souls converted to the Lord. What is especially encouraging is
A MISSIONARY l'OEM
that within a comparatively short time some forty Mohammedans havecome to the knowledge of the truth, through good report and evil report (mostly the l,atter), and some through persecution, and have taken their stand for the Master.
"Truly this work of our Benjamin among the American Presbyterian churches commends itself to all our brethren of the great Pan-Presbyterian band. We thank God and take courage when we think what He has accom- plished through His servants Lansing, Hogg, and their companions here. This day more than' five cities in the land .of Egypt speak the language of Canaan,' and the prophet's words have been fulfilled, which he pronounced 2,500 years ago: 'In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of'Egypt ' (Isa. xix: 19). The altar is erected, and thanks be to Him who has done this through the instrumentality of this faithful little . band of American Christian men and women."
A MISSIONARY POEM.
DEAR DR. SHERWOOD: It seems to me that the following, from Frederic Myers's "St.
Paul," is an exquisite description of the missionary work. It is put into the mouth of the A.posLle of the Gentiles. CHARLES C. STARBUCK.
EAST the forefront of habitations holy Gleamed to Engedi, shone to Eneglaim ; Softly thereout and from thereunder slowly Wandered the waters, and delayed, and came.
Then the gt'eat stream, which having seen he showeth, Hid from the wise but manifest to him, Flowed and arose, as when Euphrates floweth ; Rose from the ankles till a man might swim.
Even with so soft a surge and an increasing, Drunk of the sand and thwarted of the clod, Stilled and astir lind checked and never-ceasing, Spreadeth the great wave of the grace of God: Bears to the marishes and bitter places Healing for hurt and for their poisons balm'; Isle after isle in infinite embraces Floods and enfolds and fringes with the palm.
Ay, and afar to realms and to recesses Seen in a storm, discovered in a dream, Fields which no folk nor any power possesses, Oceans ungirdled of the ocean stream.
Yes, or if loose and free, as some are telling (Little I know it, and I little care), This my poor lodge, my transitory dwelling, Swings in the bright deep of the endless air.
Round it and round His prophets shall proclaim Him, Springing thenceforth and hurrying therethrough Each to the next the generations name Him, Honor unendingly and know anew.
MIRACLES 01l' :MISSIONS
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS.
MISSION TO THE HALF MILLION OF BLIND IN CHINA.f [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] ANOTHER of those marvelous adaptations of history which so signally evince and evidence a divine plan has recently appeared in the Celestial Empire.
William H. Murray was bOl'n at Port Dundas, near Glasgow, and, as the only son in a family of ten children, would naturally have entered the saw- '
mill of his humble father but for the loss of his left al'm by accidental , contact with the machinery when only about nine years old. This occur- rence, which determined his future as outside the sawmill, was the begin- ning of a series of providential events which have made him the most conspicuous benefacbr of China's blind people that has ever appeared in that vast empire. With but one arm he could not labor physically to much purpose; but though he lacked bl'awn he had brain and he could study. He improved his mind, and before long' was employed in the l'llI'al districts neal'
Glasgow as a letter-carrier. His conscience was not asleep, and remon- sh'ated against the Sunday work which this occupation required. To avoid compromise with his moral sense and at the same time retain his position he surrendered two shillings out of each week's wages. His self-sacrifice was not only blest to himself, but sowed the seeds of that extensive reform now in progress to secure for government employes in the postal service a Sabbath respite ft'om work. , Brain and conscience thus being busy, young Murray found his heart awaking to a new longing to be of service, He felt witllin him a conscious- ness of a call to some mission among men, he knew not wllat. He applied to the National Bible Society of Scotland for work as a colporteur. The secretary felt drawn to the modest but persistent lad, but hesitated to have him give up a good position In government service for a venture which might prove a failure. But William lIfurray "pmyed himself" into the work of the society. His long daily walk he divided into three parts: a third of the way he studied the Scriptures in the original Hebrew; another third of his monotonous tramp he gave to New Testament Greek; and the last part of his walk was emphatically a walk with God, consecrated to daily prayer that he might be fitted for some sphere of personal, direct missionary service.
He longed to be pl'omoted from a royal mail-carrier to a messenger of good tidings to the King of kings. In 1864, now almost a quarter of a century ago, he was accepted as a colporteur of the Bible Society and began work on the Clyde, among the sailol's and seamen. Here was a new link in the chain which connected the sawmill in Scotland with this great work of opening the inner eyes of the blind in China.
The Bible Society soon found that" it neyer had such another colporteur"
as the quiet young man who, without any great mental endowments, graces of person or gifts of speech, was dmwing to himself the men that go down to the sea in ships to do business in great waters, and was rapidly picking up such phrases in various foreign tongues as enabled him to effect more sales of Bibles among sallors of all nations than any of his predecessors had done.
The colporteur was evidently a divinely called man.
As this work occupied him only in winter months, he was free in the sum- mer season to push his Bil;lle-cart along the rough roads of the Scotch Highlands. One-armed as he w~, he had two legs and a brave heart, and "''' Work.for the Blind in China." C. F. Gordon-Cnmming. Gilbert & Rivington, London, Eng. , so he patiently carried on his work, getting inured to hardness as became a good soldier of Jesus Christ. How many a mighty workman and winner of souls has been trained like Milne and Morrison and Curey and OnckeIJ, and Livingstone and McAuley and Johnson and Marshman and Buchanan and Clough, in a very strange school.
And now comes another link in this providential chain. William Mmray's unusual aptitude for languages attracted the notice of some of the directors of the Bible Society, and arrangements were made for him to attend morn- ing classes at the old college in H,igh Street. A friend hel ped to pay the necessary fees, and MUl'ray managed his studies so that they did not impinge upon other duties. He rose at 3 A. M. and studied till 8, then attended his classes till 10, then stood in the streets beside his Bible-cart till evening, .
when after a frugal meal he studied again till bedtime. .
Seven years of apprenticeship were accomplished, and in 1871 he was free to carry out his heart's desire. He sailed for China, where he was to spend half a year at Che[oo trying to learn to distinguish at sight the 4000 intri- cate, complicate characters by which the Chinese language is represented on paper. It has been quaintly said that he who would master the Chinese tongue needs a head of oak, a constitution of iron, lungs of brass, nerves of steel, the patience of Job, and the lifetime of Methusaleh. But Mr. Murray was not to be easily discouraged. He had tackled Greek and Hebrew char- acters, and· he was· not dismayed at the still more elaborate mysteries of Chinese words. He applied himself diligently, and in four months he acquired about 2000 characters. The Bible colporteur started on his work.
He devised a mule litter to carry his books, and ovel' mountain roads and facing cold winds made his first journey 250 miles in,to the interior of Shang- tu province.
Sixteen years of untiring work as a colporteur passed away, during which this one-armed man undertook journeys even into Mongolia and Manchuria, fording rivers, daring perils, enduring hardship, feeding on wretched fare, sleeping in rude sheds, or perhaps favored with more palatial accommoda- tions in the shape of the coffin which dutiful sons have with filial tenderness provided for their father in anticipation of h~s need, and which the generous host put at disposal of the traveler. Mr. Murray sometimes found himself in the midst of a riotous rabble, but again surrounded by those who clamored for the foreign" classic of Jesus," and on one occasion he found at evening that his sales had reached 3000 copies j then the people begged him to remain among them, and he did so for half a year. During his sixteen yeal's in China he has sold over 100,000 books, containing wholly or in part the Scriptures in the tongues of China and Tartary. These Bibles have found their way into humble huts of poverty, and even into the imperial palace j have been borne to gl'eatdistances by merchants and scholars who have bought them at fairs and public gatherings, and so this modest man has been permeating this vast empire with the Light of God.
But now we come to another link in this strange story of a useful life.
Mr. Murray saw in the thronged skeets hundreds of blind men, sometimes in groups or gangs of eight or ten, each one guided by another blind man in fl'ont, and the foremost guiding himself and all the others with a long stick- "the blind leading the blind." On one occasion a company of 600 blind beggars was seen waiting for a free distribution of rice! It is thought . that there are half a million of blind in China, and that this ,'ery nnusllal proportion of blind people is traceable to smallpox, leprosy, neglected ophthalmia, uncleanly habits, and the dense'smokecreated in their dwellings by the dried grass with which their ovens are heated. For generations these sights have been seen in the Celestial Empire-blind beggars, hungry and un. clad, beating gongs, singing songs, yelling in chorus, squeaking with flutes, or otherwise torturing the defenseless ears of bystanders until" cash" was given them simply to induce them to move on and torture somebody else.
These blind legions of China awaken a sort of pity and even reverence by their very infirmity and misery, and are addressed by title of "Teacher"~ Hsien-SMng-but the most of the adult blind are so hopelessly vile that Mr. Murray himself has never ventured into their night refuge in Peking, but seeks to isolate and educate the blind lads, beginning with them when but seven years old.
But we are anticipating. His soul was strangely drawn out in behalf of these thousands of blind children. His appeals to others in their behalf were met by the usual response, that the work already on their hands was too great to be done with the few helpers and slender means at their command. And so his only way was once more to " walk with God" in prayer for guidance and help. The Bible colporteur must himselfunderiake to help these sightless crowds.
Here we touch another link. Mr. Murray, before he left Scotland, had mastered Professor Melville Bell's "System of Visible Speech for the Deaf," and had found it so great a help in his Chinese studies that he had prepared a. pamphlet upon it for use of foreign students. The thought flashed on his mind that this system might be modified so as to become eyes to the blInd as well as ears to the deaf. He saw that the fingers of the blind must take the place of eyes, and that the first step was to reduce the sounds of the language to symbolic!orms. These he made in clay and baked, and from these the blind wei'e first taught to read. But two difficulties presented themselves: first, the system lacked simplicity, and, secondly, as the Chinese adore their written characters, they might worship these clay symbols.
While in Glasgow Mr. Murray had also studied Moon's "System of Embossed Alphabetic Symbols" and Braille's" Embossed Dots." Perhaps these might be adapted to the perplexing" tones" which make it possible for one word to mean a dozen different and absurdly contradictory things. How to bring all these linguistic mysteries within the touch of the blind was the problem over which William Murray thought by day and dreamed by night. One day, weary with work, he lay down for a noon nap, when, while yet awake though with closed eyes, he saw outspread before him the whole system he has since put in available form for use, and perceived that it would enable the blind to read accurately and in a short time the Word of God. He believes that vision to have been a revelation to him from above. He made no attempt at an alphabetic system. but employed numerals. He found that inst'ead of the ordinary 4,000 characters, a little over one-tenth of that number would suffice to represent the sounds of the language, viz., 408 dis· tinct syllables. Instead of figures he uses mnemonic letters, and ingeniously contrives that not more than three syllables shall be used to represent the longest word, corresponding to units, tens, and hundreds. He found Braille's system to be more helpful than Moon's, as being fitted both for writing and musica.l notation.
So pl'acticable has this method proved that a thorough acquaintance with both reading and writing may be acquired by a blind boy of average faculty in from six weeks to two months, whereas six yeal's of study would be required for seeing eyes to recognize the 4,000' distinct characters of the ordinary written language. For eight long years Mr. Murray worked to perfect the system which he saw in theory in that day-vision, and it must be remembered that he could devote only odd hours not already taken up with his Bible w<;>rk. His first practical test was upon "Wang," a rheumatic blind cripple, who soon learned to read for himself the blessed Word. Then a poor blind patient, who had been severely kicked by a mule, relieved the hours of suffering by studying the Murray system, and within two months even his callous fingers could feel the precious truth of God. Then a poor blind lad, left on a dunghill to die, after three months' nursing was restored to health and learned to read and write. Ne:Xt a blind beggar boy, an orphan taken in out ofthewinter's cold, within six weeks read more accurately and fluently without eyes than many do with eyes in a score of years.
Miss Constance F. Gordon-Cumming, to whose golden pen missionary literature owes so much, visiting Peking, was astonished as she stood at the door of a dark room to hear the Scriptures read by the touch by men who, not fOUl· months before, begged in the streets, half naked and balf starved. And the marvel is that this Bible colpodeur, this consecrated workingman, has been doing this work alone, from his slender income boarding, lodging, and clothing his poor blmd pupils! He seemed to hear the Master say once more, "Giveyetbem to eat," andsohe brought his barley loaves to Him to be blessed and multiplied, and they have strangely sufficed for others' wants as well as his own. One boy of twelve, left in his charge by an elder brother, and then left on his hands, though blind, not only rapidly learned to read and write, but became his main dependence in stereotyping and all other work, and developed such musical ability as to become the organist in the chapel of the London Mission.
The rumor of thlS wonderful school for blind pupils has spread far and wide, and some have come 300 miles to study the system. One pupil developed singular fitness for the ministry and was sent to Tien-Tsin as a candidate for the work. Another has undertaken to stereotype an embossed Gospel according to Matthcw, in the classical Mandarin dialect of scholars throughout the empire. The work is but at its beginning, for there must be at least eight different versions reduced to the dot system before the blind of the different provinces can find the system available to represent'the various colloquial dialects. The ingenuity of Mr. Murray reminds us of Bezaleel and Aholiab, whom God by His Spirit endowed for the mechanical work of the tabernacle. He has so simplified stereotyping in connection with his method of instruction that a Chinese lad will produce in a day more than three times as many pages as an ordinary London workman by the common method. Thus God is using the special sensitiveness of the fingers of the blind and their proverbial aptitude for music, to raise up blind readers of the Word and blind singers and players on instruments, who may make music the handmaid of evangelism. The system, as we have said, is singularly adapted to represent, not only the sounds used in speech, but in music too. The Peking pupils write out musical scores from dictation with such rapidity thlt an ordinary" gospel song" will be produced in· a quarter of an hour. By means of embossed symbols pasted to the keys they also learn to play the piano and organ. The written score being read with one hand and the music played with the other, the student soon learns both to sing and play by note. Then these Christian songs are made a means of attracting an audience, to whom one of the blind students tlien addresses his exhortation, and whom he recommends to buy and study the Bible for themselves. And-so a blind boy will often sell more books in a. day than the authorized agent Of the Bible Society.
Here we reach another link in this chain of providential purpose. We see why Mr. Murray was sent to China as a Bible colporteur. His bookselling and street preaching bring him and keep him on familiar and friendly terms with the natives and prevent his being thought a mere magician or conjur~r who by some weird power turns fingers into eyes. Moreover, the superl>titious respect felt for written characters and all who can read them, togeiner with the reverence and pity toward the blind, seem to open a new and wonderful avenue of usefulness to these blind Scripture readers and singir.g evangelists. Mr. Murray ought to be enabled to devote at least half his time to this work of instructing the blind, and abundant means ought to be given him to multiply his schools in every part of the empire. This new development in China suggests a key that may open the doors to 150,000,000 secluded Ohinese women. A blind woman taught to read the Scriptures may find her way to homes from which all missionaries are practically excluded. As yet popular prejudice has prevented Mr. Murray from teaching but one blind woman, who in a few months mastered reading, writing, and musical notation.
Mr. Murray, having often found genuine converts who had found salvation solely through reading the Word, and who sought of him Christian baptis,m, has been granted ordination and so returned from his visit to Scotland in 1887 empowered to do the whole work of a Christian minister, and will devote his time to the preparation of books for the use of the blind and instructing those to whom God has denied the girt of sight. Who can foresee to what extent the Providence that raised up this man for this unique work may be pleased to use him for the evangelization of the hundreds of millions in China, transforn:ing blind beggars into Scripture readers and teachers of others blind also, so that it shall be h;ue in a new sense that the blind lead the blind, but not into the ditch? The words of Isaiah shall be fulfilled: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight." Isaiah xii: 16.
For the sake alike of completeness to this paper and for the information of those who are specially interested, we append a brief resume of Murray's "System for Teaching the Blind of China."
The plan that wonld most naturally commend itself to one wishing to teach the blind, would be to adopt phonetic spelling. I fonnd, however, that" numeral" spelling was greatly to be preferred.
Chinese, as a spoken language, may be reduced to 408 syllables. Now I take a representative written hieroglyphic of each of these 408 syllables, and for my own convenience place them in alphabetic order in a horizontal line. The Chinese know nothing of alphabetics.
Then in a line running parallel above that line of representative .sonnds, I write its equivalent in numerals; but instead of figures I use mnemonic lelters, viz. T or D represents 1, N .tands for 2, M is 3, R is 4, L stands for 5, 8h is 6,.;K is 7, F or V means 8, P or B is 9, and S stands forO.
Then, as the Chinese have no alphabet, I choose simple. syllables, as Ti for simple T or D, Ni or No for Q, etc. Therefore the two lines run thus: Ti Ni, Mi Rhi Li :-mnemonics. Gna Gnai Gnan Gnang Gnao :-Chinese. Shih Kei Fei Pei Tze:-mnemonics. Cha C'ha Chai C'hai Chan :-(Jhinese.
EXPLANATIoN • • These are the first ten mnemonic words. Chinese equivalents that stand for the numbers, and written in a large character, begin the sentence, which, according to the custom of ordinary Chinese bookS, is written perpendicularly, and is read from top to bottom.
The under line represents tell of the 408 Chinese syllables, and these, also in a larger character
WOMAN AND, WOMAN'S WORK
than the intermediary ones, are at the oottom, and finish the sentence. Thus: TI, sh1h, !lInan. tsai, t'ien, shang, che, hua, shih, nan, hsin, GNA.
There are thus 408 simple sentences. and the pnpll is reqnired to commit theAe to memory, a)ld thenceforth, to write the one, and read it as the other. This he does like a chain of events, and in a very short time, at the rate of aoout twenty sentences in a day. This is, in fact; his spelling lesson. I know that this description must appear complicated, but in daily practice it is found to oe qnite the reverse.
The superiority of this method over" spelling" is immense. As an example of its adyantages I would instance the Chinese word" C'huang Q" – a oed. It would require eight letters to spell this word, but by this plan I only need three, i.e. units, tens, and hundreds. There are no spaces or contractions to be a burden to the memory.
Then we only require. ten num erals for our "alpbaoet. '~_ But I saw the advantage of employing the other letters thus: namely, nSing the deep lettt!t's, as K, L, Y, N, in four sets of four to stand in the first space to represent tbe hundreds, and by that means they would answer a double purpose, namely, indicate also to which of the four" tones" the word belongs, each having a choice of four letters for each of the 408 sounds.
Let the sound and the number of its tone be indicated along with its aspirate, which is thus- C'huang Q, and be understood to be the hundredth iu the order of the syllabary; and as regards tbe four .. tones" to belong iu that sense (i.e., a bed) to the second. The letters K, L, M, N eqnal 100, and in that order indicate the 1st, 2d, 3d, or 4th tone. Then LOO equals C'huang Q. A person acquainted with the Braille alphabet will perceive that as only three letters are thus requit'ed, the L takes top, middle and lowest points, while the first line of Braille, which supplies tens and nnits, has only top and middle points, and consequently the word has always one deep letter and two hollow, making a wedge·like form; hence there is no need to separate the words in writing, and thus all space between words is saved, which of itself is no small gain, and at the same time greatly simplifies the fingering to the reader.
When time, material, expense, storage, and porterage are considered, it will be seen how important are all these points which tend to reduce the inevitable bulk of books for the blind. The fact lof each word being represented by three letters, and having thus a definite length and somewhat triangular form, is a great advantage in stereotyping.
It occurred to me that I could simplify the process of stereotyping; so instead of holding the punch in one hand, and having only the tip of the little fingEr to guide, while the other hand holds the mallet, I designed a table with a lever at one side, and a mallet to work by a treadle-the mallet always to strike the center of the table, and squared off the plain over which the block would have to describe. The treadle is of course worked by foot, and with side woods, the width of two words, and woods the width of a double line, which exaclly correspond in size with the latter; for the guide in shifting the block npward in the plain of the fixed mallet, as the other, the side woods keep the position sideways; the stereotyper moves these as he finishes two words at a time, the top piece, at the finishing of the double line, is taken from the top, and pushing up the block, he puts that wood at the next foot, and then the block is in proper position for striking the next, and is firm and fast in its position.
Thus the right hand, which would otherwise have had to hold the mallet, is left free to handle the manuscript, and to relieve the tip of the little finger and take. to guiding. Now, with us the process is so simplified that the operator can pell·mell with great speed and pleasure.
The advantage will appear best in the result, when I tell you that the boy can do with ease in one day what would take three men and one-third in England to 'do in the same time. So what a sighted man would take twelve months to do, my blind boy will do in three months, and the quality of the work is struck more perfectly.
WOMAN AND WOMAN'S WORK AT rHE LONDON CONFERENCE.
BY MRS. DR. J. T. GRACEY, BUFFALO, N. Y.
THE first missionary conference with representatives from various mission fields convened in the city of New York, May, 1854, That notable missional'y, Dl'. Duff of Calcutta, was visiting America, and the churches had been stirred by his eloquent words. His presence was the inspiration of this conference, which had an attendance of one Itundred and fifty members and was in session only two days. This meeting was the beginning of a new era in missionary work. Othel' conferences then followed in England and in the various mission fields of the world.
In the year 1878 a conference was held at Mildmay Park, London, at which thirty-five societies were represented, and this meeting was notable from the fact that for the first time missionary women took part in the proceedings. Mrs. Weitbrecht read' a paper on "Christian Vork Among the Women of India," and Miss E. J. Whately one on" Female Missions in, the East," and "English Mission Schools in Cairo" was read by Miss M. L. Whately. Several missionary ladies took part in the discussions which fOI– lowed the reading of these-papers.
Woman had gone to the isolation, the dreariness and monotony of heathen life; for years she had braved dangers and made all sacrifices, had established schools and been a transforming power in darkened homes, had aided in the translation of God's Word and Christian hymns, had given to heathen mothers a loftier idea of motherhool1, had been imprisoned for the gospel's sake, in loneliness and weal'iness had she patiently and lovingly toiled, yet only ten years have elapsed since she had a voice in the deliberations of a missionary conference. When she appeared she appeared to stay.
The General Conference of Missions, held in Exetel' HaJI, London, in June last, with more than twelve hundred delegates, has been universally conceded to be one of the most remarkable gathering~ ever held in the history of foreign mission work. It was notable for the presence of so many missionary women, and for the great prominence given to woman's work. Women were present from neat'ly all mission fields, and when one day the announcement was made that Mrs. Hannington, wife of the martyred Bishop of Africa, was in the audience, the applause was loud and prolonged.
Of the eighty-four American and continental societies represented, twenty-two were "Woman's Boards," each of them sending their own accredited delegates, more than fifty in number. On Saturday evening, June 9, the meeting was opened by a service of prayer and praise, and tables were set capable of accommodating hundreds of persons. At this opening session the Earl of Aberdeen presided, with his wife Lady Aberdeen on the platform at his side. Ecclesiasticism and doctrinal differences had no place, for the very introductory speech by Dr. Thompson of Boston sounded the keynote. "What have we come here for?" said he. "Not to see the old country, nor its cathedrals, nor the British Museum, nor the Tower of London, nor palaces, nor objects of art, nor to listen to the eloquence of Parliament, but to hear what the Pauls and Silases of the day are doing in the name of Him who made of one blood all the nations of the earth." "All one in Christ Jesus" was the prevailing spirit from the beginning to the close.
In the prepared programme Woman's W Qrk was tRe assigned topic for two of the regular sessions for delegates, and for one of the large public evening gatherings. Then there were meetings held exclusively for ladies, and women were made prominent as speakers at a number of public meetings, and some were even called upon for responses at lunches and breakfasts. From many lands the missionary woman was present, and told het· sweet and thrilling story, that reached all hearts.
Arrangements were made to hold the morning sessions for women in the •. Annex," a hall holding about two hundred and fifty; but the" Annex" was too small, and it was necessary to adjourn to the large hall to accom- modate the large crowd. Some one writing of these meetings said: "The women excelled the brethren in the directness and clearness of their state- ments, and the practical presentation of their work." Almost every phase of mission work was discussed at these sessions. As China was represented, it was claimed that in no country is woman's work so valuable as in the Celesttal Empire; others claimed that Japan most needs woman's help; 9thers maintained that of all countries India needed her, and the statement .vas made that one married missionary, with the feminine influences of home, is worth more than twenty single men, and that often the missiona.ry's home had been the first object lesson of love in heathen countrieR, and the wife has been the great helpmeet, carrying on work which her husband could not do.
Sir Robert Phayre presided at one meeting. " His thirty years' experience in India," he said, "convinced him that it is impossible to attempt to convert a world of men, leaving out the women, as that is clearly contrary to God's manifested will." He referred to the great amoupt of misery behind Zenana walls, as having come to his knowledge in connection with his official duties, but said, "There is no amount of oppression and evil-doing that cannot be removed by prayer."
Miss Rainy of the Free Church of Scotland spoke on "The Place of Female Agency in Mission Work." She said: ., Women should take up this work because it is evident on many grounds that the Lord will have it so. The scheme is of Him, and the way to carry it out has been made clea.r by Him. Missiona.ry women giw their attention to teaching in Sunday, weekda.y, industrial, and boarding schools, taking charge of orphanages and seminaries, Zenana mission work, or house to house· visitation, evangelistic work in villages and country districts, holding Bible classes and mothers' meetings for converts, training and supet'intending native agents, preparing a verna.cular literature for women, and last, but not least, laboring as medical missionaries among women and children."
Miss Marston, M.D., read a paper on "Woman's Medical Work." She said the work was most hopeful, that "the hospital is an institution of increasing vaIUl'>, and both there and in the dispensary the people are pleased rather than otherwise to listen to the message of the gospel. The difficulties of Zenana medical work were enlal'ged upon, and, in conclusion, several suggestions wel'e given. Specia.lists being, a.s a rule, inaccessible, a.~d consultations being out of the question, medical women in India. must either be able to undertake all and sundry cases, or have the pain of occasionally rejecting them. Experience led to the recommendation that, in addition to the usual cUl'l'iculum, there should be a year's study of special subjects."
A number of ladies took part in the discussion that followed the reading of this paper. Miss Cross spoke of the shocking condition of the women in government pl'isons and hospitals, and gave an account of a visit she paid to one of the prisons, where she saw a large number of women condemned for the crime of murdering their female children.
Mrs. Emmerson of New York read a history of the Woman's Union Missionary Society of America, a society representing all evangelical denominations, organized in 1860.
Mrs. Cappin of the African Church of America was eloquent in her justification of woman's work in many lines. She said that what was required for those women was not mere" book learning," but thorough technical education in the art of housekeeping, a.nd above all in the art of making bright, happy Christian homes. It must be remembered that their work was not merely to educate, however grand a'work that was in itself, but to win the precious souls of those women for the Lord Jesus Christ. The objpct of the society must be strictly evangelistic-that of carrying the gospel, whether by education, Zenana missions, medica.l missions, 01' whatever agency might be employed, to the homes of the East. She greatly deplored the small number of lady workers in the field, and she felt it her duty to speak out ~nd to tell ner Chfistia,l1, sisten; Qf the ~reat ~eed of worker!!, Mrs. Edge of China asked Christian mothers to put no obstacle in the way of their daughters, should the LOI'd call them to missionary work.
Mrs. Quinton spoke of the women of the Indian tribes of North America.
She said: "These 'women are hungering for spiritual instruction, and almost as soon as they hear the gospel they give their heart!! to God."
Miss Abbie Child of Boston, Secretal"y of the Woman's Board (Congrega- tional), spoke on the" Need and Preparation of Missionaries," saying, "The time is past when anybody can be a missionary."
Miss Jet'roam, for twenty-eight years a missionary in North India, said: "While preparation is of immense importance, yet missionaries cannot be manufactured; like poets, they are born, not made; nay more, they are called, and called .of God; only the Master can make a missionary. The training is in the Lord's own school."
"The Necessity for Trained Native Christian Teachers" was discussed by Miss Askwith of South India, under the following heads: Who are to be Trained?
What Objects must be Kept in View when Training?
What Methods Should be Employed in Training?
This paper disclosed the fact that there was great need ~for establishing a, United Training Institution for Zenana teachers, in which they may be taught and practically fitted for their special work. l1iss A., in closing, said: "If India is to be won to Christ, if its womanhood is to be raised from the bondage and degradation of ages, it must be greatly through the agency of Christian Indian women. We have intrusted to us the training and education of considerable numbers of these our young sisters, who, with God's blessing, may be a power for good in their native land."
Probably the" Relation of Woman's Boards to the General Boards" was among the most stirring subjects discussed. Everybody had an opinion, and both men and women said that women ought to be represented in the general boards. This was a perplexing question to some, and a special meet- ing was called to consider it.
DI·. lfurdock of the American Baptist Union" read 3, paper in which, while he placed great estimate on woman's work, he advocated that all female agencies should abide by the rules of and be governed by the poli- cies of the General Board; that it would be better for both and have a better effect on the natives when women' recognized the headship of man in order- i.ng the affairs of the Church of God,' remembering that 'Adam was the bead.' He dwelt very impressively upon the union of man· and woman in the work, though it would be a sad day for the church when diVIded by woman's boards eQ.deavoring to work independently."
A somewhat emphatic protest was offered by some of the ladies to the sentiments of the brave Doctor, and one-an American-remarked Botto 'l)OCe, "All buncombe!" Experiences were given. Some worked indepen- dently in a great measure, others jointly. One, a Nova Scotia board, helped the parent board by raising money for each "mission, and thus felt that they had an interest in all." Another complained that they were "hampel'ed in their work by male committees." while another, the presi- dent of a very large and influential society, said she "Vould rejoice to see their work lll,erged into one, for the burden and responsibility were great on women alone. She thought, however, that in that case woman should have a place on committees.
" The Evils of Child Marriages" was discussed by Miss Whately, for years missionary in Cairo, Egypt. She said "this custom was a p'eat hindrance to missionary work. There are now hundreds and hundreds of Mohammedans who attend my school and other schools, but no matter whether it be a native Copt or a Mohammedan, the girl is taken away at twelve."
Bishop Crowther, the rescued slave boy, now a bishop of the Church of England from West Africa, said: "Long ago, among the freed slave children at Sierra Leone, invaluable services were rendered by ladies. Men were helpless with their threats and scoldings, but by kindness the ladies enticed the children to school, and taught them with great succ~ss. To-day, also, ladies are filling very important posts in the Niger territory. Often children had to be whipped into school by the native :schooimaster, till a white lady came, who brought pictures and lesson sheets from England, and taught the children to sing. Soon the news spread, and the other children of the station came with zest, and learned to love education. At Bonny it was agreed by the chiefs that $10 a year should be paid for each boy and girl who attended the school. When the time came the chiefs objected to pay for the girls, 3S they could not afterward earn money as boys could. The Bishop himself then agreed to pay for the girls, who were trained to read, and sew, and knit and make bread. etc. A certain day came when the chiefs were entertained, and Miss Susan Jumbo-daughter of Oko Jumbo-made the brea.d, whtch her father praised without knowing "'I'ho had made it. When informed, he was greatly pleased, and from that time native scruples as to the utility of investing money on the education of girls disappeared.
Lady Aberdeen presided over a special llJeeting, and in a clear rich voice that could be heard all over the large auditorium, said: "The missionary conference, with its many testimonies of the world's need and of God's gracious work among the heathen, should awaken all Cll'istian people from selfish slumbers. She regarded the sight of so many missionaries and their active friends as a grand' one, and when she thought of the great number of Bl'itish and American nationality, she could not but realize that God has committed to the English-speaking race a very high duty in the evangelization of the world. Last year, with Lord Aberdeen, she had the privilege of seeing some of the missionaries at work in India, and also of attending such conferences as workers can there hold for prayer and mutual encouragement and help. The experience was one never to be forgotten. While now thanking the American delegates for coming to this great conference, she cordially aclmowledged the vigorous work of their agents in the mission field, and also that America had greatly inspired and quickened England in missionary effort. The missionaries have all told us one thingof the power of love, the power of Christ's love when it takes hold of the soul. ,.
In reference to openings in Japan, Dr. Warren of Japan said: "The women have'not been in the degeac1ed position they have in other countries, but have long been a great power both in society and politics. The childeen are under regular instruction, and the way is gradually being prepared for the reception of the gospel. Higher educatibn is well to the front also, and the openings for missionary ladies at the present time are many and important. What is wanted is that this. educational work should be accompanied by Christian teaching. Many things combine to accentuate this call to service for Christ, and already much blessing has [attended the efforts of women in the country.
"There is a great opening just now for work in mission schools. The Americans have done a great deal in this and in other respects. First in the country by some ten years, the Americans have ever since kept to the front, Especially are they ahead in women's work. The laborers do not go over in ones and twos, but in sixes and dozens, and their schools have been remarkably successful. In evangelization, also, the women have been greatly blessed. In conclusion, the speaker earnestly begged for more female laborers for Japan."
Of the openings in India, Rev. Mr. Karney said: "India is waiting for Engbsh women to go to her, not mere educators, Dot mere Christians, but consecrated workers for Christ going in the power of the Holy Ghost."
Of openings in China, Dr. Swanson said: "That if the mothers, the wives, and the daughters of a country are secured for Christ, the men are sure to follow; and in no country has a woman more influence than in China.
"There are difficulties to face. Those who go have to go into a new civilization, and to tread on ground more dangerous than they sometimes are aware of; but in the work of education an immense service is being done, not only among the young themselves, but indirectly among their parents also. Therefore th'! speaker maintained that China, of all other countries, is the field for the mission of women. The empire is awakening, .and now is the opportunity. She must either start into life or be buried out of sight; but she is not going to be buried. Here is the chance for pious women, and the female population is constantly sending forth a wail which calls loudly for the light and liberty of the gospel as well as education."
Rev. Dr. Langford, Secretary of the Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society of America. said: "Looking back upon the past, with its record of glorious enterprise and results, and looking to the futm'e, with its blessed possibIlities and opportunities, the speaker thoroughly believed that woman is to take a larger part than in the past in the evangelization of the worldnot only by going out into the field, but by looking to things at home. In the work of organization, and in getting together and putting into shape the facts which may kindle the fire of enthusiasm for missions, the women have a sphere of great influence. The pastor cannot find time, and has not the aptitude to do many things that are expected of him. In America the women have realized this and they are taking the missionary interest quite into their own hands-editing papers, distributing tracts, sending out reports and circulars, and, having faith to believe that it was by the Spirit of the living God that great works will be accomplished, they have organized prayer unions, to present the matter continually at the Throne of Grace. In conclusion the speaker prayed that God would own woman's work by making it a blessing to the entire human family."
The many social gatherings afforded a rat'e opportunity for these worldwide representatives to catch a glimpse of the best circles of Christian England. Our American ladies received very marked attention, and made an impression in the meetings, because, it is said, "They spoke with such freshness of thought and ease of manner."
The meeting was a great inspiration to aU who were present, and marks certain great facts, viz. that woman is a great power in missionary work, and that there is no longer separation or isolation of nations, of denominations or of language. There is one Bible, one faith, one great desire, on the part of missionaries, to preach the" unsearchable riches" to the people of the earth that are in darkness and the shadow of death.
lS89.] MISSIONARY HEROES IN AFRICA
MISSION ARY HEROES IN AFRICA.
BY ROBERT N. CUST, LL.D., LONDON.
My subject is not so much Africa, its people, its customs and its misfortunes, as the Christian pioneers and their work, and to this I restrict' myself. The missionaries cannot speak of themselves; it is the last thing that they woul<Lwish to touch upon, except to describe their shortcomings. A particular church or society cannot speak of the whole class fairly, as of some they know too much, and of others nothing at all. We see them in the committee room, when they are young and ardent for the fight, scarcely knowing the difficulties with which they have to contend. 'We see them a few years on more thoughtful, more subdued and chastened, yet not less earnest; we see them still later on, broken down, unequal for further service in the rleld, yet still longing to laugh at the doctor, and go back to their life's work. Some we never see again, for they remain where they fell. Many of them are men of high talent, who in secular professions might have achi{'ved wealth and fame, or in the home church might have risen to dignity and influence, but, smitten with the wondrous love of saving the souls of the heathen, they have gone forth, and fresh candidates for the holy offioe are never wanting. What is their motive? A simple faith in the Word of the Lord, who bought them. Wishing that my hearers may carry away something that may cling to their memory, I ask them to think of the famous eleventh chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, in which he traces back to faith all the great events in the history of Israel, and I ask leave reverently to adapt his argument to the history of the pioneers of African Missions.
By faith the United Moravian Brethren at Herrnhut in Germany, more than a century and a half ago, were stirred up to send out a missionary to the poor Hottentots, who were treated as dogs by the Dutch colonists. By faith George Schmidt at once offered himself to go out, and suffered hardship with a persecuted race, and, having been blessed by the conversion of a few, was forbidden to baptize them, and summarily sent back to Europe by men who called themselves Protestants, and who were jealous of their own liberty. By faith, fifty years !:.tter (1792), the United Brethren sent out three more missionaries, who founded the illustrious mission of Genadendal, or Vale of Grace, on the very walls of the ruined house of George Schmidt, seven years after the great patriarch of African Missions had been caned to his reward, dying, like Livingstone and Krapf, on his knees.
By faith the London and Wesleyan societies, the Established Church of England, the Free Church of Scotland, and the American Board of Foreign Missions, took up a share in the blessed work amidst other races of South Africa, and out of their ranks by faith Moffat undertook to translate the Bible into the language of the· Be-Chuana, Wilder into the language of the Zulu, and Boyce, Appleyard, and others, into the language of the Ama-Xosa, or Kafir-Ianguages deemed at the time to be incapable of expressing simple ideas, but which, deftly handled, proved to be apt exponents of every variety of human thought, with an unlimited vocabulary, and an unsurpassed symmetry of structure.
By faith Moffat's son-in-law, Livingstone, abando:<J.ed his home, his chapel, and his school, and started off on his great missionary progress, which was destined to illuminate all Africa south of the Equator. By faith he bore up under the perils, the fatigues, the opposition and the bereavement of his deal' wife, who sleeps on the shore of the Zambesi. By faith he worked his way to Benguela, on the west coast, Kllimani on the east, and Nyangwe on the River Kongo to the north, discovering new rivers, new lakes, new tribes, and new languages. Fi"om the drops oC sweat which feU from his limbs in those grea': travels have sprung up, like flowers, Christian missions, founded by men of different denominations and different views of church govm"nment, but united in the fear of Uod, the faith in Christ, love of Africa, and veneration for Livingstone. To the impulse, given by this great apostle, must be attributed the missions of the Establh,hed Church ot Scotland at Blantyre, the Free Chm"ch of Scotland at Livingstonia, the London Society on Lake Tanganykia, and the Universities Mission at Zanzibar. To these must be added the missions of the Church of Rome. In an interview which some years ago I had at Tunis with Cardinal LavigEH"ie, to implore him to locate his Equatorial MisSIons at a certain distance from stations occupied by Protestants, to which he agreed in word, though his practice has been different, he spoke with admiration of Livingstone. But to this servant of God ~t was not conceded to seQ one single ft"uit of his labors. He saw no mission spring up; like Moses, he only beheld the promised land from Pisgah; he died without knowing of the secret of the source of the Nile and the Kongo. But even after death he seemed to have power to charm and to conquer, for by faith his bones were conveyed by his faithful Africans to the sea-shore, from Ilala on Lake Bangweolo, where he died, along a route never traversed before, as if the great discoverer had power to add to geographical knowledge after his death, and the great philanthropist wished te leave a lasting proof that the natives of South Africa can be faithful and loyal, and capable of high enterprises, if they are kindly treated.
By faith Krapf and Rebman sat year after year at the watchtower of Mombasa, waiting till the day should dawn, calling to each other, "Watchmen, what of the night ?". writing home descriptions of vast lakes, and snowcapped mount~ins on the Equator, causing themselves to be derided, both as missionaries and geographers; yet they lived to be honored in both capacities, they lived to see the day dawn at last, to hear of Frere-Town being es- tablished as a station for released slaves at Mombasa, to hear of those internal seas being navigated, and that snow-capped mountain being visited. In hi~ old age Krapf in tearful gratitude read Henry Stanley's challenge, which rang with trumpet-sound from the capital of U-Ganda, and was gallantly answered by the Church Missionary Society, and he lived to hear of the great Apostle's Street, which by faith he had suggested, being carried out from Zanzibar to the Great Lakes, to be extended westward down the Kongo, until hands are shaken with the Baptist missionaries working up that river from the West.
By faith the good Baptist Society established themselves in the island of Fernando Po, and, driven thence by the intolerance of the Spaniards, they crossed over to the mainland, and found what seemed once, but, alas! is no longer, a more enduring inhel"itance in the Kamerun Mountains. By faith here Saker lived, labored and died, translating the Holy Scriptures into the language of the Dualla. but leaving his work to be revised by his .young daughter, opening out a new field for the talent and zeal of women. Hence in fullness of time by faith Comber started to conquer new kingdoms of the Kongo. making, alas! the heavy sacrifice of the life of his wife at San Salvador, before he reached Stanley Pool, with the great heart of Africa open to his assault; for in their hands the Baptist missionaries had carried gentle peace, and their vessel with that name still carried them onward on their blessed and peaceful enterprise.
By faith our good brethren in North America were among the first to send out their agents to West and South Africa, to pay back the debt which they oweu, and to atone for the wrong which their forefathers had inflicted. The sun was thus taken baek to the East, to lighten those sitting in darkness. Each and everyone of their churehes by faith have vied in the desire to found strong missions, translate the Holy ScriptUl:es, and to press ,.forward the work of freedom, education, ciyilization and evangelization.
By faith the holy and humble-hearted Protestant churches on the Continent of Europe, less amply endowed in material resources. but more richly in intellect, industry and self-consecration, have sent forth a golden stream "- of missionaries from the centers of Basle and Canton de Vaud in Switzer" land; of Barmen, Br"lmen, Berlin, Herrnhut and Hermansbul'g" in Germany; from Norway. Sweden, Finland and France, to hold the fort in the most exposed situations, to suffer imprisonment, to achieve great literary works, to found living churches, and attract to themselves the affections of the African. The names of the devoted men and women who have lived and died for Christ may not be known to the world, but are written in the Book of Life.
By£aith Samuel Crowther was rescued from the captivity into which he, like Joseph, had been sold by his brethren, was restored to his country, to be no longer a slave, but a teacher, a leader, a benefactor, and an'example; by faith he was set· apart to give the lie to the enemies of the African, to stultify the idle taunt, that a negro is incapable, by his nature, of culture, piety, honesty, and social virtues; by faith -he was raised up to mark an epoch in the sad chronicle of his persecuted race, and to be the firstfruit of the coming harvest of African pastors and evangelists. By faith his son Dandison, Henry Johnson and James Johnson were blessed with the great grace of being allowed to tread in his footsteps.
If any of my readers desire to know the real worth of the African mission– ary, let them read the lives of 11rs. Hinderer at Ibadan, and 11rs. Wakefield at Ribe, and of many other noble men and women, of whom this self-seeking world was not worthy, who left comforts at home to labor among the Africans; who, in spite of overpowering maladies, have, been, like Hannington, unwilling to leave ihe country of their choice, and determined to return in spite of the warning voice of their doctor, or who, like him, have died as good confessors, counting not their lives worthy, but to fill up what remail!s of the sufferings of Christ. Such lives, in their simple eloquence, cannot fail to chasten the proud heart, to drive out selfish egotism, and to sustain the sinking spirit; they leave a ray of tender light behind them, showing that the age of chivalry and of self-abnegation has not entirely passed away; that the nineteenth century, in spite of its wbrldliness and infidelity, is still able to supply crusaders to fight the battle of our 1I'£aster.
We read often in secular books, and too often in missionary biographies, how our Heavenly Father is supposed on some occasions to have graciously interposed to save the life of one of His poor children; in Roman Catholic accounts this benevolent interference is always attributed to the Virgin 11ary, or St. Teresa. Not a sparrow, indeed, falls without His command; but if sur:h interference is presumed when a good man's life is saved, how shall we account for the absence of this providential care when the good man is cruelly killed, or cut off by premature disease? Such is but a narrow view of God's providence. His ways are not our ways; He has chosen His servants for particular services: some to honor, some to dishonor. Some are selected to -live and work, to others is conceded the peculiar grace to die nobly and set a gloriolls example. Deaths are required as well as lives to complete the picture of the new life. Some may follow the steps of our Lord in a life of beneficenM and mercy; to others is granted th'e sweeter lot of filling up that which is behind of His sufferings. And in the last struggle how by grace they have been sustained, doing nothing common or mean in the last memorable scene of their earthly passion, but sealing their faith by their manner of meeting death!
Hear some of the dying words of these soldiers of Christ. In the hour of death all things are terribly real. There is no room for deception or false enthusiasm there. I have selected these words without distinction of country or denomination, but their number might be multiplied indefinitely. Arrhenius, the Swede, had only a few months of labor in the Galla country after years of preparation for his duties. His last words were: .. Jesus, help me I Jesus, help me I Amen."
Prretorius, the Swiss, was sent out for a few months' inspection of the missions on the Gold Coast; he called upon me on his way out, and promised to call again on his return; but after a few weeks in Africa he fell. His last words were: .. Is it true that I am going home to-day 1"
Of all the smaller English missions, the Livingstone-Kongo was conspicuous for its overflowing (If zeal and life and promise, and of all its agents McCall was the brightest; but he was struck down in mid-work. His last words were recorded by a stranger who visited him. Let each one of us lay them to our hearts: .. Lord, I gave myself, body, mlnd and soul to Thee. I consecrated my whole life and being to Thy service, and now, if it please Thee to take myself, instead Q/ the work 1vhich I would do for Thee, what is that to me 1 Thy will be done I"
He had hoped that his destined course might have been among- the brave [wd strong, to toil with high pUl'pose in the service of the African; but God had chosen another part for him, and as a true Christian he recogI).ized that God had chosen it well, and no weak mUl'mul'S escaped the lips of one who was ready to liv:l or ready to die. Golaz, of the French Mission to Senegambia, as well as his young wife, died within the year after their arrival. His farewell words were : "Do not be discouraged, if the first laborers fall in the field_ Their graves will mark the wall for their 8uccesSorS, who will march past them with great strides."
Pinkerton, of the American Mission in Zululand, was ordered to lead a new mission into Umzila's kingdom; he conveyed his wife and children to North America, and returned joyfully to his task. He met with many obstacles and rebuffs, but at length found himself well on the road. His last written lines were to his wife: "Thefutnre will bring its needed light, and work, and solace. My thoughts turn sadly to you and our children. All well. We go right on."
It was to him, indeed, all well, for in a few days he breathed hill last sigh alone in the African jungle; he had gone right on into glory I .On the other side of Africa, Bagster, of the same mission, had been sent to found a mission among the Ambandu; a few months before his death he had proposed to write on" The Missionary's Joys." In the last page of his jOUl'nal we find: .. We hear His voice of cheer: Go forward: one mau of yon shall chase ten thousand; the Lord your God has promised yon .the good land, which be has given to yon; most joyous is the service of our King I "
Thomson, of the Baptist Mission in the Kamerun country (that famous mission which has during 1885-86 been uprooted and destroyed by the late German Emperor), a few weeks before his death in September, 1884, unconscious of the l'uin which was so soon to come upon the scene of his labors, on his chapels and his mission schools, wrote as Collows : "I am sustained and upheld amid many and heavy anxieties by the growing conviction that the dear Master is, in His great condescension, nSing me here for the settlement of many difficulties; and llook forward to;the future with more hope than I have known for years. I believe the work here will soou assume a better and a brighter aspect, aud my heart glows within me, as by faith I see the time. Oh for more and more of grace to cast all our burdens upon the divine bnrden-bearer I Onr hope and trust are in Him alone I "
With such men (and these few are but types of many) Africa and the whole world can be conquered. Such deaths are great victories. Such words tell us that some portion of us is immortal. These confessors saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims, and desiring a better country, that is a heavenly.
Still, they were men with like weaknesses, and cravings for love, as ourselves, and it is with heavy heart that I read of the last moments of such servants of God, dying sometimes without the solaces of religion, with no fond breast to lean upon, with none of the ordinary necessities of civilized life to sustain and comfort and smooth the path to that bourne, which men call death, but which indeed is th~ portal to everlasting life. The last journal of Hannington (who was present when I read this address four years ago) brings this point of view vividly before me. I can see that faithful Christian in the midst of his sad environment, oppressed with anxiety for the future of the work to which he had consecrated himself, still sustained by the daily reading of, and meditation upon, the Psalms of David. We find in these pages, so wonderfully preserved, no rebellious murmuring, no cries for vengeance, no appeal to the arm of the flesh. Still, as he lay tossing on his unsavory heap of straw, before his feverish eyes, during those sad days and weary nights, would rise the vision of the peaceful home, the pleasing duties, the loved companion, the little children, whom he had voluntarily left, obeying the call to serve his Master; and not in vain, for a still voice would whisper to him: "It is the Lord's will: obedience is of the essence of true courage and true love. The battles of the Heavenly King are fought in suffering as well as doing, and in dishonor, in prison, and in shameful death, as truly as In the mission chappel, the mission school, and the center oj a Christian village."
We seem at this period of the history of our missionary churches to be living over again the trials and persecutions of the early Christians in the first century. Do we not seem to hear the echo of the words of the Virgin-Saint, who at ArIes in France was slowly let down feet-forward into a vessel of boiling oil, becauRe she refused to deny her Master?
.. Jesus Christ, help me! Praise be to Thee! Lord Jesus, grant me patience! I sutrer for Thy name's sake: I suffer for a little time onlll; I suffer oJ '~1I own accord: Jesus, let me never be confounded! take me ! take me ! ..
Time would fail me to tell of Schlenker, and Reichardt, and Schon; of Goldie and Edgerley ; of Casalis, Mabille and Coillard; of James Stewart, of Lovedale, and his namesake on the Nyassa; of Grant and Wilson; of Ram-· seyer and Christaller ; of Mackensie, the Bishop who died on the River Shire; and of Steere the Bishop who sealed up the translation of the last chapter of Isaiah ready for the printer, and then fell asleep at Zanzibar; oC Parker, the Bishop, wise and gentle, holy and self-restrained, who was called to his rest on the Southern shores of Victoria Nyanza; of Wakefield and New; of Stern, Mayer and Flad; of Southon, the medical missionary, who died at U-Rambo; of dear Mullens, who could not hold himself back from the fight, and who sleeps in U-Sagara; of many a gentle ladies' grave-for women have never been found wanting to share the honor and the danger of the Cross.
NOTES ON NEW BOOKs OF AMISSIONAlty CHARACTER
I have seen and known so many of them. A few weeks before we were holding sweet converse, and then the tidings of the death of Fome one of them came floating back by letter or telegmm. They had, indeed, all gone into a br country, and to me they seem to be all there still; and, when I am musing about Africa, or studying some point connected with thatcou~try, and I look up from my paper to my African library, the forms of departed fdends seem to enter at the open door, and I seem to see theil' faces again, and to ask them their opinion. Young Riviere, a Jesuit priest, who had been turned out of Algeria and taken refuge in North Wales, used to corre- spond with me about Afdca. One day he called upon me in London and told me that he had received his orders to start at once to the Zambesi Mission field, to take the place of a dead colleague. He pl'omised to write to me from Tete, and to clear up many questions for me; but he never reached his des- tination, for he sank under his iil'st attack of fever at the mouth of the Zam- besL Differing as I do from the Church of Rome in every principle and detail of their evil system, I can still recognize and thank God for the zeal, and love of souls, and total abnegation of self, which distinguishes hel' mis- sionaries. Oh, when they are such, would that they wel'e ours!
I often think of that famous scene in one of Walter Scott's romances, where the clansman and his seven sons all fell for their chieftain, stepping forth, one after the other, gladly into the gap, and Cl'ying: "One more for Eachim !" So it is with the reserve forces of missionaries. "One more for Christ!" And how much better to have young lives and treasure spent by the missions in trying to save African souls, than wasted by the English nation in slaughtering the unoffending and undaunted freemen of the Sudan, for the purpose of main taming an imaginary prestige of having the strength of a giant without the grace of knowing how to use that strength as a Christ- ian. Wherefore, seeing that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and press forward more and more upon our bounden duty aud service to evangelize Africa. We owe this debt to those who have gone before, that they should not have diedin vain. The .Missionary is indeed the most glorious outcome of 'the nineteenth century; the honest God-fearing man in the darkest corner of the earth, where he is most wanted. to represent the highest type of 'Christian patience and mo- rality.
.. Oh I that we now had there But one ten thousand of those men in Engla.nd, Who do no work to-dall ! ..
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
[EDITORIAL.l Report of the M/,8sionary Conference, London, 1888. Edited by Rev. Jas. Johnston, F.S.S., Secretary of Conference. Vol. 1. London, Jas. Nisbet & Co. This is the first volume of what promises to be the most perfect encyclopedia of missions in the world. We can say no more. We would not be without that report ifit cost $100 instead of $2.00. The most distingni,hed men in tbe world, in the departmcnt of Oriental languagcs, rellgions, philosophies, and ~nstom., as well as the specific history of missions, are among the contributors to these volumes.
This first volume contains exhaustive papers on Islam, Buddhism. Roman Catholici.m, Relations of Home aud Foreigu lIfissions, Commerce, etc. Then Part II. gives the mission fielus of the world-India, Ceylon, Burmah, China, Japan, Africa and Madagascar, Turkey, Oceanica, North and South America, etc. The second volnme will be eqnally comprehensive and valuable, let us rather say invaluable. I have bought twenty-five copies myself to give away, and if I had the money would pnt a copy in the hands of every minister and theological student III the country. The Arner lcanedition is issued by F. H. Revell, Bible House, N. Y.; Chicago, 150 Madi~on St.-A. T. P.
Life Of John Mlson, D.D., F.R.S. By George Smith, LL.D. London, John Mnrray. This is another of Dr. SmIth's masterly bOoks on missions. We intend to give hereafter a review article
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK
-on this remarkable man, but for the present advise every lover of heroic life and labor to read the volume. The following landatory notice from the leading journal of the world, the London 7'imlJ8, we adopt verbatim: "Dr. Smith's life of the late Dr. John Wilson of Bombay is without exception one' of the most valuable records' of missionary work in India ever submitted to the English public, and equally worthy of its subject and its author. • • • Dr. George Smith's mature knowledge of Indian affairs has enabled him to give an admirable presentation of Dr. 'Wilson's life and labors in con- nection with the great public improvements and progress of the years, extending over two genera- tions of official service during which he resided in Bombay. Dr. Smith has given us not simply a biography of Dr. Wilson, but a complete history of missionary, philanthropic, and educational enterprise in Western India, from the governorship of Monntstuart Elphinstone,1819-27, to that of Sir Bartle Frere, 1862-67. He has arranged the many subjects with which he has had to deal and the materials placed at his disposal with great simplicity, clearnesr, and efIect."
Distinguished Witnesses. By Rev. John Liggins. New York, Baker & Taylor Co. This book is timely. It fits the need of the day as tenon fits mortise in a good joint. To decry and even deny the good results of the work of heroic missionaries is easy; but the logic of events will convince any candid mind, and in this book there is a mighty massing of testimony. Nehemiah is not alone in his experience. He met manifold forms of antagonism: apathy and lethargy on the part of Jews, maliciOus enmity and derisive ridicule upon the part of Ashdodite and Ammonite and Arabian. But he simply held his tongue, minded his own business, and built the wall, hung the gates and established law and order. "A light word is the Devil's keenest sword;" there are still many that are willingly ignorant, and if all that they do not know were published, the world itself conld not 'contain the books that would be written. We must disregard the assaults of ridicule and enlighten ignorance. Let us give tae people the facts, and the facts in abundance. They may become to some the fingers of God.
In this valuable 'l'olume the high character and grand influence of missions are established in the mouth, not of two or three, but of hundreds of unimpeachable witnesses. Representative men and women, whose names carry the weight of authority, and from every class in the community, here appear on the witness stand, commanding a hearing in the Court of the Judgment. They speak what they know and testify that they have seen, and only those whose eyes are blinded by prejudice or whose hearts are hardened by willful hostility, will refuse to receive their witness. Modern missions have little to fear from the harsh or hasty words ofa few like Dr. Oscar Lenz, Winwood Reade, Sir Lepel Griffin, J. J. Monteiro, Mrs. Scott Stevenson, or even James A. Froude and Canon Taylor, while such as R. H. Dana and J. P. Donovan, JamescRussell Lowell and Alfred Rugsell Wallace, Robert N. Cnst and James B. Angell, Wm. Elliot Griffis and Wm. Fleming Stevenson, Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Thomas Tancred, and Sir Richard Temple, Lords Lawrence and Loftus, Napier and Northbrook, Generals Edwards and Haig, Wallace and Wilson, Taylor and Gordon, Admirals Wilkes and Sullivan, Foote and Gore; nay, where Darwin no less than Dutrerin, and Keshub Chnnder Sen,.no lessthan Constance Gordon Cummiug, feel constrained to give testimony to the unspeakable value of Christian missions.-A. T. P.
Ohristianity and Humanity. By Chas. S. Eby, B.A. This is a course of lectures delivered in Meljis Kuaido, Tokio, Japan, and addressed to the young Japanese mind. The author is a wideawake ~tndent of the great problem presented by a people just losing faith in the traditions and religions of the p·ast and in danger of embracing any plansible errors which offer themselves. The house is empty, swept, garnished; and now the question is. Shall it be abandoned to the occupation of a sevenfold worse infidelity, or preoccnpied by Christian belief? The author says that a short time since the cry was" No religion" ; then another cry was heard, ~'Give us some religion " ; and now the question is, " What religion?" These lectures are an attempt to answer this last inqniry. They were delivered in English and Japanese on alternate Saturdays. Two of the lectures are contributed to the volume by Prof. J. A. Ewing and Prof. J. M. Dixon, respectively. It seems to us that this outline of Christian apologetics is a very thoughtfnl and fresh one, calculated to awaken attention and well repaying careful reading. Not a few Occidental students will find in them much strong meat for thought.-A. T. P_._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ II.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.
Missionary Society of the Methodist turns from the various Annual Con- Ohurch (Oanada), ferences show an aggregate gain in the membership of the church of SIXTY-THIRD annual report, 1887-88. over 10,000, and a fail- proportion of The General Board in their report this gain has been won on mission fields. On the financial side there is say: "The results of the past year's an advance of some $18,000, sufficient, work call for devout thanksgiving to the Head of the Church. The reat least, to show that interest in ality and zeal, and should lead us to mission work is by no means on the consider whether the time is not near decline. . . . Since our foreign work when the church should turn hereyes was begun fifteen years ago, the in- toward yet another part of the negcome of the society has steadily risen lected field of foreign heathendom. from $108,000 to $220,000, and such Verily, the fields are" white unto showers of blessing have fallen upon harvest," and the demand of the hour the home churches that there hasbeen is for reapers to gather in the Eoheaves. an almost continuous revival. The reports this year from Japan willgive After a full and detailed statement a further stimulus to missionary liber- of operations, the following summary isgiven: DlCOlllE A]iD EXPENDITURE FOB 1887-88, COMPARED WITH THAT FOR 1886·87. Income.
Increase. Decrease. Toronto Conf~rence. " ………………………………….. '" $44,488 15 $62009 London………………………………………………… . 16,810 44 54042 Niagara …………..•…………………………………… 25.788 71 Guelph ………………………………………•………. 17,883 01 1,09230 $3io'oo Bay of Quinte Conference …………………….•…..•…… 19.387 29 21824 ~~~t[~~! ~~df~~~~.w~~i C6riti~eric~'::::::::::::::::::::::::: 34;70833 2,001 15 272'4R 6,59536 1,131 94 British Columbia Conference ……………..•……………. 2,.33 17 Nova Scotia Conference. . …………………………… . 11,594 88 New Brunswick and P. E. I. Conference ….•………•..•…. 8,736 15 750'99 92 15 Newfoundland Conference …………………………….. . 5,405 42 30132 Legacies •………………………………•…………….. 14,802 38 12,89608 Donations on annuity •……………………..•………..• 1,500'00 Indian Department ……………………………………. . 8,875'58 Miscellaneous …………•…•………..•……………….• 2,01807 4oo'7i 17240 Total iucome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $219,480 00 $19,953 2.'1 $2,34759 Net increase……………………………… . 17,605 66 Expenditure. $i60' 95 $4.55079 TorontoConference, including Japau …………………….. $29,21804 London Conference…………………………………….. 10,034 61 154'94, g: ~:e~~a:::::::::::::::::::::::.,…… ','.:::'.:::::::::::::::::::::: ~:!~ 532 99 2754 2;66993 Bay of Quinta Conference . …………………….. '" … .. .. 10,752 55 1,055 57 Montreal Conference, including French Methodist Institute.·. . 25,165 79 Manitoba and North-West Conference…………………… 29,681 70 1,426'si British Columbia Confereuce…………………. …..•…… 17,765 28 Nova Scotia Conference ………………………….. :. . . . .• 6,615 91 685 81 New Brunswick and P. E. I. Conference…. ……………… 7,587 51 51018 28 Newfoundland Conference… .. .. …………•.•…•……….. 12,678 42 Mouut Elgin Industrial Institution……..•..•• , ••.• , •. •• •. . . . . 3,458 33 2,03049 Sundries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. .. .• •. . •. . . •. . . . . . . • 18,359 28 Cost of management……………………………………. 10,571 51 33305 2,227 12 1,62898 Total expenditure …….•…•…•……•….•… " $195,469 5! $12,343 17 $6,15978 Net increase….•……••……………..•….•…•……….. 618,339 Leipzig Missionary Society. the mortality has beeu so great that it has less European missionaries than stations at present. Number of stations…………………….. 23 Ordained European missionaries………… 22 British and Foreign Bible Sooiety. Native preachers ………… '" …•……… H Candidates.. . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . '" THE eighty-fourth report of this Catechists.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57 noble society is a voluminous book Teachers……………………. : …•••…• 267 and one full of interest. The circu- I ,ferior assistants of varions sorts………. 130 lation of the Scriptures last year was the largest in the history of the so- Total force ………………………472 ciety, the total number of Bibles, Testaments, and Portions being INCOME FOB LAST FISCAL YEAR. 4,206,0::12. The gross total of re- ceipts amounted to £250,382 lOs. 5d. C) ltributions ………………….. $69,61440 The total of expenditures, £224,823 lItere.t on legacies, profits of the Mis- 98. lid. This pays the debt of previ- ous year, over £10,000, and leaves sionsblatt, etc…………………. 4,098 72 Balance in treasury•….••…… 10,440 240 £15,000 in the treasury toward a.n- Total. ……….•….•..• ,. …..$84,153 a6 other year's work. Expenditures ……………………$7!,825 60 Balance in treasury…………. $11,835 60 This shows a falling oft" of nearly $4,000 from 1886. The society's chief work is in South India, where it numbers more than 13,000 church Imlmbers. Notwithstanding it has sent out in the last three years eleven missionaries, . 125 The society a.fl'ords essential aid to tion cif the revised Rarotongan Bible. a large number of missionary soci- In Northwest America the work is eties by liberal grants of Bibles and .chiefly "among our own people." Testaments for distribution in their respective fields. Thus in West By the important work o~ giving Africa the society's work blends with grants-in-aid to missionary societies that of the Church Missionary and for the employment of Bible-women Wesleyan Societies' work. Develop- in the East, 300 Christian women ment is the law of South Africa, and were occupied in making heathen Bible work keeps pace with it. In and Mohammedan women better ac- East Africa the society works largely quainted with the ·Word of God. with the Universities' Mission, par. Translations in six fresh languages ticularly at Zanzibar and Lake Ny- were added to the list in 1887-88, and assa; it also helps the C. M. S. In with the com pletion of the version for Egypt direct colportage work has Japan last year it is believed that for the first time been commenced the entire Bible now exists in all the among Moslems. In no part of the great languages of the world. So society's work are the accounts more mightily grows the Word of God and discouraging than in Syria and Pal- prevails! estine. The Government opposes, the people are ignorant and unawak- Seventh-day Baptist Missionary Sooiety. ened. In Abyssinia but little work was possible, owing to the Italian THE forty-sixth annual session was military occupation; while Arabia held at Leonardsville, N. Y., Aug. 23, seems ready to be more largely oc- 1888. The society maintains a succupied. From Persia comes the rec- cessful mission in China. The staord of the sure though gradual ad- tistics of the evangelistic and school vance of the kingdom of God, while work there are encouraging. Mr. and there are indications of the disinte- Mrs. Randolph have been added to the gration of Mohammedanism. The Shanghai mission. The society also work in India is carried on by six has a small mission in Haadem, Holauxiliary societies-those at Cal- land. Also mission work is carried cutta, Madras, Bombay, Bangalore, on in Austria, and on alimiterl scale Allahabad, and Lahore; it is charac- among the Jews in New York City. tel;ized as wide and resistless, though But the society's efforts are laJ'gely gradual in its advance. Threeauxil- expended in home mission work, iaries, Jaffna, Colombo, and Kandy, chiefly at the South and West. work in Ceylon. In Burmah the society gives grants of Scriptures to SUMMARY. the Burmah Bible and Tract Society. In Malaysia the work is only in its , Ohina.-3 American missionaries; 2 native sixth year, but is vigorously advanc- preachers; 2 native teachers; 1 Bible woman; ing. In North China the agent con- 5 other native helpers; 5 baptisms; 4,220 pa_ siders that Bible work is the most tients at the dispensary; 82 medical visits; 40 extensive seed-sowing of all the forms snrgical operations. of missionary enterprise. In Mid- China there is cause for much en- Holland.-l paid missionary, bnt really 3 couragement. So also in South workers, and 5 additions. China. No message of the year is brighter than that received from Mission to Jews.-2 workers; much persoual Japan. The sales have nearly quadrupl~d. In Melanesia and Polynesia work; nO baptisms, but several adherents. One event of the year is the comrle- Horne MissWns.-24 workers, including the secretary; 150 additions-85 by baptism; and 5 churches and 7 Bible schools organized.
Scandinavian MzssWn.-l worker.
Total fO'T' America.-26 workers; 150 addl- tions-85 by baptism; 5 cburches and 7 Bible schools organized, one church and one school being among colored people in New Orleans.
Total additions on the whole field, 100-91 by baptism, Reeeipts. age the funds needed for the sup. Balance cash In treasury, port of their Bethel and its w.ark, and perhaps a surplus to be sent September 12, 1887…… $247 35 to the general treasury in New Receipts by contributions and income from bequests and permanent funds, York. Where it is not possible to from September 12, 1887, raise sufficient money in the vicinity to September 20,1888…. 8,633 01 of the work, the parent society feels Received on loans ……. " 3,800 00-$12,680 36 bound to supplement the deficiency. " E:r:pens68.
Paid salaries and other ex- At present, says the Secretary, penses from September there are urgent calls to service in 12,1887, to September 20, behalf of the three millions of sea, 1888 …………………$9,700 98 men of all nations, and there is Paid loans …..•………. 2,800 00-$12,500 98 Cash balance September a great opportunity to enlarge this 20,1888………….. .. $17988 work. Men are wanted specially en- dowed for labor among seamen. We The Amerioan Seamen's Friend Society. need more money. We need collec- THIS society was organized more tions from churches. In arranging than sixty years ago. Its object is the list of benevolent objects we.
",to improve the social and moral respectfully ask church officers to condition oi seamen, by uniting the remember that our society is a Home efforts of the wise and good in their and Foreign Missionary Society to bellaH; by promoting in every port seamen, who would be largely neg- boarding-houses of good character, lected were it not for its efforts in savings banks, register offices, libra- their behalf. We need gifts from ries, museums, reading rooms, and individuals. American shipping mer- schools; and also the ministrations chants who formerly helped our of the gospel and other religious caus,e are few in num.ber compared blessings. " with other days when there was an At the present time there are 17 American marin/e. But the seamen, laborers at 14 home stations, and 19 whether on sailing vessel or on laborers at 17 foreign stations, repre- steamer, whether American or for- senting this society. eign, are swarming over the world, The Loan Library work is efficient exposed to moral temptations, phys- and useful, the society having sent ical hardships and corrupting influ- out nearly ten thousand of these ences.
libraries to entertain and instruct Finances.-During the year ending seamen. It acts also as an agent of March 31, 1888, the cash receipts of the Bible and Tract Societies in dis- the society from legacies, donations, tributing the Word of God and relig- loan library contributions and other ious publications among the men of sources of income amounted to $45,- the sea. It has published 56,900 027.08. The disbursements for mis- copies of the Sailors' Magazine, 20,- sionary work, publications, loan hbra- 000 copies of the Seamen's Friend, ries, expenses, etc., amounted to and 124,200 copies of the Life Boat $41,004.81.
during the past year. In some ports The society owns a Sailors' Home the society is aided by local Sea- in New York, in which 111,326 sea- men's Friend Societies, auxiliary to men have found, since 1842, the com- this society. These develop local forts of a home and protection from sympathies, utilize local energies, the sharks which prey upon "pOel"
choose competent missionaries and Jack" in a great seaport. It is the superintend their work. It is ex- policy of the society to foster by its pected of these, wherever possible, influence homes, orphanages, savings that they will raise in the vicin- banks, reading rooms and similar ad·
OORRESPONDENOE AND GENERAL INTELLlGENOE. 12'7
juncts to the fundamental work of for the sailors' legal rights, hying to preaching the gospelandsavingsouls. secure them by legal f'nactmentsand It also stands up, as far as it can, to vindicate them when violated.
III.-CORRESPON DENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
Africa. to the mission, and at a very low rate. It is toaching to print the fol- LAGOS, WESTERN AFRICA, Sept. 30, 1888. lowing response from a far-off mis- DEAR EDITORS.-Although I am unknown sionary, Mrs. Dr. Metheny, though her own mission· is in great need.- to you in the 11esh, yet I beg to write to you EDS.] that I have been traveling all over West- MERBINE, July 30, 1888. ern Africa conducting revival meetings, MRS. M. E. BEALL-DEAR SISTER: I read and delivering at the same time some tem- your appeal for funds in THE REVIEW. It perance lectures, and so try to deepen the stirred my heart so that I felt that though Ilpirituallife of a few who are only satisfied I could only give a little, I must give that, with mere formal Christianity, and to save and perhaps the Lord would put it into the some from the cursed rum and gin traffic, hearts of others who were more able, to give which is daily slaying its thousands in our according to their ability. We are in debt streets. I desire humbly to appeal through ourselves somewhat for our own house, your kind infiuence to a few or all of the which we built large enough to accommo- Religious Tract Societies in the United date our boarding-school and preaching ser- States, for a free grant of Gospel and Tem- vice. Onr Board was not willing to go to perance tracts, which will be of great use the expense of building, and we felt that we in my evangelistic work. The part of the could not do without the buildings. so we country where I am now conducting mis- took the savings of my husband's life-time, sion services is totally in want of $2,000, and $800 of'a legacy which his danghtracts and wall sheets of Scripture texts. ter left me. The $2,000 was all swallowed up I shall be exceedingly thankful, and my in the lot, so in order to complete the house poor African brethren will be g-rateful to we borrowed money from the Board, to be you, if you will supply us with these. Before repaid by the rent of the house. The mission this gets to your hands I shall be at Accra has the use of the first and second stories. for revival services, where you will please Our work here is new-begun in 1883-though addresame. I have been sixteen and a half years in the field-ten and a half in Latakia, Syria; six I am your faithful, humble servaut, as a teacher. My husband has been twenty~ four. There are now 171 communicants in GEORGE ROSE. and about Latakia. The force there con- sists of Rev. Easson and family, Dr. Balph East Oentral Africa. 23, 188~ and family, Misses Wylie, Edgar, and Dodds of the girls"school. We here are all one BANDAWE, LAKE NYASSA, Aug. family-Dr. and I, our four children, Misses Sterrett and Joseph. We have some Roman DEAR EDIT<»IS : In the article, •. The De- Catholics, but more Maronitesandstill more Greeks. Our special work is among a pagan' serted Mission," in the May number of THE sect, nominally Moslems, but really a secret sect. We also do some work amonlr bona_ REVIEW (p. 361), I notice the following: fide Moslems. For this reason we a~e bit_ terlyopposed by the Turkish Government. "Exclusive of • . . efficient help rendered One of our teachers has for more than three months been in prison for teaching among without compensation by the African Lakes these people. Our life is one continual strain of anxiety on account of our poor Co." people. Since coming here we have had a great number of people under instruction, Work done" without compensatirm" means a.nd we have a congregationol church mem.. bers, and their children, numbering 60. Bework done at the expense of the 8hareholders, sides these some have died and some have gone away. In all 30 adults have been bnt I venture to assert that au exnmination of brought in from.heathenism. How could any the books of the Livingstonia Mission will ie Of Us endure one had not the fure Word of prove, in the most conclusive manner, that the statement in THE REVIEW has not the slightest fonndation in fact.
School work is at present in fnll swing at this station. A staff of 36 native teachers is kept well employed; abont 1,000 children attend the schools dally to receive religions and other in· strnction. Yonrs trnly, ROBT. GOSSIP, Jill.
Asia Minor.
[IN the July number, 1888, p. 530, we gave a brief appeal from Mrs. Beall of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for help to purchase property essential God to rest on t Dear sister, I hope your selves exceedingly well off if they could· get fur- work may be abundantly blessed. Please lough as orten as the average civil servant get~ remember our work (Reformed Pres. Cove· it, not to speak of the three months' privilege nanter) in your prayers. leave which the latter can enjoy once in three years withont his right to furlough being af- "!Oour sister in Christ, Cected. A good deal might be said abont the devotion of the average civil servant to his MARY E. METHENY. work; bnt my design in writing is purely de- fensive. In di a.. Dr. Cust complains that the domestic affairs [WE admit the fo!owing from a of missionaries bulk too largely in official re- worthy missionary in IIl(lia as but ports. Sometimes it may be so; but that evil fair. In the September number we conld be easily remedied. Let no such subjects printed an able article, written by be referred to in official documents, except in Dr, Cust, entitled" The Heroic Mis- so far as they affect the work of the mission. sionary Society." Some of its criti- Onr critic may allege _that they ought not to cisms we thought at the time" un- affect it. Would the general of an expedition, duly severe," and so expressed our- or the governor of a province, allow them to sel ves in a footnote, p. 669. Our COl'- affect his work? Perhaps he might. The com- respondent, in a private note, says: parison, for which I am not responsible, is not "I know that you have given no a very happy one. When do you find generals sanction to the opinions which I con- or governors living with their families, as you demn, but rather the reverse. All often find missionaries with theirs, in isolated the same, I think it a pity that such places. where in times of illness no ejfic :ent help statements as Dr. Custmakes should is to be had for love or money? A general or go unchallenged. A good deal of governor can easily find a competent nurse to this kind of writing has appeared wait on his Wife, even if she do not happen to lately in Scotland, and I think it is have a European lady's maid with her; this a fitted to do no little harm to the miSSionary caunot always do, even if he could afford to pay for her services. Many mission- cause of missions." In the end we aries have to send 100 miles or so for a nurse believe such discussions will do good when one must be had, and when she comes rather than harm to the cause of she is often no acquisition; but all the same he missions.-EDs.] has to pay her an exorbitant fee, besides giving her food and drink while shei. in his house, and Il'IDIA, Sept. 25, 1888. more money for her traveling expenses than he DEAR EDlToRs.-Is it quite true that" mis- would ever think of spending in such a journey. siouaries have not a Warmer friend than Dr. Cust"? Was he practising the charity that What is a missionary to do in such circum- .. thinketh no evil" when he insinuated that stances if his wife take serionsly ill? He can missionaries .. take a worldly view" of their scarcely hope to have a nurse in his house till a w-'rk, .. and mix up a mission to a dying world week has elapsed, if he be able to get one at all. with visions of early matrimony, social advan- Is he to leave his wife to languish, and perhaps tage, and a pleasant career"? Individuals may to die, all alone, with no one to minister to her, do so; but I do not happen to know them. in order to preach to the heathen? If he may Most missionaries of my acquaintance might not leave his work for a time tl> attend to his have rlone better in respect to this world if they wife when she is really ill, is he entitled to give had remained at home. Again, each man must np preaching when his own health is such as to judge for himself whether or not he should indicate ueed of rest? If a missionary ought to marry, and if so, when. The primitive Church act in this way, ought not every Christian in knew no restriction in this matter, nor should every land to do the same? In that case, what we, beyond what is .. needfnl for the present" are we to understand by the words of Christ, exigencies ofeach. .. Go ye and learn what that mean.eth, I will lie says: "lIow often the Indian official or have mercy and not sacrifice" ? soldier has to ~hip off a sick wife, and cannot accompany her." In my experience this has Dr. Cnst further thinks that the attention of been quite as often done by missionaries, in pro- the mission committee is too mucb taken np portion to their nnmber. One would fancy with affairs of missionaries' familie., ., as if they from such remarks that Indian civil servants were a board of guardians of the poor." This is – were either more devoted to their work than not true of all committees. One committee that missionaries are to theirs, Or that their oppor- I know of acts on the prinCiple of paying mis- tunities of going home on furlongh' or short sionaries well, and leaving them to look after leave were fewer. Now I think the most self- their own wives and children. If all missions indulgent of missionaries w01lld thinlt tbem- were to act on this principle, they woulcl be re- lieved of this trouble, but at a pretty large in- crease in expenditure. As I understand it committees take tbis trQuble on themselves on grounds of economy, so that they may decide urging them to remain firm to their purhow much should be given in each case to en- pose of working in foreign land's~' even able a missionary to "provide for his own" in a decent way. It does seem hard that a mi,- though their entering upon that work seem sionary separated, at no small cost of feelin!!" from his children, should be grndged what is tu them to be long delayed. ' necelJaarv for their snpport. There are people at home rolling in wealth, and enjoying "very The meetings during the five days Were luxury which it can command, who grudge tae small allowance made towards the board and held as follows: Each morning the meeting maintenance of children who are to all intents and purposes in the position of orphans for the began with a short song service, toen the sake of missions. sermon, followed by many short, earnest tes- We welcome fair, well-considered criticism; when we err, tell us our fanlt iu a brotherly timonials in quick succession. After breakspirit; but do not join the common enemy in mali!!:ning and misrepresenting us. We can fast at ten the children's meeting and the bear the tannts and contempt of the ungodly; now we are being wounded, and that most ministers' meeting. At twelve a. sermon deeply, by our friends-onr best friends, it seems. Our time will soon pass away; to our again, and at three a Hindustani service~ own Master we shall staud or fan; but let Christian critics beware, lest by their harsh In the evening the opening song service treatment of us they discourage others from entering ou the work, and S3 injure the cause and the sermon. followed by an exhortation they seek to serve. It would have been easy to write at much greater length; but I forbear, from the leader and an invitation for all to as I do not wish to encroach unnecessarily ou your space. stay to the after-meeting. T-hen following LETTER from Miss Libbie C. Griffin: the benediction the precious after.meeting, BALASORE, ORISSA, Oct. 23, 1888. when sinners came to the altar and were Gon- THE Missionary Conference held each year at Lucknow, the capital of Onde, India, verted and missionaries and lay Christians began this year Oct. 10 and closed Oct. 14. They are held under tl}e auspices of the came and the Holy Ghost came upon them. M. E. lIfission in India, but attended by many missionaries of other denominations. Christians talked of rest, of complete sur.
Rev. J. H. Schiveley, pa.tor of the :r.r. E. render, and perfect trust. Some said that Church, Lucknow, leader this year, is a henceforth Christ should not only be with real evangelist. Sermons were preached by Rev. Tracy, Pres. of Etoma; Rev. Fore them but in them, taking entire possession, man, Pres. Fatipl'; Rev. Pa.rsons, Wesleyan, Lucknow; and Rev. GrilIln, F. Bap- and others that they believed that Jesus tist, Balasore; and by M. E. missionaries as follows: Dr. Johnson, Lucknow; Rev. would help them hereafter not only to con. Stuntz, Bombay; Rev. McCoy, Calcutta, Editor of the Indian TVitne88; Rev. Mansel, trol their tempers, but to lose them, so that Cawnpore; Rev. Marne, Calcutta; Rev. Hollister. Nagpur; Rev. Hoskins, Shah nothing would anger or irritate. A Church Jehanpur; Dr. Scott, Bareiley; and Rev. Thoburn, Simla. The sermons were strong of England missionary thought that he and spirit»al, aiming to bring sinners to Christ and Christians to an entire conse- should have grace to go home and treat his cration. The presence of such workers of many years as Dr. Scott, Rev. Mansell, Dr. servants better, and a Methodist missionary Waugh, Dr. Johnson, and Dr. Parker, was most helpful. Long may they live to help got back the peace of mind that he had lost not only the heathen. but the young missionaries who need their counsel so much_ in building a church and dealing with the Rev. Forman was doubly welcome because of his work in the home colleges. At the lying, cheating, thieving masons who per. Lucknow Missionary Conference a resolu- tion was passed telling of the tha.nkfulness sisted in putting mud where bricks and of the missionaries for the volunteers and mortar should be. Many missionaries knew from experience the ~emptations and trials of these two men and thanked God for the new-found power which should enable them to work with and for these heathen, so full of dark ways and vain tricks, and not be worried, or wounded, or made to sin by them. Saved to the nttermost even here, soldiers pledged themsehes to be as loyal to their new-found Saviour as to their queen, and men, women and children said. "I have found Jesus and mean to serve Him as long as I livp,." Thf':re was joy among the angels and gladness in our hearts for the wonderful things God did for us -all at Lucknow. And greater joy shall come when the beathen for whom we go now to labor shall yield to our God theirSaviour_ How to Make Missionary Wall Maps and Oharts.
(See MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD for December,p.962.) FIRST secure a carpeted room, sufficiently large for the purpose, and after removing all furni- ture spread on the carpet old uewspapers, lapping – their edges four inches. Upon these lay a sheet of muslin. 2ay 8×12 feet. This musliu is double- width ordinary sheeting muslin, and while the lIIap !s necessarily limited to 8 teet ill width, It can be 89 !nany yards long as is Wished, all in New York City. one piece, no seam.. A CONFEIlENCE ON MISSIONS TO TR!!= JEWs. This piece of muslin tack at the corners and midway of the sides and ends. Then take ~ of THE First lIebrew Christian Church in a pound of white glue and dissolve it in one gal- America, Rev. Jacob Freshman, pastor, lon of boiling water, and with a Jlat three·inch- which worships at 17 St. Mark's PIa."", New wide varnish brnsh apply it rapidly and York, recently entertained a" conference" smoothly to the muslin, and as soon as the mus- of friends of Jewish missions. The conlin is covered quickly untack it and remove the ference was opened with a sermon by Dr. papers that are sticking to its back (the glue hav- lIoward Crosby, from the text, .. Salvation ing goue through the muslin), and then relay it is of the Jews," which he maintained to be on the «arpet (a cushion of air underneath pre- not only an original but a continuing and venting its sticking to the carpet) and retack it, an ultimate fact; the Jews, pervading all taking care to keep the edges parallel with the the populations and speaking freely aU the washboard, the room beinglarge enough to allow languages of the world, are destined, with a passage all around the muslin. Donot stretch their matchless aggressive energy and abil.. it too tight. The sizing will dry in four hours. ity, to become the pre-eminent apostles and Next take a straight·edge as long as the map the predominant agents of the King whom and draw with lead pencil parallel lines for they have hitherto rejected. Among the latitude and longitude, and with these as guides speakers on succeeding days were Drs. Aloutliue the map with a lead pencil. Then color bert Erdman, James Morrow of Philadelthe land portions, etc., using Fletcher & Co.'s phia, JaB. M. King, H. Friedlander of Jeruinks. These come in powder form, in small salem. J. 111. Buckley, Wm. T. Sabine, Geo. packages, 25 cents each, and comprise nine col- Alexander, Henry Wilson, and others. The ors, but by combiuing them a number of addi- audiences usually crowded the little chapel, tional colors can be made. These powders are which accommodates about 200, and manireadily dissolved in water (Yo pint) and can be fested absorbing interest and great earnestkept bottled for an indefinite time. Pour some ness for the restoration of God's not-castof the color out in a saucer and dilute it and ap- away but temporarily blinded people. ply with a fiat bristle brush. Care must be taken not to let it dry on you, and it is best to Perhaps the most striking feature of the put thA color on a light tint and by repeated conference, next to the report of Jewish coats darken it to the right shade. The coloring evangelization in New York and other cities will then look smooth and not smeared. When from this center, was the Rev. Dr. Friedall the coloring is on, then take liquid India ink lander's account of the Jews in Jerusalem (25 cents a bottle), andwith a small ~-in6h rOltna at the present time. They are divided, he sable brush blacken the outlines and lines of said, into three classes: latitude and longitude, and make a wide border for the map. Use the brush as you would a (1) The Spanish-speaking Jews, descendpencil, drawing it toward you and backing ants of ancestors who Were expelled from away. Of course these maps are made on your Spain four centuries ago and took refuge knees. If the India ink is too black or too in Jerusaiem; filled to this day with the thick, dilute a little with water. submissive complaisance which ages of oppression had taught them, together with Next take a lead pencil and outline the letter- the extreme Oriental courtesy which they ing (make it bold), block letters, and then fill in have assimilated from the Turks, and which with India ink. If you choose you can buy two makes them the most agreeable (while yet sizes of stencil letters and outline your letters no less impenetrable) listeners to Christian with them, and then fill in with the India ink argument and the New Testament Scripafterward. The India ink must be the last color- tures. They number '1,000, more or less, or ing on, for it will wash add biur if colored over. about one-third of the JeWish population of Jerusalem. Wheu your map is finished, trim the ends only. Leave the selvage on edges to prevent the (2) German – speaking Jews, who began map from tearing. If you are careful to draw voluntarily to emigrate to Jerusalem from your lines with a straight-edge and parallel and southeastern Europe as missionary pilgrims at right angles to each other, you will have a about fifty years ago on the removal by the pleasing-looking map. If the sizing makes it Turkish Government of the restriction on stiff, fold it up until about two feet sqllare, and Jewish families in Jerusalem to 300; always then roll it. The creases will all come out. You proud and fearless to beJews in their native can thus carry it anywhere, and in use suspend it countries; drawn to Jerusalem by intense trom the two corners and middle of the upper religious zeal, for the purpose of devoting edge. themselves solely to devout exercises, to the exclusion of business, and supported in P. S. In using the Fletcher inks it is best to their austere lives by contributions from keep the maps rolled up, as the colors fade those they had left behind; in these devslightly after long exposure to strong .l!unlight. otees the missionary eocol/nters all the fierce intolerance of militll.nt Judaism, and ~NQTr ~~UAlIE! PA, QLME~CE l/4lIl!;XN. it is even dangerous, Bometimes~ toapproo.ch remaining on bond and mortgage,and some them in the hated name of Jesus; they pur_ $5,000 have also been paid for repairs, al- sue with extreme ardor works of super_ terations, and furnishing, which have COD_ ,erogation to acquire surplus merit before verted the lower part of the house into a God, and make the greatest possible sacri- tastefnl and inviting place of worship, with fices to maintain, as they do, among other reading and prayer-meeting room, the upper things, scores of Hebrew libraries and read- fioors serving as the pastor's residence. The ing rooms in the city, tending and mending property is vested in a board of trnstees, of every book with scrupulous care. which Drs.Crosby, Deems and Vincent,Ralph Wells, Esq., and a number of other well- (3) The latest comers, who in recent years known Christian laymen are members, and have been driven out in utter wretchedness the work enjoys the auspices of an advisory from Russia, Roumelia, etc., and kllew not committee, in which to the above-named where else to go but to the land of their clergymen are added Drs.•T. M. Buckley, fathers, a shipload of them having ev..n Wm. Ormiston, Wm. M. Taylor, Wm. T. been turned back from New York. These Sabine, R. S. MacArthur, and others. people are more accessible from having im- bibed something of the modern spirit, and Mr. and Mrs. Freshman serve unitedly also from the contrast of Christian truth without salary, depending solely by faith and love to the combination of superstitiou on the offerings which individuals may be and cruelty which forms of nominal Chris- moved to make expressly for their support, tianity had presented to them in Europe. the collections and general donations going This last migration Dr. Friedlander was to the payment of ordinary church expenses inclined to regard as a beginning of the and of such assistants and publications as return, analogous, in the poverty and lowli- can be afforded for the almost unlimited de- ness of the exiles, to the earlier period of mands of the work, the expenses of con- the return from Babylon. All these Jews verted Jews preparing for the ministry- speak from three to six languages; but, said of whom there are now ten so engaged or Dr. Friedlander, you need not greatly ad- laboring under Mr. Freshman's direction mire their learning, for they get their six in other cities-and to the bnilding fund. languages in infancy as naturally as they A beautifnl bi-monthly paper, called The learn to sneeze or eough. Hebrew-Christian, is published at the mis- sion, at 50 cents a year. The story of the mission in New York under Mr. Freshman may be summarized Mr. Freshman is a preacher of terse and as follows: Mr. Freshman came here in 1881 thoughtful as well as impassioned eloquence from the Montreal Methodist Conference, and usually gives the Sunday morning to after some years of successful pastoral ser- the presentation of the cause of Israel in vice in Canada; following his conversion other churches to which he is invited, with (with that of his father, a Jewish rabbi of the highest acceptance, whether to cultured Hungary) from Judaism to Christ. Having or uncultnred hearers. In his own church a strong impulse to engage in evangelizing he preaches in English on Sunday evenings, the Jews in New York, he commenced l'ublic and in German on Saturday afternoons to services in the small lecture hall of the full audiences of Jews. The pathos and Cooper Union on the first Snnday in Jan- power of the testimonies heard in these nary, 1882. In two months he was enabled meetins-s from the Jewish converts are to organize a Hebrew-Christian Church such as nothing less than the" great trib- with ten converted Hebrews, the number ulation" through which they enter into the required by Jewish custom for a congrega- kingdom of heaven could elicit. " tion. During the succeeding struggles with poverty the little church was tossed about, WILLIAM C. CONANT. occupying at different times the lecture room of Dr. Howard Crosby's church, of THE following letter from Rev. the Seventh Street Methodist church, and Geo. S. Mott, D. D., will explain itself : again the room in Cooper Union, and one at the corner of Grand and Allen streets, where FLEMINGTON, N. J., Oct. 26, 1888. preaching, Sunday-school and prayer-meet- REV. A. T. PIERSON, D.D.: I am greatly in- ings were conducted in the German lan- terested in the missionary intelligence guage. The church is denominationally which you furnished for The Homiletic Re- Hebrew-Christian and nothing else. view, and now in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE'VORLD. You have for so long a time At length, in 1885, the buildiug No. 17 St. made this a specialty that you must be famil- Mark's place was purchased for $20,000, by iar with the many sources of information re- the aid of such men as Hon. Wm. E. Dodge, specting the foreign field, and I have go.th- Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, Hon. SamnelMorley ered a large amount of material which prob- of England, and others, who contributed to ably you have not given to the churches. I the initial payment of $5,000. The indebt- take the liberty, therefore, of making this edness has since been reduced to $10,000, suggestion to you: There is very much needed for us pllrstors a. good eyclopredia of foreign missions ual harvest; but as Mr. Grenfell was combrought up to the present time. Probably ing down the river, on his way to England, you have seen "The Cyclopredia of Missions" he met a band of native evangelists going by Newt.omb. This was published in 1834, forth on an evangelistic tour. They had set and this statement shows at once that it out of their own accord, without even th~ does not meet present wants because of the knowledge of the missionary, evidently takmarvelous advance in the work. The defect ing upon thclll8elves the Lord's command to of the work is the details. At the time it go and preach the gospel. They had not only was published these details were perhaps forsaken their own superstitions, but were desirable, but much respecting climate and vigorously seeking to propa.gate their new geography and natul'al history can be ob- faith.-Mi8S. Herald. tained from other sources. But my idea is that the articles "ould be wrought over, and' -George Schmidt. Foremost in the fight that they furnish much valuable material with ignorance and evil in South Africa for a new book. In the early days of my stands the figure of George Schmidt, pre_ pa"torate I often consulted it, and even now pared for the hardships of his missionary it is nsMul as a history of early missionary life by six years of imprisonment for conwork. In my opinion a work of this charac- science' sake in Bohemia. during which his ter would be of vast benefit to the cause of brother in tribulation, Melchior Nitschforeign missions. I believe many pastors mann, died in his arms. Whence came the aTe deterred from presenting foreign mis- zeal whkh moved Schmidt to make his way sion work because they cannot get the ma- alone to South Africa in 1737, and to dwell terial without a qnite laborious search, and among his little colony of Ho'ttentots in they have not the time for that. Bavianskloof, until in 1743 the persecutions of the Dutch settlers and clergy drove him There is another work containing very val- from the country, and their intrigues preuable information-" History of the Propa- vented his return? Whence came the argation of Christianity Among the Heathen," 'dent heart's desire, which led him day hy by Rev. Wm. Brown. This is a history, and day to a quiet spot near his German home, not, therefore, in the serviceable for,n of a and there poured itself out in prayers for cyclopredia. It was pubJished byWm. Black- his orphaned tlock far 'away, until, like wood, London, 1834. It is an extensive trea- Livingstone, he died on his knees pleading tise spread out into three volumes. for Africa.? Such burning Ijve and such persistent prayer are not of man, they are I write to you because I do not know any of God. And though the answer tarried one who can so well perform the task. We long.-yes, fifty years-it came before this have cyclopredias on almost every subject. century commenced. George Schmidt was but not one that has come to my knowledge no longer on earth to hear the reports of adequately meeting the needs of the grand the three men upon whom his mantle fellmovement in foreign missions. how:they found the spot which he had cul- tivated, the ruins of his hut yet visible, the GENERAL INTELUGENCE. whole valley a haunt of wild beasts; and, Africa.-The Congo Tribes. Those who better, ho'Y they found one, surviving become intimately acquainted with' the member of that little congregation of 47 negro race as found in various parts of who had long waited and hoped for the re- Africa bear testimony to its good quali- turn of the beloved teacher. This was an ties. The coast ne"ro who has learned aged blind Hottentot woman, who welcomed some of the vices of civilization is un- them as Schmidt's brothers with" Thanks doubtedly a sorry specimen of human- be to God." and unrolled from two sheepity ; but where native tribes can be found skins her greatest treasure, a Dutch New uncontaminated by contact with foreign- Testament which he had given her. Soon ers. they exhibit sterling qualities. Rev. this so-called Bavianskloof (i.e. Baboon's George Grenfell, who has visited all the Glen) was changed into" The Vale of Grace" tribes along the Congo, says that the negro (in Dutch, Genadendall, and where Schmidt's would stand his ground before the white poor hut stood there is now a. la.rge settleman. "There is a vitality of race and ment, with a congregation of more than power about him that is going to make him 3,000 members. From this center the work take bis place some day among the nations has spread over Cape Colony, and beyond of earth." In support of this opinion, he its borders into independent Kalfraria. gives several incidents showing the vigor Now its two provinces include 16 stations and fidelity of the natives, and especially with their filials, where 60 missionary mentioned an incident which he witnessed agents have charge of 12,800 converts. at Banza Manteka, the station at which the American Baptists have recently received Lib..ria.-On the 22d of November last the so many converts. Three years ago their Secretary of the Manchester Geographical Sociplace was a stronghold of grossest supersti- ety read an interesting paper contributed by the Hon. G. B. Gudgeon, consul-general for Liberia, tions, and there seemed no hope of a spil'it- 1889.] ,CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 133 in London. It was stated that the famous preach the gospel and couduct mission schools ,negro republic of Liberia was founded by the for from 15 to 45 rupees per month. They have American Colonization Society in 1822. The made this choice· out of love to Christ, whom work of civilizing and Christianizing the inbab- they greatly desire to serve. itants of that almost unknown country was en- tirely carried on for more than twenty years by It is now proposed to enlarge the college, add this society. The missions established along to its staff of professors, and extend its coorse, the coast and at various points inland had de- of study. The additions will include a fnlly veloped iut'? Liberia's prosperous towns and equipped medical department, with ho.pital and settlements. It became an independent state in dispensary. Bursaries will also be founded in 1847. Nearly 2,000,000 sonIs were subject to the aid of poor studeuts professing the Christiau role of the Liberian Republic, consisting of faith. The rising generation demands the about 40,000 freed slaves and their descendants, higher educatiou, aud it Is hoped by this means the remainder belonging to numerous aboriginal to provide it iu connection with Christian pre- tribes. While the state possessed a seaboard cepts, sanctions and influence. There is reason of 500 miles and an interior extending over 200 to believe that J affna College will yet be a great miles, she had acqnired no territory except by blessiu!!; to the Indian Empire. The directors treaty, purcbase, exchange, or barter. 'Bishop have appealed for £30,000. £3,000 ha. already Taylor had described the country as healthy and been subscribed. its climate salubrions and enjoyable, without a plague of flies and with few mosquitoes. Many China.-There is a party of progress in travelers had confirmed the bishop's testimony. China as in Great Britain and Irelaud, and The RepubliC of Liberia stood before the world ma.ny difficulties and discouragements as the realization of the dreams of the founders are enconntered there by those 'who of the American Colonization Society, and in resolutely'· go forward. ' For many years many respects more than the realization. Far a woman has rnled the Chinese. The Re- beyond the recognized limits of the country, gent till some two years ago, and since the and hundreds of miles a way from the coast, the Assistant Ruler, the Empress has been in- efl'ects of American civilization were to be wit- vested with immense power, which she has nessed. Men of color entirely governed the nsed to help rather than hinder the pro- republiC, an< if any proof were wanting of the gressive party. Within her pa.lace grounds, capacity of fteedmen to govern, Liberia was an says the North Ohina ,Herald, there are interestiug illustration. The ability, learning, steam-launches on water and model rail- and skill of many of Liberia's citizens were ways on land, and no doubt in the palace found in their code of laws, which for human· itself there are other products of Western ity, justice, and morality nO other country could civilization. The Empress has not refused excel. The Euglish tongue is spoken through- to listen to the VOIces Which speak to her out the republic.-From our English Oorre- from the West, nor has she shown indiffer- spondent. ence to the suggestions of change coming from the same quarter. It is now an· Ceylon.-Education. An important center nonnced that in the second month of the of Christiau activity in Ceylon is the Jaffna Col- next Chinese year the Empress will retire lege for the training of native helpers, which from office and leave the youug Emperor originated iu a spontaneous effort on the part of to reign alone. He has come to the throue the native Christians in 1867. Abottt £l,~OO at a critical time. The first railway ha.s toward its cost was raised in Ceylon, and £6,000 been opened, and may be followed by the contributed by American friends. Iu 1872 the inroads of the iron horse, with its inevita- college was opened under a board of directors ble following in the overthrow of old cns- securing its undenominational character. Never- toms and the introduction of new condi- theless it is a distiuctly and decidedly Christian tions of social life and trade. We find, too, institutiou, and has from the beginniug been that the Chinese Telegrapil Company is presided over by Rev. Dr. E. P. Bastin!!;s. successful, paying a good dividend in the sixth year of its working. The young Em- There is a flourishing preparatory school. All peror, in a decree, acknowledges with filial students reside on the premises, and are thus gratitude the services rendered by the re- separated from heathen associations and brought tiring Empress during the last thirty yearll. ander Christian influence. Every year there and promises, "with awe and care, to have been conversions, and the majority of those give his whole heart to the mnltitudinons who graduate do so as Christians. There is a affairs of the nation." Should yonng China Y. M. C. A. in connection with the college, and pursue an onward and upward course, being many of the members are good workers in the duly conservative of all that is good in the town aud neighborhood. A goodly number of present, and yet earnestly amending and the graduates have become pastors, catechists, reforming and perfecting the institutions and teachers, not onIy in Ceylon, but also iu of the empire, the future of China is as- India. Some of those who might have been re- sured. For ourselves we look hopefully to ceiving salaries of from 80 to 150 ropees per days to come. There will be disappolat- mouth iu secular employment are content to meuts and reverses. These cannot be avoided in taking new departures. But if penditure in India., and not engaging in righteousness and good will are shown in wars as they have done in the past. relation to foreign countries, and at home proper respect be paid to public opinion, Hawaii.-Since publishing the report on and as much regard to whatever can pro- Polynesian missions we have received a furthel' mote the well-being and prosperity and letter on Ha wail, from the very highest Amer- social happiness of the people, China will ican authority. It confirms aU that is said in maintain her place in the great East and the previous letter, and enlarges on One or two win the confidence and alliance of the more points. ., The American missionaries in Ha- powerful West. waii regard the Anglican mission there as an intrasion, except as a single American Episcopal India.-How the Opium Traffic Arose. Mr. minister might have been serviceable near the David Maclaren, who h"s been identified palace. . . . I am not aware that there are with anti-opium agitations since 1840, gave any Episcopal Hawaiians, save a few, particu- a brief account of the traffic. First of all larly near to royalty, and they have a pretty the East India Company, which was the surry time of it now that the kine; has become Government of India a.t the time, made so utterly degraded. While Queen Emma lived opium from the juice of the popPV. Then they had some show of respectability; she was that company sold opium to China. Thirdly, s gaod· woman. they withdrew from the shipping into China, and left that to private merchants, who .. The alienation of the roysl family from the were imprisoned, with the consequence that ecclesiastical attachments of their country has the Chinese war took place. After that the deprived the latter not only of a valuable ele- introduction of opium was legalized, and ment of moral leadership, but of moral influ- the Chinese began to grow it for themselves. ence. The adoption of Christianity by the king In due course the English Government took and the chiefs had great inlluence on the over the government of India, and now the masses, and led many, douhtless, to a formal largest manufacturer in the world is Queen profession of their faith. Victoria. Then the Chinese began to draw a revenue from opium, not only from that .. There has been developed of late, largely imported, but from that grown in the coun- through the influence of the king, some disposi- try. So the Government which had said it tion to revert to heathenism, not very widely, would never draw a revenue from the misery but in some cireles. The king, as you know, of the people, has been induced to do so. has introduced heathen customs abont his pal- We are responsible In the sight of God for ace, and this tells on the weaker natives."- all these evils. How shall the united influ- Charle,. O. Starbuck. ence of missionary societies and churches be brought to bear? I do not know what Japan.-Japanese Views of Christianity. .we can do. We can say to the Government, Several eminent publicists of Japau are however, when the Chinese treaty expires, carrying on a. very interesting discussion that the Chinese shall be at liberty to do as just now. The object is to determine they wish. The Indian Government are still whether or nat it is adVisable for the the makers and producers of the article. people of Japan to embrace the Christian Samples are brought from China, and ex- religion. The Japan Weekly Mail, in a lmined chemically, in order that the same recent issue, summarizes this discussion. kind may be produced. If we say, .. Give it It states that those connected with the up," then bd.nkruptcy seems to stare the movement say that Christian dogmas are a Indian Government in the face, because of bitter pill to swallOW, but advise that it be the failure of revenue. If the opportnnity swallowed promptly for the sake of the after for repentance is not accepted, surely God effects. Mr. Fukuzawa. a well-known wri- will take the matter into His own hands. ter, urges this course, a'though he says he Tberefore, I think, we must teach the peo- takes no personal interest whatever in re- ple of this country, EO that when God's ligion. and knuws nothing of the teaching judgment falls upon us we may be able to of Christianity; but he sees that it is the recognize it. The country should be warned creed of the most highly civilized nations. that the judgment of God will descend upou Professor Toyama of the Imperial Univer- Us in respect of this. At the same time we sity has published a work to support his must use our endeavors to induce the Gov- view. He holds that Chinese ethics must ernment to stay tbe evil. It is said, .. The be replaced by Christia.n ethics, and that 'government must live." That is what the the benefits to be derived from the intro- poor outcast of the street says. Do we ad- duction of Christianity are (1) the improve- , mit it in her case? Is the argument more ment of music; (2) union of sentiment and valid, then, in the case of a !,overnment? feeling,leading to harmonious co-operation; I do not see the way o.ut of the difficulties and (3) furnishing a medium of intercourse involved in doing right, unless it be by our between men and women. It is argued by government considerably curtailing ex- others that the youth of Japan, being free from the thraldom of~reeds, aud free to act according to reason, are so far in advance of Europeans, and instead of talking about adopting a foreign religion, Japanese should number as representatives to act along go abroad and preach their religion ot with an equal number of represeutatives of the Foreign Mission Committee in the manreason to foreign countries. Other writers agement of the mission. 2. The Foreign urge the same views. The writer in the Mission Committee should be approached at Yokohama newspaper says that those who its meeting on·the 17th inst., and requested urge the teaching of Christianity represent to appoint a sub-committee with powers to an influential section of educated Japanese complete all arrangements as to details opinion: theyare sig-ns of the times. "To wi.th this Committee, so as to secure that Japan, in an emphatically agh~stic mood, the mission may be undertaken by the came Western science, with all its marvel- Guild at asearlya date as possible. 3. That ous revelations and attractions. At the the salary of the Guild missionary be fixed shrine of that science she is worshiping to begin at rs.3500 [equal to about £240 per now." annum at present rate of exchange], which the committee understand is the minimum Moravians.'-Among the marvels ofChris- salary paid to ordained missionaries by t:anity must surely be reckoned the missionary the Foreign Mission Committee, and that work, trom century to centory, of the Moravian the terms of the appointment be otherwise brethren. At their formation they cOjDmenced the same as those in use by the Foreign to send out missionaries when they had only Mission Committee. 4. That the Rev. J. 600 members. They labored for fifteen years in A. Graham, M.A., should be formally ap- Greenland without a convert, and yet in dogged pointed soon, and arrangements ma.de "for f.ith and patience they went forward, and to-day his ordination, so as to allow of his 1I"0ing there is not a professing pagan in the whole out to India in autumn. 5. That the Foreign district which they missioned. Their work Mission Committee shall be responsible for among the Hottentots is of a similar character, seeing that the mission, before being trans… and true to their traditions they are once more ferred to the new management, is in posses.. the pioneers of an apparently impossible mis- sion of suitable buildingsfor carrying on the sion. Four of their uumber are at work right work. 6. As already arranged, the ultimate up on the borders of Thibet, and have estab- control of and responsibility for the manlished three small churches. At one of these agement of the mission shall vest with the churches they have been at work for eighteen Foreign Mission Committee, and the joint years and have made eight converts. Here is a committee elected for its management will chance for doubters like Canon Taylor to connt he in the same position as the corresponding up the cost of each convert. But let Canon Committee of the Universities' Mission. 'laylor wait until the Lord of the harvest has 7. In the mean time, and until such time as brought in the sheaves by and by, and he will the new management can be instituted, the no doubt find that, as in Greenland, so in Thibet, present Guild Mission Committee shall carry the time is coming when" a nation .hall be born out all the necessary arrangements on bein a day." The never-tiring patience of the half of the Guild." Moravian brethren has won many a hard-fought field for Christ.-Bombay Guardian. -Alexander Duff… There was an old man I wanted to see when I first went to Europe ScotIand.-The Church of Scotland in 1867. I was told not to fail to go to Edin- burgh and See Dr. Dull' of the Assembly. I Young Men's Guild held a seventh stayed inEdinburgh a week, to gel; a little of the old man's fire. He pleaded for an honr annual conference of delegates at and a half once for India, and at the end of that time he fainted away. They took him Kircaldy in November last. The at- up and carried him to the vestibule. When he revived, he said, 'I didn't get qaite tendance was large (170). Its prog- through; let me go back and finish,' They said, 'If you go back, it will cost you your ress has been marked. The aim of life.' 'Well,' he said,' 1 shall die if 1 don't.' So they carried him back. As they passed the guild is to keep young men from upthe aisle the people rose, and tears Jlowed falling into temptation. The report down every cbeek at the sight of the old of Mr. M. G. Thorburn upon the veteran. He said to them, 'Fathers and mothers ofScotland, is it true that you have Guild Foreign Mission recommended: got no more sons to give to India? I have spent twenty-five years of my life there, "1. J:c"or the work of organizing in support a.nd I have comeback to die. Thereisplenty of the mission there should be a large and of money in the bank. but your sons are not representative Guild Mission Committee, willing to go. If a call comes from the Queen consisting of, say-1 member elected by each to go there in the army, they are ready. Is Couucil of the Guild,15; 10 members elected it come to this, that the Lord calls for reat the annual Conference, 10; 10 members elected by the Committee of Management, 10–35. The duties oC this committee would be: (1) The advocacy of the mission throughout the Guild and the Church. (2) The completion and working of the organization already instituted in support of the Guild Mission. (3) The election of 12 of their
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. [F~B
cruit..for His kingdom, and they will notgo l' England to help her to resist what wa.s un- And turning to the moderator he said, • If just and unrighteous in the aggression, and ithere is no one to go to India, I will re- with England's help the Syrian chnrch had turn to them, and will let them know that restored to her those liberties which she there is one old Scotchman that can die was on the point of losing. The Lord had for them if he can't live for them."'-D. L. till this day preserved the faith of the Syri- Moody. an church, which was as strong and stead- fast as ever it was. Those who belonged to Syria.-Ancient Syrian Church. Bishop that church believed in Him in whom they Mar Gregor.ius has been making an earnest were first taught to believe. Manyadvanappeal in England on behalf of the Syrian tages, however, had been in great measure church. His remarks in Arabic were inter- taken from them. Their written books preted by Mrs. Fynn, widow of the late con- were few, and of printed books they had sul in Jerusalem and daughter of the late none. There WOUld have been no schools at Rev. Dr. McCane, prebendary of St, Paul's all but for the help which was given some and professor of Hebrew. The bishop refer- fourteen years ago by the late Archbishop red to the persecution to which the Syrian of Canterbury to the Patriarch, who then church had been subjected from the earli- visited England in company with the bishop. est times, and to the great destruction of Since then the Patriarch had been able to precious mannscripts and printed books. open elementary schools, with such native which had taken place. That persecution, teachers as he could command, to teach he said. had come down the ages, through reading1 writing. and the first doctrines of the Mohammedan occupation of the coun- Christianity to some 2,400 children of Meso- try, and even within the last forty years potamia. On the other side of the Euphra- there had been Christian martyrs among tes, where the bishop is located, no schools his people. Not long ago the Egyptian had yet been established. Educationally, Government tried to annex Syria to Egypt, that part of the country was dry and and along with that there was an attempt parched. He appealed to the people of Eng- to bring the Syrian church into a subordi- land to help him to establish schools and nate position, if not to extinguish it alto- the printing press in Syria, in order that a .gether. This was a cause from which the knowledge of the truth might be spread far Syrian church had often suffered. When and wide among the populatiou.-li'rom our the Egyptian Government made this at- English Oorrespondent. tempt the Turkish Government called upon IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."
The Character of the Chinese. and attach shameto vice. It is often BY REV. J. H. ROBERTS, KALGAN, said that vice iii never deified in CHINA. China. Yet a few such cases have THE character of. a people is of been found. There are gods of cru- chief importance to tl;:le missionary. elty, of revenge, of fornication, and I propose, therefore, to delineate of gambling; but no temples have the character of the Chinese, and I been eI'ected in their honor. In Kal- will first describe gan there is one temple to the god of I. GOOD ELEMENTS. wine. But these exceptions are so The first sentence learned at school few that they only prove the rule.
is, "In the beginning, man's nature If, among myriads of divinities, there is good." While this is false, as ap- are only four or five gods of vice, and plied by the Chinese to the individual, those not regarded with honor nor it is true if applied to the race. Man, much worshiped, and among thou- "made in the image of God," retains, sands of temples there is only one to when fallen, some lineaments of the the god of drunkenness, it is seen divine likeness. More of these traces that in general the Chinese do not of primitive excellence seem to have worship vice. The idols mostly rep- been retained by the Chinese than by resent great and good men of yore, other heathen nations. who are worshiped for their virtues 1. The first good element of their displayed when they wet'e on earth.
character is that they honor virtue '1'he ancient empet'ors, Yaoand Shun, who lived soon after the deluge, were hundred feet high. Her mother did' patterns of virtue, and are still re- recover, and she fulfilled her vow; garded with reverenee by all the and now her image is carved on the nation. The Emperor K'ang Hsi, face of that cliff, and is worshiped who. died in the year of our Lord with divine honors. She thought 1721, is to this day loved and honored she was saving her mother's life., not chiefly for his success as a war- While her zeal was misdirected, was rior, but for his justice and sincere not her motive most noble? Reverlove for the people. He often jour- ence for parents is a root from which neyed through the country in dis- many other virtues may grow. It guise, to learn whether the govern- hallows the family, it honors marors and judges were doing their duty, riage, it encourages economy and and to see what could be done to ben- temperance, and it prepares the mind efit his subjects. Once, on sll;ch a to reverence a Father in heaven. journey, when in Mongolia, his presence became known, and an attempt S. A third good element of their was made to assassinate him. character is subordination. They know how to obey. As children they A servant offered to exchange ob~y their parents, not merely till clothes with him, and was killed in they themselves become ofage,but as his stead, while the Emperor escaped long as the parents live. Theyounger to Kalgan. For this devotion the brother obeys his older brother, and servant was deified, and is now wor- never expects to be on a strict equalshiped as the tutelary divinity of ity with him. The people obey the the (Upper City of Kalgan. Other Emperor as the vicegerent of heaven, instances of servants dying to save the embodiment of justice, and the their masters might be mentioned. compassionate father of them all. The virtues of self-sacrifice, brother· Disobedience to his commands is ly love, and chastity, exhibited by often punished with death, or with the few, are admired by all the !la- death preceded by tot'tme. While this tion. Memorial tablets and arches leads to cruelty on the part of the are erected in honor of heroic men, magistrates, it enforces obedience on – vil·tuous women, and filial children. the part of the people; and the latter The way the peopJe cherish the believe not merely that the rulers memories of such persons shows that have power and must be feared, but' there are some good feelings in their that they have the right to rule and hearts. ought to be reverenced. So a law- abiding spirit is a common virtue 2. A second good element of their among them. Socialism and anarchy character is that they honor their never enter into their thoughts. parents. Filial piety is the chief When mobs and riots occur, as they part of their religion. In infancy sometimes do in China, it is always they are taught to worship their par- with the connivance of the magisents; when older they serve them trates, never in violation of their devotedly; and when the parents are commands. The people feel that to dead they offer sacrifices annually at violate the law would make them their graves. Some have been known become rebels and traitors. The law to lay down their lives for their par- was published once for all, at the beents. A hundred years ago in a vil- ginning of the present dynasty, 244 lage among the mountains east of years ago, and as it is never altered, Kalgan a girl was in grief because it is honored as the expression of her mother was dangerously sick. absolute right. What the people She vowed that if her mother might lack in independence and liberty is only recover she would sacrifice her- balanced by their gain in hearty self by leaping from a precipice two allegiance to their rulers, and in makes them willing listeners to our unquestioning submission to the law. preaching. They have a great affec- Their love for their country is in- tion for birds and flowers, which tense, and is the source of their hos- shows a kindly disposition in their tility to foreigners. But their patriot- hearts. They are very industrious. ism does not lead them to try to direct They are always at work, and are the affairs of the government, but sure to havp. a gl'eater influence in only to submit to its control and to the world than an ease-loving peoobey its commands. This obedience ple would. They have a lively coninclines them to be peaceable, patient, science and a ch'ar knowledge of right and contanted, and to obey the law of and wrong. In every quarrel some God, when they learn what that law peacemaker will come forward, who is. will appeal to the innate sense of justice in both parties. Anyone who 4. A fourth good element of their will not listen to such appeals is recharacter is the feeling of personal garded as a bmte. Again, they have responsibility for their actions. This a gl'eat longing for immortality. feeling is stronger in China than in Some of them eat pills to ward off America. If it is proved 'that a death and make themselves immorcriminal did not know the law, he is tal in this world, and others perfoI'm considered less guilty; but no plea acts of penance in order to obtain would be made of hereditary predis- happiness in the world to come. di~position to cOInmit crime; and an Their actions show a human nature insane person, if harmful to others, like ou!· own. Their pain and sufferwould be punished the same as other ings, their bereavements and afflicmen. The feeling of responsibility tions, are as real and as sad as any pervades all classes and affects all which we have to endure, but are a the affairs of daily life. If you sus- thousand times more pitiful because pect that a man wants to steal your they have no comfort and no hope. goods, put them in his care and they will be safe. He can be held respon- 5. I will mention one more good sible for anytlung that has been com- trait of their character, and that is mitted to him fOl' safe keeping. The that they have a worshipful spirit magistrates are considered respon- toward anythin/r that seems worthy sible for all public calamities. They of di vine honors. This leads them blame themselves if there is drought, to worship many idols, many objects or famine, or inundation, regarding of nature, and the good and gt'eat men it as a sign of the displeasure of Hea- of the past. But the worshipful ven on account of their sins. While sentiment is good in .itself, and exthe idea of responsibility is carried tremely valuable in relation to our too far, its result is good. The missionary work. The Chinese are Chiuese expect to see virtue reward- often said to be materialists and atheed and wrong-doing punished, both ists, but they are utterly unlike the in this life and in the life to come. perfected atheists of Western lands. They want to worship some divine It would be easy to enlarge on their being, only they do not know whom politeness, which, with all its abuses to worship. They believe that there through hypocrisy, is a form of good- must be a deity to worship, 01' else ness, and enables them to appreciate, there would be no impulse to woras a savage nation could not, the ship; and they know that a divine gentler Christian virttws, such as being is as necessary to the human meekness, patience, condescension. heart as light is to the eye, or food to and humility. They are an affable the hungry mouth. So their spil'it people. They enjoy being talked to of adoration and of trust in a divine on any subject whatever, and this being is very strong, but it finds tory, an extensive and beautiful litamong the gods of China no object erature, and polite manners. Being worthy of exclusive worship. Now ignorant of the greater civilization let the infinite power and wisdom of Europe and America, they natuand love of God be made known, and rally became self-conceited. They the worship which has been divided know that foreigners have greater between many false gods may be unit- mechanical skill than they, but beedly given to him. It is a naturalJine lieve that they are our superiors in of thought to their minds, when they morals and religion. They despise grasp the idea of the creation of the us on account of our short, tight-fitworld, that the God who could make ting clothes, which are as ridiculous the heavens and the eal"th is so far to the Orientals as their long flowing superior to the false gods as to be garments are to us. They despise alone worthy of praise. Many will us for using a knife at the table, confess the greatness and goodness which they regard as a sign of barof God who are hindered by fear of barism. They despise us for our lack persecution from becoming' Chris- of reverence for Confucius, and fOI' tians; and all the people will admit, our attempt to teach them not to at least in theory, that religion is of worship their ancestors. The wicked the utmost importance, and that the conduct of foreign sailors and mersalvation of their souls ought to be chants in China has sometimes the chief object of their lives. brought disgrace upon aU foreigners, and upon the Christian religion. All GOOD TRA.ITS ILLUSTRA.TED. foreigners are hated and feared, as enemies and kidnappers. The Port- The good traits of the Chinese are uguese traders at Macao, near Canillustrated in their treatment of for- ton, enticed the natives on board eigners who reside among them. their ships and sailed away with Theil' feeling of superiority to for- them. American and English ships, eigners was natural in the circum- as well as those of other nastances. For thousands of years tions, were used for this purpose. they have shown themselves supe- In 25 years, ending in 1875, those rior, in arts, in etiquette, in litera- traders stole and sold into slavery ture, in war, and in the science of five hundred thousand coolies. government, to all the nations with whom they came in contact. The The hatred of foreigners was in- Koreans, Mongols, Thibetans, the creased by their connection with opiaborigines of China, and the people um. The Chinese had a prohibitory of Anam, have confessed their inferi- law, and supposed that they had a ority by sending tribute to China. right to keep that poisonous drug out When new races from the distant of their land. They captured over lands of Europe, with light hair and twenty thousand chests of opium, blue eyes and a strange language, worth six million dollars, which the came to China with gifts for the Em- English, in violation of the law, had peror, it was natural that they brought to Canton; and they dug should be regarded as representa- trenches by the seashore and detives of barbarous tribes seeking the stroyed the opium, by mixing it favor and protection of the" Son of with lime and salt water. It was an Heaven." This title is applied to the outburst of indignation against a Emperor, and" all under heaven" is great wrong, like the Boston Tea one name of his realm. A civilized Party, just before the Revolutionnation in the midst of ruder ones ary War. But the British bayonets has reason for self-gratulation. The in 1842 compelled the Chinese to Chinese are a vigorous race, with a permit the trade in opium, and to large and fertile country, a great hisrefund the value of the opium which BEARING ON MISSIONS. they had spoiled! To this day the English Government has been rais- The good elements of Chinese char- ing opium in India and sending it acter and the generally kind treat- to China! No wond,er that the Chi- ment which foreigners have received nese have hated foreigners I If you are of great importance in their bear- or I were in their place we should ing on the future ot missions. They feel as they do. A foreigner can strengthen our hope of the salvation hardly ever go out on the streets of that great empire. It is evident without being reviled as "a foreign that there is a sturdy race, with devil," and the native Christians are many noble haits, in some respects called "slaves of devils," but the peculiarly prepared to receive and term denotes fear of foreigners as believe the word of the Lord. The much as hatred, and is a sign of op- Chinese are a grand material of position to us coHectively and on which to make Christians. Their / political grounds, but not individu- conservativeness, though now a hin- ally, nor because of our religion. In drance, will lead to a thoroughly 1860 the French and English soldiers reasonable faith and to a firm adher- scared the Emperor out of China ence to the truth. Apart from all propel', burned his summer palace conliiderations of the worth of the near Peking,and forced open the gates soul, are not these people, when of Peking by threats of bombard- compared with other heathen, well ment, and it would be strange if worth saving? And is it not evident such a war had left no bitterness that the consecrated money and the in the minds of the defeated peo- lifelong labors of the missionaries. ple. given for their conversion to Christ, will not be spent in vain? The war in 1884 was considered by most of the foreigners in China as un- II. BAD TRAITS. just on the part of the French. Yet, while the war was being waged, at a Secondly, let us consider their time when no Frenchman had a character as depraved and degraded right to expect safety in China, the by their sins. Let no one think from Roman Catholic priests and other what has been said that so good a peaceful Frenchmen residing in ev- nation needs nothing more. There ery part of the land were protected is another side of the subject-a sad from violence by a special decree of and painful one-and the facts may the Emperor. Other instances might well call out all our sympathy. The be given of kindness shown to for- last words of Confucius were: "The eigners. The Chinese idea is that great mountain is broken! The foreigners in their country are their strong beam is thrown down! "The guests, and ought to be welcomed wise man is decayed!" These words and cared for with the utmGst of truly symbolize the ruined condition hospitality. "When foreigners suffer of China. If you scan the faces of from a Chinese mob, it is generally the people you will see an expres- the result of their own imprudent sion of moral degradation. Tbere conduct; 'but the government is are no radiant faces except those of ready to pay the damages and pun- the little children. Vice among the ish the offenders. If a foreigner boys, and pain, from their bound should be murdered in China, the feet, among the girls, make the feat- criminal would pay the death pen- ures wrinkled and sour at the age of alty. Would that a Chinaman's from eight to twelve years. With death from violence in America all their pure ideals and lofty aspira- were equally sure of being avenged! tions and clear knowledge of their duty, they live very wicked lives. As soon as a child learns to speak it learns to revile, to deceive, and to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But lie. The impulses in us to do the those who become well acquainted same are checked through the wise with us do trust us, and the people training given us by our Christian as a whole are learning to trust forparents, but there is no moral gov- eigners where they would not trust ernment in the family of the average their own countrymen. The impe- Chinaman except that of caprice and rial custom-houses, along the coast, passion. The adults often bring upon are in the charge of foreigners, who, themselves severe diseases merely by unlike their Chinese predecessors in fits of uncontrollable rage. They office, collect the taxes without stealmake little 01' no effort to subdue ingthem. their own tempers, and bow can they teach the children to control theirs? The skill of the Chinese in cheating is well known, and exhibits at once Theil' character is thol'Oughly theirintelligence and their depravity. insincere; This is a fruit of Con- Chinese workmen need to be watched fucianism. Confucius deliberately as much as any in the world. Every told a lie; and a motto of his dis- shop or store has two sets of weights ciples is that" a lie is the excellent and measures, one for buying and subterfuge of a perfect gentleman!" the other for selling. The houses The result of such teaching is a na- are surrounded with walls instead tion of liars. Theil' heart and theilT of fences, to keep off the thieves, tongue are utterly false. Only a few but the thieves will come through questions are replied to truthfully, the gate unless it is constantly such as asking which road you should watched. If you hire a man to take, but if you do not ask with all watch your gate he will lay a tax on the forms of Chinese polite~ess, you everything that comes through your will be answered with a lie. From gate. If you hire a cook he will lay being insincere they have naturally a tax on everything which comes become suspicious of each other; into your kitchen. As it is impolland experience in dealing with them sible to avoid being cheated, each deepens one's conviction that their man tries to cheat others the more, suspicions of each other are well to make up for his own losses. They founded. Supposing the mission- are willing to be deceived, if thereby aries to be like themselves, they at- they may learn how to deceive othtribuM an evil motive to everything ers. One man asked me to sell him we do. We cannot take a walk for some eye-salve-he was sure that I exercise, nor pick up a pebble to look had it-an ointment which would at it, without being suspected of make the eyes lustt·ous and which, if searching for their hidden treasures rubbed on the skin, would remove 01' of stealing away their good luck. every wart, or sore, 01' ft'eckle, or It has been commonly reported and other dEifect. He expected that I believed in China that foreign resi- would sell him some soap, 01' somedents dig out children's eyes to make thing like it, and was willing to pay medicine of them! and a cellar under a good priceforit, expecting to more the foreigner's house is believed to than regain his money by palming conceal human skeletons ! One cannot off the same fraud upon others. A ignore such suspicions on the part of great amount of petty thieving is his parishioners. To deny the crimes done. You can see the rascals steal-· imputed to us would be useless. So ing on the pJrblic streets in the day- we take our visitors down-stairs and time. The thieves are in Jeague show them the cellar. It is a great with the police, and pay them a trial that they cannot trust us. We share of the spoils for the privilege want thelli to trust us, so that they of pursuing their calling u~molested.
will believe .out' message !J.nd have .A bo1<'t man will punish the t4ief by beating him, and a wealthy man can which he treats. It represents one have the thief arrested,bambooed, family in poverty and wretchedness and even tortured to make him con- as the result of using the ordinary fess and restore the pl'operty. An native liquor called" sake." In con- honest person, if falsely accused, trast with this is another family would be tortured in the same way. where temperance prevails, and they Wine-drinking and gambling are al- are enjoying every comfort.
most universal. The best of the One of these tracts came into the Chinese feel free to gamble during possession of a wealthy and influen- the first five days of the New Year. tial man named Nakayama, living in A man who earns eight cents a day the town of Fujioka, in the province will eat four cents' worth of fooct of Joshiu. He was much addicted to and dt'ink two cents' worth of wine, the use of "sake," and was, in fact, leaving only two cents 10 feed and a real drunkard. When under the clothe his numerous family and to influence of liquor he was very cross clothe himself. Drunkenness is not to his family, and it quite destroyed often seen, but is the source of a the peace and comfort of his home.
great deal of crime. All forms of The reading of the tract made a deep vice are extremely prevalent, espe- impression upon his mind, and he cially in the citIes, but also in the resolved to reform. The result was villages. It is surprising to find, in such a happy change in himself and the midst of such general wicked- in the condition of those around him ness, some places of the utmost de- that he wrote to Mr. Tsuda to express pravity, so vile and so violent as to his obligations for what he had make the other places seem virtuous learned, and to tell of the great ben~fit by contrast. One such notoriously that had accrued to himself and his bad place is Ni Chiianz, which ffieans family by abstaining from the U!';e of ]',fud Springs. A man went from intoxicating liquor. Mr. Tsuda wrote there to Kuan Ch'ang to see what he to him in reply that unless he believ- could steal. He stole a leg of mut- ed in the God who made and keeps ton from a poor shepherd in a neigh- us all, and trusted in Him for boring village. The latter found the . strength, he might not beable to re- mutton at the thief's house, and sist the cravings of his depraved merely asked whence he had got it. appetite, and continue as he had For this insult the thief beat him till begun. Mr. Tsuda also told him he was almost dead, and fined him about Christianity, and urged him to to the amount of twenty-six pounds accept its teachings.
of mutton, to be divided between After some months Mr. Tsuda went two temples, as an acknowledgment to Fujioka on business, and called of error in even suspecting the thief. upon Mr. Nakayama, who received This villain is the next-door neigh- him very cordially. Then Mr. Tsuda bor of one of our Christian families, told him more particularly about the ana persecution by such men is truly true God, and Christ the {)Illy Saviour to be dreaded. from the guilt and power of sin. Mr.
[Concluded in next iB8U8.] Nakayama is a man of good eciluca- Incidents of the Work in Japan. tion and intellectual abilities, and BY A RESIDENT MISSIONARY. quite readily understood and fully A JAPANESE Christian, named accepted all that he heard.
Tsuda Sen, has written a tract From that time he began to attend against the use of strong drink, the Christian services, together with which is having a considerable circu- his family; and his faith and love • lation and influence. On the title- have been (ncreasing ever since. page is a picture illustrating (in the Such has been the influence of the style of the Japanese) the evils of gospel upon his heart that he has become, in tt'uth, a new creature, and is attached to the parents on account the cHange is apparent to all. As an of such sinful and cruel practices. It illustl'ation of the power of religion was formerly sanctioned by the Gov- in his daily life, his wife had been ernment, and even while the laws somewhat careless about a quantity have been modified the public senti- of silkworm eggs, and they were ment is so corrupt and the morals of partially destroyed. The loss invol v- the people so utterly vile that but ed was a considerable sum, and she little change has probably been ef- tl'embled in fear that he would become fected. The life of such poor girls violently enraged, as was common is often one of untold bitterness.
heretofol'e, and would punish her Many are the cases in Tokyo where severely. But to hel' gl'eat astonish- they have become desperate and ment, wilen lie found out what had gone and thrown themselves into happened he remained perfectlycalm, the river in order to get" anywhere, and did not reproach her at all. anywhere, out of the world."
After a little thought he said, " We One of the great and blessed results can distribute them among our poor of Christianity is the elevation of the and unrortunate neighbors, and so morals and the creation of a better they can secure a larger Cl'op the public sentiment in regard to the coming season. Thus it will perhaps treatment of women. The result of be bcttel' than if we had sold them Buddhistic teachings makes wom!l,n and taken all the money otm;elves."· a mere appendage to man, and her This conduct on the part of her . only use to minister to his comforts.
husband so astonished and impressed Some years ago a bright and pretty his wife that she said, "This mnst be girl, who had become a Christian due to the power of this Chl'istian and was attending one of the mission relig'ion and the help of God. If this schools, was informed that her par- is the resnit of Cl1l'istianity, then I ents were unable to met all their want to become a Christian also." pecuniary oblig-ations and she had From that time she became an ear- been sold in order to satisfy their nest seeker after the blessing of God's creditors. She was very happy in the saving- presence, and now she and all school, and the tidings was to her the family are rejoicing in a Chris. like the sentence of death. Such tian's hope and a Christian's peace. were the customs of her people that The geeat change for the better she felt there was no hope. But that has come to Mr. Nakayama's when her teacher, Mrs. John Bal- home has been seen and felt by his lagh, heard what had happened she neighbors. In this way many have went to the girl's home, and found been led to a conviction of the bene- her there in a state of most perfect fits that result feom following the wretchedness. Mrs. Ballagh em- teachings of Christ, and have thus ployed every means that she could become. seekers after the same bles- to get the girl released, but no argu- sing. Some time ago one of the mis- ments or entreaties would move the sionaries visited that town, and found heaets of the cruel creditors; and, in ten persons who were awaiting bap- fact, the parents looked upon it as tism. A good Christian church is an act of filial piety on the part of a now growing np in that place. daughter to thus sacrifice heeself for One of the worst things that is met theil' benefit. Mrs. Ballagh tried to with in this heathen land is the sell- move the hearts of the parents with .ing of their daughters by the parents pity for the poor and helpless chiltl; to lives of sin and shame. It is a she told them of the great sin which.
custom that has been long established they were committing against God, and is so common that it is done,with- and ihatsuch acts would surely briug OJl.t !Shame, and no lll,rti<mla.r disgrace His jJl.dgment upon them~ but it wa.s
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS. [FEB
all in vain. The reply was simply; one to procure her release. One day she happened to hear the preaching "It has been done, and there is no of the gospel and was convinced of her sin and need. She was also truly help for it." penitent, but was in great trouble, as she saw no way to escape from her Mrs. Ballagh then turned to the present sinful and sad condition. Her only way to get free was to pay girl, who sat weeping, andsMd, "Fol- the price for which she had been sold, and f01' some time she remained as low me." Both then rose and passed she was, but in great sorrow and try- ing to devise some means to escape. out of the room and into the street, At last she resolved to sell all she had, even her clothing, and thus purand thence to Mrs. Ballagh's home. chase her release. When she was set free she came to the preacher There followed a demand that the and announced her faith in God and her purpose to do His will. AHer she girl should be given up, but Mrs. had given satisfactory evide)1ce of her change of heart she was re- B:tllagh refused to do so. It was ceived into the church and is now a consistent and happy follower of finally arranged that Mrs. Ballagh Christ.
should pay the sum of $20 and the girl would be released. .
The girl then resumed her studies at the school, and at the completion of her course was married to one of the native officials. She has now a pleasant home and continues a faith- ful member of the church.
In one of the recent papers is an account of a pOOl' girl who had been sold in a similar manner and had no V ..-.:.THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY A. T. PIERSO:-r, D.D.
CHINA. The grand difficulty lies in the "tones." The language has "only SOME instructive and suggestive some four hundred and odd distinct facts and thoughts are all we have sounds" wi th which to express "ten space for. In the February issue of thousand words," and many of these 1888 the vastness of the Middle words are homophonous, although, Kingdom, the peculiarities ofChinese "by an ingenious system of infleclife and the religions of the empire tions of the voice, the number of were referred to at some length. separate sounds-to a Chinese ear, at We add here some matter of general least-is more than trebled. These interest and importance. The area inflections are the tones. In Peking of China is only one-third that of the there are only four of them, but in United States, yet China's popula- the south those who are knowing in tion is six times as large. The Uni- such matters declare there are twelve ted States if as thickly populated as or more. II' W here the sense of words China would contain over a thousand depends on nice distinctions in the million of people, or more than t wo- tflne of the voice, the opportunities thirds as many as now live on the for blunders become countless and earth. boundless. As instances of the mis- takes to ~hich foreigners are con- Language. Here missionaries con-. stantly liable, we may mention a front one of the mountain obstacles few cases. A man wishing to tell of which not even faith removes, a mountain two hundred" Ii" in without hard study, as we have height, used the expression "erh already shown in the article on the pai Ii," instead of "e·:jl pat Ii," ., Miracles of Missions," in this number. and by so doing gave the man to , Let his words be sincere and truthunderstand that the mountain was ful, and his actions honorable and ()f the height of two wMte pears! carefu!.' Such conduct maybe prac- Aga.in, Miss Gordon-Cumming tells, ticed even among the rude tribes of the south or north. When he is ain her charming book on China, of standing, let him see these two rules man, a resident minister, who told as it were fronting him. When he his steward to buy 400 poundsofMon- is in his carriage. let him see them at: golian potatoes, and the astonished tached to the yoke, then he may be steward brought him 400 pounds of able to carry them into practice." (b) eels. A lady ordered a pair of ducks, "The course of the mean cannot be roasted and served with gravy-sauce, attained to." (c) "To take example and her butler remonstrated that from others, to practice virtue is to they would not be eatable. She im- hold them in the same practice; patiently told him to do as he was therefol'e, there is no attribute of the told, and next day her guests saw a superior man gTeater than his helppair of her best gaiter-boots served ing men to practice virtue." (d) Subup for game, nicely roasted and ject for verse competition: " The moistened with gravy! You salute early morni~g red is harbinger of a man" My friend," and find you rain." Itmay be admitted at once have said" You fool," or address that these subjects are stiff, and we him as "My lord," and are cha- should especially like to see what a grined to discover you have accosted body of English competitors would him as "My pig." make of "The course of the mean cannot be attained to." The idea, Dr. MacKay of Formosa tells us too, of the two rules attached to the that the syllable to, in Chinese, has yoke of a carriage would form a eight different tones, while each tone puzzler to the majority of English has a different meaning. This is a boys. fair example of the many obstacles to be me,t with in this.extraordinary ,Filial Reverence in China. A mislanguage, that seems devised by the sionary of the China Inland Misdevil to keep missionaries out of sion tells an interesting stol'y of a China. mandarin who gave an entertain- ment a.nd presented a large testimo- Education and Competitive Ex- nial to the Christian hospital out of ammations. There are 10,000 cells gratitude for medical services renfor examination of candidates. The dered to his aged father. The son leader of the successfullistis led about was absent on duty and the father as Mordecai was by Haman. His was relieved from a sickness which name is graven on stone in the tem- was supposed to be fatal. His gratiple of Confucius, with all other suc- tude was 'boundless, and the memocessful candidates. rial tablet on which were inscl'ibed the thanks of the donor was eight Students preparing for competitive feet by four in size, suspended from a examinations may like to know the bamboo pole, carried by two men sort of questions with which the and preceded by a band of musicians. Chinese student, under similar cir- As theyapprolched the house large cumstances, has to grapple. The bunches of firecrackers were fired, Imperial Gazette is good enough to and the tablet was presented with publish the subjects for three prose very polite words. The most striking essays and a verse competition, set incident connected with this story is in the examinations for the degree that while the old gentleman was at of Metropolitan Graduate: (a) "Tru- the worst, a.nd when it was supposed Chang, being asked how a man should conduct himself so as to be everywhere appreciated, replied: that he could not recover, the wife of to the dead they are always written the absent son, acting in the place of and' fastenecl. upon the hands of the her husband, performed an act which paper men.
was supposed to propitiate Heaven Habits of the Chinese. Accord- and to secure the restoration of her ing to our notIOns of living, they father-in-law. With her own hand live on a starvation basis. Ex-SeCl'e- she cut a piece of flesh from her tary Holqomb of the American lega- own arm and had it cooked and ad- tion at Peking is authority for the ministered to her father-in-law that statement that in that vast empire he might recover. That such a thing 300,000,000 out of 403,000,000 of its in- is possible in these days, and that it habitants expend for food less than was done in the sight of mission $1.50 per month. This seems incredi- premises and by an educated and ble. These people appear to know prominent family, gives striking tes- how to make their mites go farther tinlOny to the df>pth of superstition than perhaps any other people upon in heathendom as well as to the sen- the face of the earth, timent of ~lial piety which exists Boots are an object of honor, es- among the Chinese. pecially if they have been worn by Ohinese Graveyard Customs. The an upright magistrate. When a Chinese in this country adhel'e tena- judge of unusual integrity vacates ciously to their old country customs. his office, crowds accompany lJim to To provide food for the dead, and the city gates, and his boots, dra'Yn servants to wait on them, is too fool- off with great ceremony, are enshrin- ish for any portion of the human ed in the hall of justice. A new pair race. But lately the time came for is put on and drawn off, five minutes this custom to be obsel'ved, and the on his feet being sufficient to conse- Herald says that every Chinese crate them!
grave in Woodlawn and Greenwood Chinese Religions. The most cemeteries has been decorated with leamed writer on Chinese literature incense paper, joss sticks, roasted holds the God of China to be our God, pigs, and othel' articles. At one of and as he ascended the "altar of the graves was laid a whole pig, heaven," he took off his shoes I But roasted beautifully brown and nicely if so theoretically, it is 'not so prac- spiced, the odor of which, when car- tically. ried past the Cl'owd that wereJooking Confucianism is really not a re1igio~ on, was so aromatic that it made at all, yet it is practically the relig- them hungry. The whole pig thus ion of China. Confucius was a Chi- roasted was a little over two hundred nese philosopher, who taught that pounds. After an hour's exposure man's duties al'e summed up in five before the spirits of the dead it was relations-that of king and subject, brought home in the evening. It parent and child, husband and wife, was cut up into three-pound slices {'IdeI' and younger brother, and that and sent around to the different of friend to friend. It does not shops on Matt street and eaten up. recognize the relati~n of man to The most peculiar of all the ceremo- God. Whoever cares to study this nies of the week was the sending of whole subject will find Rev. B. C.
servants to the dead. This is done Henry's book on " The Cross and the by making paper men and w~men, Dragon" one of the most fascinating which in the midst of the sacrifices and instructive volumes in,the whole are burned, the bystanders saying, range of missionary literature. It "Here are the servants who will , is published by Randolph & Co. So wait upon thee." If there are any also would we recommend Rev. H: important messages to be conveyed C. DuBose's volume on "The Dragon Image and Demon, or Th.e Three pl·esented four images, correspond- Religions of China," published by A. C. Armstrong & Son. The chapter ing to the four cardinal virtues-pion Confucianism is especialJy analytical and clear, and we have from it ety, morality, equity, wisdom, thus: I the best conception we ever had of the character and influence of this —, – -, —, – _. ethical system. From a double combination they The higher classes either embrace the doctrines of Confucius or of get eight signs, which respectively Lao-tse(orLau-Kiun), a philosopher. Both deny divine revelation, are little represent heaven, moisture, fire, winds, ,water, mountains, thunder, and earth, thus: – – -===-==-==, — —- ~. ~, =-=—-::::::::::=.=::::::= . Confuci~s arrang;d these i~~rcle; CJ ,CJ A HIDEOUS DOD IMAGE OCCUPIES ODD THIS CENTRAL CIRCLE.
CJ c::J more than systems of ethics clothed and this is held to be a complete dein a fantastical symbolism. Thus scription of the universe; and, corre- Confucius teaches that from the sponding with mental and moral original substance (Tai-ki) two prin- properties, he constructs his ethical ciples emanate: YANG, perfection, system! The whole thing strikes the the celestial, light and caloric, the Occidental mind as mere child's play, masculine principle symbolized by toying with blocks and making new the longer line – – – ; and YIN, i~ combinations out of one long and two perfection, the terrestrial, darkness short blocks. and cold, the feminine principle, representea by the divided line – -. By Hence comes one of the most curicombining these symbols, there are ous features of ConIucianism, the Ohinese Philosophical Ohart. We give a sort of diagram of this really bor a humble hut to live in ! While remarkable relic of the religion of a we are pla.ying at missions, here is a grea.t people. large and consecrated body of liIative evangelists being raised up from the Round this, rudely radiating in poor native converts of China, the eight directions, are the aforesaid house of a devoted millsionary their eight combinations of heavy dark thQological seminary, and their field lines or ba.rs, the difference being in the province of Shantung-with half the arrangement of the longer and as large a popula.tion as the United shorter ones. States-and their "wages" fifty to sixty dollars a year! A "Christian Mission Institution for Horne and Abroad" was estab- Tht' Medical Missions are very uselished Dec. 25, 1879, and is therefore ful, but have some curio;1s, experinowin its tenth year. The founder is ences. One day there came into the Pastor Samuel T. Davis, M.D., Den- dispensary a young man of twenty, ver, Col. It is a faith work, and one with a large wound, evidently cut or of its four departments is Foreign dug out with a dull instrument. His Missions. Itsupports native preach- father had been ill with dropsy, and ers in China, who at a very small the relatives decided that tile son cost preach to their kinsmen acc.rd- must. sacrifice himself to save his ing to the flesh. They are trained father's life. A piece of flesh was to preach, teach, and labor, under cut out of his left arm and cooked the direction of Rev. Dr. Hunter Cor- and given to the patient as the infalbett of Chefoo. For this life work lible remedy. Nevertheless the pagiven to winning souls they get only tient died. The relatives decided food and clothing, and travel in the that the lad must be lacking in puri- Shantung province with its 35,000,- ty of motive and filial piety. And so 000 souls. We know of no work the poO"r boy had not only to grieve more apostolic in plan and conduct for his father's death and a bad arm, on the fa.ce of the ea.rth. They but had to bear the reproach of unpreach in villages, by the wayside, cles and cousins. on streets, wherever they can get hearers; they guide inquirers, open In a temple outside of Peking is a I'Ichools, and do any work for which brass mule of life size, supposed to they are deemed capable. Dr. Cor- have wonderful healing properties bett furnishes annual reports of this for patient~ suffering fl'om every imwork. In 1887–88 twelve were sup- aginable disease. They first rub the ported by this "institution." The particular part of the brass mule cor- Lord's blessing attends their work in responding to the painful regioD. of a. remarkable manner. In one year, their own bodies, and then with the 1884, Dr. Corbett by this method same hand rub their own disabled gathered in, after careful examina- member, and the pain is expected to tion, 348 converts; while Dr. Nevius, go. Is your tooth aching? Just pursuing similar plans, gathered 260, scrub the mule's teeth, and afterthese two men together in one year ward your own, and the cure is coml'eceiving 608 new disciples. The plete. Have you an ulcer of the corself-denial of these poor natives-who nea.? Pass the tips of your fingers to are no sooner brought to Christ than and fro over the particular eyeball of they become evangelists to their fel- the mule, and then with well-regulow-Chinese-is something marvel- lated pressure rub repeatedly the ous. They live on about four or five dollars a month. One of them gave affiicted eye. True, the eyeballs ot his own house and, lot for a church and school, and then hired of a neigh- the mule hl,ve been gradually worn away by constant frictign, until now only the empty orbits are left; but the success is guara.nteed to be as 'verts come pri~cipally from the real as form~rly. The temple is cov- lower classes; we have never known ered with laudatory tablets in honor of a mandarin becoming a Christian, of the mule, which is patched in all who was in office at the time of his directions with fresh pieces of brass, conversion. Literary men areeeidom put on to cover holes produced by con- found among church members; but a stantrubbing; andanewmulestands very few Buddhist and Tauist pri,sts awaiting the day when the old one have been led to Christ. has fallen to pieces. The principal hindrances to mis- A Sketch of the Missions. When sionary work are: 1. The notorious this century began China was desti- conservatism which resists anything tute of the gospel. In 1807 Dr. Mor- foreign. 2. Self-satisfied pride. 3, The rison, first Protestant missionary to veneration paid to their sages, Con: China, landed at Canton, a few years fucius, Mencius, and others. 4. Evil Jater followed by Dr. Milne and oth- reports, spread among the people, ers. First these men sought to ac- poisoning their minds against the quire the language, constructing a. missionaries and their message. dictionary and translating th~ Scrip- 5. Superstition. 6. The opium traffic, tures; but thirty years after, there with its untold misery, leading to were only three native P"otestant enormous crimes. OhrisUans in the whole country, and only six in 1843; there were 350 in The main helps available to the 1853; 2,000 in 1864; 20,000 in 1875; missionary are: 1. The street chapel, ten years later fully 25,000, and now with opportunity after the preaching over 30,000. for personal conversation. 2. Itin- erary journeys for evangelistic pur- In 1885 about 60(, missionaries were poses. 3. Day schools, which influ- in China, in connection with thirty- ence parents as well as pupils and two societies in upward of seventy afford nucleus for meetings of a gen- cities and towns, in fifteen out of eral charlLcter. 4. The dispensary eighteen provinc_es, over 1,100 native and hospital, which afford access teachers and preachers being associ- gained in no other way. 5. Social ated with them in their work, in calls. 6. The bookstore, reading more than 500 stations. In 1875 there room, and guest rooms. 7. The wide were no missionaries west of Han- distribution of the Word of G~d and kow, on the Yang-tse-kiang, 600 of religious tracts and books. miles from the sea, but in 1885 fifty men and women were located in From all parts come reports of western China, somp of them 1,500 steady progress in Christian work. miles from Shanghai; and the jour- The Rev. Mr. Lloyd has labored in ney from that port to their stations Tuh-chow, under the auspices of the takes longer than from America, or Chul'ch Missionary Society,for twelve England, to China. In 1885 only two years. The' 1,600 converts whom he medical missIOnaries were at work had found in 1876 have grown to among the hundred millions in west- 6,000, him.self having baptized 1,000 lern China. in ten years.
During the l-ast ten yeaJ's the Bible Chinese Christians are, almost to societies have been making great a man, ready to pray in public, to efforts to scatter the Word of God_ exhort one another at their meetings, The most fruitful field is Fuhkein, in and to speak for Christ to their which are about one-third of the neighbors. Rev. Hunter Corbett whole number of converts; and yet bears witness to their childlike faith it was for eleven years before the in the power and willingness of God first convert was brought in. Con- to fulfill evel'y promise, to their un- shaken faith in prayer, their love for
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. [FEB••
the ScriptUl'es, and their honest and Darkness overspread'!' the earth,andgr088 faithful effort to live blameless lives, Not a few have persevered in the darkness the people, but God's glory sha.ll study of the Scriptures untu they re- arise on thee and His glory shall be seen on peat entire chapters and !Sometimes entire books, from both Testaments, thee 1 We have only to lift up our eyes toand, better yet, they are ,able io explain them. dayand seeon the very summits of heathen- SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. dom, in the midst of the death-shade, the The Vision 01 the Cross. Late one sum- waving flag of the Cross! 'l'he glory of God mer afternoon there was a rain shower in Vi~ginia, Nevada. It was very unusual, for transfigures it, and while it waves and! during summer rains are almost unknown in Nevada. The rain lasted but a few minutes, burns, the strongholds of Satan are giving f but clouds and dense darkness overspread the sky. All thevasteastern slope of Mount way before the onset of the missiona.ry' Davidson that overlooked the city was covered with a pall. and the mountain could host I scarcely be distinguished from the cloud' masses that formed its background. As al! TEXTS AND THEMES. ' eyes looked in that direction, a little tongue of mellow golden flame could be seen upon I WHAT saith the Scripture f regarding tbe very summit, wavering in the midst of midnight blackness. It was very small, 1. Tile Condition of the World: "The whole but it looked large, by contrast with the darkness around it. No one at first under- world Iieth in wickedness."-l Jobn v: 19• stood what it wa6. It was thenation's flag waving from the mountain peak. It hap- .. The dark places of the earth 'are full of the pened that, through ' narrow rift in the clouds, the rays of the sinking sun had found hal>itations of cruelty."-Ps. Ixxiv: 20. ii. their way, and that flag was the only object theytoucled, It was directly in,their path The Divine Purpose and Command: .. God and they rested on it and glorifled and transfigured it. And for an hour that burn- our Saviour will have all men to be saved, ing banner of the Republic held the fascinated gaze of the multitudes. How strange! and to come unto the knowledge of the That sinking, sun that transfigured the nation's emblem had that same day looked on truth."-l Tim.ii: 4. "Goye into all the world the fall of Vicksburg and the victory of Gettysburg 1 and preach the gospel to every creature." -Mark x~i: 15. iii. The Divine Promise: .. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."-Gen. xii: 3. .. I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos- session."-Ps. ii: 8. iv. The Grand Motive : .. For ye know the grace of onr Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."-2 Cor. viii: 9.
". Freely ye kave received, freely give."- Matt. x: 8. v. The Final Consummation: "1 beheld, and, 10, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Sa.lvation to our God which sitteth upon tbe throne, and unto the Lamb."-Rev. vii: 9, 10.-Selected.
VI.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS: MO~THLY BULLETIN.
Atrica.-Cardinal Lavigerie's mission for the northern portion of Natal about Greythe suppression of the African slave trade town. Most of the Boers belong to the has been encouraged by the Pope's gift Dutch Reformed Church, and while they of S60,OOOto his enterprise, accompanied by have a.ttended outwardly to Christian ora letter from Leo praising the Cardinal dinances, they have heretofore cared little for his crusade, and encouraging him to for the native population. Three years ago go ahead in his work. His plan includes a religious awakening began among these tbe raising of a volunteer corps to fight the Boers, and the genuineness of this interest ,slave traders of the Dark Continent with was shown by their de.ire to reach the Zucarnal weapons. About a score of chival- lus, whom they had regarded as little better rous young Belgians have alreadv formed than animals. There are now fifteen the nucleus of this new Salvation Army. preaching places where the gospel is pro- claimed, and which Mr. Scott says are -Scotch Free Church Mission Among the simply the farmhouses of the Boers. He Zulus. The Rev. James Scott of Impolweni, speaks of seeing eighty Boers and three or Na.tal, writes to the Free Church Monthly in four hundred Zulus gather together for reference to an interesting work among the worship. The Zulus come from kraals and Dutch Boers, and extending to the Zulus in villages, both old and young. some ,clothed, back to carryon mission work in his native but most of them heathen in their blankets. land. .
Over one hundred in Greytown have been Alaska.-The Moravian mission on the formed into a na.tive church in connection Nusbagak river is 8,000 miles from supplies and with the Dutch church. This work is now trained workmen. It was so cold there on the being carried forward under the direction 18th of December, '87, that the moisture in the of a committee of the Dutch farmers, em- smoke congealed and filled up the ohimney ploying three native evangelists. One of with frost so that Mr. Wolff was compelled these evangelists is the son of the Znlu twice to go up on the roof and clear out the warrior who in 1836, at the signal from Din- chimney so that the stove mil(ht draw.
gaan, the cruel tyrant, fdl upon the Dntch Burlllah.-The latestintelligilDce from Tavoy leader Retiefand his party of about seventy tells of great suffering on account of the scarcity men, murdering them all in cold blood. and higb price of rice. In the town it was sell- This father still lives, and is a member of ing for more than double the ordinary cost, the Christian church and listens gladly to while far in the jungle, where the Karens live, his son as he preaches the gospel of peace. it Was not to be had at any price. The govern- -The Baptist Mission on the Congo, ment was shipping it from Maulmain and Ran- West Africa, continue~ to prosper. Seven- goon, and sending it inland as best they could to teen were recently baptized at Batlza Man- save the Karens from starvation. It was not teke, the scene of the great revival, and given to them, but sold at a price much below seven at Palabala. All who have been what it cost. The carriage of rice a distance of baptized at Palabala are men. The drink fifty to one hundred miles On a jungle path, at'a traffic offers great hindrance to the prog- season wben the rainfall averages sixty inches ress of the gospel; per month, is no slight nndertaking. Some had -The Liquor Traffic. In Africa we have to already died, either Qf starvation or from eat- contend against the devit's mIssionary ing improper food, and there is little doubt that .agency. The liquor traffic is increasing, before their next harvest is reaped in December .and it is a gigantic evil-greater, even. many of these poor people will die.
than the slave trade-debasing the people -The Sgau Karen Mission at Rangoon, Bur- .and ruining legitimate commerce. In mah, bas been under the care oftbe Vintons from Wes~ Africa ithas deepened the degrada- its beginning in 1836, and now the na.tive tion of the negro instead of civiJizing him. Christians are to erect a large schoolhouse as a Over 1S0,OOO,OOO gallons of spirits had been .. Vinton Memorial." More than 3,000 rupees imported last year in the district of Sierra were subscribed at the first meeting.
Leone, and in Lagos it was far larger, while Ceylon.-Mission Work at Jaffna. News all the land was strewn with demijohns. from Jafl"na, Ceylon, tells of continned bleSSing The Niger Company imported 220,000 gallons following upon the recent awakening among the during the last two years,and 500 cases of chnrches. Believers have been quickened to gin and 500,000 gallons of rum were landed uew zeal in the work of God; and the conver- by the Caliban, in which I sailed from Liv- sions among the heatben bave been very cheer- erpool. The selling price of rum is less than ing: At a recent communion service six stu- a penny a gallon, and the gin sold at three- dents of the Jall"na CollAge were received into pence a bottle. The liquor so sold was of the church on profession of faith. Tl:e religions the most execrable character.-Rev. W. interest is deepening in this important educa- ..Ililan. tional iustitntion. Besides the two weekly -In the schools of the Scottish Free • prayer·meetings conducted among the profes- ()hurch Mission at Bandawe, Lake Nyassa, sors. tbere are now three such meetings held 1,179 pupils were in attendance the day be- weekly among the students themselves.
fore they closed for the vacation. Of these China.-Forty years ago Dr. Morrison was <)ne-third were girls. Thirty-eight native addressing in a locked inner room two or three teachers are a t work in the schools. Chinese, who listened in peril of their lives; -Basutoland has frequently been saved now tbere are in China some 50,000 converts.
l~om the destruction of its nationality by .. Do you think," asked the captain of the ship the intervention of the missionaries, and who took him out, .. that you can make an the natives blessed their name. The result impression on the 400,000,000 of Chinese?"
in respect to education is that we have 80 'No,~' he answered, "but God can."-Oanon elementary schools, having together 4,666 Farrar.
pupils, besides the normal school and the -The Blind in China. A half a million. it higher girls' school, :with 30 or 40 pupils,and is estimated, are totally blind. The sight- 15 industrial, biblical,and theological school less crowds at ·Canton present a pathetic .stations, 94 out-stations, 19 missionaries, 176 spectacle. A photogl·aph we have seen of native workers, 6,029 communicants, and a party of them before the Presbyterian .3,412 catechumens.-Rev. A. Boegner. Missionary Hospital, taken· last winter by -It is stated that a nephew of the late Edward W., son of Dr. Thwing of Brouklyn, King Cetewayo, after six years in Sweden is a. moving appeal in itself. Mr.J. Cros~ett, in theological and other studies, has gone a.t the United States consulate, Shanghai, writes, Oct. 10, earnestly begging for teach- denominations. One hundred new missionaries ers of deaf, dumb and blind Chinese. For- were last year sent ont to China, and already eign residents are willing toaid in supporting this year several parties have been despatclied_ schools for such. Wealthy natives will help, During the last three 1I10mhs 42 have left Engspecially those who are in commercial rela- land, and 16 more leave in December. News tions with foreigners. Mr. Moody at Chi- had just been received oCthe death of one of the cago, Dr. A Gordon ..nd Dr. Cullis ofBoston missionaries in China, Mr. Eldred S. Sayers, wh() are interested in this movement. Mrs. went ont in 1886, makin~ 3 deaths in November. GUTizslafl', a pioneel missionary-, secured the -Our English Correspondent. education of a Chinese girl and a Portugnese girl at London, both blind, to labor in China. England.-Turkcy Missions Aid Society_ The latter died, bnt the other, known aD The receipts of the society for the year 1837-88 Agnes Gntzlalf, founded an enterprise at were 813,980. The society conducts no missions Ningpo. A hospital at Shanghai was an- of its own, but III a spirit of broad catholicity other memorial she left at death. Teachers aids existing organizations in Turkeyt largely of like consecration are now urgently those of the American church. needed. A professor in the Government School at Korea has expressed a willingneis -When Garibaldi had been defeated 0.1; to come to China. Will not America send Rome, he issned his immortal appeal: "Solother teachers f diers, I have nothing to olfer you but cold and hunger and rags and hardship. Let him wh() -Rev. D. W. Nichols writes from Nankin, loves his country follow me I" And thousands Sept. 24: The grent examination that hll9 been of the youth Qf Italy sprang to their feet at tha~ going on for the paot two weeks has closed. high appeal. And will you, the trustees of pos- Students from ,,11 parts of three provinces were terity-will you tnrn your backs to the appeal here. There were three courses in the exami- of your Saviour Christ f I know that you will nation, requiring three days to each. When the not. You cannot all be missionaries; but some students enter the examination hall, they are of you may be called to that high work, and all not allowed to go out until the examination in of you may help it forward.-Canon Farrar. one conrse is completed. On Friday night, September 14, at midnight, the gates were -The Church of England Women's Missionopened, and the students began marching out, ary Association has sent out four ladies to Jerucontinning in solid phalanx for twenty-four hours. Twenty·nine tlwu8an d were enrolled a salem to form branch of Mrs. Meredith's work and entered for the ftrst examination. Early there, for education and sick nursing among Saturday A.M., Sept. la, we missionaries were on women and children in the East. Two mor.. ladies follow directly. There is work for many the ground with 15,000 books for distribution more as soon as they are ready to go. among the stUdents. Had we had 100,000 books we could easily' have given them away, -The Church Missionary Society has 33a and not more than one to each individual. At missionaries, and received more than three any time during the day we had a commanding hundred offers of service in the year ending view of from one hundred to one hundred and April 30, of which forty·six were from women. ftfty thousand people. So eager were they for the books that it was with diMcnlty that we Fiji.-From special information respectwere enabled to give them to the student•• ing this colony, anticipa.tory of the Blue- Thus 15,000 books have gone out in one day. book tor 1887, it appears that the total Many of these books will go to the remoter population that year was 124,658, eighty-four parts, where the voice of tbe servant of God has less than in 1336, the faIling olf being mainly never been heard. in Indian and Polynesian laborers. Educa- tion seems to be ina satisfactoryeondiUon. -The mission property both of Catholics and It is almost entirely under the care of the Methodists in Chungkinl!;, destroyed by the missionaries. In 1887, 41,724, children Were anti·foreign riois of 1888, is being replaced with at the Wesleyan mission schools aud abou1; costlier ouildings. 1,000 at the Roman Catholic schools. There is a Government Industrial School, at which -The missionary work in China seems to be youths are tra.ined, among other things, in everywhere becoming easier and more promis- boat building, house building, and cattle ing. If the Cbinese Government does not re- tending. In 1887, 102,890 persons attended taliate on Americans for the exclusion of the the Wesleyan places of worship, and 9,83() Chinese from this country and so obstruct the the churches of tle Roman Catholic mismissions, we may look for great results in the sions. The total number of pure Fijians in next rew years. 1887 was 110,754.-0ur English Corr8llpondent.
-China Inland Mission. Ou December 3 FInland.-Rev. Eric Jansson reports 180 Exeter Hall, London, was filled with a large baptized during the year in Finland. The audience a.sembled to bid farewell to a band of missionaries abont to depart for China under mission work encounters great opposition the auspices of this mission. Last year the in- from the priests of the state church, but come of the mission was £33,700, aud the stalf the progress among the people is encournumbered 324, includin~ representative. of six aging.
France.-There recently died at Montpel- ier, France. a.n old servant woman, who had l:iven in the course of some years no less than 10,000 francs, the result of most care- work of the publication department has heeD ful economy, to the French Protestant For- the issue of aeveral books for edncated Hindus._ eign Mission Society. She loved missions, regularly read the missionary journals, and -Special fO'ltures of encouragement in th& never prayed without mentioning by name work of the Inolian Female Normal School aad M. Coillard, a veteran missionary in South Instruction Society are the Zenana work a~ Africa.-Spirit of Mi8.i<>'M. Lucknow, where the pupils have increased from 400 to 500; the work at Patna, which has beel) -A second Baptist church is to be formed enlarged and consolidated; the school work at. in Paris, France. As the flrst church has Bombay, especially that of the Normal School. recently opened a new hall for evangelistic which has supplied teachers to East Africa. services, this will make four places for wor- Western India. Karachi, and other places; Mr•• ship in that city under the control of the Sorabji's work at Poonah, which is in a most Baptists. flourishing condition; and, lastly, medical work.
India.-Speaking in Edinburgh, at the -The prlOces of Rajpootana have abolished opening of the session of the Edinburgh the custom of infant marriages. In the futnre nO' Philosophical Institution, upon .. Madras girl shall be married under the age of H, and and Southern India," Sir M. E. Grant Duff, no boy under 18, unless prior to the adoption of' G. C. S. I., late governor of Madras, said that this law a contract of marriage had been en- the two great languages of the Madras pres- tered into. These princes hold the highest rank. idency, each spoken by about 12,000,000 peo- and their example will have wide influence. ple, were Telugu and Tamil, both Dravidian tongues. Less than 36,OCO people out of -The proportion of the native Christian 31,000,000 claimed English as their mother studenls ot the University of Bengal who hav~ tongue. As to nationality, the immense become Masters of Arts is 23 time. ~reater majority were Hindus; and next to them, than of the Hindn and Mohammedan stndents. but 'at an enormous distance in point of numbers, came the Mohammedans; then Italy.-We have,noted the publication of th~ came the Chrietiaus-far more numerous in Bible in Rome by Martini, the well-known pub- southern Iudia thau in the north. Among lisher, in penny parts. The experiment half the Christians 68 per cent. were Catholics been succe"sfnl beyond expectation. About 50,- and 32 per cent. Protestants. Among the 000 copies are sold every week. The book ilJ Protestants the Anglicans were the most well printed, and each part has been reduced numerous, and in Tinnivelly they had a to eight pages. large number of nati'e converts.-Our En- glish Correspondent. Japan.-Buddhism cannot long hold itlJ -November 2 three missionaries sailed in the ground, and Christianity must finally prevail Pavonia for the re-enforcement of those de- thronghout all Japan. Japanese Buddhism ,md voted toilers in that far-off land who labor Western science cannot stand together. They under the appointment of the Free Baptist are Inconsistent the one with the other.-Jap- Foreign Board. Rev. and Mrs. E. B. Stiles are an<!86 Gazette. known as the A. C. F. missionaries, becanse , their support is to be provided in fnll by the -One of the most hopefnl indications for th& new Free Baptist organization, which is com- fnture of Christianity in Japan Is the missionary posed chiefly of young people and known as the character of the native Christians. They arC' Advocates of Christian Fidelity. Rev. F. W_ zealous in carrying the gospel to their 0 IVn peo- Brown, it is understood, is to be snpported, d ple, and also to Korea and the islands dependent least in part, by the Missionary Board of Hills- on Japan. dale College. -N0 better proof of the genuine Interest of' -Pundit Raghumith Rao, the Dewan of In- our Japanese Christians in the new civilization dore, has put forth a catechism of the Ayran- could be given than their contributions the past Vedic religion, which has excited great atten- year for edncational and religious objects. tion, taken 'llJord fer word from the West- amounting to over $41,000; and it is not pro- minster Shorter Oatechism, leaving out the fessed Christians only that give, but others, im- references to Jesus Christ I This is certainly pressed with the character of the work in prog- the most remarkable plagiarism of modern ress, especially thonghtfnl parents, for the sak~ times. of the morlll cnlture obtained in our schools. A few weeks since word came from Mr. Neesima -The Christian Vernacular Education So- of $31,000 subscribed by a few Japanese gentle ciety reports that the Training Institntion at men, including two of the highest officials in th8' Ahmednagar has been in fnll working order government, toward the enlargement of our throughont the year 1887, with fifty-seven Doshisha school so as to make ita Christian uni– atudents in attendance; thirty students left the versity.-Miss. Herald. Dlndigal Institution with teachers' certificates. The system of inspecting and improving the -A revival has been going on simultane- indigenous schools in Bengal has been vigor- ously worked. Nearly 7,000 children are under ously in different parts of Japan. As a result. Christian instruction. The chief feature of the the increase in all the churches of Tokio cannot. be much less thana thousand. Yokohama has; also enjoyed a rich blessing, and reaped a glori- ons harvest. Many of the cities and towns ot the empire are now wonderfully stirred up. -"-A Worthy Example. An exchange says that a brewer who did a large business at Mish, teacher's use. The pup,i1s provide themsulves IIi 1ms, Japau, has become a Christian and joined with a primer, a copy of the New TestamclIt, the church. He had a long and hard struggle to the native Christian newspaper, a catechism, ,give up his profitable business, but at last the grammar, and geography. The teachers are .grace of God triumphed; he gave up brewing supported in part by the natives. The object and gave his large arid costly building to be used of these schools is to teach the children to read as a church. the Bible, and so these schools become the chief auxiliary to the direct preaching of the -Japanese Mission to Christendom. A gospel.-Chronicle of London MiB8. Soc. .Japanese paper published at Kioto, called the -At Tamatave, the capital of Madagascar, 11iJO'U of Asia, has a report of a proposed mis- Mrs. Mary Clement Leavitt, representing the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. recently ,gion for the conversion of Europe and America addressed an audience of 1,500 natives, the lecto a "purer faith." Its conductors say that ture being translated by an interpreter. The they have noticed that Christianity is on the Tamatave paper gives a full account of the occa- .decline, and that, as religion is indispensable to sion, and thanks God for the arrival of "that man, this mission is projected. There is al- grand woman, Madame Mary Clement Leavitt ready a Buddhist mission in the United States, of the United States." and something of a literature has been created. The Watchman says: "Whereabout the evi- Mexico.-The Presbyterian missionaries -dence of the' decline' of Christianity has been 'noticed' we caunot conjecture, but it was in the city of Mexico have recently located seven -probably in some of those pessimistiC utter- preaching stations in the outlying wards and auces now and then put forth by weak believ- districts. In this way they touch the people ·ers, or the still more insignificant boastings of who could not be brought into anything known unbelief." as a church edifice. Lay talent is utilized, one- half of these services being sustained hy native J a va.-Missionary work began 40 years ago. elders. Seven societies of Holland are represented by 26 missionaries, having 25 mission stations, Paraguay.-The South American Missionnumbering 12,000 native Christians. The Brit- ary Society has started a new mission under ish and Forei~n Bible Society has one agent in very favorable auspices. ·east Java, and will soon send another for the west. Not only Java, but the whole Dutch Persla.-Dr. Bruce writes to the Church India, including Java, Snmatra, Borneo, Cele- Missionary Intelligencer: "We have no oppobes, has a strong claim not only on Europe, but sition from Moslem priests or people worth <ou Christian America for the gospel. Twenty- mentioning; the latter, in nine cases out of ten, ileven millions of people and only 69 Christian gladly receive our colportenrs and evangelists, missionaries to give them the glad tidings I In and welcome their visits. The Moslem priests .all Malaysia, with its 35,000,000 people, there now ha"e lost all their power for good or evil is only one Ame"ican misBwnary. in Persia. The Persian Government is also liberal iu its treatment of Christians and Jews, -In the central district of Java there are but through the intrigues of the Roman Catholic ,some 5,000 native Christians in connection with and (led by them) of the American ecelesiastics, the Netherlands Reformed Missionary Society. it allows Protestant Christians to be opposed, For many years this field has been under the and thereby gives us great trouble. During all .exclusive care of one missionary, who is sta- my mission life among Mohammedans, every tioned at Poerworedjo. Receutly two other persecution and opposition to our work from mis~ionaries have been sent to Poerbolingo, one which we have suflered has been set on foot, <of whom is to be engaged in training native not by Moslems, but by nominal Christians." -evangelists and preachers. Still more recently :a young medical missionary has been sent out. -High Church missionaries from England He is to be supported by the Dutch Reformed are establishing schools and churches in utter Missionary Society in Londou. An attempt is indifference to the work done by American men being made to form the various churches or and women in past years, thus fomenting stations into a presbytery, presided over by a schisms aud divisions. synod. Meanwhile Christianity is spreading .also in the Djogjokarta district, and some 5,000 United States.-Indians of North Amer- natives have accepted the truth. ica. The amiual conference of the Dakota In- dian churches and missions of the Presbyterian Madagascar.-The growth ofth'e elemen- and Congregational denominations was held in -tary schools has been extraordinary. Twenty- September at Oakes, Dak. There were repre- five years ago they numbered seveu, with 365 sented there all the missionaries to the Dakotas scholars; in 1886 they nnmbered 1,005, with of the Presbyterian Foreign and Home Boards, 102,747 scholars. The several provinces are and those of the Congregationalists under the -divided into districts, and each district has a charge of the American Missionary Association. meeting-honse, used both as a church and There were present also 228 native delegates and ilchool-honse. Most of them are built of adobe, visitors, besides those from the Cheyenne River with thatched roof, and are very plaiu buildings, Agency. The attendance ran from 500 to 800. with mud 1I00rs. The school outfit consists of :a few lesson sheets and text-books for the -The American Baptist Missionary Union calls for eighty meu to fill vacancies and open new work on the various mission fields.
STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS
VII.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.
Foreign Mission Work of Women's Sooieties.
UNITED STATES.
Receipts.
Denominations and Societies.
1887-8. In aU.
– — —;—- 1861. . Woman's Union Missionary Society, New About york …………………………….. 53 i32' 27 $43,024 $1,000,000 1868.. Woman's Board, Boston (Congregational). 102 1,700 123,240 1,651.329 1870.. Woman's Board of the Interior (Congre- gational) …………………………. 62 1,500 51,117 481,175 1872.• Woman's Bo..rd of the Pacific (Congrega- tional) …………………………….. 5 75 4,045 45.151 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian Church …. 133 111 2,725 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of the 159,640 1,647,618 Northwest ………………………… 71 57 1,522 102,499 726,277 1870.. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of New york ……………………………… 41 32 900 65,1'44 (30,346 1871. • Woman's Board, Presbyterian, of North- ern New York …………………….. 5 13 220 10,413 120.812, 7,193 1877 .. Woman's Board, Presbyterian, Southwest 7 376 28,968 20,732 Woman'sBoard, Presbyterian, Southern. 457 172,906 1879.• Woman's Board, United Presbyterian 43 15,619 66,273 Church …………………………… 7,658 1879.. Cumberland Presbyterian Church ……. 822 42,771 1869.. Methodist Episcopal, North …………… 75 4,383 191,158 1,680,000 ,1878 .. Methodist Episcopal, Soath …………… 22 '45' 2,399 6"9,729 355,345 000 7,100 1879.. Methodist Protestant …………………. 11,288 25,000 1861.. Friends ………………………………. 8 1,854 ……4.0.,0..0.0 Evangelical Association………………. 78 1875.. Christian Woman's Board (Home and For- 697 26,226 145,120 '"7" eign) •………….•………………… '"7" 315 "'i7:ii44 61,472 14,197 1875, . United Brethren ………………………. 1875.. Reformed Chnrch (Dutch) …………… 200 …..1.2.6.,8..7.4 1879 .. Evangelicwi Lutheran (Home a.nd Foreign) 436 27 1870.. Baptist Woman's Society (Northern Con- 1,859 75.369 780,606 vention) ………………………….. 38 44,846 1871. . Woman's Baptist Society of the West….. 45 313,628 Executive Committee Auxiliary to South- 15.554 80,000 ern Baptist Convention ……………. 7,200 1873 .. Baptist Free ….. __ , ' …………………. , 6 60,000 25,321 – -2-72,6-71 – – – – – – – 1871. . Protestant Episcopal …………………. – – – – Totals………………. 680 424 21,l134 $1,117,110 $10,307,990 CANADA.
1876.. Woman's, !,?o.ci"ty (Presbyterian), West- 475 $25,657 ern DivisIon ……………………… . 5,091 1877.. Woman's Society (Presbyterian), Eastern Division ………………………… . 6,182 1877.. Woman's Societies (Baptist), Ontario and 4,493 Quebec…… " ………….. ' …….. .. 189 14,197 Woman's Union (Baptist), Maritime Prov- illces •……•…………….•….•…. 1881.. Woman's Society (Methodist) ………. , .. .
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
1834.. Society for Female Education in the Eastl 40 $.%,000' 1852.. Zenana Bible and Medical Mission ……. . 202 50,000* 1859 .. Ladies' Wesleyan Missiollary SOciety….. ' 30 ';ii;' 35,000* 1860 .. British Syrian Schools ………………. .. 28 116 2.';,(lOIl* 18'18 .. Ladies' Association (Baptist) …………. . 44 105 3O.0no* 1~"3 .. Female Association (Irish Presbyterian).. 12 160 10,000* 1878.. Female Association (Presbyterian Churca of England) ………………………. . 13 8 10,000' 1830.. Church of England Zenana Missionary Society…………………………… . 88 49 1880.• Zenana Medical College……………… " U5,Oro 4,000* Ladies' Committee Auxiliary to London Missionary Society……………. '…. . 24 250 Ladies in Connection with Society for Propagation of Go.pel …….. , ……. . 71 300 Ladies' Free Church of Scotland ……… . 32 177 * About this sum annually. J.M.S.
View of the Missions of the A. B. O. P. M. for the Year 1888-89
MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS. I PREACHING. CHURCHES. i EDUCATION.
g g ] .s MISSIONS. oi ~• I ~fr~C.lrl<n~tl 00 AMERICAN. NATIVE. ~'CI 'CI 'i0'<.:M: ~g• ~ –,–..,,—,.._ _ _1 -_–,,—;—;—1 .~S~ 00 0 ~QJ t~ . § :"8 .. oi 't1 ~. ;;~r.IJ. .-~!: bD .j..J Q,) 0 d~ oJ ~• aj 0~0 ~ .~~ ~~ 0 ..d U~l .~S ~Il <= §• :'~" dj ~ ~ ~.h ~.~ i ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~.~ 'I'~ ~ n j ~o· g ~ ojr18Q,)_ 0 .~O ~ ~ ~:; '8t. ~ :; "" "" .., – – ~ ~ <= 0 tl .S 00 8 00 '§+3 … -< … tti'< '", Sw ~ ~ 6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ !~.2 ~'g ~ :ags ~ ~ in .A 0 f 2 = ='3 ==-1 19142 150 =. = 115 E",st Central Africa. i883~ . do: ""' ~t] 1l ;, ""' e3:; p:; -I<> ..q z§ '" ~ a5 0 ~ r.r. -;: -§ o§ i:'5 :Zuuel~u-:M,tips~s:i~otnT.~.~.~.!.~.~.~. 1~8~3g5 .$ 0 'E-< 00 E-< ~8 "2197 -n-3 –17 2 12 •35 -1 -,8 25 1 .6,891 16~ '9'7'9" 108 -:-1' . '1'~; – 1 ";';' -:-2' – -2115 5 10 8 2~9~ 4 [3 82 uu 100 25 1,47! 1,655 2.548 19 51 '''6 'ii" 1 …. 12 2 100 100 14 "ii:i' 'i "i2 1 …. 1 2C' 20 . "3:508 I~ 2~ 1~ ~g 2~ 3~~ IH lk~~ 2.~ J~ ~ 3~ 'lll 5,ra~ 6,~~ Western Turkey …. 1819 8 121 22 2 64 17 m 16:g<fs 29 244 1 Ii 7 32,177 Central Turkey ….. 1847 2 51 7 3 7 9 26 19 27 110 4, 160 IIl6 60 10,000 1157,,0~5163 33 4,050 229 1 7 2 89 4 195 95 .,15 4,448 Eastern Turkev ….. 1836 5 115 Ii 1 15 11 41 27 51 170 48 296 337 124 11,010 41 2.542 151 1 526 5 2241238~III1I045543 5,261 6,392 7,9~5 1 8 14 553 3 24..0712'~; 2,802 Mar"'thi. ….. : ……. 1813 7 102 12 1 10 6 29 15 32 HI 67 255 284 88 3.076 3.351 27 1.823 157 1 9 7 514 5.680 , 13.508 Ma.dura …….. : .•.. ISH 12 234 10 •••. 10 8 28 20 144 2~298 31 423 451 234 7,214 11,881 36 3,233 239 1 10 7 6. 4,779 Ceylon ………….. 118~1863 7 25 5 .•.. 4 4 13 11 30 34 304 317 39 1,065 1.806 14 1,389 79 II 6 +57 2 132, 127 7,864 8,455' 6.545 Hong Kong………. 1 3 1 2 34 19 1 5.752 1 …. 3 8 …. 11 12 4 f 384 15 308 54 1 .. '2 "43 8 384 384 10 Foochow ………… 1847 3 21 6 1 6 6 19 2 12 21 1 41 00 26 650 1,250 105 2'''3 •• 17 299 388 349 13 12 42 92 4 976 161 North China …….. 1854 7 29 18 4 20 8 50 …. 17 26 684 2.485 11 2 -42 3 44 10 142 204 Sh&usi.. …………. 1882 2 …. 4 1 4 1 10 .. . …. …. …. …. 10 2 76 75 1 5 5 . . …. .., …. .. …. …. …… .. … 4 22 27 76 27 21 53 11 112 188 171 6,309 11.000 43 6.340§ 2,1l4§ 2 92 61.054 91.0eO…. …… 2,206 41.022 } ~':f..~h~r;,· j~pai{:: m.~ 8 124 23 1.486 Micronesia ………. 1852 3 46 7 1 7 6 21 12 2U 14…. 47 68" 103 7.785 12,300 47 4.844 549 2 30 2 58 2 64 41 1.933 2.085 2011 8 13 537 Western Mexico …. 1872 2 6 2 …. 2 1 5 1…….. 7 8 181 2 120 150 2 110l1~ 10 1 12…. …. 1 23 1 30 30 Northern Mexico … 1882 3 5 4 …. • 2 10 …. 3 3 2 9 194 3H 4 93 95 3,076 68.. 2 …. 3 ~~~~i~·::.:::::::::: }~~~ ~ ig ~ …. ~ ..~ ~ …: ~~ ~ n jg l~ ~~ ~:~ ~ ~ i M1~ 7~ 7~g "7' .. 19 'i "·S 1 4 656 === 19 166 268 17 50 Tota.I… No. Pacific Institute 1872 1…. 1 …. 1…. 2 …. …. …….. …. 2…………· .. · . . . . . · · …. · .. · 1 14…. …… ………….. H 90 960 167* 160 126t 472 448 1.253 2.135 2,607 1~161'188j100.914 33630.11461 4.388 25169 3.947 3.008 892 34.855 42.733U $124.274 * Of whom eleven are physicians. UInciudlDg 80mI' under IDstructlOn but not reported in school. , The CommonSchools of Jafl'na, connected with the mission. are under t Of whom four are physICians. the direction of a lloa.rd of Jl;<lucatlQIl, alld tho teachers are not reckoned as :I: Including Hawaiian missionaries. Ch~;be:,hich might be added 753 baptized believers not yet orpnized Into missioll helpeu.
•
STATISTICS OF THE'WORLD'S MI!,SIONS
Reoeipts of the lfissionary Sooietyof the Methodist EpiBoopal Ohuroh for Year. 1887 and 1888, AS REPORTED TO THE GENERAL MISSIONA.RY CO){M;:TTrlE, NOVEMBER 14, 1888.
RBCEIP'FS I'RO>l EASTERN CONFBRENCES.
CONFERENCES. IFrOW:O;~l'!FrOl8sr~~· I,! Increase. r Decrease. (List omitted.) Oct. 31: 1887. Oct. 3i, 1888.
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. $S8fI,673 92 3629.983 77 $27,517 5.3, $67,207 63 RECEIPTS FROM: WESTERN CONFERENCES.
CONFEItBI)CES. i8 Dec~ dFrl;t~~· l'!Fr0 8,fOt';; 1,/ (List omitted.) . Oct. 3i, 1887. Oct. 31', 1888. Increase.!_ Total…. ……………………. $375,121.00 Ji370,597 471 $12,068 28 $16,592 80 Total Receipts from November I, 1886, to October 31, 1881………. …… ..•…. $1,044,19591 18ST, to October 31, 1888………………….. 1,000,581 24 .. ..
Decrea.se .. eo •••••••••••••• eO ••••••••• " . eo eo •• 0' ••••••••••••••• eo •••••.•• eo •• eo. $44,21467 RECBIPTS DURING THE L4ST NINE YEARS.
Sundry t::;ources.
$22,47841 Conferences. – – – – – – – Legacies. ,3i,710 27 YEAR!!. Totals. Increase. $557.371 14 $5,511 84 1880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,182 46 33.865 2f 20,83286 625,663 89 68,m 75 18~1. ………………. 570.96577 <l~,605 O~ IM~2 ……………….. 6:!1,38108 '18.091 ~ 21,67984 691.6M 01 00,00212 22,60604 751,469 90 59,803 89 1883 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650,77254 49,970 O~ 28.966 85 731,125 86 20,34404* 188~ ………………. 652,18800 1885 ………………. 694,03495 101,901 8~ 30.891 5t- 8:6,828 36 95,702 50 1886 ………………. 836,592 37 932,20891 133,95821 21.577 89 992,12847 165,300 11 1887 ……………….. 935.12138 76,743 22 1.0~4.795 91 52,66744 1888 ………………… 35.843 7b – – – – – – 41,983 67 – – -23,4-76-19 1,000,581 24 44,214 67" Totals …………. $6,393,448 45 $558.PZg 4' <!!'?Rfl.':'1":2 /"IF $7.221.73078 NOTE.–A star (*) after amounts III the last COll" 1, '(l.teR a decrease.
-Gospel in all Land•• German Evangelioal Mis!ion Sooieties.
[For the following table we are indebted to Rev. Dr. R. (irundemann, of Germany., "'" ,;, .;.,.;.,. ..: …; <= () 'j:; of ",,=of OJ ~".,,,~'0" '2 ,,0 SOCIETIES. wi <=8 0. S" """.."~, OJ "s~":.l<A~= OJ'~ ~ ~ ~N~'" " .,: :0;; ~ .,; :,z;,. >4 o..~ 0 .'.c0c: "Il< >'I 8~ "00 '" " ..,00>'1 ———~———— Moravian ………………………….. 107 147 83,052 29,283 590 208 $17,407 $101,281 Easel, Evangelical Mission ………… 42 120 19,187 9.497 1,057 208 7.486 199,507 Berlin, Evangelical Mission………… 48 60 17.764 8.400 1,225 53* 3.377 71.611 Rhenish Mission (Barmen) …………. 53 66 29,125 9.666 1,100 66* 5,370 88.440 North German (I:!remen)…………… 4 8 325 114 5 199; 20.389 556 Gossner Mission …………………… 13 19 34,000 11,868 1,775 80* 1.685. 42,431 Evangelical Lutheran, Leipzig …….. 2"J 22 14,014 4.500* 796 129 3,993 67.596 Hermannsburg…………………… 61 71 11,196 5,000* ….. 88* 2,000 63,713 fit. Chrischonat……………………. 1 15 400 20 5 1* 120 8,132 40* ….. 4* 200 6,585 Jerusalems-Verein………………… 3 2 150 2* 43 14,914 BreckluD). (Schleswig-Holstein)…….. 4 8 ……. '''ii' 1* 40 8.773 Berlin Woman's Mission for China…. 1 1 81 80* 77 3* 74 2,523 Neukirchen Mission…. …. …….. …. 5 5 305 3,239 East Africa.. Vereln (Berlin)……….. I 2 2 ….20* 3.000 2 3,OCQ – – – – – – —- – – – – – – – – – – Bavarian Verein·for East Africa…… 1 CO.I. Prot. Mission Verein (for Japan). 1 Totals…………………………. 368 550 209.850 78,679 6.756 823 41,994 J700,1l4 " Estimated. t Statistics of Syrian Orphan Home only. -A. B. 0. F. M.'B Almanac of Mi88ion., 1889. Foreign Missionary Sooieties of the, United States, 1887-88.
Mission- ..: …. — .. .. " " ..s .n… aries. ,/, 8- .,./,, p.1. g.; … " <I <I .<:1 d! 0 5l <i C1l SOCIETIES. '" .si III 'a American Board•…•.•.. ,; I '" '" "" ~.d.,! .<:1 0 "" " ~ j ~ ~ s oj d!" " ~ ~ … <$ — — — – – _~.S Z 's, 0 — – – '" — — "" -rn- 0 Z .a &: <;) .. <!l '"p… .".<.I. <;) $667,289 90 g60 186 286 2,135 836 30.M6 4.386 1,018 42,733 Preshyterian Board, No. 901.180 112 400 205 297 1,126 311 23.740 2,~97 464 23.77() Preshyterian Board, So. 88,049 08 89 31 35 44 ' 39 1.897 305 20 1,2;{S Ref. Church (Dutch) …. 155.381 12 123 29 32 293 47 4,559 180 122 3,357 United Presh. Board …. 103,323 15 154 19 21 385 32 6.878 1.437 216 9.942 Cumberland Presb. Ch .. 15,265 3 5 6 8 13 8 500 225 6 283 Reformed Presb. Church Asso. Ref. Presho Church 21,133 ….. 2 6 4 5 50 2 209 44 32 1.165 Reformed Church of the 2,696 4 2 ••••• 8 8 206 76 2 28 U. S. German … '……. 20.000 3 12 5 7 18 8 1,170 420 5 21& Ref. Presho Gen. Synod.. 4,000 2 4 2 ….. 7 2 20 5 1 28 *Baptist Mis. Union ….. 390,83.5 60 831 101 161 1.798 642 61,062 5.070 754 17,.504 Baptist Southern Conv.. 86,38.5 14 72 24 34 59 48 1,967 344 17 610 Free Baptists….•……. ….. 3 59 6 13 15 10 654 62 85 3,058 Seventh Day Bantists… 15.2{4 1 2 3 9 1 23 5 3 76 Baptist Conv. of U. S, … 4.529 4.598 3 2 2 1 2 1 175 50 2 27 Q:erman Baptist Breth- ren (Tunkers) ………. ….. ….. ……. 1,620 2 ….. 826.7~* 6M *Methodist Epis. Chnrch ….. 234.584* 104t Meth. Epis. Church, So.. 3 …. 5 lliO 31i ….. 131; 192 2.0~1 505 22.535 2.711 694 22,448 28 23 80 42 3.786 450 54 1.545 Protestant Methodist… 3 3 7 4 2 229 84 5 350 18.000 Africa" ~Ieth. Epis()opal 12,000' 7 5 7 1 8 9 900 302 5 408 Free )[ethodist…. , ….. 3 14 6 3 ….. 2 45 Prot. Epis. For. Miss.Soc. 2.000 41 14.'; 75 28 227 32 6 "443 91 3.364 189,932 23 3 2,073 11,074 16 5 5 4 224 ..1.2..3 9 443 Evangelical Association 14,619 5 4 14 4.105 19 462 Un. Brethren in Christ.. 4 25 Evangelical Lutheran, General Synod ……… 30.000 2 2 4 3 147 101 3.436 1,178 161 3.,558 Evangelical Lutheran, 10.288 6 50 5 4 72 4 805 235 57 767 General Conncil ., , …. For. Chri.tian Miss.Soc. (Disciples) ….. , .. , …. 24 12 22 24 2,473 798 18 ….3.8..0 51.408 24 …..2 …..6..1 43 ….. Amer. Christian Conv… 2,000 2 21 1 6 3 ….. — — – — — — – – – – –7- – TFhrieenMdesn.n..o.n.it.e.s………………. …. ·22:700· 1 . ooii 3 9 6 4 392 671 ….. 100 7 6 —- Total. ………….. $3.906.967 1,1113 2,954 927 1,200 8,617 2.243 174.784 21,978 3.864 137.905 * Work of these societies in Protestant countries of Europe 1S not here reported. t Principal and subordinate stations. :(: The portion of the missionary receipts of the church appropriated to Foreign n Mis~ions. ple te re tu rn s. '
Incom Moravian Missions are included in the tabJe of British societies. -A. B. O. F. M. 's Almanac of Mi.sions. 1889.
Canada.-The Canadian Congre- tionality. In Oceania, including the Phil- ippines. the Malay Archipelago. Anstralia. gational Year-Book fol' 188~-89 re- and New Zealand. the number is 276; in America, inclnding certain specified States ports the following statistics: of the Union. portions of Canada, British Honduras, Brazil and Pern.l.130 ; the total Churches. St… Minis. Mf'm· number of Jesnits scattered over the globe tions. ter!;. bel'S. in purely missionary work being 2,377. These 26 49 6,300 are' of various nationalities, but the vast Ontario ………. 77 1,650 majority are French.-London Times. Quebec ………. 20 15 17 Nova Scotia…… ]7 21 7 858 -The Cherokees have in operation 100 11 341 common schools. with an aggregate attend- New Brunswick.. 3 4 ance of 4,049 pupils and an average of 200 2.486 ; a high school for boys. with an aggre- Newfoundland & o3 180 gate of 211 and an average of 156 students; Labrador … , .. . 5 24 a. female seminary. nearing completion, The Northwest.. . 4 with a capacity for 165 students; an orphan asylum containing 145 children,-Ghri.tian 126 75 84 9.529 Advocate. Nashville. -Jesuit Missions. In the Balkan peninsula there are. 45 Jesuit missiona.ries; in Africa, and especially E;;-ypt, Madagascar and the Zambesi region, 223 ; in Asia, especially Armenia. Syria, certain parts of India, and parts of China. 699. In China alone the number is 195, all of French na- Oontributions to Missionary and Bible -Statistics show that there are in Bur- Societies for rifty Years. mah at the present moment 502 Baptist IN view 'of the Missionary Conference, it may not be nnseasonable to present to your readers churches, with 28,559 communicants and the results of a carefrrl examination of the home contributious to the five great religiOUS institu- about 70,000 adherents. In 404 schools theretions named below during the first fifty years of the present reign. I have divided that examina- are 12,000 pupils, and during the year there tion iuto decenniums, bringing out the average amounts contributed in each, with the relative hl"ve. been 2,134 baptismsupon a profession increase or decrease upon the preceding period. With these it is unnecessary to occupy your of fmth. The report reminds the Christian columus. public that it is just seventy-five yea-rs. It may be interesting, however, to notice that -whatever it may be owing to- the decennium since Adoniram Judson, driven out of Cal- 1848-1857 differs from aU the rest in the lower rate of increase, while in the case of two of the cutta by the officials of the East India Comsocieties there is a positive decrease of two per cent. and eleven per cent. respectively. pany, arrived in Rangoon and established The increase of the avera~e annual amount the first Baptist mission at Burmah.-ChriB-· of home contributions, including legacies but excluding dividends, in the last decennium, 1878- tian Weekly. '57, over the first,l838-'47, was, in the case of the Baptist Miss. Society… £34,953 or 157 per cent. -The Methodist Episcopal Church have. Wesleyan Miss. SOCiety. 34.114" 45 .. Church Miss. Society .. 102,717 .. 118 .. 2: missionaries in Italy, 25 native prea.chers" London Miss. Society… 23,707" 3~ British and Foreign 883 church members, 16 Snnday-schools and Bible Society……… 62,101" 131 392 scholars. In lIIexico tney have 9 mis- A/!:gregate increase (five sionaries,33 native preachers, 995 church SocietietJ).. .. .. . …… 257,592" 86 The annual average amounts of the five soci- members, 740 probationers, 30 Sundayeties for the last decenninm was £556,631, and the total amount for the jifly year. £20,798.160, schools and 1,202 schools. being about the amount spent on drink in this country in sixty days at the rate of last year's Jews.-Between the years 1880 ,and 188& consumption. It ought to be stated that these amounts in- the Jewish population of Prussia has include both ordinary and special contributions, excepting in the case of the Church Missionary creased only 2,763. The proportion of the. Society, where the figures of the special contribntions for the whole period conld not be .0 Jews (366,543) to the entire population. easily ascertained. The annual average orthese, in that society, for the last jive years was £19,- shows a falling off of .04 per cent. The 115. ProbablY this was a high avera!':e. One feature brought out in this examination is diminution has been chie11y in the provinces. worthy of note. WhQn a large contribution has been raised for a special object, it does not seem of Posen and Silesia. There were only three to teU adversely on the succeeding years; rather the contrary. So at least it seems to be towns in the entire kingdom with a. Jewish. in the case of the British and Foreign Bible So- Ciety. In 1854 that society raised special con- population exceeding 15,000, viz., Berlin. tributions of almost exactly £100,000 for the JUbilee and Chinese New Testament Funds. 65,355; Breslau, 17,655; and Frankfurt, 15,- with the result that the aggregate ordinary contributions (exclusive of legacies) for the three SM.-Jewish Chronicle. . follouing years exceeded those of the three previous years by almost £30,OCO, or twenty-three -The various Protestant missionary orper cent.; and that notWithstanding that in one of the last three years a further special contri- ganizations at work in India have 249 mis_ bution of £10,000 was raised for these objects. sionaries, 317 native preachers, and 83,819' But when the speCial contribution is raised not for any definite object, but merely to make up .. native communicants. This is an increase deficiency in previous years, I apprebend the result is very different.-Davia McLaren, in of 67 missionaries, 76 native preachers, and British Weekly. 23,748 native communicants since 1881.
-The Lutheran Missions among the Ta- mils of South India amount to 14,000 adher- ents, 22 European missiol~aries, 12 ordained natives, 6 caudidates, 56 catechists, 241 teachers, 149 schools. and 3,653 scholars.
-The General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church has appro- priated for the coming year $1,200,000 fol'"
home and foreign missions, of which $100,- 000 is to meet outstanding drafts and inter- est. The receipts from the churches were· $2,900 larger than ever before, but the treas- ury was $78,340.13 in debt at the end of the year. The appropriations for mission wo"i-k are about fifteen per cent. less than last year. The foreign missions r"eceive $511,- 639.01, divided as follows: India, $109,300.
China, $108,019.01 ; Japan, $60,166; Korea.
$16,104; JlIalaysia, $6,500; Africa. $4,800; South America, $52,960; Italy, $47,000; Ger-· many, $30,300; Sweden, $25,068; Bulgaria.
$19,220; Norway, $14,000; Switzerland, $9,840 ; Denmark, $8.362. The new Malaysia.
Mission was regularly constituted. Dr.
Thoburn is missionary bishop of India and ¥alaysia. In al the foreign inissions there are 720 native preachers and 41.338 church.
members.
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS. [FEB., 18t!9
VIII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
(The Ia.ck of spa.ce constrains us to layover a. mass of Bilitorial Notes already in type.-ED8.] Editorial Oard to the Publio. The Bound Volume for 1888.
IN the Jan. number of this REVIEW, TilE IIrstvolume ot THEMIssION.l.BY RETIIIW .(1888) we admitted an article from Bev. Wm. Clark, D.D., on "1I1ission 0:1' THE WORLD Is now bound loud on sale. It.
Work in Papal Europe,'" and in a appearance is certainly striking, and marks an prefatory note we warmly indorsed advance, it not a new epoch, in mlssionary"litthe writer and commended his cause erature. It is a royal octllvo, printed on heavy -the Female College /Lt Florence, and lirst quality of paper, making VT4 compact Italv.. Dr. Clark was a stl'anger to pages, and substantially and prettily bound in us, but he presented so many strong crimson cloth with gilt back.
teliltimonials from eminent clergy- No ODe can form a correct Idea. of the extent, men and others whom we knew, that t:vharroiuetgyhatnhdisqiumalpietyrioalf viotslucmone.tenAts btriilel fhBenlaolYok'iss we unhesitatingly gave full credence ~ will show that it i. in itself a IUrrary of mission liurature, containing matter equal to half a dozto hIS statements, and said what we -did in his behalf. We deeply regret en books, and al1 fresh and in"pirlng, and from the ablest missionary writers in the world. At to say that we have lately received the same time it is an invaluable cvclopOJdia Of ~vidence from the best sources of in- milsions, containing a vast amount of the latest and most accurate information on every subject formation that wI! were deceived and connected with Christian missions. 'rhe eight imposed upon Ly this man, and that departments are crowded with matter of inter- est and importance to the friends of missions, he is unworthy of confidence or aid, in al1lands and in aU branches urthe Church.
.and we hereby withdraw our indorse- I. Literature Qf M"tssions. Contains some 130 separate article., most of them original, and ment and forbid him to use it. From by the ablest writers at home and abroad. the American consul at Florence we learn that no such institution now II. Organized Missionary Work. Gives the ~xist!S in Florence. And Dr. Cyrus latest reports of over 130 of the leading mission- Hajlllin assures us that our statement ary societies of the world. .about his services at Constantinople is essentially untruthful. It grieves III. Corrupondence and General Intellius. tu make such a statement, but gence. From leading mis.ionarie. in all lands, truth and justice and the cause of a. well as intelliltence from the world-field. -Christ demand it at our hands. IV. International Department. By Dr. Gr,,- A Oorreotion. cey, containing 100 pages of great interest and value. IN our January issue we gave V. Moothlll Concert of MissWns. By Dr. A. .credit for the article-" England and '1'. Pierson. Full 01 stirring papers and sugges- Foreign Missions "-to Rev. James tive themes and thoughts.
.Johnston, "Secretary of the World's VI. P,ogre88 and Results Q.f Missions. A world of the latest doings and facts, gathered Missionary Conference." We were from every source and field. misled in making this statement in a VII. Statistic, of the Wcrld's Missions. A way that attaches no blame to any large amount of the latest and most authentic etatistics. Ma!lY invaluable tables, etc., etc. -one. But we -desire to state that, VIII. Editorial Notes on many current subthough possessed of the same hon- jects of missionary interest.
()toed name, our c;::ontributor is an- Aud to add to the value Ofthi8 bound volume, It conta.ins a full and skillfully prepared Indez -other clergyman, a resident of Bol- of Contents, 80 tbst every topic treated in it, and ton, England, who has volunteered every important faet or statement or table of to post us from time to time with the etatistics given can be readily found and made -current ongoings of missionary life available to the rietasdleirt.eraOrynemwerililtsbIeitasmvaazsetdn,eosns in Great Britain. He will continue examination, at his useful service and, when the topic of scope, and the plenitude and va ue of Its his- is too brief for a separate paper we torical and statistical information. It will adorn tihall append his simple initials, or Our English Correspondent, as in and be a valuable acquisition to anI library, the present number. private or public. The price is but $2.50, free delivery. It Is a marvel of cheapne!s.
Statistical Tables.
.. The :Miseionary Review," in the hands ofMr. Wilder, earned a deserved reputation for the ekill and pain.taking labor ebown in the matter of missionary statistics. "Wild…r's Tables" were Simply marvel. in their way and are cited ". authority everywhere. We had hoped and planned to carry on this good work unto perfec- tion, but our wishes and plans for the first year failed. But we still purpose to accomplish it a$ any cost, and are maturing arrangements tha$ will bring it about during the year. In tile meanwhile we avail onrselves of the results ot others' labors. The tables we give this month, published by the Ameri"an Board, are exceed- ingly valuable for reference, while onr own table on wom~n's work is full and reliable.