The Missionary Review of the World — October 1912
SCENES FROM MOHAMMEDAN
1. The Sultan of Muscat, Arabia. 11. Dr. :Mary Eddy's Patients. Syria. 2. Group of Patients Coming to the Dispensary, 12. Moslem Patients at the Bannu H mpita1. 13. A Lepers' Dormitory in the Jeru salem Persia. 3. Persian ,"Vomen in House Dress. Hospital. 4. The Gateway of an Arab Town. 14. An Armenian Protestant Professor, Antioch. ~: ~e~:r~~T1nin~:t~~~ ~~~~it:.l, Palestine. 15. 1foslem Women Taking a Drive in Egypt. ] 6. Visiting the Kurds at Home. 7. An Old Armenian Church. 8. A Bedouin Woman's Costume. 17. A Boat on the Euphrates. 9. Dr. Zwemer in a Date Garden. 18. Native Women of Oman, Arabia. 10. A Dervish from Bokbara. 19. Indian Pilgrims at Mecca.
Missionary
~ of the World VOL. xxxv. No. 10. OCTOBER, 1912 VOL. XXV. No. 10. Old Series New Seyies Signs of the· Times APRAYER FOR THE MOSLEM WORlD Scriptures among Moslems, the CALL to Prayer for the Mos- changed attitude toward Christianity. lem world has been issued for and the increase of converts, are Wednesday, October 16th, the centen- grounds for encouragement. God in ary of the death of Henry Martyn, at His providence is allowing us to wit- Tocat. The call bears the signatures ness signs which indicate a coming of Lord Kinnaird and Mr. H. M. crisis and victory. 'Father, the hour Gooch; also of Dr. S. M. Zwemer has come, glorify Thy Son.' and Dr. R. S. Mc~lenahan, on behalf of the Lucknow Missionary Confer- "As regards the method of observence Continuation Committee. ing this Day of Prayer, while hoping that united gatherings may be pos- "The urgency of the present situa- sible, we suggest and urge the family tion is i'n itself a call to this Day of altar and private prayer as even more Prayer. Never before have the op- important than public gatherings. All portunities been so great or the situa- can follow the method of Henry Martion so full of hopefulness. Contrast tyn himself and plead with God inthB condition of the Moslem world dividually. The following topics for as Henry Martyn knew it with its prayer are suggested: condition to-day! Politically, socially, spiritually, everything is changing. "( I) For Moslem governments and And the very unrest of the Moham- for Christian rulers in Moslem lands. medan world, intellectual, political, (2) For the wider circulation of the and spiritual, adds to the urgency of Word of God and Christian literature this call. The Moslem problem now among Moslems. (3) For those enappeals to the heart of the Church gaged in the ministry of healing in as it never did before. On the one all hospitals and dispensaries throughhand, the peril of Moslem aggression out the Mohammedan world. (4) in Africa and in Malaysia calls for For all preachers and evangelists intercession; while on the other the among Moslems, and for their meslarge growth in the circulation of the sage of reconciliation. For converts. (5) For the arrest of Mohammedan The editors seek to preserve accuracy and to manifest the spirit of Christ in the pages of this .l{EVIEW, but do not acknowledge responsibility for opinions exprest, nor for positions taken by contributors of signed articles in these pages.-EDITORS.
progress in Africa; the success of dares interfere in the administration missions on the border-marches of of the internal affairs of the coun- Islam; and that all Christian societies try, of which it is at least nominally in these regions may realize the need suzerain; slavery which is forbidden of working also for Moslems." by Russian law, is now being car- PAN·ISLAM IN RUSSIA ried on openly, and all the revolting crimes and evils which accompany it COUNT VON PFEIL, a Ger- are openly permitted, yea, encour- man authority on Russia, has a aged by the cruel and voluptuous very striking article on the Pan- Emir. In Khiva, another vassal state Islam movement in Russia in the of Russia, the youthful Emir is fol- Taegliche Rundschau, from which we lowing the example of his dead father take the following facts. The prog- in his enmity against Russia, and has ress of Islam in Russia became ap- become the leader of the Pan-Islamic parent when the corner-stone of the movement. Thus Pan-Isram in Rus- first mosque in St. Petersburg was sia is aggressive and threatening.
laid a little more than two years ago MOHAMMEDANS OF BORNEO (see MISSIONARY REVIEW, June, 1910, page 472), in the presence of the IN Kwala Kapuas, a station of the highest Russian dignitaries, the Emir Rhenish Missionary' Society upon of Bokhara, and the Mufti Chadsti Borneo, a former Mohammedan Mohammedial Sultanow of Orenburg, teacher, Sahabu, was converted and the wise head of all Mohammedan baptized in 1911. His conversion priests in the Russian Empire. Since caused general excitement, and his the outbreak of the war between wife was so bitterly opposed to his pub- Italy and Turkey, a great Pan-Islamic lic baptism that she at first threatened agitation has ensued throughout Rus- to leave him. After his baptism she sia, caused, no doubt, by the friendly made three conditions for her re- attitude of the Czar and his counsel- maining with him, viz., that he should ors toward Italy. Mohammedan never attend church, that he should agents are traveling in the districts never eat pork (which is offensive on both sides of the Wolga, pro- to Mohammedans) , and that he claiming to the Mohammedan Tartars should give security to the amount that Russia is the greatest enemy of of 2,000 florins for the keeping of Islam and is bent upon the humilia- these conditions by him. Sahabu an- tion of Turkey. Other emissaries of swered her that he would attend Islam are traveling through the church as often as possible, that he . Crimea, the Caucasus, the Kirghiz would not make any promise con- Steppes, and Turkestan, and their in- cerning the eating of pork, and that flammatory speeches cause much he would not give any security, be- money to pour into the coffers of cause all his possessions belonged to the Sultan for the continuation of his wife also. Then his wife left the war with Italy. In Bokhara, him and went to her Mohammedan which is the very center of the Pan- friends in Mahabaran, a city of about Islamic movement, Russia's power 16,000 inhabitants. After a few has been almost broken. It no longer weeks she wrote that she was ready
SIGNS OF THE
to return to her h11sband if he wanted of Mahabarall upon Borneo is at her. She came and not only asked hand.
her husband's forgiveness for leaving CONDITIONS IN KOREA him, but requested that they be mar- ried after the Christian manner. This RECENT letters from missionaries was publicly done, and husband and in Korea do not leave any doubt wife lived happily together. Within that hundreds of Koreans are already a short time the woman, once so emigrating to Manchuria, and that bitterly opposed to Christianity, com- conditions of life are becoming more menced to attend church occasionally. and more intolerable. The Koreans, Soon she began to show signs of deep generally speaking, are poor and ig- conviction of sin. Christ had con- norant, and the Japanese are skilled quered. and thrifty and unscrupulous. Thus, About the same time messengers the former have little chance with the arrived from Mahabaran and invited latter in the battle for existence.
Missionary Wiegand, in the name of To some observers it seems as if the woman's Mohammedan friends, to the plan of the Japanese invaders visit the city and converse with its is the extermination of the Koreans.
most prominent people. They had There is no evidence of a desire for watched the marvelous change in amalgamation, or even for friendship Sahabu's wife and desired to know of the races. The Korean is re- something of the religion which had garded as scum to be cleared away wrought the change. Rev. Wiegand at once. Striking instances of such went to Mahabaran and spoke to the efforts at "clearing away" the Ko- most influential people of the city for reans are reported. For instance, the three hours concerning Christ and government quite recently "con- salvation by faith in His blood. They demned" a large portion of land for listened quietly and attentively, and "naval exigencies," i. e., to make a when he left, an old Hadji (a man naval station. Such action is justi- who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca) fiable in any country, tho it is hard said to him, "Tuan, return soon and on the people who are dispossest do not fail to fasten your boat to without remuneration. But in this my landing stage. I am glad to let instance not all the land was used all people know that you are visiting for the naval station. The unused nle." portion was not returned to the Ko- Only they who know the prejudice rean owners, but the government sold and the bitter opposition of Moham- it at the nominal price of one cent medans to the Gospel and to the per six square feet (the Japanese missionaries, can understand the sig- land measure) to Japanese colonists.
nificance of the invitation which came There was a riot among the Koreans, to Missionary Wiegand from ihe who were perhaps not yet sufficiently Mohammedan city, and of the invit:l- Christianized to "take cheerfully the tion from the old Hadji to lye !lis spoiling of their goods" (many were welcome guest. The Lord has opened Christians and the confiscated village the doors wide. We believe that an site contained a church). The awakening among the Mohammedans Seoul Press, in reporting the riot,
stated that this was another instance slight V-shaped cut has been made ill of the "discontented spirit produced the outer bark. The liquid is then by Christianity," and the report coagulated. A company, technically sounded as if the Koreans should British, but really owned by a South regard it as a favor when their over- American who was able to get one lords plunder them. or two Englishmen on the board, has received from the Peruvian Govern- Little news is reported concerning ment the right to collect the rubber the trials of those Christian Koreans in the Putumayo region. No white accused of conspiracy and treason. men can do the work, or even super- The public examination is over and vise it directly, on account of the the prosecutor has turned to the ex- deadly climate of the swamps. Thus, amination of the evidence which has Indians are employed under the superbeen secured-largely-by torture. vision of Peruvian overseers and col- lectors. These Indians are said to be The situation continues grave, for notoriously averse to labor, and very all the questioning in the trial seemed careless in gaining the rubber, starvato be for the purpose of proving tion only driving them to the hated, that foreigners brought the Koreans dangerous work. Overseers think into this trouble. It has been made that work is to be obtained from them very evident that the Japanese are only by coercion, and thus the cruel still heathen, barbarians without any methods of forcing the native laborconception of Christians ideals or be- ers to gather rubber have arisen. lief in faith between man and man or any real sense of justice. Sir Roger Casement, a British of- ficer whose name became known when PERUVIAN RUBBER ATROCITIES * he acquainted the world with the atrocities perpetrated by the Belgians NOT since the disclosure of the in the Kongo region, was sent to the Putumayo by the British Government Kongo atrocities has the world as soon as it heard what was going been so shocked as it was in July by on in the Peru rubber district, due to the disclosure of similar atrocities in the cruelty and avarice of the section Peru perpetrated by a British rubber chiefs. His report tells an awful company in the upper reaches of the story. As many as 25 Indians have Amazon basin. The territory in ques- been murdered by one agent in one tion is the region of the upper Putu- day, because they failed to bring in mayo River, which is best reached the rubber demanded. Many natives from Lima, the capital of Peru, via have been tied up to trees, shot at Panama and the Amazon, and not by for a target, and killed for sport. way of the almost impassable Andes. An aged woman was hung head In the swamps of that equatorial dis~ downward from a tree, dried leaves trict the rubber trees grow to a height were piled under her, and she was of from 30 to 50 feet, with a straight roasted. One Peruvian agent adtrunk, and with nearly all the foliage mitted to flogging an Indian girl and at the top. Under the outer layers later shooting her, because her back of the bark are found little milky had putrified and become infested streams of liquid rubber, which are collected in little tin cups after a * See MISSIONARY REVIEW, 1911, page 943.
OF THE
with maggots. The Indians have America, in answer to that plea of been flogged, mutilated, beheaded, Rome, states that Article IV is prac- shot, burned, not only to stimulate tically dead. The missionaries of the the survivors to collect rubber, but Union have labored in Peru for over for sport. They have been soaked IS years, and have enjoyed all the in kerosene and turned adrift blazing. liberty they wanted. The Peruvian It is estimated that in the last twelve Government has declared, in a test years 4,000 tons of rubber have come case, that Article IV can not be in- to England from the Putumayo, and terpreted in any way to hinder liberty that the price of them is 3°,000 In- of speech or action. Thus, the way dians, killed with atrocious tortures. is open fOJ: Protestant work in Peru, The United States Government has and the Evangelical Union of South sent an agent, Captain Stuart Fuller, America is ready to enter the Putu- to investigate the matter, and the mayo region as soon as the necessary Peruvian Government has given as- funds are forthcoming. The agents surances that it will take steps to stop of the British and Foreign Bible So- the atrocities. Thus, there is little ciety have also entered Peru.
doubt that these Indians will be pro- tected in the future. CONDITIONS IN ALBANIA MISSIONS TO THE PUTUMAYO T HE Albanians made great sacri- INDIANS fices and took an important part The atrocities, however, have called 111 winning the constitution for the attention of Christians to the fact Turkey four years ago. With the that no missionary work whatever is adoption of the Constitution they ex- being carried on among these Indians. pected religious liberty and national For four centuries the Roman Catho- recognition like the Bulgarians, the lic Church has been supreme in Peru, Greeks, the Servians, the Rumanians where she is supreme to-day, and and other races in the empire. Fol- where she draws an annual subsidy lowing the revolution, Albanian clubs from the government for mission were opened in many cities as centers work in the very region where the of educational influence, and in a atrocities have been perpetrated. She short time some 16 newspapers were has done nothing for the people. being published in the Albanian lan- Now, however, she has appealed in guage. Soon, however, it was dis- the public press of England to Prot- covered that the policy of the new estants as well as Roman Catholics Turkish Government was opposed to for $75,000 for work among the In- the liberal ,spirit of the Constitution, dians of the Putumayo, for work and the Albanian clubs, printing- neglected for centuries, for work paid presses and schools were actually for but left undone. She pleads closed by order of the government.
speciously that Protestants would not THis explains the cause of the be allowed to do the work, because unrest on the part of the Albanians.
Article IV forbids all but Roman The revolutionists, under Hassan Bey, Catholic missionaries entrance into of Prishtina, a former member of the Peru. Turkish Parliament, with other-s in The Evangelical Union of South the neighborhood of Avlona and Scu-
tari, number about 100,000. They two main religious divisions of the demanded the fall of the cabinet and population, Moslem and Christian, rethe dissolution of the Parliament, and ligion will probably be omitted from since these have taken place it looks the courses of study. The people as tho a brighter day were dawning. greeted the protestant missionaries with enthusiasm because of the in- For missionaries the practical ques- terest taken in their written language tion is, "How can the present awaken- and educational advancement. The ing be used to advance the Kingdom missionaries have been seriously hinof God?" The missionaries are seek- REV. AND MRS. PHINEAS KENNEDY AND AMERICAN M.ISSION SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, KORTCHA, ALBANIA ing to reach this nation for Christ de red in these directions, alld some along the lines of Christian education. are beginning to grow discouraged. The people are natural leaders and The vast majority of the population are holding many important positions are Moslems, so that missionary work throughout the empire, more or less in Albania has a most important bearpolitical and military. Therefore, ing upon the whole problem of winwhatever is done for them must be ning the Moslem world for Christ. a strong work. It is nearly five years With these rapid changes in Albania, since the American Board began di- the work demands the upbuilding of rect work in this field. Since then Christian educational institutions, inthe situation is changed, and Albania duding a practical preparatory eduwill soon have its own institutions of cational work for boys, and publicalearning in which, ort account of the tion and evangelistic work.
McGILVARY: THE APOSTLE TO THE LAOS *
BY REV. JOHN T. FARIS, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
"Neither Carey nor Judson surpassed him in strength of faith and zeal of purpose; neither Paton nor Chalmers has outranked him in the wonders of their achievements, and not one of the other hundreds of missionaries ever has had more evidence$ of God's blessing upon their work."-Mrs. Curtis, author of "The Laos of North Siam.': IjJI T is one of the disad- With gratitude he accepted the prin- vantages of a worthy cipal's proposal to wait for him to pay autobiography that it all bills till he should complete his . does not bring into bold career by teaching and earn the money . relief the achievements required. of the too modest author. This is true in "A Half Cen- In accordance with the plans made tury Among the Siamese and the for him, he began teaching immediate- Laos," where the reader must read be- ly after his graduation in I8.~9. For tween the Jines and interpret the sim- one year he was in charge of a new ple statements of fact by the words of preparatory school in Pittsboro, and those who have had intimate knowl- for three years more he was principal edge of the author's career. of the academy in which he had been a pupil before entering the Bingham Daniel McGilvary's Highland Scotch School. While teaching, he served grandparents emigrated from the Isle as elder in the Pittsboro Church of Skye to North Carolina in 1789. and superintendent of the Sunday- There he was born May 16, 1828, the school. youngest of seven children. His mother died a few months later, and During his three years at Princeton his father passed away when the boy Theological Senliinary-which immewas thirteen years old. But these diately followed the years of teaching thirteen years were enough to impress -he tried to persuade himself that his on the lad his father's trust in God. services were needed on the home mis- Training at the family altar and in sion field. In order to prove this to the Church, four miles away-to his own satisfaction, he spent the sumwhich every member of the family mer of 1855 in Texas as agent of the was expected to go every Sabbath- American Sunday-school Union, but bore fruit when Daniel became a mem- he was disappointed in his quest of a ber of the old family Church at Buf- field where Christ was not preached. falo. On returning to the seminary he After his father's death, Daniel- listened to an appeal made by Dr. S. compelled to make his own living- H. House in behalf of Siam, then rewent to Pittsboro with a distant rela- cently opened to the Gospel by the active to learn the tailor's trade. At in- tion of King Maha Mongkut. "My tervals he attended the Pittsboro Aca- hesitation was ended," he said. "Here demy, and so was prepared for the was not merely a village or a parish, invitation that came to him when he but a whole kingdom, just waking was seventeen to attend the celebrated from its long,· dark, hopeless sleep. Bingham School in Pittsboro, now lo- Every sermon I preached there might cated at Asheville, North Carolina. be to those who had never heard that there is a God in Heaven who made * Published by Fleming H. Revell Com'lany, New York. Price, $2.00, net. The illustrations in this article are used through the courtesy 0 the publishers.
them, or a Savior from sin." With the slightest; this was only a sample a classmate, Jonathan Wilson, he of his modesty. promised Dr. House to give the claims of Siam most serious thought. During these preliminary years the young missionary began those explor- During the senior year another ap- ing trips through the country for pointment was made to the Siam mis- which he became famous. His most sion, and the young men thought they important tOl1r was made in r859 to could listen to American calls, and Mr. Petchaburi. He was asked by the Pra McGilvary accepted an invitation to Pralat, or governor, to move to that supply two churches near his old home. city, where he might teach as much At the end of a year he was invited Christianity as he pleased, if he to become pastor. His old Presbytery would also teach his son English. It had dismissed him and arrangements seemed that the opening thus made were soon to be made for his ordina- could not be rejected, and, after his tion and instal1ation. return to Bangkok, he soon completed preparations for removal. But an Then came news from Siam. The epidemic of cholera in Bangkok commissionary who had gone out imme- pelled him to change his plans, and diately after the visit of Dr. House Petchaburi-destined to become an to the seminary was soon to return, important mission station-was nean invalid. The meager force on the glected for a time. But Mr. McGilfield would be still fl1rther weakened vary-or Dr. McGilvary,. as he soon by necessary changes. became known-had po'mted out the location, as he was 1ater to point out Duty was clear. Mr. McGilvary the location for each of the present asked for apointment to Siam. When mission stations among the Laos, he went to the old home of the Pres- "long before committees formally byterian Board of Foreign Missions sanctioned the wisdom of his choice." at 23 Center Street, he encountered Dr. and Mrs. House were later sent on the steps his old classmate, Jona- to Petchaburi, but a severe fall inter- fered with Dr. House's work, and it than Wilson, who announced that he, became necessary to send Dr. McGiltoo, was on his way to Siam and Mrs. vary in his place. In June, r861, in Wilson was going with him. The company with -another newly arrived three sailed on the clipper ship David missionary and his wife, he started Brown, on March II, r858. On June for P(!tchaburi. But he was not to 20, 1858, they landed at the mission occupy the new home alone; with compound in Bangkok. him was his wife, Sophie Royce Brad- ley, daughter of Dr. D. B. Bradley, While studying the language Mr. whom he had married in Bangkok McGilvary was given charge of a December 6, 1860. In all his future dass in the mission school. There work Mrs. McGilvary was a most efwere five boys and one girl-Tuan, fective helper. whose family became one of the most influential in the Church. Her two During his stay in Petchaburi, Dr. sons, the late Boon-Itt and Elder Boon McGilvary became much interested in Yee of the First Church in Chiengmai, a colony of the Lao people in the city, have been among the very best fruits of the mission. The teacher insisted that his share in their training was of
McGILVARY : THE APOSTLE TO THE
who were employed as slaves on gov- already aroused by the Prince of Chiernment works. They came from the engmai, whom Dr. McGilvary met Lao States to the North, now a part just after his marriage-to do pioneer of Siam, but then buffer States be- work among these cousins of the tween Siam and Burma, nominally in- Siamese. dependent, but actually under the protection of the King of Siam. Work More than two years after the beamong them intensified the desire- ginning of residence in Petchaburi the way opened for a trip of exploration
to distant Chieng- maio Bearing a passport and a let- ter from Bangkok, Dr. McGilvary-in company with Mr.
Wilson – started.
On the way they missed P r inc e C h a a Kawilorot of Chiengmai by taking the canal while he took the river on his way to Bangkok. T his was a fortunate occurrence, for the POLING UP THE Mi~ PING RIV ER Prince would prob- ably have discouraged their mission . its becoming the field of my life The journey, by boat and on ele- work."
phant back, required forty-nine days. After the trip Mr. Wilson went at As the missionaries passed through once to the United States, and tried the country they preached the Gospel. to persuade another family to go to In Chiengmai they remained only ten Siam with him for service in Chieng- days, "but one day would have been mai, He failed, and on returning to sufficient to convince us," Dr. MeGil- Siam, declared that he could not go vary wrote enthusiastically. "I, at to the new station for another year.
least, left it with the joyful hope of Dr. McGi'lvary felt that no further time could be lost, so he sought the Prince of Chi eng- mai-then on a visit to Bangkok- and succeeded in securing permission to enter his domin- ion. ' The Prince pl'oI1lised a site for buildings, and pro- tection in the work.
On Jan u a r Y 3, 1867. the difficult journey w,as under- taken. A month was required to toil up the thirty-two FIRST CHURCH IN CHIENGMAl
DANIEL McGILVARY: THE APOSTLE TO THE LAOS 73
rapids beyond Reheng. Chiengmai and his reputation was increased by was reached on April 3, 1867. his success. It was SOO miles to the nearest physician, so he could not re- The Prince was absent and the mis- sist the pleas of the sufferers from sionary family was compelled to take goiter, then a very common malady up quarters in a public guest house there. A simple ointment proved to outside the city. A family of six was be most effective in the early stages to be cared for in a single room! of the disease. Here they remained for a year. A little later an epidemic of small- Visitors trooped from the city to pox opened the way for the vaccinasee the strange foreigners. These at- "PPROXINATI: 8C41.1: OF (NGlISH MILlS MAP OF NORTHERN SIAM, SHOWING MI SS ION STATIONS… UND ERLINED tentiollS were not always pleasant, tion of hundreds.. The treatment was but the missionaries were eager to use so successful that the missionary was their opportuniy. They told their er- asked to vaccinate the grandson of rand, and laid the foundations of fu- the reigning Prince. Unfortunately, ture success as they presented the the lad died fro111 dysentery soon af- Gospel to their visitors. Possibly the terward. The parents did not blame very first convert heard the message the missionaries, but-as appeared from patient Mrs. McGilvary at one later-the Prince felt that they were of those meetings. responsible.
Dr. McGilvary was not a physician, One by one men and women acbut he soon had opportunity to admin- cepted Christ, among them being a ister simple remedies to the people, native doctor and a Buddhist leader.
MAHA MOKGKVT K in g o f S iam, 185 1-1872 The Prince was displeased because of -each man-a slab of hewn timber their defection from the old religion; to repair the city stockade-he had he felt this was a prophesy that his four of them arrested, carried to the power would soon wane_ He took ad- jungle and clubbed to death. vantage of a failure in the rice crop to say that the missionaries were The first knowledge the missionarbringing disaster on the country. ies had of the trouble was the deser- Then he plotted for the death of the tion of their servants. When they native Christians. Pretending that learned the truth they began to fear they had ignored an order to bring in that their own lives would be sacri- ficed. Dr. McGilvary wrote of this
McGILVARY: THE APOSTLE TO THE LAOS
CHULALONGKORN King of Siam, 1872-1910 time of trial : "We actually began the Prince's conduct. At first the writing the history of those days on ruler declared he was within his the margin of books in the library, so rights, but when Dr. McGilvary boldthat if we were never heard from ly denounced his action, he owned again, some of the precedent circum- that he had killed the men because stances of our end might then, per- they had become Christians, and he haps, come to light." said he would kill everyone who did the same. The commIssioner advised Finally word was sent to Bangkok, the missionaries to withdraw, and Dr. and on November 26, 1869, a Royal McDonald and Mr. Wilson-who had Commissioner arrived to inquire into
come to Dr. McGilvary's assistance- of the marriage of the Christians. desired to do so. But the pioneer felt The marriage was postponed, and that he must not abandon the field. an appeal was made to the King of So-tho report was sent to America Siam, by the kind offices of the United that the mission had been broken up- States Consul. As a result the King Dr. McGilvary still held the fort. The issued an edict of religious tolera- Prince gave permission for this till tion, which marked the end of the he went to Bangkok, and returned to mission's second period of struggle. his capital. Then began the period of marvel- But the Prince never returned. He ous development and growth. Tours died on the journey home. A new of exploration were made to all parts ruler took his place who was more of the Lao State, and station after stafavorable to the missionaries. Their tion was planted. Some of these tours work was undisturbed. They were were made in company with missionpermitted to build new homes in place ary colleagues, while native evangelof the bamboo houses in which Mrs. ists were the only companions at Wilson and Mrs. McGilvary had suf- other times. One long tour-in 1890 fered torture by reason of the dust –was made with his daughter. Everyfrom the borers in the bamboo which where he went he preached the Gosconstantly filIed the air and poisoned pel with eagerness. Men and women the lungs. In company with Dr. V roo- turned from their old ways by scores man-the mission's first physician- and by hundreds, until the Chiengmai an extended tour of exploration was Church became one of the strongest completed. churches in mission lands, and a num- ber of other stations had strong or- An important stage in the progress ganization. Schools for girls were deof the mission among the Lao was veloped, and a Boys' School was marked by the marriage-in 1878-of started, which became the Prince two Christians. According to cus- Royal's College, where-in I906-the tom, the tribal-head of the family de- Crown Prince of Siam laid the founmandedpayment of the spirit-fee, de- dation stone of the new recitation signed to furnish a feast to the spirits. hall. (The Laos were in bondage to their belief in spirits). The patriarch in this So engrossed was Dr. McGilvary case was a bitter opponent of Chris- in his varied work that during fiftytianity. The fee was refused, as a three years of service in Siam and matter of Christian principle, and ap- among the Lao he took but three furpeal was made to the commissioner of loughs. Through all the years Mrs. the King of Siam, who had recently McGilvary was his right hand. When been sent to the country. He advised -on December 6, 191o–the veteran an appeal to the Prince, and from missionaries celebrated their golden him to the Uparat, a relative of the wedding, the King of Siam sent a Prince, who had a good deal to say congratulatory message and they reabout the conduct of affairs. The ap- ceived a large silver tray, on which peal was in vain; the Uparat thought was engraved: "The Christian people he could put a stop to the advance of of Chiengmai to Dr. and Mrs. McGil- Christianity by standing in the way vary, in memory of your having
brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to large recognition of his achievements." us forty-three years ago." This summary of his life work is Even at the age of eighty-two Dr. also in the words of Dr. Brown: "He McGilvary was not ready to lay down laid the foundations of medical work, his work. He toiled to the very last introducing quinine and vaccination and made his last itinerating journey among a people scourged by malaria only a short time before his death. and smull-pox, a work which has now Only a little while atter his return he developed into five hospitals and a passed from earth to Heaven–on leper asylum. He began educational August 23, 1911. work, which is now represented ~y PRESRYTERY.I RETURNING FROM MEETING IN LAKAWN "The Lao country had never seen eight boarding-schools and twenty-two such a funeral as that which marked elementary schools, and is fast exthe close of this memorable life." Dr. panding into a college, a medical col- Arthur J. Brown writes: "Princes, lege, and a theological seminary. He Governors, and High Commissioners was the evangelist who' won its first of State sorrowed with multitudes converts, founded the first Church, of common people. The business of and had a prominent part in founding Chiengmai was suspended, offices were twenty other churches, and in developclosed and flags hung at half-mast as ing a Lao Christian Church of 4,205 the silent form of the great mission- communicants." ary was borne to its last resting-place in the land to which he was the first As the Church moves on to conquer bringer of enlightenment and whose this territory for Christ millions will history can never be written without thank God for Daniel McGilvary, "The Apostle to the Lao."
"THE BETTER HALF" IN EAST
BY MRS. S. M. ZWEMER, OF ARABIA I iB]ETWEEN Bagdad on braving public opinion and are seek- the north and Muscat ing enlightenment for their women .on the south, including and girls, even in "neglected Arabia." the river country and And others, while not taking any ac- the Arabian Coast, to- tive measures to insure education and gether with Hassa and enlightenment for the girls, are not Oman, there live no less than 3,000,- opposing the wishes of those who de- 000 Moslems. Over half of these are sire to learn, as they would have done women and girls. a few years ago.
It is in regard to them that the Our work is among both Sunni and Arabian proverbs speak as follows: Shiah women. The Sunni women wear much brighter Clothing than "Women are the whips of Satan." Shiah women-and among a certain "Trust neither a king, a horse nor class they are rather free and easy a woman." in deportment. The upper class, how- "A woman, a dog and a walnut tree ever, are dignified, but also friendly, -the more you beat them, the better only they never seem to forget that they be!" they are Arabs of the Arabs. These "Women are worthless creatures women entertain beautifully and and soil men's reputations." bountifully; they are not over- "The heart of a woman is given to religious, they observe the stated prayer-times, but have no public gathfolly~" erings, except at the end of the fast of Ramazan, when the lady of the This surely is not a good reputation house will gather all her attendants and for· the "gentler sex"-"the better others to listen to the reading of the half." Not all the men believe these Koran by a professional reader. This proverbs nor practise the advice given; is a diversion for all concerned .and a few married couples have mutual re- everyone feels much better when the spect for each other's rights and vir- reading is over. They are altogether tues, and it can be truly said about the more worldly than their sisters of the wife: "The heart of her husband doth Shiah persuasion. The slave women safely trust her. She will do him are African and Arab, and are a good and not evil all the days of her power in the houshold, free to go in life. Her children rise up and call and out gathering up news and gossip her blessed, her husband also, and he to retail it to their mistresses, who do praiseth her." But these few rays of not have such freedom. Many secrets, light make the surrounding darkness scandals and intrigues are thus passed more dense. Polygamy and divorce, through a community much quicker twin-evils of Islam, generate jealousy, than through the "Associated Press." deceit, revenge and such social conditions as are indescribable. These The Shiah women on the Arabian evils have forced women in Moslem side of the Gulf are somewhat differlands down an incline of increasing ent from those in Persia in characterinfamy, until she can get no lower. istics and customs. They dress in Men at last are beginning to see their mistake and a few, a very few, are dark blue check, are closely veiled to be very busy. These women meet and are very mysterious in all their a couple of hundred strong, and are ways. They are more exclusive than a marvel of patience as they sit aud the Arab women, .and do not care to listen to a lot of reading and the repegive a Christian any hospitality be- tition of certain virtues which their cause the cups and plates must be saints are supposed to possess, but of smashed and not used by these pious which no trace was found while they ones after the infidels have handled were living on this earth. But with them. These women are very re- all their religion, there is very little ligious. Not only do they observe the light to guide the weary feet into the stated times of prayer but also have way of peace. many saints days-almost every day in the year seems to belong to some Ignorance, superstition and sensualsaint or angel. It is quite a common ity abound even in the best families. sight to see groups of women making The atmosphere is heavy with un- for the same point. It is interesting seemly conversation and questions on to stop one of these groups and in- forbidden topics; and there is no require where they are going. You are straint in the presence of children of told that they are going to the gather- either sex. ing, and, on further inquiry, are informed that it is the anniversary of The veil is worn by all who wish to Mohammed's birthday, or death, or be considered virtuous .and seclusion of the death of his son-in-law or is observed among the upper classes. grandson or great-grandson. Some- The institution of the veil is well times it is Gabriel, or the death of the known and it has proved a curse and Virgin Mary-for they profess to a blight to both women and men. know when and where she died and Looking through the veil is typical of where she is buried. It is interesting the mental, moral and spiritual vision, to enter one of these gatherings, if which is sadly defective or distorted. allowed to do so. There is a reader The power is paralyzed, the angle of or two, and the rest of the women vision is perverted, there is no consit around on the floor, the waterpipe ception of purity. There are legal is passed from one to another and a purifications a-plenty, but "the pure long pull is given by each recipient, in heart" are unknown. The veil the noise of the bubbling water ming- hides the face, but often covers deling with the voice of the reader. At ceit, intrigue, "hatred, variance, the proper pause- all get ready to wrath, emulation, strife, envyings, weep and beat their breasts, which is murders." It is said, "God will revery impressive while it lasts; but ward the Moslem who, having seen when that part is over, the pipe goes the beauties of a woman, shuts his on its way again, coffee is passed and eyes." Not many, I fear, ever claim remarks are freely made, until they this reward. are reminded that another wailing and weeping time is in order. This will Music in the home or in religious continue for two hours in the morn- life, with its soul-uplifting power and ing, when most women are supposed delight, was removed from these mil- lions by one word from the prophet. Public opinion, however, is setting at naught this command. Twenty years
ago a Christian was forbidden to play missionary than could be entered. a small organ, for the sounds disturbed The school was very simple. The the devotions of the true believers. children learned the power of soap Now, in that same place, several or- and water and the advisability of gengans, pianos, gramophones and pian- eral cleanliness, together with Bible alas have found their way; even lessons and hymns and a general into the abooes of the support- knowledge of the three "R's." After ers and followers of the prophet. It years of seed-sowing, it is good to see is a delight to hear the strains of the general idea of tidy and clean sur- roundings put into practise. Plain "My country, 'tis of thee, sewing neatly done was unknown; Sweet land of liberty," now several of the older girls are called upon to do sewing for European being brought forth from a pianola ladies, and they do it well. by a Moslem girl who is just beginning to feel a wee bit of liberty, and The medical work is always more because she is a Moslem and the wife spectacular, and, in results, perhaps, of a Moslem may be thrust back into somewhat more fruitful. The many the dark any time he may choose. open sores of the world have been re- God grant that the time may never lieved by medical missions; suffering come when the sharp sword of marital humanity nas come into contact with indifference, followed by that of di- pitying, loving sympathy and the revorce, shall fall upon the head of this lief of throbbing pain has softened the happy young woman! fanatic heart and unstopt the closed ear. 'All three lines of work interact From the beginning we have sought together. The visit often leads to a to reach the girls and women along call for medical aid, or a visit to the three lines of work: by visiting their dispensary. A call for help in times homes, in the day school, and by the of sickness results in attendance at medical work. In the beginning there schoo!. The evangelistic motive runs was no one to introduce the first mis- through all. The women are not, as a sionary, so she introduced herself rule, quite as intelligent as the men, and her subject, but not always her but they listen while the Gospel is object. Books and picture cards are read, and their former blank indifferuseful to interest and open up con- ence is giving place to interest, they versation, and the ever present cup of are beginning to think and, perhaps, to coffee was offered and partaken of, weigh what they hear. After the cementing in most cases, the beginning service the patients come, one by one, of mutual friendships. Sometimes we for treatment. Some are helped, were sent for to visit the "shut-ins." some are cured, and others have come Word of our fame–or of our pecu- too late for any treatment to benefit liarity-had been carried to them by them. But what a joy it is to see the someone who had seen and heard us almost hopeless cases responding to talk and they, too, desired the diver- treatment and taking a new lease of sion of seeing a foreigner. So the life! And how sorry we are for the circle of a€ql1aintance grew until there many little children who suffer so were more doors open to the visiting much through the ignorance and
T()l2] RUSSIA AND THE GOSPEL
superstition of their mothers and ing given thereby to the worker and friends! And how glad and thankful the work. Men are beginning to apwe are when the little ones are re- preciate our work for their girls in lieved and a sweet smile of gratitude all lines, some of them do truly aprepays us for all the trouble-some- preciate it, altho they are loathe to times such a feeble, thin smile it is, express it in so many words, as did too, that one wishes to gather all one Moslem in sending his daughter these little ones into sunshiny condi- to school: "I want her husband to tions and give them a chance to blos- have a happier life than I have had." som out into the beautiful flowers This was the reason he gave for send- God intended them to be. "And the ing her. I am writing in behalf of a lepers cIeansed"-so runs the descrip- million and a half of girls and women tion of our Lord's work. And we, too, in one little corner of the Moslem cleanse the patient and the wounds, world, and plead for them that you but can not cure. They are most will "Remember them that are in grateful as far as I have had anything bonds, as bound with them." Get to do with them. It is a living d~ath under their burdens. Count their and merits our deepest sympathy, al- burdens as yours. See the vision of tho they are so unlovely to look at. what they may become, by looking into the faces of your own bright, Sick women who caIl for us to visit happy, pure-minded girls-and give and treat them in their homes, also these hopeless ones a chance to break open up to us avenues for the Gos- their bonds of ignorance, superstition, pel. There is usually a large number suffering and sin. Christ loved them of women friends present and what and gave Himself for them. Be loyal we do and say is talked over and di- to Him, and let them know it! lated tlpon, a good advertisement be- RUSSIA AND THE GOSPEL BY PASTOR WILHELM FETLER, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Superintendent of the Russian Evangelization Society T last, at last, the great There, unmolested freedom to every subject of the emperor in matters of 14A1 Empire of the Czar religion is proclaimed; and both civil- has been opened for ians and soldiers are included. Altho the Evangel. The speIl worded in the quaint ancient Russian of centuries has been style of writing, this document gleams broken, new light has with modern glory. Peter was not begun to shine: the year 1905 ushered only a ship-builder, a warrior, a Czar, in some degree of religious toleration. he was also a seer, and, because of that, a reformer. Two centuries ago, Peter the Great was the great forerunner of Nicholas He was very much alone, as prophets the Second in proclaiming liberty of usually are. He was fully two conscience. I have in my possession centuries ahead of his times. But he a copy of a remarkable manifesto of saw our day-and seeing he rejoiced. the founder of the northern capital.
He lived up to his principles, and that the Lamb? Then ask the weary exiles, has been the secret of his greatness. journeying thousands of miles from It was a hard thing, even for an their homes-and the clank of their iron-minded Peter. "Everybody is chains and shackles will anwser you. dragging down, I alone am pulling up- Inquire of the frozen steppes of solihill," he once exclaimed. tary Siberia, and they will tell you. Tarry awhile with the bitterly crying If he should to-day arise from the orphans, and widows–over the open graves of fathers and husbands, crusht PASTOR WILHELM FETLER under their exile burden-and you will have seen the end of the story. dead, he would find that, where once he stood alone, thousands now stand, And all these were your brothers. and their numbers are growing with When liberty was proclaimed in each new day. 1905, a number of the sufferers for the faith were permitted to return It is not more than five decades from their exile. I shall never forsince the simple Gospel began to be get my first meeting in the "holy" preached in Russia. It was a great city of Kieff with these veterans four crime, then. Those who preached, years ago. The place has become inand those who accepted the preaching deed, in a different way, holy-ground were placed in j ail with murderers to me. and thieves .and traitors. The State Brethren, let us not deceive ourand Church-these twain were one selves by thinking that times have spirit. To believe otherwise than the so changed, that now we can expect Holy Orthodox Church, and to leave to wear a crown without thorns, d.nd that Church, meant treason to the that the corn of wheat has no longer State. Would you know what this to encounter death before it bears meant to th056 who chose to follow fruit. The old theology is as true as it was before. The flower of joy stiI1 grows out of sorrow, and the day fol- lows after the night. That was, indeed, a long polar night in Russia. What changes have been brought about by the dawn? First, by the Czar's manifesto of 1905, the largest nation of white peo- ple in the world has been made ac- cessible to the Gospel. And, secondly, the Russian people are the most natur" ally religious of any people in Europe. They seem to be born that way. And if hundreds of thousands of them in the last few years, especially from the educated classes, have turned aside from belief in God, it has been because that form of faith, to which they had
AND THE GOSPEL
been accustomed to adhere, was too gave the mute message: "We have shallow to satisfy the deeper longings found no aim in life, therefore, we of their souls; their very atheism is, have chosen to die." A laconic epiin consequence, religious, and their taph, characteristic of the larger part materialism-spiritual! of our students!
This fact is especially noticeable Since I began my lectures for studwhen you come in contact with the ents, my joy has been to have numbers student life of Russia. What a field of them come to hear the story of full of hope and promise that is! In Him who died for them. Among St. Petersburg and in Moscow alone them was a student of one of the there are over 100,000 students. women colleges, called the "Bestu- 'Vhen you reckon in the other univer- sheffsky Institute." I have seldom sity centers of Russia, the student seen a young woman so sad-looking. force will appeal to you as a small She had seen great sorrow in her life, nation by itself. Baron Nikolai and she had lost all interest in the started some time ago the organization affairs of the world. The only escape of Christian Student Circles and Dr. for her was poison, until she heard John Matt addrest large gatherings in about the Cross. The Atonement St. Petersburg and Moscow and else- dawned upon her as a new, glorious where. ';Then noticing the number of day-and altho, when she first came cases of suicides among the student to Our hall, she believed neither in circles, I also was deeply moved to God nor Christ, nor heaven, nor the do something definite for the men and Bible, to-day she can sing: "I know women of our universities and col- that my Redeemer liveth!" She has leges. Thus I began to hold special left the poison and grave and, behold, meetings for them each Thursday she liveth! night in one of my halls in St. Petersburg. My first lecture was: "Is life At my first lecture a student rose worth living?" I was led to choose to oppose me. He seemed to be a the subject because of the general gifted and energetic fellow, and his feeling of emptiness of purpose, and history was an interesting one. As a consequent despair present with many lad he had been a worshiper in the of our young people. A case or two State Church; growing up he became will dearly illustrate this. an ardent disciple of Count Tolstoi. His next advance was on the path A few months ago at St. Peters- of socialism; soon he was in the ranks burg, on the Vassili Island, three of the revolutionaries, and when he lady students met in the house of first attended our religious meeting, one of them. They were educated, he was an avowed Nihilist. Three or members of good and well-to-do fam- four weeks later this very man stood ilies, and with bright prospects, as in my student's meeting at my desk. the world reckons it, for the future. The first sentence that he uttered, as It would seem that they should have he faced his former companions and been able to enjoy life. But when the sympathizers, was this: "Brethren, door was broken open by the police, fellows, let us pray!" And at this he all three of them were found poisoned. was the first to kneel, and offered a A slip of paper-left on the table- most passionate prayer, mingled with
praise to his new Master. Then he scarcely knew how to open the first told, in simple but exceedingly im- meeting, for I am accustomed to be- pressive words, the story of his con- gin with prayer. But it was a gatherversion. His very presence at our ing of atheists and materialists, spiritmeeting, he said, was by a misunder- ualists and nihilists, and there was standing. He had come to hear a lec- scarcely anybody to join with me in ture, by Mr. Tshertkoff, the promin- prayer. At the last meeting, and even ent Russian nobleman and disciple of before that, they were almost all rev- Count To1stoi, and he found a Gospel erently on their knees, and a number preacher instead. Then, as he rose of those present were praising God to oppose this preacher, his intention for what they had experienced. was to speak until he should succeed in dragging the preacher down from I have been gladly surprized at the his Gospel platform, and in making enthusiasm with which our converts of him a Nihilist. Instead of that he take up the private study of the Word himself had been pulled up to the of God. If we should compare the Gospel platform. "And the two cords Bible with bread, I would have to draw me up, were," said he, "the to say-to give a true picture texts, 'God is Love,' and, 'They Cruci- -that the converts do not eat fied Him'." it, but literally devour it. To il- lustrate this let me mention again In order to give the utmost possi- both the cases I have already referred ble help, we are not satisfied with to. The pessimistic candidate for suisimply public lectures. At the close cide, three months after her converof each session we give an invitation sion, wrote an article on religion. to join our intimate student circle You remember she was .a perfect "Ebenezer." We do not ask them atheist, and she knew the Bible only whether they believe in anything or by name. But if you should read her not. Nor do we trouble them with articles, you might well think them questions whether they want to be- to have been written by a theologian lieve. We simply ask them to be of some importance and of many polite and reasonable enough, not to years' standing. They are full of the judge nor to criticize the Bible before Gospel, and reveal an intimate knowlthey have really studied it themselves. edge of the Book. The other friend, And all we ask of them on joining the ex-Nihilist, has shown equal rethe "intimate Circle," is to gather once sults. The Word of God so much a week, each bringing his own Bible, imprest him, that he not only studied that we may read it together. Ques- it day and night, but bought a number tions then can be freely asked and of portions of the New Testament, answered, difficulties raised, and with- and went into the streets of St. Petersalit difficulty removed. burg, giving them away to other students whom he met in the streets These have been wonderful meet- (the Russian students wear a uniings. The Lord has been in our form by which they are recognized). midst in a marked degree. At our Then he went to the cheap lodgingfirst intimate circle meeting about a houses and spent hours after midnight dozen came; in three months' time with these outcasts, reading to them we had a half-hundred or more. I
AND THE GOSPEL
about Jesus, and praying with them feed or starve, are healthy or diseased. and for them. N ow he has gone to A new day has come for the 150,- the Far East of Siberia, where his people live, and whom he had de- 000,000 of Russia. Christians of the serted, and is telling to them and to world, see to it that this day does not everybody of the love of God and of become night. We have tried to the Death of Christ. prove even to the Russian Govern- ment, both by our preaching and prac- Others of the converts are serving tise, that we have come to Russia with also their fellow-men as they can. On the Gospel, not to become rich, but the whole, there is no work at the to enrich others; not to fatten ourpresent moment, which appeals to me selves, but to expend our lives for more strongly than this movem~nt the feeding of the hungry multitudes. among the students-for they are the Nor is there any Jesuitism or revolu- future Russia. Before many year~ tionaris111 hidden underneath our Gosare gone they will be known as the pel plan, as the enemies of the Cross leading element of the nation. As have been saying in the Russian lawyers, doctors, diplomats and judges press. If others in our own denominthey are bound to influence the people ations have been advocating all manone way or another. The late Premier ner of "advanced" or "modern" ideas, Stolypin was once a student of the and have started out with a new gos- University of St. Petersburg, as were pel of "christian socialism" and "social also many of the highest officials of christianity," that does not oblige us the State. to follow in their train. We in Rus- sia have but one thing to preach, and Here, then, is our opportunity; and that is the same as of old-Christ by "our" I by no means understand and Him Crucified. If some venture the narrow and selfish introduction to tell us that that is the antiquated of sectarianism into a State church, theology of a hundred years ago, we or >limply making people to be now reply: that if by that old theology we known by a new name. No, here is can get hundreds of souls to Christ a great nation awakening from the – -as the case has been these years sleep of a thousand years. INe are of our Russian ministry-then we will not seeking our own glory by adding stand by this teaching, and we promto our proselytes, but are seeking the ise to accept any new belief or practrue welfare of their souls. Our busi- tise that is proved in the lives of the ness, as Christians, is not to get many advocates to be more successful in sheep, but sheep well fed and without the winning of souls-but never until blemish. I am willing to tell my con- then. gregation at any time to go and graze ill other men's pastures, and even to The Great Opportunities stay there, if they can thus increase their spirituality and real godliness. Let me now indicate briefly the On the contrary, even a State church manifold opportunities and the crying is only a sect, in the narrowest mean- needs of Russia at the present hour. ing of the term, if her whole concern is to gather many "members" whether Here is a powerful call for evangelthey are alive or dead, whether they ists and preachers. Among our num- ber are but a very few who are free entirely from other occupation$ so
that they can give their whole time to leave the school poorer than they enthe service of the Gospel. Most of tered, miserable to the utmost, without our brethren can do it once a week a God and without hope in the world. -on Sunday-others occasionally on Can this be changed? Aye, are we some week-nights. The whole of the going, by the grace of God, whom great harvest field-a sixth of the we know, and by the gifts He has area of the globe-is waiting for given us, to help here and right now? reapers. I f we can not get many schools at once, shall we not come together and Another, and almost equally press- begin at least with two-one for boys ing call is for mission and Gospel and another for girls? If someone halls; there are still tens of thousands happens to read of this cry of the of villages and towns in Russia where "Macedonian" children, will you not the Gospel has not entered. We have respond readily? to rent rooms or halls, and where a group of believers has been gathered, Features of the Work a cheap wooden or iron hall could be erected. For this purpose we need a Lastly, may I be permitted to refer building fund. to several features of the work and opportunities, as the Lord has very Great good could be achieved by graciously opened to us at both of the publishing of good Christian liter- the capitals of Russia, St. Petersburg ature. The need for that is very much and Moscow. We began at first with felt at the present time. Are there St. Petersburg. The first meeting any among our readers who would under the auspices of the Pioneer be led by the Lord to assist in this Mission (now Russian Evangelization object? During my visit to the United Society) for the Russian people was States it was my privilege to see sev- held in December, I908. During these eral of the wonderfully established four years we have witnessed what and developed schools for boys and we might call almost one continuous girls. What salvation institutions in- revival. From one hall we had to go deed! But what as to Russia? I to another, until now there are about think I shall not be far from the truth a dozen mission halls in connection if I say about 70-90 per cent. of all with this work 'm various parts of St. our school-teachers and professors of Petersburg and surroundings. But our colleges and universities have even now, we have touched but a parted with their faith in God and fringe of the opportunities in this city. Christ. Materialism and atheism are All of the halls where meetings are predominating, Tolstoiism-this short- held are filled to overflowing. From sighted system of naked, freezing thirty to forty brethren, converts morality-is still rampant, and our themselves, are helping me to preach young people are led as sheep to the the Gospel, some of them superintendslaughter. We have scarcely a single ing the work in the various halls reschool with definite evangelical teach- spectively. On Monday nights the ing. Our children, with sorrow I preachers come together, and we enmust state it, come in their tender and deavor to instruct them, as well as impressive age under the blighting in- possible in successful means and fluence of men without faith, and they methods for the ministry. But we
THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FIRST BAPTIST TABERNACLE) ST
DELEGATES OF THE RUSSIAN BAPTIST UNION TO TIlE OPENING OF THE TABERNACLE, SEPT. 8, 1910
FA-STOR FETLE'R PREACHING TO A U5UAL SUNDAY-NIGHT AUDIENCE IN THE CONCERT
OF PRINCE TENISHEFF, ST. PETERSBURG PASTGIi FETI.ElI. AND HIS ASSISTAN1' LAY PREACHERS AND SUPE1UNTENDENTS
AND THE GOSPEL
chiefly occupy ourselves with examin- even Australia have been coming to ing our own spiritual state, and with our help. At this present time we intercessary prayer. vVe find that in still require about $20,000 to accom- spite of the virgin soil and prepared plish it. We have told about it to hearts, the powers of darkness are the Lord. And we trust that He will so eminently present that only by not leave us, nor forsake us.* unceasing prayer to God can we make To assist the Gospel that IS any headway. But we can praise preached, as well as to spread it God that He is faithful. We have among those who can not reach our reason to believe that not less than meetings, the printed VI[ord is used.
two thousand souls have been led to We are publishing a monthly spiritual Christ during the four years, and per- journal, called "Gost/, (The Guest), haps many more; whereas many which already has been much blest thousands throughout the Empire by the Lord. We desire to send free have been influenced through the work aopies of this journal to every priest at St. Petersburg. And "Ye shall in the empire, as well as to all the see greater things than these," the national public schools, hospitals and Lord hath said. prisons. Also we pray that we may Our pressing need in connection be enabled to distribute many thous- with the abundant growing of the ands of copies of the Gospel, and of work was that of a large mission hall, sermons and pamphlets.
as the central place for the preaching To save the outcast, midnight meet- of the Gospel. With every week our ings have been started. Many of our halls holding from 200-800 people fallen sisters have been willing to were becoming too small. Two years leave their life of sin and degradation, ago we hired the large hall of the but we have been in trouble to help City Duma, holding some 2,000 peo- them, not having a home, where we ple, and even then hundreds were could take them in, until they could turned away. The largest permanent find work hall, the concert hall of Prince Teni- A large mission han is very much sheff, was taken away from us needed also in Moscow, where a great this year, by the rent being raised to center of Christian activity is spring- 12,000 roubles ($6,000). Last year ing up. We have seen there many a the Czar gave us permission to pur- meeting in the rented hall crowded to chase a site for our Gospel Tabernacle. the utmost with eager people listening Our numbers were small, the believ- almost to suffocation. It would be ers themselves were very poor, most difficult for us to begin soon a build- of them being factory workmen, but ing there, seeing that all our energy trusting in the Lord we went forward and means have gone toward the St.
in the difficult work. The land alone Petersburg Gospel Tabernacle, but cost $22,500. The building to hold we know that our Lord is Almighty, 2,000 people, will cost $5°,000 more. and rich not only to save, but also to By the grace of God we have been supply all our needs in Christ Jesus.
enabled, tho with some intervals and stops, to go on. Dear Christian • The Tabernacle was opened on January 7, friends, in England, America, and 1912, the Russian Christmas. See MISSIONARY REVIEW, May, 1912, pall'e 324,
'THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE
WORLD IN THIS GENERATION BY REV. S. M. ZWEMER, D.O., OF ARABIA HE great task to which the equator and the number is daily mT Christ caUs the Church increasing. t in this century is the Nor may we belittle the real evangelization of the strength of Islam. Violence and false- hood are never elements of strength Mohammedan world.
In studying this colos- in any religion, altho they may acsal problem let us notice some of its count for its rapid spread and appar- mt success. Among the elements of practical features: I. The Vast Proportions 'of the real strength in Islam are the fol- Undertaking. To belittle it would lowing truths and methods. Islam be to belie all knowledge of its is a religion without caste. It excharacter. Because of its geographi- tinguishes all distinctions fOl'lllded cal extent, its strength and its long upon race, color, or nationality. All neglect by the church, Islam has believers belong to the highest caste grown to gigantic proporttons. Like and all unbelievers are outcastes. The Hindu who turns Mohammedan loses a mighty Goliath it defies the armies his caste, but becomes a member of of the living God and the progress the great brotherhood of Islam. of Christ's kingdom! In three con- Slaves have held thrones and founded tinents it presents an almost un- dynasties. The first one who led the broken front and is armed with a caU to prayer was Bilal, a negro of proud and aggressive spirit. At a Medina. very conservative estimate there are Again, its creed contains much over 230,000,000 Mohammedans- fundamental truth. This is very one-seventh of the human race! plain, if we repeat the Apostles' Creed, Islam's dominion stretches from the universal symbol of Christendom, Sierra Leone in Africa to Canton in in such forms as a Moslem would China, and from the steppes of Si- accept: "I believe in God . beria to Zanzibar and Sumatra. In Almighty, maker of heaven and China there are n3o0r,t0h00o,f00t0heMYoasnlegmtss~' in some places earth, and in Jesus Christ . . .
River one-third of the people belong conceived (miraCUlously) and born of to that faith. In India there are the Virgin Mary. He as- 62,000,000 Mohammedans, and the cended into heaven. . and real problem to-day is not "Krishna from thence He shall come.
or Christ" but Mohammed or the I believe . in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, Messiah. One-seventh of the whole and the life everlasting." Altho the population of Asia is Moslem. Every heart of the creed is omitted, namely third man, woman or child in Africa the Trinity and the Atonement, how is a believer in Mohammed. The much remains that is common to total Moslem population of Africa Christianity and Islam. What a con- is over 58,000,000, while there are trast to heathen religions and even already 4,000,000 Mosiems south of to Judaism. Intolerance of error is also an ele- on the authority of so unprejudiced ment of strength. It is the Puritan a judge as James Freeman Clarke, spirit of Islam; and altho iconoclastic the very worst form of monotheism.
and often violent to the point of Altho acknowledging Christ as a fanaticism, it is a praiseworthy trait prophet, Islam denies the Deity, the in any religion. Islam has in it the incarnation and the atoning death of stuff that martyrs and reformers are Christ, and thus by its thoroughly made of; its professors are "valiant anti-Christian character, betrays the for the truth" and have the spinal Son of Man, like Judas, with a kiss.
column of conviction and desire for The degraded and degrading ethics conquest. Islam is one of the few of Islam are based on a low ideal of missionary religions of the world. It character fixt forever as the high- began with the Saracen conquest and water mark of holiness. To be like continued for thirteen centuries, until Mohammed is to be perfect. The the Wahhabi revival and the Pan- deep-rooted sensuality of the prophet Islamic movement of to-day. In tht. has borne bitter fruit in all ages and words of the Koran, the Moslem all Moslem lands. The first chapter must "fight against infidels till strife of Romans is a true picture of the be at an end and the religion is conditions existing in many Moslem God's alone." All these elements of lands to-day; Baluchistan and Persia strength have become deep-rooted in are examples. Among the entire Shiah life, literature, politics and art by the sect, numbering 10,000,000, lying lapse of thirteen centuries. And (under the name of Kitman-ud-din) throughout all these centuries Islam has become a fine art, sanctified by was neglected by the church. Be- their religion. Islam is spiritually tween Raymund LuI! and Henry bankrupt.
Martyn, the two lonely pioneers who The n7lJ.e pillars of the Moham- tried to arouse the Church, five cen- medan faith are all broken reeds by turies intervened without missions to the solemn test of age-long experi- Moslems. The church was ages be- ence. The creed is only a half-truth, hind time and lost splendid opportu- and its "pure monotheism" does not nities. In Persia 1,000 years, and in satisfy the soul's need of a mediator Arabia twelve centuries passed before and an atonement for sin. The missions challenged the supremacy of prayers are formal and vain repeti- Mohammed! It is a stupendous prob- tions, without demanding or produc- lem, but its vast proportions do not ing holiness in the one that uses take away our responsibility. We can them. The fasting is productive of not escape the task. Notice: two distinct evils wherever observed; 2. The Necessity of this Under- it manufactures an unlimited number taking. The Mohammedan world of hypocrites who profess to keep must be evangelized at any cost, for the fast and do not do so, and in the Islam is inadequate to meet the needs second place, the reaction which oc- of any land or of a single soul. The curs at sunset of every night of Ra- facts and the fruits of this religion 'mazan tends to produce reveling and prove it. Its distorted theology offers dissipation of the lowest and most de- no worthy conception of God, and is, grading type. The almsgiving stimu-
lates indolence, and has produced that trying to deceive? Had I the whole acme of social parasites-the dervish east and the west, gladly would I or fakir. Finally, the pilgrimages to give up all to be delivered from this Mecca and Medina and Kerbela are awful terror that is hanging over me! a public scandal, even to Moslem Would that I never had existed! morality, so that the "holy cities" are Would that my mother never had hotbeds of vice and plague-spots in borne me!" the body politic. These social, moral and spiritual It has often been asserted that Is- conditions show the necessity of evanlam is the proper religion for Arabia. gelizing the Moslem world. There is The Bedouin now say: "Moham- no hope for it save in Christianity. med's religion can never have been Jesus Christ is the missing link in intended for us; it demands ablution, their creed. He alone can purify but we have no water; fasting, but their social life. He alone satisfy we always fast; almsgiving, but we their spiritual hunger. have no money; pilgrimage, but Allah is everywhere." And Palgrave's So vast, so long neglected and so prophecy still awaits fulfilment. necessary an undertaking as the "When the Koran and Mecca shall evangelization of the Mohammedan have disapReared from Arabia, then, world is not a Utopian scheme, but and then only, can we expect to see an entirely practical and possible enthe Arab assume that place in the terprise. We emphasize: ranks of civilization from which Mohammed and his book have more 3. The Possibility of this Underthan any other cause long held him taking here and now. "We can do back." it if we will," because unprecedented opportunities are ours and indefinite Mohammedan progress in Africa is resources are at our disposal. progress up an impasse. It enables the pagans to advance a short dis- The present political division of the tance and then checks their progress Mohammedan world is a challenge of by an impassable wan of prejudice, world-wide opportunity. How great ignorance and spiritual blindness. has been the fall of Islam since the Islam can do for the Sudan no beginning of the past century! She more than it did for Morocco. has practically lost her temporal power and never again will the Cres- The Mohammedan world is with- cent rule the world. The area of the out Christ, and therefore without present caliphate has dwindled to hope for the life to come. There is smaller proportions than it was at no hope in their death. Solfian e1 the time of Mohammed's death. Thuri, a companion of Mohammed, Suleiman, the Magnificent, would not cried out on his death-bed: "I am recognize in the Ottoman provinces going on a way I know not of, to that which was once a world-kingappear before the Lord whom I have dom. Only 18,000,000 out of 230,- never seen." Omar ibn el Kbattab, 000,000 Moslems are under the poone of the greatest and best of the litical control of the Sultan. Much Caliphs, was greatly deprest in view over one-half of the Moslem popuof death, and said, "Whom are ye lation of the world is under Chris- tian rule.
EVANGELIZATION OF THE MOHAMMEDAN WORLD
A consideration of the languages Sword of the Spirit prepared for the spoken by Moslems to-day is a fur- conquest, but the ranks of the enemy ther proof of unprecedented oppor- are breaking. Mighty and irresisttunity. Once the Mohammedan world ible forces are at work in Islam itself was Arabian; now it is polyglot. The to prepare the way for the coming Koran is an Arabic book and has of the King. Thousands of Moslems never been translated by Moslems have grown dissatisfied with their into other languages for religious use. old faith, and of tens of thousands It is an unintelligible book to three- one can scarcely assert that they are fourths of its readers. What spiritual Moslems at all save in mere name. comfort have the 20,000,000 Chinese Moslems from the Arabic they re- The Wahabi movement in Arabia, peat daily in their prayers? How the Shathaliyas in Syria, the widelittle of the real meaning of Islam is spread teaching of false Mahdis and plain to the 62,000,000 of India, Messiahs, the growth of mysticism nearly all ignorant of Arabic! But and the undermining of the old orthe Bible-sharper than any two- thodox Islam by the rationalistic New edged Saracen blade and our weapon Islam-all these are signs of the of warfare-the Bible speaks all coming dawn and are pregnant with languages and is the best printed and opportunity. From every quarter cheapest selling book in the world. comes the testimony that the attitude This universal, everlasting glorious of Moslems toward Christianity has Gospel is not handicapped as is the changed for the better in the past Koran, which by form and matter is decade. In India, Islam has abanwholly and hopelessly provincial. The doned controversial positions which Beirut Press has iss1ed over a mil- were once thought impregnable. Inlion volumes of the Arabic Scriptures stead of denying the integrity of the since it was founded. The demand Bible they now write commentaries on for the vernacular Bible in Arabia, it r Fanaticism decreases with the Persia and the Turkish Empire is march of civilization and commerce. phenomenal. Not only has the Bible The cradle of Islam is a mission been translated into every Moslem field, and a railway has been built tongue, but a large and important to Mecca, by the Sultan, for the King body of Christian literature, contro- of Kings. versial and educational, is ready for Moslems. This is specially true of Every strategic center of popula- Arabic, Persian, Turkish Urdu and tion in the Mohammedan world is Bengali, the chief literary languages already occupied for Christ. This of Islam. Every Mohammedan ob- startling fact shows the guiding hand jection to Christianity has been met of God in preparation for the conin printed apologetics. The weapons flict. I took the World's almanac for are ready for the conflict. I906 and found the list of cities which have over 100,000 inhabitants. The disintegration of Islam makes These are the places where work is possible the speedy evangelization of now carried on for Moslems directly Moslem lands. Nat only have the or indirectly: Calcutta, Constantinliterary weapons been forged and the ople, Bombay, Cairo, Hyderabad, Alexandria, Teheran, Lucknow, Ran-
goon, Damascus, Delhi, Lahore, used in this conflict. The Moham- Smyrna, Cawnpore, Agra, Tabriz, medan world is a challenge to Allahabad, Tunis, Bagdad, Fez, Alep- our faith–faith that can remove po and Beirut. This is not a mere mountains. The Power of pre- coincidence, but a fact full of mean- vailing prayer has never yet been ing and a challenge of God's provi- adequately applied by the church dence to win and use these Gibraltars to this mighty problem. We need a of population in the midst of the consuming love and a willingness to teeming millions of Islam as points suffer. With an army of missionaries of vantage for Jesus Christ and His like Henry Martyn or Bishop French kingdom. what might not be accomplished in In some Moslem lands, fifty years a single generation? Were the church ago without a Protestant missionary, awake to this great prob~em, and every key-position is now a mission were our efforts at all commensurate station. with our opportunities, it would, I Results already achieved prove the believe, be possible to carry the Gos- possibility of evangelizing these mil- pel throughout every Moslem land in lions. Less than a century ago there this generation. Not only can we do was not one Protestant worker in any it, but we must do it. Consider Moslem land; at that time apostacy finally: from Islam meant death to the apos- 4. The Urgency of this Under- tate. Now there are Moslem converts taking. The whole horizon of the in every 'land where work has been Mohammedan world is lurid with a attempted, fanaticism has decreased, storm that may burst upon us at any and many converted Moslems are moment. Islam has always been, and preaching the Gospel. In North In- is now aggressive. Its numbers are dia there are nearly 200 Christian increasing to-day in India, Burma, the pastors, catechists or teachers who East Indies, West Africa, Uganda, are converts or the children of con- the Kongo Basin, and all Abyssinia.
verts from Islam. There is hardly a In West Africa and Nigeria mission- Christian congregation in the Punjab aries speak of a "Mohammedan peril."
which does not have some members Dr. Miller testifies that the number who· were formerly in the ranks of of Moslems is increasing greatly in Islam. Thousands of Moslem youth West Africa. "Islam and Christian- are receiving a Christian education in ity between them are spoiling heath- Egypt, India, Java and Sumatra. In enism, and will probably divide the Java and Sumatra there are over pagan peoples in less than fifty 24,000 living converts from Islam. years." Rev. A. D. Dixey says of Some belong to self-supporting Khelat, in Baluchistan, that the in- churches. And in Java alone there habitants are only nominal Moham- are from 300 to 400 converts an- medans, and are bigoted: "They will nually. The results, however, are listen now, but in a few years they meager in comparison with the re- will have become fanatical. Now is sources, both material and spiritual, the chance to evangelize them." The which are at our disposal in answer Sudan United Mission calls the at- to prayer and which have never been tention of Christendom to the crisis
EVANGELIZATION OF THE MOHAMMEDAN WORLD 75
in Hausaland. All the heathen popu- istry above a whisper lest the aval- lations of the Central Sudan will go anche of Moslem fanaticism should over to Islam unless the Church fall. In Sumatra we are told the awakes to its opportunity. It is now Armenian massacres stimulated Mos- or never; it is Islam or Christ! The lem fanaticism so much as to produce activity of the numerous dervish or- insolent threats against Christians.
ders, especially of the Sanusiya der- The Japanese war aroused hopes that vishes, the unrest in Egypt and Ara- all Europeans will eventually be ex- bia, the insolent threats against Chris- pelled from Asia. The visit of the tians in Sumatra, the Pan-Islamic German Emperor to the Sultan was movement with its dozen publications regarded as an act of homage, and -all these are signs of the times, and the present of horses which he call loudly to the church to arouse brought, as a payment of tribute.
from her sleep and undertake the We must meet this Pan-Islamic evangelization of this awakening Mo- challenge, but not on a political basis.
hammedan world. The weapons of our warfare are not Dr. Hartmann, of Berlin, writing carnal, but mighty through God's as a statesman, said recently: "The spirit. The love of Jesus Christ in- peoples of Europe should never for-. carnated in hospitals, in schools, in get that the spread of Mohammedan- tactful preaching, in literature and ism is a great danger to Christian in the lives of devoted missionaries civilization and culture, and that co- will irresistibly win Moslelns and dis- operation among themselves against arm their fanaticism. We have noth- the extension of its influence and ing to fear save our own sloth and power is one of the crying needs of inactlvlty. The time is ripe for a the hour." world-wide spiritual crusade for the Archibald R. Colquhoun, in a re- conquest of Islam. God wills it.
tr.arkable article in the North A 1/teri- "Father, the hour is come. Glorify can Review, on Pan-Islam, has Thy Son." His rightful glory has stated: "The outlook for those been given to Mohammed for many Christian European powers which ages in these many lands. Glorify have large African possessions and Thyself, 0 Christ, by the victory in spheres of influence is increasingly this conflict. God wills it. The gra'e. Pan-Islamites must evangelization of the Mohammedan not 'be too sure that the spirit they world in this generation! At the one are evoking in the Dark Continent battle of Pella, 70,000 Christians were is one that will remain under their slain trying to hold back the Arabian control." conquest of Syria. When we have Sir Edward Grey, in an address in even 700 missionaries of equal de- the House of Commons on the situa- votion to tU.{n the tide of battle in the tion in Egypt, warned the members Mohammedan world, we shall win.
not to speak against the Liberal min- God wills. We can do it, if we will.
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB
A SELF.APPOINTED MISSIONARY TO LIBERIA; AFRICA BY C. C. SMITH, CINCINNATI, OHIO ··'. ~~~e~~t:~~~~y :~i!.t~ Sec(etary of Negro ·~,1i5sions in the UniLed States, ClHistlan Voman's Board of Missions. many miles from the place where he was again working for his board. mA. .: ence In June, 19II, III He tried to find another home . Liberia, West Africa. nearer the school, but failed, and so decided to walk there and _ Jacob Kenoly, the sub- ject of this sketch, was back each day. He says, "By start- a negro whose parents were formerly slaves in Alabama. When emancipa- tion was proclaimed, they removed to Laclede County, Mo., and there Jacob was born in 1876.
The following account of his early life he wrote at the request of a revered friend in the United States, after he went to Liberia: "I was the oldest son of 13 children, and when I was eight years old my parents moved near Lebanon, Mo., where my sister and I attended the public school for a part of two terms.
This was the only colored school in the county. My parents later securell a homestead which was located 12 miles west of Lebanon, and this brought our school-days to an end.
We spent many hours at lAcoa KBNOLY night studying, with no one to teach us. . . . vVe remained in this se- ing at three o'clock in the morning cluded place until I reached the age I could reach the school building of IS when my oldest sister and I in time for class. I remember how succeeded in getting a position to lame I was the first week from my work Saturdays and evenings and long walk. I would sometimes ask mornings for our board, with permis- myself, 'Will my education ever bene- sion to attend school in Lebanon. fit me if I should be successful enough . . . I continued in school until to obtain it?' I would sometimes say, the close of the term, and then went 'I hope it will benefit some other un- to St. Louis and secured a temporary fortunate boys and girls, also.' It position as coachman at $20 a month." was during this time that I learned Jacob then tells of saving his money to sympathize with anyone who was and attending a summer school and unfortunate. . One day the of being promoted in the Fall. After man with whom I was boarding of- buying clothes and books, he had no fered to pay my car fare until school money for car fare-the school was should close, and then I could repay him. God only knows how much 1 in which he told many things auout appreciated this. I felt that now God Africa, I was seized with a desire was with me. I spent the rest of the to prepare myself to help those sufferterm in faithful study and I soon re- ing ones in Africa. Mr. Brindle told paid the good man and was ready to me of the Southern Christian Instireturn to Lebanon. This time I stayed tute and the opportunity it afforded at home nearly two years on the farm. colored people. He wrote the first letter to President Lehman for me, One day I bought a paper in and we soon had a reply which made which I saw an account of Professor me glad. This letter requested me to V. H. COllncill's school at Normal , JACOB KENOLY~S SCHOOL} N EA R SCIl IEFFELINJ LI BER1A Ala., where one might work for come at once, while there was yet an education. I decided to go. I went room for work students. . At to Springfield and worked with the this institute I learned many valuable Street Commissioner for a dollar and lessons, which have been helpful here a half per day and saved enough to in Africa. I became a Christian and pay my fare to Alabama. I felt anxious to make some sacrifice stayed in this school three years, and for the unfortunate ones of the at the expiration of this time, went earth."
to Georgia and secured a position as The Southern Christian Institute is porter in a hotel. There I met Rev. a Christian industrial training school D. A. Brindle, a (white) Christian for negroes. It is located near Ed- Preacher who took a great interest in wards, Miss., and is maintained by me. One day, after hearing Bishop the Woman's Board of Missions of Turner preach a missionary sermon the Christian Church. Jacob Kenoly
spoke to his teachers sometimes of hi;; He said: 'I feel sure you will be a desire to take the Gospel Message to great help to those people there, so the benighted ones of i £rica, and you may come early to-morrow mornafter his graduation in the Spring of ing and I will see what I can do.' 1902 he spent two years in Arkansas The next day he said: 'Get your bagand Oklahoma, building churches and gage down to the stage at Il, as the schoolhouses, preaching and teach- next steamer leaves this morning, and ing his people. During this time he you have been taken on as cook.' frequently wrote to President Leh- You can guess how I felt then. . • . man, but did not mention his project of going to Africa as a missionary. "I do not like to tell of my mis- fortunes, but YOlt will want to know A letter written in 1905, after he all. While coming from Liverpool to had been in Africa a year and iour Liberia, there was a bogus preacher months, gives the following account who took passage for the Madeira of his decision and departure: "It Islands. His bunk was next to mine had long been my desire to do mis- and he spent much time every night sionary work among my people in in proving why everyone sh0uld be- Africa. The last time I met our lieve as he did. When he went on Christian Endeavor Society at the shore he took with him my large tele- Southern Christian Institute, I told scope with all of my recommendations, the endeavorers that I meant my my diploma, my clothes and booksgreatest work to be in Africa, and on and even my marked and much loved leaving school this was the goal ever Bible. before me. I taught school in Bentonville, Ark., and managed to save a "This made me think perhaps I little money. I then went to St. Louis was doing wrong in going to Liberia, to the World's Fair, meaning to go and I was very much discouraged. from there to Eureka, but I met sev- When I landed at Monrovia, Liberia, eral people from the Kongo, South the 26th of July, 1905, all I possest Africa, who urged me to sail with were the old clotbes in which I had them on a steamer which was leaving served as cook on the steamer." N ew York at an early date. I decided to do this, but after making the Kenoly went to work in Monrovia rounds to bid my relatives good-by, at carpentry, for 75 cents a day, in order to earn money and replace his r reached New York City 24 hour~ lost clothing, but he was stricken with the African fever and was brought late. My friends had sailed. I was near to death. After a little time he greatly disappointed, but in N ew York recovered sufficiently to travel into I met some people who lived in Li- the interior. Of this experience he heria. They told me how to go and writes: I decided to start alone. In Liverpool I had to wait many days, and "I left Monrovia and went 50 miles after· paying my board, my money dis- east. The rains were very heavy. appeared very rapidly, so that I had One traveling in Africa at this season not enough to go further. The Li- has to wade the African swamps, berian Consul kindly consented to which are sometimes four to five feet help me get work to pay my passage. deep. I found it very difficult going and wanted to return to Monrovia till
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB KENOLY
the rainy season had passed, but the water-soaked hut for ten weeks and African fever took hold of me while only one boy came to minister to him. on my way and I feJl helpless by the He wrote to President Lehman: roadside. When I came to myself I remembered where I was and thought "I wished many times, when I had that the lions and leopards would the African fever, that I was at the make a meal of me if I remained there, Southern Christian Institute, but I was so placing my hands on the earth, I far away where I could get neither crawled to the center of the path, where some one might see me. As JACOB KENOLV.. WIFE… AND MISSION CH1LDREN soon as I could command strength I made my way to the nearest hut." medicine nor proper food. So there have been weeks of dark days." N ear this place on the side of a hill, he built himself a house out of poles, "Oh, how lonesome is this place his only tool being an ax. He con- when the boys are all gone home." tinues: "We held school in it six months during the rainy season and "I often prayed with my face towhen the dry season came we cleared ward the United States." the forest and made a farm. I started with five boys who could not speak a "I sometimes look at the sky in the word of English. Now some are be- direction of the United States and ginning to read and, as I write, 20 say 'that same sky is over my home African boys are bending over their land. Most of the people over there lessons." do not dream of what one comes in contact with over in these jungles.''' Of the religion of the natives he says: "There is a large cave in the " 'I know I can not live long this way, side of this mountain which roars but it is best to die at the post of duty. like thunder and to which the native people go to worship. One of my I came here to work among boys told me that his people believe the heathen, teaching them, that they that God lives in that cave, and that he has a large family. He does not know all the names of those of his family, but one is Joseph, one Mary and one Jesus. He thinks he has se-!n Joseph, but is not sure. They carry clothes for the family, for he says they dress like American people. They also carry thither rice, tobacco and liquor. This boy is anxious to learn to read so that he can read the Bible to his people. The tribe where I am teaching is caned the Bassa tribe;"
The fever returned again and again, and at one time he lay helpless in his
Illay know the way of Salvation, and all account of the rush in coffee pick- 1 expect to stay in Africa four or five years'." ing, and because I was expecting SOme In the midst of this lonely, almost books from the United States, I dehopeless, life an educated negro found him. By showing him that he would ferred the time. The books have not surely die soon if he stayed inland, and that there were plenty of people yet come, so you see it makes the work needing help nearer the coast, he finally induced him to leave his moun- more difficult. I have great tain hut and native people and come back where he could get the sea pleasure in working among my peobreezes. ple, teaching and preaching, altho my He came to Schieffelin where there is a settlement of America-Liberians, health has not been very good, havdescendants of those colonized from the United States in 1820. Here he ing to be exposed to the rains so opened a school in the best place he could find-the basement of an old, often because of not having the necesunused building. It was damp and very dark. He propt it up with tim- sary protection, and teaching in a dark, bers and fashioned some seats and desks, and here without blackboards poorly situated room has had its effect or text-books of any kind, he planned to teach the native children. upon me. I have tried to be faithful, He was boarding in the home of a in spite of adverse circumstances. well-to-do citizen and about the time he was ready to open his school he I did not think at the beginwas again stricken with the African fever, and when it was thought that ning I would live to see the school he would..surely die the owner put him out in an old shed and no one cared term dose. I thought it well to be for him. Another man of the settlement heard of it and carried him up faithful the few days God did let me the river to his own home and there nursed him back to comparative live. The light in the buildhealth. ing is so very poor. I feel the injury After this Jacob took up his school work in the old basement, and soon to my eyes. Vhen we have in a room which could comfortably hold only 2S, he met 4S pupils daily. a dear day and the sun comes out, He writes of teaching certain classes and then sending these home to make we move out under a large mangoroom for others. He says: plum-tree; but we do not have many "My school opened in March, tho I proposed to open in February, but such days at this season. I have a full school now. The number has in- creased to 4S day-pupils, and 6 night- school pupils."
Later he writes: "I do not get any- thing for my services as teacher. The greater number of the pupils are or- phans who can not pay and some others are poor, so I give them this year's schooling. I support myself with these large A frican hands which helped to build 'Allison Hall' at the Southern Christian Institute.
I will be glad if I can continue my school until December, yet I fear lack of clothes and my many other neces- sities will cause me to stop sooner."
The Government School Commis- sioner offered him $300 a year to go elsewhere to teach, and the Episcopal Mission wished to employ him farther
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB KENOLY
down the coast. These must have the pupils scatter to the coffee plantaseemed tempting offers to Jacob tions. He had the site for his future Kenoly at this time, but he writes: mission station surveyed and then "The people here say, 'We need went into the jungle and split out the the light as much as any other timbers for his dwelling-house and place and you must not leave us in the built it himself, his only tools being dark. vVe cared for you when you a saw and an ax. The only money were going through the fever, so you outlay for this building was for the can not go anywhere yet.''' nails, as he secured the rest of the materials from the jungle, making His heart's desire was ever to reach even the shingles for the roof. It the native man back in the "Bush," was a two-story house, 20 by 16 feet and here in the old basement he laid with a piazza 8 feet wide and 20 feet plans for the future. He planned to long. The second story of this he build a house for himself where he used for his own dwelling and the could have a quiet place to study and first story for his school-room. The temporary quarters for his school, people came from all the region and then to erect a school building and around about to see this, the first make a home for his wild native boys, boarded and shingled building in that and then to make a farm by the which section of the country. he could support these needy children. He said. "The boys I taught back in As soon as this building was comthe jungle would all come to me, only pleted our missionary began to plan I must find a way to secure clothes for the erection of a much larger and for them." more durable one when funds should be sent him, by hIs Board, for this He chose as the site for his future purpose. All of his letters tell of station a piece of rolling ground ahout his yearning to reach the natives back two miles from the village of Schief- in the jungle, and his plan was to erect felin, having three springs of water. a building large enough to shelter a He at once entered into negotiations number of these native boys and to with the Government for the grant gather them there and clothe, feed of this land. He asked for 100 acres, and teach them, that in turn they might but when the grant came it was for carry to their brethren, back in the 200 acres. About this time Jacob wilds, the good news of Salvation. Kenoly and his work in Liberia came His vision was larger than his own to the notice of the Woman's Board little work, and was of .a redeemed of Missi()ns of the Christian Church, Liberia. Of the jungle peoples he and they have since stood behind his writes: enterprise and have sent him $75 a quarter, and have helped him in other "The natives have cried to their ways. He had the deed for this land gods whose ears are deaf to their made out to the Christian Woman's cries and whose eyes are blind to their Board of Missions in whose possession tears and who have shown no sympait is to-day. thy whatever, but they must and shall hear of a God who is full of love and Jacob closed his school in the "old sympathy. They stand in this African basement" in December, J907, at the land by the millions with hands Otltheginning of the dry season, when aU
stretched to us who should be instru- As the work grew, Jacob Kenoly's mental in carrying to them a nobler cares and responsibilities and expenses and a sweeter life. What can we do greatly increased, so much so, that for these cannibals, for these thous- he was seldom able to write to friends ands of naked forms whose lives are in the United States as he had done tormented by the cruel native customs, formerly. He gathered the jungle for these thousands of infants who boys to him and had clothing made are thrown into the African streams? for them. He ran a farm to help sup- They plead for the knowledge of the port them, and he went fishing to help true God. Vvhile I live in Africa, let supply food for them. He organized me make every possible sacrifice to a church and temperance society and heal their broken hearts and bring taught a day-school and a night-school light around their way, and if I must and a singing-school .and made trips die in Africa let me die in active ser- to Monrovia for supplies. He had vice for the cause; then I know I will hoped to be able to keep perhaps 25 be happy." of the jungle boys with him after the While teaching school in his little larger building was completed, but be- house during the next year he was fore his death he had 51 who stayed erecting also the larger building, and with him and slept in the upper story by April, 1909, this was nearly enough of the building. The boys slept in finished to hold his school in it. This rows on mats and in the rainy season building was 25 by 40 feet and the the nights were chilI and damp, and outer walls were lined with zinc and Jacob longed to buy blankets for them.
the roof was of zinc, this being the .Tust a few weeks before his death, material best adapted to withstand the word reached him that the Christian climatic conditions of that country. Woman's Board of Missions had Two hundred and fifty sheets of zinc doubled his salary, and he thanked and the window frames and glass were God "because He had thus put it in shipped from England to Monrovia his power to secure blankets for his and carried 30 miles to the mission boys."
station. It is gleaned from Jacob Jacob Kenoly ever had before him Kenoly's letters that this trip was the vision of a redeemed Liberia. His made in the following way: "A five wife, writing after his death, says: hours' "run" in myoid dugout boat "I am glad to know Jacob never did on the Monserrado river and a five quit the battlefield, but died fighting mile walk across the "old fields" and for a country seen through faith that then another "run" of four hours on was founded in Jesus Christ our the Junk river brought us and our Lord."
heavy burdens to the mission." In As far back as the time of his first one letter he tells how he and his locating in Schieffelin he planned to boys took supplies to the station dur- have some of his most promising boys ing the rainy season, when they had sent to the Southern Christian Insti- to wade across the "old fields" in some tute to be trained and return again places waist deep, and carry the arti- with the Gospel message. Friends in cles in their upraised arms, or on their his own church in the United States heads. came to his help in this, and one of
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB KENOLY
his boys, James Rundles by name, is has become so filled by sand at its now at the Southern Christian Insti- mouth that at the close of the rainy tute. In May, 19II, funds were sent season the waters were too deep for to bring another boy to this school, fishing and were overflowing the lake's but ere the money reached Liberia, boundaries. Jacob thought that this Jacob Kenoly had been called to his "mouth" must be opened so the waters eternal reward, and this second boy would flow out again to the ocean. who was to have been sent is staying On the 9th of June, 19II, he, together there to help Mrs. Kenoly conduct the with seven others, went out in the log work until such time as others can be "dugout" to do this work. They had found to go out from the United succeeded in making the outlet, but A KROO TRIBE OF WEST AFRICA–<:ALLINC FOR A MISSIONARY States to take up the work laid down when through with their work, they by the noble-hearted missionary. found themselves on the farther shore of the lagoon, and in attempting to re- In April, 1910, Jacob Kenoly was cross to the mission side were carried married to one of the Americo-Liber- out to sea by the strong current, ian girls, and from that time until the where their boat capsized. Only three close of his life they walked hand in of the eight were able to swim to hand in the work. She is now the safety, and two days later Jacob's mainstay and hope of the mission. body was washed ashore and was buried near his mission. In order to help with the food supply of those he was supporting, Jacob From our human viewpoint,. we often went fishing in a large lake or can not understand why this life, so lagoon which ran back from the ocean much needed, should have thus early along the side of his land. This lake
REV. WALTER B. WILLIAMS PREACHING TO KROOS IN LIBERIA been called to its reward. We can pose shall be revealed. But this we only bow in submission, knowing that know, that such a life can never rp.ally the Father doeth all things well, and die, and that its influence eternity wait patiently until His plan and pur- alone can reveal.
A WORK OF GRACE AMONG THE KROOS OF LIBERIA BY WALTER B. WILLIAMS Superintendent of the Grand Cess Mission, Cape Palmas, Liberia ~_ .T. HE Methodist Episco- care of these are lacking, and also the ~ funds . There is going on a wonder- pal Church has a strong ful work of grace and divine power. work among the Kroos, The Kroos cry most pitifully for the one of the heathen Gospel, but we must often deny them tribes of Liberia, the the "Bread of Life," because workers and funds are lacking. Many stations . independent republic which we now occupy, are under- manned. There is a pressing demand on the west coast of Africa. At the for properly qualified teachers and experts in the English Bible. The Grand Cess Station about 1,200 Kroo people truly hunger and thirst for the Salvation of God-"Give us a mission- Christians have been gathered, more ary to open our eyes," is the cry that meets t15 everywhere, We are afraid than one-quarter of the entire mem- bership of the Liberia Annual Con- ference. In less than three years, about 700 have been baptized, and many ~ore are waiting for Christian baptism, hilt efficient helpers to taky
A PERSIAN COpy OF THE
to visit a number of places, because a soldier died and when his body was they beg so much for the Gospel, and being carried away in a hammock, the we are unable to supply even our two carriers knocked a corner of a present stations properly. house with the corpse. This was a sign that the corpse said that the un- Witchcraft, devil doctors-stones, fortunate woman, who lived in the rocks, rivers, plates, trees-are their house, had killed him by witchcraft. present gods. When in the time of They dragged her out of the house their trouble they cry out, they re- and broke her neck, legs and arms, ceive the echo of their own wailing and threw her body into the lmsh. as the only response to their need and suffering. Under proper conditions, Under the Providence of God I perhaps, 5,000 more of the Kroos have been the means of stopping 14 tribes could be gathered into the king- bloody tribal wars, and kept roads dom of our Christ within a short open for trade and for the safety of period. These people used to be most travelers, altho I myself have come difficult to reach, because of their near being murdered twice. These many ancient and savage customs, but same tribes now are begging for the they are changing and following the Gospel, but I am not able to give can of the Gospel faster now than them their hearts' desires, because we can take care of them. They kill of my inability to furnish properly thousands by "sass wood," a deadly trained men as pastors for them. poison bark. This method is used to Sometimes a whole tribe will change settle all disputes and witchcraft or- in less than a year. Thus the work deals. While I was in one large town, is being blest by God.
A PERSIAN COPY OF THE KORAN SUPERSTITION AND IGNORANCE IN THE USE OF MOSLEM SCRIPTURES BY J. DAVIDSON FRAME, M.D., RESHT, PERSIA N marked contrast to mean rather a copy of the Arabic Koran drest up for the use of Persian mI .the lavishness of money readers. It is doubtful whether, even and thought which the so, the common people get any real Protestant Christian information as to the meaning of the expends upon the trans- book. lation and distribution of the Holy Scriptures is the Mos- The effort to keep the book undelem's effort to preserve the Koran in filed naturally prevents any free disits original Arabic form and prevent tribution outside Moslem circles, for its translation or its pollution in the even tho a Moslem may have outhands of unbelievers. It must not be grown the idea that a Christian per se assumed, therefore, that in speaking of is unclean, there is always the fear a Persian copy of the Koran we mean that the Christian may handle the a translation corresponding to our book with hands which are ceremonial- English Bible. As will appear, we ly unclean. Some years ago,' and in
many parts of Persia even to-day, it the body as charms, others are more would have been very difficult for a elaborate, containing various notes foreigner to purchase a copy of the and comments. Practically all the Koran in the bazaar, and it might editions found in the bazaar are litho- have been dangerous for him to be graphed, but there are still a number known to have .a copy in his house. of men who make a business of tran- This is gradually passing away, and scribing the Koran by hand. One of even the mullahs now will sometimes these, a Sayid, in Teheran, told the loan an unbeliever a copy in exchange writer that it took him a full year to for the loan of .a Bible. make such a copy, and that in the end it sold for about $300. As we write, This reverence for the external there lies before us a hand-written form of the book shows itself in other copy, made about 80 years ago. The ways. The Persian himself will not cover, of varnish-paper board, is neatread the book unless he is ceremonial- ly decorated in colors with flowered ly clean and his hands have been diagrams and Arabic texts. The washed. He does not allow the book Arabic text is in black ink, while the to lie upon the ground, but holds it interlinear Persian translation is in above the level of his waist, or when red ink. The paper, of fair quality, sitting upon the ground, rests it on bears an European watermark. There a low stool in front of him. On tak- are no notes or addenda. ing it in his hands, and often upon finishing with it, he reverently kisses The writer's own copy is one of the it and touches it to his forehead. This more elaborate lithographed editions. reverence for the form of religion is The pages are of foolscap size; the not confined to the Koran as the fol- binding is blue plush with an emlowing incident will illustrate; A bossed qesign on the cover; the paper merchant, traveling, laid his account is of poor quality and already yellowbook and overcoat upon the seat and ing, altho the book is of recent publisat upon them, as many another man cation. The lithographing, altho the has done. In a few minutes, with book is one of the best specimens we something of a start, he drew the book have seen in Persia, is often difficult from under him, kissed it reverently to read, especially in the finely written and touched it to his forehead. Be- notes and Persian text. ing asked why ne did this, he replied: "Some of my clients bear the sacred The introduction to the book begins name of Mohammed, Ali, Hossein or with elaborate directions for the Hassan, and it is, therefore, very im- proper pronunciation of the Arabic proper for me to sit upon the book." text. Great stress is laid both in the It can be imagined, therefore, what reading of the Koran and in prayer his reverence for the Koran would be. upon the correct enunciation of the Arabic. As the Persian gives differ- The bookseller and peddler, how- ent values from the Arabic to several ever, do not always show the same of the characters, and has no equivareverence. Their stock consists large- lent in his own tongue for a numly of various editions of the Koran. ber of the Arabic sounds, he must Some of these are extremely small, expend a great deal of time .and care in order that they may be worn about to attain the correct pronunciation.
In fact, those who are especially ages by Jesus; after the night prayers "holy," sometimes spend several hours to I,OOO pilgrimages by Mohammed, in reciting their prayers, practising to freeing a thousand slaves, to feedupon each syllable a number of differ- ing I,OOO hungry and clothing 1,000 ent intonations, that they may be sure naked." Of another symbol it is said of employing the correct one upon that if a man looks at this symbol, 70 which depends the merit of the whole years of sin will be forgiven to him ceremony. This difficulty has given and his father. rise to the minute system of phonetics, involving the correct placing of the After a numerically arranged index tongue, lips and throat, and the of the chapters of the Koran comes correct expulsion of the air, which the text itself. The Arabic text is forms the first section of the copy written in large, bold characters, we are now describing. This is fol- while under each line is an interlinear lowed by various diagrammatical il- Persian translation so finely written lustrations of the principles involved as to be almost illegible in many places. and of the relation of the letters to Like most interlinear translations, this each other. fails to convey an accurate idea of the true meaning and is chiefly a help Following this section are directions to those who may know a little Arabic. for the use of various s'urahs (chap- It has no value in controversy. In ters) and verses. For instance: "For fact, Moslems speak of translations obtaining some necessary thing, let of the Koran as expositions, not as the Surah 01 Ghar'eh be recited ISo translations. times at one sitting; the needed thing will be provided." Or, again, con- The text is divided into surahs cerning Takvir, "it is reported on the ( chapters) and the verses are numauthority of Imam Ja'far Sadig that bered in the writer's copy, but this for release from trouble to recite this numbering of verses is not the usual surah 2I times is of a great value." custom among Moslems. The divi- Vv'e have not space for further sam- sion, which they more commonly use, ples. is found along the margins and divides the whole text into 30 parts for After these hints follow a number daily reading. These are further subof prayers and charts to be used as divided into quarters. Here and there talismans and charms. Of one of along the margin are directions for these, known as the "Seal of the obeisances or special readings. Prophet," which is said to have been stamped at birth on the shoulder At the top of each page are .the of Mohammed, it is written: "If a words "good," "bad," "indifferent," person looks at this seal at the time "favorable," or "unfavorable." These of morning prayers, the merit of the are used in casting lots. A true Peract is equivalent to 50 pilgrimages by sian will do almost nothing without Adam to Mecca; after noon-day "cutting the Koran," or consulting prayers to 200 pilgrimages by Abra- the almanac, to see whether the hour ham; after the afternoon prayers is propitious. For the former a multo 500 pilgrimages by Moses; after lah is supposed to cleanse himself evening prayers to 700 pilgrim-' properly, offer a prayer, open the book at random, and decide the case accord-
ing to the significance of the certain them and how do they eXCUse the line on the page. In the edition which failure which must of necessity fol- the writer owns, he is saved the trou- low the effort to put these recom- ble by having the interpretations indi- mendations into operation. Doubtless, cated by the words at the top of the there are some who are truly sincere, page. but the majority know very well that Along the margins of the text are these suggestions are worthless and further notes of which we give a few merely add them to increase the sale examples. Of the first surah it is of the books among the common peo- written that this will cure all illness, ple. When a man complains, he is except death. To do so it must be told that the reason of his failure is written on a clean vessel and washed his lack of faith or that he must have off with rain water, and that water failed in some detail of the instruc- must be used for washing the patient's tions given. A friend tells how he face. That will cure him. If the persuaded a mullah to give him an in- patient has palpitation of the heart, cantation to raise a jinn to his view.
he should drink the water. Again, Upon the failure of the performance of the Surah 01 Shams, it is said that the mullah said: "I must have writ- a man should bow down to the ground ten the prayer with a _pen or upon at sunrise and recite this surah three paper that was bought with 'tainted'
times. In the midst of it, at a desig- money."
nated place, he must stop and pray, To the common people it is evident for that which his heart desires. Let that the Koran, as they have it, is a him do this for three days and his closed book, encrusted with a mass of prayer will be immediately answered. the grossest superstitions. This ig- In regard to the verse: "He it is norance is recognized by many, and who produceth gardens, etc.," the di- when they are brought face to face rections are given: "Write this verse with the claims of Christianity, it and inscribe it on .a piece of olive wood forms a protection behind which they and hang it from the gate of a fruit take refuge, saying: "How can we garden; the fruit of that garden will weigh the relative claims of the two be plentiful, both good and blest; and books, when we do not know our own if one writes it on a tanned skin and book?" It has sometimes occurred hangs it from the neck of a sheep, to us that one of the most effective the flock will be fruitful and blest." means of turning Persia to Christ "Whosoever reads the Surah of would be the circulation of a good Araf every month, is of those who Persian translation of the Koran, at need 1iot fear in the day of resurrec- a price which the people could afford, tion, and he need not be troubled. If but this would awaken a storm of op- they read it every Friday, at the position compared with which the resurrection a reckoning will not be de- present opposition to the circulation manded of them, the surah itself will of the Bible would be as nothing. We answer for them." can only work and pray that in time The question will be asked as to the people themselves will come to what extent the mullahs and those realize upon what slender grounds who prepare these notes believe in they base the hope that is in them.
"FEAST OF THE COCOANUT"·
BY RICHARD BURGES, JUBULPORE, C. P., INDIA .fTl·. – HE "Feast of the Co- with a great number of other pages which he considered false. coanut" is one of spe- cial importance in While principal of a Government Western India. In one Girl's School, he invited some Chris- Maharatta Brahmin REV. VISHNU BHASKAR KARMARKAR .- family at least, in 1834, tian missionary ladies to teach emit would be long remembered, for on broidery to his pupils. Strangely enough, he was warned against these that clay a baby-boy was added to its mIssIonaries by his relatives and friends. Their influence upon him number. Vishnu Bhaskar Karmarkar was great, tho his Brahmin pride was hard to conquer. Very wisely they was the name given to that promising advised him to continue reading the Bible, and they prayed that he would baby. The family to which Vishnu soon be brought to a knowldge of the Truth. or Vishnu Pant belonged was one of "Is not my word like a hammer?" influence and· wealth. Owing to It was so in Vishnu Pant's case, for his stony heart was broken within the losses in a banking concern, the battle space of a year. He who was known to have had public arguments with of life had been severe. Not dis- Christian missionaries, thus seeking their overthrow, surprized the whole couraged, however, Vishnu Pant faced community by becoming an ally of the sitnatiol'l, and in the long run the hard struggle of life, rather than ease of life, made him a stronger character.
The conversion of Vishnu Pant il- lustrates the converting power of God's Word. It was on this wise: In the street.s ·of the city of Ahmed- nagar, Vishnu Pa~t met a Christian, who had been converted from the Mo- hammedan faith. A dialogue ensued.
"Have you read the Christian Scrip- tures?" asked the convert from Mohammedanism.
"No," was Vishnu Pant's reply. "I have never even seen. the Christian Scriptures; why should I read them when I know them to be nothing but a chain of. falsehood?"
. The convert replied: "Don't pass judgment until you have read them carefully for yourself."
Pant procured a copy of the Bible, but unfortunately brought a preju- diced mind to bear on its pages. With a blue pencil he promptly and proudly underlined the very first words in the book of Genesis, and did the same
the Christian religion. An incident riage. Children were born to them like this should give new zest to our and they all walked in the ways of enthusiasm for the Bible and all so- their parents. cieties that promote its translation, circulation and use. A fter some theological training for a more spiritual work, Vishnu Pant Acute was the opposition which was ordained minister of the Ameriraged when Vishnu Pant was bap~ can Mission Church in Ahmednagar. tized. His parents even journeyed He and Sarzabai entered on their from Poona to dissuade their son, if duties in the middle of I~60, and for possible, from becoming a Christian, eight years they faithfully shepherded or at any rate to take him away from the Christians by whom they were Ahmednagar by force. Vishnu Pant greatly beloved. faced the persecution with singular fortitude. In the opinion of his kins- I have often thought that the place men and acquaintances he had dis- in which one lives for years enters graced himself and them. Forthwith somewhat into one's character. Vishthe school. over which he presided, nu Pant lived in Ahmednagar, which, was in ill repute, and no time was lost down through the long years, had been in deposing him. His own relatives a martial city. No doubt, Vishnu Pant Were his fiercest foes. A furious mob knew the story of the "big gun," tried to get him to recant and his (probably the largest piece of brass friends were ready to receive him ordnance in the world), which was back into the cast privileges. Fail- captured from his city and carried ing to do this, his father made an away to Bijapur. No doubt, he was effigy of him and ceremoniously had familiar with the tree in a suburb of it cremated, in order to disown his Ahmednagar where Wellesley, afterson. This was to indicate that they ward the Duke of Wellington, stood regarded him as dead to them and to when the city surrendered to his asthe faith of their fathers. Such is the sault. To this must be added the fact worst kind of degradation that can that Vishnu Plant belonged to the come to a Brahmin. Maharatta race, one that had for cen- turies struck terror into the heart of God takes car~ of his own jewels. every invader; and a race also that "They shall pass through fire and once carried the banner of victory to shall not be burned." Another school the very gates of Calcutta-and this was founded for him by the mission- in the days of British occupation. aries, but it was composed chiefly of Vishnu Pant was by nature a spiritual the so-called low-caste children. How fighter: therefore, he contended with it must have chafed the very soul of the enemies of God and was sustained this high-born Brahmin to occupy all the while by the ultimate hope of such a position. certain victory.
Among the pupils in Vishnu Pant's The enemies said that the ChrIsnew school were a few girls of a tians polluted their wells by simply higher caste: one of them was Sar- using them for domestic purposes. zabai, and with her Vishnu Pant fall Sarzabai went on one occasion to in love. The attachment was eventu- draw water. The Hindus were anally consummated in a happy mar- gered and ferocious; her life was in
"FEAST OF THE COCOANUT"
danger, but the water was secured. emanated from his soul, he came out Fury seized the mob even more. The among his friends. His face br::amed next day she filled her pitcher at an- with joy as he remembered that his other well. Pollution was then sys- sorrow was nothing to that of his betematically put into the wells so that loved Master. .That peculiar serenity none might draw from the wells which with which he triumphed that night had been used by the Christians. The over sorrow, was granted by God's case went to the law courts and be- Spirit, as from the Angel of the Lord, came a serious one. The Hindus and it abode with him through the resought protection for their wells. The mainder of his life, controlling his Karmarkars were urged by the Judge spirit ever after." to act wisely and not disturb the public peace. But they demanded equal The way opened, undoubtedly provirights with others irrespective of their dentially, for Vishnu Pant to have religious beliefs. It was a case with- the care of the American Mission out precedent and went to the Gov- Church in Bombay, often called the ernor of Bombay, then to the Vice- "Gate of India." In that capacity roy, afterward to the Home Govern- he did surprizingly good work. His ment, and finally to Queen Victoria; oratorical and poetical gifts, his love and it proved to be victory for the of vocal and instrumental music, his Kannarkars, and for every Christian earnestness and fearlessness, not to since the year 1860. speak of an imposing personal ap- pearance, all gave him grace in the When Vishnu Pant had been pastor eyes of the people. On one occasion 111 Ahmednagar about eight years, a he had an opportunity to show the very sad event took place. He was Maharaja Holkar the way of eternal engaged in an evangelical tour and, life, and he made the best possible use unfortunately, drank water from a of his opportunity. Faithful and fruitwell that was not wholesome. Fever ful work was done by Vishnu Pant in was the result, and so long and so Bombay, for that city, to any faithful severely did i.t continue, that drastic minister, presents an excellent sphere. remedies were used. These brought His leprosy did not develop into a out eruptions on the body, which, virulent or objectionable type; and strange to say, were pronounced to he kept on bravely notwithstanding. be leprosy. Of all diseases this, in " kind of by-product of his Bombay the East, is saddest. Vishnu Pant was activities was the establishment of a crusht in spirit with the suddenness printing press. Ink, type, and maof the information. Let his son, the chines, were, like their owner, at the Rev. Sumant V. Karrnarkar, tell the Master's service. In Bible and tract story of the night which followed the societies he was specially interested, doctors' verdict: "The doctors, with and to the committees connected with one accord, pronounced the disease to these societies he gave much time and be leprosy. This was a great blow to thought. him. However, he spent the entire night in communion with God. When In 1881, about a dozen years after the day dawned, he was calm and hap- moving to Bombay, he had a r>repy. With a smiie on his face, which monition that he had not much longer to live. He frequently told
his family what his thoughts were, The clan of Karmarkars is well and they came true. In his last ill- known in the Maharatta country toness he was quite resigned and said day. It is woven into the history of to the saintly Rev. George Bowen, Christian missions in all Westel'1l Inwho called upon him: "I am so happy dia and far beyond these boundaries. that I feel like laughing." When the Vishnu Pant's three children, all born venerable Vishnu Pant actually came in Ahmednagar, have been worthy of to the end of life's journey, he called their sire. The son I know best is his children together and asked them the Rev. Sumant V. Karmarkar, and to sing: his able and devoted wife, Gurubai. They graduated from Yale University "Oh, happy day, that fixt my choice and the Medical College, Philadelphia, On Thee, my Savior, and my God! respectively. Men and women of this kind are the ambassadors for Christ, Well may this glowing heart rejoice, who are destined, in my judgment, to And tell its rapture all abroad." be chiefly instrumental in the evan- gelization of Southern Asia in this Afterward he said: "Open the door generation. and let me fly abroad. I desire to enter a large place."
THE STRATEGIC CENTER OF ISLAM A chart and te legram from Dr. Charles R. .Watson to the New Yark Committee of the Nile Mission Press, meeting in Twilight Park, New York, August 30, 1912: "DOMINA NT IMPRESSION OF MY RECENT VISIT TO LEVANT WAS. THAT A NEW DAY OF UN- PARALLELED OPENINGS FOR WORK AMONG MOSLEMS HAS DAWNED. WE MUST ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS, MEETING PRESENT OPPORTUNITY AND AROUSING WESTERN CHRISTENDOM TO NEG- LECTED TASK. PRAYER HAS DISINTEGRATED STOLID INDIFFERENCE OF ISLAM. TIME HAS COME FOR AGGRESSIVE ACTION. No AGENCY CAN PENETRATE ISLAM so DEEPLY, ABIDE so PERSISTENTLY, WITNESS so DARINGLY, AND INFLUENCE so IRRESISTIBLY, AS THE PRINTED PAGE. MAY WE SET UP NEW STANDARDS OF PRAYER, FAITH AND EFfORT FOR THE WINNING OF THE MOSLEM WORLD TO CHRIST."
J.lltiftH~OBHAM.OM.FEDTAHNE Wi1DURfuB,Un.
UNIVERSITY OF EL-AZHAR *
BY SHEIKH BONLOS ~E L_AZHAR is the larg- dents at EI-Azhar, he is liable to est religious school and severe punishment, it being considered a sacrilege for an unbeliever to be ad- the greatest Moham- mitted.
medan University in the No fees of any description are charged to the students. The institu- world. It was founded tion is extremely wealthy, owing to large endowments in Egypt and else- , in the middle of the where, which are supplemented by an annual subsidy from the Government. — fourth century after the In fact, the students receive a daily dole of bread, vlrying from two to Hegira, i.e., towards the close of the eight loaves, according to their stand- ing; while lecturers receive from six tenth century A.D. It attracts stu- to twenty, and the Chancellor of the University no less than one hundred dents from all parts of the Moslem daily. The origin of this dole dates back to the will of a wealthy man who world, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Persia, bequeathed all his property to EI-Az- har, stipulating that the revenue of his Arabia, North and Central Africa, vast estate should be utilized in distri- buting bread among students and pro- Abyssinia, and even a few from India fessors. In addition to this dole, the students have grants of money at and Java. Each nationality has a intervals, and some of the riwaks allow as much as an Egyptian pound per riwak (corridor) to which its students month to each of their members.
belong, presided over by a sheikh The course of study embraces theo- logy and canon law, which are taught (professor), selected for his learning in accordance with· the tenets of the four main divisions of orthodox Islam, and piety. The largest is that of the the Hanifites, the Shafites, the Maliki- tes, and the Hanbalites. The principal Egyptians: the richest is the Turkish, subjects are Koranic commentaries, the traditions, dogmatic and scholastic which is heavily endowed. Seventeen theology, and such philosophical sys- tems only as were approved by the of the ri'lc,aks are for non-Egyptians. orthodox theologians. But through it all the teaching is "by authority," indi- The condition of entering EI-Azhar vidual speculation being prohibited. The syllabus also gives a prominent for Egyptians is ability to recite the place to Arabic grammer, syntax, rhe– toric, prosody, and to Moslem history. whole of the Koran by heart; and there These latter subjects are studied in the greatest detail, and are considered as is a preparatory department in which of the utmost importance in approach- ing the Commentaries and Traditions, the Koran alone is taught. Non-Egyp- so that no one is reckoned a competent expounder of the Iman who is not tians are only required to have an ele- steeped in these preliminary sciences. As to sciences, such as geography, almentary knowledge of reading and gebra, arithmetic, astronomy, chemis- writing, and, in particular, ability to read the Koran at sight. The mini- mum age of entrance is fifteen.
Two diplomas are awarded; the first can be obtained after some eight years and the second after four or six more.
No sheikh is eligible for a lectureship unless he has spent a minimum of twelve complete years in EI-Azhar, and has obtained the second diploma.
Any who have gained the diploma after studying elsewhere in a foreign school of religion must confine them- selves to other institutions if they wish to teach, as was the case with the famous philosopher Sheikh Gamal-ed- din, who died about twenty-five years ago; despite his reputation in East and West, he was prohibited from teach- ing in EI-Azhar, and, therefore, re- ceived students in his own house, where they came in large numbers for philosophical instruction. If any but a Moslem is discovered among the stu- "From the Student World.
try, drawing, until recent years they founded for religious and Arabic stuwere excluded entirely from EI-Azhar. dies only, and that the attention of the Then there appeared on the scene one students must be directed to those who well deserves the name of refor- alone so that they might be able to mer, Sheikh Mohammed Abdu. Be devote themselves to the service of was originally a pupil of Sheikh religion after the completion of the Gamal-ed-din, and afterwards, when a course, for if they were diverted to teacher in EI-Azhar, became asso- other subjects which have no bearing ciated with those who were dissatisfied on their primary studies, this would with the old regime and sophistical be a positive hindrance to the achievemethods. He set to work to demand ment of their aim. Some of the reform-reform in the constitution of sheikhs, moreover, waxed eloquent in the University and in its curriculum. defense of their position, saying that He claimed that the teacher of religion the only intention of Sheikh Mohamought to be an adept in all the learn- med Abdu in introducing modern stuing demanded by the age, in all that dies was to undermine the religion of makes a man learned in the true sense Islam, so that he was no true Moslem, of the word. He saw that the existing and that his doctrines and opinions system led to no result that was could never be held by Moslems; genuinely beneficial to the students or it was incumbent, therefore, on the that expanded their minds, because the Goverment to reject his proposals, for teachers blindly followed what their anyone who supported them would be books told them, and were slaves to an enemy to the faith. Notwithstandthe traditions of their predecessors. ing this opposition, the Government pei'sisted in making alterations in the Therefore, he set himself to demand rules and constitution of EI-Azhar, emancipation from tradition and and introduced reforms which were authority; his ideas ran like lightning real, even if they were meager comamong the students; on the ruling pared with the radical changes that sheikhs of EI-Azhar they fell like a El-Azhar requires. thunderbolt. From the latter he met with that vehement opposition which But let it not be thought that Sheikh is the fate of every reformer who Mohammend Abdu received the inspilongs for an advance movement and ration for these reforms from his concan not be content with quiescence and tact with Sheikh Gamru-ed-din only. retrogression. The opposition so in- On the contrary, he owed it principaliy creased that towards the end of his to Christians of the West; for he life he was forced to resign his posi- spent considerable time in Paris, where tion as Chancellor of EI-Azhar and he must have mixed with leaders in propagate his views in other mosques. the academic world and studied the But the seed which he sowed in EI- constitutions of the Western Universi- Azhar grew and produced lasting ties and schools, as, in fact, his master benefit to the University and its stu- had done before him, In particular dents, for three years ago, i.e., four he is known to have studied the life of Luther, the influence of which is years after the death of Sheikh Mo- illustrated by his dying words: "I hammed Abdu, the Government wished to reform the religion of Islam decided on the very reforms which he as Luther reformed Christianity; but had advocated, namely, that the ele- I fear that the people of the turban ments of modern education should be (i.e., the sheikhs) will uproot the tree added to the religious and linguistic that I planted." curriculum. But now the stlldents refused to accept the change, and rose What is the subsequent career of the in a body against the Government. de- sheikhs after leaving EI-Azhar? A manding the retention of the old great number of them become teachers, system without any change whatever. some few in El-Azhar itself, the ma- They claimed that EI-Azhar was jority in Government and other
A VISIT TO A WOMAN PILGRIM FROM MECCA 77 I
schools. Some become advocates and lands for the service of their religion, judges in the Moslem courts. An- does it not behoove Christians in like other of the reforms due to Sheikh manner to bestir themselves and Mohammed Abdu was the establish- spread the Christian religion in these ment of a special school for legal lands? Consider, moreover, the positraining after the completion of the tion of Egypt in the Moslem world. Azhar course. But the benefit of this Is it not the one source from which has now largely been lost, as the flow streams to all Islamic lands, makschool has practically become merely ing them green and flourishing? Is it a branch of EI-Azhar instead of a free not the one light which guides the and independent institution. Other ships of Moslem peoples that are floatsheikhs become clerks in the same ing on the waves of this world? If courts or in courts of appeal. Many this is so, indeed, then let every Chrisbecome preachers in mosques, each tian turn his attention to it and endeamosque having one or more sheikhs vor to carry to it the light of the specially attached to it The most am- Gospel. bitious aim at the coveted post of mufti, or legal referee, who expounds Christian men and women, lift up the Moslem law and has last decision your eyes and look on the harvest; before, for example, a capital sentence pray for the missionaries in Egypt, for . can be carried out on a Moslem. their task is hard and at times dis- There is a mUfti in every large town. couraging in that stronghold of Islam. The highest position of all is that of Do not say that it is impossible to conthe Grand Sheikh of Islam for Egypt vert an Azhar sheikh and bring him and Turkey. to Christ, for with God all things are possible. Was I not a fanatical sheikh Considerable prestige attaches to in EI-Azhar, and was I not by God's El-Azhar, so that a sheikh who has grace converted? To-day I pray that studied there for one year will carry my fellow sheikhs may be converted more weight than one who has studied even as I was. Pray you, therefore, elsewhere for ten years, and this is the that the grace of God may not fail more so in countries other than Egypt. them, that they may all accept Christ as their Lord and Savior; and not There are about ISO professors in that only, but that in obedience to His EI-Azhar, and from 9000 to IO,ooo command they may go into all the students, of whom about 700 are for- world and preach the Gospel to all eigners, the rest Egyptians. If such creatures. numbers are scattered through Islamic A VISIT TO A WOMAN PILGRIM FROM MECCA * BY JOSEPHINE E. SPAETH, BAHREIN, PERSIAN GULF }3~~Z:;~j}JOU are cordially invited The house, being that of a wealthy to join me in a visit to man, has several divisions. At pres- an Arab lady who has ent three wives are occupying the same just returned from a building, but each a different section. pilgrimage to Mecca, The rooms are large and well fur- and a journey to the nished. Our hostess meets us at the Holy Land. Our visit head of the staircase, inside the court. The silk garments of many bright will be interesting, for she will tell colors, and her jewels glittering in the of her trips, and we will hear what sunlight as she stands with outimprest her most. She is now called stretched hands to welcome us, make a Hajjiah (a pilgrim) and it will be a picture one would like to paint. courteous to salaam her with that title joined to her name. After our formal salaams are over, "From Neglected Arabia.
we follow her into a large, square ornaments. We also saw the well of room, cool' and comfortable. The Jacob, about which yow. read to us, floor is spread with many costly Per- where the prophet Isa met the woman sian rugs .and with a dozen or more of Samaria. We saw so many pretty pillows, the one prettier than the other. places, oh, so many. There are many But we must not look around too Christians. Almost all of them are much; we must listen to her, for she Christians. And there are, oh, so many is eager to tell of her. novel experi- different kinds of flowers and fruits: ences. grapes are as big as nuts. The gar- dens were so beautiful that we felt "When we left Bahrein, we went that we were in a different world. to Bombay, where we remained about Oh, how short the time seemed! I two weeks. Before we left Bombay, wish I could go and stay there for the quarantine doctor came, felt the weeks and months and breathe clean wrist of everyone, and stamped our air, all perfumed with grass and flowarms with a seal. And then we went ers. We also went to Beirut and Daaboard the steamer which took us to mascus, after which we went by train Port Said. We were well treated on board ship. The food was good, and to Medina. Just think, the train made we met many women. At Port Said the distance in four days, which by we left our boat and were taken into camel takes two months. The train a house to stay a few days. They was as long as from here to your call that house a 'hute!.' There was house. It went by steam like the a white woman, a Christian like you, boats, 'tschut' 'tschut' 'tschut,' oh, so in that house. Oh, but what a city! fast, much faster than a horse or don- We saw many carriages with horses key could go. drawing them, and some that went, oh, so fast without any horse or donkey "We arrived in Medina, the city to pull them. I do not know what where the prophet Mohammed, on they call then; I forgot the name. him be peace, lies buried. After we And we saw so many people, so many had been bathing in a big place, we women like you, going back and forth changed our clothes and drest in with hats on their heads and without green, red and white. Twenty-seven veils. They took us to a place where days we spent in Medina, and we did all had to sit in the dark; then we nothing else but pray and go around saw on the wall, right in front of us, seeing everything. You know there people moving and running after each is, near our prophet's grave, another other and falling from housetops, and grave ready for your prophet Isa, some killing each other, but it was peace be upon him; he will come again not real; they were pictures that and be buried there, after which we were moving and looked like real, but shall all have the same religion. did not speak. I got frightened and hastened to leave. Oh, but Bombay "From Medina to Mecca we travand Port Said are pretty places. eled on camels, 13 nights and II days. We traveled by day and dur- From Port Said we went to Jaffa and ing the night we put up a tent and from there to the Holy Land. We lived in fear. We were all trembling saw the church of Mary, daughter of tor fear of the Bedouins. You know Amran. Inside that church there is they are very bad and make it their a picture of Mary as she is sitting, business to steal and rob and kill. holding her child, the prophet Isa The ,scenery from Medina to Mecca is pretty. There are many date gar- (Jel'Us) , peace be upon him, in her dens, and we found enough to buy arms. Many boys, all drest in white to eat, but we lived in terror and walked around, carrying lighted can- fear. dles and lanterns in their hands, singing to music. The church was beau- "As we arrived near Mecca, we tifully decorated with gold and silver changed our clothes and drest in white. Then we entered into the· city
MISSIONARY TRAGEDY AT SIANFU
and went around the house of God. and hundreds of people die of hunger Then we had to go from one place and filth. Everything is so expensive to another, praying. Then we drank that the poor people can not live. My from the holy well, Zem-zem. On the heart just ached for them all. They ninth day we went to a place several die like sheep. So many sick people miles distant and stayed over night. come to Mecca to die, because of the The next morning we went to the great reward I Oh, it was hard, very mountain Ara£at and heard a sermon. hard and difficult and expensive, but I did not understand anything of it. then just think of the great reward Then we went to a place to hit the we are receiving, heavenly paradise." devil. We all had many pebbles with us and threw the stones at the devil Now we have heard her story of seven times, twice a day for three her trip, and we are ready to give her days, all of us screaming: 'May the an appropriate lesson from the Word wrath of God, the Mighty, be upon of God, the free gift of Salvation. you, Satan I' Some said more than Ve inquire into a few of her experithat. But we did not see Satan, ences and realize all the more the tho we saw some stones where he emptiness and superficiality of Islam. dwells. I was very tired by that time, Of most of the ceremonies she went for the journey from Medina to through, she does not know the mean- Mecca had been so hard on us all, ing. All she knows is the promise of and the place we were in at the ston- a great reward. Only one of the ing of the devil was very dirty. There five pillars of Islam is supporting her was so much meat lying around from and assuring her of salvation. Let the animals that had been killed for us read to her I John, 5, join in sacrifice! The smell of it was so ter- prayer and return to our homes, bearrible that it made me sick, so that I ing in our hearts the burden of Islam, could hardly eat a thing. Hundreds and resolved to lift it from the hearts o! our Moslem sisters.
THE MISSIONARY TRAGEDY AT SIANFU * THE ONE DARK BLOT OF MASSACR~ IN WHICH A FOREIGN MISSIONARY'S FAMILY FELL VICTIMS TO A CHINESE MOB DURING THE RECENT REVOLUTION ~T HE manner in which the After midnight W. T. Vatne, a rJ missionaries have been teacher, aroused us by a sharp rap on Yl.. protected in China dur- ing the perilous days of the window. We made haste to get revolution is remark- the children ready, and hurried down- ~ able. The story has stairs. The gate to our compound was come of the most tragi- already set afire, so we rushed to the back yard, hoping to escape over the cal incident in Sianfu, capital of the wall by means of a ladder. I heard Province· of Shensi in Northwest gun firing even from that direction, China, in which the wife of a mission- and I feared we were already surary and seven others-a teacher and rounded by the mob. six children-were murdered. The English missionary, Rev. Mr. Beck- The ladder had been removed by man, who escaped with his little girl our native helpers when they escaped, of four years, has written an account and in the dark it could not be found. of his experiences, which we take Mr. Vatne and my wife went into the f rom the Christian Herald.' house to take along some things of necessity, while I managed to get a *-From Missions.
wheelbarrow, a piece of timber, and tired to move. Soon the torches were a rope to the wall, which was twelve there, and one man called out, "There feet high. he sits," and he threw his pole at me Mr. Vatne placed himself on the in such a way that it struck me on the wall, and I began helping the children arm and little Thyra on the legs. Then up. We had got Selma over, and I rose up and walked out into the Oscar was on the wall. Just then water. Large pieces of mud struck Selma gave a frightful scream, and my head, but caused no injury.
Mr. Vatne jumped down to her. I Luckily there were no stones there.
heard two shots fired, and throngh I crept down by a tree and sat fright at what these shots might have down in the water, and the cold water done I almost dropt little Ruth, made my swollen feet more comfort- whom I was lifting up. But I placed .able. How I prayed God to help me!
her on the wall, and we called on Mr. '1 tried again, and really got up. No Vatne several times, but got no reply. one was after me, and I picked up my Ruth screamed frightfully, and I took darling-all I had left on earth-and her down. Oscar also came down. started off toward the North. I did I did not dare to put any more of not look back toward the burning the children over the wall. I got hold houses-it was sad enough to know of a pickax, and we took refuge in a that my beloved wife and Ruth lay shed close by, where I began work- slain there, together with the other ing a hole through the wall; but it had children. I thought of Mr. Vatne and soon to be given up, for the gate was Selma, wondering if they were alive, burned down, and the mob entered. and where tliey could be. I continued We heard them smash the windows of walking unhindered and arrived at the house. They took what they the back gate of the mission station in wanted and set the house afire. The the West suburb.
same was done in the schoolroom close After coming here we heard various by us. We kept as quiet as possible, rumors regarding Mr. Vatne and my so as not to draw their attention to daughter Selma. Some reports said where we were. With our youngest they were killed, others that Mr. Vatne child in my arms, I sat praying. The was still alive, bound to a tree. The children gathered around me. We authorities did not permit any of us gave ourselves over to the will of God. foreigners to go in search of them, but One of the looters entered a little shed the native Christians did their best to dose by us, but did not observe us. locate them. We felt an awful anxiety (Mr. Beckman, his wife, and the for two days, until we learned that children were praying when the mob they had been murdered by the mob broke down the door. As it fell they after having Bed eight miles.
ran out. Carrying his child, Mr. It is said that the revolutionary Beckman was pursued, but managed to leader stamped in anger when he heard reach an orchard, where he hid in a what had happened to us, saying: "Are ditch half filled with water. He could our Chinese people really so foolish hear his pursuers searching for him.) that they want to draw the revenge of Mrs. Beckman and our little Ruth foreign powers down upon us through (age seven) and Hulda Bergstrom such outrageous attacks?"
(age eleven) had fallen near the gate, Three of the leaders who planned and Hilda Nelson (aged fifteen) had and instigated the attack on us have reached a short distance westward and been punished by death, and their tried to escape among the grave bodies hung up as a warning to others.
mounds near by, where she was struck Some of the officials say more of the down. CUlprits will yet be punished, and I prayed the Lord to guide me. My they try to comfort me as best they pursuers called to some of the others can; but there is no comfort save in to bring torches, but I was still too the Lord and in submission to Him,
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORLD FIELD *
BY BISHOP J. W. BASHFORD, HE crisis confronting the most striking development in twen- tieth century history. mT the Christian world to- day must be apparent Illustrations of the changed attitude to all thoughtful men. toward the Gospel are found in every First: Political bar- land. Mass movements toward Chris- riers are down and the tianity among the 300,000,000 of In- world is now open to dia, revivals in Korea, China, .and the Gospel. Two-thirds of the popu-· among the 500,000,000 of the Far lation of the globe and three-fourths East, the welcome accorded to mis- of its area are under the control of sionaries wherever they have appeared Christian nations. Of this thousand among the 200,000,000 of Africa, the million people all save the Russians stirrings of civil and religious free- are now accessible to the Gospel, and dom among the peoples of South Russia is served by the Greek Chris- America, and the revolutions in Tur- tian Church. Of people under non- key and Persia, are facts with which Christian governments, the 460,000,- every intelligent reader is familiar.
000 Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans No man whose mind is open to the are as open to the Gospel as are peo- truth and who is familiar with world ples under Christian governments. rnovements,any more doubts the recent Unhindered access to the pagan world spiritual awakening and the present never confronted the Christian Church restlessness of the pagan world than before. he disputes the disappearance of the Spiritual Unrest of Paganism political barriers which kept the Church out of pagan lands for nine- But a second and more important teen hundred years.
element in the crisis is the fact that Pagan faiths are powerless to re- the hearts of pagan people are as lieve this restlessness. Christ alone never before open to the Gospel. It delivers from the guilt and power of is not accurate to represent any con- sin; he alone brings peace to the hu- siderable proportion of the pagan man heart; he alone makes possible world as eager for the Gospel; how individual and national regeneration.
can men be eager for blessings of The world-wide restlessness of pagan- whose very existence they are ignor- ism is a world-wide opportunity for ant ? For the most part only those Christ.
who have witnessed the transform- This world-wide and world-known ing effects of Christ upon the lives of disappearance of political barriers, others are seeking him. Moreover, and the craving of pagan hearts for with such peoples the Gospel's sum- more light and life, bring the whole mons to repentance .and to the aban- Christian world and the whole pagan donment of sin often arouses opposi- world into a life and death struggle tion to-day, as in the days when the for the first time in human history; Master troct the earth. But while no it constitutes the greatest crisis which considerable proportion of non-Chris- has confronted the Christian Church tian peoples are eager for the Gospel. since the days of the Reformation.
nevertheless the recent impact of How to Meet the Crisis Western civilization upon the Orient, of Christendom upon paganism, has Turning to the needs created by the turned the whole pagan world into a crisis, Protestantism now has in the troubled sea. The unrest in India, field 15,000 missionaries. Accepting China, Korea, Persia, Turkey, and the standard of one missionary for the Mohammedan world is perhaps each 25,000 of the unreached popula- .. This tract from the Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Missions is an illuminatirg and inipiring account of the world-wide call of God to men to-day.
tion, these, under God, may suffice for sands of patients a year have been the evangelization of 375,000,000. The compelled to close their doors. Such Christian Church needs 25,000 more action not only leaves a plant, with its missionaries for the evangelization of heavy equipment, idle, and the needy the 625,000,000 not yet provided for. dying for lack of care, but it seriously discredits the Church in the commun- But it is as foolish to send mission- ities where such patent failures take aries to the field without tools to work place. To avoid a disaster one phy- with as it is to send men to the forest sician is transferred from the hospital without axes to fell the trees.. We where two physicians are located to must raise funds to provide homes the vacant hospital, wherever this can for the missionaries, churches, school- be arranged. Sometimes distance or houses, hospitals, and printing presses; differences in language !11Iake such re- we must help support native workers lief impossible, and in all cases such until we can develop a native constitu- a transfer throws a double burden ency. These needs demand heavy ex- upon the physician left in charge of penditures outside the salaries of the the larger hospital. In one instance men and women on the field; and the during the present year a transfer has supplying of these needs is an imper- left one physician to treat on an averative condition of success. Printing age a hundred cases a day, the cases presses are essential for the wide dis- in one single day in May, 1910, numsemination of the Gospel and the de- bering 163. How long may the Church velopment of an intelligent church- expect that physician to bear the strain membership; one great cause for the before retiring with broken health? success of missions is the fact that the missionaries are usually the most On the other hand, physicians have intelligent people in the pagan lands. been sent to mission fields without hos- Hospitals in all lands are demanded pitals having been erected and left to on the ground of mercy; and in many establish such a medical plant as may lands they are the John Baptists pre- be possible in a native mud house or paring the way for the Gospel. Schools to secure from people thousands of and colleges are necessary, not only miles distant the funds with which to for an intelligent constituency, but for erect a hospital. Naturally, such phythe training of ministers and teachers sicians are transferred to vacant hosso that our churches may soon become pitals wherever practicable. But self-propagating. sometimes the transfer of a physician who has no hospital leaves one or Failure to Reinforce more missionary families and a na- tive school numbering two or three All missionary authorities are prac- hundred students without any medical tically agreed that every hospital on a care. Cases can be given of missionmission field should have at least two ary families with a school numbering physicians, so as to provide for evan- more than a hundred students, three gelistic tours in connection with the days' journey from the nearest phymedical work for the treatment sician. If an epidemic breaks out in of people in their homes, for the school, a messenger must be sent critical operations, for the inevit- on .a three days' journey for the phyable illness and the necessary fur- sician and the epidemic has six days loughs of the physicians. Out of to run before the physician can arrive; twenty-one hospitals in China, only and if he spends only a single day at eleven have two physicians, and the the school his visit keeps him seven hospitals in other fields are not so days from his own work. At other well equipped as those in China. On times the size and importance of a account of the illness or death of the city and the success of the physician physicians, hospitals treating thou- in gaining access to the city renders his transfer unwise, even tho he is
1 PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORLD FIELD
obliged to work there without a hos- lege of putting up bunks on the side pital. of a room seven by eight feet in di- The reason missionaries continue to mensions, so that the room may ac- enter cities without hospitals is that commodate four students instead of in many cases they are the only per- two for which it was intended. In sons who can gain access to these other cases, students are sleeping on cities. The reasons why they keep as porches and in recitation rooms and many hospitals as possible open, in- in native houses with mud floors and stead of concentrating their efforts walls and small paper windows-all upon fewer centers, are: first of alI, for the privilege of entering the school the crying needs of the multitudes of the foreign teacher. Under these who appeal to them for help; second, circumstances few missionaries can the fact that discounting of all our persuade themselves to send back the work before the eyes of the pagan students to their villages of pagan communities inevitably follows the darkness.
closing of a hospital; and, third, The rapid increase of students in the sad but indisputable fact that such many cases results in breaking down medical work, pitiable as it is, so in- the foreign teacher. In one case a finitely excels native medical practise, missionary in a college taught ten that our hospitals are serving as classes a day giving each class a hal f models of healing and sanitation in hour's time in order that he might every pagan land where they are es- furnish instruction to the large num- tablished. But we submit that our ber crowding the building; in addi- people at home ought not to leave our tion he was required to serve as treas- physicians going to the field to strug- urer of a large mission, and, not hav- gle unaided against such fearful odds. ing been trained as a bookkeeper, this Crying Need for Teachers work took a third of his time; be- cause no other missionary could be What is said of hospitals applies spared for the service, this teacher with greater force to our schools and was compelled to become the college colleges, for the latter are more nutTh- pastor, preaching twice on Sunday erous and more essential to our final and conducting a prayer meeting with success than the former. All our day an attendance of 600 persons; pres- schools and many of our boarding- ently the district superintendent broke schools are manned by native Chris- in health and this professor was com- tians. In some cases this is due to the pelled to take charge of the district fact that we have developed native and oversee the work of the native leaders competent for these heavy re- pastors, so far as he could do so; sponsibilities; but in many cases the then the president of the colIege was lack of supervision is due to the fact called away and the professor was that the missionary in charge of a compelled to assume additional bur- school has either died or has been sent dens in order to keep the college run- home in broken health, and we have ning. What wonder is it that this been compelled either to close the missionary broke in health and had to school or to put a native teacher in be sent home? In another case a mis- charge of it. Even more pitiable, be- sionary was in charge of a school of cause far more common, is the strain 300 boys, treasurer of the mission, which we are putting upon missionar- pastor of a city church, and superin- ies through the rapid increase of pupils tendent of thirty groups of native with no corresponding increase of mis- workers who went out each Sunday sionary teachers. So eager are the to preach Jesus to the native people, young people for Christian learning and, in addition, superintended the that scores of cases may be cited in erection of new buildings. Another which students bring back to school missionary who is superintendent of a additional students and beg the privi- district embracing 5,000,000 people
with a dozen pastors under him, is and our schools are fixing the standpresident, and the only foreign teacher ard and moulding the higher educaof a theological school in which he is tion of empires. preparing some twenty men for the ministry, and has at the same time the The Heaviest Load presidency of a college with all its varied duties. In one mo re case a In addition to these trcmendol1·s burmissionary is principal of a school in dens, there is another responsibility which he teaches sixteen hours a week, which rests more heavily upon the is pastor of the native church, is su- hearts of missionaries than their daily perintendent of six other schools with- tasks, namely, their responsibility for in a range of forty-five miles from his securing funds for the maintenance home, and is district superintendent of their work and workers. In some of a large district. In not all of our mission fields last year, the Board of schools and colleges are the teachers Foreign Missions was unable to apso overloaded, but cases of under- propriate a dollar for the support of manned institutions and overworked schools or hospitals or native pastors; teachers can be multiplied until every in not a single field was the appropriaschool and college in the foreign field tion sufficient to cover these absolute has been described. essentials. For the missionary who lives six thousand to twelve thousand Here again the question will be ask- miles from the friends at home-to ed by men in the home field: Why whom his appeals for financial aid overtask yourselves in this m.atter? must be made-to be compelled to re- Simply because there has been a great sort to the written page, to feel unchange in public sentiment in pagan able to place in writing any picture of lands within the last twenty years- the needs which confront him on the within the last ten years-within the field, to know that not only the comlast five years-within the last year- forts but the necessities of those who and the people are crowding upon us are risking their lives for the sake of for help; and you at home have not the Kingdom depend upon his efforts, had time to realize these rapid .ad- and then to wait, week after week, and vances on the field and to furnish us sometimes month after month, for a with the needed reinforcements. We response to his letters, and at last to prayed for these opportunities years receive the blighting news: "We can and years and waited for them; at not help you this year"-this heartlast the opportunities have come; and breaking experience brings more sleepif we let them pass we are not Sll re less nights, and causes more gray hairs, that they will ever come again; nay, and results in more breakdowns upon we are quite sure that many of them the field than any other single task never will return. Above all, even committed to his care. From facts with stich scant means, and with our such as these may be gained some imlack of workers, we are offering edu- pression of the crisis on the mission cation far superior to the education field to-day. which pagan governments can offer A M lj TE APPEAL-GOLD OR GOD
WORLD-WIDE
MISSIONARY NEWS A New Advance in Cairo unparalleled openings for work among CAIRO, the home of the great Moslems has dawned. VIe must at- Azhar University, is the intellec- tempt great things, me~ting present tual center of Islam. To Egypt Mos- opportunity and arousmg Western lems come from all over the world to Christendom to neglected task. Prayer study the tenets of their religion, and has disintegrated stolid indifference. of from Egypt men and literatur~ are Islam. Time has come for aggressIve scattered to disseminate the religIon of the Crescent in every land of the action. No agency can penetrate Orient, and even in the Occident. Islam so deeply, abide so persistently, witness so daringly, and influence so Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer, one of the irresistibly, as the printed page. May founders of the Arabian Mission, and the man on whom has fallen the your meeting set up new standards .of mantles of Ray.mund Lull and of prayer, faith and effort for the ~m,~ ning of the Moslem world to Chmt.
Henry Martyn, has been called to Missionary Conference in Persia Cairo to establish there a center for P the training of Christian workers ERSIA, small and lying off the beaten tracks, .has not attracted as among Moslems, to work directly among Azhar students, and to help much attention in the missionary world prepare and scatter Christian literature to all Moslems through the Nile as in the political; but the aw::-kening which has gone on there dUrIng the Mission Press. The sum of $I5,000 , last few years is no less real, and the has recently been given for the purchase of a site for this mission press, opportunities and the need for a for- ward movement on the part of the and at least $50,000 more is needed to erect and equip a building-a small Christian Church are no less import- ant. Eighteen years ago the m~ssion sum when we consider the power and influence that will be exerted from aries working in northern PersIa me~ this center. Already the Nile Mi~sion in conference, and it was hoped that Press has proved its great effiCIency a second conference would meet again to supply the needed literature for soon, but that hope was long unreal- Arabic-speaking people. The tracts ized. This year, however, after sevhave been called for in some twenty eral years of discu.ssion and two years or more countries, and they have of definite plannl11g, another l11terfound readers in Malaysia and in Cen- mission conference was held in Hamatral Asia and Africa, and in every dan, Persia, July 15th-28th. province of China. Study the map on the cover, and then read the telegram Persia presents the extremes, perprepared by the statesman, Dr. haps, of mission comity and the lack Charles R. Watson. secretary of the of it. In the N estorian field around Board of Foreign· Missions of the U rumia, in addition to the American Presbyterians who have been longest United Presbyterian Church. The on the field and have the largest work, telegram was sent to a meeting of there are numerous small societies and the American committee of the committees at work, often with but Nile Mission Press, and voices in one or two native workers, supported emphatic and condensed form the op- by independent committees in America portunity now presented to inflyence or England. Throughout the rest of Islam from such a center as CaIro: the field, especially in the work for Moslems there is a definite division of "Dominant impression of my recent the territory between the two missions visit to Levant was that a new day of . of the American Presbyterian Church
and the Church Missionary Society, parts of the field. Even those missionwhile the London Society for Promot- aries who have had most opportunity ing Christianity Among the Jews has for work among Moslems had failed stations in Ispahan and Teheran which to realize how wide-spread was the work in harmony with the English and spirit of inquiry which recent events American missions respectively. The have stirred up among them, and all committee which planned the confer- took courage from the reports reence invited not only the missions of ceived. these three societies, but also the Arabian Mission in the Persian Gulf, the This new opportunity and the in- Church Missionary Society Mission in creased toleration has led to certain Bagdad, and the Western Turkish changes of policy. The Church Mission of A. B. C. F. M., and repre- Missionary Society Mission, which has sentatives of the great interdenomina- hitherto laid great stress upon medical tional societies to take part. It was a work as an opening wedge in work great disappointment that the dis- for Moslems, is now beginning to call turbed condition of the country and for schools. The American missions, other unexpected oc.currences pre- which have always depended more vented some who otherwise would have upon school work, are not only pushbeen present, especially the official ing forward into higher education in delegates of the Church Missionary an attempt to establish a college in Society Mission, from attending. Teheran, but are also laying plans for Nevertheless, 29 official delegates and a more aggressive campaign of direct two corresponding delegates, including evangelization, besides pushing out six missionaries from the Western into the heretofore practically closed Persia and 19 from the Eastern Persia districts of northeastern Persia, along Mission of the Presbyterian Church, the Afghanistan and Turkestan fron- Rev. Marcellus Bowen, D.D. and Mrs. tiers.
Bowen representing the American Naturally, such a conference gives Bible Society and the Western Turkey an opportunity for unification of plans Mission, Mr. G. D. Turner represent- and methods, and promotes a spirit ing the Y. M. C. A. of India, and Rev. of cooperation. During the sessions of the conference, a large committee, J. L. Garland, of the London Jews composed of those members engaged in educational work, was busy pre- Society, in addition to an unofficial paring standard curricula for all misrepresentative of the Church Mission- sion schools in Persia, and a commitary Society, were present. tee is to be appointed to continue this work. At the same time, another com- The papers and discussions of the mittee preparing a statement of reprogram included consideration of quirements for baptism which was apquestions arising out of the presence proved by the conference and referr~d of the old Christian communities in to the various missions for adoption Persia, but the main emphasis was laid in the hope that we may attain greater upon the work for Moslems and the uniformity in this regard also. Fiopening doors which are before us in nally, a continuation committee was this field. Altho there is still no legal appointed to consider the matter of religious liberty, the day has passed developing a national church for when missions need hesitate to work Persia and cooperation in publication, openly for Moslems, and with the especially in the publication of a Chrisgrowth of a spirit of tolerance or in- tian newspaper in Persian. In accorddifference among the people them- ance with recommendations of the selves the dangers to Moslems who conference, this continuation comaccept Christ are much reduced. The mittee has appointed a subcommittee great surprize of the conference was to prepare uniform courses for trainthe great amount of work already ing workers and the books needed for being done for Moslems, and the number of conversions reported from all
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such courses, and is urging upon some Albania is spreading with great raof the great literature societies the pidity. On all sides soldiers are deneed for Christian literature in Per- serting the army and joining the revosian and Turkish. lutionists. Officers and men who have not deserted yet refuse to fight against Not the least benefit of such a con- their country. Southern Albania ference, especially in a country like seems ready to make common cause Persia, where travel is difficult and with the North. Christian workers from home seldom visit the missionaries, is the spiritual A Religious Paper for Turkish Christians uplift which it brings to the missionaries. It was, as far as the writer has MR. AWATENARIAN, a Turkish been able to learn, fifteen years since Christian in Bulgaria, publishes any Christian workers, outside the mis- a paper for Moslems entitled Chursionaries of neighboring societies, have schid, sending 3,000 copies into Turvisited the Eastern Persia Mission, key, where he cannot himself go beand the same is practically true of the cause of the murderous threats of other missions. It was doubly helpful, Mohammedans. He also circulates therefore, to have with us Rev. and another 3,000 among the Mohammed- Mrs. Bowen, from Constantinople, and ans of Bulgaria. Edhem Ruhi, a Mr. Turner, from India. The latter, Turkish editor, is holding meetings of especially, coming as he did from the protest in the mosques of various spiritual awakening in the Punjab, Turkish cities, urging the government brought messages of especial helpful- to forbid the paper to the mails. On ness and inspiration. His addresses the other hand many Mohammedans led to a deeper heart searching on the are reading the review with great inpart of missionaries, and renewed con- terest. One writes: "The peasants secration which, perhaps, will have come in crowds to the news-stalls to more influence upon the evangeliza- read Churschid, or to listen to its tion of Persia than the specific resolu- reading, and it is soon sold out." A tions which were passed. Ifoslem university teacher has sent this message to Awatenarian: "It J. DAVIDSON FRAME, M.D. would be superfluous to write that your newspaper brings us what we Resht, Persia. most need at this time. With my whole heart I hasten to wish you joy," MOSLEM LANDS and another Moslem continues "I have accidentally read your paper in Troubles Increase for the Young Turks a cafe., and I pray God the Highest that it be spread everywhere and be THE rule of the committe on Union unhindered in its course. I feel it my and Progress is increasingly dis- duty to subscribe."
trusted and more openly attacked. Work for Jews in Pales.~ine Minister of War, Shefket Pasha, the news dispatches say, has resigned in DR. MOSSENSOHN ha& raised disgust over the unreliability of the $30,000 from American Jews for army. Desertions of soldiers and an expansion of the Hebrew Gymnaalienation of civilians spread. The sium or Academy at Jaffa. The Paleslast elections have not helped the com- tinian Music School at Jaffa is, except mittee, since they are commonly un- the recently organized branch school derstood to have been accomplished at Jerusalem, the only music conservaby fraud and oppression. The de- tory in the Levant between Constanportation of Italians from Turkey tinople and Cairo. The teachers are both increases Italy's irritation and from conservatories in Berlin, Vienna, disturbs business in the empire. War Paris and St. Petersburg. Eighty taxes are excessive; it seems that pupils are now studying there, 50 of peace must soon be obtained, for Turkey's finances are in desperate shape. The insurgent movement in Northern
them as pianists. Frau Dr. Ruppin important as a religious center for is the indefatigable helper of this new Moslems, Jews, and Christians. The Zionist enterprise. A new agricul- old-established stations of the Church tural monthly in Hebrew has just been Society at Jerusalem, Gaza, N ablous, started in Jaffa. Mr. Nathan Strauss, etc., afford strategic positions for of New York, who has recently been reaching the Moslems and the Jews, in Palestine, has established a Health who are settling in Jerusalem and its Bureau in connection with the agri- neighborhood.
cultural experiment station at Atlit. Its purpose is to systematically fight Good News and Evil from the Holy Land I malaria and other endemic diseases N Palestine the relations between Mohammedans and Christians were of Palestine. He has also set apart 50,000 fr. yearly for three years to strained in consequence of the Turco- establish a people's kitchen in J erusa- Italian war; the government, how- lem and has presented the Industrial ever, did their best to prevent trouble.
Art School in Jerusalem with 50,000 At Jaffa an anti-Christian mob was fro dispersed by soldiers in November.
Palestine a Strategic Mission Center About the same time at Nablous, where news was circulated of a great A SHORT time ago the Church victory over the Italians, thousands Missionary Society sent a special of people paraded the streets after deputation to Palestine that its two prayers in the mosques. Happily the members might take counsel with the excitement was kept within bounds.
missionaries there and others and ad- There is keen persecution; converts are vise the society regarding its future retained in prison on trumped-up educational policy. The deputation charges, and redress can not be ob- visited nearly all the stations and saw tained. The society's chief education- nearly all the missionaries and, on its al institutions are the English college return, reported that the work of the and Bishop Gobat school at Jerusalem, Church Missionary Society in Pales- girls' boarding-schools at Bethlehem tine needs strengthening. Palestine and Ramleh, a large day-school at is not a little shut-off country with Gaza, and an orphanage at Nazareth.
only sentimental claims to attention. Miss Nina Blyth, daughter of the An- It is an organic part of the Moslem glican Bishop in Jerusalem, has ob- lands which fringe the Eastern sea- served that "few as the actual conver- board of the Mediterranean and whose sions are, there is a tolerance of Chris- capital is Constantinople. Anything tianity creeping in widely among the affecting Palestine affects the larger Moslems whose children go to mis- unity of which it forms a part. To sion schools, while the children them- slacken or retrench there in mission- selves learn to read and appreciate ary effort, is hailed as a retreat of the Bible." She adds that "in the girls'
the Cross before the Crescent and schools we find that the Protestant means injury to the cause of Christ children are the most bright, then the and dishonor to Him in the whole re- other Christians, then the Moslems." c. M. S. Gazette. gion.
The deputation emphasized the fact A Boycoa in Persia that an idea seems to prevail that M Palestine is teeming with evangelical ISS A. W. STOCKING writes from Teheran: "The month of societies. It is true that their list is long and seems more than adequate December was an exciting time in for the limited area, but their strength Teheran. On December I, Parliament is comparatively small, so that the rejected Russia's ultimatum, facing Church Missionary Society has a most the horrible alternative of Russian oc- important sphere of much needed ser- cupation. The bazaar was utterly vice. Palestine grows more and more closed and a boycott placed on every-
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thing Russian. As Russia is the chief that it may be the means of making ,()ttrce of supply for scores of artides these girls earnest, active Christians, in coml11on use by the Persians, this with the burden of the Persian girls boycott isa serious inconvenience to in their hearts. There are nine Mosthe people. It is very hard to go with- lem girls who profess belief in Jesus 01]t overshoes in muddy, winter Christ as their Savior, and eight of weather, and to a tea-drinking people them, at least, wish to be baptized if like the Persians, coffee, with honey their parents' consent can be gained. instead of sugar, is a mighty poor Most of these were interested last substitute. Russian collars have been year, and we are praying and expectin general use by Persian gentlemen, ing that there will be others this year. but if a man appeared in the streets There are inquiries in the boys' school, with a Russian collar, it was snatched also, and to me the work looks very off by passers-by and burned on the encouraging." spot. Riding in the tram-cars, tho the company is nominally Belgian, was Poor Little Mothers for sometime prohibited. A young boy who works for Mr. Douglas, in MR. WILLIAM F. DOTY, who ignorance boarded one of these cars, was formerly consul at Tabriz, but jumped off in a hurry when a Persia, says that one of the most pitigun was fired at him." ful sights which he beheld in that city were the little mothers, not more than Scores of Girls Becoming Christians 13 years old, with tiny babies in their arms, standing every few feet along FROM the same pen we learn: the street. These little mothers had "One of our great blessings this been thrown out of their homes by year is that we have four Christian their husbands and were forced to ask Persian women teaching the Bible in alms of the passersby in order to get our school. These are all baptized food for themselves and for their women converts from Islam. One is babies. The cruel laws of Persia a girl who has not yet graduated, two make it possible for little children to graduated last June, and the fourth suffer thus, and Mohammedanism has is a woman from Ispahan, whose no regard for woman. The preachstory is interesting. She became a ing of the Gospel will bring it about Christian four years ago and was bap- that these little girls of 13 years will tized by the English missionaries down be allowed to be children, instead of there. Her niece, who has lived with mothers, and to attend school, and to her since infancy, also became a Chris- play like children. Much good work tian, but unknown to her father, who is already being done by our missionis a very fanatical Moslem. Because aries, but much more is needed. the girl's father was planning to arrange a marriage for her with some INDIA Moslem the aunt fled with her to Teheran last fall. The girl has been bap- Centenary of American Missions tized since she came here, is a bright, promising student, .and we hope great FEBRUARY 12, 181 3, there arthings from her. rived in Bombay the first American missionaries to India, Gordon Hall "The Armenian girls of the upper and Samuel Nott. They had been classes, over 20 in all, have formed a ordered out of Calcutta, whither they Junior Christian Endeavor Society, had first gone with three others, two which meets every Wednesday after- of whom, Adoniram Judson and Lunoon in the reception room of the ther Rice, turned aside to Burma, and school, the small room of the chapel began the great work of the Ameribeing in use at that hour. Miss Allen can Baptist mission in that country, meets with them. Weare very happy while the fifth, Samuel Newell, buryover their society and earnestly pray ing his wife and child on the Isle of
France, ultimately followed his com- up the medical course first and to rades to Bombay. The coming of wait until he was well fitted for his Hall and N ott to Bombay was, there- task. In 1892 he went out to India fore, the beginning of American mis- as an honorary medical missionary sions in India. They were the pion- under the Church Missionary Society, eers of the American Marathi mis- and in 1893 he was apointed to Bannu. sion and of the American Board, There he opened up the grand work which later established also missions for the Master among the wild tribes in Ceylon, in Madura, in Madras and of the Afghan frontier, to which he in Arcot, the third of these having gave his life. been closed after a few years and the last having been transferred to the Mrs. Pennell accompanied her son American Dutch Reformed Church. to the mission-field, when he entered Preparations are being made by the upon his great life-work. She demissionaries of the American Marathi voted herself there, as she had premission to celebrate the hundredth viously done at home, to the support anniversary of its founding. of the various works in which her son was engaged. Like him, she desired What the Visit of the Empress Did to identify herself with the country to which she had gone. At the Af- AN English exchange says: "No ghan frontier mother and son labored one can say what it means to the togethe'r with singular love and dewomen of India, especially the Mo- votion for each other for nearly 16 hammedans, to see Queen Mary stand years – not once returning home. by the side of the king-emperor dur- There Mrs. Pennell died in 1908, the ing the coronation festivities. To the faithful, loving mother of a great son down-trodden and much neglected and missionary hero. women of India she must have been a living illustration of what Christian- Religious Literature in India ity does for man and woman. The public apearance of the empress of T HE peculiar aptitude of the peo- India should prove a help to the work ple of India for theological and of Christian missionaries among the metaphysical speculation is truly rewomen and girls of India." markable. Therefore, one need not be surprized at the continuous growth A Missionary Mother of religions literature in that country. According to The Young Men of In- T HE tragic story of the death of dia, the publications on religion and Dr. Theodore L. Pennell will not religious philosophy in the Bombay soon be forgotten (see MISSIONARY Presidency increased from 383 to 403 REVIEW, Jnne, 1912, p. 475). The during the last official year and are British Medical Medical Journal tells 25 per cent. of the total publications how his mother influenced his mis- of the Presidency. In the United sionary career. Provinces the number of religious books, prose and poetry combined, His father died when he was an in- rose from 536 to 681, or by 40 per fant, and his mother, a proficient lin- cent. In the Madras Presidency more guist, devoted her whole life to the than one-third of the total number education and encouragement of her of publications were concerned with son. The work of a missionary was religion, and in the Central Provinces, set before him from boyhood as the one of the most backward areas, highest career which he could under- where the total number of publicatake. He was led on by her to study tions was only 144, 42 were religious the lives of great missionaries and works, as against 10 poetical, 34 eduexplorers, until his missionary en- cational, 5 geographical, and 23 philothusiasm was so deepened that he de- logical. sired to go abroad at once. Then his prudent mother persuaded him to take
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How .<he Gospel Brings Light CHINA AN interesting comparison of the Tokens of Evil Appear literacy and illiteracy in various religious divisions of the city of Ma- NJ one need be surprized to hear dras, is found in the Christian Patriot. that the new Republic is regarded The standard is the ability to read as passing through a crisis by some and write a letter in the native lan- of its friends. There are several imguage. The proportions are as fol- portant questions involved. Some lows: Hindus, 40 per cent. of the male disposition appears upon the part of population and 9 per cent. of the the province of Canton to declare its female; Mohammedans, 38 per cent. independence, and to take as many of of males and 7 per cent. of females; the provinces with it as possible. Christians, 60 per cent. of male and There seems never to have been a full 50 per cent. of females. "Education, and formal recognition of a stable with all its defects in India, is the key government by the Powers. The to progress. Women form one-half president of the Republic also claims of every community. Ninety-one per that peace has not been restored. cent. of this Hindu half and 93 per Political parties have made their apcent. of the Mohammedan half still pearance, and there is danger of inlack this key. The Christians with 50 ternal jealousy and discord, and so per cent. of their women literate must attention is being drawn from the forge ahead, whatever be the disad- great questions of national and intervantages with which they start." national interest to petty partizan af- fairs. One of the outcomes of this Buddhism Waning in Ceylon condition is the resignation of the Prime Minister, Tang Shao-yi. He is T HE Singhalese are Buddhists, and at present severely criticized, whether the opposition offered by the justly or unjustly, remains to be seen. priests of that religion to the evan- It is asserted that he has been very gelists has been very bitter and per- arbitrary, and in dealing with the sistent for many years past, and is great question of the loan, he has been much encouraged by the support of cer- uncertain and changeable. tain Europeans who profess to admire Buddhism and to think it in some re- Christian Men in High Places spects preferable to Christianity. Several Europeans have even gone so far I T is said that with two exceptions as to embrace Buddhism, and a Ger- all officials in Canton under the man last year was set apart as a new government are Christian men. Buddhist priest, the fourth of his na- Mr. Chung, head of the Canton Christionality to take that step. Notwith- tian College, was in the United States standing these encouragements to during the revolution. Immediately Buddhism, the missionaries report upon his return to Canton he was that the people's faith in it is waning, sought as chairman of the Board of that there is a growing dissatisfaction Education at a salary of $4,000; the with the priests, and that a spirit of college was giving him $900. At once inquiry, especially among the young he made this proposition to the colmen, is springing up. Copies of the lege: "Allow me to retain my posi- Scriptures have a ready sale. A priest tion and salary as head Chinese was numbered among the inquirers, teacher in the college, but give me and so was a teacher who had been time to direct the Board of Education employed in a school opened by the in this work, and I will take my sal- Buddhists as a rival of a mission Eng- ary of $4,000 in that position and lish school. turn it over to the college."
The New Era in China retary of the Chinese Legation at Washington. He is a graduate of St. MISS E. C. DICKIE, in the As- John's University, Shanghai. se111b1v Herald, tells of a Buddh- ist nun who came to a women's meet- 4. The graduates of two great ing in Ningpo to have the "doctrine" church universities in China, St. talked to her. Tho only 25 years of John's, Shanghai, and Boone, Wl1- age, she had spent 18 years in a chang, are centers of influence and nunnery. Last January, on a small leadership in the new movement. boat and going to the country, she met a Bible woman who talked with Manchu Women Astir her of the true religion, and told her of the women's classes where she AMONG the 400,000,000 inhabitants could learn to read the Bible for her- of China it is reckoned that there self. At last she came to the women's are r8,000,000 of Manchus, until the meeting, eager to learn, and she glad- recent revolution the ruling race. They ly listened to the missionary and the possest their own tribunals and every Bible women. She had already de- official document had to be translated cided to leave the nunnery and spent into their language. Efforts have rethe night with the Bible women, go- peatedly been made by missionaries ing to church with them and appar- to reach them with the Gospel, but ently in earnest in her search after with very little success. Present conthe truth. Then she went back to ditions, it is hoped, may be more favthe nunnery for her clothes and bed- orable, and Miss M. 1. Bennett, workding, and she intends to join the class ing in the native city of :'uchau, for women at Yu-Yiao at once. She writes: "Since Ollr return to the city told of two other nuns eager to leave numbers of Manchu women are atwith her. tending our church services. Under the old regime they were not allowed Everywhere, says Miss Dickie, it to attend church, or become Chrisis apparent that interest in Christi:)·. tians, under penalty of losing their ity has been awakened, and men and allowance from the government, but women and children are eager to lis- now these restrictions are removed, ten. The schools are full, and the they can come as much as they like. women's meetings are more crowded For the past few weeks, Miss Ramsay than ever before. has been helping with visiting among the Manchu women, and at North St. Fo;'r Cheering Facts church. We are very much handi- capped for lack of more workers-it 1. The first president of the pro- is almost impossible to keep in tOllch visional republic of China, Dr. Sun with all our people who come to llS Vat Sen, is a Christian. He is the for teaching, much less to open up proch)ct of a missionary school main- fresh work, and many districts have tained by the Church of England in not been visited for nearly a year, as Honolulu. He is the chief organizer there is no one free to do any itinerof the new republic and has worked ating.-C. M. S. Gazette. for it steadily for 20 years. MR. Chinese Moslems Astir 2. The man who did the chief work HERBERT RHODES writes in framing the tentative constitution home that the Mohammedans in for the new republic is a Christian, China are awakening to the need of and the son of a Chinese clergyman strengthening and extending their of the Church of England mission. faith. For this purpose they have He is a graduate of Yale. started centers in from 10 to 13 prov- inces where mullahs are to be trained 3. The secretary of the late board for Moslem propaganda. There are, of foreign affairs at Pekin, W. W. as is well known, millions of Chinese Yen, is a Christian and a churchman. He is the editor of the standard Chinese-English dictionary. He was sec-
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::foslems and that 110t only in West nepbew of a Buddhist monk, who, China. "Having personally visited years ago, invited the Moravian missome of these centers and seen the en- sionary to see him at his monastery thusiasm which is being shown for when he was dying, and told him training the future leaders of Chinese that he was a Christian at heart and lIohammedanism," says Mr. Rhodes, wished his son to be brought up as "I must earnestly warn the Lord's a Christian. The son was sent to the children not to neglect Islam in China Srinagar high-school, and now his son longer."-Record of Christian W ark. has entered it.
liT Crowds Hearing the Message Tibet's Condition and Need HE present opportunities for preaching the Gospel in N an- ALMOST all the missionaries in chang city and district," writes the Vest China have found it neces- Rev. Francis C. Gale, "are simply sary to leave the troubled districts for wonderful. Truly, as the Chinese ex- quieter parts, so that the workers of press it, God has opened a large door the China Inland Mission on the Ti- for the spreading of His truth. All betan frontier have retired with the the chapels are crowded. If any exception of one young man, Robert church at home should be so crowded Cunningham. He is now the only one at each service as are our church build- left in an immense district, which he ings here, the official board would not calls "Trao ti," (grass country), but hesitate one month in inaugurating which is called "Kwanwai," outside, plans for enlarging their present i. e., outside China proper, by the ofbuilding. It isn't necessary to do that ficials. The district is as large as the here if the building is fairly com- States of Mississippi and Alabama tomodious. All we have to do is to dis- gether and comprises just five per miss the crowd .and after a few min- c~nt. of the whole Tibetan plateau, utes begin over again. Yesterday where there is not one mission station. afternoon Central Church was filled It has a scattered population of only at three o'clock service, and at the 1,000,000, who, however, have as close we started for home, when at much need of the Gospel as others. the door we met many who wished It has never had more than two Proto enter. We reentered, began sing- testant mission stations with eight ing a hymn and conducted another workers, while there were four Cathopreaching service to a different crowd. lic mission stations already in 1906 I used to wonder as I read the Gos- (now there are seven), which are depel how the Lord could stand the veloping as fast as they can during crowd so much of the time. Well, in this period of uncertainty. Until I906 this preaching of His Gospel one feels this whole region was, speaking gen.:rbad if there isn't a crowd to listen to ally, closed to the missionary, who the message. I don't know how it is was permitted along- one road only, in America at present, but let me as- with many restrictions. Gradually, sure you Jesus is at least getting a however, the. territory was opened, until now, after it has been put under hearing in China these days."-World- 23 magistrates, the Chinese officials Wide Missions. feel that they can properly protect the missionaries in almost any part of the Tibetan Christians country. In each one of these 23 dis- . tricts many Tibetans are living. The· A NEW hostel in connection with villages are smalI and often far apart, the Church Missionary Society's but there are also nomads in every high-school at Srinagar, India, has just available place, feeding their flocks. been opened. The first two boarders Some districts contain many manuadmitted were Tibetan Christians bctories, while others are almost ensent by the moravian Mission at Leh. tirely agricultural. It is true that each One is the grandson and the other the
(me of the centers of these districts is turned to Kyelang, the neighborhood about five days' journey from the cen- of his old home.
ter nearest to it, so that stations would JAPAN-KOREA be at least five days apart, a long distance, and traveling is very difficult. The Strength of Non-Christian Religions T But is that a reason for leaving this HE Tokyo Christian reports that there are 82,000 Shinto priests large country, with but two districts out of 23 occupied, and one of the two and IOI,OOO Buddhist priests in the now without a missionary, and the empire; that 95 cities, each having a numerous Tibetans in the districts population of from IO,OOO to 50,000, without the Gospel? Tibet proper can are without a missionary. According be reached at present only by bring- to this report, there is room for more ing the Gospel to the Tibetans scat- missionaries, more native workers and tered outside its confines and sending better equipment. The missionary it through them to their friends and must be supported. This is only part brethren. of the necessary arrangement. He must be equipped with buildings, na- A Lama Baptized at Poo tive helpers, funds for printing and O N Easter Sunday morning there distributing Christian literature, etc. was baptized at Poo, the Mora- A missionary without proper equipvian station at the Himalayas, a young ment is like a soldier without an ar- Tibetan Lama, Youtan. After a great mor, like a farmer without horses and struggle he had asked for instruction ' farming implements, like a bird with preparatory to baptism, and while he its wings locked! We need some real, was under instruction, powerful in- big-hearted Christians, who will give fluences were at work to keep the sums of money which will enable us young man back from taking the de- to establish mission plants worthy of cisive step. One rich farmer said fo the cause of the Christ.
him: "Why should you become a How Family Worship Is Conducled Christian? YOll are a Buddhist Lama; stay with us, and you will be much THE Kirisutokyo Sckai publishes a better off than among the Christians." letter on family worship, written Others tried to induce him to join by a Japanese lady whose husband is them in frivolity and sin, and pictured a Christian. She says that the family to him Simla as a land of delight and worship in her home lasts less than luxury, until he was almost persuaded IS minutes. The whole family assem- to journey thither. But his Christian bles at 6 :45 A. M. around a table that teachers heard of these temptations wiII seat about ten people. Each per- always in time to warn Youtan. They son reads his verse of Scripture in often and earnestly prayed for him, turn, the little children and the serv- and in answer to their prayers Youtan ants often making rather amusing mis- grew in the knowledge and the wis- takes. Each member of the household dom of God. Like a child, he looked has his or her morning for choosing forward to his baptism, sometimes a hymn. After the Scripture read- filled with fear, but always trusting ing is over, the master of the house and praying. Thus the day of his explains the meaning of certain verses, baptism arrived and he publicly at- and chooses a text to be taken as a tested his faith in Jesus Christ as his motto for the day, and makes a few Savior and Redeemer. He received simple remarks thereon. Each mem- the new name of Trashi Tarnyed, i. e" ber of the household takes it in turn "Blessed he who has found salvation," to pray morning after morning. The which he himself had chosen, children's prayers are very, very short, y outan has learned the tnde of a but impressive in many ways, and the joiner, in order to be able to earn his way the servants repeat the same living independently. He has now re- pra,yer day after day is rather funny.
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Whatever happens in the house, fam- sistant from Spain is to arrive soon ily prayers are not given up. Every to help in the development of the member of the household is prompt work. We have two Sunday-schools in getting ready for the meeting at the that are well attended and a nightbreakfast table to worship God. school to help the newly arrived young Spanish immigrants to learn French. Are the Japanese Persecutors? Our hands are full and to keep up with opportunity we need not only the T HERE is some confusion and con- Spanish assistant, but also a young flict in the representations which man to begin work among the large have been made as to the spirit and Arabic population that have never coneluct of the Japanese officials to- come in contact with a missionary wards the Koreans in prison under speaking their language. The future charges of sedition. Bishop Harris, is bright for Methodism in Oran, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Oran is the gate to Morocco." who has intimate acquaintance with the conditions in Korea, and whose MMassacres of Jews in Morocco sympathy with native Christians and HERBERT JACQUES· demissionaries can hardly be questioned, • scribes in the M atin of Paris, appears to think that there is danger the plundering of the Mellah, or Jewof doing the Japanese injustice and ish quarter, of the Moroccan city of of creating a prejudice against them Fez. Twelve thousand persons were which may have little to stand on. In rendered homeless. Not an article in a published letter he says: " I think any shop, not a remnant of furniture the charge that the police forced the remained after the mob had finished accused under torture has not been their work. Everything which could proved. The head of the police, Gen- not be carried off because of its size eral Akashi, denies flatly that torture was simply broken to pieces on the has been used. So does the govern- spot. Two thousand soldiers took ment general. I call attention to the part in the plundering, which lasted charge that the Japanese authorities three days. In whole streets the rubseek to weaken or oppose Christianity. bish reached to the height of the first The opposite is the truth. The gov- story. The most violent earthquake ernment general of Chosen has for could not have produced a m,ore terrieight years past granted annually to ble picture. When the first day's the Korean Y. M. C. A. the sum of plundering was ended the mob threat- $5,000 in aiel of the work under its ened to return and finish the work by care. The missionaries have been pro- massacring the entire Jewish popUlace. tected in person and property and Most of these, however, succeeded in have pursued their work in all parts escaping to the French camp at Dar of Korea during the days of unrest Debibagh, where they have been enanel even war." camped and are for the present sup- ported by Jewish SUbscriptions from NORTH AFRICA Europe.
'TMethodist Progress in Algeria DER A Moslem Call to Arms HE development of Methodism ISLAM prints a translation of has been rapid in Oran, Algeria, the proclamation issued by the in the last year," writes the Rev. Wil- Sheik of the Sinussi order-the great liam E. Lowther. "We came to this Moslem secret society of the African city as strangers less thana year ago. desert-in which the faithful are To-day we have a mission hall, where urged to oppose Italian advance in services are held every week in Span- Tripoli. It is a curious document, ish and French. The attendance is which recalls the Saracen phraseology so large that we must have more room of the crusader novels of Walter and we are planning to open two branches in the city. A Spanish as-
Scott. Death in the Holy War is de- Nigeria the postmaster, the governclared to be "the deepest longing of ment clerks and probably the sergeant of police (being the only men who 'l: man of heart since it signifies true c!ln read and write), are native Chris- tIans. The Moslems are hopelessly lIfe and by God's grace the last step outdistanced in this way.
to the presence of God." Salvation Marvels of Progress and prayer are called down "on all REV. w. R. KIRBY, an earnest who extend the dominion of the faith with the sword's sharpness," fulfilling missionary at Yalemba in Belthe Koran's words, "Battle with un- gian Kongo, a station which was ocbelievers whom you find about you." "For Paradise lies under the shadow cupied by the celebrated George Grenof swords; the martyr feels death only as ~ light pre~sure of the finger when fell just before his death in 1906. At he IS filled wlth the hot desire for it. The breath of Paradise fans him and that time the language of the people houris seek to draw his gaze on them- ~ad not been reduced to writing, yet selves when he lies wound-covered. Up then, worshipers of God! Free It was soon found that the work of heart and honor from the unbeliever's hands! Wash the garment of your missionaries laboring in distant stamanhood from this stigma and pour tions had begun to tell in benighted wealth and blood into the fight. God has commanded the Jihad (Holy Yalemba. It seems that some men, War). Let none rest till arms are laid down! Endurance! Endurance! 10 or IS years previously, had been God is near to help." working on the mission-steamers, and had learned the rudiments of reading and writing. On returning home these "boys" had begun to teach'
others all that they themselves had acquired. For instance, a man from Yakusu, who had been working about WEST AFRICA the mission-station, settled at Ilondo A A New Bible for the Blacks a?d gathered together groups of RCHDEACON DENNIS, of the vlllagers for such instruction as he Church Missionary Society, an- was able to impart. Consequently, nounces the completion of his transla- when Mr. Kirby entered upon his tiOT! of th~ Bible into the Ibo tongue work, he found a school already whlch, wlth the exception of the started; and, moreover, a "boy" who Hausa and. Mandingo languages, is had been taught by the Yakusu work- the most wldely spoken language of man had gone 50 miles up country V'olest Africa, being used by some a?d was preaching the Gospel in a re- 4,000,000 people. The New Testa- gIOn where the white man was entire- ment, printed in 1909, has already been ly unknown! Now there are three sold in a 5,000 edition and the Ibos flourishing schools iwn hthoahtaddinstervicet~ the teachers being boys atare reading this-and reading it aloua tended the accustomed mission school. -in their villages. One result has This place of work is an off-shoot of been a contribution to the British Bi- the wide-extending operations of the ble Society of £20 from eight con- Baptist Missionary Society, started in gregations, consisting mostly of un- Kongoland in 1878. Spreading itself baptized people. The Ibos have re- over some T,500 miles of river-way sponded to the Gospel more quickly the mission has a staff of 80 men and than any other people in Nigeria. women. Fifty years ago they were naked sav- EAST CENTRAL AFRICA ages and often cannibals. Now large I A Timid People numbers of them are to be found scat- N some impressions of the people . of Toro, in Central Africa, given !ered over. Northern Nigeria, work- 111 Mercy and Truth, Dr. J. H. Cook hmog~~a:shlengatmteenedrsa,nttse,legertca.pheIrns' clerks almost speaks of timidity, want of spirit, every important town in Northern
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dirty habits, and affectionate disposi- (Iuirers, who WE're earll(~tl.' seeking- tion. The first characteristic is illus- trated by a curious story: "Cycling the light. Thcre were present 800 along the road the other day, I saw a woman about 50 yards ahead with a people altogether. load of vegetables and implements on her heac!. I came slowly so as not Then the Bolenge Evangelist, Tyck- to scare her, and gave her timely warning with my bell; but she gave ansomo, arose. vVhen he came to the a shout of terror, flung her basket on the ground, so that all its contents mission station, years before that rolled in different directions, and made a wild, head-long plunge into the jun- time, he was a long, lanky, awkward gle! It took some minutes to collect her scattered goods and chattels, and hoy. Now he arose, conscious of the longer still to persuade her we were friends and only wanted to help and importance of the moment; he seemed not to frighten her." It seems that, even when little is the matter with to grow a little taller and a little them, these people exclaim "ninkaba" (I'm dying) or "tinyina mani" (I've straighter, and then he reasoned of no strength). Hence, one of the most important missions in hospital is to sin and of judgment to come. As he try to bring sunshine into their lives, and, to use a schoolboy expression, prest home the claims of the Lord to "buck them up." Jesus Christ, the whispering and the From the Upper Kongo fidgeting ceased, and in tense eager- REV. AND MHS. HEN SEY of the Christian Missionary Society, ness the crowd listened to the mes- made a trip to Monieka from the upper Kongo a short time ago. Hun- sage. dreds of welcoming natives sur- rounded them, and many fought after- The elders remained after the ser- ward for a peep into the doors and windows into which the white people vices. Then rose Lonjatka, the here- had gone, because they had never seen a white woman. The great wooden ditary chief, who, in his own town, is drums were then sounded and soon a multitude had gathered under the as autocratic as the Czar. He has spreading branches of a great pala- . ver tree. Within its shade sat a great 210 wives, who live in 40 houses, and circie of red-painted natives. In the center of one side of the circle sat the with a dignity befitting such a man, chiefs and the old men, each in his own chair of state, with a curious he said, "White man, the words of broad-bladed knife in his right hand. To the left sat the young warriors, God which you have spoken to us uneasy, and beyond them the boys, as fidgety as the boys of any land. To feel very good in our stomachs. If the right the women and the girls were huddled in a shapeless mass, our young people agree to them, it giggling and gossipping. The other side of the circle, opposite the chiefs will be good for moniek. At Bolenge and the old men, was made up of in- there are other missionaries. Why do you not come and stay with us? We will build you a house, and you shall teach us of your new 'witch-doctor,'
whom you call Jesus, and, perhaps, even we old men will agree to Him."
The missionary explained to them the impossibility of founding a sta- tion there, but they agreed to build at once a large house in which to wor- ship God. Overwhelmed by the large- ness of the opportunity among this great population, the man of God was prayerfully wishing for a steamer, ever so small, that he might be able to travel frequently the distance of 200 miles between Bolenge and Mo- nieka. He decided to send an appeal to friends in the United States. While that appeal was on its way, a mis- sionary convention was held in Ore- gon, and a pledge of $r5,000 was made to build a steamer for this very work.
Surely, surely, "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." •
Islam Spreading in Nyanaland than $2,000, which is the more re- grettable since the opportunities are W E regret to read in Central great and the success has been very A/rica, the organ of the Uni- good. The mission is not very widely known and it has languished some- versities' Mission, further evidence what since the death of its founder in of the spread of Islam among the 1908. Therefore, its friends ap- Yaos at the south end of Lake Nyassa. proached the Synod of the National Along the lake shore north and south Church of the Canton Vaud, Switzer- of Malindi there is a teeming popula- land, and urged that it undertake to tion of Yaos. They may be all de- aid in the support of the Mission Philscribed as Mohammedans; and tho africaine in a similar manner as it is many of them are so only nominally, cooperating with the Basel Missionyet they present a strong and united ary Society, the Paris Missionary Soopposition to the spread of Christian- ciety, and the Mission Romande. ity. The propagators of Islam are While the Synod, to its regret, had quite ignorant, many of them being to decline the request, at least for the unable to read the Koran, and their present, it decided to send two mischief concern seems to be in organiz- sionaries from other African fields to ing rites and ceremonies which appeal visit Angola, that they report on the to the sensual appetites of the people, state of the work and thus the whole or witchcraft and other questionable question might be considered again practises. The old heathen tribal after their return. dances have been adopted as the method of initiation into Mohammed- Thus, Mr. Francois Chapuis, a misanism, while other dances of a most sionary of the Basel Society in Kamlicentious character have been intro- erun, and Mr. Bertrand MoreilIon, a duced. Fear, superstition, lust, and missionary of the Paris Society in vice claim these people body and soul, Griqualand, Eastern South Africa, as Islam is spreading. have started upon a visit to the work of the Philafrican Mission. The Philafrican Minion Heatheniam "Hard Hit" I N r897, the late Heli Chatelain, of Lausanne, founded the Philafrican BISHOP PEEL visited the Uganda Liberators' League, with headquarters mission in the autumn of 191 I, in America, for the purpose of evan- and he wrote that he was "amazed at gelizing Angola, the Portuguese col- the great progress made" since 1907-8. ony in West Africa. The name of "Heathenism is hard hit in the whole the society was later changed to Phil- field." Hostility has wholly vanished, african Mission and it has been con- and in every part is interest and readiducted, since Igor, by an interdenomi- ness to be instructed. At a village in national committee in Lausanne, Swit- the Mvumi district the aged chief zerland. While the Philafrican Mis- made this pathetic appeal to the sion aims to promote the religious, Bishop: "I am old-many of us are moral, and intellectual welfare of the old-we can not hope t~ learn to read more than 3,000,000 heathen negroes the Book. But there are many young of Angola, it has peculiarly emphasized ones whom you can teach. They can the industrial and agricultural train- learn to read. But we all want to ing of the negroes, following quite know the Word; we all want to beclosely the example of Booker T. lieve in the God you tell us about. Vashington among the negroes of We do believe the God you tell us the South of the United States. Its about." In this district 29 sons and chief station is at Lincoln, about 150 nephews of the chiefs are in the mismiles southeast of Benguela, the coast sion schools, and over 700 persons city of Angola. Its workers are two were admitted as inquirers and 33 as married and one unmarried lay work- catechumens, while 21 adults were ers and its income is rather small, less
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
baptized. In the Bugiri district 500 ISLANDS OF THE SEA joined the ranks of inquirers; 5 chiefs, 10 whom teachers could not be sent, What One Society Has Achieved hired Christian men to go and live among their people, paying them at T HE Australasian Missionary So- the rate of six rupees a .month. It ciety has work in each one of was in this district that a member of these island groups, but mainly in the the royal stock which rules Ukaguru, first one named: Fiji, Samoa, New an important chief who lives at the Britain, Papua and Solomons. In north end of the Nguru mountains, Fiji 369 missionaries labor, with 93 not content with voicing his plea, fol- native ministers, 32,854 church-memlowed the Bishop over 50 miles to bers and 4,460 on trial; 1,042 school.s Berega, and sought the sympathy of with 16,951 scholars, and 84,406 atthe ruling men there, his connections. tendants at worship. The population Eventually he prevailed, and his face numbers about 120,000, of whom 80 lighted up with pleasure on getting per cent. are natives and 20 per cent. the promise of a teacher. coolies brought in to work on the sugar plantations. I The Evil Case of Madagaacal' T is difficult for members of a Chris- Bible Work in the Philippines tian Endeavor Society, meeting quietly in the church parlor or school- T RULY the curse of Babel rests room at home, to imagine the possi- heavily upon the Philippine Isbility of being regarded as dangerous lands. With less than 8,000,000 of political firebrands and revolutionar- people there are upwards of 80 lanies. But this is the fate that has be- guages and dialects spoken in the Isfallen Christian Endeavor Societies lands. in the great island of Madagascar. There, during the past year, the Chris- The American Bible Society, in cotian Endeavor societies have been operation with the British and Forbranded as politically dangerous by eign Society, has been wrestling with the governmental officials, with the this problem in the Philippines for a result that it has been made an offense dozen years. In the beginning a tenfor them to meet, and the work has tative arrangement was made with the been severely hampered. The whole British and Foreign Society whereby matter, together with the terribly re- it assumed responsibility for certain pressive measures that have been taken dialects and we for others. The against the day-schools of the London British Society has completed the Missionary Society and other organiza- translation and has already published tions, and the petty persecution which the Bible complete in the Tagalog lanhas even intervened and harried our guage, and the New Testament in Malagasy Christians when praying the Pangasinan and the Bicol lanfor friends who are sick, is the sub- guages, with the Gospel of St. Luke ject at the present moment of diplo- in the Igorrote. The American Bible matic negotiations between our gov- Society has completed the Bible in ernments. We wish to call all Chris- two languages, the Ilocano and the tian Endeavorers, both as individuals Panayan-Visayan tongues, the New and in their societies, to pray fervent- Testament in three others, the Ibanag, ly and earnestly for strength to be Pampangan, and the Cebuan-Visayan, given to the Christian Endeavorers with the Gospels in Samareno and the of Madagascar in their hour of diffi- Pentateuch in Pampangan and Ceculty, and that the negotiations now buan. Together then, this gives us proceeding may be brought to an is- the Bible in three languages, the Tasue which will mean freedom and galog, I1ocano, and Panayan-Visayan ; liberty of worship to those people. the New Testament in five other lan- guages, the Ibanag, Pangasinan, Pam- pangan, Bicol, and Cebuan-Visayan; with the Gospels in Samarefio and in Igorrote.-Bible Society Record.
Difficulties in the Philippine Islands them in English. We have made pro- vision for roo young men; the Pres- A WRITER in Evangelical Christ- byterians can care for half as many, endom points out the difficulties and the Protestant Episcopal Church of missionary work among the Fili- is providing for about 40 more. There pinos, who for many centuries have is no girls' dormitory except one mainbeen instructed in Roman Catholicism. tained by the government, which ac- Harder problems than those which commodates a few more than roo are met in heathen lands, present girls.-World-Wide Missions. themselves. The soil for the Gospel has to be created. The loss of any The Gains of Twelve Yean idea of the union of religion with morality is complete, and great masses UNDER Catholic Spain this field of the people have lapsed into aggres- was absolutely closed to evangelsive unbelief. Superstition and idolatry hold sway, and spiritual darkness ical teaching, but in the 12 years of prevails. American possession more than 150 American evangelical missionaries, Yet, the Gospel is making headway, tinder several boards, have gathered the Bible is being circulated, and men over 50,000 Filipino converts, and and women are turning to Christ. more than that number of adherents, The images are destroyed, and chang- with hundreds of Filipino preachers ed lives are being lived. Many are and teachers. Bibles have been given taking up their cross and are follow- to the people in their own dialect, and ing Christ, thanks to the American the evangelistic, educational and medi- Protestant missionaries who are work- cal work is fairly well established. ing quietly among the people, who were kept in darkness by the Church Islam or Christianity? Which of Rome throughout the years of Spain's sovereignty over the Islands. Shall It Be?
Among the Students of Manila THE M aandbericht van het N eder- landsche Zendelinggenootschap THE new Methodist dormitory at Manila, accommodating 100 of calls attention to the present situation the young Filipino students attending in the Dutch East Indies. There the the government college at Manila, old order is rapidly changing and an was opened January r6 and was im- intellectual and social awakening is mediately fil1ed with students. The taking place. In New Guinea, the Rev. Ernest S. Lyons, of Manila, writes: "The statistics lately gathered harvest seems to be on hand after So show that there are 5,540 students in the intermediate, high and college de- years of hard and seemingly fruitless partments of the government schools labors, and the people are calling loudin Manila and an average of 78 per ly for preachers and teachers. In Cecent. of these are from the provinces; lebes, the awakening is marvelous and nearly I,OOO of these students are the natives themselves are building girls. The government has begun a schools and are begging for teachers university which will be complete in for their children. In Java, the higher every department, and this with the classes are accessible as never before, normal and trade-school advantages, and in Sumatra the fields are white will double the attendance of these unto the harvest. But the church is Manila institutions in the next three slow to send out reenforcements and years. The crying need is for cheap does not seem to understand the imand well-regulated homes for these portance of the present hour. Islam provincial students; the next step will is ready to enter all the open doors be to provide religious services for among the animistic tribes in the Dutch East Indies. If the church fails to make use of the great oppor- tunity, it practically means the hand- ing over of these islands to Islam.
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
AMERICA in language, will hold its sessions in Spain itself. The home mission so- Missionary Education Conference cieties are forming departments of their work that they may use these WITH one of the largest registra- !3ibles 'Yhen ready, and may reach, tions in the history of the move- If possIble, these Spanish-speaking people who are within the United ment-a total of 562-the tenth an- States. A conference on religious nual conference of the Missionary work among these people has just Education Movement began its meet- been held. The expanding fields in ings July I2, at Silver Bay, N. Y. the Philippines, in part in Spanish, There was an increase in almost every in Cuba,· in Porto Rico, South Amercase in the number of delegates from ica and in Spain itself, are demandthe different denominations. The ing this translation. There has long Presbyterians led, with I I2; Episco- been a Bible in Spanish, of course, palian, lO5; Methodist, 82; Congre- both Catholic and Protestant. The gational, 81; Baptist, 66; Reformed, new one made by Protestants is not, 7; Lutheran, 6; other denominations, however, so much a revision as it is a wholly new translation from He- 54· brew and Greek.
In I902, only one mission board in A Bible in Chinook Jargon the United States and one in Canada were promoting organized mission A FASCINATING article in the study; in 19I2, there are 47 boards Bible in the World tells of a new tlsing the text-books and other publi- translation of St. Mark's Gospel into cations of the Movement. During the "Chinook Jargon," giving the story present year approximately I75,o00 of the strange lingua franca-"twopersons have enrolled in mission study fifths Chinook, two-fifths other Inclasses. During its decade of history dian tongues, the rest English and the Missionary Education Movement Canadian-French"-which sprung up has published and distributed through through the contact of traders with the mission boards I,129,297 volumes remnants of scattered Indian tribes in of missionary study text-books and British Columbia and the territory of other similar literature. Alaska. This language has no pre- tensions as to its past or future, but Meeting of the Continuation Committee it provides the best means of giving the Word of God to some 50,000 In- THE Continuation Committee of dians, many of them illiterate, but the World Missionary Conference capable of understanding what is read will meet at Lake Mohonk, N. Y., to them in Chinook Jargon by their from September 26 to October r. It children. is expected that the majority of the European members of the committee Dr. Grenfell's Heavies:! Burden Removed will be present and that important subjects will be discust. DR. GRENFELL'S work in La- brador has assumed such an in- A Bible for Spanish Americans ternational character that there is now every prospect that the doctor will be S O great is the number of Spanish- liberated from the arduous double task speaking people in the United of directing oper.ations in Labrador, States, and especially in the south and and also raising the necessary funds southwest, that the American Bible for its prosecution. The mission is Society and some of the American to be put on an international basis, mission boards are joining with the representing- the United States, Can- British and Foreign Bible Society to ada, Newfoundland and England; make a new translation of the Bible and the whole of the personal reexpressly for them. Dr. Charles W. Drees will represent us on the commission. The commission was to begin its sittings last stlmmer, and in order to secure greater perfectness
sponsibility will be taken off the mis- and customs. On their return to sionary's own shoulders. This will America they are pledged to give set Dr. Grenfell free to devote the three years to work among immigrants whole of his time to the Labrador under the Presbyterian Home Mission work to which he has given 22 years Board. They are the first young men of arduous toil. The opening of the to avail themselves of fellowships Fishermen's Institute at St. John's, which were created a few months ago Newfoundland, has taken place, the by the immigration department of the Duke of Connaught performing the board. ceremony. Mr. F. W. A. Archibald has gone to Newfoundland as chair- California', Flood of Foreigners man of the mission council, to repre- sent the Deep Sea mission and its ACCORDING to the last census, in supporters. a total population of 4r6,000, San Francisco has 206,000 of foreign Giving on the Mission Field birth. Of these, 60,000 are Germans, 30,000 Italians, 30,000 Jews, 10,000 T HOSE who sometimes weary of French, ro,ooo Chinese, 10,000 Croat- the multiplicity of demands on ians, 8,000 Mexicans, etc. etc. In Northern California are found as Christian purses for world-wide mis- many of foreign birth representing sions, should draw fresh faith and en- some 20 nationalities. couragement from the fact that on the inission fields themselves new Lepers in South America sources of supply are constantly opening up. The home money is like blast- I N Paramaribo, the capital city of ing powder which, in its operation, Dutch Guiana, there are 3,000 lepbrings unsuspected springs to the sur- ers-in other words, one-tenth of the face. Illustrations of this fact can be population of 30,000 is afflicted with found on all sides and ever tend to this awful disease. By way of isolatincrease in number. Thus, for ex- ing the sufferers-or rather, some of ample, the budget of the Y. M. C. A. them-from the healthful inhabitants, in Dairen (Manchuria) which amounts a settlement has been established under to 8,000 yen yearly, is all provided in the name of the Bethesda Leper Home, the city. Further, quite a number of conducted by workers connected with Y. M. C. A. classes are taught by secre- the Dutch Reformed Lutheran, and taries in the offices of the Specie Bank Moravian churches. While the spiritof Dairen and of the South Manchur- ual aim is ever to the front, endeavors ian Railway. And this self-support are made to promote the comfort of is the case with most of the Y. M. C. the victims, by assisting them at such A. work in the East. . . . When tasks as are in their power, i. e., the the Tarn Taru (India) leper asylum routine work of the home, shoemaking was opened, a Mohammedan gentle- and repairing, making charcoal, etc., man was led to give $1,000 and a and to alleviate their sufferings from pledge of $32 annually for clothing this most loathsome of diseases. for the lepers. A local landowner gave a valuable hOTse to be sold for American Bible Society's Record the asylum's benefit and the Sikhs of the Golden Temple at Amritsar actu- T HE total issues of the American ally sent $r66 by their leading priest. Bible Society during its 96 years Going Abroad to Study Home Minions of life reach the gigantic figure of 94,000,000 volumes. The total issues THREE young ministers of the for 19II amounted to nearly 3,700,000 Presbyterian Church (North) volumes (most of these being portions, however, and not whole Bibles). The have gone to Hungary, where they will Bible has been published recently in spend a year among the peasants of several new languages or dialects. In that country, ~t1dyillg their languages the Philippines there is the Ibanag
WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
New Testament, while the Old Testa- Training Schools for Laymen ment is being brought out in the Panayan dialect and the Pentateuch in DENOMINATIONS are taking Pampangan and Cebuan is ready for steps, through their official agenthe printer. The Kurdish New Testa- cies, to establish training schools for ment is well under way, and revisions laymen, while the laymen are making are made in Tagalog, Portuguese, the similar moves on their own account. ese, and Zulu. Truly, the society is Wenli and Mandarin in China, Siamdoing a blest work in furnishing the Thus, the General Assembly of the Word of God to the heathen in their Southern Presbyterian Church named own languages. a committee to draw up courses of study and encourage synods to plan Laymen in Church Work schools. The first summer school in the Southern Presbyterian Church W ITH the opening of October, has been held at Jackson, Miss., un- plans are to go into operation der the auspices and direction of the wide-awake Synod of Mississippi. It in New York which are looking to- was most successful and proved a great blessing, giving at the same ward the most comprehensive use of time much help. for the holding of other schools which are intended to laymen in missionary and Sabbath- be made continuous throughout the year. The chief purpose of these school and social service work. The schools is to make more effective the increased interest now held by lay- Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist, men. While it is intended to pay in a few cases trained men who act as Methodist, and other bodies are joint leaders, it is the governing idea that those who are trained in these schools in these plans, whose primary part is shall be bank clerks, professional and other business men, who give their educational. The institute plan, in- spare time, or some part of it, with- out salaries. The instruction given is augurated by the Men and Religion to be along all lines, as missions, Bible study, boys' work, social serv- Movement, is to be carried out by the ice, and evangelism, and it is ex- pected that these schools thus will do Federation of Churches, and Brook- much to overcome the narrowness, which usually obtains when one line lyn and Staten Island, as well as Man- of work is fostered.
hattan and the Bronx, are to be in- Evangelistic Conference in Chicago cluded. The institutes will be held T HE Moody Bible Institute of Chicago has invited all the evanin central locations that mature men, gelists of the United States to be its guests at a conference planned for especially elders and vestrymen, may September I8th to 20th. Among the themes to be considered are such unite in listening to the lectures on timely topics as "The Weakness of Present-Day Evangelism"; "How Far missions, evangelism, the Bible and are Eccentric or Extraordinary Methods Beneficial in Promoting social service. True Revivals ?" ; "What Truths Should be Emphasized in Day Meet- Teachers to go afterward into the ings ?"; "Evangelization of Cities"; "Rural Evangelism." "The thought churches to give courses of instruc- tion are to be trained in special classes.
These teachers are expected to be paid by the churches who employ them later and the students enrolled in the classes to be organized will be asked to pay tuition, we are told.
In Brooklyn, and in Manhattan, as widely as possible, Bible classes are to be formed in churches and Bible teachers provided for them. This Bible work is in charge, not of the school to train teachers already men- tioned, but of a committee on Bible study. .
Behind this movement and help1l1g it in person, are prominent laymen, among them J. P. Morgan, W. S.
Bennett, W. J. Schieffelin, and R. F.
Cutting.
is to havc tile cvangdists thCll1Sc1vcs CIII;tnating from tliC c010rc(1 racc it- do most of the talking and the criti- self makes it a tokcn of lively prom- cizing, if any of the latter is re- Ise. quired, alth(j) a place is to be made A Indians in the United States on the program for a free expression CCORDING to the census of of opinion on the part of sympathetic 1910, the total number of In-. pastors," says the call for the confer- dians in continental United States is ence. 265,683, and in Alaska, 25,331. The largest number of Indians is found Self.Help Creed for Black Men and in Oklahoma, viz., 74,825, while Ari- zona has 29,201; New Mexico, 20,- Women 573; South Dakota, 19,137; Califor- nia, 16,37 I ; Washington, 10,997 ; SOME very good advice is con- Montana: 10,745; Wisconsin, 10,142, tained in a little leaflet put out by etc. IndIans are found in every State and territory, but their number in a denominational organization of col- Delaware, Vermont, New Hamp- ored Baptists, which is entitled "Ten shire and West Virginia is less than Things the Negro Must Do for Him- 50. In continental United States the self." The enumeration is most whole- number of Indians per IOO square some in its happy mingling of high miles is 8.9. It varies from 107.8 in idealism and everyday shrewd sense. Oklahoma to 0. I in West Virginia. The list runs as follows: The number of Indians per 100,000 total population declined from 721 in "I. We must get right with God 1870 to 288.9 in 19IO. and make our religion practical. Less noise and feeling and more quiet, The total number of Indians in con- wholesome, everyday living. !inental United States was 278,000 m 1870, 244,000 in 1880, 248,253 in "2. We must be honest, truthful ISg0, and 237,196 in 1900. Thus, and reliable. their number decreased from 1870 to 1900, but it increased considerably "3. We must keep our bodies clean. (28,487) during the decade between "4. We must keep our homes clean. 1900 and 1910. The number of In- "5. We must keep our yards clean dians "in Alaska is on the decrease, -back and front. viz., from 32;996 in 1880 and 29,536 "6. We must stop hanging over the in 1900, to 25,33 I in 1910. gate and out of the window. "7. We must behave curselves bet- The number of Indian tribes is ter on the streets and in public car- large, but some have very few memriers, and stop talking so much and bers, six tribes being represented by so loud. a single member each, and 30 with "8. We must make the word 'ne- a membership under 10. The Cherogro' a synonym for honesty, cleanli- kees have 31,489 members; the Navaness, intelligence, industry and right- jo, 32ASS; the Chippewa, 20,214; the eousness by doing with our might Choctaw, 15,917; and the Teton what our hands find to do. Sioux, 14,284. Of the remaining con- "9. We must be loyal and helpful tinental United States tribes none has to our race, by encouraging all worthy as many as 7,000 members, but there efforts put forth for its uplift. are 74 tribes represented by not less "10. We must respect our women, than 500 individuals. In Alaska the educate our children, and stay out Kuswogmiut have 1,480 members, and of the saloon and dives. Where we the Aleutt, 1,451, but none of the have the franchise we must vote for other tribes in the territory has as men who are opposed to the saloon." many as a thousand members. Counsel like this well appropriated will b,uild up in any race manhood and womanhood which the most fanatic prejudice could not refuse to respect. That it should be counsel
H)J2] WORLD-WIDE MISSIONARY NEWS
THE CONTINENT was sent out to Korea by the Pres- byterian Board, and she entered at Annual Eruption of Slovaks once upon the greatly needed work among native women. At Pyeng T HE rush to the cities which IS Yang, where she had been stationed, characteristic of Germany as of she met Dr. Moffett. They were other European lands, has depleted married in 1899, and together they the country of farm labor. Th.is is have continued in faithful, marvelnow supplied by thousands of mIgra- ously blest service to the Master. tory farm hands who pass fWf!! Rus- Th birth of two sons, who now have sia and Austria over the frontIer, re- lost the loving mother in their early turning at the end of the harvesting youth, increased Mrs. Moffett's duseason. These people are called ties, but she neglected none of them. Sachsengaenger ("men going to Sax- Her husband had been the first Gosany"). The colporteurs work among {:tel preacher to enter Pyeng Yang, them but find them often unable to and, by the blessing of the Lord, a read the Scriptures. The Slovaks great circle of converts has g;athered of the Laros region in Austria are around him. They love hIm and typical. They wear sandals of bass, they naturally look to him for counsel and dilapidated clothes. A glass of and for guidance in spiritual and potato brandy precedes every meal other affairs. Mrs. Moffett stood and usually costs as much as the faithfully at his side, loved by all, esmeal. They are Romanists, a?d pecially by the Korean women, to priest-ridden ones. Every famIly whom she ministered so graciously all spends 40 heller at Easter to have a these years. Mrs. Moffctt'~ death is bottle of schnapps (potato brandy) a great blow to the work m Kor~a, consecrated by the priest. At Kreuz, especially now where the natIve where thousands of harvesters from Christians are being harassed, almost Galicia and Russia pass westward, the beyond endurance, by false accusacolporteur Czudnochowsk~ sells many tions and imprisonment and torture Scriptures, but the AustrIan harvest- and the threat of death. ers say that they are fl equently oblig-ed on returning home, to sur- Last of the Old Guard in Syria render 'them to the priests for burning. Instead of Scripture-reading SAMUEL JESSUP did not surthese latter recommend pilgrimages vive long his older brother, Henry to Kalwarya in Galicia, a sort of East European Lourdes. Here ~here H. With him the last of the noble is a huge monastery church wI~h. a wonder-working picture of the Vlrglll group of veterans who were 011 the and 45 chapels, around which pilgrims circulate on their knees to ob- field when the Syrian Mission was tain Papal indulgence. transferred from the American to the OBITUARY NOTES Presbyterian Board in 1870, has gone Mrs. S. A. Moffett, of Korea to his rest, and men of a younger T HE hearts of those who know and understand the situation in gtoentehreatiMo~nstenro, less faithful and loyal Korea, and especially in Pyeng Yang, are on watch in the must have bled when the sad news came to them that Mrs. S. A. Mof- vineyard of the Lord in Syria. fett had been called to her eternal reward. She was born in Virginia Sa:muel Jessup was born in Mont- City, Nev., in 1870! and studied medicine in PhiladelphIa and San Fran- rose, Pa., in 1833. After graduating cisco. As Dr. Mary Alice Fish, she from the academy at Cortlandt, N.
Y., he spent five years as a salesman in a country store. But the departu~e of his beloved brother Henry for hIS wonderful life work in the Levant in 1854, caused Samuel to surrender also fully to the Lord. After he had finished his studies at Yale University and at Union Theological Seminary,
he was appointed to Syria in 1861, rVar Cry, was established; and the organization began to become more but the outbreak of the war pre- widely known. When General Booth published his volume, "Darkest Lonvented his sailing, and he served as don," in 1890, his scheme for the en- lightenment and the industrial supchaplain of volunteers in the Federal port of the lower classes, the atten- Army, until, in 1862, he w~s able .to tion of the world was attracted and go to his chosen work m Sy'na. his scheme was much commented upon, frequently adversely. In the There his station work has mamly end, however, the scheme was en- dorsed by many. General Booth and been at Sidon, and he has been able his followers have outlived the ridi- cule heaped. upon them in the early to render a great service to the years of hIS work. The Salvation Army has grown until it is found in Master. He was engaged almost every part of the earth. It has done much good, and its usefulness is accontinuously in itinerating evangel- ~nowledged even by those opposed to Its methods. General Booth has left istic tours. His popularity among the behind him a great work and the beautiful memory of a Christian man Arabs was remarkable. They ad- consecrated to the Master and used by Him to His glory. mired his soldierly ways and they Mary Holbrook Chappel loved him, because the charm of hIS personal manner was remarkable.
Along the whole Lebat;on coast me.n knew him and they hstened to hIS talked with h.i~ by sermons, they they were w!1hng ~tnhde wayside, and glad to receive a Bible from hIm.
Thus Dr. Samuel Jessup leaves be- hind him the fragrant smerevmicoeryofof~hae long life spent in the Master, and abundantly blest by HIm.
General William Booth MARY J. HOLBROOK was born REV. WILLIAM BOOTH, found- in England, but was brought by er and commander-in-chief of the her parents to the United States Salvation Army, died in Lon~on on when she was but an infant. The August 20th. Born in Nottmg:ham father was a Methodist minister of marked.ability and piety, serving his in 1829, and educated at a pnv::te church lt1 the State of Pennsylvania. school in that town, he became a mmister of the Methodist New Con- After having been a teacher for a nection in 1850. He was appoil!tt;d short time, Miss Holbrook went out mainly to hold special evangehshc to Japan as a missionary of the services, and to this work he felt so Methodist Episcopal Woman's Forstrongly and he was so successful eign Missionary Society in 1878. She in it, that he resigned when .the served in To~yo until 1886, when she Annual Conference of 1861 reqUlred was placed lt1 charge of the Bible him to engage in regular circl!it Training School in Yokohama. For work. Thus, he became an evangeltst a ~h.ort .time she then accepted a among the churches wherever he pOSItIOn 111 the Peeresses' School in found an opportunity. When he held Tokyo, under the special oversight services in the East End of London, of the Empress, which she held until he saw the great misery and the her ~arriage to Rev. Benjamin Chaputter indifference of the people, w~o pel m 1890. She continued her mis- s~i8o9n8,arywawsoirkn~ttorumsoenmtealexintenint 'aaungdu~atin did not attend any place of worsh;p, and he started the "Christian MISsion" in July, 1865. It was' formed mg mothers meetings throughout upon military lines, and at first grew Japan. Her fluent use of an elegant very slowly, amid vast difficulties an.d style of Japanese made her especially great opposition. In 1878 t~e orga.m- useful in spreading the Gospel among zation was named the SalvatIOn them. Her useful, consecrated life Army"; in 1880, its weekly paper, the ended on July II, 1912.
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1891
J. M
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. t.-Old Series.–J ANUARY.–VoL. IV. No. t.-New Series.
L–LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M. SHERWOOD, D.D. Like it winter avalanche in the Engadine-sudden, swift and inevitable-Deathcame to our beloved, associate editor, on October 22d. He had been, as usual, at the weekly prayer service, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, the week previous, and had spoken-all unct'>nsciously-his last public words. At the close of a brief, but earnest and impressive address, he faltered a little, said, "Let us pray," and sank back into his seat, speechless. He was tenderly borne to his home, and, after a few days of flickering flame, life's lamp went out so quietly that the exact moment was scarcely perceptible-let us not say "went out," but was transferred to another sphere to burn and shine forever. This departure withdraws from earthly scenes a man who had a large circle of friends. He had been preacher, pastor, author, editor, and in every sphere of activity he touched nothing which he did not adorn. He was not cut off prematurely, for he was in his seventyeighth year; and his years were packed with various and versatile endeavor. Born in Fishkill, N. Y., in 1813, he had only a common-school education, and entered, as clerk, his father's store in Johnsville; until, feeling in him the resistless impulse, toward the ministry of the Gospel, he, with his father's consent, turned his steps toward the pulpit, was taken under care of presbytery and studied theology with the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fishkill, Rev. Robert G. Armstrong. At, the age of twenty-two, he was licensed to preach, and subsequently served churches in Mendon, N.Y., New Windsor, N.Y., and Bloomfield, N. J. In each of these churches he left his mark both as a preacher and a pastor.' He also acted as evangelist for a term in Milford, Conn. After his health seemed to demand a change of occupation he found a fitting sphere for his busy brain and ready pen in the gi'eat republic of letters. His work as editor of the National Preacher, Biblical Repository, New York Evangelist, Eclectic Magazine, Princeton Review, Hours at Home, Homiletic Repiew, and MISSION-
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M .. SHERWOOD, D. D
ARY REVIEW, has entered, into the unchangable record of history. He was the founder of Hours at Home, which was, in a sense, the parent of Scribner's Magazine; and the richness, variety, and marvel- lous success of the Homiletic Review, none know so well as the twenty thousand readers who study its pages.
Beside all his occasional papers, published in the leading maga- zines and periodicals, he wrote the "History of the Cross," and edited a new edition of the "Life of David Brainerd." He had also written a voluminous work on "Books and Authors," which has not yet ap- peared in print.
Such are the brief outlines of an intellectual life that extended over half a century. He was thrice married; his first wife was Miss Amanda Carpenter; his second, Mills Jane E. Lamberson; the third, Miss Annie Clarke, who survives him, as do also his five children.
We have never known a man of larger capacity for work. No one who knew him would have suspected that he was far on the way toward four-score years. And there was not the slightest sign of intellectual decadence. Up to the last his mind worked with all its pristine vigor and versatility. To the very day when paralysis struck him, he seemed as fresh and young, mentally, as in the years of early manhood, and he actually worked from fifteen to eighteen hours out of every twenty-four.
He was an embodieo, conscience. Duty was his polar star. Indeed, he had but little patienc~ with anything wrong, ignoble, di3honest. In his vocabulary the word" expediency" was not found. Right was his only might, and principle his only policy. There were those who possibly construed as severity what was only an uncompromising adherence to right and righteousness. I,ow moral standards and equivocal moral practices could find with him no toleration, and but little forbearance.
Religiously he was a thoroughly evangelical disciple. He knew no theology but the old theology of Paul. That was good enough for him. He regarded the new notions creeping into the doctrinal beliefs of our day as signs of degeneration and disintegration. He believed implicitly the Word of God and the whole of it, and bowed in humility before tIle mysteries he could not explain. To no work of his life did he give himself with such absolute heartiness as to the editing of a REVIEW whose grand object was to promote a world's evangeli-' zation. ,He was especially desil'Ous' to live till he might see this, the last and most precious work of his life, established on a basis of permanency and having a world-wide circulation.'
As a man, especially in his own household and within th~ circle of intimate friends, we cannot in these pages undertake to photograph his character. There are some secrets that cannot be unveiled to the common eye-they refuse to emerge from their privacy; they lose their beauty by disclosure. It is enough to say that 'he was most bel6lved by those who best kRew him.
Our readers will no longer read his words or feel the pOWEl'!' of his guiding hand in shaping the content·s of this REVIEW. His work here was invaluable. Although his duties, as simply editor, gave him little leisure as a 'Writer, and it was only in an occasional paragraph or a more infrequent article that his hand was seen, even while hidden, it still moved beneath the whole structure of this REVIEW. He was constantly seeking to engage the most competent pens to contribute to its columns, and was always on the alert to improve its quality and increase its circulation and enlarge its influence.
He rests from his labors; we devoutly believe that his works will follow him.
"MORS JANUA VIT.LE."
It may be well for the editor to add that, being left now in sole <lharge of this REVIEW, he proposes some minor alterations, which will be noticeable in the present issue. The number of departments will be less, and the fine print, so trying to many eyes, will be abandoned. Instead of letters from abroad, we shall venture often to give only their substance, and notices of books will appear on,Iy as editorial notes. The Monthly Bulletin will be simply an appendix to General Intelligence, in the briefest and most compendious form, presenting the latest news from various fields, etc. And, in view of the unselfishness of our work, which is undertaken solely for the promotion of the Kingdom of God, we again ask the prayerful, sympathetic co-operation of all who daily pray " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done In earth as it is in heaven."
SYSTBMATIC GIVING.-To raise large sums for missions we have no need to depend on a few large givers, but only to "organize the littles." Dr. Guthrie eloquently urged hundreds of the poorer folk to take subscription cards and fill them up with such sums as they were able, from a sixpence to five shillings; and explained to them how the drops unite in showers, the showers produce rills, the rills, rivers, and the rivers make the sea! Not six hours after his speech a poor woman in Currie's Close had collected from scavengers and night police and basket-wives and match-sellers-and beings who live no mortal can tell how, over half a sovereign! And a little woman, who sat in all weathers on the street selling eggs from her ba8ket, brought in five shillings, the earnings of many a day's labor.
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY. [EDITORIAL. ] On the map of Africa, which history is making, these two names will be engraven in letters so large that they will be read at the distance of ages. It may, therefore, be well to put on permanent record some characteristic facts which link with Equatoria and with each other-David Livingstone and Henry M. Stanley.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE, born March 19, 1813, died April 30, 1873~ having just passed his sixtieth year. Converted at twenty, he was. for forty years, in heart and aim, a mIsSIOnary. Thus have we roughly outlined a life that, within those two-score years, poured forth as much of the costly ointment of a consecrated service as, perhaps, anyone life since the age of the Apostles.
He was a man of singular force. As Sir Bartle Frere said, "Any five years of his life might have established for him, in any other occupation, such a character, and raised for him such a fortune, as none but the most energetic can realize." His last public utterance in his native Scotland seems to have been in Oswell's school, where his closing sentence was: "Fear God and work hard," and these words disclose the double secret of his life. By simple, God-fearing, hardworking perseverance he traveled 29,000 miles in Africa, .and added to the known regions of our globe a million square miles; he discovered Lakes 'Ngami, Shirwa, Nyassa, Moero, Bangweolo, the Upper Zambesi and other rivers; he unveiled the Victoria Falls that surpass Niagara; revealed the high ridges that flank the basin of the central plateau; first, as a European, compassed Tanganyika and gave it its true orientation; explored the geology, and hydrographyfauna and flora of the continent; nd so grappled with the two great enemies of man and beast, in Africa–j'ever and tsetse-that he himself said those two words would, at his death, be found engraven on his heart.
To energy he joined industry. What Livingstone was, as a scientist and explorer, the world does not yet fully know. His powers of mind were but medium, and his early opportunities were but meagre. But, like William Carey, he could" plod;" and rigid economy of time, yoked with patient resoluteness, gave a momentum to his life which native genius and great advantages often fail to secure. In the factory at Blantyre, where attention to his cotton-spinning was necessarily incessant, it was only fragments of time-often less than a minute-that could be spared from his work; but those fragments he gathered up, and it was upon solid and substantial diet that he fed his growing mind. In the books he read as a lad we can see the germs of his scientific career as a man. He was also careful in details. That famous" lined journal' of his was a quarto volume of over 800 pages, where the plain, neat writing is a model and a marvel -of pains and patience. The mind that, even in African wilds, found Telaxation in "Smith's Dictionary of the Bible," will not be charged with lightness or waste of time!
He was certainly ve1'satile~' and what great questions he studied! the dessication of Africa, the possible utilization of her great rivers, .as water highways; the physical structure, geology, climatology, botany, of the tracts traversed! Then, again, we find him translating hymns into the Sechuana language, and adding to all else the toil of book-making, in which, perhaps least of ali, he was a success. This was the only task he did not approach with that enthusiasm, without which he himself said that nothing either good or great is done. Book-making was to him a mere task, to which even crossing Africa was far to be preferred. But it is no marvel if a man, shut in with pagans and for years without contact or converse with a white man, not to sayan Englishman, should feel that he had none of the facile <Jommand over his own tongue, and none of that leisure to digest and .assimilate his own material, which are needful if a book is to be any- thing more than a printed jou1'llal.
Livingstone's services to science were too great for hasty recognition. The accuracy with which he traced his course and marked his geographical points, leaves almost all other explorers behind him. His astronomical observations, his dilicovery of the fact that the In- terior is a plateau intersected by various streams and lakes, whose waters reach the ocean through great fissures in the flanking hills; and his manifold contributions to every department of natural science, compelled even sages to say that such various and versatile suc- .(lesses were without precedent.
Traveler, explorer, geographer, astronomer, zoologist, botanist, physician, missionary-what a many-sided man! What accurate observation of details! What husbanding of results! He brought home twenty-five different sorts of fruits; told of oils, dyes, fibres, varieties -of sheep and vegetable-products of which even the Chamber of Commerce knew hitherto nothing. In May, 1855, the Geographical Sodety decorated him with their highest honor, the gold medal; London, Glasgow and Edinburgh conferred on him the freedom of their dties, while he who loved to minister but not to be ministered unto, shrank from publicity and courted retiracy.
Humor is a conspicuous element in all great natures. A hearty laugh, genuine and generous, somehow inspires confidence. Livingstone's habit of seeing the funny side of things saved many a tragic ending and tU1'lled many a tragedy into a comedy. He writes to his daughter Agnes, about his almost toothless jaws, that if she" takes .any more kisses from him it must be through a speaking trumpet." He declared the sight of a soko (gOt'ilIa) nauseating, and that he is so bideously ugly that he could conceive no other use for him than" to sit for a portrait of Satan." When showing his lantern-slides-the only service for whose repetition the natives clamored-it greatly amused him that those who stood on the side where the slides were withdrawn shrank back in mortal terror lest the mysterious figures that so magically appeared and disappeared should prove wandering spirits and enter into their bodies!
.Duty was his watchword. He was an incarnated conscience. In the scales of a candid mind he weighed eve)·y question, and, aftercarefully considering a course, judged for himself; and then dared to act independently, even though against the remonstrance of his best friends. To keep his word and to do his work was the double motto of his life.
Such elements of character always crystallize about a strong will. His favorite maxim was" Try again!" His persistence and perseverance were heroic and herculean. "If I live I must succeed in what I have undertaken; death alone will put a stop to my efforts,'" were his words in 1866, and they proved prophetic. Half-starved on tough and tasteless African maize, even his goats lost, and milk denied him; his medicine-chest stolen; in the heart of Africa without resource or defence against a thousand ailments, like a warrior without weapons at the mercy of his foes; afterward, narrowly escaping' death thre!l times in one day, and then almost dead of debility and disease;-not one man in a million would have gone forward. Especially when, in 1872, Stanley himself begged him to return with him to England, he never flinched from his resolve to remain in Africa. Nay, when a strange presentiment burdened him that he was on his last journey and would never reach its goal, he pressed on, praying' that before he fell he might work out his purpose!
Self-denial was, from the first, a habit. Privations and sorrows he accepted and expected, as Moses did when he calmly exchanged the treasures and pleaBures of Egypt for a share in the afflictions of the people of God. Rather than sacrifice Africa's good he would spend his last penny, surrender his dearest gains, and give up his last drop of blood.
Such was THE ~IAN who, beyond all others, henceforth stands in history as the heroic friend of Africa. Mr. E. D. Young, who knew him so long and so well, pronounced him" the best man he ever knew.'" Such filial trust in God, such a childlike, Christlike spirit, such loyalty to duty, purity of motive, simplicity of aim, energy of purpose and unselfish love, united to make his life one grand sermon. The iron pen of action, held in the hand of resolve, wrote out its sentences in living deeds on history's imperishable scroll, for all future ages to read in letters of light!
Iile was a man of great faith. His strong but simple confid~nce· in God's providence was the north star of his life. He saw how every' crisis of his life turned upon some seemingly trifling event, as a door swings on a hinge-but the hinge argues a workman who knows how much to hang upon it. He remembered how the chance reading of Dick's" Philosophy of the Future State" led him both toward faith in the unseen and toward a reverent philosophy of science; how Gutz- laff's appeal led him to be a missionary and a medical missionary, too; how while the opium war closed China against him, Moffat's visit wedded him to Africa and to his beloved" Mary" ; how the friendly word of a director procured for him another" trial," while his dangerous illness in London strangely shaped his unconscious future.
He learned also that the leadings of Providence, like the subtle sense of the Inspired Word, are to be read not by the natural but by the spiritual eye; and he sought, by specific prayer for guidance, to cultivate the" single eye," that there might be no dim or confused vision; and carefully watched every motion of God's beckoning hand, pointing finger, or guiding eye. One text gave telescopic range and microscopic delicacy to his vision: "In all thy ways acknowledge Htm, and He shall direct thy paths." This trust in God's providence discerned good and cause for gratitude even in trials and troubles.
Apparent calamity became a storm signal of the will of God; and when, in the death of his wife, that nameless sorrow which finds no earthly balm smote him, his only answer was that great petition of his life: "Fiat, .Domine, voluntas tual"
He believed in special providence. Even among men it is the great minds that give heed to minutire: the astronomer grasps an infinity of small things; the general-in-chief commands the least details in his wide survey of camp and campaign; and so God is not so high above us as not to "number the hairs of our head."
Such a man, of course, loved his Bible, wrote on his heart its pre- cious promises, and became so absorbed in them that he was indiffer- ent, if not insensible, to praise or blame; and, that he might neither be misled nor inflated by human approbation, he made it a rlile never to read or preserve any words ofpraise-which resolve, of itself, marks him as a most uncommon man. While in Manyuema, he four times read his Bible through; and when in Ulva Cottage, in Hamilton, I took that very book in my hands, I saw dimly through my tears the evidences upon its worn pages of the singular devotion of its la- mented owner.
Whatever Livingstons may be in history, in his own eyes he was, first and last, simply a missionary. Charles Gutzlaff's "Appeal for China" first set his heart aflame; but, when his early longing toward China was transferred to Africa, the fire of his enthusiasm lost noth- ing by the transfer of those live coals to a new altar of service and sacrifice. ' When he began his work his conception of himself was that of a mere missionary laborer, but better acquaintance with Africa's wants and woes gave breadth to his aim. He said there was need of one whose plans would embrace a whole continent and its whole. future. The entire land must be surveyed and mapped out; the accursed traf- fic in the bodies and souls of men abolished; the resources of the country developed, and new facilities devised for travel and traffic. Before the missionary could go, his path must be explored. Some John the Baptist must go before Jesus to make a level highway for our God. And this humble missionary-worker unconsciously devel- oped into the MISSIO~ARY GENERAL AND STATESMAN. Restraining the natural impatience of visible progress, he was willing to wait a century for the fruits of his works to be seen; as he grandly declared, the "END OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL FEAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EN- TERPRISE."
And so this humble man had a passion to act as a PIONEER, and open a path for others to follow; if he could not himself sow the seed, he could break up fallow ground, where as yet neither sower nor reaper had ever trodden.
Livingstone's ideas of mission work were evangelical and catholic. He offered himself to the London Missionary Society, because its sole aim was to send the Gospel to the heathen; setting up no par- ticular form of church order, but accepting laborers from different denominations, it concerned itself mainly with rearing churches of Christ on Pagan soil. Paul's motto was also Livingstone's: "THE REGIONS BEYOND." He took no "other man's line of things made ready to hand," but yearned to preach Christ where He had not hith- erto been named. As he told the directors of the London Missionary Society, he was at their disposal to "flO anywhere provided only it be FORWARD." The views of Blantyre's great hero, as to missions, are such as we wish might prevail everywhere. "Vith him the foremost law of mis- sions was NOT CONCENTRATION BUT DIFFUSION! However important to secure conversion of individual!'! or of communities, the field is the Vorld, and seed, scattered broadcast over the whole area, is far bet- ter than seed sown however thickly over a limited area. Ve are to seek to sow the whole field, rather than seek harvests however abun- dant in any part of it. He favored colonization, transplanting a body of Christian workmen into the midst of the dark places of the earth and the habitations of cmelty, to show how men and women in every calling, may "abide therein with God;" and he yearned to see twenty . 01' thirty families going together, at one time, to build up a Christian community in the heart of paganism. He gauged missionary success not by the shallow showing of so many converts for so many pounds, shillings and pence; but by the diffusion of better principles which no statistical columns can exhibit, any more than Babbage's calcula- ting machine could suffice for a barometer 01' a thermometer.
He was, in every best sense, a missionary martyr, both in witnessing and suffering. "Sacrifices" he would not call them; but they were many and great. Often soaked with drenching rains; his bed, the coarse, damp grass; his food, bird-seed, roots, African maize; forty timE)s scorched in the furnace of fever; what words can tell the agony, when, April 27, 1860, he left his dear "Mary" in the grave at Shupanga, and turned from her dust to find the only balm for his broken heart in seeking Africa's redemption! Three years later he must have touched the bottom depths of trial. His wife dead, his <lhildren orphans, his expedition recalled, his very efforts to serve God and man apparently turned by Satanic ingenuity into instruments of {lviI, isolated from all true human companionship, with the prostra- tion of disease added to all the vexation of delay and disappointment, how many men have ever faced such environments without suicidal ~e~pair? Seven years later, long without tidings from home,or contact with any European, lingering on a sick bed, without wife, child, mother, brothel' 01' friend to cheer him, a horror of great darkness fell upon him!
Among the great charms of this great man his genuine interest in individuals, however humble, was at once one of the highest, both as an ornament of his character and a secret of his influence. His deep piety transfigured this noble trait into a passion for souls which begot unsparing self-scrutiny. His lament over "poor Sehamy," and his misgivings and self-accusations, lest he had not done all he might to save his soul, reveal profound depths of habitual watchfulness over the lost. He bent every energy to the good of men. When he could not preach, his lantern-slides were made to tell to the eye great facts of Bible history; he subordinated everything to service.
His abhorrence of the slave trade was literally detestation-i. e., it compelled a testimony, which marked his whole course and even his dying utterances. To abate 01' abolish this evil was, perhaps, his master passion. What a debt Christian nations owe to Africa! The destruction of life in the" middle passage" forms but a fraction of the total waste. For every slave transported, a score have fallen by war or violence, disease 01' fatigue. Such atrocities have been linked to this nefarious traffic that the victims sacrificed by it, if laid side by side, would reach round the world, paving with skeletons a pathway over land and sea-bed. Everywhere he saw signs of this continued and continuing desolation-bones bleaching in the sun, fresh corpses floating on the rivers; often heaps of bodies where slave caravans had abandoned their sick, helpless 01' dead. Inhuman drivers shot, stabbed or left to die tho1<e who could not keep up with the rest, and often these were found not yet dead. On his way to Lake Bangweolo he heard six men, wearing the slave yoke, singing in the joy of the vengeance they anticipated in coming back after death to haunt their captors. Exaggeration as to the horrors of this trade is impossible; as the sailor said: "If the devil don't catch these fellows, as well have no devil at all! " The massacres he witnessed gave him the impression of being in hell, and to disclose the horrors of this business so as to lead to its suppression, inflamed his holy ambition more than to reveal the fountains of the Nile. And so, wherever he went, he aimed to teach the first truths of the Gospel and to rouse the dormant Christian con- cience to the measureless atrocity of this traffic. Just one year before his death he uttered those memorable words which still speak from -that memorial slab in Westminster's aisle: "ALL I CAN ADD IN MY LONELINESS IS, MAY HEAYEN'S RICH BLESSING COME DOWN ON EYERY ONE, AMERICAN, ENGLISHMAN OR TURK, WHO WILL HELP TO HEAL THE OPEN SORE OF THE WORLD!"
Livingstone's devotion to Africa was n.ot more remarkable than his power over her sable sons" even his first year there showed that in his hand was the sceptre that could rule Africans. His power was an open' secret. His simple frankness, kindly bearing, honest courage, transparent unselfishness, trust even in strangers, disarmed both sus- picion and antagonism. While with prayer and faith he sowed the seed of the Word, he sowed himself as the seed of the kingdom; and by forgiving injuries and trusting even the unworthy, by absolute fidelity even to trivial promises, and by a Christlike life that taught more than any words, he moulded even savages into noblemen. What his character wrought in this direction may be seen in Susi and Chuma, his faithful body servants, who amid such hardships bore his body from Ilala to England.
Dr. Blaikie, in his charming" Personal Life of Livingstone," sug- gests that the old Roman fashion would have written his name Livingstone" Africanus." When first overwhelmed with the vastness , of Africa, he asked: "Who will penetrate through the Dark Conti- nent ?" And that was the question of his life. From the day in December, 1840, when he first set forth for those shores, this double work, the emancipation and evangelization of Africa, was his passion. When, in 1863, he expected the recall of his expedition, he could only say: "If I am to go ' on the shelf' let that shelf be Africa." And history presents no fact more pathetic, poetic, prophetic in its sym- bolism, than this-that when, on April 80, 1878, he was found on his knees, at Ilala, dead, his heart should be buried there beneath a moula tree, while his body was borne to England to be laid in the great sepul- chre of her greater dead! Emphatically Livingstone's heart was from the beginning buried in Africa; but buried as the seed of a future harvest. It shall not abide alone, but dying, and springing up, bear much fruit-fruit too vast in measure for our arithmetic to estimate! 1Ve yearn to see that life and death bearing fruit in many holy lives. How slow are disciples to learn the ministry of money. Moffat nsed to say that the coming day will :find rich and great disciples regarding it an honor to spend their money not on hounds and horses, but in the support of whole stations of missionaries. Many who read these lines are providentially kept from giving their lives in personal labor for the degraded and destitute. But how many of Ull, had we but the spirit of David Livingstone, would be found living in the persons of other consecrated men and women, and, by the agency of these workmen, preaching the Gospel where Christ had never yet been named. Oh, that those who read the story of such a life, and walk over that memorial stone at the Abbey, would take up the work he laid down, and by their money, their prayers, their tears, their influence, if not their personal efforts, help to heal this open sore of the world, and light the flame of the Gospel and of the new life wherever darkness reigns and habitations of cruelty are found!
Yes, David Livingstone-thy candle, found burning in the grass hnt at IIala, still burns and shines, and never will it go out, until, from Zanzibar to Banana, from Nile to Niger, and from the Cape of Good Hope to the Pillars of Hercules, shall shine the Light of the World!
HENRY MORTLAKE STANLEY is by birth a Welshman, and his. original name was John Rowlands. The same year, 1841, that David Livingstone first reached Africa, was the year that ushered into life the boy who was to be his distinguished successor in the exploration of the Dark Continent. This is one of the striking coincidences of history: while the cotton-spinner of Blantyre was on his way to the Cape, an infant boy at Denbigh, in Wales, was :first starting on his voyage upon the unknown sea of life. A certain Mr. H. M. Stanley,. in New Orleans, adopted this Welsh boy, transmitting to him his own name, little knowing what high honor that boy was to reflect upon it. We follow this waif of humanity, as he enlists in the armies of the Confederacy, and subsequently drifts into the Federal ranks; until 1865, when, acting as secrctary for an admiral, he was promoted fOl' heroism, having manifested his courage by swimming, under :fire, to fasten a hawser to a Confederate vessel.
The next great step toward his after career was his becoming a· representative of the press'-;"a newspaper correspondent. He served in a Guerilla warfare against the North American Indians, then wrote letters to the New York Herald, accompanied the British expedition into Abyssinia, etc. Thus a mixed experience on land and sea, in army and navy, :fitted him for camp or campaign, tent or vessel; picking up scraps of information and gathering treasures of varied experience, he grew to be peculiarly adapted for the unique life he was to lead, but which only God's Providence had foreseen.
In 1869 he was commissioned by James Gordon Bennet, of the New York Herald, to find the lost Livingstone. His expedition was to be kept secret. He went by a round-about course, arrived at Zan- .zibar January 6, 1871, and started for the interior, feeling his way toward Livingstone by such indications as only the most sagacious instinct could recognize. He had used the time at sea, en route to the African Coast, to learn how to take astronomical observations and lJrepare himself as a surveyor. November 10, 1871, found him at Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and there he grasped the hand of the .scotch herb, of whom for three years no certain word had reached the ears of an anxious outside world. Twenty-three times Stanley }lad been prostrated with fever, but he felt repaid when, on December 27th, the travelers set out together for Unyanyembe; and more espe- {)ially when, on March 14, 1872, they parted, having been four months .and four days together.
In 1873, Mr. Stanley again accompanied the British expedition to Coomassie. That same year, May 4, 1873, Livingstone was found by Susi, at four o'clock in the morning, in the little grass hut, not in bed but at the bed-side, his head buried in his hands, and both buried in the pillow; the candle still burned, but the candle of life that bad shed its rays so far over benighted Africa, had gone out. In 1874, April 18th, the sacred dust of the great traveler reached their final resting-place in the Abbey; and MI': Stanley led the body of pallbearers, as they deposited, in the tomb in the nave, the body of the man to whom he owed more than to any other human being.
And now begins a new chapter, the .fourth in the weird experi- ence of that Welsh-American. He who, at U nyamyembe, had sorrowfully parted with Livingstone, by that open grave in Westminster, resolved to take up and finish the work he had left undone. And so a new chapter also opened in' Stanley's African experiences. On August 5, he left England, and on November 12-three years almost to a day from the time he first grasped Livingstone's hand-he left Zanzibar again for the unknown interior. At Uganda he met Mtesa, whose warriors he estimated at a quarter of a million. "While at his {)ourt he translated the Gospel according to Luke, and actually wrote a brief analysis of Bible history in Kiswaheli for the monarch's use. Mte,sa professed adherence to the Bible instead of the Koran, and invited to his capital Christian teachers. Stanley then wrote a letter, which was published in the Daily Telegraph, urging that missionaries should be sent. And so Stanley began, in more senses than one, to follow in the steps of the grand Scotchman. The Church Missionary Society sent men to Uganda, who, in 1877 began to labor. That letter of Stanley's had a stl'ange histOl"Y. It was given to I~inant de Belfonds, one of the officers of Gordon Pasha. When he was killed by the Baris the letter was found in his boot and forwarded by Gor- .don Pasha. After a journey of 7,000 miles, consuming 999 days, Stanley reached Banana point, August 9th, 1877. In January, 1879, he was again en route to the Dark Continent, at the head of the expedition, organized by Leopold 11., of Belgium, who, in place of his dead son, adopted Africa as his child and ward. Stanley reached the Congo's Estuary on August 14, 1879; Leopoldville station was built in April, 1882. Compelled by illness to return for a time to Europe, he came back to the Congo toward the end of the same year; and in August, 1884, reported to the King of Belgium that his mission was ac.complished. He had performed the stupendous feat of opening up the Congo basin, with its 5,249 miles of navigable waters, its 43,000,00() of people, its area of nearly 11,000,000 square miles drained by various streams. In February, 1885, the Congo Free State was erected and recognized as such, with Leopold II. as its sovereign.
January 20, 1887, Stanley begins a new chapter, and again Africa is the theatre of his action. He departs from London for the relief of Emin Pasha. February 25th, he once more left Zanzibar, and, going by the Congo's mouth, reached Leopo}dville, April 21st. A year later, April 29th, just fifteen years from the last day of Livingstone's travels, he met Emin Pasha at Kavalli, and December 6, 1889, emerged from darkest Africa once more at Zanzibar.
From that day honors were showered thick as autumn leaves on Stanley's head. The reception given him, May 5, 1890, at Albert Hall, in London, when 7,000 people were present, was one of the most brilliant assemblages of all modern history. Then, on July 12th, in the great Abbey, he led to the marriage altar his accomplished bride, Miss Tennant; and sInce, in her jubilee year, the Queen was there, Westminster has had no such gathering. Had it been a ,royal ceremony, the interest could not have been more intense or the throng more dense. 'l'he long, crimson carpet broke its lines only over the slab which in the isle bore the name of LIVINGSTONE. Two magnificent floral wreaths, one from the officers of the relief expedition, and another from Mr. Stanley himself, were laid on the sides of the prostrate tablet, and when the bride moved up the aisle she gracefully laid still another tribute upon the marble memorial, bearing, in flowers, the words, "In memoriam, DAVID LIVINGSTONE-H. M. STANLEY."
Thus, at no little length, we have chosen to place before our readers in outline, for permanent record, the twin stories of these two strangely-linked lives. We do no injustice to Mr. Stanley when we say, what he himself is reported to have said, that, to the four months and four days that he spent with Livingstone in Africa, he owes the greatest impulses of his later life, and especially his attitude toward Christianity. Livingstone found himself suddenly thrown into the society of a stranger who was far from being a Christian disciple. There is no. evidence that during all those months he ever directly <lonversed with Stanley as to his spiritual interests. But sure we are that by his manifest character he commended the religion of his }Iaster. His uncompromising loyalty to Christ, his unobtrusive conscientiousness, his unselfishness, considerateness, readiness to obligeall this impressed Stanley as no words had ever moved him; and, when he parted from his new friend, he was constrained to' say, what Pilate said of a far greater, " I find·no fault in this man!"
From that day Mr. Stanley has led a life that runs strangely in sympathy with that which had its spring in Blantyre. When Sir William Mackinnon asked the pleasure of presenting· him with some token of friendship to carry with him to Africa, Stanley replied, "Give me a Bible," and he took it and read it thrice through. Afterward, in darkest Africa, constrained at the darkest hour humbly to confess that, without God's help, he was hopeless, he says: "I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. Silence, as of death, was round about me. It was midnight; I was weakened by illness, had been prostrated by fatigue, and wan with anxiety for m'y white and black companions, whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress, I besought God to give me back my people. Nine hours later we were exulting with a rapturous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its folds was the long-lost rear column."
And now he whose previous reserve upon such matters had seemed to bear a special seal of silence, has made this, his latest confession: "Many forms of belief and curious ideas respecting the great mystery of our being and creation have been suggested to me during my life and its wanderings; but after weighing each and attempting to understand what must be unsearchable, my greatest comfort has been in peacefully resting firm in the faith of my sires. For all the human glory that surrounds the memory of Darwin and his wise compeers throughout advanced Europe, I would not abate a jot or tittle of my belief in the Supreme God and that divine :Man called His Son."
Space alone compels our pen to halt as we pursue this fasciitating story of these twin lives. We have had space not even for a paragraph about that last book, with its thousand pages, of forty lines each, all the work of fifty days, and itself a greater feat than his march in Equatoria; and the production of which as a printed volume is said to have employed an army of nearly 15,000 men and women. We have had no space to repeat Mr. Stanley's noble tributes to the heroism and success of Christian missions which present such a marked contrast to some modern critics who ought to have been in better business. We have sought merely to put side by side two lives whose unique parallelism demands a permanent memorial and suggests lessons of lasting value. We must not fail to note one marked contrast. As Livingstone's great successor followed the mIssionary explorer, he iltrewed his path with the blood of the slain. Livingstone had trodden those same paths without even a pocket pistol for personal protection from wild beasts; his great weapon of defence was a magnanimous Love that forgave even the injuries it could not prevent. And, when we read of the demijohns of strong drink which Stanley, in his former passage across the Dark Continent, distributed to those sable sons of her soil whom he employed in building his stations, we cannot but deplore any such ministry to the destructive appetite for intoxicants. We recall that letter, the first written in English by a Congo native, and addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury: " Great and Good Chief of the Tribe of Christ, Greeting: " The humblest of your servants kisses the hem of your garment, and begs you to send to his fellow servants more Gospel and less rum. " In the bonds of Christ, " U GALLA."
And now, 3S we turn from these two lives, may we not invoke the prayers of all Christians that the latter, the unfinished one, may complete its noble and heroic course by a service to God and a ministry to man that shall surpass anything yet accomplished by Stanley, or even by Livingstone? Our living hero is decked with many medals and crowned with many laurels. We crave for him one ,still higher and brighter-a crown wrought by no human handswhose lustrous gems burn with immortal fires and outshine in splendor ~Ven the glory of the stars!
A PERTINENT REPLY.-We understand that our friend, Chaplain :McCabe, has sent the following message to Colonel Ingersoll: "DEAR COLoNEL:-Ten years ago you made the following prediction: 'Ten years from this time two theatres will be built for one church.' The time is up. The Methodists are now building four churches every day-one every six hours. Please venture upon another prediction for the year."
Evidently the Colonel is as far out of the way as Voltaire was when he set up a printing press at Fernay to demolish Christianity. That press is now used at Geneva to print Bibles !!
MONEy.-Early in our own generation there were but five men in this country who were millionaires: John J. Astor and Stephen Whitney, New York; Nicholas Longworth, Cincinnati; William Gray, Boston, and Stephen Girard, Philadelphia. To-day in New York alone there are 500 millionaires, some of them worth from 100 to 300 millions, and in the coffers of American Protestant Christians there are not less than ten thousand millions oj dollars. One man in 1869 spent as much for a corner lot on which to build a private residence as the Presbyterian denomination spent for its entire foreign mission work!
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM.
BY REV. HENRY E. DOSKER, A.M., HOLLAND, MICH.
Of all the countries of the continent Belgium is one of the most peculiar. With an area of 11,373 square miles and a population of nearly 6,000,000, it is the most densely populated strip of land on earth. This may seem strange, and yet it is true. While the Nether- lands come next in order, with a population of 312.86 to the square mile, Belgium crowds together, in the same space, not less than 481. 71 of its inhabitants. British India has only 311.57 and China but 83.86. These figures are respectively taken from the census-reports of 1885~ 1881, and 1887.
The physical aspect of Belgium, generally speaking, is flat, like that of Holland; a great part of the country actually lying below the level of the sea. In t.he south-eastern districts, alone, a considerable highland is formed, of some 2,000 feet high, by a spur of the Ardennes. This mountainous region, rich in different minerals and coal, together with a proverbially rich alluvial soil in the lower parts of the coun- try, enables Belgium to maintain its enormously dense population.
Its inhabitants are of a mixed Teutonic and Celtic stQck. The two main branches are the Flemings of German and the Walloons of Celtic, origin; the fonner out-number the latter, in the proportion of 4 to 3, throughout the country.
The French language is spoken at court and among the higher classes. In the rural districts and provincial towns a curious patois prevails, in various dialects of either Flemish or Walloon. This lack of a national language and literature has greatly retarded the intel- lectual progress of the nation, which is in no wise proportionate to its physical advantages. The educational system of Belgium was, till recently, quite deficient, and the sharp antagonism between the cleri- cal and liberal parties has made adequate provision in its behalf well- nigh impossible.
As might be expected from its history, the religion of the country is prevalently Roman Catholic. Of the nearly 6,000,000 of inhabit- ants, from 13,000 to 18,000 are Protestant, with some 35,000 Jews; the remainder nominally belong to Rome. Nominally, I say, for the close contact with France, the permeating influence of its periodic re- , volutionary attacks, and the prevalence of socialistic and rationalistic tendencies among the masses of the people, have so materially changed the religious 'complexion of the country, that a large pro- portion, possibly a majority, of its inhabitants may be put down as irreligious, if not atheistic.
The Gospel of Christ in Belgium meets with much the same dif- ficulties as it does in France. Efforts to bring the Word of God to the masses of the people have been made for years, and the so-called "Belgian Mission Church," and similar organizations, have not been unblessed in their endeavor to reach the Belgians by the channels of the two great languages of the country. But the trouble was that heretofore the labor performed has been too staid and conservative; the methods adopted were antiquated and ill-adapted to the peculiar character of the people and of the work in hand, and the little focus points of life, which resulted from such efforts, have had a tendency to develop too quickly into establishments for the edification of the few rather than for the salvation of the many.
A new attempt has been made of late at Brussels, which, if it should prove to be tenacious of life may become for Belgium and its capital what the McAll Missions are for France and Paris.
Allow me to outline the new movement. The name of its leader is Rev. N. De Jonge, who, some sixteen years ago, came to Brussels as a young preacher in the Dutch Evangelical Church. Through his personal influence, his church soon developed a rare missionary'activity. He made his people understand their divine call to labor among the bigoted 01' irreligious masses who surrounded them in the capital.
The year 1880 was one of special activity in this line. A revival visited the church, and especially those who were engaged in this department of her labors.
A city evangelization society was organized, of which pastor De Jonge became the director. The double task soon grew too heavy and he was placed before the inevitable choice between his charge and his mission. He was not long in deciding, and yet the decision. was one, in which he staked all on his faith in God; for he lost his salary and had no visible means of support. His resignation took effect on the first of Jannary, 1887, and another pastor soon took his place, whilst~ he began to devote himself, with all the energy of his young and vigorous manhood, to the work of evangelizing the masses of the Belgian capital, trusting, for the support of himself and large family, in the promise of God. And not in vain!
The work now rapidly extended and assumed encouraging proportions. It affords, to-day, the following aspect: a hall, named "Silo," with a seating capacity of 300, in the suburb I..acken; another, "Bethel," with l'oom for 80, about a mile distant, in the same neighborhood. In the suburb Anderlecht, a hall, named "Pniel," with seats for 200; neal' by, at the hamlet of Veeweyde, the hall "Bethlehem," with a seating capacity of 100. And still another and larger hall in the village of Ruysbrock, neal' by, as yet unnamed, but offering room for more than 300 hearers. As with the McAll rooms, the stations are simply but neatly furnished. Every night of the week, meetings are held in at least foul' of these mission halls, and the attend:l.llce is steadily increasing.
Besides all this the Mission has a printing-office in connection with the Silo station, where hundreds of pamphlets. and. tracts are pub- Hshed, to be spread broadcast over the entire kingdom. Two week- lies are issued fram this press: "Het Ohristelijke Volksblad" (The Christian National Paper), and "])e Blijde Boodschap voor Vlaamsch Belgie" (The Glad Tidings for Flemish Belgium.) The circulation of the latter, the smallest paper, has reached the number of 1,500. Moreover, a mission hospital has been opened, and h~ndreds of Catholic patients have been treated and evangelized at this "Beth- esda," as it has been appropriately named.
By catechetical instruction and Sabbath-school work the Mission endeavors to reach Roman Catholic children; hundreds of whom at- tend, notwithstanding the open opposition and secret scheming of the priests. All this missionary work is clinched by systematic house- visitation, which is richly blessed. Besides Rev. De J onge, the director of the Mission, two evangelists, two colporteurs, two regular trained hospital nurses, and some forty assistants are employed. It seems to me that this movement is worthy of close observation and encouragement.
The Catholic masses of Belgium are harder to be reached than those of France. The antagonism against Protestantism here is a.
growth of centuries; its earliest roots lie hidden in the memorable struggle of the eighty years' war. The southern part of the country never fully shared in the struggle for liberty. At Brussels the Spanish court was established; there the two most noted political victims of Alva's wrath were beheaded; there the "bloody assizes" held their councils. At Antwerp the two earliest religious m;utyrs of the Nether- lands fell. When the cause of freedom finally triumphed, and the North became independent, the South was still held in the Spanish vise, and the reformation within her borders had literally been drowned in a sea. of blood. From this time on, the unfortunate country was tossed to-and-fro between the great powers. To-day Austria, to-morrow Spain, then again France ruled it, as a whole or in part. In 1748 it finally came back to Austria, in whose g-rasp it remained, with varying fortune~, till the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, united it with Holland. But the two countries were only united never unijied.
In the revolution of 1830, the Belgians revolted and established their own independence and the severance became a fait accompli, by the treaty of London, May 21, 1833. Hence the antagonism against Protestantism has a political background. To the Belgian mind it is a thoroughly "Dutch" affair. And the overcoming of this prejudice is no small factor in the difficulties of Protestant missions in the country.
May the movement of De Jonge prove for the Belgians what the McAll Mistlion is to France, for the spiritual rescue of hundreds of thousands. Foreign Protestant missions, generally considered, in heathen lands, are far easier and far more hopeful than those COllducted by the handful of trusty laborers, who have given their lives to the evangelization of countries, thoroughly and for centuries nnder the influence of the papacy.
HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN
[The following charming letter is from the beloved son of Rev. A. J. ·Gordon, of Boston, one of our editorial contributors.] HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN.
BY ERNEST B. GORDON.
While enjoying the cordial hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Brand, the excellent missionaries of the Baptist Union, I have had considerable opportunity to observe the progress of the work as well as some {)f its drawbacks.
I went over to the Shogum's tombs, in Shita, the other day, and while straying in and about the temple of Zojigi, stumbled across a little fellow, a Buddhist novice, who spoke a little English. He had Dr. Hepburn's Dictionary, and was reading Peter Parley's Universal History. I struck up an acquaintance with him, and learned that he was a protege of Oolonel Olcott, who was to take him to India to study Sanscrit and the sacred books, but was prevented by the boy's poor health. Olcott, as is known, is the American Buddhist who goes about wearing a jewel said to be a crystalized tear of Mme. Blavatsky. He has published a Buddhist catechism in Singhalese, which has received the imprimatur of the Southern Ohurch in Oeylon, and is considered by Oeylonese Buddhists as almost canoni- ~al. It has gone through seventeen Singhalese editions, and was recently published in English by Estes & Lauriat, of Boston. I invited the boy around to Mr. Brand's to dinner and gave him a copy of the New Testament, which he promised to read. Last night he came again and talked a long time with Mrs. Brand about Shaka or Buddha and Jesus. He seemed much interested, especially when she told him of what Jesus left when He came to earth. He was surprised to find that Ohristians were not hateful and bitter.
The story of Roman Oatholic misl"ions in Japan is well known. Shinabara and the Oliff of Pappenberg will ever bear witness to the constancy and heroic endurance of the Roman Oatholic converts. Nevertheless, Oatholicism left a bad impression. I met the other day an old Japanese who remembers distinctly the annual ceremony of trampling upon the cross. A brass cross was brought around to every house in his village by the authorities, and everybody was required to trample upon it as a sign of his repudiation and contempt ()f Ohristianity. Much of this misapprehension and. bitterness still lingers among the Buddhist priests. The little novice, therefore, was pleased at our attention. He promised to come again and hear more about Ohrist.
Oolonel Olcott has done much harm here in Japan. An American is a person of influenee on account of his birthplace. To find an American teaching Buddhism was an experience, therefore, which startled young Japanese and which encouraged the Buddhist priests to attempt the galyanization of their putrescent superstition. Arthur May Knapp, too, the Boston representative of "Reciprocity in Religion," to use his own phrase, is encouraging the Buddhists in every possible way. He has abandoned his title of "missionary," and has assumed that of "ambassador"; the idea being, (,7idently, that he and the Buddhists are to exchange ideas and to treat with each other on an equal footing. This reassures the Buddhists and amazes the advanced men in Japan, who look upon Buddhism with the hatred and contempt which the liberals in Italy feel for the obscurantists of Rome.
Have you seen what Mr. Takahashi Goro, a prominent newspaper man, said at the banquet last May about the Unitarian movement in Japan? Its significance will fully appear when one takes into account the extreme politeness of the Japanese people. He said that he had not yet succeeded in fully mastering the doctrine of Unitarianism. He had perused the books kindly placed at his disposal by Mr. Knapp, but he still remained more or less in the dark. One thing, however, he had ascertained beyond question, viz., that Unitarianism is the child of orthodox Christianity. There was no manner of doubt about its parentage. Why, then, he wanted to know, should the attitude of Unitarianism to orthodox Chistianity be one of antagonism. He had read a book by Mr. Savage, entitled the "Religion of Evolution," and he had learned from it that Unitarianism regards orthodox Christianity with strong feelings of dislike, and would spare no pains to sweep it away from the face of the earth. Was that the proper attitude of a child toward its parent? Certainly not according to Japanese ideas of filial duty. Such an unnatural antipathy could only shock and deter Japanese observers. Besides, the Unitarians should remember that the law of heredity applies to bad qualities as well as to good. ""Vhen a man denounces his parents and declares them unworthy of respect he denounces himself by implication, for as the father is so, to a great extent, must the son be also. U nitarians coming to Japan, and arraying their forces against orthodox Christianity, would immediately find allies in the Buddhists and Confucianists. What would be the sequel of such an alliance? If the three united succeeded in driving out orthodox Christianity, the Unitarians might be quite sure that from that moment these sincere allies, the Buddhists and Confucianists, would turn on them and leave no stone untu'l'ned to drive them out also I In a. recent number of the Japan Mail, Mr. Takahashi Goro invites the attention of the Rev. Mr. Knapp to the short-sightedness of his alleged wish to ally himself with the Buddhists. Mr. 'rakahashi premises that he entertains no ill-feeling toward Unitarianism itself, but being convinced of the folly of the views of its representative in Japan as to Buddhism, he cannot but give utterance once more to the opinions he expressed at the Unitarian banquet some time .ago. Since then, he obse~ves, the Buddhistic press throughout the country had more and more distinctly shown a tendency to utilize Unitarianism as an instrument for attacking Christianity. Mr. Takahashi, however, believed Mr. Knapp to be too sagacious to become a tool of Buddhists. What, then, was his surprise to learn that the Unitarian missionary is still bent on cultivating the friendship of the Buddhists, as is shown by his article on the" Similarities and Dissimilarities of Unitarianism and Buddhism." Mr. Takahashi even goes so far as to say that Mr. Knapp'S attitude toward Buddhism is that of one who flatters, prays and solicits its favor.
"Does Mr. Knapp know," he asks, ,,, what Buddhism is really like? Buddhism is essentially an atheistic religion. This proposition can be proved by quotations from the Buddhist sacred writings." He then proceeds to consider another statement of Mr. Knapp, that, on the fundamental idea of creation, Unitarianism and Buddhism are directly opposed to orthodox Christianity. Mr. Knapp is represented to have stated that creation is not an event, but a perpetual progress which has neither commencement nor end.
"Now, in the first place, it is an abuse of a philosophical term to speak of 'creation' in connection with Buddhism, for how can there be any creation in a religion which does not recognize God? Nor is it correct to say that creation is a perpetual progress without either commencement or end, because man, as maintained by no less an evolutionist than Virchow, does not seem to have made any progress -during the first five or six thousand years. Further, there is no place for the idea of progress in the conception of atheistic creation."
If J-"1r. Knapp means to adopt the theory of atheistic evolution, Mr. Takahashi thinks he would better leave the Unitarian camp and join the atheistic Buddhists. Our author, however, believes that these apparently atheistic opinions have been expressed by Mr. Knapp for the purpose of obtaining the good will of Buddhists, for, from ·other utterances of his, it is evident that he recognizes the existence of God.
Mr. Knapp is said to have observed further, that Buddhism is, next to orthodox Christianity, a representative of the pessimistic religions; but that Unitarianism represents the optimistic religions. Mr. Takahashi does not attach much importance to the fact that Christianity is included among the pessimistic religions of the world, for he thinks this is merely a device of Mr. Knapp's to please his Buddhistic friends. He refers Mr. Knapp to Schopenhauer and Hartmann for an account of the crushing pessimism of Buddhism. He warns Unitarians against being utilized by Buddhists, and quotes from a Buddhist tract, by JUl'. Maesa Unkei, as follows: " Unitarianism will not be productive of any positive bendits / Jmt, as it will be negatively useful in neutralizing the evil effects of Christianity, we approve its spread for the sake of the country / nay" for the sake of our Shin-shu (Buddhistic) views."
It is interesting to note that the so-called " short cut" movement has extended to Japan. Last year the Japanese Presbyterians of Tokyo came to the conclusion that the work in Japan requires not only all the men who could be put through their theological school, but also those whose age or means would not allow them to take the full five years' course. Accordingly, of their own free will, they opened a school for evangelists. This year there are between thirty and forty men studying the Bible and receiving enough instruction to fit them for the work of preaching to the common people. The school is designed of course to supplement, not to antagonize, the Presbyterian Seminary. The Japanese Christians initiated the move.- ment, recognizing as they did the intense need of evang~lizing preachers, skilled in the Word, as well as of pastors versed in hermeneutics and apologetics. Many of the missionaries consider the success of the school as one of the most hopeful signs in late years.
It shows the determination of the Christians here to spread abroad the story of the Cross, and their good, common sense in choosing practical means for the furtherance of the work.
Christian work in Japan is complicated greatly by the present political excitement. The nnwillingness of foreign powers to repeal the unjust and unrighteous treaties forced upon Japan a generation ago has resulted in an increased hostility to foreigners and to foreign things. Christianity, of course, is classed in the latter category. Of our present United States representative, Mr. ,Swift, we will not speaK, except to say that the removal of his predecessor, the Texan Baptist minister Hubbard, appointed by President Cleveland, is greatly regretted. A Christian man, he did all in his power to assist Christian workers. No American since Perry, Minister Bingham possibly excepted, has been so popular in Japan. As to diplomatic. results, the Hubbard treaty negotiated with Count Okuma, although finally breaking down, was the first attempt to settle the vexed question of Treaty Revision in an honorable and statesmanlike way. If Mr;, Hubbard had been retained in Japan, it is likely that the revised treaty would be an accomplished fact, and the Christian missionaries would not be hampered now by the irritated condition of public opinion which prevails throughout the empire.
TOKYO, Oct. 12, 1890.
A JAPANESE CONVERT, who united with Bethany Church, Philadelphia, in 1886, said that "so great were the changes in his native country during the ten years previous, that nothing was left, as it. had been, but the naturalsceneryl"
EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY
[Although the number of competitive essays sent in, in response to the editorial note in August number, 1890 (p. 631)-631), is not sufficient to justify the award, the edltor will avail himself of one or more of the best, as was then intimated, as articles in these pages.] EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY OF THE UNMISTAKABLE INTERPOSITION OF GOD IN ANSWER TO PRAYER AND IN BEHALF OF HIS SERVANTS AND THEIR WORK.
BY REV. JOHN RUTHERFORD, M.A., B.D., ROTHESAY, SCOTLAND.
Pentecost was preceded by prayer. The coming of the Holy Ghost and the conversion of 3,000 souls in a single day were the result of ten days' continuous prayer.
Events like the siege and relief of Leyden, in 1574, when the Spanish armies were compelled to retreat, not before the brave Hollanders, but before the force of nature itself, visibly used by God in defence or the oppressed, witness to the fact that the hand of Almighty God is still interposed in behalf of those who trust Him. "As well," shouted the Spaniards derisively to the citizens, "as well can the Prince of Orange pluck the stars from the sky as bring the ocean to the walls of Leyden for your relief." But what was the issue? "A' violent equinoctial gale, on the night of the 1st ana 2d of October, came storming from the northwest, and then blowing still more violently f!'Om the southwest. The waters of the North Sea were piled in vast masses on the coast, and then dashed furiously landward, the ocean rising over the earth and sweeping, with unrestrained power, across the ruined dykes." The relieving fleet sailed up almost to the walls of the city. As the historian records, it was the hand of God that sent the ocean and the tempest to the deliverance of Leyden, and that struck her enemies wi th terror likewise. We cannot doubt that the preservation of Holland and Britain from the Spanish fury were in answer to many prayers offered up by those who fled to God as their refuge. (Motley, Dutch Republic, II., p. 558).
And much more does the history of the church assure us that God answers prayer. If we review the qistory of missions in any part of the wo,dd, we see that those who do the Lord's work live near to Him, and that He guards them in danger, and watches over that work which is not so much ours as His.
1. In the "Life of John G. Paton" (I., p. 118), the events are narrated which led to his leaving Tanna. He says, "On reaching Nowar's village we found the people terror-stricken, crying, rushing about in dispair at such a host of armed savages approaching. The whole village collapsed in a condition of indescribable terror. The approaching multitude had gone to the mission house and broken in the door, and, finding that we had escaped, they rushed on to Nowar's village. W e ~rayed as one only can pray when in the fear of death and on the brink of eternity. We felt that God was near and omnipotent to do what seemed best in' His sight. When the savages were about 300 yards off, N owar touched my knee, saying, 'MisRi, Jehovah is hearing! They are all standing still.' On gazing shc-rewards, we saw a dense host of warriors, but all were standing still. To our amazement the host began to turn and entered the remote bush at the head of the harbor. We were on that day His trusting and defenceless children; would you not, had you been one of our circle, have joined with us in praising the Lord God for deliverance from the jaws of death? I know not why they turned back, but I have no doubt it was the doing of God to save our lives."
2. Again Mr. Paton writes (p. 345,) "About ten o'clock the savages surrounded the mission house. My faithful dog, Clutha, pulled at my clothes and awoke me. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves, in hushed prayer, to God, and watched them. Immediately a glare of light fell into the room. They set fire to the church all round, and the'l a reed fence connecting the church and the dwelling-house. In a ""lW minutes the house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on attempting an escape." Mr. Paton then ran out and cut the burning fence and tore it up, thus preventing the fire from reaching the house. He stood surrounded by seven or eight savages who had raised their clubs in the air, yelling in rage that none of them ventured the first blow, though they shouted "Kill him! kill him!" "At this dread moment occurred an incident which my readers may explain as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my God. A rushing and roaring sound came from the south, like the noise of a mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively turned in that direction, and they knew from previous hard experience that it was one of their awful tornadoes. Now mark, the wind bore the flames away from our house, and had it come in the opposite direction no power on earth could have saved us from being all consumed. It made the work of destroying the church only that of a few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud which poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now mark again: the flames of the burning church were thereby cutoff from extending to and seizing upon the reeds and the bush, and besides, it had become almost impossible now to set fire to our house." A panic siezed the savages, and, throwing down their torches, they fled.
Returning to the house Mr. Paton was met by Mr. Mathieson, who exclaimed, "If ever, in time of need, God sent help and protection to His servants, in answer to prayer, He has done so to-night. Blessed be His Holy name."
3. In "Darkest Africa" Henry Stanley writes, "Constrained at the darkest hour to humbly confess that without God's help I was helpless, I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. A silence, as of death, was round about me; it was midnight. I was weakened by illness, prostrated by fatigue, and worn with anxiety for my white and black companions whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress I besought God to give me back my people." And' what was the result of Stanley's vow and prayer? "Nine hours later we were exulting with a raptur- ous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its waving folds was the long-lost real' column."
4. Shortly before the disruption of 1843 the Church of Scotland sent Dr. Keith, Dr. Black, Rev. R. McCheyne and Dr. A. Bonar, the last of whom still survives, on "a mission of enquiry to the Jews ;" they went to Palestine, and on their return journey visited Buda Pesth. There Dr. Keith took suddenly unwell, and all hope of his l'ecovery was abandoned.
In Buda Pesth there lived the Archduchess Marie Dorothea. Liv- ing, as she did, among a morally, degraded people, she longed that they might be made acquainted with the Gospel; for seven years she had prayed that God would send them a missionary. And God answered her prayers in a way she thought not of. She heard that an English clergyman lay dying in the hotel; she sent word that nothing should be left undone to save his life. The physicians had given up the case, but to please the Duchess they redoubled their efforts, applying friction and using other means, until, as they held a lighted taper neal' his mouth, the flames wavered: he lived.
The Archduchess visited him, and begged that the proposed mission should be located ill Buda Pesth. This was agreed to, and as long as she lived she gave it her protection and support. Thus the Gospel came into Buda Pesth. Fifty years Gospel work among a people held down by popery and ignorance and sin; such is God's answer to a woman's prayer (see Bonar's "Mission of Enquiry to the Jews").
5. Rev. E. Pearse in "China's Millions," September, 1882, vouches the truth of the following incident (see "Progress in China," by Rev. Arnold Foster, p. 52). "A man was converted, who had been for many years a vegetarian to gain merit and be saved. He came to our chapel, heard and believed the Gospel, and for years has lived a consistent Christian life. Some time ago the people collected a large sum of money to be expended in idolatrous work, in order that their houses might be saved from fire, and asked this man to contribute to that fund. He declined, on the ground that he trusted in the living God, and that the idols were not able to save them from fire. No sooner was the idolatrous ceremony over than an extensive nre broke out in the very street in which this man's house was situated; 120 houses were burnt down, and when the flames were coming nearer and nearer to his house, the people said, 'Now you see what you have got.' And they wanted to persuade him to take out all his furniture into the street that he might save something. He knew that if he brought the things out into the street, even though they would be safe from fire, they would probably be stolen. But he believed that God was going to preserve him from suffering loss, and he told the people so. While they were hurrying to-and-fro in all their excite- ment, he, in the presence of them all, prayed God that He would show that He was the living and true God. And then he watched the fire as it came nearer and nearer, until there was only one house standing between his own and the flames. But just then there was a sudden change in the wind: God had said, 'Thus far shalt thou come and no further,' and his house was saved. If I had time, I could tell you of a great many more instances."
6. David Livingstone, returning from Central Africa, tells of a great inland sea-Lake Nyassa. The Scottish churches and the Uni- versities' Mission take possession of the land for Christ-money and life are freely spent to evangelize N yassaland. After a dozen years the envy of Portugal is aroused; she sends Major Serpa Pinto to sieze the country, and Cardinal Lavigerie is ready with his priests to sta- tion them in all the places where the missionaries have labored, where the graves of English men and English women are "the title deeds to Nyassaland." Alas! is all this work for Christ to be overthrown? No, indeed; a spirit of prayer comes over the British churches, and the Portuguese encroachments are defeated not so much by the s~ates manship of Lord Salisbury as by the prayers of those who sent out the missionaries, and who, day by day, cease not to pray on their behalf. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes."
7. On August 19, 1856, Rev. William Burns arrived at the city of Chao-chow-fu, south China; he had gone there in order to preach the Gospel and do colportage work. vVhen suddenly he was arrested and the same night examined before the district magistrate (Life of William Burns, p. 290). The magistrates decided to send him to Canton., It was the time of the Taiping rebellion, and, in addition to this, his arrest took place immediately on the eve of the war which that same year broke out between Britain and China. Had he arrived at Canton just a very little later, while the events begun by Commissioner Yeh were in progress, death would have been the probable result to the missionary. N ow compare an entry made by Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, at Perth, Scotland, in her diary, of date 28th December, of the same year: "Mr. Burns was safely kept through his arrest and imprisonment in China. Comparing the dates I find that we were met in prayer for him during his dangerous jOttrney under guard of the Ohinese ofJicials." (lVlemoir of Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, p. 177).
[ NOTE: The 8th and 9th instances are omitted, having been already published in the REVIEW, 1889, pp. 29, 348-ED.] 10. The repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in Britain was a.
work as arduous as any in Asia or Africa. Those vile acts roused t(} a white heat the zeal of a noble band like Mrs. Josephine Butler and Miss Elice Hopkins who were aRsisted by men like Mr. Stead, Mr.
Stanfield, ~1.P., and Professor Stuart, M.P. Almost the whole strength of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords were against them. The army and the navy were against them. Two or three women and as many men against a nation! but they determined to struggle and suffer in order to save our poor, lost sisters from the brutality of demon-like men. They could endure to he hooted, to be insulted, to be written against in the daily press, as "the howling sisterhood," and they could enlist the arm of God against the power of British immorality. Christians gave themselves to prayer through- out the whole kingdom, and the power of prayer conquered, the Gov- ernment yielded, and by the unanimous vote of Parliament the Con- tageous Diseases Acts were abolished. '
Verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth, whose ear is not shut to the cry of those who wrestle in prayer as they do His work.
11. And pr~er which God thus answers for the preservation of His servants and their work, also brings spiritual blessing. We have testimony to this on all hands. For example: Rev. Griffith John, of Hankow, says (Records of the Shanghai Conference of 1877, p. 26)), "Feeling my own lack of spiritual power, I spent the whole of a Satur- . day in earnest prayer for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. On the fol- lowing morning I preached on the subject. At the close of t·he ser- vice I proposed that we should meet for an hour on every day of the ensuing week to pray for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. From fifty to seventy of the converts met day by day, and confessing their sins with tears, pleaded for an outpouring of the Spirit of God. The na- tive church at Hankow received an impulse then, the force of which continues to this day. The Holy Ghost became a mighty reality t(} many. vVhere once other things are preached, Christ and His power to save is now the theme."
12. What a successful mission is that carried on in China by the English Presbyterian Church. Begun in 1847, by that apostolic man> William Burns, it has increased until now it has five separate centres, Amoy, Swatow, Formosa, the Hakka country, and Singapore. With its thousands of converts, its native preachers, its ordained native pastors, its schools and Sabbath-schools, its medical missions, its lady missionaries, it has received from God much spiritual blessing-bless- ing which has enabled the converts to stand true even when persecu- tion brought the loss of worldly goods and when heathen fury against the native Christians resulted in murder: this occurred at Poih-buan, in 1878. And they willingly acknowledge that much of the divine blessing, so abundantly given, is to be traced to a monthly prayermeeting for China, held in a room in Edinburgh.
Whether we are opposed by immoral legislation or the opium trade {)r the cruelties of slavery or of the African trade in alcohol, or by the vast forces of heathenism, let our resources be the power of God made available for all the needs of His church. Yes, in all Christian work God supplies all our need according to His riches in gl'ory in Christ Jesus.
GREED IN THE WAY OF MISSIONARY ZEAL.-We fear that there is no form of selfishness more fatal to missionary consecration than the worship of the dollar. Avarice prevents abundant giving, and it hoards fol' the sake of gain what could be used with the most ~bundant profit in the wide harvest field. Not only so, but the Scripture phrase is sagaciously accurate, gold "blinds the eyes." Men do not see the facts or feel the force of the appeal of God and {)f souls because the love of money intervenes as an obscuring medium. There are many professed disciples who hold a dollar so Dear the eye that they can see scarcely anything else in the world.
Robert Hall, arguing with a clergyman suspected of having -changed his opinions from mercenary motives, proposed to him several reforms of great importance, but was invariably met with the reply: "I don't see it; I can't see it at all."
At length, penciling in small letters the word "God" upon an .envelope which lay on the table, Mr. Hall showed it, and asked: " Can you see that?" "Yes. " Then, covering it with a half sovereign, he asked again: " Can you see it now? " " No." Whereupon, without another word, he went away. The argument was sufficiently conclusive without any drawing of a "moral" after it!
THE " New Theology," according to Dr. O. W. Holmes, in teaching probation beyond this life, has as effectually deadened all sensibility to the fear of eternal punishment, as cocaine, the new local anresthetic, deadens the sensibility of the part to which it is applied. We may be permitted to raise the honest inquiry whether any doctrine which practically destroys the power of the retributions of a future state can have any other effect than to paralyze missionary activity. And, if the tree is known by its fruit, can that be a safe doctrine to hold which either deadens sensibility to the plain warnings of the Scripture or to the degradation and destitution of the heathen world?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
BY THOMAS LAURIE, D.D., PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The thought of the conversion of the world prompts the question, " How large is it?" There have been v~rious estimates of its popu- lation. In 1753, Voltaire said 1,600,000,000. Fifty years later Volney put it at 437,000,000. Matte Brun, in 1810, made it 640,000,- 000; Balbi, in 1816, estimated it at 704,000,000, and in 1843, at 739,000,000; Behm and Wagner, in 1880, fixed it at 1,456,000,000, and in 1882, with probably greater accuracy, at 1,434,000,000, though it was less than their previous estimate by 22,000,000. This popUlation they distributed as follows: Europe …….. 327,743,400 Asia…………… 795,591,000 Africa………. 205,823,200 America …………100,415,400 Polynesia…… 4,232,000 Polar Land……… 82,500 Total population of the globe………………… 1,433,887,500 These statistics do not introduce a dissertation on population, but only a brief consideration of a recent objection to the missionary work. It is estimated that modern missions have won about 4,000,- 000 converts from idolatry; but we are told that running parallel with these conversions is an increase of the number to be converted from 600,000,000 to 800,000,000, and if 200,000,000 heathen are added to the number, while only 4,000,000 become Christians, at that rate when will the world be converted to God? At first sight the case seems hopeless, and that on these conditions we can only make progress backward; but is the prospect as dark as it seems? Let us look at it carefully and dispassionately. One thing is plain: while the 200,000,000 are the natural increase of the previously existing 600,000,000, the 4,000,000 are an absolute creation. Four millions from nothing is a vastly greater proportion than the other, though the Bums are larger.
But let us examine the subject yet more carefully. Modern evangelical missions have now been in operation about a century. The first missionary society (the Church Missionary Society) dates from 1792. Now, if conversions began immediately, then the 4,000,000 converts are rightly set over against the 200,000,000 increase of heathen; but if they did not begin for a number of years, then the heathen increase of the years during which there were no converts must be subtracted from the 200,000,000, and so we have already reduced the seemingly hopeless contrast.
But that is not all. '1'he first converts were not only the fruits of many years of labor, but they were very few in number. For many years Leang Afa was almost the only convert among the many millions of China, and this introduces a riew element into the discussion, for while the natural increase goes on from year to year, and from age to age, with slight variation, missionary converts in~ease in the ratio of a geometrical progression. At first there were no conversions at all; only a work of preparation. The military stores are gathered together and the forces massed for the coming conflict, and, when that begins, each prisoner taken is not immured in a dungeon, but becomes at once an active soldier, able to avail himself of his famil- iarity with the condition and position of thc enemy for their over- throw. And it is worthy of notice, that the Lord of Hosts does not isolate the converts, but scatters them purposely among those to be acted on by their example and their labors. Already in some.of the latter decades of the century the increase of the converts has been at the rate of eighty-one per cent., and the natural increase of the heathen during the same period only six and one-half per cent. Now, if that proportion were to continue it would only require a sum in arithmetic to find out how soon the eighty-one per cent. would overtake and go beyond the six and one-half per cent. But we have seen that the ratio is one of geometrical progression-" the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one "-and so we see the way clear to transfer very rapidly the hundreds of millions from the heathen side to the Christian side of future increase.
It may be said this is a very beautiful theory, but-. Then take an actual case. Robert Morrison entered China through much tribulation in 1807. When Dr. Happel' went there in 1844 he found only six Protestant missionaries and two native assistants in all that empire. While at the Shanghai Conference, in May, 1890, 1,285 missionaries and 1,469 native assistants were reported as then in that field, and with slich an increase in the past, what may not be hoped for in the future? Other examples might be given equally encouraging. When a fire is kindled in the forest its progress depends on the denseness of the mass of trees to be set on fire, and when everyone of the millions of China is a tor~h waiting to be lighted, it needs no prophet to foretell the effect of casting in these torches already lighted.
Take another view. A century ago there were in all the earth 174,000,000 nominal Christians, 44,000,000 of them Protestants. Now there are 165,000,000 Protestants, almost as many as the whole number at that time, among 450,000,000 nominal Christians. Add to that that the energy and efficiency of the race is concentrated in those Protestants, and the prospect for the future is radiant. Furmerly the Latin race was the conqueror and colonizer of the world, but since it fell under the paralysis of Popery it has lost its power. Now the race which lives by truth is marching at the head of the race, carrying the source of its own energy to all the nations.
It is significant in this connection that, while one hundred years
THE PRAYER LEAGUE
ago only 22,000,000 of the race spoke E'llglish, 115,000,000 now use that language, an increase of more than 500 per cent., and while at that time the 22,000,000 had neither missions nor missionaries, the 115,000,000 now sustain 120 missionary societies, of which our American Board is only one, and these societies raise annually $11,250,000 for the conversion of the world to God.
Then we need only to call to mind the immense store of Christian literature in that language to thank God that it is having such free course in all the earth.
Indeed, we thank the objectors for calling attention to a line of truth where there is nothing to discourage but everything to fill us with the assurance of a glorious success.
THE PRAYER LEAGUE.
We note with sincere gratitude the movement toward covenant prayer in various parts of the Church, and we regard it as the most promising sign of the times. When God's people begin to pray in faith and with true agreement marvels begin in the earth. And not a crisis of missionary history, from the beginning until to-day, has been turned except by prayer.
The Reformed Church has recently formed a Foreign Missionary Prayer League, whose purpose it is "to unite God's people in abundant and prevailing prayer; to intensify, accumulate and direct the power of prayer so that multitudes of heathen may be turned to the Lord in our missions."
In the very impressive appeal which has been issued prayer is recognized as the mightiest power in missionary work, whether to open the doors, thrust forth the laborers, secure the needful means, or to call down abundant blessing. Those who cannot go to the foreign field can, at least, sustain the work by prayers for it, "striving together" with the workmen by their own supplication. United prayer carries resistless power, as is shown throughout all history, and is especially acceptable to God. The method encouraged is special seasons, daily set apart, and particular prayer for individual persons and places: abundant prayer, prayer with fasting, arid with intercommunication among those who join the league.
Mrs. Joseph Scudder, 57 Cannon street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., acts as secretary of the league. We exhort all who belong to that communion especially to join this league, and make its objects and aims heartily their own. We believe that if the whole Church would get into a new attitude of fervent, believing prayer there would be such a new Pentecost as the history of man has never yet recorded.
COl>'VENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGALORE, INDIA
CONVENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGA- LORE, INDIA.
BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., D.D., MADANAPALLE, INDIA.
Bangalore, the chief city of the kingdom of ]fysore, has just witnessed a singular sight for the capital city of a non-Christian kingdom.
Pursuant to an invitation from the missionaries of all societies working in Bangalore and other earnest Christians residing there, a convention gathered at that place on the 23d of September, of missionaries and other ChriAtian workers from all parts of the Madras Presidency with some also from Bombay.
'l'he convention was not for the discussion of abstruse problems of missionary policy, but for the promotion of spiritual life and growth and earnestness in work for the Master.
Trains arriving on the afternoon of September 23d, from four different directions, centering at that place, brought those invited, and others who could attend, from many different provinces, districts, cities and villages. .iUJ. parts of the Tamil country, from near Cape 00morin to Madras and the N eilgherry Mountains,sent representatives. All parts of the kingdom of Mysore, the Kanarese kingdom, were represented. Two delegates from the Marathi country and one from the Gujarathi; myself and another from the Telugu country; missionary workers among the Mohammedans in Hindustani; workers in English among the Eurasians and in the English army, and native preachers in Tamil, Kanarese and Telugu were there. Seven languages were required to do the daily work at their stations of the workers there assembled.
Not missionaries alone: many laymen were there. Coffee planters from the Shevaroy and the Neilgherry mountains. An executive engineer from one of the new state railways on the East Coast; a general and several other officers from the Madras army; soldiers in uniform from the garrison; artisans and tradesmen and their families; natives, male and female, in their striking costumes. All mingled, as children of the King, in this conference. It would be hard to match it in any city of the Western world.
Twelve different branches of the Church of Christ were represented-the Church of England,English Baptists, American Baptists, English Independents, American Congregationalists, English Wesleyans, American Methodists, AustralasianWesleyans, German Lutherans, American Reformed, English Plymouth Brethren and Salvation Army officers-all joined heartily in counsel and prayer for higher spiritual life, for more absolute consecration, for more efficient. service.
Tuesday evening was devoted to an informal reception, a social gathering, the Rev. and Mrs. W. H. I. Picken, Wesleyan missiona- ries of Bangalore, behlg host and hostess.
It gave us all an opportunity of becoming acquainted. English, Germans, Hindus, Americans, Australians, and an exceedingly pleas- ant gathering it was, closing with half an b1u ~Cff more formal words of welcome, praise and prayer.
The next three days, with three sessiOn!, each day, were given to the consideration of "What Christ does for His people," "What Christ does in His people," and "What Christ does through His people," one day being given to each theme.
The vVednesday morning meeting was a Bible reading on the first theme, conducted by Rev. E. Chester, M.D., thirty-one years a missionaryof tbe American Board in the Madura Mission. The afternoon meeting was devotional, led by Rev. I. G. Hawker, twenty-five years a missionary of the London Missionary Society at Belgaum. It was a helpful, uplifting meeting. The evening's session was a more public meeting for addresses on the day's theme, presided over by the representative of the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church in America, thirty years a missionary among the Telugus, at which every seat in the large audience-room was filled and some stood. Addresses were given by the chairman, on what Christ does (a) by His atonement; by Rev. G. W. Lawday, of Tumkur, Wesleyan, (b) By His example; and by Rev. W. Ioso, London Mission, Madras, (c) By His intercession. The exercises were interspersed with warm prayers and spir:ted singing by a volunteer choir who had previously practiced for the purpose.
Thursday's was the second theme, "What Christ does in His people." The morning's Bible reading on it was led by Handley Bird, Esq., Plymouth Brother, from Coimbatoor, and was exhaustive and stimulating. The afternoon meeting was for ladies only, and was said to have been of exceptional interest. The evening meeting, for public address, was led by Dr. Chester, of Dindigul, and addresses were given by the chairman, by Mr.E.Lynn, Plymouth Brother, Malvalli, and by Rev. John S. Chandler, of the American Madura Mis- SIOn.
Friday was the crowning day. The theme, "What Christ does through His people." The morning Bible reading, led by H. Clift, Esq., railway executive engineer, mapped out the subject well. The afternoon meeting was a conversational session on "Methods of Evangelization," or "How shall God work through us for His higher glory?" 'rhe writer was asked to open and guide the conversation. This was declared to be a "Council of War" for the conquest of India. And it proved one of the most stimulating of the meetings, full of val'lety and suggestiveness.
The methods referred to were: Oral proclamation of the Gospel in the streets, villages, markets, fairs, with such accessories as large colored Scripture pictures or magic-lantern Bible scenes, by night;with cornet and bicycle to tow in the crowd and "baby organ" to hold them for the preaching: Medical missionary work, with preaching to all patients, and terse Gospel tickets for the patients to take home; and Zenana medical work by lady doctors; Reading rooms and preaching halls in crowded thoroughfares; Sunday-school work among Chris- tian and heathen children; Young Men's Christian Association work in large cities, and Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor in smaller places. The Press and Tract Gospel and Christian book distribution all through the country. Christian school work to reach non-Christian pupils, and to train workers, and Zenana work and Bible women, and lIindu girl's schools to reach non-Christian women.
This meeting being a "family gathering," all mingled freely in the discussion-ladies and gentlemen, lay and clerical, English, Germans, Australians, Americans, Hindus, Episcopalians, Methodists, Salvation Army, Presbyterians, Plymouth Brothers, "Faith Mission" Workers, Baptists, strict and open, Congregationalists and Wesleyans, with prayers of unction, and hymns of victory thrown in all the way. The only difficulty was in bringing the meeting to a close.
Friday evening'S meeting, the closing one of the series, was the most crowded one of all. General MacAusland, of the Madras army, presided and made the opening address, on "What Christ does through His people." (a) by the example and influence of their live!', and was followed by Rev. L. S. Gates, of the American Board's Mission, Sholapore, Bombay, on (b) by their testimony to truth and experience, and by Rev. I. G. Hawker, of Belgaum, on (0) by their works of faith and love.
After the Benediction there was a general handshaking of those who had come, many of them one and two days' journey to attend, and so this memorable "Mildmay Conference," held in India, of Christian Workers, was brought to a close amid a universal desire for a similar meeting to be held next year, at which very many more workers, lay and clel'ica~, will be sure to be present. The Kingdom is coming. We can see its onward progress. God bring it in speedily!
SAID a heathen to a mlsslOnary: "There must be something in your religion which makes you come all the way out here to tell us of it. I am sure I would not go so far to tell you of mine." Nothing is perhaps more likely to impress the minds of pagan people than the evidence that missionaries afford, that the good news is worth telling! And the more sacrifice our evangelism costs us the more eloquent is t.he testimony that missions give to the value of the great salvation and our own passion fOI" souls.
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK.-I.
BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, M.A., LL.D., NICE, FRANCE.
We intend to take a view, if possible, of that field which is the world. It follows, of course, that in so general a survey, many particulars that are by no means unimportant, must pass unnoticed, and that only the most outstanding objects can receive more than a passing glance.
It is often said that we have entered, or are entering, on a new era in missionary history. Various things seem, on the whole, to justify this language. Of these we shall specify only three-the student movement in America, the request of the Missionary Conference at Shanghai that a thousand missionaries be sent to China within the next five years, and a prayer from members of the Church Missionary Society that its missions speedily receive the same accession. Ten or five years ago such things could not have been. The double, indeed ,triple demand (Mr. Hudson Taylor had already asked for a thousand new laborers for the China Inland Mission) for a thousand missionaries, if made, would have been scouted as ridiculous. Reserving to the end of this paper Bome questions as to the practical carrying out of the proposal, we can express nothing but admiration in view of the enlargement of heart which the demand implies.
We divide this paper into three parts. We first advert to the missionary spirit as it exists at home. 'Ve then speak of the position of things in the foreign field. We shall conclude with a few suggestions grounded on the sur~ey we shall thus have taken.
I.
First, then, let us attend to the missionary spirit as it exists in Christendom: Undoubtedly there has been, for a good many years past, a steady growth of missionary zeal. The movements we have already mentioned are the natural result of what preceded. Hardly any portion of the Church of Christ now fails to take a share in foreign evangelistic work; or, if it fails, it is quite aware of having to explain its position and apologize. Otherwise, it knows it will stand condemned at the bar of Christendom. There is not merely a growing interest in non-Christian peoples, arising out of a growing knowledge of their condition; there is a deepening sense of duty towards our fellow-men -an increasingly clear perception of the social character of Christianity. Time was when even good men thought not too much, but too exclusively, of their own salvation. We see better than we did that we must "add to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity"-to love of God and love of Christians-a love that embraces the entire human race and that does not evaporate in talk.
Such is increasingly the feeling of the church, and the general public shares it to a considerable extent. We are old enough to remember the time when any new missionary effort that might be pro- posed was sure to be sneered at-classed under the head of "missions to the moon and elsewhere." But no man will scoff at missions now who does not scoff at the Bible itself, and he who speaks of the useless- ness of missions is prepared to assert in the same breath the useless- ness of Christianity.
This growing appreciation of missions on the part of the general public is due to the strong testimony in regard to their practical ef- ficacy, which has been so often rendered by men fully qualified to form a judgment-many of whom were prepared to look on missions with an eye severely critical. Among .such witnesses Charles Darwin has been one of the most tnfIuential. He certainly had no predispo- sition to think well of missionary work; but, as an entirely honest man, he told what his own eyes had seen. One of his expressions has become proverbial: "The lesson of the missionary is an enchanter's wand." Speaking of some who had ridiculed the work in the South Seas, which he himself had carefully examined, he used the scathing language: "Disappointed in not finding the field for licentiousness quite so open as formerly, they will not give credit to a morality which they do not wish to practise." Testimonies in favor of missions are multiplying. Stanley has spoken, with characteristic warmth, in praise of Mackay and others, and, as we write, an eye lights on the high eulogium which Mr. Johnston, in the New Review, pronounces on the doings of Dr. Laws, of Nyassaland. Mr. Johnston says Dr. Laws "learned to make bricks in order that he might teach others. He has become a practical engineer, carpenter, joiner, printer, photographer, farrier, boat-builder and druggist, so that he might instruct his once savage people in these arts and trades."
Mackay, the "engineer missionary," labored with much zeal in teaching the arts of civilized life at Uganda. He spoke very warmly of the missions at Lovedale and Blythswood, in South Africa, as exemplifying what he regarded as the right kind of missions for Africa. They combine intellectual and religious teaching with industrial training.
Men who are believers in Christianity may be expected to write in terms such as we have been referring to. And when those that are not believers use such language as we have quoted from Darwin, we need not be surprised. For now-a-days many who never think of the service of God, plead earnestly for "the service of man." They have drawn the lesson, directly or indirectly, from the Bible, which makes the service of man an essential part of the service of God; and this they ought, in fairness, to acknowledge. But, although they believe in no Divine command to evangelize the nations; they can hardly deny the elevation of the aim. They may blame the missionaries for proclaiming dogmas which to them seem unintelligible, but the philsnthropic character of missions they do not seek to deny; and, when testimonies multiply as to their practical efficacy in raising degraded races, they cannot but express approval. 1'his is true, at least of the higher class of unbelievers-of men like Cotter Morison, one of the ablest of the Agnostics. He speaks of the "unequaled potency" of Christianity in moulding character, and of the "true Christian saint" as "one of the most wonderful phenomena of the moral wOl·ld-so lofty, so p~re, so attractive." We do not wish to make too much of such testimonies; neither do we despise them; but, at all events, language like this rises infinitely above the polished sarcasm of Gibbon no less than the vulgar ribaldry of Paine.
While we speak thus, we are not ~rgetting that, if missions are better appreciated than they were, yet the missionaries themselves have lately been subjected to severe criticism. It is not long since an Anglican canon was writing foolishly about Mohammedanism, and bitterly about the missionaries of his own church. And, certainly, we cannot overlook the excitement aroused among the 'Vesleyans by charges made by one who had seen very little of India-charges which were repeated in one or two influential quarters at home. Such attacks do temporary harm, both at home and among the heathen; but, as the truth becomes known, there is a great reaction in favor of the men assailed. Canon Isaac Taylor will hardly return to the bat-' tIe, seeing he was not only refuted by missionaries, but charged by literary men like Mr. Bosworth Smith with "invincible ignorance" and" headlong heedlessness." The Canon has done good service in linguistics and archreology, and to these he should confine llimself. And as for theWesleyans, it is, we trust, a joy even in the quarters at home in which the accusations were rashly credited, that, instead of their being" proved to the hilt," the sharp weapon, though powerfully wielded, has not pierced-has barely grazed-the skin. For the mis- .sionaries were, after the fullest inquiry, completely exonerated from all charges made, or implied. And so let us pass from the whole thing as from a painful dream.
Of course, criticism is not over. It is inevitable, if real interest be taken in the work. There will be unjust and ignorant criticism; for some men have a perfect genius for finding fault, and there will be room for legitimate and enlightened criticism, for missionaries are not infallible. Inquiry into evangelistic methods there ought to be. Every true-hearted missionary will be most grateful for any new light that can be thrown upon his work, and all friendly criticism he will meet in a friendly spirit. He will indeed be disposed to smile at not a few of the changes that are suggested as improvements on pres- ·ent methods, for probably either he himself, or others, have already tried the thing proposed and found it wanting; but he will fully appreciate the spirit oy which the criticism is prompted. No doubt, as he watches the slow, steady advance of the truth wherever the Gosper is faithfully made known, he will be pained to note the impatience of some who think that the high places in heathenism ought to be cap- tured by a rush; and he will be disposed to ask why things move so slowly at home-why the Pope and the College of Cardinals are not r converted-why unbelief and worldliness are still so fearfully strong A craving for the salvation of souls is beautiful, but a craving for results, mainly in order that we may get our money's worth, is pitiable; and the Church of Christ needs to examine her own heart and see which feeling chiefly sways her. The Apostle speaks of the need of the sower having" long patience," "till he receh-e the early and the lat- ter rain." N ow, in this ale of unsettlement and restlessness, "long patience" is, to the best of us, difficult of attainment; and many crave- for perpetual excitement and perpetual change. Let the Church be " instant in season and out of season," but let her also seek to enter into fuller sympathy with Him who sees the end from the beginning, and who is seated at the right-hand of God" from henceforth expect- ing till His enemies be made His footstool. "
We hail a growing desire on the part of the Church at home to draw tighter the bonds between the foreign laborers and herself. .One mark of this is the sending of deputies to the missions. When these are wise and sympathetic men, only good should result from this. Would that all home ministers could visit heathendom! It would enable them on their return to plead the cause of missions far more zealously and effectively. "Mine eye affecteth mine heart," and a sight of real heathenism would be a lesson and an impulse for life. Indifference to missions is often traceable to ignorance rather than unfaithfulness. Certainly, in this case, zeal will be in proportion to· knowledge.
All that we have said implies that the interest of the Church, and even of the general public, in regard to mission work has been, and still is, deepening. The world begins to see that the work is good, and the Church that it is glorious. Now, do we sufficiently realize the magnitude and importance of the change? Doubtless everyone has heard of the rebuke administered by Dr. Ryland to young Carey for his excess of zeal, and most of us -can repeat the story of the Scottish Assembly, and good Dr. Erskine's "Rax me that Bible.'" But at a later date such representative men as Bishop Horsley, in England, and Dr. Timothy Dwight, in America, were opposed to the' movement on behalf of missions. Or, going farther back, it is deplor– able that from the Reformation till about the end of the sixteenth century the only great man who is known to have seen the import– ance of missions was Hugo Grotius. When from about the year 1664 the Austrian nobleman Van Welz was striving to arouse the churches: of Germany to a sense of their obligations, he encountered the sternest opposition from men of position and unquestioned orthodoxy, such as Ursinus, the superintendent of Regensburg. "The heathen," said this high ecclesiastic, "have already had sufficient means of learning the truth. The Greenlanders could have learnt it from their neighbors, the Danes and Swedes; and the Turks and Tartars from the Greeks. God is not bound to help these'heathen more than He has done." "As for those who have been persecutors of the faith, why should heaven's pearls be thrown to dogs or swine like them?"* Can such things have been said by the leaders of the Christian Church? Unhappily, yes; and they were, by the people under them, all too readily acquiesced in.
Let us thank God that such words cannot be used again. They would arouse one general feeling of horror throughout the churches.
One proof of the deepening interest in missions is the increasing number of university men that are offering themselves for service. It was long before any such, in the Church of England at least, were willing to work among the heathen; but, during the last four years, seventy-nine English university men have become missionaries. In former days of coldness special colleges for training missionaries were wholly indispensable; but the belief is growing that ordained men in the foreign field require at least as good an education as ordained men at home. In the Presbyterian churches the same training has long been given to both classes; there is no abbreviated curriculum for missionaries. The flower of university youth everywhere is pressing more and more -into the foreign field.
The steady increase of female missionaries is equally remarkable III all missionary churches and societies. If we mention the C. M. S. as an example it is not because it stands specially prominent in this respect, but because the requisite information regarding it happens to be at hand. Three years ago it had twenty-two female missionaries. (excluding the wives of missionaries); now it has sixty. Equal or nearly equal progress has been made by the distinctively female missionary societies connected with all the churches. For example, the Zenana, Bible and Medical Mission has, during the last eight years, sent out 138 additional workers, and is making an effort to send twenty more.
The claims of the heathen world are overwhelming, and the conviction grows that the class of ordained missionaries must be supplemented by the unordained men, with or without academical training. This is as it should be. In certain fields, and for certain kinds of work, the higher education is indispensable; a thorough acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek, for example, is necessary for those who are to translate, or revise, the Holy Scriptures in foreign tongues. Devout laymen do admirable service at home, and why may they not abroad?
* See The Nordisk Missions-tids sleri/t. vol. 1, pages 62, 68. This excellent missionary maga- zine has just been started under the able editorship of Provst (Dean) Vah!. As for women, of course, the question arises: "Is the Church to Rend forth only those who are in the position of ladies?" Certainly; native ladies in India and elsewhere can quickly take the measure of their foreign visitors, and a woman of little education or refinement will hardly be welcome in the homes of the higher and middle classes. But are the lower classes to be' overlooked? No woman whose heart is burning with the love of Christ need despair of doing good to her heathen sisters. And, then, the Spirit of God will seldom work powerfully in the heart without imparting a large measure of sweetness and refinement to the bearing-whereas, polish of manner without the grace of God is nothing worth-for Smooth, good breeding, supplemental grace, 'Vith lean performance apes the work of love.
The importance of medical missions is now pretty fully recognized in Britain and America. lVIedical missionaries having British degrees are about 141 in number; while from America and the Continent there are 150. China has the largest proportion. The number of female practitioners seems to grow rather more rapidly than that of medical men.
So hI' we have spoken of Britain chiefly, though we trust our remarks apply also to America. We proceed to refer briefly to the Continent of Europe.
In Germany there is decided progress in missionary zeal. 'rhe vast territories which Germany now possesses or " influences" in East Africa have naturally led Christians to feel that new obligations rest upon them; and new societies ha~e been formed to meet these claims. For example, one at Neukirchen, another in Bavaria, and another at Berlin (where a third society has thus been set up). In medical missions Germany does comparatively little, though the late Professor Christlieb earnestly pleaded for them. Still, the lVIoravians and the Basle and Bremen societies now recognize their exceeding value.
There is a clear advance in Denmark. The imperative obligation of evangelizing heathen nations has been of late earnestly pressed on believing men and women, and a great many missionary uriions (450, at least, we understand) have been formed. The first university men that have become foreign missionaries did so in 1888 and 1889-one in each of these years; but several students of theology have resolved to give themselves to the foreign work on the completion of their course. ,"Vomen also begin to come forward. A deaconess was sent to India, in 1888; two young ladies are under training for foreign work, and several others are likely to follow their example. No medical missionaries have as yet proceeded from Denmark; but two young men are receiving medical tralning with a view to go out in 189l. The mission to the Red Karens has been given up; but one is to be begun among the Burmese. All this, it may be said, does not amount to much. Still, it distinctly implies progress; and some Danish Christians are very much in earnest with regard to missionary work.
Three missionary societies have for a good many years existed in Norway, and a fourth was formed a short time ago, called the" Free lEssion," which sends out men and women to Natal. Quite recently a small society has been set up which will send missionaries to China.
In regard to medical missions Norway is in advance of Denmark.
Au ordained medical missionary was sent to Madagascar in 1869; a second in 1876, and in the same year a third, who had taken his degree in Edinburgh, was sent to Zululand.
In Sweden there are three larger societies-that of the state (lhurch, the evangelical union, and the missionary union. '1'he Swedes work earnestly in various places abroad, especially in Africa, in the Congo Free States and among the Gallas. They have not been able to enter Abyssinia itself, but among Abyssinians on the borders they have done a good deal. These bodies send out among their agents both m<edical men and ladies. There are several other small SOCletles. There is evidently au increasing zeal for missions in Sweden, and it is interesting to note that the state church, as a (lhurch, is hearty in the cause.
The French Societe des Missions Evangeliques has of late made ~al'llest efforts to increase the zeal of French Protestants. The synods of the National, Free and Lutheran churches some time ago recommended that there should be annually a mission Sunday-a day on which the duty of evangelizing the heathen should be pressed on the attention (If worshippers. Mission festivals (fetes) have been established in "Various places~* though by no means as yet in every parish, as was the hope of the synods; publications giving missionary information are largely circulated, and subscriptions to missions have considerably increased. '1'he missions have struggled with great difficulties (in Senegambia particularly); and now, when France has obtained such vast possessions in northern and western Africa, the question is, (lan the French Protestants rise to the requirements of the high occasion? '1'hey deserve sympathy; they require help in their foreign, as in their home work.
In Holland missionary zeal is increasing, though not rapidly. Switz('rland has the Basil Missionary Society-a most valuable and progressive institution, and the small Canton de Vaud has, sinee 1872, had foreign missions connected with the Free Church. In 1883 the free churches of Geneva an<d Neuchatal joined in the work. The united society is called La Mission des Eglises Libres de la Suisse Romande. The venerable Waldensian Church, while it feels itself especially .. See last annual report, p. 3.
NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES
called tp evangelize Italy, has taken some part in foreign missions since 1881. It works in South Africa in connection with the Paris society.
The Finnish Christians are not neglectful of missions to th~ heathen. We wish we could say the same thing of the Hungarians (who are also of the Turanian stock). Still, let us not forget that the "T Hungarian Church works both in Herzegovina and Roumania. e have been speaking of interest in the evangelizing of the heathen nations as it is manifested in Christendom. Happily, the bounds of Christendom are enlarging. Ve may now include Australia and New Zealand under that designation. In point of missionary zeal the churches in these regions are hardly behind those of Europe and America. The Dutch Church in South Africa" is also earnest in missionary work.
[To be continued.] NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES.
The recent disclosures in this Italian city have produced a pro- found sensation throughout the whole bounds of the thinking world. A convent in Naples, which for four centuries has been shut to all, and has been appropriately known as the nunnery of the "Buried Alive," has been opened by the police and the secrets unearthed. A young girl had been hurriedly" buried" there to cure her of an un- fortunate passion; but when her family afterwards wiRhed to com- municate with her it was found impossible. An appeal to the Italian Minister of Justice procured an order for entrance, and, against vio- lent opposition, the police forced their way. They found twenty-six nuns, ragged, wretched, and some of them half-insane. Eight of them had been immured in this death trap by order of their parents, against their own will. The horrible spectacle thus brought to 'light has caused the Governor of Naples to order a further and complete investigation, and all the closed nunneries of Southern Italy are to be visited officially. "Free Italy" is proving both her right and her power to be free! These women were walled in, 'Yith only a small opening to " pass in food, and were like bony skeletons, The government pro- poses to turn the large convent into a school for girls. Of course the priests cry, "Sacrilegio I Sacrilegio!"
One of the Erskines said: "I can call God to witness that I have done my best to bring on a definite issue between Christ and the adversaries of the truth." .Let us not be afraid of conflict. Christ came not to send peace, but a sword. Loyalty to the truth will inevitably arouse to violent opposition the minions and myrmidons of' error.
"HOW MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SHEEP?"
"HOW :MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SB,EEP?" MATT. xn:12.
BY A. J. GORDON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS• • An absurd question! you may exclaim at first. But it was a very pertinent question when Jesus asked it. And it is just as truly so to- day. For do you not know that our American congress has given vastly more attention to the protection of sheep's wooi than it has given to the protection of the home and family? And this is a typi- cal fact which illustrates the conduct of worldly rulers and secular shepherds in all time. Therefore, it is necessary for us to answer anew the question: "How much better is a man than a sheep ?"
Answer first: "The gooa shephera giveth his life for the sheep,'" (Johnx:ll), which, being interpreted, means: "The Son of God gave himself for the sons of men." Our first computation of the worth of man, then, is not in an earthly currency but in a heavenly; not in the denomination of "corruptible things as silver and gold" but of "the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Think of that, ye monopolists and Christian millionaires~ who have ground humanity between the upper and nether millstones of combination and capital in order to make gain and grist for yourselves, till the Lord has cried out repeatedly: "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up My people as they eat bread ?" Here is the difference between man's estimate of man and God's estimate: The one will grind the masses into food for his own stomach, if he can do so; the other-the Son of God-will give his own body to be ground into food for man, saying, as he offers us his own wounded and bleeding members: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The philosopher, Compte, is said to have instituted and kept what he' called "Man's Supper," in which he partook of a crust of bread and a cup of water, saying, as he did so: "This I do in remembrance of the great multitude who have only a crust to feed upon.'" But such a sacrament is not needed: for the Lord's Supper, instituted centuries ago, declares all this and vastly more. By it our Lord says to our hungry, oppressed and suffering humanity, " I give myself to you, My.body to be your loaf, lIy blood to be your life, take, eat ye all of it." When was ever such valuation set on man as this? "Every man has his price," says the proverb. And the politician is in the market bidding for him; and the capitalist is in the Exchange bidding for him; and the man-slayer stands in the door of his saloon bidding for him. All these are bidding him down, vieing with each other in deadly competition to see which will get him for the smallest. and most paltry price. But Jesus Christ steps into the circle and sternly asks of the bidders: "How much better is a man than a sheep? Look on him, made in the image of God, and, though bruised and broken by the fall, capable of being restored to that image, and re- dothed with glory and honor and immortalityl And is this all that he is fit for, to be sheared of his daily income by the saloon; to ~ Tobbed of his fleece by the usurer, and to be sold in the shambles by the monopolist? I will not bid him down, I will bid him up. 'As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my lifefor the sheep,''' (John x:15). Here is the Divine valuation of man; Christ's invoice of humanity. Look at the price-the Lord Himself – and then estimate the purchase. N ever was such fine gold of purity and perfection coined into a single life; never was such weight of priceless suffering crowded into a single death. And all this the purchase money of our redemption. "Or what Hhall a man give in exchange for his soul?" asks Jesus. And He answers His -questions by giving Himself. We want no more powerful argument for missions than this: "Who loved me and gave Himself for me"- Himself, so infinitely much, for me, so insignificantly little. Then woe to the Christian who can hoard his gold, when the dying millions are crying out for more missionaries to be sent to them; and our bur- dened and anxious Boards are crying out for more money with which to send them.
"How much better is a man than a sheep?" Answer second: "I willmake a man more precious than fine gold/ even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" (Is. xiii. 12). The seer looked on, through the long perspective of prophecy, to .the day when the heavens shall be shaken; when the sun shall be darkened .and the moon shall withdraw her light. In this time, when God shall }mnish the world for its eyil he "will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible"- then" a man shall be more precious than fine gold." Here is something new in the history of the race. For ages the gold brokers of this world have counted humanity as oBly so much crude ore to be reduced and coined into cash for their vaults. But now the golden age has come when a man stamped with the image and superscription .of God will pass for what he is worth-the highest currency on earth. Hear this, ye missionaries of the Cross! You have forsaken all to go down into William Carey's "Gold Mine," while many of your brethren at home are filling their safes with thousands and ten thousands of superfluous wealth, leaving you short-handed and discouraged for want of helpers which they might send you if they would only give as the Lord has prospered them. And in hours of heart-sinking and faintness you sometimes wonder what you will get for all your thankless sacrifices. Be of good cheer. You are mining men, and that for the most part out of the lowest strata of humanity; and though your products have little value in this world's market, wait a little. There is a financial panic approaching in which yellow gold will go down, while there will be an astonishing rise in your securities. Listen to the report of the coming crash, as it appears on the bulletin-board of James, v: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 'Your riches are co~ rupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat yourflesh as it wereflre. Ye have heaped together treasure for the last days." Did you ever hear of such a gold panic as that? Boom the market; form syndicates; pass silver bills; enlist the banks! It is of no use. The day of judgment has come. "Your gold and silver is cankered." :Millionaires become insolvent, banks suspend, and the only people who have anything to depend on are those who laid up somewhat in the savings bank of heaven.
But what news for the missionary on St. James' bulletin-board? Listen: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman 1vaiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient/ stablish your hearts/for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." "The coming of the Lord." And what of that? Ah, that is going to revolutionize society. Read the :Messianic Psalm 72d and learn for yourself the change that will be ushered in by the millennium. :Money will go down, man will come up. Immanuel will now control the market in the interest of his clients. "And to Him shall be given the gold of Sheba," and" He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also and him that hath no helper."
And most wonderful of all: "A man shall be more precious than gold." Hear that, 0 long-suffering and patient missionary; your stock will be at par now-as it never has been before. The poor souls which you dug from' the dark caverns of heathenism, and which you coined in the mint of redemption, will be worth millions of such "corruptible things as silver and gold." Did the mother of the Gracchi present her own children to those who inquired concerning her treasures, saying: "These are my jewels?" How much more will the missionary exult in his spiritual children in that. day when the ]~ord shall" make up his jewels," presenting them before the Redeemer, and before the angels, saying: "These are my riches!" :Moffat, who is that black man who stands by your side, and what do you count him worth? And the aged apostle of Africa replies: That is Africaner, the once bloodthirsty and raging man-slayer, now become as gentle and tender as a Iamb since Jesus laid him on His shoulders rejoicing. Do you ask me wha':. he is worth? He is "more precious than fine gold. Yea, than the golden wedge of Ophir." 'Who is that, 0 William Carey, whom you are introducing with such joy to your Lord? That is Khrishna Pal, my first convert from among the heathen of India. Listen, and you shall hear him sing, " 0 thou my soul forget no more The friend who all thy sorrows bore."
And who is this, 0 Boardman beloved, whom you are leading up to the throne with such thanksgiving? This is San Quala, whom God gave me from the dark-faced Karens, and who himself in turn led thousands to Jesus Christ.
" Where can I invest most safely and profitably?" is the question constantly asked on 'Change. Invest in souls; seriously, deliberately and solemnly we urge you to inv~st in souls. There is no insurance on gold and silver that will protect tllem against the fires of the last day. But saved and glorified souls-these are" the gold tried in the fire," out of which your crown of rejoicing shall be wrought. Get money, you mayor may not, 0 Christian. But as you care aught for the rewards of heaven, fail not of getting souls. Get them at your own door; get them from the ends of the earth; but fail not to get them.
" I FEEL age creeping on me. I know that I must soon die. I hope it is not wrong to say it, but I cannot bear to leave this world with all the suffering in it /"-Earl of Shaj~esburJ/.
SCHLEGEL, and Madame de Stael after him, called" architecture, frozen music." From some of the music we have heard in so-called sanctuaries during the past five years we have concluded that the praise was frozen in the icy surroundings of an !esthetic performance, in which all the warmth of devotional fervor had somehow been utterly lost. Is it not possible for even our missionary spirit so to be chilled by the icy rigidity of a heartless formalism, that even while we are boasting of our efficient organizations, God sees that they are like frozen corpses, from which all life is gone?
ARE OUR PASTORS FAITHFUL?
The large number of our non-contributing churches, after making a liberal allowance for unintentional omission, and churches having only a nominal existence, also the trifling amount given to the Foreign Mission Work by congregation" whose wealth runs up into the millions, shows the necessity of some new movement. I have been attending a prominent evangelical church in a great city for the last three years and more, ministered to by one of the most mature preachers in our church, and during the whole tiJlle he has made no reference to the foreign work from the pulpit. The attention of the officers of the church has been called to the strange omission but no explanation has been given. If men who have the ear of the church are silent, God will raise up others. " The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber and help destroy it." This is beyond endurance.-A Parishioner.
1891.J Tl4-NSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK.
-The Missions-Blatt der BrUdergemeine, for June, 1890, gives the follow- -ing account of the peculiar relations of the mission-stations in South Africa to the civil authorities: " The practical English government has long since come to see that mission_ stations are the very best representatives of good morals, good order and civilization, the most trustworthy guarantees of public quiet, above all in the domain <>f the hot-blooded, turbulent Caffres, who have already cost the English colony streams of blood and untold sums of money. No wonder, then, that the higher -officials, in the well-understood interest of the common weal, encourage missions~ It is natural, therefore, when a mission-station is laid out, that they should gratuitously grant the ground required for church, school and missionhouse, if it is in the hands of the government. Indeed, they used also to give, without compensation, even the land for fields and gardens likely to blil required by a future community. This was known as the station-land. The rules and ordinances necessary for such a station then receive government sanction, and the presiding missionary receives civil jurisdiction to expel, from the station and its domain, those that offend against these ordinances by gross offences. Less important violations of station rules are visited with a fine paid into the public purse of the congregation. Thus the presiding missionary of the station is armed, not only with ecclesiastical, but also with civil and judicial prerogatives. On the other hand, the State naturally reserves to its representatives the right to ascertain whethcr the grant in land is actually applied to the designated purpose, whether discipline and good order prev:;til at the station, whether the school is efficiently carried on, and so on. Moreover, those that are condemned to leave the station lands have the right, in case they esteem the penalty unjust, to appeal to a government officer, who takes cognizance of their complaint."
This banishment from the station, however, especially as concerns submission to the heathenish and degrading rites connected with circumcision, is now in disuse, milder, but practically less dangerous and more effective measures of discipline taking its place. This universal Caffre usage, in itself indifferent, is so inextricably interwoven with all manner of vile concomitants, that it seems to be Satan's chief instrument for holding the Caffres under his dominion. Yet a Caffre yputh who does not submit to it becomes virtually a pariah among his tribesmen, and can scarcely obtain, even from Christian parents, the hand of one of their daughters. Its final overthrow will storm the citadel of darkness.
-The Rev. Mr. Stahle, of Australia, a Moravian, though at present connected with another society, communicates the decision of the" Aboriginal Board," appointed to look after the interests of the rapidly-vanishing native race, that they shall all be removed to certain stations, where they shall be kindly cared for, and not allowed intercourse with the whites, or even with the half-whites, until the race disappears, as within a calculable time it appears that it must.
Mr. Stahle says that for several months an awakening, accompanied with rich blessing, had been in progress among the Tapuas of his station. "Much sickness, however, had prevailed, and from January till October there had been eleven deaths. But all who fell asleep bore witness on their deathbed of their faith in Him who justifies the ungodly, and of their fervent desire that they might be permitted to enter into the joy of their Lord."
A visitor to the station, who attended a meeting, says: " But, ah, the hacking cough, which is heard on every side from among them! It sounds like the deathknell over the remnant of the once so numerous native tribes of Australia. Sitting thus in the midst of them, we cannot fail to remark how weakly they are, and how evidently the sentence of death against them is already proclaimed by their debilitated constitution. How emphatic is the appeal to our affectionate Christian sympathy, which resounds in our ears as we listen to this cough!"
-This work of bringing the regenerating influences o(the Gospel to the last survivors of a dying race, casts, of course, a shade of sadness over the minds of the missionaries, such as appears in these words of Missionary Kramer, of the Brethren's Mission, at Ebenezer: "Our beloved Ebenezer will, doubtless, be permitted to enter, as a mission station, upon the new decade. But how will it be at the end? The Lord alone knows. If it is to be dissolved I hope that ourlittle church will remain 'God's house,' and not be turned to the uses of a barn or a· stable. Many blessings, by God's grace, have descended upon us therein, and a certain sadness comes over me when I fear that in the place where we have assembled so often, in the name of the Lord, seeking to be built up out of His Word, or to present before Him our supplications and thanksgivings, or to raise to Him <;lUr songs of praise, the voice of riotous blasphemy may be heard. May the Lord forbid that it should be so !"
The following description of Cashmere, from the Missions-Blatt, reminds one of Moore's "Who has not heard of the vale of Cashmere, With its roses the brightest that earth ever gave, " etc.
"It is a region so richly and bounteously endowed by the goodness of God. that some naturalists have ventured the conjecture that it must have been the cradle of mankind-the origin at Paradise. That wonderful union of the sharpest antitheses in the life of nature, which characterizes the mighty Indian empire, the heat and luxuriant vegetation of the tropics, combined with the refreshing alpine ail' of snowy summits, glaciers and blue-green mountain lakes-so strengthening to the nerves-this fullness of God's glorious creation bursts upon the traveler in Cashmere in its purest, noblest forms. We cannot wonder, therefore, that the children of men to be met with there are also a. wonderful combination of the most startling contrasts. These are the proper inhabitants of the land, genuine Asiatics, arrested in their development for centuries back, and still bound in the chains of a relaxing heathenism. On the. other hand, you meet here with all the facilities of modern intercourse, and the country swarms with Europeans, some seeking recovery from the ill effects of a long sojourn in the heated plains, some finding delight in climbing the glaciers and snowy mountain-tops, like the tourists of Switzerland and the Tyrol."
-It is known that the Moravian Mission among the Himalayas is at oncein Thibet and in India. In other words, the people are Thibetan Buddhists, but are on the Indian slope of the main ridge, and are subject to British authority. They say: "As a missionary, Brother Redslob, so long as he and his wife, though seeking relaxation, are still within the range of Thibetan speech, he feels it incumbent on him, wherever he makes a stay of any length, to bear his witness to the crucified and risen one."
-The Roman Catholic government of Nicaragua, after many refusals, has finally granted permission to the Moravian brethren to establish mission stations in Nicaraguan Territory, for the pastoral care of the converted Indians, who have emigrated thither from the Mosquito State, or have received the Gospel from there.
-The Missions-Blatt' expresses surprise that John Morongo, a leading Indian of their Ramona Mission in California, had previously been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but until lately was unbaptized! Of course he was only an adherent, not a member, of the Episcopal Church-a distinction with which our German brethren seem to find it a little difficult to become familiar, as almost everybody in Germany is baptized, and, therefore, accounted a member of some church, though not necessarily a communicant member.
-The Missions-Blatt likewise makes a slight slip, very natural in a German magazine, in speaking of the government of California, instead of that of the United States, as controlling the Indian reservation. The distinction, of course,. is of no consequence to German readers.
-Our German brethren greatly admire the American and English institution of medical missions, to which, for want of suitable candidates, they themselves have not as yet been able to give any wide extension. The Unitas Fratrum, however, has its first, and, at present, its only trained medical missionary, in Carl Marx, who is established in Leh, in connection with its Thibetan Mission. The different German societies are making special effort to come up in time with the Anglo-Saxons in what may be called this left-hand of Christ's work, which now, as with the Lord Himself, has always so mightily supported the work of His right hand.
-The annual report of the Societe EvangeZique of Geneva, for 1890, has-the following remarks: "It is, in fact, beloved hearers, a word of hope, of confidence, indeed of certainty, with which we would fain conclude this reporta word of faith, for that is it of which we have need, in present conjunctures, to sustain us in our work. The times are most serious, and, in face of the growing troubles of the present hour, one might easily be tempted to dl~wur agement. Owing, to our limited view-owing, above all, to the deafening cries of our adversaries, who, in the name of science, of progress, of liberty, of equality, of democracy, proclaim that the era of Christianity is past; that the hour of the definitive enfranchisement of human thought is about to strike on the clock of time–one might believe that it is over with the reign of Christ; that the last times are here, and that the world, given over to itself, is about to undergo the final convulsions. In face of the storm, some are ready to lay down their arms. Why strive, when defeat is certain, why suffer when there is no longer a morrow? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. Others, more spiritual in appearance, hold another language: "Let us separate ourselves," say they, "from this perverse world, destined to a final destruction. Little Hock of the Good Shepherd, as we are, let us withdraw into His fold; the hour of deliverance is at hand. Let us go out of Sodom and Gomorrah, and, in prayer, await our Deliverer. Let us, too, eat and drink; let us feed on the heavenly bread, let us refresh ourselves with the spiritual drink, and let us abandon to their fate the masses destined to destruction.' Gentlemen, let us listen to neither of these voices, the voice of discouragement and of pessimism or the voice of spiritual egoism; the voice of insane enjoyment or the yet more culpable voice of abdication in the name of sanctity! No, no! neither: .. 'Labor, labor, for the thankful 1 let the thankless hold their hands, Happy the servants whom the Master, when He comes, shall find watching I'
"Is it true, in fact, that the final hour of defeat is arrived, and that everything is discouraging in the Church? Must the rapidly approaching twentieth century necessarily witness a new inroad of barbarians, the more terrible that it will be the inroad of science turned infidel? I do not believe it. It is true that humanity, that unceasing traveler, marches uninterruptedly through valleys and mountain ranges, now ·on the summit, in full sunshine, to-morrow in the depths, in darkness and peril. Possibly we have reached one of those dolorous hours when it descends towards the precipice; but let us not forget it stops an instant; where it takes breath and rests, in order there to address itself to the climbing of new heights. And, gentlemen, let me be taxed with optimism, but I must still say, in spite of all I hear, in spite of all Isee, in de- spite of the sombre prophecies of the guardians of Israel, and of the cries of distretls from the leaders of the flocks, I believe that the present hour is not an hour for despair; I believe that at this end of a century Christianity is not like a wild creature brought to bay; I believe, and I may even say I affirm, that never has the Church been more active, more audacious, more victorious; that never, at any epoch of its history, has Christianity exercised upon the world a power more energetic and more glorious.
"To open, Christians, the way to you, the princes of industrial civilization are transformed, without willing it or knowing it, into pioneers of Providence. These bridges which they hang in air, these mountains which they transpierce, those roads on which fire is their ,bearer and which they desire to serve their ambition, are only channels through which the Spirit is to flow. Thus did three centuries before Jesus Christ, the conquering Alexander, when he sub- dued Asia and transplanted the Hellenic civilization into the distant Orient; thus did the Romans, his successors, when marching in their turn to the con- quest of the world, they brought peoples together by their arms, and furrowed the three continents with their military roads. They believed that by these their legions would eternally pass and repass to impose their commands on the world. They knew not, what we know to-day, that they were preparing tri- umphal ways for the Saviour and his Apostles. 0, you, then,masters of science and of wealth, engineers, colonizers, conquerors, whatever may be your names and your designs, continue the work of your predecessors, abridge space, les- sen the breadth of the sea by your steamers, and suppress distance by your telegraphs, draw from nature her final secrets, so that one day the Truth may no longer be checked by rivers and by mountains, but may advance rapidly to break the last-remaining bonds of slavery and to stifle the ultimate lurking places of barbarism and superstition !"
-The report for 1889 of the Societe des ll:fissWn8 Evangeliques gives for Tahiti: 23 parishes; 4 European missionaries; 20 native pastors; 2,044 church mem- bers; 44 catechumens; 8,949 francs for home work, 594 francs for foreign missions.
-The Paris society, speaking of Tahiti, remarks: "The religious life of the Tahitians is still in a state sufficiently rudimentary. It has its bright sides: profound attachment to the Word of God, very general observance of the Sunday; regular attendance on worship; practice of Christian liberality. Butit has its deep shadows likewise: for one thing, the considerable number of the unconverted, who form the majority of the population; then, even among believers, are insufficient apprehension of the -exigences of the Law of God; the almost complete absence of true Christian faInily life; in brief, to speak with our brethren, 'a piety which still localizes itself too much within the walls of the churches, and which does not spread abroad sufficiently in good works and in regenerating influences.'"
-In speaking of the great work of the Paris society, that in Basutoland, or, as the French call it, Lessuto, the report remarks: " We bless God that He has given to the churches of France a work proportioned to their strength, adapted to their genius, and the success of which has stimulated a zeal which efforts too long without fruit might have discouraged. And, to-day, that which strikes the eye in the Lessuto mission, by the side of that in still advancing, it from time to time regains some large plateau where weaknesses and defects inseparable from every human work, is its sound and vigorous growth."
This mission last year experienced a remarkable revival, bringing in many pagans. This has not continued, but it has left open many new doors of access. Paganism, on the other hand, having recovered from the early impressions of awe before the missionaries, has become at once more malicious and more aggressive. It is assisted, as in Paul's day, by two rival missions, the Roman Catholic and the Propagation Society. The latter, however, excites the contempt of the Basutos, who regard it as coming to the ground between two -stools. "The danger is in the scandal of these three rival Christian confessions, these three Gods, as the natives still phrase it."
The awakening among the heathen Basutos resulted in the addition of 514 new members, making the present number 6,543. The present number of catechumens is 3,332. Out-stations, 110; for 1888, 94; native helpers, 194; for 1888, 176. Primary scholars for 1889, 5,347; for 1888, 4,566.
-11. Coillard, of the incipient, but noble mission of the Zambesi-anoffshoot (){ the Lessuto mission-speaking of the imperative need of extension, or rather 1)f filling up intermediate space, remarks: "We are no longer in the earlier time when missions of magnificent distances had leisure to develop themselves as they might without the risk of taking any harm. To-day the centre of Africa is the object ofa general assault, which contests every point of attack. God grant that we may be resolved and faithful."
-It is known how discreditably,indeed, ridiculously, jealous, both the French and the German governments are, of having missionaries of any other nation in their colonies. Germany, however, being Protestant, does not dislike them as Protestants, and, by its late agreement with England, expressly allows them in Africa. France, however, whose occupancy of the Gaboon, in West Africa, is much more recent than the American missionary occupancy of it, distrusts .our Presbyterian brethren there as foreigners and dislikes them as Protestants. Even French atheists are" Catholic atheists." They have forbidden our missionaries to use English in their schools, to which acceding, the Americans have obtained from the Paris brethren several teachers of French. The Journal says: "The authorities, having obtained satisfaction on the point as to which energy"-French-" colonial administration is inflexible, the teaching of the language of the mother country in the schools, have come to regard the American missionaries with a more favorable eye. If, as we hope, these friendly dispositions become fixed, every one will at last comprehend that which has always appeared evident to us, namely, that an intelligent administration, eager to extend civilization, ought not to refuse any assistance, even though offered by foreigners; especially when these foreigners are the repre sentatives of a friendly nation, and only ask leave to preach the Gospel without any intermixture of political aims."
Should the French Republic, as Father Hyacinthe forebodes, swing over from atheism to Jesuitism, it would fare ill with Protestant efforts, French or foreign, in her colonies. But, as Sainte Beuve remarks, whenever Jesuitism stretches out its hand to some great work of mischief, the eternal wound dealt by Pascal reopens, and it gives up the ghost afresh.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND OONDUOTED BY HEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Past Ten Years in Persia. rians, and Catholics; and the Jews, who are quite numerous. BY REV. W. L. WIDPPLE, D.D. The field of the Bible work is divid- In looking backward ten years we ed with the British and Foreign Bible find very little change in the status of Society. Dr. Bruce, its representa- Persia. The same king, ~asr-ed-deen tive, looks after the southern, while I Shah, who has reigned, according to superintend the northern portion or the Persian reckoning, nearly fifty the kingdom for the American Bible years-the longest of any Persian Society. monarch-is still on the throne, a wiser and better sovereign than he There has been decided progress wastenyearsago. The journey which made in the missionary work, reprehe made to Europe, for the third time, sented, on the one hand, by the Amerilast year, seems to have had a bene- can Presbyterian Board, in the North, ficial effect upon him. He visited and on the other hand, by the Church most of the principal capitals and Missionary Society of England, who manufacturing centres, and appeared have their centre at Isfahan. to be in earnest in obtaining information and an insight into the various. In taking a retrospect of the Bible improvements and progress of the 19th work in Persia during the decade just century. Since his return he has be- drawing to a close, I am glad to say gun to introduce changes and reforms that it comes up, in the main, to my of a practical nature. This is no easy reasonable expectation, though not so task, for the same forces are still at extensive as I should wish to see. In work, opposing in every possible way forming plans for the work, when I the introduction of Western ideas, as first entered upon my duties, July 1, on his return from his previous Euro- 1880, I thought that if I succeeded pean tour. He has, however, gained in placing in the hands of the people in solid stamina, and we trust that he of Persia, in ten years, 40,000 copies will not be held in such subjection by of God's Word, I should be thank- "the power behind. the the throne" as ful. I was not over-sanguine that in former years. I should be able to attain that cir- culation. I find that the total cir- The kingdom has been quite free culation, including grants, has fully from internal troubles, with the ex- reached that amount. The sales exception of the Koordish Rebellion, ceed the grants in the proportion of which occurred about nine years ago, fourteen to one. The larger portion and was soon suppressed. are in the Persian, Turkish, and Ara- bic languages, representing the Mos- There has been no foreign war. The lem population. The Syriac comes. territory remains the same, contain- next. Then follows the Hebrew, ining nearly one-fifth of the area of the dicating the interest manifested by United States, or about as much as God's ancient people in His Word. Germany, France, Austria, and Hun- The Armenian does not enter so gary combined. Roughly estimated, largely in our sales as we expect it to it is 1,500 miles long, by 850 miles do in the future. There is too much wide, in its greatest extent. light creeping in on all sides of that ancient and dark Christian Church to Our work is among the following debar God's Word from its communion nationalities: The Moslems-the pre- much longer. dominent class-including the Sheah and Sunee sects (the Koords, as a In 1885 I made an address at the rule, are all Sunees); the nominal jubilee celebration in Oroomiah, com- Christian nations-Armenians, Nestomemorating a half century of mis- mission to the present time, it is be- sionary labot among the Nestorians, <>n the subject, "What part has the lieved that 70,000 copies of God's Word Bible had in the work of the last fifty years in Persia?" There were have been distributed, in different present about 2,000 persons, nearly Qne-half of whom were women and languages and among varions nation- girls. It was stated then, that fifty years before there were only two alities in Persia, apart from what has women in the entire Nestorian nation who could read, and the request was been done by the British and Foreign made that all the women present who (lould read the New Testament would Bible Society, through the agency of rise to their feet. Imagine our grati- fication when 800 arose. It was a Dr. Bruce. This may not seem very sight never to be forgotten by those present, who saw those daughters of wonderful to one unfamiliar with the the East, with intelligent and beaming faces, rise up, en masse, and remain bigotry and self-satisfaction of the standing until they were counted. And these were only representatives Persian Moslem, especially when he from many villages and towns upon the plains of Oroomiah, Sooldooz, and reads the circulation reported each Balmez, with a few from the moun- tains of Koordistan. The incident is year in some larger and older estab- a very impressive and encouraging object-lesson of what missionary ef- lished agencies. But let us not despise forts have accomplished in one di- rection merely-a rather liberal per the day of small things, nor forget >cent. of return in fifty years. Itspeaks even more teIlingly, when it is borne that these millions in Persia are a part in mind that at the commencement of the work among the Nestorians by of the world into which the triumph- Dr. Perkins and Dr. Grant these poor peeple did not have the Scriptures in ant Master commanded to preach the their own language (the Syriac). There were a few manuscript copies on Gospel. ' parchment of the ancient Syriac, so revered and precious that they were The fact that the representatives -only used on special and very holy oc- Clasions, and upon which oaths were from this Oriental land were the first administered to Moslems. as well as Christians, as they were counted very ambassadors to pay homage to the in- sacred by all classes. fant Saviour, and to lay at his feet It was the privilege of the American Bible Society to furnish the means to their royal gifts, is a very significant -carry through to completion the publication of the entire Syriac Bible, in one. And cannot we bring this up both the ancient, or sacred, and the modern languages. It is now revising before the adorable Master as "a methe modern version, and preparing to :,print a new edition with references. morial" in her behalf? We all in Per- From the commencement of the sia believe that there are brighter days in store and greater ,blessings held in reserve. The people are beginning to be aroused to a sense of their duty.
There is no more potent energy at work to bring about this greatly de- sired end than the printed Word. It enters silently where no preacher is allowed to stay, and quietly'and daily preaches to some one or more in that village or city where it finds lodgment and then suddenly the place is thrown into commotion by the rumor that one of their number has left the faith and become an "infidel Armanee"
(Christian). Then persecution begins; loss of relatives and friends and prop- erty follow, and revilings, beatings, and imprisonments hasten on apace; then threatenings, and, at last, it cul- minates in casting out and banish- ment from home and country. It may terminate in death itself.
But, meantime, this faithful one has taught a few of his firm friends, or read to them night after night from this new and interesting Book, .And this was the fact, as I can testify until they, too, have been won over to from what I have seen as I walked believe in the Injeel, and to accept through the bazaars. Christ as their Redeemer. And when a colporteur or evangelist visits the .After various methods were tried, place again, he is surprised to find a without avail, it was decided to pronumber who are not only favorably hibit all sales of Scriptures by colinclined, but who actually accept porteurs, whether in cities or towns Christianity, and petition the mis- or villages. So they could not make sionaries to send them a teacher or tours. This was made a jetwa, or ofpreacher. This has been the case in ficial action by the chief mujhtaheeds, a number of instances. It is inter- or highest ecclesiastical authority; esting, indeed, to see how the leaven 'and when the notice was communiworks, "until the whole lump is leav- cated to the governor-general hedared ened." not disregard it. He therefore in- formed our representative of this or- But in Persia, as elsewhere, "the der, and requested him to notify the kingdom of Heaven cometh not with agent of the American Bible Society observation." Very little attention at to respect it. After careful deliberafirst was paid to the circulation of the tion and counsel, we all deemed it Scriptures. When I began the work, expedient to observe the rule until reten years ago, they were admitted free dress could be obtained. of duty; but as the demand increased, and the cases of books-fifty and This proved to be by far the heaviest eighty at a time-began to arrive, the blow our work ever received. It was custom-house officials deemed it worth over one year before we could get the their attention, and soon we had to order rescinded, and receive permispay customs. A moderate rate wa..'1 sion to resume our work. This profixed, to be paid in kind. But it was hibition was in force only in .Azerbinot long before the officials com- jan, the other provinces being still plained that this was burdensome to opened to the colporteur. The printhem. They did not have room, they cipal part of our work, however, was said, to store away their share of in that province, where such cities Scriptures received for duties; so it and districts as Tabreez, Oroomiah, was decided, after due consideration, Salmas, Maragha, Sooldooz, etc., are that mone,y would be paid instead of situated. It affected, in conse- Scriptures. Soon after these points quence, our sales very materially. were settled, then the mullahs and high ecclesiastics of the Moslems ap_ I have told this story of the conflict, peared on the scene. They seemed to between truth and error, which has have been taken by surprise, and were been in progress for some years, so not aware how many Scriptures were quietly that few have been aware of going into circulation. They began to it, to show what advances the former investigate, and the more they in- is making over the latter, and, how quired the greater were they dis- stubbornly each stronghold has been turbed and alarmed. They held coun- held until captured by force. Progcils in various places, and discussed ress has been slow all along the line;' meaures for putting a stop to this but the fact that nearly 100,000 " torwork. Some were heard to say: pedoes" have been" placed," and are' " These men are filling the bazaars only abiding their time set for them with the Injeel, and wherever we go to accomplish the work intended for' we find one. Even merchants and them to do, is full of encouragement tradesmen are seen neglecting their to those who "wait patiently on the work, and poring over this book." Lord."
The colporteurand evangelist going' out together to the districts and, cities in the distant portions of Persia Testament. There are a number of have had a marked influence for good. converts to Christianity from the Indeed, they have been the advance Jews, and all have been faithful readguards, and have prepared the way for the establishing of every station in ers of the Tourat, or Old Testament. Persia except Oroomiah. All the others, viz.: Teheran, Isfahan, Ta- But as they compared Scripture with breez, Ramadan, Salmaz, and the Scripture, they were at last convinced new one recently established in the that the Messiah had surely come, and mountains of Western Koordistan, they hastened to acknowledge, and do were visited and canvassed first by him honor. There are many intellicolporteurs and evangelists, sent out gent Jews in Persia to-day, intellectuyearly by the missionaries in OroD- ally converted to Christianity, who do miah. They would spend, every not confess Jesus publicly" for fear visit, one week or more in each city in of the Jews," lest they be cast out of preaching and selling Scriptures. In the synagogue. That means to-day this way much precious seed was what it did 2,000 years ago. But the sown, which, after many days, has truth is working in many hearts, and sprung up and brought forth fruit–a will eventually prevail. The missionrich spiritual harvest–already; and aries' schools are composed entirely of the work is only fairly begun., Jewish boys and girls, who daily study the New Testament, and even the OBSTACLES IN THE WAY. catechism.
During these ten years a civil war, Another encouraging fact is the following closely upon the heels of large sale of Scriptures to Moslemsfamine and pestilence, has interfered perhaps the largest part of the gross with and curtailed materially the sales. These are in the Persian and sales of the Scriptures. Likewise, as Arabic, the Azerbijan and the Osalready mentioned, for over one year manli – Turkish languages. Weare no colporteur' was allowed to sell able, by these languages, to reach all Scriptures in the large and influential classes of the Mohammedans of Persia province of Azerbijan, where the larg- and Koordistan. Not only that, but est share of sales was usually made. they are purchased and carried home These circumstances, combined with to dwellers in Mghanistan, Beloochisthe constant animosity and vigilant tan, Turkestan, and even India. opposition to our colporteurs and the scarcity of ready money, have ham- It is a grand accomplishment and a pered the sales. Should the Armenian powerful agency in the evangelization bishops and priests withdraw their ob- of Mohammedans that the entire jections to the people purchasing the Scriptures have been translated, pub- Scriptures, and permit them to be lished, and circulated for years in the used in their schools, our sales would Arabic tongue, the sacred language of be greatly augmented; for they are all Moslems. abundantly able to purchase, and they are well supplied with schools. We The Arabic Bible and New Testahave been working to bring this about, ment are popular with the Moslem and some recent indications lead us to high ecclesiastics and clergy; for, behope that it will not be long before our ing in the sacred language, they al'e en<! will be accomplished. not suspected of reading the holy books of the Christians. If questioned ENCOURAGING FEATURES IN OUR WORK. what they are reading, they can re- ply, "the blessed Arabic tongue," and Among others might be mentioned then they read aloud a few verses in the number of Scriptures that are sNd confirmation of their statement. Our yearly to the Jews. It is true that colporteurs have sold Bibles in this most of these are copies of the Old language to some of the highest rank of Moslems, both clergy and nobility. I could mention some very interesting In concluding this paper, I append cases of this character, which it is not the resume of sales and grants for ten prudent to publish. years. The figures for 1889 are only All the converts 'from Islam to Christianity, whom I have met, at- approximately correct: tribute their conversion directly to the reading of the New Testament in The average number of men employed Persian, and not any human agency. annually ………. ~ •….. . . .. …. …… 25 Number of years spent by them…….. 170 " U miles (on horseback) tray· eled by your agent …….. 10,000 " " months spent on those jour· neys….. …. …. ……… 22 RESUME OF SALES AND GRANTS FOR TEN YEARS. GRANTS. SALES.
Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value. Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value.
From July 1880 to 2,114 1,921 4,488 $1,24800 50 285 402 737 151.00 end of 1881. .. .. . 453 2,129 1,755 4,308 1,069 12 47 265 394 706 149.40 2,178 2,363 5,026 1,295 48 58 185 240 483 127.85 F,?r 1882.. …….. 424 1,973 1,977 4,426 1,050 03 …2.9… ..1..7.3.. 236 ….4…3..8….. .1.0.6…2.5.. 1883………. 485 1,105 1,310 2,754 94090 1,549 2,974 4,852 …….. ……. . …… " 1884………. 476 1,023 1,625 2,844 1,311 98 . …… " 1885…… …. 339 2,464 2,129 5,004 384 36 1,500 1,870 3,625 87588 48 " 1886 ……… 329 1,225 15 ……… …9.0… ..1.7.1… ..3.0.9… ..6.4…0.0. , 1887. ……… 196 " 1888………. 411 " 1889………. 225 Total Sales in 10 years. .. ……… 3,368 16,035 17,924 37,327 $9,401 50 232 Total Grants in 10 998 1,448 2,637 $598.50 years… … ….. 232 998 1,443 2,637 59850 Total circulation, 10 years….. '" 3,600 17,033 19.367 40,000 $10,000 00 [NOTE: The above paper was read before International Missionary Union, 1890.-J. T. G.] Missions to the Native Mexican Races. and saving power of the Lord Jesus than their ancestors knew in the old REV.WH. P.F. FERGUSON, BANGAL, N.Y. days when the Aztec altars were piled with human hearts. I showed, in my former paper (see What prospects are there for their MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, Christianization under present meth- ods? March, '90, p. 218) that there are today in Mexico, out of a total popula- The Roman Church has given them tion of less than 12,000,000, nearly all that it ever can.. They have the 4,000,000 who speak some one of the rosary, the crucifix, holy watermany ancient languages. In other pretty idols, compared with the fiendwords, to-day, after 370 years of the ascendency of Spanish blood, one- ish representations of the old Aztec third of the nation still use the lan- divinities; but only idols, and Rome's guages of their fathers, hands hold no better gifts.
In regard to these peoples I shall The Protestant missions' now at raise a series of questions and suggest work in the country have not, as yet, such answers as are in accord with attempted any very considerable work my conception of the facts: among the indigenes, not can they in the near future. Given the money Have these people been Christian- and the men, and to·day, in parts of ized? the Republic already under the eye of the missionary, 100 workers could be I might give a very extended an- placed in Spanish-speaking towns and swer. I might array facts and pile cities of from 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitup quotations to show you their con- ants where there is now no teacher of the Gospel and where good and sucdition. i refrain, and, with full real- cessful work could be entered upon at izationof the sad import of the words, sum up the condition of the native Mexicans to-day, in the one statement, that they know no more of the love <lnce. It is to be expected, and is To say nothing as to the ability of right, that these missions should ex- native workers to create a Christian pend their slowly increasing force literature of which I shall speak, none upon this work, lying right before of the missions at work in Mexico them and for which they are prepared. have as yet succeeded in training any It will be many years, in the probable considerable number of native minis- -course of events, before any of our mis- ters who would be considered by those sions can offer the Gospel to even the who best know them, as competent to greater part of these ancient peoples. manage the affairs of a mission with- out the constant supervision of the It seems to me, then, not in the least foreign missionary, and, besides, they unreasonable to urge the establish- are, with a few possible exceptions, as ment of special missions among the ignorant of the native languages as native Mexican races. At this day are foreigners. Some boys and girls missions are being founded among in our mission schools, and a few wasted tribes that contain only a few young men employed in the "supply" thousand, or even only a few hun- work would be available as interpre- -<Ired souls, and shall we neglect these ters, but I need not draw upon my peoples who, remnants though they own slender experience to show to .are, still are counted by hundreds of anyone who has ever been obliged to thousands and even by millions? Their work by such agencies that such work romantic history, the remains of their is often worse than unsatisfactory. .ancient greatness, their manifest and And I believe that the best results can' admirable qualities of mind and heart, never be attained by it. The bearer and, above all, the love of our common of the Glad Tidings must come into Saviour impel us to the work of their personal contact with those to whom salvation. he is sent.
This leads me. to question: Can mis- Is there any reason why the Amerisions to the native races employ the can missionary should not go to these Spanish language as the means of peoples, leaming their languages and -communication? entering into their life as he does among other nations? I speak with the fact fully in mind that there are others whose observa- Some have expressed the belief that tion uponthis point has been far more the Mexican government would asextensive than my own, and thus sume an attitude toward any such more valuable; but, in my judg_ movement not unlike that of our govment, the answer to this question is, ernment toward the use of the native No. As well as I am able to judge, languages in the Indian schools. much less than half of the 4,000,000 of whom I speak, have any knowledge of This seems to me in the highest dethe Spanish, and the greater part of gree improbable. I would expect that these but very little. I have seen the government would rather look people living within six miles of one with favor upon anything that would <If the largest cities and gaining their tend to arouse a pride of race among living by selling garden produce in the indigenes, It must be remembered its streets, who could' scarcely under- that Mexicans to-day are fond of 13tand or 'use the Spanish language thinking of the Republic as the lineal enough to transact their business. To successor of the Aztec Empire. Many confine us to the Greek language for scholars would, too, I think, give a <lur religious instruction would be welcome to a missionary who should about a parallel. undertake the study of the ancient languages. It may next be inquired: What are the available resources among our va- Some, again, look upon such labor tive Protestants? as unnecessary, believing that the use of the native tongues is soon to cease. Scriptures and religious books, my I consider this also improbable. For 370 views would be as follows: The be- years the Spanish has had every advan- ginning already made by the publica- tage in Mexico, but has failed to dis- tion of the Aztec Luke, I look upon as place the native languages. To-day it is valuable, more because of the interest· itself growing weak. The day comes, I that it has attracted than for its prac- venture to predict,when, in the greater tical use, which must be slight because- part of Mexico it will be of no greater of its antiquated form. But if mission importance than isthe French language work is ever conducted among these to-day in some of our Southern States. people to any extent, a translation of It cannot be expected to do, in its de- the Scriptures into the languages used cadence, what it has failed to do in will be a necessity. Independent. its strength. So that I do not expect translation by each worker could not to see the native languages spoken by be thought of. If schools should be any very greatly less numbers until a established and the people taught to stronger than the Spanish race rules read their own language, which they in Mexico. cannot now do, the Bible would, of course, be put into their hands and Again, it is asked, if these lan- other Christian literature would be guages are capable of expressing the called into use. The teaching of the truths of the Gospel, and if they are native languages, would, however, de- not of so barbarous a character as to pend upon conditions not as yet fully be almost impossible of acquirement. understood.
Man speaks no language in which The facts which I have briefly he may not be told that "Jesus Christ stated warrant, it seems to me, the came into the world to save sinners." appeal and give promise of success. There is no linguistic impossibility to It may be, that some of the missions the successors of those upon whom now established can be so enlarged fell the baptism of tongues. And, and adapted as to include the most from what little study I have given urgent part of the needed work; but I the subject, I am of the opinion that a should expect better results from new man who has the courage and ability missions established either by the soto begin his study at the very basis cieties now engaged in Mexico, or by anew can master even the most diffi- others. If each would confine itself cult of these in about the average to one nation, or, at least, if the work time required to master other foreign could be so adjusted as toavoid waste, languages. and conflict of forces, much could be accomplished in a short time, while The existence of numerous dialects the less numerous tribes would furnish is also urged as an insurmountable fields of labor for societies of limited obstacle. We are told that even a resources. slight change of location among people of the same race would render Conceeding the possibility that some useless the study of years. I question of my condusions may not be well if this obstacle is not very much over- founded, and doubting at the same rated. I believe that missionary his- time if data are yet at hand for a pertory will show many instances of fect judgment of the case; I would greater difficulties of this character urge that the first step should be an overcome elsewhere. And, it is to be exploration with a view to discoverremembered that the introduction of ing accurately such points as, to what missionary work in the languages will extent these peoples are dependent strongly tend to remove the differences upon the native languages, to just – of dialects. what extent the more important of them are divided by dialects, and If we shall raise here the question of the necessity of translating the what is the present prospect for their interest to remember that the mission- survival. Attention should also be ary living among these peoples, mak- given to the disposition of the people ingan intelligent studyof theirlife and toward the Roman Church, their wil- language, would doubtless encounter lingness, or otherwise, to receive in- many facts, and would give light upon struction and other things that would that most perplexing problem, the aid in the selection of fields of labor history and origin of American races. among-them. If those who were ex- pected to become the missionaries This work is a duty to someone; is should make this exploration (and this it not to us? How can the Protestant would be desirable), a good beginning Christianity of the United States be should be made toward a mastering blameless if it fail to preach the true of the native languages. Gospel to these dying millions, who, right at our doors, have been for cen- The outfit for such an expedition turies cursed with a false faith ? When need not be very expensive and. the we stand before the judgment throne total cost of a year's work could be will not we hear the question, "Where more than met by the literary pro- is thy Mexican brother?" Shall we ceeds. This part of the work might be answer, "Lord,we left him in his filth entered upon at once and would do and ignorance and vice." Or shall we much to arouse an interest in the sub- answer, "Lord, we told him of the ject and make further advance pos- blood that cleanseth, we brought to sible. In fact, I believe that it must be his dark mind the knowledge of Thy done and that, too, by private effort, be dying love, we showed to him 'the fore any organization will move to the Lamb of God that taketh ..way the work of planting a miSflion. sins of the world,' and here, Lord, he is, washed and redeemed, a jewel for Once in possession of the facts that Thy diadem." could thus be brought to light, some society, or it might be, some man of llnent the ~ec~ means whose heart God should touch, would, I trust, furnish the necessary BY REV. LEVI B. SALMANS. financial support for the opening of the work. The field chosen would Anglo-Saxons, as we are, and misprobably be remote from civilization sionaries, too, suddenly set down in and full of dangers. A small, care- the midst of a Latin people, we could fully selected and well-furnished force not fail to admire the Astec populashonld be sent to make a beginning and tion of the fastnesses of the Sierras. advance should be upon the lines de- They have never been conquered by veloped. It might prove that,under the force of arms, though the Latinized touch of Christianity, elements of the government, which has come to preold civlization would spring to life and vail throughout Mexico in a certain thus new peoples be brought into the way, has come into the power of ruler- "federation of the world." Or, it ship. Yet the Ancient Cacique is the might prove that all traces of the old organized ,power behind the throne. were but forms of dust to vanish at Nothing of importance can be done by that same potent touch. Then it the Mexican government in these would be the work of the missionary mountains except it be agreeable to to guide these peoples clear of the the leaders among the Indians, as we dangers of the present Spanish-Ameri- would call them, though they are as can civilization, and introduce them different from our Indians as the Japinto the better and purer form of life anese are from Chinamen, or French into which we are already trying to from English. I do not know whether lead their Spanish-speaking neighbors. these comparisons are just right or not, but the Astcc was a semi-civil- It cannot fail to add a thought of ized race, living in cities built of stoneand morta'!', and had laws and govern- than the inhabitants of the Sierra of ment, with arts and industries, and Pueblo, risen into prominence or fur- were by no means the wild savage nished political leaders in the national nomad, known as the Indian in the affairs of the past generation. United States. Bishop Hurst says: .. while the Spaniard conquered and On Board the "Taichiow," Two Days ruled for three hundred years in Mex- From Bangkok Siam. ico, and grafted upon the people his religion, laws and customs, the Mexi- August 30, 1890. can or Indian has at last conquered DEAR DR.GRACEy:-Am on my way the Spaniard, and taken possession of to my field of missionary labor, in the realm. More than this is true of Laos, and, in reading the July num- the Sierra of Pueblo. They were ber of THE REVIEW, 1 have been much never conquered at home, while they interested in an article headed "Meaided nobly in conquering and ex- chanic Missionaries," by Secretary pelling the Spaniard, and afterward Brown, of the International Commit- the Roman hielarchy. They formed tee of Y. M. C. A. the troops who saved the day on the The Church is waking up to the great fifth of May, 1862, at Pueblo, grand importance of utilizing its lay and on many another fiercely fought element, though slowly. Themechanic battlefield. They hold their land in missionary comes in contact with a severalty, and live largely on their class of people, the very bone and land, rather than in villages. The sinew of a country, unreachable by personal independence of the Anglo- either the ordained or the medical Saxon largely. characterizes them. missionary. The rank and ,file of an They are fierce in war, while at the army could not be made up of colonels Bame time they are very mild-man- and generals. Private soldiers do the nered in peaceful intercourse. Ro- fighting directed by their officers. manism destroys the individual and Why should not the Church carry on builds up the institution. When Pro- her work both at home and abroad on testant evangelism seeks in the midst the same plan? -of a Roman civilization for individuals Secretary Brown speaks of an extento convert, who, after being converted, sive movement to establish one or more will have independence and individu- Christian undenominational schools ality enough to become useful evan- of technology, to fit men to become gelists and leaders among their people teachers of the trades and first-class against the odds of sin, conservatism, mechanics, and at the same time to and feudal inequality, it rejoices the enlist and prepare them for personal heart to find such a people as these in work in winning souls. This is a the Sierra. It is true they are not laudable undertaking, and ought to .nearly so highly civilized as the people have the hearty support of the entire in the cities of Mexico, but they are in Church. But it will, necessarily, be sympathy with the country and the some time before these institutions country is in sympathy with them, can be in readiness for students, and and they belong to the race that is on then some time before these students the top at this time; and when we get will be ready to be sent to work. Let them converted we will have a most us call attention to the fact that you valuable evangelizingagency. Nearly have just such a school in your midst. -one-half of the whole population of Park College, Parkville, Mo., has for Mexico still speak their original fifteen years been sending its trained tongues, and maintain, to a greater or men, and women, too, into all parts less degree, their original customs. of the home field (1 am writing as an Among these none have, more notably American), and into many foreign countries. There is this difference be- hundreds of her sons pleading to be tween this college and those proposed fitted to carry the Gospel to all lands?
by Mr. Brown: its distinctive work is ROBERT IRWIN.
the training of Christian workers for M. Henri Lutteroth, who died personal Christian work. The study February 12, 1889, was the last surof the Bible and the inculcation of viving founder of that lamp shining, personal piety are first; then the col- we will not say amid darkness, but lege work proper leading up to the de- certainly among vapors, the Societe gree of A. B., and lastly, the manual des Missions Evangeliques de Paris. training, embracing nearly all the Speaking of him, the Journal says: trades. " Our work has never had greater This would seem to be the natural need than at the present hour of colorder, and an argument in its favor laborators of this stamp, knowing how is the great success Park College has to place at its service the intensity of had. Everyone of our hundred and piety and of zeal together with all the twenty-five graduates is actively en- distinctions of culture and of knowlgaged in Christian work, besides a edge. Never, in fact, has the amount. great many who were unable to of labor imposed on the committee graduate. There is a practical advan- been more considerable than during tage in their mechanical department. this year." Nothing is done simply to show how it is done, but because it is necessary. The Moravian Church, which first The institution depends largely on the sent a missionary to the south of work ,of its students. They quarry Africa, in 1737, and which has a flourthe stone, mould the brick, burn the ishing work in Cape Colony and the lime, cut the logs, saw the lumber, neighboring lands, now proposes t() and build their houses; they cultivate join the ranks of those who are seekand tend large gardens and a farm of ing the evangelization of the equaseveral hundreds of acres; raise cattle, torial regions. A mission has been sheep and hogs; make wagons, repair projected, under the protection of the implements, shoe horses, and do the German government, for that part of one-thousand-and-one other things the German zone of eastern Africa necessary on a large industrial estab- adjoining the northern and northlishment. There are now over three eastern shores of Lake Nyassa. The hundred students in attendance, and two pioneers of this newest Moravian' hundreds are refused admittance mission, Theodore Meyer and Theaevery year just because there is no phile Richard, will shortly set out for room. If now there are those who the sphere of their future labors. want the mechanic missionary training, proposed by.Secretary Brown, J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, they need not wait until several other Secretary of the Societyfor the Propainstitutions are equipped. Let twenty gation of the Gospel, Bethlehem, Pa.
such be built at once, they will not be A Waldensian church-edifice, hold- too many; but let the Church use, to ing four hundred, has been opened its utmost capacity, that one now in by Cav. Dr. Prochet in Vittoria, a existence. The foreign field is calling Sicilian town with a population of for men. It is the loud cry from the 25,000. The church was so full that north and the south and the west and Dr. Prochet could scarcely reach the the east and from all over the home pulpit. After sermon seven catechu- field. Shall the Church hear the cry mens were admitted, and the crowd, and withhold what is in her power to inside and out, was so much interested give-viz: facilities for training Chris- and excited that the municipal guards tion workers, and oppo~nities to the had to disperse it.
ii2 EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
1II.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Editorial Prospectus for 1891. eluding notes by the editor on various The editor cordially salutes his read- topics and books of a mISSIOnary ers with the best wishes of the New character, and editorial correspon- Year. Notwithstanding the decease dence. of the associate editor, no material change will be needful either in the IV. The Department of Intelligence, character or contents of THE MISSION- including the Monthly Concert, Gen- ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. The eral Items of Information, Statistics editor-in-chief will be aided by the and Monthly Bulletin. prolific and graceful pen of the Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., president of the The editor will spare no pains, and International Missionary Union, under the publishers no expense, in securing whose sagacious control it is hoped from the ablest sources whatever will that the International Department enrich the columns of this magazine. IDay supply to our readers even richer We hope to make it indispensable to stores of missionary information and every minister and missionary, theoinspiration. The Rev. A. J. Gordon, logical student or friend of human D.D., of Boston, whose praise is in all weal. We have planted our standard the churches, will act as a regular on a level higher than any denomina. editorial contributor, and we can tional platform, and shall seek to think of no man in this country whose unite all true disciples of Christ in a words will be read with more interest new crusade against all the powers of and profit. darkness, and in favor of a speedy Beside this editorial staff we shall and universal proclamation of the be aided by a large and able body of Gospel. Once more we ask the prayer. editorial correspondents and contribu- ful and sympathetic co-operation of tors, and no pains will be spared to every Christian, and invoke, upon this secure the best talent and the most sincere and unselfish endeavor, the consecrated piety in the service of this blessing of the Master of us all! REVIEW. These pages will be devoted to the discussion of all the great ques- The editor would add a special word tions connectedwith the spread of the to contrlbutors of articles intended Gospel both at home and abroad, and for publication. So great is the influx will be open to the advocacy of every of unsolicited manuscripts already cause or IDeasure which is linked becoming that even the reading of with human well-being, and to the them has been almost impossible. Of impartial and critical investigation of course, preference will be given to papers which have been solicited; but those who desire to send manuscripts all forms of philanthropic and Chris- would ordinarily do wisely, before tian endeavor. sending, to inform the editor of such intention, state the topic, and inquire It will be observed that, in the whether they are likely to be used. interests of greater unity and sim- The editor begs to say, also, that the plicity of arrangement, we have but qualities of brevity, directness, and, four main departments: especially, freshness of matter and pertinency to the great qUj*ltions of I. The Literature of Missions, in- missions, will give particular value to cluding papers pertaining to general contributed matter. We cannot undertopics, translations from foreign peri- take to return rejected manuscripts odicals, etc. unless stamps for that purpose are enclosed with them when forwarded II. The International Department, to us. Any recent and well accredited under the efficient conduct of Dr. Gracey.
III. The Editorial Department, inintelligence from any part of the field tional interest, and at Cleveland, Ohio, will be especially valued, and all the evening meeting held in Music accepted articles will be paid for so far Hall numbered, probably, 4,000 peras the limited resources of the REVIEW sons. Some very beautiful examples allow. Manuscripts, written in a clear of the power of consecrated mission_ and legible hand, and not obscured by ary-spirited pastors to mould their corrections, interlineations and other congregations into missionary helper, blemishes, are also more likely both to and to stimulate systematic and cheerbereadandaccepted. Wehaveattimes ful giving, have been found. As in been compelled to cast aside a manu- Great Britain, there have been many :script because it was neither possible gifts of jewelry, etc., showing how for the editor to read it, nor the printer God is leading His people to sacrifice <correctly to put it in type. Special superfluities for Him. A gold pen pains should be taken by writers to with pearl handle, a seal ring, two make proper names correct and plain, solid gold chains, a society badge, a and statistics accurate and unmis- pair of gold-mounted eye-glasses, etc., takable. No second article should be have been sent to me for missions. sent, ordinarily, until it is known that Large collections of money have, in the first is accepted. If the corres- several cases been made for the Board pondents will observe these sugges- of Missions. And the farther the tour tions and exercise due patience, the has reached the more abundant the editor will endeavor to see that there calls for service became. It was a is no just cause of complaint as to his curious coincidence that the very day part of the work. The burden of on which the last week-day appointeditorial duties and responsibilities is ment was fulfilled, was the day on excessively onerous, but the constant which the co-editor, Dr. Sherwood, endeavor will be to deal courteously, departed for the Better Country! In promptly and impartially by all con- any case that death would have made tributors and correspondents. further engagements, to any consider- able extent impracticable, as it im- Since arriving in this country, in posed double duty on the survivor. June last, the Editor has been making But no impression is stronger as left a brief tour of the churches in the by these four months of contact with great centres, mostly east of Chicago, the churches, than this, that the best in the interests of missions, and with agent a mission board can have, is results most gratifying and encourag- simply an unselfish missionary-spiriting. Boston, Northfield, and Green- ed, well-informed pastor, who keeps field, Mass.; Willimantic, Conn.; Ger- the vital interests of the world-field mantown, and Pittsburgh, Penn.; Al- constantly before his people. We bany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, never once struck an apathetic church Buffalo, Lockport, Binghamton, and where there was a man in the pulpit Elmira, N. Y.; Montclair, Newark who was full of passion for souls. and Camden, N. J.; Baltimore, Md.; Youngstown and Cleveland, 0.; Lan- Are Mission Oonverts a Failure? sing and Detroit, Mich.; Indianapolis, In The Ohurch of Scotland Mission Ind.; and Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, Record of May and October, 1890, Dr. and Chicago, Ills., have been among the places comprehended in this hur- Archibald Turnbull, B.D., of the Darried tour. Almost without exception jeeling Mission, writes on the above the audiences have been large and the topic. The author is abundantly able interest manifested unusually intense. to discuss the subject. He is one of the At Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, El- ablest and most accomplished missionmira, the gatherings were of excep- aries in the field and his labors have been remarkably successflK. The A. Beautiful Epitaph.
work begun by Rev. McFarlane, in The most interesting specimen of an 1870, yielded to his prayers and labors, epitaph is one to be seen in a pretty but little apparent fruit, for some church, in Aneityum, one of the Loy- years. When Mr. Turnbull first joined alty Islands, or New Hebrides. It is the Mission, in 1880, there were some a tablet erected by the grateful natives hundreds of converts; and Mr. McFar- to their missionary, John Geddie. On lane, having been called to his rest, this tablet is inscribed, in their lan- Mr. Turnbull is now at the head of guage, the following: the mission, which has branched out When he landed, into three divisions, each headed by in 1848, able and devoted missionaries. Considerably over a thousand baptized there were no Christians here, and when he left, in 1872, Christians are now in communion with there were no heathen. it. Professor Lindsay, convener of On almost any island within 2,00<1' the Free Church Foreign Mission, who miles of the shores of Tahiti, in any recently visited India, has described direction, a similar tablet might be this Darjeering Mission, as the "best erected, as an expression of the results mission he had seen in India." When of the twenty-two years' work, besuch a man as Mr. Turnbull, with tween 1817 and 1839-the epoch of such a large experience, tells what he John Williams-and yet, "missions has seen of converts, his opinion can- are a failure! "
not but be of great value, and by per- A Practical Cure for Scepticism. mission of our beloved friend, Rev.
Thos. Nicol, B.D., the editor of The In the life of Dr. Fleming Stevenson Ohurch of Scotland Record, we pro- we find an interesting commentary on pose to give our readers hereafter, at the words, "He that doeth my will least, some portions of Mr. Turnbull's shall know of the doctrine." At one valuable testimony. He proves, to a time his mind was in a somewhat certainty, that the Gospel is the unsettled state regarding some ele- power of God unto salvation, even in ments of the creed in which he had India. been brought up, to which he clung with loyal reverence. Itwas by plung- Rabinowitch, the Hungarian Jew- ing into practical mission work that ish Rabbi, who, a few years since pub- light was to come to him upon these licly conf03ssed Jesus as the Messiah, thorny points of theology.
and led out a new body of Jewish be- This reminds us of what Shaftesbury lievers, adheres to his faith and used to say to young men: preaches to great crowds. A new, ,,Nothing is more likely to keep you large hall, called after the great evan- from mischief of all kinds-from mis- gelist of the Free Church of Scotland, chief of action, of speculation-from the Somerville Memorial Hall, is to every mischief that you can devise, be opened soon. We look with the than to be everlastingly engaged in intensest interest upon the new some great practical work of good.
movement, known as the "Israelites Christianity is not a state of opinion of the New Covenant," and bless God and speCUlation. Christianity is essen- for the Hebrew New Testament trans- tially practical, and I will maintain lated by Dr. Delitzsch, and for the this, that practical Christianity is the sermons and addresses of such men greatest curer of corrupt speculative as Rabinowitz, David Baron, Wilkin- Christianity. No man, depend upon son of Mildmay and a host of others it, can persist from the beginning of Who are taking the warmest interest his life to the end of it in a course of in the conversion of the Jews. self-denial, in a course of generosity.. in a course of virtue, in a course of ing service, go first to gather in and piety, and in a course of prayer, un- teach the poor neglected children in less he draw~ from his wellspring, un- the afternoon, then hold a yoke-felless he is drawing from the fountain lows' prayer-meeting and take supper of our Lord Himself. Therefore, I together at their humble place of meetsay to you again, and again, let your ing; and who then go out for an hour, walk the streets, and personally invite Ohristianity be practical." * to service those whom they find. And then, at eight o'clock, they go to their To all of which the writer adds his meeting-hall, or tent, and, in their confirmatory witness that never, since simple way, preach, simply as laymen, the taking up in dead earnest the work and hold after-meetings for inquiry. of a world's evangelization, have speculative doubts harrassed the mind.
As to churches and missions, I think The Ritualism, which is more and their true relations to each other are more obtruding itself upon observation very simply defined. The church is in the Anglican Church, and in some both a rallying and a radiating point. of the High-Church services of this We are to come there to be fed and go country, is compelling some who have from there to feed others. GenerallyI been zealous champions of the Episcomake my morning service especially a pal Church, to look with alarm on the encroachments of a latent Romanism feeding time for Christian swubosrtkaenrcs~ .that is rapidly becoming patent. If when I try to bring out the of the Word-the promises, the ways these things go on, they will compel a of serving, the motives of true work withdrawal of those who cannot felfor God, the preparations of prayer, lowship these semi-Papal practices. etc.-whatever helps to qualify any Take these two examples: Canon Scott mHogllhaI.nSds,eirnmSont., Preafuelr'srinCgatthoetdhreald' edautrh- . disciple for holy living and unselfish serving. Then I am glad to have my Christian workers go out after that of the late Canon Liddon, thus solicitmorning service to preach and teach ed prayers on his behalf: "Pray for that sermon and that Gogpel else- him-for his refreshment, for his ilwhere, and am quite willing to have lumination, for his eternal repose." their places empty at the second service Praying for the dead finds no warrant that they may go and hold little evan- in Scripture; it is a Romish practice gelistic meetings, cottage meetings, that ought to receive no countenance prayer services, etc., where they may from Protestants. A service, which was, to say the get at the non-church gael's. I do not least, novel, was held lately in that believe in Christians feeding without same Cathedral. It was styled a "Serworking. "If any man will not work vice of Reconciliation." In Septemneither shall he eat." Activity for ber last, during public worship, one souls prevents spiritual dyspepsia. It Sabbath morning, a stranger suddenly is the exercise needful to carry off the drew a pistol a.nd shot himself, and food into normal channels and assimi- I?hortly died within the sacred struclate it to our constitutional wants. I ture. Having no precedents to folcannot understand how any man can low, after much consultation, the dean be jealous of his workers going out to ' and chaplain formally requested the carry the Gospel and leaving an empty Bishop of London, in the exercise of place half a day for some one else to his Episcopal authority, "to declare fill who needs the Gospel far more. I the said Oathedral church exempt and have had a band of such young men, reconciled from all canonical impediespecially, for years, who, after morn- ment, and from everyprofanation con- * Hodder's Life of Shaftesbury, 1: 328. tracted and incurred by or through the aforesaid acts of suicideand blood-let- all thatoffends refined taste, the Salva- ting, forever." Hence this "Service tion Army compels recognition by of Reconciliation" on the 14th of Oc- downright earnestness and heroic self- tober. The London Times, with a denial. One of the most conservative tone bordering on contempt, asks why, ministers of the Presbyterian body, in if the great temple was "polluted" by a recent visit to London, went re- the crime, services were not entirely peatedly to the army meetings, and, suspended-why the altar was not after careful investigation, declares dismantled, and the edifice closed un- himself wonderfully impressed with til the profanation could be removed· the evidences of God's presence and by a "reconciling service?" Others power.
ask, why the freak of a sensational Shortly before his death Canon suicide, should be considered as "pol- Liddon went to one of the Salvation luting" a sacred edifice. Army meetings in London. As' he was returning with a friend, he said: General Booth gives to the world "It fills one with shame! I feel his new contribution to the great guilty when I think of myself! To problem of how to take care of the think of these poor people, with their unhoused, unfed poor of London, imperfect grasp of the truth! And yet almost at the same time that his wife's what a contrast between what they do body is borne to burial. and what we are doing! When I Her funeral was one of the most compare all the advantages we enjoy, impressive events of modern social we who possess the whole body of history. Whatever we may think of truth, and see how little use we make the Salvation Army, it is one of the of it, how little effect we produce com- most remarkable developments of our pared with that which was palpable time. Its genesis is recent-it began at that meeting, I take shame to my- in the year 1865, and kept its" Silver self. I did not like the women speak- Jubilee" in 1890. A quarter of a cen- ing, however. You know I have the tury ago William Booth resigned his misfortune to agree with the Apostle post as a'Methodist minister, New Con- Paul on that question. "
nection, and began his "Christian And now, Mrs. Booth, after long ~fission," thirteen years later called and acute suffering, has died, and the the" Salvation Army." day of her funeral, though raw, foggy, After this quarter century, this dismal, the procession numbered Salvation Army, at whose members probably 50,000 people, and the streets and methods the world and the were densely thronged with spectators.
Church sneered, now has its banners At the head of the marching columns flying in thirty-four countries or colo- were the 5,000 officers of the army, nies, boasts 10,000 men and women men and women, marshaled in fifteen wholly given up to its work, holds battalions. Each battalion carried a 50,000 religious meetings weekly, flag, some of them a number,of flags, which are attended .by millions of generally of white, with inscriptions hitherto neglected and outcast people. in colored letters, such as "Love one It has, moreover, twenty-seven weekly Another," " Save your Soul," " Believe newspapers, of which about 31,000,000 in God," and one especially striking copies are sold in the streets, saloons, flag bearing the words, "Mother of etc. It has accumulated nearly $4,000,- the Salvation Army." The coffin was 000 worth of property, and its rentals carried on an open hearse, and bore for meeting-places reaches $1,000,000 no emblems beyond Mrs. Booth's a year, while it has a total income of bonnet and cloak, and the flag of the between three and four millions. army, according to her earnest desire Despite all ita sensational methods, for simplicity in funeral reform. Even the London Times lends two or the individual statements and >()olumns to a detailed description of propositions of this book, in common the event, and the Methodist Times with thousands of the best men and describes Mrs. Booth as " the greatest women on both sides of the sea, we Methodist woman of her generation." heartily wish General Booth success. No one who has read the little volume of her addresses, known as " Aggres- Canon Farrar, on November 9, sive Christianity," will doubt her preached a sermon on this philan- })ower. thropic scheme, and even the great Abbey would not hold the crowds that And now, almost simultaneous with thronged to hear it. He had, the her death, General Booth issues his week before, made a tour of the army book, inscribed to her memory: "In centres, and was so impressed that he Darkest England, and the Way Out." made a fervent and impassioned We have read it with profound in- appeal in behalf of the proposed plan, terest, and we find ourselves very far while he disclaimed any authority to from being disposed to ridicule or dis- represent anyone but himself. regard its practical suggestions. From a somewhat extended study of the Those who wish to get the substance practical methods of the Salvation of General Booth's scheme may find a Army, especially in Great Britain, we l·ecapitulation of it in Chapter VII, were compelled to admit that, more Section 5. Some of the most pious than all the churches put together, this and philanthropic of British Chrisunique organization is bringing relief tians are coming forward with liberal to the unfed, unhoused and uncared contributions toward the $5,000,000 for masses of the great cities of for which General Booth appeals, as Britain. the financial' basis of his plan. So awful and so widespread is the degra- General Booth's book is a bold dation and destitution of this "sub- ~ttempt to solve the most perplexing merged tenth" of Britain's population, <>f social problems. His plan is a that we rejoice at any honest attempt mere expansion of that which on no to relieve and remove another of the small scale is in actual operation in open sores of the world. Let the new the Salvation Army ~ntres in London. project have at least a fair trial. He proposes a scheme of three colonies -a town, a country, and an over-the- The following is from the son of the sea colony. Cheap food depots, advice editor, studying this winter in Edinbureau, labor shops, a household sal- burgh, Scotland: vage brigade; the gathering of what would be wasted otherwise, and its " After tea we went to the univerutilization as food for human beings sity to hear Professor Drummond on and for animals, or for various pur- , Christian Evolution.' He dwelt par- })oses of manufacture. He proposes ticularly on the progress of missions to exact a reasonable amount of work and their condition and work, as he from colonists and to pay reasonable had noticed it in his recent trip around wages, so that there may be no en- the world. The lecture was a fine one couragement of paupers; to help out- in every particular, and he seemed to cast and criminal classes to a better be thoroughly in sympathy with the life; to help those who are disposed missionary movement; to have obto help themselves; to maintain whole- served keenly on the subject in his some discipline, and afford religious tour; and he urged all to consider care- {lulture without compulsion. Those fully if their lives could not be best who would know details must read his used for Christ in the foreign field. book. Without giving endorsement He lamented the fact that there seemed to the peculiar methods of the army, to be so much misdirected effort by well-meaning Christian missionaries, because the problem of missions, in Here is another, enclosing a gold. connection with the special countries pen with a pearl handle: in which they worked, was not more thoroughly studied and understood. Sabbath Morning, Oct. 5,1890. He contrasted Australia and the South Sea Islands, Japan and China, espec- DEAR DR. PIERSON: ially, as presenting entirely different kinds of fields, which were to be sown This gold pen was a Christmas gift. with the same seed but in different It has a sad story. It has nev!'r been ways, according to the nature of the used-it has lain idle ten years. May ground, and growth already planted the dear Lord now use it in some way there. One thing he said about Japan so as best to tell of the "Peace on was pretty well put-Japan is ready earth and good will from heaven for anything new and European; she toward men." has taken from France a system of law; from Germany an organization ONE OF YOUR HEARERS. for an army; from England a navy; from America a public school system; The American Missionary Associafrom' the civilized world in general a tion has 500 missionaries. Among fine system of railways and electric the Indian children they have entelegraph, etc. At present she is in couraged unselfish efforts to help in the unique position of prospecting for carrying the Gospel to the destitute a religion. There are, too, on the and unevangelized. But the children islands many missionaries prospecting had no money. Some of them had for converts: they include Episcopal- never seen a copper coin. The governians of every degree of height, Presby- meNt had offered premiums for the terians of every degree of breadth, and killing of gophers, and so the boys Methodists of every degree of warmth. would hunt the gophers and bring Roman Catholics are practically out of their tails in as proof of the work the race. done. Among other contributions was an enclosure, wrapping a gopher's tail " It was a thoroughly good lecture, within, and bearing this memoranand I would like to have it in print. dum: "Richard Fox, one gopher's tail: four cents." "DELAVAN L. PIERSON." One old colored saint in the far South Latterly, the editor has been making used to pray with great fervor for the a short tour of the great cities in the missionaries, and this was one prayer interest of missions. Among numer- heard from his lips: "Oh, Lord, let ous letters received by him, the follow- de missionary down deep into de treasing will suggest their own lesson: ures of de Word, and hide him behind de Cross of Jesus." For whom might DR. PIERSON: not that prayer well be offered?
Dear Sir-Enclosed please find four While Christianity makes us more dollars and ten cents, a small sum that and more tenderly considerate even of I had intended to use toward a society the welfare of the most distant and pin, but if the Master can use it for destitute of the race, sin makes IlUtelling the good story in the lands of man beings more callous eve:n to the darkness I dare not keep it for my own most appalling misery close at hand. pleasure. We have all heard of that notorious gambling resort on the Gulf of Genoa, I would that it were more than Monte Carlo, and of the wretched and it is. summary life-ending of many who have thrown away their means in its May God, our Master, bless you in elegantly-furnished halls. Very lately the work you are doing for Him, is it was reported that during ten weeks the prayer of a college girl. of this year as many as forty-nine E – College, Oct. 6, 1890. suicides had occurred there. "Every before the introduction of Christianity. night," says The Christian, of Boston, All interested in South Sea missions "'the grounds are carefully searched should procure it. It especially com- by the police after the casino is closed. mends itself for brevity. Other vol- Dne man drags a covered spring-cart, umes in this series, lives of Carey, the wheels of which have India-rubber Chalmers, Comber, Crowther, Morri- tires. When a body is found, for son, Patteson, Griffith John, etc., are which a reward is given, it is immedi- as readable as romances. Such vol- ately stripped of clothes and valu- umes can scarcely be multiplied in too ables, tftrust into the cart, and silently great abundance. hurried away and buried. Next morn- jng the sun shines again, the band The Success of Christian Missions, plays, saloons and tables are thronged, by Robert Young, F. R. S., G. S. In and people gamble as usual." this volume, Mr. Young has made a careful compilation of testimonies in New Books. favor of foreign missions in most heathen lands, similar to that of Mr. F. H. Revell has issued two more vol- Liggins. Personal, official and .pub- umes of the short biographies of mis- lic testimony to the value and influ- 'sionaries: Henry Martyn and Robert ence of the missionary operations of Moffat. If there are any better brief many societies is here gathered and biographical sketches for general nse preserved. For permanent reference, .as educators of the young, and as a and as an answer to the slurs and at- means of general stimulation to the tacks of adversaries, the book will be missionary spirit, we have not met always useful and should be at hand them anywhere. 'Within the compass in every well-stocked missionary ,of 160 pages, there is comprised a library as, in its way, an encyclopedia mass of information that is often di- of testimony. London: Hodder & .luted through three times the space. Stoughton. Cheap, thrilling, fascinating, these stories of missionary life combine the While we write, there just comes facts of heroism with the fancies of by mail from a dear personal friend, romance. They are very near to Dr. George Smith of Edinburgh, the ideals realized. We believe that few last book so far produced by his schol- will read one chapter without wanting arly and prolific pen. It is entitled A to read the whole, or read one of the Modern Apostle, and is the life of series, now embracing twelve, without Rev. Alex. N. Somerville, D.D., "the wanting to possess the entire series, world's evangelist." He was an ex- ,and give them away to others. We traordinary man, and we propose here- would like to give the series to every after to present an article upon young man and woman in every him to our readers. Suffice it to say Protestant congregation where Eng- that he thirteen times made a "world lish is spoken. The whole twelve may tour of missions;" viz.: to Canada, be had for $6, exclusive of postage I Syria, Spain, India, Australasia, France and Italy, Germany and Rus- The editor also cordially commends sia, Central Europe, Greece, Asia and to all readers the following books on Africa; and beside this was the able missions: James Calvert; or from and faithful pastor of one of the most Dark to Dawn in Fiji, by R. Vernon. prominent churches of Scotland. Here F. H. Revell, Bible House, New York. is a story of more than seventy-five 'This account of mission work, in what years, full of service and every form was once the cannibal group of Fijian of inspiration to heroic endeavor. – Islands, is rendered specially valuable Those who have read the lives of Carey, by its graphic account of native man- John Wilson of Bombay, Alexander .ners and customs as they were found Duff, Stephen Hislop, and that Short History of Christian missions which terestmg and valuable. One sees as. we have never seen equaled in its in a birdseye-view the steady and sure way, all of them by the same gifted advance of the Master's Kingdom, and author, will not need to be told that we rejoice. this latest volume from his pen, recently issued by John Murray of Lon- In the work of a missionary there don, is a book without which no min- is often much to disappoint. One has isters library is complete. It is one to sow in faith and labor in patience, of the grandest books that modern seeing no sign of a reaping-time. But biographers have offered to the public. when one reads of others who are al- ready rejoicing in the ingathering of Livingstonia Mission. an abundant harvest, he for a mo- ment forgets the plowing and sowing, [The following letter relol,ched Dr. the watering and waiting, and cannot Sherwood's home November 3d, too help sharing in their joy and the Maslate for his eyes to read it. Notwith- ter's. standing the personal references, the Another end gained by your REVIEW Editor feels that it belongs to the is that our hearts are enlarged and we begin to have a fore-taste of that readers of THE REVIEW.] glorious time for which our Saviour LAKE NYASSA. prayed: "That they may be one even as we are one. . . . that they may Mvera Station, May 11, 1890. be perfected in one, that the world DEAR BROTHER:-Were there the may know that Thou didst send Me." least doubt about the excellence and usefulness of your REVIEW, I With reference to the contents of should gladly give my testimony in THE REVIEW I have no suggestions to its favor. Let me merely mention make. What we in the field need is that, along with many thousands of an occasional inspiring article, one to, your readers, I most heartily enjoy rouse and encourage. To my mind and profit by it. Especially on a Sab- there is no pen so gifted, in this rebath afternoon or evening, after sev- spect, as that of Dr. A. T. Pierson. eral services and two Bible-classes, Let us be urged to prayer, patience, feeling somewhat tired, it is with personal devotion to Christ, to faith great pleasure that I take up THE and faithfulness. "Ve know these MISSIONARY REVIEW and read it things but do not realize them. through, I may literally say, from beginning to end. Even though the As many of us are unable to have "news" is from four to five months large libraries, a summary of the biold when it reaches us, we, neverthe- ography of some missionary hero (as less, eagerly look forward to each fol- has appeared of Carey, Egede, etc.), is, lowing number. always most acceptable, or even an I have, of late especially, enjoyed episode from such a man's life, or his an article in the number for Septem- views on any important missionary ber, 1890, on "Prayer-Basis of Mission subject. And why not pubhsh a whole Work," by Dr. Pierson. I have read biography, continued in several numand re-read it, and read it to my com- bers ?" panions, and each time I feel more than ever that "the whole basis of suc- As regards my own work Ishall not cessful missionary work is to befound say much. At this present station we in believing and importunate prayer." have been at work for only about six These words should be written in let- months. The work is much the same ters of gold on the tablets of our- here as on other stations round the memory. lake. Weare 3,400 feet above the sea The items of news you give from in a healthy and fertile country. A various fields of labor are most in- great door has been opened to us. The work is becoming more and more, interesting. Some 500 to 600 people simply as a way of introducing the hear the Word preached every Sabbath letter. Mr. Baldwin will be remem- day. In the school, however, we bered as the writer of the papers in have as yet only some twelve boys- The Christian (London), on "The boarders. People are afraid to send Question of the Hour," advocating the their children lest, having secured a conduct of missions on the lines laid good number, we should run off and down in Matthew x.
sell them as slaves! This fear, will, of Without giving our endorsement to course, pass away in course of time. every sentiment of Mr. Baldwin in Should you care to publish any part those letters, we confess to a large of this letter and any discouraged measure of sympathy with his general worker happens to read it, let me position. And we cannot but feel that stretch out to such an one a brotherly when any missionary in these days hand, and say, "Courage, friend! the attempts a work for God in the spirit Master is looking on and is intensely of faith and prayer, it is not for other interested in our work; let us press on, Christianworkers toridiculeor criticise if not so ably as others, then at least or oppose. There are many ways of as faithfully. Let us often prostrate doing the Lord's work. Why not let ourselves before the 'WondroUB Cross,' them all have a fair, faithful trial?
and in deep self-abasement and lowly Experiment will show whether God reverence, there learn to be' nothing, is with such methods; but the ex- nothing,' that the world might our periment must not be embarrassed Saviour see. When weary let us rest with the secret or open hostility of at His feet; when sad, lean on His even nominal disciples. Mr. Baldwin's breast. Let us drown our cares and personal consecration not even his worries in the ocean of His love, and critics can question. He is about to we shall not sow in vain, but receive start on a prolonged journey, with a the sower's reward." single companion, probably among the Bedouin. May God be with him!
Itis because I so often feel the need of encouragement myself that I am seek- Rev. Dr. Wayland Hoyt, his brother, Colgate Hoyt, and Charles L. Colby, ing to encourage others to-llfght, for Esq., have been preparing a" chapel the Master bas been very near to-day car," for use in Minnesota and on the and wonderfully kind. My subject of Wisconsin Central and Northern to-day, "My son, give me thy heart," Pacific railroads. ' , Uncle Boston" is has touched my own heart. to use this chapel-on-wheels for his I cannot ask your readers to pray Sunday-school mission work, and it is for us and our work specially; there finely adapted to his purposes. Atone are others who have probably a end are arrangements for living, and greater right to their prayers and the rest of the car is a chapel fitted thought; but let me urge all who pray for about 100 persons. During summer for missions to more "believing and months a tent will be carried, which importunate prayer," and we also can be set up for temporary use where shall receive our share of the blessing. crowds are too great for the chapel. Bishop Walker, of the Episcopal ANDREW C. MURRAY. Church, has done a like thing for the territory under his jurisdiction, in The Rev. E. F. Baldwin, now in North Dakota. Each of these moving Beyrout, Syria, desires it stated that chapels is about 60 feet by 10. The latter has gothic projections to give it the letterin the October number, 1890, a church-like appearance, and is finpages 776,777, was not a specific letter ished in oak, in gothic style,. with for THE REVIEW, although Dr. Sher- . chancel, altar, lectern, cabinet organ, wood so understood it at the time, but and even baptismal font and bishop's a circular sent to THE REVIEW. The chair. Weare surely making pro- adch'ess, "Dear Editors" was affixed grE'ss!
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL. ] Faots and Figures about the World-wide Field.
-.Alaska's coast is the sepulchre 40,000,000 were called Protestant; now, of ships. Dr. Sheldon Jackson says the population is more than double, that almost a hundred vessels have and the nominal Protestants more found a watery gra,e there within than quadrupled!
twenty years! In one storm, and atone -The first convertamongthe natives place, thirty-three ships were ground of India was Krishna Chundra Pal between ice-fields, and 1,200 sailors in 1800. Renry Martyn said it was a cast, wrecked, on a barren shore. miracle as great as the raising of the -According to the census of 1890, dead. Now, every ten years the con- the population of the Unite9. States is verts increase over eighty per cent.
62,480,540. It seems to us that this is The first convert in western Poly- an underestimate; we have supposed nesia was King Pomare II.; now there 66,000,000 nearer the actual truth. are 850,000, and all western Poly- -A Messianic pretender appears in nesia is evangelized.
an Indian tribe. He claims that the -Up to 1853, the Edict Board of Indian power and prestige is to revive Japan made it capital offence for a and the lost ground be recovered. If Christian to set foot on the island this notion gets hold of the mercurial empire. Now, there are 30,000 pro- red men no one can tell what may fessed converts and 17,000 children in come of it: they may attempt to ex- Sunday-schools. One in twenty-eight terminate the whites. .Already, for of the elect members of the new par- three months, the whole northwestern liament is a Christian church member.
part of our country has been in a state As the Christians of Japan number of disturbance and serious alarm. but 1 to 1,200 of the population, it will -Principal Magee,ofDublin,says the be seen that the proportion of Chris- dogma of the infallibility of the Pope tian members of parliament is forty- has repelled the bulk of Irishmen, and three U'Yhes as great. This impresses led to intellectualindependencewhich us as one of the most remarkable is reducing the ranks of Romanism signs of the power of Protestant mis- and filling up those of Protestantism. sions in Japan. The contributions of He thinks vaulting ambition has native converts were about $50,000 again" overleaped itself" and "fallen last year, nearly $2 a head!
on-tother side." -At Oroomiah, Persia, last year, -These are old figures, but their fifty-one out of sixty-seven pupils in lesson is always new: the seminary were Christians and In 1800, not over 50,000 converts in members of the church.
all heathendom; now, over 1,500,000, –The McAll mission schools had and five times as many adherents. last year 235,000 children under in- In 1800, not over 70 mission schools; struction.
now, about 14,000, with 600,000 -The Established Church of Scot- scholars. land reports 2,034 converts and 2,465 In 1800, 50 translations of the Bible; pupils in the schools in the Punjab now, between 300 and 400, of the whole Mission, India, with 723 converts bap- or parts, like the Gospel of Mark. tized in 1890.
In 1800, not over 5,000,000 copies of -Dr. Robert N. Cust reckons 223 the Bible; now, more than that issue missionary societies in the world: 113 from the press every year. in Britain and colonies; 56 in the In 1800; the population of the globe United States; 20 in Germany; 14 in about 700,000,000, of whom some Netherlands, and 20 in other lands. Many of these are doubtless small. sustained by the facts. Mr. Henry Fifty have incomes of $10,000 and up- A. Hinshaw, in the August Science ward, and twenty report over $100,- Monthly, says: "At the end of the 000. At least ten of these have got mission rule the Indian was really three-fourths of their funds from less capable of taking care of himself 1tative converts! than at the beginning. He was found Roman Oatholicism, if we may trust a free man, he was left a dependent.
the "Catholic Dh;.ectory," for last year, Driven to church by the whip, forced has, in the United States, 13 arcb- to kneel by being punched by goads, bishops, 73 bishops, 8,332 priests, 2,132 with no free or rational cultivation of ecclesiastical students, 7,523 churches, mind or conscience, the religious in- 3,302 chapels and stations, 35 theo- struction made up of scarcely any- logical seminaries, 102 colleges, 635 thing else but ritual and superstition, academies, 3,194 parochial schools and the idea of obedience to the priest, with 633,238 pupils in them, 553 chari- the result was what might have been table institutions, and about 8,000,000 expected." Why should the Govern- members. ment continue to appropriate money The approximate distribution of to such schools?
missionaries is said to be as follows: -M. Monod says he adopts very No. of Mis- .much the words of one of his best col- Populatlou. sionaries. Proportion porteurs: "It seems to me supersti- .syria …….. 3.000,000 100 lto 80,000 tion is not so general as it was, and Turkey …… 21,000,000 450 lto 45,000 that what people call the' Protestant Madagascar. 5,000,000 50 1 to 100,000 Burma …… 8,000,000 40 1to 200,000 faith' is honored by many Roman Japan……. 38,000,000 200 1to 200,000 Catholics, who ten years ago felt noth- Jndia …….. 250,000,000 900 1 to 275,000 Persia……. 7,500,000 80 1to 300,000 ing but a bitter hatred against the ·.Africa.•… _..250,000,000 600 1 to 400,000 Gospel and the Scriptures which we s. America'.. 80,000,000 75 1to 400,000 colporteurs circulate. Blessed be the Korea…….. 9.000,000 25 1to 400,000 Lord for that! Those times are gone, .Siam …….. 8,000,000 18 1to 000,000 and the light of the Gospel seems to Chiua …….. 380,000.000 600 J.toQ..A5O,OOO spread. The Lord gives me new Arabia……. 6,000,000 4 1 to 1,500,000 'Tbibet.. ….. 15,000.000 7 1 to 2,000,000 openings, and I must hasten to meet In Sahara district with 3,000,000; . theln." ~ Afghanistan, etc., with 3,500,000; An- -The women's societies in America nam, etc., with 12,000,000; Russia, are doing untold good by preparing 16,000,000; Algeria, etc., 12,000,000; and scattering broadcast missionary Soudan, 75,000,000, there is an ENTIRE literature in condensed and cheap DESTITUTION. forms. Some of us, in·this fast age, [Weare aware that the above must skim the great pan and serve figures are not exact, but they are the up the cream in little pitchers, rich best we have been able to'Obtain from and sweet. Our" little pitchers" are a variety of sources. We shall be multiplying. Brief, compact and in- grateful to anyone who will furnish teresting leaflets, containing the great us correct and reliable statistics.-ED- facts of missions, or short biographical lTOR.] sketches, or quaint stories of a half- -Senator Dawes, opposing an in- humorous sort to illustrate giving and crease to the appropriations to Roman praying, and helping in the work, are Catholic schools among the Indians, freely circulated. Those who can declared the 120 years of Jesuit mis- condense the facts into a small space sionary work among the Indians of and yet preserve all their vitalizing California had left them less capable force are benefactors indeed, and this of self-support than it had found the women of our day are doing with them. The accusation seems to be well grand success. -The Church of Scotland Mission -On the plains and in the selva.s of Record nobly says: Brazil there are a million of wild " But no one can pretend that our Indians, ignored by the Christian missionary collections are such as world.
ought to satisfy us. Let us remember – During the past ten years over how large is our number of communi- 11,000 converts have been gathered in cants-about 588,000. Our missionary the missionary fields of the Moravian contributions show but a very small Church.
sum as given per communicant. For -Sabbath observance is making the foreign mission, or mission to the great progress in Paris. A determined heathen abroad, there was contributed effort is made to close all places of last year by the church at home, business on Sunday.
through the assembly scheme, the -Ninety thousand copies of the ladies' association, legacies and special illustrated Bible, issued in weekly subscriptions, a total of £28,331-not , parts, have been sold among the quite one shilling from every com- Roman Catholics in Italy.
municant. And when we exclude the -The last five years have seen ladies' association, legacies and special greater developments in the opening subscriptions, it appears that the sum and Christianizing of Africa than the raised for tilis object by church col- ninety-five years preceding.
lections in Scotland was £13,172-giv- -The Gospel of Matthew has been ing an average of only 5 1-4d from translated into the Laos language by each communicant. We grant that Mrs. McGilvary of the Presbyterian many of our communicants are poor Board. The Acts of the Apostles is persons, but it will not be denied that also nearly ready.
the great majority are in circum- -The American Baptist Telugu stances to afford some help to any Mission calls for a re-inforcement of good cause which thoroughly interests twenty-five men in the next two sears.
them. If they give nothing, or very Dr. J. E. Clough, of Ongole, has under little, we must conclude either that his care more than 17,000 Christians.
they do not know that there is an -:Et!!',">Dr. Boggs, of Ramapatam, object deserving and needing their aid, says all India is in a state of ferment.
or that they feel no interest, or little The Hindus and Mohammedans interest, in it." actively oppose the advance of Chris- -Arch-deacon Farrar, of London, tianity, and at the same time mis- says: "It comes with shocking ill sionary work is pushed more vigor- grace, and sounds like shameful ously than ever.
hypocrisy, when those who give -The appropriations of the Ameri- nothing and do nothing for mis- can Baptist Missionary Union for the sions, make the 'home heathen' year ending March 31, 1891, are $503,- a false excuse for doing nothing. 159.53. The society calls for an im- They talk as if it were weakening the mediate special contribution of $50,000 resources of England and surely that to meet the deficiency caused by the is stupendous nonsense when we are passage of the silver bill.
not even spending as much on mis- -Four railroads are projected, or sions as on tobacco and Christmas in process of construction, from the cards." east coast of Africa toward the in- -Canon Christopher, one of the terior ; one in the territory of British notable men of Cambridge, England, East Africa Company, one in German proclaims his interest in missions territory, one in the Portuguese pos- by annually entertaining a great sesions, and one passing through Port- company of representative men to uguese territory to the domain of the breakfast. British South African Company.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Foreign Mission Notes, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.
African Mlssions.-There are re- cessible. remarkably intelligent, and ported to be over 500 missionary considered by the missionaries to be stations in the Dark Continent, with more Christian, on the whole, than the which 400,000 converts are associated, ordinary run of Christians in England.
whose numberis increasing at a yearly By the Rev. W. E. Taylor, (C. M. S., average of 25,000 souls. Frere Town,) it was observed that the Slavery.-A meeting held at the present is the time to win the popula- Stanley and African Exhibition in tion to Christianity, otherwise they London was addressed by several re- would be made converts to Moham- turned missionaries, of different so- medanism. The Rev. R. P. Ashe cieties. Their reports were very en- (late missionary of the C. M. S. at couraging, especially as to the Congo Uganda) said that the friends of mis- region. Lord Knutsford urged more sions do not realize that the mission- exertion for the suppression of the aries in Central Africa have, with less horrible slave traffic. Although the assistance, d1fficulties to face, corresc British are less directly active in com- ponding to those which Mr. Stanley batting it they seem determined to narrated in "Darkest Africa." A col- banish the great curse of Africa. So lection was taken for the purchase far as Pro1!estant societies are con- of a steamer to be launched on the eerned they are free from the disgrace waters of Victoria Nyanza for the use of buying boys and girls to train them of the Church Missionary Society's as Christians, whereas, French Catho- agents. The total outlay will be £5,000, lie societies openly countenance this of which £2,300 has been secured. In unwisfj .pgliey. A representative of aid of this desirable object Mr. Stanley the -~Anti-Slavery Society entreated made an eloquent appeal in the eol- English people to eschew the use of umns of The London Times, to British ivory, every scrap of which, accord- Christians. ing to Mr. Stanley, issteep~la:lnblood. Bishop Smythies.-The brave lead- The venerable Archdeacon Maple, of er of the Universities' Mission, de- the Universities' Mission, described parting once more to his field, his work on Lake Nyassa. He paid a preached a farewell sermon to a eon- warm tribute to the African Lakes gregation of supporters in St. John's, Company for resistance to the intro- Red Lion Square, Holborn, from the duction of liquor and to similar evils. mlsslOnary passage in Col. il-:3, The work of Dr. Laws, of the Free "Withal, praying also for us, that Church and of the Scotch Established God would open unto us a door of Church, on the Shire Highlands, was utterance, to speak the mystery of equally eulogized. The Archdeacon Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
said, in face of the partitioning of He returns, accompanied by three Africa by European powers, their clergymen and two lady nurses, mak- duty as pioneers was to maintain their ing a complete mission staff of seventy ground unless superior force com- persons. During his sojourn in pelled them to retire. Dr. Guinness Europe the Bishop visited Berlin, and referred to the scope of the Congo was cordially welcomed by the young Mission, founded in 1878, by Mr. Emperor of Germany, who spoke with Henry Craven and others, which had marked sympathy and appreciation of at the present time three missions the Universities' Mission.
and seventy-five missionaries. No- Cardinal Lavigerie. – After dis- where in the world is mission work cussing in Rome further plans bearing more hopeful. The people were ac- on the anti-slavery question, the • Cardinal passed through Marseilles, on 1890, they had received only £13,000; his way to ~'.lgiers. From there, to meanwhile they had to borrow money Biskra, whence he will make various at a high rate of interest to meet their ,excursions in southern Algeria. . liabilities.
Holland and the S,ave Trade.- Japan. – To secure more help for The principal members of the Belgian the English Church mission in Japan government are impressing upon the an important meeting has been held Dutch cabinet the absolute necessity in the library of the Lambeth Palace, 'of giving its signatures to ,the general London. Bishop Barry said, not- act of the Brussels Conference; if not, withstanding the lateness of the Eng- a stigma will rest on the country in lish Church in the field, it would ulti- preventing the execution of effective mately take the leading place in measures for the suppression of the influence and responsibility among slave trade and its horrors. The ex- Christian communities there. A re- port trade'of the Congo State for the markable feature of the Japanese is second quarter of the year 1890 was their capacity to adapt themselves to double that of the corresponding what they had adopted. The church period of 1889, and five times larger mission had certainly no desire to than it was in 1887. These figures hinder the growth of native institushow the necessity of giving the Congo tions, or .to press upon the Japanese State the means to pursue its honor- any western customs which could not ,able and humane mission. be appreciated or assimilated.
Wesleyan Missionary Society- Madagascar. – Excitement reigns Tonga. – The good news is con- in the island consequent upon the fumed respecting the improved condi- terms of the Anglo-French agreement tion of affairs among the native Wes- becoming known. The various misleyans, chiefly due to the wise inter- sionary societies view with lIlisgivings vention of the High Commissioner, the ultimate action of the queen and Sir J. B. Thurston. The majority of her advisers. As to the immediate the exiled Wesleyans have returned prospects, religiously and politically, from Fiji. With the re-affirmation of the sta£ements of authorities are conreligious liberty, the hitherto sup- flicting. According to agents of the pressed feeling of fear and restraint is London Missionary Society recently beginning to disappear, and large arrived in England, no alarm is ennumbers are again attending the Wes- tertained in relation to Madagascar's 1eyan Church. agreeableness to the French Protecto- rate. An experienced missionary, the Secunderabad.-That ardent Wes- Rev. J. Sibree, believes that there isa leyan missionary, the Rev. William tendency to exaggerate the differ- Burgess, reports that he has baptized ences and apprehend risks only in 200 natives this year (1890), and ex- days to come. The English Governpects shortly to announce double that ment have been gradually compelled number. to subscribe to what the Malagasies must have foreseen many years since. Italy. – In, connection with the A younger missionary, the Rev. James vigorous campaign of English Wes- Taylor, declares the influence exerleyans in the Italian peninsula, the cised by the London Missionary Socidoubted secession of a whole Roman etyon the natives is unequaled by any {)atholic village in Italy to Method- kind of organization in the island, and ism is now ascertained to be beyond that from the Society it would be difdispute. ficult to wean the people.
English Wesleyan Missionary So- On the other hand these assurances ciety Finances. – With regret the are vigorously controverted by the secretaries state that out of a procSpective home income of £100,000 for latest mail communications from the car has remained quiet because she island. Great unrest prevails touch- believed that she was outgrowing the ing the Anglo-French agreement; the time for foreign aggression. She now Hovas pronouncing vehemently finds that she has been sleeping in fan- against a French Protectorate sway. cie<i'security, and to-day she is awake For two powers to deprive a country in a rage. The country is aroused. sUbstantially of her rights and privi- There is a dangerous spirit thrilling leges without consulting her is con- throughout the country. The late po- sidered cruelly unfair. In retaining litical calm has disappeared. To an her freedom to conduct her civil and individual the Hovas are patriotic, commercial intercourse, "Madagas- and, if France insists upon putting car," says the principal local journal, a wrong construction upon the Treaty "will fight to the last if France de- of 1885-6, the Malagasy will heroic- mands the control of the foreign of- ally repel her aggression. Watchful fice, or assumes a protectorate over sympathy is desired for the religious the Government of Her Majesty Ran- and national welfare of a people who avalomanjaka III." This language is are beginning to enter on a civilized unmistakably decisive. Until very career. By the missionaries in particu- recently the government in Madagas- lar, abounding grace and wisdom are car had no idea of the island's liberty needed to guide their converts in the being endangered. A claim of France right paths. some time ago to represent Madagas- London Missionary Society. – car in her foreign relations was re- The London Missionary Society will fused, consistent with articles 1-2 of send delegates to the International the 1885-6 Franco-Malagasy Treaty. Council of Congregationalists, to be It was consequently surmised that held in London in 1891. This step is as France did not urge it ,that she regarded as a sign that the society is inte~ the clauses to refer to moving from a broad evangelical basis the pledge of Madagascar not to to one of a more denominational enter into compact defensively or character. offensively elsewhere unless–tt";"'con- Church Missionary Society.- sent of France was previously ob- The benefactions to the Church Mistained. The Malagasy Government sionary Society for the current year is content to allow France to intervene are about twice as much as those of on her behalf in exterior political mat- the average of the last five years, and ters, quite otherwise respecting inter- the ordinary income steadily increases. nal affairs. Madagascar cherishes her Six London societies send out unindependence and sets great store on ordained missionaries, not demanding everything which develops her re- college education. Thus not only sources, and naturally wishes to retain are wider doors opening before the ' a free hand for her administration and, church in foreign lands, but the gate an openseaboard to transacttrade with ,of entrance for workers is becoming other lands. The organ of the Eng- much broader. lish, The Madagascar Times, asserts Two more young ladies went out that the agreement is a monstrous last month to the Zenana work in contravention of past treaties, and Rajahmundry, India, sent out by the warns France of the dangers which Lutheran Mission Committee. The await her should she persist in taking two workers, Miss Sadtler of Baltinominal possession. "Europe," this more and Miss Schade of New Brighpaper states, "is mistaken in her be- ton, Pa., were given a farewell meetlief that Madagascar has been unde- ing in St. John's Lutheran Church, monstrative because the French con- Philadelphia. A chest of medicines trol affairs. This is not so. Madagas- was presented to the missionaries. Monthly Bulletin. -Miss Anna E. Johnson has left Bryn Mawr, Pa., for the McAll work -Mr. David Sinclair, M.A., princi- in Paris. pal of the Missionary College at Mad- ras, and who, after twenty years of -Two Bengalese ladies, after a five service, retired at the beginning of the years' course, received at Calcutta last year, is dead. University the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. They are both disciples of -Professor Riggenbach, of Basel, Christ. for twelve years president of the great Basel Missionary Society, died also -The British and Foreign Bible So- September 5. He had a fascinating ciety issued last year 3,790,000 copies history. of the Bible, either wholly or in part; -Some 200 Hebrew students in the and the London ReligiouB Tract So- University of Odessa petitioned the ciety 77,000,000 publications, every Russian government to be allowed to one of which, in some form, ango forward with their studies as nounces the glad tidings of salvation Hebrews, and met a refusal. It re- in Christ.
sulted in their conversion to Ohris- -The French Protestant Mission tianity! among the Basutos has over 6,000com- -Bishop Hannington was cruelly municants.
murdered by Mwanga, of Uganda, -Rev. R. Glover, D.D., of Bristol, whose Christian subjects have now re- and Rev. T. M. Morris of Ipswich, instated him on his throne. Two years two of the foremost men of the Bapago Bishop Parker, who followed tist deilOmination in England, are in him, perished on the shores of Victoria China as a deputation from the mis- Nyanza. And now, a third bishop, sionary society to visit the stations Mr. Tucker, has started for equatorial Africa. Thus far these bishops have and report on needs and claims of the ~-…. work.
held office less than two years each; -Arthur Brooks, whom the natives but lor the work in which they per- killeq a year ago in Africa, was the ished .more than twenty have been elev~lM:llartyr the London Mission- found ready to take the place of each ary Society has given to the East one who has died. African Mission. Since then Mr.
-It is proposed to build a sort of Slade's death left but three men to "People's Temple" in London, with carry on this work.
sufficient space for 100,000 persons, so -Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson has been that when great public interests are at establishing three new missions-Con- stake room may be found for popular gregational, Episcopal and Presby- meetings and discussions. terian respectively, in Alaska. This -A "Hindoo tract society" in is a practical illustration of inter- Madras is trying to neutralize the denominational comity.
missionaries' work by leaflets in de- -In three colleges of North Caro- fence of Hinduism, as they have lina 15 students have volunteered for already imitated Christian "cate- mISSIons. At Oberlin 32, and $400 chisms " for teaching and indoctrina- have been raised for their outfit.
ting the young. -On Lake Nyassa the Scottish Free -A chair for study of the English Church has, at Bandawe, 1,180 pupils Bible was last year established at and 38 native teachers in its schools.
Princeton College. At Yale over 150 -Moravians distance us all in mis- students of the higher classes elect a sionary heroism. One of their Alaska course of Bible studies, with two lec- missions is 3,000 miles from its base tures a week. of supplies, and sometimes the cold is so intense that even the smoke is a pronouncedly good influence upan turned to frost in chimneys. him and his people. He has abolished drinking in his land, and is always -Mr. Penazottj, the agent of the intent on some reform. His word is American Bible Society, in Peru, is always trusted, not only by the mis- in prison solely for the crime of circu- sionaries, but also by traders and lating the Word of God in the Spanish hunters, wl'lO are mistrustful of every- tongue. His instructing of the people thing accomplished by missions. He has been construed as violating a is sincere, courageous and manly, and semi-obsolete decree of the Peruvian if all Caffre chieftains were like him, {lonstitution. We watch the result of Caffreland would have a very different this trial of Protestantiam in South look from its present one. America with interest. -Basel Missionary Society recently -Rev. John Newton, seventy-eight observed its seventy-fifth anniversary. years old, and oldest of missionaries It has missions in India, China, and in India, landed in Calcutta in 1835, on the African Gold Coast and the and is still a hale and happy worker. Camaroons, and not until recently He is a Presbyterian, and believes in have unmarried lady missionaries goue the" Perseverance of the Saints!" to the frontier to engage in educa- tional and other work among their -According to Dr. Pentecost, dark and darkened sisters. Bishop Taylor is the only evangelist who has left behind him in India a Alaska.-Important are the openpermanent work. We may be per- ings for the spread of the Gospel in mitted to say that our friend Pente- this largest possession of the United cost sometimes allows himself to make States. Its area is 531,409 square statements which are too sweeping, if miles: Arctic division, 125,245; Younot careless. Bishop Taylor not only kon, 70,884; Southeastern, 28,980. Its worked as an evangelist, but he extreme length north and south is founded churches, and large churches, 1,100 miles; its extreme breadth is too, which few evangelists do. Hence, 800 miles. Total population about his eminently scriptural and apostolic 30,426; white, 430; Creole, 1,756; Inwork abides, which cannot be said of nuit, 17,617; Aleut, 2,145; Tenneh, some who only do the work of an 3,927; Thlinket, 6,763; Hyda,788. It evangelist. . occupies the extreme northwest of the continent. This important coun- -Think of America sending a few try was purchased from Russia by the missionaries to Africa and finding it United States government in 1867, difficult to raise enough money to and is now under its control. support them, while Boston alone, from 1882 to 1887, sent to the Dark Turkey.-Great Revival in Aintab. Continent 3,500,000 gallons of strong In the annual report of the American drink! Rev. David A. Day, at Monro- Board the siguificant event in Asiatic via, saw landed at one port on one Turkey was the revival, whereby 538 Sunday 50,000 casks of gin! were added to the church in Aintab, and by its influence no less than 1,000 Africa.-Mr. J. Nixon declares of hopeful conversions occurred within Magata, a chief near Pretoria, where the limits of that one field. The three the Hermannsburg missionaries are centers of collegiate and theological working, that not even in England training were specially blessed. Only has he met with a more perfect gen- a small number of college graduates, tleman. Chief Kchama, he declares, however, enter the theological school, is also a chief whose word can be de- and there is an increasing tendency to pended upon, a noble example of suc- come to America to complete their cessful missionary work. His Chris- studies and to better their fortunes. tianity is nothing nominal, but exerts Cost of War.-According to rep- Canon Liddon on Missions.- resentations given recently in the Across the triumphs and the failures German Reichstag, France has'a war of well-nigh nineteen centuries, the footing of 3,300,000 men; Russia, spiritual ear still catches the accents 2,570,000; Germany, 2,900,000; Austro- of the charge on the mountain in Gali- Hungary, 1,150,000; Italy, 1,090,000; 100; and, as we listen, we note that or these five powers can summon into neither length of time nor change of the field, should the necessity require circumstance has impaired their it, 11,019,000. Who can foretell the solemn and enduring force. It is a awful consequences should any power precept which, if it ever had binding be so rash as to let loose the war virtue, must have it at this moment dragon? And to prevent such a catas- over all who believe in the Divine trophy, it is deemed necessary to keep Speaker's power to impose it-it must up a peace footing for Russia of 314,- bind us as distinctly as it was binding 000; France, 511,334; Germany, 486,- on the first disciples. Weare ambas- 983; Austro-Hungary, 325,693; Italy, sadors of a charity which knows no 255,418; or in all, 2,393,423. distinctions between the claimants on Worth Noting.-The secular press. its bounty, and no frontier save those announces that Abbe Mesmer has of the races of man. A good Chrisstarted from Rome to assume his posi- tian can not be other than eager for tion at the head of the Roman Catho- the extension of our Lord's Kingdom lic University in Washington. In among men, not only from his sense of this case at least, we regret that the what is due to the Lord who bought law which prohibits the importation him, but also from his natural sense of of contract labor will not be enforced. justice, his persuasion that he has no We trust, however, that the American right to withhold from others those public will not lose sight of the fact privileges and prospects which are the that this new university is to be placed joy of his own inmost life. When he under the direction of tt foreigner, and finds comfort in the power of prayer, of one who comes witk the blessing of when he looks forward in humble a Pope who, from his hatred of free confidence to death, when he enjoys institutions, continu~s to keep up the the blessed gift of inward' peacefarce of his being a prisoner in the peace between the soul and its God, Vatican, and is arrayed in open an- peace between the soul's various powtagonism to the civil law of Italy. If ers and faculties-he cannot but ask the man is like the· master, we may the question: "Do I not owe it to the reasonably expect that the consistent millions who have no part in these policy which has been so long main- priceless blessings that I should do tained in Italy will not be forgotten what I can myself, or through others in America. to extend to them a share in this smile of the Universal Father which is the Mr. W. F. Wilkinson.-Another joy and consolation of my life? Can worker fallen on the Congo. The I possibly neglect the command to Baptist Missionary Society have re- make disciples of all nations?"-Spirit ceived this.sad intelligence of one who of Missions.
less than ·six months ago was set Rev. Dr. A. P. Happer, President apart at the Society's Birmingham of the Christian College, Canton, meetings for the noblest of callings. China, .is ordered by his physician to Of heroic ardor, the death of so give up work and return home. He young a man cannot be other than a has disease of the heart. As soon as source of grief to all wilo follow with the trustees appoint his successor he interested eye the course of the con- will hand over the College, which he flict. is now arranging to do.