The Missionary Review of the World — October 1900
A CHINESE MANDARIN AND HIS WIFE, OF I-CHOU
The mixture of Chinese aud of Western ideas is seen in the native dress and small feet of the wife !IS contrasted witb the foreign cbairs and clock. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
Old Series. } OCTOBER. j New Series. VOL. XXIII. No. 10. 1VOL. XIII. No. 10.
MYS'rERIES OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN CHINA.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
These are days in which we seem to have but one course open to us: God seems saying: "Be still, and know that I am God." There has been nothing which parallels the recent position of affairs in the Middle Kingdom, since Christ ascended. The Indian mutiny of fortythree years ago, was the nearest approach to it, but even that was on no snch scale of magnitude. Here were between twenty-five hundred and three thousand Christian missionaries shut up within the empire, many of them six weeks' journey from the coast and the ports, with tens of thousands of poor native Christians, and there was no communication with them by telegraph, post, or other method of contact, and for many of them no human help has been available. Meanwhile organized bands of foes, implacable, merciless, re'ady for outrage, plunder, torture, and slaugh tel', hemmed them in on every side.
We could not and dared not attempt to read this riddle of Divine Providence. In this case hindsight will be safer than foresight as an interpreter, and we simply wait and pray, in the calm confidence that the Lord reigneth. When we think how the great Powers stood quietly by, and permitted the Armenian atrocities to go forward without interposition, and see how these very powers have been suffering such suspense over the fate of their own representatives, amid similar Chinese atrocities; when we think of the opium curse, forced upon China by armies and navies, and other forms of injurious trade which have been practically forced on a helpless people by treaties, we can not but ask, May there not be something retributive in this as a judgment of God?
When we remember the World's Parliament of Religions, seven years ago, and how it was boldly -affirmed that, however much China might need Christianity to teach duties and relations Godward, Confucianism is quite sufficient to instruct the Chinese as to human rights, relations, and responsibilities, manward, we can not but wonder whether Confucianism is not on trial, in its own chosen territory, and
in the very matter of man with man, and found fatally wanting. But, whatever possible solution conjecture may suggest, it is only par- tial, and we feel constrained to wait until God throws clearer light on the meaning of this mystery.
An acute and devout student of the times, in Britain, writes as follows: Dr. Charles Pearson's book, published in 1894, on "National Life and Character," was a professed ,. forecast." He was a minister of education in Australia, and thought it likely that the yellow and black races would speedily acquire knowledge, come to realize their own might, organize armies, and assert themselves. What if, ere long, they should arise in their wrath, and sweep all Europeans out of Asia! We have given them,' or rather a small portion of them, a modicum of the Gospel; but. on the other hand, we have done them all sorts of fearful wrong, our so-called "civilization" being mostly sheer wickedness.
The western nations have been preparing their own chastiser. Ever since the Japan-Ohinese war, Ohina has been openly getting ready for a coming and inevitable conflict. Under skilled European training her young men have been taught the manipulation and use of the most advanced and destructive weapons of modern warfare, and the consequence is that when, in this day of awful suspense, and the massacre of hundreds of Ohinese Christians, European nations have undertaken to quell what proves to be a gigantic revolt against foreign interference, Ohina has been found armed to the teeth, and knowing how to use the best rifles and heaviest guns, very nearly as well as the most skilled men from the western military and naval schools. And the allies are taken by surprise to find that the nation that proved as unwieldy as a lame elephant in the contest with Japan, and a thousand years behind the age, unable to cope with the little Sunrise Kingdom, is almost a match now for the combined forces of Europe and America. Her awkwardness and antiquated methods have given place in less than a decade of years to alertness, rapidity of movement, and skilful maneuvering; she has been mobilizing her forces with astonishing ease, and revealing strategic skill wholly unexpected. The lame elephant has become a tiger for ferocity, a lion for strength, a panther for swiftness, and a serpent for subtlety. China has shown herself to be the Red Dragon indeed, breathing out fire and defying even the sword of "St. George."
One thing which compels us to hesitate to attempt any forecast of the result, is that we really know so little about the real conditions. One thing may certainly be avoided and should be studiously shunned, in the midst of this terrible chaos of events, viz., the depreciation of missionaries and their work. It may suit the political humor of the English premier, to hint that" the army generally follows the missionary," and that" the missionary is not popular at the foreign office"; but it is too late in the history of the world either to sneer at the work of the missionary as a sort of mistl1ken and fanatical enthusiasm, or
GRAVES OUTSIDE OF TUNG-CHOW FU
The disturbing of these graves by the construction of railroads is one of the causes of the anti·foreign uprising. ~he Chinese have II superstitious reverence for the graves of their ancestors, and believe that calamity will befall any community . where the spirits of the dead are not propitiated.
to underrate his services to the whole race of man. There is some- thing besides the" army" that follows the missionary. Witness the common school and the college, the law court and the peaceful home, the industries of labor and the amenities of society. Witness the languages in hundreds of cases first reduced to a written form by these servants of God who have actually laid the foundations of all literature, not only translating the Bible into four hundred tongues, but building up literary intelligence from its corner-stone! Go and visit medical missions and hospitals which have introduced the science and the art of a rational medicine and snrgery into many a land where the native system or treatment was but the refinement of barbaric cruelty. Then turn to the zenanas, first penetrated by Ohristian women with the dawn of hope for woman's education and emancipation.
Does the army follow the missionary? How often has the missionary made the army needless? It was a missionary that in the great crisis of India was called in to be a mediator between contending forces and factions as the only trustworthy party. Let anyone study the history of Judson in Burma, Schwartz in India, Griffith John in China, Livingstone in Africa, McAll in France, Riggs in Turkey, Hogg in the Nile Valley, Calvert in the Fiji group, Paton in the New Hebrides, Oousins in Madagascar, McKay in Formosa, and the other Mackay in Uganda-let him read the "Ely Volume," and Dennis' great book on sociology and missions, and similar records of missionary ac!!ievement outside of preaching, and he can not speak lightly of the service rendered by missionaries in every department of human progress, not only moral and religious, but literary and scientific, political and commercial, medical and social. The army follows rather the tradesman than the evangelist, the money maker rather than the soul winner. Enlightened nations send their apostles of greed to foreign shores to turn the ports of heathen lands into marts of commerce. Opium, rum, firearms-anything that will sell, without reference to either the welfare or the wishes of the people, are persistently pushed forward into the market and often against remonstrance. Then comes systematic land-grabbing with increased proprietary rights and political control; then dissension and contention, then violent outbreak and war, with the oppression of superior numbers and better military equipment. What wonder if at times hatred of foreigners comes to the front and organized conspiracy and massacre are the result! Ohina, like India and Africa, has suffered great and grievous wrongs at the hands of nations calling themselves enlightened and Ohristian; and it is no great mystery if at last the great empire of the East, representing nearly a third of the human race, has been roused to assert herself and claim her rights, however wrong the method and spirit.
MYSTERIES OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN CHINA
We subjoin a private letter from a belned missionary in Chefoo as a specimen of the stamp of men in the very heat of this furnace of trial. Surely these are men of whom the world is not worthy. The lettpr bears date of June 26th, 1900: My thoughts turn to you to-day, as we are in the thick of rumors, and in the midst of the worst rebellion that has ever overtaken China. We are so disturbed here, not knowing what an hour may bring forth, I can only send you this hurried scrawl.
The Tatu Luli, or Big Knife Society (one order of the Boxers), is both anti-foreign and anti-Christian, and lately have centered all their powers north of us, at Tientsin, Paiting, and Peking, the capital. It is a thousand pities that the European powers have allowed that wicked woman, the empress, to go on so long against us. The facts, so far, are as follows: Tientsin, eighteen hours by sea from us, has been practically destroyed, both native and foreign settlements are burned, and the sacrifice of life has been fearful. All the women and children left last week for Chefoo and Shanghai. How the men are faring we know not. The suspense of wives for husbands, etc., as to their whereabouts and safety, can be more fully imagined than described. Two of our lady missionaries had to fly without even faying "Good-by" to loved ones. Telegraph wires are all down, railways broken up, officials murdered, and the whole district a literal hell upon earth. A relief party (European) has been repulsed twice between Tientsin and Peking. No wire or letter from missionary friends is possible. Peking, shut up and besieged; added to all this, we have heard that Chefoo is to be attacked, forts near here to be opened on us by the Chinese. The admiral at Taku, near Tientsin, says, in case of trouble, he can not protect Chefoo, as his force, etc., is not sufficient. Missionaries from inland stations are pouring in, some without a dollar for personal use.
Now, all this is a black picture, indeed, and it has not been without its lessons. Praise God! and to God's glory be it said, we are just letting our Father in heaven hold us, moment by moment. It is nice to sing about being safe under Divine protection, but to be in the midst of all this, and not knowing but the people will rise any hour and sweep Chefoo away, is quite another thing, and calls into play how much faith there is actually to trade with.
Some nervous ones have already caught the panic fever. I scarcely pass two hours without having to bid some one look up and really trust Hin~. I thank God for the testing, and if this be a, last letter I can say that, owing to His power to keep my dear wife and myself, we have just kept quiet and restful all through. Each night we patrol the large compound in twos, two hours each, from 10.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m. These are times of cheering each other on, and practically relying on the rich and precious promises. Some fear the two reverses near Peking may make the soldiers and people intoxicated with excitement, and they may rise locally to burn and loot. Another rumor is that sixteen thousand Chinese troops are en route for this place to kill the foreigners. But many of these are groundless, I am sure. Any way, the situation is sufficiently grave to say we are in great danger.
In our San we have ten children and seventeen adults, so that causes
thought, if not anxiety, but I can say that I never epjoyed more real peace after my patrol. I sleep like a top, and it is not the natural man, but the Divine hand that keeps one steady in this sea of turmoil and strife. It may all end in our having to leave China, but we will not dwell on that, but rather let us think that greater victories than ever will be the outcome of this distress and desolation. All mission property is destroyed in three cities up north, but we can not hear where our brethren and sisters are.
Pray for us, very hard, will you not? Each night forty or more meet here for prayer at 8.30. Meanwhile, wife and myself are going on with our daily work. We have to cheer the servants or they might all desert us and, praise God! the first man who wanted to go has said, "I can't leave while I see you so calm and brave."
Poor native Christians, alas! my heart bleeds for them; they will suffer, indeed, they have suffered terribly. Remember them especially; rather forget us than them. I can not write any more, my hands are full. I do not anticipate a massacre, but if so, remember I said He is worthy, and if I had ten thousand lives they should all he gladly given for such a precious Master. I fear not, but just trust. J. A. S.
GOVERNMENT PROTECTION OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
President of the International Missionary Union.
The utterances of Lord Salisbury about the triumphs of mISSIOnaries in early church history, without government protection, may be a diplomatic hint of a change of policy in government patronage of the modern missionary. But Lord Salisbury needed not to go back so far to find illustrations of the success of non-combative evangelism, and there is little ground for his intimation that Protestant missionaries rely unduly on the arm of flesh.
Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, has under his leadership missionary sn bjects of several of the western powers. Does anybody suppose he would like to see a syndicate of these powers combined for their protection? Members of that mission tell of riotous persecution, involving imminent peril to their own lives, without a hint to government about redress, which advertised the mission and provoked investigation of Chinese hitherto indifferent to it, and this resulted in conversions, and from among these specific converts came some of the most efficient evangelists and leaders of the native church. Bishop Ridley, of Caledonia, tells of his being: spat upon, knocked down, and kicked about by savage ruffians, without any thought of appealing to his own British government to keep the police in British Columbia. The brute who abused him afterward clasped his feet and begged his pardon, and at last died a triumphant Christian. The inherent might of this non-combative love has won victory for hundreds of modern Christian converts from heathendom. It is the native
GOVERNMENT PROTECTION OF MISSIONS
Christians that have to bear the brunt of persecution without redress from civil or political source.
Bishop Ridley tells of a heathen band who entered the church of Indian Christians and forbade them reading the Bible to the people.
Because they would not promise to comply with this demand, the sav- ages tore down the edifice with axes and bars, and because it was too great a task to pull down the tower, set fire to it and burned it up.
One young Ohristian said, "Shall we not fight for the house of God? "
An older Ohristian replied, " No; Jesus never fought, He died. We will rather die than fight." There was no appeal to government for redress; no requisition for punishment of the criminals. They bore it all meekly and lovingly, declining to "put up a good fight in the name of the Prince of Peace," and the result was the conversion of the tribe to which the men of the mob belonged-the strongest tribe on the Pacific coast. "From that night onward," said one of the rioters, "I dreaded the Spirit of God. .' when I hunted among the mountains, the Spirit of God hunted me, and I was afraid."
Another man was one day holding the tape measure, while the bishop was measuring out the best site in the town to begin a new church, when he said, "Bishop, do you know that that hand set fire to the church? It did; and until I heard the native preacher say that the blood of Jesus Ohrist cleanses from all sin, I never had peace in my heart, but when I heard that, my fear went away."
TRIUMPHS OF GRACE.
All mISSIOn lands have furnished such illustrations of the triumphs of grace. Chinese Ohristians are eminent in these ranks. The case of Ling Ohing Ting is well known. Pe"secuted, falsely accused, and sentenced to two thousand bamboo stripes, which left him almost lifeless, and his back a jelly, his first words on being able to speak were, "Teacher, this poor body is in great pain just now . Jesus is with me. I think perhaps He is going to take me to heaven, and I will be glad to go. But if I get up from this, you will let me go back to Hok-chiang, won't you?" Back to the men who had falsely incriminated him, and beaten him almost to death, without any civil protection or other assurance of his safety, his Ohristian zeal carried him, and he won these enemies to Ohrist.
No; Lord Salisbury needed not to go back so far to point the moral of the triumph of the principles of Ohristianity without government patronage. Nor will he be likely to have to wait long for similar illustrations. The most perplexing problem likely to confront missionary boards in China is not how to procure indemnity, nor how to secure civil and political guardianship for missionaries, but how to deter missionaries from reentering fields where the danger is most imminent. If the misionary societies were to make the call for volun-
teers to enter the most perilous place in Ohina there would a score of men and women proffer their services to one that they could send, men who would spurn the suggestion that they must have government guaranty for their safety. Lone missionary women have not been regardful of the restrictions of consuls from reentering isolated stations near the locality of the massacres of the Foochow provinces. Missionaries in Uganda have not asked the. powers to avenge their personal injury, and elsewhere they have braved the dangers which the governments have superadded to those of the heathen conditions. The missionaries were not responsible for the Indian mutiny. It was the "hut tax" innovation in Sierra Leone that resulted in the massacre of missionaries. It is the abominations of the "concessions" that create peril for missionaries in other African colonies. The South African war is not a «missionary" war. Missionaries did not suggest "treaties" with North American Indians, nor with Ohinese. Hon. William B. Reed, as minister plenipotentiary, put the missionary clause into the treaties with Ohina. Missionaries did not solicit it. Even French Roman Oatholic missionaries did not take the initiative in this compact. They come under" the most favored nation" clause.
It was not missionaries, but United States Plenipotentiary Hon. Anson Burlinghame, who put into a treaty with Ohina the axiom that one of the fundamental rights of mankind was the privilege to change one's residence. If that was a fallacy, the United States was the first to override it by Oongressional Act; the Ohinese government did not dispute the proposition then, nor has it since done so. It is not missionaries, but John Barrett, ex-minister of our government to Siam, and who, it is rumored, is a possible successor to Mr. Oonger, who says: " We can not recall our missionaries unless we are ready to recall our merchants."
INDEMNITIES FOR MISSIONARIES.
Of what use has the treaty with Turkey been to restore values destroyed in the Armenian massacres? Has the American Board ceased its operations while waiting for a paltry hundred thousand dollars, for the collection of whieh a "naval demonstration," costing far more than that sum, is reported as imminent?
Missionary indemnity for damage done American missions in this present uprising in Ohina would not figure at all, except in name or principle-it would scarcely, at the utmost, reach one three-hundredth part of the money indemnity which has been mentioned as a probable sum to be requisitioned by the United States from Ohina. If moneyindemnity is to be demanded from Ohiua it must be too long a-coming to be of avail for missionary rehabilitation.
China cares nothing for demand of blood. Life is too cheap. Somebody dies when this is insisted on, but generally not the person
who committed the crime. 'fhe punishment of officials by degrading them is a temporary farce; the deposed officers being reappointed to some other office, and presently advanced higher than ever. Ohinese are not amenable to but two kinds of punishment-loss of territory and cash indemnity. But any considerable cash indemnity, such as the two hundred million dollars to Japan in the late war, means out- rages of" squeezing," and corruption, and oppression, against which when pressed too far, the ordinary Ohinese rebels, and the native Ohristian seeks protection of the missionary patronage.
To appeal for" indemnity" is, therefore, a course which complicates the missionary in China, and it ill probable the boards in America may forego their technical claims in the case of Ohina. The United States is not likely to take a territorial indemnity, and she may have to administer some form of Chinese imperial revenue, if ever she gets a cash equivalent. The whole situation is so complicated that missionary societies and missionaries may pause before reaching any conclusions as to the course they should pursue.
But what governments are to do is quite another question. It was, perhaps is, "in the air," that Lord Salisbury's speech was a manifesto, indicating that the allied powers might withdraw all government protection from missionaries hereafter. But France is not likely to consent to that. She has always extended her protection over Roman Oatholic missions as a matter of State policy. With a million of adherents in Ohina, and her" chief priests" advanced to mandarins, she is not likely now to retreat from her precedents, and specially when precedents are pretexts for her meddling with politics through missions for five hundred years in the Far East. The Russian empire is inseparable from the Greek Ohurch, and it is not likely she will attempt the impossible, and tell her bishops and other ecclesiastical functionaries in her missions in Peking that she will not protect them. Great Britain's policy of colonization includes the missionary as advance courier of commerce, and she is not likely to begin a differentiation against the missionary as a "subject," when she spent two millions in Egypt to defend a "subject" who was a Jew. The United States would brook no discrimination between classes of her" citizens."
But government patronage and protection is not a missionary question; it is distinctly a government matter. Missionaries would differ among themselves as widely as any other citizens would, as to how the government's action would affect missionary or political interests. The writer asked an experienced missionary of Oonstantinople what would be the effect ou missions if the government withdrew from them their protection in their civil capacity, and he replied, "I would not like to see it tried in Turkey." Another missionary from the interior of Ohina replied to the same question, " The only effect on the Ohinese mind would be that they would attribute it to weakness."
That the protection of missionaries as subjects or citizens has its own perplexities is conceded, but it is not a missionary problem, it is a state question. They would find that Lord Salisbury's appeal to return to primitive practise would not afford them any relief. There are men who would face the antagonism of their own governments as quickly as they would that of a heathen one to preach Christ in the regions beyond. The Moravian missionaries to the Iroquois were imprisoned in the city of New York because they would not desist. When Dr. Schauffier was told by the Russian minister at Constantinople, "My master, the czar, will not let you put foot on that territory," Schauffier's immortalizet'l reply was, "My Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, will not ask the czar of all the Russias where he shall put his foot."
CHRISTIANITY IN MANOHURIA.* BY REV. JOHN ROSS, MUKDEN, MANCHURIA. Missionary of the Scotch United Presbyterian Church.
Manchuria is the name now given to a large region which, under various names, has been for thousands of years more or less intimately connected with China. Its wide plains and innumerable valleys are fertile, and its mountains rich in mineral wealth of many kinds. It is now fully occupied by a numerous peasantry, whose diligent industry secures for them an amount of comfort second to that of the peasantry of few nations in the world. The towns, large and small, depend for their trade, and indeed for their existence, upon the fruitful agricultural couutry. Except that townsmen are usually more keeu in business, and skilful in deceit than the farmer, there is no essential difference between the citizen and the agriculturist. Indeed, the cities are very largely occupied by people who were born in the country.
Education is fairly well diffused, tho Manchuria does not produce the highest literary talent in the proportion produced in many of the provinces of Ohina proper. Almost all our Christians, however, can read the Scriptures and hymn-book, having acquired a knowledge of letters themselves after, conversion, if they were ignorant before.
The inhabitants of Manchuria are divided into three principal classes. First comes the Manchu element, which forms perhaps a fourth or fifth of the whole. As they began their historical career with no literature of their own, they have mentally become so absorbed into China that they know not now-save in remote outlying districts -how to speak their own Manchu tongue. All official posts of the highest rank, and a considerable proportion of the inferior, belong to * Since this article waS written the Manchurian Christians have suffered severe persecu- tion, and most of the missionaries have been obliged to leave the country,
CHRISTIANITY IN MANCHURIA
this class. Many Manchus engage in agriculture, but none in trade. Most of the hangers-on about yamens are Manchus.
The second great class is the Chinese-Manchu, or Han chun, as they are generally known. 'These are the descendants of the Chinese inhabitants of Manchuria, who united their fortunes with the Manchus when the latter overran the country three centuries ago. They had to adopt some Manchu customs, as the permitting the feet of their girls to grow their natural shape. In return they received certain privileges confined originally tp the Manchus. They were divided into eight banners. The possession of a literary degree is indispensable to civil office. 'The proportion of graduates to students is very large among the Manchus. It is less so among the Han chun, who, however, have a much higher proportion than the ordinary Chinese.
THE FIRST CHAPEL AND CONVERTS IN MANCHURIA.
The Han people are officials, soldiers, agriculturists, and largely engage in trade.
The third class is the ordinary Ohinese, who themselves, or in the person of immediate ancestors, came from the southern provinces.
They hail from all the provinces of Ohina, but chiefly from Ohih-Ii and Shantung. They occupy here exactly the same position, apd retain the same customs as in their native provinces. The principal merchants with the largest capital are of this class. Large numbers engage in agriculture as masters or servants; and many of thein are soldiers and laborers of all sorts. The first two classes may be said to be the original inhabitants of Manchuria, the third its immigrants.
The third class probably equals the second in numbers. But its pro- portion is continually increasing from an endless influx of immi- grants. .
Tho the Manchus are the ruling race, there are no public indica- tions to a foreigner of any difference in the treatment of the three
classes. Socially there are distinctions. A Manchu girl rarely marries into a Ohinese family, such marriage being regarded as a mesalliance. Even the Han prefer intermarriage within their own class.
But the important movement last year toward and against reform, has had the pernicious effect of making a sharp diyision between the Manchus and Ohinese. The pro-reform party was, as far as the public was aware, a purely Ohinese, and mostly a Oanton party. Th'e anti-reform party was, as felt in public, a Manchu party. The parties were in reality not so divided. But the unwise policy of the empress, guided or dictated by ignorant and corrupt officials, both Ohinese and Manchu, led the public to believe that the question was one of Manchu versus Ohinese. Further, it was well known that the reform party was closely associated with, if not guided by, foreign missionaries. Hence the enmity suddenly aroused in the Manchu mind against the Ohinese, was manifold greater against our Christians. We can the more easily understand this antagonism when we remember that France and Russia entertain the delusion that Protestant missionaries are, like Roman Oatholic missionaries, more political than religious agents. It is less surprising that the Chinese should entertain this suspicion, and classify all foreign missionaries as political actors. We can hence nnderstand how it is the Manchus during the past year regarded our Ohristians with special animosity. This hostility is all the more explicable when we reflect that our Ohristians now form a large body of the people, widely diffused, and exerting an influence on account of their greater intelligence far beyond tllat represented by their mere numbers; for the effects of their beliefs, of their conduct, of their attitude toward idolatry and superstition, have been profoundly felt throughout much of the country. Prior to the assumption of power by the empress, and the issue of decrees in her name, virtually upholding idolatry and denouncing change, people who had not the remotest wish to join themselves to our Christians, had ceased all openly idolatrous practises, except such as are interwoven as custom in the social relations and national feasts. Idolatry appeared dead, and even the Buddhist priests were in many places quite prepared to see it buried-if not to assist in the obsequies.
Now, however, superstition has again boldly and arrogantly raised its head, not because there is more faith in it, but because it is ,associated with anti-foreign patriotism and is politically and socially profitable.
A sect whose known tenets are chiefly abstention from all alcoholic liquors, from opium and from tobacco, but whose secret designs were originally questionable, has enrolled in its ranks several millions of Manchus and Ohinese, soldiers and civilians. The recent impetus was given to this formerly forbidden sect by the early decrees of the empress, which were and are believed to be anti-foreign and there-
CHRISTIANITY IN MANCHURIA
REAR VIEW OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MUKDEN.
fore anti-Christian. The sect took as its public cry, "Great is Diana," and everywhere exhibited a superlatively patriotic zeal against the Christians. They were secretly supported by the officials, tho openly condemned by them. 'rhe Manchu officials, great and small, were prominent by the manner in which all lawless violence by this sect was suffered to pass without any attempt at bringing culprits to justice. We were at length compelled to take such action before the magistrates to protect our people as never before. After a year's persecution the flood of evil has at length gone considerably down and there is now a brighter prospect of peace for the future. 'rhe attempt by this sect, from interested motives, to galvanize into life the dying superstition of the people succeeded for a time. Great zeal repaired ruined temples and restored or made prominent superstitious practises which had fallen into disrepute. But it is impossible to ,believe that superstition upheld by violence alone can recover its lost throne. Dagon may be held up by shoving it against a wall, but its standing position is not only insecure, but brief. Another change must come -sooner rather than later-over the Chinese people. Tho the guides of Chinese policy are very ignorant, they will open their eyes under the compulsion of facts, and mllst mend their ways. Indeed the empress seems to have already learned a great deal, especially from the lessons of an empty treasury. She has for some time adopted a good
deal of what was formerly vainly urged by the defeated reformers.
She will adopt more.
'fhen, when freedom of worship is guaranteed in reality, and equality or treatment by the law irrespective of creed, we entertain little doubt of the rapid spread of Christian knowledge till every man in Manchuria shall have ample opportunity of intelligently accepting or rejecting the doctrines of Christ. Meantime the Gospel is steadily and in all directions leavening the public mind, tho its progress during the past year was not equal to its immediate predecessors.
It will from the above statements be readily un- derstood how it is we have extremely few Man- I chus in the roll of our Christian membership. ){ The Manchu-Chinese, or Han CllUJI, are largely represented. To this claEs belong the two native pastors already ordained in Mukden and Tieling.
We have also large num- bers of Chinese who themselves or their fathers came from Shantung or Chih-li.
The late Rev. Dr.
Williamson, then in con- nection with the Scottish National Bible Society, was the first missionary to OLD WANG. travel in Manchurilt. Rev. William Burns landed in' From 1 photograph taken just before 1118 death.
Newchwang, where in a few months he died. His wonderful person- ality attracted four men to Christianity, who were baptized by Dr.
Williamson. 't'hese four disappeared and left no apparent trace.
'fhe present native Protestant Church began in 1874 with the baptism of " Old Wang!' * Other two men were baptized along with him; but they, like their predecessors, have died leaving no trace. Old Wang was in reality the human founder of the church in Manchuria. His scholarship was of the most meager. But he was most familiar with his Bible. "Think you I' endure all this • Story published by the Religious Tract Society, London.
CHRISTIANITY IN MANCHURIA
obloquy from you ou account of the pittance I receive from the foreigner?" asked he indignantly. "'1'he foreigner has brought me THAT," holding up a Bible. "'1'he foreigner may leave the country when he chooses; he leaves this Book behind. It is enough." His tact was remarkable; his enthusiasm was unbounded, and his zeal knew no weariness. Up till midnight or before earliest dawn he was ever eager to preach Christ and Him crucified-the one bope of humanity -to any and every man who would listen. He had himself in his initial stage been carefully instructed in Christiau truth, importance being attached rather to great principles than to the letter. That truth was made practically applicable to life in China and not set forth CHRISTIAN COLPORTEURS OF THE MISSION AT MUKDEN.
as merely applicable in the West. It was thertl a living, active, goverlllng power. This system of Biblical instruction has been carried on ever since, and is coextensive with the widely spread church in Manchuria. Every missionary makes it the chief work of his life to make Christ and His Gospel fnlly understood by the Chinese Christians and applicants for baptism.
Another phase of our Christian work in Manchuria is exemplified' in the case of the late Elder Chen. He was a cadet of one of the principal families in Weihien, of Shantung. He carne here many years ago as a doctor. While practising his profession he became a convert. He considered himself a member of the literary class in China, and was not wholly free from that form of vanity which belongs to that class, and which has been known to exist in other lands than China. Old Wang, who was not a literary man, was my chief preacher in the
public chapel, where for several hours daily we proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus to crowded audiences. Liu, who is now the native pastor in this city, and was then the personal attendant of the president of one of the boards, was permitted to ascend the platform and assist Wang.
Ohen, the scholar, and a brave man, to boot, requested leave to take his position by their side. To his great surprise permission was refused. "Why! old Wang is no scholar! Why should he, who was a scholar, not be allowed to preach? He could do so, better than old Wang! " But he was led to understand that it was not scholarship, or even knowledge, which entitled a man to be a public preacher. He, as every other Ohristian, was encouraged to expound in private as much as he could, to as many as he would.
When, in 1879, I was leaving the station for a time, special instruc- tions were left that Ohen was not to appear on the platform; nor any other, except Wang and Liu. Aftcr my departure Ohen and another Ohristian traveled north to Kuanchengtzu purposely to preach the Gospel, where it had never Leen heard. At nightfall, on the first night out, Ohen and his fellow went on their knees to ask a blessing on the work for which they had volunteered. To his own amazement no words would come, while the illiterate Wang had a remarkable gift in prayer. IIe Wi:l;S much disappointed, and admitted to his com- panion that there was something wrong. Ere long he discovered that he should have the help of the Holy Spirit. His next prayer in words was for the assistance of the Holy Spirit to teach him to pray. From that date his difficulties disappeared. I have never known a more trustworthy man than this one. He continued a conservative Ohinaman to the end of his life in external matters and customs, not inconsistent with Ohristianity. Old Wang, at one time in his early days, cut off his "pigtail," because he had found in the Scriptures that it was a ,. shame for a man to wear long hair." To Ohen such an act would have been impossible.
Th('l"Ough instruction in the life-guiding principles of God's Word and dependence on the invisible, but all-pervading influeRce and power of Goc_ are the two corner-stones of our church in Manchuria. Of course, lYe have a creed, but living power is more to us than the most excellent form of words. Our first native pastor, Lin Olwenyao, of this city, is a good example of the two principles mentioned. lIe is remarkably well versed in Scripture, and no Keswick preacher ever insisted more on the ever-present and active power of the Holy Spirit as a sine qua non of religious life. The church being built on such a foundation, and with thirty thousand Ohristians, the largest number of whom are ever ready to expound the saving doctrines of Ohristianity, should it be regarded as surprising that I anticipate within a few years an intelligent opportunity given to every human being in Manchuria of accepting or rejecting the great Salvation? The principles on which the mission work in Manchuria has been conducted are those expounded or implied in the Acts of the Apostles, making them applicable to a people like the Ohinese; and in the circumstances of this century, we do not attach much importance to the many fads and theories of some moderns interested in mission work..
HOPE FOR THE PRISONERS
HOPE FOR THE PRISONERS.
BY MRS. MAUD BALLINGTON BOOTH.
When we first entered the prisons and felt beneath our hands the handle of the plow God gave us, we realized that, difficult as the task might sometimes seem, we must never waver or turn back. Our hearts ached at the revelation of the great, wide, needy wilderness before us, but we could only bare our heartaches, for we could not show that need to the thousands whom we felt should see it and feel it-we have had patiently to wait and work. When our plans became formed, and we began to see how much could be done, we decided that our duty was to do, prove it possible, labor through· the hard places, overcome the difficnlt ones, and then let the accomplished work speak for itself.
Four years have passed, and we can rejoice that the work has spoken. Letters filed away in our files from prison officers, speaking of their knowledge of the practical good accomplished among the prison population, letters from employers speaking in the highest terms of the faithfulness of our men now in trusted positions, and letters from wives and mothers whose hearts and homes have been brightened and gladdened-all thesc speak louder than any exposition of theories or proclamation of schemes.
So far the work has proved the success we hoped, and even snrpassed our hopes. Even now it may take long years of faithful toil, of earnest living, and of patient effort, before our" boys" have removed the stigma that surronnds that hateful cognomen," ex-convict." Our united aim and object in this work is to prove to the world that a man can thoroughly retrieve the past and prove himself a worthy citizen, even tho he may have been for years an inmate of a state prison. It is also as much our effort to make possible for every man on leaving prison to have at least one chance to make an honest living, that he may have a way of escape from the wretched life into which in many instances he fell more by misfortune or reckless folly, than by deliberate crime. So frequently do I receive letters asking for written information in regard to our work in the prisons, that I will jot down a few facts to send in answer to snch qneries.
DESPAIRING AND HOPELESS CONVICTS.
I. Over eighty thousand m'en are to-day in our states prisons in this country. They are practically hopeless concerning themselves. Many things combine to bring them to a most despondent and reckless frame of mind.
1. Many of them have to face and dwell on their own failure and weakness, or their own sin and misfortune. What they have been in the past casts its wretched gloom of ill omen over what they might do
in the future-blighting and spoiling any aspiration that might germinate during their imprisonment.
2. The world's estimate of them is well known within the prison walls. 'rhey know that because they have been in prison no one will think of them as anything but criminals. They have heard it said that a man having once been in prison is sure to return there, and they look forward with dread to the suspicion and criticisms and the harsh dealings of an unfriendly world.
3. Our prisons are not as much places of reformation as they should be. I am not speaking in any sense against our prisons or their management. I believe in prison discipline. I have the warmest respect for many of our wardens. It is not within their power to alter the fact that as a country we are inflicting punishment which in hundreds of cases is not conducive to reformation. Their long confinement in the serving out of weary sentences makes these men become hopeless, unnerved, and unmans them for the future. My opinion is shared by many leading prison authorities that long terms often do more harm than good, and that with the first twelve months the man may have learned and profited by his experience to the full extent of its benefit, whereas during long years of imprisonment he will only be crushed and made unfit to ever again take his place in life's battles. I do not want to be thought a sentimentalist. I do not condone the prisoner or wish to make our prisons into easy places of retreat for those who care nothing for the law of God or man. I admit that many may be suffering the just retribution for their crimes, but I believe that in such punishment we should always, before all else, aim at reforming the man, or else of what good is all the expenditure that is made by the state and country upon these penal institutions? I believe very strongly that if the indeterminate sentence, as it is now enforced in Illinois, could be brought into force in every state, we should be bringing in a much more hopeful day for our prisoners and remove the possibility of crippling them so that honest lives are made difficult or impossible in their future.
The knowledge that the means of again gaining an honest livelihood has been practically removed by their sentence in state prison makes our prisoners look with gloomy despair on the future. Careful investigation of their life history would prove that a large perc~ntage of our habitual criminals to-day are what they are because it was impossible for them to find honest employment. "Jean Valjean" was no fanciful creation of Victor Hugo's brain. He was the representative of a vast class of men who are looked upon as dangerous, worthless, hardened criminals, but who have within them the same spark of good and can often tell as pitiful a tale of hardship and misfortune as was 80 vividly depicted in "Les Miserables." From the very first we felt t~at hope was the great !leed with the prisoners and we have tried
HOPE FOR THE PRISONERS
in every way in the establishing of our work to stimulate this better, brighter condition in the hearts and lives of those with whom we have come in contact, and we realized from the onset that preaching would not do it but that what was needed was practical friendship.
II. We have just entered the fifth year of our work in the prisons, but the record is sufficient to give us every hope for the future. Of one thing I am very glad. We did not undertake the work with any preconceived idea, but all that we have done has been from what we have learned from the circumstance right on the scene of action. Soon after we had commenced our work within the prison walls, which includes meetings in the prison chapel, interviews with the men, and corresponding with them, we found it necessary to establish a league, which should link together those who had made public confession of a desire to lead a better life. We always lay great stress on the importance of beginning the new life, not on the day of liberty, but during their imprisonment, so that their sincerity may be there tested and tried, and their character strengthened. 'rhe benefit of these efforts to themselves are incalculable, as they are by them prepared for the chances that may be given them on their discharge from prison. This league has now been formed nearly four years, during which time we must have enrolled between eight and nine thousand men. The hold that we are gaining on the prison population is growing steadily all the time, so that they will now turn to us as they never could have done had we not thus become linked with them. The work is established in the following prisons: Sing Sing, Auburn, and Clinton prisons, in New York; Trenton, N. J.; Charlestown, Mass.; Joliet, Ill.; Columbus, Ohio; Canon City, Col.; Baltimore, Md.; and in Folsom and San Quentin, Cal.
SOMETHING ABOUT HOPE HALLS.
III. We had not been working long before we saw that if our work was to be a practical one, it must do something to befriend the men on their discharge from prison until such time as they could find employment. We opened our first Hope Hall in New York about six months after the inception of the work. '1'he second Hope Hall, in Chicago, was opened a year and a-half ago. Through these homes we have passed about eight hundred men-seventy-five per cent. of whom are doing well, and a very small percentage, indeed, have returned to prison. The home is made as attractive and homelike as possibleeverything that might make it look like an institution is avoided-the rules are simply those that would guide any well-ordered family. No visitors are allowed to intrude on their privacy-everything possible is done to cultivate and stimulate self-respect. While there is no special industry, such as a factory, in connection with our homes, we avoid that idleness that would breed discontent. All the work of the home
is done by the men-improving, building, farm-work, care of the poultry, etc., and they are allowed to look for work themselvesJ while we also are constantly striving to find them employment. Tho we do not make it a rule of admittance that a man must be a Christian, yet the earnest Christian spirit of the home is one of its great influences for good upon the lives of those who use it as a stepping-stone to a better future. No one has admittance to the home who has not served a term in state prison, but it matters not how many terms he has served, many of our most faithful men having been five or six times in state prison. We receive the Jew, Catholic, Protestant, or infidelthe only condition being that they must conform to the rules of the home, and prove themselves earnest and sincere to do right. In my work for our boys in prison I have come across very few who had not an earnest desire to work. Many of them are men of great ability and good intelligence-an absolutely different class from the class of men encountered in the rescue missionEl in the down-town part of our big cities. It should be remembered that these men come from every grade of society, and that they should be treated with as much consideration, and expected to show as much gentlemanly conduct in the home, as if the stigma of state prison had never fallen upon t.hem.
IV. The finding of work with employers who would be willing to give them a chance at a new start was, at first, a very difficult matter. Now that many of them have made splendid records, it has, of course, become easier, but we can still say that this is a part of the work in which we must most earnestly ask the help of all those who can help in finding positions for our" boys." We have men naturally representing all the different trades, and men who are only too willing to prove themselves faithfnl and painstaking in any service of those who will show Christian sympathy enough to forget the past and give them a fair chance.
WOHK FOH WIVES AND FAMILIES.
V. Out of our interest and sympathy for the men in prison has grown another phase of our work, namely, the corresponding with and helping of the wives and families of those we get to know in prison. '1'hese represent a most needy and deserving class, and yet can not be reached by ordinary charities. They can only be approached from the sympathetic standpoint-as friends who have learned to know them through acquaintance with their dear ones. Many a time we have been able to help families in the most dire want and poverty-sometimes saving them from eviction-at other times getting them properly treated when sick, and in cases where temporal help was not needed, comforting and helping them in their sorrow and lonely hours.
At the Christmas season we make a special effort to provide good cheer for the little children who would go Christmasless otherwise, on account of their father's absence. Clothing, food, and toys, are dis-
HOPE FOR THE PRISONERS
tributed, bringing joy and comfort to many, and of course the news that goes back to the prison cell proves a fresh link between us and those whose hearts we are trying to reach. We are exceedingly grateful for all articles of clothing that can be sent to us for this work, as also for men's partly worn clothing, to equip our men wheu they go to work. Friends who will make up barrels of clothing, sheets, pillow covers, towels, etc., and send them to us, can feel that they are very effectually helping us in our work.
The work that I have been describing is one branch of the work of the Volunteers of America, and I have only a small staff of workers assisting me in it. Our workers, tho they do not go into the prisons, having their own special work to conduct, can yet help the prison work very materially in that many of our men on leaving prison are scattered in the different cities, and naturally turn to the local Volunteer post for help and comradely sympathy. In this way we shall he able to follow up many, where an organization of lesser scope would have to lose track of them. They have learned to love the white standard with its blue star of hope while within the prison walls. They have read our Gazette, and have become acquainted with our workers by name, and therefore when they return to their own city they naturally choose the Volunteer Armory as their place of worship, and turn to the movement with the knowledge of our promise to champion their cause.
I am constantly asked how this work is maintained. In the past it has been maintained ~nth'ely by my personal efforts in my lectnre trips or by appealing to our friends. It can readily be understood that very heavy obligations are involved in such a work and the burden on my shouldf)rs has heen almo~t more than I can bear. I am much needed in the prisons and when occupied with meetings there my public efforts must be suspended, which means that our income ceases. Should I be laid aside by a breakdown in health our liabilities could not be met. This naturally proves a great anxiety to me and I am exceedingly anxious as soon as possible to get a steady income for this work.
I am now appealing to onr friends to help me by joining a « Hope Hall Maintenance League." I hope within the next few months to get five hundred names upon this league of those who will donate or collect one dollar per month toward the maintenance of this work, or il they prefer twelve dollars per year in a yearly payment. If I had this steady income to rely on, the burden of the work, financially, could be carried while I was free to visit the prisons and further develop that which we consider is but the commencement of a great enterprise. That it has been a success has already been proved. The only drawback and real hindrance in our way is the need of funds. I sincerely hope you will join this league and try to interest others in joining it.
BRITISH AMATONGALAND, SOUTHEASTERN AFRICA.
BY W. SPENCER WALTON.
Superintendent of the South Africa General Mission.
The land of the Tongas, which was not. long ago annexed by Great Britain, is still unevangelized. It is the territory north of Zululand and not three hundred miles from Durban. We recently journeyed through this region in a cart drawn by six oxen, and saw unmistakable signs that at one time one great inland sea extended from Lake St. Lucia on the south to Kosi Bay on the north, where the now high sand ridges along the coast, acting like dams, have effectually kept back the sea and waters of the Indian Ocean. The count.ry is one great plain, dotted over with sand hills, ponds, lakes, and ridges. It is covered with grass and trees in some places, and thousands of fan palms, while A NATIVE STORE IN AMATONG.u.A.ND.
to the west, apparently the old sea boundary, is a long narrow forest. West of this, marsh land extends almost up to the Ubombe Mountains, which divide Zululaud aud Amatongaland from the Transvaal and Swaziland.
Journeying through one long plain covered with palms, we pas~ed to the west of Lake Usebai and journeyed on through prairie land, skirted by the forest already mentioned. Lions, panthers, leopards, buffalo, koodoo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, and other animals are to be found here, while the lakes and rivers are infested with crocodiles. There are many snakes of an sorts, from the python, twenty-one feet long, to the little deadly night-adder. The flora is magnificent, especially round Kosi and Usebai lakes. This country would be a paradise to a naturalist and a botanist. The large swamps between
BRITISH AMATONGALAND, SOUTHEASTERN AFRICA
Lakes St. Lucia and U sebai and the many water or sour pans, as they are called, make it more or less a fever district; still healthy spots can be found, especially on the high ridges, which skirt the Indian Ocean to the east.
The Zulus look down upon the Tongas, and to call a Zulu a Tonga is considered a great insult. While in some districts the Tongas are degraded and diseased, as a whole we found them industrious, clean, and eager for teaching. To the northeast of Lake St. Lucia many live on A TONGA HUT. little mounds which dot a large swamp, through which flows the Umkusi River, at times an under- ground stream. These are in a most degraded condition, dirty and covered with sores, the result of the bite of a very vicious insect.
We hope to reach these poor Tongas from our station north of the lake.
North of this district, right up to Kosi Bay, great numbers of Tongas are to be found along the ridges which skirt the sea. They are of fine physique, and both intelligent and industrious, always busy in their gardens, which produce two crops a year, or carving, making mats and baskets, or covering battle-axes or sticks, with very pretty wire work. Along these ridges we hope, in time, to have three stations.
After nearly five days'
traveling, we reached Maputa, situated five miles to the west of Kosi Bay, a very' pretty srot, with hills and valleys well wooded and watered.
THE KING OF THE TONGAS. This was formerly the magistracy, but was re- The king is seated in the middle of the group with his cently given up, and the native advisers. Mr. Walton is seated on his left.
government has' placed the building at our disposal for a mission station. The sea is only ten miles to the east, and the noise of the heavy billows can be dis- tinctly heard. We have now placed a missionary here, one solitary
witness, and hope soon to be able to send a much-needed medical missionary.
The Tongas have occupied this land for generations, and number about twelve thousand. They are supposed to be a branch of the Atonga tribe, found in the northern districts of the Zambesi. Their language is quite different from the Zulu, but they are able to speak Zulu. The women dress their hair with red clay and fat-a most objectionable fashion. 'l'hey are great polygamists, the young king, only twenty-seven years of age, having forty-six wives. This part of Amatongaland has only been annexed about three and a-half years; before that time human life was sacrificed for all sorts of imaginary evils, suggested by the witch doctor. But things have changed; the witch doctors are not looked up to as they formerly were, for the people seem to see the roguery of these emissaries of the devil.
The queen mother is a shrewd, intelligent woman, and has brought up her son, Ngwanasi, the young king, fairly well. Two of his people went to Cape Colony, and learned to read and write, and on their return taught him to do the same. He was called to meet us, and two days after our arrival came from a big hunt, with his two advisers and the usual retinue of followers. He is decidedly a pleasant looking young fellow, well formed, and with a bright smile on his face. We had a most interesting talk with him, and he told how desirous he was to have a teacher (missiouary), and that he would do all he could for him, and tell his people to do the same. He told us that they were not a fighting nation like the Zulus, their only enemies being the Shangaans, who come from the north of Delagoa- Bay. Some few years ago two missionaries visited Maputa, bnt were requested to leave after two or three days. Now all is changed, and God has graciously opened another land to be occupied for Christ.
TIlE GREEK CHURCH OF RUSSIA.
BY BUDGETT MEAKIN, ESQ.* .A uthor of "The Land of the Moors," etc.
" Orthodox" is the title by which the people of this empire love to style their church, and as we might appeal to an audience as our "fellow-countrymen," a Russian wonld address his hearers as "Ye orthodox!" But it is not with our ideas of the meaning of the word as applying to those who happen to hold the same views as ourselves on religious questions. In their mouths the word applies to those who conform to every practise and ceremony introduced eleven centuries ago from Constantinople, whatever their views as to their signification may be, or even if they have none. This is the distinctive feature of * Mr. Meakin is now in America, prepared to give illustrated lectures ou North Africa, Russia, and other countries in which he has traveled.-EDlToR.
THE GREEK CHURCH OF RUSSIA
the Greek Church, of which the Russian is an offshoot, and the main difference between it and the Church of Rome is, that while the latter disseminates the doctrines of men in addition to, or in place of those of the Gospel, the former may be said to teach nothing at all.* A sermon, or any kind of religious instruction, is seldom or never heard in a Russian church,t in which no seats are provided, since the only duty of the congregation is to bow and prostrate and cross themselves before the sacred pictures or icons (spelled also eikons), to kiss them and the various relics exposed in glass cases, and to follow the performances of the officiating priests as long as they feel inclined, coming and going, or walking about at will. '1'he scene presented is almost identical-bnt for the different types and costumes, architecture and adorr. ments-with that in Buddhist and Hindu temples, and there is nothing of the awe-inspiring decorum and united action of Mohammedan mosques.
PAGANISM OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH.
In fact, it must be confessed by any unbiased observer that tho its every ceremony is, if rightly understood, a testimony to some Christian truth, and tho its name and object are Christian, the Church of Russia is in no other sense a Christian church, but a pagan religion, on which have been grafted pseudo-Christian forms. The mass of the people, those who give their nation a religious character, the ignorant and superstitious multitude, have remained idolaters in all but name. But even the nominal acceptance of the Gospel has opened a door which is steadily opening more widely, for the '1'ruth as it is in Christ to be reached; and from the beginning many have reached it, both independently of one another, and in real Christian churches-such as the Molokani, the Stundists, and others.
If one questions any among the small proportion of educated people who have retained a sincere belief in the church of their land -not an indolent conformity for political interests-it is at once seen that they have taken the trouble to master the intricate symbols which oppose an impenetrable wall to the common people, and have arrived at the hidden Truth, in the light of the knowledge of which alone these forms and ceremonies acquire significance. Thus it is that a genuine Christian who is a member of the Russian Church has no difficulty in not only excusing, but even recommending, the ceremonies with which he has been familiarized from child- * Yet the Bible is free to all, tho very little read, and the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society-which annnally disposes in Russia of one-seventh of its total output-is heartily supported by the ecclesiastical authorities. This fact alone speaks volumes for their good intentions, and is in itself the most hopeful feature in their church. They have already tteir Own Bible Society, and several local translations have been undertaken by them.
t The first complete translations of the Bible into modern Russian were issued by the Russian and British Bible Societies about twenty years ago. Preaching is, however, gaining ground, in spite of the fact that the sermon must first be written out and submitted to the bishop.
hood, and which he dare not abandon if not prepared for the life of an exile. How few of us, indeed, can cast away the religious conceptions woven around us from childhood, imparted before we began to think ourselves! In this way the Russian Church counts many who are in very deed our brethren, whom we shall one day meet where there are no shadows, and where we shall realize, with thousands gathered from every fold, that the real Church of Christ has ever been one, and ever indivisible.
No servant of Christ can look on at a Russian service, noting the real earnestness of the majority, withal regretting its ignorant, superstitious nature, and, remembering that they are gathered in His name who died for them as for us, without being greatly moved. Even in a heathen temple, where our fellow-creatures bow before wood and stone of their own manipulation, one can not but be impressed with their blind devotion to their unknown Creator, but one is saddened as well to see the same thing done in the name of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Still, He knoweth them that are His, and He must number many more of those before us among the redeemed than ever we can know. Let us not then be deceived into judging those whose blindness we pity, or tempted into any feelings for them but those of loving interest.
THE ENTRANCE OF CHRISTIANITY INTO RUSSIA.
It should always be borne in mind that Russia never knew the Gospel in its purity, and that all it was able to borrow from Constantinople was a corrupt eighth-century system in which" the simplicity that is in Christ" had long been hidden by ecclesiastical and ceremonial adaptations from heathendom; in which theory and symbol had taken the place of practise and deed; in which facts were lost in figures. Little wonder then, that it has hardly known that reversion to type, the purifying influence of spiritual revivals which have been the striking feature of Western Christendom. Such experiences are only rendered possible by study of the Word of God, and by the claiming of His promises of spiritual power, and churches in which lack of education or books renders this impossible can not rise above their received ideals. A Russian who attends the celebration of the Lord's Supper at least once a year, who employs a priest also for such births or deaths or marriages as happen in his family, and shows due respect to churches and icons, may live what life he likes, and hold what views he likes, but he will always be considered a satisfactory "orthodox" Christian.* Heterodoxy in Russia means holding the fingers in certain positions while making the sign of the Cross, spelling the name of Jesus according to the reformed system, neglect * Fasting for a day, confession, and absolution are, however, necessary to obtain permis- sion to receive the Sacrament.-B. M.
THE GREEK CHURCH OF RUSSIA
of' prescribed rigorous fasts,* and otherwise departing from certain matters of immaterial form. 'fhe missionaries of the Russian Church, to be found among the aborigines of Northwest Russia and Siberia, in Japan and China, etc., demand neither conviction nor religious knowledge from their proselytes. Baptism is considered the only essential, and a strict observance of fasts is not at first imposed. Where necessary the" convert" is presented with a shirt and an icon. No pious Russian passes or espies a church or icon without bowing, removing his cap, and crossing himself repeatedly, and this may be seen on the streets, in the tram-cars, and in offices and homes, where an icon hangs in the corner of ~lVery room, often with a lighted lamp before it. These icons are archaic Byzantine pictures-often almost too dark for the features to be recognizable-of faces, hands, and feet in their normal positions with regard to one another, showing through holes cut to fit in gold, silver, or gilt plaques on which the costume and halo appear in relief, altogether a most incongruous production. The features most frequently represent the Savior or the Madonna, but a whole host of angels and saints are likewise so honored, notably the popular St. Miehael, "the wonder-worker." In the churches, as in those of the Romanists, may also be seen so-called representations of the Father and the Spirit. Many of these pictures are believed to have been "not made by hands," like the Virgins of Saragossa and elsewhere; others being portraits of Ohrist by Luke and John, while few of any note lack records of miraculous powers. Such may be seen hung round with models of the organs or limbs which are said to have been cured-a widespread custom in many lands. In battle the originals or copies are carried forth, and in many cathedrals assortments on brazen flags are always ready to hand. The " Iberian Madonna," whose chapel close by one of the inner gates of Moscow is the first place visited by the emperor on reaching that city, and having a great reputation for healing, is carried round the city daily to the houses of such sick folk as can afford the price, a copy in its place being worshiped the while. Funerals may also be seen preceded by men bearing ieons in silken cloths. Occasionally icons of "the Mother of God "-as Mary is popularly styled here-are taken to visit one another, exactly as if endowed with personality. Peasants not infrequently call their icons what they really are, their "gods "-in Russian, "bogies." Only those who have seen the worship of idolaters in other lands can realize the veneration in which these pictures are held, in all respects the same as among the Hindus, the explanatiuns of whose educated members are identical with those of educated Russians.
* The Russian fasts are: Seven weeks in Lent; two or three weeks in June; from the beginning of November till Christmas, besides all Wednesdays and Fridays. Not only meat but even eggs and milk are then prohibited, and one of the Protestant churches, the Molokiini, or milk-drinkers, derives its nickname from the disregard of this penance. –B. M.
At Ekaterineburg, on the borders of Siberia, I saw a large one from Mount Athos in Greece-the stronghold of Greek Ohurch monasteries-which was making a collecting tour of the country, sanctioned by the" Holy Synod," in charge of a party of priests, in a second-class railway carriage. I was assured that it was one of those "not made by hands," tho a joiner who had been employed to repair its wooden frame had lost one of his legs for using it disrespectful1y, notwithstanding that it was accredited with healing powers. For some days it had been worshiped by crowds in one of the local churches, aud a multitude had accompanied it to the station, where a special service was performed on putting it into its carriage. In St. Petersburg the wayside chapel of a picture of the" Mater Dolorosa" was recently struck by lightning, and one of the adjacent collecting. boxes being shattered, a copper coin was discovered adhering to the picture's breast. This having been construed as a sign of God's displeasure at the neglect of the chapel, and as an indication of what was dear to the Virgin's heart, a stir was made to collect more coins, and now a stately church is being built on the spot. As the crowded tram-cars pass, the people cross themselves and throw coins on the pavement, to be gathered up by men in uniform provided by- the church authorities. When the really heathen tribes who still exist in Russia are in trouble, they as readily pray to the local Madonna as to their own fetishes, and when any of them embrace the Russian religion and find the fasts hard, they have been recorded to turn the face of the icon to the wall while they ate their meat behind its back!
THE GREEK CHURCHES.
The innumerable churches built for their cult are unlike any others, both in architecture and arrangement, the commonest type being square, with four huge stone-built pillars supporting a central dome or< cupola, around which cluster four or more smaller cupolas, generally shaped like an onion or an inverted pear, and often surmounted by an ornate cross, secured by rigging of chains. The cupolas may be gold-plated or gilt, or painted green or red, or a wonderful blue, in which case they may also be star-bespangled, and among them may rise tapering spires with hollowed flanks of similar colors. The walls below are for the most part whitewashed plaster-covered stone work of massive lines, with huge dull windows, separated by an excess of blank wall. From afar the effect is most pleasing, tho except in the large towns their dimensions are out of all proportion to the surrounding houses. Even straggling villages of log-huts often possess imposing churches, and every district center must have its cathedral. But the most picturesque of all are the country monasteries, almost always on some striking site, flanked by waving trees, or with a back-
THE GREEK CHURCH OF RUSSIA
ground of hills or water, features common to such institutions in most lands.
Inside, the Russian churches, as a rule, are lofty but bare. The walls and pillars are adorned with religious frescoes, canonical, celes- tial, or infernal, which often extend to the vaulted roof, on which may be discerned, at the risk of one's neck, a colossal human face in a halo, or an old man with a child affixed to his breast, and a dove. Opposite the principal entrance, toward the east, is the distinguishing feature, the picture screen, or eikonostrisis, a magnificent piece of work, appar- ently of gold, relieved by a colored background, and fitted from top to bottom, and side to side, with paneled portraits of varying value, tier aLove tier of full-length saints and busts. In the center are the "Royal Doors," through which the laity may not pass, often of con- siderable value. Close beside them will probably be placed the most highly venerated icons of the church, before which worshipers pros- trate themselves individually before kissing them and placing lighted tapers in the stand by the side. Often the gold plaques which repre- sent all but the flesh are thickly encrusted with precious stones of fabulous value, in which case the prayers of their devotees increase in fervor, and their attitude grows still more reverent. Those who wish to have their friends remembered in prayer make out a list of their names on papers which are placed in an appointed tray. At the door is a counter where tapers and candles are sold, of varying size, accord- ing to means and desires, in the more modern churches being in reality American roll-top" bureaus." The business administration of church affairs, the furnishing and repair of vestments, etc., is in the hands of a committee, consisting of the priest, the deacon, the bell- ringer, and at least five churchwardens elected annually, who deter- mine the proportions to be contributed by each household. All employed in services about the church or in the choir, are free from tithes and taxes.
THE ALTAR-THIWNE.
Behind the Royal Doors, only opened at 'Jertain times during serv- ice, stands the altar, a large square table or cube, known as the trapeza or prestol (i. e., throne). On it has first been spread a white silk "shirt," then an embroidered cover, underneath which lie relics.
On this is the indispensable napkin or "antt"minsos" of yellow silk, embroidered with pictures of a tomb, etc., and perhaps more relics, as well as the crucifixes held in the hands of the priests while blessing the people who kiss them; a copy of the Gospels, often richly bound in silver; the" ciborin7n," in which the bread and wine are kept after consecration, to be taken to the sick, etc.; a seven-branched lamp, and a sponge wherewith to wipe up the crumbs. I have also seen a silver casket-hall-marked-of coffin shape, with a figure of Christ triumphantly dancing on the lid, but perhaps this was a "ciborium."
There are two other doors in the icon screen, and behind that on the north side is the" 'fable of Sacrifice "-the siasteri6n-on which the" elements" are prepared. On it are a chalice, a paten, a lance- shaped knife, and a star to lay upon the bread beneath a napkin, in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem. During the first half of the m3Jls, consisting of litanies, psalms, gospel and epistle-known as "the liturgy of the catechumens," who leave at its close-five little specially prepared cakes of bread, like diminutive "cottage" loaves, are blessed, and a cube called" the Lamb" being cut out of one of them, it is placed on the paten and .Jierced on one side, each act being accompanied by an appropriate Scripture quotation. But, unfortunately, these and all the rest of the service are in ancient Slavonic, which the people can not understand. At the moment of piercing, wine is poured into the chalice, which, with the paten, is now 'carried out of the north door through the church, a halt being made before the Royal Doors, through which they are carried and laid on the altar. Then commences "the liturgy of the faithful," who, when the priest has" communicated," are invited to do the same, by receiving a bit of the bread soaked in wine in a spoon, as they crowd round the door. There is not a movement in the whole performance without a symbolic meaning, but "the Russians became zealous Ohristians in all matters of external observance without knowing much about the spiritual meaning of the rites which they practised.
They looked upon the rites and sacraments as mysterious charms which preserved them from evil influences in the present life, and secured them eternal felicity in the life to come, and they believed that these charms would inevitably lose their efficacy if modified in the slightest degree. If the Russian Ohurch could instil into their minds a few simple moral principles, as successfully as it has inspired them with a belief in the efficacy of the sacraments, it would certainly confer on them an inestimable benefit. . but the great majority of the parish clergy are men ntterly unfitted for such a task." * (To be concluded.) THE LIVINGSTONE MEMORIALS.
BY REV. JA:ltfES JOHNSTON, A.T.S., DARWEN, ENGLAND.
At the recent annual meeting of the Royal Geographical Society in London, the object which excited perhaps more interest than any other exhibit was the section cut from the tree on Lake Bangweolo, Oentral Africa, under which Livingtone's heart was buried, and containing the inscription carved by his faithful native followers. This pathetic relic was recently sent to England by the British South *Mackenzie Wallace.
THE LIVINGSTONE MEMORIALS
Africa Oompany for preservation in the rooms of the museum of the society.
Some two years ago Mr. Alfred Sharpe, O. B., Commissioner in the British Oentral Africa Protectorate, suggested to the Geographical Society that, inasmuch as the mpundu tree under which the heart of the great missionary and explorer was buried was in an advanced state of decay, the inscription should be cut out and sent to England for preservation. Later Mr. R. Oodrington, acting administrator of the British South Africa Oompany in northern Rhodesia, on making a journey itito the Bangweolo country, was requested to restore, if possible, the inscription. He found the tree still standing, but very hollow, and the inscrip- SECTION OF THE TREE FROM CENTRAL AFRICA, CONTAINING tion partially defaced by THE LIVINGSTONE INSCRIPTION CARVED BY HIS NATIVE FOLLOWERS AFTER HIS DEATH. worms or insects. The tree was felled and the section bearing the inscription was cut out and is now preserved in London. The following words are still legible.
DR. LIVINGSTONE, MAY 4, 1873.
ZA MNIASERE UCHOPERE.
After cutting out the section Mr. Oodrington marked the site by erecting a telegraph pole in the center of the surviving mpundu stump, and staying it with wire. Preparations have since been completed for erecting a permanent memorial on the spot which is so sacred to Livingstone's countrymen, and to his admirers in all lands. It was hoped that a stone monument might be erected, but no stone being available it has been decided to build a,n obelisk, twenty feet high, of concrete blocks, and surmounted by a cross. This work has been undertaken by a committee, consisting of representatives of the Royal GeographIcal Society, and Sir Henry M. Stanley, M.P., repre-
senting a committee formed some time ago for a similar purpose in British Central Africa.
'rhe three hundred concrete blocks will be made on the spot, and thirty oak molds, lined with metal, have been sent from England, together with foul' hundred and fifty cylinders of concrete, each cylinder weighing fifty pounds. This gives some idea of the magnitUde of the undertaking. From Chinde, at the mouth of the Zambesi, the loads will be taken to Chiromo on river steamers, theuce carried overland to a post on the Upper Shire, and again shipped in a lake steamer to one of the posts on the West Coast of Lake Nyassa. From this point several hundred carriers will be required to transport the materials for the obelisk to old Chitambo's vil- lage, near Lake Bangweolo.
On each of the four sides of the obelisk there will be a bronze plate.
On two of these will be inscribed the words seen in our drawing of the monu- ment.
On the other two tablets will be the inscription: "This monument occupies the spot where formerly stood the'tree, at the foot of which Livingstone's heart was buried by ~lis faithful native followers. On the trunk was carved the following inscription: 'David Livingstone. Died }fay 4, 18'73.
Chuma, Souza, }fniasere, U chopere.'''
The memorial is primarily dne to the initiative of }fl'. Poulett Weather- ley, who has spent many years in the heart of Africa.
A memorial box has also been THE LIVINGSTONE MONUMENT. fashioned from the wood of the mpunda tree, and is to be presented to one of the surviving members of the family. Some leaves from the same tree were recently on view at a Livingstone exhibition.
A suggestion has been put forward for nationalizing the land at old Chitambo's, in Ceutral Afriea, whereon the new Livingstone memorial is to be erected. 'rHE MISSIONARY QUESTION IN OHINA.* BY HON-. CHARLES DENBY.
Ex-Minister of the United States to China.
The missionary question as affecting Ohina claims at this time a calm and fair consideration, if for no other reason than because it may furnish an element in the settlement which the allies must soon make with the Ohinese government. I assume that such a settlement will be made. After the terrible experiences of the past two months it will not do for our troops to withdraw from Ohina without securing safeguards for the future protection of foreign residents. If by means of the indecision of the powers, or their conflicting views, nothing is done, the Ohinese will claim, as they invariably do under such circum- {stances, that they defeated the foreign troops, and the foundation will be laid for new trou bles in the near future. Now. is the time to settle all questions touching foreign rights. It is the time also, if it be possible to do so, to settle what rights Ohina has, if she has any, in the family of nations. A declaration in which all the treaty powers would guarantee her against dismemberment or partition, would be the foundation-stone of a convention which should contain abundant safeguards for the protection of foreigners. Undoubtedly one of the prominent subjects in such a convention wonld be the status of the mIsSIOnary. It is probable that Ohina would endeavor in some way to curtail rights which have been granted to the missionaries by existing treaties and conventions, but she would not demand the impracticable thing of their total exclusion.
The history of the Ohristian missionaries has on the whole been that of Ohinese progress toward modern civilization. Oommencing with the arrival of the Jesuit father, Ricci, in 1582, through the time when the first Protestant missionary, Robert Morrison, arrived at Oanton in 1807, and down to our own day, missionary work has never failed to instruct and benefit the Ohinese. The missionary has been the educator of the Ohinese. He has written original books for them; he has translated foreign books into their language; he has established schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals; he has introduced foreign arts and sciences; he has been the forerunner of commerce. To the ordinary foreigner, whether a tourist or a resident, the Ohinaman is a stranger, but the missionary is his constant companion and friend, and always the dispenser of charity. It is stated that the converts informed the foreign minister~ of thee impending riots, but that their warning was not heeded..
China has rarely refused to grant to the missionary whatever, privilege was demanded for him. In the French treaty of 1858 she ~llowed the missions to secure land in any part of the empire, and il}_ *. This paper is dated Evansville, Indiana, Ser>telllber 5, 1900… 1865, in the Berthemy convention, she agreed that the magistrates should not necessarily be consulted before land was bought, and she made this privilege emphatic at the instance of M. Gerard, the French minister in 1895. In 1891 the emperor, among other things, declared in an imperial edict: The religions of the West have for their object the inculcation of virtue, and tho our people become converted, they continue to be Chinese subjects. There is no reason why there should not be harmony between the people and the adherents of foreign religions.
Now when the position of the missionary is made secure, both by Imperial edict and by treaty, it is sought to charge him with the responsibility of the last outbreaks in Ohina with a view to prevent him from continuing his labors. Recent history does not sustain the proposition that the people are so much opposed to missionaries as to be willing to drive -them out by violence. If that proposition had been true they would long ago have been driven out of Ohina. In the province of Ohih-li, where the recent riots had their most important sphere of operation, from 1870 down to 1899 there was no riot, tho the province is full of missionaries. There have been usually specific causes for riots. At Ohin-kiang, for instance, the riot which occurred a few years ago arose from the striking of a Ohinaman by a Hindu policeman. Several riots have been caused by the ridiculous charge that the missionaries use the eyes of infants to make medicine. This was the origin of the celebrated riot at Tientsin in 1870. Here it must be said that if the foreigners would give up the establishing of orphan asylums, they would avoid a prolific source of disorder. In one of the towns on the Yangtse a missionary laid her hand on a boy's head in the streets. The boy claimed that he was bewitched, and a fearful riot ensued.
It must be admitted that sudden disturbances growing out of such incidents or delusions as above mentioned, do not indicate a general antagonism among the people to missionary work. Missions are established all over that great empire, many iu the most isolated and unprotected places, and disaster has come to comparatively few of them. It is not to be denied that hatred of missionaries exists among the literati and the higher classes. While the government has not failed on suitable occasions to acknowledge that the missionaries do good, and to order that they should be protected, still official classes view them with envy, hatred, and malice.
I must distinctly say that in this article I take no account of the spiritual side of this question. That field of argument must be left to the religious teacher. The merchant, the manufacturer, the diplomatist, the statesman, look to economic results rather than to the spread of religion. Surely the Western world gains by having residents all over a great empire who have its interests at heart. Surely" the spread of modern civilization conduces to the extension of trade and commerce. Surely, the enlightenment of the nation tends to promote peace and good-will, and all friendly relations with other nations.
In the great question of commercial expansion the labors of the missionaries in all parts of the world have been appreciated by all intelligent rnlers, and they have consequently been fostered and pro- tected. A noted example of this line of, policy has recently been furnished by the emperor of Germany. Whatever may be said of the peculiarities sometimes exhibited by the kaiser, it must be admitted that his foreign policy has been definite, determined, and brilliant, even if occasionally too aggressive. He has realized that one of the important agencies in the development of the world, and the extension of German influence, is the establishment and protection of foreign mISSIOns. France learned this centuries ago, and from the time of Louis XIV she has been the protector of Catholic missions. Tho she excludes and derides them at home, in the Orient she has immemorially spread her egis over them, and they have repaid her by extending to her and her interests the most perfect devotion. In China, since the earliest establishment of Catholic missions, the French minister has had sole charge of the claims of all members of Catholic missions, no matter what was the nationality of the claimant. Thus the Belgian, English, Italian, German, Spanish, in fact the Catholic of all nationalities looked to France alone as his mediator in all troubles, and it must be said that. she has served him well. She has always been on the alert to secure rights and privileges, of which other nations have availed themselves under the favored-nation clause.
It is odd, perhaps, that the nation which is considered to be the most irreligious in the world, should, all over the East and the Far East, stand as the champion and defender of the Catholics of every country. Yet under the empire, the monarchy, and the republic, this position has been sustained up to this hour. The German emperor long ago saw the subtle, and far-reaching influence, both at home and abroad, which was esc~ping from him by reason of the policy of France, and he determined to counteract it. After the Franco- Prussian war he commanded that the German Catholic, like the German Protestant, should be under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of Germany, so that now in Turkey, as well as in the Far East, France has lost all authority over matters connected with the German Catholics. There can not be much doubt that this policy is right and just. There are to my knowledge no American missionaries in China who are Catholics, but if there were, the minister would undoubtedly claim jurisdiction over them.
The world well knows, to its sorrow, one of the results of this absorption of supremacy over the Catholics by the German emperor. When, in 1897, two Oatholic missionaries were murdered in Shantung, the event was made an excuse for the seizing of Kiao-cho and the adjoining territory. From this unjustifiable event dates the begin- ning of the troubles that have lately afflicted Ohina and startled the world. It is well known, also, that in other quarters, as in Palestine and Syria, the same policy of protection is being pushed by the kaiser. It will scarcely be doubted that one of the reasons for this action is to secure the influence of the Oatholic Ohurch for the emperor, but . another unquestionably is the expansion of German commerce. That commerce follows the missionary has been indubitably proven in Ohina. Inspired by holy zeal he goes into the interior, into localities where the merchant has never penetrated, but it is not long before the drummer follows on behind. Several times in China little towns have been laid out and built up by missionaries, with hotels, churches, and stores. Municipal governments have sprung up which are admin- istered under foreign laws, and they have been object lessons to the Chinese.
I freely admit that other causes besides missionary work have operated since 1843 to produce progress in Ohina. No one will deny that the diplomatists, the consuls, the merchants, and the Imperial Maritime Customs have done a great deal, no doubt the greater part of the work of opening up China. The world scarcely realizes how vast the work has been. The electric telegraph is now in every prov- ince, steamboats ply on the coasts and up the rivers; handsome cities have been built. Foreign trade has vastly increased, mines have been opened, and railroads are soon to cover the land as with a network. '1'he best intellects in China do not hesitate to admit that much of this progress is due to the missionaries, who constitute nearly one- third of the foreign population. How could it be otherwise when we consider the hundreds of industrial and other schools, colleges, hospi- tals, that have been established all over China? If these agencies of improvement are powerless of effect, then let us discontinue the use of them in Ollr own country. It is contended that the Chinese are vio- lently opposed to the adoption of the Christian religion, and that on this account mission work should be abandoned.
In the consideration of this question, it must be remembered that the Ohinese have barely any religion. Their fundamental cult is the worship of ancestors. They are the most tolerant, or the most indif- ferent to religious views of any people in the world. They care nothing about sects. They rarely go to a temple. They have toler- ated the Mohammedans for centuries. They tolerated the Nestorians and the Jews. '1'he only religious exercise of any note in which the emperor takes part is when at the winter solstice he sacrifices a bullock to Shangti, the unknown and ideal divinity.
Of course when the riot against the forei~)1er is afoot the missiol),- ary suffers, but it is because he is a foreigner, not because he is a Christian. He bears the burdens of his race. We have not far to go to find the causes of popular discontent. Western inventions, it was thought, were depriving the poor of bread, and the foreigner was, by degrees, absorbing Ohina. To take away the missionary now is to sur- render the fruition of the labors of many devoted men and· women during half a century. It is to leave Ohina to relapse into barbarism.
I.t will result in checking commercial expansion and impeding internal Improvements.
I have been asked to point out any" failings" in missionary work that have come to my attention. It can hardly be expected, however, that I can advance anything new. With all due deference to the great missionary societies who have these matters in charge, my judg- ment is that missionary work in China has been overdone. For some years past it has assumed the phase of a new erusade. Take Peking as an example. As given in this REVIEW, in its issue of Sept., 1900, there were located at Peking, the following Protestant missions: American· Board, American Bible Society, American Presbyterian (North), American Methodist (North), Ohristian and Missionary Alliance, International Y. M. O. A., London Missionary Society, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, International Institute, Mission for Ohinese Blind, Scotch Bible Society for Diffusion of Ohristian Knowledge. To these must be added the Ohurch of Eng- land Mission, the English Baptist Mission, and the Swedish Mission.* The Greek Ohurch (Russian) had a mission, which was established many years ago. No mention has been made of it during the last two months. The Oatholics have immense holdings in Peking. They own very valuable real estate. In the way of mission work they are very largely represented. They have a bishop and vicar-general, a great number of priests, an orphanage and college, and schools, sisters of charity, four churches, and a hospital. Let it be said here, in paren- thesis, ~hat it is certain that the Oatholics will never abandon Uhina, and if they stay there, no human power can keep the Protestants out.
The above list shows that of American societies alone there were seven in Peking, not counting the Peking University, and that all the Western powers, taken collectively, were represented by about twenty mISSIons. The same condition practically exists in other important cities. Tientsin, for instance, seventy-three miles away, had eleven English and American Protestant missions, and a great number of Oatholic priests. In at least eighty towns in the north, where the scene of disorder Jay, there were missions. I submit, with some diffi- * It should be remembered that almost all these missionary societies are in Peking chiefly because of its political and commercial importance; that they may use the city as the basis of operations, and not simply as a sphere of missionary work. The same is true of other centers.-EDITOR. dence, that it would be better to have it few strong missions than many weak ones. A careful study of the situation would seem to suggest that no two American societies should occupy the same district.
If the land were parceled out. and only one society were located in any place, there would be less risk of mutual antagonism, and less confusion among the Chinese. They can not understand why, with only one God, there should be so many different churches. The Catholics appreciate the force of this suggestion, and never allow two societies to locate in the same province.
One other criticism, and I have done with this ungracious task. The zeal of missionaries, which impels them to go into dangerous places, ought to be controlled. When the territory is in disorder, and unsafe, the parent society should see to it that its employees do not go into such localities. Consuls have sometimes advised persons not to go into dangerous parts of the country, and their ad vice has been ignored. When trouble comes the representatives of the government must intervene to afford relief, but they are powerless to control missionary movements. Reason would dictate that prudence and common sense should be consulted in all such matters.
Much has been said about sending ladies to China as missionaries. The China Inland Mission has been greatly attacked on this account. Possibly if I had never seen the ladies at work I might have agreed with these critics. But the truth is that they do the hardest part, and the most of the work in China. The teaching of the children, and the nursing and treating of the sick women and children, surgical and medical, fall to their lot. I have not space to praise them here, and I could not say sufficient good of tllem if I had.
I realize how difficult it is to discuss a subject of such far-reaching effect as the missionary question in the Far East without allusion to its spiritual side. To the missionary, of course, the saving of souls is the supreme purpose of his labors. The charity, the instruction, the medical treatment, are all subsid.iary to this main object. But words from me can add nothing to the sublime obligation that comes to Christians from the Divine command. To him who believes that he is ordered by the Supreme Being to go forth as a religious teacher, argument is superflous. History shows that he will engage in this work tho the greatest dangers may confront him. Nor is it worth while to look at the subject from a governmental point of dew. It is not within the range of probability that any administration in this country will consent to the exclusion of its missionaries from China. It can not be dreamed of that a step fraught with such vast and injurious results will ever be taken by the 'rreaty Powers. The treatment of the whole subject rests with the Christians of this and other countries. It will be found that the sentiment of the world will now, as heretofore, be on the side of a reasonable and prudent policy of religious expansion.
BIBLE TRANSLATION ANn D1STRIBUTION
BIBLE TRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION.* BY REV. CANON W. J. EDMONDS, B.D., EXETER, ENGLAND.
Vice·President of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
It is not yet adequately realized throughout the churches that the translation of the Scriptures into the language of the people among whom the religion of our Lord took root, was the first solicitude of the Apostolic churches, and, almost without exception, remained the policy of the Church until the sixteenth century. This is Ecumenical, if anything is, and yet it needs to be reaffirmed and coordinated, and made to be the common policy of us all. We want Ohristian converts to have the help of Bibles. We want them to look into that achromatic mirror, in which, without refraction or distortion, they may see Jesus. We do not want them to have the distraction of rival Bibles, nor the disadvantage of eccentric Bibles, nor the darkness of unlearned Bibles. We want them to have the best that the best men can give them. We want to kindle in the churches the ambition that will keep men from sleeping, till in every land and language there is some promise that, before long, there will be such a translation of the Word of God, that we can look comfortably into each others' faces as we give it to the converts, and say, "Here is your spiritual history. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." . . . Whatever is the share of other lands, America, and Germany, and Great Britain are clearly put in trust of the Gospel. They must translate and they must distribute it.
'fo give to men the message of God on lips touched with a live coal from the altar of God, is the first true greeting of the ideal missionary, as he lays the foundation of a living church; to hand to his people God's written revelation, plain, permanent, perfect, as far as anything partly human can attain to be perfect, is, when his other work is over, his ideal farewell.
There are on the roll of distinguished missionaries, ancient and modern, the names of illustrious laborers who have so begun· and so ended their work. There are instances, in the work of the early Church as well as in the modern Ohurch, where the best of books was the first of books; where the very alphabet was constructed for the purpose of translating the Bible into the people's language, thus giving a new force and interpretation to the name which our Lord gave to Himself, "The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last," so revealing Himself as the creator of literature as much as He is the creator of the world.
The great duty which, alike in England and America, is especially committed to the chief Bible societies, can not be viewed to advantage * Condensed from an address delivered at the Ecumenical Conference on Foreign Mis· sions, Tuesday evening, April 24, 1900. Corrected by the author.
October
except an effort be made to realize its plnce in the great scheme by which the Holy Ohurch throughout the world has acknowledged God. . . . . We view and review the work of many laborers in many lands, but there is unity in it all. . . . American and Scottish societies there are, not unfruitful or obscure, who share, with the British and Foreign Bible Society, that part of the white man's burden involved in the duty of bearing forth the good seed of the Kingdom of God. I deal with it as one work, one task, mighty in operation, the surest, the safest of all the agencies by which a living Ohurch performs the duty laid upon it when as a sower it goes forth to sow. . . .
I have noticed for some years a process at work by which the lessons of Ohurch history, which have been too much" unexplored territory," are becoming every year more familiar to us upon whom the ends of the ages have come. And what is more, and I trust also better, there is an approximation on both sides of the Atlantic, in the temper in which Ohurch history is viewed, toward a common understanding of its lessons.
"Ohurch histories" says Bishop Potter, "have been hitherto of chief, if not of exclusive interest to scholars. But if our age has brought nothing else with it, it has brought an instinct of historical inquiry which has happily largely freed itself from partisan or ecclesiastical bias, and which has learned to read and tell the story of theOhristian centuries in a larger spirit and with a more candid utterance."
1'his witness is true, and the work of Bible societies has everything to gain from it, and this much is certain. Ohurch history teaches no earlier and no clearer lesson than this, viz., that a living church holds fast and holds forth the Word of life; and that its chief security for holding it fast is fidelity in holding it forth.
It is one of the signs of the good hand of God upon us that there is not only a revival of zeal in the work of missions, but there is also poured out upon the churches an increasing desire to know what our earliest predecessors did when they went forth in obedience to our Lord's command to make disciples of all nations. It is a striking fact that the work of translating and disseminating the Scriptures begins where missions to the heathen begin-its starting-point is Antioch.
Listen to St. Ohrysostom, the most illustrious name in that fourth century when many were illustrious: "The doctrine of St. John did not in such sort (as the philosophers did) vanish away, but the Syrians, Egyptians, Indians, Persians, Ethiopians, and infinite other nations, being barbarous people, translated it into their mother tongue, and have learned to be (true) philosophers." And King James' translators, who quote this in their" Address to the Reader," add a similar passage from Theodoret, "next to Ohrysostom," both for antiquity and learning: " Every country that is under the sun is full of these words, and the
BIBLE TRANSLATION AND
Hebrew (tongue) is turned not only into the language of the Grecians, but also of the Romans, and Egyptians, and Persians, and Indians, and Armenians, and Scythians, and Sauromatians, and briefly into all the languages that any nation useth." Then, after a detailed account of similar work, reaching through much of the middle ages, and yet far from exhaustive, they draw their conclusion: .iSo that to have the Scriptures in t.he mother tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken up,. . but hath been thought upon and put in practise of old, even from the first times of the conversion of any nation, no doubt because it was esteemed most profitable to cause faith to grow in men's hearts the sooner, and to make them to be able to say, with the words of the Psalm, ' As we have heard, so we have seen.' "
I venture, my brethren, to urge that it is of the highest importance to the soundness of our missionary activity, that we should not think of this branch of our work as "a quaint conceit lately taken up." It is, as King'James' men say, "most profitable" as an instrumentality for" causing faith to grow." It is a means also, when faith has sprung up, for "the more confirmation of it," that men may" know the certainty of those things in which they have been instructed."
Men will yield homage to principles fortified by such sanctions. Methods may and do alter. This plan or that plan may be tried, adopted, or put aside. We, however, are dealing to-day not so much with the achievements of translators, as with the principles upon which the early Church proceeded in her missionary work. I am not losing sight of the fact that if a thing ought to be done which in old times was not done, we must be bold in Christ to create a precedent. The Holy Spirit still abides in the Ohurch. The Lord walks still among the candlesticks. But no man can thoughtfully watch the tendencies of the times we live in without seeing that all round us there is an increasing desire to realize the unity of the Church's life, to bring its operations into harmony, and to rejoice when fresh studies reveal to us that the instincts which prompt us to make known in all lands and languages the very Word of God, are but a repetition in us of promptings which came to the earliest Christians in their earliest organizations.
TJ:.e quotations that I have given from St. Ohrysostom and from Theodoret, tho somewhat rhetorical, are, when all deductions have been made, a splendid record of solid achievement. Bible societies are mere instruments, but the translation and distribution of the Word of God is the duty of the living Church; it can not be neglected without grave consequences. Whatever else was or was not done, this branch of the ministry of truth was never neglected in the early Ohurch. From whichever of the great missionary centers we start, from Antioch, from Alexandria, from Oarthage, or from Oonstantinople, the footprints of the translators of the Bible are there. Beautiful are their feet, and their footprints are not only beautiful, but indelible. Ro
strikingly true is this that, when Dr. Salmon, one of our ablest British divines, was meeting the allegation that the four Gospels were a good deal later than apostolic times, he replied with equal logic, learning, and wit, "that at the time when it is doubted whether the four Gospels were born, we find their children full grown."
From the pages of early Church missionary history I select an example of missionary policy, and an instance of far-reaching missionary success, which by a series of unbroken links binds the second century to our own; the Syrian to the Saxon.
In Edessa, the Oxford of the East, in the second century, the question arose whether the New Testament was to speak out the one truth in whatever language the believers in it spoke, or whether that truth was to be buried in the grave of the one only language in which the Church had received it. The answer is found in every book of authority that deals with the history of the Bible; at the head of every list stands the Syriac version, and the date assigned to it is the second century. The relations between the church of Antioch and the church of Edessa have been investigated by two French Roman Catholics, Professors Martin and Tixeront, opposed in one point indeed, but agreeing in this, that the Syriac-speaking church of Edessa is the child of the Greek-speaking church of Antioch. The older man differs from the younger in the date of foundation, Professor Martin placing it in the first century, and his pupil placing it in the second. Mr. Burkitt, a high authority on the Syriac language and literature, finds this very Syriac church distinguished from other contemporary types of Christianity by its simplicity, its close touch with Holy Scripture, and its deep moral tone and practical seriousness. No church was fuller of the missionary spirit. No translation of the Bible, except the Vulgate, and our own, has had a more distinguished missionary history. It went to Ceylon in the sixth century, to China in the seventh; it was a missionary progress all along the line. Nor was its influence confined to the East. Tatian, a Syrian of the second century, cOllstructed out of the four Gospels a continuous narrative. It was called the Diatessaron, and it had an immense circulation. It passed from the East to the West. It took a Latin form in the sixth century, and then in the ninth was turned into Old Saxon. Under the name of the Heliand it assumed the "form of poetry, and was a chief instrument in the conversion of. the Saxons. In this form, says Dr. Wace, the Gospel "lived in the heart of the German people," and in due time produced Luther and the German Bible, thus binding together the second century and the sixteenth, the East and the West. And 'l'atian tells us how his own heart was touched and his mind satisfied by the Bible. His faith came by reading, and his reading was in the Word of God. He had made trial of every kind of religious worship, and the result had sickened him. "As," he says, "I
BIBLE TRANSLATION AND DISTRIBUTION
was earnestly considering this, I came across certain barbarian writ- ings, oldK' in point of antiquity than the doctrines of the Greeks, and far too divine to be marked by their errors. What persuaded me in these books was the simplicity of the language, the inartificial style of the writers, the noble explanation of creation, the predictions of the future, the excellence of the precepts, and the assertion of the government of all by One Being. My soul being thus taught of God, I understood how the Sacred Scriptures lead to freedom from the world's slavery, liberating us from thousands of tyrants, and giving us not indeed what we had not received, but what we had once received, but had lost through error." This fragment of second century autobiography is not only decisive as evidence of the policy of the early Church in the matter of the translation and the diffusion of the Scriptures, but it is in itself, and in its far-reaching results, an eloquent example of the missionary value of that policy.
I have spoken of Antioch and its methods. The same lesson is taught when we look at Alexandria, next in order of Apostolic churches. Our knowledge of Egyptian Christianity is rapidly increasing. We know of four Coptic versions of the Scriptures, beginning with the second century, and I need only remind you of the beautiful anecdote of Pontitianus, which St. Augustine gives us in his Confessions, to show how influential one of these versions had been upon the missionary life of Egypt. In India, thousands of thoughtful men are living under similar conditions to those which existed in the second century, as also are other thousands in China and Japan.
When we reach the fourth and fifth centuries, we are in the era of great Bibles, and nearly everyone is the result of missionary work. There are diversities of operations, indeed, but the governing principle is always the same. The aim is to translate the Bible into the language of the people, and then to put it into their hands. Sometimes, as in the case of the Latin Vulgate, it is one man away in solitude like Jerome in .Bethlehem, who does the work, or in the full activity of Church life as Miesrob was when he gave the Armenian Church their Bible, and constructed their very alphabet for this purpose. Sometimes the missionary impulse is given half unconsciously, as when Ulphilas felt the spell of Christianity at Constantinople, and gave the Gothic people the first of Teutonic Bibles, five hundred years in advance of the earliest Anglo-Saxon Gospels. But nowhere is there an exception to the rule. It operates wherever there is need, and only because of the fact that the German and other invaders of the Roman Empire adopted Latin as their sacred tongne was the work of translation apparently suspended in the Western Church for nearly a thousand years. 'rhere is no fallacy more fallacious than that the Latin Bible was provided with a view to the protection of the Word of God from common use. It was distinctly the reverse. What the
Syriac Bible was in the East, that the Latin Vulgate was in the West.
There is another great missionary service which Constantinople rendered to Western Christendom, the effects of which continue to this day. The millions who look up with reverence to the czar of all the Russias, owe their Bible to Constantinople. The Bible now circulated among them in hundreds of thousands of copies yearly by the British and Foreign Bible Society, is the child of this ninth century version, for the sake of which the current Russian alphabet was invented. That translation of the Bible was sought for by the Slavonic princes, and distinctly as the supreme authority in matters of faith. Evangelists had approached their country from more than one quarter. They were perplexed. "One teaches after one manner," they said, "and another after another." "'Ve do not understand the Greek and Latin languages; send us teachers who may translate the Sacred Books." And so it came about that the Bible was the first of Russian books as it had already been the first of Gothic and the first of Armenian books. As a sacred umpire it came, as well as a sacred teacher, an end of controversy when once its meaning is ascertained, and its sentence delivered. And this was done in the darkest century of the dark ages. Such is the value of a true principle, that where it prevails, the tendency is always to bring about a better state of things. Even when religion has stiffened into rigid f01'Jnalism, virtue goes out of the Word of God to reanimate, to regenerate, to renew.
This principle, operative in the life of the Church from the first, received fresh illustration at the Reformation. Teutonic Christianity comes into view with the Bible in its hand. "The primal records of Christianity," says Milman, "in a narrow compass passed into all the vernacular languages of the world. . . . Monasticism was rejected as alien to the primal religion of the Gospel; the family life, the life of the Christian family, resumed its place as the highest state of Christian grace and perfection."
Of this there is a striking example in the church life of Bohemia, in the generation that produced disciples of Huss and Jerome of Prague. It is Matthias of Janow who speaks. "From my youth up, whether on a journey or at home, in business or at leisure, never was my Bible out of my sight. My soul was, as it were, espoused to it. In every sorrow, in every persecution, I ever betook me to my Bible, which walked with me as my betrothed. And when I saw others carrying about the relics and bones of saints, I, for my part, chose for me my Bible, my elect, my comrade in all life's journey." And it is to be noticed that it is to the exhortation of Augustine and Jerome that this saintly man traces his love for the Bible.
The invention of printing in the fifteenth century gave a powerful
stimulus to the circulation of the Scriptures, aud it is due to the truth of history to add, that there was for a long time no departure from the ancient policy of the Ohurch. Indeed, in all the leading countries of Europe there was as it were, « the appearance of a man's hand, and lo! a roll of a book was therein."
Nearly eighty years were to pass before Europe was to stand at the parting of the ways. Twenty editions of the Latin Bible had been printed in Germany alone, before Luther was born, and in the year that followed the nailing up of his "Theses," the fourteenth known issue of a German Bible took place. All these fourteen issues were large folio Bibles and not mere reprints, but of various translations from the Vulgate. I take these facts from the catalogue of the Oax- ton Exhibition of Bibles of 1857, drawn up by Henry Stevens, of Vermont. Germany, as we have seen, took the lead, but Italy soon followed, then France, then Bohemia. Soon the folio Bibles were followed by a quarto, and then "the poor man's Bible," the first edition in octavo of a Latin Bible, made its appearance, in 1491. All these Bibles were produced in open day; they involved no breach with the past, they indicated no forward movement, but they bear by their numbers and their variety strong evidence of a deepening and extending Christian life.
A forwlO',l'd step, however, was about to be taken. "Greece," says Mr. Goldwin Smith, "arose from the dead with the New Testament in her hand." Two eminent men took the manuscripts from her ana shaped them for other men's use. One was a cardinal, the other, Erasmus, narrowly escaped that dignity. Again there was no breach with the past. Erasmus's Greek 'restament was dedicated, with per- mission, to the pope. The date of this event should be noticed. It was 1516.
The Old Testament in Hebrew had been printed as early as 14BB. Access to the originals is the primary condition of sound Bible work. All Europe over the foundation of Bible knowledge was laid.
It is an exceedingly solemn thing to notice that there was nothing .final or official to hinder the work of Bible translation and diffusion from being done III every country in Europe, whether of Latin or German race, till the Oouncil of 'l'rent took its fatal decision in 1546. Then for this high service the one race was taken and the other left. Then the policy of the council bore fruit in the hostility of the church, and no man since has been able to count upon official support in that great communion, from pope, or bishop, or parish priest, if he devoted himself to the task of giving the Scriptures of God freely to the people. There is plain proof that in the judgment of the best men in the Latin Ohurch, including the present pope, this opposition has gone too far. But it is now too late to alter a policy which has three centuries ang a half behind it, Tyndale and Roger!!
can not be unstrangled or unburnt. The history of other crimes can not be blotted out. In Spain, for example, Oardinal Ximenes had the start of Erasmus in the matter of the Greek Testament. In his Poly- glot it was printed first, tho not published. There were Spaniards who longed to give the Bible to their countrymen in their own tongue, and the great cardinal's munificence and learning had made it pos- sible; but when, in 1543, Enzina published at Antwerp a version of the New Testament, and presented it to Oharles the Fifth, he was thrown into prison for his pains; while Liesvelt, who printed a version in the Low Oountries, in 1526, was condemned and beheaded for asserting in one of his annotations that "the salvation of mankind proceeds from Ohrist alone." It can not be too distinctly affirmed, nor too often repeated, that sixteenth century opposition to the trans- lation and diffusion of the Word of God, was an innovation, a depar- tnre from the course which the missionary Ohurch of God had up to then almost invariably followed. The Jesuit missions are the first considerable examples of learned men carrying the Gospel message, abundantly competent to translate the Bible, but, so far as appears, not doing it.
In the East, in the early ages, the great missionary church of Syria did it, the Franciscans in the middle ages did it; but the Ooun- cil of Trent, by its decree, stereotyped the Vulgate, and thenceforth held the sword of the Spirit in a paralyzed arm. And so it has come about that the work done by great scholars and scholar missionaries, like Ulphilas or Jerome, or great missionary churches like the Syriac, or thE) Alexandrian, or by the commanding influence of great Ohristian cities, as when Oonstantinople helped the Russian people to obtain their Bible, or by the new-born energy of a great religious movement, as when the Reformation angel uttered his voice, that work, with the sanction upon it of Ohurch authority, of Ohurch history, of scholar saints and scholar martyrs, has come into the exclllsive charge and custody of the most living branches of the Ohurch of God. It is the common task of Ohristendom, and the lowly and the lofty alike are members of this greatest of cooperative societies. All missionary work will eventually be tested by the conformity of its results to the Divine model of life and character set before us in the Holy Book. No missionary is better employed than the competent translator. No missionary society has fully risen to the ideal which has not contributed a man or men to this great Pentecostal revelation of the mind of God to the heart of Ilis creatures.
'Ve now reckon over four hundred of these Divine voices, and none of them is without signification. Each bears witness to the love that God hath to us, and that no race or language is now common or unclean…. The missionary idea is conquering the life of the churches. The living churches are alive to it and by it, but let us be jealous for the stability and authority, as well as for the fervor of our work. The Word of God is the most living of all God's oracles, the most evangelical of all evangelists, the most trustworthy of all God's messengers. Man lives by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
THE PRESS AND RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS
t'
THE PRESS AND RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.
BY REV. GEO. H. ROUSE, D.D., INDIA.
Missionary of the Baptist Church, of England.
It is satisfactory to know that missionary societies appear to begin to realize that the preparation and circulation of Ohristian literature is a most important department of mission work, and that it is wise to set apart and support missionaries in this special work. Dr. Murdoch's endeavor to persuade the chief English societies laboring in India to set apart, each one, a literature missionary for some special language, promises to be successful. To use a photographic image, it seems to me that while the wide preaching of the Gospel in villages, markets, and melas may produce the image we wish to show, it is the Gospel and tract left in the home, and read and pondered, that succeeds, by God's blessing, in fixing that image.
It seems to be very desirable that Scripture portions which are used for distribu tion among the masses should have brief notes, explanatory of the meaning of words like passover, Pharisee, Sabbath, and so forth, which alone give no meaning whatever to a non-Ohristian reader. Without such notes these words are practically untranslated. The missionaries in Ohina have in their united conferences expressed a strong conviction of the importance of this matter in that country. It would also be well if the Gospels, in Indian languages, could be put into rhythm and rhyme, as has been done in the Ooriya language. The natives are accustomed to such rhythm in their own vernacular literature, like the Ramayan.
In two or three languages we have brought out a life of Ohrist in Scripture language, collected from the Gospels, selecting such passages as seemed best fitted for the Hindu mind, and omitting all clauses which would be unsuitable, such as "which is called in the Hebrew, Sabbatha," It has six chapters, "The Birth and Ohildhood of Jesus," "The Public Work of Jesus," "The Death of Jesus," "The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus," "The Teaching of Jesus," "The Teaching of the Scripture about Jesus." The whole book is about the compass of a Gospel, and is sold at the same price.
In regard to the preparation of Ohristian literature, we must be 9areful not to slavishly translate English books. Except the Bible, there is hardly a single English book which will bear literal translation into an Oriental tongue. Words and phrases which have a clear meaning in the home-lands need to be explained to an Eastern man, especially when he is a heathen. We need not to translate, but to adapt. A simple translation will often be unintelligible to the heathen reader, or even to the native Ohristian. What we have to do is to get clearly in our own mind the truths we wish to teach, and then to bring them out in such language, and with such explanations and illustrations as
will enable our readers to grasp these truths. It is difficult to do this, and it is still more difficult to train our native colleagues and helpers, to do it, but it is most important that this should be done.
We should avoid technical phraseology, except in regard to certain great words, such as salvation, faith, repentance, and so forth; and in regard to these words it will often be important to explain their meaning in other words. Such phrases as "Come to Jesus," have deep meaning to us, and we are apt to use them in tracts intended for the heathen, without asking whether the heathen reader would really understand them.
In preparing literature for the non-Ohristian, and even for the Christian reader, in heathen lands, we ought continually to be asking "'ourselves whether the words we use will convey to the reader the same idea that they do to us, who have had Ohristian training in a Ohris- tian atmosphere from our childhood.
There ought to be a wise selection of subjects on which books and tracts should be prepared, and the literature missionary, when he is appointed for any language, ought to be consulted by all those who wish to bring out books in the vernacular.
REORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK.
BY REV. LEVI B. SALMANS, M.D., GUANAJUATO, MEXICO. Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church (North).
The place of medico-evangelism as the entering wedge for the Gospel can not be disputed nor longer neglected, much less spurned with the observation that "the old Gospel has not lost its power." "Into whatsoever city ye enter, heal the sick that are therein" is the very power itself of the Gospel to predispose, attract, and cause to hear and to believe, those rebellious and hardened sinners who will otherwise persist in their prejudices against us until they go down to their graves, and even leave their children equally deceived as to our real characters and that of our blessed heavenly message.
What overwhelming evidence we have of this in the present state of affairs in Germany, and even in America. In the former country I noted villages, netly Oatholic, surrounding a Protestant village of high Christian virtues, and well established in Protestant forms and practises for centuries. The parts of Germany that received the Gospel at Luther's hands, crystallized Protestant within a generation or two, and so did the parts of Germany which refused Luther's message crystallize Oatholic, and are harder to evangelize to-day than in Luther's day, for they suppose themselves already to have looked into this matter in the persons of their ancestors, and to have found it bad, and to have rejected it forever. They will to follow the religion of their tI:tJb~:rs" at least until some one invites their attention to somethin~
REORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK
of which their fathers never heard. In our own country, how all but impossible most Christians suppose it to be to evangelize Catholics, and no denomination, as such, makes any special provision therefor. They are apparently waiting for God's time to come. I have often wondered if God's time is not when we devote ourselves to Christ's methods, and learn and use them perfectly. It is undeniable that we have been imperfect in our conceptions of His methods for evangelism, for the past century or two show immense changes for the better in our conceptions and practises of God's way for reaching all kinds of sinners. I have wondered if a perfect appreciation of the nature and uses of healing for Christ's sake may not be the principal key to the situation which we still lack for the speedier evangelization of all those immense groups of the human family who reject us and our message simply because they are so attached to traditional religion and to traditional opinions of us and of what we offer them.
The proper organization of the Church of Christ for attaining the greatest results has always been a problem. The Christian Church has worked at it indefatigably, especially for a few centuries past. Each denomination thinks it is the nearest to perfection in this regard, but none fail to feel keenly their own imperfections at the same time. But little attention has been given as yet to the proper organization of the medical branch of our labors. Some of the most untenable practises are still retained in the majority of our missionary societies. In the general perfection of organization which exists in our day, who thinks of putting the direction of any of the arts, professions, or trades, into the hands of others than those who are themselves skilful in the very same arts, professions, or trades? In Christ's time, and for a while thereafter, healing for Gospel purposes was a miraculous gift of the preachers themselves, and of others devoted to evangelism. As it exists in our day, it involves the use of one of the most learned of the professions, and one of the most difficult of arts, and, as practised on the mission fields, it also involves the knowledge and use of one of the trades-that in drugs and other necessary supplies. -Can we forever continue to disregard the need of a certain autonomy for the missionary use of the medical art, profession, and trade, and on the field subject such missionaries absolutely to the judgment and control of men who are preachers only, and at home have the boards made up without any regard whatever to the presence of committees or secretaries therein who are skilful and practised in medical missionary work, or at least in the medical profession? There seems to be but one answer, and that is that this matter will require attention and" reorganization" in the case of most of the missi9nary societies before we can expect the full natural fruits for our Christ from this most important feature, if indeed we should not say department, of evangelism.
In Edinburgh and in London, medical missionary societies exist, made up in their major part of medical men. They are far better rounded in their work than any of the other missionary societies so far as the use of this agency is concerned; for, not to mention other features, they have training schools for the training of medical missionaries, and t.his is certainly an all but essential feature for those who would take up the direction of this work in earnest. All medical matters are with them managed by medical men; boards, training schools, secretaries, superintendents, and on down to the very last details of the work on the field. Nevertheless, there seems to this writer to be a defect in their organization, for they seem to be too much divorced from the ministerial and teaching branches of the work.
Perhaps the influence of the presence and work of these societies in Great Britain has had something to do with leading the Church Missionary Society to take so large and radical a step three years since in the organizing of the Medical Missionary Auxiliary, and turning over to it the gathering of funds for this branch of the work, the. publishing of a special medical missionary paper, and the selecting, sending out, and controlling on the field of all medical missionaries. The Seventh Day Adventists in the United States, who have been most active in the use of medicine, have also taken large steps in securing a more advanced form of organization in the utilization of medical men and work.
Our first necessity is to be convinced of our need. Surely we need this powerful agency perfectly handled to more speedily bring to Christ those whom we fail to reach with our pulpits and our schools. If, as we believe, we have found in this medical work an efficacious means for reaching the Catholics, the Jews, and the submerged tenths of our own cities, not to mention the great aid it furnishes in reaching the masses of paganism, shall we be able to remain longer indifferent as to its increased use and rational organization?
The beginnings in the modern use of this agency have been experimental and largely personal. Scattered throughout the world of missionary enterprise individual doctors have gone to itinerate 01' carryon private practise for Christ, 01' to set up their isolated dispensaries or hospitals, and work as best they could in relation with the ministers and teachers already on the ground, and under the direction and support of those wholly unaccustomed to the use of this agency for Christ, and who were almost always not even members themselves of the medical profession. In some places scarcely any appreciable difficulties referable to defective organization have appeared as yet, while in other places great damage to the work, and even its failure, have been clearly due to these causes. In some places the work has been handicapped by a controlling influence over it being placed in the hands of mission,
THE HAND OF GOD IN JAPAN
workers whose interest was already previously absorbed in the ministerial and school enterprises in which their own hands and hearts were engaged, and who at once saw in this new and expensive agency a competitor for a division and diversion of the funds, already all too scarce, on which their hopes depended for the urgently needed developments of the work already begun.
There are now on the field six hundred medical men and women engaged in this form of work exemplified and commanded by Christ Himself. The number preparing to take the field in this line of missionary activity is increasing rapidly. We believe the time has come, therefore, for the agitation in the right quarters of this imminent need for the reorganization, both in the home office and on the field, of that part of our missionary societies which has to do with the management of this branch of the work.
THE HAND OF GOD IN JAPAN.
BY REV. A. D. GRING, JAPAN. Missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
We may perhaps be brought into greater sympathy with the Japanese government, by pointing out some of the great difficulties with which they have had to contend. The grounds of their opposition to Christianity are: 1. Their fear that Ohristianity will destroy their government. 2. That Ohristianity which preaches the Divinity of Ohrist will destroy the belief of the people in the Divinity of their emperor.
In the light of the Jesuit attempt to interfere with matters politi- cal in the work begun by Xavier in 1549, we can have a great deal of sympathy with the Japanese in their fear that Christianity might interfere with the government. So also we may be able to sympathize to some extent with their fear that a belief in the Divinity of Christ would do much to lessen the faith of the people in their emperor.
But thanks be to God, the careful avoidance of all political criticism, and the loyal conduct of the native Christians to their emperor, have completely convinced the thinking people of Japan that the missionaries are not there to interfere with their government, and that it is possible for a Japanese to be a devout Ohristian and still be loyal to his emperor and to his country.
Japan is now in search of a new religion. The faith in the old cults is giving way. The atmosphere of modern Japan is uncongenial to their old religions. Nothing but the Gospel of love, sympathy, liberty, and reason, can meet the demands of the hour.
The door is completely open. We have but to enter in, and by the lives of the missionaries and native Christians, and deep sympathy for all classes and conditions of men, convince the people of the superiority of the Christian religion. There is here a tremendous responsibility. Let us catch the enthusiasm of this responsibility, and make Japan a Ohristian nation.
REV. CYRUS HAMLIN, D.D., LL.D."
It is doubtful whether in the whole range of American biography a more typical Yankee career can be found than that of Dr. Cyrus Hamlin.
The stern struggle for a living on the Waterford farm, in Maine,-where he was born, Jan. 5, ISll, and where he learned to make something out of nothing, and to conquer obstacles; the high standard of conversation in the home and tht'J good literature that was read and assimilated; the apprenticeship in the Portland silver and jewelry shop, the conversion to Christ under the ministrations of E. P. Payson, the decision to enter Bridgton Academy and the arduous life there, the admission to Bowdoin College, and graduation from it in 1834, and then the preparation for the Christian ministry at Bangor Theological Seminary-these are depicted with rare vividness in Dr. Hamlin's fascinating autobiography, "My Life and Times."
When at Bangor he received the appointment Irum the Amer- ican Board, which assigned him to Constantinople instead of to China, as he had expected and hoped, and about a year later, on December 3, IS38, he embarked from Boston for the Orient, and arrived in Smyrna in the following month. In ]839 he started the seminary at Bebek, with slender equipment in text- books and furniture. The latter, including apparatus for experi- ments in physics and chemistry, were soon created by the marvelous skill of the Maine Yankee, whose CYRUS HAMLIN. lathe went everywhere with him, and did magical deeds that aston- ished the natives. The work grew rapidly, and demanded all the energy and versatile powers of Dr. Hamlin. He not only preached and taught, but carried on polemical controversies with Jesuits.
Text-books were made or translated-books that were so admirable that the Turkish government put some of them, the least Occidental and heretical, into the Turkish schools. Workshops were started to manu- facture clothing for the pupils, to manufacture stovepipe and stoves, and later came that audacious experiment which,succeeded far beyond the dreams of Mr. Hamlin himself, but which most of his colleagues scoffed at when he proposed, namely, the establishment of a large bread-making establishment for supplying the hospibl andtroops at Scutari, an enter- prise in which the Armenian converts found employment and the mission a profitable source of income. This bakery during the Crimean War furnished the British soldiery with fourteen thousand pounds of bread per day, and did it with such promptness and scrupulous compliance with the terms of the contract that Dr. Hamlin had repeated offers to take on similar tasks at other points where British soldier:> were :>uffer· ing for lack of good food, water, and the decencies of hfe• .. Oondensed from The Congregationalist.
REV. CYRUS HAMLIN, D.D., LL.D
More sagacious and courageous conduct by a missionary in conserving the financial interests of his work and at the same time doing good to others it will be impossible to find in missionary annals, the work being the more remarkable that it was done without the approval of the mission board officials in Boston and most of his colleagues in the Turkish mission. The removal of the seminary to Marsovan and Dr. Hamlin's decided difference of opinion with the board as to its decision to introduce an educational system in the vernacular led to his resignation from the board in May, 1860.
Then began the task of founding and managing Robert College, the site having been chosen. Dr. Hamlin with his wife returned to the United States to secure the needed endowment. The officials in Boston and the clergy thereabout did not look with favor on the scheme; and even some years later the outlook committee of the Congregational Club of Boston refused to permit Dr. Hamlin to set forth the merits of the plan. Thanks chiefly to the aid of Harvard professors and Unitarians the first mass meeting in the interests of the college was held in Boston.
Dr. Hamlin, by lecturing on Turkey, earned $1,000. He returned to Constantinople with pledges to a considerable amount, and, after meeting with successful subtlety the crafty opposition of Russian and Turkish officials and French priests, in 1863 the college was named and opened with four students. Since that time it has flourished, and has done incalculable good throughout European Turkey and Southwestern Europe. Holding its title to its property by imperial irade and under the protection of the United States, it stands for the highest type of Occidental Christian civilization.
Coming to the United States in 1873 to gain, if possible, an endowment for Robert College, Dr. Hamlin had to undergo a siege of physical prostration and a critical operation, which brought him nigh death. Resuming the task of securing an endowment, he also had to undergo the never explained alienation from him of Mr. Robert, the founder of the college, with whom he had fought side by side during seventeen years, and the sudden ending of his work for Turkey. The way seemed dark, and the wounded heart was sore indeed when Providence opened the way to a call from Bangor Theological Seminary, where he taught dogmatic theology from 1877 to 1880, when he was called to the presidency of Middlebury College, Vermont, where he remained until 1885, since which time he has resided in Lexington, Mass., giving of his knowledge, wisdom, and courage to the churches, writing for the press, and waiting for the call to depart.
Dr. Hamlin went to Portland in August to participate in the festivities of Old Home Week. On Wednesday evening, August 8th, he attended an old home social at the Second Parish Church, to which he ministered sixty-three years ago, and before the company broke up was persuaded to speak a few words, and his testimony had all the old-time fire and straightforwardness. Returning to the home where he was entertained, he soon was seized with pain and in twenty minutes had passed away. A singular and beautiful incident of the last moment was the fact that as he was being moved in his restlessness from chair to chair he said, "Put me there," pointing to a chair which belonged to his mother and in which he used to sit as a boy, eighty years ago, in his old home at Waterford. He passed away peacefully, and his body was buried, a few days later, in the cemetery at Lexington, Massachusetts.
SOME RESULTS OF MISSIONS IN JAVA. it BY JOHN W ARNECK.
What results? These are quickly given in round numbers-twenty thousand baptized persons, of whom very far from all are true Christians. That is very little over against the twenty-two million inhabitants of Java; very little, if we consider how long the land has been under Chris- tian supremacy. And yet it is a very respectable amount, if we remem- ber that all Java is Mohammedan, and that, therefore, those twenty thousand are not converts from heathenism, but have been wrested from Mohammedanism. Java supplies the proof that Islam (at least, in Nether- land India) is not utterly inaccessible or invincible. Undoubtedly, it is a sharply disputed mission field, where one has to do with very especial difficulties.
Fanatical, as a rule, the Mohammedan of the East is not. Rather, this caricature of religion has this quality, to make its disciples dull and indifferent toward all religion, however bigoted its demeanor may be. Among the heathen we are much more apt to find seeking souls, indeed, whole populations, that at least feel that old things do not suffice them, and that there must be a new plowing. The Mohammedan is satisfied and needs nothing, since he believes himself to be, in point of religion, extraordinarily well provided for, better than the contemned European, who, indeed, for the most part, has no religion at all. Unhappily, the Christianity of which they get a sight in the great cities, is, in large part, such a poor, scanty thing, that it lacks attractive power for men of other beliefs. A religionless man is to the Mohammedan simply incomprehensible, and, therefore, in the highest degree, contemptible. He esteems himself infinitely exalted above the unbelieving European. The Chinese, who, even in India, retains the ceremonies of his religion, or the Hindu, stands, in his view, much higher. To this unhappy fact it may well be that we should largely ascribe it that everywhere, in places where there are many Europeans together, therefore principally in the great cities, missions have scanty successes to boast of, indeed, we may rather say, no success at all. In Batavia, Samarang, Gurabaja; Christian labor has long been going on, and yet no fruit of the labor appears. No doubt, also, it is not in these cities that the best native elements are to be found. The same is true of the coasts of Sumatra, India, and Africa. Where missionaries go into the inland they never work quite in vain.
Java is inundated with Hadjis (Mecca pilgrims) and priests of all degrees. A missionary in Pl'ianger complained that round about him some thousand fanatical Hadjis were seated! In such regions, in my judgment, there is simply nothing to be accomplished. These are Mohammedan centers and citadels. Such a one, for instance, is the city of Swakatra, in Middle Java. This is, at the same time, the residence of the greatest Javanese prince. whom his under-officers call "emperor." Altho now his government is but a shadow, continued to him for political reasons, and gilded with a princely allowance, yet in the eyes of his Javanese he is the most glorious of all men. His wealth may be measured by the fact that he allows his European physician twelve hundred florins monthly. This center of Javanese life Mohammedanism also has turned into a fortress of its own. Neither the prince nor the government at * Translated from the Allegemeine Missions-ZeitsckriJt.
SOME RESULTS OF MISSIONS IN JAVA
present allows missionary work to be carried on here, in fear of disturb- ances. I had opportunity at the railway station to note with what creep- ing submission the people met an Austrian priest of somewhat eminent rank. In such places one meets with merry Arabs, fanatical fellows, from whom you might apprehend any possible outrage. Here, for the present, missions find nothing to do.
However, matters are not so bad everywhere. Altho the Javanese have been Mohammedans for centuries, yet Islam is largely only a var- nish, which, altho it covers over the old heathen superstition, yet has never removed it. Old Hindu divinities still playa great part in their religious emotions. Some leagues from Djokjakarter there still exist magnificent remains of ancient temple buildings. To view and admire these was a great enjoyment to me, notwithstanding the fearful heat which brooded over them. This sacred structure, which may easily be a thousand years old, consists of a series of larger and smaller temples, built in the form of pyramids, and in various chambers containing images of gods. Round about the buildings run broad terraces, adorned along their length with splendid sculptures; e.g., in the chief temple the whole Reuna legend is represented in bas-reliefs of consummate art. In one of the chambers is found the colossal image of a female divinity. This is still for the Javan3se far and wide nothing more or less than a national deity; matrons and maidens especially make pilgrimages to her, and bring her offerings of flowers, when they have some petition especially at heart. Even young ladies of the half caste have been said to bring their mite to the divine image, to win the affection of a chosen lover. In Batavia is an old cannon of the Portuguese days. This, too, receives superstitious reverence from many Mohammedans, if they have any petition to make. I have not heard that on this account they pass for less faithful adherents of the prophet.
Notwithstanding this, the Javanese feel themselves to be wholly Mohammedans. The time of heathenism lies too far behind them to be acknowledged. In ancient times there were magnificent Hindu kingdoms subsisting in Java. Of great fame, for instance, was the kingdom of Majigahit in Middle Java, whose dominion extended over Sumatra and Malacca, and which ruled the sea with its fleets. It was in its prime that those mighty temples were reared. Then, however, came Mohammedanism, which in bloody battles overthrew the ancient realm, laid waste the temples, and constrained all to come after it.
Now it is to them as something self-evident that they are Mohammedans. Yet there is no great hostility to Christianity. Where there are already Christian congregations, thE, Mohammedans not infrequently show them good will, even the native functionaries. But conversions are yet rare.
The least accessible are the Malays proper, who everywhere dwell on the coast, just as in Sumatra. The Sttndanese in West Java are more accessible, but they have to be sought out in their mountains. There are not many Christians there yet, but experience has shown that they can become Christians. The land of the Sundanese has really been first opened by the railway; missions there are accordingly still relatively young. It is among the Javanese that missions chronicle their best results, that is, in Middle and East Java. Unhappily the Javanese, as already meptioned, has, by long-enduring want, become creepingly submissive and characterless, and insists on being ruled. The Javanese, like
all Malay peoples, is reserved, inscrutable, is shy of the straight way and the frank word; but also very laborious, endeavoring, enduring, easily contented. These two sides of his character are noticeable also in his Christianity. It surprised me, that the quality of the Christians won over from among the Mohammedans is on the average not better than that of our Butta Christians of Sumatra, who come over in masses. Yet in the former case the transition takes place under difficult circumstances, and naturally presupposes an entire change of convictions. Lack of Christian character is. everywhere that of which the missionaries chiefly complain, of course exceptis excipiendis.
Outwardly the ways are already opened for Christianity; a wise government cares for the people; the land enjoys all the blessings and advantages of progressive culture; traveling is uncommonly facilitated by good roads and railroads; trade is flourishing; social distress'does not exist.
D. B. McCARTEE, M.D., OF JAPAN.* BY R. S. MILLER.
Divie Bethune McCartee, A.M., M.D., was born in the city of Philadelphia on the 13th of January, 1820, and was the eldest son of the late Rev. Robert McCartee, D.D. He was educated at Columbia College in New York and at the University of Pennsylvania, from which latter institution he received the degrees of A.M. and M.D.
In June, 1843, while practising medicine in the city of Philadel- phia, he received an intimation from the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church that they wished him to go for them as a pioneer and medical missionary to the city of Ningpo, one of the five ports of China opened by the treaty of Nanking to foreign trade and intercourse in 1842. Dr. Mc- Oartee had been known to the majority of the executive com- mittee of the board from his early boyhood, yet the proposition was entirely unexpected by' him, and he was led to ask the secretary of the committee, the Hon. Walter Lowrie, whether the secretary DIVIJ;: BE'lCHU;NE MCC'BTEE., really thought him a suitable per- son to be a foreign missionary.
Upo~ receiving an affirIUl.tive reply, Dr. McCartee took time to consider the. question, and to cousult his parents. In the month of August he wrote to the corresponding secretary stating that he was willing to go.
On, the 6th of October following he sailed from New York for China.
via the Cape of Good Hope, I.nd arrived at Hong Kong on the 19th of * From th,e Japan $van9.Ust.
lJ. :8. McCARTEE, M.D., OF JAPAN
February, 1844. As it was not possible for him to sail through the Formosa Ohannel during the northerly monsoon, he was compelled to wait until the 12th of June, and then, availing himself of the first oppor- tunityof that season, he sailed in an American brig, the Eagle, lately arrived from the United States. On the 19th he reached the harbor of Ohusan, where the captain had agreed to land the doctor with his luggage, medical stores, etc., before going on to his ultimate destination, Shanghai.
In Ohusan, through the kind assistance of the officer before referred to, Dr. McOartee obtained permission to occupy three rooms in the house of a Ohinese family, within the walls of the city of Tinghai. There he succeeded in finding a Ohinese teacher, a Ningpo man, who, having been brought up as an apothecary, was able to be of great assistance to him not only in acquiring some knowledge of the colloquial dialect (which does not differ very widely from that of Ningpo), but also in conducting a dispensary for the Ohinese, which he immediately commenced, and which was attended by numerous Ohinese medical and surgical patients. The only thing that could be done at that time for the spiritual good of these patients was the distribution of a few Ohristian tracts, and the reading of a portion of the Scriptures by the Ohinese teacher, from an edition of the Bible published in Singapore; no good Ohristian literature having yet been printed in Ohina.
As .soon as the weather began to get cooler Dr. McOartee went again to Ningpo, where, having now acquired some knowledge of the Ningpo dialect, and being accompanied by his Ningpo teacher, he succeeded in securing a small house on the North Bank, opposite the city of Ningpo, where the mission was thus fairly in operation in the beginning of October, 1844.
Dr. McOartee himself went over the river, and, through his teacher succeeded in renting ro~ms in a Taoist temple within the city walls, in which he placed his scanty furniture, consisting of a chest of drawers, four Ohinese chairs, and a rattan couch, together with a few chairs and a table loaned him by the monks, and at once commenced to carryon a hospital and dispensary, and to practise his profession among the native families at their own houses. The Ohinese officials tried to induce him to leave the city, but the doctor insisterl that he was strictly within his rights as provided in the treaty; and finally the officials withdrew all active opposition, ostensibly upon the ground that he was a single individual, without any family, and engaged in a work of benevolence. From that time on .the Ohinese officials continued to be most friendly, very frequently coming to him for advice in case of difficulties with foreigners other than British subjects; and even in the case of conflicts between Oantonese and Portuguese pirates, as well as between other armed and unprincipled foreigners. On two occasions he was able to identify some shipwrecked Japanese, whflse nationality was not recognized, and with reference to whom he was consulted by the order of the governor of the province, and who were afterward returned to Nagasaki.
By the favor of God, Dr. McOartee's success in several amputations, restoration of sight in cases of cataract, saving of life in cases of attempted suicide by taking opium, and in the treatment of fevers,. dropsy, etc., seemed to the Ohinese almost miraculous, and spread his reputation far and wide.
In the city of Ohinhai, where a very stubborn and bloody fight took place between the English and Ohinese forces in 1842, the bitterness:
against foreigners had been increased by the French missionaries having obtained the possession of a family temple, by means of a fraudulent deed of sale executed to them by a profligate member of the family, who had no legal right to sell it. The influential citizens of the city threatened to burn the house of any man who should rent a house to a foreigner. Dr.
McCartee taking a medicine chest with him, went alone to Chinhai, and entering a tea house in the suburbs of the city, called for a cup of tea; and while drinking it and looking around saw one or two cases of eye diseases which he examined and treated. He then told the customers of the tea house that he proposed to come regularly, once a week, to pre- scribe gratuitously for surgical ailments. The result was the obtaining of the lease of a lot in the center of the city of Chinhai, where a chapel was built without any opposition on the part of the neighbors; and where evangelists were stationed, and the Gospel was preached for several years, until the whole city was pillaged and burned by the" long-haired rebels," during the time of the bloody Tai-ping rebellion.
Dr. McCartee, for the greater part of his twenty-eight years in Ningpo and during his extended residence at Chefoo, in founding the Presbyterian mission there, also served as the family physician of the missionaries and foreigners in government and commercial circles, without regard to nationality. But his chief mission was to the Chinese, and many touching incidents might be related of the doctor, to whom they frequently applied the words of the apostle Paul in 1. Thessalonians 2: 7, and for whom they very often sent, even from long distances, to be near them when they felt the chill of death creeping over them. His life was rich in such experiences through many years; and he has never forgotten nor been forgotten by his Chinese friends. While some medical missionaries restrict their work for the most part to the hospitals, this physician found his work in the homes of his Chinese patients; and his name is revered by them down to the fourth generation; and he still, from time to time, receives from them and sends to them messages of love and remembrance.
Space does not permit to dwell upon Dr. McCartee's long and equally honorable careers in the United States consular service at Ningpo, Che- foo, and Shanghai; in his diplomatic service in the Ohine3e legation at Tokyo; in the service of the Japanese government as professor in the departments of the natural sciences, and the science of law of the Tokyo University, nor upon the many adventures through which, as pioneer, he passed in early days of the opening of China and Japan to foreign intercourse; nor the excit,jng incidents connected with his journey to Nanking and Hankow during the Tai-ping rebellion, as official interpreter for" Admiral" Stribling, commander of the United States squadron. In recognition of his services in connection with the suppression of the infamous Macao coolie traffic, Dr. McCartee received a handsome gold medal from the Chinese government, and later the honorary title of consul-general for services in the Chinese legation at Tokyo. From the Japanese government he has received the decoration of the Fifth Order of the Rising Sun. He was also a corresponding member of the American Geographical Society, the American Oriental Society, the North China branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, the Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia), Society of Archeology and Paleontology of the University of Pennsylvania, the Natural History societies of Portland, Me., and of Montreal, and the New England Historical and Genealogical Society. * * Dr. 1I1cCartee left Ningpo for Tokyo in September, 1872, joining in the pioneer work in Japan. There he labored for the remainder of his life, returning to America last winter, and being called to his reward from San Francisco oil July 17th, 1900.
Eln'l'OR1ALS
EDITORIALS.
More than Oonqueror.3. or condone this barbarous treat- ment of those who as heathen In these days wnen our hearts should be taught to reverence are saddened by the tidings of Christian and civilized nations by murder and persecution and pil- the principle of "love your lage in China, and when even enemies." We llluSt hang our Christians are inclined to call down heads in shame that such cause is fire from heaven upon the heads of given to China to look upon Europe those who are fighting Christ and as barbarian and hypocritical. His followers, it is well to remem- This will do more to retard the ber that Saul, who was transformed cause of Christ in China than a into the apostle Paul, also once thousand massa( r.lS of Christians. bitterly persecuted the Church even Those who trust in Christ can unto death, and that at the martyr- afford to die for Him and thus seal dom of Stephen he may have re- their testimony with their blood, ceived his first impulse toward but those who claim to be, or are Christ. ""Ve fir-mly believe that looked upon as followers of Jesus, hundreds of these men and women make havoc of the Church by every who now breathe out hatred and sign of an unloving or vindictive slaughter against Christians in spirit. Let Christians rise up and China are chosen vessels who will protest in the name of God against before long see the heavenly vision every word and act which is not of the crucified One and will re- dictated and executed by the Spirit spond to Him with submission and of Christ. love. Let us pray for these, our enemies, and seek to look upon Missionary Interests in South Afrioa. them as Christ, our Master, looks upon them, with forgiveness and The Anglo-Boer conflict has been yearning love that would die for already very disastrous to missionthem if need be. When they are ary interests in that partof the Dark brought to the feet of Jesus then Continent. Rev. Andrew Murray, of indeed we shall realize our privilege ""Vellington, seeing that the Boers, of being •• more than conquerors whatever their past treatment of through Him that loved us." the natives, were sincere lovers of the ""Vord of God, set himself to European Barbarism. make this love of the Bible a prac- tical force in raising the level of Even more to be lamented than piety, cementing the bonds of the massacre of Christians in China brotherhood, and inspiring missionis the murder of Chinese non-com- ary operations. He had already batants by European soldiers. Re- succeeded to a remarkable degree peated and well-authenticated re- in all these directions when tl:e war ports have been coming to us of at once became utterly destructive the scandalous behavior of Russian of all his plans and hopes. It gen- Cossacks and others toward de- erated and stimulated the worst fenseless men, women, and chil- carnal passions, promoted estrangedren in Manchuria and around ment and alienation, displaced Tientsin. The wounded in battle amity by enmity, and put a stop to are also ruthlessly slain. No plea missionary effort. Funds, as well of the treachery and villainy of as energies, were at once diverted the Chinese, or the difficulty of into military channels, the country caring for the wounded can justify
became the theater of a bitter war- effect. The work of the mission- aries is made doubly hard by this fare and the sepulcher of the dead criminal traffic of American, German, and French traders. or the hospital for the living and Dr. Paton only asks that the same disabled, and, said this experienced prohibition be proclaimed and enforced by the United States as South African missionary, it will that under which Great Britain has placed her traders in the group. take a lifetime to restore the former France has promised to prohibit the traffic if America will do so. favorable conditions of Christian The question is in the hands of brotherhood and of missionary the president and congress, but public opinion may demand that effort. Mr. F. S. Arnot, so well this righteous law be enacted. As in so many other things, the love known in connection with Gara- of money is the root of this evil. No possible reason can be found for ganze, also says that the union of allowing the introduction of death- dealing drinks and weapons into the republic with Britain will not these islands of the South Seas.
be an advantage, as there has been There is no protectorate over the group, for altho England and in each a check on the other which France have an eye on them, Dr. Paton has documents to prove that has been a wholesome influence for they have no exclusive jurisdiction over them. both the Boers and the Britons. Every pressure should be brought We have seen few men who seemed to bear upon the president and to us to have a more sensible pra~ congressmen to prohibit this traffic. Dr. Paton also says: "Those tical view of the whole condition of who have no great influence with temporal lawmakers have influmatters, political and religious, in ence with the King of kings and Lord of glory. Let every Christian South Africa, and hope to give our pray for help in this great work."
readers some matter from his pen The Fourth Zionist Congress. The holding of this congress in shortly. III health obliged Mr. London attracted much attention. The brief account of the aims, ob- Arnot to retire from the field, but jects, and history of the movement will have interest to many readers. in Bristol he is still ceaselessly Ve make extracts: working at missionary problems, The movement aims at the settlement of a large proportion of the Jewish people in and using his personal inflnence, Palestine. During the long ages of persecu tion this ideal of the ret urn has not been for perhaps more wisely and widely gotten by the Jews, but only of late bas this yearning inspired a practical undertaking. than ever, in building up an intelli- and the question of ways and means been prominent. gent interest in missions. * During the persecution in Russia, in 1881, Firearms in the Pacific. in tbe very center of suffering. it was felt that new cities of refuge must be found for It is high time for the United refugees. and at once many eyes were States government to take decided directed to Zion. The late Lawrence Olio action in regard to the traffic in firearms and strong drink in the Islands of the Pacific. Dr. John G. Paton, the veteran missionary to the New Hebrides, tho over seventy years of age, has journeyed thousands of miles in order to secure this legislation on the part of our government.
Firearms in the New Hebrides have no legitimate place. There is practically no game of any sort, so that the only use to which firearms can be put is the killing of men by their fellows. "Fire-water" deprives them of their self-control, and the firearms are then used indiscriminately, often with deadly
1900.J EDITORIALS
phant took up the idea, and for a time led in persecution, suffered in the con- this direction, and in the course of a decade gested pale of Jewish settlement. small colonies were founded in Palestine. Under this pressure the delegates, In 1896, however, the continual growth of from Argentina to Northern Cana- persecution throughout civilized Europe, and da, from the Caucasian slopes to Jewish patriotism, led Dr. Theodor Herzl to South Africa, met to report on the issue a pamphlet on .. The Jewish State," progress that has been made during which met with a ready response in many the third year of organized effort. quarters, especially those in which suffering No spectacle could have been more was most keenly felt; and, in 1897, a congress striking, even in the world's me- was convened to discuss the question and aU tropolis, than this coming together its subsidiary issues. of the representatives of the Chil- dren of Israel who, full of hope and This, the first International Jewish faith, labor to emancipate their Assembly, was a unique demonstration of the brethren by reestablishing them in brotherhood of the Jewish people and of the the land of their past glory and great eagerness there existed in all lands eternal promise. where the Jews dwell to deal with the matter in a practical way. The leadership wa. given The first meeting assembled in to Dr. Herzl, the founder of the new move- Charrington's great assembly hall, ment; and Dr. Max Nordau graphically Mile End Road, crowded to suffoca- depicted the world-wide misery of the Jews. tion almost. It was .interesting to see this vast multitude of Jews, The congress created the first rude gathered to discuss the national re- machinery of the movement for the creation habilitation and return to Pales- of a "publicly recognized and legally secured tine; and hundreds of these Jews home in Palestine for such Jews as can not or were literally bathed in tears as will not assimilate" with their surroundings. they thought of the bitter misery It does not, therefore, invite all the Jews to and poverty and suffering of thou- return to Palestine. sands and millions of their fellow Jews. The second congress, in Basel in 1898, brought even a larger assembly together, and Chinese Ideas of Death. in devising ways and means it was decided to found the Jewish Colonial Trust. since suc- Rev. Mr. Arthur Elwin, of China, cessfully launched as the financial instru- has given us a clear insight into ment of the movement. many Chinese characteristics. He says that the fear of being a spiri- At the third congress in Basel in August, tual tramp after death moves the 1899, the president reported that he had with average Chinaman to do almost four other representatives been received as anything to avoid future wo and a deputation by Emperor William II. during want. If he is beheaded, he will go his stay in Palestine. The movement has about headless; hence the anxiety now become international, with a series of of survivors to get hold of the head federations and central bodies powerful and sew it on to the headless trunk. enough to cope with the work in each Again, a Chinaman will give him- country. self up not to death only, but to torture, for a few shillings, that the London was chosen for the fourth money may be used after his death of these historic gatherings, which assembled at the Queen's Hall, to provide him cash and clothes in Langham Place. The delegates met under the most distressing condi- the other world; and the money is tions that have beset the Jews dur- left with survivors to be invested ing the nineteenth century. In in paper garments and money to Bessarabia the Jews were starving burn at his grave. Mr. Elwin also from famine; in Galicia, in extreme says that Chinamen let their fel- want, owing to the bad economic conditions, resulting from merci- less persecution. Beyond that, the Jews of Rumania were being driv- en from their homes, in defiance of the Toleration Clauses of the Ber- lin Treaty, and through famine, raging in Moldavia. In Austria and in Germany the hideous and calumnious blood accusation has been reraised, and in Galicia a Jewish girl has been kidnapped and interned in a convent despite the wishes of her father and moth- er. Over and above this, the nor- . mal condition of Jewish life in Rus- sia is that of chronic misery and
lows drown when they drop over- "saved to the uttermost" and make earnest Christian workers. board, because if they attempt to At present, as we might expect, rescue them and fail, they may be this mission is in need of generous contributions from those who decharged with being the cause of sire to have a part in the work. It is entirely supported by voluntary their death, and themselves be con- contributions, and is in need of at least $10,000 a year to do one-tenth demned as murderers. These and the work which should be done in that district of New York where many other contradictions of the the lowest and most degraded gather from all parts of the world, Chinese character need a fuller and and where, thank God! many who hav6 sunk to the very depths of wholly new treatment. Thehatred degradation and despair come to 316 Water Street, and are saved of foreigners is not hard to account by the almighty and ever-loving Savior. for, when we consider that China An appeal has recently come for looks upon all foreign peoples as the Chinese Christians who have been rendered homeless, poor, and the natural and necessary enemies friendless by the anti-foreign riots in China. Many will be glad to of the prosperity of the Middle make thank offerings for the rescue of friends and fellow countrymen, Kingdom. * and will take the opportunity to share in the sufferings which our Opportunities. brethren are called to undergo for our Lord and Master. Every opportunity for doing good, plus a possibility of doing it, The need of the people of India makes a responsibility to the must not be forgotten amid other Christian. We are stewards of calls. Letters from Guzerat, Rajtime, strength, money, and all putana, and elsewhere raise notes things are held in trust. A call for of thanksgiving for the aid already help in Christian enterprises is not given and tell of the great good therefore begging but is the offer of done for these, theleast of Christ's a privilege of having a share in brethren, the starving people of our Lord's work. India. All speak of this as a time when there are special opportuni- Weare glad to be the means of ties for winning men, women, and bringing to the notice of our readers children for Christ. The great such enterprises as we heartily need now is for money with which believe to be worthy of confidence to care for orphans and to buy and support, and in special need of grain for seed and implements and assistance. 1Ve are also. always cattle for agriculture. Let each ready to transmit funds contributed give as the Lord prompts, cheerfor these objects. fully and speedily.
One of the noblest and most Donations Acknowledged. Christlike enterprises which we have ever known, is the Water No. 217. Water Street Mission…….. $200 Street Mission in New York. The superintendent, Mr. S. H. Hadley, " 218. 25.00 and his helpers have but one aimthe glory of God in the salvation of " 219. Indian Famine Childrell…… 1.OQ their fellow men. To this end they devote their time, strength, and money most unselfishly, seeking to be "all things to all men if by any means they may save some." No one in need is ever turned away by them, and yet they are not careless stewards, and the Lord has marvelously blessed their labors by saving one or more men very nearly every night in the week. These men are
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
TWENTY YEARS IN KHAMA'S COUNTRY. From remarkable outward results of the Letters of Rev. J. D. Hepburn. Edited Gospel. For example, on one of by O. H. Lyall. Hodder & Stoughton. London. the Cook Islands, an old deacon of This is one of the finest journals the native church "spoke to us of of mission work put on the mar- the 'bad, bad days,' when they ket during the last decade. It is used to bring canoes full of dead specially valuable for its pen-por- bodies from other islands for their trait of that remarkable African feasts. There are now 276 members chief, Khama, who is, perhaps, the in the church." Another native most perfect specimen of a Chris- was asked "What special good tian ruler and statesman that the Christianity had brought to his history of African missions fur- people. He thought for a minute, nishes. We intend to reproduce and said, 'Men can sleep nights this portrait hereafter in these now,' an answer which gave a pages. Mr. Hepburn's incidental graphic pictu;e of the old barbarous references to the influence of war heathen days, when the tribes on in Africa in counteracting and des- the islands were constantly at war troying missionary work are espe- with each other, and human life cially instructive and admonitory. was a thing of no account." He maintains, by irrefragable ar- Dr. Thompson adds his personal gument and witness, that just as testimony to the high type of the missionary begins to gain the Christian character developed in confidence of the natives, some these savage peoples, notwithstand- Christian nation, by martial suc- ing the heritage of heathenism, cesses in the very midst of mission notwithstanding the demoralizing fields, arouses jealousy, revenge, influence of the traders and the and hatred; the missionary is more devisive efforts of the Romanists. or less classed with the aggressive Here and there in the narrative foreigner, and perhaps suspected of we get a glimpse of the life of the being a government spy or agent. missionaries, its awful loneliness, Over and over again war has made its frequent hardships, and its fine needful a score of additional years heroism. *** for the undoing of the damage done to the cause. The book is really a THE OOBRA'S DEN. By Jacob Chamberlain, M.D, D.D. Illustrated. 12mo, 270 pp. marvelous tale of Christian har- $1.00. Fleming H. Revell 00., New York.
vests reaped with great rapidity These stories and sketches of mis- sionary life and work in India are among some of the South African written in Dr. Chamberlain's most fascinating style. They give an intribes by pioneers among the Batu- side view of missions among the Telugus, and are likewise decidedly ana on Lake Ngomi. * helpful and practical for Christians at home. They are stories with My TRIP IN THE JOHN WILLIAMS. By R. points to them, and tell just the Wardlaw Thompson. Illustrated. 4to, things that one most wishes to know 224 pp. 28. 6d. London Missionary So- -how the Gospel is preached, and ciety. how it is tranformingthe people of India. The chapter titles them- Dr. Thompson, the secretary of selves iuvite further iuvestigation, the London Missionary Society, gives us in this book a sketchy, interesting record of his long voyage among the society's mission stations in the Pacific. It is in these Pacific islands that we see the most
e. g., "The Snake-bitten Hindu's cellent idea of the features of this Story," "The Angry Mob and the kind of missionary work, its oppor- Story of the Cross," "Those Torn- tunities, methods, difficulties, and up Gospels," "The Spotted Tiger encouragements. Foiled, "etc. Other chapters are of a different character: "Hinduism Monthly Missionary Bibliography. As It Is," "How the' Cut' Cuts," "Despondent Missionaries," "The THINGS CHINESE. J. Dyer Ball, M. R. A. S. Change of Frant in India," etc. This (Third edition, enlarged.) 8vo, 691 pp. book, like the "Tiger Jungle," ",.00. Charles Scribner's Sons. is adapted to all ages, and is one of the best books we know with which THll: CRISIS IN CHINA. Eleven authors. Map to interest young and old in mission and illustrations. 16mo, 271 pp. $1.00. work and to convince the skeptical Harper & Bros. of the power of Christ and the value of missions. CHINA AND THE PRESENT CRISIS. Joseph Walton. Map. 12mo, 319 pp. Sampson, FROM THE FIGHT. Amy Wilson-Carmichael. Low, Marston & Co., London. Illustrated. 8vo, 62 pp. 2,. Marshall Brothers, London. CHINESE MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES. Trans- lated by Prof. Isaac T. Headland. Illus- This is a dainty and delicious trated. 4to, 160 pp. $1.25. Fleming H. little book by a "Keswick Mis- Revell Co. sionary in India," who has already given us a volume of charming and THE SITUATiON IN CHINA. A record of cause thoughtful letters "From Sunrise and effect. Robert E. Speer. 12mo, 61 Land." Mrs. Carmichael has the pp. Paper. 25c. Fleming H. Revell Co. happy faculty of seeing beneath the surface of men and things, and of OVERLAND TO CHINA. A. R. Colquhoun. writing about them in a convincing Harper & Bros. and fascinating style. CHINA, THE LONG-LIVED EMPIRE. Eliza R. These letters "From the Fight" Scidmore. Illustrated. 8vo, 466 pp. have to- do with the war of the $2.50. The Century Co. Lord against spiritual darkness and death in India, where the A BRIEF HISTORY OF EASTERN ASIA. I. C. writer has been working for several Hannah, M.A. 8vo, 297 pp. $2.00. T. years in Zenanas and villages Fisher Unwin, London. among women and children. Her descriptions are picturesque, her RUSSIA AGAINST INnIA. A. R. Colquhoun. narratives vivid, and her observa- Maps. 12mo, 246 pp. Harper & Bros. tions .pointed and practical. She unveils the missionary·heart and FROM THE FIGHT (IN INDIAI. Amy Wilsonshows the sympathy and tact CarmichaeL Illustrated. 8vo, 62 pp. which are winning the homes of 1,. Marshall Bros., London. India to Christ. LIFE OF LAL-BEHARI (OF INDIA). G. Mac- UNDEJI CANVAS. Itinerating Work in the Pherson, M.A. 148 pp. 50c. T. & T. Punjab. C. Hanbury. Illustrated. 12mo Clark, Edinburgh. (Paper), 64 pp. Marshall Brothers, London. SOUTH AFJlICA, PAST AND PRESENT. Violet R. Markham. Illustrated. 8vo, 450 pp. The writer is a Church of Eng- Chas. ticribner's Sons. land zenana missionary in India, who gives a graphic picture of life RECOLLECTIONS OF MISSIONARY LIFE IN THE in a missionary tour in northern TRANSVAAL,1859-1882. A.Merensky,D.D., India, especially preaching to the Berliu. women of all classes, in hovels and in palaces•. The story gives an e:x;- HISTORY OF THE BASUTOLAND MISSION. Book- let. 3d. Morgan & Scott, London.
N,GERIA. Canon Robinson. 58. Horace Mar- shall & Son, London.
CHRlsrIANITY IN POLYNESIA. Joseph King. 12mo. 184 pp. 5Oc. Wm. Brooks & Co., Sidney.
KIN-DA-SHON'S WIFE. Mrs. E. S. Willard. Illustrated. ~vo, 281 pp. $1.00. Fleming H. Revell Co.
STORY OF My LIFE AND WORK. Booker T. Washington. Illustrated. 8vo, 423 pp. $1.25. J. L. Nichols & Co., Chicago.
JAMAICA AND THE FRIENns' MISSION. Gilbert Bowles. Map, illustrations. 8vo, 143 pp. $1.00. Western Publishing Co., Oska· loosa, Iowa.
COLUMBIAN AND VENEZUEr&.N REPUBLICS W. L. Scraggs. Mar> and illustrations. 8vo, 350 pp. $2.50. Little, Brown & Co., Boston.
CAPE HORN TO PANAMA South American Missionary Society. London.
CHRISTIAN EFFORT AMONG THE JEWS. Rev Louis Meyer. Leajl3~. Glenwood, Minne· sota.
FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES S. L. Baldwin, D D 12mo, 272 pp Eaton & Mains. New York.
THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WORLD IN THIS GENERATION. John K Mott 8vo, 237 pp. Student Volunteer lIiissionary Union, London. and Student VoJlnteer Move· ment, New York.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICA. educational objects. The propor- tion, tho, which went to mis- American It is always helpful sions was but 8 per cent. What vs. Chinese to see ourselves as lover of mankind would maintain others see us, and for a moment that this was a due Women. proportion to be devoted to the world's evangelization? hence it is worth while to read what Madame Wu, Beneficence in Strange Places.- wife of the Chinese ambassador in Among the notable contributions Washington, has recently written sent to India for famine relief, must for Harper's Bazar on the above be put these two: $10.50 donated by a company of Christian Chitheme. Among other things she nese in California, and $28.00 by the criminal inmates of the Ohio says: penitentiary in Columbus.
Tho the condition of women in Gifts from During the last China stimulates the zeal of foreign Young People. year the Sunday- reformers who would like to see us "civilized," I must say I have seen schools and socie- nowhere in the United States such ties of Christian Endeavor of the marked devotion shown to the Reformed (Dutch) Churches con- goodness of women as prevails in tributed$19,532 to foreign missions, my country. Not alone is work and $12,748 to home missions, a to- arranged to relieve us from the tal of $32,280. In order to stimu- burden of toil out of respect to the late giving on the part of the office we fill as mothers, and not young, the publication has been alone is social etiquette prescribed commenced of the Day Star Mis- sionary Leaflet, a four-page quar- 'with regard for the virtue of terly, filled with interesting and woman's modesty, which we exalt, helpful facts concerning mission work, so arranged as to be used by but even the Chinese government classes, schools, mission bands or honors mothers as other nations societies. The first two numbers honor heroes of wars and great have already appeared, one on statesmen. The traveler notices " China," and the other on "Our . memorial arc he s everywhere, Domei3~ic Missions." erected by authority to commemo- rate some good or noble deed, or the purity and devotion of some woman's life. The goodness of heart of the women of China is held to be . their greatest glory. We have a few New Women ourselves in China, but it is ingrained in our civilization to be suspicious of any scheme of progression for the sex .that makes a waman's head bigger than her heart.
Education vs. The Wa t c h man Presbyterian According to the Statistics. latest authorities, Evangeli- calls attention to there are 70 distinct zation. some tendencies of churches of the Presbyterian fam- ily. These embrace in round num- benevolence. Last bers 29,800 congregations, 26,600 ministers, 127,000 elders, 4,900,000 year gifts were publicly announced, communicants, 337,000 Sabbath- school teachers, 3,500,000 pupils. aggregating $63,060,000 from more The Presbyterian Churches contrib- ute for home work $32,090,205, and than two hundred donors, in sums about $35,640,760 for foreign mis- sions. They support 840 ordained not less than $5,000 each, showing foreign missionaries, 1,306 medical that the rich are giving more than formerly. It was also an encourag- ing feature that the gifts of the Iiving toward this sum were double the bequests of the dead.
Just half of it was given to promote
missionaries, 465 ordained native mission field will have reason to workers, and they have among the be thankful. heathen over 148,000 communicants. In colleges and schools, The Gordon The twelfth year of and in mission fields, there are 158,- Missionary the Gordon Mission- 648 pupils. The Presbyterian population of the world is 25,000,000.- Institute. ary Training School Presbyterian Witness (Boston) will open A Corporation Anyone for a nick- at the Olarendon Street Baptist with a Soul. el can enjoy a ride Ohurch on Wednesday, October 10, 1900. The courses of instruc- through the beau- tion will be along the same lines as tiful suburbs of Boston. But the heretofore. It is expected that elevated railway company provides Dr. James M. Gray will continue that even the poorest may ride. It his Synthetic Study of the Scripdistributed about 100,000 free tick- tures. Dr. Robert Oameron, editor ets through churches and charitable of Watchword and Truth, will associations, so that mothers and teach Biblical and practical thechildren, and sick and aged persons ology. Dr. Vm. H. Walker will who can not pay may be carried to give special courses in Bible exethe woods or the seashore. gesis. Dr. A. T. Pierson, presi- dent of the school, Dr. Scofield, Salvation Army Two years ago president of the Northfield Train- Social Schemes. the S a I vat ion ing Schools, and other eminent teachers will lecture as circum- Army made a be- stances will permit. Rev. John A. ginning of one of General Booth's McElwain, the newly elected supersocial schemes by establishing 3 intendent, will give his valuable colonies to carryon farming opera- talks on Practical Ohristian Work tions. One of these is in Oalifor- and Spiritual Life. nia, another is in Oolorado, and the third is in Ohio, near Cleveland. An Outrage on Our president has The object is to get the worthy the Indians defended the Napoor out of the crowded cities into Prevented. vajo Indians from a the cOuiltry, and those selected n ear I y successful were men out of employment, but willing to work if they had the robbery, and the fact calls forth chancE'. Each head of a family is glowing gratitude from every lover given 20 acres of land and 5 or 6 of justice who has seen it. To that cows, and the result so far is en- capable, self-supporting pastoral couraging. Oommander Booth people, President Arthur and Sec- Tucker is trying to raise $1,000,000 retary Teller secured a land addito carryon the work. tion in order to give needed water and pasturage in 1884, and last A Successful The three bishops January President McKinley still Experience. of the Methodist further enlarged their reservation by about 1,200,000 acres, in order to Ohurch in Southern preserve and enlarge their sheep- Asia have decided to call for 12 raising industry. Then a few men more young men to come out for coveted half of this latter territory mission work on half salaries for a because of what they thought term of four years, engaging to promise of copper in it, and their remain single during that period. bill actually passed both Houses of If the personnel of the second 12 Oongress, because at this late hour should equal that of the first batch senators and members were" not Whicll was sent out last year, that looking." But our vigilant execu-'
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
tive looked into the case, consulted Baptist Church has 2 American Secretary Hitchcock and Commis- women devoting part of their time sioner Jones, and vetoed the bill to teaching. The Christian Church amidst the applause of the just. has a school at San Juan, with 3 All honor to our president for this teachers fl'om the States. veto.-Indian's Friend. Progress in At the Internation- Citizen The Fort Berthold Mexico. al MissionaryUnion Indians. Indians have re- at Clifton Springs, cen tl y beco me Dr. A. T. Graybill, of Mexico, in voters. The coming fall elections giving an account of his work, said are important; consequently the in part: "There are people who caucuses held this spring were of think we ought to make an apology some moment. In the county con- for taking the Gospel to Mexico; vention 11 delegates out of 26 were that we are infringing on the right!:> Indians. They might have a de- of the priesthood. It is the people ciding vote of considerable conse- who have asserted themselves, and quence. There was an effort to have risen en masse and declared control the ignorant part of the that the church must be separated community for private interests. from the state; that the people The better educated young men, should not be forced to pay tithes, however, were alive to their duty but should give voluntarily. The and opportunity, and many of the government built schools, and reolder ones were sensible enough to ligious liberty was established in put forward the younger and better 1847. Three hundred years ago the informed to represent them. The people said: 'If you send Bibles we consequence was that when the will burn them; if you send misdelegates arrived at the county sionaries we will imprison them.' seat they were found to be an in- Now they say: 'Send on your telligent and well-dressed com- Bibles and we will read them; send pany, who could understand what your missionaries and we will hear was going on. Two of them went them.' Not only has the call come from the county to the Fargo state from the people, but from the govconvention to nominate delegates ernment." to the national presidential convention. One went to the judicial EUROPE. convention, and two are to go to the coming state convention at Lord Salis- The British pre- Grand Forks to nominate state bury on mier's recent reofficers. Three of these delegates Missions. marks on missions, were from our Santee school, and i n E x e t e r Hall, one from Hampton.-American Missionary. seem to have been strangely mis- interpreted and misrepresented- Light in Dark The American Mis- for a reason which is, perhaps, well Puerto Rico.. sionary Association set forth in the Central Africa for August, in a letter from one who of the Congrega- listened to the address. He says, tional Churches, has had during in part: "Lord Salisbury's speech the past school year, 7 American has struck me in different ways at teachers in Puerto Rico, divided different times. When I listened between Santurce, a suburb of San to it, I heard the tones of such gen- Juan, and Lares. The Presbyteri- uine kindliness to missionaries and ans have had 4 American mission- reverence for religion as we should ary teachers at Mayaguez. The expect in that good man, and as took away much of theelescttironngic,fileoct'reated by cafis.org
rather put the right interpretation aloud in the presence of the vicar upon a speech which was somewhat and churchwardens. Year by year ambiguous. But when I read it this charity has been continued, next morning, it seemed to me and year by year it is to be conmuch abler and less kind, and one tinued. The property was sold the missed the tone which interpreted other day and realized £7,674, the and justified it. Again, when I interest on which, say £200, should heard it quoted in bits it roused me purchase a great many Bibles. a good deal; and I think it is in this last state-cut up into bits by A Splendid What Mr. Ogden the unsympathetic, that the speech London Mills has done in the is really to be regretted. In this Charity. line of cheap lodgstate it maybe made very mischiev- ing-houses in this 0us indeed. It may be used ignorantly or maliciously to support an country, Sir Thomas Lipton seems entirely untrue account of the mis- to have done in England in another sionary, his want of prudence, his direction. When young and poor , conducting himself' rather rashly he determined he would do his best, -and when you say a person' con- if he ever became rich, to give the ducts himself,' it always suggests poor good food at low prices. He that his conduct is more or less bad has kept this vow, recently buildconduct-his expectation of gun- ing in London a $500,000 restauboats. I think, also, the speech rant, where from 10,000 to 12,000 suggests unhistorical ideas about people are daily fed upon wholemission work generally. If there some food at a halfpenny a head. is a contrast to be drawn it would Hot-water carts are sent out from be at least as true to say that mod- the restaurant to carry meals to the ern missionaries rely less on the sick and bedridden, and hot meals arm of the flesh, as that they rely at a halfpenny each are served to more than the old ones did. But school children and workmen anythe great opening for misuse of the where within a radius of three speech lies before those whose task miles of the dining-hall. All money it may presently be to apologize realized on the capital, and it is for a big and horrible Chinese war. expected that it will be about three These may be tempted to say on per cent., will be expended in the authority of Lord Salisbury extending the buildings and cart that the war was caused by the service. The restaurant was named missionaries; that the Chinese ris- after the Princess of Wales, who ing was provoked by these men." partoolc of a halfpenny meal with Sir Thomas Lipton the day the great dining-rooms were opened.
An Ancient Setting apart a The Mother The Society for the Benefaction. piece of land, about of Missionary Propagation of the two hundred and Societies. Gospel 0 b s e I've s fifty years ago, Sir John Fenner its bicentenary directed that its rents were to be used in buying Bibles for pOOl' throughout this year, completing children of several London par- its 200th year next June. It is an ishes. In those days the Bible was organization of the Church of too costly a book to become the England, founded originally to care possession of a slum child in the for emigrants from Great Britain ordinary course of events. To to its colonies and dependencies. prove their ability, the young bene- It did a valuable but unintentional ficiaries had to read a few verses service to New England by intensi- fying the desire for independence
GENERAL MtSSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
through its efforts to establish printed, and are being circulated in among the Puritans the English all parts of the world. Mr. Berg- church. Its first missionaries mann has also rendered the New abroad carne to Boston in 1702, one Testament into Yiddish. The four also being sent to South Carolina Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the same year. The society spent the Epistles to the Romans, Gala- $1,137,000 on this country before it tians, and Hebrews, have each been withdrew on the establishent of separately published and circu- our national independence. Its lated. Of the Epistle to the He- sphere has now become almost brews 47,000 copies have been dis- world-wide. The S. P. G. has dur- tributed among Jews. Now the ing its existence spent more than complete New Testament has been $32,000,000 on its missionary work, issued. It is computed that there and its income last year was about are some six or seven million Jews $660,000. who do not understand the Hebrew Bible, so that the edition of 10,000 A Bible for Yiddish is the ver- copies of the Yiddish version is far the Jews. nacular of the Jews from meeting the whole need.
of E a s t ern and Through the Russian ambassador Northern Europe. It is a jargon in London, the emperor's permis- composed of German and Hebrew, sion has been recei ved for the free with an admixture of words from circulation of this version among other languages. Tho all Jews the millions of Jews in Russia.- learn to read the Hebrew charac- Christian World.
ters, and to pronounce the words Prosperityin The Paris Missioncorrectly, and tho also their prayer- French ary Society, reprebooks are in Hebrew, yet only few really understand the language. Missions. senting the Protes- Yiddish is the language they actu- tantsof France, with ally understand and speak. The Old Testament is usually printed work in 'Vest and South Africa, for Jews by their own press, con- Madagascar, and Tahiti, rejoices tains the Hebrew text, together in such an encouraging increase of with a large mass of commentary receipts as to be able not only to from the Talmud. It is costly, be- meet steadily growing expenses, ing in many volumes, and quite but also to payoff a troublesome beyond the reach of poor Jews, and debt. The income has risen from $79,155 in 1897, to $100,094 in 1899.
itis, besides, unintelligible to them. A German Society.-The Leipsic Millions of Jews thus grow up in Missionary Society had an income the utmost ignorance of their Sa- of $135,000 last year (an increase of cred Scriptures. What they need $15,000), besides receiving $30,000 is a copy of the Old Testament in for famine relief. Seven men were the familiar Yiddish tongue, print- ordained for the foreign work. Ined without note or comment. Such dia and Africa are the fields occua Bible has been prepared for them pied, in the former of which the by Mr. Marcus S. Bergmann, of the number of communicants is 18,473, London City Mission. Tho Yiddish and 803 were baptized in 1899. has a number of diaiects, Mr. Berg- mann has succeeded, by a careful Los von Rom Movement.-Herr selection of language, in producing Schoenerer estimates that in Bohe- a Bible which will be intelligible to mia and other provinces of Austria, all. Of this version of the Old Tes- over 10,000 have recently seceded tament 10,000 copies have been from the Roman Catholic Church;
while the Christliche Welt affirms at the hands of the Turkish that even this number is much too authorities. He explained that small, and that 16,000 is a figure this would be the only way to premuch nearer the fact. vent his people in Asia Minor from falling entirely under the religious, ASIA. which in the Orient is akin to the political influence of Russia. The Porte and Monsignor Ormani- patriarch received only empty Patriarch. an, the patriarch promises of a better administra- tion for the Armenians. Vorse of the orthodox Ar- than that, the Porte tried to create menians in the Ottoman empire, a schism in the Armenian Church has tendered his resignation, and and to support the election of the the Turkish government has to face catholicos, or high priest, of Sis another trouble nearer home than against the wishes of the patrithat connected with the American arch. Finally, the latter, who had claims. It finds itself shaken up formerly been considered by Arby the clerico-political demands of menian patriots too subservient to Russia on the one hand, and the the Turkish government, feltindigresistance offered to those demands nant and has tendered his resignaby the Armenian patriarch. Rus- tion, which was refused at first, and sia, which has already obtained an the case is yet unsettled. exclusive railroad concession, and thus placed under her dependence Tokens of At the present time the Turkish basin of the Black Sea. aims at installing there her practi- Good there is a disposical protectorate in regard to religious matters. She has never aban- in Turkey. tion in the old Gredoned the pretension she made in 1854, relative to exercising a pro- gorian Church to tectorate over all the Christians of the orthodox faith, in virtue of the accept as teachers of their schools treaty of Kainardji. Now, Russian missionaries are roaming among young men trained by the Amerithe Armenians. promising them that if they abandon the Gregorian can missionaries. Many of the to join the R u s s ian orthodox church, they will be protected by massacre-orphan boys, reared in the czar against the Kurds and other Moslems better than they are orphanages, have already become protected by the sultan. In the vilayet of Erzerum more than teachers. In connection with one 5,000 Armenians have already passed to the Muscovite orthodoxy. station, no less than 11 village Ar- The Armenian priests, finding themselves unable to keep many of menian schools are under such boys. their people within the folds of their flock, have appealed to their These youths are in full sympathy chief, Monsignor Ormanian, the patriarch of the Fanar at Constan- with evangelical ideas, and most of tinople. He hastened to carry those complaints to the Porte and to them are believed to be truly coninsist upon the necessity of a more friendly treatment of the Armeni- verted, yet they are members of ans than that they usually received the old Armenian Church, and ac- cepted teachers in its schools. The movement is full of blpssed hope for evangelization and reformation.
A Native Of course, the nat- Church ural development of in India. missions in foreign lands is a native in- dependent church, but there are, as yet, but few cases in which it has been realized. The General Assem- bly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland took slIch a step. The Presbytery of Gujerat and Katha-
" GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
iawar, in Northern India, has been taken idea of what the mission connected with the General Assem- should do for them is one of the bly. The missionaries were the greatest hindrances there is to the members, and native pastors were work among the lower classes in little more than corresponding this district, as in some villages members. The Assembly, in its they refm e to hear the catechist desire for the development of the preach, thinking in that way to native church, declared the presby- force the mission to give charity to tery to be no longer a part of the all who want it.-F"ree Church I I' ish Church, but henceforth Monthly. should be the supreme judicatory of the native Indian church, having The Blessing Among the many native pastors and ruling elders as members, and the missionaries as of a saintly missionaries corresponding members. The mis- sionaries will form a council, hav- Burden. in the land of the ing control of all the funds remitted by the home church. Hindus there is at Self-Help in In Chingleput dis- least one who is a philosopher in India. trict of South In- dia, Dr. William addition, D. J. Fleming, to wit, of Walker represents the church as Lahore, for he has discovered that its medical missionary at the stations of Walajabad and Conjeve- the extreme heat of that region is by ram. His view of the need for teaching the people self-reliance no means anunmixedevil, and in the and self-respect needs to be insisted on abroad as well as at home. Presbyterian Banner enumerates There is an unfortunate idea among the poor Christians that the mis- several forms of blessing connected sion is here to support them, and for years they have been doing all therewith, of which this is one: in their power to make it do what they consider its duty, and they Before coming to India the idea seem to welcome this time of want, and will not try, as others do, to of nirvana seemed a perfectly senseget work, but come to the mission less ideal. But after seeing how for help" They have been told over and over that they should support the ordinary Indian loves to lose the mission and not the mission all consciousness of the long and them, but they draw my atten- sultry summer hours by lying outtion to cases outside where many are more or less supported by mis- stretched on a shady charpai, and sions and tell me that we are not since feeling so plainly myself that doing our duty. At this time I feel face to face with a difficulty, to doze away in lethargy would be as, if one or more poor Christians get help, many others will feel that the line of least resistance, I can they have been overlooked, and explanations that they are not so conceive how a people could count badly off as the others will not be as heaven the losing of all personal heard or understood. This mis- consciousness in absorption and an actionless, desireless nirvana. May it not be that the climate here is responsible, to a certain extent, for the lack of appreciation of personal immortality? Under such circum- stances they must feel that Christ has a power when they observe the activity of the missionary. Some- thing outside must sustain him in those long, hot days. He sets an example of activity notwithstand- ing the inertia of a tropical climate, and teaches them that there is One who bequeaths a significance and dignity to life, and who makes it possible not to be and simply exist, but to rise and stem life's current.
Sufferings of The missionaries in Missionaries In d i a have been in India. among the princi- pal sufferers from the famine. Not that they have themselves been in want of food,
but thai they have been overwork- and about 33,000 native agents and ed in caring for the sick and the helpers of various grades, ministers starving. Owing to the heavy strain, of the Gospel, colporteurs, Bible one after another has broken down, readeI'd, teachers, zenana workers, until the difficulty of carrying on etc. 'l'he Directory shows that there the work has become almost help- are among the 772,055 Protestant less. In one district the clergymen Indian Christians 1,010 Christian of the Church Missionary Society ministers, 590 medical men, 1,098 have been reduced from 40 to 21. government officials, 646 Christian A Report Tbe report of the authors and editors, 354 traders, 92 of Progress. American Lutheran lawyers, 15 civil engineers, and nearly 39,000 who live by agricul- .liission, Guntur, ture. Over 100 have visited foreign for 1899, states that the scarcity countries. Indian Christians are which prevailed over the larger to be found in almost all places of part of the mission field during the public responsibility and usefullatter half of 1899, and which com- ness. There are Indian Christian pelled thousands of the people to lawyers, judges, magistrates, enleave their homes in search of work gineers, doctors, members of legisand food, has not been favorable to lative councils, professors, editors, the prosecution of m issionarywork. principals and teachers of schools, And yet substantial progress has contractors, landlords, municipal been made in spite of all odds. The commissioners, and many other ponumber baptized during the year sitions of trust and respect are held under review is 1,542; the increase by them. in number of communicants, 395; in the number of inquirers, 496- Are Chinese Without religion, making a total of 3,351. Thenum- Civilized? without progress, ber attending the various day schools of the missions has increas- without aspiration, ed during the year from 4,475 to these people are without civiliza- 4,920; in Sunday-schools, 10,538 to tion. '{'he conflict between the 10,905. The number of villages in 'Vest and the East, between Euwhich Christians reside bas risen rope and China, is not a conflict of froL"l 514 to 529-a gain of 15; the civilizations; it is a misnomer to number of congregations from 421 call it so. A people who discovered to 426. The amount credited to the the compass, and are without comnative church for the year is Rs. merce, discovered gunpowder and ll,271. The entire amount raised are without arms, discovered movin India in 1899 toward the support able type and are without a press; of the various departments of mis- a people whose best means of locosion work was Rs. 23,013. This is motion has been the wheelbarrow, only $829 less than the en til' e and who have suffered in conseamount sent by the church in quence frequent and devastating America for the general work, not famines in a land of plenty; a peoincluding the zenana department. ple with coal-fields in a single prov- ince adequate to supply the world What Hindu Mr. S. Modak, of with coal for twenty centuries, but Christians Ahmednagar, has without mines because disturbance are Doing. published lately an of the ground might disturb the "Indian Christian subterranean dragons, can not be Directory." It appears that there termed civilized. Neither are the are 70 different missions in India, Chinese barbarians. They occupy with 2,797 foreign missionaries, a middle ground between the civil-
GENERAL MISSlONARY lNTELLIGENCE
ized and the barbaric peoples of the ceed to the nearest point affording globe; they are embodied conserva- adequate protection. This order tism; for twenty centuries they practically denudes West Ohina have lived in a state of arrested development, well satisfied so to live. of its foreign mission workers. He – The Outlook. continues: Christendom's A United States For the past month we have lived in a United Prayer. military officer re- cyclone of rumor and threatening. The people, and generally speaking the officials, cently said with too, are kept in ignorance regarding the contruth: "The Peking relief expedi- dition of affairs in Peking, but they know tion is the first military expedition something is occurring, and consequently in the history of the world in be- the wildest rumors are afloat. half of whose success the efforts as well as the sympathies and prayers In the provinces of Yunnan and Kueichou of the whole civilized world have there is an outbreak of open violence, and ever been enlisted. I wish that Szechuen is being infected. At several diff"r· some of the writers who are trying ent points uprisings have taken place, and to discredit and embarrass it could the mission buildings of the Catholic miscomprehend and appreciate that sions destroyed. So far no large center has fact." Let others, who have not been attacked; the rioters follow the earlier been guilty of false witness-bear- tactics of the boxers in the north, and coning, also contemplate it in all its fine their attentions to the villages where significance. The Sikh from India the officials have less opportunity to give is fighting alongside the African protection. The time of testing has come; from the United States; the Japan- long expected, oft deferred, it is now ese and the Russian, instead of upon us. fighting each other as everyone first expected them to before the No one who has followed the long weary great contest between the Occident path of evasion and reaction, can do other and the Orient came, are standing than welcome the test. The intimate conshoulder to shoulder. The German nection between politics and missions in and the Frenchman, forgetting the their international aspects is nowhere more hatreds borne of the seizure of strongly marked than here. To place the Alsace and Lorraine, are cocom- stigma of a strained political relation upon batants. The world has never seen the missionary, is to lay a ban on all his anything like it, and be the out- work; hence the vacillation and apprehencome what it may in other respects sion have made themselves a menace, have we have faith to believe that the made a shadow across the whole field. More shedding of blood in a common especially is this true of interior stations, cause by the soldiers of Ohristen- which are in a larger sense the barometer of dom and Japan will not be without popular feeling. its serious import to the statesmen and diplomats of those countries, Thus far in Szechuen the people have not making them less likely in the apprehended the full import of events now future to fight against one another. passing at Peking. The hope that sustains -The Congregationalist. as we sorrowfully leave for a time the homes and work in which we have lived and labored, Word from Word comes from is that some permanent advance may be West China. vVm. Upcraft on made when the refluent waves begin again to flow. the western outskirts of Ohina, that an official The old conditions have become imposnotice has been served upon all sible, and the impending change can be only foreigners ordering them to pro- for good. All the upward steps in the past have been taken in the gloom of uncertainty and conflict.
It should be the office of God's people now to pray unceasingly for the rulers and people of China that in this day of her visitation they may find the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Shall When Rev. Ward- Missionaries law Thompson was be Withdrawn. asked r e c e n t 1Y, "Will the London Missionary Society send men and
women to replace those who have cables brought us the sorrowful died in China? " he replied, ","Vill intelligence that a riot had occured merchants send out cotton goods again?" And we may inquire fur- at Hsiao-i, in Shan-si, and that Miss ther: Will the governments with- ,"Vitchurch and Miss Searell there draw their ministers and consuls? Will the trading firms withdraw had been murdered, and that a mastheir agents? Will the railway companies give up their charters? sacre had occurred at Pao-ting-fu, Why, then, should anybody expect the Church of Christ to give up its Chih-li, where many missionaries missionary work? had lost their lives, including our Curses Coming Much ground for own workers, the Rev. and Mrs. B. Home to Roost. tho ugh t will be Bagnall, and probably the Rev.
found in the cry William Cooper. The last cable for retribution and vengeance against China, when it is borne in advised us that a riot had taken mind that in that development of place at Rao-cheo, Kiang-si, but trade, of which we boast so much, England has during the past five that no lives had been lost, and also years supplied to that Eastern empire 190 field and position guns, that local rebellions had taken with over 60,000 rounds of ammunition, and 297 machine guns, with place at Ho-tsin, Shan-si, and at 4,228,400 rounds; that Germany has Ku-cheo, and Ch'ang-shan, Chehbeen doing likewise, and that we both have been teaching the Chi- kiang, which possibly had caused nese the use of them. What force do such figures as these give to the the death of more of our devoted plea for the Christianizing of our commerce ?-London Christian. workers.
How one Says China's Mil- A Japan It is said that al- Society has lions, organ of the Mission in ready Japanese Suffered. China Inland Mis- China. Christians are dis- sion, for August: cussing the carry- " Since our last issue we have been in receipt of as many as seven ing of the Gospel into China. It cablegrams from China, most of which have been the bearer of sad would not be surprising soon to tidings. The first cable advised us not to send forth any more mis- hear of an organizing of Japanese sionaries for the present, as the churches for that purpose. It is state of the country prevented such likely that they could work with being properly received and cared for. Another cable advised us of much greater success among a peoan uprising in Honan, where nearly ple so near akin to them than Euall of our stations have been rioted, ropean or American Christians. It and also in Chih-Ii, where two of our stations have passed through may before long be found that the the same experience, tho the lives of the missionaries in all these opening of missions in Japan had places have been saved. Two other a significance then hardly thought of for the regeneration of the neigh- bor empire. Who knows but that Japanese evangelists are destined to play the greatest part in this gigantic undertaking? There arc already Japanese Christian mis- sionaries in Formosa.
AFRICA.
The Flow of England's govern- the Nile. ment of Egypt has had no more im- portant or encouraging result than the advances made in solving the problem of Nile irrigation, which has been for time immemorial Egypt's all-important agricultural and industrial question. The great
1900.j GENERAL MISSIONARY
Assuan dam when finished will Language Rev. Henry Rich- furnish the means of storing up Study on the ards writes thus of 1,000,000,000 cubic meters of water, and now it is seriously proposed to Kongo. his early wrestlings: dam also the Albert Nyanza and "The greatest Victoria Nyanza, and thereby multiply this reserve by over 200. trouble was with the language. The undertaking is truly stupend- No white man had ever acquired ous, and the cost (reckoned at it. I got a note-book, wrote down £1,000,000) is not as startling as the everything I could hear, and what I enormous amount of labor under thought it meant, until I had quite peculiar difficulties. Yet Mr. Will- a number of words, phrases, and cocks, until lately the head of the sentences, which I at once began to governmental department of reser- use. Altho the people would laugh voirs, in an article in an English at my pronunciation and the way I magazine declares that it is quite put the words together, I did not feasible, and the only sound mind that. I found it very difficult method of permanent improve- to get some words. I tried to get ment. The magnitude of the bene- hold of the word 'mother,' and at fit to follow may be judged from last thought I had it, but afterthe estimate that the increase of ward found that the word meant value in the total yearly crops of a full-grown man. I was about as the Nile Valley would be something near as this in many other words. like $45,000,000. Even so temporary I was about three months in getting and partial a remedy as that just the word for 'yesterday.' I found applied in cutting away the vege- the grammar of the lauguage very tation which has been blocking up difficult. I began with nouns, and the channels of Bahr el Gebel has wanted to get the plurals. I exsaved, Mr. Willcocks asserts, half pected to find the change at the this year's cotton crop, and thereby end of the word, hut never could averted a loss of $20,000,000. It is hear any. I heard 'dinkondo' evident that Egypt is to continue (plantain), but I wanted to say to be a fascinating land for en- 'plantains.' At last I heard a gineers and industrial contractors man say 'monkondo,' and I said: of imagination and courage. 'That is the plural-" di " singular, "rna" plural.' Then I he a r d From the Dr. Harpur, C.M.S., 'nsusu' (fowl), and I thought the Upper Nile. has returned to Om- plural would he ' mansusu,' and I would say 'mansusu,' and they durman from a tour would laugh and say, 'Not so,' 100 miles up the Blue Nile, to but 'zinsusu.' Then I got hold of Sennaar. His most interesting the word' muntu,' and I expected journal concludes with the follow- that the plural would be 'maning striking sentence: "Afterwhat muntll'; but no, it was 'antu.' we have seen of the earnest efforts So I went on and found that there of our British officers to administer were 16 classes of nouns. I then justice and relieve the sufferings of tried to get hold of some preposithe people committed to their care, tions. I got the word 'vonda,' to we can not but feel that a brighter kill; and I wanted to say' kill for day is dawning on the Sudan, and me,' but I could not get the word that, however indirectly, the influ- 'for.' About this time I heard ence of Uhristianity is already the word ' vondila.' By this I being brought to bear upon its found that' ila ' was used instead of people." , for.' I went on in that way until I found that there were 17 classes
of verbs, the prepositions' being Bible Society has issued altogether part of the verhs. The language is 32,000 complete Bibles and 66,000 not a mere jargon, but veryeupho- New Testaments in Sechuana. nious, flowing, and it is very ex- pressive and beautiful. When once Was it Work and Workers known it is very easy to preach and Wisdom or tells apathetic story to translate the Scriptures into it." Folly? of the lonely death Turning Among the Herero of a Nor wegian from Idols. p e 0 pie (German missionary in South Africa. Be- Protectorate, lieving himself called of God to Southwest Africa) a hopeful move- preach to the heathen, he went out ment toward Christianity is devel- to Africa, unattached' to any so- oping. At one station 188 heathen ciety, worked at the Buluwayo are under instruction with a view brickfields till he had earned a little to baptism; at another the people money, then built his little church show their practical interest in the away out on the veldt and preached Gospel by building for themselves to the natives-all alone, unaided, a spacious church. This awaken- unknown. When his funds were ing is especially noticeable among exhausted he went back to the those who get their living by pas- brickfields for a time and earned turage, many of whom confess that more money. By-and-by he was they had long desired baptism, but taken ill with fever, and there, in that their flocks and herds had too the building which did duty for much absorbed the attention of church and house together (only a masters, children, and servants. rude partition separating them) he Now the Lord has removed these lay for days unconscious, deserted hindrances. Cattle plague and even by the natives for whom he fever have ravaged the fields and had labored so faithfully. He was homesteads, and these visitations found by a white man when at the have given the people both inclina- point of death; every effort was tion and opportunity to attend to made to save him, but he pa3sed their spiritual wants. away within a few hours-a true comrade of the noble army of mar- Moffat also Moffat is an amazing tyrs. could "Plod." example of Chris- Living and: Missionary Hafner, t ian perseverance. "He was not a scholar like Henry Dying to the of Nyasaland, in Martyn, nor a genius like William Carey, nor a man of infinite re- Lord. the Calwer Missource like Morrison;" but in some respects he surpassed them all, for sionsblatt, presents he entered a sealed garden and discovered a new people. He reduced a new aspect of the attractions of their barbarous tongue to unity, and made in it a version of the missionary life: "In Ipiana last whole Bible-" a version which won its way into the hearts of its read- year matters took a very serious ers and made them a people of the Word of God." As they became course. January 19th died the wife acquainted with the Scriptures the Bechuanas said of them, in their of our merchant brother Stolz. A simple, graphic way, that they turned their hearts inside out. The month later brother and sister Hichard had to leave us for some months on account of health. They were scarcely back when brother Hichard fell very seriously ill, and mnst again leave Ipiana for some two months. While he was still gathering strength in Lungwe, brother Stolz was seized with the blackwater fever, and must also
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
flee into the mountains. Thus I ation has taken place in school- was five weeks alone in Ipiana, work, the government having first and that in the time of strenuous given up its unreasonable demand work. Our plans, which we had for French in all e 1erne n tar y formed in May in the station con- schools, and then having decided ference, have been completely trav- to give up compulsory attendance.
ersed, but in the confident feeling, The future alone will show how , it is the Lord,' we learned to bow this latter alteration will work; ourselves and be still. To crown the missionaries are not without all, before my breakup for Isoko, fear that it may have injurious the fever seized me, and now for consequences. They fear that their some weeks I could against my will teachers will be more and more enjoy the rest for which I had so burdened with military service greatly longed, after the wearing and forced labor when they are re- labor of the foregoing months/ The. lieved of the school tasks on which time of sickness was a blessing to the government set so much store us all, and knit us fastel together previously. It has now become to oneness in the Lord. Ah, yes! possible to obtain the freehold of what a peculiar thing it is, to be the mission stations, which, under placed at an unhealthy station! I the Hova government, could only have had huge delight to be in Ip- be built on rented land, as no for- iana. These very things, death eigner was allowed to buy land.
and sickness, instead of discoura- This has caused the society consid- ging me, have awakened in me cour- erable expense, as the French are age and joyfulness, to surrender demanding payment for the free- myself wholly and completely to hold of the stations. But the price the missionary calling, as the most is set so low that the property is in beautiful thing there is. What at- reality cheaply acquired.-;-No1'slc tractiveness, beyond all question, Missionstidende.
has the tropic climate! Despite In the Norwegian mission in the graves, despite the frequent Madagascar, in 1898, there were sicknesses, despite the leopards, the 4,230 baptisms. mosquitos, the crocodiles, and the heat, it pleases everyone, who has . IS-hA:~S OF THE SEA. only been there awhile, and has overcome his prejudices. Sorrow The During the pas t comes only when we must leave it." Methodists in year Me th 0 di sm Manila. . has been making French The Norwegian So- rapid progress in Regime in ciety reports from the Philippines, under the direction Madagascar. Madagascar that its of Bishop Thoburn. Since his first greatest obstacles visit, in March, 1899, regular Sun- during the last year have been in- day services have been held. There creasing expenditure and the rising has also been opened an institute prices of necessaries. Otherwise for soldiers and sailors on the same the missionaries have been in a general lines as maintained in In- good positbn as regards their work; dia, where the men may have tern..
the ruling authorities show more perance drinks, meals, games, lodg- and more good will, and the oppo- ing, and general social enjoyment sition of the Jesuits has lost its without the evils of the saloon.
power, as both the people and the Regular Sunday services are held government have learned to know here, and a Christian Endeavor Sothem better. A considerable alter- ciety is sustained. There are ~ow
in Manila 3 Methodist churches, an Herbertshohe, and when returning English church of 50 members, a they stopped for the night at Filipino church of 200, and a Chi- Ragaru. Nine of them, it is said, nese church with 5 members. Un- were cruelly murdered and cooked. der the auspices of the Woman's They may have killed more, as Foreign Missionary Society, a there were quite a number of school is being opened, and medical people in the party, and it is very and evangelistic work is going on. difficult to find out the exact Until the past few months the Bible number killed. Only a short time has been a closed book to these ago I was with those fellows, people, but 1,000 copies a month are and I would not have thought now being sold. The first Protes- them capable of such awful cantant Filipino minister was recently nibalism. I went on that occasion ordained, Nicolas Zamora. to station a teacher there at a place called Kulauma, and I am glad that Education The day is dawning. this people had no share in the murders, nor did they get any of in the The opening of the the human flesh. It is very sad indeed to hear them say now: Philippines. college of primary 'Why did you not send some teachers to us too, then we would and secondary edu- not have done it p' Alas! Where are the men to take up this very cation in Manila a few days ago, necessary work? The police force went to punish them, and found marks the beginning of a new and the flesh of the murdered men between the hot stones of the ovens, better era in the department of and portions hanging up in the houses." education in the Philippines. Here- A Reopened The Congregationtofore education has been under Mission aUst tells an inter- the control of the priests. This in Ponape. esting story of the Protestant mission institution, so auspiciously opened, at Ponape. Thirteen years ago, is strictly non-sectarian, and looks when Spain took possession of the Caroline Islands, the flourishing for support to the voluntary contri- mission fell into the hands of the priests who accompanied the Spanbutions of the people. It is the iards. After several years of delay the Spanish government paid to first educational enterprise of its our government $17,500 indemnity for property destroyed belonging kind in the Philippines, and that to the mission and to missionaries. As a result of our war with Spain it is appreciated is evidenced by the she sold her possessions in the Caro- lines to Germany, and the way is fact that 500 pupils have already now open for the board to renew its work. It has assurances of cordial been enrolled, and many children support from the German authori- ties. Two women who were at are leaving the schools of the Ponape when Spain took posses- sion, Miss Foss and Miss Palmer, priests to enter the college. Judge Taft, president of the civil com- mission, and his colleagues were present at the opening exercises, the judge speaking i:.l fitting and effective terms of the significance of the interesting ceremony.
Recent Concerning the re- Horrors in cent cannibalism in New Britain. New Britain, the news of which so greatly shocked the Australian public, the Rev. H. Fellmann writes: "'rhere has been a horrible piece of cannibalism committed by natives living south of Birara, near Kabauga. Native visitors from the eouth of New Britain came to
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
are about to return, sailing from missionary work; let it be support- San Francisco this week by the ed by loving sympathy and fervent schooner Queen of the Isles. Rev. prayer.-DR. BRUCE of Persia. and Mrs. Thomas Gray will accompany them, and a physician and A Broad The purpose of mishis wife are also under appointment View of Mis- sionary effort is not for the Ruk station. sions. merely to try to MISCELLANEOUS. save adult pagans, Value W hat sometimes but as well to create through the introduction of Christianity a betof Medical vexes me is the im- ter condition abroad which shall increase the presumption that the Missions. putation that med- following generations will become converted. One of the most trench- ical missions are a ant and telling things said at the Ecumenical Conference was the sort of pious tribe. It is hinted declaration of Dr. Maltbie D. Bab- cock when, speaking of the heathen, that the healing of the sick is not he said: "You are wronging un- born children by not putting the spontaneous, prompted by genuine light in the faces of their fathers and mothers." Now is the time to brotherly kindness, but is cold and work for the generations coming into paganism, that when they calculating, saying: "If I heal you, come they may not remain pagan, but may find an easy highway into I expect you in return to accept Christianity already prepared for their childish feet. my religion!" We deny this. We do not heal in order to induce men to believe the Gospel, altho our work, I am glad to say, has often that effect. We do not heal for the dramatic purpose of exhibiting Christian charity. You and I heal, and let us say so plainly, because the Christ spirit has begun to soften our own hard hearts, and we have Christianity, A missionary at the True and Clifton Springs begun to feel for our fellowmen. To , False. Conference sa i d : " Bear in mind that mitigate distress and remove whenever there is a great movesorrow we consider a noble end in ment or movements toward Chris- tianity, there must be a large itself, worthy of Christ's followers amount of nominal Christianity in it. It is sure to result that the nuand Christ's Church.-DR. JAMES cleus of Christianity carries with it a mass of secondary Christianity." A. GREIG. The world takes note of this second- ary Christianity, and charges the Put Missions Dr. Josiah Strong true with all its faults, wrongdoings, First. . asks: ",Vhat are and sins. When trouble comes, a churches for but to few are pointed out, and it is said, " This is what Christianity is." make missionaries? What is education for but to train them? What Communicants An interesting is commerce for but to carry them? What is money for but to send them? What is life itself for but to fulfil the purpose of foreign missions, enthroning Jesus Christ in the hearts of men? "
at Home and statement was Preparatory Work.-I am not Abroad. made by the modreaping the harvest; I scarcely claim erator of the to be sowing the seed; I am hardly plowing the soil; but I am gath- United Presbyterian Church of ering out the stones. That, too, is Scotland as to the number of church members connected with the mis-
sions of several branches of the not only the witness, but himself Presbyterian Church compared the worker, in respect to the moral with the number in the home and social transformation of that churches. He stated that for every district, and "George Yard" is the 1,000 members in the established memorial of his work. Miss Mac-'
Church of Scotland at home, there pherson has long worked in the were 4- in the mission field; for same vicinity, and been wont to every 1,000 in the Presbyterian consult this unmitered "bishop of Church of Ireland at home, there Whitechapel " in the crises of her were 20 in its missions abroad; in work among the waifs. Mr. Hol- the Free Church of Scotland, 28; land was a man in whose very face in the Presbyterian Church of the shone the beauty of the Lord-a U nited States (North) there were 37; strong, bright, kind face, upon in the United Presbyterian Church which magnanimity and benignity of America there were 65; in the were stamped. He was buried at United Presbyterian Church of Highgate Cemetery on Friday, Scotland there were 139. vVithollt August 24th, and in the evening a examining the reports of the memorial service was held in American societies of the several George Yard for the people who denominations we can state con- loved him, at which meeting Mr.
cerning the Con gregat io n al R. Cope Morgan, editor of The churches that for every 1,000 mem- Christian,. presided and made the bers in these churches there are 80 opening address. T. A. Denny, communicants in the churches con- Esq.rand Rev. A. T. Pierson also nected with the missions of the took part, as well as some of those American ,board. _who have been identified with the " Costs a Such is the utterly work more or less closely. The Dollar to Send groundless charge general impression is that George Holland has had no superior, and a Dollar.n against missionary few, if any, rivals in his unique societies, for the career of service to the degraded and deserted waifs of Whitechapel. cost is but 7 or 8 cents. But suppose He was a bachelor, and gave his the charge were true, even then whole life to one unhesitating and the case is not so bad after all as unreserved sacrifice for humanity. some other philanthropies. It cost George Yard became a kind of cen- (to be exact) $63,021 to send $1.00 ter for all sorts of Christian work from America to aid the fighting among the poor, and ignorant, and Boers. That is: It cost $1,116.38 outcast. Reading-rooms, coffee in the United States to collect houses, ragged schools, evangelis- $1,134.38 for the widows and tic services were some of the many orphans of Boers slain in battle, forms of endeavor whereby he leaving $18 to be sent to South sought to uplift and save men, Africa.
DEATH NOTICE. women, and children. His place it would be hard for half a dozen Geo. Holland On August 20th, men to fill, for it was a place made of London. Mr. George Hol- by a long history of self-denying land, at the age of labors. Some account of Mr. HoI- 76, departed to be with the Mastei' land and his work has already Whom for so many years he so un· appeared in these pages, and to selfishly served in the slums of that we refer the readers. (See Whitechapel, London. He was March, 1898, page 178.)
The Missionary Review of the World — September 1900
Explanato~
lUSSIONARY MAP Prcnrinc:lal Capitals • NAN KINe OF' Departmenl Capitala, or Fu • 8/1-CHO/l CHIN.A Tin&, Dilftrict Capitals_._ – –. LMi•e• ll.hua Con'pil..d by Chou_District Capitals______ .o Hsien District Capltals.. —. 0 W.I Markel Towns, Villages. etc•• T'une-hsln Ports ue undenc:ored Harlan P. Beach These desi&'D&tionB should be added to the Dames 00 the map when read, as Su·chou FUt Llen·hua Tlng. Hal Chou, Wei HSlen 1II I,._J::::~::::;Sf:~~::::~~-~ thus, WeiC. abTehaenoratnokccoufptihedesbey pMlalcses1s oInSaInnedsi…..~'·:;;…;.;.-…".:–..~ csted by the des,&,natlons of Fu (ro). T.D&' (." Chou (0), etc., wh.ch mark their position.
bY t'O APPaOXUU'R PBONUNCllTiOS OF CmS'RSK 'WOR.O( (.A.OOO&1lDiG '10 THE PEKlNQ MAND~uu.N l.H…W::CT).
0." ill fothel'. ov. as in 'hotIcla.. ..sulD atale. P .. b.. . OO .. OIIIItu…. prio'u..p…m … pnmbu• rr• .. ui IDiu. . .• .. iIl~ …. mlWl8. , …. perch. I .. d • • ….. … MID Jet., ..Ilea. t' .. I in tin. ri .a.s.h.uIambAea<tl.)aB1nr. t • .. dB in 1>Ado. M ra.lone). tal &8 in icinna.le~ sa. u.. 4 .. ill I8aOD4ae (when Bnal or ts … dB t before …. in ptn. bt .. 18 :O….-;~~m1"oVt.. ::-..OOoeiDo~~OI1. u .. in .tata.. 'IUI( as 0 er lD two eues. ~ .:u~..t_~ rla……… : ti!:1CO~ 1CfftDIt. . . I. .. 't:JaIa Ameri.. '" .. ""'….. "or GermaD A. 1: "11 IaIa_w… It .. " ile .. French u pI… C1 in em. :"….O:~ &t:r~:.tWJE!~et.
l!r the.Btudeut
INDEX
Adapted jmm "Dawn ()n the Hill.. of T'ang," and used by lJermission of Ret'. II. P. Beach.
By _ of tAia.ilMl.ax a l l _ of citiellaad ~QIloI;I be readily found on tbe map. Tbe spelling folli>ws Sir Thomas Wade's System at Romau=nion which. differs SQmewhat from other systems used. Ln. using the index note the following direci;Wns: ..- . The letter" following the JUI,IDeil indicate t.he rauk of ~ place. .Thua, C.•.meauB IIrovincial capital; F. means.a tu city; T., a ting city; c., a chou city; 11., a hsien city; and m., a market-town or village, Drone whose rank couid not beascertsined. (See William's" Middle Kingdom," Vol. 1, pp. 58; 59.) Places in itslics are not occupied lIS missionary statilms.
The question mark (?) following some of the places indicates that eitholr their Romanization or' rank is unknown to the compiler. Numerals following the names. of pla!'e" indiealt' tlw. hoard 01'
boards haviug resident missionarKls there. The numerals are the same as tMse pretlxt to the list of missionary societies given iu the accompanying table. The capital letter and numeral following each name at tbe AX'P8Rle right of the column indicate the square on the map where the place is located. In some ewes·mission stamollR could 1I0t he located on the map. and hence the name of the province in which they are has been placed in the right-hand margin of the column. Provinces are printed in capital letters; thus. SHANG-TuNG. and tbe numerals following their names ~ow what missionary societies labor in them.
Amoy T. (port) 5. 24. 28. 33……… E 5 Dang-seQg (?), 38………………. E 4 K'ai-yilan h. 32……………….. ,F 1 Ning-hai c. (Shan-tung) 5t., ……. F 2 T'ai-p'ing·]I'; ………………….. 05 An h. j7……………………….. B 3 Kaigan (Ohang-chia K'ou) T,l. 15.D 1 Ning-hsia F. 15………………… 0 II T'ai-ts'ang c. 9 ……………….. ~' 8 An-ch'ing Fu 0, 8. 51.. …………. E 8 Fen-cheng m. 17………………. D 3 Kan-chou F …………………… B 2 Ning-kuo ~'. 51 ………………… E 3 T'ai-yiian. Fu O. 25, 30…•……••.. D 2 AN-HUl. 3.4,14.15.40.51. Fen-chou F. 1. ………………… D 2 Kang-hou Dl. (1) 4 ……………… D 5 Ning-po F. (port), 2, 4, 27, 35, 51 …. F 4 Ta-ku m. 81……………………. E 2 An-jenh. 51. ………………….. E4 Feng-chenT.15……………….. Dl Kang-pui(I)42 ………………… D5 Ning-tilh.27 ………………. ; … F4 Ta-kiI Shari h. 5O………………. F 2 An-Iu F ………. ………………D 8 Feng-hs'lang F.51. …………….0 3 ·KAN.su.15,51. Ning-t1!c…. i •••…. …………..E 4 Ta-ku-t'ang m. 51. …………….. E 4 An-shun F. 51. …………………04 Feng-huah. 51 ………………… F" Kao-chou F …………………… D 5 Ning-wu F ……… ……………. D2 Ta-Ii F.51 …………………….. B4 An·tung h. 51. ………………… E 3 Filng-kang m. 51 ………………. E4 Kao-yu c. 51.. …………………. E 8 Ninq-yiianF………………….. . B4 Ta-ming F .. .. .. .. .. … . ………. E 2 . Fo-kilngT……………………… D 5 Khi-tshung(I)41. ……………… D5 Niu-ch'uang 1!..(port) ………….. F1 Tanc ……………..·……… , …. 06 Fo-shan T. 29 ………………….. D 5 KJao c………………………… F 2 Nodoa m. (1) 4 …………………. 06 Ta-ning h. 51 ………………….. D 2 Canton Fu O. (port) 1. 4,7.16,24,27. Fuc .. …………………………C 2 Kirin O. 86…………………….. G 1 Nyen·hang-Ii (t) 41. ……………. E 5 Ta-ting F' …………………….. C 4 29. 45 ……………………….. D5 FU"(}SIEN, 1, 5, 6,24,26,27,28,83,88. K'o-lan c…………… ~ ……•…..D 2 . Ta-tung .h. 1.1>………………….. E 8 Ohai-ch'i h.51………………….F8 Fu-ch'ingh.6,27……………….E4 Kuanh,51. ………….. , ……….B3 Pac.51. ……………………….C3 Ta-t'ungF.5t…………. , ……..D 1 Chan-hua h. Ill ………………… E 2 Fu-chou Fu O. (port). 1. 6. 26,2:l, Kuang c………… , ……………E 3 Pagoda Anchora!{o (Lo-hsing·t'a) Chang-chouF.5,24 ……………. E5 88…………………………… E 4 Kuang-chi, 2<J ……………… Hu-pei Te-an F.29…………………….D8 m. 1. ………… ,.;. ……….. E 4 Te-ch'ing h. {CM-chlang), 9……..F 3 p Chang-ch'un m. SU …………….. G 1 FlIk-wiQg(?), 42 ……………….. D 5 Kuang-feng h. 5t ………………. ~, 4 P'ang-chuang Ill. l …………….. E 2 Te-ch'ing c. (Kuang·tung), 22…… D.5 Chang"pa m. (1)27……………… 03 Fu-m~n m. (1»),42………. :.: …•.. 5 KUANG-HSI, 8,15,25, 2<J. P'ang-hai tn,-51 ………………. C 4 Teng-chou F. 4, 8………………. F 2 Chang-p'u h. 28 …………………-E 5 Ifn,Jiun-fu m. 36 ………. Sheng-chmg Kuang-nan ]i'………………….C 1) Pao-ee D 2 C…. i …………………… T'eng-yileh T. 51. ……………… A 5 Chang-sha F1t C…………. …….. D4 . Ftl-Ui~.F.27………………….. F4 Kwwg-ningh. 30 ………………. F 1 Pao-an c. {Chih-li) …………….. D 1 Th~g-thau-ha(?), 4J …………. D5 Ch'ang-shan h. 51. ……. , ….. ; …E·4 FU4s hal (1).41. ……………. D5 Kuang-tec. 51. …..•…………… Ie 3 Pao-an h. (Shen-hsi) …………… C 2 T'ien-cheng (1),15 …………Shan.hsi Chang-shu m. 51. ……………….E " Fu-yin s'un. SO ………….. Shen-hsi KUANG-TUNG. t, 2.4,8,15,16.22,24, Pao-ch'ing F …………………..D 4 Tientsin F. (port), 1, 6, 15, 21, 24.25. Ohang-tll F.12…………………D 2 25,26.27,28, 211, 41, 42. 43, 44. Pao-ning F. 51.'- ……………….. C 3 31,38,34.51. ………………….E 2 Ch.'ang-tO F.15, 28……………… 1>" Pao'1'i-hojI-shao;(?) 15……… Shan-hsl T'o-t'o-Oh'eng (1),15………..•••. D 1 Ch'ang-wu ·h; 51. ………………. C ~ Haie… :………. ……………..E 8 Kuang-tzu-kang (1)29………. fIu-pei Pao-shanb,. 9…………………..F 3 Tsaoh………………………… E2 Chang-yeh h.15………………..B2 Hai-ck'eng h. 32………………… F 1 Tsao-chouF………….. ……….E2 Chao-chis. K~ou m. 25,Gl ••..•…… E 3 KUang-yhan h; 51 :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.;.:…:.:.:.:.:.:..:C~~3 PPaaoo–tti'Pe!o' (F1)u1C5 …i.,4..,.5.1……..;……….S.h.a..n.-Ehs2i Ts'ing-shui-ho-tsi (?). 15……Shan-hsl Oh'ao-ehou F. 2, 28 …………….. E 5 HHaann–ccbh'ueBngghF.. 4256.,5511………………………….. DC 32 Pa-t'ang 'l/t ….,,; ……………… A 4 Tsong-hang-kung (1), 41. …••••••••D 5 Chao-t'ung F. 89. 51. …………… B<I Han-ch'uan h. 29………………. D 3 f~:L~h;ih:5i:::: P'eic ………………………….E 3 Tsong-shun (Y), 41. ……… ; ……. E 5 Chao-yang h ..24 …………… , …. 1' 1 Hang-ehou Fu C. (port), 4, 1tl, 27 … F 3- P¢i-hai (Pakhoil (port) 27……….. C 5 Tso~yiin h, 51. …………………. D 2 CHE"CHU,NG, 2, 4, 9, ]0, 27,85,43, 48,51. Han·k'ou h. (port).:8. 24, 29. 3.3, 51..D 3 Kl1EI-CHoU,51. »ekini (Im~rialCaPital), 1,4,-6, Tsun-hua Co 6..•…………..••.••• E 1 Han-shan h. 1'5…………………EIl K'l.iei·chouF…………….. ,. …. D 3 Tsun-i F …. …………. , ..•…….C • Ohefoo (Chih-fu) (port). 4, 34•.51 .•. F 2 Han-yallg F. 9, ~……………… D 3 Kuei-hoa T. 15 ……………….. D 1 13,1 ,21, ,33,34,52, 5c1.. …….. E 1 T'ungc.1. …………………..E2 C,.'en-anJl'…………………….C 5 Heng-chouF. …………………. D 4 Kuei-lin Fu C……………. ; …..D 4 Phyanihthong (1), 41. .- …………. E 5 Kuei-p'ing h. 15……………….. C 5 Kuei-te F'.. ………………….. '.' E 3- ChCn·chiangI".(port). 6. 8,10. HlI, M.E 3 Ho c, 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D2 iCuei-yany c (Hu-naD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D 4 Pih-k'e -ts'i (1),15…………Shan-hsi Tung-ck'ang F 4.6…5..1….•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•:nE 2 Ch'enchou F. 51. ……………… ES HQ-chwn F …………………….E 2 Kuei-yang Fu O. (Knei-chou), 51. •• 04 Pi-k'ou m. 50………………. , … F 2 T'ung-chou F. 3 Ch'cng-ku h. 51. ………………. C 3 Pine.51. ……………………… C2 Tung-ch'uan F. 31, 5J. …………. B4 Ch'eng-t~ (Je-ho'jF……………..E 1 Ho-ch'ih c……………………..C5 Kung-ch'angF……… , …………B3 Ping-Ie F …………… , ……….D 5 T'ung-hsln lB.5!. ………………F 2 Ho-ching h. 51 ………………… D 2 Ku-t'ien (Ku-cheng) h. 6, 27, 38….. E 4 Cheng- ling 1<'………………….. D 2 Ho-k'ou m.91 …………… , …… E4 K…yiianc …………………….. C2 P'ing-liangF.51. .•……….•… C2 .Tung-jen F ………….. ,……….C' .eh'ling-tu Fn C. 6,111. 51 .•••……. B 3 Tung-kuanh.42•••.•..•..•••..••••.D 5 Tung-tsun (1) 15 ……..•••• Kuang-hsi Cheng-lang KUQll T. 51…………E 3 Tung-un (I) 15………………. Kan-su Chen-yuan h. (Kan-su) 51 ..•.• ..•..02 Tu-shan c. 51. …………. '" ………0 4 It Cheng-Yltan F. (Kuei-chou)……..04 Ohic.51. ……………………… D2 2;-;,'26: si·::.:.::::::::: Chiac ………………………. :,"1;)2 Hok-su-ha (').41. ……………… E 5 Ping-lo (1) 15……………….1:an-su ~:!nC-tan hS 27 ……………….. 'jl~ . Ho-Iin-koh-ri T. (1) 15 ………….. 91 LaI-an h. 51……………………. E3 P'lmngg–yuacn.g.h…5.1..(.O..M..-.c.h.i.a.n.g.)………; .•].' 4 H~k~ng.·i:24: F u~-}!A~v.12,25,51. D3 £ta=i-~ch~oFu~F.C..:……………….:.:.:.:E~2: P'ing.yantF. (Shan-hsi), 51. …….D2 Tu-II'tn F ………………………04 ?' ~:lng.~(. sfl… ,………………. D 2 27;·.ji,'.i:i: ::D 5 Lau-t'ieu h. 51. … '" ……………0 S Wan c. (Kuang-tung) ………….. D 6 KG-8l1-wan (1)41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D 5 pppO1',b!-fA'hrnt.·h~·.),·5.·15.·.0· ……·.···•:.•·..··.·..·…·•..·.··..·..S.·h·.a·.n..-..t.·uDFE25~ Wan h. (Ssu-cb'uan). 51 …….•…. 03 g~:~s;'1.r.·.:?::::::::::::::::::::~ ~ Cblan/t c. 51. ……………….Shan-hsi Wan-chi (?).15………………Kan-su Hsie.51. ……………………… D2 Lao-hoK'oum. 49.51. ………… D3 Wei h. (Shan-tung), 4 ..•..•..•••… E 2 CORaAU..NNGG–sH£JSI3.6.42. 56. ,511.. 8. 9, 10, 11. 13. Hsiah.46 ……………………… D2 ~uo-r ~1 ~(u1)r ,. . . ………………… ~~. lVe~ c.(Ssu-ch'uan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3 n. 14. 18, "I, 24, 25., !7t 3a" 4;'), f)l, 53. Hsi-a.nFu-C.25,1lG.51. ………….08 Lei-chouF…… _……………… D5 ………………… Wet-hat-wei It . ………… '.' ……. F 2 Hsiang-ch'~,h.51. …………… DB u-e,.' ……………………. .. Wei-hut F. .. .. . .. . . … . … . ……. D 2 Chiang-yin h .. 10……………….. F B llsiao-cbaftgm·. (?) 1M ………….. Ell L~.,yngh.81. …………………..E2 HSiao·j 51. ………………….. D 2 Le-t'ilUi:h.31. ……………… : …E2 Ohia-ting F. 2,19,51…………….B 4 Lic.(H"u-nan) ………………….I);I Sah,l.a-ts'i (1),15………….. Shan-shi n:ei:",{!'-g c. ; …………………… B ~ Chia-yingc. 2, 41. ……………… KI> Hsiao-kan h. 24 ………………… D 3- Lt h. (Kan-su) …………………. 011 Hsiao-DUli m. 48 ……………….. E 4 Sangchia Ohu&figm. M …………C 3 It ei-yuan '1 …………………….B " Rsien-yuh. 88…………………. E 4 Liang-chou F. 1,1 . . . . . . . . . ; ……… B 2 San-shul fl. 51. ………… ~……..0 2 W.en-chou F. 35,51.., ……………F" Hsi-fengCbi'm m.51 ………….. ,.C2 Liao-yang e. 82…………………F 1 Hsi-hsisng h. 51. ………………. C 3- Li-ckiang F ………………….. .B4 Hsin c. 110.. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. … .. D 2 Lien c.4………………………. 5 Hsin-ch'ang h.51 ……….. : …… 1<'4 Li~n-cWang h. 27………………. E 4 Hsin-cll.en, 12……………… Ho-nan L.",,·hua T …. …………….. , …D " Hsin-ch'eug (?),1O…………….. F8 Lienp'ingc …………………… D5 Hlling-wn. 51. ……………..Shen-hsi Li-Iong (1) 41. …………………. D 5 . Lin-anF……………………… B5 Lin-chiang F. 51. ……………… E 4 n Ohieh~hsiu. 51. …………… i:>han-bsi Chien c. (I), 4ti. 51. …………….. D 8 &au. yliau. h. SO…………………. C 8· Wong-buang (?) 38……………. F 4 Oil'len c. 51. ……………. " ……0 8 n Sie-ke~!)5 …………………….. E5 Wu-cn'ang Fu C. 3. 15, 24, 29, 47 … D II Chiench'ang]i·…………………E4 Ohien ning F. 27. S~ ……………. E" So-p'ingF.5t. ………………… 1 Wu'Ching-fu m. 28…………….. E f> Shang-ch'ing m. 51. ……………. E4 Wu-chou F. (port). 8.15.25,29….. D 5 Cblen-p'ing h. 5t. ………………E 8 Shaalffiai h. (port), S, 4,7.8, 9. U. Wu-hu h. (port). 6;15. 4O:'51…….. E 3 CbWn-te h. 51. .. . . .. .. … . . .. .. ….E 3 lS.ill, 24. 25. 27,45, 46. 51. ……..F 8 WU·hIIIleh m. 29••.•••••••••.•••••.• E 4 g~:tt.~~h~~~~5~~::::::::::: ::::: :::g OHIII-LI.1, 4. 6, 18, 15, 21, 24, 25, 31, B8lng-hua F. I, 27, 3S………….. E 4 Lin-ch'lng c.1 …………………. E 2 SliLAN-HSI, 1,15.25. SO, 46, 51. 33, 34, 51, .52. SHAN-TUNG, 1.~, 8, S6. 81, 84.1>1. YB-ehou F. 2…………………..B 3 Chinc.86 ……………………… F1 HliIIng-iF.51.. ………………….C4 Lingc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02 J3,Wm.yang(f) lItI ………………..E:,! Y,ii c ………………………….06 Ch'inc. 51. ……………………. C 3 Hsing·p'ing h. 51. ……………… C 2 Ling-wu (?) 10…………………. F 8 Shao-OOou P. 29……………… _.-D !i Yangh.5'i …………………….. C8 Ch'iDg·chiang h. (port). 7. 51 …….ES Hsin-/),ua h …………………….D 4 Li-p'ing F … _…………………. C 4 Shoa-hsingF. 2,27,51 ………….. F. 3 Yang-cbiRng T. 4………………. D;:; Cbtng-tzfl Kuan. 51. …………….D 3 HsIn.hsiug h. 8…………………D 5 Li-t'ang m ……………………. .B4 ShaQ-wuF.l …………………… E4 _ Yang-chQu F. 6, 8, 51. …………..E 3 HBi-nwl': F. 51…………………..13 2 Liu-an c. 51…….. …….. ……E 3 Sba-l'i-ts'ing (?)l5•••••••…•……. D 1 Yang-k'_ m. 51. ………………. E 4 II: CI<'tng-yzt611. 1" ………………….C 5 HBin·~n·tzli Bl. 51 …………….. 0 3 Li'U-chou F … ………………….. C 5 ~~~114f:~:2i·:::::.:::::::::::g~ yen..an:Jl'•••••• ~ …………………C2 HIilIn-tu !7………………..,; .. B 3 Long-heu (1 41 ………………… D 5 Yen-ch'a T ………… ………….02 Chi·WI;Il FuC.4 …. , …… _…….. E2 HSI-yang(ll, 38……………. : …. 'E 4 Lo-tlng c.15………………….. D 5 She-hung, 40…………… ; …… ,C·3 Yen·p'lngF.2'l'……………….. ,E4 Hstlan-hua F.1S……………….. I Lo-yiian h. 27, 38………………. ~' 4 n Ching c. (Hu–nan) ……………… O 4 Hliil-ch'ieR h.li………………..E S Lu c. 51. ……………………… C 4 Shen c…………………. …….. E 2 Yen-shan h. 24…………………E I l!'~-chouF. (Chla~-su), 10.; …… E:I· Lu-an F. 51. …………………… D 2 SuW1m-CHING, 25, 32, 36, 58. Yln-chia Weim.51……………..C3 Ching e.(Kan-4JU) 51 ……………. 02 lll;tl.dtouF.(SsIl-cb 1,laDj,#,al….. B4 Lu.-ch'eng h. 51. ……………….D 2 SaEN-HSI, 25…80,46, 51.:. Ying c. 51 …………………….. D2 Ch'/ng-cbou !<'•.80………………. E 2 l!uai.anF.10……………. ;: …..E'8 Lu-cbou F; 14…………………. E 3 8li.liH:h'i<f1J, 1."……… " ……. • : ••• :C 4 ; Ying-chou F.-W……………….. K 8 C'hing-nlJlg e; Ii,l, ………… ; …..C It H¥("·eM'HI. F .. …………… : ….. ]) 2 Lung c. 51. …………………….0 2 Shih-clI'il~n h. 27 ………………. B3 Ying-k'ou. S6………………….. F 1 Ching-shanb. 21.: ………………DB Huai-Iu Ii. 51. ….. , …………….D II Lung-chou T. (port) …………….C 5 Shih-nan1J'; …. ; … ……. ; ……… C 3 Ying-shan,51……….. : ..SSu-ch·uan Oh'ing-yang h. 15……… . ……. ,J!! S Huaagh.8…. , …………………F 2 Lung-ch'uanh. 48……………… E4 Shun-ob'ing F. 51……………….. 08 Yin-taoc ……………………… B2 Ohing·yiian m. (?) 43 •••• , •• Che-chiang HUlIN-y~m h. 2………………… F 4 Shun-n-i>yJ F ……….. ………… B 5 Yo-chou F …. …………………..D .. Ohin-hua F. 1.1>1……………….. F4 Ilal..cbou F. 2………………….. F 3 Macao (port) 15………………..D 5 Shun-t~F. 51. …………………. D 2 Yuc ……….·…………………. E2 C'hi-ning c. 4 …..•…….•……••..E 2 H11i-cbou F. 51. ……………….. E 4 M;,ih.51 ……………………….C3 Ssu-ch'eng F …………………….O 5 Yztun-chou F. (Chiang-hsi)•••••••.•D 4 ('.h'ln-shou Ohlang m. 49 … , ..•••••D S Hm–lic………………………..B4 Meng-tzu h. (port)………………B 5 SsU-ca'JAN, 2,6, 18, 19;,-24, 27, ~3, <10, Yztan-chou F.(Hu.nau)…………C4 Chiu-chiang F. (port), a, 25, 51 …… E 4 HU-NAlI, 15,23. Men-k'ou-liang m. 8 ……………. E I> Yiim-sui T .. ……………………B 4 G.h~iu-fu 1: ……………………. E2 Bung-tung b. 51. ……………….D 2 Mien c. 27 ……….. _………….. BII 51. Chmng-cbou F. 4 ………………D G Hun-ylian. 51. ……………. Shan-hsi Mien-ehu h. 27…………………. B3 Ssu-enP……………………….C5 Yileh-yang h. 51. ……………. , ..D 2 Chou·chih. h • .51……………. , .••• C 3 HU-PEI, 2, 3,15,17,24, 29, :r.~, 37, 41, ' Minc.15………………………. B3 Ssu-mao T ~port) .. … ; …………. B " YU-lin c ………………………. D5 Chou,p'lng h. SO……………….. E 2 Min-eh'ing h. 6…………………E 4 Ssu-nan F …… ……………….. C 4 Yii-liuF……………………….C2 Cbou-t'ang-ao. 44 ………………. D5 49.51. Mi-yiin h . ……………………..E 1 Su-chou F. (port) (Ohiang-"u).4, 8. Yfin-ch'engm. 51 ………………. D 2 Ch'u c. 14……………………… E 3 Bu-wei, 44…………………….. D" iI.10.14….. _………………… F8 Yung-ch'angF………………… A4 Ohii c ………………………….E2 Su-chou F.(Kan-su) ……………. A 2 Yung-ch'IDg_h. 34 •••••••••••••••••• E 2 Chou h. 51. …………….. Ssil-ch'uan Moi-lim (?) 41. ………………… E 5 Chuang-lanD T …………… ,.•.••B 2 Ian!l,kao (1) 15……•………Shan-hs! 1I0-ti-chieh m. 51. ………………D 3 Sui-tec……………………… :.D2 Yung-chou F ……….. …………D 4 Ohu·chi h.Ili………… , ……….F4 Sui.tingF……………………..C8 Yung-ch'un c. 28………………. E 4 I-ch ang F. (port) 3. 37, 47, 51. …… D 3 Mukden O. 25. 82, 36…………….F 1 I-chou F. 4….. .. …………..E 2 Sung-chiang]'. 9 ……………….F 3 Yung·k'ang h. 51. ………………F 4 Chu-ch'ih ……………… ……..DS I-ning c…••••…………… , ……D 4 Chou-chou F.f8………………..E4 I-shih h. 51. …………………… D 2 Sung-p'an T. 51 ………………… B 3 Yung-kung m. (1)1 ……………. E5 Oh'u-hdung F ………………….B 4 I-yang h. 51.-………………….. E 4 Nan-aft F ……………………..D 4 Sung-yang h. 48 ………………·.. E 4 Yung.,nifig c …. ………………. D 2 Chung·ch'ing F. (port),a.13, 24.33. Nan-ch'ang Fu C. 51. ……….•… E 4 Swatau (port), 2, 28 ……………. E 5 Yung-p'ing F.31 ……………….E2 Nan-k'ang F. 51 ……………….. E 4 Yung-Bhun F . ………………….D <I 40,51 ………………………… 04 Nanking ~'u C. (port), 4,6,14,18 … RS Ch'u·wang. 12 …………….. Uo-nan Jao-chou m. 51 …………. Chiang-hsl Nan-n,ng F …………………. ,.C 5 Ta-chlen-Iu T. 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 8 Yiin-ho h. 48 ……………………E 4 Ch'iian-cbou F.~……………… E5 Jen-ts'un m.l …………………. D 2 NILD·hsiung c. 44 ………………. D 4 T'aic………………………….F3 YUH-NAN, 39, 51. Cb'iHming F.51 ……………….B4 Ju-ning F .. ……………… , ……D 8 NaB-ling h. 15…………………. ES T'ai-an.F.34, …………………..E2 Ylln·nanFu C. 39, 51 …………….B4 T'ai-chou F. 27. 51……………… F4 Yiin'C1lang F ………… ………..D 3 Ch'u-chou F. 51 ………………..E~ Nan-Vi'a h. 27 ………………….. E 4 T'lLi-ho h. 51. ………………….. E 3 YIi-shan h. 51. ………………….E 4 Ch·U·wu h. 51 …………………. D 2 K'ai·reng Fu 0………………… D3 Nan-ra~ F ……………………D 8 T'ai·kang h. 51 ………………… E 3 Yu-yang c. (I) ………………….04 Cheag·bau (f), 88……………….Il 4 K'ai-lw.a F .. …………………. _B 5 *Ningoliai h. 51 lObe-chiang)…••••. F 4 — T'ai·ku h. 1…………………….D 2 Yu-wum. 51……………………DII –"——i–I-.;I .; .~ .~_. 0 0 ~-~- – – – -.. –~– (Ve=:'; 0; i-u t NAME.()~' 80CIF.1'1'. ~~ ~ r~ ~ b :i ~ en ,~g~~. ~o~ w .8 -; ~~ .~ ~~w~ ~~.~$ ~~ ~~~ ~ c; W ~ !~ .~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ @~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ .~ ~ jj i (t,t..tl,tics for 1898.)~~0 ~·:IZ5l ~c,).rsn f>. ~~ ~ § ~ -~…. ~ ~ ~~ ~~ !Xl U 00 >. ~ ~~§ ~ ~ 0 ~u ~J~J5 f~ as "~S. _§ q~ ) ~~ ~ ~P'" m§ p~ ~ ~00 ~ A ~ ~ ~ ;:.. '5. _ '0 .~ ~ ~~e-~;:i~i-=i< ~~ >. 5. ~AME OF S()(;[ET'L ~f . ttJ ~ i .. ~ ,~~~~ ~ ~ ~_~~ 8o~~ 0Ei-'~; ~~Q~) -E w … ::: A (Statistic. for lR98.) …. ~§ 'E ctl ;..0 =' ;: .;:: "e '0 "e '0 o~S;:~: il 1~ : '0 '0 :0 '~"~§ '5 t 8 S "E t:i b fi; b -..
~ ; ~ p IZ ~ Z ~ E-< 7;P< Z I ~.:; Z ~ -oE ; U ~ Z i':,.. Z …:l …:l;ii Z 1Z ~ ~l~ -;~ ~ rro~ation 18~3 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ =~ ~ 1 American 130ard…………………. 1830 -;;; -; -; u 0 0 p Z:;; Z;; '"' ZP< Z 0 112 -;; –;-;;; –;:; 1221 22,6 6S6 34 SoCiety for of the GORpel – –; -;:; –.; –;; II 1 m ~ ~~~r~~1:~tBlg~~~~..·~~~(r:.~~.I?~: ~¥~ ~ f~ 1~ ~I"'~ lJ lt~ 1~ i~ ~ 1~~ &1~ ~ r.T;l:~~;b~[i~~n~l.l~~.~~·.::::::::::::ll~:rt ~ ~…. 2~ 1:': ~ :~ 3~ 17;7 ::::1 :::1:8 t … 4 PresbyterlanBoard(North) ………. I8.'18 58 18 68 40 16 9 134 527 19304 8317 201 2490 11 685 37 Church of Scotland……………… 18;8 2 1 9 12 13 Heformed Church In America …….. 11342 5…. 3::81 264 ~821220665 Zenana Missionary Society………. 1834 2.. .~. S, 11…. 110 11~ 5~ Methodist Epl.copal Church (North) 1847 41 9 4 8 1…. 17 45 15 130 21033024~ 471~11 66'23 88 Bible Christianst………………… 11885 …. …. 37… 1 14 25 33 …2.~. 2 ………… .. 48 r,:, 12 12 152 695 39 7 …. ''',j 3 1…. 4 2 70 …… .. n 19[ • Seenth-Day Baptist……………… 1847 1…. 1 2…. 1 45 1 1 5" 21 58 2 32 40 Friends' ~'. M.Association ………. 1886…. G 1 3…. …. 11 7 2 3 .' 2 162 …… .. ~ ~?e~l:~'JI~tB:gf!~~~~n~~~~':l(s;,iiili) l~~ '''j 1~ rs 1~ 1~~ ~§i l~lg '''61'[.52 il''':i !~ ~ – – – – – – – – – – – – — – — — 1….. ….. 6…… 11 .. .. 10 Presbyterian Church South) ……… 1367 21 8 2S 141 6. 2 66 53 18…. -1- -1- -1– 2 4 9 ….1………….. I 11 Woman's Union MI.s onary Society 1869 ……….. 118…. b 18 13 11 6 370 18i 300 1…. Totals of British Socletle………….. 174 851166 183 50[ 12 6252159 13., 866 29644 547 106,8 18 16.'1 12 prt'Sb{terian Churcb. Canada…….. 18719 2 5 21 2 1 – — – '1- 12"' – -~–I'– 18 Amer call. Bible Society…………… 1876 1 5…………… 6 87 4 ………….. I………….. '141 Basel Missionary Societv…………. 1847 21 2 13…. 1…. 36 13 49 3000 4 1121 2 r,5 14 ~'ot·ejgnCi>rlstl"".Mis.ionarll Soc… 1886 i 9 2 10 :I 1 2 24 8 5 6 2041 'I 1:3 2 4S 42 Hhcnish Missionary Society ……… 184, 9 2 6 2 2 "" I~ 10 5 8 375 4 66 2 H 15 Chl'istt"" ….d Missionarr, Al iance … 1888 1 …. 121…. 34 1 ………. ,…………… 43 Berlin Woman's China Society! ….. 1856 … 1 1 4 .. .. …. I G…. 1 ……………………… . 1~ Vnlted ~""t-llr<ln In ,Cbr st………… 1889 5 5:3 28 35 .1I….2 19 4, 118 …….. '[44 Berlin llH..lonary Society~…….. : .. 188~ 4 2 …. ,…….. ,… 6 50 1, SwedishA'IneriOOllMi.slont ……… 1890 S3 1 3 10 18 11 ……..1…….. " 211 479 18 2';u " 81 IK Amerro..nF….,….·Board ……. ; …. 1891 3 …. 2 .. ….. 5 …. 1…. 1 . …. .. , .. 45 Gen. Eangellcal Prot. Miss. Assoc.t 188., 3 ………………. 3 …. 1 …. . . ….. . . .4i.1.. … . . . . … . .. 1 …….. 6 …. 2 *6 7 1 2 50 6, lCO ,46SwedlshMissiont………………. 1887 1 8 6 14 2 …. 2~ 14 4 …. 60 … . . . . … . .. .:3.I …….1…….3..i!……..".., 162 ………..2…………..10………'………………………. 14487 CGoenrmgraengaCthioinnaalAClhliuarnccheot.f.S..w..e.d.e..n.t… 11889910 …8 . .9 21 54 …………… 26 ….; 4~ …3.1…..8.2. .'..•……….. .. 6 …. 3 …………… 1………….. 49NorweglanLutheran…………….. 1891 " 1 4 1 2 …….. 2a;o:::~::~:::::~::t::~:::::::::: .~~ ~ ~~ 96:~:~ .~~ .~~~:~~ill·:~~:~ . ~~~:~ ~ 1…. 1W911889912I8 ;……. . 116.,…4. 1895 .. 3 8 …. 21 GMoetshpoedillillat pEtort .:=oCnh+l1..rc.h..,.C..a.n..a.d.a. " v Y.M.C.A.mFOPeignLan<ls ……… .. 4 …. 1 ………….. '…… …. … 50 Danillh Missionary SOeiety………… 1S9"! 5…. 2 2.. 32253 ………… .. 2'! lteformed Prel!byterians …………. 1896 2…. 2 …….. 9 …. 3 …. 4 ………………
1897 27: 12: 31: 15: TotalsofContinentaISocleties ……. _ _ 28 32 33 5 …. 145 205 43 91 3997 ,9 1539 9144 … "'" 51 Cblna Inland Mission ……………. 11868857 30 296 1,6 274 16 1 776 605 149. 169 7H1 114 1589 3 137 36 24 12 . 3 1~ 12….. … …. 27 Knowiedge'" 24 Lond"" Mlosionary Society………. 1807 25 Britltoh BIl>le SGeiety……………… 1886 45 3 291 .116 01.4.0….7.0.9.7..1.1.7. ..2.5.3.0. ……………. 52 Chinese BUnd Mission § 1 …. 1………… 2…. 1……………….. 1 20 4 11 2,() 53 Diffusion of Christian 1887 1…. 1……… … 2 …. 1 ………………………. . tg m 96 ~'em..1e t<;c!ucatlon -Society ………… 1887 …. …. …. 6 …. …. 6 16 . 2 8 …… 171 400 …….. 54 International Institute ………… ::: 1897 1 1 1………… 3…. 1 …………………….. .. ~~~~~r~~=::r~~~~.i~.~::::::::::::lt~ 2~ t~ ~ 1~,"'i 1~ 2~ 12~ m~ 2r1! ~~ g ~ —————-~– 29 WesleYlRM.IfIs!e.llry Society U…… 1852…. 13……. 3 1 *30 129 18 37 … 31 ' 896 4…. Totals of International Societies…… 88 297 179 274 16 1 783 605 152 169 7141 114 1,>89 4 157 l ? L:: ~~~~~~i~1'lfe~~n~':,~:l~n:::.::::::: lr~ 2~ :::: 1~ …: ~~ 1~ ~ 2~ ~"37 1~~ '''2 "4i 32 Scotch United Pre.byterlan…. '….. 1362 10 4 12 10 ..5T, ..4. 36 158 – – – – – – – – – – – — – — -.- 33 Scotch Bible Society……………… 1863 1 8 7 . …. 16 170 4 63 5183 55[1 652…….. 6…… … ……… . Net Totals of all Societies…………. 527 519 675 724 136 56 24615071 4001969 80632 1766 30046 105 4285 ·~~roIT_~n~_fu~u~~~. tTh_WM~M_O~~W~~Mh~~~.-lli~sI-@~.~-t-S-~-lli-ti-M-~-n-m-u-Q-~-a-.-lli-~-M-H~a-Il~O-OO~k-~~U-98~.~§-D-ffi~n-V~~-I·~S·-·}~"-~~M-s~to-t-~~.H-c-~~~-m-."~18~97~. nSociety's rf'port for 1896; It inl'lndr,s stntisties of mlssIonnrlt"'R only of thf' C('utral China Lay ~ftssion and of th(> .Joyful News ~1ission. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
Old Series. } SEPTEMBER. New Ser'l,es. VOL. XXIII. No.9. { VOL. XIII. No.9.
THE ANTI-FOREIGN UPRISING IN CHINA.* BY REV. HARLAN P. BEACH, NEW YORK.
Formerly missionary under the American Board in North China, now Educational Secretary Student Volunteer Movement.
While news from China is such an inextricable medley of fact, rumor, and fiction as has never been equaled by modern journalism, it is as futile to attempt to write an account of the present movement as it would have been to summarize the history of the French Revolution on the day of the storming of the Bastile. The great sufferings of ambassadors', soldiers, and missionaries, are still to be learned; yet, when all the facts are known, church history will doubtless add a thrilling page unexcelled in Christian heroism on the part of both missionary and convert, by anything found in the bloody persecutions of the early centuries. All that is here attempted is to present from a Chinese point of view a rationale of the present crisis that will satisfy the ordinary mind, as is not the case with the supposition that a horde of Boxers, mainly peasants and illiterate, are its leading cause.
CAUSES LEADING UP TO RECENT OUTBREAKS.
These causes are numerous, and in reality go back to that first great wound received from the West, the Opium War with Great Britain, in 1841-42. The essential causes, however, all lie within the present decade. During the year 1891, in at least fifteen centers, Catholic and Protestant mission stations were attacked, and in many cases looted, on one occasion with the loss of two British lives. As these attacks ranged from Manchuria to Canton, and from the mouth of the Yang-tzii to the province of Ssii-ch'uan, they indicate the existence of a wide-spreau anti-foreign sentiment, which has never since slumbered.
These riots were, however, but preludes to more important events succeeding the recent war between Japan and China. Such a revelation of her own weakness-due very largely to' official corruption and governmental self-conceit-and of the strength of her despised * The spelling of Chinese names in this article follows that of Sir Thomas Wade's system, used by Mr. Beach in his" Dawn on the Hills of T'ang." This is also the system followed in the large map. The smaller map follows the system used by the Royal Geographical Society of London. We publish these two maps with the thought that a comparison of the systems may be helpful in finding places on other maps and locating cities mentioned elsewhere.
CBINl!:SE OFFIcrALS IN NORTH CHINA.
pigmy neighbors-acquired in so brief a period from contact with the West-was an imperative call to arms, if China would save herself from impending ruin.
Reform movements found in the empire's humiliation fertile soil for an extensive propagandism of Occidental ideas. Most of the agitators were young scholars, who were inspired partly by a new patriotism, and partly by the hope of advantage sure to accrue to leaders in the new regime. But how were these modern ideas to reach the influential elements in the empire? "
Evidently literature, China's ancient reliance, must be the active agent employed in this gigantic midwifery. Suddenly, periodicals sprang up in all the great seaboard cities; brochures and ponderous volumes kept the presses busy night and day; and so great was the profit coming from such publications, that pirated editions were pro-
THE ANTI-FOREIGN UPRISING IN CHINA
duced, much to the financial detriment of the prime mover in this work, the Society for the Diffusion of Christian and General Knowl- edge. An idea of the importance of this factor in the birth-throes of Ohina's renaissance may b~ gained from some facts concerning the work of the society just named. Its report for 1898 shows that more than one hundred and twenty religious, scientific, and his- torical works had been issued by the society, with a record for the year of over thirty- seven million pages. In 1893, before the war with Japan, only $817 worth of. their literature had been sold, while in 1898 sales aggregated $18,457. Within a fortnight of its publication, four thousand copies of a popular Ohinese edition of Mackenzie's "Nineteenth Oentury" had been purchased.
The society took steps to circulate their literature at many of the two hundred examination centers, so that in remote sec- W. A. P. MARTIN, D.D., LL,D. tions of the empire officials were able to talk glibly of new scientific discoveries, and President Emeritus of the Imper. were well acquainted with the constitutional lal Tungwen COllege, P eking. history of Western nations. This wide dis- Among the Imperiled for· elgners at tbe Chinese capital.
semination of Occidental and reform ideas, which in 1898 caused the Presbyterian Press to print forty-five million pages, was aided more largely still by the perusal of Chinese periodicals which, num- bering nineteen in 1895, had increased to fourfold that number, when the empress dowager's strongly worded edict, following the coup d' etat of 1898, placed a ban upon such literature.
As the emperor himself had been an interested reader of these publications, and had, through his study of English, given countenance to progressive tendencies, it is not surprising that, backed by the arch- reformer, K'ang Yii-wei, a series of twenty- ARTHUR B. SMITH, D.D. seven edicts should have been issued in quick succession during the months preced- Missionary of the American ing his retirement by the empress dowager. Board, and among the be· The decrees most influential in causing sieged foreigners at Peking.
national ferment were the following: One calling for the abolition of the Six Boards; an edict doing away with the old scheme of examination that for centuries had been the door to
office, and consequent emolument; one authorizing the remodeling of the army system, and the securing of modern armament-issued two years within a day previous to the date when the bombarding of ambassadors at Peking, by means of modern arms, was effected; the edicts encouraging free discussion of national issues in the public press, and authorizing the Hending of sealed memorials to the throne; and the indignant decree issued after high officials had opened such a sealed memorial.
Another series of events have had an even more important bearing upon the improbable continuance of China's independent existence. The war with Japan had left Russia securely seated on Chinese soil, at one of her four deep-water harbors. England, already owning Hongkong Harbor, was not long in securing Wei-hai-wei, a most strategic and well-fortified position, where she soon began the formation of an army recruited from the neighboring Chinese. The murder of two Catholic priests on November 1, 1897, gave Germany the pretext needed for what the London Speaker calls" the piracy of Kiao-chou"- one of her high officials testifies that they had another that would have been less convincing, tho usable for the purpose-and China's third deep-water harbor passed into alien hands, leaving her only one, Amoy. This was a most serious blow, as Shan-tung, the province in which Kiao-chou Bay is situated, is her Holy Land, containing the birthplaces and tombs of her two throneless kings, Confucius and Mencius. Moreover, the province is rich in goid and other minerals, and in density of population it stands second in the empire, falling little short of Belgium in this particular. The populous hinterland, which forms a highway toward the exhaustless coal and iron beds of Shanhsi, was a prize, indeed, for Germany, and its impending alienation was a bitter presage for the empire. '1'he new boldness of France on the south, and the agreement made with Japan in 1898, that she was to have the first right to China's most densely populated province, Fu-chien, opposite Formosa, together with Britain's growing influence in the great Yang-tzu valley, have increased the feeling of insecurity due to the insatiable land-hunger of the Occident.
Looking now to the masses, the increase of railroad exploitation, and the growth of trade, were most potent factors in exciting popular distrust, or even hatred. Already 516 miles of railway have been built, 600 more are under construction, and five· other lines have been surveyed or are in process of being located-some 3,000 miles in all. Railways are to the Ohinese horrid ghouls; since no engineer can lay down a railway line where private cemeteries are omnipresent, without crossing thousands of highly reverenced graves, the desecration of which is supposed to lead to manifold and awful evils. Then, too, one train can, at a single trip, transport as much as 270 wheelbarrows or fifteen small junks, with their crews, a veritable catastrophe where
A STREET SCE~E iN THE PROVINCE OF SHAN-HSI, NORTH
ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEI RAL, TIENTSIN.
It can be seen from the photograph that this cathedral has been partly destroyed uy a Jllilll competition is so intense and the workers in larger evidence than the work. The foreign goods thus introduced are looked upon as executioners by those whose trade is affected through foreign commerce, though welcomed, of course, by others. Even the government is threatened by the railway evil; for, not to mention the indemnity demanded when foreign employees are killed or injured by the mob, syndicates, aided sometimes by their governments, have most unrighteously insinuated their entire camel proportions into the Mongolian tent, when original agreement admitted only its nose. Rather than run the risk of war, the government has been obliged to submit to most shameless imposition and breach of faith.
The most fundamental cause of difficulty, often alluded to by native agitators, is a religious one. Not that the Chinese are especially religious; on the contrary, they are apathetic to the last degree on religious matters. Yet to his glory be it said, the missionary, who is the only "foreigner, except at the ports and at Peking, who lives and labors among the people, is largely responsible for the religious aversion felt against Occidentals. This antipathy is due to many causes, besides the primal enmity that always exists between light and darkness. Thus missionaries are pitiful and like their Master minister to the sick; but the sick sometimes die and stories of awful crimes arise in that connection. Orphans and foundlings are saved from lives of shame or from actual starvation, and many are so weak when rescued that
THE ANTI-FOREIGN UPRIStNG lN CHINA
death soon ensues, an event which is currently said to be due to fiendish aims. Other unmentionable rumors arise from the free mingling of the sexes at mission stations; from the celebration of the Lord's Supper; and, in the case of Oatholics, from the secrecy with which extreme unction is administered at the moment of death. Another grievous cause of official animosity is the fact that Oatholics are notorious for advocating the cause of converts at local courts, often securing acquittal and thus encouraging unworthy men with lawsuits in prospect to enter the church.
Again, Protestant and Oatholic missionaries alike, when injured or killed by hostile mobs, are rightly championed by their governments, to the great inconvenience or loss of the officials. Degradation or punishment, and heavy indemnities, which latter are usually exacted from the people, increase the hatred. When to this is added the imperial decree-translated in The Ohinese Recorder for September, 1899-which provides for an exchange of visits between officials and Oatholic bishops, the latter being imperially declared equal in rank and dignity to viceroys and governors, one can imagine the exasperation of Chinese officialdom. Happily Protestant missionaries have decided not to avail themselves of this right, which by the" most favored nation" clause could be claimed. The crowning sin of Protestants and Oatholics is. however, their attitude toward ancestral worship, the Gibraltar of Ohina's religion. This attitude which no Ohristian can conscientiously renounce, OonfuCIanism can not brook; hence arises an undying hostility.
If so hopeless a case can be made worse it is rendered so by the dynasty-long irritation felt by the Ohinese because of the domination OUTSIDE THE SOUTH GATE, CITY OF TIENTSIN, CHINA.
of the alien Manchus. The northern Boxer may shout it Exalt the Pure Dynasty! " but elsewhere more remote from t.heir masters the muttering and secret machinations of Ohinese hatred are present.
What with the ominous storm-clouds from the West, and brewing tempests within her own borders, the Empire is confronted by a frightful dilemma.
This summary has shown how increasingly strong is the·feeling against foreigners, and its reason- ableness in the Ohinese view.
The sentiment affects all the agents in the present contest, which, as M. A. de Ponvoir claims in the July issue of La Nouvelle Revue, is "the eternal struggle between the yellow and the white, . . . a struggle which will only cease with the extermination of the yellow or the retreat of the white."
The Ohinese masses are stirred partly by the special Boxer agita- tion, but more universally because of their absurd belief in malicious stories, most outre in character, and their fear lest foreign com- merce and railways will cause a cataclysm of ancestral wrath and rob them of their already meager livelihood. 'rhe life?'ati are most deeply affected, because if the em- pel'or's edicts had materialized, their occupation would be gone, after it had been hardly earned through the strenuous labors of DlNG UONG MING. one or two decades. In any case, A Chinese Christian of the third general.ioll, the spirit of reform is in the air, who was a delegate to the World's Chris· and they feel foredoomed. Mean- tian Student Federation in 1897.
while, such of their number as are officials are in perpetual fear of an anti-foreign outbreak, with its inconvenient and costly consequences. The reformers look on with intensest interest, hoping that out of these fires will emerge a purified and modernized empire. Yet it is an enterprise which is fraught with gravest dangers to themselves, as the history of the past two years sadly proves. Even imperial majesty sits on a most thorny throne. The unhappy emperor must be in daily fear
THE ANTI-FOREIGN UPRISING IN
of a most wretched death. The empress dowager's satisfaction in the decree of January 24, 1900, which she doubtless dictated for the emperor, and in which Pu Ohun, son of the since notorious Prince Tuan, is made his successor, was short-lived. The telegram from Shanghai, emanating from 1231 of the literati and gentry of that region, -..T::O:.. :-.
'!ltr WolI, . -•t"":-':'~I~~·tr ' …. '..1 ….. ol'h,••.
beseeching the princes and members of the Tsung-li Ya-men not to permit Kuang Hsft to abdicate; the bold laudation of the emperor, promulgated by Hsft, of Hankow, who charges the empress dowager with tyranny and with giving territory to Russia; the cablegram from BO,OOO Chinese in Siam, threatening to return and punish the arch-
traitors in Peking; and other protests, forty-six of which reached the capital within a few days after the decree, from the Straits Settlements, Australia, California, and elsewhere-all these indications showed that China the world round was aroused, and the empress dowager forthwith hastens to invite foreign ministers to the emperor's Chinese New Year reception ! Nor can Prince Tuan be at ease. As father of a prospective emperor, and temporary victor over Occidental powers, he may have felt great elation; but what of the awful ending for him of this unparalleled harvest of death that he has been reaping? And as for the Powers, they are at their wit's end, fearing that they must needs enter upon a war which may prove a veritable Armageddon.
UNDERESTIMATED FACTORS IN THE UPRISING ITS.ELF.
As we have purposely lingered over facts which are inseparably connl;lcted wit,h thf' genesis of the uprising, tho in the popular mind never associated with it, so in speaking of the final outbreak we shall underscore only a few vital facts not very commonly con- sidered. The main features of the situation as they have been vividly, tho often falsely, pic- tured in the daily papers, are universally known, and may be omitted.
Chinese secret societies are a TOWER IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER potent force, for the reason that , OF THE WALL OF PEKING. freedom of speech on certain su b- jects is denied. Shan-tung, where the Boxers first came into prominence last year, is honeycombed with such societies. Rev. F. H. James held that there were over one hun- dred, and in 1890 he compiled information concerning fifty-two of them, the Boxers not being named in that list. Many secret societies exist for the propagation of political theories, often of a revolu tionary character, and directed toward the overthrow of the present alien domination of the Manchus. How many of these are concerned in the present uprising one can not tell, tho a book recently issued in Peking to foster the movement was written in the interest of "the Eighteen Affiliated Societies." Doubtless, as some continental writers assert, the famous or infamous society originally known as the White Lily Sect, but existing under various names throughout China, is largely implicated in the Boxer movement. As for the' sect itself, called I Ho Ch'uan, I Ho T'uan, Ta Tao Hui, etc., boxing finds small place in their gatherings, jumping, and kicking the feet high in the air being more prominent than the use of fists. Hypnotism of a
THE ANTI-E;OREIGN UPRISING IN CHINA
A STREET IN THE CITY OF PEKING.
crude sort is practised.. It is designed to incarnate in the initiated Kuan Kung, £. e., the Chinese Mars, the Yang family who were noted lancers, or Sun Hou 'rh, a mythical monkey whose club was a Chinese excalibur equal in power to a modern army corps. Most of them have proba]:Jly. believed until recently that the magic spells used impart invulnerability, and hence they are fearless beyond even ordinary Chinese. Such beliefs and practises, propagated widely in secret, and finding allies in other sects, were peculiarly fitted to enlist the popu- lace. As the societies have not ventured to really proclaim their views beyond the four-character watchcry, "Exalt (the) Pure (or Manchu dynasty); destroy (the) foreign (enemy)," their main reliance has been the poster and booklet, whose main object is to connect foreigners and especially missionaries with every low and revolting idea that can be imagined. Aside from literature newly prepared, such as the damning poetical poster translated in the London Standard for ApriI30th,* there has been an extensive recrudescence of older works, "'rhe Death Blow to Corrupt Doctrines," e. g., 800,000 copies of which were paid for by a single individual. 'l'his book, which in a modified form was used so effectively against Jesuit converts in 1624, has been very influential in spreading obscene and hellish ideas concerning foreigners. The poster, however, because of its publicity, brevity, and the rewards promised to those who multiply and circulate it, is perhaps the most dangerous weapon that has been used. Ridicule too, is a powerful agency, as witness the interest still shown in the "Hu-nan Picture Gallery," and the old puns which transform Catholics-Lord of Heaven sect-into "Squeak of the He~venly Hog," and foreigners-sea men—–:into "goat men," and WhICh make the picture of a hog signify a missionary, while a goat syml?olizes the convert. Is it any marvel that with such real and fancIed grievances against foreign nations and at the end of a long drouth popularly attributed to foreign devils, there 8hould be a mighty uprising that temporarily paralyzes Western powers?
* Reprinted in the August Missionary Review, p. 651.
WHAT OF CHINA'S RELIGIOUS FUTURE?
At the time of writing, the anti-foreign uprising has spread from the northeast over most of the provinces, carrying death or persecution to missionaries not a few, aud to multitudes of native Christians. Is it the death·knell of the missionary enterprise in China? The ten bloody baptisms of the early Church and the impotent rage of a Diocletian are sufficient answer. The Dragon breathes forth threatening and destruction, but the Lamb and His followers will yet bind him about with cords of love, and the glorious prophecies of Isaiah find their fulfilment.
On the Pei TIo's banks stands a striking ru in, that of the towering walls of the Catholic cathedral, a mute survivor of the awful Tientsin massacre of 1870. It is a fitting symbol of the Church of the Living God which may pass through fires and lose its baser materials, but which, nevertheless, endures in its diviner elements; for tho there is "a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, the Lord of hosts musLereth the host of battle."
For the Uhurch of God the sheathing of the victor's sword is but the beginning of the campaign. Occidental powers, commercial enterprises, the mingled cup of blessing and curses called civilization, will rush in like a flood to possess this matchless empire. The conflict will thus present new elements of difficulty, and will consequently demand a larger, a more resolute, and resourceful force than ever before, and than in any other battlefield. The hour has struck, and the Church must gird herself speedily for this greatest con1lict of the Christian centuries.
CBlNESIIO VILLAGIIO CARTS.
Impressed to draw munItIon. of war. SEA SCALE OF ~ru:s :.Il 100 15;0 –RAILROADS – – CAhALS F", -/kptrrt_ntt CQP,t4I•.
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"'::::m' :-LL2…..'–"_—:'=_ _ PrvtOtlJ<ltt .t!'UWII ' 0.""'1' * ____ ……….. ,……….c. .. __ co ·, £N.G ft ' 5. 111 . 1' · THE CHIEF SCENE OF THE .ANTI- F O R EI G N RTOT S IN CHINA. Location of Protestant Missions in the Chief Scene of the Anti-foreign Uprising in Northeastern China.
The names in heavy-faced type are those of mission stations marked on page 669; the names in italics are alternate spellings Romanized according to Wade's system (breathing omitted).
Chan-h'W'a (Chan-hua). Methodist New Pao-Ung-f'u. American Board, China Connection (England). Inland Mission, American Presbyterian (North). Chao-yang. London Missionary Society. Chef'oo (Chi-Ju). American Presbyterian Peking. American Board, American Bible Society, American Presbyterian (N.), China Inland Mission, Society for (North), American Methodist (North), the Propagation of the Gospel. Christian and Missionary Alliance, Inter- Cheng-te-f'u (Jehol). Canadian Presby- national Y. M. C. A., London Missionary terian. Society, Society for the Propagation of Chi-ning-chau. American Presbyte- the Gospel, International Institute, Mis- rian (North). sion for Chinese Blind, Scotch Bible Fen-chau-f'u. American Board. Society, Society for Diffusion of Chris- Fen-cheng. Swedish American Mission. tian Knowledge. Feng-chen. Christian and Missionary Alliance. Ping-tu-chau. Southern Baptist Con- Hai-cheng. Irish Presbyterian vention. Han-cheng-hslen. Swedish Mission- ary Society, China Inland Mission. Ping-yang-f'u. China Inland Mission. Ho-chaD.. China Inland Mission. Ping-yao-hsien. China Inland Mis- Ho-nan. China Inland Mission; Cana- dian Presbyterian, British and Foreign sion. Bible Society. Pi-b.z-'W'o (Pi-kou). Swedish Missionary Ha-rinkar-ting. Christian and Mis- Society. sionary Alliance. Port Arthur. Danish Missionary So- Ho-tsin. China Inland Mission. Hsia-hsien. Swedish Missionary So- ciety. Shun-teo China Inland Mission. ciety. !io-ping. China Inland Mission. Hsiao-chang. London Missionary So- Tai-ku. American Board. Tal-ngan (Tai-an Fu.) Society for Prop- ciety. Hsi-chau. China Inland Mission. agation of the Gospel. Hsin-chau. Baptist Missionary Society Tal-yuen-f'u. British and Foreign Bible (England). Society, Baptist Missionary Society, Hsin-i-hsien. American Presbyterian (England). Taku-shan. Swedish :liissionary So- (South). ciety. Hsu-chau. American Presbyterian (So.) Ta-ku. Methodist New Connection. Hsuen-h'W'R (Hsuan-hua Fu). Christian Ta-ning-hsien. China Inland Mission. Ta-tung-f'u. China Inland Mission. and Missionary Alliance. Teng-chau (Teng-chou Fu). American Hung-tung-hsien. China Inland Mis- Presbyterian (North), Southern Baptist Convention. sion. Tlen-tsin. American Board, American H'W'ai-lu-hsien (Huai-lu). China In- Methodist (North), Christian and Mission- ary Alliance, International Y. M. C. A., land Mission. London Missionary Society, British and H'W'ang-hsien (Huang-hsien). Sonth- Foreign Bible Society, Methodist New Connection, Scotch Bible Society, Society ern Baptist Convention. for the Propagation of the Gospel, China I-chau-f'u (I-chou Fu). American Pres- Inland Mission. To-to-cheng. Christian and Mission- byterian (North). ary Alliance. I-shi. China Inland Mission. Tsi-nan-f'u (Chi-nan Fu). Presbyterian Kalgan (Chang-kia-kou). American Board (North). Tslng-chau-f'u (Ching-chou Fu). Bap- Board, Christian and Missionary Alliance. tist Missionary Society. Kiai-chau (Kiai-chou). BwedishMission- Tsi-ning-chau (Chi-ning-chou). Ameri· can Presbyterian (North). ary Society, China Inland Mission. Tsou-ping (Chou-ping). Baptist ~1is· Ki-chau (Chi-chou). China Inland Mis- sionary Society.
sion. Tso-yun. China Inland Mission. K i n-ch an -I'n (Chin-chou Fu). Irish Tsul1-h_a (Tsun-hua). Am e I' i can .. Presbyterian. Methodist (North). Ku-chan. Foreign Christian Missionary TlIng-chau (Tung-chou, near Peking).
.. Society. . American Board. Ku-'W'u-hsien. China Inland Mission. Tung-chau-f'u. Swedish Missionary So- K'W'ang-ning (Kuang-ning). Irish Pres- ciety and China Inland Mission. Tung-hsin. China Inland Mission. byterian. Wei-hsien (Wei-hien). Presbyterian K'W'ei-h'W'a (Kuei-hua). Christian and Board. Missionary Alliance. Van-shan. London Missionary Society. Le-Ung. Methodist New Connection. Ving-chau. China Inland Mission. Vil1g-tsz-kou. Irish Presbyterian. (England). Vueh-Vuang. China Inland Mission. Liao-yang-chau. Scotch United Pres- VUllg-chenl{. China Inland Mission. vung-ching. Society for Propagation byterian. Li-Ung. Methodist New Connection (Eng- of the Gospel. Vung-plng-f'u. Methodist New Con- land). Lin-tsing-chou (Lin-ching). American nection.
Board. Lu-an. China Inland Mission. Lu-cheng. China Inland Mission. Mukden. British Bible Society, Scotch United Presbyterians, Irish Presbyte- rians Ning-hai-chau. China Inland Mission. pang-chuang. American Board.
CHINA-PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
OHINA-PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.* The passing century is filled in with stupendous events. Not in Europe and America alone, but in dormant, torpid Asia, commonly supposed to be still sleeping the stertorous sleep of ages, have ama- zing occurrences broken in upon the everlasting stupor. 'rhe changes in India, the Sepoy mutiny, the Tai-ping rebellion, the uprise of Japan, all stir the imagination; but among all the events that chal- lenge attention in either hemisphere, none loom up into more startling prominence than does the threatened collapse of the greatest empire on the face of the earth.
'l'hree Ohinas come under our view: 1. The Ohina that has been. What has made the concrete Ohinaman what he is? 'l'he average Ohinese character is a product of the formative pressure of three thou- sand years of unbroken national history, of a hundred generations of ancestors, of a myriad millions of dead, and of five hundred millions of the living. Every individual Ohinaman feels himself to be a member of this aggregation. To these things are added the undisputed primacy of Ohina among all the tribes and nations surrounding her. This tremendous mass of humanity has stood for all the ages as solid, apparently, as the everlasting hills. There have been rebellions and disruptions, from which it seemed impossible for the empire to recover herself. But somehow the old ship righted herself; the disaffected members came together again; the battered cities were rebuilt; government administration fell back into the old ruts. The nations of the West stood in awe of her; but they all came to trade with her.
2. The Chin(/, that is passing away. Among all the events that challenge attention in either hemisphere, none loom up into more startling prominence than does the threatened collapse of the greatest empire on the face of the earth. We ask for the cause of this. It is not found in the decrepitude of old age; the individual constituents of her nativity are not old; the individual Ohinaman is remarkable for virile traits. He is an emigrant of Ubiquitous adaptation. He is a business man, he is a mechanic, he is a trader, he is a sailor, he is a diplomat, and by-and-by he will be a soldier-then let the world look out! This change is not because of the enervation of luxury, he has not the means for luxurious living. Grinding poverty and hard toil have given the Ohinese hardy constitutions, and made them watchful and ready to push with adventurous desperation.
The causes come some from within, some from without, and some from above. Those from within come from the accumulated cor-' ruptions of a dozen dynasties and of many generations of evil-doers. The official classes have come to consider their peculations and * Compiled from Dr. Ashmore's remarkable paper, presented at the Ecumenical Con- ference, Carnegie Hall, April 24.
extortions as legitimate rights; without money in hand not anything can be done; with money in hand anything can be accomplished. Public offices are bought and sold; robbers, pirates, and rebels are bought off and taken into the public service. Even the empress dowager offers to assassins a reward of either money or office, aR the successful assassin may elect. Besides, Ohina has lost all power of recuperation. She has exhausted all her moral resources. She has no expedients for self-deliverance. The ethics of her sages are a spent force, her nomenclature of morality are names without significance.
The external cause for the passing of the empire is the impact of modern civilization. In some respects the Far East is affecting the Far West in a much greater number of details than the Far West is stamping itself on the Far East. The two civilizations have come into collision. '1'he wars of 1842, 1857, and the Japan war of 1895 have racked Ohina almost to breaking. They exposed the inherent weakness of the whole Ohinese administration, they revealed the incalculable rottenness that obtains from the cabinet of Peking down to the lowest yamen in the smallest city of the empire. The Ohinese people, themselves, have found out how powerless their rulers are. The reverence once felt has changed to contempt; the soil is already prepared for insurrections and for rebellions.
The causes from Above that are bringing about the passing away of the present Ohina are from a just and righteous God because He is the Governor of the nations. He allows men opportunities to try for themselves. His blows come one at a time to call them to repentance. Now the Ohinese iniquities have come to the full. We look with apprehension on what may come, yet above our apprehension there is a recognition of the fact that over all, and guiding all, and holding all, is the hand of a just, and wise, and loving and all-powerful God. Tho there be a cloudburst in the near future, there will be a clear sky beyond. The death-throes of to-day will be the birth-pangs of to-morrow.
3. The Ohina that is to be. This will be a reconstructed Ohina, and a regenerated China. Structural forces are already.at work. The construction train, divine and human, is already organized. " Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree," says Isaiah. "Instead of the ox-cart shall come the locomotive, and instead of the hand shuttle shall come the power loom," says the man of business; and" instead of the idol shrine shall rise up the house of the living God, and instead of the Buddhist chants shall come songs of praises to the Holy One," says the missionaryof Jesus Ohrist. There is to be a better Ohina-a regenerated Ohina. Once emancipated from their slavish allegiance to their literary class, having no India caste to keep them back, we are safe in assuming that there will be such ingatherings into the Ohurch as the
INNER EAST G ATE OF PEKI!'"G
Peking has a ,vall which is doubled at each f)f it~ sixteen gates. Th est~ gat,cs are surmounted by towers. The spaee het ween the walls. several acres in extent, I. supposed to be kept free for military pUI'poses; but a few small shops haYe found foothold witllin It.
world has never seen. A purely materialistic China, well-equipped ironclads and Mauser rifles, and no ascendency of moral force, would be a curse to herself and a menace to' mankind. God has something better in store for humanity. By a regenerated China is not meant that all China will be converted; far from it as yet; but it is meant that Christianity will soon move with gigantic stride. Already is it beginning to make itself felt. Each succeeding decade will witness an increase in the rate of progression. It is our firm conviction that the coming century will witness the fall of heathenism in China, and the dominance of the Christian faith.
The Ohina that is to be will bea homogenous self-governed China. Just now indications are not favorable to that view, but the dowager empress and her policy will not rule forever. At present China is at the mercy of ambitious nations. Broken up for a time, she may be, into a Russian sphere of influence and other spheres of influence, but it will not continue; the Ohinese will consolidate. These troubles will diminish the provincial spirit, and multiply the national spirit.
Patriotism is supposed to have been dead in Ohina. The reform movement, short-lived tho it was, developed in three years more of a national spirit than had previously been developed in a hundred years.
It is not the Gaul or the Slav that will rule the Chinese. They are not quiet under vassalage to the Manchus; they would be less so under the Frenchmen. Ohina once uplifted and fairly on her feet, as she will some day be, will repudiate French suzerainty and sweep its agents into the sea. France has trouble ahead.
Russia has a better prospect, but then neither can she dominate a reconstructed Ohina. Ohina, as an anvil, has chipped the edges of many a hammer already. China, as a hammer, will yet pound the Cossack anvil as no European hammer ever yet has pounded it. The land that produced a mendicant Genghis Khan may yet produce a twentieth century Genghis Khan, up in the mastery of modern warfare; then even Russia may have to take the defensive. But, is there not the great continental railroad? Yes, there is, and Ohina is powerless to help herself to-day, but IVestern Ohina, made strong in a few decades from now, may snip it in two as a school-boy snips a wasp in two at the small of the waist, and the Siberian empire would be cut in twain. The broken ends Can be soldered only by Ohina's consent. So far from being dominated, Ohina will herself dominate the tribes and kindreds on her border. Let not the nations of Europe be blinded. The dynasty may go, and go out like the flame of a candle, but the Ohinese people are not dead, and theirs is not an emasculated manhood.
China will yet be a tremendous fa~tor in the world's political and industrial future and in the world's religious future. I believe that before the coming century is at an end Christianity will be the dominant religion in China. If you ask me why, I plant myself on the facts of Jesus' life. death, and resurrection, and on the promises of God, and these promises have right of way.
MRS. BISHOP ON PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN CHINA
SKETCH MAP SHOWING RAILWAY LINES COMPLETED, UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND PROJECTED IN CHINA.
MRS. BISHOP ON PRO'rESTAN'r MISSIONS IN OHINA.* EDITOR-IN -CHIEF.
The mature results of many years'travel and observation are given in Mrs. BishQp's latest volumes on the" Yangtze Valley and Beyond"; and for the sake of many who may not have seen the book, it may be well to give, in substance, the conclusions to which this intelligent and observing woman has come, conclusions the more valuable because during the earlier period of her eight years of Asiatic travel the foreign missions were of little or no interest to her; in fact she rather enjoyed the cheap sneers at missions and missionaries which in Anglo- Asiatic commuuities often pass for wit with those who have never * "The Yangtze Valley and Beyond," Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop. G. P Putnam's Sons.
given the work and its methods one-half hour of serious attention and investigation. Mrs. Bishop tells us also how she became a convert to the cause of missions, as the path of duty for ourselves and of hope for the world, by simple contact with the deplorable condition of heathen peoples on the one hand, and with the noble, self-sacrificing, and devoted men and women on the other, whose lives were a living epistle of the grace and power of God. She gives the following statistics of missions in Ohina: Protestant workers, including wives ………………… 2,458 Native Protestant communicants ……….. , ………. 80,632 As to the prevailing religious condition, there is an inquiring spirit respecting the God, faith, and learning, of the " Western barbarians," a spirit of inquiry which gathers volume and finds expression in large gatherings in chapels and churches, in the thronging of mission schools and the hunger for Ohristian literature. Those who profess to be ready to abandon heathenism for Ohristianity are more than the missionaries can instruct. In Manchuria there are six thousand, and in one mission alone of another province, twice as many. This inquiring disposition Mrs. Bishop thinks due largely to the shock which Ohina received through her defeat by Japan, whose superiority in the art of war is attributed to contact with Western nations.
The growth of Ohristian .influence, however, passes the power of numbers to represent. For years past the Ohristian men and women scattered through China and having their homes among the people, have had one supreme object-the promulgating of the "Jesus religion" by preaching, conversing, teaching, and living, with the aid of medical work and Ohristian literature. This body of two thousand five hundred disciples of Ohrist are subjected to searching criticism, but are found to bear this searchlight, and their living reaches a higher standard even than Oonfucianism teaches, and is by degrees producing not only conviction, but effecting transformation. They are found to pay wages; keep promises, control temper and tongue, deal kindly even with servants and bear patiently even injustice and wrong. A servant, not a Ohristian, said: "I like to serve missionaries, for I never get boots at my head ill the foreign teachers' houses."
These missionaries teach and preach a pure and simple Gospel, magnifying the essentials, sin and guilt, vardon and reconciliation, the atoning blood and the enduring Spirit, God's fatherhood and man's brotherhood in Ohrist, and with singular unanimity urge confession of Ohrist as a complete break with the bonds of heathenism.
Under such teaching, in 1898, eighty thousand Ohinese were publicly professing faith in Ohrist. Some backsliding and hypocrisy is, of course, inevitable, but the vast majority are true and remain true,
and become helpers to the missionaries. There is a large body of Uhristian natives, gathered into churches, zealous in evangelism, and marvelously liberal in giving, in some districts contributing $1.25 per head yearly out of their very small earnings. They are generally such earnest and successful workers for Christ that the large increase of converts is mainly traceable to them. In Manchuria it is estimated that out of from three thousand to four thousand converts, not over twenty had found Christ through the European missionaries, and in China at large, eighty per cent. of the entire number of converts are believed to be the result of native Christian evangelism. These native Christian" guilds" are also jealous of discipline, and have a strong desire to cut off nnworthy members from fellowship. These native Christian brotherhoods are another source of the pervasive influence that is to-day slowly undermining superstition. Mrs. Bishop feels therefore great hope for the Ohristianizing of the Flowery Kingdom by native agency. A well-instructed Chinese convert knows his fellow-countrymen, and how to argue with them and appeal to them, and clinch his nail of truth by apt qnotations from the Chinese classics. His presentation of Christ has a home flavor which makes his discourse attractive and effective.
Hitherto Ohristianity has made slow advallce, which Mrs. Bishop attributes to six causes: 1. National vanity, and contempt for foreigners. 2. The dominating influence of Confucius and his teaching. 3. The intricacies and complexities of the Chinese tongue. 4. The systematic home-training of children in reverence for Chinese beliefs and practises. 5. The universality of ancestor worship, and its hold on the heart of the people. 6. The fear of demons as the penalty of apostasy.
On ancestor worship Mrs. Bishop expands somewhat as the maiu barrier to Gospel triumph. This venerable custom is interlinked with Ohinese life, and is supported by filial sentiment. '1'0 forsake it brands one as without natural affection, and Dr. Yates estimates that one hundred and fifty million dollars are annually spent to secure to the living imml1nity from the malice and revenge of departed spirits. Mrs. Bishop well maintains that to sit down contentedly amid our blessings and treat Ohina as a mere trade emporium is, to say no more, the height of selfishness; and contrasts our knowledge of God, Ohristian ideals of manhood and womanhood, domestic life and social duty, the majesty of equal laws, the reformatory nature of a penal code, etc., etc., with the prevailing notions and customs of Ohina, and contends that philanthropy demands Ohristian missions.
This accomplished author likewise exposes the powerlessness of Buddhism and other faiths to elevate Ohina. Whatever the purity of the spring, the stream has become corrupted. In its passage, it has taken up impure elements, absorbing demonism, nature worship,
absurd superstitions, allied itself with sorcery, idolatry, immoral priestcraft, etc., and there is no resurrection power in any of these Oriental faiths.
The people themsel ves largely recognize the futility of the ancient faiths to bring about social regeneration. Hence the secret societies, largely ascetic, like the" Vogelanans," which seek to rectify the heart by denying the flesh, or cultivate patience under injuries as a means of accumulating merit. There are many good precepts and upright ideals in "The Three Religions," but they are hopelessly adulterated by the admixture of incantations, divination, empty rites, and puerile absurdities. There is also an element of sedition, aiming at reform through destruction, akin to nihilism in other lands. But all this is further evidence of the deep-seated unrest which seeks what only Christ can supply.
Mrs. Bishop furthermore testifies to the absolute inadequacy of missionary laborers for so great and needy a harvest-field. She saw, in her long journeys, but one mission station where the work was not seriously suffering from lack of men.
She also urges a high class of laborers, well trained in the language, and able to cope with the literati. It is not enough to have a limited command of the dialect of the coolies.
She warns women, and especially single women, that they can not safely ignore Chinese etiquette without exposing their characters to suspicion, and their persons to assault. To wear a tight bodice, and so show the figure, to receive men at their homes as visitors, or shake hands with them, etc., goes in the face of the ideas and customs of a people fastidious in their way about the proprieties. The attention 'of the Foreign Office has been called to such matters as even leading to popular outbreaks.
Preaching, says Mrs. Bishop, is not the Chinese mode of im,truction; Confucianism never had a preacher nor a lecture hall. Its methods are chiefly literary, conversational, and catechetical. Hence Christianity needs to adapt itself to the mold of Chinese life, where no principle is involved.
Several questions need, Mrs. Bishop thinks, to be settled; such as how far are the differences between Western churches to be perpetuated in China? What is the place of the Chinese classics and of English in mission schools? What is the obligation of the Sabbath? What the normal attitude of Christianity to certain Chinese customs, and particularly to any modification of ancestor worship? Sundry other matters need definite adjustment, such as the position of native pastors, socially and pecuniarily; the self-government of the native churches; and on Anglican missions the retention of the Prayer-book as the sole manual for public worship.
Mr. Gladstone's remark is quoted with approval, "There is but one
MRS. BISHOP ON PROTESTANT MISSIONS IN OHINA
'question of the day,' and that is the Gospel. It can and will correct everything needing correction."
Mrs. Bishop furthermore expresses her confident opinion that China is not" breaking up," is not" in decay," but grows wealthier every year, is not overpopulated, as the population is ten times that of Great Britain, while the area is nearly twenty times as great. She thinks the theory of the government one of the best ever devised, but the official administration corrupt. China is one of the most demo- cratic of countries. There a man is free in all trades and industries, free to make and keep money, to emigrate and return with his gains, to rise from the lowest to the highest social rank, to become one of the literati and a millionaire, to be free in his social, commercial, and religious life, free even to rebel when grievances are no longer tolerable.
The ethical teaching is sublime as far as it goes. The" five duties of man" are: Loyalty to the sovereign, piety to parents, submission to elders, harmony in the marital relation, and fidelity to friends.
Very prominent among the regenerative influences of China, this accomplished writer ranks the Ohristian literature of the West. A society was founded twelve years since by some leading men in China, and named (; The Society for the Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge." The demand outruns the supply. And yet the issues are distinctly Christian, such as "Butler's Analogy," "Life of Christ," "Christianity and the Progress of Nations," etc.
Obviously Western Christian influence is working in other forms. Two wealthy Chinese offered to raise $10,000 to enlarge the women's hospital at Shanghai if Dr. Reifsnyder, the lady in charge as medical missionary, would teach Western medicine to Chinese girls. Many other like proofs exist, some of which Mrs. Bishop mentions. The governor of Kuei chow sent to the" C. L. S." for one thousand dollars' worth of Western literature.
Inasmuch as these four hundred million people have but one written language, and there are two hundred examination centres where, in the aggregate, from one million to two million students are annually under examination, who are the mandarins, lawyers, statesmen, and leaders of the next generation, the Christian literature supplied to these centers goes to the most influential domestic and social centers in the empire.
Obviously it behooves us, as Christians, to be patient, prayerful, persistent, in supplying this colossal empire with evangelical missionaries, vernacular Bibles, and the best products of a sanctified press. It may be given to some of those now living to see a revolution, not sudden but gradual, and all pervasive, transform the Celestial Kingdom into somewhat more of a likeness to the holy ideal suggested in its aspiring name.
MODEHN JAPAN AS A MISSION FIELD.
BY REV. THEODORE N. MCKAIR, TOKYO, .JAPAN.
Missionary of the Presbyterian Church (North).
One may live long in Japan and on terms of close intimacy with the people, and as a result may reach general conclusions as to the mission work being done there, and yet be confronted with facts seemingly in positive and overwhelming contradiction to those conclusions. He may have the conviction that the people are thoroughgoing Orientals, with Oriental standards of judgment, Oriental bases of morals, an Oriental viewpoint generally, with all that that implies; nevertheless, the question arises, how does this comport with the Western color and polish which are given to so many sides of the modern national life ? The commercial spirit and methods, for example, are !lew in a measure, as are also the present forms of education and government, the army and navy establishments, the post-office, and the telegraph. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Japanese as a people should be much misunderstood, not only abroad, but even by foreign travelers who visit their shores for a few short weeks or months, and by foreign residents who study their characteristics, if at all, only indirectly, and at arm's length. To these the foreign social life at the principal cities is much more interesting than are the varied phases of the life of the nation which lie beyond the range of business interests.
At the same time, it is coming to be fairly well known that the real Japan of to-day, the Japan of the great mass of the people, is not that of its new parliament house, and its modern court ceremonial, and its military parades; but is a persisting Orientalism, which yields to Occidental influences only at a few points, relatively speaking, and even at these but superficially. To a people like the Japanese, eager to adopt as wen as to imitat'e, radical changes in character and customs are bound to come slowly, and their vaunted adoption in three or four decades of the civilization which took centuries to develop in Europe and America, is a boast which deceives not oIlly the casual observer of the changes which have come to the Japanese people, but even the people themselves.
To know Japan at the present time, therefore, one must know the Japan of the past, must study its old-time civilization, and the circumstances and influences which have molded and modified it during its progress upward; and furthermore, must realize that the last great change which was formally introduced by the coming of the American warships in eighteen fifty-three and four, great and far-reaching tho it was and is, is nevertheless on the whole one that has been much more phenomenal than essential in its character; material rather than
190,0.] MODERN JAPAN AS A MISSION FIELD
spiritual, affecting the exterior rather than the vital centers of the nation's being.
The old civilization of Japan centered in a regard for the throne which amounted to virtual worship. This was practically the sole basis of morals. Both patriotism and morality consisted theoretically in unflinching and unquestioning loyalty, whatever the lengths of c.ruelty or fraud to which one might be led in order to maintain it; and we have to this day a similar state of mind on the part of very many of the leading men in the empire, and of over forty of the forty-three millions of the people. These leaders insist that only by inculcating this type of patriotism can the 'unique, historic, and, as they regard them, glorious ideals of the nation be preserved, Throughout certain periods of the past the loyalty was manifested more toward the local lord, the daimio of the province in which a man lived,.than to the mikado, or rather the shogun, who represented the central government; but that was merely an accident of the times, the sentiment was the same in character as what we now see, differing only in the fact of its having been directed again toward the thronp on the overthrow of f~udalism within the present century.
RELIGION IN JAPAN.
The Japanese conception of deity, as indicated by the worship of the throne, of which this loyalty ideal is so conspicuous a part, has been a low one historically, and such it remains, except as it has been modified by contact with Western knowledge, especially the knowledge of Christianity. A young man of rank, and of no little intelligence, recently made this remark to the writer: "You need a god in your country, but here we need none, because we have our emperor." Obviously the sense of need, which can find rest for itself in the person of a mere man, has its foundation in an utterly inadequate conception of what the nature of deity is.
It is frequently urged that the old but still highly influential religious cult called Shinto, or god way, of which this worship of the emperor is the most prominent feature, is really nothing but a formalized nationalism, and not at all a religion, thus doing away with the idea that the emperor is divine. 'rhis, however, is contrary to the teaching of Shinto literature, and is a comparatively new notion. It is accepted by only a small fraction of the people, and these the more enlightened, and the ones most eager to have the nation looked upon as holding a place in the vanguard of modern science. Practically Shinto, with its numerous temples and priesthood, still takes the place of a religion more or less consciously with all those millions of the people who make . loyalty to the throne the central and paramount requirement of human life, and it measures their idea of the nature and character of deity.
• Are the Japanese then, as a rule, an irreligious people, as the com- mon possession of such an inadequate idea of deity would naturally lead one to suppose? In a certain sense, they are. They lack the profound sense of awe common to most Occidentals, out of which alone true worship can spring. Some one has said of them that" they have never had an open vision of the great I AM," that they need " to be smitten into seriousness by a revelation of the God who is above the world, and of the hell which is underneath civilization, an-a of Christ whose eyes are as a fire."
In another sense, however, they are excessively religious; that is to say, if belief in the presence of spirits in fountains, trees, waterfalls, mountains, rivers, etc., and in the need of placating these with offer- ings and worship, may rightly be taken as the mark of a religious spirit. " The prevalence of superstitions," says a prominent Japanese, "is very widespread, such, for example, as belief in divination, in lucky and unlucky days, in favorable points of the compass for a house to face, in being bewitched by foxes or badgers, in the power of curses, whether delivered by the gods, by the spirits of the dead, or by living persons who have been offended; and it is not only among the lower classes, but among persons whose station in life and familiarity with Western knowledge ought to render them proof against giving cre- dence to such follies. The time, money, and labor wasted over vagaries of this kind is very considerable indeed. Many a high-class person even consults a diviner before taking a journey, or deciding any important question, in order to be told which day of the week or month will be auspicious." "No careful observer can walk through the streets of any large city without noticing here and there a little stall, where a fortune-teller sits with his divining rods in front of him."
Take, also, the matter of life and fire insurance. A number of com- panies, such as are common in America, have recently been started among the Japanese, but the great reliance of the people against the evils that assail person and property is still, as of old, the priest, with his supposed access to supernatural power. Out of the total of 8,000,000 houses, or thereabouts, which the census tabulates, 7,000,000 at least have been insured at the temples, and have small wooden policies nailed up in conspicuous places in evidence of the fact. The purchase of these policies and of other and similar tokens of the divine favor, is a first-rate source of income to the religious establish- ments. It may be said, it is true, that there are many people in the United States who are influenced by superstitious fancies no less belittling to human intelligence than these, but it is not ninety-nine out of everyone hundred of the inhabitants who are so influenced.
Personality is commonly ascribed to the various objects of worship which the Japanese people possess, the idols of various sorts, large and small; whereas in their religious philosophy, given them, for the most
MODERN JAPAN AS A MISSION FIELD
A SHINTO PRIEST, JAPAN.
part, by Buddhism, an impersonal pantheism colors the whole, the theory th at is to say, which makes everything in existence, whether spirit or matter, a part of God and the same as God, deity, as a whole, becoming merely a matter of force, and that a force not possessed of intelligence. The idea has proven one of the most disastrous of influences upon human thought, and it is still difficult for some in Japan to get entirely clear of it, even when they come to accept the Christian faith. There has been the anomaly, strange to say, of Christian ministers teaching the paramount importance of ethics, irrespective of a basis for the same in the will of. a personal God.
In a word, then, the conception of deity commonly possessed in Japan is diminutive and polytheistic in the minds of by far the greater number, and an impersonal pantheism with those who rise into the region of the esoteric and the philosophical.
A natural outcome of so great a national lack is an inadequate conception of the fact Ilnd nature of sin. In the language and thought
of the Japanese, sin is nothing more heinous than crime, the infringement of human law. The Shinto philosophers of even less than a hundred years ago were so sure of the inherent excellence of their god-descended countrymen that they provided no system of ethics for them, declaring that none whatever was needed. A people who always did right as a matter of course, were, of course, not sinners. And this was the fond conceit of men who nevertheless saw bloodshed and violence, rapine and fraud, all prevalent about them in the society which they set themselves to laud. Nor has anything more satisfactory been offered by Shintoism of late years. The one cardinal doctrine of the cult is still simply this: to follow the dictates of one's own individual heart, and obey the commands of the emperor.
Buddhism, the other of the two religions that have been most influential in Japanese life, was far less complacent than Shintoism. It recognized the fact of wrong-doing among men, but was content with calling it evil, and thinking it irremediable, and with teaching that salvation from it lay ultimately in the complete cessation of desire, and the practical annihilation of the soul in the future estate called Nirvana. So when the Christian preacher declares that all men are sinners in the sight of God, those in his audience who are unfamiliar with the Gospel will on the one hand fail to comprehend his reference to deity, will think on hearing the word God, of an idol perhaps, or of some one or more of the myriad spirits in whose existence they have been taught to believe; and on the other hand they will resent the assertion of serious fault in themselves. And why shollld they not? A man who has kept the laws of the land, and has lived up to the requirements of the meager moral standard which for centuries has been set before his people, will naturally deny that he is guilty of the commission of crime, or of sin, as the Bible calls it. He may very likely ask, moreover, if the sweeping statement that all sin includes the emperor, and if answered directly and in the affirmative by the Christian who is unskilled in the treatment of catch questions, insist that gross disloyalty to the throne is involved in the Christian's reply.
PREACHING CHRIST IN JAPAN.
The question is frequently asked just how the missionary approaches with the Gospel message men who so widely differ from him in their religious and metaphysical ideas. One way that has proven of practical value is to seek to inculcate, first, the true idea of God as a spirit, as one and indivisible, all-wise, all-powerful; but more than that, allperfect in holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Once secure an intellectual comprehension of God in this character, particularly as a being absolutely holy, and one has something to go upon in teaching what sin is; for sin is a thing of measurements and can be brought
MODERN JAPAN AS A MISSION FIELD
home., intellectually at least, to the most callols hearer, if only he can be led to look at God, the standard of moral measurements, in this his true character. From these two points of vantage, coupled with the sense of need to which they lead up, the idea of the love of God in Ohrist may be presented with some hope that it will be grasped, and so become the means under God of inducing an entrance upon the life of faith.
To revert to the question already briefly touched upon, as to whether the Japanese are essentially a religiously inclined people. We are familiar with the ascription that has so often been made of a preeminence in religion to the ancient Jews, or to the Semitic peoples in general. Undoubtedly this special distinction as restricted to the Jews is correct; but careful observation must lead to the conclusion that the Gentile world of Asia shows no evidence of being more remarkably possessed of a true spiritual instinct than do the" strangers to God" in the West. Oertain it is that he who would seek to nourish the precious germ of spiritual life that may be inherent in the nature of the man of the far East, be he Ohinaman or Japanese, must work with the heavy odds of an inbred and an intrenched materialism and worldliness against him; and it is proper to say of the Japanese, as of other Orientals, that they lack most of the thousand and one influences which operate upon Western life and tend to lessen the intensity of its worldliness.
Buddhism has not been practically humanitarian in Japan as Ohristianity has been in Amcrica, unless pcrhaps in the matter of filial piety and the allied sentiment which binds together the several members of a family in mutual helpfulness and support. Nor can anything more be said for the Oonfucian philosophy, which was absorbed from Ohina, and has been for centuries a principal basis of Japanese culture. 'rake, for example, one effect of the great earthquake of seven or eight years ago. There had been a similarly dreadful occurrence about the year 1850. The distress was appalling on both occasions; but the splendid munificence of the foreign community was a conspicuous feature of the latter, and constituted ·a new thing in the life of Japan, and one for which the Buddhist or Shinto or Oonfucian principles as !Lpplied there had offered no parallels. National pride under the indirect influence of Ohristianity has led to the establishment of charity hospitals in some places and to the work of the Red Oross Society, to one or two schools for the blind, deaf and dumb, and to the suggestion of an asylum for the insane; but as yet there are no non-Christian organizations of inquiry and aid worthy the name, like those which give practical expression to the benevolent impulses of the Ohristian West, none, that is to say, of purely Japanese inception. The Ohristian Japanese either alone or with the help of the missionaries have started a number of enterprises designed to
supply the lack. There are a few orphan asylums, a home or two for discharged prisoners, and some other and similar agencies for good. But these are necessarily limited both in variety and scope. Notwith- standing the declaration that a good Buddhist will not kill even a mosquito, it is nevertheless distressingly evident that Japan presents a wide field of operation for a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
There is also wanting in Japan the uplifting influence of the Christian home life of America and Europe, with all its hallowing, sweetening associations and ideals. A well-known Japanese has addressed to his countrymen this significant remark: "We are two hundred years behind the West in our appreciation of the dignity and rights of womell." The truth of this statement is evident in the light of the facts, that divorce is extraordinarily common, amounting on the average to one-third of the marriages; and also that the practise of concubinage prevails widely, being limited mainly by a man's means of support; and further, that filial devotion on the part of a daughter to a parent frequently requires of her, in the present as in the past, to sell herself to a life of shame for months or it may be years. Chastity in fact, even in theory, to say nothing of it as a practical matter, is required only of women, not at all of the men of non-Christian Japanese society.
It can not be claimed, therefore, for the Japanese people that they possess either lofty spiritual conceptions or truly noble ideals, and the reason is not far to seek. Students of comparative religion may find much to admire and commend in the life and precepts of the founder of Buddhism, and in the great ethical system that has given to China, Korea, and Japan a coherence in domestic and social life, and thus a civilization that has preserved the national life through centuries; but both faith and philosophy have failed to present to the craving heart of man any satisfactory thought that lifts him as a conscious entity out of the finite. The dismal hope of final absorption, after countless lives of sin and misery, into infinite inaction, fails utterly here. Nor does the enumeration of all the cultivated virtues of the "superior man" of Confucius do much to encourage the ordinary man to attempt their emulation.
Compare with this the Gospel of Christ: its recognition of sin, its provision, not only for pardon, but also for escape from the power of moral and spiritual evil, through the aid of a divine personality, who is a spirit infinitely wise, and good, and merciful, as well as infinitely holy and just, who is waiting with the all-yearning of a Father's love to make. by his own divine power, of his feeble, erring child, not a "superior man," but a son of God!
This unique and marvelous gift of the Spirit, sent to renew and then preserv.e the spirit life in men, is second only to the gift of Christ
MODERN JAPAN AS A MISSION FIELD
as a distinguishing feature of the Ohristian faith; and in the light of the great contrast thus presented, as well as of the command of the Master to disciple all nations with His truth, there can be no question regarding the responsibilities of Ohristendom toward the heathen world, as represented by Japan. The establishment there during the past quarter century of Protestant Ohristian churches, aggregating upward of forty thousand members, is no good reason for thiuking these responsibilities at an end. The Japanese Ohristian community altogether considered, is relatively but a small and inappreciable factor of influence upon the life of the nation, and the church is still, as it naturally should be, considering its infancy, a body without sufficient MRS. CURTIS AND A BIBLE CLASS OF JAPANESE WOMEN.
experience of spiritual life and doctrine to warrant its passing from under the tutelage and away from the aid of onr centuries-old Ohristianity. It is no disparagement of the Japanese Ohristians to say this. The church in Japan is deserving of much commendation for what, under God, it has become, and for what it has already done and is doing. It is highly significant of the force that is in it, that men are continually being led to inquiry concerning the faith and to belief in Ohrist through the exemplary lives of professing Ohristians.
But the church, as an ecclesiastical institution, betrays many of the traits of youth and immaturity, and chief among them a great desire to walk alone, and with a body of doctrine of its own formu-
lating, from which some in its midst would wholly exclude the supernatural. It is on this account, partly, but also and chiefly, because there are more than two score millions of Japanese who have not yet heard the Gospel understandingly, that all the available forces of Christianity in the distant West should be joined with the native Christian forces in Japan to work together therewith for the thorough Christianization of the empire. God forbid that through the channels of commerce and diplomacy large benefits should be conferred, but benefits wholly or largely separate from an acknowledged and positive Christianity. There is already abundant warning that the material civilization represented by railways, and telephones, and newspapers, and factories, will prove of doubtful value in Japan, unless it is accompanied by a moral point and purpose, communicable ollly through the preaching of spiritual truth, as this is embodied in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
,['HE PRESEN,[' NEED OF MISSION WORK IN JAPAN.
BY FUMIO MATSUNAGA.* A Graduate of Auburn Theological Seminary.
The spiritual capacity and the religious earnestness of the Japanese as a race is a historical fact. Confucianism and Buddhism were introduced into Japan twelve centuries ago. They grew more rapidly there than either in India or China. The politics, history, literature, learning, and customs of old Japan have been as deeply influenced by their teachings as the countries of the West by Ohristianity. Roman Oatholic missionaries began to preach in Japan about three centuries ago. Three hundred thousand were converted at that time. But in the reign of Toyodomi and Tokugawa Shogun occurred terrible persecutions due to political prejudice and a policy of national seclusion. According to the record of a Roman Catholic historian two hundred thousand Ohristians were killed by these Japanese Neros. But neither the sword nor the flame could change the Japanese Christians' faith. Even now the places are pointed out where those earnest Christians were crucified, burned, and killed for their fidelity. They followed the commandment of their Savior as he said, "If any man come unto me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he can not be my disciple; and whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me can not be my disciple."
In the history of Protestant foreign missions during the present century, we find no such mission field as Japan. At first it was the most hopeful field in the world. Afterward it became the darkest.
* Mr. Matsunaga is the son of a prominent Buddhist in Japan. He has been invited to become pastor of one of the strongest native Christian churches in TOkyo.
1900.J THE PRESENT NEED OF MISSION ,WORK IN JAPAN
Tho this is saddening, yet it is a fact. From 1873 to 1888 was the period of popularity. But since 1888 there has been a reaction. It was caused by changes in the political, industrial, educational, and social condition of Japan; and was aided by Christian skepticism in the church due to the influence of Unitarianism, the higher criticism, and German rationalism. But now Christianity in Japan has passed the crisis of her intellectual unrest and spiritual decline, and is trying to get a deeper spiritual experience and a vital personal communion with the living Christ. At present Protestant Christianity in Japan has .J-93 missionaries, 143 mission stations, 864 out-stations, 11,872 pn pils ill the mission schools, 196 theological students, 308 native ordained ministers, 714 unordained preachers and helpers, 373 Bible women, .J-23 organized churches, and an adult membership of 40,981. Bnt are we satisfied with such a small success? Can we be content with only a partial victory of the Christian banner? To make the triu mph of missions more complete, something more is needed.
(1) There is need of more consecrated Christian churches repre- senting the true body of Christ, living in the love, hope, and life of Christ, moved by the Holy Spirit, and eager to save the souls of men.
(2) 'l'here is need of a higher educational institution which will develop the true Christian manhood of young men.
(3) There is need of a newspaper representing Christian principles published for the purpose of opposing the Oriental heathenism, the narrow, aristocratic conservatism, and the imperialism of Japan.
The missionaries and native workers are now endeavoring to build up the Kingdom of God in Japan through the churches and schools. And most of the Christian friends in America understand the great need of proclaiming the Gospel by means of preaching and education. But most of them do not think of preaching Christ through the tremendous power of the public press. Let me express my earnest desire for assisting the evangelization of Japan through the influence of the Christian newspaper. Of course, I believe that of the three missionary methods of evangelization, preaching, education, and the press, the Gospel preaching is the most important. I expect to be a preacher in Tokyo, and I pray that I may dedicate all my energy directly to this work, since at this critical time there is no greater need.
Before speaking of the best methods of evangelizing Japan, I want to mention some phenomena noticeable in the national life of Japan, closely related to the mission work-the national ambition, racial growth, political condition, and geographical situation.
What is her national ambition? The Japanese are known throughout the world as a patriotic people. Patriotism is their religion. They do not care whether wrong or right, if only it is for the glory of their country. They sacrifice everything for the sake of their country. It is a marked characteristic of the Japanese. The ancient and
medieval history of Japan is adorned with the memory of her national triumphs over Korea and China. And after her victory over China in the last war, her national ambition became stronger than ever before. It is her desire not only to be a powerful nation in the Orient, but to be one of the great powers of the world. The aim of her present diplomacy is to have a vote in the Oriental problems as well as to be a factor in international movements. But at present it is entirely selfish; the question she always asks is, what will be for my glory or that of the emperor? And it is this strong national ambition which presents to the Christian missionary his problem and opportunity. He is not to decry it or seek to hinder its growth. He is rather to govern and control it, lifting it up to a higher plane of duty. He is to change the aim from one always centered in self to one seeking to bring in and develop the Kingdom of God.
The relation of the racial gr01lJth to the missionary problem is to be considered. Unlike the inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands orthe American Indian, the Japanese, as a race, have the ability of mental capacity and racial continuance. They are active and progressive. They love the beauty of nature. 'rhey have a vigorous, filial, loyal, and patriotic spirit. But they lack stability, majesty, and piety. This is their great defect as a race. They have a clear, keen intellect, and a warm, generous heart. But they need an evenness of temper, perseverance over difficulties, and, most of all, sincerity. But it is interesting and important to notice that the population of Japan is increasing at the rate of half a million each year. And this growth is the prophecy of her future. Soon Japan will overflow, and even now there is extensive colonization. So there is a great need of saving Japan, not only for her own sake, but because of the power which she will exert in other parts of the world.
THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF JAPAN.
What is the political condit£on of Japan? It is lin epoch-making era. The political power of Japan will be a strong factor among the Oriental nations. At present it is the only living nation of the East. It alone has the representative form of government. It is the one nation that has applied Western civilization to her material life. Now its naval power in the Asiatic waters ranks next to that of Great Britain. Its industrial and commercial condition is annually becoming more prosperous. The future of Japan contains the future of the Eastern world. The civilization of Japan means the civilization of the Orient, and the salvation of Japan means the salvation of the Asiatic nations. Shall we then neglect the political condition of its mission field and the source of its power?
In the fourth place, what is the geographical relation of Japan to the world? Its situation is important. China with her four hundred
THE PRESENT NEED OF MISSION WORK IN JAPAN
millions is her neighbor on the west, and gives to Japan a great com- mercial and industrial field. The northern shores of Japan are near the territory of the Hussiall empire. The islands of thc South Sea, the new home of Western civilization, New Zealand and Australia, are her colonial and commercial fields. On the east she has a powerful friend in the United States. When the Pacific cable is completed Japan will come into still more intimate contact with the United States, and will find the United States her best friend. Also I believe that the Nicaragua Canal when completed will be of immense advantage to Japan. She will be in closer touch with the American and Eq.ropean scaports, and the change of her position in the world will be analogous to that of India after the opening of the Suez canal. And when the Siberian railroad is completed the relation of Japan to Europe will be still mure vital. '1'he time of the journey from London to Japan, at present occupying thirty-five days, will be shortened to a week or ten days. At that time how important will be the situation of Japan! If Japan remains a heathen land, adopting only the material and intellectual civilization of the IVestern world and not the spirit which made that civilization possible, through these wonderful opportunities, her skeptical influence will spread to all parts of the Eastern world. But if Japan is evangelized as a nation her religious influence will spread to an equal extent. I believe that the evangelization of Japan means the evangelization of the Eastern nations, because her relation to the Oriental nations is just like the relation of the Germanic race to the llations of Europe in the Middle Ages. It will not be so easy, however, to save Japan, as it was to win the Germanic people, because the latter race did not have a social and religious condition built up and endowed by the use of a thousand years. Their religion was myth and her civilization in its cradle. They were a brave, strong, liberty-loving people. But the condition of Japan is entirely different from all this. She has a history, a literature, a fine art, a people's life which has been penetrated with the spirit of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism for the last thousand years. Moreover, she has received as a nation the material civilization of IVestern lands, and only the material civilization! She has refused with all her acquirement to take the best, their religious influence. Why is this so? How is it that she has accepted the material and rejected the religious offering of the Western world? This is the vital question in the salvation of the Japanese nation, and especially so, when we can see that the Japanese are standing in a place of wonderful opportunity. In her life is gathered together the religious, intellectual, and political products of the Eastern lands, and she has in addition adopted the civilization or the West. She exhibits in her life the civilization of both Oriental and Occidental. She is in a wonderful position. Consequently Chri8-
tianity as related to her progress stands in a like position. If her spirit be evangelized who can tell the result to the surrounding nations? Therefore her geographical position makes strong claim for her' salvation.
THE INTERNAL CONDITION OF JAPAN.
'fhe political condition in Japan is aristocratic rather than democratic, even tho the form of government is democratic. The long line of Japanese history is the history of the royal family, nobles, and feudal lords rather than that of the people. The hereditary aristocratic spirit in the political world is still powerful. The Japanese are a nation to be ruled, not to rule themselves. Most of them can not understand the value of human rights, freedom, self-government, and personal duty. The Japanese can hardly understand poEtics for the people, by the people, and to the people. Now one of the serious national problems is how to teach them the duties of a constitutional form of government. They lack individual responsibility, a free and independent spirit, fidelity to daily duty, and a noble spirit for common tasks. In regard to this vital problem of national character, the pessimistic Buddhism and the aristocratic Confucianism have not any reforming spirit or transforming power. '1'hey are rather the friends of the despotic, conservative, and monarchial spirit. And the so-called national education does not care about a new national spirit which shall be in harmony with a new national constitution. The imperial government is encouraging a narrow aristocratic education in the idea of national duty. Here is the opportunity of Christianity. Because Christianity and democracy are inseparable, true Christianity grows best in a truly democratic nation. '1'he preaching of the democratic gospel is the present need of Japan, because the elevation of political virtues and the uplifting of national character and the true progress of constitutional government comes from the development of the democratic spirit. If such a Gospel is not preached, there is the peril that if the aristocratic spirit may overcome the political world, Confucianism and Buddhism will have their golden age. On the other hand, if the democratic spirit controls the political movement, Christianity will the sooner gain her victory. At present there are three main political parties. They are the progressive, the liberal, the so-called constitutional parties, and the imperial party. But they do not stand on their political principles. They act for their own interest. They are united by the chain of gold, not by conscience. Therefore the members of the liberal or progressive parties are not the real liberal and progressive statesmen. They shake hands with the imperial party members when there is any spoil in view. Most of them are destroyers of political principles. They are the slaves of selfishness. They shed no tears for the people. 'fhey are cold_-
THE PRESEN'r NEED OF MISSION WORK IN JAPAN. G93
blooded and morally wanting. Now an alliance of the Buddhist and the conservative element in the political parties is trying to make Buddhism a national religion, and some of the cabinet members sym- pathize with that attempt. It may be brought up in the next national congress, but even then I do not believe it will pass both houses. The national education policy also is leaning toward the anti-religious spirit. And its first blow has been struck at the Christian mission schools. As a result the students of mission schools are decreasing, and the church members are not increasing as rapidly as before. 'fhe banner of the cross has fallen in the dust, and the banner of heathenism is waving high over the land. It is a condition calling for our best effort, that the religion of the gentle Nazarene may not be entirely stamped out of Japan.
The intellectual life of Japan is closely related to the mission work of to-day. Japan is a land of atheism, pantheism, polytheism, deism, skepticism, and materialism. There is great need for Christianity. We must lift these ideas up to the true theistic conception of Christianity. We must give a clearer and deeper knowledge of Christian idealism to those holding false conceptions. We must change this gross materialism into the spirit of brotherhood.
THE RELIGIONS OF JAPAN.
Now we will look at the religions of Japan. Shintoism is a true national religion, not an international one. It is a sect of the worshipers of the emperor's ancestor. Its origin belongs to the mythical part of the ancient history of Japan. It has not any of the essential elements which belong to a true religion, and can not spread beyond Japan, for its basal idea is found in the worship of the emperor's ancestor. But its destruction is sure as ancestral worship can not exist in an age of science. Neither can Confucianism properly be called a religion. It is an Oriental stoicism. It is the aristocratic, political, social, and moral teaching of a Chinese sage. Its doctrine can exist only in the home of the aristocratic and monarchial spirit. It will remain hereafter as the moral teaching of an Oriental wise man. But an aristocratic gospel can not live in an age of democracy. It can not stand the open air of world-wide civilization. In regard to Buddhism, if it prove a hindrance to Christianity it will be due tu the prevalence of superstition, rather than any life in the religion itself. Many sects of Buddhism in Japan have splendid temples, golden images, much property, magnificent ceremonies, high social position, thollsands of priests, and millions of believers, but it is in a position similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages in Europe. If some honest prophetic Christian reformers will stand will forth and expose the corruption, superstition, and worldliness of its adherents, they more quickly fall as spiritnalleade!'s in the Japan
of the new century. A pessimistic gospel and an irrational religion can not grow in an age of optimism and reason.
1'he relation of the moral world to Christian missions is vital. Patriotism, loyalty to the emperor, and filial piety, form the moral trinity of the Japanese. Their history, literature, and popular songs, all express this same conception. During the revolution of 1868, which gave birth to new Japan, her old political organization, social relation, and moral foundation, passed away. In general, the relation between the feudal lords and subjects became the relation between the emperor and people; local patriotism grew to be national patriotism; and the former filial piety became modified by a new form. About twenty years ago a political change occurred in the introduction of the doctrines of Mill, Spencer, Bentham, and Rousseau. There became free thought without moral responsibility, a superficial democratic spirit without education sufficient to control it. But it was the forerunner of the political reformation. At that time, the government tried to stop this radical political movement. It made the teaching of Confucius the moral standard of the Japanese. It was a movement toward the restoration of the conservative and aristocratic spirit of the nation. By the teaching of Confucius in the public schools, the sacredness of the emperor was magnified. The anti-foreign spirit was aroused, Christianity was scorned as a foreign religion, and church members were despised as disloyal subjects and enemies of this country. All this, because they refused to worship the emperor. In fact, patriotism became synonymous with religion. But while men love to die for their emperor, or to risk their lives in heroic deeds for their country, yet they have no idea of the common duties of life, no conception of true heroism in little tasks. And as a result, the standard of morality is extremely low. The corruption of the imperial court, the immorality of the Buddhist priests, the licentiousness of the nobles, the impurity of young men everywhere under the guise of licensed prostitu tion, together with the worship of gold, the luxuriousness of the wealthy class, the pride of the educated people, the bribery of statesmCll, dishonesty of business men, the oppression of the laboring classes, the cruelty of the land owners-all are marks of the moral world of Japan to-day. I would be no pessimist. But this is what anyone who is acquainted with Japanese life as it now exists will affirm. She is in an age of moral degradation. What then is the mission of Christianity to the moral world of Japan? First of all, it must take away the superstition concerning the sacredness of the emperor, because Japanese imperialism is the spinal cord of national corruption. Until Christianity overcomes this awful superstition, as to the emperor's divinity, it cannot evangelize Japan. But it can do this only as it gives them Christ instead of the emperor as the object of worship. Give them Him, and as a consequence there
THE PRESENT NEED OF MISSION WORK IN JAPAN
will be a new hope, a new love, and a new life among the Japanese. This is the decisive point in the warfare between Christianity and heathenism in Japan. Christian warriors of righteousness, knights of humanity, "Ironsides" of truth are needed to make a breach in this hitherto impregnable wall.
Now, as to the method which I believe will meet this need. One of the canses of the progress of Christianity has been the printing press, by which the writings of the apostles, fathers, and reformers have been scattered abroad. In Japan, the introduction of Western civilization has been helped by the many publications which were translated flom English, German, and French, also the WesLern newspaper has been imitated. At present there are about thirty large daily papers, and hundreds of periodicals. Some of them are governmental organs, others represent political parties and the various relig- ions. There are a: few purely Christian papers. But these last are devoted only to reports from mission fields, church news, and purely religious articles, and therefore can never touch the vital chord of public sentiment. 'rhey are standing without the living current of national movement. Because they are purely religious, according to the law, they can not discuss living political issues. Therefore, these papers are of no interest to the great mass of people outside of the church, and the subscribers to them are limited to a few Christians; consequently their influence is limited, and can not render Christianity attractive to the millions of unbelievers. Is there not then reason for publishing a representative paper which can discuss national problems from the standpoint of the Christian? One of the difficulties in carrying on the mission work in Japan is to get the message of Christ to the masses. At. present the churches are trying to gain huger congregations by the use of invitation cards and advertisements in the newspapers. But several hnndred cards distributed will bring together only eighty or a hundred people, mostly Christians. A famous preacher will call out a larger audience, yet the Christian element is in the majority. How to reach the people who have no interest in the affairs of the church is the problem. What does Ch"ist teach us as to method? After Christ was transfigured, Peter asked Him to remain on the Mount, and enjoy the pure and quiet of the place; but Christ, without a word, returned to the works of men, and by his very first action, not only answered the question, but also gave to us an illustration of how we should live. He touched and healed a sinful man. Japanese Christians are in this respect like Peter of old-they wish to be apart by themselves in the heights of spiritual experience. They forget the example of our Master, who lived with men. But, without s11ying anything against the power or place of the pulpit in Japan, there is need of work other than preaching, if the people are to be saved. We have many missionaries, native workers, schools, and
believers. Why, then, can not we evangelize the country more rapidly? There is need of a sympathy for the nation, as it exists, and an attempt to help it to higher lines of action. What better way of doing this is there than by publishing a great newspaper governed by the principles of Christianity? Such a paper would discuss the national question from the standpoint of Christian ethics. It will have more subscribers than a religious journal, for the reason that it will fill a want for discussion of public events by an impartial and fearless editor. Of course, at first, men will be interested simply in that part of the paper wJlich is devoted to secular questions. But we must remember that such statements are presented by the hand of the Christian editor, and the articles are endued with the Christian spirit. And who can estimate the unconscious influence which such a skilful presentation of their own life will have upon the minds of the readers, even if it says nothing directly for Christianity? But there will be more than this indirect influence. A portion of the space will be given to introducing the reader in a simple manner to Christianity through the medium of sermons. These sermons will be given in an interesting style by the best preachers, and can not fail to interest many who otherwise would not be brought into contact with any Christian teaching. Think of its tremendous influence! Suppose that each copy will be read by three persons, and in this way the weekly circulation of 5,000 will reach 15,000 people. In a month the paper, by a conservative estimate, will have influenced 60,000 souls. And when its power shall come to be recognized, it can not fail to mold public policy, and turn the public sentiment from scorn into respect, and even to love Christianity. This is the present need of missionary work in Japan.
KOREAN IDEAS OF GOD.
BY REV. JAMES S. GALE, SEOUL, KOREA. Author of "Korean Sketches."
Before me was a brown thatched hut, barely visible above the reed fence that shut out the view. I entered through the gateway, and found it, not grassy inside, but clean and well swept. Mrs. Chu, who had been washing rice in the kitchen, rolled down her sleeves, and came out to greet me.
" Are you in peace?" she asked, "and the lady and the children?" " Weare all well," I said, "and is it peace with you and Mr. Chu ?" Mr. Chu, on hearing my voice, came out or the side room, carrying his wand-like pipe of several feet in length. I was at once invited in, and given the place of honor, where I sat cross-legged on the mat. Mr. Chu took his place opposite, and Mrs. Chu returned to her work in the kitchen, leaving the door open
kOREAN IDEAS OF GOD
between, so as to be within reach of all that was said. He talked to me of Korea, of what its prospects were, of local matters as well, while I looked on, with the increasing interest that one ever feels toward the Oriental. The dark eyes dwelt kindly and confidently upon me; so dark were they, that pupil and iris were both run together. The skill was olive-colored, the hair blue-black and straight, the teeth strong and white as ivory, his nose honest, but overflat for beauty, his figure rather thin and effeminate; but back of the homely casement d welt as kind a heart as ever beat, with desires pure and unselfish, that would make him white all over, compared with-yes, compared with many a Christian Westerner. Chu's was not a particularly thoughtful mind, for Orientals are not at liberty to be thoughtful, but as for mind, the masterpiece of memory, he was its full possessor. '1'he endless traditions of the fathers were stowed away behind the yellow skin and much protruding eye.
"Chu," I said, "down South in the home land, years ago, there used to be a little negro girl called Topsy, and one day after returning from church, her mistress said, 'Well, Topsy, what did the minis- ter preach about to-day?' Topsy replied, 'God! Miss Phoebe. He preached 'bout God.' Now Clm, preach to me about God, and tell me all that Koreans knew of Him before the days of Christianity."
"Onr God," said Chu, "is the Great One, and is called by us Hananllll, from the word llana, meaning one, and nim, meaning lord, master, king. The one great Lord of Creation is Hananim. We associate him with the building of the universe (Chun-ji), and also call Him OllO-wlw-ong, the ancient Creator."
I noticed that this remark of Chu's differed somewhat from the ideas of pure Confucianists, who hold to a form of evolution for all material things. "They have come of themsel ves," they say, evol ved, not from a parent stock, or original variety, but from chaos. This would seem to us a more consistent view of evolution than the 'Vestern or modern variety, for if the puff of a pouter pigeon can evolve itself from the modest chested bluerock, then why not matter from an infinity of nothingness? It is a saying of theirs "that man evolves until his prime, and then involves by growing old." Involution they have as well as evolu tion. But these are the views of the artificialliterati, and not of plain subjects like Chu, who holds that all things were created or hewn out by Hananim, who dwells above the heavens, and gives every man according as his work shall be. He deals only in the major operations of life. For ordinary cases the native appeals directly to secondary spirits. prays and sacrifices to them, but when all hope is given over, he calls on Hananim. I remarked to Mr. Chu in this connection, that the other day as I was passing through the streets of Wonsan I saw an old man out calling on lfanallim to save his son. C "It was the old man'R last resort," said Chu, "for Hanan im is the limit of spirit beings, and there is no place for the voice beyond him. He is approached only under stress of stormy weather, when the sonlleaves the sunshine for the tempest.
"We say that God is eminently just and wholly impartial (Hananim chi-kong mil-sa hala), that he is holy (KelO-reuk "asita); He is the last court of appeal for us mortals, but the gateway thereto is terrible, and set with lightning and thunder."
I notice, when it thunders, that Koreans lay aside the ever-present pipe, and I asked Chu the reason for it.
" We do not smoke before a magistrate," said lle, "would we dare to when God talks? But tho he is terrible, yet he is gracious, and gives the rain (ko-ma-o-sin Hananim pi Chu-stn-Ta), and feeds us from day to day, as the old market song says'
Pap cha! mak-ki-nan Ha-na-nim tok Ot cha! ip-ki-nan Ch'o-kwon-e tok Chi-ch'o cha! na-kin cho-son-e tok Sin-su cha! na-kin pu-mo-e tok etc. etc. etc.
Food to sustain us, Hananim tok!* Dress that will cover us, womaney tokl Rank to uplift us, ancestor tok! Beauty to mark us, parental tok! Love for the parent, filial tok! Room for the stranger, brotherly tok!"
In this common market song, the native ascribes to God the feeding of the people. Dress is prepared by the women, rank comes from one's ancestors, beauty is inherited, love to parents goes with children, hospitality is seen among friends, but the ground work of the state are the gifts of the soil, and God (Hanantlll) gives these.
"But man is unthankful, forgetful, sinful, and yet Hanam:m waits, slow to give punishment. 'rhere is a story that has come down from antiquity, that nearly all Koreans know. It is this: God, once, had waited patiently and long on the earth, and His tarrying had been in vain, for man moved further and further from His presence, and grew more and more wicked, as the generations passed. At last, in anger, God called the Thunder Angel, and sent him down armed with orders to destroy all the wicked. At once the angel came, and his view was, that all men were wicked, and to destroy them would be to wipe the fiat earth clean. He looked over many nations, and went everywhere. At last, in the end of His journeyings, He came upon a single righteous man, out of the millions, one who had never sinned. The Thunder Angel looked upon him and loved him, as the one among ten thousand, the altogether lovely. What was he to do? to destroy all the others and save only this one? After long thought the angel said, , I am resolved what to do, I shall kill the olle righteous man as a substitute for all the wicked, and so the thunderings and lightnings were hurled against the one whom the angel loved, and he died a substitute for all mankind. Thus it was by order of Hananim, who had sent the angel.'
So you see that our God is great, holy, just, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, wonderful, terrible, inscru table. But now the Christian teacher has come, and put a uew meaning into the name of Hananirn, and added to the little story that came to us in the night visions, saying to us what we never knew before, that' God is love.' "
Chu had passed through many vicissitudes, and the dark eyes had looked hopelessly upon many a sorrow, but the story had been filled in to him, and Jesus was the One Righteous One in his mind, who had died a substitute for him and many others.
* Tok means favor, goodness, kindness.
HiGHER EDUCATION IN MISSION FIELDS
HIGHER EI>CCATTOK I~ MISSION FIELDS.
BY REY. D. Z. SHEFFIELD, D.D.
President Tung Chow College (American Board), China.
There is need of higher education in mission fields to produce a properly equipped body of native leaders to direct the varied activities of the Christian church, and to have a guiding hand in the reorganization of the institutions of government and of society. There is always need of more native laborers in mission fields, but there is greater need of better laborers, of men and women who have a wide knowledge of Christian truth, and an understanding of its relations to all truth; who have a rich experience of the Christian life, and are qualified to witness for Christianity among their countrymen. There is great need that missionaries should be men and women of wisdom, that they may lay aright the foundations of the church under new and strange conditions; but there is equal need that there shall be produced a trained and efficient body of native laborers, at first to be the assistants of the missionaries, and later to take over the everenlarging work of building up the church, and of establishing Christian institutions.
There is need of cultured pastors to lead the public religious services of the native church, to train and guide the membership ill the deep and preciolls mystery of worship before the Divine presence, to edify the church by presenting to it from Sabbath to Sabbath well digested truth in its order and proportion and relations, thus building up the hearers in the knowledge of the things of God. Native pastors must know how to give a ready recognition to truth that is embodied in other systems of religion, and to be tolerant toward customs that are not in antagonism with Christianity, and to guard against the introduction into the church of false teachings. They must further be as capable of discriminating between men as between thoughts and practises. 'rhey must know how to reach out a hand of help to those who are searching after truth, tho still in bondage to error; and again they must know how to withdraw their hand from fellowship with those who make large concessions to Christian truth, but have no purpose to break with their past lives and follow in the path of the higher teaching.
There is need of native preachers to go before the pastors and prepare their way, many of them doing the work of pastors, and later accepting the office when the church is prepared to call them to it. These men, if wisely selected and properly trained, give invaluable assistance to the missionaries in their difficult work of introducing Christianity to a heathen people, and convincing them of its fitness to meet their spiritual needs. Every reason that can be urged for multiplying missionaries can be urged with added emphasis for
multiplying this type of native Christian workers. Their witness to Christian truth is more convincing than that of the missionary, because their lives touch the native life more closely, and they give It more direct personal testimony to their countrymen as to the transforming power of Christianity when honestly accepted and obeyed. They know better than the missionaries the prejudices to be overcome by their people, and the best line of approach to the native miIHl. The missionary may gather many converts, but until he has associateL1 with him a company of trained Christian workers, the church of his planting is still in its initial stage, and has not reached the period of vigorous and healthful self-propagation.
Next to the need of nati re pastors and preachers on mission fields, is the need of properly trained and equipped Christian teachers, to instruct the children and youth, the young men and women, of the church, and those outside of the church, who are attracted to its schools. Christianity is a revealed religion, and the record of that revelation has been preserved in a Book. The missionary ought not to be satisfied until every convert, especially every young convert, can read that Book, and so feed for himself upon the Word of Life. An ignorant Christian is usually a weak Christian; an intelligent Christian may not always be strong, but a strong Christian is always intelligent. The scope of mission work should embrace the general education of the membership of the native church, that they may read the Bible for themselves, and at least the simpler books in the native Christian literature. But to lay the foundations of a Christian educational system in mission fields is usually a slow and difficult work. It is the problem of producing the hen without the egg, or the egg without the hen. Without Christian teachers how can Christian schools be established, and without schools how can teachers be produced? As the missionary is the germ of the Christian church, so he must be the germ of the Christian school. He must be the first teacher, and under his directions must schools be developed and teachers be produced. 'reachers should be fitted to give instruction in all grades of schools, primary, intermediate, academic, collegiate. 'rhey should not only be qualified in knowledge to fill these positions, they should be trained in the art of teaching, that Christian schools may do efficient work, and so contribute to the final renovation of native systems of education. Missionaries usually enter their fields a generation or two before the wider movement of Western civilization begins to exert its influence. This gives them an opportunity to become the pioneers of the new civilization, to give to it a right introduction under Christian conditions. In no way can this work be accomplished so well as by training Christian yonng men and women in the best knowledge and life of the new civilization. to become teachers and leaders among their countrymen. It is well known that Western
HIGHER EDUCATION IN MISSION FIELDS
learning, when carried by opposers of Ohristianity to Oriental countries, becomes an obstacle to the progress of Ohristianity, but when carried by Ohristian men, it becomes a support and assistance. 1'here is need of a wise prevision on the part of missionaries and mission boards in planting schools that shall ultimately send forth qualified men and women to take their places in all departments of Christian activity. If the church were fully awake to the opportunity of Ohristian education on mission fields, it might easily have a ruling hand in general education in such countries, the reflex influence of which upon the life of the church, and upon direct evangelistic effort, would be far-reaching and beneficent.
THE NEED FOR CHRISTIAN LITERATURE.
There is a like need of cultured men and women among native Christians to produce a Christian literature for the church and the people. Christianity claims to be the perfect and final religion, and seeks to make for itself a permanent place in the life of every people. The work of producing a Christian literature for the edification of the church, and for general instruction, receives the early attention of missionaries. But, as in preaching and teaching, th~ work of themis- sionary is general and preparatory, so in literary work he can only give an initial impulse. 'rhe great work of producing a living, attractive Christian literature must finally be committed to native hands. Just because Ohristianity is a living religion, it must be thought through afresh by each believer, and so its evidences must be stated afresh to men of each type of civilization, and must be brought in line with their habitual ethical and religious thought. How often is the missionary surprised at the manner of presenting truth by intelligent native Ohristians to their countrymen 1 An acceptable Christian literaturefor any people must be the product of native thought-that is, Christian scholars from among the people must think through for themselves Western thought, and give to it a statement that brings it into formal harmony with native modes of thinking. Excellent books prod uced by distinguished European authors, when translated with literal exactness into Eastern languages, sink from sight like a plummet dropped into the sea; but the same book, if freely translated, its thought passing through the mind of a cultured native, and acquiring from him a native flavor in its forms of expression, is cordially recei ved and studied with profit by the people. The best literary work produced by missionaries is through the help of competent native scholars, but such men must be encouraged to advance from the place of literary assistants to do their own independent work. They must prodllce a tract literature in which the truths of Christianity are so presented as to win and persuade the minds of the people. They must prod uce books for baneral awakening and enlight-
enment, books for the edification of the church, educational books to be used in sc11001s. They must be writers for papers and periodicals, both to feed the minds of their people with proper mental and spiritual food, and to create in them a proper literary appetite.
Men and women who are to be teachers among their people must not only have a knowledge of Christian truth; they must have a like knowledge of the New Learning that forms a part of progressive Christian civilization. They mllst have mature and scholarly knowledge of the teachings of Scripture, the organic relation of truth, the progress of doctrine in both the Old and New Testaments, the relation of the Biblical revelation to the facts of general history. 'l'hey must have a knowledge of the growth and decay of nations, and of the forces that have operated for their upbuilding and their destruction. They must know the outlines of modern science, and be able to point to the facts and laws of nature as reenforcing the teachings of Scripture by their witness to the Divine wisdom, and power, and beneficence. They must understand the organization of governments and of society, that they may know how rightly to apply the principles of Christian ethics to the problems of life. They must have some acquaintance with the best thought of the best thinkers, that their own thought may be illustrated and inspired. Knowledge is power as truly on mission fields as in Christian lands, and the fact that it is so often used against Christianity, adds emphasis to the importance of carefully training native Christian leaders that they may be able to use all the powers of truth drawn from human knowledge in confirmation of the truths of the Divine revelation.
NEED FOR NATIVE CHRISTIAN LEADERS.
Native Christian leaders must be produced, who have discipl1ned minds, capable of making ready use of knowledge, and of directing it to desired ends. 'rhe eye and ear must be trained so that they know how and what to see and hear. The training is indeed of the eye and ear, but yet more of the mind that directs these physical organs in the correct use of their powei·s. The capacity to see and hear aright is largely the condition of growth in knowledge. Modern science, with its applications to the uses of life, is chiefly the result of correct seeing and hearing. The eye and ear snpply the external contents, and the mind by reflection discovers their laws and ends. The various systems of nature-worship have served to dim the eyes and dull the ears of men, so that they have failed to discover the deeper meaning that lies hidden in the phenomena of nature, while Christian theism has directed attention to the evidence of thonght in nature analogous to human thought, tho higher and more wonderful in its range. 'rhe belief that nature is self-evolved, and moves toward ends without thought or purpose, tends to rob men of their interest in nature. If
HIGHER EDUCATION IN MISSION FIELDS
nature is not the product of reason, then reason need not trouble itself over the interpretation of nature; but if the teachings of Christian theism are true, nature is the expression of the thought of God, and the study of nature is the interpretation of that thought. Thus Christian teaching on mission fields opens the eyes and ears of native scholars to see the presence and hear the voice of the Creator in all the works of His hands, and natural theology in the hands of such men becomes the support of revealed theology.
Native Christian leaders should have disciplined powers of memory, that their knowledge may be in orderly arrangement, and in readiness for use. They should have trained imaginations, quick to discover relations, to perceive comparisons, to point out contrasts, and to apply the analogies of nature to the relations of life. They should have powers for sustained and orderly thought, ability to search out causes and foretell results. They should have minds ready to apprehend the teachings of revelation, and the lessons of history and experience. They should be trained in the art of speech, to give expression to thonght ill correct and forceful language. The ability to speak well is closely related to the ability to think well; and next to the vital need that the Christian teacher shall be what he teaches, is the need of correct mastery and use of language in setting forth and applying the truths of Christianity.
One of the important lessons from experience in mission work that is being learned only too slowly, is that the Christian church mud develop its own native leaders. It may accept such help in education as the ethnic civilizations are fitted to supply, but Christian leaders whose early training has been in lines of learning remote from Christian thought, or antagonistic to it, are too often found to have been dwarfed and numbed in their capacities, and are unfitted for the higher responsibilities of Christian leadership. Native Christians of the first generation are certain to have habits of thought and life that under proper training will be left behind by their children. Men are inclined to accept Christianity at the outset on the easiest terms, and the problem of elevating the' standard of Christian living is vital to the stability and growth of the church. Thcre is no more efficient way to accomplish this end than to establish Christian schools, for the training of the young, to arrange courses of study extending through primary, intermediate, and higher grades, sending forth in due time youug men and women possessed of the best knowledge and discipline that the church in Christian lands is fitted to give. Such schools should make intellectual culture secondary to spiritual culture, knowledge subordinate to character. A Christian climate should be created and preserved in the schools by a careful selection of pupils, by judicious discipline, by public worship, by appropriate Christian teaching placed in the curricula of study, and by applying naturally
and. helpfully in classroom instruction, the moral and. religious lessons that grow out of the topics discussed.
The error of attempting to separate intellectmtl and. spiritual training in our modern systems of learning, ought not to be introduced into mission fields. The mind and heart are best educated together. A spiritual awakening is accompanied with an intellectual quickening. The affections are the motive powers in life; they are operated upon in every classroom, and in every branch of study. 'fhey are influenced by contact with teachers and fellow students, and by every new truth which is acquired. 'l'hus the education of the affections can not be divorced from the education of the intellect. It is going on even when there is a studied attempt to exclude it as an element in study. An education exclusive of Christian teaching, is against Christian teaching; and the student finds that he has much to overcome in his thoughts and feelings, and habits of life, when he assumes the obligations of Christianity. Christianity is natural to man in the sense that it ministers to the deepest wants and aspirations of his nature. When given its central and inclusive place in learning, it becomes an inspiration and motive-force, directing learning to its true ends and conserving its noblest results. Modern thonght and research have vastly widened the range of human knowledge, and placed it at the service of the Christian church, that its work of propagation may be widened and accelerated, and its results become ever more beneficent and permanent.. Higher education on the mission field, if strongly Christian in its spirit and aim, will give to the native church, through its educated leaders, without long and discouraging delay, the power of self-propagation and self-nurture, to which it would not otherwise attain until after generations of struggle and of partial defeat.
CHRISTIAN EDlTCATION IN JAPAN.
BY REY. EC(;EKE 8. BOOTH, :M.A.
Principal, Ferris Seminary. Yokoliama, Reformed (Dutch) Board J ndging from what is being written upon the sn bject these days, the educational problem has failed of a satisfactory solution the world over. The higher the stage of civilization to which a people or nation has attained, the less the satisfaction with which leading educationalists view the situation. Nor is this state of things to be wondered at. If, as is claimed, and as experience proves, education is a means, and a powerful one, in the development of the individual, and consequently a factor to be reckoned with in the progress of civilization, it follows that both the aims and methods of education must change' with recurring new conditions alld circumstances. Yet the conservatism of the educated classes is proverbial. 'fhe literati of the
-CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN JAPAN
Orient are a formidable barrier to the introduction of new thought, except such as may tend to intrench them the more strongly within their own citadel; and the educational centres of the Occident are the last to be moved by the new practical thought of contemporaneous times. 'fhis condition, perhaps, is well in the highest civilization. These educational centers act as a balance-wheel, keeping the whole economy of the public, political, intellectual, moral, and spiritual fabric from periodic collapse. But the individual or school, by whom, or through whom, the state of the world at large is to be given a new thought, and through that thought a new purpose in life, can not afford to defer to the stereotyped formalities in vogue in either of these garrisons.
The greatest Teacher the world has ever had, or ever will have, did not come before the world as a product of the school of Gamaliel, but he arose from among the common people and gathered about him a following from the common people. He laid the foundation of His university in the minds and hearts of a few whom he called from the ordinary walks of life. He knew the narrowness of the so"called liberal education of His day, and chose soilless cultivated upon which to apply His methods and in which to sow the seed of a new "revelation." A field already producing tares can not bear wheat. Had Luther remained within the pale of Rome, the Reformation would not have been; the world would have remained ignorant of " justification by faith," who knows for how long?
JAPAN A GROWING WONDER.
In educational matters, as in political, diplomatic, and commercial, Japan has been for a generation past a growing wonder of the nineteenth century. Her governmental and material achievements have won the praise alike of friends and foes. She has the appearance of a "nation born in a day"-full-grown and lusty-in the vigor of young manhood. She has emerged from oblivion and has taken her place beside the most civilizeu among the family of nations. None rejoice more at this mouel'll miracle than he who believes in the covenant of Abraham and the brotherhood of man.
The questions, however, persist in the minds of some: Is her regeneration genuine? Are these manifestations uue merely to material forces? Is she like a corpse to which a galvanic battery has been applied; and are her manifestations merely the spasmodic convulsions of muscular irritation induced purely by material forces? Or, has she truly passed from death to life? Is there present in the body politic the spark of a llew vitality? Much of her activity is undoubtedly reflex and unconscious;· the result of the stimulus of material forces from abroad. Still we believe that within the body politic itself there is the vital spark of a genuinely new life. She may
be as unconscious of it as an infant in its mother's arms, but she will one day awaken to self-consciousness. W0 betide the East, if that awakening reveals that she has merely been resuscitated to the old world-life-that new Japan is naught else than old Japan panoplied in modern armor!
That this is her desire, the thing she is seeking with all the forces at her command, may be shown by her attitude toward the education of the young. Less than half a century ago, when the scales fell from off her eyes, and she saw the nations" as trees walking," she was discriminating enough to see that she must educate her people. Europe and America were placed under tribute, and the best methods then in use, or since devised, have Leen imported. The centralized imperialism of Germany, and the public school system of America were blended, Orientalized, and secularized in such a way as to emphasize the principle that the subject only exists for the state. It is not until the Western mind has grasped this fundamental principle of the East that it can begin to understand its type of civilization. Contemporaneous with the government·s activity in education, the schools of Christian missions have done, and are doing, an important work.
In obedience to the command," Go ye into all the world and teach all nations," the church sent forth men and women, who, quietly and without any flourish of trumpet, have patiently taught the great, eternal truths, new to the Japanese mind, of the one God; man's individual responsibility to Him; man's lost estate and redemption through Jesus Christ; together with necessary elementary secular studies, and with such success that the conservative educational authorities have sought to so legislate in educational matters as to deprive the pupils of these Christian schools of obtaining certain privileges and advantages which are enjoyed by pupils of government schools.
As for example, students in middle government schools are exempt from conscription for the army, and are admitted without examination to government schools of higher grades, to the extent, at least, of the accommodations of the higher schools.
Upon application to the local authorities some two or three years ago, on the part of some of the mission schools, the latter privilege was granted them upon the condition that the curriculum was made to conform to that of the government schools of the same grade, but without in any way interfering with religious teaching, or holding of religious exercises in these schools. But the instructions of the Minister of Education, of July last, "forbidding all religious instruction and exercises in all schools, whether public or private, following the government curriculum," made it impossible for mission schools, if true to their principles, to follow the government curriculum, in order to secure the favors for their pupils. The result is that with the
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN JAPAN
exception of two or three mission schools, they have all become private schools, following curricula of their own, and are thus free to use Christian methods without interference from the authorities.
Has the Church of God a legitimate call to maintain and carryon at great expense of money and men, purely secular education for the sake of reaching possibly a few individuals among the pupils who may be induced to attend Christian services a few times a week? This is a question npon which the voice of Christendom should be heard with no ullcertain sound. Especially when it is borne in mind that the system of education which must in that case be followed, is openly and avowedly unchristian.
At this juncture, then, at which the Christian church in Japan has been brought, through no fault of its own, the time surely has come when Christendom should be alive to its opportunities, and provide means for a thorough Christian education for all those who may be led to take it. The present mission schools are inadequate, as they, with a few exceptions, can do little more than provide an elementary general ed ucation.
What is needed is one thoroughly equipped higher school, along distinctly Christian lines, that shall be able to equip men for the professions. A virgin soil awaits the true prophet here. If he does not arise from the people, let him be imported.
As a proof that the writer of this article is not alone in the conyiction that there is a great need for a Christian institution of higher grade than exists at present, the following resolution is in evidenc~: That, inasmuch as there is a manifest call for an institution (or institutions) which shall provide for the young men of Japan the means of obtaining a higher Ohristian education, it b the conviction of the convention that the matter should be given careful and painstaking consideration, tho the convention is not clear as to the best method to be adopted; and that Mr. Pieters and Dr. Soper be requested to lay this matter before the general Ohristian public.
The convention of missionaries interested in Christian education in Japan, at which the above resolution was passed, was held in the city of Tokyo on January 3 to 5, 1900. It was a thoroughly representative body denominationally and numerically, as the average attendance was about one hundred, nearly one-sixth of the whole missionary body having assembled at this inspiring meeting, and every Protestant denomination being represented.
Another important action was taken by the convention, which shows that it was the concensus of opinion that something should be done without unnecessary delay. A committee was appointed to bring" the question of creating a Board of University Regents to the attention of the various Christian schools in Japan." The hope was entertained that with the plant already installed, and without any considerable additional expense, it would be both possible and practi-
cable to form a Board of Regents, which would provide facilities whereby young men in the various mission schools or elsewhere, could pass examinations upon subjects entitling them to degrees which in scholarship would be not inferior to the best schools in the land. The prospect of accomplishing this hope is not at the present time reassuring, at least to the extent that the idea of securing at the earliest possible date, a well-endowed and properly equipped Christian college in Japan, should be abandoned. There are many factors entering into the Regents' scheme, some of which are evident, and others not so evident, which may hinder its consnmmation, altho it has good precedents in other climes, and in more cooperant constituencies. It would be indeed a triumph of wisdom, a broadening of the Christian educational horizon in this land, and a fitting introduction to the twentieth century, could this Regents' Board scheme satisfactorily solve the problem before us.
Among other important suggestions and recommendations looking toward the solution of the difficulty before ns, was a "Plea for a Christian College in Japan," by Rev. Albertns Pieters.
To quote from that paper: THE PLAN.
This, stated in its broadest, and therefore ideal form, is that there should be established in Japan, on an independent and undenominational but thoroughly and aggressively Christian basis, an institution of learning of the highest order.
THE NEED.
The first element of need in the system of government education, (1) It is stiJI in its beginning. (2) It exercises a powerful influence upon the people. (3) This influence is, from the standpoint of religion and morality, largely evil. (4) In regard to Christianity the attitude of the educational system is intentionally and deliberately hostile. The next great element . . . is found in the existence and nature of the mission schools already established. From their very nature arise peculiar limitations which prevent their entering upon the field with the efficiency that is legitimately demanded of them. Moreover, they have crying needs that can be met in no other way. (1) These Christian schools need Christian teachers. (2) They need a school to which their graduates can go. (3) They need freedom to develop according to the genius of Christian education. (4) They need unity and cooperation. The third great element in the need is the necessity that Christian thought, in its higher developments, should be presented to the reading and thinking public in Japan.
THE OPPORTUNITY.
(1) The nature and character of mission schools.
(2) The insufficiency of accommodations in the government schools.
(3) An increasing demand for higher training of the best quality.
(4) Foreigners are not prohibited from establishing schools.
(5) A safe.title to property can be obtained under the new Civil Code.
(6) There is now no Christian school of the required grade in the country. . .
1900.J ANGLO-EDUCATION IN INDIA
.These quotations are sufficient to show what the plan is; the need of a Ohristian college and the opportunity now afforded.
The scene in the second Psalm is being enacted before our very eyes. The department of education has deliberately and intentionally thrown out the mission schools from the educational system, and for no other reason than that they are Ohristian. "1'he kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together."
It may be said that religion in general, and not Ohristianity in particular, is aimed at. If so, has the government taken any steps to rid the public school text-books of Budclhist and Shinto teachings?
Is the one act of divine veneration-reverence paid to the emperor's picture-expected of every Japanese attendant upon government schools prohibited? "Oh 1 but that is not worship, that is mere respect I" says one who knows. Granted and gladly, "But if that be so, what about the doctrine of the divine origin of the imperial family? "
ANGLO-EDUOATION IN INDIA.
BY JOHN MCLAUREN, D.D. Missionary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, India.
The question is not whether we shall have English education in India or not. It is there now, and we could as easily turn back the stars in their courses as to stay this educat~onal stream. The only question is, How shall we utilize this great power? Rev:R. T. Wilder is l"esponsible for the assertion that there are more Hind u students in Oalcutta attending college than in any other city in the world. All average of ten thousand students go up for the degree of B.A. in Oalcutta alone, while thirty thousand on an average appear in. the empil"e for the same degl"ee. There are reckoned to be three million of these Anglo-educated Hindus in India at present holding positions of trust, from the clerk in a bank to the judge on the bench-or the prime minister of the raja of an estate as large as many a kingdom. It is impossible for a man to go throngh such a course all in English, and remain an idolater as before. He may become a Theosophist. a spiritualist, or a Brahmoist, but not a worshiper of sticks and stones. I n nine cases out of ten he will also get sick of the social and family habits and customs of his fathers, and he will long for the pure and holy home ties which he sees exemplified in mission families all about. 'l'his educational craze is not confined to men either. Women also have entered the race. Many of these are becoming Ohristians, and we must see to it that the Gospel is lovingly and intelligently brought to the attention of such an interesting and influential section of the Hindu people.
EDUCATION IN CHINA.
BY REV••J. H. WORLEY, FG-CHAU, CHINA.
That English and scientific studies are a great force in overthrowing superstition, and preparing the way for the Gospel, can be no secret; but their power for good will be greatly enhanced, if it is ever kept in mind that the prime object of all forms of mission work is to save men, and build them up in Christian character.
Those seeking an English education usually do so with a view to bettering their financial condition. This makes it aIr the more imperative that those engaged in this work should be thorough soul-savers. If young men educated in English are called, and have the courage to heed the call to engage in mission work at a much less salary than they could command in secular employment, there is evidence that genuine work has been done by their teachers. In some mission schools where English is taught, too large a per cent. of the graduates engage in secular work, and too many renonnce their Christianity, and disgrace the schools and church which have educated them.
However, some schools are doing noble work, and sending out large numbers of earnest, faithful workers. Among these none that I know of has a better record than our Peking University. They have graduated twenty-eight young men, and twenty of these have entered the ministry or some form of Christian work. I doubt if any college in America can show such a record. 'There is no branch of mission work more important or more useful, where salvation and not culture is put first.
AN OBJECT j..JESSON IN EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS.
BY REY. CALEB C. BALDWIN, D.]).
'The Confucian ethical system is the Chinese ideal of the basis of true education. It is paramount, even in the estimation of the unlearned. We try to correct or report its errors (where they are such) by a Christian education, in connection, of course, with evangelistic efforts. You may take as a sort of object lesson the bit of history in this line in our Fu-chau Mission. Arriving on the ground in the spring of 1848, I found that there was one little day school, taught by it heathen teacher under the missionaries' supenision. He would attend with outward respect to the reading of the Scripture and prayer -would also teach in a mere formal way from the Christian books. Then followed, as the years passed by, similar schools in country plac(>s. After about ten years of uphill work, we had a boys' boarding and training school-the "training" idea signifying the preparation of teachers and evangelists. The interjection of the word in the name unfolded immense possibilities in the progress of Christian truth, as well as correcting errors and supplying defects in the Confucian system. Then, in 1863, came our girls' boarding school, commencing with one pupil, and this enterprise quite repugnant to Chinese notions. But we persevered. In time, these Christian schools, common, and high, and collegiate, pervade, either by actual local establishment, or through wide influences, from the centers of our work, the districts, near and remote, from the city of Fu-chau. No graduates from onr schools can continue to be full-fledged Confucianists or servilely adhere to superstitious and puerile customs.
CHINESE RELIGION
SELECTED ARTICLES.
CHINESE HELIGION.* BY DR. A. DORNER.
In the popular Confucianism, ancestor worship and mantic play a great part. :Mantic has here become an official geomancy, withdrawn from the arbitrary will of the individual. It is called Fang-shui, and proposes as its <tim, for all weightier matters, such <ts the building of a house, the choice of a grave, and now also the laying out of roads, r<til- w<tys, telegr<tphs, to determine the right locality by means of <t fantastic natural philosophy, developed especially by Shu-hi. This is the very foundation of the opposition to the advances of culture. Add to this the enormous sums devoured by the cult, especially by the ancestor worship, both together are a main hindrance to the coming up of the Chinese empire, apart from the fact that the mandarin administration has fallen into the uttermost decay. On the other hand, missionary Voskamp, who knows China, extols the industry of the Chinese, their enterprise, practical sense, organizing talent, their energy and tenacious mainten- ance of what they have once achieved, their delight in study, their love of peace, and unquenchable longing for a wise and righteous government, to which we may add their filial piety, their patriotism, and their fru- gality.
Alongside of Confucianism, as we know, Buddhism and the religion of Lao-tsze, are acknowledged state religions. The religion of Lao-tsze is in one point antithetical to Confucianism. Vhile Confucius would have the heavenly order realized by morality of ccndu·ct, Lao-tsze has emphasized rather the mystical unity with the source of this order; the going back to the undivided disposition rather than to the many actuations of it. Both agree in recurring to antiquity, and both view morality as realized in the life of the state.
Tao, which with Lao-tsze is the ground of All, the Absolute, designated even as Notbeing, represents even more strongly than in Confucianism, the stable principle.
The sage strives not and is victorious; he speaks not and is followed; he calls no one and men come of themselves; he seems slow and has skilful plans. The net of Heaven is infinite, its meshes are spread abro.2d and no one escapes.
The sage hides his jewels in his bosom, i. e., he appears insignificant. Tao is the asylum of all beings, the treasure of the virtuous. Whoever snrrenders himself to Tao, daily decreases, until he arrives at the Notacting. There is nothing impossible to him. For through Notacting one becomes lord of the realm; whoever loves to act, is incapable of lordship.
His essential thought is this, that one learns modesty, can give up, controls the passions, in surrendering himself to Tao, finding in him the rest and harmony of the soul. and therefore serving others as pattern. Thereby also the order of the state is best maintained, which here likewise is apprehended as the principle of restfulness. This forbids progress; fulness of occupation is repelled; all are to strive after simplicity, allow no further wishes to come up in them, adhere to Tao. which is a stable principle. The more Lao-tsze is bent upon the interior, the less * Extracts from the Zeitschrijt jar Missionskunde.
weight is laid on the outward system of ceremonies. If Tao is unselfishly loved, order, as it were, comes of itself. Taoism also has survived till the present. This sect for awhile had a definite head. But it has partly sunk back into polytheism and spirit-worship, partly h,to magic, in order especially by the latter to attain to immortality. Various writings of popular style treat of reward and pUllishment, endeavoring to advance morality by punishment for particular offenses, and rewards for par- ticular virtues. The Book of especial blessings commends mildness, faithfulness, purity of heart.
Buddhism in China has degenerated into magic, alchemy, the pre- tended art of flying, as well as into a ceremonial mechanism, and with stagnation, as is shown especially in the Tibetan tantras. Apart from this, we find attained, in the highest genuinely Chinese religious devel- opment, a Monism, which, altho not everywhere consistently carried through, yet bears a thoroughly peculiar character. Common to both the heads of the two Chinese religious parties, is the recognition of order, which is presented as incorporate in a traditional and stable system of state, and its venerable history, and shows itself in the correspondence of civil order and natural order. The Mongolian belief in spirits is, especially with Confucius, very nearly reduced to the worship of ances- tors as an act of filial piety. Morality is found essentially in following the political order. This involves, that the personality and its rights recede before the social order. If we compare this way of thinking with Buddhism, it is so far opposed to Buddhism, as the latter lays chief weight on the freeing of the individnal from suffering, and shows little apprehension of political life. This very fact has often in Uhina been a reason for assailing Buddhism~ "Moreover, Confucius and Lao-tsze agree in an unimaginative, or jejune," apprehension of the world, which is alien to everything mythological. The mysticism of Lao-tsze is combined with a political order favoring stability and rest, and the activity of Confu- cius serves the same purpose, namely, to establish order, especially the order of the State. Lao-tsze knows no monks, like Buddhism, nor Confu- cius, priests, like Brahmanism, altho Taoism, with its tendency to mysti- cism, first begins to show an incipient religious organization. The chief int~rest is and remains the political order. and that this may be main- tained, that a good government may exist for the people, viewed as rela- tively in its minority, is viewed as one of the most essential results of the right religious position, as the foundation of political life is found in the piety of kindred and children, in filial piety. Both, moreover, fully agree in this, that religion is here viewed as immanent, that the Godhead is no longer, like the spirits, apprehended personally as the Supreme Spirit, but impersonally, as the highest principle of order, as the ulti- 'J mate unity, in which all antitheses are neutralized. (With Confucius, Heaven is apprehended as the principle of measure, with Lao-tsze Tao as the principle of restfulness for the soul; but both agree that this prin- ciple, as immanent in the world, is the foundation of order. Even Lao- tsze does not lose himself completely in transcendency. His Tao is not Brahm. The Chinese abstraction remains in steady connection with present reality and its ends. The immanent tendency of both men, more- over, shows itself in this, that they go back to no special revelations. The Divine reveals itself in events" 01' in the soul as the principle of order. Nor does the prophet proclaim anything new. Subjectivity has not yet risen to criticism of what is inherited. In Ohina sophists or subjectiv-
CHINESE
istic eudemonists have not shattered the inherited substance of ethics. Vhat tradition contains, what the events of history teach, what the fixed course of nature shows, that is the given fact, on which one has to hold fast; in this course of the historical and natural life order reveals itself, being viewed, essentially, as steadily uniform; it is not progress in history that is regarded, but tradition, the old order, that has approved itself, and is in need of no innovations. Inasmuch as they find in this order the source of morals, there results for them also this conception, that this immanent morality speaks in history, so that good action is conjoined with a happy state of the realm, evil action with an unhappy. This pragmatic view of history, which is allied to the Old Testament view, is distinguished from this only by its immanent character, in that the Jewish God is a supracosmic Will, guiding the world, and especially the destinies of his elect people, while the Chinese sages find the work- ing of the Divine in the world-order itself, as it fulfils the ethical equilib- rium.
Yet the thought of equilibrium is not fully carried out. Confucius, it is true, sees it confirmed in the course of history. But in reference to the fate of the individuals he doubts whether really merit always receives its reward and evil its punishment. That was much as in the later Hebrew literature also the dogma of retribution was shattered in reference to the individual. Confucius finally resigns himself into the· will of Destiny, which still hesitates between Fate and Providence; but yet it appears that in the last result he assumes toward Heaven and its order, on the whole a trustful position. "He who knows me is Heaven," and above all he firmly maintains the principle, which he shares with Lao-tsze, that Heaven has no partiality, therefore is not arbitrary. Liiotsze finds the equilibrium easier, inasmuch as he who surrenders himself to Tao becomes completely devoid of necessities and thereby offers fewer points of exposure to fate. "Heaven loves no person apart; it gives continually to the virtuous." " I venture not to be the first in the realm; therefore can I be the prince of all." He has a strong consciousness of the independence which secures freedom from wants. Moreover, both also agree in this, which indeed corresponds with the leaning of the ancient state religion, that they do not emphasize the guilt of evil and the need of expiation. One should even according to Confucius, as far as any way possible shun punishing, and obviate its necessity by ethical education. This has partly its ground in this, that the person is not apprehended independently enough, in order to be able to feel strongly the guilt. which of course is personal. The person in this mainly social ethics, is not so much capable of sin as a simple object 6f training. And then as everything is viewed as appertaining to the indwelling order of the world, there is a decided leaning to optimism. If, finally, this order, especially among the disciples of Confucius and of Liio-tsze did not exclude the intervention of spirits, especially as Confucius and Liio-tsze themselves did not set aside spirit-worship, this gives us a strong reminder of the way in which the Stoics also, with all their faith in Providence, took up the intervention of spirits out of the popular religion, inasmuch as these were viewed as the executors of Providence. No religion whatever has succeeded in setting aside the intermediate beings between the supreme God or the cosmic order and the individnal men or circles of men; we need only remember the Jewish and Christian angelogy or the Christian saints, especially patron saints.
RACE AND THE GOSPEL IN THE WEST INDIES.* BY BISHOP CHARLES BUCHNER, D.D.
I have had occasion to observe that the awakening feeling of nationality among the colored race finds expression in many foolish and unjustifiable claims and pretensions. To act with cool judgment and fairness with regard to such claims is no easy matter, and I should not like to assert that we, or the missionaries, have always solved the difficulty in the best way. Firmly to OppOSfJ wrong claims, while joyfully acceding to right ones, to avoid suppressing the very independence we aim at, while endeavoring to guide it aright, is in theory very easy, but in practise, in concrete instances, often very difficult.
Vhat increases this difficulty is the fact that we have to deal with two races, perfectly different, not only in color, but in every other respect. How great the difference is can only be understood by one who has had praetical experience of it, especially in a transition period like the present. There is a certain Christian idealism, which affirms that Christianity does away with all distinctions, even those of nationality, and which demands that a Christian shall in every case rise above all these barriers. I must confess that I have met with this sort of idealism only at home, but not among the missionaries.
Let us look at the question in a common-sense light. A nobleman remains a nobleman, with the distinctive consciousness of rank, even tho he be a true Christian; Englishmen, Germans, retain as Christians their national feeling. It is so and must be so everywhere, otherwise Christianity would destroy all real individuality, and bring about a universal dead·level. It goes without saying, that all such distinctions of rank and station must not be allowed to destroy the inward unity, but must be sanctified and kept in check by the influence of the Holy Spirit. This being presupposed, it can and must be asserted: Christianity is a uniting force, breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of brotherly love, but it is not a leveling force, abolishing God·given distinctions. Christianity has indeed power to bridge over the chasms of rank, color, education, etc., which separate one human being from another, but in spite of all Christian charity there remain differences in feeling and mental capacity, which, if denied by a superficial idealism, and not practically recognized, must and will some day change into bitter antagonism. True Christianity does not demand that I should give up my personal and racial individuality, but it does demand that I should respect those things in others. I have had many opportunities of observing that a white man is and remains a white man, and a negro a negro, and that in spite of all Christian charity there are certain sharply defined distinctions between them. This was brought to my notice in a striking manner by a well-educated negro, who said to me, "Is it not so that there is a certain limit in the ideas and feelings of the whites with regard to the blacks, beyond which all your Christianity can not carry you; that in many things we black people are incomprehensible and unsympathetic to the whites?" I believe I was right in assenting to this, upon which he continued, "Just in the same way there is a limit beyond which we can not go, and at which you whites become incomprehensible and unsympathetic to us." I hope you will understand me rightly, and not think that I am speaking in an un-Christian spirit. An individual may be able to break through *Condensed from the (Moravian) Periodical Accounts. this barrier, to become a negro to the negroes; between the races as snch there will always remain deeply-rooted distinctions, which will often be the cause of friction. I am quite convinced that there is scarcely a white man who does not at bottom look upon the negro race-not every individual, still less every Christ'ian negro-as a people who are and will always remain on a somewhat lower level than himself and his race; and there are few blacks who do not cherish a deep-seated mistrust, not of every white man, still less of every miswionary, but of the white man as a whole. At any rate, it is quite natural that these racial distinctions should show themselves in a marked manner at a time when the natives are beginning to become independent, and are awakening to national consciousness.
ZINZENDORF'S MISSIONARY METHODS.* In the earlier days of missions, Zinzendorf censured the transfer of the confessionalism and dogmatism of the horne church to the foreign mission field. "He urged that they furbish up the old churches again for them, and ask them of which of the Christian religions they are. . . .
One should not recommend to them too urgently human books unless they are very exquisite, but rather Scripture extracts and Luther's hearty speeches, but not under his name. . . . Begin not with public sermons, but with application to individual souls."
In Tranquebar the Lutheran missionary Biihvingh had included among his catecheticaJ questions, "On what day did God create the angels and the devils?" Ziegenbalg, it is true, had struck that out, but only because" it might be inferred that God had created the devils as devils."
Against things like this, Zinzendorf declared: "Surely, deal' brother, to have read the apostolic methods would have brought about things differ- ently." Instead of beginning after the then prevailing method of the Lutheran orthodoxy, with instruction about the Creation, the Fall, Moses and the Law, Zinzendorf admonishes his brethren: "Relate to them historically (there is a life therein) that Jesus Christ was born very God of the Father in eternity and also very Man of the Virgin Mary, that He is your Lord. Let not yourselves be blinded by reason, as if the people must first in order learn to believe on God, after that on Jesus. It is false; for that there is a G01 is manifest to them. Of the Son they must be instructed that there is salvation in no other, no other name given to man. Paul knew nothing among the heathen save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." In this, its Christocentric aspect, Zinzen- dorf's missionary method, apart from his peculiar Christology. will always remain a pattern. In this point he was far in advance of his time.
As for the necessary regulations of the new churches, Zinzendorf recommends that "they should be apostolic," but yet, as far as possible, spare existing national usage. "One of their main objects has heen to maintain men undisturbed in their condition, wherein God has knit them together, with the system of the world; yea, to make them in the same more faithful and more serviceable." Even in the "ridding out of superstition," and of the usages at variance with Christianity, such as polygamy, the brethren should proceed patiently and forbearingly. " Do not measure souls with the Herrnhut yardstick."
. "The missionaries ought to show a joyous and cheerful spirit, and not III the least outvardly to rule over the heathen, but to set themselves in respect among them in the power of the Spirit, but outwardly, as much as possible, to humble themselves below them."
*Translations from the Evangelisches Missions·Maya,in.
EDITORIALS.
Affairs in China. with China in Christlike love and unselfishness, such as would com- The anti-foreign revolution in lIlend their religion to the less fa- China is spreading to the southern yored nation. and western provinces, and there are almost daily l'nmors of massa- The Protestant missionaries are cres of foreigners, and of native doubtless not welcomed by the converts. 'Ve are thankful to say, mass of Chinese, who "love the however, that no serious disturb- darkness rather than light," but ances are reported except in the Protestant missionaries are not the northeastern provinces, and that cause of the trouble. Missionaries but very few deaths of missiona,ries unaided and unhindered by unhave been reported and confirmed. christian traders and rulers, have Even those at Pao-ting-fu may proved themselves more valuable stiq bc alive. as peacemakers and civilizers than multitudes of merchants, soldiers, Many questions will arise in con- and diplomats. From some quarnection with this crisis in China. ters will doubtless come calls for The cause of the uprising is doubt- the permanent wjthdrawal of misless manifold, and reaches back sionaries. More just and sensible many years to the beginning of for- would be the call for the witheign aggression in the empire. The drawal of merchants and dip- Chinese do not distinguish between lomats. Neither course is to be Protestants and Romanists, or be- commended, but rather a more tween foreign and Christian, con- Christian- unselfish and lovingsequently any feeling against one treatment of China and all other class is used to arouse antagonism nations, civilized and uncivilized. to all. Chinese demagogues argue that since foreign governments are As Dr. Ashmore remarks, China's seeking spheres of influence in death-throes as a heathen nation China, and since missionaries are may prove to be the birth-pangs of foreigners, and Christian Chinese a new life in which the Kingdom are followers of foreigners, there- of Heaven will make rapid progfore all are enemies to be destroyed ress. if China is to be free and independent. Confucianism, ancestral wor- The Oall for Revenge. ship, and patriotism, are also so closely linked together in Chinese Some parts of the nominal Christhought as to make them prac- tian communities of the world are tically inseparable, and most of the making a sorry exhibit of them- Celestials think that to 'give up the selves. The sentiment obtained national religion necessarily proves prominence in some leading papers a lack of patriotism. This was the of Great Britain after the supposed case in Japan before their war massacre of the ministers and with China proved otherwise. others at Peking, "Revenge first, and negotiation afterward!" If Are the Chinese to be greatly the eccentric King of Germany blamed? They sin, but it is through has been properly reported, he disignorance, and does not the blame missed his soldiers going to China lie largely at the door of Christians with a barbarous harangue, bloodwho have not sought to win them thirsty and un-Christian enough by preaching Christ and by living to become a Kurdish chief. Hap- Christ? Certainly the so-called pily we have had nothing of that Christian nations have not dealt in America. Missionaries every-
EDITORIALS
where would deprecate defense on "I have written on shipboard, and under the depression of sad the basis of "no quarter is to be tidings from Tung-chow and Pe- king. You know the full facts by given and no prisoners are to be this time better than myself. I know that my own work is wiped taken." In fact, while claiming out so far as it has been material. I have no station, or school, 01' that it is their political right to home to go to, but I know that there is a Divine Ruler who presides accept defense of. their several over the ends of confusion as surely as over the ends of order, and I countries, as citizens, equally with will go forward and stand in my lot. I believe that the day of great that accorded any other citizens, change has fully come to China, and under the guidance of Christhere are eminent missionaries who tian men the change in its total results will mean progress. Tho doubt if any good comes in the long sore in heart I never had a stronger hope for China than now. This run to the cause of missions by struggle is the effort of Old China to shut out the New China, but it civil or political processes of re- will be in vain."
dress. Hudson Taylor said at the Many do not realize, too, the Ecumenical Conference that he had burden of sorrow and responsibility under which the officers of the mistraced a large number of these cases sion boards are laboring. They have to their remote results only to given themselves heart and soul to reach the ('onclusion that they had this work; they are personal friends of the missionaries and of the native not been good for the missions even Christians, and are in sore need of when the courts or military author- the prayers of Christians evervities had accorded all that was de- where, that wisdom, courage, a~d manded by the mission. ** strength may be given them in the Sympathy and Prayer. difficult task that is entrusted to The hearts of Christians at home them. can not but bleed for those who are most stricken and anxious in this It has been before pointed out time of trouble. The native Christians are losing substance, home, here that suffering is the price of friends-all that makes life attrac- success. It is also noteworthy that tive-and often life itself for the cause of Christ. 'Ve need not fear the early Christians, when persefor the Church, for persecution has never yet injured the Church, cuted, did not pray for freedom which is founded on Jesus Christ and kept alive by the Holy Spirit. from suffering, but only for" cour- Persecution rather purities than petrifies the Church. age to preach the 'Vord with bold- But the suffering of both con- ness." The Lord answered their verts and missionaries is intense, and Christians the world over prayer by tilling them with the may well unite in prayer for them, Holy Spirit. Let us pray not for that they may be sustained and, if it is God's will, that their lives may comfort but for wisdom and courage be preserved. 'fhe missionaries who escape with their lives see their and the spirit of self-sacrifice which "children in the Lord" massacred and the work of years of labor shall lead us to share more truly the apparently obliterated. Theil' burden and heat of the day. sorrow is keen and deep. After the Storm. Rev. Dr. D. Z. Sheffield, writing from Honolulu, June 29th, en route Perhaps after the storm in China returning to his wQrk in China, says: has blown over, the societies may find an opportunity for federated consideration of what they ought to do in reconstructing plans.
When an old building is burned influential minds of the country, down, one always considers whether to rebuild on the same and over all parts of it. Chinese spot and in the same plan. The several missions operating in young men valued Vestern books China, may find an opportunity to consider how to recast the whole and newspapers, and went to work mission map; in North China specially, schools, colleges, hospitals, to produce a new literature, and to presses, and what not, may have to be distributed all over again. If make new educational efforts. a million dollars' worth of mission property is blotted out, it may That this would meet with checkrequire cooperation and mutual was certain. Even if it had not accommodation, if not a new strategic distribution of the whole been, as it was, pushed with indiswork. A meeting of all boards in America may take this whole case creet zeal, it was certain to pro,-oke in hand, but a wide federation in council with the European mission- antagonism. These men knew it aries also ought to be had. A supplement to the Ecumenical Con- would. Some of them hoped to ference to consider the entire question of China may be in place guard against the outburst of vio- before reentering these fields. * * lence till it was further advanced; Reform not Dead. none of them doubted that it must It need not be supposed that all come ultimately. The rate of prog- China has swung away from the reform movement of two years ago. ress was too rapid, sufficient liter- There is too much stability in the Chinese character to warrant that. ature was not created; teachers Only in the summer of 1899 we were were not ready; workers of all reading of the martyr stuff of some kinds were unprepared. The young of those reformers. "They may emperor was set aside, six reform cut the grass but the roots remain," leaders were beheaded; men who said one of these reformers. " My merely signed a petition for lenity blood shall be a voice calling my to them were crushed and degraded. countrymen to carryon the work But did the reform movement die? we have begun," said another of Wait three years and see! * * these martyrs-not martyrs for Christianity, but martyrs for the Indian Famine ReHet progress which they realized must come in China. These young pro- Weare thankful to say that rain gressive men were in the deepest has fallen in some parts of the earnest. "So earnest," we were famine districts of India and that told, "were these young Chinese, the outlook is brighter for the comthat in their meetings there was a ing autumn and winter. There are solemnity equal to that of a com- still millions needing relief howmunion service in England." No! ever, and there is use for all this movement is not dead. Knowl- the money that God enables us to edge of Western ideas was widely giv6 to supply food, cattle, seed, spread among the best and most and farming implements to these sufferers of the far East. Ve have received many letters of thanks- giving from those to whom we have sent the funds contributed by readers of the REVIEW. Lack of space forbids our quoting from them in this issue, but we hope to do so later. The following contri- butions have been received since anI' last acknowledgements were made: No. 201. lndian Famine Sufferers….. 1.00 , 202. 5.00 H .." " 203. " 204. 1.00 H 205. 5.00 206. H 207. 10.00 208. 1.00 H 209. 5.00 210. 2.25 211. 212. 18.00 213. 214. lIIoody Endowment Fun,;:::: 2".00 215. 216. Indian Famine Sufferers…. 4.00 15.0n 2.00 1.00 ….. 4.00 H ….. £20-10
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
Best Books on China. * Zwemer graphically describes the " Holy" cities of Mecca and Me- The Crisis in China. A Symposium….. $1.50 dina, the Pearl Diving of the Gulf, Dawn on the Hills of T'ang, H. P. Beach. . .60 the" Ship of the Desert," and the Thell1iddleKingdom,S. Wells Williams .. 0.00 Date Culture of the Euphrates A Cycle of Cathay, W. A. P. Martin ….. 2.50 Valley. The accounts of his travels Chinese Characteristics, A. H. Smith …. 2.00 inland are full of lively incident Village Life in China, A. H. Smith……. 2.00 and adventure, and the story of the Life of John L. Nevins, 11rs. Nevins ….. 2.00 pioneer Christian missionaries, James Gilmore of Mongolia ………….. 1.00 Keith-Falconer, Bishop French, History of China. Williams..••.•……. 2.00 and Kamil, the martyr Moham- China, the Long-lived Empire, Eliza llledan, contain much that is heroic and thrilling. Scidmore……………………….. 2.30 JAPA" A"n THE NIPPON SEl KOKWAI. Edin 11issionsand Politics Asia, R. E. Speerl 1.2;) ward Abbott. Illustrated. 11ap. 12mo, 71 pp. Church lIlission Publishing Co., The Yangtse Valley and Beyond, Mrs. Hartford, Conn. Bishop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. 0.00 This sketch of the American The Break-np of China, Lord Beresford, 3.0() Episcopal Church in Japan is one of the splendid series of missionary ARABIA: THE CRAnLE OF ISLAM. By Rev. S. booklets entitled Soldier and 11. Zwemer, F.R.G.S. Studies in the Sailor series. With publications Geography, People, and Politics of the for young people such as this and Peninsula; with an account of Islam the "Round Robin" series, we do and Missionary Work. With maps and not wonder that the Episcopal numerous illustrations from drawings Church stands among the first in and photographs. 8vo, 400 pp. $2.00. the interest which its young people Fleming H. Revell Co. take in missions. Every denomina- tion would do well to publish This is a book for which there similar pamphlets and try to make has long been a demand-a full and them as interesting and valuable. readable description of the Arabian Peninsula, its physical character- MISSIONARY MAII~. Letters from Shensi to a istics, religious and political his- Friend in Britain. Moir B. Duncan, ~1.A tory; the people, and their strange Illustrated. 9d. Elliot t3tock, London. traditions and customs, and the present and past endeavors to con- These are exceedingly interesting vert them to Christianity. and instructive letters from a mis- sionary of the Baptist Missionary Mr. Zwemer has lived in Arabia, Society to a friend in England, for nearly ten years, is a mission- giving just what one wishes to ary of the Reformed (Dutch) know in regard to the country, Church in America and a Fellow of people, and mission work, the need, the Royal Geographical Society of methods, and results. The illustra- London. He is already well known tions add much to the vividness and as a traveler in the "Neglected reality of the descriptions. Peninsula"; is a careful student and entertaining writer. His book THE S'rUDENTs' CHALLENGE TO THE is ably planned and executed. It CHURCHES. Luther D. Wishard. 12mo. practically has the field to itself, (Paper), 40 pp. Second edition, revised for there is 110 other available book and enlarged. Fleming H. Revell Co. which gives such an excellent idea of the country and its inhabitants, This is a new edition of Mr. and none at all which includes so ~Wishard's stirring little booklet, much information of general in- calling for a volunteer movement terest about Arabia, together with among Christians at home to an account of Christian missions there. Among other things, Mr.
* Any of these books may be ordered through Funk & Wagnalls Co., 30 Lafayette place, New York
send out the young people who are nurseries, etc. Contributions are volunteering for service abroad. received to relieve the destitute. Let every Christian read it carefully and prayerfully. CENTENNIAL STATISTICS. James S. DenniS, D.D. 10c. Fleming H. Revell Co. THE JEWS AND THE 'VORLD'S BLESSING. Rev. These invaluable statistics, pre- Jno. Wilkinson. 2d. Paper. Mildmay pared by Dr. Dennis with much 1I1ission, London. labor for the Ecumenical Con- ference in New York, have now This booklet is written to Chris- been revised and published in a tians interested in the spread of second edition, and are offered for the Gospel, to prove from the Bible sale at ten cents each or in quantithat the Gospel should be preached ties at $6.00 per hundred. The "to the Jew first" to-day as in the statistics, of which we gave a brief days of Paul and Barnabas. Dr. summary in our July number, were 'Vilkinson holds that this is not a revelation to the students of misonly the true method from a Bibli- sions because of their accuracy and cal point of view, but that the con- completeness. They necessitate a verted Jews becoming missionaries revision of the figures qlloted by would be most effective in the con- speakers on missionary topics. version of the world. 'Ve think there is an over emphasis as to the THE ECUMENICAL CONFIORENCE REPORT. 2 vols. duty of seeking first to convert the 8vo, 500 pp. $1.50. Publication Commit· Jews, who to-day, as in the days of tee of the Ecumenical Conference, 156 the apostles, rejected Christ, and Fifth Avenue, New York. so they turned to the Gentiles. It is also true that comparatively few The definite and permanent .Jewish converts have become ef- results of the Ecumenical Confective preachers of the Gospel, ference on Foreign Missions will tho some of them are unsurpassed come largely from the published as Christian heralds. It is true report, wh:.::h is now in the hands that Israel is despised and neglected of a special committee of experiby too many Christians, and that enced men. The plan includes greater efforts should be made to three parts: 1. The story of the reach them, but, at the same time, Conference; its inception, organthis is the Gentile dispensation, and ization and conduct, and its place the greatest results have been from in the history of missions. 2. The preaching to them. contributions of the Conference, the papers, addresses, and discus- WEST LONDON MISSION. Story of our work. sions. 3. Appendices, including 1900. Hugh Price Hughes, Supt. Pamph· the complete program, the organ- let. Illustrated. ization and roll, a list of missionary societies, a summary of missionary This mission is non-sectarian, statistics, a carefully prepared and the report of its work for the bibliography of the best missionary past year is most interesting and books, and an index. stimulating. The mission church has nearly 2,000 members, and Originally, the price to advance holds over 3,000 meetings yearly, subscribers was $2.00, but the cost Open-air meetings are frequent of the plates having been donated, and effective. The work also in- the Committee is able to offer the cludes temperance work, district two volumes to subscribers for visiting, thrift societies, social $1.50. They will he ready for dework. Bible and industrial classes. livery early in the autumn, and medical assistance, guilds, homes subscriptions may be sent to the for aged and crippled, rescue work, Publication Committee.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICA. guard the spiritual, moral, and physical welfare of the Cuban teachers while they are The Cuban "Vhat undertaking in Cambridge, has been the duty of the corpo- Teachers in nlOre novel or more ration, the presiJent and faculty of Harvard, Nearly $66.000 of the $70,000 needed have Boston. beautiful did the been subscribed by the public of Cambridge world ever behold and Boston and alumni of Harvard.
than the one now in progress con- nected with the transport upon Ministering Among not a b I e five vessels at government cost of to the Little works of mercy, the the better part of 2,000 Cuban Ones. ChicagoDaily News Echool teachers, gathered from all Fresh Air Fu nd parts of the island, in order that shotlld be named, which is devoted they might gain a glimpse of the to the care of sick babies and their United States-their deliverer from overworked mothers, and of chil- tyranny-and might also gain in- dren who greatly need to breathe crease of fitness for the perform- the invigorating lake air. The ex- ance of their tasks at home by a penses of the charity are met by the six weeks' sojourn and study in News. No other appeals are made Harvard Summer School, with all than those published by the paper.
Boston's store of good things near "The sanitarium, which cost, with at hand and freely offered to its equipment, over$12,000, ison the minister to their enjoyment, to North Shore, Lincoln Park, where their social, intellectual, and the temperature is from 8 to 16 de- spiritual improvement? It was a grees less than in the average city most happy thought, a scheme well residence. Last year 9,758 sick laid and well executed; and is one habies were cared for, 9,771 wearied greatly to the praise and honor of mothers comforted, and 42,273 President Eliot, Mr. A. E. Frye, children made happy. The entire Superintendent of Education in cost was $8,632. Physicians, who Cuba, General "Vood, Secretary.of- give their service, are present each War Root, and all concerned. Well day at regular hours; bakers con- does the Congl'egat'ionalist say: tribute food, and express companies When the history of the dealings of the carry bundles without charge. United States with Cuba comes to be written With a death-list of only 9 during by some later-day historian, he will find in the the season, it need not be said that expedition of these teachers to the United this charity is a life-saving institu- States one of the most enticing and attractive tion of the first order." themes for his pen, It is an experiment so unique in the annals of government and edu- Foreign The last annual recation. Every step of its history has revealed Missions at port of the Massaimagination, splenuid executive ability, self- sacrifice on the part of all Americans con- Home. chusetts Home Mis- cerned. Harvard, with all her splendid pages s i onar y Society of past history, has never shown greater shows that it supports missionpatriotism or more readiness to act as a aries among Armenians, Greeks, pioneer in education than in this affair. To gather them together from the remote ham- Finns, Norwegians, Swedes, Ital- lets and towns of Cuba, bring them to the ians, Poles, and French. It aids seaboard, and transport them to the United States has been the duty of Mr. Frye and the • 31 churches and missions among quartermasters of the United States army. these peoples, whose children are To raise funds for their entertainment and growing up to be a considerable education, to devise a proper curriculum~ part of a new Massachusetts. to engage suitable American teachers, to More than one-half of those added arrange informing and pleasant excursions, on confession to home missionary to procure men and women competent to
church~s last year were brought inquire, "Is it true you moved into these foreign churches. your bed and stove on those lots so as to hold them for the church?" Fruitful Our Baptist breth- He was told that it was. "Then Missions. ren are able to name here is $10 for you to build the church." Said the other, "Put me 16 stlLtions in the down for $15, and here is your foreign field, which last year re- money." The third said, "I don't ceived each more than 100 to church believe much in religion, but I admembership. Verily, the home mire grit, and here is $50."-Chrischurches must look well to their tianEndeawr TVol'ld. laurels. Ongole, India, leads this roll of honor with 1,0l6 baptisms; Repentance in the Indian Tongue. Eassein, Burma, follows next with -Miss Maryetta Reeside is one of 652; and then come Hifuen, Kongo, the Baptist missionaries to the 406; Ranglln and Toungu, Burma, blanket Indians. They have named with 368 and 360; Banza Man- her" Aim-de-co," meaning "Turn teke, Kongo, 399, etc. In China, around and go the other way," and 162 were baptized at Ungkung, and this because of what she has done 158 at Swatow. for these Indians, in making them turn around and go the other way. C. M. R. C. The Cross-Bearers' Course. Missionary Reading The Vexed For e x cell e n c e, Circle outlines the Negro high and manifold, following course of study for the year 1900-190l: Question. comrnend to us a I. Biographical.-1. Reginald Heber; Ar- lengthy article in thur Montefiore_ Zion's Herald of July 11, upon II. Historical.-2. Missionary Annals of the Nineteenth Century_ Rev. D. L. Leonard, "The Black Man," by Rev. L. T. D_D. Townsend. Speaking with fulness III. Chinese.- 3. Village Life in China. Rev. Arthur H_ Smith, D.D. of information, and with the ut- IV. Sociological.-4. Christian Missions and most of plainness, from first to last Social Progress, Vol. II. Rev James S. Dennis, D.D. his utterances are conspicuously V. Periodical.-5. The Missionary Review fair, discriminating, and charitaof the -World_ Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D_, Editor. ble, whether as touching whites or For this literature and further blacks, in North or South. We particulars, address the president, Rev. MarcusL. Gray, St. Louis, Mo. could wish that the address might be republished as a tract, and be scattered broadcast all the land over.
A Hero and The first Baptist A Blow at the The Moravian Mis- His Reward. missionary sent to Moskito Coast sion which for over the Klondike had Mission. fifty years has la- to reach the shore by going hand bored with marked over hand along a rope stretched success on the Moskito Coast (De- from the boat to a tree. When the partment of Zelaya, Nicaragua), church was organized they selected has been dealt a dastardly blow a lot to build upon. In order to by the Nicaraguan government.
hold the title, the missionary This is the passage of a law COID- moved a bed and stove on the prop- • pelling the Moravian schools to be erty and slept there. Three men conducted in Spanish-altho the the next day met him on the street, people speak only English-and ILnd one of them asked, .. Are you that religious instruction be ruled the parson?" "Vhen he learned out of the regular curriculum_ that he was, the man went on to This has necessitated the closing
1900.J GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
of the mission schools, and the societies, which have been affilisending of Christian children to ated, with a membership of nearly wretched Roman Catholic govern- 14,000. The value of buildings ment schools, taught by school- owned by the Associations has inmasters who are ignorant and im- creased during the same period from moral, and among whom no girl £153,637 to £548,020. over twelve years of age is safe from molestation. The government Barnardo's According to the seems to think that the Moravian Homes. recent annual reconverts know too much for a cor- port of "The Narupt government to handle them. Pray for this mission so sorely tional Incorporated Association for tried. the Reclamation of Destitute Waif Children," it appears that the num- Missionaries in Colombia are ber of children dealt with during having some painful experiences. the past year by Dr. Barnardo at- Those in Bogota and Medellin have tained the record total of 13,288, of been cut off from regular com- whom 8,840 were fresh applications. munication with the homeland for The income for the year was £147,- over nine months. Martial law 094, being £3,245 in excess of the extends even to Barranquilla, preceding year; but a very large where evening meetings are im- overdraft on the bankers existed on possible since a man is arrested if the 31st December, for the new adfound on the street after six missions of absolutely destitute o'clock. children numbered 3,On, a total wholly unprecedented in the 34 EUROPE. years' history of the homes, and largely in excess of the total admis- Mary Jones Tho the thrilling sions by all other' similar instituand her Bible. story has been told tions throughout the kingdom dur- ing the same period. Dr. Barnardo of her momentous is now in America. quest for the coveted treasure, involving 6 years of toil and saving, Work ofthe The venet;able Soand a journey on foot of 25 miles S. P. G, ciety for the Propand home again, perhaps not every agation of the body has heard that the identical copy of the Scriptures in "Velsh Gospel in Foreign Parts, at the end thus secured by that devout and of nearly 200 years of existence, determined girl is lovingly pre- makes this report as to the number served in the library of the British of toilers in the foreign field: and Foreign Bible Society in London, an organization whose origin The total number of clergymen can be traced directly to that long- on the society's list in 1899, including and that endeavor. ing twelve bishops, was 787. This included 172 natives in Africa and Growth of the "While in 1883, the Asia. Of the 613 English or colonial V.M.C.A. year in which the clergymen, 39 are chaplains in National Council Europe. There were 127 in Asia; was formed, there were only 188 all, or most all, are missionaries to Associations within the area rep- the heathen 01' Mohammedans. In Africa, with St. Helena, Mauritius, resented by the English union, and Madagascar, 145; most of them with a membership of 29,214, there in the South African colonies, are now 367 Associations, reporting where the work is both among the a membership approximating 65,- white colonists and the native 000, in addition to many auxiliary tribes. In the Dominion of Canada,
211; almost all are for colonial parison is derelict exceedingly. ministration, but 6 are mission- But whoever examines the Handaries to the heathen. In the vVest book of German Home Missions Indies and Central and South will be certain to discover facts, not America 51, of whom 12 are mis- a few, well calculated to correct sionaries. In Australasia and the such misapprehension. The num- Pacific 42, of whom 8 are mission- ber and variety of beneficent instiaries, 2 of them being Chinamen at tutions named are refreshingly Honolulu. large. Among them are such as these: Hospitals for the sick and The women missionaries of the indigent, 359, with 159,145 inmates; S.P.G. are engaged and employed 10 homes for cripples; 148 holiday by the 'Vomen's Missionary Asso- homes for children, to which 28,- ciation, which works to a large 744 were admitted; 68 'Vhite Cross extent independently. The num bel' societies, reaching 14,537 cases; exof these in the last annual report conviets' homes in which 32,109 was 80, of whom 10 were in South found refuge and friends; 71 city Africa, 4 in Madagascar, 6 in Japan, rnissions, etc., etc. 1 in China, and all the rest in India. Most of them are engaged in school German Missions. – Yearbook, work. Of the 80, about a dozen are Saxon Missionary Conference, 1900. wives of missionaries. Apparently The sixteen German Protestant the Women's Association employs missionary societies show the folsome wives, but not others. lowing statistics: Aid for In 1854 a society was Missions in formed in Britain 1897. 1898. 1899.
Bible Lands. known for years as ——1—– —— the Turkish Mis- Principal Sta- tions…. …… 502 471 485 346,495 329,686 sions' Aid Society, but now as NativeChristians 315,064 812 786 Bible Lands Missions' Aid Society, Missionaries.. … 751 75 Mission Sisters ..
which has no representatives of its Ordained Native Helpers. . . . . . . . 121 126 131 own in the regions designated, but Other Native simply gathers funds regularly fOl I Helpers.. . . . . .. 3,766 3,995 3,989 2,176 2,255 2,386 Teachers …….. 1,634 1,730 the support of various American Schools………. 1,517 79,952 83.391 Scholars. .. … .. . 73,961 32,755 4,346,029 4,317,800 agencies, notably the American Catechnmens… . – Board. During the forty-six years Income, Marks .. 13,738,292 which have elapsed, more than Exit Exile to Russia is by no Siberia. means a synonym $500,000 have been thus generously for civilization and contributed and expended; more humanity, and yet, even the czar now and then performs a notable than half of this sum carrying good deed. As illustrations we re- call the Peace Congress of two blessings to Asiatic Turkey, with years since, and the enfranchise- ment of millions of serfs in the sixliberal sums also going to Persia, ties, an act worthy to stand in the category with Lincoln's Emancipa- Syria, and Palestine, European tion Proclamation; and now the ukase ending forever the monster Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Arabia, injustice and cruelty of hurrying mere political offenders, or men Cyprus, etc. and women merely suspected or disliked by the officials, into the German The American and Beneficence. the Briton sometimes flatters himself that the expansion of the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth has been committed almost wholly to Anglo- Saxon hands; and in particular that Protestant Germany by com-
900.] GENERAL MISSIONARY' INTELLIGENCE
horrors of exile in remote Siberia. Her chances are no better now And it was high time. For three than they were in the last century. centuries and more this procession The appearance of Germany as a of the doomed had been moving great military power in Asia Minor eastward into the unknown, in- is a new factor which diminishes cluding among the victims not less her chances. If Russia should than 1,500,000. Tho so slowly, ver- come to Constantinople it' would ily the world docs move toward be with the consent of the great intelligence, and justice, and right- powers, and it is altogether imeousness. probable that the great Protestant and Catholic powers would allow A Russian The Orthodox Mis- her to ignore their rights. There Missionary s ion a I' y Soeiety, is no reason to suppose that it would be necessary to remove the Society. having its seat in college to Smyrna, or any other Moscow, has in the place, if its affairs were conducted with discretion and with proper 29 years of its existence, collected consideration for the new order of 6,000,000 rubles, and converted 120,- things. As we have no political 000 heathen and Mohammedans. It ends in view, there is no reason numbers 11,-127 members, and pos- why it should be more difficult to sessed, January 1st, 1899, a capital adapt ourselves to a Russian than of 5,238,155 rubles. In the Altai to a Turkish government. On the Mission, with 15 churches, in the whole, it may be said with confilast reported year (1898) there were dence that there is nothing in the 4-19 baptisms; in the Kirghish Mis- political situation to disturb our sion, 5(J; in the Yenisei, 33; Obdorsk, faith in the future of the college. 28; Kamchatka,178; Irkutsk,1,199; Its future depends, under God's Transbaikal, 311; Japan, 970; total, blessing, upon its friends and ad- 3,539. In Japan they now number ministrators. 24,530 members, in 226 congregations.-Calwcr-Missionsblati. ASIA.
Appeal for The trustees of India Changing When we bought Robert College. this justly famed for the Better. our home in Sirur, institution up 0 n the Bosphorus have just authorized there was included the appointment of three new professors, the erection of new build- with it a small heathen temple ings for recitation rooms, laboratories, and a gymnasium, and the with two cobras, which were the raising of a fund for keeping up the library and apparatus. These god and goddess of the shrine. The enlargements call for about $250,- 000. During the last thirty years cobras disappeared into a thick the college has educated more than 2,000 young men of various nation- cactus hedge, and have been there alities, many of whom are having important influence in public affairs for ninetecn years. In the Sirur in the East. In appealing for an increase of the endowment fund, station girls' school there are 90 the trustees say: girls, representing nine different It is, of course, possible, that within the next fifty years Russia castes. All come to the school but may take the city. This event has been regarded as near at hand the Brahmans. A course of infor more than a hundred years. struction from the primary through the high school is given, and sew- ing and cooking are taught. Fam- ine has broken down the barriers between us and the people in all the villages. Where previollsly they allowed the dogs to bark at us, they now greet us gladly. The Sirur station distributed 500 big sacks of grain to the starving peo- ple during the present famine, and through that means we were able to save thOllsands of lives.-M1'S.
Richard Winsor.
The Betterment The younger gen- i. e., the living apostle, unfolding of Women. eration of Hindus and Mohammed- the evidence from Scripture and history for the Resurrection of an boys do not believe or act as Christ, adverting to the fact that did those of a generation ago. among all the divine messengers Heretofore woman has not been (Rasul) acknowledged by Islam, the companion of man, and this Jesus only is designated as the Livwas greatly to her detriment as ing Messenger, and drawing therewell as to his. Now the men are from the conclusions as to His beginning to understand that their claim to be the true Mediator. women must be trained to share in all the life in the home, and in all Then followed a long discussion, the life of the people. An inter- in which two 1llanlvies took a leadesting fact is stated that, in Bar- ing part. The first man had given oda, a purely native state, where himself away, and when quiet was twenty-five years ago there were restored the second began. He but two girls' schools with 22 pu- went back to the bishop's first lecpils, now, under the superintend- ture, in which he had quoted a ence of an Indian Christian lady, verse from the Koran, where God there are 108 schools with over exhorts Mohammed to ask forgive- 9,000 pupils. This is but an illus- ness of his sins. He dwelt on the tration of the change that. has "sinlessness of Mohammed," saying taken place. The report also speaks that the prophet's confessions were of the social changes.-Rev. R. A. mere acts of humility. But the Hume. bishop replied that the matdvie's argument might hold good as far Mohammedans Public discussions as Mohammed's own confessions of sin were concerned, but what about in India, on religious ques- the Creator's command in the Koran that he was to confess his tions are not so sins? When the discussion was closed the crowd broke up' quite common in Vestern India as they peacefully, and there was at least 110 bad blood aroused as between are in the Punjab and northwest- Christians and Moslems, and the interest aroused in the city leads ern provinces. The bishop of La- one to hope that friendly, helpful disl'ussions may continue and bear hore has lately been giving lectures good fruit.
to Mohammedans, followed by open Already the Mohammedans in discussion of the subject. More the Punjab have addressed a re- than a thousand people went to markable communication to the hear the bishop, as well as the ar- bishop, in which they have ex- guments of Mohammedan scholars. pressed a desire to accept the truth, The scene in the second lecture in and to bow in submission to the the courtyard of the Rang Mahal Prophet who transcends the whole (American Presbyterian Mission world in purity of heart, excel- School), is described as follows by lence, Divine power, and moral the Morning Post: rectitude, when they are fully sat- At the time of the bishop's arri- isfied on all points.-Bombay Gum'- val a dust-storm was blowing, making the air dim, and extin- dian. guishing most of the lamps. The situation looked unpromising, but A Breach in the At a recent meetthe al fresco auditorium really prevented the air from becoming in- Family System. ing of the legislatolerably stifling; and the very mixed audience responded in a re- tive assembly of markable way to the bishop's appeal for a quiet hearing. For some the Madras Presidency, a law was 50 minutes the lecturer steadily set forth his subject, "Zinda Rasul," adopted which will make a great breach in the family system which now dominates the Hindus. It en- acts that every Hindu shall have the right of private property in everything that he earns in any
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
position which he has attained in cedent hereafter to be followed by consequence of special education all the feudatory states of the (for example, as doctor or advocate), Indian empire. Those states which even tho his education has been do not grant religious liberty defrayed out of the common family should be made to understand that purse. It was a Brahman who their attitude on this question is an brought forward this proposal; it undeniable mark of political as was strongly opposed by some, al- well as intellectual and social in- tho on the whole the educated feriority, and stamps them as en- Hindus were in favor of it. How- tirely behind the age.-Indian Wit- ever it may be received at first, it neS8. is likely to initiate most important changes, and the most striking A Century The solitary mis- thing about it is, that it is a meas- Ago and Now. sionary at Calcutta ure ot social reform proposed on Hindu initiative, and touching a one hundred years point which perhaps more than ago is now represented by upward anything else has been fatal to the of 130 men and women laboring at development of personality and 28 principal centers. They are character among the Hindus. The assisted by a staff of more than common family life leaves little 1,700 native Christian workers, of scope for individual responsibility whom nearly 500 are women! The or personal initiative. It is, there- mission which was then "in its fore, with the greatest interest that infancy" now has a membership of we as 'missionaries watch a change 11,000 among nearly 90,000 a~owed in this direction.-Nordsk lIIis- adherents. These figures in themsionstidskrift. selves represent a great work in such a country and among a people A Native An article in OU}' so firmly bound together by relig- State open. lIIissions hy the ious prejudice, but it is becoming increasingly evident every year Rev. H. G. E. de that a profound impression has St. Dalmas announces that on been produced upon Hinduism by January 27th, 1900, the prime the silent action of Christian truth minister of the state, Khan Bahadur during the past century, and that lVIaulvi Syud Abdool Jabbar, C.1. the number of avowed conversions E., assured him that the govern- by no means adequately represents ment of the state could not object the actual results of Christian to Christian preaching in towns work.-L. frI. S. Chronicle. and villages, if the people did not object. With the minister's per- A Nestor In the recent death mission lVIr. de St. Dalmas com- Departed. of Rev. D. L. Braymunicated this decision to the British political agent. The assur- ton, American Bapance thus formally given by the tist missionary in Burma, a service highest official of the state may of 62 years was ended. His work properly be regarded as a declara- was chiefly among the Pwo tion of religious liberty. Hence- Karens, for whom he lived as well forth the Gospel may be freely pro- as labored. To Mr. Brayton they claimed in all parts of the Bhopal owe possession of the entire Bible in State where the people do not their own language, a hymn-book, object. We hope that this decision commentaries on the Scripture, on the part of the enlightened and other literature. During the Dewan may be regarded as a pre- 62 years he made but two visits to his native land, the first of which was exceedingly brief, his errand
being to convey thither his invalid The Chinese Seldom has Pro t – wife and daughter, and that errand Horror. est ant Christenhaving been accomplished, and an dOln been under a opportunity for return offering itself, he did not allow himself strain-of solicitude so severe and so even the coveted privilege of a visit lengthy as of late under the uncerto his mother, but hastened back to taintyas to whether the hundreds the scene of his former labors. of missionaries in and about Peking were alive 01' dead. And thesitua- A Beggar The begging pro- tion, altogether, is without prece- Bankrupt. fession in Madras dent among civilized nations; week after week passing and not a word has apparently of reliable intelligence to indicate ceased to be as paying as it was; whether some scores of official refor, according to Port St. George presentatives of the great world- Gazette, a beggar has gone bank- powers were safe under the protecrupt. It is rather peculiar to read tion of the Chinese rulers, or the in the list of insolvents" Al'asana- victims of insult, massacre, and mupalai K. Ragavacharry, a beggar, tilation. 'Ve are rejoiced at last residing at No. 86 Tholasing<tperu- to hear of the safety of those in the mal Covilstreet, Triplicane, Ma- legations on August 3d, and while dras." their position is one of great danger, their lives are in God's Orphan The Irish Presby- hands and it is certain that the Relief. terian Mission at glorious Gospel will not suffer defeat and expulsion, but, instead, Ahmedabad h a v e the day of its complete victory will been caring for 4,000 orphans. The be marvelously hastened. Presbyterians in Rajputana have given refuge to 1,200. At Ahmeda- Prayer for The Presbyterian bad there is also a Hindu orphan- Missionaries. Board of Foreign age with 800 famine children. The Methodist Episcopal Mission in Missions have is- Gujarat are planning to take 2,000 sued an appeal for special prayer children. All over the famine area for their missions and missionaries are missionaries taking in children in North China. "Our missions in by the fifties and hundreds. The China are larger than those of any Marathi lfission of the American other board in the world except Board has cabled that they are pre- the China Inland Mission. We pared to assume the care of 2,000 have in the empire 7 missions, 22 famine children if their support principal stations, 309 out-stations, can be promised. Letters since 194 foreign missionaries, 59! native then say that Indian Christians helpers, 92 organized churches, want to join in the good work and with 11,214 communicants; 217 care for 500 more. In the native schools and colleges, 2 printing states the condition of the children presses, one of which at Shanghai is terrible. They are being picked is the largest mission press in the up as living skeletons by the scores world, employing 135 workers, and each day at different centers. issuing last year 67,625,660 pages of The total number of small children religious matter; and 16 hospitals, being fed daily on government re- 13 dispensaries, which treated last lief works is over 1,500,000. A mis- year 143,491 patients. The mainsionary writes of dogs and jackals tenance of this extensive work redevouring the weaker ones who fall quires an annual expenditure of uncared for. $188,227." No time is set for prayer,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLiGENCE
but pastors and people wiII cer- adherent to the faith your own per- tainly remember these imperiled missionaries at the throne of grace. son shall be absolved from all future Are the If the " Boxers" misfortune. If you gain five ad- " Boxers" are operating under Buddhists? Buddhist inspira- herents to the faith your whole tion, it isn't quite family will be absolved from all deal' why they should attack Roman Catholics as " foreigners." evils, and if you gain ten adherents The Romanists have some daim to be recognized as an indigenous ele- to the faith your whole village will ment of Chinese society. They have been in China as long as the be absolyed from calamities." That Tartar dynasty, or, for 500 years. They are a part of the people, tho is Buddhistic, not Con f u c i an. half a million IIIay be an inconsiderable part of !OO,OOO,OOO. StilI, "Those who gain no adherents to they are not" foreigners." And as to the religion, Buddhism is as the cause shall be decapitated." much an exotic as is Homanism, or, for that matt, 1', as is Protestantism. Then it is 11 Buddhistic missionary The edict against both Roman and ProtestantChristians, 200,000 copies propaganda. "For until all forof which were said to have been circulated in one day in June last, in eigners ha ve been exterminated the Tientsin by the "boxers," was of Buddhist origin, and charges the rain can neyer visit us." Then it Christians with being "insolent to the gods" and "rendering no obe- is a bread-riot that is on in China. dience to Buddhism," in consequence of which "heaven and Crediting them with sincerity, this earth" were enraged; hence came drought. Coupled with this was is 11 recogni~on of religion as the the promise of " gentle showers" if they would but expel these Chris- hasis of prosperity; vice brings mistians from the land, to accomplish which they would be aided by ery. Something better than Budd- "eight million spirit soldiers, who will descend from heaven, and hism can be built on that base. sweep the empire dean of all foreigners." The enlargement is, Buddhism has no daim to preemi- "Then will the gentle showers once more water our lands, and when nence over Confucianism as a nathe tread of soldiers and the clash of steel are heard heralding woes to tional religion. ** all our people, then the Buddhists' Patriotic League of Bo;cers will be A Missionary 'Vhat good may be able to protect the empire, and bring peace to all its people." This Museum. achieved by such a was followed by the appeal: "Hasten, then, to spread this doctrine m use u m will be far and wide; for if you gain one seen by the following extract from a letter of Rev. Hunter Corbett, who is in charge of one at Chefoo: ,, We were all made glad by the safe arrival of the case containing the stuffed tiger. As soon as land- ed we had it carried to our Y. M.
C. A. buildings, and had the tiger put on a high platform in the cen- ter of a room. It looks so lifelike that many start back when they see it, fearing it might spring upon them. 'Ve have now had it on ex- hibition four days, and the rush of visitors has been such that I have been obliged to call in two extra preachers from the country to as- sist in the work. The first year we opened this place 71,500 visitors were recei ,-ed. Everyone heard the Gospel preached, and re- ceived tracts and books to take home. We have had visits from officials and rich men, also from women and children, people whom
we could not reach before opening souls, or about one-half of one per cent. of the population of Japan the museum. . vVe have now outside of Formosa. This com- paratively small body has already some earnest Christians workers, furnished 1 cabinet minister, 2 justices of the supreme court, who were brought to a knowledge 2 speakers of the lower house (one twice elected), besides several of the truth through this work. vice-ministers of state, heads of bureaus, justices of the courts of The people as a class are much appeals, etc. In the first diet, the speaker, the chairman of the commore friendly than formerly. .Much mittee of the whole, and 11 other members were Christians out of a prejudice has given way, and we total of 300 members, nearly nine times the normal proportion. In are now greeted on the streets, and subsequent diets the proportion has never been less than four times treated as friends by many who the normal. In the present diet the speaker and 13 other members used to pass us as unworthy of are Christians, one of them elected in a strongly Buddhist district by notice. I haye lately returned from a majority of 5 to 1. In the execu- tive committee of the great liberal a two months' journey, itinerating party last year 2 of the 3 members were Christians, and 1 of them this in 12 counties. In many centers I year is a Christian. In the army there are 155 Christian officers, or found men who had visited our Y. about 3 per cent.; of the 3 largest battleships 2 are under the com- M. C. A. center at Chefoo, and who mand of Christian captains. In the universities there are many openly testified to the people some- Christian instructors and students. Six graduates ~f one of the best thing of what had been seen and government colleges are now study- ing abroad and 5 of them are heard there." Christians. Three of the great dailies of Tokyo are under the con- The Lord's A pamphlet of trol of Christian men, and in Host in about 50 pages has several others Christians are at the China. recently reached heads of departments on the edi- this office which torial staff. The most successful charitable institutions are under presents to the eye a thrilling ob- Christian leadership. This promiject lesson. It is a list of all the nence of Christian men is not due Protestant missionaries, 2,818 in to accident, but evidently must be number, to be found in the Celes- attributed to the stimulus which is tial Empire as the century is clos- the product of Christian faith. ing, together with their Chinese Most of these leading Christians names, name of mission and station, are Protestants, the effect, doubtwith postal address and date of less, of the emphasis put on educaarrival. The number of societies tion in Protestant missions.-The represented is 57. Almost 3,000 Independent. men and women with the Word and the Spirit for weapons. What can withstand them? As evidence of marvels at hand, it is to be remembered that it took 30 years to produce the first 6 converts in China; 30 years more to turn them into 6,000; while during the last year alone, more than 6,000 converts were gathered in.
Japanese There are in Japan Christians. 120,963 en l' 0 II e d ChI' i s t ian s, of whom 53,924 are Roman Catholics, 41,808 Protestants, and 25,231 Greek Catholics. If we include their unenrolled children and other dependents this would give about 225,000
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
Korean "lance asked a They are three months old and are the first that have been allowed to " Politeness." Korean wornan," live at Akwukwu. The custom at Akwukwu and other Ibo towns is said Mrs. VV. 1I. to destroy twins as soon as they are born. The parents of these Baird, "if no Korean man loved his twins being Christian adherents would not consent to their chilwife. After considerable hesita- dren being destroyed, and altho the whole heathen population betion the woman replied that there came bitter against them they stood firm. I t is the religion of might possibly be such a case, but Christ alone that can effectively eradicate this inhuman custom, it was very rare. The wives are which has long been the curse of Iboland. The mother of the twins, selected in childhood and without Nwabunnu, that is 'chUdis salt,' is one of the women baptized, and regard to their suitability. The she received the additional name of Rachel. I dare say it will interabsence of home love is one of the est you to know the names of the twins. One is Mary K'uwakwuluje, pitiable features of the Orient. and the meaning of the native name is, 'Let the world talk and There is really no home life in go on their way.' The other is Martha Kaosadolu, that is, 'As Korea, because women are not God hath determined.' So that the idea that the two names are inrecognized in the home. If a man tended to convey is this, 'Let the world talk what they like and go meets his wife on the street he does their way, yet nothing will happen to the children but what God hath not notice her, while she, if she sees determined.' "
him in time, slips out of sight if she Sunday on the Mrs. Sheppard, of Upper Kongo. the Presbyterian can. When Christian homes are C h u l' C h, South, established the women find a meas- gives this vivid picture of a scene likely to be witnessed almost any ure of love hitherto unknown to day: "On Sunday morning the bell that rings at 6.30 on week days for thern." the workmen to assemble is silent, for to-day the people are entirely The Crown Prince of Siam has free. Some of them sit around in matriculated at Oxford. groups, laughing and talking; others are getting out their clean AFRICA. piece of Sunday loin cloth; while the better-to-do, usually the per- Let Britain be The 0 m d u I' man sonal people of the missionaries, dress up in their cast-off clothing. Bold. correspondent of In this latter class we often see some very peculiar combinations the London Times of men's and women's apparel. One has been calling for a modification of the governmental order by which Christian missionaries are kept out of the Sudan. Resays: "Thevalue of missionaries to a state lies not in the proselytes whom they con- vert, but in the lives they lead. A government must be strong and self-reliant indeed if it can afford to order such men out of its domin- ions. It will be stronger still when it allows them to return."
First Twins The C. M. S. Glean- to be Spared. er, in the account of a baptismal service on the Niger, says: "Of those baptized there were 7 men, 8 women, 9 boys who could answer for themselves, and 11 children from nine year;; old and under. The youngest of the children baptized aroused the keenest interest of everyone in the church, being twin girls.
man will have two shirts, but no may God, our Father, keep you. I am your pantaloons; this, however, is no affectionate friend, obstacle to the native, for he puts his legs through the sleeves of one, KASAGAMA DAUDI KABAKA KVEBAMBE. tying the body of it around his waist with a string. He gets the. -C. j~I. S. Intelligencer. other on all right, with the excep- tion that the hind part is in front, " Sodom Burnt A curious illustra- and the parts usually not exposed to view are left to flutter in the with tration of the many morning breeze. After this his feet are thrust into a pair of cast-off Matches." difficulties that shoes of a missionary, who wears number nines. His costume is very m u s t confront a novel and quite original. He was not dependent upon Paris fashion translator of the Bible in a heathen plates for his idea. Here comes another. He is in luck. and feels land is given in a recent letter by his importance as he walks up the center aisle o(the church in a long Archdeacon Walker, of the C. M. snow-white robe, in which people at home do not usually appear in S. mission in Uganda. Pilkington public. Here comes a woman. She is one of the 'high flyers,' and had used great care in translating holds her head aloft, for she is wearing clothes made in the great the Old Testament; nevertheless, country of the white man, and made especially for a woman. I he had used the same Uganda word will not try to describe her costume. It struck me, however, that in for" brimstone," which, in everymaking her toilet she must have gotten things on in the inverse day speech, designates a match. order." Archdeacon Walker was, therefore, Typewriters Few things illus- in Toro. trate the march of not a little amused recently when a events more point- native Christian came to him to edly than the receipt by us of a typewritten letter from a Central know how it was that Sodom was African potentate. Some time ago English friends sent King Daudi burnt up with matches, when, as Kasagama, of Taro, a typewriter. The letter was written on it by the the missionary told them. matches king himself, and is intended for the kind donors of the typewriter, as were of recent date! the following translation shows: MISCELLANEOUS. To my brethren and friends in Europe (i. e., England), who have sent me my type- Christian It is well worth writer. I trust you are well, my friends, a'ld Nations Rule while, as a stimulus salute you most warmly. I am now writing this letter to you to thank you for the type- the World. to faith and courwriter. You have sent me a very good pres- age, to note the sigent, and I am very pleased, and have already learnt to write well on it. Here all is pros- nificant fact that, as the nineteenth perous, and we are doing well. Good-by; century nears its end, the political sway of the world has almost wholly passed from the hands of Pagan and Moslem potentates, only China, a few regions lying adjacent to Arabia, a little spot in Siam, and in Africa, Morocco, and a desert tract about Lake Tchad, remaining theirs. But the entire Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Austra- lia, the bulk of the Dark Continent, India, the Malay Archipelago, and the Pacific Islands, are under Christian rulers.
The Bible to Of the 2,000 dis- Every Creature. tin c t languages and dialects which are roughly assumed to be current to-day, only about 400 are honored with translations of the Holy Scrip- tures. But, when the list is exam- ined, it is found that among these
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
are the conquering languages, insurance companies as increasing which year by year swallow up and the risks. This makes the fact we take the place of the weaker forms have stated all the more remarkof speech; they are the giant lan- able. The period covered and the guages, which supply 80,000,000, number enrolled would seem to be like Urdu in India, or 200,000,000, sufficiently large to make a fair like the English. Then come the induction. 'Ye should much like moderate-sized languages, which to know what is the experience of have the prospect of a long dura- other foreign missionary societies tion. Other varieties follow; but in this line. Our record would last on the list are the moribund seem to show that foreign mislanguages, whose fate is sealed. It sionary service does not involve is impossible to say why this hap- special risks of life, and that those pens. Of the great Celtic family, who go to distant continents and Cornish is dead, Manx is at its last islands to preach the Gospel do not, stage, Gaelic and Erse are waning; in the sense in which the phrase is on the other hand, Welsh and Bre· commonly used, "take their lives ton promise to last forever.-Biblc in their hands."-Missionary Society Repo1,ter. Herald.
Longevity of An inquiry recently Not Peace, Lord Salisbury has Missionaries. made of us has led but a Sword. lately taken the to the discovery of opportunity of ina fact, as interesting as remark- culcating caution on the part of misable, in regard to the low death- sionaries, especially those workrate among missionaries of our ing b Mohammedan lands. Tact board within the last 10 years. and care are, without doubt, needed During this decade, 1890-1899 in- by all who seek to win a way for clusive, there were on our mis- an entrance of the message of salsion rolls each year an average vation, hut unprejudiced students of 545.6 persons, while the deaths of mis'lions will not readily admit have averaged but 4.7 persons that missionaries are specially per year. This is at the rate lacking in these necessary graces. of 8.6 deaths per thousand. This It '1ertainly would be wrong and is an extraordinary low rate. An foolish, because of possible danger expert in life insurance 'has in- to disobey the plain command of formed us that the tables of 28 our Savior to evangelize the world. American life insurance companies As Sir Herbert Edwards once rein the United States show that an marked in India: "Above all, we average of deaths among their may be quite sure that we are insured during the same period much safer if we do our duty than was 13.5 per thousand, It rate if we neglect it, and that He who greater by 4.9 per thousand than has brought us here with His own among our missionaries. There is right arm will shield and bless us no difference between the class of if, in simple reliance upon Him, persons accepted by insurance com- we try to do His will." panies and those employed by our board, tho among the latter the To all who pray "Thy Kingdom proportion of women is doubtless come," the present crisis is a clarion considerably larger than would be call to prayer for those who have fOllnd among the insured in this left home and country to labor land. This proportion of women among the heathen, for the native would probably be regarded by converts, upon whom the brunt of persecution is so apt to fall, and
for all those who in any way have Thomas died in 1801, and Pearson the direction of affairs at this junc- went to China in 1805. Thus at ture.-Edinburgh ]J:[edical Mission Society. the close of the first decade there Honor to Not enough has were still but 2. Vanderkemp died Medical been said concern- in 1811, but John Scudder went out Missionaries. ing" Medical Mis- in 1818, so in 1820 there were still sion Day" at the only 2, and so to the end of the late E cum e n i c a I Conference. Among the rest, a reception to the third decade. The fourth decade medical missionaries present was held in the Calvary Baptist Church, marked quite a revival in the cause, with these veterans among them: Dr. James C. Hepburn, who went to no less than 10 men being sent out, China in 18H, accompanied by his 8 from Great Britain, and 2 from devoted partner of so many years; Mrs. Samuel F. Green, widow of the United States. During the Dr. Green, who went to Ceylon in fifth decade-18JI-1850-29 were 1847; J. Hudson Taylor, China, 1854; Dr. Jacob Chamberlain, sent out, so that, in the year India, 1859; Dr. T. S. Johnson, India, 1862; Dr. R. H. Nassau, 1850, there were 39 medical mission- Africa, 1861, and Dr. Clara Swain, the first woman medical mission- aries in the world. By 1860 there ary, sent to India in 1870, and many others. Along the wall at were 56; in 1870, 95; in 1880, 164; in the back of the platform was hung, 1890, 35u; and by the end of 1900 painted in scarlet and gold, and measuring nearly thirty feet in there will be fully 700. length, the words, "He sent them to heal the sick and preach the Westward An interesting mat- Gospel." Beneath these, in smaller Movement of ter in this great and type, were the words, "They rest from their labors, and their works Population. growing country of do follow them," also in scarlet and gold; while beneath these texts the United States is were hung nine rolls of names of departed heroes and heroines, 115 to watch the "center of popUlain all, only 7 of whom were women. tion "-so called-as it moves stead- Dr. Dowkontt gave an address ily westward. So rapid is the on "A Century of Medical Missions." Tracing the history of change of position that even stu- John Thomas and of John Scudder dents of political science find it diffiand his sons in India, mention was made of the early pioneers of the cult to keep track of it. A writer in cause of medical missions in other the Boston T1'ftnSc1'ipt, looking into lands-Africa, China, Ceylon, Siam, and the Islands of the Sea. When the migration of this "center," the nineteenth century began there were but 2 medical missionaries, writes: John Thomas, an Englishman, In 1790 it was 23 miles east of Baland Vanderkemp, a Dutchman. timore. Between then and 1800 it moved 41 miles almost due west, to a point about 18 miles west of Baltimore. By 1810 it had moved to a point about 40 miles northwest by west from Washington. By 1820 it had moved 50 miles to a point about 16 miles north of "Vood- stock, Va. Between 1820 and 1830 it moved 30 miles westward and southward, to a point about 19 miles southwest of Moorefield, now in ,Vest Virginia. In 1840 it had swung a little north of westward and traveled 55 miles to a spot about 16 miles south of Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Another drop to a southerly course occurred in the next ten years. during which Texas had heen annexed, the center again traveling 55 miles, and settling at a point 23 miles southwest of Parkersburg, West Virginia. BV 1860 it had taken a northward turn once more, and stopped about 20 miles
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
from Chillicothe, a., 81 miles from its last loca· 100 miles or more, and meet no sign or token of the Son of Man. tion. In 1870 there were some errors of enumeration, which probably threw it some- In an ordinary atlas you may what too sharply northward, carrying it 42 cover with the tip of your finger miles, and leaving it 48 miles east by nortb of the 'whole of this district, and to Cincinnati. Another 10 years found it 58 you, perhaps, it may seem a matter miles further aD. and once lllore on almost of small import that there should the same parallel as in 18130. Between 1880 be only 2 European missionaries, and 1890 the migration from the North south- with;L handful of helpers, to "work" ward, which followed the Civil ,,"ar, was it. But to us who are on the spot, corrected, and the lllovement was 48 miles face to face with its needs, and con- west by north, to a place in southern Indiana, scious of our inability to do more on nearly the same parallel as in 1870. than touch the veriest fringe of the work, things look differently. Can The "center" has thus moved a you wonder that we sometimes say, little over 500 miles in a westerly who is equal to these things?-that direction, with a comparatively sometimes our faith fails us as we small variation north and south. see reenforcements-nay, the neces- As yet mathematicians are not able sary funds and equipment for preto "locate ,. where the .. center" is sent work-so slow in arriving? likely to rest for the next ten years. How many generations are to come and go in these villages, like the The Little T hat Jll any 0 f silent waves, ebbing and flowing on Done, the Un- those who profess the shore of some unexplored sea, and no one to heed? done Vast. some acquaintance with India dispar- "Knowledge and power have rights; but ignorance and weakness age mission work, need be cause have rights, too." The rights of for no great wonder. It would be these unevangelized villages, with easy, for example, to pass through their dark histories of sin and suf- Jalalpur and remain quite unaware fering, appeal to us for fulfilment. of anything that witnesses to the Gospel of Christ. It is still our day -DR. HERBERT TAYLOR. of small things. The world goes its way; the market is thronged, the DEATH NOTICES. shops are busy, and the crowd in the street is absorbed in the strug- Rev. D. L. The American Bapgle for wealth. In out-of-the-way Brayton, tist Mis s ion a I' y places, and by quiet methods, does of Burma. Union and the Bapthe Church of Christ carryon its work. tist missions in Bur- ma have suffered no ordinary loss Jalalpur is a town of 11,000 in- in the death of Rev. Durlin Lee habitants; its converts (Hindu and Brayton at Rangoon, Burma, April Mohammedan) can properly be 23, 1900. He was nearly 92 years reckoned on the fingers of one hand. of age, being not only the oldest Round it lies a district of 182 vil~ missionary in Burma, hoth in years lages, in only one of which is there and in service, but was the Nestor any work for Christ. To the north of the entire missionary force of lies a district with 115 villages, in the Union. He was for years the none of which is there, so far as we associate and fellow laborer of Adoknow, one single Ch?'istian, and in niram Judson and the other early the vast majority of which the Gos- heroic names of our missions, and pel has neve?' been preached. Cross by his deep piety, ardent industry, the British border to the north and unselfish devotion, continued again, and we find ourselves in an the traditions and the inspiration extensive hilly region, running for 50 miles up to the eternal snows of Kashmir. Through this region you may go from east to west for
of the early missionary days to the many accomplishments and a rare present time. He went to Burma linquist, having an acceptional in 1837, having been appointed a knowledge of both Chinese and missionary June 12, and labored Japanese. In a later issue we excontinuously in the Pwo Karen pect to publish a portrait and Mission, with only two visits to further sketch of his life and work. America, in 1842 and 1870. It has been more than 28 years since he David Herron, Rev. David Herron, sailed for Burma the last time, and of India. one of India's vetto the present generation of Amer- eran missionaries, ican Baptists his face was unknown, altho his name and his work are died on April 30, at the home of his among their most cherished posses- son-in-law, Rev. Robert Morrison, sions.-Baptist Missionary Maga- Chakrata, India. Most of his serzine. vice was at Dehra Dun, where as a missionary of the Preshyterian Cyrus Hamlin, One of the most Board he established the Christian oCTurkey. honored mission- girl's boarding school, and con- aries of the cen- ducted it with great success for many years. Latterly he has been tury, Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., in the service of the Church of LL.D., died at Portland, Maine, on Scotland as chaplain to a Scottish August 8th, at the age of eighty- regiment. For some years he has nine. Dr. Hamlin was one of the devoted much time and labor to noble veteran missionaries to Tur- the leper mission, and recently viskey, where he was engaged in edu- ited America in this behalf, awakcational missionary work under ening much interest, and establishthe American Board for over ingmany auxiliary societies, whose twenty years. He was the founder members will mourn his death as a and first president of Rohert Col- personal loss. He was a humble, lege, Constantinople, and the au- lovely Christian, one whom it was thor of two fascinating books on a privilege to know, and whose missionary life and work, "Among company was a blessing. He died the Turks," and "My Life and after a short illness, in the eightieth Times." Ye expect to give a more year of his age, and the forty-sixth extended sketch of Dr. Hamlin in of his mission work.-The United the near future. Presbyter-ill n.
D.B. Divie Bethune Mc- Mrs. Fuller of Mrs. M. B. Fuller, McCartee of Cartee, M.D., India. the well-known Japan. passed away in San missionary of the F I' a n cis c 0, Cal., Christian and Missionary Alliance, on June 17th, having returned to passed away at Bombay on June America in enfeebled health in 2. She had long been esteemed January last. He was born in for her devotion and the consist- Philadelphia, January 13, 1820, and ency of her Christian character.
went to Ning-po, China, in 1844, Mrs. Fuller was the author of a and to Japan in 1872. He was one number of books on experimental of the ablest missionaries of the religion, and also on social matters American Presbyterian church, in India. A series of articles from and his services in Japan were her pen on "The Yrongs of Indian highly valued by the government, Yomanhood," which appeared last from whom he received the deco- year in the BombllY Guardian, ration of the "Fifth Order of the are shortly to be published in book Rising Sun." He was a man of form.
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1896
A VIEW OF LAGOS – WEST COAST OF
THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT KAMERUNS, AFRICA. This church is entirely independent and maintains twenty·seven outposts. The bricks were made and the building erected entirely by native Christians. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIX. No. 6.-0ld &riu.-JUNE.-VOL. IX. :lo. 6.-NetII &riu.
THE TWOFOLD RELATION OF THE WORLD KINGDOMS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.-II.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
Human kingdoms have, during the Gospel dispensation, a relation to its propagation. We do not for one moment maintain that any government is to become directly a propagandist of the Christian faith. There is a growing tendency to the separation of Church and State, because separate functions belong to each. If even in a Christian country it is not best to have an Established Church, upheld by the State, surely it is worse to have the Church established by the State in a heathen country. The work of the Church is to extend, promulgate, propagate Christianity, independent of alliances with the kingdoms' of this world and the help of carnal weapons in carrying on her work. Nevertheless, within definite lines and limits, coope1'ation, equally removed from opposition or neutrality on the one hand and from propagandism on the other, belongs to every government that claims in any sense to be Christian. The recognition of Chris_ tianity as a fact and a factor in a true civilization, and of Chrislian principles as the foundation of· common and statute law j the governmental protection extended to its citizens and especially its missionaries j regulative and administrative action such as affects the terms and the tone of treaties j the selection of fit repr,esentatives to stand for Christian peoples in foreign courts and civil service j and various other measures, both legislative and educative-in all these departments a Christian government may negatively avoid hindering, and· positively assist, the Church, in her work of evangelization. The history of the British East India Company and of British rule in India illustrate both the errors to be avoided and the principles of a true cooperation.
Government is not called to interfere in a heathen, pagan, Mohammedan, or papal territory, forcibly to convert the natives to the Christian faith. History inspires little confidence in national conversion. As with the Roman Empire. l~qef Constantine~ a noro.:ina,l 9~f~(;l~i~nity is often only
THE WORLD KINGDOMS AND THE KINGDOM: OF GOD
the exchange of one set of idols and superstitions for another. In a sublime sense Christ's kingdom is not of this world, and courts neither governmental patronage nor carnal weapons. We deprecate compulsory entranco for the Gospel, as when a gunship goes side by side with the peaceful Gospel ship. But it is not asking too much that a so-called Christian nation, such as England or the United States, shall everywhere be known as the protector of its own citizens, the friend of Christian institutions, and the upholder of sobriety, morality, and piety. The flag of a nation whose belt of empire girdles the globe need not bear the cross on its folds, but it .should be the signal and symbol of a true Christian civilization, an enlightened Christian morality. Around the humblest of its subjects it should wrap its folds in the hour of danger, protecting person and property, liberty and life. In the formation of treaties regard may be had to the security of the Christian missionary as well as of the merchant. In sending representatives to foreign courts, why should not men be chosen who will carry with them a high moral and Christian influence as well as the tact of the statesman and the skill of the diplomat! Our government need not go into Turkey to build churches, or colleges, or hospitals j but, when bnilt by consent of the ruling powers, she may insist that they be inviolate. England need not demand of foreign powers an edict of toleration j but when a Ratti Humayun or a Tieutsin treaty is issued, rights are acknowledged of which the British Government may properly demand that converts and their Christian teachers may avail themselves. To be a citizen of Rome ought not to have cast about Paul a protection with which citizenship in the American republic would not invest Dr. Jessup in Syria, or Dr. Lindley in South Africa, or Dr. Jonas King in Athens. Was there any good reason why England should permit Bishop Hannington, when on a peaceful errand, to be murdered in Mwangwa's dominions, without calling the despot of Uganda to account'
I. A Christian government should encourage everywhere a Christian morality. We have seen how, frClm the days of Assyrian supremacy, there had been an increasing tendency toward unity and fraternity, more compact organizal.ion, commercial intercourse, social development, and political alliance-in a word, civilization. But the salt of morality was lacking, and that is a fatal lack. The seven" golden ages" have been, curiously enough, profligate ages. Egypt under the Ptolemies, Athens under Pericles, Rome under Augustus, Italy under Leo X., Russia under Ivan III., England under Elizabeth, France under Louis XIV., were all conspicuous for a high civilization, but also for morai putrefaction and petrifaction.
All history shows that moral corruption and progressive liberty are incompatible. Political development and moral deterioration have never long stood side by side. Since our Lord's adveut, if there has been a coincidence of political and moral progress it has been owing to the fact that the salt has displaced the leaven. There is such a thing as a political con- 8cience. and only so long as it is dominant is even civilization secure of permanence, not to say progress. ,I Slavery has long been regarded as the open sore not only of Africa, but of Rome as well, where single families controlled fifty thousand chattels.
But slavery was and is only a boil that argues bad blood. The evil is deeper; slavery could prevaIl only where the political conscience is par- alyzed, where man either knows not or feels not his duty to his brother man. So of communism and its kindred evils. "The want of a bridge of duty between rich and poor will in time bring any nation to destruc- tion. "
The most startling revelations made in modern times of a decidedly unchristian and iniquitous influence exercised by nominally Christian nations have been those concerning the forcible introduction of opium into China, the licensing of prostitution in India, and the importation of rum into Africa. As to' the last, no greater outrage has ever been committed by an enlightened Christian nation. In 1884 a congress composed of fourteen great powers, Protestant, papal, Greek, and Moslem, met in Ber- lin to create the Congo Free State. And while the chiefs of Southern Africa, like Kahma, not only prohibit traffic in rum, but even forbid its car- riage through their territory, these enlightened powers connive at the in- famous trade in this new territory !
One distillery in Medford, Mass., contracted to furnish 3000 gallons a day for seven years to parties within the Free State, an aggregate amount of 7,665,000 gallons-enough to intoxicate every man, woman, and child in that fifty millions; and that is but one contract! Mr. Hornaday's "Free Rum on the Congo" shows the total shipments of intoxicating drinks to African natives in one year, from five countries, to be nearly ten and a half million gallons; and those five countries are all nominally Christian, and four of them Protestant! And such liquor ! the cheapest, vilest, most poisonous compounds that ever went down the human throat 1 If it had been manufactured in hell it would scarcely have been worse.
II. Christian governments may do much for foreign missions by not practicaIly ignoring Ohristianity. We .have met not a few in England who regard British rule in India as a perpetual warning to all other nations.
An ancient politician seems to have advised that Christ be put to death as a matter of expediency, to avoid a greater calamity to the nation at large.
In his view, it was policy to sacrifice an innocent victim to avoid collision with a stronger enemy that might destroy the Jewish State and Church alike. It is very remarkable that the very ruin his statecraft sought to avert came by the very means used to avert it. The innocent was surren- dered to death, and that death brought destruction at the hands of the.
very Roman power which Caiaphas had sought to appease.
England sought, by ignoring Christianity and upholding caste and Brahmanism, to conciliate the Sepoys. Missionaries had little' 01: no access to the native regiments, and Christians were seldom if ever allowed to remain in the ranks; Hindu and Mohammedan soldiers could not hear the Gospel. Christ was dishonored that the favor of Brahmans and Sepoys might be kept. The miracle-working Gospel suffered repression in India where a few thousands of Englishmen were at the mercy of hundreds of millions, who, if once aroused, could sweep them away in a day. Was another Caiaphas again the counsellor, advising that Christ be crucified afresh in India lest the whole English residency perish? Now mark! God takes those same Sepoys as His hammer to deal a destroying blow at the very parties who, to conciliate them, sacrificed the Christian rehgion! Again the maxim was fulfilled: "Do an evil to avert an evil, and the evil dreaded will become the evil endured." Thoso who look upon the mausoleum at Cawnpore may learn what tender mercies Nana Sahib will show to Christians after centuries of conciliating policy !
III. The British sway in India illustrates the evil of neutral policy in giving a godless education in government schools, from which, to avoid collision with the natives, the Bible was excluded. But a Christian nation cannot be neutral in education ; it is either for Christ or against Himthere is no middle ground. So unscientific is the basis of Hindu theology, that to reach modern science is to overturn it. Take the cosmogony, the geography, the astronomy, taught in the Shasters! The absurd philosophy by which creation is accounted for, by which an eclipse is explained, would not stand an hour under the light of accurate science. But Hindu science and faith are inseparable, both claiming one Divine origin and warrant. Hence, to teach natural philosophy is to undermine moral philosophy and religious faith as the Hindu had been taught it, and, so far as the British government does not permit teaching of the Christian faith, the effect must be to train up a generation of educated sceptics and infidels. It is a startling fact that the young men, thus schooled, have become the most dangerous element in East Indian society. They unlearned the superstitions of the Shasters, but they were taught none of the sublimities of Christian faith; loosed from errors, they were anchored to no certainties; their minds were informed, but their consciences unformed, and they became not only bitter foes of the Gospel, but of British rule, disloyal, disaffected beyond any other natives, and ready for any movement for the overthrow of the very power to which they owed their education. Years before the great mutiny, sagacious Englishmen foresaw that the very policy adopted by Britain to promote the tranquillity and safety of her empire in India, was imperiling it. Atheism and deism spread side by side with hatred to the British name and rule among the very men trained in government schools and employed in government service.
Even heathen men, if they do not recognize the superiority of the Christian religion, recognize consistency in those who represent it. A Persian lad who brought his Persian testament to the school-room, was bidden by his Christian master to take it away as a proscribed book. The father, a Parsee himself, forbade the boy to go longer to the sc1;J,ooll saying, " The man who cares nothing for his own religion will care nothing for ours either !"
Nor must it be forgotten that the government of England lent aid to a system of education which rather favored false religions. At great metro- politan centers, for the sake ot conciliating educated natives, colleges were established to promote the study of the Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian tongues j and of Oriental letters, philosophies, and faiths. And so, under government patronage and at government expense, a learned Orientalism was taught to the privileged youth, with all the defects and follies and falsehoods embraced in those systems-the pantheism, materialism, and sensualism of the Vedas and the Koran were the food on which Hindu and Moslem young men were fed. Krishna, the god of lies, was held up by maulavis and pandits for imitation, while Christian teachers held him up for execration j Mohammed and his black-eyed houris were put before young men as a model of manhood and of heavenly society, while English missionaries were trying to present Christ and a heaven of holiness!
IV. What shall be said of the direct obstacles which Christian England placed in the way of India's evangelization in the impression produced upon the natives by the sordid, immoral, and sometimes cruel character of some of her representatives. The annals of rule, as carried on by Christian nations, largely deserve to be written in blood. Greed of gain and the lusts of the flesh, rapacity, and cruelty have too often been the dominant motives and methods, not of Portuguese only, but of British and American rulers also. Such conduct has so incensed the native mind and so maligned the Christian faith that, as the native chief, Hatuay, would shun even heaven if he had to meet there the Spanish invaders, so the Hindus and North American Indians would find no attraction in a paradise where their Christian oppressors were to have a home.
We see no reason why, in forming treaties, a Christian government should not take a position as such. In 1797 our own country, in its treaty with Tripoli, a nominal dependeucy of the Turkish Empire, actually inserted these audacious words : "The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion!" What an argument that, to put into the mouth of Moslems against all missionary efforts !
There is something magnificently grand in a great ruler of men taking the scepter in the name of God j not formally, as Constantine did in the fourth century, or Charlemagne, when at Christmastide, 800 A.D., he was crowned Christian emperor at Rome, but as Alfred, when he had won back England's liberties, opened his code of laws with the words: "And the Lord spake all these words : I am the Lord thy God," and then follows the Decalogue and the golden rule: "VVbatsoever ye would that men should do to you, that do ye also unto them. "
The English nation for two hundred and fifty years so little saw and felt what God meant by British occupation of India that her rulers long and vehemently fought against India's evangelization. In fact, up to the new charter of 1813, the opposition was open and systematic. Both tongues and pens were arrayed against aU efforts to permeate India with the Gospel, and virulence united with ignorance to carry the day against missions. So absurd lite ~he arguments then used that, as Dr. Duff said, they have become now "like curious fossil relics of antediluvian ages.
When in 1793 certain clauses were proposed in a bill then pending for the renewal of the company's charter, clauses designed to encourage Christian men in going to India to propagate the Christian faith, those clauses were promptly and peremptorily negatived; and a learned prelate in the House of Lords, a defender of 0rthodoxy too, actually argued against any interference " with the religion, the laws, the local customs of the people of India," alleging that there was no obligation resting on Englishmen to attempt the conversion of the natives, even were it possible, which he denied; and that the command to preach the Gospel to all nations did not in this case apply. As late as 1813 Charles Marsh, in the House of Commons, expressed mingled" surprise and horror" at the proposal to send out missionaries " to civilize or convert such a people at the hazard of disturbing or deforming institutions" which hitherto had proven the means designed by Providence to make them virtuous and happy!" Pamphleteers assailed missions as an attempt to overcome the" unconquerable abhorrence of the Christian religion" on the part of the Hindus, while twenty-five years previous the Rajah of Tanjore, for instance, had made a perpetual appropriation of land of the yearly value of $1000 for the support of Christian teachers.
During the early period of British empire in India, not only was Christianity repudiated and treated with contempt, but the government undertook the patronage of the native idolatries and superstitions, chiefly on the ground that it was policy to humor and conciliate the native population. And so we have the ignominious spectacle of a Christian and Protestant nation not only bearing with, but bearing up, the most dangerous and subtle of Oriental heathenisms. The Marquis of Wellesley wrote to the British resident at Lucknow advising a "liberal attention to the religious establishments and charitable foundations of the country," and asking him to furnish a statement of the public endowments of both the Hindu and Mohammedan religions as he might propose to confirm or extend f' Partly from motives of state policy and partly from regard to financial profits, the government allied itself with the temple of Juggernath in Orissa of Bydenath in Birhlim, of Gya in Behar, and the sacred shrine of pilgrims at the junction of the Ganges and the Jumna! Nay, Mr. Lionel Place actually sighs over the desolations of idolatry, the decline of the magnificence of the festivals and processions of the famous pagoda at Conjeveram, and the poverty of the idolatrous " church" which prevents the replacement of the rich ornaments of the idol and garniture of the fane, which the war had stripped from the pagan god and his temple, and urges the government to restore the lost splendor.
This representative of a government bearing, like himself, the name of os Christian, " urges the tImely outlay whIch wIll prevent such decline and even restore ruins. Probably no representative of a Protestant nation ever became so famous, or, rather, infamous, for hls services to idolatry. Mr. Place introduced a new nomenclature. The plgodas became the " estab. lished church;" the temple revenues, " church funds ;" the Brahman keepers of idol shrines, "churchwardens." A spacious garden near a great fane, and a gorgeous head-dress worth $5000 within the fane, were Mr. Place's gifts, and he actually used his position to increase the pomp of heathen festivals and supply furniture and garniture for the shrines of Brahma !
The worn-out wardrobes and cars of the idol god were replaced at government cost; the arsenals furnished ropes for pulling those cars ; temple repairs were sometimes superintended in person by European officers and their hirelings ; the great feasts were paid for out of the public treasury ; Brahmans were hired to pray for rain to idol gods, and servants, dancing girls, and prostitutes were appointed under Government sanction. So long as such things continued, missionary labors were offset by obstacles thus created by a Protestant nation more formidable than any presented by heathenism itself. England was building again as fast as the missionaries destroyed, and made herself doubly a transgressor. And altho now more than fifty years ago direct connection of the Government with Indian idols and idol temples has been severed, it was many years later before the severance was complete; and the sad story still blackens the annals of British rule in India to admonish us how seriously and impiously a Christian government may not only block the wheels of missions, but actually build up as well as prop up false fanes and faiths.
James Clement Ambrose, in Our Day, has recently arraigned Britain for manufacturing the idol, of India! The same ships from Liverpool that land missionaries at Madras, Calcutta; Rangoon, unload, he says, a crate of graven images of wood, stone, and metal, supposed to be of the most approved pattern and the most propitious power. Think of the missionary, toiling to break down idol fanes and banish idol gods on the one hand, and this foremost Protestant nation on the other supplying the images that may be bought for a rupee, and danced about in the full summer moons! Meanwhile Mr. Ambrose reads out another count in his indictInent : England, while she thus consecrates the idolatry of Buddha, desecrates the Christian Sabbath. Such public works as hewing paths through the country, or mending streets in the city, or building lines of railway and telegraph, the agents of the British crown push, without resting on the first day of the week, and native employees are taught that public work carried on by a Christian government calls no halt on God's rest day!
It seems incredible that in so many ways, both direct and indirect, the leading Protestant nation of Europe could have become not only implicated but identified with the East Indian idolatries. While a heathen regent at Travancore set the example of exempting her Christian subjects from compulsory attendance at the heathen temples or any public service of heathenism on the Lord's Day, the representatives of a Christian government were not only collecting revenues from idols shrines, but doing all in their power to nourish the superstition that increased those revenues. In several provinces public officera were retained whose sole duty it was to see that the idol shrines were kept in repair and the idol worship made attractive, and report to the official head of the province.
One of the directors of the East India Company, when, at the India House, he heard the tidings of the Sepoy Mutiny, threw up his hat and shouted" Hurrah 1 Now we shall get rid of the saints." He was reflecting the sentiments of another director before him, who would rather a band of devils landed in India than a band of missionaries. But, as has been aptly said, "Never was prediction more mistaken. Instead of the East India Company getting rid of the saints, the saints got rid of them I"
Both candor and charity, however, demand of us to add that the Government of England has, whether from external pressure or otherwise, in later times passed many measures favorable to the cause of evangelization in India. Not only is universal toleration now extended to all missionary agencies, but obstacles that seemed almost insuperable have been removed. Liberty of conscience has been established. To disinherit a Hindu, rob. bing him of his patrimony simply because of a change of creed, has become an offense punishable at law. The fires of the funeral pyre have been quenched, and the infamous suttee burning is no more. This custom, which may be traced to the fourteenth century B.C., was entrenched in the most radical superstitions of the country. It was believed that not only on the widow herself, but on her dead husband, the self-immolalion of the widow conferred the highest merit, and that .to her, who otherwise would vainly seek entrance into paradise, this flaming door opened the way to a bliss of thirty_five million years. In 1829 Lord William Bentinck, then governor-general, decreed that all aid, assistance, or participation in any act of suttee should be construed and punished as murder. When the excited Brahmans denounced his action as an unwarrantable interference with their religious conscience, and appealed to him whether Englishmen did not teach all men to obey conscience, Lord Bentinck quietly replied, "By all means obey your conscience; but I forewarn you that if your Hindu conscience- compels you to bum innocent widows on a funeral pyre, the Englishman's conscience compels him to hang everyone of you that aids or abets such murder I" This law, at first appHcable only to Bengal, soon extended over all the territories of the East India Company, and wherever possible was incorporated in treaties made with native princes. By similar governmental interference the horrors of infanticide are no more, and in 1863 the last link of connection with idolatrous temples and priests was broken, and State patronage and endowment of heathenism came to an end.
In 1875 Rev. John Wilson, D.D., of Bombay, cataloged and classi· .
fied the horrors and iniquities removed by Government. Let any man look at the catalog and then say that a Christian government can do nothing to remove obstructions to evangelization where it has control. Dr. Wil- son's classification covers ten particulars-viz., murder of parents, murder of children, human sacrifices, voluntary torment, involuntary torment, ex- tortions, legal support of caste, religious intolerance, slavery, and suicide; and each of these particulars includes several subdivisions, making in all thirty-four distinct forms of cruelty and outrage abolished by governmental action.
F?r the outmges committed on American missionaries and citizens and their property in China the United States has no one to blame so much as herself, for her own outrages on the resident Chinese, and her own political course in the violation and annulling of her own treaties with China.
No government can afford to follow that Machiavellian policy which assumes that there is no moral governor above us and no moral Provi- dence, and hence no moral retribution, and need be no moral obliga- tion or political conscience. Sir John Lawrence, when Governor of the Punjaub, grandly said, "Christian things done in a Christian way will never alienate the heathen." The whole history of British occupation in India, now covering nearly three hundred years, has written this lesson in blood and tears, that a Christian nation may carry out even among heathen subjects all really Christian measures, not only without risk, but with every advantage both to its own stability and the welfare and even loyalty of its foreign subjects.
V. A Christian nation may powerfully cooperate with the Church of Christ in facilitating the introduction and distribution oj the Scriptures.
The Mexican War was undertaken no doubt mainly from the greed of ter- ritorial acquisition. Yet it cannot be denied that the Bibles and Testaments carried into Mexico in the knapsacks of American soldiers-and sometimes stained with their blood-thus found their way into that land where papal domination still leaves millions to live and die without ever having seen a copy of the Word of God j and the Bibles, thus flung over the border aR from the point of the bayonet, actually became. not only the seed of in- dividual conversion, but the nucleii of little companies of believers- unconscious Protestants-and the germs of evangelical churches.
England prides herself on her cathedrals, which are also the superb catacombs of her illustrious dead. But no cathedral structure ever com- pared, in point either of massive majesty or glorious symmetry, with that British and Foreign Bible Society which reverses the miracle of Babel and perpetuates the miracle of Pentecost. It is a true missionary socie- ty, whose missionaries never die nor even grow old and decrepit, knowing no infirmity or disease; never embarrass the work by infelicitous mar- riages, fanatical new departures, heretical new theologies, by doing what must be undone or by undoing what has been done ; never apostatize from the faith or even falter in their fidelity. The Word of God calls them " gods" to whom the Word of God came ; and the Scripture cannot be broken. It lifts us to a Divine dignity to be the recipients and repositories of the Holy Scriptures. Why should not a Christian nation further and forward the rapid dissemination of this seed of the kingdom'
VI. Whatever else may be said, certain it is that for a Christian gov- ernment to oppose mi8siona and obstruct their progress is to provoke the just judgments of God.
Human history furnishes more than one ilIustration of the startling warning in Isaiah 60 : 12, " The nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish; yea, those ·nations shall be utterly wasted." The pre- diction originally applied to Israel is capable of a wider historic applica- tion. Many an emperor or sultan or petty chief has fallen under the judg- ment of God at a crisis in the affairs of the kingdom of God. In 1839 the darkest hour came to Turkish missions, and the tyrant Mahmftd ordered all Christian missionaries summarily expelled from the empire. Dr. Goodell quietly said, " The great Sultan of the Universe can change all this." And on July 1st the Sultan died. God blew, and His enemies were scattered. That order for expulsion was not only never enforced, it was never again referred to! In 1851 the King of Siam, the implacable foe of missions, had so prevented the missionaries from getting a foothold that they were awaiting only the arrival of a ship to bear them away. The work whose foundations had been laid thirty years before was about to be abandoned as hopeless when again God interposed, and on April 3d the king died and the choice of the nobles for his ,successor fell upon the one man in all the kingdom who owed his liberal culture and his tolerant temper to the private teaching of a missionary. From that hour Christian missions have found not only forbearance but favor and fostering care in the royal court of Siam.
He who made proud and cruel Babylon His hammer to smite and break other nations, afterward shivered the hammer itself on the awful anvil of His judgment. We may, as a political power, refuse to recogniz6 God in form, to embody in our Constitution or institutions any express recognition of our allegiance to the King of kings ; but there is one fact whose force we cannot escape: it is Christianity that has made us what we are, and given us our place among the nations of the earth. It has modeled all that is best in the basis of the republic, the eternal principles of constitutional liberty. It has laid the granite blocks of individual rights, political equality, and personal liberty. It has set in their place the pillars of common law and statute law upon which rest the very arches of government; it has surmounted them with the successive stories of our institutions, civil, benevolent, and philanthropic ; and it is Christianity which has made it possible to crown this structure with a dome so vast that within its scope there is room for every subject to follow his own conscience in his worship of God. There the structure stands. Whatever may be said by godless men, and to whatever purposes the building may be
RECENT PROGRESg IN CENTRAL AFRICA
perverted, the fact still remains the same that the corner-stone -is laid in the Bible, and but for Christiamty the structure had never been so reared. Our Government, if it openly denies and disowns the obligations we owe to the Christian religion, deserves and risks the removal of the very foundations it disowns. God has more than once taken a nation at its word, as when the Jews assumed the blood of His Son, which has been on them and on their children for fifty generations.
But we owe to Christianity more than a mere recognition-a debt that can be paid only by all proper and lawful endeavors to reconstruct aU other governments upon the basis of the Christian religion, to promote the recognition of God's Fatherhood and man's brotherhood-nay, more, of the Messianie Kingship of Christ. Without merging the State into the Church or leaving the political sphere for the ecclesiastical, a government like that of England or America may act as the handmaid of the Church in displacing the fetish of the pagan, the endless wheel of the Buddhist, the iron ring of the Brahman, the crescent of the Turk, and even the crucifix of the Romanist, by the cross.
RECENT PROGRESS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. * BY C. J. LAFFIN, M.D., F.R.G.S., BATANGA, WEST AFRICA.
The opening of the period under consideration (1870-1895) found a few mission stations scattered along the coast lines of the Dark Continent, planted there as " stepping-stones to the interior." These were manned by a small number of missionaries, the greater part of whose time was taken up trying to solve the problem of how to exist in Africa. These early missionaries accomplished very little that could be tabulated, but on their work the successes of to-day rest. Their work, their lives, their deaths have compelled the Boards, some of them at least, to recognize the fact that God does not hold His laws in abeyance because we are doing His work. They have clearly demonstrated that a missionary in that deadly climate, unless surrounded by suitable sanitary and hygienic conditions, and provided with skilled medical aid, will sicken and die as surely as anyone else will. They have also proven that a thorough knowledge of the country and people, of any given region, is necessary before permanent stations can be founded. This led to the sending out of missionaries versed in medicine, geography, mechanics, languages, ethnology, to.· • .. Recent" dnrlng the past twenty-five years. Practically no progress W88 made before 18'70• .. Central Africa."-Between a line drawn from lS" N. lat. on the W. C088t N. on the E.
C088t, and another line drawn across the continent at 22" S. lat.
Africa outside of these lines is 80 essentially dUfercnt from Central Africa 88 to require, If dis· cussed. a separate paper. etc. The proportion of such workers to theologians is rapidly increasing. It cost much in time, money, and lives to get these 'facts recogpized j but it has been worth all it has cost-yes, worth many times more. Those missions which have recognized these facts are to-day preaching the Gospel to the millions of the far interior, while the others still painfully struggle for existence on the coast.
Political.-Next to the question of health, probably the greatest ob- stacle to be overcome was the political condition. (It must be borne in mind that the Central African, on the whole, did not object to the introduction of Christianity.) Almost the entire country was split up into petty clans and villages. There were a few tribes under one government, and two or three organized nations j but generally a chieftain's or headman's (often improperly called" king's") authority did not extend over more than five to ten square miles, often not more than half a square mile. There were no established laws-for the stranger, and petty wars were constant. Under such conditions travel and often residence were impossible for the missionary.
The different European governments exercised authority on the coast "within reach of the guns of the warships." For the most part this state of affairs has changed. Almost the whole area has been brought under European control. The net result has been very good, especially in the English territories. A missionary with tact, discretion, and a knowl- edge of the people, can, if unarmed, travel almost anywhere he chooses, preaching the Gospel as he goes. Such of the law machinery of civilized countries as is applicable to so new a country has been set in motion, and generally exercises its power to control and protect all. In a few years life, liberty, and property will be as safe in all, as now in reany parts of Central Africa as in America. The degree of protection will vary in different localities, as it does in the United States.
Education.-With the exception of the Mohammedans in the extreme north and northeast of this area, the people were without any literature. The necessity of giving the people the Bible in their own language was recog- nized from the first j but to learn the many unwritten languages and dia- lects, and reduce them to writing, was no small task. The words had to be "picked from between the teeth" of the natives, then by laborious effort a grammar would be worked out, and the work of translating taken up. To-day the Bible, or portions of it have been translated into about one hundred and thirty-five languages and dialects. For sonie years the belief was widespread in America that education was necessary to prepare men to "comprehend the abstract principles of Christianity," . and that raising up schools would draw all men to Christ. So schools of all grades, from the most elementary to colleges, were founded throughout the inission fields. Over two hundred and fifty thousand people have been taught to read God's Word in their own tongue. Not a few have been given a collegiate education, and will compare favorably in this respect with the average missionary. Some twenty-seven periodicals in the native
SERVICE IN A NATIVE AFRICAN CHURCH
RECENT PROGRESS IN CENTRAL AFRICA
tongues have been started. Complete grammars and very good dictionaries have been printed, and no inconsiderable literature has beWl provided in the prinQipallanguages. At the present rate of progress another twentyfive years will see as large a proportion of the people reading and writing as in Spain to-day.
Much attention has been given to the solution of the problem, "What is the best system of education for the Central African as we find him to-day~" While the problem has not yet been solved, much has been learned.. This much has been conclusively shown, that the system which has been developed to meet the needs of the Anglo-Saxon in his present stage of civilization cannot develop the latent powers of the Central African. The tendency now is to give them the Gospel, let that create needs in them as it did in us, then place within their reach the means to meet those needs.
Social.- Whether or not we admit that social progress has kept pace with the advance in other Jines, depends on the standpoint from which we view the question. Certainly they have shown comparatively little desire to " ape the European." But that a great social evolution along natural lines is in progress, is admitted by most, if not all students of Africa, who have had opportunity to m~ke extensive studies of the question on the field.
The homes of the married missionaries, showing forth fruits of the Gospel, have' never failed to compel recognition, and have, next to the preaching the Gospel, been, in God's hands, the greatest uplifting power in Central Africa. Single men on a station where there are no families are invariably the object of suspicion. The present cry for" single men for Africa" is confined almost entirely to " arm-chair missionaries" who have never even visited Africa.
Oommercial prof/ress has kept pace with, if not outrun, all other forms of advance. The volume of trade has increased 4300 per cent, and prom- Ises to keep on increasing. This led to the building of railroads, highways, bridges, steamboats for the inland rivers and lakes, the establishing of telegraph and mail routes, the great increase in the number of coast steamers, their size and speed, and the number of ports of call. Thus one of the great problems, the difficulty of travel and communication, is being rapidly met. In many places one missionary can, on account of the above advances, do as much itinerating as ten could a few years ago, with no increase in expense. Commerce and the Gospel go hand in hand. This may seem a strange statement if we consider the details of commerce, yet the net result proves it to be true.
Medical.-The early missionaries, whose training had been principally theological, naturally were not prepared to deal with the health problems which met them as soon as they arrived on the coast. The result was that they had'to be invalided home or died off in such numbers as to give rise to the question, "Is the evangelization of Africa a possibility?" Later a few medical men were sent out ; the result was so satisfactory that the number was soon increaseil, so that most missions now have at least one physician, and some of the missions endeavor to have a medi. cally train1!d worker at each station. This has led to a decrease in the death-rate-where medical aid is available-of over 100 per cent, and vastly increased the health and efficiency of those workers who remain. The knowledge gained in tropical hygiene and sanitation, and in the prevention and trea~ment of diseases peculiar to Central Africa, has, when applied, very much decreased the expenses of the missions, removing the necessity for such frequent and prolonged visits to ~his country.
I believe that the effects of the climate have done more to prevent the spread of the Gospel in Africa than rum, slavery, polygamy, and all other forces combined. This problem cannot be satisfactorily solved until we have medical men, the best, attached to our boards in this country. It is not reasonable to expect theologians, however learned they may be in their own calling, can satisfactorily deal with this, one of the deepest and most complicated questions before the medical profession to-day.
But, tho the difficulties have been tremendous, the comparatively few physicians on the field, generally with the most scant assistance from their board (one doctor during his first seven years received no supplies other than quinine and a hypodermic needle), have during the past few years more than doubled the efficiency of the workers and very materially lessened the expenses, besides founding hospitals, training native youths in the elements of medicine, surgery, etc., and teaching the people the laws governing contagious and some other diseases with most satisfactory results. Gospel.- When we come to consider the progress of the Gospel we find ourselves unable to tabulate it. While it is comparatively easy to get the figures of church-members and estimate the number of adherents, this does not state a tithe of the actual progress of the spirit of the Gospel. For instance, up to three years ago in the Bule tribe there was constant war between the different villages, no stranger was allowed to pass through or live in their country. To-day missionaries live among them-even the ladies of the mission can travel anywhere there without escort. Strangers pass through the country with impunity. In some districts wars have entirely ceased j in all it has greatly diminished, and will soon be but a memory. The only agencies used to produce this change were preaching the Gospel and healing the sick; yet all that is shown in statistics is, "Inquirers, 11." This is a fair sample of what is going on in hundreds of districts throughout this vast area.
Yet much has been done which can be tabnlated. Churches dot the entire coast lines, extend far up the navigable rivers-over one thousand up the Congo-and around the shores of the great lakes. The kingdom of Uganda is now Christian. Many districts (like Banza Manteke, Lukungu, Blantyre) are now as truly Christian as, say, Delaware or Rhode Island. which are about the same size. A more or less-generally less-perfect knowledge of God's plan of salvation has reached ~bout twenty millions, and will, at the present rate of progress, reach the other one hundred and sixty millions during the next twenty-five years. As the missionaries generally have not insisted on the natives adopting our VIlestern ecclesiastical machinery and church architecture, a large part of the native churches have become self-sustaining and self-governing, giving rise to healthy, vigorous, self-propaga.ting churches. A comparison between them and the home churches would often (not always) be discomforting to the latter. . Hundreds of the Christian men, women, and children have, by their life's blood, testified to the power of Christ to save, often after enduring cruel scourging and mocking. A vigorous native ministry has sprung up. In some places, as on the Niger, they have the entire control of the work. In other places they work with or under the missionaries. As the result of experience, there is a rapidly increasing disposition on the part of the missionaries to turn the entire responsibility over to the natives at the earliest possible date. Several thousand young men are now being trained to more effectively carry the Gospel to their countrymen. Probably no part of the world has yielded such a rich spiritual harvest for the amount of work actually done as Bantu Africa (all south of 2° north).
If we go to Bonny we see a cathedral, seating 1700, taking the place of the temple decked with 10,000 human skulls, which stood there a few years ago. In Rubaga we see the place where thousands yielded up their lives to a despotic king until five years ago taken up by a church seating 4000. In Equatorville, Irebu, and many other places, the shrieks of the dying who were being killed for sacrifice or to be eaten has now given place to the songs of peace and joy. Scores of such illustrations might be quoted. A great transformation is taking place in Africa. If the Church at home will take hold now this generation will not have passed away before the cry of" enough" is heard. There is no time to lose. Africa has awakened from her sleep of centuries. She is looking for guidance.
She will take either Mohammed or Christ, whichever is first presented. Mohammedanism has already got practical control' over the whole of the northern part of this area, and is rapidly advancing south. In the very near future a great and bloody conflict for political and spiritual supremacy will be waged between Islam and Christianity. If this present British expedition up the Nile succeeds in breaking the power of the Mahdi-well, if not, it will mean many dark and cruel years to the Central African Christians.
Tho the various lines of progress have been considered separately, and other important lines have not been mentioned, they are not independent; each helps the other. For instance, the Gospel stops wars and opens the way for commerce, commerce builds roads, etc., and lessens the expense of carrying the Gospel.
The natural order is generally as follows : Geographers * go ahead and find out about the people, the country, and its resources; medical science goes and makes it possible for the white man to live there; the Gospel follows and inaugurates an era of peace; commerce follows; law, first military, then civil, steps in and takes control; education, social reform, etc., come in about the same time. Nearly all the educators, about half the geographers, a large proportion of the statesmen, with a small proportion of the physicians, and other scientists, are also missionaries.
Recent progress in Central Africa has been marvelous. History re- , cords no parallel. Her friends are filled with hope. Much has been done at a great cost in lives and money. Much remains to be done, much money will be spent, and many lives be laid down before the work is done; but let us not unnecessarily sacrifice any more workers by continuing to commit their health and lives to mission secretaries who have had no medical training. Africa's redemption is at hand. Where sin did abound grace does much more abound; and to-day as formerly " the Cross of Christ is the power of God unto everyone that believeth."
.. I UBe the word geographer in place of explorer, as the latter, nnle88 he be also a geographer, con~ tributes very little valuable Information liS the result of his" trips."
NINE CENTURIES OF .BUDDHI8X
NINE CENTURIES OF BUDDHISM.-m.
BY F. B. SHAWB, LADAX, TIBBT.
In the second part of the Buddhist catechism, concerning the doctrine of the Buddha, Subhadra continues: II. 3. Cannot the Buddha redeem us from the consequences of our guilt by his own merit?
Answer. No man can be redeemed by another.
But the Dalai Lama in Lhasa is called " savior," and the people univer- sally ascribe some indefinite redeeming power to him.
II. 182. Is it wrong to commit suicide? Answer. No ; so long as no wrong is done anyone thereby.
Who can determine this? Life is so complicated that a would-be SUicide cannot possibly foresee the ultimate consequences of his action. The Ladaki are here better than their religion, and suicide is universally condemned. A suicide is believed to spend the time between his actual death and the date when he would have died in ordinary course of nature in "Bar~o," a state in which he is exposed to the attacks of terrific demons.
In II. 140 the "ten fetters"-i.e., obstacles to enlightenment, are enumerated. Many are more or less identical with the fundamental rules for conduct, and can therefore be passed over here. But as the third " fetter" is mentioned : The superstition that salvation can be gained by outward religious practices, rites, prayers, sacrifices, worship of relics, pilgrimages, and various other forms and ceremonies.
This is undoubtedly Buddhist theory, and measured by this rule, no Tibetan is unfettered. Prayers and sacrifices will be adverted to shortly i hut quite apart from these, Tibetan Buddhism is nothing else but a mass of outward religious practices. Annually thousands of Tibetans wander weary distances to sacred shrines, which are cll-cumambulated times innu- merable, often on hands and knees, while the most debased use of relics made by ignorant Roman Catholics is paralleled in Tibet. The ex-king .of Ladak was last year engaged with his whole family in a four months'
pilgrimage to the KaUas Mountains. Annually the whole Buddhist popu- lation of Leh circumambulates all the shrines, prayer-walls, etc., in the valley, a march of about ten miles; and an old ~n used to pass my house daily in execution of this task, twirling his prayer-wheel the while.
Scores of people go every summer to the Pangkong Lake in order to 'obtain the blessing of seeing the image of Lhasa, which is hundreds of miles t.distant, pictured in the hlue waters of the lake. Others go to Triloknath _ . • . " .l,';' in Lahaul, which is in some mysterious way connected with Lhasa, and a journey to which is· almost equivalent to a pilgrimage to that holy city. Another favorite place is a lake in Kulu with a floating island. A man in Leh solemnly assured me that when on a visit there a strange bird bespattered his new dress with dirt. In anger he wiped it off, and since then nothing but misfortune has dogged his course. He had inadvertently deprived himself of a special blessing.
This is evidently all pure superstition, and a comparatively mild form of superstition. There are lower depths than this. It is Tibetan practice to creniate corpses; wood, however, being scarce, the cremation is often very incomplete. The ashes and unconsumed bones are therefore gathered together, pounded in mortars and mixed with clay, which is then stamped into little medallions and figures. I have one of these medallions, which purports to contain part of the ashes of the fifth Dalai Lama, and bearing the official gold seal attesting its genuineness on the reverse side. On my asking the man from whom I obtained it why it was damaged at the sides, he explained that many little bits had been consumed by sick people as medicine 1* II. 148. Does Buddhism teach its followers to hate, despise, or persecute nonbelievers ?
Anawe'1'. Quite the reverse. . . . Even where dominant it has never oppressed or persecuted non·believers, and its success has never been attended with bloodshed. In a note we read further: By Christians this is called apathetic indifference j by Buddhists tolerance.
True, as far as I am aware, Buddhism has never been propagated by the sword, as has Islam. But the statement that " it has never oppressed or persecuted non-believers" does not agree with the facts. The attitude of Tibetan Buddhism is that of "apathetic indifference," until the priests find their power imperilled, then fanaticism immediately breaks out. In the early days of the Christian mission at Kyelang a priest showing himself interested in Christian doctrine was promptly made away with by his colleagues. The Tibetan expression "red offering" has not been quite cleared up, and the priests are very reticent on the subject; but this much is certain, it includes the slaughter of notorious non·believers in order to propitiate the deity. The former Roman Catholic mission in *Ladaki Buddhism, however, descends lower still. It is only with grave hesitation that I ven- ture to mention the following practice, and I do so only from the feeling that it will illustrate better than anything else, what awful depths Buddhist superstition can reach. It is an old story that the Dalai Lama's excrements are made up into pills, which are sold as " hlessings" to the laity. I have enquired into this marvellous assertion, and have found many people who had heard of these pills, mauy more who wished to have them and regretted that Ladak is so far away from Lhasa that only a few of these precious objects reach the country, aud I have met with one man, who IlSSured me that his father had not only seen, but actually obtained and eaten one of these pills I Altho I am inclined to believe that the story Is true as to its main facts, I am not prepared to assert It unequiv·· ocally ; but I do assert that Ladak! Buddhists believe it and welcome such things. Can any snperstition be more disgusting, grovelling, and debasing than this? If Buddhism considers relic-worship to be superititious, what are we to think of this? And why has not Buddhism put a stop to it ? Bonga can point to more than one martyrdom. In 1893 a young man in Leh was baptized, whereupon all priests were interdicted from performing any service in the houses of his friends and rslatives, who had in vain opposed the young man's decision. Buddhism in Tibet is tolerant only so long as it can afford to be apathetically indifferent.
II. 144. Are prayers, sacrifices, rites, and other religious ceremonies requisite to reach Nirvana 1 .A1'IItMI'. The Buddhist religion does not prescribe prayers and sacrifices in the literal sense of the word ; but the repetition of pa888ges from the sacred books, the reading and devout listening to sermons and discourses are considered to be of great help.
As for sermons and discourses, they are absolutely unknown in Ladak. The reading of sacred books is of daily occurrence; but how are they read! The lamas are called, and the whole day long they gabble away at breakneck speed to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, the people of the house meanwhile ploughing or reaping or shopping in the bazar. Nor could they understand if they wished it, for they are unable to follow the classical dialect, even if read slowly and intelligently. According to Tibetan ideas, however, the sense is of no value whatsoever; the mere reading is sufficient. The usual Tibetan style of writing and printing on loose leaves greatly facilitates the performance. The leaves of a book are simply distributed among the readers, and each man rattles down his particular leaf, probably beginning and ending in the middle of a sentence. If, as sometimes happens, several hundred readers are assembled, two or three books are thus read simultaneously.
Prayer properly so-called-i.e., a petition for a benefit desired or a thanksgiving for benefits received-is absolutely unknown. Tibetans have several Dharanis or prayer-formuloo consisting of a few Sanscrit syllables, usually without any meaning. Of these formullll, one stands so far preeminent that it has practically ousted the rest-the celebrated "Six Syllables," "Om mani padme hum," the invention of which is ascribed to Janrezig, the patron saint of Tibet. The holiness and meritoriousness of this prayer are beyond description great. According to the lamas, its frequent repetition is alone sufficient to ensure salvation or at the very least rebirth in Devachan ; and repeated it accordingly is, from early morn till lato at night. Ploughing, reaping, and threshing, walking and riding, sewing and cooking, spinning and weaving-in short, every occupation not requiring the use of the mouth is accompanied by the ceaseless murmur of the Six Syllables, sometimes aided by the use of the rosary. Even in conversation, often of the foulest sort, the prayer-wheel with its hundreds of impressions of the Six Syllables is twirled round, each revolution counting as if the prayers had been spoken. The same Six Syllables are contained by thousands in huge cylinders, turned by water, wind, and hand-power. Printed on pieces of calico, they flutter in every breeze blowing over the valley, while the traveler passes them by hundreds, engraved on rocks by the roadside, or on stones placed on specia1l1 built walls, or inlaid in huge letters iu white stones on the dark hillsides, so as to be visible miles away. Countless millions of times are the holy Six Syllables prayed by mouth, water, wind, and hand in the course of a year. All Tibetan Buddhism is bound up in them.
And what do they mean Y They are originally Sanscrit, and have the apparently harmless signification : "Oh the jewel in the lotus. Amen. "
But to the student, these words cover a reference to Shivaism. * They are simply a remnant of the old phallic worship, of which many other remnants still exist, and which Buddhism has proved powerless to extirpate completely. It is a relief to find that the meaning is entirely lost to the people, both cleric and lay. Go over all Tibet, and you will not find a single man who can explain their signification; and the people use a prayer of which they do not even pretend that it contains any sense at all. The great northern "Church" of Buddhism occupies itself with " praying to nobody for nothing" in what is to them a senseless jingle, and ascribes to this truly intellectual occupation the value of religious merit.
II. 145. Does the doctrine prescribe the worship of images, statues, relics of the Buddha and his disciples ?
AnBt06r. No; according to the Buddha's teaching, these practices are of no help to the furtherance of true knowledge, and may easily lead to error and superstition.
None the less, however, is it a fact that Buddhist temples are crowded with images. The image of the Buddha is less frequent than one might imagine. The statue, often colossal, of the next Buddha to appear is more often seen. Still more usual are images of the great saints, Bodhisattvas and lamas. But there is also in every temple an incredible number of figures, great and small, of some of the innumerable deities and demons of the Buddhist pantheon. The walls are covered with pictorial representations, among which is usually a " Wheel of Life." The others are more past, present, and future Buddhas, saints and deities. As if this were not enough, numerous paintings on paper or calico are suspended all around. It must be specially remarked that almost all are perfectly decent in clothing and posture, but there are in every temple of any pretensions eight figures of deities bordered from Hinduism, than which anything more obscene can hardly be imagined. In one or two cases I have even seen plastic representations of these deities, in which case the utter and intentional obscenity is put forward with a shamelessness that is in itself sufficient proof of a total want of mora} consciousness. They were first pointed out to me by a lama, who expected me to join him in his undisguised pleasnre at the exhibition. If you inquire about them, you are told that they are " protectors" or "servants" of ihe doctrine. A * The precise meaning of these words those who list can read in Monier·Williams' "Buddhism,"
p. 372, or in Koeppen's" RelIgion dl'l' Buddha," Ii., p. 61. religion which can tolerate such obscenities as protectors or servants clearly abdicat.es any pretensions to inculcate morality and pureness of hfe in its adherents.
The tendency of Buddhism to idolatry is so notorious that even Subhadra is obliged to attempt to explain it away. He therefore continues: II. 146. Why, then, are the Buddhists in the habit of offering flowers and of burning incense before the Buddha's statues?
.A1I8UJC'r. The lay adherents are wont to do 80 in order to give expression, by an outward act, to their veneration and gratitude. Europeans in the same way place flowers and wreaths on the monuments of their great men. . .. Such a custom has therefore nothing objectionable In it, but It were a great mistake to attach any special merit to it.
This answer is absolutely untrue as regards Tibetan Buddhism. In every temple it is part of the duty of the priest in charge to see that offerings are presented. They consist of butter, grain, tea, flowers, water, etc. Of these flowers and water are the greatest favorites, "because they cost nothing," as a priest once explained. Nor is it true that '~no special merit" attaches to such gifts i on the contrary, the Ladaki are taught that all offerings, especially of butter and tea, are very valuable. Naturally so, for they help to swell the larder of the monks.
It is also incorrect to say that the images, before which offerings are placed, are merely emblems. That images, which are believed to have fallen from heaven, receive divine adoration, goes without saying i but the manner of treating images made to order is clear proof that the image is in itself conRidered as divine. When an image or picture has received the consecration, it is a heinous offense to place it on the floor, much more to touch it accidentally with a stick. It is equally heinous to cross the roof or the floor of a room above the spot where the image stands, and special architectural arrangements are often made to prevent this. Nor is the punishment which follows such deeds considered as being caused by the general want of respect shown ; it is ascribed directly to the wrath of the particular divinity represented, and to no other. In all monasteries there is at least one image or pictnre, usually that of Kali, which is rigorously kept veiled all the year round, except on one certain day, when special services are performed. To unveil the deity at any other time would cause untold misery to the wretched man committing the deed. In one of the temples of Pyang monastery I noticed a dirtylooking box. On approaching to open it I was stopped by a horrified exclamation of the attendant lamas, who proceeded to explain that inside the box was an image of peculiar holiness. It had been sealed up in the box at Lhasa, transported to Ladak on a pony which had never since been used, and the seal had never been broken. If the seal were ever broken and the image exposed, the angry divinity would immediately destroy the monastery. The lamas, however, entirely disagreed as to what image was in the box. In Leh there is a temple which may only be entered by lamas. Any other person entering is immediately struck dead. The people assert that about one hundred years ago a woman who rashly entered met with instantaneous death at the hands of the wrathful deity, Facts like these utterly knock the bottom out of any" emblem" theory. The divinity itself resides in the image. Tibetan Buddhists are Idolaters in the full sense of the word.
Images are in themselves good and a cause of luck. With every additional image placed in the family chapel the chances of good fortune are perceptibly increased. It does not matter in the least whose image it is; one is as good as another. In one house I saw five hundred niches ready for images, of which upward of three hundred were occupied by absolutely identical clay figurcs of Janvezig. The householder informed me that he was saving every pice he had to fill up the remaining niches. I suggested that some variety might be desirable, both from an esthetic and practical point of view, but he replied that quantity only was really necessary. He would, he said, certainly like a change, but he had only one mold and could not afford to buy another.
Books are almost equally holy. It does not signify whether they treat of religion, or astrology, or fairy tales (of which Tibetans are very fond), or of medicine. It is of no consequence whether the book be complete or have half the leaves missing or consist of the leaves of several incomplete books on different subjects jumbled up together. It does not matter whether anyone in the house can read a syllable or not. The book is itself an indescribable blessing. To place a book on the floor would cause ruin. The sacred light must be lit before it every evening, just as before idols. I have often seen a lama walking along the road, aceompamed by a man carrying a book, which is often over two feet long. A layman approaches, doffs his cap, and at a sign from the lama the attendant touches the man's head with the book, whereupon he walks away in the comforting assurance that he is appreciably nearer salvation. The leaves of books are sewn into charms and eaten as medicine. Indeed, so far do the Ladaki go in their adoration of the book as such, that they occasion· ally place copies of the Christian Gospels in Tibetan on the altar with the idols and offer water, incense, and lights as to their own books. It IS even on record that a sick man, having swallowed several leaves of Buddhist books without finding relief, eat a few pages out of the Bible. He was bitterly disappointed at finding that the new religion eased his stomach troubles as little as the old had done.
(To 06 concluded.)
THE RECENT WAR IN MADAGASCAR AND SOME OF ITS CONSEQUENCES
THE RECENT WAR IN MADAGASCAR AND SOME OF ITS CONSEQUENCES.
BY THE REV. WILLIAM E. COUSIN!!, M.A., ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR.
The seventeenth century in one respect closely resembled the nineteenth, inasmuch as it was a time of great activity in colonial expansion.' The nations of Europe seemed all eager to found" establishments"or " plantations" among uncivilized or semi-civilized peoples. The large island of Madagascar naturally attracted their attention, and in both France and England ambitious schemes of colonization were engaging the thoughts of leading men. In 1642 Cardinal Richelieu granted a patent to Captain Rigault for the exclusive right of sending ships and forces to Madagascar, and a company was formed under the name of the French East India Company. Even at an earlier date (about 1638) similar plans were being' discussed by the merchants of England, and Richard Boothby states that it was decided that Prince Rupert should go as Viceroy to Madagascar. These English schemes bore little fruit, and we know that in the troubled times that followed Prince Rupert found work 10 do much nearer home j but the French sent out various expeditions, and established themselves at Fort Dauphine (still called by the natives Faradofay, after the French name), at Foule Point, and at other places on the east coast. The history of these early establishments is little else than a story of continual struggles with the natives, and with that even more dangerous enemy, the prevailing malarial fever.
When the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon were taken from France by the English in 1810, Governor Farquhar at once sent a detachment to Foule Point and Tamatave to take possession of the forts formerly occupied by the French, and issued a proclamation taking possession of Madagascar as one of the dependencies of Mauritius. When peace was reestablished in 1815, the Governor of Bourbon, M. Bouvet de Lozier, loudly protested against such an act j and according to Captain Oliver's account, " the English Government admitted that the claim was not well founded, and ordered Governor Farquhar to restore to the French all the posts which had been occupied by them before the war." The French, however, seem to have done little to vindicate their claims, nor could the British Government have regarded them as having any solid foundation, for in making a treaty with Radama 1. on October 23d, 1817, it not only restored to the king one hundred square miles of land obtained by the British from the natives near Port Loquez, but unreservedly acknowledged him to be king of Madagascar, and not merely, as he had formerly been called, " Chief, or King of the Bovahs."
The course of events since 1817 can only be sketched in barest outline. England did much to further Radama's policy of subduing the different tribes, and thus forming a united kingdom. But with the acceBBion of Queen Ranavalona I., after his death in 1828 there came a change of policy, and one of the first acts of the new sovereign was to annul Radama's treaty with the British Government.
France had not up to this time entered into any close relation with the Hova Government; but by treaties with local chiefs she had, in 1821, obtained possession of the island of St. Mary, off the eastern coast; and in 1841 she obtained in the same manner the island of Nosibe, off the northwest coast. About the same time she also made treaties with certain chiefs, smarting under the oppression of their Hova conquerors, which gave her some shadowy claims to portions of the mainland.
In 1845, when French and English traders in Tamatave were being treated with great harshness by the native authorities, a combined attack upon the fort was made by English and French war vessels. This attack was not successful, and the Rovas have often boasted that they won 8 victory over both the French and the English. As 8 matter of fact, however, tho the fort was not taken, their losses were much heavier than those of the attacking forces.
On the death of Queen Ranavalona l., in 1861, both France and England sent embassies to be present at the coronation of her son and successor, Radama II., and subsequently both governments made treaties acknowledging the king or queen reigning in Antananarivo to be sovereign of the whole island.
Difficulties between France and Madagascar were not, however, brought to an end by this treaty. Complaints of the conduct of the Hova officials were frequent, and the relations between the two governments were often seriously strained. At length, in 1883, matters came to such a pass, that because the Malagasy would not yield to certain demands made by the French Government, the posts of Mojanga and Tamatave were bombarded. The war thus commenced (if war is a fitting name for what was little more than a series of bombardments and blockades of the ports) lasted till early in 1886, when a treaty of peace was concluded. This treaty gave the French a firmer foothold in the island than they had ever had before, and, above all, it secured the placing of a Resident-General, with a small body of French soldiers as a guard of honor, in the capital. This in due time not unnaturally led to fresh difficulties. The late Prime Minister used every possible device to minimize the operation of the treaty, while the French Residents-General, on the contrary, were ever seeking to render it more effective. The French never gained from this treaty all the influence and authority they had expected; and it was clearly foreseen that new difficulties could not long be warded off. In October, 1894, M. Le Myre de Vilers was sent out on a special mission to present an ultimatum, which was virtually a claim to exercise a full protectorate over the island. This ultimatum is well described as having been" intended to define the uncompromising nature of the French suzerainty, affirming categorically that the Queen's government should deal with foreign powers ouly through the French Resident, that an concessions should be subject to the Resident's veto, that a sufficient French garrison should be permanently installed, and that the French Government should be free to execute public works and to collect taxes to defray the expense thereof." The native government replied to the French demands by making some counter suggestions, but absolutely refused to grant what M. Le Myre de Vilers required. After a few days' stay in Antananarivo the envoy hauled down his flag and returned to the coast.
As soon as the refusal of the Hova Government to accede to the French demands was known in Paris, M. Hanotaux, Minister for Foreign Affairs, made a statement with regard to the intentions of the government, and said they would ask for the despatch of 15,000 men and a grant of 65,000,000 francs. After a debate lasting three days a vote to this effect was agreed to on November 25th by 377 votes to 143. General Duchesne was appointed leader of the expedition.
The first steps taken hy t.he French to carry out their plans were the seizure of Tamatave on December 12th (the Hovas simply retiring to their intrenched camp at Manjakandrianombana), and of Mojanga on January 16th, 1895.
In March the main body of the French expedition left France, many, alas! never to see it agaiu. Immense enthusiasm was shown by the populace, and these brave men left amid the strains of martial music, the applause of tlle assembled crowds, and showers of bouquets from the hands of their countrywomen. Prayers for the success of their enterprise were offered in the churches.
The expedition was to start from Mojanga and to march by this route to Antananarivo, a distance of little less than 300 miles. The general landed at Mojanga early in May, but before his arrival General Metzinger had already taken Marovoay, an important Hova garrison town about 40 miles distant from Mojanga, on a small tributary of the Betsiboka. On June 9th Mevatanana, another important town near the junction of the Ikopa and the Betsiboka, was also captured. Near this place is Suberbieville, a town that has sprung up within the last few years in connection with a gold concession granted to a Frenchman named Suberbie. Up to this point the river had been utilized to some extent, tho not so fully as the French had hoped, and much confusion appears to have existed. But now began the most trying part of the campaign-viz., a difficult land journey through a roadless country, and ten weeks were taken up with the construction of a military road from Mevafanana to Andriba, a Hova garrison town about midway between Mevatanana and Antananarivo. It has been estimated that the construction of a hundred miles of road cost 1500 lives, 15 for every mile; and a correspondent, writing from Andriba, pathetically named it " that long Calvary."
The losses of the French were chiefly in the lower parts of the country. The numbers in the hospitals were very large, and medical attendance was altogether inadequate. At one time, when quinine was sorely needed, cases of it were lying unrecognized on the beach at Mojanga, having by some error been labeled "nails." Many of the soldiers sent out were quite young, and it was among these that the death-rate was so terribly high. The official estimate gives 3500 as the total number of deaths in the island. Many more (probably another 500) died on their way home j and hundreds of the survivors will long have reason to remember Madagascar, the malarial fever having such a strange unwillingness to leave those whom it has once attacked.
Comparatively few men were killed by the Hovas, as very little serious fighting took place. It should be remembered that the English officers had been dismissed some months before, and those who know Madagascar are not much surprised that the native officers showed little resource or courage, and that troops did not care to face French soldiers. Altho positions of great natural strength-as, for instance, at Andriba-were selected and great labor was expended in the construction of earthworks, as soon as the French attack was commenced these positions were at once abandoned. General Rainianjalaky, in command of the troops at Andriba, sent the following, message to the Prime Minister: "I can do nothing. My men will not stand. They run awa.y as soon as they perceive that two or three of their friends have been killed."
In spite of some facts which might seem to point to a different conclusion, the Hovas are not to be considered a warlike people. Military service is hated and dreaded by them. Nothing pleases them more than to be allowed quietly to attend to their agriculture and their trading.
Then it has been evident for months past that serious divisions existed among the nati'e rulers. There have been among them not a few who have been in sympathy with the aims of the French. It must not be forgotten that French officials have been living in Antananarivo for ten years, and that they have made many friends among the people. They have diligently sought to prepare for events they saw would not be long delayed, and we may without any serious breach of charity assume that French gold had already to some extent paved the way for General Duchesne's army.
Some disappointment has been expressed at the utter collapse of the Hovas. Mr. Stead, in the Review of Reviews, says they "had not a pennyworth of fight in them." The missionaries ought, he says, to have infused into the minds of their converts more of the Puritan spirit, the spirit, for example, that animated Cromwell's Ironsides. Missionaries are not drill sergeants, aud they need not wince under Mr. Stead's censure. But there is no doubt some cause for disappointment, especially when we remember the noisy and extravagant speech indulged in by many of the natives. Their patriotism has proved to be of a very shallow and ineffective description. Cowardice, however, is not the only explanation of the course of events. Had the Hova troops been well fed and well led, and, above all, had there been a general feeling of contentment with the exist- ing government, General Duchesne and his little band of toil-worn troops might have met with a very different reccption when they reached the neighborhood of Antananarivo in the closing days of last September.
The utter collapse of the Hovas was not, however, without its compen- sations. When we remember how they were mown down by the French guns, and especially what havoc was caused by the melinite shells, we may acknowledge that their so-called cowardice had at least this advan- tage, that it saved thousands of lives. The greatest friends of the Hovas never believed they could successfully contend with the well-trained and well-armed soldiers France could send against them; and a stouter re- sistance would only have prolonged a useless struggle, and would not have altered the final result.
The last stage of the war was the brilliant dash made by General Duchesne and a flying column of 3000 picked men (about half of whom were Frenchmen), which left Andriba for the capital (a distance of about 100 miles) on Sunday, September 15th. It is quite clear that by the time General Duchesne had reached Andriba he had formed such an estimate of the Hova troops as led him to conclude that he need fear no serious resistance, and that altho the Hovas might be able to outnumber him in the proportion of from 10, or even 20 to 1, his small but well-seasoned and well-disciplined body of troops might be trusted to hold their own and to gain possession of Antananarivo.
During this last part of the campaign the Hovas seem to have shown more energy and courage than in the earlier stages, and for the three days immediately preceding the capture of Antananarivo they made a steady attempt to check the French, and disputed the ground with them mile by mile; but even at this stage the fighting cannot have been very severe, as the French losses were only about 50 wounded and '1 killed.
Antananarivo was taken after a brief bombardment on the afternoon -of Monday, September 30th. The French guns were placed in position at Andrainarivo and on the Observatory Hill due east of the capital, and a few shells were fired at the palace, a little more than a mile away the other side of the valley. These, falling as they did among the crowds assembled in the courtyard for the defence of their queen, were terribly destructive. A French writer says, " Mangled bodies of Hovas were tossed into the air on the very terrace of the Queen's palace by dozens at a time." Another correspondent, describing the same event, says, "35 were killed by the first shell and 18 by the second."
Melinite shells, specially reserved for this purpose, were about to be fired, after which the place was to be taken by assault. Happily the Queen at this moment (about 3.30 P.M.) ordered the flag to be hauled down, and officers bearing a flag of truce were sent to the French general. The firing at once ceased, and the French troops quietly took possession of the town. On the following day (October 1st) the treaty brought by General Duchesne was signed by the Queen, and the final act in a long series of events took place. The dream of more than two centuries was realized, and Madagascar came under the power of her long-dreaded enemy. It now remains to be seen what steps will be taken to make this great African island what French writers have so often wished it to become, "Gallia orientalis," or Oriental France.
The dread of French invasion has been hanging over the Malagasy people like a threatening cloud for many years past, and now that the cloud has burst and the war is over, we may try to look calmly at accomplished facts, and to forecast as best we may the probable results of the French victory.
That Madagascar will gain much from it may be freely admitted. In all that pertains to the development of her rich material resources we may expect to see rapid advance. Roads, railroads, telegraphic and postal communication, the use of the smaller French coins instead of the miserable " cut money" or " chopped dollars" hitherto used, a well-organized system of mining licenses, and more liberal arrangements as to the forming of plantations of various kinds, are some of the results likely to follow the establishment of French rule. We may also look for a larger measure of justice and efficiency in the administration of the government. The Malagasy code of laws is fairly good, and suited to the condition of the people, but the weak point in native rule has always been in the administration. Government officials have had no regular pay, and great oppression and injustice have existed. The poorer classes have been the helpless prey of their superiors. At the root of many of the evils of the past has been the system of fanompoana or the corvee, under which anyone might be required to render unrequited service to the government. This has led to an amount of petty cheating and oppression almost incredible. It appears likely that the French victory will give the death-blow to this system, and already measures are being taken for the introduction of sonie equitable plan of taxation. Let the people be placed in a position which enables them freely and uninterruptedly to attend to their own business, and in which they will know exactly what demands will be made on them by the government, and a new era may be looked for. Domestic slavery, which has long existed, and against which not even the conscience of the native churches is, much exercised, will no doubt be gradually brought to au end. Then the bands of marauders that have infested many parts of the country and have terrorized the poor people in sparsely populated districts will be put down with a strong hand, and peace and security will be restored to the disturbed districts.
Already the fruits of French rule are making themselves manifest. A writer in the Standard, under date of "Antananarivo, November 15th," says: "It is now not quite seven weeks since Antananarivo was taken and the conclusion of the war, and yet it might be as many years, so unconcernedly have the Hovas settled down to French rule, and there is not the remotest chance of their rising against it. The remark is being continually made here that probably there never was a nation who took so kindly to their conquerors as do the Hovas. A garrison of some 3000 men is being talked for Antananarivo; whereas 50 men would be more than suffi- cient to prevent any outbreak against the French. This may be accounted for in two ways: 1. The Hovas as a nation are accustomed to accept any- thing their sovereign agrees to; 2. The tact and wisdom displayed by General Duchesne in all his actions. Whoever was responsible for his appointment as head of the expeditionary force is very much to be com- , mended. "
All recent communications agree with the above commendation of General Duchesne. His firmness in maintaining discipline among his troops, and his kind and generous treatment of the natives, have won for him golden opinions from all classes.
It was strange and amusing to read of the way in which, from the very day on which the treaty was signed (October 1st), the most friendly relations began at once to exist between the natives of Antananarivo and their French conquerors. The latter, weary and worn out by theIr long march, proved very welcome customers to the petty traders that abound in the capital. The trading instinct seemed stronger than any sentiment about the independence of the fatherland, and a brisk traffic at once sprang up. In the pockets of the soldiers was a plentiful supply of French coins, and the many stall-keepers on the roadside and in all open spaces were able to supply coffee, cakes, rice, fowls, beef, manioc, and fruit in abundance. The French soldiers knew little of current market prices, and the Hova traders looked with unbounded satisfaction upon customers who gladly paid two or three times the usual price. Their only regret would be that General Duchesne had not brought 6000 of such ready and welcome customers instead of only 3000.
Mission work has suffered far less from the war than was feared, and as we look back upon the events of the past year we see great reason for cherishing a spirit of gratitude and hope.
First of all we may express our deep thankfulness that those missionaries who remained in and near the capital were kept in perfect safety. The directors of the London Missionary Society, believing that those on the spot would see more clearly from day to day what was wisest for them to do, granted to all their agents complete liberty of action. Some left the interior, and even the island for a time. Others remained at their posts. Those who remained were sharply criticised by some newspaper correspondents, notably by the special correspondent of the Times. It may be granted that, judged by ordinary standards of prudence, it seemed unwise for ladies and children to remain at such a time. What was most to be feared was that before the French could reach the capital an interregnum of lawlessness and confusion would be caused, and that an excited mob might even turn upon their English friends and helpers. The sad events at Arivonimamo, when Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and their little daughter were savagely murdered a few weeks after the taking of the capital, show that such fears were not groundless. But in judging our friends who so bravely remained at their posts, we must think chiefly of their motive and of the spirit in which they acted. Their wish was to prevent the breaking up of the general work of the mission, to keep the people as quiet and hopeful as possible, and to give them a practical proof of sympathy with them in their trials. And so the natives interpreted their action, and many who were personally unknown to them thanked them for thus remaining. And their faith had its reward. No harm befell anyone of them. Bullets fell around them, but no one was injured. A tile or two on the roof of Miss Byam's house, broken by a bullet from a shrapnel shell, was the only damage done to mission property. It proved to be a great advantage that missionaries were on the spot to take up the work as soon as possible after the bombardment, and to help and encour- age their native friends in the strange circumstances in which they sud- denly found themselves.
It is also pleasant to think that on the very afternoon when the conflict ceased missionaries were busily employed in receiving into the missionary hospital at Isoavinandriana all the French wounded. A kind and friendly feeling was at once created by this action that produced very happy results.
Again, there is the fact that so little interruption of the regular work of the mission occurred. While we at home were from day to day made aware through telegraphic messages of the progress of the French expedi- tion, news traveled less rapidly in Madagascar, and the people generally seemed almost to the last still to cherish the belief that the difficulties to be encountered, and, above all, the virulence of the fever, would prevent . the French army from reaching the capital. It was pathetic to receive the letters written in the interior just before the final crash came, there seemed to be such a strange unconsciousness of the nearness of the invading army. School and church work were going on as usual up to the very last, for only one Sunday (September 29th), when fighting had almost reached Antananarivo, were the churches closed; and even on that eventful day the Palace Church was opened, and the Queen attended the service. At the close she spoke to the people present about the threatening aspect of affairs, and expressed her determination to accept the will of God, what- ever the event might be. Thus up to the very eve of the capture of the capital there was no serious break in the continuity of the work of the missionaries.
And to this we may add the equally cheering statement, that in a very few days after this event work was resumed. Churches were reopened on October 6th, and school work was recommenced within a few days. Some of the leading schools were opened about a week after the bombard- ment. The most recent newspapers from the island give reports of various meetings, school examinations, and other similar events, and, above all, of the well-attended meetings of the Congregational Union of Imerina, when we usually have 1300 or 1400 delegates present. The holding of this meeting so soon after the advent of the French did much to quiet the minds of the people, and such a large number of country pastors and others coming up to' the capital, and seeing for themselves the order and quiet reigning around them, would be the best possible agents to allay the fears of many ignorant and excitable people in remote country places. That such liberty of carrying on the work of Protestant missions still exists, and that confidence is being so rapidly restored, is to be attributed to the conciliatory attitude of General Duchesne. A deputation of missionaries waited on him a few days after his arrival, and explained to him the character of the work' they were carrying on, and also the strict rules of the missionary societies which prohibit their agents from interfering with local polities. "Go on with your work in the usual way," said the general, "the French Government has no intention to interfere with you." Soon after a deputation of native pastors had an interview with him, and received a similar a.nswer.
And then, strange to say, a deputation of native Christian women went to call upon this terrible man, the leader of the conquering army that had destroyed their' independence, the representation of the enemy they had so long been taught to fear, and from whom many had fled in panic just before the bombardment; and the object of their visit was not to sue for mercy from their terrible and powerful conqueror, but, as representatives of the Madagascar branch of the World's Women's Christian Temperance Union, to thank him for some stringent regulations he had made to lessen the sale of intoxicating drinks.
General Duchesne's work is probably almost done, and the new Resident-General, M. Laroche, is now the representative of the French Republic in Madagascar. He is a Protestant, and has the reputation of being a reasonable and honorable man. We shall be glad to hear that he confirms the wise policy of his popular predecessor.
The Protestant missionaries in Madagascar have no wish to obtain State patronage or assistance, but they do hope still to enjoy the priceless boon of religious freedom. Since the accession of King Radama II., in 1861, both Protestants and Roman Catholics have had the fullest liberty to carry on their work. The 'fTI4gna charta of religious freedom is contained in the words of Queen Rasoherina, spoken in 1863, and repeated many times since, "And as to the praying (the common name in Madagascar for the Christian religion) there is no compulsion, for God made you. " This has been for more than thirty years part and parcel of the law of the land, and under it French and English missionaries have worked side by side, not altogether without rivalry, but certainly without any great bitterness; and there seems no reason why in future years the same freedom should not continue to be the heritage of the Malagasy people and their missionary helpers. The Zanzibar Convention of 1890 is a formal pledge on the part of the Republic that such shall be the case; and the wise conduct of General Dnchense seems to show that French admin- istrators intend to act in harmony with its provisions, and to treat with fairness all sections of the religious community.
Knowing well, as I do, the missionaries now working in Madagascar, I here state my strong conviction that they will not be found opponents of French rule, but will do their best to lead the people quietly to pursue their ordinary occupations, to accept the logic of facts, and to make the best of their changed circumstances. .
An able French writer a few months ago, M. La Myre de Viters, who was the first to occupy the position of Resident-General in Antananarivo after the signing of the Treaty of 1886, wrote in the Revue de Paris, that French rule had two irreconcilable enemies in Madagascar, the Hova Gov- ernment and the London Missionary Society. I can see no need for such a judgment. Granted a continuance of the religious liberty at present enjoyed, I think our work will tend to create a spirit of quietness and respect for law, that can only be a help and not a hindrance to the French officials.
In this same article the writer adds a phrase that to all friends of the London Missionary Society will, I venture to think, sound like a very high complimentr-a compliment all the more valuable as coming from one 'who can speak so strongly against us. "The able men," he says, " who carry on the work of this society are insensible to discouragement, and notwith- standing the capture of Antananarivo they are still carrying on their work as before." May they, and indeed all missionaries in the island, ever show this " insensibility to discouragement;" and with quiet, peace-loving heart!! still persevere in their great work, and by patient continuance in well-doing stop the mouths of certain noisy critics, who, writing in pro- found ignorance of the men and their work, speak of them contemptuously as those " English Methodists," who are simply using their religious work as a blind to cover their political designs. The London Missionary Society is no political organization, but has been in every land true to its one grand object of seeking to instruct heathen and unenlightened nations in the truths of the Christian religion.
THE MARTYRDOM OF ARMENIA.
BY REV. CYRUS HAMLIN, D.D.
The first great massacre was at Sassoun about the last of August, 1894. The first reports were discredited. They were denounced by the Sultan as absolutely false. They were generally believed to be greatly exaggerated. But one year and nine months have passed, and the world now
THE MARTYRDOM OF' ARMENIA
knows that instead of exaggeration the half was not told. It could not be believed that there were such fiends in human shape, or that any monarch, heathen or Mohammedan, could ever sanction such atrocities as Abdul Hamid decorated.
The world desires to know who are the guilty parties and how it has come about.
The reigning Sultan, Abdul Hamid, is the sole originator of this era of bloody torture. He ascended the throne in 1876. From the beginning he manifested a special hostility to the Armenians. His mother was a beautiful Armenian girl who sold herself for the pleasures and jewels of the palace. Usually such renegades hate their own race, and she prob. ably inspired him with her own spirit. He found a surprising number of Armenians occupying posts of usefulness in his government. They were clerks, dragomen agents of every kind, consuls, commissaries, ambassa. dors. Seven had risen to the rank of pasha, and two to the higher rank of vizier. All this began to be changed, but not suddenly or violently. Some were degraded to lower positions, and they at once resigned. Hamid from the beginning assumed the right to look into every department and change whatever did not suit him. Even his cabinet ministers found their trusted secretaries changed without notice and without consultation. If they remonstrated he changed them.
Another line of enmity to the Armenian and to all our missionary work was shown in the department of education. No school.house could be built, no old one could be repaired. Occasionally a local officer would for a bribe allow a leaky roof to be remedied without attracting anybody's notice. He endangered his official head in so doing.
He also established a censorship of the press which has been ruinous in its influence. Many good school-books have been destroyed for having such words as courage, fortitude, freedom, liberty in them.
Another line of hostile administration has been shown in arresting and throwing into prison the colporteurs employed by the Bible Society and by missionary and tract societies. In many scores of instances it has been done when they had no books but those printed by imperial authority, bearing the government stamp, and when the colporteur had his teskereh, or government permit as a bookseller. These innocent men have spent months in the most loathsome prisons, and their lives have been wasted away by disease. Everyone of them could escape his sufferings any day by professing Islam. It was all religious persecution, as contrary to Mohammedan law as to justice and equity.
After all, his most offensive course has been in the line of taxation. This has been nothing less than legalized robbery. Russia has defended the Greeks and France has defended the Catholics. Their consuls are scattered all over Asia Minor. It is well known that they have not been unwilling to see the Protestant and Gregorian Armenians ground to the dust. The United States have not been allowed to have consuls because Russia did not want their intermeddling. Our Government commands no respect. For many years the property of American citizens has bec;n capriciously destroyed, and nothing beyond a promise, never intended to mea. anything, has been obtained. Our Government takes it all meekly.
It should be freely acknowledged that while Abdul Hamid has been using every possible means to degrade and impoverish the Armenians, he has been the most liberal patron of education among the Moslems. No Sultan of this century has built so many school-houses and established so many school~, and printed so many school-books, but they have all been for Moslems. The whole Moslem population has been inspired by him with a spirit of jealousy and hatred to the Armenians which they never had before. They, the Turks, are led by their Sultan. If he is friendly to the rayahs, they are. If se is known t6 be hostile, they easily catch his spirit and become ruthless murderers in the name of the prophet. Probably no people on earth are so much controlled by the character of their ruler as the Turks. He is called "The Commander of the Faithful," the Distributor of Crowns, the Arbiter of Life and Death, etc.
But this process, tho sufficiently bad to be called infernal, was too slow for Hamid. He was determined to have his whole Eastern border unified. He would have no " giaours" there. They must become Moslemi or be killed. Here he stepped out of all Mohammedan law. They were all patient, obedient taxpayers. It was a time of peace, not of war, and by every law of humanity and of Islam, they were entitled to his protection. This massacre of peaceable, unarmed, and faithful subjects in time of peace has no parallel in the history of Islam. It is this which. constitutes the supreme infamy of the " Commander of the Faithful."
To accomplish his purpose with more rapidity he employed the Kurds, old hereditary robbers. He formed the Kurdish tribes into cavalry armed with rifles and named after himself Hamidieh cavalry. The work of slaughter was begun by them at Sassoun. The large village and all the smaller villages of the district of Sassoun were involved in one bloody massacre ; and the chief perpetrators, instead of being regarded by the Sultan as miscreants, unworthy to live, were decorated by him and held in special honor. It is evident also that he delights to have the poor, defenseless victims tortured, else he would stop it. He professes to the ambassadors the most noble sentiments, and at the same time sends secret orders to have the good work go on. His governors, whether Vali, Mutessariff, or Caimacam, have all solemnly and repeatedly declared that they act from ordel'S coming from the highest authority.
The torture, violation, and slaughter of so many women and children at Sassoun caused the Sultan some alarm. He thereupon commenced the system of absolutely denying the truth of the reports. There had been no massacre. Some turbulent Armenians had been reduced to order. That was all. Armenians under torture were compelled to sign these Sultanic declarations. Many who would not sign died in prison.
But so soon as he perceived that he was safe and that Russia, France, and Germany (shame on the land of Luther !) would protect him from any interference, he expanded his original design and made it embrace all the Armenians. France will not allow him to touch the Catholic Armenians. Two and a half millions of Gregorians and Protestants occupy him for the present. He excuses his agents from killing old men, women, and children. Enough to destroy their habitations and strip them of beds, bedding, clothing, and food, if they will not profess Islam. He felt sure they would all finally yield and come into the glorious fold of the prophet. His hope has been poorly realized. Many thousands have chosen death by protracted sufferings, and are still dying.
The number of innocent persons massacred cannot be known with pre- CISIOn. It will be between seventy-five and one hundred thousand. The number of homeless refugees cannot be less than five hundred thousand. This ill! the work of Abdul Hamid, and it will be his monument in history.
Next to him stands Russia in the order of responsibili1y. The astute and watchful Czar saw the opportunity which the insane course of the Sultan opened to him. He had only to exasperate him to such deeds as would open the way for his own interference. Russia had played that game too successfully in the " Bulgarian horrors" to forget the lesson.
A revolutionary party of Russian Armenians, under the name of Hunchagists, was formed in Russia, and its agents came into Turkey. As to the possibility of doing anything, the absurdity is such as to expoRe it to contempt. The Armenians are two and a half millions of people, unarmed,. never allowed to have arms, a quiet, submissive, loyal people, scattered among twenty millions of Moslems, well armed and skilful and terrible fighters. These Russo-Armenian revolutionists claim to have secret revolutionary bands all over the empire, and they levy contributions at the point of the dagger from all Armenians, Protestant or Gregorian. They fearlessly assassinate a man who refuses. Many innocent Armenians have been put to death by these patriots. They are perfectly safe, for if apprehended they are tried before a Russian consul, who sets them free as having acted on self-def~nse.
These " revolutionists" exist in large numbers in Greece, England, and America. They also arc safe, and they make a very good thing of it. They compel all the poor workmen to pay them liberally " for the cause."
Their writings and plottings are hailed with joy by the Sultan. They teach rebellion most madly. Their teachings are translated into the Turkish newspapers and spread all over the empire. By means of these Abdul Hamid is able to excite the Turks and Kurds everywhere to slaughter the rebellious Armenians. He has been able to give still greater savagery to the bloody and inhuman work by giving over to " loot" all the prop- ~rt! of those who refused to confess the prophet al}d who remained true to their Christian faith. The comfortable houses of tens of thousands have been stripped of everything of value, and the houses have been made un- inhabitable. Many houses of the Moslems are filled to overflowing, so that if the plundered people had any property left they could buy back many lost articles at a very reasonable price.
Russia and France survey with satisfaction the destruction of the Protestant and Gregorian Armenians. They will not interfere; for justice, mercy, compassion have no place in Oriental diplomacy. In their policy of reducing the Armenians to a forced change of faith or extermination, Germany is with them, and her "blood and iron" policy is deaf io the woe and wail of Armenia. Doubtless God will requite her.
All these powers will unite in the policy of removing the missionaries. They are accused of being the origin of the whole bloody movement. It is a most malicious and· base fabrication. It is true that the enlightenment and education of the Armenian people have aroused the jealousy and hatred of the Turks. It is a change equally distasteful to Russia and Turkey. To suppress these elevating forces puts them out of the pale of civilized nations, and Russia will put forth Turkey to do the work and bear the odium. There are two that can play at this game of using Turkey. Our Government can hold Turkey to her treaties, and they are sufficient for the defense of the mIssionaries.
" The most favored nation" gives them the right to remain. Adet, or custom, is stronger than written law in Turkey, and this protects the missions. What has been known and permitted by both government and people gains thereby its strongest right to be. It is a common saymg among the people that adet is stronger than the Sultan's firman.
A good naval vessel at Smyrna, another at MItylene, the ancient Lesbos, and another at Alexandretta, with some positive words from our Secretary of State, would stop at once the Turk in his mad and foolish career.
Unquestionably Russia is determined to get rid of all the Protestant mISSIOnaries. England having basely retired from the conflict, to the amazement of the world, and having stultified her diplomacy of sixty years, the field seems to be left to Russia, but even Russia is subject to the plans of an Almighty Providence, now our only trust. Europe apathetic! The murder of Christian men for their faith, the outrage and tol:iure unto death of Christian women by defiant Moslems, are nothing to the crowned heads of Europe and to their titled ministers. " Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord," and the heaviest vengeance must fall upon them as traitors to the cause of freedom, humanity, and Christianity.
THE ABYSSINIANS AND THEIR CHURCH
THE ABYSSINIANS AND THEIR CHURCH.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.D., COLUMBUS, O.
The stirring events on the Red Sea, and especially the surprising experience of the Italians in their attempts during the past decade to subdue the Abyssinians, have naturally drawn attention anew to this historic people and Church, really the oldest national Christian Church in the world. Of all the remnants and remains of the once so powerful Christianity of the East, as represented by the Armenians, the Copts, the Syrians and others, the Abyssinians, the modern representatives of the Ethiopians of history, are the only peoples that have maintained intact their national ecclesiastical organization and development. All the others have been crushed by the heel of the Moslem conqueror, and their history tells the sad tale that the Armenians of onr own day and date testify. The preservation of the Abyssinian Church in comparative integrity is an historical phenomenon. Against fearful odds the sturdy mountaineers of historic Ethiopia have for more than a thousand years defended their national existence against the Moslem aggressor, and have snccessfully maintained a life-and-death struggle with the fanatical hordes of Islam that carried fire and torch through Western Europe to the heart of France and throngh Eastern Europe into Austria, but who have not been able to overpower the small kindred people, numbering only a few millions, just across the Red Sea from the sacred Mohammedan shrines of Mecca and Medina. It has been the boast of the Abyssinians that they have never been conquered in war, and this is true in a sense of which it cannot be claimed for other peoples.
This singular historical prominence of the Abyssinians naturally leads to the conclusion that they must be a gifted people. And such they surely are. They belong to the Semitic family of nations, and thus are kith and kindred to the Jews, the Arabs, the Babylonians, the Syrians, and other leading races of the world. Their descent is the very best. Although the Ethiopians of antiquity, they are really, with the exception of the Egyptians, probably the only people of Africa who are not Ethiopians-i.e., they are not blacks. They are as purely Caucasian as are the Teutons or the Anglo-Saxons, their present brownish complexion being due to climatic influences. But language, physiology, mental traits and moral tendencies, together with the entire body of their traditions and history, declare with absolute unanimity that the Abyssinians do not belong to the negro family, but to the Semitic. By a singular anomaly their old name, "Ethiopians," was gradually assigned to all of the peoples of Africa, as the Ethiopians were originally, next to the Egyptians, the best known of the African peoples. It is another glaring instance of l'Ucu8 a non l'Ucendo. Again, among the Semitic peoples the Abyssinians are the only ones who as a nation adopted Christianity. The Syrians were Semitics, but Christianity was never really tbeir national religion. In Abyssinia, however, Christianity has from the very beginning been the chief historic factor in the development of national life, to which all other factors, such as literature, politics, and the like, have been subordinated, and this is largely the case yet. It is doubtful whether there has ever been a more thoroughly Christianized race, at least externally, than have been the Abyssinians. Its history is really only a chapter in church history, and that, too, a very interesting chapter. How thoroughly Christianity has pervaded the ideas and ideals of the ancient ,Abyssinians can be seen from their literature. While in possession of rich and abundant literature, altho largely a literature of translations, Abyssinia has really no secular literature at all. It is either theological or ecclesiastical, or under the spell of theological and Christian thought. Even its writings in the medical and law departments are controlled by Christian teachings. Thus, e.g., the great legal code of the Abyssinians, the Fetcha Negest, or Law of the Kings, is based substantially on the Book of Deuteronomy. In fact, the civil administration and civil laws of Abyssinia resemble in its main characteristics the Israel of the Theocracy of the Old Testament.
The Christianity of Abyssinia came from Greece in the fourth and fifth centuries. Christianity, originating in a Semitic people and expressed in a Semitic type, came again to a Semitic people after its form had been modified by its Ildoption on the part of Aryan races. The Abyssinians, then, have the singular fate of being a Semitic people whose mental, moral, and spiritual development has been directed almost entirely by an Aryan race. The making of Abyssinia has been entirely the work of Greek Christendom. Before the advent of the Christian missionaries in the fourth century very little is known of the Abyssinians. The traditions go back to Southern Arabia, and the German traveler, Edward Glaser, has in recent yearlil discovered in those districts undoubted evidences of the existence of this people there in pre-Christian centuries, yet the entire literature of the Abyssinians, with the excoption of some inscriptions on the famous obelisks at Axum, the original capital of the country, is Christian and does not antedate the conversion of the country. However, it is quite evident that before the adoption of Christianity the Abyssinians had been largely under the influence of Judaism, and may even have been converts to Judaism. Abyssinian Christianity contains a large percentage of Jewish elements. Thus, in addition to baptism, the Abyssinians still practise circumcision; besides the first day of the week, they still keep holy also the seventh day; they have an abundance of fast days, after the manner of the Jews, and the presence m Abyssinia of a communion of some 600,000 "black Jews," caned Falashas, living in a state of semi-serfdom, gives probability to the tradition that at one time a Jewish dynasty ruled Abyssinia for nearly a century before it could be overpowered by the Christians of the country. Possibly the best explanation is this, that the Abyssinians were at one time really converts to a kind of JudaIsm, the rehgIOn of their kmdred, and that the Falashas represent that portion of the people who would not exchange their Jewish faith for Christianity. It should be remembered that the Abyssinians themselves trace their royal home back to Solomon. The Queen of Sheba, they claim, was an Ethiopian princess, and that she had a son, Menelek' by name, from Solomon, and that his descendants still occupy the throne of Abyssinia. In the great work on Abyssinia, by Ludolf, the "Historia .iEthiopica," together with the accompanying commentary, to this day yet the great thesaurus for the student of " iEthiopica," altho written nearly two hundred years ago, the line of descent from Solomon to the present reigning family in Abyssinia is given without break or interruption.
It was not Greek culture or Greek philosophy that made Ethiopia a people of history, but distinctly Greek Christianity, together with its concomitants and handmaidens of culture and civilization. Altho geographically nearest Egypt, the land of Pharaohs, with its pyramids, temples, and famous seats of learning, never exercised a molding influence on Abys- SlllIa. At present, indeed, the Church of Abyssinia is subordinated to the Coptic Church of Egypt, and always receives its spiritual head, its archbishop or Abuna from the Copts; but this is solely caused by the fact that the Coptic Church of Egypt is the headquarters of the Monophysitic section of the old Greek Church, and that both Abyssinians and Copts adhere to the Monophysitic tenets.
The exact period of the Christianization of Abyssinia has exercised a decisive influence on this people, church, and their history. The first centuries after Christianity had become the religion of the empire were the age of controversies on theological and Christological matters. It was not yet the period when a highly developed culture and civiliza1ion went hand in hand with the new religion, when grand churches and basilicas were built, and when literature, the sciences, and the arts had fully adjusted themselves to the new state of affairs, and had thrown off their allegiance to the classical ideals of Greece and Rome. Before this formative period was over Abyssinia had already severed its connection with the Greek Church and the Greek world of thought. The Synod of Chalcedon, in 451, condemned the Monophysitic doctrines of the Egyptian churches, and with this act the Abyssinian Church too withdrew from the Church at large. About two centuries later Mahommedanism conquered Egypt, and the voluntary separation of the Abyssinian Church became an enforced isolation. It became and remained for nearly a thousand years isolated from the church universal.
These facts have had a decisive influence in determining the character of Abyssinian Christianity to the present day. Naturally after their separation they became all the more zealous in the observance of those doctrines and worship on account of which the separation had taken place. Then the conservatism, naturally so deeply implanted in the Semitic peoples, proved a most effective assistant agent in the process of spiritual petrifaction. Accordingly we have in the Abyssinian of to-day virtually a petrified Greek Christianity of the fourth and fifth centuries, ecclesiastical ruins on a grand scale. The outward forms, liturgies, dogmas, and ceremonies have been handed down from century to century uninfluenced by the developments that were going on in the Christian nations elsewhere. But at the same time the spiritual element in Abyssinian Christianity was lost, and nothing remained but a sterile formalism, a strange admixtnre of barbarism and loud profession of orthodox faith. In reality the Abyssinian is a typical representative of the Orthodox Church of the East, left alone to work out its principles consistently and to the bitter end. Singular phenomena result from this condition of affairs. The famous Emperor Theodore, whose cruel treatment of the Protestant missionaries in 1868 led to the English expedition, under Lord Napier, into the heart of Abyssinia and to the burning of the capital city Gondar, was perfectly willing to discuss by the hour the fine points in regard to the doctrine of the two natures of Christ, and on the same day order the hands and feet of several hundred political opponents or suspects to be cut off. He saw no inconsistency between his professions and his practices. The most brutal of Oriental despotism, such as is characteristic of the untamed Semitic heart and is yet seen in the Arab Bedouin, is found allied with a fervency of prayer, fasts, and religious observances in general that would be enigmatical, were it not known that centuries and centuries of isolation and stagnation of spiritual life had changed into dead forms what were originally living principles. In many of the ruder virtues the Abyssinians excel; but the higher qualities of mind and soul that spring from a regeneration through the Gospel, and the possession and appreciation of spiritual gifts-these are absent.
And this it is that makes the mission problem in Abyssinia so vexing and perplexing. Again and again has the attempt been made to revive the Christianity of Abyssinia, but with only meagre snccess. In general, the Catholics have been most successful among the Abyssinians themselves, while the Protestants have done the most effective work among the Falashas. But repeatedly have the missionaries of both churches been expelled from Abyssinia, and there is really such a prohibitative edict in existence at present, altho on account of French influences, it is not enforced over against the Roman Catholic emissaries. How grand it would be if the oldest Christian nation of the world, the Abyssinian, could be made the basis for a crusade to evangelize the whole Dark Continent; yet such a scheme, in the light of history, would be visionary. The corrupt Christianity of Abyssinia is seemingly a greater hindrance to the Gospel cause than the darkness and ignorance of the blacks. May the present prominence of Abyssinia and its contact with the civilized world of the West teach that gifted and historic people that the glory of Western civilization are not cannons and guns, but a living and evangelical Christianity I
FURTHER OVERTHROWS OF AFRIOAN SLAVE·TRADEBB
FURTHER OVERTHROWS OF AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADERS.
BY REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, DARWEN, LANOASHIRE, ENGLAND.
Unprecedented successes have been achieved by the British Central African Protectorate since December last under the command of Commissioner SIr H. H. Johnston and his efficient and heroic staff, supported by the httle force of Sikhs and trained natives. The defeats inflicted on the powerful slave-raiding chiefs occupying the western and southern shores of Lake Nyassa have been of the most shattering character, and may be regarded as having broken once for all the power of the slave trade in those regions. One immediate result of the operations- is that the traderoute mto the far interior westward and northwestward of the lake is' now open, and the slave route to the Zambesi closed.
Ever since the pioneers of the Universities Mission, guided by Livingstone, reached the Upper Shire in 1861, some thirty-five years ago, there has been an incessant struggle between the settlers and the slave-holders. From 188'7 to 1889 the Arabs constantly attacked the British traders and mission posts, and had not men of the type of Captain Lugard and Consul O'Neill defended them, entire destruction would have followed. With the appointment of Commissioner Johnston to administer British Central Africa in 1891, the tide has happily and unceasingly turned against the slave-raiders, and thus the claims of Africa's humanity in many localities redressed. During the month of March, 1894, the great chief Makanjira was crushed, and in the spring of 1895, when Sir H. H. Johnston was absent in India, the still more powerful chief, Kawinga, who had been & terror to his neighbors since the days of Livingstone, was defe8ted, pursued, and driven from his capital, on attacking one of the Blantyre mission stations, by that gallant aide-de-camp, Acting Commissioner Sharpe, with a few Sikhs and native levies. ,By the aid of the Sikhs, which Commissioner Johnston brought with him on his return to Nyassaland, he has been able to follow up the action of Mr. Sharpe, through the splendid services of several British officers, and rid the country, for good, of three powerful slave-raiders and the capture of fourteen chiefs, and some 63~ prisoners.
The commissioner himself dealt a heavy blow at the slave-traders who infest the southern shores of Lake Nyassa by defeating Zarafi, the strongest of their chiefs, and liberating the slaves found in his possession. More remarkable and auspicious has been the overtlIrow of the notorious chief Mwasigungu, a man of Zulu origin, living in the country west of Lake Nyassa. Declining to come to peaceable terms with the British, he eventually declared war against them, and ultimately challenged them by forming a confederacy with the Angoni and Yaos. His career latterly had jeopardized the entire outlook for missions and civilization, by his closing the important trade route from the lake to Luapula River and the Congo, and raiding for slaves far into the Morimba District, which is under the direct administration of the British Protectorate station at Kota Kota, the lake port, aggravated by his infamous cruelties upon the slaves in his compounds. To effect the capture of this tyrant and his stronghold an intrepid officer, Lieutenant Edward Alston, was dispatched, accompanied by Sergeant-Major Devoy and a British force of 150, composed of Sikhs and negroes, with which marched some 5000 natives, contingents from allied chiefs. Against these Mwasi placed some 20, 000 fighting men in differ-
A M188IONARY HlilROlNE-MADAMllI COILLARD
ent positions on the field or within his fortifications. In spite of these tremendous odds opposed to them the comparatively miniature attacking force, during engagements covering several days, took every settlement of the enemy. Under circumstances of the most trying nature, and ex- posed to Arab marksmen equipped with Remington rifles, Lieutenant Alston's volunteers fought with the utmost gallantry. The capture included more than 600 of Mwasi's men, 14 chiefs, and the redoubtable Mwasi- gungu, a former lieutenant of the .slave-raider Makanjira, who in 1891 treacherously enticed Mr. Boyce and Mr. M'Ewan into his village under a flag of truce, and there basely murdered them. Lieutenant Alston also took possession of one large Arab standard, 250 cattle, 564 guns, and a quantity of gunpowder. Every precaution was taken to protect the women and children cooped up in the various stockades, and no less than 569 wretched, shrivelled slaves were also successfully convoyed to the British camp. It is computed that in the successive engagements and subsequent rout upward of 200 of Mwasi's followers must have been slain, many of them falling into the hands of the long-oppressed and infuriated Wakonde. Kopa Kopa, a well-known chief, was found dead near the stockade, while his ruling chief, Mwasigungu, was taken to Kota Kota, , on Lake Nyassa, aud after' an impartial trial for his diabolical crimes was condemned to death and executed. Subsequently Lieutenant Alston and Captain H. T. Stewart led another expedition against the last two remain- ing slave-traders in the British Protectorate, the Chiefs Ombala and M'Pemba, who were completely defeated and their strongholds seized. During the past autumn campaigu the following slaves have been released: At Kindambos, 49 j Mpondas, 379 j Makanjira's 160 j Mlozi's 596: total, 1184 j to all of whom Commissioner Johnston has given freedom, and in each case has made provision for their independent living in future.
Great as these victories have been on behalf of suffering humanity and the terminating of centuries of oppression, it is not at present possible to effect a complete emancipation in the adjacent territory. It is the custom of the Yaos who live round the southeastern corner of the lake and their Arab allies to retire precipitately to. Portuguese soil, where they are at liberty to work their own pleasure. Even this immunity, however, will be checked. Every fresh triumph over this slave ring makes the raids of these man-hunters into the British Protectorate a more hazardous enterprise. As may be expected, the flourishing Scotch colony in the Shire highlands will now venture to extend northward to the shores of Nyassa, and with each foot of ground colonized, the marauders must inevitably fall back. Long ago the slave dhows on the lake were destroyed, and providing that Sir H. H. Johnston has resources enough to prevent the Arabs from coming round by the north end of Nyassa via German East Mrica, the inhuman occupation of the old-time slave-traders in Portuguese East Africa will be gone. In that day, which is very near, a glorious answer will have been vouchsafed to Livingstone's oft-repeated prayer, " Thy kingdom come."
A MISSIONARY HEROINE-MADAME COILLARD.
BY MISS ALICE BERTRAND, PARIS, FRANCE.
On January loth, 1887, unusual excitement reigned in the rich and beautiful valley of the Sefoula, near the Zambezi River. Men, wrapped in long strips of calico tied round the waist by belts of serpent-skins, and white and downy rabbit-tails in their hair; women, in still larger numbers, with their short petticoats of antelopes' hides, and copper or ivory brace- lets dangling on their wrists and knees, all were hastening to see that extraordmary phenomenon-a white lady! The air resounded with a clapping of hands and shouts of " Shangwe 1 Khosi 1 Lumela ma rona I"
(" Hail, hail, 100'd ; good day, 0 ! our mother.") The" lord" thus loudly cheered was no other than Monsieur Coil- lard, the dauntless French missionary, and the "mother" was his wife, Christina Coillard, a sweet, middle-aged lady. .
If, according to the olden-time poet, the heart of the hero who first ventured on the ocean of tempests was shielded with a threefold breast- plate, what must have been the armor of the first European lady who set her foot in those African wilds ~ Fortunately that armor had been forged by long years of silent preparation.
Madame Coillard* lived one of those harmonious lives whose mature age is the realization of their youthful dreams. She already loved mis- sions when a little girl, in her quiet Scotch parsonage of Greenock. She had subscribed, out of her own pocket-money, to a missionary paper for children, and her heart had beaten with indignation at the sight of little Sarah Roby, a poor child who had been buried alive by her heathen parents, but fortunately rescued by a missionary, and who was taken all over England and Scotland as a living proof of the horrors of paganism.
But when Christina's interest in evangelization developed into a decided missionary vocation it caused great surprise among her friends, for mis- sions were far from being popular forty years ago. Christina Mackintosh was not, however, a girl to be thwarted in her resolution by vain object tions, and she could but pity those who were unable to understand the grandeur of her calling. .
In 1855 we find Miss Mackintosh giving French lessons in Paris with her sister. She had a natural gift for teaching, and seems to have been very fond of her little French pupils. There lived then in Paris a rich and pious lady, Madame Andre Walther, whose drawing-room was the rendez- vous of all Protestants of note. There it was Miss Mackintosh made the acquaintance of a young theological student, Frangois Coillard.
We have but a few dry dates to satisfy our sympathetic curiosity as to the early growth of love in these two hearts. Monsienr Coillard had already been for three years in Basutoland when his betrothed joined him at the Cape. They were married there on November 23d, 1861. " Never,"
said Madame Coillard to her husband on her wedding-day-" never will you find me between you and your duty; wherever you have to go, be it to the end of the world, I shall follow you." This was more than a beautiful saying, it was the ruling principle of all her life.
Immediately after the wedding the young couple settled at Leribe, a secluded spot of Basutoland, where French Protestants have a large mis- sion. In spite of many difficulties and even of a cruel war, which obliged them to leave the country for a while, they spent there a few happy and comparatively peaceful years. They built a cottage, and had a beautiful garden with flowers. Madame Coillard hoped never to leave it, but the churches of Basutoland had decided to found a mission-field where native evangelists might find some scope for their activity, and for that purpose Monsieur Coillard was requested to explore the land of the Banays. When the Coillards heard of the proposal they were just about to start on a long- * Madame Coillard (Christina Mackintosh) was bOlll at Greenock, Scotland, on November 29th, 1829, and died at Sefoula, Zambezi, on October 28th, 1891. wished-for journey to Europe, which they had not seen for sixteen years; but after ten days' thought and prayer they accepted, unhesitatingly sacri- ~ficing all their cherished plans.
Now began for Madame Coillard a new life of adventures, perils, and 'sufferings of all kinds. No other reward crowned her endeavors but that which she found in her growing power of making ever greater sacrific~s.
After an unsuccessful expedition to the land of the Banays, Monsieur and Madame Coillard visited the regions of the Zambezi, where the language I()f the Basutos was still spoken. This fact would greatly facilitate Chris- tian work in that country, many missionaries being already acquainted with the Basuto language. After a trip to Europe, Monsieur Coillard returned with his wife to the Zambezl, this time to settle there.
We will not follow Madame Coillard in all those wearisome journeys, but rather would show the important part the lady missionary has to play, for, as Monsieur Coillard says, " The missionary is only a missionary inas- much as his wife is one and helps him." She is not merely a housewife, but a lady, a nurse, a teacher, a mother, and often, alas! a martyr.
The strange scenery in which Madame Coillard now found herself might seem at first most fascinating. Untrodden forests; vast plains, as white .as snow; mighty rivers, like that beautiful blue Zambezi, flowing slowly between tall and prickly rushes, or darting suddenly into an abyss, roaring ;and sending up clou~s of smoke into the air. But this fair picture has a ·dark, very dark side to it. Famine may at every turn knock at your -door j in the most intense heat you may have to walk forty miles to get a -cup of water; troops of armed savages may attack your peaceful wagon, ioaming with rage and yelling menaces. There are some people who, very ,generously and a little disdainfully, object to women sharing such dangers.
Monsieur Coillard did not hold that opinion. "We cannot but congratu- llate ourselves," he writes, " upon having my wife and niece with us. The wmplications which their presence involves are nothing compared to the comfort they are to us. My wife has taken her place of mother and sister of mercy. She is often a providence to us." But in Gideon's chosen host not the willing, only the worthy were accepted. To be a soldier in ,the missionaries' valiant army it is not enough to be ready, one must be ;prepared. .
The missionary's life, far from being a contemplative one, is too I()ften made up of very humble duties, which consume all his time and patience. Fortunately Madame Coillard was a superior housewife. She lmew how to cut out dresses, knead bread, and even make her own soap :and candles. Besides the ability shown in such little details, which can hardly be called little when we remember that the lady missionary is the chief agent of civilization among women, she had remarkable aptitudes for superintending. Last, but not least, she possessed a sweet and calm dis- position. If temper is, as has been said, the nine tenths of Christianity, a woman must be a true Christian indeed when she can see her most pre- cious boxes trampled upon, and her husband's clothes adorning some im- pudent black, without once losing patience.
The missionary woman is something like the "chatelaine" of old, almost a queen. Strange as it may seem, the native chief, iilstinctively feeling the superiority of a Christian and of a civihzed man, treats him as his equal and invites himself to his house. The missionary's wife is there- fore bound to know the laws of A.frican etiquette, and receive her royal guests with the courteous dignity which becomes the representative of a .higher civilization and morality. There is also the European traveller, who has imperative claims on your kindness, for he may not have eaten a piece of bread nor seen a white face for many a month. Madame CoIl. lard's duties were not always so easy and pleasant as the receiving of a poor explorer. Notwithstanding her delicate health, she was the sister of mercy to all, whites and natives. Many a time she had to appeal to her ardent charity in order to nurse patiently those rough Zambezians, affiicted with loathsome diseases. She once fell a victim to her zeal. " I have nursed so m'any sufferers from ophthalmia, 1 have poured so much sulphate of zinc into their eyes," she writes, "that I have caught an ophthalmia myself. "
Madame Coillard's favorite work was teaching. She had unconsciously prepared herself for it as a girl, when giving French lessons in Paris, and she taught to the very last. A few days before her death she was sitting among the prattling wives of the king, cutting out dresses for them, and telling them, in her own sweet way, the parable of the prodigal son. But the education of those coarse women proved a most arduous task, and Madame Coillard far preferred the children's school-that captivating school, as she called it-which was founded as soon as they had definitely settled at Sefoula. They hoped it to be a means of drawing the natives to the Gospel through their children. The school-room was formed by the shadows of the trees, and, instead of using slates and copy-books, the children wrote upon the sand. Children came in large numbers. King Lewanika held instruction in high reverence, and he had little huts built for his sons near the mission station, so that they should lose no opportunity in learning. What seems more wonderful still, the girls themselves would join their brothers. Fond of her home as she was, Madame Coillard decided to sacrifice it in some measure, in order to admit the daughters of the king and the little slaves into her family.
" This numerous household," writes she, "has been a cause of much occupation to me, but also of deep interest. I cannot but thank God with a grateful heart for the privilege of having all those dear boys and girls under our roof. Our four little princesses are very obedient, clever, and industrious. I am so pleased to see them happy and contented. The two daughters of the king read quite fluently now, and the two other girls, already engaged, though so young, to the King's son and to his nephew, are also improving. This is a wide field open to us, and if we had more help and means, the number of children who would come to be taught would be almost unlimited."
Intellect is more easily developed than conscience, and the little Barotsis were soon learned enough to pass a public examination in reading, singing, and reciting. That school festival must have been no common spectacle, honored, as it was, by the presence of the black king himself, who alternately encouraged or blamed the candidates, following the reading with a book in his hand.
But, alas! she who had given to her black daughters all that a woman's heart contains of unspent motherly love, was only repaid by ingratitude. Moral corruption is something dreadful in the regions of the Zambezi. Two of those girls scaled the palisades at night and fled into the forest for most shameful purposes and had to be sent away at once.
This was a terrible blow for Madame Coillard. She tried to master her sorrow, adopted other little girls, but she had lost the mainspring of energy, faith in her work. Surely, this bitter grief was one of the causes which hastened her end. Madame Coillard had been sickly for years, and she and her husband often allude to fatigues, to fever, ophthalmia, or other illnesses from which she suffered; but a vigorous mind dwelt in that frail body and ruled it unmercifully, as a strong-willed pilot governs a disabled ship. The ship was bound for the port; she might be wrecked, but she must not wander from her route. Christina Coillard had consecrated her life to African missions, and nothing, not even the threats of death itself, could have deterred her from her vocation.
Once Monsieur Coillard proposed to her to travel for her health. , , No," she replied; "life is too short and our work here too extensive. Let us remain faithfully at our post. The Master knows that I want my health, and, should it be His wish, He might give it to me here without my going to find it elsewhere."
One day, when returning from a missionary journey with her husband and Mademoiselle Kiener, a devoted Swiss young lady whom she considered as her own daughter, fever laid her low. After a day of great mental agony she became calm and serene, "talking of invisible things as one who is already on the threshold of heaven." The day before her death she said to her husband, "Dying is not so difficult all I feared. It is not painful, and then the passage is so very short. Underneath are the everlasting arms." A few hours later she went quietly to sleep in the peace of the Lord.
Madame Coillard's husband is one of the most energetic and faithful missionaries of the Paris Missionary Society. He is not so widely known as some, but he deserves a large place among the "heroes of African history." When young he was sent to Basutuland, where he toiled zealously and successfully for nearly twenty years. The Basutu Christians learning that a large tribe on a bend of the Zambesi River, in Central Africa, speaking their language, were destitute of the Gospel, decided to send it to them. M. Coillard offered to pioneer the little band of African evangelists, accompanied by his wife and niece. They had to encounter giant obstacleR at the outset, one of which was the refusal of Lobengula, the chief of the Matabele tribe, to allow them to pass through his territory, and holding them captives for several months. On their arrival in the Barotsi kingdom, the place of their destination, the chief, Lewanika, tho he did not drive them away, treated them in the unkindest manner. One has well observed that M. Coillard and his party were appointed to undergo" the reality without the name of martyrdom" at the hands of Lewanika, who was as odious as Mwanga, the king of the Baganda, tho not so bloodthirsty. "What have I to do," said the savage potentate, in a fit of anger, " with a Gospel that gives me neither guns nor powder nor sugar nor artisans to work for me~" Threats were thrown out to strangle those who served the missionaries. In the midst of their trials Mrs. Coillard was called away by death, but without a regret that she had gone to that distant field. M. Coillard was urged by his relatives in France to return home, but labored on with a faith and.courage truly sublime. The state of affairs has greatly changed. Reinforcements have been sent to the field. The king has become a stanch friend of the missionaries. His son, the heir to the throne, has become a Christian, and a great and good work is now being accomplished. Sirpo Pinto, the noted African explorer, in his book, " How I Crossed Africa," speaks in the highest terms of praise and gratitude of the Coillard family, and he has reason to do so, for he is indebted to their kind care for the preservation of his life. It would be interesting to us all should the life of this servant of God be written for us to profit thereby.-(Josiah Tyler, D.D.)
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BEV. J. T. GBACEY, D.D.
Oonditions and Results in Korea. tume as well as in a tight-fitting suit and a derby hat. BY REV. GEORGE HEBER JONES, SEOUL, KOREA. These Koreans live in mud huts;. straw-thatched, with rooms about eight; Geographically, Korea extends from feet square and five to six feet in height..
32· to 42° north latitude, and has about It is a peculiar thing to say, but, never..
the same number of degrees expansion theless, it is a fact, that the Korean· in longitude. The climate is equable, sleeps over the fire. The rooms are Cliln- and the country lies between two warm structed so that an intricate system of ocean currents. Korea consists of 100,- tlues runs over the floor. 0 ver the fluea 000 square miles, and is as mountain- are laid flags of stone, on top of which.
ous as Switzerla.nd. The origin of the mud is plastered, and over the whole a.
people is wrapped in obscurity, but they heavy thick oiled paper is pasted. The: probably came from India. The people fire by which the meal is cooked is con- are about five feet five inches in height, ducted into these flues, and on top. of'
and manifest less of the Mongolian fea- this the Korean sleeps. There are no turas than the Chinese or Japanese. chairs and no tables worthy the name.
They dress in garments built upon a The houses are grouped along narrow plan evidently intended to consume and crooked lanes, and present a very large quantities of cloth. Once there unattractive appearance. Globe-trot- was It request made to ascertain, the ters who visit Korea find little to rouse amount of goods used in one of these their enthusiasm or elicit their admira- costumes. The United States resident- tion. The people are agricultural, the minister made the measurements, and great mass of them being occupied im found that one full costume of a Korean rice culture.
noble in office would require 375 yards The position of woman is far from a:.
of native goods about 16 or 18 inches desirable one. The heel of heathenism wide. Their hats are made of woven rests heavily indeed on the neck of man,.
hair, and that of the poorest coolie costs but it rests infinitely more heavily om $5. This hat has just been done away the neck of woman. In Korea she is; with by law. The universal color is held to be completely inferior to man in white, but black is gradually coming every respect. She is secluded withim into style. The cut of the Korean gar- the inner apartments of the house and ments struck me at first as being very kept a virtual prisoner there, never'
ridiculous, but I very soon learned that lea.ving it except for a rare visit to her I myself looked quite as ridiculous to pa.rents, when she goes in a chair the Koreans as tbey did to me. A short heavily curtained and generally in the time afterward a Korean noble of very night-time. She is taught in childhood high family, the governor of a prov- that she must hold herself subservient ince, told me that when foreigners first to her father's will, in wifehood to her came to the .pountry with their shorn husband's will, in widowhood to that of heads, yellow hair, tight-fitting gar- the eldest son. Christianity comes with ments, and strange jargon of speech, a welcome and delightful emancipation the nobles thought them the most ridicu- lor her.
lous specimens of mankind they had It W88 God, not man, who held out ever seen, and that nothing worthy of any promise of success in Korea to the consideration could come from such Church when she entered upon her peculiar people. That taught me that work there in 1885. To human vision a JIlan can be a man in 1m !'~W:~ ~~" ~he difficulties appeared SQ enormQWl and the conditions and views of the peo- successful in stamping out Christianity, ple so completely petrified, it was not and the memory of what had happened only folly to attempt work there ; it hung like a dreadful nightmare over the was a waste of energy greatly needed people, so that the very announcement elsewhere. The results in the peninsula of another and open propaganda of to·day prove how unfounded was such Christianity in the country was such as an assumption. There, as everywhere, almost to terrify the people. During it is true that man's distress and help- this persecution reports of the most lessness was God's opportunity. scandalous and libelous nature had been The advance guard of the army of circulated concerning Christianity and Christ in Korea was but a handful of the objects of those who propagated it.
men-Dr. Maclay, Dr. Allen, Rev. Dr. These reports were accepted to a degree Underwood, Dr. Heron, Rev. H. G. among the people, for all effort to dis· Appenzeller, and Dr, Scranton. These prove or controvert them had been men, with the exception of Dr. Maclay effectually Buppressed, and it remained and Dr. Underwood (who was single), for Christianity to find some vindica· were accompanied by their wives-no- tion by future events. What the peo- ble women, who stood by the side of ple knew of Christianity was calculated their husbands, sharing their hardships to do anything but impress them favor- and perils, and cheering and encourag- ably with it. But not only was Chris- ing them in hours of trial and disap- tianity an ill odor, but all foreigners were pointment. Dr. Scranton had the add- regarded with suspicion. The ill·ad· ed blessing of the presence and wise vised and unsuccessful attempts to open counsel of his mother, often alluded to the country by force by the French dur- lovingly as the Barbara Heck of Meth- ing the sixties, by the American expedi.
odism in Korea, whose mature judg- tion in 1875, and by those nondescript ment and saintly presence have been of expeditions of a German Jew adven- untold good to the younger members turer, had caused the Koreans to regard of the mi8Sionary community. Dr. the advances of foreigners as anything Heron has been called to the presence but deserving of a hospitable reception.
of the Master he loved and served so To a certain degree this feeling had been well. The others remain to enjoy the allayed by the conduct of Admiral Schu· fruits of victory and win still greater felt when the American treaty was conquests for Jesus. The labors of negotiated and by the negotiation of Dr. Maclay were those of prospecting treaties with Korea by the various for.
for all Protestant missions, proTiding eign powers.
for and subsequently temporarily super· In 1885, when the first missionaries intending, from Japan, the initiation of went there, however. so little was the Methodist Episcopal mission. known about foreigners that the old A word as to the conditions which views largely hllld sway. The Korean existed in Korea when Protestant Chris· saw the ridiculous garb-garments the tianity first began its work: cut of which struck them as anything 1. Christianity was in a very ill odor but decent, the shorn heads, the eyes.
with the Koreans at that time. Within oil' color, the jargon of speech, and the memory of most of those living a they saw but little else. They voted mighty persecution had taken place, by unanimously that" Verily these are the which over 10,000 Koreans, converts to barbarians of which we have heard so the Roman Catholic Church, were cruel· often." Still another element which en- ly massacred. The priests and leaders tered into the situation to encumber it had been driven into hiding; the rest with obstacles was an ill·advised at- of the converts had disappeared al- tempt to overturn the old government most altogether from the public vision. and set up one dominated by the pro- To the Korean eye it seemed that the gressive party. In December, 1884, xp.easures of the ~overI).ment had been this attempted revoluti.QJ,tb~~~e.o~t, h~t, was quickly suppressed, and the ene· peculiarities noted, and plans laid for mies of progress managed to load with the inauguration of a worl: which the odium of the rebels all progressive should be commensurate with the ex- and foreign ideas which the so·called tent of the people. The field was truly rebels had espoused. Under Divine a virgin one.
Providence, however, Dr. Allen, the I make no attempt to exhaust the tirst missionary of the Presbyterian catalogue of difficulties and obstacles or Church to Korea, who had arrived in to magnify them. It is simply to indi- the latter part of 1884, was present in cate something of what had to be done Seoul. He was called to attend profes· ten years ago.
sionally one of the most representative What have these ten years brought men of the conservative party, and by forth?
his healing of this man's wounds, re- 1. The tirst result, which is certainly ceived in the emeute the story of which entitled to be enshrined as the chief after has been told so often, he was able to ten ye~rs of work in Korea, is the con.
neutralize to some extent the odium in quest of the prejudice of the people.
which foreigners were held. The ser- This has been accomplished to an extent vices of Dr. Allen to the cause of Chris- which transcends the wildest expecta- tianity and the advancement of Korea tions of the first missionaries when they can never be fully estimated. began their work in the field. Uncon- This was the condition of the country sciously, most of the time almost like politically when the tirst missionaries the melting of the snow under the rays went there. Great as were the difficul- of the sun, at other times like the strip- ties which grew out of this condition of ping of the trees of their leaves by No- affairs, they formed but a part of the vember blasts, this prejudice has disap- obstacles which the first miBSionaries peared. POBBibly that is too strong a had to encounter. This succession of way to put it. This prejudice still historic events to which I have been al- exists in isolated cases; but as far as luding had become petrified in the Ko- the people are concerned as a whole, rean mind in an unreasonable prejudice the Koreans have overcome their suspi- against foreigners in general and Chris- cion of foreigners, and Christianity has tianity in particular. been vindicated from 'the pdium with 2. The second great obstacle was the wWch it was regarded ten years ago.
utter lack of any familiarity with the Much of this work may be said to have field to which the first missionaries were been done within the last three years.
appointed. Korea was truly an un- About that time the writer was called known land and its people strangers. to a village on a populous island to bap- There is little doubt that of equal im- tize an old woman. When he arrived portance with a knowledge of the lan- at the shore he was met with the mes- guage is a knowledge of the people to sage that the villagers would destroy which the missionary is sent, and the the home of the Christian residing there if missionaries in Korea had to acquire he introduced a foreign missionary into this knowledge by slow and often dis· that hamlet. So the baptism took place appointing and grievous experiences. in a boat at the seashore at midnight.
The customs of the people had to be In less than three years from that time studied and weighed. The systems of a thriving church grew up in that very religious belief which the people held hamlet. It was the privilege of the had to be examined and determined, missionary who had been excluded from and the intellectual bias of the mind that town to receive a number of people and the trend of thought watched and into the church, to baptize no less than studied. The country itself was geo- nineteen men, women and children, graphically unknown to them. It had and to behold the valley lit up at night to be traversed, the great centers of by the fires of burning shrines and population discovered, tlleir provincial fetiches, w~i911 the vUlagers themselves were destroying to break their connec- enhanced thereby. HOIIPitals have been tion wi1lh heathenism. This is illustra- opened for the relief of the distressed tiye to a considerable degree of the great and the gratitude of thou!lands won by change in sentiment which has taken the cures effected. Permanent work in place in many centers in Korea. Wher' preaching and evangelizing the people ever Christianity has entered and begun has been opened at aboutforty different work it has easily conquered any vestige places throughout the nine provinces, of prejudice or opposition, and while and the number of people Identified as the people do not necessarily flock into members and probationers with the the church in multitudes to become Church reaches over 1100. During Christians, their views concerning Chris- 1895 these native Christians gave on an tianity, eivi1lzation and foreigners have average about $1 apiece to the work of changed vastly for the better. the Church in Korea. The beginnings .. 2. The second great result has been of a native ministry now gladden our the mutering of the language, To the hearts. Young Koreans are following knowledge of the writer there is no mis- the divine call to preach the Gospel to sionary in Korea but has some knowl- their people. Some are in our educa- edge of the Janguage, while, when the tional institutions preparing for that gavernment was recently in need of purpose. Others are employed as help- competent interpreters there were no ers and colporteurs, while a few, with- less than eight men among the missiona- out any payor emolument of any kind, ries in Seoul who were competent to act are preaching the Gospel to their people as the medium between the king and and doing a good work for their Ml.lster.
the foreign representatives. The Ko- rean tongue has been studied, gram- mars written, dictionaries compiled, and An Afrioan Pioneer.
treatises published, which greatly sim- BY DR. W. A. P. MARTIN, PRESIDENT plify the task of future missionaries in EMERITUS OF THE IMPERIAL TUNGlearning the language; but, above all, WEN COLLEGE, PEKIN, CillNA. the people have been given in their own tongue the blessed Word of God and In 1834 the American Board lIent taught to sing His praise in their own their first mission to South Africa. It language. consisted of Messrs. Adams, Champion, 3. There is no class Qf men In Korea Grout, Lindley, Venable, Wilson, and more familiar with the geography of the their wives. The last survivor of that.
country, with the customs, habits, and band was Mrs. Venable, who closed peculiarities of the people and with their her pilgrimage in Erie, Kan., on March provincial differences thaN the missiona- 28th, 1896, at the ripe age of eighty- ries. There may be said to be had by three.
the body of workers here, 8. knowledge Up to the last she followed with keen of the people, which adds to their im- interest the fortunes of the Zulu people portance in the eyes of the populace and of the mission of which she had themselves, qualifies them for etHcient formed a part. Tho her connection and forceful work among them, and with the work was brief-not over five givu them 8. ready entrance to the years-she rejoiced to see its expanding hearts and the hearing of"the people. seale and maturing fruits. It now has 4. The work itself has been organized 28 stations and 30 missionariell, with a along wide, far·reaching and permanent church-membership of near 2000 and a lines. Schools have been founded for following of five times that number.
the enlightenment of the people. Edu- Nor did she view with less interest the cational work carried on by the mis· growth of Great Britain's South African sionaries is regarded with respect by the empire, which she lived to see extended people, and their importance greatly from the Cape to the Zambesf. Often in my childhood I was privi- . was not half that distance. At night leged to hear from her lips the thrilling the wagons were formed in a circle, thus narrative of perils and deliverances ex- providing a pretty secure camp against perienced by those pioneer missionaries. the attacks of savage beasts or still The British colony was limited to a nar- more savage men. Their oxen were row strip around the Cape of Good sometimes killed by lions, and hyenas Hope. Less than thirty years prior to were constantly prowling about their that date England had taken possession camping grounds.
of it as part of the empire of Napoleon Six months only had Ihey been settled at the time when his brother Louis was in their new home when, just as they King of Holland, and its strategic im- felt ready to begin effective work, they portance was such that she never were waked one morning by volleys thought of restoring it to its original of musketry. Looking out of their owners as she did the isle of Java. windows, they saw a body of mounted The Dutch constituted the bulk of Boers in possession of the village, while the population, and naturally enough the people were flying in every direc- they were dissatisfied with British rule tion. In a few minutes the leader en- in a land where they had been masters. tered their house and explained the In 1833 a grand exodus of Boers set situation. The Zulus had been stealing toward the far interior with a view to cattle from the Dutch colonists, and the planting a new Dutch republic beyond latter had now come on them by way the sphere of British inflitence. The re- of repri.sals. It was the beginning of a sult-tho many years were to elapse be- war that might not end soon. If the fore its accomplishment-was the crea- missionaries remained at their post they tion of the Orange Free State and the would be exposed to the blind vengeance Transvaal, of which we have recently of a savage race. He therefore advised seen so much in our journals. them to quit the place, and kindly The diamonds of Kimberley and the offered them all possible assistance and gold of Johannesburg lay hidden in the protection in doing so; but he gave sands of the desert at the time our mis- them only six hours to make their sionaries penetrated those regions in preparations.
quest of something more precious. No It did not take the missionaries long railroad was there to whirl them across to decide. The decision was, in fact, the plains with the rapidity of an eagle's taken out of their hands by the fact of flight, nor was there any telegraph to war, which would leave them no peo- flash intelligence from station to sta- ple to preach to; so, with heavy hearts, tion, as it now does daily from Bulu- they bade farewell to that first station, wayo to London and New York. and escorted by the Dutch to a point Livingstone had not yet come on the beyond the sphere of hostilities, they stage. Moffat was the great explorer looked about for another field in which of that day; and after consultation with to prosecute their mission.
him, they decided to fix themselves at a They found it in another section of point not far from the banks of the the Zulu race, whose chief, named Din- Tugela among a tribe ruled by a warlike gaan, was looked on as a sort of king, chief named Moselekatze. The journey and always spoke of :&Ioselekatze as thither was long and toilsome-its dura- " my dog." Not long, however, were tion measured by months instead of they at their new station when the ris- weeks. Their conveyances were wagons, ing tide of Dutch immigration again each a dwelling-house and a fort, and swept over them. On this occasion the each drawn, without a road, over grass, outbreak was almost as Budden as be- brushwood, or barren sand by twelve fore, and much more tra~ic. The firllt yoke of oxen. Their ordinary march intimation of the coming trouble was was twelve mile. a day; and often it brought them by a royal messenger, who brought a special command for States and engaged in educational work Mr. Venable to come to the king and at Paris, Ill. .. not to eat or sleep on the road. " Setting off without delay, and making the Tho unwearied in doing good at home, whole distance of fifty miles on foot in Mrs. Venable appeared to have left her a very short time (tho perhaps not with- heart in Africa, and her devotion to the out.food or sleep), Mr. Venable arrived cause of foreign missions was conat Dingaan's kraal. At the door of the tagious. Through her influence her council house he saw the arms of Dutch two young brothers (one of them the soldiers stacked in military fashion; writer of these lines) and others whom but on going inside. what was his sur- I could name had their faces turned prise not to find a Dutchman! They toward the foreign field. were carrying on negotiations for the Who can measure the results of a purchase of land, and he had been sum- consecrated life like hers ?
moned to assist in a grand palaver. Discriminations Against Protestants in .. Where are the Dutch ?" he asked. Turkey . .. They have gone hunting," replied In the March number of this REVIEW the king. we treated the topic" The Attitude of H That is not very likely, or they the Turkish Government toward Chris- tians." The administration of the laws, would have taken their guns," suggest- edicts, or regulations is, however, by ed the missionary. no means equal toward all Christians, discriminations in favor of the Greek .. Then they have gone fishing," said Church and against Protestants and the king with a grim smile, but without Roman Catholics having been the rule a blush. for some years.
Perceiving that Mr. Venable suspect- At the risk of restating some things ed something, be added: .. The truth is, said in that article, we adopt, making I have killed the Dutch; but I don't our own the following communication. intend to kill you." It was not written for publication, and we are not at liberty to announce the That morning had witnessed in that author-at least at pIesent. Our in. very room one of those tragedies which formant says about the edict of Januprove how impossible it is for the sav- ary, 1892: age and civilized to live together in harmony. Encroachments provoktl re- " By imperial decrees and by treaties prisals, and reprisals lead to the exter- liberty to worship and to educate their mination or subjugation of the weaker. children long before llad been con- Dingaan, by making a show of concilia- ferred upon and enjoyed by the Christion, had decoyed into his capital a tiansof Turkey. Freedom of education party of fifty Boers. Oxen were slain, had been regulated by a special law in and a feast spread for their entertain- 1889, which made a government inspecment. Then while they were eating tion of the methods of instruction the and drinking, at a secret signal the sole limitation of the liberty to establish young men of the king's bodyguard schools. As to the liberty of worship, rushed on them, and each buried his atJ- it was limited by no special law. For lJefJai in the back of a guest. at least half II century the uniform and official interpretation of the proclama- Not long did the sable tyrant enjoy tion of religious liberty has been that the fruits of his treachery. The aveng- they confer upon all classes the right of ers of blood were on him almost as assembly for worship in any place that soon as the intelligence could reach belongs to them, and only landed propthem. His town was laid in ashes. he erty diverted to permanent religious uses was slain, and his people took refuge in what is now known as Mashonaland.
After this second catastrophe Mr. and Mrs. Venable returned to the United by the erection thereon of church edi- ments of long standing. It Is enly in fices, remained untaxed, subject to the the case where officials are fanatical or special authorization of the Sultan in influenced by special considerations of each case. a personal nature, as in the case men. tioned above, that a lon~·established .. It is said that the edict of January right is incurred, the edict made retro- 2d, 1892, applied to all Christian schools active, and the school or place of worand places of wOr3hip. It should be re- ship prohibited. Respecting the openmarked that no such phrase occurs in ing of new schools or places of worship, the edict. But the edict none the less however, the case is quite different. affects Christians chiefly, and, perhaps, Whereas, under the Ratti Rumayoun entirely. In the matter of education the and the usages of the past, the question needs of the Mohammedans are provid- of the expediency of opening a sooool is ed for by the government, which with left entirely to the community interestadmirable energy is pressing on the ed, submission to government control multiplication of schools of all grades being the only limitation upon the most for Mohammedans. In the matter of perfect liberty. Under the edict of Janworship the edict is executed in respect uary, 1892, the question of expediency to Christians only. Jews are, as ever, is the principal one submitted to the allowed the most perfect liberty in meet· official, who is, in fact, the sole judge aa ing habitually in any private houie to whether any given school is • needwhich is convenient to the community. ed.' The change introduced by the .Ai!. to the case of Mohammedans the edict is patent. In practice no new Government could be overthrown by a school for Christian children can be general uprising. if it were to suggest opened without the Sultan's personal that Mohammedans may not meet for consent. Respecting the meeting for worship unless they first take out a per· worship in a new place, also, the edict mit to do so, or a firman setting apart a is commonly applied in a prohibitive place where they wish to meet. The sense, the parties wishing to assemble discrimination here applied to all Chris- being commonly told that they cannot tians bears very heavily upon the Prot· do so without an imperial firman. • estants, because they have not, like the older Christian sects, a full equipment .. Since the Issue of imperial firmans of ancient churches. for schools and places of wOr3hip is.a matter relating solely to and inseparable " The discrimination becomes further from the dedication of land for religious evident in the order privately sent ont uses, which thereby removes it from the shortly after the issue of the edict reo category of taxable private property, it ferred to, under which no Christian, na- follows that persons temporarily residtive or alien, can own or hire lands or ing in a place where there is no Prothouses in Turkey unless he will sign a estant church, or persons who have not bond to the effect that the house or land the money to build a church, or persons will never be used for the education of whose only landed property is of the children or for the purpose of religious category of that which cannot be exmeetings. This curious • regulation' empt from the class of taxal!lle private is rigidly enforced whenever Christians property, may not meet for worship at purchase lands, but inquiry at the land all because they cannot obtain a firman registration office shows that it is not for a 'church edifice. This limitation enforced and cannot lawfully be en- as to obtaining firmal!.s applies also to forced in the case of Mohammedans. schools. Thus the liberty of education and of worship has been narrowed down .. So far as Protestant schools or by this edict. For the future the enplaces of worship are concerned, the joyment of this liberty is made te deexecution of the edict of January, 1892, pend upon a property qualification has not been attended in general by the hardships of the closure of establish· witWn the reach of those only who can greater enemies, the Protestants as a have access to the ear of the sovereign recompense to their wickedness are himself. standing in our presence covered with shame . .. Another curious result of the edict of 1892 is that it is uniformly said to "Oh, ye orthodox I stand manfully prevent the repair or alteration of any and gather up your strength. Fear private building in which a school or not, for while God is with you no one an assembly for worship has been au· can stand against you. While God is thorized to be held. The authorities our shepherd what wolf shall we fear 2 now hold that the effect of the edict is Thus miserable sinners are destroyed to prohibit such property from being and the faithful are rejoiced. repaired or altered except by special imperial firman, because ,the issue of " This work has been carried on and the permit for the school or the worship brought to a successful issue by the is held to have assimilated the' property energy of our priest Paes Christo alone." to that of permanent church or school buildings. But the permit by which Our correspondent adds: this assimilation is held to have taken " It should be recorded that the Konplace has not changed the category in BtantinoupoliB newspaper is the organ of which the building stands. It is still the Greek patriarchate. WWle Protes· taxable private property. therefore an tants are not partisans of a censorsWp of imperial firman may not issue respect· the press, this is no reason for failing to ing the repair. therefore it cannot be remark that in a country where any pubrepaired or altered at all. The only reo lication of articles of a nature to mold source for a man who has allowed his religious susceptibilities is forbidden by property to be used by an establishment law, and where censors must approve of this class, altho the school or the beforehand all articles published in the worship be formally authorized, if he papers, the authorization for publication wishes to save his buildings from falling of an article like the above quoted, is t8 pieces, is to oust the school or the as- another example of the discrimination sembly worshiping in his house." against Protestants habitually practised by some officials in Turkey." The following translation of part of an article from the KonBtantinoupolis of Among Our Letters. January 27th, O. S., 1893, is given as an illulitration of the spirit of the Greek -Rev. David W. Carter, writing from Christians toward Protestants: Antonio, Tex., says: "An unusual in- terest in the Gospel is being shown by .. Oh, ye miserable Protestants, who those Mexicans now living in Texas. know not what ye do I Your house is From many localities comes the news left unto you desolate like that of the of an awakening interest. I have just enemies of God who slew the Lord held a week's special services in which Jesus Christ. Oh, ye nations, under- forty persons were won to Christ." stand and be overthrown, for God is with us I The orthodox church at Fatsu, -Rev. Thomas Christie, D.D., of having heard of the plan adopted by us Tarsus College, Turkey, writes: "This at Ordu, also made petition to the gov- has been a year of painful trial to us and ernment for the closing of the schools our people in Turkey. But we look to and the services of worship which have see our Father'shand init all. No misceen peacefully conducted there by the 510n1lry has even thought of leaving his Protestants, and they easily succeeded. or her post. In such days as these our Thus under this new victory of our poor people are doubly dear to us. The church, which in five centuries has van- Lord is with us through all. It is for quished and brought to shame, without the good of His kingdom that we lay gUCl and without knife, such and many down our lives here; we feel sure He will give dying peaee as He has given sions in the recent reports of some of to so many precious martyrs this win· our Lodiana missionaries indicating a ter." reaching up for a fuller spiritual bless- -A friend resident in PhiIippopolis, ing in their own souls, nay, more, con. South Bulgaria, writes: "The present fessing to a consciousness of a new ex· is a time of vital importance for the perience of blessed fellowship with Christianization of Bulgaria. The de- Christ. termination of Prince Ferdinand of that " One writes; 'It has been the happrincipality, to be recognized by the piest year of my life as a missionary, European powers, at whatever cost, led and the reason why it has been so is, I him, tho a rigid Roman Catholic, his think, that I have learned to know wife and mother being the same, to sae· what a blessed life and work this is to rifice his first·born son and heir to his which we have been called.' throue, to be rebaptized in the Greek " Another writes: • I should like to Catholic or Bulgarian Church. This mention with profound gratitude that I was done February .14th, and waS sig. believe I have experienced during the naled by the issue of special stamps and past year a quickening and uplifting in postal cards. The Russian Czar sent a my spiritual life, a deeper sense of respecial representative to Sophia to par· sponsibility, a greater joy in service.' ticipate in the ceremonies, and he also " Another says: 'The past year has sent a congratulatory telegram to Prince been the brightest and best spiritually Ferdinand. Since then the prince has of all the years I have spent in India. been recognized by the Suzerain power, Christ has been more to me of a reality, Turkey, which implies recognition by and tasks have been more easy and all the European powers. A conse- hopeful because I knew they were His quence of this strengthening of Russian tasks. ' influence, and of zeal for the national " And still another, dwelling on the church is, more resolute opposition to encouragements in the work the past the evangelical work and some cases of year, adds the following words: 'And determined persecution of Protestant last but not least, we believe that we missionaries are awaking to the possi- Christians. " bility of living nearer our },laster. Call -Rev. '£homas B. WOQd, D.D., writ- it the Spirit·filled life if you will, we ing from Callao, Peru, says: "Perse- are with invincible zeal determined to cutions, involving imprisonments, ban- have more of it. Yea, we are willing ishments, stoning of houses and persons, to be content with nothing else than the incendia'rism, denial of natural and "mind of Christ~' itself. When that legal rights, are suffered constantly by day comes, as come it will, the future the converts, and they endure it with of India is assured.' meekness and cheerfulness. The con- "Commenting on these extracts in verts are improved spirituaUy and ma- another connection, I have said: ' Such terially by their newness of life to such testimonies from men who are not a degree that their neighbors notice young in the service witness unmistaktheir bettered condition, and attribute ably to the refreshing presence of the it to a money stipend distributed by Holy Spirit, and are a bright revelation . the missionaries, and can hardly be of a growth in spiritual life and power made to believe that, instead of receiv- in answer to prayer, such as all our ing money, the converts all give money missionaries abroad, yea, and all our constantly for the Gospel work." churches at home may hopefully strive -Rev. Benjamin Labaree, widely for and expect for themselves.' "
known as a missionary of rare qualities -Mr. F. D. Phinney, Superintendent and success, in a personal note says: of the Baptist mission press, Rangoon, " I have been much moved by expres- Burma, writes . .. Since the arrival in-Burma, in the quickening into new life cold and dead early part of 1892, of the first shipment members, and putting a great longing of the photo-engraved edition of the hunger into the hearts of our Chinese Burmese Bible. about 2500 copies have pr~achers for more spiritual power. been issued-that is, in about four years At a little conference three of them had the number of copies issued of this with Mr_ Smith about the baptism of small and cheap (one rupee) Burmese the Holy Spirit. they were full of joy Bible has equalled the present number to hear there was a way to get power, of Burman Baptist church-members. and wished they could build taber- During these lears the demand for the nacles and stay there, as one of them large type Blble. the Reference New said, where they had learned this good Testament, and for the photo-engraved news." New Testament has been steady, and the important fact may be stated that The volume" A Cycle in Far Cathay," during these four years more Copie8 of by Rev. Dr. W. A. P. Martin, men- Dr. JudBon'8 Burmese Bible have been tioned editorially in our May number, issued than in tM twenty years preceding. will. we learn, not be out till September. We hope to present an early and care- " Since August, 1895, 3000 copies of ful review of this work, which is the photo-engraved edition of. the Bible anticipated with great pleasure. It in Sgaw Karen have been received at would not be easy to name another authe mission press in Rangoon, and very thor so intellectually furnished for the nearly the whole number is now in the task, who has had such rare opportunihands of the people. A further ship- ties to acquaint himself with the matement of 1000 copies is to arrive this rial for an able summary and analytical month. and the balance of the edition review of affairs in the Chinese Empire of 5000 copies is due by the following in the last quarter of a century. steamers. The sales of this edition, uniform in size and price with the Bur- International Missionary Union. mese edition, is simply unprecedented. There is nothing in the history of Bible The thirteenth annual meeting of the distribution in Burma with which to International Missionary Union will be compare it. The demand still con- held at Clifton Springs, New York, tinues all over the field. and it is be- June 10th-17th, 1896. The opening lieved that a second edition of 5000 session begins at 7.80 P.M., of Wednescopies is now being printed, and will day the 10th. Missionaries will be be ready for issue about as soon as gratuitously entertained, chiefly by Dr. wanted." Henry Foster in his noble sanitarium, which for the greater l?art of a halt -Rev. Mr. McNair, writing from century has been a religiOUS Mecca, as Japan on the subject of the revival of well as a health resort. A large numidolatry by the State, says: ber of missionaries have already signi- fied their purpose to attend the meeting .. In one of my late letters I quoted in June. from a Japanese paper on the subject of parliamentary recommendations to All missionaries are urgently requestthe government to build a temple to ed to send the secretary theIr names, and establish the worship of the late 'societies. fields, years of appointment, Prince Kitashirakawa, in Formosa; and (if not now not connected with the and I stated that both houses of parlia- work abroad) date of retirement. The ment had acted in the matter. The union is constantly seeking the address quotation dealt only with the upper of all foreign missionaries who may be house, and when sending it I was told residing (as well as those only visiting) that the lower house had acted simi- in the United States and Canada. The larly. I didn't wait to verify the infor- secretary earnestly invites correspondmation, writing as the mail was leav- ence with any such persons. ing. The truth is, I since find that only the upper house took definite ac- Missionaries are requested to mentlon tion. This correction does not mate- any subjects which they desire disrially alter the fact that many repre- cussed in the meeting, or upon which sentative men in Japan-nObles, educa- they are prepared to speak or read tors, capitalists, I,ltc.-who make up papers, and to suggest suitable speakers the • Lords' decided unanimously to or essayists. Any inquiries will be anrecommend this idolatry business." swered by the secretary of the union.
-Mrs. Arthur H. Smith writes: .. The J. T. GRACEY, President, Holy Spirit seems to be moving on our Rochester, N. Y. Shantung Church (North China) as never before, in a quiet, powerful way, W. H. BELDEN. ,&cretOlf"lJ. Clifton Springs, N. Y.
4:56 lI'mLD Oll' :MONTHLY SUBVBY. –
I1I.-FIELD OF MONTHLV SURVEY.
BY DEL.l.VAN L. PIERSON.
Afrioa,* Madagasoar,t American Freedmen.* NOTES ON AlI'RICA. of the world put together, II We would.
Africa has been given many names: suggest one other name as most approthe " Expiring Continent;" the " Dark priate for faithful Christians who love Continent;" the" Last of the ContI- the Lord's work, and who belleve in His nents;" the "Hopeless Continent." promises, and that is the "inBpiring Mr. Keltie, author of "The Parti- (Jontinent. " This contment has an area tion of Africa," says that "whatever equal to all of Europe and NorthAmerelse it may be, it certainly is, take it all ica combined, and contains at least one in all, the most interesting of all the con- eighth of the human race, oo.d one half tinents. .. He says that Africa now" at- of these men and women have never yet tracts more attention than all the rest heard of Christ 88 their Savior. Five hundred of Africa's languages and dia- * North Africa and Egypt are to be touched lects have yet to be reduced to writing, on In our October issue, which deals especially and hundred" of thousands of miles with Mohammedan lauds. The most complete have never been trodden by the foot of list of mission stations and societies in Africa is a white man. to be found In .. Africa Rediviva," by Dr. R. N. Cust. A new book is In press which will prob- From Senegambia across to Abysably be the most accurate and complete yet pub- sinia is a distance of 4500 miles; this IIshed; it Is by Mr. Frederic Perry Noble, Secre- region, peopled with nearly 90,000,000 tary of the World's Fair Congress In Africa, and people speaking over 100 dilIerent lanis to be entitled .. The Missionary Occupation guages, into which the Bible has not yet of Africa." For articles on this subject already been translated. In all this area there published In this volume of the RIIIVIEW, see labors not a single missionary, only the also p. 106 (February); 411, 418, 442, 443, 449 (present issue). borders of the great territory of the New Books: .. Europe in Africa in the Nine- Soudan having as yet been touched, teenth Century," Elizabeth W. Latimer; Nearly all of Africa is controlled or "Glimpses of Africa," C. S. Smith; .. Chroni- .. influenced" by European governcles of Uganda," R. P. Ashe; .. The Congo for Christ," J. B. Myers; "Illustrated Africa," by ments, the only independent portions Bishop William Taylor; .. Actual Africa," being Morocco, Liberia, Bornu, Wadai, Frank Vincent. Kanem, Baghirim, Dahomey, the South African Republic, and Orange Free Recent Art~: "West African Pioneers" (Sunday Magazine, December, 181l5); "Boer, Britain and Africaner in the Transvaal" (Fort- State. A state of almost constant petty nighUy Review, January, 1896) ; "Slavery under the British Flag, (Nineteenth Century, February, warfare exists in most parts of Central 1896); .. Story of the Development of Africa" «(Jentury, February, 1896); "Missionaries in Africa, and many chiefs and kings are Africa" (National Review, March, 1896); now seeking to throw 01I European pro- "The Helpers of Africa" (Treasury, March, tectorates, etc. Madagascar haS recent- 1896); "Stray Thoughts on South Africa" (FortnighUy Review, April, 1896 ); .. Africa's Claims" ly been conquered by France, and Ash- (Student Volunteer, April, 1896); Ohurck at antee has submitted to England's'de- Home and Aln'Oad, and Go8pel in AU Land8 mands, but Abyssinia stlll fights fiercely against Italy, and England is sending (June, 1896). an army to subdue the dervishes of thll Eastern Soudan. In South A.frica the t See also p.:300 (April); 380 (May) ; 424 (pres- troubles between the Bocrs (or Dutch settlers) and Uitlanders (or foreigners) ent issue). New .Book: "Madagascar of To- Day," W. E. Cousins. Recent Article: "Catholicism in Madagascar"
(Catholic World, January, 1896). in the South African RepubliQ have not :t: See al80 p. 51 (Jannary). yet been settled, and the Matabeles are Recent Articles: "Education of the Negro" in rebellion, causing England to semi troops for their subjugation. (American Magazine Qf Civics, February,'1896); Go8pel in All Land8 (April, 1896).
DARK CONTINENT-A SILENT
Africa has been waiting 1900 years for the Llgbt of Life. There are here at least one hundred millions of people who have never yet heard of Christ and His Gospel; there are nearly as many more who may have heard but who have nnt heeded. Christ died for the Africans, and commissioned HiB followers to tell them so, yet every hour sixteen thonsand are dying without Christ. A thousand missionaries scattered over this vast continent– their stations indicated by the white spots on the map -" but what are they amongst so many I" H Give ye them to eat."
lI'IELD OF MONTHLY
The religious condition of Africa is effort must be made to train them for pitiable in the extreme. If European that high and holy service to which we hope they may in God's time be called." nations were as anxious about extending A German missionary magazine puts their sphere of (Jhri8tian influence as on record this inspiring story: they are to wield political sway, the con- "In June, 1869, the missionary Ram- seyer, of the Basle Missionary Society, quest of Africa for Chrisfwould, human- was dragged as a prisoner into Abetift, then a city of Ashantee, with his wife ly speaking, be speedily accomplished. and child. Ther. spent three daY's in a The difficulties encountered by her- miserable hut WIth their feet in chains. Human sacrifices were then common in alds of the cross are many and great. Abetift, which was under the tyranni- cal rule of the Ashantee chieftain. To- The climate is most trying in many day, in the same streets, under the same shady'trees, instead of the bloodyexecuparts of Ihe continent; the people, sunk tioner going his rounds a Christian con- gregation gathers together every Sunin degradation and steeped in supersti- day, followed b'y a troop of Sunday scholars. Christlan hymns, such I¥I tion, are for the most part satisfied to • Who will be Christ's soldier?' ring remain in their ·present condition. The Joyfully through the streets of Abetlfi. The people come out of their houses, diBlculties of evangelization are always tbe chieftain is invited; he comes with his suite and listens to the joyful tidings more spiritual than num,erical and finan- of salvation. And it is not in vain; many have become disciples of Jesus. cial, but it still remains true that there Many even dare to tell their fellow- countrymen in the streets what joY' and is a shameful lack of men and means to peace they have found in Him. Who would have dreamed of this twenty-five carry on the Lord's work in Africa. years ago?"
Christians at home should be as ready Dr. Elmslie, of Nyassaland, gives the to deny themselves as those who go. If following summary of the three rueth- ods of work in his mission field : such a spirit were only manifest, what a " 1. Evangeliatie.-Every one, whethspiritual quickening it would mean for er in school or employed in outdoor work, is hrought daily into contact with the home churches, and what an in- the Divine message of salvation. The dally worship, Bible classes, Scripture crease of facilities for carrying on the lessons in school, evangelistic services on the station and in the villages, are work abroad. our evangelistic agencies. The catechu- In spite of all shortcomings, hin- mens' class had an attendance of 14, while 37 and 65 attended the men's and drances and other difficulties, however, women's Bible classes respectively. Eleven male adults and three children the outlook in many places is very en- have been bapti?Jed; and there is a number of men whose lives are concouraging. sistent, but who, being polygamists, are denied admission to the church. Bishop Tucker writes from Uganda.: .. 2. Educational. -Three new schools " I do not know that anything cheered me more on my way from the Nile to were opened durinll: the season, and the Mengo than to have pointed out to me attendance has reached the highest point church after church crowning this or yet attained. The average daily attendthat hill, on the right hand and on the ance in our seven schools during the left. There are now, I believe, more four months February to May was 431. than 200 of these churches scattered We have 31 teachers and monitors, and throughout the countrl' The decent during the school session 79 scholars and orderly way in WhICh the services have advanced as far as to read the are conducted is another token of the Gospel. Not included in that number advance in spiritual things..•. there are not a few adults who have learn- ed to read at home. Over 200 gospels, " One of the most pressing problems hymn-books, readers, and catechisms before us for solution is how to provide have been sold during the session. pastoral oversight for these congregations which are being so rapidly formed .. 3. Medical work shows 1274 attendall over the country-not, be it remembered, the oversight of Europeans, but ances at the dispensary. of native pastors. I do not know that anything has encouraged me more since my arrival in the country than the assurance which I have received on every hand that the young men who are coming forward as teachers are in their spiritual life far in advance of the standard which for some years has prevailed. It is from this body of workers that we must look for our pastors, and every " The past calls for gratitude to God, times as great as that of the 13 colonies . and the future is full of promise." at the Revolution. We regard it as important to give the Gospel to the Altogether Africa has been the scene 2(i0,OOO Indians within our boundaof marvelous development in the past ries. yet for every Indian there are 32 negroes among us-enough to populate two years. Colonization and civiliza- a territory as large as Ohio, Indiana, tion have made steady progress. The and a large part of Illinois as thickly great powers of Europe are rapidly as- as these States are now settled. They suming control of large districts of the would populate Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode country. Great Britain now holds al- Island, Delaware, North Dakota, South most continuous possession from north Dakota, Nebraska, Indian Territory, to south. Telegraphic communication New Mexico. Arizona, Utah, Colorado, has been established througbout the Idaho. Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Calicountry in many places. The slave fornia as densely as thseetsteledS.t*ateTs haensde trade has been compelled to betake itself Territories are now to greater secrecy and be less aggres- millions are not scattered over the whole sive. The war that has been prosecuted of this vast country, as is our foreign population, in every-day contact-with has resulted in opening large districts our American life and institutions. of the country to the Gospel. It is There are 7,000,000 of them huddled hoped that European control will not together in our Southern States, 10ca11;r introduce the vices of civilization, but and socially isolated. Nor is theIr present number only to be taken into what is better, the saving agencies of account, but their rate of increase, too- the Church of Christ. one generation ago 4,000.000, now In South Africa we find many com- 8,000,000; a generation hence, 16,000,- 000; two generations hence, 32.000,- munities in a fair state of civilization. 000. What hinders their present rate The masses of the pcople have received of increase? Surely the growing num- the Gospel, and many of them are able bers of colored population call for seri- to read the Bible in their own tongue. ous consideration, and emphasize the importance of their evangelization; for Missionaries are penetrating the Soudan they are here to stay-a permanent part from various directions, some going to of the great Christian nation.
Sierra Leone, in the vicil!ity of our own 2. But look upon the moral and spirmissionaries. Bishop William Taylor itual destitution of this growing mass. Generations ago they were brought here has been establishing outposts of Gos- out of the heart of barbarous, savage pel activity in the heart of the Congo. life. Of course they brought their Igno- According to good authority, 40 mis- rance, their superstitions, their vices, sionary societies, 700 foreign missiona- with them. Nor was there anything in the institution of slavery under which ries, and 7000 native preachers are put- they were held for over a century to ting forth their efforts to give the Gos- make them better. but rather worse.
pel to Africa. Thousands of missiona- For, under the Southern system of ries are now needed to carryon the slave laws they were not looked on as persons with personal or propertY' rights, work of evangelization. but as chattels, as so many ammals to be bought and sold at the option of the slave holder. A PLEA FOR TIlE FREEDMEN.
Under this system no regard was paid Every part of the great world-wide to the family relationship. Nosanctity mission field has its own peculiar inter- was attached to the marriage tie among est. This is specially true of missions the slaves. As a rule, they were not among the freedmen. under influences calculated to make 1. We stand face to face with their them upright, honest, and chaste. I growing numbers. One generation ago, say as a rule, for there were honorable at their emancipation, there were 4,000.- exceptions. The large proportion of 000. To·day there are 8,000,000. Try Southern white blood that ran into colby comparison to realize what 8,000,000 of negro popUlation means. If they alone occupied the Southern States, they would give it a population almost three * "Facta Abont the Freedmen" (Presbyte- rian Board for Freedmen). ored v:eins is proof of the kind of moral- dence without just claims. There are ity that, as a rule, was taught and prac- dependent people in the world who have tised among them. It is not necessary made themsel ves so by their vices and that one should have lived among them follies. Such dependence has no just to know their moral and spiritual degra- claims on the help of others. But the dation. It is but necessary to call to colored man's dependence has just mind the kind of life they were com- claims on us as a Christian nation. He pelled to live to judge what was their is not among us, poor by his own state at their emancipation. Doubtless choice. We brought him here; we during the generation of freedom that made him poor ; we kept him ignorant. they have enjoyed some progress up- For generations we consented to his en· ward and forward has been made. The slavement. We took the products of Gospel in the hands of the Church his hard toil to enrich his masters. North and South has done something to Suppose we paid over to him his just lift the negroes out of their degrada- and rightful share of the product of his tion; but as yet only in spots. The hard toil during the generations gone favored localities where colored schools by. It is safe to say there would be and churches have been planted are few enough to furnish every negro family in comparison with the vast territory of with a comfortable home and every colored population. Our missionaries community with a prosperous church testiCy that, after thirty years of effort, and school. When we help him now only a b6ginning has been made; that we are simply paying old debts without the intellectual, the moral, the spiritual interest. darkness and degradation among the Besides, at his emancipation we took negroes of the South is appalling. him as ward. When we enacted the Think of 1,000,000 colored children fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth growing up, outside of school and amendments we took on us as a Chrischurch, in ignorance and vice I Think tian nation the obligation of furnishing of 8,000,000, probably, of men and the negro with the qualifications of women who can neither read nor write I Christian citizenship. Nor is the help What must be the prospect, the social, we now give him to be regarded as disthe political outlook of that section of interested benevolence. If I have on our country where such ignorance and my foot a gangrened spot, it would not vice nests! be disinterested benevolence for the We spend millions 01 dollars ditching head and hand to say we will come to swamps, letting out the deadly malaria, the help of the foot, but self-preservaso as to make room for pure air and for tion. So it is in the case of negro evanprosperous and happy homes. Ought gelization. These Southern States, not thil:1 great Christian nation to be gangrened with negro ignorance and willing to spend something to drain out vice, are sister States, members of the these Southern swamps of negro igno- commonwealth. For Maine, New York, rance and vice and make room for Ohio, Illinois, and the other States to clean, happy, Christian colored homes? say that they will come to the help 8. Not only their moral and spiritual of the South in this matter is simply destitution, but their dependence on us is self- preservation. a strong element in the appeal. Lan- 5. Lastly, the response which tho guage cannot describe fully the depths freedmen make to our help is another of poverty in which the slave population important and encouraging count in the of the South stood at its emandpation. appeal. They realize their need, are They counted themselves freedmen, but anxious for our help to C)nable them to what wretched freedmen! freedmen in rise out of their degradation, and very rags I no lands, no implements of their grateful for it. They have proven own, no money I What could such pov- themselves capable of a Christian eduerty and ignorance be expected to do cation, and are easily molded by the for itself? Nor was there any disposi· influences of the Gospel. There are no tion in the South to help them as freed- hoary sYBtems of false religion or phimen; nor, indeed, any ability. South- losophy, as among the Hindus or Chi· ern industry had been paralyzed by the nese, to break down before a way can war. From this industrial paralysis it be made for Gospel truth and ChrIstian required a whole generation to recover. –institutions. The way is clear. A wide Even to-day the South is not much dis- door is open for immediate results. It posed nor able to shoulder the burden is safe to say that no missionary enter· of the black man's evangelization. He prise at home or abroad can show larger depends largely on the good people of fruits in proportion to the means invest· ed than the work among the freedmen. the North for help. 4. Hi8 C'lai17l8.-Nor is this a depen· -A. Lehmann, Moorefield, O.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTlVlENT.
Most encouraging reports reach us and at the end of the decade there were from time to time in personal letters 225 in all on the field.
and through the columns of the British The third decade (1885-95) was press as to the blessing attending the marked by more thorough visitation meetings conducted by Dr. Pierson in and evangelization, with consolidation.
the British Isles. The prayers of God's In 1887, in direct answer to prayer for people avail much, and the Holy Spirit 100 more workers, more than this num- daily draws many into a closer life with ber willingly offered, and £10,000 pro- God, inspiring them to more earnest vided for outfit and passage money. It study of the Word, more active interest is noticeable that when this new addi- in His kingdom, and more unselfish giv· tion was first asked of God praise was ing of self and substance to the Lord's at once offered in advance for blessings work at home and abroad.-D. L. P. to be given.
In 1886 the American branch was formed in Toronto, and seven years Sunday, June 25th, 1865, on the beach later 39 missionaries had sailed from at Brighton, England, J. Hudson Tay- America. At close of 1895 over 620 lor, unable to bear the sight of a large missionaries were on the field, and in congregation of 'over one thousand this third decade women'8 work had Christian people rejoicing in their own come to the front in a marvelous way.
blessings, privileges, and securities, " What ha,h God wrought" through while three hundred and eighty millions one man in answer to prayer I-A. T. P.
of people in Chins alone were perishing in their sins and for lack of knowl- edge, poured out his soul to God, aban- " The King of Korea and the Crown doning unbelief and all apathy, and sur- Prince (with the help of the Russian rendering himself to God for service to Legation) have formed a new govern- a perishing world. Wandering along ment. Kim-Hong-Tau, the Premier, those sands at the midnighth, hour he and seven other Japanese ministers were boldly asked God for twenty-four fel- beheaded, and their corpses dragged low-workers, two for each of the eleven through the streets. A decree is alleged unoccupied provinces of China and two to have been signed by the king at the for Mongolia. Both laborers and the Legation ordering that the heads of five funds were provided in answer to pray- ministers should be exposed on poles.
er without appeal to man, and one year All the telegraph wires were cut. On later this band set sail for the Middle receipt of the news on board the Ameri- Kingdom. can, British, and French men-of-war at At the end of the first decade (1875) Jin-Sen, marines were landed and left 37 workers were in the field. i=ediately for Seoul. The king is re- At the end of the 8econd decade (1885) ported to have been actuated by a de- all unoccupied provinces but two, sire to avenge the queen's murder. All Kwangsi and Hunan, were held by resi- the new ministers are said to be mem- dent missionaries. During this period, bers of the Min family. The Tokyo at the very hour of darkest midnight, papers allege that owing to the influence the Chefoo Convention was unexpect- of the Russian Minister the king re- edly signed and China thrown open mains at the Russian Legation, which throughout, and itineration and ex- is guarded by 200 marines.» ploration followed. Within three years The new ministry is favorable to (1882-85) 116 new missionaries, includ- Russia and is under Russia's protection.
ing the Cambridge band of 7, offered, It is too early to say whether or not Korea will become a .Russian province, have remained within the limits of but it will probably not be done with- Spanish authority. Bnt he could not. out a forcible protest from Japan. He no doubt felt it to be his duty to see the others safely off the island before he Diaz in Jail. should go. Their departure was delayed by some unknown cause. O'Halloran, Dr. J. T. Tichenor writes that on the the last to leave, sailed from Havana Wednesday the 15th. That night or afternoon of April 16th a telegram from the next day Diaz was arrested, In the Havana was brought to the home mis- last letter received from him he said he sionrooms of the Southern Baptist Con- was perfecting arrangements for the vention containing these words: ".Diaz care of our property in his absence. in jail. .. Dr. Tichenor says: The evidence before us points to the conclusion that it was his desire for the ., This startling intelligence brings the safety of others and his fidelity to the Board face to face with the gravest trust committed to him by the Board difficulty of its history. Dlaz has been that induced the delay that :resulted in in 3ail before, but then the charges his arrest. against him were trivial. If he had been found guilty the penalty would "For months communication with our not have involved life or liberty. Then missionaries has been difficult and hazthere was peace upon the island, and ardous. They were objects of suspicion partisanship did not torture into crimes because of their religious faith and practhe careless words of familiar conversa- tice. It is understood that all letters tion or base a charge of treason upon were subject to inspection at the Havana the loose expressions found in a letter post-office. Under the prevailing conto a friend. ditions the most innocent expression relating to our mission work In the "Widely different are the conditions excited minds of the Spanish authorprevailing now. The Spanish author- ities might be transformed into words Ity in Cuba is shaken to its foundation. indicating rebellion and treason. Every Cuban men and women are fighting letter we sent to Havana might engenagainst a tyranny more dreadful to der snspiclons that would result in the them than death, and for liberty dearer imprisonment of our missionaIies, and to them than life. every letter they sent to us might be fraught w,ith similar consequences. " The Spaniards have repudiated their Hence we do not know why Diaz deablest commander because of his justice layed so long in Havana. We only and his moderation, and have supplied know our brother is in prison, and we his place by the most bloodthirsty and must help him. cruel of all the Spanish leaders. Suspicion is tantamount to conviction of " Arrangements must be made to care crime. The horrors of Spanish prisons for him while in prison. He will not are augmented a hundredfold by the dare to eat or drink anything furnished multitudes of their diseased, vermin-in- by the prison authorities. He must fested, half-starved inmates. Justice, have such comforts as the common jails always delayed in Spanish courts, has of Havana do not contain. His health tIed the land, and nothing but the strong suffered greatly from his last imprisonarm of foreign power can preserve even ment, tho it was brief. Protracted imcitizens of other countries from the pas- prisonment now will endanger his life. sion-prompted sentences of its partisan tribunals. We cannot shut our eyes to "It was the horror of a Burman prison the fact that the life of our Brother Diaz that broke down the health of Judson is in great jeopardy. Not simply from and brought him so near the grave. It the danger of conviction for the alleged was the dungeon in which Herod conoffense, but from the greater danger of fined John the Baptist that staggered the protracted and torturing imprison- the faith of the forerunner and led. him ment he may be called to endure. who in triumphant tones cried, ' Be- " ,The Board will not stop to vindicate hold the Lamb of God l' to inquire in its actions in regard to their missiona- timid and doubting accent, • Art thou ries in Cuba further than to say that it He that should come, or look we for has taken every possible precaution for another ?' And Diaz is flesh and blood their safety. Assured that Diaz was in as were they. He will need expressions more danger than any of the others, the of sympathy from all his brethren who Board has been especially solicitous for have assigned him to that post of duty him, and could he have acted upon the and of danger. He has honored them suggestions made him, he would not by 8 life of devotion to their cause sur- passed by none among the living or the dead. " Let every Baptist of the South, man, woman, or child, be among those of whom hands are upon the plow; we cannot Diaz can say, • I was sick and in prison look back. Diaz may perish in prison and ye ministered unto me.' Let there or die by the hands of the executioner, not be oue who shall fail to honor him- but Cuba must be spiritually free. The self by some token of sympathy and mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
love to him with whom God has hon- ored our denomination. .. We are tempted to ask ifany will not respond to the needs of such a man; The need in Armenia is almost as what suffering, what distress can move his heart, or what calamity smiting the great as ever. Relief work did not stop soul of a child of God would draw forth in April, as was intimated in our last from one 80 callous evidence that the issue, but continues in order to make of love of God dwells in him? some avail what has already been done. .. The imprisonment of Brother Diaz will impose unlooked-for expenses on Without crops or means of obtaining the Board. Not only must he be cared them the Armenians must starve, and for, but so must his family. The ex- the past efforts to help them 'prove of penses of a trial, which Spanish courts no permanent valne. Their poverty well know how to make exceeding burdensome. Attorney's services-and he can scarcely be overstated. But they must have the best-will not be small. are beginning to hope and realize that, Nothing must be spared that will miti- they have Christian friends who are gate the suffering or spare the life of ready to help. Funds come in all too our brother. Money is valueless when counted against the life of such a man. slowly, and thus keep the missionaries We ask that every church connected'with and agents of the Red Cross Society the Southern Baptist Convention take from extending the relief so sorely need- immediately a special collection for this ed. Miss Clara Barton telegraphs that purpose. In thIS general movement of our people .there is a strong element of there is no obstacle to the work save safety to our brother. It will strengthen lack of fnnds. It is not yet time for him. It will cheer his prison days. It Christians to close their purses. Tywill enable him to resist disease and phus fever, small-pox, and dysentery maintain his vital power. "If Havana could know that ten thou- are raging in the stricken districts, and much of the relief work is now being sand Baptist churches by one concerted movement swelled a fund for Diaz's directed to ameliorate the condition of protection and freedom, how that would those suffering from these diseases. hold back the threatened blow and change the purpose to destroy! How We acknowledge the following con- it would affect our authorities at home tributions to the REVIEW relief fund to know that a. million and a half of since those mentioned in our previous Baptists were in earnest in their efforts issue: to save a man so honored of God, a. star of the first magnitude among the mis- Woman's Missionary Society of the Union sionary heroes of the world I Presbyterian Church, Tarkio, Mo……. $20.00 Mrs. Cordelia F. Waterbury, Jordanville, .. What influence and power it would N. Y …………………………….10.00 give them for all coming time to protect and promote the missionaries of Friend's Christian Endeavor Society, Fall their faith in every land and on every River, Mass ………………………. 7.25 shore. Diaz's imprisonment is ,God's Wm. T. Barry, Castorville, Cal. ….•.•….. 1.00 call to the churches of the South to arise Two Friends, Athens, Ga ………•……•. 2.00 Mr. R. C. Douds, Meadville, Pa…•……. 1.00 Benie Visscher, Holland, Mich…………. 1.00 Mrs. Roberts, Brooklyn, N. Y …………. 5.00 and shake off the dust of sloth and act " A Lady," Superior, Wis ……………… %.00 for his deliverance, for God's cause and James L. Kit.g. New york …………….. 5.00 for their own honor, in a manner worthy James Hoag, Jr., Allegheny, Pa……….. 2.00 Moravian Congregation, Lake Mills, Wis… 21.88 of themselves, worthy of the King they "A Friend of the Armenians," Manchester, adore, and of the Gospel which they must gi ve to all the nations. N. H "" ……………….. " ……….10.00 Rev. R. E. Brown, Iowa City, Iowa ……. 1.25 "What tho ten times that which is Bhickley(Nebraska)Union Y. P. S. C. E … 7.00 needed for these purposes should be contributed by our churches? It would We also acknowledge $12 from Miss be but a garnered supply from which to equip other soldiers of the cross who Florence G. Coulson, of Paterson, N. J., will reinforce God's conquering host on to be applied to carrying the Gospel that island. into Tibet. It has been forwarded to •, We are committed to this work. Qur the Tibetan Mission Band. The Congregational Home Mission- ant note, for all symphonized with the ary Society, whose headquarters are in mind of the Spirit. While much that New York City, will observe its seven· was helpful in the conference must be tieth anniversary here June 2d-4th, in looked for only in its effect upon the the Center Church, of which Rev. New· lives of those who were privileged to be 1p.llIl Smyth, D.D., is pastor. present, there was much of permanent value in the addresses, which will make The great missionary convention of the volume of printed reports most weI· 1888 was not in Liverpool, as stated in come to all students of missions. This the April REVIEW (p. 242), but in Lon· volume, which appears under the title don; the Liverpool convention took place in 1860. "Make Jesus King," * contains ad· dresses by Eugene Stock, Egerton Young, F. B. Meyer, Dr. George Smith, The Shah of Persia, Nasir·ed-Din, and Arthur T. Pierson, and is supple· who for nearly fifty years has occupied mented with fifteen valuable charts repthe throne of Persia, was assassinated . resenting the religions of the WOl'ld, the by a fanatic on May 1st. The heir pre· progress of evangelization, and the sumptive to the throne is ssid to be forces available for the work at home ignorant, bigoted, and intemperate; but and abroad. Every volunteer should at this date (May 2d) it is not certain possess this report; it is inspiring and that he will be the ruler of " The Land educating.
of the Sun." May God direct this The story of the Congo Mission, which tragedy to the estabishment of His kingdom in Persia.-D. L. P. is one of unique interest and sug- It is SI1id that the Czar of Russia con· gestiveness, is recorded by Mr. J. B.
Myer t in a small book profusely illus· trated and containing much valuable templates proclaiming religious freedom information. This acconnt has to do throughout the empire on the occasion especially with the Baptist Congo Mis· of his coronation (May 26th). The char- sion, but also deals in general with tho acter of the Russian priests is indicated country, people, language, and climate by the fact that they are not only mak- of the Congo Free State, and discusses ing strong protests against such a step, to some extent the work of other socie· but that they desire a renewal of the per· ties engaged in work of the kingdom secutions of the Stundists on the ground there.
that the Protestant faith is growing too rapidly.-D. L. P. The map of Africa which appears in this issue is reproduced by the Christ's Mission (142 West Twe~ty courtesy of the Young People's Mis· first Street, New York City) has accom- sionary Society, from one in use by plished a great work among Roman them in the Young People's Missionary Catholics. Several eminent priests Journal.
have recently been converted. Rev. " Africa Illustrated," t a volume of James O'Connor is a faithful steward, b~t the mission is $10,000 in debt. views showing daily life on the Dark Continent, will add much interest to the Books Notioed. study of missions among the people of Africa. Few conferences, if any, have been more manifestly under the guidance of *" Make Jesus Kiug." Student Volunteer the Spirit than that which met in Liver- Missionary Union, London, England. 4 shillings. pool in January last at the invitation of the British Student Volunteer Union. t "The Congo for Christ." By J. B. Myer. No one of the speakers struck adiscord- *Fleming H. Revell Co., 75 cents. Published by Illustrated A/rica, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, $1.00.
GENERAL MIBSIOliARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY BEV. D. L. LEONARD.
Extracts a.nd Translations from Foreign masters and servants, good and bad, as Periodicals. among us; that you are only men as BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, we are, only that your skin Is of an· other color. Now, if a white man MASS. comes to us, we shall know better how AFRICA. to deal with him. We will tirst ascer- -Our Anglo-Saxon habit of spoiling tain whether he is a great lord. A ser· the natives of barbarous countries that vant must not put on airs. If he does, visit ours, or where we cannot do that, he shows out for a liar. But a free of spoiling ourselves over them, by man, who has a will and knows how to making them out to be what they are use it, will now and ever have honor not, it appears is not confined to us_ among us. ' "
Superintendent Merensky, speaking of -" The bishopric of Zanzibar, va· some natives of the slopes of Kilimanjaro, cant by the death of Bishop Smythles, brought to Berlin by the traveller, has been tilled up by_ the appointment Otto Ehlers, remarks: "Our news- of the Rev. W. M. Richardson, Vicar papers, which in colonial matterl are of Ponteland, near Newcastle. He hal not very Apt to be of sound head, pom- been chiefly engaged in parochial work, pously described the three strangers as but has some experience of teaching. 'princes. envoys, and ministers pleni- He is, of course, a very High Church· potentiary.' In reality these were sim- man. We trust that the new bishop, ple cowboys. It was again seen how un- . who took his degree in 1869, and Is, reasonable it was in Europe to make such therefore, presumably not less than Africans a mere object of curiosity and forty·six, has not passed the age at gaping wonder. They were loaded with which one may safely enter upon work presents of toys, which disgusted them. in Central Africa." • What is all this stuff for?' said they; 'this ia only for fools and chil- _" Miss Josephine Bartlett, who had dren.' They did indeed value one pres- labored for twenty years in conne€tion ent-some locksmiths' tiles. A circus with the Universities Mission at Kiunperformance displeasod them. 'Such gani, has died. 'When we who had a dance is bad, is evil magic. A wom- been scattered far and wide in the dif· an who dances so is a sorceress, she is ferent parts of our wide field of labor returned to Zanzibar, it was to Miss bad,' said they. "Their spokesman, at taking leave Bartlett that we all naturally turned, as to the one who would be the most interof Berlin, spoke as follows: " , We have seen many things in Ber- ested to hear all we had to tell of the lin, but have already forgotten many of work and workers far away, and who them. But one thing we have seen would evince the deepest sJmpBthy.' very plainly, which we shall not for- So writes Archdeacon Chauncey Maples, get, but shall tell to everybody at home. the bishop-designate of Nyasaland."- When a white man came to us we used Ohurcl& Mi8sionary InteUigencer • always to take him for a great, influen- -The working together in any toler- tial man. We said, " The whites are all able terms of peace of English Protest· rich; they stand in God's neighbor- ants and French Catholics having been hood." Now, since we have seen Ger· found impossible in Uganda, Rome many, we know better. We have seen Jla.s wisely determined to remove at least that here too there are rich and poor, the removable cause of friction, and to
EXTBACTS AND TBAl'fSLATIONS
sUbstitute English missionaries for brief activity, while sickness has great- French. Bishop Hanlon, of Manches- ly diminished the forces of the others, ter, takes BiS}lOp Hirth's place, and some of whom are compelled to leave takes with him a body of English priests for their health's sake for a longer or to replace the French. On the other shorter time. " – AtmindeUg Kirkeeid6nde hand, the new bishop avows his inten- (Provost VAHL).
tion to disregard the territorial division between the two religions. The root of . -Of the several Barotsi chiefs that trouble was planted when Cardinal have become Christians, one, Semonja Lavigerie, going back from his own or Sabeho-all the Barotsls have sev- word, sent Roman Catholics into a coun- eral names-is a son-in-law of the king.
try where Protestants had already been " He unites to a rare mildness a great laboring for some two years. force of character," says M. Coillard.
The Barotsis, men and women, are -" Far more compactly than various very free of speech, natural orators.
other Congo societies does the Swediah The movement which, after several Missionary League labor on the northern years of disconsolate waiting, very bank: of the Lower Congo. The three much like that of the first Moravian stations first established, Mukimbungu, missionaries in Greenland, has now Kibunzl, and Diadia, are now augment. broken out throughout the country, ed by two more, Uganda and Londe, manifests itself in free conferences at besides some out-stations. The stations which all have liberty to speak, men, have been provided with buildings, in women, children, chiefs and common- part of stone; transportation has been ers, free and bond. Of one, attended regulated, the training of the natives, by some seventy, M. Coillard says: old and young, to work, has been taken "There were beautiful things said in up; schools have been established for this simple gathering, where everybody adult men and for children, and others spoke so unrestrainedly, and whose gen- for women. There are 178 school chil- eral theme was Lot's Wife. One poor dren and 78 members. About a dozen woman told us that she had come from native evangelists are at work, for the bottom of the valley of Sefula. On whose training an evangelists' school her way she had found people working has been set up in Diadia. God's word in their fields. She accosted them, and is zealously proclaimed at the stations invited them to come to hear the word and by-stations, as well as in the neigh- of God_ They replied with contempt: boring villages. Diligent labor is laid • It is no longer the m01'11ti (missiona.ry) out on translations, and Missionary who comes to remind us that it is the Westlind is drawing up a grammar of Lord's day; now it is these fag-ends of the Fioti language. The New Testa- women folks I Begone 1 Be off to ment, biblical narratives, and a hymn- play the believer, if you imagine tha t book are printed on the hand-press in the missionaries are going to give you Kibunzi, and a beginning of a native cloths and beads·,' • Oh, my masters,'
literature has been made by the publica- answered the poor thing, • I am noth- tion of a missionary sheet and a little ing but a poor slave, to be sure. I am almanac. In Mukimbungu there has nothing, but I feel the need of learning been established a medical mission; but the things of God. Oh, no, it is not unhappily the physician, Dr. Walftrd- cloth or beads that I am looking for.
son, after laboring barely two years, What could I do with them? I have fell a victim to the climate just as an never worn anything but this bodice of apothecary was about to be sent out to skin. But I am a great sinner. and his assistance. Besides the physician, what I seek is the pardon of my sins I"
the mission since 1889 has lost 10 labor- " Everything is caprice and surprise ers of both sexes bl li(lll,t4, After only lAo il Mri<;~-9~e day fallille j the next,
GlilNERA.L MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
abundance, nay, even superabundance. as I said to him only yesterday-speak- Drought desolates us, and then it does ing of his personal habits-" he aban- not rain but that it pours. The post, dons all that made his life, piece by while we hope for better things, is the piece; but he cannot decide to give plaything of the same caprice. We himseU. Pray continually for him."
have more than once been nine long St. Augustine, about 420, remarks months without a single letter. We are that many Christians of his day thought now only at the end of April, and here that the coming of Christ was at hand, already are four mails from Europe because, said they, the Gospel had now since New Year's. One really believes been preached in all the world. He re- he is dreaming when he receives at Lea- minds them how very far the Roman luyi, in mid-April, letters coming from world is from being the whole actual Europe, and dated toward the middle world. There are, he remarks, many of January. Is this going to last? races, and even unknown races, to Does this announce to us the approach which the Gospel had not yet been of railways, of telegraphs, of tele- preached, and to which God had not yet phones? • •. .As to the telegraph, we made it possible to preach it. .. Even have long since known it as being in in the heart of our own Africa," says Mashonaland on its march to Alexan- he, " how many tribes there are of which dria by way of Nyasa, Tanganyika, we have no knowledge, and to which we Victoria Nyanza, and the Nile I A few have no access I" How different the years more and the iron horse will have case now, as to the world at large, and reached Palapye. It is far from the as to Africa in particular I time when I quitted the Cape and trav- " The answer of a woman patient at ersed the melancholy wilderness of the Tangier shows that in the land most Karroo in ox-wagons I" cursed by Mohammedanism the testi- The king, Lewanika, still maintains monyof God's Word has its answering close friendship with the missionaries, echo in the human heart. 'I asked to- but shows very faint signs of a heart day,' writes Miss ViJ].ing, 'who has sin?
touched by the Gospel. On the con- And one woman at the back of the . trary, his royal pride becomes more ex- room, whose clear brown eyes had been aggerated every day. This African always attentively fixed on me, said, grand monarque seems as deeply en- "Everyone but God," and when I gaged over questions of footstools and said nothing we could do would cleanse glass necklaces as that great pattern of away our sin, " Alms won't do it, fast- false greatness, Louis Quatorze, used to ing won't do it, and men going to Mecca be over questions of tabourets and arm- won't do it, they go with sin and they chairs, who had the right to sit on come back with sin," one woman said, which. .As M. Coillard remarks, this half under her breath, "Yes, and some is no road to the sense of sin and the of them with a good deal more."'''- humility of a converted man. The Medical. MiBBion,.
missionary reasons with him against JAPAN. such antiquated arrogance, and he pro- fesses to be convinced; but meanwhile -Dr. DALTON, quoted in the Zeit- the royal ceremonial becomes more com- 3chriftfiilrMi&ionakunde,remarksonthe plicated every day. At this rate, says rapid growth of the Sunday-school in M. Coillard, the SUbjects and the slaves Japan, and its great value in diffusing will soon have no place left for them on the Gospel. He deseribes a session, the earth. .. The progress in civiliza- opening with a hymn, sung to our tion, all is for the king and his family, Anglo-Saxon tunes. .. You see easily nothing for the people. " The heir-ap- that the children delight in the hymn ; parent, Litia, seems to show a more occasionally also, no doubt, the spirit- Ohristian I!linq. "Poor Lewanika /" ual song of the little Sundar schola~1I
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS
resounds in many II heathen house, so cherry branch, on which little singing that the parents take up the words and birds rock themselves, accompanying melody. Then the leader offers a the Savior's words, "Behold the fowls prayer, often, it seems to me, too long of the air." On another, around a for the children, followed by the read- nosegay of lilies, runs the inscription, ing of the Scripture lesson, which is " Consider the lilies of the field."
then explained by the teachers, both The Zez'tschrift happily remarks that male, and often still more largely fe- the Buddhist imitation of the Sunday- male. These are mostly maidens of school is just such a sign of the impend- the people, who have themselves only ing collapse of Buddhism in Japan, as lately been baptized, and who cannot Julian the Apostate's futile attempts to forbear speaking to the little ones of introduce Christian usages and institu- Him who has so wonderfully touched tions into his decaying paganism was a their own heart and brought it to a sign of his despair. Conscious imitation glow. I have often found confirmed only succeeds where the principles are the remark of one who knows the land, the same; otherwise it only hastens that ' one can recognize in the features ruin.
of the young female Christians the " Wherever we would gain entrance gracious, transfiguring refulgence of for our faith among adherents of other the day that has risen lipon them.' " religions we are certainly bound, both In one Sunday-school Dr. Dalton was in justice and prudence, to acknowledge especially struck with two female help- all the truth and good we find already ers : here a young girl in somewhat in- prevailing among them. For instance, ferior attire, somewhat distorted in the Japanese can unquestionably give form, but her features reflected unmis- us lessons in filial reverence, obedience, takably her devoted care for the child- control over anger, moderation in our ish group entrusted to her, and her judgments of others. We are therefore warm affection for the Word of Life, bound to acknowledge this unreservedly which she was setting forth; and it to them."- Dr. Buss, in Zeitschrift fiM'
was plain to see by the attentively lis- Mi86ionskunde.
tening children that she understood how to touch the spot in the children's MISCELLANEOUS.
heart" where her word of the Holy -A small number of students in Den- Friend of the children finds a good mark having, as we see by the Blad, lodgment." Yonder ten or twelve been induced by Mr. Wilder to enter children around an old mother, by into the Students' Movement, exception years, toils and cares bowed sheer to has been taken to the solemn promise to the earth, and the little ones clustered go abroad. The students have there- around her as around a grandmother fore modified it into a profession of a who is disclosing to her grandchildren present intention to go abroad, not to a strange and wondrous story-world•. be lightly given up, but, in view of The pictures distributed, Dr. Dalton possible developments of duty, not bind- remarks, are wisely adapted to that ing with so much of the stringency of love of nature which so eminently dis- a vow. It is worthy of note that even tinguishes the Japanese. Here the ris- in the Catholic Church some of the later ing sun, on his edge It birdling trilling orders, especially the Oratorians and the his morning lay; the words are, " The Paulists, SUbstitute such a profession of kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent present intention for a vow, 80 that if therefore." There the snow·crowned strong reasons should appear for leav- Fujiyonama, and on the azure heaven ing the order, the conscience may not the words, " And tho I had all faith, so be entangled by an irrevocable engage- that I could remove mountains," etc. ment. As an eminent Roman Catholic Around another CArd twines a flowering c1ergyml'.ll hM sa,id to the present writ.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
er: .. Vows hardly agree with a free -" In Buddhism at once it may be age and a free land." Tho present dis- affirmed without qualification there is position to reintroduce them among no such conception as that of sin. Tak- Protestants is of dubious import. " Be ing sin in its primary sense, as trans- not entangled again with the yoke of gression against a personal Creator, sin bondage. ., there cannot be in a system which knows no such being. Sin, as it offers -" Millions at this moment are ready itself to the view of the Christian con· to die for Christ. A dead Socrates, a sciousness, in all its complex antago- dead Marcus Aurelius, a dead Francis nism to duty and love to God, in all its of ABsisi can do nothing for the world ; varied opposition to our service and but tho Christ died-yea. X'ather, He rose obedience to Him. in all its manifold again, and He has proclaimed His uni- ramifications of relationship to our fel· versal dominion~ Confucius owns many low-man, is not a possible conception followers over a vast space of the to the Buddhist mind. The creative world's surface, but he appeals to the and the fatherly idea lies at the root of Chinese alone; Mohammed has many all such manifestations and exercises of adherents, but he appeals only to Turks moral goodness. Buddhism has sup- and Arabians and certain Eastern peo- pressed the witness of the conscl~nce in pIes; but Christ appeals to every man man to God. It has denied His exist· who is born into the world. The old ence. Buddhism has thus far tended to man dies in the peace of Christ, and the delete from the tablets of the souls the little Christian child, on its death-bed, fundamental conception of sin. The whispers the same holy name. If we contrast, then, between sin in Christian take the very foremost men in genius and Buddhist theology breaks down whom this world has ever produced-a through its incompleteness. The other Dante, a Milton, a Newton-we find limb, in fact, of the comparison is want· them weeping over the records of that ing. Sin is everything in the Christian life which was given for man. But breed ; in the Buddhist fabric of belief none the less, when that story of Christ's it is not found." -Rev. G. ENSOR, in.
love is told to the very humblest and Ohurch MiBBionary Intdlig6nct11'.
meanest of mankind it comes home to their hearts; and I was told by the late saintly Bishop of Moosonee, who was English Notes. my friend and my guest, that if at this day you were to go down the bleak BY JAMES DOUGLAS. shores of Hudson's Bay, there-among those poor, I had almost said degraded Ohina Inland Mi88ion.-The account -at any rate, those poor, once savage supplied by Mr. F. A. Redfern of Indians and Eskimo-you would find .. Fruit Gathered" in Lan-chau, Kan- the Bible in almost every wigwam, and suh, is interesting, not only on account you would find in many of those poor, of the cases cited, but for the light cast converted savages, a humble student of on the difficulties in the way of the open the life of Christ in the Word of God. confession of Christ. Months and some- Therefore our commission is plain and times years transpire before faith is suffi- our duty is positive-to obey that last ciently reinforced by courage for the divine command by extending the area step of avowal to be taken. Mr. Red· of Christianity, by carrying further the fern gives details in respect of a number victories of Christianity, and by pro- of such cases, and magnifies the grace claiming to the remotest nations of the whereby several families have come out world the name of their Savior Christ_" boldly for the Lord. Nine persons -Archdeacon (now Dean) FARRAR, in have thus recently crossed" the rubi- Ohuroh MiB8ionarv Intelligenw. con, " and hope is elltertailled that Qthellj
ENGLISH NOTES
will speedily gather courage for testi· worship, and a large number on Sun· mony. days.
Sought and Found.-Under thic head, Work among t7te Ainus, Japan.-This Mrs. Simpson gives a graphic account work is full of promise. At the service of how a Chinese woman found the held at Pimtori, the capital, on the oc- Lord. A.bout a year previous Mr. Simp· casion of Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor'S visit, son had preached in the village of 200 Ainus were present. "We began," Ohih·li, where the woman and her hus· says Mr. Niven, who is now staying at band lived. Within six months the Piratori for the study of the language, husband fell ill and died, but as his end .. with the hymn' Je@uB loves me,' and drew near he said to his wife, •• When if the readers of the lntelligencer could I am gone you must go and visit them only have heard it sung they would [the missionaries], and inquire more fully have had a very definite turn given to about this doctrine. It is too late for their praises that day." The Ainu me; I cannot go, and I cannot find the Christians now number 449, among way, altho I want to do so ; but per· whom there are some bright and shinhaps God will take me after all." As ing lights. time went on the woman became might· ily convinced of sin. Eventually, after T'ai-chow, Ohina.-In December last nearly a year had passed from the time the Rev. J. C. Hoare made a three of the missionary's visit, she made her weeks' tour in the above district and way to the station, voicing her need in baptized several converts at each station the words: .. Yes, if you want to know v!sited-38 in all, of whom 27 were the biggest sinner iu the hall, here she adults. Mr. Hoare notes that a forward is." She wanted the Gospel, she want· movement was manifesting itself at the ed the Savior, and the Savior wanted close of the year, and that the people her. The result was that she speedily were recovering from the restraining found the pearl of great price. Simple effects of the war and war's alarms. and childlike in her faith, she sought to know Jesus' own words, and when she EngZislt Presbyterian Mi8sion.-The got them she stuck to them, and made Rev. C. Campbell Brown writes hope· them her pillow on which to rest. Her joy in the Lord continues to be very fully of his work in aMnc1ww. Along great. •• People think me crazy," she says; "but they do not know the pre· with a native preacher and his wife he cious Mediator I have got." has been evangelizing in the villages, sometimes walking many miles and The Story of Ohu·ping·Zan.- We have preaching wherever people could be not space to tell the graphic story of gathered to listen. .. Again and again, " this Chinaman's conversion, or what per· he says, .. we came upon men who secutions he endured. Suffice it to say seemed to drink in the Gospel. The that, constrained by the love of Jesus, wiiling hearers make any amount of he now superintends, in the busy cit.y labor worth while." In Chinchew itof 0 hao·ch'eng, an opium refuge. Since self the work grows visibly. the opening of this refuge, four and a half years ago, nearly 500 persons have Un·Sio.-In Un·Sio, which is near broken off opium. Not a few of these Ohangpoo, Formosa, there are the faint opium patients have. turned from idols beginnings of a Gospel work. Hopes to serve the living God, and to wait for are entertained that a preacher will be His Son from heaven. There is now a appointed to this sphere. The town is growing church in the city. About 50 one of some commerce, and faces the persons meet together every evening for sea. At present Un-Sio wails, practi. cally virgin soil, for its apostle.
The S. P. G. Mission.-The total in· come of the Society for the Propagation oj the Gospel amounted, in 1895, to
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
£118,258 lOs. 9d. The Bishop of Cape ern Berbers to listen to the Gospel. At Town warmly acknowledges the help the Harley House Training Institute, rendered by this mission to the church Bow, London, a young German of de- in his diocese for now nearly half a cen· cided talent and grace is preparing with tury. or The Church's outward growth a view to mission work among the Ber- and ever.increasing strength," he says, bers. His ling~al talent is most marked.
.. would have been utterly impossible London Missionary Society.-The edu· but for that help." In Osaka, Japan, a new bishopric has cational work in Travancore has greatly been constituted; while in Mahanoro, grown, tho there is still urgent need for Madagascar, the progress of the work a great enlargement of the means requi. is exemplified by the recent presentation site in providing for an adequate :sup. of over 50 candidates for confirmation. ply of trained native preachers. At .present there are 16 students, but three Baptist Missionary Society. -Writing times.that number are called for to meet from Watlteu Station, Lower Congo, the needs of 328 congregations, as well Miss de Hailes reports encouraging as evangelistic work among the Hindu progress. .. The school," she says, .. is community. greatly increased since I was here last The vernacular boys' schools of the year. There are 'now 135 boys and 15 mission number 329, with nearly 13,000 girls. . .. The ruling principle of the scholars; while the development of the station is love. All the work seems so real and solid. It is the life lived which zenana branch of the work has been nothing short of marvelous, there being sheds such a spiritual influence on those now 88 female native workers, 3000 around, and is leading many to the Sav- Hindu women under instruction in-their ior ; quite as much, I b!llieve, as the homes, and nearly 5000 girls of all words spoken. Last year, when I went classes in the schools. home, there were 17 church·members, 3 of whom were being supported by the King-Shan.-The success of the work others as evangelists. Now there are in King·Shan has been such a surprise 46 church·members, 4 of the number to Dr. Griffith John that, tho he has being evangelists supported by the had forty years' experience in China, members." he confesses, " I rejoice over it greatly, Italy.-A new hall has been opened but I rejoice with trembling." He in Florence, and after a month's ex· adds, "on this visit we have had 91 perience the prospects are encouraging. baptisms in King·Shan, of whom 60 are' 1<lr. Nathaniel A. Shaw, who is charged adult converts from heathenism." The with the work, is now giving a series of work in this district is not quite two historical lectures on the great reform· years old; and already it is difficult to ers, .. and these," he says, "are being see to what it is going to grow. " The listened to with the most rapt attention kindness of the King·Shan Christians," by large audiences." The entire ex· says this veteran, missionary, "I shall pense of fitting up this hall has been never forget, neither can I forget their met by a friend whose name Mr. Shaw earnel:!tness and zeal."
is not at liberty to publish, but for THE KINGDOM. whose generosity he thanks God and the donor. -In the largest and truest sense there South Morocco Mission.-This mission is no" negro problem" any more than has now been at work for seven or eight there is an .. Anglo·Saxon problem."
years. The founder is Mr. John Ander. The only problem which faces any pas- son, Glasgow. Mr. Nairn, ,the superin- tor or patriot or parish is the " human tendent, confirms the tidings of the problem. " And it is all capable of comparative willingness of the South- being resolved into simple terms which apply equally to every race and condi- which He is preparing us by shutting tion.-.Re1>. O. M. BheTiWn. us up to Himself. "-Mi8sionary Herald.
~The Rev. R. S. Storrs says: "The -God moves in a mysterious way, foreign missionary work tends to pre- His wonders to perform. Dr. Jacob sent on a wider and a cosmical scale the Chamberlain, of India, several years power of the Gospel for renovating the since wrote a little tract entitled •• Wind· world. We get the idea that the Gos- ing up a Horse," whose influence has pel is admirable for the nursery, excel- been so great as to be the means of turnlent for the sick, beautiful for Sunday- Ing $80,000 into the missionary fund of schools ; but we should also believe that the Reformed (Dutch) Church.
it is equal to great cosmical effects. -A letter from Mexico in the Mia· Such have been witnessed in Patagonia, Bionary Herald says: .. Various circum· in the Fiji Islands, in New Zealand, in stances had operated to prepare the way Madagascar, and elsewhere. They re- in an unusual manner for the reception inforce our faith in the potency of the of the Gospel. The just and Christian croSB." conduct of an American mining com· -For the present I believe the call of pany located here has been an Indirect Mazzini to Italy to be the real summons but powerful influence in favor of Protof the Christian minister to the indi- estant Christianity." This is, indeed, vidual: "Say to men, • Come, suffer; .. an unusual manner" of preparation, you will perhaps be deceivt:d, be be– and the fact seems to be established that trayed ; but you have a great duty to 801M corporations do have souls, and accomplish.' They will be deaf, per- consciences too.
haps for a long time, to the severe voice -A touching incident is related of of virtue, but on the day that they do two Mohammedans in Asia .Minor, decome to you, they will come as heroes, siring the Word of God, but hiding it and will be invincible."-Rev. B. F. for fear of persecution. One bought Mills. the Scriptures in Spanish, and learned -Mr. Peet, of Constantinople, writes: the language, that he might read it in " It seems to me that we have an un- safety_ Another walked 100 miles and usual opportunity before us; the dif- paid $1.50 for a copy-all he could ferences between the Protestant com- spare from a year's work.
munity and the Gregorians are fast -A hundred years ago the Scottish malting away. The position taken by Church, through some of its ministers, the American missionaries in this time pronounced this missionary idea 1;0 be of sorrow to the Armenian people is .. highly preposterous," and one of the giving them a place in the hearts of the praised, .. the happy ignorance of the Armenians which they never held be- untutored savage." A bishop of the fore. It is probable that we have be- Church of England publicly and pow- fore us opportunities without a parallel erfully argued against the idea of mis- in the history of these missions, and if sionary enterprise. Parliament declared we are able and have courage and grace against it. The servants of England in given us to hold on through the present the East treated OUI first missionaries as visitation, our position in this land breakers of the law. But for the char- will be such as never could have been ityof a Hindu usurer, the first mission· gained in any other way." And an- ary family in Bengal would at one time other missionary at the same capital: have had no roof t.o cover their heads.
" The best feature of the whole case is But for the courage of the gO'fernor of the clear acceptance by all the mis· a little Danish settlement, the next mis- sionaries of the faith that God has some sionary family who went to Bengal great blessing in store for us all for would have been seized by the English consul in Calcutta and shipped back to Missionary liIociety have rented a house .Europe. in Newton Center, which they placed in charge of Mrs. O. L. George, former- A hundred years ago the sense of the lya missionary in Burma, and here such churches, the policy of Parliament, the of their candidates for missionary serinstinct of self· preservation among Eng- vice as were not more advantageously lishmen who were working for Eng- pursuing their studies elsewhere have land in distant lands, were all arrayed found a home. and completed their against the missionary idea.-8ir Wil- preparation for missionary service by liam W. Hunter. taking advantage of the f~ci1ities afford- ed in Newton Theological Institution. -The Presbyterian ReDiew quotes the This enterprise, which was first begun following extract from the Catholic as something of an experiment, has com- New8, of Trinidad, which must be pub- mended itself so strongly to the Womlished in an exceedingly bilious climate, an's Board that they have now erected, or else, let the Bible Society be abated: by means of special contribUtions, a •• That most pernicious of all pernicious home for their missionary candidates. It sects-the Protestant Bible Society-is is located in the immediate vicinity of again at its murderous work. Its false the Theological Institution. Up to the prophets are galvanized into temporary present time the house has cost $17,140. activity, and this time it is the' benighted ' Catholics of Spanish America who -It was during the visit of Adoniare to have the peace of their homes ram Judson to this country in 1845 that invaded and the sanctity of their relig- the story of his own sufferings, as well ion vilified by psalm-singing twaddlers. as his account of the Karen people, led Gospel tramps, and ignorant hirelings, the women of the Gloversville, N. Y., who are a'Jout as competent to explain Baptist Church to organize the Karen the Word of God as a Hottentot is to Association, with their pastor's wife as lecture on bimetalism. These paid leader. The primary object Was to supemissaries of a society which gathers port a native missionary among the into Its coffers the savings of dyspeptic Karens. The sum needed was $35. old maids, these self-constituted apos- This band of 15 women set about earntles. laymen clothed in clerical garb, ing the money by sewing on gloves. carryon an infamous traffic in a Bible At the end of the year the needed sum which they cannot understand, and yet was secu~ed and forwarded to the Misprofess to explain to the addle-pated sionary Union. A few years later the dupes who are weak enough to listen to sum was increased to $50, and still later them. All honor, then, to the Catholics to $100. Twenty-five years before the of South America who have expelled organization of the Woman's Baptist the evangelical carpet-baggers. The Foreign Missionary Society the women priests and people of Spanish America of the Karen Association pledged themwill not remain passive while the slimy selves to pay three pennies per week serpent of heresy endeavors to imprint into the treasury. This is believed to its poisonous fangs in the souls of their be the first society on record whose little ones. If the Venezuelans are members were pledged to a certain ignorant of anything, it is of the use of number of pennies per week for mistar and feathers, a judicious application sionary purposes. of which would be sufficient to keep the brawling ranters of the Bible So· -Helping Hand has these words reciety at a safe distance from their garding the inspiration of missionary shores." studies: ' Our mission circles open to women an inexhaustible and inspiring WOMAN'S WORK. field of study. We have an investment in India, and India has a new interest -For several years the Board of Directors of the Woman's Baptist Foreign for us. We are caring for some gifted Jews. We are not surprised, and only woman while she teaches those black, wonder that they did not take their barbarous children of ours in Africs- course sooner; and we are much surand we want to know Africa itself. prised that Dr. John Hall and Dr. D. J. Our missionary contributions are giving Burrill are so courageous as to continue us an ownership in old Earth that makes to stand as its sponsors. Nearly a year her most distant lands dearer than the ago we gave a list of Jewish missions homestead of our childhood. What a in this city, and took conspicuous pains literature is open to our study I Facts not to indorse Mr. Warszawiak's soci· before which fiction pales; truths be- ety. We do not pretend to have made hind which romance must hide herself. as thorough an investigation of the Read faithfully the best of our mission- charges against him as has Dr. Schaufary periodicals, with their heroic history fier, who publicly charges him with of our day, and you will feel that you being a persistent liar, and with specuhave trod the borderland of heaven and lation in trust funds, and we do not listened to angel choirs. " therefore indorse this indictment; but we do know that Mr. Warszawiak's -The annual report of the Church of attempt to raise $60,000 for a big Scotland's Women's Association for 'Christ's Synagog,' where bis Chris- Jewish Missions states that there are tian Jews shall herd by themselves to 958 girls in the mission schools, 819 of his great honor and glory, is uttetly them being Jewesses. There are now foolish and needless, and is enough to 2 medical nurses at Smyrna under the throw suspicion on the wisdom, if not association, and a lady evangelist at Al- good faith, of this persuasive preacher exandria who does excellent work in to Christians." visiting the homes of the Jewish girls in attendance at the school. The in- -Indian schools have been carried on come is steadily rising. It appears that for a long time, but almost without obthe total amount of subscriptions and servation so far as the general public donations is £1001, as compared with are concerned. But if satisfactory ar- £698 for 1894, or an increase of £302. rangements can be made for transporta- tion and entertainment W. N. Hail- AMERICA. mann, National Superintendent of Ind- ian Schools, proposes to hold summer United States.-There is a town on institutes for Indian school employees at the Upper Snake River, in Idaho, called St. Paul, San Francisco, and Lawrence, New Sweden. Hans Hansen is mayor Kan., next season. The tentative date of the tOWD, Peter Petersen is clerk, for St. Paul is July 20th-25th. and the common council is composed of Pete Hansen, Hans Petersen, Peter -There are 4961 Indian members of Hans Petersen, Hans Peter Hansen, the churches under the care of the Presand Peter Hansen Hans Petersen. No byterian B:Jard of Home Missions. Last relationship exists among these men. year these people contributed toward But where, pray, is the Anp:lo-Saxon all the support of their own work $3459, this time? and for foreign missions, $2652.
-The Independent gives this severe -The Baptist Publication Society has arraignment of a much-advertised move- 4 church cars in constant use for misment: "Seven leading clergymen of sionary tours. One of the~e recently this city, Drs. Josiah Strong, C. H. reached San Francisco from a southern Parkhurst, H. A. Stimson, S. H. Vir- trip. It is 85 feet long, with the living gin, W. H. P. Faunce, J. R. Davies, apartments of the pastor at one end and F. F. Ellinwood, have issued a and a completely appointed church occard withdrawing from the Board of cupying the rest of the space. It con- Hermann Warszawiak's mission to the tains an organ, lectern and pulpit. The car carries Bibles in 12 languages, and West Indians, and East Indians. Of large stocks of religious publications. the ministerial members whose names The railroads haul the cars free' of are on the roll to·day, 1, the father of charge, and the telephone companies the Presbytery, is a West Indian, 1 is furnish "franks" to the pastors in an East Indian, 2 are Scotsmen, and charge. No collections are made at 6 are Canadians: while of the mem- any of the services. Whenever a like- bers who are ruling elders, 2 are of ly place for work is found the car is West Indian origin, 2 are East Indians, sidetracked. and 2' are of Portuguese extraction.
-In Alaska the Presbyterians have 8 The membership of the church has been mission stations: Chilcat, Fort Wran. and is even more varied in origin. We gle, Hoonah, Juneau, Point Barrow, St. have Scotsmen, Englishmen, Portu- Lawrence Island. Hydah, and Sitka. guese, Danes, Canadians, Chinese, Afri- Swedish Lutheran, 4 stations: Golvin cans, Trinidadians, and natives of al- Bay, Unalaklik, Kangekosork, and most every island in the West Indies, Yakatat. Moravian,4 stations: Bethel, while perhaps quite half of the whole Ougavig, Quinhaha. and Carmel. Epis- number are East Indians.
copal. 8 stations: Point Hope, Anvik, -Thirty years ago there was no or- and Fort Adams. Methodist. 1 station, ganized evangelical church or school Unalaska. Baptist. 1 station, Wood house in Mexico; the statistical results Island. Congregational. 1 station, Cape of twenty-five years' systematic work is Prince of Wales. Roman Catholic: as follows: Centers of operation, 90; Juneau, and 5 stations on the Yukon. congregations, 615; ordained missiona- The Russo·Greek Church has missions ries, 60; assistant missionaries and wives scattered through southeastern Alaska, of ordained and assistant missionaries, besides a few farther north. 60; lady teachers, 6"1 ; native preachers, -Father Chiniquy wrote lately to the ordained, 111 ; native preachers, unor· Ohriatian, of London, in the following dained, 164; native teachers, 177 ; other cheerful strain: .. I am happy to tell native helpers, 94; grand total of foryou that the number of converts from eign and native workers, 732; churches Rome now is much more than 45,000, organized, 444; communicants, 17,000 ; and it is rapidly increasing every day. probable adherents, 50,000.
We do not count less than 100 young -'-During the third quarter of the ministers of the Gospel, all converts, present century the word Mexico stood with whom it is my privilege to work. as the synonym for anarchy, misgovern- We have helped 37 priests to give up ment, despotism, and all other weaktheir errors to accept the Gospel." nesses and vices possible to a popular -These statements concerning the government. But since then so great Trinidad Mission of the Canadian Pres- have been the changes that Zion'a Her- byterian Church are full of interest. ald can write: .. President Diaz enjoys The work is mainly among the East the almost universal confidence and es- Indians, was begun in 1868, and there teem of his people. The country has are now 6 churches, with 635 commu- developed along many lines to a surpris- nicants, 3 native ministers, and 53 cate· ing degree under his discreet and effi- chists. Last year there were 359 bap- cient leadership. There was a touch of tisms. In the 54 East Indian schools egotism in his recent message to Con- there is an average daily attendance of gress in which he reviewed the progress 2168. The first ministers were Scots- made under his administration; the men, and there have been Scotch memo peaceful relations maintained with for- bers of the Presbytery ever since; but eign powers, the sanitary regulations there have been associated with them adopted, the charitable institutions aid- Portuguese, Americans, Canadians, ed, the expansion of mining industries, railroad, telegraph, and postal exten- had a very successful year, the efforts sion, the hopeful condition of the na- of 9 agents and 121 native colporteurs tional finances, etc.-but he has solid having been crowned with much bless- ground for complacency; he richly ing. The Hankow Press printed 13,000 deserves the honors heaped upon him." New Testaments, and 350,000 portions, EUROPE. with nearly 1,000,000 tracts. A second annotated Gospel, that of St. Matthew, Great Britain.-The British and For- is about" to be issued from the same eign Bible Society distributes on an press. To various parts of Africa, to average over 13,000 copies of the Bible South America, and to the Colonies, daily, nearly 4,000,000 a year. Its in- Scriptures have been sent for circulafluence is continually extending more tion through various agencies. Among widely over the whole world; the Bible other versions published or issuing from being now translated into the languages the press, is the Mang'anja version by of nine tenths of the human race. At Rev. David Clement Scott, of the Blanthe beginning of the century it had only tyre mission.
been translated into the languages of -The Universities' Mission of the one fifth. Church of England has sent into the -One of the vice-presidents of the African field no less than 7 bishops, of British Bible Society has issued a pam- whom 3 still survive. Of the other 4, phlet which shows that the Bible is now 1 is buried without memorial in his printed in 381 languages, no less than cathedral in a lone grave by the Zam- 52 versions having been added in the besi; another, the builder of the cathe· last five years. Forty-two of these ver- dral, rests alongside of its altar ; a third sions are credited to the English and sleeps also without a memorial in his Scotch translators and societies, and to cathedral, beneath the waves of the Ind· American societies, 5. What toil this ian Ocean, and now the fourth has sunk meant to the translators is easily seen to rest in the waters of the Nyassa, hard from the fact that in the list 23 languages by Cape Maclear.
and dialects belong to the African Bantu ,~ -The foreign mission work of the family, 4 belong to each of the follow- Irish Presbyterian Church is carried on ing : Malayan, Chinese, and Melanesian; in the province of JUjarat and Kathia- 3 are Indian languages; 2 each belong war (Bombay Presidency, India), and in to the negro, Turki, Druidian and Manchuria (North China). It has 23 Hamitic groups, and 1 each to the missionaries at work, 3 of them medical Tibeto-Barman, Aryan and Micronesian missionaries, imd there are 3 native pasfamilies. Such a description is strik- tors and 194 native Christian workers ingly significant. (evangelists, teachers, etc.). There is -The National Bible Society of Scot- an annual collection taken up in all the land had an income of £25,976 in 1895, congregations of the church-561 in which exceeded that of 1894 by £3338, number-for the foreign mission. The but the expenditure was £30,642, being collection taken Za8t Janua'l'1J was the larger than that of the previous year by large8t in the history of the mimon, £1666. The issues of Scriptures were amounting to somewhere about £6600.
814,408, the largest circulation yet re- This is all the more satisfactory as a ported. The total issues since 1861 sum of above £1400 has been recently amount to 15,654,307 Scriptures. On raised by a special effort to send out a the Continent 198 colporteurs circulated number of our student volunteers, who, the Scriptures in 12 countries, from Nor- on the completion of their course, offered way to Macedonia. In India, Korea, themselves to the Church to go to the and Japan, Bible work has been vigor- foreign field on any terms that the funds ously prosecuted. In China the society of the mission would permit. Three of the tJ who thus offered are already in but 62,000 Protestants in Italy out of a the field. population of some 30,000,000. Nor is – Thirteen missionaries are about to that all. A large proportion of the 29,- sail for Manchuria, sent by the United 000,000 odd have forsaken the Catholi- Presbyterian Church of Scotland, which cism of their youth, having found it has a very promising mission field there. honeycombed with superstition, and now The work was interrupted by the late are blatant skeptics of all religion.
war between China and Japan, and one -The Norwegian Missionary Society, young missionary fell a martyr to Chi- which works mainly in Natal, Zululand, nese bigotry, but it is being resumed and Madagascar, has in Africa 14 main under most hopeful conditions. Six stations and. nearly 150 out-stations; in missionaries are also expected to leave Madagascar some 20 main stations, and shortly for Old Calabar, the oldest mis- upward of 500 out-stations. In Mada- sion field of the United Presbyterian gascar last year there were nearly 39,000 Church, which has suffered sadly of late communicants, and about 60 native mis- years through loss of life on account of sionaries.
the dangerous climate. -The mission work of the Russian -The complaining cry is, "Let us Church is generally overlooked or un- not rob Christendom of the Gospel in dervalued, and we may fail to note how our sentimental zeal for the redemption its missionaries work among the Buriat of heathendom." But a writer in the tribes of Eastern Siberia. They have April Ohureh MU8ionary InteUigeneer just accomplished an interesting and affirms: "Deducting, as seems fair, the difficult piece of work, the translation total of church collections and Easter of the liturgy of the Greek Church offerings, and also the endowment of into the dialect of the Yakuts. That schools, we have, as the amount con- language is so poor that it can only tributed parochially for home work, boast of 200 root words. For example, £5,369,232, and for foreign work, there is no word in the language for £251,102, which shows that for £1 bread, cereals being unknown in that which goes abroad there is £20 spent at inhospitable region. All words of high- . home. But since there are 33 times er religious significance–e.g., righteous- as many Mohammedans and heathen ness, faith, mercy, even justice, have abroad as there are people in England been imported bodily from the Russian. and Wales, we find that of the money contributed, 660 times as much is spent ASIA.
parocWally over Christian work for each India.-A generation ago Indill was nominal Christian at home as there is only beginning its career under the for each professing heathen or Moham- Queen's rule. Railroads were laying medan abroad. Of course this is not a their first rails, and schools were startfinal nor exact conclusion. The con- ing. Now there are 20,000 miles of tributions to purely Church of England railroads, and 15,000,000 of people who missionary societies in 1894 was over speak English fluently. Caste was £572,000; but then, on the other hand, rigid. Pilgrims swarmed all roads. there are the endowments of livings Now they are few. Then they swung which would have to be taken into ac- by their naked flesh from hooks, walked count in any close comparison." on iron spikes, threw themselves under The Continent.-Italy is a country Juggernaut's car and burned them- which many are apt to think does not selves. Now apologists are beginning offer a promising field for missionary to deny that such things happened.
effort. That, however, is not the opin- The monastic endowments are coming ion of the promoters of the Spezia mis- to be a stench in the nostrils of some sion, for the report states that there are good Hindus. One of their orthodox Buddhist papers, the Rei8 and Rayyat, also is often carried on in knee-deep of Calcutta, scores Mrs. Besant, the the- water. They glean the fallen ears with osophist, saying: "It behooves every their toes and fingers out of the muddy well-wisher of the country to tell her waters and catch fish in creels, wading plainly that sensible men do not want up to their waists in the same waters her eloquence for gilding what is rot- frequented by the alligator and buffalo.
ten. " .. The men's work Is as dirty and de· -For some time there has been a re- grading as that of the women; followmarkable movement of Dherd families ing the plough up to their waists in in and around Anand toward Christian- muddy water is not so hard or filthy as ity in connection with the Irish Presby- that of mending the banks of the fields terian mission. At the end of last year when the fioods go down. They bring there were 64 families on the roll of boat-loads of boughs from the jungles; new adherents, after some doubtful these are laid on the banks, and a thick cases had been deducted. At a more layer of mud is thrown on the top. recent date 34 adults and 22 children The mud has to be taken out of the were baptized, coming from 11 villages. bottom of the canals and rivers; the It is especially difficult, however, for men dive down and bring it to the surthe women to break off heathen cus- face in their arms, resting it against toms. .. Indeed, the winning of the their naked bodies; it is black and women to Christ is the solution of the semi-liquid, being the decayed vegetaproblem before us. Last Sabbath our ble mold brought down by the rivers, church here was crowded on the men's and has a peculiar, disgusting smell. side, while the women's side, contain· They have also to dive under water to ing only a third of the space of the find the holes made in the banks by other, was far from full. The great the alligators in which they lay their desideratum here just now is trust- eggs. Their tools for this work are worthy native women workers, under made from the iron-like wood of the the control and guidance of European palm, shaped somewhat ike the oar of lady missionaries." an outrigger; with this they slice down to the holes and build up the bank -The TravancoreDioce8an Record again in layers of brushwood and mud.
has the following graphic description As the black mud dries on their bodies of the condition of the PuJayans, one the men look like their scaly brothers of the depressed classes in Travancore : the alligators. To have to pass a boat- " The women become prematurely old load of men returning from work is an from working in the water under a infliction to anyone possessed of an tropical sun; the weeding and trans- ordinary nose for smelling, for they planting of paddy in low-lying fields is seldom if ever wash, and even if they their work, besides the harrowing of did, the water has the same disagree- the fields after ploughing. They may able odor. The pores of their skins be- be called, literally, human harrows, for come permanently impregnated with under a burning sun they may be seen this same smell of mud in which they sitting in rows, up to their necks in the work and on which their hovels, made muddy water,· which has been stirred of mud, leaves, and sticks, are put up."
up by the plough and the feet of the buffaloes. pulling out with their fingers -So far as known, the American and toes the weeds, particularly a Mission High School in Bombay is the troublesome, massy-looking weed, which only high school ill India where co- breaks into pieces under the plough, education exists. By taking so many and heaping them into little islands in of the pupils while very young, Mr.
the water or dragging the long, shiny and Mrs. Hume have succeeded in ere- things into the blW~. The reaping I1tin~ a public sentiment which, with unceasing vigilance on their part, has Abroad, Rev. Mr. Bergen, of Chefoo, done away with supposed eVils in mixed says that the terrible poverty prevailing schools. "These are day schools com- can only be known by those who spend posed entirely of children from heathen days and nights among the Chinese, see- families- I have had two most interest- ing them in their common life, and he ing mornings visiting two of them and adds: .. This is a bran-eating, not a the homes from which they come, with 11our-eating, people with which we have Mrs. Hume and the Bible women, to do-a grass-eating and root-eating Balubai and Kash'bai. We found the people. They live practically without children in a little room up a narrow meat. Should there be a happy demise 11ight of stairs, sitting on the 1100r of cow or mule, dog or donkey, througb against the walls with their slates on accident or tuberculosis or general de- the 1100r in front of them_ Such dear crepitude, there is a neighborhood feast.
little things as they are, all sizes, and They eat occasionally of wheat bread, in all Borts of costumes ; here a small buy a bit of pork, have a bowl of vege- boy, resplendent in pink and white silk tables, a few ounces of salt fish, but trousers, yellow satin jacket, and a cap just about as often as the ordinary with high white feather, and there a A.merican citizen indulges in terrapin bit of humanity entirely in nature's cos- or canvas-back ducks."
tume, a little living bronze statue who has dropped in for a few moments to -H. N. Lachlan, of Gan-King, writes see what is going on ; there little atoms that in China, especially in the south, of girls loaded with jewelry, whose " the bamboo is a.lmost as useful as the black beads show that they are already reindeer in Lapland, or the palm tree in married; and here is one with great Southern India. In furnishing your baunting black eyes with the red paint house it will supply you with tables, on her forehead, which may show that chairs, beds, sofas, stools, stands, she is doomed to life in an idol tem- screens, brooms, mats, mattresses, food, ple. "-Miss Abbie (Jhild. fuel, paper, pencil handles, cups, buck- China.-Mr. Denby, our Minister to ets, bird-cages, pipes, whether for smok- China, has sent forth the following cir- ing or bringing down rain from the cular to all our consuls in China under roof, not to mention its uses for carrydate of February 6th: "To the Consuls ing, building and boating."
of the United States,-Gentlemen: I ]apan.-It is reported that the Japhave the honor to inform you that his anese Governor-General of Formosa has excellency, M. A. Gerard, Minister of prohibited the use of opium in the island, France, has recently procured from the under heavy penalties. This edict may Tsung-L-Yamen, by virtue of the cause an exodus of the Chinese inhab- French treaty of 1858, an order direct- itants; but the authorities say that it ing the local authorities in all provinces would be easy to supply their places of the empire to expunge from the vari- by immigrants from Japan. There is ous editions and compilations of the no law in Japan more rigidly enforced Chinese Code all claims placing restric- than that which forbids the use of tions upon the propagation of the Chris- opium. The Ohristian Instructor says tian religion. You are directed to bring that last summer 4 men, natives, who this circular to the attention of the were detected smoking it were sent to A.merican missions in your consular dis- the penitentiary for two years, and the tricts. It gives me pleasure to add that Chinaman who sold them the drng got the Minister of France is entitled to the seven years. gratitude of the Christian world for his action in this important matter. -The Presbyterian Church of Japan -In an article in Oht&rch at llQmfl awl ~8 soon to begin mf,ssi9Ilary work in Formosa. President Ibuka, of Tokyo, byterian Church, South, has this from and President Ogimi, of Steele College, the Upper Congo; "Mission work was Nagasaki, have been appointed to visit begun in China in 1807. In 1842 the the field and report· to the Mission visible results were 6 converts. Lapsley Board. Three thousand dollars are to and Sheppard went to Africa in 1890. be raised from the Japanese churches One year was consumed in exploration. to inaugurate and push forward this Our work at Luebo will be five years new work. old this fall. On the one hand mission- ary experience elsewhere would have -Japan is seeking commercial con· led us to expect long and patient waitquests on the sea. A purpose to share ing while the unseen foundations were the carrying trade of the world with being laid, before the structure of our Great Britain is clearly shown. A line African church would appear above the to Bombay has been arranged, and a surface. But the Lord has seen good line to Australia is planned. Six new to give special tokens of His favor on 5000-ton steamers have been ordered in this work. Since early in the spring all England, and .when finished these are the services held have been attended to be placed on the European line with with constant and manifest tokens of the Tosa-Maru now running. The en- the Spirit's presence; and Dr. Snyder's terprise shown in the land of the Mikado report just received announces the oris astonishing. ganization of a church of 48 hopefully converted natives. AFRICA.
-Fever continues to mow down the -Bishop Tucker, who is still in workmen of God in the fatal climate of Uganda, writes in the warmest praise of the West Coast. Last October the mis· the material improvement in the coun· sionary Roess died on the Gold Coast, try since it has been a British protecwhere he had been working for six torate. Order reigns in the place, and years. It is the seventh death in the there has been a great increase in cultiranks of the Basle Society, on the West vation. But it is the spiritual progress Coast, since the month of May last. in the place which naturally claims But the work goes on. There has never most of the bishop'S attention. The been such a number of baptisms as on new church in the capital has been the last missionary tour. In the district built to hold 4000 people, and in the of Akem especially, among the Chi surrounding neighborhood there are 23 population, converts are very numer- smaller churches, which are all served ous. The fortress of heathendom does from the capital, and attract large not yet fall down in large masses; it is and attentive congregations. Scattered only separate stones which are being de- throughout the country there are tached; but the frequency of the fact is now some 200 churches, where service remarkable, and begins to disintegrate is reverently and orderly conducted, the mass of heathendom. To prove and a church has been lately erected this, it is enough to remember that in within the king's compound. Mwanga 1864, after thirty ·seven years of work, himself is not yet a Christian, altho his the BasIe Mission counted 961 Chris- attitude toward Christianity has much tians on the Gold Coast. In the course improved. The native church has of the last inspection, the missionaries caught the missionary spirit, and large registered 962 adult baptisms, and the numbers of the native Christians go into number of Christians had risen to 13,- all the country round as evangelistic 036 of whom 5442 are communicants, agents. During one week nearly 350 besIdes 479 catechumens.-Bvangeliaehe were confirmed. HdderWote.
-'!'he jJ(i,ssiona'l"lI, organ of the Pres- -News has ~Qw:e b~ th,e ~eQ6l,ltlr opened telegraph that a powerful slave- wife are Protestants, they are being dealing chief, Mwasigungu, to the west cursed by the Catholics both here and of Lake Nyassa, has been crushed. in France. The Catholic bishops blessed Mwasigungu had been conducting his the expedition, sung • Te Deums ' over raids in the district in charge of Mr. the fall of the capital, and now they A. J. Swann, whose station is Kota have taken to cursing the French Gov- Kota. Mr. Swann, who was for some ernment for sending out a Protestant years in the service of the London Mis- Resident-General ; but it is of little consionary Society on Lake Tanganyika, sequence, only that curses are said to had assembled some 5000 nati ves to put have a knack of coming home to roost I . a stop to his depredations, and he was The French are making changes here, joined by a force of 150 regular troops, for they have already set the Malagasy the whole being under the command of to repair their wa~ s and make the Lieutenant Alston of the Coldstream break-neck roads we had here in the Guards. They attacked the forces of capital into something like decent the slave-raiders, numbering 20,000 streets… fighting men, and completely routed them. Now that the Arab Mlozi at the -Once when Mr. John Williams was north end, and Mwasigungu on the explaining to the people of Haiatea west side of Lake Nyassa have been how English Christians raised money disposed of, the slave route to the Zam- to send the Gospel to the heathen, the bezi is closed, and the trade route into natives expressed regret at not having the far interior westward and north- money to use in the same good work. westward of the lake is open. These He replied: .. If you have no money, victories are most important, and they you have something that takes the are likely to prove the death·blow of place of money. something to buy money the slave trade in those parts of Africa. with ,'" he then referred to the pigs that he had brought to the island on -The evangelization of Abyssinia his first visit, which now every family was undertaken by the Swedish Mis- possessed; and suggested that every sionary Society as early as 1866, but family should Bet apart a pig f01' caU8until the Italian occupation the mis- ing the W01'd of God to grow; and when sionaries were unable to get any far- the ships came, sell the pigs for money. ther than the island of Massowah Ilnd The natives eagerly followed the sug- Monkullu on the adjacent mainland. gestion, and the next morning the Afterward they were able to go forth squeaking of the pigs which were reinto the interior, and now in the dis- ceiving the "mark 01 the Lord" in trict of Hamasen they have 93 converts, their ears was everywhere heard. On They have made many endeavors, hith- Mr. Williams' return to the island, the erto unsuccessful, to reach the Gallas. native treasurer put into his bands £103, the product of these sales. It was the ISLANDS OF THE SEA.. first money they had ever possessed, but every farthing was given to the lI/Iadagascar.-A special correspondent of the Aberdeen F1u Prea8 writes : cause of Christ. .. The new French Resident-General, ]1.1. Lauroche, has arrived, bringing a -Only a few years since in New staff of 40 officials with him. He seems Guinea, on one occasion the friends of a very superior man, and one that is a woman, whose husband had just died, most anxious to do the right thing by came to condole with her. Having no all, and the very best he can for this pig to feast them with, she dug up the country and people; but as he and his dead body of her husband, and they re- galea themselves on e7w,t,
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1892
NARAYAN
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XV. No.l.-0ld Series.–JANUARY..–VOL.V. No.1.-New 8erie3.
THE MIRACLES OF MISSlONS.-NO. XXI.
[EDITORIAL, A. T. P.] THE BEGINNING OF MODERN WONDERS.
The Society Islands were so called by Cook in honor of the" Royal Society j" and the largest, having a circuit of one hundred and forty miles and containing about six hundred square miles, is known as Tahiti. It consists of two rounded peninsulas joined by a narrow isthmus, and is crowned with a majestic peak called The Diadem. The name was a prophecy, for this island furnished the first conspicuous diadem of modern missionary labors.
It was first seen by an English Captain-Wallis-in 1767. The inhabitants were tall, stout, brown skinned, with dark eyes, and seemed unusually good.natured and playful j but they were thieves, liars, and murderers.
When the knowledge of the Tahitians reached England, the directors of the London Missionary Sooiety determined to send the Gospel to this island, and at last found thirty men who were willing to go, four of whom were ministers, the rest tradesmen ; and six of them were married. A ship called the Duff was bought, and pious Captain Wilson took charge of it.
This memorable missionary band left the Thame.s on August 10th, 1796. A purple flag waved in the wind, with three' doves bearing olivQ branches as its device; and as they set sail they sang the hymn, " Jesus, at Thy command we launch into the deep."
A seven months' voyage brought them to the shores of Tahiti. and they were welcomed by about seventy-five canoes, whose natives clambered over the ship's side, and in various ways expressed their joy, hoping for knives and axes and other useful implements. They had brought with them hogs and fruit for the purpose of barter; but as it was the Sabbath day the missionaries tried to make them understlOlnd that they neither sold nor bought upon the Day of Rest. Most of the natives returned in their canoes, but about forty stayed on deck, and the missionaries had a service. While they prayed and sang the natives looked on in silence.
Two white men were already at Tahiti, one of whom had been shipwrecked, and the other left on shore a few years previous. Their names were Peter and Andrew, and they were. clad like savages. Being able to speak some Tahitian, they served at first as interpreters between the mis-
MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
sionaries and the natives, but they turned out to be very wicked men, though born in a Christian land.
An old man, Mane-mane, was high-priest to the idol gods, and was held to be some great one. A chief showed the missionaries an empty house about one hundred feet long, but unfurnished, which he said should be given to them. 'Upon thsir arrival on the beach they were met at once by strange customs. They found the king, Otu, and his queen both riding on men's shoulders. Wben those that carried them changed the burden to other shoulders, the royal feet were not permitted to touch the ground, because whatever land they touched would become their own, so they jumped over the head of one man upon the shoulders of another. For the same reason, when the king and queen visitcd the ship, they refused to go on deck, because if they touched the ship it would be theirs, and none but their own servants might dwell there or eat there henceforward. Afterward, when Mr. Lewis unfolded his umbrella, they warned him not to hold it over their heads, as it would thenceforth become sacred to their exclusive ust'.
Thc missionaries found dancers on these i~lands called Areois, who were a most wicked set of people. Their bodies were blackened with charcoal and their faces dyed red. They committed murders, killing their little children as soon as they were born. They had no occupation but dancing, boxing, wrestling, and sporting.
The first night, in presence of the natives, the missionaries sang and prayed and thanked God for inclining these strangers to receive them so kindly; and the first Sabbath they turned their dwelling into a chapel and Mr. Jefferson preached, being interpreted by Andrew, the Swede; and so through the vehicle of an ungodly man the first impressions of the Gospel were made upon these natives.
The father of Otu was called Pomare. He was a very wise man; had formerly been not only a chief, but the supreme king of the chiefs of the island. He had, however, many fauIts. He was a liar, a glutton, covetous, and pre-eminently selfish. On the second Sabbath, however, he attended the service of worship, when Mr. Cover preached from that text which has been probably the subject of more sermons than any other in the Bible-John 3 : 16-and after the service Pomare pronounced what he had understood very good.
The favorite g')d, Oro, was simply a log of wood about the size of a man, kept in a shed among trees surrounded by a stone wall. . In this place were altars on which lay pigs that had been dead for months, and it was called a Marro, and was a habitation of cruelty. Men were sacrificed and their flesh hung in large baskets on the trees around till it decayed. No woman was counted worthy of the honor either of approaching the Marre or being sacrificed in it. The priests used to roll themselves up in a great bundle of cloth, and in a squeaking voice pretend to represent the gods; and though tlw people knew that it was the priest that was speaking, they dared not disobey. They kept in their houses some of their gods, and fancied them to be in disposition like unto themselves. Hiro was the pro- tector of thieves, and when they went out to steal, they promised Hiro a part of the booty if he would not expose them ; and the missionaries found that the natives were very much like the god th'ey worshipped. Nothing was safe within their reach. Murder was quite as common as stealing; and one Sunday Mr. Lewis preached upon the commandment, " Thou shalt not kill." Mane-mane advised the people to leave off their wicked ways, yet he had not left off his own; and when he wanted to kill a man, drank wine to keep up his courage for his horrible work. His own wife killed her offspring, and when remonstrated with, said she would keep the customs of the country and defy the missionaries' displeasure.
Some of the idols were made of stone, but most of them of wood, or of a kind of string made from the outside of the cocoanut. Sharks and birds were worshipped, and there were more than one hundred gods. When 9 sacrifice was demanded for Oro, it might be the guest who was eatir.g beneath the roof of a chief. If one man of a family were offered, the people of the same household were usually chosen until the whole was destroyed. When the beating of the sacred drum gave the signal that II human sacrifice was required, the natives would flee to the mountain dens and caves for refuge. The Tahitians believed that at death their spirits went to cruel gods, who first devoured them three times over, after which they passed into the body of a beast, bird, or man, and lived again on earth.
If thus cruel to their friends, their cruelty to enemies may be inferred; their bodies were left unburied to be devoured by beasts and birds. Sometimes a hole was made through an enemy's body, and he was worn as a Tiputa by the man who slew him. The conquerors destroyed all the women and children of their foes, and taught their own little children to kill those of whom they would naturally have made playmates; and sometimes these little children of conquered foes were strung on a spear like beads.
Among such a people these missionaries began their apparently hopeless labors. Three weeks had not passed before they were robbed, and, because they did not punish the offenders when detected, they were regarded as cowards; but they sought to win by kindness, and determined they would not seek to defend themselves, but confide themselves entirely to the keeping of Jehovah. They placed near their house a hospital, and offered to nurse all who would come. Though many natives were suffering from terrible diseases, they would not accept the proposition. Satisfied with food and raiment, the missionaries gave up their blacksmith shop and store room to Pomare, and even offered to surrender to him all their own private property, but he would not accept it. During the first year there was a quarrel between Pomare and Otu, and, as Mane-mane had stirred up the rebellion, Pomare order~d him to be killed. Thus perished the wicked old priest, the great man of the Tahitians. The more the missionaries saw of Otu the more wicked he was found to be ; and the continued unbelief of the peo~le was a source of much heavi- ness to these servants of God. Nothing offended the natives more than to rebuke their wicked customs. rdia, the queen, bad destroyed three chil- dren of her own within three years after the missionaries had arrived.
On March 5th, 1800, three years to a day from that when the mis- sionaries first saw the island, the first wooden posts or pillars of a Christian chapel were reared; and they besought God that these, like the pillar that Jacob set up at Bethel, might be a memor.ial of the presence of God.
The next June, in the Royal .Admiral, eight new missionaries arrived, and were welcomed by Pomare. It was agreed by the brethren that Mr. Nott should go around Tahiti to preach to all the inhabitants. He was accompanied by Mr. Elder. Sometimes Mr. Nott preached three or four times a day. They lodged in the houses of the natives, and took with them on the journey some of the Tahitians themselves, who thus had the advantage of hearing him preach during a five weeks' tour, and UpOll his return he found that they were able to give a clear account of the Gospel truths they had heard. Constant prayer went up to God that He would pour down His Rpirit from on high. The missionaries endured great suffering for the natives' sake, especially in consequence of desolating wars. When the natives were entreated to believe in Jesus Christ, like ancient unbelievers, they asked, " Has Pornare or any of the chiefs believed 1" They were, in fact, the greatest enemies of Christ, and discouraged the natives from attending to the Gospel. The tenacity of idolatry seemed to make preaching a hopeless task.
The natives had great confidence in the power of red feathers, attributing large success in fishing to their presence on the canoes, but had little conception of the soul or of duty, and while faithless toward God they were credulous toward the most absurd imposture, placing their trust in fortune. tellers, dreams, and signs of good or ill luck.
While Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Scott were travelling in Tahiti and lay down to rest, a chief invited a guest to go with him to the beach, killed him with stones, put his body in a basket of cocoanut leaves, and sent him to Pomare as calm and unconcerned as if he had only killed a hog.
In 1803 Pomare himself suddenly died, and the wicked Otu had more power than during his father's lifetime. He styled himself Pomare II. It was he who was destined to be the first convert of the Gospel work at Tahiti. He had taken pains to learn to read and write. He was greatly feared, and it was believed that he could kill a man by his prayers and imprecations. In the spring his queen had a child, and he himself was privy to its death. The queen died in 1806.
In May of this year a day of fasting and prayer was appointed by the missionaries, and particular pains were now taken to teach the children. They learned to repeat a short catechism by heart, and in November Mr. Davies opened a school in the new houee, and invited the boys who lived near by to attend it on three afternoons in the week. A month afterward they asked to be taught oftener, and were instructed daily. They learned to read and write, being first taught to make letters on the sand. Spelling- books !lnd Bible histories were made for them and sent to England to be printed. A!I the missionaries began to be 'familiar with the language, they discovered that it was unfitted for the expression of Christian ideas. There was, for instance, no word for "thanks," and no proper expression for " God."
A vessel arrived from the directors of the London Missionary Society, bearing a letter in English for Pomare. He was pleased with it, answered it courteously, and consented to the request of the directors, and promised to banish Oro from the island. He acknowledged that his land was a bad land, a foolish land, and one that knew not the true God ; asked for a large number of men, women, and children from England, and said he would adopt English customs. This letter appears to have been insincere, for shortly afterward he desired thai a man might be killed at Atehuru as a sacrifice, and taken in a canoe to another place ; and he sought to conceal it from the missionaries. He seems to have made his fair promises only as a "loak for his covetousness.
In 1807 another war broke out at Tahiti, which lasted about three years. The missionaries were obliged to leave the island, Mr. Nott and Mr. Hayward going to Huahine near by, and all the rest to Port Jackson in New South Wales.
The king, who had. gone to Eimeo, invited the missionaries to come to that island. There were now seven missionaries in Eimeo-Nott, Hayward, Bicknell, Scott, Wilson, Davies, Henry. They had settled at Papetoai, and built a small chapel and opened a school. Events occurred which inclined them to stay in Eimeo, and they observed that the king appeared £0 regard idols less than he had done in times past. For instance, in 1812, when a sacred turtle was caught, instead of Rending it to the idol's temple, he had it dressed in an oven in his own kitchen, and served for his dinner, which was an ast.ounding blow at idol customs; and as no harm befell him, he was confirmed in his contempt of idols, and the power of the popular superstitions was greatly weakened. Pahi, the brother of the King of Raiatea. made a still bolder experiment-destroying in an oven a sacred log which had been worshipped, and then ate bread fruit that had been baked in its ashes.
Pomare declared that he would now have henceforth but one wife. He married Teara, daughter of the Raiatean king, and on the birth of her little daughter the customs of the ages were disregarded, which permitted no fires to be lighted for many days, nobody to leave the shore, and no persons to approach the child except sacred persons in sacred garments.
On July 18th, 1812, Pomare asked to be baptized, and declared his fixed purpose to cleave to Jehovah and His people. He said, " I wish you to pray for me," and proposed to build a larger chapel. He declared that he had tried to persuade the kings of other islands to do as he intended to do, and when they answered that they would cleave to Oro, he told them that was cleaving to Satan. The missionaries, full of joy, waited anxiously to see whether Pomare was really a converted man. Subsequently his grief for his sins, his observance of the Sabbath, and his efforts to persuade his friends to turn to God, convinced them that he had been changed by the .grace of God.
When the missionaries found the people in Eimeo ready to attend their instructions they heard that the people in Tahiti were likewise inquiring after Jehovah, and Mr. Scott and Mr. Hayward were sent to see whether the joyful report was true.
Missionary labor at Tahiti was apparently in vain for from fourteen to sixteen years, and, notwithstanding untiring, earnest, and faithful effort, but one solitary instance of conversion had taken place. The wars of desolation continued, and abominable idolatries and iniquities reigned. " The heavens seemed as brass and the earth as iron i" and when God's time to favor the work in Polynesia came, the beginning was such as to turn all attention to Himself. For at the time the war had driven the missionaries from the island and cut off all communication. Two native servants, formerly employed in the missionaries' families, had, unknown to them, received favorable impressions, and had united together for prayer. They had been joined by others, and at the return of the missionaries to Tahiti, at the termination of the war, they found a number of praying people, and had little to do but to aid in a work which God had thus singularly begun.
These years of fruitless and apparently hopeless toil had almost determined the directors of the London Missionary Society to abandon altogether the work at Tahiti. Dr. Haweis, chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon, one of the founders of the society, and the father and liberal supporter of the South Sea Mission, earnestly opposed such abandonment of the field, and backed his arguments by a further donation of a thousand dollars. The Rev. Matthew Wilb, the pastor of Mr. Williams, declared with great emphasis that he would sell the clothes from his back rather than give up the mission, and proposed, instead of abandonment, that a season of special prayer should be observed for the divine blessing. Such a season was observed i letters of encouragement were written to the missionaries, andmark it I-while the vessel w~s on her way to carry these letters to Tahiti, another ship passed her in mid-ocean, which conveyed to Great Britain, October, 1813, the news that idolatry was entirely overthrown in the island, and bore back to London the rejected idols of the people; and so was fulfilled literally the Divine promise, " Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear."
We have already mentioned the fact that, while the missionaries were driven away from Tahiti, two natives had begun to call upon the Lord Jesus in prayer. One of these lads was named Tuahine. Another native, impressed by some remarks from Pomare, had gone to make some inquiries of Tuahine, who had lived for some time in the missionaries' families. Finding his mind was in a similar state they resolved to retire to some secret place to talk and pray, and after a little while several young persons united with them ; and this little band, without the guidance of any missionary, determined to abandon idols and the wicked practices of their countrymen, keep the Sabbath, and worship Jehovah alone. As Christianity spread, Tuahine helped the missionaries by directing inquirers, teaching in the schools, and translating the Scriptures. Sometimes he spent from eight to ten hours a day in this last work, and rendered invaluable counsel and aid to the missionaries. He proved himself to be a Barnabas and an Apollos both in one, and had a surprising gift in prayer. He discharged the office of a deacon with great faithfulness, and died about forty-five years old, a model of a converted native.
The chapel that Pomare had desired to be built at Eimeo was opened for worship July 25th, 1813, and the next evening thirty-one natives cast away idols, and their names were written among the disciples of Jehovah. Shortly after, the number had risen to above three hundred. embracing, among others, a priest called Patii, who led the way in the burning of idols. He brought out the gods one at a time, tore off the sacred garments and ornaments, threw them one by one into the flames, pronouncing their names, repeating their foolish histories, and challenging the people to observe what helpless logs they were. The joy of the missionaries may be imagined. The queen's sister about the same time publicly showed her contempt for the idol gods; and Pomare himself, though gnilty of many things inconsistent with the character of a Christian, made a tour of Eimeo, seeking to persuade the heathen to turn from idols.
Meanwhile at Tahiti persecution arose against the native Christians. They took refuge in the woods and lonely vaUeys at midnight for prayer. One young man suffered martyrdom, and another bore a lifelong sear received at their hands. The year 1815 was the most remarkable that had ever been known at Tahiti. A plan was laid to destroy the Christian natives entirely, and the night of July 7th was fixed upon, when the Christians were to be assembled for prayer. Having been adTised, however, of this conspiracy, they sailed for Eimeo, and their departure was the cause of a quarrel among their enemies themselves, in which they largely destroyed each other.
The missionaries at Eimeo received the Tahitians with great affection, but feared that the heathen might rise up in both islands and destroy all the worshippers of Jehovah. July 14th was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. Soon afterward two chiefs from Tahiti came to Eimeo, inviting the Christian chiefs who had fled to return. The invitation was, however, a mere cover for a plan to destroy the king and his friends. A battle ensued in November, 1815, in which Pomare and his little army were victors. Instead of killing his enemies the king determined to destroy their idols. The multitude stood astonished, both at the helplessness of their gods and the audacity of their destroyers j and when the great god Oro was carried to Pomare's feet, he set it up as a post in his kitchen, fixing pegs upon it on which to hang baskets for food, and subsequently burned it as fuel. Such was the end of the great war god.
Mr. Nott and Mr. Hayward soon went to Tahiti, and made a tour of the island. They found the people busy in destroying Marres and build- ing little chapels. Pomare himself had written a prayer, which he often read in these places of worship-a prayer worthy of any Christian author.
The missionaries found the people very anxious to learn to read, and the king had not only destroyed his public idols, but now wished to part with the family gods, always kept in his house. He sent about twelve of these frightful little images to the missionaries in Eimeo, with a letter ask- ing that they might be sent to the Missionary Society in England, that they might know the likeness of the gods that had been worshipped in the island. The idols were accordingly nailed up in a wooden case and sent to the directors of the London Missionary Society. Family prayer became common, and the people retired to the bushes for private supplication.
The missionaries could scarcely get any rest, so continually were they besieged with inquiry. In every place they found chapels-sixty-six in all -in which the people assembled four times a week.
About this time a printing-press was brought to Eimeo, and from a neighboring Marre, polished stones-pieces of pavement upon which worshippers had knelt before the altars-were dug up and placed where God's Word was to be printed. Satan was robbed that God might be honored. The first book printed was the Baba, or spelling-book, and Pomare was permitted to aid in setting up the first page, and to strike off the first impression. The Tahitians were very anxious to have these printed.
books, and sent to the missionaries plantain leaves rolled up, with the request for spelling-books written on the leaves. This was the beginning of the spreading of the knowledge of God from isle to isle by the power of a sanctified literature. Catechisms followed, and little books containing col- lections of texts j schools were multiplied, converts increased, and there was a general spirit of inquiry. .
For years Mr. Nott had been translating the Gospel of Luke into Tahitian, assisted by Pomare, and while the book was in press the natives often constrained Mr. Ellis to stop printing to explain to them what they read. The missionaries wished to bind the books before they were dis- tributed, but the impatience of the people compelled them to give up wait- ing for proper binding materials. The natives, however, did not suffer these precious books to remain without proper protection j dogs and cats and goats were killed that their skins might be prepared for covers, and the greatest anxiety was manifested to obtain these new copies of the Gospel. Five men from Tahiti landed at Afareaita, and did not go into any house to lodge lest some one might anticipate them in the morning and buy up all the books, so that they should be compelled to return without any. Mr. Ellis gladly gave them copies of the precious Gospel, which they wrapped in bark, put in their bosoms, and set sail for Tahiti without having taken food or drink during their stay at Eimeo.
And now the brethren determined to form a missionary society in Eimeo, and on May 13th a great meeting was held, and numbers of natives came from Tahiti. The prayers began at sunrise, and long before the chapel service at three 0' clock they were obliged to leave the chapel for the grove outside to accommodate the crowds. The king was seated with the queen, her ladies, and many chiefs, and Mr. Nott preached from the words, "Understandest thou what thou readest~" (Acts 8 : 30,31.) 'An address from Pornare hims.elf followed, advocating the formation of the. Missionary Society, and hundreds of 4ark arms were lifted toward heaven in assent.
The" Royal Mission Chapel" at Tahiti, so called, was finished in the spring of 1819. It contained 133 windows, 29 doors, and was 712 feet long and 54 feet wide-212 feet longer than St. Paul's in London. As no preacher could speak loud enough to be heard to the end of the chapel during a whole sermon, three pulpits were placed in it, with a minister in each. Six thousand people joined in singing God's praise in this new place of worship, and three sermons were preached simultaneously.
The next day after the dedication service in May, 1819, laws were publicly given to the people, condemning murder, rebellion, theft, Sabbath breaking, these prohibitions being followed with becoming sanctions. After the law was read the king asked the chiefs, " Do you agree to this law~" and Tati, a ringleader among the rebels, held up both hands, and called upon the people to do the same. At the close of the Sabbath service, Pomare solemnly pronounced his faith in a crucified Redeemer. Let any reader consider how different were these assemblies from the feasts at which Pomare and his father had distributed the bleeding limbs of human victims as offerings to the gods.
The rest of the year was full of rejoicing; new customs obtained, and the preaching of the Word was greatly blessed. Pornare was shut up whole days with Mr. Nott, helping him to correct the translations of the Gospel of John and the Acts.
We can give no further space to this wonderful story. The king himself was a leader in all good works, and on December 7th, 1821, died in the faith of Christ at the age of forty-seven years. Though naturally proud, covetous, deceitful, intemperate, and treacherous, he not only believed the Word of God himself, but persuaded many others, while he forced none to turn from their idols, and we cannot but believe that, not- ,withstanding his many faults, he sincerely belonged to Christ.
A fitting conclusion to this narrative may be found in the coronation of the young king, four years old, on April 21st, 1824. He was dressed in his coronatiou robes in Mr. Nott's house, and borne to the church on the highest platform. A hymn was sung, a prayer was offered. and Mr. Nott
lIONQR OF' A MISSIONARY
made an effective address. The laws of the country were placed upon the table, and the young king was asked whether he would promise to govern the people in justice, and mercy, and obedience to these laws and to the Word of God; and he replied, "I do, God being my helper." Oil was then poured upon his head, and a blessing pronounced upon him by Mr. Davies. The crown was placed upon his brow while Mr. Nott spoke words of benediction, and the Bible was presented to him as the most priceless treasure in the world. From the platform of coronation, the procession went to the " Royal Mission Chapel," and the young king sat in the royal pew.
Contrast this scene with the coronation of Pomare II., who had been declared king according to the heathen fashion, robed in a girdle covered with red feathers, the ceremony attended by the slaughter of men and followed by the worship of the god Oro. Now a little prince began his reign with the sweet sacrifice of prayer and praise to the living God.
In the end of the summer of 1835 many people in various parts of the island were converted, especially by the preaching of Mr. Nott, at Papao, and in July, 1836, the queen found that only two openly ungodly persons were to be found in the whole district of Pare; and Mr. Davies was almost as much blessed at Papare as Mr. Nott was at Papao. The translation of the whole Bible into Tahitian was completed in 1836, the greatest part of the work having been done by Mr. Nott; and in February of this year Mr. Nott set sail for England. He presented the translation to the directors of the London Missionary Society, and remained in England for two years. He appeared at Exeter Hall at the great anniversary in 1838, and after showing the Ailsembly a copy of the Tahitian Bible, bade them a last though not an everlasting farewell, and returned to Tahiti, rejoicing in the privilege of spending the remainder of his days in the service of Christ in the South Seas.
HONOR OF A MISSIONARY.
I should not like you, if meant by the gifts of God for a great missionary, to die a millionnaire. I should not like it, were you fitted to be a miRsionary, that you should drivel down into a king. What are all your kings, all your nobles, all your stars, all your diadems and your tiaras, when you put them altogether, compared with the dignity of winning souls for Christ, with the special honor of building for Christ, not on another man's foundation, but preaching Christ's gospel in regions far beyond ~ I reckon him to be a man honored of men who can do a foreign work for Christ; but he who shall go farthest in self-annihilation and in the furtherance of the glory of Christ shall be a king among men, though he wear a crown no carnal eyes can see.-Spurgeon.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS AND THE HIGHEST USE OF WEALTH
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS AND THE HIGHEST USE OF WEALTH.
B. C. AN ADDRESS BEFORE THE A. F. M. AT PITTSFIKLD, MASS., OCTOBER 14TH, 1891.
BY PRESIDENT MERRILL EDWARDS GATES, LL.D., OF AMHERST.
The incarnation of the living God as the Redeemer of man has made it forever necessary that the man who would know God must see something of God in his fellow-men. In all ages the men whose hearts God has touched, whose eyes God has opened that they may see Him and make others see Him, have been men mightily moved in soul and heart toward their fellow-men. The nearer we come to God's view of human life, the purer and deeper and mightier will be our love of human souls and our pity for wasted. sinful. and benighted human lives.
LOVE OF GOD AND WORK FOR MEN.
There is a Divine revelation of the very heart of God Himself in the description Christ gives us of the scenes of division at the judgment. Our Master takes as His own not those who selfishly cry, "Lord, Lord!" and boast familiarity with God's power and achievements of their own in cast- ing out devils; but the men who have shown" the mind which was in Christ Jesus, " and under the constraining power of Christ's love have served Him by serving" in His name" their fellow-men for whom He died. It is by the faith that is in Christ Jesus that we stand; but the absolutely vital, the indissoluble connection of faith with love and with works of love and help- fulness and mercy, is made startlingly clear in this revelation by Christ of the things whi.ch shall be made manifest at that day. It is only by living out a vital principle of life to its issues that we can come to know it thoroughly. True Christians are men and women who are bent upon reducing right theories of life to right living. Life-power and moral truth are the mightiest forces in the universe. In Christian character these two forces are combined. God is life and truth ; godlikeness worked out in life is character; into sound character has entered the " omnipotence of a • principle," and the almightiness of God Himself is pledged to make char- acter, which is vitalized truth, the mightiest power within the control of man. And since God is Jove, and God in Christ is the supreme revelation of that holy and infinitely attractive love which spared not His own Son that He might be just and yet might Jove us out of our sins into lives of holiness, Christians can never Jearn large lessons of God's love in Christ without sharing in Christ's love for their fellow-men THE TEST-OUR FEELING TOWARD MULTITUDES OF UNSHEPHERDED MEN.
Always, then, for the individual Christian, and for any body of Christians who are acting together, there is a supreme test in the question, How deep a concern do you feel for the welfare of the great body of your fellowmen ~ What are your feelings, what are your purposes, what is your attitude of soul t.oward the benighted ones, 'our brothers and sisters, who are ignorant, debased, sin-burdened, and hopeless in the world ~ Sharp and clear is the contrast between the spirit of the Pharisees and the spirit of Christ in this matter of caring for crowds of the commou people. When their returning officers said, " Never man spake as this man speaks," and when "the common people heard Him gladly," the Pharisees waved aside the divine meaning of the message with that contemptuous phrase, the essence of selfish vanity and arrogant pride, " This people that knoweth not the law is accursed." But" the mind that was in Christ Jesus," the mind that dwells in every true child of God in richer fulness as the Holy Spirit shows him the things of Christ, is revealed in the words, " But when He saw the multitude, He was moved with compassion upon them, because they fainted aud were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. " In those words speaks from the heart of God the loving voice of the Good Shepherd j and "His sheep know His voice and follow Him."
This mind that was in Christ, this deep yearning love for lost men, has always marked the true Church. It began its growth among men with the growth of the early Church at Jerusalem, and it had to break its way through that intense spirit of exclusiveness which, with the Jewish Church, had been a cult for centuries. For generations God had walled in His chosen people, had separated them from the rest of the world, that their knowledge of Him and their realization of His presence might be intensified by exclusion. In the fulness of time, when the Word was made flesh, when the love of God was poured into the life of men through the life and the words of Christ, this spirit of love for all mankind burst the cerements of the old dispensation, and the Christian Church began its wondrous growth on earth. It came into life, it grew and prospered under the teaching and guidance of the Third Person of the Trinity, the ever-living Holy Spirit, whose office it is to take of the things of Christ and show them to His followers, who is with us here to-day guiding His Church. Peter first felt the power of this mission-spirit of love for all mankind. Then the heavenly vision came to Paul, and flaming with the spirit of Christ's love he went through all the provinces, fiery-hearted with the spirit of missions. With the growth of the Church this spirit has increasingly prevailed; the walls of separation between nationil have been broken down by it. It is to the growing spirit of Christ, not to the evolution of a perception of a subtly selfish interest for the individual to be attained by the promotion of the we)£are of the whole-it is to the spirit of Christ and not to "enlightened self-interest," that we owe the deepening sense of the solidarity of the race which binds men together the world around.
In the history of the Church it is the men whose hearts have'received this spirit in the largest measure whose names illumine the annals of the Church and the pages of universal history. In their hearts was condensed so much of the thrilling force of Christ's love that heat passed into fiery rays of light, and they became beacons to men for all time. From Paul, longing to visit Spain, yearning over the Romans, melted with love for the Galatians, holding all Greece and all Asia in his heart, down through the glorious roll of saints and martyrs and missionary heroes till we reach the names of the missionaries whom we have seen in the flesh, and whom we love, hearts and lives on fire with the love of lost and benighted men have been the evidence of the spirit of life in the Church of Christ.
IN A LIVING CHURCH, ALWAYS A LOVE OF MISSIONS.
There can be no living Church without a glowing love for mlSSlOns. Christ has made this very clesr to us. In the glimpse He gives us of the judgment. in His parting words as He ascended, "Go ye and make disciples of all nations," and, ,. Lo, I am with you all the days, even unto the end of the world," we find the very essence of His teaching, the flowering of His spirit of service. To seek and to save that which was lost, was the mission that brought our Divine Redeemer from heaven to earth j and to seek and to save the lost is the Divine commission, from the glorified Christ in heaven to each believer who looks up to a Divine Redeemer for direction in a life of grateful service.
What has this to do with the question of money and its use ~ Let us ask ourselves this question thoughtfully.
MEN AND MEANS.
As members of the Church of Christ set to do Christ's work in the world, assembled here in the interest of one of the most important agencies in that work of evangelizing the world, which is pre-eminently the one work given by Christ to His people to do in His name, we are brought face to face with the question of the means to carry out this important work. Here, as in every other important undertaking which is to influence many lives, men and means are the essential requirements. Men never were offered to a praying Church in such numbers as stand confronting us today, saying, ' • We are ready, send us." Under the influence of the spirit of God, the immeasurable importance of bearing the glad tidings to the dark places of the earth has dawned upon young men and women in our· land with a vividness and a power never before seen or known in the history of the Church. Do you who are past middle age remember the " missionary concerts" of your youth, when prayers were regularly offered that God would" break down the walls" that shut Christians out of China and Japtm V That prayer has been answered. This year the Emperor of China issues a royal edict calling upon the governors of his provinces to protect the missionaries against misrepresentation and violence, and declaring that the object of Christian teaching is to make men better. We have been witnesses of this marvellous change. We have seen Japan rise suddenly to highest standards in civilization 'and ih government-a nation born in a day. Japanese Christians are setting the Christian world an exam- ple of unity and loving fellowship in work. The testimony of all observers is that never was a great nation in a more receptive mood for Christian truth than is Japan to-day. In India there is a special call for laborers.
Another generati0n of educated men, broken loose from the old faith, will soon be anarchic in morals unless Christianity shall supply the basis of morality in life. Ve need not raise any questions of a future hell; there will be hell let loose upon the earth unless Christian truth gets hold upon India, unless the love of Christ cherished in the heart shall more than make good the loss of restraints of the old order. In unharvested fields the grain, ripe and ready, falls to the earth in rich, decaying masses, un- garnered. Unless these years that are now upon us be used, the oppor- tunity is forever lost. It i~ now or never, for India! .
"TIME-VALUE" AND" PLACE-VALUE."
Political economists talk of a " time-value," which belongs to a commodity that is ready precisely when it is wanted, like seed corn in spring, and of a " place-value," which is the result of the presence of an instrument or a commodity at the precise place where it is needed, and at precisely the time when it is needed. The time-utility of missionary effort just now is immense. Who can estimate the place-utility of Christian effort DOW in Japan and in India ~ Of Africa I hardly dare to speak. Africa, no longer the totally" Dark Continent," first pierced through by the rays of love and light where Livingstone carried his well-read Bible that rayed out life for him and made his path a trail of love and light until that night when he knelt alone beside his cot under the great tree in the wilderness and, kneeling, met his God; Mrica, now slowly rising to a place in the world's history, but still as booty to be struggled for in a contest of diplomacy, if not of arms-to save and uplift Africa, what need of Christian giving, what a call for help from Christian America, who owes the heaviest debt to that continent which is mother of the race, long fettered and beaten with many stripes, whose unrequited toil made" cotton king" !
We see these open doors. We hear these calls from perishing men. We see the" time-value" and the " place-value" of efforts now put forth for Christ. Loyal subjects of Christ our King, we see clearly the importance of these strategic points to be seized now for the advancement of His kingdom among men. The old walls about the isolated nations, which our fathers and mothers prayed to have thrown down, lie flat before us. The opportunity 'is ample. The need is pressing. The demand from the field is imperative. The loss of life, the loss of souls, is deadly. WHAT HINDERS THE WORK ~ In those monthly concerts, when the walls about China and.Tapan had fallen, the petitions began to take on this stereotyped form : "Lord, raise up men and women who shall be uJilling to go into these opening fields.," The sacrifice involved in foreign mission work has always been immense, but the fruit of it has been abundant and rich. Partings with kindred and friends, departures into strange lands-these have always been essential to the propagation of the. truth since the time when God said to Abraham, the father of the faithful, " Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I will show you." By such self-sacrificing obedience to God's commands have new nations learned of that brotherhood of man which has no meaning, no power, save as all nations learn that they have a commGn 'Father, even God. Much of what is called the " spirit of the nineteenth century," this awakening of the world to the conviction that all men are of one blood, and that property in man is impossible, is the manifest result of mission work done by strangers who, for Christ's sake and at God's call, have sojourned in strange lands among despised peoples preaching peace and brotherhood through Christ. But the cost of leaving home and friends and native land, the sacrifice involved in expatriating one's self and one's children, has always been so serious 8 matter to contemplate that those who love their own ease have always wondered when the call of God has been potent enough to carry His consecrated servants as missionaries to foreign fields. The supply of men and women willing to go has never been equal to the need of the field, seldom to tbe means at the disposal of the missionary boards. It has been taken for granted by the Church for the last two generations, first, that the walls that shut in mighty nations could not be broken down short of centuries to come; and then, that laborers willing to go could not be found in sufficient numbers.
FACE TO FACE WITH ANSWERED PRAYERS.
But what is time to our God, when He wills to send His kingdom forward by a mighty unfolding into the growing season, into the flowering time! A thousand years are as a day with Him. He laid the walls level. He opened the way. His will and wisdom' brought in the age of steam. Railroads and steamship lines girdle His globe to make ready a highway for his messengers, " speaking peace to the nations." He sets a Stepherason and a Fulton, a Morse and a Bell and an Edison at His tasks when they know it not. Corporations of selfish men do His work, as heedless of the plan of God as are the stones which are framed into the mighty arch of the cathedral, or the liquid elements that are seized upon by the growing plant and drawn up into a place in the beauty of its unfolded blossom by a power utterly beyond their ken! Mission fields are open. The world is the field. AU fences are down. A Christian Church, the Church of America, stands to-day face to face with its answered prayers. It is as if a throng of men and women had been standing in the ante-room of the King's chamber, half drearily telling eachother in monotonous voices what they wished to ask for if the King would only give them audience. Suddenly the King steps in among them and declares, " I know your wishes j you have them now!" And with stammering voices and uncertain gestures the would-be petitioners stand abashed in the presence of a royal Giver, whose readiness to give exceeds their readiness to receive!
THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FOR MISSIONS.
For a generation the Church has been praying for men and women who were ready to go. The Holy Spirit hae tried the hearts and searched the spirits of young men and women at our higher institutions of learning. No one who bas been among them, as I have been, and has seen this searching work of the Lord, can fail to recognize it as God's doing, and as altogether wonderful and like His mighty power and the gracious constraining force of His own love, that to-day over six thousand young Christians of America are volunteers for Christian mission-work.
The years when young students look out upon life from the· mountain heights of youth are favorable to a clear vision of comparative values. While the wish is eager to make one's life count for the utmost possible in the service of God by serving one's feHow-men, those whose eyes God touches that they may truly see discern the truth that no other work compares in potent possibility for good with this light-bearing in dark places. Our" young men see visions;" and this is the fulfilment of God's glorious promise of rich blessing fO,r any nation. They see that the Holy Spirit describes the highest object of a liberal education, when He speaks of one who" has tbe tongue of the'learned to speak a word in season to him that is weary." And the spirit of God has so moved upon the young people in the Church of God in this land, that as a class of Christians they say today to the Church of God, " Weare ready to go. Weare eager to try within this next generation to fulfil the glorious command of Christ and , make disciples of all nations.' "
THE ALMIGHTY BANKER CALLS IN HIS LOANS.
Since the work is Christ's work intrusted to us, since the would.be workers are ready and call upon our mission boards to send them, since the great, the rapidly growing wealth of this Christian nation is in the hands of Christian men and women of mature years, my brothers, what answer can we give for ourselves before the jndgment throne of God, if this glorious work of preaching the Gospel of light to dying men is checked and dwarfed, and fails of its glorious pORsibility, because we who are God's stewards hold fast to God's money for our own selfish uses 1 There is a time when the Almighty Banker of the Universe calls in His lo~n81 There is a time when the Master, about to return from far countries, Himself makes rigid yet loving inquiry of every steward concerning the talents, be they one or ten, intrusted to his use. Are we so using the money God has given us as to give to Him" His own with interest" 1 But, some one will say, this is an unnatural view which you present. Christians are to use their money as do other men, subject to the laws of. political economy and in accordance with the general spirit of the time in which they dwell and with the standards that prevail in the grades of society where their lot is cast. Let us look at the question for a moment.
HIS PROPERTY IS.A MAN'S" OBJECTIFIED WILL."
A man's property has been said to be his" objectified will." Mere things, which apart from man are impersonal and utterly outside of moral and jural considerations, enter into the domain of rights, of justice, of morality, through their relation to the will of their owner. The object into which you have introduced your will, which you have willed and worked to make your own. has become in a sense a part of you. There is a true sense in which the man who touches your property toltches you. Property that is truly owned and used becomes in a sense a part of the owner and user. His intelligence permeates it, his will directs its use. Since wealth is often labor stored up in portable form, it has in it a man's life. It partakes of his personality. A man's wealth, through his acting in it. becomes a personal force in social life which may be used for the noblest ends or prostituted to the bagest uses.
No man can escape the fullest responsibility for the use he makes of his wealth, which is potential power of service. Every man holds all his powers in trust j for the use he makes or fails to make of each power, he must auswer at the judgment-seat of God. Our divine Teacher has warned us that in wealth there is a subtle and dangerous tendency which leads it to seek to escape this law of service. Wealth, whkh should be a useful servant, seeks to become a tyrannical master. Christ in His warnings to His followers personifies but one power in the universe as likely to become a dangerous rival for that throne in man's heart and life which belongs to God Himself. The subtle power against which He thus warns us is Mammon, the love of money. Between the mad pursuit of gain and the service of the living God, He warns us that every man must choose. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. " The property that you have must be as fully and entirely subject to the Jaw of the service of God in serving your fellow-men, as must your powers of heart and will and hand and head.
THE CONVERTED HEART INVOLVES THE CONVERTED POCKET-BoOK.
Talk of men as converted, as Christian men, who con~ciously and deliberately allow their property to be used for debasing and ruining their fellow-men! Imagine that a man'M heart and will can be converted to the service of God, and his property remain in the service 0" the devIl! 'Tis an utter imposRibility !
The cOllversion that does not reach a mall's use of his property is no true conversion. There is no truly Christian man who keeps an unconverted pocket-book or bank account. God'~ universal law of unselfish service is as supreme in the domain of material possessions-in the realm of that wealth which extends a man's power" to bring things to pass"-as it is in any other department of man's possible efforts. The unvarying law of God, which uttachcs an obligation to every opportunity and places a duty over against every right, makes no exception of wealth with its vast powers of service. God has so ordered the tiocial life of our race that no man can make the most of his powers of mind and heart and will until he employs those powers in the service of his fellow-men. This is an accepted law in the realm of mind and spirit. It is no less binding upon the power which material wealth places at a man's disposal. No man has the slightest light to say of his wealth, " It is mine; I may nse it selfi&hly if I will." No man has arrived at a true conception of the responsibility that attaches to the possession of property, until his relations through it to his fellowmen fill a larger place in his views of life than does his ability by his wealth to serve his own selfish ends. No man is free to make an option as to whether he or his property shall come under God's law of service. He and his property are under that law, of necessity, as he is of necessity a member of society and of the State, without his leave having been asked. In the use of his property, as of all his other powers, he olVes steady allegiance to that law of 5ervice, by virtue of the solidarity of God's universe of law; and though in managing his property he may disregard this obligation, he can never escape it.
Now, wealth must be used for service according to its own laws. Wealth is productive only as it is used. as capital-that is, as wealth employed in the production of new wealth, of new values. Since wealth is " the usufruct of skill, intelligence, and morality," it places its owner under obligation steadily so to use it as to reproduce morality, intelligence, and skill.
RESTRIOTED SERVICE, TO GAIN WEALTH.
My brothers, Christian men who have put much of your life into money-winning, as you remember how much of time and effort have been withheld by you from more definite Christian work that you might concentrate yourself upon money-winning, is there not an especial call upon you that you redeem (" buy back") the time that was withheld from God's work by you while you were making money ~ Take the case of a man who has won his wealth by years of concentrated effort. Often it is true that he has gained it by a constant withdrawal of his time and his strength from other occupations in which a generous, public-spirited man wuuld like to engage. "Follow this line of study with me," said a friend, in his early mallhood. " No; business demands all my time," was the answer. "Take hold and help us in thi.; effort at political reform in our city," said his public-spirIted neighbor. " I haven't the time, business claims me." "Will you undertake part of the work of special visitiqg to be done by our church people this winter ~" " Really, you must find some one else, my dear pastor, I am so pressed by business." It was by such restrictions of effort, by such exclusions of everything that did not tend directly to the winning of money, that he made his way to wealth.
But clearly, God meant that man to cultivate his mind, to be a useful citizen and a Christian worker. In some way, then, the time and strength withdrawn from other duties and from public service should be given back to serving the public, to the enriching of the life of others.
LET THE LIFE INVOLVED IN WEALTH-WINNING BE EVOLVED IN THE RIGHT USE OF WEALTH.
The time owed to distinctively Christian effort, to work for the good of his fellow-men, may be in part made good, if the wealth into which his efforts and time were coined is used nobly and wisely. And while no giving for Christian work can take the place of personal interest in Christian activity, yet many men could do infinitely more by free and consecrated gifts of large sums of money than they now do by formal expressions of their sense of unworthiness and lack of effort in the past, unaccompanied even now by any large use of their wealth for Christ's cause.
"Redeem the time" that was withheld from God's service by you while you were making money. Redeem it, buy it back, by using your money conscientiously and generously for God's work.
If you have inherited wealth, let the time and labor that were involved ill the rolling up and the transmission of a fortune, be evolved again in days and years of active philanthropic and Christian work, done by the Christian workers whom your money supports in mission fields.
" PECUNIA ALTER SANGUIS."
For everyone of us, a part of his life-effort is stored up in money-in his possessions. It is the clear perception of this fact that gives significance to the old phrase, " pecunia alter sanguis. " In the money your life acquires is stored up the life-blood of your effort; not because gold is as precious as one's life, but because the power acquired by past effort, stored up in money, enables you to set the efforts of others in motion to carry out your purpose and your will. How shall this life-blood of your past effort be kept pure and noble? How will you use it?
Wealth is concentrated power of service. Whether our wealth be great or small, it is still concentrated power of service. Is the wealth that is in the hunds of Christians also 0/ co.ns~cmted power service? Upon thi.~ blood of your past life, which has in it a life-giving power if used for noble ends, has there fallen the touch of consecration ~ Is it not an awful danger of our times, the greatest peril that threatens professedly Christian people, that though we are Christians, we 80 persistently ignore all true ends in the use of our money 1 Is it not too much our habit of thought to regard only those as people of wealth who have much more money than have we ~ When we read upon page after page of the New Testament the most searching warnings as to the use of wealth, is it not our habit to pass them on to the very wealthy, whose fortunes far exceed the means at our disposal ~ MAMMON MAY BE WORSHIPPED BY THE POOR AS TRULY AS BY THE RICH.
Yet the essential nature of wealth does not lie in its quantity, in the amount of money at a man's disposal. The god Mammon may be worshipped with a man's whole heart, though his business transactions be petty and his savings small. Some rich men give to good causes small contributions, with a hypocritical allusion to "the widow's mite i" but our Lord bestowed His regal blessing upon the widow's mite not because it was small, but because she gave her whole living to the Lord. And in the countless warnings addressed by Him who is the Truth to Hill followers, cautioning them as to the deceitfulness of riches, as to tho difficulties that those who trust in riches will find in entering the Kingdom of Heaven, the word used is one that does not lay stress upon great wealthis one that may be used of very small possessions. The essential meaning of the word is usable values embodied in material things. The warning is against trusting in material things for our happiness, our security, our power. Rather are we to trust in the living God, to use for the glory of God all the powers we have of body, soul and mind, every means by which we may bring things to pass in our life here. The warning is against the comfortable sense of safety that comes from" having means behind you." large or small. Whatever possession is capable of standing between a man's soul, and a vital living dependence upon God day by day, is to be suspected, dreaded, and used with fear and trembling as in the sight of a jealous God, who has personified this love of possessions as His great rival in the hearts of men.
" DECEITFULNESS."
The peculiarity of riches, great or small, ·lies in their deceitfulness. They that trust in possessions cannot enter into the kingdom, even in their conception of what that kingdom is, and of what are its powers. And the awful danger in dealing with riches is, that the material advantages they secure are so obvious. so universally recognized, that most men never get beyond these advantages in thought, desire, or fear. How lightly and apologetically we Christians are accustomed to deal with the awfu! emphasis which our Master has laid upon the perpetual, essential danger that lies in the use of wealth! Our Lord has spoken of this danger again and again, in words that stand out luminous with such lurid light as burns in His warnings against the unpardonable sin. Yet too often we hear these warnings tossed aside with a half smile, even by preachers of the Gospel who are accustomed to preach to the rich, as though they would say, " Of course, Christ said this j but what He meant was so essentially different from this that it need not for a momeut make you gentlemen with large bank accounts uncomfortable, especially if you respond kindly to the special appeal I make this morning, and drop into the box a contribution a little larger than usual." Let us, who believe in the living Word of the living God, take time to read together a few of the many utterances in God's Word which bear directly upon this point. Who c~n doubt that the iteration and reiteration of these warnings is, for us and for all Christians, profoundly significant ~ THE TESTIMONY OF THE WORD OF GOD.
" The rich man is wise in his own conceit" (Prov. 28 : 11). " Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12 : 20). "The deceitfulness of riches chokes the word" (Matt. 13 : 22). "But they that will to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Tim. 6: 9), "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after, have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6: 10). " Let not the rich man glory in his riches." " Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly" (the Greek is [duskolos] dVC1,,6A.wS, meaning literally that his diet and his digestion are such as to put his life entirely out of harmony with the heavenly life j it " goes against his stomach j" before he can enter in, he must be fed upon other food !)-" shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19 : 23). " How hardly shall they that have riches" (the Greek is [chremata] xpf]/LaTrJ." not necessarily great riches, but possessions enough to trust in) "enter into the kingdom of God" (Luke 18 : 24). "Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God j that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate-that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6: 17, 18). "Go to, now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches are corrupted; your gold and your silver are rusted, and their rust shall be for a testimony against you" (James 5 : 1-3). It is the rust, not the gold, that is the witness against them. Their means are not used for Christ, and the selfish rust on them" shall eat your flesh as it were fire." "There is a grievous evil which I ha,"e seen under the sun-namely, riches kept by the owner there9f to his hurt j and those riches perish by evil adventure" (Eccl. 5 : 13).
Can there be any question that these clear declarations of God cut sharply across the tacit assumptions of many of the Christian congregations of our times 1 CHRIST TEACHES CHRISTIANS TO USE ~~EALTJI, BUT NOT TO "TRUST" IT.
Yet this awfully dangerous power of wealth is entrusted to Christians. The parables and teachings of our Lord, time after time. hold up the property relation as the basis of a lesson in Christian living. The great majority of His parables deal with this relation in one form or another. Nothing can be clearer than that He holds every Christian responsible for the right use of all his possessions, however small, however large, they may be. For the right use of the ten talents and tho two talents, there is tht' same commendation, the same relative reward j while 1he awful stress of contrast is laid upon him who had but one talent heeause ho declined to use that one for his master. There is no one of us here present, then, who can feel that the warnings and the responsibilities that attend the possession of wealth for a Christian do not concern himself. For the right use of all his powers of service, God holds each one of us responsible; and certainly the income that each one of us receives, the property that each one of us possesses, has in it latent power of service for the promotion of the Master's kingdom.
Now the divine law of political economy applies to this whole matter. Dangerous as is the use of wealth, God calls upon Christians to URe all they have of it, be it little or much, in His service and for His glory. We sing in moments of devotion, " All that I havo I 0'11'0 to Thee, I hold it for the Giver."
The proportion which each man of us is free to spend upon his own personal gratification, upon the personal pleasures of his family, upon the embellishments of his home, we cannot determine for each other j but everyone of us is bound conscientiously to determine it before God, and under the searching vision of the Spirit of all Truth, whom no detail and no selfish motive can escape. The Holy Spirit in the heart of Christians can and does make " sumptuary laws" for us.
To HELP MEN TO HELP THEMSELVES.
When we become convinced that there is in our hands as stewards money to be used for our absent Lord-for om Lord in bodily presence withdrawn, in spirit dwelling in us-then how gloriously does the scope of this mission work open out before us ns wo look at the money in our hands! Wealth must be used for unselfish ends, or it cannot be used as the Lord wills. To help others, we must help them to help themselvcs. The greatest work which Christian wealth can do in the world is to bring men one by one under the sway of that one Supreme Personality, the Lord .Tesus Christ !
HELP THEM TO CHRIST.
The only hope for men is in a close personal relation with a personal Saviour. Not in masses will men be Iiftf~d out of vice and sin. Society will be purified, institutions will be made better and kept better, only as men are drawn one by one to IIim "Who has been lifted up." The grellt social discontent of our time, whose hoarse warning voice comes to our ear from every continent on the globe, finds its canse in thp. Jack of a true centre for each man's life in Christ. The pitiable, blind yearnings of socialism must touch the hearts of true Christians, because they are the gropings of men after that true brotherhood which men find only when they see the Fatherhood of God. Christ is the" Desire of the Nations," though they know Him not. The truest, wisest use of wealth is in promoting efforts to bring the Gospel of Christ home to the hearts of the people, and to bring the people home to Christ. "They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ranEOm for him." But the power of the Holy Spirit can transmute these money gift!;, wllich we here and now before God pledge ourselves to make for the promotion of His kingdom, into Christian influences which will win souls for Christ. Oh, what a glorious thought, that dead and wasted years, which have been coined into money, if that money be laid at the feet of Christ, may be made to live over again, His Spirit touching the dead past and quickening it into living service, as this money shall send to the dark places of the earth souls fired with the wish to preach Christ!
" Defer not charities till death," says Bacon, " for certainly if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth 80 is rather liberal of another man's than of his own." Be your wealth great or small, use it for Christ while you can yourself direct its use, while you ~an yourself see and enjoy the mighty moral and spiritnal values which are produced from the right use of wealth. Where is the man or the woman of large wealth who will set tlle world a Christian example of that free, cheerful, joyous giving which God loves (" God loveth a cheerfnl giver") by taking a whole mission station to snpport from his abundant means, as a rich man keeps a yacht" for his own pleasure" 1 vVho will thus prayerfully "rcde~m" large sections of his great wealth, of his coined time, by prayerfully using it for these noble ends 1 Vie look for the speedy appearing of such great benefactions, as the re-
THE GOSPEL AFLOAT
sponsibility of wealth comes to be more clearly felt. Meanwhile, let us see to it that by loving and free giving until we feel it in the sweet deprivations that we are willing to meet for Christ's sake, we each one of us show to the world something of that spirit that brings a blessing from the Lord, Who still" sits over against the treasury. "
THE GOSPEL AFLOAT. (With .Map.) BY REV. ROBERT W. :/d,ALL, D.D., PARIS, FRANCE.
[NOTE.-At the Editor's request Dr. McAll has sent to the REVIEW an account of the new enterprise for French waters, and a plate of the proposed boat.- EDITOR.] Not long since there WaS issued the following appeal for a McAll mission boat for river and canal-work throughout France.
Each summer, for many years past. the boats lent to the mission by Mr. Henry Cook (Seamen's Friend), of Portsmouth and Gosport, have visited various French seaports, and a remarkable blessing has resulted.
Last summer immense interest was awakened during the sojourn of the boat in Paris, moored for two months in the Seine, beside the celebrated Pont de la Concorde.
Henco has arisen our intense desire to have our own boat adapted to the system of rivers and canals which is spread like a network all over France, and which consequently could be used at all seasons of the year. By this means hundreds of hitherto umisited places can be reached with the Gospel message. The estimated cost of such a vessel, containing a saloon for meetings and seating 120 to 140 persons, with lodging for those in' charge, is estimated at £1000. Captain and Mrs. Pim, of Valence, members of the Society of Friends, generously offer to give their services during seven months of each year to carry out this enterprise. The annual outlay for dues, watermen, lighting, warming, etc., and the expense of an evangelist sent to aid in the services, will amount to about £200.
We plead earnestly for special donations toward building the boat, and annual subscriptions toward working it. Without these, this most desirable undertaking cannot be accomplished, the ordinary income being already taxed to the utmost.
While we were using Mr. Cook's boat, Le Bon .Messager, one writer, in a popular French daily newspaper, professing to be very friendly, asked, " What is to be done when, in a few days, this little ship.has to quit the Seine and put to sea again ~ A happy thought occurs to us, which we submit to the promoters of this effort. "Ve recommend them to engage a
I,S,SIonRB.Y
anal~ tn 'l1RllCeI J • f–'—I IIan -:i- + -+– 'ecHon + PARIS – FEBRY 1891 H. R~&. It€'Y.
H(!c;~itecf D. by I~( ;;tale
THE GOSPEL AFLOAT
balloon and hold meetings in the air, high above the Tour Eiffel. The audience being thus already part way to heaven, it will be easier to guide them upward for the remainder of the journey."
This and similar pleasantries clearly attracted thousands to the boat, and numbers who came expecting to be amused remained as earnest listeners. It would be difficult to compute in how far we are indebted even for the new, permanen.t boat to the popular interest thus awakened, evidencing how especially this novel mode of evangelization is adapted to reach the French people.
When the ship was about to leave Paris, a pleasing little incident occurred. Mr. Henry Cook, of the Portsmouth Seamen's Society (who lent us the vessel), and our missionary, the Rev. S. R. Brown, had to go from one marine office to another to carry out some formalities. The distances were considerable, so they hired a small carriage, and were directed from bureau to bureau, a wearisome round. When it was finished Mr. Brown asked the driver what extra sum (beyond the small legal fare for a single drive) was due, on account of the many calls and long waiting. " Gentlemen," he said, his countenance brightening, " I will not receive one sou extra. It has been a pleasure and privilege to conduct you. I and my son have attended the boat meetings whenever we could, and have found great benefit there. I am only too happy to offer this small mark of my gratitude."
The new boat is now in process of building; the special donations have warranted ordering it, but there will be the annual cost of working it, river and canal dues, mariners' support and cost of sending evangeliststhough the good captain and his wife will receive nothing, not even their own support. We tried to believe the annual cost would not surpass £200, but to work well we must rather reckon on £300. It certainly promises to be the means of sending far and wide the Gospel message in France to numbers of places in which it is as yet never heard. We hope to launch it about the end of October.
From the Nineteenth Annual Report of the McAIl Mission we append a few statements which will interest all who are watching the new developments of this work. The missionary boat on the Seine has found the door open wider than ever in France. This was a new experiment in the heart of the vast city. Moored at the well-known Pont de la Concorde, it was wonde~ful to descend into the cabin on a summer afternoon, and find everything orderly as in a regular place of worship, and hear the hearty singing, and mark the reverent attention pervading the crowded assembly, composed chiefly of men; then, so soon as one meeting was ended, to see a new audience eagerly rushing in and filling the cabin a second, third, and even fourth time. What a resistless evidence of a widespread desire to listen to the Gospel message! The gross attendance, during the seven weeks, was 23,500, comprising all classes of society, and many, evidently, hearing the Gospel for the first time in their lives. By a vessel permanently connected with our work the G08pel could be conveyed not only to the cities and towns, but to ~ multitude of remote places where, as yet, its glad sound is never heard.
Every ycar brings new proofs that, so long aR the workers, whether for young or old, keep strictly to the faithful declaration of the Gospel, and the direct effort to win souls to Christ, the people will ncver grow weary of listening to them. Our special work during the" Exposition Universelle" evidenced this anew j each of our two temporary halls at the gate!! has ceased to be temporary. In each a little permanent cl)ngregation of residents in Par'is remained after the Exposition had closed. Were-entered the large salle of Avenue Rapp with the New Year, the influx of these new-comers having rendered the neighboring one of Avenue Bosquet too small, while the little room at the Trocadero has bcen retained. In both "We have the joy of recognizing a certain number of true converts.
Another striking indication that the present i~ a peculiarly favorable time for Gospel work here is found in the fact that in two of our central llalls in Paris-those of Rue Royale and Boulevard Bonue Nouvelle-the gross attendance during 1890 (omitting all extra mcetings) exceeded that of 1889 by 24,300, and this without any novelty of procedure or 8pecial attempt at publicity.
Mr. M. L. Dodds has written: "Never before did this 'Salvation Navy,' as the new~papers call it, attempt to take Paris hy storm, nor dare to cast anchor and hoist flag just below the Pont de la Concorde. Soon, however, the curious crowd gathered, and were welcomed to the nicely fitted-up saloon. The hours of meeting were at first from three to four and from eis-ht to nine. They were gradually extended, till three meetings occupied the afternoon, the saloon emptying and refilling each hourhardly emptying, for often there were a dozen or more people who did not stir, and whom the longest discourse did not frighten away; people who seemed rooted to the spot-both sexes. The greater number are men -men of all classes. One quite young fellow sat in his place from halfpast two till six, and again from eight to nine, magnetized, as it were, by what he was hearing. He was a Catholic, from the North) and had never been to meetings of this sort before. Many took the thing less seriously; they like to whet their intellects on the discourse. 'These are good things,' said a young man to his companion, as they went out, ' but one takes and leaves.'
" Anything like steadiness of attention did not, of course, come all lit once. At the first there was a grcat dcal of coming and going, ~ometimes II little staring and laughing; some were amused at the faint sickly swing of the boat IU! other vessels passed it. Some found the steep companionladder ridiculous-' fit for English people,' they said-these Parisians do not see these ladders as often as they do in England. Some tried to join in the hymns, and sang out of tune, amusing the others. Some came only frOID curiosity, which being satisfied, they retired, never to return. h short, the meetings on the boat began exactly as those first meetings in 1872 began. If anyone wanted to stand again, in imagination, at the cradle of the miRsion, he could have seen the same curiosity, the same criticism, the same bewildered qnestions, the same falling off of wayside hearers, the same process of selection by whieh others stayed, and returned, and listened, and wondered, and often received life for their souls. .
" The French daily papers, describing the work, gave us lengthy advertisements for nothing! Think of it! Advertisements are expensive in France. 'With what gold should we have bought a column and a half of the Figaro .2 " All the French papers were talking about our Bon Messa,qer. Under some such title as 'Le bon Dieu .~ur l' eau ' – ' La religion Ii voiles'- , Une cJwpeUe flottante,' they gave a piece of clever and not ill-natured banter, and llometimes of not too inaccurate description, which helped to send hundrcd~ on board. Le Monde Illustre had some capital comic ,;l:etehes. The crowd pressing down 'en queue '-the saloon filled with peopll1-the lady open-mouthed at the harmonium-the orator keeping time with his llymn-book-were all represented. Even the texts eould be deciphered in full in the pictures. Le Monde made a mistake, however, in giving us too many old ladies in the front seats j but that may be passed over.
" The Rappel said : •• • A yacht is moored below the Pont de la Concorde. To its masts is attached a large ensign, white, on a blue gronnd, " Evangelical meetings every day, free entry." A fixed gangway gives access to the yacht j by a steep staircase we reach the cabin, transformed into a meeting hall. " , A dignified English lady, a little leather bag hangin"g on her arm, gives you a red book. The title is" Popular Hymns." You are warned, by a notice on the cover, that the book is not for you. Comfort yourself -you will get other presents! There are tracts for all tastes.' Butenough. The speakers and players are in turn described or caricatured. Thc singing and reading is carefully described, then the address by M. Mabboux. Then it is naIvely remarked, 'The meeting is closed with a prayer, which must be said with the eyes shut j , for to elose the eyes during prayer strikes these people as a new and peculiar action. "The Figaro also describes the steep ladder, and the hall, 'which might contain about two hundred persons. It is a meeting hall, with a reading. desk at one end j wooden benches arranged in order, and all round the walls are little sentences setting forth the adyantages of having to do with God (commerce avec Dieu), such as "God is your refuge." Jesus Christ said, " Venez d moi vous tous qui etes travailtes et charges, et je vous s01dagerai. " " The Lord is my Shepherd," etc. These' go all along the cabin, in French and English.' "One tract was given down-stairs, and one Gospel on deck. The tract was usually offered by a lady to each one going out, and within its cover was placed a complete list of the mission halls in town, so that any one could choose the hall nearest to his place of residence if he wished to attend. On deck a young man offered a copy of a gospel. Some!imes curious but too rapid conversations took place with those going out.
" A lady, being offered the Gospel of John, said she wi&hed that of Matthew too. ' It is not here to-day, madam, but would you not like to buy a New Testament g, '" A New Testament g What is it g, " , It contains all the four Gospels, and other matter. ' " Ah ! then I should like that j is it expensive ~ , " , Four sous.' " And it was bought. "Miss B– gave a tract to a lady, who stopped, and said abruptly; " , Then, what must one do to get to heaven g, " , Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. His death saves you.' " , Yes-but what must I do g, " , Just what I have told you-believe.' " , And then ~ , " , Then you must read His Word and do His will.' " , Do you believe in hell and in purgatory? ' " , In hell I do, not purgatory.' " , According to that, we are all condemned.' " , We are. Only Christ saves us.' " , Are you saved g , "But a rush of people through the narrow doorway, up the ladder, separated the two. Others had to be attended to. Will she come back again and inq~ire further ~ Who knows !
" They get good speaking on the bateau, and they get plain speaking, too. These Frenchmen make a noble use of a noble language. Some came from the country to help, as Messrs. Mabboux, Vernier, and Sainton. When possible, four or five took turns in the course of the afternoon. And they rose to the occasion. The best gave their best here. I suppose the sight of those wistful faces appealed to them, and they , stirred up their gift.' What the people got was the simple Gospel, suited to their needs. Christ was exalted as Saviour and as King of kings."
M. J. Sainton, who labored very earnestly in the meetings, adds: "The audiences were very mixed, from the consequential lady and gentleman to the street urchin j but, with few exceptions, after the first moments of surprise, our listeners were respectful, attentive, and even sympathetic. By these meetings on the boat we have reached a new contingent of sinners in the midst of our Parisian society, till then strangers to the Gospel. lIad this been the only result, thc work carried on had been a real success, for we should have been carrying out the commandment of our Master, , Preach the Gospel to every creature.'
" But, besides this, we can say that from this time the work of God has begun in very many hearts, a work which the Holy Spirit will deepen unto salvation, "One day a young man, with a fine open face and well dressed, said to me, 'For several days I have been without work, my savings permitting me to wait and look out for a good place. Meanwhile, I am profiting by your good conferences, where I am glad to hear, in regard to religion, things quite new to me, and which I desire to know more about.' Since then I have seen this young man several times at our evening meetings. He has become one of onr regular attendants.
" Another young man, whom I had noticed at different times, and who always appeared most serious, said to me in reply to a question, • Yes, sir, I begin to understand that what you say is the truth.' Later on, I spoke to him again, and he said, 'Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ. I want to live according to the Gospel, and not only that,' added he, with as much seriousness as naIve simplicity, " but I should wish to become a preacher like you. '
" Another day a young man came, accompanied by some companions, and with a mocking smile on his lips. By degrees his expression changed. After two or three meetings his companions dropped off, but he returned alone. He always sat in the same place, and sang and listened quite earnestly. I asked him one day about his spiritual state. He could not answer, bllt I felt that a good work was going on in his heart. He told me that since coming to our meetings he has ventured into II Protestant church, and that the simplicity and beauty of our religion had greatly impressed him. I gave him the address of the hall near which he lived, and he said to me that he would certainly attend the meetings there.
" Another time a gentleman, a merchant from the Provinces, waited for me at the door. That day we had to some extent touched on controversy on the subject of 'confession of sins.' • It is the first time,' said this gentleman, ' that I have been present at your meetings, and I wish to tell you with how much interest I have listened to you and your colleagues; but,' added he, • I should have liked to see our Catholic priests defend their points, and to know what you would have replied to them. ' , If the priests,' said I to him, • do not accept the Word of God as the common ground of discussion, we would not argue with them, for God has not given any other foundation for our faith in the doctrines of the truth. If, on the contrary, they accept it, all discussion is quickly settled, for not only can they not base the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the Word 'of God, but they have against them numerous and striking texts.' Then followed a most interesting conversation, which ended in the gentleman declaring: 'I also have had religious convictions from my childhood. In youth I rejected certain ordinances of my Church without abandoning the faith, and I see to-day that I am much more Protestant at heart than Catholic.'
SOME HINDRANCES '1'0 THE WORK 01' FOREIGN MISSIONS
"Unfortunately I did not think of taking his address, and he has probably returned to the provinces, for I have not seen him again."
Pastor Aubanel, of PariiO, says of the missionary ship at Fecamp : " The meetings held at Fecamp during August, 1890, on board The Herald of Mercy, were specially noteworthy because of the number of hearers, and the earne:;t attention with which they listened to the fundamental truth of the Gospel. For some days they were led by Pastor Cresseil, of Paris, but he had to leave, to conduct the evangelistic work at Trouville during the bathing season. The committee sent me to replace him. Every day, aided by the captain and Mlle. M–, I held a meeting and proclaimed a free salvation through repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to a number of sailors and their families.
•, Perfect order reigned on board during the whole time. The missionroom was constantly full of attentive and interested hearers-often too slIlall to hold all who wished to come, so that the deck also was crowded with persons eager to hear the glad tidings-which they could do, as the skylights were open; many also stood on the edge of the quay. On those days it is estimated that as many as 250 were present. The average was 180.
" A plentiful distribution of tracts and Scripture portions was made at the end of each meeting. New Te:;taments were on sale at the low price of one penny for the small edition. The people were so eager to buy that the stock on board was soon exhaustcd.
" When I took leave of the audience after the last meeting, very many of them, with a warm shake of the hand, said how sorry they were that the meet.ing" were over, and how much they hoped that they would be begun agaiu in a ncar future. "
SOME IIINDRANCES TO THE WORK OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
BY REV. GEORGE W. NORTHRUP, D.D., LL.D.
[We venture to reprint from the Baptist Missionary Magazine the masterly address of President Northrup before the Se;"entv-seventh Anniversary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, held in Cincinnati, May 25th, 1891, hoping thus to bring it to the attention of some who may not have !lad an opportunity of reading it. -ED.] I purpose to speak of some of the hindrances at home to the work of foreign missions, or some of the causes of the comparative failure of the Church to evangelize the pagan nations. Before expres5ing my thoughts on this subject, I beg leave to uttcr a word of a personal nature. It is possible that my remarks may not Eecure the approval of all ; may, in fact, give offence to some who hear me. If such shall be the case, let me assure you that I am not mored by a pcssimi6tic spirit, nor by a disposition to disparage the missionary history of our people. I am not willing to admit that I am inferior to any of my brethren in loyalty to the denomination with which I have Leen identified for fifty years, and which I have served, in a public way, for more than a third of a century. The feeling which I am most distinctly conscious of, as I stand before you to· day, is that of heartache in view of the apathy of Christian people, and especially the apathy of our denomination, in regard to the temporal and eternal salvation of the vast population of the pagan nations. I have put the question to myself once and again, within a few weeks past: " What can be done to change this state of things-to awaken the feelinl! of love and compassion which ought to exist for the hundreds of millions of our felloW'.men involved in the darkness, degradation and misery of heathenism g I speak in behalf of a billion human beings, for everyone of whom Christ died, every ODO of whom has a place in the heart of God, everyone of whom is of as much worth in His sight as any citizen of the great republic. It is certain that God has done all that He could wisely do in bestowing grace UpOll His people. It is also certain that, if they would use the grace bestowed with greater fidelity, He would give more and still more-, " opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing, that there would not be 100m enough to receive it." The speedy eVaI;gelization of the pagan world, and shall we not also Bay, their salvation, is, in a real and profound sense, in the hands of the Church.
1. Among the causes referred to, we notice, first, the departure from the method of Christ, in laying chief stress, not on salvation here and now, the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth, but upon salvation in a narrower seuse of the term, as escape from the retrihutions of hell. To use the words of another: "It has been too much the habit of Christian people, in looking abroad upon the heathen world, to regard it, Dot as a kingdom to be congucred for Jesus Christ, but rather as a seething sea of drowning men, a few of whom might bo saved from the general wreck by those whom the Church sent out on her gallant life-boat service." But certainly this is not the conception which Christ empllasizes when He sets before men the object of their immediate aud supreme devotion. He hegan His ministry by preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye, and bclieve tho Gospel." He frequently called the kingdom which He came to establish the" kingdom of heaven." not because it is in heaven, but because of its heavenly origin and nature. The prayer given by our Lord indicates plainly the location ned nature of tho kingdom for tho establishment of which He enjoined His disciples to labor ~and pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done"-where g in heaven? " Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The objects presented in these two clauses are identical; the petition, "Thy kingdom come," means" Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The end here presented-universal obedience among men to the will of God-is the burden of the Gospel which Christ preached, and which He commanded His disciples to preach to " all nations," "to every creature;" an end which includes the whole duty of man, and in the accomplishment of which the earth will reflect, in II degree beyond buman conception, the love, purity and blessedness of the heavenly world. True, in a few instances, Christ spoke of the infinitely diverse destinies of men in the future world; "but for once that He spoke about tho ';;iVing of the soul, lIe spoke fifty times about the kingdom." Since Christ's method is the wisest and best, in the measure that the Church has departed from this method, it must have lost in reli~ious power, llow much power, in the way of missionary appeal,' has the doctrine of the eternal perdition of the great majority of the pagan world 1 I received, a few months ago, a letter from a missionary in India, accompanied by a printed appeal to all evangelical churches, in which he states that, while last year (1890) fifty thousand heathen had been rescued, twenty millions had died, few of whom had heard of the love of God in Christ. And he exclaims- " Twenty millions of immortal souls swept into hell in a single year I"
It is probably an approximately correct estimate that, during the missionary year just closed, twenty millions of pagans, who had reached the age of moral accountability, have passed away, the great majority of whom never heard of the Gospel of the grace of God. Is there not, in this fact, considered in the light of the commonly received view of the Bible relation to the final doom of the heathen world, a power of appeal to the people of God sufficient to impel them to all possible labors and sufferings necessary to make known the way of eternal life to every pagan on the face of the globe 1 Rave they been greatly moved by this fact of overwhelming importance 1 Row much have the Baptists of the Northern States, numbering eight hnndred thousand, contributed to aid in sending the Gospel to the vast multitude who have passed to the awards of the eternal world since the Union met in Chicago, one year ago 1 If we allow to these twenty millions their due share of our contributions according to their number, it will appear that the members of our churches have given, on an average, not to exceed two cents for rescuing from hell a number of our race equal to one third of the population of the United States. Is not this an amazing fact 1 Does it not ~eem incredible 1 Does it not furnish a moral demonstration that the idea of the exposure to everlasting puni8hment of the pagan world has but an almost inappreciable influence upon the great body of Christian people 1 Brethren, I would submit the matter to you j I would ask you, each one, to state, clearly and fully, to his own mind, the considerations which render it credible that the Baptists, represented by the Union, believe what they profess to believe in regard to the final doom of the heathen world, and yet give, on an average, not to exceed one cent a week, to send the knowledge of the way of eternal life to a billion heathen, and not to exceed two cents to rescue from perdition the twenty millions whose day of probation has closed since the last anniversary of the Union. Would it not seem difficult to find eight hundred thousand non-Christian men, of average natural benevolence, who would not give as much, if necessary, to prevent the everlasting misery of an equal number of irrational creatures ~ 18 it a matter of wonder that the world does not believe in hell, or that it does not believe that the orthodox churches believe that the heathen" shall go away into eternal punishment'" Do you say that for the world to deny that Christians believe what they profess to believe on this point is to charge them with the most culpable insincerity-a charge which involveR, logically, universal historical scepticism, rendering it irrational to believe in the existence of faith and goodness among men 1 True, but we would inquire if the charge involved in the other alternative is less damaging-the charge, well grounded, of continued practical indifference, on the part of the great majority of the members of all evangelical churches, to the eternal welfare of a thousand million of their fellow-men, whom they profess to love, and whom they are bound, by the most saered obligations, to love as they do themselves.
We would not have you misunderstand us at this point-to regard us as doubting the reality or under-valuing the importance of salvation as escape from the retributions of the future world. We believe that everlasting punishment will last forever; and we believe this awful truth because it iii taught in the Bible; and we believe it is taught in the Bible because it is a fact in the universe; and we believe it is a fact in the universe because the infinite God, in the plenitude of His resources, conld not prevent its existence, acting, as it behooves Him to act, in accordance with the immutable principle of His holy nature; and we believe that this truth ought to have the same place of relative importance in the instruc- tions of the pulpit which it has in the Bible. And yet we affirm that Christ did not dwell chiefly upon salvation as pertaining to the future world, but as a good to be realized here, through the reign of love in the souls of men, constraining them to grateful and self-sacrificing labors that the will of God might be done everywhere on earth as in heaven. Salva- tion is deliverance from sin, and sin is of all evils the essence and the sum. "It brings present disgrace and ruin to body and soul, to home and country ; it breeds distrust; it enervates manhood and womanhood; it incitp.s to murderous revenge; it arrays class against class; it kindles the fires of volcanic social hate; it is a menace to peace, to social order, and to international amity; and from all this there is salvation only by that personal integrity and "ocial righteousness which are the gifts of God to man through Jesus Christ." Salvation in this world involves salvation in the world to come ; the kingdom of God on earth is the foundation of the everlasting kingdom of God in the heavens; and in the measure that salvation is wrought out here, and the kingdom of God extends among men, will the end be accomplished which Christ set before His disciples as the object of constant and paramount devotion. The whole ministry of Christ was a ministry of love to all the sinful, sorrowful, lost sons of men. He was moved with compassion for the multitude because He saw them "in distress," "scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd," living mean, ignoble, wicked lives, ignorant of God and of the place which they occupy in His infinite heart, with latent spiritnal powers capable of development, with solemn re!!>ponsibilities of moral agents, with features of the divine image not yet wholly effaced and that might he restored. How strongly did He nrge, by word and deed, in life and death, the duty of self-sacrificing love for men, not merely for the souls of men, but for men, women and children, in all the relations of life; and how impressively did He emphasize, in the sublime programme of the judgment day, the decisive importance of deeds of love and mercy. "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these My brethren, y0 did' it unto Me." " Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto Me." "Come, ye blessed of My Father." "Depart, ye cursed." Who are the brethren of Christ in this judgment programme? His disciples ~ Yes, but not these alone. For the event which He describes is that of the general judgment, when all nations, all the generations which shall have thronged the globe, will stand before His judgment seat, among whom there will be countless millions who never saw one of His disciples. The brethren of the Son of Man are "the poor, suffering, sorrow-laden sons of men, and the principle on which the judgment proceeds is that as men treat those, they would have treated the Judge had they had the opportunity. "
Are not the heathen among those who are in greatest need of the offices of love? Are they not hungry, famishing for lack of the Bread of Life q Are they not sick, consumed by the fever and leprosy of sin! Are they not poor, bankrupt in estate and character? Are they not in prison, compassed about by walls which they can neither scale, nor dig beneath, nor break through? If this great passage does not teach that men are saved by works of love, it certainly does teach that a faith, which does not produce these works, is vain and dead, and that those and those only who possess the spirit aud do the works described by Christ, are justified in regarding themselves, or in believing that He regards them, as His true disciples. The question for us to answer, as Mr. Spurgeon is reported to have suggested, is not, May the heathen be saved without the Gospel, but, Will we be saved if we do not carry the Gospel to the heathen ~ And it may be confidently affirmed that those who cannot be moved with compassion, in view of the wrath of God which has come upon the heathen, will not be moved with compassion in view of that which is to come upon them; that those who will not make sacrifices to rescue the heathen from the hells in which they are in this world, will not make sacrifices to rescue them from the hell of the future world, which seems far off, vague, unreal.
What, 'then, is the greatest need of the Church to-day ~ We answer, A divine enthusiasm; a mighty passion for the kingdom of God on earth, embracing all the populations of the globe":"'all China, all India, all Africa, all Enrope, all America, and all the islands of all the oceans; a kingdom as wide-reaching as the manifold life of man, involving obedience to the will of God in all positions and relations-in the sphere of the family, of social life, of business life, of political life; a kingdom whose progress shall be marked by the growing consecration of the people of God, the preaching of the Gospel to the poor, the overthrow of oppression, the extermination of drunkenness and the passions of lust and the greed of gain, the destruc,tion. of superstition, idolatry and all forms of infidelity, the sway of truth, and love, and righteousness over all the earth, a divine enthusiasm-a mighty passion of love and loyalty, impelling the soldiers of Jesus Christ to conquer for Him all the kingdoms of the globe on which His cross of shame and agony was set up, and from which He uttered the cry of expiring and redeeming love.
II. We mention, as a second cause, the failure of the evangelical churches to apply at home the principle of comity which they recognize in their foreign mission work. .
It is estimated that there is, on an average, one ordained minister to every three hundred thousand of the pagan population of the world.
There is good authority for the statement that in China, and t.he popula- tion accessible to the American Board, there is only one missionary for every six hundred thousand people. Moreover, there are whole nations, numbering scores of millions, in which no disciples have been made. We are confident that all who have any adequate conception of the interests involved will admit that the two following statements are thoroughly reasonable : 1. "That the Christian churches of the world should be satisfied with nothing less than sending out one ordained missionary for every fifty thonsand of the accessible pagan population of the world."
2. "That no church ought to call itself thoroughly aggressive and evangelical that does not expend, for the support of missions at large, at least one dollar for every five it expends for itself. "
What would compliance with these propositions require of the evan- gelical churches of the world ~ Twenty thousand ordained missionaries instead of four thousand, as at present; an immediate reinforcement of sixteen thousand, of which the quota of our denomination at the North should be not less than twtlve lmndred, making our foreign force of ordained ministers at least fifteen hundred. This would require our churches to give annually five times as much as the committee planned for expending during the current year, as authorized at the last annual meeting of the Union, or $2,500,000, a sum which, large as it may seem, is $400,000 less thau would come, annually, into the treasury of the Union if. the members of our churches should give, on an average, one cent a day for the cause of foreign missions.
We ask you to consider most seriously the vast relative waste, in men and money, involved in the condition of things existing in all the Northern States-the part of the country represented by the Union.
To illustrate the matter which we have in mind, let us take an example of numberless cases, with many of which everyone is familiar. Here are five fields, each having a population of fifteen hundred, and five evangelical ministers-one Baptist, one Presbyterian, one Congregationalist, one Episcopalian, and one Methodist-twenty-five ordained ministers preaching the Gospel to seven thousand five hundred people. while on the other side of the globe there are twenty-five fields, each having a population of three hundred thousand, and but one ordained minister; twenty-five men preaching the Word to seven million five hundred thousand people-one thousand times as many as are under the care of the same number of religious teachers at home. We ask now, in all earnestness, Would it not be infinitely more reasonable and Christian, if these several denominations would apply at home the principle of comity which they recognize abroad, keeping five of these ministers here and sending twenty to aid their brethren, each of whom is confronted by nearly a third of a million pagans? If it would be wrong in the sight of God to put five ministers of different evangelical denominations in a village of fifteen hundred people in China, or Africa, or Burmah, restricting their labors to that locality, is it not wrong and equally wrong, yea, wrong in a greater degree, to do the same thing here, while hundreds of millions o£ our fellow-men are living and dying in the darkness and misery of heathenism ~ The field is the world. The whole world is missionary ground. Every city, every village, every neighborhood, in which there is one man, or woman, or child who is not a citizen of the kingdom of God, is a missionary field. We challenge any man to adduce reasons which will approach to a justification of the course of the Christian churches in distributing their forcet! over this common missionary ground-the whole world-in such an extraordinarily uneven way, putting one minister in charge of three hundred people, many of whom are Christians, and another, of no greater ability, in charge of three hundred thousand, of whom all, or nearly all, are pagans. If the great evangelical denominations would act on the principle of comity here suggested, it would be an easy matter for them to send an immediate reinforcement of sixteen thousand men, so that there might be one minister to every fifty thousand pagans; and it would be an undertaking of no difficulty for us to send our quota of twelve hundred, and to furnish them with adequate support.
Is it a violation of truth or charity to say that the existing state of things is a great religious scandal, an offence against God, and a crime against our brethren of the heathen world, sit.ting in the region and shadow of death, perishing for the lack of the Light of Life?
What are the lessons taught by these facts? What are the duties which they should impress upon us? One duty, and that of paramount importance, as clear to our mind as if it were written on the heavens in words of fire, is this: That the evangelical churches ought to emphasize strongly all points of doctrinal agreement and all methods of Christian work in which they can unite, coming as closely together as possible, and presenting a united front to the enemies of God. Consider, we beseech you, the most obvious facts of our condition. Here are the evangelical churches, in all but a few millions, confronted at home by three hundred million members of two powerful and thoroughly corrupt organizationsthe Roman and Greek hierarchies-and by vast masses of men connected with no churches, dominated by sensuality, greed of gain, lust of powcr, and social distrust and hate, tremendous principles of evil which have brought to untimely destruction cities and nations, many and great, all down the ages; and abroad, confronted by a billion heathen, all involved in deepest moral ignorance and most debasing superstition, and half of them held in the thraldom of false philosophical systems of extraordinary power; and joined with these forces, both at home and abroad, the spiritual hosts of wickedness, nnder the leadership of the god of this world. In such a war as this, fighting the organized evil forces of earth and hell, the combined powers of "the world, the flesh, and the devil, ,. united in the strongest compacts, shall we not, all soldiers of Jesus Christ, stand together in the closest relations possible, help each other heartily on the march and in the deadly assanlt, cheer each other amid the fire and storm of battle, knowing that the Leader is one, the army one, the foe one, the final triumph one, the eternal glory one-the glory due unto Him who is " worthy to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and blessing" ~ But we hear objections, many and plausible, urged against what some may be pleased to call an impracticable and fanatical appeal.
1. It is said that we, as a denomination, hold the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; that it is of supreme importance that we secure the widest possible acceptance of onr views at home; that we dare not compromise with error by consenting to give up any community, however smail, to the care of Predobaptist churches, etc.
The question, then, for us to consider is reduced to this: Shall we give over more of the population of our country to the Predobaptists, or more of the heathen world to the devil ~ Are we to regard the errors of all Christian churches, other than our own, as more destructive than the errors of heathenism ~ And, then, if we have the truth, in its purity and fulness, are we not, of all Christian bodies in the world, under the greatest obligation to go to the regions beyond ~ Surely, the very fact of the purity of our creed immensely engances the claims of duty resting upon us to secure its worldwide acceptance. What an inspiring and uplifting event it would be to the whole Christian world, if we should send out, at once, the number of missionaries suggested-twelve hundred-moved by the spirit of apostolic self-sacrifice and heroism, whose labors might be the means, under the blessing of God, of winning to our pure faith tens and hundreds of thousands in heathen lands, creating at many points, as among the Telugus, Baptist communities numbering fifty thousand! Furthermore, is it not evident that the fundamental principle of our people ought to constrain them to go, in large and increasing numbers, to the nations of the pagan world ~ For the fundamental principle of our churches, that of which. we boast and in which we glory, is loyalty to Jesus Christ, implicit obedience to His commands. We discard and repudiate all assumed authority of a human source, whether of popes, or councils, or traditions, or creeds. But loyalty to Christ, in order to be such in truth and not in name only, must include obedience to all His commands, especially to those which are of supreme importance, among which stands the Great Commission. Does our action, as a denomination, justify or contradict our profession of loyalty ~ What is the command of Jesus Christ, as distinct and imperative as if we heard His words ringing out from the height of heaven ~ Is it not, "Go ye, Baptists, preach the Gospel to every creature, make disciples of all nations~" Is it not the belief of our churches, that the Great Commission was given originally, not to Presbyterians, or Congre- gationalists, or Episcopalians, or Methodists, but exclusively to Baptists- the very people of whom we claim to be the only living representatives ~ The first body of Baptists were right loyal to their Lord; they went every- where preaching the Word; they carried the good news to aU quarters of the known worM. How is it with the people known as Baptists in the last quarter of the nineteenth century ~ Is their obedience such as to justify their claim to be the true successors of those early disciples of Christ ~ Have they discharged, are they now discharging, in any true and worthy sense, the high and imperative duty imposed by the risen and glorified Redeemer, loyalty to whom they claim as their distinction and horlor ~ Is it obedience to the command, "Go, make disciples of all nations," for a people, numbering eight hundred thousand, to contribute $400,000 a year-on an average, one cent a week-to give to a billion pagans a knowledge of the incarnate Son of God, who loved them and gave Himself for them, and through whom alone they can attain eternal life ~ Brethren, mere profession will not justify our claim of special loyalty to Christ, nor ~ill obedience to His requirements in the matters of baptism, communion and church government justify it while the great majority of the members of our churches are in a state of mutiny against the Great Commission, saying, if not in words, yet practically, We will not ourselves preach the Gospel to the pagan nations, nor will we make sacrifices to aid others in the work of preaching to them. .
How is it that the belief has come to prevail so widely, among all Christian people, that there is au enormous difference, in culpability and danger, between disobedience to Christ in rejecting what He requires them to believe, and disobedience to Christ in disregarding what He commands them to do ~ Why is it that the heresy of unbelief is regarded with such apprehension or alarm, while the heresy of inaction is viewed with comparative indiffer- ence ~ Is faith without works any better than works without faith ~ Are they not alike dead and displeasing to God-equally vain and perilous 1 To the heresy of inaction, far more than to the heresy of unbelief, is due the deplorable fact that the midnight darkness of heathenism still envelops nearly two thirds of the population of the globe. What, then, shall we do 1 The alternatives are: Either cease to claim to be the true successors of the earliest Baptist churches, or obey, with the devotion which char- acterized them, the Lord's command, "Go, preach the Gospel to the whole creation."
2. But we hear another objection urged with great frequency and confidence. It is said that the United States is destined to be the leading I nation of the future, that it occupies a position of immeasurable importance in the world's history; so that whatever we do, or fail to do, in relation to the evangelization of the pagan nations, we must seck, by all means in our power, to make our nation thoroughly Christian. What shall we say of this utterance, heard everywhere, especially on anniversary occasions, in the pulpit and on the platform ~ Is it not largely an utterance of national conceit, inspired by national pride and selfishness, and utterly opposed to thll example and teaching of Christ and His apostles 1 1. The ruling motive force of Christianity is love j and it is the nature, the irrepressible instinct, of Christian love to help the most helpless, the deformed in body, the feeble-minded, the moral refuse of. society for whom none care.
2. Jesus gathered around Him the weakest, the lowest, the" publicans and harlots," the social outcasts-the nobodies of ilis time, according to the prevailing standards of the world.
3. Does the Great Commission read, Go ye, therefore, make disciples of the leading nations, preach the Gospel to those who hold positions of great stategic importance? . This would seem to be the form of the Lord's final command as given in the English version most widely current in our churches. But the oldest manuscripts, beyond question substan- tially identical with the "Original Autographs" of Matthew and Mark, read very differently, as follows: "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations;" "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. "
4. The history of the Church justifies the method of Christ. Chris- tianity has won its most notable victories among peopla of little account in the judgment of the civilized nations, as among the Karens, the Telugus, the Sandwich Islanders, the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles, who, though they were regarded by the Romans as too stupid and brutish to serve as slaves, have built up the most magnificent empire known to his- tory-an empire upon which the sun never sets, which has endured for a thousand years, and is influencing now, as never before, the thought, and life, and movements of the world. .
5. The only principle of missionary strategy recognized by Paul, the foremost missionary of all the ages-as appears from the inspired record of his life-was to preach the Gospel where men were thickest. And for the adoption of this principle he had divine warraut j for when he was at Corinth, the Lord said unto him in the night by a vision: . " Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace j for I alll with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee; for" -what did the Lord say? Corinth is a city of culture, the eye of Greece, occupying a position of great strategic importance? No, no ; but, " no man shall set on thee to harm thee, for I have much people in this city."
o brethren, can we not hear our Lord calling us one uy one, by name, and saying, " I have much people in China, much people in Africa, much people on all the continents and islands of the globe?" Let us take deeply into our minds and hearts Christ's idea of the people! the people! the people! He accounted man transcendently great, not because of the external distinctions which gain for him recognition and honor in the world, but because of what he is as man, the divine image in him, his inherent powers of intellect, heart and will, which have revealed but an insignificant fraction of their latent energy, even in the case of those who stand forth in history as the greatest of the sons of men, and to whose expansion and growth there is no goal this side of the infinitude of God.
In Christ's esteem, all men, of whatever race, or rank, or condition, ar~ of equal worth in virtue of their divine endowments and immortal destination.
The people have been of but little account in the past. It has been the great ones of the earth-emperors, kings and nobles, the rich and the powerful j for these it has seemed that all things were made; for these the people have labored, and suffered, and died like the beasts of the field; but thanks be unto God for the signs, multiplying on every side, betokening the growing power of Christ's idea of the greatness of man as man, the worth and dignity of the people. It cannot be doubted that one of the chief causes of the agitations and revolutions which are taking place in all Christian nations, working the di&integration and overthrow of institutions of social and political wrong which have survived the destruction of dynasties not a few, is the growing conscionsness, on the part of the people, of their divine rights and powers of manhood; their dignity as moral agents-deep calling unto deep-the strivings and aspirations of the human soul, like the ceaseless ground-swell of the ocean, in response to the presence and quickening touch of the Spirit of God. And as the Christian idea, which is Christ's idea of the people, shall grow in power and splendor, it will mould more and more profoundly all social and political institutions, and will constrain all the true disciples of Christ to labor with equal love, devotion and joy for the temporal and eternal wellbeing of all men, irrespective of race, or nationality, or color, or sex, or social condition.
But who knows that the United States is destined to be the leading nation of the future, that the Anglo-Saxon race will rule the coming ages ~ To whom has the assurance been given that God will not build up in China a kingdom far surpassing, in intellectual and moral power, the British Empire or the great republic 'I Where is the prophet who can foretell the destiny of the " Dark Continent," having at the present time a population of two hundred and fifty millions-four times that of the United States ~ Who can forecast the turnings and overturnings which shall precede the coming of Him whose right it is to reign, and who shall reign over all the nations of the earth ~ Is it nrged that certain of the pagan nations and races have no future, that they are worn out, their powers of expansion and growth exhausted? We reply that the judgment of those who thus speak is certainly shallow, and probably false, because they fail to estimate adequately the restorative and re-creative power of Christianity. The error is like that involved in the conception of "a mechanical world and an outside God." The idea has widely prevailed that the material universe is a " closed system"-a system of finite forces, acting and reacting upon each other, excluding all divine causality-its goal quiescence and death. The conception is fundamentally false, because it does not include, as it should include, God as the universal and abiding ground of all being and all life, as immanent and active in all chemical forces, in all vital forces, in all souls-to His almighty will energizing throughout creation from the atom to the archangel." This view compels us to reject, as irrational and incredible, the notion that the goal of the material universe is quiescence and death, and to affirm that, through the immanent and energizing power of God, it will abide, and pass on from lower to higher stages, " from the nebulous matter to the glory of the new heavens and the new earth."
But God is in history in a sense infinitely more real and profound than He is in the realm of physical nature; and hence we believe that there are no effete and worn-out peoples, no races whose powers of expansion and growth are permanently exhausted. For though the words of the apostle that" all live and move, and have their being in God" declare a universal fact of history, yet, in these last times, God has entered, in Jesns Christ, into new and more vital relations with mankind, and is creating them anew by His spirit. awakening and invigorating their dormant and paralyzed powers, thus enabling nations and races, as well as individuals, to enter upon a new career, far higher and grander than would have been possible to them before the Advent.
In concluding these remarks, we desire to say, that we have spoken as truly and earnestly in beha!f of the work of missions at home as of the work of missions abroad. The cause of home missions and the cause of
MISSIONS AND THEm RESULTS
foreign missions are one in principle and one in interest. And, therefore, along with the motto, " America for Christ," but high above it, we should place the motto, "The World for Christ:" And the speediest and the only infallible way to gain America for Christ is to give to the world's evangelization the place of supremacy, in labors and gifts, which it holds of right. This our churches, this the churches of other denominations, have lamentably failed to do. The most general and conspicuous act of disobedience to Christ, on the part of the Christian people of the United States, is their deliherate and persistent refusal to discharge the high and imperative duty to evangelize the pagan nations-a work for the accomplishment of which, within the period of the past twenty-five years, their resources, in men and money, have been ample. It is, in our judgment, no exaggeration to say, that the Baptist churches of the Northern States could have done and ought to have done, during the past year, as much for the cause of foreign missions as has been done by all the evangelical churches embraced in the same portion of our country.
Brethren, I would that one half of the Baptist ministers at the North would give themselves to the work of evangelizing the heathen. Disastrous to our denomination at home, do you say ~ Impossible. It would bring to our churches an unparalleled degree of prosperity; the places left vacant would be filled by men called of God from the ranks of the laity; ministers of other denominations would be won to us, convinced that we were holding the truth in its purity, and living it with apostolic fidelity ; Christians of other names, moved by the power of our example, would obey in a worthy manner the Lord's final command; and this powerful missionary "movement" .would confound infidelity at home, would convince the world that Christianity is, indeed, what it claims to be, and would mightily advance the Kingdom of God in all parts of our country.
May the Divine Spirit enable us to penetrate to the heart of these great paradoxes in the kingdom of Grace-that we saVtl our life, not by seeking, but by losing it; that we become rich, not by keeping, but by giving; that we become great in moral power among men, not by self-assertion, but by self-abnegation, by self. sacrifice from love to others; that it is through our poverty that we are to enrich the world, according to the way of Him who, " though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich."
APOSTOLIC MISSIONS AND THEIR RESULTS.
BY REV. JOHN RUTHERFORD, ROTHE SAY, SCOTLAND.
" Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Such was the word of the Holy Ghost which came to the church in Antioch as they ministered to the Lord and fasted.
This was the actual beginning of Chris.tian missions; those two men were the pioneers of all in every age who have gone forth to carry the Word of Christ " far hence unto the Gentiles."
It was a vast work that lay before them. As Paul afterward wrote, " Who is sufficient for these things~" so would he feel now. Alone and single handed they were to attack the ignorance and superstition and vice of the world. Their difficulties could hardly be overestimated. What amount of credence were they likely to meet with from hostile Jews, from subtle Greeks, or from tl1e military Romans ? Was it probable that the minds of the heathen could be easily turned from the saturnalia and idol festivals to which for generations they had been addicted? Systems of priestcraft, of degrading mythologies, of widespread epicureanis~, of an utterly debased home life, of slavery and of revolting games and pleasures kept the world crushed beneath corruption and sensuality. And who, then, were Barnabas and Paul, to attempt to overthrow institutions venerable with the traditions of centuries? who were they to try to change the religions and social face of the world? "Two Jews of obscure name, of no position, without rank, without wealth, without influence, without either literary, political, or military genius, without any culture but such as a Roman noble would have despised as useless and grotesque." Yes, and even after years of working at this their chosen work, they did not find it either popular or remunerative, for it fell to their lot to approve themselves the ministers of God in affiictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in prisons, in deaths, being beaten, being stoned, being shipwrecked, Iiving in weariness and painfulness, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness.
Were they sufficient for these things? sufficient to cope with false philosophy, with heathenism, with abounding moral pollution, with a world which knew not God? They realized that their sufficiency was of God j they had been called by the Holy Ghost.
And so Barnabas and Saul went forth from Antioch, taking with them as an attendant and companion John Mark. Barnabas was one of the noblest, most manly, gentlest, and most effective of all the apostolic band. A Christian of the highest type, he had already been of the greatest service to Paul on more than one memorable occasion, a man of large heart, of wide sympathy, of great generosity and liberality j devoted and earnest and Joving, a " son of consolation," a good man, who rejoiced iu all good by whomsoever wrought, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.
And Paul, still known by his early name of Saul, was a man whose character towers far above that of ordinary men j a gentleman in the true sense of the word j a Christian, devoted, body, soul, and spirit, to Christ; courteous and orave, tender-hearted and true, full of enthusiasm and of sobriety of mind j a man of the deepest power of thought, eloquent, persuasive, able to organize and to manage, able to bear with weaknesses and prejudices, a man whose life was yielded without reserve to the glory of Jesus Christ and the welfare of men.
These, then, were the first Christian missionaries. After a farewell meeting with the church in Antioch they made their way to the port of Seleucia, where there stretched at their feet the waters of the great welltern sea. Here they found a splendidly built harbor in which the ships were lying protected from the swell of the waves outside. The ruins of this harbor remain in great perfection to our own day, only silted up with mud. From just such a harbor and such piers as we are acquainted with in any of our great shipping centres, the first New Testament missionaries set sail. It was the noblest use to which the masonry of the port of Seleucia had been ever put, when it sheltered the ship into which Paul and Barnabas stepped as they went at the divine bidding to evangelize the nations. Their vessel sailed out into the west-westward was the call of God to the Christian Church for many a century, until Europe and America should have received the Gospel-and soon arrived at Cyprus. Arrived at length in this, the first country to which God had led them, what would the results be? What would be the results of discussions with unbelieving Jews and with opposing philosophers? of weary journeys on foot-journeys continued for weeks together, while the preachers endured hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness, and had no certain dwelling-place? what would be the result of their residence in foreign cities among neVI' faces, all of whom were alike ignorant of" this Jesus whom Paul preached"? 'Would the results be commensurate with the time and labor expended V Modern critics would say, No ; for upon their principles Paul would have done better if he had not interfered with other people's religion, if he had let the world alone, for the religion of Greeks and Romans, of Celts and Britons was no doubt good enough for them, and they would somehow or another all turn out right enough in the next world. It was not after this fashion that Paul reasoned or acted. No ; he had a gospel to make known'-" woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." To make all men know the mystery of Christ he was willing to be buffeted and reviled, willing to undergo abuse and bodily injury, willing to be scourged, to be stoned and left for dead, as he was at Lystra. What, it is asked, are men to undergo treatment like ihis for the sake of propagating the Christian religion? Here is his reply : "I count not my life dear unto me, that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received of the Lord Jesus."
But what were the results? A handful of converts in each of half a dozen or a dozen towns, and those converts by no means the mature, well-informed, experienced Christians who are to be seen in modern congregations. It is difficult to realize how inexperienced those converts were, how crude their ideas, how imperfect their morality ; they required mIlch patient teaching and exhortation; and even the best of them, who were appoicted deacons and deaconesses and elders, knew very little, for they had but recently turned from idols to serve the living and true God. All their previous life had the dead weight of heathen custom, heathen ideas, heathen morality, heathen vice; and it took long years of patient labor on the part of the apostles to raise their converts to anything like a proper appreciation of the behavior that is beeoming a Christian. Were ,OJ these results, then, worth the labor ~ WaR it worth while to have gained these new churches in heathen countries, when the gain had been achieved at the expense of such bodily injury to an apostle as had made him prematurely old and taken many years from his lif,e 1 Similar objections are constantly made against modern mission work-Is the conversion of a handful of Jews or of a few thousands of negroes or Hindoos or South Sea Islanders worth the life and the moncy that are spent in the process ~ and the verdict of many is in the negative.
But surely the actions of a divinely inspired apostle are a safer guide than any negative or hostile theories. Look again at Paul as he is returning from the second of his great missionary journeys. He has been away, from Antioch and his friends there for perhaps three years, and years and,hard work are telling upon him; he is not the same strong man he once was; no, he bears in his body the branding marks of the Lord Jesus. Since he and Silas set out-for Silas is now his companion-they have undergone the" shameful handling" which fell to their lot at Philippi; and violence of that kind no man can ever fully recover from. But Paul has a brave heart j none was ever braver than he. The devotion of his whole being to the Son of God, who loved him and gave Himself for him, this personal affection to the Lord Jesus ever urges him on to spend and be spent for the glory of Christ and the salvation of man. He feels himself debtor to all–to slave and freeman, to Jew and Greek; and therefore as Jesus Christ's minister he is abundant in labors; life is too short and too precious to waste; eternity will give him rest. Therefore. does his heart bound onward to the work, although even in this second journey he has been in stripes above measure, in prison, in deaths oft, in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness.
Yes, this was the kind of life Paul chose for Christ's sake. There was then no other educated man of his position who was acting in this fashion. They looked on him as a fool, and regarded those journeyings of his as fanaticism. He knew that this was the estimate formed of him by his former associates, " Weare fools for Christ's sake j" but he had counted the cost, and Christendom of to-day thanks God for the sufferings, the journeyings, the fearless enterprise, the manly Christian resolution of St. Paul-a resolution to live not for applause either in the Church or outside of it; but to live for Jesus Christ alone and for mankind of every nation, for slaves and outcasts, for little children and for women, for those whom the world despised. One thing this Paul ever does, one thing engages his thoughts by day and his dreams by night, that Christ be glorified in his body whether by life or by death.
Was it worth while ~ Would Paul and Barnabas and Silas not have done better to have stayed at home and taught the home church ~ Suppose they had, where, then, would our European and American churches have been to-day ~ Simply nowhere. Had there been no apostolic missions, Anglo-Saxon Christianity would have been non-existent.
Are missions worth the money ~ Do they pay? Alas! that such a question should even be asked by a worldly church. Ask Christ, and listen to His answer, " Make disciples of all nations." Ask Paul, " I am debtor to all men." Ask the martyrs, they counted not their lives dear to them for the name of Jesus. Go with me to Central Africa, to Lake Victoria Nyassa, and see what divine grace can do for the most benighted races. One of the missionaries, Rev. Mr. Ashe, writes as follows: "Picture the tyrant playing the first act in the tragedy. One of the elder storekeepers, a Christian page, is brought into the royal presence. 'Can YOIl read 1 ' asks his majesty. 'Yes,' boldly answers the page. 'I'll teach you to read!' cries the king, catching up a spear and laying it about the lad's shoulders till it broke in two ; then, taking up the blade, he gashed the head of his faithful servant and kicked him, till in a state of exhaustion he handed the weapon to one of his chiefs nearly as cruel as himself, to continue the lesson. He then sent and had fifty of his pages arrested and cast into prison. After being imprisoned for a week thirty-two of them were burned in one huge funeral pile. "
The spirit which animated these martyrs was the same which inspired the early Christians, who endured a similar death, as Tacitus narrates, in the time of Nero. Wrapped up in sacking which had been previously smeared with pitch, they were hung upon trees in the royal gardens and then set fire to, there to burn to death, blazing as lamps in the darkness of evening; or again, encased in the skins of wild beasts, they were thrown to dogs and worried till they died. The early martyrs and the martyrs of the nineteenth century in Madagascar and China and Africa were faithful to Christ, faithful unto death. Most assuredly work which God blesses with results such as these is worth the while.
The work is Christ's. The command to carry the Gospel to every creature is Christ's command. It is the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Jesus, who still breathes into His people something of the compassion of Christ for those who are even to-day sitting in the shadow of death; and the results of Christian ,missions are Christ's. The handful of converts in Cyprus, in Pisidia, in Derbe, and Lystra, and Iconium, a]ld Athens, and Corinth, and Rome, and Spain, and Egypt, and Gaul, and Britain continues to increase throughout the centuries, until in this year of grace, 1891, we have Christian churches everywhere, the prelude to the timc when the earth itself shall be full of the knowledge of God, when sin shall be made to cease out of God's world, when in the fulness of the joy of the wholo human race ccnsciously redeemed, the shout shall. rend the skies, " The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."
NARAYAN BHESHADRI, D.D
NARAYAN SHESHADRI, D.D., THE BRAHMAN APOSTLE OF THE OUT-CASTE MANGS.
BY GEORGE SMITH, LL.D., EDINBURGH, SNTLAND.
[We venture to reproduce from the Free Church of Scotland Monthly a superb paper which many readers have not seen.-ED.] The same Scottish newspaper announced the death of two remarkable Asiatic converts of Dr.. John Wilson of Bombay-the Parsi, Rev. Hor- mazdji Pestonji, and the Brahman, Rev. Narayan Sheshadri, Doctor of Divinity of the University of Montreal. There still survives the oldest of all, the Rev. Dhanjibhai Naoroji, at the head of the native Christian community of Western India.
Vilhen, in 1839, Dhanjibhai and Hormazdji left the fire-worship of Zoroaster for the only Name given under heaven whereby men may be saved, Parsi and Hindu society was moved to its centre. In vain was the civil court appealed to. But the Institution was almost emptied. .tmong the few sons of caste and superstition who clung to it through ill.report were two Brahman brothers-Narayan and Shripat. What Dr. John 'Wilson and Mr. Nesbit began, Dr. Murray Mitchell continued, and the good work resulted in their determination to put on Christ by baptism. Narayan, who was confessedly of age and could not be hindered, became the first convert of the Church of Scotland, Free, in the year 1843, when Dr. Wilson and Dhanjibhai were in Scotland founding the home organization of the missions anew. Shripat was not sixteen years of age, and Sir Erskine Perry handed him over to the Brahman priests, with a sneer at the plea of the age of discretion. He was torn from Mr. Nesbit's arms, as he sobbed forth the question, "Am I to be compelled to worship idols ~"
While the younger brother was thus driven back by a Christian judge into Brahmanism, and submitted to the humiliation of swallowing the five products of the cow, that he might be restored to caste, the elder began that apostolic career which, for this life, ended in the committing of his body to the Atlantic on the 21st July last, in the hope of a glorious resurrection in Christ Jesus, at the very hour when the Foreign Missions Committee in Edinburgh, all unknowing of the fact, were discussing the arrangements by which Dr. Mowat was to share his toils next October.
After spending some years as a missionary teacher in the Institution and preacher to his countrymen, Narayan Sheshadri was ordained by the Presbytery of Bombay, and the highly educated Brahman became for the rest of his life the apostle of the Mangs, the out-caste poor of the Deccan centre of India. Leaving ordinary British territory, he resolved to annex the great native state of Haidarabad to the kingdom of Christ.
The year was 1863. As his base, he worked from Jalna, a military cantonment, in which mission buildings were easily acquired. Three miles south he gradually obtained three hundred acres of land, which forms the centre of the mission to the Mangs. As the Spirit of God blessed his incessant evangelizing, he made that spot the centre of what grew to be his extensive mission to the out-caste. He formed a Christian church and a Christian community, calling both" the House of God," but using the Hebrew" Bethel" rather than one of his own beautiful Marathi words. After ten years of blessed toil he visited Scotland and America, to tell the churches of his work and to raise funds for the necessary buildings. His winning face and irresistible personality, his native eloquence alike in English and the vernaculars, and his contagious earnestness, captivated not only Christians in all the lands he visited, but the Parsi official of the district, and even the proud Arab prime-minister of the Nawab, Sir Salar Jung. For the mission he received three hundred acres of gautan, or chnrch land, free of tax, and never to be cultivated save as a grass common; for the Christian peasants he was installed as patel, or headman, over six hundred acres, in which office his son Yeshwant-rao, lately agricultural professor in Nagpore College, has succeeded him.
Year by year the work went on increasing, when he paid a second visit to America and Scotland. The writer was with him a deputy to the Presbyterian Alliance at Philadelphia in 1880, and went up and down Scotland with him, pleading alternately for the Livingstonia and for the Bethel Mission. After his first visit some of our generous Glasgow elders, led by Mr. William Mitchell, formed a committee to' help his village mission. Congregations specially charged themselves with the support of his catechists. The children of the Free Church, above all, built him his church, and year by year supported some of his schools. By 1886-87 the work had so far extended that we published this appeal for him : " Before we pass away from these earthly scenes, we should like to see the thirty villages, wherein our Christians reside, supplied with pastors duly qualified, called, ordained, and settled over their respective congregations.. How is this to be accomplished 1 However, we have most encouraging promises in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. , I shall take out of them (namely, Gentile nations) for priests and Levites, saith the Lord.' Has He not given a full realization of this promise in the experience of once heathen European nations; and what He has done with respect to European and American nations, lIe is able and willing to do with reference to the Gentile nations of India, China, Burma, Japan, and all Eastern nations. We mean to submit to the Free Presbytery of Bombay a scheme of studies to train up village pastors in connection with our Bethel Mission. Last year we had the pleasure to dedicate a new church at Rewagao, two miles to the south of Bethel, to the worship of the only living and true God."
In 1888-89 our deputies visited the Deccan Village Mission, and Rev. Dr. Lindsay made this report to the children of the church: " First, there was a most interesting series of baptisms, with an address to the baptized; then the nsual service, when I preached and Dr. Sheshadri interpreted; and lastly, the communion service, at which I had the privilege of presiding. No pews exist in the Bethel churcb. The congregation sit on the floor in row after row, devout and attentive; and th,e babies, most of them without a stitch of clothing on, crawl about everywhere. An bour or so after service the catechists and Bible-women met in the church, and we had an interesting interview with them. A great number were present besides Bible-women and catechists, and I could only get at which was which by act.ually taking hold of each and finding out by question whether the person I had hold of was a catechist or a Bible-woman, and separating them from the rest.
" One or two of the Bible-women made a very great impression on us. Their story of work was simple, clear, and interesting. 'Have you made many converts ~' one of our number asked. 'There is one,' she replied, pointing to one of the men among the catechists. Mrs. Mackichan and Mrs. Daly examined these Bible-women, and their questions drew out very interesting answers. Mrs. Daly gave them some very sound practical advice, which produced more immediate results than longer sermons usually do. All the small children came to the Monday village family worship clothed, although most of them spent the hour of service in getting rid of their inconvenient garment. One small urchin, having divested himself, to his own evident satisfa~tion, of every vestige of garment, toddled to the church door, carefully put on the largest pair of shoes he could find, and then tumbled down the steps in them. When he reached the bottom he picked himself up, got into the shoes again, and shuffied off out of sight-a happy child 1 "Dr. Sheshadri sends his men out in small bands to preach in the villages round about Bethel, and in this way has formed small Christian communities in most of them. One sees at Bethel genuine native Christians, who preserve all their primitive habits, and who are not Anglicized by their Christianity. The evangelists all collect at Bethel on the first Monday of every month, and are regularly instructed by Dr. Sheshadri, who is a born teacher (to hear him give a Bible lesson to school children, and to see the small eyes twinkle with eagerness, is a sight not to be soon forgotten), in the interpretation of Scripture, and in the best ways of meeting the various objections commonly brought by Hindus and Moslems against Christianity.
" In the afternoon we started for the neighboring village of Rewagao. It possesses the first of those village churches which Dr. Sheshadri proposes to build in the principal hamlets in his district. A congregation of about ninety people gathered, and three baptisms took place at the close of the service.
"Dr. Mackichan and Mr. Daly returned in the evening from their visit, and reported a cheerful little Christian community in the far-off village they had gone to see. These Christians lived in a distinct quarter of the village,- and though greatly outnumbered by the heathen, were full of hope and courage.
" I hope that Dr. Sheshadri's plan of building ten or twelve village churches will .be carried out, and that each church will have attached a prophet's chamber, in which the missionary may reside when on his rounds. The great defects of our mission in the Bethel district appeared to be the want of adequate provision for the training of the children, and the wide extent of country which Dr. Sheshadri has to superintend."
Of converts still living in 1890, Dr. Sheshadri reported 1062 as the number, besides 649 adherents. Mr. A. G•.Mowat, M. B., C.M., was sent ont from Glasgow last year to work the northern division of the mission from Jalna, after learning Marathi with Mr. Small at Poona. He has just been instructed to repor~ on the whole mission, after a year's survey.
Accompanied by his son, Dr. Sheshadri left Bombay for Japan last February on sick leave, proceeded thence to America, preached almost daily, and addressed the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. He sailed for Glasgow in the (Jircassia very well,* even at his age; but as the result of a storm on leaving. New York, he succumbed to bowel disease, and was buried in mid-Atlantic.
It is a strange story from man's point of view. The Brahman lad, fruit of our educational Institution, who confessed Christ before thc Supreme Court of Bombay, was enabled by the Spirit of God to bring, from first to last, some two thousand of his countrymen to Christ, notwithstanding defects of a purely secular kind, which he was ready to acknowledge and bewail. He has left a goodly heritage to the Church of India.
Do we ask what is missionary work g Rather ask what is not missionary work g for wherever there are Bouls to be saved, ignorance to be enlightened, human wrong to be righted, vice to be uprooted, and woes to heal; wherever the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, is obscured by reason of darkness, there is missionary work; and wherever in the homes of Christendom there are hearts unrenewed, lives wasted in folly and trifling, God-given powers dying for want of holy exercise, money, time, influence and example diverted to unworthy objects, there is missionary work.
* This was his last letter to Dr. Graham, of Edinburgh, now ninety years of age : – " WALNUT STREET, PHILADE~pmA, July 14, '91.
"My DEAR FATHER GRAHAM: I see that in all probability you'll have me once more in my temporary home, Ashfield Villa, Greenhill Gardens, 1 Chamberlain Road.
"You and your dear minister, Dr. Wilson, and all inquiring friends in your beautiful city, will be gratified to hear that I have been restored to health and strength. I have been travelling from San Francisco to New York, and thence to Chicago, Washington, and Bostoll, very often preaching twice on the Lord's-day, and once or twice on week-days.
"We leave New York on the 18th instant by the Circassia, on or about the 29th in Glasgow. I shall let you know when we-that is, my son Yeshwant-rao and myself-will be at Edinburgh.
Morningside. With warmest love to you, Miss Graham, and Miss Martha, and all Inquiring friends, ever afi'ectionately yours, NARAYAN SHESH~DRI."
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
-The census just taken shows India to have a population of 285,- 000,000.
-The Report of the Free Church of Scotland remarks: "A work on which Dr. Duff laid great stress in connection with all educational operations in the country, from the lowest indigenous vernacular primary school up to the highest college class, was the compiling or selecting of good, pure text-books, thus superseding the impure, immoral rubbish which at one time prevailed to so large an extent in all schools in India. Of course a good deal of this work has been accomplished, but a good deal remains to be done. The Government of India has put itself in communication with all the local governments on this subject of pure text-books, passed resolutions and laid down principles for the guidance of the various educational departments throughout the country. One of these principles is to the effect that at least one half of every school-book used as a reader in English or in vernacular teaching should consist of lessons having a direct bearing on conduct, either by way of precept or of example. The fact is becoming more patent to missionaries every year that the progress of Christianity rests on a sensitiveness of conscience as to conduct. Wherever there is an indifference as to conduct, there can be no conviction of sin. Wherever I God or the Supreme Authority is regarded as indifferent as to whether actions are good or bad, and also wherever men are regarded as under the compulsion of fate, so that they can do nothing of themselves and are therefore blameless as to bad conduct, there can be no conviction of sin. Now these are two of the fuudamental principles of Hinduism, and taught in most of their school.books. Hindus are trained from their infancy on these Ii nes.' '
-Mr. F. N. Farquhar, B.A., of Christ Church, Oxford, has lately gone out to take up work in the London Missionary Society College at Bhowanipur, Bengal. He writes: "Nothing impresses me so deeply as the extreme difficulty of the work of leading the class of men we have to deal with-educated Bengalis-to become Christians. They are not only proud of their own hoary cult, and filled full of arguments drawn from the purer and nobler parts of its teaching, but their want of physical vigor and moral greatness makes them far more difficult to rouse than stndents at home; and the fear which is now felt by Hindus concerning the advance of Christianity has led them to form almost a sacred dread of allowing any shred of Christian teaching to find a place in their heart.
"Yet though this seems to be true of a very large number of these young Babus, there are many whose hearts have been touched, and who are anxious to learn more about Christ.
" My little experience and few scraps of observation since I came here confirm my belief that the educational work done here is of extreme value and importance. That these young Christians should be taught by earnest Christians rather than by careless Christians or by Hindus is of immense importance, o,'en if we do not consider the actual Scripture work and direct Gospel teaching. And the magnificent set of educated native Christians dependent upon our mission here is a proof of the power of Christian educational work. The native pastors and other educated natives have impressed me deeply; they are kings among the ordinary Bengalis here, and their Christian character seems far advanced, and is most beautiful, most helpful, and most encouraging."
-The English Baptists, in their Annnal Report, announce as their policy" Aggressive Concentration." "Ooncentration and consolidation of missionary effort, rather than unwise diffusion, are the methods most ownea and blessed by God in Indian mission enterprise." The report of their deputation says: "vVe have in India to-day just one thin long line of stations, in most instances with extensive distances between. We have located our brethren in great cities far distant from each other, and by so doing removed from them the strength and inspiration that come from working in touch and contact in mutual sympathy and brotherly counsel. We ha'e set one or two brethren down in a vast and densely peopled city, and written' Occupied' over the entire district stretching far away, until we have treated a similar centre hundreds of miles distant in precisely the same manner. • . , 'Spread the Light!' 'Spread the Light !' is a cry in which we would all thankfully join j but it is surely well to remember that the light of missionary zeal and usefulness resembles that of live coals, which if kept together may long continue to burn brightly and diffuse a genial warmth, but which if unwisely scattered will soon become dim and cold."
Says the deputation: "Even putting all distinctive missionary effort out of the question, the mere contact of Western thought, culture, and education is inevitably breaking up the older forms of Hindu thought. But it lies with us to say whether that contact shall be charged with infinite blessing, leading them on to a higher, deeper, truer faith, and a new national life j or whether, cutting them adrift from their old moorings, we leave them without Christ, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, to be ravaged by intoxicating drinks and made imbecile by opium."
-The Rev. L. P. Weinberg, of Jaffa, quoted in the Jewish Intelligencer for February, writes: "The general topic of conversation among Jews at the present time is Palest.ine, and almost every Jewish newspaper speaks of this country as ' the only place of refuge' for them." , Arias, missionary of the London Society for the Conversion of the Jews, reports a significant remark of some Italian Jews: "Till the Chris- tians treat the Jews well, we shall never beliE)ve that Jesus is our Messiah."
Most of the Italian Jews that he has met with seem to be in the dregs of Judaism, with few signs of longing for anything better.
-Professor A. R. Simpson, President of the Edinburgh Mediclll Missionary Society, says, most aptly, that in the Old Testament the" place of God's feet" is the Temple, but that the feet of the God-man are found most often "where the sick lay and the bereaved were weeping." ,. These were the places of His feet, who Himself bore our sicknesses and carried our infirmities; and these are· what He would seek our wealth to make glorious." Brave encouragement, Professor Simpson well says, to the medical missionary, to show him that he is in the track of the Saviour of the world.
-The West Himalaya Mission of the Unitas Fratrum was begun in 1853. Not until 1890 has a meeting of all the missionaries of the three stations been found practicable. Compared with the giant heights among which theY' live, saY's the Missions-Blatf, the Alps seem mere ranges of hills. And hardly had they broken up from their first meeting, when a veritable deluge converted the whole valley of Leh into a sea, swept away every bridge over the Upper Indus except one, and swept many persons out of the world. The Brethren do not seem to remit their ancient passion, " To plant successfully sweet Sharon's rose On icy rocks, and 'mid eternal snows."
– " See," said a sick child in India, "the goddess Kali's bloody tongue, wicked face, cruel hands. necklace of skulls; our gods are terrible; I cannot help screaming when I see them."-Canadian Church Magazine.
-Whether the late English reviewer, who is greatly displeased that Christians should endeavor to disturb the sweet calm of Buddhism, would be equally displeased that they endeavor to discredit the worship of the venerable goddess Kali, is not certain. Perhaps he would grudgingly allow this one exception.
-The Missions-Berichte gives a stinging remark of a South African Caffre, that among the whites they became acquainted with two thingsthe Bible, to save their souls, and brandy, to destroy their bodies. Butt he added, he was content with the former.
-In China, it appears, at least in some hospitals, wherever a patient. on returning home, expresses interest in spiritual things, an evangelist is sent after him, and thus, says Dr. ~iain, of Hangchow, much fruit has been gathered unto life eternal. E,'ery year there pass through that one medical mission 10,000 patients.
-The China Central Mission of the Presbyterian Church makes a very strong appeal for reinforcement. The field immediately accessible to them includes the whole great valley of the Yang-tse-Kiang, the" Son of Ocean." The four provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Nganhui, and Chehkiang have 121,000,000 inhabitants within an area of 204,287 square miles.
There are signs of a sudden breaking-up of the fallow ground of general indifference. They want to be ready to answer spontaneous calls from all parts. The accession of a new emperor, and an uneasy expectancy of political change, join with an extraordinary frequency of natural calamities, of flood or drought, famine or pestilence, at once to unsettle and humble men's minds.
The province of Szechuen, on the Upper Yangtse, with some 45,000,000 of people. ought to be occupied in force. Untouched by the 'l'ai-ping insurrection, it retains all the glory and prosperity of ante-rebellion times.
The people are a hardy, straightforward, enterprising race, as is shown by their various and productive industries. For centuries they have been boring salt and gas wells from three to five thousand feet deep, and using natural gas for evaporating the brine pumped from the bowels of the earth.
Their bronze, silk, and white wax industries are noted over the empire.
Their language is Mandarin, in which a Christian literature is already prepared.
The Central China Mission statistics for last year show an increase of a little over eight per cent. Five of their fifteen churches pay their own pastors. Everything is encouraging. "Come .over and help us," they say. The great Church to which they speak wlll /.Issuredly not be heed- !es~! .
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Week of Prayer. begun; all the Protestant churches can scarcely muster 7000 men and women as [EDITORIAL.-J. T. G.] ,. witnesses to the uttermost parts of the It was at the request of a smr.ll band earth;" the members of the Church of of missionaries in the Panjab that the England in its richer portion alone have Evangelical Alliance originally appoint- an income of $1,750,000,000 annually, ed a Week of Prayer for supplication for but last year, 'gave only $1,450,000 to for.
the conversion of the world. Since eign mlSSlOns. What is true of them is then there have been many other weeks relatively true of the rest of the churches.
and special days set apart for the same The circular appeals for a fuller recog- purpose. The Church of England Mis- nition of the principle of the missionary sionary Society, for instance, has a entel'prise: ,. Missionary work is not a Day of Special Prayer, or, as they phrase voluntary, supererogatory work of a few it, of "Intercession for Foreign Mis- more devoted souls. It is a charge sions," and many other churches have which is given to all as Christians."
adopted more or less regularly, the cus- It also mentions as a matter of special om of a set time for united prayer for thanksgiving the altered tone of the pub- the same object. We note with pleas- lic press toward missions. It reads: ure several statements in the introduc- ., Since the death of Bishop Hanning- tion to the week's programme of the ton, slowly but surely much of the Eng- Evangelical Alliance this year, such lish press has changed its tone with re- as these: ,. The privilege of prayer rises spect to the missionary enterprise. How to the topmost height attainable on often now have we thankfully to ac- earth, when, in common with believers knowledge that current literature brings of every name the wide world over, the missionary subject before house- we agree to hold a concert of prayer, holds who otherwise would remain ab- so that the globe may be girdled with solutely ignorant of the work! How assemblies of believers of one heart often of late has the public press done and of one mind, interceding with signal service in defence of missionary God for each other, for the Church agency – notably regarding work in of Christ, and for the spread of the China, India, and Uganda! In this, Gospel. • .• Looking abroad on the with profound gratitude, let us distinct- world in the light of the Word, we see ly acknowledge God's gracious hand."
the predictions in the Holy Book being All this can be readily transferred to fulfilled all around us. Be it ours to the Universal Week of Prayer, and a wait on God and to v.ait for Him in holy study should be made of the topics concord of faith and prayer, 'looking named in the programme of the Evangel- for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus ical Alliance, and'illustrations searched Christ.' . •. Wherefore,' holy breth- for of the special topics mentioned in it.
ren, partakers of the heavenly calling,' To these suggestions we venture to as in the opening year we gird ourselves add that the Church of God on earth has anew for fresh service and faithful testi- good realmn to render praise for the mony, let us invite each ot'her again to workmen God has raised up. We ought gather unitedly before the Eternal to pause to shed a tear at the grave of the Throne in praise and prayer." missionary dead of 1891. The list is but The Church of England circular names an appendix to the eleventh chapter of groundlifor humiliation, as found in the Hebrews. Bishop French ascended from fact that nearly nineteen hundred years Arabia; Bishop Boone, ha.,-ing only for have rolled by since the Head of the a short time been enrobed in the mantle Church gave the great missionary com- of his father, the renowned missionary, mis!lion, and yet the work ill !lcarcely died in China; Newton, "the beloved,"
of the Panjab-" a man sent from God, Harmony and Proportion in Missions.* whose name was John"-was followed to beUer than India's palaces by Winter, REV. CYRUS HAMLIN, D.D., LEXINGTON, of the Delhi Mission, who loved his special work more than he did a bishopric. MASS. Amid the lamentations of thousands, that" good servant of the Lord," Bishop The foreign missions of the Church Caldwell, was laid to rest after fifty-four of Christ are becoming numerous and years of labor in India for India; Dr. complicated. Many missionary socie- Luther H. Gulick. the founder of a large ties are in the field, separated from each missionary family, went up to the other by differences of nationality, lan- "bosom" of the" Father of the faith- guage, and church organization. ful ;" and dear and great John Inglis dropped his finished transhtion of the When these different organizations ocvisions of him of Patmos to open cupy the same field there is, there must his eyes on the beatific vision of the be, more or less of denominational fric- Ancient of days; Red slob, the Mora- tion, sometimes of antagonism even, vian sentinel of the outer patrol limit of and generally there will be a want of Chri~tendom on the edge of Thibet, that co-operation that always constitutes awoke to know the richer meaning of strength and progress. In that wonder- Nam Thang Song, and to find it "all ful prayer in ?hich the Son of God bright again" forever; Mrs. Bennett, poured out His soul as His hour drew more than sixty years in Burmah, went near, He prayed most earnestly that the to join again the Judsons and the Father would keep His disciples" that Boardmans; Sheshadri, the first Asi- they may be one, as we are." .. Neither atic whom America ever honored with pray I for these alone, but for them also a doctorate of divinity, found a fit- which shall believe on Me through their ting sepulchre in the sea for his body, word, that they all may be one, as Thou, while his soul went to the .. sea of Father, art in Me, and I in Thee; that glass;" and Goloknath of Jalander was they may be one, that the world may becarried to his burial by .. devout men," lieve that Thou hast sent Me." and honored by the presence at his funeral of European officials and a thou- The missionary work has given birth sand Hindus and Mohammedans. Time to a great measure of the true spi~it of would fail us to tell of others who have unity for which the Saviour prayed-a I gone from remotest mountains and val- unity which exists between true discileys, from the habitations of cruelty and ples, notwithstanding all this diversit;,r. spiritual solitude, to the .. general as- The existence of this International Missembly" and the" Church of the First- sionary"Cnio-n is an answer to the Reborn" on high. But surely in the crowd deemer"s prayer, and must be an object of our on-rushing thoughts at a season of His approving regard. like this, we can pause long enough to thank God for such examples of the In order to remove so far as pOBsible highest missionary spirit and loftiest the occasions of conflicting views and spiritual achievement, and to ask that measures which perplex and scandalize their tribe may increase, and the Church the heathen, it has been generally agreed universal catch the radiance of their that one society shall not interfere with lives and be inspired to emulate their another society's legitimate sphere of devotion and their deeds. labor, marked out by actual occupation. And as surely, turning from this missionary nave in the great Westminster Where the different societies are alof the Church, we cannot fail of interest ready intermingled on the same terriin prayer for the great host of stillliv- tory, there is danger of injury to the spiring missionaries, both men and women. itual element. One will say, ., I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos." It requires of the missionaries thus divided, great wisdom, prudence, and brotherly love. There is evidently a growing *ltead before the International Missionary Union at Clifton Springs, N. Y., Jnne, 1891.
ht-rERN.A.-rtONAL DEPARTMlllNT
spirit of unity on mission fields, and fields that some of them are a law unto those who intrude upon fields already themselves. 'rheyhavenotroubleabout occupied are guilty of a great sin. They proportion in their work. We have: become the authors of a great wrong and 1. The sslf-supporting missionary, injury to the Master's cause. The grow- who has property that makes him inde- ing spirit of harmony will make such in- pendent of missionary bodies and Bocie- trusions more and more difficult. De- ties. He may be a very happy, useful nominational friction will be avoided, man. If his means enable him to call and denominational comity as to enter- to his aid native helpers, he is equal to ing each other's field is becoming, or a whole station. In prosecuting his rather, I would say. has become a recog- work he is sole judge of the depart- nized international and interdenomina- ments of his work, and in what relation tionallaw of missionary strategy. to each other he will develop them. It Japan is now a field of special tempta- is impossible to work only in one.
tion, so many societies are earnestly 2. There are self-supporting missiona· engaged in the work. The Holy Spirit, ries, who depend upon their own indus- the Guide unto all truth, the Paraclete, try or upon some secular employment He alone can deliver the work from this for support. Their object is to exhibit danger of divided counsels and of weak- the example of an honest, industrious ened efficiency. Christian life, and lead the heathen both The law of proportion in the mission- by precept and example into the same ary work must be regarded as well as life. They would show them and help the law of harmony. them also to experience that disciple- There are many departments of this ship to Christ has the promise both of work, as preaching, education, the press, the present life and of that which is to the formation of churches, the erection come. Thls scheme of missionary work of buildings, the care for the poor and can be fruitful of much good only by suffering, anyone of which may be put combination. The Inland Mission in forward out of proportion and to the in- China is partly of this nature, but it re- jury of the rest. It requires great wis- quires the oversight and management of dom and judgment to develop all the in- gifted men, like Hudson Taylor and his terests of a mission so that no one shall compeers, to gu~e its affairs, direct its be neglected and no one shall overtop labors, and provide for expenses that the others. The missionaty needs to every progressive work will demand.
have" an unction from the Holy One, Bishop Taylor's mission in Africa is and to know all things." He must neg- of this partially self-supporting kind.
lect nothing, he must push nothing be- He gathers from Christian friends at yond its value. I think to a very re- ·home what is needed for the complete- markable degree this wisdom has been ness and efficiency of the work beyond given. the productive results of the laborers.
Where there is Episcbpal government I would bid God-speed to all such efforts, a great responsibility falls upon the and yet they must be exposed to certain 'bishop. He can more readily remedy infelicities. Untrained men and women mistakes and harmonize the depart- will be found in them who, when they ments, or, if he should lack wisdom, he encounter the grave difficulties of a for- may get them into a muddle. eign language and find the native proud But many missions are more demo- and contemptuous, will Boon be dis· cratic in their organization. They are couraged, and retire in black despair.
largely self-governed, although the home Such cases have too frequently occurred.
societies fix upon the general principles In future they may be avoided.
upon which they must proceed. 3. By far the greater number of mis· Let us not forget, however, that there sionaries on the field are supported by are so many kinds of agents in different _.. mi s -s-i-o–n-'a. ry s o c i e t ie s , The operatiDZ and ~ ";"' :' largely apportioliating power is in those established, and for a time, it may-be, societies. But the officers, being far chiefly officered by the best-educated from the fields of labor, must depend missionaries. But from the very begin- upon the missionaries for the facts, and ning the object to be aimed at is the upon their judgment as to the meaning raising of native laborers for every de- of the facts. WhilE! here is an oppor- partment of the work_ tunity for difference of opinion between ]'or a time the native agency, in press- the officers and the missionaries, which ing forward into new fields, must be perhaps sometimes occurs, yet there has supported in whole or in part by the been remarkable harmony on the whole. mission, otherwise it cannot exist at all.
When earnest discussion has arisen it A mission is prosperous only so far as it has been conducted in a Christian raises up an efficient, well-trained na- spirit, and has resulted in the advance- tive agency. One missionary with four ment of the work and in the settlement well-qualified native preachers will reach of important principles. Sometimes the people more widely and efficiently education has been too much pushed, by far, than five missionaries with no and sometimes preaching. In Buresal, nath's assistant, and the expense will India, preaching was almost the only not be half so great. The work will be- work attempted. Education was left come in this way self-developing and entirely to the native Christians. In self- perpetuating.
consequence the children were growing It follows then by necessity that when up in such deplorable ignorance that a the funds of a mission do not keep prog- general meeting of missionaries took up ress with the missionary work, the for- the subject and demanded that Chris- eign missionary should be withdrawn, tian education should accompany the that the native work m~y go on. If dur- Christian native Church. ing the past year the societies that have But the subject which is most exposed been compelled to cut down their ap- to disproportion has regard to the work propriations had, instead of doing so, of the native Church, with its pastors, refused to send out a single missionary, teachers, and helpers. Generally in all they would have saved their work from departments of the missionary work in a calamitous set-back. Some missiona- the ministry, in education, in editing ries have seriously contemplated resign_ and translating, the native factors must ing and leaviDg the field in order to be our chief reliance for ultimate suc- avoid this great evil.
cess. Fifty years ago the prevailing An early movement in the missionary idea was that the world is to be convert- work of sending ou~ laymen to teach the ed by the preaching of missionaries. various arts of ci vilized life proved a That idea is no longer held by anybody. failure; but the time has now come The nati ve Ohurch is to be the true mis- when there is a call for such co-opera- sionary Ohurch. Native preachers and bon. The converts from heathendom helpers are to go everywhere preaching must live by their own labor. The the Word. They are to do the chief sooner they are emancipated from many work of evangelization. The great work of the filthy modes in which all heathen. – of the missionaries is to bring forward, dam, including even the Chinese, live to educate, to train the native laborers the better for a pure and honest Chris- and native churches unto this work, and tian life. The glorious example and life give the whole over to them as soon as of Mackay of Uganda have taught us possible. This is the only way in which what a lay missionary-a mechanic, a the great work of the world's redemp- civiI-engineer-can achieve for Christ tion from sin and darkness can be ac- under the darkest prospects. The Lord complished. It is the most effective will have many Mackays ready when the and the most economical way. Ohurch shall really call for them. Mis- Schools, colleges, seminaries must be sionary societies must learn that CODverts must have daily bread not by hundred dollars a year for the support charit.y, but by their own labor. And of each one, three millions of dollars 8 all missionaries, men and women, year will be needed for their bare sup· should have that practical knowledge port, and certainly not less than nine of the common arts and activities of life millions more for the prOilecution of the which will enable them to gnide the work through native agency. Then the porsecuted and boycotted into inde. six thousand would soon be one hun. pendent self-support. dred thousand, and that number a mill- ion of native preachers.. By that time, There is great danger at the present moreover, the million would be mainly time of looking more to the number supported by native churches, and the than the quality of the laborers. Men promise of the Almighty Father to the of mere sentiment are sure to fail. Son, "Ask of Me and I will give Thee They find themselves confronted with the heathen for thine inheritance, and the difficulties. of an unknown, strange, the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy barbarous language, and by a proud, in. posse~sions," would approach its glori. solent, contemptuous people. After a ous fulfilment. year or two of heartless effort they reo treat in black despair or sink into a list. Ohinese "Blue-Books." [J. T. G.] less :Mfe. None but men who are strong in the Lord and in the power of His Whoever has carefully studied the might are needed in this work. splendid volume containing the Records of the Missionary Conference which met It follows, from all we have read, that at Shanghai in 1890 will have noticed in this great and marvellous movement the essay of Rev. Timothy Richards on among the youth of our colleges is " The Relation of Christian Missions to in danger of involving the Christian the Chinese Government," his reference Church in an unexpected embarrass- (pp. 407-10) to what he .is pleased to ment. To send out all who are willing style" Blue Books." It is a collection to go and are fitted for great usefulness of public documents on all State queswould necessitate the entire abandon. tions published in 1826, in one hundred ment of the element of native co-opera. and twenty books. It was republished tive help, of pastors, teachers, trans. by the Shaghai publishers in 1889; a lators, common schools, and, to some supplement to the same, also in one extent, of colleges and seminaries. A hundred and twenty books, bringing the greater catastrophe could not befall the subject down to date, was published in work. 1888. These books, he says, are in the catalogue of the books for sale in the What, then, is the meaning of this Government book.shop at Tientsin, and wonderful movement? probably in all the provinces. Two books of the supplement are devoted to It brings before the Church the tre. Christian missions. mendous reality of the missionary work. It cries aloud to all Christians, Aban. Mr. Richards proceeds to give some don your luxurious living, your piling idea of their "scandalous" contents. up of millions. Pour your millions into First, a history of the way in which the missionary work, und see if the Lord Christianity has gradually corrupted will not pour you out a blessing that China. This is followed by an attempt there shall not be room to receive it. to stamp out Christianity in the provo inces of Hlman, the source of the pres. But these six thousand crusaders must ent Ohinese riots, and Kiang Suo Sun. not be encouraged to go forth while the dry other documents follow. Mr. Rich. Church stands back and refuses to de- ards proceeds to recite that the books velop the work already in progress, having the evident blessing of God and the co-operating work of the Holy Spirit. Their going forth must be to aid, not retard the work. At an average of five affirm that six hundred years after Bud- able books translated; of the tens of dha all India followed the Christian thousands of youllg and old taught; ot'
religion. Among the statements are the hundreds of thousands saved from found assertions that the founder of death during famines, and of'the tomb- Christianity was a criminal, and Joseph stones of those who have given their was not his father. lives for the good of China, this collec- The great rebellions in the Ming tion of obscenities and lies is their dynasty and of the various secret lOects version of what we have done for in the present dynasty, with all their them."
, horrors, are attributed to these Western The relation of the State to these so- religions. It is an insult, the author called" Blue-Books," and of their rela- says, to suggest that all these vile here- tion to the present disturbed state of the tics could have 'had the same origin as country, as it originates in hatred of the Chinese. The writer says that four foreigners, has become the subject of taels were given to each convert, and considerable discussion in China. It is that the books of the Roman Catholics well known that the riots have been in- were full of obscenity, and that the Gov- cited by the literati and gentry of ernor Man of Chi Kiang memorialized China ; and it is this class that read the throne regarding their evil deeds, such statements as are contained in requesting to have their churches turned these books, Which, be it borne in into charity schools for a hundred years, mind, are for sale at the Government to cleanse away their moral filth. book-stores. It would seem, therefore, "After this," says Mr. Richards, of little avail that the imperial authority "follow scandalous quotations from Wei at the Peking Yemen should by royal Yuen, who says that men and women edict declare that Christianity was a re- sleep promiscuously together in the ligion of good moral influence, so long churches; that one hundred and thirty as it permits these documents to be taels of silver are given in three instal- placed on sale under its auspices. To be ments to the converts to help them to sure. it might be claimed that the edict do business; that the Christians' eyes counteracts their influence, and even are scooped out by the priest after that it was so intended. It is much death; that when these eyes are melted more probable that the Government up with lead, eight per cent of the lead chooses to blow hot and cold at the same is turned to silver; that a pill is given, time, for whatever else the West mlly which makes the convert pledge him- teach China, it is not likely to set it any self for life, and so bewitched is he that lesson in the duplicity of diplomacy.
the first thing he does is to destroy the In the North China Herald the vener.
ancestral tablets; that several other able and highly esteemed missionary, things are practised by Christians which Rev. Griffith John, calls upon the for- I consider too vile to print… Mr. Rich- eign powers to demand the suppression ards closes his remarks on the" Blue- of these books. He says that it is to be Books" with the following grave reflec- hoped that some one will take these tion: Ie Thus end the 'Blue·Books' books in hand and bring their vileness without the slightest acknowledgment of and falsehood to the light. He has any benefit derived from modern mis- afresh examined them, and declares that sionaries. They wish to convince their " anything more false, disgraceful, and people that Christian missionaries only inflammatory it would be difficult to come here for mischief, and that the find, even among the vile placards of converts are the scum of society! In Hunan." He deems it of the utmost im· face of about a million taels spent an- portance that their publication, as they nually for the good of China; in face of now stand, should be suppressed. He tens of thousands of patients gratuitous- concludes by saying that the Hunan ly healed annually; of the many valu- placards are intended for the multitude;
JartUBl'j'
these books are intellded for the officials out-patients belong to the Syongtn, or and literary classes. 'rhey are to be low-class people, many of whose wom- round in every yamen, and in thousands en, except the newly married or those of private libraries. The foreign powers of marriageable age, go out upon the have decided that the Hunan publica- street in the daytime. I would like to tions shall cease, because they poison open an evening olinic for those Korean the minds of the people. For a still women who must not be seen upon the stronger reason they ought to decide street in the daytime, and I want to that these" blue books" shall cease in open a dispensary in another part of their present form, because they poison the city, and perhaps one outside.
the minds of the officials and scholars. Quite often at my morning clinic I have Just how far the foreign powers had women from the higher class who should go in aUempting an " Index" of have come in closed chairs. They al- literature that must be expurgated in ways inform me that it is a great ell.cep- China, or whether they should attempt tion for them to go out, but their dis- at all to coerce the Government to cause ease was difficult, and they had heard certain parts of current literature to be that I was a very wise doctor, and there- suppressed, may be grave questions. fore came.
But that they might demand that their .. My out-calls have, many of them, sale should be prohibited in Govern- been to people of quite high rank-from ment book stalls would not appear alto- the daughter of a ' Chusa' to the moth- gether unreasonable as a political meas- er of the late Prime-Minister-but others ure or as a war measure, if you please. have been to those most miserably low We have not called attention to the mat· and poor. I, have visited a niece of the ter with a view to second the call to the late queen-dowager, living in a large foreign powers to demand their suppres- stone house built within two or three sion, but rather to show some of the court-yards, with foreign lamp-posts sources by which the prejudices of the here and there ; nice-sized rooms, easily literati and gentry are stirred against made larger by pushing back the Korean Christian missionaries. Perhaps we shove-doors and throwing two rooms may even come into greater charity into one ; large Korean screens here and toward some of those whose minds have there ; a fine mirror and Korean dress- been thus poisoned ; and perhaps we ing-case ; the patient and her attendants may come to better apprehension of clothed in spotless white, in mourning why the literati and gentry, rather than for tho Queen; the under-garments of the common people and the coolies, dis- the patient made of soft white Korean like foreigners and missionaries. At silk. She was covered with light downy any rate, if we are to proceed with judg- comfortables of colored silk, and lay ment, it is manifest we must become upon a soft mattress with a beautifully more closely acquainted with the in- embroidered Korean pillow on the warm· digenous influences affecting the people est part of a highly polished 'Rang'
of Ohina. floor.
" In the same afternoon I have visit- ed a poor sick woman of the Coolie class Medical Work for Women in Korea, in her little tive-by-eight room, with ceiling so low I could not stand up- We know so little of the" Land of right, one small window covered with the Morning Calm" that it is with inter- oiled paper, the patient lying on a small est we quote from a long oommunication mat and covered with a coarse cotton from Miss Rosetta Sherwood, M.D., of comfortable. The history of many of the MethodistEpiscopal MissilJll in that the wretched cases one meets with in a country, the following paragraphs: practice like this are appalling and "The majority of the hospital and heart.sickening. "
" Why is the Ohina Inland Mission Suo- mission in China, suggests that a longer period of time is required before we cessful?" can predicate success or failure of the mission in its evangelical enterprise. The editor of the lIarvest Field, the Wesleyan magazine published in India, " That it has heen a wonderful suc. some while since addressed the above cess at home everybody must admit. question to the Rev. David Hill, the The rapid pouring into one field of so Britisb President of the Shanghai Con. large a number of missionaries is un. ference of Missionaries laboring in exampled in modern times as far liS I India. We have so long heard and know, and demands close study. Two read conflicting statements of the effi. or three reasons for this success have ciencyand value of Mr. Hudson Tay. occurred to me : lor's methods, and those of his associ. ates, that it was with rather more than "1. The mission is steeped in prayer, usual interest we read Mr. Hill's reply, and its founders and followers have Ilnd we are so confident of a wide inter. boldly made the grand experiment of est in the subject that we quote the testing and trusting the promi~es of article bodily. Mr. Hill says: God.
"You inquire as to the reasons of the " 2. Appeals for men have been made success of the China Inland Mission. at meetings for entire consecration to The assumption implied in such in. God. This consecration has been quiry some would question, if it refer urged home first of all-then the de. to the work of the mission in China, mand to show cause why this consecra. and the number of members gathered tion should not flow in China cbannels into the Church. This is not large as has been made. Full surrender has compared with that of several other opened the ear to China's claims. missions having a much smaller staff of missionaries, and does not demon. "3. Speedy entrance on the work. strate Ilny very marked success. No protracted waiting for examination after examination, or for a long college "On the other hand, 2000 and odd course. This attracts men. Christians gathered into the Church in twenty-five years does tell of success, "4. Then the offer of a life of sacri. and that Mr. Hudson Taylor should fice rather than one of ease has a great have been used of God to this end is deal to do with winning the right sort matter for profound thankfulness. of men. Faith, too, fascinates. That it is not large may be accounted for by the perpetual pioneering of "5. Besides Mr. Taylor's magnetio many missionaries. In opening the influence, Mr. Broomhall's untiring way to regions beyond they have been energy and the broadcast sowing of llbundantly successful, hut this per. China's millions have marvellously aided petual" motion has not favored large the progress of the mission. harvests of converts. Where steady, persevering work has been the order of "These have appeared to me the the day, conversions have been most chief causes of success, and I as II numerous. Methodist feel I may learn a good deal from them." " Then the genius of the mission is so largely that of witnessing rather -Mrs. Maria T. True, of Tokyo, tem· than winning, of sowing rather than of porarily in tbis country, in writing to reaping, that that doubtless has had us says: "Some Japanese ladies have something to do with the comparatively purchased an acre of ground and built small ingathering. And the very large a small house for an industrial school proportion of new men occupying new for young women. About forty pupils places, as compared with any other are enrolled, and during tbe little more than one year since the school was opened they have by their own labor
liTElRNATlONAL :l)Et'Alt'I'MEN'l'
earned their board, and in some cases ful, as it is certainly entertaining, other expenses. The main industry is called" In Brightest Asia," which Mr. silk embroidery, but they also have in- Corthell, of Tremont Temple, publishes. troduced various other kinds of work, Its 127 illustrations are a panorama of and have still more comprehensive the trip and much besides. plans, to be carried out when the fund for another building have been secured. -Rev. Henry N. Cobb, D.D., Corre· This is a Ohristian school, and is blessing sponding Secretary of the Board of those who have established it and are Foreign Missions of the Reformed carrying it on as well as those who are Church in America, has started to make taught in it. a visit to their missions in India, China, and Japan. Rev. J. N. Conklin, "One of the native pastorR has also of the Arcot Mission, temporarily in been the means of opening an indus- this country, has assumed Dr. Cobb's trial home for young men. I know both official duties in his absence. We of these enterprises well, Bnd am sure learn from him that the native Christhey are worthy of our warm sympathy tians of this Arcot Mission are suffering terribly from food scarcity, and cholera " A letter just received from a Japan. is likely to follow. The report about esc minister contains the following: the cholera at Amoy, Mr. Conklin says, • This is my strong conviction: we can· has been greatly exaggerated. not evangelize Japan with a method like child's play; if we evangelize such a -Our Baptist friends are getting heathen country as Japan we must take ready for the observance of the great a gigantic method. The Bible and the Carey Centennial this year. A good Holy Spirit are the only weapons needed deal of literature will doubtless be forth. in our battle.field.' coming, which will be helpful to them, and to all of us. The American Baptist , • Then he goes on to outline a meth- Publication Society, Philadephia, has od by which he thinks work could be just issued ., A Century of Baptist For. carried on in every town and village in eign Missions," by Mrs. Titterington. Japan. He asks advice concerning It is an outline of annals, briefly stated, leaving one of the best churches in and with a list of questions at the close Tokyo in order to give his time to this of each chapter, suggestive of its being country work. used as a text·book. It is confined to American Baptist missions in Asia, .. It is ~ard to realize how heavily Africa, Europe, and South America. burdened the few earnest workers in Japan are, unless one has seen the con- -The Congregational missions in ditions there." South Africa have been the subject of many an inquiry with other than mis. -The Rev. Dr. Mabie, Home Corre- sionary intent. Ethn ologists, :philol. sponding Secretary of the American ogists, and others have found the mis. Baptist Missionary Union, presently sionary's arcana of knowledge the after getting well seated in his position, most valuable and resourceful that started on a trip round the world, chiefly could be investigated. There have to visit the Baptist missions in Asia. been heroes and statesmen among the About two hundred Baptist mission· missionaries of that country. Rev. aries were visited. They must have Josiah Tyler furnishes a fresh fund of enjoyed his calls, for there was nothing knowledge for mllny classes in " Forty of the bugbear of a .. deputation" in Years Among the ZulUB" in autobjothem. He did not go to make official examinations into their larders or their learning, nor with any authority to upset their plans. Dr. Mabie tells his side of the cheery journey in a sketchy way in a book that must be very help. graphical form of narrative. (Congrega- ent at the celebration of the sacrament tional House, Boston.) in a church other than their own; to have inter-mission discipline, by which -In April, 1890. Rev. Mr. Large, of an agent of one mission should not be the Canada Methodist Mission, in Japan, engaged by another until after mutual was murdered. The murderer has been, consultation, and strangers coming from as is supposed. found out, and on Au- another station should be provided with gust 25th was arrested. He is described letters, of commendation from the as a youth about twenty years of age. church which they had left; to foster At first it was supposed he was insane, social advancement by means of obtainbut fuller investigation does not sup- ing grants of land from the Government, port the theory. He is a native of the the endeavor to have Christian regiprovince of Kazuza. ments formed, the adoption of technieal pursuits, the encouragement of capital- -Rev. Dr. T. J. Scott, President of ists among Christians, the institution of panchayats among them, and the pur- chase of land in the villages as sites for schools and churches which should be the property of the missions."
the Methodist Theological Seminary at Bareilly, India, writes us: "God is -We have received the following com- wonderfully blessing the work in this munication from a representative of the part of India. Just think of a thousand Protestant native congregation at Bag- baptisms a month! At least ten thou- dad: sand will be added to the Christian •• I beg to inform you that there are community during the' year. What a work in supplying pastors and evange- about twenty houses of Evangelical Protlists! In places of course the devil estants here in Bagdad, reaching from rages. In AImorah, while a young man sixty to seventy persons, male and was being baptized in the London Mis- female. You will be very glad, of course, sionary Society's church, a mob smashed to know that there is such a light and salt the windows and doorl!. Dr. Butcher in such a. big city of Turkish-Arabia, had his "coat tOfn off, and would have where thousands of people are living in been brained by the mob had not Dr. darkness and the shadow of death. How Parker seized the ringleader and got Dr. many difficulties are on the way of the Butcher into the church. The colonel Lord's laborers in such places! But commanding the station got word, and faith, patience, and perseverance over- • doubled quicked' the Sepoys down; come everything that hinders the extenthe magistrate arrived, and the mob sion of the kingdom of our Heavenly quailed. The young man stands firm. Father. We hope we shall never fail in We may expect more mobs and more fulfilling our sacred duties toward our victory. Pray for us." God, ourseIve~, and our neighbors. For the establishment of this, our Protestant -Apropos of Dr. Hamlin's admirable native congregation in Bagdad, we need article, which we present this month, on to have soon registration, cemetery, "Mission Comity," we take the follow- school and church, without which we ing from the Report of the Church of cannot enjoy success and progress in Scotland Mission, setting forth an agree- such lands. To get what is mentioned ment to which the missionaries of the we must apply to the Sublime Porte in various societies in the Panjab came Constantinople and the Turkish auin a Conference of their members, held thorities here to get the necessary orders, last April : that we may possess all our national " At this Conference it was resolved rights. I am very glad to say that we to adopt a common course of instruction have already got orders for registration for inquirers before baptism; to admit and cemetery, so there is firm hope that and welcome to the communion mem- we shall get an order for school and bers of the various churches when pres- church too. Our registration was partly made by the local Government here; but I am sorry to say that burial-ground has not yet been given to us for ceme- tery, as we have not enough money to buy a piece of ground, to pay official fees, and all expenses concerning such serious matters, for our Protestants here are unable to provide the necessary SUUlS."
·EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
I1I.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Editor's Salutation. himself one of the tery foremost mis- sionary biographers of the age, the au- METBOPOLITAW TABEBWACLE, thor of the 'standard classic on Carey's life, will contribute a series of papers NEWINGTON, S. E., on the great cobbler of Hackleton, and LONDON, ENGLAND.
The editor salutes all readers of the other writers of scarcely inferior merit REVIEW and friends of missions with will take a part in this symphony of the most cordial good wishes for the testimony to the work of a world's new year! May it be indeed a Happy evangelization, and the duty and priv- New Year to us all individually and to ilege of the Church to push her COD- the whole Church of God! flicts and conquests to the extremities The year 1892 ought to be a year of of the globe.
grand advance all along the line. It is Once more we emphatically call our the centennial year of modern missions, readers and all who are linked with the • for it marks the hundredth anniversary work of missions to a new consecration of William Carey's great movement, the to prayer. Here lies the hope of the organization of the first distinctively Church and the world, in a new spirit foreign missionary society of Britain, of gracious supplication. God will be at Kettering, May 31st, 1792, and will be inquired of when He is to do great observed all over Britain, if not all over things. Our hope must be in no com the wider realm of Christendom, as the pleteness of organization, no abundance ~ completion of the grand century of of gifts, no sufficiency of laborers, no modem missions. multitude of agencies, but first of all But it ought also to mark the begin- in God, in the Providence that opens ning of a new century of far more in- doors and keeps them open, that pro tense Christian zeal and far more self- tects workers, that rrues even rulers and denying missionary effort. The open controls all things; and in the grace doors now before the Church, the sin- that works even mightier marvels in gularly complete equipment providen- anointing the messengers of Christ and tially given for world-wide work, the inclining lost sinners to hear and heed amazing successes of the century past. the message. Let us remember those the strange withholding of laborers and two wonderful words of promise: Matt.
gifts from the service of the Lord-how 17 : 20 and 18: 19, 20. One of them ought such considerations as these to reminds us that in faith there is the stimulate the whole Church of God to seed of God, the secret of divine life undertake new enterprises for Him, to and power to upheave even mountain lengthen her cords and strengthen her obstacles; the other teaches us the 8takes until the canopy of her mission- power of a symphony of prayer, when ary effort shall stretch over the Whole believers who live in the secret of God area of the unevangelized world.! are like keys of a musical instrument The pages of this REvrnw will be that the hand of God touches, and largely given up during the year to the which give forth a sweet chord in har- rehearsal of William Carey's life and mony with His will. To abide in God, work, and to the exhibition of its mag- and so have power in united prayer, is nificent results; While it will be our the first and last secret of missionary aim to suggest and inspire far larger success. This is one of the essential hopes, stronger faith, and wider en- truths to be impressed by perpetual deavor, in behalf of the coming of the repetition.
kingdom of our God! May the prayers Here in the great Tabernacle we have of every devout reader be with us! had an exhibition and illustration of ~eor~e Smith, LL.D., of Edinbur?h, the power of importunate and believing prayer. In May last pastor Charles H. 8th, to propose another union of prayer Spurgeon was attacked with a violent in tbat place. for the greatest outpour. and virulent influenza. After partial ing of the Holy Spirit ever yet known, recovery, in June he was the victim of upon all flesh. If this spectacle has a relapse that brought him to the very been sublime to angels and men, who jaws of death. His recovery was pro. can describe the sublimity of a holy nounced impossible by human means, agreement of all disciples in supplica. and this great congregation of six thou. tion for a worldwide effusion of the sand souls united in daily prayer to Spirit of all grace! God for him. For twenty.one weeks This Metropolitan Tabernacle is a daily meetings for prayer assembled in house of prayer most emphatically. the Tabernacle, early in the morning, Here are numerous rooms, under and at 7 o'clock, and again at the same hour around the great audience.room, where, in the evening. They were thronged, for almost forty years, this one servant and not only by Mr. Spurgeon's own of God has held forth the Word of Life; people, but by Christians of every name. and in these rooms prayer is almost No sublimer spectacle has appeared to ceaselessly gomg up. When one meeting human eyes since apostolic days than is not in progress another is. This is a this union of discipIes, in believing hive of bees, where there are campara. prayer. As for Peter when in prison tively few drones. There are prayer· awaiting Herod's axe prayer was made meetings before preaching and others without ceasing of the Church unto God after preaching; evangelistic associa· for him. Baptists of every "grade;" tions, zenana societies-all sorts of work Methodists, Primitive, Wesleyan, and for God find here a centre and all can· Episcopal; Congregationalists and Inde. secrated by prayer. Before I go upon pendents ; Presbyterians and Plymouth the platform to address these thousands, Brethren; even the members and clergy the officers of this great church meet of the Anglican communion were pres· me and each other for prayer as to the ent and participated. Meanwhile Mr. service; and one feels upborns on these Spurgeon was overwhelmed with per· strong arms of prayer while preaching. sonal and official attentions from all No marvel that Mr. Spurgeon's ministry classes and conditions of men. Up to has been so blessed. He himself at· the time of his departure for Mentone, tributes it mainly to the prevailing on October 26th, he told me that over prayers of his people. Why may not seven thousand messages of condolence the whole Church of God learn some· and sympathy, resolutions of various thing from the Metropolitan Tabernacle religious bodies, etc., and other docu. of London as to the power of simple ments, from the lowest and highest in Gospel preaching backed by believing society, had reached him. Fifty tele. supplication! grams of inquiry a day came to Beulah Referring to this great church, one Hill, until clerks were unequal to the cannot forget also its divine mission as reading of and the replying to these a standing protest against the secular. messages and inquiries. Even bishops izing of the house of God by the attrac· and archbish~ps called to offer not only tions of worldly art and restheticism. sympathy, but service, if such were Here is nothing to divert the mind from possible; and Jewish rabbis called to the simplicity of worship and the Gas· assure the sick man that all Israel was pel. No attempt at elaborate architec. praying to Jehovah for his restorl't· ture, furniture, garniture. A precentor tion! What wonder he was raised as leads con"gregational song without even from the dead-taken out of the jaws the help of a cornet; prayer and praise of the lion! In view of all this, I ven· and the reading of the Word of God, tured, in presence of a great congrega· with plain putting of Gospel trnthtion i:Q. t4e Tabernacle, on November these 4nve been Mr. StJur~eon's lifelon~ " means of grace" and weapons of war. a year of praise also, a new year of mis- And yet this remains to.day the largest sions, introducing a new century of mis- congregation in the world, even when a sion triumph and glory to God!
stranger attempts to fill the place left vacant by the pastor's withdrawal to a -The editors of American newspapers place of rest and recuperation. are, as a rule, a sagaeious folk. They This lesson has, in my opinion, a beating on all work for Christ, at home cannot be hoaxed. But not all of those and abroad. Our reliance is too much on the charms of this world, in drawing who have the l'equisite " nose for news" souls to the Gospel and to the Saviour. The Holy Spirit will not tolerate our are favored with the reciprocity of the idols. If we will have artistic and secular type of music, substituting unsancti- senses by which they" know news when :lied art for simple praise; if we will have elaborate ritual in place of simple, they see it." An instance is at han~. believing prayer; if we will have eloquent lectures in place of simple, ear- In, the summary of Dr. Pierson's open. nest Gospel preaching, we must not wonder if no shekinah fires burn in our ing sermon at the Tabernacle, made by sanctuaries. If Ahaz is allowed to dis· place God's plain altar by the carved, the Christian, we :find the following: idolatrous altar fro!ll Damascus, we need not be surprised if God withdraws " The Holy Ghost never tolerates idols His power. Perhaps the reason why the work of God abroad shows more in his courts. The success of this great signs of His presence and power than our sanctuary services at home is in Tabernacle is owing to nothing more part this, that our foreign mission work has never been embarrassed as yet by than to this-that the paster has preachthose elaborate attempts at resthetic attraction which turn many of our home ed the Gospel, and has never preached churches into concert halls and lecture saloons and costly club-houses. May anything else, for well.nigh forty years, God grant us to learn once for all, that nothing in our mission work can make He prayed God that some calamity might up for Holy Spirit power, and that Holy Spirit power itself makes up for the happen to the building itself before it lack of all else. If the angel troubles the pool, there is healing in the waters ; was ever prostituted by unsanctified and but if God's angel comes not down 'all the doctors in Jerusalem, with all'the secularizing methods of attracting the drugs in creation, cannot impart healing virtue. people. We want to keep out of our v.orship everything that turns away at- tention from God, or hinders the power of the Holy Ghost."
An irate reporter, by whom the" in_ terim" pastor declined to be interviewed rushed off and cabled to this countr; that Dr. Pierson had most wantonly and uncharitably attacked Mr. Spurgeon in his absence, and had ~harged his con- gregation with doing the very things which he had commended them for not doing. We extend our sympathy to so much of the secular press as became tho victim of this hoax and falsehood. Yet on its face they should have been able to recognize its improbability_ Even a caricature must be a likeness. But to present one who is '
LET us PRU! Oh, for a new spirit of " the president Of nobleness and chevalree" prayer to God! Oh, for a whole Church on its face before the throne, with in snch a roll was too much out of align- mighty pleading for a blessing as wide- ment to afford amusement or to do spread as the race of man, and as deep- harm. The editor.in· chief of this RE- reaching as man's depravity and degra- VIEW answers too closely to the en- dation, guilt and need! Let the year comium on Sir Philip Sydney, in hav- now opening be-whatever else it may ing ., mildness which is associated with not be-a year of prayer; so shall it be courage, erudition modified by refinement, and courtliness dignified by There is one preacher to eight hun. truth "to render it necessary to correct dred inhabitants in the home land; so m:mifestly gross a canard. It may one preacher to four hundred thousand be that he will not so much as thank us in non-Christian countries. for an allusion to it. [J. T. G.]. Estimated wealth of Evangelical Christians in United States•… $13,000,000,000 Increase of wealth last :year (sur- plus after paying all expenses Facts and Figures. of living and contributions for benevofent purposes)….••…. 450,000,000 REV. c. R. BELL, D.D. Contributions for Foreign Mis- sions during the year……… . Population of the world ……….. 1,500,000,000 Total foreign missionary contri- 5,000,000 Living in Asia •••.••.. 800,000,000 Living in Africa •.. •. 210,000,000 butions during the century …. 90,000,000 Living in Europe……. 350,000,000 Annual expenditure for home Living in America, churches….. .. •.. .. … …. .. .. 80,000,000 North and South ….. 110,000,000 Average per member. . •. . . . . • .• •• $6.00 Living in Island World 30,000,000 Annual expenditure for Foreign M.issions, per member (average) .37 – – – 1,500,000,090 Evangelical Christian Commnni- The annual increase of wealth was' ninety times more than the foreign cants………… …………… 35,000,000 missionary offerings during the year. Adherents.. … .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 105,000,000 The estimated increase of wealth of Total Communicants and Adher- 140,000,000 the evangelical Christian population of ents………………………. . 90.000.000 the United States last year was more 205,000,000 than four times greater than all the Greek Church……………. . .. .. 8,000,000 foreign contributions by all American Romanists…………………… . 175,000,000 Christians d~ring the entire century. Jews……………………… .. 882,000,000 Startling statements I M.ohammedans ……………….. . Pagan and Heathen………….. ..
Converts to Christianity in heathen 1,500,000,000 lands one hundred years ago did not exceed…… …. … …. .. .. .. 300 Communicants now………….. . 800,000 Adherents ………………….. .. 2,200,000 Total Communicants and Adhe- Signs of the Times. rents…….. ………… …….. 3,000,000 There are signs of a general upheaval Then there were very few Christian all through the pagan, papal, and Mosworkers abroad. and they were chiefly lem world. Japan has suffered from a peasants and artisans who accompanied recent earthquake, in which thousands enterprising merchants. Then the are said to have perished. China was Church for the first time began the visited by most destructive floods, and great enterprise of organized foreign now is the scene of widespread riot and missionary work. not a little bloodshed. South America -Brazil, Chili, and the Argentine Re. Now there are 170 missionary boards public-has been and is undergoing and societies directed by men, and 110 civil and political disturbances, which by women-all actively in service as in some cases amount to a convulsion. agents for their respective Christian Russia is expelling the Jews and preconstituencies. Now at work in non· paring for war, and all Europe is either Christian lands 7700 missionaries, male in a state of ferment or of uncertainty and female, consisting of and apprehension. No one on the con. tinent feels sure of the peace of Europe Ordained…………………… .. 3,482 for thirty days ahead, and a European La,Ylllen …………………….. . 829 war means a world's upheaval. Africa WlVes of missionaries…………. . has been the scene of almost continual Umnarried women…………… .. 2.005 conflict since the Zulu and Soudan 1,384 wars. Turkey is on the verge of per. petual disturbance. The isles of the Native workers ………………. . 7,700 sea are the scenes of repeated and some· Of whom 4,250 are ordained 36,000 times widespread antagonisms, either preachers within their own coasts or with foreign 43,700 foes. No one can predict how long Total force …………………. .. 13,500,000 UNITED STATES ALONE. 80,000 Evangelical church-members..•… Ordained preachers …………… .
Ordained preachers abroad……. . 1,000 Unordained missionaries, male and 1,750 female, abroad…………….. ..
2,750 Mexico and Central America, Burmah Pierson has met with the warm welcome /lJld India, Thibet and Korea will keep and hearty support of the officiary and their uncertain quiet. There are some congregation of Mr. Spurgeon's Taber- sagacious students of affairs who boldly nacle. Our English exchanges make say that never within this century has kindly mention of his entrance upon his there been such a general murmur of new responsibilities. The Ohristian says approaching conflict; and that only the of the opening service: "The great destructiveness of modern engines of building was thronged with worshippers war prevents its outbreak. In the re- in every part. At the opening of the cent naval exhibition, we saw a fac- service the crush was not BO great as we simile of a trial target upon which one have generally seen it, when Mr. Spur- of the largest of modern English ord- geon was the preacher; but before the nance, a HO-ton Armstrong gun, had commencement of the sermon there expended its explosive force, aud the were very few vacant seats." After giv.
ball-a conical one-had been driven ing a column to a synopsis of the in- through six feet of steel and iron, tell terim pastor's sermon from the admir- feet of oak timbers, five feet of solid ably chosen text Acts 10 : 29: .' There- granite, fifteen£eetof concrete, and six of fore came I unto you without gainsay- brick masonry, in all penetrating forty- ing as soon as I was sent for; I ask, two feet before its progress was arrested! therefore, for what intent ye have sent Meanwhile, let it be recorded with for me?" the editor says: "His brief thanksgiving that never has such a ministry at the Tabernacle has open.
spirit of benevolence been exhibited as ed auspiciously." He further quotes now among God's true children. For from a Tabernacle correspondent, who example, Mr. Thomas M. Russell, a writes: Scotchman, has just willed £60,000 ster- " • With the hour the man' is a prov- ling to Rev. John Wilkinson for his erb which hail received a very happy work among the Jews ; £8000 were con· illustration in the presence and minis- tributed by a. single donor in Australia try of Dr. Pierson as Mr. Spurgeon's to modern missions, and we hear almost locum tenens at the Metrollolitan Taber- every week of large gifts to home and nacle. The arrangement is according to foreign evangelizatIOn. A prominent Mr. Spurgeon's mind and heart; and, lady, a well-known countess, has sold judging from the welcome which has all her jewelry and ornaments except been accorded to our American brother, heir-looms, that she may send her valu- the indorsement of the church and con- ables to minister to God's kingdom ; gregation has been assured. Possessed and amid all modern apostasies in doc- of the rare qualifications necessary, there trine and inconsistencies in practice, is every reason to believe that Dr. Pier- there is a practioal protest of conse. son will fully justify Mr. Spurgeon's crated souls in the more complete self. choice, and his own acceptance of the surrender that includes property. Oh, appointment, and that the happiest re- for the new spirit of war for the Lord! sults may be expected from his three When will the world be convulsed not months' ministry. An enthusiast for by the preparations for gigantic de- missions, the aggressive work at the structive conflicts of arms, but by the Tabernacle is not likely to flag; an ear· universal uprising of the Church of nest and an able exponent of the Gospel, God in behalf of the world's conquest the living ministry which has been car· for Christ! ried on so long by Mr. Spurgeon is sure to be maintained."
On Sunday evening, November 1st, The Editor-in-Ohief Abroad. the audience numbered some 6000 per- Our readers will not bE' surprised, bu!; sons, 2500 of whom remained to the the,}' will be gratified to know that Dr. after-meeting. [J. T. G.)
18112.] THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY J. R. MILLER, D.D.
The World-Field-Hints for Prayer and Our very life must be in it, in the tem. Work. per of the divine self-sacrifice. But what a privilege and joy thus to work -An artist was asked, "What is your in it, with God Himself and all the best .picture?" He replied, "My saintliest spirits of the earth, now and next. " That was a good answer for an aforetime! Is it not the grandest testi. artist to make. When a man looks mony to the magnificence of human na. back for his life's best work in any ture that God made us co-workers, not line, his feeling should be that of the in the primary work of creation, but in other artist, who wept when he saw his the far grander work of redeeming the completed masterpiece, because his sat- world? In this work we can make isfaction with it marked the climax of our lives luminous in this world, and his lifework. It should be the same bright forever with a celestial glory in with 1>ur years; we should always look the next." to the next as our best. This is a good thought, too, for every Christian and -For a good while the burden of the every church with regard to the work prayers at monthly concerts was for the of missions-our next year should be opening of doors, the breaking down of our best. We should surpass our best barriers. Now from all the fields comes past in praying, doing, and giving. We the cry that the dOOTS are open everyshould make our monthly concerts for where, and that the want is for men to 1892 the best we have ever had. We go in and occupy them. Later the should become more familiar with the prayers were for men and women who needs of the mission·fields, and with would go to the opening fields. These the nature and extent of the work that prayers have been answered, too, in the Church is doing. We should seek most wonderful manner, and to.day to kindle missionary interest among there are 6000 young Christians in our our friends as in no former year. We country alone who have volunteered should pray as never before for the for mission work, and are ready to go cause of missions. We should give wherever they are sent; and now the more than in any former year. cry from all societies is for money. Thus the responsibility for the work is -One of the address!ls of President thrown back upon Christian people Storrs at the recent meeting of the themselves. God has done His part in American Board closed with these opening doors and inclining men and strong words: "It is a vastly critical women to be willing to go as mission.
time in the progress of Christ's king- aries; He has answered our prayers.
dom, with all the world uprising before Are we going to fail him now? Said us, with wealth enough and men President Gates, in an address at the enough to meet the need, with only last meeting of the American Board: the spirit to use them wanting. Let us .. Oh, my brothers, what answer can settle it in our minds that the world is we give for ourselves before the judg.
not to be converted to God by good ment-throne of God, if this glorious people sitting in pews and listening to work of preaching the Gospel of light sermons, even the best, or sitting in to dying men is checked and dwarfed, rocking-chairs and reading good books. and fails of its glorious possibility, be.
The work is vast, difficult, possible-a cause we who are God's stewards hold work that calls for the labor of enthu- fast to God's money for our own selfish siasm, for prayer and tears, for sweat· uses? There is a time when the AI.
drops, and, perhaps, for blood-drops. mighty Banker of the universe calls in Contributions of money are not enough. His loans. " 68 THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS. [January -There are indications that the time mooring from all its past, and is emis at hand for a great blessing in India. barking upon a movement that must This " slow old land" is beginning to lead on to the greatest of revolutions in arouse from her sleep of centuries and its internal life and external relations." respond to the tender touch of a faith He adds: "The time is most opporthat regenerates. Dr. Phillips writes tune for the pressing of missionary almost enthusiastically of the outlook. work at every point, in every. form, There are open doors on every side. with all our power. The present dis- Prayers are being answered and long, turbances, while not without elements patient labor is having its reward. All of anxiety, are rather symptoms of the India is ready for a forward movement. general ferment that is spreading than In Life and Light we are told of a wide- of a reaction, and will doubtless in the spread restlessness and a spirit of in- end lead to a far more open door for all quiry in India. In a Madras paper eTangelistic work. " these lines are given as the cry of a multitude to-day: -The condition of things in Japan is such as calls for much earnest prayer "We are weary of empty creeds, at the opening of a new year. The Of guides who show no man the way, country is undergoing a wonderful Of worship linked with lust and shame; transformation. Great progress is Life is an iiI, the sea of births is wide, being made in all departments of na- And we are weary-who shall be our guide 1" tional life. The influences of Chris- tianity and of civilization have swept Thank God for those consciously weary through the country in the last few and heavy laden, to whom the mission- years with marvellous rapidity, The aries may carry the pitying, "Come new empire with its constitutional govunto Me, and ye shall find rest for your ernment takes its place almost alongsouls." side the most enlightened European governments in its freedom and liber- -It is to be hoped that the troubles ality. In the Parliament of 300 memin China are not altogether discourag- bers, 13 are professedly Christian men. ing. May there not be an indication The work of Christian missions in that in them of the beginning of a change land has been prospered beyo'nd the in that wonderful country which shall most sanguine hopes of the Church. leave it a new China? Western thought is breaking in among the peo- But in the midRt of all this progress ple. Modern science is forcing itself and success there are dangers besetting through the old walls, and the country the interests of Christianity and of the is feeling its power. Telegraph wires empire, through which only the hand are stretching everywhere. Western in- of God can guide the country. Says ventions are revolutionizing everything. Dr. Ellinwood: "At the present time China is about breaking its old bonds. the forces which array themselves This is the fruit of Christian missions. against the missionary work in Japan The Bible is doing it. There is unrest are entering into a strong alliance, with for the time; there are persecutions a determination to resist the aggressive of missionaries; but while these things influence of Christianity. Very natuare disheartening in a sense, yet there rally the advocates of the old systems is in them an element of victorious- of Japan, as well as the converts to ness. The leaven of Christianity is various types of western infidelity, are working. Says one of the mission sec- alarmed at the influence which Chris· retaries: "Internal changes of striking tianity is gaining in Japan. . • . Books character assure us that this nation of also have recently been published by venerable antiquity and proverbial con- native authors, which earnestly advo· servatism, almost without its knowledge oate a union of all Buddhist sects and and against its will, is in reality unan alliance with the philosophies (in- worship and schools in their own fidel) of the West, in resistance to the dwellings, this order, whioh has not yet missionary efforts of the Christian been executed, but which at any time Church. Evidently Japan is now the might be, is one which may cause serio theatre of one of the most active con- ous trouble. These outcroppings of a flicts of religious and philosophical persecuting and intolerant spirit show thought that the world has known, and a disposition at least to trouble and in. the Christian Church needs to regard terfere with the work of missions in it the more seriously, from the fact that that old country_ Christian truth has no such advantage there as in countries where the momen- -Africa is wide open now to the tum of many generations of Christian Gospel. The explorations of the last influence constitutes an immense con- thirty years have revealed a heretofore servative force. All questions in Japan, terra incognita, and where the old maps to a generation which has had only the had" Great Afrioan Desert," the newer' antecedents of error, are open ques- maps have rivers, lakes, and mountains tions ; and Christianity must take its and great peoples. Rnilroads are being even chances with every other form of built to supplement the splendid water belief or unbelief, save as the omnip- highways whioh nature has provided. otent Spirit of God shall prompt and The doorl;! of language are also being direct the work in answer to the pray- opened ahd mainly by missionaries ers and efforts of His people. " themselves. Four hundred and thirty. eight languages and 143 dialects have There should. therefore, be earnest been oatalogued. Thus a new world is and importunate prayer for Japan, that open to the Gospel. In the Congo Val. wisdom may be given to the men called ley alone is a population equal to that to direct in missionary work; that the of the United States. Stanley travelled Christian Churoh there may be kept in 999 days 7000 miles and never saw from yielding to worldly influences or the face of a Christian, nor of a man counsels, and from all divisions and who had had the opportunity to become dissensions; that the cause of Christ one. Yet he moved among a populamay be advanced until the empire shall tion of fifty millions. What will the be indeed Christian. Church do to send the Gospel through these wide open doors into Afrioa in -There is trouble also in Turkey, 1892? appealing to the prayers of Christian people everywhere. The government -It used to be said that in India the seems desirous to check moral and intel- birds never sing, the flowers have. no lectual progress, and therefore is assum- fragrance, and the women never smile. ing an unfriendly attitude toward mis- No wonder the women of heathen lands sions. Several acts have been com- never smile. Their lot is sad beyond mitted whioh show this hostility. Mis. description, but a better day has come sionaries have been arrested without for them. The Christian women of cause and kept in close confinement, Christian lands are hastening to give as it they were guilty of some grave their sad sisters the blessed story of offenoe. The government also con· the Gospel. There are in the United fisoated a large number of hymn-books States 34 women's foreign missionary and Bible diotionaries belonging to the societies, 10 in Canada, 24 in Great Amerioan mission. In October last the Britain, 1 on the continent of Europe, Sublime Porte issued an order prohibit. and 1 in South Africa. The work that ing the holding of public worship or has been done by these societies, espe. conduoting of sohools in dwellinghouses. As many missionaries conduot cially for the women of heathen lands, only a desire to please white people in is one whose value and influence can- the awkward appointments of their not be estimated. It would be easy to home, they would be of little account; gather up and present here a table of but in many cases it is the outward sign atatistics (see page 954, December num- of a prooess of change which will eventber of REVIEW), but large as ,the figures ualIy rectify even their distorted family would be, they would give no adequate relationships-a heritage from their view of the resulta of the work which heathen ancestry. The desire for a woman, with her loving hear' and her better home life has somehow been imgentle touch, is doing for her sister planted in the young wife's heart during woman in darkened countries. One her school.life. looked at an opal as it lay on a jeweller's case, and it seemed cold and lustre- -Faraday showed that a drop of dew less. Then the jeweller held the stone oontains electrioity enough to rend a in his hand for a few moments, and rook. The Gospel of Christ has in it now it shone with all the colors of the all the power of God and can work marrainbow. It needed the touch of a hu- vels, as it has already wrought marvels man hand to bring out the iridescence. in saving men. Like that stone in its case are the millions of women in heathendom. Their -If we can do nothing else, or whatlives are dull and sad and without ever else we may do, we oan all pray beauty, but they require only the for the blessing of God upon the work warmth of the hands of Christian women of Christian missions, and prayer has to draw out all the beauty that.slumbers mighty power. The worship of Durga, in their nature. "Godly women have the blood.goddess of the Hindus, is atproved themselves the link, so long tended by the most terrible excesses of missing, to bring their sisters in East- sin. Some native converts have agreed ern lands to the feet of Jesus." that every evening this worship goes on they also will meet to pray to God to -The establishment of Christian put an end to the wicked practices. homes is one of the finest results of " Let us go on praying night after night missionary work in heathen lands, and year after year," they say, .. tm we hence the beauty of a picture which a have prayed down the Dllrga Puja. missionary draws of what is being done Let us pray it down. ' , Christians for Zulu girls in the Inanda Seminary: everywhere should join in all such The humble little home shows that the prayers. wife and mother has tried with the little means at her disposal to give a home- -Some idea of the difficulties of city like look to the place. There will be a evangelization may be gotten from a curtain at the window, a cushion on the statement, by the President of the wooden settee, and a bit of frilled cre- Methodist Church .Extension Society, tonne about the shelf which holds her that within one square mile of New lamp and a few books. If it be objected York City there are 20,000 people, nineby the wise in such matters that the teen twentieths of whom are foreign Turkey red and white of the window born and speak 30 different languages. decorations are not artistic, nor the Yet no work is more important just now friII of cheap cretonne, nor the patch- than that which needs to be done in work quilt whioh covers the bed, we our great cities if they are to be saved say, perhaps not, but the mark of the for Chrh!t. The real heathenism that woman's hand and care to our 'mind is found in many of them is appalling. make the dark little room much less One of the most hopeful of recent cheerless. If these things indicate movements is that which looks toward poses purely religious. Within the cen.
the regeneration of the slums. In Lon. tury now drawing to a close 150,000,000 don and now in New York there has copies of the Bible have been printed been an arousing of the people which in 226 different languages. Fifty years promises much. The work should go ago there were 502 mission stations in forward till all the cities have been foreign parts; there are now 5765.
cleansed. One of the saddest things Fifty years ago there were 653 ordained about the slums is that they are fed missionaries; to.day there are 6696 from the churches and Sunday-schools such servants of the Lord. Then there and from Christian homes. The peo. were but 1266 other laborers and help.
pIe there have fallen out and have ers abroad; now there are 50,552.
drifted downward to where they now are. Many of them have memories of -There is a view of the benefits of better days, even of holy things. In foreign missions which should appeal our prayers at the Monthly Concert, the even to worldly men. General Arm· efforts to evangelize our cities should strong says: "America, through the have a place. American Board, expended in fifty years a million and a quarter dollars to -As nearly as can be computed from evangelize Hawaii, and during that the reports of various societies, the fol. time has received about $4,000,000 a lowing summary of Protestant foreign year in trade. England's missions are missions is correct. From churches in said to bring back £10 in trade for United States, Canada, Great Britain, every pound given to convert the and Continental Europe there are in heathen. Christianity means a demand foreign lands 8048 stations and out- for clothing and utensils. The first stations, with 5594 missionaries, 35,343 sign of grace in a penitent savage is a native helpers, and 681,503 communi· request for a .shirt.- cants. The amount of money given last year was $11,429,588. Of COUlse -A writer in the Children's World this summary is incomplete, as there says: "Of every six infants in the are unreported missions and mission. world, one is born in India; of every aries. six orphan girls, one is wandering in India; of every six widows, one is -The reports of the Americsn Board mourning in India; of every six men give the following facts: The Board that die, one is passing into eternity in has under its care 21 central missions India. Think of it, and give India a with 97 stations, 1136 out·stations and part of your prayers•• , 1287 preaching places. A total of 538 missionaries are employed, with 2648 -After two missionary sermons in native laborers. There are 410 churches Melbourne recently a hard.working man with 38,226 church.members. During sent in thetitle·deeds of 93t acres offarmthe year the additions were 3554. In land, worth about $2500, to be divided schools of all kinds 46,403 pupils are between India and New Guinea. Being reported. Medical relief was given duro asked afterward about his gift, he said: ing the year to 100,000 patients. ." This is how I look at it. Supposing I were a boy and my father gave me $5, -The following figures are full of but afterward wanted part of the money interest. Seventy.five million dollars back again to help him in some work are contributed yearly in the United he was doing, and he came to me to States to the sustenance of the Church, help him, and I gave him a five·cent $31,000,000 more being given for pur. piece, what sort of a Bon should I be ?"
'12 GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Orga.nized Missionary Work and Statistics. Edited by Rev. D. L. Leonard, Bellevue, O. .
-Hermann Wagner and Alexander upon them as touching the redemption Supan have recently published a vol· of the world. All the more since they ume of statistics relating to the popula- are such inveterate and indomitable tion of the globe. Of course the figures travellers, traders, colonizers, and buildthey give for countries not a few are ers of States. Most of all is the call of but estimates, and sometimes are but Providence to British Christians to beguesses; but taken all in all are no stir themselves for the Master, since the doubt the best to be had. They fix the sway of their government is so supreme number of the human family at 1,480,- over so large a fraction of the human 000,000, Of these there are in Europe, race. 326,000,000; in Asia, 826,000,000; in Africa, 164,000,000; in America, 122,_ -India is ten times larger than Ja- 000,000 ; in Australia, 3,000,000; and pan, China nearly three times as large in the Oceanio Islands, 7,500,000. as India, and Africa twice as large as China has 350,000,000 and India 324,- India and China combined. The 000,000, of whom 286,000,000 belong to "Dark" Continent is of vast propor- British India_ Russia has 93,000,000 ; tions as well, and contains a vast multithe German Empire, 49,000,000; Aus- tude which is well-nigh altogether either tria-Hungary, 41,000,000 ; Franoe, and pagan or else Mohammedan. Call the Great Britain and Ireland, 38,000,000 population 164,000,000, acoording to eaoh; Italy, 30,000,000, and Spain, 17,- the latest estimate, that of Wagner and 000,000. But another authority, Pro- Supan, and what impression has been fessor Von Juraschek, gives 1,544,000,- made upon it by the Gospel? Accord- 000 as the population of the world, of ing to a Danish authority, the Rev. whioh Europe has 358,000,000 and the Dean Vahl, in 1890 there were laboring Americas 124,000,000. in Africa, and representing all Christen- dom, 1004 missionaries and 206 women, -" When Shakespeare lived and and 878 native missionaries with 8389 sang, 300 years ago, on the whole globe other native helpers, or a total force of there were less than a million more 10,477, and the fruit of their toil is English-speaking people than now in- found in 214,561 oonverts or communihabit London alone. There were be- cants; but the" Encyclopredia of Mistween 5,000,000 and 6,000,000. So re- sions" gives a list of 43 missionary socently as a century ago, even after this cieties at work between the Mediterrarepublic was founded, there were only nean and the Cape, with 611 ordained 15,000,000 English-speaking persons on men, 170 unordained, 387 women, 209 the globe. At the same date 30,000,000 ordained natives, 4891 native helpers, spoke French and 40,000,000 German. or a total of 6268 persons engaged in Now we find that While the French and bearing the glad tidings to the perish- German tongues are spoken by a rea- ing. Into 565 churches 101,212 souls sonably increased number of individ- have been gathered, 9439 were admitted uals in the world to-day, in Australasia, last year, and 53,235 pupils are receivthe British isles, and in America 115,- ing instruction in 861 schools. These 000,000 olaim English as their mother figures stand for what Protestant Christongue. This is 40 pel' oent of the in- tians are doing-that is, they have sent habitants of the oivilized world." If 1168 men and women to Africa, or such is the fact, it follows that Anglo- about one to every 150,000. Saxon, English-speaking Christians have a tremendous responsibility laid -Next see-one item from many- what the devil and his angels are doing to maintain his widespread and fear- single Christian of every denomination, fully well-established sovereignty over at least 2 Buddhist priests (not head- Africa. The following tabulated state- priests). So there is a population of ment, printed in the {!hristian Union and over 39,000,000 of Japanese without a obtained from the Boston Custom single Christian among them. Once House, shows the exportation of rum to more, if all the Christians in Japan were Africa from the Port of Boston during congregated· in the city of Osaka (500,- the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 : 000), there would be in that one city 4 times as many heathen as Christians, …. …. and not a single Christian in any other ;:~ :~ :: :: :: :. part of the country. No, Japan is not r … :: ::: yet a Christian country; and there is room and need for hundreds if not I thousands of missionaries and native evangelists, if this people is to be saved il ere the Lord come." Then ponder this concerning India: "Since 1881 the For two or three years this traffic, which population has increased by 29,000,000 partakes so largely of the inhuman and -that is to say, almost as many souls the hellish, was reported as steadily have been added to the people of India falling off, but now it has again reached in ten years as are comprised in the high-water mark. whole population of England and Wales. The total is now 286,000,000. India -More than one fourth of the earth's contains more people than all Africa inhabitants are crowded into China and and South America combined; more Japan, and more than one fifth into than all Europe, excluding Russia; India; but after all the phenomenal nearly ten times the popUlation of Engsuccess which the Gospel has had in land. Or take the provinces, Bengal Japan, but a trifling beginning has been alone has more souls than the United made. An English missionary states States and Canada combined; the Punthe following facts: "To-day there are jab more than Spain and Portugal ; the 40,000,000 in Japan, and not 40,000, Madras Presidency, equal to Italy and Protestant Christians-that is, one in Belgium together. Each missionary, 1000. For every 2 Christians there are on an average, has 250,000 Bouls to 5 Buddhist temples, not to mention reach." And then, as for China, "not Shinto temples. There are 10,000 more one in 10,000 has as yet ever even heard head-priests of Buddhism than there are of Jesus Christ." Among China's 350,- Protestant Christians, and for every 000,000, 30 ProtAstant societies sustain in all less than 1300 men and women (at the rate of one to 270,000 heathen), something more than 40,000 have been gathered into churches, and about 15,- 000 are receiving instruction in Chris- tian schools. Evidently the call for 1000 more missionaries to labor in China alone is a most modest and reasonable one.
-Or, glance at South America with 7,500,000 square miles and a popula- tion of about 35,500,000. Over almost the entire continent the papacy bears undisputed sway, and heathenism holds the rest. Including the American Bible committed to our trust-as contrasted Society, 8 societies are endeavoring to with the superabounding opportunities diffuse a pure Gospel-the Methodist of this Christian land, where one per- Episcopal Church, North and South, son in every 600 of its 63,000,000 is an the Presbyterian, North and South, the evangelical minister, and one in every Southern Baptist, -the Moravian, and 5 is a professed disciple of the Lord the South American Missionary Society Jesus Christ? Is $6 out of $100, $94 of England. The number of men and being retained for work at home, is $20 women at work is but about 325, and out of $100, $80 being retained for be- the number of communicants is less nevolent work at home, a fair propor- than 15,000. There remaineth yet very tion ?"
much land to be possessed. -0£ the 15,730,000 people of Hun- gary, 3,200,000 are Protestants. Of -Of course there should be some fair these again 2,030,000 are Reformed -that is, some truly Christian-propor- and 1,120,000 Lutherans. The latter tion established and maintained in our have 1195 pastors and 1433 congrega- churches between home expenses, home tions; the former 4241 congregations missions, and foreign missions; and served by 2283 pastors. The Unitarians hence these words of Secretary Alden, number about 1i0,000, organized into of the American Board, are well worthy 187 congregations with 107 pastors. of careful consideration. His figures The Protestants are very active in edu- relate to the Congregationalists. He cational and literary work. The num- says : " There are 4817 chnrches with ber of their schools is 3826, besides 14 a membership of 506,832, a Sunday- preparatory schools for teachers, 52 school membership of 613,810. The high schools, and 13 theological schools. reported contributions for 1890 for , home expenditures' in round numbers -Says Bishop Walden: "Italy has were $6,100,000, and for the several de- above 30,000,000 of people, of whom bepartments of home benevolence $1,900,- tween 25,000 and 30,000 are connected 000, a total of $8,000,000. The reported with some Protestant organization-not contributions for foreign missions were more than one in every thousand of the $350,000. Suppose we add the gener- population. In 1890, 6 Protestant bodies ous sum of $150,000, t6 represent possi- reported 23,452 members, but besides ble unreported contributions, and thus these there is the mission of the Plycall the contibutions to foreign missions mouth Brethren, a few small indepen- $500,000; we have then a total from dent missions, and the several Anglican benevolent contributions, excluding and other foreign churches. The entire legacies, of $2,400,000-that is, $80 out Protestant force, however, must fall beof every $100 is for work at home, $20 low 30,000. The Methodist contingent for work abroad. Bringing in, how- is about 2500, a little more than 1500 ever, the entire home expenditures, are found in the Wesleyan, and a little which is a proper thing to do, we have less than 1000 in the Methodist Episcoan aggregate of $8,500,000. On this pal Mission. The Waldensian Church basis, $94 out of every $100 is devoted began the work of evangelization in to the support of Christian institutions 1848, and reports 18,000; the Free and Christian bene,olence at home, and Church of Italy, united in one body in $6 for the corresponding work abroad. 1865, reports 1800; the Baptist less We ask, Is this a fair proportion? We than 900, and the 'Italian Catholic repeat the question, Is this a fair pro- Church' about 100. Such is the nuportion, particularly when we remem- merical strength of Protestantism in ber the perishing need of the unevan· Italy."
gelized nations-not less than 120,000,- -Belgium received its Roman Catho- 000 of their popUlation being specially lic impress under the iron rule of Philip of Spain, and is to-day, along with Agency, South Dakota, says: "We Spain, the country most devoted to the have just closed the convocation of our papacy, and is in the eyes of the Ro- Indian deanery, which, despite the late man Catholic Church, a true, ideal disturbances, was the largest in num- state. Among its 6,000,000 inhabitants bers and offerings we have ever had. not more than 20,000 are Protestant. Over 1500 people camped around an In 1837 a number of Protestants, among open circle. The women, representing • whom was the well-known Merle d' Au- 36 local branches of the Woman's Aux_ bigne and the church elder Mertens, of iliary, presented in cash $800, and the Breslau, founded the" Evangelical So· young men $170 for all sorts of chari- ciety of Belgium." In 1848 a church, ties, among them being work in Japan consisting of 49 converted Catholics, and China, missions in South Dakota, was organized upon a Presbyterian ba- the Episcopate fund, the native clergy sis, under the name of the" Christian fund, and other objects." Mission Church of Belgium." Accord ing to the statistics of 1889 it consisted -The secretaries of the Missionary of 2; churches, 22 ministers, 81 elders, Society of the Methodist Episcopal 104 deacons, 4 evangelists, 8 Bible Church have issued a circular letter readers, 5 colporteurs, and 4 students showing how the collections for mis- of theology, all under the direction of sions have been steadily advancing, bnt 3 local synods and one general Synod. calling attention to the fact that the In 1888 the number of communicants demand is advancing at a greater rate was 4396 ; Sabbath-schools, 59; schol- than the supply. The table appended ars, 2631. Besides this free church, gives a snmmary of the collections for there is also the Belgian National (Prot- the past seven years for the general estant) Church, whose ministers are work of the Society, both at home and paid by the State. abroad: -What a spectacle was beheld at the 3 … ""~~~o;~~&? :.''","e; Yankton Agency, S. D., a few weeks since, when 1000 Sioux, representing 0 8i~~~f8~~ 0~0 16 tribes-the Omahas, Santees, Yanktons, Yanktonnais, Brules, Ogalalas, E-< :l:g-o"o&'<5~ g,..f…,.t…§….,.,…g……,.,l……i…<is Minnecaujus, Two-kettles, Blackfeet, Hauhapapi, Sissetons, Wahpetons, As- … .,; &3~~8~~~ ~ siniboins, Rees, Mandans, and Gros … ~~E~~~~ <Xi Ventres-came together to hold an an- ~ ~'" nual meeting to tell and to hear the '" ~~~~"t:!~fi 0> story of the victories of the cross. And 0 Ui>""''''''''''' ,…. it was only a year before that the" Mes- c0>r siah crRZe" and the war were on. These were all Christian brethren and Presby- ~ terians and Congregationalists. Among the subjects in which the Indians took -"'" g;:ll~c;;188;g1~ an active and eloquent part were these: " How to Prevent the People from Being … .,S,-. ~_~_~_~_~_~.~_c:!~: Led Away by False Religions," " Should "'"::: 0 Mourners Refrain from Attending Pub- … ~ ":'g~<"o'&~5g"s'"'''','..'..'~'..S.'..;~lIo~ ~> lic Worship 1" "How to Make Prepara- 0 tion for the Sabbath," "The Proper 0 Uses which the Dakotas Should Make of Money Annuities." And further, Ii Bishop Hare, writing from the Rosebud ~ ~ E-< illi§JOCi§OJl&:51-2-O&O5~0g0 I ,…. ""'''''''''''''''''''"'''i?""t -The Presbyterian Church, North, is doing earnest work with excellent results in Western Persia, Rev. J, H. Shedd states: "Four of the churches, with professing Christians of the country.
an aggregate of 879 members, support The system of church polity, which has themselves, and 2 of them contribute slowly developed itself, is rather a com- largely for helping others; 5 other bination of Independency, Presbyteri- churches, with less than 100 members anism, and Episcopacy. An Anglican each, pay half or more of their ex- mission works chiefly on the East Coast, penses, and 28 others pay a less sum to with a bishop and cathedral at Antan- self-support. The tacit understanding anarivo. A Roman Catholic bishop is is that a church of 100 members ought also stationed at the capital. There to be self-supporting. There are some are about 28 missionaries of the London 20 other mission stations-for the nomi- Missionary Society in Madagascar, 10 nal Christians-home missions. One of the Friends' Mission, 10 of the Angli- fourth of this advance work is from the can Mission, 26 of the Norwegian Lu- native missionary fund, and three therans, and about 40 priests and fourths from our mission. The whole brothers of the Roman Catholic Mission.
of this agency cost the New York Board as well as sevflral Sisters of Mercy.
last year $3741, an average of $62 a The London Missionary Society has congregation, to help the development about 950 native pastors and about 100 of the native church and home mis- evangelists or native missionaries sta- sions. Last winter nearly 100 schools tioned in various parts of the country, and over 2000 pupils were cared for at many of them in quite heathen dis- an expense to the Board of $1582.50, an tricts. There are about 350,000 Protes- average of $16 to a school, about 75 tants and about 35,000 Roman Catho- cents to a pupil. To this should be lics. Five sixths of the Malagasy are added the sums given in self-support. still pagans. Schools have been estab- A few schools are entirely self-support- lished, and education is compulsory ing, and all pay some part of the ex- wherever the influence of the central pense, except in a few very peculiar government is effective. All the mis.
cases. In a few places Moslem pupils sionary societies at work in Madagascar attend. The higher education of the col- have colleges and high schools, the lat- lege or female seminary costs the Board ter both for boys and girls, in all of a larger sum. The number of pupils which education is given ~reely, with in the united schools, male and female, but nominal charges for books, etc. Al- was 337 the year past. Of these 202 most every congregation, except the were boarding pupils. The income smallest and the weakest, has its school.
from these is almost enough to pay for The London Missionary Society has their board. The charge to the Board also an industrial school for teaching aside from missionary salaries was handicrafts. Hospitals and medical $2200, which covers expenses of teach- schools are also connected with this So- ers, buildings, rooms, and some inci- ciety, as well as with the Friends, Lu.
dentals. It is about $11 a pupil for the theran and Anglican Missions, and boarding departments." there are now a number of trained doc- tors and surgeons. It is estimated there -A large portion of the Hova and of are about 1800 schools and about 170,- the other tribes in the central districts 000 children under instruction, but it is of Madagascar have been christianized, difficult to get the statistics of the Ro- and Christianity is acknowledged and man Catholic Mission.
protected by the government. There is no state church, although the queen -The Moravian (Bethlehem, Pa.) very and principal officers of the government properly, and in excellent spirit, calls are Qonnected with the churches formed attention to certain misstatements con- by the London Missionary Society, tained in the" October" number of THE which comprises the vast majority of MIsSIONARY REVIEW, "usually so accurate," relating both to the total expen- misstatement referred to is found not diture for missions made by that body in October, but in November instead.
of Christians aD.d the amount contrib- uted by friends from outside. Now, he who would knowingly offend in that way, and thus" belittle the liberality" Monthly Bulletin. of a church which just there comes nearest to the Gospel ideal, would by -News of the death of Miss Jennie the act prove himself the chief of sin- B. Small, a missionary of the Presbyteners. The mistake is deeply regretted, rian Board of Foreign Missions, at and originated wholly from partial and Petchaburee, Siam, on June 2, has been so defective information. However, received. Miss Small taught school for Borrow is not altogether unmingled several years in Mansfield, Allegheny with joy, since the opportunity is thus County, Pa.
afforded to present the facts, which for -The Zambesi Chief Lewanika has substance, The Moravian being author- sent his eldest son Litia to Morija, in ity, are as follows; "The total cost of Basutoland, to receive Christian inour missions in 1890 was $350,475. struction. The chief has many excel- The largest proportion of this-more lent parts, and for some time has been than two thirds-was raised in the mis- on terms of friendship with M. Coilsion fields themselves, through the con- lard, of the Paris Society of Missions, tributions of the converts and also from and Litia himself is a promising young the proceeds of trades carried on in man of Christian character. certain mission-provinces for the benefit of the missions. The sum of $24,060 -The London Christian says; "The is to be credited, as THE MISSIONARY Chinese Government is now taking very REVIEW puts it, to the ' Brethren's con- vigorous steps to suppress and to pregregations,' but this is not all. The vent attacks on missionaries. We may Labrador and the Alaska accounts do therefore reasonably trust that those not pass through our General Board. who are carrying the Word of God into Labrador entailed an outlay of $9800, that distant land will be in less danger Alaska of $8400. The gifts from friends than has recently been the case. This in Britain, including therefore those of is something to thank God for not only the London Association referred to were for the sake of the missionaries, but of $26,686 ; on the Continent of Europe, the future weal of China itself."
$22,656 ; in America, $285. [Total gifts -The work among the blind in Syria from friends, $49,627.] Mite societies is full of interest. The number of blind in the various Moravian congregations seen in the East is very distressing. contributed $3430. Legacies were receiv- There are blind schools at Beirut, Daed to the amount of $23,670, and the in- mascus and Tyre. Blind Scripture come from funded legacies was $37,264. readers have the entree of Moslem homes, How much of the last two items should a privilege which blindness confers. be credited to members, and how much One of the earliest pupils in the Beirut to friends of the Moravian Church, we Blind School, after completing his are not able to say. It may be added studies in Edinburgh University, has that the entire cost of administration been ordained pastor of the Presbytewas but $16,570, and that the total of rian church of Knox, in Brussels, Onadherents is now 90,020, while the tario. home churches number less than 35,- 000." It will be noticed that a portion -The first section of the little rail- of the $350,475 is derived from the road which is to connect Jaffa with Jern- " proceeds of trades." salem has been completed, and tourists Surely, humanum est errare, and the are now able to travel by rail from Jaffa to Ramleh, about one third the dis- Glasgow, said, at the annual meeting of tance. It will not be long before pil- the London Missionary Society, that grims to the Holy Land will be whisked missionaries did not sufficiently raise in an hour from the sea to Jerusalem, the veil and tell what Hinduism is.
to the ~reat disgust of camel owners One could not speak about it and and stage proprietors_ scarcely write about it. Almost every -Some of the Indian women on the temple in India had from 30 to 200 Yakama and Puyallup reservations have priestesses engaged in vice. That was asked that women evangelists be sent how Hinduism dealt with woman. to them, and in response Mrs. E. C. Miller has been sent to Yakama, and -The Bev. Allen Hazen, formerly a Mrs. Bell to Puyallup. The doing of missionary in India, and more recently Gospel work among Indian women will a pastor in New Zealand, has returned, result in great good. If they can be at the age of sixty-eight, accompanied taught the blessedness of peace, and be by his daughter, born in India, to re_ made to know the Prince of Peace, sume, at his own charges, his old work in the Marathi Mission.
Indian wars will soon come to an end. –In an interesting paper in a recent -At the "Keswick Convention," in number of The Church of Scotland Home England, there was a missionary meet- and Foreign XtSsian Record, Rev. Dr. ing, at which many addresses were Mackinnon, of Heidelberg, calls attenmade by missionaries from many lands tion to the thoroughness with which -among others, by Mrs. Grattan Guin- German missionaries are trained for ness, representing, as she said, mission- their work. Their systematic method aries on the Congo River, Mrica, and is said to be remarkable indeed in comby Mr. Robert Wilder, who described parison with the lax preparatory trainthe great volunteer missionary move- ing in some other countries largely enment in the United States_ A very gaged in missionary effort. After satispractical issue of the Convention was factory proof of their fitness for the the fact that a multitude of gifts, vary- life, the candidates in Germany are ading in amount from a few shillings to mitted to attend the Mission House one hundreds of pounds, and reaching the evening in the week for a year. They grand total of £1814, were sent in to be are then entered upon the books of the devoted to the cause of God at home preparatory school for two years for inand abroad. struction in Latin, etc. After this they have a course of instruction of a theo- -A Japanese converted to Christ logical nature, including the study of seems at once to betake himself to the the Bible in the original tongue, and a labor of teaching the truth to his friends few sessions of medical training in the at home and at a distance, and thus is hospital. The years thus spent are use- the way prepared for the minister of ful in developing in the future mission- Christ. No wonder that, with such ary many qualities which are of the ut- preparatory service, the truth is run- most value in the mission field. The ning in that land, and being glorified. rllsult is that men are sent out who are -Mrs. L. J. Newton, in a recent ad- in every way worthy of their work, and dress to the Missionary Conference held who undertake it thoroughly equipped at Chautauqua, speaking of progress in for the master's service. the Punjab, India, said: "We have $7000 invested in our church and hos- -The American Baptist Missionary pital at Ferozepore, every cent of which Union is supporting eighteen preachers was given by native converts." in Russia. One has been exiled to Si- beria for preaching the Gospel, and an- other sent out of the country with only -The Rev. Professor Lindsay, ..··of three hours' notice. -A Misil Agnew, of New York, it is cheerfully, 'and he lived there in the said, when only eight years old gave most frugal and primitive fashion. He her heart to· mission work. She went had no notion of being too valuable in to Ceylon, and spent forty-three un- Europe to be hidden away in the almost broken years. A thousand girls passed inaccessible uplands of Asia. He was through her school. She taught the a true Moravian.
children and the grandchildren of the first generation. The natives called -King Mwanga of Uganda has proher the mother of a thousand daughters. hibited slavery in his dominions.
IShe led six hundred girls to Christ. -The Queen of Madagascar, with They became the wives of the chief 200,000 of· her subjects, is ranged on men, and were shining lights. There the side of Christianity.
are also forty Bible women in India -At Oyamada, Japan, the church of who were trained in her school. 100 members has built a church costing -A few weeks ago a leading Brahman $1300, of which they paid $900 them· in Bombay, an official in the education selves.
department, married the widowed -England proudly boasts that the daughter of another Brahman prominent sun never sets on her dominions. The in the literary world. The ceremony United States may say as much, for was attended by many Hindoos of note. when the sun sets in Alaska it is an The other Sunday a Bombay pleader hour high in Maine. convened a meeting to get sentence of expulsion pronounced upon all the -A medical missionary in China reo Shenvi Brahmans who were present at cently treated fourteen men in one day the marriage. The temple was crowded, who represented eleven of the eighteen but it is a remarkable evidence of prog- provinces of the Empire.
ress that only nine persons voted with -The four gospels have been transthe convener of the gathering. The lated into Uzbek, the language of 2,250" Shenvi is one of the most powerful 000 people in Central Asia, and pub- Brahman castes in Western India. lished by the British and Foreign Bible -The Moravians are alive to their in- Society.
dividual responsibility concerning the -Tunis is under the protection of unevangelized nations of the world, and France. It has a population of 2,000,.
they hold themse~ves in readiness to go 000, mostly Mohammedans, among out as missionaries when called upon whom drunkenness is prevalent.
to do so. This is true of the most -The work of telegraph building in scholarly and distinguished among them South Africa is pushed far ahead of rail· as well as of others. Henry Augustus road enterprise. Savage Africa will Jaeschke, late Moravian missionary in thus be joined with civilization by elec. Northern India and Thibet, besides Ger- tric wire. man was master of Polish, Danish and Swedish, and was acquainted with Eng- -The first section of the Congo raillish, Hungarian, Bohemian, Latin and way has been completed, from Matadi Greek, and, after going to the East, al. to Leopold Ravine, and construction ready knowing Sanskrit, Persian and trains are running.
Arabic, and, no doubt, Hebrew, he -The Chinese Government has fully learned Hindustani and Urdu, and compensated the missionaries in Honan lastly Thibetan. He was likewise for the injury to their property by a versed in mathematics and natural sci. mob only three months ago. ence, especially botany. He obeyed the call of his Church to go to the -The Comber family will be noted Himalayan regions unquestioningly and ,. in the martyr list of Congo Missions, having given five lives already to that -The Rev. Mr. LeWis, of England, work: Dr. Sidney Comber, Thomas J. died recently. In 1842 he went to Comber, Mrs.' Hay, Mrs. Thomas J. India, and having reduced the language Comber, and Mrs. Percy Comber. of the Khassees to writing, he devoted himself to translations, and was able Ohina.-The 32,000 native Chinese without any help but that given by his Moravian Christians gave year before wife, to translate the whole of the New last $38,000 for missionary work. Testament into Khassei. From the work which he started have developed -It is reported that, as a result of 60 churches with a membership of 7000. the great assistance given to the faminestricken people of Shantung, in 1889, -The Rev. W. F. Bainbridge tells the when over $200,000 were distributed following touching story of a Brahmin and over 100,000 lives saved, a great convert hemet in India: .. Ashe talked many have been drawn to pay special of his work and urged me to labor hard attention to Christianity as the religion in the interests of heathen evangelizawhich influences people for such deeds tion, I felt that it was not he, but Christ of kindness and mercy; and during speaking through him. Last mgnth a 1890 it is said that over a thousand per- Conconada brother wrote me of his sons were baptized whose attention was death. He had just officiated at a weddrawn' to the religion of Christ by the ding. A sudden sickness came on befact that the missionaries were so promi- fore he had signed the marriage certifinent in securing this aid and distribut- cate. 'Just your name, brother,' they ing it. Not by any means were all these said, as they put the paper unner his recipients of aid, but they saw what was hand, and the pen between his fingers_ being done for their fellow.men, and , Name? • said the dying Brahmin, compared the fruits of Christianity with , name? There is none other name the fmits ,of heathenism. given under heaven among men where- by we must be saved.' • Yes; but we -It is stated by Dr. Joseph Simms, want your own name. Quick I Write it.' who has lately returned from China, , My name? I have none other name that at least 200,000 girl babies are than the lamb's name written in my brutally killed in various ways every forehead.' And the pen moved and the year in that empire, to get them out of hand dropped, and the spirit was gone; the way. In every large city there are and they looked, and he had written asylums for tl:ie care of orphans, sup- 'Jesus.' .. ported and conducted by foreigners, who save yearly from slaughter tens of thousands of female infants.
India_-Sir Charles A. Elliott, the new -The Methodist Episcopal Church Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, speak- has three conferences in India, North ing at Simla, has added his testimony India, South India, alild Bengal. The to the value of missions as judged from statistics have recently been published the standpoint of high Indian officials. of the three combined, together with cor- .. I make bold to say," were his words, responding figures for 1870, and the " that if missions did not exist it would growth of 20 years thus shown is most be our duty to invent them." This is cheering. The figures for two decades what was said by the famous men who ago are put in parenthesis: Missionbuilt up the administration of the Pun- aries, 72 (19) ; wives, 62 (17); Hindustani jab, and who, when it was !1nnexed in missionaries, 54 (5); Zenana mission- 1849, among their first requirements, aries, 33 (2); baptisms in 1890, 7661 along with courts, and codes, and roads, (471); native communicants, 11,991 and police, wrote home to the Church (600) ; day schools, 853 (117) ; scholars, Missionary Society for a supply of mis- 25,540 (4309) ; money collected in India sionaries. in 1890,217,287 rupees (24,478).