July 1939
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1939
VOL. LXII Nos. 7-8 education to thousands of children not ne
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JULY, 1939 The "Moksa" Goes to the Country Shannon McCune When a Mission Became a Church Alexander H. Kemp Rural Youth of the Church Today H. S. Randolph Spain Today and Tomorrow By a Wayfarer Politics and Religion in Albania Phineas B. Kennedy Liberty and Religion in Red Russia F. J. Miles Forty Years' Progress in Latin America Webster E. Browning 25 Cents a CoP1 $2.50 a Yeat' electronic file created by cafis.org D.tes to Remember WORLD FRIENDSHIP --- FIRST BOOK June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- IIJUST LIKE YOU II ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, By LUCY W. PEAB
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1939
The "Moksa" Goes to the Country Shannon McCune When a Mission Became a Church Alexander H. Kemp Rural Youth of the Church Today H. S. Randolph Spain Today and Tomorrow By a Wayfarer Politics and Religion in Albania Phineas B. Kennedy Liberty and Religion in Red Russia F. J. Miles Forty Years' Progress in Latin America Webster E. Browning 25 Cents a CoP1 $2.50 a Yeat'
D.tes to Remember WORLD FRIENDSHIP — FIRST
June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- IIJUST LIKE YOU II ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, By LUCY W. PEABODY Scarsdale, N. Y. 196 pages, a picture on every page. Children love it···Libraries need it. June 28-July l7-Erieside Conference for Girls and Young Women. Wil- PEACE AND GOOD WILL DEPEND UPON IT lowick, Ohio. Special Price, $1.00, Postpaid July 3-10-Northfield Missionary Con- ference for Women and Girls. East Order from MISS M. H. LEAVIS, 186 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. Northfield, Mass. For information, address Mrs. Warren C. Taylor, 38 Obituary Notes of seventy. For thirty years he had Union Ave., Schenectady, N. Y. held administrative positions in the Mr. Russell Carter, who retired Illinois Synod and the United July 6-11 – International Christian two years ago after serving forty Lutheran Church. He retired from Endeavor Convention, Cleveland, O. years as treasurer and Assistant active service in 1936 after having Treasurer of the Presbyterian Board served as Secretary of English Mis- July ll-August 16 – Winona Lake of Foreign Missions, died in Pitts- sions of the Board of American Mis- School of Theology. Winona Lake, burgh, Pa., April 29, at the age of sions for eighteen years. Ind. Dean, Dr. J. A. Huffman, 302 72. Mr. Carter had also traveled Morton Blvd., Marion, Ind. *** • • extensively in foreign lands. July 22-28-Baptist WorId Congress. The Rev. Albert Oltmans, former Atlanta, Ga. • secretary of the American Mission to Lepers, died June 12th, at Yokohama, July 2l-30-'-Erieside Annual Summer Rev. George F. Jenkins, formerly at the age of eighty-four. Bible Conference. Willowick, near Cleveland, Ohio. a Presbyterian missionary in China, He was born in the Netherlands, and came to the United States when a July 24-August 2-World Conference died April 6, in Kansas City, Mo. In youth: He was graduated from Hope of Christian Youth, Amsterdam, 1903, Mr. Jenkins went to Hunan un- College, Holland, Mich, in 1883, and Holland. der the Cumberland Presbyterian from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1886. That year he went August 30-Sept. 2-National Rural Church; and later transferred to to Japan as a missionary for the Re- Forum. Penn State College, under the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., formed Church in America. He re- the auspices of the American Coun- stationed first at Changteh and then tired from active service as a mis- try Life Assn., Dr. Benson Y. sionary fifteen years ago and took up Landis, Executive Secretary, 297 at Taoyuan, where he established an his work as secretary of the American Fourth Ave., New York. Mission to Lepers in Tokio. Recently, • orphanage. • • the Japanese Government decorated August l-lO-Erieside Conference for Mrs. Caroline Atwater Mason, au- him for his work among lepers. Boys and Young Men. Willowick, thor of more than twenty volumes of Ohio. short stories, travel and religious Aug. SolO-Ninth Quadrennial Con- books, died recently. She was the vention of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of Af- widow of Dr. John H. Mason, a pro- Personal Items rican Methodist Episcopal Zion fessor in Rochester Theological Sem- Church, Detroit, Mich. inary.
August l3-2O-Geneva Summer School The Rt. Rev*. R*ob*ert Lewis Pad- of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. For information write to Mrs. Paul dock, retired Bishop of the Protestant Rev. William C. Kerr, of Seoul, H. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey Episcopal Church, died in Clifton, Korea, has been appointed to the fac- Ave., Oak Park, Ill. N. Y., on May 17 after a long ill- ness. He was born December 24, ulty of the Imperial University in Sept. 2-4-Erieside Business Women's Conference, Willowick, Ohio. 1869, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and was Seoul, to teach Latin and English ordained as Missionary Bishop of Literature. Because of this connec- DO YOUR S.S.PAPERS Eastern Oregon, in 1907. He retired tion he has been able to start an Eng- ~ in 1922. **• lish Bible Class among university stu- BIBLE TRUTH? Rev. William B. Millar, D.D., for- dents. **• ~~ COUNCll. ~ FIDES – For Young· People merly General Secretary of the New Dr. William Webster Hall, Jr., of York Federation of Churches, died on New York and Sofia, Bulgaria, has May 30 in New York City as a re- been called to the presidency of the sult of a stroke, at the age of 73 College of Idaho. His experience in years. Dr. Millar was born in Lake Mills, dealing with educational pioneering Wis., in 1866. After his graduation was gained in the Near East first at from Lawrence College, Appleton, Robert College, and then in the Ameri- Wis., he became a Y. M. C. A. secre- tary at LaCrosse and later was Sec- can College in Sofia. He is the retary of the International Committee author of numerous magazine articles (1896-1910). He was a founder of and books. the Army and Navy Department of *** Mr. P. O. Philip who has been for the Y. M. C. A. in which he did excel- some years Secretary of the National lent pioneer work. He was General Christian Council of India and one of Secretary of the Laymen's Missionary the Editors of the N. C. C. Review has Movement and later of the Inter- resigned as Secretary to take up work church World Movement. Dr. Mil- in connection with the Mar Thoma lar is survived by his widow and three Syrian Church whose interests have daughters and a son. always been very dear to him. His *** home will be in Travancore, South India, and he is expecting to be a reg- Dr. John F. Seibert, for nearly a ular contributor to the N. C. C. Re- half a century an active home mission view. 1502 N. Third St. Harri.bare, Pena. worker in the United Lutheran (Concluded on page 337.) Church, died April 19th at the age
MISSIONARY HOW TO EDUCAT'E
REVJEW OF THE WORLD YOUR CHILD At Home. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Calvert's wor1d~famou8 home study plan fives superior VOL. LXII Nos. 7-8 education to thousands of children not near good schools JULy-AUG., 1939 t or unable to attend school. Complete courses for each Publication and Business Office- grade from Kindergarten to High School. All books. Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. materials and teacher gl.!idance included. En- t~lUsias:ical1y endorsed by educators and parents. Editorial and Executive Office– Low cost. Vrite today for free catalog. State 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. child's age, Entered as second-class matter jt CALVERT SCHOOL, 187 E. Tnscany Rd., Bahim.re, Md. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. all the missionary societies. It can 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. do for these societies what no one of Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. them can do for itself." All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. JOHN R. MOTT, British agents – Marshall, Morgan . and Scott, 12 Paternoster' Buildings, Chairman, International London, E. C. 1 shilling per COpy, Missionary Council. 10 shillings a year. *** MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- LISHING CO., INC. "My congratulations on the splen- BOARD OF DIRECTORS did issue of THE REVIEW on home ROBERT E. SPEER, President A. L. W~RNs;auIS, Vice-President missions." (June, 1939). W ALTIllR,.' McIlouGALL, Treasurer KENNETH S. LATOURETTE, DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Professor of Missions and Or-iental History, Yale PAUL J ..; B.RAISTED· University.
S~UEL'MCCREACAVERT *** D.J. FA-NT""'" . "I have taken occasion to go through MRS. ORRIN ,R.' JUDD the latest issue of THE REVIEW and it wM.. B. LIPPHAllD has brought back to me what a very ERIC M. NORTH able and worth-while publication it SAMUEL M. ZWIilMER is; indeed it has appealed to me so Only 10 swift days direct to Yokohama when you sail by much that I am starting to subscribe Empress to the Orient. Only 3 more days to visit lovely Editorial (.hat over again. The only reason I dis- Hawaii en route by Empress oj continued my subscription was that I lapan, largest and fastest liner This July-August number includes on the Pacific, or Empress oj two summer months when many read- have so many magazines coming to Canada. From California ers are away from home and when ports connect at Honolulu. most local church activities are less. my desk that it is simply impossible The articles in this issue will be of Frequent sailings from both great interest and many are particu- even to scan them all, and in a Scotch Vancouver and Victoria to larly readable for summer mission Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, circles. spirit one day I decided .that I must Shanghai,HongKong,Manila. economize." ,. Consult YOUR OWN TRAVEL *** AGENT or Canadian Pacific: DR. GEORGE W. ARMS. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. The Foreign Missions Conference at Swarthmore, Pa., (July 9-16) comes Bedford Presbyterian Church, too late to include a report in this number. It has been unusual in set- BrookLyn, N. Y. up, in interest and importance-fol" lowing the Madras Conference and Personal Item, planning to make the most effective use of the re~ults of that 'con:l;erence. (Concluded from 2d cover.) Dr. Milton T. Stauffer, former Education Secretary of the Student Vol- Dr. Wilbert W. White has resigned unteer Movement, and Dr. Herrick from the presidency of the Biblical B. Young, Personnel Secretary of the Seminary in New York, with the title presbyterian Board, are to report and Founder and Honorary President of evaluate this Foreign Missions Con- the Seminary. His brother, Dr. J. ference in the September number of . Campbell White, will act as president THE REVIEW. Look for this report. until a successor has been secured. *** *** Recent letters have contained the following comments on THE REVIEW Mr. James Stark, Mr. M. Hardman and its value: and Miss R. E. Oaskeshott are retir- ing after fifty years of service in the "After all is said and done, THE REVIEW seems indispensable, although China Inland Mission. I know of no otbers of this mission who subscribe for it. But I want it Mr. E. K. ** * a misand that's the reason for this check. I've been a patron for more than Higdon, formerly thirty years, with some time carelessly skipped." sionary in the Philippines under the REV. JOHN C. FINEFROCK, United Christian Missionary Society, United Lutheran Church Mis- has been elected to a foreign secre- sion, .Guntur, .India. taryship in that Society.
*** The Rev. * *R. * Associ- "THE REVIEW exists primarily to Jesse Wilson, further in every way the program of ate Scretary of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society connected with the Home Department, has been transferred from the Pacific Coast office at Los Angeles and is now in the same department in the main of- fice, New York. Dr. Wilson was for- merly a missionary in Japan and later the general secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement.
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"MOKSA" (DR. WM. N. BLAIR) REMOVING HIS SHOE COVERS ON LEAVING THE CHURCH. (THE MEN USE ONE
AND WOMEN THE OTHER) INTERIOR OF THE CHU)'tCH AND AUDIENCE-(TWO JAPANESE DETECTIVES IN THE CENTER FOREGROUND) GDiNG TO CHURCH IN KAICHUN, 'CHOSEN
NARY
REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS VOLUME LXII JULY-AUGUST,1939 NUMBERS 7 AND 8 Topies of the Times ARE FORCIBLE CONVERSIONS POSSIBLE? only by a long process of training after a conquest. The Soviet rulers of Russia are attempting to con- At times the objection is raised that Christian vert the people to atheism by force; they are not missions attempt to bring about the conversion of succeeding and can only succeed by a long procmen by bribery or force. It is possible by such ess of atheistic education. In Nazi Germany, means to change a man's vote but not his convic- propaganda, national ambition and false teaching, tions. are being used to overthrow faith in the supreme authority of God as revealed in Christ and the Many means are used to turn men from one Bible. There are multitudes of German Chrisfaith and loyalty to another-military force, tians whom these motives do not sway. money, threats, promises, falsehood and ambition. Mahatma Gandhi has tried, with some temporary How long will it take Japan, by the use of success, to force Indian people by his fasting to bombs, machine guns and terrorism to win the accept his program. His most recent self-im- friendship and cooperation of the Chinese? Only posed fast to convert Thakore Sahib of Rajkot, unworthy men succumb to unworthy motives. apparently gained his point; he now says that it resulted in his defeat. Gandhi's opponents were Intelligent Christians realize that men and not convinced and their purpose was not changed, women cannot be truly won to Christ by bribery, therefore they plan to destroy the effect of the fear or force. One might as well attempt to cause a child to be loving and obedient by continued decision in Gandhi's favor. spankings, by threats or by gifts of candy. Men The transmutation of metals, or the conversion are led to consider the claims and character of of one substance into another of apparently en- Christ by the offer of economic advantages such tirely different elements, was formerly considered as provided by the Grenfell Mission, by medical an idle dream. Today such marvellous changes service like that of Dr. Schweitzer's hospital in are conceded! to be in the realm of science. The Africa, or by such secular education as is offered changes wrought in human nature by the power of in many mission schools and colleges. These God are still more wonderful. This has been methods of work may affect their attitude but proved in countless instances, as in the conversion affect no real change of heart. Jesus Christ, when of Jerry McAuley, the "River Thief" of New York, on earth, won men by the revelation of His heart and of Africaner, the "Hottentot Terror" of of love, by the truth that He taught, and by the South Africa. light of Life that shone out through Him. His The transmutation of metals has not been ac- denunciations of selfishness and sin were for hypocomplished by a wizard's alchemy but by the crits; His invitations to come to Him were for knowledge of natural forces and by scientific proc- the hungry and thirsty; His service and sacrifice esses. The transformation of human beings from were for the needy and dying; His- revelation of the natural and beastly to the spiritual and God- God was for those who we:te ready to receive and like is a fact established to the satisfaction of all follow Him. who have seen such changes. This change cannot There is abundant testimony that today, on the be affected by force or by bribery. The Mohammedans have used force and fear to convert whole mission fields at home and abroad, the most efnations to Islam but their end has been achieved fective work in winning men to Christ is not by means of the denunciation of other religions, or [ 339 ]
by the preaching of "hell-fire"; or by the free The result was that Christianity seemed a "fordistribution of "loaves and fishes." Men and eign cult," not well adapted to the peoples to women of all ages and races are won through lov- whom the missionaries came with the universal ing service, by the proclamation of the Good News message of Christ. of forgiveness and life through Christ, and through the manifestation of sacrificial and under- At the recent Madras Conference, Miss Minnie standing love. Other and unworthy methods may Soga, a Bantu woman from South Africa, declared temporarily add to the number of adherents but that to her people Christianity, with its foreign do not change hearts or make loyal followers. clothes, European churches and ceremonies, for- The transmutation of material substances is eign words and unfamiliar songs, was distinctly wrought by understanding and applying the laws a "white man's" religion. Many thought that if of nature, which are the laws of God. "To as they adopted the white man's clothes and manmany as received him (Christ) gave He the ner of life they would no longer be "heathen." But right to be called (recognized as) the children of Africans did not feel at home in European sur- God-who were born, not of blood, nor of the roundings. When they worshiped in a church with will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of a native thatched roof, an unhewn stone for an God." altar or pulpit, and sitting on the ground; or when they worshipped under the trees with the ESSENTIALS IN MISSION WORK vaulted sky for a roof, then they felt at home.
A young doctor, who had recently been gradu- Christians from other lands pointed out the ated from a modern school of medicine and sur- same need for using native ideas and surroundings gery, was sent as a medical missionary to China to make the peoples of each land and race feel at and became a member of the staff of a large and home in their Christian life and worship. efficient hospital. One of the first things he did was to direct one of the Chinese orderlies to throw Many young missionaries today, going out to out a lot of tin pans and other ancient equipment foreign lands with all the enthusiasm of youth and so that they might be replaced by enamel ware with the equipment of the most modern education, and modern implements. Some of the older mem- are demanding better facilities and more money bers of the staff retrieved the discarded utensils. in order that they may give to the "under privi- leged" of those lands, "the best that America and In contrast to this young doctor's attitude are Europe have to offer"-medically, economically, the reports. of Dr. Gordon S. Seagrave of Burma socially, educationally and religiously. From some in his "Tales of a Waste Basket Surgeon." He quarters there is a constant call for more modern has achieved wonderful results ·by using instru- buildings, better equipment, more automobiles, ments and equipment discarded as out-of-date by fast motor boats, radios, airplanes, together with doctors in America. more highly technically trained teachers and spe- cialists. An article recently appeared in Asia, written by an American college man who went to India to On the other hand missionary history shows that investigate the effectiveness of American and some workers have made the mistake of attempt- British educational methods and ideals as applied ing to adopt native dress, food, and living condito the Hindus. From intelligent Indian graduates tions to which they were not born or adapted. of some of the modern institutions he learned that Some valuable and consecrated men and women many of the best trained Indians consider "West- have died prematurely, or have been invalided ern" ideals and methods to be unadapted to In- home, because of such mistakes. Others have redia's needs. ' Foreign colleges are too highly or- fused to use modern methods, inventions and ganized and regimented. They turn out largely equipment which might have added greatly to "white collar" clerks who find few openings for their efficiency. service in Indian society. The educated Indian critics believe that if the "ashram" method had What are the essentials, as distinguished from been followed, with capable teachers who would non-essentials, for effective Christian life and train students in practical ways for Indian life, service? Jesus Christ came to earth as a "foreign the results would have been far better. missionary." He adopted the Palestinian mode of dress and manner 'of life-so far as these were Other critics of Christian missions in Asia, wholesome; but Jesus was born into that life; He Africa and the Pacific Islands, point out many never refused to use the best that Judea and Galmistakes made by early missionaries who intro- ilee offered to make His ministry more efficient. duced European and American dress to replace native costumes-or the lack of them; setting Is it not clear that non-essentials in Christian foreign styles for church buildings, houses and an life and service include special kinds of clothalien manner of life copied from their home lands. ing, (little or much) ; particular architecture for houses or churches; a special language or music; a type of equipment, peculiar ceremonials in wor-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
ship; a particular form of organization and spe- on their knees to confess sin and pray for forcial educational methods-these are clearly non- giveness. Dr. Sung's meetings were crowded and essentials. God can use any of these that are many came forward to accept Christ. The "Witimpregnated with His spirit and are wholly sur- ness Bands" with two hundred men, women and rendered to His control. Personnel is vastly more youth, were busy speaking of Christ to outstations important than equipment. An efficient doctor or and neighbors. There is great rejoicing over the surgeon is one who knows his science and can spiritual fruitage of this work and over churches use his equipment efficiently; a successful teacher that have been awakened and strengthened. Biis one who knows his subject and how to present ble reading and prayer have increased as well as it effectively; a successful ambassador of Christ personal witnessing of Christ and His power. is one who knows and loves God as He is revealed lives have been set right; quarrels have been setin Christ and the Bible and who lives a Christ-life tled, debts have been paid, pastors have been set among men. on fire with new zeal for winning people to Christ. In one church some members of the congregation Es-sentials for the missionary, or for any Chris- stood up and said to the pastor : "You are not the tian life and service are therefore: first, life in man you were before the evangelist came-you Christ-a life that comes from God, is God-filled preach better sermons than formerly." The pasand God-directed. The second essential is the tor himself admits the great change. Whereas he purpose and power to lift up Christ as the Saviour, used to consult with the missionary concerning who lived and died for sinful men; who rose again, those cold and indifferent, now he weeps over them and is ever living in and with His people in every and prays for them. Sunday afternoon after he land. The third essential is ability to teach the has taught a Bible class, preached a children's Bible as the revealed Word of God; the Spirit of sermon to the Junior Church and a mess·age to the God can be trusted to interpret and adapt the adult members, he takes any who care to go with ideals and truth of God to meet the needs of each him to hold a street meeting. In the evening he race and clime and condition. It has often been takes his part in the special meeting of the "Witfound that the earnest native Christians of a com- ness Bands." munity are much more reliable guides in applying Christian truth to local problems than are the This new spirit in the Chinese Church was foreign missionaries-even those of holy charac- further strengthened during March, through the ter and long experience. visit of Wilson Wong, of the Christian and Mis- sionary Alliance, when the Christians feasted upon Do we not often make the mistake of clinging the Word of God, and at the evening meetings to old ideas and prejudices when new methods brought unsaved friends to hear the message. might be better or of thinking that modern untried More than forty took their stand for Christ durideas and equipment must necessarily replace the ing those evening sessions. old? The first essential is always life-spiritual life; the second is proper food-soul food found in God used both men and both methods to save God's revealed truth; the third essential for souls and inspire soul-winning service in the strength is exercise-loving spiritual service, using whatever equipment we have that will help hearts of the Chinese Christians.* produce abiding spiritual results. It would be well for every Christian to check up in order to Rev. Sook Pongsanoi, a Siamese pastor in discover how many lessons we have learned Trang, Siam, writes of his interesting experience through a period of years, that have helped to that changed him from a Bible-selling colporteur make us and our children more Christlike and more effective servants of God. into a soul-winning evangelist. He says: t NEW LIFE IN THE CHURCH IN SIAM "As a student in the Bangkok Christian Col- lege and later, when acting pastor of the Second As a result of God's blessing on the work of Church of Bangkok, I sold and distributed many John Sung, the Chinese evangelist, in Siam last Scripture portions and Testaments without makautumn, a new spirit has been manifested in the ing reports to the Bible Society. I went into many Chinese Church in Siam. The work was formerly homes and walked in and out of many lanes with carried on in three dialects and three denomina- the Scriptures, but did not feel any real need of tions; now unity and cooperation have taken the reporting on sales. place of division. There is also a new zeal in evangelism and new signs of Christian faith and life. "When I went to work for the Bible Society as People are saved; lives are quickened; the spirit a regular colporteur I had to report every month and power of Christ are manifest in hearts, homes and wanted to give a wonderful report to the head and churches. Entire congregations have fallen office.
"But I was nQt satisfied with the work I was do- ing, and was not happy in it. I sold more than • Facts quoted from Rev. A. G. Seigle of Slam.
t Reprint from the Forty-Eighth Annual Report of the Siam and Laos Agency of the American Bible Society.
any other colporteur in Bangkok, but I felt that ent situation assure us that religion-and particumy work was shallow. I was just selling the larly evangelical Christianity-is not dead in Rus- Book without giving purchasers any message con- sia. The expression of it may have changed and cerning the Saviour of the book. I knew that I been driven to cover, but the hunger of the huought to do something more than simply sell God's man heart for God has not been satisfied and the Book, but I went on day in and day out like a vital spark of men and women who have received machine. life from Christ has not been quenched.
"A year and a half ago I was called to become A Soviet Government census has recently shown pastor of the Trang Church, South Siam, and I (according to The Sentinel) that two-thirds of the accepted the call, but with the agreement that I 80,000,000 Russian people living in villages and should continue part time work as a colporteur. one-third of the 40,000,000 people living in larger My work had very little power, but there was a towns are stilI definitely believers in God, in spite growing desire for a clearer understanding of the of the twenty years of pressure and persecution Holy Word for myself so that I could pass it on to to suppress all' religious faith. others. The Soviet authorities have been disturbed by "When I heard that John Sung, a noted Chinese the revelations of the census and have sought to evangelist, was coming to Bangkok I determined suppress the facts. A German writer states that to go and hear him. Thank God, God opened my there are today 30,000 organized Christian groups eyes to see His wonderful love in a new way. A in the Soviet Republics, in addition to many secret powerful meaning of the Cross has come to me societies. Faith in God and a desire for some and I came to have a new attitude toward Bible relation to Him-even in the form of unenlightstudy. ened religion-will not die.
"I invited Dr. Sung to come to Trang and Many factors that have been supposed to support through him God has poured out a mighty bless- religious institutions-capitalism, private proping upon the people of this city. The Trang erty, wealth, and an independent clergy-have Church is now on fire for God and has been packed lost influence, but the roots of religion still rewith people every Sunday since Dr. Sung went main. The younger generation, declares the away. Every church member brings his Testa- Deutsche Landshau, that does not remember the ment to every service and we read the Scriptures regime of the Czars, is less prej udiced against together. Every Sunday I read a chapter from the religion. Many Russian congregations are said to Old Testament, and then the congregation reads a be made up largely of people under thirty years chapter of the New Testament with me. (I wish of age. Ministers are ordained secretly, have no all the people could have a complete Bible, but it definite parishes, and travel about unrecognized will be a long time before that can come true.) by the enemies of religion, but known to Believers. We are feeding on the Word of God as never be- Many of the clergy are artisans or small trades fore. and last Sunday sixteen women and five men people, and gather groups of Believers in unfrewere baptized and twenty baptized children pro- quented woods and ravines. Piety is nourished fessed their faith in Jesus Christ and all united in the hearts of the people who are encouraged to with the church; two back-sliders also came and memorize Scripture, songs and prayers. It takes confessed their sins. One of the old missionaries courage to join such groups, as was true in the said }i.e had never seen anything like that ingath- early days of Christianity, but persecution enering before. dured helps to strengthen rather than to weaken faith in God. The truth of Christ's promise is "Now I have an entirely new attitude toward proved today, as to the Church founded by Him Scripture distribution. At first I did not think and characterized by living faith in Him: "The it necessary to make any report to the American gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Bible Society; then I came to look on the report as the major part of my work; no'W I am seeking PROVERBS OF THE HILL FOLK OF INDIA to win souls through the careful and prayerful distribution of thi.<; Holy Book. I am not now A small stick hides the mountain from the eye. most interested in the ntlmber of Scriptures sold, One says, "What shall I eat?" Another says, but in the number of men and women and boys "What sauce shall I eat with my food?" and girls brought to accept Christ." Sparrows are the headmen of deserted villages. A potful of rice is judged by one grain. CHRISTIANITY NOT DEAD IN RUSSIA Men say that time passes. Time says that men pass. In spite of the continued atheistic propaganda A good man finds the world good. in Soviet Russia, as promoted by communistic officials, by means of ridicule, education, persecu- -The Indian Witness. tion and materialism, those familiar with the pres-
"MOKSA" PUTTING ON HIS SHOES, PREPARING TO LEAVE THE HOME OF A KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN
The "Moksa" Goes to the Country Adventures on a Week-end Journey in Chosen By SHANNON McCUNE, Clark University, Wor- * cester, Massachusetts He OME out to the country with me for the thankful ever since, for it gave me a chance to see week-end." It was my father-in-law, Dr. the country work of a missionary in Korea at William N. Blair of Pyengyang, who was first hand. It was not any special trip but the ordi- speaking. I had just returned from a two weeks nary, regular week-end trip of a foreign Moksa, reconnaisance trip through northern Korea and or itinerating missionary. confess that the prospect of starting out right away, even for a short trip, was not very inviting. Mother made ready the bedding for us; Edith, But after some hesitancy, I agreed, and have been my wife, finished the batch of fudge so that we could take some along. I loaded my camera, while • Sha nnon McCune, the son of Dr. and Mrs. George S. McCune, Father Blair put gasoline in the car and checked was born in Korea. He Is a graduate of Wooster CoIlege, Ohio the oil. The car needed careful going over for it (1935) , Syracuse University (1937) and did graduate work at Clark has been in constant service since it was bought on University (1937-38) where he is Willia m Libby Fellow in the furlough five years before. School of Geography. His father was formerly president of the Union Christian College, Pyengyang, Cbosen. His father-In-law, Dr. At three o'clock in the afternoon, on a Saturday William N. Blair, of Pyengya ng, has given most of his time to last November, we started off to the north-Ieavevangelistic work, la rgely in the country districts. The photographs used to Illustrate this article were taken by Shannon McCune on the journey described.-EDIToR.
[ 343 ]
ing our wives at home in Pyengyang. The road presidency of the Union Christian College and was very familiar to Father Blair for he had been told stories of his evangelistic campaigns. There traveling it for almost four decades on foot, by was some reference to the Shrine question (which pony, in oxcart, and by almost every conveyance is such a serious problem in the Japanese Empire imaginable. We were going to the center of his today), but there was no discussion of it for the Korean leaders appreciate the position taken by the missionary body.
After a night's sleep we woke to a fine fall day with light cumulus clouds in the sky. The usual Korean breakfast of rice and soup are scarcely to the Occidental's liking, so Father pulled ou't his little alcohol lamp and proceeded to prepare a real American breakfast of bacon, eggs and coffee.
During the morning I had an opportunity to look around the elder's home, while Father was at Sunday school. It was typical of the better class Christian home and was heated by the regular Korean system of an ondol, the draft going' under the floor from the kitchen stove to the chimney on the other side of the house. The floors and 'walls were made of mud, well-packed on a corn-stalk frame. The outside walls were white with lime . and the inside walls and the floors were papered.
The roof was of slate, warmer, cleaner and longer- GOING ACROSS THE RIVER ON A FERRY lasting than the usual Korean thatch, though more expensive in initial cost. The elder had utilized beloved Anju district of which he has been the the hills back of his home-not for the usual grave sole missionary M oksa ever since he came to Korea sites-but for an apple orchard and the samples as a young man of twenty-five, fresh from semi- we had for breakfast were delicious. He had pre- nary, thirty-seven years ago.
It was not easy driving, for the roads, built pri- marily for army and other trucks, are continually obstructed by large jagged rocks. With rubber.
like gold in a war economy, our tires were Dr.
Blair's first concern. It was necessary to ferry :,lcross the Tatong River twice on small flat-boats just wide enough for the car. Everyone, from the farmer with the top-knot on his head to the J apa- nese gold prospector, offered advice. But Father has guided the car up over the two narrow planks on to many a ferry and so we crossed without much trouble in the growing dusk. We drove along the river for a number of miles and saw boats going down to Pyengyang piled high with firewood or earthen jars.
After a four-hour drive we came into Kae Chy- on where we were welcomed by the pastor of the local church and were taken to a Christian elder's home to stay. In a few minutes the car was un- loaded and soon we were warming our stocking feet on the warm Korean floor. After a bowl of CROSSING STREAM BY FOOT-BRID GJ<:: . DR. BLAIR (IN u-dong (soup) we talked with the pastor, the FRONT), BEHIND HIM A KOREAN DEACON. elders, and others of the church who dropped in to call. This was a valuable opportunity to renew pared a cellar to store the apples, under a shed old friendships with the Korean leaders. I met a where he kept his firewood and rice. In front of number of people who remembered my own father the house was a little garden for cabbages. These (Dr. George S. McCune) and were sorry to hear had been pulled up and stacked by the well to be of his retirement. They recalled his years in the used in making kimchi, or pickle. Tethered under
THE "MOKSA" GOES TO THE COUNTRY
the apple trees were two goats and across the the Church the platform was arranged to make little garden was the pig pen with a fat sow and room for a large sheet of paper which Father her grunting litter. Chickens were pecking Blair would use for his chalk-talk. The church around in the garden and the yard-doubtless filled rapidly, the women sitting on the floor to the missing their companion which was boiling in the right and the men on the left, so that by the time big kettle in the kitchen. The elder was naturally the service started there was not much room left. quite proud of his establishment, which made him Other similar Presbyterian services were taking remarkably self-sufficient. He told me of the help he had received from his subscription to The THE "MOKSA" AND KOREAN ELDER ENJOY SUNDAY DINNER Farmer's Life, a magazine founded by Father (In former days everyone had his individual table, Men still eat McCune and now edited by Mr. Lutz of Pyengyang. The house and little yard n their cleanliness apart from the women,) and convenient arrangement showed that the elder place all around the world, with only a few difhad received from the missionaries not only spirit- ferences. Here the congregation took a big part ual help but also an incentive to improve his ma- in whole-hearted singing and an elder gave the terial surroundings. Sabbath prayer. Everyone listened attentively to the sermon which the Moksa gave. Two Japa- At about twelve we had dinner, a little better nese detectives sitting in front of me took copious than usual in honor of the M oksa. It was a treat notes. (Korea is far from being a free country, for me to be able to sit on the floor and really make especially for a foreigner.) But the preacher my chopsticks click on the good things that the could have the satisfaction of knowing that his elder's wife had prepared. I had been wary of sermon spread beyond the two hundred people in Korean food in my travels around the country the church auditorium. but the clean kitchen was an evidence that I had no need to be afraid of contracting any disease As soon as the church service was ended Father here. With all my appetite, I couldn't hold a candle, Blair put on his shoes and went to the parked car. or should I say a chopstick, to Father Blair as he The canvas cover was taken off in a hurry and off polished off his bowl of chicken soup and heaping we started for a ten-mile ride to a little town to dish of rice. The side dishes of different kinds of the south-west of Kae-Chyon. Here we left the car, meat, fish, and eggs cut up in small pieces, were again shrouded in its canvas cover, and went on also very good but I reveled in the kimchi, the foot. It was a beautiful hour's walk through the pickle which is an essential part of every Korean Korean countryside on this fine autumn day. We meal. It is full of red pepper which burned the had to cross over streams on little foot bridges inside of my mouth, and had a tang, from having and had fine views of lone pine trees towering been in an earthen jar buried in the yard for over above little villages clustered under the brows of a year. The pepper· brought tears to my eyes, the hills. We fell in with a fellow traveler and not only because of its sharpness but because I soon struck up a conversation. When a nail came thought back on my seven long kimchi-less years through the heel of Father's shoe, they squatted in America. down together to fix it with a rock. This road, too, was very familiar to the Moksa and he enjoyed The bell at the church had been ringing all telling about the days when as a young man he morning at intervals for the different divisions of developed this territory. He pointed out the rocks the Sunday school but it pealed for a longer time for church at one o'clock. The elder, in typical Korean style, commented on the glad note it sounded this day because the Moksa was to preach. Rising from the floor and going out on the veranda where we put on our shoes we went off to church. It was the third successive building erected on this site during the last twenty years. Each one bigger than the last and now the congregation was making plans for a new addition. The building, with its tile roof and red brick walls, trimmed with white shutters and doors, made a pretty picture, especially to the Korean eye.
With my camera I took some shots of the men dressed in their white robes going in one door, women, with babies on their backs, going in the other; some "kids" stayed outside to play. Next door was the manse-a modern Korean home with' a tin roof and very clean in appearance. Inside
on which the pigeons used to roost and the hill- out, (or rather "pried" out), and once again the sides which formerly were thick with pheasant. rooms were packed, this time by the adults of the He sighed for: the days whe.n he had a gun and, village. Outside were others, who were too shy not being bound in by red tape, could bring home to come in, making a group of about eighty. Faa brace of ducks or perhaps a deer. The greatest ther spoke this time on some of the basic beliefs pleasure of the trip for him, however, was to talk of Christianity and what they meant in the way of with our companionaboutthe story of Jesus. Much a changed life. At the end of his talk he asked all of my Korean is forgotten but the simple story who wished to make a definite stand for such a change in their lives to raise their hands. Eight torwas beautiful to hear. It fell on "fertile ground," people raised their hands, some having been pre- the gentleman w~s deeply moved. pared for such a stand by the elder and the dea- "At about four o'clock we came into the little vil- con. They only needed the incentive of the Mokla.ge of Kul Chang Kori, or Rock Village Market- sa's coming to ~ake their stand definitely. Our pla.ce. The church had been started many years fellow traveler of the road came up at the close of ago' but had had its ups and downs. Father Blair the service and said that he wanted to change his had not been able to get into this isolated valley for life also, but wished to study more before he came over four years, so that his arrival was a real event to a decision. for the church and also for the village. The little church, situated on the edge of the village, had Shortly after the service we left the town to been repapered arid looked fresh 'and clean. Fa- walk back to the car. A number of the church ther walked around the village of a hundred people, in accordance with Korean custom, walked homes, talked with 11. group of threshers working to the top of the first pass with us. A full moon on the village threshing fioor, and invited them to had come up and the sight of the village, nestled come to the meeting,At night. He also called on on the 'edge of the hill with wisps of smoke spiralsome of the non-believers and interviewed some ling up from the evening fires, is a treasured young men who were interested. At :(lve we went memory. We said our goodbyes and walked tQ",the local elder's home, a typical two-roomed through the beautiful landscape in the crisp au- &untry house with the newly-threshed rice tumn air. We could not but think back on the stacked in bags under the eaves of the thatched eight who had decided definitely to seek a change roof. The cow was in the adjoining shed. Rude in their lives. We wondered if they would be able and poor as it was there was a spirit of welcome to stand fast amid the every day life of the village arid warmth that must have impressed the neigh- and in the strenuous times through which their bors among whom the elder and his wife lived. country was passing. Father commented on how There was no pastor in this village but the faith- typical was the reaction of our fellow traveler who, though sincerely moved, yet was so bound ful elder with a young deacon had kept the lit- by tradition and custom that he could not bring himself to a complete change of faith and life so tle church alive. quickly. There we had supper of chicken and rice and Soon we were back in the car driving to Kae kimchi, all specially prepared for the visitors. Chyon to spend the night in the elder's home. We Again, it was interesting to be introduced as a were up early in the morning in order to be back son of my father, Dr. McCune. It warmed my for an afternoon meeting in Pyengyang. We took heart to hear the old village headman, a non- a different route home and passed through another Christian, say, "The name of Yun Moksa is on section of Father's field with a church in every large town and groups in many of the villages. the hearts of all Koreans." He pointed out the church he had gone to the Sun- At six o'clock the little bell was rung for the day before and the church that he and Mother were to visit the next week. I was impressed by the children's service. The little church, with one fact that this trip we had taken, though extraor- room' about 12 feet by 2'4 and another room in the dinary to me, probably seemed just the usual rear reserved for the women about 8 by 12 feet, thing for him or for any of the evangelistic mis- Was soon jammed with children of all sizes and sionaries scattered throughout Korea. Even Fa- descriptions. There were about sixty, and all ther was sorry to have to rush back to Pyengyang clamoring to be up in the front. The young deacon so quickly but his city responsibilities called him. 'soon had them splitting their throats, singing He wished for time to visit others of his fifty or "Jesus ,Loves Me," while Father tacked some more country churches that have been passing drawing'paper on the wall. In a few minutes all through such difficult times and need the strength- were shouting the answers to his question in ap- ening and encouragement which a visit by the proved Korean fashion, as he told and illustrated Moksa would bring to them. the story of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Many of the older people had come and the rooms kept' getting more and more crowded. When the children's service was over, they were ushered
a Mission becomes a
By ALEXANDER H. KEMP, M. D., Angola, Africa Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church W HAT is the supreme purpose of Christian 600 church members; today there are over 5000. missions? Is it not to win people to Christ Then we scarcely dreamed of a self-supporting and to gather these disciples into churches native church; today we have 20 outstations which that will become self-supporting, self-extending, receive no subsidy from the mission. The mediand self-governing through the leadership and cal and educational work at Quessua now receive power of the Holy Spirit? In Angola, West Afri- a large amount of financial support from African ca, after fifty years of mission work many circum- sources. stances show that we should take a big step forward towards achieving the second part of our In the early days there was great rejoicing purpose. It is one thing to found a mission; it is when some of the first converts were deemed quite another thing to establish Christianity in a ready to be sent forth as evangelists and village foreign soil so that the Church will grow and de- pastors, and the missionaries were glad to provide velop and bear fruit. these men with houses and salaries from mission funds. The fact that a chief would allow Chris- The past half century of missionary work in tian work to be started in his village was consid- Angola has cost the Church at home not far from a ered a victory for the Kingdom of God. Realizing half million dollars. During the first twenty years that these first native workers were poorly prenearly thirty of the missionaries laid down their pared for their tasks, the missionaries directed lives on the field. The visible results are seen in their energies. towards the training of more effec- three mission stations, sixty native-manned sta- tive men. This meant mission schools. Every boy tions, five thousand church members and an equal who could qualify educationally, spiritually and number of adherents, and a hundred African morally, was assured of an appointment and a Christian workers-pastors, teachers or evange- salary from American funds. The supply of suitlists under appointment of the church leaders. able young men has never equaled the demand. One of our stations, Quiongua, which has had The desirability, as well as necessity, of instituting missionaries for fifty years has been closed be- a system of self-support for outstation work led cause of a shortage of workers, and there is only to an effort to have the older outstations assume one missionary couple at Luanda, the capital of responsibility for the support of their own pasthe colony. This couple cares for a school with tors. About 20 outstations are now doing this. 250 pupils, a church with an average Sunday afternoon congregation of 1200, and 20 outstations Today the situation in Angola is markedly difin the district. At Malange, 270 miles inland at ferent. Decreasing income from America has the railhead, there is one missionary doing pas- made it impossible to continue the present force toral work and translating. At Quessua, 8 miles of native workers on a salary basis, and an infrom Malange, is situated a central training insti- creasing number will each year be ready to enter tute with a school of 200 boys, a Bible School of the Lord's work. At the same time there are 15 pupils, besides industrial, agricultural and med- several large areas in which, until now, a Chrisical work, directed by a single woman missionary tian worker would not have been accepted, but and one married couple. One male missionary from which requests are now coming. In the superintends the Malange District with its 40 out- Malange District there is a large force of native stations, and four women missionaries conduct workers to whom customary salaries cannot be a school with 250 girls. paid from mission funds; there are opportunities to open new work in unevangelized areas, and When the writer arrived in Luanda in 1923 the there is a constantly increasing number of new re- Methodist Episcopal Board had three times as cruits available from the Mission Institute. many missionaries in Angola as now, and more than double the present annual work budget was A call was issued for a conference and seventy provided from American funds. Then we had a African workers were present. After reviewing score of native workers; today we have a hundred the work of the mission during its first half-cenmuch better trained workers. Then we had some tury, I took the men into complete confidence and laid before them a summary of the receipts, dis- [347 ]
bursements and balances of the district funds for Two vital attainments to be achieved in transeach of the past five years. Summing up the sal- forming a mission into a native church lie in aries of several classes of workers I showed that workers' willingness to receive their remuneration it would take 4,000 angolares ($80.00) per month from the people rather than from the mission. to pay all of them, whereas we had on hand enough The village churches must also be ready to proto pay 25% of this from American funds. The vide their workers with remuneration commensuother 75% would have to come from local church- rate with the service rendered. es, from other remunerative labor, or from their gardens. Each quarter less money would come One fundamental question which must be defrom America for them, so that the time seemed cided concern the form which the ministry is to to have come when the native church must as- take. Is it to be a strictly professional ministry sume a much greater share of the responsibility in which the pastor spends all of his time in Chrisfor the support of its own ministry. tian work and receives his entire support from his people, or is it to be a ministry in which the Is Foreign Money Inexhaustible? pastor, trained at the mission, earns all of his sustenance from his gardens or from a trade, For many years our native workers seem to donating his ministerial labors to the village? have had the impression that there was an inex- Shall the ministry be supported in part by the peohaustible supply of American money in the mis- ple and in part from the pastors' own labors? The sion, and that the share each received depended latter seems to be the only feasible plan for the upon the plea he put up to secure it. To help present, at least, and will probably be the final them realize that every angolare I paid out for solution. An understanding of native customs such general expenses as the conference in which is necessary in determining the question. we were sitting, must be deducted from the amount available for salaries, I deducted the The African Ministry travel expenses of men, the cost of rations during the conference, the cost of sending a boy 150 miles In many instances native pastors spend little into the interior to advise the men of the confer- more time in their routine church work than their ence, and other expenses. Thus many of them for people spend listening to them. The African is a the first time came to the realization that there natural orator, such as no other race claims to be, actually was a limit to mission funds. I endeavored so that he requires less preparation for public to make them see that I was doing my utmost to discourses than one would estimate. Even the best secure for them an adequate subsistence, but I of our African preachers have very few books, or told them that in my judgment there would have other literature; a Bible, hymnal and Sunday to be developed a local rather than foreign source school quarterly being the extent of many a pasfor this subsistence. The word "salary" was re- tor's library. They do little pastoral work, such as placed by the word "assistance." From now on is done in America, but they spend many a day they must consider themselves as supported by listening to disputes, settling differences, and givtheir respective churches rather than by the mis- ing judgment on questions., being in reality an sion, and that if they proved themselves faithful unofficial justice of the peace. A teacher must and loving servants, they would be sufficiently sup- spend about three hours daily in the classroom plied with this world's goods to enable them to and practically every native worker should spend continue to break the Bread of Life to their peo- half of his time in his gardens, as do most of ple. his parishioners. As in all African families, the wife spends from sunrise until one o'clock in her Late in the afternoon, after having been given garden. Even when the man of the home is upon their "assistance," the workers left to return to a salary basis, cash never goes for common foods, their stations, determined to preach the Gospel but is used for taxes, clothes, and trinkets. Even to the utmost of their ability, regardless of the re- a new house costs nothing for floors, walls or roofmuneration they might receive from the mission. ing, all being obtained locally free of cost, the win- dows and doors, table and bed and chairs being We have now agreed that all villages near Mal- the only things requiring a monetary outlay. Land ange that request a worker must provide a house, is free, and if the worker has been taught a trade church, gardens, and some cash salary before the at the mission, he can usually earn some money by worker is sent. For villages among unevangelized simple carpentry, sandals, tailoring, and making peoples, it will be necessary for the mission to forged articles. provide for a small salary for the worker for the first two years, or until the worker's garden be- To get a native worker to accept his remuneragins to produce. This plan must be carefully safe- tion from his church instead of from the mission guarded, however, both the worker and his peo- presents many difficulties-and many opportuniple being made to realize that financial assistance ties. Every boy who passes the government exfrom the mission is very temporary. amination expects a "white-collar job," just as
WHEN A MISSION BECOMES A CHURCH
his wife who had been trained in the girls' school rial returns alone, the finest investment any village here expects to be excused from field work. Un- here could possibly make lies in providing for the til now these expectations have been largely real- Christian message in their midst. Africans are ized, made possible by the salaries paid by the mis- poor in this worlds goods, far too poor in fact to sion. Incidently, one-half of the problem of a continue their present expensive beliefs and reself-supporting church is the wife of the worker. ligious customs. Heathen in their hunger bow It is not reasonable to expect villages to support down to wood and stone-seeking an explanation their Christian leader as liberally as he has been for their experience, a search which every human supported by the mission. A native worker must heart has made in vain, until Christ has been partake liberally of the humility of our Master to found. When He has been found and His freedom make him willing to accept support from his local entered into, then our people will be able to secure church organization, and be responsible to that material as well as s.piritual rewards. church for the faithfulness and lovableness of his ministrations. The present situation makes it imperative that we take a big step forward toward establishing a What Can the People Pay? self-supporting Christian church here. Workers present at our recent conference accepted their On the other side, the village churches, after reduced income from the mission in a spirit that having considered for many years that they were warmed our hearts, especially when we saw how doing the mission a favor in allowing a Christian determined they were to continue preaching the worker in their midst, must be trained to make a Gospel for the salvation of their own people. One fair remuneration for the ministrations they re- worker, who had been unable to attend the con· ceive; and they must be convinced that the min- ference, later wrote that he would continue his ministry even though he never received any reistrations are worth the cost. In old days a man muneration from either the mission or from his own people. Our instructors at Quessua, both would pay an ox to be taught to sign his name, or those in the classrooms and those in the shops, several oxen to have his son taught to read and showed an excellent spirit in accepting lower pay. write. The mission has been giving an incompa- Rather apprehensive of my cobbler's attitude, I rably better education to the boys in our schools, called him into my office to appeal to him to coneven providing the boys with food, clothing, secrate himself as the others had done. When I shelter and school supplies. It has been not too asked his attitude towards the new wage-scale, he difficult to bring our people to the place where drew himself erect and answered, in typical Afrithey pay more liberally for medical treatments, can style: "Have you not given me five boys who and for the educational opportunities provided for passed the government examinations last January, their sons and daughters, than we would have be- for me to train in my art of cobbling? Will not lieved to be possible a few years ago. It is now these boys go out to preach the Gospel in places our task to bring villages to where they will re- where I cannot go, to preach it as I cannot since munerate their Christian workers adequately for I am an uneducated man? Has not God called me the benefits received. About twenty villages. have to help them to the best of my ability to be able been brought to this stage, though the present sit- to earn their sustenance as they preach the Gosuation leaves much to be desired. pel, when the mission cannot pay them? I want to continue teaching these boys, even if I receive An old missionary once told me that we should less pay." With a spirit of consecration and devonever expect our people out of their poverty to tion like this among our workers, we take courage support Christian workers. If this were so, our and press on, feeling confident that God will outlook would be hopeless for progress would be abundantly bless our labors. held down in direct ratio to the amount of American money expended. An Evidence of Success In this way we could never hope to attain the In transforming our mission into a native supreme purpose of mission work. But I have no Christian church, we will be called upon to solve doubt about the ability of the people to support many perplexing problems, to straighten out their Christian ministry, even though the cost be many difficult situations, to exercise many years without material return to them. When converts of patience, tact, foresight, and love. We realize become true disciples of our Lord, and come into that there may be at stake the results of fifty years that freedom which is found alone in Him, they of missionary labor which has cost so much in no longer are bound by their prohibitive taboos lives and money. If we fail, then we shall know and superstitions, and no longer pay so dearly for that the expenditure of a half million dollars and their useless fetishes and amulets; they will no the sacrifice of thirty lives has not yet succeeded longer submit to such death-dealing practices as in establishing here a Christian church that can the sas,s-wood test administered by their witchdoctors. Considered from the standpoint of mate-
be trusted to perpetuate the Christian message tude, so that we may train our converts gladly to through its own efforts in the power of the Holy support the bearers of the Christian message. We Spirit. During the future months we may be can no longer "call" workers from among the called upon to undergo many disappointments in school boys, providing them with work which will seeing our workers and stations and followers enable them to live in relative luxury and ease. diminish in numbers, when they realize that funds We shall have to revive the Master's appeal for from America will no longer be sufficient to main- our boys to take up the cross and follow Him, be tain them as heretofore. But we are confident of the -sacrifices what they may. From many angles, ultimate success in founding a Christian Church it appears to us that the present situation has been which shall endure. How could we be otherwise brought about through the wisdom and love of when we are under a divine leadership, when our God; we feel that the present step we are now native workers, upon whom in final analysis rests compelled to take will be wonderfully blessed by so much of the responsibility for success, are so Him, and will result in great increases in the determined and consecrated and confident that the number of true disciples, and in the appearance work must go on? of a rapidly emerging native Christian Church, which shall be self-supporting, self-propagating Our planning for the future of the work and self-governing. throughout the land must take on a different atti- The Perpetual Value of Foreign Missions By the REV. DWIGHT M. DONALDSON, Meshed, Iran I T IS inspiring to spend a morning roaming third man, Dr. Newton Donaldson, was prevented about Westminster Abbey, London, pausing from going to Persia as he had planned, but he before the tombs of famous men, but there i,s and his wife were always enthusiastic in their something still more intimately uplifting for some missionary interest in the pastorate at home. As of us about going into the prayer-meeting rooms their son I have the privilege of working in Persia. of churches where successive generations have His sister, Elma Donaldson, went to India, where worshipped, and to see the pictures of godly pas- she served at Dehra Dunn with devotion until she tors who have spent their lives proclaiming the was seventy years of age. A daughter, Mary Don- Gospel. aldson, went to China in 192'4.
The late Dr. George Alexander, of New York, Thus a real interest in foreign missions will ingave forty-six years of deeply spiritual service on spire succes,sive generations to take part in the the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian permanent business of promoting the cause of Church. Seven of his classmates at Princeton Christ in all lands. Seminary went to the foreign field, and all died in service. Life is no more static in foreign countries than it is at home. It might be asked facetiously, "Why Over fifty years ago, as a young man returning should the land of the Pilgrim fathers, the land of from India on his first furlough, Dr. J. J. Lucas the Scotch Covenanters, the land of the Quakers, had talks with three students in Western Theo- still require the expenditure of millions of dollars logical Seminary in Pittsburgh. He won their annually in national missions?" Others might inrespect and confidence and was able to help them quire, "Why should the country with the greatest reach a decision in their most important life prob- system of public schools and State universities in lem. At that time all three of these men decided the world need money from a Church Board of to become foreign missionaries. One of them, Education ?" The answer to both of these ques- Dr. A. C. Good, went to West Africa, where he tions lies in the present-day problems in the died after twelve years of vigorous missionary United States. If anyone suggests that economy adventure, and where he has been followed by his in church expenditures could be effected by reson, Dr. Albert I. Good, of Elat. The second man, garding the foreign missionary enterprise as a Dr. John Eaken, went to Siam and carried heavy temporary phase of Christian activity, we should responsibility, with sustained evangelistic zeal, realize that the momentous changes that have for more than forty years. His sons, Paul and taken place in foreign lands make an insistent and John Eaken, and his daughter, Ruth Eaken, are imperative demand upon Christian people. giving life service to the Gospel in Siam. The Where illiteracy and superstition and idolatry
THE. NEED FOR. A LIVING FAITH
have given way before the enlightenment of claimed and the reality of the divine Spirit must Christian education, with its churches, schools and be shown in human lives. hospitals, there are new assets for righteousness in the world. Some of the second and third gen- The spirit of nationalism must yield to the eration Christians fill chairs in colleges or work spirit of Christ. As national churches arise, it is as pastors or editors or evangelists. Missionaries the fact that they are Christian and not merely may no longer be needed to fill these P.ositions national that enables them to be admitted at once abroad but the work of the Gospel must still be to the great international Church of Christ. The carried on by other methods in other places. saying, "Let every nation determine its own re- ligion," is utterly inconsistent with the whole Modern civilization has displaced much ancient tenor of the Gospel. Christians are soOns of n.o error and superstition, but there has c.ome ma- national god, and they have been redeemed by terialism and a more obstinate heathenism of in- no national saviour. The w.orld-wide clash bedifference to spiritual things. Educated Chinese tween capitalism and communism knows no naand Japanese, and Hindus and Moslems, are find- tional boundaries. The auth.ority of Jesus Christ ing that for them the alternative is not between must be recognized as universal. The Christian one religion and another but between Christ and Gospel is of permanent and universal value, and atheism. In Iran Islam is losing its hold on edu- at this time when thoughtful students throughout cated men. Nevertheless the fad remains that the world realize that crass materialism has made Christianity is only beginning to be understood. its sensational denials in vain, the message is espe- Great walls of prejudice and misapprehension cially pertinent. Ambassad.ors of Christ preach have fallen down and there are eyes to see and not a mission of temporary philanthropy, but the ears to hear as there have never been before. universal offer of salvation through Christ and For this very reason the Gospel must still be pro- the everlasting Kingdom of God.
The Need for a Living Faith* By REV. J. W. BURTON, Sydney, Australia Secretary of the Australian Methodist Missionary Society O PTIMISM, we are told, is a great asset for with many luxuries-and many horrors. It has missi.ons. If you want people to contribute given us aeroplanes-and baby-killing bombers; to missions, serve up the bright side .of it has created marvels in chemistry-and pois.on things, tell them .of the "glorious Gospel tri- gas; it has built for us swift motor cars-and umphs," and put the soft pedal on failures and military tanks; it has given us wireless-and nadisappointments. If the income drops, do not tionalistic propaganda; it has lengthened the span advertise that; but if the truth leaks out, then .of human life-and taught us h.oW to cut off the explain the shrinkage as, plausibly as possible. stream of life, so that by birth-control a race may The wand, however, is obviously losing some of be more quickly exterminated than by disease. its magic, and thoughtful people are incon- Let the optimist sound his ram's horn and see if veniently asking for naked facts. these walls will fall down.
Our Lord was not the facile optimist some What chance has spiritual religion in this W.orld would like to paint Him. He s,aw the true condi- of nationalism, materialism, and militarism? tion .of the world in His day. He came .of the line What has the Church, representing Christ, to say of prophets who did not speak comfortable things. The story .of the sower suggests that of the four to economic manslaughter and race suicide? Ruskinds of soil, only one yielded satisfactory results; sia has thrown out the Church, asserting that it the illustration of the tares indicates tpat we must prevents social progress; Germany has banned it not expect a hundred per cent harvest; while the because it demands a loyalty other than to the descripti.on of the net full .of fish shows that there State; Mexico and Spain have challenged it beis wastage. That aspect of our Lord's teaching cause it keeps down the people; many other counhas not had due consideration. tries have done even worse-they have ignored it. According to the totalitarian conception the State We once th.ought that science would lay down a and its interests must be supreme. "Battle pracstraight road for the millennium; but we have tice" is considered more important than the quiet been tragically disillusioned. It has provided us w.orship of God; to learn artistically to thrust a bay.onet in human flesh is of more value to the • Condensed from The Missionary Review, Australia.
State than is· education or slum clearance; the others with the life and death of our Lord. It is profits of a lottery are worth more to the State's by a new spirit of unselfishness. and by a real ap- coffers than the honesty of its citizens; and party plication of the Cross- (not as a theological doc- funds and vested interests come before social re- trine, but as a stern spirit) to aU human life- form and human welfare. whether individual, social, national or interna- No wonder gloomy prophets can find a hearing tional-that we can bring back faith.
when they are so glibly announcing the end of the It is faith we need-faith in the eternal God world; the fear of many is that their prophecies who has revealed the quality of His life and the may not be fulfilled. trend of His will in our Lord Jesus Christ. This Does all this mean that faith – the power to has implications. for the whole Church, and spe- apprehend and appreciate the spiritual-is in de- cial implication for missions.
cline? Spiritual values are simply irrelevant in We must make our appeal more and more spir- this world of brute force and organized hatred. itual. There must be an awakening of the The Christian religion is increasingly suspect be- Church's conscience, far too dormant today, in cause it preaches a Gospel of goodwill. Missions regard to our duty to the wider world. Members in some countries have become a danger to state- of Christ's Church have definitely 'pledged them- craft, for they have proclaimed a world brother- selves in loyalty to Him and they must be aroused hood and have protested against national and ra- to its implications. Let us first face the problem cial discriminations. This narrow conception of of the adult member, who seemingly has little the supremacy of the State-whether in times of interest in winning the world for Ghrist. The peace or war-is entirely incompatible with the missionary meeting has almost vanished as an faith that Jesus is her only Lord. Though we effective method of presenting the "claims of mis- shall suffer, and may be persecuted unto death, sions." Many other interests have sprung up in we must be loyal above all else to Christ and His the last hundred years, and no one in any other eternal love and sacrifice. realm trusts to a public meeting to carry a mes- The new paganism affects our Christian work sage. Our methods of appeal need drastic re- at home and lowers the enthusiasm and passion vision. We place too much emphasis upon results for world evangelization. Depleted voluntary giv- in money. The blunt truth is that most of us are ing is only one incidence of spiritual regression. giving beyond our spiritual interest: it is the What are we to do? Play the ostrich and ignore quickening of spirit that is our deepest need.
danger? Repeat piously "God's in His heaven, That assured, the money will come naturally and all's right with the world?" Quote heartening spontaneously-as. it always should.
texts that have no real application to the situa- We may be obliged to start humbly-in little tion? Attempt to bluff people by weak smiles and groups of three or four-meeting together to talk sugary optimism? Or shall we give up the strug- and pray over the Kingdom of God throughout gle and make ourselves believe that we are in the the world, informing our minds by the study of grip of uncontrollable world forces, and with a material dealing with the concrete needs of the stoic fatalism let the heavens, fall when they will? world, and encouraging one another in this world Or shall we pursue a crackle-of-thorns-under- fellowship. There is no need to wait for some the-pot policy, and attempt to attract people by organization to start such a group. You can call entertainment; devise tempting schemes and a few of your friends together in your own home catchy slogans to lure people to the support of for prayer and missionary study. One of the the missionary cause? dangers O'f our religious enterprises is this super- In our hearts we know that all these things are structure of organization. It takes so much of futile. We must go deep. the coal we carry to stoke the engines. The min- We must realize that the whole trouble is spir- ister is often a busy man with a hundred and one itual. It is the human spirit to which we must thi'llgs to attend to, it is scarcely fair to make him address ourselves, for we are perfectly sure of responsible for forming and carrying on a group, the Spirit of God. His Will is that the world though it would be well to consult him before should be saved, but it is man's self-will that pre- starting one. Groups can start with the infor- vents world salvation. It is a birth from above mation contained in the Missionary Review. There that is needed – a regeneration of the human are also many books dealing with world missions.
spirit. We shall not win by compromising with We have surely enough missionary-minded people the world, by adorning our appeal with confec- in our churches to commence a little group in tionery; we shall win only as we succeed in chal- every church. Live cells live by division, and lenging our own selfishness and the selfishness. of more life comes into being.
Youth of the Church
By H. S. RANDOLPH Secretary of the Unit of Rural Church Work, Board of National Missions, Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.
I N THE early history of the American nation assurance to owning and cultivating land as did our rural youth knew no frontier limits. There his forebears. Consequently farm life has lost was land-good land, new land—everywhere, much of its charm for youth. Poor land holds out two billion acres of it ; nearly a billion acres were little challenge, and there is not much greater covered with virgin forest and challenge to a young man to over a half-billion acres with spend his life toiling even on luxurious grass. The nation pos- good land that he cannot afford sessed resources that seemed to to own.
be inexhaustible. This situation Today a rural youth sees that gave birth to 'It youth fired with what his father had been able to profound spiritual qualities of earn in a year is wholly insuffi- confidence, hope, ambition, aspir- cient to pay the taxes and the ation, determination, pride and interest and principal payments self-respect, qualities w h i c h o n the farm mortgage. He has closely paralleled the ideals for seen the farm sold on the block personal attainment in the to a foreigner while his father Christian Church. Therefore ru- has become a tenant, and may ral youth found an opportunity even lose his place as a tenant.
to express its finer qualities Such experiences have forced through the church. In fact the many rural youth to give up church was the only institution their dreams of owning a farm, in which the entire community or of owning anything else; could adequately express the so- dreams of school and college cial, educational, spiritual and have vanished; books and travel other important aspects of its are too expensive to consider; life. the old family car and the house- Today, after more than 300 told furnishings are rapidly years of American history, there wearing out, and cannot be re- is no frontier in the nation placed for there is no money which promi£es inexhaustible available.
wealth. Those old frontiers have This decline in rural resources been exploited, and ours is no and wealth, and the breaking of longer spoken of as "the richest rural morale, have been sorely and most favored continent on felt by the rural church. Lack the face of the earth." In less of clothing suitable for Sunday than 300 years the frontier has has kept many a rural lad and disappeared and rural youth lassie away from Sunday school now races a national problem and church. Perhaps the old presented by a shortage of eco- car won't run, and it is too far nomically productive land. Much A MOU~TAIN BOY LEAVING HOME to walle As a result there is no of the nation's soil is now de- church going. In many instances pleted or suffers from want of the rural economic condition has insufficient moisture. Rural youth faces the prob- made the church pastorless because the community lem of inability to work highly productive land, could not support even a part-time minister. Mis- for such land is too high-priced to be owned sion Boards either did not see the need or did not wholly by the individual farmer. Therefore mo- have available funds to meet it. In the course of dern youth cannot look forward with any great time the rural church closed its doors and be- [ 353 ]
came a ghost in the community-broken windows, either directly or indirectly for youth, the probpaint gone; weeds and briars grown up-all make lems of rural youth are far from being solved. an unsightly landscape. All this brings home to rural youth a sense of the insecurity of the coun- Many look to rural schools for the solution of tryside, leaving in its wake broken confidence, youth problems. Our schools do much to develop torn aspirations, blasted hopes, stunted determi- courage in the life processes of youth. New honation, bleeding pride, and lost self-respect. rizons are seen; new knowledge and skills are acquired. But here we must be disillusioned, for ThElre are twenty-one million youth in America; the rural school training· too often has had only and of these ten million are rural. They live on indirect relation to future work and therefore fails the farms or in country villages; many live in miserably to prepare youth to enter adult vocalittle unsanitary cabins on eroded and depleted tional life. However, we must recognize the trefarms, or on cut-over timber lands. Others live mendous impact which our schools make in the life in stranded villages in improvised houses going of youth. to rack and ruin. In the disadvantaged open country and in rural towns the young people are As a result of present day educational apoften under-nourished so that they fall easy vic- proaches rural youth, as never before, is questiontims to disease. They are unemployed and des- ing things as they have been and are. Old verities perate. lose their moral force in the presence of the logic of today's youth. They are learning how to dis- In many areas there are prosperous farms and cover new truths, how to create new patterns of vigorous, well-eared-for young people who move social and moral behavior. This situation renon in the realm of noble dreams; but these do not ders the approach of adults to youth problems far represent our rural mission problem today. Out more difficult than that of an earlier day. In a in the marginal disadvantaged areas throughout recent state-wide church group of rural youth this all rural America, forces are sensitive and opera- significant resolution was passed: "Our adults tive, endeavoring to bring back to disadvantaged have more problems of their own than they can rural youth the more abundant opportunities in solve. It is therefore highly necessary that we life. Perhaps it is not too late to recapture and go about to solve our own problems." conserve the finer achievements of American rurallife down through the centuries, and to rebuild The church probably has more rural youth in rural youth by making available the resources by its membership than in any other rural institution which the profounder depths of personality are or organization. Are we helping them to discover developed and maintained. themselves, their spiritual abilities and powers in the church and community? Have we been too The Federal Government is making a contribu- much interested in organizations in the church tion through certain emergency measures, such as for youth rather than in youth itself? We have the National Youth Administration, whereby it preached a great deal at youth, and we have creaids many rural youth to attend school. It has ated a great many things for them with the hope provided special courses in agricultural colleges of building up their faith and loyalty to the for farm boys and girls; it conducts work projects church, but too often our church organizations, for thousands of rural youth, as well as educa- our doctrines, our creeds, and our preachments tional guidance and job placement. More than have not been open doors of behavior patterns on 900,000 rural youth from low income relief fam- the level of youth's interests. ilies have been aided through the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Work Progress Administra- Youth in the country would like to see in their tion has reached a considerable number of rural churches and in the religious life of their people, youth through education projects, work projects, beauty and order together with a vital program and by provision for recreational activities. Other of action. They want responsibility for doing governmental agencies have aided rural youth things of great moment. They want a recreamore or less indirectly. tional program that embodies the development of skills and ability, as well as amusement. They Rural youth has also been greatly affected by want to experience a cooperative way of life for certain non-government agencies working in ru- the community. They want a spiritual program ral areas, such as the 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers which ties them to God through the church. They of America, Farm Bureau, Farmers Educational are asking for a voice in the midst of a faulty eduand Cooperative Union, and the National Grange. cation and in the breakdown of economic order These have developed to a very considerable ex- and unemployment. They are asking to be heard tent in rural areas. In addition there are many in a world of prejudices where there is a denial of localized projects throughout the country. It is opportunities-poverty, wars, and rumors of generally admitted that even with all these gov- wars. Youth calls for a prophet to lead them. ernment and non-government agencies, at work They are very eager to know about true religion.
RURAL YOUTH OF THE CHURCH TODAY
They want to see the church tie up vitally with the situation from it religious point of view was well rest of their life, with their school program, their expressed by one of the men of the community in dubs,societies, and their vocational interests. these terse words: "Our young people were going Back in an isolated cove of the Southern Moun- to Hell." On the one hand the fine, well-equipped, tains, where youth is supposed to be retarded and well-organized consolidated school was doing a bashful, the energies of a group of boys and girls, suc'cessful job for its youth; on the other hand who knew only how to "raise HeU" all up and there were four poor churches with divided inter- down the creek, drinking and cursing, were so ests, doing a very poor job for the same group of redirected under the leadership of a wise, pro- youth; this led the people of the community to do phetic laymen, that in the period of two years some serious thinking which ultimately led them they were quite capable of doing to unite their churches to form things that made them and oth- one large positive force. They ers happy. called a strong minister as their They took an old school house resident leader, and now have a and remodeled it to make a beau- church which the youth can look tiful rural church. After the upon with pride and say, "Our building was completed and church is just as fine as our cenpainted they landscaped it with tralized school. Our minister is native plants and trees. Later just as good as the principal of they built a recreational building our school. He is interested in all in the midst of a rhododendron the things we do and his friendly thicket .beside a swiftly flowing counsel helps us to do them betmountain stream. The hoys and ter."
girls worked together on these This new united church is projects during their spare time. crowded with young people.
Now they are singing the folk They are doing things in that songs and playing the folk games church which are just as cre- of the Southern Mountains and ative as those which they do of other countries. Near the through their 4-H Club work.
recreational building is an out- They have their Young People's door rendezvous. Needless to meetings, their club, recreation- say, all the young people of that al groups, and many special pro- community are actively enthusi- grams which they carry through.
astic. They are conscious that A wise lay leader found himthey have played a large creative self a few years ago in the open part in the reconstruction of the country in a beautiful valley of spiritual and social life of their about thirty square miles in area community. There is no diffi- where there were a number of culty here about the young peo- country churches and hundreds ple attending church or Sunday of young people. The ministers school or any other activity for were all bewailing the lack of the good of the community, for religious interest on the part of they have helped to create it, it the youth. They took every opis theirs. They are proud of it. portunity to tell them of their About eighteen years ago a sins, but had little to offer as rural community experienced substitutes except what to the the birth of a new consolidated RURAL YOUTH TODAY AT SCHOOL youth were vague abstract ideas.
public school made possible by The young people of the valley improved roads through the country districts and were called together one Sunday night for an open a growing cooperative spirit among the people. forum. Here they discussed their needs. That All the children of the community were brought very night an organization of the young people of to this fine school, which had a beautiful building, the valley was formed to meet monthly for var- good equipment, and excellent teachers. ious purposes. They met for social and recrea- In that same rural community ' were four tional activities; they met to sing; they spon- churches, all with poor buildings, no resident min- sored the Sunrise Easter Service of the commu- ister, church membership weak and becoming nity; they later created a Young People's Council weaker, Sunday schools gradually dying, no of the churches. Through this Youth Council de- young people's organizations. The young people's nominatioi1al harries were broken down through-
out the valley and a cooperative church spirit was effectively restored and saved to the nation their born that could never have existed had not the confidence, hope, ambition, aspiration, determina- youth been organized in this creative fashion. tion, pride and self-respect must be reconstructed.
Here the young people developed a new spiritual This is the task of the rural church, for there is life for themselves and also for their community, no other institution that can undertake and carry all of which has been reflected in the life of the through such a momentous responsibility. There churches of the area. is no other institution known to rural life that is Give rural young people a chance to use their so well fitted with philosophy, idealism and methcreative genius in the church under wise Chris- od to provide the needed sympathy and prophetic tian leadership and we need not fear them or fear direction to complete rural living by disadvanfor them. They know well the significance of taged youth of the soil as is the Christian Church. creative work. They bring out of a setting of The holy work of the rural church is to build out eggs a flock of chickens; out of a pig they develop of these hopeless, spiritless lives which poverty a hog; they grow a cow out of a calf. Out of has strewn over this fair land of ours, youthful grains of wheat, corn, or cotton they produce a lives strong and true.
worthy harvest. God's creative way of living is Herein is a challenge to our Christian churches an integral part of the life of rural youth. As for unity of purpose and method of work, such as rural church leaders we must translate this vital never has come from the good earth of America, power of youth into the spiritual world and teach to provide a good church without competition in them how to live creatively in the Kingdom of every American rural community, with a well- God. • trained and efficient ministry, and an ongoing Rural youth has a big job in any community, a program attuned to the problems, needs and activ- job that will challenge ities of rural youth, their creative zeal, a job thus creating a new that should build them Christian rural life.
into integral parts of the church life. What MOUNTAIN CHIL- is needed to reach such DREN READ THEIR a goal is a wise leader TESTAMENTS to help youth discover The Bible Institute its spiritual job in the Colportage Association, church and community founded by Dwight L.
and to frankly face that Moody in 1894 for the job and see it through. pUblication and distri- Youth, through the bution 0 f evangelical consolidated schools and Christian literature, other community insti- A RURAL CHURCH IN THE MOUNTAINS-AT CARMEN sent 9,969 shipments of tutions, is learning to books, booklets, Gospels, live and act cooperatively. Too frequently the New Testaments, Gospel tracts and miscellaneous churches are too numerous in rural communities. books to mountain schools in the South last year They are competitive in character and disrupt the -a total of 564,682 copies.
social unity of the community. All of this is a The Episcopal Recorder quotes from a letter mystery to oncoming youth. 'They wonder why written by a mountain girl to her teacher, in which there should be such a division and competition she says: in Christian life and work. Our rural youth offer a new challenge to united religious effort in all "Mother and Dad never had a Bible in their of our rural communities. Christian intelligence house, and never did any reading, until you gave demands a united church, the best of equipment, us the Book of John and the Pocket Treasury; the finest leadership and program, so that when but now they are getting interested in the Lora." youth compares its church with its school it will The teacher adds: "The children are more interfind that the church is an institution of which it ested in the Lord and want to take fifteen minutes each day to read th~ir Testaments. They are askcan justly be proud because of what it does for ing questions about the Bible. I want them to them, then they will give to it their loyalty, their read the Testament through before school is out, support, and their lives. and help them in every way I can."
Many of the ten million youth in rural Amer- Teachers in these mountain schools report a ica are disadvantaged through poverty. The gov- marked improvement in the morals and conduct of ernment and other organizations are making their their pupils since this work of literature distribu- contributions but if these young people are to be tion was undertaken.
Today and
By a WAYFARER The author of this article has first-hand knowledge of the situation in Spain T HE end of the Civil War in Spain, with the ister of the former, the Rev. Atilano Coco was shot surrender of Madrid on the 28th of March in prison; the incumbent of the latter, Rev. Mr. brought to an end one of the great tragedies Borrobia is still in prison. Liberty of propaof modern times. All who know Spain never had ganda, without which a religious minority cannot any doubt as to the ultimate issue, but all were thrive, was carried on normally in Government surprised that an improvised army, without sci- territory but was prohibited in the Nationalist entific training, was able to hold out so long area. The sale of the Christian Scriptures reached against superior forces equipped with modern record figures in republic or Loyalist Spain durlethal weapons. Neither side is without reproach ing the conflict but was prohibited in the country for many excesses· were committed that history dominated by General Franco. Registered parcels will condemn. The Nationalists, in spite of their of Bibles, sent from London to Vigo, were reclaim to a pure patriotism, opened the door to the turned marked "Prohibited by the Military Cenforeign invader and armed the Moors, the heredi- sorship."
tary enemies of Spain, in order that they might Fears for the safety of the Protestant minority kill Christians. The ruthless repression of the and the continuance of the work lead the British Basque autonomists, with its massacre of priests Committee for the Evangelization of Spain to ap- and civilians will not soon be forgotten. Franco point a delegation, under the presidency of Dr.
too seems to have been unable to restrain the Rushbrook, to call on the Duke of Alba, the official Falangists and Requetes in their zeal to extermi- representative of the Nationalist Government in nate "the Red vermin." Spanish Anarchists, al- London, asking for assurances of protection and lied with Communists, by killing priests and burn- liberty. Through his good offices certain questions ing churches, discredited the Loyalist Govern- concerning the maintenance of religious liberty ment cause and alienated sympathy that would and propaganda were submitted to General Franco otherwise have been theirs. It would be as fool- who later replied guaranteeing liberty of worship. ish to hold Senor Azana personally responsible for On being further questioned as to whether this . this as it would be to make Franco wholly respon- included liberty of propaganda the General replied sible for the excesses of his irregular troops. It in the affirmative and this declaration was pub- is a significant fact neither seems to have pos- lished in English newspapers. sessed the authority necessary to dominate the sit- uation. In this age, however, promises do not seem to have the same sacred character as formerly. The As to the religious situation generally speaking dead cannot- be raised but if General Franco would both sides maintained the degree of religious lib- release Evangelical workers who are still in pris- erty that obtained in Spain at the outbreak of the on and allow the reopening of closed Protestant war. At an early stage the Government published churches, such as those of Barcelona that have a decree to prevent excesses and inviting Roman been closed since the Nationalist occupation of Catholic priests to return to their parishes. At the city, that would go far to inspire confidence. no time was Protestant worship suspended in the Government-controlled area; nor were their build- Moreover the news that filters through from ings destroyed. Christian services were carried Spain is increasingly ominous. On the 3d of May on throughout the struggle, frequently in build- a decree ordered the replacing of the Crucifix in ings damaged by enemy aircraft. In Nationalist all schools, whether Government or private. None territory Roman Catholic worship was celebrated will be allowed to function until it has obeyed this in pre-republican splendor. Protestant services injunction. The teaching of the Roman Catholic continued without interference in most towns and religion has been made obligatory in all schools. were well attended. Conspicuous exceptions were The children are obliged to attend Mass. If any Salamanca and Valladolid where Protestant special provision has been made for non-Catholic churches were closed early in the war. The min- children we have not heard of it. All civil serv- ants too are required to give proof of Catholic [357 ]
piety (pruebas de piedad cristia1W) , that is to be brothers united in one conception of the State say, fulfil the obligations of the Roman Catholic and in one religion." But Franco's forces contain religion. Again there is no mention of exemption groups with opposing ideologies. It is easier for non-Catholics. A list of prohibited books has to conceive the lion and the lamb lying down been prepared. Only accepted books may be circulated in Spanish in Spain. Inquiries at the together than Falangists and Requetes living in Spanish Embassy brought forth the statement peace. The Spaniards are a proud people whose that the Bible is not included in the list. Finally, soil has been trodden and their blood shed by foraccording to newspaper and radio reports, the eign invaders. Official friendship may be main- Civil Marriage Law, instituted by the Republic, tained with the invading countries but the people has been repealed and 60 days have been given to who have suffered will not forget. It is even more all married under this law to remarry according difficult to visualize post-civil-war Spain as united to Roman Catholic rites. Failing this their chil- by a common religion. A large part of many of dren will be declared illegitimate. Now as confes- the Spanish people have an inherited hatred and sion is required before marriage in the Roman distrust of the Roman Catholic Church which is Catholic Church, and no so called, "heretic" can considered as the enemy of liberty and a barrier receive absolution, remarriage, under these con- to progress. This feeling has shown itself in ditions, would seem to be equivalent to being re- periods of national tumult by the burning of ceived into the Church. The Spanish Embassy church property. Is it conceivable that the conconfirms the, promulgation of this Law but they duct of the Roman Catholic Church during the have not yet received the text. The conservative civil war was such as to win these people for its French newspaper Le Temps in its issue of April cause? There have been too many priests of the 25th, says that more than 30,000 couples in Madrid type of Zafra who, waving his pistol in the air, alone are affected. They are being remarried at boasted that it has sent more than 100 Marxists to the rate of 650 a day. their account. Even the holy lives and sacrificial death of such men as the Franciscan, Father Re- What will be the position of non-Catholics under ville, who was shot for protesting against the murthis reactionary decree? We do not know as we der of inoffensive citizens, cannot blot out the have not seen the text. We can only hope that memory of others better known whose conduct was there are attenuating clauses in it that are not different. Cardinal Mercier, whose heroism Belmentioned in the first reports. gium will never forget, visited Spain on one occa- I On the 19th of April a deputation from the sion. On his return a friend congratulated him on i'British Committee" again called at the Spanish having seen that most Christian country, to which Embassy in London. In the absence of the Am- the Cardinal replied pensively, "Christian? Do bassador the news of the closing of the Barcelona you think so?" churches-the other information mentioned above had not then been received-was brought to the Spain needs Christ. Not the crucifix hanging notice of the Chief Secretary, the Marquis de los round the necks of bloodstained Requetes and Santos, and the contrast between this event and Moors but the Christ of the Gospels who died the promises given on the occasion of the previ- expressing forgiveness to his enemies. He alone ous visit were emphasized. can lead Spain forward to that new epoch of peace and prosperity desired by all true friends. Pray We hear much of the new Spain that is to rise that there may be an open-door in Spain for men on the ruins of the old. It is, we are told, to be who incarnate the virtues associated with the di- "prosperous and powerful. Its inhabitance will vine character of Jesus, the Christ.
One of India's political leaders said of Stanley Jones: "We always know where he is com- ing out. If he begins at the binomial theorem, he will come out at the place of conversion." And to this Stanley Jones replies: "Right. I make no apologies, for life comes out at that place. Amid all the changes which have taken place in the mind and spirit of this age there is one underlying need that has not changed-men need conversion. But we now see that that conversion is bigger in its scope than we had dreamed-the individual and society must shift the basis from self-centeredness to God. For conversion is that change, sudden or gradual, by which we pass from the kingdom of self to the Kingdom of God through the grace and power of Christ."
and Religion in
By REV. and MRS. PHINEAS B. KENNEDY, recently * of Kortcha; founders of the Albanian Mission A LBANIA, which has recently been front page day dropped leaflets guaranteeing the free exer- .r-. news in the press dispatches on account of cise of religious beliefs." the Italian occupation and the flight of The virile Albanian mountaineers trace their King Zog with his wife and baby, lies north and history (according to Max Muller and others) west of Greece, and across the Adriatic Sea from back to the Pelasgic race. In ancient times they Italy. The country is smaller than the State of were pushed back into their mountain fortresses Maryland and the total population (800,000) is by the Romans, Goths, Bulgars, Serbs, and Turks.
about the size of Baltimore. The people are three- For nearly five hundred years they remained fourths Mohammedan; the remaining fourth be- under the Turks, then they became independent; ing about equally divided between the Roman now they are subject to Italy.
Catholics of the north and the Eastern Orthodox The first Bible colporteur to come to these moun- of the south. Islam was forced on this sturdy tain people was Gerasim Kyrias, an Albanian. He race before the fall of Constantinople in 1453. had been educated under the American Board Their honored patriot, George Castriot Skender- Mission. He was captured and held for ransom, beg who died in 1468, is the hero in James M. but money was raised, through the efforts of the Ludlow's "A Captain of the Janissaries." Evangelical missionaries, and was used for his re':'
The Rev. Arthur W. Konrad of the Evangelical lease. While his health was seriously impaired Mission writes that some Italian bombs proved to by his rigorous experience, he and his sister were be "stuffed with paper and wood, used only to instrumental in establishing in Kortcha an evanscare and not to exterminate." He speaks also of gelical day and boarding school for girls in 1891. the friendliness of the Italian army when it en- This school they carried on for some years. tered the city of Kortcha. A generation ago a young Mohammedan Al- At latest reports the Albanian flag was still banian entered the offic·e of the American Board flying with the flag of Italy. Albania has now a of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in Boston reconstructed government, and, according to and gave a modern Macedonian call: "Come over newspaper accounts, many of the people are jubi- and help us." This touched the heart of the secrelant over having Victor Emanuel III as King and tary of the Board, Dr. James L. Barton, and a Emperor. Albania has lost her brief independ- special fund was raised which enabled the Board ence and she is now related closely with to send out Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy in 1907. While Italy in whatever the future holds. Since the the Turks attempted to prevent the missionaries' Italian occupation of Albania, (April, 1939) there entrance, permission was finally granted on the has been time for some details to filter through basis of American treaty rights. The little school to America. This occupation seems to have been started by Gerasim Kyrias in Kortcha was a veriinevitable due to several years of Italian financial table "cradle of liberty" and was the only girls' aid in the material development of the country. school in the country where the Albanian lan- Moreover dissatisfaction was beginning to be felt guage was taught. Preaching and Sabbath school by many of the Albanians against the Zog regime services in the language of the people were held, in which overtaxed the people. spite of opposition both from the Turkish Govern- ment and from the Moslem and Greek Orthodox The Rev. Edwin Jacques, another Evangelical leaders. From time to time Albanians have conmissionaries, says in his "postscript" to a recent fessed their faith in Christ and have been received circular letter (written before the occupation), into the little Evangelical circle. The occupation "To quiet Moslem forebodings airplanes yester- of southern Albania, during the Balkan War made it necessary for the missionaries to leave, but the * Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, the founders of the Albanian Evangelical way was opened to do relief work among the starving and dying Moslem refugees in the north, MiSSion, are now in America, having passed over to their fellow with headquarters in Durazzo. After four or five miSSionaries, Messrs. Jacques and Konrad, all the property held by them, both mission and private. Their address is 332 West 12th Street, New York. They expect to work among Albanian communities in America and are ready to accept speaking engagements.
-EDITOR.
[359 ]
years' absence, while the World War was still in Two young missionary couples, Rev. and Mrs. progress, the Kennedys were able to re-enter Kortcha, and soon the attendance at the re-opened Edwin Jacques and Rev. and Mrs. Arthur W. school and at the Evangelical services was larger than before. Konrad were added to the staff and are now con- The income of the American Board being in- ducting the mission. adequate they decided to withdraw from Albania in 1922, expecting that another board would take While the great need in Albania today is to over the work, but this was not done. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy therefore decided to conduct the reach tre Moslems, there is also a call to teach work on interdenominational lines and founded the Evangelical Mission as an independent "Faith" the unenlightened Roman Catholic and Greek work in 1923. The so-called Kyrias School, having been moved to Tirana, the capital, a new school Orthodox Christians. Albanians are "very reliwas established in Kortcha and village evangelistic services were carried on regularly. When the gious" but their religion is largely outward and independent State was formed, the Albanian language could be taught without the protection of formal. Those who have had a real experience the American flag so that many, who were not vitally interested in the dospel, lost their interest of Christ are deeply concerned for the salvation in the mission. Nevertheless the school grew so that it was necessary to add more rooms and em- of their fellow Albanians. ploy additional teachers. The Bible was regularly taught in all classes three times a week and new The country has passed through many political . members were added to the Evangelical circle. Later, with the growth of nationalism, the Al- changes under Turkish, Greek, French, Albanian banian Government was influenced to close all private schools, including the mission school. The and now Italian flags. What this new change may prejudice of the people has been dispelled, and more time can be devoted to distinct evangelism. mean for Evangelical work is known only to God.
Certain it is that the Albanian people need the clear Gospel message, proclaimed by the power of the Spirit of God. .
Some day there may be a Christian mass move- ment in Albania, for many are dissatisfied with empty religious forms and superstition. They are "almost persuaded" to become real followers of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. They are a noble race of people, and hold a strategic position in the Bal- kans. Shall we not give them the entire Bible in their language, and evangelize this field while it is yet day? The night cometh in Europe and the Near East, when no man can work.
Liberty and Religion in Red Russia * By COLONEL F. J. MILES, D.S.O., O.B.E., V.D.
International Secretary of the Russian Missionary Society, Inc.
N UMERICALLY, the Russians form the tive Committee viewed with alarm the lack of in- greatest white race in the world, 210 mil- crease due to licensed lasciviousness, reduced it to lion people. Of these approximately 180 latitude, and by law abolished liberty and free millions live within the borders of Soviet Russia, provision of hospitals and surgeons for the pera tract of territory so vast that it stretches from formance of certain operations. The year that Europe to the Pacific; from the White Sea to the the alteration took place making the operation Black, from the Baltic to the Balkans; so huge illegal, the population grew by four and a half that when it is twelve noon in Moscow it is seven million. It is anticipated that the futur·e normal o'clock in the evening at Vladivostock. In this increase will be at the rate of seven million per land, which covers one-sixth of the earth's sur~ annum, until in 1970 there will be three hundred face, one-fourth of Asia and one-third of Europe, million resident in the U. S. S. R. Lenin's widow there dwell 170 races speaking 120 different is leading a journalistic campaign and nation-wide tongues and dialects. There are White Russians movement in fayor of large families. and Little Russians; .Cossacks and Caucasians; Georgians and Ukrainians, and the like. The laws concerning religion govern the whole of the Federated Soviet States. It is, of course, The population was increasing at the rate of true that the farther one gets from the capital three million per annum, until the Central Execu- cities the more likelihood there is that laws will not be so strictly observed. For instance, I vis- • From the E'IIamgeUoal O'hristi<z.n, Jamlary. 1939.
LIBERTY AND RELIGION IN RED RUSSIA
ited a collective farm in the Don Cossack country. mummified bodies lying side by side in the Cathe- The village was still called by its· old Czarist name dral of St. Isaac in Leningrad. The centre one -Alexander the Second! But the collective farm is a "saint," and the outside two are a peasant that included it as its centre, and on which all the man and woman. The stage is set to show that not villagers worked was styled "October 25th"! I sainthood, but chemical processes were responmanaged to "lose myself" from the Field Briga- sible for the preservation. Moreover, into the dier, who made it his business to carefully shep- hand of a corpse lying in the Russian coffin, which herd me around, and I wandered down the village has casket and lid of equal depths, there was street "visiting." placed a Greek Orthodox passport to heaven, printed in Archaic Greek. This had to be pur- One cleanly-clad housewife called me into her chased from the priest and without it there was home where I found in the living-room five ikons, no hope of the departed entering paradise! In the and in the adj oining bedroom another two, each first instance, persecution was directed against with its little red lamp burning beneath it. I this church which was characterized by creed, found that nearly every worker on this intensely ceremonial, crude teaching, and too often not by communistically named farm was still living reli- Christian character. giously as in the old "Holy Russia," and that the bulk of the people, in spite of the five-day week, The Stundists were given a freedom, under were actually worshipping in the little church which they increased with such remarkable rabuilding of the Greek Orthodox Church every sev- pidity that the Central Executive Committee beenth day. came alarmed. They reasoned that the church of these Christians who refused to participate in The American secular press has been misled party politics or to bear arms, was necessarily into stating that the new constitution affords reli- opposed to the Bolshevic plan for world-wide antigious liberty to Soviet citizens. The conditions religious communistic dominion. Their rapid inremain as they were before the draft sent out to crease was, therefore, a menace to the Soviet plan. the Soviets in February, was "adopted" in No- So the forces of persecution were focused upon vember of 1936, and became law on January, 1937. them. No Christian is persecuted as such and Articles 124 and 125 provide for "liberty for anti- no evangelist is banished merely for preaching religious propaganda" and "freedom to perform the Gospel. They are charged as counter revoreligious rites." News editors did not sense the lutionaries. But. facts are stubborn things. Forworld of difference between the two. It simply meant that elderly folk who still clung to their merly we had sixty-six consecrated Russian evanreligious ceremonial could continue to follow it. gelists within the U. S. S. R. Today only five are left and they are in exile. None of the "liquidated" The revolt, while :;tgainst all religion, was in the men ever engaged in any counter-revolutionary first place a revolution against the National Or- propaganda or activity. Before me are the rethodox Church. From the standpoint of the anti- ports for August, 1938. (1) In the Far East God and anti-religious hosts, it was justified. a purge of Baptist churches is taking place There were notable exceptions, as in the case of and the leaders are being charged as "Japanese the Patriarch Tikhon, and the Metropolitan Ben- spies." This is in harmony with the procedure in jamin, the one dying in prison and the other being the West where evangelists and pastors were shot. Before the tribunal the Metropolitan said, exiled· or shot as German spies. (2) Baptist "If I must die, I will die as a Christian." But the groups in Tolka have been "liquidated." Tolka is old Russian Church was largely led by illiterate in the Caucasus. (3) Baptists in the Caucasus and immoral men like that "holy devil of Russia" were accused of (a) hindering the election of -Rasputin. Priests in the provinces actually Stalin candidates at the recent elections; and taught the people that the bodies of believers were (b) conducting religious. propaganda among the immortal, and that when a believer died the body hospital workers of the district. (4) A Baptist remained intact until the judgment day! They pastor of twenty years' standing in one of the exhibited bodies of saints in glass cases in their oldest churches in the autonomous Udmurpk Rechurches. When the revolution came, the anti- public was arrested as a German spy. (5) Evanreligious hosts opened the graves and disclosed gelistic groups in the Crimea were "liquidated." that they only contained decomposing bones. They smashed the glass cases and revealed that the It seems strange that in a land where capital bodies of saints were "fakes." Not all; for the punishment has been abolished hundreds of men ground beneath the monastery of Pechersk at are being shot daily. The military and naval lead- Kieff, the ancient capital of Russia and the pres- ers are shot so that they may be replaced by noment capital of the Ukraine, has the property of inees of Stalin and Company. I ventured to ask preserving bodies interred therein. The monks a City Magistrate in his Chambers in Mosco.w how were quick to take advantage of this and instituted he explained this anomaly. Indignantly he couna mummy factory. • . . 1J'here are three complete tered, "But we do not hang people up and leave
them hanging till they die; we shoot them in- in 1936, twenty-seven in 1937; there are less tostantly and put an end to their misery." And I day. The last German Lutheran Church was found that this university trained man, who had closed in August, 1938, when the pastor died. In taken a juridical course, really believed this. A Omsk, Siberia, with a population of two and a few weeks later I was on the lower Volga, and two quarter million, only three churches remain open. Scotch ladies, traveling first-class, were being con- In a town on the lower Volga, with a population ducted by a Girl Guide interpreter. She told them of eighty thousand, five churches were open when this same story. I had several conversations with I visited it a couple of years back: two Greek her, as we were several days on the boat. During Orthodox, two Roman Catholic, and one German the recent winter she had passed an examination Lutheran. For all practical purposes they might in an additional language, so was receiving an as well be closed. The vital religious work in that extra fifty rubles a month pay, and had been pre- community is being carried on in private circles sented with an English up-to-date edition of a of Brethren, Baptists and Evangelical Christians. work by Frederick Engels in which it was claimed that during the previous year in the Brit- Some reports appear in the press of churches ish Isles, men were banished for life to convict settlements overseas for poaching rabbits, and being full. hanged for stealing sheep. I published excerpts There are enough elderly folk (with whom the from this work in the British Press. Noone has dared to attempt to refute what I wrote. Soviet cannot be bothered-"They'll die off soon, anyway") to fill the buildings that still remain Effect of Censorship open at Easter, and at the three-day Christmas (January 6th) of which Greek Orthodox churches Lamentable ignorance of conditions in Russia make so much. But in the few churches remainand in the other lands is due to the censorship ing open, what can be done? The pastor may which is, applied both in and out of the U. S. S. R. preach on the premises, but nowhere else. He is For instance, no paper, periodical, or magazine taken up for interrogation periodically, and comes Duhlished abroad is permitted to enter Russia. out of the ordeal a nervous wreck. No literature The population gets its ideas concerning "starv- is allowed on the premises except such as is absoing and revolting peoples" of other lands from lutely needful for the conduct of worship. No government controlled papers, in order that by meetings may be held for women or young people. contrast they may be the more content with the It is a criminal offence to gather three young peo- Soviet regime. All who regularly write or are ple under the age of eighteen to teach them reliwritten to come under suspicion. I have before gion. No teacher is permitted to enter any place me a communication from K– asking us not of worship. No social service may be rendered, to write more at present. Believers and others lest by so doing the church should influence those under suspicion are tortured to secure confes- helped to become religious. The church is under sions; nothing to eat or drink; no sleep-terrible! a graduated tax that is increased periodically till, It is such torture that induces wholesale confes- in spite of severest sacrifice, it can no longer be sions of "counter revolutionaries." There have paid; then automatically the Soviet takes over been many positive acts against religion. Church the building because those using Government buildings were taken over by the Government. All property have not paid their dues. It is all quite private property was nationalized, including the lawful and legitimate! !! If the pastor dies, no churches. Like so many other communistic prin- successor may be elected and the church is liquiciples the abolition of private property has broken dated. The German Lutheran Church at Gorki down in practice. For instance, Cooperatives are (Nizni-Novgorod) has been closed for this reason allowed to erect buildings and sell the apartments for years. Apparently the local Soviet has no use to their members. Most of the church buildings for the building. were closed and converted to secular uses such as bureaus, workshops, factories, apartments, clubs, In one city where we bought land and erected a kolkhos (stores for collective farms), public con- building wherein thousands of souls were saved, veniences, etc. "Dom Evangelia" in Leningrad our people were expelled, but permitted to conis a workers' club. for the men who make nails in tinue to meet twice in what we call one week, in a the metal factory opposite. The cathedrals of St. hall attached to a former Greek Orthodox Church Isaac in Leningrad, of St. Basil in the Red Square building which they shared with followers of anof Moscow, and that of St. Andrew in Kieff are other persuasion. Needing this, the local Soviet anti-God and anti-religious, museums. turned them out. They have been driven from pillar to post, hampered, hindered, harassed-yet Of 1636 Greek Orthodox churches in Moscow on the 29th day of January last year, in one meetbefore the revolution, thirty only were left open ing they baptized fifty converts on profession of faith.
Since May, 1929, the Bible has been banned. It is a criminal offence in Soviet Russia to print,
publish, circulate or distribute the Word of God 87 per cent of the Russian population were illitor any portion of it. We printed the largest edi- erate. Now only 14 per cent are, and in the intion of Russian Bibles that ever came off the press dustrial areas, only 8 per cent. But every day 25 -81,000 copies. Before the officials became so million children going to school are taught that alert we sent copies back by the lumbermen who there is no God; never was. a Creator, and are brought the rafts and logs down the rivers to the subject to such caricatures of Christianity, and border states. Our men carried them over the such blasphemous cartoons of Christ that I canborder at dead of night, taking their lives in their not bring myself to describe them. No teacher in hands every time they crossed. In markets far school, college, or university is permitted to enter away from Moscow bidding may proceed for a any place of worship. And yet all over Soviet few mushrooms spread out on a bag-but the real Russia today there are sporadic outbursts of reobject is under the bag, a second-hand Bible or vival among young people (over 50 percent of Testament. When the government said in effect the population, i. e., all the young people, have -"You shall not have the Book in your hands," passed through these schools), and especially the Believers replied, "Then we'll put it into our among young men in the factories, so the local heads and enthrone it on our hearts." So they leaders are sending to Moscow asking that special studied and committed to memory the Sacred speakers be sent to combat the religious revival. Word. Now, when they gather round our evangelists in "bears' caves," they repeat passages of I dare not close this article without giving evi- Scripture and so illumine and inspire, instruct, dence of the truthfulness of the above, from offiexhort, and "comfort one another with these cial Soviet sources, lest I be charged with rowords." mancing.
There is no food shortage in Russia in Europe Lunarcharsky, former Commissar of Education today, though sometimes failure in distribution in the Central Executive Committee, issued a occurs. There is still shortage in Russia in Asia, manifesto in which he stated: and we still need to send food parcels. to Christians and banished evangelists in concentration camps We hate Christians. Even the best of them must be rein the Far East. Nothing but our food parcels garded as our worst enemies. They preach love to one's stands between them and starvation. Until food neighbors and pity, which is contrary to our principles ( !). tickets and ration cards were abolished no priest, Christian love is a hindrance to the development of the rabbi, moulvic, pastor, evangelist, editor of reli- revolution. Down with love for one's neighbors. What we gious pamphlets, or tradesman dealing in any re- want is hatred. We must know how to hate, for only at ligious article, nor his wife or family, was per- this price can we conquer the universe. We have done with mitted to have a ticket or card. Thousands who the kings of the earth, let us deal with the Kings of the wished to be loyal to the Lord "whom not having skies. All religions are poison. They intoxicate and deaden seen (they) love," were living on the bark and the mind, the will, the conscience (!). A fight to the death roots of trees, on nettle grass, and on field mice. must be declared upon religion. Our task is to destroy all kinds of religion, all kinds of morality. In spite of these conditions there has been, and still is, a real religious revival. Let him tell us how they succeeded. Trud, whieh means "labor," is the chief workers' organ; In the U. S. S. R. one evangelist, now in exile, Comsomolska Pravda is "Truth for Youth"; in three months, in three villages far from the Pravda, meaning "Truth," is the chief organ of capital, baptized 450 converts. Next spring he the Communist Party; while Izvestia, "News," is baptized 154 more in two months. Then he went that of the Government. In Southern Russia it is to prison for a technical offence in connection with said that there is no news in the Truth, and no preaching. Not to the Solovetsky Islands, the truth is the News. Writing in Izvestia in 1929 most rigorous imprisonment in the world, but to on the basis of the figures of his own department, a "house of re-education," in which the offenders Lunarcharsky affirmed that in 1917 there were are .given a good time, to induce them to come out only 700,000 members of the Communist Party, good supporters of the Soviet regime. Freedom but in 1927 they had grown to 1,700,000. But in therein enabled our man to preach to those who 1917 there were only 100,000 Stundists, and in would not have listened to him outside, also to hold 1927 over six millions. The Christians had outprayer meetings. Several prisoners were con- lived, outwitnessed, and outnumbered the Comverted. When he was discharged he found that munists by six to one, and this in spite of Governhis wife had carried on so effectively during his ment support of the latter, and satanic and Soviet incarceration that he had to baptize another 12'6 opposition of the former. converts. The Party Commander of the Bezbojniks (the The greatest achievement of the Soviets has Godless), Em. Yaroslavsky, has recently published been in the realm of education. Before the revolt an explanation which is an apology for failure in the Scientific Journal, Antireliginoznik. In it he has to confess that about two-thirds of the rural
pop1l1ation, and one-third of that in the towns, the ministers of the cult must be viewed as fraudstill continue faithful to religion. He admits that ulent members of the Party. All our skill must while the Government can prohibit support of the consist in systematically and unremittingly de- Church, and separate the Church and the school priving the Church of its head; in striking the by decree, "a decree is powerless to efface reli- blow at the Shepherd and alluring the sheep into gious ·conception"; "being deprived of an edifice our own stable" (sic!). has not killed the religious feeling of believers," and even "the Pioneers frequent the Church in There is one reason why the anti-religious hosts great numbers." He claims. that the coercive have failed. Jesus said, "On this Rock (faith in measures have been a mistake: they have failed; Christ as the Son of God) I will build my church and concludes that "The masses must be tamed by and the gates of hades shall not prevail against kindness." But–"We must outroot religion, and it" (Matt. 16: 18). My Master always keeps His word.
Forty Years' Progress in Latin America By REV. WEBSTER E. BROWNING, New York Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; For Forty Years a Missionary in South America I N THESE chaotic moder:::J. times, forty years United States flag was seldom seen on the few constitute as long a period in the life of a na- ships which then made the run to South America. tion as in the life of an individual. Changes, The investment of North American capital, could rapid and cataclysmic, occur, even in the coun- not have exceeded a few hundred millions in all tries that have been fully organized for centuries Latin America. In 1937, the total investment was and whose traditions and form of government ap- reported to be about $6,500,000,000. pear to be crystallized and unshakable. In younger nations, such as those of Latin America such 2. Politically-Few governments of the very changes, though less sudden and dramatic com- young republics were then more than oligarchies. pared with those of Europe during past years, are A small number of families, in each of them, connevertheless well defined and epoch-making. sidered the presidency and other public offices their peculiar right and saw to it that the power The writer of this article journeyed to Latin was kept within their limited circle. As an illus- America, for the first time, more than 40 years ago, tration, one lady, known to the writer, was the and, except for occasional visits to the homeland, daughter, the sister and the wife of a President lived all that time south of the equator. He has of her country. Today, though not to the same dethus been able to note the changes in the commer- gree in all the republics, the democratic form of cial, political and religious life of the peoples of government prevails, and most of them, like Arthose lands which have marked their slow but gentina, Brazil and Chile, merit the high esteem sure progress toward equal standing with the in which they are held by the peoples of Europe older peoples of Europe and North America. A and North America. brief description of some of these changes may be of interest. 3. Culturally-Public instruction has made great advance and the formerly high percentage 1. Economically-Forty years ago, the immense of analphabets has been correspondingly reduced. natural resources of Latin America lay practically The oldest university of Latin America was founduntouched. The great modern industries of min- ed 56 years before the first permanent English ing, cattle-raising, the elaboration of nitrate; settlement w:as made in North America, and 85 banking, railways, manufactures, shipping, the years before John Harvard made possible the importation of machinery and automobiles, and institution that bears his name. Today, the best of other commercial activities-all these were but these universities equal those of the United States in their infancy. The United States, in particular, or Europe as centers of learning, and the intellechad not attempted to discover in those lands a tual spire of Latin America is as high as our own, market for its excess products. There was not a though it is more slender. In the learned profes- North American bank south of Mexico, and the sions, especially in law and medicine, are found
19391 FORTY YEARS' PROGRESS IN LATIN AMERICA
men and women of the highest professional prep- As a result of this exclusionist policy, when aration, fully the equals of their colleagues in evangelical missions began to extend their work with greater earnestness and conviction, forty or other lands. more years ago, they found certain conditions 4. Religiously-The pioneers and founders of which had to be overcome if that work was to be successful. Among these were the following: the colonies of Spain in the New World differed from those who laid the foundations of religious life in what is now the territory of the United (a) There was no liberty of worship. Free States of America. The groups that came to those thought was in itself considered heretical; the shores, Catholic and Protestant alike, were simply press was under the absolute control of the seeking a place where, quietly and unostentatious- Church, and, in some of the most backward coun- ly, they might worship God according to the dic- tries, death was the legal penalty for adherence to tates of their own consciences. Spanish discover- any religion other than that of the dominant ers and conquistadores, in the lands that now con- Church.
stitute what we call Latin America, were of a (b) There was no civil marriage law. The only more militant mold and sought to establish not legal ceremony was that performed by a priest of only the power of the King whom they represented the State Church; children of those otherwise but also that of their particular Chm'ch. They wedded were ipso facto considered illegitimate. flung to the breeze not only the colors of Ferdi- Even Protestant missionaries, wedded on the field, nand and Isabel, King and Queen of Castile and were required to secure the services of a friendly Aragon, but also those of the Supreme Pontiff priest. To satisfy their own consciences, they of Rome. Even the sails of the caravels of Chris- might have another ceremony performed by a topher Columbus and of less worthy conquista- Protestant minister, but this latter ceremony had dores who came after him, had imprinted upon no legal significance whatsoever. them the figure of the cross and the words, "with this sign you will conquer." Columbus is said to (c) There were no civil cemeteries. The bodies have considered his name Christopher, "Christ- of deceased dissenters were thrown into the sea, bearer," a good omen, and historians tell us that or were buried surreptitiously by night in some his hope was to secure funds from the newly unfrequented spot. About the middle of the past acquired lands in order to finance another crusade century, a progressive Mayor in one of the South against the Turks. American capitals when converting a hitherto' undeveloped hill i,nto a park, found at its base a In view of this deeply religious motive that in- collection of human bones, and on the site placed spired and encouraged the Spanish pioneers in Latin America, which was largely in conformity a tablet with the inscription, "To the memory 0/ with the spirit of the times, in both Roman Catholic and Protestant lands, it is not strange that the exiled from heaven and earth who were buried the type of Christianity which became the official in this place." religion of the Colonies of Spain, and, afterward, of the younger republics that grew out of those (d) Possession and reading of the Bible was proscribed by the Church itself and, under the in- fluence of the Church, by officials of the State. A colonies, should have been ultra-fanatical, ex- customs officer in Ecuador, toward the end of the tremely jealous of its own prerogatives, and dis- past century, refused to admit a box of Christian Scriptures; pointing toward one of the towering posed to resist, to the last degree, the entrance peaks of the nearby Andes, he said, "So long as and propagation of the beliefs of any other sect Chimborozo stands, that Book shall not enter this or denomination. The spirit of the Inquisition, country." typical of the religious life of the time, especially in Southern Europe, was deep-rooted. Branches The distressing religious conditions that preof that feared and hated body were set up in vari- vailed in the countries of Latin America a half ous centers, especially in Lima, the capital of the century ago have been narrated in order to show viceroys, and in Cartagena de las Indias, now one the historical background against which we may of the port cities of the modern republic of Colom- throw into clearer light the situation as it is today.
bia. So strong did the Church become, so thor- The former unfortunate conditions have now oughly did it indoctrinate the peoples, that when very largely disappeared-due largely to a closer the colonies, following the lead given by those of contact with Europe and North America, made Great Britain, in North America, and by France, possible, in part at least, by more modern means gave way to republics, at the beginning of the 19th of communication. The changed situation has ·century, the representatives of the Papacy were also been greatly helped by the liberalizing, reflex able to have written into the constitution of the influence of Evangelical missions. Today, in every newly-created states the words, "The religion of one of the 20' republics of Latin America, there is this State is the Holy, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic, complete freedom of worship; the only legal mar- to the exclusion of all others." riage ceremony is that performed by an official of
the State; cemeteries are open to the dead of all friendly eye and are evidently willing to forget faiths or of none; and the Bible is widely and some episodes of the past in which the "big stick" freely circulated. In one South American republic, played too prominent a part. Brazil, there is now an estimated total of 1,500,000 Evangelical Christians; in all there is a steadily Probably no part of the world has made such growing National Evangelical Church which is economic and cultural advance in the past forty willing to cooperate in many respects with the years in a quiet and natural way as have the nainfinitely stronger, dominant, ecclesiastical organ- tions of Latin America. And their history is still ization, for the spiritual instruction and upbuild- in the making. Millions of Europeans, seeking ing of the people. refuge or the opportunity to better their condi- tions of life are wistfully turning their faces 5. Internationally-There is today a much bet- toward the great open spaces of Argentina and ter understanding between the Government, and, Brazil. Many thousands have already entered hence, the people of the United States of Ameri- those and other Latin American countries, where ca, and the governments and peoples of the other they have established homes and have begun a new countries of the Western hemisphere. Instead of life under more liberal conditions. The Christian the former policy of occupying a country with forces of North America, especially the Evangel- United States marines, in order to establish our ical churches, have a great opportunity to aid conception of what we considered law and order, these incoming thousands, making it possible for or exerting economic pressure to encompass our them not only to secure the right to liberty and own ends, a more modern and more Christian the pursuit of happiness, but also to surround "good neighbor" policy has been adopted and has themselves and their descendants with the spirbeen well received by all Latin American govern- itual blessings that flow from a free Church in a ments. Their people now look on us with a more free land.
Queen Salote of Tonga K ING GEORGE VI of Great Britain sent the lieves in the tenets of Christianity, but is most following message to the queen of Tonga, energetic in seeing that her beliefs find practical a Pacific Island, on the occasion of the expression in the daily life. With her, "Faith twentieth anniversary of her accession to the without works is dead." She is a constant attendthrone of Tonga. He said in part: ant at divine service, is a class leader, and is al- ways present at the regular meetings of the Chris- "The period of your reign has been one of tian Endeavor Society. Not only has Queen Salote steady and peaceful progress in the development advanced the interests of her people in the mateof your kingdom. Medical and health services rial sphere, but she has also, by her Christian life have been extended, educa.tional facilities have and character, provided them with a splendid been increased, roads have been built, and com- example of Christian living. munication between the islands has been improved by the provision of wireless stations. And The great event of the celebration took place in these achievements, of which your majesty may the large public square where gathered about four be justly proud, have been effected without in any thousand school children, as well as the Royal way sacrificing the financial stability of your Guards and Band. kingdom." Then came one of the finest sights of the day- Twenty years ago, as a young girl of eighteen, the march of four thousand school children, Queen Salote Tubou succeeded to the throne of carrying Tongan flags in their hands. Tonga. During the years intervening since that time, by her wise and statesmanlike rule, her The queen then departed, and as her car passed keen, unfailing interest in the well-being of her through the lines of children, she was hailed with subjects and her many excellent personal quali- hearty cheering and the waving of flags. Even ties, she has endeared herself to the people of her after she had returned to the palace the public land. How deeply enshrined she is in their hearts enthusiasm could not be restrained. The Tubou might well be gauged by the remarkable demon- boys entered the palace grounds, followed by the stration of loyalty and affection displayed by them other schools and the general public, until a crowd on October 11 of last year, the commemoration of of several thousands had collected. Her Majesty's the twentieth anniversary of her accession. appearance on the balcony and acknowledgment were the signal for more vociferous greeting. Queen Salote is known throughout the king- -By "The Wayfarer" in The Missionary Review dom as a sincere Christian, one who not only be- (Australia) .
Story for
Tony Finds Two Friends and it seemed wonderful to Tony room where Tony lay. His broth- to be able to help. As he snipped ers and sister were standing by By VIOLET WOOD, New York off the beans he thought of the his bed and to each one the nurse "Won't you leave your chil- time when his father had worked gave a glass of milk. dren with me, Mrs. Rossetti?" in the city, while his mother the nurse at the Center invited. stayed home and took care of As Tony's mother took her them. Suddenly there had been glass she spoke excitedly to the Mrs. Rossetti turned to Tony, no more work. A friend had told boy. Tony laughed, "My mothher ten-year-old son, to interpret his father of the need for bean er says you have nets over the for her. When she understood pickers and they had packed all babies' cradles to keep the flies what the nurse had said, Mrs. their belonging$. in a truck and away just as she used to have in Rossetti shook her head and had come to this big farm. Now the city." gathered her three small chil- father was sick for he had dren about her. worked too hard the first few "Ask her to leave you all with days. me tomorrow? You can go back "You could stay, too, Tony," to the fields in a few days, but the nurse said to the boy, "and At noon Mrs. Rossetti took it would be nice if you could stay help me take care of them." out of her blouse a paper bag and here a little while. Your broth- gave them all cold biscuits for ers and sister will love it." "I gotta pick beans," respond- lunch. She and the children ed,Tony. went on picking beans as they When Tony told his mother ate. But Tony could not eat his she nodded happily, as she fin- When Tony told his mother biscuit. Something was wrong. ished her milk and went back to what the nurse had said, the lit- His head felt as if it were float- the field. tle group passed the Center and ing away. But he kept on pickwent out towards the field. Tony ing, hoping that the funny feel- The nurse brought in some noticed several women leave ba- ing would pass. He suddenly picture books for Tony. One of bies and small children at the fainted. them was a beautiful "Life of Center. He shrugged. Who knew Jesus," and, as the nurse exwhat would be done to them in When Mrs. Rossetti called for plained some of the pictures the that place! Tony's family had help two men came over and car- boy looked up suddenly, and been at the migrant camp only a ried the boy to the Center. When said: "Then I have found two few days and he had no idea of new friends today!"
the loving care, the nice lunches, the nurse came she patted Tony's Making Use of This Story the toys and the Bible stories mother on the shoulder and in a few minutes he opened his eyes that were provided for the chil- and tried to smile. "You just The plight of the migrant is not well dren of the migrant workers. lie here for a little while and enough known by many people and yet soon you'll be quite all right. it is a great social problem in Amer- Down the long lanes between I'll bring you a nice glass of milk ica. Because the parents lose their the rows of bean poles the lit- in a few minutes. Tell your legal residence by so much traveling, tle family went, snipping off the mother I would like to show her the children get insufficient food, imbeans as they moved. Every- our little home here." proper shelter, no medical and dental body helped fill the baskets. care and very little schooling. When one was filled Mrs. Rosset- Tony translated this for his ti carried it to the weigher who mother, whose eyes shone with The Council of Women for Home checked the number of pounds gratitude. Missions has Centers in many states against her name. and has done a wonderful piece of The hot sun beat down upon The nurse beckoned to Mrs. work with the children. Excellent the men, women and children Rossetti and took her into an- material on the migrant is found in working on either side of Tony other room where babies lay the pamphlet, "They Starve That We and his mother. Although many sleeping in little cradles. In an- May Eat," compiled by Edith Lowry were thirsty they could not stop other room little boys and girls, and published by the Missionary Edueven for a drink of water. Every just like her own, were playing cation Movement (35 cents.) moment of daylight counted, and together at sand tables and with if they were to make enough blocks. In one corner a teacher money to buy food they must be was reading stories to the older Questions quick. boys and girls. All the children What would you lose if you had no home, no school, no church? Tony's back ached, but he was seemed very happy. bigger than his brothers and sis- In the kitchen Mrs. Rossetti What are some of the crops that ter and he could not stop to rest. watched the nurse fill five glass- migrants gather?
He must go on like his mother. es with milk. Putting them on Are migrant workers necessary in His father lay sick in the tent a tray she carried them to the America?
[367 ]
Ways of W9rking
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home hDITED BY GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Enlisting a Congregation for and throb of enduring purpose as Pete and with a memorable in- they witness Christian romance scription was unveiled. The MissionEsdTuhcarotiuognh*Visual in China (yes, indeed, there is film also gives a glimpse of lep- high Christian romance in China ers' suffering, and of lepers who "Seeing is believing" is an old today, especially today), or a adage. But rich old warp woven great mass meeting of untouch- have been helped. into today's tapestries gives pat- ables in India, or a frightened At the close of the showing of terns of beauty, luster and value. African youth witness his moth- er's slow death at the hands of this film in the city church the If every Christian at home the witch doctor and his deter- pastor arose and said, "I have could visit and see the mission mination to run away and find today had a new vision of this fields, their opportunities, their the secret of the doctor who talks great work. I think everyone needs, their returns for service, and acts with love at his Christhe weaving of the pattern of tian "medicine house" in the for- of· our Sunday school classes Christ into the lives of peoples, est clearing. should have one of these pig not much time or money would banks. I suggest that all of our need to be spent on promotion A few weeks ago the film, Sunday school offering next Sunwork for Christianity. In the "A Million Dollar Pig," taken by day go to the leper work and I entanglement of threads in our nromise to find means of matchpattern here in our own land we the American Mission to Lepers, ing, dollar for dollar, all that are prone to grow discouraged, was shown in a large city church. the Sunday school gives." He feeling it improbable that there It tells the story of how a ten- felt as we had felt after visiting are other spots on the earth year-old boy, Wilbur, sad be- the many leper colonies on our where the Christ pattern is be- cause his mother had been able African way during the past ing distinctly and clearly woven. to furnish support for only nine lepers instead of ten, bought a months. If we cannot see these remote little pig with three dollars Films from mission fields are places, the next best step is to which had been given him. The have them brought to us by the children 0 f the community goingto be increasingly available medium of the motion picture- joined in feeding the pig, all the in the days ahead. The 1938 as nearly life-like a portrayal as time envisioning that pig as Africa Film Project has already can be had outside the actual bringing smiles to the face of released its first 3-Reel, 16 mm. experience. Christianity has not some weary leper. It was finally film, "Ngono and Her People." been in haste to take on this won- sold for twenty-five dollars and It movingly tells the life of a derfully convincing method, feel- the money was sent to help a typical African girl. In it one ing perhaps a worldliness about little leper boy of Siam. Out of really lives in the life of a girl of the very utterance of "movies." this experience came the idea of Africa; feels the heartache of a But at last, after the field of edu- the "pig banks," over 100,000 of ten-year-old child torn from her cation recognized why the "eye which have been distributed in mother and sent to harem life; witness" medium so grasped the America. They have brought in feels the fear of the jungle world public, Christians have over one million dollars to aid where she hides, the ,doubtful come to realize that these same the lepers of the world. Then the eyes may prove to be inlets to film shows the twenty-fifth anni- serenity in the hands of her the hearts and souls of vast num- versary of the event of Wilbur missionary rescuers, the school bers of people. Eyes that make and his pig, "Pete," as it was life, the romance of true love, hearts thrill and throb over which "never smooth did run" scenes of intrigue or love may celebrated in Wilbur's little home in Africa either, the power of also stir those hearts to the thrill town of White Cloud, Kansas. Over one thousand people there, the Christian life and all the • We are indebted to Mrs. Emory Ross including Chief White Cloud and problems it brings, as again she for this fine article. She last year accom- his tribe, honored Wilbur, now a meets the witch doctor and his panied her husband, who is pxecutive secre- successful engineer still giving wiles. As the last scene fades tary of th" American Mission to Lepers, on of himself and his money to help you feel that you have been in a trip to Africa to see many of the institu- lepers. A bronze tablet, erected Africa and you know that Christions aided by that Society. She was former- in his honor, with Wilbur and tian missions pay. You have ly a missionary in the C?n~o and .is now seen with your own eye. an active promoter of mISSIonary Interest [368 ] in America. Another six or eight films are being prepared on various phas- es of Africa, her life, her importance in the world, the impact of and explain some things which more careful showing of one? civilization upon her, the need will otherwise be without mean- Take time to slow down the ac- for Christianity to keep pace. ing. But announce that after tion where it is necessary. You Among the scenarios* are "The the first running there will be a will need to go over the film at World's Stake in Africa," "Chil- second, during which any ques- least once with the operator, be- dren of Africa," "A Day in an tions or comments may be of- fore it is shown in the program African Village," ""Bwamba"- fered. Plan time to do this, so in order to decide where the mo- (the life of a typical African that no one will have a sense of tion should be slowed, and how boy) , and "How an African being rushed. Offer to run it much. As you show it, be very Tribe is Ruled." through a third time for those sure to remark when you do so: Yes, today the home church who would like to see it again, "We will slow down at this may see the foreign field, and after the meeting has been dis- point," having explained before seeing, may she believe the more missed. hand the purpose of slowing and hasten to make the pattern Slow Motion in Using a Movie down. Otherwise you may leave Christian in those lands yet in the impression that the people the loom.-Myrta Pierson Ross. The label on the film case read, filmed are lazy or slow in their "Twenty minutes will be re- movements. quired to show this film." A Informal Use of a Movie group of people, planning to use It is needless to say that some films in their churches, had bor- films will not gain by such treat- The parents of a missionary rowed from the mission board ment. Use good judgment in dereceived, in their very ordinary ciding when to use normal speed mid-west town, a package from an entire set of five on the coun- and when not to do so. their children. It was a one-reel try the churches were studying, film, showing the missionary son and were giving a sort of pre- Remember that some projecand daughter setting up camp view so as to be able to present tors make a lot of noise. Whoin a village, taking part in a them more intelligently from ever reads the accompanying lec- time to time. They started im- ture, or prepares a talk to go church service, giving treatment mediately after lunch to have with the showing, should have a to a baby with sore eyes, walk- them run through. voice easily heard over the noise ing in their garden and romping of the machine. Nine o'clock that evening with the grandchildren who had found them reluctantly re-wind- Newer Stereopticon Pictures been mere babies the last time ing the last film. What had hapthey were home. pened? They found that while Color cameras have brought the speed required to run the into the field of stereopticon With what delight the aging film through in twenty minutes slides something a great deal parents viewed the scenes, as was quite correct for .seeing that more vivid and delightful than their beloved ones moved before which is familiar, it was too fast we have had before. Slides can them. The missionary women of to give them time to see what be made directly from the color the church, naturally, borrowed happened in scenes and actions film. No tinting of pictures with the film. The showing was made quite unfamiliar to them. They the colors running into each othinto a gala occasion. The film therefore slowed the running to er, or failing to join! Furtherwas run through once. Then a considerable extent. more, the picture-taker, instead it was run through again. Com- of having to remember that he ments and questions rose freely When that was done, they cannot count on color to do for during the showing. Whoever those who are to see the pictures had an idea as to the correct an- could actually see what was hap- what its actual presence is doswer to any question ventured pening. For example, the quick- ing for him, knows now that colit. Then they ran the film ly-run film showed a woman or, almost as he sees it, will be through again. Details that had squatting before a mud cooking- present in his film. escaped notice came to the atten- place, doing something with tion of the women now. Those That opens a much wider pospresent felt as if they had had swift capable hands. The slowed sibility for enjoyment in the use a real visit with their missionary film showed her going through of stereopticon slides on subjects and his family. of missionary interest. To be the process of handling the flat sure there are as yet few sets Are you following that proce- unleavened bread in the three which have been made by the dure when you show a film? Or simultaneous processes of mold- newer processes. But most sets are you having it shown as a ing one cake, while a second was have been vastly improved durformal part of your meeting, to searing and a third was being ing the last year or two, and they be run through once, accompa- baked among the live coals of begin to "tell a story" instead of nied by its lecture or by polite si- the fire. giving a disjointed picture of lence, immediately to be re- places and people. wound, set into its case, and sent Some parts of the film became on its travels? tedious with the slowing up, but During summer months, the the operator was soon able to picture method of becoming ac- If there is a lecture, by all speed up sections which did not quainted with the missionary means have it used. It will help show detailed action, and to slow work of the church is well worth to clear up many puzzling bits, down on those which did.
Instead of rushing through • Not yet available. two films, why not arrange a considering.
For Small Children Pictures article), was sponsored by the each and marked its location Are Best Harmon Foundation and the Af- with a red pin. rica Committee of the Foreign The flicker and movement of Missions Conference of North The study might have gone movie pictures are not any too America. "Song After Sorrow" further, but did not. To atgood for the eyes of the small is another new film which por- tempt to locate all Protestant children. Furthermore very lit- trays the magnificent work in churches in a city the size of tle of the motion pictures, de- one of the leper colonies in theirs would have taken more signed to interest and educate Africa. time than the enterprise was adults, is of value for children worth for that one study. But of pre-school age. Films like the two mentioned there, in visual form, lay the may perhaps be secured from information that, scattered all The nursery and beginner your mission board under the over their city, were many child should not, however, be same conditions as other films of churches which were working to neglected in the use of visual missionary work, or they may be make the city a more Christian education. One of the newest rented from the Harmon Foun- place in which to live. In those pieces of material, specifically dation. "Song After Sorrow," buildings, week after week, men planned for use with them, is may be rented direct from the and women and beiys and girls the picture set "Children and American Mission to Lepers, 156 gathered to study, to worship, Their Toys Around the World." Fifth Avenue, New York. and to have fellowship. It has eight pictures in color, and a leaflet with a short story Investigate the possibilities. Such a visualization of facts to go with each. This publica- Write to your mission board for gives children a real sense of tion of the Friendship Press sells information. Remember that being a part of something which for sixty cents and can be se- the number of copies of each film includes and yet is greater than cured through your denomina- is limited so that requests need their own local church group. It tional book store. to be made well in advance of the expands their horizon. It brings date desired. We know that one to their consciousness, in a way The pictures are directly re- group of films is dated up com- that mere spoken information lated to the child's interests. pletely for four months in cannot do, the realization of Each one shows a child of some advance. Others, not on the forces which are operating toother race or nation, with a toy country of the current study, day to rebuild the world in characteristic of his environ- may not require such advance Christian ways. ment. booking. Try the use of this form of visual education in the Maps, graphs and charts are This set should be part of the near future. We venture to say not to be limited to Juniors equipment of every Nursery and that you will plan to include it alone. They are good for any Beginners department. It might very definitely in your subse- age above Juniors. well be used in each child's own quent study. home. Individual pictures can Consider them for use in your then be hung in turn where the Using Maps with Juniors church or parish house lobby. Or child will enjoy them. in your meetings when you have When a Junior department five minutes to present some in- Sources for Religious and was making a study of The City, formation about missions which Missionary Movies as was suggested in the course, can best be imparted through they used their own city as the this form of visualization. The Most -of those reading these object of their study. small graphs and charts often columns are familiar with the sent out from Board headquarsources of missionary films. The The boys took a big map of ters, in materials for the inforimportant source for any church the town and mounted it on bea- mation of leaders, can easily be is its own missionary board. Ar- ver board. Starting with their enlarged to proportions such as rangements differ. Many mis- own community they set out to to make it possible for a large sionary boards loan the films discover and locate on the map group or an entire congregation free of charge, requiring only the position of the Protestant to see them. Color can be used payment of express charges both churches of their city. When to make them vivid in their enways. There is the additional they found the actual streets larged form, where only black cost of a projector which is running past their own church, and white was used in the printusually rented locally by the a red pin marked the spot on the ed form. church. map! They did the same with other churches of their neighbor- Never leave such materials The Harmon Foundation, 140 hood. Then they went further hanging for more than a week Nassau St., New York, N. Y., is afield. They secured the list of or two. You do not glance at another very important source. the churches of their own denom- that store window where the dis- Their charges are reasonable. ination in their town. What a play is the same week after Some of the Harmon Foundation surprise! Who would have week. Let your people become films have been prepared in co- guessed that in their own city accustomed to finding something operation with certain of the there were so many churches of new, fresh and worthwhile on mission boards. The Africa film, their own group? They located your display wall every week or "Ngono and Her People" (re- so. ferred to by Mrs. Ross in her
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~======~~~==================== WITH THE MIGRANTS IN crops." It was while in "melons" family as they were growing up CALIFORNIA in Imperial that Maria had her and it took more and more and accident. According to her fa- it seemed that he made less and The bountiful state of Cali- ther: less. So at last they joined the fornia with its varying seasons, caravan of folks off to "the land luxuriant farms, and many in- "If I stay few more days to work of promise," California, to seek dustries is faced with the tre- in floods last winter and not go down their fortune. Theirs was a mendous problems. of migrant to Valley, maybe I not have the bad wreck of a car, a truck, with a people-people who trek from luck, but I go. It's cold. That day canvas over the top so that the crop to crop, starving in between our children left alone. This one, mother and children could sleep "prunes" and "cotton" because Maria, she think she make herself there and the father drove as there is never enough to go warm burning paper. She light it. many hours as he could to make around. When it is too hard to It catch her dress. This other one the trip as short as possible-it find food for three scanty meals she want to throw on water, but the took them fourteen days-a four a day, new clothes are out of the burning one, Maria, she scared, she to seven day trip in a decent car. question; and these people are so run out the door all flames till she The trip was made in the pourvery poor! fall; she fainting then. Her sweater, ing rain. They still shudder as it stops the flame from her face. She they remember the terrible ex- To help lighten their burden bur ned so bad, all over front. She in perience of losing a wheel on a and bring some necessary relief, hospital six months. Eighty-seven steep grade, and the "panthers" the Council of Women for Home skin grafts her mother give, but not that they could hear howling in Missions supports missionary much healing. I got no money, but the night, not to mention the nurses who serve these camps. hospital very good. The vallev too fiat tires that had to be fixed on Nursing and visiting the sick, hot for Maria, doctors say I must take the darkest roads. They felt that telling the story of the Gospel to Maria to where is cool; no more let- their crossing the mountains was the children, finding help here, tuce, no more melons, I go north to quite as trying as that of the eargiving help there, from dawn to 'prunes'; I take my family, and for lier "pioneers" of the covered dark they go and always leaving Maria it is cool. The doctor there wagon days. a little hope, a little comfort and say, 'you no live here,' you take Maria a great feeling of friendship. where you live. What I do? Maria They arrived during the mush- cannot live where is the heat; no room season, and, as they had Would you like to meet a few doctor where it is cool. .I feed my never had such a tasty dish they of these families who make their family? I must work. Doctor put living in crops? on one bandage, I keep Maria with me. I do all the best I know. I keep Take the family of John Wil- burn clean with feather. It no get liams-the children: Susanna, better. She seem sick; she no play born in the "grapes"; Maria, in like other children. Her dress, it hurts "melons·" ; E u p hem i a, in her burn, she walked stooped, like old "prunes" ; John, in "lettuce"; lady. We have cot just for her. We Raphael, in "nuts"; Josephine, move to 'cotton,' and you find her. She in "cotton." Truly children of afraid, she shake all over." the crops. Here there is hope expressed in his When the nurse came upon brightened countenance, he is encourthem she saw Maria walking aged, as he continues: very stooped so that her worn thin dress, her only garment, "You nurse, you find her. Her burn would not be touching her open so bad for so long; you come often, sore which covered her abdomen "ou do much for Maria. It take you and thighs. She was frightened long time, many bandages, much work as she stood before the nurse for you, but now Maria she all well. holding her dress away from her God bless you nurse ! We cannot say body with trembling fingers and how much we thank you. Now, no told her story. more cotton, we go to valley for 'let- tuce' and 'melons'; work for me, feed The family took to the road in my family. heat no hurt Maria now 1930 when the father lost his job -she well!" and joined the "Gypsies of the Then there is the White fam- ily from Oklahoma – father, mother, and four children. For ten years Mr. White had been the "handy man" in the little town that was their home. He made sixty to seventy dollars a month. That didn't keep his [371 ]
relished it more than they could cents. Forty men went out and They are healing now. The describe. Just by picking they picked one crate of spinach. druggist was afraid to undertake could have all they wanted to treatment because of the severity eat. But the season was soon A Mexican father doesn't of the burn, but the nurse over and such things are just a know what to do. He asks the "breathes a prayer" and gives memory. nurse. He explains that there is the necessary treatment for it is no more cotton to pick, and he sixty miles to a doctor, and be- A Brief Round in Camp only has beans for his family to sides there is no money. The Visiting eat. The nurse has no alterna- druggist thinks it is the "prayer" tive but to suggest "relief." The Leaving the nurse's home, we father is proud, and explains, "I that did it-healing, he thinks, go seventeen miles on good high- never ask for that in all time. I was impossible otherwise. way, then eight miles on an just move here. My wife she sick adobe road, then the last half at heart, no can work much; I On to another camp and the mile over what is supposed to sick in stomach, cannot work all road is still slippery, and it is be a road, and into the camp, time." ten miles distant. This camp is thirty cabins in all. Separated from these are some larger cab- Drive toward the foothills and built beside a canal. Here the ins-these for the "permanent" on this road there are three Council nurse spent much time, help. It is wash-day. Tubs of camps. Roads impassable in effort and energy toward solving water are being heated over fires rainy weather. It is ten miles to built outside; clothes lines the first. the problem of sanitation. The stretched between cabins filled grower was very cooperative. with clean garments of all kinds, shapes and sizes. Some families asked the camp Over one tub is a Mexican EYE CLINIC IN A MIGRANT GENTER mother, rubbing away on a washboard, and beside her is her The nurse recalls that this manager concerning the nurse's three-year-old, the youngest of camp was one of her most un- authority, and the grower issued nine. He has on two sweaters sanitary camps, so much so that and a coat, and a dark cloth tied the camp manager remarked to the order that if families did not around his head. her, "I believe these children are cooperate with the nurse that the dirtiest of all cotton camps." they would be moved out. Camp The nurse discovers that the That can't be said now. The child has a temperature. She camp manager and the campers and cabins were cleaned. Five explains that he must be kept in gamblers who had caused the bed, and she takes the child by too were most cooperative in nurse no little concern, were the hand, leads him into the cab- changing things. Health kits moved out. Order prevailed. in, the mother follows and a containing wash cloth, soap, little pallet is made in the corner The sentiment of the people of the cabin. His clothing is re- tooth-brush, and comb, were moved and he is slipped into a given to the children. whom the nurse serves is best pair of warm sleepers that the expressed by the tribute to the nurse finds among her clothing The nurse inquires. about Mr. nurse by a country doctor who supplies. That dark rag is re- Gonzales who was burned so bad- depends. on their help to bring moved from the only window in ly at Christmas, and discovers healing and health to these mithe cabin, and she explains to that he has learned that she is in grants. "So much is heard and the mother that there must be camp and is getting the "water read nowadays of organizations sunlight. The mother im't un- boiling" for her to use in dress- and agencies. doing this and that derstanding why the cloth should for the migrants, but the one not be about her child's head, be- ing the wound. He has learned cause she explains, "Baby sick that it had to boil ten minutes who does the most and the most in the head," but she is willing worthwhile thing in helping the to do as the nurse says, and does before she could use it. First migrant is the little missionary not miss a word of the nurse's and second degree burns were on nurse who rarely ever gets one instructions to "rub the child's chest four times daily with warm his left shoulder and upper arm line of printed matter concerncamphorated oil; give plenty of ing her work in the paper." water and fluids, and keep baby -he had fallen on the stove. in bed."
It is late in the cotton season, and many people are not working. Some have gone out to pick spinach but so little could be made they didn't stay. One man explained that he had made ten
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~ EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO ~'================================-~~ LATIN AMERICA fered the boys. Near Saltillo, weekly broadcast of religious boys are taught in school to programs. 'A Latin American Cooperation in a Church Bell make rope, and other articles Youth Conference is planned for from raw materials they have February, 1940, in Lima, Peru. We all know about the denom- raised. They learn the art of inational cooperation am 0 n g making dyes, and using them. -Christian Century. Christian forces in Puerto Rico; At the same school, the boys of the union enterprises which farm a tract of land, raise cat- Among South American include a theological seminary, tle, hogs and bees. Indians book store, newspaper, university pastor, e~change of pulpits, Culture Missions, something The treaty signed between and other manifestations of the like an Institute, are held at in- Bolivia and Paraguay leaves the cooperative spirit; but this spir- tervals all over Mexico. For a way open for Christian work it does not end with formal en- period of ten days, five or six among pagan Indians of both terprises. When the Yauco Bap- educators meet with teachers for countries, especially in the Chatist Church, for example, had a lectures and discussion, with co area between the two. Var- 500 pound bell that would not graphs, charts and posters. Such ious indepe!ldent organizations fit its tower, and the Ensenada subjects as the cause and cure of have expanded their work among Presbyterian Church had a large eye trouble, or the digestive Bolivian Indians; while the tower but no bell, the Presby- processes, are presented. This South American Missionary Soterians bought a small bell and is work along constructive lines. ciety has completed fifty years gave it to the Yauco Baptists, of work in the Paraguayan Chawhile they in turn presented the Protestant Youth in South co. In Chile, the same mission Presbyterians with their 500 America has developed a work among pound bell. Mapuche Indians, two of whom The Protestant young people's have been ordained deacons. Rural Schools in Mexico organizations of Argentina and Uruguay held their second bien- In the Argentine Chaco, work The Federal Government has nial conference last April, with has been most encouraging. At put in operation some very prac- more than 100 delegates, repre- Easter 68 adults were baptized, tical ideas in rural education. senting seven denominations, in and a new area has been opened. Two groups of Southern Metho- attendance. There were three The Unevangelized Fields Misdist missionaries visited a num- visiting delegates from Brazil. sion has continued its pioneer ber of these rural schools last The program centered around work among Kayapo Indians of year, and their impressions are the deepening of spiritual life, Amazonia, who, it will be rereported in the World Outlook. and the challenge of the present membered, killed three mission- Almost every country school has day to young Christians. Three aries (the "three Freds") in a little store which the children things stood out: first, interest 1935. themselves manage, thus learn- in a g g res s i v e evangelism; ing how to buy and sell and order second, a passion for closer co- -International Review of Missupplies, such as pencils, tablets, operation in Christian service, sions. crayons, cookies, etc. Some have irrespective of denominational kitchens where the children differences, and a sense that After the Earthquake in Chile learn how to prepare many vari- Protestant Christians are bound eties of food. One school visited by a common loyalty to Jesus Reconstruction work is under maintained a barber shop, while Christ; finally, a desire that way in Chile, following the dispractically all of them raised Christian forces may reach out astrous earthquake, and at pressome living thing -chickens, into the realms of popular litera- ent there is a huge construction rabbits or pigeons. ture and social life. camp at Chillan, located there for months. Military authorities Nearly every school has an an- In these two republics, young have permitted Mr. William M. nual exhibit of needlework, and people's work is organized under Strong to open a center for rest there are special projects to be two national federations. Each and evangelism right in the undertaken by high school girls; publishes a religious monthly, in- heart of this vast encampment, perhaps a layette for a baby formative and well edited. For -its only place of diversion. brother, or her graduation out- several years the Argentine fedfit, while manual training is of- eration has maintained a bi- Evangelical workers were left practically unharmed by the [373 ] earthquake, says Mr. Strong. He
adds that when in 1757 half of Franco occupied Catalonia, evan- Church shall transfer the right Concepcion sank beneath the gelical churches were not inter- of the use of certain cathedrals, surface in a similar cataclysm, fered with, but it is reported that yet to be named, to the Hitler blasphemy, drunkenness and in- those in Barcelona are closed, Elite Guard for their neo-pagan decency were put aside for a though it is believed to be only ceremonies. long time; and asks if perhaps a temporary measure. a similar result will follow this All three demands were relatest catastrophe. -The Christian. fused on the ground that the Di- rectorate was not empowered to EUROPE The "Church of the Den" make any such decision. The demands were issued by the On the Montmartre, Paris Long before Wycliffe and chief of police over the head of Hus were born, the Waldenses the State's church minister, who The Tabernacle Church on the preached the Gospel which re- is reported to have fallen into Montmartre has a corps of de- formers afterward taught in disfavor among the radical elevoted workers. M. Charlet, an Europe. A few months ago a ment of the government; a reevangelist, was a merchant, a group of British tourists visited port that is coupled with the Parisian skeptic, whom God the great cavern known as "the statement that the "Gestapo" called to the ministry of preach- church in the den.". During the (secret police) are sick and tired ing. Andre Fune is son of a time of the persecution of the of the whole church business. French farmer, who is working Waldenses this cavern was used at real financial sacrifice with as a secret place for worship and Encouragement in the Ukraine his wife, a registered nurse. In study of the Bible. Access to it 1925 a young Swiss engineer, Al- is obtained by crawling through September 25, 1938, was the fred Escher, gave up a career to a narrow tunnel formed in the 950th anniversary of the foundserve this mission church. Fif- long past by a terrific upheaval, ing of the Ukrainian Lutheran teen Hollanders have found when the great rocks fell into Church. At that time a Harvest Christ in these meetings. M. the position which they occupy Festival was celebrated in Stan- Jacques Blocher, trained in the today. From the tunnel one islau, when people came from University of Paris and in the emerges into an immense nat- every direction, by wagon, train Bible Institute, Minneapolis, is ural cathedral, the only shaft of or on foot. All Evangelical Luanother worker. M. and Mme. light coming through an aper- therans participated in a com- Dumesil sold their property at ture in the roof. In this spot munion service, creating a pro- Dieulefit to serve as unpaid vol- hallowed by the prayers of mar- found impression upon all those unteers. M. Memmert came in tyrs a feeling of awe came over present. The Stanislau pastor, 1933 after careful preparation the visitors-a feeling that ex- Rev. Theodore J arczuk, writes in the Bible school of Pastor tended to the muleteers who had of the victories of the Gospel of Saillens at Nogent-sur-Marne guided them to it. They rever- Christ among these people: "The and in Glasgow. This does not ently removed their hats upon results of this Harvest Festival exhaust the list. entering. One of them ap- led to arrangement for a similar proached the leader of the tour- service for the Reformation An effective agency is the Gos- ist party and said, hesitantly, Festival on October 2:0. Attenpel poster; 500 of these have "If Monsieur prayed?" And so, dance was even greater. Those been put up in Paris and sub- with bowed heads and hearts up- who passed the chapel were asurbs. Many persons have bought lifted to the Saviour of all, Eng- tonished at the crowd of people, copies of the Scriptures as a re- lish, Irish and Italian, each and said: 'These Lutherans besult. Sometimes professional praised Him there for the past, lieve in God.' The Festival conbill pOosters tear them down; and asked His help in the future cluded with the singing of 'A sometimes unexpected results for the Waldensian Church. Mighty Fortress Is Our God.' In are produced in connection with many different ways the work other posters. For example, a Confessional Church Crisis was advanced." poster announcing a grand ball, had this significant addition at- Three new demands made on Pastor J arczuk writes further: tached: "And after it is over?" the Confessional Church by the Most of this work is done by the German chief of police, Hein- It has long been the custom of young people of the Tabernacle. rich Himmler, indicate that the Lutheran Ukrainians to worship on struggle between the Church and Epiphany at the bank of a river, in -So S. Times. State is nearing a decisive phase. commemo"ation of the preaching of These demands, as reported by John the Baptist at the River Jordan. Gospel Work in Spain the New York Times, were: 1. A few months ago such a service was The Confessional Church shall held on the banks of the Dniester. Reports vary considerably in relinquish its claim to a share of The crowd was constantly augmented, regard to the prospects for evan- the church tax. 2. The Confes- the nearer it came to the river. From gelical work in Spain, now that sional Church shall surrender its all neighboring villages came the folthe war has ended. Protestant status as a corporation of pub- lowers of the Gospel and the curious. churches are permitted to open lic right. 3. The Confessional At the place where the service was to in some centers, in others they be held, thousands of persons had alremain closed. When General ready gathered, listening with the greatest interest to every word of the service. Among those present were some who had come to disturb the serv-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ice. From the other side of the river at Memia, found no sale for her to work with God in the planta group of agitators came across in a pictures and turned to fruit cul- ing and working of their garboat. As they were crossing one of ture, finally gave that up also; dens.-American Board News. their number cried out: "Either I and offered her home to the Miswill throw the Lutheran pastors into sion. There was no money to "Separatist" Groups the water or will drown myself." But buy, but she agreed to rent and when the service began they listened, now the Mission is established These religious. groups in the and the longer they listened the more there. Union of South Africa number attentive they became. Soon the an- over 500, ilccording to official ger faded; they took off their caps The entire Bible is available figures. Similar movements are and began to nod approvingly. At in Kabyle; portions have been found in other parts of Africa. the close of the service the young man put into the Berber dialects of Whatever may be the underlywho avowed that he would throw us Morocco. So far, the Scriptures ing cause of the rise of these into the water joined our brethren and are almost the only literature in sects, they are hindering the began to make known his sympathy. these dialects. spiritual growth of the African Church. In general, the separa- AFRICA School in Elephant Land tist groups are formed by those who are moved by personal am- The "Book of Manne'rs" Children from the kraals of bition or who wrongly interpret southern Rhodesia attend schools the Scriptures; by those who are Mrs. E. M. Bailey, of the which are merely thatched roof seeking to avoid discipline or United Presbyterian Mission at sheds, and these are often de- have been disciplined by the rec- Minia, Egypt, writes that one stroyed by herds of roaming ele- ognized churches. Sometimes the of the most encouraging things phants. In these so-called "light movements spring from reasons that has happened in the Chris- houses" it costs about $1.40 which are racial or political, or tian school in a long time is the apiece to give the children an from the hope that in the ecclesivoluntary request of some of the elementary education, and is astical sphere the African will graduates for a special Bible their only chance to secure one. be able fo obtain a freedom of class. They are now in a gov- Of this sum, the government action which is denied him in ernment secondary school and supplies 68 cents, the American the political. Owing to the high they find there an atmosphere of Board contributes 30 cents and proportion of illiteracy among profanity and rudeness very dif- the pupil must somehow find the the rank and file of the African ferent from the Christian school other 42 cents, and also buy his people it is always possible for where they grew up. They are books. This would barely sup- a leader of strong personality, coming on a free afternoon to ply movie tickets for the Amer- by specious promises to carry study the Bible and have brought ican child, but we read of one numbers of people with him into several of their new Moslem lad who walked six miles.. each the body which he forms. schoolmates with them. One of way, to cut grass for six cents them, when the Bibles were a day; sold tomatoes from his -Congo Mission News. brought out, asked what they mother's tiny garden, and finally, were. A Moslem girl from last to complete the 42 cents walked WESTERN ASIA year's graduating class replied: six miles with a bunch of bana- "That's the book we get our man- nas on his head to sell them for a Another Side of Palestine ners out of." few cents. Picture Among the Berbers In the same section of Africa It is heartening to sight some there is conducted each year an islands in the sea of trouble Monsieur Warren, of the Paris interesting ceremony called "The which is Palestine. One is what Evangelical Missionary Society, Seed and Hoe Consecration has been described as a "boom" has recently visited the stations Service," a blending of long es- in Christian education. The of the North Africa Mission in tablished African custom and C. M. S. Girls' School at Amman Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Christian practice. Men, women has the confidence of prominent In The Link he describes the and children come with seeds Moslem families, and is looking curious Berber villages of flat- and hoes. The pastor recalls how toward a boarding department roofed houses, reminiscent of the the people would bring grain to for village girls. The Bishop's adventure of the spies in Jericho the chief to be blessed so that it School for Boys in the same (for Berber tradition has it that might be productive. "Here," town is becoming a cultural centhe Berbers are the descendants he points out, "we are bringing ter, and pupils of the different of Canaan's inhabitants, driven grain and hoes to God for His communities are mixing without out by Joshua). This sturdy blessing on our work." At Chik- strain in these schools. A race is not deeply grounded in ore, Rev. Frank T. Meacham re- marked increase of interest in Mohammedanism, and therefore ports that the Community Dem- social work is noted; large nummore or less open to the Gospel. onstrator spoke on the parable bers of the elder boys and girls More than fifty years ago, the of the Sower and then represent- volunteered to teach in daily vafounder of the North Africa atives of the congregation stood cation Bible schools during the Mission was interested in them, before the altar and repeated a summer holidays, and took a but the door was not open for pledge consecrating themselves deep interest in the thousand or evangelization. Years later, an English lady-artist built a home
more children who attended the taught that there is no God, no tees. An interesting experiment score of schools held. use in prayer, and that educated calculated to abolish purdah was people have ceased to be be- the formation of a "family cir- Christian medical work stands lievers. cle" in one constituency, with a out. There is a new hospital at view to promoting inter-commu- Es Salt, and a small temporary On the other hand, there is nal friendship and inculcating a clinic is at work in Jerash. Other developing a more open-minded healthy sense of freedom among hospitals and dispensaries report attitude towards many matters, the sexes, and to encourage increasing work. It seems cer- including religion; and although sport. tain that the spirit of Christ is there is no wide-open door for at work, and new hope has arisen Gospel preaching in Turkey, the Thus Hindu, Mohammedan, that the land sacred to three re- evangelist can get a hearing if Sikh, Parsee and Christian womligions may again become a land there is no suspicion that his en are cooperating for the uplift of peace. message has any political bear- of India's Women. . -International Review of Mis- ing. There is a free field for -Women's Missionary Maga- the circulation of Christian liter- sions. ature; and the Scriptures, which zine. have been published in Latin Palestine After Eighteen Years script, are selling readily. In Soviet Combats Missions the Istanbul area it has been Moses Bailey, writing in The found that the establishment M The Bombay Press Service re- American Friend, describes the small, scattered prayer groups ports': changes he observed in Palestine among the members of the Evanwhen he returned after an ab- gelical and Oriental churches has The Soviet Russian Godless League sence of 18 years. Better roads, served to strengthen and encour- has decided to establish international more land under cultivation, in- age them in life and witness. schools in Moscow to train propacreased orange groves, shade ganda experts to combat the missiontrees, irrigation systems, modern -International Review of Mis- ary work of the Christian Church in ways of doing things, were su- sions. the colonies, especially the humanitarperficial changes first noted. Per- ian and cultural work. Indians, Nehaps the tremendously increased INDIA AND BURMA groes and Arabians will be among the hatred, fear and economic insta- candidates to be trained in these bility might also be signs of Years of Progress :schools. modernity. In the midst of all this it is difficult to train boys The All-India Women's Con- The Bulletin adds: and girls for a useful life. Fiery ference is the acknowledged adnationalists' idea of education is vocate of the women of India, According to information received to have their wits sharpened the without any distinction of creed, in London, special propaganda cambetter to supplant their oppo- caste or class. It has a mem- paign for British India is announced nents. bership of over 8,500. At its by the Riga press bureau of the God- 13th session, about 200 delegates less League. The campaign includes, Mr. Bailey finds two outstand- were in attendance. The criti- among other things, the scattering of ing attributes in the Arab mind: cism that the Conference was 10,000 Russian atheists throughout a genius for friendship and a only for ladies of leisure was re- India. keenness for hard study, not futed, for the delegates were surpassed in any other race, so mostly teachers, doctors and oth- The same facts have been notfar as he has observed. Friend- er workers. ed in European papers. liness and ability form a combination that can go far. There The work of the conference Plea for Economy are two disadvantages, however, during the past year has been as Mr. Bailey sees it; religion, constructive and extensive. Pub- The Soc i a I Reconstruction whether Christian or Moslem, is lic opinion has been enlightened Committee of the American materialistic; and the fact that as to divorce, polygamy and the Marathi Mission presented to the the Arab feels first and thinks legal disabilities of women. Ag- Annual Meeting of the Council afterward; this makes them a ricultural improvement and a recommendation on family fertile field for the demagogue. home industries, such as leather problems, among them the ex- work, clay modeling and needle- travagant marriage c u s tom s Materialism in Turkey work, have been organized in prevalent in the Indian Chris- several centers. Considerable tian community. It was urged The westernization of Turkey attention had been paid to ma- that all Indian Christians and goes on apace; so much so that ternity and child welfare, and especially mission workers armissionaries are saying that it is clinics providing free medical range only simple and inexpennot primarily Mohammedanism, treatment, and in some cases sive weddings, without giving but materialism with which they free milk and clothing, had been dinners to the community, or have to deal. In many govern- established at some centers. The spending money on bands, on ment schools there is not only insanitary condition of certain processions, on lights or on rich no religious. and moral teaching schools and mill areas had been clothing for bride, bridegroom given, but distinct anti-religious tackled by a few health commit- or relatives; and without borteaching. The children are rowing any money for the occa- sion. To encourage those who would prefer to arrange wed- dings within their means, but who yield to the pressure of so- cial opinion, it was recommended
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
that Christians should not attend reminded of it by one of the augurate a New Life Movement, extravagant wedding festivities. women, a fact in itself encour- with the following objectives as aging. So a meeting was called their goal: It was further recommended to plan the campaign, and in- that all mission schools and in- stead of the six women expected, No filth in the house or around it. stitutions should introduce prac- eighteen presented themselves Every Christian wear clean clothes. tical projects which through ex- for Instructions. No debts contracted through mar- perience will teach all students riage, and workers the value of money The women were divided into No excessive interest. and how to use it; and will also groups of three or four, and each No expensive feasts. definitely discourage them from group was assigned a definite All disputes settled out of court. going into debt. number of homes to visit; thus Punctuality, all the homes in one village were Cleansing of tobacco from personal -Dnyanodaya. visited in an afternoon. In two and social life. homes the workers were asked No liquor. Bhil Christians to pray; those who asked for Adoption of a salutation-folding this said they had faith, but to hands and saying namascaram. The story of Christian Work accept Christ openly was a dif- At least one-tenth to Church, Chris- among the Bhils goes back to ferent matter. tian work and charity. the year 182'8, when a British Wiping out the remnants of caste. officer, an earnest Christian, was Mrs. Whitcomb went with a Family devotions every day. in charge of Rajputana, and in different group each day, and No recreation that cannot be taken his administration of the district was deeply moved by the ear- in the name of the Lord Jesus. prayed for the day when these nestness of these women in giv- A cooperative in every village people might hear the Gospel. ing their testimony. Their spirit (Kagawa method), But it was not until 1878 that of good will was contagious, and Wiping out of illiteracy. steps were taken to found a Mis- great benefit came to the work- Cottage industries in every home. sion among these aboriginal ers themselves, for they con- tribes. The C. M. S. put an ap- trasted the hopelessness of the -National Christian Council peal in the church papers for a villagers with the blessings of Review. missionary to go to the Bhil Christianity. country, and two years later a CHINA young recruit went out. After -Outlook of Missions. ten years of uphill work, results A Visitor's Impressions began to appear, and by 1892 Political Advance Helps there was a small Bhil Christian Evangelism A traveler visiting nine out- Church. Coming down to 1939, stations and one main station how has this Mission fared? A A writer in the Missionary of the China Inland Mission, re- recent report says that churches Herald argues that the obstacle marks that three things im- have been .established in nine to progress represented by finan- pressed her especially: the ear- main centers with a total mem- cial retrenchment will turn into nestness of the women, their de- bership of 1047. Schools have a stepping stone to indigenous s,ire to learn and their extreme been opened and there are now evangelization, and the steady poverty. In every place women over 500 pupils in them. building up of an indigenous walked from one to four miles church, because of the political in the early morning, bringing There is also a well developed development of the past year or just a few pieces of dry bread medical work. Presbyterians two. India has taken a long for the noon meal, and would sit have a mission among the same stride toward independence, and on hard benches all day study- people, and many thousands have from now on is ruling herself as ing a hymn, memorizing a bit been baptized in the last few never before; so also she is be- of Scripture, struggling over a years. ginning to realize that she must few characters. When the last also evangelize herself. This is meeting was over they would The work is quiet and inten- the trend of India's Christian trudge back 3 to 8 l~-not only s i ve; sporadic persecution movement; self-government not complaining, but pathetically . breaks out from time to time, but must be paralleled by self evan- grateful for the privilege of the missionaries carryon faith- .gelization. coming. Wind, cold, heat, in no fully the activities of schools, way deterred them, and they hospital, evangelism and pastor- In the light of this conclusion, s,eemed never to tire of meetings, al care. -C. M. S. Outlook. the United Theological College seldom less than two hours long. of Western India is redoubling They have a very real faith. and Women Volunteers its efforts to supply a trained to listen to their stories of an- ministry, and thus do a work of swered prayer is impressive. For some years at Baitalpur, strategic importance for India's Many are in direst economic it has been the custom for Chris- future. straits, yet not one asked for tian women to volunteer for financial help; many eve n evangelistic service in the neigh- Indian "New Life Movement" brought gifts of eggs or sweet boring villages. Mrs. E. W. potatoes to the Mission. Whitcomb who went to Baital- As an outcome of the Mara- pur after furlough knew noth- mon Conference, Christians of The visitor mentions the prev- ing of this custom, but was Travancore have decided to in- alence of demon possession. One saw and heard much of the pow- ers of darkness. In one instance
two Christian workers knelt for now is to institute a movement tians gave cause for alarm, as it two hours beside the afflicted for socialized reform compatible extended to local shops and even person in continuous prayer be- with the aspirations of all pro- necessary food was unobtainable fore release was finally given. gressive people. Portraits of for a time, but happily normal Lenin ruld Stalin have been re- conditions have been resumed. -China's Millions. placed by those of Sun Yat-sen One unfortunate result was the and Chiang Kai~shek. This has apostasy of a whole family of Reveals War Conditions been amply corroborated by oth- Christians with the exception of ers who know China; and this one of its members; and this cir- The Presbyterian Mission in destroys the point of J apanes.e cumstance was the more painful Peiping received the following assertion that they are fighting since the head of that family had letter in Chinese, written by an bolshevism. professed Christianity for nearevangelist living 30 miles outside ly forty years. of Peiping. This is the trans- Future of Medical Missions lation: More Gospels are entering Dr. K. C. Wong, Secretary of Tibet than ever before. Last Do not turn your face away from the Council of Medical Missions, year, with the financial support this my letter. But incline your ear says that of 217 mission hospi- of the National Bible Society of to your evangelist, a man filled with tals 81 were (in March) in "oc- Scotland, an adventurous jour': grief. Since my eyes last saw you I cupied areas," 82 in "fighting ney of two months was underhave been as a tree without leaves. I zones" and but 54 in "free Chi- taken by two evangelists who rehave suffered from one new moon to na." A survey made some ported the acceptance of hunthe other. The church members have months earlier showed that of dreds of copies of the Gospel. passed through four calamities: war, 34 mission hospitals in east Chibanditry, flood and famine. In this na 11 had been bombed or de- During the first three months our country there is no law, there is stroyed, 12 had been damaged of its existence, the "Gospel no peace. Bandits entered our town. or looted, 7 were "occupied" and Inn," of which mention has been They came with big shouting, they left 4 were closed. Since this re- made in these columns, more in clouds of black smoke. As a whirl- port some have been recovered than 800 travelers and pilgrims, wind they went over the land. Spoil- and opened, but almost every 700 ponies, yaks and donkeys ing and violence was before them. At week one or more has been dam- found shelter and more than 2'00 random they killed young and old. aged or destroyed. patients were treated for minor And they considered it but nothing to ailments. A capable Bible womrope seventy of our men together and Dockors and nurses are sadly an and her husband are in throw them into the river. In a well overworked, with most of their charge of the Inn. Beside the near our church twenty-eight women Chinese staff gone. However, daily Gospel talk, each lodger reand girls found death in escape from European refugees have ren- ceives a tract, or buys a Gospel their hands. Young Mrs. Wang, the dered ass,istance. So overwhelm- before he leaves. A public liwife of him who tends the sick in the ing are immediate demands that brary and reading room have mission hospital, was one of them, there has been no time to plan been established, where daily also Mrs. Yang and her daughter, for the future. Relief funds will papers and magazines are availwhom you know. In wartime life is not last forever; doctors cannot able. Another plan to extend the truly cheap. The iniquity of our time run one-man hospitals indefinite- usefulness of the Inn is that of is fiercer than evening wolves. The ly with from 100 to 200 clinical opening a grocery, where tired bandits trampled down the harvest, patients daily besides their in- pilgrims may buy such necessiburned our homes, kidnapped the girls, patients. Before the war many ties as tea, butter, flour and keroand plundered the stores. They took of these hospitals were practical- sene. Judging from the extent away our donkeys and drove our pigs ly self-supporting but for the to which this has been used, the before them. missionaries' salaries. Now the new venture is a success. supporting constituency has fled. Thou, Shepherd-teacher, will re- -Moravian Missions. member how the people used to sing 'One conspicuously efficient as taught at the evangelistic meetings. hospital recently was approached JAPAN -CHOSEN Now everyone is quiet. The men look by the Japanese to rent or to worried, the women have forgotten sell the plant to them, and it is Christianity Gets Official how to smile. For many, death seems reported that a refusal will be Status more desirable than life. A great met by the challenge of a new many have no home, no clothing, no hospital designed far to outshine The 74th Japanese Diet has remoney. 0, thou who art safe out of the mission institution. cently passed all the 89 bills inthis spot of calamity, incline thine ear troduced, not one being rejected and knit the little thread of our hope -The Christian Century. or even altered materially. The into a rope of victory. enactment of the "Religious In Western Tibet Bodies Bill," which in one form -Evangelical Christian. or another has for 40 years been Rev. Walter Asboe, Moravian a bone of contention in legisla- What About the Communists? missionary, reports both encour- tive circles, may have great or agement and disappointment in little significance for Christian- One who has lived long in Chi- the Tibet field. A severe boycott ity depending on what happens na, in a personal letter to a of missionaries and native Chris- in other respects. While acfriend, throws light on a question often asked: Is China going "red"? This writer says that Chinese communists have abandoned many of their ideological concepts, originating in Russia, and much of their violence ; they are now Chinese, first and foremost; their aim
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
knowledging the right to reli- anese laymen and of mission- and surgical work is done by one gious freedom guaranteed by the aries; one half are to be chosen foreign and one Korean doctor. constitution, the bill puts all re- from eastern Japan, and one ligious organizations under the half from western Japan. In 1938, the company spent regulation of the Ministry of over 60,000 yen for this medical Education. Creedal positions and Large Bible rallies in Tokyo service. There were treated in forms of worship must be ac- and Osaka give evidence of a de- the wards, dispensary and the ceptable to the authorities; ad- termined spirit in this move- surrounding villages more than ministrative, legal and property ment. -Bible Society Record. 40,000 patients (this is a record affairs must conform to regula- of treatments-not different pations, and all changes must be Chinese Y. M. C. A. Suppressed tients) . There were more than promptly reported. 400 major operations. Of the The Tokyo correspondent for treatments more than 10,000 Some Christians say that the The Christian Century made a were for outsiders. No charge new bill merely legalizes condi- visit to the parts of the city is made to anyone, but patients tions long in force; that Chris- where formerly many Chinese not employed by the company tianity is now specifically recog- resided and where the Y. M. must pay for their own drugs nized as one of Japan's' three C. A. and other cultural institu- and operating material. The accepted faiths, hence prejudice tions sought to serve those from company has never been known on the part of petty officials can the Celestial Kingdom. Chinese to refuse to send their doctor to no longer be a handicap; that are there still, but both Chinese distant villages to see seriously the new legal status accorded and Christian institutions as sick Koreans. both denominations and local such have disappeared. There communions will prove of advan- was a great exodus of Chinese -Korean Mission Field. tage in penetrating conservative students from Japan in the sumand bigoted regions; and that mer of 1937. Now hundreds of What Medicine Has Done for the bill will discourage the devel- Chinese youths are again com- Chosen opment of superstitious faiths of ing to Tokyo for study-this all sorts. The danger of state time from the occupied regions To form a correct appreciaregulation is minimized. of China. But who now will tion of the part played by medi- help them as did the Y. M. and cine in the regeneration of Ko- -Christian Century. Y. W. C. A. and the churches in rea, says Dr. O. R. Avison, one the days when Sun Yat-sen, Chi- must know what were the con- "Nippon Seisho Kyokwai" ang Kai-shek and C. T. Wang ditions when Protestant missions were occasional sojourners there entered the country in 1884. This is the name of the Japan and had many friends in Tokyo Even forty years ago, practical- Bible Society, recently organ- interested not in the politics but ly everybody was pock marked. ized. It marks another step in in the souls of these youthful All children were expected to the cooperative plans of the seekers after truth? have smallpox before the age of older Bible Societies, and reveals two; so many of them died that the courageous way the younger Medical Work in Mines mothers thought it hardly worth churches are rising to increased while to count a child as a memresponsibilities. One of the Th e Oriental Consolidated ber of the family until he had things that stood out clearly at Mining Company in Korea is survived this disease. An epithe Madras Conference was the known as the American Mines. demic of Asiatic cholera was exfact that these younger churches Its president from the beginning pected every five or six years. have made great strides. Many until he died in 1927 was Henry Both diseases were attributed to of them have grown up in lands C. Perkins of New York who, the power of demons. There was where Christianity was unknown throughout his life, had a deep no knowledge at all of sanitaless than two hundred years ago. interest in the lives of the min- tion ; vermin were abundant; ers and their families, one evi- excrement from human beings Many Japanese Christian lead- dence being the maintenance of infected with all sorts of intesers have been concerned that the medical care for these workers. tinal parasites was used as fer- Scriptures in use in Japan bore tilizer, and raw vegetables eaten the imprint of foreign Bible So- Much could be said of the gen- unwashed, or washed in polluted cieties; and after a number of eral policies of this company; water. Flies had access to conconferences of representatives how it has never been in the taminated places, and to good; of the foreign societies and their courts, has always paid at least mosquitoes were uncontrolled. Japanese advisory committees, a one yearly dividend; never fluc- Those ill with contagious disconstitution was drawn up and tuated prices nor padded its re- eases were not isolated. ratified last October. The essen- ports, but there is space only to tial objectives are the same as speak of the medical work. The One day Dr. Avison was walkthose of Western societies: the company maintains a little hos- ing outside the city gate when translation, publication and dis- pital with room for 25 to 30 in- he saw a strange sight-the tribution of the Scriptures, with- patients. Through a dispensary corpse of a child that had died out note or comment. The gov- and clinic connected with the of smallpox. Here was an operning body is composed equally hosuital 75 or more patients go portunity to pit the strength of of Japanese ministers, of Jap- daily except Sundays. Medical vaccination against the power of
a demon, if only he could be al- and have no Christian influence. from the war scene in Spain, or lowed to try. At first, all offers There are about 4,000 Japanese again it might fit the picture of were refused. Finally, a Chris- Christians living in Formosa. a Jewish refugee group on the tian mother agreed to let him see One hopeful sign for the future border of Czechoslovakia. But what he could do. Her child is the keenness and activity of no, it happened in the U. S. A.; passed its second year and then the Christian youth in Formosa. the pitiful procession was made its third without taking small- up of "sharecroppers" in Mispox; after that other mothers -International Review of souri, evicted from their shanwere anxious to try the new way. Missions. ties because, allegedly, landown- This incident opened the door to ers wished to change from tendisease prevention, and in time In Netherlands Indies ants to day laborers. the government made vaccination compulsory. Today, small- . The first Christian book in One More Poll Needed pox is rare. Javanese, other than the Bible, appeared in 1938. It is a child's We have "had plenty of "polls." -Korea Mission Field. Life of Christ entitled "The King Weare asked how we shall vote of Love." It originally appeared in 1940; even personal habits ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC in Arabic, then in Urdu, then are inquired into, so that we Persian. Christian work among know how everybody feels; but "For Value Received" young people in both Java and why not have a poll as to what Sumatra is being steadily pro- the churches intend to do about Filipino Christians are assum- moted. Annual conferences and the missionary enterprise? ing more and more responsibil- a Christian newspaper are some Would it not be possible to ask ity for work, which a few years of the means used. Autonomous 100,000 people in typical churchago had to be done, if at all, by churches are to be found in dif- es some such questions as: the missionaries. For example, ferent areas of the Indies, but in the wife of a Filipino professor some sections missionary work (1) Do I really believe that Jesus at Silliman University is teach- is forbidden by the government; started the missionary method, and ing music while the missionary in northern Sumatra and in Bali, believed that. His Gospel would evenhead of the department is absent for example, but Christians from tually win the world? on furlough. "Don't worry about other localities settle in these salary," she said. "Silliman gave areas, bringing their faith and (2) Do I really believe that my anme my education, and if I can witness with them. The fact cestors received civilization and every be of service I shall be glad." that now for the first time in uplifting ideal they possessed through One of the assistant professors Borneo the Asiatic ministry of Christian missionaries? Clearly this has started a flourishing cooper- the Church exceeds the Euro- seems true, and how anyone can doubt ative in Dumaguete; while an pean holds out hope for the fu- our obligation to share similar lifeinstructor is teaching local farm- ture. giving and level-lifting Christian ers how to make better use of ideals is beyond understanding. their resources. Still another -International Review of goes regularly to the small Missions. (3) Despite taxes, losses, fears, but churches to help with the music. admitting most of us still live in com- NORTH AMERICA fortable homeR and eat thrice a day, -Monday Morning. do I really believe that an annual per Where Did This Happen? capita gift of fifty cents per member Christianity in Formosa in our denomination proves our part- Last January the New York nership in a progressive and victori- Restrictions have been placed Times published a news story ous enterprise like winning a world on Christian work in Formosa, from which the paragraph be- for the Gospel of Christ? as elsewhere in the Japanese low is taken. Missions reprinted empire. Efforts have been made it and asked its readers to guess (4) Do I really believe that our to force all Formosan household- what part of the world the story missionaries exert important influers to set up miniature Shinto came from. ences for world peace, and that shrines, and neglect to do so has through them we are aidinp.: in the led to trouble in some districts. Along two highways more than progress of the Kingdom of God? This order is as unacceptable to 1,000 men, women and children non-Christians as to Christians, camped in the open air. They hud- -American Board News. since the former regard the sub- dled around camp fires, or makeshift stitution of new emblems for old stoves, along desolate rights of way, "Temperance Trailer" as destroying their own ances- sharing the contents of huge steaming tral religion. kettles. The number of camps was A "Temperance Trailer," still growing at nightfall as new- sponsored by the Friends' Tem- In 1936, the Canadian Mission comers straggled in on foot, or in perance Association of Philadelwithdrew from the Tansui Mid- dilapidated vehicles. The camps dot- phia, has made a transcontidle, and Girls' Schools in For- ted the road all the way to the border nental tour of over 10,000 miles, mosa, because of government re- line. Men feeble with age, one woman stopping in more than a hundred quirement in regard to shrine so ill that she had to be carried on a towns in twenty-eight states, and attendance. These schools are cot, and babies crying from fright and carrying a temperance message now under local management, hunger, added to the distressing pic- to over 150,000 persons. The ture. trailer is fitted out with various exhibits, including a "drunko- It might describe the plight meter," designed to dramatize of the Chinese; it might come the dangers of alcohol. Tem- perance lectures are given, and questions from the audience are
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
answered by the crew of three. missing from my daily life. In which he demonstrates the pos- There has been no acrimonious that immortal masterpiece of sibility of the miraculous by scidebate, or hostility. literature I find new inspiration. entific analogy. Up to March, That is why the Holy Bible is many thousands had listened to -The American Friend. my favorite book." these demonstrations; sometimes the lectures start thirty minutes Immanuel Mission to Seamen -Lutheran News Bureau. early because the auditorium is jammed. The audiences are Laden with Scripture por- Organization Changes Name about ninety per cent untions, workers of Immanuel churched. There have been defi- Mission to Seamen enter cabins The "International Save the nite conversions. A San Franand crews' quarters on vessels Children Fund," as this agency cisco daily observes that these of all types and nationalities has been called since its organ- lectures leave the audience less along the Pacific Coast. Oppor- ization in 1931, is now to be cock sure of their own wisdom, tunity to read at sea, the absence known as the "Save the Children and with a feeling that the mirof opposition and a lack of di- Federation." The President, acles of the Bible are not so imversion ensure a friendly recep- Dr. John R. Voris, says that the possible as they had supposed. tion for these workers. The name Federation is adopted be- Alaska salmon fleet carries a cause this is a movement, or as- Institutions Closed mixed group of Americans, Chi- sociation, and the name "Fund" nese, Italians, Scandinavians, no longer describes its functions, Because of financial strin- Mexicans and Filipinos. They as it did in the beginning. Drop- gency the Presbyterian Board. beg for reading matter, for ping the word "International" is of National Missions has voted Alaska is almost a spiritual of no significance, except to to close three of its institutions: wilderness. shorten the name. The Federa- the American Indian Institute, tion will continue to maintain Wichita, Kansas; Ingleside-Fee Malay and Javanese Scrip- relationship with the Save the Institute, Burkeville, Virginia; tures find their way to the crews Children International Union of and Brainerd Institute, Chester, of Dutch East Indies boats, and Geneva, of which the fund has South Carolina, in the Negro. Spanish booklets are used with been the American member ever field. All three have been givgreat blessing on various ships since its founding. The question ing splendid service, but their coming in to San Francisco from of changing the title of the agen- discontinuance was the only al- Puerto Rico. American liners cy has been under consideration ternative to a general retrenchsailing across the Pacific are for more than two years. Effort ment, which would have crippled supplied with Bible portions and has been made to find a still the entire program of the Board.. booklets. For a period of more shorter name.-The Churchman. than 24 years this work has been At the same meeting at which carried on among seamen. The Radio as a Missionary this decision was made it was Voice voted that the new hospital be- -Scripture Gift Mission ing erected to replace the over- Bulletin. The "Lutheran Hour," a Sun- crowded Brooklyn Cottage Hos- day afternoon coast – to – coast pital at Dixon, N. M., be named The Bible in the CCC broadcast, can claim a mission- the Embudo Presbyterian Hospi- ary bearing. Dr. Walter A. tal; and that the staff home be When CCC boys were asked Maier, of the Concordia Semi- called the Brooklyn-Nassau Cottheir preference in reading mate- nary Faculty in St. Louis, who tage. Embudo will be the post rial, a large majority indicated broadcast over 66 stations from office address of the new hospithat the Bible is their favorite October to Easter Sunday has tal. The name of the staff home book. The reasons given for this been heard by sailors on the high is the Board's expression of appreference were varied, but first seas, by isolated men in lumber preciation for the continued prize, if one had been awarded, and mining camps in the north interest of Brooklyn – Nassau would go to Wayne Berkshire of woods, by distinguished person- Presbyterial Society in this Company 793, Hill City, S. Da- ages high in the business, pro- project. kota, for the following reply: fessional and social life of the "My favorite book is the Holy nation – by a vast audience Indians Set Example Bible. Why? Because it is my whose number can be estimated mother's and my own wish that only from the tremendous num- In proportion to their means, I develop a more wholesome, sin- ber who send in their comments, the Sioux Indians give more for c ere and faithful religion. totaling 133,000 last season. the promotion of Christian activ- Through the Bible and, of course, ities than any other church the Church, I am striving to Treasure Island Gospel Project members anywhere. Once they reach that goal. I have discov- were the fiercest, most war-like ered and constantly rely upon Mention has been made of the of all North American Indians. the magic powers of prayer when San Francisco Christian Busi- They were the ones who wiped in trouble, in doubt, and at the ness Men's presentation of the out General Custer and his cavclose of every day. If I could Gospel at the Golden Gate Expo- aIry; now, every member of the not have access to the Bible each sition through Irvin Moon's tribe is a professed Christian, day, I would feel that something "Sermons from Science," in important and necessary was
All of them are peaceful farm- MISCELLANEOUS Persia …………….. . 40,000 ers. 40,000 Fifty Years-Past and Future Brazil …………….. . 24,141 A few years ago when grass- 23,553 hoppers and drouth practically United Presbyterian young India ……………… . 20,000 ruined farmers, many church people have been celebrating fif- Australia ………….. . 19,850 people advocated withdrawal ty years of organized work in from the South Dakota field, but their denomination, and are con- Mexico ……………. . 7,800 the Sioux Indians held a mass sidering the situation of today in China …………….. . 4,000 meeting, pledged a fifty per cent its relation to that of fifty years 2,591 increase in their giving and hence; facing a world of today, Cuba ……………… . adopted the slogan, "Move For- terribly disorganized economi- Spain …………….. . ward."-United Presbyterian. cally, socially, internationally, religiously and morally. They New Zealand ………. . The Church in the Arctic realize that there probably nev- er was a day of greater oppor- World O. E. Advance The aeroplane and the wire- tunity for youth to make an imless have caused tremendous press on their world. The older Two important changes in changes in mission work in the generation is looking on with Christian Endeavor activities Arctic regions. Last year Bish- keen interest as it sees young have taken place across the op Fleming traveled from 15,000 people ready and eager to spend Pacific. The Methodist Episcopal to 16,000 miles through the east- a large part of their summer Church of southern Asia has ern Arctic, covered much work vacation period in listening at- voted to discontinue the Epwhich had never been done be- tentively to leaders who try to worth League to permit its youth fore, and could not have been direct their energies in the path organizations to unite with the attempted but for the aeroplane. of Christ's Kingdom. While this Christian Endeavor Union of Plane travel is not expensive, fiftieth anniversary celebration India, Burma and Ceylon. This considering the e nor m 0 u s has paid tribute to the "giants is another step toward union of amount of time saved thereby. there were in those days," it Protestant missionary programs For the better spiritual care of makes clear that the younger in southern Asia. The Methodist the 11,000 people-Indians, Es- generation has a whole army of Church has nearly half a million kimos and white folk-within possible "giants." members in India, and more the Arctic Circle and a distance than 54,000 are registered in below it, the diocese of the Arc- -United Presbyterian. Methodist schools. tic was constituted in 1933, and comprises one-third of the whole Where Can the "Wandering The second move was the for- Dominion of Canada. Jew" Wander? mation of a Pacific Region of the World Christian End e a v 0 r There are two hospitals in the Union, to include China, Japan, diocese: All Saints, at Aklavik, Korea, Manchoukuo, New Zeaand St. Luke's at Pangnirtung. land, Australia, the Philippines, Remembering that the diocese the Fiji and Samoan Islands, and comprises over a million square other Pacific island groups. miles, one understands why Bishop Fleming is seeking to found From his original home in Pal- Youth at Amsterdam a third on the north shore of estine the Jew has wandered far Hudson Strait. The existing and wide. He has indeed been There is an alarming regimenhospitals are fully equipped with "the wandering Jew." The tation of young people in many electric light, X-ray apparatus, Christian Evangelist has given parts of the world in movements operating theaters, and other de- that are anti-Christian, or at sirable and necessary features·. an interesting tabulation to show least non-Christian. A World The government supplies the the present distribution of Jews Conference of Christian Youth doctors: the Church provides throughout the world: to be held at Amsterdam, Holthe staff and upkeep. land, July 24-August 3, is United States ………. . 4,228,029 planned to make the Christian Primitive animism is the re- 3,028,837 youth of the world more aware ligion of the native, Eskimo and Poland ……………. . 2,676,109 of their heritage in the Chris- Indian alike. Nineteen clergy- tian faith, and more forceful one an Eskimo deacon-and six- Russia ……………. . 728,115 and courageous in applying the ty or more lay workers assist Rumania …………… . 514,269 message of the Church in a Bishop Fleming. There is also Near East …………. . 499,682 world whose disintegrating forcwork for white people. Each 444,567 es are placing Christianity benorthern settlement has its Hud- Germany ………….. . 356,830 fore one of the greatest tests of son's Bay Company store, the Hungary ………….. . 300,000 its history. barracks of the Royal Canadian 260,000 Mounted Police (the "Moun- Czechoslovakia ……… . 240,000 The conference program is the ties"), and the wireless. station. Great Britain ………. . 191,408 result of two years of consulta- 161,312 tion among youth leaders from -Life of Faith. Argentina …………. . 156,817 all parts of the world. The 155,614 daily worship service will enable France ……………. . 155,125 all delegates to attend the type Austria ……………. . 110,127 of service to which they are ac- customed, and also to experience Morocco …………… . 95,000 other worship customs. 81,280 Netherlands ………… . 72,791 Canada ……………. . 72,550 Lithuania ………….. . 60,000 Algeria ……………. . 59,485 South Africa ……….. . 51,000 47,825 Turkey ……………. . Greece …………….. . Egypt …………….. .
Belgium …………… .
Tunis …………….. . Abyssinia ………….. . Italy ……………… .
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Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Cry Dance. A Novel of the Ameri- It is an attempt to provide a While the main emphasis in can Indian. By Coe Hayne. 8 Yo. guide to the solution of life's dif- "This Business of Living" is 255 pp. $2.00. Harper & Bros. New ficult and often tragic problems. upon personal and individual York. 1939. Who among us would not wel- problems, the author pauses come assistance at this point and more than once to point out the The American Indians are a who is there without some friend application of his proffered solupicturesque and romantic people. or acquaintance whose need for tion to the larger social and na- They have been exploited, exhib- wisdom and guidance is great tional problems as well. "There ited, abused and protected for is no problem that is not in printwo hundred years. They sur- indeed? ciple a personal problem," he vive but are not yet made a civi- But will this book meet that truly says. And here are a few lized, Christian and integral part other wise observations: "Any of the nation. Many are strong need? Undoubtedly it will for victory won by force is a defeat" characters and capable of becom- the more intelligent reader, for ing highly educated and efficient the person who is equipped to "An agreement reached unde' r leaders. understand and appropriate that which is not always easy read- pressure is not an agreement, but As Secretary of Research of the ing. But it is a question whether the perpetration of a disagree- American Baptist Home Mission the common man, untrained in ment." "All war is defeat." "We Society, the Rev. Coe Hayne, philosophical and psychological must never surrender to the behas had many opportunities to lief that force has the last word." study the Indians on the reser- terms and methods, will find These words are true for the invations and has come to love and much of this helpful book avail- dividual; they are no less true admire them. Here he has told able for his needs. This is to be for nations. a stirring story of a young In- regretted since the common man dian, "Yosemite," who gave up is often the one who most des- VICTOR G. MILLS. his college course, and fine pros- perately needs the help which pects of a professional career, to Dr. Grensted offers. If the meth- Dynamic Christianity and the World throw in his lot with his people od and style of the book as a Today. By Samuel M. Zwemer. 8vo. in the Sierras and champion whole had been closer to the free 17? pp. 28. 6d. Intervarsity Fellowtheir cause in the struggle and easy spirit of the title it shIp. London; Zondervan Publishagainst poverty and wrong and would be more useful where ing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. in behalf of their rights in Amer- most needed. 1939. ica. A young white woman joined in the fight for the Red Yet with this one limitation, There are good reasons why man. "Cry Dance" tells the let it be said that for many, es- only earnest, believing followers story of the struggle-which pecially for those who would still continues. There are ad- help others in meeting life's of Christ are interested in proventures, bitter fights, and two moting Christian missions. One love stories woven into the nar- problems and crises, this book must believe in the importance rative. It is an incompleted tale will provide very real assistance. but the author shows good judg- Workers with troubled minds of a cause and in the claims of ment in his outcome of the love and hearts will be bet t e r its leader before one will give stories of white folk and Indians. equipped for reading it. It notes time and strength and money to Young people will find the novel advance that cause. Dr. Zwemof particular interest. It has a the nature of life's most common er has proved his faith by his definite Christian tone. problems, always stressing the works for he has spent nearly fifty years in many lands seek- This Business of Living. By L. W. fact that in the last analysis all ing to win Moslems to Christ- Grensted. 187 pp. $1.75. Mac- of these problems come back to by voice and pen and life. He millan. New York. 1939. the problem of self. The inef- knows that the only kind of Christianity worth following A cover notice calls this "a fectiveness of the common meth- and worth propagating is "Dy- book for everyman." One can- ods of help is made clear. And namic Christianity." This is the not but wish that this were more then the author points out the Christianity of the living Christ nearly the case, for every man one adequate answer which is who is the ever present Head of needs what this book has to offer. found through religion, when His Church and the motivating rightly conceived, and preemi- and achieving power of the Gos- nently through Christianity. The pel. chapter on "The Way of Release" is especially worth while.
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The author has given us here wealth of Christian doctrine, scenes are laid, gives additional a dynamic book. The Gospel that and the last three which deal he proclaims is the same that with Christian experience based value to leaders of children's came through Jesus Christ and on that doctrine. Her analytical that "turned the world up-side- mind does not prevent her from groups. H. H. F. down" in the days of the Apos- seeing the beauty of the truth tles. It is the Gospel founded on she presents nor do her outlines Mary Reed of Chandag. By Lee S. faith in the Bible as the inspired obscure the life and power. One Huizenga. 37 pp. Paper, 35 cents. Word of God and in Christ as the wishes that she had drawn more Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Son of God and only Redeemer largely on her rich experiences Rapids, Mich. 1939. of men. This is the heart of to illustrate the truths presented. Christianity that has proved its But there is a reality and a glow Almost everyone knows the truth and power and that is dy- in her Christian life that is con- story of Mary Reed, who went namic today among all peoples tagious. These studies in Ephe- to India in 1884; became a leper; to whom the Gospel is pro- sians will richly reward any was healed through prayer and claimed in the power of the Holy student-preacher, teacher, mis- for forty-seven years has di- Spirit. sionary or layman. rected the Chandag Leper Home in the foothills of the Himalayas. Dr. Zwemer shows clearly that They Dared to Live. By Robert M. She recently celebrated her 83d this Gospel is everlasting; that Bartlett. 12mo. 135 pp. $1.25. birthday. This little, illustrated it has not changed; that it is Association Press. New York. book retells a story and gives absolute and is vitally linked 1939. important facts about leprosy with the "Changeless Christ." and its modern treatment. He shows that, while this Gos- This series of thirty-five tenpel is neglected and repudiated minute biographies are very H. H. F. by many who refuse to believe, brief stories of explorers, scienit is the Gospel that the whole tists, teachers, reformers, stu- Meditations on the Holy Spirit. By world needs today. The work of dents, social workers, artists, Toyohiko Kagawa. 167 pp. $1.50. Christ has made great progress, authors, doctors, political lead- Cokesbury Press, Nashville, Tenextens.ively and intensively, and ers and missionaries and Amer- nessee. 1939. mankind is accessible as never icans. They include British, before, but there are still great French, Chinese, Japanese, Ger- The world famous Japanese regions of the world and vast mans, Swiss, Russians, Czechs, Christian has given us an attracareas of humanity that are un- Africans, Norwegians, Indians tive statement of some great enlightened by a knowledge of and others. There are well- principles of the spiritual life. "the Light of the World." known names like Helen Keller Throughout it the author shows and President Masarayk, and ob- a strong mystical tendency. He This is not only an intensely scure persons like Roland Hayes is definitely Trinitarian and interesting and informing book, and Pierre Ceresole. The great clearly stands for the Personit is inspiring and dynamic. disappointment is t hat the ality of. the Holy Spirit. What would be the result if sketches are too brief, but they every Christian minister should make one wish to know more Readers who accept the inread it? about these men and women who errancy of the Bible will be dis- dared to work against obstacles turbed by Dr. Kagawa's tend- The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of and for a high purpose, and suc- ency to rationalize some of the the Christian. By Ruth Paxson. ceeded. miracles. He also appears to ac- 8vo. 222 pages. $1.50. Revell. cept Darwin's views of the New York. 1939. Far Round the World. By Grace W. "Origin of the Species" quite un- McGavran. Illustrated by Mar- critically. Another questionable Miss Paxson is already well garet Ayer. 118 pp. Cloth, $1.00. point is a rather naturalistic known through her spiritual Friendship Press, N. Y. 1939. view of the personal spiritual presentation of "Life on the experience of the Lord Jesus. Highest Plane." She is a devout Miss McGavran, the REVIEW'S With such reservations it is only and intelligent Bible teacher and Editor of "Effective Ways of fair to say that there is a great an evangelist of rare gifts and Working," and the author of deal that is searching and helpgraces; she has been widely and "Missionary Stories for Chil- ful, for the book evidently comes wonderfully used of God in dren," gives here eleven splendid out of deep personal experience. China, in Europe and America. stories showing the improve- The supernatural view of the ments of social conditions, de- Holy Spirit is accepted. In the present volume Miss cline in race prejudice, braving Paxson gives us some fruitful re- danger in Mexico, India, Africa, F. E. G. sults of her study in the letter Japan, China, Paraguay, Ceylon to the Ephesians, which she calls and the Philippine Islands. They Studies in First and Second Kings the "Grand Canyon of Scrip- describe events that actually and First and Second Chronicles. ture." It is remarkably rich, happened. A section at the back Arranged by Grace Saxe. 35 cents. suggestive and stimulating. She of the book, supplying facts 112 pp. Bible Colportage Assn. points out the connection be- about the countries in which the Chicago. 1939. tween the first three chapters, which deal chiefly with the These twenty-three studies in Old Testament history are de- signed for individual or class work. Exposition and applica- tion are well balanced. The mor- al lessons seem to flower forth
Encyclopedia of Religious
"How many baptized Christians in Burma?" "Where is the headquarters of the Evangelical Church?"
"How much does the average Baptist give to his church?" "Name three Christmas dramas suitable for church presentation." "How many denominations in the United States?" ''What are the best available books on the life of st. Paul 1"
"How many Christian missionaries in Egypt?" "What is Kingdomtide?"
"Is church giving going up or down 1" "Where is Washburn College located?"
"To what church does the Governor of Ohio belong?"
You can answer these and many more by turning to the proper pages in CHURCH MANAGEMENT DIRECTORY for 1939, now available in your book store. The price is but 65c. (by mail 75c.). If your bookstore cannot supply you, send the proper remittance to address l;Ielow. This directory offers the most complete almanac for the Protestant field.
CHURCH MANAGEMENT : Auditorium Building : Cleveland, Ohio from the Scripture itself. God Launch Out Into the Deep. By An' The New Sovereignty. Reiinald is clearly seen to be at work be- drew Gih. Edited by J. Edwin Orr. Wallis. 93 pp. Is. Pickering & hind the scenes. The great uni- 119 pp. Cloth, 40 cents. Zonder- Inglis. London. fying message in Kings and in van Publishing House, Grand Rap· Chronicles, Miss Saxe makes ids, Mich. 1938. One Gospel for Mankind. Hugh abundantly clear, in the impera- Vernon White. 72 pp. 35 cents. tive need of trusting God and Among the consecrated Chi- Friendship Press. New York. obeying Him. The book would nese soul winners is Andrew be still better if the author did Gih, now on an evangelistic tour Right Here at Home. Frank S. not lean so heavily upon a very in war-torn China. Previously, Mead. 183 pp. $1.00, and 60 cents. limited number of Bible scholars he made a three months' tour of Friendship Press. New York. for her quotations and if she had Australia with J. Edwin Orr, included more thought-provok- who says he was second to none Studies in I and II Kings and I and ing questions, along with the list for effectiveness. This book is II Chronicles. Grace Axe. 112 pp. of fact questions, at the end of in two parts: the first half be- 35 cents. B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. each lesson. ing s tor i e s of conversions through the Bethel Evangelistic When I Awake. Jack C. Winslowe. C. NORMAN BARTLETT. Bands, and the second half a 78 pp. Is. 6d. Hodder and Stough- collection of Bible readings on ton. London. The Doctor Comes to Lui. A Story such subjects as "The Dry of the Beginnings in the Sudan. By Bones," "Catching Fish," and The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of Eileen Fraser. Illus. 71 pp. Is. "The Way to Victory." "His vi- the Christian. Ruth Paxson. 222 Church Missionary Society. Lon- tal exposition of the Word of pp. $1.50. Revell. New York. don. 1939. God captivated both the saved and the unsaved," says Mr. Orr Yesterdays in Persia and Kurdistan. The reviewer and his wife in the preface; "Not a single Frederick G. Coan. 284 pp. $2.50. spent some years in the Sudan theme will be easily forgotten." Saunders Studio Press. Claremont, enjoying the personal acquaint- Calif. ance of the author and Bishop H.H.F. Gwynne who wrote the intro- Cry Dance. Coe Hayne. 255 pp. duction to the book. The story New Book. $2.00. Harpers. New York. of the establishment of many bush schools in darkest Sudan; The Acts of the Apostles. Studies The Greatest Words in the Bible and cutting down the jungle and let- in Primitive Christianity. W. H. in Human Speech. Clarence E. ting in the Christ; these are in- Griffith Thomas. 93 pp. 30 cents. Macartney. $1.50. 103 pp. Cokescluded, with some stories of the B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. bury Press. Nashville. mauling of African natives by buffaloes, lions and leopards and The Faith We Declare. Edwin Homeland Harvest. Arthur H. Limtheir recovery under the skillful Lewis. 236 pp. $2. Cokesbury ouze. 211 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents care of Dr. Fraser. One feels Press. Nashville. paper. Friendship Press. New that the reader stands in the York. presence of a great and modest Far Round the World. Grace W. servant of Jesus Christ. Mrs. McGavran. 118 pp. $1.00. Friend- One Family. C. M. S. Review of Fraser's self-abnegation in writ- ship Press. New York. 1938-39. 62 pp. 6d. Church Mising of her talented husband and sionary Society. London. herself is remarkable but we The Gospel, in the Pentateuch. Herwould like to know more of bert Lockyer. 125 pp. 50 cents. Personality and Character Developthem. A minor criticism might B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. ment. J. D. Messick. 192 pp. $1.50. be that the narrative skips back Revell. New York. and forth in a way that makes God's Purpose. A Book of 365 Serit bewildering to follow the monettes for Home Worship. 366 The Remarkable Jew. His Wonder~ dates and, sequence of events. pp. 50 cents paper; $1.00 limp ful Future. L. Sale-Harrison. 224 fabrikoid; $1.50 art leather. Win- pp. 28. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. T. A. LAMBIE. ston. Philadelphia. London.
The Meaning of War. James W. The Rural Church in the Far East. Johnson. 57 pp. 75 cents. Revell. Ralph A. Felton. 258 pp. $1.25. New York. Friendship Press. New York.
The S. P. G. Story. 1939. 156 pp. 6d. Society for Propagating the Gospel. London.
Builder of Dreams. The Life of Robert Edward Chambers. Ruth Carver Gardner and Christine Cof- fee Chambers. $1.00. 200 pp. Broad- man Press. Nashville.
Day Dawn in Yoruba Land. Charles E. Maddry. 217 pp. Broadman Press. Nashville.
MOSLEM
PUBLISHED BY THE HARTFORD SEMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY Some Articles in the July Number Broadcasting Our Message Samuel M. Zwemer After Madras Paul W. Harrison The Theological Approach Al Sha'ranI the Mystic lens Christensen Our Debt to Moslem Arabs Margaret Smith An East African Experience An Ordeal in Central Asia lohn Clark Archer Mission Frontier in Palestine A. Rowland Pittwa'Y International Relations G. Raquette Book Reviews Survey of Periodicals E. Theodore Bachmann Robert S. Darbishire Current Topics Sue Moll~son Foster ._-•• SUBSCRIBE NOW ….- __ 150 Cents a Copy. $2.00 It Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN & SCOTl', 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net HAVE YOU READ?
THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER The biography of a remarkable missionary whom the (then) Prince of Wales visited in Bombay at the request of his mother, Queen Victoria.
What some readers say of this book: Robert Speer's "Life of George Bowen of Bombay" is one was so far·sighted and so deep.seeing!-the former because of the richest of missionary biographies. the latter. If one wants to sum up the interests of our DR. J. LOVELL MUllIlAY, Director of the Canadian School of Missions, Toronto. students today-Biblical, social, theological-Bowen is a What a life! He was old enough to know why be went, representative ligure. And what a lesson in apparent failure! and bad enough to know the meaning of salvation. One by. product of his experience was his wonderful bumility-noth. . • . I feel strongly that' every student and alumnus of our ing in the show window and himself in the remote back. ground. It is inspiring. Seminary needs this book. Wbat better book to lead them to DR. GBORGI! P. PIERSON, formerly of Japan. feed on the Bible. One bears so much "vestibule religion"- We must all be grateful for this revealing of the main· men pointing to the door and taking their people as far as the springs of Bowen's character, his abiding faith in God, his threshold, but no opening up of the treasures within the earnest purpose to be a true and faithful follower of Jesus Christ; and his deep.seated conviction that the Gospel of Father's House. Read the topics of current sermons, and Christ could meet the religious needs of India's people. Bowen's expositions are precisely what Christians need in order to grow from puerility into spiritual maturity. Here is no WILLIAM HAzEN, adolescent, but a man in Christ. This is no volume to be Missionary in ShoJapur, India. read and dismissed, but to be marked and to be turned to repeatedly. A biography of one of the saintliest ligures of the nine. teenth century. I could not put the book down. There is a HBNRY SLOANB COFFIN, fascination and a depth in this man's soul which held me in President of Union Seminary.
devout attention. I found myself marking his moving sayings The Memoirs of George Bowen will continue to be for which would serve as starting points for chapel talks. He years to come a searching manual of devotion. He has set before me an ideal which few could attain; his life is a scath· ing rebuke to our ease, comfort, self.indulgence and ind- J. Ross STEVENSON, liciency.
President Emeritus, P,inrelon Seminar,.
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