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T/ie ^Missionary Review
of the World x^JJ^r^
(* MAY 5 1911
^Siomki SEW
Vol. XXIII. New Series Vol. XXXIII. Old Series
JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1910
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF REV. ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D. Rev. D. L. Leonard, D.D.
Rev. J. Stuart Holden Rev. Louis Meyer
MANAGING EDITOR Delavan L. Pierson
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY
NEW YORK LONDON I9IO
Copyright, 1910
BY
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY Printed in the United States
ORGANIZATION OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
Edinburgh, Scotland, June 14 to 23, 1910
President
The Right Hon. Lord Balfour, of Burleigh, K. T. Vice-Presidents
The Right Hon. Lord Reay, Sir John Kennaway, Sir Andrew H. L. Fraser British Executive Committee
The Master of Pohvarth and Duncan McLaren, Esq J oi.it-Chairmen
Mr. J H. Oldham, M.A., and Kenneth McLennan Secretaries
American Executive Committee
Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D Chairman
Rev. Henry Carroll, LL.D., and Wm. Henry Grant, Esq Secretaries
Continental Executive Committee
Bishop Benjamin La Trobe Chairman
Rev. Julius Richter, D.D " Secretary
The Commissions I. Carrying the Gospel unto all the Non-Christian World.
Mr. John R. Mott Chairman
Rev. George Robson, D.D., and Rev< Julius Richter, D.D Vice-Chairmen
IL The Native Church and Its Workers.
Rev. J. C. Gibson, D.D Chairman
Rev. Walter R. Lambuth, D.D Vice-Chairman
III. Education in Relation to the Christianization of National Life.
The Bishop of Birmingham Chairman
Prof. Edward C. Moore, D.D / 'ice-Chairman
IV. The Missionary Message in Relation to Non-Christian Religions.
Prof. D. S. Cairns, D.D. Chairman
Mr. Robert E. Speer, M.A Vice-Chair man
V. The Preparation of Missionaries.
President W. Douglas Mackenzie, D.D Chairman
Prof. J. 0. F. Murray, D.D Vice-Chairman
VI. The Home Base of Missions.
Rev. James L. Barton, D.D Chairman
Herr Frederick Wurtz, G. W. MacAlpine, and Rev. J. P. Maud . . . Vice-Chairmen
VII. Relation of Missions to Governments.
Lord Balfour Chairman
Hon. Seth Low Vice-Cliairman
VIII. Cooperation and Unity.
Sir Andrew H. L. Fraser, LL.D Chairman
Mr. Silas McBee Vice-Chairmam
PORTRAITS IN THE FRONTISPIECE
(i) Lord Balfour"; (2) Hon. Seth Low; (3) Rev. Walter R. Lambuth, D.D. ; (4) Bishop La Trobe1; (5) Dr. Eugene Stock; (6) Rev. Harlan P. Beach, D.D. ; (7) Rev. James L. Barton, D.D. ; (8) Dr. Julius Richter; (9) Rev. J. Campbell Gibson, D.D.1; (10) Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D. ; (11) Rev. H. K. Carroll, LL.D.; (12) Hon. Duncan McLaren3; (13) Mr. J. H. Oldham; (14) Mr. John W. Wood; (15) Mornay Williams. Esq.; (16) Sir Andrew Fraser'; (17) Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson, D.D. ; (18) Hon. S. B. Capen, LL.D.; (iy) Wm. J. Scheiffelin, Ph.D.; (20) Rev. Professor George Owen; (21) Rev. Professor D. S. Cairn.4
1 Copyright by Elliott & Fry.
3 Photograph from Lafayette, London. 3 Photograph from Alex. Ayton, Edinburgh. 4 Photograph bj Hardie, Aberdeen.
OFFICERS AND COMMISSIONERS OF WORLD'S MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
(Sec 'other si(]e for names of officers and copyright notice)
The cMissionary Review of the World
Published by Funk nod \V agnails Company (Is;
â– K. Funk, Prei., A. W. Wagnalls. Vke-Pres., Robert J. Cuddiliy, Treas., Robert Srott, Sec'll, 44-60 E. 23d St., New York
Vol. XXXIII. No. 6
Old Series
JUNE, 1910
Vol. XXIII. No. 6 New Series
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
THE MOVEMENT TOWARD PEACE
The emergence of ex-President Roosevelt from African wilds is again pushing him to the front as a pac- ificator. The newspapers and tele- graph wires have been unusually busy announcing conferences with kings and emperors and publishing conjec- tures as to possible negotiations and preparations for reduced armament and restricted warfare. In Italy it is reported that this marvelous man, who just now seems to have peculiarly the ear of the world, deplored the rapidly increasing armies and arma- ments of our day ; and it is said that only the unprecedented activity of other leading nations like Britain and Germany in building Dreadnoughts compels him to urge the United States to keep her navy abreast of other peo- ple.
Mr. Roosevelt himself prefers a Hague court, and a parliament of man, to any number of soldiers or seamen, and the white flag of truce to any war banner. Certainly, our ex-President seems to have a unique chance to do a service of incalculable value to the race in promoting progress toward that blest goal, where the nations shall learn war no more. No man in our day has had opportunity to do so sig- nal a service. There have been times in history when the action of a single man, like Origen and Augustine,
Knox and Luther, in the ecclesiastical sphere, and Alfred the Great, Ferdi- nand, Charles the Fifth, Garibaldi, Lincoln, in the national and govern- mental sphere, and Bacon, Newton, Edison and Kelvin in the scientific and philosophic, has turned a crisis and inaugurated a new era. In our day there are several problems that are waiting for a solution and he will go down to history as one of the great- est benefactors of the race that shall solve any one of them : the problem of the Church and the masses, of cap- ital and labor, of the drink traffic and social evil, of the regulation and re- striction of trusts, of equitable taxation and representation, of popular suffrage and its limits ; of the adjustment of the balance of power in legislative bodies like the Lords and Commons ; and last, not least, the displacing of armed conflicts by pacific arbitration.
To this last matter attention has been drawn in a very unusual degree since the establishment of the first Hague tribunal in 1900, and prov- identially Mr. Roosevelt has been a prominent factor in actual arbitration. During the past twenty years not only has peace talk been common, but peace measures have prevailed. Nearly seventy arbitration treaties have been signed in our century, and the prayer for world-wide peace has been both more universal and hopeful. More
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THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
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over, the mutual acquaintance of na- tions, formerly strangers and es- tranged, has been promoting inter- course commercial and social, and laying a formation of common under- standing which makes warfare less likely as a resort, because misappre- hension is being corrected and a com- mon interest pleads for recognition. Mr. Roosevelt is to give at Christiania the Xobel peace prize lecture, accord- ing to the custom of recipients of that prize ; and this again furnishes a great opportunity to advocate a peace tri- bunal, and any word well spoken now will find millions of listening and sym- pathetic ears.
It seems to us that here is a man lifted by force of circumstances to a pedestal which may become a throne of influence, world-wide and beneficent. Such a man has a certain right to speak with authority. What if at the Norway capital he should boldly plead for a supreme peace parliament at the third Hague conference — for a sort of constitution, framed with consent of all the leading powers of the world, constraining the settlement of all major and minor disputes, and restrict- ing by general agreement all warlike preparations, etc. We are not jealous for prominence to any man, but for prevalence of right principles ; but it behooves every man to ask whether he is "come to the kingdom for such a time as this," and whether his hand is providentially on the helm.
Peace measures are not simply philanthropic; they have a wide bear- ing on world missions. Warfare, whether in preparation or action, ab- sorbs time, money and strength that ought to be given to the gospel of peace ; every conflict promotes es- trangement, leaves behind it seeds of
bitterness and provokes revenge. Dis- turbances are contagious ; they kindle new strifes and persecutions; they sometimes rock a whole nation in con- vulsions. The amount of mission property destroyed in the last quarter- century is incredible in the aggregate, and it is the result in most cases of alienations that have come through armed conflict, with its anti-foreign prejudices. It is a time to repeat the great chant of the angels at Bethle- hem, "On earth peace, good will to men."
THE RIOTS IN HUNAN
The unrest in China is the natural result of an awakening nation. The people are beginning to think and act more vigorously and have not yet learned self-control. In our April num- ber (page 244), we called attention to the spirit of unrest and the danger of an anti-foreign demonstration which might be serious. Recent riots against the missionaries and other for- eigners at Chang-sha made it neces- sary to send British gunboats to that city. The American cruiser Cleveland was ordered to Hankow with a force ready to go up the river if there were further disorders. Chang-sha is a city of nearly 300,000 inhabitants on the Siang-kiang, a branch of the Yang- tse-kiang, about 250 miles above Han- kow. Among the missions attacked and burned are those of the United Evangelical Church, the Yale Foreign Missionary Society, the China Inland Missionary Society, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the London Missionary Society, the Protestant Episcopal Mission, and the Wcsleyan Missionary Society. The Americans and Europeans took refuge, without loss of life, on a merchant ship lying in the Siang-kiang River, and some of
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
403
them afterward went down the river to Hankow. The local authorities were helpless in dealing with the rioters, and news of the rioting soon spread to the surrounding country and many small outbreaks occurred in out- lying villages. The Japanese con- sulate and other foreign property were attacked and destroyed, including the Yale Mission and China Inland Mis- sion. It is a great cause for thanks- giving that there was no loss of life among the foreigners, and some of these, including missionaries, have al- ready returned to the city. A new governor, Yang Wen Ting, has been appointed, who reports that he has control of the situation.
There is a great contrast in the present circumstances and those dur- ing the Boxer riots just ten years ago. Then the Peking government and many of the local officials issued edicts of extermination against for- eigners ; now the Chinese authorities are doing all they can to repress the riots. The cause of the disturbance seems to be the advance in the cost of rice and a general feeling that foreign- ers are influencing the government. The rioters wished to call attention to their grievances. Hunan has always been an anti-foreign province and it was not until after the Boxer rebellion that missionaries were permitted to reside there.
THE REVIVAL OF 1910 IN I-CHOW-FU
One of the most remarkable revivals in the history of Christian missions in China has just been experienced at I-chow-fu, in Shantung province. It is vividly described by Rev. P. P. Faris, who says that the leader of the revival, the Rev. Ding Lee May, has been most successful in his ministry at Shantung. The meetings began on
January 16th, and during the first eight days four meetings were held daily. At 7 a.m., the native Christians met and prayed devoutly, and often tearfully for the unsaved. At 11 a.m., at 3 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Ding preached to large congregations which overcrowded the new church building, tho it has a seating capacity of 500. The greater half of these congrega- tions was usually composed of the un- evangelized relatives, friends, and neighbors of the native Christians, while also many of the city's merchant and gentry classes, hitherto untouched by the missionaries, attended. The at- tention given was intense. The evan- gelist's peculiar style of preaching greatly appealed to his hearers. His discourses might almost be called "Song Sermons," for they were inter- spersed with solos of his own singing on the Love of Christ, the Necessity of Repentance, and kindred themes. Prayer was a marked feature of each service. Seasons of prayer led by one, or two, or three, or four, one after an- other, were frequent and general.
Sometimes very specific confessions of sin were heard. Intercession for the salvation of relatives and friends was almost constant. Sometimes ten, or fifty, or three hundred voices would be raised to God at one time, the sounds falling and rising and falling again, as the sound of many waters. There were frequent answers to the prayers for the conversion of others. A teacher of Mandarin for whose sal- vation many had been praying long and earnestly, early declared himself willing to receive instruction. An in- fluential servant, who had been keep- ing three others out of the kingdom, was won over, and the others came with him. More than one backslider
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T11K MISSIONARY RF.V1EW OF THE WORLD
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responded to the power of prayer and came back into active Christian lite. During- the first 13 days of the revi- val [,060 Chinese handed in their names as wishing to study the gospel and receive baptism. These names of inquirers were announced publicly, and after each announcement it be- came common for all to break out into united thanksgiving and prayer.
The native Christians did much per- sonal work, in which they were ma- terially helped by the catechumens. Frequently inquirers, who took their stand after the services began, at once commenced to labor among friends and relatives, and tried to bring them to the services. Increased zeal, a greater interest in Christianity, and a deeper knowledge of the gospel be- came evident everywhere, and the spiritual life of the 260 native Chris- tians in attendance was greatly quick- ened.
.Mr. Paris thinks it probable that never before in China's history has so large a number of her people accepted Protestant Christianity in so short a time. The inquirers include men from all grades of society, and rich and poor, scholars and unlearned, coolies and merchants arc among them. The opportunity is almost overwhelming, and the missionaries are in need of help and prayer.
Pastor Ding, the instrument used by the Lord for the kindling of the revi- val, is a man of prayer. Less than forty years old, he has a remarkable knowledge of the Scriptures, and great ability to use it. He is filled with the spirit and lives his faith. His preach- ing is simple, direct, and persuasive, and under his leadership more than 2,400 heathen became inquirers during the past year.
Truly, the Lord was in the revival at I-chow-fu in the great heathen em- pire.
IS TIBET TO BE OPENED?
The Right of the Dalai Lama is probably the signal for the unlocking of the doors of this the last conspic- uous "hermit nation." The Chinese Foreign Office seems to think so. If it be true, this is one of the most marked events of all modern history and signs of the times. Tibet has been the most exclusive and intolerant of all Asiatic nations, less known to the world than any other. With a terri- tory of 600,000 to 800,000 square miles, and a population of 6,000,000, it has been the central shrine of Bud- dhism. The government has been in the hands of a singular hierarchy, the chief priest of which is known as the Dalai Lama, and the second the Bogdo Lama. Commerce is in the hands of the government and closely watched. Despite Chinese control and Indian influence, this small territory has been a locked chamber to missionaries and even to modern civilization. Six years ago the Dalai Lama intrigued with Russia, and the result was Colonel Younghusband's famous march into the forbidden capital, Lhasa. After the long and unwelcome visit of the Tibetan ruler at the Chinese court, and his compulsory return, China found it expedient to send into his country a military expedition, which led to a new escapade of the Lama into India, where he found a cold reception by the British, however warm on the part of his Buddhistic adherents. The Chi- nese have appointed one of the signers of the Ybunghusband treaty, Ti Rim- poche, Sven Hedin's friend at Lhasa, as regent. Much disorder exists in the hitherto closed land ; but like other
1910]
radical revolutions in Asiatic empires, it seems to be God's way to prepare for the gospel. Indeed, there seems to be an almost universal overturning as well as upturning in Asia, scarce a nation being now quiet, except Siam, which is singularly apathetic and un- progressive.
THEN AND NOW IN AFRICA Rev. Walter T. Currie, of Chisamba, vividly describes the progress of mis- sion work at one of the prominent out- stations, Chiyuka, thus, "Then (i.e., eleven years ago) a small room held all that would gather for a Sunday service. Now, they have deserted a building three times enlarged, and the one recently built was last Sunday filled to overflowing by a congregation declared by the ushers to have num- bered 1,094. Then, Dr. James John- ston, passing through, wrote that the chief was my friend, but that the peo- ple knew nothing of the gospel and they had no schools. Now, there are 88 children in the kindergarten, while the teachers in the adult school declare that the school hours are too short for the work they have to do. Then, the worship of fetishes was general. Now, the gospel is making such progress that seven people — four men and three women — recently brought their fetish- es, saying they had no use for them as they had learned better words and a truer way to happiness and life. At the same service fifteen young people stood up and, professing their desire to follow Jesus, were admitted to the classes for probation. On the follow- ing day I united in Christian marriage five young couples, and when they all knelt in a row for the final prayer and benediction of the service, my heart cried out, 'Praise God for what He has wrought among this people.' "
405
It is now only thirty-three years since, in June, 1877, the first two missionaries of the C. M. S. arrived in Uganda and were welcomed by King Mtesa. Now more than one-half its population — 360,000 of the Baganda — profess Christianity, and still the work goes on. We feel imprest by such events as these, and what is now ta- king place, even more wonderfully, in Korea, that it is the purpose of God in the latter days of this dispensation that there should be, in heathen lands espe- cially, a host of converts like doves in flocks flying to the dove-cote. How the Church should be stimulated to prayer, to new and larger giving, and to far larger going and sending.
DEPARTMENT OF CHURCH AND LABOR OF THE PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH
Seven years ago the Department of Church and Labor of the Presbyterian Church was established, and Rev. Charles Stelzle was placed at its head. Far-reaching results have been accom- plished, under God, by him in that short space and the department stands before the world to-day as the most efficient agency of its kind throughout the world. Of the great results we quote the following from its brief re- port of the seven years' work : Record- breaking religious mass-meetings for working men are being held ; 157 min- isterial delegates of various denomina- tions are now in service in 117 cities as fraternal delegates to central labor- unions, many of them serving as chap- lains to organized labor ; a labor press bureau has been founded and a re- ligious article, furnished by it, is being published by 350 weekly labor papers ; a working men's temperance move- ment has been started, to do away with the evil of holding labor meetings back
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
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THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
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of or over places where liquor is sold ; noonday shop-meetings have been es- tablished almost throughout the coun- try and the establishment of industrial parishes has been aimed at ; the atti- tudes of the Church and of organized labor toward each other have been rev- olutionized and become more favor- able than ever before, so that the great annual meeting of the American Fed- eration of Labor regularly receives Mr. Stelzle as a fraternal delegate, and his message is always given a most cordial hearing.
But the Department of Church and Labor has also entered into a study of the problem of the country church, and conferences on the important sub- ject have been held, especially in the States of the East and of the Middle West. One hundred and seventy-two students have been enrolled in the cor- respondence course in applied Chris- tianity, while the sociological library has been of useful service to many. The great conference held under the auspices of the department in New York in December proved most help- ful and instructive, so that such a conference will probably be held every year.
Thus the Presbyterian Department of Church and Labor has succeeded under the leadership of Rev. Charles Stelzle, and its success has stimulated other denominations to establish simi- lar departments.
JEWS NEGLECTING THE SYNAGOGS
In 1906 there were 1,769 Jewish congregations in the United States and each of these had an average member- ship of 450 persons, according to the census bulletin. Thus 800,000 Jewish men, women, and children were con-
nected with Jewish congregations. In discussing this fact, The American He- brew, the leading orthodox Jewish pa- per of the country, says : "But in 1906 it may be conservatively estimated that there were certainly no less than 1,000,000 Jews in this country, and that more probably there were two millions. What religious connection had these hundreds of thousands of Jews who were connected with no con- gregation? It would appear that one- half, if not more, of the Jews of this country have been lost hold of by the synagog. Now, the figures may not be so large as these indicated. There are more than 1,769 Jewish congrega- tions, but there are very few more ap- parently. A great many orthodox Jews also worship in the chevras (rooms of charitable societies), and these evade the observation of the sta- tistical inquirer. Nevertheless, these figures indicate fairly that the synagog is not holding Jews as much as it could."
The Reform Jews also recognize the loosening of the hold of the synagog upon the large masses of the de- scendants of orthodox, Yiddish-speak- ing Jews. Their Central Conference of American Rabbis therefore de- cided, at its meeting in New York in 1909, to circulate among them reform Jewish tracts in the Yiddish dialect, and thus attempt to bring about a re- vival of that which these reform rabbis call Judaism.
It is time for the churches within the Jewish quarters of our great cities to come to a realization of the disin- tegration of American Judaism, and to include the Jews within their par- ishes in their regular activity,
A CONGRESS OF MISSIONARY STATESMEN
THE GREAT WORLD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE AT EDINBURGH, SCOT- LAND, JUNE 14 20 23, 1910
BY DELAVAN LEONARD PIERSON
It would be difficult to estimate the benefits to the progress of the King- dom of God that may come from the meeting at Edinburgh of the experts and students of world-wide Christian missions. The greatest men of the age are engaged in doing the greatest work in the world. Almighty God, who created the universe and placed man on earth, has commissioned His Church to proclaim to every creature the good news of His love and of sal- vation through Christ. The revealed purpose of God is that all nations shall come to know and acknowledge Him as God. The Christians who are help- ing forward this work are in a pecu- liar sense partners with God in his great enterprise. They are planning and forwarding not only the things of time but the business of eternity. The Edinburgh conference is of un- paralleled importance because of the subject which is to occupy its attention, the men who are to engage in its coun- cils, the thought and prayer that have marked its beginning and the develop- ment of plans, also by reason of the attention it is sure to attract from the outside world and because of the plans and policies that are to be presented for the future work.
This decennial conference will be in marked contrast to those that have preceded it. The early meetings in London and Liverpool were prelim- inary and did not attempt much more than to gather some leading advocates of missions for platform addresses. They succeeded in bringing some im- portant topics to the attention of the Church in general and of missionary
leaders in particular. They also brought into united conference the workers of many different denomina- tions and thus promoted the spirit of comity and cooperation and paved the way for further federation and unity.
The . great ecumenical conference in New York in 1900 was a powerful demonstration to the world, show- ing the magnitude and importance of world-wide missionary work. The meetings were inspirational and edu- cational. Statesmen, business men, the secular press and nominal Chris- tians were imprest with the character of the work and the workers. Since that day the work of foreign missions has been less on the defensive and the danger has been more from superficial popularity than from neglect. Since the date of that conference, missionary literature has vastly increased, mis- sionary study classes have been started and have multiplied, missionary con- ventions have become popular and the Young People's and Laymen's Move- ments have stirred the Church and the business world.
The Edinburgh conference is to be conducted on a different plan. The audience at the main meetings in As- sembly Hall will be made up of repre- sentative delegates from all the branches of the Protestant Christian churches of Europe and America. The subjects to be considered are largely technical and pertain to the fields, the basis, the policy, the problems, and the methods of missionary work among non-Christian peoples. Prot- estant missions among Roman and Greek Catholics have no place either
t
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1 HE .MISSIONARY REVIEW OE THE WORLD
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in the reports presented or in the plat- form discussions. Among the great subjects considered are:
( 1 ) The present extent of occupa- tion of the w orld-field and the amount of unoccupied territory.
(2) The best development of the native Church and native workers in non-Christian lands.
(3) The place of education in mis- sions and the dangers and advantages of intellectual training of natives.
(4) The essential message to be given in carrying the gospel to all the world.
(5) The best preparation for mis- sionary workers.
(6) The responsibilities and meth- ods for the churches in the home land.
(7) The problem of missions and governments — relation to politics, persecutions, etc.
(8) The extent and true basis de- sired for interdenominational and in- ternational cooperation and unity among the Christian forces engaged in the missionary campaign.
Each of these general problems or series of problems is committed to a carefully selected commission of eighteen or twenty experts. Their re- ports are prepared in advance and consider in detail the various phases of the topics that will come up for dis- cussion at the conference. The whole time at the business sessions will be devoted to a discussion of these re- ports and to outlining policies to be recommended for adoption by various boards, societies and missions.
The commissions and their mem- bers are the following:
I. The Geographical Commission
To this commission is assigned the task of a study of the world-field to discover and report on the extent to
which the Christian Church is ful- filling the great commission of Christ. Statistical tables have been prepared ; a new mission atlas is to be published, in which the location of every society and station is to be shown ; the ques- tions of future policy, strategy and forces are to be considered in the light of the opinions exprest by hundreds of Christian workers. Among other questions are the adequacy of the present occupation of various fields, the present opportunities for ag- gressive work, the most effective agencies and methods of work, the relative value of the policies of concen- tration and diffusion of forces, the relative importance of work for the classes and for the masses and the need for special attention given to certain fields.
The chairman of this commission is Mr. John R. Mott, general secretary of the World's Student Christian Fed- eration. Other members of the com- mission are Rev. George Robson, of the United Free Church of Scotland; Pastor D. Julius Richtcr, coeditor with Professor Warneck, of the Allgemeine Mission Zeitschrift ; Prof. Harlan P. Beach, author of the "Geography and Atlas of Protestant Missions" ; Rev. James S. Dennis, D.D., author of "The Centennial Survey of For- eign Missions," etc.; Rev. F. P. Hag- gard, of the American Baptist Mis- sionary Union; Dr. R. P. Mackay, of the Canadian Presbyterian Board of Missions; Rev. Charles R. Watson, of the United Presbyterian Church; Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer, of the Reformed Church in America; Bishop Mont- gomery, secretary of the S. P. G. ; Dr. Eugene Stock, of the C. M. S. ; Rev. A. Taylor, of the British and Foreign Bible Society; Marshall Broomhall, of
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the C. I. M. ; Mr. Frank Lenwood, of the London Missionary Society; Miss Ruth Rouse, of the World's Student Christian Federation ; Pastor Alfred Boegner, director of the Paris Evan- gelical Missionary Society; Bishop LaTrobe, of the Moravian Church, and Pastor Vilhelm Sorensen, suc- cessor of Dean Vahl as editor of the Nordisk Missions Tidskrift.
II. The Native Church
The second commission has been given the task of bringing forward the problems relating to the native Church and its workers in the mission fields. These problems are the more com- plex in that they relate to many de- nominations, many lands, many races, and varied social and intellectual con- ditions. There has been corre- spondence with about six hundred cor- responding members on the mission fields, many of them native Christians, and their replies have been collated and digested. The problems include Church organization and policy, con- ditions of membership, transfer and discipline, training for Christian work, salaries, native societies, spiritual fruitfulness and theology and litera- ture in the vernacular. The points of weakness and strength and the method of highest development are to be care- fully considered.
The chairman of this commission is Rev. J. Campbell Gibson, D.D., a mis- sionary of the English Presbyterian Church and author of "Mission Prob- lems and Mission Methods in South China." Other members are Rev. Walter R. Lambuth, secretary of the Missionary Board of the Methodist Church (South) ; Walter B. Sloan, of the C. I. M. ; Herr F. Frohnmeyer, of the Basel Mission ; Rev. Wm. Goodie,
of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society; Rev. Canon Cunningham, of the Cambridge Mission to Delhi; Bishop Hine, of Zanzibar; Rev. Dun- can Travers, of the Universities Mis- sion to Central Africa; Inspector Spriecker, director of the Rhenish Society; Rev. F. Bayles, of the C. M. S. ; Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson, of the L. M. S.; Mr. Duncan McLaren, of Edinburgh; Rev. S. H. Chester, of the Presbyterian Church (South) ; Rev. R. J. Willingham, of the South- ern Baptist Convention; Mr. Harry Wade Hicks, of the Young People's Missionary Movement; Rev. Alex, Sutherland, D.D., of the Canadian Methodist Society; the Bishop of Aberdeen (Rev. Rowland Ellis, D.D.), and Principal Ellis Edwards, of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.
III. Education and Missions
On this important subject there is wide differences of opinion. Some so- cieties believe only in preaching the gospel and others in elaborate higher education with non-Christian instruc- tors. The problems are related to the development of national leaders for Church and State. Questions were sent to five, hundred missionaries to gather their opinions as to the chief aims and ideals of education on the mission fields, the best policy and methods for schools and colleges and the practical results of this phase of the work. The report of this com- mission includes the consideration of literature, teaching, industrial work, etc.
The chairman is Bishop Gore, of Birmingham, and among other mem- bers are Prof. Edward C. Moore, of Harvard University; Prof. M. E. Sadler, of University of Manchester;
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[June
Dr. Parkin, secretary of the Rhodes Trust; Prof. DeWitt Burton, of Chi- cago; Principal R. A. Falconer, of Toronto; President John F. Goucher, of Baltimore; Rev. Wm. Chamber- lain, of Rutgers College ; Sir Ernest Satow ; Lord William Gascoyne Cecil ; Rev. A. R. Buckland, of the Religious Tract Society, and Miss Grace Dodge, of New York.
IV. The Missionary Message
Here is the most vital subject of the conference. The substance of the Christian Gospel and the best method of presenting the gospel to the non- Christian peoples is to the missionary campaign what weapons and arma- ments are to a military maneuver. There should be unity as to the sub- stance of the essential message, but there is a wide divergence of opinion as to how the gospel can most ef- fectively be presented. The new theology and modern rationalism, Uni- tarian beliefs and ideas of Biblical in- spiration and the deity of Christ, have a vital relation to this subject. If the missionary has not a clear message — the message of Christ — he would bet- ter remain at home. Another im- portant phase of the subject is the attitude of Christian teachers toward the non-Christian religions, their truths, their errors and their practises.
Prof. D. S. Cairns, of the U. F. Col- lege of Aberdeen and author of "Christianity in the Modern World," is chairman, and Robert E. Speer, vice-chairman of this commission. Among other members are Bishop of Ossory (Dr. C. F. D'Arcy) ; Canon C. H. Robinson, editor of The East and the West; Prof. W. P. Paterson, of University of Edinburgh; Rev. A. E. Garvie, of New College, London;
Prof. George Owen, formerly of Feking; Rev. Richard Glover; Rev. A. B. Leonard; Dr. Robert Mac- kenzie; President E. Y. Mullens, of Kentucky; Dr. Joh. Lepsius, of the German Orient Mission, and Dr. Joh. Warneck, author of "Living Christ and Dying Heathenism."
V. The Preparation of Missionaries
The present-day demand is for the best men of the Church for foreign mission fields. We are learning to look on the work as of magnitude and importance and involving great diffi- culties. There have been many changes in the situation during the last hundred years, and a more ade- quate training for the ambassadors of Christ is required. Candidates are more carefully selected, and are trained as specialists for various phases of what has come to be a di- versified work.
There are to-day statesmen, all kinds of educators, theologians, phy- sicians, nurses, industrial workers, business managers, workers among women and children, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. secretaries, in addition to pastors and preachers. The train- ing required for pioneer work is very different from that needed for fields where the chief duty is the guiding of native workers and a native Church.
The chairman of this commission is President W. Douglas Mackenzie, of Hartford Theological Seminary, and author of "Christianity and the Prog- ress of Man." Other members are Dr. J. O. F. Murray, of Selwyn Col- lege, Cambridge; Dr. Henry Cowan, of Aberdeen; Prof. A. R. MacEwen, of New College, Edinburgh; Prof. Edward I. Bosworth, of Oberlin ; Rev. Charles R. Erdman, of Princeton;
A CONGRESS OF MISSIONARY STATESMEN
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Canon O'Meara, of Toronto; Father Kelly, of the Society of the Sacred Mission (Church of England) ; Rev. Forbes Jackson ; Rev. Wm. Park, of the Church of Ireland ; Rev. Tissing- ton Tatlow ; Dr. James L. Maxwell, of the Medical Missionary Associa- tion, London; Miss G. A. Gollock; Prof. Adolph Kolmodin, and Prof. Karl Meinhof.
VI. The Home Church and Missions
The greatest problem of the day is not faced on the foreign field, but at home. The greatest difficulty is to arouse the Christians who have bread enough and to spare so that they will be ready to go out and distribute, to sacrifice themselves and their sub- stance in obeying the command and in following the leading of the Master. The fifth commission is (1) to present the subject of the duty and opportunity of the Church in fulfilling her mission ; (2) the spiritual and temporal re- sources and power of the Church at home -for the work abroad; (3) the methods of promoting missionary in- telligence— through church services, the printed page, study classes, col- leges and seminaries, visits to mission fields, conventions and exhibits; (4) the enlistment of missionaries; (5) financial support of missions — the standard of giving, methods, etc. ; (6) the development of home leader- ship— among laymen, clergy and wo- men; (7) the problems of administra- tion— debts and deficits, auxiliary so- cieties, relation of secretaries and boards to missionaries ; (8) the reflex influence of missions in evangelism, faith, finances and spiritual life.
Of this commission, Rev. James L. Barton, D.D., secretary of the Amer- ican Board, is chairman, Among
other members are: Missions In- spector Fred Wiirz, of the Basel So- ciety; Rev. J. Fairley Dailey, of the Livingstonia Mission; Rev. A. Wood- ruff Halsey, D.D., of the Presbyterian Board; Mrs. Helen Barrett Mont- gomery; John W. Wood, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and editor of The Spirit of Missions; Dr. Karl Fries, president of the World's Student Federation ; Mr. Louis Sever- ance, of New York, and J. Campbell White, of the Laymen's Missionary Movement.
VII. Missions and Governments
The delicate but important problems referring to the relations of missions, mission converts and missionaries to their home and foreign governments are to be reported on by a commis- sion of which Right Hon. Lord Bal- four is chairman and Hon. Seth Low is vice-chairman. This report, and the discussion following, will consider such topics as : ( 1 ) The relation of the missionary to his own government in times of war and persecution; (2) indemnities and armed resistance and protection; (3) the native Christian and his own government. Specific cases will be studied to discover the method of obtaining the best results.
Among the members of this com- mission are: Admiral Mahan, of the United States Navy ; Sir Robert Hart, formerly Inspector-General of Cus- toms in China ; Sir Andrew Wingate, for many years in India; Hon. John Foster, formerly Secretary of State of the United States ; Bishop Ingham, of the C. M. S. ; Rev. George Cousins, of the L. M. S.; Mr. Wellesley C. Bailey, of the Mission to Lepers ; Dr. Thomas S. Barbour, of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society;
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Herr Berner. president of the Berlin Missionary Society, and Prof. Hauss- leiter, of the Rhenish Missionary So- ciety.
VIII. Cooperation and Union
To-day Church union is in the air. The missionaries are facing the same kind of a problem that confronted the civilized nations in the Boxer rebel- lion when they won the victory by uniting forces to relieve the sufferers in Peking. Decided steps toward closer cooperation have already been taken on many mission fields and more are proposed. This commission will discuss (i) the plans of union, the difficulties and advantages; (2) the division of territory and method of cooperation; (3) united national churches in mission fields; (4) united work in hospitals, industrial and pub- lishing work and in higher education.
The chairman of this commission is Sir Andrew Fraser, and the vice-chair- man is Mr. Silas McBee, editor of The Churchman. There are included also: Dr. Arthur J. Brown; Rev. \V. H. Findlay, of the Wesleyan Methodist Society; Prebendary H. E. Fox, of the C. M. S. ; Miss Morley, president of the World's Y. W. C. A. ; President A. II. Strong, of the Roches- ter Theological Seminary ; Professor Warncck, of Germany, and Rev. J. H. Ritson, of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
The Printed Reports
Who can examine the topics to be considered at this conference without being imprest by the magnitude of the work and the reality of a science of missions? The reports of these com- missions will be printed in nine vol- umes (at $4.00 a set, postpaid). They
will represent the thought, investiga- tion and conclusions of the world's greatest missionary students and workers of all Protestant Christen- dom. Two years have been occupied in making the investigation and pre- paring the reports. While mission- aries have not been generally repre- sented on the commissions, their ideals and conclusions are found in the re- port. This missionary library on the science of missions — in theory and practise — will include statistical tables, a new missionary atlas, a complete up-to-date bibliography of missionary books, and a report of the addresses delivered at the conference. It prom- ises to be an unparalleled work of reference.
The Program
The main sessions of the conference are to be held in Assembly Hall, Edin- burgh. Here the morning and after- noon meetings will be for the discus- sion of the reports of commissions and only official delegates and their wives are to be admitted. The evening meetings will take up such general topics as: The Place of Missions in the Life of the Church; The History (»f Missions; Changes in the Charac- ter of the Missionary Problem; The Contribution of non-Christian Na- tions to the Body of Christ ; and De- mands Made on the Church by the Present Opportunity.
The synod hall meetings are for representatives of various denomina- tions and missionary societies and will discuss the reports of the commissions at the morning sesions. In the after- noons the various mission countries, phases of work, and problems will be considered, and there will be simulta- neous meetings .for clergymen, laymen, women, physicians, workers among
jgio]
children, etc. At the evening sessions topics of general interest will he pre- sented by missionaries and other prom- inent speakers.
The call for tickets has been so great that a third series of meetings have been arranged to be held in the Tolbooth Church. Here popular ad- dresses will be made that will be of especial interest to those who have not been able to obtain tickets for the other halls.
In all five or six thousand delegates and visitors are expected at this con- ference in addition to those who come from Edinburgh and vicinity. The expenses are to be borne in part by the missionary societies, by registration fees and (most largely) by individual contributions.
Prayers for the Conference
There are no doubt some who will be inclined to criticize the plan and conduct of this great conference. It would be strange if no important
413
topics were omitted, no leaders un- recognized, and no errors put forth as facts and no unsound judgments proclaimed. These dangers show the greater reason for united prayer from all Christians that the Spirit of God may guide those who have the heavy responsibility of planning the program, and that the spirit and wisdom of Christ may dominate all the proceed- ings. If there is failure in this great conference of the servants of our Lord, it will not be due to the character of the campaign or the power and person- ality of the Leader, but will be charge- able to the neglect of His followers to wait for His leading and to follow His guidance in the spirit of love. Shall there not be a world-wide circle of prayer for this conference, with a con- tinual ascending of humble petition and joyful thanksgiving from every land under the sun — in every lan- guage— by millions of the followers of Christ?
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN 1810 AND 1910
THE MISSIONARY OUTLC
BY REV. D. L.
To all appearance we are in the midst of a new departure in missions and behold an uprising of zeal and courage and strenuous endeavor destined at no distant day to bring in a glorious consummation, the evan- gelization of the world ! The Lay- men's Missionary Movement is closely linked with the origin of the American Board ; since in idea it dates from the centennial of the haystack prayer- meeting in 1906, and immediately thereafter its originators began to con- sult and plan and organize. As the centennial of the board draws nigh, what can be more encouraging and uplifting than a brief review of the
â–şOK IN 1810 AND IN 1910
LEONARD, D.D.
missionary situation of a hundred years ago in contrast with that exist- ing to-day?
What was the situation when Mills and his three companions, "under the lee of a haystack while waiting for a shower to pass," counseled and prayed over the matter of attempting to send the gospel to the heathen, and his con- viction and assurance found expres- sion in the immortal words, "we can do it if we will !" Well, in general, by far the larger portion of the earth's surface had never been visited by Europeans, and was still inaccessible. Only sailing-vessels were available for travel, and trade with distant lands
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was but slight. When in the decade preceding the London Society would send gospel heralds to the South Seas, it was necessary to purchase a vessel for their conveyance. And nearly two decades later, when John Williams would explore and evangelize in the same region, he must needs himself turn ship-builder, also with tools and material almost wholly lacking. East- ern Asia at that date was shut and barred against the entrance of Eu- ropeans by prohibitions which meant certain death to every intruder. All Moslem lands were closed as ef- fectually by religious fanaticism. Southern Asia (which, with China, held more than half the human family) was closed to missionaries by the money-greed of the East India Com- pany, coupled with the hysteric fear lest the proclamation of the gospel would excite Moslem and Hindu fanaticism. Africa was well-nigh wholly unexplored, for until 1813 Liv- ingstone was not born. In the New World, from the northern boundaries of Mexico to Cape Horn all was in- tensely Catholic and intolerant ; as was also the bulk of Europe, either Rome or Russia being well-nigh everywhere supreme. It is not in the least strange, therefore, that a century since to al- most everybody, even among sincere disciples of Christ, attempts at the world's evangelization appeared ut- terly wild, absurd and fanatic.
What Had Been Done in 1810
And, next, what in the way of mis- sionary effort had been undertaken? About a hundred years before the King of Denmark had sent Ziegen- balg and Plutschau to found a mis- sion at Tranquebar, near Madras, with Christian Frederick Schwartz follow-
ing (one of the most gifted and con- secrated among the world's evangel- izers), but that work had since gone into a fatal decline. For two or three generations the Moravians had been lavishing themselves upon various most needy fields, in both tropic heat and arctic cold, shrinking from no hardship or peril. In New England, Eliot, the Mayhews and Brainerd had preached Christ to the Indian tribes resident in their neighborhood. Then, only in the decade preceding, Carey had stirred the British Baptists to or- ganize, had himself gone out as pio- neer, with a few others soon follow- ing, and was now fixt in Serampore. His first convert had been baptized in 1800. The London Society had be- gun work in the Society Islands, but as yet no signs of blessing were visible. Henry Martyn had gone out to India in 1805, and two years later Morrison landed in Canton, spending long months practically in hiding, tho not winning his first convert until 1814. The Church Missionary Society had sent quite a company of missionaries to the fever-breeding coast of West Africa, but as yet every convert was costing on an average the life of a missionary.
So much for the situation in Great Britain. On this side of the ocean the case was yet more forlorn. Until 1803 tne Mississippi had been the western boundary, but Louisiana had recently become ours, and Lewis and Clark had crossed to the Pacific in 1804-05. Florida remained a Spanish possession until 1819. The population of the United States had reached but 7,000,000 in 1810, which is equal to that of the Empire State to-day! The first steamboat had ascended the Hud- son the year following the haystack
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN 1810 AND 1910
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meeting; but the first one did not ap- pear upon the Western rivers until 1812, on the upper lakes until 1818; reached the mouth of Chicago River as late as 1832, and began to make regular trips across the Atlantic in 1848! Still further, in those dark days the Napoleonic wars were on, with his coronation as emperor oc- curring in 1804; and the political troubles were thickening which soon resulted in three years of war with the mother country. And, finally, it is not amiss to recall the fact that church and state were still united in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the clergy were all in all in the re- ligious realm ; while after them came the "first families," with the mass of the common people holding a place decidedly inferior.
Such in general were the world- conditions when, a hundred years ago in Williamstown, under a haystack during a shower, three or four stu- dents pondered and prayed as to whether they should attempt to send the gospel to the heathen, and one of the number uttered the positive af- firmation, "We can do it if we will!" Two years later Mills and two others drew up in cipher, "public opinion being opposed to us," the constitution of a society, "to effect in the person of its members a mission to the heathen." Later still the agitation was renewed in Andover, the theo- logical seminary having just then been established, with Judson added to the little group. In due time application was made to the General Association of Massachusetts for the formation of a society to undertake the work of evangelization in the foreign field ; and June 29, 1810, the American Board began to be (nearly twenty years af-
ter the formal beginning of missions in Great Britain), fashioned for sub- stance after the Carey model. Not a little difficulty was found in securing a charter from the legislature, one legis- lator alleging that the society was "de- signed for exporting religion, whereas there was none to spare from among ourselves," but another replied that "religion was a commodity such that the more we exported the more we had remaining."
The organization and the men were now secured, but difficulties abundant and most serious were in store. As in the Old World, so also in the New, the beginning of world-missions was well-nigh ridiculously puny and feeble. For several years the income was but trifling. Thus, at the end of 181 1 only $999.52 had been contributed. Tho the next year $13,611 were added, the amount fell back later to $7,500, the war with Britain being then in prog- ress. The total for the first five years was only $47,000. At length five mis- sionaries were ordained and ready to depart with their wives — Hall, Jud- son, Newell, Nott and Rice. But how should they cross the ocean ? Ere long a vessel was ready to sail for Cal- cutta, but had only room for a portion of the company. Several weeks later a ship would sail from Philadelphia, in which the residue secured passage. Indeed, so many and great were the embarrassments that the project was seriously considered of leaving the wives at home!
After tedious months of ocean voyaging, Calcutta was reached, but only to be notified that they were not wanted in those parts, not only be- cause they were missionaries, but even more because they were Americans, a people with whom the British were
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then at war. And finally, most sicken- ing of all, it had occurred that while on the journey out both Judson and Rice, tho upon different vessels, and of course without the least conference, had been pondering upon the proper mode of baptism, and both also had concluded that only immersion could meet the gospel requirement. Carey soon performed the rite in their be- half, and both resigned their commis- sions received from the American Board. Judson, compelled to depart, later drifted to Burma, eventually to found one of the world's greatest mis- sions. Rice returned to America and proceeded to so stir the hearts of mul- titudes of Baptists that a Baptist mis- sionary society was formed, which is to-day among the largest in the land. Who can do other than count this a wonderful piece of divine strategy, al- tho for a season a source of discour- agement and disgust to not a few friends of the American Board. It may be added just here that the Meth- odists organized for missionary work in 1819, the American Bible Society came into existence in 18 16, and in 1825 the American Tract Society be- gan to be.
Some Achievements
So much for the missionary situa- tion a hundred years ago. And what has transpired since, in the world at large, and in the missionary realm? This query finds an answer in no in- considerable degree by simply revers- ing every statement of fact hitherto presented and giving the very oppo- site. Thus, the task of world-explora- tion is practically accomplished. Every region has been visited and its secrets have been uncovered. Inventive genius has wrought far more marvels
than all the centuries preceding. The railway and the ocean steamship, the telegraph with the wireless system as the latest marvel, have brought the ends of the earth together, and are rapidly making all humankind ac- quainted as neighbors, and increasing- ly as brothers. Not a closed land un- der the sun. A constitutional govern- ment in Japan, Persia, Turkey and Russia, and one promised for China. Every Moslem and Catholic land open for the reception of the gospel. World- conventions becoming common, of the friends of missions, of the Y. M. C. A., and the Christian Endeavor.
And, finally, every considerable body of Protestant Christians is or- ganized for the furtherance of foreign missions, and has its representatives abroad. The total annual income ag- gregates not less than $30,000,000, of which sum not far from $5,000,000 (or one-sixth) is contributed by the native Christians. The evangelizing force sent out from Christian lands numbers over 20,000, and is reen- forccd by tens of thousands of native toilers, of whom some 5,000 are or- dained. Just about 50,000 stations and out-stations are centers of Chris- tian influence. In the churches are more than 2,000,000 communicants, and every Sunday on an average some 2,600 members are received (enough to constitute 26 churches, each with a membership of 100). In the 30,000 schools are found 1,500,000 children and youths, with 100 colleges, univer- sities and theological schools prepar- ing future native leaders for their all- important tasks. About 400 hospitals and twice as many dispensaries, in charge of 800 medical missionaries, are engaged in the Christ-like task of re- lieving suffering and restoring health.
l9io] THE MISSIONARY OU
The Bible has been translated into every language of much importance and widely circulated, with school books and periodicals by the thousand.
Still further; at the opening of this second century of world-evangeliza- tion Protestant promoters of missions have attained, at least fairly well, to an all-important knowledge of the needs, capacities and limitations of the belated and inferior races, and have also become acquainted with the civ- ilizations of the Orient, as existing in India, China and Japan ; and so have learned what to undertake and what to let alone ; how to reach the un- evangelized with the gospel of salva- tion ; as well as how to train native pastors and teachers and leaders in gen- eral, so that at the soonest every field may become self-supporting, self-gov- erning and self-propagating. Still further, a century since bitterest theo- logical and ecclesiastical strife was well-nigh universal throughout Prot- estant Christendom. Hence anything approaching to union of effort was practically unthinkable, and both in Great Britain and the United States each body of Christians organized its own society and selected its own field, too often without the slightest regard for the presence of others already in occupation. But within this genera- tion, and especially in America, a coming together for acquaintance, and fellowship, and even cooperation, is evident and steadily increasing; this both at home and abroad, tho more prominent in the foreign field. There the disposition is unmistakable to abol- ish all Occidental names and divisions, and for all who accept Jesus as Lord to meet together and toil together simply as His followers bearing His name; or if they divide at all, only
X>OK IN 1810 AND 1910 417
upon lines which are Indian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.
Another phenomenon must be named which marks the present generation, and possesses great significance as touching the Kingdom of God upon earth and its future diffusion. What limitless stores of wealth have been discovered in the mines of California and Alaska, of South Africa and Aus- tralia. Besides in the business realm combination has largely taken the place of competition, with trusts and other forms of unifying vast financial resources. As a result, tho much of evil is apparent, much also of benefit is evident on every side. More and more the wealthy are becoming pub- lic-spirited and benevolent, and lavish their riches upon institutions of learn- ing, hospitals, asylums, or whatever will benefit the unfortunate and needy of humankind. Christian benevolence has had a phenomenal development since modern missions began and is certain steadily to increase, with the Kingdom in its world-wide aspects re- ceiving its fair share. The Kennedy example can not fail to have a worthy following, so that all who are ready to give themselves to help make Jesus known to every soul will find the means of going abroad abundantly supplied.
So much for missionary beginnings a hundred years ago, the steady for- ward movement which has attended the decades, with a recent rapid ad- vance at every point in well-nigh every particular. Also, with the crowning marvel yet to be named. It began to exist, at least to be faintly visible, im- mediately after the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the haystack prayer-meeting, held in part upon the very spot. Then and there, with
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Mills' immortal exclamation ringing in their ears and inspiring their whole being, certain men strong, gifted, in- fluential, in the foremost rank for busi- ness sagacity and energy, went home to ponder, to plan, and later to or- ganize a mighty campaign for the spread of the Kingdom of Heaven, to hasten the evangelization of the whole world, to bring at the soonest the blest day when none shall say, Know thou the Lord, but all shall know Him from the least to the greatest. The plan decided upon was original and unique. It was to supersede or inter- fere with no missionary instrumen- tality already employed, was rather to reenforce and supplement every one. With the management of the Men's Missionary Movement the churches as such have nothing to do, and in the execution of the plan no additional burden is laid upon the pastors. At the conventions the voice of a pastor is seldom heard. Nothing need here be said about the methods of work, the series of conventions covering the con- tinent, from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific, from the Gulf of Mexico to Hud- son Bay, and reaching some four- score cities. Not a slip or blunder has been made. Everything goes forward like clock-work, goes from strength to strength. The only lack discernible is lack of space for the suppers and for the mammoth assemblages of dead-in-earnest business men.
A few brief sentences will suffice to set forth the aims and methods everywhere presented : The evangel- ization of the world in this generation (that is, the proclamation of the good news in every neighborhood under the sun, so that every living soul may hear of Jesus and His redeeming love) ; at least one-fourth of all the
giving of the churches to be expended upon foreign missions; a careful can- vass in every church, by a committee of men appointed for the purpose, who call upon every member seeking to secure a pledge of at least five cents a week. Hence the plan, tho business- like in every particular, is simple in the extreme. It lays upon nobody any unreasonable or difficult task. The campaign has advanced so far and the success has been so phenomenal that we are at liberty, we are well-nigh constrained to believe that the income of our missionary societies will be doubled almost at once, with a five- fold increase secured at no distant day, so that of "the sinews of war" there will be no lack. Moreover, we can surely count on our colleges and theological schools to do their part in supplying the thousands of men and women required, the Young Men's Christian Association and Christian Endeavor, the Student Volunteers, the mission study classes, etc. Nor, then, will it be long before the Divine Re- deemer of men, after all these ages of pleading and waiting, will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.
All this which we now behold has come to pass in a little more than a century after Carey preached his ser- mon and organized his society, after Mills' haystack prayer-meeting and the organization of the American Board. But, the United States and Canada to which thus far the Men's Missionary Movement has been con- fined, constitute but a fraction of the Protestant world ; and how about our brethren in Great Britain and upon the Continent? Are they also to share in this mighty impulse toward world- evangclization ? We are under great- est obligation to Germany for the Mo-
A DECISIVE HOUR IN PROTESTANT MISSIONS
419
ravians and a long list of devoted and heroic soldiers of the cross, to Hol- land also and Scandinavia. Britain we thank for her Carey and Morrison, her Moffat and Livingstone, and others by the score; so that our debt to Europe is one unspeakably great. And the query comes, has not the time arrived when we can make at least part payment, and even in kind ? May it not also occur that in the Edinburgh Conference, following as it does al- most immediately upon the close of the laymen's conventions, at which many delegates from the Continent will be found, the Old World laymen will catch the inspiration and go home
to duplicate the work ; only, it may be, making modifications here and there in certain details to adapt it to con- ditions at home. What is to hinder a careful canvass of every Protestant church in Christendom to secure at the least the cost of a car-fare every week from every man and woman and child who names the name of Jesus, and to make the gifts to missions amount at least to one-fourth of all the giving for the Kingdom, that so even this generation may behold the dawn of the latter-day glory? Then will the Hallelujah Chorus be in or- der. He shall reign forever King of kings, and Lord of lords.
A DECISIVE HOUR IN PROTESTANT MISSIONS *
BY DR. JULIUS RICHTER
The title of this address may seem exaggerated to some; yet I shall try to emphasize the greatness of the work lying before the Christian Church in our day. It is the greatness of the vision, it is the vastness of the task which will call out every atom of strength in our innermost lives. I shall try in short outline to lay before you the three great tasks of the Chris- tian Church. Two of these are well known to you ; we shall try to see them in a fresh light. The third is only just dimly emerging before our inner vision. The first and second of the two tasks have parallels in the his- tory of the Church ; we shall trace these parallels. The third task has no parallel in history.
1. The first great task lying before the Church is the evangelization of the primitive races, all those dark, dull peoples, low in civilization, even lower
in religious and moral standards, which inhabit the continents of Af- rica, and some parts of Asia, Aus- tralia, and America. The missionary work among them has a striking re- semblance to the missionary task of the Christian Church of the three or four first centuries of medieval times, the evangelization of the German and Slav peoples ; and it will help us to a clearer understanding of the present situation if we concentrate our atten- tion for the moment on the charac- teristic features of those days. The missions of the Church then had three advantages. At first the area of the work was well defined; it comprized the northern and eastern half of Europe, including the British Isles. The climate was everywhere health- ful. The nations which were the ob- ject of the mission were of a remark- able homogeneity. They belonged
* An address delivered at The Student Volunteer Convention, Rochester, New York, December 31, 1909. Reprinted here by permission of the Student Volunteer Movement.
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only to two families of peoples closely related ; they spoke only two different tongues, tho these were split up in many dialects which it was not diffi- cult to master after having learned one of the principal languages, and the social, political, moral and re- ligious standards were almost identical among them.
It was a second great advantage that then the Church was able to con- centrate her whole energy on this one task of foreign missions. Doctrinal disputes absorbed little of the strength of the Church in those dark ages, and the state, in consequence of its close connection with the Church, was only too willing to lend her its mighty arm for her endeavors.
It was a third advantage that the peoples among whom the missionaries went were of a decidedly superior character. They showed from the be- ginning evident signs of an intellectual power and of a moral strength far beyond the average. It is a remark- able fact that those nations, in the first centuries of their Christian era, pro- duced literary masterpieces of imper- ishable value, the Edda of the Scan- dinavians, the Beowulf of the Anglo- Saxons, and the Heliand of the North Germans.
The similarities of this missionary period to that of modern days have often been pointed out; but the differ- ences are perhaps even more striking. What a disadvantage it is for modern missions that their spheres of work among the primitive races are so wide- ly scattered and diversified. The climate is in 'most regions rather un- healthy, often endangering even the lives of the foreign agents. The peo- ples themselves are most diverse in all directions, and their languages,
their modes of life and their thoughts have almost no points of contact. There seem to be almost no connecting links between the colored people of Africa and the Papuans of Melanesia, or the stalwart Indians of America ; the whole sphere of each race and all the standards of life are totally differ- ent from those of the other races. Let me, as an illustration only, refer to the manifold differences of languages. In the line of the Melanesian islands from the New Hebrides to the Bismarck Archipelago and New Guinea about one hundred or more different lan- guages are spoken ; every small island, every clan or tribe has its own, under- stood often only by some four or five hundred people. After a missionary has mastered with ceaseless toil one of these languages he becomes aware, to his disappointment, that he is not able to make himself understood even a few miles farther inland, or on the next island. In Africa about two hun- dred different languages are spoken, belonging to at least three quite dis- tinct families of languages. It is hard to estimate how far the work of Protestant missions has been retarded by these diversities of the primitive races.
It is a second disadvantage that the Church of our day is not able to con- centrate her whole energy on her for- eign missions. Doctrinal disputes reaching down even to the very foun- dations of Christian truth claim her earnest attention. And the changing conditions in the social life, as well as the growing emigration from the Christian lands, absorb much of her strength.
Thirdly, it seems to be an unde- niable fact that at least some of the tribes which arc at present the object
A DECISIVE HOUR IN PROTESTANT MISSIONS
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of Protestant missions are of a de- cidedly inferior type, at least at the present time. Of course it would be unjust and premature to give a defi- nite statement on so large a question. Yet, after the missionaries have been for a century or even 150 years in close contact with peoples like the Eskimo of the arctic regions, or the Hottentots in southern Africa, we must rely on their judgment that probably these clans will never come to an age of spiritual maturity, to in- dependent political or Church life.
2. Yet in spite of all difficulties, there would be no doubt that the Protestant churches were able to fulfil this large and promising task among the primitive races, if at the same time and with equal urgency a second task did not wait for her, the evangeliza- tion of the cultured nations of the East, those peoples of an ancient civilization in India, in China, in Japan, in the Near East, which have for hundreds and even thousands of years lived their own life in religion, in literature, and in the arts, and have permeated their whole national life with the leaven of their own thoughts and customs. Again a striking parallel presents itself in the work lying before the Church during the first three cen- turies of its era, the evangelization of the Greek and Roman world, and it will be suggestive to look for a mo- ment at the characteristic features of those times.
It was a great advantage for the Christian missions in the Roman Em- pire that its civilization and culture were decidedly homogeneous. One language, the Greek, was sufficient to bring the gospel from far-eastern Syria to out-of-the-way western Spain. The same cast of thought, the same re-
ligious ideas, the same philosophies, the same yearnings, the same social and political problems were all over the Roman Empire. It was a second great help that this whole spiritual world was in a state of decay and de- composition. The old gods and faiths had lost their grip on the nations ; new gods, new religious motives, new revelations were eagerly sought after by the most earnest thinkers of those days. And Christianity entered this decaying civilization as the living force in a dying world.
The different character of the pres- ent situation is apparent if we realize to what an extent the world of Asiatic culture lacks homogeneity. There are at least four quite distinct types of re- ligious and social developments con- fronting the Protestant missions ; the Indian Brahmanism, with all its differ- ent forms from the crudest vulgar idolatry to the spiritual philosophies of the Vedanta ; the far-eastern Buddism, with its soporific and dead- ening influences on the national life, the cold tho lofty ethicism of Con- fucius, the phophet of the Chinese, and the dry, formalistic, fanatical Islam of the Near East.
Each of these religions has been able, through hundreds and even thou- sands of years, to permeate and leaven with its spirit those lands and peoples in their politcal, social and private life. And the Church can not leave one of these systems for a more or less remote future. She must begin the struggle with all of them at once, she must wage her spiritual war with different and with ever-changing fronts.
All the more important is the ques- tion whether or not those religious systems of Asia are in the same state
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [June
of disintegration as we observed in the Greek civilization of the first cen- turies. The opinion of the Protestant missionaries has changed in a remark- able way on this point during the last century. When the first missionaries entered India a hundred years ago and saw the gross idolatry and the most disgusting and decadent forms of re- ligious life, even at the sacred places of Hinduism like Benares, they were soon convinced that this degraded re- ligion had no right, divine or human, to live any longer ; that it must yield soon to the onrush of the higher type of religion represented by Christianity. Similarly, when the first Protestant missionaries became familiar with the gross forms of idolatry prevalent among the lower classes of China, they arrived at the conviction that there was no inner life, no uplifting power in this crude system. Yet, as the mis- sionaries proceeded in their efforts, and struggling with those old systems for the salvation of single souls, be- came aware of the strong vitality in- herent in these religions in spite of the evident forms of outward decay, they became more and more careful in their judgment. Then learned men like Professor Max Muller and en- thusiasts like Professor Deussen pub- lished the religious literature of India, and showed to wondering Europe below the bizarre forms of thought, deep yearning for higher things, wonderful sparks of truth and lofty flights of high philosophies, and we inclined rather to overestimate those ancient religious systems to such a degree that we were sometimes un- just toward Christianity. The almost forgotten Pali literature, too, was un- earthed from the dust of centuries, and Islam found ardent admirers and
promoters even in Europe. It seems to me that this period of exaggerating unduly the merits of the Asiatic re- ligions to the disadvantage of Chris- tianity is rapidly passing away. Yet it leaves Protestant missions in a dis- tinctly different position. And this brings me to my third point.
3. We are beginning to realize that this whole manifold world of religious beliefs, from the crudest forms of fetishism and animism to the loftiest revelations of sufistic spirituality or of Confucian idealism, is one great and coherent evolution of the religious genius of mankind. The comparative study of religions and of the historic development of the different religions brings us face to face with the fact that there are deep longings in the human heart which in all climates and under the most widely varying con- ditions of human life find expression in religious systems, and we must try to understand them in their continuity and similarity in spite of all evident disparity.
As we begin to see this compre- hensive evolution of the religious genius of mankind, we become aware of what is the final task of the Chris- tian religion and of Protestant mis- sions. It is to show quite clearly, in contradistinction to this whole re- ligious life of humanity untutored and unaided by the divine help, that Chris- tianity is the one great religion of God; and that it must displace and will displace all other religions. That will be the final test of Christianity; there its superiority, its victory, will be definitely settled.
There will be strong competition between Christianity and other relig- ions as to which has the higher truth ; and Protestant missions will have to
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prove that the folly of the cross is wiser than human wisdom, that Christ is truth. There will be stronger com- petition as to what religion presents the nobler and purer ideals of morality and is able to supply the strength to live up to those standards. And here again Protestant missions will have to prove that Christ, not Mohammed or Buddha, is the only ideal leading humanity up to higher life ; that Christ is the way, the only way, up to God. There will be strongest competition as to what religion stands the final test, being able to "give life and to re- generate single persons and whole nations by supernatural power. And
here Christ will stand forth tri- umphantly as He who gives life, who is the life of the world, and in Him we rejoice with joy unspeakable. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
Great times require great men. May the Church of Christ be granted such great men living up to the great tasks of their generation and filling the Church anew with that triumphant assurance of St. John: "Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world."
SHACKLE USED FOR NECK AND HANDS OF SLAVE WOMEN
SLAVERY AS IT EXISTS TO-DAY
BY TRAVERS BUXTON,
The character and extent of present- day slavery is a subject on which too little is known. The vitality which the many-headed monster of slavery still possesses is very inadequately realized. Remembering the great struggle which took place at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries to secure the abolition of the slave trade and of slavery in the British colonies, we are
ESQ., LONDON, ENGLAND
apt to think that slavery was then finally overthrown, and in the twen- tieth century is no longer a living issue. This is far from being the case.
Africa has always been the great home and center of slavery and the slave trade, and centuries of these practises have deeply imprest the cus- tom upon the mind and life of the native African, so that it will take
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long to eradicate these evils. More- over, slavery takes many forms and the growing importance of the ques- tion in one form or another can not be doubted by any one who remembers how. within the last quarter of a cen- tury especially, Africa has been com- ing more and more under the control of the European powers. The con- tinent has been opened ill a remark- able manner and now labor is needed in order to develop the country. In the greater part of Africa, cither for reasons of climate or from traditional custom that labor can only be done by blacks. The white man, therefore, needs the black man to develop the country for him, and the area from which labor can be obtained is limited, so that the pressure becomes greater as the country is more and more opened. The black man, on his side, has reason from his past experience of slavery to suspect the white man's motives ; their aims appear to be op- posed as those of capital and labor, and consequently difficulties and strained relations are too apt to arise between them, even when there is no conscious intention to treat the native as a slave.
It is not easy to give an exact defi- nition of slavery. It does not consist in ill-treatment of the enslaved, for it is possible for slavery to exist where the slaves are well treated. Probably the most prominent marks of slavery and slave-trading are, first, the forcible uprooting of natives from their homes and the breaking up of families, in order to obtain the labor of the slaves where it is wanted ; second, the waste of human life in bringing slaves from one place to another; third, the bind- ing to compulsory labor and limita- tions of freedom ; and fourth, and per-
haps the most important, the degrada- tion involved in the buying and selling of human beings on the level of beasts, with the inevitable moral evils which always attach themselves to the practises of slavery. In the words of the late Mr. Gladstone: "I hold the great evil of slavery to have been not physical suffering, but moral debase- ment. It degrades God's human creatures below the human level." If this was true when slavery prevailed unchecked throughout Africa, it is still true, altho to-day slavery has changed its form, so that it is not easy to define exactly how far it ex- tends.
The traffic in human beings is not extinguished, nor is it likely for some years to come throughout the con- tinent of Africa, in spite of the efforts of European powers. Caravans of slaves are still conveyed from the in- terior of the continent to the west and north coasts. Raids and kidnaping are not completely supprest. So long as there is a demand for slaves, so long will their supply somehow or other be kept up, for the risks greatly enhance the value of the human mer- chandise. In 1902 the report of the Zanzibar International Maritime Bu- reau stated that "The attempts of Arab dealers to recruit slaves in East Africa will not come to an end so long as there exists markets and dis- tricts about the Persian Gulf where slaves fetch a good price." In the same year reports were received of a development of the traffic on the Mo- zambique coast and the commander of the Portuguese naval division of the Indian Ocean spoke of a traffic which was carried on by syndicates of in- fluence, which exchange firearms and gunpowder for slaves, who find a
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ready sale at Muscat. Trade was also reported to be carried on on a smaller scale with almost no risk and yvith possibilities of development. "Hun- dreds, and even thousands, of ne- groes," he wrote, "are and will be transported with impunity like com- mon bales of merchandise," for so long as the boat's papers are regular
smuggled from the coast of the Egyptian Sudan. There is recent evi- dence from a trustworthy source that the absence of a British guard-ship from Aden a year or two ago led to an increase in the slave trade which was said to be going on practically unchecked in the southern part of the Red Sea. A British man-of-war was
RUBBER GATHERERS IN THE KONGO STATE
the slave-dealers can not be touched by the terms of the Brussels Act.
The maritime traffic, then, is not yet stamped out, altho it has been made much more difficult from the East Coast for slaves to be embarked in any number, as a more effective con- trol has been established over the coast ports. Lord Cromer has repeatedly stated in official reports that it is very difficult to prevent the trade which goes on in slaves between Arabia and Turkey, to which countries slaves are
at once sent out to Aden, but these slow cruisers, the movements of which are well known to the slave-dealers, are useless for catching the fast slave dhows, which can easily go where the large ships can not follow them. A special slave-trade department has been created and much good work in this direction has been done in the Egyptian Sudan to suppress dealings in slaves, and to stop up the old slave routes.
In his last report as British repre-
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sentative in Egypt, 1907, Lord Cromer wrote that the most important political question was how slavery might be completely abolished without causing serious disorder. Grave difficulties have still to be encountered before it is completely eradicated, and many years' steady pressure will be necessary before the end is reached.
The last official report of the Egyp- tian Sudan refers to slave-raiding carried on in defiance of the govern- ment in Kordofan, where fighting had taken place and the opposition was only overcome at the cost of some loss of life. In the southern part of the Sudan we have reason to know that an active trade has been carried on by the Senoussi clan, who deal with slaves in exchange for firearms brought from the north. According to information received by the anti- slavery societies of England, France, and Italy, the victims of this trade are obtained in the Anglo-Egyptian and French spheres of influence — Darfur and Wadai, respectively — whence they are conveyed by an old slave route leading northward through the desert to the oasis of Koufra, from which point the caravans divide, some of the slaves being taken, it is said, toward Egypt, but the greater number to Tripoli, where such of them as sur- vive the hardships of the journey and are not sold in Tripoli are exported in considerable numbers to Turkish ports, in utter defiance of the Brus- sels Act. It is true that the negroes transported to Turkey must show their freedom papers, but through the negligence or connivance of the Turk- ish authorities, these are given with- out inquiry to the dealers who wish to export slaves, and the provisions of the Brussels Act are thus rendered
useless. Efforts have been made to influence the new Turkish Constitu- tional Government to stop the slave trade in Tripoli, but, unfortunately, thus far without result. It is hoped, however, that the capture and occu- pation of Abecher, the chief town of Wadai, in June of last year, by French troops, will deal a serious, and ulti- mately a fatal, blow to this traffic, as Abecher has been a usual starting- point for caravans going north. The disaster to a French force in this re- gion early in the present year is enough to show that French control of Wadai is not yet fully established.
We have recently learned that for the last ten years a regular slave traffic has been carried on between West Africa and West Central Af- rica to Mecca, by way of the Chari River, through the French and Anglo- Egyptian spheres of influence. It is greatly to be desired that the author- ities of both countries should estab- lish more posts to check this transport of slaves, and representations are being made at the present time with this end in view.
In British East Africa the slavery question has always been prominent ; the interest of Great Britain in that region largely originated with the de- sire to abolish the slave trade. Many decrees have been passed in Zanzibar, through pressure exercised by Great Britain upon the Sultans of that coun- try ever since 1873, but all were to a great extent evaded. After the dec- laration of the British protectorate over Zanzibar in 1890, the question became more urgent, but it was not until 1897 that a decree was passed for the abolition of the legal status of slavery in the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. This measure was one of a
1910] SLAVERY AS IT
very cautious character; it established a court to receive claims for freedom and to grant compensation to the mas- ters, and the emancipation of the slave population has proceeded very slowly. Cruelties on the part of the owners may be said to have been entirely abolished, and it is reported that many slaves prefer to remain in nominal slavery rather than work under con- tracts. Many of the best class of freed slaves have managed to buy small estates for themselves, and the prosperity of these men is growing.
In the coast territories of the East Africa Protectorate, slavery ceased to be legally recognized in October, 1907, after much pressure had been brought to bear upon the authorities, the diffi- culty being increased by the fact that the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba and a narrow coast strip of territory on the mainland of British East Af- rica are subject to the nominal rule of the Sultan of Zanzibar. In Octo- ber 1907, an ordinance was passed de- claring the legal status of slavery abolished throughout the protectorate ; the territory is, however, so vast and so little known that an institution so in- grained in the people can not be wholly supprest for some time to come. In May, 1908, the British Gov- ernment announced their intention of introducing into the islands of Zan- zibar and Pemba the system in force on the mainland, and the long-prom- ised decree amending and extending the measure of 1897 was published in July, 1909. Its terms are brief and straightforward : compensation is awarded to freed slaves who are un- able to earn their own living; but no compensation, either to masters or slaves, will be granted after the end of 191 1. Women of the harem, who
EXISTS TO-DAY 427
by the proposed decree were excluded from obtaining their freedom, are now able, with certain reservations, to claim it. The passing of this measure brings a long and painful chapter in
SOLDIERS OR SENTRIES EMPLOYED BY THE KONGO STATE
the history of East Africa to a satis- factory conclusion, but time and effort are still needed to insure the abolition of slavery in spirit as well as in letter, and to fit liberated natives to use their freedom to good advantage.
As to the west side of Africa, Sir Frederick Lugard, who was then High Commissioner, wrote in 1901 of north- ern Nigeria (which, since the begin- ning of 1900, has been a British pro- tectorate under imperial control), that there was no other part of Africa where the worst forms of slave-raiding existed to so terrible an extent and were pros- ecuted on so large a scale. In his last report for 1907-08, the present gov-
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ernor was able to state that the whole condition of the country has entirely changed. Slave-dealing is reported to be disappearing in nearly all the provinces, as a result of the efforts of the resident officials and the coopera- tion of the authorities in the adjoining French and German territories. The natives generally are becoming more fully aware that slave-dealing is heavily punished by law, but so long as complete control over the whole of the pagan areas is not established, so long would the inhabitants continue to sell their children.
Southern Nigeria, like the north- ern protectorate, was only a few years ago the scene of an organized system of slave-raiding and dealing ; these proceedings on a large scale are said to have been crusht by the military operations of 1902, but private slave- dealings can hardly be considered to be extinct. The sending of punitive expeditions to overcome the opposi- tion of the natives to civilized cus- toms still appears to be too frequent.
In the extreme southern part of the Kongo State, and near to where the Portuguese territory abuts on the confines of unadministered British ter- ritory in northwest Rhodesia, slave- hunting is still carried on with vigor, and the natives so raided are carried by slave-raiders unhindered through the Portuguese colony of Angola to the ports on that coast, whence they are exported under the name of "con- tract laborers" to the coco plantations of S. Thome and Principe. In 1901 the acting administrator of northwest Rhodesia described the havoc wrought by the slave traffic in Central Barotsi- lawl, which the administration of Northwest Rhodesia were doing their best to check, but its toleration by the
Portuguese authorities on the west coast made it utterly futile to try and cope with the slave trade that thrives in the interior of Central Africa.
Other Forms of Slavery- It is clear that the wide-spreading evils of African slave-trading and slavery are far from fully supprcst. But the most dangerous, because more subtle, forms of slavery at the present time are those which disguise them- selves under an alias.
In dealing with the African native there may be said to be two entirely opposed policies — that of educating, training and civilizing him to occupy a useful place in the community, and that of exploiting and using him merely as a tool for the profit of the white man. The extreme example of this exploitation policy is seen in the miscalled Kongo Free State, which w as started as a great international philanthropic scheme for opening up a vast district of Africa to free trade, civilizing the native tribes and pro- moting their moral and material wel- fare. This State has been turned into a great commercial and financial con- cern, whereby the natives are ground down by incessant tyranny to produce rubber for European markets. As the British Prime Minister said in Novem- ber last, "The conditions on which the Kongo Free State was founded have not only never been fulfilled, they have been continuously and habitually vio- lated." The present Foreign Secre- tary has described the condition of things as amounting to "slavery pure and simple." The consecpiences of this system have been described by a host of witnesses, official and unoffi- cial, belonging to many European na- tions and by the reports of British
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and American consuls, as well as by the investigation of a commission ap- pointed a few years ago by the late King Leopold himself. The annexa- tion of the Kongo State by Belgium took place in August, 1908, but the benefit to the natives resulting there- from appears to be little or nothing. In June, 1909, the British Government, in a dispatch to Belgium, stated that no reports had reached his Majesty's Government to show that the amount of forced labor and illegal or ex- cessive taxation exacted from the na- tives had diminished. A German gen- tleman, Dr. Ddrpinghaus, who went out to the Upper Kongo for scientific investigation in the service of one of the concessionary companies, was so horrified by what he daily saw of the working of the state system of admin- istration that last year he gave up his post and returned to Europe. He writes in his report, copies of which are in the possession of the British, American and German governments, "The history of modern civilized na- tions has scarcely ever had anything to equal such shameful deeds as the agents in the Belgium Kongo have been guilty of." He does not think that Belgian annexation will appre- ciably alter the state of things. Raids have recently been carried out in the Kasai district for native labor for railway construction by Belgian offi- cials, when men, women and children were taken by force, villages pillaged, and chiefs bound and taken away. Other recent evidence is to the same effect.
In November, 1909, certain im- portant reform proposals were put forward by the Belgian Government, the most important point in which was that the Government of Belgium sur-
429
rendered its claim to all the natural produce of the soil of the country, and promised to open the country gradually to freedom of trade. It fur- ther promised to abandon the tax pay- able by the natives in foodstuffs, which
ON BOARD A SLAVE STEAMER OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA
is an immense burden upon them ; to collect native taxes in money; to limit porterage and to introduce other im- portant reforms ; but, on closer exam- ination, these promises of reform are seen to be less satisfactory than was first thought. The opening of the country to legitimate trade between the natives and the outer world is to be made only in three stages of six, eighteen and thirty months, respect- ively. It appears that the half of the territory which is to be first opened to trade is already, to a large extent,
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exhausted of rubber. Of the other half, one-third is to be opened in eighteen months, and another third, including the Welle territory, in two years and a half, while in the remain- ing third (to which Dr. Dorpinghaus' report related) the existing system is to be maintained lor an indefinite period. Hitherto the Welle district has escaped the full pressure of the rubber tax, and it is known that the new district commissioner recently re- ceived official instructions to enforce the tax vigorously. It seems only too probable that before the country is opened to free trade, pressure will be applied by the State and the com- panies, and every effort made to squeeze it to the utmost and so cause further suffering to the hapless na- tives. These proposals appear to be largely the result of economic neces- sity, and indicate that the forced labor system is ceasing to pay. The posi- tion of the concessionary companies remains unchanged under the scheme proposed.
A well-known Belgian reformer, M. Lorand, points out that the carrying out of these proposals will entail enor- mous difficulties, notably the cost to the Belgian exchequer. The budget by which the revenue for 1910 is to be raised provides that about one-half of the whole amount is to be drawn from the old source — the proceeds of forced native labor in the collection of rubber and copal. The truth is that any reform scheme put forward is worthless without the provision for a substantial grant-in-aid for adminis- trative purposes to replace the forced labor system. At present, there is no sign that this is forthcoming.
It is hoped that the death of King Leopold II, whose personality has
been so closely stamped upon the ex- isting Kongo regime, will clear the way ultimately for a saner and more humane policy, but it is very doubtful how far King Albert will be able to inaugurate the necessary reforms and to induce the Belgian people to take an interest in the question of Kongo administration and show their willing- ness to provide the funds without which no reform can be carried out.
A similar system to that in the Kongo State prevails in part of the French Kongo (unlike that of the French dominions in West Africa). Here natives have been expropriated on a large scale and are not allowed to work the natural products, which are exploited by concessionary com- panies, who compel the natives to work for them by violent means. The Kongo system is simply the policy of exploitation of the native of Africa logically carried to its extreme limit.
Another flagrant example of a modern slave system is that which has prevailed for many years in Por- tuguese West Africa, in order to pro- cure labor for the development of the sugar and coco plantations in the colony of Angola and the islands of S. Thome and Principe. This is in- distinguishable, except in name, from the old slavery. During the last few years more has been known about the character of this labor, owing to the investigations of Mr. Henry W. Nevinson (who went out a few years ago on behalf of Messrs. Harper & Brothers, the well-known publishers), and of certain missionaries who have become acquainted with the system. Recently three large English coco firms, who are directly interested in the question, have made investigations and issued a report. The chief evil
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consists in the way in which the native laborers are obtained in the hinterland of Angola, where they are procured by dealers by force or fraud and are conveyed hundreds of miles to the coast under conditions of. the worst kind. They go through a form of contract for five years, but once in the islands, which are entirely devoted to the growing of coco, they never, until quite recently, have been known
the unhealthy islands, from which they never return."
Last summer the Portuguese Gov- ernment published new regulations for the islands, limiting recruiting to cer- tain areas, etc., and shortly afterward a decree was published by which the recruiting of Angola natives was sus- pended until the end of January. The value of all such regulations, how- ever, wholly depends upon the possibil-
AFRICAN SLAVES DISEM BANKING AT S. THOME
to return to their homes. Within the last few months it is stated that some few of these laborers have been re- patriated; but of the whole number who are sent to the islands every year — about four thousand — those who re- turn to their own land is almost inap- preciable. Mr. Joseph Burtt, who, two years ago, was sent out as a rep- resentative of the coco firms to report on the conditions of labor in S. Thome and Principe, wrote in his report:
"Under the existing system hun- dreds of black men and women are, against their will, and often under cir- cumstances of great cruelty, taken away every year from their homes and transported across the sea to work on
ity of their being really carried out. Now that many of the large English coco firms have announced (as they did last year) that they would cease to purchase the Portuguese coco until free labor was introduced, their ex- ample has been followed by many other manufacturers, both on the con- tinent and in America.
The Anti-slavery and Aborigines Protection Society sent a deputation to America last autumn in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Burtt to awaken and inform public opinion in the United States, as it was found that the Portuguese coco had been bought in by American manufacturers at a slightly cheaper rate. The result of
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Mr. Burtt's visit has been most en- couraging, as he was received with great cordiality and had the opportu- nity of addressing many meetings and obtained interviews with prominent coco manufacturers. We may reason- ably hope that the pressure exercised by the British and American buyers of the coco will induce the Portuguese traders to amend the system, to which many of the Portuguese themselves are entirely opposed.
Last year attention was called in the British press to a story of cruel oppression and wrongs systematically inflicted on the native Indians em- ployed in the collection of rubber in the remote district of the Putumayo River (a tributary of the Amazon), the sovereignty of which is disputed between Peru and Colombia. The al- legations as to the working of the system were very circumstantial and of a most revolting character, relating to a demand by the Peruvian Amazon Company, which has offices in the city of London, for extortionate quantities of rubber from the natives employed, barbarous penalties, including savage flogging, mutilations, torture and death inflicted for shortage. The com- pany's agents are described as men of the lowest type, frequently fugitive criminals. Questions were asked in Parliament, and the British Govern- ment is stated to be following up the matter.
The British Anti-slavery Society has for many years interested itself in the question of slavery in the benighted country of Morocco, and has on several occasions sent out deputations to that country. Owing to this so- ciety's efforts, and through the power- ful influence of Sir J. Drummond
[June
Hay, then British Minister, the sale of slaves in open market was stopt in the coast towns many years back. From reports, however, of dealings in slaves in the last few years, it is to be feared that as a consequence of the generally disturbed state of the coun- try, things have recently gone back and the slave trade can be carried on without much difficulty. It is hoped that the import of slaves into the coun- try from the south will be more and more checked as French influence grows more powerful in the south- eastern frontier of Morocco. In 1906, at the Algeciras Conference, a resolu- tion recommending the abolition of slavery in Morocco was passed, and it was then stated by the British Gov- ernment that representations had been made to the Sultan urging that the regulations against the public sale of slaves in coast towns and their trans- port by sea should be strictly ob- served.
Enough has perhaps been said to show how real and wide-spread an evil slavery still is, and the direction in which its dangers generally lie has been indicated. We can hardly over- estimate the value of strong and in- fluential public opinion. If it is true, as is sometimes maintained, that the old humanitarian spirit which actuated the anti-slavery leaders of the last cen- tury has been weakened and impaired by the trend of modern thought, as well as by the present-day haste to be- come rich, there is more need for con- stant vigilance, especially on behalf of the Anglo-Saxon nations, who must remember the high traditions of the past and the importance of maintain- ing a continuity of moral policy on this question.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
CAN AFRICA BE CHRISTIANIZED?
BY REV. A. WOODRUFF HALSEY, D.D., NEW YORK Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, through its Board of Foreign Missions, is en- deavoring to answer this question in one corner of the dark continent. It has four mission stations in the Ger- man colony of Kamerun on the west coast of Africa. One of them, Ba- tanga, 170 miles north of the equator, is on the sea coast ; the other three, Efulen, Elat and Lolodorf, are in the interior. Batanga was opened in 1885 ; Efulen, 45 miles east of Ba- tanga, in 1893 ; Elat, 38 miles east of Efulen, in 1895, and McLean, 70 miles northeast of Batanga, in 1897. No other Protestant missionary society
has work in this section of Kamerun. With the exception of some Roman Catholic missions, the Presbyterian Church is responsible for this entire section of southern Kamerun.
It is less than thirty years since Adolphus Good, of blest memory, the story of whose achievements is so fittingly told in that splendid volume, "A Life for Africa," by Miss Parsons, blazed the way into the unknown Kamerun district. For the first two decades the progress was slow. The last five years great advance has been made.
In 1905 it was the privilege of the writer of these lines to visit the sta-
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[June
tions in Kamcrun. He was the first secretary of the board to visit the mis- sion. His coming had been heralded for months. Many were drawn to church services out of curiosity. The audiences represented the high-water mark of attendance for the year or for any year in the various stations. At Batanga, not more than 250 people were present at any single gathering. At Efulen, on a clear Sunday morning, 800 were present. At Lolodorf, 1,100; at Elat, 1,600. These numbers were considered extraordinary.
On the first Sunday of July, 1909, there were present at the communion service at Batanga, 1,200; at Efulen, 1,600; at Lolodorf, 1,700; at Elat, 3,500. In 1905, the average at- tendance at the Sunday services at Elat for the fifty-two Sundays in the year, was less than five hundred. From August 1, 1908, to August 1, 1909, fifty-two Sundays, the total at- tendance at Elat was 61,236, or an average of 1,177 for each Sunday of the year. The offerings for the first half of the year amounted to 624.87 marks, or about $159; for the second half, 1,603.50 marks, or $385. The total for the year was 2,228.37 marks, equivalent to $534.80. The average per Sunday for the last six months was $64. Board at Elat can be had for two cents a day, and wages are twelve cents a day. During the year not less than 700 persons in this single station confest their desire to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. At Lolodorf at least 600 confest Christ, and nearly as many at Efulen. These were not received into the Church. It is the rule in the mission to place in- quirers in a class called Nsamba (those who wish to follow Jesus), and for two years they are under instruction
and guidance before being received into full membership. The number of missionaries has not increased in the four years. The amount appropriated by the board in New York for the West Africa mission was practically the same in 1909 as in 1905. Mean- while, however, every church became self-supporting, and the savings in ap- propriations for native work were sufficient to support two American missionaries for the entire year.
Whence this great transformation? In so far as it can be traced, it would seem to be due to the development of educational evangelistic work. Many years ago the Presbyterian Board opened a station at Angom, in Kongo Frangais. For seventeen years there labored there a man of God, most saintly and devout. He gave of his best and laid down his life. His body rests at Angom. He was preeminently an evangelist, but the school was neglected. He gathered about him a small group of devoted Christians, some of whom are with us to this day. One wonders what would have been the result if instead of tireless itinera- ting he had devoted his time to training men and women to carry the gospel to their own countrymen. In Kamerun the missionary multiplied himself by training the native Christians to do the work of evangelists. He created an appetite for knowledge, and this is the way it was done. The headman of a town would come to the station and ask for a teacher. He did this because some boy from his town, trained in the station school, had come back with a book. He was able to read; he was able to write. He was the wonder and admiration and envy of the town. The chief was desirous that other boys should learn. He was
CAN AFRICA BE CHRISTIANIZED?
435
told that he must furnish a building, secure food for the teacher, pay for charts and slates, and the small equip- ment needed for these elementary schools. Young men in the station schools who gave evidence of special aptitude were placed in a normal class and taught how to teach. They were then sent out to take charge of the schools in the villages or towns. The number of the schools increased rapid- ly. In 1909, in the district covered by Elat, not less than twenty-five schools were in operation, one of them being ninety-four miles away. The total en- rollment for the year was 1,670. At Efulen there were fifteen such schools ; at Lolodorf, fourteen. The people took great interest, as is evidenced by the following account of the new school which was started at Biba. The missionary writes as follows :
The people promised to build a schoolhouse, but on my arrival I found the school in the palaver-house, and only the ground cleared for a schoolhouse. This was a heartrending sight to see fifty boys working at their slates in a place abandoned by the men of the vil- lage. I called the men together and told them of the promise they had broken, and asked them what they would do if God would break that great promise of saving their souls through Christ? I told them I came to see the school they promised to build, and I intended to see it before I left. I told each of the fifty boys to bring one bamboo pole the next morning, which they did. Friday morn- ing I inspected the school, and in the afternoon I closed school and told the boys to put up the poles for the house. The wheel was a handy thing to go from town to town, and write up names of men who were to bring mats and bark. This they did, and Saturday morning all the boys were on the place ready to build. Then began a happy period of time. Hymns were sung, yells given. "Ho je bo!" "Ho je bo," was repeated
quite often; and, in fact, everything to carry one back to the old-time barn-rais- ings. At noon Saturday I left Biba with a schoolhouse to be completed in the afternoon. Oh, how the boys did cheer for their new house! proud as peacocks that they built it themselves; and the men exclaimed over and over, "Whoever
BOYS OF THE MISSION SCHOOL, EFULEN, WEST AFRICA
saw boys build a house like that before." Indeed, it is a grand thing to think the boys in Africa want school, and will build their own house if they are shown how to do it.
The village schools are potent as evangelistic agencies, for while the young men teachers are not thorough- ly educated, yet they have had a per- sonal experience in grace ; have been taught the essentials of salvation from sin in Jesus Christ, and have a heart message for the multitudes of people who are sitting in total darkness in the villages round about them. On Sundays the teachers conduct morning services at strategic points. The total attendance in the twenty-five schools in the Elat district during a single
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[June
term of seven weeks was 25,312. The majority of these people had never heard the gospel before; a desire was created which led them in time to the mission station, where the way was fully explained. There are station schools at each station in charge of missionary teachers. There are three main schools, which hold three terms of ten weeks each during the year. The village-school sessions are held after the station schools are closed.
In 1909 at least 4,000 pupils were connected with the station and the village schools. Not only is the Bible taught in each school and Bible verses committed to memory, but the reading- books to a large extent are made up of Scripture, so that the pupils become saturated with the Word of God. Every teacher is a Christian.
The village schools are entirely self- supporting, and are feeders to the sta- tion schools. The brighter pupils, after having received the elementary instruction in the village schools, are
eager to enter the station school. Those coming from a distance are re- ceived as boarders, and are thus brought into a religious atmosphere whose influence is most pervading. The evangelistic fervor of the Chris- tian school-boy is one of the marked characteristics of the entire educa- tional system in Bululand. One of the missionaries at Lolodorf writes of the work of the past year :
During the past year we have been ex- periencing a revival in all three of our stations from which village schools have been started during the past few years. Speaking of Lolodorf, nearly every letter I receive from the village school-teachers tells about the large attendance at Sun- day services, and many recount the num- bers who have confest. One teacher sent the names of 36 persons who con- fest in one day. One reported as many as 500 at a single service.
No doubt the consecration of the missionary and his devotion has had much to do with producing this evan-
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437
A VILLAGE SCHOI
gelistic spirit among the boys. One of the teachers writes :
Altho my occupation here is the teach- ing of German, yet I think it is my pri- mary business to try and bring men and women to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. The work of the boys' school is on my heart, as the school is the best means of spreading the Gospel.
It is not easy to tell where the school ends and the Church begins, for each is both educational and evangelistic and neither liveth unto itself. Two examples might be given to illustrate the far-reaching influence of the school :
The school at Lam, twenty-three miles from Lolodorf, was the first vil- lage school in the interior. Muga was the second. The story of Lam and of Muga for the year 1909 is one that will gladden the heart of every lover of Africa. The strongest elder of the church at Lolodorf was sent to Lam. His work centered around the school. An occasional visit from the mission-
IN WEST AFRICA
ary and the quarterly visit of the thirty members of the church-members of Lam to the station at communion season were the only outside help ex- perienced. In June of 1909 this elder sent an appeal to the station for help. The astonished missionary on his ar- rival found a new house of worship in process of erection, built by the voluntary labors of believers ; a roll of believers over four hundred in number, some of them coming from twenty miles beyond Lam, and a rare spirit of devotion and consecration. The be- ginning of this work was in the vil- lage school, which became a center of evangelistic influence for the entire re- gion.
Eight miles to the south and west of Lolodorf, at Muga, the second town school was opened. A group of Chris- tians was the result. When the main church was in process of building at Lolodorf, Christian women traversed and retraversed these eight hilly miles in the African sun to sell plantains to
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[June
the missionary, the entire proceeds of which were "smilingly contributed to the building fund." Now there are two hundred believers at Muga. It is significant that here also is a large village school. Such illustrations could be multiplied indefinitely.
About the same time that the village school was started, the industrial work was also put on more stable basis. Spasmodic attempts at industrial work- had been made in previous years, but in 1905 the industrial school was opened at Elat. This has no doubt contributed to the general uplift of the people. In the four years great ad- vance has been made. Industrial work has proved a corrective to too much book learning. "A proper balance," writes one of our best missionary teachers, "must be kept between the dignity of labor and power of learning in any community. How much more in Africa, where the introduction of civilization has already taken from the native his birthright of idleness and given him in no small measure the birthright of work; granting that much learning is not likely to make the African mad, there is no denying that it makes him proud, haughty and foolish unless it is properly balanced. I have several times broken the mis- sion statute in the case of boys who live in the day-pupil zone (no pupil living within three miles is allowed in the boarding school) by making them live on the place and work as a cure for idleness."
Whatever may be the theory re- garding this matter, the result in Kamerun has been very beneficial to the people. Classes in tailoring, in carpentering, in gardening, have made rapid advance. The first six months of 1909 the tailoring class and carpen-
tering class received for work done, 7,650 marks. Numerous articles were made, such as tables, sideboards, chif- foniers, bedsteads, rattan chairs, canes, napkin-rings, and various articles of ebony and ivory bric-a-brac. An en- tire factory or warehouse was con- structed by the boys in the carpenters' class directed by a single white mis- sionary. Orders for tables and chairs have come from traders seventy or eighty miles in the interior. The whole economic condition has been changed by teaching the native to use the materials so lavishly scattered all about him. The government officials have recognized the value of the work done, and traders, instead of standing aloof and criticizing the work of the missionary, have now been won over as earnest friends. The evangelistic spirit dominates the industrial school as well as all the other schools.
The real secret of the great advance in Bulu land is the presence of the Spirit in the heart of the missionary and the native Christian. At Batanga the most marked advance has been among the Maycba people. These people speak a language which is known by none of the missionaries. The awakening among them is due entirely to the efforts of the native Christians. Several have recently been taken into the Batanga churches and there are large numbers in the catechumen classes.
The Christians at Elat have built a guest-house, where people may lodge who come from a distance to stay over Sabbath, while fourteen miles to the west of the station a house has been erected in which passing travelers may sleep and find a gospel message from the Christian attendant who is in charge. Three hundred persons were
CAN AFRICA BE CHRISTIANIZED?
439
present in this house on a single Sun- day in September, and during the third three months of the year 1909 forty came from the district to confess Christ, yet the only instruction they had received was from the native Christian who had been trained in the
encourage them. Tho the station is but newly opened, there is a school of thirty-three boys enrolled, and at the end of the first week the tuition and the money to purchase slates had been paid by nearly all the pupils. The headman of Metet claims 150 women
A BETTER-CLASS HOUSE IN ELAT, WEST AFRICA
House and Furnishings Made by the Mission Apprentices of Elat
school and had been taught by the Master.
The Board has recently opened a new station at Metet, some ninety miles northeast of Elat. The mission- ary who made the tour of exploration took with him as carriers a group of Christian young men. They carried their sixty pounds twenty miles each day, and then at eventide they sought villages near their camping-place and preached Christ. Some of these faith- ful men were willing to abide at Metet, with no white missionary to direct and
as wives, and 80 sons. All the vices of Africa center about Metet. The headman even offered to give two of ^his wives to the missionary in ex- change for the dog and donkey which the missionary brought with him. Yet the Christian Bulu is willing to remain at this place. Already there are in training the young people of Metet who will help to evangelize the vast regions beyond. Can Africa be Chris- tianized? The answer from Kamerun is a great big YES. What are you do- ing to help civilize the Africans?
ADVANCE IN FOREIGN MISSION WORK
THE CONDITIONS OF ENLARGEMENT
BY REV. D. Z. S
Modern Christian missions, in their lower order of ethical and social fruitage, have heen highly commended by a long list of intelligent men, not all bearing the Christian name. These men have taken note that whatever the source of this transforming power the results were undeniable, that mul- titudes of men and women living in thraldom to evil customs and degrad- ing superstitions have heen delivered from this thraldom, and have entered into a new social order, with charac- ters ethically improved and life ideals vastly exalted. Again, there are mul- titudes of men and women who see in "the glad tidings of Christ" a divine purpose deeper and higher than ethical and social renovation — important as this is — which is being slowly wrought out of mission fields, nothing less than the restoration of the broken relation- ship between the hearts of men and the heart of God, and a like restora- tion of the relationship of brotherhood among men. This, to their thought, is the supreme work which Christian missions arc accomplishing, and ethical and social amelioration are its outward results.
When we study the life and teach- ings of our Master we discover that there was no "home" and "foreign" in his program of human redemption. His "kingdom of heaven," his "glad tidings," were for near and far. "Whosoever hath ears let him hear." The foreign missionary and the home pastor are engaged in the one work with their common Master. In this work all who bear the name of Christ are called to engage, that eighteen centuries have intervened between the apostolic mission-work and that of
II EFFIELD, D.D.
modern missions carries a serious ac- cusation against the Christian Church for dulness of ear and slowness of heart to hear and heed the divine com- mand to share with our Master in his work of world renovation.
The Christian Church in its inspir- ing thought is a divine institution, but it is equally a human institution in the part that men must take in its up- building; and as human, its upbuild- ing has too often been with feeble hands and divided hearts. When the writer set out for his mission field in China, Dr. N. G. Clark said to him : "If we had a thousand missionary candidates we would send them forth, trusting that the Lord would stir the hearts of Christian men and women to give them support." This seems like the expression of an inspiring faith, but in the light of forty years of sub- sequent mission history, we make bold to ask, Would it be wise for mission boards to adopt such a basis for carrying on their work? It should not be forgotten that for every hun- dred dollars for the missionary's per- sonal support, another hundred must be provided for equipment if he is to be efficient in his work. As well neglect to provide guns and ammu- nition for soldiers standing on the line of battle as neglect to provide es- sential agencies for use in mission work. During the last forty years mission work "has recorded splendid achievements, but — as every mission- ary and mission secretary knows — the support of this work, both in men and means, has been painfully inadequate to its growing needs. Instead of the saying, "It takes a dollar to send a dollar to the mission field," having in
ADVAXCH IX KOKKIGX MISSION WORK
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it any element of truth, it is nearer the truth to say, "Mission hoards have been doing- their work with one dollar where two were needed for best effi- ciency."
President Capen is in the habit of saying, in his mission addresses, "We are trying to do a million-dollar busi- ness on seven hundred thousand dol- lars capital." The real status is even more serious than this statement sug- gests. The "business" is seriously and chronically distrest in many lines of its activity because it must grow or die, and its roots are continuously without proper depth of earth. Condi- tions in other fields may well be illus- trated by those in China. China, by reason of its threefold awakening, po- litical, social and industrial, has opened the doors of opportunity for Christian work before there are men to enter in or means to sustain their work. We read that one hundred and forty millions of dollars were given in the United States in 1909 to edu- cationaPinstitutions, while a compara- tively trivial amount was given to similar institutions on mission fields, and yet these institutions are con- fronted with opportunities for ac- complishing a work for the young of these distant nations not second in im- portance .to the work being accom- plished for the young of America.
Just now a new note of hope is being struck by the Laymen's Move- ment, holding great and inspiring meetings in leading cities in the in- terests of a better support of mission work. This looks like the dawning of the day of the Church's awakening to its world-duty to share more boun- tifully of its spiritual riches with its neighbors across the seas, but much must yet be accomplished before that
day has reached its noontide. It is important that we do not underes- timate the greatness of the mission work still lying before the Christian Church. It may be wise to take as a battle-cry, "The evangelization of the world within the present generation," but it is not given to men to know the length of days or years when the Church's obligations in this regard have been discharged. It is certain that this work is destined to bulk in vastly greater magnitude and urgency in the awakened and enlightened con- sciousness of the Church than it has as yet assumed. We would not say, as has been said, "The Church as yet has only been playing with missions." The work already accomplished is of too sacred a character, and has been wrought out with too great sacrifice to be spoken of as "playing with mis- sions"; but it is speaking the exact truth when we say that down to the present time mission work has been accomplished by the prayers and gifts and activities of an inner circle of men and women, who have devoutly and intelligently entered into the di- vine thought for the world's uplift and transformation. That inner circle of men and w omen must be greatly enlarged before mission work takes its adequate place among the activities of the Church. When a Christian man says, "I am not interested in mis- sions," he does not realize that he is confessing his indifference to the su- preme work of Christ, and that such indifference is an evidence of his own spiritual leanness.
The Student Volunteer Movement has already covered a sufficient num- ber of years and has achieved suffi- cient success to deserve the thoughtful study of serious Christian workers.
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[June
That organization was born in an at- mosphere of prayer; it was nourished in a climate of devotion to the person and teachings of Christ ; it was strengthened and inspired by wide reading of missionary achievement un- der the guidance of men of first-hand knowledge of the work. They have thus received a double training of mind and heart to fit them to succeed in their chosen work, to enable them to grapple with its difficulties, and to know the source of appeal in their needs. The meeting recently held in Rochester, unique in its spiritual power and uplift, was a witness both to the magnitude and quality of this movement ; it was, further, a prophecy of yet greater things in the future. It is the conviction of the writer, if mis- sion work is to be more adequately supported in the future than it has been in the past, there must be a greatly increased number of those who bear the name of Christ who shall come into a deeper and more intelli- gent sympathy with His world-re- generating purpose, and whose hearts have been quickened with a desire and purpose to have a personal share in this work.
The foundations of the spiritual temple of God in the earth were laid in a divine sacrifice, and they have been built upon in every age of the Church by human sacrifice, and not until the visible Church lias been trans- formed into the invisible will this law of growth through sacrifice be changed. Many thousands of Chris- tian churches of our planting and watering are now struggling into life on mission fields. Many of this mem-
bership are weak of heart, are ig- norant and fearful, are subject to family and social persecution ; and yet these Christian babes are, doubtless, as near and precious to the divine heart as are we. Dare we say that we have entered in adequate measure into the divine compassion for his children so deeply alienated from his great Father heart? Are we by our prayers and sympathy truly sharing with our Master in His world work of human renovation ? Are we support- ing the mission work of the Church to the point of the best efficiency of its missionaries? That was a bold challenge made by a leading layman on the platform of the Student Volun- teer meeting in Rochester, when he promised that great body of young men and women that in the future the laymen of the Church would look to it that they and their work should have adequate support on the mission field. He assured them that there was no lack of ability to give this support if only hearts were awakened to the grandeur and urgency of the work.
We are, indeed, at the dawning of the day of greater things in mission work if the appeal from without finds a glad response from the appeal from within; if He whom we call Lord is truly Lord of our hearts. Then will we build our lives with all that has enriched them into His kingdom, and our hearts will yield a glad consecra- tion to the one divine work of reuni- ting the hearts of men with the heart of God. Then will be fulfilled our Lord's great prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."
THE BURMAN AS A BUDDHIST
BY REV. L. W. CRONKHITE, BASSEIN, BURMA Missionary of the American Baptist Missionary Union
The old dictum of Dr. Ebenezer Dodge that "the ethnic faiths are the resultants of human aspiration and human depravity" is as true of Bud- dhism as of the rest. Buddha, or as the Burmese call him "Shin," or "Saint," Gaudama, lived in India about 500 years before Christ. He is an entirely historical character, and it is just to say that he is one of the finest products of humanity without divine revelation. Very self-denyingly and painfully he elaborated a system of religion, if a system without a known god may be called a religion, which held wide sway in India after his death. It was later displaced al- most wholly by Hinduism and Mo- hammedanism, so far as India is con- cerned, tho it lingers in Nepaul and Shotan. It passed over into Ceylon, and about fourteen centuries ago into Burma, in both of which countries it is still dominant. It exerts, too, a strong influence in China and Japan tho compounded there with other faiths.
It is not easy to be just in speaking of Buddhism. On its human-aspi- ration side no man can withhold from it his sympathetic respect, even tho he may not be able to hold it in cor- responding esteem. On its human- depravity side — which is also its prac- tical side — it is only what one would expect of human nature unassisted by the Scripture revelation. One who mingles daily with its devotees is com- pelled very sadly to say that it has no saving power.
What are its main teachings? As to God, there is no self-existent, eter- nal, personal cause. Matter is eter- nal, and the law of Buddha — that is, the law which Buddha discovered and
left — is eternal. Buddhism is not athe- ism in the sense of definite denial of the existence of a God. It simply knows and says nothing about him. The successive Buddhas are not gods, but men, who by self-repression and meditation have attained to perfec- tion. They are no longer in the world nor in any way, directly or indirectly, connected with it or with men. They have simply by their own example left a path which others may follow and following achieve as they have achieved.
According to Gaudama, all time is divided into "worlds," or ages, each of which has four periods, the fourth of which is always the period of man. This is again divided into sixty-four cycles, and it is in stating the length of one of these cycles that the peculiar genius of the Oriental imagination finds one of its very familiar manifes- tations. Hinduism is full of such. Each of these sixty-four divisions is of such length that the lifetime of men increases with their increasing piety from ten years to a number of years so enormous that it is exprest by the figure one followed by 140 ciphers. Then men begin to degen- erate, and the lifetimes of the succes- sive generations shrink back from this vast figure to the ten years with which the cycle started. This round move- ment in the lifetime of men from one cipher to 140 ciphers and back again constitutes one of the sixty-four cy- cles, which together make up a pe- riod, while, as said above, four such periods make one of the never-ending, automatically succeeding "worlds" into which theoretical Buddhism con- ceives time to be divided. This pres- ent age or "world" in which we live
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has been greatly favored in that four Buddhas have appeared, (iaudama of India is the last of the four, and there will be one more before this age ends, or about 2,500 years hence.
The aim here is to give glimpses of philosophical Buddhism and to avoid the mass of details which for our present purpose are useless — as useless as they are, for the most part, puerile. It ought to be said that Bud- dhist philosophy is a wonderfully subtle maze. Tho subtle, it is a mace; and like other Eastern philosophies it is frequently inconsistent with it- self. A maze is of interest, but one must not expect to go through it and emerge in an orderly manner. And when one comes to matters of detail, numerous changes have been made in Buddhism since the days of its founder.
What theoretically is Buddhist sal- vation? I speak of it as theoretical, because very few, hardly any, have any serious expectation or desire of attaining it. Of course there are ex- ceptions. With Buddha salvation is not an attaining to holiness. Bud- dhism bas nothing to say of what we mean by holiness. Salvation con- sists in escaping from misery. All our sorrows spring from action and from desire. School the flesh and the mind until all desire ceases, desire in its broadest sense, until nothing attracts the mind, until nothing is wanted, and therefore all activity to attain, all activity of every kind ceases ; and nirvana, otherwise spoken of as naikban, will be attained. Nei- ther our bodies nor our minds can possibly be the abode of anything good. They are essentially and neces- sarily evil. They are not, as the Scrip- tures teach, to be sanctified, but to
be unsparingly and utterly represt anil destroyed. This will be accom- plished chiefly by meditation. Gauda- ma so attained.
lint such attainment is not practi- cable in the course of an ordinary life- time. Hence in part the doctrine of transmigration. An endless succes- sion of existences, of inconceivable length, is the lot of every man and woman before nirvana is even theo- retically attainable. If during any given existence you accumulate suf- ficient merit by austerities, offerings, meditation, obedience to the precepts of the law, you are likely to be born again, immediately after death, into a rather better form of existence than you before enjoyed. The spider may become a dog, the dog a woman, the woman a man, the man a being of a rather higher order. Any excess of demerit in the next existence will set one back again, possibly to an estate lower than he now holds. Those who take life, as for instance the life of a fish, pass to the lowest hell, there to endure unthinkable torments for eons that are practically endless. By obedience they may finally escape, and begin again the wearisome ascent in the scale of being. As an illustration of the way in which the idea of trans- migration lies more or less distinctly in the minds of the Burmese, the mut- tered sentiment of a Burman mur- derer, as he stood upon the gallows, may be given: "I hope that I shall be a man again in my next existence." And the action of the poor, old, ignor- ant Burman mother would provoke a smile, were it not so infinitely sad to a Christian's heart. Believing that in the bleating of a certain calf she rec- ognized the voice of her dead son, she rushed to the creature, embraced it
THE BURMAX AS A BUDDHIST
445
with terms of endearment, purchased it of its owner, and painfully de- voted her scanty means to providing it with every comfort known to its kind. We smile perhaps, but beneath our smile there is a mighty heartache for heathen motherhood.
Self-discipline for purposes of sub- traction, transmigration and nirvana are doubtless the three great doctrines of Buddhism that most strike one's attention. We say self-discipline for purposes of subtraction. You can not mend the things in your nature. There is not a good side in them to be brought out, much less any divine aid to do it. They are all hopelessly and necessarily evil ; and as said before, salvation is subtracting from the flesh and from the heart every desire or activity, and from the being every element, until all are gone. With what is left we rest forevermore in nirvana. Whether anything really is left is a disputed philosophical matter of infinite tenuity.
Beneath the great mass of observ- ances which must be carefully kept by those who definitely address them- selves to the attainment of nirvana, and which remind us of the Jewish rabbis, there are five elementary duties which lie at the basis of everything else, and are binding upon all men. With all except the first both the Mosaic code and common morality are in agreement. They run: (all are negative) "do not destroy life; do not steal ; do not commit adulter}- ; do not speak falsely ; do not drink in- toxicating liquors." And it is added, "He who kills as much as a louse or a bug has broken these commandments."
So much for Buddhism in its broad- est theoretical outlines. We will look now, from the standpoint of one mov-
ing in and out among the people, at its operation in the lives of its devo- tees. Of course no religion can be judged exclusively by the lax lives of two, or of a hundred, of its fol- lowers. All we can do is to ask whether, after all due allowance has been made for perverted human na- ture, the fruits of the given system in the lives of the mass of its sincere followers are such as to make clear its divine origin.
The monks and the laity make up the followers of Buddhism. A few of the monks are y-thits, or hermits, living apart in caves. The mass of them live in monasteries, attached to towns or villages. In the smaller towns one monk, or at most two, is the rule. The larger towns have com- munities of monks, that is of Bud- dhist priests, living in a common area and presided over by a y'han, or ab- bot, who is regarded as of very pe- culiar sanctity. Above the abbots there is one tha-tha-na-baing, or general bishop of the Buddhism of all Burma. To him, even the king, in the old days of Burman rule, did obeisance. All priests, with their yellow robes, their shaven heads, and their seldom broken vows of chastity, are objects, along with the Buddha and the Law, of general worship. The y'hans, and some of the common order of monks, deserve, from a Buddhistic standpoint at least, the respect which is paid them. Not so much can be said of the nuns, many of whom enter the calling when in straitened circum- stances for the ease with which it provides a living through beggary. They are held in little repute, but there certainly are, now and then at least, monks who are sincere in their austerity, and whose yellow robes
446
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
[June
cover traits of character which men rightly respect.
The vast mass of the priests, how- ever, are palpably of the earth earthy. It is quite impossible, in visiting a monastery, to retain anything like re- spect for nine out of every ten of them. They are not, by the way, priests in any sense, tho the designa- tion has crept into the language of Europeans concerning them. There is no altruism in Buddhism. Each man is seeking simply and solely his own individual salvation. The monk occasionally preaches the law before the people, in the sense that he re- peats by rote portions of the Law, his face screened from his hearers by a large fan. But this he does simply as a prescribed mode of accumulating merit whereby to further his own sal- vation. Similarly when offerings come to him from his disciples, no gratitude or slightest token of ac- knowledgment is due from him, just as no love is implied on their part. He has placed them under obligations by giv- ing them the opportunity of acquiring merit to their own account. To sup- port a hundred ordinary men is not so much, says the Law, as to feed one y'han, or head of a monastery. Aside from its lack of an immanent divine Spirit, its absolute foundation upon selfishness is the principle of death in Buddhism. The duty and merit of almsgiving by the laity is always upon the lips of the priesthood. Sometimes it is clothed in beautiful language, as when it is said that "the poor could fill Lord Buddha's bowl with a hand- ful of flowers; the rich could not do so with a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand measures of grain." Liber- ality is the chiefest virtue of the laity in the monks' teaching.
If one ask what is the inducement to the Burman to enter the monastic order, the general answer is much the same that it is in other monastic systems. A few relatively are sincere- ly earnest souls, seeking higher things by the only road known to them. Then, of course, there are the unthink- ing, who follow custom. Another very large class is led by considerations of the honorable standing in the com- munity attached to the priesthood ; and yet many others by the ease with which an idle living is secured. To many the vows of celibacy and home- lessness are made easier by the fact that the monk can at any time quit the monastery, and return to ordinary life without disgrace. He can take up his vows again, later on, if so minded, but, of course, with lost time behind him for the accumulation of merit.
Life in the monastery follows pretty closely a certain narrow routine. You can often hear the youngsters of the town, boys only, shouting out their spelling-lessons (for the monks are teachers of reading and writing Bur- mese tho of little else) before the day has dawned. By half-past seven or eight, the younger monks and some of their pupils are out upon the streets, marching in single file, with their beg- ging-bowls. The pious householders along the way make their contribu- tions of rice and other eatables, while the yellow-robed bearer of the bowl stands rigid with eyes fixt stedfast- ly on the ground. These miscella- neous acquisitions of the morning rounds make up the food of the younger monks and of the pupils of the monastery school. After the beg- ging come visitors and conversation until noon, when a meal, chiefly of
ipio]
fruits, ensues. Nothing is supposed to be eaten after noon, tho the rule, like most other monastery rules save that of chastity, can be evaded. A hungry recluse, sitting with his back to the sun, may inquire of a pupil whether it is already noon. The youngster, mind- ful of the answer that in the long run will be best for himself, replies that it won't be twelve for a good bit yet ; but they are afternoon shadows that fall across the viands that he pro- ceeds to bring. The earlier half of the afternoon may be given to the monk's duties as a teacher of the vil- lage lads, or to idling or to sleep. Now and then a more earnest soul devotes it to meditation. But prac- tically it is all as near doing nothing as anything earthly can be. From, say, half-past three on the younger members of the brotherhood may give themselves to cleaning in and about the monastery, the grounds of which for a little distance about the build- ings are usually models of clean-swept neatness — the one such spot in the town. At sunset all must be in, and endless recitations of Pali texts, par- rot fashion, by those who understand nothing of the language in which they drone, make up the evening order until half-past eight or nine. Then comes worship before the image of Buddha, and then to bed.
Besides the prohibition regarding food after midday, already mentioned, there are four other principal rules to be observed by the monks, namely, not to dance, sing, or play any mu- sical instrument ; not to use cosmetics ; not to stand in unsuitable elevated places ; not to touch gold or silver. There is further a long list of minor regulations, over two hundred in all, so grievous to be borne that casuistical
447
evasions of both their spirit and letter are constant. While theoretically not even a layman may take life, not even that of animalculse, the average priest does not hesitate to eat the flesh of a creature that has been killed by one of his followers. His own hands are clean.
Similarly among the laity. To people living in a great river delta, like the Irrawaddy, the temptation to take fish despite the prohibition as to taking life is irresistible. The law is particularly stringent just here, and specially consigns the fisherman to one of the lowest hells. The fisherman on his part smilingly admits the right- eousness of the law, but protests that he does not kill the fish. He simply draws them out of the water, after which they die of themselves. Bud- dhism, one must admit, has but little power over the life of the Burman until old age approaches, tho as every- where the women are more devout than the men. Processions of old men toward the pagodas for worship, of- ferings in hand, are very common. The savings of a lifetime are very likely to be expended upon the erec- tion of a pagoda or of a kyaung, or monastery, a work of very particular merit, and one bringing the offerer the much-prized title of kyaung-ta-ga.
No effort has been made to be ex- haustive in this brief sketch. I have scarcely referred to the various grades of punishment awaiting disobedience, and have said nothing at all of the various degrees of being and of bless- edness on the way to nirvana. Nor has mention been made of the huge mass of degrading superstitions con- nected with the old spirit-worship of the Burmese, and which, tho strictly foreign to Buddhism itself, are uni-
THE BURMAN AS A BUDDHIST
448 THE MISSIONARY RE\
vcrsallv blended by the Burmese w ith it.
With a theme like this it is easy to err. Theoretical Buddhism is the out- come of the reaching- outward ami upward of men who. powerfully im- prest by their souls' need, devised a system of belief along the lines of their natural philosophic bent. No thoughtful heart will lightly pass cen- sure upon such men. The situa- tion is full of pathos. The heart rather
"1EW OF THE WORLD | | Une
goes out w ith a feeling of fellowship toward these men who groped in dark- ness after light. But no such feeling of sympathy should blind one to the dreadful fact that the followers of Buddhism, as it has worked itself out in practise, are as a whole accurately portrayed in the first chapter of Ro- mans. Admiration for Buddhism as it exists in the lives of almost all its followers can come only from igno- rance, insincerity or infatuation.
GENERAL SURVEY O
REV. I). MAC GILLIYRAY, M .
1. The almost simultaneous demise of the Emperor Kuang Hsu and of the remarkably astute Empress- Dowager produced a w ide-spread feel- ing in foreign circles that their suc- cessors would not be allowed to peace- ably take over the reins of power, but all these forebodings were falsified by the peaceful accession of Prince Ch'un as Regent, with the child, lisuan T'ung, as titular Emperor. And we are thankful to say that under the new regime the year has passed in peace. The Prince Regent is credited with a genuine desire for the good of his country ; and having been abroad in iyoi, he has seen something of the world. Put the net results of his first year's rule are sadly disappointing. Notwithstanding the best intentions, he is evidently unable to overcome the inert resistance of a solidly conserva- tive past.
2. Men of high integrity, too, arc lamentably few. but notwithstanding this we have seen during the year the dismissal of Yuan Shia-k'ai and Tuan Fang, the two men best known to and trusted by the foreigners in China.
3. There has been an unceasing
F EVENTS IN CHINA
A., D.D., SHANGHAI, CHINA
stream of talk about reforms ; but when two of the strongest reformers of the day are summarily consigned to oblivion, reforms naturally make little progress. Notwithstanding the peremptory demands of the British treaty of 1902 and the United States treaty of 1903 for a whole series of reforms, the internal transit tax still lives, and the currency is daily increas- ing in confusion. The army and navy arc, indeed, in process of reorganiza- tion, but without honest men every- body knows that these new toys arc expensive and useless.
The Commission of Legal Reform has reported that the new code of law by which China hopes to secure the abolition of extra-territoriality has been completed, but it will evidently take years before this code can be put into force. The cry of "China for the Chinese," which began some years ago, has risen to the highest pitch. The refusal of foreign loans and the ob- jection to employing foreign experts hid fair to postpone the development of ( hina indefinitely. The boycott has been used as a weapon against both Japan and England, and a popular
igio)
movement has been started for the purpose of raising a huge sum to pay back all moneys owing to foreign countries. Railways and concessions of various sorts have been redeemed from foreign control, altho the agita- tion in this connection is far from over.
4. The greatest event of the year 1909 has been the inauguration of con- stitutional government. On October 14. the elected delegates of each province met in the provincial capital, and constituted the first provincial as- semblies. Altho these assemblies are not yet full-fledged parliaments, and are only the first step in a ten years' program leading up to full constitution- alism, they are the beginnings of popu- lar power, the developments of which are fraught with boundless conse- quences to China, to foreign countries, and to the central government. Dur- ing the last of December, 51 delegates from the different provincial assem- blies met in Shanghai, from whom pe- titions were sent to Peking praying that the date of a national parliament might be hastened. But, as an able writer has pointed out, "self-regula- tion, self-initiative, and self-sacrifice," which are the fundamentals of a suc- cessful constitution, are lamentably absent among high as well as low in China. "An old China hand," under date of September 9, writing from a purely mercantile point of view, gave an unconscious corroboration of mis- sionary opinion. He said, "It is this defective sense of duty, the want of personal honor, and the sordid spirit that puts money before everything else, that are responsible for the rapid decadence of a nation that was once great. All talk of reform in China un- til the morale of the people is changed
449
may be entirely disregarded as empty verbiage, for when you go down to the actual doing you will not find the men to do. The idea of constitutional government in the country, when each man's ambition is to serve his own ends, is a huge joke." All of which goes to show that constitutionalism, etc., is not an infallible panacea for China's ills. W ithout the new birth of the gospel. China will still go on groping in the dark. The clothes may be changed, but not the man.
5. China has gone in whole-heart- edly for the new education. Great sums of money have been expended on new buildings, and notwithstanding the obvious difficulties from want of teachers and lack of discipline, con- siderable progress has been made. As a result of the remission of the Amer- ican Boxer indemnity, 100 Chinese students are yearly sent to America, and this will continue for the next 30 years. The number of Chinese stu- dents in Japan, which swelled at one time to 15,000, is now down to 5,000. In the province of Chili there are more than 200,000 students in modern schools, and other provinces follow suit. The C. L. S. by its literature, and the Y. M. C. A. by its institutional work, are seeking to influence these students, but missionaries in the in- terior are everywhere getting into touch with them in a helpful way, and the influencing of these masses of wide-awake Chinese young men con- stitutes an opportunity of premier im- portance and magnitude.
Western nations, too, are showing a desire to establish universities in China for assisting the Chinese. The University of Chicago sent Professor Burton and Professor Chamberlin on a prolonged tour of investigation in
GENERAL SURVEY OF EVENTS IN CHINA
450
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
[June
China, the results of which will doubt- less appear in due time, while Lord William Cecil twice visited China with a view to the establishment of a Christian university upon English lines, to be founded by Oxford and Cambridge.
In Hongkong the proposition to es- tablish a university was warmly sup- ported by Chinese and foreigners, and in a few months' time a large endow- ment fund was subscribed, while a merchant prince of the colony will himself erect the whole of the neces- sary buildings. Several of the large shipping firms gave munificent sums to the endowment.
The Germans in Ts'ing Tao are es- tablishing a German university there, and the Russians also propose two colleges in North Manchuria.
6. The anti-opium agitation cul- minated on February I when the In- ternational Opium Commission as- sembled in Shanghai. Representatives of 13 nations sat for three days. The findings of the commission represent the sober opinions of experts, and un- doubtedly the friendly interest thus shown in China's welfare was much appreciated. The resolutions adopted were a pledge of the support of the powers represented to China in the program of opium abolition, as well as the decision to restrict the use of opium in the other parts of the world.
Foreign cigarets, however, are flooding the country, but there are rumors that the government will for- bid their use by soldiers, students and minors under eighteen years of age. Amid conflicting reports, one can only hope that some real progress is being made in the abolition of opium throughout the country ; but, of course, a Chinese national conscience
on the matter must be developed be- fore this or any other attempt to re- form can take root and become in- digenous.
7. Posts and Railways. The new post-office system was founded only twelve years ago, and is rapidly cover- ing the whole empire. The following figures show what a tremendous agent of possible good to the remotest corner of the empire the postal system promises to be. "In 1904, the total number of pieces handled was 66 mil- lions ; in 1905, 76^ millions ; in 1906, 113 millions; in 1907, 168 millions; in 1908, 252 millions. In 1901 the par- cels numbered 127,000, weighing 250 tons; in 1908 there were 2,445,000, weighing 27,000 tons. The postal routes now cover 88,000 miles, of which 68,000 is by courier lines. The number of post-offices has increased 2,803 m l9°7 to 3493 m 1908.
Surely these post-offices and the building of railways are long steps in the preparation for the coming of the King. The Peking-Kalgan Railway, begun in October, 1905, was finished on September 24 last. The Shanghai- Hangchow Railway was opened for traffic in August. The Tongking- Yiinnan Railway is nearly completed. The Tien-Tsin-Pukou line, which will connect Nanking with the north, has been begun, while many other rail- ways are either building or likely to be built.
8. Turning to the Christian Church in China, we note that the year has been marked by many blest revivals. Bible institutes have successfully fos- tered the desire for Bible study. The Federation Movement, as outlined by the Centenary Conference, has made good progress. Honan, as well as several other provinces, have formed
IQIO]
provincial councils. The Independent Church Movement appears to be quiescent. The apparent discrimina- tion of the Government in refusing the right of suffrage to the graduates of Christian schools provoked keen discussion among the Christians; but in many places they were allowed to vote, and it is likely that a more com- plete religious liberty will be granted along with the new constitution. The dearth of candidates for the ministry has been keenly felt, but a revival in the Union College at Weihsien, Shan- tung, resulted in the decision of 100 students to study for the ministry.
Christian Endeavor and Sunday- school work have both made marked progress, especially the latter. Large numbers of heathen children have been found for the first time eager to attend Sunday-school, and a Sunday- school secretary is to be appointed.
Some new societies are entering China to engage in mission work. Our sister society in West China, the Canadian Methodists, has made itself famous by a yearly addition of 30 or 40 recruits for the last two years.
The boards at home have fully
45 1
realized that their work in China must be reorganized to meet new conditions, and most of them have sent deputa- tions to consult with their missionaries as to the necessary changes. Chief among these are the Church Mission- ary Society, the London Missionary Society, and the American Presby- terian Board. In some cases radical changes were made, but in others the lack of funds stood in the way of drastic reforms. This formidable ob- stacle will, it is hoped, be largely re- moved through the blessing of God upon the Laymen's Missionary Move- ment.
In conclusion, we give the opinion of an expert on "The Open Door in China." It seems to be the almost universal testimony that there is a readiness to listen to preaching and especially to lectures on the part of all classes of Chinese in former years unknown. It may truthfully be said that we now have access to the ear, the eye, and to some extent to the mind of China — but not as yet to its heart. When that is gained, great re- sults will follow. For these, in the mean time, we work and pray.
GENERAL SURVEY OF EVENTS IN CHINA
THE MAN WHO OUGHT NOT '
WHO
The man who believes that the unbeliev- ing men and women in the world are not lost and do not need a Savior.
The man who believes that Jesus Christ had no right and no reason to com- mand His disciples to "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
The man who believes the gospel is not the power of God, and that Christ can not save the heathen.
The man who wishes that missionaries had never come to our ancestors, and that we ourselves were still heathen, cannibals or worshipers of wood and stone.
The man who believes it is "every man for himself" in this world — who, with
) GIVE TO FOREIGN MISSIONS
i HE?
Cain, asks, "Am I my brother's keeper ?" The man who believes he is not account- able to God for the money intrusted to him, and that he will never be called to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
The man who wants no share in the final victory, and the reward to faithful servants.
The man who is prepared to accept the final sentence, "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. . . . Depart from Me."
Such a man is not asked to give to for- eign missions. He needs missionaries to be sent to him.
— -The Missionary Herald.
SELF-GOVERNMENT AND SELF-SUPPORT IN INDIA *
1. THE MISSIONARY'S POINT OF VIEW
HY RKY. 1.. II. (HA M UKK1.AI N , M.A., M ADANAl'ALLE
In the Tremancore Mission of the London Missionary Society, self-sup- port is expected as a preliminary to the organization of a congregation into a "Pastorate with its own pastor and independent self-government." In the London Missionary Society field in the Madras Presidency and . Mysore, there is a threefold classifica- tion of churches. The first-class churches contribute all expenses of the church, select their own pastor, and direct their own affairs. The next class contribute a half or more of all expenses, select their pastor from among nominees of the mission, and direct their affairs advised by a rep- resentative of the mission. The third class consists of those who give less than a half of the expenses. These are under the control of the mission, which appoints a catechist to the pas- toral charge.
In the Jaffna American Congrega- tional Mission "a reasonahle amount of self-support is expected" before a church is organized. An organized church selects its pastor. In the Ma- dura American Congregational Mis- sion the practise is to organize with practical self-support, and pastors are installed by the council on a call by the church.
The United Free Church Mission discourages organizing a church which is not at least half self-supporting, and requires entire self-support after a definite period. A church is free to call its own pastor. A church in the Arcot Mission is organized only if the congregation pays its own expenses, and a pastor is installed by the ec- clesiastical court only if the larger por- tion of the salary is paid hy the con- gregation.
A score of missionaries were in- vited to send comments on three ques- tion-.; #
1. Should self-support precede self-gov- ernment ?
2. Should self-government be granted regardless <>i' the amount of self-support?
3. If self-government is to be granted during the attainment of self-support, on what basis, or in what proportion, should it he granted?
The replies give the point of view of the missions and of missionaries, as to how far self-government in In- dian churches should be conditioned on self-support. The conclusion is:
a. Complete self-support should pre- cede complete self-government.
b. The measure of self-government should he in some proportion to the measure of self-support.
c. Circumstances and conditions ( local to a church, a field, or a church council) should determine the propor- tions.
This is a good, safe answer, in ac- cord with political government, and with common sense. . . '. But a question has risen in my mind. Should self-government be conditioned by, or he dependent on, attaining self-sup- port? Do not self-government and self-support, in themselves, and in their objects differ so much that each should he considered, sought and ad- vanced, for itself?
Self-support is essentially a question of material condition.
Self-government is essentially a question of moral character.
One has to do with money; the other with men.
They differ in their objects also.
Self-support looks to the increase of local revenues, that the Indian Church may do the full work of a rounded church; and self-support looks to the release of foreign money for work elsewhere. Self-government looks to the development of character and devolution of responsibility, and to the release of foreign missionaries for work elsewhere. Which is the greater- — self-support which has to do with money, or self-government which has to do with men ?
*Th<- two following paper* were rca<l at tin- Crucial Assembly of the South India United Ouircb, Trivandram, December 20, 1909, and were printed in Tht Harvest Field (India), February, 1910,
SELF-GOVERNMENT AND SELE-SUITORT IN INDIA
Self-government, in the end, is the larger, more far-reaching subject. It should, it seems to me, be sought and advanced for itself. Self-support should be, and will be, a complement of, or contribution to, the attainment of self-government. But it should not determine the right, or measure, of self-government. If it does, the lesser end will hamper and delay the greater.
In the past there has been and is, in this matter, another case of mis- taken emphasis. Self-support has been rightly emphasized. But self- government has been neglected. "This ought ye to have done and not left the other undone." But reflection sug- gests that neglect of the subject of self-government has been the outcome of circumstances and not the result of deliberation.
With reference to self-governing churches there has been a two-fold tendency : On the part of mission- aries, there has been an honest doubt and fear about the ability of the Indian Christians — with their origin and past — to govern the churches. Again, possession of authority sows in the best of us missionaries a desire to re- tain it, and this would tend to keep the subject of self-government among the churches in the background.
On the part of the Indian Chris- tians, theie has been the fear of as- suming authcnty, both because of in- experience and youth, and because they realized that authority involved responsibility. These and other causes combined to keep the subject of self- government dormant so long, and to force that of self-support to the fore. Thus it has come about, too, that, when the subject of self-government has come up, it has generally been considered as attached to, dependent on, conditioned by, that of self-sup- port. . . .
It is readily admitted, and especially emphasized, that qualities of character which conduce to material progress also conduce to self-government and vice versa. I would not say the sub- jects are wholly to be divorced. They are related, interdependent, but not
453
the one dependent on the other, as primary, secondary. An individual, a church, a group of churches, may be advanced rapidly in property, un- der special circumstances, as have been some through the Periyar project in Madura, and Kodayar project in South Travancore, and yet be no more fitted for self-government than their less fortunate or prosperous neighbors. In fact, sudden wealth may, often does, unfit for self-government.
Self-government should be develop- ed also because of the benefit to be de- rived. I subscribe to the statement that we Westerners have much to learn from the East. The more rapid- ly we transfer the government of the Church into the hands of the people, the more rapidly will the church, and the whole cause of Christ, gain by new ideas, by the correction of our mis- takes, by the adopting of what is good from the West, and by the introduc- tion of what is indigenous and helpful in the East, making the Church more attractive to outsiders and helpful to insiders.
Think, for example, what the intro- duction — comparatively recent — of harvest festivals has done toward self- support, and esprit de corps. Who can tell what the panchayat system — so long neglected by the Church and now wisely being increasingly used — may do for it? The head-man system - — common in family, village, or caste — may yet play a valuable part in Indian church government.
It may be asked, if self-support is not the test for self-government, what shall be? In reply, I ask whether this question does not reveal a chief, if unrealized, reason for linking self- support and self-government to- gether? Self-support furnishes an easy and somewhat tangible test, or ground, for granting self-government, and so it has become a criterion. Still this does not make it the best, or right, one.
But my real reply is that I believe the highest relation of the mission and the Indian Church is not that of part- ners in a business, each investing cap-
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THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
[June
ital therein, and in which there is al- ways a senior partner who remains at the head until bought out by the juniors, or removed by force or death. The true relation is that of a family — not the Hindu joint-family system, but the Christian family system.
The mission, as the parent, at first should both support and govern the infant. Support may be continued, wholly or in part, while the youth is obtaining education and developing character. But, self-government is a part of education, and necessary to development of character. Therefore, it should be inculcated in, and trans- ferred to, the youth, even while sup- ported by the parent. That is, self- government may well be preliminary to, an equipment for, a means of. self- support.
A time comes when the youth should leave the parental roof, strike out for, and support himself. He may, prob- ably will, make serious mistakes. But, because of this possibility, he should not be kept in apron strings. Even tho he fails, his parents should not re- sume his support and government. He must learn by his mistakes.
I need not apply the parallel. The wise mission parent will be develop- ing the young church in self-govern- ment long before it attains self-sup- port. The amount of self-government will be in accordance with the progress and age of the youth, who should not be left to clamor for it, or evade it, but be consistently urged to it, and made to assume it.
The test for self-government, there- fore, is development and character. A mission should be ashamed to have an undeveloped, dependent adult church incapable of self-government, as a parent is of an undeveloped grown son. It must urge its child — its Chris- tian community — on to self-govern- ment.
In closing may I suggest two lines of development :
T. Generally speaking, authority over any work properly lies with those who supply the means, the men and
money for it. Foreign missionaries and foreign money should be under the control of those who supply them, or their representatives, in justice to the donors.
And in justice to the Church in India, foreign money should not be placed en bloc in its charge. Transfer to the church, on the one hand, would put that church on a false and weak- ening basis of dependence on this for- eign help; and, on the other hand, such large responsibility and author- ity would overload and crush that church.
Therefore, self-government in In- dian churches should first and fore- most be in that church itself, the ec- clesiastical sphere, not the sphere of mission activity. Can not the govern- ment of the churches, the calling of pastors, direction and guarding of finances, discipline of members, and maintenance of the good name of the Church be more rapidly and purpose- ly placed in their hands ? With a sys- tem of church committees, composed of selected, cautious leaders and mis- sionary associates, all ecclesiastical matters may well be devolved on the Indian churches in the near future.
II. But self-government involves more than the individual church. There is a further and larger sphere of self-government which I am glad to see is being definitely put forward as a sphere for the Indian Church. It properly belongs to a church, but for- eign missions have first to enter and develop it. I mean the general con- gregational, institutional, and evan- gelistic work carried on by missions.
The devolution of responsibility and authority from the foreign mis- sion to the Indian Church is coming none too soon, tho it may be pushed too rapidly.
May we missionaries be wise enough to transfer authority, and may our In- dian brethren be wise enough to ac- cept responsibility. May we mission- aries be humble enough to abdicate, and may our Indian brethren be hum- ble enough to learn.
ipioj SELF-GOVERNMENT AND SELF-SUPPORT IN INDIA 455
2. THE INDIAN'S POINT OF VIEW
BY THE REV. F. KINGSBURY, MADURA An Indian pastor of the South India United Church
There are three classes of churches and individuals among our Christians in India and the East generally.
First, I am told that there are a few- churches in Japan which are very anxious to get all the financial help they can from America and Europe, but which resent foreign control al- together. If this be true, the attitude is quite unreasonable.
Secondly, I have in mind an entire station of a missionary society in Burma, whose churches are not only fully self-supporting, but bear the en- tire cost of that large station, inclu- ding ordinary schools, training institu- tions and a seminary. In fact, except the salaries of the missionaries, all other expenses are met by the Karen Christians of that station, and yet these Christians do not dream of self- government, and apparently the mis- sionaries there are also satisfied with the self-support of all the churches and institutions and are not over anxious to tell the people anything about self-government. If this be true, again I am sure that every In- dian Christian or foreign missionary will agree with me that this state is very undesirable.
Thirdly, between these two is the golden mean, viz., that self-support and self-government should go to- gether ; and should not be divorced the one from the other.
In England, every man believes in the political doctrine, "no taxation without representation," and if I am not mistaken, the United States of America overthrew the power of Eng- land because England failed to recog- nize this maxim with regard to the United States.
My message is simply this. To my fellow Indian Christians I say, Do you want real self-government in your churches? Then exert every nerve of yours to make your churches self-sup- porting. To you, my brothers, I say, "No representation without taxation."
In plain words I tell you, do not dream of any self-government so long as you receive financial help from churches in Europe and America. In saying this I am not at all ungrateful to the churches in Christendom. All that I mean is, that it is unreasonable for us, Indian Christians, to seek freedom from foreign control, if we be anxious to get financial support from outside. A man who depends on another can never be free ; so also, a church which depends upon another church or churches can never be free.
I have not forgotten that we Indian Christians are poor, very poor. The majority of our Christians have come from the poorest classes and are still to be reckoned among the poorest of the poor, yet I venture to say that our people, even as they are now, arc fully able to give at least three times as much as they give.
Many leaders believe that they can not give more. How can a pastor or catechist succeed in raising money if he really believes that his congrega- tion is too poor to give? As long as we believe they can not give more, they are not going to give more.
Again, our people do not give more because they have not been properly instructed on this point. Many a pas- tor feels diffident to preach on giving lest his congregation think that the pastor is careful about his salary. But, fellow pastors, is it not our duty to teach our flocks the precious truth, viz., "It is more blest to give than to receive" ?
I say our people have not been properly instructed on this point. Just to illustrate my point, let me draw your attention to this fact. What a man gives his physician is called the doctor's fee. What he gives to his lawyer is the lawyer's fee. What he gives for the education of his chil- dren is the school fee. But when he gives anything to his pastor for his services it is "charity." Is not this
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the way we have taught our people? W ho is responsible for this miscon- ception? . . .
I am ashamed when ] see big' churches in India, some of them in large eities like Madras, seventy or seventy-five years old, whose pastors are paid entirely by missionary so- eieties in Europe, while their own con- gregations pay nothing toward their pastor's salary. If you want self-gov- ernment, see that our churches are en- tirely self-supporting.
May I say to my missionary breth- ren, w hen you see a church which is or which can be entirely self-support- ing, do allow the pastor and the peo- ple of that church to conduct their own affairs? With your rich ex- perience, you can counsel us. We need you to guide us. Till now you have been our fathers; now you can be our brothers. But the question
may be fairly asked, "Is a church fit to govern itself simply because it is able to support itself?" Suppose that it is not. how and when can it become so? If we should wait to govern our- selves till we are able to govern our- selves, then. 1 fear, we shall never be able to govern ourselves. Suppose that I had said to my son, "Willie, I will not allow you to walk till you can do so without falling," do you think he would now be able to walk?
Indian Christians are not infallible. ( )ur churches must commit some mis- takes before they have learned some precious lessons. If it be not imper- tinent, may I ask, have you not also both individually and as societies made some mistakes? May Christ Jesus our Lord help all churches in India to become very soon self-sup- porting, self-governing and self-prop- agating.
WOMEN AND THE REFORM MOVEMENT IN INDIA
BY RKV. E. R. MC NEILE
Among the complicated issues that make up the National Movement, one of the weightiest is the desire for re- form in the position of women. In- dians and Europeans, Christians and non-Christians, alike are unanimous in asserting that without a radical change in the life of the women, the regene- ration of India can never take place. One can not open a non-Christian pa- per without being confronted with this subject. Newspaper leaders. Con- gress resolutions, reports of commit- tees, all repeat the »me strain. Chris- tian ideas have taken root, India is at last desirous of raising her women.
The evils are various, but the most pressing are in every one's mouth — ignorance, the women must be edu- cated ; seclusion, the parda must be lifted; cruelty and oppression, infant marriage must be abolished; actual vice and outrage, the dedication of temple children must be put down by- law. It is always well to count the
cost before embarking on a revolu- tionary measure. I hit the gravity of the situation calls rather for earnest thought and prayerful planning than for over-cautious postponement.
Missionaries have undertaken to at- tempt the regeneration of India in a way higher than the National Move- ment has yet dreamed of, but we must watch our opportunity and offer our priceless gift in a way that will incline her to accept it. We must find out the special need of which India is conscious, and in her hour of need she must feel us at her side. 1 have mentioned some of the needs and an urgent attempt is being made in sev- eral quarters to invite the united at- tention of missionary bodies to one of the needs relating to women, of which she is becoming very keenly conscious at the present time, vis., to the need for the education of wo- men and girls. This has been an ob- ject of concern to Christian mission-
• From the Church Missionary Review.
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aries from the very first, but the need that we have been seeking to supply is not quite the same as the new need which is now arising, for a new class is seeking to have their women taught. It is the genius of Christianity to care for the masses, it is the genius of India to care for the classes. But, after all, Christianity cares for both, and when the classes at last are beginning to cry for our help it behooves us to hear their cry and respond to it.
The expression of this desire is not far to seek. About two years ago the Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces issued directions that every district officer should convene a spe- cial committee in his district to watch over the interests of female education and to advise Government with re- gard to the same, and further that efforts should be made to open one well-staffed and well-equipped school for girls in every district town. In 1908 the orders were forwarded through the department and the com- mittees were called into being. The Lieutenant-Governor is acting on the recommendations of a commission whose inquiries were prolonged and far-reaching, and the response is ac- tually forthcoming ; the committees have been formed and non-Christian men have come forward readily to serve on them.
But there are other indications. The Indians are taking the initiative them- selves, are forming committees and opening schools. There are long-es- tablished and flourishing schools un- der local committees in Lahore and Allahabad, and more recently similar schools have been opened in Amritsar and Benares. These schools are pure- ly secular. There are also some that are distinctively denominational, a Sikh school near Amritsar, Arya schools in Firozpur, Hardwar and elsewhere, and Hindu schools are about to be opened in Meerut and Mathura. In Lucknow a considerable number of Mussulman gentlemen have repeatedly and urgently requested the authorities of the Isabella Thoburn College to open a parda department,
and the new parda hostel opened in July is in response to this appeal.
What is the nature of the demand? The cry for efficiency has at last been heard ; and tho efficiency is not easily attainable, yet its trade-marks are be- ing made a sine qua non. The new schools must be fully staffed with trained teachers, they must be equipped with modern apparatus, and last, but not least, the head-mistress must be a trained graduate. This may sound a counsel of perfection, but it is one upon which, whether rightly or wrongly, great stress is being laid. A committee which can boast such a school feels satisfied that it is ma- king progress and has confidence in approaching the fathers of prospective pupils.
It is said that the existing mission- schools are doing all that is necessary. They are under missionary supervi- sion, they are carefully taught, and they take the children on as far as they can go before they are sent to their husbands' homes and with- drawn into parda. Only too gladly would they extend education to a higher stage if the children were al- lowed to stay. What more is needed? Not for a moment would I minimize the work that is being done by these schools, but they exist almost solely as an evangelistic agency. Education is a profession, and the fact that amidst the unlettered thousands around us there is plenty of room for unprofessional effort does not obviate the other fact that there is at the pres- ent moment a call for professional effort also. If the community were applying for a medical mission we should not put them off by saying that our cupboards were stocked with homemade medicines which we would distribute according to our light.
There is another consideration. It is a different class that is now de- manding schools ; it is the Anglo-edu- cated men, the advance line of the reformers, who want to have their women fitted to be their intellectual companions. And these men are ac- customed to graduate masters in their
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own schools, they are aware of the stress that is everywhere being laid upon training, and they will be at- tracted only by qualifications which suggest the real thing in education. So whether we are alive or no to the importance of the professional aspect of the work, we can at least unite to give to Young India what she wants if perchance we may succeed in giv- ing her also what she so sorely needs without wanting it.
The experiment has been tried by the American Presbyterian Mission in Saharanpur and Fathpur, where all the mission-schools of the ordinary type have been closed and new, up-to- date schools opened in their place. The missionaries themselves teach in these schools every day with a staff of country-born English, Eurasians and Indians. They are attempting to give as good an education to the non-Chris- tian girls as we are in the habit of giving to Christians in our boarding- schools. The result, in these two in- stances, is abundantly satisfactory. Yet why only two instances in the whole of these provinces, and they not in our own church?
Our policy might be to make a care- ful and thorough examination of the supply and demand in the province, and to see to it that in every large center still unoccupied some such cen- tral school for girls be opened. It is essential that there should be no over- lapping of societies. If any city should be allocated for this purpose to any one society, other societies that might be working there would naturally re- frain from extension. The large cities are many, and the schools will, alas ! be only too few.
A further policy I would suggest. The divorce of men's and women's work leads to much, very much leak- age of force and often to heartrend- ing separations in the families of con- verts. Let us be warned in time in any new undertaking. We might try to open girls' schools as twins to our existing boys' high schools. This would give us a nucleus to start with among the sisters of the boys, an area
for recruiting, a permanent connec- tion, and an unparalleled opportunity for coordination and concentration. There is at the present day a consider- able body of opinion in favor of oc- casional women acting on the staff of boys' schools, and such an arrange- ment would be a great help here. If the principal of the girls' school held a more or less nominal appointment in the boys' school, teaching there one or two periods a week, it would give her an opportunity to canvass among the boys for their wives and sisters, would help to make her known to their parents, and would tend gen- erally to keep the two sides of the work in touch with one another. The girls' schools should be started with a certain amount of flourish of trum- pets and with plenty of advertisement. Why should we begin in a hole and corner, and our numbers creep up by tens, when there is really a crowd, tho a timorous one, wanting to come who might be encouraged if they could be invited all together? The school should have the whole time, or at least the greater part of the time, of a fully- qualified educationist, as do our boys' high-schools and boarding-schools, and the rest of the staff should be in no way inferior to those of the above schools. It might be a good thing to introduce one or two Christian girls into the upper classes as an object- lesson and in order that they may en- courage others to go beyond the pri- mary stages.
The schools should start from the lowest class, and should on no account leave the preparatory work to the branch schools, for, however contra- dictory our practise may be, it is an educational axiom that the youngest children and the least-developed minds need the most skilful teaching, and while the teachers in high-schools need more learning, the teachers in ele- mentary schools need more training. This is a point which is often forgot- ten when we put raw converts and ignorant old women to teach our pri- mary schools, the only justification for which practise is found in the claim
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of the schools to be evangelistic, not educational agencies.
The crisis has come, and unless we seize the opportunity, it will pass from us. The demand has arisen, and un- less we supply it, Hindu committees or the government will do so, and al- ready our chance is being lost in city after city, where to start a second school would only be to court unneces- sary difficulties, if not to waste our strength on attempting the impossible. And what a chance it is ! We are daily being reminded of the disastrous results of secular education among the men ; are we going to stand by and see the disaster repeated among the wo- men? We are daily reminded that it is the conservatism of the zenana that prevents many a man from con- fessing the faith which he secretly holds; are we going to stand by and see that conservatism broken down to be replaced only by the yet more hard- ening influences of modern material- ism? Missionaries have always hitherto been in the van of educational progress ; are we going to hear the voice of Young India calling for help and turn a deaf ear? Think what it may mean twenty years hence — a body of educated women cut adrift from their old faiths, owning no moral restraints, no longer a drag on the atheistical tendencies of the men, fan- ning sedition, increasing unrest, and only too probably turning their newly- acquired liberty into something sadly akin to license ; or, on the other hand, the same body of educated women
leavened by Christian influence and Christian teaching, no longer a drag upon the groping of the nation after Christ, teaching Christianity to their children of both sexes while they still have them in the zenana at the most impressionable age, and finally, having brought their power and influence to the feet of Christ, becoming leaders for Him among their fellow country- men.
Let us be God-enlightened strate- gists, not only faithful soldiers. Let us keep our forces mobile and be ready to move them with the speed and precision of a competent general wherever there is opportunity for ad- vance. Let us even, if need be, close some of the existing work for a time, in order to concentrate where the need is greatest. What should we say of a general who placed out his forces once for all at the beginning of a campaign and declined to move them, who refused to abandon a single position even to advance to a better, who thought since his first disposition was good there was no need to change it? All honor to the pioneers who have gone before us, but they would be the first to adapt their methods to the new conditions of Young India. The times are moving, let us move with them, or rather move before them. If we Christians neglect our opportunity, others will not hesitate to seize it. Let us redeem the time, and steadily aim, at least as far as women are concerned, at the capture of the National Movement for Christ.
Christian people are Christ's instruments for effecting the realization of the purposes of His life and death. Neither the divine decree, nor the expansive power of the truth, nor the crowned expectancy of the waiting Lord, nor the mighty work- ing of the Holy Spirit, are the complete means for the accomplishment of the divine promise, that all nations shall be blest in Him. God reveals His truth, that men who believe it may impart it. God gives the Word, that, caught up by those who receive it into an honest and good heart, it may be poured forth in mighty chorus from the lips of the "great company of them that publish it." Christians, learn your high vocation and your solemn responsibilities. For what did you receive the Word of God? For the same reason for which you have received everything else which you possess — that you might share it with your brethren. How did you receive it? A gift, unmerited, that you might feel bound to spread the free divine gift by cheer- ful human work of distribution. From whom did you receive it? From Christ, who in the very act of giving binds you to live for Him and not for yourselves, and to mold your lives after the pattern of His. — Alexander Maclaren, D.D., of Manches- ter, England.
EDITORIALS
THE CHRISTIAN MOTTO
Francis of Assisi's followers loved to characterize themselves as "Nos qui cum eo fuimus" — we who have been with him — a noble motto for the disciples of Christ, only we may add, "et qui cum eo erimus" — and who with Him shall he (John 17:24).
THE WORLD'S MISSIONARY CON- FERENCE
Our readers will be interested to note the wide range of topics to oc- cupy the coming conference described in an article on another page.
1. Carrying the Gospel to the whole world.
2. The native church and its workers.
3. Education and its bearings on evan- gelization.
4. The missionary message and its re- lation to non-Christian religions.
5. The preparation of missionaries.
6. The home base of missions.
7. Missions and civil governments.
8. Cooperation and the foundation of unity.
These subjects arc entrusted to dif- ferent commissions, which have been at work preparing, and are now pub- lishing, their reports, which are to be supplied in advance to every one of the 1.200 delegates, so that no needless waste of time will be risked through lack of information. The methods are admirable, and now a baptism of prayer is the one preeminent need. 1 1 such a conference can be guided by the presiding Spirit of God there is no lan- guage to indicate the possible outcome of blessing.
EVANGELISTIC WORK ABROAD This matter is primarily one of sim- ple obedience to our Lord's last com- mand. 1 lere are our marching orders : N'o true soldier hesitates, parleys, or even delays to ask a question.
Secondly, it is a matter of love to man, as well as loyalty to Christ. Every motive of humanity and piety unite to constrain us to give the gospel at once to the world. Huber, the blind naturalist, observed that a wasp will not stop to eat a precious morsel by himself. He goes to the nest and leads others forth to the feast, "lie that withholdeth corn, the people shall
curse him." No monopoly is so in- excusable and monstrous as that of the liread of Life.
There is nothing either impossible or impracticable in the immediate evangelization of the world. We need :
1. To accept the principle of Evan- gelism— that every believer is a herald, responsible for his proportion of the unsaved world ; bound to do directly his share of bearing the good tidings. The curse of the Church is the de- pendence on proxies.
2. We need a spirit of Enterprise. Men of the world, simply to serve worldly interests, have made it possible to go round the world in three months ; to reach by the mails the remotest quarters inside of six weeks, and by telegram all great centers inside of an hour. What might not a little enter- prize do for God !
3. We need a holy Earnestness, an enthusiasm for God. This is the in- spiring soul of all Christian effort. It makes one man chase a thousand, etc. ; it makes him a hammer to break the hardest ; a fire to burn and melt away ; a sword to pierce.
4. We need the divine linduement. The power that converts can not be described any more than the fra- grance or tinting of a rose ; but it may he felt. Faith and prayer are the con- ditions of this enduement. The means will always be inadequate. Our sal- vation lies in being in straits. The work can not he done on a mathe- matical basis. We must attempt great things for God, while expecting great things from ( iod ; and then the Victory will come.
GENERAL BOOTH'S MESSAGE
The founder of the Salvation Army celebrated on Sunday, April IO, his eighty-first birthday, and sent on the day previous a birthday message to the Daily Telegraph in London:
"Sixtv-five years ago I decided that my object in life should be to please my heavenly Father, help the sinning and suffering people around me, and insure for myself an entrance into the kingdom of heaven at my journey's end. Year after year, as I have passed
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mile-stone after mile-stone, I have re- viewed my progress, and inquired of myself anxiously, and I hope honestly, how far I have kept the path I have chosen, and what progress I have made in the attainment of my end.'
"Some of these years have been marked by anxiety, difficulty, and dis- tress; but, notwithstanding these im- pediments to my progress, when to- morrow I pass the eighty-first mile- stone, I hope to be able to say, as doubtless many around me will say, that I have been faithful to my pur- pose, that in a large measure my ob- ject has been attained, and that I have a good prospect of ultimately reach- ing my goal.
"For the realities of the past, and the possibilities of the future, I have first to express my gratitude to the brave, self-sacrificing body of com- rades who have gathered to the standard I have raised, and then, above all, and beyond all, to acknowl- edge my obligation to my heavenly King, without whose blessing nothing is wise, or good, or strong."
PRESENT-DAY SLAVE-TRADE
Traffic in human beings has not yet been stamped out, as will be seen by reading Mr. Travers Buxton's article. A Copenhagen correspondent also calls attention to the fact that the Africo- Arabian slave-traffic is still secretly carried on. The Arabian traders wait in a desert district till the English cruiser has passed by ; and sometimes settle down even for a couple of years, trading peaceably with the natives in the interior ; and, when they have enough stock, start an insurrection until there are only so many survivors as are necessary to carry the ebony to the coast. However this last course of action stirs indignation, the political unrest and confusion, and division and enmity, sown among the tribes is even worse and more permanent. They de- liberately sow these seeds of hostility to keep the chiefs from combining against the common enemy. What a field for peace-makers to work in, to stem the tide of lawlessness and anar-
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chy ; and what a melancholy proof of the fact that human depravity works in subtlety and secrecy, and behind pa- cific and even philanthropic disguises !
A SIGNAL TOKEN OF PROGRESS
Mr. J. Campbell White boldly af- firms that "the most important thing in American history this year is the changing conviction of the nation con- cerning its religious obligations to mankind." This is a weighty remark from a man who, more perhaps than any other, stands at the heart of the modern Laymen's Movement, which culminates in the National Missionary Congress in Chicago, May 3-6. Mr. White further says :
"In this process the very character of American Christianity is being radically changed. When a man or a nation becomes conscious of world- relationships and responsibilities, a new life has begun. From Maine to California, at seventy-five main con- ventions and thousands of related sec- ondary meetings, American Christian men of all churches have been rising up to indorse a comprehensive and adequate plan for making Christ known to the whole world in our gen- eration. The men of every State in the Union have exprest themselves on this issue with a unanimity and depth of conviction that could never be called forth apart from a tremendous cause, and the mighty working of the Spirit of God. There has not been a note of failure in the entire National Mis- sionary campaign. With scarcely a single exception, the seventy-five main conventions have brought together the largest and strongest assemblies of Christian men ever gathered for any purpose in these cities. The addition of some millions of dollars annually to the missionary treasuries of the churches will not be the only or chief result. This is but one evidence of al- tered life-purposes on the part of mul- titudes of men."
Speaking of the congress to be held at Chicago, Mr. White says : "With only another month intervening until the National Missionary Congress
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meets in Chicago, it is most important that a great volume of prayer be poured out continuously for over- whelming blessing upon that gather- ing. Without doubt it will be the most representative and potential con- vention ever assembled on this conti- nent. The forty-five hundred avail- able seats in the auditorium have been allotted to the evangelical churches of the United States in proportion to their membership and missionary con- tributions, thus guaranteeing a pro- portionate representation from every church and from every part of the na- tion. It will be the privilege of a life- time to be a member of this congress."
DOCTOR BARTOLI'S TESTIMONY
The Rev. Giorgio Bartoli, now in America, is a converted ex-Jesuit, one of the most learned priests in Europe. Educated in Rome, he studied in France, Spain, England and Austria, speaks seven languages, and for years has been a teacher of languages, science, and history in the Jesuit col- leges in Turkey, India, Egypt, Ireland and Rome. The following was his testimony at the New York Deaconess Home and Training School on Feb- ruary 1 1 :
"I was converted when a child and until a few years ago believed abso- lutely that the Roman Catholic Church was the only true Church, and the Pope of Rome the vicar of Christ on earth. While in Bombay, in 1895, I was asked by the Jesuits to answer the article of an Anglican bishop dis- puting the claims of the Roman Church. I responded, using as my early authority the works of Cyprian, only to find out these were a forgery and that he had not recognized the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome.
"Realizing that I had been deceived in one historical teaching, as time per- mitted I studied for ten years more carefully the Bible and the history of the early fathers, and without reading a Protestant book became convinced
flEW OF THE WORLD [June
of the unscripturalness of many of the doctrines I had taught. I was sent to Ireland and Italy by the Roman hierarchy and requested to confine my work to teaching, but was refused per- mission to preach even to the poor. Rome has now excommunicated me, but I question its power over my con- science and work.
"It is my desire to preach the Gospel of Christ, and I am convinced more than ever that the greatest need of the world is the preaching of the pure and simple and entire Gospel of Christ."
He also spoke at the recent decen- nial of the N. Y. Bible Training- School, and said that he regarded the modern depreciation of the authority and inspiration of the Word of God as the greatest evil of our day ; and he eloquently and emphatically added that the time was at hand when the great issue is to be whether preachers and teachers do, or do not stand by the Bible — that here is to be found the great line of division and test of attitude as ministers of Christ.
A NEW MISSIONARY MOVEMENT AMONG GERMAN STUDENTS
In German universities, unhappily, opposition to the Students' Federation for Missions (equivalent to Student Volunteer Movement) has developed, and has resulted in the founding of "Academic Missionary Societies" in the universities of Berlin, Breslau, Gottingen, Greifswald, Halle, Kdnigs- berg, Lcipsic, Marburg, and Tubin- gen. The new organization does not hesitate to announce that it is opposed to the pietistic ("Methodistisch") character and tendency of the Federa- tion. Its purposes will be general, and have as its aim the study of missions and the cultivation of interest in them, while the Students' Federation asks its members to declare themselves ready for missionary service, if the Lord opens the way.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
AFRICA Converts from Islam
The C. M. S. Gazette for March re- counts a gratifying increase in the number of converts from Islam in the English Church mission at Cairo. The Rev. Canon Maclnnes wrote on New- year's eve : "There has fallen to Mr. Gairdner and myself a greater number than ever before of classes for Moslem inquirers, of whom we have been priv- ileged to baptize 8 grown men, in ad- dition to 3 young women, in connec- tion with the hospital at Old Cairo. We are anxious not to lay undue stress on mere numbers, and it should be borne in mind that four of these con- verts have been in touch with us for two years or more — one had been at heart a Christian for considerably longer; but at the same time it is highly encouraging to think that n adult Moslems have been admitted into the Church of Christ after long and careful preparation, and that this is nearly twice as many as we have ever before received during the course of a single year."
New Methodist Mission in Africa
Bishop Hartzell gives an account of the organization of the new American Methodist Mission in Algiers, April ist to 5th. During one session a party of 33 Palestine tourists was present. The 19 workers in the mission come from three continents : 3 are Ameri- cans, 7 English, 3 Irish, 2 Scotch, and 2 German. One member is an Arab and the other a Kabyle — both converts from Mohammedanism. As a whole these workers have had a large, varied and successful service as foreign mis- sionaries. Seven speak Arabic ; 18 speak English, 1 Esperanto, 15 French, 4 German, 2 Gujarati, 4 Kabyle and 1 Malay. Seven additional languages are read : Greek by 3 ; Hebrew, 3 ; Hindustani, 2 ; Italian, 4 ; Marathi, 2 ; and Spanish 1. One is a master of the Coptic and has distinguished him- self in deciphering and publishing an- cient Coptic hieroglyphic manuscripts.
In Algiers, a city of 175,000 people, the Methodists have 250, chiefly wom-
en and girls, both Moslem and Roman Catholic, and among whom there are a number converted to Christ. A French-speaking church, organized by Bishop Burt in 1908, has already a membership of 20. Another hall, with adjacent apartments, is for work among the Moslem Kabyles. Two hundred and fifty miles east of Al- giers is the historic city of Constan- tine, with its 60,000 people, where work among the French and Arabs has good beginnings ; while 250 miles still farther east is the great city of Tunis, with 200,000 inhabitants, where the work is established. The first movement from these centers will be among the Kabyles in Kabylia, a land rich in natural resources and popula- tion.
Africa's Latest Explorer
A few years ago Dr. Karl Kumm made a tour of the western Sudan with a view of stirring up interest in the evangelization of the people in that territory. Following his visit, a South African branch of the Sudan United Mission was formed, and al- ready at least five missionaries from South Africa are at work in northern Nigeria. Much interest is being taken in a journey Dr. Kumm has been ma- king across Africa from west to east through northern Nigeria, the French Kongo territory and the Anglo-Egyp- tian Sudan. This journey is being made, primarily, in the interest of the United Sudan Mission, and it is be- lieved will open the way for the ex- tension of the work in the regions which he is exploring. The country traversed by Dr. Kumm has been very imperfectly explored, and it is expected that he will be able to make consider- able addition to the geographical knowledge of this comparatively un- known section of Africa. Dr. Kumm is German by birth. He received his degree from one of the German uni- versities for a treatise on Nubia, and has studied geography under some of Germany's most distinguished pro- fessors. This is a modern instance of the value of missionary exploration in opening unknown regions and thus
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contributing to the store of geograph- ical knowledge, and opening the way of Christianity, commerce and civiliza- tion.— M issiona ry Herald.
An Awakening in West Africa
The encouraging report conies to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions that a great awakening is stirring the Bulu churches in West Africa. When Secretary llalsey was at Kfulen four years ago, the largest audience which greeted him did not number over 800 people. Last year the church at Efulen was enlarged, and the first service held in the remodeled church last September, brought to- gether an audience of 1.707. At I^at at the first communion service in July. 3,500 persons were present. \\ hile these audiences were exceptionally large, yet the average attendance has far exceeded that of any previous year, and the work in Bulu land is reported as little short of Pentecostal.
Four years ago village schools were established in and around Elat from ten to ninety miles. There are now 25 such schools under the care of pu- pils who have been trained in the station schools. ( )n Sundays evange- listic services are held at strategic points near, and in six weeks boys who a few years ago came from the jungle, little mine than animals, told the "Old, Old Story" to 25,312 per- sons, most of whom had never before heard of Jesus Christ. The number in the inquirer's class at the single sta- tion of Elat is 700. Why should not West Africa receive 50,000 new con- verts this year? The greatest difficulty is with the Giurch at home, and the insufficient supply of workers.
A Baptist Commission to Africa
The Executive Committee of the Baptist Foreign Mission Society ap- pointed a commission of three to visit the mission on the Kongo, and to in- vestigate conditions in the British Su- dan relative to opening mission work there. The members are: Rev. J. EL Franklin, of Colorado Springs; Rev. Johnston Myers, D.I)., of Chicago, and
Rev. W. L. Ferguson, D.D., of Mad- ras, South India. They have gone under the personal conduct of Rev. Joseph Clark, of the Kongo Mission.
The party sailed from Antwerp May 5th, arriving at Matadi, May 26th. They will visit the several stations of the mission, not excepting the two posts on the Upper Kongo, and will also meet with the missionaries in con- ference.
From the Kongo the commissioners will take ship for British Nigeria in the Sudan, landing at Lagos, whence they will proceed beyond the Xiger river into northern Nigeria. Here they will ascertain under what condi- tions mission work can be carried on, and of what nature the opening is. The commission can not complete its work in less than five months.
Chinese Coolies Sent Home
Five years ago 50,000 Chinese were laborers in the Transvaal mines and licenses, had been granted for the en- try of 16.000 more, most of whom had already arrived. The Liberal party 1 lien took possession of the British ( iovernment and began the policy of sending the Chinamen home again as fast as their contracts expired. The last of them have now left the Trans- vaal. During the last six years the native Kaffir laborers have increased from 70,608 to 156,065, and the whites employed in the mines have gained from 12,414 to 21,305. Thus an ex- periment to w hich there was great and w arranted opposition has failed, to the gain of South Africa.
A Mission Comes to Self-support
Seventy-five years ago the American Board Mission to the Zulus was founded, and has recently come to self-support, with 24 organized churches, 60 out-stations and 200 other plcaching-places. There are 10 ordained Zulu ministers and 5,555 communicants; 60 primary-schools, with 4,000 pupils, and 3 training- schools. Not many years ago the Zulus were considered by many as a people that could not he brought un-
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tier the influence of missionary effort, but, to the contrary, we see among these people at the southern extremity of the Dark Continent a self-support- ing Zulu Christian Church.
Cape-to-Cairo Railroad Pushing On
According to a telegram received in London, locomotives are now running on the Cape-to-Cairo Railroad to a point 40 miles beyond the Kongo fron- tier; i.e., 2,187 miles from Cape Town. In a communication issued by Ren- ter's Agency, it is further stated that earthworks are completed for 60 miles further northward, and that by the end of April it is expected that the rail head will be 100 miles within the Kongo territory. From the Star of the Kongo, or Elizabethville, the next section of the railway will be to Kam- bove, an important center 1 10 miles distant to the northward. Beyond Kambove it has been decided that the rails will next go to Bukana — a section of about 100 miles — situated on the navigable headwaters of the Kongo. When Bukana is reached there will be connection by river and road with the Atlantic at the mouth of the Kongo. Through trains are now running twice weekly between Cape Town and the Victoria Falls and between Victoria Falls and Broken Hill.
Revival at Livingstonia
Several months ago special meetings were held lasting several days, with a large attendance, and numerous con- versions. The communion was held later, on Sunday morning, so as to avoid, as far as possible, the great heat of this season of the year. There were 1,300 members present. The church was more than comfortably full, and the elders had difficulty in making their way among the people with the elements ; yet only about two-thirds of the members were present — there being now considerablv over 2,000 on the roll.
Good News from Togoland
The North German Missionary So- ciety reports that the Lord granted unto its faithful laborers among the
heathen Togos during 1909 a larger harvest of souls than ever before. The number of heathen who acknowledged their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by public baptism was 826. The number of out-stations increased from 125 to 146. The schools were attended by 5,637 pupils, an increase of 475, and the native Christians increased to 7,634, so that 903 were added in 1909. The income of the society was larger than ever before ; but, alas, still insuffi- cient to ward off a deficit.
A Malagasy Bible Society
In the great island of Madagascar IJible distribution has been carried on for many years by means of two com- mittees, the northern and the south- ern, which include representatives of every Protestant mission at work in Madagascar. The northern commit- tee, which meets at Antananarivo, sells and circulates the Scriptures in the Imerina province, while the south- ern committee, meeting at Fianarant- soa, the chief town of the Betsileo province, has charge of Bible work in South Madagascar. In addition and supplementary to these there exists also in the north an auxiliary society — a purely native organization — which has generally a missionary as its treas- urer and sometimes also for its chair- man. At the capital and in the cen- tral province, the Bible Society's prices are is. for a Bible and 4d. for a Xew Testament. This Malagasy auxiliary purchases a certain number of Bibles and Testaments from the Northern Bible Committee, and then sells these books at half-price outside Imerina. It also distributes copies of the Scriptures among orphans, lepers, and the destitute.
Evangelizing Tour in Madagascar
Toward the end of 1907 two French Protestant missionaries, Messrs. Rusil- Lon and Chazel, of the Paris Mission, made an evangelistic tour among cer- tain heathen tribes in Madagascar. Among the Sakalava they found seven primitive Christian congrega- tions. No missionary, or native Chris- tian from Imerina had founded these ;
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but a man of their own Sakalava tribe had obtained a Bible and read it, and had then taught its truths to his fel- lows. These congregations were meeting to search the Scripture for themselves and to encourage one an- other to carry out its precepts.
A Call From Mashonaland
The missionaries of the S. P. G. in Mashonaland are eagerly asking for more workers among the natives of Manicaland. That district is declared to be ripe for the gospel in an extraor- dinary manner. Three years ago the first out-station was founded in the district ; the next year* another was added, and last year four were opened, while at least four places more are calling for the starting of the work. Three of these out-stations are large enough to be made into central sta- tions at once and practically a whole tribe, the Manyika, is moving toward God. The schools are crowded. The services of the Lord's day are attended by multitudes, many walking miles to be present. In one of the stations, at Matiza's, where a catechist is at work, an amazing church has been erected. It is a mud building over 90 feet long and nearly 25 feet high. The center- poles were cut ten miles away, and each took ten men to carry. There is hardly a nail in the building, and all is held together by "tambo," or strips of bark. It was built by an insignifi- cant-looking man, but practically the whole population worked with him voluntarily and energetically. The chancel is almost cathedral-like in its extent. Large crowds, up to 500, gather together twice daily for prayers, and the huge congregations of the Lord's day are astonishing. The num- ber of catechumens is great.
In Bonda, five hours' walk from Matiza's, about 150 are in the day- school, while 400 attend the regular services. A cruciform church is in course of erection. It will be of bricks burnt by the natives trained in the mis- sionary schools at St. Augustine's. At Zambi's Kraal, where a native worker settled not many months ago, a beau-
tiful church to hold about 150 has been built by the people's work and offer- ings unknown to the missionaries. The school has already 80 scholars and the Sunday congregations number 200.
Thus the whole country is ripe for the gospel, and Mashonaland seems to be on the way of becoming a second Uganda.
AMERICA A Great Indianapolis Convention
In the series of 70 conventions in the national campaign of the Laymen's Missionary Movement, that at Indian- apolis scored some record-breaking features.
1. At the men's dinner 2,304 partici- pated, 2,116 at Tomlinson Hall, and 188 at the Young Men's Christian As- sociation. One hundred other ticket- holders were unable to obtain admis- sion.
2. A single church, the Tabernacle Presbyterian, provided the largest delegation, 135 men, who marched to the hall to the tune of the pipes blown by a Highlander in full costume. One little German Baptist Church, with a total male membership of 20, sent 15 to the convention.
3. The ministers' meeting assembled 205 men to meet Mr. J. Campbell White in conference.
4. The simultaneous meetings were held, comprizing — an all-day session of the Women's Missionary Social Union with an attendance of 1,000 in the morning, 800 at lunch and 1,200 in the afternoon. There was a boy's meeting of 500, following which a hero's club of 127 boys was formed for the study of the lives of great mis- sionaries— and the five college and university meetings through which the Laymen issued their challenge to over 750 students.
5. There were 14 denominational conferences, in which the total share assumed by the city was settled upon the various sections of the churches there represented.
The entire registration numbered 2.875. second only to the greater New York Convention, at which 3,350 dele-
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gates were registered. Of the dele- gates 855 were from the State outside of Indianapolis.
The program was especially strong — Ex-Vice President Fairbanks, who has just completed a world tour in which he investigated missionary con- ditions in many lands ; Governor Thomas R. Marshall, J. Campbell White, George Sherwood Eddy, and Bishop McDowell, of Chicago, were among the best-known speakers, while 27 others, missionary secretaries, for- eign missionaries and prominent busi- ness and public men participated in one of the strongest programs of the entire series.
The attendance at the day sessions was remarkable for size and enthu- siasm. The new objective for the no churches representing the 15 denomi- nations of the city was set at $75,000, or 3 times the amount given last year. It was a fitting climax to the cam- paign, and has brought a revival of real religion to the life of the city and State. — H. F. Laflamine.
The Women Also Astir
As might be expected, as might also have been taken for granted, the wo- men of our churches are watching the Laymen's Movement with eager eyes, and are stirred to greater missionary zeal. The women of the Methodist Church, already among the foremost in the American churches, are taking the lead in calling for an advance. They say: "If the brethren feel thus the urgency of the situation, shall not our women be swift to recognize it? If the needs of the work for women and girls in foreign lands rest thus heavily on men's hearts, shall not Christian women respond instantly to the need? If this is the situation, then what shall we do? With joy we send the bugle- call to all the Woman's Foreign Mis- sionary Society women of America to begin an active, systematic, patient, two-and-two canvass of the women of Methodism to win their cooperation. By using the machinery of our society, the canvass may be organized in every conference district and local church in
the next five months. Let the twos- and-twos go at once, and let them be led and followed by a great tide of prayer."
California Laymen Awake
The Pacific Advocate gives this breezy account of a laymen's conven- tion held at Los Angeles :
"They came from all over the con- tributing territory. Lots of busy men among them, too. Preliminary 'boosting' meetings had been held by the local committees at some points and results justified the extra effort. No words can describe the opening dinner on Tuesday night, March 8. To say that over 1,600 men sat down to dinner would be cold facts. To add that over 100 didn't get in because they did not have tickets would make you ask why tickets were not sold to them. The only way to understand it was to be there, to see the two three-car electric trains bring in over 400 Pasa- dena men, 'not an ostrich feather in the bunch,' as one man explained it to a wondering female when they alight- ed. Then if you had stood on the sidewalk or street in front of the great- est department store in southern Cal- ifornia, with a thousand men, while seven elevators were heroically trying to decrease the crowd by carrying them to the fourth floor; if you had seen the crowd sway and joke and then swing into 'Onward Christian Sol- diers,' 'The King's Business,' 'Blest Be the Tie That Binds," and end up with 'Hold the Fort,' which finally broke down when they saw the reenforce- ments now arriving with a policeman keeping time to the music, if you had seen this you would have some of the fire of it all. The 1,600 men were finally seated. It took wagon-loads of food and tons of dishes, but the service was excellent, yet there was not room for the 'one more' and certainly not for the hundred men who were ticket- less. In the three hours was packed a thousand years of throb for many a life there."
The convention voted that the churches represented ought to raise their missionary contributions from
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$150,000 to $250,000; but when later each denomination met by itself to take- action in the matter, it was found that the amount pledged amounted to $282,000.
Summer Schools for Mission Study
The Women's Central Committee on the L'nited Study of Missions, an- nounce the summer schools for which they provide lecturers for the coming season :
Winona. Ind June 24-27
Boulder, Col July 5">^
Los Angeles, Cal July 4-12
Mt Hermon, Cal July 12-17
Northfield, Mass July 21-28
Chautauqua, X. V July 30-Aug. 6
Mrs. \Y. A. Montgomery will lec- ture at all of these schools with the exception of Boulder, Col., where Mrs. Mildred Berry, of Chicago, will lec- ture. The text-book, "W estern Wom- en in Eastern Lands," is one of great interest to all women's societies. This book is by Mrs. Montgomery, and gives the first adequate history of the Women's Foreign Missionary Move- ment in America. It is especially timely at this fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the first Woman's Board of Missions, the "Women's Union Missionary Society."
The Junior Book, also by Mrs. Montgomery, is "The Finding Out Club," and follows the line of the sen- ior text-book. Sunday-school teachers and junior leaders will find this a capi- tal helper.
The tenth year of L'nited Study of Missions for Women is celebrated by the appearance of the Anniversary Li- brary Edition of the ten books issued by the Society, in uniform binding, blue and gold. The price is $7.50 for ten volumes in a case. Nearly 600,000 of these books "have been sold.
Evangelism in New York City
In the Fifth Annual Report the Evangelistic Committee of the city states that nearly 2,000 meetings were held between the middle of June and the middle of September, last year, with a total attendance of nearly 300,-
000, of whom over one-fifth were children. The meetings were in sixty centers, including tents, shops, halls and open air, and in seven languages, Eng- lish, Italian, Finnish-Swedish, Bo- hemian-Slavok, Spanish, Polish, Hun- garian. Meetings were held also for colored folk. Certainly this is a good showing, and we can say from per- sonal observation that to these crowds the gospel was faithfully preached and with most encouraging results.
A Sunday-school Mission Superintendent
The International Sunday-school Association has added a new man to its working force by appointing Rev. William A. Brown as superintendent of missions. There was already a strong missionary committee. Mr. Brown began his ministry as a home missionary in Missouri. Next he went to the Philippine Islands, where he served first as pastor of the English- speaking church in Manila, and after- ward as missionary to the Pampam- gans. Ill health compelled him to return to this country, and he minis- tered in the Methodist pastorate until 1907, when he became Western field secretary of the Young People's Mis- sionary Movement.
Medical Missionary Conference at Battle Creek
The Second Medical Missionary Conference (Interdenominational) was held at the Battle Creek, Mich., Sanitorium, on February 15th, 16th and 17th. It is reported to have been a decided success. More than one hun- dred missionaries were in attendance, most of whom were medical mission- aries. They represented fifteen de- nominations and nearly every country on tin- globe. Rev. Robert H. Nassau, M.I).. D.D., of Philadelphia, who has spent fifty years in western Africa, presided over the meetings, being as- sisted by Bishop J. M. Thoburn, the hero of Methodist missions in India. The program was rich in instruction and general missionary interest. Unity of spirit and brotherly love prevailed throughout the sessions, and steps
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were taken to provide for the perma- nency of these conferences as an an- nual fixture. The next conference will he held early in January, 191 1.
Great Gathering of Indian Chiefs
It is proposed to hold, at Muskogee, Oklahoma, in late June, a national Indian convention to which all the chiefs of every tribe in North Amer- ica are invited, as well as the President and Colonels Roosevelt and Cody, with other notabilities and scouts. Muskogee is the capital of the Creek nation in the former Indian Territory. If the convention is a success, it will tend to make the Indian more a citizen in the big republic in feeling as the organization takes its place alongside of the other societies of race origin which are so common among us. And ultimately we may have patriotic so- cieties founded on descent from Indian w arriors among the women.
Hilarious Giving a Reality
"I am having more fun than any other millionaire alive," said Dr. Daniel K. Pearsons last week. "Let other rich men go in for automobiles and steam yachts. I have discovered, after endowing forty-seven colleges in twenty-four States, that giving is the most exquisite of all mundane delights. ( )n my ninetieth birthday, April 14, next, I am going to have a squaring up with all the small colleges I have promised money, and I serve notice now that beginning then I am going on a new rampage of giving. I intend to die penniless. I am going to live ten years longer, and during that time I expect to do nothing but give away money."
A Bible for Every Immigrant
The greatest offer ever made for Bible distribution in New York City has been made to the New York Bible Society. A friend, who withholds his name, has offered to give dollar for dollar for all that shall be raised up to $100,000 for the work of Bible distri- bution among the immigrants, the sailors and among all nationalities of the city of New York. The New York Bible Society is alone carrying-
on this great work. It employs mis- sionaries at Ellis Island to supply the immigrants, so that each may have the Book in his mother tongue. A mis- sionary is also employed to work among the sailors of the harbor, visit- ing over 300 vessels every month. In the city Bibles are placed in hotels, hospitals and prisons. Missionaries and pastors of every creed are supplied with the Scriptures for house-to-house visitation.
Our Polyglot Lutherans
Of Lutherans in the United States, 900,000 use the German language, 600,000 the English, 300,000 the Nor- wegian, 150,000 the Swedish, 22,000 the Danish. 13,000 the Finnish, 5,000 the Icelandic, with a hundred thou- sand scattering, making a total of more than a dozen different tongues. Says an exchange : "With the exception of the Roman Catholic, the Lutheran is the most polyglot Church in this coun- try. This complicates its problems, multiplies its difficulties and wonder- fully enlarges its possibilities. We do not need a magnifying-glass to see its prospects."
Memorials to Missionary Martyrs
Memorial tablets have recently been unveiled to men who died last year in Adana, Asia Minor, and in Persia. A Tiffany bronze tablet to Rev. Daniel Miner Rogers, who was killed in the Adana massacre April 15, 1909, was erected in the South Congregational Church of New Britain, Conn., where he was brought up. The tablet is a gift from the New Britain C. E. Union. Another tablet was unveiled in the Congregational Church at East Dorset, Vermont, where Mr. Rogers ministered for two years before going to Turkey.
Hunger for the Word in Mexico
An earnest request has come from Mexico for a special edition of 100,- 000 copies of the Gospels for distribu- tion in connection with the Centennial of Mexican Independence. There are about 1,000 congregations in Mexico, and it is expected to make each of
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these a center of distribution. Twenty- five years ago the Methodist Episcopal Mission distributed 20,000 Testaments within a few months. At that time this mission had only about 30 congre- gations ; to-day it has over 150. The Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, South, Baptist, Congregational, Re- formed Church, Friends, and Episco- palian missions, all have important congregations. We shall be glad to receive any special gifts that may be placed in our hands for this centennial distribution of the Scriptures in Mex- ico.— Bible Society Record.
Self-help in Brazil
A Presbyterian Missionary writes home that the churches of Para and Maranham both contributed an aver- age of more than $10 a member during the year. The church at Ceara sent its pastor on a missionary visit which con- sumed three months of his time be- fore he reached the outermost point visited, and would consume another three months before he would return to his own people. Such an illustra- tion of a genuine missionary spirit on their part deserves a permanent place in the history of our work. The ciders of the church made themselves re- sponsible for the church services dur- ing his absence. This mission has pursued the policy of trying to supply its needs with a minimum of foreign workers and by training and sending out as many native workers as possi- ble. Their equipment for this work is sadly deficient and ought to be speedily provided by the Church at home.
EUROPE— GREAT BRITAIN A William Carey Lectureship
The Leicestershire auxiliary of the Baptist Missionary Society is insti- tuting an annual lecture to commem- orate the life and work of William Carey, the pioneer of modern mis- sions. Each year a specialist in the domain of missionary knowledge will be secured, who will make the lecture an opportunity of a leading contribu- tion to some phase of the great prob- lem of preaching the gospel to all na-
tions. The lecture this year was de- livered by Sir Andrew Eraser, April 7, in Belvoir Street Chapel, Leicester, and was preceded by a pilgrimage to Carey's Chapel in Harvey Lane, at which the Rev. C. E. Wilson, general secretary, spoke, and an opportunity was given of inspecting many inter- esting relics and the cottage in which Carey lived.
A Baptist Forward Movement
By the Baptist Missionary Society an announcement is made of a great campaign for Baptist foreign missions, a year's strenuous work, a combined effort, an advance in the whole en- terprise for the evangelization of the heathen. "The mission fields we oc- cupy have a population of about 50,- 000,000 souls. It needs at least 1,000 missionaries, and an income of half a million (sterling) a year. We are over 400,000 Baptists in Church fel- lowship. We want every church- member and seat-holder to be person- ally solicited to become a regular con- tributor to our general funds. We propose to organize within the next twelve months a visitation of all parts of the country, as far as possible."
Church Federation in England
There is a proposal to form a United Free Church of England. It was brought forward by the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare, secretary of the Bap- tist Union, in the National Free Church Council at Hull, and formed one of the most notable incidents in the proceedings. It was received with favor by the council, and has since won approving comment from leading Free Church organs. What is pro- posed, however, is not an organic union, but a cooperative federation, of the Evangelical Free Churches of England, in which these churches shall regard themselves as separate (Bap- tist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.) sections of the one United Free Church of England — each section autonomous, but all working together with a com- mon policy and in full cooperation, with a representative board to inves- tigate facts and advise as to duty. The
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proposal has also in view a redistribu- tion of forces as regards colleges, churches, missions, etc., their existing resources being almost adequate if they were better arranged. — Mission- ary Record.
THE CONTINENT Spain Learning Through Tribulations
Secretary Barton, of the American Board, writes in the Missionary Her- ald: "Spain has been learning things during the last decade ; and there was much need of the lessons. While the Catholic Church is a state church, it does not present that spirit of unity often credited to it by outsiders. There is not a little resemblance in this re- spect to the Church of England, altho the disagreements between the High and the Low Church in England are by no means as violent or varied as those existing between the state church in Spain and the various orders of the church. A third of a century ago, w hen Protestant missionaries first en- tered Spain, they found few friends and a country mad with open opposi- tion. The changes that have taken place in these few years are almost startling, but yet fundamental. The vision of thousands of the best people of Spain has been lifted beyond the narrow barriers erected by the church, and in their hearts has been planted a longing to be intellectually and spiri- tually free. These are the present con- ditions that so widely prevail here. New ideas of personal liberty in re- ligious thought and practise have al- ready taken root in the minds of the thinking men of Spain. The war with the United States had not a little to do in preparing the ground for the more rapid development of these ideas."
To Train Missionaries to Moslems
Ernest Gordon writes in the Record of Christian Work:
Potsdam, the head-center of Prussian militarism, with its memories of the Great Elector, of Friedrich, of the heroic days of 1870, is to be the seat of a new enterprise more peaceful in character, and yet militant, too. The German Orient Mission is to establish there a
Mohammedan seminary as an instrument for the conquest of the Moslem world. Its purposes are, first, the preparation of a new mission literature for circulation in all Mohammedan countries, and secondly, the training of missionaries with espe- cial regard to service among Islamic peo- ples. The establishment of this semi- nary is the consequence of a series of remarkable conversions — that of three Mohammedan "mollahs," or priests.
Mohammed Schiikri Effendi, who at his baptism in 1885 took the name of Awe- taranian, was a "Seid," or descendant of the prophet, dedicated in his childhood to the priesthood and educated as "mol- lah" in the schools of his native city. Sheik Achmed Keschaf was until 1907 head of the Dervish order of Riifai in Macedonia. He had reached the highest place in the teaching and practises of the Dervishes and in their mystic philosophy of Sufism. Mohammed Nessimi Effendi, his brother, is a Miideris or holder of a diploma of professor of Moslem theology of the first class. He is everywhere rec- ognized as one of the first scholars of the Islamic world — a debater of extraor- dinary power and wisdom.
Finnish Missionary Harvest
The missionaries of the Finnish Missionary Society are able to say with gratitude to God, "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." Fifty years ago the work in Ovamboland, in German Southwest Africa, was started. It took patience and love, and faith, and tears, for many a faithful missionary worker became a victim of the murderous climate. Now the har- vest seems at hand. Already 1,760 native Christians have been gathered upon the eight stations and fifteen out- stations, while 1,240 pupils are attend- ing the missionary schools. The churches are far too small for the large crowds which come to hear the gospel. The opposition of the heathen seems to be broken, and they are will- ing to consider the claims of Christ. Even among the women a most prom- ising beginning has been made. Mis- sion Director Mustakallio made a tour of inspection not long ago and was overjoyed as he saw the signs of the approaching harvest everywhere. He was struck especially with the attitude of reverence shown by the native Christians during the services, with their remarkably consistent Christian
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walk and conversation, and with their fine singing" in the churches. The work of the missionary schools also made a fine impression upon him, and he became deeply conscious of the im- portant part which the little printing- press, that issues literature in the ( h ainbo language, has played in the battle for Christ. We hear that Jesuits are endangering the work by their at- tempts at proselyting".
Mohammedan Influence in Russia
A German daily paper, Taegliche Rundschau, calls attention to the threatening progress of Islam in Rus- sia in an article by Count Richard von Pfeil, which we translate freely:
The visit of the Emir of Bokhara to St. Petersburg has aroused little at- tention outside of Russia. It was not the first time that the Mohammedan ruler visited the court of the Czar, and it was taken for granted that he would be treated like he was at the former occasion, tho now he came in celebra- tion of his twenty-fifth anniversary as Emir. Then he was received as a vassal of the Czar and was made an adjutant-general. This time, how- ever, he was treated almost like a reigning prince, was received with great splendor by the Czar, and was made the commander-in-chief of a regiment. An official dinner was given to him by the Emperor, and it was surely no mere accident that the Governor-General of Turkestan, which is neighbor to Bokhara, visited St. Petersburg at this very time and took part in the dinner.
During the visit of the Emir the corner-stone of the first mosque in St. Petersburg was laid in the presence of the highest Russian dignitaries. The Emir occupied the place of honor. The highest Mohammedan priest of St. Petersburg, the aged Achun P.ajasi- tow, made the chief address, in which he referred to the Czar as the protector of the followers of Mohammed the prophet and spoke of the love and kindness with which he had aided the great cause of building the mosque. He then praised the merits of the Emir
concerning the general cause of Mo- hammedanism. Thus, the whole cele- bration was purely Mohammedan, the like of which St. Petersburg" had never seen before. But a more important person than the Emir had reached St. Petersburg" about the same time. The Mufti Chadsti Mohammediae Sul- tanow, the head of all Mohammedan priests in the Russian Empire, had quietly left his residence in far-away ( )renburg, that he might be in the capital during these days. The Mufti is a very wise man and is far better treated and more tlattered by the Rus- sian Government than the highest dig- nitaries of Roman Catholicism or Protestantism. Why? Because he directs the attitude of all the Russian priests and, with them, of the four- teen millions of Mohammedans in Russia toward the Czar and the coun- try.
German Protestants in Russia
One of the greatest assets of evan- gelical Christianity in Russia and a chief fulcrum for Christian work there is the great German Protestant com- munity. The fact that the word Stundist is a German word (Stunde, an hour, being the name used for an evangelical Bible-meeting), indicates the source of much of present-day Russian piety.
The progress of the German col- onists in South Russia is strikingly il- lustrated by the extent to which they are landowners. In the government of Taurien and especially of the Crimea, almost a half of all landed property is in their hands. In the neighboring" provinces all over the south it is just the same. The growth of German possessions is so great as to excite not only astonishment but ap- prehension among Russian political economists. Every year the sons of German peasants band together, pur- chase great tracts of land from Rus- sians or Tatars, from noblemen as well as from peasants, often in the heart of a Russian community, and then re- distribute it among themselves. They erect schools, meeting-houses and the
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other institutions of the parent village. Richer peasants here and there acquire large estates and set up their stables, workshops, windmills, machine-sheds, etc., often on a large scale. One sel- dom meets isolated Germans in Rus- sian villages. They retain, as a rule, German characteristics.
ASIA
Missions in Moslem Lands
In his book just from the press, en- titled, "Protestant Missions in the Near East," Rev. Julius Richter sup- plies abundant up-to-date information concerning Protestant evangelizing work in Turkey, Persia, Syria, Pales- tine, Arabia, Egypt and the Sudan. At the close a bird's-eye view of re- sults is given in a series of statistical tables. Of the nearly twoscore so- cieties named, three do by far the larg- est part of the work, the American Board, Presbyterians (North), and the United Presbyterians. The staff of foreign staff numbers 1,032, the native workers number 2,871, the com- municants 34,600, and the adherents nearly three times as many. So dry and stony is the Palestine field that, tho 24 societies maintain a foreign staff of 354, the communicants num- ber but 3,462.
Islam and Woman's Education
Misr-el-Fatat, a Mohammedan pa- per published in Egypt, a short time ago, contained a lengthy article on the question of what kind of an education girls need. The writer took for grant- ed that every Mohammedan, man or woman, must learn something, and he formulated the following principles of female education :
1. The teachers of Mohammedan girls must be of Turkish or Egyptian descent, because European teachers cause their pupils to lose their national loyalty.
2. Male teachers of girls must be at least 50 years old.
3. School hours should be daily from 8 to 1 o'clock.
4. Girls should enter the schools when five years old and leave at the age of 11 or 12. Five years of school are suf- ficient for the education of any girl.
5- Girls must wear national dress in school.
6. Girls need not learn foreign lan- guages.
7. The rudiments of arithmetic are sufficient for home-life.
8. Geography is unnecessary, because when a woman travels she is under the care of her husband or a male, relative.
9. Egyptian girls must read the biogra- phies of Arabian women, who excelled especially in modesty and humility.
10. Girls must read all passages of the Koran and all the precepts of the Prophet referring to women.
11. Girls must learn house-work, cooking, washing, and similar things.
While these principles of female ed- ucation may seem childish to us, they show a wonderful change of the atti- tude of Islam toward woman.
Missionary Opportunities in Turkey
Euphrates College is the only insti- tution of its kind in all eastern Turkey, with 900 students in the whole educa- tional system from preparatory school up. Education has received a great impetus from the late revolutions in Turkey. The Turks are willing to send their children to the schools be- cause of the new freedom. The strongest and best leaders of the new movement, the men that Turkey now looks to with confidence, are, many of them, graduates of the Christian col- leges— a sufficient answer to any who do not believe in missions in Turkey.
There is a great chance also in the industrial missions and in the wide- spread distribution of literature, in the founding and printing of newspapers that shall bring a message to these people. The opportunity for medical work throughout the empire is won- derful. Wherever the American med- ical missionary plants his hospital, the people flock to him, rich and poor alike, because they know that he gives them the best surgery known, offered in an absolutely unselfish spirit.
INDIA
A Laymen's Movement in India?
What if the wonderful awakening in America of Christian business men to missionary zeal should cross the At- lantic, spread through Great Britain and Protestant Europe, and even to the unevangelized lands of the Orient !
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Particularly in India, by the ten thou- sand Englishmen are to be found, holding official positions or engaged in business. Tho these are not all Chris- tian, yet many are. Tho living in or near regions where missions are car- ried on, they know nothing, and hence care nothing for such work, being wholly engrossed with secular affairs. And the question has arisen, Why should there not be inaugurated a sys- tematic attempt to supply these lay- men with missionary information, and thus enlist their interest and coopera- tion. A number of Indian papers are putting this question to their readers. Thus the Bombay Guardian quotes from the Indian Methodist Times a suggestion for a Laymen's Movement in the Peninsula ; stating also that the same idea had been exprest by the editor of The Statesman at a mission- ary meeting held in Calcutta in con- nection with the triennial conference of Baptist missionaries, with the sug- gestion that the press be systematically employed and public gatherings be held.
A Rare Spectacle of Christian Union
Early in July, after months of care- ful planning, a union theological sem- inary is to be opened in Bangalore, South India, in which seven mission- ary societies (American, English, Scotch and Danish) unite.
The college will begin with two European professors on the staff, be- sides the necessary Indian Pundits, and while the instruction will be main- ly through the medium of English, special attention will be given to the vernaculars and Sanskrit. The Wes- leyan Missionary Society is expected soon to furnish a professor, and it is hoped that the American missions will also contribute a member to the teach- ing staff. Eor the present, the insti- tution will utilize the buildings of the London Mission Seminary, now closed, which with its compound has been kindly placed at the disposal of the council. Larger and permanent quarters, for which a considerable sum has already been given, will be secured later. The basis of teaching will be
the doctrines held in common by the various Protestant churches. The council believes that the things in which these churches differ are few compared with those in which they agree, and that a college conducted on the broad lines laid down ought to prove a success.
Christianity and Crime in India
In the Indian Empire there is, ac- cording to the Government records, one criminal Hindu in 447 of the pop- ulation, but among Christian natives there is found only one in 2,500. Thus the estimate has been made that, "if all the people in the Madras Presi- dency were Christians, there would be 12,000 criminals less annually and most of the jails might be shut."
Coming by Tribes in Kengtung
During the past year in the Keng- tung field, Burma, several hundred have been baptized of a new tribe, the Sam Taus, who are a- literate people. Still another tribe, the Yao, have sent delegates to inquire concerning Chris- tianity and have had teachers dis- patched to them. It is impossible to meet the demand for teachers either in the evangelized or the unevan- gelized districts. Rev. C. B. Antisdel has prepared charts and readers in Lahw for first grade, and in Shan for first, second and third grades ; also an elementary arithmetic, and many gos- pel narratives in Lahw. — Missions.
CHINA
Opium Really Prohibited
Bishop Bashford writes: "Between one and two million opium-dens have been closed within the past three years. The avowed aim of the gov- ernment is to sweep away nine-tenths of the opium evil by the close of 1910. Probably she will not accomplish so much within so short a time ; but Prince Tsai Tao, younger brother of Prince Chun, regent, said to me re- cently: 'First, the government will not abate one jot or tittle of its efforts to destroy all opium. Second, not a young man now entering upon of- ficial life uses opium ; all know that
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it closes every door of advancement. Our entire official body will soon be abstainers from this drug. We shall then purify the empire from this curse.' So urgent are the exhorta- tions and orders from the throne that one of the oldest and best governors recently died through suddenly break- ing off the use of opium. He refused to touch the drug after the collapse set in, saying that he would rather die in a struggle for freedom and in obedience to the throne than live as a slave to opium. The Chinese are in earnest in this reform."
A Whole Village Seeking Baptism
Miss A. M. Jones, of Canton, is en- gaged in evangelistic work in the country places on the East River. Of one of the villages visited she wrote recently : "I went with Chaak A-Tse- ung as guide to Kong-p'i-t'au, a small village on the Lo-a-shaan" side of the river. The whole village has asked for baptism, and they have given us the ancestral hall for a chapel. As I sat teaching the women and children the Commandments, 'Thou shalt have none other gods but Me,' 'Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image,' the women eagerly broke in and told me 'they had no idols ; they had de- stroyed them all and the incense- burners.' The wood and paper idols were made into a bonfire and burnt, and the stone ones drowned — cast into the water.
American Chinese as Home Missionaries
In 1901 the Rev. Yue Kwai, a Chi- nese converted in California, went out to work among his fellow countrymen, and especially to gather up the Chi- nese Methodists who had returned from the United States. Assisted by the Chinese Missionary Society in San Francisco, Mr. Yue Kwai built a church and school, and gathered a considerable congregation. In 1907 he opened work in a market town in the Sanning district, and later started a mission in a railroad town on the line connecting Hongkong and Can- ton. A Christian Chinaman who had returned from Sacramento built a
girls' school in Kwangtung Province at a cost of $800, and is supporting the school at a cost of $60 a year. Dr. T. M. Liung, a dentist returned from California, was largely instrumental in securing a valuable corner lot, within a few minutes' walk of the center of Hongkong, on which is a four-story building. Thus our mission in Kwangtung, wholly originated, sup- ported, and maintained by the Chi- nese in America and in Kwangtung, owns four buildings, worth about $10,- 000, without indebtedness, has about 120 church-members, more than 100 in the Sunday-schools, and two boys' and two girls' schools. — World-Wide Missions.
KOREA Missionary Enterprise in Korea
The Japan Mail a few weeks since summarizes an article in the Nirokit Shimpo in which the forces and ac- tivities of Christian missionaries in Korea are strikingly set forth. The statement is as follows : "The Nirokn Shimpo publishes some interesting sta- tistics relating to missionary enter- prise in the Korean Peninsula. Ac- cording to the figures given, the money actually devoted to purposes of Christian propagandism in Korea is $7,000,000 per annum, which is nearly the double of the sum, 3,800,000 yen, appropriated for the uses of the resi- dency-general. Further, out of the primary schools, numbering 2,000 in round figures, more than one-half are under the control of the missionaries. There are altogether 807 churches, 257 foreign missionaries, over 400 Korean pastors, 200,000 converts, 350 schools directly attached to Christian missions, 15,000 students receiving instruction from Christian missionaries, and 15 hospitals under missionary manage- ment."
Koreans as Home Missionaries
The following extract from a letter from Rev. D. A. Bunker gives some facts which every Christian ought to know. If all Christians were as earnest to win souls as the Koreans
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are, what a revolution there would be in every land.
"Work along all lines goes forward rapidly — so fast that we can hardly keep within sight of the van. It is a great opportunity for winning souls for Christ in this land, and we are all on the run to keep pace with the work we have in hand. The people of the church of which I have charge here in the city are carrying on home mis- sion work in over 140 villages outside this city wall. Every Sabbath the members and the workers they have enlisted carry on regular preaching in 1 1 mission chapels. Last Sunday I was at one of these chapels and re- ceived 23 probationers. The native pastor and myself are out among these chapels more than half our Sab- baths. At every chapel there are can- didates for baptism or full member- ship, or for probationship, awaiting us. A few Sabbaths ago at one chapel I baptized six persons, the average age of whom was above seventy. One husband was seventy-nine and his wife seventy-six."
A Korean Christian Statesman
Hon. T. H. Yun, of Korea, and at present in this country as the guest of the Laymen's Missionary Movement, has been making a number of mission- ary addresses. Mr. Yun was educated at Vanderbilt University and return- ing to Korea about twenty years ago, began at once to ascend in the political world, till he was made Minister of Education, deputy to the coronation of the Czar, and governor of a prov- ince, becoming indeed the first citizen of Korea, and those who know him be- lieve there is nowhere in the world to- day a finer product of Protestant Christian missions.
JAPAN Schools for Japanese Girls
Some years ago a special appeal was sent to England by Japanese edu- cationalists and others in high posi- tion in Tokyo asking that Christian ladies might be sent out to start a high school for girls in the capital. A well-equipped staff was sent out,
and established a school in Tokyo, which is still carried on under some- what changed conditions. Now, from that school as originally started have sprung up high schools for girls in every prefecture and every large city throughout the empire of Japan. As a rule, mission-schools preceded them, and endeavored to carry on the educa- tion of girls from twelve or thirteen as they left the primary-schools ; but the government, being now convinced that female education must be carried to a higher stage, has not only estab- lished these schools, but has raised their standard.
How a Surgeon Found God
Dr. Fujikawa, an army surgeon of Beppu, Japan, and a recent convert to Christianity, told his pastor, Mr. Nakamura, that, having become un- easy on account of his sinful life, it occurred to him that some god might give him relief. His father is a Shinto priest, but that religion did not com- mend its deities to him. So he said: "1 was looking about for some rea- sonable and trustworthy god." About that time he got hold of a Bible. It is not surprizing that his search ended there. A "reasonable and trustworthy God" is He whom we preach. The description is an artless one; but, like Paul, who seized upon the longing for "God Unknown," we arc ready to meet any demands like this. Now, Dr. Fujikawa says of himself: "I am like a man in the recovering state from typhoid fever — longing for more food." He proposes, when his term of service in the army is over, to es- tablish a Christian hospital for the poor.
ISLANDS OF THE SEA Mission Comity in the Philippines
The evangelical missions opening work in the Philippines are the Pres- byterian, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, American Board, United Brethren, Disciples, and the Peniel. In order that men and means might not be use- lessly duplicated, a union was effected which, altho but advisory in its powers, has nevertheless been a great
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factor in the development of mission policies in the islands. A division of territory was accepted and followed with but few exceptions. The story of the vast numbers who crowded to hear the gospel is too well known to be repeated. Ten years ago but a be- ginning, to-day the islands are dotted with well-organized and in many cases self-supporting congregations, totaling some hundred thousand mem- bers. Truly it is marvelous, and more than man's doings.
Gospel Progress in Sumatra
In the East Indian island of Su- matra, which is nearly as large as Sweden, the central highlands are oc- cupied by a people known as the Battas or Battaks, who declare them- selves to be the oldest inhabitants of the island. They live by agriculture, breeding horses and pigs, and culti- vating rice and indigo. The Rhenish Missionary Society began to evangel- ize them about half a century ago, and there is now a flourishing native Church in connection with this mis- sion. The entire Bible has been trans- lated into the Toba dialect of Batta spoken by the northern Battas and published, while the New Testament and parts of the Old are also published, mainly by the Netherlands Bible So- ciety, in Angkola, a southern dialect of the same language. There are now 89,000 Batta Christians, 4,000 having been added to the Church last year. And on the Island of Nias there are also 10,000 people who own Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master.
MISCELLANEOUS What It Would Cost
What would it cost to evangelize our share of the world? How much would you and I have to give of time and money, of prayer and pains, to finish the work which God has given our Church to do? How much love and life would need to be poured out in Japan and China, in Arabia and India and here at home to reach the last man for which we are responsible ? Is not this prob- lem worthy of practical considera-
tion? Will you not sit down and count the cost for yourself? Will you undertake your share? Will you underwrite your share of the bud- get?
The Bishop of Bombay, speaking recently of what a serious effort on the part of the Church to evangelize the world would cost, said :
It would cost the reduction of the staff of clergy all around. It would cost the laity time and personal service. It would cost some people the difference between a larger house and a smaller one — and others that between frequent holidays and rare holidays, and so on. through all the comforts and pleasures of life. It would mean the marks of suffering all over the Church. It would mean everywhere the savor of death, and, what we have not yet faced, death as a Church, renunciation of spiritual privileges and delights. I call upon the Church to lay down its life in some real sense for the missionary cause.
Shall we pay the cost? We can do it, if we will. — S. M. Zwemer.
Church Missionary Statistics A Correction
In spite of an effort to secure accu- racy in the statistics which appeared in our May number (facing page 380), we note some unfortunate errors. The Baptist Church (South) should be credited with 22 cents per member for foreign missions, the Disciples of Christ with 35 cents (in place of only 4 cents per member), and the Evan- gelical Association with 29 cents. The United Brethren report 874 new com- municants on mission fields, or an average of 2.7 per minister (in place of 41.7 each).
We were not able to obtain the num- ber added on confession in the home churches, but the comparison in the tables is practically correct.
OBITUARY
Rev. H. H. Jessup, of Syria
The grand old man of the Syrian missions has passed away in the death in Beirut, Syria, of the Rev. Henry Harris Jessup, missionary and author, in his seventy-ninth year. An extended article will be published on Dr. Jessup's life, in our July number.
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Doctor Jessup's recently published au- tobiography is a remarkable story of the Syrian missions.
Doctor Jessup was graduated from Yale in 1851, and from the Union Theological Seminary in 1855. He was a missionary at Tripoli, Syria, from 1856 to 1800, and since that time he had been stationed at Beirut. He was missionary editor of the Arabic jour- nal El-Nesrah, and was moderator of the General Assembly of 1879. Among his works are "The Mohammedan Missionary Problem," "The Women of the Arabs," "The Greek Church and Protestant Missions," "Syrian Home Life," and "Kamil."
Doctor Jessup has contributed great- ly to the remarkable spread of mis- sionary and educational work in Syria. He spoke Arabic fluently, and traveled about the country, penetrating even the most remote mountain districts, and constantly hazarding his life.
John H. Converse, of Philadelphia
On May 3d, John H. Converse, president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and one of the noblest and most generous supporters of the mis- sionary cause at home and abroad, a prominent Presbyterian layman, died suddenly from heart disease at his home in Rosemont, near Philadelphia.
Mr. Converse was sixty-nine years old, having been born in Burlington, Vt., in 1840. After his graduation from the University of Vermont, he was for three years an editorial writer on the Burlington Times. He then went to Chicago, where he was en- gaged in railroad work for two years, and in 1870 became a member of the Baldwin Locomotive firm, of which he was afterward elected president.
Mr. Converse gave liberally of his large fortune. In 1900 he was vice- moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, of which he was also presi- dent of the trustees and chairman of the business committee of the Board of Publication. The committee of evan- gelistic work was largely supported by his generosity. He was a trustee of the Princeton Theological Seminary;
trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital ; a member of the University Extension Association, and during the Spanish war he was president of the National Relief Association. His gifts to for- eign missions were large and wisely directed.
Henry Nitchie Cobb, of New York
Another devoted missionary states- man is gone. Rev. Henry Nitchie Cobb, since 1882 corresponding secre- tary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church of America, died on April 17th, at his home, East Orange, N. J.
Mr. Cobb was born seventy-five years ago in New York City, the son of the late Sanford and Sophia Nitchie Cobb. He was graduated from Yale with the class of 1855.
In i860 he went to Persia as a mis- sionary, and from 1866 to 1881 he was pastor of the Reformed Church of Millbrook, N. Y.
Mr. Cobb traveled extensively in mission fields, and wrote a book on one of his tours. He was very active in all departments of foreign missionary work.
Rev. F. A. Hagenauer
The Rev. F. A. Hagenauer died at Ramahyuck, Stratford, Australia, on November 28th. He was a notable fig- ure in the history of the reclamation of the aborigines in Australia during the past half-century. Going to Aus- tralia as a missionary of the Moravian Church, he worked for many years with distinct success among the abo- rigines, especially the northern tribes along the Murray. He was a well- known personage in Melbourne, as a humorous lecturer also. In later years he was appointed superintendent of the aboriginal station of Ramahyuck, on the shores of Lake Wellington, and later, as a recognition of his wisdom and ability, he was made government- inspector of aborigines for the whole of Victoria. He resigned a few years ago on account of increasing age, and died eighty-one years old. Mr. Hage- nauer devoted much time and atten- tion to scientific research among native animals also.
FOR THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY
Fighting the Slave Hunters in Central Africa. By Alfred J. Swan. Illus- trated. 8vo. 359 pages. $3.50, net. J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia. 1910.
Slavery and the slave-trade is not yet stamped out in Africa. In some places conditions worse than slavery exist under the name of contract labor — where the death of the workers is more profitable than their life when the time comes for the payment of wages or their return to their homes.
The article by Mr. Travis Buxton, in this number of the Review, shows the present extent of this inhuman traffic in human beings. Mr. Swan's volumes of stirring tales gives inci- dents from the thrilling history of fighting the slave trade in Central Af- rica. Mr. Swan has spent twenty- seven years in Africa, and therefore has gathered his information and in- spiration at first hand. Conditions have improved in the last twenty-five years in British Central Africa, where Mr. Swan lived and where he helped to fight the Arab slave-dealers.
Stories of fiendish cruelty are here told — the spearing of wearied women or of helpless children in order that the mothers might be relieved of the burden and might carry their loads of ivory.
The rising generation in Africa is beginning to recognize the disgrace of slavery and social evolution is pro- gressing. Nyassaland is now showing the influence of Christian missions and the fruit of the work of early pioneers is being gathered.
The book is one to stir the blood of those who have humanity enough to help heal the "open sore of the world." The pictures are often graphic and harrowing and there are incidents thrilling and heroic. Much informa- tion is given in passing concerning the natural resources of Africa and the in- dustrial development of the natives. The style of the narrative is interest- ing and many of the photographic illustrations are unique.
Christians at Mecca. Augustus Ralli. 12mo, 283 pages. $1.20, net. William Heinemann & Company, London.
The most secluded corners of the
earth are opening to the gaze of travelers. Lhasa has yielded its se- crets, and now there appears from the press this very interesting resume of travel and adventure in the sacred city of the Moslem world. Some peo- ple still believe that Burton was the only man who ever reached the holy city of the Moslem world and few realize that there are more than i score of Europeans whose record tells of penetration to Mecca in disguise. These nominal Christians might be divided into three groups and the story of each of them is told in this volume. First, there were those who went un- willingly, as it were, by accident, like Joseph Pitts, the sailor boy of Exeter, and Johann Wild; then there were the votaries of science, among whom three stand out prominent — Burch- hardt, Seetzen and Hurgronje. Lastly, there were those who were impelled merely by love of adventure or curios- ity. The last of these, Gervais Cour- tellemont, has the honor of being the photographer with these adventurers. Burton stands in a class by himself, altho in accuracy of scientific descrip- tion he takes second place to the Hol- lander Hurgronje, whose sociological studies, carried on during a residence of six months, have given us the standard book on Mecca. More than a dozen other nameless Christians are referred to, who lost their lives in their venture or became Moslems. The general conclusion seems to be that there is less fanaticism than for- merly, and that, perhaps, the Meccan Railway, if completed, will set the door ajar.
A full bibliography and striking il- lustrations add to the interest of this fascinating book.
A History of Protestant Missions in the Near East. By Julius Richter. 8vo, 435 pages. $2.50, net. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. 1910.
We have already reviewed the Ger- man edition of this valuable history of missions in the Levant (see page 79; January, 1909), but this is more than a translation, it is a revised and im- proved edition. Dr. Richter is one of
4$o
rilK MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
[June
the leading German authorities on mis- sions and, as we would expect, his work is scholarly and thorough. The present volume does for Mohamme- dan lands around the Mediterranean something of what his "History of Missions in India" did for that coun- try.
\\ e have here a thoughtful study of the Mohammedan world and the Eastern C hurches, and the most com- plete account yet puhlishcd of the his- tory and present work of Protestant missions in Turkey, Armenia, Syria and Palestine, Persia, Egypt and Abyssinia. It is one of those books that a student of missions can not af- ford to do without. It contains a re- markable array of facts and is rich in biographical material. The statistical tables show over 1,000 missionaries in these fields and nearly 35,000 Protes- tant communicants.
Fifty-tii ree Years in Syria. By Henry H. Jessup. Illustrated. 2 vols. $5.00. Fleming 11. Revell Co., New York. 1910.
Dr. Jessup has just passed into the eternal presence of the Master whom he served so long and so faithfully. His two volumes of reminiscences of life and work in Syria are noteworthy and captivating. They are full of hu- mor, wit and wisdom; they give the history of the Syrian Mission, inclu- ding also the Beirut College and the Mission Press. The book is exception- ally rich in biographical material re- lating to leading missionaries in Syria and Turkey. We will devote an article to these important volumes and their author in a subsequent number of The Rfa'iew. We have found no topic, touched by the gifted author, on which he does not strike a key-note. The volumes are full of information and inspiration.
Everyland. A new magazine for boys and girls. Edited by Mrs. H. W. Pcabody. Published quarterly at West Medford, Boston, Mass. 15 cents a copy. Free (upon re<iuest), to subscribers to the Missionary Review of the World at $2.50 a year.
The first two numbers of this maga- zine have appeared and are the most attractive, well written, carefully
edited, clearly printed and artistically edited missionary publication for chil- dren we have ever seen. It is de- lightful— not a childish magazine or adults' periodical labeled for children, but one written for boys and girls, about boys and girls, and in a way that can not fail to interest boys and girls in the magazine and in Christian missions to other boys and girls. There are stories about an African Princess, a Korean Prince, adventures on can- nibal islands, etc. Read it and see why we are pleased to offer Everyland in combination with The Missionary Rkview.
NEW BOOKS
Winners of the World During Twenty Centuries. A Story and a Study of Missionary Effort, from the Time of St. Paul to the Present Day. By Mary Tracy Gardner and William Edward Gardner. 16mo, 239 pages. Fleming 11. Revell Co., New York.
Foreign Missions. Some Principles and Methods in the Expansion of the Chris- tian Church. By R. II. Maiden, M.A. 256 pages. $1.25, net. Longmans, Green & Co., New York.
The Interpretation of the Character of Christ to Non-Christian Races. By Charles H. Robinson, M.A. 12mo, 200 pages. $1.20, net. Longmans, Green & Co., New York.
Fifty-three Years in Syria. By Henry Harris Jessup. 8vo. $5.00. Fleming H. Revell Co.
Fighting the Slave-hunters in Central Africa. By Alfred J. Swann. 8vo. $3.50. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia.
History of Protestant Missions in the Near East. By Julius Richter. 8vo. $2.50. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York.
Very Far East. By C. Winifred Lech- mere Clift. With preface by Alfred A. Head. 3s, 6d. Marshall Brothers, Ltd., Keswick House, Paternoster Row, E.C., London.
The Papal Conouest. By Rev. Alex. Robertson, D.D. Cloth. 6s. Morgan & Scott, 12, Paternoster Bldgs., E.C., London.
The Indian and His Problem. By Fran- cis E. Lcupp. 8vo, 369 pages. $2.00. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
China and the Far East. By George A. Blakcslee. 12mo. $2.00. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., New York.
New China. By W. Y. Fullerton and C. E. Wilson, B.A. 3s. 6d, net. Mor- gan & Scott, Ltd., 12, Paternoster Bldg., London, E.C.
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