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NEW YORK.

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Monographs

Questions of the Hour News of the Churches

Hugust, 1913

Vi, X XVXJUO,

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OLIVE TREES

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary Work in the Reformed Presby- terian Church, U. S. A.

No.

AUGUST, 1913.

8.

QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.

PLAN OF WORK.

The changed conditions confronting ns in China, and some recent helpful sug- gestions of the recent Mott Conference, which we feel may apply to this field, are our reasons for submitting this survey of the field and plan of work. Its incomplete- ness is more evident to us than it will be to you, but it is felt that it may serve as a guide for the present stage of our work, and indicate what we wish to do.

SURVEY OF THE FIELD.

1. Territory. — The following districts (corresponding to our counties) are our present field, namely, Tak Hing, Sai Xing, Fung Chuen, and Tung On. Lo Ting dis- trict, with a population nearly equal to our present field, is now offered to us, and will be included in the plans submitted.

2. Missionary Centers. — There are now in this territory missionaries resident at Tak Hing, Do Sing, and Lo Ting. Surveying the field as a whole, and designing to carry on our work in the most efficient manner with a given number of workers, we feel that at present the two stations, Tak Hing and Lo Ting, if properly manned, will be sufficient. This view is emphasized by the fact that it seems impossible to acquire suitable building sites at Do Sing.

There are in all twelve preaching places in this field: Tak Hing district, four;

Sai Xing district, two; Tung On district, one; Fung Chuen district, one; Lo Ting district, four.

3. Medical. — There is a hospital at Tak Hing, and dispensaries at Do Sing and Fung Chuen.

4. Educational. — There is at Tak Hing a boys’ boarding school, a girls’ boarding school, a women’s boarding schopl, and a medical training class. It is expected that the cessation of the theological training class will be only temporary. There is a girls’ day school at Lo Ting, a boys’ day school at a country chapel in Tak Hing district, and one at Tung On, while part salary is paid to a Christian teacher, who started a school of his own in a heathen village, along Christian lines.

PLAN OF WORK.

Evangelistic. — It is our opinion that hereafter, unless under exceptional circum- stances, foreign funds should only be used to open chapels in large or strategic cen- ters, and that where opened, they should be made at least as attractive places to come to, from the standpoint of comfort and appearance, as the modern Chinese schools. This will mean for us the opening of new chapels as follows :

170

Questions of the Hour.

Tung On District. — One at jSTaam Heung or Luk To.

Sai King. — One at Lin Tan, and one at Sai King City (?), and perhaps another.

Fung Chuen. — One at Hoi Kin.

Lo Ting. — Two or more at places whose names we cannot give at present.

Medical. — The present opinion is that hospitals should have at least two physicians and a nurse ; but we feel that there should be a resident physician at Lo Ting, with dispensaries at Lo Ting and Do Sing, and doing such branch work as may be wise.

Educational. — We believe that the Chinese in this district have at last, arrived at the stage where they will help to pay for the support of Christian schools, and the educational work is at present our best opportunity. We think there . should be mid- dle schools (high schools) in each center where missionaries are resident, separate schools for boys and girls, graduates from which shall be prepared to teach, enter theo- logical or medical training school, or university. These schools will have for a time of necessity lower school departments, and facilities should be provided for the training of Bible women. '

Wherever a chapel is opened up with foreign funds, a school should be opened when- ever the peojfie will furnish a fair share of the support, and we are confident that these will rapidly grow into self-support.

In smaller places we will leave the opening of chapels and schools in the hands of the Christians, perhaps offering some assistance for a time until self-support has been reached.

A theological school for Christian workers, a medical training class in connection with the hospital, two middle schools for boys, one school for girls, with department for women at Lo Ting, and the present work among girls and women at Tak Hing continued, a lower grade of schools in connection with each chapel, and a chapel in each important center, we consider to be present necessities, keeping in mind the pur- pose to have the evangelization of this field done as largely as possible by native agency.

WORKERS.

The plan as given calls for thirteen workers, to be distributed as follows :

Tak Hing. — Seminary, one minister; boys’ school, one minister or layman; hos- pital and training school, two physicians and one nurse; evangelistic, one minister; girls’ and women’s schools, two lady teachers.

Lo Ting. — Evangelistic, one minister ; boys’ school, one teacher, lay preferred ; med- ical work, one physician ; girls’ school, with department for women, two lady teachers.

The experience of this and other missions indicates, in order to have thirteen laborers on the field, at least seventeen should be connected with the work, on ac- count of absences on furlough, or because of ill health. Our present force is sufficient to man both stations as suggested above, with the exception of the man teacher at Lo Ting, making no allowances for absences.

We are strongly of the opinion that all persons sent out for educational work should be trained educators, and that all laymen, physicians and teachers and nurses, should have a course in Bible school work before leaving America.

FINANCES.

It is impossible to give exact estimates of the cost of this plan. The following is an attempt at stating a minimum: - *

Questions of the Hour.

171

Salaries of missionaries, $16,000; travel, $2,000; Mission expense, $4,000; build- ings and chapels, $40,000 ($8,000 per year for five years) ; total annual cost, $30,000.

It is evident at a glance that by far the greater part of this expense is for the maintenance and housing of the missionaries, and the erection of buildings for their work. Present conditions, however, seem to make this large outlay necessary. It is our feeling that the plan submitted is the best one for the rapid development of native workers, and encouraging self-support, upon which two things we must finally depend for bringing the knowledge of the gospel of Christ to the people in this section of God’s great harvest field. But it must be understood that the foregoing plan does not in any adequate sense meet the final needs of our field in China. It is only an attempt to make the wisest disposition of the forces and resources now available, while fur- ther development will inevitably demand enlarged contributions, and make necessary additional workers as rapidly as they can be fitted for active work.

Adopted by the Mission March 28, 1913.

J. A. Kempf, President.

Ella Margaret Stewart, Rec. Sec’y.

June 7, 1913, there was handed us an envelope containing fifty dollars from the Sabbath School of Second New York towards the new missionary home in Latakia, Syria. The money has been passed on to Treasurer Metheny.

We have also sent to the treasurer for the same purpose $50 from Mrs. M. I. Robb, and Miss Mary E. Fowler, Winona Lake, Ind. ; $10 from Rev. and Mrs. W. M. Robb, Birmingham, Mich., and $1 from “A Friend” in Newburgh, N. Y.

The June and July numbers of Olive Trees are filled with important information in regard to our foreign missions, which the home churches should study prayerfully. They contain the inspiring sermon of the retiring moderator, the Report of the Foreign Board, the report of the Committee on Foreign Missions and carefully pre- pared statements of their work from missionaries on the two fields. These papers are worthy of preservation as showing the condition of the work in 1913, and should be a stimulus to special liberality in contributing to make up the Synodical appropriation of $50,000 — $30,000 for the mission in the Levant and $20,000 for the mission in China. The churches at home will not fail to support the work abroad without any urgent appeals, but their own loyalty to Christ and consequent desire to bear a part in extending His cause as the Saviour and King of the world.

Some unknown writer has said that God never goes to the lazy or the idle when He needs some great thing done; when God needs workers. He calls workers; and he cites the following cases. When God called them, “Moses was busy with his flocks at Horeb ; Gideon was busy threshing wheat by the wine-press ; Saul was busy searching for his father’s lost beasts; David was busy caring for his father’s sheep; Elisha was busy ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen; Nehemiah was busy bearing the king’s wine-cup; Amos was busy following the flock; Peter and Andrew were busy casting a net into the sea; James and John were busy mending their nets; Matthew was busy collecting customs; Saul was busy persecuting the friends of Jesus; William Carey was busy mending and making shoes.” — Presbyterian.

172

News of the Churches.

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES.

ABROAD.

FIELD REPORTS.

SYRIA.

(Continued from page 168.)

VISITING WORK.

The work of the visiting missionary for the past year cannot be summed up merely by telling of the number of calls made or portions of Scripture read, or the number of the persons to whom read. She has formed new friendships and re- newed old ones, and hopes in many cases good ideals have been formed. There is more study of the Bible than formerly, and more questions asked concerning spiritual things. Sometimes there have been those who have been careless and apathetic, yet in general there has been much interest taken. In several cases former pupils have been met who could repeat portions of Scripture learned in school. The Lord has said concerning His Word, “It shall not return unto Me void.” Mothers liave been seen teaching their children Bible stories, and the Lord’s Prayer; they also inquire about training and taking care of their chil- dren. They often ask the news of the day, for there are few journals in Arabic even for those who can read. They ex- pect the missionary to inform them. She is also called upon to share their sorrows and help bear their burdens. She has given comfort to the sick and the dying, and to those who mourn. When not visit- ing, her own house is open to all who come to her. She has tried to encourage well doing, and to discourage all forms of evil, such as drinking, gambling, curs- ing, neglect of the sick, and other preva- lent sins.

Thus you will see her duties are many and varied. In only one instance has she failed to receive a welcome, and the friends of the person excused it bj’ saying that she was out of her mind. In all 631 calls were made and the Scriptures read to 1,365 persons.

WOMEN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

This society lias held regular weekly meetings, except that the}r were not able to do so during the months of October and November, on account of the preva- lence of cholera at that time. There was a fair attendance at each meeting, at which a Bible lesson was taught by the hospital Bible teacher. The remainder of the time was devoted to needle work for sale. The weekly cash collections amounted to 268.20 piasters; from sale of work, 502.00; total, 770.20. Dona- tions to the work, 1469.20; balance in treasury, 1145 piasters or about $41. The society has paid the wages of a native Bible woman in the Baliamra district, who works all’ the year and receives $2.50 per month. The society gratefully ac- knowledges donations from the Misses McNeill, of Cedarville, Ohio, also from ^ the L. 31. S. of Central Allegheny, and the L. 31. S. of Seattle congregation.

WIVES OF MISSIONARIES.

We cannot close our report without giving a tribute to the one class of mis- sionaries who are not always recognized; we mean the wives of the missionaries. As the wives of kings have been called “the power behind the throne,” so the wives of missionaries have been called “the workers behind the work.” Mrs. 3Iontgomery says: “The wife doubles

the efficiencv of the missionarv himself.

News of the Churches.

173

She cares for his health, looks out for his comfort, prays for his work, encour- ages him in his despondency.” Others give like testimony. We have read that in one field where both young men and mar- ried men were workers together that the unmarried men broke down sooner than the married men. Some say that more depends on the married women than on any other class. It has also been said that her greatest service is the founding of a Christian home; in itself an object lesson; where husband and wife confer together as friends, where is seen calm- ness in the face of death and happiness that troubles cannot drown. To see the minutia of every day living, actually lived out in power and sweetness before them — these things are “the leaven hidden in the meal that will leaven the whole lump.” Wherever there is found in Latakia a mother (and there are many) with the above advanced ideals, she will tell you when commended that she learned them from the wives of the missionaries.

Thus we submit to you a short review of the year’s work, but the results of the work in the different departments can- not be tabulated in reports; it has all been a quiet seed sowing. To use the words of the prophet Isaiah, “For pre- cept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little.” Christ has said for our encouragement, “The Kingdom of God cometh not by observation.” We must leave the results in His hands; with the Prayer of the Psalmist, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and estab- lish the work of our hands ; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.”

Miss Mattie E. Wylie.

Adopted by Mission March 28, 1913.

STATISTICS.

Number of communicants including

net increase of eighteen this year. 293

Number of baptisms, children ..... 4

Employes :

Evangelist 1

Licentiate 1

Teacher for missionaries .1

Male teachers 20

Female teachers 6

Bible readers, female 2

Pharmacist 1

Boarding schools 2

Boys’ day schools 13

Girls’ day schools 4

Eegular Sabbath schools 3

Enrollment of same 350

Enrollment of day schools 493

Enrollment of boarding schools 93 Contributions :

Sabbath school collections $22

Congregational collections .... 180

(Including a collection for China famine sufferers $55, and a collection for building cemetery wall, $36.25.)

Five pounds sterling were received from the Bible Lands Mission Aid So- ciety.

ASIA MINOR.

The past year has wrought some great changes in the map of the country which is the field of our exertions as a mission, and still more remarkable changes in the faith and hope of a large part of the inhabitants. The Mediator has been striking some heavy and effective blows with His sword of vengeance, and the Turk as he stag- gers and falls backward, says with fatalis- tic despair, “Mashulla !” “It is what God wills.” Mohammedanism, which incited its devotees in the era of their triumphs to almost superhuman valor, offers noth- ing to them in the hour of defeat to save them from utter despair.

"While these great political and terri- torial and moral changes have been tak- ing place, and the eyes of the world have been attracted to the contest of arms, and all the nations of Europe have been in

174

News of the Churches.

a state of apprehension and uneasiness, threatening frequently to precipitate a general European catacylsm or battle of Armageddon, your missionaries with others, by the gracious and faithful and efficient care of the Lord of armies, have been permitted to work on without serious interruption in the less spectacular, but quite as effective campaign of evangeliza- tion, putting in stone by stone the ground work of the new nation which is going to rise as a Phoenix from the ashes of the old.

The several departments of the work have been conducted in about the usual manner.

THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

will be reported by Dr. Peoples in person, as he will be with you, and we have no materials from which to make a detailed report.

THE SCHOOLS

have suffered some from the delay in the coming of the head of the promised Eng- lish department, and the marriage of the most experienced and efficient teacher of the girls’ school and our failure to se- cure an additional advanced teacher for the boys, but some compensation has been found in the increased attendance of the non-Christian sects, Moslems and Xusa- riveh in all the schools.

The Tarsus school reports a largely in- creased attendance, 120 being enrolled, over half of whom are Nusariyeh and four are Turkish Moslems, and of the rest only eleven are Protestant children, so all the remaining 109 may be said to be about equally ignorant of the gospel and equally in need of the instruction and training we try to impart.

The Mersina schools have had a smaller attendance than usual, but we find en- couragement in the better work of those who have come and also in the increased attendance from the two non-Christian

sects mentioned, five of the thirty-eight girls and, seventeen of the forty-four boys being from these sects and about equally divided between them. Only nine of the boys and sixteen of the girls are from Protestant homes. Further encourage- ment is furnished by the decided progress made in securing something from the pupils toward the expense of their school- ing. About $300 has been received from the boys and $175 from the girls, while a few only failed to pay something. The paucity of teachers has made the work of the principals heavier, since each has found it necessary to teach eight classes personally. Two of the boys united with the Church during the year, one a Fellah from an influential family of the Suadia district. The arrival of Mr. Carithers, though too late to influence this year’s report other than negatively as indicated above, gives great promise for the year to come. Our little venture in village school work near Tarsus continues to give en- couragement, The school at Ivaradash continues, but with little vigor, owing to lack of an energetic teacher.

THE EVANGELISTIC WORK

has been prosecuted with more vigor and encouragement than formerly, especially in the Tarsus region, though each. station has something to contribute in evidence of this statement. The work was appor- , tioned at the first of the year between the two ministers, Mr. Willson taking the re- sponsibility for the outstations, and Mr. McFarland for Mersina. Each has preached once or more every Sabbath on an average, and with the help of the evangelists and teachers, services have been held regularly twice a day at each of the three main stations, Mersina, Tar- sus and Adana, and a weekly prayer meet- ing has been conducted besides. Com- munion was held at each of these stations with an accession of eight in all. The

News of the Churches.

175

m6st remarkable of the accessions is a man who had been a drunkard and gam- bler for years, but who is now living soberly and honestly and delighting in the fellowship of Christ and His fol- lowers. He is making an heroiQ effort to learn to read, so he can go to the Word himself.

Much good wrork has been done in Tar- sus through the regular services which have been unusually well attended, and through the reading room which is gain- ing in favor with all classes and espe- cially the Fellaheen, and through the sale and distribution of gospels and tracts. The latter work has been greatly acceler- ated this year by the discovery on the part of the evangelist of an efficient col- porteur in the person of a blind Fellah wdio had with difficulty kept from starv- ing by begging until the evangelist tried him as a seller of these books and tracts. He was successful beyond all expectations and has gained patrons where no one else would have dared to offer such merchan- dise. He is becoming interested in the gospel also, and gives ground for the hope that he will become a dispenser of the truth for the truth’s sake, as well as for the sake of a livelihood.

Services at Mersina have been well at- tended, and a marked advance has been made toward self support. Nearly all the wage-earning members have signed the tithe pledge, and as a result contributions have increased nearly 80 per cent, the twenty wage earners giving about $140 during the year, and the tithing was in force only the last quarter of the year. The little company at Adana have done nobly in this respect also, contributing more than $20 out of their extreme poverty.

We submit this brief statement of our work for another year, fully conscious of much weakness and many defects, but

strong in the faith that God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty and things that are not to bring to naught things that are, and that sooner or later He will make fully mani- fest that our labor and that of our re- vered predecessors has not been in vain in the Lord.

B. E. Willson,

A. J. McFarland, Sec’y.

MEDICAL REPORT.

The work has been carried on about as it was last year, but with interrup- tions. To some extent in the spring, but to a greater extent in the fall, I cut down on my medical wTork so that I could put in as much time as possible in repair- ing and remodeling an old building to be used for a hospital. That meant that I had to do most .of the work with my own hands, or else be constantly over- seeing the native workmen, which was harder work than doing the thing myself.

As far as the building alterations are concerned, they have been completed, but of course there is a great deal of work yet to be done to get the place ready to be used for hospital work. If necessary, I hope to be able to accommodate ten beds.

It is a small place and the accommoda- tions are not good, but the Lord frequent- ly chooses to take the small and insuffi- cient things to do His work. His “strange work.” May it be so in the case of the Mersina Hospital.

Miss Evadna M. Sterrett has been hav- ing a series of illnesses since about the time school opened in the fall, but the last reports from the field say that she is much better. The rest of the mission circle have been in usual health.

Some time after we left the field on furlough, word came of another addition to the Mersina mission circle. The name is Miss Helen Willson, sister to Master Bruce Willson,

176

News of the Churches.

Below are appended the statistics for the year. Notwithstanding the fact that I have cut down on my medical work as referred to above, the statistics show an increase over 1911.

Clinics, Mersina 553

Clinics, Tarsus 405

Visits, Mersina 243

Visits, Tarsus 13

Office visits 143

Hospital patients 3

1,360

From the spiritual standpoint I cannot give the statistics. Only the Lord of the Harvest can give these. Paul may plant and Apollos water, but the Lord giveth the increase. We must confess to having fallen far short of what we should have done, but what has been done in weak- ness we pray may be raised up in strength.

I firmly believe that medical work and particularly hospital work is and will be a great factor in opening the hearts of the people for the reception of the gospel.

John Peoples.

STATISTICS.

Mersina. New members. ... 2	Tarsus. Adana. T’l. 2 5 9
Decrease, by death	1			1
Net increase	1	2	5	8
Total members. . .	37	41	16	94
School attendance.	90	120	Others. 40	250

CYPRUS.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

The time on the mission field passes so quickly that one report “doth tread upon another’s heels, so fast they follow.” It seems but a little time since we left the school- work in Larnaca in June last year and came to Nicosia to resume our medical work. The month of June was largely consumed in moving and getting things cleaned up "and put in order on the mission grounds,

so that we began our regular work *on July 1, and the report covers only nine months. As we had spent the preceding summer in America, we did not feel the necessity of going to the hills, so our work has continued uninterruptedly since that time.

We resumed our former method of holding “clinics” on Tuesday and Fri- day, with the gospel and a short sermon preceding the day’s work. We find a marked difference in the attention given to the preaching of the Word. The peo- ple are quiet and listen attentively to the words spoken and approve of the doc- trines set forth. On the other days we charge more and consequently have fewer patients. However, this gives us more time to visit the villages, also various homes and shops in the town. We find the general attitude of the people toward us and our work has greatly changed in the past two or three years. They are now quite willing to receive us, and lis- ten to our views on religion, and there is much less persecution of those who at- tend the services. At our last commun- ion, among others who united with the Church was one Loizos, of whom we have formerly written, who was* perse- cuted by friends and relatives before uniting, but after he took the stand and openly proclaimed himself on the Lord’s side, he enjoyed great peace of heart and cessation of hostilities. He has now gone to South Africa, not on account of trouble here, but to improve his financial condition, as he has a wife and six chil- dren to support. And this brings up the old question of the difficulty of build- ing up a native congregation, for as soon as a person becomes a good live Chris- tian, he is no longer satisfied with his old manner of living, and wishes to go to some place where there is more oppor- tunity for advancement.

News of the Churches .

177

The attendance on Sabbath school and church services is much more satisfac- tory now than it has been at any time in the history of the mission in Nicosia.

Mr. Dimitriades, our evangelist, has been with the mission for fifteen years, and is doing faithful and efficient work. Mr. Dimitriades and I are both taking Turkish lessons every day that we may be better able to converse with the Turks who form about one-half of our clientele, and upon whom the present war has had a very sobering effect. We find many among the Turks who, like many in Christian lands, are “advanced thinkers” and believe neither in God, Mohammed nor anyone else. However, these people are more open to reason than are the Orthodox Mohammedans, and may yet be brought to the true light.

Two communions have been held in Nicosia; at the last one there were nine additions to the church roll and six bap- tisms.

Following are the statistics for the medical work done during the past nine months. It is with a deep sense of our insufficiency for the work or task that we have undertaken to perform that we submit this report for your considera-

tion :

STATISTICS.

Number of office treatments 6,621

Number of visits in town and vil- lages 479

Number of visits to villages 39

Number of different villages 13

Number of miles traveled 1,045

Amount collected £337 8 8

Or, $1,643.40.

Rent for mission house...... 12 0 0

Total collected £349 8 8

Or, $1,702.84.

Expenditures for the same period : Overdrawn for medical sup- plies on July 1, 1912 £31 17 5

Medical supplies for 9 months 150 0 0

For help, repairs and improve-

ments 53 5 4

Motor expenses 10 9 3

Paid to mission treasurer .... 50 0 0

(Rev. W. Me Carroll)

Balance on hand, April 1, 1913 53 16 5

Total £349 8 8

Calvin McCarroll.

PREACHING AND SCHOOL WORK.

While the past year has been eventful in the Near East and has been marked by epoch-making upheavals among the nations, yet there has been little in Cyprus to indicate the workings of such decisive forces. Cyprus, however, man- aged to work up a little excitement of her own last spring nearly a year ago. Though the disturbances in Limassol and Nicosia were doubtless exaggerated in the newspaper reports, yet some lives were lost, and the trials of various per- sons implicated lasted all summer. The whole matter arose out of the agitation of the Greek politicians for a larger pro- portional representation in the legisla- tive council, the abolition of the tribute paid to Turkey, and a demand for union with Greece.

Because their demands were not ac- ceded to, the Greek members of the coun- cil resigned, mass meetings were held in the various toAvns which in one or two instances resulted in serious disturbances, and an ambassage was sent to London to interview officials, of the colonial office, etc..

Every week the dozen or more Greek newspapers have contained extracts from various English and European news- papers favoring the handing over of Cyprus to Greece. Telegrams from one source or another are published, stating that on this or that high authority union with Greece will not be long delayed.

178

News of the Churches .

That such a consummation will take place is not among the impossibilities, for we cannot be at all certain that the status quo will remain unchanged in the general shuffle on the political card table, yet a sign of the times is the fact that the English Government has sent out a medical expert to devise measures for stamping out the malarial plague which infests the island, which does not look like an intended abandonment of the place to some other power. It goes with- out saying that we of course prefer to remain under the British flag.

Notwithstanding the eventful course of affairs in Turkey, and the more or less strained situation in the council of the nations, our work here 'lias gone on the even tenor of its way.

The number of missionaries at work in the Cyprus field is four, viz. : one or- dained minister and two men teachers located in Larnaca, and one doctor of medicine in Nicosia.

There are three departments of work, viz. : educational, medical and evangelis- tic.

The school in the newr building has flourished during the past year. The teaching staff was reinforced by the time- ly arrival in September of Mr. R. E. Smith from Winchester Congregation. We were able to provide him with enough work to keep him from getting lonesome, and he has shown that he is able to adapt himself to new circumstances and en- vironment.

The gain of one is followed by the loss of another, as Mr. C. A. Stewart will leave us this summer to return to the home land. We are sorry to see the old ones go, but we are thus reminded that change is the law of life itself, and, therefore, our school can be no exception to the general rule. Yet hope springs eternal in the human breast, so we trust

that another one equally good will be found in his place before the beginning of another school year.

The course of study covers the work of the preparatory department of the Syrian Protestant College of Beirut, but gives much more prominence to the teach- ing of the Bible than it .does. The spe- cial feature of our school is the daily teaching of the Bible in a graded Series of lessons adapted to the capacity and ability of each class.

During the past year the enrollment reached 115 students with about 105 boys in actual attendance. There were 60 Greeks, 18 Turks, 12 Armenians, 5 Jews and 10 of other nationalities. Some twenty-eight boys are boarders who come from twelve .or thirteen different towns and villages.

The tuition collected amounts to about £145, which, allowing for a difference in bookkeeping, is about the same as last year, though we have a poorer lot of boys (financially). The provision of books for such a number of boys is a heavy tax, yet we manage to collect enough in addition to tuition to meet all expenses in that department.

In the boarding department wTe have turned over about £375, which pays its own expenses, but of course not without some considerable vigilance on our part.

We are glad to report that two of the boys united with the Church during the past year.

The visible results in the fives of the boys have not been all that we desired, nevertheless the seed has been sown and results are with Him who is the Lord of the Harvest.

The medical department is located in Nicosia, which is the capital and practi- cally the center of the island, giving easy access to the surrounding villages. The mission grounds and church in Nicosia

News of the Churches.

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were the gift of the late Peponiades, while the school building in Larnaca is the result of the proceeds of the mission’s share of the Peponiades estate. A-s the report of the medical department shows, the number of patients attending the clinics was never so large as during the past summer, while the doctor has had more calls to the villages than ever be- fore. .Licentiate Dimitriades has been the doctor’s right hand in his medical work, and he has also labored faithfully in season and out of season preaching the word.

The spiritual side of the work appears more encouraging than ever before. Preaching services have been held regu- larly in Larnaca and Nicosia, and am glad to say in Ivyrenia also by the earn- est and devoted nurses who have given their lives to the uplift of the spiritual life of the people of Kyrenia. The at- tendance on the preaching services in Larnaca and Nicosia has been better and more satisfactory than in past years. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was observed four times : twice in Larnaca and twice in Nicosia, and the . Sacrament of Baptism was administered in Nicosia when four infants and two adults were baptized.

Thirteen names were added to the roll of membership during the year, and one was removed, making a net increase of twelve or a total of thirty-nine native members in the island.

During the summer, accompanied by Licentiate Dimitriades, we visited sev- eral villages where we had opportunities to discuss various moral and spiritual questions.

Sabbath school and students’ prayer meeting have been conducted wuth un- failing regularity.

The sale of Scriptures during the year totalled 186 Bibles Testaments and por-

tions, principally in and through the school.

The Sabbath collections in Larnaca amounted to more than ten pounds sterling.

We are deeply grateful to the gener- ous friends who have made special con- tributions toward the defraying of the debt for furnishing the school and pur- chasing the site.

We are thankful also to our Heavenly Father for the encouragement we have been permitted to see, and the assurance that all things work together for good to them who love God.

W. McCarroll, for the Cyprus Mission.

STATISTICS OF CYPRUS MISSION.

Missionaries, 4 — One ordained minis- ter, Larnaca; 2 teachers, Larnaca; 1 doctor of medicine, Nicosia.

Native employes, 9 — One licensed Greek preacher, 1 Turkish interpreter, 5 teachers, 2 caretakers.

Native communicants, 39 — Thirteen increase, 1 decrease, 12 net increase.

Communions held, 4 — Two in Lar- naca, 2 in Nicosia.

Baptisms. 6 — Four infants, 2 adults.

Schools, 1.

Pupils, 105 — Sixty Greeks, 18 Turks, 12 Armenians, 5 Jews, 10 other national-

ities. (Boarders, 28.)

Tuition collected £144 17 0

School books sold 96 18 5

Scriptures sold (value) 7 19 0

Number of Scriptures sold, 186 — One hundred and seven Bibles, 67 Testaments, 12 portions.

Sabbath collections in Larnaca,

£10 10 0.

Mone}^ turned over in Boarding De- partment (about), £375 0 0.

Submitted by W. McCarroll for the Cyprus Mission.

180

News of the Churches.

CHINA.

Report of A. I. Robb, D. D.

During the past year no training class lias been in session. At the beginning of the j^ear, disturbances incident to the Revolution made attendance impossible, and by the time order was restored, all the students had made other arrangements for the year.

When we returned to the Mission late in March, the country was still too much disturbed for touring in the country. The native evangelists who could leave their homes were called to Tak Hing, and we held special services in the street chapel for two weeks. Literature setting forth the fundamental truths of Chris- tianity had been prepared and was dis- tributed at these meetings. The atten- tion was excellent, and the only thing to limit the meetings was the endurance of the speakers. The attendance was about a thousand a week. After the meetings at Tak Hing, we went to Do Sing and held similar meetings for nearty a week, distributing literature by a systematic canvass and preaching every day and evening. The attendance was good, but no record was kept of the number.

By June we were able to begin coun- try work. Two trips were made this month and communion held at Che Tsai.

We were absent at the coast from July 3 until September 5. During the fall I made five trips to the country and con- ducted four communions.

Since last year’s report I have preached seventy-five sermons and conducted about a hundred religious services, nearly all in the country chapels or the street chapel at Tak Hing. I baptized twenty persons, sixteen adults and four infants, and re- ceived seventeen persons into the fellow- ship of the Church, sixteen by profes- sion and baptism, and one by certificate from the Church Mission.

Special mention must be made of Tung On, where after three years of sowing with no apparent result, twelve men have been received since September 1, and two women who live there have been baptized at Tak Hing. Also a school for boys, half self-supporting, has been opened under our control with forty pupils, and many applicants turned away.

An incidental work of the year has been the negotiation for the purchase of property, which has been carried on with some success at great consumption of time and severe trial of patience.

Early in January of the present year I reopened the training class with two students taking part work, and the promise of others after the Chinese Hew Year. The work was closed -for the Chinese Hew Year on January 24, from which date until February 6 I was ab- sent in Canton as a' delegate to the Leung Ivwong Conference, and the John R. Mott Conference immediately following. I was also absent from the mission from February 10 until March 13 in the Matilda Hospital in Hong Kong.

A. I. Robb.

Report of Rev. J. K. Robb.

The past year has been remarkable for China, not only in a national sense, but in the unprecedented willingness that her people have shown to listen to the gospel. Our experiences have not been different from those of other Christian workers in this regard, and so far as opportunity is concerned, we can report one without equal in our history as a mission.

My work for. the year just closed has been much the same as that of former years. On my return to the field, March 22, I resumed the regular Sabbath ser- vices, preaching fore and afternoons, with Sabbath school before the morning service. Two communions were held at Tak Hing during the year, one in Octo-

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181

ber. the other in January. I have been assisted at times during the year by the other ministerial members of the mis- sion, whose help was appreciated. Dur- ing the year there have been thirty-six adult baptisms. Two members have been received by letter, and one by profession who was baptized as an infant. Our de- crease has been but one, by death. We are thus able to report a net increase for the year of thirty-eight, and a total mem- bership of 197. Of these accessions, five were received at Che Tsai, twelve at Tung On, and the remaining twenty-two at Tak Hing. In addition to the adult baptisms, five infants of believing par- ents received the sacramental sign and seal of engrafting into Christ.

The spiritual condition of our mem- bers is the cause of disappointment at times, and of g]ad surprise at others. We are face to face in some cases with the same condition that our Lord when on earth deplored, namely, that there are those who are seeking the loaves and fishes rather than the meat that perisheth not. We could wish for a more marked development in the grace -of Christian giving in some of our members. But we have also been made glad by seeing evi- dences of undoubted spiritual growth in others. During the year some of our members have, with the assistance of the Congregational Collection Fund, pur- chased a property about fifteen miles from Tak Hing for chapel purposes. We were much gratified at this evidence of desire to do something to help with the work, and we hope that this may be made a self-supporting station soon. A num- ber of our members are now paying the tithe, and one even more.

Since my return to Tak Hing in March I have spent twenty-one days away from mv station, for the most part attending to matters connected with my work,

though on two occasions my going was primarily on account of personal busi- ness. With my family I spent my vaca- tion on Cheung Chau, leaving Tak Hing on July 8, and returning September -21.

During the year I have acted as mis- sion treasurer, the duties of which office I have discharged to the best of my ability. I inclose herewith the report of the auditing committee.

J. K. Robb.

%

Tak Hing,

West River, via Canton, China,

February 4, 1913.

We have this day examined the books, receipts, check books and cash accounts of the Reformed Presbyterian Mission, Rev. J. K. Robb, Treasurer, from Decem- ber 31, 1911, to January 1, 1913, and found same correct.

J. M. Wright.

J. A. Ivempf, Auditinq Committee.

Report of Rev. D. R. Ta^art.

Since I have now been more than two years in China, I suppose it becomes me to make a report — not of things accomplished, for they are few, but rather of the time spent. The past year until the middle of September was spent on Cheung Chau in the study of the language, except the usual two months’ summer vacation. Since my return to Tak Hing I have continued the study of the language, have preached a few times in Chinese — three, to be exact, and since the begin- ning of the year have been teaching the Bible one hour each day in the boys’ school, hoping in this way to attain fluency in the language more rapidly. I hope in the coming year to be more use- ful in His service.

D. R. Taggart.

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News of the Churches .

Boys’ School at Tak Hing.

The beginning of the year found me with the other members of the Mission in enforced retirement on Cheung Chau.

Some of our fellow workers went back to Tak Hing in March. Conditions throughout the country being still some- what unsettled and the warm season being near at hand, we thought it best not to move back to the station until the fall.

Between January and July I made five short trips to Tak Hing. Four of these trips were made in connection with the purchase of the temple property for the boys’ school.

Although we were absent from the field most of the )'ear, the boys’ school was not entirely discontinued. In March a day school of twenty-one boys was opened by Leung Mau Hing, a teacher who has been connected with the school ever since it began. He and his son conducted the school up until the summer vacation without any assistance from me what- ever.

September 11 Leung Mau Hing again opened the school with an enrollment of twenty-eight. Xo boarding pupils were received.

We had planned to move back to Tak Hing in time to open school the first week in September, but Mrs. Ivempf’s illness prevented us from returning earlier than October 7. From that time until the end of the year mjr time was occupied chiefly in overhauling a section of the temple which had been purchased for the school work. The section which we have been overhauling is a building 48 by 41 feet and 17 feet high under the eaves. It has been entirely remodeled, so that it is now practically a new build- ing two stories high, the lower story hav- ing a 14 foot ceiling and the upper a 6 V2 foot ceiling under the eaves. The

upper story will furnish sleeping room for thirty-five boys. The lower story will be used for class rooms.

On January 7 the school opened for the new year’s work. Less than a week after it opened we had over eighty appli- cants for admission, many of them rang- ing in age from sixteen to twenty. Sixty-seven were received, preference being given to boys having Christian parents; forty of them are boarding pupils.

Xine of the boys are professed Chris- tians. Ten others are from Christian parents. The remaining forty-eight are from heathen homes.

How will these forty-eight boys be af- fected by the gospel truths which they will hear and learn during the year? Will the Bible knowledge which they will acquire be to them mere knowledge or a knowledge which' maketh wise unto salvation? We feel that in a measure we are responsible for results. Brethren, pray for us — the teachers and the boys.

Julius A. Kempf.

Girls’ School at Tak Hing.

Owing to the disturbed conditions of the country, and later on account of Miss Dean’s absence from the field, the girls’ school was closed for almost a year.

During this time two of the older girls, Yung Tsing and Oi Kei, spent sev- eral months in a C. M. S. School in Hong Kong. They were poor country girls among eighty well-dressed and more or less up-to-date cityT girls, and I doubt if any poor girl in an American college ever underwent any more trying experi- ences than they did during the first few weeks. Xot only the pupils, but the teachers as well made them an object of ridicule for their country manners and dress, and they were given the most menial work of the school to do. All this, however, was kept secret from the

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183

English lady in charge, for the girls feared to report it lest a worse thing come upon them. But after a time by their patience and diligence, they won their way into the hearts of their teach- ers and fellow pupils, though I must say a large part of their popularity arose from the fact that they were not afraid of devils and were, therefore a protec- tion to the others. Nevertheless, I feel that the unpleasant experiences of our girls were a means of making them stronger and better Christians than be- fore, and also made them more appreci- ative of the privileges they enjoy in our own school. The lady in charge of the school said they did excellent work, and she would be glad to have them enter again if our school did not open.

Owing to illness I was unabie to take charge of the school on my return from Cheung Chau, on September 15, 1912, nor for some time later. I spent a week, beginning October 7, going to Canton to consult a surgeon, then on October 30 left again for the Matilda Hospital in Hong Kong, where I underwent an oper- ation for appendicitis, returning to Tak Hing on December 5.

Bather than keep the school closed longer, Mrs. A. I. Bobb was invited, by the Mission, to open and superintend the school, until I was able to take over the work. School opened on October 12, the total enrollment for the term being twenty-six. The older girls were pressed into service as teachers and under the excellent supervision of Mrs. Bobb, did very satisfactory work. Special mention should be made of Mrs. Doig’s work in the industrial department. During the hour she spent there each day, she not only taught the girls sewing, crocheting and other useful things, but taught us all that, in order to serve the Master in China, one needs only the language of a

patient and loving heart. Mrs. Kempt also gave much assistance in the Thurs- day afternoon and Sabbath morning meetings, and Miss Bobinson in hearing the memory verses on Sabbath afternoon. Mrs. J. K. Bobb very ably conducted a daily class in English.

Five of the girls applied for baptism during the year, but it was only on ac- count of their youthfulness that they were advised to wait a few months, as they have had a. good training in the knowl- edge of the Bible and the essentials of salvation, and we believe they are true children of the King.

School closed on January 8, 1913, for a month’s vacation, with the prospect of a full school for the coming year.

We have much to be thankful for in that the girls have been kept safe from harm during the troublous times, and that there has been a great awakening in China as to the value of an education to women and girls. The opportunities are numberless and the responsibilities so very great that it behooves us to labor and to pray that more laborers, both for- eign and native, be thrust out into the great harvest field, that the women and girls of China may obtain not only knowledge of earthly things, but that “which maketh wise unto salvation.” Bose A. Hustox.

Tak Hind Hospital.

The hospital was left in the care of our Chinese helpers during four months be- ginning with November, 1911, while the foreigners were obliged to be absent from the work. As far as we know they were faithful to the trust.

The Drs. McBurney returned with others on March 22. Patients began to come soon after we arrived. A few days later Dr. Jean McBurney reopened work in Do Sing and was absent most of the time from that date, but gave valuable

184

News of the Churches.

assistance in difficult cases, as she had opportunity, and was here for operations when needed.

The dispensary was open at any time, but a special clinic was held daily for the poor, which was practically free and absolutely so if necessary. A nominal charge of one cent was made for admit- tance to this clinic. A nominal charge was made for medicine to those who were able to pay a little.

Daily worship was conducted with patients and helpers, the latter taking active part in the services, and the former usually glad to take such part as they were able. The patients as a rule showed an interest in hearing the doctrine. Many availed themselves of the oppor- tunity to secure literature on the subject. All the helpers are members of the Church except one who has but recently come to us. These have shown a good degree of zeal in their active efforts to awaken and nourish in the patients an interest in their souls, while endeavoring to minister comfort to their bodies. The one exception is the hospital coolie re- cently employed. We needed a coolie and there were not a few candidates who would gladly have assumed the responsi- bility of the position. Ah Loi, who has been Dr. Wright’s helper in the wards for several years was so impressed with the importance of making a careful se- lection that he volunteered to do the coolie work himself until one could be found who would be capable of advance- ment to a more responsible work later as he himself had been. How successful he has been in the selection remains to be seen, but he did the, coolie work sev- eral weeks without additional pay, and this in addition to his regular work.

There is more or less opportunity for each patient to hear the truth, but those who must come over longer periods have

the better opportunity. There are those who come but once. From the river traffic we have a number who stop in passing, and most of these we will prob- ably not see again in this world. It is possible that some of these have but this one opportunity to hear the glad tidings. A number of in-patients and some dis- pensary patients professed to have left off worshipping idols and to believe in Jesus as their Saviour.

We left for vacation on July 8, and during the time we spent on Cheung Chau, there were occasional calls to do medical work. As we had come prepared to do this, we kept no record of the num- ber of cases we saw. There were a num- ber of small fees received, aggregating $10.40, which has been included in the statistical report.

We returned to work on September 14 and found things in a satisfactory con- dition and patients waiting. I might ex- cept the fact that the depredations of white ants gave us a little variation in the work of the hospital. Dr. Kate Mc- Burney was absent from the hospital October 7-10, inclusive, and October 30- No vember 8 on mission business, also November 12-27 for the purpose of recu- peration. These absences demonstrated her adaptability by the satisfactory man- ner in which she conducted affairs about the hospital.

Dr. Wright returned from America in October and was on duty during the re- mainder of the year.

Mrs. J. K. Robb gave valuable assist- ance at times, showing that in the years she has spent in rearing her family and in being school teacher to her children, her hand has not forgotten its cunning, learned by years of training in a school of nursing.

The health conditions of the Mission continue the same as heretofore, and we

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185

are unable to promise anything better for the future, unless by some means a way be found by which the principles of tropical hygiene and sanitation can ef- fectively be applied and carried out.

We wish to record the continued good- ness of God in His protecting care dur- ing troublous times, and in permitting the reopening of the work. We also de- sire to bear glad testimony to the con- stant presence and fellowship of the Great Physician, whose students we are, and to Whom we confidently look for forgiveness for our shortcomings, and for help and blessing in the work to which He has called us, that His name may be glorified in us.

Owing to existing conditions it is necessary this year to combine the finan- cial reports of the medical work of the two stations, but during the coming year the drug orders will be kept separate, and reports may be expected hereafter.

STATISTICAL REPORT.

	Men.	Women.	Total.
Patients	236	243	479
Xew patients..	168	135	303
In-patients . . .	20	14	34
Treatments . . .	1064	1348	2412
Operations	37	33	70
Teeth extracted	14		14
Out calls	2	2	4
■Joint Financial Deport of Medical	Work

in Tak Iling and Do Sing.

(Exclusive of drug bills paid by Mission Treasurer.)

Fees received and medicine sold. .$238.72

Expended 162.45

K. W. McBuryey,

J. M. Wright,

Tak Hing Medical Staff. Men’s Department of “ Gre^d Memorial Hospital,” Tak Hing. On account of revolutionary troubles, I left for the coast Xovember 22, 1911, the work being left in care of our Chinese helper, A Loi,

who said he would remain and look after the hospital the best he could. His promise was faithfully kept. Eleven soldiers were stationed in one of the wards to protect from thieving. A number, of them had been patients at one time and said they were glad to protect the premises.

Illness in my family necessitated my going home, leaving Hong Kong, Febru- ary 23, 1912, and returning Xovember 2, 1912. During this time Dr. Kathryne McBurney very ably carried on the work. On account of mission business have been absent about ten days.

The hospital work is progressing pleas- antly. All of our help profess to be be- lievers, although one is not yet a church member. Services are held daily with the patients and their friends and relatives. All are encouraged to read the Bible and to some are given portions of Scripture. Xearly all readily take part in the ser- vice by reading a verse of Scripture at morning prayers.

We feel that our work now demands the training of workers (native), and with permission of the Mission wTe have undertaken to give some time * to the teaching of medicine and surgery to a few. Many applicants have been refused as we felt quality at present and not quantity was needed. The work is under- taken by the whole medical staff of the missions. We are aware that ideal work in training physicians and surgeons can- not be done by any one denomination alone, and do not advocate the indefinite continuance of our plan, but feel that in the absence of a definite union scheme that this is the best wav at present. We need workers and can get them only by training them. The days of the foreign medical missionary in China are num- bered, and all Chinese converts hope for the time when they shall be independent

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of' foreign help. We must, therefore, work now and as well as we can. They are deter- mined to learn as much as they can of “Western medicine." Our desire is that they may acquire it in its Christian purity. J. M. Wright.

Report of Miss Annie J. Robinson. My two years’ course of study closed the end of November, 1912. I was in Cheung Chau studying the language and had two months’ vacation there. When I returned in the fall to Tak Hing, I had a chance of airing my knowledge both in Chinese and hospital management, as Dr. Kate McBurney was absent for a short time and Dr. Wright had not returned, and of finding out how much I knew or rather how little I knew. It gave me an oppor- tunity of getting acquainted with the hospital and the Chinese helpers and patients in a way that I could not have done had the doctors been there. There were quite a number of dispensary cases, and there was one maternity case at that time. Had my first case of district nurs- ing, which did not seem difficult, as it was my former teacher Lau Yung who was sick and needed treatment. There was another case of a woman who came to the hospital for treatment of a very serious thumb abscess. She was very poor and very weak. She stopped com- ing. 1 did not know where she lived, but I Ku came with me and inquired of very many where diseased hand one lived. Finally we found her. The pain was so great that she would not let me touch her thumb, but thanked me very very much for coming. A few days after she came back to the hospital for treatment, saying she had a dream telling her to come to the foreigners to get treated. She bravely stood it and now she is better. Dr. Kate McBurney talked the doctrine to her and she was much pleased. It is another open door.

Dr. Kate was called out the other day to an obstetric case. I want to begin at the beginning of life and take up the in- fants. This will give a chance to get to the mothers to teach them how to train up a child in the way it should go. The field of prevention is very large, and one of the most impressive things is the num- ber of blind and ruined eyes in China, and if we could only train them to care prop- erly for the eyes from birth. I have also another class of infants aged from thirty- five to sixty, respectively, whom I take in Sabbath school. Some of these are not able to find the place, but they can learn the golden text, and that is encouraging, and as Dr. Campbell Morgan once said he thought he had done well if some re- membered only the text, and a late mis- sionary said he believed more and more in the irresistible power of the Spirit to use the very word effectively for the sal- vation and enlightenment of those sitting in darkness. This is comforting when one is only an infant oneself of two years of age. I study the language an hour a day with a teacher, and about the begin- ning of this year I took up Hampton’s Book of Nursing, translated into Chinese in easy Manlee, with the helpers in the hospital for one hour a day, and we have a chance to put into practice some things in the hospital.

Annie J. Robinson.

DO SING.

PREACHING.

We do not have very much in the way of results to report from Do Sing. We are just beginning to get under way again after the disturbances connected with the revolution. ' From March 1 to December 5, I was absent from the field on furlough. While in America, as opportunity offered, endeavor was made to increase the interest in the work in China.

During my absence the work in my de-

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187

partment was carried on by the Chinese preacher, Mr. Lei Lin Cheung, with some oversight and assistance by Revs. A. I. and J. K. Robb. Mr. Lei reports that during that time one preaching service, with an average attendance of about thirty, and Sabbath school, was held each Sabbath day.

On my return, December 5, 1912, we began holding our regular two preaching services and Sabbath school each Sab- bath. We also began holding preaching services on market days, which number about twelve days every month. Our average attendance at these meetings has been perhaps thirty-five or forty. As the Chinese new year approached, the attend- ance decreased. Beginning with Febru- ary 9, 1913, which was the fourth day of the Chinese first month, we held daily preaching services for two weeks. The average attendance at these meetings has been about fifty. A number of people came and heard the gospel who had not heard it before. The work at all these meetings was divided equally between Mr. Lei and myself.

In addition to this Mr. Lei or myself have made weekly trips with Dr. Jean McBurney to Fung Chuen where the in- terest manifested has been gratifying.

It has been impossible to hold com- munion during the year, and no baptisms can be reported, so that our membership remains the same as last year, four in number. There are at present six appli- cants for baptism. Some of these will likely be received into church member- ship at our communion vthich is to be held the second Sabbath of March. 1913.

E. C. Mitchell.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

On account of the unsettled condi- tion of the country, we were absent from the field until March 22, when we re- turned to Tak Hing. On March 26 the

medical work was reopened at Do Sing and carried on each market day and some other days until July 8, when we left for summer vacation. Work was resumed September 14 and continued without in- terruption to the close of the year. On all market days, four in every ten days, we had the usual free dispensary hour, and we also had a daily dispensary hour, at which time a small charge was made. We are indebted to Dr. Wright for the help he has given in coming once a week to treat men. A service is held at each regular dispensary hour. Our morning worship in Chinese is held in the dispen- sary just at dispensary hour, so that the patients may attend. On market days Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Lei preaches a ser- mon to the patients and any others who come in. We have been fortunate in hav- ing the help of Tai So, our Bible woman from Tak Hing. She talks to the patients while they wait their turn, and has also visited and talked the doctrine in a good number of the homes of patients and others. She has taken an interest in a little colony of lepers here on the river, and has conducted a service for them al- most every Sabbath she has been here. Mr. Mitchell, Dr. Robb, Mr. Lei and Mr. Chue have also preached to them a num- ber of times. They are glad to hear and listen attentively. We have tried to keep up the work in Fung Chuen by going once a week, but we have been hindered many times, and when the water is high, it is almost impossible to get there in time to do anything. On account of the irregu- larity of our trips, our medical work in Fung Chuen has not increased, as it gave promise of doing, but the crowds still gather in each day and some have shown some interest in hearing the doctrine. Until recently the children were afraid to commit verses; some were even afraid to take the printed slips we offered them.

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News of the Churches.

But during the last few weeks there are statistics.

almost a dozen boys committing verses Patients 532

for which they receive a Bible picture Treatments 1,422

with the story in Chinese characters and Surgical operations 40

another verse to commit for the next day. Out calls 123

I speak of this because the fact that they Fees received $75.32

are not afraid to commit verses and give Fung Chuen.

their names shows they have made one Trips 12

advance step. Patients 54

Jean McBurney.

In 1893 a shipload of Australians sailed for Paraguay to found a new settlement on communistic lines. All were to be “mates” and to share alike, but the ordinances of religion were rejected as effete and useless.

Mr. Stewart Grahame has just written the history of the movement, and he tells us that the experiment failed chiefly because “the men and women, who up to that time had worked industriously for themselves, would not work industriously* for the community without wages.”

But Mr. William Lane, who was the leader of the movement, soon after its failure declared that the project failed “because it was uncemented by that sense of God without which there can be no real trust between men.” — The Christian Guardian.

Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties! Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives. — Ulysses S. Grant.

In regard to the great Book, I have only to say, that it is the best gift God has given to man. — Abraham Lincoln.

It is the Bible, the Bible itself, which combats and triumphs most efficaciously in the war between incredulity and unbelief. — Guizot.

To the Bible men will return, and why? Because they cannot do without it. — Matthew Arnold.

The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible. — William H. Seward.

It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. — George Washington.

A woman who had been in the hospital at Kiu Kiang a long time with her sick son returned one day bringing her son with her. “Together they went up-stairs through the hall into the ward, and to the very bed upon which he had lain sick so long, and there they knelt together to thank God for his recovery.” Another, a woman of high rank, spent many weeks with her little son in the same hospital. She was won to the Christian faith, and as proof of her change of heart, she threw away her idols and ancestral tablets. To the doctor she said : “I have just fallen in love

with your Jesus.” — Young Christian Worker.

A man knows a great deal when he acquires a knowledge of the immensity of his ignorance.' — Palmerston. ' '

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Monographs.

189

MONOGRAPHS.

that work, the A. B. C. F. M. has opened

HOSPITAL AT MERSINA.

The appeal of the Board of Foreign Missions for a hospital at Mersina, Tur- key, you have already published in Olive Trees, and I would like to let the Church know something about the little place I have partially fixed up, and also I would like to present some of the needs for a hospital in that region.

GIRLS’ SCHOOL YARD.

I herewith submit a diagram of the second floor of one of the smaller build- ings in the mission compound at Mersina. as I have altered it for hospital use. It is a very small place, but if need calls for it and I have sufficient help, I can ac- commodate ten beds. The beds have al- ready been donated and are in Mersina now.

For a number of months after the massacre of 1909, I was in Adana doing medical relief work, and as an outcome of

a hospital, in charge of an American phy- sician. That is the only hospital worthy the name for several days’ journey in any direction. I say hospital “worthy the name.” There are municipal hos- pitals in charge of native physicians, but concerning these I have frequently had the natives themselves say to me, “Why, if you went in there, well and strong as you are, you would be carried out in a few days on a board.”

Aside from the three large towns of xVdana, Tarsus and Mersina, there are many villages scattered over this Cilician Plain. These villages are without any medical help whatever. True, there are a number of native physicians in these large towns, but as far as the mass of these villages is concerned, there might as well be none. The native doctors, with few exceptions, will not visit the villages un- less a conveyance is provided both wa}rs and a good big fee added for their ser- vices besides. The vast majority of the people in these villages are not able to pay such a price, so they do without, or else they go to the Sheikh (the head man of the village), who will write some magic Avord or sign on a piece of paper. The paper is to be eaten or else carried on the person of the sick one. Even if the doctors did go to these villages and the sickness was of a serious nature, re- quiring careful treatment, what could the doctor do, with no place to send them ?

The people know nothing about sani- tation or hygiene. The following is a brief description of a native house as we frequently find it: A room possibly 12

bv 12. The roof, the floor and the four walls of mud. Possibly one or two win- dows, possibly none. One door. On one

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Monographs.

side of the room, raised about three feet from the floor, there may he a board plat- form. On this the family and their rela- tives and friends sleep, eat and visit to- gether. Beside the "higher animals” you may find — chickens, cows, horses, to say nothing of smaller inhabitants, whose presence may not be detected .on first glance, but may be forced on your urgent attention later. At night all "shutable” openings are shut and sealed, because the "night air is very bad ; the (native) doc- tor says so !”

Drains ‘are a useless luxury, but per- • missible, provided they drain toward the well from, which the community gets its drinking water. Cleanliness ! An utterly useless waste of useful time.

With the foregoing in mind, will any one ask concerning the need of hospital work at Mersina?

With a hospital, from the professional standpoint, medicine and treatment can be given as needed. The necessary clean- liness can be had. The patient can be given a practical demonstration of clean and healthful ways of living. With these conditions present, we can look with more hope of success in the treatment of the physical ills of the people.

With a hospital, from the spiritual standpoint, the medicine and treatment can be given to individuals • and at fre- quent intervals. By our lives we can give demonstrations of practical Christianity and of clean and healthful ways of liv- ing. We can get the individual away, for a time at least, from, the influences and conditions that pull down and hold down. With these conditions, we can look- with more hope for success in the treatment of the spiritual ills of the people.

I firmly believe ’ that medical work is, and will be, a strong factor in the open- ing up of Turkey to the Gospel.

Of course money is a necessity in the

starting, and in the carrying on of hos- pital work, but the one thing needful and of infinitely greater importance is the "effectual, fervent prayer, that availeth much” for your work in the Lord’s vine-, yard. If we have that, then we know that "all these things shall be added.” John Peoples.

THE REGIONS BEYOND.

On Feb. 27, 1913, a dense fog envel- oped the Hudson River. A ferry boat left the slip, Jersey City, for Cort-landt Street, New York. The two slips almost face each the other. . Loaded with five hundred passengers and many teams, the boat slowly glided out into the mist. That was the last seen of her for some time. No- body knew where she was, nor were the officers any wiser than people ashore. After drifting for an hour, the paddle- wheels running dead-slow, and the nose of the boat boxing the compass, and the mist apparently deepening, the passengers became afraid. Some cried, "We are at Sandy Hook, and are going out to sea !” In the course of two hours, the fog par- tially lifted for a little, and the captain found he was off Governor’s Island. Set- ting his course, and after many trials, he made a slip south of Battery Park, but the slip did not fit the boat. The passen- gers were able to get off, and a truly thankful lot they were. Again the cap- tain put out in the mist, and he was an- other two hours making the slip he start- ed for, where the teams could go ashore. Such experiences may enable us to under- stand better the mists and darkness, the impenetrable gloom, in which the heathen nations and people walk. They are drifting, slowly drifting, not knowing di- rection or current. They become afraid, end cry unto their gods, and make fren- zied appeal according to the strictest rites of the superstitions which they profess.

Monographs.

191

But no answer comes out of the mists — no voice out of the impenetrable gloom! Iiow dense is the darkness ! But there is a Power that can penetrate it — the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It makes the night shine as day. Slowly the heathen are turning their eyes toward that light — the light of the Son of Righteousness.

KOREA.

The first General Assembly of the Pres- byterian Church in Korea convened Sep- tember 1, 1912. One hundred and eight- een pastors were present (including fifty foreign missionaries) and 123 elders. Dr. H. G. Underwood was elected Moderator. The Commissioners came from seven Presbyteries. Some of the largest Pres- byterian congregations in the world are in Korea. One of the remarkable features of this Korean Assembly was action to undertake mission work among the Chinese. The field was not definitely fixed, but it will probably be located in North China.

SUMATRA.

In Sumatra, a native church of 103,000 has been built up in the last fifty years. The missionaries opening up the work there were from the Rhenish and Dutch societies. The one station of fifty years ago has grown to forty-one centers, and 432 out-stations. There are 27,500 chil- dren in the mission schools in Sumatra. The working force consists of 29 ordained native ministers and 659 teachers and helpers. The number of European mis- sionaries working in Sumatra is 55.

TURKESTAN.

In Bokhara there is a prison dungeon called “Zindan.” It has two subterranean apartments. The first is about forty feet square, entirely underground, without windows or other means of ventilation ex- cept the shaft through which the, prison- ers were lowered by ropes, and was used for culprits guilty of minor offenses. The

lower dungeon beneath the upper, is a deep pit, twenty-five or thirty feet square, into which prisoners were lowered by ropes from the upper dungeon, and from which they seldom emerged. They were given a scanty supply of food and water, but sooner or later were murdered by inches by vermin put in for the purpose.

Such prisons were closed within the last generation, by order of the Russian government. This was probably hastened by the fact that two Englishmen reached Bokhara and disappeared. At Samark- and there is a similar prison.

What savages men are without the gos- pel ! How sin hardens the heart and makes it callous to misery of fellow creatures ! What mighty need Turkestan has for the gospel ! Russia is the ruler, but Moslem fanaticism is not disturbed.

The prison seems to be similar to one 'that was in Jerusalem. “Jeremiah was let down by cords into the dungeon of Malchiah that was in the court of the prison, and in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.” Read also how he was drawn up out of the dungeon. And this in the City of Jerusalem, with its temple of God!

In Turkestan they have scribes, as did Israel, and they have “the Tomb of Dan- iel.” True, the tomb is a little large — sixty feet long, six wide and five high, and “he fills the whole of it,” so they say. This . tomb and the reverence shown it suggest that Turkestan may be the place where “tribes of the weary breast and wandering feet” found habitation, and they have become the Moslems of to-day — a religion without a Saviour.

ISLAM A DYING RELIGION.

Mr. Curtis, the traveler who writes in- terestingly of Turkestan, gives as his be- lief that Islam is dying: “Its mosques are falling into dilapidation, with none car-

192

Monographs.

ing to repair them.” In his view that religion has reached a hopeless stage of decay, if the appearances of its mosques, its colleges, its shrines, its mausoleums, its cemeteries, and other public institutions may be taken as evidence. “I have never seen a new mosque” (Mr. Curtis is an ex- tensive traveler) “in any Mohammedan country. I do not know of one that has

been built within the last century, and few have been repaired. Everywhere the indifference is the same; everywhere the same degree of dilapidation may be found, even in the most fanatical cities, like Bok- hara and Damascus.”

This is encouragement for renewed ef- fort to evangelize the Moslem world.

New York Ciiy. F. M. Foster.

There was keen interest and expectancy among the students of Assiut Christian College in Egypt. The government examinations for civil service positions were soon to be held and eighteen students looked forward to entering the competition for the coveted certificates.

The Christian students had always ranked high in these competitions, and many from Assiut College had entered the government service. The value to an educated young man of Egypt of such an opening is about measured by the importance we would attach to the opportunities in all the professions combined.

The eighteen had successfully passed the requirements of their college, and were diligently preparing for the test with the young Mohammedan and Copt students, that would bring honor to Christian Assiut, as well as to themselves. That a greater test was at hand these Christian men did not know until the announcement came that the days set for the examinations were Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

With anxious hearts they came to their president to say that they did not want to break the Sabbath, and to ask if he could prevail on the government officials to change the day for the Sunday examinations. But the dates were fixed; nothing could be done.

It was not an ordinary time at Assiut, this spring of 1910. A spiritual quickening had gone all through the college, a revival that took hold on the lives of the students. The impulse had come from the Student Volunteer Band of sixty-two men, whose lives had been dedicated to proclaiming Christ in Egypt and the Soudan. During two weeks of daily services, practically the whole student body of six hundred had attended vol- untary chapel to hear stirring appeals to enter the Christian life and service.

Many formed new life resolves, and in April thirty-one students made their first public profession of Christ as Saviour and Lord, joining the college congregation. Several others united with their local Christian churches, and in the fall thirty-six more students accepted Christ.

It was in such a time, then, of a great realization of the actual presence of Jesus Christ in Assiut that sixteen of these eighteen who had qualified for the government examinations announced their decision to keep holy the Sabbath day and to withdraw from the competition.

All over Egypt the newspapers carried the story ; admiration for such steadfast faith far exceeded the gain that success in the examinations would have brought. The Ministry of Education pledged that no examinations should thereafter be sched- uled for the Sabbath day. And beside the witness to “those who are without,” the quickening power was felt in probably every church in Egypt. — S. S. Times.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1913.

Rev. Jas. S. Stewart, D. D. ..

Rev. Samuel Edgar

J. M. Bal^h, M. D

Miss Mattie R. Wylie .

Miss Maggie B. Edgar

Miss F. May Elsey

Miss A. Louise Crockett

Miss Florence M earns

Rev. Robert E. Willson

Rev. Andrew J. McFarland....

John Peoples, M. D

J. French Carithers. .

Miss Evadna M. Sterrett

Miss Elma French

* Latakia , Syria .

> Mersina , Asia Minor.

Rev. Walter McCarroll

Mr. Roy Esmond Smith

Mr. Charles A. Stewart ...... .

Calvin McCarroll. M.D

Rev. A. I. Robb, D. D

Rev. J. K. Robb

Rev. Julius Kempf

Rev. D. R. Taggart

Rev. William M. Robb on furlough

J. M. Wright, M. D

Miss Kate McBurney, M. D.

Miss Ida M. Scott, M. D

Miss Mary R. Adams

Miss Ella Margaret Stewart ...

Miss Jennie Dean.

Miss Rose Huston

Miss Annie J. Robinson

Rev. Ernest C. Mitchell..

Miss Jean McBurney, M. D

^ Larnaca , Cyprus.

Nicosia , Cyprus.

Tak Hing Chau, West River ,

South China.

\

l Do Sing , West River , South China.

HOME MISSIONARIES OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1913.

Rev. W. W. Carithers, Indian Mission ,

Apache , O. T.

Rev. W. J. Sanderson, Southern Mission ,

Selma , Ala.

Mr. William Carson, Jewish Mission ,

800 So. Fifth Street , Philadelphia , Pa.

post office addresses of treasurers.

Syrian Mission, Mission in China and Church Erection — Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, 617 N. 43d Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Domestic Mission ; Southern Mission; Indian Mission; Testimony Bearing; Sustentation; Theological Seminary; Ministers’, Widows' and Orphans’ Fund; Literary; Students' Aid — Mr. J. S. Trbby, 41 1 Penn Building, Pittsburg, Pa.

Jewish Mission — Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, 617 N. 43d Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Aged People’s Home — Mrs. A. G. Wallace, 235 Fourth Ave., Pittsburg, Pa. National Reform — Mr. J. S. Tibby, 41 1 Penn Building, Pittsburg, Pa.

Transportation Agency Bo"d °' Forei,i° M,ssloM

Reformed Presbyterian Church

All questions relating to Railway and Steamship Rates for Missionaries and Freight should be addressed to

WILLIAM G. CARSON,

205 SOUTH 42d STREET. PHILADELPHIA. PA.

Telephone, 785 Mornin&side

WM. McCLEAN’S SON Undertaker and Embalmer

508 WEST 134th STREET

ROBERT L. McCLEAN

NEW YORK

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