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No. 30. — New Series.]
A CRAVE CRISIS.*
FINANCIAL POSITION.
rFHE year ending March 31st showed a deficiency of
£33,215, which has so diminished the available
reserves that unless immediate and substantial help is
afforded by gifts or loans, the Society will be unable to
pay its bills for current expenditure.
In response to the Treasurer's appeal £6,500 has been
paid or promised towards the deficiency, and several
friends have given, or lent, the Society £6,000 towards
its capital fund. Thus the amount immediately required
for working expenses is about £20,000. Besides which,
to support the missionaries already in the field, and to
provide necessary buildings, an increase of £20,000 upon
last year's income will be needed.
PROGRESS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS.
The Forward Movement at home at once produced a
Forward movement abroad, and in all parts of the
field additional expenditure has been necessary to make
existing work more adequate and efficient. Sixty-seven
missionaries have been added to the roll. A steamer,
* This statement is now being issued, and may be had on
application for general circulation. No time should be lost in
bringing the Society's critical position before every section of its
constituency. — Ed.
[Price One Peiwy.
whose need had been recognised for over twenty years, has
been built at a cost of £17,000, and is just leaving for
the South Seas. Towards its cost the young friends of
the Society have raised £11,677, but as the New Year's
Offering has for some years exceeded £6,000, the net gain
on this account is only £5,000. There is little doubt of
the balance being raised, but in the meantime large
expenditure has to be met.
COST OF THE FORWARD JK0YEJKENT.
The experience of the past three years shows that this
will exceed the original estimate. To complete the new
hundred, by adding thirty-three more missionaries to the
staff, will require a further annual income of about
£20,000, making in all £40,000. The Directors believe
that this addition can be made, and their knowledge of
the golden opportunities abroad, and their sense of the
needs of the heathen, make them long for its accom-
plishment. There are men and women, well equipped for
foreign service, already waiting for appointment, and the
hundred might soon be completed.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
As the representatives of the churches, charged by
them with the solemn commission of extending Christ's
Kingdom abroad, the Directors again appeal to their
constituency. They look to the churches for the means
JUNE, 1894.
130
SECRETARIAL NOTES.
June, 1894.
of maintaining the advance of the past three years, and
for the further support necessary for sending out the
remainder of the one hundred missionaries. The Directors
would fain believe that the churches still mean to accomplish
the task which they so enthusiastically undertook three
years ago, and, believing its completion to be the most
fitting celebration of the Centenary, have resolved to open
forthwith a special Centenary Fund, for which they will
be glad to receive special donations, subscriptions for two,
three, four or five years, and promises of enlarged or fresh
subscriptions.
It is now for the churches to decide what is to be done.
The Directors do not feel justified in incurring further
liabilities until the annual income is more in proportion to
the annual expenditure, and until further funds are
obtained they cannot provide the buildings necessary for
their present staff.
A Missionary writes : " The possibilities of
GOING FORWARD ARE LIMITED BY THE MEANS OF GOING
FORWARD. WE ARE NOT LIMITED IN OUR OPPORTUNITIES,
nor IN the Spirit of God, but in the spirit of the
CHURCHES TOWARDS US."
CENTENARY FUJ<D.
The Treasurer
Mr. Rowley Hill, J. P., Worcester
Mr. John Whitley, J.P., Halifax
" Three Friends"
"C. A.S."
"Two Mstcrs," for current expenses o? For-
ward Movement
"A Friend," Peckham
Mr. Alexander Hubbard, J.P
" Anido-Indlan"
Mr. Ullot Reed
Rev. H. Arnold Thomas, M.A
Mr. and Mrs. Grabam, Newport, Mon
" An Old Subscriber and his Wife "
Rev. Professor Aruiltage
Mr. Rabbits
" M. H."
Mr. R. F. Horton, M.A
Mr. J. H. Clark, Market Harborough ..
" Eromanga," Kotherham
Rev. Chas. Wilson, M.A
Mr. F. H. Hawkins, Wrexham
Mrs. Samuel Hebdltch
" A Friend," Dalkeith
Mr I. P. Werner
" Friends at Blackheath "
Rev. K. Wardlaw Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Llddlard
" Friends at Hampstead "
Wlmborne Sunday-school
11 A Lady Friend "
Kev. Dr. Newman Hall
Dr. J. H. Gray
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Sully
Kev. J. F. T. Hallowes, Birmingham . .
Misses McReand
Mr. W. W. Beare
Kev. Robert and Mrs. Balgarnie
"Madagascar"
Mr. W. B. Hayward
Sums under £10 (acknowledged on cover) .
Additional
Special Contributions, per the Treasurer,
towards the deficiency
Do., do., on account of Centenary Fund
Donations.
Annual
Subscriptions.
1,000 0 0
1,000 0 0
1,000 0 0
1.0C0 0 0
500 0 0
600 0 0
300 0 0
100 0
0
250 0 0
100 0 0
.. 50 0
0
60 0
0
100 0 0
100 0 0
25 0
0
100 0 0
10 0 0
20 0
0
50 0 0
50 0 0
25 0 O
25 0 0
25 0 0
25 0 0
36 0 0
20 0 0
20 0 0
20 o
0
20 0 0
10 10 0
10 10 0
10 O 0
.'. 10 0
0
10 0 0
10 0
0
10 0 0
10 0 0
11) 0 0
10 0 0
10 0 0
10 0 n
10 0 0
10 0 0
156 6 6
6 1
0
£G,522 5 6
.. £391 1
0
5,540 11 10
1,252 7 0
178 10
0
£13,324 4 4
.. £469 11
0
SECRETARIAL NOTES.
FROM THE HOME SECRETARY.
"Not satisfied but encouraged," I replied many times during
our May meetings to friends who asked if I was satisfied, and
such is my note on this Whit-Monday regarding the past week.
No one can be satisfied till the debt is cleared off and the
Forward Movement accomplished. We are encouraged by the
hearty determination manifest at all the meetings to maintain
and extend our present work. We have recognised the duty of
going forward. It only remains to press on.
The Congregational Union has passed the following signi-
ficant resolution : —
"That the assembly heartily rejoices in the commencement
of the Forward Movement ; thanks God for the success
already realised ; impresses upon the churches the duty
of more liberal contributions to meet the imperative
and rapidly-increasing demands of the work ; and with
this view would urge the Directors immediately to
initiate a Centenary Fund."
The first two clauses necessitate the rest. If we rejoice in the
beginning, we are pledged to the fulfilment ; if we thank God
for success, we are bound to follow it up.
The Centenary Fund has been opened, and contributions and
promises are coming in as reported elsewhere. Our great need
is more liberal and more numerous contributions. Why should
not all the churches be at once systematically canvassed ? There
are but few that pat our work personally and individually before
all their members and adherents. The enlargement of our
constituency is the work before us ; and if it were seriously
undertaken in all quarters, our present difficulties would be
quickly surmounted.
We hear much of the depression in trade, and great losses of
the past year or two. It may encourage some to know of the
following expansion in spite of bad trade. A great Lancashire
auxiliary has increased its contributions 50 per cent. A
church in a Norfolk town has sent us more than for twenty-five
years past, though it is engaged in raising £1,200 for a new
place of worship. A church in Wales has risen from £3 or £4,
its annual contribution for many years past, to nearly £40.
A Yorkshire correspondent writes : — " I am quite convinced
that the Board has not jet undertaken nearly the extent of
enlargement that is easily possible to the power in our people's
hands if definitely laid hold of. Money is in plenty. All we
need is the wit that is used every day in other affairs." In face
of this and other testimony, let us not be discouraged. The wit
we need is surely in the wisdom that God can give. Let us
pray for that and the power of the Spirit, and let us see that
we realise the truth of James' words — " the prayer of a righteous
man availeth much in its working."
Arthor N Johnson,
Jone, 1894.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.
131
FROM THE EDITORIAL SECRETARY.
The pressure of reports of meetings in connection with the
Society's Anniversary has unfortunately excluded several of our
usual items and a very interesting article: from the pen of Dr.
Griffith John. These, though in type, must stand over until
next month.
By an unfortunate lapsus calami on the first page of our May
number, the right-hand column, the word Tamil was used
instead of Telugu. The reading should be : " John Hay, the
Telugu scholar."
Two more Centenary Leaflets have been published since our
!a9t issue. There are now four of these, all of them being two-
page leaflets, and published at Sd. a hundred. Their titles
are as follows : —
" The Work Left Undone." By Mrs. Isabella Bishop, F.R.G.S.
'■ Tahitians and the Scriptures." From Ellis's " Polynesian
Researches."
" Hinduism and the Brotherhood of Man." By Rev. D. Hutton,
Mirzapur.
" No Saviour from Sin in Confucianism, Taoism, and Budd-
hism." By Rev. George Owen, Peking.
" L.M.S. John Williams."— Special ribbons lettered thus have
been prepared, and will be supplied, postage free, to any part of
the United Kingdom, price Is. each. The ribbons are black or
navy blue with gold lettering, and cream colour with blue
letters. They will be ready about the middle of June, and
those who order early will have the best chance of getting
them, as the supply will be limited.
I have much pleasure i in calling the attention of the readers
of the Chronicle to the second annual report of the Watchers'
Band, which they will find inserted in this number. That report
and the growth of the Band are highly encouraging ; but we can-
not rest content with the progress made. There are still many
auxiliaries in which no branch of the Watchers' Band as yet
exists, and we trust that there will be a large extension during
the coming year. George Cousins.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.
Board Meeting, April 2Wi, 1894. — Mr. A. Hubbard, J.P.,
in the Chair. Number of Directors present, 64.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee presented the
balance-sheet for the year ended March 31st, and it was adopted.
The portion of the list of Directors for the new year recom-
mended by the Co-optation Committee, was approved. It in-
cluded the appointment of the Rev. E. Herber Evans, D.D., as
an Honorary Director.
The Board expressed its deep sympathy with the family circle
so grievously bereaved by the sudden death of Mr. J. Walford
Hart, of Chung King.
Mr. J. Cullen H. Reid was appointed to succeed the Rev. W. A.
Elliott in Matabeleland.
The Foreign Secretary informed the Board that Mr. G. S.
Goodwin, of Liverpool, who had prepared the plans and super-
intended the building of Lthe new steamer, had given his time
and thought without any remuneration, and had borne all his
out-of-pocket expenses. The following resolutions were there-
upon unanimously adopted : —
" That the Directors of the London Missionary Society desire to express
to Gilbert S. Goodwin, Esq., their very sincere thanks for the valuable
services gratuitously rendered by him to the Society in connection
with the construction of the new missionary steamer John Williams.
They are well aware that the contribution thus given to the funds of
the Society by Mr. Goodwin is one of very considerable amount, but
they recognise that Mr. Goodwin has expended an amount of time,
thought, and technical skill upon this work altogether out of propor-
tion to the merely professional service he has rendered, and which
cannot be estimated by any money value. They gladly accept this
valuable service as an offering of love to the cause of Christ, and
they congratulate Mr. Goodwin on the results of his skilful labours in
the construction of a vessel of most attractive appearance, and so
admirably adapted for the work for which she has been designed ;
and they trust that he may be cheered by hearing glad tidings of the
value of the services rendered for the establishment of the Kingdom
of Christ through many years by the vessel, to the construction of
which he has devoted so much thought and care.
" That Mr. Goodwin be invited to become an Honorary Life Director of
the Society.
"That the warm thanks of the Directors of the London Missionary
Society be conveyed to the professional assistants of Gilbert S.
Goodwin, Esq., and especially to Mr. Andrew Hamilton, for the
ability, the cheerfulness, and the enthusiasm with which they have
seconded Mr. Goodwin's labours as designer of the mission steamer
John Williams."
Board Meeting, May 1st, 1894. — Mr. R. F. HoRTON, M.A., in
the Chair. Number of Directors present, 52.
The Board welcomed the Rev. W. H. and Mrs. Campbell, from
Cuddapah ; Rev. E. and Mrs. Lewis, from Bellary ; Miss Budden,
from Almora ; Rev. R. M. Ross, from Amoy ; the Rev. A. A. and
Mrs. Dignum, from Salem ; and they bade farewell to the Rev.
D. P. Jones, returning to Central Africa, Mr. Jones being com-
mended in prayer by the Rev. Edward White.
The Foreign Secretary read his draft report for the past year,
which was adopted.
Board Meeting, May 7th, 1894. — Mr. R. F. Hobton, M.A., in
the Chair. Number of Directors present, 90.
A report from the Special Committee appointed to consider
the present financial crisis occasioned by the Forward Movement
was presented, and the Board approved their recommendations
as follows : — (I.) That the Centenary Fund be opened forth-
with, and for two objects : increase of annual contributions and
special gifts ; (II.) That further liabilities should not be in-
curred by sending out additional missionaries in connection
with the Forward Movement, until the annual income of the
Society be more in proportion to its annual expenditure ; (III.)
That until further funds be obtained no further outlay can be
incurred for new buildings.
The list of representative Directors was approved for presenta-
tion at the annual meeting of members. Mr. Blomfield and
Mr. MacLaren, whose refusal to allow themselves to be re-
elected the Board received with great regret, were unanimously
eleoted Honorary Directors, and the Home Secretary waB asked
to express t» Mr. MacLaren the gratitude of the Board for the
many years' service he had rendered the Society especiallj in
matters of finance.
Mr. A. Hamilton, Mr. Goodwin s Assistant Mr. Gilbert 6. Goodwin, Designer of the John Wiltlavts.
_ June, 1894.
IN MEM0R1AM.
133
THE DEBT UPON THE "JOHN WILLIAMS."
ON Friday, May 18th, the new vessel, the fourth of
the same name, steamed down the Thames. She
left Gravesend at half-past 3 o'clock the same afternoon,
was quickly out in the Channel, where with a strong N.E.
wind blowing she passed a " lively " night, dropped her
pilot off Plymouth early on Sunday morning, May 20th,
and is now speeding southwards to her headquarters in
Australia. The John Williams awakened great enthu-
siasm, and won golden opinions on her tour from port to
port round the coast. Ship, captain, officers, and crew
alike carry with them the good wishes and blessings of
thousands, and will be followed with personal affection,
intelligent sympathy, and earnest prayer by a very large
circle of well-wishers.
The steamer was sorely needed. "Without such a con-
necting bond the greatly-extended work in New Guinea,
and the interdependence of that large heathen island and
the Christianised islands of Eastern Polynesia, which are
so nobly sending their children and giving their strength for
its evangelisation, could no longer be efficiently maintained.
No sailing ship could cope with the need in its present
developed form. That conviction forces itself upon the
minds of all who examine the circumstances. At the
same time it is clear that the outlay involved in building
her has added considerably to the Society's financial
embarrassment. She cost in all
£17,055 18s.,
and is pronounced by competent judges to be cheap at
the figure. But, unfortunately, she is not yet fully paid
for, and part of the money spent in adequately providing
for the Pacific has had to be, in a measure, taken from
the Society's reserves, and cripples its power in meeting
the claims of the Forward Movement.
A noble response to the appeal for funds has been made
by the children and young people throughout the United
Kingdom. The list of shareholders contains 26,200
names, the owners of which possess G 5,000 half-a-crown
shares ; smaller sums being added, a total of
£11,677 Is. 4d.
was raised before March 31st, when the accounts for the
year were closed, and a number of additional sums have
been paid in since. This total is already more than £500
higher than the largest amount ever raised for our
missionary ships before. Still, it falls below the mark,
and a balance of
£5,368 16s. 8d.
has yet to be found. This ought to be raised at once.
Is it beyond the power of our young friends ? We
think not, and for this reason : whilst many Sunday-
schools have made splendid efforts to do not only their
share, but even more than their share in the task of
providing this vessel, there are many others who hitherto
have done but little, or even nothing at all. Objec-
tion to the use of the New Year Offering Cards, other
interests, and, in not a few cases (as was pathetically told
by superintendents and others, in reply to our appeal), the
sad distress occasioned by the Coal "War, made it difficult,
if not impossible, to do anything for the ship.
To all such we now appeal. "We ask for special
collections in Sunday-schools, spread over a few weeks if
thought desirable. We beg for contributions towards the
Clearing off of this Balance
from the children in Christian homes, the scholars in
Sunday-schools, members of Bible-classes, and Young
People's Societies of Christian Endeavour, and others who
have not yet taken part in the delightful task of providing
this valuable aid to the evangelisation of the oceanic world.
From Adults also Help is Solicited.
Many will heartily sympathise with the efforts which,
by means of this ship, are being made to reclaim the
islands still untouched from the barbarism, gross dark-
ness, and degradation in which they have so long been
sunk.
IN MEMORIAM.
IN the announcements of the month, the death of the
Rev. J. Tait Scott is included. Mr. Scott's connection
with the Society was but a brief one, but his interest in it
and sympathy with it was strong and unbroken to the last.
A member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Union Church,
Aberdeen, and a student of Lancashire College, he offered
his services to the Society, and was appointed to New Guinea
in 1880. His station was Thursday Island, and, with
characteristic energy, he threw himself into the work. But
the climate was too much for his strength, and repeated
attacks of malarial fever led him in 1882 to retire from the
field. Returning home he became pastor of the Congrega-
tional church at Lymington, Hants ; but the missionary
spirit still burned brightly within him, and, as a pastor, a
deputation of the Society, and a member of the Board of
Directors, he let this constantly find earnest expression.
We mourn the loss of a good man and true, and respectfully
tender our sympathy to the bereaved widow, and also to the
church deprived of its faithful leader and friend.
134
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
'June, 1894.
rpHE incidence of Whitsuntide rendered it desirable to
make some alterations in the routine of the Society's
annirersary this year. The anniversary week commenced
on Saturday, May 5th, with the children's demonstration.
The sermons on behalf of the Society were preached in most
of the London Congregational churches on the following
day instead of a week later, and, although it had been
decided to abandon the usual young men's meeting in the
City Temple on the Friday evening, it was afterwards
arranged to devote that evening to wishing God-speed to
the officers and crew of the John Williams and outgoing
missionaries — a most fitting climax to a busy and happy
week.
if. •
Although for many years the successive Jolm Williams
ships have been regarded as peculiarly belonging to the
young people, by virtue of the special efforts made by them
to raise the needed funds, this is the first time their pro-
prietary interest has been acknowledged in the form of such
a pretentious document as a "shareholder's certificate."
The idea was a happy inspiration, and has proved very
popular. At the Children's Demonstration, at Exeter Hall,
on Saturday afternoon, May 5th, the subject of the new
steamship was the one absorbing theme — especially in view
of a speech from her much adored commander — so that
the gathering may not inaptly be regarded as a " meeting
of shareholders." The large hall was crowded in every
part, and may also fairly be characterised, as a similar
gathering on financial lines would be, as "a stormy meeting,"
with this distinction, that the stormy parts were the very
natural demonstrations of delight at the efforts to entertain
and instruct.
The Chairman (Mr. Arnold Pye Smith, of Croydon)
was supported by the secretaries of the Society, and an
unusually large muster of missionaries in representative
costumes from different mission-fields — China, India, Mada-
gascar, and the South Seas. After a hymn had been sung,
and prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. McFarlane, the Chair-
man made a few opening remarks, using as an illustration, and
enforcing the lesson to the young people present, Dr. Berry's
own account, as given in the May issue of the Young Man, of
his first sermon, preached before his mother, sister, and friends,
and his sister's dolls. At the close of that first service, when
Dr. Berry was still wearing pinafores, a collection was made
for the John Williams. The Chairman urged the children
present to act up to the responsibilities resting upon them as
children for whom many prayers had been offered that they
might become " ministers of the Word."
The Rev. J. Stonehouse, formerly of Shanghai and now
of Peking, said he had found the children of China at heart
very much like the children of England, especially in the
perception of anything good. Mr. Stonehouse described
briefly some of the methods of travelling — by boat, wheel-
barrow, and donkey, from which he had sometimes dis-
mounted in a different way from that in which he had mounted
the animal. The missionaries sought first to teach the
children how to pray to " Our Father " instead of the vain
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
185
repetition of " Buddha, Buddha, Buddha." Then they
taught them to sing ; for, though the Chinese had a very
sound theory of music, they could not sing naturally. The
Rev. Jonathan Lees had provided some excellent hymns,
and when they heard a Chinaman sing such a hymn as
" Peace, perfect peace," it meant that he had been brought
very near to God. In the third place, Mr. Stonehouse said
the missionaries taught the Chinese that children were dear
to -the Saviour, and he exhorted those present to pray for
their heathen brothers and sisters.
At this point several foreign alphabets and parts of the
multiplication table were repeated in Malagasy, Samoan,
Hindi, and Tamil, by Revs. J. Pearse, A. E. Claxton, G. M.
Bulloch, and M. Phillips respectively ; and Mrs. W. Owen
sang a hymn in Chinese.
Mrs. H. T. Johnson, of Fianarantsoa, described some of
the conditions of life in the Betsileo province of Madagascar,
and the efforts being put forth to reach the children, 20,000
of whom are under instruction in the day-schools. When
speaking of the entrances to native huts, Mrs. Johnson
showed how, the richer a man was, the more difficult it was
to get into his house. Several missionaries having sung
native hymns, the Revs. F. E. Lawes, A. E. Claxton, and G.
A. Harris anticipated what the natives on Niue, Samoa, and
Mangaia will say when first they see the new steamer. The
nearest equivalent to the Niuean was " Sail, O ! " The
Samoans will express great wonder and astonishment, and
pray that she may be very useful ; while the Mangaians will
hail her with a great shout of gladness, and will be glad when
they see again the face of " the old man." " What a wonder-
ful man this captain is ! "
The Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., called for a show of hands
by shareholders, and mentioned, as an incentive to renewed
efforts, that the Rev. G. A. Shaw had that week brought a
contribution of £4 4s. 2d., from his people at Farafangana
towards the new ship — one of the most gratifying contri-
butions yet received.
Captain Turpie's introduction was the signal for a tremen-
dous outburst of good feeling towards himself, and at last he
had to shout out, " Silence on the main deck," in order to
gain a hearing. He said that, as he had been required to
wear a uniform, he thought that it was time the shareholders
themselves wore " John Williams " ribbons round their hats
instead of "Warrior," and such like names. At one meeting
a Chinese missionary, who had waited for his turn to speak,
had begged the audience to " give the captain his ship and let
him go." Well, he had got it now, and did not want to go
from London with a debt upon it. The natives on one of
the islands had surrendered to a man-of-war after an ex-
hibition of the electric search light, because " it's no use
trying to hide from men who make daylight." With the aid
of the new John Williams they were going to " make day-
light " in the South Seas. After telling about the little " stow-
away " from Hull, and referring to the many beautiful letters
he had received from young people who wanted to become
missionaries, one of which had wound up with " Good-bye,
with lots of kisses to last you a long time," Captain Turpie
exhorted the children to pray for the ship, " and include me
personally in your prayers."
The proceedings were brought to a close with a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, and to Mr. L. Hinton and Mr. H. G.
Holmes for kindly leading the singing.
PRAYER MEETING.
At the outset of the prayer-meeting at the Mission House,
on the Monday morning, Mr. R. F. Horton, M.A., who
presided, struck the key-note of thankfulness for all that
God has enabled the Society to accomplish, so that the
prayers might not betray a spirit of distress and disappoint-
ment at the present difficulties of the Society. " Hitherto
hath the Lord helped us." No address was given, the whole
time being given to praise and earnest supplication, and the
meeting was prolonged half an hour beyond the usual time
to give opportunity for specific prayer to God for the release
of the Society from its present straitened position, and that
it may speedily be " encompassed by songs of deliverance."
It was felt that if the spirit generated at this meeting were
maintained throughout the anniversary, this longed-for end
might be reached before the close of the meetings.
m
• • ° >
a
The annual general meeting of the members of the Society
was held in Falcon Square Chapel, on the afternoon of
May 7th, Mr. R. F. Horton, M.A., presiding. After the
singing of a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. A. H. Storrow,
the Chairman referred to the shadow of gloom cast upon
the proceedings, which, he maintained, had been brought
about by the extraordinary blessing and success which God
had given to the work of the Society. If they asked God to
do great things for them, they necessarily meant that they
asked Him to expect great things from them, and if He
continued to answer their prayers it would increase their
responsibilities, and bring them very low upon their knees in
the sense of dependence upon Him. The gloom, therefore,
was the natural outcome, the necessary result of answered
prayer. They had asked God to widen the work of the
Society, and while they had never expected it to be brought
about without stress and strain, they did not now wish to
shrink from whatever was entailed by the answer to their
prayers. In his opinion the Board had made no mistake!
nor had it in the least gone beyond the distinct command
136
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June, 1894.
given. If it had not done |what it had it would have
been brought before the bar of God, and it was much better
to be brought before the bar of the Church than before that
great Tribunal. The Directors acted in the spirit of
obedience to God, and it was not the first time that a body
of men in so acting had come under the severe censure of
men who were supposed to be the children of God like
themselves. The question to be decided during the present
week was, whether the Forward Movement should be carried
forward to its completion, or even maintained at the point it
had already reached. God could very easily hand over the
work of the Society to the Church Society, or any other
Society that had faith and power to serve : but it was now a
by the Treasurer. In a footnote the auditors called the
attention of the subscribers to the fact that the securities
had been so seriously reduced of late that, unless increased
subscriptions were speedily forthcoming, the amount of
securities would not enable the Society to carry on its work
during the ensuing year. Mr. Thompson called attention to
the fact that the receipts of the Society from ordinary
sources was slightly (some £2,500) below last year's. The
New Year's Offering was £5,008 greater, and had reached a
total of £11,677 Is. 4d., the whole of which had been de-
voted to the new steamer, leaving the annual cost of main-
taining the ships a charge upon the general funds. In
addition to the fitting-out of the new vessel, the strike of
BALANCE SHEET (INCOME
i. Contributions :—
a. 'Subscriptions, Donations,
and Collections .. £97,80? 10 1
'Do., Colonial and Foreign
Auxiliaries .. .. 4,470 14 I
Do., Mission Stations .. 1.031 4. I
f
Do., do., locally appropriated
A. 'Legacies
*Do., Colonial and Foreign
Auxiliaries
Do., for Special Objects
£8,9114
1 1
28
8 9
£1,820
7 2
• 1,815
IS 2
103,469 8
20,271 17
8,992 9 10
8,886 O 4
Income — s«No.Mbcio»> .. £141,860 15 7
3. Sale of Property in Demerara .. .. 174 2 u
4. Investments realised, oneccountof now ship 1,300 o o
Deficiency carried down
83,2 1 .'< l 2
£176,058 19 3
Additional contributions received to meet
Deficiency of Income •• 4,312 4 2
Balance against the Society .. 28.902 17 o
£33,215 1 2
*AND EXPENDITURE) 1893-4.
By -
1. Deliciency from last year
2. Expenditure:—
a. Payments by Treasurer in
London £128,688 17 ?
Do., Cost of New Ship 17,055 18 0
£145,589 15 7
b. Raised and appropriated at
Mission Stations .. 25,271 17
170,8l'.l 12 a
Deficiency brought down
£176,058 19 3
33,215 1 8
£33.215 1 ;
A
3&
fe — gefe ^jfefcg:
question whether the Congregational churches of Britain
were to forego the privilege of being in the van of the great
missionary movement. They needed to determine to strain
every nerve to carry out in its entirety the great conclusion
at which the Board had arrived.
In the absence of the Treasurer (Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P.),
the Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson presented the balance-
sheet, which we reproduce in facsimile. It shows a total
income of £141,369 15s. 7d., and an expenditure (including
£17,055 18s. for the new./o//>t Williams) of £170,861 12s. 8d.
Adding to this the deficiency of £5,197 6s. 7d. from last year,
there was a deficit of £.'53,215 Is. 2d., which, however, had
been reduced to £28,902 17s. in response to a special appeal
joiners on the Clyde had involved the Society in £400 or
£500 in maintaining the old John Williams for a time.
Mr. Thompson then proceeded to review the work abroad.
He said that the outlook was wondrously encouraging to
faith, and stimulating to Christian enthusiasm. There were
open doors on every hand, and evidences of God's blessiDg
on the work in which the Society was engaged. The
dominating note in the reports from the mission stations
was expectant hopefulness, produced by the unmistakable
evidences everywhere of the working of God's Spirit.
Within the past ten years the number of native ordained
ministers had been increased from 383 to 1,476 ; other male
native workers from 4,493 to 6,758 (apart from very great
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
13?
additions to the female staff); church members from
89,359 to 94,192 ; and scholars in day-schools from 113,616
to 125,984 ; and this in the face of withdrawal from four
Mission centres. The influence of the Forward Movement
in the mission-field had become much more marked, and the
change in the tone of the reports from some districts was
as if some factory which had long been working half-time
had suddenly waked up by a revival of trade to a new
activity. There was a bustle and a briskness and a sense of
zest in the work which had long been unknown, and there
was a prospect of results which were undreamt of before.
After referring to the new John Williams and Mr. Good-
win's valuable and gratuitous services in connection there-
with, the Foreign Secretary reported that though twenty-
five new missionaries had been sent out during the year, the
actual increase in the staff had only been ten, owing to the
unusual number of deaths and retirements.
The Kev. H. Harries, M.A., of Clapton Park, moved that
the balance-sheet and report be adopted and circulated, and
in doing so he characterised the latter as an admirable report
and an honest one. As to the Forward Movement, he felt
that if ever any movement was from God, that movement
was. He did not see how they could possibly turn ^backi ;
they were bound to go on. It was the very richness [and
readiness of the Divine response that were baffling their
resources. The deficit was a challenge to their very
sincerity, honesty, and generosity, and he felt sure that if |
they went forth believing in God the churches would nobly
respond.
Mr. J. H. Richards, of Leamington, in seconding the resolu-
tion, observed that the difficulty in which the Society found
itself was due to the attempt to do now what they ought to
have done years and years ago.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. F. H. Hawkins, LL.B., of Wrexham, and the Rev.
A. M. Carter, B.A., of Upminster, in proposing and seconding
the re-appointment of the Treasurer and Secretaries, and the
election of Directors, spoke in appreciative and sympathetic
terms of the work of the executive officers.
The Rev. A. N. Johnson then introduced a discussion upon
the present methods of raising funds. He said he would like
to see an attempt made to raise £20,000 during the anniver-
sary meetings. In addition to that the income of the Society
must be raised to £20,000 more than was received last year.
Very nearly all the Congregational churches throughout the
country contributed to the Society's funds, but if they went
a little deeper into the matter they would find that a great
many of them were not organised for foreign missionary
work, and it was to this matter that earnest attention must
be given. The chief problem was how to extend the lists of
subscribers throughout the churches. Were there any indeed
that had yet come up to the ideal of missionary organisation
by which he meant that every member of the church was in
some form or other a regular subscriber to the funds of the
Society ? He maintained that there was not sufficient or-
ganisation in this respect. There ought to be not merely
quarterly or monthly, but weekly contributions. The needed
increase was, roughly speaking, twenty per cent, upon present
contributions.
The discussion was taken up by half a dozen gentlemen,
who emphasised the need of simple organisation, and the
necessity laid upon the ministers to take the lead. The Rev.
J. F. T. Hallowes, M.A., as the last speaker, also urged that
the missionaries when on deputation should become " sons
of thunder," and should speak more emphatically than they
had ever yet done on one important point, viz., that the
churches were not doing their duty if they were not filled
with the missionary spirit.
The proceedings were then brought to a close.
The Ladies' Meeting was this year held at Westminster
Chapel, and was well attended. After the singing of a
hymn, prayer by Mrs. H. K. Lewis, and a few introductory
remarks by Miss Dawson, of Lancaster, who presided, Mrs
E. D. Williams, of Southampton, read an admirable paper
upon the special department of work which the meeting was
intended to advocate. Woman's work in connection with
the Society had its first distinct recognition, she said, in the
year 1875, and perhaps no truer forward movement was ever
initiated than this effort to reach women by women, and,
through the influence of her gracious ministry, to undermine
the cruel despotism and awful superstition of heathenism.
The staff of lady missionaries numbered seventy-one, of
whom thirteen had been added during the past year. Nearly
every month the Ladies' Examination Committee were cheered
by fresh offers of service from those who had proved them-
selves able workers at home. But " the apathy of some
churches," said Mrs. Williams, " not to say the iciness of
some Christians in relation to their responsibilities in sending
the Gospel to the heathen, is far more distressing than the
open opposition of the world. That we can understand, but
we cannot explain the secondary importance attached by
many Christians to the work of foreign missions, or the
relative popularity of every other agency for the reform of
the world." Home and foreign missions had identity of
interest and claim, for they ran on parallel lines. The en-
thronement of Christ in the human heart was the only true
138
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June, 1894.
antidote for the world's sin and suffering. Perhaps of all
monopolies Christian monopolies were the worst, and the ex-
clusive possession of Christ, whether personal or national,
was as impossible as the retention of a snowball in the warm
grasp of a living hand. The substitution of home charities
and philanthropic organisation for the proclamation of the
Gospel abroad was often one of the greatest hindrances. If
they could only realise the necessity for absolute obedience
to the Divine command, 1 Go ye,' the wilderness would soon
blossom as the rose, and the coming Centenary would herald
in a future of light and beauty hitherto unknown. The re-
inforcement of some of the mission stations, and the opening
up of new centres, had given fresh energy to the workers,
who were simply breaking down from overstrain ; and if the
financial resources of the Society were only equal to the
opportunities God was giving them, they would at once enter
into a heritage of blessing. ' The crisis has come. How
shall we face it ? Shall it be retreat or advance ? ' "
Miss Miller, of Amoy, divided her speech into three parts,
dealing in turn with the needs of her district, the work
already being done, and the work waiting to be done.
Christianity, she said, had brought new hope and joy into
the lives of the women ; but there were many difficulties in
the way of their professing Christ and embracing the oppor-
tunities provided for the education of their daughters.
The hospital was a very favourite institution among the
Chinese — a boon which Christianity had brought to them.
The story of Jesus and His love was quite a fresh story to
them, and, in the telling of it, it came with renewed fresh-
ness to the missionary. It was good to hear the Christian
patients proudly speak up for the Master. Among the work
waiting to be done was the establishment of more girls'
schools, also a school for the training of Bible-women, and a
women's hospital, with a lady doctor, for the district of
Hui-an ; also agents to follow the hospital patients to their
homes.
In the absence of Mrs. Chalmers, of New Guinea, through
ill-health, Mrs. Lewis, of Bellary, spoke upon female mission
work in South India. She said the idea that women were
naturally perverse and wicked had taken such a hold upon
the Hindu mind that it would take generations to remove it.
Yet in the large towns and cities much was being done in
this direction. There were large girls' schools, and thou-
sands of ladies were taught in their own homes, and some
even were taking academical degrees. Most of those who
went in for the higher examinations were Christians. Though
there was much that was good in the Hindu religion,
Hinduism was idolatry, often of the grossest kind, as well as
cruel and degrading. Even at the best, it was like telling a
starving man that there was food in a distant place without
telling him how he could get it, or like the finger-post which
pointed the way, but did not help the weary traveller one
step on the road. In many ways, and by every means in
their power, the missionaries were trying to raise the women
of India to their proper place, but the women themselves
were the chief obstacle.
Miss Dawson spoke of the pressing necessity for large
support of the ever-growing work of the Society, saying that
they had once more reached a point where " those in front
cried ' Forward,' while those behind cried ' Back.' " Which
of the two voices would be listened to and followed ? Was
there not one young heart present who could say, " Also I
heard the voice of the Lord saying, ' Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us?'" "Oh, if you do hear that voice, I
beseech you," said Miss Dawson, " not to delay obedience
until your application will meet with the sorrowful, dis-
appointing response : ' Too old. You may send some one
else, but it is of no use your attempting to go yourself ; you
could not learn a language or do any good.' Rather let your
joyous and immediate answer to the Lord's call be : ' Here
am I, send me.' For surely His service, who loved us and
gave Himself for us, and His own parting words : ' Unto the
uttermost parts of the earth,' must be the aim and the un-
ceasing stimulus of every true disciple." Miss Dawson made
an earnest appeal for systematie self-denial on behalf of the
work, and said that the "pinch of the shoe" must be felt
if they were to have any great share in it.
Miss Marris, of Benares, tried to dissipate the idea so
generally prevalent that the zenanas which the lady mission-
aries visited were scenes of extraordinary luxury. Her
experience was quite the contrary. It was exceedingly
difficult to gain access to the houses of the wealthy meD,
because they were intensely conservative. Though in many
cases the women sought the help of the missionaries in order
to learn to read and write — very often there was no means
of communication between married daughters and their
mothers except by letter- writing— it was always made per-
fectly clear to them that the missionaries had come first and
foremost to tell them of their need of a Saviour. But in
some cases the women really desired to hear the message of
the Gospel. The missionaries could rarely trace the effect
of their work. There was an increased readiness to listen,
far less attention to superstition, and a growing readiness to
send children to school ; but the underground work they
could not test, though at present Bhe (Miss Marris) believed
that was very great, and on the increase.
At the close of the meeting auxiliary secretaries and
treasurers met for tea in one of the vestries.
SERMON.
Before commencing his sermon at the City Temple on
AVednesday morning, the Rev. J. Guinness Rogers, B.A.,
said he had never entered a pulpit with a deeper sense of
overwhelming responsibility resting upon him, in view of
the need of quickening the interest of ministers and churches
at this critical missionary anniversary. After a few words
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
13d
of prayer, Mr. Rogers announced as his text, 2 Corinthians
v. 13, 14. The situation depicted in this fifth chapter, and
which the preacher graphically described in his own language,
was, he said, an exact picture of present-day missionary work
The Directors of the Society had a right, he thought, at the
present juncture, to take up the words of the text: "For
whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God ; or whether we
be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ con-
straineth us." Though Festus was dead, the Festus spirit
was not dead, and it had got into the churches. His (Mr.
Rogers's) own impression was that in their conception of sin
lay the explanation of many men's theology. It was only
when they came to deal with theology that sin was regarded
as a light thing. Sin was not a misfortune, but a radical evil
in human nature. There should be a true conception regard-
ing sin, and there should also be strong conviction as to the
authority of the Bible. He feared that the churches needed
a deeper, clearer, fuller, intenser faith in Jesus Christ. What
was wanted was not a faith which Christians held, but a
faith which so held them that the love of Christ constrained
them. In the narrative, enthusiasm and common sense were
in apparent contradiction. It was Utopian to hope that to
Jesus every knee should bow ; but, as Mr. Ruskin had said :
" ' The Utopianism is not ours ; the work is ' — for God has bid
us preach His Gospel to every creature." Enthusiasm and
common sense were capable of being reconciled. When Joan
of Arc was remonstrated with by a Dominican monk for
appealing for soldiers when professing perfect confidence
that God would grant her success, she replied : " We want
men of arms to fight the battle, and God will give the
victory." Mr. Rogers said that English Christians seemed
to forget that there was a time when this country was the
sphere of missionary work ; that the Gospel was not born
here, but came " because there were men who believed what
we believe." The preacher's idea of Christian enthusiasm
was illustrated by the story of a poor paralytic woman, a
member of one of the East End Congregational churches,
who was able to do a little knitting, the proceeds of which, a
few shillings, were found in her withered hand when she
died, with this written instruction : " For the dear Lord's
work." That money came to the L.M.S., and was a wonder-
ful contrast to the unbelief and heartlessness of the pre-
sumably Christian man who had recently left £30,000 to
religious work, on condition that none of it was to be given
to the foreign mission scheme of the Church to which he
belonged, thus closing every door of sympathy against the
millions who were perishing for lack of knowledge. What
was wanted was that which Carlyle called " the white heat of
temper " — " and is not God doing something to stir it within
us ? " This Divine white heat would burn up the dross in
the churches, the hesitating faith, the trembling purpose
and resolve, and the miserable contentions about plans and
methods ; and, as the result, the churches would throw into
the great missionary enterprise a aeal, devotion, and sacrifice
which would put to shame all the noblest efforts and all the
grandest achievements of former times. Altogether the
Sermon was of that vigorous and heart-searching character
which was confidently expected when Mr. Rogers was asked
to fill the pulpit, and which we pray may greatly help on
our Forward Movement. The opening devotions were led
by the Rev. J. D. Jones, M.A., B.D., of Lincoln,
The second annual meeting of the Watchers' Band, held
in the large hall at Cannon Street Hotel, on Wednesday
afternoon, was an occasion of great encouragement and
inspiration. There must have been 700 persons present. The
Rev. S. Pearson, M.A., of Manchester, presided, and, after
the singing of a hymn, an opening prayer was offered by the
Rev. H. H. Carlisle, M.A., of Maldon. Mr. J. E. Liddiard,
the indefatigable honorary secretary of the organisation,
then read his report. From April 1st, 1893, to March 31st,
1894, 11,475 members were enrolled ; of these, about 4,000
were renewals, deducting which they had nearly 8,000 mem-
bers as the number who had joined during the year, exclusive
of more than 600 who had joined in the Australasian division.
Altogether the report afforded abundant cause for thanks-
giving as regards the past, and for hopeful confidence in
relation to the future. The receipts had amounted to
£451 lis. 9d., and after meeting expenses a balance had been
paid over as contributions to the Society of £221 18s. Id.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
expressed his conviction that there was no meeting held
throughout the anniversary week which was so instinct with
influence for the future as the meeting over which he was
presiding. Mr. Pearson emphasised the power and practi-
cality of prayer, and urged that it should be pointed ; also
that, in order to be effectual with God, it should oftentimes
be personal. He (the Chairman) had just received a letter
from Mrs. Hacker, of Travancore, in which she said : " You
hardly know the refreshing and reflex influence which the
prayers of our friends at home have upon the missionaries
abroad." He would like to ask the members of the 2,000
churches in the Congregational denomination whether they
all prayed for missions, and whether all the ministers remem-
bered the missionaries at the weekly services. " Do we," be
asked, " all pray as well as we might ? Some people seem
to think that prayer is a very easy thing. I think, on the
140
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June, 1894.
contrary, that it is a very difficult thing. It is a religious
art, not a science, which has to be learnt by the deep and
pathetic experiences of our own lives, and by the deep and
bitter experiences of the lives that may be dear to us." There
were many reasons why those should join the band who
had not yet done so — viz., because the missionaries asked
it, because the Society was in sore straits, and because
the Lord had laid upon His people the command to
pray.
The Rev. E. R. Barrett, B.A., of Liverpool, seconded the
adoption of the report. He was the secretary of the
Congregational Prayer Union, which was one outcome of the
memorable Southport meetings, and which has now been
affiliated with the Watchers' Band. One reason, he said,
why this amalgamation had taken place was that the interests
of the home and foreign work could not be separated. The
success of missionary work abroad depended very largely
upon the tone of the spiritual life of the churches at home.
Too much prayer and thought was centered upon the
question of finance, when they ought to be thinking about the
spiritual state of the churches at home, and the need of the
right men being thrust out for missionary work. He be-
lieved the battle was to be fought out on their knees. There
were, he said, in conclusion, three essential things in
Christian service — heartfelt interest, importunate prayer, and
personal work. The key to all the difficulties connected
with the work abroad was apathy in the churches regarding
it. If that indifference were replaced by a spirit of really
personal interest in the missionaries, there would not be
such continual need for imploring for subscriptions. The
praying people were, so to speak, pulling the ropes in some
obscure part of God's great cathedral, but in answer to their
prayers there would be great blessing showered upon the
missionaries.
The report having been formally adopted, prayer was
offered by Miss H. Bettridge, of Kingston-on-Thames.
Miss Pearson, of Peking, remarked that if the followers
of Jesus Christ could look into the mission-field and see the
character of the work and its claims, they would need no
other call to prayer and earnest endeavour. She gave a very
striking example of the transformation wrought in the home
of a Chinaman in Government employ through embracing
Christianity, and she asked those present to pray that the
converts might have faith given them to count it an honour
to suffer for Jesus. And then, regarding the missionaries
themselves, let it not be thought that they had left tempta-
tion at home. If the friends at home went to sleep, Satan
did not ; but, now that there were so many joining hands in
prayer right round the world, they felt that in answer to
prayer all that hindered should be taken out of the eyes of
the workers. The greatest need the missionaries felt con-
scious of was, that they should be living epistles of God, seen
and read of all men.
The Rev. J. Peill, of Madagascar, took as the central idea
of his speech some of the subjects for prayer suggested in
the Watchers' Band Manual, one of which is " for stronger
Christian life in the native church and ministry." Why, said
Mr. Peill, that was the crying need of Christ's Church every-
where. But there were special reasons for longing for it in
Madagascar. After the turning to Christianity in 1869, great
crowds of heathen joined the congregations, and the little
leaven of spiritual life was almost swamped in many of them •
It was a great mass movement ; consequently there was a low
tone of spiritual life. In name the people were Christians,
but in life they were to a great extent heathen. A spirit of
conviction was spreading among the young people, but in
many of the churches there was not a welcome to the higher
Christian life, and the young people were in danger of feeling
that they were not wanted. Also many native pastors had
received no systematic training, and had not been appointed
because of their special spiritual fitness. These were reasons
why a stronger spiritual life was desired. There were, though,
many who, if persecution were to come again, would give
their lives for Christ. As an encouragement to prayer,
Mr. Peill said he believed that the great revival in Mada-
gascar three years ago was in response to the earnest spirit
awakened at the Southport meetings.
Dr. Eliot Curwen, of Hampstead, felt that the existence of
only 347 branches of the Band in about 3,000 Congregational
churches was too small a number. He also urged that the
prayers of members should be for distinct objects, and that
they should be well informed on missionary matters. " We
must see that they read the Chronicle every month, and
the annual report at least once a year." And if the number
of members and their praying power were to be increased,
they must get at and speak to the great mass of church
members who did not at present pray methodically and
regularly for mission work, and must put these two questions
quite clearly to them : (1) Do you or do you not believe
that it is God's will that all men should love Him ? and (2)
Do you or do you not believe that God is both willing
and able to answer prayer ? " If they answer No, it is our
clear duty to pray for them, and if they assent, then we must
urge upon them that it is culpable negligence not to pray
for the work abroad." Dr. Curwen told of a minister with
whom he had recently conversed on mission work, who had a
medical missionary friend somewhere in Africa, he knew not
where, engaged, he thought, in connection " with the
Zenana Society." In closing, the Doctor pleaded that in
prayer the members should not forget the evil influence
exerted by many of our own countrymen at stations where
the missionaries are at work.
On the proposition of the Rev. A. N. Johnson, seconded
by the Rev. J. F. T. Hallowes, a most cordial vote of thanks
was accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Liddiard, who, Mr. Johnson
remarked, had been greatly advancing the best interests of
the Society in the work they had done in connection with
the Watchers' Band.
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
141
The large gathering at the Watchers' Band meeting was
a splendid nucleus for the larger meeting that followed, and
the earnest spirit which pervaded the former was carried
into the latter and intensified by the accession of numbers.
The large hall was crowded in every part, and the proceed-
ings—started well with prayer by the Rev. E. J. Dukes, of
Bridgwater, and by the courageous speech of the Chairman
— were most enthusiastic throughout.
The Chairman delivered a stirring speech on the Forward
Movement, in which, he said, they were all profoundly in-
terested, but whose fate seemed for the moment, in human
eyes, to be trembling in the balance. Mr. Horton told of a
minister in a small country town who, after he had laboured
for eight years without any apparent result, though God was
evidently with him, called upon his people to erect two
galleries in the chapel, notwithstanding that the building
was far from being filled. The general impression prevailed
that he had taken leave of his wits, but he was a man of
purpose, and, having accomplished his plan, he immediately
fell on sleep. Next month there came to the church a minister
who had a most marvellous blessing, and very soon the
chapel was crowded, and seats had to be provided in the
aisles. " The madness of that minister," said Mr. Horton,
" is of the same kind as the madness of the Directors of the
London Missionary Society. It is my own belief that the
Directors had no choice in the action they took. They were
compelled by just the same mysterious spirit as was moving
in that young minister's heart. They were bound to sketch
a great programme which they might not see fulfilled, and
they were bound by all the laws of human nature to be told
that they were mad — one of those blessed charges that has
ever been brought against the saints." He (Mr. Horton)
believed that the reason for their action was that in a very
few weeks, or months, or, it might be, years, it would be
found that God had been preparing the Society for
an ingathering greater than they had ever dared to
hope for ; and the Directors, led by the Foreign Secre-
tary, who had himself been directed by God, had been
guided to make a great preparation and a vast demand
upon the faith of the churches with a view to what
was to be. Some people appeared to think that, because
God had not sent all the money needed, He had failed the
Society, that He bad passed judgment upon the Forward
Movement, and had indicated very distinctly to business-like
minds that He meant to go back. He (the Chairman) could
not understand the frame of mind which led a person to
that conclusion. Was it not the universal experience of the
history of the Church, and of their own personal history,
that, if God had told them to do anything great and
difficult, they made the venture of faith ? But, if they
expected immediate recognition from God, He disappointed
them, and threw them upon Himself with a new and implicit
trust, leading them through the valley of the shadow ? If
they got safely through that valley of the shadow then He began
to bless. He (Mr. Horton) felt that the present position had
been largely brought about by carnal confidence. " How
prone we are to this carnal confidence, how great is our faith
in rich men, so that it is difficult to maintain a prayer-
meeting. I do not see how God could have dealt with the
Society on this occasion, except by leaving it with a deficit
of £33,000, and, if He had left us with a deficit of £50,000,
it would not have been more than we deserved. Now God
has been trying us, let us be patient under the trial. Let
this great deficit not weigh us down, but lift us up. Let us
recognise God's hand in it. Let us know that He does not
lightly afflict us ; that He has not reversed the Forward
Movement. He has no intention of leaving those men in the
mission-field. He did not call out the choicest of our young
men and young women to take them into the wilderness and
leave them to perish, or for us to send the news that we
had not money or heart to back them up. He led them out
that He might bring the rearguard up to the vanguard. He
means you to join in the sacrifice. He means us, to-morrow,
in Exeter Hall, to witness the baptism of the Spirit, and to
make us willing to be poverty-stricken rather than that one
inch of the ground shall be yielded, one hero of the battle
be drawn back, or one field be surrendered where an open
door invites us to enter and take possession for our Lord."
In conclusion, the Chairman urged that at that meeting there
should be a note of triumphant confidence in God, and
absolute independence of man.
In the absence, through family bereavement, of the Rev.
G. Cousins, the Rev. A. N. Johnson dealt with the subject of
finance. He remarked that, at the corresponding meeting
last year, he did his best to minimise the deficiency with
which the year had closed ; and now again he intended to
take a similar course, only he wished that there should be no
mistake as to the actual figures. The year had closed with a
deficiency of £33,157 ; but the presence of so many at that
meeting, and the Chairman's courageous speech, showed
that the Society was not even yet in such a desperate
position as some of their friends seemed to imagine. The
deficiency had arisen first of all from the fact that the
Forward Movement at home at once induced a quick Forward
Movement all round the mission-field, which was a most en-
couraging fact. What he (Mr. Johnson) liked least about the
present financial position was the depressing effect it would
have, at any rate for a time, upon the missionaries abroad,
after the pledge given three years ago. The Society had
added no less than sixty-seven missionaries to its staff within
three years, and just recently they had built what was
regarded as the finest missionary ship afloat. The deficiency
had, therefore, arisen in the endeavour to do to the utmost of
142
their power the work which they knew well enough God had
put into their hands. Towards meeting the deficiency, £6,500
had been paid, or promised, in response to the Treasurer's
appeal. The Centenary Fund had been opened, and £4,000
had been promised ; and towards a loan fund £2,000 had
been promised ; so that the deficiency had been reduced
to £20,000. But, in addition, the income of the Society
needed to be raised by £20,000 annually. In further re-
sponses to these appeals, he (Mr. Johnson) trusted that the
Directors would receive another mandate from the churches
to go forward.
Mr. J. C. Thomson, M.A., M.D., of Hong Kong, said he
had been struck in walking round the Armoury at the Tower
with the fact that the one thing common in the armour of
all the ages was that it provided little or no covering for
the back. No turning back was provided for. The
Society, he asserted, dared not turn their back upon the
new work they had opened up ; they must go forward ;
and they meant to do it. God was blessing their work in
every quarter of the world, and they ought to feel glad in
spite of the deficit. The Society was under a very deep
responsibility to China, inasmuch as they sent the first
Protestant missionary to that empire ; they gave the New
Testament, and afterwards the whole Bible to the Chinese ;
they gave to future missionaries a Chinese dictionary ;
they baptized the first Chinese convert and ordained the
first Chinese evangelist. Thus the London Missionary
Society had been at the foundation of all Protestant
Christian effort in China. Not until 1830 was the work
shared by any other missionary society ; and though since
then forty societies had commenced work, there still re-
mained extensive districts in the sole care of their own
Society. Their agents had sown the seed broadcast, and a
rich harvest was awaiting them. But the churches were
weak, because the converts were very ignorant and supersti-
tious, and a great many of the children of converts grew up
to be heathen ; while the lack of missionaries made it im-
possible for them to take care of them as they would like to
do. Dr. Thomson drew special attention to the vicissitudes
of the Canton Mission, and to its present undermanned
condition, to illustrate the gravity of the position indicated
by a sentence from the annual report which he had taken as
the text of his speech : " As for sending additional workers
out, it seems to be out of the question."
Mrs. Peill, of Madagascar, pleaded that she was an old-
fashioned missionary, twenty-one years having passed since
she first went out as a missionary's wife ; but her artless de-
scription of their mission station and incidents of work made
up a speech which the Chairman fairly characterised as a
charming and convincing speech. Ambohimanga, the scene
of her labours, meant, when translated into English, "a green
hill." It was an ancient town on the top of a hill, where the
first Malagasy kings lay buried, and where their chief idols
used to be kept, it being the only town in Madagascar which
June, 1894.
foreigners were not permitted to enter. As the missionaries
could not go up to the natives, the natives came down to the
missionaries. There were four gates to the town, and there
was outside each of those gates a large church capable of
holding nearly a thousand people. The mission house and a
large girls' school stood outside one gate, and a large boys'
school near another gate. The churches were under the
more immediate superintendence of the missionary, who also
had charge of thirty or forty village churches. There was
fortunately a hill a little higher than the native town, so that
with the aid of a telescope a capital view of the town was
obtained. A large daily market was held on the top of the
hill on which the town stood, and in that market, on the
occasion of a yearly festival, the queen came from the capital
and gathered four or five thousand people on two Sundays
for religious service. Mrs. Peill then gave the meeting a
bright description of one of the native Christian workers and
his wife, " Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Anthony Flower," and
asked the Watchers' Band to pray for them.
The Rev. T. Bryson, of Tientsin, said he had received
great inspiration from the meeting, and if it were God's
will that he should return to China for another twenty-seven
years' service, he would never forget the words that had
fallen from the Chairman. Referring to Dr. Thomson's
sombre description of Canton, the first station of the Society
in China, where Drs. Morrison, Milne, Hodgson, Legge, and
Chalmers, and other honoured men had laboured, but
which was still undermanned, Mr. Bryson asserted that more
or less the same might have been said at different times in
regard to a considerable number of the stations opened by
the Society in China. But he wished to speak of something
more inspiring, and to use the blessing vouchsafed by God
as an argument for going forward. He was once travelling
with Mr. Lees when they came to a heathen temple, where
Mr. Lees found some old Chinamen to whom he communi-
cated the truths of the love of Christ. Again and again they
asked him to repeat this message, and then they said : " We
cannot find the door." That was a picture of what was
happening in the minds and hearts of thousands of Chinase
heathen, and the Christians at home were bound to do some-
thing to show them the door, and, having touched their eyes
with some salve of the Gospel, to go on with the cure until
their eyes should be opened to the radiance of Jesus Christ,
and they should fall down and worship Him who is the
Way, the Truth, and the Life. Mr. Bryson also pleaded for
advance for the sake of the native Christians. He knew of
a native Christian who had had to travel forty miles to
attend a place of worship, and that, again, was a common
instance of Christians scattered abroad who needed
missionaries to shepherd them. Because of the very
prosperity which had attended the labours of a
native worker in Yen San, the heathen had raised an
opposition, and then appealed to the Roman Catholics, so
that the history of Uganda had been repeated there on a
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June,
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
143
small scale, and there had nearly been war between Roman
Catholics and Protestants. In answer to the appeal of the
Shanghai Missionary Conference in 1890 for 1,000 additional
missionaries, about 700 had been sent out ; but yet among
the 300 millions of China there were Christian communities
numbering only 50,000 souls, which were represented by one
white speck on the black chart suspended behind him. He (Mr.
Bryson) could not tell the meeting how much his heart had
been searched, and how the reports of the meetings would
cause heart-searchiDg among the missionaries abroad.
Sacrifice would have to be made somewhere, and it might be
the missionaries themselves who would feel constrained to
set the example, as was done some years ago when one of
their number parted with his policy of life assurance to help
to free the Society from debt. Mr. Bryson concluded his
speech with the following forcible lines : —
" He is sounding forth a trumpet that shall never call retrea! i
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat
Be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant my feet,
For God is marching on."
Before the meeting closed, the Home Secretary announced
promises of contributions amounting to £1,076.
The musical arrangements were admirably carried out by
he choir of Lyndhurst Road Church, Hampstead.
The spirit which Mr. Horton, in his speech on the pre-
ceding evening, desired for the Thursday morning meeting
at Exeter Hall was, we felt, in a large measure realised.
The enthusiasm evoked by the appeals did not, however,
manifest itself in excessive demonstrativeness, because,
realising the extreme solemnity of the occasion, and of the
present situation of the Society, it seemed to be too deep for
expression except in the most practical form of definite help.
Mr. A. Hubbard, J. P., presided, and an opening prayer was
offered by the Rev. W. Bolton, M.A.
The Chairman felt the urgent need for renewed consecra-
tion and zeal in carrying on the work of the Society. When
the present century began the area of missionary effort was
a very limited one, whereas to-day nearly the whole world
was girdled by mission stations. To the Christian, in-
creased opportunity meant increased responsibility. The
Forward Movement, which had filled the hearts of the mis-
sionaries with joy, had, except in its finances, been a great
success. It had been pleaded that the deficiency had arisen
through the commercial depression and lamentable company
failures of late. "If you ask me," said the Chairman,
" whether it is sufficient reason why our funds should be so
reduced, I tell you very plainly I do not believe it is. I
confidently believe that the receipts of this Society might
easily be doubled without any sacrifice on the part of our
churches, save only the sacrifice of that desire to accumulate
wealth which has been growing too much upon us of recent
years.'' Referring back to the reports for fifty years pre-
ceding the birth of the Forward Movement, it would be
found tha^ the increase in the number of missionaries was
very small, and the increased support was not at all in com-
parison with tne increased prosperity of the country. While
the latter increased by leaps and bounds, the receipts of the
Society were very little in excess of what they had been at
the commencement of the fifty years. With such wealth in
the country, the Society ought not to have an adverse
balance. If the churches had full faith in God, and held
fast His glorious promises, would they ever doubt the issue
of the conflict between truth and error, between light and
darkness, or that the glorious work began by Jesus Christ at
such a cost would be completed ?
The Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson (Foreign Secretary)
reminded the meeting that last year he tried to set before
the corresponding meeting some evidence, from the statistics
of the Society's work in the foreign field, of the hopeful
condition and remarkable progress of that work, and tried to
lead the supporters of the Society to thank God for the
great things which He was doing by means of His missionary
servants in every part of the great heathen world. To-day
he could report that the work was not only as hopeful and
its results as encouraging as last year, but as time went on
the hope became more confident and the encouragement
became more real in evident success. On the present
occasion, however, he wished to deal with the home work in
support of the missions. The finances of the Society had
been a source of grave anxiety to the Directors throughout
the year, and it seemed as if at last the facts had entered
into the minds and laid hold of the imaginations of the
unimaginative public ; but he ventured to think that there
was no ground for panic. A glance at the past history of the
Society made him feel how utterly unworthy and unreasonable
panic would be. Taking the thirty years following 1863, in
no fewer than nineteen of those years there were deficiencies,
amounting in 1866 and 1867 to £23,000 and £26,000 respec-
tively, and at other times from £10,000 to £18,000 ; and yet
it was a remarkable fact that the total income had increased
in the same period by £49,000. He (Mr. Thompson) quite
agreed that it was unsatisfactory to go on in that way ; but
144
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June, 1894.
he thought that the criticism of discredit in the matter
applied not to the Directors, but to those who had found
the funds. If the spirit of consecration were thoroughly
manifest every new need as it arose would be spontaneously
recognised and generously met, and there would never be
any deficiencies. As it was the Society had perpetually to
be the leader of a company slow to rouse and slow to move,
moving only so far as it could be pushed or dragged. The
Directors had felt bound to meet the needs, and to expect
that the churches would in due time see them and respond
to the appeal. During the thirty years referred to the
Madagascar Mission had been recommenced, the New Guinea
and Central African Missions begun, and the staff and
efficiency of the China and Indian Missions greatly increased.
" But it has been a perpetual drag. We have had to go ahead
and appeal to the rear rank to come up to the flag. The
churches have responded but slowly. As long as the work
continues and increases and is blessed of God, for so long will
the Directors be compelled, in spite of ail self-denying ordi-
nances, to pursue the same course. We may say that we shall
not go forward, and that we shall not make any deliberate
and methodical Forward Movement ; but God pushes us
forward, and we shall have to put men here and there as
they are needed ; and you will have to come up to the flag.
But we all look forward to a brighter day." After
deducting the adverse balance at the beginning of last year,
and the cost of the new steamer, it would be seen that the
deficiency on the actual ordinary work of the year was
£15,264. The Directors had been blamed for building the
ship at the present time of pressure, but it had been im-
perative, in consequence of the wreck of the Harrier, the
age of the old John Williams, the necessity for visiting the
out-stations in the South Seas twice a year, and the develop-
ment of the New Guinea Mission. Deducting the £5,000
which the New Year's Offering had realised beyond other
years, the ordinary income of the year had been £111,000 ;
and further deducting £12,600, the amount received from
legacies and dividends, the total contributions of the
churches in collections, subscriptions, and donations had
been £98,400. In the year ended March, 1891, shortly
before the Forward Movement was commenced, the
income from the same sources was £82,629 ; or, de-
ducting £6,000 on account of the new effort of Self-
Denial in 1894, £10,000 less than at the present time. This
£10,000 added to the extra receipts from New Year's
Offering and Self-Denial, made the total receipts for the
present year £20,000 more than three years ago, which
was surely cause for thankfulness to God. When the
Forward Movement was commenced, the Directors asked for
an additional £10,000 a year to make the income and ex-
penditure square, and from £25,000 to £30,000 more for the
Forward Movement. The churches had succeeded in in-
creasing their ordinary contributions to the amount required
for squaring the account on the old lines, and then, by
the exercise of a stern and heroic self-denial, continued
through a whole week, they had managed to raise £6,000
more towards the £30,000 required for the Forward Move-
ment. The Directors, encouraged by the first large
response to their appeal, had gone forward, and had sent out
two-thirds of the missionaries under the new scheme, besides
strengthening old work. During the next two years the
Directors ought to spend £13,000 more in providing habi-
tations for the new missionaries ; for to keep them without
proper residences was the most short-sighted economy that
could possibly be practised. The Forward Movement had
awakened great enthusiasm among young volunteers for
service, and a wave of enthusiasm passed over the colleges
three years ago, which led to offers of service from many fine
young fellows. This year their course would be completed ;
but, under existing conditions, the Directors felt they could
not appoint them, because they must not increase their
responsibilities by sending out more men. The influence of
this kind of thing was paralysing upon the young life of the
Church. For two years the Society had been praying for
medical missionaries. Eight medical men had now offered
themselves, but the Directors had been able as yet to appoint
only one of them. For the last six months he (Mr.
Thompson) had had to write to the missionaries, and
say : " It is no good. You must stop your Forward
Movement. We have got no money." " It is crushing,"
said Mr. Thompson, with great feeling, " it is galling to the
missionaries, it is damping to the energy of those who want
to be missionaries, it is disheartening to the faith of the
young converts, and it seems to me it is a kind of note of
discredit to our Lord and Master." When they began the
movement they said they were going to take the work and
appeal to God for the funds, " and now men outside, I have
been told this week, are scoffing at us for our talk about
faith in Christ. It is a very solemn thing that we should
bring our Master into discredit by anything we have done.
Some of our churches have done nobly, but have we kept
our compact in the higher sense of the word ? I ask myself
and you, and I stand before you self-condemned in this
matter : Have we gone to the Lord as we should have gone
to Him to ask Him to touch, and influence, and soften the
selfish hearts of men ? " Mr. Thompson announced, in con-
clusion, that before the meeting commenced additional pro-
mises amounting to £1,060 had been received, bringing the
total gifts, Centenary promises, and loans in aid of the
deficiency up to £14,000.
The Rev. M. Phillips, of Madras, proposed the following
resolution : " That those present in this meeting, recognising
with deep gratitude to God His abundant blessing on the
mission work of the Society, recognises also the solemn
responsibility incurred by the churches in putting their
hands to that work, and especially in undertaking the For-
ward Movement, and pledge themselves to do their utmost
to enable the Directors to carry out to its full completion
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
145
the task with which they were entrusted in 1891." Mr.
Phillips stated that the Hindus had for generations been
seeking for God everywhere, but had never found Him as a
Being separate from Nature, and had always worshipped
Him in and through Nature. They felt the burden of sin,
and had been seeking salvation in forms and ceremonies, but
they would never find God or salvation until they should find
both in the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel was winning its
way in India. According to the last census the population had
increased between 1881 and 1891 at the rate of 13 per cent., but
the native Christian population had increased at the rate of
23 per cent. The Gospel was conquering India for Christ
gradually, and that was the Divine method. There were a
great many steps from Hinduism to Christianity, and
Hindus were standing on those various steps. Many were
stranded on the cold, chilly shore of atheism, but that was
not a discouraging fact, because in the upward progress of
the human mind from polytheism to theism, scepticism was
a stage. It was the darkness which preceded the dawn.
Tens of thousands of Hindus to-day were secret Christians
and worshipped God in Christ, and would gladly come forth
and declare themselves followers of Christ were it not for
the suffering that the step would entail. There were also in
India eighty-six millions of what were called the depressed
classes, who, when educated, took their position among the
great body of the middle-class. God was moving among
them and gradually turning them towards the Kingdom of
Heaven. He believed that ten thousand of these people
could be placed under instruction at once. Many of them
had been told for some years to wait a little while, and
now had fallen back into heathenism. In urging self-
sacrifice, Mr. Phillips, in conclusion, remarked that Hindus
could sacrifice everything for the sake of Christ.
The Rev. Professor E. Armitage, M.A., of Bradford,
remarked that if they had come to the meeting feeling that
they would be very happy but for the debt, they must now
feel that the Foreign Secretary had, by his speech, "re-
moved the fly from the ointment." Were they not glad,
debt or no debt, that the Society was leading them forward ?
Though there was anxiety about the debt, there would have
been a very different anxiety in their hearts if there had
been no Forward Movement. Within the present century
God had brought the world to their very doors. The
diplomat and trader were looking at it, and woe to it if no
other eyes looked upon the travelling world than those of
the diplomat and trader. But Christ was teaching His
followers how to behold this spectacle, and was saying of the
Hindu and Kanaka : " He is the least of my brethren." The
supreme obligation of Christians to Christ was to see the
world as He saw it, to see the heathen as being a little lower
than the angels. The world was waiting for those who
could carry Christ's eye to those darkened and sorrowful
peoples. The world was dying for the want of love. The
needed solution of all social problems was more love, and, if
thai; were true at home, how much more true was it of
countries in darkness ! " The Buddha of Love has come."
The Rev. T. E. Slater, of South India, had said that while
the Vedas revealed man in search of God, the Bible revealed
God in quest of man. The different epochs in the history of
the Church brought to the Church distinct and different
duties, and the present was the epoch when the duty of the
Church was to pass through the doors which God had opened.
Professor Armitage characterised the century just closing as
the supreme century of the ages, when tested by the magni-
tude and far-reaching effect of the forces which had been
brought to bear upon it. China, which at the beginning of
the century was walled up to heaven, was now bringing its
first-fruits ; India was on the very trembling verge of a great
national religious change ; many of the islands of the seas had
accepted Christ, and Africa had been penetrated along every
great river's course. What, then, must be the result of
another century of work, if so be that Christians lost not
faith and hope and prayer ? Their successors in another
century's time would rejoice to see that there was not a
single land which claimed any other faith than faith in
Jesus Christ. The speaker pleaded that ministers should
take a new attitude towards this work, and should interpret
to the congregations their great duty and opportunity.
The resolution having been unanimously carried, the
Home Secretary took the opportunity of announcing that
the Chairman had promised to give £300 in addition to £100
already contributed, and a fifth hundred which he purposed
adding to the collection.
Mrs. W. Owen, of Wuchang, began a most pathetic and
inspiring speech by the narration of some sad cases which
had come into her hands as a medical missionary, and which
she said had caused hot scalding tears to flow from her eyes
and made her call out : " Oh, God, how long ? " Thousands
of cases of infantile ophthalmia occurred simply because tho
people did not know that dirt and neglect caused blindness.
In such little matters the missionaries could instruct them
and so save a lifetime of blindness. Turning to the brighter
side, Mrs. Owen told of how, in her study, the young people
told out to Jesus in prayer all the thoughts of their hearts.
She then made a powerful appeal to those of her own sex,
saying that she had been praying to God to make her a voice
to speak to their hearts. There was no joy on earth like the
joy which God gave when they tried to serve Him. " There
are wounds that your hands can bind up, and sorrows that
some of you can sympathise with, and there are lonely, longing
hearts waitingjforyou to speak the word of cheer and hope."
On one occasion a woman called her back and said : " I am
forty-five years old, and I never heard of this Gospel till I came
here." But her father and mother had never heard it, and
she asked in sorrow : " Why does the Lord Jesus love you so
much and not love us a little bit 1 " The one key to solve all
problems was love. They could love a bit too little ; but
could never love a bit too much. " Love's strength standeth
146
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
JONE, 1894.
in love's sacrifice, and by His great love I entreat you to
see that your hearts are true and full of love like His."
The Rev. Yung-King Yen, M.A., of the American
Episcopal Mission, Shanghai, claimed relationship to the
L.M.S. through his wife, who, he said, was their daughter,
she having been brought to a knowledge of Christ through
the teaching of Mrs. Muirhead. Mr. Yen said it was his
duty to throw a somewhat discordant note into the meeting
in the form of the opium question. The L.M.S. had
planted the first mission station in China, and had ever since
kept in the front rank, and, therefore, be expected the
Society to take the front rank in the crusade against the
opium traffic. The British Medical Journal had said that
the missionaries only met the poor in the streets ; but, said
Mr. Yen, they were the poor who had been made poor by
opium smoking. The merchant came in contact with the
rich men, but years hence they might see them very near
be ggary through indulgence in the habit. But medical mis-
sionaries did see those in high life as well suffering from the
same evil. All Chinamen acknowledged that opium smoking
was a vice, and did those present not believe in Dr. Griffith
John, Dr. Muirhead, and others, when they asserted that
opium smoking was injuring Christian work ? Great Britain
ought to help in suppressing it, and though it did not
become him (Mr. Yen) as guest to say a word against their
country, it did become him to appeal to those present to
help in this matter.
The Rev. J. Pearse, of Madagascar, gave a simple, unadorned
summary of some of the results of mission work in that
country. In those parts where Christianity had taken root,
infanticide had ceased, polygamy was contrary to law, divorce
could only be obtained by appeal to the State, trial by ordeal
had been abolished, fetichism had been done away with, and
cruel wars had come to an end. Among the blessings which
had been intoduced by the influence of mission work Mr.
Pearse mentioned the circulation of the Bible, and the noble
share which the Bible Society had had in that work. The
missionaries bad also given the people a written language)
and the nucleus of a general and religious literature. They
had raised up between 1,400 and 1,500 places of worship ;
and they had established the Sabbath-day. At the last
meeting of one of the Malagasy Congregational Unions, after
a heated discussion on the growth of the sugar cane and the
manufacture of rum from it, a native of considerable influ-
ence and wealth derived from the traffic stood up in the
presence of 300 or 400 delegates and declared that in future
he would have nothing to do with the sugar cane. " I beg,''
said Mr. Pearse, " to commend the example of that Mala-
gasy to the attention of all maltsters, brewers, and distillers
in the United Kingdom." The Malagasy were also a praying
people, and the very best thing of all was that very many
had received the testimony of the missionaries concerning
the Buddha of Love.
The Home Secretary announced that in addition to the
Chairman's gifts, promises and donations had in the course
of the meeting been received amounting to £414, and that
the collection realised £115.
A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman, on the
motion of Mr. R. P. Horton, M.A., seconded by Mr. Albert
Spicer, M.P.
WELSH MEETING.
On account of the unfavourable weather, there was but a
small attendance at the King's Cross Tabernacle on the
Thursday evening. In the absence of Mr. W. Williams,
M.P., Mr. T. Williams, J.P., of Merthyr Tydvil, presided,
and, after a Welsh hymn had been sung and the Rev. W. I.
Morris, of Pontypridd, had read a portion of Scripture and
offered prayer, Mr. Williams spoke in advocacy of the
Society's Forward Movement. The Rev. A. N. Johnson,
M.A., speaking in English, gave a very interesting account
of the Society's work, its present need and outlook. The
other speakers spoke in Welsh. The Rev. W. Owen
described the work in which he had been engaged in
Wuchang — the day schools, daily preaching, country work,
and the native church. The Rev. M. Phillips, of Madras,
confined himself to a few remarks, having suggested that
Mr. Owen should take the lion's share of time, and promising
to make another visit shortly to enlarge upon his own work.
On the proposition of the Rev. Owen Evans, D.D., a vote of
thanks was accorded the Chairman, and the meeting was
brought to a close.
RECEPTION ON BOARD THE "JOHN
WILLIAMS."
On Friday afternoon Lord Brassey paid a flying visit
to the East India Dock to inspect the John William*, at the
special invitation of the Directors of the Society. Before
leaving he addressed a few words to the company assembled,
remarking that no one could have travelled as much as he had
done in far distant places of the earth, or seen so much of
benighted heathen lands, without wishing well to the mis-
sionary cause, which he was sure was one of the under-
takings on which blessing from on high might confidently be
expected. The work which the Society was doing in the
South Pacific was a work which one could not but rejoice to
know was going forward. If he were asked as an old
navigator to criticise the vessel, he could find nothing to
criticise. It appeared to be admirably adapted for the pur-
pose for which it had been constructed, and therefore he
would like to convey to those who supported the Society the
assurance that he firmly believed that the money which had
been expended had been well spent ; and for the great cause
to which the Society was devoted he again expressed from
his heart the warmest sympathy.
On the motion of Mr. Albert Spicer, M.P. (who testified
from personal experience to the increased comfort of the
new vessel), seconded by Mr. Arthur Marshall, Lord Brassey
was thanked for his visit.
JUNE,*189-t.
147
Mr. W. CrosSeld, M.P., called upon the company to wish
" God speed the good ship on her voyage, and also Captain
Turpie."
The Rev. B. La Trobe, secretary of the Moravian Mis-
sionary Society, in response to a friendly challenge from
Mr. Thompson, acknowledged that the Harmony must hide
her diminished head and go off to Labrador for the 124th
annual voyage. Her history and that of the John Williams,
however, were a pledge that God would keep those who
went on His errands
Mr. Crosfield called upon Mr. Goodwin, whose name, he
said, would always be associated with the history of the
steamer, for a speech, but Mr. Goodwin said he preferred to
ask the John Williams herself to speak for him.
Captain Turpie, in a few cheery words, said that while he
was proud of the new ship, it was not a pride that would
spoil him, for it had increased his sense of responsibility.
A dedicatory prayer having been offered by the Rev. Dr
Barrett, the son of a missionary, the company partook of
tea and coffee in the native teachers' saloon.
The records of the first naval adventures of our Society,
as contained in the charmingly-written first reports, possess
for readers of such antique documents an enthralling
interest ; but worthy to be placed side by side with those
records, will, we venture to say, be the accompanying account,
in the words of those who made the history of Friday
evening, May 11th, of an equally thrilling valediction to the
officers and crew of the new steamer. The service was held
in Whitefield Tabernacle, Finsbury, because the church
which worships there was the one to which John Williams
himself belonged, and, in order to still further strengthen
the bonds of connection between that honoured name and
the present undertaking, his' son, the Rev. S. T. Williams, of
Catford, occupied the chair. Another son, Mr. W. Williams,
was among the audience. The Rev. F. E. and Mrs.
Lawes, returning to Niue ; Mrs. Hutchin, returning to
Rarotonga ; and Mr. T. W. Ingram, proceeding to Kwato,
New Guinea, were also present to say good-bye. As
Mr. Cousins observed in his address, it was an occasion
of a very rare and unique character such as London
had not had an opportunity of witnessing for six-and-
twenty years. When the crew entered the cbapel at a later
stage they were heartily aud repeatedly cheered. Another
interesting break was caused by the entrance of a young
Niuean, who was called up to the platform and introduced
by Mr. Lawes as the son of a trader who was the most
godly, earnest, and devoted Christian worker it was his
happiness to know.
The hymn, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun," having
been sung, the Rev. M. Duffill read a portion of Scripture
and offered prayer.
The Chairman assumed that every one who had seen
the new vessel would feel that she was perfectly worthy
of the work she was destined to do. And the work,
he added, was worthy of the very best means that
could be provided for its accomplishment. Not the
least interesting incident connected with the construction
of the Messenger of Peace on Rarotonga was, he said,
the story of the bellows with which his father obtained
a blast for forging the rudder irons. Goats, upon which he
(the Chairman) was dependent for milk, had to be killed for
the sake of their skins ; but, in spite of the sacrifice, " the
baby has the honour of standing before you this evening."
Mr. Williams went on to tell how the goats were killed in
vain, for the rats rendered the bellows useless, and his father
had to overcome the difficulty in another way. Applying the
lesson to the present critical condition of the Society, the
Chairman said : " And we, too, are not men to be baffled by
difficulties." Mr. Williams also dwelt on the imperativeness
of foreign missionary work, the feebleness of the instrument-
ality and the omnipotence of Christ ; and in conclusion he
commended the officers of the ship and missionaries for
going abroad to represent to the world that which was
purest, noblest, and best at home. " And may God give you
grace to fulfil the responsibility resting upon you."
The Rev. G. Cousins said he had undertaken, in order to
relieve the pressure of work upon the Foreign Secretary, to
describe the field of labour, and yet, in the case of the ship,
148
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
June, 1894
the field was not a field at all, but an ocean. The John
Williams was to be, as her predecessor had been, the con-
necting liak between all the Christianised islands in Eastern
Polynesia and the great heathen continent of New Guinea,
continually taking from the former to the latter forces of
native teachers to do the work of evangelisation. He (Mr.
Cousins) had been trying to master the story of the South
Sea missions, in order that he might re-tell it in simple
language for young people, and, old missionary though he
was, and representing one of the most interesting fields of
labour the world had ever known (Madagascar), he must say
that his heart and imagination had been touched, and his
whole being had been thrilled again and again by the story
as he had thus been studying it. It showed how the light of
the Gospel, travelling in the course of the sun, had gained
possession of the dark places of the earth, and made those
who received it intent on carrying light to others who were
sitting in darkness. Eastern Polynesia being nominally
Christian, and Western Polynesia yielding to Christianity,
they were within measurable distance of the total extinction
of cannibalism and barbarism from the Pacific Ocean. Raro-
tonga, for instance, to which island Mrs. Hutchin was about to
return, brought a whole crowd of stirring incidents and experi-
ences, and the Training Institution on that island had sent
forth 500 native men and women to labour for the Master. In
connection with the evangelisation of Niue,one of the Samoan
teachers, Paulo by name, deserved to be held in remem-
brance to the end of the ages. Mr. Cousins also indicated
the station to which Mr. Ingram is going in New Guinea,
and referred in terms of high appreciation to the officers and
crew of the new ship, which, he said, " we want to be the
emblem of all that is lovely and of good report."
Captain Turpie did not envy the man who could stand
where he was standing and yet be without strong emotions.
The officers and crew had been valedicted many times during
the last months ; but there was something about the
present farewell that was not likely to be repeated for some
time, for it might be the very last time he would say
farewell to friends at home. The Captain very warmly
thanked the young people who were paying for the new
ship, and he thanked the Directors for placing him in
command. He scouted the idea of missionary enthusiasm
dying out. Let the lion's tail but be trodden upon and there
would be a hearty response. If his (the speaker's) head
had been thirty years younger, he would have lost it through
the exceeding kindness he had received on all hands in this
country. The contact with kind Christian friends had done
him good, and his one resolve was to make the ship what she
was intended to be. At one meeting a speaker had con-
fessed that he had taken the crew — " the row of good-looking
young men in the first row " — for theological students, and
he (the Captain) had to say that their theology had to do
with ropes and yards, canvas and coal. " I do not often see
my men together, but I am proud of them," was the
Captain's added compliment: Proceeding, he remarked that he
could lose himself in London, but could find his way about the
Pacific, and the change that had come over the islands in his
time was something that bad never been fully related in
print. He had known the Rarotongans as children, students,
and missionaries. There was but one force that could impel
men and women to go through what he had known them to
go through, and that was the love of Christ. After dwelling
earnestly upon this point, Captain Turpie concluded with a
beautiful touch of imagery, likening the work to the rolling
of a snowball, ever growing larger, to the top of a hill, and
there letting it melt in the sunshine of God's love, and
raining blessing on all the valleys round about.
The Rev. F. E. Lawes was glad to be present in that
historic temple of God, because John Williams was an in-
spiration to missionaries in the South Pacific ; and the native
teacher, Jeremiah, whom he (Mr. Lawes) knew, was always
proud of having been the means of getting Mr. Williams
safely away from the savage island of Niue" when he visited
it in 1830. His (Mr. Lawes') brother received about one
thousand, and he had himself received between two and three
thousand Niueans into church fellowship, and " though there is
chaff with the wheat there as here, and dross with the gold,
there is grain that is being gathered into the Master's garner,
and there is metal that has the genuine ring." Mr. Lawes,
in order to show that the new steamer had not been provided
at all too soon, mentioned the circumstances under which two
noble Niueans had died, after nineteen and seventeen years'
service in New Guinea, because they had gone too long with-
out change. People erroneously thought that the work in the
South Seas was completed ; but the Bible had not yet been
translated in its entirety into Niucan, lacking six books,which
he hoped to finish ; and the people were needing other books,
which they looked to the missionary for. Old superstitions
still lived ; and at present the contact with the world was
more of an evil than a good. Mr. Lawes also mentioned
that the work on Niue was self-supporting, with a surplus
for outside effort, and, in addition, the people wanted to
have a few rivets in the new ship. He closed with an in-
tensely pathetic reference to the trial of separation from
children, and said : " When you pray for the missionaries,
remember, please remember that the greatest part of the
missionaries is here amongst you. I have said something
about sacrifice. I did not mean to ; for what have we to say
about sacrifice when we think about that great sacrifice which
Jesus Christ has made for you and me ? "
Mr. T. W. Ingram said he was proud of the college to
which he belonged, and he only hoped that in God's strength
he might leave the missionary glory of Cheshunt undimmed.
It was surprising that men were willing to run such risks in
commercial pursuits and in fortune-hunting, and yet when it
came to taking the Gospel abroad everything was too hard,and
the sacrifice was too great. God forbid that the time should
ever come when effeminacy would be a sign of God's workers.
June, 1894.
OUR ANNIVERSARY.
149
The Rev. Urijah R. Thomas, in his valedictory address,
remarked that though the friends were going chiefly because
Christ had bidden them go, and their chief confidence would
be that Jesus would be in the vessel, the present service meant
that north, southeast, and west tens of thousands would follow
them with their thoughts, sympathies, and prayers. Never
did any group of missionaries go out under more promising
auspices, and for this reason, that the Watchers' Band had
become in so many places a great reality. In such sympathy
they had of course a sympathy that was human, but upon
human sympathy the Lord Himself leant when in Geth-
semane. But beside the human they had the Divine, all-
sufficient power of Him who said : " Peace be still." " May
the good ship," wished Mr. Thomas, " go forth under the
guidance of Him who was the Pilot of Noah's Ark, as well
as the Pilot of the ship on the Galilean lake, and is the Pilot
of His Church here and His Church yonder." Might he,
Mr. Thomas, not also promise that those present would not
forget the children left at home? "God be with you till we
meet again. Meet again ? Why we shall meet frequently,
because the Cross is the great meeting place of souls."
The valedictory prayer was offered by the Rev. R.
Partner, and the hymn commencing with the closing words
of Mr. Thomas to the outgoing party was feelingly sung
by the meeting, after which the Benediction was pro-
nounced.
The Congregational Union and our Approaching
Centenary.
The approaching Centenary of the Society formed the
subject of conference at the closing session of the Congrega-
tional Union of England and Wales, at the Memorial Hall,
the Rev. Dr. Barrett presiding.
The Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson opened the discussion,
and, after warning his hearers that the world had come so
close to their doors that heathenism would flow to this coun-
try and corrupt the springs of their own life if they did not
make haste to evangelise the nations, he proceeded to enlarge
on the splendid opportunities and great responsibilities which
lay before them. Some of the greatest explorers had been
missionaries of this Society, and the earlier preparatory work
had been practically completed. The Gospel, he argued, was
adapted to all needs, and glancing at India and various parts
of the globe he declared that never was there such an oppor-
tunity for getting at the educated young men of Bengal as
now. He quoted also what he described as an appalling
need in South India for more workers, and, indeed, all round
the world the doors were open. Still more, the young men
and maidens of some of their best families were offering
themselves as missionaries. Incidentally he mentioned that
the Chairman of the Union was the son of a missionary, that
Mr. Clarkson, the Secretary of the Church- Aid Society, was
the son of a missionary, and that he was himself also the son
of a missionary. This enterprise was one of the greatest of
this virile age.
The Rev. H. Arnold Thomas, M.A., of Bristol, followed
with an address on the cultivation of the missionary spirit.
If they had that spirit, he argued, they had everything. He
urged ministers to care for the work themselves, to c ill their
people together, to get a large map, to collect a lew facts,
and to study the missionary enterprise. If they were mis-
sionary men, the churches would become missionary churches ;
and sometimes they should give a missionary narrative instead
of a sermon.
The Rev. Stanley Rogers, of Liverpool, moved the follow-
ing resolution :—" That the Assembly heartily rejoices in
the commencement of the Forward Movement ; thanks God
for the success already realised ; impresses upon the churches
the duty of more liberal contributions to meet the impera-
tive and rapidly-increasing demands of the work ; and with
this view would urge the Directors immediately to initiate a
Centenary Fund." In a vigorous speech Mr. Rogers struck
the key-notes of success and of triumph. He believed the
resolution would be heartily endorsed throughout the
country, and he particularly insisted that the Society had
not gone back. In three years they had sent sixty-seven
out of the hundred missionaries, and the crisis had arisen
entirely out of the Forward Movement. The Society had
the grandest record of native teachers of any society. Mr.
Rogers proceeded to advocate the systematic collection of
money from the churches.
The Rev. Dr. Berry, of Wolverhampton, seconded, and
emphasised the thanksgiving part of the resolution. That
man was unwise who concealed prosperity, and their churches
were inspired by records of success and achievement. De-
fending the Self-Denial Week, he said it was not to be
treated as a joke, but taken in the spirit of self-disciplme
He also advocated the necessity of blending enthusiasm and
common-sense. He did not know what was meant by the
statement he had heard of the Directors crying " Halt."
The Rev. Richard Lovett, M.A., one of the Directors, answer-
ing this, said that the Directors did not feel justified in incur-
ring further liabilities until the annual income was more in
proportion to the annual expenditure. Their first business was
to pay their debt; but unless they had £20,000 more of
income they would have a heavy debt again next year, and
to complete the Forward Movement they would require
another £20,000. , .
The Rev. S. Pearson, M.A.,of Manchester, thought it would
ba a shame and a scandal to go back on their Forward policy
until they had fathomed the resources of the churches. But
the Directors, determined to behave like honest men, had
found it necessary to call a halt. The churches had not
contributed enough properly to maintain those already
despatched. If they did not advance, they must go back.—
Rev. Jonathan Lees and Mr. T. E. Minshall having spokeD.
The Rev. J. G. Rogers, B. A., pointed out that the work be-
fore them would tax the resources of the churches as they had
never been taxed before. They had sent out two-thirds of
the men, but two-thirds of the work had not been accom-
plished. Some of the men were standing still for want of
appliances, and medical missionaries needed hospitals. The
contributions of some of the churches were a disgrace to
themselves.
Dr. Barrett, in putting the question, said he considered it
the most important submitted to the Assembly this spring.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
— — TQQOQQQQjnr-i — —
MONTHLY PRAYEJR MEETING.
ON Monday, June 4th, the usual monthly gathering for
prayer will be held in the Board Room of the Mission
House, 14, Blomfield Street, E.C., from four to five p.m.
Recent information from missionaries in the field will be
communicated. A full attendance is earnestly desired. All
friends of missions will be heartily welcome.]
150
ECHOES FROM THE HOME CHURCHES.
Juke, 1894.
PERSONAL NOTES.
CHINA. — On March lGth Miss Field, of Hong Kong, became Mrs.
Colborne, of the C.M.S. The wedding took place in theToTsai
Chapel, and was entirely in Chinese. Dr. Chalmers officiated, and
a very large number of friends, both Chinese and English, assem-
bled to witness the ceremony, including many of the women and
girls among whom the bride has carritd on her work. Dr. and
Mrs. Colborne left on the 29th for Pak Hoi, to which station Dr.
Colborne had been suddenly summoned on account of the break-
down of the doctor there. — On the 20th March a social evening
was held in Union Church, Kong Kong, to bid farewell to the Rev.
G. H. Bondfield, on the eve of his furlough, and to welcome the
Rev. G. J. Williams, who is taking temporary charge. Mr. Bond-
field was presented with a purse of sovereigns, as a token of
love from his congregation ; and Miss Field, who has been the
organist for several years, was presented with a handsome
chiming travelling clock, and a set of silver tea-spoone and sugar
tongs, on the occasion of her marriage. The week previously
Mrs. Bondfield received valuable gifts from her class of Christian
Endeavour, and from those who gather in the meetings held in
the Soldiers' and Sailors' Djstitute. Her service of love and
untiring efforts on behalf of all sorts and conditions of men
have endeared her greatly to them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bond-
field will leave a blank not easily filled, and their return will be
eagerly waited for by many in Hong Kong. — Miss Rowe has
settled down happily at Chuk Yuen, near Poklo, from which
centre she lives on friendly terms with some fifty of the
surrounding villages. There are about a dozen Christians in the
village, and Miss Rowe is gradually finding others, generally
solitary cases, scattered about in all directions.
India. — On returning to Cuddapah, after a year and nine
months' absence, the Rev. G. H. Macfarlane notices a great im-
provement in the quantity and quality of the mission work.
" We have," he says, " sent twenty-four lads and eight young
men to Gooty for training since January. Some of these need
only a one or two years' course ; others will have three or four
years." — The Rev. E. Hawker has been greatly enjoying and has
derived much benefit from his visit to Egypt and Palestine. He
expects to reach England early in June.
Madagascar.— The Rev. C. Collins wrote on March 17th :—
" Radavidra, an old evangelist of the Society, now Governor of
Mananjara, has mediated with good effect between the Taimoro
and their Hova Governor. The people, at a large gathering
held a fortnight ago, agreed to take up the forced service as of
old, and to allow things to be in every respect as before. This
means that our educational and evangelistic work can now be
recommenced. To this end, Mr. Jones and I came to Vohipeno a
week ago. Last Sunday I presented him to the people at each of
the two churches here as their missionary. On Tuesday he left
for home, and I am remaining behind to settle teachers, &c.
We have started eight schools, and hope next week to have most
of the others going. Each time I come here I am struck by the
fine field for work which is waiting to be occupied. With a
suitable boat, quite a number of stations can be reached in a
comparatively short time. The Hovas here plead earnestly for
Mr. Jones to come and live among them as soon as possible,
and a good number of the natives would be glad to have a
missionary in their midst."
New Guinea.— The Rev. W. G. Lawes has fixed upon a hill
named Vatornata, inland of Kapakapa, as the site of the new
College Institution. There are about 120 villages in the
district accessible on horseback, and altogether the site far
exceeds Mr. Lawes' most sanguine expectations. — In response to
the invitation of the Directors, the Rev. J. Chalmers has inti-
mated his willingness to come home in readiness for the
Centenary celebrations. — The Rev. H. M. Dauncey, during his
deputation work in Australia, visited Summer Hill Church,
Sydney, with his magic lantern. He exhibited the photo, of the
chief of a, village a few miles from Port Moresby, and told how
he had asked for a teacher, and how lack of funds had prevented
his request being granted. When Mr. Dauncey had finished,
the Rev. W. J. L. Closs and some of his young folks had a short
consultation, the result being that Mr. Dauncey was asked to
place a teacher at the village as the result of their Christian
Endeavour Band.
West Indies. — One of the most enthusiastic gatherings ever
held in Providence Congregational Church, Charlestown, took
place on March 28th, when the Rev. R. B. Lander was welcomed
and inducted as successor to the late Rev. Joseph Ketley. The
church was crowded to excess, it being computed that upwards
of a thousand persons were present, numbers of whom only
obtained standing room. Rev. Dr. J. E. London, who with Rev.
J. L. Green, of Blankenburg, has acted as co-pastor since the
resignation and retirement of Mr. Ketley, presided over the
induction ceremonies. Addresses were delivered by the Revs.
J. L. Green, F. C. Glasgow, and — Reynolds, and Mr. Massiah.
♦H*>
ECHOES FROM THE HOME CHURCHES.
THE members of the Wellingborough Congregational
Christian Endeavour Society, being anxious to help the
Society in its efforts to carry out its Forward Movement,
held a jumble sale and sale of work in Salem School, on
April 20th, which realised about £15.
A very successful session of St. George's Road Church
Bible- class, Glasgow, was closed by a social meeting, at
which Rev. Dr. Anderson presided. The attendance was
large and enthusiastic. On one of the tables was exhibited
a silver Communion service, bearing a suitable inscription,
which the class is about to send out to Rev. J. Chalmers, New
Guinea, for the use of one of his native congregation there.
A portion of the income for the year was also allocated to
Mrs. J. C. Thorne for the benefit of the women's sewing
classes in the capital of Madagascar, which she supports and
superintends.
The Young People's Working Party in connection with
Rainhill Congregational Church, Prescot, Lancashire, have
raised, through a small sale, the sum of £20, with which they
intend to purchase the beds that will be needed for the
proposed Wuchang Hospital.
June, 1894.
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WATCHERS' BAND.
151
A NEW START IN WALES.
\ T the quarterly meeting of the East Glamorgan District,
held in Miny Street, Cardiff, after an address by the
Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., a committee was appointed to
take into consideration and devise the best means to cele-
brate the Centenary of the London Missionary Society.
This Committee, numbering five, met at Pontypridd, April
23rd, when it was thought that it would be a good plan to
divide the district into five sections as follows : — No. 1. The
two Rhondda valleys, including Ton'refail and Gilfach Goch
to the Porth. Bodringallt Church, in the Rhondda Valley,
did not use to collect more than £3 or £4, but this year the
collection is something over £40. No. 2. From Porth to
Glandwr, Taff's "Well, including on the right Efail Isaf,
Castell, and Bronllwyn, and on the left Cilfynydd, Groes,
Wern, Aber, Llanbradach, Rhydri, Caerphilly, and Wat-
ford. No. 3. From Glandwr to Barry, including Whit-
church and St. Bride, Super-Ely. No. 4. The Vale of
Glamorgan to Bridgend, including Llantrissant. No. 5.
The Garw and Ogmore valleys to Bryncethin, including
Bethel and Abercynffig. It was thought desirable for this
Committee to visit each section, calling together as many
as could make it convenient to meet them. The time
and places of meeting are as follows :— No. 1. At Ton
Ystrad, on May 1st ; No. 2. At Pontypridd, May 2nd ; No.
3. At Cardiff, May 3rd; No. 4. At Pontyclun, May 15th;
No. 5. At Brynymenyn, May 16th. It was resolved to give
to the churches as much information as possible of the doings
of our Society ; ask volunteers to give their names to the
secretary, intimating thereby their willingness to visit a
number of churches to preach or lecture ; an appeal to be
made to the churches that have not collected, to do so at
once ; ask all the churches to make a special collection be-
fore the end of the year, and whatever is done to be
accounted part of their Centenary celebration ; public meet-
ings to be held in central places during this and next year ;
a sermon to be given at the next quarterly meeting bearing
on the subject. The Committee have met in three of the
places. There is reason to be thankful to God for the
spirit manifested throughout the deliberations, and the
readiness of ministers and laymen to go forth and do what
they can to make the Centenary a success.
Erratum.— In the April issue of the Chronicle, the
Rev. M. Phillips was guilty of an oversight in saying that,
at the time of his appointment as a vernacular preacher to
the masses in that city, there was not a foreign missionary
in Madras capable of preaching to the people in their own
language. Mr. Phillips was thinking chiefly of British mis-
sionaries, and overlooked the fact that the Rev. R. Hand-
mann, of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission, was in the
habit of preaching in the lanes in the neighbourhood of the
Lutheran Mission House. He has apologised to Mr. Hand-
mann for this oversight. It should be borne in mind that Mr.
Phillips' statement referred solely to preaching to the masses
in the city of Madras, in the Tamil language.— Ed.
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
WATCHERS' BAND.
ALL of our members and friends who were able to be
present at the annual meeting of the Watchers'
Band must have been gratified with the large attendance,
which crowded the Great Hall of the Cannon Street
Hotel, and with the manifest interest in the proceedings
which was maintained without flagging from the beginning
to the close.
oo*
The time-table was well kept through the whole two
hours ; the siDging was bright and hearty ; the prayers were
devout and definite, and the addresses able, earnest, and
instructive. It was truly a time of spiritual quickening and
refreshment which was much enjoyed, and we may con-
fidently hope that such an encouraging meeting, in which it
was a privilege to participate, will have wide-spread and
lasting results.
O 0 9
Enclosed in the present number of the Chronicle will
be found a copy of the Second Annual Report, and as every
" Watcher " should be a reader of our magazine, all should
thus receive it ; and if each will use it to obtain at least one
additional member, our membership will immediately be
doubled. Additional copies may be obtained through the
local secretaries, who will be supplied on application with the
number required.
o o o
The number of Branches formed in the United Kingdom
up to the end of March was 357, but as the number of
churches and mission-stations is reported to be 4,842, it will
be seen that there is ample scope in this direction for
missionary work at home. We must, therefore, all set before
us, as a definite aim, the securing of a Branch in connection
with every church, and the enlisting of every member as a
" Watcher." James E. Liddiard.
NEW BRANCHES.
London.
Branch.
Croydon (George Street)
Country.
Alton
Battle
Ewhurst
Keswick
Manchester (Rusholme)
„ (Stockport Road)
„ (Vine Street)
Oldham (Hope) ...
Over
Sheffield (Howard Street) ,
Southport (Chapel Street) ,
Stockport (Wycliffe)
Weymouth (Gloucester Street) ...
Wilmslow
Secretary.
Miss S. H. Fletcher.
Mr. T. H. Knight.
Mrs. Humble.
Mr. W. Honess.
Mr. H. W. Miller.
Miss Harker.
Miss Parker.
Mr. Brunskill.
Miss Newton (pro tern.)
Miss M. E. Mellor.
( Mr. J. W. Tuffley.
{ Miss E. Frost.
Mrs. Lillyman.
Miss E. E. Livesley.
Mr. I. J. Brown.
Miss C. Manchester.
152
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
June, 1894.
THE LATE J. WALfORD HART.
THE painful tidiDgs, received by telegram, of the totally
unexpected death of this dear brother reached us in time
for bare notice only in our last issue. We are still awaiting
details by mail, and, on their arrival, shall lose no time in
giving them publicity. Pending their arrival, we can only
join with a host of others in expressing a sense of deep sorrow
and loss. To know Walford Hart was to love him. His
simple, affectionate disposition, combined as it was with much
strength of character and cultured intelligence, made him a
delightful colleague in Christian service. Working with
him for several years in connection with the Young Men's
Missionary Band, I learned to appreciate and love him, and
it was a great joy to all his old companions in that Band
when he gave up his profession, as a solicitor, to become a
missionary. We felt that in him we should hnve a noble re-
THE LATE J. WALFORD HART.
presentative of the Band's highest aims and aspirations, and
we anticipated for him a long and honourable career.
In the inscrutable but gracious providence of God, our
friend has had to put off his armour almost as soon as he
had donned it, and we can only reverently bow to what is
beyond our comprehension. A chord of intense sympathy
for the bride, for the brother and sister-in-law, for the
Hankow and Chung King mission circles, and for the sorrow-
ing friends of Mr. and Mrs. Hart here at home, has been
vibrating ever since the distressing news came to hand.
This is admirably voiced in the subjoined extract from a
letter by the Rev. J. Wallace Wilson, who was his comrade
and co-worker in distant Chung King. G. C.
" We liked Walford Hart from the moment Ave saw him>
and my enforced departure for England was made the less
bitter for me by his presence at the mission station which I had
been privileged to establish in far-away Chung King. Never
shall I forget the farewell he gave me when surrounded by a
distressed contingent of my native friends, who, with him,
had helped me in my great weakness down to the boat that
was to take me away from the place where my heart was and
still is. Let me say at once that I should never have left Chung
King, ill and all as I was, had it not been that he was there
to act as my successor. His goodness, his kindne-'s, his
marked abilities, his general sincerity, his robust common-
sense had endeared him to me, and made me feel also that,
in spite of the want of knowledge of Chinese, his own
presence — being that of a morally and mentally strong man
— would serve to bind and consolidate the work that had
been set in motion and was still going on. Never shall
I forget that solitary European figure standing up in a
little boat, waving farewell to me through his tears, as he
returned to the city, and I went on my dolorous way, weak
in body and well-nigh broken in heart. And he has gone to
his rest before me ! I never contemplated that. It is all
inexpressibly sad, and at present I fail to see a solitary ray
of light in the deep shadow that has settled upon us. But
God makes no mistakes. That, at least, is a stronghold just
now ; and our faith in His wisdom, which requires no vindi-
cation, must help us to believe that out of this unlooked-for
visitation there will somehow come a compensating help and
blessing for the sorely bereaved bride of a fortnight, for the
broken-hearted brother and sister, and for the Mission which
has only too good a reason for deploring the early removal
of a really promising agent."
♦
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DEPARTURES.
The Rev. D. Picton Jones, returning to Central Africa, and Mrs.
Purves, proceeding to Central Africa, embarked for Ciiinde, per steamer
lllovo. May 8th.
ARRIVALS IN ENGLAND.
The Rev. A. A. Dignum, Mr9. Dignum, and child, from Sai.hm, South
India, per sceamer Kalsar-i-Ilin<l,sA Marseilles, thence overland, April 19th.
The Rkv. W. B. Puillips, and Mrs. Beuq and three children, from Cal
cutta. North India, per steamer Mirzapore, May 8th.
The Rkv. S. J. Wiutmeu, from Samoa, South l'aclllc, via America, per
steamer Lucania, May 12th.
BIRTHS.
Lester.— December 29th, at Bellary, South India, the wife of the Rev. H.
Lester, of a son.
Kkks.— March 3rd, at Ambohimandroso, Betslleo country, Madagascar, the
wife of the Rev. D. M. HecB, of a daughter.
Lawrence.— April 2nd, at Bangalore, South India, the wife of the Rev. W
J. Lawrence of a son and daughter. (Children since deceased.)
MARRIAGE.
Coi.borne— Field.— March 16th, at the Chinese Chapel, Hong Kong, by tho
Rev. John Chalmers, M.A., LL.D., Dr. Colborne, of the O.M.S., Kong Mun, to
Miss Sophia Ellen Field, of the London Mission, Hong Kong, China.
DEATH.
Scott. — April 17th, at Lymlngton, Hants, the Rev. James Tait Scott, for-
merly missionary in New Guinea, aged 41 years.
TO SUBSCRIBERS.
It is rtquested that all Contributions, Remittances, and Payments be
made to the Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., Home Secretary, Ik, Blomfleld
Street, London, E.G. ; and. that, if any portion of these gifts is designed for
a special object, full particulars of the place and purpose may be given.
Cheques should be crossed Bank of England, and Post-office Orders made
payable at the General Post Office.
All orders for Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books, Cards, Magazines, *«.,
should be addressed to the Rev. Georqb COUSINS, Editorial Secretary, 14,
Blomfleld Street, London, B.C.
Telegraphic Addrosa -MISSIONARY, LONDON.
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