Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“
[blocks in formation]

the necks of their female victims to the necks of the slavers.

Two dhaws employed in the slave traffic on Lake Nyasa were destroyed not long since, and in order to root out the traffic entirely around that lake two effective gun boats are to be placed upon its waters.

FIELD NOTES FROM INDIA. [Translated from a Hindustani paper by Rev. E. M. Wherry, D. Ď.]

A lady working in Hindu zenanas writes:-" In some Hindu households Christ is obeyed. The idols have all been cast out. It would give us great joy to see these women come out and profess their faith. The difficulties, however, are great. Mothers would thereby be separated from husbands, children and other relatives, and families would be broken up.

Another lady writes as follows:-" One day a woman with tearful eyes said to me, 'I have believed in Christ for seven years as my Saviour. He supplies all the needs of my heart; though I have not openly professed his name, He reigns in my heart.'

A lady missionary in Oudh tells of a Hindu lady, who sent for her to call upon her. On arrival she saw they were about to move away. The Hindu lady said "I have called you because I wanted to see you and also to get from you a hymn book and a bible. I do not believe in Hinduism. I

know your religion is true, but I am sorry to say I cannot openly profess my faith." She then bought the hymn book and gave me a rupee as a contribution to the mission.

Another testifies thus: "Two women of high caste family read the Bible regularly. One day one of them said, 'I read the book of Jesus regularly. If I fail to read it I am troubled with dreadful dreams and am made afraid.""

6

215

A lady missionary relates that a young Brahmin came in to listen to her with others. He had the sacred marks in his forehead and held a rosary in his hand. In the evening he followed her to her home saying he wanted to hear more about her religion. "I prayed with him and after prayer said, Jesus has heard your prayer, for he said "He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." You have come and he will fulfill his promise to you.' The Brahmin said, "What more do I want, I am his disciple," He then washed away the marks of heathenism and threw away the rosary and in a few hours was a baptized Christian. Such testimonies assure the tired and oft discouraged workers that their labor is not in vain.

Ràm Sundar Swami has given offence to his orthodox Hindu countrymen by declaring that Hinduism is on the decline. so that within 250 years it must disappear altogether.

The next Decennial Conference of Missionaries in India will be held in Bombay. It will begin on the first Wednesday after Christmas and last for eight days. Ladies are to be accorded equal rights with gentlemen in the Conference.

A Hindu resident in the Punjab takes strong ground against the reformers. He says the efforts of the reformers (Brahmos, Arya Samaj followers and others) have only made things worse for Orthodox Hinduism. There is reason to believe he is right, but efforts at reform come naturally before finally discarding it as worthless. It is the old story of Neo-platonism and Christian triumph.

A missionary at Krishnugger in Bengal relates that some Moslems in that town have found a new excuse for not accepting

216

The Helen M. White Fund.

of Christ. Say they, "If we all become Christians, who will go to hell? Your words are true but they are not for us. God created us for hell fire." The idea that hell must be filled is in accord with Orthodox Islam, but the last words of these wicked Moslems were uttered in irony.

.

[September,

Mt. Pleasant Female Seminary at Newburgh on the Hudson, then under the care of the Rev. N. S. Prime, D. D., and his daughter, Mrs. M. M. Cummings-still living as the widow of Mr. A. P. Cummings, of the New York Observer-was married to the Rev. David White of Pittsfield, Mass.

The two were under appointment, as missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M. to Cape Palmas Western Africa. Arriving at the coast on Christmas of that year, they were welcomed to the home of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. J. Leighton Wilson, of the same Board, and entered upon their work with great joy and strong hope for the future. But before the close of January, 1837, both were at rest, and a stone sent from this country marks the

The native church in India has suffered a sad loss in the death of Mr. Ràm Chandar Bose. Converted under Dr. Duff's teaching he afterward identified himself with the M. E. Church. Resigning a government appointment and receiving a small pension, he devoted himself to lecturing and preaching to his educated. countrymen. He was perhaps the most prolific writer on philosophical subjects the native church has yet produced. place of their burial, and a cenotaph, erected "Whilst a loyal member of the Methodist Church, he had great admiration for Presbyterianism, as a system of church. government and one that is peculiarly suited to the genius of the people of India."

The Inspector General of Registration in Madras, the Dewan Bahadar Srinivasa Raghava Tyenger, says that the low castes of India have no hope of improvement except in Christianity. He says they are beginning to find this out for themselves, and in several parts of the Presidency are going over to Christianity. This fact is full of significance to the church. How is she preparing for the advent of 50,000,000 low caste people within the next generation?

THE HELEN M. WHITE FUND.

If this were written THE HELEN M. WELLS FUND, there are persons in the City of New York and elsewhere, who would quickly recognize the name. They would remember that in the of fall 1836, Miss Wells, a teacher in the

in the cemetery at Pittsfield, Mass., by a friend of the Rev. Mr. White, perpetuates their memory in the home of his childhood.

The Fund bearing the name of Mrs. White, is accepted by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. of America, on the simple condition that it shall be securely invested, and the interest paid annually toward the work of the Board in that continent. If at any time in the future the Board withdraws from Africa, or transfers its work to any other Missionary Board or Society, the interest is to be paid into the Treasury to help the general work of our own Board.

It is the hope of the donor of this Fund that it may be increased, as the years pass, by the gifts, and bequests of any persons, who holding Mrs. White in tender remembrance, desire thus to help the great cause to which her husband and herself consecrated their lives; and the Board of Foreign Missions will see that the money so designated is added to the Fund which is now only one thousand dollars.

[blocks in formation]

Never before has there been so cheering an account of missionary success in the Shantung Mission as that recorded in the recent letters. While as a result of the recent edict of the Goverment, enjoining full protection to missionaries, and encouraging them in their work, property has been purchased even in places where mob violence prevailed a few months ago, the direct fruits of missionary labor have also been most encouraging. At the annual meeting of the Shantung Presbytery a report was rendered which shows that 760 persons were added during the last year on profession of faith, giving now a total membership of 3,392. The number of pupils in mission schools is 1,472. Native contributions during the last year for the support of native pastors were $507.50; for Church Erection and other expenses, $440.75; total $948. 25. There is a net gain in membership of 569 over all losses by death and other causes. There are yet hundreds of inquiries. The missionaries are in buoyant spirts, full of thankfulness and renewed ardor for the great harvest.

The average globe trotter has no sympathy with foreign missions. His criticisms. of everything pertaining to the work must therefore be largely discounted. But even persons who may be regarded as friends of the work have been heard to criticise the style of living adopted by our missionaries, and especially the large and commodious houses in which some of them live. This is scarcely to be wondered at. Tourists usually visit these hot climates in the cool season, and are apt to measure life in mission countries by what they themselves experience of it. The following letter from Palestine, addressed to the Free Church of Scotland Monthly, is important as bearing on this subject. Mr. J. R. Miller writes from Mr. Ewing's house:

Our experiences of the country have completely changed my views regarding the house

217

in which I now write this letter. Of course, a smaller and cheaper house could have been built, and might have answered the purpose of the mission fairly well for two-thirds of the year; but it would be almost impossible for any European missionary to carry on his work here, from June to September inclusive, except with such a house as this to dwell in. Coming yesterday, as we did, from the oppressive heat of the last four or five miles of our ride when out of the burning sun shining out of a cloudless sky, and not a breath of air stirring, it seemed like cruelty to animals to urge our horses to a quicker than funereal pace, into Mr. Ewing's airy and cool hall, what a relief! What comfort! What a delightful change! Everything as plain and simple as can possibly be, but airy and cool. I can tell you that I for one was thankful, if ever I was thankful in my life, that I had such a house to take refuge in; and I now think that Mr. Ewing has done our mission here an admirable service in building such a house.

Dr. Griffith John, writing to the editor of the Christian World, says: "Some of your readers might like to ask me what I think of this missionary life. My answer is ready: To the man who believes in it with all his heart, the missionary life is the noblest, happiest, most blessed life under heaven; but to the man into whose heart God Himself has not put the thought, no life could be more flat and dismal. The missionary is often spoken of as a mercenary agent. How little can our critics know of the real nature of the missionary life! I wish some of our traducers would come to Hankow and accompany me on a bona fide missionary journey. That would, I think, cure them of their foolish notions. We have our reward; but it does not come We have in the shape of silver and gold. our joys; but they are not such as the worlding seeks. The true missionary finds his joy in the work itself, and his reward also.

[ocr errors]

218

Missions in Japan-Sympathy of the Japanese.

Concert of Prayer

[September,

about 180 miles northwest of Tokyo; station occupied, 1879; Rev. Messrs. Thomas C. Winn, A. G.

For Church Work Abroad. Taylor, and their wives; Miss Mary K. Hesser, Miss

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

YOKOHAMA: on the bay, a few miles below Tokyo; mission begun, 1859; laborers-Dr. and Mrs. James C. Hepburn and Miss Etta W. Case.

TOKYO: the capital of Japan; station occupied, 1869; laborers-Rev. Messrs. David Thompson, D. D., William Imbrie, D. D., George Wm. Knox, D. D., James M. McCauley, D. D., H. M. Landis, and Theodore MacNair, and their wives; Dr. and Mrs. D. B. McCartee, Rev. George P. Pierson, Prof. and Mrs. J. C. Ballagh, Mrs. Maria T. True, Miss Isabella A. Leete, Miss Kate C. Youngman, Miss S. C. Smith, Miss A. K. Davis, Miss Annie R. West, Miss Annie P. Ballagh, Miss Bessie P. Milliken, Miss C. H. Rose, Miss Lily Murray, and Miss Sarah Gardner. In this country: Miss Annie R. West, Mrs. M. T. True, Miss Bessie P. Milliken.

WEST JAPAN MISSION. KANAZAWA: on the west coast of the main island,

F. E. Porter, Mrs. L. M. Naylor, Miss Kate Shaw; 3 outstations; 2 ordained natives; 4 native licentiates; 5 helpers and teachers.

OSAKA: a seaport on the main island, about twenty miles from Hiogo; station occupied, 1881; Rev. Messrs. Thomas T. Alexander, B. C. Haworth, George E. Woodhull, and their wives; Miss Ann Eliza Garvin, Miss Alice R. Haworth, Miss M. E. McGuire; 7 outstations; 3 ordained native preachers; 8 native licentiates; 3 Bible-women; 8 teachers and helpers.

HIROSHIMA: on the Inland Sea; station occupied, 1887; Rev. and Mrs. Arthur V. Bryan, and Rev. and Mrs. F. S. Curtis; 2 outstations; 1 ordained native preacher; 2 native licentiates; 2 Bible-women; 1 native teacher.

KYOTO: station occupied, 1890; Rev. Messrs. J. B. Porter, John P. Hearst, Ph. D., and their wives; 3 ordained native preachers; 1 native licentiate; 2 Bible-women; 1 native teacher.

YAMAGUCHI: station occupied, 1891; Rev. and Mrs. J. B. Ayers, Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Dougherty, and Miss Gertrude L. Bigelow; 12 outstations; 3 ordained native preachers; 5 native licentiates; 1 Bible-woman.

FUKUI: station occupied, 1891; Rev. and Mrs. G. W. Fulton; 1 outstation; 2 native licentiate preachers; 1 Bible-woman.

TOYAMA: station occupied, 1891, missionary laborers, Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Leonard; 1 ordained native; 1 native licentiate; 2 Bible-women.

In this country: Rev. and Mrs. B. C. Haworth, and Miss Mary K. Hesser.

SYMPATHY OF THE JAPANESE:-A very sad event of the past year in Osaka was the death of Miss Ella Alexander, the eldest daughter of our beloved missionary, Rev. T. T. Alexander. This sweet girl, fourteen years of age, had won for herself a place in the love of all the mission and of the large circle of foreigners in Osaka. At the funeral nearly every member of the foreign community was present, but a still larger number of Japanese. No man in Osaka is more widely known or held in higher esteem than her father, and it was a touching token of their sympathy when so many Japanese were

seen at the funeral service, although conducted in the English language; not a few accompanying the family by railroad to Kobe, the place of burial, a distance of twenty miles.

GOOD OUT OF EVIL:-The fearful earthquake of October last in Japan gave occasion for the beneficence of Christianity to shine forth. The aid promptly and freely given by Christian Churches and missionaries has in many places conquered the old prejudice against every thing which bore the name of Christ.

[blocks in formation]

Rev. John C. Ballagh writes to the Mission House as follows:

"You will be gratified to hear encouraging news from the earthquake districtthe centre of Buddhism-its strongest castle.

"Before the earthquake it was almost impossible to get a hearing from the people, they were so completely under the control of the priests; and to hold a public meeting would endanger one's life. Now Mr. Ibuka, President of our College, the Meiji Gakuin, informs us that one can not only get a hearing, but the people seem very anxious to learn about the truth. Two evangelists whom he sent to that district some time ago, now report that audiences varying from 50 to 200 can be had at any time and at most of the places where the greatest suffering was experienced.

"This many of us hoped for when the earthquake occured, and we have not been disappointed, but our faith has been confirmed. Mr. Ibuka views this feeling of the people as the most encouraging aspect of the year, and in relating it was deeply moved, offering earnest prayer for a complete opening of that whole district with its millions of people to the Gospel."

The Korea Mission has sent a request to the Church of Christ in Japan that missionaries shall be sent by that church to Korea to labor among the Japanese who have settled in that country to the number of seven or eight thousand. Among these a Christian is occasionally found. The step seems to be a wise one, and an excellent opportunity is furnished to the Church of Japan to show what sort of stuff is in it, and whether the efforts of missions may hope to have an aggressive missionary type of Christianity. If there is any danger that the orthodoxy of Japan may sag, and that the spiritual life of the Japanese

219

Church may decline, there is no better antidote than a vigorous missionary spirit and an earnest line of missionary effort. Give this element, and the Japanese theology will be safe.

THINGS NEW AND OLD.

REV. WILLIAM IMBRIE, D. D., TOKIO. It is by no means an uncommon thing to hear one say in Japan: "How often the experience here finds its parallel in that of the early Church!" This is true not only as regards the apostolic age, but also of the age that followed the days of the apostles. A new illustration of this appears in the present hostile attitude of Shintoism.

Though Buddhism has been for many years the religion of the mass of the people, it is not that of the Emperor. The religion of the Emperor has always been Shinto. Not only so, Shintoism is closely connected with the person of the Emperor, for its fundamental tenet is that the Emperor is the descendant of the ancient gods; he is the Son of Heaven. The respect due to him therefore is not such as is due to other rulers. He is something more than a man among men. There is said to be a dividing line between the reverence due to him and that due to the

gods; but to the common people it is as indistinct as the line in Spain which separates the adoration of the Virgin from the worship of the Son.

Of late years, however, the tenet has been allowed rather to drop out of sight. It is true that certain officials were still affected by it. Ambassadors to foreign countries, officers in the army and navy, and some others, were required on particular occasions to present themselves at certain shrines and perform certain rites. But in general the tendency was to minimize the religious significance of such ceremonies; and those who

« AnkstesnisTęsti »