Foreign Mission Journal, August 1885

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Published monthly by tlio Foreign Mission Board of tho Southern Baptist Convention. “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE. THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.” Vol. *17— New Serie RICHMOND, VA„ AUGUST, 1885. No. 1.— Whole No. 205. irntereil at tht* roat i\t Itlchrooml, Va., lLB «rcoacl-clae. mutfer.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I For papers nepiiralely ndtl met'd, tltlier lo same or to different |K)stolllCfM : Our copy . . ct*. Tbree copies «#1, or . . . 33H CU. apiece. For рлскасс* sent to ono person, who slmll be rM|»oiifiblc for their distribution i Four copies for i\, or more at . . 2Г> cts, Twenty*ilvo copies for ffl, or того nt . 20 cut. Oue Hundred conies for *I5| or more nt. . 15 ft* < ##-Пелре remit by Hrnft, I’ostnl Order, or In ttred Letter, and notify ns ikomitly of any lo address. Address. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVEMTION, Locatbd at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. Рккитвиг— J. L. M, GURRY. VicB-PKBBiDBNTe.— Joahua Levering, MO., TornklM. La., .1. I.. Ilurrowi, Va.. N. Л. Halley. I Th«. WMlflfM, N.O., W. II. Felix, Ky.. J. J. 1>.I Iroe, Alabama, R. S. Duncan, Mo., H. H. C Texaj, W. L. Kilpatrick, fla., Chaa. Manly, j, M. Sealer, Teon., J. It. Searcy, Arif., ' Wbltfleld, Mine., W. F. Atlklaaon, \V. Va. Соппвегоквто Sbciibtaiiv— К, Л. TUl’PER. Тпвлвгтви O. WILLIAMS. RxconDiNO Sbcabtamt— W. H. OWATJIMEY. A vditoh— JOSEPH F. COTTRELL. Полив or Mamaobiis — J. II. Watlffr.B, II. K. Elly- ion, W. E. llalcber, Б. Worlbain, W. D Thomas, H. H. Harris, J. Pollard, Jr., J. W. Jones. A, B. Olarlce, J, II, Widen. .1 II. Hutton. О. H. Winston. S. О Ulopton, W. IV. Landrum, W. J. Shipman. tSrAtl communications in reference to the business of this Jloard should be addressed to H. A. Tuppkr, Corresponding Secretary , Richmond. Va. TO SUBSCRIBERS. It will be remembered that the Journal differs from most newspapers. It proposes to be barely self-sustaining— making no gain, suffering no loss, for its owners, the hoard of Foreign Missions. It is printed at the ex¬ pense and for the benefit of its subscribers. A year ago we offered it, at first for three months only, at reduced rates. This offer secured so large an increase of circulation that it was deemed safe and wise to make the reduction permanent. Thus far the ex periment lias succeeded and the income at reduced rates lias kept up with the receipts of the year before. But now comes the crisis. If the four or five thousand sub¬ scribers, who began under the special offer made last August, fail now to renew, we may be compelled to return to tiie old higher rates— for the Journal must not become a charge on funds given for missions — but if they will enlarge their subscriptions or send us other names in addition to their own, we shall be encouraged to prosecute plans for enlarging and improving the paper. We apprehend that some by sheer neglect will fail to renew, and we shall regretfully drop their names, for we arc and intend to remain on a cash basis. Shall not ns many others be found to take the vacant places? This will be the result if all our friends ap¬ preciate the fact that these months are a time of crisis, and put forth accordingly some extra effort in our behalf. Our purpose is to give subscribers the benefit of ail they pay, and to make for them the best paper lhat their money will allow. It is, therefore, for the interest of every one, ns well as for |he good of the cause, that we ask their help hi extending our circulation. Leaving Richmond on the 30th of June we ran rapidly up the serpentine bank of James River to Lynchburg, then rolled on a broad gauge track through Bristol at mid¬ night, and down to Chattanooga, stopping off for a superb breakfast at Cleveland. A few hours in the iron town of' Tennessee gave us opportunity to look in at the office of the llejlector, and find brother Robertson out, then to call on pastor Christian, who takes a hopeful view of the affairs'of our Zion, and expects to see tire grand army of Tennessee Baptists come rapidly to the front in the Master’s work. In the afternoon we thun¬ dered through the wild scenery of the Cum berland mountains, and from their nortli western foot climbed by a steep, crooked track, to MONTEAGLE. Up here, 2,300 feet above the sea, on a curious geological formation, called the Cumberland plateau, one finds a cool, quiet, restful place, with good water, delightful air, and intellectual and religious surroundings. The summer schools are holding the even tenor of their way with few incidents that would prove interesting to our readers. The Sunday-school assembly, with its missionary days and other interesting features, begins August 4th, and any mention of its exercises must be reserved for another month. On the evening of July 16th we retraced our way to Chattanooga, and the next morn¬ ing were in Atlanta, Ga. Tiie forenoon was pleasantly spent in the office of the Index with Dr. Shaver, and on a visit to the cosy home of Dr. McDonald. The early after¬ noon found us in the good company of Dr. Tichenor, Cor. Secretary of the Home Board, and other brethren who joined us from time to time, speeding southwestward to the ALABAMA CONVENTION. This body represents some 75 ,°°° white Baptists, organized into 1,400 churches, and about 60 District Associations. The dele¬ gation this year is small, being only about 150. We have never seen a body in which there was more talent forplatform speaking. All tiie objects to be presented had set times on a programme previously prepared and printed. This order of business was, of course, suspended. Certain complications and com¬ plaints in reference to the State Mission Board claimed an undue proportion of time, and elicited pointed debate. The matters were finally settled, and we have good rea¬ son to hope that the brethren will co-operate more harmoniously and do more than ever for missions nt home and abroad. The cause of foreign missions has many warm friends in Alabama. Though the time al¬ lotted to other interests was curtailed, this received its full share and indeed a little more. Dr. Frost, of Selma, presented Christ's view of missions; brother Bush, of. Mobile, a merchant, spoke clearly and forci¬ bly of tiie need of system in raising money; this writer talked at length about the Board, its work and its needs; and Dr. Renfroe, Vice-President of our Board, preached by ppointment the missionary sermon. “EL HERALDO MEXICANO." This is the name of our Baptist paper published and edited in Saltillo, Mexico, by Rev. W. D. Powell and Senor Jose M. Car denas. The July number indicates that the spirit of the paper is quite Baptistic, reply ing as it does in vigorous terms to strictures appearing in the El Htraldo l)e 1st a Jan, paper not so Baptistic, on the advocates of baptism as taught by Christ and his apostles To the soft speaking Mexican, who says everything by easy circumlocution, the straightforward repulse of this anti-Baptist assailant may seem straightforward indeed ; but, perhaps, severe cases of all sorts need severe treatment. Varied notices of the inauguration of the Normal school in a part of the "old temple, till agreeably some five columns of the pa¬ per. This “ festivity ” must have been very enjoyable. Senors Herlonga, of the State University, and Cardenas, President of the Madero Institute, made addresses, and Senor Jacobo M. Aguirre delivered a poem pre¬ pared, evidently, for the occasion. The young ladies of tht Institute discoursed sweet music, and delighted the audience with calisthenic exercises. Mexican girls are the perfection of physical grace. The liberality of learned and generous citizens in providing lectures and furniture for the Nor¬ mal school is worthy of all commendation. There are some cheering intimations, edi¬ torial, as to the early removal of obstructions in the way of the completion of the “ old temple ” as the First Baptist church of Sal¬ tillo. But one of the pleasantest things in the paper is an article from the polished pen of Senor Cardenas on " Brotherly Love." It breathes a devout spirit, and indicates a mind clearly comprehending this cardinal doctrine of practical Christianity. It is emi¬ nently opportune. > The Heraldo Mcxica.no was, we believe, the first Baptist paper issued in Mexico, We would esteem it a favor to receive its visits regularly at the mission rooms. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. An editor feels so much personal interest in every one of his readers, and devotes so much time and care to them, that he can hardly help believing that they reciprocate his feelings. And so lie is constantly tempted to imagine that they will follow "illi interest his private jotirneyings and personal experiences. Let this be an apolo- БУ for any appearance of egotism in what follows. , TUSKEGEE, in which the Convention met, was once the seat of much wealth, and is still the home of an elegant hospitality. Scattered over a large sandy hill, clean, and for this latitude cool, it lias proved a pleasant place of abode, even in the middle of July. We leave with much regret the delightful company now chatting on tiie columned veranda, and the charming family who have made us feel so much at home. But the Convention is draw¬ ing to a close and so must this letter. Tuskegee, Ala., July 20th, 1SS5. . A FEW MOURNFUL PARTICULARS. In our July issue the decease of Mrs. W.J. David was announced, with some notice of her early life and noble womanhood. We add now a few particulars of her last days and of subsequent events. On the nth of April the mission house at Lagos, Africa, was made brighter by the coming of a little girl, as if to take the place of the little boy, who on the 20th of May, 1SS4, was cradled in the bosom of the broad At¬ lantic. The mother, “ all about the house,” was attacked, May 7U1, with " pernicious fever" of a malignant type. Serious com¬ plications ensued. The best medical and surgical skill afforded by the British colony of Lagos was employed ; and a voyage to Madeira was finally prescribed as the only hope of the patient’s life. “On the 2SU1 of May," as the mournful narrative runs, “while we were lying at anchor off Cape Coast Cas¬ tle, she fell asleep without a struggle. The next morning at 8 o'clock, all that remained of tiie loved one xvas committed to the keep¬ ing of the great deep, whence mother and son will come forth," when the Master calls upon the ocean depths to give up their hid¬ den treasures. The narrative is infinitely affecting as it continues : “The burial place is N. Latitude 40 hr,", W. Longitude 30 16"." Oh, bow the human heart craves a resting /Апгг for Its sleeping ones! But tears force our pen to refrain. To complete our in¬ tended abstract of the particulars before us, we quote words that appeared in the Re¬ ligious Herald of July gtli, only adding that brother David arrived in New York from Liverpool June 29th, and reached this city the next day: " Rev, W. J. David passed through Rich¬ mond several days ago carrying his two motherless children (aged respectively four years and two months,) to put them under the charge of their grandmother, Mrs. W. S. Bland, of Chesterfield county. It was a touching sight to see the heroic missionary bearing his infant in his arms and telling of tiie triumphant death of his noble wife, and yet speaking hopefully of bis work lo winch he will return at the earliest possible day. Mrs. David was very sick on the voy-. age back to Africa, on a sailing vessel which was chosen In order that iliey might take along material for their new chapel, and con¬ tinuing ill, the doctor prescribed a voyageto the Madeira Islands as the only hope of res¬ toration. But alas! she grew steadily worse, died on shipboard, and had to be buried m the ocean. She was cheerful and happy to tiie last, and among iier last utterances to her stricken husband were tiie ringing words: “ Never give up Africa.” The dying words of the brave old sailor, “Never give up the ship,” have been written on a bright page of his country's history, and have made him “one of the immortals;” but nobler still were these words of this accomplished, bright, hopeful young woman, who, dying away from native land and the haBoweil as¬ sociations of home, could thus think not of them or of her children about to be left motherless, but of “ the dark continent,” for whose salvation she had given her life, and could ring out the inspiring charge : “ Never give up Africa." Her body sleeps well in old ocean, which washes alike the shores of her native land, and the dark land for which she toiled and died ; but the resurrection morn will call it to wear the glitterinpcrown. Her bright spirit has already received the plaudit of the Master, “well done.” Her life will be an inspiration to others, and her words will continue to ring out in clarion notes to our whole people, "Never give up Africa." EGG CONTRIBUTION. Rev. J. T. Dickinson, of this city, handed us on the 22d of July, from fifteen young persons, of Fluvanna county, namely, the three Misses Hughes, two Misses Sanford, two Misses Richardson, Misses Powell, Per¬ kins and Sadler, the two Messrs. San¬ ford and Messrs. Loving, Petit and Sadler, Twenty dollars and JiJty cents, realized from eggs sold by these earnest young folks in the past fourteen months, for the benefit of the Lord’s cause among the nations. This is a striking illustration of the “ power of littles,”and furnishes an example worthy of imitation. The welcomed contribution came an hour after the acknowledgments were closed for this number of the Journal; it will appear in the paper for September. In the meantime, we have made private ac¬ knowledgments through Mrs. Sallie J. Per¬ kins, Wilmington, Va., to whose Sunday- school class, at Lyles’ church, these young ladies and gentlemen belong. DR, TAYLOR LEAVING FOR AMERICA, Rome, Italy, June 29, 1SS5. My Dear Brother: Excuse tins postal, with which I tell you that, D. V., we leave Rome to-night. My heart is sad, and I am worn out with the work and care of the past few days and weeks, but I am cheered by seeing what God has wrought here, and by the love and sympathy of friends and brethren of every name and many nations. I feel safe and happy in leaving the work in the hands of one so prudent and patient, so loving and zealous as brother Eager. I trust all at home will pray for him and the cause as they have never done before. Wo had last night a farewell service, mostly of prayer. It was a solemn, tender, impressive occasion. With kindest Christian regards, and the hope that we may soon meet again in the fiesh, I am, dear Dr. Tupper, Sincerely yours in the Lord Jesus, Geo. B. Taylor. Up to the time of our going to press Dr. Taylor had not arrived. He was not strong before lie started homeward ; but we hope that a month or two nt the Hot Springs of. this State will recruit his strength and equip him fully for his proposed work.