Foreign Mission Journal, June 1880

Foreign Mission Journal ■MImImmI Won tli ly by Hi о 1'orclgit Л1!ьн1оп llom-rt oi tlic Southern Knptbt Couventlo» ‘Ы7>Л POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EAllTR, GO YE, THEREFORE , AND TEACH ALL NATIONS .” Vol. 12. — New Sorics. RICHMOND, VA., JUNE, 1880. No. 3.— Whole No. 123. [Kilt, -ml at tliu I’out-Olilcn at Kichinoml, Va., ne second- class matter,] FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL RATIOS I'JOU ANNUM: Due copy . ПО cts. Four copies and over, to one luldrt'ss, each . ,.,.2A cts. 4|»-I'leaee remit I, у Draft, Postal Order, or 111 HeulstereU better, and notify iih I'ltotiPTl.V of any cliaupe lit address. Address, FOKKIQN MISSION JOURNAL, RICHMOND, Va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF TUE SOUTHEUN BAPTIST CONVENTION, Гаи; at к I» at RIOHMOND, YIHOINIA. Fkksii.knt— J. I,. M. GUKIIY. Vtcit-I’iiKSipKNTH.— Шгаш Woods, Md., J. A. llackett, I,a„ W. II. Kirk, Va„ 11. II. MeUallum, Fin., T. H. Pritch¬ ard, N. U., .1. 1.. ItlllTOWb, Ky., S. Henderson, Alabama, W. Polio Yeamaii, Mo., .1. II. I. ink, Texas, W. I.. Kilpatrick, (la., J. U. Fiinnau, S. U„ Matt, llillsinuti, Tenn., T. 1‘. lispy, Ark., M. P. I.otvry, Mias. (lOIIUKSroNllINII Skouktahy— H. A. TUPPEIt. Tiikakukkii— J. O. WII.HIAMS. Kkooiidikci Skcii kta ii y — W. H. OWATHMEY. AutUTOit— JOSEPH F. COTTRELL. Нод no ok PiIamaiikiis. — .T. H. Hawthorne,.!. li.Watklns.il. K. KII.VBOII, W. E. Hatcher. E. Wortham, Henry McDonald, W. tloddln, Ц, H. Harris, .1. Pollard, Jr.. J. W. Jones, A. li. Clarke. J. li. Winston, T. J. Evans, U. H. Winston, S. O. Clopton. _ UST A ll communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to II. A. Tuitkii, Corresponding {Secretary, Richmond, Va. FOHM OF BEQUEST. 11 1 I io to by give and bequeath unto the Southern Baptist Convention, formed in Augusta, Georgia, in the month of May, 1815, and chartered by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, by an aet passed and approved December 2!)th, 18-15, (Легс insert the amount, if in money, or ‘ subject ,’ if other property, either real or personal,) for Foreign Missions.” SOUTHEUN BAPTIST CONVENTION. This body met on .May Gth at Lexington, in the very heart of the far-famed “Blue Grass Country” of Kentucky. Prosperity seems written all over that fair land. Rev. Lansing Burrows, pastor of the church where the Convention assembled, was pronounced unrivalled in Ids ordering of every¬ thing for the comfort of the delegates and visitors. Hosts were easy and elegant in their hospitality, and guests declared they “lived in clover.” The Convention wus characterized by the harmony of its proceedings, the encouragement received from tlie favorable reports of Its Hoard, and the ability of not a few of the speeches that were delivered. Dr. Boyce decliued roiilcctlon to the Presidency, and Dr.’ Moll reentered the position which ho had yielded to Dr. Boyce. As to the excellence of these presiding officers, Dr. Broadus said “ each could only be compared with the other.” The report of the Home Board was an admirably pre¬ pared document, and furnished evidence of the good management of the Board by a balance In their treasury of some $G,000. Prom Lexington the writer visited “Pleasant Hill,” la Mercer county, where ho found a com¬ munity of some four hundred benign lookingsouls, living in tlie utmost pence, and in the persuasion that tlie millennium had come, and that there should be no marrying nor giving in marriage, and enjoying in all the surroundiug country tlie repu¬ tation of realizing to an extraordinary degree tlie divine precept, that “ whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever tilings are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things ure of good report, If there be any virtue and any praise, think on these tilings, and tlie God of peace shall bo with you.” Returning to tlie railroad we visited tlie “ High Bridge” over tlie Kentucky River, which bridge looks, from tlie river below, like a few cords stretched across the yawning abyss, and the pass¬ ing train like a string of Hies walking tlie tight rope. Tills bridge is said to be tlie highest III tlie world. The following reports, somewhat abbreviated, were adopted by tlie Convention : DEATH OF UK. JETKK. Jeremiah B. Jeter was one of the founders of tills Convention, thirty-live years ago, and before that time had been for years a leading mem¬ ber of the Triennial Convention, which included Baptists from all parts of the United States. He lias attended nearly all the meetings of the South¬ ern Baptist Convention, and always took an active part in Its deliberations. For many years he was President of the Foreign Mission Board, and also for many years President of tlie Board of Trustees of tlie Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. To write his histoiy would, therefore, bo to write tlie history of tiiie Convention. No member of tills body at any session when lie was present can have failed to lie impressed by Dr. Jeter’s good sense, simplicity of character, elevation of aim, and earnest devoutness. But only now do we fully perceive how large a place he tilled in all our work, how commanding lie was In ability, and how noble in character. This Convention has many precious memories of great and good men ; may we all be moved to follow them as they followed Christ. 'J’ho committee loam with great satisfaction that Rev. \Sr. IS. Hatcher, D.D., a kinsman of Dr. Jeter, a native of the same county, and of late years his pastor In Richmond, has consented to prepare a memoir, and that this will comprise tho delightful “Recollections of a long life,” which Dr. Jeter published in many numbers of tiie Religious Her¬ ald. So gifted an author, and enjoying such ad¬ vantages, cun not fail to give us a book of high in¬ terest and value, and many will eagerly await its appearance. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. The Committee oil the Foreign Mission Journal report that It is gratifying to learn that the paper is now self-supporting, though it would not be oc¬ casion of questioning the propriety of publishing it If a deficit had been reported, for the Board need it as a medium of communication witli the chrrches, and us a convenient form of record for tlie impor¬ tant material that comes Into their possession. It is cause of regret that the Journal is not more generally circulated hi the churches, and perhaps still greater cause of regret that it is not того gen¬ erally and more carefully read by subscribers. Your committee suggest that it would be well for pastors to pay special attention to cultivating interest hi the people of their respective charges for tlie missionary intelligence which this paper furnishes. Your committee express the opinion that if items of missionary intelligence could be furnished our Southern Baptist Religious Press by tlie Corres¬ ponding Secretary, the main object had In view by tlie publication of the Journal would be advanced. DUILDINC1 FUNDS ANI) TREASURER'S EFFORT, FOREIGN MISSION HOARD. The funds contributed by the ladies of Georgia and Virginia to build Miss Moon a house have been invested in United States securities, she not need¬ ing the house at tills time. The amount is about $1,051.17. The contributions to the houses in Canton amount to $10,177.22, of which sum $5,585.05 has been put In a lot and house by Rev. R. 11. Graves. The total receipts for tlie Rome Chapel and tho Torre Pollice chapel amount to $30,570.73, which, we are lmppy to say, is sufficient to pay for both of these chapels. On the Treasurer’s report, it gives us pleasure to say that the statements show a very healthy state of allalrs, and present great liopcfidness for the future. Tho aggregate receipts for the year have been $-15,540.07, which is about $10,000 above tho average annual receipts. Tlie debt of the Board lias been reduced by the amount of $2,178.53. The Convention will beurin mind that our Mission, houses and funds may be estimated at $45,000. The funds of the Board have been managed with prudence, and all tlie disbursements have been properly audited. AFRICAN MISSIONS. There Is but one feature of the work which is In any respect new at present, and that 1ms been re¬ peatedly commended by our Board and by this Convention. Wo would venture to emphasize It afresh, however, and to urge the prosecution of efforts for enlisting our brethren of the colored race among us in the work of missions to Africa in conjunction with us. We rejoice in the noble work which Is hi pro¬ gress for the education of tho ministry among them, by the schools and Institutes under the direction of the American Baptist Homo Mission Society. May we not hope that with tlie higher culture and increasing numbers of their ministry many will rise up among them who will desire to bear tlie gospel tidings into the centre of tlie dark continent? Wo recommend that our Board of Foreign Mis¬ sions be Instructed to use diligent efforts for scour¬ ing the co-operation of our colored brethren hi all our States in prosecuting African Missions. CHINA MISSIONS. The Committee on China Missions make tho following report : 1. In their judgment, China is the most im¬ portant field for missionary work to be found in the world. In support of this broad proposition, they appeal to tlie wonderful inlluenco and power of tlie Chinese people. They are four hundred millions In number. They occupy a vast territory that stretches from the snows of Siberia, on tho north, to (lie torrid plains of Burundi, on tlie south ; from tiie Pacific, on (he east, to the moun¬ tainous ranges of Central Asia, on the west— a land fertile by nature and cultivated with an assiduity and a success equaled by few of the peo¬ ples of the earth. They possess a civilization which thousands of years ago had well nigh reached its present development— a sound system, which has lived through long ages of the past, sur¬ viving the disaster of revolution and the overthrow of political Institutions. The diffusion of education among the male population is excelled by that of few of tho nations of Europe, while я spirit of enterprise, carrying them far and wide in all the countries of Eastern Asia, and even into America, entitles them to bo called tlie Anglo-Saxons of the East. The conversion of such a people to Christ would insnro/the speedy conquest of tlie world. 2. Tills field is already whitening to the harvest. During tlie past year tlie baptisms into our churches have been ninety-eight. Tills may at first sight seem to be a small number, but had the Baptist ministers of tlie United States, sustained and assisted by a membership of two millions, averaged as many baptisms as did our missionaries in China, tlie number added to our churches at home would have been more than live hundred thousand, whereas they baptized less than eighty thousand.