Foreign Mission Journal, March 1883

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. I’ubltalicil Monthly by tlio Foreign Mission Board of tlio Southern Baptist Convention. “all power js given unto me in heaven and in earth, go ye, therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS.” Vol. 14— New Series. RICHMOND. VA„ MARCH, 1883. No. 8. — Whole No. 164. IKiitereil at the Poet-Oinco at lllchinond, Vu„ as fpcoml-clru** mutter.] Foreign Mission Journal RATES PER ANNUM: One copy, separately folded and addressed . f 50 Three copies, nddtcsscd to one person . 1 00 Ten copies, addressed to one person . . 3 00 Forty copies, addressed to one person . ,.10 00 One hundred copies, addressed to one person . 20 00 4 S* Please remit by Draft, Postal Order, or in Regis¬ tered Letter, and notify us promptly of any change In address. . Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, Va. foreign mission board OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. Ьосдтио at ItlOHMONl), VIRGINIA. I'nseimcNT— I. Г.. M. OU1IHY. VlCK Шглт Woods, Mil., J. A. Hack- Ml, r.a„ J, I., Burrows, Va., P. 1*. Bishop, Fla.. O. V. Gregory, N. O., Bobrrt Hyland, Ky., J. .1. I». Uen- troi‘, Alabama. В. K. l)u..can, Mo., u. W. Pickett, Texas, W. I,. Kilpatrick, On., Ohas. Manly, S. O., Matt, lllllsman, Tenn.. W. II. Mayfield, Ark., George ■Whitfield, Miss., M. Ellleon, W. Л a. OonitEsrotiDiNO ЯЕСП KTAllV—H. A, TUPI'ER, Тнвлтлнт— J. C. WILLIAMS. lUCOHDINO ЯЕСПЕТЛПТ— W. II. GWATIIMEY. Аоштоп— lOSEI’It F. ООТТШЛ.1.. BOAliDor MANAdKnfi.—J.B. Hawthorne, J. B. Wat¬ kins. H. tC. Ellyeon, W. E. Hatcher, E. Wortham, W. B. Thomnc, W, Goddln, II. II. Harris, J. Pollard, Jr., J. W. Jones. A. B. Clarke, I. B. Winston, J. II. Hut- eon, О. II. Winston, S. O. Olopton. KS-All communciations in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to 11. Л. Tupi’EK, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond . Va. We have been almost overwhelmed with kindness. Since the first of January nearly all the southern Baptist newspapers have spoken in complimentary terms of the Jour¬ nal, scores of letters have expressed ap¬ proval, and, best of all, our receipts for sub¬ scriptions have been larger than we had ever known before, for all this we return most hearty thanks and pass the compliments on to the missionaries whose letters have made our colnms so interesting and so valuable. THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. As tlie time for its annual meeting draws near we suppose not a few of our younger renders would like to know something of the origin and history of the Convention. We take the following facts mainly from Ur. Tapper’s History of our Foreign Missions, to which we refer any who may desire fur¬ ther information. Modern missions inav be said to have be¬ gun, at least among English-speaking peo¬ ple, under tlie influence of a sermon preached, by William Carey, before tlie Northampton Association in 171)2, from Isa. liv, 2 and J, witlj two main divisions: “ Expect great things from Cod," and, ''Attempt great things for God." The English Baptist Mis¬ sionary Society was organized in October of that year. Tlie American Board of Com¬ missioners, originally a union of several de¬ nominations, though now almost exclusively Congregational, was founded in 1810. In May, 1 81 J, at tlie city of Philadelphia, dele¬ gates from el, even Slates organized tlie "General Missionary Convention of the Bap¬ tist Denomination ill the United States,” with Dr. Richard Furman, of Soutli Carolina, as president, and Dr. Titos. Baldwin, of Mas¬ sachusetts, Secretary. Tlie pressing reason for this organization was to support and re¬ inforce Dr. Judson, who in 1312 had sailed for India under appointment by tlie Ameri¬ can Board, hut became a Baptist on tlie voy¬ age out. Dr. Luther Rice, who sailed a week later than Judson, experienced a simi¬ lar change of views, was baptized in India, then returned to this country, and did more thanany other onemnn to arousea missionary spirit in American Baptists. The Triennial Convention, as it was called, with its Foreign Hoard located at Boston, lasted just thirty years, and was finally rent in twain by tlie fierce agitation of a question, on which tlie whole country was then terribly excited. Into the grounds of tlie separation we do not care to enter— In itself an evil and a hitter tiling, it seems to have been graciously overruled, if not providentially designed, to increase tlie efficiency of both parties. Re iigions botlics are strong in proportion to size only when tlie components are suffi¬ ciently homogeneous to co-operate without friction. When wide diversity in character, habits or surroundings produces discord, a split increases the effective power. Of tlie several steps by which tlie separa¬ tion was carried out, these are wortli notice. Tlie Alabama Baptist Convention in 1844, demanded of tlie Boston Board “an explicit avowal that slaveholders are eligible and en .titled . . . to receive any agency or mis¬ sion, or other appointment within tlie scope of their operations." Tlie Board replied that they “could not appoint as missionary any one having slaves, and insisting on re¬ taining them ns his property." The Virginia Foreign Mission Society thereupon issued a circular calling n convention of Southern Baptists to meet at Augusta, Gn., in May of tlie next year. Meantime tlie Home Mission Society (which had been organized in 18.42,) at its meeting in Providence, R. I., April, 1845, adopted a resolution "that, in our opinion, it is expedient that tlie members now forming the Society, should hereafter act in separate organizations at tlie Soutli and at tlie North, in promoting tlie objects which were originally contemplated by tlie Society.” So on tlie 8th of May, 1845, three hundred ami ten delegates assembled at Augusta, organized the Southern Baptist Convention, and took the proper steps to procure a charter from the State of Georgia. And finally, on tlie l'.llli of November follow¬ ing, at a special meeting held in New York city, tlie General Convention was formally dissolved, and tlie American Baptist Mission¬ ary Union formed to take its place. There has been some debate as to which of tlie two bodies made by its dismember¬ ment, is the direct successor of the General Convention. With all the light before us, we answer, Both, tlie one in law, tlie oilier in fact. Tlie Missionary Union assumed the liabilities and received tlie assets of tlie old partnership, with an altered constitution, hut under an amended charter, granted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1S4C. It is clearly tlie legal successor. Quite as clear is it that tlie Southern Convention is the actual successor, for it, while obliged to seek a new charter and to start de novo in everything, adopted a constitution which was “precisely that of the original Union." This constitution, we should add, lias been amended from time to time. Tlie meetings, for example, at first held once in three years, were in 1840 made biennial, and since 18G0, annual. Of tlie work of the Convention during these thirty-eight years, we may find room to say something next month. THE MEETING AT WACO. Dr. Burleson is at the head of a committee on transportation for delegates and visitors to tlie Convention which assembles at Waco on tlie Otli of next May. He writes that “ we want to make this session one of tlie grand¬ est ever known in the history of the Conven¬ tion. We hope to secure an attendance of at least one thousand.” To this end tlie Committee is trying to pro¬ cure reduced rates on all lines of railway converging at Waco, and to get from tlie Texas roads "a grand excursion throughout tlie State." The meeting will he one of more than usual importance. Tlie Home Mission Board, removed a year ago and instructed to re-or¬ ganize its work, must give an account of its new plans, and will doubtless thrill the body with its report of what lias been done, and of tlie open doors which remain to be enter¬ ed. Tlie Foreign Board can report tlie strengthening of all its stations, and will re¬ echo tlie call that comes across tlie waters, pleading for more men to preacli tlie gospel to dying heathen. Questions of duty and of policy must arise, and will need for their proper solution tlie ripe experience of tlie older brethren, as well as tlie buoyant zeal of younger men. Add to this that Texas lias tlie dimensions of an empire rather than of a single State — its people are compelled by tlit^r very surroundings to do everything on a grand scale — and many of us, in these At¬ lantic and Middle regions, will never have so favorable of an opportunity to see it in all its glory. We hope, therefore, that a large dele¬ gation will go from tlie older States. But much tiie larger part of tlie thousand whom tlie Committee expect must come from beyond tlie Mississippi. And we take occa¬ sion to warn the brethrert in time tliata State is entitled under tlie. Constitution to only one delegate for every £100 contributed to either of the Hoards, and one representative for every £500 raised and expended in State Missions, and reported to tlie Home Board before the 1st of March. Texas was entitled last year to 49 dele¬ gates, Arkansas to 4, Louisiana to 1G. Tlie best way' to secure a large assemblage will be for these and oilier adjacent States to double their contributions. THREE REASONS. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY FOR MISSIONS? 1. Because it enlarges our minds and hearts. Tlie mind is measured by tlie scope of its thoughts; tlie heart is just equal in size to the objects of its desire. Only as one embraces in his sympathies the whole "body of Ciirist ” does he "attain unto a full-grown mail." 2. Because tlie missionaties ask us to pray for them, in every address made at home, in every letter from abroad, they plead, and oil, how earnestly, to be remembered always in our prayers. They are lonely, burdened with work, tempted by irreligious surround¬ ings, exposed to all sorts of dangers. !i. Because our prayers, though nothing in themselves, do yet help tlie work. Why or how tliis is, we may not tie able to see, hut tlie fact is as sure as any other truth taught in the Bible. Evangelizing tlie world is God's own cause, mid he will certainly an¬ swer petitions so accordant with his will. WHY HAVE CONCERTS OF PRAYER? 1. Because we are social beings. Public exercises re-act upon and tpiicken our private devotions. A special promise moreover is given (Mat. xviii, 19.) to agreement as touch¬ ing anything we shall ask. 2. Because we enlist tlie co-operation of others. Many who do not pray in private for missions will attend tlie public meeting and will become interested. 3. Because tlie missionary concert is the most interesting of all tlie regular prayer- meetings. if you have not found this out, it must be that you haven’t given it a fair trial. HOW SHALL THEY HE CONDUCTED? 1. Devote to missions (home and foreign) the first weekly prayer-meeting ,in every month. This is tlie time most commonly adopted, and it is fit and right to give tlie first fruits to tliis, our great work. 2. Vary the exercises from month to month. Tlie field is very wide, talk mostly about special places and tlie men who occupy them. Concrete and particular statements are far more impressive than vague generali¬ ties. 3'. Let all the other exercises, reading, singing, talking, be subordinate to the prin¬ cipal aim, prayer. There was never on earth a sweeter season than when Jesus in the up¬ per room prayed for his disciples, “and not for these only, hut for them also that believe through their word.” Our nearest approach to it is in an earnest prayer-meeting. About every other month appears among our receipts a small sum from tlie Sunday- school of what its pastor says is “ tlie poorest Baptist church in Louisville, Ky." These little contributions have amounted in six months to £37.09, and go to gladden tlie hearts and strengthen tlie hands of brother Pruitt at Tung Chow. If a small, weak school can raise so much, iiow much could tlie many richer schools in tlie South raise? Especially worthy of imi¬ tation is tlie regularity with which the Cable Street school works. Tliis no doubt is one main element of their success. Don’t forget that on tlie Ifith of April we are going to mail twenty copies of the “ His¬ tory of our Foreign Missions,” an elegant book of over 500 royal Svo pages, to those friends wiio shall seem to have been most ef¬ ficient in extending tlie circulation of the Journal. If you want a copy, be sure to send on your list of names and the money before that «late. Meantime the offer of the book, for 20 subscribers at 50 cts eacii, or 30 at ."3>j cts, or 50 at 30 cts, or 80 at 25 cts, or 160 at 20 cts, as was fully explained in December, and repeated in February, is still standing and will be so long as our stock lasts. Tlie Board lias received notification of a valuable legacy, left by the late Mrs. Ellington of Huntsville, Alabama. Knowing tlie jealously of our laws on tlie matter of bequests made to religious objects, we for¬ bear to count tlie money until it is paid over to our Treasurer. Any one else who may be thinking of making n simular will should be very particular to designate the beneficiary properly. We print a “form of bequest” just above the receipts on -ltli page. Selfishness would have us provide for our own wants first and give to Hie Master’s ser¬ vice anything that we can then spare. Jesus said: “Seek ye first his kingdom and Ms righteousness; and all these tilings shall be added unto you." GLEANINGS. Mr. and Mrs. Eager are in fine health and' good spirits. They talk Italian to the little Roman who rules their household, but when lie lias fallen asleep, relapse into their na¬ tive English. Geo. I). Taylor, Jr., is expecting to enter tlie seminary at l.oulsville next fall. “ I know a man," says P. Brown in tlie Cen¬ tral Baptist, “who, for nearly twenty years, has given a tenth of all his earnings. From comparative poverty, he has grown rich, not only in worldly goods, but in grace and in favor with men." Brother Simmons, ill a letter of thanks for an appropriation to build another chapel at Canton, expresses a belief that "the Bap¬ tists in Mississippi will raise the money witiiin a year if tiiey are requested to do so." Wo make tlie request only adding that it ought to he entirely in addition to — not partly instead of— tiieir regular contribu¬ tions. " How short," writes brother Walker, De¬ cember 30th, “how short lias been this my first year in China, and yet how full of ex¬ perience.” “Mexico,” says brother Powell, "must be¬ come Protestant or infidel in tlie next few years.” He calls for at least twenty men to occupy as many towns of 20,000 or more in¬ habitants each.