Foreign Mission Journal, May 1878

Foreign Mission J ournal ['■■LIImImmI Monthly by Им: roreiR'ii ЛИ ns I on llnnril ot‘ <he .Southern llnplixl Con» ention. "ALL DOWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN НЕ A YEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE , AND TEACH ALL NATIONS Vol. 10. — New Series. RICHMOND, VA., MAY, 1S7S. No. 2.— Whole No. 98. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL RATES PER ANNUM: Olio copy . . . 6(1 cts. Klvo or moru roplos, to iinu porooii . 40 " a copy. Twenty or more copies, to olio perron . 30 " Fifty or morn copies, to ono person . 2Д " " eS-lMonsu remit by llrnft, 1’ontnl Order, or lit UeRlstorcd hotter. Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL, RICHMOND, Va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTI8T CONVENTION, I.OCATKO at IIICIIMONI), ПЙ01И1Л. I’iiksidkxt— J. I,. M. CURRY. Vick-Diiksidunts.— Hlrnm Woods, Md., J. A. Jlnckett, Mbs., F. Courtney, I.n , J. И, Jeter, Vu., II. H. McUiillinn, Fin., W. M. Wlncnte, N. O., J. L. Harrow*. Ky., .S. Hen- ilersoii, Alnbnimi, W. I’opo Yenmnn, Mo„ J. H, Link, Texas, II. II. Tucker, Git., J. u. Form an, S. O., Mutt, llllbinnu, Tenn,, J. H. lloone, Ark, COMIIKSPONIltNO SECltKTAItV— II. A. TUl'DEK. ТИКА8Ш1К11— J. O. WILLIAMS. liKcoimiso SKOHETAiiy— W. II. OWATIIMEV. ЛСШТ011 — JUSKi’Ii F. COTTRELL. Полно op Manaokiis.— E. W. Warren, .1. It. Wulkliis, H. K. Kllyson, W. K. Hatcher, E. Wortham, llenry McDonald, W, Qoddin, II. II. Harris, Л. E. Dickinson,.!. W. Jones, A. It Clarke, J. 11, Winston, T. J. Evans, U. II. Winston, J. It. Gurllck. _ _ 237' All communication s in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to II. Л. Tiutsb, Corresponding Secretary, llichmond, Va. THIS NUMBER. This number of tlio Journal, with an extra •sheet beside, lias been swallowed up by the Re¬ port of the Hoard, and their receipts. Our trip south was “set up" for this issue; but it gives way to more solid matter, anil it will keep. As we go to press, interesting letters from our missionaries come to hand. The June paper will be attractive. Let this number bo preserved for future reference; let its contents be pondered; and may God’s Spirit move the hearts and aid the hands of Ids people to do more this year than they were able to do, in the year gone by, for the spread of His kingdom over the earth. THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. GRATITUDE AND FAITH. Ли eminent llnaucier, connected otlleially with our Convention, states, Unit in his business experience of a half century, lie has known no monetary pressure equal to that of the past three or four years; and that, of this period the last year lias been tlie most severe. Others, of high authority on such matters, conllrm this judgment. Under the circumstances, it is a cause of gratitude to God that the necessities of our Missions have been sup¬ plied, and tlie Hoard have experienced no serious embarrassment. Hut, in the execution of tlie di¬ vine command to disciple tlie nations, God's peo¬ ple must go forward, In darkness and in light, re- lyhjgon tlie unfailing promise: “And lo, I am with you ahvay, even unto tlie end of the world." FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. In consequence of ill health, Prof. II. II. Harris, late editor and manager of tlie paper, retired in December last from this position, which lie had so ably held, and was succeeded in it, at tlie request of the Hoard, by our Corresponding Secretary. The income o'f tlie Journal covers its present expenses: and it is desirable to so increase Its cir¬ culation, as to reduce the price of the subscription, or to enlarge the size of tlie paper. More perma¬ nent aid to our cause could scarcely lie given by its friends, than by tlie spread of this medium of com¬ munication and intelligence among the churches. woman's work. Many of our Christian sisters are working nobly with ns, in connection with elicit* respective churches and State organizations. The Hoard an¬ ticipate grand results front their pious and self-de¬ nying labors. More general and separate organiza¬ tion seems undcslrcil, and undesirable, as not in harmony with tlie views and genius of tlie women of the South. treasurer's redout. Tills report shows that the receipts of tlie Hoard have been some thirty-two thousand dollars, (931,040.74), which is the amount received last year, and Is $3,000 above tlie average contributions since the war. Tlie two thousand dollars credited to Hills Payable were advanced by several noble brethren of Charleston, S. C'., who look for the re¬ turn to future collections from South Carolina. The live thousand dollars reported last year as due to tlie Hank of Commerce, have been reduced, as is seen by tlie report, to twenty-live hundred dol¬ lars. Until within a few weeks, the Hoard could not have anticipated, except so far as they relied on tlie efficacy of prayer and of labor, a llnancial exhibit so favorable ; which, under the severity of the times, furnishes good reason for congratula¬ tion to tlie Convention, and, we repeat, for thank¬ fulness to God. Missionaries : W. J. David, at Abbeokuta ; \V. W. Colley, at Lagos. Native Assistants : Moses L. Stone, Teacher and Expositor, at Ogbomosho ; Jerry Hanson, brother David’s interpreter; Stephen Phillips, na¬ tive Teacher at Abbeokuta ; Samson L. Milton, brother Colley’s Teacher and Assistant; Lewis O. Murray, brother Colley’s Interpreter. Smitten by disease and sun-stroke, and assured by an experienced physician that his life was in im¬ minent peril, tills brother left Ids station at Abbco- kntaon the 2d of August last; and sailed from Lugos on tlie 7th of tlie month for Liverpool, where lie ar¬ rived on tlie fourth of September. After submit¬ ting to medical treatment in England, and travel¬ ing on tlie continent at tlie expense of a liberal friend from South Africa, lie started back on t lie 23d of February, improved in health, but not fully restored. Under that date lie wrote from Liver¬ pool : “ It is with a joyful heart I bid adieu to civ¬ ilized and Christian England to return to my work among tlie converts and chief*, tlie peasants and beggars, who are anxiously awaiting my re¬ turn. Perhaps I am returning too early for my good, but my desire anil anxiety are too great for me to remain longer. Once more I cast myself on the bosom of our loving Father. My heart is fixed, my hope is bright, and as I know in whom l be¬ lieve, [ can cheerfully bid you farewell.” The latest news from him was from Madeira. On March the 2d, lie wrote : “ We have had a splendid voyage thus far; we are now one-third tlie distance and onc-fourth tlie time on our way to Lagos. 1 am better than when I left Liverpool. The Work before his departure from Africa. “This Mission,” ho wrote from Abbeokuta, “is on an encouraging foundation— encouraging to tlie laborers here, to tlie converts, to tlie heathen, and should be to tlie Christians at home. We have in our schools sixty children. There are three chinches, where scores of men and women arc learning tlie way of life ; and two Mission houses, healthful and comfortable.” Of Ogbomosho, our native laborer, Moses L. Stone, remarked : “Surely the Lord is working among us botli to will and to do of Ills good pleasure. 1 have some one hun¬ dred an 1 forty, every Sunday, to hear about our blessed Saviour. From these lie will, no doubt, choose 1 1 is own. I go on Saturday to prepare tlie people for Sunday, and go on Monday to impress what they heard on Sunday.” Subsequently mo¬ ther David wrote : “The sciiool teacher and inter¬ preter will do all they can in teaching tlie people during my absence, with occasional help from bro¬ ther (Jolley. I had not heard from Ogbomosho for several weeks previous to my departure, owing to troubles of long standing, between tlie Egba and Yovuba governments. In fact an Ibadon army was marching against Abbeokuta when I left. There was hope that other tribes would interfere and set¬ tle the difficulty. With disappointed hopes and bitterness of grief, I left the mission just as it was put in readiness to work, and when danger was threatening the country.” ' At Lagos the new chapel was dedicated on the 10th of May. Brother Colley wrote : “The amount raised among the people was £75, or $300 of hard money of this place. The missionaries here think tlio house should have cost £450, while It has only cost £321 7s. 8d. God lias shown Ills approbation of our movements. The day-school is doing well. Tlie Sunday-school is well attended and interesting. Many of the men and women have learned in six months to read the New 'Testament in their ver¬ nacular. Some are so moved upon, that they come at once for baptism and church-membership.” Again he wrote : “On tlie 12th of June, I left Lagos for Abbeokuta, where I remained about twenty days, which did me some good, and gave me an opportunity of watching brother David’s double complaints, and helping him all I could with his work in that very large town. On the 25th of June brother Da\ IJ moved into tlie new mission house, which stands on the same lot with the chapel, in tlie Ijaye part of tlie town. Tlie house is a good one, and tlie locality I believe to lie the best, both for work and for health. I write to beg tlie immediate action of tlie Hoard to call brother Da¬ vid from Africa, that his life may be spared, or at least prolonged. All tlie missionaries agree with us that he ought to go away from Africa at once. The great trouble with him is to get his consent to quit his station with tlie work so well begun.” Work in Brother David's absence. Under date of Oetober23d, Brother Colley writes from Lagos: “Yours of July 20th found mein Abbeokuta again busily arranging the work there to suit tlio war raging between Abbeokuta and Iba- don. The effect of tlie war is not to drive us out of the respective countries, although we are cut off from our Ogbomosho’ station. Our young man, Moses L. Stone, is there, and from all I can bear, is doing well. The war is very much in tlie way of missionaries and their work. At Abbeokuta there were some forty-seven in tlie Sunday-school, and ninety on tlie day school list. I left one of tlie young men in charge, with promises from sev¬ eral of the chiefs that they would “go to church, send their children to school, and help the young man to take care of tlie station until our brother David should return.” At Lagos 1 am much pleased and encouraged with the work. The con¬ gregations are increased and increasing. The day- school lias an average attendance of thirty-eight ohiUlren. Tlie wars are much felt. We know it Is very hard with our Board ; still, the men on the field must be aided to keep up.” MOSES L. STONE. The following simple and interesting lines arc from the journal of this young brother : Orisa . The people sing songs and give their property to tlds God or image. Even tlie lives of their chil¬ dren are not too'dear to devote to the tiling. On October 5th a boy was killed by lightning. Orders were given to the parents not to mourn, ns tlie God Sivugo had killed the child. The next day а large com pound was set on lire, and the town tilled with dancing and praises to Sango for what lie had \\\ J. David. Ill Health. AFRICAN MISSIONS.