Foreign Mission Journal, October 1888

Foreign Mission Journal. «я PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FOltEIGN MISSION BOAICD OP THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. no- <ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.” : ' Vol. 20 — Nijw Series. RICHMOND, VA., OCTOBER, 1888. No. 3 — Whole No. 243'. f Entered nt the Poet-Office nt lUchmond, Va., as •econd-clnes matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For pnper* separately addressed, either to same or to different post offices : One copy . - . . . . . ft*. Three copies @11, or . . . 33KeU. nplece II. For packages sent to one person, who shall be responsible for their distribution: Four copies for Ф1, or more at . ......25cts. apiece. Twenty-five copies for *5. or more at . JO cts. apiece. Onellundred copies forflfli ormoreat.-lflcts. apiece. .•^■Please remit by Draft, Postal Order, or In Reftls- tered Letter, and notify us ГПОМГТХ/Г of any change tn address. Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL, Richmond, Va, ADVERTISING RATES. SPAOK. 1 Month. s Months 5 Months 12 Months One Inch...,. . Two Inches . 1 2Л г 4o 3 45 в 45 И 60 12 50 ggg Three Inches . Quarter column... Half column . 3 M 4 75 9 20 13 Ml 18 00 25 00 52 00 90 00 P 2Л 25 25 48 00 One column . IS 00 60 00 «2 60 178 00 FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE 80UTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. LOCATED at RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. President— H. II. Harris. Vice-Presidents.— Joshua Levering, Md., C. W. Tomkles. La.. Л. E. Owen, Va„ N. A. П Fla., W. L. Wright, N.l!.,O.P.Bngbv,Ky., W. О Bled- eo-, Alabama. .1. P. Orccne, Mo„ В. H. Carroll, r.iac, W. L. Kilpatrick, Oa„ Ohns. Manly, S. O., J. M. Seiner, Tean.. .1. B. Searcy, Ark., George WlUtfield, Miss., W. F. Atlklsson, W. Va. Corresponding Secretary— II. A. TUPPER. Assistant Sbcurtary. T. P. BELL. Treasurer— J. 0. WILLIAMS. Recording Secretary— A. B. CLARKE. Aoditor-H. O. BURNETT. Board or Млялокпя — H. K. Ellyson, J. B. Win- •ton, О. II. Winston. W. E. Hatcher, J. Pollard, ■Tr., S. O. O'onwa, I. B. Hnt*oa. W. O. Thomas, W. W. Landrum, W ,T. Shipman. Про. Cooper. O.H. Hyland, H. C. Bnrnelt.T. P. Mathews, R. H. Pitt, R.S. Boslier. •All communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressedto H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES, As was announced in the September issue of the Journal. Rev. J. A. Barker and wife sailed from Newport News on Satur¬ day, Sept, ist, for their field of labor in Bahia, Brazil. On the 5th, Misses L. C. Cabaniss and M. Lillian Wright left this city for Saltillo, Mexico, where they go to teach in Madero Institute, and to do such missionary work as they may be able to do in connection with their school duties. Rev. J. G. Chastain joined them on the way. The Baptist Association of Mexico was to meet at Patos on the 15th of September, and these new workers de¬ sired to meet those already on the field, at that time. Brother Powell is in high spirits, and now that he is set free from Saltillo by the arrival of brother Moseley, proposes to work the out-lying regions "for all they are worth.” . REV. T. P. CRAWFORD, D. D. Born May Stlii iS2T, in Warren county, Ky. In 1S4S. entered Union University, at Murfreesboro, and in 1S51 " lie graduated at the head of his class and with the first honors of the insti¬ tution.” Sailed, with his wife, for Shanghai, November 17th, 1S51, In 1S63 moved to Shantung Province, where, through the years, he has been steadily, faithfully laboring for the salvation of China. ANOTHER CALL 70 YOUNG MINISTERS. Dr. R. H. Graves, in “Л Plea for Can¬ ton,” in this issue of the Journal, makes this startling statement: “Brother Sim¬ mons is the only white Baptist minister preaching to the ten millions of people who speak the Cantonese dialect." We did not know that this was the case and were startled when we rend it. Some of you should be startled too, startled into serious thought and earnest questioning as to whether this state of things should con¬ tinue to exist. It seems from this, that oilier Baptist bodies have left this vast multitude of im¬ mortal souls to us, Southern Baptists, that from us they may receive the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. Had we not been at work there, doubtless others would have entered. But they have remained away and commit¬ ted these ten millions to us. What an awful responsibility this involves I How have we met this responsibility? Shame and confusion of face before God must be ours as we answer. We have been pretending to occupy the field since 1836, when Rev. Lewis Shuck and wife arrived at Macao. Alter fifty-two years, we can point to one man on that field— only one. Seldom have we had more than two— now only one. Such is the record of a people numbering itself by the hundreds of thou¬ sands and boasting in its numbers. How arc ж meeting this responsibility ? I there was any intrusion, it was on the part Our one male missionary cries aloud for of tlie Lutherans. The only mistake the helpers, for men to Help him reap, for says Missionary Union made in the whole he, "this is now reaping time with us." And matter was when it entered on an agree- not a single minister out of the 8,057 1 ment with these Lutherans that neither within the bounds of our Convention says : society would enter any village where the Here am I, send me.” Of the hundreds , other had a regular preaching station or who have enjoyed the advantages of the - local preacher. We would commend to Seminary in the past, not one now says, “ 1 1 our brethren of the Union the action of will go and help brother Simmons in this, our Board, when Bro. Powell, of Mexico, great work.” In comfortable pastorates at j asked whether or not he should appoint home there are many, but none are found i one of an interdenominational committee to leave these and to go far hence to the J in Mexico, said committee to carry out the Gentiles. Some of these men, men who 1 provisions of an agreement entered into have succeeded in pastorates at home, yea, by the various missions in Mexico, (our some who have succeeded grandly here, 1 own excepted), to the effect that no mis ought to leave their pastorates and go to sionary of one denomination should enter preach the gospel of Christ among these any city or town of less than 15,000 inhabi- ten millions of Christless ones. God has , tants, where one of another denomination called some of these to go. We can put 1 was at work, and that where two denomi- our hands to-day upon not a few successful nations were already at work in such a pastors among our younger men, who have city or town, the last comer should retire smothered and are smothering con- in favor of the first. Our Board replied : victions of duty to go to foreign fields. We ,n view of lhe u.ell_known doctrines held coubl give a not inconsiderable list, of each ! by Baptists as to the independence of one of whom some fellow-student of the every local church, the right of private Seminary ha. .„id a. " He ..r»E i.Krf ЗХ' missionary convictions, but lias tried to ordinances of Christ, this Board cannot drown them in the cares of a busy pas- approve of the appointment of an ecclesi- torate.” There are many such scattered astical court which will assert the right „,e, oar Sou, he, a S.a.e. „ad „ call rhea, ' «4?“ о fra” now — in the name of our God wecallthem . Yent tj)e organization of one. to come and offer themselves for his work . For the reasons above indicated we feel in the foreign fields. Not only are they constrained to advise onr missionaries in needed for Canton, but for Centra. Northern China, for Brazil, for Africa, for by the Evangelical Missionary Alliance of Italy and Mexico. And Japan stretches j Mexico. out her hands, pleading, “ Come over and i The other case to which reference was help us," and no one is found ready to go. made occurred in Armenia, where some How shall ж meet the responsibility ? j | Armenians, who had been converted under We await the answer of onr brethren. . the preaching of missionaries of the May the Lord call out his chosen ones for American Board (Congregational), by the the work. When they come, our people ’ simpie study of the Scriptures became to some who were led by the Spirit of God. through his Word, to see the truth as we hold it. It came to the help of its breth¬ ren. It could not do otherwise. May the Lord's richest blessings rest upon the work. The commission is that we go and preach the gospel to ail nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded. So long as it stands thus, Baptists have no right to promise to stay out of any part of the world. Where God seems specially to lead, there they ought first to go, no matter who may be on the field. If this be grasping, then must we grasp. will support them. ! Baptists, and came over to this country seeking alliance with those of “like faith |and practice" with themselves. The , Missionary Union not being prepared to "RECKLESS GRASPING" OF BAPTISTS, A German author, in n recently published work on " Evangelical Missions," speaking | give them the aid they desired, the Publi- of the American Baptist Missionary Union, . cation Society extended its fraternal hand says: “Various missionary societies com- to them, and is now doing some work in plain of the reckless grasping of Baptist j Armenia. This action is protested against laborers in districts occupied by others;; by the American Board as a violation of the Lutherans in Telugti land, and the ! missionary comity and denominational American Board in Asia Minor.” 'courtesy. Why? We believe that the The editor of the Baptist Missionary j Publication Society did just right. It Magazine disposes of the first case above alluded to, by showing that the missiona¬ ries of the Missionary Union had preached the gospel through all the region now occupied by the Lutherans twenty-one before these ever entered it. If years simply did what the Baptists of this country did early in the century, when Judson and Rice changed their views and became Baptists. It simply entered я field into which God by an undoubted provi¬ dence led it. It extended a helping hand SUPPORT OF MISSIONARIES BY ASSOCIA¬ TIONS. A great deal lias been said of late abput churches and associations sending out and supporting their own missionaries, or adopting, for support, those already in the field. Some very earnest and able friends of foreign missions believe that some such movement as this is absolutely necessary in order to draw out the latent powers of our churches. Some even, in their enthu siasm for a new movement, seem to think that general denominational boards are hindrances to the development of the missionary spirit at home, and that this spirit will never manifest itself aright until churches or associations take the work into their own hands and send out their own missionaries. We have looked very carefully into this subject, reading much that has been said o'n both sides of it— for there are two sides— and as a result have been ready to hail with joy a move ment of this kind in some of our States, a movement which has been characterized by such good common sense, as to avoid on the one hand the worst dangers, while on the other it brings out into action the good that is in the system. We note some of theadvantages to be gained by such church or association.-!! adoption of missionaries; some of the dangers connected therewith, and then mention the action of the asso¬ ciations alluded to above. The advantages, in brief, are; i. that by an association's adopting a missionary, the support of that missionary becomes a part of the associational work. Tile raising of the salary becomes as much obligatory upon its officers and churches as would that of a missionary employed in their own bounds, He is their missionary— they, his supporters. 2. The collecting of the salary devolves upon the association and its officers ahd relieves, so far, an agent or secretary from any necessity of special work in its bounds. If each association in a State were to undertake to support a missionary, very little work would need to be done by any representative of any board in that State. 3. it would bring the mis sionary and his supporters into more immediate contact, as naturally there would be frequent communication between them, and occasional reports made directly to the churches by the missionary. 4, It would bring into play, and utilize for missions, that feeling which leads us all— selfish it may be— to be more interested in and work harder for that which is ours, distinc¬ tively, than for what belongs to us and many thousands more. The same spirit that leads us to do more for “our” church than we would for any other would lead to more earnest efforts for the support of "our” missionary. This would show itself not only in gifts of money, but in gifts of thought and of prayer. 5. We might add that it would probably largely increase the amount of money given for foreign missions, if generally adopted. This result would follow temporarily at least. On the other hand, there are serious difficulties and dangers involved in the plan, which we can just touch upon. 1. There is danger that gifts would soon be made to a man rather than to that man's Lord. The best giving is always to the Lord. 2, That If the particular man chosen should prove less successful than some others, the people would be inclined to lose their interest in -him and the work. And if he should fail and have to return home, they might grow utterly discouraged and say, “ Why waste our money thus ?” Such evil effects have been seen and felt in our own work. Where men give to the general work, they have an interest in all the workers, and if one fails and fails out of the ranks, they feel that the others who, are succeeding are theirs as well. 3. A small body, supporting one missionary, would not have the moral and financial weight abroad that is possessed by a.large denomination, and moral and financial strengtli is not to be dispised in this work. 4. Then there is danger, where thtre are several missionaries at work in the same place, if each is under the control and direction of a different body, that, with many masters there would be many counsels and much confusion. Missiona¬ ries are not all entirely sanctified, and there is need oftentimes for the exercise of Con¬ trol in the mission field by a board at home, which can look at all sides of a question and do it in an impartial and unimpas¬ sioned way. 5. We might add that there is danger of an association or church being led by this plan to do less than it ought for missions— to rest satisfied with " a mls- when it is able, and ought, to give to support two or three, of our associations— one in North and several in Texas — have de¬ cided to undertake the support of a mis¬ sionary each. But they have done it, not as an independent movement, separate and apart from our general work, hut along with that, in such away, as we said before, as to reap most of the benefits and lessen the dangers of such a plan, The Flat River Association of North Carolina has selected a man whom it will support under direction of the Foreign Mission Board. Its choice has fallen upon a first-class young man, on whom the board already had its eye, and it has agreed to support him, while he goes as an appointee of the board, as any other mis¬ sionary. Eight associations in Texas have acted in this matter, and have each chosen one of our missionaries already in the field. Here, too, there is no disposition shown to take the control of the work or of the workers out of the hands of the board, but in cordial sympathy with the general^ work and with full confidence in its gen¬ eral management, these brethren have decided to enlarge their share therein, There is no disintegration, but, we trust, closer union. The dangers to which wc have alluded as incident to the plan of work, we believe our brethren will guard against, being especially careful not to let their interest in their own missionaries lessen that they feel In the work as a whole. May the Lord’s blessing rest upon these associa¬ tions and their missionaries — yea, and upon all our churches. And may wisdom be given the board for the great work entrusted to it. ■ Of the Hon. W. E. Peck, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, it lias said : “ He was one of the men who to understand what St. Paul meant he said! ‘Upon the first day of the _ let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.' Judge Peck was a systematic and conscientious giver; he laid his gift upon the altar when he worshipped. Sometimes it happened that ho was absent from home many weeks In attendance upon the courts. He did not make gain of it at the church's cost. On the first Sunday nfter his return he carried with him to the house of God, not only the alms for the day, but for all the days of his absence. It was not Ills money but God’s money, the tithe that was right¬ fully due, and to withhold which he would have thought wrong and robbery. His giving was the result of principle and a sense of duty, and so far as he was con: cerned, his parish was never the loser by a stormy Sunday,. The Church would be the gainer if all worshippers were llke- inded." — Exchange. Suppose ail our Baptist people acted as Judge Peck did? How would the Lofd’s treasury overflow I How would the waste places in our own land be made to rejoice! How would the “glad tidings” be heard in every part of the earth I How would the blessing of God come upon us I But I how few of us so act. Do you, ? - ; The following comment upon I Timothy 5: 8, “But if any provide not for-his.own,' aqd especially for those of his own, house, he hath denied the faith, and is worre than an infidel.” is from Mr. D. W. Whittle's' notes. “The covert of the covetous man,' and much used by the devil when collec-.' tions are taken up for fpreign and home; missionary work.” — Me sionary Herald. ^ That comment could not be improved "6n,“ It.ought to go on the margin ol Leyei^; preacher's Bible— ready for use. ” .