FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL.
I’ttbllslicd Monthly by tlio Foreign Mission Hoard of the Southern I3nptlst Convention.
‘‘ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go ye, therefore, and teagh ALL NATIONS.”
Vol. 14 — Now Series.
RICHMOND. VA„ FEBRUARY, 1S83.
No. 7.— Whole No. 163.
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Foreign Mission Journal
RATES I'F.R ANNUM:
One copy, separately fohlctl nml mlilressetl . 50
Three colics, addressed to one person . . 1 00
Ten copies, addressed to one person . . . . 3 00
Forty copies, addressed to one person . 10 00
Onemmdicd copies, addressed tonne person . 20 00
•вЭ
remit by Draft, I’ortal Order, or in Regis¬
tered better, ami notify ns I'Komiti.y of any change in
address.
Address,
FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL.
Richmond, Va.
FOREIGN MISSION BOARD
OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION,
I.ocatkp a.- JtlClIMONJJ. V1ROINIA.
PiiksidIint— .1. I,.
лГ.
CURRY.
Vic. l’liKsil'KMm— Hiram Wood., Mil.. .T. A. Hack-
fit, La.-, .1. I.. Harrows, Va., I’. 1'. Bishop.
Па.. О.
F Ori'cory, N. <)., llobfrt Ilyhliul, Ky., J. .1. I). Ill'll-
froo, Alabama. 11. S. Duncan, Mo., II. W. l’lckcit,
Ti-ias, W. I.. Kilpatrick. (In.. CUnui. Itl.lnly, S. O.,
Mall. Illll, man, Tfnn.. W. 1). Mayfield, Ark., Oeorce
WlilUleld,
ЛНя»..
St. I'.lllson, W. Va.
OoniiKHi'O.VDiKO Skciiktauv—
И. Л. ТШЧТЛ1.
ТПСЛЯШ1КН—
J. O. WILLIAMS.
RircoiiDiNO Ski.iietaiiy— W. II. UWATHMEY.
Aupitoii— JOSEPH
Г.
UOTTHKLL.
IIOaiid or
Маяаокпя,—
XII. Ilawlliorne, J. II.AVat*
kin». II. K. Klly.on, W K. Hatcher, L). Wortham, W.
II. Thomas, W. Hoddtn,
И.
II. Harris, X Pollard, Jr ,
J W. Jon— .
Л.
H. I'lurltH, J. H. Winston, . I. II. Hut¬
son.
О
II. Wln.lon, S. (I. Olopton.
HSf'All communciations in reference to the
business of this Hoard should he addressed to
H. A. Tui'l'HR, Corresponding Secretary ,
Richmond. Va.
We are sorry to hear of frequent delays,
The Journal is mailed promptly on or a lit¬
tle before the first of the month— if it docs
not reaclt subscribers in due time the fault
must be with the U. S. officials.
A number of postals from pastors have
been received, asking us to continue the
Journal. It gives us pleasure to do so. We
trust they will find it helpful in their work,
and will exert themselves to promote its
circulation among their churches.
THE WORD OF THE CROSS.
Tlte scientific method of procedure is lo
begin with the obvious and easy, and so ad¬
vance to the more difficult and recondite.
One who sets out to effect a reform, either
in himself or in another, usually tries first to
break off itis evil practices, Imping then
gradually to purely bis thoughts, anti finally
to cleanse Ills heart. A philanthropist un¬
dertaking to elevate a community of naked
cannibals, would naturally begin by pro¬
viding comfortable clothing and savory food;
he would next introduce mental culture and
the arts of civilized life; then law, civil and
moral, with some knowledge of God as their
Creator and Judge ; and when lie had thus
educated them to a sense of sin, lie might
present tlte perfect man as the Saviour of
sinners. Such seems to lie tlte theory of
thousands of good men who expect to allay
the social convulsions which threaten to
upheave Europe and shake America, by en¬
actments for improving tlte physical con¬
dition of tlte laboring classes at the expense
of their employers. Tlte same in principle,
and only one step higher, is tlte widely cur¬
rent opinion that universal education will be
a panacea for all our ills. Still the same,
though higher titan before, is the plan of en¬
grafting upon our school-system a course of
morals, based on innate ideas and natural
religion.
Very different is God's plan. Stanley did
well in determining the source of the Nile,
to begin at its broad, familiar mouth and
toil slowly up stream into the recesses of the
unknown interior: but lie that sittetli on the
circuit of tlte heavens could trace at a glance
and mark out with perfect accuracy its whole
course. He lias not seen fit to give us a
map of tlte dark continent, but in the Iiible
be has given a chart of the yet darker re¬
gions of human depravity, and in the cross
has provided a balm, which, if properly ap¬
plied, shall heal all its woes. Christianity is
not a mere filter to remove impurities from
the life, lelislia cast salt into the fountain at
Jericho, and the waters were healed unto
this day; so "the blood of Jesus clcanscth
from all sin" only when applied directly to
the heart. The best of our medical practi¬
tioners must often lie content to combat the
visible effects of some unknown cause ; the
great Physician strikes at the root and source
of evil, and when this is destroyed its blight¬
ing efiects must yield.
The church at Corinth was far more richly
endowed Ilian any of our present churches.
Paul enumerates, (I Cor., xii, 8-11,) wisdom,
knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, pro¬
phecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and in¬
terpretation of tongues. With these splen¬
did gifts it ought to have been an irresist-
ablc force ; but alas, coveted to the neg¬
lect of “a still more excellent way," they
were perverted into food for pride, and only
fostered destructive contentions. In con¬
trast with wonder-working powers and
worldly wisdom, the apostle puts "the word
of the cross;” to tile sign-seeking Jew, a
stumbling block ; to the philosophic Greek,
foolishness; but to the called, "the power of
• God and the wisdom of God ; ” and we are
assured that “ it was God’s good pleasure
through the foolishness of this preaching to
save them that believe.” It was, perhaps,
an over-wrought imagination which led the
soldiers of Constantine to victory under his
banner of the cross: to the missionary who
goes forth to do battle with the hosts of
idolatry and superstition, it is but sober truth
to say, “ in hoc sign
о
vinces."
That no other agency can ever take the
place of preaching, and that no other theme
can vie in pathos with the story of Jesus, is
both clearly taught in the New Testament
and abundantly confirmed by experience.
Wc can give only one or two instances.
The Moravians labored long and vainly in
Greenland to teacli tiie natives the attributes
of God ; they then changed their plan,
preached Christ, and at once began to see
fruit. Onr general government lias spent
vast sums, much of it no doubt cleaving to
the hands of dishonest agents, but a great
deal faithfully applied, in the amelioration
and civilization of the Indian, and all for
naught ; the lamented Duckncr went among
two or three tribes, determined to know
nothing but Christ, and lived to see them
civilized. The Presbyterians take the lead
of American Christians in raising money for
missions ; at every principle station they
have their physicians, their schools and their
printing presses ; baptists gain more con¬
verts and do more good, because, as it seems
to us, they follow more nearly the Scriptural
plan, and give their strength to the personal
preaching of the word.
Medical missionaries are invaluable;
schools for tiie young, and for training na¬
tive preachers, are essential to full success ;
printing presses, as the world now goes, are
absolutely necessary ; but vitalizing these as
agencies for good and higher than them all,
even as thejieavens are high above the earth,
is the simple telling, face to face, eye to eye,
heart to heart, tiie story of redeeming love.
raised by a special collection from the gen¬
eral congregation. A little more titan a
year ago, the church, following the lead of
other churches in tiie city, resolved to raise
a sum sufficient for tiie needs of the school,
so as to allow all its regular offerings to be
devoted to outside objects. Tiie school
thereupon decided to give the collections of
January and October to foreign missions, of
February and August to home missions, of
March to tiie State Sunday-school and col-
portage work, of April and November to
State missions, of May, September and De¬
cember to city missions, (as prosecuted
through our Sunday-school Association,) of
June to ministerial education, and of July to
tiie relief of disabled ministers and their
families. As tiie times allotted to tiie seve¬
ral objects come round, the nature and needs
of tiie work are explained and enforced in
brief addresses.
behold the result : In 1882 the Treasurer
received and paid over for city missions,
#107.23; foreign missions, #32.10; State mis¬
sions, #73.20 ; home missions, #19. OS; minis¬
ters’ relief, #31.71; colportage, 832.01; and
education, #31.25. Total, #110.20.
This is not so large as it ought to be, not
so large as we hope it will be hereafter, but
quite a respectable sum to be made up of
contributions, most of which are sjngle'cents,
a few nickels and still fewer dimes. Of far
greater value, however, than any money, is
the instruction of old and young in our dif¬
ferent benevolent enterprises, and the culti¬
vation of a habit of unselfish giving. We
notice with pleasure that in proportion to
tiie number of Sundays allotted, the contri¬
bution for foreign missions is the most lib¬
eral of all. This cause takes hold most
strongly upon hearts that have been least
contaminated by degrading contact with a
self-seeking world. Our international les¬
sons for tiie first six months of 1S83, tell of
early Christian missions: we respectfully
submit to superintendents and teachers that
these lessons cannot be fairly presented
without opportunities to put the teachings
into practice.
So then if you comply strictly and prompt¬
ly with any one of Hie offers above, you will
receive a copy of the history at once, and
tins until our stock is exhausted. If you
make an honest effort and fall short, let us
hear what you have done and you shall have
a book, unless in our judgment there be 20
others more deserving.
WORTHY OF IMITATION.
Tiie Grace Street baptist Sunday-school,
in which the editor of tiie Journal lias the
honor of being a teacher, is one of tiie
largest in all the south, Until recently,
three-fourths of tiie weekly collections were
devoted to cut rent expanses, such as the
purchase of books, papers, lesson-helps,
tickets, Sec., and to the Christmas trees and
summer pic-nics ; and it was found necessary
every year to supplement the sum thus
HISTORY OF OUR MISSIONS.
We repeat below tlte special offer made
in November, with an important addition.
Tiie book offered is a volume of 512 royal
8vo pages, containing a full history by Dr.
II. A. Tuppcr, of the "Foreign Missions of
tiie Southern baptist Convention.” Only a
small edition was printed and besides the
copies generously put at our disposal by the
author, no more can be had.
We propose to send these books by mail,
postage prepaid, to such friends as shall
prove most piompt and effective in extending
the circulation of the Journal. Since our
rales differ according to the number of copies
mailed to one person, we make different of¬
fers as follows : We will give a book —
1 . To any one sending us #10 to pay for 20
separate subscribers . new or old, at tiie same
or at different post-offices.
2. To any one sending #12, to pay for 30
copies in packages of three or more.
3. To any one sending #15, to pay for 60
copies in packages of ten or more.
4. To any one sending #20, to pay for SO
copies in packages of forty or more,
6. To any one sending #30 to pay for 160
copies sent to one address.
В6УТ0
these offers heretofore published
wc add another. Not a few of our most
earnest and effective helpers live in com¬
munities in whiclt it is impossible to secure
so many subscribers as are contemplated
above. We have therefore reserved twenty
copies to be mailed on the 15th of next April,
to those who, prior to that time, shall have
come nearest, all the circumstances consid¬
ered, to earning a copy under one of the of¬
fers above.
MARY HARLEY FUND.
The Sunday-schools of South Carolina re¬
solved last year to perpetuate tiie memory
of Mrs. Harley, tiie children's friend, by sus¬
taining a lady in the foreign mission field,
who shall bear the name of the “Mary Har¬
ley missionary." Five hundred dollars have
been collected and forwarded to the board
by the committee at Greenville. S. C., of
which Mrs. W. 11. Strickland is the chair¬
man, and Miss Julia Whatley the treasurer.
It was received just too late for tiie acknowl¬
edgments in this issue. As all the mission
work of the board is supported by regular
appropriations from its treasury, this act of
the committee was well considered and wise,
and is highly appreciated by the board. In
sending the money, the ladies write: “We
are greatly encouraged with our success, and
are praying God to send us a consecrated,
intelligent woman, suited to go and repre¬
sent our funds among the heathen. Please
help us in prayer, and help us to find the
woman."
THE CONVENTION.
It is just three months before the Southern
baptist Convention will assemble at Waco.
Within that short time much must be done
lo bring up our work lo the advance over
last year which it ought to attain.
For the sake of those who would like to
attend the Convention we wrote in reference
to rates to brother
И.
H. Carroll, pastor.
He replies t
Just now 1 cannot answer satisfactorily,
but will at once investigate the whole mat¬
ter and inform you definitely, and in time
for your Marcli issue of i\\c Journal.
Wc anticipate great pleasure and profit
from the approaching convention.
As Waco, and in fact nearly all Texas, is
now so accessible by rail, we count on an
unusually large delegation— at least five
I Kindred.
It is our desire to secure free rates for a
grand excursion over Texas, but tiie late re¬
duction, by legislation, of fare from five to
three cents a mile, may make railroad offi¬
cials unwilling to be gracious,
KIND WORDS.
This Sunday-school paper of the Conven¬
tion is still winning its way to favor, and is a
helper to tiie mission cause; we wisli it
“ God speed." Its editor has a heart in
sympathy with the young, and his chief aim
is to do them good. Wc should be glad to
see his paper in all the baptist Sunday-
schools of tiie south, as it is n coadjutor of
our own Foreign Mission Journal. We ob¬
serve in it frequent letters from our mis¬
sionaries.
Some of the readers of brother Walker’s
interesting letter will be puzzled to know
bow one who "can understand much of Dr.
Yates' sermons and can preach some him¬
self," should be at a Chinese inn “ without a
word of the language." The explanation is,
that among the hundreds of millions in
China, a number of distinct dialects arc
spoken, brother \V. is beginning to use the
language of Shanghai. Tung Chow is some
five hundred miles farther north, and the
people up there have a different tongue.
They write alike, as wc understand, and
from the touching incident lie mentions, it
would seem that the Christians among them
sing alike. If in heaven the music be the
same and the thought tiie same, it will mat¬
ter little about the language.
i
