Foreign Mission Journal, February 1885

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Published Monthly by the Foreign Mission Board of tho Southern Baptist Convention. “all power is given unto me in iieaven and in eartii. go ye, therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS.” Vol. 16— New Series. RICHMOND, VA„ FEBRUARY, 1885. No. 7.— Whole No. 199. [Entered at tho I'ont nt Richmond, Va., as second-class mailer.] Foreign Mission Journal HATES PER ANNUM: seat ol Christ ! Rather, let ns say, as we shall wish we had done, when we stand in our Father’s house on high, realizing that we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." MEETING IN RICHMOND. 1 low strange it would seem to a converted ! Afric*n °.r Chil,amnn. that right here, where I. For paper* ьрр.ч rately a3dre»ked, either to stunt* or to (liUVrpnt poitoftlcoe : One copy . . . ЗЯ cl*. XI» roe cvplc* « *1 . or . II. For packages •»*nt to one person, wU <мми oe,4l »• . ... . гр«|ю0ь1Ыо for their distribution : tl>c Foreign Mission Hoard meets to send StS !"•«» to preach the gospel to them, there are Out* Humlml 10||||'« for +1», or mon-dt. IS cl» apiece д?-Г1ев»о mull by limit, l’J.tal Order, or In ltcule- terrd 1. filer, mid notify in i-koiii-tly of any clianco In шМгем. Address. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. RICHMOND, %'л. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. Located at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. PnaeiDEHT — J. L. M. CURRY. V1C8-PHEBIDENT8 _ Joshua Levering, Md„ i; %V. Toinkles, La,, J. L. Ilurrows. Va., N. A. italley, Fla., . . ... . . tiJ; W£&TiZi£Zb&i,fii- Carroll; w* /■«» not affect the dim eyes, nor sweet er- _ 1. nf v tfllnnirlrl Ci n flhna IVTitnlp 4 41 cminrlc tho Hull n«rr Tit <l,n К ...... i i Г. , 1 i multitudes ns ignorant of its saving power as if they lived on the banks of the Congo or tlie Yang Tsz. The light of tlie Bible shines all around and they imagine themselves partakers of the highest enlightenment that earth can boast, but, alas, their souls are shrouded in gross darkness. Men who are "without God in tlie world," are "dead in trespasses and in sins,” whether in a heathen or a Christian land. A dead body is as helpless, blind, as deaf, in one place as in another. On., Ohn«. Manly. S. O., II. Ь>елп^*,_Аг1с., Оеогкв HUT, limv lAl-w, IV. V». «■ Тени, tV. L. Kllpatrlcl J. M. Sealer, Tenn.. J. . Whitfield. Mies., W. F. Attklseon, W. Va. OOHBEerONDINO SECIlETAlir— II. Л. TUPI’ER. Тпжанскжп — J. O. WILLIAMS. JlECORDiao Seciiktaut — W. II. (TWATIIMKY, Auditob-^JOSEPH F. COTTRELL. BOABDOZ МАПАОЖН8. — J. II. Hawthorne, J. B. Wal- ИЕе, II. K. Ellyson, TV. E. Hatcher, E. Wortham, W. U. Thomas, W. Ooddln, It. II. Harris, J. Pollard, Jr., J. W. Jones. Л. II. (Jlarke, J. II. Winston, J. It. Hut- ion. С. II, Winston. S. O. Clcpton. $STAIl communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond , Va. A friend sends #90 to support, for a year, one of the orphans in Madero institute, Mexico; and #G0 “to be one of one hun dred to raise the #11,000 needed to repair the Old Temple and transform it into tlie ‘ First baptist church of Saltillo.”1 Who will fol low this generous example ? A FEW PLAIN WORDS, it is known to the constituents of tlie Southern baptist Convention that the board of Foreign Missions lias enlarged its work greatly. Tlie large number of missionaries sent out this year lias been published and re-published and re-published again. Appropriations, made necessary by these re¬ inforcements and other extraordinary ex¬ penditures, have been greatly increased. This, also, lias been stated and re-stated, and reiterated in a variety of forms. Now the announcement must be made plainly and emphatically, that tlie ordinary receipts of tlie board are not, and will not be, at all adequate to meet tlie drafts of tlie Treasurers of our missions, made quarterly in advance, according to tlie rule of tlie board. This is a matter in which all our churches are in¬ terested, as well as every lover of tlie South¬ ern baptist Convention. There is no occa¬ sion for alarm, but there is occasion for pt.ompt action. Pastors should stimulate their people to increase tlie number and the amount of their contributions, in the ordi¬ nary methods employed in their churches. but there must be something more. Extra¬ ordinary gifts should be made to meet tlie extraordinary state of tilings. Our country is improving. God lias blessed not a few with more than is needful for generous liv¬ ing. As such are prospered, shall they not give? Why shall not n goodly number of brethren, at tlie South, as at tlie North, constrained by the love of Christ, re¬ joice to give liberally and largely to tlie cause of preaching tlie gospel to the nations ? The board should have sixty thousand dollars before May, and must have ten thousand dollars immediately. Oh, that the Holy Ghost may come down with power upon us, and make us do, as we shall wish we had done, when we stand before tlie judgment sounds tlie dull ears. In tlie beautiful tem¬ ple, under tlie full blaze of gospel light, tlie dead soul has ns little perception of spiritual things as in tlie dark jungle. All alike must be roused to newness of life. These thoughts have been suggested by the recent visit of Mr. Moody to this city. He came in the spirit of a foreign mission¬ ary, "resolved to know nothing among ” us " save Christ and him crucified." Multitudes crowded to hear him, as if they expected from him a new gospel, but, indeed it was tlie “old story,” only told in his own way, with simplicity and freshness, and accom¬ panied in a wonderful degree by the power of tlie Holy Spirit, which breathed “upon these slain ” as in Ezekiel's vision, and “ the breatli came into them, and they lived and stood upon their feet,” and, looking forward to the endless cycle of results, we may add, "an exceeding great army." Mr. Moody is not eloquent in tlie usual ac¬ ceptation of tlie term, [not learned in tlie wisdom of this world, but "a plain, blunt man,” direct in statement, graphic in de¬ scription and thoroughly in earnest. lie does not slum to declare all tlie counsel of God, hut does it with a wonderful display of sanctified common sense. We hope lie may he induced to spend tlie whole of next win ter in our Southern country, as lie himself desires to do if фе way is clear. MRS. MYERS, who lias not yet been formally introduced to our readers, was born in Montgomery county, Ky., on tlie farm of her father, John A. Thompson. Her mother, for whom she named, Mary Susan, left her at six years old, but a devoted Christian woman after¬ wards filled tlie vacant place. Her education was gained in private schools with one year at Mt. Sterling. At fourteen she was bap¬ tized by Rev. J. I’ike bowers, and prior to her marriage, on tlie id of September, ISS4, she had been for six years a teacher in the Sunday-school, and for four in a day-school at her father's house. Her heart, as well as that of her husband, was set on Africa, and witli great reluctance she yielded to what the board thought best, and turned instead last fail to Mexico. We shall hope to have before long some account of her surround¬ ings at I’alos. Dr. Henry Foster, of Clifton Springs, N. Y., sends tlie good news that Miss I.ula Whilden “is now substantially relieved, and may safely be in any locality most con¬ genial to her.” He adds, however, that “she ought to have all the time between this and next fall to gather up her strength and es¬ tablish her health.” FOR THE QUESTION BOX. women’s status. Please give such information in tlie Ques¬ tion box, as you may have at hand, in an¬ swer to tlie following. 1. Asa rule, is woman virtually a slave in all heathen countries? 2. Does tlie Hindoo Religion (1) Forbid her reading the sacred books? (2) Forbid her offering prayers or sacrifices in her own name? (3) Forbid her hearing the sacred books read? (4) Consider her too impure to hear such sacred teaching ? (5) Consider her as having no soul? 3. Do tlie civil rulers command and enforce such degradation ? Answer any or all the above, and give such quotations from missionaries, travellers or other authorities as your time and space will allow. E. L. C. We might answer al! these affirmatively in a general way, but we have neither time nor space this month for specific replies, sup¬ ported by apt quotations. Will brotiier Compere, of Arkansas, or some other who has tlie facts at ready command, please put them into a brief note for our next number and greatly oblige editor and readers. MISSIONARY UNION. What is the number of laborers in tlie em- ЙоГ tlie Missionary Utiion (Northern ist) ? * * According to the Seventieth Annual re¬ port, presented at Detroit last May, the Mis¬ sionary Union had then 194 missionaries, (SO men, 114 women,) 1,CS2 native preachers, 258 Bible-women and other helpers. The churches were 1,127 in number, with 112,122 members, of whom 11,710 were baptized during the year, Nearly half the churches and rather more than half the members are in Europe, chiefly in Sweden and Germany. Most of these, as also over 200 churches in Iiurma, are self-supporting. The number of laborers has been considerably increased since May by sending out new men and by taking charge of tlie I.ivingstone Inland mission on the Congo. CHINESE. It is said that the Chinese language does not contain a word or symbol to denote a spiritual or divine being. How, then, do our missionaries manage to convey tlie idea of a Divine lieing? And how can they preach the gospel successfully in sucli a poor language ? J. H. Grime. We are not posted on Chinese, as Dr. Yates is, but we presume the missionaries to-day do just as Paul did, and just as every¬ body who introduces new ideas must do, i.e., coin some .new words, but for the most part use old ones in a new sense. Our word Spirit originally meant breath ; pastor was a sheep-keeper ; deacon, a dining-room servant, &c. The difficulty in Chinese is not much greater than in the case of our own Anglo-Saxon ancestors. “The Storv of Baptist Missions” is the title of an elegant volume of 800 pp., beautifully printed and well Illustrated, by Rev. G. Winfred Hervey, M. A. It is in¬ tended for popular reading rather than for careful study, and is made up of sweeping statements and interesting incidents. It is “ sold only by subscription,” which seems to us lo he a tacit confession that tlie publisher does not consider it able to make its way on its own merits through the regular chan¬ nels of the book trade. We really think it deserved a better launching on tlie sea of literature. We return thanks to many subscribers for their renewals and especially to those, not a few In number, who, besides continuing their own subscription, have induced others to join them. We are about to make out a new mailing book, and shall take the occa¬ sion to revise the list carefully and prune off the names of any who do not think enough of the paper to pay for it. Some one sent us from Augusta, Ga., a postal note for 35 cents — besides tlie note there was absolutely nothing in the enve- hope. We suppose it was intended to pay for one copy of the Journal, but have no means of finding out how to direct said copy. Another friend forgot to sign Ills name to what he wrote, but as he enclosed a postal order, we were enabled to supply tlie defect. Brother Powell lias arranged for an excur¬ sion to Saltillo at “ a better rate than Texas roads have even given to anything or any¬ body — less than one cent per mile.” Time February 1st ; occasion, laying a corner-stone of tlie First Baptist church; seimon by Dr. J. M. Pendleton. Mr. and Mrs. David sailed the 5th of Janu¬ ary, on the Brig Manson, from New York for Lagos. He wrote at noon that day : "We are off with fair wind and mild weather. We are very comfortably “fixed up," and all are comfortable as yet. Dr. Winston saw us aboard, I sent accounts per yesterday’s mail. Remember us while ш "perils on tlie sea ” and the land also. Tlie accounts to which he refers are for material purchased in New York for floors and roof of a churcli at Lagos, which he proposes to commence building as soon as lie arrives. Miss Young writes to Dr. H. A. Tupper from Canton, November 17th, 18S4 ; I am still very busy studying the language; and if tlie war excitement ceases 1 hope to begin some real work tlie coming year. I am as enthusiastic as ever about the work, but I am aware it requires something more than enthusiasm to be a successful mission¬ ary, and am trying to prepare myself well in tlie language, while I pray that 1 may have spiritual strength given nie also. A letter from Brother Taylor, December 26th, readies us too late for tin's number. It gives a glowing account of a Christmas tree — tlie first ever seen in Bahia— and tells of more persecutions and steady advance. The Missionary Review, bi-monthly, 8S pp. in each number, #1.50 per annum, edited by Rev. R. G. Wilder, Princeton, N. J., is with¬ out any exception the most valued of all the' periodicals that come to this office. It is really what it claims to be, a review, and an able and fearless one, of all the questions that arise in connection witn foreign work and home administration. We cordially commend it, especially to pastors who desire a wider outlook into tlie progress of Chris¬ tianity in our days. The editor gave thirty of his best years to service in India, and knows by personal experience whereof he affirms. With his opinions of course we cannot always agree— he believes in Pres¬ byteries and Synods as Church Courts, we do not— but for his earnestness, liis spiritual¬ ity and his views on the general policy of missionary work we have a profound re¬ spect. A better idea of what the Review is may be gathered from the table of contents of January-I'ebriiary No. 1. Ceylon and its Missions. 2. Bishop Taylor and his Transit Fund. 3. Wily tlie World's Evangelization is delayed— five letters with comments. 4. Evangelical Alliance of Copenhagen. C. In¬ ter-Seminary Missionary Alliance, (i. For¬ eign Missions in ISS3-4— a thorough sifting of annual reports, continued throngh the year. 7. Evangelistic work in America. 8. Zenana Work. 9. Love Tokens—», c., cor¬ rection of blunders in other publications. 10. List of Gifts and Legacies. II. Reports of Recent Converts. 12. For tlie Children. 13. Field Notes— 8 pp. of pithy selections. 14. To Subscribers. 15. Week of Prayer. 1C. Africa— 8 pp. of selections. 17. Sailing of Missionaries. IS. Deaths. 19. Book Notices.