Foreign Mission Journal, April 1888

Foreign Mission Journal. FUUMSII13D MONTHbY «V THIS FOKEIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. Ы !’ "ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO .YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.” Vol. 19 — New Series. RICHMOND, VA., APRIL, 1888. No. 9 — Whole No. 237 (Entered nt the Vovt-Offlce nt Richmond, Va., as second-class matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For papers separately addressed, either to same or to different poet offices : One copy . . . 35 Cts. Three copies f I, or . ЗЛИ da. apiece II. For packages sent to one person, who shall be responsible for their distribution 1 Four copies for $1, or more at . 2ftcts Twenty-five copies for fft or mors at . 20 cts. One Hundred copies for |16i or more at.. 10 cts i$E О^Прн.р remit by limit, Го? ml Order, or In RprIs- tereil Roller, ami notify tt« itiomi'TLV o( nny In address. Address, FORF.IC.N MISSION JOURNAL, Richmond. Va ADVERTISING RATES. 12 ВГАСК. Month. Months Months Months On** Inch . . . 1 24 3 4 ft И 60 12 00 Two Inch***. ...... 2 •lu t 4 ft 12 50 ?• Thre»* Inches . 3 60 0 20 18 00 32 00 Qimitur column... Half column . 4 7ft 13 IK» 2ft 00 46 00 U 2ft 15 2ft 48 (И) 00 00 On** column . 18 no M uo 92 60 17S 00 FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, I.OCAftD at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. Гпаыоакт— II. H. IlAimis. Vice-FnasiDiiNTe. — Joshua Levering, IId.,0. W. Tomkie. t.a.. J. L. Ilnriowe, Va., N. A. Halley, Fla,, W. I.. Wright, N.O., О F. llatby.Ky.. J. J.ll.Ilen. (roe, Alabama. J. Г. Green»1, Mo., II. II. Carroll, Teens, W. I,. Kilpatrick, On,, Ohae. Manly, S. 0„ J. M. Sealer, Trim.. J. It. Searcy, Ark., George WMtneld МЫ. tv. F. Attklsson tv. \a. OORIlkSFONOlHOSliCniCTAIlY— II. A. TOPPER .ТккАбСПкП O. WILLIAMS. RkcoiiDINo SecincrAiiT— A. II. CLARKE. ACDITOU-II. C. BURNETT. 110AKD or atAHAiiKUB— H. (C. Etlyson, J.R. Wttf sion. О. II. Wlntton, W. E. Hatcher, J. Pollard, Jr., S. О. О epton, I. II. Hut»on. W. I). Thomas, W W. Landrum, W J. Shipman. Пео. Urraper. О II. Rvland, II. C. Burnell, T. P Mathews, Ii. II. Pitt, T. P. Bell. St&jTAll communications in reference to the business of this Jloartl should be addressed to H. A. Topper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. 1 YATES-MEMORIAL. It is proposed that the second Sunday in April next be employed in services memo¬ rial of the late Dr. M. T. Yates, and that offerings lie made for a generous and im¬ mediate enlargement of our China Mis sions. * DEATH OF DR. M, T. YATES, Owing to the absence of the editor from the city when the tidings of Dr. Yates' death were received, and the fact that the printers were pressing to get llie Journal to press, the following notice of the death of this " 1’rince in Israel," taken from tile Religious Ilcrald, is inserted here in lien of our editorial : " lie being dead, ye! speaketh." On Saturday, the 17th inst., a cablegram was received—" Yales dead ” This was dated the same day in Shanghai, China. The news was published Sunday morning, and was a great shock to baptist circles. Last year the Doctor had received a stroke of paralysis, Bui, only a 'few days ago, a letter from him stated that his health was so improved that he would not accept, at present, an invitation of the Board of Foreign Missions to return for a season to this couulry. II is hands anti mind and soul were Imbedded in his work, and it was hard for him to tear himself away. Just at that time lie was specially concerned about building a bouse at Chinkiang and issuing his translation of llie New Testament, and, above all, about getting reinforcements for his own field and other parts of China. So impressed was lie with the necessity of such strengthening of our missionary posts, that he feared some great 11 crisis" in the work, and published his apprehensions to the world. I’rudence might have suggested his suspension of labor, but his heroic na¬ ture bade him “hold the fort." He was born in North Carolina, January 8, 1819; professed Christ, October, 1S36 ; was graduated from Wake Forest College, June, 1846; was appointed a missionary, August 3, 1846; married Miss Eliza Moring, of North Carolina, September 37th of the same year;' sailed for China. March 15, 1847, and arrived at Shanghai, September 25, 1847. Since tile last date this man of God lias been growing in power and iniluence, securing increasing control of the native mind, and winning more and more esteem from all foreigners with whom lie came into contact. It is generally known that high civil preferment was pressed upon his ac ceptance, but he did not have time or dispo¬ sition to come down to enjoy the honors of his own country or of the Celestial Empire. I11 Ills estimation, the loftiest mission was the ministry of Christ, and the greatest glorv was tlie salvation of souls. He longed to see the name of Jesus great "unto the ends of tlie earth." An eminent minister of North Carolina wrote, in 1879: “Tlie Rev. С. H. Wiley told me some timesince that a Presbyterian missionary, in writing from China, said that Dr. M.T. Yates was physically, mentally anti morally at tlie head of tlie Protestant missionaries of that country, of whom there are several hundred." But his crowning excellence was his intense desire to see China won for Christ. Hence ids incessant elTorts to quicken the Christian conscience on this subject and his burning appeals to make bis brethren of America measure up to tlie full height of their responsibility. He implored for only wliat he bad given himself. His own money and manhood were poured out fully on the altar of this greatest cause. He did not say to any, go;” lie always said, "follow." The fall of this veteran in the forefront of the conflict with heathenism gives sol emn emphasis to Iris cry to tlie people at home, "Come up to the help of the Lord, the help Of the Lord against the mighty.’ Such appeals were the outbursts and over Rowing of his burdened and at times almost breaking heart, and might be deemed characteristic of tlie man of God. They began in 1847, and from that time to this year of our Lord, 188S, he has implored, with increasing pathos and pungency, the Baptistsof tlie South to open theireyes, and see the hundreds of millions of China per¬ ishing for tlie bread of life, and do some¬ thing. in tlie way of men and means, worthy of the awful occasion. Nothing is known of his end more than revealed in tlie two words, “ Yates dead. But we shall be surprised if we do not hear that his dying breath was expended in the life-long entreaty, "Send help to tlie per¬ ishing I" And shall not his lamented death achieve what his magnificent life failed to accomplish ? God thunders now, into the ear of his people, by this startling provi¬ dence. Will they hear? Dare they not? Another moon should not wax and wane before a company of brave young men and women should be on their way to China. The Board of Foreign Missions must find them and send them. The churches will sustain them. The average common sense anti justice and honor and wisdom and god¬ liness of Southern Baptists are equal to the emergencies of the Redeemer’s kingdom, anti may he depended upon by the Boards of tlie Southern Baptist Convention. Weekly there are publications of the de ficits of the States. The Convention is near at hand. These shortcomings should be overcome by prompt and liberal contri¬ butions, and ten thousand dollars additional should be given for immediate and large reinforcement of the China missions. China comes to tlie front. This seems tlie mind of God. Other fields must be rein¬ forced. They will be, tvitii the paid defi¬ cits of the States. But the cry to-day is for China. The dead Yates cries, " Come, Cornel” Let the cry ring through North Carolina and the Seminary and tlie churches from Maryland to Texas; from Missouri to Florida ; and let the response come back from the very best and the best approved of our younger ministry, "Here am I, send me!" and from tlie myriads of stewards of tlie Lord’s treasures, “ Here are tlie means ; torn and bleeding, and tlie whole band of missionaries of that land say, "Amen.” Our hope is not in these words, or any tiling that man can say and do, but in the power of the Spirit of him who is the God of missions and the God of him who wrote, when making a liberal donation, "I have made tlie Lord my executor.” The reply to the cablegram. Yates dead,” was, " Revelation xiv: 13." It reads thus : " Blessed are tlie dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, saitli the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for tiieir works follow with them." Of the works of the blessed dead in China there is no doubt ; but what of the works of tlie living in America ? Let Southern Baptists redeem tlie time. Tlie time is short. God bless to the people the dead Yates, who, ” being dead, yet speaketh.” do the Lord's will.” The day of empty lamentations is passed. Tlie highest honor to the noble dead is to execute their noble purposes when alive. Every Baptist church in the South will feel like having some memorial service. Let the memorial be like hers of whom it is pub¬ lished. in all ages, the world over, “She hath done what she cpuld.” Could the now sainted spirit of our brother speak to us, would he not cry, as lie cried for more than two score years, “Send help to China?” His noble widow and daughter, with hearts PICTURES OF SOME OF OUR MISSION¬ ARIES. Several times since we have had charge of the Journal we have been asked if it would not be possible for us in some way to secure for the paper engravings of our missionaries. Many people would be glad to see tlie faces of the men and women who are their representatives on the for¬ eign fields, and can only hope to do so through some such arrangement. We have been looking forward to the time when we could gratify this desire, and we trust we have now reached it. Last year, encour¬ aged by the favor with which the Journal was meeting, we ventured to enlarge it about fifty per cent at a considerable in- crease in cost of publication. This increase lias been more than met by tlie increased income of the paper, and the Journal is now in better financial condition than it lias ever been before. We propose now to reward our friends, who iiave so kindly worked for the paper, by giving to them and nil our readers, good likenesses of some at least of our missionaries. Tlie engravings for which we are negotiating will be no cheap wood cuts, whicli present only caricatures of those they pretend to represent, but will be of fine workmanship, made at one of the largest and best en¬ graving establishments in New York. They will cost a considerable sum of money, but, we believe, will render the Journal even more valuable to our readers than it now is, Our purpose is to give one of these cuts | every other month at present, possibly one every month. And now that we are doing nil in our power for our readers, will they not do what they can for the paper? Speak of tlie paper to your friends, tell them that they may secure through it good likenesses of our missionaries, and endeavor to secure their subscriptions. We hope to enable our readers to look upon tlie face of our beloved Dr. Yates when they open their May number of tlie Journal, and in June we expect to let them see Mrs. Yates. eminent, science or religion.” Seeing these things with Ids own eyes, lie urges that “America be heard in, and the 'South as well as tlie ‘ North ' contribute her share to, this grand work ” of giving the gospel to Japan. Not often do government ministers to foreign lands write such leuz.-s to their people at home. Was not God pointing us to Japan in this ? Several years ago, an earnest nnd nccom plislied missionary in China applied to our board for appointment as its missionary in Japan. He was very highly recommended by one of our wisest missionaries, and so impressed was tlie Board by his fitness for tlie work, that they tried to secure him as a worker in Shanghai. This, however, he declined to become, and went to Japan as an independent worker. Pointer number two came from a worker prepared for tlie field, as number one comes tlie field pre¬ pared for the worker. Again, in the January number of the Journal is tile statement that "a Indy of New York informs us that she proposes to ‘give a legacy for this work,’ through our board, and proposes to be ‘one of a hun¬ dred ladies to give, in 1888, fiuo each ' for sucli a mission there.” Why this offer from beyond our own bound to us, when our Northern brethren are already at work in Japan? They need no pointer to Japan; we do, and have received it. Perhaps it is not known to many of our readers that our board endeavored to estab¬ lish a mission in this empire in i860, and that two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Rohrer, sent out by ’he board, were lost at sea. Indeed, our own missionary, Mr. Rohrer, was “ the first missionary of our denomi¬ nation to that strange people.” Though we were first to begin, we have failed to continue, and to this day tlie Baptists of tlie South have been unbeard as preachers of the gospel in this land of great promise. We have been more than ever impressed with the importance of work in Japan by reading an article in the February number of the Missionary Review, by Rev. Prof. G. W. Knox, of the University at Tokio. Speaking of some great prob'ems which now face Christian, as well as pagan peo pies, he says: A new study of engrossing interest is be gun— new questions of supreme importance press for solution. What is to be the fu¬ ture of the East ? Are the great empires of Asia forever to repeat tlie history of the past ? Shall the coming centuries bring no Kingdom of God for the great majority o( the human race? Is Asia to continue op¬ pressed, superstitious, ignorant, idolatrous, degraded, wretched ? is there national re generation, is there new birth for a conti¬ nent, is it possible for great empires to start upon a new life of liberty, progress anil truthaftermillenniumsof slavery, stag¬ nation and error ? And lie adds : set her a blazing jewel in Ids diadem of glory. Yea, lie calls his people to come up to his help aslie strives to redeem thisleader among the nations of Asia, that she, in turn, may be a redeemer of otiiers. In all -this conflict, shall the great body of Christians embraced in the Southern Baptist Conven¬ tion be unheard and unfelt? Shall we bo Idle spectators while the forces of darkness and of light are struggling for a rich possession for the Devil or for Christ? Shall we not put the impress of the truth as we hold it upon this people, which in turn is to put its impress upon awakened and converted Asia? TO OUGHT NOT SOUTHERN BAPTISTS HAVE A MISSION IN JAPAN? Several things have of late occurred which seem to be pointers in tlie band of the Lord pointing the Baptists of the South to Japan, ns a mission field in whicli they ought to be at work. Some months ago Hon. R. B. Hubbard, United States Minis¬ ter to Japan, impressed with tlie grand opening that empire presented for success¬ ful missionary effort, addressed a commu¬ nication to tlie late Dr. Mell, as President of tlie Southern Baptist Convention, in which he gave some idea of the condition of the country, and expressed the hope that his brethren of tlie South would soon see their way clear to enter what lie con¬ sidered an open door. His letter, which was sent by Dr. Mell to the Board, and by it presented to tlie Convention, was pub¬ lished in the June number of the Journal. He says, “The whole country is accessible to tlie ‘heralds of the Cross,’ from all Christian lands. Unlike the Chinese, these people do not cling, as to life itself, to their ancient political or religious traditions, or faiths of either Church or State. In a word, they are ready and willing — in fact, eagerly so — if convinced, to let the scales fail from their eyes and to embrace new thoughts and creeds, whether of gov- Japan, first of all Asiatic empires, seeks answer to these problems. Under most favoring conditions it tries the great exper¬ iment, turning from the East and striving for position amoii}' the progressive, en¬ lightened and Christian nations of tlie West. So far as man can judge, upon the issue of this experiment rests the future of Asia. Let Japan succeed, and China will follow in the same path; let Japan fail, anti wtiat hope remains for the greater empires which will face their greater problems under less favoring conditions? * * * * * The Japanese are not a feeble folk, like the Sandwich Islanders, nor rude and barbar¬ ous, like the dwellers in tlie islands of the South Seas. It is an empire witli ancient civilization, and of extent sufficient to fully test the experiment. Success there will lie an earnest of success in Asia. And yet Japan is not so large that tlie mind is over¬ powered by the vastness of tlie problems. It does not stretcli away to the centre of a continent, like China, nor teem with Inin- tlreds of millions, like India. Thoughtful Japanese themselves are grappling with the problem of Japan's re- demption, and, with eager, anxious eyes and burdened hearts, are watching tlie wonderful changes that are going on among her people, asking, “Shall these things lit. for better or for worse?” The prince of darkness, recognizing Japan's importance as tlie leader of Asia’s awakening peoples, seems to be marshalling his. forces of infi¬ delity, agnosticism, false philosopjiy and God-antagonizing science, to hold her as his own, and use her as a power for de¬ struction against the other empires of Asia. In trumpet tones, -which, alas, we seem not to have heard, Jesus is marshalling his forces to redeem this empire of the sea arid SOME EXTRACTS FROM HOME LETTERS. Every now and (lien we get letters en¬ closing small sums of money from some of God's children, which touch our heart, ns we see that the usually small sums sent are yet sacrifices made for God’s cause. It may be that some extracts fromthese will stimulate and encourage others to similar giving and working for the Master’s cause. Sometimes tlie letters are ill spelled, but they are filled with that whicli is better than correct orthography nnd grammar^- even with love and tlie spirit of sacrifice. Here are a few, as samples : “Please find enclosed $1.15, to aid our missionary in Mexico. This is a small sum, but it is all that I can get up at present. My health is poor, anil I can’t, get out to work. May God bless the efforts that our people are putting forth in Mexico and elsewhere.” This is from an old preacher in Missouri. This one tells its own sad story. It comes from Georgia : “ I send $1.05, all that was left in my darling's purse;' let it go with little Olive's. It seems wrong to let it lie uselessly by. She was a brave, earnest Christian, on whom I leaned . It is her gift, not mine. She ' being dead, yet speak- elh.’ May it be the means of bringing to some soul now in midnight darkness the light whicli made her willing to go or stay, as the Lord willed— that enabled her to say, on her last bed, ’I hope I love Jesus and I know he loves me.’ ’’ Louisiana furnishes this: "Although lam now confined to the house, and a great part • of my time to the bed, and can only read a few minutes at a time, 1 feel as if I cannot give up tlie little Journal. I feel such a great interest in missions. Oh, how I wish I had the money some people have. I, don’t see how they can hoard it up when they know they can’t take it with them.’- i enclose #1.00; this is all T can get now. i’lease pay for \X\e. Journal, and put tlie lit¬ tle that is over'.in the mission that most needs it. If I live to get better, or if I do not, I shall try to send something more before the Convention meets. I’lease pray lor me in my sufferings, that I may he pa¬ tient to the end." From Tennessee comes this: "I sent' five dollars to you some time ago for for¬ eign missions, anti got a receipt promptly. When I saw that our Tennessee brethren' were contributing so little to carrying-out our Lord’s great command to tell the good news of salvation to every creature, (for I read the contribution column of the Jour¬ nal ,) I was truly sorry, and I determined to, try the harder myself; so I determined to send two dollars nnd fifty cents more. I' also determined to try to get our little struggling church to do something too. So I made a talk on the subject, and laid down $2.50, and asked them to see what they could do. So they handed me enough' to make the-amount $5,3i-rthe amount I here? with send you. So I thanked God and took courage.” Of all the "plans” we have ever seen suggested, this last letter outlines the best- give more than you had given, and get: others to give, too. We commend the Ten¬ nessee plan. , Miss Schenck, a Presbyterian missionary, . in a recent letter, tells of her Persian girls sewing, knitting and doing oilier work, to earn money to put into •' God’s box:” 'Are they not right in giving tlie contribution box that holy name, and calling the money ■ put into it the " Lord’s money ?” — Ex. -y Verily, a good name. Every Christian family ought to have a "God’s box,” into whicli each member ought to be encour¬ aged to put money for God’s business. How soon the glad tidings would fly .tlie “ spacious earth around," and God's glory be manifested among.the nations. ' ' ' fp- '(•>" .