Foreign Mission Journal, June 1885

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL! I II Ы lulled MoutlUj- by tbo Foreign Misalou Hoard of the Southern Baptist Convention. “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.” Vol. 16— New Series. RICHMOND. VA„ JUNE, 18S5. No. 11.— Whole No. 203, {Eat*r*‘l ftl the l*«"t-Offlce nt Richmond, Vn„ л* eecoml-clnei mat»**r.j Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For papere aepnratcly nddr^eed, either to same or Ю tllilVrcnt iwstolllces : Оно copy . . . ЛИ cts. Three copies *1, or . ДЗН ote. nplece. II. For packages pent to оно pereon, who shall be responsible for their distribution i Four copies for tl, or more nt . ....25 eta. npleco. Twenty-five copies for +5. or more nt . 20 cts. npleco. One Hundred copies for tlft, or more nt. .15 ct* apiece. 4Э*(‘1ол»а remit by Drnft, J*o«tul Order, or In Keels- tered Letter, nnd notify us rnoMt'TLY of any chnnRo In address. Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, Va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, LOCATED at’IUOILMONP. VIRGINIA l’ltxalDEXT— .T. I., M. oimitY V1CK-PHE6IDINTE. — Jodi nil I.evcrlnE, Mi!., О \V. Tomkli*., La.. J. I., Harrow*, Va., N. A. Halley, Fla., Thao. WhUllflil. N.G., \V. H. Fell*, Ky., J. J.ll.Itea- (roe, Alabama. U. S. Iluaran, Mo., II II. Carroll, Texas, W. L. Kilpatrick, Ga„ Olms, Manly, S. I)„ J, ,M. Senler. Тенп.. J. II. Searcy, Ark., Оеогце WhliflelJ. Miss., W. F. Atlkl.son, W. Va. OoimkSTONDimi HacTiKTsnv— II. A. TUPPER. ТпЕлвипЕН— J. «I. WILLIAMS. IlECXtllDI7.il Skl.HKTAHY— W. II. OWATIIMEY. Al'DITOlt-JOSEl'H F. OOTTHKLL. Ho tun or MAK.OEU6.— J. 11. Wutk.ns, H. ,K. Elly* son. W. E. Hatcbrr, E. Wonbnm, W. It. Thomas, II. II. Harris, J. Foll.rJ, Jr., I. W. Jones. Л. 11. Olarko, J. II. Win-ion. ,T 11. Hution. <1, H. Winston. S. O. Ulcpton, W. Tv'. Landrum, w. J. Shipman. К&ГЛ11 communications in reference to the business of this lfoard should be addressed to H. Л. Tuppek, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond. Va. Or. Yates writes April 13th that his gene¬ ral health is very good, and his special trouble better than it has been. He hopes soon to be again “ set at liberty.” Brother David laid the foundations of his new chapel March 30th, anil had thirty-six men at work building. He adds: "One of our members gave four months salary to the church fund, another a fifth of a year’s salary, two others a tenth each. The school has 225 pupils." THE CONVENTION. Augusta is я beautiful city. Greene street, with its four rows of elm trees for more than two miles, is unsurpassed by any¬ thing we have ever seen in this country or in Europe. The weather was perfect. A heavy rain just befoie the meeting had laid the dust and cooled the air. Gentle breezes, laden with the perfume of roses, honeysuckle and china trees, tempered the noon-day, and invited sweet slumber at night. The arrangements for the comfort and convenience of delegates were all that could be desired— in fact, rather more, for they tempted many of us to sit out under the grassy shade when we ought to have been attending to business. Of the hospi¬ tality of the community we cannot speak — our lot took us to an old homestead over¬ looking the river, an abode of wealth with¬ out ostentation, of piety without asceticism, and of that genuine hospitality which made the stranger feel entirely at home— we could not ask how others might be faring, for fear we should be accused of glorying in our own advantages. The Convention was good in many re¬ spects, in some unsatisfactory. The "Pre¬ vious Question ” seems more accordant with the genius of a political assemblage than with that of a religious meeting. We do not mean that it is not sometimes right to employ this summary method of cutting olT a profitless debate, but that brethren ought not to allow themselves to run into such dis¬ cussions. Another thing which left an un¬ pleasant impression was the applause which again and again disturbed the deliberations. Hut we forbear. The platform speaking was good, much of it very fine. The com¬ mittees, less numerous than in some former years, presented well-considered reports. The mass-meetings were entirely successful. Brother Powell introduced two Mexicans as being probably the first native converts who had ever come to this country from a foreign field at their own charges, and stated that by some misunderstanding they had been obliged to pay more for their railroad fare than was anticipated— his purpose was ■ to raise the difference, some $20, by private solicitation, but a spontaneous contribution burst upon him and amounted to over #250 —tile surplus was turned into the treasury of the First Baptist Association of Mexico, for missionary work. At the close of the mass-meeting for foreign missions, n collec¬ tion was taken to build a chapel at Cliin- kiang. The speaker, by mistake, asked at first for $2,000 ; he got instead *2,500, which was nearer the sum named by Dr. Tates. We print elsewhere the reports on tile work of our Board. Tiie Convention meets next year at Mont¬ gomery, Ala., on Friday instead of Wednes¬ day. The cltange of time will allow two days for organization, routine work and promiscuous matters, then a sweet season of rest and worship, and two full days with this previous preparation for the real busi¬ ness of the body. THE TREASURER'S REPORT, We had not room in the May number to print tiie receipts and expenditures for the year ending April 30th. We need not do so now, since the minutes of the Convention with the reports in full, are promised for the first week in June. We may, however, make some remarks, using for tiie sake of brevity and clearness, round numbers only, and re¬ ferring to the forthcoming report for the exact figures. The total of contributions, $64,000, is $10,000 more than the contributions of 1SS2-S3, but $15,000 less than those of i8S3-’S4. The falling off is apparently much more than it really is. We said a year ago in the Journal : "It is proper to add that of the whole increase ($25,000) over last year's receipts, $5,000 come from bequests and some $12,000 from special contributions made for schools and buildings in Mexico ; therefore, $S,ooo represents the advance in regular contributions for the genera! work.” If this was correct, there lias been a gain of some $2,000 over the contributions of tiie previous year. This is further confirmed by noticing that nine-tenths of tiie apparent decline is in two States. Alabama, from which in 1SS4 we received $s,oooin bequests, is this year behind by just about that amount. Texas, which was credited last year with $6,000 or $S,ooo of contributions to Mexican schools, gave this year to the same object some $2,500, which was not reported in time to be included in the account. The State appears, therefore, to have suffered a de¬ cline of $S,ooo, but in reality has given nearly as mucli as before. So much by way of explanation, but the fact remains that all the States except four show some little fall¬ ing ofTin contributions. The four noble ex¬ ceptions are Florida, which increased by $350, Missouri and Tennessee, by $300 each, and South Carolina, by $200. If all the rest had done as well, the report would have been much more cheering. To the direct contributions, $64,100, add balance from previous year, $9,600, and in¬ come from invested funds, $Soo, and we find available $74,500— tiie missionaries collected and expended on their fieids over $5, 000, which is not here included. The drafts upon the treasury have been as follows: for mis¬ sions, China, $25,100; Africa, $12,100; Bra¬ zil, «4.600; Mexico, $io,too ; Italy, *10,900; total, $62,800; for agencies, (mainly in Texas, Kentucky, Missouri and Georgia,) $6,000 ; for administration, (salaries, print¬ ing, room-rent, ftc.,) $4,600; total expendi¬ tures, $73.400, leaving a balance on hand, $1,100— the exact figures .are $1,144.61. Of the total receipts for the year, $16,700, nearly one fourth came in during the last month. So, while the Board closed with a small balance on hand, it had been com¬ pelled to anticipate contributions by bor¬ rowing money, in all $12,000. What are the .prospects for the current year? We enter upon it with our force of laborers largely increased over what it was twelve months ago. Fifteen men and wo¬ men were sent out last year, four, perhaps eight, others are imperatively required at an early day as reinforcements for Shanghai and for Brazil. The absolutely necessary- expenses of this year, to say nothing of buildings, will he much greater than before. The quarterly drafts for the support of our missionaries will come thick and fast. I.ast year we had a balance of nearly $10,000 to begin with; this year- only $1,000, and that has been already used to meet a draft from Lagos. Truly, it looks rather dark, but there is light from above. He who said “ Go ye," added “ and, lo, I am with you.” Trusting in him and relying upon many of his stewards to send in their tithes, their first fruits and their thank-offerings, for his service and for tiie spread of his kingdom, we enter the new year with hope, though with anxiety, and shall pray witli new mean¬ ing “Give us this day our daily bread.” FACTS TO FACE. Our Treasurer reported to the Convention a balance on hand of $1,100. Tiie aggre¬ gate of moneys acknowledged in this issue is $6,300. Then some one will think the Board lias now $7,400. But it has not, for three reasons. First, $4,55S.iSof the money here¬ with acknowledged was actually paid to brother Powell, and expended in Mexico, during the last conventional year, as will more fully appear from a closer examina¬ tion of the receipts. Tiie Treasurer's report of last year ought to have contained this sum, credited to several States and debited to Mexican mission, but tiie statement of brother Powell did not come to hand in time, and so this money, as the best thing possible under the circumstances, has been brought into the accounts of the current year. Secondly, the further some of $254.93, raised at the Convention for the Mexican evangelists, was turned over to brother Powell for them and their association, as was stated to tiie Convention at tiie time by our Corresponding Secretary. Deducting these special contributions, we find tiie real re¬ ceipts up to May 20th, only $1,515.96, which, with the balance brought forward, makes a little over $2,600. But, thirdly, drafts have been received to tiie amount of $6,000. Not to pay them promptly would sully the excellent reputation of the Board in com¬ mercial circles, disrupt our plan of remit¬ ting— the safest and most economical we have ever tried — and, worst of all, would subject our missionaries to such privations and embarrassments as must seriously In¬ terfere with their work. The treasury, therefore, at this writing, is not only empty, but worse than empty. A telegram sent from Augusta, by order of the Convention, authorized Dr. Yates to draw for the money there subscribed for a chapel at Chin-kiang. His draft is, doubt¬ less, now on the way, and will reach Rich¬ mond as soon as steam-power can bring it. Some-of this amount has been already paid. Will tiie other subscribers please forward at once? , Two new missionaries have been ap¬ pointed for Brazil since the Convention. Two other applicants for appointment to China expect to be examined in June, and if approved, to sail this fall. Drafts for the support of those already in the field, for the April-June quarter, are pouting upon tiie treasury. Such are tiie plain facts. What is to be done ? Let 11s ail calmly consider this ques¬ tion and act rationally. Tiie Board pro¬ pose to do their utmost, but they cannot sustain missions without means. God's goodness and his signal deliverances last year, encourage us to hope. Ought they not to stimulate all to renewed exertions and to greater promptness ? Why should the Board be forced to borrow, when 1 lie churches know the necessities of the case? A contribution this summer is worth more than tiie same amount given next April. OUR MISSIONS, Dr. S. Landrum, of New Orleans, was Chairman of the Committee 'to whom -was referred the main body of the report ol tiie F. M. Board. He presented and the Convention adopted the ringing summary which follows: "The missions of the Board stand like light-houses, not numerous nor near to¬ gether, but In all the great divisions of die earth. Your committee note with thankful¬ ness the manifest growtli and real efficiency of them all. The baptisms, tiie organiza¬ tion of the churches, the contributions made to missions by the converts from Ro¬ manism and from paganism, demand special emphasis. . . “ First in several respects is the mission in our sister Republic of Mexico. By means of railroads our intercourse with Mexico is be¬ coming quite intimate. No country lias made so fine an exhibit at tiie World's Ex¬ position in New Orleans. In productions and minerals, in art and music, her display has made a deep impression, and a large trade is sure to spring up between the two great American Republics. Notwithstanding the persecutions endured, we believe that we shall, witii comparative ease, secure die ear of the Mexicans for the gospel of our Lord. The zeal 0Г our Board for tiie mission in Mexico is worthy of all commendation. “ We pass now to the Brazilian mission. Here our missionaries have suffered arrest and persecutions, but they have been patient, and distributed the Bible freely. In its light tiie sharpness of their trials have been re¬ moved. It gives us delight to note the bap¬ tism of thirty-seven believers. Over all op¬ position die gospel triumphs. "In Europe we are glad to observe the abiding faith and untiring labor of our mis¬ sionaries in classic and Roman Catholic Italy. We regret the necessity for tiie re¬ turn of our wise, heroic and veteran mis¬ sionary, Dr. Taylor. We trust his residence among us will greatly assist the work in Rome and Italy, especially in securing funds to build chapels. Our best hope of success in Italy, under God, lies, perhaps, in teach¬ ing the young, in circulating the Scriptures, and in personal appeal. 11 In the African mission seven are reported as baptized. Our force in the ‘dark conti¬ nent ’ lias been increased by four . new mis¬ sionaries. We must do something for Africa, and let us hope that the new laborers may be spared and crowned with success. We think tiie great body of laborers in Africa should come from the people of the country. “The China missions are the oldest and largest of our foreign missions. There are fifty-six missionaries under the employment of tiie Board. We have six hundred and forty-five members of our churches in China, and their contributions amount to $567.85. War and rumors of war have seri¬ ously hindered our work jn China, and caused our dear brethren there much anxiety and suffering. "Buildings— churches and chapels— are needed, specially in all the foreign missions. We find houses indispensable at home; they are more necessary abroad. We must col¬ lect and give for building houses of worship. The work will be hindered and much lost without such houses. Wc cannot state too strongly the necessity for buildings in the foreign fields.”