Foreign Mission Journal, June 1886

ж FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL! Published Monthly by the Foreign Mission Hoard of tho Southern Baptist Convention. “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEAOH ALL NATIONS.” Vol. 17 — New Sorie RICHMOND, VA„ JUNE, 1883. No. 11.— Whole No. 21Б. (Enlerel at the Poat-Ofllce at Richmond, Va,. second-class matfer.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For papers separately addressed, either to same or to dllTerent posto : One copy . . . Sflcta. Three copies ($ $1, or . 83Hcte. apiece. II, For впекайте seat to one person, who shall be responsible for their distribution: Four copies for 1 1, or more at . 25 cte. Twenty-five copies for *fl. or more at . 20 cts. One Hundred conies for #lfif or того at. .16 cte ЛГПеаее remit by Draft, Postal Order, or In tered better, and notify us i-iiomptly of any < In address. Address. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, Va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, Located AT RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. 1'imeiDENT— 1(. II. IIakiiis. Vlc-Tn.BlPBWTA-vloahUA l.ovcrhiK, MU., C. W. Tomkl.s, I, а., о. II Winston, Va.. N. Л. Halley, Fin,. ThfO. Wllllfleltl, N.O., О, I’. Ijacby,Ky.,J. J.b.R.n- Iroe, Alabama, H. S. Duncan, Mo., H. Ц. Onrroll. Texas, W. L. Kilpatrick, On., Clias. Manly, S. O., J. M. Scoter, Tenn., J. It. Scary, Ark., Qeorze Whitfield, Mis.., W. F. Attklsson, TV. Va. ConnxSrONDlNO SkCllXTAltr— II. A. TtJI'I'KR. TuxASUnsn— J. O. WILLIAMS. Rkcobdino SxcnsTAity — А. П. CLARKE. ADDITOB-JOSEI’U F. COTTRELL. BOA IlD от Manaoxbs _ II. K.Eilyioo, J. 11. Win- .ton, W. E. Hatcher, f. W. Jonee, J. Pollard. Jr., S. O. Olopton. J n. Hatioo. W. 0. Thomas. W. W. Landrum, TV. .T, Shipman, в со. Cooper. П. W. Powers. О. H. Hyland, II. C. Baractt, T. P Mathowe. t&TAll communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. THE CONVENTION. The late meeting in Montgomery was more than usually pleasant. A large dele¬ gation was magnificently entertained. The sermons and set speeches were good. The business of the body was dispatched delib¬ erately, and yet with little loss of time. There were of course differences of opinion and earnest discussions, but no acrimony in debate, no bitterness on account of the re¬ sults reached. When a question had been fairly presented in its different aspects and submitted to a vote, it was settled, and the minority acquiesced gracefully. In spite of the " hard times ” both Boards reported considerable increase of receipts anil extension of the work committed to their hands. A cheerful and hopeful feeling pervaded the great assembly, and we trust will equally characterize the State and Dis¬ trict Associations to be held during the year on which we have so auspiciously entered. AN EMPTY TREASURY. Men gather into barns and store-houses. So limited are their resources that they must lay up in store to be ready for an emergency or an accident. In the Divine economy there can be no accident, no emergency, only “ the fullness of the time.” He needs no granary to preserve seed for another year, no stock on hand for his millions of factories— if we may without irreverence speak in the language of men— his capital is all constantly productive. “My father worketh hitherto,” said Jesus, “and I work.” Tlie universe has it reservoirs in air and sea, both in ceaseless movement, both at every moment receiving and giving out again. We have often thought that the treasury of a church or a mission organization would approach perfection in proportion as it should conform to the divine plan. A large surplus, lying useless in the vault, is worse than a waste. On the other hand no burden is more crushing to Christian work than a growing debt. If it were possible to arrauge so that money will come in just in time to meet the demands of the work, enough for every month or every day, then tlie Secre¬ tary and Board of Managers could give head and heart to the moral support of the mis¬ sionaries, to better consideration of the claims of different fields, more careful search for suitable reinforcements, more prayer for the success of their labors. The present condition of affairs offers an excellent opportunity for inaugurating such a plan. The Treasurer reported to the Con¬ vention some $ 8,ooo of bills payable. Re- CORRECTIONS. lit the financial report of the Board of Foreign Missions, presented at Montgom¬ ery, Arkansas is credited with $984.32 instead of $1,085, tlie difference, $100.90, having been erroneously credited in posting tlie books, to Alabama. Our Treasurer has written the Arkansas brethren, and explained the matter to them. This is regretted the more from the fact that $1,000 was the quota of Arkansas, which the State was very desitious of paying in full— аз they did. Tlie following amounts by Rev. W. V. Macfee, of Louisville, Ky,, for “Mrs. David’s Memorial,” viz : $5 from B. F. Taylor, and $t from J. W. Reams, were credited to Ken¬ tucky instead of to Virginia. ceipts since his report closed have enabled him to take up most of these. The rest are arranged so as not to give any trouble. Our treasury is “in light running order,” neither cumbered witli any surplus, nor loaded down with any weight. How shall it be kept in this condition f Drafts come every month, almost every week, from Mexico, from Brazil, from Italy, from Africa, from China. They call for hundreds or for thou sands. The rivulets of supply trickle through daily mails, bringing dimes and dol¬ lars. Evidently there must be sometiiing like a thousand contributions gathered to meet one draft. But some one says ” the times are so iiard, we cannot raise money now. Next fall we can do something more worthy of our church.” Nay, brother, you draw a wrong inference. How much better to rea¬ son thus : Tlie times are hard, the need is great, even for the little that we can raise. Let us send it on at once and ask the bless¬ ing of him who with a few loaves fed vast multitudes. Miss Ruth McCown was married in Shanghai, April stli, to Rev. J. A. Thom¬ son, a Baptist from Scotland, who represents in Japan the National Bible Society of Scotland. The happy couple on the 15th reached Yokohama, where they will here¬ after work together. We congratulate the husband on the splendid prize he has won. DAVID ALEXANDER WILSON. In our list of missionaries to Mexico ap¬ pear this month the names of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, assigned to Patos, though for the present living at Saltillo. Brother Wilson’s father was from South Carolina, and his mother from Alabama. In 1858, when David, the youngest but one of their nine children was born, they were living in Louisiana, but just after the war, in which their eldest son had fallen in battle, they removed to Gaines county, Texas. Here our brother grew up on a farm, with few educational advantages besides the in¬ structions of a godly mother. When brought to a knowledge of the truth in Christ, he was baptized at fourteen and soon after began to lead in public prayer and in a few years to exercise his gifts in pointing others to tlie Saviour. At twenty he was called to take charge of a church near by and was duly ordained to the full work of the ministry. The next spring the venerable J. W. D. Creath spent a night with the family, and after some talk with the plough-boy preacher, said : “ Young man, you must go to school.” The words half commnndingly, half beseechingly spoken, found a loud echo in Ills heart, but the care of a widowed mother and of several sisters hindered for a time any response in outward act. At length, in February, 1S79, tlie way was open for him to enter Baylor University, where lie remained nearly three years, and made fair progress, though much interrupted by the necessity of preaching every Sunday to support himself, and to meet his appointments having to ride on horseback from twelve to thirty miles on Saturdays and back again Monday. In college he roomed for a time with our brother Z. C. Taylor, now of Bahia, Brazil, and they often talked over the claims of mission fields. Tlie interruption of his studies in 18З3, and a sense of unfitness for foreign work kept down his earnest desires. He therefore entered upon pas¬ toral work at home, and in 18S4 married Miss Lizzie A. Gooch, of Dublin, Texas, whom he had four years before baptized. But about six months ago a combination of circumstances and several letters received at the same time from widely separate sources, rekindled the old flame of zeal to enter the regions beyond, and the finger of Providence pointed him as it seemed to Mexico. Under a special arrangement made inde¬ pendently of the Board, brother Wilson, with his wife and child, went over to Saltillo last March, and began to study the language and manners and customs of the people to whom lie expects henceforth to give his life. At the Convention lie came before a gather¬ ing of Vice-Presidents, Managers and re¬ turned missionaries, who, after full confer¬ ence, heartily recommended him to apply to the Board for regular appointment. He therefore came on to Richmond, and at a called meeting, held May 15th, was after a full and very satisfactory examination, unani¬ mously accepted as a missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is as¬ signed for the present to Patos, but hopes before many months to be allowed to press forward to other more needy and not less promising towns. May the Angel of the Covenant guide and keep him in all his ways. us, and cheerfully accept tlie decision of tiie Convention. The report as amended was unanimously adopted, and the Cuban Mission is in charge of tlie Home Board, located at Atlanta, Ga. We bespeak for the Board hearty sympathy in the enlarged responsibilities laid upon them, and more liberal contributions to en¬ able them to prosecute this work in addition to meeting the pressing demands from desti¬ tute regions in our own country. SOUTH CAROLINA. Every one who lias noticed the receipts acknowledged month by month in the Journal and our Treasurer’s annual reports, must have been struck with several things about the contributions of tlie Palmetto State to Foreign Missions. 1. They come all through tlie year. They are larger, indeed, in October and in April than in some other months, but every paper contains a respectable sum. Tiiis is clearly right when the expenses are, and in the nature of tlie case must be continuous, and almost as great in one month as in another. 2. They occupy a great deal of space in the paper. What a long list of names; some giving only a few dollars, others larger sums, but all giving something. Whether- the rich men or the poor widows really give most liberally, the observant Master only knows. 3. The aggregate of these many sums,, large and small, constantly coming into the treasury, puts the State among the fore¬ most, in proportion to numbers, of all the supporters of the Convention. We have carefully avoided comparison, because we know that in other States the money is gathered by agents or State organ¬ izations, and forwarded in larger sums, and therefore tlie file of the Journal does not furnisli a fair basis for accurate comparison Our purpose is simply to call attention t what is good in the plans of our South Caro? Iina brethren, foran example to some others and for an encouragement to them to do still better. it Щ THE CUBAN MISSION. One of the most interesting topics before the Convention was the promising outlook in Cuba, mentioned in the reports of both the Boards. A sketch of the remarkable work of grace there, and many thrilling in¬ cidents of its inception and progress were narrated to the body by brethren Alberto Diaz, of Havana, and W. F. Wood, of Key West, Fla. The whole subject was then referred to a committee who reported unanimously re¬ commending (1) the adoption of the work in Cuba as one of the missions of tlie Conven¬ tion, (2) its committal to the Foreign Mission Board, (3) its vigorous prosecution, and (4) the preservation of the close sympathy al¬ ready existing between the brethren in Florida and those in Cuba. When the report was presented a motion was made to amend the second item by sub¬ stituting “ Home ” for "Foreign,” and this, after protracted debate was adopted at the earnest request of the Florida delegation, who seemed to fear that its committal to the Foreign Board might disturb the intimate connection and existing harmony between their State work, (conducted under the au¬ spices of the Home Board,) and the work in Cuba. While recording our sincere convic¬ tion that this action was a mistake, we appre¬ ciate tlie motives of those who differed with NEW MANAGERS. Tiie Convention reappointed substantially the Board of Inst year. Dr. J. L. Burrows wrote to the committee on nominations de? dining re-election as Vice-President for Vir¬ ginia, and Prof. Chas. H. Winston was pro? moted to tin's office. Tin's change is a return to the old aud long used custom of having the Vice-President for this State in imme¬ diate communication with the Board, and really adds another to the list of active mem¬ bers. The two vacancies were filled by the appointment of Henry C. Burnett, Esq., cashier of tlie First National Bank of Rich¬ mond, and Dr. Thos. P. Mathews, of Man¬ chester, one of the leading physicians of tlie twin cities. Both are well-informed, thought¬ ful, practical Christian men, and we expect much help from their counsels in the ques¬ tions that come before the Board. One of our greatest pleasures at Mont¬ gomery was in making tlie acquaintance of Miss Agnes Osborne, of Louisville, Ky., who, with a galaxy of correspondingeditors, has been making such a grand success with The Heathen Helper , as organ of the women of the South. The Helper is now a neat pamphlet of 16 pp. a month. Subscription price, 50 cts. a year. Our churches gave more for Foreign Mis¬ sions, and the Board sent out more mission? aries last year than ever before. As the work enlarges the demands become greater. For this year we need a full $100,000, " quar¬ terly in advance.”