Foreign Mission Journal, August 1883

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Published Monthly by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. “ALL .DOW 10 II IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.» Vol. 15— New Series. RICHMOND. VA„ AUGUST, 1883. No. 1.— Whole No. 169- [Kiiimtl Hi 111»' Fosl-OUlce at Itlchmomi, Va.. efcoiid-cIasH inatttT.J Foreign Mission Journal RATES PER ANNUM: One copy, separately folttctl nml n«ltlrcsscd . $ 50 Three copies, ntltlrcwd to one person . 1 00 Ten copies, atldressed to one person . 3 00 Forty copies, addressed to one person . 10 00 One hundred copies, atldressed to one . . . 00 Лй'1 lemlt by Draft, Postal Order, or In Reuls- teted Letter, nml notify us promptly of any change in address. Address, FOKKIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, Va. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. r.otATvu at ItlOIlMONll. VIlmmiA. I’kksidknt—J. I., M. COItUV. Vicic-l’intNinKVTe.— Joshua Lnvorliur. Mil., J. Л. Hacked, I.ti., J. I». Harrow.. Vn., IT, K. Allen, Fla., О. V. (Iri'eory, N. «.. T. T. Halo». Ky . J. .1. I). Hen- froe, Alafcama. It. S. Duncan, Mo., It И. Carroll, Texas, \V\ I,. Kilpatrick. On., Clnif. Manly. S. (J., Mali. Hill. man, T-nn., .1. It. Scarce, Ark., George WMIfleUI Mice. W. 1*. Wnlkcr %V. Va, noimaarosnisii Нкгмвтлпу— II. Л. TUi’I’EU. Til к Ad UK к It — J. II. WILLIAMS. ItkConniNO SkriirTAiiy— W. II. (1V/ATII.MKY. AuniTOn— .TOSni'll V. OOTTItELL ltOAnnor MAKAORtiA.— J. It. Hawthorne. .T. It. Wnt, kins. II K. Klly-on, W. K. llalcher. U. Wortham. W II. Thomas. W. r.dliiln, II. H. Harris, J. l'ollnril, Jr.' J W. Jones. Л. II llarke. J. It Win-toe. J II. Ilul- eon О H. Wln.lnn. Я. C. rTo.oton. t&TAll communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should he addressed to II. A. Tui'i'KK, Corresponding Secretary, llichmond, I'ti. DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES, Miss Lula Wliildcn, whose visit to this country has given a new impulse to the work of foreign missions, about tlie 1st of Novem- ber next expects to sail Irani San Francisco to Canton, Chinn, where she has labored witli great zeal nml success since 1S72. She will he accompanied by our recently ap¬ pointed missionaries, Miss Mattie M. Rob¬ erts, of Louisville, Ky., and Miss Emma Voting, of Greenfield, Missouri — the former, as has been intimated, to be stationed in Tung Chow; the latter in Canton. It was proposed that these young ladies should sail in August, in company with Mrs. A. It. Ran¬ dolph, of tlie Presbyterian mission in Shang¬ hai, who bail very kindly and cheerfully agreed to escort them, but since Miss Wliil- den lias decided to return this fall, it is thought better for them to wait two months, and have the benefit of a three weeks talk with her after they have bidden farewell to America and set their faces steadfastly to the west. Tlie sailing of Miss Voting will supply in part tlie request of the Canton mission printed in this number, and we t- nst that she and Miss WhiUlen may long live in the intimate association and hearty co-ope¬ ration for the Master’s service, which will be begun on their long voyage across tlie Pacific. WHAT TO DO WITH IT, Some thoughtful brethren are asking what tlie lioard will do with tlie <100,000 proposed to he raised this year. The support o( our present force costs about <00,000 ; for what will Hie oilier £ 40,000 lie used ? Л complete answer is easy, Tlie God of money is also tlie God of men. Iiis dominion is ns minute as it is extensive. "On the railways of Ids purposes there are no collisions, no detentions, no missing of connections.” When at tlie foot of Sinai “tlie children of Israel brought a willing oflering unto the Lord, every man and woman,” he had already called Rezaleel and Aholiab to work «Р tlie material according to tlie revealed patterns, So when this money comes in, the same God who supplies it will have already indicated Ways of using it for Ids glory. It is too early yet to say what will he done with it; but some tilings we can see plainly aries. ЛИ our stations need reinforcement. Some of them are suffering for the want of more laborers. The men can lie found as soon as tlie means of sending them are pro¬ vided. Another pressing need is for houses of worship, school-buildings, and residences. It will lie remembered that «5,000 of the £100,000 were subscribed specially for build¬ ings in Mexico. A similar amount could be wisely expended forthwith in Italy. • We have chapels in Rome nml Torre Pcllicc ; we need them at all tlie other stations, more especially in Milan, Venice, and Naples. And above all, our expanding work in China positively demands funds for building pur¬ poses. Tlie Hoard lias already authorized the Canton. Mission to draw <11,000 for another chape! in that great city. Dr. Yates earnestly advises us to build at Soo Chow and at Cliing Kiang ; the two houses will cost not less than £5,000. In Tung Chow another house is needed, anil we arc in¬ formed that one well suited for tlie purpose can be gotten for £2,000. Thus it appears that at least £20,000 could be wisely appro¬ priated at once for buildings. Wo repeat that all we have said, which might seem to indicate tlie action of the lioard, is unauthorized and non-committal. We only mention some of tlie directions in which the money may be used. A glanceat our receipts will show tlie sad fact that the great increase of funds has not yet begun to How into the treasury. When it conies tlie Hoard will prayerfully consider what dispo¬ sition to make of it, and will decide in tlie fuller light of tlie latest indications of Provi¬ dence. _ THE APPORTIONMENT. From every direction come letters ap¬ proving the suggestions of tlie Hoard di¬ viding equitably among the States the sum to lie raised for this year. No word of dis¬ approval lias yet been heard. One brother writes: "Von may rely confidently on our quota.” Another says: "The State Conven¬ tion will approve the suggestion.” A third says: “Tlie <100,00(1 should and can bo raised.” A fourth more pointedly writes: “This State can and '.('Ш raise the amount assigned her," and so from other States. We have only to add that tlie work must be begun early, and pressed steadily. A "spurt” just before tlie close of tlie finan¬ cial year will not accomplish the object, nor will it supply from now till then tlie daily bread of our missionaries. TO WEAK BODIES. There are objections to the apportionment of any sum among Christian people. It may- lie taken by some as an excuse for substi¬ tuting a human standard for tlie divine rule — the cubit of a man for the cubit of tlie sanc¬ tuary. Many will fall short, few will go be¬ yond what is proposed ; and so tlie total amount may not be readied, The counter¬ vailing advantage is that it sets before every one a near and definite aim, instead of one that is far olf and vague. It tints stimulates to elTort many who would otherwise sit in aimless, hopeless inactivity. In tlie distribution among so many as make up the constituency of tlie Southern Iiaptist Convention, tlie weaker Slates, District As¬ sociations, and churches will find very small figures put opposite their names. Some may take this as an affront ; tlie Christian way to resent it will be to send it back doubled, trebled or quadrupled. Olliers will be tempted to contrast their littles with the larger gifts, and conclude that they arc of trifling importance. It was the servant who received only one talent that “ hid his Lord's . . ^ . __ __ _ _ _ money," and was condemned out of his own enough. We must send out more mission- 1 mouth. Hut really the poor have a better chance than tlie ricli to lie liberal, and tiieir liberality is far more effective as an example It not tmfrequently happens in public col¬ lections that tlie large-sounding hundreds put to shame tlie dollars and tlie dimes which might otherwise go in. If, instead, tlie list could be beaded with the name of a poor widow, casting in both of her two miles, tlie richer brethren would be ashamed not to increase what they had purposed to give. Paul nowhere uses tlie example of tlie strong to excite tlie emulation of the weak but lie does use tlie liberality of the churches of Macedonia, in their deep poverty, to stir up tlie more abundant brethren at Corintli to abound also in tlie grace of giving. " Take care of tlie pennies,” says tlie old adage, "and the pounds will take care of themselves.” If tlie brethren in bodies to whom small amounts are assigned will come up to tlie full measure of what God requires, we have little fear of any falling short. THAT HUNDRED THOUSAND. In our last issue was published an appor¬ tionment among tlie States of tlie £100,1100 proposed to be raised this year for Foreign Missions. In order to raise the quota (£12,500) recommended for Virginia, the fol¬ lowing plan lias been adopted by tlie Foreign Mission Hoard of tlie General Association of this State. Better methods may be em¬ ployed in other States. Hut this plan of ap¬ portionment among the District Associations, with some earnest and competent brother in each to look after tlie matter, is presented, that it either may be imitated, ormny suggest methods better for the accomplishment of tlie general object, so important for tlie work committed to our lioard: HOW TO RAISE VIRGINIA’S QUOTA FOR FOR¬ EIGN MISSIONS. After consultation with thoughtful and ex¬ perienced brethren, ns to how the £12,50(1 recommended by the General Association for Foreign Missions might be raised, tlie following apportionment of tlie amount among tlie District Associations is respect¬ fully suggested, Seveial brethren, deeply interested in the matter, have agreed to visit, this summer, as many of tlie Associations as they can, to aid ill giving success to this ad¬ vance move of tlie General Association, in connection with tlie quota suggested below for each Association is tlie name of a brother, who will confer a favor by present¬ ing the quota for approval to his Associa¬ tion, advocating the cause, and arranging for a subdivision of tlie amount among the churches of tlie Association, as suggested by tlie Hoard of Foreign Missions of the South¬ ern Baptist Convention, in the letter to their Vice Presidents, published in the Religions Herald of July 5th. A tract, just issued by the Hoard, containing that letter, together with much information about their work, may be obtained, in any number, by appli¬ cation to tlie subscriber, or to Corresponding Secretary II. A. Tapper, Richmond, Va. AITORTIONMENT. Accomac— J. W. Hundley . < 175 Of) Albemarle — J. С. II I den . -150 (10 Appomattox— James Nelson . 251) 00 Augusta— J. M. Frost, Jr . 275 00 Blue Ridge— D. G. Taylor . 51) 00 Clinch Valley— John Jessce . 100 00 Concord — ' T. W. Sydnor . 225 00 Dan River — Whit, 11. Williams . 200 00 Dover— Wm. E. Hatcher . 3,000 00 Goshen — J. W. McCown . 1,300 00 James River — L. R. Thornhill . 150 00 Lebanon— J. R. Harrison . 130 00 Middle District— J. R. Bagby . 300 0(1 New Lebanon — M. L. Ingram . 75 00 Now River—' W. C. Parks . 50 00 Portsmouth— Л. E. Owen . 1,100 00 Potomac— I, 11. Lake . 700 00 Rappahannock— A. Hroaddus, Sr.. 1,400 00 Roanoke — II. Petty . 575 00 Shenandoah—' W. C. Hitting . 200 00 Shiloh— C. F. James . 425 00 Strawberry — R. R. Acrce . 000 00 Valley— С. I- Cocke . 350 00 £12,500 00 On behalf of tlie Foreign Mission Board of the General Association of Virginia. A. E. Owen, Cor. Set’y. Portsmouth , Va. Tint Forty-Sixth Annual Rkkokt of tlie Presbyterian Hoard of Foreign Missions (office in New York) makes n book of ISC pages, illustrated by maps of Mexico, Soutli America, tlie Gaboon coast, Syria, T’ersia, India, Siam and Japan. Besides tlie coun¬ tries mentioned, tlie Board sustains missions in China, Guatemala, Papal Europe and among tlie Chinese and Indians in the United States. The working force consists of ministers, American, 159, native, 215 ; and lay missionaries, American, 2SC, (nearly all ladies,) native, 585. They report communi¬ cants 18,058, pupils in schools 21,25:1. The receipts for tlie year ending May 1st. ISS.'f, were from 3,795 churches, £230,600; from Women's Societies, £192,700; from legacies, £120,900 ; miscellaneous sources, £9S,200. Total £048, 303.10. The expenses of administration were for printing, £3,750; Secretaries and Treasurer, £104.82; postage, insurance, Sc., (not including rent, for the church owns tlie rooms,) £1.450, Total, £20, OSS, being a little more than 1 per cent on tlie whole income, or 12j£ per cent on the direct contributions from tlie churches. It may be interesting to compare statistics of tlie Presbyterian mission in North China with ours in the same district. They report ordained missionaries, 13 : physicians, 2 ; un¬ married ladies, 6; native helpers, II; com¬ municants, 1,470; added during the year 3S2; pupils in day-schools, 50, in boarding schools, 102, in Sunday-schools, 720; contri¬ butions, £100, Annual cost of mission about £15.000. Our report of Tung Cliow Mission [see Journal for May) shows a working force of only 3 ordained ministers, 2 married and 2 unmarried ladies, thirteen baptisms during the year, and a total membership of 100. Tlie annual appropriation to our mission is less than £0,000. Tlie American Baptist Missionary Union, (Boston,) reports for the year ending May 1st, 1883: Missionaries, Ilurmali, 99; Assam, 15; Telugus, 37; Chinese, 25; Japan, 12; Africa, 2. Total, 190. Native assistants, in¬ cluding 070 in Sweden, Germany, France, Spain and Greece, 1,300; churches, 1,090; baptisms, in Asia, 4,098, in Europe, 0,570; total, 10,007; members, 102,2111, a little more than half of them in Europe. The Treasurer’s report shows donations from churches mid individuals (in round numbers,) £103,800; from Woman's Mission¬ ary Societies, £04, SOO ; from legacies, £52,000 ; interest on funds and other "such sources, £35,800. Total, £110,410.59. The expenses of administration are for publications, £1,572; agencies, £17,059; central office, £13,580; total, £32,217, which is a little over 10 per cent on tlie whole income; about 20 on the direct contributions received. We mention this cost of administration that our Southern brethren may see tlie working of a Board which lias been eminently successful and was highly endorsed for its "able manage¬ ment " by tlie brethren assembled at the late anniversaries. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. When the Board receives money for any special object or person, whose expenses are not known to be covered by our annual ap¬ propriation, a postal receipt, slating the specification, is sent to the donor, and a duplicate of tlie same is sent to tlie mission of tlie designated object or person. On both the original and duplicate receipt is ap¬ pended tlie following note: “N. 11. — This amount the treasurer of the above mission will include in his next draft, if the amount is not covered by our appro¬ priation to that mission, drawn quarterly in advance."