Foreign Mission Journal, September 1887

Foreign Mission. Journal: PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FOBEfGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. "ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS'.” Vol. 19 — New Series. RICHMOND, VA., SEPTEMBER, 1SS7. No. 2 — Whole No. 230 [Entered at the l*ost-Omce at Richmond, Va., as second-class matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For papers separately addressed, either losame or in different post offices : On* copy . «. . - . . . «..85 els. Three copies @*1, or . .33 H Ctt. nplece. II. For packages sent to one person, who shall be responsible for their distribution : Four copies for *1, or more at . 25 cts. apiece. Twenty-five copies for *fi. or more at . 20 cte. apiece. One Hundred copies for |16i or more nt.,1 Acts apiece. Please remit by Draft, Foetal Order, or in Regis¬ tered Letter, and notify us promptly of any change In address. Address. FOREIGN MISSION IOURNAL, Richmond. Va. ADVERTISING RATES. 1 3 в 12 SPACE. Month. Months Months Months 1 2Л Я 45 0 Л0 12 00 2 40 6 4ft 12 50 22 50 Я f«0 0 20 18 00 32 00 Quarter column... Half column . 4 7Г. 13 00 25 00 40 00 0 2Л 25 25 4Я III) 0o 00 One column . 18 (« ftO 00 02 A0 178 10 FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE 80UTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. LociTSD AT RICHMOND. YIKOINIA. Prksidxht— H. II, НАШИ». Vlc*-Pns6iD»sTe — Joshua LeYerlnft, Rid., C. W, Tomklva, Lb.. J. I.. Burrows, Vo.. N. Л. Bailey. Fla., Theo. Whitfield, N. CJ„ G. F, Bagbv, Ky., J. J. I». Ben- (roe, Alabama. J. P. Greene, Mo., IJ. II. Carroll, Texas, TV. L.KlIpalrlck, Oa„ Ohae; Manly, S. 0., J, M. Senter, Tenn., J. 11. Searcy, Ark., George Whitfield, MU»., W. F. Attklsson, TV. Va. OonnxspOMDitta SxcnxiAiiT— II. A. TUPPER. ТпкАбОпап— J. G. WILLIAMS. Rxcobdino Sxcrxtahy— A. B. CLARKE. AuDXTOn-K. O. BURNETT. Hoard or Mahaozrs — H. К. Ellynon, J. B. Win- Mon, О. II. Winston. W, E. Hatcher, J. Pollard, Jr., S. O. Oiopton, T. II. lintion. W. U. Thomas, W.V. Landrum, W. J, Shipman. Geo. Copper. O.H. Hyland. II. C.llnrnclt.T. P. Mathews, R. H. Pitt, T. P. Beil. BSg-All communications in reference to the business of this Board should be addressedto H. A. TuprRR, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. SICK, We spent almost the entire month of July in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. We reached home with fever on us, and on consulting a physician were informed that our system was " thoroughly saturated with malaria.” This manifested itself at first in slight chills, followed by low fevers, but ere long, in spite of quinine and oilier bitter and nauseous doses, it produced a fever that put us in bed and kept us there for some time. We have been prevented from doing any travelling during August, as our physician strictly enjoined quiet, for fear of a return of the fever. We were only in healthy places— so the brethren said— while on ourtrip, and where did we get the malaria in us ? We had hoped to visit some associations during August, and had made partial promises so to do. Iirethren to whom we made tiiese promises will understand now the cause of our failure. as it is needed for tiie work, what are the boards to do ? A moment’s thought will suffice to furnish an answer to the question. They must borrow tiie money from sucii sources as they can, and carry on the work without any disturbance thereof. To delay payment of one of the drafts from any one of our missions would be to ruin the credit of the board all over the world, and bring endless difficulties on our mission work. The drafts must be met, and that is all there is of it. Iiut to borrow money is not an inexpen¬ sive thing. Interest must be paid on it. According to the report of the treasurer of tiie board to tiie last Convention, over one thousand dollars was paid out for interest on borrowed money — almost enough to support a missionary and his wife for a year. And the story of last year is being repeated this year. The drafts are coming in ; the churches are not sending up the money to meet them; the board has to re¬ sort to the batiks, and the interest account is growing. 1’eople of God, ought these things so to be? The remedy for them lies in your hands. They can be prevented only by larger gifts from tiie people of the Lord, and gifts not all postponed till the last months of the conventional year. Larger gifts for larger work. Immediate gifts for immediate necessities ol the work, or rather regular and frequent gifts for regular expenses. The Lord’s work calls for the Lord’s money which is in your bands, and calls for some of it now. Rev. J. T. Christian was elected as his suc¬ cessor. Judging from a speech which brother Christian made on foreign missions during the Convention, this cause will not lack an earnest advocate before the brethren of the State. Mississippi has been gradually growing in her gifts to foreign missions, and from what we saw and heard at the Convention, we were led to hope for still more rapid growth. She, like her sister State on the east, is not occupying her proper place in the ranks of contributors to the great work of world evangelization. With such leaders as we met at Oxford, she ought to move forward more rapidly in this work. SAILING OF MISSIONARIES. Before our readers receive this number of the Journal, Rev. P. A. Eubank, with his wife and child, will have left New York on his return to his field of labor in Africa. The most promising part of this mission field lies in tiie interior, several hundred miles from Lagos, on the coast, at which point Rev. W. J. David is located. We once had nourishing missions in the in¬ terior, but our missionaries were driven thence by tribal wars, which continued for a number of years. The churches at Abeokuta and Ogbomoshaw did not die out, however, and under the direction of native converts, have maintained their ex¬ istence. But they have needed the pre¬ sence of a foreign missionary, especially that aggressive work might be done. The _ _ wars have now ceased, and opportunity is | afforded our missionaries to return and SOME STATE CONVENTIONS. (occupy theold stations and open new ones. We had the pleasure, during July, of at- 1 BrotherSmith is already at Abeokuta, some tending the Conventions of Louisiana, I eighty-five miles from Lagos, and brother Alabama, and Mississippi, in the order Eubank hopes soon to be able to go to named. We were everywhere most cor¬ dially received, and given opportunity to speak on the work of the Board. Ogbomoshaw, considerably further in the interior, and also to occupy Awyaw, a large I and important city. This country is ele- MEAGRE GIFTS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS. Four months of the conventional year have passed, and Hie contributions from all sources to foreign missions reach only the sum of #14,099.76. Within this time fall the beginnings to two quarters, when all our missions draw tiie money for their ex¬ penses. From China, Africa, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico these quarterly drafts have come, or are coming, calling for thousands of dollars; and to meet them the churches are sending in only hundreds. From vari¬ ous directions may be heard complaints about debts contracted by the boards of the Convention, to meet which high pres¬ sure measures have to be adopted by the officers of the boards during the last two or three months of the year. Now, we would ask the brethren of the churches, in all honesty, to tell us how these debts are to be avoided. The Lord has not supplied the boards of the Convention with mountains of gold, as one enthusiastic brother in Virginia wished had been the case, nor have they large bank accounts on which to draw. The boards are absolutely dependent on the churches for the supply of money to carry' on the 1 cork entrusted to them. If the churches do not furnish the money We found that the foreign mission work 1 vated considerably above the Lagos region has a strong and ever strengthening hold on the affections of the Louisiana brethren. Though burdened with a large home work, and anxious about their college, they are keenly aliveto the work of sending the gospel into the regions beyond. This state of things is due, in no small measure, to the earnest and intelligent labors of Rev. C. W. Tomkies. Brother Tomkles, though Corresponding Secretary of the State Mis¬ sion Board, as well as Vice-President for foreign missions, allows nothing to dampen his ardor or lessen his labors in behalf of foreign missions, and he has inspired many otliers with something of his own zeal. Louisiana’s increasing gifts to this cause testify in a very practical way to her in¬ creasing interest. The brethren in Alabama were so com¬ pletely absorbed in the matter of the re¬ moval of Howard College that they had little time or thought for anything else, and so we could not judge, from mingling among them at the Convention, of their interest in foreign missions. The increased contributions of last year, and the as¬ surances given us by some brethren in and is considered much more healthy. We have long been of the opinion that the best policy to be pursued in our African work is to press on into the interior, and work in both directions— towards the further in¬ terior on the one side, and towards the coast on the other. As soon as the board is able to furnisli the necessary buildings, brother Eubank will probably be allowed to carry out his wish and occupy the interior sta¬ tions. The following extracts from letters ceived from brother David some time after his arrival in Africa, in 1875, are of interpst as showing how some of these Christians from the interior clung to their religion during the dark and discouraging years when no foreign missionary was among them to guide them in the ways of the Lcjrd : FIRST RECEPTION AT I.AGOS. From a letter of Mr. David, of Septem¬ ber Sth, we make the following excerpts: “ Soon after I went ashore I was visited by about forty-five of our members — some from tiie interior.. I do not think I ever saw people so rejoiced. Immediately they had a meeting in their bamboo chapel to private that they would give more atten- thank God, who had answered their the need, of the fe*. ™ IffiS « dKoLSiSoliSSSS work than they had formerly done, lead us j iangUaRe, except through an interpreter, to hope that a deeper interest in this cause I our Heavenly bather knew our hearts. I is growing up in tiie State. Alabama, how- 1 baptized three candidates., Olliers applied, ever, is far below the measure of her duty ! bllt 1 advised ,hem 10 awa,t rc,urn- To an I CHURCHES OF THE INTERIOR. and of her ability in this matter interested observer of the proceedings of 1 1 reached Abeokuta, a city of about the Convention, it seemed that this strong 1 175.™» souls, July 15th, and was cordially „„d intelligent bod, * СЫ..1.. Ie.d=.., ! h°e”d were in danger of unduly contracting their . cJIrectly from Ogbomoshaw, where there views of, and labors in the Lord's cause — ; are some eighteen more, who do not giving-undue prominence to work within . neglect ‘the assembling of themselves , • b ... . к .. together,’ besides several converts. These their own State lines. From the minutes , br|„lren have often lravened twe]ve days of tiie Convention, just received, it appears 1 journey to Lagos to inquire if ' God’s men that the State gave more for State missions had yet come.”’ Truly the labors of our proper, not including ministerial education. ( former missionaries are not lost. ” I had * , w permission to go to Ogbomoshaw, but re- colportage, &c., than for the great w ork ,urnetj to L3g0S afler spending nine days in which lies beyond its own borders, included j Abeokuta. The head men were quite under home and foreign missions. I anxious that I should make my home there. The Mississippi Convention was a large , They would say, 'the wicked men who and enthusiastic body. The brethren here, too, were grappling with the question of college endowment, but this occupied a secondary place in tiie discussions of the Convention— missions in the various phases of the subject, occupying the first place. Dr. J. B. Gambrell, who has for several years so ably filled the office of Correspond¬ ing Secretary of tiie Mission Board, under pressure of other duties, resigned the po¬ sition, much to the regret of the brethren. drove away the missionaries are dead. White men can come and live among us in peace.’ ” Rev. Dr. H. M. Scudder leaves a suc¬ cessful pastorate in Chicago to go with a party of seven to do mission work in Japan. He and his wife, wilii one young lady of tiie party, will support themselves. Thank God for these signs of increase of the missionary spirit among American Christians. THE JOURNAL MEETING WITH FAVOR. At the meeting of tiie Louisiana Con¬ vention, brother C. W. Tomkies, our excellent Vice-President for that State, made a special appeal for the Journal on the lloor of tiie Convention, In a short time he had secured between three and four hundred subscribers. We had to write at once to tiie business manager in Rich¬ mond, ‘‘Have the printer add 500 copies to next month's issue.” At the Mississippi Convention two brethren were at work for the paper, and secured quite a long list of subscribers. We printed of the August number for this year 3,000 copies more than of the September number of last year, the first number issued under our direction. We rejoice in this evidence of the in¬ creasing favor with which the Journal is meeting among the brethren, and would earnestly ask all our readers to help us in still further extending its circulation. It helps the cause of missions wherever it K°es. A missionary in Brazil gives the follow¬ ing description of the treatment he and his party met witli when attempting to preach in an interior village. Such scenes are not uncommon. Our own brother Bagby has on the side of his forehead a long scar, the mark of a rock with which he was knocked down while preaching. Next morning we mounted our horses, and with a man on foot to guide us, we went winding our way up to this place, 3,000 feet above the sea. Arriving at 10 Л. M., we spent the day quietly, only serving as a kind of exhibition to the mountaineers. So long as we did not show any preparations for worship all was well. But when night came, and the lamps were lighted, things changed. Our host called our attention to some cow-bells at a dis¬ tance which, lie said, were ringing for our benefit. We then held a consultation as to the expediency of having worship. As a number of the better class wanted to hear the gospel, we decided to have preaching even if there were noise in the street. Mr. Smith opened with prayer, and then began reading a chapter; hut by this time the cow-bell had approached the house, and the notes were varied with three or four horns and several tin cans. This serenading in the street, with a corresponding chorus of human madmen, made it impossible to hear the preacher’s voice inside, so Mr. Smith stopped. At this juncture, a gentleman of some influence, who was inside, went out, and nearly succeeded in quieting the noise, when a farmer from the country rode up, and. with another person, put himself at tiie head of the crowd. Here I will cease trying to describe the scene of nearly an hour that followed. The intimate connec tion of Rome and the "father of lies ” was very forcibly impressed on me. From time to time the pandemonium would stop long enough for the leaders to threaten our lives, and yell at the top of their voices, ” our religion is that of the State, ””our Christ is the Christ of the wafer,” “ we accept the Christ in the cup,” “long live the Roman Catholic religion." This was kept up until every assurance was given that we would not liold worsiiip. They finally told our host that if any attempt to preach was made again, they would kill every one in his house, and level it to the ground. As there was not a policeman within nine miles of tiie village, we had no one to appeal to, so had to submit for the time being. Tiie next morning it was reported that we were to be waylaid in the mountains; but the only thing done was an attack made on our man who had our valise. The assailants tried to take it away from him, and in the scufllc the valise fell in the mud, but nothing was injured. DR, YATES THREATENED WITH PARALYSIS, From Dr. Yates’ letter on another page of the Journal it will be seen that he has had premonitory symptoms of' paralysis. Tills will be sad news to all our readers, and to all our people. No man has a stronger hold on the affections of Southern' Baptists that this our veteran missionary. We love him and are proud of him, and any sickness that comes upon him brings anxiety to many hearts. Dr. Yates said some time ago that he wanted, if God so willed it, to live and labor yet ten years for tiie Master’s cause in China. Let God’s people go to the . throne of grace in his behalf, and prayfoy the ten years, if God so will. We trust the improvement in his con¬ dition, which begun so soon after the symp¬ toms manifested themselves, has continued till now. May God’s richest blessings rest on him and his. A short time ago Dr. С. H. Carpenter and his wife went, at their own charges, <0 do mission work among the Alnos, in the island of Yesso, Japan. Very soon after their arrival Dr. Carpenter died, but Ids noble wife carried on the work. God has now raised up another laborer in the per¬ son of Dr. Carpenter's brother, who gave, up his business, was ordained in June, and has gone with ids wife and a young lady! assistant to labor in ttiis mission. AND STILl THEY COME. In the last number of the Journal we mentioned that a number of young men in Richmond College had determined to go to the foreign field as soon as they com pleted theirstudies. At tiie Mississippi Con¬ vention a brother stated that at a prayer¬ meeting held a short time before at Clinton College it was asked whether there were any young men in the assembly who ex pected to go to foreign fields. At once seven arose. As we came out of the church after hearing this statement, we were ap¬ proached by a young man, wiio, after intro¬ ducing himself, said : “I was not among tiie seven at Clinton College, as I am at¬ tending another institution, but my heart lias long been set on going to some heathen land to preach. Indeed, almost simulta¬ neously with my call to preach came the call to preach in the regions beyond ; and I am pursuing my studies witli that object in view.” There is a revival of the mis-' sionary spirit among those who are to go. I.et us pray God to givqusu similaryevival among those who are to send. More than half of the three hundred and fifty European missionaries, now in South Africa are Germans. It is pleasing to note that the missionary spirit of'the German Christians keep pace with the desire of the government for territorial acquisitions. No sooner does the flag of Germany float over any newly acquired territory than German soldiers of the cross enter in to subdue it for the King of kings. We give below a Chinese husband's la¬ ment for his favorite wife, taken from "Woman's Work in China." "Clear as crvstal was her nature, pure and good was she ; “ Her eyebrows were so lovely that the best artist could not do them justice. - " I see the mirror that once reflected her , graceful form, but that form I see no more. . , , . , • , " She was more precious than the richest . "The6 perfume of. her good name was better than the fragrant, air from a hundred flowers. . “In the cares of. the day I. may for a mo¬ ment forget ; but at night, waking or dreaming, I mourn for her; “ For in the past, if the time for the light-, ing "of lamps came, and I came not, how anxiously she questioned why. ” Often she left Jier companions to pre¬ pare for me delicious .soups and toothsome dainties ; "At first I knew not. who had so deli¬ cately flavored them as best to suit, ■ my taste, , "But when I called for a second bowl she would smile and ask, » . .« " Is then that rice better than the.rice the cook prepares?’’ Here the lament abruptly closes, as' if tiie highest climax of praise had been reached with the mention of the wife's ciili-. nary performances. But, perchance,- it was the memory of the loving thoughtfulness which called them forth that most stirred the mourner’s heart. The statement is made that " the educa¬ tion of women in Japan has been distinctly offered to Christian teachers.” japan to-day presents a field in which the gospel lias a fair chance to do its best work. Dr. Pierson says of it: "A nation waits' to be made by Christianity or marred, by infi- . deiity.” At the present rate of progress it seems that it will be “ made by Chris¬ tianity.” _ _ _ The missionaries of the American Bap-. . tist Missionary Union, in Russia, are just <• now suffering persecutions at the hands of ■ the government. Brother Pawloff, one of.'; their most active workers, has been ban-’ islied to tiie Russian frontier, and is in - danger of being sent into Siberia, There are said to be about sixty 'Protestant communities in Spain with fourteen thou-. > sand openly-professed Protestants, and’" hardly a large town without a regularly” organized church. It is just e!ghteen ye‘ars-j4. since the first Protestant iChapel-Vwas'. ,t opened in Madrid.