Foreign Mission Journal, October 1886

FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. PubliHlictl Monthly by tho Foreign Mission 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. 18— New Series. RICHMOND, VA.. OCTOBER, 1880. No. 3.— Whole No. 21© (Entered at the Pont-Ofllco at lllchmcmd, Va., second-close matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: I. For papers separately addressed, either to same or to different joet onice* : One copy . . . M cts. Three copies ft#!, or . 33 И Ota. apiece. II. For раскидав sent to one person, who shall be responsible for their dietrlbntl on s Four copies for#l, or more at . 25 cts. Twenty vo copies for *6. or more nt . 20 cts. One Hundred copies for $lfi, or more nt. . Ifl cts *»"Pleiieo remit by Draft, I'oslnl Order, or In Hegle- wmt Letter, and notify us promptly of any chance In address. Address. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Richmond, Va. m FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE 80UTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. Located AT RICHMOND. VIRGINIA PRESIDENT— II. II. llAKIIIS. ViCR-PREBIPENTB. — .IOSIIUU J.OVermE. aia., u. TomkIM. bn„ О. IX. Winston. Vn., N. A. Halley, 1 Tbeo. WHUB.Id.N.O., a. t\ Il0Eby,Ky.,J. J.Il.l fro., Alabama. It. S. Ibincnn, Mo.. II. II. Car ViCE-PaEBiDENTB,— .Toibua Levering, Md., C. W. . '. Uen- _ _ ... . . Carroll, Texas, W. I,. Kilpatrick, On., Ohae. Manly, S. O., .T. M. Senler. Teon.. J. II. Searcy, Атк., George Whltneld, Ml.-»., V. F. Attklaeon, W, Та. ООППЕВГОПШИО SECRETARY— H. A. TUPPKU. Treasurer— J. C. WILLIAMS. Rkcordino Secrrtaht— A. II. CLARKE. AoDiron— JOSEPH F. OOTTItELL. Лоапп or Managers.— H. ГС. Ellyeon, J. II. Win* .ton. W. E. llatcber. I. W. Jono., J. Pollard, Jr.. S. O. (lloptan, J Л. Hut'On, W. D. Thomas, W. W. Landrum. TV J. Shipman. Ceo, Ccnper. П. W. Powers. О. II. Ilyland. II. О. Лпгпеч. T. P. Mnthewe. ЪвГЛИ communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressed to H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond. Va. TERMS OF THE JOURNAL. We Have been requested by the business manager of the Journal to call especial at¬ tention to the subscription terms, as printed on this page. When the papers are ad dressed to individuals, the price is 35 cents a copy. Or when three copies are taken, eacli separately addressed, 33^ cents a copy. The lower rates, as given, are for clubs, and are allowed only when all the papers are sent to one individual, who himself dis¬ tributes them to the subscribers. If we have to write the addresses on each paper, we have to charge at the rate: given for one or three copies. For example, if twenty- five subscribers are secured by any friend, and the twenty-five names are sent to us with the request that we send a paper to each, the price will be 33^ cents a copy. But if we send the whole number to one person, who distributes them according to a list kept by himself, as we do not have to write the names, we send them at 20 cents apiece. The terms are very plainly given, yet so many mistakes are made, and so much delay occasioned to subscribers, that we have thought it well thus to call attention to them. UTILIZING FIFTH SUNDAYS. In nearly, if not quite all of our Southern States the custom prevails of devoting the fifth Sundays and Saturdays before to what are sometimes called" Union Meetings," and sometimes " Ministers’ and Deacons’ Meet¬ ings." At these meetings questions of more or less (frequently less) interest to the churches are discussed, and a sermon or two preached. In some sections of the country it is found to be very difficult to keep up interest in these meetings as at present conducted, and to secure the at¬ tendance of the brethren upon them. Could not these occasions be made of more interest and of greater profit if they could be given a more decidedly missionary aspect? Could they not be utilized for the purpose of disseminating information about missions, and developing among the people a deeper interest in them? The great need of our people is to be informed with regard to the work of missions; what has been done, what is being done, and how. Hun¬ dreds and thousands of them take no de¬ nominational paper, and are, consequently, in almost total ignorance of all denomina¬ tional work. Tp be enlightened thereon, information must be carried to them. Pas¬ tors might in some measure do this, but many do not. Could not this be done to a con¬ siderable extent by making these fifth-Sun- day meetings more largely missionary in character ? Instead of having only a mis¬ sionary sermon on Sunday, let a large part of the time on Saturday and Sunday be oc¬ cupied with statements made by specially appointed brethren on the state of our mis¬ sions and the work done in them. Nor need these be confined to the missions of our own Convention, but might well embrace the mission work of other bodies. By sucii prepared accounts, followed by lively dis¬ cussions thereof, very much missionary in¬ formation might well be given to people who would never receive it in any other way. We recently visited an Association in which a resolution was passed instructing tlie Executive Committee to hold missionary meetings in such churches as they thought desirable during the coming year. On in¬ quiry we learned that this action had been taken a year before, and that the Commit tec, or some members of it, had secured speakers, either among themselves or out side their own number, arranged a pro¬ gramme, announced meetings at several churches which had previously done little or nothing for missions, and used the fifth Sundays in these meetings. As one result a small church, which had previously done nothing for the cause, led the association in gifts, and that when for part of the year it had been pastorless. Other almost equally good result^ were manifest. Consider it, breth¬ ren. to send on for the programmes at once, so as to give the scholars ample time to pre¬ pare their pieces, We want the work in these meetings to be largely done by the children, and have arranged the programme with this view. DAY OF PRAYER. Since the last number of the Journal was issued, the Foreign Mission Board has held a meeting, and attention being directed to the article in that number entitled “ Day of Prayer for Missions,” the Board resolved to unite witli other missionary bodies in re. commending the observance of Nov. 7th as a day of special prayet for missions. This official action confirms and emphasizes the suggestion made by the Journal, and we are led to hope that the observance of this day will be very general. “ More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” What may not be wrought by the earnest, united prayers of God’s people for the success of our mission work, and the glory of Jesus ? - - — »»■ - ■ CHILDREN'S DAY FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. As will be seen from the notice in another column, the Foreign Mission Board has ap¬ pointed Nov. 7th as a day of special prayer for missions, in all our churches, and by all our people. While tlie churches are pray¬ ing for and giving to this cause, shall not our Sunday-schools do the same ? We have thought so, and hence have prepared for the use of the schools a programme of exercises, which we think will be both interesting and profitable. These exercises will consist, along with prayer and singing, of short speeches on our various mission fields, to be delivered by scholars. These speeches have been prepared by several prominent brethren in different States, and will be sent, along with the programmes, to any superin¬ tendent or other worker who will send us bis or her name. It would be well for those expecting to observe the day in their HEATHEN WOMEN. We have often had our hearts stirred by accounts of the condition, social, moral and spiritual, of the women of heathendom. But seldom has it been more deeply moved than by reading a short paragraph in a letter from Miss Adele M. Fielde, of Swatow, Ciiina. Read it, dear sisters ; mark the depth of sadness in the writer’s heart, and try to realize the depth of woe that has oc casioned this. Here are tlie words: "It almost breaks my heart whenever I sit down among Chinese women for a mind to mind talk. Their lives are so full of woe, and the prospect of alleviation is so distant ! ” Yet alleviation is possible. Has there not come from God one who bids the weary come to him and rest ? who binds up the broken heart and gives deliverance to the captive ? Who forgives sin, and so relieves the woe from which these women seek relief? Who reveals a father, God, and gives hope of a home beyond? Who brings life and im¬ mortality to light ? Christian women of our South-land, the alleviation of this woe is committed to you, in that you may give to these stricken sisters the knowledge of Jesus. Shall "the prospect of alleviation ’’ continue to be " so distant ? " Sister, what will you do for your sisters in China ? HOW? The monthly expenditures of the Board average between eight and nine thousand dollars. The monthly receipts of the Board, as published in the Journal, have, since May, averaged a little over three thousand dollars. Will brethren consider these fig¬ ures and tell us how the Board is to carry on its work? Or, better still, will not each one endeavor, as far as in him lies, to make Hie leceipts come up to the expenditures? The Board has no income, save that which is derived from the gifts of the Lord’s peo¬ ple. and when these fall short of the amount needed to carry on its work, the how to carry it on becomes a serious, difficult problem. When will God's people awake to a sense of their duty in this work ? DR. CRAWFGRD’S RETURN. The many friends of Dr. T. P. Crawford will be glad to learn that he has returned to China to resume his work there. May the Lord bless him in that work, and make his last years far more fruitful than any that have gone before. DROUGHT AND EARTHQUAKE. We would call the attention of the breth¬ ren to an extract from a letter recently received from Rev. A. T. Hawthorne, our For. Miss. Agent for Texas, which we print in another place. From brother Haw¬ thorne's account of the drought in this State it is plain that we must look for a falling off in her contributions to missions during the present year. As Texas has of late been one of our best contributing States, having, in fact, given last year more than any other, this falling off will prove a serious blow to our work unless it be made good by in¬ creased contributions from other States, more favored than she has been this year. And along with this news from Texas comes that of South Carolina’s severe afflic¬ tion. Sympathy and money in that State must necessarily flow to Charleston and her stricken people, and there is danger lest the little banner State shall fall behind her last year's gifts. We do not believe she will, but we must prepare ourselves for the worst. Will not our brethren in other States, States upon which God's afflicting hand has not been laid, bear these facts in mind when making their gifts to Christ’s cause, and see to it that there be no deficiencyof money to carry on his work ? Tlie Baptist Missionary Union has in its mission fields 50 stations, 236 missionaries, 1,731 native pastors and helpers, 1,220 churches and 118,331 members. There were in 18S5, in connection with its missions, 8,994 baptisms. It has missions in Burma, Assam, India, (among the Telugus,) China, Japan and Africa. It also has missions, conducted by natives of the respective countries, in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain and Greece. The American Baptist Missionary Union, since the annual meeting at Asbury Park, in May last, has appointed nine new mis¬ sionaries ; 5 to Burma, 1 to India, 2 to Japan and 1 to China. These in addition to three announced at the meeting. MISSIONARY SCRAPS. There are now nt work in Japan 22 evan¬ gelical societies, with 183 missionaries and 16S churches. Three thousand one hun¬ dred and fifteen adults were baptized in 1885. Total membership, 11678. There are 60 ordained native ministers. Tiie Baptists, English and American, havf of the numbers given above, 13 mission¬ aries, 9 churches, 469 members. They bap¬ tized last year 156 and have 3 native minis-’ ters. Fifty-one of the churches are self-" supporting in whole, and tot in part. Na- • tive contributions last year amounted to $20,000. The Northern Presbyterian Board has In Brazil 32 churches, with 1699 communicants. Four new churches were organized in 1885. The contributions on the field averaged $3.5 1 per member. The Southern Presby¬ terian Board has 13 churches, with 289 mem¬ bers. Besides these bodies the Southern Methodists and Southern Baptists are at work in that empire. There are also several Independent evangelical churches in various cities. “ Free rum on the Congo," according to a stirring article in the Tribune by Mr. W. T„ Hornaday, threatens to undermine all mis¬ sionary work. He quotes Stanley and other standard authorities, as to the terrible mischief going on among the fifty million people inhabiting the Congo basin, from the introduction of foreign intoxicants. One small vessel in which a Lutheran mis¬ sionary sailed, carried over one hundred thousand gallons of New England rum. Five years ago liquor was unknown among tribes now under its ruinous influences. Thus must the gospel make its way against the vices and temptations of civilization which accompany it. Oh, that New England could send more gospel and less rum ! The Japanese in San Francisco are in¬ creasing gradually in number, and amongst them are found members of the churches in Japan. These have been organized as a church, with good prospects of success. The Japanese do not seem to be regarded with dislike, like the Chinese, in our western city. At Lucknow, India, where so many were murdered during the Sepoy rebellion, thirty years ago, 2,000 children, nearly all of Hindu or Mohammedan parentage, recently marched in a Sunday-school procession. . The Pantheon of Hinduism comprises about 330,000,000 of gods.