Foreign Mission Journal, December 1887

Foreign Mission Journal. PUBLISHED MONTHLY liY THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF TIIE 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., DECEMBER, 18S7. No. 5 — -Whole No. 233 [Entered nt tbo l'cwt-Ofltce nt Itichmond, V»., •econd-clnee matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM: •put to one person, who shall be r packages . . . ble for their distribution s I. For pajssrs separately addressed, either to same or to different post offices 1 One copy . . . 33 cts. Three coplea <fi $1, or . ЯЗИ cts. nplece. II. For responslbl Four copies for #1, or more at . . . 25cU. apiece. Twenty-five copies for *3.or more at . 20 cts. nplece. One Hundred copies for $lAt or more at.. 16 cts nplece. *>“Plense remit by 7 iruft, I’ostnl Order, or In Regis¬ tered better, and notify us ritOMi'TLY of any change In address. Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL, RtCHMOND, VA. ADVERTISING RATES. ВГАСЕ. 1 Month. s Month* 6 Months 12 Month* One Inch . 1 26 3 45 ti 60 12 00 Two Inches . 2 40 6 43 12 50 22 60 Thieelnchee . а ло 0 20 18 00 32 00 Quarter column... ч 75 73 00 25 00 46 00 Half column . 0 23 15 25 48 СЧ) 90 00 One column . 18 00 30 00 02 60 178 00 FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE 80UTHERN ВЛРТ18Т CONVENTION, Located at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. PitkeiDENT— H. II. Harris. Vici Presiderts _ Joshua Levering, Md., O. W. Toraklee, La., J. L. Burrow., Va.. N. A, Raller, Fla., Thro. Wbltfleld, N. О., О. P. llngbr, Ky„ J. J. 1). Ren- Iroe, Alabama. J. P. Greene, Mo.. Ji. H. Carroll, representative of the Hoard, went with ns ns a pleasant recollection during our whole year's work. It was with great pleasure then that we set out to attend the late ses¬ sion of the body. We found the missionary pulse beating even stronger than it did a year ago; and although the number of delegates was hardly so large as on the former occasion, we received in casli and pledges almost fifty per cent more money than we did last year. And last year’s pledges were all paid in full, .with something to spare. The Journal finds its way into quite a number of the churches composing tlie Convention, and is helping to keep alive that interest in missions which, with¬ out information about the work, is apt to languish and die. As it will go during this year into still more of the churches, we confidently hope to find a wider-spread as well as deeper Interest in our work mani¬ fested next year. Wc were compelled to leave the Conven¬ tion before its adjournment in order to spend a day or two with the TENNESSEE CONVENTION, Which met in Jonesboro, in East Tennes¬ see. Railroad trains do not always run to suit the convenience of secretaries, as Dr. J. Wm. Jones and ourself found by expe¬ rience. We had hoped to be in Jonesboro in time to spend two days with the breth¬ ren, but were disappointed, and had but one night and a day. We were disap¬ pointed in not meeting more of the breth- Т.Ш, W. L. Kilpatrick, Or., Cba>. Manly, S. C., i . „ J. M. Sent.r, T.nn„ J. и. Searcy, Ark., Georjte ren of “>e State ш Jonesboro, especially Wbltfleld, ML... W. F. AUkiMon. vf. Va. i after we [lad ,ested thejjquality of those OonRxeroifDiMO Secretary— H. A. TOPPER. Treasurer— vT. 0. WILLIAMS. Recording Secretary— А. П. CLARKE. Auditor— II. C. BURNETT. Board nr Mahaoebr— H. K. Ellyson, J. B. Win¬ ston. О. II. Winston. W. E. Hatcher, J. Pollard, Jr., S. O. O.opton, T, B. Hnt'c'n. W. t>. Thomas, W. W. Landrum, W J. Shipman. Geo. Cooper, O.H. Hyland, И. C. Burnell, T. P. Mathews, R. II, Pitt, T. P. Bell, “All communications in reference to the business of this Hoard should be addressedto H. A. Topper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. CHRISTMAS SUNBEAM PROGRAMME. As announced in the October number of the Journal, we are now ready to furnish programmes for a “ Sunbeam ” service on Christmas. This programme has been care¬ fully prepared by Rev. Geo. Braxton Tay¬ lor, tlie “ Cousin George " of the Sunbeams, and is very interesting. We propose to furnish copies to all Sunday-schools that will observe the day, and take a collection for missions, whether they have Sunbeam societies or not. We would be glad to have every Sunday- school in tlie South take a collection on that day for tlie sending the gospel to the heathen. No more beautiful way could be thought of for observing this, our Lord's reputed birth-day. On the birth-day of the first great missionary, let all the chil- be“‘low\Zl >' dren be asked to give something lor the i t ... sending of tlie “Glad Tidings” to thc|uas Sl nations that sit in darkness. Many of our churches would find it pro¬ fitable and pleasant to give the morning service hour to tlie children, and let them teach the grown people for this once. It will attract many to the services who would otherwise stay away just because it was Christmas. If you have not sent on fora programme for your school, send at once. There is yet time. Let collections be taken, and sent through your church or Sunday-school treasurer to the treasurer of your State Convention, or directly to Rev. Dr. H. A.Tupper, Rich¬ mond, Va. And let what you do be known to Rev. Geo. B. Taylor, Chapel Hill, N. C. that were there. There was lacking only numbers to make it all a Convention should be. It was a pleasure to stand before the brethren and plead for the cause of mis¬ sions, although a little hard for us to follow the exceptionally fine speech with which brother McGaha, of Chattanooga, followed up his report. We did not ask for any money to be given then, but we did ask for it to come into the treasury during tlie year, and our hopes are bright that Ten¬ nessee will do better things for missions during the present year than she did during that which has past. Dr. J. M. Robertson, the editor of the Reflector, was the President of the Con- Association to the two Boards, we will make no comment on it at present, but await the result of the conference which will probably take place. Last year the State gave to our Board #3,234,29, as against f6.1S4.96 the year be¬ fore. So far this year her contributions are in advance o( last year’s. We hope in the near future to receive from Missouri not only enlarged gifts of money, but some of her sonsand daughters, to join tlie ex¬ cellent ones already preaching the word in China and Brazil, Already one young lady has offered herself for service, and our eyes are turning thither for a man to answer Powell’s earnest plea for a helper in Mexico. There are many things we would like to say about our delightful visit to this body, but lack of space forbids, and we close. Since visiting the above, we have had the pleasure of meeting with the brethren of the ARKANSAS CONVENTION, Which met at Morrilton, a thriving town about fifty miles from Little Rock. Here too wc were glad to find the missionary spirit growing. Regular, systematic giving Is taking the place of the old plan of giv¬ ing upon special appeal on public occa¬ sions. Under the combined influence of this growth of the spirit and development of the method of giving, the State is en¬ larging her gifts to all objects of benevo¬ lence. Last year it was thought necessary to take pledges at the Convention to insure the State’s coming up to her quota for foreign missions. This year the Vice-Presi¬ dent, brother Searcy, said : “We shall not need lo take any collection, as thechurches will send up enough." We expect Arkan¬ sas to go over the amount asked of her by the board. Rev. M, D. Early, the Corresponding Secretary of tlie State Board, is Introducing Dr. Warder’s plan of systematic giving, and using in connection therewith his book, arranged for pledges from every member of every church every week in the year. The brethren think it will accomplish great results in the State. ' The State mission work is being vigo¬ rously pressed in the State, and excellent results are being accomplished. Educa- vention. Just here it occurs to us that this : „ h elicits the most enthusiastic ■ 1 llin nnllt ПЧП11Г •nmtl l.f in iiiIiirIi ' is the only paper that we know of in which there is kept constantly a “ Mission Di¬ rectory,” giving the names of the Cor¬ responding _ Secretaries of the Boards, State, home, and foreign, as well as those of the State representatives of the two last. This strikes us as a good advertise¬ ment of the work. Our stay at tnis Con¬ vention was made short by the necessity that was upon 11s to reach the MISSOURI GENERAL ASSOCIATION, Which met at Maryville, in the northwest corner of the State. The location caused a falling off in iium- ear, but tlie Association efforts of the brethren, and they are be¬ coming very much elated at the phenome¬ nal success of their college. Ouachita College opened in September, 1SS6, and the President reported at this Convention 21S pupils enrolled, while others awaited the erection of additional buildings to enter. As we go about our Southern Zion and note the efforts our brethren are making in every department of Christian work, we realize that the Baptists of the Soutli are waking up from the sleep of years, and are entering upon a career of progress which will be marked at every stage by greater and yet greater triumphs for the a large body, and it was very i cause of Christ and of humanity. God full of enthusiasm in its work. The Bap- speed them in their onward career, interested in CONVENTION NOTES, Between the nth and 22<i of October we attended three State Conventions, or rather three Conventions, for one of them embraced in its limits only a part of a State. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CONVENTION. We went to this Convention for the first time a year ago, expecting to find a small о body, but to our agreeable surprise, found its members full of intelli¬ gent missionary zeal. The ready, almost eager, response which tlie brethren made to our appeal, which, by the way, was our first appeal before a Convention as the lists of Missouri are deeply all forms of Christian work. Education, Ministers’ Relief, Colportage and Bible Work, Missions, State, home, and foreign, all received a due share of attention. There was none of that undue crowding out of some important subjects, that others might receive tlie greater consideration, which sometimes mars the meetings of our religious bodies. One reason of this is that the brethren take time for their They are not frightened at the of extending the session over three days, but go prepared to stay four, or more, if necessary. This is one reason, but we believe there is a better still— there is a broad Christian spirit in the brethren which leads them to take a seemingly equally deep interest in each of the great departments of the Lord's work. This breadth of spirit was eloquently voiced by Dr. J. P. Greene, in his pleadings both for missions and for colleges. And it was easy to see that the voice met a response in the hearts of the brethren. An unfortunate conflict of interest be¬ tween the American Baptist Missionary Union and our board is troubling the minds of our brethren to some extent, and producing some confusion. We do not think the Union is doing just the fair and right thing towards us, but as the matter has been referred by resolution of the A FALLACY. The following timely article from the Examiner needs to be read and pondered by brethren in the South as well as at the North, for the same fallacy there exposed is obtaining some hold on the minds of Southern Baptists. We can very well see how those who are charged with the re¬ sponsibility of supplying with gospel privi¬ leges the vast numbers of foreigners now pressing into our country, should feel as if the very ends of the earth were coming upon them and demanding the supply of their spiritual wants, and we can sympa thize with them in their desire to secure for their work ever increasing amounts of money to meet the ever increasing calls that are made. But we feel assured that great harm would result to our churches, as well as to the cause of Christ abroad, if this demand should be supplied at the ex¬ pense of the Foreign Mission work, by and through such statements and appeals as those alluded to in the article quoted. Home and Foreign Missions are one in spirit. yet distinct in organization, and both are of inestimable importance. One should never be pressed forward at the expense of the other, nor should their representatives exalt the one above the other. And fortu¬ nately there is no need for this being dono, for there is in the hands of our Christian people money enough for both, and in their hearts room enough for both. Especially should there be no unholy rivalry, no envy or jealousy among the representatives of these great interests. There should never be found in such anything moie than a holy desire to provoke one another to love and hard work. But we set out to give the Ex¬ aminer's article, and here it is : Fallacies have not yet ceased, and proba¬ bly never will. At times they are too small and harmless to be worth notice, then again they are large and full of evil. One of this latter class has acquired a good deal of vigor within a few years, and gives no signs of abatement, but rather of a growing vitality. Within two weeks we heard it in the meeting of a leading Association, and it has been often heard before in meetings of one sort and other. It is put forth the oftenest and with the most zeal in showing the supreme importance of home mission¬ ary effort. We are told that this enterprise has been so changed in its character and scope, by the vast immigration to this country, that the Home Mission Society has become in fact both a home and foreign missionary organization. Nothing could be more fallacious than a statement like this. The tens of thousands of immigrants com¬ ing here from year to year have unques¬ tionably given the Home Mission cause a vaster work and greater responsibilities. But they have come to. stay, and the cause of Foreign Missions is in every respect as distinct from that of Home Missions as it was fifty years ago. The language of the Commission has undergone no change, It stands yet, “ Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” China and India and Africa and the islands of the sea are as far off from Amorica to¬ day as they always have been, and they are just as full of population as they ever were. To reach them, and if possible to save them, is the scope and necessity of the for¬ eign missionary work. But the cause of Home Missions has a work of its own so great and imperative that no language can overstate its claims; and nothing can be more fallacious than to speak ofit as having been made a foreign missionary society by tlie immigration to this country. NEED OF MORE PRAYER IN THE WOMAN'S MISSION SOCIETIES. We call the attention of our ladies to the following statement, which we find in The Missionary, the organ of the Southern Pres¬ byterian Board of Missions. Are not the same things true of our missionary socie¬ ties? Is not this state of tilings a cause of comparative feebleness in their work at home and of comparative failure on the part of their representatives abroad to win souls for Christ ? Pray more, sisters, and your own hearts will be strengthened in your work, and power will come upon the workers in the field. If it be hard for you to do, God will hear it 'all the sooner, for the very effort will be a sacrifice well pleasing in his sight: From a wide acquaintance with the La¬ dies’ Missionary Societies of our Church, we believe that here is the weak point in their work— the lack of earnest, dcs-oted waiting before God in prayer at the society meetings. In some cases the pastor opens the meeting with prayer and withdraws ; or, if he be absent, a hymn perhaps is sung, or perhaps the Lord’s prayer is recited. But should there not be more than this? Do our ladies know that at some of our mission stations the women who have been turned from idols to know Goil our Saviour, meet with the lady missionaries for prayer, and that, almost to a woman, these con¬ verts lead in prayer? And what women in China and Japan and Brazil and Mexico nre doing, cannot our women do, too ? DEATH OF REV, R. G. WILDER. The last number of the Missionary Re¬ view, from whose pages we have extracted so much that was helpful and inspiring in mission work, brings the sad news of the death of its editor, Rev. R. G. Wilder. Mr. Wilder was for a number of .years a mis¬ sionary in India, under the Presbyterian Board of Missions, but was compelled to return to this country by failing health. His ardent love for the cause led him to tlie editorship of the Review, in which position he did a great work for the Master. But his heart longed for the work in India, and he had just decided to return there as an independent missionary, when Go<L called him home. He had just finished preparing material for the December number of the magazine, with which number his connec¬ tion with it would cease, when the sum¬ mons came, and he went to hear the wel¬ come. "Well done,” from the lips of that Master whom he had so deeply loved and for whom he had so faithfully labored. We are glad to know that lie had’eoni- mitted the Review into able hands before his death. It will be edited by Drs.J. M. Sherwood, now editor of the Homiletic Re¬ view, and A. T. Pierson, whose recent work, "The Crisis of Missions,” has stirred the hearts of God's people. The following announcement of the purposes of the edi¬ tors indicates that brother Wilder’s work will be continued by them in tho same spirit, but with a larger scope : It is the purpose of the editors to enlarge it one fourth at tlie start, making It n month - ly of So pages, greatly improve its mechan¬ ical appearance, secure for it the best pub¬ lishing facilities, extend its sconeand vastly extending its intellectual ana literary at¬ tractions, hold it steadily to the sacred pur¬ pose that called it. into being, work it along the same great lines already marked out for it, bring it into harmony with the great missionary agencies and. movements of the times, and seek to cover the whole ground of missionsof all denominations and boards of management— in a word, to make the Missionary Review of the World such in fact, as well as in name— a Review truly representative of the Spirit, Policy and Work of Modern Missions in their unity and entirety, and abreast witli the move¬ ments of the. Church in every section and land of Christendom in its prosecution of the Cause which grows more urgent, hope¬ ful and glorious as the years of. this stirring and wondrous age come and go. DEATH OF DR. В. H. WHITFIELD. This man of God fell on sleep, October 12th, 1SS7, in Jackson, Mississippi. For some time his health had not been robust; but we were not prepared for tlie announce¬ ment 01 his decease. We knew Dr. Whit¬ field. For many years he represented our board in Mississippi. Never have we had a representative whose libart was more. im¬ bued with a spirit of missions. In fact;'this was a passion of his soiil. It seemed, at times, that he would be consumed by his zeal for souls and the spread of the Re¬ deemer’s kingdom. But, the Doctor was not an enthusiast. His1 .'sentiments and actions were controlled by uncommon in¬ telligence, rare knowledge and sound judg¬ ment. He was a man of marked intellect, accompanied with modesty which was al¬ most shrinking. His humility was of a deep type. He preferred others to himself in matters of position of every kind. He regarded service the highest dignity and place. His mind- was given to natural sciences, of which, we believe, he was the Professor in Mississippi College. But, above all, he was a man of God. He was a holy man. He loved God and his fellow-men, ardently and consistently, and more and more. He was properly ranked among “the Saints.” No legacy to his family could be greater than the good name.of our deceased brother. Our loss is the gain of heaven. H. A.T.. ANOTHER APPEAL. Dear Journal: Will you suffer this writer to make an appeal through your columns ? " More money " is the constant cry. " More consecration ” is the needed cry. Then would the treasury overflow ? What are you doing, sister, brother ? Are your "tithes” in the “storehouse?." Then what are you doing with your surplu fund? Spending it in more perfectly pam pering your already pampered body? Probing deep into your own secret heart will you not own that you have ministered to your carnal desires until the appetite has been satiated. You really don't know what it is that you really want ? Take this matter of Christmas gifts for your children. What can you give them that they really need, or truly desire ? Both you and they are surfeited with “fat." Christmas, Christ’s day, has become the period for Christians, Christ’s people, to “ fare sumptuously,” while millions of his representatives, each a starving Lazarus, are hungering for a crumb of bread. God pity tlie Christians nt home, and send mis¬ sionaries among them to awaken their apathetic souls. Brother, sister, lay :up treasures in heaven by denying, yourself. O, that there might, be one mighty Christmas offering to the Saviour of men laid upon his altar, a self-denying sacrifice of the “ willing-hearted.” Then, would there arise a swelling 'Christmas anthem such as has not been heard since, the^an- gelic “ Glory' to God.” ' < o.r A.;Wf • ,-utl ftrlti» • ' f- fnij'i