Foreign Mission Journal, December 1888

Foreign Mission Journal. PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE FOREIGN MISSION BOAICD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. \(\ i’V “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS." Vol. 20 — New Series. RICHMOND, VA., DECEMBER, .1888. No. 5 — Whole No. 245 [Entered At the Pobt*Offlce at Richmond, Va., aa eecond-claes matter.] Foreign Mission Journal. RATES PER ANNUM : I. For papers eeparately addressed, either to ваше or to dlrt’erent post oftlces : One copy . . . 35 eta. Three copies @$1, or . S3Hct*. apiece. II. For pnckaeea sent to one peraon, who shall be responsible for their distribution : Tour copies for Ф1, or more Twenty-five copies for fft. or . One Hundred copies forflfli or Д»"Р1епв0 remit by Draft, Postal Order, or In Regis¬ tered Detter, and notify us rnoMPTLY of any change In address. Address, FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL, Richmond, Va. ADVERTISING RATES. SPACE. 1 Month. 3 Months 0 Months 12 Months One Inch . . 1 23 2 40 8 50 4 75 9 25 IS 00 3 45 б 45 9 20 13 00 25 2ft 50 00 0 50 12 50 18 00 25 OO 48 00 P2 50 12 00 22 50 82 00 40 00 90 00 17Я 00 Three Indies . . Quarter column... One column..... . FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, Located at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. President — И. II. Harris. Vice- I** residents — Joshua Leverluz, Md„ C. W. Toraklw.. La., Л. E Owen. Va,, N. A. Halley, Fla., W. I,. Wrlshl, N.U., a.P.llnubv.Ky., W. a Bled- .0-, Alabama, J, P. Greene, Mo., II. H. Carroll, Гежав, W. I,. Kilpatrick, Ga., Oli.ts. Manly, S. 0., J. M. Senter. Tenn., J. H. Senrev, Ark., Oeoree Whitfield, Miss., W. F. Attklsson, W. Va. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY— H. A, TUPPEIl. AB31STANT SKCUKTARY. T. P. HELL. Treasurer— J. O. WILLIAMS. Recording Secretary— A. II. CLARKB. AUDITOR— II. C. BURNETT. Board or тллнлоиав _ц. к. Eilyson, J. В. Win- •ton, O. II. Winston, w. E. Hatcher, .1. Pollard, Jr., S. О. О opton, r. B. Hut.on, W. D. Thomas, W. W. Landrum, w J. Shipman. Geo. Cooper. О. II. Hyland, II. C. Barnett, T. F. Mathews, R. II. Pitt, B.S. Basher, B®“AH communications in reference to the business of this Board should be addressedto H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. CHRISTMAS SUNBEAM PROGRAMME. Wc have now in the hands of the printer a very interesting Christmas programme for the Sunbeams. This will bo sent to all the Sunbeam societies whose addresses we have. But we wish the day to be ob¬ served by many schools where there are no Sunbeam societies. We will gladly send copies of the programme to any Sun¬ day-school superintendent or other worker who will endeavor to get the school with which he or she may be connected, to use it. In sending 'your applications state whether or not you have been getting pro¬ grammes regularly. Address, Rev. T. P. Bell, Box 134, Richmond, Va. The conclusion of “Sowing the Seed,” the article begun in the November number of the Journal , will be given in the January number, after which the whole will be put in tract form and distributed freely through the States. It is an excellent account of the work being done daily by our lady workers in China. FROM A MISSIONARY TO JAPAN. [The writer of this letter was baptized by Ur. Yates some years ago, and greatly loved by him.] Lynchburg, Sept. — , 18S8. Dear Mr. Bell: I gladly respond to your request for news from Japan, but not without misgivings. How can the subject be presented in a limited article? lean outline the subject, and you can read between the lines, although no one but a resident of Japan can form a true estimate of the opportuni¬ ties there offered to the earnest missionary of the cross. Having lived in China and Japan, and having followed the workings of missions in other lands, I unhesitatingly affirm that Japan, of all the world, gives greatest promise. There is nothing to cause a feeling of uncertainty unless it be the proposed acceptance of Christianity as the State religion of that empire. This seems portentous, because, in such an event, there must be difficulty in deciding the question of an applicant's sincerity. But, as Baptists, we need not be troubled, as with us it is a question of conversion REV. DR. W. D. POWELL, Л native of Mississippi ; educated at Union University, Tenn.; attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Green¬ ville, S. C. Appointed as missionary to Mexico May 31st. 1SS2. Held first service with Mexicans October 12th, 1SS2. His work is known to all the people. evidenced by a changed life, not a question of church membership or ability to recite a formula. We can have proper evidence if we insist upon it. With a mere reference to our “inarching orders,” I pass to the question ol Japan’s waiting attitude, and I speak as I have seen. The Japanese who are not willing to listen to the missionary are conspicuous as a minority. Some listen because the Gospel is a new thing. Mark that! Dare any Christian halt while the gospel is a new thing to one of God's creatures ? We hear much said about1* calls." It is not "rail;" it is "command." I repeat: to some the gospel is a new thins, aid to us is given the opportunity and the command to go and teach. Other Japanese listen, then ridicule, then scoff, then abuse. At that last stage they, knowing that arguments have failed, begin to plead the “ reasonable doubt." Any lawyer knows what that means. That is, to the herald of the cross, evidence that calls for his prayerful per¬ sistence. Experience has taught us that where we can follow up the points thus gained, a satisfactory result is assured, for the Japanese are a thinking people, and are most profoundly impressed by the de¬ termined sincerity of the teacher. Fur¬ thermore, the Japanese bow down before authority that can establish its right to exist. Thus, they cometo the examination of the Word, and, once satisfied that the truth is there, they accept it, because the Book says it. Satisfactory results may not immediately follow, but the seed once sown in the Japanese mind, will soon strike down to the heart, and will there start a growth that will bring forth fruit in season. Let me mention one case that came under my personal observation. While cholera was raging in that empire, we came in contact with several strong Buddhists. Our children’s nurse opened the subject of the claims of Christianity, and was most violently opposed. Taking her Bible she read aloud. One man stepped her sud¬ denly with the remark: "Surely vou do not expect us to believe such a fable as that sin can be blotted out.” By way of reply she re-read the text. From that text she preached a sermon that would cause many of our “scholarly iiberalists " to hide their diminished heads, and commanded attention that few of them can count among their expuiiences, Nearly two years passed without evidence of results. One day , there came a postal to our house, and it proved to be from one of those who had listened to her on that aforementioned ' occasion. The brief but significant mes¬ sage read: “Nearly two years ago I first heard of Jesus from a young woman I namedTokutomi Nobu (thenurse.) I hope to be baptized next Sunday.” The out- ’ come was that both instructor and in- i structed became active Christian mission- : aries. Another case. — I state it as briefly as possible. My Japanese teacher, Morita Yujiro San, came to me a confirmed hater • of Christianity. I tried to teach him to know and love Christ, but for a time he remained a heathen, but began to raise objections, and I knew my time had come. I took him with me to the interior, and soon heard of him from the natives. To my surprise he was preaching on the streets, in temples, at the baths, and in fact wherever he could get a hearing. I listened, and found that he was really holding aloft the cross of Christ. Then he asked me to baptize him, but I demurred. One evening we were walking and talking together when , we came to some water and lie, suddenly turning to me, said, “Teacher, here is water, what doth hinder me to be bap¬ tized ? " For some time his life had spoken, and now examination disclosed the secret of that life, and together we went down into the water and I there baptized him. What next? That young man has been the instrument, in God's hand, for bring¬ ing about 40 (forty) to the foot of the cross, and wc have not found it necessary to exclude a single member of that forty. Now-letters from Japan tell me that others have been brought in by that one man. On one oc¬ casion he was stoned while preaching, and with blood streaming down his face, he said, “ You can stone me, but you cannot stone the truth of God.” That young man is still my teacher, and has never received pay for preaching the gospel. As he has opportunity he goes about doing good. I have said that where we can follow up the points gained we can expect satisfac¬ tory results. It'll ere we can. That gives the call. One man cannot cover the terri¬ tory that calls for 200. I am alone in old Japan, for in the south, foreign influence is not so much felt. Give d; but ten asso¬ ciates and I cau prophesy that five years work will do more for the evangelization of the east than our most sanguine mission¬ ary boards dream of. But the work will not wait upon our sluggishness. The trouble is that the donations for missions are rated according to the difficulty with which the giver denies himself, not accord¬ ing to the amount donated- Are not the consecrated men and women forthcoming? There is but one way to stop the evil, and that is to put a stop to the stopping. Un¬ questionably those who remain behind with the baggage shall receive their share. (See I Sam: 30.) But so many are concerned about the baggage that they cannot go to the war— or, possibly they want to, take the baggage with them. When the day of reck¬ oning comes, I think that some of these will be found so wedged in under the wagons that they can't get out. Other missions are sending men and women to Japan, for they know that it is the key to the east. To the Baptists of the south I say : " Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here ? " God grant that you may reply as did the tribes of Reuben and Gad: "We will go ready armed.” In conclusion let me call attention to one point. Some years ago the Southern Bap¬ tists sent missionaries to Japan. They were lost at sea, Do you think your surrender, because of their loss, is erecting a fitting monument to their memory? Do you not teach your children : " If at first you don’t succeed, Try, try again?” Then, do you practice what you preach ? We have it to do. God grant us grace to undertake it. Geo. H. Appleton. CHANGES IN OUR MISSION FIELDS. In Mexico, Rev. Л. B. Rudd goes to Parras, instead of Musqulz, while Rev. A. C. Watkins, of Mississippi, goes to the frontier work, with .headquarters at Mus- quiz. Rev. W. D. Powell, with headquar¬ ters at Saltillo, will act as general mission¬ ary. Rev. J. G. Chastain goes to Cedral, taking charge of the field opened up by Bro. Powell about San Rafael and sur¬ rounding towns. In Brazil, Rev. C. D. Daniel opens a new mission In Minas Garaes province, an ele¬ vated region in the interior, where it is hoped his health will be better than it has been or can be on the coast. From Lagos, Africa, the following cable¬ gram ha3 come: “David invalided home.” We suppose this means that he fias broken down in health, and is on his way home. Brethren Chappell, Britton and Tatum, by special request of the missionaries in Central China, and of themselves as well, have all been assigned to Central China. We are sorry to say that owing to the ill¬ ness of his wife, brother Chappell^vas pre¬ vented from setting out for China with the other two brethren the latter part of No¬ vember. He hopes to sail later. “CHRISTMAS IS COMING:" All through our laud tlmt thought Is carry¬ ing joy and gladness to the hearts of young and old. It Is a day that Is full of the^-^f/ldea. It Is commemorative of the coming of tho great gift— that only begotten Son, whom God gave, that whosoever bellevetl: on him should not perish, but havo everlasting life. Л gift of love It was— “ God so loved the world.” It Is the gift day, and among our readers, thousands of dollars will bo expen¬ ded in provldlngglfts for loved ones. Among these gifts somo will bo wlso and some will be foolish, eome will bo.for good to tho re¬ ceivers, and somo for evil. Yet they will all bo gifts of love, at least let us hopo so. Vto will each want to glvo Something to each of our loved ono3. Wo would not leave out one loved one, could wo help It. This llttlo article Is sent forth to tho rollers of tho Journal to suggest that lr: the giving of gifts, our best, friend shall not bo left out. Let us not fall, whllo giving to many, to give something to him “who loved us and gave himself forus." Surely a thank-offering to him, in this glad season, would bo appropriate, yea, and acceptable to him. Would it not be well for us all to consider how much wo havo to spend for Christinas gifts, and then, bofnro wo have spent one cent of It, lay nsldo one-tenth as a thank-offering to Jesus f Tho other nlno- tenths would give us greater pleasure In the spending, and tho one-tenth would carry joy and gladness, perhaps oven the toy of eternal life, to somo other souls. What shall wo do with It? A number of things suggest themselves to our mind. But ns this tenth is for Jesns, would It not.be well to let him direct tho using of It. Lot us glvo It to hint— ask him to direct- Its expenditure— and then hold ourselves ready to use It, аз he moves us to do. Are thcro poof about, who will havo no Chilst- mas? РегЬарз ho will direct It to them. Are thcro needy works of charity? Perhaps It will go thorc. I9 somo poor church call¬ ing for help to build Itself n homo? The- gift may bo directed thither. Our Cuban brethren want a church homo. Our Mexi¬ can brethren want a houso at Zacatecas. Heathen souls by tho millions are hungering and thirsting. Our gifts may carry to them the water and tho bread of life. Though our gifts may bo very зта11, they may each carry eternal life to some soul dead In trespasses and sins. • Who will remember .Tesus on the glad Christmas day? It is a matter of deep concern now' that so few men are offering for the all-impor¬ tant work among the heathen. And why the scarcity ? It is mainly because. in past years men have offered for the service, and the means were not furnished to send them to the field. The result. has been that men who might have considered the question'd their own duty to become mis¬ sionaries have laid this question to rest. — The Missionary. The same thing has been true among Southern Baptists which the above extract declares to have been true among our Southern Presbyterian bfethren. Want of money has held men back from mission fields until men have laid to rest the question of being missionaries. Hereafter, however, our Board will send out such approved men as apply, having been so ordered by the Convention. When the men go the people will give the money. They will give more readily to an advancing work.. Dr. A. P. I iapper.of China, calling atten¬ tion to the fact that Arnold, In his “Light of Asia,” estimates the number of Budd¬ hists at four hundred and seventy million, and James Freeman Clarke, in his “Ten Great Religions,’,’ gives the number at three hundred million, says, “ I regard, these statements as entirely unwarranted, and unsupported by facts.” His own esti¬ mate is seventy-two million. Prof. Monier Williams states as his opinion that one hun¬ dred million would be a large estimate of the Buddhists in the world .—Missionary Review. Not so many as they were thought to be. Yet a vast host still, and lost I Lost be¬ cause they have not the truth, which we have but give not. The Rev. Mr. Wigram says that the great lesson taught him by his journey around the world is the utter inadequacy of the missionary force to avail itself of the invi¬ ting openmgs in all directions. "Terribly undermanned” is his description of almost every mission district in Ceylon, India, China and Japan.— Spirit of Missions. Undermanned, “ terribly undermanned ” may well be written of every one of bur missions. Yet we have over eight thou¬ sand Baptist preachers within the bounds of our Convention, and wealth almost be¬ yond calculation. AH going on to the great day of God, to meet the unsaved heathen. A minister who was visiting the parish church of a large town in England made the following entry in his journal: “I un¬ derstand that they spend ^600 a ye their choir and fjo a year on foreign sions, which is a piece of refined ness I cannot describe.” Is not an entry of such sort being made against very many of our churches in God’s book of remembrance? Some churches might also consider the following, with profit to themselves and the heathen : A speaker at a missionary meeting in Exeter Hall said: "Which is more impor¬ tant, to secure nicely decorated material edifices, or to build up living temples to God’s honor and glory? I think it might even be better that some of our churches be left without a spire, and the cost devoted to sending missionaries abroad ; better to call forth the praises of converts to Him who hath brought them out of the dark¬ ness to his marvellous light, than that our own services should be so harmonious as to please the most delicate musical earl Surely we might think more of their. real wants than of our own wishes." - ’ a; year on Telfilf