Foreign Mission Journal, December 1889

>— тг г./. im>*-“*V*G'' •. ' n V<~' /-. I ».*wva»- -г_.««^.чли er • ■ ' >w *«-. „V- чуимию» gn Mission Journal: , . •* i(t v "A, MONTHLY BY THE FOKEICN MISSION BOAHD OF THE SOUTHEUN BAPTIST CONVENTION. .' I ; '-o ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO YE, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.”?'.' у Vol. 2i — New Series RICHMOND, VA., DECEMBER, 1889. No. 5 — Whole No. 257 (Entered . the Poet-Offlce at Richmond, Va., 1 eecond'Claee matter.] Foreign Mission Journal RATES PER ANNUM: 1. Forimpere eep.-imtely Rildreseed, either to ьпте or to ditTerent po**t оШсея ; One copy... Three copies (<i f 1( or... . ЯЛ Cl». . S3 4 eta. apiece. II. For рлекякее eent to one person, who ehail \ responsible for their distribution s . ...2ficte. apiece. at . BOcte. apiece. at,.16cu. apiece. Fonr copies for Ф1, or more Twenty-five copies for *5. or One Hundred copies for lift, n- please remit by Draft, I*o«tnl Order, or In П. tfs* tered Letter, and notify пн miomi-tly of any change In address. Address. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL, RICHMOND. Va ADVERTISING RATES. RFAOB. One inch.... ....... Two inches........ Three Inches . anarter column... alf column . One columu . . 1 Month. 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months 1 25 В 40 3 60 4 7Б 9 25 18 00 si 13 00 28 25 60 00 6 60 12 BO 18 1)0 1Бв° 48 00 92 60 L2 00 22 80 SB 00 46 00 90 041 178 041 2. We accept as a support only three hundred dollars, (U. S. gold), for each mis¬ sionary (1, e., six hundred dollars for man and wife), with fifty dollars extra for each missionary, (/. e., one hundred for a man and wife), for medical purposes, to be used or not аз the case, in the judgment of each missionary, may demand. Also we accept the children's allowances, as provided for in the present regulations of the Hoard. [#100 per annum for each child, — Ed ] We have been brought to this action, we trust, by the Spirit of God ; that we may get nearer to God, nearer to the Chinese, and nearer to the people at home. [Signed] Mr. and Mrs. I.. N. Chappell, Mr. and Mrs. U. T. Hu VAN, Mr.and Mrs. I). W. Herring. f-ln синея where foreign houses lire ulreiuty hullt, they may he occuplciL] The following letter accompanied this agreement, and briefly explains the pur¬ pose and desires of these brethren in this action. We will say just here that the let¬ ter of brother Herring, in the A Recorder, is much fuller than this, and those who feel interested -and who does not ? — would do well to secure a copy of that paper and read it : September, 1889. Dear Brethren : To the enclosed it may be well to add a few words of explanation. The question arises, is it possible for us to live on six hundred dollars? Hy living in the native style, by practicing economy, and by having our sanitary needs supplied with the hundred dollars for medical purposes, to be used if needed, we are satisfied that it is sufficient for necessary comfort and for health. It may he asked, why separate the allow¬ ance for sanitary purposes from ihe salary ? liecause it is incidental in its nature, and it is probable that in many cases the whole sum will not be needed, and we wish to make our expense as low as possible with¬ out endangering our health. Whatever sacrifice we may make is for the plory of God, and will bring us closer to him, We hope by adapting ourselves as far as possible to the Chinese mode of life, to bring ourselves more into sympathy with the people. We hope it will make them feel nearer to us; we know it will make us feel nearer to them, and this of itself will help to win their hearts. If we can get a good grip on their heart strings, we may hope to lead them to Jesus. Our great need is more missionaries. We must be reinforced largely. We he- MOVEMENTS OF MISSIONARIES. | Jjeve that if we decrease our salaries, the . brethren and sisters at home will increase On the 19th October a party of nine mis- t|leir contributions and thus enable the sionaries sailed from San Francisco, on the i Hoard tosend us more help. We believe that steamer " Belgic,” for China and Japan. | Cod will call all the workers the people Rev. J. A. Hrunson and wife and Rev. j the ,!oard wi]| not only J. W. McCiilliim and wife, go to Japan, to I approve this course of action, but will also ’ ' " ' ‘ encourage other missionaries who may he coming out to adopt it. The Northern Board has already recognized a departure in mission work somewhat similar to this. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN DAPTIST CONVENTION. Located at RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. President— It. II. Harris. Vice-Presidents— JosbuR Levering, ;»ld.,C. W. Tomklss. I.R.. A. K. Owen, Vs. . N. Л, IIMlsy. FIs , J. L. Whlls, N. II. , O. F. lliigby, Ky . W. 0. Blei - »os, AlDtmmn, J, P. Greene, Mo„ II. H. Carrol Texas. W. L. Kilpatrick, Oa., A. J.b. Thomas, b.O. H. J. Wllllorham, Venn., J. II. Searcy, Ark., George Whitfield. Miss.. W. F. Atlklsson. W. Va. OORRBSrOMDinOSECHETART— H.A.TOPPFJl. Assistant Skciiktaky. T. P. HELL. Treasurer— J. O. WILLIAMS. RECORDiNe Secretabt— A. 11. CLARKE. Auditor— H. C. BURNETT. HOARD or Manaukrs.— H. K. Ellysou. О. H. Win- Sion, W. E. Hatcher, J. Pollard, Jr.. 3. O. Utop¬ ian. J. H. Ho t ion. W. O. Thomas, VV W. Landrum, Geo. Cooper. О. II. Hyland, H. C. Biiroel I, ,T. P Mathews. It. H. Put. II. S. Itosher, J L. M. Curry, Theo. Whitfield. ЩГА11 communications in reference to the business of this Board should be addresscdlo H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. our new mission there. Rev. T. J League and wife, with Miss I.aura G. Bar¬ ton, go to reinforce the North China mis¬ sion. Miss Alice M. Flagg goes to Shang¬ hai, and Miss Mottle McMInn to Canton. The hope for a time entertained by bro¬ ther and sister Barker, that the latter’s health would permit them to remain in Rio, Brazil, has been disappointed, and they have returned home. Rev. С. E. Smith, of Ogbomoso, Africa, went to Lagos to meet the party of new missionaries who sailed in June last. Rev. W. T. I.umbley and wife will join him in the Ogbomoso field. Brother Smith ex¬ presses great joy at this prospect of help. Those were very interesting letters that came to the Journal last month from Italy. We hope for more from the same pens. We were pleased to learn from brother W. J. David, at the Texas Convention, that his health is decidedly improving. His looks revealed it before his tongue de¬ clared it. His address made a fine impres¬ sion on the members of the Convention. THE NEW DEPARTURE IN MISSION WORK IN CHINA. In the Biblical Recorder of October 16th, is a long letter from Rev. D. W. Herring, of ganglial, China, announcing a new de¬ parture in methods of work adopted by himself, together with brethren Bryan and Chappell. We adopt the term “ new de¬ parture," as used by brother Herring. The departure is stated in brief in a communi¬ cation to the Board under same date as brother Herring’s letter to the Recorder. It is as follows: Dear Brethren : We, the undersigned, have adopted the following course of action, to take effect the rst day of Jan., 1S90: . 1. We adopt the native style of living— dress, in full; houses,* furniture and food, modified only as far as in the judgment of each missionary the laws of health require. Wiij not the Board call for a band of vol- uiiteers to join us in this departure? .Many strong churches could support a missionary and his wife at a salary of six hundred dol- ! lars and medical allowance. Many weaker churches could support a single missionary. It is by no means our intention to make a break with other missionaries on the field. On the oilier hand, we are glad to recognize that though they do not agree with us in adopting native style of living, there is a movement among them toward reduction of salary. In Christian love, Yours as signed, The Board, of course, accepted the offer of these brethren to work at reduced sala¬ ries, and adopted the following,, as part of a report of the Committee on China Missions : “While they duly appreciate the high spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion ani¬ mating our brethren, they recommend that the Board say in reply to the above request, that they are not prepared to take any step in advance of (heir former action.” The former action referred to here, was taken after long and earnest consideration of several matters involving the very ques¬ tions raised by this paper of the brethren in Central China, and was to the effect that the Board has never attempted to regulate the food and. clothing, and like domestic matters of missionaries, nor wished to pay them more than they thought needful and proper to receive. One or two remarks on the above must suffice for the editor in this issue of the Journal. 1. Every reader of the letters of brother Herring, as given above, or as published in the Recorder, will feel only admiration for these dear brethren in the noble action they have taken in this matter. None, surely, but will feel their missionary zeal quickened by the self-sacrificing spirit manifested by the brethren on the field. All praise to them, and may we all at home catch something of their spirit, and help on the great work. * 2. But it must be borne in mind that this is an experiment upon which our breth¬ ren are entering; an experiment growing out of an intensely earnest desire to do something that will bring them nearer to the Chinese, and will, at the same time, stimu¬ late the brethren at home to new and more earnest efiorls in behalf of this great work, and yet an experiment the wis¬ dom of which and the practicability of which are seriously doubted by many very wise missionaries of large experi¬ ence. And if the brethren in Central China should, after the honest effort they are making to carry it out, find that they had made a mistake, let no one be tin duly cast down, nor imagine that these brethren have grown unwilling to bear the hardships which tile life they have entered on will entail. 3. If they succeed, they will have started a movement of great consequence. 4. The Board having under its direction many missionaries of many views on these subjects, can do no more than it hasdone, i e„ gladly accept every offer that any mission ary may feel that he can make to reduce his expenses, and yet lay down no rule and adopt no policy which would interfere with the private judgment of its missionaries, or even seem to cast reflection upon their past or present action on these disputed points of missionary polity. The true policy we believe to be to respect the views of each and every missionary, so long as the Board has confidence in his prudence and piety, and leave him to work in his own field according to his best judgment, limited by certain general regulations agreed upon by the Board and the mission¬ aries. 5. We feel constrained to add one thing more. We sincerely trust that our breth¬ ren, in their deep zeal and enthusiasm, will lake care of their health — a most important element In missionary success. The length of a missionary’s labor is largely depend¬ ent on his care of his health ; and length of labor is often a matter of more moment than intensity of labor. God bless ami keep and guide these brethren in their efforts to glorify him. Witli warmest sympathy and tenderest affection we will watch them in their “new departure.” Many prayers and many hopes centre about them. NOTES OF TRAVEL. From September 27111 to October 25th we were on the tramp, visiting in that time the Conventions of Texar. Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and the General Association of Missouri. Many pleasant recollections of men and places and things come crowding on our mind as we take up the pen to write about the trip, but they must remain in the mind and in the heart, while we allude only to matters connected with our work. In TEXAS we found our cause In a very prosperous condition. Last May, Rev. A. T. Haw¬ thorne, compelled by failing health, re¬ signed his position as agent of our Board, thus bringing to an end a faithful^and efficient service extending through a period of nine or ten years. Much of the foreign missiou interest in Texas, manifesting itself in gifts both of men and money, was, under God, due to his enthusiastic labors in that State. Some time in July, Rev. J. M. Carroll took up the work left by brother Hawthorne, and ever sinco that time lie has been hard at work — instant in season and out of season in pressing the claims of foreign missions upon the at¬ tention and upon the hearts of the people. In the three months in which he had been at work, he had raised, in cash and pledges, over ten thousand dollars, besides sending in long lists of subscribers for the Journal. When the subject of foreign missions came up in the Convention it was hard to know how to ask for contributions when so large a number of those present had pledged themselves and their churches at the Associations. But a Texas Con- vention never seems to shrink from a col¬ lection, and so when ope was attempted and two thousand dollars asked for, re¬ sponses readily came in until some twenty- two hundred dollars had been added to the ten thousand already on brother Car¬ roll’s hooks. Our honored Vice-President. Rev. Dr. В. H. Carroll, remarked to us that everything was favorable for foreign missions In Texas, and her people were ready to give — a statement borne out by the facts in the case. Texas has been put in the front rank of States in the amount asked of her by the Board— fiS, 000— and she is reaching forth for it. The women are perfecting their missionary organiza¬ tion, and they will help no little in this work, always so near to their loving hearts. MISSOURI lias come to be looked on as one of our best contributing States, and one whose future development in this, as in other dircclions, Is almost without limit. What a country, and what a people! The Gen¬ eral Association met at Jefferson City, the capital of the State. Here a beautiful church lias recently been built, under the direction of Rev. J. T. M. Johnson. The church has been weak, and lias been aided in sustaining its pastor by the Stats Board. But so has the work prospered that from now on the church will keep house for itself. Tlie house was filled to over-flowing the first night of the meeting, and the Asso¬ ciation was compelled the next day to adjourn to the chamber of the House of Representatives, which had been kindly tendered to it by the State officials. A thousand delegates and visitors attested the strength of tlie Baptists of Missouri and their interest in tlie work of their Conven¬ tion. A burning question, which threatened trouble, and has long done 'so, arose out of the unfortunate friction which has attended the working of a double set of agents for home and foreign missions in the State. The Southern Baptist Con¬ vention’s Boards of Home and Foreign Missions had their agents at work, and the Home Mission Society and the Missionary Union had theirs. It was almost impossi¬ ble to prevent some unpleasantness arising as these various and, in a measure, rival agents pressed tlie claims of their respec¬ tive Boards upon the hearts and purses of tlie churches. No little feeling had arisen among the friends of the several Boards, and it was greatly feared by many that serious trouble would grow out of these complications. But good commdn sense, and, best of all, tlie earnestly-sought Spirit of God, guided tlie Association through tlie whole matter, and in the cud peace and harmony prevailed, and a solution of tlie perplexing questions was reached, to which all parlies could agree. Tlie Association by a unanimous vote, adopted the report of a judicious committee, which it ii believed will settle tlie matters in question. The Association appoints its own Board of Home and For¬ eign Ml.sions, which Board takes charge of all collections for these two objects, ap¬ pointing its own agencies. The general denominational Boards were requested to withdraw all agents, and leave the matter of collections in the hands of this Associa- tional Board. This Board is instructed to send all funds designated to any particular Board to such Board, and of undesignated funds received, distribution is to be made to the Hoards North and South in the ratio of the contributions of the Stale to such Boards for a period of five years past. God was manifestly In the midst of his people, guiding them in their action. The walls of that chamber never looked upon such a scene as that witnessed on the 17th day of October, 18S9, when in the crucible of God’s love were melted together the minds and hearts, with their prejudices and pas- of a thousand Baptists gathered from and West, North and South — wearers, many of them of the blue, and many of tlie gray — but who now, forgetting that they ever were apart, moved together under the banner of God’s love. Missouri will greatly help us in our con¬ stantly growing work. Hastening away, after a half day and a whole night of travel, we reached the TENNESSEE CONVENTION, assembled at Humboldt. We have at¬ tended four sessions of this body, and of ail these this v/as by far the best. Grad¬ ually the Convention is drawing to itself the men of East and Middle and West Tennessee, and the Baptists of these three sections are being merged into that one greater body— the Baptists of Tennessee. The Convention very kindly gave to the consideration of foreign missions the honr of eleven on Saturday, by which day the Board's representative could reach thr: meeting. An excellent report, followed by a still more excellent speech, by Dr. R. J. Willingham, of Chattanooga, our Board's Vice-I’resldcnt for the State, pre¬ pared the way for the special pleader to do Ills best. What a joy it was to speak to those eager listeners I And what think you, good reader ? After the talk, without any solicitation, and much to our surprise, a collection broke out and over three hun¬ dred dollars were handed in, or subscribed, Tennessee rose in her gifts to foreign mis¬ sions last year, from less than three, to more than four thousand dollars. This year, the brethren say, she is going to press up to the six thousand asked of her. Ail that Tennessee needs now to put' her well up toward the front rank of the States in denominational work, local and general, is the laying hold of the Convention and and its work by more of the representative men, ministers and laymen, from different sections of the State. And this Is coining: to pass. Chattanooga, where the Conven¬ tion meets next year, will witness the grand¬ est Baptist gathering that has taken place in the State in many years. Old issuesare dying out, and the faces of the brethren are toward the Future. Brother Willing¬ ham, by voice and pen, aided by the'noble young editors of tlie Baptist and Reflector, E. E. Folk and O. L. Hailey, will do all .in his power to raise Tennessee’s quota o£ <6, coo. The WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Convention, assembled in Asheville, “the-- beautiful for situation,” gave a cordial wel¬ come to us, and to our fellow-traveler, Dr, B. Griffith, of the American Baptist Pub¬ lication Society. It is pleasant to be made to feel that the brethren are glad to вее you, and that pleasure was ours at Ashe¬ ville. God bless the loving hearts of those men who are toiling away in the mountains and valleys of that “Land of Sky,” laying tlie foundations of a great Baptist super¬ structure to arise In coming days in that beautiful land. Poor many of them are, and unlearned, but the Spirit of God is in them and with them, and they are doing a great work for him. A remark made to us by one of the country pastors shows the spirit that is in them all. He said; “I love all the causes that are presented to us for our gifts; but ministerial education and foreign missions get closest to my heart.’* Here again it was a joy to speak, and here again a collection— rather a givintp— broke out. The churches last year gave to for¬ eign missions about six hundred dollars. A resolution was unanimously adopted to bring the sum up to twelve hundred this' year. And we believe it will be done. We fee) like saying, that if some first-class young men want fine fields in which to do foundation work for the Lord, they can find them in Western North Carolina. They will be cordially welcomed by the brethren, and will find fields that are rich, and which will give early and large re¬ turns for their labor. The foreign mission spirit is growing stronger in our South land. “Forward” is the motto of the Board, and the peo¬ ple will follow close upon us. Dr. Robert Cust, in pointing out the fact, that we are apt to expect too much of the externals of civilization, as well as. relig¬ ion, among the weak races to whom the gospel is sent, states the minimum stand¬ ard to be desired as follows: A decent man, living in decency, comfort and se¬ curity, supporting his children, keeping to one wife, and hearing himself bravely, honestly, yet humbly, before his fellow- men, living in a community where the per¬ sons of both sexes are decently covered, where age and sex and childhood are- respected, where the poor and weak are not oppressed, and human life is regarde-1 as a precious treasure, for which the whole neighborhood is responsible., Such a re¬ sult is never effected by purely secnLr agencies; only the gospel of Christ, work¬ ing through the Holy Spirit, cam produce such fruit. — The Missionary.. , And such results are being produced by the gospel in hundreds and thousands of communities where exactly the opposite state of things existed.