1889.] Hindu Convert-Clifton Springs Conference. Buffalo, N. Y.; Angie M. Hodgens and Mattie Clark, Middletown, Iowa; Berdie Smith, Annie Maginnis and Gertie Childs, Smith's Ferry, Pa. The last three names were sent with the following pleasant words from Miss Laura Dawson, of Smith's Ferry, Pa.: I have the great pleasure of sending you the names of three girls who have accepted your offer to send the picture of Goolee and Ali for the finding of the required verse. They are members of my mission band, and I assure you they enjoyed the search for the verse, and are very eager to receive the picture. I appreciate your efforts in interesting the children. I always read the children's CHURCH AT HOME AND ABROAD in search of material for mission band meeting. I find it very helpful. Nothing is more encouraging than such assurance that our work is helpful to the young and to those who are faithfully training the young to habits of Christian thought and work. Anandibai Joshee was a Hindu lady of high caste who came to this country for the study of medicine, and took the degree of M.D. in Philadelphia. She and her husband, Mr. Gopal Joshee, made many addresses in the United States in opposition to Christianity, and avowing their adherence to the Brahman faith. After returning to India Mrs. Joshee suddenly died. It is stated in the August number of the Missionary Herald that Mr. Joshee has announced his conversion to Christ, and has given good evidence of the genuineness of the transformation. When he desired to be baptized, he chose Rev. James Taylor, an English clergyman, to administer the rite, because, as he said, he had specially vilified him in his lectures against Christianity. The Executive Committee of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the 201 United States (southern) reported to the last General Assembly of that Church that their receipts from all sources for the year ending April 1, 1889, amounted to $96,054.64. The contributions of that year exceeded those of the preceding year by $10,834.27, while the legacies received were less than in the previous year by $2819.96. This surely indicates a rate of progress in this department of church work, on which our sister Church is to be heartily congratulated. The happy union of the mis sionaries of these two churches-ecclesias tically in the Synod of Brazil, and in mission work everywhere-is a matter for mutual congratulation. At the far-famed Sanitarium of Clifton Springs, N. Y., on a July evening, the chaplain invited all missionaries sojourning there to meet for a familiar conference. A few ex-missionaries, step-missionaries and missionaries-in-law were let in. To have been once a missionary, or to be the father or sister of a missionary, was enough. It was a delightful conference. One lady told of her school on the Pacific coast, in which were pupils of every European nationality except the Russian, and of every religion except those of the Greek Church and Mohammed. One from Trinidad told us of the coolies imported thither from India-Hindus-and gave a touching account of the tiresome work of teaching the poor, dull women, tired out by their daily toil and having so little to cheer or rouse them. She said she could think of nothing more tiresome, "unless it would be making a FOREIGN MISSION NOTES. BY THE SECRETARIES. Statistics which have recently been received concerning the Protestant work in Italy show that of all the different churchesWesleyan, Baptist, Methodist, Free Church and Waldensian-the last has been far the most fruitful in results, at the same time that it has been more inadequately aided from abroad than some of the others whose accessions it has exceeded many fold. Aside from its membership in the Alpine valleys, numbering almost 14,000, it enrolls nearly 4000 in Italy. The Free churches are said to number about 1500 communicants. Since 1884 the other churches have together increased their membership less than one hundred, while the increase in the Waldensian churches in the same time has been over five hundred. Referring to the Waldenses, we are led to ask, Why do so many of our Presbyterian churches still discriminate in favor of those causes which employ expensive agencies? Three years ago the question was presented in a circular to leading pastors whether in their opinion the Board of Foreign Missions should employ a western secretary for the purpose of keeping the cause more constantly before the churches. The reply was on the whole adverse to the employment of collecting agents. Yet various causes which employ collectors, though outside of the denomination, are well supported, while those which, like the mission of the Waldenses, make their appeal through the Board and thus save the expense of agencies receive almost nothing. Plans and theories are good, but the persistent agent, no matter what his cause, reaches the pocket. There are rumors that the Pope is scarcely satisfied with Cardinal Gibbons, and that he has summoned Archbishop Corrigan to Rome for the purpose of making him a cardinal-a more tractable cardinal. Cardinal Gibbons is thought to be dangerously patriotic-so says a Rome correspondent of the New York Times; he is not sufficiently careful to curb in the young republic for the tame and truculent service of the Church. He has dared to prefer American-born instructors for the Washington University, to those who shall be sent from Italy or France or Spain. In the view of the Vatican only a foreign thumb-screw can insure an ultramontane and mediæval type for Roman Catholic education in America. "As the twig is bent the tree's inclined," and now is the time to bend it by a vigorous Italian grip, if this country is to belong, not to God and humanity, but to the Pope of Rome! The recent outrageous demands made by the Roman Catholics of Bavaria are a sample of what would be asked of our Congress if matters were sufficiently ripe. On the Tonawanda reservation in western New York stands a good three-story school building, erected a dozen years ago by the joint contribution of the Indians and the state for an industrial boarding-school. No school has ever been opened, though the Indians declare their desire to fill the house with regular pupils if an opportunity shall be offered. At a meeting of the Indian Council held in February last, a vote was passed offering the building, over which the tribe now has full control, to the Board of Foreign Missions for school purposes. farm of eighty acres is also offered for the use of the school as long as it shall be continued. About $500 is needed for repairs, and the house is yet to be furnished. Will the Presbyterian churches of New York assume the undertaking, and is there a chance that the state will render aid? Ꭺ 1889.] "Jesus Assembly Hall"-Missionaries Robbed. Dr. Pierson, writing in the Missionary Review, has recently expressed the belief that there is room for improvement in the administration of missionary boards. He thinks that the time will come when men will volunteer their services as secretaries and treasurers, or that special funds will so provide for administration that every dollar contributed will go direct to the foreign field. This is a challenge for men of wealth, clerical or lay, to volunteer. None have as yet sent in their names. It is also a challenge to the wealthy to make endowments. These too are reticent. As for the endowment of secretaryships and treasurerships, some of the officers of the Presbyterian Board have long been in favor of the measure, and the question has once or twice been discussed, but always with the result that some differences of opinion prevailed. Could the Board and all boards be able to say to the churches that every dollar sent for the cause of missious was expended on the field, a great point would be gained. "Jesus Assembly Hall" is the name written in Chinese characters on the front of a neat little church recently erected in Nanking, under the superintendence of Rev. Charles Leaman. It is built of brick, with a capacity for two hundred on the main floor, and the possibility of crowding four hundred in if the gallery and prayerrooms are occupied. It has cost the Board less than $600 in gold. Two dedication services were held, one in English and the other in Chinese, at both of which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. To the great joy of the missionaries six persons were baptized on the basis of their own confession, two men and four boys, the latter ranging from twelve to fifteen years of age. It is gratifying to learn also that a dwelling-house for two unmarried lady missionaries has recently been completed and occupied by Miss Lattimore, who is to be joined by Miss Emma F. Lane during the coming autumn. We congratulate our missionaries on this evidence of material and spiritual growth. 203 On another page will be found an interesting letter from Rev. E. M. Haymaker of Guatemala city, speaking of encouraging openings in adjacent villages. Later information, however, is to the effect that the work so auspiciously begun has been interrupted for the time being through the influence of a Roman Catholic priest. Under his leadership an effort was made to have the evangelical worship stopped. Some "fellows of the baser sort" under the influence of liquor rushed to the plaza shouting "Death to the Protestants!" Not satisfied with this, a few of them, armed with machetes (knives), lay in wait to assault Mr. Haymaker, but providentially he went by another route. A petition signed by thirty-two adults was presented to the chief of police stating that they had adopted the evangelical religion, and asking that they might be granted the right of publicly acknowledging it according to the laws of the republic. Meanwhile the padre had withdrawn, declaring that he would not return till the place was purged of Protestantism. Under the advice of the authorities, and in view of their declaration that they could not protect him against assault, Mr. Haymaker reluctantly consented to await developments before resuming the work in Santa Rosita. A recent incident in Persia throws light upon some aspects of missionary life not only, but upon the police regulations of the country. A missionary party were robbed by some Nestorians, men of the village Gundixta. It was done in daylight and in the very streets of the village, all the people looking on. On the Saturday before their baggage had been seized by Koords before their very eyes, but by firmness on their part and through the influence of a Koordish chief, they were allowed to pass with their goods. That was not strange for Koords, but seems more surprising in Nestorians, who, when the missionaries interfered, threatened their lives, while as to their native helpers, they were dragged off the field. A curious incident occurred during the 204. Nestorianglicans?-Batanga-Bible Convert. robbery. A young Nestorian who had received some instruction from the mission in Oroomiah joined with the robbers, seizing a part of the goods, but only, as he afterward explained, for the purpose of preserving them for their rightful owners. He after ward returned them without remuneration, and it is believed that by his influence he probably saved the lives of the missionaries. The chiefs of the valley were notified of the robbery and promised to recover the goods. Late in the afternoon, the missionaries, suspecting that nothing was really being accomplished, went to the scene of the pillage, where they found the chiefs, the robbers and the village priests all drunk. As for restitution of the goods, the officials accomplished nothing, though by individual effort a few insignificant things were recov ered. A circular which was issued a year or more ago under the auspices of the Archbishop of Canterbury contained a plea for the Nestorian Church, which was in danger of succumbing to the efforts of the Roman Catholics on the one hand and of the American missionaries on the other. The ground taken was that the Nestorian Church and others like it should be preserved, though in some respects reformed, and should be brought into closer fellowship with the Anglican Church, while the work carried on by Americans, which looks to conversion and separation from the dead Church of the dead past, was ill advised and should be rather counteracted than approved by true Anglicans. The picture drawn of this robbery, the part taken especially by the priests, is a sufficient comment on that position. In connection with his visit to Batanga, referred to in another note, Mr. Good called on the German explorer Kundt, who had just returned from an expedition to the interior. He was lying ill waiting for a steamer to carry him to Europe. He leaves Africa, however, with the expectation of returning at an early day to pursue his explorations. He spoke enthusiastically of the country and of the people of the in [September, terior, so much so that our missionary was led to infer that, if the statements were to be relied on, we have in Batanga the key to one of the finest mission fields in Africa. The explorer says that after eight or ten days travel into the interior he reached a level or gently-undulating plain, some twenty-three hundred feet above the sea level, on which a people live called Yeondo. The country is under cultivation and teeming with population. The traveller is never out of sight of people and houses, and the inhabitants, the explorer declares, are the best he has yet seen in Africa-large, powerfully built and fine featured. The climate he pronounces excellent. He knew nothing of fever while in it, and the nights were so cool that he had to sleep under one or two blankets. If these statements are even measurably borne out by the facts, Batanga may be regarded as an important strategic point for missionary effort. One of the converts baptized in the Furrukhabad mission last year was a man of considerable education and culture. He was originally a Hindu, but had been attracted by the monotheism of Mohammedanism. Later he began to study the Bible for the purpose of writing against Christianity. While engaged in this he was led captive by the Spirit and the truth, and in due time openly confessed Christ. Two of our missionaries, Rev. A. C. Good and Mr. J. H. Reading, recently made a tour of inspection among our stations in the northern part of the Gaboon and Corisco mission. The visit was undertaken by the direction of the Board, as owing to the depletion of our missionary force, work in this part of the mission had been in the hands of native laborers for some months. Leaving Gaboon April 11, in the missionary schooner Nassau, their first stopping place was Bata, some twenty miles north of Benita, and 75 miles north of the island of Corisco. The population of that region accessible to gospel effort is large. On a 1889.] Reformed Buddhism-China Inland Mission. strip of coast, some twelve or fifteen miles From this point Mr. Reading went south as far as Benita, while Mr. Good proceeded northward on foot to Evuni, another point where a good deal of missionary work has been done. The field is spoken of as one of great promise, having a population as large as that at Bata and much more compact. In addition to this there are eight or nine groups of Beniko towns within a distance of ten or fifteen miles to the north, while on the north bank of the Campo river are the Egara people, who are said to be numerous and among whom we have some members. Mr. Good is of opinion that there are openings here for three centres of Christian influence, with large promise of success. At present the only evangelizing force at work consists of a few natives but feebly equipped. At a communion service held during the visit the morning audience was not less than 400. Batanga, about 75 miles north of Benita, was the chief objective point of the visiting committee. Some time since the Board, on the basis of an understanding with the governor of Cameroons, the representative of the German government, authorized the mission to select a site within German territory as a centre of missionary operations. The selection was left by the mission to Messrs. Good and Reading in connection. with their tour of inspection. After careful examination they chose Batanga, where mission work was begun in 1875, and where we have a church with 170 communicants enrolled. The committee was deeply impressed with the magnitude and ripeness of the field, the region being the most thickly populated of any connected with our mission, and the people being easily reached with the truth. The governor of Cameroons has given the Board till January 1890 in which to place a white missionary 205 in the field who can speak the German language and so communicate with the government officials. Whom shall we send and who will go for us? As yet the Board has no one in view. Speaking of the Reformed Buddhist sect in Japan known as the Shin Shu-a sect which comes much nearer to the Christian doctrine of faith than to the old orthodox Buddhism-Dr. George William Knox says in a recent letter: This is the one sect which now shows activity, and it is the most earnest, influential and popular. It is this sect that has sent priests to England to study Sanscrit, that proposes foreign missions, that imitates all our mission methods, and that is now building a magnificent temple in Kyoto at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. (It also has about $100,000 subscribed for a Buddhist college.) Some of the great timbers for the temple were dragged from distant provinces by ropes made of the hair of women who piously offered their tresses for the purpose, and these large ropes now hang in the temple where all may see them. What say the Christian women of America to this? During the past year the Chinese Inland Mission has sent fifty-five missionaries to the field. The whole number now employed by this organization in China is 329. They are distributed as follows: Married men, 61 . 87 . 61 . 120 The large proportion of unmarried men is a noticeable feature of the work. The income of the mission for the last year was about $180,011. Something over thirty of the missionaries are self-supported. In comparing the cheapness of the paid service with that of other societies, two or three things should be borne in mind: 1. The comparatively small number of families. 2. The absence of schools, the limited number of native helpers and supported pupils, |