صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

Record of Christian Work

VOL. 17.

Union Evening Bible Classes.

DECEMBER, 1898.

The Union Evening Bible Classes, conducted by Mr. Wm. R. Newell, in Chicago, have opened this fall with a greatly increased attendance. During the first week the aggregate attendance was nearly six thousand, and very great interest was manifested in the course of study to be pursued. The work has the hearty support of the ministers of the city, and many of the leading churches of Chicago are connected with the movement. same lines of study so acceptably introduced last year are being followed by the classes.

"Is It Well With the Child?"

The

The greatest dangers that America has to meet are from internal foes. Compared with these all foreign foes are comparatively nothing. A foreign foe can be openly met in battle, but a criminal must be sought and proved to be a foe before he can be guarded against. The Saturday Evening Post asks "Where and how can reform be begun?" and gives the following startling statistics with reference to the apparent coming army of criminals:

It is found that the average age of over eighty thousand criminals in American penal institutions is under thirty-one, nearly onehalf under thirty, about a third under twenty-five, and nearly one-eighth under twenty. It is also found that the average age of American paupers is fifty-seven.

From these facts it is argued that as a rule the professional criminals are young persons: that because it is easier for young people to secure employment than older ones. few young people are driven into crime by hard times; and that therefore a possible majority are bred to crime. This inference would indicate that the real reformatory period preceded the commission of the first crime.

Growth in The advance in the work Sunday Schools. of the Sabbath school throughout the world has been very great in the last twenty years, says a writer to the Evangelist. "It has nearly doubled, and yet we are told that there are in Christian lands nearly as many of schoolgoing age who are not in the schools. The

No. 12.

increase in the state of Maryland in twenty years has been nearly 100,000. The whole number in attendance is 287,000. There are

150,000 in the state, and 75,000 in Baltimore who go to no school. The gain in the state of New York in three years, we are told, is 161,000; in the United States, 1,262,000.

While these statistics show that the Sabbath-school work is not declining, they show also that the need of this work is increasing. The population of the country is rapidly increasing, and while we may be congratulating ourselves upon the steady advance the work is making, we may not by any means be keeping up with the demands of the work."

A Tribute

to

Christian Missions.

Some cheap critics have sought to belittle the work of Christian missionaries, but it is notable that many of the great explorers and foreign representatives, who have had opportunities to study the work accomplished by Christian missions, bear testimony to the good results of the efforts. In a recent number of Harper's Weekly the following item appeared:

Mr. Charles Denby, who was American minister in China for thirteen years, has been talking out of the fullness of his experience about that country, and particularly about the missionaries there. He commends the missionaries, and says there are a great many of them, and that they are doing useful and important work. He thinks there are a million Christian converts among the Chinese, and believes that the great majority of them are sincere, for, he says, the missionaries detect the bogus converts and throw them out. Missionaries are of all sects, Catholic and Protestant, and come from Europe and America. There are fifty French bishops in China, Mr. Denby says, and he speaks of the Catholic orphanage at Foo-choo that shelters 1,000 children, and of the Methodist church in Peking built to hold 2,000 persons, which gets 1,000 children from the streets into its Sunday school on Sunday. Mr. Denby has no sympathy with the sentiment that American missionaries would better work at home. He says that folks who sniff at missionary work in China don't know

what is going on. As for himself, he says he made it his business to find out, and to that end, in 1886, soon after he went to China, he visited all the treaty ports and invited all the American missionaries to come and see him, and so he got a thorough insight into missionary work.

Evangelist There seems to be an awakenMovement ing of deep religious interest

in everywhere. The more spiritual Germany. leaders of Christian thought are

aggressive in their work, and preparations are everywhere being made to bring the gospel not only to the heathen world, but to the unevangelized at home. The Literary Digest for October 22 reports an awakening of special interest in evangelistic work in Germany:

The religious world of Germany is engaged in a lively discussion over the merits and demerits of the proposition to appoint "evangel'sts," who shall coöperate with the regular pastors and congregations in the attempt to instill a more vital Christianity in the life of the state churches. It is recognized on all sides that some agency is needed besides the ordinary preaching of the Word and the traditional methods of church work to awaken

the more or less formalistic religionism of Protestantism to a keener perception of its duties. Conferences, synods, and church periodica's have in recent months discussed the proposed innovation, which has rapidly come into the foreground as the burning question of the day in Protestant Germany. One of its chief advocates is the prominent Pastor Adolph Stöcker, formerly court preacher and persona' friend and adviser of William II., and now the energetic head of the Berlin City Mission Society, and really the most influential evangelical minister in the Fatherland.

Indian

The annual conference in Conference at behalf of the North AmeriLake Mohonk. can Indians was held this year, as usual, in October at Lake Mohonk. The attendance was a large and representative one, including many well known philanthropists, educators, and statesmen. The recent outbreak at Bear Island was discussed and the causes leading up to it. Rev. Mr. Gilfillan, a missionary to the Indians, gave the following explanation for the revolt, which we quote from the New York Observer:

The real reason for the outbreak was not the arrest of the Indian at Bear Island, but the swindling of the Indians out of their pine

lands. Then as to the arrests. In the early years, few Indians were drunk. Deputy marshals were appointed to arrest Indians who got drunk, and they were entitled to fees and to mileage. These marshals made the Indians drunk, and kept them drunk, and got fees for the arrest and for witnesses and for taking them to St. Paul, sometimes realizing as much as four hundred dollars for a single arrest. A party of marshals, drunk themselves, would go and arrest an Indian for being drunk. This abuse is now somewhat modified by giving the marshal a regular salary instead of fees. The Bear Island Chippewas are not Christians, and have always been the bulwark of their tribes. They felt that their people were being robbed, and took the only course open to them to obtain redress. They never attacked the women and children, but only fought men with arms in their hands.

Conference of Christian Indians.

The Indians of Dakota have organized a conference for the study of the special problems of their church life. The topics discussed are of an eminently practical character and relate oftentimes to the influence of their customs to their Christian experience. The following extracts descriptive of this gathering are taken from the Congre gationalist of October 20:

The meeting was entertained by the Rosebud church, which provided food for over 1,000, as well as wood, and hay and grazing for 3,000 horses. The encampment was in the form of a circle, each tribe having its place allotted in accordance to their o'd form, and all announcements were made by a spe cial herald, who was chosen for his clear voice and strong lungs.

This meeting supplies a great want of the Indians. In many cases the churches are small and widely separated and almost lost in a heathen community. But once a year they become the leading element. Many difficult questions are sett'ed here, for the consensus of the conference is authoritative. For example, years ago the conference de cided that one living in a polygamous state could not be received into the church, and the decision stands everywhere.

This year a new society came to the frost Intemperance is on the increase as the white settlements approach nearer the Indian reservations. So an Anti-saloon League has been organized among the Indians

The necessity for further training of the pastors and church workers has also resulted in the organization of an institute of thes ogy, history and science. Dr A. L. Riggs lectured on Revelation, Prof. F. B. Ris on Science, Rev. J. F. Cross on English Liberty and New Testament Manuscripts Rev. T. L. Riggs on Parliamentary Law

and Church Finance and Dr. J. P. Williamson on Penology. By means of this institute new lines are opened for those who have few advantages for study or investigation. On the whole, every meeting shows an advance and furnishes a spiritual uplift and an intellectual quickening for the Indian churches and missionaries.

Growth of

The curse of intemperance Intemperance seems to be universal. No in Europe. sooner were the American

arms victorious in the Philip

pines than liquor dealers began to make preparations for the introduction of their goods in the new American colonies, and the future of these islands is not very bright if no measures are to be taken to prevent the sale of such evil agencies. The growth of intemperance in Europe is attracting the attention of statesmen and scientists. The Boston Journal of October 25 calls attention to the statistics published by M. Le Jeune, an exminister of justice of the kingdom of Belgium. These statistics, collected from official sources, give one pretty clear idea of the tremendous increase in the use of intoxicating spirits that has recently taken place in that country, as well as in France and Switzerland, says the Journal.

The population of Belgium is a little under 7,000,000, but at the present time there are in the country 198,000 wine and beer shops; that is, there is a place where intoxicating beverages are sold for every thirty-five persons, including women and children. The

total amount spent last year by the people for alcoholic drinks was $100,000,000, or about $14 for each man, woman, and child. If we in the United States had spent the same amount of money for the same purpose our drink bill would foot up to $1,000,000,ooo, so that by the comparison of actual expenditures, one arrives at the conclusion that we are a temperate people. One-third of the money spent for intoxicating drinks in Belgium is represented by gin in its various forms, this being the liquor for which there is the most popular demand. M. Le Jeune's tables of statistics also show that 74 per cent of the cases of convictions in criminal courts are due to crimes of which drink is the cause; that 79 per cent of the paupers are drunkards; that 80 per cent of the suicides are due to the use of liquor, and that 45 per cent of the inmates of the insane asylums are victims of the alcoholic habit. All these point to a species of physical degeneracy which finds its most serious example in the three countries we referred to above, a degeneracy which, unless some check can be applied, bids fair to result to the nation very much as

the habit of excessive drink would result in the family-in incapacity and physical deterioration, followed later on by impoverish

ment.

A Widow's Mite For India's Child Widows.

The following letter has been received by Mr. D. L. Moody, who has forwarded it to us with the dollar enclosed, to be used in behalf of India's Child Widows under the care of Pandita Ramabai. We believe there are many of our readers who would count it a privilege to add to this fund and become associated with this widow in her gift for her sisters in India.

Should a sufficient sum be realized for this fund it will be devoted to the support of a Bible woman to carry the gospel to the women of India. May all the contributions be accompanied with prayers that God may richly bless the widow's mite, and that the money thus entrusted for safe keeping may pay an interest of a hundred-fold in blessing to the giver.

[blocks in formation]

I send you a gold dollar for God's work. It is a small sum in value, I know, but it is a valuable piece to me. It is a widow's offering to the Lord and my prayers go with it that He will bless it. It is a piece of money that my dear husband gave me years ago as a keepsake, and a few weeks ago the Lord called him home to Himself and I am left poor as far as this world's goods are concerned, but I have Jesus.

I give this money to the Lord because I want to keep it and I know He will keep it for me and pay interest; so please use it where you think best and through its use may some soul be blessed is the prayer of MRS.

The General Christian Missionary Convention of the Disciples of Christ.

At Chattanooga, Tenn., October 13-20. This convention, properly speaking, is composed of three conventions. (1) The Christian Woman's Board of Missions, which held its twenty-fourth annual session on Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15, and reported the best year's work in their history; (2) the American Christian Missionary Society, including Church Extension, Negro Education and Evangelization, Ministerial

Relief, Sunday-school Work. Christian Education, Church Statistics and National Christian Endeavor, and (3) The Foreign Christian Missionary Society. The Woman's Board raised and expended on the field in the United States, Mexico, Jamaica and India, a little over $74,000. The American Society raised through its own efforts and the various State Boards $200, 208.60, all of which was used in the Home Field, and The Foreign Society raised and spent over $130,ooo, being a gain of a little over $24,000 over the receipts of the preceding year. The Rev. F. D. Power, of Washington City, who presided over the Home Convention, was the pastor of President Garfield and preached his funeral sermon. Through twenty-four years of work in Washington, he has built up a splendid church, which has planted and fostered two other congregations in that city. His presidential address on "The Holy Spirit in Missions," was a marvelous speech of power. The Rev. W. J. Wright, of the same city, fanned the zeal of the convention into a flame with his address “Missions, the Heart of Church Life;" and the Rev. Geo. H. Combs, of Kansas City, in a discourse, The Preacher's Responsibility in World-wide Evangelism," gave the ministers an eloquent and much needed lesson. The Rev. Geo. Darsie, of Frankfort, Ky., took the convention, in thought, up on the mount of inspiration and showed them the beauty and glory of America and led them to see the importance of taking it for Christ. President E. V. Zollars, of Hiram College, in an address on "Christian Education," made all feel the great need of thorough mental training for efficient Christian service. The jubilee convention will be held in Cincinnati next October.

The Gospel in India.

The article entitled "A Silent Missionary" in the October number of this magazine has awakened the interest of many of our readers in the spread of the gospel in India by this effective and inexpensive agency. Letters have been received which go to prove that in other foreign lands, where the English language is spreading, there is also an opening for books that present the gospel truths

in a simple, readable way that native converts can understand.

One missionary wrote from Japan that "their most promising young preacher had already learned enough Eng'ish to be able to read one of Mr. Moody's colportage books, and is now reading his second. He says he can understand such writings more easily than most English books."

Another case is that of a school for leper children in Mandalay, Burmah, where "The Good Shepherd," a life of Christ in simple language, suitable for children, is being used as a reading book in the study of English.

These instances show how the books may be used among the natives, but there is also a wide ministry open to them among the missionaries themselves. A friend sent two books to a lady at Mardin Station, Turkey. "They have brought great blessings to that station. The Spirit Filled Life' excited them to pray more than ever for an outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the missionaries and on the church there, and now they have had a great revival, as they have not had for many years. Letters received yesterday from two ladies who work there tell of a great awakening and of an ingathering of souls. That station was saved from the massacre a few years ago, and the church there did not experience the baptism of blood which the churches in the neighborhood experienced, and which prepared the people there for a ready acceptance of the gospel. The church of Mardin needed on that account an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and they have received it after earnest prayers; and when an evangelist came to Mardin about a month ago, the church received his message gladly and best results came; but the book you sent me, and which I sent them, lies at the bottom of the movement." It gives us pleasure to keep our columns open still for an appeal for contributions to send books free in answer to requests from the foreign field. Already we have acknowledged a number of donations for this work, but hope to receive many more.

A Good Explanation of Faith. Forsaking

All
I

Take

Him.-C. W. McCrossan.

THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.

[The following articles were received in response to a request for a brief expression of opinion on the outlook for missionary efforts in China, in view of the most recent political developments. As the writers are in positions to acquire accurate data and have made Christian missions in the East a subject of special study, they may be considered authorities. Specially noteworthy is the sanguine tone of these articles, which should prove to be an encouragement to present agencies and an incentive to greater efforts. -EDITOR.]

A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHURCH.

REV. JUDSON SMITH, D. D., Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners

for Foreign Missions.

The political developments in China at the present time are attracting the attention of the world and no one is wise enough to forecast the outcome. To those who are supremely interested in the development of Christ's kingdom in China, however, the question of first importance is what bearing these events are likely to have upon the progress of missionary work. Having visited China recently, and taken note of the course of events there, I am happy to say that there never was a time when the opportunities for Christian work were so multiplied, or the attention of the people so easily gained by the messenger of the gospel. In every part of China, in the south, in the central part, in the north, great audiences gather in mission churches and chapels. The mission schools are thronged. Those who are ready to turn away from idolatry and heathenism, and connect themselves with the Christian church, are in many instances more than the missionaries can possibly reach and instruct. In one mission alone of the American Board at the present time a sober estimate reckons the number of these inquirers as twelve thousand. Adjoining missions of other boards are equally thronged with those inquiring the way of life.

The state of the mission churches in China is also most cheering. Not only are they increasing in numbers, but in ability and disposition to help themselves. In not a few of these churches the pastors receive their entire support from the congregations to which they

minister, and the movement in this direction is gathering momentum with every year and every month.

The

The new respect for foreign nations and for foreign arts and sciences, which is widespread in China, is incidentally favoring the missionary work in a marked degree. imperial government and the provincial government are favoring the foreign missionary, affording him protection and requiring the people to keep the peace, not because they love the work or those who represent it, but because the circumstances demand it. The late disturbances at Peking, which imply the triumph for the time of the party of reaction, and which seem to threaten new outbreaks in different parts of the empire, must be viewed as temporary and as by no means indicating the permanent set of feeling and action. Veteran missionaries, like Dr. Muirhead and Dr. Edkins at Shanghai, express the opinion, without hesitation, that this is a time of marvelous opportunity for missionary work everywhere in China.

The summons to increased faith and effort in this great work comes to all Christian nations, but must address itself with peculiar power to the American churches. The American missionary has a great advantage in China because it is well understood that

no political motives are connected with his

work there. We are in close relation with this great empire, its neighbor across the sea, and we have the power at this time to lend her such aid as will bring her out of the stormy waters in which she is now sailing, into the port of national peace and liberty and righteousness. May it be in the hearts of our churches to respond at once and with enthusiasm to this call of God!

THE DOOM OF NATIONAL MONAS

TICISM.

ROBERT E. SPEER, Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

It is best that a people should act according to their nature. Japan came into the arena of civilization at a bound. That was Japanese nature-steady, persevering, splendidly so, Dr. Verbeck maintained, when

« السابقةمتابعة »