.^: t\hv(xry of Che tireolojical ^emmarjp PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY •a^t- PRESENTED BY Delavan L. Piers on 31 C^ i^'/k^4>^. / A Decade of Foreign Missions. 1880-1890. By H. a. TUPPER. A CONTINUATION OF A WORK ENTITLED : "FOREIGN MISSIONS OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION," PUBI,ISHED IN l88o, INCI.UDING ABSTRACT OF THE FORMER VOLUME, WITH MAPS OF MISSION FIELDS, AND PORTRAITS OF MISSIONARIES, SECRETARIES AND PRESIDENTS OF S. B. C, AND OF PRESI- DENTS OF FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. I89I. DEDICATION I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, WHOSE SERVANT, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, ITS AUTHOR HAS BEEN FOR NEARLY A SCORE OF YEARS, HOPING THAT THESE PAGES MAY CONTRIBUTE, IN SOME DEGREE, TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CAUSE, SO GREATLY PROSPERED BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE WISE MANAGEMENT OF THE BOARD. ILLUSTRATIONS PORTRAITS, Pagb. Patrick Hues Mell, D.D., LL-D i8 James Petigru Boyce, D.D., LL.D 32 J. h- Burrows, D.D 61 J. B. Jeter, d.d 88 J. L. M. Curry, D.D., LL.D 150 Mrs. Matthew T. Yates {nee Ewza Moring) 183 Matthew T. Yates, D.D ; 194 T. P. Crawford, D.D 244 RosEWEivL HoBART GRAVES, M.D., D.D 276 Rev. E. Z. Simmons 293 George B. Tayi^or, D.D 330 Rev. W. J. David 400 Rev. J. H. Kager 468 W. D. PowELi., D.D 506 Mrs. Jane W. Graves 586 Hon. Jonathan Haralson 610 Miss Maggie Rice 647 Mrs. Martha F. Crawford 665 H. H. Harris, D.D., LL.D 778 H. H. Tucker, D.D., LL.D 851 O. F. Gregory, D.D 862 Lansing Burrows, D.D gio NIAPS. China Missions 662 African Mis'sions 704 Italian Missions 720 Brazilian Missions 732 Mexican Missions 748 5 CONTENTS. Page Dedication 3 Illustrations 5 Preface ^^ Portrait of Dr. Patrick Hues Mell 1 8 I. Obligation to the World I9 II. Abstract of Missions, 1845 to 1881 21 Introduction 3^ Portrait of Dr. J. P. Boyce 32 I. Origin of the Southern Baptist Convention 34 II. Resolution of the Convention, 1845. . .* 36 III. Convention's Address " to all candid men." 37 IV. Preamble and Constitution of the Southern Baptist Convention, with Rulesof Order, 1845 42 V. Officers of Convention and Boards of Convention, 1845 • • -^ • 45 VI. Officers of the First Triennial Convention, 1846, and BoaMs of Managers 4" VII. Charters and Forms of Bequests 48 VIII. General Order of Proceedings of Southern Baptist Convention, and Amendment to Constitution 5° IX. Home Board 55 Portrait of Dr.]. L. Burrows 61 X. Some things about Foreign Mission Board 63 XI. Officers of Convention and its Boards, 1880, 1890 74 XII. Foreign Mission Journal, and Sketches of Missionaries 77 XIII. Lists of Missions hnd Missionaries, 1880 and 1890 84 CHAPTER I. 1880. Portrait of Dr. Jeter 88 Announcement of the Convention 89 Meeting of Convention in Lexington, Ky 93 Rev. J. B. Jeter, D.D 94 Death 94 Memorial Tributes 9^ Epitaph i°i Memoir by Dr. Hatcher *°3 7 8 CONTENTS. Page Another Book 103 A Mother's Gift 105 Sundry Items 106 South American Missions 109 Mexican Missions no European Missions m Autobiography of Rev. J. H. Eager, et cetera .' . . 112 Missionary Model 118 African Missions 120 Attempt to Co-operate with Colored Baptists I2i Biography of Mrs. Nannie Bland David 121 China Missions 124 Miss S. Stein 126 Yong Seen Sang 128 Mass-meetings 129 Forward Movement ■ 129 Home Board 129 Hospitality 130 Several Publications this Year 130 Special Objects 13CX Sunday-schools and Missions 134 Systematic Beneficence 139 Cheerin^View 146 CHAPTER 11. 1881. Portrait of Hon. J. L. M. Curry, D.D., LL.D 150 Our President's Daughter ....151 Officers of Convention and its Boards 153 By-Laws Adopted May, 1881 154 Convention Organized — Sermons 155 Notes and Sundry Items 156 South American Missions 159 Autobiography of Rev. W. B.^agby 163 Autobiography of Mrs. Anne Luther Bagby 164 Brazilian Missions 165 Mexican Missions 167 Summary of Work 167 Rev. T. M. Westrup 167 European Missions 168 African Missions . . . . , 169 Co-operation with Colored Baptists 169 "White Men for Africa 170 Statistics 171 China Missions 171 CONTENTS. 9 Page Reports on our Missions 173 Home Board 1 74 Letter from Dr. Dean ' 174 The Colonization Idea . 175 Visit of Missionaries 182 Portrait of Mrs. M. T. Yates 183 General Review of Missions 188 CHAPTER III. 1882. Portrait of Matthew T. Yates, D.D 194 Officers of Convention and its Boards 195 Amendment to Fourth By-Law, 1882 196 Opening of Convention 197 Items 198 Extracts from Reports adopted by Convention . . . , 199 Woman's Work 200 Convention on Report of our Missions 200 Memorial on Death of Mrs. M. G. Harley 201 Memorial on Death of Rev. William T. Brantly, D.D 201 Notes on Missionaries 202 Rolls of Churches 202 Treasurer's Report 203 Brazihan Missions 205 Brother Bagby on Brazil and its People 205 Autobiography of Rev. Z. C. Taylor 209 Autobiography of Mrs. Kate Stevens C. Taylor 211 Mexican Missions 213 European Missions 214 African Missions 215 Death of S. Crosby 217 China Missions 219 Autobiography of Rev. N. W. Halcomb 219 Autobiography of Rev. W. S. Walker 222 Action of the Convention 224 Mass-Meeting 225 Home Board 225 Woman's Work (Past and Present) 228 CHAPTER IV. 1883. Portrait of Rev. T. P. Crawford, D.D 244 Officers of Convention and its Boards 245 By-Laws Amended, 1883 246 10 CONTENTS. Page The Convention 247 Items of Business 248 Report of Board , . ^ 248 Brazilian Missions 249 Change of Base — Bahia 249 Santa Barbara 251 Mexican Missions 251 Woman's Work 254 European Missions 257 African Missions 258 Saihng of Mr. and Mrs. Eubank 259 Summary — The Two Birds 261 China Missions 262 Sketch of Mrs. Pruitt 263 Autobiography of Yong Seen Sang 265 Reports on the Board's Report 266 Our Missions and Missionaries 267 Progress • 270 An Instructive Coincidence 271 Conclusion of Board's Report 272 Home Board — Hospitality and Close 273 CHAPTER V. 1884. Portrait of Rosewrell Hobart Graves, M.D., D.D 276 Officers of Convention and its Boards 277 The Convention 279 In Memoriam — Drs. Winkler and Sumner, and Mrs. G. B. Taylor 280 Actions of the Body 281 Report of Board 282 South American Mission 286 European Missions 287 African Missions 289 China Missions 291 Mary Harley — Missionary 292 Portrait of Rev. E. Z. Simmons 293 Autobiography of Miss Emma Young 296 The Kabyles 298 Home Board ' 298 Mexican Missions 299 Commission to Mexico ' . 301 The Schools in Mexico 301 Our Cause in Mexico 302 Action of Board and Convention on Mexican Schools 306 Literary Curiosity 309 Address on Mexican Work 310 CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER VI. 1885. Page Portrait of Rev. George B. Taylor, D.D 330 Officers of Convention and its Boards 331 List of Missionaries 332 Amendment to Constitution 333 New Missionaries — F. M. Myers and Mrs. Myers, C. E. Smith and Mrs. Smith, S. M. Cook, W. W. Harvey and wife, E. E. Davault and wife, J. M. Joiner and Mrs. Joiner, F. C. Hickson and family, Miss Addie Barton 335 Expected Departure of Missionaries 341 Farewell Meeting 342 Departure of Missionaries 343 Mission Plans 344 Secretary's Second Visit to Mexico 345 Our Cause in Mexico 347 The Convention 350 Vice-Presidents 354 From Report of Board 360 Board's Argument on Woman's Work 365 Action of Woman's Meeting 370 Further Actions of Convention 371 Death of Mrs. Ida R. Pruitt *• • 375 Brazilian Missions ' 378 Mexican Missions 381 Italian Missions 385 African Missions 386 China Missions 388 Death of Mrs. Halcomb 392 Future Work of Board 393 Receipts of the Home Board for the last ten years 395 Receipts of the Home Mission Board from 1845 to 1885 396 In Commemoration of William Carey Crane, Andrew Fuller Crane, William O. Tuggle, Charles Crawford Chaplin and M. P. Lowrey 397 Last Acts 398 CHAPTER VII. 1886. Portrait of Rev. W. J. David 400 Officers of Convention and its Boards 401 Amendment to Constitution, 1886 402 Mournful Events— Deaths of Mrs. Halcomb, Mrs. David, Mrs. Myers, Edwin Wortham, Dr. Gwathmey 403 More Missionaries 412 Sketches of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. Herring, Mr. and Mrs. Puthuff, and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 413 12 CONTENTS. Page Farewell Meeting 420 Their Settlement 422 Other Missionaries — Misses Blanford and Morris 422 The New Missionaries on the Field 425 Why are we Baptists ? 427 Cuban Question 428 New Officers of the Board — Clarke and Williams 432 Presidents of the Board — Drs. Curry and H. H. Harris 432 Catechism 434 Movements of Corresponding Secretary 439 Union and States-Rights 443 The Convention — Conventional Items 448 Topics of Board's Report 449 Convention's Report on our Report 450 Report of Committee on the Missions of the Board 458 Home Board — Farewell 461 Theory and Conduct of our Missions 462 CHAPTER VIII. 1887. Portrait of Rev. J. H. Eager 468 Officers df Convention and its Boards 469 The Convention 471 Deaths 473 Joint Committees of Boards 473 Report of our Bpard 474 Vice-Presidents 476 Our Missions — Brazil, Mexico, Africa and China 477 Reports on our Report 482 Foreign Mission Journal 482 Assistant to Secretary 483 Report on Finances 485 Secretary's Third Visit to Mexico 487 Pray for the Secretary and for the Board 490 A Summary of the Mission Work in Mexico 491 Pray for our Missionaries 491 Board's Conclusion 492 Report of Dr. J. A. Broadus 493 Summary 494 Mass-Meetings 495 Home Board — Assistant — Cuba 496 Concluding Items 497 Dr. Ellis' Statistics 497 Our Southern Baptist Convention Field , 497 A Century of Protestant Missions 498 For His Sake 500 CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER IX. 1888. Page Portrait of Rev. Dr. W. D. Powell 506 Officers of Convention and its Boards 507 The Convention 509 Hon. B. C. Pressley speaks in Support of the Rulings of President Boyce . . . 511 Finances of the Board 513 Sailing of Missionaries 516 Miss Maggie Rice 517 Sick Missionaries 518 Miss Lula Whilden 519 Imprisonment of Brother Powell 521 Bell for Chinkiang 521 The Dragon, Image and Demon 522 Baptist Contributions 524 Woman's Work 524 Central Committee 524 Executive Committee of Woman's Societies 532 Missouri Resolutions and Centennial of Missions 550 London Missionary Conference — Preparations for it 551 Report of Joint Committee of Boards ^ 572 Abstract of our Forty-third Annual Report to Southern Baptist Convention. . . 575 Summary Foreign Mission Board 582 Home Board 583 Conclusion of Session 583 CHAPTER X. IN MEMORIAM. Portrait of Mrs. Jane W. Graves 586 Memorial of Mrs. Jane W. Graves 587 « " Rev. E. E. Davault ; 589 " " Dr. M. T. Yates 591 " Dr. P. H. Mell 598 " " Mrs. J. B. Jeter • 604 " « Joseph F. Cottrell 607 " B. H. Whitfield, M.D 608 CHAPTER XL 1889. Portrait of Hon. Jonathan Haralson 610 Officers of Convention and its Boards 611 In the Convention 613 Distinguished Visitors 614 14 CONTENTS. Page Home Board and Publication Society 614 Special Reports on Conference with Northern Societies and on Centenary of 1892 615 Points in our Report 617 The Chinkiang Riot 623 Appeal 624 Facts and Figures about our Missions 626 Actions of Convention 632 Speeches 634 Circular Letter 634 Home Board 636 The Missionary Centenary of 1892 636 Baptists Snubbed in Mexico 639 Baptists left out in the World's Missionary Conference 642 The Problem of Foreign Missions 643 Preparation for the Centenary 645 Memorial of Miss Maggie Rice 6/^ Portrait of Miss Maggie Rice 647 Memorial of Mrs. H. A. Tupper 651 Drs. Renfroe and Boyce 655 Closing Acts of Convention 657 CHAPTER XII. « MISSION FIELDS AND MISSIONARIES. Map of China 662 Map of Northern China 664 Portrait of Mrs. Martha P. Crawford 665 A Call to North China 667 Letter to Southern Baptist Women, from Miss Moon 675 Sketches of Misses Fannie S. Knight, Mary J. Thornton, Laura G. Barton ... 677 Appointments and Disappointment 678 Sketch of Rev. George P. Bostick 678 Sketch of Mrs. George P. Bostick 679 Sketch of Rev. J. J. Taylor 679 Death of Mrs. J. J. Taylor 680 Sketches of Rev. William Joshua Hunne.x and wife, Rev. T. C. Britton and wife. Rev. E. F.Tatum, Miss Flagg and Rev. L. N. Chappell and wife .... 683 "China for Christ," by Dr. R. H. Graves 691 Sketches of Miss H. F. North, Mrs. J. L. Sanford, Miss Nellie Hartwell, Miss McMinn and Rev. Thomas McCloy. and wife 697 Map of Yoruba Mission 704 " Africa," by Rev. T, P. Bell 705 Sketches of Rev. W. T. Lumbley and Rev. C. C. Newton and family , . . . 713 Map of our Italian Mission 720 " Evangelical Italy," by Rev. J. H. Eager 721 Map of our Brazilian Missions 732 " The Land of the Southern Cross," by Rev. Z. C. Taylor, A.M 733 CONTENTS. 15 Page Sketches of Rev. E. II. Soper, Miss Emma P. Morton and Rev. J. A. Barker and wife 743 Map of our Mexican Missions 748 "Our Mexican Mission," by W. D. Powell, D.D 749 "Our Next-door Neighbor, Mexico," by Rev. H. P. McCormick 751 Sketches of Rev. David A.Wilson and wife, Rev. Hugh P. McCormick and wife, Rev. H. R. Moseley, Miss Fannie E. Russell, Rev. Augustus B. Rudd, Rev. J. G. Chastain, Miss Wright, Miss Cabaniss, Rev. and Mrs. A. C. Watkins and Mrs. J. P. Duggan 759 The Age of Foreign Missions 773 CHAPTER XIII. 1890. Portrait of H. Herbert Harris, LL.D 778 Officers of Convention and its Boards 779 Amendment to Constitution and Summary 780 Woman's Work 7^" Appointment and Sailing of Missionaries 784 Japan 785 Action of our Board 7^5 Board's Report to Convention 787 " Notes on Japan," by Rev. G. H. Appleton 788 " Interesting News from Japan," by Rev. H. Loomis 80I Japan under its Constitution 803 Sketches of Rev. J. W. McCoUum and Rev. John A. Brunson 806 " My First Impressions of Japan," by Rev. John A. Brunson 808 Educational Work of Board 811 Raising Funds 814 The Convention 817 Home Board 8l8 Forty-fifth Annual Report of the Foreign Mission Board 820 Brazilian Missions — Glimpses from the Field 828 Mexican Missions 830 Italian Missions 836 Japan Mission 838 African Missions 838 China Missions 840 Death of Distinguished Friends — George N. Norton, T. W. Sydnor, D.D., Rev. Wm. H. Mcintosh. D.D., Dr. S. Henderson, H. H. Tucker, D.D., LL.D. 849 Portrait of Henry Holcombe Tucker, D.D., LL.D 851 Report of Treasurer of our Board 854 Excerpts from Proceedings of Convention 858 In Memoriam — Henry Holcombe Tucker, Samuel Henderson, Geo. W. Norton, William Hilary Mcintosh, Thomas W. Sydnor 859 Close of Convention and Next Meeting 860 16 ■ CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. GENERAL AND CONNECTED VIEW OF EACH MISSION. Page Portrait of Rev. O. F. Gregory, D.D 862 The Mission to Canton, China 863 Shanghai and Tung Chow Missions 868 Liberian Missions 875 Central African Mission 876 Italian Mission 880 Brazilian Mission 883 Mexican Missions 885 Tabulated Statement of Missionaries from 1845 to 1890 891 Our Missionaries 900 Receipts of Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1845 to 1890 903 CHAPTER XV. OUR DENOMINATIONAL STATISTICS. Portrait of Lansing Burrows, D.D 908 General Denominational Statistics 909 Property, Educational and State Missions, 1889 910 State Organizations Constituents of the Convention 911 Historical Table 912 Other Missionary Organizations , 913 Statistics of Missionary Societies for 18S8-89 915 Woman's Missionary Societies 917 Summary of Woman's Work for Women 917 Statistics of Foreign Mission Work of Women's Societies 918 CHAPTER XVI. "The Carpenter." 919 Index 931 PREFACE, 17 PATRICK HUGHES MELL, D.D., LL.D., Presideni of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1863-1871, 1880-1887. BORN JIILY 19, 1814. — DIED JANUARY 26, li 18 PREFACE "VTO apology seems necessary for this continuance of " The Foreign Mis- sions of the Southern Baptist Convention," which was published in i8So, by request of the Convention, with the imprimatur of its Foreign Mis- sion Board; and which, after publication, seemed to receive the seal of de- nominational approval. That book being difficult to obtain, an abstract of its contents is embodied in this Preface, in order that the reader, who has not the original work, may have a connected view of our Missions from their beginning. This abstract extends into the year 1881 ; hence, there is some repetition in the present treatment of our Missions in the years 1880 and 1 88 1. This is regarded, however, no disadvantage, as it makes more plain the connection between the former work and this continuance. At the head of each chapter is a year, as " 1881," and so on. This indicates that all the Missions are treated, in that chapter, from May i, 1880, to April 30, 1 88 1, and so on, as this period is the Conventional year. At the close of the book there is a review of each Mission by itself. By this combination of methods, viz., a consideration of all the Missions together, year by year, and then a review of each Mission by itself, the most accurate and thorough knowledge of our Foreign Mission enterprise may be acquired. But vain will be the book, though the best methods be employed, unless its readers recognize their indebtedness to the nations. Let us pause, therefore, and try to aid each other to realize, I. Our obligation to give the gospel to all mankind. This obligation rests on several grounds : I. It rests on the ground of natural brotherhood. Paul said: " God made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." How- ever varied the complexions and conditions of the peoples of our globe, we are all brethren — as the Apostle says, " the offspring of God." Hence, those who have the gospel, with which there is the most enduring good, and with- out which there is everlasting destruction, are bound by the ties of humanity to give it to their fellow-men. To refuse to save life may be to take it. No man can escape on the plea: "Am I my brother's keeper?" 19 20 PREFACE. 2. The obligation rests on the ground of Christian fidelity. The gospel is committed to God's people as unto fiduciaries. They are stewards of the manifold grace of God. The bread of Hfe is given to his servants to be distributed to the multitude of the world. Self-appropriation of this trust is a species of embezzlement. To change the figure : each disciple is a candle- stick to support the light of saving truth. The combined effulgence is " the light of the world." He who does not his part in " holding forth the word of life" cannot hope for the applause of the world's Saviour: " well done, good and faithful servant." 3. But the obligation rests mainly on the positive command of Christ. After opening the understanding of his disciples, that they might see how the ancient scriptures looked forward to his death and resurrection, and the prevalence of his saving grace among all the human race, he took advantage of the impressive hour of his ascension to heaven to promulge this great vital law of his kingdom : " All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, bap- tizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you : and lo, I aiTi with you alway, even unto the end of the world." In this " great commission," as it is called, note : First. That it is based on the supreme authority of our Lord. " All au- thority hath been given unto me." Refusal to obey is resistance to God's throne. Venial may be thought the anti-missionary spirit, but it is treason against the Divine Government — than which there can be no higher crime — save that of blasphemy, which has no forgiveness in this world or the world fo come. Secondly. The highest reward is promised to obedience to this command: "And Id, I am with you." The conjunction "and" is emphatic. The blessing is predicated on the performance of this duty, either in person or by proxy. Thirdly. This command is clearly binding, in all the days of the church ; for the promised presence is " unto the end of the world " — to the consicm- mation of the age. Fourthly. The success of the enterprise is rendered sure by the presence of him unto whom "all authority hath been given in heaven and on earth." 4. This supreme obligation has given rise to the great missionary organi- zations of the world, among which is the Southern Baptist Convention, or- ganized in 1845, an abstract of whose work and workers, pastors and churches should have near them for convenient reference. It may aid mis- sionary societies and the monthly concert, which the Convention urges the churches to revive, and tend to stimulate all to co-operation with the Con- vention to "elicit, combine, and direct the energies of the whole denomina- tion in one sacred effort for the propagation of the Gospel." PRE FA CE. 21 II. Let us now glance at an abstract of our Missions from 1845 to 1881. The reader will please bear in mind that he views them, at this time, as he could have viewed them in 1881. BRAZIIvIAN MISSION. This Mission, in the province of San Paulo, adopted in 1879, ^^^ ^ church of thirty members at Santa Barbara, and another of twelve members at " Station." Rev. E. H. Quillen has been- teacher and preacher. On Janu- ary 13, 1881, Rev. W. B. Bagby and wife, of Texas, were sent to re-inforce the mission. In 1859 the Convention started a work in Rio de Janeiro, under Rev. and Mrs. T. J. Bowen, former missionaries to Africa. The Mission was abandoned in 1861, on account of obstacles that do not now exist, and the wrecked health of Mr. Bowen. The present outlook is promising, though the field is hard, Mr. Bagby is pastor of the Santa Barbaia church, with which the Station church will probably unite. His address is : Campi- nas, San Paulo, Brazil. MEXICAN MISSION. The Convention had but recently accepted, as th,eir missionary, Rev. J. O. Westrup, stationed at Muzquis, in the State of Coahuila, when, on December 21, 1880, he was murdered by a band of Indians and Mexicans. Another missionary. Rev. W. M. Flournoy, of Texas, has been appointed, and will enter at once upon his labors in that blood-stained field. Rev. T. M. West- rup, of Mexico, brother of the murdered missionary, writes of the murder, February 5, 1881 : "I sometimes think Catholic fanaticism or national pre- judice had more to do with the case than appears so far." This blood may be seed. In Mexico there are six or eight Baptist churches, with some two hundred members, who have been greatly stirred by this brutal assassination. ITAI^IAN MISSION. This work was organized in Rome, in the fall of 1870, by Rev. \V. N. Cote, M.D., who labored with marked success until 1873, when he was succeeded by G. B. Taylor, D.D. Dr. Cote died in Rome in 1877. Rev. J. H. Eager and wife joined the Mission in 1880. The chapel at Rome cost #30,519.73. To build one at Torre Pellice $3,000 are collected; $2,000 more are needed. This Mission has prospered from the beginning, and is in a flourishing con- dition. There are five schools, with some 1 50 pupils. The church member- ship is about 175. The stations and laborers are as follows : At Rome—G. B, Taylor, Mrs, Taylor, J. H. Eager. Mrs. Eager, and Signor Cocorda. At Torre Pellice — Signor Ferraris. At Milan — Signor Paschetto, At Modcna and Carpi — Signor Martinelli. At Naples — Signor Colombo. At Bari and Barletta — Signor Volpi. 22 PRE FA CE. At Island of Sardinia — Signer Cossu. At Ve?tice — Signer Bellondi. At Bologna — Signer Basile. It need not be said of Dr. G. B. Taylor that his praise for eminent wisdom is in all the churches. AFRICAN MISSIONS. Liberian and Sierra Leone Mission. — The First Baptist Church of Mon- rovia, Liberia, was organized with twelve members, in 182 1, in a private dwelling, in Richmond, Va. February 2, 1846, the Board of Foreign Mis- sions resolved to start a Mission in Africa. That year two colored brethren, Rev, John Day and Rev. A. L. Jones, were appointed missionaries. From 1846 to 1856 many others were appointed, and churches and schools were established in fourteen villages of Liberia, and two in Sierra Leone. In 1852 and 1854, respectively, the Mission was visited by Rev. Eli Ball and Rev. John Kingdon, in the interest of the Board of Foreign Missions. In i860 there were 24 stations and churches, 18 pastors, 1,258 members, 26 teachers and 665 pupils. During our Civil War the Mission was suspended, and re- sumed in 1 87 1, uifHer Rev. A. D. Phillips, who had been identified with the Yoruban Mission of thdtonvention. Eight stations were established in Li- beria and the Beir country, and ^fteen missionaries and teachers were ap- pointed. The stations in Liberia were posts for the interior work in the Beir country, through which it was hoped that access might be had again to Yo ruba, from which the missionaries had been driven. In 1873 the missiona- ries were expelled from the Beir country. Our country being under a fear- ful monetary pressure, the missionaries, except the supervisors, B. P. Yates and J. J. Cheeseman, were dismissed. A gratuity of $500 was distributed among them. They acted with noble, Christian spirit. January 8, 1875, Rev. William J. David and Rev. W. W. Colley (colored) sailed for Africa. Finding Yoruba re-opened to missionaries, they, according to instructions, settled all accounts and closed the Mission in Liberia, and in October, 1875, resumed work in Yoruba. From 1845 to 1875 thousands had been converted and taught in connection with the Liberian and Sierra Leone Mission, and many strong and godly men and women of the African race were developed. Among the colored missionaries prominently recorded are: F. S.James, who left in his churches the savor of a holy life ; B. P. Yates, J. H. Cheeseman, J. J. Cheeseman, noted respectively for financial ability, spiritual devotion, and uncommon culture; A. P. Davis, B. J. Drayton, J. T. Richardson, R. E. Murray, J. M. Harden, J. J. Fitzgerald, Lewis K. Crocker, Jacob Van Brunn, Milford D. Herndon, and Josephine Early. John Day, the first mis.'^ionary, was born at Hicksford, Va., February 18, 1797; was baptized in 1820; licensed to preach in 1821 ; went to Liberia in 1830; resigned judgeship, and elected, without his consent, lieutenant-governor in 1847. In 1849 he estab- lished a manual labor school of fifty pupils at Bexley. In 1854 he became pastor of the church at Monrovia, where he founded and presided over a high school known as Day's Hope, in which were departments elementary, PREFACE. 23 classical and theological. As superintendent of the Mission he made ex- tensive preaching tours, and reported " a Sunday-school in every village, and the word preached statedly to more than ten thousand heathen." This remarkable man was gathered to his fathers in 1859. Professor E. W. Bly- den, the learned African linguist, in pronouncing an eulogy on Mr. Day, considered his subject thus : — i. His Love of Metaphysics. 2. His Burning Zeal for the Gospel. 3. A Household Word. 4. As Judge and Statesman. 5. The Good Physician. 6. As a Soldier. 7. His Moral and Religious Character. 8. As Educator and Theologian. 9. His Life and Death a Legacy. The Yoriiba mission was founded in 1850 by Rev. T. J. Bowen. In 1853 it was reinforced by Rev. Messrs. J. S. Dennard and J. H. Lacy, with their wives ; in 1854 by Rev. W. H. Clarke, and in 1856 by Rev. Messrs. S. Y. Trimble, R. W. Priest, J. H. Cason and their wives, and Mr. J. F. Beau- mont. Stations were opened in Lagos, Abbeokuta, Ijaye and Ogbomoshow. Residences and chapels were built, churches and schools were established, the heathen were soon preached to in their own tongue, and not a few of them were saved. The labors in Africa of all these missionaries, except Mr. Bowen, were brief. Rev. Henry Goodale, who accompanied Mr. Bowen, was buried at Golah before Yoruba was reached. Dennard and his wife were put under the sod ; Clarke, Trimble, Lacy and Beaumont came home to go to their reward. Priest and Cason are serving the Master in Texas. In 1855 Rev. J. M. Harden, a colored missionary, was transferred from the Liberian to the Yoruban mission, and died in Lagos in 1864. His wife is now in the employ of the Board. Rev. A. D. Phillips entered the field in 1855, and labored with signal success until 1867, when driven out of the country by war and persecution. He re- tired from the service of the Board in 1872, and preaches in Tennessee. Rev. T. A. Reid labored at Awyaw and elsewhere, and was devoted to the work from 1857 to 1864, and, like Mr. Phillips, left his noble wife a sleeper in Afric sands. Rev. R. H. Stone worked from 1863 to 1869. He is a faithful minister in Virginia. As has been stated, the mission was re-organized by Messrs. David and Colley in 1875. They found a num- ber of the native Christians steadfast and overjoyed at the answer of their prayers, through long years, for the return of " God's men." A chapel and residence, at the cost of some $4000, have been erected at Lagos ; and buildings put up at Abbeokuta and Ogbomoshow. The last station is oc- cupied by a native missionary, Moses L. Stone. A station has been opened at Gaun, with S. L. Milton missionary. Rev. S. Cosby, associated with Mr. David in the mission, died of jauadice-fever at Abbeokuta April 23, 1881. Mr. Colley was recalled by the Board in 1879. ^'^ December 22d, 1879, Mr. and Mrs. David lost their infant. In the mission are 273 scholars and 92 church members. Contributions last year, $142.04. Some further rec- ord of Mr. Bowen, the founder of the mission, is fitting. He was born in Georgia, January 2d, 1814; was a gallant soldier in the Creek Indian and 24 PREFA CE. Texas wars ; studied law, but abandoned it in 1841 for the ministry ; trav- eled extensively in Central Africa, and was the soul and inspiration of the Yoruban missionfrom 1850 to 1856. He married, May 31, 1853, Miss L. H. Davis, of Greensboro', Ga., who shared his toils and successes in his second missionary campaign in Africa. Mrs. Bowen resides in Greensboro' loved and honored for her own sake, and for her good and great husband, who en- tered his heavenly rest November 24th, 1875. ^e was the author of an ad- mirable work on " Central Africa," and a quarto volume on the Yoruban language, published by the Smithsonian Institute. CHINA MISSIONS. Canton Mission. — Rev. J. L. Shuck and Rev. I, J. Roberts, mission- aries of Triennial Convention, transferred themselves to the Southern Convention soon after its organization. The former had constituted the " First Baptist Church " of Canton, and, traveling in this country in 1846 with a native convert — Yong Seen Sang — raised for a chapel 55000. This chapel fund, with consent of the donors, was transferred, with the missionary, in 1847, to Shanghai. Mr. Roberts had preached six or seven years to lepers at Macao. In 1847 his chapel was destroyed, and the mission property of the Missionary Union was conveyed to the Southern Convention. Mr. Roberts raised much money on the field, and pubhshed and distributed large numbers of tracts and Scriptures. In 1850 the mission had been reinforced by Messrs. S. C. Clopton, George Pearcy, F. C. John- son and B. W. Whilden and Miss H. A. Baker. There were three preach- ing-places. A union effected between Mr. Roberts' (Uet-tung) church and the " First Church " was not happy. In 1852 "the relation between Mr. Roberts and the Board was dissolved." He had done some good founda- tion work. He remained an independent missionary until 1866, when he returned to America. He died of leprosy Dec. 28th, 1871, at Upper Alton, lUinois. Mrs. Roberts lives at St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Clopton, born in Vir- ginia, January 7, 1816, fell on sleep July 7, 1847, lamented as a choice spirit. Mr. Pearcy and Miss Baker were transferred to the Shanghai mission. Mr. Johnson went as "theological tutor and missionary," and, after making great progress in the written language, returned in 1849 '^^^ broken health. He resides in Marietta, Ga. In 1848 the native assistants, Yong and Mui, went to Shanghai from Canton. In 1850 Mrs. Whilden died, and Mr. Whilden brought home his children. The health of his second wife failing, he retired from the field finally in 1855. Mr. Whilden resides, much be- loved, in his native State, South Carolina. In 1854, 1856, i860. Rev. Messrs. C. W. Gaillard, R. H. Graves and J. G. Schilling joined respectively the mission. In 1856 Mr. Gaillard reported "69 Sunday-school scholars, 32,200 tracts and scriptures distributed; " and in i860, "40 baptisms and 58 church members." July 27, 1862, he was killed by the falling of his house in a typhoon. Mr. Schilling made "good progress in the language," but after the death of his wife, in 1864, came home with his children. He prac- PRE FA CE. 25 tices law in West Virginia. Rev. N. B. Williams, whose wife is the daugh- ter of the returned missionary, Rev. B. W. Whilden, went to China in 1872, accompanied by his wife's sister. Miss Lula Whilden, who, supported by the women of South Carolina, is doing a grand work among the women of Canton. Mr. Williams had a school of forty pupils, and was treasurer of the mission. In 1876 Mrs. Williams' failing health forced their return to the United States. Mr. Williams preaches in Alabama. In 1874 Wong Mui died. Yong Seen Sang, supported by the Ladies' Missionary Society of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., since 1846, sdll labors for the Master. Rev. E. Z. Simmons and wife arrived in Canton February 6, 1871, and are doing good work for the Lord. Miss Sallie Stein, sustained by the Young Ladies' Missionary Society of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., joined the mission in 1879. Rev. R. H. Graves, M.D., was born in Balti- more May 29, 1833; was baptized by Dr. R. Fuller October 15, 1848; graduated at St. Mary's College in 1851 ; arrived in Canton 14th August, 1856. For twenty-five years he has been consecrated to his mission ; has achieved great successes, and has won— as many a brother missionary has done — a name for purity of character and ability as a gospel laborer which is imperishable. He married first missionary Gaillard's widow, who died December 12, 1864. His present wife, daughter of G. W. Nor- ris, Esq., of Bakimore, has been, since 1872, a self-sacrificing and success- ful worker for Jesus. In the last eight years Mr. Graves has published, in the Chinese, two hymn-books, a work on the Parables of our Lord, a book on Homiletics, a work on Scripture Geography, and will soon publish a Life of Christ. In the same dme "a dwelling has been built in Canton, one chapel finished and money raised for another dwelling in the city, and another chapel in the country ; six country stations have been opened, and two native brethren ordained to the ministry. The Chinese Nadve Missionary Society have also a station and two assistant preachers, supported mainly by contributions from Chinese Chrisdans in Demerara and the United States." The results of the preaching and scripture distributions and holy living of this long line of missionaries in the city of Canton and among the dense masses of the interior of South- ern China can never be estimated. The stadstics reported in 1881 are as follows : Three churches, 357 members; 52 bapdzed, ;fi2o annual con- tributions, 9766 tracts and Bibles distributed, 4514 medical cases, 5 schools, with average attendance 106,6 foreign missionaries and 12 native assist- ants; $5,585.35 cost of house recently built; $4,591.87 house-fund in Can- ton Treasury. In 188 1 the degree of D.D. was conferred on Mr. Graves by Richmond College. The Shanghai mission was started in 1847 by Rev. Messrs. M. T. Yates, J. L. Shuck and T. W. Tobey. Mr. Yates was the first on the ground, November 6, 1847, a Baptist Church of ten members was founded. Two naUves, Yong and Mui, were licensed to preach. In April, 1848, a gloom overspread the infant church by the drowning of Dr. and Mrs. J. Sexton 26 PREFA CE. James, who were daily expected at Shanghai. Mr. Pearcy, from Canton, joined the mission in November, 1848. The meetings were attended by " 500 or 600 natives." In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. Tobey, very useful mission- aries, were forced home by the ill health of the latter. In May, 1850, a mission building was erected at Oo Kah Jack. Mr. Shuck wrote: "Our Board is the first Protestant Board of Missions in the world who ever held property, and gained a permanent footing in the interior of China." In 1 85 1 Mrs. Shuck died. Her biogiaphy was written by Dr. Jeter. Mr. Shuck returned with his children to America. In China he had been " faithful and effective." In 1854 he went to California, where he labored for seven years, baptizing sixteen Chinese, and organizing a Chinese church. He died in Barnwell, S. C, August 20, 1861, aged 51. His widow resides in Charleston, S. C, with his son. Rev. L. H. Shuck, D.D. In 1852 Rev. and Mrs. Crawford, and Dr. G. W. Burton reinforced the mis- sion, and early in 1853 Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Cabaniss arrived. In the city there were three schools and six places of worship. In 1854 Miss H. A. Baker, who came from Canton in 1851, and opened a boarding- school, was recalled by the advice of her physician. She married and lives in California, and is the author of the " Orphan of the Old Domin- ion." Mr. and Mrs. Pearcy, on account of his broken health, returned home in 1855, and he passed away July 21, 1871, "mildly and grandly as the setting sun." That year, 1855, there were " 18 public services per week, with an average attendance of 2500 souls; 5 day-schools, with an average attendance of 100 pupils." This year was signalized by the first baptism of a Chinese luoiiian. The Board reported : "The gospel has won glorious triumphs in China, . . . multitudes having given evidence of saving faith in the Redeemer." The next year the Board commended the missionaries as doing " almost superhuman labors in their wide- opened field." In 1859 Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Holmes came to Shanghai, and the next year were setded in the Shantung province. In 1859 Rev. J. B. Hartwell and wife arrived, and in i860 joined Mr. Holmes in Shan- tung. In i860 Mr. and Mrs. Cabaniss, after eminent service, returned home. This same year Rev. and Mrs. A. L. Bond, assigned to this mis- sion, were lost at sea, with Rev. and Mrs. J. Q. A. Rohrer, assigned to Japan, in the ill-fated " Edwin Forrest." In 1861 Dr. Burton, a great ben- efactor of the mission, returned to America, and is practicing his profes- sion in Louisville, Ky. In 1873 Rev. and Mrs. T. P. Crawford, having done a good work in Shanghai, went to Tung Chow. In 1865 Mr. and Mrs. Yates were alone in Shanghai, and have remained so until now. The mission will soon be reinforced. To sum up the labors and holy influences of these missionaries, and of this great man, would be impos- sible. Dr. Yates wrote : "September 12, 1877.— This is the 30th anniversary of our arrival at Shanghai. At first our way was in the dark ; but every successive decade has shown marked progress in our work. To-day the missionary influence PREFACE. 27 in China is a mighty power. The leaven of divine truth has been deposited in this mass of error and corruption, and its irresistible power is beginning to be seen and felt far and wide. The Bible has been translated into the literary or dead language of the whole country ; and also rendered into the spoken language or dialects of many localities — a style in which the Chi- nese have not been in the habit of making books. Places of worship have been secured, where multitudes come to the sound of the church bell to hear the Word of God. Churches of living witnesses have been established. Tens of thousands have been convinced of the truth of the gospel who have not had the moral courage to make a public confession of their faith in Christ. Thirty years ago, when the prospect was so dark, and the dark- ness seemed so impenetrable, I would have compromised for what I now behold as my life work. Now my demand would be nothing less than a complete surrender. I am in dead earnest about this matter ; for I fully realize that God is in Christ reconciUng the world unto himself, and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation, and that he has commanded us to make it known to all nations. I not only do not regret devoting my life to the mission work, but I rejoice that he counted me worthy to be his embassador to the greatest empire on the globe. Now my one desire is that he would give me wisdom to do his will and be a faithful steward. The Lord be praised for all his goodness and mercy to us in our hours of darkest affliction." Statistics, 1 88 1 — 2 churches ; 103 members ; ;f 2 58,22, contributions ; 2 im- portant out-stations. The reputation of Dr. M. T. Yates is as broad as the earth, and no broader than his (Character. He is a North CaroUnian, and an honor to Wake For- est College, his Alma Mater. The Shantung Mission has had two main stations, viz. : at Chefoo and at Tung Chow. In i860 Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Holmes settled in the former, and Rev. and Mrs. J. B. Hartwell in the latter. The next year Mr. Holmes was brutally murdered by " the rebels." He was born in Preston county (now in West Virginia) ; was graduated from Columbian College in 1858. In " Our Life in China," Mrs. Nevius describes him as " handsome, talented, ardent, with very winning manners, and pecuHarly fitted for usefulness among the Chinese." Mrs. Holmes moved to Tung Chow, where she is still doing he- roic work. She has issued several editions of " Peep of Day." In 187 1 Mr. Hartwell reopened the station at Chefoo. In 1872 he located in Chefoo, which he said had " sextupled itself " since i860, and asked the Board to " appropri- ate $4000 for a dwelling, and $4000 for a chapel." He rented a commodious dsvelling where he had " at evening family prayer a company of 20 Chinese," and used the chapel of the Enghsh Baptist Mission, kindly offered by Dr. Brown, of that mission. In 1875 he wrote: " I think the people are receiv- ing the ideas of the gospel." That year he was forced home by the ill health of his wife, who died December 3, 1879, in California, where Dr. H. has a mission under the Home Board of the Convention. Dr. Hartwell was born 28 PREFACE. in Darlington, S. C, in 1835; graduated with distinction from Furman Uni- versity, in 1856, In 1858 he married Miss Eliza H. Jewett, of Macon, Ga., who died in China in 1870, greatly lamented. His second wife, Miss Julia Jewitt, was her sister. With sixteen years' experience in China, Dr. H. is eminently adapted to the work in California, where he has organized a Chi- nese church. The Doctorate was conferred on him by Furman University. Tung Chow station : Mr. Hartwell, as has been stated, located there in 1S60, and constituted a church of eight members, October 5, 1862. It was known as the North Street church. In 1864 there were eighteen members. Mr. Crawford, coming to Tung Chow, took charge of the church, while Mr. Hartwell supplied a temporary absence of Mr. Yates from Shanghai, and baptized eight converts. There were two schools, and some " 6000 books had been printed and distributed." In 1866 Mr. Crawford constituted a second church, of eight persons, known as the Monument Street church. In 1868 " a deep religious revival" arose in neighboring villages, through the instru- mentality of a native baptized by Mr. Hartwell, and twenty were baptized. In 1869 Mr. H. reported his church contributions to be $127. In 1871 the membership was 56. In 1870 Woo was ordained native pastor. In 1872 Mr. H. wrote ; " Woo has managed the church with great discretion and pro- priety. . . . He tells them that instead of their being dependent on the missionaries, the missionaries should be dependent on them." In 1873 the statistics were : " membership, 63 ; connected from the first, 81 ; in- come of church, $224. The church bears its own expenses, except chapel rent." In 1875 the Board reported: " Rev. Woo is pastor; but Brother Hartwell, though living in Chefoo, kept an advisory relation to it, and aided it by his constant counsel and occasional presence." After sundry vicissi- tudes a part of the membership joined the Monument Street church, and a part reorganized at Chan Yuen. In 1871 Mr. Crawford, greatly encouraged, wrote: "Christianity gains ground day by day. The Government and people all feel that their ancient strongholds are giving way." In 1873 he built a chapel for $3000. In 1872 Miss Edmonia Moon joined the mission, but after remarkable progress in the language she had to yield, in 1876, to broken health, and quit the field. In 1873 her sister. Miss Lotde Moon, a woman of disdnguished ability, joined the mission, and with Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Holmes is teaching in the city, and telling of Jesus far in the country. In four years the ladies made 1027 visits to country villages. In 1879 "^^^ schools numbered 56, the church, 115. In 1880 "more than a thousand visits were made for telling the gospel and distributing books in villages around Tung Chow." Dr. Crawford adds : " May God bless the seed thus sown under many diffi- culties." T. P. Crawford was born in Warren county, Ky., May 8, 1821. Gradu- ated from Union University, Tennessee, in 1851, "at the head of his class, and with the first honors of the institution." He was ordained in 1851, and married Miss Martha Foster, of Alabama, daughter of the late Deacon J. L. PRE FA CE. 29 • S. Foster. The same year he was appointed missionary. Labored in Shanghai until 1863, when he went to Tung Chow, where he has toiled inde- fatigably ever since. Mrs. Crawford has published several books. The last book of Dr. Crawford's is " The Patriarchal Dynasties." In 1879 ^^® degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Richmond College, Virginia. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. During the sixteen years, from 1845 to 1861, the amount contributed was $420,230.75. During the same period, from 1865 to 1881, the amount was $516,671.04 — showing an increase in contributions of $96,440.29. Since 1872 the contributions have been $379,276.08. The receipts last year, 1880, were $49,721.42. The sum of receipts and expenditures from 1846 to 1881, is $1,034,642.32. " The property of the Southern Baptist Convention in for- eign lands, 1880, may be estimated at $55,000. Our Board (i88i) has no debts." INTRODUCTION. 31 JAMES PETIGRU BOYCE, D.D., LL-D., President of the Convention, 1872-187% 1S88. BORN IN CHARLESTON, S. C, JANUARY II, 1827. DIED IN PAU, FRANCE, DECEMBER 28, 1888. S2 INTRODUCTION. T^HE reader will pardon some further delay, which seems justified by the consideration that the missions treated are the missions of "the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention," and will, therefore, be only intelligible and much more interesting by some acquaint- ance, which every reader may not have, with the Southern Baptist Con- vention and the body corporate known as "the Foreign Mission Board." This is more important because the missions are viewed from the stand- point of the Board and the Convention, especially that of the Convention. It might be more accurate to say that this work is a sketch of the meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1880 to 1890 in its foreign mis- sion work. There is given, therefore, a brief sketch of the origin of the Convention and some of the methods of work of the Board, with original documents of the Convention and the Board. The book being a record of Foreign Missions, does not give in detail the progress of the Home Board of the Convention. It has given the author pleasure, however, to incor- porate into this introduction an abstract of their work, and, in addition to occasional references, to note each year a summary of their work, as re- ported to the Convention. Besides, in 1888, a full presentation of their work, as published by the Executive Committee for Woman's Work, lo- cated in Baltimore, is spread on our pages. All this is done in the interest of the cordial relations existing between these co-ordinate Boards of the Convention. The sketch of the origin of the Convention and the abstract of the Home Board, in this introduction, as well as the Review of our Mis- sions from 1845 to 1885, at the close of the book, are taken from the admi- rable Historical Discourse on the Southern Baptist Convention, delivered before the Convention in the Greene Street Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., May, 1885, by Rev. J L. Burrows, D.D., who, in reply to the writer's re- quest to make use of the discourse, writes in his characteristic and whole- souled way: "Certainly ! You are at entire liberty to use anything I have ever written in any way you think would be useful. I am glad you pro- 8 33 34 IN TRODUC TION. pose making such an addition to your excellent book." The discourse was published, by order of the Convention, " as properly a part of the proceed- ings of the body." I. ORIGIN OF THE CONVENTION. From " The HisioricaC Sketch of the Southern Baptist Convetition. /84S-/8SS." By J. Lansing Burroivs. " INTRODUCTORY. "The history of the organization of the Southern Baptist Convention, and of the causes that led to it, has been written, and need not be repeated here. "After some thirty years of harmonious co-operation, the Baptists of the whole country being united upon the provisions and principles of the Con- stitution of the 'Baptist Triennial Convention,' organized in May, 1814, some of the Northern brethren, moved by the then recent agitation of the slavery question, gained new light as to the essential sinfulness of slavery, came to regard Southern Baptists as sinners in countenancing that institu- tion, and concluded that the original terms of fellowship in missionary operations could not be consistently perpetuated. " Southern Baptists came to regard Northern Baptists as sinners, because of the repudiation of the compact of the Constitution, under whose pro- visions they had worked together for more than a quarter of a century. Hence the division. Hence the organization of the Southern Baptist Con- vention on substantially the same principles and Constitution of the ' Tri- ennial Convention,' upon which both sides had been previously united. " ORGANIZATION. "On Thursday, the eighth day of May, 1845— just forty years ago — 328 delegates of 376, who had been appointed from nine States, including Dis- trict of Columbia, assembled in this house, continued in session five days, and formally organized ' The Southern Baptist Convention.' " 'One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh.' There is only a small remnant of that assembly who greeted each other in that Convention yet remaining upon earth. They are waiting in heaven for our coming. " The pastor of this church, Rev. Dr. Brantly, who welcomed the dele- gates to the city and the homes of the people in one of those tender and felicitous addresses which characterized his spirit, has passed from earth. "All the officers elected to preside over and to record proceedings of that Convention have ' entered within the veil.' "The venerable and accomplished Dr. W. B. Johnson, the President; the Vice-Presidents, Hon. Wilson Lumpkin, Hon. A. Dockery, Rev. Drs. J. B. Taylor and R. B. C. Howell ; the Secretaries, Rev. J. Hartwell and J. C. Crane ; the Treasurer, Dr. M. T. Mendenhall, have all ceased from their labors. ' Their works do follow them.' INTRODUCTION. - 35 "Of the first Board of Foreign Missions, consisting of 34 members, inclu- ding Vice-Presidents, of which the beloved Dr. J. B. Jeter was President, only five remain. Of the like number of members and officers of the Do- mestic Mission Board, of which the polished Dr. B. Manly was President, only four or five yet live on earth. Of the forty delegates from Virginia that stood upon this floor forty years ago, thirty-five are dead. Of the delegates from the other States, I cannot accurately speak ; but I presume a like pro- portion holds. " If that roll were called to-day, I suppose scarce one in thirty would answer to their names. "The main purpose of the Convention in 1845 was organization. The Constitution adopted was essentially the same as that under which the Bap- tists, North and South, had worked together for ^4 years, and still remains the same, except in such changes as were made necessary by the more frequent meetings of the body, and in designating the bodies co-operating in promoting like objects and in the conditions of their representation in the Convention. " Boards of Managers for Foreign Missions, to be located in Richmond, Va., and of Domestic Missions, to be located in Marion, Ala., were ap- pointed. " Entire unanimity marked all the. deliberations and proceedings of the body. A committee was appointed, consisting of brethren W. B. Johnson, T. Curtis, R. Fuller and C. D. Mallary, 'to prepare an address to the pub- lic, setting forth the reasons which have led to the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention, and giving an exposition of its principles and objects.' This address was printed with the minutes, and was widely circulated in the denominational "papers. North and South. It is a calm, dignified and exhaustive document, and was commended or condemned in many cotem- porary articles according to the diverse views of the writers. A formal reply to it on the side of the Boston Board was published in the Christian Review of December, 1845, ^^"d an able rejoinder in the same Review of May, 1846. These articles, with a historical sketch by Rev. Dr. William Williams, pubhshed in the Minutes of 1871, present the essential facts relating to the causes and principles involved in the division, and must ever be the principal documents upon which these events are to be woven into the history of the denomination. We are content that they should be so studied. "Among the resolutions adopted, looking forward to the work of the Con- vention, were recommendations to the Board to consider the need for evan- gelizing work among the Aborigines of America, the colored population, and specially 'to establish the Baptist Cause in New Orleans,' and for open- ing correspondence with the Northern Board for the mutual adjustment of any claims which one might have upon the other, and measures suggested for raising funds. " The Convention closed its first session without a missionary or a mis- 36 IN TR ODUCTION. sion station at home or abroad, with no reported funds in the treasury, committing to the two Boards the work needful for starting the machinery into practical operation. The first contribution reported was a subscription of ^loo each by the members of the Domestic Board. "first trienniai. meeting. "The second meeting of the Convention was held in Richmond, Va., June loth to 15th, 1846, This was called the 'First Triennial Meeting,' though held one year after the organization. , " 142 delegates from eleven States and two representatives from China were enrolled. Dr. Wm. B. Johnson was again elected President, and the same Secretaries and Treasurer. " Rev. Dr. R. Fuller preached thenntroductory sermon. " ' The American Baptist Publication Society,' ' The American and For- eign Bible Society,' and the ' American Sunday-school Union ' were repre- sented by messengers. Rev. Dr. Babcock, Wm. H. Wycoff, Rev. T, S. Malcom, Dr. W. Shadrach, Rev. T. C. Harrison and others seeking con- tinued co-operation with the Convention in the work of these societies. " It was resolved to cultivate the most friendly intercourse with the 'American and Foreign Bible Society,' and the Foreign Mission Board was authorized to receive and collect funds for foreign distribution, and the Domestic Board for home circulation of the Holy Scriptures. "An interesting feature of this session was the presence and addresses of brethren Shuck and Yong Seen Sang, of Canton, China, and of brother T. Simmons, of the Burman Mission." II. RESOLUTION OF THE CONVENTlCfN, 1845. " Resolved. That Brethren W. B. Johnson, T. Curtis, R. Fuller, and C. D. Mallary be a committee to prepare an address to the public, setting forth the reasons which have led to the formation of the Southern Baptist Con- vention, and giving an exposition of its principles and objects ; to be pub- lished in the Minutes and in such public prints as will allow it a place in their columns." This is the resolution of the Convention which met in Augusta, Ga., May, 1845, ^'^ prepare the address referred to in Dr. Burrows' discourse, and pub- lished below. The committee selected was eminently judicious. Dr. John- son was the embodiment of accuracy, particularity and courtesy ; Dr. Curtis was perhaps the most learned and intellectual man of the Conven- tion, being, too, of impartial judgment, as an Englishman recently from the shores of his slave-hating country ; Dr. Fuller had been an eminent lawyer, and was then in the flood-tide of his fame for incomparable pulpit eloquence ; Dr. Mallary was preeminently the Saint John of the Convention, and of INTRO D UC TION. 37 the Baptist denomination of the South. An address emanating from such a source, may be presumed to represent fairly the facts of the case, and to reflect justly the sentiments of the Convention and the times. The study of it will prove it worthy of being perpetuated as a model of manly, dignified, and Christian vindication, whatever may be thought of the question involved. Should the day for organic union in Baptist missionary enter- prises North and South ever come, this address might serve the important office of demonstrating the necessity of the union being so carefully formed and constitutionally guarded as to preclude the possibility of the introduc- tion of any sectional or other disturbing and disrupting elements. The time is already at hand when the former combatants in blue and gray vie together in doing honor to the prowess and the honesty of motives of each other. The day cannot be far off when such papers as the following address will be lauded on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line, as may be similar papers of the North, as common legacies of the trueness to convic- tion of men whom we shall be proud to call our "Fathers in Zion." And prophetical were these Southern Fathers when, in 1845, they " resolved, that for peace and harmony ... it is proper that this Convention at once pro- ceed to organize a society for the propagation of the gospel." III. THE ADDRESS. "The Southern Baptist Convention : — " To I he Brethren in the United States ; to the congregations connected with the respective churches ; and to all candid men. " A painful division has taken place in the missionary operations of the American Baptists. We would explain the origin, the principles, and the objects of that division, or the peculiar circumstances in which the organiza- tion of the Southern Baptist Convention became necessary. Let not the extent of this disunion be exaggerated. At the present time h involves only the Foreign and Domestic Missions of the denomination. Northern and Southern Baptists are still brethren. They differ in no article of the faith. They are guided by the same principles of gospel order. Fanatical attempts have indeed been made in some quarters to exclude us of the South from Christian fellowship. We do not retort these attempts ; and believe their extent to be comparatively limited. Our Christian fellow- ship is not, as we feel, a matter to be obtruded on any one. We abide by that of our God, his dear Son, and all his baptized followers. The few ultra Northern brethren to whom we allude must take what course they please. Their conduct has not influenced us in this movement. We do not regard the rupture as extending to foundation principles, nor can we think the great body of our Northern brethren will so regard it. Disunion has proceeded, 38 INTRODUCTION. however, deplorably far. The first part of our duty is to show that its entire origin is with others. This is its history : " I. The General Convention of the Baptist Denomination of the United States was composed of brethren from every part of the American Repub- lic. Its Constitution knows no difference between slaveholders and non- slaveholders ; nor, during the period of its existence, for the last thirty years, has it, in practice, known anything of this distinction. Both parties have contributed steadily and largely (if never adequately) to those funds which are the basis of its constituency ; both have yielded its office-bearers of all grades ; its missionaries and translators of God's Word ; its men of toils many, and of prayers not unavailing, abroad and at home. The honored dead of both these classes have walked in closest sympathy with each other ; anticipating in the Board-room, and in the Monthly Concert, that higher but not holier union noAv in their case consummated. Throughout the entire management of its early affairs, the whole struggle with its early difficulties, there was no breath of discord between them. Its Richard Fur- man and its William Staughton, its Jesse Mercer and its Thomas Baldwin led on the sacramental host, shoulder to shoulder, and heart to heart. Their rivalry being only in earnest efforts to a common cause ; their entire aver- sions and enmities were directed with all the strength of their souls against a common foe. And to the last did they not cherish the strong belief that they left no other enmities or aversions, no other rivalry to their successors ? " In particular, a special rule of the Constitution defines ivJio may be mis- sionaries, viz. : ' Such persons only as are in full communion with some church in our denomination, and who furnish satisfactory evidence of gen- uine piety, good talents and fervent zeal for the Redeemer's cause.' Now, while under this rule the slaveholder has been in his turn employed as a missionary, it is not alleged that any other persons than those above de- scribed have been appointed. Moreover, the important post of the super- intendent of the education of native missionaries has been assigned, with universal approbation, to the pastor of one of our largest slaveholding churches. "But an evil hour arrived. Even our humble efforts in the conquest of the world to God excited the accuser of our brethren to cast discord among us ; and in the last two Triennial Conventions slavery and anti-slavery men began to draw off on different sides. How did the nobler spirits on each side endeavor to meet this ? They proposed, and carried almost unanimously, the following explicit resolution : " ' Resolved, that in co-operating together, as members of this Convention, in the work of "Foreign Missions, we disclaim all sanction, either expressed or implied, whether of slavery or anti-slavery ; but as individuals we are free to express and to promote elsewhere our views on these subjects in a Christian manner and spirit.' " Our successors will find it difficult to believe that so important and plain a declaration had become, before the close of the first year of the tri- INTRODUCTION. 39 ennial period, a perfect nullity. In December last the acting Board of the Convention at Boston adopted a new qualification for missionaries — a new- specific rule — viz. : that, ' If ^ny one that shall offer himself for a mission- ary, having slaves, should insist on retaining them as his property, they could not appoint him.' ' One thing is certain,' they continue ; ' we could never be a party to any arrangement which implies approbation of slavery.' " We pray our brethren and all candid men to mark the date of this novel rule — the close of the first six months of their three years' power — a date at which the compromise resolution could scarcely have reached our remoter mission stations. If usurpation had been intended, could it have been more fitly timed ? an usurpation of ecclesiastical power, quite foreign to our pol- ity. Such power was assumed at a period when the aggrieved ' thousands of Israel ' had, as it now appears, no practical remedy. Its obvious ten- dency was, either our final subjugation to that power, or a serious interrup- tion of the flow of Southern benevolence. The latter was the far more probable evil ; and the Boston Board knew this well. They were from various quarters apprised of it. We, on the other hand, did not move in the matter of a new organization, until three liberal States had refused to send northward any more contributions. Our leaders had chosen new rules. Thus came war within our gates, while the means of war on our common enemy were daily diminishing. By this decision the Board had placed itself in direct opposition to the Constitution of the Convention. The only reason given for this extraordinary and unconstitutional dictum being that ' The appointing power, for wise and good purposes, is confided to the act- ing Board.' On such a slight show of authority, this Board undertook to declare that to be a disqualification in one, who should offer himself for a missionary, which the Convention had said shall 7tot be a disqualification. It had also expressly given its sanction to anti-slavery opinions, and im- pliedly fixed its condemnation on slavery, although the Convention had said that ' neither ' should be done. And further it forbade those who shall apply for a missionary appointment to ' express and promote elsewhere ' their views on the subject of slavery in a right ' manner and spirit ' when the Convention declared they ' were free ' to do so. These brethren thus acted upon a sentiment they have failed to prove — that slavery is, in all circum- stances, sinful. Whereas their own solemn resolution in the last Conven- tion (theirs as much as ours) left us free to promote slavery. Was not this leaving us free, and ' in a Christian spirit and manner,' to promote that which in their hearts, and according to the present showing of their conduct, they regard as a sin ? " Enough, perhaps, has been said of the origin of this movement. Were we asked to characterize the conduct of our Northern brethren in one short phrase, we should adopt that of the Apostle. It was ' forbidding us to speak unto the Gentiles.' Did this deny us no privilege ? Did it not obstruct us — ■ lay a kind of Romish interdict upon us in the discharge of an imperative duty ; a duty to which the church has been, after the lapse of ages, awak- 40 INTRODUCTION. * ened universally and successfully ; a duty the very object, and only object of our long-cherished connection and confederation ? " And this would seem the place to state that our Northern brethren were dealt with as brethren to the last moment. Several of our churches cher- ished the hope that by means of remonstrance and expostulation, through the last annual meeting of the Board of Managers, at Providence, the acting Board might be brought to feel the grievous wrong they had inflicted. The Managing Board was, therefore, affectionately and respectfully addressed on the subject, and was entreated to revise and reverse the obnoxious inter- dict. Alas ! the results were — contemptuous silence as to the application made, and a deliberate resolve, expressing sympathy with the acting Board and a determination to sustain them. " II. The Principles of the Southern Baptist Convention, it remains then to be stated, are conservative, while they are, also, as we trust, equita- ble and liberal. They propose to do the Lord's work in the way our Fathers did it. Its title designates at once its origin and the simple, firm abiding of the South on the ground from which it has been so unconstitutionally and unjustly attempted to eject us. We have but enquired for the ' old paths * of missionary operations ' asked ' for, and attempted to restore the practi- cally ' good way.' The Constitution we adopt is precisely that of the original union ; that in connection with which, throughout his missionary life, Adon- iram Judson has lived, and under which Ann Judson and Boardman have died. We recede from it no single step. We have constructed for our basis no new creed ; acting, in this matter upon a Baptist aversion for all creeds but the Bible. We use the very terms as we uphold the true spirit and great object of the late ' General Convention of the Baptist denomina- tion of the United States.' It is they who wrong us that have receded. We have receded neither from the Constitution nor from any part of the orig- inal ground on which we met them in this work. And if we ask, in parting, the original and broad Bible ground of confederation were not equitable, how came it so nobly and so long to be acted upon ? If equitable, why de- part from it ? " We claim to have acted in the premises with liberality towards our Northern brethren. Thrust from the common platform of equal rights, be- tween the Northern and Southern churches, we have but reconstructed that platform. Content with it, we adhere to it and reproduce it as broad enough for us and for them. Have they thrust us off? We retain but one feeling in the case — That we will not practically leave it on any account, much less in obedience to such usurped authority, or in deference to such a manifest breach of trust as is here involved ; a breach of cavenant that looks various ways, heavenward and earthward. For we repeat they would forbid us TO SPEAK UNTO THE Gentiles. The Jerusalem church then must be re- gathered at the suspected Samaria, or at some new centre of operations, like Antioch. ' One thing is certain ' — we must go everywhere preaching the word. ' We can never be a party to any arrangement ' for monopolizing INTRODUCTION. 41 the Gospel — any arrangement which, like that of the Autocratical Interdict of the North, would first drive us from our beloved colored people, of whom they prove that they know nothing comparatively, and from the much wronged Aborigines of the country; and then cut us off from the whitening fields of the heathen harvest-labor, to which, by cogent appeals and solemn prayers they have so often protested that without us they were inadequate. "III. Our objects, then, are the extension of the Messiah's kingdom and the glory of our God. Not disunion with any of his people ; not the up- holding of any form of human policy, or civil rights, but God's glory and Messiah's increasing reign, in the promotion of which we find no necessity for relinquishing any of our civil rights. " We will never interfere with what is Ccesays* We will not compromit what is God's. " These objects will appear in detail on the face of our Constitution and in the proceedings which accompany this address. They are distributed, at present, between two acting Boards for Foreign and Domestic Missions, hav- ing their respective seats at Richmond, Va., and Marion, Ala. We sympathize with the Macedonian cry from every part of the heathen world, with the low moan for spiritual aid of the four millions of half-stifled red men, our neigh- bors; with the sons of Ethiopia among us, stretching forth their hands of supplication for the gospel, to God and all his people, and we have shaken ourselves from the nightmare of a six years' ' strife about words to no pro- fit,' for the profit of these poor, perishing and precious souls. Our language to all America, and to all Christendom, if they will hear us, is — ' Come over,' and for these objects, as ye love souls and the divine Saviour of souls, 'help us.' We ask help, at this juncture, for nothing else. We have had more talk than work about these objects too long. We have waited quite too long for the more learned and gifted and opulent and worthy to lead our way toward these objects ; and we have shortened debate upon them to get to business. Our eyes and hearts are turned with feelings of parental fondness to Burmah and the Karens, with a zeal in which we are willing to be counseled by God, and all considerate men (but by none else), to the con- tinent of Africa and her pernicious fountains of idolatry, oppression and blood ; but yet more with unutterable hope and thankfulness to China, and her providentially opened ports and teeming thirsty milHons. Among us, in the South, we have property which we will offer to the Lord and his cause in these channels — some prudence with which we would have our best wisdom \ *It was not dwelt upon in the Augusta Convention — we do not recollect its being named, but it is too stringent a fact in the case to be here omitted — that one of the mis- sionaries, with whom the acting Board and Board of Managers can sympathize, we pre- sume, and whom they sustain (we hope, however, not in this particular act, but they have in no way openly protested against it) — Brother Mason has actually remitted money to the United States to aid in assisting slaves to '' run away from their masters," — a felony by the Statute Law of several States. t Prov. 8 : 12. 42 INTRODUCTION. to dwell ; and professions of a piety which we seek to have increased and purified, like that of the first Baptist churches when they had ' rest, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.' " In parting with beloved brethren and old co-adjutors, in this cause, we could weep, and have wept for ourselves and for them ; but the season, as well of weeping as of vain jangling is, as we are constrained to believe, just now past. For years the pressure of men's hands has been upon us far too heavily. Our brethren have pressed upon every inch of our privileges and our sacred rights, but this shall only urge our gushing souls to yield propor- tionately of their renewed efforts to the Lord, to the church universal and to a dying world, even as water pressed from without rises but the more within. Above all, the mountain pressure of our obligations to God — even our own God — to Christ and to him crucified, and to the personal and social blessings of the Holy Spirit and his influences, shall urge our little streams of the water of life to flow forth, until every wilderness and desolate place within our reach (and what extent of the world's wilderness, wisely considered, is not within, our reach ?) ' shall be glad," even at this passing calamity of division, and the deserts of unconverted human nature ' rejoice, and blossom as the rose.' " By order of the Convention. " William B. Johnson, D.D. "Augusta, Georgia, 12th May, 1845." IV. PREAMBLE AND CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION WITH RULES OF ORDER. [•845.] " We, the delegates for Missionary Societies, churches, and other religious bodies of the Baptist Denomination, in various parts of the United States, met in Convention, in the city of Augusta, Georgia, for the purpose of car- rying into effect the benevolent intentions of our constituents, by organizing a plan for eliciting, combining and directing the energies of the whole de- nomination in one sacred effort for the propagation of the Gospel, agree to the following rules, or fundamental principles : " Article I This body shall be styled the Southern Baptist Convention. " Article II. It shall be the design of this convention to promote Foreign and Domestic Missions, and other important objects connected with the Redeemer's Kingdom, and to combine for this purpose, such portions of the Baptist denomination in the United States, as may desire a general organi- zation for Christian benevolence, which shall fully respect the independence and equal rights of the churches. " Article III. A Triennial Convention shall consist of members who con- tribute funds, or are delegated by religious bodies contributing funds, and the system of representation and terms of membership shall be as follows. INTRO D UC TION. 43 viz. : An annual contribution of one hundred dollars for three years next preceding the meeting, or the contribution of three hundred dollars, at any time within said three years, shall entitle the contributor to one repre- sentative; an annual contribution of two hundred dollars, as aforesaid, shall entitle the contributor to two representatives ; and so, for each ad- ditional one hundred dollars, an additional representative shall be allowed. Provided, however, that when application shall be made for the first time by bodies or individuals to be admitted into the convention, one delegate shall be allowed for each one hundred dollars. And, provided, also, that in case of great collateral societies, composed of representatives receiving contri- butions from different parts of the country, the ratio of representation shall be one delegate for every thousand dollars, annually contributed for three years, as aforesaid ; but the number of representatives shall not exceed five. " Article IV. The officers of this Convention shall be a President, four Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and two Secretaries, who shall be elected at each triennial meeting and hold their office until a new election; and the officers of the convention shall be, each by virtue of his office, members of the several boards. " Article V. The convention shall elect at each triennial meeting as many Boards of Managers, as in its judgment will be necessary for carrying out the benevolent objects it may determine to promote, all which boards shall continue in office until a new election. Each board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretaries, Treasurer, Auditor, and fifteen other members, seven of whom, including one or more of the officers, shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. To each board shall be com- mitted, during the recess of the convention, the entire management of all the affairs relating to the object with whose interest it shall be charged, all which management shall be in strict accordance with the constitutional pro- visions adopted by this convention, and such other instructions as may be given from time to time. Each board shall have power to make such com- pensation to its Secretaries and Treasurer as it may think right; fill the va- cancies occurring in its own body ; enact its own by-laws ; have an annual meeting at any place it may think best ; keep a record of its proceedings and present a report of them to the convention at each triennial meeting. "Article VI. The Treasurer of each Board shall faithfully account for all monies received by him, keep a regular entry of all receipts and disburse- ments, and make report of them to the Convention, whenever it shall be in session, and to his Board as often as required. He shall, also, on entering upon the duties of his office, give competent security to the President of his Board, for all the stock and funds committed to his care. His books shall be open at all times, to the inspection of any member of the convention and of his Board. No monies shall be paid out of any of the Treasuries of the Boards, but by order from that Board, from whose Treasury the money is to be drawn, which order shall be signed by its presiding officer. 44 IN TRODUCTIO N. "Article VII. The Corresponding Secretaries of the several Boards shall maintain intercourse by letter with such individuals or public bodies as the interest of their respective bodies may require. Copies of all such com- munications, with their answers, if any, shall bfe kept by them on file. " Article VIII. The Recording Secretaries of the several Boards shall keep a fair record of their proceedings, and of such other documents as may be committed to them for the purpose. " Article IX. All the officers. Boards, Missionaries and Agents, appointed by the convention, or by any of its Boards, shall be members of some reg- ular church, in union with the churches composing this Convention. " Article X. Missionaries appointed by any of the Boards of this Conven- tion must, previous to their appointment, furnish evidence of genuine piety, fervent zeal in their Master's cause, and talents which fit them for the service for which they offer themselves, " Article XI. The bodies and individuals composing this Convention shall have the right to specify the object or objects to which their contributions shall be applied. But, when no such specification is made, the Convention will make the appropriation at its own discretion. " Article XII. The Convention shall hold its meetings triennially, but ex- tra meetings may be called by the President, with the approbation of any one of the Board of Managers. A majority of the attending delegates shall forma quorum for the transaction of business. "Article XIII. Any alterations, which experience shall dictate, may be made in these articles, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, at any triennial meeting of the Convention. "ruIvES of order. " I. The meetings of the Convention shall be opened and closed with prayer. " 2. No motion shall claim the attention of the President, unless it is seconded, nor shall it be open for discussion, until formally announced by him. " 3. When a motion has been made and regularly announced by the chair, no other motion shall be received, except to amend, to substitute, to lay upon the table, to postpone indefinitely, or to postpone to a certain time. But, a motion for adjournment shall always be in order, except when a member is engaged in speaking, or the body engaged in voting. " 4. When a member wishes to speak on any question, he shall rise in his place and address the chair. If two or more shall rise at the same time, the President shall determine who has the floor, and no member shall speak more than twice on the same question, without permission of the body. " 5. All questions of order shall be determined by the chair, subject to the appeal of the body. " 6. All motions offered for the adoption of the meetings shall be sub- mitted to writing, if required." INTRO D UC TION. 45 V. OFFICERS OF CONVENTION AND BOARDS OF CONVENTION. [18450 OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President Rev. Wii,i Thomas. Recording Secretary. M. T. Turner. Auditor. Chas. T. Wortham. A. B. Smith. R. Ryi^and. A. Snead. A. G. Wortham. W. H. Jordan. Managers, H. Keewng. J. Thomas, Jr. J. Snead. A. Fleet. Th. Hume. E. L. Magoon, W. H. Gwathmey. W. A. Baynham. I. Tai,i,man, Sr. T. W. Sydnor. 46 IN TRODUC TION. BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR DOMESTIC MISSIONS. LOCATED AT MARION, ALABAMA. President Basil Manly, D.D., Alabama. J. HarTwell, Ala. Geo. F. Adams, Md. O. B. Brown, D. C. T. Stringfellow, Va. Vice-Presidents. S. Wait, N. C. I. B. O'Neal, S. C. J. L. Dagg, Ga. W. C. Crane, Miss. JAS. Whitsett, Tenn. I. B. Smith, La. H. S. Linton, Fla. W. C. Lincoln, Mo. W. C. Buck, Ky. Corresponding Secretary. J. L. Reynolds. Treasurer. Thomas Chilton. Recording Secretary. M. P. JEWETT. Auditor. W. N. Wyatt. Managers. E. D. King. L. Goree. J. B. Miller. K. Hawthorn. S. S Sherman. A. Travis. T. F. Curtis. L. V. Tarrant. I. H. De Votie. D. p. Bestor. E. Baptlst. L. C. Tutt. W. W. HoRNBUCKLE. D. R. W. McIvER. H. Talbird. VL OFFICERS OF THE FIRST TRIENNIAL CONVENTION. [1846.] OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President. Rev. W. B. Johnson, D.D., South Carolina. Vice-Presidents. 1. Rev. R. B. C. Howell, of Tenn. 3. Rev. J. B. Taylor, of Va. 2. Hon. T. Stocks, of Georgia. 4. Rev. W. C Buck, of Ky. Treasurer. M. T. Mendenhall, Charleston, S. C. Secretaries. J. Hartwell, of Alabama. J. C. Crane, of Virginia. The above officers are also members of each of the Boards of Managers. IN TRODUCTION. 47 BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. LOCATED AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. President J. B. Jeter, Virginia. C. George, Va, W. Crane, Md. S. FURMAN, S. C. P. H. Mell, Ga. I. S. Bacon, D. C. Vice-Presidents. T. T. HiNTON, La. J.J.James, N. C. J. L. Waller, Ky. P. S. Gayle, Tenn. S. W. Lynd, Mo. Corresponding Secretary. J. B.Taylor. Treasurer. A. Thomas. A. B. Smith. R. Ryland. A. Snead. A. G. Worth AM. W. H. Jordan. Managers. E. Ball. J. Thomas, Jr. J. Snead. A. Fleet. T. Hume. H. Dockery, Miss. W. H. Bayless, Ark. E. Baptist, Ala. J. McDonald, Fla. Recording Secretary. M. T. Sumner. Auditor. C. T. Wortham. E. It. Ma goon. W. H. GwathmEY. W. A. Baynham. I. Talman, Sr. T. W. Sydnor. BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR DOMESTIC MISSIONS. located at MARION, ALABAMA. President J. HarTWELL, Alabama. Vice-Presidents. W. Y. HiTER, Va. J. J. Finch, N. C. H. D. Duncan, S. C. A. D. Sears, Ky. B. F. Porter, Ala. A. R. Levering, Md. G. W. Sampson, D. C, A. Jones, Ga, J. Whitfield, Miss. H. Owen, Tenn. R. S. Thomas, Mo. Corresponding Secretary. R. Holm AN. Treasurer. W. HORNBUCKLE. Recording Secretary. M. P. JEWETT. Auditor. W. N. WyaTT. E. D. King. S. S. Sherman. I. H. De Votie. S. Forbes. B. Hodges. Managers. Dr. L. B. Lane. E. A. Blunt. Dr. R. W. McIvER. J. WOODFIN, Sr. J. F. CocKE. H. Talbird. L. T. Tarrant. A. W. CoNNELLA. A. Travis. T. F. Curtis. 48 IN TRODUC TION. VII. CHARTERS AND FORMS OF BEQUESTS. ACT OF INCORPORATION OF S. B. C. " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That William B. Johnson, Wilson Lumpkin, James B. Taylor, A. Dockery, R. B. C. Howell and others, their associates and successors, be, and are hereby incorporated and made a body politic, by the name and style of the ' Southern Baptist Convention,' with authority to receive, hold, possess, retain and dispose of property, either real' or personal, to sue and be sued and to make all by-laws, rules and regulations necessary to the transaction of their business, not inconsistent with the laws of this State, or of the United States : Said corporation being created for the purpose of eliciting, combining and directing the energies of the Baptist denomination of Christians for the propagation of the gospel, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. "Approved December 27, 1845." FORM OF BEQUEST. " I hereby give and bequeath unto the Southern Baptist Convention, formed in Augusta, Georgia, in the month of May, 1845, ^i^^ chartered by the Legislature of the State of Georgia, by an act passed and approved De- cember 27, 1845, (here insert the amount if in money, or 'subject' if other property either real or personal) for the purposes of said Convention." INCORPORATION OF THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. The Board had held that, during the recess of the Convention, the Board could perform all legal acts of the Convention itself, having been so advised by eminent legal authority, as appears in the following report of a commit- tee, appointed by the Foreign Mission Board, to investigate the subject : "The committee appointed to inquire into 'legal powers of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, located at Richmond, Virginia,' beg leave to report that soon after their appointment, they laid before Gustavus A. Myers, Esq., an eminent lawyer of this city, a copy of the act of the Legislature of Georgia, incorporating the Southern Baptist Convention, and solicited his opinion on the question suggested. After examining the act aforesaid, and the minutes and proceedings of the Convention, held in conformity to the act of incorporation, he gave an opinion in writing, to the effect that the Convention having, during its recess, conferred on the Foreign Mission Board, located at Richmond, all its powers and duties, that this Board was now vested with full and ample powers to carry out in its fullest extent any of the objects, or to perform any of the duties which, by the act of incorporation, were vested in the Southern Baptist Convention. INTRODUCTION. 49 " The written opinion referred to was placed in the hands of a member of the committee, and by him sent to another member to be by him laid before the Board at one of its sittings during the past summer, but it has either been lost or mislaid, so that it cannot be found. " Respectfully submitted, "J- B. Jeter, IN, i *' RicJunond, 4th Feb., 18^6 ^ „^ „ , Committee. W. GoDDi: A court of Maryland decided that a devise to the Board could not be given to the Board because it was not chartered. Our Board, therefore, secured for itself a charter, which was reported to the Convention thus : "Availing itself of the privilege granted by the Convention in the year 1883, the Board, influenced by considerations of practical moment, applied to the Legislature of Virginia for a charter of incorporation, and on the 23d day of February, 1888, it was incorporated under the name of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, with right of holding property not to exceed one million dollars. The charter is as follows : "an act To incorporate the Foreign Mission Board nf the Southern BaJ>tist Convention. [Approved February 23, 1888.] "I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That H. H. Har- ris, H. A. Tupper, J. C. Williams, A. B. Clarke, H. C. Burnett, H. K. Elly- son, J. B. Winston, C. H. Winston, W. E. Hatcher, John Pollard, S. C. Clopton, J. B. Hutson, W. D. Thomas, W. W. Landrum, W. J. Shipman, George Cooper, C. H. Ryland, T. P. Mathews, R. H. Pitt and T. P. Bel', being the President, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secre- tary, Auditor and Managers appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention to constitute a Board, located in the city of Richmond, for the conduct of Christian Missions in foreign countries, and their successors as the same may be, from time to time, appointed by the said Convention, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body corporate under the name and style of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and by that name shall have a perpetual succession and common seal ; may contract and be contracted with ; sue and be sued ; may receive, hold, sell, convey and otherwise manage or dispose of all lands, money or other property, real or personal, which may be given to or otherwise acquired by said Board ; provided, that the aggregate of values so held at any one time shall not exceed the sum of one million dollars. " 2. The said persons and their successors, as above provided, shall have power to fill vacancies in their own body, appoint such officers as may be requisite, and exact from any of them bond or other security for the faithful performance of their duties. Meetings shall be held from time to time, as 4 50 INTRODUCTION. the Board may direct, and not less than seven shall be a quorum for the transacting of business. "3. This act shall take effect from its passage, and s'^all be subject to amendment, modifications or repeal, at the pleasure ot the General As- sembly." The following is the Form of Bequest and the Seal adopted by the Board : ^00000000000000000000% FORM OF BEQUEST. I hereby give and bequeath to the Foreign Mission Board of the South- ern Baptist Convention, chartered by the Legislature of Virginia by an act approved February 23d, 1888, {here insert the amount, if in money, or description of other property, real or personal), for the purposes con- templated by said Board. VIIL GENERAL ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. WITH AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION AND BY-I,AWS. No fixed order of business is prescribed. Each meeting has power to adopt its own order of business. The proceedings of the body are usually conducted — when not controlled by any " order of business " — under this general order : " I. The President of the preceding meeting, acting as Chairman, calls ihe body to order ; or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents. "2. There are introductory exercises of singing, reading the Scriptures, .and prayer. " 3. Delegates are called for, by States, and enrolled; and the delegates "present and enrolled constitute the Convention, and vote for the permanent ^officers of the body for that meeting. " 4. An address of welcome is usually made by the pastor of the church with which the Convention meets, and a reply is returned by the Convention through some member of the body requested by the President. " 5. After the permanent organization, the annual reports of the Boards, which are printed in advance, or abstracts of them, are read by the Secretaries of the Boards — alternating yearly as to precedence in time of reading — and, on motion, are referred to appropriate committees, appointed ^by ihe Prfsldent. INTRODUCTION. 51 "6. Visitors and messengers are recognized, on motion. " 7. The ' Convention-Sermon ' is preached on the night of the first day of the meeting. " 8. Any legitimate business may at any time be brought before the body on motion and seconds, if not in conflict with some ' special order.' "9. Reports of committees on the reports of the Boards are called for and discussed, in the order of their appointment, unless otherwise ordered by an adopted ' order of business.' The ideal order is that the reports on the reports of each Board should be consecutively presented until all of them are acted upon ; and that they be followed, at night, by a mass meeting or ' special order,' by action of the Convention, for the consideration of the interests of that Board. ^ " 10. These mass-meetings or special orders in the interests of the Boards are held according to an arrangement for alteration, as in the case of reading the reports of the Boards. "II. Other committees, either stated or occasional, appointed by the President, are called for in the order of their appointment, but usually they report at their pleasure and the convenience of the body. " 12. The Boards of the Convention are elected every year by the body on the nomination of a committee, specially charged with this duty. " 13. Devotional exercises open each session and intersperse the sessions of the body. " 14. Appointments are made by a Committee on Religious Exercises for Sunday services in all churches asking for such services. "15. The records of the proceedings of the previous day are read for confirmation each morning, and all the proceedings are confirmed before adjournment, with special religious services, sitie die. "16. ' Mell's Parhamentary Practice ' is an authority recognized by the Convention." AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. In 1878, Article III of the Constitution received an important amend- ment, so that it read as follows : " Art. III. The Convention shall consist of members who contribute funds or are delegated by religious bodies contributing funds, on the basis of one delegate for every hundred dollars contributed to our funds at any time within the twelve months preceding the meeting of the body ; and of repre- sentatives, on the terms hereinafter specified, from any of the following bodies, viz. : the Maryland Union Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the Baptist General Association of West Virginia, the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, the Baptist Convention of Western North CaroHna, the State Convention of the Baptist Denomination in South Carolina, the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia, the Florida Baptist State Convention, the Alabama Baptist State Convention, he Mississippi Baptist State Convention, the Bapdst General Association of South-eastern Mississippi, the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, the Bap- 62 IN TRODUCTION. list State Convention of Texas, the Baptist General Association of Texas, the Baptist Convention of Eastern Texas, the Arkansas Baptist State Con- vention, the Baptist General Association of Western Arkansas and Indian Territory, the Tennessee Baptist State Convention, the Baptist General Association of Kentucky, the Missouri Baptist General Association, the Southwest Missouri Baptist Convention, which bodies shall be allowed one representative in this Convention for every five hundred dollars which, dur- ing the twelve months ending December 31, previous to the session of this Convention, may have been expended by them for objects similar to those in the prosecution of which this Convention may be actively engaged, which objects are at present those of Foreign Missions, Home Missions, Indian Missions and Sunday-school work ; Provided, that the official organs of such State Convention or General Association shall, by the first day of March preceding the annual session of this Convention, have communicated to the Home Mission Board of this Convention the amount expended by the body in question as above indicated ; Provided, also, that the representatives of these bodies shall be formally appointed by the organs thereof in the man- ner which may by the said bodies be hereafter directed, and that their appointment shall be duly certitied to this Convention.'' In 1885 this article was again amended by striking out the names of the State organizations ; also by substituting for " members "' in the first line the word " brethren," the object being to preclude women from membership in the Convention. The article, therefore, read as follows : "Art. 111. The Convention shall consist of brethren who contribute funds, or are delegated by religious bodies contributing funds, on the basis of one delegate for every hundred dollars contributed to our funds, and received by the Treasurers of the boards, on or before the last day of April in the current year." In 1888 an important amendment was made, the basis of representation being changed — the Constitution, thus changed and otherwise changed, stands in 1890 as follows : "CONSTITUTION. " We, the delegates from missionary societies, churches and other religious bodies of the Baptist denomination in various parts of the United States, met in convention in the city of Augusta, Georgia, for the purpose of carry- ing into effect the benevolent intentions of our constituents by organizing a plan for eliciting, combining and directing the energies of the whole denom- ination in one sacred effort for the propagation of the gospel, agree to the following rules or fundamental principles : " Article I. This body shall be styled the ' Southern Baptist Convention.' " Article II. It shall be the design of this Convention to promote foreign and domestic missions, and other important objects connected with the Re- INTRODUCTION. 63 deemer's kingdom, and to combine for this purpose such portions of the Baptist denomination in the United States as may desire a j;eneral organiza- tion for Christian benevolence, which shall fully respect the independence and equal rights of the churches. " Article III. The convention shall consist (i) of brethren who contribute funds or are delegated by Baptist bodies contributing funds for the regular work of the Convention on the basis of one delegate for every $250 actu- ally paid into the treasuries of the Boards during the fiscal year, ending the 30th day of April next preceding the meeting ot the Convention ; (2) of one representative from each of the District Associations which co-operate with this convention, provided that such representative be formally elected by his District Association and his election certified to the Secretaries of the Convention, either in writing or by a copy of the printed Minutes ; and (3) of one representative for every $500 collected and expended conjointly with either of the Boards of this Convention, by any State Convention or Gen- eral Association. " Article IV. The officers of this Convention shall be a President, four Vice-Presidents, a Ti-easurer, an Auditor, who shall, in event of the death or disability of the Treasurer, act as such officer, and two Secretaries, who shall be elected at each annual meeting, and hold their offices until a new election ; and the officers of the Convention shall be, each by virtue of his office, members of the several Boards. " Article V. The Convention shall elect at each annual meeting as many Boards of Managers as in its judgment will be necessary for carrying out the benevolent objects it may determine to promote — all which Boards may continue in office until a new election. Each Board shall consist of a President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurer. Auditor, and fifteen other members, seven of whom, including one or more of the officers, shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. To each Board shall be com- mitted, during the recess of the Convention, the entire management of all the affairs relating to the objects with whose interest it shall be charged, all of which management shall be in strict accordance with the constitutional provisions adopted by this Convention, and such other instructions as may be given from time to time. Each Board shall have power to make such compensation to its Secretaries and Treasurer as it may think right, fill the vacancies occurring in its own body, and enact its own by-laws. " Article VI. The Treasurer of each Board shall faithfully account for all moneys received by him, keep a regular entry of all receipts and dis- bursements, and make report of them to the Convention whenever it shall be in session, and to his Board as often as required. He shall, also, on en- tering upon the duties of his office, give competent security to the President of the Board for all the stock and funds committed to his care. His books shall be open at all times to the inspection of any member of the Conven- tion and of his Board. No moneys shall be paid out of any of the treas- uries of the Board but by an order from that Board from whose treasury the money is to be drawn, which order shall be signed by the presiding officer. 54 INTRODUCTION. " Article VII. The Corresponding Secretary of the several Boards shall maintain intercourse by letter with such individuals or public bodies as the interest of their respective bodies may require. Copies of all such com- munications, with their answers, if any, shall be kept by them on file. "Article VIII. The Recording Secretaries of the several Boards shall keep a fair record of their proceedings, and of such other documents as may be committed to them for the purpose. " Article IX. All the officers. Boards, Missionaries and Agents appointed by the Convention, or by any of the Boards, shall be members of some reg- ular church in union with the churches composing this Convention. " Article X. Missionaries appointed by any of the Boards of this Con- vention must, previous to their appointment, furnish evidence of genuine piety, fervent zeal in their Master's cause, and talents which fit them for the service for which they offer themselves. " Article XI. The bodies and individuals composing this Convention shall have the right to specify the object or objects to which their contribu- tions shall be applied. But when no such specification is made, the Con- vention will make the appropriation at its own discretion. " Article XII. The Convention shall hold its meetings annually, but extra meetings may be called by the President, with the approbation of any one of the Boards of Managers. A majority of the attending delegates shall not be necessary to form a quorum for the transaction of business. The President, or, in the event of his death, any of the Vice-Presidents of the Convention, may, at the request of two of its Boards, postpone or alter the place of meeting of the Convention, when it may be deemed by him inexpedient to convene at the time or place appointed. " Article XIII. Any alteration which experience shall dictate may be made in these Articles by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting of the Convention." BY-I,AWS. After several amendments, the By-laws of the Convention stand in 1890 thus : " Impressed with the obligation resting on the Convention to endeavor more energetically and systematically to elicit, combine and direct the ener- gies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort for the propagation of the gospel, we adopt the following By-laws : " I. That the Boards of the Convention be directed to form the closest possible connection with State Boards, where such exist, in such way as shall be mutually agreeable, and in other cases to secure such agency as each of the Boards may deem best, in both cases providing for necessary expenses incurred. " 2. That the Secretaries of the Boards of the Convention be instructed to secure frequent distribution of information relating to their work by means of newspapers, tracts, leaflets and otherwise, as may be found ex- pedient among the masses of the people. INTRODUCTION. 55 " 3. That the Committee on the Nomination of New Boards be in- structed to nominate, as Vice-Presidents of the Boards, men known to be identified with the interests of the Convention, and of their own State Boards, and unless special reasons exist to the contrary, men who make effort to attend the sessions of the Convention. These Vice-Presidents shall be expected to co-operate with the Boards, both giving and receiving sug- gestions as to the work to be done, and they also shall be expected to present at the next session of the Convention a brief report in writing of what they had been requested to do, and of the way in which they have complied with these requests, with any suggestions they may have to offer as to the con- dition and needs of their respective fields. It shall be the duty of each Secretary, in due time, to furnish the Vice-Presidents of his Board with suitable blanks for such reports, and to call their attention to this article, and to make any proper effort to secure the due preparation of these reports. In case any Vice-President appointed is unable or unwilling to comply with the requests herein mentioned, it shall be the duty of the Board, if possible, to find some person who can, and request him to do so; and furthermore, the Vice-President for each State shall be desired, as speedily as possible to pre- pare a roll of the associations, churches and Sunday-schools in that State, to be used for the distribution of information, and to ascertain as far as pos- sible which of the churches and Sunday-schools are contributing to the funds of the Board and the annual amounts, and to make systematic effort each year to increase the number and amount of such contributions. "4. The Boards shall report at each session of the Convention, what special efforts they have been able to make toward carrying out the objects of these By-laws. " 5. Immediately after the reading of the reports of the Boards, each year, a committee of five shall be appointed, to whom shall be referred so much of these reports as pertains to the carrying out of the By-laws, and also the reports of the Vice-Presidents. " 6. That these By-laws may be altered at any time by a majority vote, except on the last day of the Convention." IX. HOME BOARD. (From Dr. Burrows' Sketch of Southern Baptist Cotiziention.) " This Board was originally known as the DOMESTIC MISSION BOARD. " The Board of Managers for Domestic Missions was organized in 1845, and located at Marion, Ala. During the first year Rev. Russell Holman was elected Corresponding Secretary, and the report in 1846 gave assur- ance that the Board wisely apprehended the nature of the work committed to them. Six missionaries had been partially or wholly sustained during the year, viz. : James Huckins and Wm. M. Tryon, m Texas ; I. T. Hinton, in New Orleans ; A. B. Smith, in Richmond, Va. ; Brother A. Van Hoose, a 56 INTRODUCTION. student of Howard College, a part of his time in Selma, Ala., and John Tucker, in Florida. From the labors of Brother Tucker the report recites that five churches were organized, four church buildings begun or completed, and 51 converts baptized. The cash receipts for the year were fiyi^.^x. Expenditures, $1284.36. " 1846. — Looking to the future in laying out the work of the Convention in a report on new fields of labor, Rev. I. T. Hinton, chairman of the com- mittee, commends to the consideration of the Board ' the extended region from the Des Moines to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rio Grande to the Atlantic shores of Florida,' and especially the capital and chief commer- cial towns as yet unprovided for, viz. : Jefferson City and Booneville, Mo. ; Little Rock, Ark. ; Matagorda, Austin, and San Antonio, Texas ; Tallahassee and Key West, Fla. ; Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, La. ; Mem- phis, Tenn. ; Vicksburg and Natchez, Miss. ; Huntsville, Ala., and Colum- bia, S. C, as some of the most important points immediately pressing on the attention and labors of your Board. " Surely here is shown intelligent foresight and broad faith in the pros- pective work of the Convention. It would be instructive and cheering, after forty years, to trace the results of the endeavors which such recom- mendations started. " 1849. — During the three years between the meeting in Richmond, in 1846, and the meeting in Charleston, in 1849, ^^e report of the Board shows that 117 commissions had been granted to missionaries and agents, whose united term of service equaled 75 years, and through whose labors 1942 members had been added to the churches, 24 church edifices built or begun, and 29 new churches constituted. Besides this, a large amount of inciden- , tal work was performed which could not be formally tabulated. " One item is^ of special interest : ' Ten more churches released the Board from further appropriations.' They had been aided until they be- came self-supporting, and thus brought into line with the contributing churches, which were sending out the gospel into new fields. The three years' receipts were $33,011.32, an average of $11,003.77 per annum. "185 1. — Nashville, T6nn. Several new missions were commenced, among them Brownsville, Texas — Rev. J. H. Womble, missionary. " 1853. — Baltimore. An enthusiastic movement for the erection of a church building in New Orleans resulted in securing pledges amounting to $4200 from those in attendance at the Convention. The interest of the cause in New Orleans has, I believe, been before every session of the Con- vention since that date. " Among the prominent positions aided by the Domestic Board were, — First Church, Washington, D. C. ; First Colored Church, Baltimore; Leigh St., Richmond, Va. ; Raleigh, N. C; Atlanta, Ga. ; Knoxville and Chatta- nooga, Tenn.; Vicksburg, Natchez and Jackson, Miss ; Hannibal and St. Joseph, Mo.; Helena, Ark.; Austin and Galveston, Texas, and New Or- leans, La. Most of these have since become self-sustaining and efficient churches. INTRODUCTION. 57 " 1855. — Montgomery. The Convention had several subjects of special interest under consideration. ' The Indian Mission Association,' that had been for several years located in Louisville, Ky., proposed a transfer of its missions among the Indians, its assets and liabilities to the Domestic Board. After careful discussion, the proposition was accepted. An opportunity was again given for contributions to the New Orleans church. The claims of the 13th St. Church, Washington, D. C, upon the patronage of the Con- vention were urged. The Board reported that 99 missionaries and agents had been employed during the year, and that the annual receipts had amounted to $21,153.74. It was recommended that Brother Shuck be ap- pointed to labor among the Chinese in California. " 1857. — Louisville, Ky. The churches at Chattanooga, Tenn., Hanni- bal, Mo., Fayetteville, Ark., are reported as not needing further assistance in supporting pastors. " The report speaks of ' very many self-sustaining interests,' once under the patronage of the Board, as now able to take care of themselves. In the Indian Territory twenty-six missionaries, white and natives, were laboring among the Creeks, Cherokees and Choctaws. The receipts of the Board, including the support of Indian Missions, had doubled in 1856 and 1857, amounting in each year to over $40,000. " 1861. — Savannah, Ga. The civil war was now upon us, and the dele- gation was small. The report of a ' Special Committee on the State of the Country ' denied that the South was responsible for the dissolution of the Union, approved the formation of the Confederate government, invoked the prayers of the people for the success of the Confederate authorities and forces, warned against a spirit of vindictiveness or malice, urged prayer for enemies, and recommended a day for fasting humiliation and prayer. "The results of the labors of the two years, i860 and 1861, indicated larger enterprise and prosperity than hitherto had been attained during the history of the Board. There had been employed in the Home and Indian work 100 missionaries, who had introduced into their churches 3407 per- sons, constituted 30 churches, commenced or completed 25 houses of wor- ship, and received into the treasury $92,998.29. " 1863. — Augusta, Ga. Dr. P. H. Mell was, for the first time, elected President of the Convention. The number of delegates was comparatively few. Only seven of the missionaries had been retained in the several home fields. Twenty-six others were commissioned to labor in the Confederate armies. In the Indian Territory but one missionary remained at his post. The territory was swept by contending factions. The missionaries fled to the States, and the churches were abandoned, and the members scattered. Dr. W. B. Johnson, in the 8ist year of his age, for three consecutive ses- sions the President of the Convention, was called home in October, 1862. "No other meeting of the Convention was held until 1866, when it con- vened in Russellville, Kentucky. The contributions of the churches had been very generous during the years of the war, for money was plenty. But it was Confederate currency and bonds, and all became worthless 58 INTRODUCTION. when the surrender was made. The funds received into the treasury of the Domestic Board and for the Indian Department, April i, 1864, were ;82oi,268.8i ; expenditures, $126,437.57. " For 1864-5, including balance, the receipts were $285,691.04. " The report of 1866 says : ' The close of the preceding year left us in the midst of confusion and disorganization. The country presented one con- tinuous scene of desolation and ruin, the hopes of the people disappointedi their finances exhausted, and the prospects truly dark and dispiriting.' "In August, 1865, symptoms of recovery from the universal paralysis appeared. The Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Martin T. Sumner, visited the Elkhorn Association in Kentucky, and was cordially and generously received and encouraged; and from Kentucky, Missouri and Baltimore mainly — which sections had not been so ruinously overrun by the war — were gathered $23,053.28, with which to commence anew the Home Mis- sion work. Fifty-three missionaries had been appointed, several of whom had been specially designated to labor among the blacks, and the new era opened. Again the Convention was called upon to deliver the Coliseum Place church. New Orleans, from wreck, and to become responsible for a large accumulated debt. " 1867. — Memphis. Cheering progress reported. 124 missionaries, evan- gelists and pastors had received into the churches by baptism, letter and restoration 31 13 persons, constituted 19 new churches, and repaired or commenced 29 church buildings. Time will not permit us to reproduce details of proceedings in the subsequent years. Tables have been pre- pared, which accompany this sketch, furnishing the statistics year by year up to the present date, and, so far as statistics can indicate, show gratifying results. " 1868. — Baltimore. A large delegation of Northern brethren were in^ attendance, among whom were special representatives from the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Correspondence was opened with that Board, and delegates appointed to attend their next annual meeting. "The work was interrupted by many difficulties, and varied in efficiency through panics, epidemics and other causes, reaching its lowest ebb between the years of 1875 ^^"d 1879. The organization of State Conventions and District Associations and their vigorous prosecution of home work turned into their treasuries funds that might otherwise have been disbursed through the agency of our Home Board. The reports of these various agencies show that far larger sums have been expended and more evangelizing work done for our own country than in any previous years in the history of our missionary labors. " The admirable tables published with the last minutes of the Convention show that, including the direct operations of our own Board, there were employed in 1883, 764 missionaries, through whose labors 9599 converts were baptized, and 145 new churches constituted at an expenditure of $209,150.36. There is mutual co-operation between some of these State organizations and our Board, by which two bodies contribute toward the INTRODUCTION. 69 support of the same missionaries. It seems very desirable that such co- operation should be encouraged and become more general. A summary that approximates the facts, but that cannot be made strictly accurate, be- cause of incomplete returns, makes manifest that during the forty years, this Board has sustained in evangelistic service 2265 ministers of Christ's gospel. Not so many different men, of course, some of them continuing several years in service, but by adding the number serving each year we reach this total. By these preachers there have been added to the churches they organized and served, by baptism, restoration and letters, 36,159 members; 202 churches have been constituted, and 302 houses of wor- ship erected. The amount of money expended had been, to 1884, $1,413,- 204.28. "the INDIAN MISSION DEPARTMENT, transferred to the Domestic Board in 1855, is worthy of special narrative, did time permit. It has accomplished more for the reclamation from bar- barism and the civilization of the Indian tribes than all the forces of the United States Government had effected in a century. The gospel has proved mightier than gunpowder in changing savages into reputable citizens. " In 1 861 there were, in connection with our Board, 13 missionaries, white and native, and over 3000 communicants. "After the war the work among the Indians was resumed in their desolated territory, and has been very successfully prosecuted in the evangelization and education of the tribes, until the Indians are certainly, at least, as well fitted for intelligent voting citizenship as any portion of the African race among us. " Missionary service has, under God's blessing, wrought these marvel- ous changes in our own days and under our own eyes. t " THE BIBLE BOARD. " The distribution of the Bible, committed for a time to the mission- aries of the Domestic Board, for this country, and to the Foreign Board for heathen lands, was proved by experience to be ineffective ; and in 1 85 1 a Bible Board was organized and located in Nashville, Tenn. Rev. Dr. Samuel Baker was President and Rev. Dr. W. C. Buck, Correspond- ing Secretary. " The discussion arising out of the secession of the Baptists from the American Bible Society, the organization of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and then of the American Bible Union, had agitated the minds of our people about the principles involved, without awakening a corresponding practical application of the circulation of the word of God. They were appealed to in so many directions that practically they went nowhither. It was hoped that a Bible Board connected with our Con- vention would concentrate the endeavors of Southern Baptists and unite them in this service. 60 INTRODUCTION. "The biennial report, in 1853, showed that in the two years $8073.86 had been collected, and $6,919.95 expended in the operations of the Board. " A resolution passed at this session instructed the Bible Board ' to negotiate such an arrangement with our Publication Societies as will com- bine the dissemination of their pubhcations with the Holy Scriptures.' The circulation of general religious and especially denominational litera- ture through missionaries and colporteurs was committed to this Board. " In 1857 the combined contributions of the several States for Bible distribution, as reported by the Bible Board, amounted to $33,155 27, in- cluding balance from 1855. "In 1859 the receipts had fallen to $6,492.12, including balance of $2,- 115.38 from 1857. " During the war Nashville was occupied by the Federal forces, the oper- ations of the Bible Board were necessarily suspended, and in 1863, at the meeting in Augusta, it was abolished, and its work again referred to the For- eign and Domestic Boards. "the sunday-schooi, board at the meeting in 1863 was organized, with headquarters in Greenville, S. C. Dr. Basil Manly, Jr., President ; C. J. Elford, Corresponding Secretary. The object of the Board was declared to be ' taking of all measures adapted to promote the establishment, enlargement and higher efficiency of Sunday- schools throughout our land, provided that the Board shall not establish a printing-house.' " In 1863 Dr. John A. Broadus became Corresponding Secretary of this Board, ' with the understanding that he should devote a limited portion of his time to the duties of his office.' Several suitable books were prepared and distributed, and State Sunday-school Missionaries appointed, viz : W. E. Hatch^, Va. ; J. A. Chambliss, S. C. ; W. T. Brantly, Ga., and W. E. Chambliss, Ala From sales of books and contributions, $47,684.10 (Confederate currency) had been secured and expended by the Treasurer. " In 1866 the Board had renewed its operations with Brother C. C. Bitting as Corresponding Secretary, and in 1867 the receipts of the year posted up " In 1868 the location of the Board was transferred to Memphis, Tenn., with Dr. S. H. Ford as President and Rev. Dr. T. C. Teasdale as Corre- sponding Secretary, from 1869 to 1871, and united with a Southwestern As- sociation known as the ' Southern Baptist Sabbath-school Union.' With varying degrees of success and discouragement, the Board continued its re- ports to the Convention until 1873, when, after an excited and prolonged discussion, a motion was adopted merging the Board into the Domestic Mission Board, and as a separate organization it disappears from the Min- utes of the Convention." REV. J. Iv. BURROWS, D.D., Member of the Foreign Mission Board /or twenty years : its President in the years iSbb-bj : iSbS-71 : iSt2-74. 61 INTRODUCTION. 63 X. SOME THINGS ABOUT THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. I. BUSINESS MEETINGS. The Board meets the first Monday in each month. The meetings are opened and closed and interspersed with prayer. Sometimes, when mo- mentous matters press, they are hke "prayer-meetings." Occasionally, they are like praise-meetings. The usual parliamentary rules are observed, but not with rigid application. There is a fixed order of business. The Treasurer — after the minutes of the previous meeting are confirmed— pre- sents, in writing, a statement of the finances of the Board, which, like all other reports, is recorded by the Recording Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary then reports all matters of importance brought to his attention since the last meeting; and these matters, if need be, are referred to appro- priate standing committees. These committees, divided into two classes, are appointed annually by the President, and are, for 1 889-1 890, as fol- lows : I. On Missions of Board. 1. China Missions: John Pollard, J. C. WiUiams, J. B. Hutson. 2. African Missions : C. H. Winston, T. P.Mathews, George Cooper. 3. European Missions : J. L. M. Curry, S. C. Clopton, R. S. Bosher. 4. Mexican Missions: W. W. Landrum, H. C. Burnett, C. H. Ryland. 5. South American Missions: W. E. Hatcher, R. H. Pitt, A. B. Clarke. 6. Japan Missions: W. D. Thomas, Theodore Whitfield, H. K. Ellyson. II. On Home Work of Board. 1. Finances : H. K. Ellyson, J. C. WiUiams, H. C. Burnett. 2. New Missions and Missionaries: T, P. Mathews, W. D. Thomas, W, E. Hatcher. 3. Pubhcations : S. C. Clopton,- R. H. Pitt, R. S. Bosher. 4. Agencies : C. H. Ryland, J. B. Hutson, C. H. Winston. 5. Woman's Work : G. Cooper, Theo. Whitfield, W. W. Landrum. These committees report in writing, and in the order stated above, on the business referred to them at the meeting preceding. The reports, thus pre- sented, are carefully considered, and often give rise to much discussion. The Board, though very busy men, enter earnestly into these matters as sacred trusts, and grant to their consideration all the time that is needed and possible. Candidates for missionary work are examined by the Board, through several of its members, requested by the President to conduct the examination, each on some specified line of inquiry, such as personal ex- perience, call to ministry, doctrinal views, reasons for being a missionary. 64 INTRO D UC TI O N. etc. After the examination the candidate retires and the case is fully dis- cussed. The result is announced by the President. If favorable, the can- didate is welcomed by each and all of the Board, in the midst of prayer and thanksgiving, and sometimes with singing. All accounts against the Board are first examined by its Finance Committee, and, if approved, are pre- sented to the Board for their vote. If approved by the Board they are signed by the President, as is required by the Constitution of the Conven- tion, and ordered to be paid by the Treasurer. No banking house is more exact in its business transactions than the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. 2. FINANCES. (i). At Home. The Corresponding Secretary receives all moneys for the Board, but pays out none. The amount entered on the cash-book each day is the exact amount which is deposited that day in the First National Bank to the credit of the Corresponding Secretary. The bank deposit-book indicates precisely each day's cash receipts. Every Monday the Corresponding Secretary presents, in printed form, to the Treasurer, the receipts, arranged as to States whence received, with a check for the amount, which check draws out of bank every cent to the credit of the Corresponding Secretary. This weekly check, in favor of the Treasurer, is the only check ever made on these deposits, and never leaves anything in bank. This having been the invariable custom of the Corresponding Secretary, should there be a cent's difference between his weekly check and the sum of his deposits, the bank would immediately notify him. The Treasurer gives the Corresponding Secretary a receipt for the amount. The monthly acknowledgments in the Foreign Mission Journal are a transcript of the cash-book, and they must always agree with the footings of the cash-book, the deposits in bank, the checks of the Corresponding Secretary and the receipts of the Treasurer — all, for four weeks. There is no known exception to this rule. The current expenses of the Mission Rooms are advanced and kept account of in the petty cash-book, which is monthly examined, approved and signed by the Finance Committee — as all other accounts and bills — and then pre- sented to the Board. The Board, by vote, orders payment. The President affixes his signature to the petty cash-book. The Treasurer gives his check to the Corresponding Secretary, whose receipt is the Treasurer's voucher. For all these money transactions there are printed forms. Some of the receipt-forms are as follows : INTRODUCTION. 65 RECEIPT FROM TREASURER. /oooc)00oog ./S5. days after Sight of this FIRST OF EXCHANGE {Second unpaid) pay to the order of. Dollars, United States Gold coin, Value received, which charge to account of Mission This draft is drawn on Letter of Credit No and the amount endorsed thereon. To Treasurer. ^ Treasurer of Board of Foreign Missions, Southern Baptist .Mission. 0 ; 0000000000000^ .188. days after Sight of this SECOND OF EXCHANGE {First unpaid) pay \\ to the order of. Dollars, United States Gold coin, Value received, which charge to account of | Mission This draft is drawn on Letter of Credit No and the amount endorsed thereon. To Treasurer. \ Treasurer of Board 0/ Foreign Missions, Southern Baptist V Convention, Richmond. Va., U.S.A. J Mission. 3. RULES FOR MISSIONARIES. "amended rui.es. " Revised and Apjiraved by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Con- vention, Richmond, Va., February, iSSb. " PREAMBLE. " It is distinctly understood that the relation existing between the Board and their missionaries is voluntary, and of the most fraternal character. In his appointments, the missionary is pledged to continue in his work through life, unless otherwise specified, while the obligation of the Board to continue their patronage is equally solemn and binding. The compact can be dis- solved by neither party, excepting for reasons valid and weighty. If the missionary should prove unsound in his rehgious views, or deficient in his -moral character, or, on any other account unqualified for the useful pursu- INTRODUCTION. 69 ance of his work, the Board possesses the inherent right to dissolve the con- nection. On the other hand, the right to withdraw, for sufficient reasons, is possessed by the missionary. " The relation being founded on this basis, the following rules are agreed on between the Board and the Missionaries. "arTICIvEI. — WORK AND ORGANIZATION OF MISSIONARIES. "I. The oral communication of the gospel, the formation of churches, the training and ordination of a native ministry, the translation and circulation of the scriptures and the extension of missionary work by the aid of native laborers, supported, as far as pra<:ticable, by the natives themselves, shall be regarded as the chief business of our missionaries. " 2, The Board shall have the right to constitute the missionaries of a sta- tion, or district, into a mission, to act as their agent within the limits as- signed, or to hold each missionary directly responsible to the Board, or, in a given district, to constitute several independent missions, with a mission- ary, conveniently located, to act as treasurer for them all. But in all cases due regard shall be had to the wishes of the missionaries to be affected thereby. " 3. Each mission established by the Board shall hold stated meetings, at such times and places as the mission shall appoint, for prayer, consultation and business. "4. Every mission^iry shall devote himself earnestly to the work, and shall engage in no secular business, judged by the mission or the Board to be injurious to his character or usefulness. " 5. No missionary shall change his station without the consent of the mission or the Board, nor shall the station of a missionary be changed with- out his consent. " 6. Each missionary shall transmit to the Board, quarterly, a detailed ac- count of his labors, and each mission shall report annually on the first day of January, the result of its operations, giving a table of statistics, made up to the 31st of December preceding, showing the baptisms, exclusions and deaths, together with the total membership in the church or churches con- nected with the mission ; the number of schools for males, for females, and for both sexes, with the average attendance in each, during the session, the amount contributed in cash or in kind by natives and by others, for the sup- port of schools, native teachers, evangelists, or pastors, and also the number of school-houses and chapels, if any, erected during the year, and the cost of the same. "7. There shall be in July an annual meeting of each mission, at which an estimate of appropriations for the ensuing year shall be made and sub- mitted to the Board, specifying, as far as practicable, the items for which funds are required, and the missionary for whom needed. Unassociated missionaries shall send annually, in July, their own estimates. The esti- mate of each year shall be for all missionary, school or other work of the 70 INTRODUCTION. mission, with a statement of what amount, if any, may be expected from other sources, on the field, at home or elsewhere, in order that the appro- priation of the Board may be adapted, if possible, fully and exactly to the needs of the mission. " 8. The appointment of unmarried women as missionaries shall have re- ference to the views of the mission to which they are sent, as to the need and acceptability of such assistants. "ARTICI^E ir. — SALARIES AND SUPPORT OP MISSIONARIES. " I. Salaries shall be fixed according to all the information the Board can get, the following rates being a general guide: " For a single missionary, say $600; for a married missionary, say |ii200, with an allowance of $100 a year for each child up to ten years old ; and of $150 from ten to sixteen years old. Any deviation from these rates must be for good and sufficient reasons, and by special agreement, " 2. The salary of the missionary shall begin on his arrival at the field of labor he is expected to occupy, and all needful expenses in getting to his field shall be borne by the Board. " 3. The salary is intended to cover the personal expenses of a missionary and his family. House-rent, postage on official letters, traveling expenses in the prosecution of missionary labors, the salary of a teacher for instruction in the language to be acquired, text-books and other expenses incident to his work, shall be met either by special appropriation or from the common fund of the mission with which his work is connected. " 4. All missionaries, supported by the Board, with their wives and chil- dren, shall be considered as having claim on the mission fund for equal support in similar circumstances. The wives of missionaries in all suitable cases, will be regarded as assistant missionaries, and, as far as their domes- tic duties allow, will be expected to contribute especially by instructing na- tives of their sex to the advancement of the work and interests of the mis- sion, " 5. Missionaries who support themselves from their own income may be missionaries of the Board equally with those who receive pecuniary support, and in such cases must be equally subject to the instructions and regulations of the Board. "6. No missionary shall abandon his station, or return to the United States, even at his own expense, except on account of sickness of himself or family, without permission of the Board ; and in the cases excepted, the sanction of the mission shall be obtained, when the individual is a member of a mission. The necessary expenses of a return home will be borne by the Board only in accordance with this rule. The salary of returned missionaries shall cease upon leaving the field. "7. While no period of labor is specified before a missionary shall leave his field to recruit his strength, the Board will have regard to the necessity of such change to preserve the health and secure the greatest efficiency of their missionaries, » INTRODUCTION. 71 " 8. The support of missionaries returning to this country, with the expec- tation of resuming their labors in the foreign field, shall, after their a.rrival, be regulated by the Board in each particular case. " 9. Disabled missionaries, or the widows of missionaries, returning to re- main in this country, with the approbation of the Board, and being in desti- tute circumstances, may receive such special appropriations as the nature of the case shall justify, it being understood that no annuities or pensions are to be settled on any persons, or grants made for any other than the cui- rent year, excepting in those cases where allowance is made for the children of missionaries. " ARTICLE III. — TREASURERS, DRAETS, ACCOUNTS, SELF-SUPPORT. " I. The Board shall appoint the treasurer of each mission, or of several independent missions. But in case of a vacancy, the mission or the several independent missions, shall have the power to appoint pro tern. "2. In shall be the duty of these treasurers to hold all funds and other as- sets belonging to the Board, subject to their order, under the regulations herein provided. " 3. Salaries of missionaries and special appropriations may be paid quarterly, in advance, unless a shorter period is specified by the Board, upon the receipt of the missionary for whom they are designated. No other pay- ments shall be made except by order of the mission or the Board. "4. Each missionary shall render to the mission a quarterly account of all moneys, except for salary drawn by him from the treasury. " 5. In no case shall appropriations made for one object be applied to another, except by the consent of the mission or the Board, nor shall a mis- sion or missionary contract debt in the name of the Board, unless from actual necessity. " 6. The annual appropriation of the Board for each mission shall be made in dollars and cents, and may be drawn by its treasurer, quarterly in advance, unless a shorter period is specified by the Board, but for no longer period than one quarter, it being understood that any violation of this rule, or over-draft of the appropriation for the quarter or for the year, may be sufficient reason for either the dismissal of the treasurer from his treasurer- ship, or the withdrawal from the mission or combined missions, of the priv- ilege of drawing for appropriations of the Board. " 7. Each draft on the treasurer of the Board shall be in dollars and cents, and shall be accompanied by a notice from the treasurer of the mission or missions, advising our treasurer of the said draft, its amount, date, number, in whose favor, and for what account drawn, according to a printed form which shall be provided by the Board, as well as a form for the drafts them- selves. " 8. Each treasurer shall make to the Board an annual financial report, so itemized as to show all funds received from all sources for mission work, and the persons to whom, and the objects for which all payments have been 72 INTRODUCTIO N. made, and so closed as to indicate clearly that the drafts and expenditures have come within the appropriation for the year then closed, in order to avoid the confusion incident to drafts or expenses of one year over-lapping the accounts of another year. " 9. The financial accounts and reports of all the missions shall be closed on the 31st of December of each year. The annual appropria- tions made by the Board shall be for the calendar year following, name- ly, for the year from the next January ist to December 31st subsequent. Additional appropriations may be made when demanded by changed cir- cumstances in any mission. • " 10. Appeals of missionaries for pecuniary aid for work on their field must be for objects for which the Board make appropriations, unless per- mission to the contrary be given by the Board. Thus the missionaries, while assisting to maintain their own work, may assist the Board also, who are pledged for its support, and must support it whether they have funds in the treasury or not. "11. Missionaries must encourage native Christians in self-support as far as possible, especially in the education of their children, the payment of native teachers and preachers, the defraying of church expenses, and the aiding of poor saints. This self-support of native churches is an end which our missionaries should never lose sight of, and for the establishment of which they must constantly labor, "article IV. — THESE RULES — CHARGES AND CHANGES. "l. Before receiving his appointment by the Board, each missionary is expected to read and subscribe to these rules. " 2. If any member of a mission persist in violating any of the above regu- lations, it shall be the indispensable duty of the mission to give, with his knowledge, full information to the Board. In the case of a missionary be- longing to no mission, this rule shall be observed by the mission nearest to him. But no information or charges affecting the Christian character of a missionary shall be made a basis of action by the Board until they shall have communicated the said information or charges, with the names of the authors, to the accused, and given him ample opportunity for explanation and defense. "3. Native assistants, whether teachers or preachers, supported by the Board or connected officially with any mission or missionary, shall be sub- ject to such regulations as the Board may, from time to time, adopt ; any- thing in the above rules to the contrary notwithstanding. "4. It shall be the duty of the Board to inform the missionaries of any changes made in these rules, and get their assent as promptly as possible. (Name of Missionary) (Date) " INTRODUCTION. 73 FOREIGN MISSION ROOMS OF S. B. C. These rooms are Nos. 22, 23 and 24 of the Merchants' Bank Building, 1103 E. Main street, Richmond, Va. Here are p reserved the Records of the Board, embracing Record-books, Account-books, Bank-books, docu- ments filed and classified, Reports, etc.\ Letter books containing letters from Missionaries and to Missionaries, and letters to and from home Cor- respondents— all indexed, and numbering no less than a hundred large vol- umes and more than 45,000 letters In the rooms are many copies of the Scriptures and religious books, in Eastern languages ; a goodly library of Missionary works ; Files of Missionary periodicals ; a Museum of "Gods many and Lords many," with other curiosities of papal and pagan lands illustra- tive of their arts, customs and religions ; also likenesses of our Missionaries, vi^ith several Mission houses, from 1845 to 1890. It is well to state, as a matter of record, that in these rooms are kept the early manuscript Records of the Southern Baptist Convention. More than once the question has arisen in the Convention, whether all its Proceedings should not be pri|f erv- ed in manuscript, as the only form of record recognized in Courts. From 1845 t° ^872 the Foreign Mission Board, and its Secretary, were accom- modated in a rear-room of the First Baptist Church of this city. Even the present spacious accommodations are severely taxed for space, by the greatly augmented and ever augmenting documents, etc., of the Board. It gives the writer pleasure to say here that, since the decease of her honored Father, Dr. Wm. H. Gwathmey, for many years Recording Secretary of the Board, Miss Helen Gwathmey has done the clerical work of the Mission rooms. With the close of this decade. Miss Gwathmey retires from this service, performed with eminent fidelity and competency, in order to enter into a new life, which will be no loser from the thorough exactness and accuracy, in varied details of business practiced and the broad acquaintance with per- sons and things acquired in the Foreign Mission rooms. These rooms are conveniently furnished and are beautifully located, overlooking the James river and the city of Manchester on the opposite bank. The three rooms constitute one office, but are severally occupied by the Secretary, the Assist- ant Secretary and the clerk. The Board room is large, airy and commo- dious. The office of the Treasurer of the Board, John C. Williams, Esq. — than whom there never was a better financial officer of any board — is in another building. No. 1 11 5 East Main street, not far from the Foreign Mission rooms. The great interest of these rooms, however, is their association with loved duties, self-sacrificing Missionaries, sympathetic correspondents, and broad-minded and consecrated members of the Board, as well as with heart-aches and brain-toil and unceasing prayer, and with overwhelming joys at the divine goodness, in connection with supreme struggles of faith, which cannot be recorded by pen and ink. When the history of Pastors' closets and Professors' studies, and the secret history of the saints of God shall be revealed, then and not until then shall be known the associations, with earnest exertions and divine manifestations, which have hallowed, in 74 INTRODUCTION. many mindsj'the Foreign Mission rooms of the Southern Baptist Conven- tion. XL OFFICERS OF CONVENTION AND ITS BOARDS. [1880.] OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President. P. H. Meli., D.D., of Georgia. Vice- Presiden ts. Hon. Jos. E. Brown, Georgia. Hon. P. H. LESIvIE, Kentucky. E. T. W1NKI.ER, D.D., Alabama. W. Pope Yeaman, D.D., Missouri. Secretaries. S. E. W. DoBBS, D.D., Kentucky. Rev. O. F. Gregory, S. C. Treasurer. G. W. Norton, Kentucky. Auditor, N. Long, Kentucky. Hiram Woods, Md. J. A. Hackett, La. M. P. LowRY, Miss. W. H. Kirk, Va. H. B. McCali^um, Fla. J. L. Burrows, Ky. Corresponding Secretary. H. A. TUPPER. Treasurer. J. C WlLWAMS. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VA. President. J. L. M. CuRRY, Virginia. Vice-Presidents. T. H. Pritchard, N. C. W. L. Kilpatrick, Ga. S. Henderson, Ala. J. C. Furman, S. C W. Pope Yeaman, Mo. Matt. Hii^lsman, Tenn. J. B. Link, Texas. T. B. Espy, Ark. Recording Secretary. W. H. Gwathmey. Auditor. J. F. COTTREI^Iv. J. B. Hawthorne. J. B. Watkins. H. K. Ellyson. W. E. Hatcher. E. WORTHAM. Board of Managers. W. Goddin. H. H. Harris. John Pollard, Jr. J. Wm. Jones. A. B. Clark. J. B. Winston. T. J. Evans. S. C Clopton. H. McDonald. C. H. Winston. INTRODLCTION. 75 J. W. M. Williams, Md. J. C. C. Black, Ga. W.'C. Cleveland, Ala. J. M. BEGGS, Fla. R. H. Browne, La. HOME MISSION BOARD. MARION, ALA. President. E. T. Winkler, Alabama. Vice-Presidents. J. W. Warder, Ky. G. R. French, N. C. T. P. LiDE, Sr., S. C. W. H. Hardy, Miss. T. T. Eaton, Va. J. W. Thomas, Tenu. G. W. Baines, Jr., Tex. J. P. Eagle. H. Talbird, Mo. Corresponding Secretary. W. H. MclNTOSH. Treasurer. J. B. Lovelace. Recording Secretary. L. L. LEE. Auditor. S. H. FowLKES. J. F. Bailey. W. H. FlQUET. W. F. Davis. L. R. GWALTNEY. W. B. MODAWELL. Board of Managers. W. T. McAllister, j. t. murfee. Porter King. T. J. Dill. L. A. Wyatt. W. W. Wilkinson. A. Lawson. John Moore. I. B. Vaden. J. H. LEE. [1890.] OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President Hon. Jonathan Haralson, Selma, Ala. Vice-Presiden ts. James B. Hawthorne, D.D., Ga. Jabez L. M. Curry, LL.D., Virginia. Franklin H. Kerfoot, D.D., Ky. Mr. Lewis Bell Ely, Missouri. Secretaries. Lansing Burrows, D.D., Georgia. Oliver F. Gregory, D.D., Maryland. Treasurer. Auditor. Mr. George W. Norton, Ky. Junius Caldwell, Esq., Ky. 76 INTRODUCTION. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VA. / President H. H. Harris, Virginia. Vice-Presidents. Joshua Levering, Md. N. A. Bailey, Fla. A. E. Owen, Va. Geo. WHITFIEI.D, Miss. W. F. Atkisson, W. Va. W. C. Bi^edsoE, Ala. B. H. Carroi,!,, Texas. C. W. Tomkies, La. J. L. White, N. C. W. 1,. Kil,PATRiCK, Ga. G. F. Bagby, Ky. R.J.Wii.LiNGHAM,Tenti. J- B. Searcy, Ark. J. P. Greene, Mo. A. J. S. Thomas, S. C Corresponding Secretary. Assistant Corresponding Secretary. H. A. TUPPER. T. P. Beli,. Recording Secretary. A- B. Clarke. Treasurer. Auditor. J. C. Williams. H. C. Burnett. Board of Managers. H. K. Ellyson. J. B. HuTsoN. T. P. Matthews. C. H. Winston. W. D. Thomas. R. H. Pitt. W. E- Hatcher. W. W. Landrum. Theo. Whitfield. John Pollard. George Cooper. J- L. M. Curry. S. C. Clopton. C. H. Ryland. H. R. Pollard. All communications in reference to the business of this Board should be addressed to H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. XII. JOURNAL AND SKETCHES. The following, published in tract-form, in 1884, may be appropriately republished here, though autobiographical sketches of many of our mis- sionaries will hereafter be presented : "TO southern baptists. " Dear Brethren : "In behalf of your Foreign Mission Board, the Corresponding Secretary and the editor oi i\ic Journal , unite in issuing the following tract, containing an account of what the paper is and why it is pubUshed, sketches of our mis- sionaries, an estimate of what is needed for their support, and some hints towards arousing interest. " To your prayerful reading it is earnestly commended by your fellow servants, " H. A. Tupper, Cor. Secretary. " H. H. Harris, Editor F. M. J. " Richmond, Va." INTRODUCTION. 77 THE FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. This periodical, published monthly by the Board, contains in every issue a number of thrilling letters from your representatives in China, Italy, Africa, Brazil and Mexico ; a few short editorials and paragraphs ; items of special interest gleaned from exchanges and correspondence; and a full acknowledgment of all money received during the preceding month. It, therefore, occupies a place which can be filled by no other publication. " Itpublishes together (i), the offerings of the churches, fortheir own satisfac- tion, the stimulation of each other, and the encouragement of the mission- aries ; (2), the doings and self-denials of the missionaries for the widening of the views and the deepening of the sympathies of the churches ; and (3), the plans and policies of the Board charged with conducting these in- terests." Its publication is demanded alike by the brethren abroad and by such of those at home as read it. We confidently claim, not on merely theoretical grounds, but according to the clear results of actual trial, that a regular reading of the Journal does great good, and particularly in these respects : 1. By directing attention to the whole world, it broadens the mind and fills the heart, and thus promotes true and symmetrical growth in grace, 2. By cultivating a missionary spirit, which hes at the very heart of Christianity, it promotes spirituality and consecration in all work for the Master. 3. It increases collections for foreign missions. People give intelligently, willingly, liberally to a good cause in proportion to what they know about its methods and results. 4. It helps all collections. One who is heartily engaged in sending to the heathen the story of redeeming love, will do all the more to support the gos- pel at home. 5. It stimulates and energizes the prayers of God's people — and these are answered in abundant blessings from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. OUR FOREIGN MISSIONARIES. '[From the Foreign Mission Journal, August, 1884.] The devoted men and women who stand as our representatives to the heathen have been introduced to the readers of the Journal, one by one, as they were appointed. Here is an attempt to group them so that one who sees their letters may readily recall the personality of the writer, and thereby read with more interest and better appreciation. At the top are put the Chinese veterans — the rest geographically. Matthew T. Yates, D.D., was born in Wake county, N. C, January 8th, 1 8 19, baptized October, 1836, through many struggles gained an education, 78 INTRODUCTION. graduated with much honor at Wake Forest, 1846, married Miss Eliza Moring, of Chatham county, N. C, in September following, sailed for Shanghai early in 1847, and is still there, hoping to fill out a half century of such work as few men have been able to do. Mrs. Yates has been in poor health for a year or two, and is just now in this country, accompanied by their only child, Mrs. Seaman, and her husband, an English merchant of Shanghai. Dr. Yates learned Chinese by ear rather than by the books, and is said to be more fluent in the Shanghai dialect than any other foreigner there. He has given much time and labor to translating the Scriptures into the collo- quial speech of the 30,000,000 who inhabit the province. T. P. Crawford, D.D., was born May 8th, 1821, in Warren county, Ky., baptized in July, 1837, graduated from Union University, Tennessee, 1 851, at the head of his class, married Miss Martha Foster, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., sailed for Shanghai in November following, and in 1863 removed to Tung Chow, where, wi^h the noble sharer of his hopes and toils, he is still "abundant in labors." Mrs. Crawford recently spent a year in America, under medical treat- ment ; her talks with the ladies will be long remembered. Dr. Crawford has become almost naturalized, looks at many things from a Chinese standpoint, but with all the sturdy vigor and independence of an Anglo-Saxon. His published thoughts are peculiarly fresh and suggestive, and yet he believes with all his heart in preaching, in season and out of season, " the old, old story," whether they will hear or whether they will for- bear. Rosewell H. Graves, AID., D.D., was born in Baltimore, May 29, 1833, baptized in October, 1848, graduated fi-om St. Mary's College in 1851, then studied medicine in preparation for missionary work, sailed for Canton in 1856, and has been there ever since with few interruptions, ministering both to the bodies and to the souls of its miUions. Mrs. Graves nie Jane W. Norris, of Baltimore, was for some years one of the best teachers in her native city. In January, 1872, she was married to Dr. Graves, and a few months later she sailed with him to his Canton home. Dr. Graves has given much time to the theological instruction of young men, with a view of preparing a native ministry, to be supported by the con- tributions of Chinese Christians. E. Z. Simmons was born March ist, 1846, in Tishomingo county. Miss., was baptized at fifteen years of age, served two years under General Wheeler, in the Confederate Army. After the war, he studied, as health and means would allow, at Georgetown and Bethel Colleges, Ky., was ordained in 1869 ; on the 23d of November, 1870, married Miss Maggie D. McClamrock, and on the 3d of December following sailed for Canton. Mrs. Simmons is a native of Hardman county, Tenn., but being early left an orphan, was reared by an uncle in Florence, Ala. Failure in health INTRODUCTION. 79 made a return to America imperative in 1874. For a time they labored among the Chinese, in Cahfornia, under the American Baptist Home Mis- sion Society, then spent two sessions at Louisville, attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In February 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, with fully restored health, returned to China. His labors consist largely of itinerating tours up the several navigable branches of the Canton river, and have been greatly blessed in the conversion of many heathen. Miss Lula Whilden was born in Camden, S. C, and in early infancy went with her father. Rev. B. W. Whilden, a missionary of our Board, to Canton, China. On the death of her mother she returned to America, graduated at the Female College, Greenville, S. C, and in May, 1872, sailed, again, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Williams, the latter being her sister, for the home of her childhood. After her sister's enforced return, she lived with Mrs. "Graves and worked for the women of China, till she, too, was obliged to seek rest and medical treatment at home. She hopes to resume work next year. Miss Sallie E. Stein was born at Big Lick, now Roanoke City, Va., bap- tized by her grandfather. Rev. Wm. Harris, of sainted memory, spent a year at HoUins Institute, but her parents having moved to Mississippi, com- pleted her course at Brownsville and Mary Sharpe Colleges, Tenn. After several years of teaching in Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri, she was accepted by the Board, and sailed for China in February, 1880. She is engaged mainly in school-work. Miss Emma Young, a daughter of Rev. D. G. Young, of Greenfield, Mo., was born in Williamson county. 111., converted and deeply impressed with regard to mission work at fourteen years of age. She was graduated by the Southwestern Baptist college, at Bolivar, Mo., in 1883, and in December following, notwithstanding the troubles in South China, begged to be allowed to go on to her chosen field of labor. She is rapidly learning Can- tonese. F. C. Hickson, born July 14th, 1856, in Barnwell county, S. C, was baptized at fifteen and two years later began to preach. At nineteen entered Furman University, but left to take a school a few months before he would have finished the course. In 1879 ^^ married, spent a short time at the Seminary and has since been eminently successful as pastor and State missionary. Mr. and Mrs. Hickson expect to start to Canton about the istof October. Miss Ruth McCown is a daughter of Rev. Dr. McCown, of Gordonsville, Va. On being accepted for China several years ago, she entered a medical college in Philadelphia, was graduated last winter, and is still further prepar- ing herself by hospital practice and a special course of study on eye diseases. She is hoping to establish a hospital at Shanghai next spring, and will be supported by the ladies of South Carolina. 80 IN TROD UC TION. IV. F. Hunnex was born in London about 1853, converted under the preaching of Spurgeon, and, after due preparation, went out in 1879 under the auspices of the Chinese Inland (undenominational) Mission Society. Mrs. Hunnex was born at Geneva, Switzerland, went out under the same Society and was married in China. His practical experience in reference to loose views of the ordinances drove him to a careful study of the New Testament. Meeting then with Drs. Crawford and Yates, he was most warmly commended to our Board and accepted, to begin January ist, 1883. He is at the interior town, Chin-kiang, with whose dialect he was already familiar. Mrs. Sallie F. Holmes {nee Little) was born in Upperville Va , removed early to Cumberland, Md., was there married in July, 1858, to Rev. J. Lan- drum Holmes, and with him went to Chefoo, China. In October, 1861, a large body of rebels were approaching the city, Mr. Holmes and others went out to meet them under Hag of truce, and eight days after, their bodies were found "covered with wounds and burns." Since 1862 Mrs. Holmes has been connected with the Tung Chow mission. Miss Lottie Moon is a native of Albemarle county, Va., educated at Hollins and at the Albemarle Female Institute, taught for two years in Danville, Ky., and went out to Tung Chow in 1873. ^^i' work consists partly in superintending a school, mainly in house to house visiting among the women of that city and adjacent villages. A''. W. Halconib, born in 1853, is a native of Kentucky, but was reared in Missouri, baptized at Harrisonville, Mo., in 1865, graduated at William Jewell College, and took a partial course at Crozer Theological Seminary. Was sent out in October, 1881, to our Tung Chow mission. As the senior member of the party, though still a bachelor, he will lead the advance inland to Whang Hien. C. W. Priiitt, born in Dawson county, Ga., January 31st, 1857, and bap- tized in 1 87 1, had struggles to obtain an education, but had almost reached the diploma of a full graduate of the Seminary at Louisville, when he yielded to the solicitations of the Board and set sail for Tung Chow in December, 1882. On the same ocean steamer went Miss Ida R. Tiffany, of Wisconsin, under appointment by the Presbyterian Board. Thus provi- dentially brought together, they formed a mutual attachment, and were married at Chefoo in September, 1883. Mrs. Pruitt was baptized after her marriage, and is fully identified with her husband in his work. Miss Mattie M. Roberts is an only daughter, born in Brownsville, Ky., and early bereft of her mother. She was baptized at Cave City in 1876, taught school some years, graduated in the classic and normal courses at Lebanon, O., and returned to her chosen vocation. She sailed for China the I St of December, 1883. /. y^/. /(?/>/ i?r was born Jan. loth, 1849, ^^"^ ^^ Kalb county, Ga., removed the same year to Alabama, and thence in 1865 to Louisiana. Converted at INTRODUCTION. 81 26, he had first undertaken the law, but two years later was licensed to preach ; graduated from Mississippi College in 1881, and from the Seminary May, 1884. E. E. Davault, of Sullivan county, Tenn., was born March 31st, 1856. baptized in 1872, graduated at Carson College in 1882, and took a full course at the Seminary, graduating in 1884. It is expected that brethren Joiner and Davault will be married and set out about the first of October to join the Whang Hien Mission. Wm. J. David, born September 28th, 1850, in Lauderdale county. Miss., baptized in 1867, educated at Mississippi College and at Crozer Theological Seminary, sailed for Africa January 8th, 1875. '^i 1878 he came back to America, married Miss Nannie W. Bland, of Chesterfield county V'a., and returned December 8th, 1879. ^^- ^"^^ Mrs. David came home a few months ago to rest and recruit, hoping to be again in Lagos before Christmas. His work there has been signally blessed. P. A. Eubank was born in Clark county, Ky., January 13th, 1857, converted at fourteen, graduated in the full course, with Syriac and German besides, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May, 1882 ; married Miss Laura B. Houchens, of Boone county. Mo., and sailed for Africa in June of the same year. Stationed for awhile at Abbeokuta, he is now and will probably remain in charge of the school at Lagos. W. IV. Harvey was born November 26th, 185 1, in Hancock county, Ind., and baptized in 1868. He has spent several years in teaching, and the two last in preaching with great acceptance to churches in his native State, and at the same time prosecuting his studies at the Seminary in Louisville, Ky. At the close of last session he married Miss Cora F. Caspar, of Washington county, Ind., who has also had experience as a teacher. They are making preparations to sail for Africa next September. 6". M. Cook, born in Mercer county, Ky., May 13th, 1851, was baptized at ten years old by his father. Rev. S. Cook, educated at the National Normal University, Lebanon, O. He was engaged in teaching till September, 1883, when he was licensed to preach and entered the Southern Baptist Theologi- cal Seminary. Appointed to Africa in June last, he expects to go to his field along with Mr. and Mrs. Harvey. George B. Taylor, D.D., is the eldest son of the first Corresponding Secretary of the Board, the late Dr. J. B, Taylor ; born December 27th, 1832, in Richmond, Va., graduated at Richmond College in 185 1, spent three years at the University at Virginia, completing most of the Academic course, besides some special studies. Was eminently successful as pastor in Balti- more, Md., and Staunton, Va., as chaplain in the Army of Northern Virginia and at the University, and as editor and author of a number of volumes. In March, 1873, he was selected by the Board as the man most eminently fitted by grace and wisdom to disentangle .the complications of our work in Italy. The recent decease of the wife of his youth has spread 6 82 INTRODUCTION. a cloud deep and dark, though spanned by a rainbow, over his sorrowing houehold. John H. Eager belongs to a family of preachers. He was born Decem- ber 1 8th, 1849, ^" Jefferson county. Miss., baptized in 1864 by his father, the Rev, E. C. Eager, graduated at Mississippi College in 1874, taking the Oratory medal, as an older brother had done before and a younger since, and took the full course at the Southern Baptist Theol. Seminary. In 1879 he was appointed a missionary to China, to sail as soon as the state of the treasury would allow ; preached a year in Manchester, Va., and, meantime, with his consent, was transferred to the Italian Mission. In October, i«8o, he married Miss Olive M. Board, of Liberty, Va., and sailed the same month. They have had exceptionally fine opportunities to master the lan- guage, and are right thoroughly Italianized. W. B. Bagby is a native of Texas, whither his father moved in 1852, from King and Queen county, Va. In 1868 he was converted and entered Waco University, whence he was graduated in 1875, spent four years in the varied occupations of editing, farming and teaching ; in 1879 was ordained pastor of the Plantersville church, Grimes county. In October, 1880, he received in marriage the hand of Miss Anne E. Luther, a daughter of Rev. Dr. J. H. Luther, of Independence, Mo., and in January following sailed for Brazil. They have labored with great success at Santa Barbara and at Bahia, and have recently gone to open a new station at Rio de Janeiro. Z. C. Taylor was born near Jackson, Miss., in 1851, moved to Texas in 1865, and at the age of 18 was baptized into the fellowship of Liberty church, Houston county ; studied at Waco and Baylor Universities, graduated from the latter in 1879 and spent a short time at the Seminary, Louisville, Ky. On Christmas day, 1881, he married Miss Kate S. Crawford, of Salado, Texas, and in January following sailed for Brazil. He remains in charge of the promising work at Bahia. W. D. Powell has never been still long enough for us to take his profile. Born in Mississippi, reared in Tennessee and brought to the front in Texas, .he belongs almost equally to these three States. He worked his way through Union University at Murfreesboro, then went to Texas, where for five years .he was Sunday-school missionary, and won the hearts of thousands of chil- dren. Appointed to Mexico in the summer of 1882, he crossed the Rio Grande in the early autumn, and has been enabled to inaugurate at Saltillo a work in preaching and teaching which seems bright with promise. Miss Annie J. Maberry is a sister of Mrs. Powell, went with them to Mexico, and has been engaged in teaching the girls, so that they may think ifor them.selvcs, instead of submitting blindly to the priest. W. M. Flournoy was ordained at Laredo, November 20th, 1881, appointed a missionary, to Mexico by the Baptist State Convention of Texas, and sub- sequently adopted by our Board. Mrs. Flournoy is, we believe, a native of Mexico, though joi German extraction. She has been eminently successful INTRODUCTION. 88 as a teacher, being supported by the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas. Miss Addie Barton is a graduate of Salado College, Texas, and has had some experience as a teacher. She holds an appointment to teach in the Madero Institute, Saltillo, as soon as it is ready for pupils. T". M. Myers was born September i, 1855, in Harrison county, Ky., at 17 began to teach a public school, at twenty entered a Commercial College in Cincinnati, and was there baptized in 1876 ; in 1879 entered the Seminary at Louisville, and completed the full course this year, having meantime spent one session at Bethel College. Appointed last March for Africa, he has very reluctantly consented to go instead this fall to Mexico. AN ESTIMATE. From the foregoing list it appears that we have, including six who are temporarily restfng, thirty-five nx&xv and women actually engaged in carrying the gospel to the nations which sit in darkness, and thirteen others under ap- pointment and expecting to sail in a few months. They are aided by about forty native assistants and evangelists. For the sake of economy, safety and regularity in remitting, the treasurer of each mission is authorized to draw on our treasury, through bank, quarterly in advance. To meet these drafts, which are constantly coming, and must be paid on presentation, re- quires about $7,000 a month. The outfit, passage, and one quarter's salary of those who ought to sail on or about the first of October, will cost ^8,000 more. Add to this that half a dozen chapels are sorely needed and should be provided at once, and that our work in all the five continents has been sig- nally blessed, is everywhere expanding, and calls for constant reinforcement. The Board asks for $100,000 for this conventional year, ending April 30th ; it needs one-fourth of that amount before October next. HOW CAN IT BE RAISED ? Our brethren have the means and the disposition to give for the Lord's ser- vice. They need only to know the merits of this particular demand. An occasional sermon or lecture on missions would help — allusions to missions in many sermons and lectures would be better — prayer for missions is best of all. The "Monthly Concert of Prayer" was begun by our brethren in England just one hundred years ago. Wherever it has been maintained rich blessings have followed. The first Monday night in every month was the time originally appointed. Some prefer Sunday afternoon, some choose the regular time for the weekly prayer-meeting. Select a time, make the meetings instructive and they will be interesting. Another good plan will be to circulate the Journal in your church. The periodical belongs to the Board and any excess of receipts above the neces- sary cost of pubhcation goes into the Treasury. So of course for any de- ficit the Board is ultimately bound. But it can and must be kept on a self- supporting basis. 84 INTRODUCTION, XIII. LIST OF MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES. OUR MISSIONARIES. [MAY, 1880.] China. At Tung Chau—{^. O. Chefoo) — T. P. Crawford, Mrs. Crawford, Mrs. S. J. Holmes, Miss L. Moon, Woo Tswun Chau (native pastor). Ai Shanghai. — M. T. Yates, Mrs. Yates, Wong Ping San (native pastor), and one native assistant. At Cant07i. — R H. Graves, Mrs. Graves, Miss Lula Whilden, E. Z. Sim- mons, Mrs. Simmons. Miss Sallie Stein, Yong Seen San and eleven other native assistants and Bible women. Africa. At Abbeokuta — (P. O. Lagos). — W. J. David, Mrs. David and two native assistants. ' At Lagos. — S. Cosby, of Colored Baptist Board, associated, and one na- tive assistant. Italy. At Rome. — G. B. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor and Signor Cocorda. At Torre Pellice. — Signor Ferraris. At Milan. — Signor Paschetto. At Modena and Carpi. — Signor Martinelli. At Naples. — Signor Colombo. At Bar i. — "I c- ir i • , „ _ \ Signor Volpi. At Barletta.— j ^ ^ At Island of Sardinia. — Signor Cossu. At Venice. — Signor Bellondi. At Bologna. — Signor Basile. Brazil. Santa Barbara — San Paulo. — E. H. Quillin. OUR MISSIONARIES. [mAV, 1 890.] Southern China. Canton and Vicinity. — R. H. Graves, Miss Lula Whilden, E. Z. Simmons, Mrs. Simmons, Thomas McCloy, Mrs. McCloy, Mrs. J. L. Sanford, Miss Nellie Hartwell, Miss H. F. North, Miss Mollie McMinn and twenty-one native assistants and Bible women. Central China. Shanghai. — Mrs. Yates, D. W. Herring, Mrs. Herring, E. F. Tatum, Miss Alice M. Flagg ; assistant pastor, Wong Ping San ; chapel-keeper — a licen- tiate— Wong Yeur San ; sexton, P'ay Sian Su. Kwin San. — See T'ay San, pastor. • Soochow. — T. C, Britton, Mrs. Britton, Tsu-nye-Shang, a licentiate and chapel-keeper. INTRODUCTION. 8ft Chinkiang. — W. J. Hunnex, Mrs. Hunnex, R. T. Bryan, Mrs. Bryan, L. N. Chappell, Mrs. Chappell. Northertt China — {P. O., Cke/oo.) Tung Chow Mission. — T. P. Crawford, Mrs. Crawford, Mrs. S.J. Holmes, Miss Lottie Moon, Miss Fannie S. Knight, T, J. League, Mrs. League, Miss Laura G. Barton, Miss M. J. Thornton. IVang Hien Mission.— Q. W. Pruitt, Mrs. Pruitt, G. P. Bostick, Mrs. Bos- tick, Mrs. Davault. Africa. Lagos, — W. J. David, Mrs. David, P. A. Eubank, Mrs. Eubank, C. C. Newton, Mrs. Newton, Miss Alberta Newton, with four native assistants and teachers. Abbeokuta—{?. O., Lagos.) — W. W. Harvey, Mrs. Harvey, C. E. Smith, •W. T. Lumbley, Mrs. Lumbley and one assistant. Ogbomoshaw. — L, O. Murray, native evangelist. Gaun. — ^Jerry A. Hanson, native evangelist. Hausser Farm. — Albert Eli, native evangelist. Italy. Rome. — George B. Taylor, 52 Via Giulio Romano ; J. H. Eager and Mris'. Eager, 52 Via Giulio Romano. Rome. — Signor Paschetto. Pinerolo. — Signor Ferraris. Milan. — Nicholas Papengouth. Venice and Mestre. — Signor Bellondi. Bologna. — Signor Colombo. Modena. — Signor Martinelli. Carpi. — Signor Fasulo. Bari and Barletta. — Signor Volpi. Naples. — Signor Basile. Torre Pellice. — Signor Malan. Cagliari, Sardinia. — Signor Arbanasich. Iglesias, Sardinia. — Signor Cossu. Brazil. Rio de Janeiro.— VJ. B. Bagby, Mrs. Bagby, E. H. Soper, Mrs. Soper, Mss Emma Morton. Bahia. — Z. C. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor, J. A. Barker, Mrs. Barker. Maceio. — Senhor Lins. Pernambiico. — Senhor Joao Baptista. Minas Giraes. — C. D. Daniel, Mrs. Daniel, native assistant. Mexico. State of Coahuila. .Saltillo. — W. D. Powell, Mrs. Powell, Miss Annie J. Mayberry, H. R. Moseley, Mrs. Moseley, Miss L. C. Cabaniss, Mrs. J. P. Duggan, Jose M. Cardenas, Miss Virginia Varris and three colporteurs. 86 • INTRODUCTION. Parras. — A. B. Rudd, Mrs. Rudd and Miss Sallie Hale. Patos.—V>. Muller. Musquiz and Rio Grande District. — A. C. Watkins, Mrs. Watkins and P. Rodriguez. Progresso and Juarez. — S. Dominguez. Maiehuala and Cedral.—]. G. Chastain, Mrs. Chastain and Porfirio Rod- riguez. San Rafael arid San Joaquin. — Gilbert© Rodriguez. Galeana. — Jose Maria Gamez. Rayones. — Filipe Jimenez. state of Zacatecas and AgTias Calientes. Zacatecas. — H. P. McCormick, Mrs. McCormick and Miss Addie Barton. Aguas Calientes. — A. Trevinio. State of yalisco. Guadalajara. — D, A. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson. Japan. ' J. W. McCollum, Mrs. McCoUum, J. A. Brunson (Sallie R. Brown, mission- ary), Mrs. Brunson. • Address — Bluff 151, Kobe, Japan. Note. — Letters addressed to our missionaries in China should be endorsed via San Francisco. Those to Africa, via England. Those to Rome, 27 Via del Teatro Valle. The postage to each of our missions is ^ve cents, except Mexico, which is two cents. CHAPTER I I8«0. 87 REV. J. B. JETER, D.D. President of the Foreign Mission Board, 1^4^-1851 : 1SJ3-1866: 1867-68. 88 CHAPTER I. 1880. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONVENTION. As the writer happens to know that the facts and figures, as well as all the statements of the following article, that appeared a short time before the Convention of 1880, are correct, he repub- lishes it because of the information it affords : "southern baptist convention. *' This body will meet on the 6th day of May, in Lexington, Ky. Arrangements with railroads are making now, which, we hope, will result so favorably that many may find it convenient to visit this ancient city, whose centennial, by the way, was cel- ebrated last year with enthusiastic demonstrations. It might seem more becoming for us to let the good people do their own inviting to their home ; but, knowing that the traditional hospi- tality of the ' Old Dominion ' is fully inherited by her daughter of the West, we only anticipate them a little, in the earnestness of the desire that they may enjoy the blessing of entertaining a large company of ' angels unawares.' In Lexington may be seen the edifice of the old Transylvania University, chartered by the State of Virginia ; and there, also, lies all that is mortal of the ' Great Commoner,' Henry Clay, whose marble statue adorns the grounds of our own Capitol, and whose epitaph, taken from his last words, might be profitably pondered by the statesmen of our day and of all time : ' I can, with unshaken confidence, appeal to the Divine Arbiter for the truth of the de- claration that I have been influenced by no impure purposes, no personal motives, have sought no personal aggrandizement ; but, that in all my public acts, I have had a sole and single eye and a warm and devoted heart directed and dedicated to what, in my best judgment, I believe to be the true interest of my country.' 89 90 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Among other links between the two States is the fact that Virginia now claims and secures from Lexington the son ofthe late honored Kentucky minister, Rev. J. M. Frost, for the gift to Lexington of the son of our great former Virginia preacher, Dr. J. L. Bur- rows. The mantle of the fathers has already fallen on the sons ! " By the law of association, there comes at once to mind our Theological Seminary at Louisville, as one of the interests which should have special attention at the Convention. The institution has had a rough time. Let us pray and labor that it may go forth from the Convention under brighter skies and more favor- ing gales. It is legitimate for a missionary organization to foster the school of the prophets, to whose halls it must look for its best equipped messengers to the destitute places of our conti- nent and the benighted nations of the earth. "According to the Constitution of the Convention, it was or- ganized as ' a plan for eliciting, combining and directing the energies ofthe whole denomination in one sacred effort for the propagation of the gospel.' Our people are not fully alive to this grand enterprise, but the work is moving in their hands. Just now there seems to be an advance in several directions. The Home Board has entered the important field of the Chinese in California, and is giving aid and comfort to the Home Mis- sion Society of New York in their labors to establish Ministerial Institutes for our colored preachers. Our Foreign Board has just sent into their distant fields five laborers, and several others are only awaiting favorable circumstances for their departure. Two stations have been opened in Brazil, and correspondence is going on with regard to a mission in Mexico. And, with the advancing prosperity which is dawning on our country, there is no reason why both of our Boards should not make much greater expansion in their respective spheres of action. For example, the work among the Indians should be pressed with twofold vigor, and the work in Africa should be stimulated and enlarged by some united effort of our white and colored churches. "And are not our people being more imbued with the spirit of missions, if their state may be tested by the gradual increase of their contributions. It is a mistake to suppose that our churches ANNOUNCEMENT OE THE CONVENTION. 91 are doing for missions less now than they used to do. If Dr. Mcintosh would compare the period since the war with an equal period before the war, we doubt not that he will find that the re- ceipts for his Board during the former period exceed those dur- ing the latter. We are quite sure that this is true with regard to the contributions to the Board for Foreign Missions. In fact, taking out the period of seven years, which covers the war times, and a similar period immediately following, and each period of seven years from 1845 to 1880 shows decided increase of contri- butions. The figures are worthy the space which they will oc- cupy in this article. The receipts from 1845 to 1852 were ^135,- 440.69; from 1852 to 1859 they were ;^2o6,8o9.86; from 1859 to 1866 (covering the war period) ^181,119.59 ; from 1866 to 1873 (the period following the war) ;^i83, 306.49 ; from 1873 to 1880, ^266,986.77. If the fourteen years before the war, viz. : from 1845 to 1859, be compared with the fourteen years since the war, the figures will stand ;^342,25o 55 and ;^450,293.26, showing more than one hundred thousand dollars in favor of the period of fourteen years since the ivar. How does the matter ap- pear as to contributions before and since the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention ? The whole amount contributed by the South for Home and Foreign Missions between the years 18 14 and 1845 was ^212,000. The amount for Foreign Missions alone, from 1845 to 1880, has been ;^973,663.38. If we add the contributions to the Home Board, we doubt not that the aggre- gate would not fall short of one and a half millions of dollars. In the face of these facts and figures, no argument can prevail against the Southern Baptist Convention as ' a plan for eliciting, combining and directing the energies ' of the South for the pro- pagation of the gospel. " But let us not boast ourselves. With our acknowledged im- provement, our gifts to the works of the Convention do not average ten cents per capita. This statement is more humiliating because most of the other evangelical denominations give greatly more than we do. Against our ten cents some of them give from sixty to one hundred cents per member. In a published statistical table, we are put down at about half that we really do. The truth makes an unenviable showing enough for us, who 92 FOREIGN MISSIONS. claim as the shibboleth of our tribe of Israel, ' Thus saith the Lord.' " Much is said about plans for raising money for our Conven- tion. The simplest plan, in our humble judgment, is for the pastors to give regularly missionary information to their people, and for the people to pray constantly the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest. It is stated that, out of every dollar given for religious purposes, ninety-eight cents are ex- pended at home, and only two cents are sent abroad. An illus- tration of this disparity of appropriation appears when we con- sider that the whole missionary property of the Southern Baptist Convention is scarcely worth ^60,000, while our church property at home — if we estimate one-fourth of the Baptist church property of the country as our part — is valued at some ;^ 10,000,000. "But the chief desire of our heart is that the Holy Spirit may come down in abundant measure upon our people. If they would only open their eyes and see the relation of all the doctrines of grace to the objects of our Convention ! If they would only learn what vast strides other Christians are making in this mis- sionary field of labor ! If they would only realize the wonderful changes going on among the nations under the influence of the gospel of Christ ! The whole world is moving in art and science and commerce and diplomacy ; the kingdom of darkness was never more active and aggressive ; and shall not the churches ot the living God keep abreast of the times in energy and well- doing, and prove that, under the Captain of our salvation, they are more than equal to the followers of the god of this world ? " Let our people bestir themselves and send up their offerings, freely and in the fear of God, to our struggling Boards, that they may do the work assigned them and make encouraging reports to the Convention ; let the delegates go up to Lexington with thoughtful minds and prayerful hearts, and, when there, be * slow to speak and swift to hear : ' and let us all, whether we go to the Convention or not, bear in mind that, inasmuch as naked we came into the world and naked we go out of it, save bearing in our hand the fruit of the life we have spent, we should work while it is called to-day, and be ready when the night cometh to go, full of grace and good deeds, to that convocation of the saints MEETING OF THE CONVENTION. 93 in light, which, in love, and zeal, and devotion, and holiness, and activity, may be a fit model for our Southern Baptist Convention." — Religious Herald. MEETING OE THE CONVENTION. The Convention met in the First Baptist Church, of Lexington, Kentucky, Thursday, May 6th, 1880. Dr. James P. Boyce, of Kentucky, who had presided over the body for eight consecutive years, took the chair and called the body to order. The year before, at Atlanta, he stated that he would decline further re- election. The body sang " Come, we that love the Lord," and the chairman read that grand exaltation and prophecy of Isaiah, " O Lord, thou art my God ; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name," chap. xxv. Dr. William Shelton, of Illinois, led in prayer. There were 314 members present; the number entitled to seats was 592. Forty-five "visiting brethren" were on the floor — among them messengers from the American Baptist Home Mission Society, of New York. Dr. P. H. Mell, who had presided from 1863 to 1871, inclusive, was elected presi- dent, and made a felicitous address of acceptance. Hon. J. E. Brown, of Georgia, and Drs. E. T. Winkler, of Alabama, P. H Leslie, of Kentucky, W. P. Yeaman, of Missouri, were elected vice-presidents. C. E. W. Dobbs, D.D., of Kentucky, and O. F. Gregory, D.D., of South Carolina, were elected secretaries of the Convention. The church was decorated elaborately and exquisitely with flowers, not only of great variety and rareness, but with arrangement indicating no common artistic skill. In- cidental to this fine and floral welcome, an admirable and pious brother, deeply interested in missions, complained in print that his attention and devotion were painfully diverted by the ele- gance of this scenery. But is not beautiful scenery everywhere in the temple of nature and of God ? In the midst of the deco- rations of the rostrum was the striking portrait of the Rev. Dr. Jeter, which now adorns the Jeter Memorial Hall of Richmond College. The pastor, Rev. Lansing Burrows, D.D., received many congratulations on the completeness of the arrangements for the Convention's reception and entertainment. To respond to an eloquent address of welcome by the pastor, Dr. E. T. 94 FOREIGN MISSIONS, Winkler, of Alabama, was called out by the president, without previous notice. Hesitating, with the remark, " What have I done, Mr. President, to merit this at your hands ? " this soldier- like and scholarly brother marched upon the platform and showed himself quite equal to the occasion — "the right man in the right place." Dr. Mell preached the Convention sermon, in his usual direct and forcible style, from the text : " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life," John iii. i6. REV. J. B. JETER, D.D. The incident of the portrait of Dr. Jeter, as the centre of the floral decorations, leads to the remark — which may not be re- garded immodest — that the book entitled " The Foreign Mis- sions of the Southern Baptist Convention," of which the present volume is a continuance, and which was published in i88o, was dedicated to this man of God ; but it was never seen by him. That book opened with a memorial notice of the former corre- sponding secretary of the Foreign Mission Board, Rev. James B. Taylor, D.D., reported to the Convention in 1872. This work may appropriately start with a similar notice of the great and good man whose death was reported to the Convention by our board, in 1880, in these terms : " DEATH OF REV. J. B. JETER, D.D. "On the 1 8th day of February, 1880, this Father in Israel, in the seventy-eighth year of his mortal life, passed away. On the 1st of March the following paper, presented by their President, was mournfully adopted by the Board : " It is meet that the Board of Foreign Missions should put on permanent record its estimate of Jeremiah Bell Jeter as a man and a Christian, and its sense of loss sustained in the death of one so inseparably interwoven with its entire history. The life of no other man was so nearly the life of the Board. In 1845, when the Board, at the first session of the Convention, was established, Dr. Jeter was appointed the first President. From that day unto his departure he was uninterruptedly a member. REV. /. B. JETER, D.D. 95 Intelligently and enthusiastically interested in the work of the Board, he regarded it with peculiar affectionateness. Besides what he did by pen and public addresses, we recall with pleasure how, at times, in our regular sessions, his great soul would be stirred within him, and in prayer or exhortation he would pour forth his expressions of gratitude or obligation, showing how completely the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom had be- come a part of his intellectual and spiritual nature. The welfare of the missionaries was looked after with the tenderest solici- tude. Their fields were studied, their wants comprehended, their success rejoiced in. Prompt and punctual in his attend- ance on the sessions, sagacious and fruitful in the suggestion of plans and measures, prudent and wise in adjusting difficulties, cheerful in hours of long delay and disappointed hopes, he was the leader in our mission work, and we shall miss him more sensibly, and feel our loss more poignantly, whenever great and troublesome questions shall hereafter come before us for so- lution. " Having enjoyed unusual opportunities for knowing Dr. Jeter in the unreserve of our confidential sessions, having sat for years with him around the Council Board, shut out from public gaze, and deliberating with anxious hearts for the prosperity of Zion, we have known his inner nature, sounded the depths of his great soul and learned to revere and love him for his transparent frankness, his unsuspecting guilelessness, his strong faith, his calm courage, his hatred of everything evasive and disingen- uous, his unflagging zeal undiminished by age, his devotion to duty, his growing assimilation in thought and word and conduct to the spirit and principles of the Master. The Board, the Mis- sionaries, the Convention had in him a generous and unselfish friend, a wise counselor and a bright example of what grace and the Holy Spirit can accomplish in the renovation and consecra- tion of a human soul — " Resolved, That the Secretary transmit a copy of this minute to Mrs. Jeter, who contributed so much to the usefulness and happiness of our departed brother, with the assurance of our most cordial sympathy in her severe affliction. " Resolved, That the page following the record of this action of the 96 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Board be left blank, with the exception of the name and time of birth and death of our associate and brother." MEMORIAL SERVICE IN RICHMOND. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL AND DR. JETER. After an eloquent sermon, by Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, then pas- tor of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Va., in reference to the death of Dr. Jeter, on Sunday, the 22d of February, 1880, the following remarks, in behalf of a committee whose report was adopted, were made ; and are copied from the For- eign Mission Journal of March, 1880: " Many things have been said truthfully and beautifully and eloquently of the former pastor of this church, whose body sleeps under the sod and whose spirit stands loftily before the throne of our God. But there is one fact which has not been mentioned in public. Our brother was accustomed to quote and repeat and reiterate this scripture : ' For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' I am credibly informed that he was heard to utter these words as many as six times in the course of an hour. *' The preceding context of this passage seemed to be the guide of his life : ' Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temper- ance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. * * * por so,' as our brother no doubt found it, * an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' The succeed- ing context of the passage probably suggested to our brother the frequent repetition of the passage. Immediately after the text, Peter says : ' Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you al- ways in remembrance of these things.' And he repeats : ' Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.' Then he reiterates : ' More- MEMORIAL SERVICE IN RICHMOND. 97 over, I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.' " Your committee, sir, might have readily indulged in pane- gyric in their report. They feel that it is an honor to have lived on the same planet with such a man. When the news of his sudden ascent startled their heart, their heart instinctively ran after him and cried : ' My father, my father ! The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!' He was our Elijah — the veteran defence of the truth — ' the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! ' "But your committee thought it wiser to follow the sugges- tion of the man of God himself, who would have his decease to bring to our remembrance the blessed teaching that, by adding virtue to virtue and grace to grace, ' an entrance shall be min- istered unto ' us, as it has been unto him ' abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' "I emphasize ' abundantly.' Last Sunday, sir, you graph- ically depicted the penitent thief, leaning on the arm of the Saviour, and entering the gates and walking the streets of the paradise of God. Thus, with more than a chariot of fire, with more than a convoy of angels, on the bosom of him at whose approach the angels shout : ' Lift up your heads, oh ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in,' the spirit of our brother may have gone in ! And ' so an abundant entrance shall be ministered unto us ' if we live and die as he did, ' into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' " The fact that I have mentioned has given direction and complexion to the report of your committee, who ask that if it be approved, it may be adopted in silence by a rising vote of the church and congregation : " Whereas, our Heavenly Father has given to sleep the body, and taken to himself the spirit, of him whose name is trembling on every lip, and whose noble life is embalmed in every heart ; and whereas, the sorrowful thought that we shall see his face no more on earth should revive in memory and keep in remembrance the great principles and doctrines of divine truth which he, our former pastor and now sainted brother, so faithfully inculcated and so consistently exemplified ; and whereas, deep and manifest was his 7 98 FOREIGN MISSIONS. desire that life should be so ordered, by himself and by others, as to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ — ' For so an entrance,' as he was accustomed to quote and repeat, and re- iterate, as he did no other Scripture, ' shall be ministered unto you abun- dantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ;' therefore, " I. Resolved, That while his abode in the flesh seemed more needful for us, his presence with Christ is far better for him ; and, while the moan of nature may never hush in some hearts, the voice of the Spirit may give consolation in the assured conviction that, as ' to live is Christ, to die is gain.' "2. Resolved, That, as the best tribute to the holy teaching and living of this man of God, we should give all diligence to so grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as to manifest ourselves partakers of the divine nature, and participants of the exceeding great and precious promises of the gospel ; ' for so an entrance,' according to the longing of our brother, ' shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." " 3. Resolved, That a page of our record-book be devoted to the memory of the deceased with the inscription — In Memoriam. Rev. Jeremiah Bell Jeter, D.D. 2 Peter, i. 11. " 4. Resolved, That in this house, erected under the ministry and by the labors of our former and now glorified pastor, might be appropriately set up, during this, our church centennial, some memorial which would remind us ever of those lips so sanctified by truth, and that life so consecrated to Christ; and that on such a memorial, whether of marble or of glass, should it be erected, might be perpetuated before our eyes the gospel precept and promise which seemed the guide of his own life, and which he strove to en- grave on the hearts of others : " ' Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge ; and to knowledge temperance ; and to temperance patience ; and to patience godliness ; and to godliness brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness charity. For, if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. * * * For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abun- dantly,into.the everlasting kingdom of our Lordjesus Christ.' " 5. Resolved, That, a copy of this paper be sent to the family of the deceased, with ,the assurances of the profound sympathy of this church and congregation." The ; paper was adopted by a rising vote of the church and congregation. DR. JETER AND PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 99 DR JETER AND PUBLICATION SOCIETY. Dr. Jeter had been a warm and constant friend of the Amer- ican Baptist Publication Society. Preceded by a striking Hke- ness of the doctor, the following sketch was published in a magazine of that society : " JEREMIAH BELL JETER, D.D. BY A FRIEND. " None knew him but to love him ; None named him but to praise." "The cut at the head of this sketch is well-nigh a perfect like- ness of the man who stood among Baptists of the South as Saul stood among his brethren : ' He was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.' His fall was a shock to the country. It was like the fall of a giant oak, that shakes the whole forest round. "Jeremiah Bell Jeter was born July 2, 1802, in the county of Bedford, Virginia. He was baptized by Rev. William Harris, in December, 182 1, in the North Fork of Otto River. Coming out of the stream, he addressed the people on the bank. His first sermon was preached to a few mountaineers on the 15th of January, 1822, in the gorge between the Flat Top and Luck Mountains of his native count}-. He assisted to organize the General Baptist Association of Virginia in 1823; was its first appointed missionary, and the last survivor of its original mem- bers. On the 4th of May, 1824, he was ordained at High Hills Church, Sussex County, by Rev. Nathaniel Chambliss and Rev. John D. Williams. In the spring of 1826 he became the pastor of Hill's Creek and Union Hill Churches, Campbell County, Va. In the fall of 1827 he was installed as pastor of Morattico Church, in Lancaster County, and subsequently of Wicomico Church, in Northumberland County, — both in what is called 'The Northern Neck' of Virginia. On the first Sunday in January, 1836, he was publicly recognized as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richmond. During this pastorate of thirteen years he baptized about ten hundred converts into the fellowship of the church ; the present church edifice, of which there is a fine engraving in the ' Baptist Encyclopaedia,' was erected, and 100 FOREIGN MISSIONS. the First African Church was organized, with two thousand members. In 1 849 Dr. Jeter became the pastor of the Second Baptist Church of St. Louis, where he baptized one hundred and fifty persons, and was instrumental in organizing two other churches. In 1852 he returned to Richmond, and took charge of the Grace Street Baptist Church. When his pastorate closed, in 1870, the membership of the church had increased from three hundred to six hundred. At his death he had been, for fourteen years, the editor of the Religions Herald. He was also President of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, President of the Trustees of Richmond College, Pres- ident of the Board of Richmond Female Institute, Vice-President of the State Mission Board of the General Association of Vir- ginia, and Vice-President of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention, of which Board he had been President for many years. He was author of the call from Vir- ginia that brought together, in 1845, the assembly which organ- ized the Southern Baptist Convention. And so identified was he with all of its work that it might be inscribed of him in the Convention as it is inscribed of Sir Christopher Wren in Saint Paul's Cathedral : ' If you ask for his monument, look about you.' " Many men were more extensively known ; but no man in America was more favorably and more widely known as a great and good man than the Rev. J. B. Jeter, D.D. As the news of his death was flashed over the country and across the Atlantic, the sentiment filled many hearts : * How is the strong staff and the beautiful rod broken ! ' This figure seemed as appropriate to this fallen nobleman of nature and hero of Christian life as if it had been penned originally with regard to him. There was a combination of charming simplicity and manly vigor and inflex- ible integrity which is rarely found in a single character. Though in age nearly four-score years, his spirit seemed to have still lingering upon it the dew of youth, while in intellectual power he was the peer of any man of his denomination, and in the force of moral and religious example he was a tower of strength to the Christian world. His erect and lofty form was a fit sym- bol of the true and majestic soul within. This was the greatness EPITAPH. 101 of the man, — his great goodness. ' See that obelisk yonder/ said Confucius ; 'xis, uprightness is its strength.' Dr. Jeter was proficient in the philosophy of not looking back, but of looking forward in life. He kept up with the times, and was projecting and executing to the last. Thus he kept young in his feelings, outstripped many of his contemporaries in labors, and was de- veloping his forces to the very end. The day he entered the room of his fatal illness, he was more powerful in all the ele- ments of moral and intellectual manhood than he was twenty years before. His eye was not dim, nor was his natural force abated. The transparency of his nature was child-like; his can- dor was proverbial ; his sympathies seemed as broad as the suf- ferings of his fellows; and in glancing over as much of his long career as our memory can compass, we do not see a speck of evil imputation that ever adhered to his reputation. " He was the author of several volumes, which are marked by the perspicuity and perspicacity, and by the prudence and the piety which have elevated him among the classic and Christian writers of our times. He was the Nestor of the Baptist press, one of the wisest counselors and ablest debaters of the Southern Baptist Convention, and, as a preacher, he was a confessed model of the Baptist pulpit. It was no mean compliment when an uncommonly bright child of seven years, who had recently heard in succession a number of able ministers, said: 'I like Dr. Jeter the best of them all.' His life, like his Master's, was simple and sublime; his death was mild, and grand as the set- ting sun. His last words showed his calm submission to the will of God : ' This will take me off; but the Lord reigneth.' " There is an appropriate motto written, under the words, 'Died, February i8th, 1880,' on his stately monument of granite in the Cemetery of Hollywood, near Richmond : ' Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? ' " EPITAPH. The epitaph of Dr. Jeter has been publicly criticised. Dr. John C. Long, one of our best English scholars, defended it through the press, by quotations of grammatical construction 102 FOREIGN MISSIONS. similar to that criticised, from the most eminent EngHsh classics. It is beheved that no author, of recognized authority in the use of the Enghsh language, from the days of Queen Elizabeth to the present time, can be named, in whose writings the identical grammatical construction cannot be discovered. THE EPITAPH. "JEREMIAH BELL JETER. D.D. born in Bedford County, Virginia, July 1 8th 1802. Died in Richmond, Va., Feb. 18th 1880. " ' Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.' "A Preacher, wise in winning souls; A Missionary, laborious in destitute regions ; A Pastor, successful in Country and in City ; An Author and Edi- tor, whose writings, eloquent and evangehcal, were ever promotive of the Redeemer's kingdom ; This man of God fairly won and fully sustained the distinction of ' a good Minister of Jesus Christ.' " Prominent in all the great enterprises of his denomination and holding high and responsible positions, the story of his life will be written in the history of Virginia and American Baptists, among whom, for more than half a century, he was an honored and trusted leader." MEMOIR. The convention made the memorial record ensuing presented by Dr. J. A. Broadus, Chairman: "Jeremiah B. Jeter was one of the founders of this Convention, thirty-five years ago, and before that time had been for years a leading member of the Triennial Convention, which included Baptists from all parts of the United States. He has attended nearly all the meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention, and always took an active part in its deliberations. For many years he was President of the Foreign Mission Board, and also for many years President of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Baptist Theologi- cal Seminary. To write his history would, therefore, be to write the history of this Convention. No member of this body at any session when he was present can have failed to be impressed by Dr. Jeter's good sense, simplicity of character, elevation of aim, and earnest devoutness. But only now do we fully perceive how large a place he filled in all our work, how command- ing he was in ability, and how noble in character. This Convention has ANOTHER BOOK. 103 many precious memories of great and good men ; may we all be moved to follow them as they followed Christ. "The Committee learn with great satisfaction that Rev. W. E. Hatcher, D.D., a kinsman of Dr. Jeter, a native of the same county, and of late years his pastor in Richmond, has consented to prepare a memoir, and that this will comprise the delightful ' Recollections of a Long Life,' which Dr. Jeter published in many numbers of the ' Religious Herald.' So gifted an author, and enjoying such advantages, cannot fail to give us a book of high inter- est and value, and many will eagerly await its appearance. "John A. Broadus, " T. J. Walne, "W. Pope Yeaman, " T. G. Jones. " Comtniitt'e." "The Life of Dr. Jeter." by Dr. Hatcher, appeared in 1887, meeting all expectations of the most earnest friends of the sainted man of God. ANOTHER BOOK. The chronicler of events with which he himself is connected has to decide between the alternative of pretermitting what is personal to himself, and thus being unfaithful to history ; or of doing the more difficult thing of separating himself as a recor- der from himself as a subject of record, and chronicling such personal matters as if they pertained to some other person. This remark arises in encountering the following report of the Foreign Mission Board to the Convention, in 1880, with regard to the book, of which this volume is a continuance : " THE FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. " This work has been published by the request of the Convention. Any profits, beyond the actual expenses of publication and circulation, which may accrue from the book, will go into the treasury of our Board. The fol- lowing report was adopted by the Board at its regular monthly meeting, on April 5th, 1880: " The Committee on Publications have much pleasure in reporting that during the past month the new work of our Corresponding Secretary on 'the Foreign Missions of the S. B. Convention' was issued from the press. " It forms a large and handsome volume of 500 pages, and is gotten up in excellent style. " It properly, and by permission, bears the imprint of this Board ; but by wise and liberal, as well as fortunate arrangement, the Board incurs no pecuniary risk in its publication. 104 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " We are enabled to reap all the substantial benefits of the issue and the dissemination of a work laboriously prepared in our interests — a full and admirable compendium, in fact, of our history and work — and that without the venture of a single dollar in the experiment of book-making. " In our judgment the hearty thanks of the Board are due to our brother, the Corresponding Secretary, for the immense labor and pains involved in this successful execution of his self-imposed task of turning out fragmentary records into consecutive history, and also for his prudent and disinterested measures for giving his book to the world. " We commend the work, not without pride, to Christian people every- where, that they may read therein the lives and labors of those who, from amongst ourselves, have in a special sense, devoted themselves to the Lord's work, and may trace the varying progress of that work as it has been prosecuted by this Board during the thirty-five years of our indepen- dent existence. " Especially will we find satisfaction in presenting this finished volume to the Convention, who by resolution encouraged its preparation, and pledged itself ' to aid to the full extent of ability in its circulation.' " The Convention Committee, to whom the work had been re- ferred, reported, according to the Proceedings of the Conven- tion, thus : " FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. " The Committee to consider the Treatise on ' Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention,' by Rev. H. A. Tupper, D.D., report that the resolution of this Convention calling for the publication in book form of the articles that appeared in our religious press from the pen of the Correspond- ing Secretary of the Foreign Mission Board, has been most satisfactorily complied with in an elegant volume of 512 pages, well printed on the best paper. The work is an able and valuable history of the Foreign Missions of our Convention, which should be in the hands of every Baptist. It is, without doubt, the most valuable record of Southern Missions ever published, and unequaled as a book ot reference. Ignorance of Missions, and particu- larly of what has been done in that direction, is a fruitful cause of the apathy and indifference existing in regard to the command of the Master, ' Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' This book sup- plies in a most attractive form all the desired information. In addition, it contains the biographies of about seventy of our noble and self-denying mis- sionaries. The thanks af this Convention are due to Dr. Tupper for the great service he has rendered to the cause of Missions. " M. B. Wharton, Ga., " W. A. Forbes, Ark., "G. A. Lofton, Mo., "L. C. KiLLis, La., " C. C. Chaplin, Texas, " E. D. Miller, Miss., " M. T. Sumner, Ala., " Cotmnittee." A MOTHER'S GIFT. 105 " Which was adopted after remarks by M. B. Wharton, J. A. Broadus, and A. C. Caperton." A MOTHER'S GIFT. The reproduction of the following letter, published in the Jourfial oiYobvudiYy, i88i, will be more than pardoned, in view of the fact that its sainted writer, four-score and seven years old, was taken up to glory a short time before this page was prepared for publication : "a mother's letter. " Charleston, So. Ca., December 4th, 1880. " My Very Dear Son. — I have been reading with much interest your book on Foreign Missions. I was in my childhood interested and concerned for the salvation of the heathen. I wept over their ignorance and superstition, and often asked my father ' why some one would not go to them and tell them of the true God, for they all seemed to worship some thing.' Over our first missionaries I wept many tears ; and loved to read of their work, and sympathized greatly in the suffering they endured. " When I think of what our missionaries have accomplished, and the blessed work they are now engaged in, I feel that it is wonderful indeed that such results could have occurred in so short a time. But what may we not expect in the future? I do believe the whole world will be Christianized before all who are now living will have passed away. It does seem that there is more real piety in heathen than in Christian lands. There are many in our midst who never bow to any God. " I have, since reading your book, thought of a little incident that oc- curred when I was at school. My mother took me to Philadelphia to finish my education at the Misses Lyman's Seminary. This was in 18 14, and I was fourteen years of age. Dr. Wm. Staughton (the first corresponding secretary of the Triennial Convention) was the president of the institu- tion ; also the pastor of the Sansom street Baptist church. Dr, R. Furman was my pastor in Charleston, and with a love and sympathy most beau- tiful, he wrote to Dr. S., begging his fatherly supervision over me, a father- less child far from home and friends. I never can forget the kindness, constant and unremitted, he showed me. No own father could have been more tender and loving. " One day the dear teacher was addressing us injthe recitation room, and he took occasion to speak of the heathen. (He was a great missionary man.) He told us about these poor, benighted souls — how they were eating human flesh ; how the women and children were thrown into the river, or crushed to death : how wives were burned on the funeral pile of their husbands, with many other horrors too terrible to think of. 1 remember well how excited 1 was, even to bitter, bitter tears. He asked which of us 106 FOREIGN MISSIONS. would study hard and prepare to go and teach in heathen lands. I sprang to my feet and said, ' I will, sir.' He then said, ' God bless you, my child (putting his dear hand on my head), and make you the instrument of doing good wherever your lot may be cast. But remember, you can have no fit- ness or success in any work but that which comes from God. Cultivate a sense of your insufficiency for the conflict you may have to grapple with. In all your conduct pursue the most undeviating consistency.' I have treas- ured in my very heart the memory of my dearly loved Dr. Staughton. " I returned to my home, feeling that 1 had made a vow that could not be broken. After several years Dr. S. paid us a visit. We met as father and child. Almost the first thing he said to me was, ' Where is that promise you made in the Seminary in Philadelphia to go to heathen lands ?' We both laughed — he holding my hand, and with those dear, beautiful eyes looking into mine, waiting for an answer. At last I said, ' I will give one of my children.^ Years after, when you thought, dear son, of leaving home for heathen lands, my heart was almost broken at the thought of parting with you. But I still feel that I have given something to the cause I so dearly loved — &\&xiyou. "Mother." SUNDRY ITEMS. I. RETURN AND DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. In 1879 the following missionaries were in this country : Mrs. M. T. Yates, T. P. Crawford, W. J. David and wife, E. Z. Simmons and wife, G. B. Taylor and family. In 1880 they all, except Mrs. Yates, who was quite feeble, returned to their fields. Dr. Crawford encountered a fearful typhoon, "during which," the North China Herald said, " Rev. T. P. Crawford came nobly to the front." Miss Sallie Stein, a new missionary, sailed with Mr. and Mrs. Simmons for Canton, Feb. 7, 1880, and reached Japan March 2d. The ap- pointment and expected sailing to China of our missionary, Rev. J. H. Eager, were reported to the Convention. As is known, brother Eager went to Italy. Dr. and Mrs. Graves, of Canton, returned, this year, to the United States. The Board reported : " The people are giving increasing evidence that they are willing to take care of these laborers in their harvesting of souls." ir. BUIIvDING FUNDS. Miss Moon, having taken possession of the Mission House in Tung Chow, China, turned over to the Board ^195 1.17, raised to build a house for her, which amount, by consent of its lady SUNDRY ITEMS. 107 donors, was employed to meet an obligation to Dr. Crawford on account of the Tung Chow chapel. The Building Fund in the Canton treasury had mcreased to ^10,177.22, from which a mission residence, costing ^5585.35, was built. The chapels at Rome and Torre Pellice had cost, to date, ^$33, 5 19-73. III. TREASUREft'S REPORT. The Treasurer reported his receipts as ;$45, 543.67, with a debt of ^6389.72. The Board added: " Exchange between China and America is so favorable now that our missionaries receive more than is remitted to them. Upon the whole, the past fiscal year may be regarded as a very prosperous one, and the material interests of the Board as never in a more favorable condition." The Convention said, through its report, of which Rev. A. E. Owen, of Virginia, was chairman, that the report shows " a very healthy state of affairs," and that " the funds of the Board have been managed with prudence." IV. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL. Receipts, ^1052.88 ; expenses, $10^0.^6. V. CONSOLIDATION. The Convention acted adversely to the proposition by Rev. O. C. Pope, of Texas, to publish a Missionary Magazine, and to consolidate the two Boards of the Convention, as proposed by Rev. G. Brewer, of Alabama. VI. WOMAN'S WORK. The Convention, by report of Dr. O. C. Pope, of Texas, adopted: "The Woman's Missionary Societies are doing a grand work, but it is needful that they enlarge that work. We recommend that the Corresponding Secretary urge upon the Baptist women of the South the importance of this work until there shall be a Woman's Missionary Society in every church in the land." VII. ACTIONS OF CONVENTION. I. That a committee be appointed to report at next meeting " some plan by which this Convention may better succeed in 108 FOREIGN MISSIONS. reaching, for contributions, the masses of our Southern churches." Brother F. H. Kerfoot, of Maryland, made the motion, and was appointed chairman of the committee. 2. That "the Sunday preceding the next meeting of this body, in Columbus, Miss., in May, i88i," be observed as "an occasion of special prayer fo| the blessed outpourings of the Holy Spirit upon the labors of the Convention." — Brother Reu- ben Jones, of Virginia. 3. In the discussions " no one shall speak more than fifteen minutes," except at " the missionary mass-meetings." 4. Ten brethren were appointed to bear fraternal greeting to the American Baptist Home Mission Society in their meeting at Saratoga, May 26, 1880. 5. Resolved, That this Convention record its appreciation of the life and work of the venerable Adiel Sherwood, who died in St. Louis, Mo., in August, 1879, in the eighty-sixth year of his age ; and that, while we bless God for the testimony borne by his life and death to the principles and power of the Gospel, we cherish his memory as a precious heritage." — S. H. Ford, Mo. 6. The special order for Friday, 10 A.m., was the S. B. T. Seminary. Drs. Boyce and Broadus addressed the Convention, and 1^7000 was secured in cash and bonds. 7. In 1879 ^^^ Home Board had reported their expectation of establishing a mission among the Chinese in California, by Rev. J. B. Hartwell, who for many years was an eminent missionary of our Board. This year they report the work begun, but , lament the death of Mrs. Hartwell, on December 3, 1879, a few days after their arrival in San Francisco. The Convention made suitable expressions of sympathy, and adopted the following, presented by Rev. I. A. Chambliss, chairman : " Resolved, That in the judgment of this Convention our work among the Chinese in California should be continued, and as rapidly as possible enlarged." 8. The Home Board paid a worthy tribute to the memory of Russell Holman, D. D., for eleven years the Corresponding Sec- retary of ^lat Board, who died in Marshall, Mo., December 2, 1879. He was " an able minister of the New Testament, illus- trating the beauty and power of godliness." The memorial SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. 109 closes with " conspicuous mention of one whose grand presence and wise counsels in this body imparted dignity and power to its deliberations, but whose familiar face and kindly greeting we shall meet no more in these earthly assemblies." SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. SAO PAULO PROVINCE, BRAZIL. In 1880 these missions were in their infancy, having originated only the year before, though there were two churches, one at Santa Barbara, of thirty members ; the other, called the ''Station," which was organized the first Sunday of November, 1879, "by twelve members of the First Baptist Church of Santa Barbara." It must be understood, however, that these Christians were not native Brazilians, but North Americans, who had taken refuge in Brazil after the Civil War of our country. They urged connec- tion with the Southern Baptist Convention, but held that they would be "self-supporting," at farthest, "after one year's assist- ance." Our missionary. Rev. E. H. Quillin, wrote to the Con- vention: "The position of the mission, self-sustaining and yet seeking to be under the patronage of the Convention, is so anomalous that it should excite special consideration." They pro- posed, not only to be self-supporting, but to "do something for the extension of the Gospel in regions beyond." As this point is important, it may be added that the Board reported to the Convention that the mission was opened on this condition, using this language : "As the burden of their support rests upon their own shoulders, there is nothing for us to do in their behalf un- less the burden of care and love for them shall rest upon our hearts." This condition was not fulfilled, but it fully justified the withdrawal of the Board from this province, at its own pleas- ure, though much money was expended there. DEMERARA. An interesting fact connected with missions in South America is that in Demerara there was, in 1879, a Baptist Church of 172 Chinese, the outgrowth of the earnest piety of one man, Lough no FOREIGN MISSIONS. Fook, a member of our Canton Baptist Church, who went to Demerara in 1861 to labor among his fellow-countrymen there. This church built several chapels; one of their members, Tso Sune, was a self-supporting missionary in China, and there in- vested ^^400, which they expected to yield 15 or 30 per cent, per annum, to be appropriated to missions in China. Dr. Graves wrote: " Let us ask the prayers of the churches for this company of converts from heathenism on the shores of South America, just opposite those of our own Southern country." RESOLUTON OF THE CONVENTION. " Resolved, That the Board of Foreign Missions be authorized, if they deem it practicable, to appoint additional missionaries for the work in Brazil, A. T, Hawthorne, chairman." In January, 1881, Rev. and Mrs. W. B. Bagby were appointed to this work. MEXICAN MISSIONS. INCIPIENCY OF THE WORK. The Board reported to the Convention : " The Board have agreed to assume the Mission in Mexico, under the care of Rev. T. M. Westrup, on certain conditions, which the Board of the State Convention of Texas are willing to accept." The Con- vention adopted the following : " We recommend the appoint- ment by their Foreign Mission Board, of Rev. T. M. Westrup as missionary in the State of Coahuila, Mexico, on the condition mentioned in the report of the Foreign Mission Board, For several months Brother Westrup has been supported by the con- tributions of brethren in Texas, and his labors have been signally blessed. The board of directors of the Texas Baptist State Con- vention, at the last meeting, agreed to become responsible for his support until the next meeting of the State Convention, and will doubtlessly assume permanently the expense of the mission, and co-operate with the Foreign Mission Board. . . . There are at present several Baptist Churches established in that land of moral darkness, and the people are looking for some better way of salvation than that which is offered them by Roman Catholic- ism. As soon as the Board can be assured of a support for a E UR O PEA N MISS I O NS. Ill missionary in Mexico it is desirable that one be appointed." As was seen in the preceding abstract, two missionaries were ap- pointed, Rev. W. M. Flournoy of Texas, and Rev. J. O. Westrup, brother of T. M. Westrup, who was murdered Dec. 21, 1880. EUROPEAN MISSIONS. DR. G. B. TAYLOR. Dr. Taylor had returned to Italy. Of his work in this coun- try he wrote, April 6th, from Turin: "The Board know that, when not laid aside by sickness, I was busily engaged in the United States traveling — mostly in the North — collecting money to pay the balance for the Rome chapel, and, if possible, some- thing to build another chapel at Torre Pellice. . . . During my absence, and especially in view of my impaired health, I have enjoyed, in a peculiar degree, the affectionate sympathy of all our evangelists who now extend to me their most hearty wel- come," In 1877 Dr. Taylor had asked for a young man for his mission. In the Board meeting of November, 1 879, it was resolved that " the Board make it a subject of special prayer that the proper man may be found, and that the Board be furnished with the means to send him to Italy." The Board asked the Convention : " Shall some young man, be called by the Board to this work, as Brother Taylor was ?" Dr. Taylor arrived in Rome April loth, and wrote : " I think I see a little progress." EVANGELISTS. Ferraris reported thirty-five members and two baptisms ; Pasclictto, *' twenty-one actual communicants," and a Bible-class of " brethren, catechumens and Catholics ; " Belloiidi, " only two baptized," . . . but " many baptized " not so desirable as " a few faithful ones." " Statistics show that one-third of the births in Venice are illegitimate." Basile reported : " My relations with the other denominations have been good, but they omitted to invite me to take part in the meetings during the week of prayer. Obeying the instructions of our Lord (Matt, xviii. 15),! addressed them a dignified but earnest letter of remonstrance against a 112 FOREIGN MISSIONS. course so sectarian." Martinelli reported in Modena " three preaching services a week, with fair attendance," with one bap- tism ; in Carpi, " insults and troubles," with a revival and three baptisms ; and two services a month at Mybarino, three miles from Carpi. Volpi reported the baptism of " one of the few sur- vivors of the massacre of 1866; " a large number of Scriptures sold ; and persecution as an apostate and impostor " because I do not baptize children, as even the other Protestants do." Col- ombo, " twenty-one effective members," . . . not rich, but earn- ing their living, and " none allured to us by any hope of succor or employment ; " tfle priests make war against us, but the " authorities guard the door ; " seven baptized. Cossii, only ten baptized in three years, but " I go sowing among rocks and thorns, regarding neither clouds nor winds, and recommending all to the providence of God ; " " a gentleman 72 years old is truly converted ; " "I am constantly persecuted and vilified, which I joyfully suffer." Cocorda, the native pastor at Rome, re- ported that his attendance was not inferior to that of the Walden- sian minister ; that he had " a special debate on Baptism with the students of the Free Church College, behind whom it was easy to see their professors. . . . The president of those sessions, who is a converted Hebrew, was convinced of the scripturalness of believer's baptism." THE CONVENTION AND BROTHER EAGER. The Convention voted, by report of H. F. Kerfoot, chairman, that these missions are " in a more hopeful condition than ever before ; " and that the Board should call a young man to aid Dr. Taylor, saying : " And has any minister of Jesus Christ the right to ignore such a call as that which was made to our beloved Brother Taylor ? " Rev. J. H. Eager, who had been appointed to China, was designated by the Board to Italy, as appears in the foregoing abstract. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REV. JOHN HOWARD EAGER. " My father's name is Eleazer C. Eager, and my mother's Har- riet Ida Eager. I was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi, December i8th, 1849. EURO PEA N MI SSI ONS. 113 " When seven years of age I entered the preparatory depart- ment of Mississippi College, in Clinton, and remained three or four sessions, till the breaking out of the war, when my father moved to the country. While here I took a special course in English grammar (after a new method), taught by Prof. Watford, of Alabama. " In January, 1867, after several years out of school, I was en- abled to enter Oakland College, a Presbyterian institution, seven miles from Rodney, Mississippi, but remained only a part of two sessions. In the fall of 1869 I entered Mississippi College, where I spent five years of continuous and hard study. " I was baptized in the summer of 1864, when I was fourteen years of age, and by my father. This was in Copiah County. "I graduated at Mississippi College in June, 1874, and spent one year in the pastorate before going to the seminary. " In September, 1875, ^ entered the Southern Baptist Theolog- ical Seminary, and graduated in May, 1879. I decided to spend four years, so as to do considerable extra work. *' I was ordained in Clinton, Mississippi, January 3d, 1875, the winter after my graduation. The presbytery was composed of the following brethren : Rev. E. C. Eager, Rev. Geo. B. Eager, Rev. J. L. Pettigrew, Rev. J. A. Hackett, Rev. W. S. Webb, and Rev. Walter Hillman. " I did not wish to be ordained till after I had finished my course at the Theological Seminary, but a call to Vicksburg made it necessary. " My first sermon was preached in Clinton, Mississippi — a trial sermon — before I received my license. This was in November, 1870. " The- following summer I preached several times in as many different places. During the last three sessions in college I preached once or twice each month. My vacations were spent mostly in protracted meetings, preaching sometimes nearly every day. I shall never forget the summer of 1872, which was spent in South Mississippi. There were nearly two hundred professions in the meetings in which I labored. The congregations were very large all the time, and the interest marked. " In January, 1875, I took charge of the Baptist Church in 114 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Vicksburg, and remained till the following fall, when I entered the seminary. " The vacation of 1876 (four months), was spent with two coun- try churches in S. C, formerly under the pastoral care of Rev. R. H. Griffith. The churches were really ripe for a revival, though they did not seem to think so. Two good protracted meetings resulted in forty baptisms, and an unusual interest on the part of the whole community. " In 1877 I spent my vacation in Memphis, supplying the pul- pit of the First Baptist Church. The church was large, the membership scattered, the weather hot, the work hard, but the experience was a peculiarly profitable one. " In the following December (while in the seminary in Louis- ville), urged by pecuniary necessity, I accepted a call from the Baptist Church in Midway, Kentucky, left vacant by the re- moval of their pastor to Baltimore. Here I endeavored to do double work, going up every Saturday, preaching twice on Sun- day, doing some pastoral work, returning on Monday, and at- tending regular lectures at the seminary during the week. My health suffered, but a rest in Virginia restored it. " The summer after graduating, I supplied the pulpit of the Eutaw Place Baptist Church, Baltimore, during the pastor's va- cation. In October, 1879, •'■ accepted a call to Manchester (Va.) Baptist Church, expecting to enter the foreign field the following summer or fall. In July, 1880, I resigned the care of the Man- chester Church in order to visit the South and West in the interest of missions, and to say good-bye to relatives and friends. The trip was pleasant but sad. Sad to me, but sadder to those I was leaving, especially an aged father, who seemed to cling to .a departing son with peculiar devotion. " Owing to the season of the year, collections for missions were small, but I trust some permanent good was done, and some new interest created, on the part of individuals and churches. " As to facts and incidents looking to a missionary life, I can •©nly say this: I began to think seriously of the missionary work about ten years ago, almost simultaneously with my determina- tion to preach the gospel. The conviction that I ought to be- come a foreign missionary had a small beginning, and ripened EURO PEA N MI SSI O NS. 115 very slowly; but it began, and it ripened, and at length laid hold of my heart so firmly that scarcely a day passed for years that it was out of my thoughts and my prayers. I was a constant reader of the Baptist Missionary Magazine of Boston, and often, when earnest appeals came for more laborers in the great field white for the harvest, or when some faithful missionary had sud- denly died at his post, and another was anxiously called for to take his place, my whole nature was stirred to its deepest depths, and I responded involuntarily : " Lord, here am I, send me." " I shall never forget the little room in the rear of the college chapel, the place of all others, at that time, that I held sacred. In that room I spent some of the sweetest hours of my life. There I received strength many times for the duties that lay before me. There (how distinctly I remember the very day) I dedicated myself to God as a foreign missionary, to go anywhere or do anything that he had for me to do. I said very little about the matter to any one, for I dreaded publicity, and feared I would not have the sympathy and encouragement of my brethren. But I need not enter further into my inner life on this subject than to say that, after ten years of prayer and faithful preparation, God is about to grant the chiefest desire of my heart and make me a foreign missionary, not in China, as I had expected, but in Rome." It may be added that Mr. Eager was accepted by our Board, as a missionary to China, on the 4th of August, 1879; that he entered, temporarily, on the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Manchester, near Richmond, Virginia; and that he was trans- ferred, with his free consent, to the Italian mission, on July 5th, 1880. He married, at Liberty, Bedford County, Va., October 6th, 1880, Miss Olive M. Board, daughter of Dr. C. A. Board, a resident and native of the county. They sailed for their mis- sionary field on October 14th, 1880, and arrived at Rome on the 1 2th of November. The following is from the Religious Hera/d o( October, 1880 : TESTIMONIAL TO REV. JOHN H. EAGER, " Whereas, in the order of Divine Providence, it has become necessary that our beloved brother, the Rev. J. H. Eager, should sever his connection with this church as pastor ; and whereas, it is proper that we should give ex- 116 FOREIGN MISSIONS. pression to our high appreciation of the valuable services he has rendered this church. Therefore be it " Resolved, i. That while we yield submissively to the decree of an All- wise Providence in directing our brother to the Foreign Mission field, it is with feelings of deep sorrow that we part with one who has endeared him- self to us, not only by his fervent piety, his kind and gentle disposition, but by his self-sacrificing spirit, his untiring energy and unceasing labors for the cause of Christ since he came among us. " 2. That by this separation the church loses, not only an able and faithful preacher of the gospel, but a model pastor, who under God has, in the short period of nine months, drawn together and united a disorganized and scat- tered membership, and thus enabled us to liquidate a debt of five hundred dollars, which hung like a pall over the energy and usefulness of the church ; and in addition thereto has materially improved and beautified our house of worship and grounds. " 3. That we feel grateful to God our heavenly Father that he sent brother Eager among us, and that in his new and arduous field of labor we will fol- low him with our deepest sympathy, our warmest love and intense interest for his success and happiness, and our constant prayers for God's choicest blessings on him and his labors. " Respectfully submitted, "Jos. E, Davidson, " Sam'l E. Woodfin, " Thos. p. Matthews, " Committee. At a meeting of the Manchester (Virginia) Baptist Church, held Sunday morning, July 11, 1880, after services, the above preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the clerk was directed to spread the same upon the record, deliver a copy to Brother Eager, and to the Religious Her- ald for publication. John W. Hall, Clerk. RECOGNITION SERVICES. The following is taken from the Richmond Dispatch of Octo- ber 12, 1880: " A large mass-meeting of Richmond Baptists was held in the First church Sunday night in recognition of Rev. James Howard Eager and his accomplished wife, who sail this week to Italy as missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. " Dr. J. L. M. Curry, President of the Foreign Mission Board, presided. The services were opened by an invocation and hymn, followed by the reading of a portion of Scripture by Pro- fessor H. H. Harris, and prayer by Rev. Dr. C. H. Read. EUROPEAN MISSIONS. 117 " Rev. Henry McDonald, D.D., was the first speaker. He presented in an earnest and eloquent address the discourage- ments and the hopefulness of the mission work in Italy. The discouragements were found in the tenacity with which the Italians still cling to the superstitions of the Romish Church, their erroneous impressions of what Protestantism really is, and the skepticism which almost everywhere prevails. " Rev. W. E. Hatcher, D.D., made a graceful allusion to the missionary and his fair bride, nee Miss Olive M. Board, of Bed- ford county, Va. He referred to the oneness of the Home and Foreign Mission work. The lines of distinction are being gradually obliterated ; the telegraph and steam now bring us in easy communication with what were once far distant lands ; our missionaries now alternate in their work between the home and foreign fields. Dr. George B. Taylor, now the missionary of the Southern Baptists in Italy, was once a pastor in this State, and Dr. J. B. Hartwell, who twenty years ago sailed for China as a missionary, is now working among the Chinese in California. " Rev. J. H. Eager, the departing missionary, was next intro- duced, and made an effective and feeling address, in which he reviewed the work of missions for the past eighty years, and spoke with loving enthusiasm of the encouragements to labor among the unsaved of other lands. " A fine scholar, an able preacher, a high-toned gentleman, and a devout and efficient worker, Mr. Eager will add great strength to this mission of Southern Baptists, while his accom- plished wife will prove, indeed, a ' helpmeet ' not only to him but to the mission. Mr. Eager's successful labors in Manches- ter have endeared him not only to that community, but to Rich- mond, and he carries with him to his distant field the warm sympathies, best wishes, and most fervent prayers of our people. " The exercises were closed by an interesting address to the missionary by Rev. H. A. Tupper, D.D., the efficient and able Corresponding Secretary of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention." 118 FOREIGN MISSIONS. "MISSIONARY MODEIv. "A few days ago a gentleman compared the separation of cer- tain missionaries with the separation of Lot and Abraham. This suggests that Abraham is a good model for the study of the missionary, especially as Christlieb says : ' Inner faith is the life of the missionary enterprise! " I. God revealed himself impressively to Abraham. Abraham heard his voice and talked with him face to face. Stephen said, " the Lord of glory appeared to our Father Abraham." So im- pressively did he appear to him that God could say nothing to him that he did not believe ; and God could command nothing of him. that he would not obey. God to Abraham was, 'all and in all.' " The man that goes on this enterprise should have heard God, and known him personally in Jesus Christ, the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person, who is man- ifestly crucified before him for the redemption of the world : and he must feel assured that it is he, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth, who says to him : ' And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' " IL God said to Abraham : ' Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred . . . and he gave him none inheritance, no, not so much as to put his foot on.' When God says to the missionary, ' Go — go into all the world,' he despoils him in a measure of the local home idea and home experience. The great missionary principle is to go, go. When the gospel is established in one place, the missionary must go to regions be- yond. The foreign field is to be ever contracting, while the home field is ever expanding until it shall be commensurate with our planet itself. The abiding home of the true missionary is the house and the bosom of God ; and his comforting language is : * Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' " III. So great were the promises given by God, and so confi- dently were they believed by Abraham, that he was lifted up above the lower sentiments of our nature, and rejoiced especially in the glorious prospects of the future. " I. When there might be trouble between Lot and himself, EUROPEAN MISSIONS. 119 Abraham gave his nephew the choice of the land. 2. When Ephron would give him the cave of Macpelah, he bowed him- self, and we'ghed out for it the four hundred pieces of silver. 3. When the king of Sodom would bestow the spoils of the slaughtered king, he would not touch ' from a thread to a shoe- latchet.' 4. But, when Melchisedec appeared Abraham gave him a tithe of all he had as the priest of the most high God. Thus the faithful missionary: i. May well rise above the relig- ious and denominational bickerings of our home life. 2. For- sake the hope of earthly aggrandizement. 3. While he presents on the altar of God his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service, he has the promise that suffering with Christ in the world's redemption, he shall reign with him, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of God and of his Christ. This he apprehends by faith as ' the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' " IV. God required of Abraham a sacrifice whereby he was to illustrate and impress the great teachings of the gospel. The missionary in a foreign land may have frequent occasion to say from his heart, ' I die daily ; I am crucified with Christ ; never- theless I live; yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me.' One grand missionary cried, I could wish that myself were accursed for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. The sacrifice, and resurrection, and unutterable love of Christ are to be exempli- fied, not by preaching only, but by living the gospel. It was this exhibition of divine grace which made the Hindoo philosopher exclaim : ' I am touched, I am overwhelmed. Not Britain, but Christ rules India. Christ alone deserves the precious diadem of India, and he shall have it.' And he alone is zvorthy of the world, AND HE SHALL HAVE IT, when the missionary abroad with the Christian at home lives the gospel, as the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, and presents himself a whole offering unto God, as Abraham presented Isaac upon the altar of Mt. Moriah — as Christ himself upon Calvary." 120 FOREIGN MISSIONS. AFRICAN MISSIONS. STATE OF THE WORK. The whole force of these missions, in 1880, was Mr, and Mrs. David and Brother S, Cosby, of the Colored board, with Moses L. Stone and three other native assistants. Seven were bap- tized at the several stations. During a war among the natives Brother Stone, of the Ogbomashaw station, had been captured and cruelly treated ; but released, he entered earnestly and suc- cessfully into his work, rejoicing that fourteen "sets of gods" had been delivered up by " new comers,' and that his wife's mother had been redeemed from slavery by " twenty-eight bags of cowries, ;^70." He had a school of twenty, while twenty con- verts were awaiting baptism. Brother David, stopping at Mon- rovia, the capital of Liberia, where, in other days, we had extensive missions, was welcomed by our quondam and vener- able missionary, B. P. Yates, of whom Brother David wrote : " His multiform duties as vice-president, general merchant, coffee-planter, circuit judge, and Deacon of the Baptist Church have told upon him. . . . When he falls the nation will mourn a loss ; but the Baptist Church will mourn a heavier loss — the loss of its most worthy deacon and its most cheerful and de- voted patron." Mrs. David said : " Her first day in Africa was more replete with joy than any she had experienced. Their arrival at Lagos, our chief station in Yoruba, was greeted by great exultation of the people — the children embraced Mr. David's legs, the old men his neck ; while others shouted and thanked God." On the 22d of February Brother Stone, de- scribed as " godly in walk, faithful to Christ and devoted to his cause," was ordained by Brethren David and Cosby, and next day baptized two converts who had accompanied him from the interior. " Mrs. Harden, the widow of our late missionary, and a very accomplished and pious woman, has taken the school in Lagos." Brother David, weary of being " driven about from house to house by exacting landlords," charging for houses 1^750 to ;^iooo rent per year, began to build a mission house to cost ;^i6oo. For the unauthorized adventure he begged that AFRICAN MISSIONS. 121 the board would not regard him "rash." The board reported to the convention the arrival in the U. S. of Bro. W. W. Colby, whose resignation as our missionary had been accepted " for grave considerations." ATTEMPT AT CO-OPERATION. The Board presented to the Convention an elaborate paper on Africa. Showing (i) The Convention's deep conviction of its obligation to this country, as early as 1846; (2) The concur- rence of great undertakings by the most powerful nations of Europe, to open the country ; (3) the encouragement of the thirty- two missionary organizations working there with the 260,000 reported Christians of the Dark Continent ; and urging the pres- sing forward of our missions there, if practicable in co-operation with the colored churches and missionary organizations of the South. The Convention gave emphatic approval to this idea of CO operation, in a report of Dr. B. Manly, Ch., which " had been repeatedly commended by our Board and the Convention." But, as shall be seen, such co-operation, after faithful efforts, was found to be impracticable and perhaps undesired by our colored brethren. Rev. W. W. Colby — our late missionary— -had been appointed to their work on African Missions. BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. NANNIE BLAND DAVID. The following sketch is from the pen of one who, in our judg- ment, is the very best judge of the subject sketched : " Nannie Winston Bland was born in the county of Chester- field, at * Idonora,' her grandmother's residence, on the nth of April, 1855. In September, 1867, she was baptized by her father, Rev. Wm. S. Bland, and united with Bethlehem Bap- tist Church. She was educated principally at home. She at- tended the Richmond Female Institute, but was recalled before the close of the session by the illness of her father. She taught a public school for two sessions, and was a close student for four or five years before her marriage — pursuing those studies which were thought most important for her future missionary work. From the time of her engagement to Mr. David, during the summer of 1878, until her departure for Africa, all the pow- 122 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ers of her heart and mind were consecrated to the work of mis- sions. "Naturally of a cheerful and happy disposition, she was the light of others — cheering her parents when sad or afflicted, and going wherever there was sorrow or distress in the neighbor- hood, to relieve the sad heart or weary body. " She was always piously inclined. When not more than two years old she delighted in the little |hymns * I want to be an Angel,' ' Happy land,' &c., and seemed to imbibe their spirit- As she grew older she cared nothing for the silly rhymes and trashy literature, and the fairytales which delight most children ; but she loved Sunday-school hymns and religious and moral reading. She learned to sing so young and so intelligently that some of her friends thought her precocious ; but the love of spiritual songs grew with her growth, and the character of her hymns showed the pious sentiments of her heart. After her conversion, which took place when she was about twelve years old, her songs were more of Christ, and of humble trust in him, especially when she was sad or depressed. ' I need thee every hour ' was a great favorite, and ' Nearer, my God, to thee ' often so soothed and comforted her heart that she would leave the piano with her bright face unusually bright. She was never angered, except by mean or dishonorable acts, which she looked upon with scorn while she pitied the actors. Imbued with a missionary spirit, self seemed to have no part in her nature, and her thoughts and labors were always for the good of others. At home her virtues shone brightest. The world does not always appreciate the motives of an unselfish heart, " Her first duties, she felt, were toward her parents ; and no sacrifice that she could make was too great for their comfort and happiness. Thoughtful and considerate, she anticipated their wants and wishes as far as she could. Strict integrity and truthfulness marked her character ; and accustomed to regard her parents' wishes, she continued as obedient and docile as a child until she was married, when about twenty-three years old, and left her mother's roof. " From early childhood she had associated with missionary workers in our Foreign Mission Society. She took a deep in- AFRICAN MISSIONS. 123 terest in their labors, and would aid by any little work she could do, or contribute her mite to send the truth to the heathen. When the little hymn, ' See that heathen mother stands, where the sacred water flows,' &c., was read to her, and the picture of a mother casting her infant into the Ganges, was shown to her, the tears trickled down her cheeks, and she gave her most precious treasures to send the Bible, as she said, * to teach them better.' Whether she ever cherished the thought of going her- self to teach them, until she met Mr. D., I do not know. From their first meeting, they seemed instinctively drawn to each other, and she seemed to have decided upon her life work. After that, nothing could turn her from her purpose — neither her father's declining health, nor her mother's subsequent widow- hood. She was true to her principles. What she felt to be duty, she would do, whatever the difficulties. " From that time she became even more tender to her parents and only sister, and her letters to Mr. D., as he often said, were a great comfort and encouragement to him in his loneliness and labors in Africa, and also a shield from temptation in that be- nighted land. " Her parents were poor, and could not give her the advan- tages which money affords ; but she was devoted to study, and made the best use of what she had. Her meat was to do the will of her heavenly Father. Nothing but love for her Saviour and his glory would have induced her to leave her widowed mother and her happy home, which she dearly loved. On her way to New York, she wrote with cheering words to her mother, to commit herself and home to her ' Father's ' care, who would surely direct all things in wisdom and love." The following items of interest are gathered from a private note from Mrs. David herself, of November 2d, 1880 : " Since my conversion my desire has been to labor for my Master. This I endeavored to do within my church and neigh- borhood, and among my friends. When I saw the way opening to a foreign field, so * white for the harvest,' my prayer to God was, 'Send me.' I was married November 17th, 1878, by Rev. J. A. Leslie; we arrived in Lagos, February i, 1880. Our little daughter, Bessie Oyenkan David, was born March 19th, 1880 — 124 FOREIGN MISSIONS. one month and nineteen days from the time of our arrival. When my baby was five days old, the doctor declared I had no further need of his attention, and since that time neither of us have required the need of a physician. I have as good health as brother Cosby, or as the majority of white men here. The cares of house-keeping, and our baby, have prevented my en- gaging in the mission work, save teaching in the Sunday-school, superintending the church music, visiting the day school, teach- ing some of the girls sewing, and having a talk with the heathen women when I have an opportunity. I look forward with pleasure to the time when I can engage more actively in the work of the Lord." The following was received Feb. i ith, just as the Journal was going to press : FUNERAL NOTICE. " Lagos, 23d December, 1880. " The friends of Mr. and Mrs. David are invited to attend the funeral of their infant from Baptist Mission House, to-day, at 9.30 a.m." CHINA MISSIONS. TUNG CHOW MISSION. SUMMARY OF ITS REPORT. Five services a week are kept up by Dr. Crawford and the brethren; lOOQ visits by the ladies, Mrs. Crawford, Mrs. Holmes and Miss Moon, have been made to adjacent villages, to dis- tribute tracts and "tell the gospel;" 57 pupils are in the three schools ; and seven were baptized. " The North street church," over which Dr. J. B. Hartwell presided, " has ceased to meet. . . . We hope to save a remnant of the members to the cause of Christ." The Mission expected " to welcome Brother J. H. Eager by the middle of the coming year,'' and recommended " thatthe support of ' native preachers ' be left to native churches." The report closed thus : " The gospel is striking its roots deep into Asiatic Society. Much seed has been sown, and we would call our Southern Baptists to come over to the reaping." CHINA MISSIONS. 126 SHANGHAI MISSION. KWIN SAN AND SOOCHOW. In October, 1879, Dr. Yates, with the native pastor, Wong Ping San, constituted a church of sixteen members at Kwin San; who built themselves a house of worship and residence for See T'ay San, their ordained pastor, and resolved to contribute $2 a month for the support of the Gospel. Dr. Yates wrote : " Few members of our home churches are as poor as the richest member of the Kwin San church. I thank the Lord for the present pros- pect at Kwin San.'' In July of the same year a chapel was opened, with the consent of the local authorities, at Soochow, which is " thirty miles beyond Kwin San," at an expense of ^^50, with a monthly rental of ^3. Dr. Yates said : " I sent Pay Tsn Oo to commence work at Soochow, the provincial city and his native place." charity: translation: finances: statistics. The Shanghai church contributed $2'j'}^.\'j, beside keeping up a fund for burying its members, a matter which costs from " ^10 to ^1000 " in China. Dr. Yates asked for $^ for publishing his John's gospel and Paul's epistles in the colloquial dialect saying : " It is my intention to continue until I complete the New Testament, for it will be a long time before the Board will have another here to do such work." The Doctor had received a letter from this country, inquiring whether it took eighty cents to send a dollar to him. He says : " We get more than you send. It is decidedly to the advantage of the Board to have their mis- sionaries draw for their allowance." Twelve had been added to the churches at Shanghai and two at Kwin San, making an ag-. gregate membership of 100. The Doctor added : " I was never more encouraged in my work than now.'' CANTON MISSION. summary. Dr. Graves rejoiced that now, for the first time, the Mission had " a house of its own." The baptisms had been 79 ; the con- tributions $2^^ — ;^ioo having been given by the natives for a 126 FOREIGN MISSIONS. chapel at Tsung Fa. The church membership was 230. The number of tracts and scripture distributed was 9766; and the amount received for " Christian literature " was ^57.40. In the medical department 4422 patients had been attended and 92 sur- gical operations performed. In the schools there were 202 pupils. In the " training class " there were seventeen men. A chapel was built at Hai. " The ladies continue their earnest work from house to house, and their meetings for the women." Dr. Graves' books are as follows: the " Preacher's Assistant,'' pp. 130; "Scripture Geography;" "Hymn Book" of 300 hymns; " Parables of our Lord," pp. 216; works on " Homilet- ics," and " The Use of Money." He had prepared also 700 MS. pages of a " Life of Christ." The Doctor writes : " In the eight years, a dwelling has been built in Canton, one chapel fin- ished, and the money raised for another in the country ; six country stations have been opened and two native brethren or- dained to the ministry. The Chinese native Missionary Society have also a station and two assistant preachers supported mainly by Chinese Christians in Demerara and the United States." ACTION OP THE con've;ntion. The Convention voted : i. That China is the most important missionary field in the world. 2. That, if our ministry had been so successful as our missionaries, the increase of our church membership would have been, this year, 500,000 instead of 80,000. 3. That the Foreign Mission Board must not relax its efforts " until a hundred missionaries " shall be in our China Missions. These are only the points made in an earnest and able report of a committee of which Dr. I. T. Tichenor, of Ala- bama, was chairman. MISS STEIN ON THE WAY. " Ogden, Utah, Jan. 23d, 1880. " Dear Dr. Tupper : " I am enjoying my trip very much. The grandeur of the scenery through which we have passed to-day is beyond my descriptive powers. But what I enjoy mostly is the fact that I am on the way to my mission work. Though it was sad to part from loved ones, the day on which I started was one of the happiest of my Hfe. I pray the Lord that I may be a zealous worker in his vineyard. •: " I will write to you from San Francisco, and comply with your request. " Truly, &c. " S. Stein." CHINA MISSIONS. 127 LETTER. " San Francisco, Jan, 28, 1880. " Dear Dr. Ttippcr : I am sorry to have put off writing so long, especially as I must write hastily now. Brother and Sister Simmons and I reached here on last Sunday at half-past 1 1 o'clock. I did my first work among the Chinese last night at brother Hartwell's chapel. It seemed real hard that I could only teach them to pronounce English words, while their souls were starving for need of the Bread of Life. J"hose whom I taught were real heathen, — so brother Hartwell told me. I am very much interested in a few Chinese who are Christians, and have been to see us. We cannot get off from here till 7th of February. We expect to sail at that time on ' City of Peking.' I send receipts for the money received through brother Sim- mons, and hope to write to the Young Ladies' Missionary Society, who send the $355.94, before leaving here. I close now, as we are about ready to attend service at the First church. I am so anxious to get off to China ! Pray for me. "Yours truly, "S. Stein. " P. S. — Jan. 29. I have tried to tell you what you desired in the sketch below." AUTOBIOGRAPHY. " My full name is Sallie E. Stein. I was born June 29th, 1850, at Big Lick, Roanoke county, Va. My parents, John Henry and Mary Ann Stein, moved from there to Pittsylvania county when I was only an infant, and when I was six years old, my father was taken from me by death He was a zealous Christian and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. I do not know anything of my father's parents, as he was a native of Berlin, Prussia, and came to this country when quite a young man. After the death of my father, my mother made her home with her parents, Rev. Wm. Har- ris, and his wife, Sarah Harris, whose home was in Bedford county, Va., near Liberty. My grandfather being a minister of the gospel, and my mother and grandmother devoted Christians, I was, of course, taught to have great respect for the religion of Christ. "At twelve years old, during a revival conducted by my grandfather, assisted by Rev. Andrew Broadus, I was deeply convicted of sin. I only trusted Christ, and found peace in believing. I united at once with the Lick Spring Baptist church, and was baptized by my grandfather. (He baptized my parents also.) I felt at once that it would be my pleasure to be a missionary, and when older, I felt it to be my duty. When I would think upon the situation of the heathen, and then of what Christ had done for me, I would, in the earnestness of my soul, ask the Lord to show me the way, and prepare me for the work, that I might tell them of the cruci- fied and risen Saviour. My devoted mother taught me to sympathize with the heathen, even before 1 was a Christian. I attended common schools in my neighborhood now and then, until 1 was quite a large girl, and I had one year's schooling at Hollins Institute. My mother then moved to Mis- 128 FOREIGN MISSIONS. sissippi, and I attended school some seven or eight months at our home there. I was sent to Brownsville, Tenn., where I finished the course of study in fifteen months under Rev. J. R. Branham. Since I left school I have spent most of my time teaching. I taught two years near Indepen- dence, Miss., and one year in S. W; Missouri. I have taught almost two years in Tennessee. After asking the Board to send me to China, I went to Winchester, Tenn., that I might attend the Mary Sharp College, in order to better prepare myself for the jyork of a missionary. My home has been there since that time, and I take with me a letter from Winchester Baptist Church. " San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 29///, 1880." YONG SEEN SANG. By some strange mistake the notion became current last year that this venerable Chinese missionary had been called to his reward. The evidence of his living (" 1880, 3d moon") lies be- fore us in an original and beautifully penciled letter of that date to the " Female Missionary Society " of the First Baptist church of this city. This society has supported Yong ever since his visit to this country with Rev. J. L. Shuck in 1846. The letter is translated below by our missionary, Rev. R. H. Graves, who is the bearer of the epistle to the society, from the hand of the writer. We give the American spelling of the name, which the society, as well as our Board, has always adopted. Long live Yong Seen Sang ! "Young Chin Sam, a believer in the Lord, connected with the Canton church, and a preacher of the Word, to the Sisters of Richmond, fellow- believers : " I remember you in all my prayers, and thank God for giving me the opportunity of seeing you. Through your kind love I have been enabled to exercise this ministry and to preach the Word for many years. But I confess with shame that not very many have believed in the Lord (through my preaching). But I always pray God and Christ our Lord to help me to preach and to give the Holy Spirit to enlighten men's minds, that they may listen with gladness, and the seed may fall into good ground and bring forth some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred fold. " I have already seen the gospel spreading abroad, until many have heard it, and every year the number of believers have increased. Last year more joined the church than the year before, and this year more have joined than last year. This is due to the united prayers of God's people, among whom are the believers in your honorable country. May our Heavenly Father bless China, and open wide the doors of the church HOME BOARD. 129 here. Now, as our pastor, teacher Graves, is returning to his home to see his aged father, I send this by him, presenting my regards to all of the sisters, and wishing you peace. " May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be ever with you ! " 1880, 3d moon." — Journal (Sept., 1880). MASS-MEETINGS. 1. On Friday night of the Convention a mass-meeting in the 'interest of Foreign Missions was addressed in an instructive and interesting way by General A. T. Hawthorne, of Texas, and Dr. Wm. F. Hatcher, of Virginia. 2. On Monday night a mass-meeting was held to consider the best means of awakening general enthusiasm among our peo- ple in the interests of missions. Effective speeches were made by Brethren J. W. Carter, of West Virginia ; G. A. Nunnally, of Georgia; C. C. Chaplin, of Texas, and J. C. Hiden, of South Carolina. FORWARD MOVEMENT. Our Board asked the Convention whether it should " go for- ward." The Convention ordered that we " move grandly onward," saying, " Looking back over the past we take courage, and looking forward, we hope to realize the blessedness of the plaudit, ' Well done, good and faithful servants.' " HOME BOARD. Weeks of labor 1,091 Churches supplied 63 Other Stations 54 Sermons preached 2,580 Addresses delivered 1,027 Prayer and other religious meetings attended 990 Baptized 275 Received by letter 215 Restored 1 1 1 Professed conversion at his meeting, but not baptized by missionary 284 Sunday-schools 65 Pupils 1^706 Teachers 170 Pupils converted 69 Teachers converted 15 9 130 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Pages of tracts distributed 8,660 Bibles and Testaments distributed 174 Houses of worship built 7 Religious visits 2,731 Miles traveled 48,338 HOSPITAIJTY. Never did the Convention vote more heartily than when they returned thanks " to Rev. L. Burrows, pastor of this church, and the Committee of Arrangements, for the very satisfactory man- ner in which they arranged for the accommodation of this body, etc." CONCLUSION. The Convention sang " Blest be the Tie that Binds ; " " the parting hand was given to each other; " Brother E. Dodson led in prayer, and the President announced the Convention ad- journed, to meet in Columbus, Ga., at 10 o'clock, A.M., Thurs- day, May 7th, 1 88 1. SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS THIS YEAR. PLEASE PRESERVE THIS. History repeats itself. Several years ago we were much per- plexed by Societies demanding that their contributions should be sent directly to the objects for which the contributions were made.' Many letters of recommendation were written, and many paragraphs were penned in the Journal. The matter seemed, then, fully understood and finally settled. But, with the increase of Societies or the change of officers, the subject revives. Again explanatory letters have been written ; and now we republish an article which appeared in the Journal of November, 1878, with the particular request that it be preserved and occasionally read by our Missionary Societies. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SPECIAI, OBJECTS. " Particulars interest more than general subjects. Persons are more influential, with the masses of people, than principles. This is illustrated in the fact that when our friends send little SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS THIS YEAR. 131 moneys for missions, they rarely say, ' This is for the perishing heathen,' but, * I send the enclosed for Miss Moon, or Mrs. Yates, or Miss Whillden ; ' or, ' This money is for the teacher Wong Ping San, or the pupil Kwang Tsung Kai.' The name, the photograph, the personality, interests ; the fact of its being a man, or a woman, or a child, gives a reality to the object, and enables the contributor to realise, as we say, that he is doing some definite work. This is perfectly natural. It will continue to be so. But this is not the most elevated state of the missionary spirit. It is not the missionary who should be regarded so much as the heathen ; and not so much the heathen, as the Lord Jesus among the nations. This broad view we do not hope to have entertained by the great body of the people. We are happy to have them to do something for the cause, in whatever way and under whatever views they may adopt. Under these circumstances there should be a perfect understanding between the contributors and the Board and the missionaries, with respect to this subject. The manner of communicating the offerings of the donors to the objects of the donation is so obvious that we may not have been sufficiently careful to make it plain to all of our contributors. That young lady, for instance, who sent to us seven dollars and fifty cents for a certain school in China, and then a month or two after wrote to know if her seven dollars and a half had been sent to China, clearly did not understand the matter. Neither did that Association which gave twenty dollars for one of our missionaries, and required that a receipt for twenty dollars from the missionary should be returned to the Association. The Board makes an annual appropriation to each mission, which covers all expenses of the missions, and the missions draw on the Board, and are thus paid the amount of the appropriation. The contributions come in from the various sources, and thus our Treasurer is furnished with the means to pay the drafts of the missions. Now when that young lady sends her seven dol- lars and a half quarterly, it is not, of course, sent to the school in China, because the whole year's appropriation has been, or will be, drawn for by the missionary at the proper time. If our Treasurer pays thirty dollars annually to the school, is it not the same as if the young lady's seven dollars and fifty cents were 132 FOREIGN MISSIONS. sent each quarter ? To make the matter very plain for our young contributors, — a Httle girl wants to buy, with her own money, a wax doll in New York for next Christmas, which will cost ten dollars, and she can send to her aunt there one dollar and twenty-five cents a week. The aunt buys at once the doll for ten dollars and receives the one dollar and twenty-five cents weekly. Now is not that exactly the same thing as, and better than, if the one dollar and a quarter were taken weekly to the store where the doll is bought? In the case of our work it is not only better for the Board to pay the missionaries statedly, and the people supply the money as they can, but it is the only way that the business, under the present circumstances, can possibly be conducted. And we have been surprised to see that some co7ttributors do not realize that their responsibility e7tds when they receive the receipt of the Board for the money they have donated. Then the responsibility of the Board begins, which responsibility they deeply realize and seek to discharge, as under the eye of Him to whom they must give an account. " But the question may arise : Suppose the quarterly contribu- tions of a particular person or society for a special object should aggregate more than the annual appropriation of the Board to that object ? The balance would, of course, go over to the credit of the object, and to make up the appropriation of the next year. This is distinctly stated in the ' Rules for special contributions,' which are printed in every issue of the Joiiriial. But this question is really one of no practical importance. In the whole course of our experience with missions we have never known but one instance where the contributions during the year, for a specific work, exceeded the annual appropriation of the Board. Almost invariably the contributions for special objects fall short of the appropriation. In the single instance above stated the intelligent representative of the contributions directed that the excess might go to the general fund of the Board. But suppose the Board makes no appropriation for the object for which funds are sent ? There are no such objects, ex- cept an occasional building, and Tract and Bible distributions, to which, of course, are most sacredly applied the exact amounts donated for them. The whole work of the missionaries, for SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS THIS YEAR. 133 which funds are received by the Board, is covered by the appro- priation. This also is distinctly stated in the monthly published ' Rules for special contributions.' If funds are sent directly to our missionaries for work, which is not recognized as the work of the Southern Baptist Convention, that is a matter between the missionaries and their private patrons. It is not our affair. The Board has no responsibility, and makes no objection. But the Board, let it be understood, receives no funds for regular missionary work, which is not covered by their annual appro- priation. And we hope that all future missionaries of the Board will understand that the contributions for them are not inde- pendent of but auxiliary to the appropriations of the Board. The business men of the churches should explain this to the societies, and especially to the young people, while they must not discourage those who will only contribute to some specific object or person. On this there may be absolute reliance that every missionary, or missionary object, under the Board, re- ceives in our annual appropriation all, and commonly more than all, that contributors send for that missionary or mission- ary object. This, clearly understood, might save some anxiety on the part of contributors and no little annoyance on the part of the Board. " Some time ago we published the action of the American Mis- sionary Union on this subject. It is so appropriate to our pres- ent line of thought that it will bear to be repeated. It was a part of a report presented by Dr. Moss, and adopted at Cleve- land, Ohio : "Resolved, That contributions to the Missionary Union should, as a rule, be for its general work and not designated for special uses. The compre- hensive knowledge of the whole foreign field by the Executive Committee their impartial interest in every part, and their conscious responsibility to the churches at home and the" missions abroad, make them wiser and better distributors of the bounty of the churches than the donors themselves can be. District Secretaries and other agents are urged not to make special appeals for special objects, but for the one great work as a whole, and mis- sionaries are respectfully desired not to ask their friends or the churches for money for particular points or particular enterprises, unless those requests are formally approved by the Executive Committee. Only embarrassment, hindrance and injustice can come, as they have so often come in the past, from the designation of contributions by contributors to narrow and special purposes. 134 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " But while the best way may be not to hamper Boards by such conditions and specification, if that is not the most pleasant way for our contributors to give, let them give as they will. The great thing is for them to give. These lines are written on hearing that certain choice members of an admirable little society did not understand why their little but highly appre- ciated funds could not be sent directly and immediately to a special object, which had been fully paid for by the Board." SUNDAY-SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS. " A young lady told us that she requested her Sunday-school class to bring something — say, one or two cents — for papers and books, and other expenses of the school ; and that one of the little girls said : ' I will bring five cents, if you have something for me to bring it for.' The child, without intending the least reflection on the excellence of the papers and books, etc., evidently did not think that these things for themselves were ' anything' for Sunday-school scholars to bring their own money for. She did not pay for her books, and other expenses in the week-day school (and her parents and teachers do not think that such payment is necessary to train the child to self-support in after- life), and she felt instinctively that she should have something outside of herself, and class, and school, for the exercise of her self-denial, and her benevolence. And was there not something of truth and wisdom in the reply of this little ten year old girl ? " Suppose this child brings her cent, or two cents, for Sunday- school papers and books, admirable as they are, how much bet- ter and more elevated is the little thing after the act than before ? Has she not only strengthened the principle of self-love, which is strong enough already, in young and old ? How much en- thusiasm or self-sacrifice for charity and Christ could that teacher arouse in her class, by expatiating on the excellence of the excellent papers and books of the Sunday-school, even though she have the tongue of an angel ! " But suppose that next door to the school there is a poor sick child, with no proper food, nor clothing, nor medical attention ; suppose that on the other side of the globe there are many little girls destroyed by their parents, who know no better, and SUNDAY-SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS. 135 have no Bible to teach them of Jesus and of his salvation. Sup- pose this teacher should keep before the mind of her class this poor little sick child, or these poorer, perishing pagans ; who does not see that the hearts of her pupils would awake in sympathy, and that they would gladly deny themselves, and bring cheerfully their five cents, or ten cents, and become thereby deepened and elevated, and more Christ-like in their character ; and perhaps some of them become messengers of mercy and love, to the suffering around them — missionaries of the cross, to the ' regions beyond ?' " But if the money of the children be given for these benevo- lent purposes, how shall the necessary expenses of the school be met? Let the expenses be met as the expenses of other schools are met. Parents, or the public, bear the expenses of the week- day school. The church is the parent of the Sunday-school. If the parent church cannot bear the expenses, then some associ- ation of churches — on principle of public support of day schools — should do it. How would it do to let the school pay part and the church part? A mixed motive never produced a hero or a martyr. If the object of the Sunday-school is to train for moral and spiritual life, let the training be such as is fit to develop the finest types of moral and spiritual character. And there is no work for which a church will give more freely than for its Sun- day-school. Some persons will give to this object who would give to no other. Thus the Sabbath-school may not only get liberal support from the church ; but it may be the means of ex- citing more fully the benevolence of the church. And does not this support make a direct appeal to the missionary, the Chris- tian spirit of the church ? A high authority says: 'All the ar- guments and reasons which may be urged for the extension of the gospel on the earth by any agency, will apply with equal force to this, and receive in addition all the peculiar obligations and promises which connect the interests and hopes of the gos- pel so peculiarly and especially with the young.' "The school, as has been said, is the child of the church. Whether its child by generation or adoption, it is the child of the Christian spirit of the church, just as is the foreign mission- ary work. If this Sunday-school child is loving and dutiful to 136 FOREIGN MISSIONS. the church, seeking its counsel, and subject to its loving will, is anything more natural than that it should be sustained by the parent church ? If the child should be somewhat wayward, let the church be wise and not cast it on its own support, to become more independent and less loving. The tendency of the Baptist principle of soul liberty is to draw off from the church centre. Hence the many class societies in the church. The way to meet this tendency is to strengthen the drawing in tendency of the central body. The Sunday-school, comprehending all classes of the church, is the most important to be drawn to the heart of the church. What can do that better than giving it support ? Let the centripetal force be equal to the centrifugal, and Baptist polity presents the most harmonious system consistent with varied intelligence and the glorious liberty of the children of God. " But the school is not only the child of the church to be con- ciliated, but a pupil to be trained to be the future church itself. Hence, it is of the last importance, that not only the personal conversion of the scholars should be aimed at ; but that they should be disciplined in that most difficult and most necessary practical duty of making free-wjll offerings to the Lord, for the extension of his kingdom on earth. The grace of giving is a thing of habit ; it is something that must be learned in youth, if ever learned thoroughly at all. And that the church must abound hereafter in her offerings to God's treasury, is established by the fact of God's providence already opening the whole world for the labor of his people. The great problem before Southern Baptists to-day is : How can the masses of God's people be made to see the whitening harvests of souls, and enter by men or means into the universal harvesting? The Southern Baptist Convention appointed a committee to report at its forthcoming meeting on this very subject. Let that committee not overlook the Sunday-school scholar, as a factor — perhaps the most .im- portant— for the solution of the difficult problem ! Let not the churches fail to show their appreciation of their Sabbath-schools, as the feeders of benevolence, and to reap the rich harvests of spiritual and material benefit from them, by withholding from them cheerful and liberal support. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS. 137 " Hear what says Dr. Tyng, who devoted forty years to the special observation of Sunday-school work. With regard to the church of the Epiphany: ' We founded this church with the dis- tinct understanding and plan, that the Sunday-school should be the main and prominent object of regard, and its convenience and successful operation thoroughly provided for ; and we car- ried out this principle completely.' Hear his testimony as the result of his long experience : ' I desire to record my testimony as the result of my whole experience, of forty years, that in my judgment, there is no department of Christian labor more vitally influential upon the triumphs of the gospel ; more remunerative in its immediate results of blessing to the souls engaged ; more effective in maintaining and enlarging the best interests of the Christian church, and the most efficient operation of the Christian ministry, than the Sabbath-school work.' Hear him again, on the exact point in hand : ' The provisions for the school should bring out the unsparing liberality of the church. Nothing that can promote the comfort, enlarge the usefulness, or adorn and render attractive the methods of operation, within the power of the members of the church, should be withheld. The Sunday- school is worthy of the first place in the affections and consid- eration of every church. The advantages which it repays make it an investment of incalculable worth. In no way can the churches of the Lord so surely rise and shine, so certainly ex- tend and prosper, so largely bless and be blessed, as in the con- stant, earnest and faithful cultivation of their Sunday-schools.' We add here that the Sabbath-school of his St. George's church requested the privilege of supporting itself; but the church posi- tively refused. And well it might. It gave the Sabbath-school ^400 per annum, and the Sunday-school gave in benevolence 1^4000 a year ! This reciprocal relation, Dr. Tyng describes as : ' The children giving to this work of the church, of their own savings and collections, and the church giving to the children, as their personal offering, a token of their interest and love.' This support of the Sabbath-school is seed-corn, which we urge our churches to sow, and which shall spring up to their own benefit, and the benefit of the world, some thirty, some sixty and some an hundred fold. 138 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " Of what the school may do for the church in the future, let us judge by what it is doing now for the church. " 1st — Is not the Sunday-school imperceptibly leading the churches, by making its members teachers in the school, to that primitive Christianity, when all the disciples were the preachers of Jesus, and the coming back to which common propagation of the truth, will be the salvation of the world, and the dawn of the millennial day? " 2d — Is not the Sunday-school also leading the membership of the churches to a regular and systematic study of God's Word, (which is realizing the definition of what the Sunday-school should be, and which was quoted thirty years ago from Dr. James W. Alexander, by Dr. Tyng, viz., the church with its children studying God's Word, and) which is giving the church generally a theological training, by which they are not only bet- ter qualified for teaching Jesus, but are working out their own sanctification ? ' Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy Word is truth.' " 3d — And in this practical work also of abundant and general free-will offerings for the world's redemption, may not the future churches be established by the present Sunday-school ? Let objects of charity be kept before the school ; let the doctrines taught be applied to the subject of beneficence ; let all the money given, be given to these purposes ; let every class be a missionary society, with its own name and special object and what will be the result ? The first result will be an immense amount of money given at once to the cause of Christ's Kingdom. The next will be, that the church to come will be filled with members who know nothing else but the regular and joyous offerings to the Lord, according to their ability. Again, the church will re- quire a ministry which shall make gospel truth bear regularly on the entire consecration of the membership, in spirit and sub- stance, and the result of this spirit and work among the churches, will be what ? This beneficence will represent itself in the local associations; and the local associations will represent it in the General Associations and State Conventions ; and the State Con- ventions will send it to the Southern Baptist Convention ; and the Southern Baptist Convention will have abundant means and SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. 139 men to give the gospel to the destitute places of this land, and to send it to the ends of the earth. This is the solution of the great problem ; this is the true chain to connect the Convention to the unfailing source of abundant supply; which we call ' the masses of the people.' The children, the children, they are the salvation of the world, the sanctification of the church ! Man's Saviour, crucified and arisen, is called apostolically ' The child Jesus.' One of the striking pictures of the Millennium is, a little child leading the lion and the lamb. No wonder that significant doxology: " I thank thee, oh Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seem- eth good in thy sight.' " Dr. Henson said that when he spoke on the relation of the church and Sunday-school, he felt like a man with a can of nitro- glycerine on his head. In Richmond and in the South, where so many poor churches are indebted even for their existence to Sunday-schools, there is not the slightest danger from what has been written, of our being blown up ! When we speak on the relation of the Sabbath-school to the church, we feel that we are putting our hand to the lever which, if properly sustained, will lift up the church and move the world! The fulcrum for this LEVER IS THE ChURCH's SUPPORT OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. " But the fulcrum is nothing, and the lever is nothing without the efficient motor. Oh, that God would give his spirit — the spirit of wisdom and of power — to our churches and to our Sab- bath-schools, that the sublime Sunday-school mission may be fully accomplished for Jesus' sake." SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. Scarcely a year passes, in the history of the Convention, that some system of Beneficence is not presented for the attention of the denomination. The day may come when these systems will be digested, their good elements collected, and something pre- sented which may have general acceptance among our people. Any system, contemplating the benefit of the Convention alone, can, of course, have no acceptance among the churches. The church is the unit among Baptists. The place that suits the in- 140 FOREIGN MISSIONS. dividual church is the place for the Convention, whose ultimate resource is the individual church. The following is a contribu- tion to this kind of literature which, having worked well in several churches to which it had been commended, was published in the Foreign Msssion Journal of March, 1880, for the consid- eration of the denomination. It enters, therefore, into the history of the board, duringf i' "PI,AN FOR CHURCH REVENUE AND BENEFICENCE. " Giving duly of our substance, for Christ's sake, is an act of worship. The habit of making such offerings is an element of elevated Christian character. The habitual exercise of this grace — for a grace it is — is contemplated and designed by the material gifts which Providence regularly entrusts to our hands ; and the orderly and full development of such gracious character is one of the highest aims of church discipline. The love of money is a common idolatry of human nature ; and Christian beneficence is the counteracting and eradicating power, ordained by Him whose ' will is our sanctification.' " The nature of this gospel-giving is laid down in the precept of II Cor. viii. 7 : ' Therefore as ye abound in every thing — in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also,' — the grace of rich liberality. A condition of its acceptance, in the sight of God, and the extent to which it is to be exercised, is thus stated : ' If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted, according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not' The great motive for charitable and liberal giving is found in the words of II Cor. viii. 9 : ' For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that ye, through his poverty, may be rich.' A worthy example, cited by Paul, was that of the churches of Macedonia, who first gave themselves to the Lord, and then made the depths of their poverty to 'abound to the riches of their liberality.' " The regular contributions of the church naturally divide themselves into two classes : First, those which are for their own expenses ; and are positively binding, as necessary to the com- SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. 141 plete organization, and the prosperous perpetuity of the church. Second, those which are for objects of general Christian benev- olence, and are purely voluntary, though equally necessary for individual and church prosperity. Each class of these duties is based upon its own, and well-defined principles of reason, and of Holy Writ. " The first class of Contributions — or, those positively binding on the membership to defray the necessary expenses of the church. " I. These necessary expenses may be specified as for four objects: 1st. The ivork of the pastorate, which has been con- tracted for by the church. 2d. The house of God, whose preser- vation, and improvement, and ordering for worship and varied instruction, are involved in the idea of a living and progressive church, 3d. The Sunday-school of the church, as the children can be best trained in beneficence by the church paying the ex- penses of the school, and letting all their contributions go to benevolent objects. 4th. The poor of the church, whom the Master has graciously imposed upon us, for the blessing which attends the proper care of poor saints, as Christ's peculiar repre- sentatives on earth. • " II. The principles on which these church-expenses are binding on the membership are four-fold : " 1st. The independence of the churches of Christ. This im- plies that, as a rule, each church is to take care of itself. It has no claim for support upon other churches, or religious associa- tions or conventions ; much less upon any organization of a worldly or political character. Hence, the obligation of support must rest on its own membership. " 2d. The equality of the membership. This equality is not merely in privileges, but in duties ; not only in benefits, but in self-denials. This principle of church polity lays the burdens of the church equally on all the membership. " 3d. The Divijte Headship of the church. The churches are servants of Jesus. ' One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.' The payment by the members, according to ' the ability' of each, of these necessary and authorized expenses of the church, is nothing more than the Lord's stewards employ- 142 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ing a part of the talents committed to them by the Master, for the support of His own household. " 4th. The universality of this principle in all associations which require monetary expenditure. The benevolent society, the business co-partnership or corporation, the family, the school, the State — all are sustained by the imposition of burdens and taxes of some kind upon those who are thus associated for common benefits or benevolence. From such an obvious and universal law of reason, the church can claim no exemption. The gospel is ' without money and without price ' to the world ; but it was published at a fearful cost to the Master, and it has ever been at a heavy expense to his servants — even at the ex- pense, at times, of their entire property, and of their very lives. The light is free ; but the candlestick is costly. *'III. The precepts and encouragements of Revelation, on this subject, are equally plain : ' Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived. God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he^also reap.' ' Will a man rob God ? Yet, ye have robbed me ... in tithes and in offerings. . . . Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shajl not be room enough to receive it.' " If it be asked, whether this latter scripture does not refer to the tithes, which were commanded for the support of the Ancient Temple ? we ask, in reply, whether that law for the Temple-sup- port has not been re-enacted for the support of the church? Hear the utterances of Paul, in I Corinthians, ix. 13-14, on this identi- cal point : ' Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar ? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.' "IV. Here is suggested the proportion of their means, which the church may be expected to employ for the support of the gospel. As is clearly seen, there is reference, in this passage of SYSTEM ATIC BENEFICENCE. 143 Paul, to the Corinthian church, to the tithe, or the one-tenth of the income of Israel, which was divinely demanded for the tem- ple service. And under the self-sacrificing gospel system shall less be expected than under the less liberal Jewish economy ? But, as we live in days far different from those, when the church, calling nothing ' their own,' brought all their possessions, and placed them at the Apostles' feet, it is prudent and important, in order that our plan for church contributions may be practical as well as scriptural, to give the broadest interpretation to ' the gospel-support,' which lays claim to this tithe obligation. Let it be interpreted, then, as comprehending all contributions for church and charitable purposes. Now, assuming, that each church member may require a third of the one-tenth of his income for private charities ; and, another third for the objects of general benevolence, to which regular contributions are made through the church, there remains one-third of one-tenth, or one-thirtieth of his income, which should be at the service of the church, if needed, to meet its current expenses. ■' V. Application of this first class duty of contributions : " I. The income of the membership of a given church may be estimated at an amount, the thirtieth part of which would be ample for the liberal expenditure of the church on its home- work. " 2. But, as such an application demands much caution and wisdom, the following recommendations are made for raising the revenue for church-expenses : " 1st. Let a committee or the deacons report annually on the amount which should be raised for the expenses of the church that year. " 2d. That the same committee or deacons shall prepare a list suggesting the amount, which in view of the sum necessary to be raised for the support of the church, each member of the church might be expected or pleased to give, for that year. The members shall be requested to inspect the amounts against their respective names, to approve, or to modify the same as they may deem proper. After the list shall have been revised, if revision be required by modifications made, it shall be presented to the church for their adoption. When thus acted upon, this 144 FOREIGN MISSIONS. schedule of subscriptions shall be held binding upon the mem- bership, as the necessary and authorized means for the support of the church. " 3rd. The same committee or deacons shall duly divide the aggregate amount of such subscriptions among the objects spec- ified above ; and a bill shall be presented quarterly, by a collec- tor, to each member of the church (or to his or her proper rep- resentative, if the same be a minor or have no personal means), of the following form : " 188 M To Bapt. church of , Dr. For Pastor, say ^lo ex? For House of Worship 10 00 For Poor of Church 10 00 For Sunday-school 1000 $40 00 For Pew Rent 25 00 $65 00 Cr. By Pew Rent, or Subscription, whichever be the less 25 00 Due for Quarter ending 40 00 Received payment, Ch. Collector. " 4th. It shall be the duty of the Collector to report any habitual delinquents in this duty to the committee, who, after careful con- sideration of each case, in conference with the Pastor, shall report the same to the church, for instruction, counsel, or to be dealt with as a covetous person, unless there shall seem to be some good reason why the committee should not report the same. " The second class of Contributions are purely voluntary. " I. By this is not implied, that they are not equally binding on the conscience, and commanded by God, and necessary for Christian and church prosperity ; but, that the proper perform- ance of this duty is a matter between each soul and his God, to whom alone he shall be held accountable. " 2. The law for this class of obligations is clearly set forth in the words : ' Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.' — I Cor. xvi. 2. SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. 145 " Here we have prescribed, Individuality, * let every one ;' Equality, ' as God has prospered him ;' Regularity, ' on the first day of the week.' " 3. Great objects for which these weekly offerings may be made are, say, Missions, the Sabbath-school, and Ministerial Ed- ucation, " The following plan is recommended for the advancement of this class of Christian benevolence : " I. Let envelopes be given to the members of the church, en- dorsed with the words : Home Missions $ Foreign Missions State Missions Sunday-schools of State Ministerial Education " T/ie Giver ivill specify for what he makes his contribution, otherwise it zvill be divided among the above Jive objects. " II, The church shall be divided annually into five com- mittees, who shall see respectively to the interests of these fiv^e objects by circulating intelligence, holding business and social meetings, encouraging every member of the church to contribute something, and arranging for public services and collections once a year, in reference to the objects committed respectively to them. In the appointment of these committees due regard should be had to societies existing in the church, which societies may contemplate some of the objects proposed to be assigned to these recommended committees of the church. " III, The following months should be appropriated to the special promotion of the interests set against them : "February — Home Missions. March — Foreign Missions. April — Sun- day-schools of State, May — State Missions. October — Ministerial Education. " IV. During the month assigned to each interest the pastor, having given to the church and congregation a week's notice, shall present, from the pulpit, the claims of said interest ; and upon that Sabbath all contributions not otherwise specified shall be appropriated to the interest aforesaid. '* Under extraordinary circumstances — such as the failure, from Providential reasons, to realize any adequate contribution — the JO » 146 FO REIGN MISSIONS. committee in charge of the object may, by a sub-committee, canvass the church privately for donations ; provided, the special consent of the church shall have been obtained. " Third, these collections of the first and second classes, shall be instead of all other collections — unless by order of the church at a regular monthly meeting — except for the poor, to whom contributions shall be made at each communion season. Of the funds collected for the several purposes and objects indicated, the treasurer shall keep an account ; and he shall be authorized to pay out the same, statedly or as occasion may demand, to the duly authorized representatives of these several objects, taking the receipts for the same as his sufficient vouchers. " Deeply sensible of the difficulty of the subject handled, and the imperfection of the work performed, we respectfully present the above plan for the consideration of churches that have none, and subject to such modifications as will adapt to peculiar cir- cumstances, with the recommendation that the paper shall be referred to a committee and read at four consecutive quarterly meetings of the church ; and that a^ter that time it shall be brought by the committee before the church, with such improve- ments as may have been suggested, for final discussion ; and that after further revision, if necessary, it shall be, if thought worthy, adopted at a full meeting of the church, as the plan for rais- ing THE REVENUE AND DEVELOPING THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE Baptist church." CHEERING VIEW. This chapter cannot be better closed than by the following from the Joiirnal of September, 1 880 : SIGN OF THE TIMES. "Almost all of our religious weeklies give regularly mission- ary news. Look back into their old files and you will find that this is a comparatively new feature of their journalism. What does it signify ? "l. It signifies that missionary intelligence is pressing for ut- iterance from all quarters of the world. " 2. It signifies that there is a demand for this information among all Christian people. PROTESTANT FOREIGN MISSIONS. 147 "3. It signifies that the churches are reah'zing the truth that missions is only another name for comprehensive and active Christianity. " '"PROTESTANT FOREIGN MISSIONS.' " This is the name of a work on modern missions, by Dr. Theodore Christlieb, Professor of Theology in the University of Bonn, Prussia, and translated by David B. Croom, M.A. A part of it was read at the Evangelical Alliance, at Basel, Sep- tember 5, 1879. The book is divided into several parts, as fol- lows : I. Missions, Past and Present ; II. The Missionary Agencies of the Mother Church ; III. Work among the Heathen ; IV. Hints with regard to the Duties and Aims of the Future. " We glance now, as a sample of the book, merely at the first part. HOW THEY USED TO THINK. " Dr. Christlieb refers to Wm. Carey's being ordered by the Conference ' to be silent,' when proposing to discuss the duty of missions ; to the Scottish General Assembly declaring a similar motion 'fanatical and absurd — dangerous and revolutionary;' and to the General Assembly of the Congregationalists of Mas- sachusetts being asked by Adoniram Judson and others, whether the missionary idea was ' visionary and impracticable.' He refers also to the Portuguese regarding the Hottentots ' a race of apes ; ' and the inscription on the church doors in Cape Col- ony : ' Dogs and Hottentots not admitted ; ' and to the exclama- tion of the French Governor of the Island of Bourbon to the first missionaries to Madagascar: 'You would make the Mada- gasy Christians ? Impossible ! They are mere brutes, and have no more sense than irrational cattle.' HOW THE WORK HAS SPREAD. " This is the age of Universal Missions. Among the Pacific Islands whole groups of them have been almost entirely Chris- tianized. In British East India — from Cape Colony to the Him- alayas— mission stations are more thickly studded than 'that net-work of missions which, towards the end of the first century, encompassed the empire of Rome.' The largest and many of the smaller islands of the Indian Archipelago possess evangel- 148 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ical missions on the sea-coast and in the far interior. Burmah is almost Christian, and Siam is open to the gospel. All the ports and half the provinces of China are in contact with a chain of stations ; and to her teeming population in Australia and other lands the gospel has been sent. In Japan there are several dozen missionary organizations. Even the Aborigines OF Australia have heard the word of God. In the lands of Islam theological seminaries and medical missions have been established as new centres of evangelization. Palestine has several Protestant churches and schools. Africa is being en- tered from the north, south, east and west, and civilization and Christianity are creeping into the very heart of the Dark Conti- nent. In North America, the immense plains of the Hudson Bay Territory have been opened up to the gospel, from Canada to the Pacific Ocean. In Central America and the West In- dies Protestant missions have spread from island to island ; whilst on the Mosquito Coast, in the opposite mainland of Hon- duras, and in British and Dutch Guiana, they are gaining an ever firmer hold. Lastly, South America — from Demerara to Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands, and |Terra del Fuego are tinged with the dawning of the gospel, which has penetrated to the interior, to the territories on the Amazon, and even to the Indians of Brazil. CONTRAST. " Eighty years ago, in all heathen lands, there were some fifty thousand converts, now there are 1,650,000. Then, ;^3 10,000 was the yearly contribution to Foreign Missions, now they amount to ^6,250,000. At that time there were 70 Protestant missionary schools, to-day there are 12,000, with 400,000 schol- ars. At the beginning of the century there were 50 translations of the Bible, and some 5,000,000 copies in circulation, now it is found in 226 languages and dialects, and 148,000,000 of copies have been circulated. SIGNIFICANT SUGGESTION. *" But,' says the learned professor, very significantly, 'What if the darkest clouds in the missionaries' sky are to be found, not so much in the various phenomena presented by the hostile country, as in the atmosphere of the church at home / ' " CHAPTER II inm 149 Hon. J. L. M. CURRY, LLD., President of Foreign Mission Board, i8ti-72: 1874-18 160 OUR PRESIDENT S DAUGHTER. The work of this year was so saddened by the death of the only daughter of our honored President, J. L. M. Curry, who occupies a large place in the eyes of our country and the civil- ized world, that we give place to a notice of it here from the columns of the Foreign Mission Journal oiYQ\ir\x-Axy, i88i : " MRS. SUSAN LAMAR TURPIN. " This lovely Christian, the wife of Rev. John B. Turpin, of Warrenton, Va., and daughter of J. L. M. Curry, D.D., President of our Board, fell on sleep, at the residence of her father in this city, on Friday, the 7th of January, 1881, giving clear testimony to the power of her faith in him who is the Resurrection and the Life. The funeral services were performed the next day at the First Baptist Church, by Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, and other distinguished divines, in the midst of a concourse of weeping relatives and sorrowing friends, who thus evinced their deep sympathy with the heart-bursting grief of mother and father, husband and brother, and with the bereavement of the two motherless children, whose mother's absence will be relieved by all the devotion that can be bestowed by two devoted families. We are on the dark side of the cloud, our sainted sister is on the bright side. The silver lining had been caught when she uttered the words, ' Safe in the arms of Jesus.' The following appeared in the Religious Herald: " This noble woman, the wife of the Rev. John B. Turpin, of Warrenton, Va., and the only daughter of J. L. M, Curry, LL.D., of this city, closed her earthly course at the residence of her father on Friday last, the 7th of Janu- ary, in the midst of young womanhood and in the triumphs of Christian faith. The decease of loved ones is often described as gain to the departed, but loss to those from whom they part. This was implied in the Saviour's words : ' Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.' No loss to his disciples could be so great as the death of their Master ; and yet, how great was its gain, apart from its vicariousness, to them and to the world. Thus may it be in the completion of a human life, which furnishes worthy examples or illustrates important principles. Some record of the exemplification of great truths in the character and death of Mrs. Turpin should be made in this journal, which ever seeks to elevate human nature and to strengthen faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. " One of the finest forms in which high character appears, is that of at least seeming unconsciousness of real power. This gave rise to the aphor- ism of Carlyle : Consciousness is the test of imperfection. The subject of 151 152 OUR PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER. this notice was an eminent example of natural and spiritual force concealed beneath the semblance of utter self-unconsciousness. The deep impress of her mind and heart may be witnessed all over the house- wifery of her home, the ministry of her husband, and the several churches of which he has been the pastor; and yet her extreme modesty would not have suggested to others such power, and did not, we dare to say, admit it to herself. A true analysis of her life is, that it was a daily manifestation of reserved force. Let the student of character learn the secret of possession far beyond all profession. " Her death was a remarkable illustration of several of the distinctive doctrines of the gospel. Death is denominated sleep of the body, in view of its certain resurrection and in opposition to the atheistic notion that it is sleep of the soul. In the very article of death, the mind of Mrs. Turpin was not only clearness itself, but it moved in a plane of decided elevation, as becoming meet for a spiritual body and as ascending to a state of which it is written, ' There is no light there.' The gospel regards Christian trial as bearing a part of the cross of Christ for his sake. This gives support beneath affliction, which has no parallel in human philosophy, and can account alone for such triumphs over human distresses as were witnessed in the death chamber of this disciple of the meek and suffering Jesus. Around her were a broken-hearted husband, a father whom she loved almost to adoration, a mother whose abounding devotion elicited from the dying daughter the filial tribute, ' You have ever anticipated my every desire ; ' a brother, to whom she was bound as to her own life, and last, but not least, her two precious little children, for whom she would have laid down a thousand lives, and yet she sees them all fading away from her without a sigh, without a tear — yea, with a face radiant with joy, and more expressive of the sentiment than the burning tongue of Mrs. Comstock expressed it, ' All this for Jesus.' The Christian's supremacy over the natural dread of death was also grandly exemplified. So frightful is this ill of launching into the unknown world, that human nature either, bhnds itself to the dire necessity, or is overwhelmed by its contemplation. Witness ^Cicero on the death of his daughter. But this timid, shrinking woman, with a full appreciation of the step she is taking, moves calmly, cheerfully against the last great adversary, and even announces triumph in her dying words : ' Rest : home.' " This is testimony to Christianity to which the church has right. This life and death are worth a hundred homilies. No martyr kissing his flaming stake ever exhibited more certainly the power of Divine grace to surmount all the woful conditions of frail mortality, and to give even a foretaste of celestial glory, than was exhibited in the thanatopsis of our beloved friend and sainted sister in the Lord. " But this does not staunch the bleeding hearts of mother and father, husband and brother, into the sanctuary of whose private and poignant grief we would enter no farther than to offer the profoundest sympathy of sincere friendship and fraternal love, and to remind them of the words of ancient consolation : Prf^ftnittitur^ non aviittitur. " OFFICERS OF CONVENTION AND ITS BOARDS. OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President P. H. Mell, D.D., of Georgia. Vice-Presidents. E. T. Winkler, D.D., of Alabama, W. Carey Crane, D.D., of Texas J, L. M.Curry, D.D., of Virginia. Gen. S, D. Lee, of Mississippi. Secretaries. C. E. W. DoBBS, D.D., of Kentucky. Rev. Lansing Burrows, of Ky. Treasurer. Auditor. G. W, Norton, of Kentucky. N. Long, of Kentucky. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VA. President. J. L. M. Curry, Virginia. Vice-Presidents. Hiram Woods, Md. J. A. Hackett, La. Geo. Whitfield, Miss. W. D. Thomas, Va. H. B. McCallum, Fla. T. H. Pritchard, N. C. L T. Tichenor, Ala. R. S. Duncan, Mo. J. B. Link, Texas. J. L. Burrows, Ky. W. L. KiLPATRiCK, Ga. C. Manly, S. C. Matt. Hillsman, Tenn. J. B. Searcy, Ark. M. Ellison, W. Va. Corresponding Secretary. Recording Secretary. H. A. Tupper. W. H. Gwathmey. Treasurer. Auditor. J. C. Williams. J. F. Cottrell. Board of Managers. J. B. Hawthorne. W. Goddin. J. B. Winston. J. B.Watkins. H. H. Harris. J. B. Hutson. H. K. Ellyson. John Pollard, Jr. S. C. Clopton. W. E. Hatcher. J. Wm. Jones. H. McDonald. E. Wortham. A.B.Clarke. C.H.Winston. 153 BY-LAWS ADOPTED MAY, 1881. " Recommendations of a committee appointed to consider a paper submitted to the Convention by a Joint committee of the two Boards^ ordered to be printed as by-laivs. " Impressed with the obhgation resting on the Convention to endeavor more energetically and systematically to elicit, combine and direct the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort for the propaga- tion of the gospel, for this purpose, we unanimously recommend — " I. That the Boards of the Convention be directed to form the closest possible connection with the State Boards, where such exist, in such way as shall be mutually agreeable, and in other cases to secure such agency as each of the Boards may deem best ; in both cases providing for necessary expenses incurred. " 2. That the Secretaries of the Boards of the Convention be instructed to secure frequent distribution of information relating to their work, by means of newspapers, tracts, leaflets, and otherwise, as may be found expedient, among the masses of the people ; and, further, that each of the Secretaries be required to prepare, each year, or to secure without cost to their Boards, the preparation of a suitable address, containing such facts and points as they would prefer to make in a speech, could they catch the ear of all the people. They shall have a sufficient number of such addresses printed, and with whatever aid may be obtained from the agen- cies at their command, they shall send a copy to every pastor within the bounds of the Convention, and request him to embody such facts and points in a sermon to his people, and to take a collection at or as near as possible to some specified tnne. " 3. That it shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretaries as speed- ily as possible to prepare a roll of all the Associations within our bounds — stating under each -which church and Sunday-schools contribute to their Boards, and the amounts contributed — and to make systematic effort each year to bring over to this list the churches and Sunday-schools which do not contribute. "4. That the Committee on New Boards be instructed to nominate, as Vice-Presidents of the Boards, men known to be identified with the inter- ests of the Convention and of the State Boards, to whom definite duties shall be assigned at the discretion of the Boards. "5. That the results of the efforts mentioned in these recommendations be reported at each session of the Convention. "6. That so much of the second day of the Convention as may be necessary shall be set apart for consideration of these reports, and of ques- tions connected with them. " 7. That these recommendations may be altered at any time by a ma- jority vote, except on the last day of the Convention." 154 CHAPTER II. II. CONVENTION ORGANIZED— SERMONS. At 10 o'clock, May 5th, 1881, the gavel of President Mell called the Convention to order in the Methodist Church of the city of Columbus, Mississippi, this building, as the most com- modious in the city, having been offered by the church, whose genial pastor, Rev. S. A. Steel, the writer had known when he was chaplain of the University of Virginia. The Convention sang, " Jesus, I love thy charming name." The president read the second chapter of Paul's F'irst Epistle to the Corinthians, where the Apostle disclaims " man's wisdom," and claims " the mind of Christ." Prayer was offered by Rev. S. W. Marston, of Missouri. On the call for States, it was found that of the 550 entitled to seats, 252 members were present. Dr. Mell was re- elected president, and Rev. Messrs. C. E. W. Dobbs and Lansing Burrows were elected secretaries. The pastor of the Columbus Baptist Church, Rev. H. W. Battle, welcomed to the homes and hearts of the city, and Dr. J. A. Broadus, by request of the pres- ident, responded in some wise and homely advice as to the con- duct of the members as they sojourned under the roofs of the good people of the city. The Convention sermon was preached by Dr. S. Landrum from Luke xxiv. 47 : " And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, begin- ning at Jerusalem." He did not fail to bring out the idea of the text, now made plain by the revised version, " beginning from Jerusalem." While on the subject of preaching, we give the following list of the ministers who filled pulpits on Sunday, as indicating how the Sabbath is usually employed by the Conven- tion, especially as we do not propose to repeat such notices in future notes on the Convention. 155 156 FOREIGN MISSIONS. THE LORD'S DAY. The following were the appointments for religious services on the Lord's Day : SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 9 o'clock, A.M. Baptist : T. M. Bailey, Ala. ; Lansing Bur- rows, Ky. Methodist: S. Boykin, Ga. ; T. J. Rowan, Tenn. Presbyterian : J. Wm. Jones, Va. ; J. H. Curry, Tex. Cumberland Presbyterian : M. T. Sumner, Ala.; W. A. Therrell, Tenn. Christian: S. A. Hayden, Texas; D. W. Hughes, Tenn. CHURCHES. Baptist Church : H. H. Tucker, Ga., ii A.M. Jno. A. Broadus, Ky., SJS^ P.M. Methodist Church : J. L. Burrows, Ky., ii A.M. J. B. Hawthorne, Va., 3 P.M. J. W. M. Wilhams, Md., 8^ P.M. Presbyterian Church : T. G. Jones, Tenn., 1 1 A.M. B. H. Carroll. Texas, %yi P.M. Cumberland Presbyterian Church : F. H. Kerfoot, Md., 11 A.M. M. B. Wharton, Ga., 8>^ P.M. Christian Church : C. H. Strickland, Tenn., 11 A.M. W. U. Mayfield, Ark., 8>^ P.M. Jewish Temple: E. T. Winkler. Ala., 1 1 A.M. Colored Baptist Church: F. D. Hale, Ala., 1 1 A. M. J. B. Gambrell, Miss., 3>^ P.M. S. W. Marston, Mo., 8^ P.M. Colored Methodist Church : J. H. Edwards, S. C, 11 A.M. T. G. Sellers, Miss., 8;^ P.M. The writer heard in the morning Dr. Tucker, who preached a sermon " clear as crystal and strong as steel," on the saints' pur- chase, from the text, " Ye are bought with a price," I Cor. vi. 20; and in the afternoon Dr. Hawthorne, who, after a power- ful discourse, had, in the basement of the Methodist Church, an alarming spell of illness. NOTES. Addresses on behalf of the Seminar}^ were made by Drs. Jas. P. Boyce, J. A. Broadus and M. B. Wharton, and " Bonds and Cash to the amount of ^5084 were secured." SUNDRY OTHER ITEMS. 157 At a mass-meeting in the interest of Foreign Missions, speeches were made by Drs. J. B. Hawthorne, J. L. M. Curry and J. W. B. Williams ; and ^^240.06 was collected. Members of the Convention who might be present at the Northern anniversaries in Indianapolis, Ind., were requested to extend " Christian greeting " of the Convention " to the Bap. Home Mission Society, Bap. Mission Union and the Am. Bap. Publication Society.'' At this meeting conversation was had with Mrs. J. L. San- ford, daughter of the late Gen. Lowrey, of Mississippi, who was anxious to devote herself to work among the heathen. In con- ference with the Cor. Sec. of the Home Board, it was thought well that she should go to California. The Convention gave their approval, and the estimable lady, who is now a missionary of our Board in China, was appointed by the Home Board to labor among the Chinese of San Francisco. After the with- drawal of the Home Board from this field, Mrs. Sanford re- mained in connection with the work of Dr. J. B. Hartwell, under the patronage of the Home Society of New York. SUNDRY OTHER ITEMS. 1. Rev. John Stout and Rev. T. P. Bell, appointed to China, addressed the Convention, making fine impressions. 2. The Committee, of which Rev. F. H. Kerfoot was chairman, appointed at the last meeting to report on " Reaching the mass- es," presented through its Secretary, Rev. Charles Manly, of So. Ca , a set of recommendations, which, being approved by a Com- mittee, of which Dr. J. W. M. Williams, of Maryland, was Chair- man, were adopted as "By-Laws" of the Convention. On motion of Dr. Williams, it was "Resolved, i. That the different State Conventions and General Associa- tions, constituents of the Southern Baptist Convention, are hereby requested to give special attention to the plan adopted, at this session, for reaching the masses of our people ; and " 2. That those Conventions and General Associations are respectfully and urgen'ly invited to co-operate with this Convention, through their respective State Mission Boards, for the purpose of attaining the ends pro- posed." 3. Our Board reported a gift of ^5000 from Mr. Isaac Davis, 158 FOREIGN MISSIONS. of Massachusetts, to be held as the " Isaac Davis Fund " ; the Convention approved its acceptance, and returned thanks by- adopting a report presented by Rev. M. Hillsman, of Tennessee. 4. Documents, including a letter from the Secretary of State, Hon. James G. Blaine, with regard to our establishment of a mission in Cuba, were referred to the Convention, which de- cided, by adopting the report of a Committee, of which Dr. E. T, Winkler was Chairman, that " the time has not yet come when the island can be occupied by our Foreign Mission Board." 5. Mrs. Yates had arrived in Shanghai, Nov. 14th, 1880; Mr. and Mrs. Eager in Rome, Nov. 12th; and Mr, and Mrs. Bagby in Rio, March 2d, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Graves had re- turned to this country to recruit their health " after eight years of severe service." 6. The Board commended, by adopting a report presented by Rev. C. C. Chaplin, of Texas, Chairman, Woman's work, " whose interest yearly increases. The number of societies is some 500; the contributions of 350 of them amount to -^6244.30." 7. Receipts of the Board, ;^46,820 48. No debt. Torre Pellice Chapel Fund, ^3140. The Board had sent ;^209i. 38 (1791.95 Taels) to Dr. Crawford to cancel obligation, reported last year. The Canton Chapel Fund, 1^4591.87, was to be employed in a " second Canton residence." The cost of Rome. Chapel had been ^$30,5 19.73. The Convention, by report of Rev. T. J. Walne, Chairman, was rejoiced " to note an increase of contribu- tions [^2144.24] from eleven states in the Convention." . 8. The death of Vice President T. B. Espy, D.D., on 7th Feb., 1 88 1, was reported to the Convention, which, by a Committee of which Dr. J. T. Freeman was Chairman, paid a worthy tribute to the memory of " this eminently gifted and devoted man," who, dying at the age of 40, had done more than some men do, with equal advantage, but less zeal and devotion, in three-score years and ten." 9. Rev. W. D. Mayfield, of Arkansas, in an elaborate and able report on the Foreign. Mission Journal, asked: " How shall the churches be placed in possession of the knowledge necessary to build up the work of missions ? Can the Secretary of the Board visit all the churches? . . , What then shall be done? . . . SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. 159 Your Committee believe that a solution of this difficulty has been found in the Foreign Mission Journal ... by which the Secretary is able to speak once a month to all the churches in the bounds of this Convention. . . . The denomination might well take pride in extending the circulation of a paper so ably edited and so freighted with valuable information. . . . We therefore urge all the churches and pastors to aid in this work, and thus make the Foreign Mission Journal a mighty factor in our mission work." lO. The Board reported a series of facts which seemed to demonstrate that the co-operation with our colored brethren of the South, in the work of African Missions, was, at least for the present, impracticable. The Board had made faithful endeavors to execute the wishes of the Convention expressed in 1880. SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. The following was more appropriate in 1881 than in 1889, when Dom Pedro has been driven from his throne : "OUR MISSIONARIES TO BRAZIL- " On another page will be seen autobiographies of Rev. W. B. Bagby and his wife, who were formally set apart as mission- aries of the Southern Baptist Convention to Brazil on Sunday night, the 2d of January, 1881, in the Second Baptist Church of this city. Their field is the controlling empire of South Amer- ica, whose ruler is the only man in the Western Hemisphere who wears a crown, and whose territory, lying on both sides of the equator, contains an area of three and a half millions of square miles, with an average elevation of seven hundred feet above the level of the sea, and a geniality of climate and capa- city for productiveness which are literally unsurpassed. Brazil embosoms mines of gold and diamonds the richest in the world; is traversed, through its whole extent from west to east, by the 'Father of Waters,' which contributes every second five hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet of water to the volume of the At- 160 FOREIGN MISSIONS. lantic ; has the second navy of the world, and boasts a capital city — Rio de Janeiro — older than any city of the United States, and having a harbor only rivaled in beauty by the Bay of Naples and the Golden Horn of Constantinople. The people are Portu- guese, Spaniards, Negroes and native Indians. The Portuguese language prevails. The State religion is Romanism, which is completely broken down, as to the respect entertained for it, by the open wickedness of the priesthood, — so that 'the great need of the country,' in the language of one who is thoroughly in- formed on the subject, ' is a pious, self-denying ministry who, like the great Apostle to the Gentiles, will not count their life dear unto themselves, that they may win souls unto Christ.' "The questions arise: PF/z/ should we enter this field? and how is the field to be reclaimed ? " A distinguished scientist says that three conditions are necessary for the construction of the universe, viz. : a point, direction and force. This extreme analysis of materialism finds something of analogy in that Kingdom whose extension de- mands,— 1st. A starting point in the regeneration of the indi- vidual human heart. 2d. The direction of the Divine will, as indicated by the finger of Providence; and, 3d. The force of Him who said, in ordering the universality of his reign: 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.' " Presuming that the work of modern missions has its start in the regeneracy of God's people, what have been the several sig- nal pointings of Providence as to the direction for this work ? The first was, through the establishment of the P2ast India Com- pany, toward Hindoostan as the stronghold of the most power- ful paganism in the world ; the next through the battering down, by English guns, the exclusiveness of China, which com- passes one-third of the human family; the third signal indication was through the explorations of Livingstone and Stanley, and the establishment and the overthrow of slavery in the United States, which secured respectively the wealth of Europe and the interest of the negroes of our Southern States for the civilization and the evangelization of the dark continent of Africa; the fourth was the organization of the kingdom of Italy, by which that soul-crushed land has been thrown open to the liberating power SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. 161 of the gospel of Christ. And the work of Foreign Missions, under this guidance of Providence, has not been surpassed in any age of the Church, not excepting that of the Apostles themselves. " But, are tlTe present providential pointings toward Brazil less unmistakable ? Let us see : " I. An emperor is on the throne in that country who, though at the head of a State Papal Church, is so broad-minded and sagacious that he invites Protestaht missionaries to his country, and puts the high premium on their coming of proffering, we understand, to pay their passage from the United States to his capital city. " 2. Citizens of our Southern States, many of whom took refuge in Brazil after our civil war, are said to be specially de- sired by the people there. Here let it be said, that some mis- sionary efforts in Brazil have failed because labor was done with the negro slaves of that country, unmindful of the delicate rela- tion between master and slave. We are not slaveholders now; but we know all about that relation, and Southern ministers, other things being equal, are the best missionaries that can be sent to Brazil. " 3. Our Southern business men are exercised by the fact that, while our country only furnishes seven millions of the imports of Brazil, the Valley of the Mississippi, and the mills of Alabama and Georgia, and of the Carolinas and Virginia, can produce the whole one hundred millions of commodities an- nually imported. Thus might our country also, instead of re- ceiving only thirty-nine millions of the exports of that country, be enriched by a large part of the two hundred and twelve mil- lions. The increasing commerce between the countries is des- tined to bind together the twin Americas more strongly than the ligament of an isthmus, which, by the way, is being clipped by the Panama canal. " Now, as Providence has spoken by British trade and can- non, and by explorers and conquerors, so it speaks now by this liberal Emperor and this opening commerce, and says to us : Go up and possess the land, — go, as Joshua and Caleb ; not to return, however, but to meet the giant evils there, as well as to 11 162 FOREIGN MISSIONS enjoy the blessings of a self-denying life more blessed than the luscious clusters of Eschol. Here, then, is why we go, by these missionaries, to Brazil : God says. Go. " But, how is this land to be taken for Christ ? We answer, by force. Not, however, by the. force of our missionaries, the force of their strong will, or of their earnest desires, or even of their consecrated characters. It is the force by which the hos- tile empires of the past have been overthrown ; by which the great Reformation was hurled against the apostasy of the church; by which the stupendous works of modern missions have been achieved. Many things the missionary has to do. He has to observe the laws of nature and society for the preser- vation of health and for social influence, and of the government under which he lives, that he may be a pattern in all things ; but his most important duty is to keep himself, by faith and spirited activity, in increasing sympathy with that Divine power by which the work of individual salvation and of national deliv- erance can be alone accomplished. He is to be an adapted me- dium of that almighty force by which Brazil and the world are to be transformed into the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. And thus is he to realize in himself something like an omnipotence of faith, implied in the inspired declaration : ' All things are possible to him that believeth/ and, as an imperson- ation of the gospel, prove ' the power of God unto salvation.' " We commend to our young missionaries as their motto : ' Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,' and who says: 'And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen! " These choice young spirits sailed from Baltimore in the bark ' Yamoyden' on the 13th of January, 1881, for Rio de Janeiro, whence they will proceed at once to our mission station at Santa Barbara, in the Province of San Paulo, Brazil. Let the prayers of God's people, morning and evening, ascend in their behalf" SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONS. 163 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REV. W. B. BAGBY, MISSIONARY TO SOUTH AMERICA. " Richmond, Va., December 30, 1880. "My father was born in King and Queen County, Va., in the year 1813 ; my mother, in Kentucky, 1824. They moved from Louisville to Coryelle County, Texas, in 1852, where I was born — November 5, 1855. When seven vears of age my father moved to Waco, Texas, where my education was begun, under the direction of my sister. I was converted during the progress of a meeting held in the First Baptist church of Waco, by Dr. R. C. Burleson, in the year 1868, and was baptized by him soon after. " I had been urged long before, by both mqther and sister, to accept Christ as my Saviour, and had been seeking the light of Faith for weeks, when I found the ' Pearl of great price.' "My college life was begun in Waco University, in 1868, and was fin- ished in 1875, when I received my diploma from the hands of the president, Dr. R. C. Burleson. Many times during these years I was interrupted in my studies by ill health, and consequently I lost much time. "After leaving the University, for some months I was engaged in the publication of a monthly magazine — The Texas Literary Guardian — but in the winter of 1876 I gave up editorial work and took charge of a small school at White Hall, near Waco. There first I began to exercise, to any extent, in public speaking, in prayer-meetings, and Sunday-school work. Brethren of Waco had the year before spoken of licensing me to preach, but the matter was deferred. I early had impressions to tell the ' old, old story,' and expected some day to enter the ministry, but the realization was yet, to my mind, far away and vague. " In the fall of 1876 I went to the prairie country, twenty miles west of Waco, where I farmed one year. While in this region I superintended the Sunday-school at Eagle Springs, four miles from my stopping-place, and was here licensed to preach by the Onion Creek church. One sermon — my first — was preached in the house of an aged brother near by, some weeks after. " In the fall of 1877 I went to South Texas, where a school was oftered me, and where I was engaged in teaching until the winter of 1879, when I accepted my first pastorate, at Plantersville, Grimes County, Texas. I re- moved to Plantersville in February, and the church immediately called for my ordination. This took place on the third Lord's day in March, 1879 — the following brethren composing the presbytery : Dr. R. C. Burleson, and Elders R. C. Buckner, G. W. Pickett and J. M. Carroll. " In the summer of 1879 ^ engaged in a protracted meeting of two weeks' duration with the Union Grove church, Grimes County, which resulted in about thirty conversions. At this place I first entered the baptismal waters, with these happy followers of the Master. " For some months the subject of Foreign Missions had engaged my earnest thoughts, and after much prayer for God's direction in this very im- 164 FOREIGN MISSIONS. portant matter, and a thorough consideration of the great world's harvest field, I resolved, God being my helper, to devote my life to those of his children who dwelt in distant lands ! My attention was directed to Brazil, first, by General A. T. Hawthorne, who traveled in that land in the months immediately following our Civil War, and was greatly impressed both by the virtues and vices of the Brazihan people. "On the 2ist of October, 1880, I was married to Miss Anne E. Luther, of Independence, Texas, by Drs. J. H. Luther and W. C. Crane. " We resolved to go hence to Brazil as soon as possible. " In August, 1880, I had been called to the care of the Corsicana Baptist church, and this I accepted in October ; and after our marriage we mpved thither to remain until we could be sent to our work in South America. "With many regrets and partings sad, we bade adieu to our Texas home, and started on our long journey to the Southern.Tropics in December, 1880 " W. B. Bagby." AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. ANNE LUTHER BAGBY. " My father, a Rhode Islander, and my mother, a South Carolinian, moved from their home, Pendleton, S. C, to Kansas City, where I — the second child, the oldest living — was born March 20, 1859. " I was early concerned about my soul's salvation, and for a year before conversion went each day into a vacant room to read the Scriptures and pray for acceptance at the Throne of Grace. Faith came to my release at last, and in my eleventh year I experienced a change of heart while at fam- ily prayers. We were then living in South St. Louis, and, after baptism in the Mississippi River, I united with the Carondelet Baptist Church, of which my father was then pastor. " Having heard my father speak so often of Foreign Missions, and hav- ing listened to stories of the little heathen from my mother's lips, I have, from my earliest remembrance, been interested in the subject of the world's salvation ; but not until my seventeenth year, while at the Lexington (Mo.) Baptist College, was I seized with the conviction that I was a chosen instru- ment to bear the glad tidings abroad. It was only after a great^ struggle that I became willing to surrender — to give myself up to the work. " It has been five years since I was thus awakened to what my future life must be. Two of them I spent as head-assistant in Baylor College, Inde- pendence, Texas, where I found ample room to use the information and discipline which I had gained chiefly in the St. Louis public schools. " I had always feared, up to three summers ago, that I should love some one who had no intention of becoming a foreign missionary, and that I should be compelled to leave my native land with a broken heart ; but my heavenly Father had better things in store for me. He permitted me to be loved and to love one who, like myself, anticipated work in the foreign field, and who was a devoted minister of the gospel. We looked upon our mar- riage day as being far in the future ; but our plans were completely disar- BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. 165 ranged by meeting with General Hawthorne, agent for the Foreign Mission Board.'jn the State of Texas. He urged an immediate marriage and de- parture to Brazil, the place which he thought most needful of Christian workers. After careful and prayerful consideration, we determined to fol- low his advice. We were married upon the 21st of October, 1880, by my father. Rev. J. H. Luther, in Baylor College Hall. " We have since then bade the loved ones of our home circles farewell, and are now upon the eve of our departure. At present we are the inmates of Dr. H. A. Tupper's delightful home. "Our Father in heaven has thus far guided and guarded us very ten- derly. May he be with us in our future work, and honor his Son in the salvation of many of his straying children by means of the efforts of his willing though dependent messengers. Anne Luther Bagbv. Richmond, Va., Dec. 28, 1S80." BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. ARRIVAL. After a voyage of forty-eight days from Baltimore, Mr. and Mrs. Bagby arrived, March 2, 1 881, in the Bay of Rio de Janeiro, and shortly after took rail to Sao Paulo, in which province is our mission, at Santa Barbara. The first impressions of our young missionary were interesting. BAY OF RIO. " It is the most beautiful scene my eyes have ever beheld. Pen cannot picture the loveliness of these encircling mountains, clad to the top with luxuriant verdure, and dotted with villas and chapels ! I have never seen either the Bay of Naples or the Golden Horn of Constantinople, but certainly this must be the rival of earth's most beauteous water scenes wherever found. But, as I look out to-night upon the splendid panorama of lights glistening at the water's edge, up the mountain sides and min- gling with a gleam of stars, my heart is grieved that here there are thousands who are ' without God and without hope,' walk- ing under the sad shadow of an eclipse ! Oh, may God grant that His truth, ' as it is in Jesus,' shall fill this land from north to south, and from the Atlantic to the Andes ! " 166 FOREIGN MISSIONS. MORAL STATE. " The imperial constitution simply permits all religions, while it is pledged to protect Catholicism, . , . Here atheism, as well as Catholicism, stands in opposition to the promulgation of the gospel of Christ. Here the whole surrounding — social and po- litical— is opposed to Bible truth. The heart of the present generation — hardened by crime, darkened by ignorance, insen- sible by prejudice, established by habit, fanatical by education — lies beyond the probabilities of reformation. Well may it be said, ' can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?'" SCHOOLS : BAPTIST AND OTHERS. Our brother urged the establishment of a mission school, of a given plan, to "prepare the way for the march of the church," believing that " a mission school, based upon this platform, will triumph over all opposition ; will bring the surrounding con- flicting elements into union and fellowship with truth." He exhorts : " Send your missionaries, establish your mission schools, and the irresistible power of the gospel will go abroad in South America, and the land of the Southern Cross will brighten up with the resplendency of the kingdom of Christ." Brother Bagby met Brother Quillin " in the village of Santa Barbara, teaching school." He describes the churches of Santa Barbara and " Station " as quite weak — only " a few members of the latter attending services, the others being scattered over the country." There were a few Baptists in Butucata, Pericicaba, San Paulo and other places, and " many people, mostly Scottish, in Rio, who hold Baptist principles, but are known as Evangelistasy The Presbyterians have colleges at Campinas and San Paulo, cities of 20,000 and 40,000 inhabitants. Brother Bagby made arrangements to study the language at the former place. " The Presbyterians have succeeded well in their work among the Brazilians. The Methodists also are encouraged in their efforts to give the gospel to the people." While studying the language Brother Bagby would have " opportunities to preach often to the Americans, who surely need it." He says : "There are three Baptist preachers in this region, but one of MEXICAN MISSIONS. 167 them has become a Spiritualist, and another scarcely ever preaches. We need pious and earnest men — men consecrated to God. Where is Brother Z. C. Taylor ? We need him down here." The joint membership of the two churches is reported as forty-four. MEXICAN MISSIONS. SUMMARY OP EVANGELICAL WORK. The first Baptist church in Mexico was organized by Rev. James Hickey, with five members, January 30, 1864, in Monte- rey. Twelve other churches have been organized up to 1881, five of which — one in Zacatecas, one in Durango and two in Nuevo Leon — were disbanded, " owing to removal of members." There are " four churches in the state of Coahuila, with eighty members, and no pastor since the death of our missionary, John O. Westrup," who was murdered while visiting " the five or six little scattered churches and endeavoring to rally them." Rev. T. M. Westrup wrote : *' We have, then, eight Baptist churches in Mexico, with two hundred members, besides material for one or two others, and an inviting field." In 1872 the Presbyterians entered the field, and the next year the Methodists. The Epis- copal church is also working there. There are 10,000 Protest- ants in Mexico. REV. T. M. WESTRUP. The following communication had been received from Texas, and was communicated to the Convention : "At a meeting of the Board of our State Convention, held on April 6th, the fol- lowing resolution was unanimously adopted : " That we recommend to the Foreign Mission Board the appointment of Rev. T. M. Westrup, as the successor of Rev. J. O. Westrup, as missionary to Mexico ; and that we pledge our Convention to support him at the same salary we gave his brother, viz., $400 per annum. That Rev. O. C. Pope be appointed a committee to inform the Board, at Richmond, of our action, and to arrange for the appointment of the missionary." Brother Pope wrote : " Our people have responded to the Mex- ican Mission with a unanimity before unknown, and with the close 168 FOREIGN MISSIONS. relations soon to exist between the two countries, I regard Mexico as a most promising field for work." Brother Westrup, who is an Englishman by birth, and for many years a resident in Mexico, having married a Mexican lady, was invited to meet a committee of the Board at the Con- vention, in Columbus, but he did not attend. He was appointed missionary by the Home Society of New York, with headquar- ters at Monterey, of which church he was one of the constituting members, and was ordained pastor in 1864 — " Brother Hickey laying on hands and praying." Brother Westrup wrote : " In the course of that year the pastor baptized eighteen more, and the next year twelve. The cliurch has had one other pastor, Elder Francisco Trevino. It was originated as a ' strict Baptist church,' and though for awhile it practiced open communion, it returned to its first principles in 1870, losing many of its mem- bers. For a long time we were reduced to five members, but now [in 1881] we have forty." EUROPEAN MISSIONS. AMONG THE STATIONS. At Torre Pellice " the doctrine of believer's baptism is making progress, despite many external difficulties." The work at Milan, ''though humble, is solid, important and encouraging." In Venice the Evangelist " has labored much among the archives of the Venitian Inquisition, and discovered many interesting facts of Baptist history." In Bologna "a church has been con- stituted; the persecution is less than in the beginning, but the perfidy of some is deplored. In Modena and Carpi the priests teach that the scarcity of necessary things is due to the Protest- ants. In several cities Sig. Martinelli found Pedo-baptists who desired to confess Christ in baptism. At Bari and its out- stations, Sig. Volpi " has a wide and effectual door, with many persecutions." Naples " has passed through a crisis, but it has a future, especially as a nucleus of faithful brethren remaining." At Cagliari proprietors forbid public meetings in their houses, AFRICAN MISSIONS. 169 as disturbances have occurred, so that worship and teachings are in private. At Rome the church-life is reported " languid," and Sig. Cocorda asks to be transferred to another station. In the "mothers' meetings " good is done. Dr. Taylor writes : " Much good seed is sown, but the harvest is not yet." The baptisms have been 26. CHAPEI.S AND LITERATURE. Dr. Taylor asks ;^2000 more to complete the Torre Pellice chapel, and urges, with great force, the raising of a fund to pro- vide chapels, so necessary, in Italy. The Seviinatore is publish- ing valuable articles, and the publication of tracts and small volumes is deemed important. " New Italy reads, and we should do our part toward furnishing a healthy, cheap literature." BRO. EAGER. This brother, with his wife, was cordially welcomed. " He is earnestly studying the language and the situation, patiently wait- ing, and wisely avoiding the errors which premature efforts, however well intended, almost surely produce." THE CONVENTION Adopted a report, urging that the ;^2000 asked by Dr. Taylor be promptly donated, and expressed the opinion that no part of the world "is more in need of a pure Gospel, or more inviting or more promising than the superstition-smitten and priest- ridden countries of Europe." AFRICAN MISSIONS. CO-OPERATION WITH COLORED BAPTISTS. The Board reported to the Convention in detail their ineffectual efforts to secure the co-operation of the colored Baptists of the South, in African Missions, in the form of a report to the Board by a committee charged with this matter. The report concludes thus : " These facts are reported by the committee, that the Board may be satisfied that they have done what they could to 170 FOREIGN MISSIONS. carry out the spirit of their report to the Convention, advocating the proposed co-operation and the recommendation of the com- mittee of the Convention, which was adopted as follows : * We recommend that our Board of Foreign Missions be instructed to use diligent efforts for securing the co-operation of our colored brethren in all our states in prosecuting African missions.'" The Board had been informed that Brother S. Cosby, who was work- ing in Africa in co-operation with our Board, had been recalled, without our knowledge, to work in connection with the colored Board of Missions. FROM THE FIELD. The Lagos-house had cost ;^2ioo. On Dec. 22d the infant daughter of Brother and Sister David fell on sleep. Going to a village to preach, Brother David found a chapel erected by Christian residents, who said : " Here is the house ; whom will you send to teach us and our children ? " Brother David reply- ing that he did not know, they cried out : " Send us help ; send it soon, or it will be too late." At Gaun, on the Ogun River, Brother David baptized two persons, " the first fruits of the station." S. L. Milton is located here, having a school of 26 pupils, and preaching also on neighboring farms. A small chapel is needed. Abbeokuta was formerly called " Christian Abbeokuta," but Brother David says: " We fear the words of Christ to Capernaum may prove true of Abbeokuta. The kid- napping war continues. All we can do is to hold our own. . . . A white man should take the place of Brother Cosby when his Board organizes a mission. The English Church Mission Society, after sad experience, have put back their work into the hands of white men." Brother Stone has an encouraging sta- tion at Ogbomoshaw, where 20 have been baptized this year. His " longing for knowledge is intense," and he wishes to go to Lagos to be taught by Brother David, who says " he thinks hard of me because I have not consented to his coming to study under my direction." WHITE MEN FOR AFRICA. Brother David reiterates : " Send us two white men as soon as possible — men of education — to prepare native help, and books CHINA MISSIONS. 171 for their use. Other missionary bodies have men and presses here for this purpose. This country must be evangelized by natives trained under the supervision of white men. ... I wish to prevent the Board from depending too much upon 'colored laborers from the South. If I am an enthusiast it is in a cause to which my life, energy and most earnest prayers are given. May God direct the Board in this matter." The Convention endorsed the appeal of Brother David. STATISTICS. Baptized, 22; church members, 92 ; S. S. pupils, 180; day school, 93 ; catechumens, 26; contributions, [^^ 142.04 ; baptized since 1875, 84. CHINA MISSIONS. STATISTICS. Baptized, 72; pupils, 190; contributions, ^474.14; church members, 543. TUNG CHOW MISSION. The church united with the " Kiang Cheh " Association, composed of all the northern and southern Baptist Churches of North China, which met in Ning-po. The schools averaged 160. The ladies made 1078 visits in villages. Dr. Crawford writes : " Every member of the mission has sought in various ways to carry the knowledge of salvation to the ears of the people. . . . Their hearts are hard, but public sentiment is turning more and more in our favor. Our constant prayer is that God would revive his work in our midst. Eight have been baptized ; membership, 83. The North Street Church have no meetings of any kind. A few of them worship with us, and we do what we can for their salvation." CANTON MISSION. The country stations Tsang Fa and Tsing Une, had exper- ienced bitter persecutions, which deprived them of their places of worship, and even drove some of the Christians " to the Sand- 172 FOREIGN MISSIONS. wich Islands, where they can serve God unmolested." Baptisms, 52; contributions, ;^I20; membership, 357; on school-rolls, 180; average attendance, 106. Miss Stein "will take Mrs. Graves' school this year, which will give Miss Whilden more time for work among the women." The Hong Kong Mission, of one hundred members, supported by the private means of Mrs. L. W. Johnson, who goes to Holland, will be turned over to our mission, the Missionary Union having declined to take it, as " too far from their base of operations." Most of the converts have been baptized by our missionaries. " Mrs. John- son says that she will do all she can in support of the station, and try to get others to do the same," RESOLUTION OF CONVENTION. The Convention reiterated its resolution offered last year by Dr. Tichenor, that efforts should not be relaxed until 100 mis- sionaries are sent to China, " the grandest field for missionary enterprise on the face of the earth." SHANGHAI MISSION. SUMMARY. Dr. Yates had been a great sufferer in 1880, but he said : " I have been able to hold sweeter communion with my heavenly Father than ever before. His promises are all true and very precious!' After giving an account of his five stations and five native assistants, the Doctor says : " Native agency is not reli- able for impressing others with the spirit of the gospel. They have not the courage and faith. The presence of a foreigner is necessary to render native preachers really serviceable." He begs for " nine men," and adds, " this is only an earnest of what I want to occupy cities along the Yang Tsz River, between Shanghai and Ichang, a distance of over eight hundred miles. Fifty, or even a hundred, men could be located there with great advantage. ... It would seem easy for all our churches to give one dollar a member, which would support fifty men in China. My church does this for the support of the Soo Chozv station. Why cannot the churches at home do as much ? Will not the ministers agree to work together for this end — ' teaching them CHINA MISSIONS. 173 to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded ? ' " Some of Mrs. Yates' pupils, ten or twelve years old, repeat from mem- ory the whole of the gospel of Matthew, the Acts of the Apos- tles, and " My Two Friends" in the Shanghai dialect. The Doctor needs funds for his translation of Scripture, with "baptizo " translated " dip',' and not, as in the Pedo-baptist versions, " ' the washing ceremony.' My translations are in the language spoken by thirty millions of people. The Lord give us grace to do His will and feed His sheep." Baptized, 12 ; membership, 103; contribution, ^258.22. REPORTS ON OUR MISSIONS. Reports of marked ability were made as follows : On Brazil- ian Missions, by Rev. J. B. Gambell, chairman; on Mexican Missions, by Rev. Wm. Carey Crane, chairman ; on European Missions, by Rev. H. H.Tucker, chairman ; on African Missions, by Rev. I. T. Tichenor, chairman ; on China Missions, by Rev. R. H. Graves, chairman. Each of these brethren seemed spe- cially adapted to represent his Committee and the subject of his report. This was particularly true of the report presented by Rev. Charles Manly, of South Carolina, on " Progress and Prayer," which concludes thus : " The Captain of our Salvation at once awakens desires for the spread of His kingdom in the hearts of his people, and leads them on to fresh conquests. Filled with His thoughts, animated by His spirit, and inspired by a knowl- edge of His purposes, abiding in Him, and His words abiding in us, there are no assignable limits to the achievements of sanc- tified effort for His glory, for He has Himself said : ' Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' " More prayer, more definite prayer, prayer that grows out of more careful study of God's Word, which alone can inform us of His purposes — prayer quickened by development of the divine purposes as illustrated by the providences of God throughout the world, is the need of our churches. We cannot but think that decay of interest in missions accompanied the abandonment of the monthly concert of prayer — probably was the main cause of it. Now that revival of interest in the spread of the gospel appears among us as a means of intensifying and 174 FOREIGN MISSIONS. directing this awakening, we urge the re-establishment of the Monthly Concert of Prayer in each church throughout the bounds of our Convention." . HOME BOARD. GENERAIy SUMMARY. Weeks of labor, 1,208; churches supplied, 59; other stations, 48; sermons and addresses delivered, 3,316; prayer and other religious meetings attended, 976; baptized, 119; received by letter, 191 ; professed conversion in connection with his labors, not baptized by missionary, 316; Sunday-schools, 59; pupils, 2,649; pupils converted, 71 ; Bibles and Testaments distributed, 108 ; religious visits, 4,241 ; miles traveled, 54,669. The labors of the missionaries have been seriously interrupted by the protracted bad weather during the winter. ^ HOSPITAIvlTY. The most cordial thanks were felt and expressed for the abounding hospitality of the hospitable folk of Columbus. CONCLUSION. The Convention adjourned with singing, and prayer by Rev. W. C. Cleveland, of Alabama, to meet in Greenville, South Caro- hna, Wednesday, May 10, 1882, at 10 o'clock, A.M. LETTER FROM THE VENERABLE DR. DEAN. " Bangkok, November 29, 1881. " H. A. Tupper, D.D., Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention, Rich- mond, Va. " My Dear Sir : — Reading to-day, in the report of the late convention in Columbus, Miss., the statement that Dr. Yates, your missionary at Shanghai, had just completed a translation of a part of the New Testament and was waiting for a few hundred dollars to print it for the benefit of the 30,000,000 of souls around him, reminded me of the happy stay I enjoyed in his family a few weeks ago, while attending the meetings of the Chinese Baptist Asso- ciation held at Shanghai. This Association, composed of delegates from the Baptist churches in the Chik Kiang and Kiang See provinces, and rep- resenting the Missionary Union and the Southern Baptist Convention, met last year at Ningpo, and this year at Shanghai. The meeting of a Baptist Association in China was more than my faith could grasp forty years ago. THE COLONIZATION IDEA, ETC. 175 but which, by the wonderful grace of God, I have this year been permitted to look upon. But while beholding the grand results of God's grace during the last half century in China, I could not hide from my eyes the humiliating spectacle that the milHon of American Baptists, with all their wealth and wis- dom, and worldly enterprise, had but seven missions among the millions of China, and that four out of the seven were left each to the superintendency of one man : Yates at Shanghai, Crawford at Tung Chow, Jenkins at Zaoh- ying, and Dean at Bangkok, and with one exception, the wife of each of these men is now in America seeking health after long years of missionary work. These several missions, each with chapels, schools, translations and out-stations, hang upon the single thread of a man's life, and life here, at least, is as uncertain as in our native land. Some of them have been threatened with the grave during the last summer, and the surgeon's knife is again lifted over the noble body of Dr. Yates, seemingly demanded for health, but threatening a risk to his precious life. We sympathize deeply with Drs. Yates and Crawford in their disappointment in the failure of the candidates, Stout and Bell, appointed to come to their aid, so much needed. " Having enjoyed a personal acquaintance with some of the honored founders of your society, Drs. J. B. Taylor and J. B. Jeter, Deacon Wm. Crane, and a companionship of labor with your early missionaries in China, J. L. Shuck, 1. J. Roberts, George Pearcy, Samuel Clopton, Frances John- son, B. W. Whilden, Thomas W. Toby, M. T. Yates, T. P. Crawford, George W. Burton and others — Dr. and Mrs. James went from my door to their watery grave — and having recently looked upon the face of some of your missionaries and their work at Shanghai and Canton, I can feel an in- terest in their enterprise and unite my prayers with yours for their success. You have some noble workers in China, and a glorious field to cultivate, but they loudly call for more laborers, which I doubt not you will soon send them. Sincerely your fellow-laborer in the great harvest, " William Dean. " I have read with much interest your ' Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention,' while stopping with Dr. and Mrs. Yates last month." THE COLONIZATION-IDEA, ETC. The idea of going into heathen lands in missionary colonies occurs and recurs in the minds of our people, both north and south, and is not unfrequently considered in our missionary meetings. The letter following was addressed Dec, 1880, to a gentleman distinguished for his personal zeal for missions and now occupying a permanent official position in the cause. The articles that follow the letter headed " Mary Caufield Reid," and " A Page from a Diary," are taken from the Foreign Mission 176 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Journal o{\k\Q. above date, in order, in the one case, to preserve a bit of history of one of our noblest missionaries whose remains lie under the sod of Africa, and in the other, to use a personal inci- dent to attract attention and help on the enterprise which the book seeks to advance. No apology is necessary for republica- tion from the Journal of Aug., i88o: " Visit of Missionaries," and a letter from Mrs. Ann H. Judson, addressed to the Wo- man's Missionary Society of Richmond, Va., in 1823. "THE COIyONIZATION IDEA. No. I. "My Dear Brother: " You ask me to give you my views on the ' Colonization-idea.' I adopt this method of doing it as others may be interested in the same subject. Once I was deeply interested in it — so interested that I was willing to give myself, and my all to to its practical exemplification. The chosen field was Japan. The plan was for me to make a tour of inspection, for which all needed information was obtained and all preliminary arrangements were made. Should the report be favorable, a missionary colony was to be led to that country under the auspices of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention, but at no cost to the Convention. An income of $10,000 to $12,000 per annum was actually secured for the pur- pose of support ; and a much larger amount was expected to be secured. But a plan which was new to the Convention, and which involved so much of good or evil, was not to be undertaken without the wisest counsel. Two visits were made to Richmond for consultation with the then Correspond- ing Secretary of the Board. Correspondence was opened through the Sec- retary, Dr. Taylor, with the Secretaries of the Missionary Union, and the American Board, and others in situations adapted to qualify them for accu- rate judgment. The result of the consultation was that the plan was deemed inexpedient. The war rendered impossible what wisdom regarded unadvisable. This personal experience is introduced for the purpose of in- dicating that 1 do not write on the subject without some knowledge and thought. " What is the colonization-idea ? It is that a company of Christian men and women, of varied vocations and talents, should go to a heathen land and take care of themselves by their own means or toil, and spread the knowledge of Christ not only by preaching, but by the influence of their Christian character, as exemplified in the business and social relations of hfe. " The theory is very pleasant ; and were Christianity what it should be, perhaps it would be practicable. But what are some of the difificulties at the very start which render such an enterprise impracticable ? THE COLONIZATION IDEA, ETC. Vll " I. What kind of persons — of business persons — shall the colony be composed of? Do you say, for instance, the first-class and successful mer- chant, or mechanic ? Go to the best and most pious first-class merchant or mechanic, or physician, or lawyer that you know, and make the experiment of convincing him that it is his duty to break up his business, and root up his family, to go and settle in Asia or Africa. Try it, and you will be wiser after the experiment. Do you say : The kind of persons to go are young people who are not so firmly settled in life ? That young merchant, or me- chanic, or lawyer, on whom you have your eye, has a death-struggle to get bread in this land of abundance, where he knows the language and the peo- ple, and has a circle of friends around him to sympathize with and to aid him ; and what would it be in China or in Yoruba ? "Suppose, for the sake of the argument, either should be persuaded to go. Take the successful man ; take the poor man. Presume that he can make- money, or make a living in the heathen country, over-crowded, with every-' thing against him, how much missionary work will either do? How much does he at home ? In his struggles with the heathen for property or for life,, how much will he influence them to go to Christ ? See the business Christian men of Sandwich Islands. Immersed in gain-gathering, their influence for Christ is worse than nothing. If any doubt this, let him read the letters of General Armstrong, of Hampton Institute, of this State, written last sum- mer from his native Sandwich Isle. So dangerous is the effect of business- relations in heathen lands on the missionary spirit, that it is a positive rule of the Southern Baptist Convention that no foreign missionary under its patronage shall engage, on pain of excision, in any secular business. Prom- inent missionaries have been cut off on this ground. If occasional business has so injurious an effect, what must be the influence of a business life ? Ab- stractly it may seem different ; but wisdom is to regard things as they are. The average Christian merchant or mechanic in China will be no more Christian there than in America. How much do the Chinese learn of Christ from the Christian merchants, and mechanics, and lawyers of California ? " Suppose that only ministers and their families should go — how much bet- ter would the case be ? You say : Did not Paul do missionary work, and support himself? I reply, as suggested by Christlieb : ist. Where is your Paul to go ? 2d. Where are the circumstances of Paul to be found now in a pagan land? ' If a Paul preached in a civilized empire, of which he was a native and a citizen, to a people with whose language he had been from childhood familiar, and whose social habits made it possible for him in every term, to gain by his own hand a livelihood, without thereby having his whole time occupied, he was surely in a position quite different from that of the missionary. The latter, to begin with, apostle neither in strength nor in gifts, goes to distant peoples, perhaps quite savage, perhaps only half civil- ized, a complete stranger, with every avenue of speech and custom shut to him, and thus for a considerable time, necessarily compelled to be without any sufficient means of sustenance — is it to be wondered at, if in his care for 12 178 FOREIGN MISSIONS. his own daily bread, he shall forget to be anxious about the souls of others ? Many Societies which at first sent out missionaries on this principle, have, after bitter experiences, and taught by the stern reality of facts, been com- pelled to abandon it, or to apply it only in very special cases.' " But your eye is not so much on self-supporting preachers as on self-sup- porting business men. I remark then that the gospel-doctrine for the salva- tion of the nation is : ' Go — preach.' You say, the Christian may preach by his life. True, but can you get the Christian to go to preach by his life ? Why, the right kind of Preachers cannot be induced to go ! It requires the BEST MEN DEVOTED TO THE WORK OF SAVING SOULS BY THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, TO GO TO THE HEATHEN. It is not the mechanic, not the merchant, not the physician — however good they may be — but the PREACHING OF JESUS which is the power of God unto salvation. "But I must close for the present at least, although I have scarcely en- tered the subject. I am yours, very affectionately, T. "Richmond, Va." "THE COLONIZATION IDEA. No. 2. " Afy Dear Doctor : " Away from home, I cannot very well continue the subject of my letter to you in the last Journal. Nor indeed does it seem necessary. If the ob- jections at the very first blush of the matter are so formidable, there need be no further argument against the theory. I only add that the plan does not appear to be apostolic or scriptural. True, many families and companies of Jews went out from Jerusalem to live in heathen nations, and of Christians from Rome and other cities where churches were established ; but, the rea- son was either business or compulsion. There is no Bible record, that I now think of, of any body of God's people emigrating to foreign lands for the spread of the truth. Of course, the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, and the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, are no exceptions, and furnish no precedent. I might speak of the sacrifices in rearing children in heathen lands or in separating them from their parents in these lands as well as many other sacrifices involved in missionary life, which could scarcely be expected of any except men and women who feel themselves called of God to give their lives to the work of the gospel. The mixed motives of business and benevolence will not suffice for the personal privations of Foreign Mis- sions. But I must not begin to do what I said I could not and need not do. " Hoping you will be content, as I know you are, to work in the old ways of our missionary fathers, I am, " Yours, affectionately, T." " MARY CAUFIELD REID. " Mary Caufield was born in South Carolina, and went to Washington, Georgia, to complete her education. Her predilec- MARY CAUFIELD RE ID. 179 tions were for Romanism, but, when converted, she joined the Baptist Church of that place. Shortly after her baptism she con- fided to her pastor her desire to go to Africa. Correspondence was opened with Dr. James B. Taylor, who visited Washington, and had with the young lady a personal interview. The policy of the Board was adverse to sending into mission fields single women. Mary's mind was not satisfied, and she wrote a long communication to her pastor, urging that she might be sent to the work to which her soul was bound, she believed, by the will of God. " Rev. T. A. Reid, an appointee of the Board of Foreign Mis- sions to Africa, came to Washington the 4th of May, 1857, and was introduced to Miss Caufield. A strong attachment sprang up between them, but a serious and unforeseen difficulty was in the way of Mary's going to Africa. Her mother, Mrs. Haines, of Augusta, Georgia, had no sympathy with such views of duty. The daughter was counseled to visit her mother at once, and lay the whole subject before her. In a few days she returned to Washington with Mrs. Haines, between whom and Mr. T., Mary's pastor, the following colloquy occurred : "Mrs. H. So, sir, you wish to take Mary from me, and send her to Africa to die ? ''Mr. T. It is a fearful thought, madam, that the separation be- tween you and your daughter may be an eternal one. ''Mrs. H. What do you mean, sir ? "Mr. T. The Bible says there shall be an impassable gulf be- tween those who love and obey God and those who do not. "Mrs. H. Do you, sir, say that Mary and I must be sepa- rated ? that she shall go to Africa ? "Mr. T. No, madam ; but I say that she will be saved ; and you must be lost if you continue in your sins. Will you allow us to engage in prayer that you and Mary may be united for- ever ? Let lis pray. " Next day Mr, T. called again, and the day after, with similar interviews. The third day he found Mrs. H. under deep con- viction of sin. Towards the close of the visit she exclaimed : * If the Lord will only forgive my iniquity \ ' To which Mr. T. replied, ' Would you let Mary go to Africa ? ' Rising from her i80 FOREIGN MISSIONS. chair, she said, with emphasis, ' It would be the greatest honor of my hfe.' Thanksgiving was then proposed, because God had heard our prayer, and mother and daughter were in the everlast- ing Kingdom of the Lord Jesus jChrist. A precious season of worship was enjoyed. " The following Sabbath (May 24th), Mrs. Haines was bap- tized by Mr. T., and two days after Mary was married in the same church, and set apart with her husband for the African mission. " Her work in Africa is known to the public, and the peculiar circumstance of her death, which occurred May 17, 1858. The writer's heart has not lost the pangs of the first news, which came with the request that her funeral sermon should be preached from her dying words : ' Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him.' The sad intelligence was to be broken to her mother. The writer hastened to Augusta, and found Mrs. Haines in ex- uberant spirits packing a box for Africa. " The following took place : '"'Mr. T. Have you, Sister Haines, recently heard from Africa ? "Mrs. H. No ; but I hope they are all well. Mr. Reid had a little cold when I heard last. "Mr. T. But you know, my sister, that in that country a slight illness may speedily lead to something worse. "The mother's soul rose at onci to her eyes, which were met by no doubtful sadness on the face of the messenger of woeful tidings. A shriek followed, as the smitten mother fell on the floor, with the heart-rending cry, ' Oh ! my Mary is dead ! ' " A veil must rest over the sequel of the lamentation. The hearts of parents and children may understand. Sufifice it to say that the mother has now joined the daughter, where there is no more separation, and where every tear is wiped away. There is no night there T " PAGE FROM A DIARY. "Oct. I, 1880. — I went into a cabin in a deep recess of a mountain, and what g, sight ! There was one room in which the whole family of six lived, and had lived for many years — father, mother and children. There was no bed, no chair, nor PAGE FROM A DIARY. 181 bench. Through the gable end of the cabin was an opening that a large man could pass through. On every side were open- ings, through which could pass from a chicken to a child. In the chimney-corner sat a girl of eighteen years, with her hands around her upraised knees, who could not walk a step. Skulking about the hovel were two other children — one of them cross-eyed and the other could scarcely speak, its speech being inarticulate and stammering. The mother had an infant in her arms, whose mouth she said was being * eaten out by something.' Its head was one great scab of sores and dirt, and its body was covered with red and mattery splotches. The woman had on one gar- ment, which had probably been worn for years, just below her knees, no shoes, of course, and no button, no pin, nor string to her garment. The man was in such rags that the major part of his body was exposed. He stuttered, and looked scarcely like a human being. The comb was unknown, and there was no in- dication in the hut or on the persons of the inmates that water had ever been felt. Such a sight of filthiness and brutality I never beheld ; and the recitals were worse than the sights ! " First, the heart revolts ; then it is filled with unutterable pity. What can be done for these poor creatures ? They have no de- sires beyond the momentary satisfaction of their animal nature. Of prayer, of the soul, of God, they know and care nothing ; but they beg for something to eat and to cover their nakedness. Lord, thou knowest! " In the midst of such sympathy and loathing, the thought arises : How much better to the eyes of an all-wise and holy God is my soul than the outward state of these poor wretches to my eyes ? As to truth, is not my mind as ignorant and as va- cant as these meaningless faces ? As to holiness, is not the spirit as unclean ? Oh, God help me to transfer some of the loathing and compassion to my non-spiritual self! But God, while he abhors our sin, pities us — he helps us. Thus may we learn that the meaning of such sights is to evoke our compassion, and to make us do to others as God does to us. "And, if these beings, who live in suchj-ags and filth, should make our hearts to go out in charity, how much more those poor creatures of pagan lands, who, from the crown of the head 182 FOREIGN MISSIONS. to the sole of the feet, are covered with wounds and bruises and putrefying sores ; whose spirits are naked and all exposed, not only to the eye of a holy God, but to the arm of an avenging Judge, whose home here is sin, and whose abode hereafter is hell ? They live in the wicked one ; they perish for the bread of life. Our land is full of the life-giving food ; shall we refuse it to these dying, condemned millions? They sit as Lazarus at the door of the abounding riches of our gospel privileges. Shall we leave them only to the miserable comfort of having the sores of their hearts and consciences licked by the dogs of supersti- tion and false religion ? Egypt afforded bread to Israel. Shall Israel refuse bread to Egypt ? " "MRS. M. T. YATES, "Dec. 1 8, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Yates, with Mr. and Mrs.Tobey and Dr. J. Sexton James, were ' designated ' to the missionary work in the first Baptist church of Richmond, Va. Some mission- aries sailed in March following, but ' In consequence of the severe illness of his wife, Mr. Yates was compelled to defer his departure. Our afflicted sister would have willingly been carried to her berth, and been borne from our shores with the hazard of finding a grave in the ocean ; but the interdict of the physician and the advice of her friends prevented.' They sailed in April and reached Shanghai in September. There she has served faithfully with her husband for over forty years. 'And a help- meet for the great work of her husband verily has she been.' She remains in Shanghai to carry on the work of the Lord. " VISIT OF MISSIONARIES. " Richmond with other places, has been favored by visits of Mrs. M. T. Yates and her daughter, Mrs. J. F. Seaman, and Rev. Rosewell H. Graves. Of the former two let it be said that, of the many delightful visits which ladies connected with our missions have made to Richmond, none will be remembered with more gratification than that of these noble women. In looking into the face of Mrs. "^tes the idea rises instinctively : ' A mo- ther in Israel." One remarked with regard to her daughter, so natural, so easy, so intelligent : ' What a pity that all our young Mrs. M. T. YATES [nee ELIZA MORING). BORN IN CHATHAM CO., N. C, DEC. 21, 182I. — MARRIED SEPT. 27, 1846. VISIT OF MISSIONARIES. 185 women had not been born and reared in China ! ' Mrs. Yates met the Women's Missionary Society of Richmond, and recom- mended a medical missionary woman for Shanghai. Where shall we find the young woman doctor ? What competent young lady will enter upon the study of medicine for this field. The Baptist women are expecting, after the return of our people to the city, the pleasure of a visit from Mrs. Graves, who is detain- ed in Baltimore by sudden and domestic affliction, on the eve of starting with her husband for Richmond. Brother Graves was gladly received by the Board of Foreign Missions, although the meeting fell on a national holiday, and he was appointed to repre- sent the Board and collect funds in several of our States. May his greeting everywhere be as cordial as it was by the Baptists of Richmond. The following is taken from the Religious Her- a/^ of July 8th, 1880: " 'A meeting of the Baptists of this city to welcome our returned missionaries was held Sunday night at the Grace-Street. Baptist church. Rev. W. E. Hatcher, D.D., presided. After reading of the scriptures by Rev. E. Harrison and prayer by Rev. J. B. Hutson, Dr. H. A. Tupper delivered a touching and appropriate address of welcome, to which brother Graves made a fitting response. He reviewed the work in China dur- ing the twenty-four years of his labors there, and mentioned many stirring incidents of the power of the gospel upon the hearts of the heathen. When he began his work in Canton, there were in all China only 600 converts to Christianity. Now they number more than 18,000. He spoke in terms of highest praise of the devotion of the Chinese Christian to the cause of Christ. Great religious destitution still exists among that peo- ple, there being only one preacher to every million of inhabitants. Dr. Graves' recital of the events of his missionary life aroused many hearts to a deeper interest in the work of evangelizing China. '"At the conclusion of the remarks of brother Graves, Drs. J. B. Hawthorne and H. McDonald delivered eloquent addresses ex- pressive of their interest in this great missionary enterprise of converting China to Christ. Dr. Hatcher, before dismissing the congregation, expressed the hope that some boy or girl present 186 FOREIGN MISSIONS. would give himself or herself to the work of laboring for the conversion of the three hundred millions of perishing Chinese.' "Should the visit of the wife and daughter of Dr, Yates to our country stimulate some brother or brethren to grant this de- voted man of God, who has done much for our missions in China, the desire of his heart, as expressed in the ensuing petition to our Board, the visit will be blessed indeed. " ' I have translated the gospel by John into the dialect of this province, and carefully reviewed my translation of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, which is now ready for the press, but I have no Bible money. I have written to the American Foreign Bible Society and to the Bible Union, but, although I wrote more than a year ago, I have received neither answer nor funds. Is it pos- sible for you to get me an appropriation — say $500 gold — for the sacred scriptures, in which baptise is translated immerse? If not, I will have to sell some of my little property — for I must have it. It is my intention to continue devoting the forenoon of each day to translations, till I complete the New Testament in this dialect, for it will be long before the Board can have another man here who will have sufficient knowledge of the spoken lan- guage to do such work.'" " LETTER FROM MRS. ANN HASELTINE JUDSON. "The following letter was addressed fifty-seven years ago to a Woman's Missionary Society of Richmond, Va., by the first Mrs. Judson. We are permitted to publish it by the courtesy of Miss Francis Greenhowe Crane, of Baltimore, daughter of the late William Crane, formerly of Richmond. The arguments of the letter are as good now as they were when penned. The com- mon views of missions, however, are very different. How delight- ful that noble missionary would be to see the change which has come over the spirit of our people in this era of missions and of woman's interest in the work of saving her sister-women in the pagan lands. But to the letter: "Washington, April 26th, 1823, " Dear Sisters in Christ: Your affectionate letter, together with your con- tribution in aid of female schools in Burmah, was received on my second ar- rival in this city. On my own account and in behalf of ignorant females in the East, allow me to express my thanks, and to assure you how much en- LETTER FROM MRS. ANN H. JUDSON. 187 couragement I derive from circumstances like the presefit, because I am convinced that when American females are induced to contribute of their worldly substance to enlighten their own sex on the other side of the world, their prayers and their influence also are joined. The popular objection to foreign missions at the present day — that ' we have heathen enough at home, why should we send our money and missionaries out of the country ? ' we may be assured is made from the most parsimonious, the most selfish motives. They hide their want of benevolence and Christian feeling under this cloak, and thus throw all their influence into the scale of the grand ad- versary. But did our divine Redeemer in his last communication to his loved apostles, say ' convert first all the Jewish nation, and then go into all the world ? ' Had this been his final command, instead of that most exten- sive and benevolent one, which even at the present day is binding on every real disciple, where had we now been ? What would have been our knowl- edge of the word of God, of his commands and of our obligation to each other ? What indeed 7iow would be the state of our country ? Altars and temples would be visible, human sacrifices would everywhere meet our eyes, and the whole moral state of our country present the appearance now exhib- ited in the empire of Burmah, and in the other heathen nations. Had the commands of our Saviour relative to the extension of his kingdom been as limited as many professed Christians seem to desire, what would now be the situation of our o'W7i sex ? What was our situation, and in what light were we viewed, when Augustine, the first Christian missionary, visited the shores of our ancestors ? Were we not then, as Eastern females now are, the ser- vants, the slaves of the other sex, and viewed by them as almost destitute of intellect, and little superior to the brute creation ? " If, my beloved sisters, this change in the situation and cicumstances of our sex has been effected through the instrumentality of the gospel, how great should be our efforts to enlighten those who are still degraded ? Had our cases been reversed, had Burman females been raised from their degra- dation, instructed, enlightened, and converted, while we were left in our native darkness, should we thank those Burman Christians, who would say ' why should we send our money and our missionaries to the Continent of America, when we have so many heathen in our own country ?' Let us obey the commands of Christ, and beware of the suggestions of him who still de- sires universal sway in those heathen lands, unenlightened by gospel rays. The New Testament is nearly completed in the Burman language, and females must remain ignorantof its blessed contents, while unacquainted with letters. To remove this difficulty, and to enable them to read with their own eyes the truths God has communicated to fallen man, is the object in the forma- tion of these societies. May your society prosper and incease. May your prayers be constant and effectual. May your hearts ere long be gladdened by the intelligence that your bounty was not bestowed in vain. While on the ocean, which will soon divide us, and when arrived in that country so far distant, let my name be mentioned in your prayers, social and private, 188 FOREIGN MISSIONS. and when our work on earth is done, may we meet in our Heavenly Father's house many heathen souls rescued through our united exertions. " Most affectionately your sister in Christ, ''Ann H. Judson. " To the Female Judso7i Society of Ric/unofid." GENERAL REVIEW OF MISSIONS. WHAT IS DOING? " In the previous chapter we gave a general view of the march of the Gospel around the world, as presented by Professor Christlieb. Let us now take a more particular survey by group- ing some of the facts and figures of the same author. What is doing may stimulate us to do. " Sweep around the circuit of the isles of the sea, from Japan in the east to the Sandwich Islands in the west, and what do we see? In 1872 the first congregation, of eleven converts, was formed m Jap aft ; to-day there are sixty-six chuiches, 1,761 adult communicants, 5,000 Christian adherents, three theological seminaries, with 173 students for the ministry ; thirty schools, with 800 pupils. Among the degraded and fast disappearing aborig- ines of Australia are two missionary stations, ' with little vil- lages of 125 native inhabitants, with pretty churches and clean houses, and arrozvroot produce ivhich gained a prize at the Vien- na exliibition! New Zealand \\.2js, 10,315 native Christians and 247 native pastors and teacher. The peninsula of Minahassa is Christianized ; out of 1 14,000 natives, 80,000 are converted, with 199 churches and 125 schools. In Sumatra are twenty-five missionaries- and 3,000 Christians, In the groups of Melanesia, Mekronesia and Polynesia there are 68,000 converts — the Sand- wich Islands having been abandoned by the American Board as a country Christianized, and the Fiji Island being thus described: Out of a population of 120,000, 102,000 are regular worshippers in some 800 churches, all well built and completed ; in every family there is morning and evening worship; over 42,000 chil- dren are in 1,534 Christian day schools ; the heathenism of the mountains is fast dying out.' In Mekronesia ' the most promis- ing converts are all sent out to sow the seed abroad.' " Glance at the continents of North and Central and South Americas. Greenland and Labrador are ' Christian communi- GENERAL REVIEW OF MISSIONS. 189 ties.' Among the htdians of nortJierti North Amei'ica there are 10,472 Christians, twelve native preachers and twenty-one schools. In Columbia ' Wm. Duncan stands at the head of the community of 1,000, which has the largest church between them and San Francisco.' The Indian tribes of the United States number 250,000 ; 200,000 of them are civilized, in whole or in part, and raised in 1877, 4,652,952 bushels of corn ; 27,000 are in full Christian fellowship, with 219 churches, 366 schools, and 12,222 pupils. Among t\\Q negroes of the South in the last fif- teen years, 1,000 places of worship have been built; twenty-six institutions for teachers and ministry have been founded, while the number of professed Christians are probabl>'*2,ooo,ooo. In Central America there are 1,105 native converts and 21,000 Christian adherents. In the West Indies (Danish and English), out of a population of one million there are 85,000 communi- cants ; 248,000 church-goers; 1,123 day schools, with 78,600 pupils — of which number 45,000 belong to Jamaica, which is thoroughly Protestant. In Sotith America the word has taken root in the extreme north, at Demerara, and the extreme south in Terra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands, and even among the most degraded of our race — the Patagonians — there are twelve believers in Jesus ! "Survey Africa, including Madagascar, which has 386 native pastors, 156 Evangelists, 3,468 local preachers, 784 schools, 48,- 794 pupils, of whom 20,000 can read; 117,131 converts and 250,000 Christian adherents. Africa has 166,383 Christians and 431,800 adherents, "Skipping Europe, where in the last thirty-five years the most marvelous work has been done in Germany and Scandinavia and Russia, for evangelical religion, we touch here and there on Asia. In Turkey proper there are 363 churches and stations; 321 schools and colleges ; 12,030 pupils and students; 632 mis- sionaries, and 11,900 converts. In Syria, including Palestine, there are 2,244 converts and 2,645 scholars. In Persia there are 1,322 converts and 15,000 adherents. In China, in 1843, there were six converts; in 1877, 13,515. Two thousand fold in thirty years. At that rate, in 191 3, there will be 26,000,000 Christians' and 100,000,000 adherents. Nor let us think such an 190 FOREIGN MISSIONS. estimate extravagant. In India there were 60,000 converts in the year 1878; and, in all, there are 400,000 to 500,000 Chris- tians. Truly said the founder of the Brahmo-Samadsh, Keshub Chunder Sen : ' Christ, not the British Government, rules India! ' "These results imply no little work of God's people at home : " Great Britain shows herself to be the most Christian nation of the world by doing the most missionary work. She has 1,300 missionaries in the field; has one-half of the heathen converts in the world; and appropriates annually ;^3, 500,000 to the work. "The free churches of Great Britain (and of all Christian na- tions) show themselves to be more Christian than the established churches, by doing more in proportion to their strength than the establishments for this extension of the kingdom of Christ. "The Scottish Established Church has 500,000 members, and gives ^125,000 annually, or twenty-five cents per member. The United Presbyterian Church has 170,000 members, and gives ;^200,ooo, or about ;^i.i8 per member — or more than four times as much. The Free Church, 220,000 members, give ^225,000, or over ;^i per member; and also more than four times as much as the Established Church. "In England the State Church gives ;^2, 330,365 ; while the Non-Confirmists give ;^i,62 1,155; ^^'^ ^^e Scotch and Irish Presbyterian Societies, ^695,050 ; making ^2,316,205, or about as much as the State Church, 'which is the richest ecclesiastical body in the world.' "A more striking contrast would be shown were we to compare the Established and Free Churches in other countries. For ex- ample: in Germany, which in the last century was regarded the most missionary country in the world. Now the establishment has only eleven missionary organizations and 200 ordained mis- sionaries in the field ; while the reformed churches have fifty-five societies and 2,000 ordained missionaries. The Moravians of Germany give over ;^i a member for missions ; while the national church, less than one-half a cent : or more than 200 times as much. But the Moravians beat all the world in this work ! Christlieb says : ' The German needs three conversions : first of the heart; second of the head ; third of the purse. With regard GENERAL REVIEW OF MISSIONS. 191 to the second, they may specially need it. Many learned pro- fessors do not know that Christianity is advancing in the world; and many that do know it fear the contempt which the advocacy of missions would bring on them. But as to the first and third conversion — of the heart and the purse — all need them !' "But how is it in the United States, which boasts of the great- est freedom of the world ? " The number of Protestant Christians in this country is some 8.750,000 ; and they give to this work, $ i ,750,000, or only eleven cents per member, in contrast with the $\ per member of the Free Church of Scotland. "But let us come nearer home: The freest church of free America is the Baptist, who number 2,000,000 of souls ; and these two millions give some three hundred thousand dollars for foreign missions, which is some fifteen cents per member. " Let us come still nearer : There are one and a half millions of Baptists in the South ; and they give less than ^50,000 for this work, which is not three cents per member. But, you say a million are colored. So they are. But the 2,000 colored Karens give ^2,500, or over ^i per member, for missions annually; and the 20,000 Burmese, ^40,000 ! or some $2 per member. This is over sixty-six times as much as all the Baptists of the South, thirteen times as much as all the Baptists of the country, and more than twenty times as much as the white baptists of the South. " Disguise it as we may, the picture that Southern Baptists pre- sent is a sad one, indeed ! The freest and most orthodox church in the world doing less than most evangelical churches in the world for the extension of the cause of the Master, and not a tithe of what some heathen converts do ! ! The picture assumes something of the humiliating when we see ourselves boasting of our Christlikeness in the face of the world. We are a Baptist, and we rejoice in our power and growth : but in view of what we are doing for the world's evangelization, we believe that sack-cloth and ashes become us infinitely more than vaunting ourselves." CHAPTER III 1882. 13 193 MATTHEW T. YATES. BORN IN WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, JANUARY 8tH, 1S19. BAPTIZED OCTOBER, 1836. ORDAINED AT RALEIGH, OCTOBER i8TH, 1 846. Sailed for China April 26th, 1847, and arrived in Shanghai September 12th, of same year. After nearly 41 years of continuous service, died there March 17th, 1888. Rev. 14: 13. OFFICERS OF CONVENTION AND ITS BOARDS. OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President P. H. Mei-i., D.D., of Georgia. Vice-Presidents. Hon. Joseph E. Brown, Ga. Mr. Joshua Levering, Md. James C. Furman, D.D., S. C. Mr. Henry K. Ellyson, Va. Secretaries. Rev. Lansing Burrows, Ky. Rev. Oliver F. Gregory, N. C. Treasurer. Mr. George N. Norton, Ky. Auditor. Mr. Nimrod Long, Ky. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VA. President. J. L. M. Curry, Virginia. Vice-Presidents. Hiram Woods, Md. O. F. Gregory, N. C. J. A. Hackett, La. I. T. Tichenor, Ala. Geo. Whitfield, Miss. R. S. Duncan, Mo. W. L. Kilpatrick, Ga. C. Manly, S. C. Matt. Hillsman, Tenn J. L. Burrows, Va. P. P. Bishop. Fla. G. W. Pickett, Texas. W. D. Mayfield, Ark. T. T. Eaton, Ky. Corresponding Secretary. H. a. Tupper. Treasurer. J. C. Williams. M. Ellison, W. Va. Recording Secretary. W. H. Gwathmey. Auditor. J. F. Cottrell- J. B. Hawthorne. J. B. Watkins. H. K. Ellyson. W. E. Hatcher. E. Wortham. Board of Managers. W. Goddin. H. H. Harris. John Pollard, Jr. J. Wm. Jones. A. B. Clark. J. B. Winston. J. B. Hutson. S. C. Clopton. W. D. Thomas. C. H. Winston. 195 196 AMENDMENT TO FOURTH BY-LAW. HOME MISSION BOARD. ATlvANTA, GA. President. John D. Stewart, Georgia. E. T. Winkler, Ala. J. W. M. Williams, Md. E. W. Warren, Ga. W. N. Chaudoin, Fla. J. P. Everett, La. Vice-Presidents. Lansing Burrows, Ky. B. W. Edwards, S. C. W. R. L. Smith, Va. C. C. Chaplin, Texas. Wm. Ferguson, Mo. J. B. Taylor, N. C. J. B. Gambrell, Miss. C. H. Strickland, Tenn- M. D. Early, Ark. Corresponding Secretary. I. T. TiCHENOR. Treasurer. John H. James. Recording Secretary. H. H. Cabaniss. Auditor. A. D. Adair. D. W. GwiN. B. F. Abbott, J. A. Anderson. U. B. Wilkinson. J. C. C. Black. Board of Managers. J. S. Lawton. Henry McDonald, Geo. Hillyer. H. C. Hornaday. G. a. Nunnally. M. C. KiSER. Jos. E. Brown. F. M. Daniel. A. P. Stewart. Wm. Crenshaw. AMENDMENT TO FOURTH BY-LAW [1882].- 4. That the Committees on the Nomination of New Boards be instructed to nominate, as Vice-Presidents of the Boards, men known to be identified with the interests of the Convention and of their own State Boards, and unless special reasons exist to the contrary, men who make effort to attend the sessions of the Convention. To these Vice-Presidents definite duties shall be assigned at the discretion of the Boards, and they shall be expected to present at the next session of the Convention, a brief report in writing of what they have been requested to do, and of the way in which they have complied with these requests, with any suggestions that they may have to offer as to the condition and needs of their respective fields. It shall be the duty of each Secretary, in due time, to furnish the Vice-Presidents of his Board with suitable blanks for such reports, and to call their attention to this article, and to make any proper effort to secure the due preparation of these reports. In case any Vice-President appointed is unable or unwilling to comply with the requests herein mentioned, it shall be the duty of the Board, if possible, to find some person who can and request him so to do. CHAPTER III. 1882. OPENING OF CONVENTION. Agreeably to appointment the Convention was called to order by the President, at 10 o'clock a.m., Wednesday, May loth, in the Baptist church of Greenville, S. C, and after the singing by the body of the hymn, " Jesus, lover of my soul," the reading by the President of the 24th Psalm, beginning, " The fool hath said in his heart No God," and prayer by J. M. Greg- ory, D.D , of Illinois, the Convention was organized by the re- election of Dr. Mell, President, and the election of Drs. L. Bur- rows and O. F. Gregory, Secretaries. The States were entitled to 782 delegates; the number present was 335. Other elections are indicated in the lists preceding. From the Records we clip : " The Convention was addressed with words of welcome by W. H. Strickland, pastor of the Greenville Baptist church. A fitting response on the part of the Convention was made by C. C. Chaplin, of Texas, and prayer offered, in view of the religious interest prevailing in the community, by T. S. Dunaway, of Virginia." Reports of the Boards were read as usual, the Home Board having the precedence this year as to time. Dr. W. H. Mcin- tosh moved that "so much of the Home Mission report as refers to the mission at New Orleans be made the special order for 8.15 P.M., Thursday." Dr. H. H. Harris moved that "a meet- ing in the interest of Foreign Missions be held Friday evening at 8.15 o'clock." Among visiting ministers present were Rev. Drs. S. W. Mars- ton and E. T. Hiscox, representing the American Baptist Home Society, and Dr. G. J. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, and Rev. F. A. Douglas and Rev. W. C. Van Meter, of New York. 197 198 FOREIGN MISSIONS, The following items are clipped from the proceedings of the body : 1. A telegram from M. T.' Yates, a missionary of the Conven- tion, at Shanghai, China, was received at this point, and read as follows : " Mell, Greenville, S. C. : " Psalm 46. " Yates." H. A. Tupper, of Virginia, was appointed to reply, and for- warded the following : " Yates, Shanghai : " Psalm 103. " Mell." 2. On motion of H. A. Tupper, of Virginia, it was "Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention are due and are hereby extended to the Vice-Presidents of the Boards for the work they have done during the year in behalf of their Boards.'' 3. B.W.Edwards, of South Carolina, from the Committee on the By-Laws of the Convention, presented the following as a partial report, which was adopted : "Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents of the different Boards be called on to report what special work they have been requested to perform during the past year, and what they have done in compliance with such request ; and that they be invited also to give any information and any suggestions which they may think proper as to the work and its needs in their respect- ive States; and that this be made the special order immediately after the special order of the morning." 4. The Convention engaged in devotional exercises, conducted by J C. Furman, of South Carolina. 5. J. M. Gregory, of Illinois, addressed the Convention upon the work of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. 6. Under the resolution adopted, the following Vice-Presi- dents reported in accordance with By-Laws 5 and 6 : F. H. Kerfoot, for H. Woods, Md. ; W. D. Thomas, Va. ; L T. Tich- enor, Ala. 7. G. A. Nunnally, Georgia, presented the following as the report of the Special Committee to whom was referred the Sta- tistical Tables of the Secretary, and it was adopted : EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS. 199 STATISTICAL TABLES. "Your Special Committee on the Secretary's 'Statistical Report' beg leave to submit the following : " We regard the Report as perhaps the most valuable contribution which has been made to the history of Southern Baptists in many years, and as a work of reference to discover our resources and to organize our forces, it seems to be almost absolutely essential. We recommend that it be pub- lished in the Minutes of this Convention. We further recommend that the thanks of this body be returned to Brother Lansing Burrows for the labor- ious task which he has so cheerfully and faithfully performed, and that he be requested to continue in the good work ; and we suggest that in fixing the salary of the Secretary suitable compensation be awarded him for his services. "G. A. NuNNALLY, Chairman." 8. The special order being the consideration of the interests of the Home Mission Board at New Orleans — (Item 20) — the Convention was addressed by Sylvanus Landrum, of Louisiana,, and Lansing Burrows, of Kentucky. A contribution of ^5000' was made for the relief of the interest at New Orleans. The Convention adjourned, the benediction being pronounced by W. H. Mcintosh, of Alabama. Note. — The speech of Dr. Burrows was one of great power, as all conceded. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS ADOPTED BY CONVENTION. MISSION TO THE JEWS. " In response to a resolution offered by Rev. A. D. Cohen, of North Carolina, that our Board establish missions among the Hebrews, the Convention, while sympathetic with the motion, called attention to the fact that this people were scattered among all nations, and thus had the gospel presented to them wherever it is preached, the world over. Occasionally a small subscrip- tion is received by the Foreign Mission Board, for ' the First Baptist Church in Jerusalem.' In ' the Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention,' special attention is called to such a mission to God's ancient people, by a letter addressed to an eminent Rabbi of the city of St. Louis. Who doubts that our Convention will, some day, do such mission work ? " BY-LAWS. "Our Board made an elaborate report on its execution of the by-laws adopted at the last meeting. A committee, of which 200 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Col. B. W. Edwards, of South Carolina, was chairman, reported : ' That good progress has been made by the Board of Foreign Missions, in that most important work of reducing the chaos of statistics as to which of our churches are as yet contributing and which now fail to contribute.' " BIBI^E-WORK. " ' Resolved, That we gravely disapprove of the action of the American Bible Society in refusing to aid in the publication and circulation of the Bur- mese version of Dr. Judson — the accepted and only version of the scrip- tures in that language. " ' Resohfed, That this Convention will engage in such measures as may hereafter, in the providence of God, seem practicable and expedient for giv- ing to the world the pure word, of God. " ' J AS. P. BoYCE, Chairjnan.' " ' Resolved, That this Convention ... in view of the present complica- tions and uncertainties in denominational Bible work, courteously declines to enter now into any discussion or consideration of ' the condition and pur- poses ' of this pible society, — the American and Foreign Bible Society — whose represetatives, Drs. Hiscock and Douglas, were present. " ' Jas. p. Boyce, Chairtnan.' " OUR FINANCES. "An examination of the report of the treasurer shows a finan- cial status of the Foreign Misssion Board to be in perhaps a more satisfactory condition than at the close of any previous .fiscal year — no debt and handsome balance in treasury. " W. A. Montgomery, Chairman." WOMAN'S WORK. After examining the plan of the Board, by a committee of which Dr. S. Landrum was chairman, the Convention voted that " no change of the plan of organization seems desirable." " COMMITTEE OF F. M. JOURNAI^ recommends enlargement of the Journal at the discretion of the Board. " T. H. Pritchard, Chairman y "convention on report of our missions. "I. That our Brazilian Missions should have, instead of only four, 'a score of missionaries.' M. D. Mayfield, Chairman. " 2. ' A training-school' should be established in Africa, where the Con- vention should labor, if not under more solemn obligations, at least with peculiar pleasure. W. N. Chaudoin, Chairman. • MEMORIAL. 201 "3. The Report on Mexican Missions refers to Bro. W. D. Powell, of Texas, visiting Mexico, and his opinion of the prospects, and notes that 'there are now eight churches, with a membership of 150, while in 1872 there were five churches and 90 members.' The former figures must in- clude all the Baptists of the Republic. S. M. Province, Chairman. " 4. With regard to European Missions, the Convention thought a good chapel should be built in Naples, which might become the future residence of our Brother and Sister Eager. W. H. Whitsell, Chairman. "5. The China Mission should be still reinforced : ' the quickening of the sensibilities of our people to a right recognition of the claims of pagan lands is the greatest want of the current age.' " J. J. D. Renfroe, Chairman.''' MEMORIAL. In the /(??/r/zrt'/ of April, 1882, the following had appeared: " DEATH OF MRS. M. G. HARI^EY. " The sudden death of this noble Christian woman fell upon our people like a thunder-bolt from a cloudless sky. Who seemed to promise life more fairly ? Yet with only a moment's premonition she cries out : ' Oh, God, I am dying ! ' and is dead. Yet, not dead — she was translated across the abyss between time and eternity, in more than a chariot of fire. " Our Board had no truer, no more liberal friend than Mrs. Harley. The Baptist Courier, South Carolina, the whole South must long ,bemoan her loss. But let us not sleep for sorrow. Let us brush the tears from our heart, and let us, following our sister's example. Work while it is hay— for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man comethr The Convention made appropriate memorial records of Rev. Dr. "J. O, B. Dargan and Rev. Wm. T. Brantly — men of God greatly honored and beloved by the denomination. Of the lat- ter the following had appeared in \.h.& Journal : "rev. wm. T. BRANTivY, D.D. " The death of this cultured gentleman, able and evangelical minister, and dear friend, was a severe blow to us. His father was the pastor of our boyhood, and the President of the college where we spent several years, and where we saw him fall in speechless and fatal illness. His sons seemed as our brothers, 202 FOREIGN MISSIONS. and the lamented deceased was a co-laborer for the Master in a distant State, where we met at Board meetings and the Conven- tions of the saints, and where we enjoyed him much in social and fraternal intercourse. Our sons were college-mates and room- mates. Many ties have been riven by this fall ; but one cannot be broken. Let this be the consolation of the bereaved. We shall all meet, if the children of his Heavenly Father, where every tear shall be wiped away, and where there shall be no parting forever." NOTES ON MISSIONARIES. 1. Miss Ruth McCown accepted October lo, 1881, to be educated as a physician in Philadelphia, for the Shanghai Mission. 2. Appointment of Rev. J. P. Cullough and wife, of Parma, N. Y., withdrawn. Also the appointment of Brethren Stout and Bell, of whom the report says, "these brethren, beloved and honored for their piety, zeal and ability, are esteemed among the most earnest and efficient friends of our missionary enterprise." 3. On 22d of August, i88i,Rev. N, W. Halcomb, of Missouri, was appointed to Tung Chow ; and, sailing from San Francisco in company with Dr. and Mrs. Graves, on the 24th of October, reached Tung Chow on the 8th of January, 1881. Dr^ Graves ar- rived in Canton November 24, 1 88 1. On the 19th of November, 1 88 1, Rev.W. S.Walker, of Georgia, Rev. C. Pruitt, of Georgia, and Rev. P. A. Eubank, of Ky., were appointed — the first two to China, the last to Africa. Brethren Walker and Pruitt sailed on 2 1st of December, and arrived in Shanghai 27th of January, 1882 ; Brother Pruitt arrived in Tung Chow on i ith of February. " Brother Eubank expects to sail for Africa in July." Rev. Z. C. Taylor, of Texas, appointed to Brazil January 3, 1882, arrived in Rio de Janeiro 23d of February, and proceeded to Campinas, in San Paulo province. Mrs. S. J. Holmes returned to this country in the fall of 188 1 ; Mrs. T. P. Crawford, November nth ; Miss Whil- den, 22d of April, 1882. The change was demanded in each case by feeble condition of health. ROLLS OF CHURCHES. " I. Two of the Vice-Presidents wrote 700 letters and postals to secure information. A brother refers to the ' Herculean char- THANK GOD. 203 acter ' of the job that has caused six months' sweat, of anxiety and vexation." 2. The rolls show that of 7,982 churches enrolled, 2383 con- tribute to Foreign Missions, and 5,602 do not contribute. 3. The rolls — some of them elegantly prepared — are presented for the inspection of the Convention. TREASURER'S REPORT. The amount received was ;^49, 041.02. After all debts paid, there was in the Treasury ^3,279.56 " to meet the drafts of mis- sionaries for the April-July quarter, which will soon be at hand." The yc?//r;m/ published the following in its issue of December, 1881: THANK GOD. The following appeared in the Richmond Dispatch of Sunday, November 20th, 1881 : " Appointment and Recognition of Missionaries. — Yesterday after- noon the Board of Foreign Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention appointed as missionaries the following gentlemen: Rev. W. S. Walker, of Georgia, to Shanghai, China; Rev. C. W. Pruitt, also of Georgia, to Tung Chow, China ; and Rev. P. A. Eubank, of Kentucky, to Yoruba, Africa. These gentlemen are all from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, and are men of piety and good scholarship. They — atleast two of them — expect to leave this country for their fields of labor about the ist of January next. To-night there will be at the Grace-Street Baptist church a union meeting of the Baptist churches of the city to make a formal recognition of these missionaries. They will address the audience. Other speeches will be.made by distinguished gentlemen." Rev. Z. C. Taylor, of Texas, recommended by the General Association of that State for missionary work in South America, was also invited to appear before the Board for exami- nation. Through some unknown circumstances the invitation did not reach him in time to appear with the other can- didates. A telegram announces that he will arrive shortly in Richmond. He desires to join Rev. W. B. Bagby in San Paulo province of Brazil. At this writing, Rev. P. A. Eubank is not decided fully to start for Africa as soon as Messrs. Walker and Pruitt will leave for China. Such is the exigency of the 204 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Yoruban Mission, however, that the Board gave as their opinion that he should sail by the 1st of February, 1882. It is hoped that another first rate man may be found to accompany him. The Southern Baptist Convention, in compliance with the earnest and repeated petitions of Brother David, has directed the Board to send " two white men " to this field. As to the missionaries to China, the Board have telegraphed that they will be there, D. V., early next year. Should the two turn out to be four, it will be so much better for the stations at Tung Chow and 'Shanghai. If Brother Taylor also shall represent two, the same may be said of the Brazilian Mission. According to this arithmetic, there will probably be, in a short time, at least ten new missionaries in the field, including Rev. N. W. Halcomb, who sailed for China on the 24th of October. Hence, we say. Thank God! The recognition meeting was an inspiring service. Dr. Curry, President of the Board, before introducing the young mission- aries, which he did with appropriate remarks, discussed the true motives of the missionary enterprise as the same as those that actuated the Saviour to come to this world, viz. : love to God and to man. Brothers Walker and Pruitt spoke well on the needs of China ; and Brother Eubank on " the neglect of Africa." Rev. John Pollard, Jr., D.D., gave a cheering view of the world's evangelization. Dr. Hatcher, pastor of the church, thought the exercises should be rounded off by a collection, which was taken. Drs. Hawthorne, McDonald, Corey and Eev. S. C. Clopton conducted the devotional part of the exercises. The results of the meeting, we trust, will be as lasting as eternity. Will not Georgia and Kentucky come up fully to the support of these choice and chosen sons of their Commonwealths ? Will not the whole country, represented by the Southern Baptist Convention, bear them, and the others gone and soon to go, upon their hearts before a Throne of Grace ? Let the common sentiment be Thank God! BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. 205 BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. Three stations ; 4 Missionaries ; Baptized, 10 ; Membership, sj- PRESENT AND FUTURE. On the 1 6th of April, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Bagby removed to Campinas " to study the language." In May, Brother B. accepted the pastorate of the Santa Barbara church, preaching there and also at " Station." In June, " the church and community were blessed with a gracious revival, and six persons were baptized." At the close of the year 1881, Bro. Bagby " preached four sermons in Portugiieser On the 4th of March, 1882, Bro. and Sister Taylor were met at Rio by Bro. Bagby, and arrived at Campinas on the 9th of the month. " With the view of finding more eligible headquarters for the mission," our missionaries propose a tour in the adjacent provinces. Bro. Bagby says : out of 2 1 provinces only 4 are oc- cupied to any extent. Millions have never heard the gospel. Minas Geraes, with 2,000,000 souls, is almost entirely destitute. Parana, Rio Grande de Sul and Sante Catharina, to the south of us, are unoccupied and " white to the harvest." A colporteur said, ''Fifty inissio?iaries will not be a drop in the bucket in Minas ! " BROTHER BAGBY ON BRAZII. AND ITS PEOPLE. "Doctor Tupper — Several persons — particularly two ladies of Virginia and Kentucky, and a young man at the Seminary — have written me letters lately, making inquiries regarding this country — its climate, productions, people and religion, and the qualifications necessary for successful mission work. As it is the request of the two ladies, and as others may also be drawn to a consideration of this field, and its needs, I have decided to write an article for the Jourtiat on the country' and its people. " 77/1? extent of the country. "It is not necessary that I speak minutely of the geographical limits of this great empire. Its territory is one-third larger than that of the United States, stretching over about 38"^ degrees of latitude, and about 40 of longitude. Open the compasses — place one point on the Lake of the Woods, and the other upon New Orleans, and they will not grasp the unnumbered miles that lie between Cape St. Roque and the Yarari river on the west of Brazil ; or, place them again, the one point on the Bay of Fundy and the other on 206 FOREIGN MISSIONS. the ' Golden Gate,' and you include no more than the distance from the northern mountain line of Pacaranua to San Pedro on the south of this em- pire. Within this vast area are found every variety of soil and landscape, from the low lands of the Amazon, and the wild forests of the west, to the lofty mountains, sunny slopes, and broad pampas of Parana and Rio Grande de Sul. " The climate. " The climate of such a region, comprehending every degree of altitude, and every modification of topographical arrangement, is of course varied, from the humid and sultry regions of the equator, to the cool mountain plains of Minas Geraes, and the breezy uplands of San Paulo. In these southern provinces, where our chief missionary work for the next ten years will probably be done, the climate is healthy and pleasant. Although it is sometimes quite warm in the sunshine, yet it is almost always cool in the shade, and our nights are scarcely ever, even in the warmest season, as warm as they are in the United States. The year is here divided into two distinct seasons, the wet and the dry. In this province the wet season usually commences in December, and lasts until March. During this time it rains every week, and sometimes for several days in succession, but peo- ple attend to business as usual. "This is a finely- watered country at all seasons, and many beautiful streams gladden the eye. The wet season is also the warm season. June, in the midst of the dry weather, is the coolest month. During that month we sometimes have ice in this region, and farther south, in Parana, snow some- times appears on the mountains. An overcoat is a very comfortable adjunct in June and July. That the climate is healthy for Americans, is proved by the fact that among the immigrants from the southern states, who came to this province in 1867 and succeeding years, good health prevails, and some who were almost bed-ridden when they left our country, are now enjoying fine health. " The missionaries (Presbyterian and others) who have been in this coun- try for years enjoy as good health, I believe, as they did in the United States. Here at the Presbyterian mission in Campinas, among the hundred or more persons — missionaries and families, servants and students — who make this their home, there has not been a single death in nine years. Mrs. B. and myself have enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health since our ar- rival, nine months ago. I see nothing to prevent those having good health here, who enjoy that blessing in the United States. ' ' The people. " In the vast region I have been describing, there is a population of 12,000,- 000 souls. Of these millions, the majority are of Portuguese descent, and speak that language. Besides these, there are many Indians in the far interior, untaught and uncivilized, and living in a manner even more rude and animal-like, perhaps, than that of our North American Indians. The BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. 207 negroes form a large portion of inhabitants of the country, of whom some are slaves and some are freemen. The races are very much mixed, and all shades of color are daily seen in any of these cities, from coal black, up through brown and olive, to mulatto, and yellow, and white. Of course, where such unnatural unions exist, all kinds of deformities appear, and many hereditary diseases are known. The foreign element in this part of the empire is very large. Thousands of Germans and Italians are scattered through the country, and many English, Frenchmen, Americans, Swedes, and Swiss are met with. Here in Campinas there are several thousand Germans and Italians. " The language, " The language of the country is Portuguese, which is soft, musical, and com- paratively easy to acquire. One coming here from the United States ought to be able to converse well in a year's time. Those who have a good knowl- edge of Latin, find that language a great advantage to them in studying Portuguese, as the latter is the 'elder daughter' of the Latin, and resem- bles it in many respects. ' It is much more masculine than the Castilian, and in its strength, compactness, and expressiveness, clearly indicates its Roman parentage.' To read\}s\t. language is easy, but to speak it is some- what more difficult, yet both may be acquired in a few months, so as to make one's self well understood. " Religion and morals. "As is well known, the millions of Brazil are under the blighting, fatal shadows of Romanism. No Saviour, no ' repentance from dead works,' no regeneration, no enforcement of godly lives — only images by the thou- sand, shrines, crosses, genuflections, penances, chantings, masses, amulets, charms, processions, fire-works, immoral and ignorant priests, supersdtious, and deluded multitudes, sunk in sin and error, and moral night ! True, among the upper classes — the rich and the educated — there are elegant manners, cultivated minds, and beautiful houses ; but those who are too sensible to be deluded by pagan rites and ceremonial follies, instead of adopting something better than these, embrace the blank and soulless creeds of Compte and Dittre, Darwin and Matthew Arnold ! So, steeped in athe- istic materialism, and deified humanism, thousands go down to an eternal midnight. Thus, the man who comes to this land to preach the gospel, finds himself encountered not only by priestcraft and ritualism, but by skepticism, atheism, and rationalism, under innumerable forms. " Yet, notwithstanding all these human creeds and human fictions, the people in many places are not only willing, but anxious to hear the gospel, and pay respectful and earnest attention to the missionaries. In some places, it is true, preachers have been stoned, but the better class frown down these things, and give full liberty to proclaim the gospel. " What has already been done toward giving the gospel to this people ? The Presbyterians have had miS" 208 FOREIGN MISSIONS. sionaries in the country for twenty years, and their labors have been blessed in many places. They are still pursuing their work, and some new men are being sent to the field. They have organizations in several of the coast cities, and in several cities of this province, in all having probably 2,000 members. They have some good schools (a necessity in this country), and a monthly journal published in San Paulo. " The Methodists have now four missionaries in the country, located in Rio and Piracicaba, They have been here only a few years, and are still weak, but are now pushing their work energetically. " Baptists have as yet done nothing among the Brazilians. The church at Santa Barbara is composed entirely of Americans. Brother Quillin has never preached to the Brazilians, that I am aware of. His school has been purely secular. The care of his family has engaged his time, and he is now thinking of moving to some other portion of the country. He is not in a posi- tion to render any assistance to our mission, and his connection with the Board is purely nominal. I say these things in justice to the cause, and to brother Quillin, who some time ago mentioned to me the'propriety of asking the withdrawal of his name as a missionary of the Board, as the end for which he suggested the connection with the Board was accomplished, and as he is not in a position to render service as a missionary. " Besides these denominational movements, the Bible societies have agents and colporteurs in the country, who are scattering the Word of God. They are accomplishing a great deal ; but there are thousands who cannot read, and who, consequently, can only be reached by the preached Word. " The work to be done. " The unoccupied field is a vast empire in itself! The missionaries are few and far separated from each other. Out of the twenty-one provinces of the Empire, only four have been occupied to any extent. Thousands, millions, have never heard the sound of the gospel. They are, indeed, ' without God and without hope in the world.' Minas Geraes, to the north of this Prov- ince, with 2,000,000 souls, is almost entirely destitute. Parana, Rio Grande de Sul, and Sante Catharina, to the south of us, are unoccupied, and are ' white to the harvest.' Oh ! that we had a dozen men to enter this vast region, where souls are perishing for the want of the bread of life ! I asked a colporteur not long ago what he thought of Minas Geraes as a missionary field. ' Fifty ?msswmiries,' said he, ' would not be a drop in the bucket, in Minas !' " Our needs. " Baptists of the South, we must win this nation to Christ ! The work presses upon us. There is a ?nine in Brazil, richer than gold mines, more precious than her diamonds. Who will come down to illumine the d;irkness and gather the jewels for the Master ? Who will say : ' send me /' We want to begin the work with a strong force ! We need men who can endure hard- ship, men who have burning hearts ! There is a great work here for con- BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. 209 secrated women, also. The homes of Brazil are open to them. The chil- dren are to be trained and taught. We will be under the necessity of having schools wherever we locate, for our chief hope is in the rising generation. We must not leave the children of converts to be educated by Romanists ! " The work is before us. The years are swiftly passing. Let us work the works of Him who saved us, ' for the night cometh when no man can work !' W. B. Bagby. "Campinas, San Paulo, Bra::il, Dec. i^th, 1881." " AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF OUR BRAZILIAN MISSIONARIES. " Z. C. TAYLOR. " In the year 1851 I was born near Jackson, Miss. My father, B. W. Taylor, was a native IVfississippian. His grandfather, Wm. Taylor, Ansoni County, N. C, was a Baptist minister. Though most of my people have- been Christians, and Baptists, I am the first minister in the line since his. time. My father is a deacon, and noted for his tenacity to Baptist princi- ples. During my early life he possessed ample means, and was quite am- bitious that his children should be qualified for positions of usefulness, and occupy them. He kept this before our minds with strict discipline till the Civil War swept away his fortune. He removed to Texas in 1865, whea the facilities for education were limited, to my great satisfaction, for being pressed warmly at school and at home with my studies, I formed a strong' dislike to books. Corresponding attention was shown in my moral and re- ligious training. " My mother, formerly Miss SaUie E. Cordell, was also a native of Mis- sissippi, Warren County. From her I received that consolation and sym- pathy which only a mother can give in such youthful trials. ' She has been a Baptist from her childhood. Though not so aggressive, her example and lite has been a model. For several years, in Texas, my time was spent on the farm — nearly all my leisure given to hunting and fishing, for which I had special fondness. " At eighteen I embraced rehgion, and united with the Liberty Baptist Church, Houston County, Texas. Was baptized by Rev. S. F. Walk This made an entire change of life and desire. I was sent shortly after this as a delegate to the association at Pennington. Here a brother advised me to take the Texas Baptist Herald, which I did, and read it with, increasing in- terest. I then took the Repository , and other papers, which gave me a thirst for knowledge. After leaving father 1 commenced going to school and teaching alternately, studying medicine at nights while teaching. "In 1875 I entered Waco University, and remained a year and a half. In October, 1876, I entered Baylor University, where I finished a literary course in 1879. One year, however, between these two dates, was spent in the employ of the American Bible Society. Was ordained at Independ- ence, June, 1879. ^^ ^^ close of my studies at Baylor, I went from Hous- ton County, with my father, to the W^est, where I acted first as deputy sur- 14 210 FOREIGN MISSIONS. veyor of Coleman and Runnels Counties ; afterwards elected county sur- veyor of Runnels County, surveying about a year and a half. Runnels was my first pastorate. " Surveying enabled me to enter the Southern Baptist Theological Semi- nary, February, 1881. Within six months after my conversion, I felt that there was a work for me to do. I had much trouble in deciding this ques- tion. Any work was preferable to that of preaching. All other callings could engage my mind but a short time however, when it would revert to this one. My father coming up to where I was at work one day, found me in tears. He asked the cause, upon which I explained my feelings. He cautioned me to be very careful in my decision — that it involved so much, that I was young, and that he would co-operate with me in his prayers. In this state of mind I continued for six years, striving to propi- tiate my conscience with an active lay life. The latter portion of this time I felt that I could not be happy, nor was I willing to meet God at the Judg- ment unless I did preach. Association with young ministers at Waco Uni- versity brought out the decision. Here I sold my medical books, and henceforth my preparation was for the ministry. While at Waco Univer- sity I heard our missionary, E. Z. Simmons, and others, lecture on missions. This led me to investigate the subject ; also the wants of the different fields, which ripened, while at Baylor University, into sympathy for Brazil, and a desire to go myself, until I felt it a duty. At that time the outlook for Brazil was dark. We had no missionaries there, and no prospect that there would be any soon. This, however, did not suppress my feelings of duty. I found a ready counselor in Dr. W. C. Crane, President of Baylor Univer- sity. He gave me encouragement and information, which led me to com- mence correspondence with Rev. Richard Ratcliff, who had just returned from a ten years' stay in Brazil. This correspondence resulted in the se- lection of Brother Ratcliff by the Missionary Society of the University, as their speaker at the close of the session. His lecture and visit was of much benefit to me. " In the spring of 1877 Dr. H. A. Tupper visited Texas, and spoke at Baylor University. I informed him of my desire and plan, and he encour- aged me to go on with preparation — that he thought the board would be ready to send me by the time I was ready to go. So I continued my studies with special reference to Brazil, collecting in the meantime information con- cerning that country from the latest encyclopasdias, Presbyterian and Methodist papers, and Kidder and Fletcher's 'Brazil and the Brazilians ' (Ed. of '79), circulating these works, and doing my best to get others to go. Just one year ago, even ahead of me, sailed Brother and Sister Bagby, for that field. "After leaving the Seminary, at the close of the session in '81, I was spending the vacation in Kentucky. About the 15th of July I received urgent appeals from Brother Bagby and Rev. A. T. Hawthorne, to go im- mediately to Brazil. It was my purpose to remain at the Seminary at least BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. 211 two years longer. These appeals, with a prospect of getting off soon, and having prayed so long that God would open the way for me to Brazil, led me to consider my plans anew. Having committed the matter to God one week, I decided it was my duty to "go now. Not to go would be rejecting the answer to my prayers and quenching the Spirit. I went to Texas, and after forty days' travel with General Hawthorne, the necessary amount was raised. " God has blessed me with one of the noblest of women as a companion to accompany me in my labors. This lady was Miss Kate S. Crawford. We were married on the 25th of December, 1881, at Salado, Texas. We left next day for Richmond, arriving on the 2d of January, 1882, and I was appointed by the Board missionary to Brazil next day. I am happy now that we are on our way. Left Baltimore yesterday. This will be carried back by our pilot. Thanking my brethren, especially my former precep- tors, Drs. Burleson, Crane and Broadus, for their interest and wise counsel, permit me, as I gaze for the last time at my native shore, to say to all — farewell." " KATE STEVENS C. TAYI.OR. " Kate Stevens Crawford was born in Bell Co., Texas, February 17, 1862. She is the second daughter of M. L. and Emma C. Crawford. Her father is a native of Kentucky. He went, a young man, to Texas, where he shortly after married Miss Emma Kimball, only sister of Rev. J, A. Kim- ball, now of Mineola, Texas. Mr. Crawford in early life was a promising Baptist preacher, but circumstances forced him to retire from the ministry. It, however, affords him great satisfaction that his daughter will devote her life to the cause of Christ — the cause always so near and dear to his heart. Previous to her departure for Brazil, he remarked he had ever regretted that he could not have continued in the ministry. Nevertheless, he trusted his life-work has not been in vain, and that his children may accomplish the end he desired. Truly will they rise up and call him blessed ! " It is right that some mention should be made of the birth-place and early life of the subject of this sketch. She was born and reared in the country, her father for many years having pursued the avocation of farm- ing. Her home, Chalk Bluff, near Belton, was one of the loveliest spots in the beautiful lone star State. Here we find her a wild, romantic child, roving at will over her mountains, fervently loving nature, but yielding her youthful homage to nature's God. " Although raised in the country, her early education was not neglected. Her mother is a lady of much culture and education, whose earnest en- deavor was to give her children the moral and mental training that would fit them for future usefulness. That her efforts were not futile we trust time will prove. Kate has always been fond of her books, as a child diving into works more abstruse than young persons generally like. But for poetry her love is intense ; her mother's careful training tending to cultivate and enhance her taste for works of that description. 212 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " In 1877 Mr. Crawford moved to Salado, for the superior educational advantages enjoyed there. Around the name of Salado many pleasant associations cluster. It embraces much beautiful scenery; while for culture and refinement it is rivaled by no place in the State. It was a severe trial for the young missionary to leave forever a spot so endeared ; to bid fare- well to father, mother, brother and sisters, home and friends ; but we thank God that his grace is all sufficient. " Here Kate made rapid progress in her studies, her fondness for languages and mathematics being particularly marked. She completed the entire course in 1879, but continued there the next session as post-graduate. She counts it of inestimable value that she had the excellent Normal training under Prof H. T. Morton, of St. Louis, a gentleman well known as one ot our finest educators. She has been engaged in teaching this fall, though with the purpose of shortly resuming her studies at one of the best colleges. " As regards her religious history, she was blessed with most devout, pious parents, who had the spiritual condition of their children most at heart ; yet it is now a cause of regret to her that for so long a time she withheld her heart from her Saviour. While her soul's welfare often, often troubled her, like so many others she would shake off the feelings and wait for the ' convenient time.' When Kate was seventeen, her uncle. Dr. Crawford, of Tung Chow, China, revisited his native land, and, finding it impossible to go to Texas as he intended, he wrote urging his brother to meet him at Atlanta, where the S. B. Convention was held that year. Mr. C. went, taking with him ' our little Kate.' This cir- cumstance formed an important era in her history, for under the fervent exhortations and prayers of their kind hostess, Mrs. Howes, her heart was renewed by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. Strange as it may seem, she spoke of the change wrought in her to no one, though with the firm resolve to make public confession of the same at the earliest opportunity, which opportunity presented itself shortly after her return home, at the revival conducted at Salado by the celebrated evan- gelist, Maj. Penn. Kate, together with her sister and brother, was bap- tized by Rev. M. V. Smith, into the Salado Baptist Church, of which she has ever since continued a member. As a S. S. teacher she was generally beloved by her pupils, while in return she felt for them the warmest affection. Upon her departure from her home the church and Sr S. passed most appropriate and touching resolutions. " Her missionary impressions extend far back — shall we say even previous to her conversion ? Her uncle was a missionary, and continuous correspondence with him aroused an unusual interest in missions. Last summer she formed the acquaintance of Rev. Z. C. Taylor, missionary to Brazil. Her intercourse with him revived and augmented her impres- sions, though she could not at once feel it her duty to go to the land of the Southern Cross. Learning of her aunt's intended visit to the United States, she had serious thoughts of returning to China with her. How- MEXICAN MISSIONS. 213 ever, the claims of Brazil were so strongly urged as to cause her to change her plans and field of labor. " She is now on the way with her husband to that far-off clime. Is she happy and contented thus to leave parents, home and native land, for the difficulties and trials which await the missionary ? We answer, perfectly so. Scarce a sigh escapes her as she earnestly gazes upon the fast receding shores of her native land, but the words of her noble pre- decessor find full response in her heart : '" ' Yes, my native land, I love thee, All thy scenes, I love them well. Friends, connections, happy country, Can I bid you all farewell — Can I leave you, Far in heathen lands to dwell ? '' ' Yes, I hasten from you gladly. From the scenes I loved so well; Far away, ye billows, bear me, Lovely, native land, farewell ; Pleased I leave thee. Far in heathen lands to dwell,' " Bark ' Sirene,' January 12, 1882.'" MEXICAN MISSIONS. Two Missionaries ; j Stations ; Church Alembership, ^2. MR. AND MRS. FLOURNOY. I. Brother Flournoy was ordained " by authority of the church at Laredo, Texas, Sunday, 20th November, 1881, by Rev. Messrs. W. H. Dodson, O. C. Pope and J. M. Westrup." Brother Westrup wrote : " I believe Brother Flournoy to be a good man for the work in Mexico, speaking tolerable Spanish and being pretty well posted in Baptist affairs." He was appointed by the Board of the Baptist State Convention, and subsequently accepted by our Board on the condition that his support would be raised in Texas. Dr. Pope, visiting Mexico, speaks of Brother Flournoy and his field in most encouraging language. He says : " I am satisfied that a deep and permanent work for God has been done." 214 FOREIGN MISSIONS. In Progreso, Mrs. Flournoy has a fine school of thirty pupils, supported by the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, which has been appointed by our Central Committee. On the 4th of January they lost their only child, " without being able to pro- cure physician or medicines, there being none in this town of 2500 inhabitants." Brother F. wrote: "Our hope and faith in Christ is stronger ; and we abide by the will of our eternal Father." THE FIELD. The law gives every facility. The people wish to hear, but are hard to understand. The priests oppose ; but there is a religious awakening. " I am visiting four places," says Brother Flournoy, "where churches have been organized. I travel 225 miles a month, trying to hold the fort. I meet discouragements, but try to overcome them. Miles on horseback, 156; sermons in Spanish, 5 2 ; families religiously visited, 151; Spanish Scriptures circulated, 26; Baptist Spanish tracts, 2754; churches organ- ized, 2." EUROPEAN MISSIONS. Baptisms, jy / Me?nbei-s, say, 200. FROM DR. TAYLOR'S REPORT. 1. The completion of the chapel at Torre Pellice has revived hostile demonstrations and unjust charges which are left to refute themselves. 2. Signor Paschetto comes to Rome reluctantly, as his work prospers in Milan, to take the place of Sig. Cocorda, who goes to Naples, while Sig. Colombo, of that city, goes to Milan. Sig. Bellondi's book on the " Ancient Baptists of Venice" is exciting the attention of intelligent and distinguished readers, who have said to the author: " It is well to be a Baptist." Yet the author laments : " Ah, if death had not snatched my daugh- ter from me ! " 4. In Bologna, Modena and Carpi, Bari and Barletta, and in the Island of Sardinia, the work goes on, with moderate success AFRICAN MISSIONS. 215 and against the obstacles which ever oppose in Romish countries. In Naples, Sig. Cocorda and Count Papengouth seem to love and understand each other and are working together cordially and somewhat unitedly. " Our locale is unworthy of our Evangelist and his work, and is in striking contrast with the splendid chapel and mission property just secured by the English Baptists." 5. "Our church at Rome, though small, is of good material and solidly built. Sig. Paschetto and Count Torre, professors in the Lyceum of Bologna, succeed Sig. Cocorda. The arrange- ment has worked well, perfect harmony prevailing, and much labor being performed with encouraging results." (i) Mr. Van Meter's school taken by Dr. Taylor at 1^950 a year was given up, as the board required retrenchment. (2) Weekly services : [a] Ministers' meeting, {b) six preaching services, [c] night classes for young men, [d] lectures of Count Torre, " which have drawn large crowds." The count " has been cast off by his aristocratic clerical relations, and this seems to make him cling more closely to his brethren in Christ, {e) two mothers' meetings, (/) Sunday-school has " always between fifty and sixty teachers and scholars." Dr. Taylor says: " I have the honor of being its superintendent." (3) Brother Eager lives with Dr. Taylor and is getting a work- ing use of the language and doing good with tongue and pen. AFRICAN MISSIONS. Five Stations ; j Afissionaries and Assistants; Baptized, 14: Members^ g-j ; Sunday- school and Day-pupils, J2j ; Average Congregation, 258. SUNDRY ITEMS. I. With evident satisfaction. Brother David writes : " Building our splendid Mission-house last year and the substantial wall this year, has not only greatly enhanced the value of the prop- erty, but has lifted us out of the dust of obscurity, and brought us into the respect of the civilized, as well as the uncivilized citizens of the colony." The " Baptist Mission " is regarded firmly established, and hence the large increase in the number of our scholars." 216 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 2. Mrs. David has charge of the Sunday-school, which meets twice every Sunday ; and every Friday afternoon is spent by the women and girls sewing to support a teacher. Albert Eli sent to Ogudu, at $y^ a year; in return for which favor the peo- ple there enthusiasticallay agreed to build a chapel. 3. Brother David begs for ;^5oo for a school-house, saying, " seventy African children in one room are hard to manage, and interfere greatly with the studies and recitations of each other. The Board has dealt so liberally with me I shall not complain if they say ' No.' " 4. The people of Gaun are workers in wood and idol-makers, and said to be the most incorrigible in this section, but the seed that Brother Milton is sowing among them will bring fruit in due time. 5. " On February i6th Brother Stone, to our joyful surprise, put in his appearance here, receiving a pass from the lieutenant- governor, who had gone out to reconcile contending tribes. There is some trouble in Ogbomoshaw, perhaps growing out of the question, ' Who shall be greatest? ' which may require my going there, which Brother Stone thinks would be safe now, 6. " In Abbeokuta there have been fearful fires, consuming houses, animals and people, hence my estimate for ;^500 to cover the mission house with iron before Brother Eubank's arrival. Since the death of Brother Cosby Brother Hanson has worked well and very successfully." LETTER FROM BROTHER DAVID. "Lagos, October 20, 1881. "life and death. " Dear Dr. Tttpper : — During the past nine months ending with Septem- ber, I have been called to mourn over the loss of more loved ones than all my past life. The first that was called to go was little Bessie, and the last one my dear old grandfather, who has been my only father since my seventh birthday. Several relatives and friends fell on sleep during the period men- tioned. Thus we are reminded that ' here we have no continuing city.' Notwithstanding these dark clouds have lowered upon us, the ever blessed God has not forgotten to be merciful unto us. His loving-kindness was manifested on the i8th instant by giving unto us our second daughter. She is plump and healthy. AFRICAN MISSIONS. 217 " MRS. DAVID, " Mrs. David is about the house again in her accustomed cheerful manner. We have reasons to be thankful unto the Lord, and are thankful. " On the first vessel sailing from this port for New York after January, 1882. I desire Mrs. U. to embark for the States, as she will have been two years in this climate, which I think is quite long enough for the first stay. Thus far she has had remarkable health, and it is unwise for her, or any new comer, to stay until it is necessary for them to go home after two years. " Yours affectionately, "W.J.David." DEATH OF BROTHER COSBY. On the 23d of April this excellent brother died at Abbeokuta, of jaundice fever. Brother David wrote, May 6, 1 881, in these words : " Lagos, May 6, 1881. " Dear Dr. Tupper : — You have already been informed of the death of Brother Cosby, of jaundice-fever, in Abbeokuta, April 23d. "DEAD and buried. " When he left us, the middle of March, apparently his health was very good. The 29th of March he wrote me : ' I arrived at Aro about 12 M., walked up here in the hoi sun, and was soon in bed with fever.' " The distance he walked was about five miles, and that it brought on fever no one should be surprised. He continued to have fever and chills, at a few days' interval, until the i6th of April, when the jaundice-fever de- veloped itself. During these few weeks every well day was spent either in preaching or in directing the repairs of the chapel, or both. On Monday, the 1 8th, the Rev. V. Faulkner, of the English Church Missionary Society, had him removed from our mission house to his own house, so that he and his wife might attend him. At that time there were no serious symptoms. But on Wednesday Mr. Faulkner thought the case sufficiently serious to write me word. That letter I received Saturday, and left at once for Abbeo- kuta, and traveled night and day to be there and render all the assistance I could, and, if he became strong enough, bring him to Lagos, where he might have medical assistance. The last ten miles I walked after night, so that I might get there sooner, and left my canoe to come after me at its leisure. " You cannot imagine my sad disappointment upon my arrival, when told ' he is dead and buried.' Indeed, he had gone before I received the letter telling me of his illness. ' He is dead and buried,' are sad enough words when they fall upon our ears in a Christian land, among friends. Ah ! the deeper sadness, yea, deeper meaning, they have here. " From the beginning of his sickness he had but little to say, and was in a delirious stupor the last two days. On the morning before his death, 218 FOREIGN MISSIONS. when aroused, he said : ' I desire to go and rest with my Saviour,' and shortly afterwards he entered into that rest. " He loved his Bible, and was a man of prayer. His piety was pre-emi- nent, and his humihty undoubted. Very conscientious and zealous in the work of the Lord. He closed his last letter to me in the following words : ' I desire to do more and better mission work. It may be that the heathen are not converted because 1 am not faithful or earnest enough about it.' "return to abbeokuta. " I have just returned from Abbeokuta, and as soon as I can catch up with the work here will go back to Abbeokuta, as a tornado has blown the roof off of our chapel there a second time. I will take carpenters and materials from this place and put a strong roof upon it, as we have had much trouble with the native kind. Again, the chiefs and people in that vicinity seem much im- pressed at the death of Brother Cosby. When they called to express their sympathy with me I availed myself of the opportunity of preaching to them Jesus ; after which they made me a promise that if I would call a public meeting of the people in the streets they would declare before them their deter- mination to attend preaching, together with their wives, children an5 slaves, and thereby remove the odium of church-going. Whether they will do it or not 1 shall give them an opportunity, and make as strong an exhorta- tion on the subject as I can. Who knows but this may be the time when the Spirit will breathe upon those dry bones. " While I am gone to Abbeokuta the work here will be committed to the care of Mrs. Harden and the teacher, who is an uneducated though worthy young man. When I return from Abbeokuta what will become of the work there? It matters not what interest maybe awakened, or how en- couraging or discouraging the prospect may be, it must shortly be left alone, and the mission premises committed to the care of the teacher. To leave the station of my former labors, and later, that of Brother Cosby's, to lan- guish and die, is to me a painful contemplation. " Dear brother, the past four months have been full of sadness to us — death having invaded our mission twice. The first that was called away was our dear little Bessie ; and while our hearts were bleeding from that bereavement, the angel of death returned, and took away Brother Cosby, who had so much endeared himself to us. Now Mrs. David and I stand alone — not to weep and despair at the graves of those who have gone be- fore— but to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and point the heathen to the Lamb of God, who hath taken the ' sting from death and the victory from the grave.' We are not in de- spair, neither are we cast down ; with Bessie and Brother Cosby all is well. As to ourselves, our hope is in God. But for poor benighted Yoruba we sorrow and weep. She has a stronger hold now upon our sympathies and affections than ever. We have planted here, and are more than ever de- sirous to spend our days, whether many or few, in the evangelization of CHINA MISSIONS. 219 this country. Since my return, sixteen months ago, I have not suffered from any climatic ailment, and the health of Mrs. David is as good as we could wish. But with the double work, and the frecjuent exposures that must be experienced in traveling from one station to the other, and conse- quent anxiety, we cannot reasonably expect to continue in the enjoyment of these blessings a much greater length of time." CHINA MISSIONS. Baptized, 4J ; Membership , §41 ; Pupils, 22s : Contributions, $527.83. TUNG CHOW MISSION. 1. "Brother Halcomb makes ^a good impression. He seems to be a man of steady purpose and modest feelings. We hope he will be soon able to preach the gospel to this heathen people. . . . We wish to open a mission in the interior, where the peo- ple show great readiness to become Christians. . . . The Pres- byterians have just been reinforced by six new workers." 2. " After the departure of Mrs. Crawford, Miss Moon moved to the residence of Mrs. Holmes and united the two schools for girls. This is heavy work, which our sister bears cheerfully and performs efficiently. Dr. Crawford took charge of Mrs. Crawford's school for boys. The number of pupils, male and female, is forty-nine. Five have been baptized. Our member- ship is ninety-one." 3. Brother Pruitt wrote, February 20: " Dr. Crawford, Mr. Halcomb and myself are keeping bachelor's hall. I have made a beginning in the language, but have not preached yet. We need more laborers." 4. Dr. Crawford wrote : " The mission has resolved to teach English in its schools. . . . We mean to advance on this line. A new Asia is gathering around Christianity and the English language, while the old heathen institutions are drying up and passing away. We think it wise to prepare our pupils, male and female, for the coming age." AUTOBIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCH OF REV. N. W. HAIvCOMB. This brother was accepted by our Board in September, 1881, as a missionary to Tung Chow, China. The following sketch of himself was written by our request: 220 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " I am the oldest son and fourth child of a family of three girls and four boys. The youngest son died in infancy. The rest of my brothers and sis- ters, as well as my father and mother, are all living. " I was born in Kentucky on January 14th, 1853, and so am in the 28th year of my age. During my third year my father removed to Illinois, re- maining a little over a year. In my fourth year we removed to Missouri and settled in Cass County, then on the frontier. During the war, by order No. 1 1 , we were compelled to move from the county or into the military post. With many others we chose the latter alternative, and moved to Harrisonville, the county-seat of Cass county. We remained there until the close of the war. In the fall of 1865 a meeting of days was held at Har- risonville by Elders A. H. Deane, Caleb Blood and Henry Farmer, the last named now sainted. The meeting was very successful, and, with my father and two sisters, I received a change of heart, joined the church and was baptized by Rev. Henry Farmer, at that time pastor of the church. My mother, a very devoted and godly woman, was at that time a member of the Index Baptist Church. During the next few years my other sister and two living brothers professed a hope and joined the church. During the fall of 1865 we moved to the old homestead and united with the Index Baptist Church. My mind was early turned to the ministry, and'especially to the work of Foreign Missions. In the summer of 187 1 I was licensed to preach by the Index Baptist Church. The next September I entered Wm. Jewell College as a student for the ministry. I preached first in December of 1871. During the years of college life I preached occasionally. In the summer of 1875 ^ held two short meetings, in which there were thirteen conversions. In 1876 I graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in the fall of that year entered Crozer Theological Seminary. My system was over- worked by long and laborious study, and, after remaining in the Seminary a few months, my eyes became sore and I was compelled to quit study. By medical advice I threw aside all study, went West, to the mountains of Col- orado, and engaged in business. I steadily improved, and after a stay of three years, in September of 1880, I felt myself sufficiently restored to re- enter Wm. Jewell College and complete the course of study there. This I did, and in June last graduated with the degree of Master of Arts. By invi- tation I then went to Kirksville, Mo., to preach two months. At the end of that time the church at Kirksville enthusiastically elected me pastor without a dissenting voice, although 1 had informed them it was doubtful whether I could serve them, owing to the uncertainty of the issue of my correspond- ence with the Foreign Mission Board. The issue of that correspondence you know. I have not yet been ordained, but expect my ordination to take place soon. My membership is with the Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo., where my parents now live. " Hoping this sketch will be satisfactory, and wishing you and the Board the richest blessing of God, and praying God's grace to accompany our common work, I am most truly yours, " N. W. Halcomb." CHINA MISSIONS. 221 C. W. PRUITT. " I was born in Dawson County, in Northeast Georgia, January 31st, 1857, the son of John W. and Hannah M. Pruitt. My paternal grand- father, Hale W. Pruitt, immigrated to Georgia from Spartansburg County, S. C. My maternal grandfather, Matthew C. Rodgers, was a native of North Carolina. " I gave my heart to Jesus and received his salvation at Concord camp- meeting (Baptist), in September, 1870. One year afterward I connected myself with the Concord -Church, of which I am yet a member. My impres- sions to preach began to be felt immediately after my conversion. To these impressions I yielded in May, 1873, when my church licensed me to preach. Ever since I have preached occasionally, but never regularly for any length of time. " My struggles for an education began in 1874. Between teaching and attending school I succeeded in preparing myself for entering the S. B. T. Seminary in September, 1877. In February of this year had died my affec- tionate and self-denying mother, so that henceforth I was deprived of her wise counsels. I remained in the Seminary two sessions, during which my impressions to become a foreign missionary, first felt in my early Christian life, were greatly increased. " Temporary illness prevented my return to the Seminary the third session. The first part of the winter was spent in preaching in Georgia and South Carolina. God was doing for me a great work. The needs of the world were rolled, m an unusual degree, upon my heart and conscience. A final decision to give my life for the heathen was reached in December of this year (1879) while preaching for churches in Williamsburg County, S. C. At once I went to Furman University, Greenville, S. C, where I pursued the studies of Greek and Latin preparatory to this work. In September, 1880, I again entered the Seminary, hoping to graduate in May, 1882. But three weeks ago Dr. Tupper paid me a visit and so presented the need of imme- diate reinforcement in China that I could not find it in my heart to say no. I yield cheerfully to what seems to me to be a special providence. " C. W. Pruitt. '' Barrettsville, Ga., Dec. i6th, iSSi. "P. S. — I was ordained Dec. nth, 1881, at Gainesville, Ga." CANTON MISSIONS. 1. The second mission-dwelling finished — 2. The Chinese Missionary Society, " whose funds are mainly received from Chinese Christians in Demerara and Portland, Oregon," have a chapel, in Ho Nam, and a station at Sau Kiu. They cultivate " financial ability and self-dependence of native Christians." A chapel, built by native Christians, was dedicated 222 FOREIGN MISSIONS. in Tsung Fa, " perhaps the first built in China without assist- ance from abroad. The persecution seems to have died out." Seemingly by a direct interposition of God, in answer to prayer, the chapel at Tsung Hue is recovered and protected by municipal authority. The church in Shhi Hiug is " supported by a self- supporting preacher, Tso Sunc."" At Hong Kong, the people hired a chapel and the mission paid for a preacher. 3. During the year, 40,000 tracts and six hundred portions of Scripture sold, for which ;^i8 received. In the schools the at- tendance has been 170; the church membership, 302 ; baptisms, 31 ; contributions, ^213.63. 4. The arrival of Dr. and Mrs. Graves was greeted with an evergreen and floral decorated church, spontaneous expressions of loving devotion, and a rising congregation, as they entered the house, singing, " Blest be the tie that binds." W. S. WALKER. "I was born November 19th, 1859, ^^ Monroe, Walton county, Georgia. My father, D. H. Walker, was reared and educated in Monroe, and adopt- ed the profession of law, having previously united with the Baptist church of that place. My mother, whose maiden name Wks Mary Neal, of Mt. Zion, Hancock county, Georgia, had all the advantages extended to young ladies of her day, and was remarkable for piety, with which was combined a cheerful yet calm disposition. Among her studies at school the languages were her favorites, and in music and painting she took special delight. In November of '72, just after my 14th birth-day, she died, leaving six sons and one daughter, of whom I was the fourth, sister being younger than myself. " My boyhood was spent in my native town, mostly at school, but occa- sionally farming. In the summer of '72 I was hopefully converted under the ministry of Rev. G. A. Nunnally. In the fall of '74. when not quite sixteen years of age, I entered the university of Georgia, at Athens, and in ^■J7 graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, under the chancellor- ship of Dr. H. H. Tucker. My early impressions to preach having gained the ascendency over opposing desires, in September of the same year I entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. During my second session a spell of fever had the desired effect of mak- ing me a wiser and better man, and did nbt release me till I vowed implicit obedience to the will of God. I had scarcely passed through this refining ordeal, when the call of Dr. Yates, at Shanghai, for more men, came to me with irresistible force, and I not only dared not resist the appeal, but had no desire to do so. I finally went before a committee of the Board at Co- lumbus, Miss., in May, 1880, and after spending my vacation in Savannah CHINA MISSIONS. 223 Georgia, I was happily studying at the Seminary ten days ago, expecting to finish in May next the course of a full graduate, when I was suddenly called by the Secretary of the Board to go at once to China. "Three days ago, I, with two other brethren, reached Richmond, and on the next day, the 19th of November, 1881, my 23d birth-day, I was appoint- ed by the Board as their missionary to Shanghai, China, for which port I hope, under the blessing of God, soon to sail. " W. S. Walker. " P. S. — I was ordained December 4th, 1881, at Monroe, Georgia." SHANGHAI MISSION. • DR. YATES. 1. "I have great joy to report the arrival of Brethren Walker and Pruitt. They are very acceptable young men. I hope I do not violate the tenth Commandment. Bro. Crawford will like Bro. Pruitt. 2. "I am aljout well. I have had my eighth and severe sur- gical operation." 3. " It does seem as if the process of converting a Chinaman — of bringing him to a clear apprehension and appreciation of the love of God in Christ Jesus — is a long one. Five have been baptized; our. membership is 1 01 ; contributions, ;^3i4.25. We have made progress by getting rid of some dead brandies. I have finished my Lecture and published 2000 copies of Paul to Ro- mans. After a final revision the gospels of Mark and Luke will be ready for the press." The Board authorized him to draw for the expense of publication. 4. At the expense of ^950, Dr. Yates' family erected and sus- tains two school-houses on his premises. How humbling such liberality! "Feet-binding" is prohibited, to which those object who do not wish to give up the gentility of small feet. " Another school has been originated, and will be supported by seven women of the church — all of them very poor" — like priest, like peo- ple. SUMMARY OF BOARD'S WORK. Sixty-one missionaries and native assistants ; 34 mission stations ; membership, 740; baptisms and conversions in year, 126; con- tributions, ;^647.83 ; pupils, 748; buildings, $\ 1,797 Zi\ property, 224 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ^60,000. Eight new missionaries appointed and six candidates for appointment are prominent before the Board. Progress is making in systematizing the benevolence of the home-churches, which are yearly developing more of the spirit of Missions. The motto the Board would adopt is, " Forward to the Centre." ACTION OF THE CONVENTION. S. Henderson, of Alabama, presented the following Report on the '' CONCI.USIONS OF THE FOREIGN BOARD. " In concluding their annual report, the Board of Foreign Missions ofifer some suggestions well worthy of our consideration. A constantly ex- panding field, together with the increasing promise of fields already occu- pied, appeal to them with a potency which they must regard. Taking all the operations of the past year into the account, we are safe in saying, that in many important respects it surpasses any previous year in results. As the years roll on, they only serve to unfold new leaves in divine Provi- dence, which impart to the grand commission of our Lord a deeper em- phasis. Duties performed in the past become the parents of duties that confront us in the future. Duty, in its very nature, is infinite. Those only who do nothing for Christ or their fellow-men, see nothing to do. Those who do most, always see most to do, and most deplore their delinquen- cies. The great apostle of the Gentiles, whose record is the most sublime ever yet recorded, declares, ' This one thing I do ; forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' ' Count nothing done while aught remains to be done,' is a maxim more worthy of a Christian than a heathen. Our missionaries are ' projecting new movements,' on which they are entering with a hopeful and joyous spirit. Shall they be sustained in their enlarging work by the greater liberality of their brethren ? Why should we not double our con- tributions for the coming year ? The appeals that come to us alike from papal and heathen lands ought to stir our hearts to their deepest depths, and inspire some of that zeal which, like the sacred fire upon the divine altar, was not to be extinguished. , . . " We also notice with pleasure that progress is being made in systematizing our plans of benevolence, so that our sources of income are likely to be more reliable, as well as greatly increased. We are gradually bringing our country churches into communication with our Boards, and when this purpose is accomplished, we are persuaded that an impulse will be given to the missionary enterprise which will immeasurably augment its power. We trust the day is not distant when every pastor, nay, every member of every church, will write upon his heart the sublime sentiment with which the report of the Board closes, ' Forward to the centre ! ' . Placing our- HOME BOARD. 225' selves under the collected gaze of that 'cloud of witnesses ' that have gone up to glory, and which an inspired apostle arrays before us — under ' powers of the world to come ' — yea, under the all-animating eye of our Leader and Commander, what may we not attempt for God ? What may we not expect from God ? Let us know — and would that it could be writ- ten upon our heart of hearts — that service done for Christ is all of our earthly history that we will rejoice to carry with us to the Better Land to augment itsjoys. "S. W. Marston, Sam'l Henderson, H. W. Mahony, M. E. Brantly, L. R. Warren, J. S. Murray." E. R. Carswell, Jr. MASS-MEETING. At the meeting for Foreign Missions the speech of Hon. H. K. Ellyson, of Virginia, was marked by great force and com- mon sense, and the speech of Rev. A. C. Dixon, of North Caro- lina, aroused much enthusiasm, especially among the Baltimore friends who were negotiating for his acceptance of a pastorate in that city. The Convention record is simply and properly this: THIRD DAY — EVENING SESSION. The Convention assembled, and at 8.15 was called to order and led in prayer by John Stout, South Carolina. The special order being the consideration of the interests of the Foreign Mission Board (Item 25) the Convention was ad- dressed by H. K. Ellyson, Virginia ; C. C. Bitting, Maryland, and A. C. Dixon, North Carolina. The Convention then adjourned, the benediction being pro- nounced by H. A. Tupper, Virginia. HOME BOARD. By nothing was this meeting of the Convention made more memorable than by the removal of the Home Board from Mar- ion, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia; and the election of Rev. I. T. Tichenor, D.D., Corresponding Secretary in the place of Rev. Dr. W. H. Mcintosh — the retiring secretary being one of the purest and noblest men of the denomination; and the incoming one, a man widely known and highly esteemed, and regarded a worthy successor of Dr. Mcintosh. 15 226 FOREIGN MISSIONS. The Convention adopted the following resolution, with which the report of a committee on " The Condition of the Home Board " concluded : "That the earnest and^ sincere thanks of this Convention be and are hereby tendered to the Home Mission Board, at Marion, Alabama, and to its Corresponding Secretary, and to each member thereof, for long and faithful services rendered so willingly and gratuitously. " Respectfully submitted. Joshua Levering, Chairman. "W. D. Thomas, R. C. Buri^eson, T. H. Pritchard, S. F. Thompson, W. L. KiLPATRicK, J. M. Robertson, J. H. Foster, \V. N. Chaudoin, T. J. Walne, J. F. IvAnneau, S. Landrum, J. A. Lawton." From the last report of this Board, by Dr. Mcintosh, we 'dip the following : The present financial condition of the Board suggests a re- view of the last few years. When the present Corresponding Secretary was called to the office, in the fall of 1875, the Board was burdened with an indebtedness of ^17,000. This was in part the result of the financial disasters which swept over the country, involving many of the strongest corporations in the Jand in bankruptcy, and cities and States in alarming pecuniary embarrassments ; and due, in part, to the indebtedness put upon the Board in the transfer to them of the Sunday-school work and liabilities. These debts have all been paid, except that for the printing of Kind Words, which is provided for by the royalty .now received, and adequate to the extinguishment of the debt ■in less than two years, after which time the revenue derived from the paper will go into the treasury of the Board for missionary purposes. An Indian mission manual labor school has been established at a cost of ^10,340.04, and an annual income for the support of the pupils provided, of ^8,400, equivalent to the interest at six per cent, on about ;$ 140,000, a financial basis of operations that will bear comparison with that of any Baptist college in the South, The Board repeat and emphasize the facts herein stated that they present to the Convention a flourishing mission school, equipped and paid for, that they report the salaries of your mis- CONCLUSION. 57i Prayer and other religious meetings 1,632 Baptisms 245 Received by letter 494 Sunday-schools 55 Teachers and pupils 2,680 Miles traveled 60,480 Religious visits 10.324 Pages of tracts distributed ; 74.479 Houses of worship begun 3^ Houses of worship finished n Collected for Missions % 843.73 Collected for houses of worship 2,090.75 Many Missionaries have not reported the Sunday-schools connected with the churches and stations to which they preach, nor the amounts raised for houses of worship. HOSPITALITY. In addition to the unbounded hospitality under their roofs, the Texas people gave the Convention an excursion into Mexico. It reminded us of the Convention which met in Texas in 1874, when an exicursion was given over the State. " The Lone Star State" is a grand State, and it does things grandly. The following resolution, offered by J. A. Hoyt, South Caro- lina, was unanimously adopted : " Resolved, That the delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention, in ap- preciation of the distinguished hospitality received from the citizens of Waco, and especially from the members of the Waco Baptist Church, hereby express their profound thanks for the open-hearted and generous entertainment received during their sojourn in the Lone Star State, and as a Convention they hereby tender to the citizens and members aforesaid, their 18 274 FOREIGN MISSIONS. cordial wishes for the temporal and spiritual welfare of this entire people, praying that our Heavenly Father shall give to them the richest blessings in His store-house of mercy and grace.'' DRAWING TO A CLOSE. George W. Norton, Kentucky, was re-elected Treasurer, and Nimrod Long, Kentucky, was re-elected Auditor of the Con- vention. The roll of the Convention was read and corrected, the journal was read and confirmed, and after the singing of the hymn, " Blest be the tie that binds," and prayer by J. A. Broadus, Kentucky, the Convention adjourned sine die. The next session of the Convention will be held at Baltimore, Md., Wednesday, May 7, 1884. CHAPTER V. 1884. 275 ROSEWELL HOBART GRAVES, M.D., D.D. BORN IN BAI^TIMORE, MAY 29, 1S33. BAPTIZED BY DR. FULLER OCTOBER 15, 1848. ORDAINED APRIL 12, 1 856. Sailed for China April 19, 1856. One of the most intelligent, consecrated, successful and honored misssonaries. Dr. Graves is now in the United States, having returned with his invalid wife, who died in California April 20th, 1888. OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION AND ITS BOARDS. OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. President. Patrick Hughes Mell, D.D., L,L.D., Georgia. Vice-Presidenis. Hon. Joseph Emerson Brown, LL.D., Georgia. W11.LIAM Carey Crane, D.D., LL.D., Texas. Thomas Henderson Pritchard, D.D., North Carolina. Franklin Howard Kerfoot, D.D., Maryland. Secretaries. Lansing Burrows, D.D., Georgia. Rev. O1.1VER FuIvLER Gregory, North Carolina. Treasurer. Mr. George W. Norton, Kentucky. Auditor. Mr. Nimrod Long, Kentucky. FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. RICHMOND, VA. President J. L. M. Curry, Virginia. Vice-Presidents. Joshua Levering, Md. R. S. Duncan, Mo. J. J. D. Renfroe, Ala. J. A. Hackett, La. B. H. CarroeIv, Texas. J. B. Searcy, Ark. Geo. Whitfield, Miss. T. T. Eaton, Ky. J. M. SenTER, Tenn. J. L. Burrows, Va. W. L- Kilpatrick, Ga. N. A. Bailey, Fla. O. F. Gregory, N. C. C. Manly, S. C. W. F. Attkisson, W. Va. Corresponding Secretary. H. A. TUPPER. Recording Secretary. W. H. GWATHMEY. Treasurer. J. C. Williams. Auditor. J. F. Cottrell. J. B. Hawthorne, J. B. Watkins. H. K. Ellyson, W. E. Hatcher. E. Wortham. BOARD OF MANAGERS. W. Goddin. H. H. Harris. John Pollard, Jr. J. Wm. Jones. A. B. Clark. J. B. Winston. J. B. Hutson. S. C. Clopton. W. D. Thomas. C. H. Winston. I 4 CHAPTER V. 1884. THE CONVENTION. Baltimoreans have the reputation of doing social things ele- gantly ; and they were quite up to their reputation in the entertain- ment of the Convention in May, 1884. Of the 1503 entitled to seats 616 were present. A number of visitors from the North were in attendance, and some of them did not hesitate to ex- press in public their surprise at the appearance and strength of the body. But the body did not think so much of themselves as they did of their hosts, who, among other grand things, enter- tained the whole Convention, every day, at one of the finest hotels in the city. The Convention met with the Seventh Baptist Church May 7th, at 10 a.m. After singing" While my Redeemer is near," the Convention listened to the 23d Psalm, " The Lord is my Shepherd," read by the President, and was led in* prayer by Dr. J. B. Thomas, of New York. The President and Secretaries were re-elected. Dr. T. D. Anderson, pastor of the Seventh Church, made a handsome address of welcome in the name of the Baptists of Baltimore, and was handsomely replied to by Dr. Henry McDon- ald, of Georgia. The Convention Sermon, which met fully the expectation of the Convention and sustained the reputation of the preacher, was delivered by Dr. Lansing Burrows, of Georgia, from the text, "That I may know him." Phil. 3 : 10. In behalf of the Building Fund of the Seminary addresses were made' by Drs. Boyce and Broadus, and ;$4,500 was secured for the object. Dr. H, H. Harris made an able and judicious report on " Plans of Systematic Beneficence." 279 280 FOREIGN MISSIONS. J. B. Gambrell, of Mississippi, presented a report on " STATISTICAI, TABIvES. " Your Committee, to whom was referred the Secretaries' Statistics, report that they have duly examined them and find that they contain a vast amount of useful information, admirably arranged, and we recommend their pubhca- tion in these proceedings. " Your Committee cannot refrain from saying that a service so valuable to all our interests, and involving so much labor, with no little expense, should not go unremunerated by this body. "J. B. Gambrell, Chairman. " H. M. Wharton, A. E. Owen, J, B. Richardson, L. Broaddus, A. C. Briscoe, J. E. Chambliss, Reddin Andrews, J. T. Slade, J. T. Christian, J. D. Jamison, J.. T. Williams." The report was adopted. IN MEMORIAM. DRS. WINKUER and SUMNER AND MRS. TAYLOR. The following were reported from the Committee on Memo- rials of E. T. Winkler and M. T. Sumner, by J. L. Carroll, Va. : " The Committee appointed to report resolutions expressing the feelings of tills Convention, in regard to the death of Rev. E. T. Winkler, D.D., and Rev. M. T. Sumner, D.D., mournfully submit the following : " rst. Resolved, That we have heard with real and profound sorrow of the demise of these gifted and devoted brethren, who were for so many years connected with this body, and whose presence and counsels were always so warmly welcomed by their brethren. ; " 2d. Resolved, That we tender to their bereaved families our sincere sym- pathy in the day of their great trial, humbly praying that the God whom our brethren served may attend their loved ones through all their earthly pil- grimage. " 3d. Resolved, That the Recording Secretary is hereby instructed to for- ward copies of these resolutions to those stricken families. "J. L. Carroll, yi;r Committee'' The following was presented by Rev. A. E. Owen, D.D., of Virginia. " Resolved, That the condolence of the Convention is hereby extended to our brother, George B. Taylor, in the hour of his sore bereavement, with the earnest prayer that the gloom that has settled upon his heart and home may be blessed of God to the giving of greater light to the people of Italy, sitting in the region of darkness and the shadow of de; th." ACTIONS OF THE BODY. 281 J. L, M. Curry, Va., addressed the Convention and the reso- lution was adopted. ACTIONS OF THE BODY. 1. The reports of Boards were referred to the Committee on Order of Busi- ness, who were to confer with the Secretaries of the Boards as to the order in which the topics of the report should be presented to the body. H. K. Ellyson, of Va. 2. Dr. J. L. Burrows was requested to " preach a historical sermon before the Convention," at its next meeting. E. C. Williams, of Md. 3. Resolutions on salient points of the reports on the several Missions were presented by members of the body, and thus discussions of the reports were brought on before the house. For example, each of the following resolutions was presented by a brother, and the report of that mission was dis- cussed before the adoption of the resolution. As is usual, the report of the Board was readjust after the organization of the body by the Secre- tary of the Board. 1. The following resolution was offered by C. C. Bitting, Md. : " Resolved, That the good news from Bahia of many conversions cheers our hearts ; and that the Convention bids our brethren in Brazil God-speed in the blessed work of giving to the land of the Southern Cross the glorious Gospel of the ever blessed God." The Convention was addressed by C. A. Stakely, S. C, and the resolution was adoped. 2. H. H. Harris, Va., offered the following: " Resolved, That the Rev. E. F. Baldwin, of N. C, who has just returned from Kabylia, be requested to address the Convention, and give such in" formation as may aid the Board of Foreign Missions to decide as to the wis- dom of entering this country as a missionary field.'' It was adopted, and Brother Baldwin addressed the Convention. 3. The following resolution offered by J. L. Carroll, Va., was made the special order at 8 p.m. " Resolved, That China, the greatest foreign field entered by missionaries of this Convention, should elicit sympathy, men and means, for its evan- gelization, proportionate to the magnitude and grandeur, and the far-reach- ing consequences of the work contemplated in this country." 4. H. H. Harris Va., presented the following, which was adopted : " Resolved, That the Convention has heard with pleasure of the large amount of money^^ raised for Foreign Missions by the Woman's societies working with our Board, and of the entire harmony in plans and purposes between the Board and these Societies.'' B. W. Edwards, S. C, presented the Report of Committee on the '' TREASURER'S REPORT F. M. BOARD. "The Committee to whom was referred the Treasurer's report of the For- eign Mission Board, have examined the report and find that its statements 282 FOREIGN MISSIONS. are correct and duly audited. The receipts for the year exceed the receipts of the precedingyear in the sum of $23,561.16, and a balance $9,566.36 is in the Treasurer's hands. " While this exhibit shows an increase in receipts of a little more than forty per cent., it has fallen $20,000 short of the amount asked for by the Board, and is not equal to the increased demands of the work. "B. W. Edwards, Chairman. G. W. Hyde. J. S. Felix." The report was adopted. 5. J. A. Hoyt, S. C, offered the following, which was adopted : "Resolved, That this Convention heartily endorses the Foreign Mission Journal, and commends to pastors throughout the South the extensive circu- lation of this journal among the members of our churches, as furnishing valuable and stimulating information.'' 6. The order being the consideration of African Missions, J. L. Burrows, Va., offered and discussed the following : " Resolved, That the outpouring of God's Spirit upon our mission at Lagos bids us go forward in hope in our work in Africa, and the touching appeal for reijiforcements should constrain us to send help promptly and as ample is possible.'' FROM REPORT OF BOARD. NEW MISSIONARIES. Ten names have been added to our list of American mission- aries. Miss Emma Young, of Missouri, and Miss Mattie M- Roberts, of Kentucky, sailed for China on the 1st of December, and arrived, the former in Canton on the 7th of January, and the latter in Tung Chow on the 22d of the same month. On the 19th of September Rev. W. S. Walker, our missionary at Shang- hai, married Miss Lilian Ellen Mateer, of Tung Chow, now in this country with her husband, who is sadly broken in health. On the 20th of March the following gentlemen were accepted by the Board as missionaries : Francis M. Myers, of Kentucky, and Charles Edwin Smith, of Arkansas, for Africa; James Monroe Joiner, of Louisiana, Elijah E. Davault, of Tennessee, and Fred- eric Chiles Hickson, of South Carolina, for China. Brethren Hickson and Smith are married men. In May last Mrs C. W. Pruitt, of Tung Chow, was baptized, which may be regarded as adding the eleventh name to our missionary force. In no year since the organization of the Convention have so many or more promising missionaries been enrolled by this Board. FROM REPORT OF BOARD. 283 treasurer's report. The Treasurer reports as his receipts, ^80,465.87 — the largest amount ever received in one year. The sum reported last year was ;^ 1 5,826, 81 above the average receipts for twelve years ; and the sum this year exceeds that of last year by ;^23,56i.i6. The average of these two years is three times as much as the average contributions of the fifteen years preceding the war. The bal- ance of ;$6,i6o. 10 on hand at the close of last year, added to this year's receipts, makes ^86,625.97, the aggregate which the Board has had at its disposal for the spread of the gospel in foreign lands. Had the amount been ;^ioo,ooo, instead of ^86,600, ^20,- 000 of it might have been wisely appropriated to church-houses as stated in August last. The ;^5,ooo per month asked for the sup- port of the missions has been provided; and the church build- ing, with mission extension work, prudently restrained this year, has been transferred to another year, when the ;$ 100,000 — delayed perhaps to test our faith — may be fully realized. BEQUESTS. As the net proceeds of the bequest of Mrs. Mary M. D. El- lington, of Tuskegee, Alabama, mentioned last year as in litiga- tion, the Board has received four thousand four hundred and eighty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents. The Board has been the recipient also of five hundred dollars, as a legacy of the late James Headen, Esq., of Talladega, Alabama. Such remem- brance by God's saints is esteemed a token of Divine favor. woman's work. This work is one of the features of our Christian age which brings it into greater harmony with the Christianity of the age of Christ and his Apostles. No reader of the New Testament, with his mind directed to this subject, can fail to be impressed with the prominence given to women in the propagation of the gospel. In accordance with the instructions and recommenda- tions of the Convention, the Board is represented in all the States by carefully selected woman-committees, to whom have been furnished gratuitously in the past ten years 28,520 mite- boxes, for the use of societies organized for co-operation with our missionary enterprise. This expenditure by the Board 284 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ($733.40) has been rewarded a hundredfold by the returns of these committees, who report 642 societies, which have con- tributed $16,895.58 to our treasury this year, and, perhaps, an aggregate of $75,000 in the past ten years. And the Board con- gratulates our Southern sisters that the natural tendency to separate and independent organization is resisted by them, and that our respective works for the spread of the gospel in pagan and papal lands promise to go on under the fostering care of our common associations and conventions, and in God's universal way of adverse tendencies limiting each other, and thus produc- ing the most complete and beneficial results. FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAI,. This paper, ably edited, self-supporting, increasing in circula- tion, instinct with the spirit of missions, and occupying a sphere peculiar and non-conflicting with any other periodical, is one of the most indispensable agents for the prosecution of the offices of the Board. It publishes together the offerings of the churches for their own satisfaction, the stimulation of each other, and the information and encouragement of the missionaries, and the doings and self-denials of the missionaries, for the widening of the views and the deepening of the sympathies of the churches. Our missionaries also need a stated survey of the whole mission field, as well as our pastors and others who wish to be fully, and often speedily, informed as to all our mission work. It furnishes an organ independent and unrestricted, through which the pe- culiar interests committed to the Board, with its plans and poli- cies, may be advocated with unity and harmony in all parts of the paper, and presented to the public as to time and space and manner according to the pleasure and wisdom of the Board alone, which is held responsible for these interests by the Convention. It stands, too, for the advocacy of the Convention and its actions, which advocacy should be officially provided for. Being publish- ed at the seat of the Board, missionary documents are accessible without inconvenience to either the Board or the paper ; every shade of view and sentiment of this body may be perfectly re- flected, and the monthly acknowledgment of contributions, which is of importance and requires much care, is thus less liable FROM REPORT OF BOARD. 285 to typographical errors. An examination of the proceedings of the Convention for 1873 and 1874 readily discovers the reasons that induced the Board, in 1875, to suggest to the Convention the suspension of the paper. None of these reasons exists now, or is likely to exist again ; and the Journal, the right arm of the Board of Foreign Missions, should be upheld by the emphatic endorsement of the Convention, and by the patronage of every Baptist of the South. The paper closed its fiscal year (April 1st) with all expenses paid, a contribution of ;^50 to the Treasury for Mexican schools, and a balance of $1 12.10 to its credit in bank. DEATH OF MRS. GEORGE B. TAYLOR. The evangelical papers of Europe and America have united in paying tributes to the memory of our sister who fell on sleep in the city of Rome, Italy, on the seventh day of last March, and whose name is worthy to be enrolled with the eminent woman missionaries of modern times. Of this lamented decease Dr. Taylor wrote : " After an illness of two days, preceded by one day of indisposition, my wife died last Friday morning. Her illness was tragical. She was threatened with suffocation from inflammation of the upper part of the windpipe. The operation of the cutting of the windpipe (tracheotomy) was performed by an eminent Roman surgeon. It gave her momentary relief and made her death easy — that was all. Thus the greatest of all be- reavements has. come upon me and my children. But God has miraculously sustained us, and greater and more numerous de- monstrations of love, sorrow and sympathy could not have been given had we been in Richmond. It was not only regard for me, but personal affection for her and grief at her leaving. Friends of many nations and creeds, and of no creed, vied with one another in kindness. My children have felt the supports of the gospel, and have seemed to show the self-forgetfulness of their mother." Rev. J. H. Eager, our missionary, wrote from Rome on the loth of March : " I can truly say that Mrs. Taylor was a martyr to the work in Italy, and it will never be known till the great day what burdens she has borne and what sacrifices she has 286 FOREIGN MISSIONS. made during the eleven years of her life in this country. But they are recorded on high, and now that the warfare is ended, the victory won, and the sweet rest of eternity begun, she will bless God for it all." Among the many touching things written of our sainted sis- ter, one of the most touching is from the pen of a little child of Rome, who writes thus to a lady in this country : " I missed you much when you left, but much more when God came and took dear Mrs. Taylor from us. She was the best friend we had, and such a good Christian. You can imagine how great our sor- row is, especially when we enter church. We never can forget her. I must say I never missed any one in my life as I have missed Mrs. Taylor, but I hope to meet her one day in that beautiful home where we know she is now dwelling." The Board has made an appropriate record of their apprecia- tion of the character and life of the honored deceased. SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION. BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. Baptized, 20 ; S. S. Scholars, j>o ; Members, yo. ENCOURAGING PROGRESS. In their annual report our missionaries at Bahia say : " God has graciously enabled us to turn many to the way of life, and given us health and strength to keep up all departments of our work. We have baptized twenty, and the feeble church of a year ago has grown to a strong body of twenty-five earnest workers for Christ. They are full of zeal, and labor with their friends and relatives, and induce many to give heed to the gospel. We are now preaching from six to eight sermons a week and at six different places in the city, and converse daily with many persons interested in their soul's salvation. There are now twelve persons who seem to be earnestly seeking salvation. A number of these are ladies ; two of them are daughters of a priest. The priest himself has conversed with serveral of us on EUROPEAN MISSIONS. 287 the subject of religion, and the other day asked one of our mem- bers— a friend of his — to pray for him. This is certainly a hope- ful indication. The Sunday-school is increasing in interest. Yesterday the attendance was thirty or thirty-five." PUBLICATIONS. " Our newspaper articles," writes Brother Bagby, " and our four tracts have opened the eyes of many, and are doing much good. The Brazilians are a reading people, and the press is a great power. We need a publishing fund, as there is no Baptist literature in Portuguese, and we must publish what we need." EXTENSION. These brethren have repeatedly urged the opening of a mis- sion in Rio de Janeiro, where they would be in reach of the church at Santa Barbara, which has forty-five members and no pastor. The Board has granted their request, and brother and sister Bagby will probably begin work in that great capital before long. The mission calls loudly for reinforcements. EUROPEAN MISSIONS. I. BROTHER AND SISTER EAGER. On Brother Eager were laid for awhile the new responsibilities of disbursing the finances, conducting much of the correspond- ence, and visiting many of tlie stations of the mission. He has been engaged also, in company with " good brother Mattei," in colportage. Under date of November 28th he wrote: "We were absent eight days, traveled about two hundred miles, can- vassed six large towns, sold one hundred and forty-five copies of the New Testament, distributed a large number of tracts, and spent twenty dollars — seven of which were replaced by our sales." To recruit her health, Mrs. Eager, with her two children, is in this country, and has been invited by the Board to be pres- ent at the Convention. 2. Sig. Cocorda, deflecting from orthodox views, was separated from the mission. 288 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 3. MILAN AND NAPLES. Brother Eager has been laboring at Milan, but expects to be permanently settled in Naples, and Signor Nicholas Papengouth, of Naples, will take, in May, the pastorate at Milan, where Sig- nor Paschetto worked with great acceptance for six years. Of his own labors in Milan, Brother Eager writes: " I have had un- usual liberty in preaching; we have four services a week, besides the Sunday-school. In addition, I am endeavoring to verify the assertion that ' a house-going pastor will make a church-going people.' " Of Naples, he says : " When I am once settled there, and get to work, I shall very likely make an appeal to the Board for the means to build a chapel in that great city. I hope to begin work there early in September. It is likely that I shall spend the summer months with Signor Martinelli, in Modena, Carpi, and other places where he preaches the gospel." OTHER STATIONS. While the work has not exhibited very marked progress, there are varied scenes among them clearly showing the presence and favor of the Holy Spirit and a sound, healthful advance. Bro. Eager wrote : " I cannot report a revival, . . . but the blessing is sure to come, for the promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus." ROME. " I have been greatly comforted," Dr. Taylor writes, "in the absence of large gatherings here, by seeing clearly manifested the sanctifying power of the Spirit through the word, leading breth- ren spontaneously to give up Sunday labor, renounce work that might injure their Christian standing, and to show practical love for the sick, the widow, the orphan and the cause of Christ, all which would mean much in Richmond, and means even more in Rome." EVANGELICAL CO-OPERATION. " For two or three years there has been a widespread desire in Italy," says Brother Taylor, " to have a closer union and co-oper- ation among evangelical Christians and workers here in the face of Romanism, with its pretended unity, and ere the meeting of your convention, an assembly to discuss the subject will have AFRICAN MISSIONS. 289 met in Florence. Signor Paschetto, Brother Eager and the writer will represent American Baptists. For a much longer period the wish has been felt to bring nearer together all Baptists working in this land, both to strengthen their own hands and to present an undivided front against the vast odds that oppose them. At last this wish has been crowned with success. Last October the Apostolical Baptist Union was formed, and its first general meeting will be held in Turin, while the Convention is in session in Baltimore. I trust it is unnecessary to say that in neither of these movements will the principles dear to American Baptists be compromised by your representatives." AFRICAN MISSIONS. The Lagos school-house cost $20^5 > Baptised, ji ; Pupils, ig6 ; Members, I2j; Con- tributions, $410. THE CAUSE IN AFRICA. "Baptist Mission, Lagos, W. Africa, May 13th, 1884. " Dear Dr. Tupper — You have just been in Convention at Baltimore, and I hope a great impetus has been given to the work of missions through- out the world. I desired to write to you during the session, but washindred by various circumstances ; nevertheless our prayers went up for God's guid- ance and blessing upon that noble band of workers ; and if he sees the sparrows when they fall, will he not also hear the prayer of this little mis- sion among the many others that are going up to him ? We hope that something has been done for Africa, together with the other common inter- ests. But whatever has been done at Baltimore, we know God remembers us, for the last papers bring the news of the appointment of Brethren Myers and Smith. We rejoice and praise God that he has heard our prayers. We shall now be in a condition to hold what we have gained. I hope we shall be able to go forward soon. But our school will have to do more work before we can do much progressive work in the interior, because we cannot supply many more men with interpreters and assistants. I hope we maybe able to dispense with some of the interpreters, however, by learning to speak for ourselves, which we have not been able to do hitherto. Mrs. Eubank and I are still studying the language, but you can readily see that our time is limited, when you remember that we have Brother and Sister David's work, (which has grown all the while), together with looking after the work in Abbeokuta and teaching three or four hours a day. I do not 19 290 FOREIGN MISSIONS. preach as much as brother David did, which gives me some time for other work. Yet I preach once or more every Sunday. "We still have encouragements and discouragements. One instance which has both elements in it has recently occurred in the dismissal of a member for immorality. It was discouraging to have it to do ; but encour- ^gi'^g to see the unanimity with which it was done. This has more inean- ingto one who knows the reluctance of natives to discipline members. They have a superstitious dread about it. " Brother David's departure has left a burden on me, which I feel very sensibly— not the work, but the responsibility. My faithful helpmeet nobly bears her share and helps me to stand up under mine, yet it is a load for both of us, and I sometimes feel as if we should falter under it but for God's grace. We have been driven closer to hiin by it. Sad isn't it, to be driven instead of drawn to God ? But better driven to him than to stay away from him. Oh ! what a relief when we can throw part of the burden on the will- shoulders of Brethren Myers and Smith. 1 know from experience how they can help bear burdens. It is pleasant to thmk of having those with whom I have labored in the mission Sunday-schools of Louisville to join me in this greater mission work. It will be a joyous re-union, at least to those of us who are at this end of the line. " We rejoice to see the success our brethren in other fields are having. May God continue the good work till all the nations that have forgotten God be brought back to a knowledge of him and the true worship ! We are glad to see the modifications in the arrangements for the Mexican schools. We believed there was no surrender of our principles in the former arrange- ment, but we believed because of our confidence in the Board, and not be- cause we saw their position. Now faith gives place to sight. "There is trouble in our Abbeokuta station since we came to Lagos, but I am glad to say it is not hindering the work materially. I deemed it best for the work to dispense with the services of a teacher at the close of the year, and did so very quietly. But his mother, who got the ' loaves and fishes,' was not so quiet about it. She is giving the trouble. Has stopped attending our services and gone to another church, and tries to induce others to follow her. " I have been thinking of late that it might be our best plan for future work, to push on through the Yoruba country, leaving a chain of stations all along, and entering the Fulah or Barba country. The main argument in favor of this is, that there are already two other missionary societies in Yoruba, and there are none in the other two countries mentioned as far as I know. Of course there is work here, enough to last several life-times, and I shall not advocate giving up any of it, yet this plan has occurred to me as favorable for expanding our work. It will not lessen our interest in it to remember that this was the original plan when Brother Bovven was sent out. Lagos would still be our seaport and base of supplies. " We are expecting a letter telling us when to look for our new mission- aries. "Yours faithfully, " P. A. Eubank." CHINA MISSIONS. AN APPEAL. " Can nothing be done for Africa ? I have waited and hoped and prayed for her. Why heed the cries of every nation more than her pleadings ? I know there seem reasons to justify this, — the cumate and broken-down mis- sionaries ; but if men are wiUing to sacrifice a part of their Hves to save hu- man souls, for that reason ought we not wiUingly give them the little it would take to support them, and carry the gospel where so few, so very few are willing to go ? I am glad for Mexico, but when Africa begged and pleaded for only one-fourth of that sum her cry went by unheeded. Don't let it be thus always. I know there are those whose whole hearts' desire is to bene- fit Africa, and, if they are sent, are willing to give their time, talents, yea, and their very lives, to save Africa. Is not her time to be remembered next ? So few will listen to her ! Will you not use your influence to help her now ? I know in God's own way and time he will provide, but ' hope deferred maketh the heart sick.' May God direct the Board in deciding to send her help is the earnest prayer of "March, 1884. A Friend to Africa." CHINA MISSIONS. Missionaries and Native Assistants, jS ; Stations and Out-stations, if ; Baptized, 65 ; Church Members, 6ri ; Pupils, jo6 ; Contributions, $6-j-j.jg. MISSES YOUNG AND ROBERTS. The steamship " Arabic," on which these ladies sailed from San Francisco, was several days behind time. They met with head- winds nearly all the way, and did not reach Yokohama until December 28th. There they separated, Miss Y. continuing on the same ship to Hong Kong, Miss R. having to wait till Janu- ary 2d before she could get a steamer going to Shanghai. The sail of 4,800 miles was as rough as it was tedious. From their letters it appears that one of the ladies proved to be a good sailor and pronounces the ocean voyage " the grandest experi- ence of her life ; " the other had to surrender herself to the mis- eries of sea-sickness, but in consequence enjoyed all the more getting on dry land again. Both refer td the exceeding kindness and polite attentions of the officers of the ship. Dr. Graves met Miss Young at Hong Kong, and on the 7th of January returned with her to Canton, where we trust there is 292 FOREIGN MISSIONS. before her a long life of faithful, self-sacrificing and successful work for the Master. Arriving just in time for the ^' week of prayer," and in the midst of rumors of war, she cannot fail to realize that " God is our refuge, a very present help in trouble," and to lay hold firmly in the beginning on the arm upon which she will have continually so much need to lean. Miss Roberts is probably detained in Shanghai, and will not be able to reach her destination in north China until the icebound harbors of that part are unlocked by returning spring. TUNG CHOW. 1. Dr. Crawford: "My motto is: 'Preach the gospel directly to the people and leave the result with God.' " 2. Miss Moon has 37 pupils, and has visited 100 villages. 3. Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt have made two preaching tours, besides teaching in the boys' school. Mr. Halcomb traveled 750 miles, with the view of marking out " a line of stations to be visited once or twice a year in the future." 5. "The junior members of the mission have been authorized to establish a mission in Hwang Hien." The senior mission- aries are laying out work broad enough for " twenty-five new mis- sionaries." MARY HARI^EY— MISSIONARY. The death of Mrs. Mary G. Harley, of South Carolina, was reported in 1882. The noble conception of some of the Chris- tian women of that State was soon put into execution, viz., the raising of a fund by the children of South Carolina to support a missionary to be known as the " Mary Harley Missionary." Miss Mattie M. Roberts, of Kentucky, an appointee of our board, for Tung Chow, China, was selected April 30, 1883, as this mission- ary monumental. The following letter was received from Dr. Yates : MISS ROBERTS' ARRIVAL. "Shanghai, China, Jan. 22, 1884. " I write to inform you that Miss Roberts arrived here safely and well on the 1 2th inst. We were beginning to feel a little anxious for the safety of the steamer ; for we knew, by cable from Nagasaki, that she was two days overdue. The captain of the steamer, when he got to sea, found it so REV. E. Z. SIMMONS. BORN IN TISHOMINGO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, MARCH I, 1846. BAPTIZED AT KOSSUTH, MISSISSIPPI, IN 1 861. Attended Bethel and Georgetown Colleges of Kentucky, and was ordained to the ministry October 30th, 1869. Appointed missionary to Canton, China, October, 1870. Sailed December 3, 1870, and arrived in Canton February 6, 1871. CHINA MISSIONS. 295 exceedingly rough that he ran under an island and remained at anchor for forty-eight hours. After resting five days with us, which she enjoyed very much, she went on board the steamship " Poo-chi " Wednesday night, at lo p. M., and sailed the next morning — the 17th — at dayhght, and, as we have had quiet weather since the " Poo-chi " sailed, doubtless arrived at Chefoo on Saturday the 19th, the forenoon. If the Tung Chow friends were prompt to meet her, (I gave them five days' notice), she is doubtless arriving at Tung Chow to-day; perhaps this morning. Miss Roberts promises to be an important addition to the Tung Chow Mission. " P>aternally, M. T. Yates." MARRIAGE OF MISSIONARIES. " On the 22d of July, 1884, Rev. N. W. Halcomb and Miss Mattie Roberts were married at Chefoo, China. The ceremony was performed by Dr. T. P. Crawford, assisted by Dr. M. T. Yates. The marriage was private — no one except the U. S. Consul and wife, and the few friends who accompanied the parties from Tung Chow being present. The law of China requires mar- riages to be solemnized in the presence of the Consul ; hence our mission- aries were compelled to go all the way from Tung Chow to Chefoo. " Both Mr. Halcomb and Miss Roberts are natives of Kentucky. He came to Missouri when four years old, and grew up there. Miss Roberts remained in Kentucky until she left for China, one year ago. " They go at an early day to take charge of the new station at Hwang Hien, China, some 150 miles west of Tung Chow, in company with Rev. Mr. Pruitt and wife. They are all missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. R. S. Duncan." Mrs. Halcomb kept up the enthusiasm of the Sunday-schools of South Carolina, though her name was changed, until the great change came, May 23d, 1885, when her brief and beautiful life, as a missionary of the cross, was laid down to assume that missionary crown in heaven. SHANGHAI MISSION. 1. Dr. Yates says : "We have increased the area of our work ten-fold, and men and women should be increased in more than corresponding ratio." 2. A chapel has been built in Soochow, with " a granite bap- tistery," and a church organized June loth, 1883, "with seven members." Dr. Yates says : " This is a great success." Bro. Walker expected to settle in Soochow. 3. At Chin-Kiang, where Mr. and Mrs. Hunnex are stationed, the Board had authorized the purchase of property for chapel and residence, for 5000 taels, equal to ^6, 172.84. 296 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 4. " Miss McCown, v^^ho is assigned to this mission, has grad- uated in medicine at Philadelphia, but will pursue for a year a first graduate course, for the sake of hospital practice and special study of the eye. This is recommended by Dr, Yates." 5. " The wrecked health of Brother W. S. Walker, which forced his return to this country, should elicit the profound sym- pathy of the denomination." CANTON MISSION. Membership, jS6. For the past few months this mission has been disturbed by the French Chinese war and riots growing out of it ; but the work, "with some hindrance, goes on." 1. In October, 1883, a church was organized at T'sing Yuen with 42 members. 2. The native preacher T'ong T'sung Cheung has been called to the pastorate of the church at Portland, Oregon, U. S. 3. The chapel built by the native Christians at a cost of ^1500 has been greatly injured by a mob. 4. Dr. Graves writes : " We rejoice in the accession of Miss Young, whom we have learned already to love and esteem and who bids fair to be useful in the future." AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS EMMA YOUNG. Greenfield, Mo., July 23, 1883. " Dr. H. A. Tupper. " Dear Father in Christ : — Please let rne beg the privilege of being infor- mal with you. Had I not met you at the Convention, I should probably have written with more business-like dignity. But your interest and sympa- thy for the great work convinced me that in you I had found an adviser, coun- selor and friend ; and with my friends I can never be formal. I wrote a short sketch ot my life for Bro. Duncan and will now give you the substance of it. There will be nothing remarkably interesting in it ; for my life thus far has been quite uneventful, but very happy. My father is David G. Young ; his native state is New York, was ordained in 1865. My mother's name is Amanda E. Young, she is a native of Illinois I was born in Williamson Co., 111., Feb. 3, 1862. We moved to Missouri in October, 1870. I became a happy child of God during a revival held in the Presbyterian church, before I was fourteen years old. There was no Baptist church organized in Greenfield then, and for more than two weary years my soul existed through God's mercy — I cannot say lived in the enjoyment of His grace and love. In March, 1878, I united with the church, and on March 17, 1878, was baptized CHINA MISSIONS. 297 by my own dear father. I attended the pubhc school in Greenfield. Then attended the 'Ozark Seminary,' a Cumberland Presbyterian institution. I re- cited, and taught certain classes, for more than a year. In Sept., 1881, I en- tered Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar, Mo., as student and teacher. After a time I gave up teaching in order to devote my whole time to my studies. I took the classical course, but was compelled to omit part of my Greek classics, that I might have more time for Greek New Testament. I graduated at the college May 18, 1883, in the classical course. My mind has been impressed with regard to Missions ever since I was converted, but I always put the thought from me and never spoke of it seriously to any one. I did not permit it to trouble me for the impressions were really not very strong, and I was light-hearted and very ambitious. I was very desirous of taking a more thorough course in the languages — especially Latin and Greek — also a course in music at some eastern college, after graduating. But all during my Senior year the question of Mission work would present itself constantly and forcibly to my mind. I could not escape from what was fast growing into a conviction that duty would take me far from home and friends. I had not as yet talked of my convictions to any one ; but once, a conversation on Mission work in general, at the house of a friend, almost overwhelmed me with emotion. That afternoon, Jan. 22, 1883, ^ asked my pastor to call at my room. As soon as he came in, he asked me if I were not thinking of the Mission work. He knew nothing of the incident that had occurred that morning, nor had he ever heard me speak of the work in connection with myself He talked and prayed with me. My great fear was lest I should act from a false sense of duty and thus be mistaken. But God led me very gently through the dark waters of that heavy trial and many subsequent ones, ere I learned entire submission to His holy will. Indeed, it is a lesson one needs to be constantly learning. I soon became satisfied ; and since then I have never doubted as to the work the Master has for me to do. With my present convictions, I could not consistently enter any other field of labor. When I was only a child, I developed quite a talent for mathematics, and was never happier than when poring over some hard problem in Arithmetic or Algebra. I was always delighted when my teacher gave a list of ' test problems,' taken from some educational journal. I began the study of Latin with the same enthusiasm, which never dimin- ished from Caesar and Virgil to Tacitus. I liked Greek very much, but I had to take double work and that made it hard for me. My teacher has of- ten accused me of sitting up all night in order to learn my no lines of Homer, During my senior year I was particularly fond of Mental Philoso- phy and Logic. But it was my greatest dehght when I could take my Evi- dences of Christianity, and Butler's, Analogy. I never had much talent for music, and had no opportunity to cultivate it until my mind was so en- grossed by other studies and my time so fully occupied already, that I could not devote the practice necessary to accomplish anything. It was my ardent desire, however, to take a thorough course at some Eastern college. These are prominent facts in my short hfe, briefly stated. 298 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " I shall have my photograph taken before very long and send it to the mission rooms. I received a very pleasant letter from Miss Whilden a short while ago. I think I shall be very happy in my Canton home. But, of course, it makes me sad to think of leaving father and mother and my four brothers and two sisters. " Yours in Christ, " Emma Young." THE KABYLES. The Board made a full report of this people in Northern Africa, and the mission among them proposed by Rev. E. F. Baldwin, of N. C, who addressed the convention on the subject. The Board had defrayed Bro. Baldwin's expenses to Africa to in- vestigate the prospect of the mission; but, though deeply inter- ested in the valuable information brought back and presented to the Board and the Convention, the Board did not think it wise for them to embark in the enterprise. Bro. B. undertook the mission on his own responsibility, and he has the best wishes of the Board and the practical support of some brethren in Amer- ica and Europe. HOME BOARD. WORK OF THE YEAR. Number of Missionaries 144 Number of Churches and Stations 338 Weeks of labor 3>540 Sermons and addresses 14,818 Prayer-meetings attended 2,779 Baptisms 2,665 Received by Letter 1.525 Total Additions 4,190 Sunday Schools 141 Teachers and Pupils 5.387 Miles Traveled 139,929 Religious Visits 20,512 Pages of Tracts Distributed 165,499 MEXICAN MISSIONS. 299 MEXICAN MISSIONS. Missionaries, W. D. Po^ucll, Mrs. Powell' W. M. Flournoy, Mrs. Flournoy, Miss Annie J. Mayberry ; Native Pastor, Proferio Rodriquez, with six tiative assistants ; Sta- tions, Saltillo, Progreso, Juares, Sabinas, Musquez ; Statistics — Baptized and re- ceived by letter, J2 ; Scholars, 40 ; Church members, iiy. BROTHER FI^OURNOY'S REPORT. "Miles traveled by horse, 523; by railroad, 325; sermons preached, 38; prayer meetings held, 17; religious visits, 28 5 pages of tracts and Scriptures circulated, 488; ' I pray God that all may be according to his will, and that he will give me more grace and faith in Christ Jesus.' " BROTHER POWELIy'S REPORT. I. BAPTISMS EVERY MONTH. " We have in Mexico three missionaries, all laboring in the State of Coahuila, aided by seven native assistants. One church has been organized and some fifty-two persons have been added to our churches, almost entirely by experience and baptism. In Saltillo a deep religious interest has pervaded the congregation- There have been professions and baptisms every month, and for several months past, every week, when I have been at home* My visits to the United States during the year have hindered the work. 2. " EL HERAI^DO MEXICANO." '* This, the first Baptist paper published in Mexico, has proven a success. Mrs. M. E. Graves, who spent several months with us during the year, rendering very efficient assistance, agreed to sustain the paper for the fiscal year. But it has more than paid expenses from the beginning, and much of the time a mission school has been maintained in Saltillo with the net profits. It has a much larger circulation than the combined membership of all our churches in Mexico. Mr. Cardenas is joint editor and proprietor with me. The paper has carried Bible-truth into many homes. 300 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 3. THE HOOD BIBI^E FUND. "Professor R. L. Hood, of Austin, Texas, gave us ^250 for the purchase of Bibles, The principal is never to be consumed. The American Baptist Publication Society and the American Bible Society added liberal contributions ; so that we now have ^^1050 worth of Bibles and Testaments, Hundreds have been sold and given away. We need a similar amount for a tract fund. 4. CHANGES. " Miss Maberry returned to the United States last October to recruit her health, "Inez Castillo, after working six months, resigned, and Valen- tine Zalazar was employed to take his place. 5. MRS. FLOURNOY'S SCHOOIy. " Mrs. Flournoy's school has been eminently successful. She has now more than forty pupils in regular attendance in her girls' school. 6. REINFORCEMENTS NEEDED. " Brother Flournoy has been assisted in his too extensive field by brother Jose Maria Gonzales. We earnestly pray for rein- forcements to occupy new fields also. At the earliest moment possible missionaries should be sent to San Luis Potosi, Zacate- cas, Aguas Calientes, Durango and Chihuahua, each of which cities has more than fifty thousand inhabitants. The people are begging for the word of life. It is essential that missionaries should be sent to Parras and Patos, in Coahuila, where the Board has agreed to establish schools. An intelligent native Christian says that, ' Two hundred missionaries might be put immediately to work in Mexico.' " SUMMARY OF MISSIONS, The number of our missionaries, native and foreign, is 95 ; their stations and out-stations are 42 ; the increase of member- ship has been 175 ; the pupils of the Sunday and day-schools number 684; our church membership is 1141 ; the contributions on the field amount to i^io// ; the home receipts have been ^80,- 465.87. The work is expanding signally in each of the five con- tinents in which our missionaries labor. Next year at least five MEXICAN MISSIONS. 301 chapels should be built, and at least ten additional missionaries should be sent out. Our Mexican enterprise needs a heavy out- lay of money. Into all our advances the Board has been led seemingly by the hand of Providence. The past inspires grati- tude ; the future stimulates faith. The Board expects to go for- ward, depending on the liberality of the churches and claiming the promise of the Saviour : " And lo, I am with you ahvay, even unto the end of the world." COMMISSION TO MEXICO. The Board's report on Mexico was the only report on our missions which the Secretary, in the name of the Board, re- quested the Convention to refer to a committee. There was good reason for this. Property had been acquired in Mexico for school purposes which prominent brethren of the denomina- tion feared might compromise us, on the Baptist principle of entire separation of Church and State. But the Board had been keenly alive to this point and had guarded it perfectly. Origi- nally the property — valued at some ^100,000 — had been offered us by the government of Coahuila, and an act was passed by the Congress of that State authorizing the grant, and the documents had been forwarded to Richmond. The Board, however, saw at once that the property could not be received on such grounds, however much it was desired and needed. A commissioner was therefore sent to Mexico fully authorized to arrange the matter, but only according to a strict construction of Baptist principles. A reversal of the governmental action was secured, and the property — or so much of it as was needed and could not be donated as a private gift — was bought at public auction and paid for on the spot. This required much delay and no little trouble. But the matter was carefully and legally arranged, and on the return of the commissioner the papers of every sort were laid before the Board, who referred them, for investigation, to a committee composed of the Committees on Finance and on Mexican Missions. The following had appeared in \.\\& Jotirnal of February, 1884 : "THE SCHOOLS IN MEXICO. " Dr. Tupper left Richmond on the 26th of December, so as to 302 FOREIGN MISSIONS. be in Saltillo by the 4th of January, where he expected to meet Governor Madero and other parties interested, and after full consultation, to prepare for ratification by the Board a scheme for inaugurating and conducting the proposed schools. Dr. H. H. Tucker, of Georgia, accompanied him, but was recalled, two days after his arrival, by the illness of his son. "We had hoped to present in this number of the Journal something definite and reliable on a question in which so many of our readers are deeply interested. They will have to wait another month. The Governor was absent, and up to the loth had not returned. Dr. Tupper was contemplating a trip of 150 miles to Parras and Patos. This, at the rate at which mules travel, would occupy some ten days at least. • "The delay, though on some accounts to be regretted, will give our commissioner a better opportunity to survey the field, consider the whole subject and seek out solutions of delicate questions likely to arise. He will thus come to the actual ne- gotiations much better prepared to guard all the points affecting our polity as Baptists and our duty as simply a missionary organization. The time apparently lost may, therefore, prove a real gain." ThQ Journal of March, 1884, has the following editorial : "OUR CAUSE IN MEXICO. "As was mentioned last month, the Corresponding secretary of the Board has made a visit to Mexico as a commissioner, empowered to negotiate with brethren and friends there for establishing certain schools in the State of Coahuila. He reached Saltillo on the fifth of January, and was detained by various delays, difficulties and complications until the i8th of February. Returning, in one week's travel, to Richmond, he laid before the Board a full report of his mission and its results, and this report was, on the 26th ultimo, heartily approved. It remains for the brethren who had so liberally pledged their sup- port to this work to forward the money to our treasurer, and let the proposed schools enter at once on their blessed work of ele- vating the women of Mexico and laying the foundations for evangelical Christian homes. MEXICAN MISSIONS. 803 "The unexpected delays in the work of the commissioner were occasioned first by the absence of Governor Madero, who suggested the enterprise, and is one of its most earnest and influential supporters, but he was detained by other business till January 20th ; then by important modifications in the agree- ment originally made last September between the Governor and our missionary — modifications which amounted, in fact, to a set- ting aside of the original contract and the substitution of an- other, which reaches the same end by different means; and lastly, by the secret machinations of the priests, who, by threats of excommunication, threw difficulties in the way of acquiring a title to certain property. The six weeks, however, were by no means lost. In fact, we have reason to thank God for the good providence which gave our commissioner such ample opportu- nities to examine the field, get acquainted with the people and consider the difficult and delicate questions with which he had to deal. We trust the solution to which he was thus providentially guided will prove satisfactory to the brethren, and will greatly advance the Redeemer's kingdom. He was also enabled to make arrangements for the translation and publication of Dr. H. H. Tucker's sermon on Baptism; to prepare and have published by the church at Saltillo an excellent little tract in answer to the question, "Who are the Baptists ?" which was translated into Spanish by Don Louis Tejada, a native of Castile, now pro- fessor of English in the State college; and not least in import- ance, to confer fully with the newly appointed trustees of Madero Institute, aid them in preparing a constitution and by-laws, and see them fairly started in their responsible duties. But we are anticipating. "The original proposition made to our brother Powell pro- vided for the apointment of trustees, a majority of whom, under Mexican law, must be citizens of that country ; the conveyance to these trustees of certain public property for school purposes; and the conduct of schools and orphanages at the joint expense of our Board and the civil government. This, though carefully guarded and perhaps not really liable to the objection, bore on its face the appearance of union between church and State, and might have made necessary a considerable diversion of mission- 304 FOREIGN MISSIONS. . ary funds for educational purposes. The plan aslfinally adopted is for the trustees appointed as above by the Board to buy out- right, at its market value, certain property in Saltillo; to accept certain other property in the same city as a donation from two private citizens, Senors Maas and Smith; to accept in the same way a building at Parras, the private property of Governor Ma- dero, donated by him, and to rent a public building at Patos for the sum of ;^ioo per annum. The trustees thus hold in fee sim- ple property estimated to be worth ;^ 100,000; for which they pay ^12,000 cash, and will need to add some S20,000 in im- provements, furniture, &c. They will also hold property worth 1^30,000 at a rental of ;^ 100 per annum. "The property at Saltillo embraces an unfinished temple, 80x200 feet, with front of carved stone; the Marqueta, a quad- rangular building of 150x200 feet, one story high, with court, fountain and arcade; and some lots on the Alameda, or public park. The temple was begun in 1805, and the work suspended in 1 8 10. It was subsequently sold for a theatre, but is at present unoccupied. The estimate is that ^8000 will fit it up — the front portion for the public meetings of the church at Saltillo, now greatly hindered by the inaccessibility and mean appearance of their place of worship, and the rear for recitation rooms. The Marqueta will furnish ample accommodations for boarding pupils and several excellent recitation rooms. The Alameda lots will give room for a chapel and one department of the col- lege. To build here and fit up the Marqueta will cost ^$8000. With these facilities at their disposal the trustees propose to open forthwith an institution for the liberal education of young ladies. Don Jose Maria Cardenas, most pleasantly remembered by all who saw and heard him during his recent visit to this country, in company with brother Powell, has been selected for the principal; our missionaries will transfer their school work and their personal services, and other teachers will be added as they may be needed. The trustees organized by selecting Gov- ernor Madero, president; Rev. W. D. Powell, secretary and treasurer. The other members are Senors Musquiz, Attorney- General ; Cardenas, Superintendent of Public Instruction ; Ore- paso, Rodriguez, Gonsalvez and Powell, of Mexico; Brethren MEXICAN MISSIONS. 305 Breedlove and f)unn, of Texas; Eaton, of Kentucky; Levering, of Maryland; and Winston and Harris, of the Foreign Mission Board. "At Parras the Governor gives grounds and building worth ;^30,ooo, and he, with other wealthy friends, promises to endow the institution, especially for the care and education of orphan girls. This will be put in charge of a separate Board of Trustees. "The institution ai Patos will be somewhat similar in charac- ter. For the present, as already stated, the property there will be rented. " In speaking of the spirituality, zeal and love of the little Baptist church at Saltillo, the Corresponding Secretary is quite enthusiastic. The members thus far have come mainly from the middle and lower classes of society. The proposed change in their place of worship will enable them to reach the upper ranks, who have renounced popery, but incline to indifferentism. Our missionary is without exception the most influential man in the city, and is doing with singleness of heart an incredible amount and variety of work. "Senor Cardenas, in an eloquent letter addressed to the Board, estimates that six millions of the population of Mexico are Ro- manists, most of them through ignorance, others for conveni- ence ; one million are evangelicals ; three millions have rejected Romanism, but are totally indifferent to any religion. Of the Romanists, he thinks at least four millions are women. He thereupon pleads : ' In view of this state of things it is evident that this is the^time, the emphatic time, to give to Mexico the divine Word, the truths of Christianity. There should be no delay. For these three millions, who have torn themselves from Romanism, will not remain indifferent. They would find a refuge in a Christian temple; they would follow the light of a pure evangelism. And this powerful attraction would draw those who, through fear of anathemas, remain beneath the bond- age of Rome. With eyes enlightened by the pure light of the gospel of Christ they will enlist under the banner of the Cruci- fied One. Thus the million of evangelicals, of different denomi- national persuasions, would not be isolated, and could make a powerful and heroic crusade in the cause of true religion.' 20 306 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " At every step of its Mexican work the Board has been borne along by the generous enthusiasm of the brethren, and guided, as we humbly trust, by the providence of God and by the Holy Spirit." The committee to whom the Board referred all the documents of the commission made the report following: "MEXICAN SCHOOL AND CHURCH WORK. "action of the board of foreign missions of s. b. convention. Adopted March 4th, 1884. " The Joint Committee of Finance and Mexican Missions beg leave to submit their report upon the work of Dr. H. A. Tupper, our Commissioner to Mexico. " In the records of his transactions we find accurate accounts of all moneys received and expended ; a tract written by himself on the question '' Who are the Baptists,' which was translated into Spanish, and printed by the church at Saltillo ; a new translation of the old contract between brother W. D. Powell and Gov. Madero, which by consent of all parties was replaced by a different plan for the accomplishment of the same purposes, as will hereinafter more fully appear ; the Constitution and By-laws for the Trustees of Madero Institute, drawn up by our Commissioner, translated into Spanish, and adopted by the Trustees ; minutes of their proceedings ; a paper authorizing brother W. D. Powell to purchase certain pieces of real property ; estimates of the cost of repairs and improvements of the said property ; title deeds in Spanish and English to the several pieces of real property purchased and donated ; and a letter from Signer Jose Maria Car- denas, making an eloquent and tender appeal for the support and extension of our work in his land. " While all of these documents will be preserved in the archives of the Board, it is deemed proper to place upon the minutes a brief summary of what was accomplished by the Commissioner, aided by invaluable services of our missionary. Rev. W. D. Powell, in completing negotiations for the establishment of certain schools in the State of Coahuila on a basis more •satisfactory to all of us than was at first contemplated. " The Constitution and By-laws above mentioned provide that the Madero Institute of Saltillo shall have scholastic departments, primary, academic and normal, for the education of girls and young women, and boarding department for orphan girls and other pupils. The scholastic exercises may be opened with reading of the Scriptures and prayer, but shall not include the teaching of any peculiarly Baptist tenets ; in the boarding department the authorities will stand z'n loco par etitis. In the Institution good order, pure morals and perfect freedom of conscience in matters of religion shall be preserved. The standards of instruction shall equal those of the cor- responding departments in the Public Schools of Virginia. ♦ MEXICAN MISSIONS. 307 " The Trustees, appointed by the Foreign Mission Board, subject to its direction and to the charter and Constitution of the Southern Baptist Con- vention, and their successors, similarly appointed, shall hold all property of this Institution in trust forever for the education of female youths, and may hold in trust for the said Board other property and for other purposes, as may be indicated by the Board. They are authorized to accept donations from individuals or churches, and to acquire property by purchase or lease, but shall receive no property, either as a gift or in discrimination favorable to the Baptist denomination, from any civil government. The Trustees shall meet at least twice a year, five to make a quorum; shall appoint annually a Committee to visit and inspect the Institution, and shall receive reports from the principal, and forward an abstract of the same to the Foreign Mission Board, with any recommendations they may see fit to make. "For purposes of the Madero Institute the Trustees purchased at $10,000 cash, a quadrangular buildmg of 150x200 feet, one story high, with court, fountain and arcade in the centre, known as the Marqueta or Montaz house, and a vacant plaza adjoining, known as Carmen Square. They also received as donations from Senors Maas and Smith some vacant lots on the Alameda or publie park. The cost of alterations and improvements immediately needed for the school is estimated at $8,000. They will thus hold at a total cost of $20,000, grounds and buildings worth two or three times that amount. They obligate themselves to open the school with accommodations for at least 200 pupils on or before ist of January, 1886, to instruct free of charge for tuition every year as many as one hundred orphan girls, recommended by the Executive of the State, and to care for such orphans in the boarding department, during their course of study at $60 each per annum. The trustees organized by selecting Governor Madero, president ; Rev. W. D. Powell, secretary and treasurer. The other members are Senors Musquiz, Attorney-General ; Cardenas, Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion ; Orepaso, Rodriguez and Gonsalvez of Mexico ; brethren Breedlove and Dunn, of Texas ; Eaton, of Kentucky ; Levering, of Maryland ; and J. B. Winston and H. H. Harris, of the Foreign Mission Board. Senor Jose Maria Cardenas, most pleasantly remembered by all who saw and heard him during his recent visit to this country, in company with brother Powell, has been selected for the principal ; our missionaries will transfer their school-work and their personal services, and other teachers will be added as they may be needed. " The Trustees of Madero Institute will also, until another Board is organized for the purpose, hold in trust the property at Parras, donated by Governor Madero, and will establish there a preparatory school according to the terms of the gift; and will lease at Patos at $100 per annum a public building for another preparatory school. The Governor's donation includes grounds and building worth $30,000, and he, with other wealthy friends, 308 FOREIGN MISSIONS. promises to endow the institution, especially for the care and education of orphan girls. This will eventually be put in charge of a separate Board of Trustees. " And finally these same Trustees, at the instance of the Commissioner, bought for $2,000 cash, and hold in trust for the Foreign Mission Board, an unfinished Cathedral or Temple in Saltillo. This building, begun in 1805, but abandoned after five years' work, is 80x200 feet, built of solid masonry, and with a front ot carved stone. It was at one time sold for a theatre, but has never been finished or occupied. The estimate is that $8,000 will fit it up — the front portion for the public meetings of the Church, now greatly hindered by their obscure locale, and the rear for recitation rooms. When it is completed, the Baptist church of Saltillo will have the best location and the most attractive place of worship in the city. " In conclusion we respectfully submit for your^ adoption the accompany- ing resolutions. " SAMUEL C. CLOPTON, " For Committee on Mexican Missions. '• H. K. ELLYSON, " For Cotnmittee on Finance. " Resolved, that this Board approves and hereby confirms the acts of Rev, H. A. Tupper, D.D., our Commissioner to Mexico. " Resolved, That the ability with which he has discharged the duties of this special mission increases our already high appreciation of him as an efficient and faithful officer of this Board, and we tender him our thanks for bringing to a successful issue the important interests with which he was entrusted. " Resolved, That the esteem in which Rev. W. D. Powell was always held by the Board has been elevated by the reports of our Commissioner, which have indicated the devoted spirit, the wide influence, and the promi- nent position of our missionary, and also the indispensable services ren- dered by him in the settlement of this school enterprise, for whose incep- tion the denomination is mainly indebted to Brother Powell, " Resolved, That the thanks of this body are due and are hereby tendered to Rev, H, A. Tucker, LL.D., of Georgia, and General A. T, Hawthorne, of Texas, who accompanied our Commissioner to Mexico and aided him by kind offices and wise counsels. To Dr. Tucker the Board is indebted for his able sermon on ' The Position of Baptism in the Christian system,' which was translated into Spanish and published in Mexico without expense to the Board, and promises to be an important agent for the propagation of the gospel truth in that country." This document, with the voluminous report of the Commis- sioner to the Board, and all the titles, and agreements, and authentications, and records and documents of every sort per- taining to this business — a great mass of papers — were presented MEXICAN MISSIONS. 309 by the Commissioner to the Committee of the Convention, with such explanations as were requested. After a free debate in the committee-room, and a Hvely discussion before the Convention, the following report of the Committee was adopted : " WORK IN MEXICO. " The Committee on work in Mexico beg leave to report that the school enterprise entered upon by our Board in that conntry has been carefully in- vestigated and is heartily approved. The Committee, therefore, recommend the adoption of the folowing resolution: " Resolved, That the work in Mexico bids us thank God and take courage. " T, H. Pritchard, J. A. Broadus, W. H. Strickland, W. E. Hatcher, C. D, Campbell." The report was discussed by W. W. Landrum, Va. ; O. C. Pope, Texas; W. D. Thomas, Va. ; J. D. Stewart, Ga., and W. D. Powell, Texas, and adopted. LITERARY CURIOSITY. After hearing the Commissioner's report, the Board requested that he would, with the view of exciting popular interest with regard to this new school enterprise in Mexico, address the people of Richmond on the subject. On the night of February lOth, 1884, he addressed a mass-meeting in the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Va. After the delivery of substantially the same address in Louisville, Ky., where it was fully reported by the Coiirier-Jotirnal, and in other places, an abstract of it was published. Some months later a newspaper published " A Letter from Mexico," by a " gentleman from Maryland traveling in Mexico," which letter was this abstract of the address on Mexico, verbatim et literatim et punctiiatim — not a word more or less except the caption, " A Letter from Mexico," by said corres- pondent. The attention of the editor was called, in a good-na- tured way, to the " literary curiosity," but no reply was ever received from him. The Religious Herald, whose editor had heard the address, seeing the " Letter from Mexico," remarked humorously to the effect that some day the question might arise 310 FOREIGN MISSIONS. between the Letter and Address as to authorship and copyright ! The Address is as follows : ADDRESS. MASS MEETING ON MEXICO. First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., Feb. lo, 1882. [By request of Board of Foreign Missions.] " I am announced to speak on ' Mexican Missions.' This re- minds me of what a gentleman of Saltillo told me — that last spring a number of Baptist divines spent a day in the city of Monterey, and that he noticed afterwards in the newspapers of this country that several of them had delivered to their fellow-citizens very instructive lectures on Mexico. He did not smile ; for I suppose he knew that scientists say that from a single bone a mastodon may be built ! " I shall not essay to build a mastodon out of the little bone of information picked up in my recent visit to Saltillo, which I may mention is the capital of Coahuila, of Saragossa, one of the most progressive of the twenty-seven states of the Mexican republic. I was absent from home only two months, and pres- ent in Saltillo only forty-three days. I shall give the bone as picked up, and my hearers may use it at pleasure, in constructing ideas and theories with regard to the missions of that mammoth, mountain country on the other side of the Rio Grande. " I. But let me tell you first why I went to Saltillo. Senor Evaristo Madero, the Citizen Governor of Coahuila — for that is his proper title — had made to the Board of Foreign Missions liberal propositions for the establishment in his State of schools for girls ; and the Board sent their Corresponding Secretary there to arrange for these schools according to Baptist principles, and the Constitution of the Southern Baptist Convention. " II. And, as I am expected to say something for the young, I will tell you next how I got to Saltillo. *' I. Having spent Christmas with my family in Richmond, I started next day for San Antonio, Texas, via Brenham and Aus- tin, where, with Dr. H. H. Tucker, of Georgia, and General A. T. Hawthorne, of Texas — par nobile fratriim — I conferred with representative gentlemen about the business taking us to Mexico. MEXICAN MISSIONS. 311 Various opinions were expressed as to the propositions of Gov- ernor Madero ; but the sentiment was unanimous that the project seemed of God, and that the propositions, in some shape, should be accepted by the Board. "2. And, let me say to the young people, San Antonio is a quaint old Mexican city, half-Americanized, with the San Antonio river twisting itself through it in every direction, and famous for the Alamo in which Crockett and Bowie were slaughtered by Santa Anna, during the Texas-Mexican war, and for the beautiful ruins of the Conception and other missions belonging to a line of grand missionary works, which the Spaniards of other days erected from the city of Mexico through the Californias to the Pacific coast. At night, and all night, the Plazas of San Antonio are illumined and provided with tables, on which are served to Mexican inhabitants, and to inquisitive visitors, the national dishes of Mexico — Tomale and Chili Con Carne — whose chief ingredient is red pepper ; and Frijols and Tortillas. The Tor- tillas is the flat bread or pancake of Mexico, with which Frijols or Mexican beans are eaten, and with which chocolate, which is whipped with a little revolving machine into a foam, is always sipped, instead of a spoon. Mexicans boast that while other people have one or two sets of silver or gold spoons, they have a new spoon for every taste of their incomparable choco- late. At San Antonio we met General Pablo Ortega, the com- mandant of the forces at Saltillo ; and, as we had been reading everything we could find, on the government, politics, schools and religions of Mexico, we availed ourselves of the intelligence of this gentleman, who gave us much information on these topics, in courtly Spanish style. " 3. From San Antonio we made our way to Nuevo Laredo, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, and in the State of Tamaulipas where a church-feast was being celebrated. The public square was filled with eating-booths and gambling-tables ; and young and old were regaling themselves and worshiping the god of this world. At Laredo was witnessed a convenient illustration of Mexican politeness. "As we had crossed the frontier, our trunks had to be examined. From some cause, I could not turn the key in mine. But rather 312 FOREIGN MISSIONS. than that I should run the risk of breaking it in the lock, the officer marked and passed my baggage without examination. "4. The first fifty miles of the country between Laredo and the Salado river — we were on the Mexican National railroad — is plain and covered with the Masquite growth, which is the small burning wood of the country that makes up for its smallness by the great heat it gives, and the Cactus plant, which, yielding a milky fluid, as well as being nutritious, serves, when the thorns are burnt off with Masquite-fire, or broken off by the horns of beasts, for both drink and food for cattle. Sometimes it grows twelve feet high, and in clumps 20 or 30 feet in circumference. In the ranches of this plain country, are flocks of goats and sheep, I was told by a trader, numbering ' from 40,000 to 95,000 head.' ''5. After passing the Salado river, near which, by the way, the recent grand railroad robbery took place, the mountains called Sierras — which mean saws, because of their indented, saw- like appearance — begin to appear on both sides of the train. Soon the palm-trees, on which an inferior date grows, spread over the valley, and there is seen the Maguey or Century plant, from which are made twine and rope ; bags and boxes; sacks and carpets ; and also the national drink, pulque — 24 gallons of which may be extracted, per month, from a single, strong plant. " Now, the mountains begin to close upon you, as the valley grows narrower and narrower. The peaks and ridges are often crowned with lofty palisades, which sometimes wind about the mountain sides like walls of a fortification. The sunlight renders these rocky prominences glistening white, which, in con- trast with the blue expanse, or the dark mountain background, adds strange variety to the landscapes. At Lampazas, our mis- sionary, Flournoy, who works between that point on the Mexican National Railroad, and Santa Rosa, on the Mexican Central, pointed out where the Indians came down from the mountains and murdered, and mutilated, and hurled, naked and bleeding, upon a clump of Spanish daggers, our pioneer missionary, John O. Westrup, of blessed memory. "6. Monterey, the capital of Nuevo Leon, and 168 miles from Laredo, is beautifully located at the foot of a kingly peak of the MEXICAN MISSIONS. 313 Sierra Madre, which peak gives to the city the royal name of Monterey. On these almost inaccessible heights were planted French batteries, in the time of the ill-starred Maximilian and Charlotta; and the triumphant stars and stripes, in President Polk's war of 1846. In the environs of Monterey are the Blackfort and the Bishop's Palace, stormed by our boys, then in blue ; and the city is full of marks and traditions of that war, which left deathless scars on some of our hearts, and contributed the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Buena Vis- ta, Vera Cruz and Mexico City to the page of American history, but whether to its glory depends upon which side of the Rio Grande the history is written. "7. From Monterey to Saltillo, 96 miles, the road rises 3,000 feet, through narrow passes and defiles of the mountains, brok- en sometimes into the most fantastic shapes, and then carved out in forms of geometrical exactness and symmetry. At times there is the strange seeming of the road running through troughs of the sea, with huge billows rising up on either hand. The endless variation of lights and shadows, of forms and hues, is kaleidoscopic. A lady from the Rocky Mountains, said: ' I never saw anything like this.' A gentleman, who once lived in Europe, asked how the scenery compared with the Alps, replied ; ' Their sublimity is not here ; but, this picturesqueness is not there.' " 8. But, mountains are the great physical characteristic of Mexico. The Andes of South America, dipping under the Car- ribean sea, rises on this twin continent, and runs through nineteen hundred miles of Mexican territory with the new name of the Cordilleras, whose bases are washed for 4,000 miles by the two great oceans of the world, and whose sides and table lands, and lofty summits, sometimes rising 17,000 feet, give to Mexico, ac- cording to the historian Lorenzo Castro, the most varied climate, productions and scenery on our planet. Many a Mexican thinks what a Spanish atheist said singularly enough : ' My country has everything that Almighty God has made for man.' I felt like responding, with Bishop Heber : ' Every prospect pleases, But only man is vile.' 314 FOREIGN MISSIONS. As to these mountains; they are nature's fortresses, which have protected, for centuries, the aboriginal patriots of Mexico, the despised and desperate Comanches, against the arms of brother- savages, as well as of grasping Spain, and tormented and tor- menting America ; which made the Aztec, hunting for 'the eagle with rattlesnake in beak and talons' — the present Coat of Arms of the Republic — as the divinely appointed sign for the site of his capital city, give to this land the name of Mexico, which means the residence of the War God Mejitte, and which Senator Fuentez said to me could shelter his people until their last drop of blood is shed, should the United States abuse their confidence and prove their railroads and telegraphs, like the Grecian horse admitted into the walls of Troy, but enginery for their annexation or conquest. The sentiment is not unuttered : Timco Danaos et donaferentcs. And ecclesiastical hostility, taking occasion from this political apprehension, denounced the Commissioner and Mis- sionary of the Board of Foreign Missions as spies of the United States Government. But this warlike, mountain people are stretching out their hands, in good faith, for the arts and the progress of Peace. And with American ideas and civiliza- tion should be given, what is infinitely better, the word and the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Already they begin to say : * How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things !' And God grant that the day may not be distant when their mountains and hills, so often drenched with blood, shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands ; when, ' Instead of the thorn shall conie up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree ; ' when, tJie mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the rnonntains of Mexico! "9. We arrived at Saltillo at 8 o'clock Saturday night, the 5th of January, and were saluted at the depot with national and fra- ternal embraces, which are very gratifying when the spinal col- umn is in vigorous condition. The next day there were public greetings and responses in the Baptist church, whose gracious membership the most distinguished missionary might be honored in calling his 'joy and crown.' This was only one of seven most blessed Sabbaths spent in Saltillo. MEXICAN MISSIONS. 315 " III. But let me, speaking again to the young, tell you of some things noticed in Saltillo : " I. And first, Saltillo itself, (i) The city is located on the top of a mountain 6000 feet above tide, and yet in a valley of some twenty miles in diameter, completely encompassed by mountains, which on the 25th of January I saw glittering with 'the beautiful snow,' (2) The houses are usually one story, of stone or adobe, and quadrangular. Each house has a huge gate- way, through which all men and beasts pass into an open court surrounded by an arcade, through which one passes into the sev- eral apartments of the house. The windows on the street are bowed outward, and guarded by high iron gratings, behind which the ladies, of yellow complexion, who never go on the street in the day-time, for fear of the sun, except to go to the Cathedral, are constantly seen like caged canaries, which, you know, are beautiful birds. From the flat roofs — and even from the steep roofs of the Cathedrals, the water runs off through spouts extending over the side-walk below ; but few get poured upon from them, as it seldom rains in that part of Mexico (3) Saltillo means ' the high land of much water.' Streams from the mountains are caught in reservoirs, and led into public baths, and then made to course about the city in open conduits for washing purposes ; and then to irrigate the fields, and run the factories ; and then to run up and around the opposite mountains, for fields and factories beyond, as rivers run up hill from the north pole to the equator ; — which by the way, makes a Priestly Author say that IngersoU is a fool, for demanding that the laws of religion should be as orderly as the law of nature, which always makes water to run dozvn hill ! As the value of farming estates depends on irrigation, the interest which a pro- prietor has in such estate is represented by so many ' days water in the land.' To have fifteen days water is half ownership ; thirty days water sole proprietorship. Saltillo — ' the high land of much water ' is a good place for Baptists. (4) Its population is said to be 30,000 ; and the most orderly people I ever saw. At 10 o'clock P.M. the Curfew bell rings. The Plazas and streets are deserted ; and the street lights are put out. They depend on dark- ness for safety. (5) The city is ancient, having been founded 316 FOREIGN MISSIONS. before the Spanish Conquest, and is thoroughly primitive and oriental in appearance. The women wear no hats, and half cover their faces with the shawl that covers the head. The houses have no chimneys. The boys play ball with rocks. The Burro, a little ass about four feet high and worth ;^5.oo, is the universal burden bearer. A daily sight is immense flocks of sheep and goats follow- ing their keepers home, as the setting sun lights up the western sky with the fervency of the Orient. One might imagine himself in Damascus. The city is 'compacted together;' and mountain- locked as ' the mountains are round about Jerusalem.' "2. As to the people: (i) The original Indian is everywhere encountered with sandals on feet, wrapped up in blanket, and hat- less — of a dark brown color, reticent in manner, patient in spirit, and laborious in work. On the outskirts of Saltillo is an Indian town, where the people preserve their Toltec blood from ances- tors who held the country before th5 Aztecs came, in the i2th Century, from the region of Lake Superior. The illustrious Juarez was a pure-blooded Indian. The Spanish Cabellero appears, on richly caparisoned horse, with pearl-handled pistol in his shining belt and silver-mounted rifle under the flap of his saddle, with little foot suffixed with huge spurs, thrust into great wooden stirrups, dignified and courteous as a prince. But the majority of the people are of mixed Spanish and Mexican blood, of light orange color and have the qualities of both races. These claim to be the Mexicans proper. Some of the children are extremely beautiful ; the women are agreeable and graceful, and as devout as the Athenians in Paul's time. A priest remarked that but for the women, there would be no religion in Mexico. (2) Some of the national characteristics, physical, mental and moral, are these : [a) The little hand and foot, which are con- stantly exhibited in the graceful gesture and the light, high-heeled boot. The Americans are called the ' big-footed race.' (^) Great fluency of speech and repose of manner. They seem to use the laws of elocution by instinct; and they talk as they act, as if they and all others have a century before them, {c) They repose the greatest confidence readily. As all money is in coin, the public porter is seen on the street with a thousand silver dollars on his shoulder ; and the gentleman not wishing to travel with MEXICAN MISSIONS. 317 much treasure commits it to a servant, who would lay down his life in its defence. At the close of the last fiscal year, Gov. Madero paid from his private purse ^30,000 to his state officials, which he is as sure of getting back as President Gonsalvez is the ;$ 1 00,000 he let the Governor have to relieve his straitened exchequer, {d) But one of the most striking national character- istics is the politeness of all classes of society. This is seen in varied addresses, and customs, on the street, and in the parlor, and in the church, and the 'putting of themselves and all they have at your feet,' on all occasions — whatever you admire they present to you. Of course it is understood that you are as much of a Spaniard as they are. An American put it in this coarse way : * Accept what a Mexican seems to force on you and you will get his stiletto in you before night.' But they are truly polite — one of the most courteous of people ; and they compli- ment you by showing confidence in your politeness and good sense ! When religion comes in, their politeness becomes some- what mixed. One boy will balance the pole over his shoulders, on each end of which is a bucket of water, in order to take off his hat to you with both hands ; and another will call you Diablo, Malo Protestanto, and perhaps throw a stone at you. Little girls will kiss your gloved hand on the Plaza — as I see by the papers that Bro. Powell says they did the commission's-— and young ladies, on the way to the Cathedral, may sweep across the street — as I have seen them do to him — not wishing to encounter a horrid heretic on a narrow sidewalk. Priests who believe you the very incarnation of FOREIGN MISSIONS. induced their parents to attend church. Governor Madero has selected twenty-two children to be supported at his personal expense ; and quite as many more are expected to enter the 1st of February, when the regular scholastic year begins. Our school opened in October that it might be in active operation before the November elections. The state has paid nothing, as yet, for orphaned pupils. Should the Falcon party go into office, we may have the consolation of receiving no pay from the Government. Brother Powell, who is argus-eyed, is providing against this contingency by private pledges for the support of the ten orphans in the school. The whole number of pupils is about forty.' " the; FACUI.TY. " Of those in charge of the Institute he says : " ' Mrs. Myra E. Graves, of Brenham, Texas, widow of the Rev. Dr. Henry L. Graves, late president of Baylor University, has consented, after several conversations with Brother Powell and the Corresponding Secretary, and after agonizing prayer, to become Matron of the Institute, of which she is a liberal patron. This seems another of the striking providences that have signal- ized this work ; and meets more perfectly than he could have dared to hope, the sentiment of Governor Madero, that " a grand school for girls should have the inspiring presence of a grand, good woman." "'The native teacher, Senorita Salome Berlanger, sister of a brilliant lawyer and professor in the State University, and also Secretary of State elect, so called, of the Corillio party, is a lady of culture for Mexico, unquestioned position in society, anti- papal in connections, and prospectively Baptistic in Brother Powell's eyes, and admirably adapted to the position for which she has been recommended, except in the important matter of experience in teaching. It is proposed to remedy this defect among the teachers by a weekly "teachers' meeting," in which will be studied the best books that can be obtained on Peda- gogics. "' Senor Cardenas and Miss Barton are everything that could be desired for their respective places. The Faculty is complete. OUR CAUSE IN MEXICO. 349 unless a musician of high order be necessary to secure the patronage of a desirable class of society.' THE ASSOCIATION. "Representatives of eight churches, having 150 members, met in Saltillo Friday, December 12th, organized an Association and continued in session till Monday, 15th. From a full account in the Texas Baptist Herald^ we learn that Rev. Merced Flores presided. Brother Rodriguez was Secretary, and Brother Powell Treasurer. Besides eighteen delegates, there were, as visiting brethren, O. H. P. Garrett, Lee Green, J. T. Dodson, and M. P. Matheny, of Texas ; Santiago Trevino, of Monterey, and Dr. Tupper. On Sunday evening Brother Jose Maria Gon- zalez was ordained to the full work of the ministry, and the next day he, with Brethren Albino Martinez and Pedro N. Florez, were appointed missionaries under the new organization. Dr. Tupper says : "'The body raised ;^700 for the support of two selected mis- sionaries [the third is appointed only for his vacation]. In view of the sensitiveness of Mexican Baptists on the great Baptist principle of church independence, the question of the exact relation of our Board to the missionary work of the Association was not pressed to a settlement; but was left to that adjustment which time and experience are sure to make between good theo- logical dogma and practical sense.' the; oi,d tempi^e. " It will be remembered that in the purchase made a year ago was an old temple 80x200 feet. The front wall, of beautifully carved stone, will remain, but the others must be drawn in to make the house small enough for a place of intelligent worship. On this Dr. Tupper says : " ' As to the old temple, bought for the church-house. Brother Powell is arranging to have quite a celebration in February, at the laying of the corner-stone; and he thinks that the building can be completed by a San Antonio architect for ;^6,ooo, instead of ^8,000, as originally estimated. Six hundred dollars of the money collected for this and kindred purposes should be appropriated, as urged by Brother Flournoy, for a house at Santa 350 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Rosa, called also Musquiz, where the people have raised ;^200 for this object, and which will be our headquarters in the Mon- clova district. The remainder, with such other amounts as maj' be received this conventional year, could not be better employed than in transforming the old temple of San Francisco Plaza into the first Baptist church of Saltillo. Brother Powell requests that the President of our Board be present at this corner-stone laying, and deliver an address on " the Distinctive Principles of Baptists." ' " THE MISSION WORK PROPER. " It was agreed, after full consultation, that Brother Flournoy shall enter the Rio Grande district, including the towns of Zara- gossa, Morreles, and San Juan Allendez, and some Indian reser- vations ; that Senor Proferio Rodriguez shall take his place in the Monclova district; and that Brother and Mrs. Myers, with Miss Maberry, shall be stationed at Patos. Dr. T. says : " ' Regarding the mission proper, I am happy to report that the Spirit of God seems to prevail. While I was in Saltillo several prominent citizens joined our church, after having made written statements before the body of their reasons for becoming Baptists. Brother Powell told me that there were in the bounds of the mission one hundred persons — forty-six of whom he knew personally — desiring baptism. Senor Cardenas, though not licensed, preaches, and preaches with power. Two new mission- ary districts will be entered by the new missionaries of the Asso- ciation just organized, which districts, known as the Laredo and Tamaulipas districts, will about complete the dividing out of the state of Coahuila, and take in parts of the States of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. Brother Powell is extremely anxious to extend the work into the state of Durango, where the opening is thought to be even more promising than in Coahuila. He was not encouraged, however, to hope for immediate permission from the board to go into * the regions beyond.' " THE CONVENTION. The Convention met at the Greene Street Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., where the Convention was organized in 1845. In addition to many other present considerations, this fact invested THE CONVENTION. 351 the meeting of the Convention here with peculiar interest. There had been in 1863 — in the midst of war — a memorable meeting of the Convention in the same place which kindled not a few stir- ring recollections. But the times were changed, and the Presi- dent requested the singing of " Rock of Ages," and read the Psalm, " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! " cxxxiii. Prayer was offered by Dr. B. Manly, of Kentucky, whose father, the senior Basil Manly, made, in the same place, the most powerful speech we heard during the war, save one from the golden-tongued orator of the South, William Yancey, of Alabama. There were entitled to seats 1425 delegates, of whom 525 were present. Dr. Mell was, of course, re-elected President, and the efficient Secretaries were re-elected by acclamation," no one interposing an objection.'' Judge C. C. Black, who had thrilled the Convention at Balti- more, made an address of welcome. Dr. W. E. Hatcher was sent for to reply, and was found by the.writer in close discussion with Dr. O. C. Pope, in front of the church. But he reached the plat- form in time to see Judge Black make his bow, and made a re- sponse facetious, felicitous and fitting. The Convention sermon was preached by Dr. J. L. M. Curry, from the following Scrip- tures : " The Lord is our Lawgiver."— Z^rti. 33: 22. " Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets ; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." — MatL 5:17. " For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth.'' — Rotn. 10 : 4. It was the wish of the Convention to express its appreciation of the discourse by its publication, but it was deemed " a danger- ous precedent," as the Convention sermon is an annual occur- rence by distinguished brethren. The resolution in reference to publication was withdrawn by request of Dr. Curry. We copy from the records : " A cable message was received at this point from M. T. Yates, Missionary at Shanghai, and read as follows: " ' President Convention — Greenland's Icy — Yates.' " The Convention arose and sang the hymn, 'From Green- 352 FOREIGN MISSIONS. land's Icy Mountains.' H. A. Tupper, Va., by order of the convention, replied as follows : " ' Yates — The joyful sound proclaim — Mell.' " M. B. Anderson, of New York, was recognized as a distin- guished visitor, and, on invitation, addressed the Convention. " Corresponding messengers from the American Baptist Missionary Union, the American Baptist Home Mission Society and the American Baptist Publication Society were re- ceived as follows : Edward Bright, D.D.; John E. Clough, Ed- ward Lathrop, D.D.; A. H. Burlingham, D.D.; D. Downie, Hon. Robert O. Fuller, William Bucknell, Esq.; J. L. Howard, J. B. Thomas, D.D. ; A. G. Lawson, D.D.; H. L. Morehouse, D.D. ; D. T. Hiscox, D.D. ; S. S. Constant, Benjamin Griffith, D.D. ; George Callahan, Hon. H. K. Ellyson. " The Convention was addressed by J. B. Thomas, New York ; Edward Bright, New York ; Robert O. Fuller, Massachusetts, and J. L. Howard, Conn.; also by J. C. Stockbridge, R. I.; A. G. Lawson, New York ; A. H. Burlingham, New York, and J. G. Walker, Pa. " The Convention was addressed, by invitation, by A. G. Law- son, N. Y., in the interest of the work of the National Tem- perance Society among the colored population." ACTIONS OF THE CONVENTION. 1. The word " members," in Art. Ill of the Convention, was displaced for the word " brethren," whereby the membership of women was precluded. J. Wm. Jones, Chairman. 2. " The importance of united prayer to the Lord of the harvest that he would send more laborers into the harvest," was urged. B. Manly, 3. Sigs. Porfirio Rodriguez and Albino Martinez, " from the First Baptist Association of Mexico, addressed the Convention; and $255.93 was col- lected ' for the special needs of the work in Mexico.' " 4. The death of the following Brethren was reported : Rev. Wm. Carey Crane and Rev. C.C. Chaplin, of Texas; Gen. M. P. Lowrey, of Mississippi ; W. O. Tuggle, Esq., of Georgia, and A. F. Crane, of Maryland ; and "a page of the Convention Records was given as a memorial of their services, and as a tribute to their memory, for the publication of their names, with date and place of birth and death." Reddin Andrews, Chairman. ACTIONS OF THE CONVENTION. 353 "5. Ordered, that the Secretaries be and are hereby instructed to regard the Historical discourse, preached before the convention on yesterday, by Dr. J. L. Burrows, as properly a part of the proceedings of this body, and pub- lish it accordingly." J. L. Carroll. 6. " Resolved, that the Bible work, as prosecuted by the American Baptist Publication Society, meets our warm approval, and is entitled to the patronage and support of the Baptist Churches connected with the Conven- tion.'' J. L. Burrows. 7. (i) A resolution, offered by J. E. Brown, of Georgia, was adopted as follows : " Resolved, that in the opinion of this Convention, the act of fornication committed by a married person is, under the New Testament dispensation, cause, and the only cause, of absolute divorce from the bond of marriage. " Resolved fi(riher. That in the opinion of this Convention no minister of the gospel is authorized by the New Testament to join parties together in the bonds of matrimony where either of said parties has a living husband or a hving wife, from whom said party has been divorced for any other than the cause aforesaid." (2) J. C. Furman, South Carolina, offered the following : "Whereas, From the course of business this afternoon, no opportunity was afforded for any discussion of the resolution introduced by Brother J. E. Brown, of Georgia, on the subject of divorce ; and, as there is an assumption in said resolution in regard to divorce which delegates who voted in the minority do not admit ; therefore, "Resolved, That this memorandum shall be inserted on the Minutes." 8. " Future work of Foreign Mission Board," presented under these heads by C. E. W. Dobbs, Chairman : (i) The history of the work of this Board has been one of expansion. (2) The blessings of God attendant upon our work in the past should be an inspiradon urging us to yet greater zeal and expanding efforts in the years to come. (3) The fact that God is leading so many to give their lives to the mission work calls for profound consideration on the part of our churches. (4) Expansion of work involves expansion of means. How shall the means be secured .'' {a) Treasury should be brought into direct communication with the churches. {b) The Pastors are God's agents for the edifying of his churches in every good word and work. {c) Progress has been made toward this end largely through the Vice- Presidents of the Board in some of the States, and efforts should be unre- mitted till every State is brought into the highest possible efficiency in this respect. 9. M.J. Breaker, of Missouri, presented the report of the committee on the 23 354 FOREIGN MISSIONS. "work of state mission boards. "We find much irregularity and some wrong in the matter of represent- ing in this body the work of State Boards. We therefore recommend the prssage of the following by-law : " 6. No money shall be represented twice in this Convention, and no money shall be represented which has been contributed to the body seeking representation by this Convention, or any body co-ordinate with this Con- vention ; and no money shall be represented which has been raised by a church or association for its own uses, unless the missionaries of such asso- ciation work under the appointment of a State Board or our Home Mission Board. "Manly J. Breaker. John D. Stewart, W. E. Hatcher, R. T. Hanks." After discussion, on motion of O. C. Pope, of Texas, the report was amended by the adoption of a substitute striking out of Art. Ill of the Con- stitution all the words after the word " body," in line 5, so making the article to read as appears in the Constitution as printed previously. The question has arisen whether this amendment does not make Art. Ill of the Constitution revert to its original form, changed in 1879, when the portion stricken out by this amend- ment was inserted in the Constitution. It turns apparently upon the meaning and authority of the words above, taken from the proceedings of the Convention," as printed previously." As the Constitution now reads," great collateral societies," like all others, may be represented on the basis of one delegate for each ;^ioo paid " within the twelve months preceding the meeting of the body." The question has never been raised before the Conven- tion ; but it was seriously entertained by the late President of the body, Rev. Dr. Boyce. VICE-PRESIDENTS. The By-laws require that the Board shall report annually what it has done to carry out their provisions, especially with regard to the work of the Vice-Presidents ; and that the Vice- Presidents shall also report their work. The Board has observed this requirement scrupulously, and the Vice Presi- dents of the Board have made their reports. As no special reference has been made to this subject, a specimen of each year's proceedings in this direction may be here recorded. VICE-PRESIDENTS. 355 c1rcui.ar i,etter to each vice-president. " Foreign Mission Rooms, S. B. C. "To Vice-President of the Boa rd of Foreign Missions for the State of " Richmond, Va., June 15, 1885. "My Dear Brother: The Treasury of the B. F. M. reported to the Convention a balance on hand of $1,100. The aggregate of moneys ac- knowledged up to May the 20th is $6,300. Then some one will think the Board has now $7,400. But it has not, for three reasons. First, $4,558.18 of the money herewith acknowledged was actually paid to Brother Powell, and expended in Mexico, during the last conventional year, as will more fully appear from a closer examination of the receipts. The Treasurer's report of last year ought to have contained this sum, credited to several States and debited to Mexican mission, but the statement of Brother Powell did not come to hand in time, and so this money, as the best thing possible under the circumstances, has been brought into the accounts of the current year. Secondly, the further sum of $254.93 raised at the Convention for the Mexican evangelists, was turned over to Brother Powell for them and their association, as was stated to the Convention at the time by our Corresponding Secretary. Deducting these special contributions, we find the real receipts up to May 20th only $1,515.96, which, with the balance brought forward, makes a little over $2,600. But, thirdly, drafts have been received to the amount of $6,000. Not to pay them promptly would sully the excellent reputation of the Board in commercial circles, disrupt our plan of remitting — the safest and most economical we have ever tried — and, worst of all, would subject our missionaries to such privations and embarrassments as must seriously interfere with their work. The treasury, therefore, at this writing, is not only empty, but worse than empty. "A telegram sent from Augusta, by order of the Convention, authorized Dr. Yates to draw for the money there subscribed for a chapel at Chin- Kiang. His draft is, doubtless, now on the way, and will reach Richmond as soon as steam-power can biing it. Sorne of this amount has been already paid. Will the other subscribers please forward at once ? "Two new missionaries have been appointed for Brazil since the Conven- tion. Two other applicants for appointment to China expect to be examined in June, and if approved, to sail this fall. Drafts for the support of those already in the field, for the April-July quarter, are pouring upon the treasury. " Such are the plain facts. What is to be done ? Let us all calmly con- sider this question and act rationally. The Board propose to do their utmost, but they cannot sustain missions without means. God's goodness and His signal deliverances last year, encourage us to hope. Ought they not to stimulate all to renewed exertions and to greater promptness ? Why should the Board be forced to borrow, when the Churches know the neces- 356 FOREIGN MISSIONS. sities of the case ? A contribution this summer is worth more than the same amount given next April. How Heathen Converts give. " Brother David laid the foundations of his new chapel March 30th, and had thirty-six men at work building. He adds : ' One of our members gave four months' salary to the church fund, another a fifth of a year's salary, two others a tenth each. The school has 225 pupils.' " Dr. Graves, of Canton, writes : " ' I have recently received a letter from Demerara, giving their statistics for 1884, which are as follows : "'Baptized, 17; restored, i; died, 3; excluded, 16; present number, 222; contributions, $3,148.08; expended, $2,910.07: balance on hand, $237.97- " ' Dr. Thomson, Secretary of our Canton Missionary Conference, has collected some statistics of the state of the work in our province : '"Stations, 148; chapels, 151 ; members, 7,242 ; schools — boys, 50; girls, 28; boarding, 12; pupils, about 1,600; contributions of native churches, $2,286.49. " ' There are, probably, in all, between 8,000 and 9,000 Protestant Christ- ians in the province, whose contributions have been over $3,000 during the past year.' Our Statistics and Needs. " Missionaries, 50 ; native assistants, 57 ; missions and stations, 30 ; bap- tized, 203 ; church-members, 1,233 ; pupils, 505. " Last year we had for our work $81,289.59. In view of increased force and necessary building, delayed for two years, we must have this year $100,000. Let the amount be divided as follows : "Virginia $ 12,500 00 Georgia 12,500 00 Kentucky 12,500 00 North Carohna 8,000 00 South Carolina ' 8,000 00 Mississippi 8,000 00 Missouri 8,000 00 Texas 8,000 00 Tennessee 5,000 00 Alabama 5,000 00 Maryland 4,000 00 Arkansas • 1,000 00 Louisiana 1,000 00 Florida 1,000 00 West Virginia 500 00 $ 95,000 00 VICE-PRESIDENTS. 367 Pledges made for Mexican church houses and schools and school and chapel at Chin-kiang, say 5,000 00 Total ^100,000 00 " In co-operation with your State Boards or Central Committee, please see : "I. That proper apportionments of the States' quotas are made among your district associations, and presented to them for their approval. " 2. That suitable brethren are secured, not only to advocate this interest at the associations, but to engage brethren who, in co-operation with them- selves, will sub-divide the quota of each association among its churches, and make earnest efforts to have the same collected. "I need not repeat that all expenses incurred in executing this plan will be promptly paid by our Board. '' I beg to refer you to the ensuing extract from the last annual report of our Board to the Southern Baptist Convention : What must be done ? " It is made obvious by the reported requirements of our missions, and by the late painful experience of the Board in seeking means that the work which has grown upon us, naturally, inevitably, and providentially, is beyond the support expected to be given by our people. What must be done? This question has agitated the Board, and should deeply concern the churches. Shall there be contraction ? Where shall it begin ? Let each field be narrowly scrutinized, and it will be found that so far from con- traction being admissible, if there is not expansion, damage must befall the work already in hand. In fact, it is of the nature of the missionary spirit to go forward or to die ; and the very end proposed by our enter- prise is to gradually occupy the whole world. What, then, is to be done? If the work cannot contract, but must expand, is it not plainly conclusive that there must be corresponding expansion of means to support the work ? How, then, shall the means be secured ? This question belongs pri- marily to the conscience of God's people, and to the missionary spirit im- parted to them by God's grace, of which spirit and conscience our mission works are the outgrowth ; and which spirit and conscience must be quickened and expanded by the truth preached and studied and distilled into spirit- ual experience by the Holy Ghost. Let the Baptists of the South be plied with the whole counsel of God, by a consecrated ministry, and as sure as they possess the grace of God, and God is true to his emphasized promises, they will come up to the full measure of their duty in giving the Gospel to mankind. No plans, no agencies, can take the place of this divinely appointed instrumentality. Will the ministry commit themselves in heart and before God, to more consecration in this regard ? Will the people say, Amen ? " g^" Please notice that on the reverse of this letter are appropriately headed blanks for your report to the Southern Baptist Convention in May, 358 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 1886, according to the By-Laws of the Convention, to which refer for other information also. In behalf of the Board, I am yours, affectionately, " H. A. TUPPER, Cor. Secy." rev:erse op i^etter. [This blank is for your Report as Vice-President of the Board of Foreign Missions, to be presented by you to the Southern Baptist Convention, according to the By-Laws of the Convention.] /. IVkat working relation between Board of Foreign Missions atid State Organizations f II. What done toward getting contributions from the Churches ? III. Distribution of Missionary Literature ? IV. Enrollment of Churches and Sunday-Schools ? Vice-President B. F. M. for the State of April 30th, I( REPORTS OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. H. A. Tupper, Jr., Kentucky, from the committee to prepare a digest of reports of the Vice-Presidents of the Board, reported the following, which was adopted : REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE REPORTS OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. " Your committee, to whom were referred the reports of the Vice-Presi- dents, would respectfully present the following digest of said reports so far as the Vice-Presidents have been heard from : " Alabama. J, J. D. Renfroe reports : " The State Mission Board of Alabama is charged with the raising of funds for Foreign Missions, and through its Secretary and the Vice-President of the Foreign Mission Board for Alabama, the cause of missions has been pressed upon the people. 175,000 pages of missionary tracts and circulars have been scattered among the churches, and 3,600 copies of the Foreign Mission fournal have been distributed in the State. Although the amount raised during the year is not what was expected, the work done will doubtless tell upon the years to come. REPORTS OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. 359 " Arkansas, J. T. Searcy reports : " The relation between the State organizations and the Board of Foreign Missions is mutually helpful ; increased effort has been put forward through- out the State towards getting contributions from the churches, with encour- aging success, and missionary literature has been scattered among the people. " Florida. N. A. Bailey reports : "The entire work of missions in Florida is committed to the State Board of Missions. Between this Board and the workings of the Foreign Mission Board there is perfect harmony. Our State raised $300 more for Foreign Missions than the quota asked. About 500 copies of the Foreign Mission Journal hSiVG been distributed, besides much other missionary matter; and our foreign mission work in Florida is making an encouraging advance. " Georgia. W. L. Kilpatrick reports : " Funds for missions are raised through pastors and the press. During the year $6,600 have been reported to the Mission Board at Atlanta, and there is about $700 not reported. Missionary literature is used freely, and the cause of missions in Georgia is upward and onward. " Kentucky. T, T. Eaton reports : " R. L. Thurman, our faithful agent for F'oreign Missions, is working nobly. About 100 churches contributed last year to Foreign Missions that had not contributed before; and the full amount reported is $10,292.64. 60,000 pages of missionary matter have been distributed, and there is a remarkable increase in all mission work in Kentucky. " Louisiana. C. W. Tomkins reports : "We have a State Board of Foreign Missions, and it co-operates with the working of the Southern Baptist Convention; by personal effort $1,500 was raised in cash and pledges for Foreign Missions; the excess over the quota asked is $239. A Central Committee has been organized and located at Shreveport. There is a marked progress in the cause of missions through- out the State. " Maryland. Joshua Levering reports : " All the State organizations are in full sympathy with the work of the Board of Foreign Missions ; the churches have been appealed to orally and by letter, urging increased contributions to missions, and over one-half have sent in encouraging reports, and the Foreign Mission Journal and other missionary literature have been distributed among the churches, " Mississippi. George Whitfield reports : " The relation between our State organizations and the Board of Foreign Missions is most harmonious ; spent thirty-three days in the work of the Board, traveling about 2,000 miles and visiting one State Convention and 360 FOREIGN MISSIONS. six associations, and appealed to 347 pastors, through letter and printed matter, on the subject of missions ; aided in getting pledges or subscriptions amounting to over $2,100; received and forwarded direct or through Dr. B. H. Whitfield over $800. " Missouri. R. S. Duncan reports : " There is a deep interest awakened in missions, and the contribution to this cause is $300 larger than last year; about 350 churches and fifty Sun- day-schools contributed regularly to Foreign Missions, and new interest in missions is being awakened by the means of the free use of missionary literature. ^ " North Carolina.' Theodore Whitfield reports : "The work of the Secretary of State Missions and work of the Vice-Presi- dent for Foreign Missions are mutually helpful. Not many more than one- half of our churches contribute regularly to the Board of Foreign Missions, but by the means of more than 5,000 pages of tracts and 318 copies of the Journal, and letters and personal appeals, there is a noticeable development of interest in missions. " South Carolina. Chas. Manly reports : " There exists an uninterrupted and close relation between our State organizations and the Board of Foreign Missions. The number of our churches that contribute to Foreign Missions was never so great. About 1,200 copies of the Foreign Mission Journal, besides many tracts on mission subjects, have been distributed. The interest in Foreign Missions was never so great as now, and this interest is increasing every year. "Tennessee. J. M. Senter reports : " As information on the subject of Foreign Missions is greatly needed in our State, it has been our special work to distribute missionary literature among the people. One hundred and sixty-three subscribers to ih^ Journal have been enrolled, and already the good effect is seen. " From the condensed reports of twelve of our Vice-PresideBts, it will be seen how effective this simple and inexpensive system of work has proven in developing the spirit of missions among our people. We urge upon our churches to co-operate with the Vice-Presidents in their efforts to awaken interest and kindle zeal in the great work of winning the world to Christ. "A. W. Lamar, Chairman, H. Allen Tupper, Jr., H. M. King, J. H. De Votie, G. F. Williams." FROM REPORT' OF BOARD. " I. The board recognizes no single agent as comparable to the Journal for the diffusion of information, the stimulation of FROM REPORT OF BOARD. 361 the churches and the representation of the views and actions of the Board and Convention." " 2. Too much praise cannot be awarded our Vice-Presidents for the aid they have rendered the Board in distributing tens of thousands of missionary tracts and papers, and for the Hvely in- terest they have manifested in pressing our work in their respec- tive States." 3. DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION OF MISSIONARIES- To Mexico. — Miss Addie Barton, of Texas, joined the mission of Saltilio in July; Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Myers, of Kentucky, the same mission, in November; Miss Mary C. Tupper, of Virginia, in December; and Mrs. M. E. Graves, of Texas, in February. To Africa. — Messrs. C. E. Smith and S. M. Cook, and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Harvey sailed in October for Lagos; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. David, with their little daughter and a native boy, followed in January. To Italy. — Mrs. J. H. Eager and two children departed for Rome the latter part of last year. To China. — Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Joiner, and Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Davault left in November for Tung Chow; Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Hickson, with their three children, at the same time, for Can- ton; and Mrs. M. T. Yates started in March for Shanghai. The news of Mrs. Yates' arrival has not reached us. The other missionaries are reported at Avork in their fields. Miss Lula Whilden, of the Canton Mission, is still resting at Clifton Springs, N. Y., in hope of returning to her work in the fall of this year. 4. APPWCATIONS. The unprecedented number of applicants for missionary work shows a growing interest among our younger and more in- telligent people. Heretofore, the Board has acted largely on the principle that, if applicants and appointees are of God, means for their support will certainly be provided. Recently the question has arisen, whether furnishing means for appointees may not be a test of their being sent of God. Perhaps wisdom is found midway between a confidence that may savor of presumption, and a business policy that seems to lack faith in the God of mis- sions. 362 FOREIGN MISSIONS. 5. CHURCH BUII,DING. So important and extensive has become this department of work, that it demands special notice in this report. The amounts urgently applied for by missionaries, for this purpose, with the amounts, either actually expended or authorized to be expended, aggregate $51,850. Of this sum, not less than $30,000 seems imperatively demanded by the interests of our mission. If, in this country, suitable church-houses are indispensable to the progress and prosperity of religion, how much more in pagan and papal lands, where all religious ideas are associated with worship in Temples or Cathedrals? It is a truth universally recognized that sentiments and affections — and none more so than those of a religious nature — are developed and intensified by localization. Upon the law that associations cluster most powerfully about locality, was based the wisdom of the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple, and upon the same law is based the wisdom and necessity of Baptist church-houses everywhere. God is a spirit; but premium is put upon local church worship by the promise: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them. ' Had the primitive disciples not been in one place, could they have enjoyed the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Ghost? In some of our mission-fields it is impossible to rent places suitable for public worship. 6. treasurer's report and finances. The Treasurer's receipts, with the balance from last year, amount to $75,047.83. Missionaries have received, on their fields, $6,241.76. These amounts make $81,289.59, which has been at our service for the year's work. As one hundred thousand dollars was asked for, as necessary, the inquiry may be made : How the Board, under the circumstances, escaped disaster. Last year it was stated, in the words of our report, that "$20,- 000 might have been wisely appropriated to church-houses; but this church-building, with mission expansion work, prudently restrained, has been transferred to another year." This year the Board published that, of the $100,000 requested of the people, $38,368 was needed for building purposes. With the first in- timations of our late financial pressure, this house-work and mis- FROM REPORT OF BOARD. 363 sion expansion were restricted again in some missions, and stopped altogether in others. But for this timely stoppage of expenditures, the Board, instead of owing nothing, and having ^1,144.61 on hand, might have come to the Convention seriously embarrassed in its finances. This year gives, therefore, cause for the deepest gratitude. It has witnessed the Board's severest struggles and most signal triumphs. Never have so many mis- sionaries gone out, and never has so much work been done; and never have adequate means been so hard to obtain. More than once the state of things seemed imminent. In response to prayer and labor and faith, relief came, again and again, at the critical moment, by the grace of our Lord. The prevailing sentiment of the Board is: "Thanks be unto God." 7. woman's work. Having considered an elaborate report on the history and present status of this work, specially in its relation to the South- ern Baptist Convention, and concluding that justice demands that the generous, and growing, and grand efforts of our Baptist women, through their State Central Committees, to spread the gospel in destitute parts of the earth, should have full apprecia- tion and appropriate recognition by this body; and conclud- ing, also, that a wise foresight, quickened by experience in other parts of our country, requires that there be no further delay in aiding our sisters to give a general form to their work, best adapted to secure unity, permanence, and the greatest practical efficiency, our Board, as special debtors to their enthusiastic interest in missions, resolved to submit most respectfully, for the adoption of the Convention, the following preamble and resolutions : " Whereas, The ' missionary societies ' referred to in the first line of the Preamble of the Constitution of the Convention, seem to be included in the 'religious bodies' in the second line of Article III, of the Constitution ; and, whereas, this interpretation of the Constitution, as to representation, would entitle our Woman's Missionary Societies to representation in the Convention, provided such representation is in harmony with the common law that has ever limited the membership to persons eligible to all the offices and privileges of the body, therefore, 364 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " I. Resolved, That our Woman's Missionary Societies be and are hereby requested, acting through their respective Central Committees, to appoint annually a brother of tlueir own State for each one hundred dollars they have paid to either of the Boards, to represent them on the floor of the Con- vention, as State organizations appoint representatives through their Boards or Executive Committees. "2. Resolved, That the work done through the Central Committees of the Boards be clearly and fully presented to the Convention in the annual reports of the boards ; and that the funds contributed through the Central Committees be reported separately to the Convention, and published in the same way, when the general funds are published, before the meeting of the Convention, in order that the number of representatives to be appointed may be known. " 3. Resolved, That the Heathen Helper be commended and encouraged as an efficient organ of our woman's work, and worthy of general circulation among our churches. "4. Resolved, That the following changes be and are hereby made in the By-Laws of the Convention, viz.: In the first By-law, at the end, change the period into a colon and add the words : atid to appoint in each of the States Woman s Central Committees, one for each Board, whose djity it shall be to encourage and aid in the formation of Woman s Missionary Societies in churches where such societies are desired. Then the By-law will read thus : " That the Boards of the Convention be directed to form the closest possible connection with the State Boards, where such exist, in such way as shall be mutually agreeable, and in other cases to secure such agency as each of the Boards may deem best, in both cases providing for necessary expenses in- curred : and to appoint, in each of the States, Woman's Central Commit- tees, one for each Board, whose duty it shall be to encourage and aid in the formation of Woman's Missionary Societies in churches where such Socie- ties are desired." In the fifth By-Law, second line, strike out the word " these " and put in the word the, and after the next word, " reports," insert the words : of the Vice-Presidents and of the State Central Committees for woman's work, as presented in the reports of the Boards, so that the By-Law shall read thus : " That so much of the second day of the Convention as may be necessary shall be set apart for consideration of the reports of the Vice-Presidents and of the State Central Committees for woman's work, as presented in the reports of the Boards." " 5. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the President of the Convention to ascertain whether any changes in the Constitution are necessary to effect the objects sought above ; and, if any, to report them to this meeting of the Convention. " 6, Resolved, That the State Conventions and the District Associations of our States be respectfully requested to take such action as may be deemed best to aid the Convention in this effort, to have the work of mis- sions, which belongs equally to the men and women of God, considered THE BOARD'S ARGUMENT. 365 together and in the manner which seems to accord best with the taste and genius of our people, and with the teachings of the word of God." THE BOARD'S ARGUMENT. " WOMAN'S WORK. " The Convention, at its approaching meeting, will be asked to define more clearly its relation to the hundreds of missionary societies within its borders. Few questions can come before the body that will need more careful handling. Extreme views, on one side or on the other, indiscreet remarks, unwise action, may do more harm than many years can repair. The good sisters have too much sense and are too much in earnest to be satisfied with flattering platitudes and empty compliments ; they are too loyal to the teachings of * nature itself as well as of revelation, to be even suspected of aspiring to anything beyond their sphere. * May God in his mercy,' says one of them, voicing the univer- sal sentiment, ' avert such an evil.' " A Committee of the Board presented at the April meeting a full report on the present status of the work of our Christian women for Foreign Missions and a summary of all previous action by the Convention in reference to this work. We repro- duce the substance of that report, hoping that it will not only prove interesting in itself, but will furnish a good basis for any further consideration of the subject in the Convention. " Mite Societies and other missionary organizations of South- ern women date back to the early days of the century, and yielded then to the treasury of the Triennial Convention contri- butions which are recorded as * extraordinarily liberal.' Very much of the interest which has given rise to the great general organizations of to-day for the conduct of Foreign Missions is clearly traceable to the loving zeal and busy earnestness of these Societies. But we must pass over those former services and come at once to the present aspects of the subject. In the Field. "In 1849 o'Jr Board first appointed a single woman, Miss Baker, to China. In 1864 R. H. Graves, in Canton, employed a Bible woman, to be supported by Mrs. G. with the assistance of a relative in this country ; this he called ' an experiment.' The 366 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Board now employs ten single women, and eighteen married women, with a large number of native helpers. Our northern brethren have a still larger number; and other denominations are not behind the Baptists. " In China alone there are three hundred and forty-five female missionaries, of whom io8 are single, and twelve are medical doctors. Mr. John Furguson, of Colombo, Ceylon, in answer to the question of our Cor. Secretary: ' What is the most striking thing you have observed in connection with missions?' replied, * The work wrought there by God through Christian women.' "In the November number of ' Woman's Work in China' a gifted missionary classifies the single women workers under these heads : ist. Those who believe they have real, serious grievances and who desire, not as a concession of charity, but as simple justice, that these grievances be redressed by a ' reform in the constitution of Missions.' 2d. Those who are satisfied with existing arrangements and are content to attain their objects and carry out their purposes by indirect influences. 3d. Those who, having their rights secured, desire to see those rights extended to others. " Of the first class she says : ' It is not to be supposed that women who have been in the field for years, who have large interests at stake, and decided views as to how work should be conducted, will be content that the present unsatisfactory state of affairs should continue. Simple justice demands that women should have equal rights with men in mission meetings and in the practical conduct of the work.' This is not endorsed by the committee, but it is reproduced to show what some others think- Organization at Home. "In 1861 the 'Woman's Union Missionary Society' was organized in New York. In 1870 the Baltimore ' Auxiliary ' was formed. On the 3d of April, 1871, the 'Woman's Baptist Mis- sionary Society ' was started in Boston. In October of the same year, ' Woman's Mission to Woman ' was organized in Balti- more. In 1872 the "Woman's Missionary Society of Rich- mond, Va.,' was formed for the support of Miss Edmonia Moon. Simultaneously, or subsequently, other societies originated in THE BOARD'S ARGUMENT. 867 the South for the support of woman missionaries. In 1874 our Board recommended Executive or Central Committees for the States. In 1876 Central Committees for Woman's work were appointed. The appointments were made on nomination of judicious counselors in the several States. The committees were authorized to fill vacancies ; and they have, now, practically, self-perpetuating existence. "Though originally appointees of our Board, some of them divide their funds with the other Board. This they have a per- fect right to do. But, is not the plan approved* by the Con- vention wiser, viz. : to have a Central Committee in each State for each of the Boards, and let the societies contribute to the one or to the other, or to both, according as they may elect ? The reasons for separate Vice-Presidents and Boards would seem to hold, for what the Convention recommends, two Central Com- mittees in each State. As time advances and the work enlarges and becomes, perhaps, more complicated, the wisdom of this suggestion of the Convention and of our Baptist fathers will be- come more apparent. What has been done. " In 1875 the Convention adopted a report, setting forth that * too much praise can scarcely be bestowed upon the noble achievements of these gentle and loving servants of Jesus,' and inviting prayer that they may be even more ' consecrated and blessed in this sphere of Christian service.' In 1876 our Board reported that the women of South Carolina, Georgia and Vir- ginia had contributed ;^3,845 for mission houses, while those of other States had done ' nobly for the general work.' The report, adopted by the Convention, favored the organization of Woman's .Societies for Foreign Missions, and made several valuable sug- gestions on the subject. In 1877 our Board reported the general use of mite boxes by our societies and the prospect of increased contributions. The Convention, in its report, thanked God that the eyes of our people were opening to the importance of Woman's work, commended it most heartily, and intimated that 'a Central Committee' for the Central Committees might be soon needed to combine and stimulate efforts. Having Com- mittees in all the States, our Board reported in 1878 that no more 368 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ' general organization seemed necessary. A report replete with commendation was adopted recommending, among other things, that Central Committees be organized in each State by the Boards of the Convention, by which our Board understood that each Board should have its own Central Committee in each of the States. " The next year (1879) the Convention recommended plainly ' two Central Committees in each State' — one for each of the Boards of the Convention. In 1880 our Board reported a ' grand work ' ^one by our women and urged the formation and encouragement of societies in all the churches. The Convention requested the Central Committees to report to their respective Boards by the ist of April in order that abstracts of the work might be presented to the Convention in the reports of the Boards. Our Board reported in 1881, 500 societies that had contributed ^6,244.30. The Convention suggested that our Board might appoint a woman superintendent, if deemed wise, and recom- mended that the societies report more generally and more regu- larly. In 1882 the Board reported that in the exercise of the discretion allowed, they had not appointed a superintendent, and gave their method of managing Woman's work. The Conven- tion expressed the opinion that ' no change in the plan of organ- ization seemed desirable.' * Another report recommended that if they thought it expedient, the two Boards might appoint a superintendent of the State Central Committees. Our Board, having already considered the question, did not think it expedi- ent to unite in such appointment. In their report of 1883 the Board mentioned favorably the publication of the Heathen Helper in Louisville, Ky., as the organ of Woman's work, and reported the rule adopted by the Board that unmarried women should be appointed missionaries only with reference to the views and wishes of the missions to which they are appointed. The Con- vention gave five reasons why pastors should encourage the formation of Woman's societies in their Churches. In 1884 the Board reported 642 societies, contributing ^16,895.58 ; stated that, in ten years, the Board has distributed gratuitously 28,520 mite boxes, which had probably yielded in that time to our treasury ;^75,ooo, and congratulated our ladies on their disposi- THE BOARD' S ARGUMENT. 369 tion to work without any more separate organization than their societies and Central Committees. The body ' resolved, that the Convention has heard, with pleasure, of the large amount of money raised for Foreign Missions by the Woman's societies working with our Board, and of the entire harmony in plans and purposes between the Board and these societies.' Our Board having expressed a preference for no superintendent, the Con- vention referred resolutions on this subject to the Home Board. This year (1885) special efforts have been made to stimulate the societies and the Central Committees. The indications are that our women have done more, relatively, than in any previous year. The Central Committees heard from to April ist show that, in their respective States, the Woman's societies had contrib- uted one-third of the amount given for Foreign Missions. The number of societies is rapidly increasing. The Heathen Helper claims to be the organ of 1,200 Woman's societies. The Baptist Woman's societies of the North and Northwest gave during the last year ;^95,548 to Foreign Missions. Woman's societies of the English-speaking tongue give ^800,000 per annum, which is one-tenth of the zv or la' s a)imial contribution for the evangelization of the nations. llViat it is to be. " The formative state through which the general missionary meetings of our noble Christian women is passing is worthy of serious consideration. At first these meetings were occasional ; now they have become a permanent institution. ' The ladies in Baltimore passed a resolution perpetuating a woman's missionary meeting, to be held annually during the session of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Central Committee of the State, in which the Convention meets, to take charge and conduct the meeting.' A discussion has appeared in print whether the meet- ing shall be held with closed or open doors. The Central Com- mittee for Georgia seems to have decided the question for this year by the following : " ' Resolved, That as we believe women cannot take the exchisive man- agement of a large meeting without becoming public speakers, which we regard as contrary to the scriptural teaching, therefore, we request the officers 24 370 FOREIGN MISSIONS. of our Committee to invite certain brethren, who are in sympathy with our work, to address the meeting on such topics as shall be selected ; that all public speaking be done by the brethren ; that the Central Committee, and officers representing woman's mission work in each State, be requested to send one or more delegates of their number, with a written report of the year's work of the societies of the State, such reports to be read at the meeting by a lady if so desired.' " If our Convention does not give form to these meetings — as we are sure the ladies desire — they will soon give fixed form to themselves. And who shall say that the experience of our Northern brethren may not be our experience at the South ? When the question of woman's organization for work was, in 1870, laid before the Missionary Union, the then secretary said : ' The time has not yet come.' On further reflection he gave his cordial approval, but the organization had passed beyond the control of the Union. Let us be wise. The first element of wisdom is justice. " Here the question arises : Whether this woman's work, grow- ing into such great proportions, should not have fuller presenta- tion and fairer representation on the floor of the Convention ? And let not the Convention wait for any demand. Let the right thing be done spontaneously, cheerfully and promptly, on the simple ground that it is right." ACTION OF WOMAN'S MEETING. N. A. Bailey, Florida, presented the following resolutions, as having been adopted by a Woman's Missionary meeting, which were ordered to be spread on the Minutes : " Resolved i. That it is not the desire of the Baptist women of the South to have separate and independent organization for the prosecution of Woman's Mission Work. " Resolved 2. That we desire to prosecute our work directly through the churches, and to have representation in the S. B, C, through our re- spective State Conventions, as heretofore. " Resolved J. That the above resolutions be transmitted to the S. B. C, now in session, with the request that they be read before the body." FURTHER ACTIONS OF CONVENTION. 371 FURTHER ACTIONS OF CONVENTION. 1. The report of the Committee on Woman's Work was pre- sented. The Convention was addressed by G. F. Bagby, Kentucky ; T. T.Eaton, Kentucky; H. H. Harris, Virginia; N. A. Bailey, Florida, and H. A. Tupper, Virginia. Pending the discussion of the report, and certain amendments which had been offered, the hour of the special order arrived, whereupon the matter went over. 2. By unanimous consent, the report of the Committee on Woman's Work, which was pending at the time when the special order was reached, was, on motion of H. A. Tupper, Virginia, recommitted, with all substitutes and amendments. 3. The Committee on " Woman's Work" presented an amended report, which was adopted, as follows : • "woman's work. " Too much praise can scarcely be bestowed upon the noble achievements of the gentle and self-sacrificing women of the South. The attention of this Convention is called to the steady annual increase of contributions raised by this means. In 1876, $3,845.00 were raised for mission houses, while they did nobly for the general work. In 1877, there was a manifest in- crease. In 1 88 1, 500 societies had been organized and $6,244.30 were realized. In 1884, 642 societies raised $16,895.58, and in '85 over $18,000 were raised for the two Boards. " This work is entitled to appropriate recognition from this body. " Your committee observe with gratitude that, so far as they can dis- cover, there are no dissatisfaction on the part of Baptist women with the plans or methods of our Boards. They are now working with gratifying suc- cess, and only ask that they be allowed to do what they can in a quiet and unostentatious way. " We think it important that there should be Woman's Central Com- mittees established and fostered by the State Conventions, or Associations, with the co-operation of the Boards of this Convention. These Central Committees should be aided and encouraged by the pastors of the churches in establishing local societies in the churches. Let the local societies desig- nate the mission or missions to which their respective contributions shall be given. They should also tife requested to report the amount of these con- tributions to the churches to which they belong, as well as to the Boards of the Convention. Let such funds be credited also to the General State Con- 372 FOREIGN MISSIONS. vention or Association. Then let these moneys be represented in this body by delegates chosen, if they prefer, by the local societies, upon the same bases and conditions specified for all other moneys reported. " Respectfully submitted, " C. T. Bailey, G. F. Bagby, A. C. Dixon, M. D. Early, N. A. Bailey, J. G. Gibson, T. W. Mellichamp." H. C. Wallace, Missouri, presented the following report on Treasurer's Report, Foreign Mission Board : " To Southern Baptist Convention : " Your committee, to whom was referred the report of the Treasurer of the Foreign Mission Board for the last fiscal year ending April 30th, 1885, having had the same under consideration, beg leave to report that they find the same in due form in regard to the entries of receipts and disbursements, as required by the Constitution, and that the same is duly certified to by the 'Auditor, and correct. " Though there has been some falling off in the amount of contributions, as compared with the previous year, yet, considering the pressure and stringency in money matters which have so generally prevailed throughout our Southland, as well as the countrjj at large, the contributions have been liberal, and your committee take pleasure in commending the excellent judgment and sound business discretion exercised by the Foreign Board and its efficient Corresponding Secretary in its disbursement of funds, and in sustaining our Foreign Missions through the embarrassments of the last year, with the aid of the balance on hand at the last annual meeting, and in being able, after accomplishing so large a work, to report through its Treasurer a balance of ^1,144.61 at the end of the year. "Your committee deem it appropriate and becoming, at this time especially, to express our gratitude and thankfulness to God for the marked indications of his favor upon the labors of our Foreign Board, and his blessings upon the contributions of the churches, individuals and missionary societies. " We have abundant cause, brethren, to take courage and go forward in the blessed and glorious work of giving the gospel of Christ to the benighted and idolatrous nations and peoples of the earth. " H. C. Wallace, S. B. Foster, A. D. Freeman. " Committee^ The following report was presented by S. Landrum, Louisi- ana, from the Committee on the Missions of the Foreign Board : FURTHER ACTIONS OF CONVENTION. 373 " The missions of the Board stand like light houses — not numerous nor near together, but in all the great divisions of the earth. Your committee note with thankfulness the manifest growth and real efficiency of them all. The baptisms, the organization of churches, the contributions made to mis- sions by the converts from Romanism and from paganism demand special emphasis. " First, in several respects, is the mission in our sister" republic of Mexico. By means of railroads our intercourse with Mexico is becoming quite inti- mate. No country has made so fine an exhibit at the World's Exposition in New Orleans. In productions, minerals, in art and music, her display has made a deep impression, and a large trade is sure to spring up between the two great American republics. Notwithstanding the persecutions endured, we believe that we shall, with comparative ease, secure the ear of the Mexi- cans for the gospel of our Lord. The zeal of our Board for the mission in Mexico is worthy of all commendation. " We pass now to the Brazilian mission. Here our missionaries have suffered arrest and persecutions, but they have been patient, and distributed the Bible freely. In its light the sharpness of their trials has been removed. It gives us delight to note the baptism of thirty-seven believers. Over all opposition the gospel triumphs. " In Europe we are glad to observe the abiding faith and untiring labor of our missionaries in classic and Roman Catholic Italy. "We regret the necessity for the return of one wise, heroic and veteran missionary, Dr. Taylor. We trust his residence among us will greatly assist the work in Rome and Italy, especially in securing funds to build chapels. Our best hope of success in Italy, under God, lies, perhaps, in teaching the young, in circulating the Scriptures and in personal appeal. " In the African mission seven are reported as baptized. Our force in the ' dark continent ' has been increased by four new missionaries. We must do something for Africa, and let us hope that the new laborers may be spared and crowned with success. We think the great body of laborers in Africa should come from the people of the country. " The China missions are the oldest and largest of our Foreign Missions. There are fifty-six missionaries under tire employment of the Board. We have six hundred and forty-five members of our churches in China, and their contributions amount to $567.85 ! War and rumors of war have seri- ously hindered our work in China and caused our dear brethren there much anxiety and suffering. " Buildings, churches and chapels are needed, especially in all the Foreign Missions. We find houses indispensable at home ; they are more necessary abroad. We must collect and give for building houses of wor- ship. The work will be hindered, and much lost, without such houses. We cannot state too strongly the necessity for buildings in the foreign fields." The Convention was addressed by W. D. Powell, one of the 374 FOREIGN MIS SlOhb. \ missionaries in Mexico, and by Brethren Rodriguez and Marti- nez, and a voluntary contribution of ;^255.93 was made for spe- cial needs of the work in Mexico ; after which the report was adopted. SECOND DAY— EVENING SESSION. The Convention being called to order at 8 o'clock, was led in prayer by A. J. Beck, of Georgia. The special order being the consideration of the work of the Foreign Mission Board, addresses were made by T. D. Ander- son, of Maryland, on the field in Africa, and by F. M. Ellis, of Maryland, on the field in China — the one of classic finish ; the other of great power. The following resolution, offered by W. E. Hatcher, of Vir- ginia, was adopted : " Resolved, That we tender to Dr. Yates, our oldest missionary, our ten- derest sympathies in his present affliction, and that we authorize him to go forward in the work of building his long-needed chapel." Pending the consideration of the resolution, voluntary contri- butions, amounting to ;^2, 527.95, were made towards the erec- tion of the chapel at Chin Kiang, And then, after prayer by J. O. Hixson, Alabama, the Con- vention adjourned. IN MEMORIAM. THOMAS WILI/IAM TOBEY, D.D. On the 7th of February, 1885, Dr. Tobey, who, from 1847 to 1850, was a missionary of the Convention to China, passed qui- etly from this life, at Lake Weir, in Florida, in full hope of a blessed immortality. WM. CAREY CRANE, D.D., 1,1,. D. This valuable man of God, well known over the land, who, during almost the whole history of the Convention, has been an officer of the body, either as Secretary or Vice-President of the Convention, or Vice-President of the Board of Foreign Mis- sions, fell on sleep on the night of the 26th of February. As the fathers go hence, the sons, emulating their excellence, should consecrate themselves to the Convention's great work for the world's evangelization. IN MEMO R I AM. 375 MRS. IDA R. PRUITT. The Board has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Mrs. Ida R. Pruitt, consort of Rev. C. W. Pruitt, of the Whang Hien mission. In the arms of her husband she breathed her earthly hfe away on Sunday, the 19th of last October, at Tung Chow, China. Giving up for Christ's sake the endearments of a Wisconsin home, she sailed for the foreign field in December, 1881, under appointment of the Presbyterian Board. In September, 1882, she was married at Chefoo. A few months thereafter she was buried with Christ in baptism, and from that time became fully identified with our work in the Chinese Empire. She was young, cultured, pious. As a missionary, she was consecrated, earnest, hopeful. We had fondly anticipated for her a long ca- reer, crowned with that usefulness of which her character gave a promise so gratifying ; but the same God who called her to the work has seen fit to give her an early discharge, and it be- comes us to cultivate the spirit which shall enable us to say : " Thy will be done." She has fallen in the noblest endeavor to which human energies can be devoted, and her reward through grace is sure. The following letters give further particulars of Mrs. Pruitt's death : " Tung Chow, China, October 23, 1884. " Dear Dr. Tupper — ^You will be pained and weep with us when you hear of the death of our dear sister Pruitt. She was taken with the typhoid fever on the 6th of September, the second anniversary of her wedding day. The fever, in spite of every effort of her physician and friends, continued to rage till about the 13th day of October, when it was checked and she was supposed to take a turn for the better to the relief of our anxieties. Though very weak, she seemed to improve slowly till the evening of the 19th of Octo- ber, when, unexpectedly to her husband, who was holding her in his arms, she appeared to faint, gave one or two slight gasps and was gone. She went without a word, calmly as befitted that holy Sabbath evening, at about 8 o'clock P.M., not quite three ye^s after her arrival in China. " Thus God has seen fit in his providence to suddenly remove from her husband and our mission one of the best and most lovely characters I have ever known. On yesterday morning we laid her, with many tears from every member of our little community, among the other precious ones on the ' Hill overlooking the sea,' till Jesus shall come. .376 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " Mrs. Pruitt was surely called of God for the work of missions. Her piety, judgment, cheerfulness and loveliness of character in every respect seemed specially to fit her for the place she was so successfully filling when God, in his inscrutable wisdom, saw good to call her away from earth to heaven, "Brother Pruitt seems almost crushed by the terrible blow. May God give him strength and grace to bear his loss and deep disappointment. They were devoted to each other, and their home was the manifest abode of love and happiness, as well as of prospective usefulness in the Master's ser- vice. By her death all our plans of mission work are for the present dis- arranged, and we know not yet what direction they will take. " The house in Hwang-hien has not been secured, as the most determined opposition was manifested against it by a few powerful families of the city. It also becomes us to act very prudently in these excited war times. God is, however, opening a wider door for the gospel than ever before, and at the proper time we shall enter in and possess the land for the Master. " At this date all others are in usual health, and still appear to be in no danger from the war. May God be merciful to us. " Yours in the Lord, "T. P. Crawford." "Tung Chow, China, November 3, 1884. " Aly Dear Doctor Tupper — Our mission has suffered a very sad and pain- ful loss. Our dear friend and sister, Mrs. Pruitt, was taken from us on the 19th of October. She had been ill about six weeks from a fever peculiar to this country. Her illness was not considered alarming at first and she was hopeful of recovery up to the end. On the day of her death she was brighter than she had been for a week. She took her food with relish and talked cheerfully. About an hour after supper, suddenly, without any warning, she passed away. Her death was painless. Thus has departed to her re- ward one who fell as truly a martyr as the saints of old who laid down their lives for the Lord Jesus. For her we can only rejoice that the Master has bidden her ' come up higher.' She has entered upon the nobler work and the unending bliss of Heaven. For ourselves, we mourn the sundering of tender ties, the loss of her sweet and helpful companionship ; we grieve that we shall hear no more on earth her cheerful, kindly voice, and see no more her bright sunny smile. " Mrs. Pruitt came to China not quite three years ago in connection with the Northern Presbyterian Board and was stationed in Chefoo. From the time of her arrival she made rapid progress. She continued to be a perse- vering student and even in her last illness would try to learn orally. "She was united to Mr. Pruitt in September, 1882, and was thenceforth connected with our mission in Tung Chow. From the time of her coming among us, she identified herself heartily with the work of the mission. She took charge of a class in Sunday-school and all can testify to the faith- fulness with which she taught it. One of the members of the class was un- IN MEMORIAM. Zll usually dull, and Mrs. Pruitt would go to her home during the week and teach her the lesson for the coming Sabbath. Whatever Mrs. Pruitt undertook she could always be depended upon to perform. Havingkindly consented to teach a class in my school last year, every day found her punctually at her post, although she had to come across the city to do less than an hour's work. "In the spring of 1885 she made a long tour in company with her hus- band and Mr. Halcomb. The Chinese admired her personal appearance, and her gentle, winning manners drew the women in crowds around her. In the autumn of the same year she made a tour with Mr. Pruitt, and on their return planned a number of short tours which she was providentially hindered from making. Last spring, again in company with Mr. Pruitt and Mr. Halcomb, she made a very long and fiitiguing tour. Her ardent en- thusiasm, earnest zeal, and the incessant demands of the work, no doubt carried her far beyond her strength. She said, after her return, that often during the trip she would get in from the day's work too tired even to talk English. She would throw herself on the ' kong ' in utter ex- haustion. She also suffered during this trip from sore throat, brought on by constant talking to the women. She had many invitations to visit them in their homes and she felt that she could not refuse, even when too tired to go. She was looking badly on her return to the city, but that seemed only natural after the weariness of her long and exhausting labors. " The protracted absence from home had caused many arrears in house- hold affairs, and with her characteristic energy and cheerful self-forgetful- ness she set to work. Ever thoughtful and considerate of others, she never spared herself. She was not well during the summer, but still there was nothing to awaken alarm. The treacherous fever took hold of her so grad- ually that her friends were not aware that she was sick ; she accused herself of being only ' idle.' Her last act, before giving up and yielding to the disease, was to help a friend who was very busy preparing to go to America. " Her patience and gentleness throughout her long illness was wonderful. She said that although she could not understand why God had sent the ill- ness, yet it was all right, and she submitted implicitly to his will. She was most touchingly thoughtful of those who had the care of her, expressing constant solicitude lest they should be wearied. She made attendance upon her sick bed a delight to those who were privileged to minister to her. As she lay ill there, she seemed to take more thought for their comfort than they did for hers. " The Chinese unite in speaking warmly in her praise. They talk espe- cially of her great kindness, unselfishness and interest in them and their children. She won their love and respect as few are able to do. " To the projected Whang Hien mission the loss is most heavy, Mrs. Pruitt was the only lady in that mission ready for work. " Of her beautiful home life, of her loving devotion to her husband, of his unspeakable loss, it would not be fitting to tell in a paper intended for pub- lication. 378 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " Though she was with us but a little more than two years, we have cause to thank God that he sent her to us. For that brief time she gave us a shining example of earnest devotion to God's work, and her beautiful, self- sacrificing life will not have been in vain if it shall stir us to imitation. The memory of such a Hfe will be an abiding inspiration. " L. Moon." BRAZILIAN MISSIONS. Baptized, jj ; Church Members, iij ; Pupils, 40. RIO DE JANEIRO. 1. By authority of the Board, Bro. and Sister Bagby left Bahia, June nth, 1884, and arrived in Rio July 24th. On the 24th of August "a Baptist Church of four members was organ- ized." 2. " There has been a valuable addition by the baptism of Senor Mesquita, who labored fourteen years among his coun- trymen in connection with another denomination, and is now Brother Bagby's assistant." 3. " Our principal hall for worship, which is in our house," writes Bro. Bagby, '' is well located on a main street and connected by cars with all parts of the city. The hall is large, cool, and admirably suited for preaching. Senor Mesquita is working among his acquaintances. . . . We are hopeful of the future." 4. But, from the first. Brother Bagby has had a lonely feeling amid the 300,000 souls of this capital city, and has cried constantly and earnestly for help. Rewrites February 14th: " My heart will leap for joy when I welcome here a man for Santa Barbara, and two for Rio, with a young lady helper. Around this bay are half a million souls, while along the railroad leading into Minas Geraes are many large towns entirely destitute. Near by is Petropolis, with 10,000 people. Further up the province is Campos, with 30,000 souls. We ought to have two or three men in Rio studying the language BRAZILIAN MISSIONS, 379 and preparing for the work. Cannot we have them this year, and the young lady, too ? " Referring to certain young men who desire to go to Brazil, Brother Bagby continues : " And will not our brethren furnish the means that these young men may come ? Brazil has a great part to play in the history of the world. Her millions of square miles of unoccupied territory will be filled with a vast population like that of Europe. What that future multitude is to be depends on what we do presently for Brazil. That it may be Christ's in the years to come, the empire must be taken for Christ now. Who will come and help us? " BAHIA. This is the second city of the Brazilian Empire, and has a popu- lation of 180,000. Since the departure of Brother Bagby, Brother Taylor has been working with growing success. REACTION. Early in the year soldiers were imprisoned for attending Pro- testant worship. Brother Bagby was knocked down while preaching, and he and his wife arrested, when he was about to administer the ordinance of baptism. Brother Taylor's preach- ing place was stoned, and city officials joined the hooting mob in deriding the religion of Christ. Many of our Church members were turned out of their homes and dismissed from business because they had dared to follow the dictates of their conscience. But things are changed. At Plataforma, one of our preaching stations, where Brother Bagby was stoned, our missionaries are treated most kindly ; and " at three other stations, " Brother Taylor writes, "all prejudice seems to have died out." He adds : " The circulation of so many Bibles and tracts has been, no doubt, the instrument of bringing about this great change." BI^IND EYES OPENING. Brother Taylor interrogated a friar and a vicar about the Bible and the new birth. They know nothing about either; and said that such matters are not taught in their seminaries. The eyes of the people seem to be opening. In Macio, the capital of the province of Alagoas, and the native city of Senor 380 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Teixeira, some fifty persons, studying the Bible, sent for a teacher, and Teixeira paid two visits to the city, and preached to large congregations. Before leaving Bahia Brother Bagby wrote: "The Lord is opening wondrously the hearts of this people to the gospel. A man on the streets remarked that he had never heard before so much talk about Bibles and religion and the gospel." A government official said publicly : " These men who come from the United States teach us the true religion of Jesus Christ. They do not seek your money like our padres, but preach to you a free salvation by Jesus Christ. This is the true church. I believe in Christ and in the Bible. I do not believe in the Pope or his padres." Nor is confession in word only. Our missionary remarks : " A lady, recently baptized, destroyed ,^300 worth of idols." CHURCH, CHURCH-HOUSE AND REINFORCEMENTS- All the male members pray in public : the progress of some in the study of the Scriptures is extraordinary; they show special zeal in inducing friends to attend the house of God ; and all their offerings are for work outside of themselves. Three young brethren are preparing for the ministry. In times of persecution and peril, the young men of the church and congre- gation have deported themselves " heroically." The need of a church-house is greatly felt. A diagram of the city has been sent to the Board, indicating a very eligible lot for ^6,000, with the building, the cost would be about ;^ 10,000. The Board has been forced to deny this application. More important is it that reinforcements be sent to this field. How can one man and a native preacher supply three cities and three or four out- stations ? There are also seventy-five children connected with the church, who, if not taught by us, must be taught in Romish schools. Mrs. Taylor devotes several hours daily to teaching, but what is one among so many ? A lady assistant is greatly needed. Five young men, said to be well qualified, desire to go to Brazil. All of them are from Texas. The work is opening and the prospect is inviting. Besides Macio, which has a population of 15,000, preaching has been established in Alogon- ihos, an inland city of five thousand inhabitants. MEXICAN MISSIONS. 381 Much labor has been expended, and large returns are antici- pated. Early in January Brother Taylor wrote : "Our reports show that in 1884 we sold 1,300 copies of Scripture. Some thirty thousand tracts were distributed. The gospel has been preached successfully in three cities and ten villages. We hope to start soon "a school on a self-supporting basis. The new year has burst upon us with a glorious dawn of brighter times to come." MEXICAN MISSIONS. Baptised and received by letter, go ; Scholar!:, gj ; Membership, say igo, VISIT TO MEXICO. " I. In December, 1884, the Corresponding Secretary was sent to Saltillo, and reported favorably as to the completion of the edifice, and the organization of the faculty of the Madero Insti- tute ; the revived and growing state of the Church at Saltillo ; and the general outlook of our work in the State of Coahuila, of which Saltillo is the capital." 2. MADERO institute;. The spacious edifice has been thoroughly renovated and frescoed within and without ; the grounds in the court and adjacent plaza laid out and beautified ; the furniture for the home department and for the school-rooms provided ; a library hall for the reception of a ^1,000 donation of books by the Hon. Wm. Bucknell, of Philadelphia, to whom sincere thanks are due, neatly fitted up; and a chapel in the Institute conveniently and handsomely arranged; and all 2^ a cost of ^3,700. In October the school was opened, and seventy pupils — of whom forty are boarders — have been enrolled. As the first of February is the beginning of the scholastic year, there was a formal opening of the school at that time. A large number of Baptists from the United States were present on the occasion, and the opinion, generally expressed, was that a world of work had been accom- 382 FOREIGN MISSIONS, plished by our Brother Powell, and that this school enterprise seemed wonderfully blessed of God. 3. FINANCIAI< STATEMENT. The Board has received for the school enterprise specifically ;^i 5,486. 19, and for building purposes specifically ;^2, 882.07. These works representing practically one interest, the receipts have been consolidated into a School and Building Fund, the aggregate receipts for which are ;^ 18,368.26. Of this sum ;^ 1 2,045. 17 W9-S expended in purchasing property in Saltillo in 1883 and 1884, and ^3,700 has been expended on the improve- ments of the Madero Institute. This leaves a balance in the hands of the Board to the credit of this fund of ^2,823.09. Funds have been received directly from donors by Brother Powell, as well as a large number of bonds and other obligations, payable in five annual installments. His final statement on account of this School and Building Fund had not been received, as was expected, before our report went to press. The statement of this part of the account must be postponed, therefore, until the next meeting of the Convention, when the two church-houses and other school work contemplated will have been completed, and the full receipts and expenditures by Brother Powell will be reported. 4. PERSECUTION AND PRAISE. In his annual report Brother Powell says : " The Romanists have assailed us in a most merciless manner. The Bishop of this diocese states plainly in his last pastoral letter that the Bap- tists are the only people to be greatly feared, and that the idea of believers' baptism is rapidly gaining ground in this diocese. . . . Protestant Pedo-Baptists, convinced of the scripturalness of our distinctive principles, have sought baptism at our hands. Many of these had never heard a Baptist preacher. This has occasioned some bad feeling. But we are here to preach Christ and his truth, and are likely to baptize all who give evidence of regeneration, and are received by our churches. . . . The Lord has graciously blessed us, and we praise him for his lov- ing-kindness and tender mercy." SUMMARY OF WORK. Since last May the Saltillo church has received eighty-seven MEXICAN MISSIONS. 383 members. Seven of the members are preparing for the ministry; one of them is at Baylor University, two are at the Seminary in Louisville, and four are in Brother Powell's Theological class. In December the First Mexican Baptist Association was organized at Saltillo. The association employed, at once, three mission- aries, who are doing good work. Seven hundred dollars was pledged for their support ; of which amount the Saltillo church contributed two hundred and fifty dollars. Brother Powell says : " From the beginning I have tried to teach the duty of self-support." In the same month the church at Patos was con- stituted. Brother Myers is beginning to speak to the people in Spanish. Mrs. Myers uses the language with facility. But her health is extremely frail. Other churches will be organized before long. Brother Powell writes : " The church-house at Musquiz will be soon completed. Senor Porfirio Rodriguez, our general evangelist, has been abundant in labors. A good brother in Georgia sustains three colporteurs, who are doing a grand work as ' fore-runners,' distributing hundreds of Bibles, and portions of the Scriptures, and thousands of pages of relig- ious tracts. The ' Hood Bible Fund ' has supplied a hundred individuals and two hundred families with copies of the Bible. I have translated Dr. Tucker's ' catechism for the family and Sunday-school.' El Heraldo Mexicano continues to go forth instructing the masses in Bible truths and principles. At the time of the formal opening of the Institute in February, the cor- ner-stone of our new church was laid, and the large number of Baptists present contributed ;^ 1,400 for the new' edifice. The Dunn department of the Madero Institute has nineteen orphans, supported by individuals or Sunday-schools. Quite a number have been converted, while others have brought their parents into the church. By the conversion of a girl, whose fanatical uncle had taken her from the school, both of her parents, a brother, and several sisters were brought to Christ. The girl returned joyfully to the Institute. A revival in the college chapel resulted in thirty-two accessions to the church. Worship will be continued in the chapel until our new church is finished." 384 FOREIGN MISSIONS. REV. AND MRS. W. M. FLOURNOY. Brother W. M. Flournoy has freely preached and made religious visits in several important towns of the Rio Grande district, which embraces one-fourth of the State of Coahuila ; found several Baptists from America who wished to improve themselves and benefit the cause ; and recommends, among other things, that ;^400 be appropriated for a church-house in Morelos, where an American physician proposes to give a church lot, and that he be allowed to devote himself for six months to the Indians in El Nacimieiito, the Mexican Indian Reservation, where he finds many Indians disposed to Baptist doctrines and customs, and hopes soon to open a school and constitute a Baptist church. Mrs. Flournoy's school, at San Juan Sabinas, is self-supporting, having realized in ten months ;^4I7.75, has enrolled 8i pupils and averaged 53 pupils. Brother Flournoy, who is bold, hardy and well acquainted with Mexican and Indian character and history, seems well adapted to the frontier and evangelistic work of the Rio Grande district, to which he has been assigned. REINFORCEMENTS. Brother Powell has been called to States adjoining Coahuila to baptize converts, and longs to go to regions beyond. He says : " The calls are frequent, urgent, piteous. How can we refuse them the bread of life ! I wish an active young man to assist me in Saltillo, that I may give more of my time to general missionary work. Many more missions, promising large results, might be opeAed in the near future if we only had missionaries to minister to them. We are grateful for the noble helpers who have come to us. Their presence is already felt by the enemies of the truth. These consecrated workers are bravely dividing the toils and the cares ; and our hearts are greatly cheered by their presence. We need now help for waste places. Last year we were encouraged by favorable recommendations of San Luis Potosi, Durango, Zacatecas and Chihuahua. Will you not en- courage us further by sending men to these large and important State capitals, where people are pleading with tearful earnestness for us to come and preach to them Jesus ? " ITALIA N MISSIONS. 385 ITALIAN MISSIONS. Baptized, j^; Membership, say 2^; Contributions, $42. 1. Dr. Taylor, in feeble health, has been granted leave of ab- sence, having been elected Chaplain of University of Virginia for two years from October, 1885. Mrs. Eager had been welcomed back to Rome, after her absence to America. 2. In April, 1884, the Apostolical Baptist Union was consum- mated . . . and ''initiated plans for promoting the princi- ples common to Baptists." The journal // Testintonio was estab- lished. . . . "The Baptists have not only steadfastly refused to take part in forming the so-called Italian Church, but have contended earnestly against it, as inexpedient, impossible, and unscriptural ; and in the course of the discussion have inci- dentally promulgated Baptist principles and practices," 3. At the conclusion of Dr. Taylor's elaborate and most admirable report of this year, in which he gives clear tokens of the divine presence among the churches, as well as accounts of the opposition and persecutions from Waldensians, Darbyites, Sabbatarian Adventists, Plymouth brethren, and Conditionalists, led by or fraternizing with our late recusant missionary, Signor Concorda, who holds to "conditional immortality," and "makes a fierce war against us," he says : " From the foregoing it will be seen that our foes are numerous and strong, that the difficulties are very great, and that the war we have undertaken in this land, however ' sharp,' gives no promise of being ' short.' But victories have been won and progress has been made, and especially do I see this in reviewing the eleven years which have passed since I came to this field. Be it ours to imitate the patience of the people among whom we labor, and to emulate the zeal and activity of our foe. The power of the Pope wanes slowly, but surely; and our own work, which is in large part that of undermining the old and laying founda- tions for the new, is more important than it seems. Nor can it be in vain, for the truth of God must win the day. " My last word is this, that if I leave this mission for a season, 25 386 FOREIGA MISSIONS. it is from no lack of devotion to its interests, but hoping to return to it, strengthened in body and soul for the work." AFRICAN MISSIONS. Baptized, j; Pupils, 795/ Members, 12^; Contributiotis , i igo. CHANGES OF APPOINTEES. Last year Mr. F. M. Myers and Mr. C. E. Smith were reported as appointed to this mission. On account of the uncertain health of Mrs. Myers, it was thought best to transfer her husband to the Mexican mission. Mrs. Smith departed this life on the ist of September, but her smitten husband adhered to his appoint- ment, and arrived at Lagos with Mr. Cook and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey on the 1 2th of December. IMPRESSIONS AND WORK. 1. Bro. Harvey says; " My present notion is to make every- thing secondary to the study of the Yoruban tongue." 2. Bro. Smith writes : " I cannot express my joy at being among this people, and in a small way doing the work I have so long wished to do." 3. Bro. Cook: "The natives receive us gladly and rejoice that so many of God's people have come to help them." 4. Brother Eubank gives this information : " All the new mis- sionaries will stop here for a while, according to medical advice* and let circumstances decide when they shall go into the interior In the meantime they are preaching and studying Yoruban with your humble servant." 5. Brother David arrived in this country in June, and spent six months in almost incessant work for his mission, exciting more interest, perhaps, than was ever felt for Africa. Besides making many addresses in different parts of the South, he pre- pared a monograph of the Yoruban mission, which was published and extensively circulated. Returning to Lagos, he took with AFRICAN MISSIONS. 387 him a variety of materials for a new chapel, for which, with freight, the Board paid ;^3,8oo. The chapel, when completed, will have cost ;^ 5,000. Having a longer voyage than was expected, Brother David has not sent his annual report in time to be reported to the Convention. From other sources we learn that the work in Gaun and HausSer Farm and Abbeokuta go on as usual, and that the school at Lagos is in a flourishing state. Brother David, with his family, was welcomed in Lagos on the 28th of February, with great rejoicing, only modified by the absence of their infant son, buried mournfully at sea on their passage to this country, May 20, 1884. His presence will give a new impulse to the work. The Missionary Union desire him to visit their Congo Mission south of the Equator, But our brother cannot be spared from his own important and growing field of labor. 6. In Brother David's absence Brother Eubank has been very laborious, teaching, preaching, working among the people in Lagos, and visiting the interior stations, projecting plans, and having the care of all the churches upon him. But he is blessed in his toils and cares. Hear what he says : " Brother David's departure has left a burden on me which I feel very sensibly — not the work, but the responsibility. My faithful companion nobly bears her share and helps me to stand up under mine. Yet it is a load for both of us. I sometimes feel that I would falter but for God's grace. We have been driven closer to him by it. Sad, to be driven, instead of drawn to God! Better to be driven to him than to stay away from him." Our brother seems to be extremely cautious about the baptism ofthe natives. Heintimates that it would be easy to multiply professing converts. He dreads on the one hand, the prevailing idea of " baptismal regen- eration," and on the other, the sinister motives inducing to church membership. He advocates the doctrine of " self-support" among the native Christians. In our brother's warm desire he says: " I suggest that the Board turn its attention to Africa. I cannot write of earnest appeals for the gospel, but I write of millions going down to death, not knowing nor caring for the way of salvation." 388 FOREIGN MISSIONS. CHINA MISSIONS. Missionaries and Assistants, §6; Baptized, J4; Members, 64^; Pupils, 145; Contributions, $56y.8§. CANTON MISSION. 1. Miss Young, wlio arrived in January, 1884, "is making marked progress in the acquisition of the language; and Rev. F. C. Hickson and wife, who were welcomed in November, 1884, are beginning to test their aptitude for taking upon themselves this oriental tongue." 2. Though the stations and native Christians have gone though unprecedented persecutions and outrages, consequent upon the French-Chinese war and other causes, the work has made perceptible progress, twenty-four having been baptized — " Knowing that they were uniting with us, in fellowship of suf- fering for Christ's sake." " It is a cause of great thankfulness that amidst all- the hatred and persecution and loss of property to which our native members have been subjected, no one of them, so far as we know, has denied the faith." 3. This mission has asked for a chapel and mission residence, the aggregate cost of which would be ;^ 10,000. 4. In the latter part of February a Baptist Association was organized in Canton, composed of 25 representatives from six bodies. Rev. E. Z. Simmons was Moderator, the other officers Chinese. Dr. Graves, with an eye, perhaps, to our Convention, writes : " The Chinese brethren, by their punctuality and atten- tion to the speakers, set an example that might well be followed by many of our Associations at home." 5. Lough Fook, who went from our mission in Canton to British Guiana as a coolie, for the sole purpose of preaching Jesus to his countrymen there, and built up a Baptist church of 200 members, with several chapels, who invested theiV funds for God and contributed to benevolenoe ;^2,ooo annually, died, at the age of 43, in Demerara, on the 15 th of May, 1884. He deserves record as one of the heroes of Christian faith. Dr. Graves says of him : " Thus has passed away one of the bright- CHINA MISSIONS. 389 est jewels that Christianity has recovered from the dust-heaps of China, He is a proof of what the grace of God can do for a Chinaman and what a Chinaman can do when renewed by the grace of God." SHANGHAI MISSION. 1. Dr. Yates, Brother Hunnex, with their assistants, " have dehvered more than 2,000 sermons and addresses on the way of life, besides holding prayer-meetings, giving personal warnings and doing work by the way-side." The Doctor has submitted to the " ninth surgical operation, having another fearful abscess." 2. Dr. Yates writes : " I cannot emphasize too strongly what I urged last year, that there be established as speedily as possi- ble, two independent missions of three men each at Chhikiang and Soochozv, with a common treasurer at Shanghai. At Soochow there is a church and church-house; but a dwelling must be erected. The Chinkiang lot, which cost ;^5, 320.80, has a house on it, which requires a thorough overhauling, and should have a chapel and another mission dwelling on it. Next month I shall proceed to build a chapel which will seat two hundred persons. I should be authorized to draw the money and build the mission-house before next October. I need not urge the importance of vigorous action in this matter of reinforcement, in order to conserve the results of the last three or four years, efforts to open up the two largest interior centres in the Empire." 3. " I have now in manuscript," reports Dr. Yates, " translations of Paul's epistles to the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phil- ippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, and have begun on his first epistle to Timothy." SHANTUNG MISSIONS. There being two independent missions in the Province of Shantung, the name of the Province is given, as a general title, to the missions, which was the name given originally to our missions in this part of China. ABBREVIATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TUNG CHOW MISSION, BY DR. CRAWFORD. " The year has been distinguished for hard trials, hard work and little apparent success. 390 FOREIGN MISSIONS. " I. The prospect of war has kept the minds of the people in a state of continued excitement. Persecution has fallen heavily on native Christians in many places, though ours have thus far escaped. " 2. At the beginning of this year the boarding schools were given up, and all ' pecuniary expectations ' on the part of the natives cut off. As a consequence, ' inquirers ' have ceased to come about us, and several of our former converts have thrown down their ' profession of Christianity.' " The statistics of the Church are as follows : 2 have been baptized, i died, 5 excluded. Total, 103. Many of whom are cold or give little evidence of spiritual life. " 3. I have devoted my time to preaching on the streets of the city, in the chapel on Thursdays and Sundays, with various labors in the study and elsewhere. " 4. Mrs. Crawford and Miss Moon have labored earnestly in the country and among the women of the city. Messrs. Hal- comb and Pruitt have taken several excursions for preaching in the villages in addition to the study of the language; in all of which Mrs. Pruitt zealously joined up to the time of her last ill- ness. All have taken part in the Sunday-school. Much seed has been sown during the year, but without special results. The harvest time has not yet come in this field, and it cannot be forced into existence. " 5. With our trials, we have received many blessings, during the year now closed. We have abundant cause for gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his abounding mercies.'' SETTI.SMENT AND PURCHASE. It should be added to this report that Brothers Joiner and Davault, with their wives, who are giving vigorous attention to the language, will probably attach themselves to this mission. The residence of our Missionary, Mrs. S. J. Holmes, has been bought by the Board for ;^ 1,88 5. EXTRACTS EROM THE REPORT OE THE HWANGHIEN MISSION. Last year the Board reported that the junior members of the Tung Chow Mission, Brethren Halcomb and Pruitt, had been CHINA MISSIONS. 391 authorized to organize a mission at Hwanghien. The following is extracted from their report : " Reinforcement and Marriage. " Our hearts were made glad by the arrival in January, 1884, of Miss Mattie Roberts to join our little band. On the 22d of July, to the great pleasure of us all, she became Mrs. Hal- comb. The marriage took place in Chefoo at the summer home of Dr. Yates ; Dr. Crawford, assisted by Dr. Yates, performing the service. " Coiaitry Work. ' " Mr. Halcomb and Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt made a journey of a month and a half into the interior of the province for the purpose of preaching. We hope that good was done. At Shangtszvang Mr. Halcomb took charge of the old North Street church, and at Pingtu we had a cordial reception by many of the citi- zens. In the autumn Mr. Halcomb spent a month in the coun- try working. He has paid three visits to the Shangtswang church, baptized there two persons, and opened a small school, the teacher acting as leader of worship for the little flock. " Called Home. "After nine months of devoted labor, Mrs. Pruitt, on October 19th, received our Heavenly Father's call, ' come up higher.' She has left us a saddened band, humbled to the very dust. We are honored that one of our number should so soon be counted worthy of promotion to the heavenly mansions. "Negotiations for Property . " Early in the year we commissioned Chinese friends to find a house for rent in or near the city of Hwanghien. It was not long before a suitable house was found and negotiations begun. Led by Dr. Crawford, we have left no stone unturned to get the house, and the same can be said of the Chinese to prevent it. They have not hesitated to use freely both violence and money. Once in the summer a mob of several hundred, supposing we were there, collected at the house, to the great annoyance of the landlord. On another occasion, his servant, who had acted as go-between in the transaction, received a thousand blows at the hand of the chief officer of the district. Finally they incarcer- 892 FOREIGN MISSIONS. ated the owner of the house with his servant for the double pur- pose of intimidating him and of preventing our closing the bar- gain with him. Six thousand taels have been offered to the lead- ing literary man of the place to prevent our going there. Money inducements have been offered the owner of the house, also, if he will recant. At present we see no prospect of speedy set- tlement. Meanwhile we can only go on with our missionary work from Tung Chow, as others are forced to do from many of the ports. We wish to say further: " I. That we have had the earnest co-operation of Dr. Craw- ford during the whole proceeding ; and, 2. That the Franco- Chinese war has operated to make the opposition more intense and more thoroughly organized than it would otherwise have been." HOUSES, IvOCATION, AND POLICY. This mission has applied for an appropriation of ;^6,ooo for two houses, and for the privilege of locating in some other in- land city, if they cannot get foot-hold in Hwanghien. DEATH OF MRS. HALCOMB. " ' One by one we cross the river ! ' Saturday morning the angel of the Lord visited our little band and carried away one of the best and purest. She had not been well for some time. During all her suffering she was bright and cheerful. On Tuesday night she had a hemorrhage of the lungs and continued to grow worse until Friday at noon she was taken v/ith con- vulsions. She had six, between which she suffered the most excruciating pain. When they tried to arouse her from the last convulsion her spirit had already taken its flight to the mansions above. She had prepared her bridal dress to be buried in, Sunday afternoon, at three o'clock, the funeral services were held at the home of Dr. Mills, where they had been boarding, The missionaries numbered only thirteen ; several of them had gone from the city. About all of the native Christians were present and a number of heathen. First we held the service in English and then in Chinese. Dr. Mills read 2 Tim. i : lo. His remarks were very sweet and comforting. The Chinese service being closed, the casket was placed on the bier. We all followed in sedan chairs. The cemetery is on the top of a high hill called Mount Hope, overlooking the sea. It was a very impressive scene. The sun was almost set when the casket was lowered to its last resting-place. "Just a little over one year ago Miss Mattie Roberts came out a bright, ambitious young lady, anxious to follow the command of our blessed Saviour, ' Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.' Let her dear husband have the prayers and sympathies of all. They were very much FLTURE WORK OF BOARD. 393 devoted to each other. His loss is a great one and hard to bear in this heathen country, but God is giving him strength to bear it. The first words he said were, ' The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.' He is an excellent worker in the Lord's vineyard ; may we have a great many more as zealous as they. Pray the Father to send us more to teach these poor, ignorant, superstitious heathen. "Sincerely, " L. A. Davauli. " Tung Chow, China, May i6, /S8j." FUTURE WORK OF BOARD. The most important of questions now arises as to the future of our work. It is made obvious by the reported requirements of our missions, and by the late painful experience of the Board in seeking means that the work which has grown upon us, natur- ally, inevitably and providentially, is beyond the support ex- pected to be given by our people. What must be done ? This question has agitated the Board, and should deeply concern the Convention. Shall there be contraction ? If so, where shall it begin ? Let each field be narrowly scrutinized, and it will be found that so far from contraction being admissible, if there is not expansion, damage must befall the work already in hand. In fact, it is of the nature of the missionary spirit to go forward or to die ; and the very end proposed by our enterprise is to gradually occupy the whole world. What, then, is to be done ? If the work cannot contract, but must expand, is not the only conclusion of reason and of conscience, that there must be cor- responding expansion of means to support the work. This is obvious — even axiomatic. But means do not expand themselves. And neither the Board nor the Convention has power to require the expansion adequate to the necessities of the case. How, then, must the means be secured ? This question belongs primarily to the conscience of God's people, and to the mission- ary spirit imparted to them by God's grace, of which spirit and conscience our mission works are the outgrowth ; and which spirit and conscience must be quickened and expanded by the truth preached and studied and distilled into spiritual experience by the Holy Ghost. Let the Baptists of the South be plied with the whole counsel of God, by a consecrated mini.stry, and 394 FOREIGN MISSIONS. as sure as they possess the grace of God, and God is true to his emphasized promises, they will come up to the full measure of their duty in giving the gospel to mankind. The Board shrinks from no labor, and are incessant in devising and executing plans to foster and enlarge the missionary spirit ; but their main confi- dence must be in the grace of God's people, wrought upon by Divine energies through intelligent and godly leaders of the saints. No plans, no agencies can take the place of this Di- vinely appointed instrumentality. Is this true ? Will the ministry commit themselves, in heart and before God, to more consecration in this regard ? Will the people say, Amen ? And the Board thanks God and takes courage as it glances over the past history of the foreign work of the Convention, and sees how, in executing his great purposes of grace, God has been gradually expanding the minds and hearts of Southern Baptists to take hold of one nation after another, until now they compass — though feebly — in their sympathies and prayers the whole human family ; which is one of the great lessons and ends of Christianity to prepare his people for the universality of his kingdom in this world and its unification in the world to come. And with expansion of soul has come expansion of work. From small beginnings in men and means, the Convention has pressed forward its missions in foreign lands, more and more, every year, until its missionaries, employed now and in the past, are numbered by the hundreds, the native converts by the thousands, and the contributions of the churches have been a million and a third of dollars. And is not this but an earnest of what is to come ? So many are the signs of the future prosperity of our section of the country, that the phrase " new south " has passed into popular parlance. But in no respect is the South destined to be more new than in the development of the reli- gious resources and energies of her people ; and, if Southern Baptists are true to their high vocation, they will not be behind the foremost of God's elect, who, by faith and toil, and perse- verance, and by the grace of God, are pre-ordained to usher in a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. The Board has un- alterable hope in the graciousness and good will of Baptists and the mission of the Southern Baptist Convention ; and imperish- WO'RKDONE. 395 able faith in him that promises to be with us while discipHng the nations, " even unto the end of the world." [From Proceedings S. B. C, 1885.] RECEIPTS OF THE HOME MISSION BOARD FOR THE IvAST TEN YEARS. *i875 $ 23,260 54 1876 19,359 81 1877 16,816 64 1878 12,960 43 1879 16,200 47 1881 27,369 66 1882 37.642 07 Total for seven years ^5153, 609 62 REMOVED TO ATI