ofihe FUTURE gofiom ^trengtRiff ^tpengiR” CONSERVATION CONSOLIDATION CONSTRUCTION i ■I* •i Ji' V'l V -I- y ■ .\ \ i \ rt ? \ ' S> ' '^ •’ .’ '/■ f, . ' . f- r /• 'X\{ ■mJ. *' > / < V*’.' I They Go from Strength to Strength Conservation of the Past The Act of the General Assembly Con¬ stituting the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 7, 1837. Resolved: 1. That the General Assembly will superintend and conduct by its own proper authority, the Avork of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church by a Board appointed for that purpose and directly amenable to said Assembly. 2. The General Assembly shall, at its present meeting choose forty ministers and forty laymen as members of the Board of Foreign Missions . . . and these forty ministers and forty la 3 mien so appointed shall constitute a Board to be styled: ^^The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Chureh in the United States of Ameriea” The Board so ordered by the General Assembly was organ¬ ized in the First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, October 31, 1837, and at that time took over from the West¬ ern Foreign Missionary Society the following mission work and mis¬ sionaries : Northern India — Four stations with 23 missionaries. Smyrna — Not at that time occupied as a Mission Station. Under . , , . 23 CENTER STREET appointment two men. Headquarters of the Board, 1847-1888 [ Page One ] They Go from Strength to Strength China— Two men, one woman. A station at Singapore was re¬ ported to the Assembly in 1839. Western Africa, Liberia—One colored licentiate. Among North American Indians— Six men, five women. Total Force in 1837—thirty-eight men and women. Total Force in 1923—1543 men and women. Total Years of Service rendered by all onr Foreign Missionaries in the 86 years of the Board’s history—39,120. Presbyterian Women Among the Presbyterian Women in the year 1870 three For¬ eign Missionary Societies were organized: ‘‘The Woman’s For¬ eign Missionary Society” in Philadelphia; “The Woman’s Board of Missions of the Northwest” in Chicago, and the “Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions” in New York. Through 159 auxiliaries, $7,327 was given by Presbyterian women to the cause of Foreign Missions during the first year, with 29 missionaries in the field, apart from those supported by the Assembly’s Board. In 1871 there was organized in Albany a Woman’s Board which afterward took the name of “The Woman’s Presby¬ terian Foreign Mis¬ sionary Society of Northern New York, ’ ’ merging with the “Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions” of New York in 1908. In 1873 the California Branch was formed which was anxiliarv t to the Philadelphia 53 FIFTH AVENUE , . . Headquarters of the Board, 1888-1895 Socicty lllltll ill 1882 [ Page Two ] f They Go from Strength to Strength \ it became ‘‘The Occidental Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. ’ ’ In 1877 was organized “The Woman’s Board of Missions . of the Southwest” in St. Louis and in 1887 “The Woman’s North Pacific Presbyterian Board” in Portland, Oregon. These seven Boards or societies were auxiliary to the Assem¬ bly’s Board of Foreign Missions and divided among them the territory in this country occupied by the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. The auxiliary or local missionary society was and still is the unit. It is in the auxiliary that the influence and zeal of every woman count. Well-informed, consecrated auxiliaries make strong Presbyterial Societies which in turn constitute the Synod¬ ical Societies. The six Woman’s Boards or Societies, Northern New York having been merged with the New York Board, celebrated their Jubilee • together in 1920, three of them hav¬ ing reached their fiftieth year, and united in one National Board, There are at present, after 53 years’ continuance of the Woman’s Boards, 953 women missionaries laboring in fifteen different lands. And so it lias come a])ont that through the prayer and faith of an earlier dav him- t/ dreds of devoted women have gone out into unknown lands and have given themselves in service to the women of the world. [ Page Three ] 156 FIFTH AVENUE Headquarters of the Board Since 1895 They Go from Strength to Strength Consolidation of the Forces The Committee on Reorgan^ ization and Consolidation of the Boards and Agencies in its Report to the General Assembly of 1922 recommended the Constitution of the Board of Foreign Missions as follows: Rev. George Alexander, D. D. President {a) THAT the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presby¬ terian Church in the United States of America shall continue to direct the foreign work of the Church, and that with it shall be consolidated the Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions of the Pres¬ byterian Church in the United States of America, and to it be entrusted the work now carried on by the Special Committee on Work in Europe, under the conditions hereinafter stated. (5) THAT the number of members (trustees) of the Board shall be increased to forty^ in accordance with the powers given to the Board by the amendment to its charter of date March 15, 1900. (c) THAT when the General Assembly shall have decided to effect this consolidation, the present members of the Board of Foreign Missions shall offer their resignations, to be accepted in such manner and at such time as the General Assembly may direct, provided, however, that the members of the Board, as at present constituted shall continue to hold office until their suc¬ cessors have been chosen. The First Meeting of the Reconstituted Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. was held on Monday, April 2nd, 1923, at 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City, at 3 P. M. In the absence of Rev. John Timothy *The original number of eighty Board members in 1837 was later reduced to twenty-three. [ Page Four ] They Go from Strength to Strength Stone, D.D., Chairman of the Assembly \s Committee on Reor¬ ganization, Rev. Alexander MacColl, D.D., Chairman of the Foreign Missions Sub-Committee, presided. Dr. MacColl stated that the Reorganization Committee had approved the nominations for membership which had been made by the three groups constituting the new board, namely. The Board of Foreign Missions, the Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions and the Special Committee on Work in Europe, and that their election until May, 1924, would be recommended to the General Assembly. Board Membership The Board according to the action of the General Assembly of 1922, shall consist of forty members, of whom twenty-five shall be men and fifteen shall be women, to be divided into three classes, so that one-third of the membership shall be nominated to the Assembly for election each year. * Board Administration The administrative work of the Board will be divided into five departments— 1. A Foreign Department 2. A Home Base Department 3. A Candidate Department The Foreign Department will have charge of all official cor¬ respondence with the Missions and missionaries on the foreign field. The work of this depart¬ ment will be cared for bv both t/ men and women secretaries and it is probable that the Missions will be grouped as follows: (a) India, Persia, Syria, Europe. (b) Latin America and Africa. (c) China. (d) Japan, Korea, the Philip¬ pines and Siam. 4. A Medical Department 5. A Treasury Department Miss Margaret E. Hodge Vice-President [ Page Five ] They Go from Strength to Strength The Board plans to secure an Educational Secretary who will be charged with the responsi¬ bility of studying the educa¬ tional situation on the foreign field, and making recommenda¬ tions as to development of edu¬ cational missions. The Home Base Department, charged with the task of culti¬ vating the home constituency in the interest of Foreign Missions, will be under the supervision and direction of two Secretaries, one man and one woman. The field will be divided, as soon as practicable, into eight districts, the location, bounds and names of these Districts yet to be determined. The work in these districts will be under the direction of District Secretaries, both men and women. The varied activities of the Home Base Department at Board headquarters will be cared for through a Field Department, a Department for Specific Work, a Publicity Department and a Young People’s Department. There will also be a Secretary for Missionary Education. Candidate Department There will be two Secretaries of this Department, a man and a woman, and such field representatives as may be necessary, men and women, and whenever possible, missionaries at home on furlough. Medical Department The Secretary in charge of this Department will be a physi¬ cian, preferably taken from the missionary force. The scope and function of this Department will be to correspond with mission¬ aries on furlough on health questions, to correspond with all medical missionaries on medical matters and to advise with the Candidate Department on special health questions related to candidates for appointment. [ Page Six ] James M. Speers Vice-President They Go from Strength to Strength Treasury Department There will be a Treasurer of the Board and two Associate Treasurers, one of whom will be a woman. Councils The work of the various Departments of the Board will be conducted and supervised under departmental councils. Members of the New Board of Foreign Missions Nominated by the Board of Foreign Missions Ministers Kev. Eben B. Cobb, D.D. Rev. Charles C. Albertson, D.D. Rev. Robert Gardner McGregor, D.D. Rev. Charles Grenville Sew all Rev. George Alexander, D.D. Rev. John F. Patterson, D.D. Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, D.D. Rev. J. C. R. Ewing, D.D. Rev. William H. Hudnut, D.D. Rev. Cleland B. McAfee, D.D. Rev. Charles R. Erdman, D.D. Rev. William Y. Chapman, D.D. Rev. John Kelman, D.D. Laymen William E. Stiger Alfred E. Marling Edwin M. Bulkley John T. Underwood James M. Speers William L. Amerman W. P. Stevenson John L. Severance Ralph W. Harbison Nominated by the Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions Miss Alice M. Davison Mrs. John H. Finley Mrs. D. j. Fleming Mrs. Henry V. K. Gillmore Mrs. Caleb S. Green Miss Margaret E. Hodge Mrs. John Harvey Lee Miss Belle W. Lobenstine Miss Jean Mackenzie Mrs. John R. McCurdy Mrs. Timothy N. Pfeiffer Miss Marianne Rea Mrs. Augustus B. Wadsworth Mrs. William E. Waters Mrs. James A. Webb, Jr. Nominated by the Committee on Work in Europe Rev. William P. Merrill, D.D. President Cheeseman A. Herrick, LL.D. Rev. Tertius van Dyke [ Page Seven ] They Go from Strength to Strength Presbyterian Women and Foreign Missions One of the resolutions passed at a meeting of the Assembly’s Committee on Reorganization held on January 16th, 1923, stresses the work of women’s missionary organizations and reads as follows: ‘^The Committee desires to recognize with special grati¬ tude the spirit of cooperation and indeed of sacrifice with which the women have entered into the consolidation plans and to emphasize again the importance of conserving in every way the invaluable and specific work of the Woman’s Mis¬ sionary Societies in the local churches and in Synods and Presbyteries. All women of the churches are urged to recog¬ nize the importance of supporting these Societies in addition to their contributions to the general work; and it should be clearly understood that under the new plan the selection of objects towards which these Societies will contribute will be under their own direction as hitherto.” Foreign Missions After 86 Years ‘‘The lapse of 86 years has wrought no change in the mis¬ sionary motive or missionary purpose. The impelling force is still the constraining Jove of Christ and the conversion of the world to God is still the ultimate aim. Methods change because the world has been marvelously changing and greater changes seem imminent. ‘ ‘ The founders of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions were men of great faith, but if they could have had the vision of what we are permitted to see they would have been as men that dreamed. “THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS HAS BEEN SUC¬ CEEDED BY A DAY OF GREAT THINGS IN MISSIONARY SERVICE, BUT TO AN AWAKENED CHURCH TO-MOR¬ ROW PROMISES THINGS FAR GREATER.” 1 Page Eight ] President of the Board. They Go from Strength to Strength Construction of an. Enlarged Program Abroad The Program on the foreign field is very simple. Its aim is to make Jesus Christ known to all the people for whose evangelization the Presbyterian Church is responsible. Its Methods are direct preach¬ ing; training of evangelists; schools for Christians to prepare them for service and for non- Christians to win them to Christ and to qualify them for life; hospitals to help the needy and to reveal the love of God; litera¬ ture and presses for its publication where necessary to diffuse truth and light. Its spirit is the spirit of sympathy with men and of loyalty to Christ and of undying patience and hope. The Goal of foreign mission work is the establishment of a living and efficient native Church in each field which will beyond until the witness and service of the Church is complete. This Program in its immediate necessities calls for hundreds of men and women, evangelists, teachers, doctors, nurses and other workers for Asia, Africa and Latin America and five million dollars annually for their support, and for the provision of homes, schools, hospitals and churches. This Program is as great as all the needs of human society. It is as simple as the command of Christ: “Go and Tell.” It is the only program of hope for the world. ‘ ‘ In Christ is Life, provided for all mankind and me. ’ ^ And not elsewhere. There are under instruction for church membership 96,538 catechumens. The 4,816 Sunday Schools have an en¬ rollment of 345,727. take over as soon as possible the whole task of the Christian Church in the nation with such help as it may still need from us, or with no help, so that we can be free to pass on to regions The Presbyterian Church abroad in its 26 missions, includes 1,214 organized churches, 4,412 groups, 1,281 self-supporting churches and 206,043 communicant members. [ Page Nine ] They Go from Strength to Strength Construction of an Enlarged Program at Home The new Board of Foreign Missions considers it to be one of its greatest objectives and opportunities to present the facts regarding the world-wide service of the Church to Presbyterians, to the end that they shall be led to make Foreign Missions the supreme aim in their lives, and to support the work adequately. Denominational loyalty to the work of the Church is impera¬ tively needed. No organization for meeting the needs of the world has a more carefully prepared plan than the Presbyterian Church or more consecrated missionaries who are faithful to Christ and His Word. The Board and the Churches The Home Base Department of the Foreign Board co¬ operates with the churches in helping to create and increase missionary interest. All possible assistance is gladly rendered, either personally or through correspondence. District Secre¬ taries are responsible for Home Base cooperation in their districts. In the following ways the Board is continually helping the churches to accomplish their missionary task. Missions Through Personality There is no more effective way of presenting truths and facts about the missionary work of the Church than by the spoken message. 1. Missionary sermons, addresses and lectures by the pastor. Information is abundant and at hand, as suggested in MISSIONS IN PRINT below. The speaker must humanize and vitalize it. 2. Addresses and lectures by furloughed and retired mis¬ sionaries, travelers. Board members and officers, District, Synodi¬ cal and Presbyterial representatives. Missions in Print Missionary literature is abundant and accessible. The Annual Report of the Foreign Board, with topical index; ‘‘All the World,” issued quarterly by the Board; “Woman’s Work,” monthly; “The Presbyterian Magazine,” monthly; pamphlets [ Page Ten ] They Go from Strength to Strength and leaflets issued by the Board; letters from missionaries; re¬ ligions newspapers; missionary magazines; current world news in papers and magazines; books;—a wealth of information. Missions Through Study Every church should have an educational program adapted to its needs, including the study of missions. Sermons, lectures and addresses are invaluable, but ‘Tt is not what we give, but what they get that counts.” In the Sunday school, the mid¬ week service, ‘‘Church Night,” missionary societies, brother¬ hoods, young people’s societies and at special times the study of missions can be introduced. Up-to-date study books and sug¬ gestions for study class leaders are always available. Successful methods for conducting mission study classes and the “Church School of Missions” have been used in all types of churches. ‘ ‘ It will not work in Our church ’ ’ is not in the latest missionary phrase book. Beading, thinking and class discussion will make any church a missionary church. Going and giving follow naturally. Missions Visualized Stereopticon Lectures of all the missions of the Presbyterian Church can be secured from the Foreign Board and all its District offices. Posters and Charts, preferably made by members of the local church, because of activity value, for use on bulletin board in vestibule, announcing missionary meetings, speakers. School of Missions, etc. Missionary Pageants and Dramas, suggestions and words for which can be secured from the Foreign Board and its District offices. Missionary Expositions, which have been arranged in several cities by the Exposition Department of the New Era Movement. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEEDS OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSION FIELDS WE MUST ALSO AID THE CHURCHES IN WAR TORN EUROPE OUR RESOURCES: { THE POWER OF GOD THE LOYALTY OF THE CHURCH [ Page Eleven ] They Go from Strength to Strength Missions and Money Official requests from the Missions for property of first im¬ portance for 1923-24, omitting higher educational institutions and other urgent needs, total $1,900,554.69. The Board in the Budget this year can ask for just about one-third of this amount for property, including the needs of higher educational insti¬ tutions. A large number of residences for missionaries is re¬ quired, yet in the Budget we can ask for only a fraction of them. According to a recent statement of the United Stewardship Council, the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. ranks fifteenth among all the churches of the United States and Canada in denominational loyalty as judged by the per capita support of its own benevolences. Last year the contributions through all Boards and agencies of our Church were only $5.46 per member. Receipts from native sources in our Foreign Mission fields last year were $2,050,513, which is 56 cents for every dollar that living donors in our churches in the United States gave for the support and work of our foreign missionaries. Budget contributions to Foreign Missions can be designated for the support of a particular missionary, or the support of a mission station in whole or in part, if the donors so desire. The cost of administration and Home Base Department work of the Foreign Board last year was 8 per cent, of the receipts. The Board’s share in the expenses of the New Era Movement cost an additional 2.5 per cent, of the receipts. Missions and Prayer The Year Book of Prayer for Missions is an aid in helping the Church to pray for its representatives in public, in private and at the family altar. It gives for each day the names, loca¬ tion and duties of certain missionaries, so that during the year all of them can be remembered personally in prayer. The Needs of the World and the Life of the Church Require Sacrificial Giving of Money, Prayer and Life f Papre Twelve 1 The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City 1923 BRIBGKB PKBS8,1XC.,V.T.