Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-10
MISSIONAR Y
From the Missionary Magazine, Of March. 1886
MISSIONS, STATIONS, &c.
SUMMARY.


Board. Missions %, stations 80, preachers
%, printers S, Of whom 2 are also preach
ers, teachers and assistants a, female mis-
sionaries and assistants IS, native preach
ers Is, native teachers and assistants o.
total 100. On their way to missions,
preachers 9, Of whom is a printer, fe-
male missionaries 9-total l8. Whole
number Of missionaries and assistants 1877,
churches FL, members l406, schools 90,
scholars 400. In consequence, however,
of partial returns from some of the stations,
the table exhibits an incomplete view Of
the number OF schools and scholars. The
whole number of scholars is estimated at
nearly 1000
Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries,
employed bv the American Baptist
Board of Foreign Missions, prior to
Jan l, 1886.
Whole number Of missionaries and as
sistants, 205. Died, missionaries %, as
sistants ga Left, missionaries %, as
sistants 3l-54. Present number of mis-
sionaries and assistants 1877.
As a fitting supplement to the preced-
ing tables, we subjoin the following ex-
tracts from the 26th annual report Of the
American Board Of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions.-IEd. Magazine.
CLAIMS OF SIX HUNDRED MILLIONS.
Il is now about twenty years since the
American churches heard Of the Claims
ofSiE Hnnired Millions of heathens and
n.l ssN.1 49, A. -
Board has sent forth in answer to these
claims more than two hundred missiona-
ries and assistant missionaries
The reports Of these Missionaries have
told Of the Bible translated and printed
and distributed in many languages; Of re-
Ggious tracts, school, books, &c, scattered
abroad through many districts and tribes
ofthousands Of pupils collected and taught
in christian schools; Of the gospel pro-
claimed in thechapel, by the way side and
on itineracies through extensive terrific
ries; ofchurches established and numer-
Gus converts gathered into them. They
have told too that many Of the heather
were ashamed of their superstition and
credulity; that idolatry was on the wane;
and that light was spreading around from
every station. Ifthase statements are true
and their truth cannot be doubted, how is
il, il may be asked, that we hear of the
"CIasms of Sir Hundred Millions" still!
After all this has been accomplished, does
the work yet to be ACCOMPLISHED remain
the same?
But do those to whom it seems as il
great progress has been made towards
converting the world, reflect on the vast.
ness Of the work! Think for one moment
ofthe great geographical surface to which
christian labor must be applied. To say
nothing Of Europe, half of which is as des-
titute Of religion adapted to sanctify and
save, as Hindoostan or China, there is the
entire continent of Asia, the entire CONT
nent Of Africa, three-fourths of the CONT
nent Of Ameri:a, and every island Of the
Pacific. and Indian oceans. What self
multiplying or expanding power has the
fundamentally employed possessed, to
bear efficiently on any considerable por.
ton Of this almost immeasurable surface ?
Think again of the myriads of human be-
ings spread out, densely or sparsely, over
these regions, the mind of every one of
whom must be approached and affected by
the truth. Count up the five hundred
millions of Asia, the fifty millions of Afri-
ca, the thirty millions Of America, and
the unknown millions on the islands, and
say to how many Of them the gospel has
come with demonstration and power.
tits said that the nations of protestant
Christendom have now, in various parts of
the heather world, about seven hundred
preachers Of the gospel. This is a less
! number than is deemed necessary for the
two million inhabitants Of Christian New.
England; and what can they be supposed
to have done to diminish the number Of
the unevangeiized. spread over three quar-
tiers the earth's surface, and embracing
two-thirls Of its population! They are in
fact enough only to be torch-bearers, to
show how dark and extended are the re-
gions Of night. Every missionary who
goes abroad, by the light which be sheds
on the field of his labor, makes the call
tor conductors in the work more loud and
urgent than that which drew him forth
BY all the missionaries now laboring
! abroad, tolerably correct KNOWLEDGE Of
the doctrines and precepts of the Scrip
lures may have beenSommunicated to ten
millions Of heathens. How little does this
detract from the six hundred millions who
were heathens twenty years agel