The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-25
THE pREsBrrERrAS MISSIONS.
Reports OF n Years Work A Lifetime's In
terestiug Labor in the Orient.

In the Brooklyn Tabernacle yesterday
morning the General Assembly Of the Presby
terrain Church accepted an invitation TO visit the
Brooklyn NAVY Yard. A delegate moved that
the business OF the day be interspersed with
prayers, but tho Rev. DIR. Jonathan Edwards said
he felt that the work in which they we're engaged
WIS itself form OF devotion, aud II might be a
waste OF time to interrupt II as proposed. The
motion was voted down by an overwhelming
majority.
DR.. Edwards, Chairman OF the Standing Com
mittee on the Board OF Foreign Missions, read n
report favorablv reviewing the work OF the board
during the past year, and recommending that II
extend Its labors among the Indians, In order
that this aboriginal race, for whose Vices and
Fastening extinction the Government OF this
country was SO largely responsible, might not
pass away altogether without a knowledge OF
the gospel Of Christ"
The Rev. DIR. Lowery, Secretary Of the board,
eaid that while the rich contributed literally,
the poor were not backward. A laborng man,
who refused TO have his name published, gave
$50 years larger Rift than was made by any
mem Der OF his church. More missionaries, he
said. were wanted abroad. The harvest WIS
ripe, but the laborers were few. In a single
roviuce OF China, about IA large as the States
Of New York and Pennsvlvania, with popula-
ton of 300CO,lO0, all the denominations together
ban not twenty-five ordained ministers.
The receiits OF the board from all sources for
the the wear ending April 80; bad been s5l'.ess So;
board on April 20, 1875. was 1929 on April 30,
1915, t36,lS7 w. Since April 81 additional contr-
buttons had reduced the debt on May Is to
S3l.3}O.g3.
The Rev. Simeon Calhoun. tall, eaunt minis
ter from Syria, with white hair aud features
Drowned by forty years Of laDor beneath AN
eastern sun, said that, as the trustee of the
Board OF Foreign Missions, ana AZ the attorney
OF tho old American Board, he held deeds for
land IN Lebanon. Galilee, and on Mount Zion In
Jerusalem, belonging to the Americ Presby
terrain Church. tApplausel lie non was his
own home. There he mad lived aud preached
Tor thrty-two years, ana there he hoped TO die.
In the early years OF his ministry curtain was
drawn between the males and the females In the
places Of worship, but they had got rid of all
that. and now the only division was that the
males sat upon onesside and the females on the
other lie had for many years preached the
gospel In Arabic that he mad come to expound
the truths Of the Gospel In that ancient language
with more love almost than In English. Laborers
were required In Lebanon. Was there any
Young man In the assembly who was willing to
gof He had planted a grove OF cypress trees
many years ago around his home. They were
very small then, nut they were now Of stately
growth, and could be seen from Beyrout. Be
meath those trees he hoped TO tined his last rest
ing place. one OF his children lay there. aud on
her grave Stone were the words. " Sown In weak
had seen Ht to recall him for time, and he de-
sired to see sJme young man ready to Oil his
place.
. The Rev. George W. Coan, who for 81
years has labored In the missionary hel1s OF
Persia, was invited to address the Assem- bly,. He
Is stout. rudy faced man. with iron-eray hair,
and long white beard. whiskers, and mpustache.
lie wore a black skull cap that gave him some
what of an Oriental appearance. lie spoke re-
eretfnlly OF having TO leave Persia at a time
when laborers re most urgently needed. To
men who had learned to love their work, and
had tued the affection OF those among whom
they toed, and VINO pre- .ched the Gospel in the
! nguage IN which Cnrist preached, the word
retrench was dismal sound. " Retrench II you
will" he said, " IN the Injuries Of your own
homes, but for Christ's sake, and for the sake
Of the Church do not begin by retrenching In
the work Of the Lore"