The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-03
MISSIONS.

able and encouraging paper on Inc
Growth and Position of Christianity IN
India, read before the London Mission
ary Conference, says that too little atten-
ton is paid generally to the necessity Of
preparatory period in the history Of
missions in India. India has an immense
population, speaking many languages,
possessing an elaborate and ancient sys-
tenn of religion, defended by an intelli-
gent and learned hierarchy, and sustained
by complicated ceremonials and rituals
and by manifold sensuous representations,
and great, costly, and long-continued pre-
paration was necessary. The second pc
Rod is that of evangelization; and this
work has been much more successful
among the aboriginal tribes and the lower
castles than among the Hindus Of the
higher castles, especially those of Benares.
Probably fve-sixths Of all the Indian con-
verts are from the lower castles. By 1880
nine missionary societies had entered
India, and there were q 900 native Prot
estants in India, Ceylon, and Burmah, and
thenceforward more aggressive and per-
sistent evangelism characterized mission
airy work. In 1910 the number Of con
verts had more than doubled, it was
$1,000. New societies entered the field,
and in 1850 there were $4,000 Chris
tians.
In 1861 the Christian community in
India had increased to 213,370 converts,
and in 1871 to 318,363. And what shall
say of the present number Of Protestant
Christians in our Eastern empire? You
are, doubtless, aware that census Of the
missions in that region is taken every ten
years. The last was taken by the Rev.
H. w. Shackell, of the Church Mission in
Benares, and myself. The next should
be taken in 1882, for the ten years end
ing with December, 1881 Yet it is not
perhaps difficult to form an approximate
estimate of the growth of the native
Church since 1871, when the last census
was taken, to the present time.
Surprising that the rate of increase
since 1871 is equal to that which prevail
ed over the previous ten years-and this
is the lowest rate Of computation we ought
to accept-some persons, indeed, Judging
from the large augmentation of certain
missions recently, would, it is likely, be
inclined to take higher rate; yet,
merely calculating according to this lower
rate, there are now in India, Ceylon, and
Burmah as many as 100000 Protestant
Christians Ny own conviction is that
they number, at the least, half million.
Moreover, and it is point Of much
consequence to consider, there has been
decided and very encouraging growth in
the spiritual condition Of the native
churches. This is seen by the great in
crease in the number Of communicates.
Whereas in 1861 there were 47,274 COM
municants, there were in 1871 no less
than 78,494.
Again, the growth ofthe various mis-
sions Of the principal missionary societies
laboring in India is exceedingly interest
ing and encouraging. Beginning with
the Baptists who were earliest in the field,
we find that from 1850 to the present
their converts in all the missions Of the
Baptist societies of England and America
in India, Ceylon and Burmah have in
creased from about 10000 to between
$4,000 and 10000. Those of the Basic
Missions of Germany have multiplied
from 900 to upward Of 6,000 those Of
the Wesleyan Methodist Missions Of Eng
land and America from 1910 to $4,000
those of the American Board from 1902
to from 10000 to $4,000; those Of the
Lutheran Missions, belonging to five So
cieties, from 1916 to upward Of 10000;
those of the Presbyterian Missions of
Scotland, England, Ireland, and America,
connected with ten societies, from 82l to
some 10000: those Of the missions of the
London Missionary Society, from 20,077
to $4,000; and those Of the missions OF
the Church Missionary Society and Of the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in Foreign Parts, in connection with the
Church of England, from 81 ,442 to up
ward Of $4,000.
we HAVE already referred to the re-
markable journey made by the Rev. Jas.
Cameron, of the China Inland Mission,
across China to Yunnan The details of
the trip are being published from month
to month in Ch1a'S billions, and they
are very interesting. In the August num-
Der the journey through Eastern Tibet is
described Mr. Cameron's route was from
Litang, along the river Kinsha, or Yang
tse Kiang, perhaps the greatest river in
the world, to Batang, across a plain OF
great elevation. Litang is one Of the
highest cities in the world, being 1880
feet above the sea. 1t is the seat Of one
of the great lamaseries, connected with
which are 5000 lamas. Mr. Cameron
says the people are black with dirt and
look as if they had not washed for years.
The walls of the houses are often plastered