, 1880-12-19

MISSION WORK ABROAD.
IMPRESSIONS GAINED IN A ToER ABOUND
THE WORLD.
At the meeting of the Baptist pastors Of
Kew York City Monday evening last, the
Rer. F. cambridge. Of Providence, r l., WHO
his lust returned from missionary tour
a1pund the world with his wife, gave an in
teresting description of the progress OF mis-
sionsty enterprise among the far-of heathen
Of Japan, China, India, Persia, Syria, and
otbes spsgap and Moliamme<lan countries. 1t
x1s tmistake, he said. to suppose that the
religions among these people were dormant.
OF late years there had evidently been q
strong revival OF Buddhism. In Toxic the
Buddhists had recently completed magnlil-
cent new temple at 3 cost OF $2n.|000. In
Kioto they we're building splendid new
theological seminary OF white marble,
structure that would adorn Fifth avenue or
INV other street in New York. In China the
aid religions were strong and active.
md particularly the ancient faith, which
was the groundwork Of Buddhism and kin
dred beliefs. The density Of the population
II China had not been overest1mated. There
we're over 4Oo, ,ooo, 900 people III that great En-
pire. He remembered one district in China,
go miles to the north Of Canton and foEty-fve
miles from the Grand Canal, where from the
ton Of a small hill he had counted, within
radius Of three miles, eighty-three villages,
with 600 to 500 inhabitants in each. This
was much greater than the population OF the
thickest-settled regions Of Central India
the great plain of the Ganges about Fatna-
The intense misery and deep degradation Of
the 250, ,000, 900 of Indians vas something
dreadful to contemplate. Modern evangel-
ishc enterprise was the only hope Of these
rast teeming populations. 4 thorough ac-
Quaintance with the modern missionary sys-
tan was in itself q liberal education. 1t
taught knowledge Of geography, ethnolo-
q, and politics, social science and luterna+
tmal Law. In planting the Choo Choo Fou
mission the missionaries found they must
become thoroughly acquainted with the
study aud practice of international law
he had read the old heather books
md authors, and thought there was
much to admire in them, until he
came to the countries where they
bad lived and saw the society Of Which they
wrote, and found it all au illusion,- verlt-
md ethical systems were dry aud barren, and.
IS a gTeah teacher had said OF them, they
presented iInperfectly mans yearnings after
God, while Christianity alone represented
Gods yearnings after man.
It was mistake to judge Of our mission
1lies in the East by the yyor1}-0ut and broken
t0Wn ones of their number who returned
home. The great body of missionaries in
foreign fields were vigorous and active men,
hborang under all privakions and dlsappo!nt-
ments to further the spread OF the Gospel.
The speaker instanced the case of Brother
nf R.trtn
robbed Of his property, had his house burned
ever his head, and lost his devoted wife
: These were some Of the nisfortuneS against
which missionaries were called upon to con
aend. On the whole, he thought that the in
Missionaries were fully equal to those
home clereymen. It was a great
mistake to suppose that missionaries could
fo:ont and earn their living, as Paul did
hE, tent-making. Paul worked among
ns. o%n people, and in land Win tne Gus Gus
IONS, habits and manners OF which he was
petfectly familiar; but AL American mission
fy. far from home and among a people
Ehose hardest and most laborious toll barely
sainced to provide them with tie most scanty
aecessaries, found earning his own living 70
ee impossible. He knew Of scores who had
yea It and i'll every instance they had tailed
r. cambridge spoke of the attempts made
q the upper classes to dilute the spirit of
Cat2stlanity with that Of caste In the case
bruther CLOVIS, in India, the wealthy peo-
ete had focked tn his preaching, and had
psa sa,lt schools aud missions for him, bnt they
were offended when he began to baptize the
poorer classes For a time Brother CLOVIS
nsltated and questioned in his own mlnd
.M.nether he might not Keep back Z little OF
ee truth to please the rich. lie and his wife
@ ssnt INTO their house alnl opened two Bibles.
saca at the SAME text, Not many wise, not
C.ay mighty" etc, and decided to go on
WIN "nn the baptizing. regardless Of the conse-
easnces, and not modify the faith at the de-
Ailhs Of supposed heather culture.
,,;a., = vas very necessary to encourage forelen
saN,or ~ ior many years, but the blessing had
~ aaaIly ny5 come to it through work. not among
e sse iMsieI classes, but among the most de-
Esoaea Ihe PreSbyterians did more Win
s s1 PRES, the Methodists with bricks and
saSo11or. the Consregationalists with their
racaed r.aed clergy, and the BaptlstS by the
s <oIe missionary zeal and spirit of their con-
ta set.: Americans, BY reason of their free
~ aadm NJ and the Independence and enterprise
Hone1as Hseet as missionaries than men of other ma
,snna sneines Their superior zeal for temper
saeS ssss;." was also in their favor. The speaker
49, On the eagerness and zeal of native
f%iaslans, and showed a photograph of six
~ ft.eese as With whom he talked and prayed
ssiti ~ toqr y hours No wonder fell in love
h. ea e NOSE Clinamen," he said. It would
ns.st "ell II the missiouers trusted their
se1'e 81 helpers more. In Foo Chow, with
fainsdn nioN - " Inhabitants, the Methodists had
hst;ss hsnea thousands of converts through their
ESou'e Eous preachers The horrors of some por-
e1ss.t rae VI me heather worship had not been
h.Js h.Jsgetated, In the suburbs Of Calcutta he
~ seen thousands nf women hocaing to
s.-lsaolis luois and loading them with flowers, aud