The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-14
MISSIONS.

-Four missionaries to Japan will it
is expected, be shortly despatched by the Board
of Missions of the Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN
Church
1t was in 1885 that two Wesleyan
missionaries entered upon missionary work
among the savage and cannibal Fiji-Islanders.
For many. years they worked with but little
success; other laborers were sent by the Yves
leyans, and little by little the heathenism of the
FIJI Islands was overcome Miss Gorden Cum
ming, In her recent work At Home in Fiji, has
some appreciative words regarding the work of
the Wesleyan missionaries. She says: II often
wish that some of the cavaliers who are forever
eneerlng at Christian missions could see some.
thing of their results in these isles But first
they would have to recall the Fiji of ten years
ago, when every mans hand was against his
neighbor, and the land had no rest from bar
barous intertribal wars, in which the foe with
out respect to age or sex, were looked upon
only in the light of so much beef; the prisoners
deliberately fattened for the slaughter.
everywhere to find the same cordial reception
by kindly men and women. Every village on
the eighty inhabited isles has built for itself
tidy church, and good house for its teacher or
native minister, for whom the village also pro-
vides food and clothing. Can you realize that
there are nine hundred Wesleyan churches in
Fiji, at every one of which the frequent services
are crowded by devout Congregations that the
schools are well attended; and that the first
sound which greets your ear at dawn, and the
last at night. is that of hymn singing and most
iervent worship rising from each dwelling at
the hour OF prayer" And that this religious
tervor is not an empty fanaticism is evidenced
by the further fact mentioned by Miss Cum.
ming, that In all their secular dealings the peo-
pie, are distinguished by simplicity, honesty,
and kindness.
MISSIONS OF THE UNITED PREsBY-
TERRAIN CHURcH-Not long since the question
was asked by member of one of our churches,
What are the foreign missions that our United
Presbyterian Church has, and what are thew
doingf The question was something of a sur
prise. The answer may be fully found in the
facts here:
we have two mission fields, viz, Egypt and
Indla. The former has population of about
5,OOO,OOO OF people, and the latter, in the pro
vinces occupied by our laborers, over 1000 900.
In Egypt we have forty five stations where the
gospel Is faithfully preached and taught and in
1ndia eighteen. In all we have in these two
helds or ON the way to them sixteen ordained
ministers thirty seven foreign missionaries and
4aborers, and It's native teachers and helpers-
or total OF $50 workers. During the past year
there was an average attendance upon public
worship every Sabbath of 1874 persons, in the
Sabbath Schools of 2 2l0, and in the dav schools
where the Scriptures are read and studied every
day, 4,122 pupils.
II is nearly twenty seven years since these
missions were organized, viz, November 1854
and June, 1865, respectively, eighteen churches
nave been formally organized, and there are
now 1878 communicates in them
Ane whole expense for carrying on this work
during the past year was $65, 407 81. or only
ABOUT seventy-nlne cents for each member Of
our churches here at home. And the whole
amount appropriated by the Assembly for the
current year. with the increased number of mis-
slonaries and mission stations, and which ought
10 come regularly into the treasury, is $4,000
or only eghty-six cents for every COMMUNICATE
IN our home churches. What a privileoe 70
nave SO small sum carry on so great and so
So91 VOTE. b. DALEs, Cor. Sec.
Philadelphia, dug. %, 1881.
The Universities Mission to Central
Africa, which was fret undertaken. in 1850
through the influence of DR.. Livingstone and
afterwards suspended, has entered upon a terv
hopeful career. Bishop Steere has now a we'll
equipped staff of thirty lone European mission.
aries, of whom seven are ladies. He already
understands the language of the tribes among
whom he labors. The present work of the mis-
sion is threefod: first, that on the island of
Zanzibar, which Is now OF a comprehensive
character, including many agencies secondly,
the work at Magila and its surroundings. some
i0rty miles from Pangani, on the mainland to
49, A'ii y! Dan1lDdr ana, thirdly, the missions
on the mainland to the south in the Romma
district.
"A FAREWELL MEETING.-The de-
Parture OF the following named persons, twenty.
one In number, for foreign fields of labor. under
the auspices of the American Board of Commits
sloners for Foreign Missions, was made the oc-
caslon OF very interesting farewell meeting at
Park Street Church chapel, Boston. August 3lst,
IN the afternoon: For Japan: DR.. and Mrs D.
Z. Greene, Mr.. and Mrs. O. Fl. Gulick Mr.
George Allchin. For the Turkish Missions
Mr.. and Mrs. w. w. Peet, and Miss Agnes NJ
Lord, Constantnople; Miss Mary E. Brooks,
Erzroom; Miss Carrie E. Bush and Miss Mari
+; Wright, HarPoot; Mr.. and Mrs. ]. A.
Ainshe, and Mr.. @. f. Gates, Mardn; Miss Eta
" " Poa1e, Marash: For Africa: Mr. and Mrs.
H. ID. D. Goodenough, Mr. and Mrs. William c.
wilcox, and Mrs. Abbie T. Wilder. For the
Dakota Mission: Miss Rachel A. Faxon. Six
Oh these-Mr. and Mrs. Greene, Mr.. and Mrs
Gullck, Miss Bush and Mrs. Wider-return to
service in fields before occupied by them the
others 60 out for the first time Some of them
sailed September 1st from Boston: six leave
New York September 10th the rest, Miss Faxon
excepted sail from San Francisco at an early
DAY. The gentlemen made brief addresses as
also did the veteran missionary Tyler. of South
A1frlca, now home to recruit; DR.. Parmelee of
turkey, and the father of Mr.. Peet home mis-
sionary from Nebraska. One notable thing CON
Cernlng the recruits is the fact that most of
them are from the far West; several of them
from home missionary families and churches
Mr. Hardy, of Boston, presided. and DR. George
Washourne, OF Robert College, read the Scri1.