The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-04

unfriendly critics,--some of whom, instead OF
engaging in lf-denying work (2)
for their own people have disap-
pointed the hopes and plans of the mission
aries by coming to this country,-a much
better feeling, on the whsle, exists between
the missionaries and the native Protestants
than for many previous years, and thouhgt-
full men among the Armenians are coming
to realize the advantages of mission schools,
and seminaries, and to appreciate more Justly
the great work that has been done for them.
Efforts are in progress to givea larger
shareaof labor and responsibility to Ar
meni MS of real worth and ability. They
have been urged to assume the charge of the
religious newspapers, as well as of other pub
LEGATIONS, and to cooperate with the mis-
sionaries as evangelists. In the Nicomedia
station JOINT committee of delegates from
the church unite heartily with the ms
sionary in plans and efforts for the further
ance Of education and evangelization.
In the Central and Eastern Missions, with
view to more 1direct personal influence,
missionary families are adopting the plan Of
spending several months at the more central
out stations. Some of the teachers of the
girls schools also devote part of their va
cation to prolonged visits at important points.
Miss Proctor of the central, and Misses
Bush and Seymour, of the Eastern, Mis-
slon free now from the care of schools. de-
vote their time and strength wholly to
such efforts. In one of these tours, Miss
Bush writes of holding meetings night after
night, attended by from two hundred to four
hundred women. The influence of such
labors in raising the standard of Christian
life cannot be over estimated.
Various publications in different languages,
aggregating in all over seventeen millions OF
pages, have been issued by the press at Con-
stantinople. There were received for sales
and for subscriptions to religious newspapers
nearly $4,000, and not far from $4,000 by
the Bible Societies, British and Foreign. and
American, for the sale of Scriptures in differ
ent languages. 1t is worthy of special note
that, while the Moslems cannot readily be
reached by the preacher, they have purchased
the Scriptures more freely than ever before.
Thousands of copies in Osmanli- Turkish
have thus gone into circulation. The amount
spent by the people for religious purposes and
for education, notwithstanding their increas
ing poverty and the struggle of many, who
were once possessed of means, for the barest
necessaries of life, cannot have been less than
$4,000 the past year. The full significance
Egypt on the future of Mohammedanism as a
political power is not yet apparent, but it can
hardly fail to abate its pride, induce a whole
some respect for Christian nations, and pro-
mote the safety of missionaries in all parts OF
the Turkish Empire.
INDIA AND CEyLoN.
The missionary force has renamed the same
as last year. save the addition of married
couple, the husband the son of missionary,
and four young Indies, three Of them daughters
of missionaries. 1t is an interesting fact that
in these missions, out of seventy-two mi s.
sionaries, twenty four are children of mis-
sionaries. The work in these fields was never
before In SO prosperous a condition as now.
Between Ave hundred and six hundred were
added to the seventy one churches on pro-
fession OF faith. Plans are being carried out
to raise the standard of instruction of the
native preachers. The spirit of caste is less
bitter, and Christians of a dozen different
castles, from the Brahman to the lowest pariahs.
sit together at the common table of our Lord
The event of the year in the Maratha Mission
was the semi centennial Jubilee in October
of 1881. Public exercises of great interest
were held for four days. and thousand native
Christians were in attendance. Similar large
assemblies of the native Christians have been
held duting the year in the Madura and Ceylon
Missions. One such recently held in
Battacotta, in which much gospel truth was
communicated under the form of saered
concert, was attended by not less than two
thousand persons. These large gatherings
| inspire fresh hope and courage in the hearts
of the native Christians, compel respect for
the Christian name, and do away with popular
prejudice. Mr. John Chandler, of the
Madura Mission, and the Misses Leitch, of
Ceylon, with their brother, have been especially
happy in the use of sacred song on such
occasions, as a means of religious instruction
The Madura Mission reports that ssthe
| machinery necessary to carry on the work
effectively and successfully is all in good work
ing order They wait hopefully for special
divine blessing on their labors. The same is
true of Ceylon. The people are largely
acquainted with the gospel and great
movement, which shall lead multitudes to
and range themselves under the banner OF
Christ, may be looked for at any time, in
| response to the faith and prayers of the people
of God. A native pastor, connected with
another missionary society, writes, ''There is
restlsssness, an increasing restlessness,on tn.
part of the masses and often have heard them
exclaim, %, do show us the way of salvation
Show us the inner mysteries of your religion
We are far from being happy. We want
peace. Our religions do not satisfy US. Car
your religion give what ours eannotH" (3)
In view of such testimony, and of results
accomplished, shall we not say there is hope
| for India.
CHINA AND JAPAN.
| 1t is still a time of preparation in China
but not without results sufficient to enceur-
age and stimulate enlarged effort. Eighteen
| churches have been organized, in which are
enrolled over nine hundred m .mbers, of whom
| seventy-four were received during the year
The Foochew Mission has been sadly Grip.
pied for want Of men, but has enjoyed sig
nal blessing in its work on the Upper Mia
where native physician who has but recent
ly come to the truth has told the story Of tn,
cross with such effect, in the village where h,
resides, as to have won many, and the frs
visit of a missionary to this village was to or
ganize church. Such an example oi tn,
leavening power of the gospel, and Of wha
an individual believer can accomplish, will b,
Of the greatest value in encouraging the mis-
sion, as well as the native Christians. In tn,
| North China Mission, besides preaching a
the central stations, where audiences are evel
ready to hear the truth, much effective worl
has been done in touring, especially from
kalgan into the northern portion of Shanse
| The plan long in contemplation to NOV
4 xus AZ inf Shouco 70 -. e.