The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-31
From the Heather.

The native Christians of the United
Presby terian Church in Egypt gave last
year nearly three dollars each in their
missionary contributions.
In heather Japan ninety per cent of
4 the people are able to read, while in the
A United States the. percentage is only
eighty.
Another Roman Catholic priest, the
q Rev. Frederick Cruciani, has Joined the
4 Methodist Mission in Rome Italy. Much
service is expected of Signor Cruciani.
The Lutheran Foreign Missionary
Society has very successful missions in
eight districts in Madagascar. The mis-
sionaries report 524 communicates and
129 catechumens. They have in schools
no less than 3,038 children. In one dis
trict (Finanananiesoo) there are ten
! churches.
Hong Kong is an island about eight
miles long and FIVE miles wide, upon
the southern coast of China 1t was
given to the British Government at the
treaty made between the Chinese and
English in 1912. It has now popula-
ton of 100000 Chinese, 5000 Europeans
anu AueI1CduS, duu 1ioOO 1uo1duSu.
DIR. E. A. Surge, medical mission
airy of the Presbyterian Board at Petcha-
burr, Siam, writes home that he is build
ing a hospital there forty-fve feet long
and twenty-tour wide. 1t is being built
of brick, and is to be neatly plastered.
He has raised about $400, one of the mis-
sionaries there contributing 800, but as
vet he has not enough.
Christianity awakens in the minds
of the heather desire for all kinds of
implements which we, as a civilized
people, use. In 1869 five hundred
ploughs were sold to the inhabitants of
Natal alone, and were shipped from
America. Natal is only one market in a
hundred opened in heather lands by mis-
sionary effort. From these stations they
send to this country for furniture, cook
ing utensils, wagons, carts, harnesses,
saddles brides, books, maps, etc. The
pecuniary benefit, it is computed, many
times more than compensates for all that
il paid for their support.
The Department of the Interior of
Japan has issued proclamation declar-
ing that hereafter Shinto priests "shall
teachers, and shall not oficiate in funer-
al rites" The proclamation caused con-
sternatlon among the Shintoists; but the
Nlchl Nachi Shimbar1 defends it as en-
tirely proper. 1t says that of the three
rites-Buddhist, Shinto, and Confucian-
only few Daimios have been inferred
by Shinto, while the emperors, lords and
common people are always buried with
Buddhist rites. 1t also makes the point
that Confucianism is not religion, but
moral system. The JY;i iShimapo, a
new and powerful daily is in favor of
having all foreign religions banished.
AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY
UNIoN.-The statement of this Board for
its financial year ending April l, is of
cheering character, showing the receipts
Tor twelve months to have amounted to
$500, 584 10, of which $54, 1862 35 were
from legacies, and 500, l32 81 from Wo-
mans Society and other sources" This
is larger amount than the Society have
ever before received in one year for its
ordinary work. The expenditures for the
same period were $302,980 So.
"A letter received from China by
3 Bishop Wiley Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, reports that during Bishop
Bowman's visit at Foochow, a generous
Chinese merchant named Ahok presented
him with sealed envelope, which was
found to contain three checks two for
$4,000 each, and one for 81 900, the con-
tribution of this heather Chinee" (for
Mr.. Ahok is not yet Christian) to the
Anglo. Chinese College at Foochow. Mr.
Ahok began life poor boy, and the gift
from his own hard earnings. 1t is pleas
ant to know that though not professed.
believer, this liberal giver is apparently
not far from the kingdom of God, " and
that his son, twenty-five years old, has
recently embraced Christianity and been
received into the Church.
THE CHURCH IN JAPAN.-Of the
number of Christians in Japan Rev.
James l.. Amerman writes from Toxic ::
There are now 1876 missionaries here.
not including married ladies; SO orga-
nized churches, of which Is are wholly
self-supporting; 3,811 baptized adult
converts; 6 theological schools, with %
students; lOl Sunday Schools, with g.
764 scholars; 81 other schools. with 9.
l9l scholars SO native ordained minis
ters; 124 unordained helpers, besides
colporteurs and Bible readers. The con-
tributions of native church members. for