The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-14
MISSIONS.

ANS"V VPOl Y VI OES OuTlSCuOnd
Pilgrim Mission contains the gratifying state
ments that two of its agents had succeeded in
penetrating to the Gala country and making a
settlement there, and the work among the
Falashas in Abyssinia was making fair progress
under two native labor ers AS an offset to this
report we have news that the Swedish expedi-
ton that set off so hopefully to the Gala coun-
try has suffered check, and that its brave and
energetic leader, Arrhenius, has died in Khar-
toum from the hardships of the climate and the
journey.
The religious awakening in the
Moravian mission on the Muskito Coast Central
America, of which we have given accounts from
time to time, has not yet exhausted itself. Be-
ginning In April last and being attended with
an unusual degree of excitement, it was feared
that 1t might soon die out; but over four hun
dred persons have joined the church so far and
others are waiting to be received.
The American missionaries in Siam
have been presented in a body to the King
They thanked him for the proclamation of re-
llglous liberty among the Laos. The King ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the work of mission
aries IN promoting the moral and intellectual
improvement OF his people He declared, how
ever, his firm adherence to Buddhism, while he
extended liberation to all religions
Foreign missions are exciting great
interest in England at present. An "old mis-
slonary thus writes regarding the Zenana Mis-
sion, which is a chief favorite IN London: Our
European ladies in the field are now between
nifty and sixty, and they are supplemented by
goodly number of assistant missionaries trained
in India and by little army of Bible women
and other native helpers. One missionary in
South India has twenty-one Bible women an
other recently appointed, has seven PERHAPS
the most effective OF these native laborers are
converted Lenana ladies' Its not of numbers
however, that we care to speak, but of spiritual
results Each mail how brings tidings of wo-
men emerging from the thraldom of their false
ialth, and receiving courage to confess Christ in
baptism, or of their decision to do so as soon as
| circumstances permit. Other valuable agencies
are faithfully working ipNthe same line; all we
pelieve have the same tale to tell. God is in
deed fulfilling His promise in these last DAYS.
and daughters and maidens of India as well as
In our own land, are realizing what it is to be
Partakers OF the promised outpouring."
ALDEN, ARABIA.-An English army
officer writing for the Church Msslonnry In
te5Itgencer, points out the Importance of Alden.
In ARABIA, as mission station. The town, with
small territory surrounding it, is British ter
rltory and 1T Is not only the port between India
and Suez but the centre of a traffic with southern
Arabia, and across the Red Sea with the Somals,
1t IS estimated that besides the native Arab
population Of 1921 not less than sixty thou
sand Arabs from the interior visit the CITY in
the course of a year. There are also eight thou
sand Scmals from Africa resident in Alden. and
communication with their home on the other
side of the Gulf, only fifteen hours distant bv
steamer, is very frequent The value of imports
and exports in the year 1876 was over Sl7,-
OOO,OOO. With such number of Mohammedans
within reach and under British protection. and
such an opening for acquiring the language and
gaining influence with the Somalis of Africa. it
would seem as if Alden should be at once occu-
pied by Christian missionaries
Rev. J. w. Butler, writing from the
Methodist Mission at Mirahores Mexico relates
an incident which ten years ago, would have
been deemed incredible, and which to-day marks
the wide progress the Gospel is making in that
once exclusively Roman Catholic country. He
says Mexican Roman Catholic with wi ON
have been on friendly terms some time, and to
whom ! once spoke of our schools, called and
gave me $50 toward the repairs of the schools,
under my charge, and 500 to be distributed
among the worthy poor of the congregation.
! Surely times have changed in Mexico when a
Roman Catholic will voluntarily place $3.50 in
the hands of Protestant pastor for his work"
Nor so Now.-When a lady mis-
slonary first tried to gain access to the homes of
/ the high-caste Hindus, some twenty years ago,
and at least see and talk to the imprisoned in
mates of their zenanas, the door was either shut
In her face, or if she was suffered to enter, she
was not allowed TO sit down. The utmost con-
cession was that she might stand in the YER
aDdah and often, az she left the house. she has
seen the people dash water over the place where
she had stood, 10 remove the pollution her pre-
sence had caused. And now Not a vestige or
shadow Of such feeling seems to remain. The
teacher is received as an honored guest every
where, even though she may not be permitted
to give instruction, mingled as they know it