The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-08-12
THE MISSION FIELD.

f1G Ih1OO1ON FlELO.
WORK AMONG THE MoNGoLs. The
dawn of brighter and better day seems at last
to be breaking over the wide Mongolian steppes.
Many years of faithful labor and toll by men
OF God who have gone to their rest were spent
there with visible results. But the reaping
time seems to be coming at last. We gave in a
recent number account OF the baptism at
halgan of the first Mongolian convert to Chris
tlanlty. The reception of this man has aroused
great interest among his own people, He did
not hide his light on his return to his house,
and he soon returned to Kalgan and urged and
entreated visit from some missionary. Mr..
Sprague, of the American Board, went with
him. He thus writes of his visit: He and his
family received us cordially, and in the evening
we gathered in a circle around the fire. and read
selections of Scripture, gave explanations and
exhortatlons, and closed the long evening with
season of prayer 1t was good to hear the
voice of prayer in Mongol tent and by Mon
gol surrounded with his family and friends. The
weather without was below zero, but our hearts
were warmed at the throne of grace Next day
the brother was obliged to go to Kalgan on
official business, and went on to give my New
I ear salutatlons to two families of wealth,
who for years have occasionally heard the Cos
pei. They asked many interesting questions
about the Jesus religion, but as yet they are
not willing to come out and confess what they
so we'll know to be the truth. Next day 1
IedCueu duOIneT CnrlSIldQ nome IN mongolia.
The man has not been baptized, but wishes to
be, and L hope soon will be. His wife also
seems a sincere believer Though poor, and
having but one tent, they welcomed me most
cordially, and insisted on my remaining over
night. The wife and daughters would remove
to poor one-room mud house which had not
been heated this winter. l. of course, could not
consent to that but told them if l might occupy
the cold house 1 would be glad to stay. In a
little while they had fire started, and my
carter and myself were established the
northwest guest-room.' After the hot supper
of millet and cheese and salted tea, which our
host provided we again for an hour or two read
the Word and had prayer. 1t seems strange
and yet most delightful, to hear Mongols speak
ing the language of faith and love to God"
Presbyterian Messenger London.
"A GIFT TO OUR CHINA Mission
We have often been made to feel what warm
place this mission has in the heartssof our peo-
pie. And 1t Is very cheering to the Ex xecutive
here as well as to the missionaries in the field,
when special evidence is afforded of warm and
loving interest in the work. One missionary,
Mr. Burns once sent home years salary in
order to bring out another laborer; and iJ has
not been forgotten that Mr.. Sandeman bequeath-
ed to the mission the bulk of his patrimony, by
means of which the committee have been
enabled to do more In extending the work than
they could otherwise have done. Noble gifts
have from time to time been laid on Gods altar
have ever been so much cheered as we were a
few days ago by receiving from one who desires
to be anonymous, e3 900 for the funds of the
mission The donor is L" member of the Pres
byterian Church of England" who gives the
money to the Lords cause, and will rejoice if it
is found helpful in advancing His glory.
" Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
God is able to make all grace abound towards
you" ID.
The Turkish tax gatherer at Bansko,
European Turkey say that he can tell Pro-
testant house from any other because it is cleaner
and better kept, and that when his hour for
prayer comes he seeks Protest MT house to pray
in because of its superior neatness. He also
says that when he enters such house he does
not search for hidden goods, since " the Protes-
tants do not lie"
An English paper published in
Antananarivo gives an Independent view Of the
position Of missionaries in Madagascar at tie
close Of last year.
Looking at the missionary element Of this
great island, 1t is perhaps the one that has the
| least suffered by the war, and the year 1884
closes with seventy missionaries in Madagascar
forty of whom reside in Antananarivo. The
Malagaesy missionary of 1884 differs as much
! from the ideal type of missionary among saw
ages does the lord Of a landed estate in Buck
! lnghamSnre dlHer from Jne lueal Adam ulllng
the soil. The system of instruction throughout
Imerlna is now achine in good running or
der, that has already taken root as a part Of the
social development Of this people. The mission.
aries now are looked upon rs helpers not lead
ers and although the Hovas admit their supe.
ror learning aud look upon the money which
they introduce into the island a. a valuable ard
still they are very jealous Of allow ng them any
| admluIscr4tve power Personally, they are all
| liked and respec ed but as a foreign body they
are not supposed to have the slightest official
connection with or influence over, the Minis
teri 81 Department Of Public Instruction. Not
witbstandiDg this the Hovas know in their own
minds that without the co. operation Of these
powerful societies the whole fabric would fall
into very slovenly condition The Roman
Catholics have only been driven out eighteen
months and with the exception Of their archi-
tectural monuments there remains scarcely
anything to show that Roman Catholicism ever
had any disciples at al in Madagascar"
The cable says that the French Chambers
have voted a credit for further hostilites against
the poor Malagassy. What a shame 1t is that
these civilized and peaceable blacks are not per-
mitted to occupy their own country in peace
and quiet