The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-12-08
ENCOURAGING FACTS.


are animated with that feeling of sue.
cess which is itself often a guarantee
and promise ofvictory. There are two
signs especially that attract our atten
ton in looking over the reports that
come to us in the columns of our mis-
sionary journals, of which the first is,
the self help that is developing itself
among the native churches in heather
lands. They are beginning, in many
instances, to walk alone, and an earn
est is furnished that the time is not
distant when such churches will be no
longer missionary ground. The Church
Missionary Society, one of the great
missionary bodies of England, has re-
Gently instituted an inquiry into the
facts in this connection in the missions
under its care, and most gratifying re
suits have been elected from the exam
ination. Thus, in India, it appears
that out of SIZE, 600 contributed for the
work in that field, S19,O42 was given
by the native Christians. In West
Africa Sierra Leone, Yoruha, and the
Niger Delta), out of $50, 900, the ma
tive Christians contributed $25 900
In Ceylon the sum of S22 900 was re-
ceived from natives in Mauritius ST.
OH; in Persia, $3.50; in Palestine,
$1,120. Out of a total of S24O,75 re-
ceived, $4,000, or more than one-fifth,
came from the heather converts.
These results are confirmed by the
report of the London Missionary So
ciety on the same subject, which in
forms us that last year in its eight mis-
sion fields SIS, 365 was contributed by
natives, and in addition to this $40. $50
was received for tuition fees in mission
schools-nearly 100000 in all. In
Madagascar-from race hardly res.
cued from barbarism-S1O,00 was con-
tributed, and S29,925 in Polynesia,
where money is still scarcer.
The other fact to which we refer,
and which is one of very tender and
profound interest, is similar in its char
acter to the foregoing, and is mention
ed in the report of this London Mis-
sionary Society-namely, the self pro
pagating character of native churches.
The following statement is made on
this point:
The first missionaries landed in Tahite in
1897. The greatest darkness covered the PEG
pie. The first sixteen years seemed we'll nigh
frultless. but In 1913 the spirit of God descended
in great power and the Gospel transformed the
whole island. From that date the people were
anxious to extend the truth to others, and in
1921 they sent native evangelsts to Aitutake in
the Hervey Island group.
In 1880 they sent evangelists to the distant
Samoan groups, where now some of the most
remarkable instances of native selfsupport and
of missionary spirit are found in churches of
poor people.
In 1889 these Samoan churches passed on the
torch OF salvation into other dark islands. send.
ing their native missionaries to Tanna in the
New Hebrldes. John Williams, who left them
at Tanna, passed on to Erromanga where the
very next day he met martyrs death.
few years later the Samoan churches ex
tended their missions to Fortuna and Anityum.
In l84l and l843 they sent evangelists to Mare
missions. And finally" says the London So
cety Report. " the native churches in Lifu,
looking wistfully out over the waste of waters
for some new land to win saw the far off island
of New Guinea, and, under the Leadership of
Rev s. McFarane, were the first evangelists to
settle on the Southern coast"
In 1881 large number of missionary teach
were massacred by savages ID the southern
part of the island, but this only stimulated the
students i'm the mission schools NJ y ,iotaa ID
Raratonga, and in few months eight young
men with their wives volunteered to ell the va
cant places
In January, 1882, these native teachers and
preachers, and their wives reached Sydney
bound for New Guinea. Five of the men had
pursued their studies in the missionary lnstitu
ton at Raratonga, and three at Raatea. In
Congregational church in Sydney a valedctory
service vas held, at which a presentation was
made to each of the missionary gentlemen of
set OF carpenters TOOLS together with 500 copies
of Marks Gospel in the New Guinea language.
After going aboard the vessel the missionaries
were photographed in a group on the deck
As the vessel was about to sail one Of the
teachers standing upon the deck addressed his
brethren on shore as follows Friends. the
hour has come for US to leave you We thank
you all, fathers, mothers, young men end maid
ems, for all your great kindness to us during our
stay in Sydney. We shall never forget you.
You pray for us, we will pray for you We are
going TO dark land with the light Of Gods
work. He can make it shine in the hearts of
the people Of New Guinea as He has made 1t
shine IN ours. Our work is difficult but God
can take care of us we are not afraid And
may God bless you all with His love, through
our Lord Jesus Christ"
A RECENT collection in two Swedish