The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-08-04

anu WHICH Sucn rellSious Slhoasoleo, III
consequence, devolve upon the low
est of the people" THAT is upon Cary,
Thomas, Ward, and the other devoted
missionaries of that day]. "The wise
and the rational part of the Christian
ministry" he remarked, find they
have enough to do at home to combat
with passions unfavorable to human
happiness, and to make men act up to
their professions. But if tinker is a
devout man, he infallibly sets off for
the East"
But the work of the thinkers" went
on, just as the work of the fishermen
and the tanners went on in the days
of the apostles, despite the jeers and
frowns of proud Phariseeism en-
trenched in respectability. There were
but few foreign missionaries in the
field then. 1t looked like a forlorn
hope when they attacked the Colossus
of Heathenism. They numbered in all
the world less than 200. Now there
are 5000, not including the native
helpers. The annual contributions
have swelled from S250,000 to S10,O00,-
900 in Great Britain alone. The con
verts now number, perhaps, two and
half millions, and countries like Japan
and India are shaken by the pressure
of Christian thought. Nothing is more
noticeable than the steady growth
OF the missionary sentiment in the
past decade. In all parts of the hea-
then world, signs of encouragement,
and new feeling of hopefulness, are
visible. Even the stolidity of China
has been moved. The activity in AT
RIGA far exceeds what it was but few
years ago. There are now at least
100000 heather children in Christian
schools in different parts of the world
Of the Bible there were some 5,O00,-
900 copies in circulation at the begin
ming Of the century; now there are
more than 100000. All these fig
ures will be vastly increased in ten
years more.
One of the missionaries Of the Amer
lean Board in the Madura district, In
dia, speaks as follows Of the impression
one gets by evangelistic work of the
wide and deep influence of Christianity
upon Hindu society:
"To those who engage in this work
it is evident that Christianity and
Western civilization have been, widely
and deeply influential during the last
few years in moulding Hindu society.
The old idea of polytheism is rapidly
giving way to monotheistic concep-
tions. 1t is true that many try to har-
monise these conceptions with idola-
try; but the two cannot possibly long
exist together, and idolatry will in time
be relocated by all, even as it is by the
educated Hindu, to the class Of effete
and antiquated things. The strong
grip of caste is also relaxing, and peo-
pie are not so isolated and sectional in
their feelings as they once were. At
least, this is true of the central towns.
Literature of various kinds is being
spread, especially through the to wn of
Madura. Several copies of the Theo-
sophical paper are taken, but it is
doubtful whether purely athcistic news
papers are read in town or district to
any extent. Such are not adapted to
attract the native mind, which is nat
urally religious. Theosophy also has
been waning in its influence ever since
the collapse Of its priestess at Madras"
Even the hitherto fanatical and inn
perturbable Mohammedans begin to be
reached. The Rev. S. Mateer, of Ire
vandrum, Travancore, writes in the
" Chronicle of the London Missionary
Society,"" that the attendance on the
meetings of o Bible Association at
Trevandrum "has lately included so
many Mohammedans as to have made
it seem prudent to have a policeman
present"
Mr.. MooDY's fourth yearly confer
ence baoTps Of Nortb6eld 10 dov, oDd