The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1888-04-18
THE MISSION FIELD

MRS LIVINGSTONE s GRAvE.-Piofes
sor Drummond. at Chautauqua, told of his visit in
the heart of Africa to the grave of David Llv-
ingstones wife-Dr. Moffat's daughter I'VE
went to spend the night within few yards Of
the place where Mrs. Livingstone died. Late
In the afternoon we reached the spot-a low
ruined hut hundred yards from the rivers
bank, with broad veranda shading Its crumb-
ling walls A grass-grown path struggled to
the doorway, and the fresh print of hippo
potamus told how neglected the spot is now
Pushing the door open, we found ourselves In a
long, dark room. Its mud floor broken into
fragments, and remains of native fires betray ed
Its late occupants. Turning to the right we
entered a smaller chamber the walls bare and
stained. with two CLASHES windows facing the
river The evening sun setting over the far-of
Morumballa Mountains filled the room with its
soft glow, and took our thoughts back to that
Sunday evening twenty years ago, when in this
same bedroom at this same time Livingstone
knelt over his dying wife and witnessed the
sunset OF his life. Under huge baobab tree
miracle of vegetable vitality and luxuriance-
Is Mrs. Livlngstones grave The picture in
Llvlngstones book represents the place as well
kept, and su rounded with neatly planted trees
But now 1t Is an utter wilderness, matted with
Jungle grass and trodden by the beasts of the
forest. And as 1 looked at the forsaken mound
and contrasted it with her husbands marble
tomb In Westminster Abbey, l thought perhaps
the woman's love which brought her to a spot
like this might be not less worthy of immortal
ity"
We have rarely seen better ex
hibit of the contribution of missions to the inter-
ests of science and the social elevation of people
than is given in the following paragraph from
the pen of Rev. George E. Post, in the NelO
York Evangelist of March s: at would take a
long list to exhaust the religious, literary and
scientific contributions to the Arabic language
from the missionaries in Syria. They include the
translation of the Scriptures and the STEREOTYPE
ing of the same in numerous styles; the prepa-
ration of a Scripture guide, commentaries, a
Concordance and complete hymn and tune
book; text books in history, algebra geometry,
trigonometry, logarithms, meteorology, botany,
zoology, physics, surgery, and periodical litera
ture which has proved the stimulus to a very
extensive native journalism. The Protestant
converts of the mission educated by the mis-
slonarles, have written elaborate works on his
tory, poetry, grammar, arithmetic natural sci
ence, and the standard dictionary of the Ian
euage, and cyclop@dia which will make Ii
brary by itself, consisting of about twenty vol.
umes of from SIX hundred to eight hundred
pages each"
SLAM "A Christian High School is
to be established to tram Christian workers and
raise up native ministry. Rev. j. a Eakin
for four years teacher in the Kings School in
| Bangkok, Is to be principal. He has raised
nearly $4,000 conditionally, and asks for about
$4,000 additional, which he thinks will be suf-
hclent to establish it on a permanent basis
with fair prospect of its becoming sef-suppert.
ing. Aid will probably come from native 81
amese of wealth and liberality, and the attitude
of the king towards Christanty is friendly
The Siamese are dependent on the Presbyterian
Church OF this country for their svangelization.
In Siam proper are only four Dreamed mission
aries and four or five native preachers for pop.
ulation of six to eight millions.
The Rev. II. Loomis, o. Yokohama.
writes from Japan There are in Japan, of all
Protestant denominations, two hundred and
htty-three missionaries; there are two hundred
and twenty-one organized churches, of which
number seventy three are wholly self-supporing;
there are 10 829 communicates; 7,145 scholars
are receiving education in the day schools
established by missionaries; 1907 scholars at
tend the various Sunday-schools There are
one hundred and two native ministers and two
| hundred and sixteen theological students, be-
sides two hundred and thirty-three native help
ers colporteurs, Bible women &c Toxic alone
has nineteen churches. In ten years, perhaps
less time, Japan will be recognized az a
distinctly Christian nation. What hath God
wrought? ?"
Brazilian Missions, the new maya.
zine edited by that mission, tells us that the
Presbytery of Rio de Janerio representing
thrty-three native churches, at its last meeting
in Sac Paulo appointed its next annual meeting
| (l886) fol the consummation of the negotiations
with ministers and churches of the Northern
and Southern Brazil mission of the Church
| South, who have manifested their readiness to
combine for the formation of the Synod of Bra
I'll which will thenceforward be the ultimate
court of appeal; practically the General Assem-
bly, Of the Presbyterian Church Of that Empire
The English Wesleyan Missionary
Society expended last year 800 Coo and re-
ports statistics as follows stations, 339; preach
ing places, ,224; missionaries and assistant
missionaries, 324; other paid agents, ]. 925; nm
i'd agents. 1851; church-members, 81 $685.
scholars, 5Sl08.
The foreign missions of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church report communicates az
follows: Liberia, 472; China, 374 Japan. 42S;
Haiti, 1855; total l ,73O. The income was $175-
348.46. including balance Of 500 739. 81 from
last year. There is balance Of $44. 974 80 in
the treasury.
"A oonvocation has been called to be
held in Chefoo the first Thursday in August.
| 1888, to be composed Of delegates. native and
foreign, from all the Presbyteries and Missions
In China, holding to the Reformed doctrine
and Presbyterian polity.
The Basic Missionary Society reports
its various missions Communicates AZ follows
China, $685. India, 1894 Africa. 1896; total.
| 9,497. The income was $l98, 1880