New-York tribune., 1889-10-17
PAPERS FROM THE COMMITTEES.
AFRICA, JAPAN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
PRAYER.
THE PRESSING NEED OF THE DARK coNT1-
NENT' LOUD CALLS FROM TIE RISING
EMPIRE IN THE PACIFIC-TBsTIMoNY


NEYTo-LOUD CALLS FROM TIE RISING
EMPIRE IN THE PACIFIC-TEsTIMoNY
OF MISSIONARIES on THE FIELD.
The Board assembled at a. IN. and in the absence
Of President Stous icc-Presdont f. W. Blatchford,
Of Chicago occupied the chair. The order OF the day
was three special papers from the Prudential Com
mittce presented by the secretaries. The topics were
The EvangeLzatlon of Africa Review Of the Last
Twenty Years in Japan" and The Place Occupied in
the Missionary Work by Prayer
The paper on the question OF prayer was presented
by Secretary Alden 1t gave the testimony Of a
large number of miss onares in which they emphasize
their absolute dependence upon unceaslng communion
with God I'm Christ as their vital breath and native
air without which they utterly helpless their par
ticular need upon the missionary fold on account OF
their isolation and separation from the ordinary social
religious influences Of Christian land: the continuous
abundant evidence they have received that prayer
Is heard as related to themselves personally Their
families ard the work in which they are engaged,
both in the discharge of everyday duty and in hours
of special emergency; and their appreciation of the
importance OF this theme in its practical bearing upon
the responsibility Of the churches at home.7
From all the missionaries of the Board comes the
same urgent request long ago uttered by the first
uustrous missionary to the Gentle world. Pray foI
us This call always imperative, is pressed now
with peculiar emphasis by several considerations the
erst Of which is, the report continues
| e that there never time when II
cou,d be sad with much significance
that our missionary opportunity is literally unlimited
Fifty millions in China alone are looking TO for
| tbe bread Of life and all accessible, ready 10 be
| approachcd by Christian men and women and Jed
| into the blessed Jght Of the Lord. The same remark
couId be truthfnlly made in relation 10 oppOr-
| ,n,t. in India and Africa. Our rnlirs present re
o,rces of consccrated treasure and Of cOnsecrat,d
men and women could be wisely and efficiently appOr
toned simply upon the Tamil and Marathl fields IA
! India and upon Southern, Southwestern and South
eastern Central Africa. and still there would remain
| much land to be posse scd
| .Uuon our own particular missionary work. there
fore I'm these three fields China. India aad Africa
,ce the entire force now sds'a ainc by the American
po,rd and twice its annual expenditure coud b,
! udriousy distributed, and the hone and earn's
rv from each Of the three fields would s'il cOntinu
for .more money and more men, such Is III,
lreaGth Of our present opportunity as eontras wit
| inc beginning Of The work eighty years ago when 1
,,as doubtfh whether entrance could be made upon
! strnIe for.lrn field. and when the fir years con
.,1.utions were les. than thousand dollars. TOda
| rron these three fields alone We could wisely a.,
! economically employ OOr ms,iOnarie' and assisan
| missionaries, and eXIcnd an annual incom3 o
- oOCO 30 man need hesitate. therefore. as {
l,y,og TO the American Board bcqucs Of a. 900 90
and r. The mistaken idea that could not be uiicious
o., rcrdea: and the churches need not hr ita.c. 70
us sauie reason, to commit 20 the same BOard anna
,lv - 900 900 more. Nor need five hundred yOun
mon and women, filed with earnest missionary con
-eerttion, hesitate to present themselves for Tn
errvice OnIy the cons, rat'd money ami the conse
c,atsd messengers and the consccracd prayers mus
90 toee,her-the prayers, united and earnest, tn
most important Of ALL
Next Dr. Alden suggested the great need II
said: There was probably never time when III
difficulties which spring up in connection with N
prosecution Of the missionary work were more clearl
discerned than they are to-day. We have lsaFne
that II Is no holiday service TO undertake the owe
, throw Of the gigantic systems Of heathenism while
have been intrcb ii for centuries, aud which ho
p In bondage 80 many millions. And the problem
} noninaly Christian lands occasionally seems In &c
2 tain OF ns aspects even more psrplexing. 1t