The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-20
THE MISSION FIELD


ual movement among the churches of Madagas-
car. The work began in Betsieo, where sixty
persons gave evidence of new life. The move
ment spread to Antananarivo especially to the
boys and girls schools, and special prayer is
asked for the progress of the work throughout
the island The people at Antananarivo have
welcomed most heartily Mrs. Mary G. Leavitt,
! OF the United States who, on her tour around
the world, is visiting Madagascar In behalf of
the Womans Christian Temperance Union.
During tortnlght's stay at the capital she adj
dressed fourteen or fifteen large and entbusias.
tic assemblies, and good results were witnessed.
! While there are sections of Madagascar in which
the power of the gospel Is clearly Witnessed
there are also many places where heathenism
and mlsrue prevail. There is said to be not
far from Antananarivo a band of six hundred
armed robbers who are the terror of the REGION.
This company of marauders has broken up a
number of the schools and the churches and
| the government seems powerless to restore
order.
Some things have recently been said
about the lavish expenditure of missionaries
A missionary who has labored forty years in
southern India In connection with the Ameri-
can Board writes us of his experience which
was that when he first went to India he fol-
lowed the advice given him and bought a car
rage that would carry four together with a
pair OF oxen, the whole establishment costing
one hundred and fifty dollars. Some years
atterward, a pair of springs from America were
procured to ease the heavy iolting and some
| parts OF the vehicle were renewed from time to
time; but this cart, as we might call it. was the
only family conveyance for forty-seven wears
10 be sure the missionary had another cart for
use on tours, covered with coarse mating to
keep out the rain, and filed with straw on
which to sleep, and table and chair, with boxes
for food and clothing, all for use when passing
among the villages IN the large district over
which the missionary was obliged to travel in
order to keep oversight of the work in scores of
villages The charge of lavish expenditure re.
bounds very lightly when it strikes against the
hard FACTS OF missionary xperlence.-lfssion.
arg Herald.
The Rev Fl. O. Minton, writing from
Calcutta to the Occident says: Last Saturday
evening heard Babubu Kali Churn Bannerii
lecture IN Albert Hall, this city, to houseful Of
his eagerly listening countrymen on the seven
fold claim of Christianity He ia a master
thinker he is an eloquent orator, he is a very
influential barrster here, but best of all he is a
noble, high minded consecrated Christian man,
and after that discourse, which would have done
honor to any theological professor at home for
solid scrlptursl thought and to any preacher at
home for chaste and beautiful English, said to
myself away with the idea that Christianity is for
the west alone and is not suited to the Oriental
mind Bannerji Is graduate of Dufs college,
and who shall say that DIR. Duff and those of
kindred spirit here and elsewhere have thrown
their lives away 80 long as such men land their
number is constantly growing) live to bless their
memory and to serve their Lord?"
Tile Gospel IN all LANDS answers.
80 far relates to the Methodist EPISCOPAL
Church, the question sed some time since as
to the comparative cost Of converts at home and
abroad. Taking the items of ministerial sup
port, church building, and current expenses, it
appears that III the home land for each member
and probationer added during 1887 there was an
expenditure OF Fl5l.73 while IN the foreign field
the average for each member and probationer
added was $l33 SO, of which over thirty.three
dollars was paid by the converts themselves.
This Is not the highest ground on which to base
an argument for foreign missions, but IN view
OF the general impression as to the great cost of
such work, it is we'll that the facts be known
"A commodore of the United States
Navy, who did not believe in missions, once
told the writer there was one sight which I'M.
pressed him az the most Christ like he had ever
witnessed. It was a medical missionary, in his
dlspenssry IN Singapore, toillng all the morning
long with these wretched outcAsts 10 the tIdlng
air Of pest-stricken city, and all for the love
OF Christ Against such an exhibition of IN
selhsh benevolence no cavil can be brought.
And the same effect is produced on the native
mind. Such a service so above all that their
religions can match, so without precedent or
basis IN their own experience, Is from another
world
"A recent letter from the President
OF the Christian College IN Canton, Rev A P.
Happier, D. D., sage that the purchase Of ground
for the building IS impossible at present owing
to the strong anti foreign feeling of the Viceroy
Chang, due 10 the passage ofthe Exclus on Act
! by the United States This Viceroy Is one of
the most powerful officials in China, and the re-
| lection OF the new treaty was largely due 10 his
efforts and influence Hampered as the work is,
the instruction is carried on faithfully and much
progress IS being made.
"A lady from DR. John HALLS Church.
New York has given $500 to finish the chanel
at SunRli, India, and provide bell and com
munion service. This chapel affords the only &C.
ccmmodauon for Christian worship in a city of
/ 600 600 inhabitants. population equal 10 that
OF New York below Fourteenth street TIE s,rce
OF Christian workers consists Of two married
missionaues and their wives, one Of them at
home and two native helpers.
The Nutionaz Baptist bas been look
ing into the matter of the contributions of the
churches to Foreign Missions with the following
result. In a table Of 6g res OF the FOREIGN
Missionary Societies in the United Stat g. we
md as follow. American Board (Conprepa-
tonaD contributions 1867 289 Presbvterian
Board. North 500 80 Presbyterian Board
South, 458 O4O. ". n. Church North 1926 784.
NJ. y South, 1924 584 American Baptist Mis
slonary Union 1890 s35 Southern Baptist Cone
venton Tor Board, }8G 1885,"
We learn from Chicago that q mis-
sionary organization has been recen II affected
among the siudeuts of variOus rcedicoi roIlo-..