The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-13
THE MISSION FIELD


pore, gave the following as his opinion of the
work Of missions in India:
mo man who studies India with seeing eve.
can fail to perceive that the indirect results of
missionary enterprise, if it suits you so to call
them are to say the least most pregnant with
promise. The Dagon of heathenism is being un-
dermined on all sides. To careless bystanders the
image may loom as yet intact IN all its ghoulish
moLstroslty, but its doom we know is written.
And great will be its fall l have often given
1t az my opinion, and that ere many years are
over, we shall have in India great religious
upheaval. The leaven of Western thought, and
the leaven of Christianity together are working
on the inert heap OF dead and etid superstitions,
and by processes, which cannot always be close
ly traced, are spreading regenerating ferment
through the mass which must In time burst
open the cerements that enshroud the In
dian mind"
-SHwAY-DAGoN PAGoDA-Above all
surrounding objects as one approaches Ran
COON, Is the golden spire of Shway-Dagon Pa
CODA, crowned with its glittering fligree work.
Since the rebuilding in 1868. the pagoda has
been 225 feet in height Surrounding it. upon
the same platform, are smaller pagodas temples
gllded ornaments and trees, bearing every man
ner of tinsel and paper fruit and flower, huge
grlthns resembling neither man or beast sacred
bells and idols and banners and mosaic work of
colored glass, and before each shrine the various
CAAoAl anu WIdppou ABOUT inc lOOlS GOlO-DOr-
dered yellow cloth-the gift of a seeker after
Worthwhile even the base of the great pagoda
itself is draped with the same material. Shway-
Dagon Is the most celebrated shrine both in
Burma and SIAM and peculiarly sacred 80 con.
tanning In the inuermcst recesses of its solid
masonry eight hairs from the head OF Gautama
On this sacred pavement, sixty years ago, stood
two American missionaries, bound and fettered
ready for the execuhoner, but before the fatal
deed was accomplished the British soldiers burst
in upon them. The grandson OF one of the two
IS now in charge of one of the most important
districts IN British Burma.-Mr8. cambridge.
"A LOOK AT HoME-Who in the
United States shall answer before God for the
sad fact, that in this second century of the life
OF this mighty Republic there are still 200 900 In
dlans unchristIanzed within its borders 1t is
stated that there are emily eghty-one mission
aries at work among l84 600 Indians, or one
missionary to 2 900 Indians; III 900 Navaioes
whom Christianity has not touched; 5000
Apaches IN Arizona absolutely destitute of
Christian light; 1900 Indians in Washington
Territory still heather" How great Is the ripe
harvest even before the very doors, to say moth
ing of the vast fields of foreign heathenism
What call is here for prayer self-sacriice and
earnest labor on the part of Christian people of
this favored land How small and compare
lively trivial seem all petty coatentions and
strifes In the face of this solemn demand of God
upon the Church Oh that all the available
forces of the kingdom were in active service for
God and His cause
The twenty-five Missionary Societies
in the United States managed by women, and
whose support comes from women who support
75l missionaries, last year contributed 81 038,-
253 and since their organizations have contrib
uted $l0335 1874. The force Of Great Britain
Continental Europe and the United States have
an annual income Of So 1876 1896; man and equip
8 $50 stations; support 5 All missionaries; have
the assistance OF 30 OBS native helpers, and mis-
sion churches that have 58S GA communicates
and 1875 655 sdherents.
In Beirut, Syria, the Sabbath ser
vices IN Arabic are held in five different places,
including the college chapel Three evening
meetings are conducted during the week besides
Sabbathschools and womens meetings The
Beirut Church received twenty new members
during the year, seventeen on profession of faith
An important step in advance has been taken
by the church. 1t has voted to call a native
assistant pastor, and to provide for his salary"
The Arizona Star gives a good de-
scription Of one Of the missionary schc esiab-
lished by the Women's Home Missionary Soci-
city of the Presbyterian Church THE Indian
| Industrial School recently established in Tucson
Is one of the most promising and Hourishing in
situations In Arizona, and although il has been
organized only about one year !, has seventy In
dian boye and girls, all Of whom appear to be
making remarkable progress IN conforming TO
the habits of civilized life"
During our stay in Maulmain, every
Christian home was visited From the poorest
to the richest in every house Dr. Judson's
face was to be seen HIS photograph greets the
eyes Of the baby swinging in a cradle OF cloth,
the ends fastened TO the rafiers bv cords, or to
the one in box of carved wood swinging 10y
ropes from overhead. The fret aud most prom
inent object upon the dull brown wall for the
eyes Of all to rest upon JIG the dlgui6ed mission
airy, Bible in hand. In homes where to exc out
living the women and girls are busy m .klng
cigars DR.. Judson in a wreath Of cObwebs aud
dust bears them company.-Mrs. BaiRbri3ge
What the gospel can do in the way
Of civilizng savaees is thus told by The Church:
Twelve years ago the Modoc Indians were IN
civilized heahsns. Now they are q community
Of industrious farmers with halt their number
protesting Christians. 1t cost the Unied States
Government 81 ,848 900 to care for 2 200 Dakota
Indians seven years while they we're sayages.
After they were ChrstlaDized 1t cost for seven
years $4,000. saving Of ,728 Goo
AT the communion OF the Native
Presbyterian church, Sitka on December OH,
thirty-siz we're received on confession Of faith
The Woman's Executive Committee Of Home
Missions makes an earnest appeal for about $40,
600 for very much needed buildings at the Sitka
mission.
OF missionary success in India, Sir
ID