St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-09
Survey of the Field.

Next followed somewhat lengthy report
entitled 1.-The Annual Survey of the Work of
the American Board for 1SS9-9J..' presented
by the foreign secretaries, Rev. DR.. N. G.
Clark and Rev. DR.. Judson Smith. Secretary
Smiths department includes Asiatic Turkey,
the Chinese empire, Africa and the Pacific
islands. The force now at work in these
missions was reported to be 1913. The i'm
portance of his department may be appreci-
ated when it is said that more than one
fourth of all the missionaries of the board
are found in the three strong missions
within the bounds of Asiatic Turkey, and
more than one-fourth of the moneys ex-
pended by the board on the foreign field
goes to these missions; they being but a
part of his department. In Turkey more
inconvenience has been felt from govern
mental interference during the past year than
for many years before; and political compll-
cations have broken in violently upon the
peace of communities and the progress of
missionary work in several parts OF the East
Womens work in these fields is constantly
growing in importance, working much social
transformation and tending to elevate the
women of these mont Christian regions.
The Chinese empire was referred to Us the
field of supreme difficulty and yet at the
same time the field OF supreme interest.
There are four missions of the board in
China, each occupying an important field.
The call for new missionaries for the ensuing
year was noted as follows:
North China mission. SO; Shansi mission.
II; Foochow mission, 10; Hong Kong mis-
sion, 4.
Africa was next considered and the point
made clear that SANKEY'S return, while i'm
mensely important from a commercial stand
point, is even more important from the stand
point of Christianity.
AS to the Pacific islands. no special feat
ures were noted, except that SPANS eager
ness to control the Caroline group and Ger
many's assumption of authority in the
Marshall and Gilbert islands, forces the Me-
ronesion mission into the open gaze of the
civilized world, Germany's indifference to
missionary work and the intrigues and
license of Spanish soldiers and priests is
complained of.
Papal lands, European Turkey, India and
Japan, occupied that portion of the report
prepared by Secretary Clark. The portion of
the general survey here presented includes
ten missions-four in papal lands. one in
European Turkey and Bulgaria. three in In
dia and two in Japan. No marked changes
reported, but general advance, on estab-
lished lines of effort, limited only by the
means at the disposal of the missionaries
In Japan the year has been q fruitful one
despite disadvantages, twelve new churches
| having been organized. making slxty-one all
told, 1918 members having been added on
confession of faith. Twelve japanese Chris
tians were elected to the last parliament.
To sum up the result of the years work so
tar as statistics can give them the number of
missionaries, men and women. has increased
from Ia TO 533; the places opened for the
stated preaching of the gospel, from 1,069 to
1.4O2; new churches organized, 27; mem
bers received on confession of faith. A. 54
giving an aggregate OF 3S7 churches and &c.
256 members. The high schools and col
leges for both sexes had an attendance of
1850.