The Washington times., 1894-10-27
LIGHT In ORIENTAL LANDS
Wonderful Success in Spreading the
Gospel Among the Heather.
LOYAL EPNORTH LEAGUERS
Mass Meeting Held at Metropolitan M. E.
Church-Interesting Address by the
Bishop Of Calcutta-Historical and Sta
tistical Data of Evangelical Work in India.

The Rev. J. M. Thoburn, missionary bishop
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India,
who has Dut recently come to America and
who will return to the East in about six
weeks, delivered very practical, entertain
ing. and instructive sermon last night before
mass-meeting of the Epworth League, at
the Metropolitan NJ E. Church.
The occasion was one OF much interest
and Importance in Methodist Episcopal cir
cles, so that in addition to the great number
of the League in attendance there were so
many others of various congregations present
the auditorium ana galleries were well filed.
The banners of the Leaguers, displayed
here and there in the church, lent a semi
martial appearance to the assemblage-a not
inappropriate reference, as the Epworth
League is enlisted in the cause of mission
work among the pagan nations.
Twenty-Five chapters of the league were
represented, President Sites occupying a seat
on the rostrum, where were also gathered the
Rev. DrS Johnson, Brown, and Mccarthy,
and Reys. Messrs. Eldridge, Ardale, and
J. b. Wood. of Baltimore, vice president OF
the West Baltimore Epworth League. This
latter gentleman was for twelve years mis-
sionarY in South America.
Bishop Thoburn's address was on the sub
iect OF missions. with special reference to the
progress of that kind of work in India The
seat OF his bishopric is Calcutta, and he has
been in the missionary field for the NJ. Z.
Church for more than lird of a century.
His long experience. familiarity with the sub
iect, and an easy flow of language, make him
a most entertaining speaker, and he sue
/ ceeded last night in producing plcasingim-
/ preston on an attentive and appreciative
audience.
ONLY FIFTY MISSIONARIES N THOSE DAYS.
"When went to India," he said, "there
were in that country scarcely more than
fifty missionaries of all nations 1 have seen
the work grow and have noted the results
1t is true that there has been great extension,
/ but it must be remembered that when Chris
tianIty has been successfully planted our
! obligations to the converts increase"
The bishop said that only ntly he had
/ received letters from his wife in India stating
that in one week 200 converts had been bap-
| tIzed, and that in January and February 932
! had been baptized. He was also informed
| by a native missionary that there were q, 600
| applicants for baptism, but that it was impos-
! sible TO make arrangements for their educa-
! tion. IhIrty-flTe years ago that would have
! been considered impossible but it being now
! a fact that conversions are this frequent the
/ question is pertinent what can we do for their
| CuACdE4Dll. WHICH Il q DItlLc eS-Glildl.
I've cannot reach it by collections in The
! East for the people are too poor and their
! contributions are minute as reckoned in our
/ money. The funds can only be raised by or
1 ganlZed effort and by such admirable asso-
! Citations as the Epworth League. There is a
| Methodist Church in the United States that
could support all the missionary work in
! India If q dozen of its members would pay as
much attention TO it as they do to their pri-
yate business. But there is no such liberality
and the raising Of Sl25000 is now "a very slow
process. It is possible. however. for the
/ 400. 600 members Of the league throughout the
Union TO raise that sum by its method of
/ pledges to the amount of half doll areach."
FOURTEEN BAPTIIsls EVERY DAY.
| BIThe bishop said that each day in Calcutta
there were seven boys and seven girls baptized.
and he expected when he returned to see
1000 Christians who were once heather.
1t is often asked what is done with the
money. and Bishop Thoburn showed that the
native missionaries. who alone were capable
Of making conversions. were paid only 81 80
to - per month. As they become more and
more qualified for the work their pay was
raised 10 $40. then to $50 year, and finally
when they were ordained the native ministers
| received a salary Of 500 per annum.
The bishop made II quite plain that the best
| local work could be done by the natives, and
USED Lle SLFlklHE comparison tnat the DeSt
/ sermon ever preached was by a man who sat
upon the grass upon mountain side. and
the second best sermon was by the same man
sitting on the curb of a well, his audience
4 being a woman who would not be admitted
into any of the fashionable churches of
modern times.
He closed with strong appeal to the
Leaguers TO continue their good work and
assured them that when be was back home he
would be thinking OF how their work here
would be progressing on behalf of the millions
10 whom the Gospel had not yet been
preached.
After the bishops address President Sites,
Of the league, read call for a mass-meeting
on Thanksgiving Day, ut which complete re-
ports from the various chapters will be re-
! ceived. Three hundred pledges were, how
ever, made last night.
DR.. Johnston then introduced the Rev. Mr..
Ward, Of Baltimore, who made a short, stir
ring appeal in aid of foreign missions.