Smyrna times., 1894-08-29
The Success of Missionary Work at
Home and in Foreign Lands.
MARKED SUCCESS IN EVERY FIELD.

uOulO anu III 4 UIGlBu Aduub.
MARKED SUCCESS IN EVERY FIELD.
Rev. DIR. S. l.. Baldwin, of New
York, Recording Secretary of the Mis-
sionary Society of the M. E. Church,
spent several days in Smyrna last
week (where his wife is visiting) and
at the invitation of Pastor Stengle
made an address at his Thursday even
ing meeting in reference to the general
missionary interests of the church as
per information being received at
headquarters.
The address, which was characterized
by the speakers wonderful ease and
clearness of statement, elected the
closest attention of the audience in
every paragraph. Briefly referring to
the pleasure it gave him to meet with
his Smyrna friends, he passed directly
to the vast work that lies directly be-
fore the Christian Church in advancing
the Kingdom of Christ at home and
abroad. In reviewing the progress
mission work that is being done at
home, and set forth its rapid develop
ment in unexpected quarters.
The first alluded to was the German
mission-that is, work among the Ger
man population who have immigrated
to the United States. Commencing
with the conversion of William Mast
some fifty years ago at a Methodist
altar (who soon became an earnest
evangelist among the German speaking
people as we'll as being possessed with
great ability and learning). the work
has taken root and spread among this
nationality in this country until they
now number seven annual Conferences
in this country whose ministry deliver
the gospel to them in their native
tongue. The membership of these
German churches is now nearly 10000
to say nothing of the many thous-
ands who have gone rejoicing to heaven
during the half century, or of the
thousands of children of these con-
vertad Germans now connected with
our American churches.
He also spoke of the $1,000 Norwe-
gians and SWedes now in the member
ship of the Scandinavian churches; of
the work among the Italians in the
north end of Boston, and on the east
side of Harlem in New York city; the
French Canadians in the mill towns of
New England; the Portuguese in
New Bedford; the Cuban Spaniards in
Brooklyn aud the Spanish-speaking
people in New Mexico.
He also narrated encouraging in-
stances of conversion among the Chi
nese in California, told of one China
man who gave 800 TO build chapel
in his native place in China, and of
others who had gone in person and at
| their own expense TO preach the gOs-
pei in their native land; and spoke OF
the Japanese work in Washington,
Oregon and California as in Aame OF
revival, with HOO converts during the
past year.
He told of the conversion of Consul
General Ando in Hawaii, his rssigna-
tiOn of his Office and return to Japan,
where he has since been faithful and
successful evangelist; and of the pro-
gress of the work in Japan, beginning
as late as 1872, and numbering now
about 5000 communicates.
China, as it was when he went to
the field in 1858, and found only half a
dozen Christians at FoochOw, was con-
trasted with to-day, when the old Foo
chow Mission has over 5000 cOmmuni-
cants, with so ordained native preach
ers; and three other prosperous mis-
sions in North, Central and Western
China. Incidentally, he referred to the
war between China and Japan, ex-
pressing the hope that it would not be
of long continuance, and confidently
predicts that whatever other results
might follow, the gospel would have
more open doors and wider Opportu-
mites than ever before.
He closed with a brief account of the
marvellous work in India, where con-
verts are being received at the rate oil
80 for every day in the year-oveI
$4,000 in a year-in the very field
where Mana Sahib thought he had ex.
tirpated Christianity in 1857. He ex.
hOrted all to greater faith and courage
and to diligence and earnest cOnsecra,
ton to the work of giving the gospel tC
every creature.
1t came out in the course of the
address that there was larger percent
of conversions among the heathens
who heard the preaching of the gOspe
than there was among the people who
had the privilege of the church in
Christian countries. The rapid turn
ing from idOlatry to Christianity il
India, over $4,000 q year IN that coun
try alone, was the marvel of mission
ary work, and had not been exceeded
by anything since the days of the
apostles.
The Rev. Mr.. Adams, of the Presby
terian church led the congregation il
an earnest prayer, Rev. II. G. Budd
Jr., of Perryville, Md, having made
the opening prayer, and after singing
the meeting closed with the benedictioI
by the Rev. Mr.. Haynes.