The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-13
fHk BOARD OF MISSIONS.
HOW Westsra Civilization Has Brought
Light To Pagan Lands.

MADISON, WIS, Oct. 12,-The ses-
sion OF the American Board of Missions
to-day was devoted to adore ses from dis
triet secretaries and returned mission
aries Secretary Simpson introduced a
resolution providing $4,000 TO be applied
on the boards indebtedness. about s1l6.-
900. 1t was referred to II special com
mittee of seven. a paper on mission
district secretary OF Chicago. In it he
said that the eyangeiization Of the
world is still Ear from fun accomplish
ment when we reflect that In the heart Of
Africa there Is a vast population exceed
Ing that Of our Federal Republic with
out a missionary; that over Asia and the
sea-girt islands are spread uncounted
throngs to whom Christ is an unknown
name; that two hundred and fifty MI
lions OF the human race are practically
naked at this moment; that half Of
mankind Is living In huts and caves, and
that more than half are barbarians or
savages. Ii Is the Cal of God which
bids US discern these signs OF the times
j have been asked TO present rapid
and comprehensive survey Of the great
world field. Its four phases are: First,
Bible translation and distribution. Sec
ond. missionary Organization. TIiTd, the
occupation of pagan lands. Fourth, the
eyangelizatton OF pagan peoples. The
Bible is at the foudation OF missions.
Its translation and circulation may be
considered as either the fOrerpnner or
port or all permanent evangelization,
For the first time the Bible is in a
fair way 10 be given 10 all the nations
Of the world. One hundred years ago IL
had been translated into the LAM uages
OF only one-ffth of mankind. and only
forty-seven versions were then known TO
exist during tie century lb0,V99VJJ co lies
and portions have been issued in S26
tongues. These comprise the languages
and dialects OF nine -tenths Of the human
race. From the first century TO the six
ieenth there was an average OF one
translation TO every sixty-slx years.
From 1850 TO 1880 the average was five
for each year, or nifty TRANSACTIONS in a
single decade. And the number of Bible
societies has increased from one in lS04
TO eighty in 1892. There issues daily
from the presses of the British and For
eign Bible Society a pile OF Bibles and
portions equal in height TO the EIfel
tower.
Missionary organization is one of the
most significant movements of modern
religious history. Starting with the eng
there were In 1872, twenty-seyen such so
tieties, while In 1892 there were go. The
one society received In It's first year silo;
In 1892 the various societies received more
than ut.0o0,0p0. During the same time.
and as II by the same governing Impulse,
various supplementary organizations have
been formed. The first woman's foreign
missionary society, as far as We know,
WaS NAAAst0 III A-ASAftHi III 1871 tN1Nf
there are seventy-two such societies. The
youth OF the church. too, are being stirred
with the throbbing Of this great move
ments Their organizations are already
numerous and worldwide. These agen-
cies called to sustain the work OF evan
se.ization in at least SIX distinct but
related departments. expend an average
OF only z per cent. In administration agen-
cies and publications, and, as rule,
guide the affairs Of their worldwide labor
with an enterprise and fidelity unsur-
passed In any calling. Thus Il has been
reserved for our generation to see the
Christian religion for the first time thor
oughly organized for an advance upon all
the great Industrial and economic and POI
lit1cal forces Of our age wrought In the
lntereetA ~ Gods advancing kiaadom.