The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-11-16
MISSIONARY WORKERS.
Their Labors Discussed by Distin-
lkp guished Presbyterians. .~.
Ex-PREs1DEHT AND Ex-PREnIEa

spcak of the Great Work Done for HUI
manity by the Faith of tho Missionaries,
aud of the Great Possibilities Of the
Future.
NEw YORK, Nov. TO- Tho Carnegie
Music Hall was filed last night with q
great crowd of Presbyterians Interested in
foreign missions. The platform was occu
piod principally by ministers, among them
being Dr. John Hall, Rev. DR.. Delaaeld,
Rev. Charles Il. Thompson and Rev. DIR.
John b. Shaw. The announcement that
ex-Prosident Harrison was to preside
proved great attraction. When the OK
president arrived he was heartily APP
plauded, Hon. John w. Foster, cx-secre-
tary Of state, was also on the platform.
Rev. John r. Davis acted as chairman,
and introduced ex-President Harrison as
"a great and gooa man"
General Harrison began his speech by
saying that the Presbyterian church has
been greatly celebrated for Its power Of
resistance. 1t had stood fast for love and
liberty; it had stood fast for education; 1t
had been In the United States the pioneer
Of education; 1t had stood for the highest
scholarship. and 1t had stood against that
pseudo altitudinous philosophy that from
the study Of Gods works finds there Is no
God, and from the study Of His word that
He has given us no word. He continued:
ut has been strenuous in its opposition
to this doctrine and has stood with the
stiffness Of steel beam for the faith dc
livercd by the fathers, and 1t still stands
for the essential doctrine Of the inspired
word. 1t is not nm illiberal church. No
body of Christians in the world opens It's
arms wider or more lovingly to nil who
love the Master. 1t is Catholic in Its sym
pathy and in Its cooperation with the
churches. The missionary spirit is inherent
In Christianity, and we meet here to take
counsel as to how we can advance tho
cause of foreign missions
II have some times in missionary meet
ings heard speakers talk about tho needs
of tho board That seems to me very much
like tho man whose grocery bills are not
paid and who will talk about the needs OF
his butler. We are not hore to talk about
the needs Of the board, but our needs, the
needs Of the church and the needs OF the
world. We are here to sunlmon you to
the duties which your church membership
implies, and which implies much more
when you consider tho great head Of tho
church."
The next speaker was Hon. John w.
Foster, ex-secretary OF state.
General Fosters address was asumiDHry
OF his observations on the work of the Pro.
testant missions In Asia first in q toar OF
tho world made two years ago, and In
second visit to Japan and Gilman connec-
ton with the peace negotiations OF tho
present year.
After brief reference to Ceylon a some
what lengthy review was made Of the great
work in India. That country he styled
the citadel of Brahmanism, perfectly or
ganized system supported by caste, appar-
emily imprcgnablc to the attacks OF Chris
tianity A first glance created the impress
sion that the missions were making little
progress against 1t, but u moro careful ex-
animation and comparison of the state of
the country before the advent of the mis-
sionhries brought about n different con-
clusion. He claimed that all the great
moral and social reforms were tho direct
result Of the Introduction of tho gospel,
among which were the prohibition OF hui
man sacrifice and torture In tho religious
rites, the burning Of widows, the killing
Of female children, reforms as to child
marriage, the establishment OF schools
md colleges, the zeal created for education
and the awakened interest of the Brah-
minis for publication nnd reform Of their
religion.
After passing allusion TO Burmah Cen
eral Foster discussed the great Chinese
empire and the work and prospects Of mis-
Biuns there
Notwithstanding the superstltious char
acter and low grade OF morality Of tho
mass Of the people, 1t was claimed that
the gospel had developed some of the most
striking examples of regeneration and
fruitful Christian life, and that the China
man was l. J no means beyond the spirit II
influence Of our rebellion.
The recent riots he asserted, grew out OF
general hatred TO foreigners and not from
religious intolerance. The American mis-
sionaries had not been great sufferers, and
the government had shown greater
readiness to punish the ofenuers ana re-
pair the losses than was evineed by our
authorities when riots against the Chinese
had occurred in the United States.
General Foster said that the work in
Corea had been retarded by the late war,
but even this impeachment would doubt
less result In enlarged opportunities for
the missions. He gave considerable at
tention to tho mission field in Japan,
praising the country for its beauty, the
people for their polite and cleanly habits,
and tho government for its progressive
ideas. But the latter he criticized for nc
cepting SO readily the results of western
civilization and failing to encourage the
great causa of it-the Christian religion.
Rev. r. Il. Clark, ID. D., president of the
United Societies OF Christian Enteavor,
delivered brief address, and Rev, Jesse
f. Forbes, moderator of the presbytery of
New York, pronounced the benedictlon.