The Portland daily press., 1895-09-04
PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY.
Progress of Missions in the Micropesian
Islands During the Past Year.


Islands During the Past Year.
Boston, Sept. 3.-The American Board
of Foreign Missions has received the an
nual report of the Micronesian Mission,
embracing the Little Islands, numbering
about one thousand islands lying south
west from Honolulu, $500 miles The
groups are the Gilbert, Marshall, Caroline
and Ladrone Islands. Missions of the
board are scattered over an area measur-
ing twenty-five hundred miles from east
to west, and some twelve hundred miles
from north to south, confined to the three
groups first named. The Ladrone Islands
are under Spanish rule, and the native
population is nearly extinct. The Mort
lock Islands. a small group within the
Caroline, with Ruk and several other
islands, constitute the foreign missionary
field of the Ponape Christians The
Hawaiian Evangelical Association has
co-operated with the Board in work. in
the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
The Gilbert Islands are said to number
not far from twenty thousand The Mar
shall Islanders have been estimated at
fourteen thousand. Ponape has popu-
lation of about five thousand the Mort
locks and Ruk about fourteen thousand j;
Mokil and Pingelap about twelve hun
dred and fifty; zap about eight or ten
thousand.
There has been a settlement of the
questions SO long pending between Spain
and the United States by the payment
of the sum of ST, 600 by Spain, the Dill
indemnify for losses and injuries suffered
by sthe missionaries on Ponape in 1887
and in 1890 This is happy conclusion
of long diplomatic correspondence, and
seems to open the way for the early re-
sumption of the missionary work now for
some time suspended in that island The
annual voyage of the Morning Star was
successfully made The usual tours were
made with the missionaries, the native
teachers and pupils. No friendly well
come was given by the authorities at
Ponape, news of the settlement of the
questions between Spain and the United
waters DR.. Pease. Of CRANKY, Mass, has
been occupied with the work of transla-
ton and revision of the New Testament
for this people, and hopes within year
or two to have the entire Bible accessible
to them in the ir own tongue, as DR..
Bingham has already given the Bible to
the Gilbert Islands in their tongue The
tour through the Marshall Islands occu-
pied fifteen days. Miss Jessie R. Hoppin,
of South Haven, Mich, Miss A. A.
Palmer, of Hopkinton. New York, ac-
companying and assisting DR.. Rife in this
new experience. The New German COM
missioner at Jaluit proves TO be kindly
and reasonable man, and the good rela-
tions established last year between this
official and the missionary work have
been happily maintained for this year
also. The churches and schools with a
few exceptions were found to be in a Salts
factory condition, and as a rule the
preachers and teachers were faithfully
prosecuting their work. DR.. Rife took
with him twenty Zone cases of Scriptures
(the New Testament and Genesis), and
could have distributed many more. The
new primer prepared by DR.. Mrs. Pease
was in great demand; also the hymn and
tune books. The state of things in the
several islands, with few happy excep-
tions, was far less promising than in
former years. Heather dancing, with it's
baneful associations, seemed to be every
where in vogue, drawing pupils from the
schools, diminishing attendance in the
churches, and paralyzing all Christian
activities. The English commissioner
tried to regulate this evil custom. instead
of prohibiting it,; and while the laws
which he proclaimed were excellent, the
allowance Of this indulgence seemed to
sought to secure. AS he discovers the
real excuses of this intoxicating apluse-
ment, he will doubtless put closer re-
striction upon it. In a few islands food
is scarce, and state of famine Is immi-
nent. But abundant rains will soon give
food in plenty; dancing will soon be re-
stricted or entirely forbidden. Now that
the questions between our government
and Spain have been adjusted and the
full indemnity paid, it is to be hoped that
the Board may soon send a strong and
discreet man to reopen the work on
Ponape and to take supervision for want
of such care. Special instructions have
been given to the captain of the Morning
Star in company with Pr Pease to opel,
Ponape, with reference to such resump-
ton of work and their report will be
awaited with deep interest. A schooner
is in process of construction at San
Francisco, to take the place of the one
lost two years since, and to make possible
frequent visits to all parts of the field.
This new "R. W. Logan" will be sailed
to Ruk by Capt. Bray former conlS.as der
of the Morning Star, and will be ready
for service there by the first Of next year.
Probably in no field undsr the care of the
Board are the tabulated results SO great
in proportion to thu money expended as
in Micronesia; and the door of oppor-
tunity there swings open more ana more
widely frum year to year.
In the Kusafe and Marshall Island Mis-
sion there are % American and native
missionaries and assistants; 56 places for
stated preaching; population of 1900
within the limits of the mission station
and out stations; 1,7O1 church members,
of whom 511 were received on confession
of faith during the last year; LIT pupils
in schools for boys and girls. In the Ruk
and MortIock Islands mission there are
about sso, 500 people within the limits of
the missionary station and outstations,
and 700 members of churches In the
Gilbert Islands there are 30 Americans
and native missionaries and assistants,
20, 500 people within the limits Of the mis-
sion station, 1, 7O1 members in II churches
and 1866 pupils in schools for girls and
boys.
Not Going Round the World.
Chicago, Sept. 3.-Miss Belle Kearney
of Mississippi was chosen as a Round the