The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-17
Distinguished Missionari es
in This City.
They Talk Before the Womans' Board
Of Foreign Missions.
Interesting Review OF Conditions I'm the
Two Great Heather Countries.

The quarterly meeting OF the Rhode
Island branch of the Woman's Board OF
Foreign Missions, held in the chapel OF
the Union Congregational Churcn on
Stewart street, brought out a fair attend
and was replete with interest. The regu-
lar exercises were dispensed with, owing
to the presence Of two prominent mis-
sionaries, Mrs. De Forest and Rev. DIR.
Joseph X. Greene, who told about Japan
and Turkey.
The President Mrs. Henry w. Wilkin-
son made especial mention OF the recent
annual meeting of the board, at which it
was announced that the share OF this
branch to be contributed to the work OF
the board this year would be about 5000
or nearSy Si00 more than in 1898.
Mrs. Buffum also read interesting ex-
tracts from missionary reports.
Inspeaking Of Japan, Mrs. De Forest
cited samples Of what is being done there
aud moral equality. The japanese are
just now interested in esta blishing for
eign missionary society, she said, which
Is quite an advance for a country where
but about one person in a thousand are
Christians. The people of the Island OF
Formosa are probably the objects under
consideration by the japanese in this new
move, but it may be that they are going
to send missionaries into China.
For the past two years 1t has been felt,
however, as il the educational and mill
tary departments in japan are the most
opposed to Christianity; not that the gov
eminent Is hostile, bst some of the under
officials advise the dismissal OF Christ
ian school teachers, and also advise the
scaool children not TO go to school on
Sunday. The commander of the Osaka
garrison recommended an order that no
/ -. H. l. H.. 4.
and his advice was needed, because he Is
a member OF royal family.
Mrs. DE Forest talked about Corea and
and japan and the war and told about
the work going on for the soldiers by the
missionaries. The war brought about
harmony, she stated, for before the war
the Japanese were having trouble about
their diet, but they are now united and
have no more fault to find with the cabi-
net. A Japanese song, just out,
best sets forth the feeling there today.
After some uncomplimentary remarks
about the Chinese, the lines of the song
go on TO give this Spartan advice: "We
must now go forward; il we lose our feet.
we must creep forward; II we lose our
hands, we must bite in the dust and pull
ourselves forward; we cannot be beaten"
One serious obstacle in the way of mis-
sionary work is the desire on he part OF
the japanese to make their home mission
ary society independent.
DR.. Greene, who has lived many years in
Constantinopie, pointed out many places
Of interest in that part OF the world.
and went on to discuss the recent Armen-
ian massacre. Letters from missionaries,
he said, nbundantly confirm the worst
reports. The American consul was not
permitted to forward the truth of the
matter, but woman missionary
managed to get letter through
by the way OF Persia. and that letter was
received last night. 1t will be published.
In it is stated that about 10000 Turks
troops swept down and surrounded the
Armenian villages and robbed and MUIR
dered 10000 people.
DIR. Greene gave brief summary OF the
results OF missionary work. American
money expended in Turkey has been
rich investment From 1876 to 1894 there
have been 126 Evangelical churches estab-
lished there, with a membership of 1924.
The majority OF the me IN bers reArmenians
and Greeks, but there are 13 churches for
Bulgarians. In Asia Minor and European
Turkey there are 34S native pnsto whose
congregations in 1893 numbered 80, ,749.
The chief end OF the work Is to develop
native pastors.
Although it is hard to urge those in ex-
treme poverty 10 give literally, a bout one
fourth OF the Evangelical churches are
self-supporting, and in 1893 the natives
contributed S45,622. Where GO years
ago there was no school for girls and
scarcely decent one for boys there are
now 1893 common schools with Is 1856 pupils,
about one half o! whom are girls. There
are six Christian colleges for young
men, endowed with from S25,0J0 TO
100000, % high schools for boys,
three Christian colleges for young women
and 16 boarding schools for girls. In 1898
in those schools were 5000 pupils, the ma
jority coming from non-protestant fami-
x.bD nf0a hat hos hi
educated better morally as we'll as other
wise.
The literature, the promulgation OF
Bibles, tracts. etc, together with a talk
on the work in Constantinople occupied
the rest OF DIR. Greene's interesting ad-
drpsa