Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-13
CONGREGATIONAL.

There was quite a large attendance at
the Congregational rally at Tent Williston
yesterday afternoon. Beside the Endeav-
orers who are members Of the denomina-
ton a number of local Congregationalists
attended, 80 that there were a thousand or
more in the audience, Notwithstanding
the fact that it was intensely hot in the
big tent.
The meeting. which was devoted to the
considerat ton Of the part the Congrega-
tional Church is taking in the missionary
work Of the world, was presided over by
Rev. DR.. w. E. Barton of Boston. and was
opened with prayer by Rev. DR.. ]. w.
Fifeld Of Chicago.
The first speaker was Rev. DR.. C. c. Cree
gan district secretary of the board OF COM
missioners for foreign missions. BY means
of pieces of ribbon of different colors he
made an interesting comparison of the nu-
merical strength of Christianity as against
the Greek Church. the Mohammedans 60,
piece Of red ribbon immensely longer
than any Of the others representing heath
endom. 1t was eighty-four inches in length,
representing $40, 600 Of people who have
never heard of the Christian religion. On
1t was little piece of white, a half inch
long, for the 100000 who have been won
over by mission work In like way he made
a comparison of the amount of money
spent in this country for foreign missions
each year, with the enormous amounts
spent for liquor. tobacco, jewelry and need
less luxuries. Yet in strongest terms he
expressed his belief in the success Of the
work. and urged his hearers to renewed
efforts.
Mission Work In Turkey.
most interesting address was delivered
by Miss Margaret w. Leitch Of Ceylon. In
part she said:
What spirit is being displayed by your
representatives in far-off lands7 To speak
Of but one mission filled. Your missionaries
in Turkey have given object lesson to
the whole world Of self-forgetting heroism,
devotion to duty and faith in God.
More than eighteen months ago, after
the Sassoun massacres. the missionaries in
Turkey fully understood that a general up
rising or Mohammedans against the Chris
tians was threatened, and that in those in
terror stations far away from any consular
protection their lives would be endangered.
Were they towards? Did they desert their
posts? Bless God not one from the entire
number was willing to leave the Christian
communities and the institutions which
presence and at the mercy Of threatening
mobs. In October Of last year, beginning
at Constantinople and sweeping over the
land almost to Persia, rolled the awful tide
continued for nearly two months The out
side world, aghast at the tale Of horrors
that but family pictured the reality began
10 clamor for the abandoning Of those in
terror stations.
Then came the letters from the mission
aries. not written In excitement, not the
result of mass meetings in which one brave
soul inspires the rest. but penned singly.
each writer expressing his or her own
erave determination to stand by the suf-
Ierlng people. no matter what the personal
danger might be-
Miss Shattuck. for twenty-three years a
missionary in Turkey, was all alone at
Oorfa three days journey from the near
est american or European, during the two
massacres which swept over the city, in
which 1900 to 5000 persons were slain Her
presence brought salvation and hone to
hundreds Of terrified refugees who found
shelter in her home. When urged to accent
an escort and seek a place Of safety, she
replied. I could not leave our orphaned
people
DR.. Gates. the president Of Harpoot Col
lege. writing three days after the massa-
cres, said: For three days we have looked
death in the face hourly. We have passed
by the mouth of the bottomless pit. and the
names came out against US, but not one In
our company flinched or faltered We
simply trusted In the Lord and went on
We do not want to be ordered out of the
country. If we abandon the Christians
they are lost. We expect the Christians of
America to support their work here We
are ready to die for it, they must be ready
to give money for it
During the past three years, owing to
lack of funds. serious reductions have been
enforced. and this year your mission board
tteIo uSei NOLhpeliSu " oIueT 1OrCner re-
duction OF 10 per cent on the salaries of oil
male and married missionaries, and of SO
per cent on the salaries of all the native
workers. excepting those supported by the
women's board.
These reductions are now being enforced
Thousands Of children are being turned out
of mission schools. Many chapels and
boarding schools are being closed Hun
dreds OF trained native workers are being
dismissed, and some of your noblest mis-
sionartes are breaking down in health be-
cause you are unable to endure this intol-
cradle strain.
Cannot the half million members Of the
CongreSa uonal churches and the 363 OOO
members OF the Congregational Endeavor
societies avert this disaster? The Endeav-
their power to give or collect the additional
sum needed to save this foreign mission
work from grave disaster One hundred
thousand dollars will do this"
At the conclusion Of Miss Leitch's addreas
the audience sang Send the Light"
Other addresses were made by Rev
George w. Moore, who founded the 1lrst
Christian Endeavor Society in the DISTRICT.
Rev Warren Goff, who is engaged In mis-.
sionary work in the mountains of Tennes-
see; Rev. A. F. McGregor. secretary of the
Canada board of home missions: Rev
Cyrus Clark. a missionary In Japan: DR.
Todd OF Caesarea. Turkey, a missionary OF
the American board. and Rev, w q Pud-
oefoot who gave stirring talk on the SUBJ
ject of home missions.
CHRISTIAN.
The missionary rally at Grace Rantist
Church, corner Of South Caroline ayo,,,.