The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-13


 feVoiutionists, organizing in Persia and Russia, have attempted to stir up anil mosities, These have been aided by their few sympathiZers in Turkey. The turkish government has upon the whole handled these incendiary ele- hents with wisdom. Threats of new lnassacres have constantly been made, and the peaceable Armenians in many sections have been repeatedly threat ehed by their Moslem neighbors with new horrors in store for them. This has Kept the entire country in a most un- settled condition, and the Armenians who were able to do so have left the country, and others are still leaving. Many of the pastors, preachers and teachers, upon whom the missionaries were depending for the work of recon struction, because of the fear they felt both for themselves and their families, nave come to this country or crossed to Europe.
 While the burden of the old work has thus been thrown back upon the mis- slon with its sadly depleted forces, the opening work on every side has called loudly for renewed exertions. The un-
 
 tion and shelter. and as the Christians in Europe and this country have gene rously responded with pecuniary aid it deVolved upon the missionaries to de- Vlse and execute plans for orphan homes, With great enthusiasm have they entered upon this new phase of work until more than two thousand of Gods helpless, fatherless and mother less ones have been made to know that they are not left comfortless.
 At the same time the field, with it's ruined churches, scattered schools and martyrs graves, has been loudly calling for the work of reconstruction. The people in some parts seem to feel as never before their need of the consola- ton of the gospel. Multitudes have sought for spiritual instruction, and places that never appeared to care for Chrlstlan truth have been urgently seeking Christian preachers and teach CTS. God alone has given the strength by which the missionaries have been able to comfort and encourage the dis heartened people while at the same time organizing and conducting large enter prlses for various forms of relief and for the restoration of the disorganized work. As most of the Gregorian schools have been broken up, our schools have been almost overwhelmed with pupils. The people have proven their sincerity in this matter by the large sums in the aggregate which they are ready to give for gospel institutions
 We attempt no prophecy; we cannot see into the future, nor can our mission aries at the front. They are content if they can see one step ahead and if they know that the Master is leading them. They see untold opportunities on every side for binding up the broken-hearted, for caring for the widow and the fath- erless, and imparting spiritual blessing to the desperately needy. They must have endorsements a once, and we must assure them that we will support them in the field as they, Our Heroes in the Orient render this noble, self-sacri- ficing service for the Master.
 Secretary Smiths Department)
 In the mutual division of the duties devolving on the secretaries of the board the official correspondence with eleven of the missions falls to my lot. These missions are the following: In Asia Minor, the Western Turkey and the Central Turkey missions; in China, the Foochow, the North China, the Shansi, and the South China missions; in Afri- ca, the Zulu, the West Central African, and the East Central African missions; and in the Pacific Islands, the Microne- sian mission and certain forms of work in the Hawaiian Islands. In these al 1Ir,O +o4 whom ten have gone out this year for the first time. By the side of these la- borers stands native agency of 1,055 native pastors, preachers, teachers, Bi- ble-women, colporters, and other help CTS, constantly increasing in numbers and attempting larger share in the common enterprise. During the last year there have been added to the 205 churches of these missions on confes- sion of faith 2,561, making the present number 19,1S0 souls; the native contri- buttons have amounted to S53,37S. The gain during the past ten years is about eighty per cent. Marked gains are also reported in the number of churches and preaching places, in the average con- gregations, and In Sunday school pu- pils. The mission schools of all grades have been full in numbers, active in studies, and especially visited by revi- val influences
 The members reached in the hospitals and dispensaries have far surpassed the record of any former year, exceeding 113,000, to every one of whom the gospel has been preached, many of whom have borne far away to places otherwise un- reached the truth which they have found. The printed page, in the Scrip lures, in Christian literature, in the re- Iigious press, has carried the missiona- ry's message and influence to hundreds of towns and hamlets, to thousands of homes, utterly beyond the reach of his personal presence or voice, and has strengthened the Christian life in a multitude of homes.
 In these widespread and populous fields, constituting but part of it's ju- risdiction. by these divers and effective agencies, the board is face to face with more than half the unevangelized popu- lation of the earth, and with other simi- lar a gencies is committed fo Inc ctaa l.