The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-21
THE MISSIONARY OFFERING.
TOmlinsOn Hall Packed at NiEht-Rev.
John BarrOws's Address.


Tomlinson Hall was crowded last night
long before the opening number of the pro-
gramme and before the speaker of the
evening was announced every available
seat was taken and standing room was at
a premium. The gallery was crowded and
many stood patiently and contentedly in
the side aisles during the evenings work
1t was missionary night and all workers
in the foreign field We're requested to take
chairs on the stage. Quite a number ac-
cepted the invitation, there being probably
twenty-five in all. Among them were: E.
NJ. Griffin and wife, Rev. J. 0. Asian
hurst, DR.. H. c. Ewing and wife and Miss
Elizabeth McCahan, all of whom are re-
turned missionaries; Rev. Mr.. Hunt and
wife and Prof Robert S. McCIanahan who
will go to Egypt this fall. Those going to
India as missionaries for the first time are:
Miss Laurela Dickson, a graduate of
Tarkio College, Tarkio, Mo-; Rev. w. B.
Anderson and wife, of Allegheny Pa, and
Rev. r. r. Mcclure, of New Whining
ton, Pa.
A half hours praise service opened the
convention; this was led by Mrs Edith Liv-
an evangelist in the United Presbyterian
Church A number of short prayers We're
offered and several of the convention songs
were sung IN the hearty enthusiasm that
has marked the entire religious session. At
the close of the devotional service McKen-
Zie Cleland, Of Chicago, a member of the
general committee, who was chairman of
the evening, read memorial petitioning
the church to set aside one Sabbath of
of temperance and to be known as Tenn
perance Sabbath. 1t was referred to the
committee on resolutions. The president
also read letter of greeting from the
Christian Endeavor Society at Cairo
Egypt, to the Indianapolis convention. 1t
was signed by J. T. White.
NJ Rl1PKWOO0
duced and made a short speech in behalf
of the Old School Presbyterians Rev Mr..
BlackwOOd is pastor of the Reformed Pres
byterian Church, at Bloomington Ind. The
ladies of the audience were again kindly
asked to remove their hats by the chair
man.
REV. JOHN BARROW'S ADDRESS.
The orator of the evening was Rev. John
Henry Barrows, d. D. He was greeted with
tremendous rounds of applause and given
the salute of the convention. He spoke as
follows:
Il find among some people in our country
a SkepticiSm, often a cOntemptuous skep-
ticism, with regard to the wisdom and sue
cess of all Christian effort in Asia, I'M
belief snringing sometimes out of ignorance
of the real results of Christian missions
and occasionally from the feeling that
Christianity has nothing supremely impor-
tant to give to the followers of Buddha and
Confucius and to those who it is supposed
have been trained in the great PHILOSOPHERS
of India 1t is very common for travellers
and naval officers to circulate the report
that they have found nothing to praise and
much to condemn in the work of the mis-
sionaries- 1t might be well, however, to put
to these critics a few questions. VIII you
please give us the names of a score out of
the thousands of Christian missionaries in
the Orient whom you came TO know per-
SOnally and to know so well that you could
form an accurate judgment of them and of
their work? And then since the mission
aries are doing such a vast variety OF
things to help the bodies and souls of men,
will you kindly tell us what work you found
ineffective and harmful? Do you disap-
prove of the translation of the Bible, the
writing of Christian literature, the teach
ing of children - schools of young men in
colleges, the Preaching on the streets, the
visiting of women in their homes, the work
of the dispensary or the work of the hos
pital? II you know not one missionary per-
sonally if you have never studied these
various forms of work with your own eyes.
where did you get your opinions that you
are finging around with such careless con-
science? Did you associate with the i'm
moral European populations in the corrupt
port towns of Japan, China and India? Are
you rejecting the hostility of unworthy
representatives of Christian nations who
are doing SO much TO hinder the progress
of Christianity in the Orient2 Is 1t become
ing in you to break down the work of men
and women who, leaving their own coun-
try from the love OF Christ and love OF hui