The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14

Sions, this argument, as an excuse or reason for reduced contributions to the American board might have some force. But as the Home Missionary societies are also heavily burdened with debt, the inevitable conclusion is that there is not only lack of interest in and support of foreign missions, but an equal lack of thought of home missions in the branches particularly under the care of our denomination.
 Furthermore this large inflow of pop ulation from foreign lands comes not from those countries where the great work of the American board has been or is carried on. The proportion of im- migrants coming to these shores from Africa, Japan, India, Turkey and the Pacific Islands is so insignificant that all combined are hardly factor in our great home missionary problem in this land. Out of 343,2 267 immigrants who came to our country for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, (the last published report of the bureau of Immigration, only per cent Cor 6,977) were from those lands (excluding Papal lands in Europe) where the American board is doing its work. The Chinese exclusion bill has settled for a generation, prob- ably, any needed consideration of that race in connection with the Home mis- sionary work beyond what is already being done. But it has greatly increas- ed our responsibility in connection with the foreign work to see that missions are extended in China. The day is conn., ing when this country must reckon with that empire for our unreasonable and unjust treatment of and discrimin- ation against that nation. And what better solution or preventive of serious international disputes can there be than the work of the Christian missionary? AS lovers of our country, as men and women actuated by the principles of our divine Master. we are under obli- gation, not only to maintain existing | work, but largely to increase the scope of operations in China Ii Hung Chang's recent tribute tu Christian mis- ! sionaries was not the compliment of a diplomat so much as the testimony of a keen observer and judge of national progress and it's causes.
 Whether it may not be wise to trans | fer our missions in Papal lands in Europe to the United States is ques- tion that should be carefully consider ed. It has never been discussed by the prudential committee, but has some times be incidentally raised. It is pos- sible that this branch of the work of foreign missions in Papal countries in | Europe (not in Mexicol should become a part of the home mission work be- cause of the large inflow of immigrants from those countries, and it may be quite as important to evangelize them here as in their native land. The re- suits of work in Papal lands in Europe as compared with similar work among the same nationalities in this country furnish a fairly reliable basis for de- termining what the policy of the board for the future should be in this depart ment and they should be carefully studied.
 3-Another fact is that in many places the mission cause is suffering to-day because the work has been reduced when it should have been increased. Such action is discouraging to native 1 helpers especially, who interpret it as a lack of interest and belief of the work among Christians here. The influence upon these new converts can easily be understood. In these foreign fields the native helpers have given up their former employments and associations and have become a part of our mission ary force. To be summarily dismissed because the mission has no funds tC continue their meagre salaries is not only disheartening to them but serious. ly tests their faith. The average sala. ry of native preachers and helpers ir China is s60 per year; in Turkey, a lit. tie over $100 per year; in India, about $50 per year; in the Pacific Isles, about $40 per year. The native preachers anG helpers have been reduced in numbers the last two years by 151. Shall these valuable auxiliaries be forced to aban. don Christian mission work and return to their old associations and employ. ments? 1t is serious question. Its answer will determine to great exteni whether these missions shall be main. tained or abandoned The hope of for. eign missions is in the native pastors teachers and helpers. To cut down thi. l WOTk IS tO CIlppIe lIs lO CIlpple lt IS U ruin it eventually When mission if graduated from the board it should bs strong and active, not crippled ant paralyzed.
 4-One more fact on which we shal no doubt agree is that there is no lack of funds to properly maintain and ex
 tend our foreign mission work Tht elegance and luxuries of our city ant many of our suburban churches, ant the cost of sustaining them, the com
 forts and increased expenditures in al that enter into our domestic life anc social surroundings, the fact tha
 wealth is accumulated ill vastly larger amounts than ever before, are sufficien proofs that there is money enough. On, of the best evidences that the churche; will meet the call when the case il
 clearly laid before them Is the quicl and hearty response to personal letters sent to the friends of the board recent ly, so that in less than three weeks tn, deficit which would have been this yea
 $S5, ,00O was reduced to $45,000 Appl, this to all the church members of ou
 denomination, and the financial prob lem will not perplex us in the future.
 CAUSES OF THE LACK OF INTER
 EST AND SUPPORT.
 We come now to consider some of tn
 causes that have produced the presen Hack of interest among our churches
 and withholding of funds from our for