The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-13
FOREIGN MISSION WORK
REPORTS SUBMITTED TO AMERICAN
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
Expenses Were Heavy Last Year, and
100000 Additional Is Needed for
the Ensuing Twelve Months.

| NEW HAVEN, Conn, Oct 12.-The eighty
seventh annual meeting of the American
Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions
| opened at 3 O'Clock this afternoon in the
Hyperion Theater for a session which will
continue through Friday. After devotional
exercises an address of welcome was de-
| livered by Prof. George P. Fisher, D. D., of
Yale University.
The report of the prudential committee
was read by the secretary of the home de-
partment, Rev. DR.. C. II. Daniels. of Bos-
ton IT was in part as follows: More new
missionaries have been sent to. the field
this year than last Four men-one ply
sician-five wives of missionaries, one un-
married man and twelve single women,
two of whom are Observation-Disclosures
in all-represent the additions to our mis-
sionary force since the annual meetings.
Rev. DR.. Charles c. Creegan, district sec
rotary, of New York city, makes the fol-
lowing report from the Middle district Qn-
GLIDING Connecticut Ohio and the Middle
and South Atlantic States): The Indian
famine relief fund which has been raised
by the Christian Herald amounting to
nearly 5000 900, has called for frequent con-
ferences, and thousands of dollars for TINS
object have been forwarded through this
office. Perhaps half a million dollars for
the Armenian relief work and the Indian
famine fund have been raised, most of it
within this district. During the last two
months twenty-eight missionaries, nine of
them going out for the first time, have
sailed from this port. The total receipts
from the middle district were $156, 253. The
present year shows receipts above the aV-
erage for the last decade
Nothing can be more satisfactory than
the continued happy relations with the
american Bible Society and the Aner lGhn
Bible Society expended last year through
it's agencies in Mexico, China, Japan and
the Levant considerably more than $l0O, 900
TO other missions of the board where the
society has no agency of its own, 1undS anu
books have been sent during the past year
of the aggregate value of $5,354. The re-
turns to us resulting from sales were ST.
644.61. More churches contributed to the
work last year than IN any year n o 1ee C nus
gregational churches which made no OFFER
ings to foreign missions last year. Ihere
have contributed to this work 1,544 Chris
tan Endeavor Societies. as against l223
'.The regular donations from the churches
and individuals were $416,591.15. The re-
ceipts from legacies were $1lS,9S6.l7. The
treasury received from the permanent
funds of the board an income of $l0,243; &c.
We have taken from the Otis legacy $3I,-
612.46. and from the SWEET legacy 349S.69.
These legacieS are now exhausted. -Four
mis- sions have been established and two
others enlarged; not far from seventy-five
missionaries have been sent forth to the
heather nations schools have been founded
for the PRONUNCIATION of the truth and weak
pla 1es have been strengthened by these
magnificent benefactions. Special dona-
tions have amounted to $54,517 06, an in
crease over the former year OF $l0527.9l
This largely increased sum for special OBJ
jectS is due entirely to the appeal in the
Congrega tionalist for the orphans of Tur-
key, netting about $25, 000 With total
cepts for the year $643, 2S3 20, and with the
total expenditures for the year $6SS, 4l4.2O;
on Aug. 81 were $451SO.5O. The salaries of
our missionaries have been reduced 10 per
cent. except in Asiatic Turkey"
The concluding paragraph OF the report
says: I'VE must have for the ensuing year
$4,000 more than was at the disposal of the
committee last year. With this sum OF
new missionaries can be appointed beyond
the imperative calls for filing vacancies.
The treasurers report was read by Treas
urer Frank II. Virgins, of Boston, who
reported the total expenditures at $6SS Ala,
including the following: Zulu mission, S2o-
5S9; mission to European Turkey, $95, 723;
mission to western Turkey, $110.71o; mission
to eastern Turkey SAT, 446; Marathi mission,
$54, 40; north China missions $56,37S; Ma
dura mission, $5S,197 Foo-Chow mission.
$25, 2S5; mission to Japan, 81, 531; Micronesia
mission, $3S,734 cost of agencies, $l5,SIS;
cost of publications, 5000; cost of admin
istration, SIG, 766. The receipts We're S642 Isl
from donations, SAL, 10S legacies, $l1S,9S6.
Balance at credit of the board Aug. 81 1896,
1902; balance for which the board is in debt
Aug. 81, 1897, $40, 40.
The annual surveys of the foreign de-
partment were offered by Secretary Rev.
Judson Smith, d. D., of Boston and Rev.
James l.. Barton d. D., of Boston.
Secretary Smiths report covered the fol-
lowing missions: Western Turkey. Central
Turkey, Foo-C Chow, North China, Shanghai
African. East Central African, Micronesian
Mission and Hawaiian islands. In these
fields 2S9 missionaries are. stationed, of
which ten have gone out this year for the
first time. Speaking of the work in gen.
eral his report said that in 1,127 centers
women, assisted by force of 2956 native
preachers, teachers and other helpers are
preaching the gospel in twenty-seven differ
ent languages, and directing a great evan
gelical, educational, and medical enter
prise. In 470 churches there is gathered
total membership of 44,606 of whom 1913
have made confession of their faith in this
year. In seventeen theological schools, 179
students are in direct preparation for the
work of the ministry. In lis colleges and
high schools 6.991 picked youths of both
vorabe conditions, for a share in the work.
and 3,221 pupils are under Christian lnstruc-
ton in 1,049 common schools. The medical
work, invaluable in its direct and indirect
influence and constantly enlarging, reaches
more than 100000 while a steadily increas-
ing volume of Christian literature broadens
the sphere of influence and enhances the
power of the gospel.
Secretary ]. L. Barton covered the work
of the American board in the two Indian
missions and Ceylon, Japan Eastern Tur-
key, European Turkey, Austria, Spain and
Mexico. The greatest need to-day, he SAID,
was an effectient, able Christian leadership
among the natives themselves. He COM
mended the Young Peoples Society of
Christian Endeavor for its rapid progress
in Mexico and Spain, the Young Mems
Christian Association for it's work in Aus
tria Spain, he said, had been hard held
in which to work during the past year
owing to political excitement and suspicious
and the terrible strain which rested upon
the people India was losing confidence in
her idols in her priesthood and in her wor-
ship 1t appeared if a wave OF unbe-
lief was sweeping over her 2S70OO,0oOO and
that when they had let go that which so
manifestly fails to meet the natural long
ing of the heart they would turn to the
Christian faith 1.-The educated Hindus
have" he said recently turned to their
ancient books to find that with which to
thwart the work of missionaries and Hindu
ism has experienced a revival IN the study
of her own religion. This very movement
is helping to undermine the faith of the
Hindus and to show them that their own
religion is doomed to decline, and that the
gospel of Christ must stand at last as the
universal faith The religions of Japan
have no deep hold upon the hearts OF her
people. They no longer worship anywhere,
but withhold their support Of the temples
and disclaim belief in any religion, relegat-
ing all to the realm of philosophy. Ethics
is the basis of their religion, and is re-
earded by them more important than wor-
shin IT is however an ethics whose basis
is not the morality of Christianity.
The entire afternoon session was taken
nm bv these addresses and reports. and by
the appointment of committees Tor work
during the convention.
Among the arrivals to-day was that of
David T. Brewer of Washington. D. c. as
sociate justice of the United, states SUI
preme Court who is prominently mentioned
e. tha ,raeidercv Of the society for the