The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-13

that all men are brethren, thus abolish
ing caste; that they are made in the i'm
age OF that God, thus lifting up the de-
graded; that the Holy Spirit oleanses the
heart, thus purifying the life; and that
within their breasts there are immortal
souls to be redeemed by Jesus Christ,
thus inspiring living faith.
India is losing confidence in her idols,
in her priest hood. and in her worship.
IL appears as II wave of unbelief is
sweeping over her 287, 900, 900,
and that when they have let go that
which so manifestly fails to meet the nat
ural longing of the heart they will turn
to the Christian faith. Reports which
come to us from many parts of our own
missions speak of manifest signs Of this
mighty trend of thought and feeling and
longing. The plague and famine in the
Marathi Mission have cen revealing in q
multitude Of cases the fact that the people
do not trust their priesthood or their
idols. The land has suffered deeply and
only the Christian faith, revealed in the
lives of the missionaries and in the large
number OF native Christians, has trium.
phantly stood the test.
JAPAN
The year in Japan has been marked by
no great changes. The events of the year
have fully proven the wisdom of the sepa
ration from the Doshisha that took place
a year ago, which action was heartily
endorsed by this board at its last meet
ing. Some who at that time thought the
action premature are now convinced that
it was necessary That institution with
its new leadership under Mr.. Yokoi, its
lately elected president, is attracting the
attention of Christian America and Eng
land as no other mission or home school
is doing. The old Doshisha, under DIR.
Neesima, was long considered the strong
est ally of Christianity in all that empire.
1t is not yet clear what place the modern
Doshisha will occupy in it's relation to
the onward movement Of the kingdom.
Many leading japanese freely oriticise
the attitude assumed by this child of mis-
sions, but do not give up the hope that it
will yet become, through pure Chris
tian instruction, the mother of leaders
for the future evangelical churches of
Japan. Mr.. Yokoi, its new president, is
a man of well-known ability and has
shown good spirit, and is facing diff :
cult problem. Time and patience and
much wisdom will be needed, and the
future is far from clear, yet we are not
without hope that the institution may be
restored to the confidence of our consti-
tuenoy.
The crying need of the land today is
for consecrated Christian ministry
withdrawn from the service, and the new
supply has not been equal to the de-
mands. Pastorless churches are not q
few, and places calling for preachers of
the gospel are multiplying. The Chris
tian preacher of Christianity has never
had a more sober, free, intelligent hear
ing than he has there today. There is a
demand for the preacher who has no
vague theories or criticisms or specula-
tions to offer, but one who believes in our
Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart. !,
THE EAST CENTRAL AFRICAN
MISSION.
The East African Mission Is roofing it.
self more and more deeply in its field, in
the confidence of the natives, and in the
respect of the colonists, and its first fruits
begin to appear. This year church has
been formed, after patient waiting and
careful examination, and seventeen ad-
mitted to baptism and the communion.
1t was nine years before the Zulu Mission
was permitted to welcome its first con-
verts; this mission. in the fourth year of
its life, has this church of goodly mum
bers to cheer its heart Strong reinforce
>>NS~eSS, SRoSNe@AJ oSAAot eAiO AVE- ouO kIcdL
need. s3Y!
THE WEST CENTRAL AFRICAN MIS-
SION.
The West African Mission, well settled
in the adjacent Kingdoms of Bailundu
and Bihe, with vast territory on every
side all its own, moves steadily on in the
regular lines, reaching every year larger
number with the gospel message. With
seventy nine commandments In three
churches, 800 in Sunday schools, and
nearly 400 in day Schools with the New
Testament translated, and press giving
out 100, 900 pages yearly, with more than
1000 treated in dispensaries and hospitals
the missionary activity Is varied and
effective. A native agency is rising up,
considerable in numbers and earnest in
spirit, and many villages near the
stations are for the first time hearing the
gospel and leaf ming Of it's grace The
mission force is too small for the rapid
growth of the field; hut the progress is
substantial, and the rate of advance in
creases from year to year. r..
THE ZULU MISSION.
A revival, ide.reaching, deep, and
searching, has visited nearly every station
and school and kraaI in the Zulu Mis-
sion. This movement has been especially
marked by the Spirit presence and power
producing conviction of sin, open confess
ion, and amendment of life, among the
church members as we'll as among the
heather, and proving beyond a question
that it is from God. The greater number
of the students in the mission school
have made a Christian confession; church
quarrels have been settled and old divisions
healed; new spirit of evangelism has
taken possession of old and young men
and women, and new voices are every
where speaking the wonderful works Of
GOD and persuadirg men to come to
Christ. II we compare the present situa-
ton with that of ten years since, we find
that the pastors and the native agency,
church members, additions to the chur-
ches, and persons under instruction have
more than doubled, and the native con-
tributions have quadrupled.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. g.
A peculiar interest attaches in these
days to the Hawaiian Republic, where a
closer political union with our own