The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-12
METHODIST MISSIONS.
General Committee Continues Its
Important LahoTs.
India and Japan Appropriations Decided on
Before Adjournment.

The Methodist missionary committee
went into session at o'clock this
morning. with an attendance a shade
lighter than usual Bishop j. +. Hurst of
Boston presided, and the devotional ex-
ercises were led by Hon. Alden Spears
of Boston. The minutes OF yesterdays =
sessions were read by Secretary S. l..
Baldwin.
Appropriations for Asia were first
taken into consideration, i'm continue
tion of the proceedings of yesterday
afternoon. At the afternoon session of
Friday China was granted a total of
$4,000, divided as follows: Foochow,
for the work as IL is, $22 900; Hinghaw.
$4,000; central China, for the work as il
is, S35,29O; north China, s42.500, and
west China, for the work as IL is, $13.-
610, a net increase of $94l0. The first
item taken up this morning was Japan,
and $4,000 was awarded-S3T. 500 for the
Japan conference and Sl2 800 for the
south Japan mission conference. Korea
was given $1,000, an increase OF S3025
over the sum for last year. The COM
mittee on appropriations recommended
for India $l45,000 and $l2. .375 for Malay
STA. Before the votes were taken on
the Indian apportionments addresses
were called for from Bishop Cyrus ID.
Foss OF Philadelphia and Or. John f.
Goucher Of Baltimore, who have just
returned from a tour OF investigation
through India. Bishop F'oss was the
first speaker and the tale he told moved
his hearers very perceptibly, many
times to tears. The bishops remarks
occupied the greater part of an hour.
He told of the laxity OF social system
and the popularity OF religious custom
I'm that country, and detailed the results
Of IL ALL He spoke at length of the
ignorance and filth SO common among
the lower castles of people. of the bar
baric ceremony OF the native religious
teachers, and spoke touchingly OF the
heartiness and Joy with which the mis-
sionaries were received and their
bounties accepted. He explained the
strength OF Methodism in that far land
and gave some important statistics con-
cerning the Methodist church In India
during the past year. During 1898. a.
097 converts We're taken on probation,
an increase OF over IA fold, as com
pared with 1897: full members. 3l.S66,
an increase Of fold. There are now
233 churches. PASS Sunday schools, with
1929 pupils. There are also 209 Ep-
worth leagues. with 1887 members.
The total value Of churches, Sunday
schools and other mission property is
3,607, $50 rupees S1. SOB, 990).
DR.. John f. Goucher of Baltimore
followed with remarks tending in the
same direction as those of the bishop.
and afterward the chairman read a
letter from Bishop James NJ. Thoburn,
who is yet in India, and who was. a
companion OF Bishop Foss and sIr.
Goucher on the pilgrimage through the
eastern country.
The committee finally adopted the
award of $l45.000 as the total amount
for India. and Bishop Foss. DR.. Gou-
cher and DIR. Leonard were appointed
committee to provic~ for the distribu-
tion of the money. An appropriation OF
$40 900 was made for Malaysia. Bishop
Foss was appointed to prepare a paper
on Foreign Missions:" Anderson Fow-
Ter one on the Home Field" and DR..
Stewart one on the obligations OF Mis-
sions." This afternoon portion of the
board is i'm private conference. and ad-
journment OF the general meeting is on
until Monday morning at o'clock.