The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-20
WORK OF MISSIONS
HAS PROSPERED
Presbyterians Use Second Day
Appointing Committees.

Richmond, Va, May 19.-The first bust
ness of. the second day OF the general as
sembly of the Southern Presbyterian
church was the appointment of standing
committees. A memorial was received
from the superintendent of the Womans
Christian Temperance Union suggesting
that the fourth Sunday in November in
each year should be set apart as an annual
temperance Sabbath. 1t was referred to
the committee on bills and overtures. The
following overture from the Presbytery Of
Athens was read and referred:
Whereas, there is a growing tendency
in many quarters of our communion to
recognize Christmas and Easter religi-
Gus days because of the fact with which
they are associated in the public mind, the
Presbytery of Athens, believing that such
recognition is contrary to the principles
of the formed faith and in the nature Of
will-worship. hereby overtures the general
assembly to make a pronounced and ex-
plicit deliverance on the subject
The report Of the committee on foreign
missions was then submitted.
The report was in part as follows:
notwithstanding some difficulties and
findrances, the work in all our mission
fields has been greatly prospered and bless
ed. The China mission has suffered. peG+
faps, more seriously than in any previous
year from failure of health among its
members. The African mission has been
hampered by delay in obtaining the neces-
sary concessions for the new stations
opened at Dombi and Ibanj. The Japan
ese mission has suffered from the loss of
one missionary family. and from the in
ability Of the executive committee to sup
ply funds for the return of two other fam
lilies at the end of their years furlough at
home Several members of the Korean
mission have suffered loss Of time from i'll
health brought on by living In unsanitary
native houses and by overwork in trying to
meet, with an inadequate force, the de-
mands made on them by their continually
increasing opportunities. In Northern
Brazil drought and famine have made
country work in some places, during a
part of the year, Impossible.
Notwithstanding these hindrances, the
statistical reports show an addition of 4Sa
members on profession OF tafth. Whlci
might have been largely increased but FOL
the great care and caution exercised by al
our missions in admitting members to full
communion in the native churches. Thu
number of inquirers and applicants fol
membership reported is much larger thai
in any previous year of our history TIT
largest number of additions in any one mis-
sion was l2S-ln the MISSION OIL ooulherl
Brazil, where we have only four ordained
workers and only three engaged in the reg
ular evangelistic work.
zone new station was opened in Corea
with this exception, no enlargement of thu
work has been attempted in any of the old
or fields. The assembly of 1898 authorized
the executive committee to found a mission
in Cuba whenever the way should be clear
At no time during the year has the con
dition of the treasury been such as woult
warrant us in drawing on the receipts TO
our regular work to inaugurate this new
enterprise
1.-The receipts from all sources were $145,
2SG, and the disbursements $145,34S. The bal
ance in the treasury April l, 1899, was $5i 10
We are. therefore, able to report the clos
ing of another year without a debt.
"All our missions are so much in need o.
endorsements that 1t is difficult to dis
cr'minate as to which Of them are more 81
than the others.