Evening star., 1900-05-03
Delegates to Methodist Conference
Report Satisfactory Progress.
WHAf is BEING DONE ABROAD
Opposition to Missionary Work
Seems to Be Dying Out.
MISSIONARIES INTERVIEWED

CHICAGO, May 3.-Al parts of the globe
are represented in the Methodist confer-
ence. Every continent, the islands Of the
Pacific and the zone from the equatorial
parts of Africa and Asia to the arctic re-
gions have all sent delegates. In all climes
Methodism is reported to be progressing,
and the delegates speak with pride of the
development of the church in far-away ter
ritories
The work of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Japan" said the Rev. Julius So
per, dean of the Philsnder Smith Biblical
Institute, Aoyama. Toxic, has been most
successful. We now have about sixty-five
ordained native preachers and $500 native
Christians, not including baptized children
and adherents.
THE character of our converts and tha
loyalty of our preachers .and members have
greatly improved. There are now over
10000 Protestant communicates in various
denominations in Japan. The government
is kindly disposed to Christians, but there
is still much opposition on the part of BUD
dhists. ultra-nationalists and many OF the
scientific men of the empire. The outlook
is encouraging, however. and the work in
teresting. Faith is put to strong test.
but the faith of the Japanese Christians 10
strong
The Church I'm India.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in
North India is growing rapidly" said the
Rev. E. w. Parker. The Hindustani
Church now numbers 5000 souls There
were 2,3o0 baptisms in 1899, the number OF
Sunday school pupils was 40,ss4, and We
have an Epworth League about 1900
strong
The condition OF the Methodist Episcopa1
Church in the South India" said Charles
J; Mueller, one of the lay delegates from
that country, generally speaking is good.
There are hopes, under the existing cirCum-
stances, of a considerable extension. There
seems to be a paucity of laborers for the
harvest. If that can be corrected there is
every reason to believe that the church in
South India will attain great proportions.
1t is unique in being Of an ideal order, and
is respected by the natives. Its present
membership is large"
THE progress of the Methodist Church in
Liberia said the Rev. w. T. Hagan. the
colored presiding elder of the Monrovia and
Bassa districts. has been highly satisfac-
tory. We have now over fifty churches
and more than thirty ministers. We also
have a number Of missions, stations and
Sunday schools. Besides that have in
tons"
The Work in Burmah.
1.-The Methodist Church." said the Rev.
Julius Smith of Calcutta, has two large
mission fields in Bengal. Burmah. We have
a strong English congregation in Calcutta
and one in Rangoon. The preaching in our
districts is done in English, Burmese, Hin~
dustani, Chinese and In different idioms OF
the Hindu language"
THE church was never more prosperous
in Foo Chow than now, said the Rev. ].
H. Worley. THE schools are crowded, the
native preachers are Jealous and faithful
and thousands of people are longing to
know the truth. Self-support is increasing.
Many of our people have pledged them
selves to give one-half to the Lord. Revival
fires burn upon many affairs"
Rev. VIM. Burt of Rome, superintendent
of the work in Italy; Rev. L. Peter of Eur
ich, Switzerland; J. H. Bunker, director Of
the Martin Mission Institute at Frankfort
on-the- Main, and several others told of the
progress OF Methodism in their districts.