Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-08
IN INTEREST Of THE BOARD
CHURCH DEPuTATiON TO VISIT MIS-
SI0NS IN INDIA.
CONGREGATIONAL Denomination Seek
ing InfcrmatioH-Divis of Ter
ritory in Foreign Fields.

The American board of foreign mis-
siOns, to the support of which the Congre-
gationaI churches here send contributions,
is about to send to its oldest mission field,
India. the second deputatiOn ever sent
there. consisting of three men. Cne of
them is the secretary of the board who
year in and out supervises the Indian mis-
sons Rev. James l.. Barton, d. d, an
other is Rev. j. F. I-oba, d. D., of Evans
ton, ILL.,. who will view the problems to be
faced and discussed from the standpoint of
the home clergy and as a clerical repre-
sentative of the churches which support
the board. and the other, Mr.. William f.
WhittenOre Of Boston, is a widely travelled
layman and successful business man,
who will be able to bring to consideration
Of matters wisdom gained from many
sources and varied experience. Two of
these gentlemen have devoted a years ex-
ira time To preparation for their task and
all of them Will utilize the time between
leaving this country and arriving in India
for study and conference.
Sailing from Boston they will stop in
London and confer with the officials of the
London Missionary Society. They will also
have conferences with the church mission
airy society and the Wesleyan Missionary
Society, relative TO the possibility of CO.
operation In Ceyion. or if not formal CO.
operation. then a more satisfactory divi-
sion of territory and labor Sailing from
MarseiIles May 10, they are due in Colon
DO, Ceylon, June =, whence they will lro-
coed to Jaffna. in north Ceylon where the
work Of the beard is located Here they
VIII investigate the status of Jaffna Col
leSe. independent inst itution but A
product of the mission and in closest touch
with it, and gain Information which will
aid in shaping its future history. The first
Indian mission to be studied will be the
Madura mission. Then Madras with it's
wi no vic tod
and then steps will be turned toward the
Marathi mission, in the north
At least five months will be spent in In
dla In direct contact with the boards own
missions and missionaries In conference
with the officials and missionaries of other
boards and in touch, far as possible
with English officials. rulers of the native
states and the Intelligent and communica-
tive natives-Christian and non Christian
Anything from any source that can throw
light on the religious, economic or polti-
cal situation will be welcomed although
Of course. attention primarily will be CEN
tered on the. mission plant of the Ameri-
can board, every mission of which will be
Inspected as to personnel. methods of
work, peculiar problems needing adjust
ment, possibility of curtailment or neces-
sity Of expansion, etc.
Purposes to He Served
The deputation is expected to accomplish
two much desired ends. 1t will not have
a burning issue to pass upon and settle as
did the last deputation which went to ia
pan But 1t will find the Indian mission
aries facing serious problems. on which
they need the counsel Of unpreiudiced
mlnds-such questions as the relations with
other denominations proper methods of
chitlVating and establishing native Chris
nan independence, and the duty of the
missions to provide a form of education
which Will preserve the bodies and cnIti
waite the manual skill and earning capacity
OF the natives, as well as impart a Sosnel
Wh1ch Will save souls and provide schools
which Will develop the intelligence More
over. the missionaries on the ground are
eager to have the work they have done