The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-10
THE BAPTIST MISSIONS.

Members of the Southern Baptist
Convention are much gratified, as they
have Just reason to be, at the very fine
record of the church's mission work
during the past year. At the Ashe-
vile convention, a year ago. the for
eign board asked for 100000 to carry
on the work in foreign fields during
the following twelve months. That
was an advance If $4,000 over the sum
raised the year pr~vious. Not only
was the increased sum a~ked for forth
Coming, but in addition there was
raised for foreign missions more than
$4,000 over and above the sum esti-
mated by the foreign board to be nee
essary for the prosecution and exten.
sion of the work.
No small amount Of credit for this
excellent showing is due to the women
workers of the church--to the Woman's
Missionary Union, powerful auxii-
larry Of the convention. and to the de-
voted ladies who. individually and coll
lectively, give time. talent and strength
to the propagation of the gospel among
bAiUSe VINO SIT IN darkness.
Having done so well for the foreign
mission work last year. it is the pur-
pose of the convention and its valued
assistants to do much better during
the ensuing twelve months. 1t is pro-
posed now to raise during the next
year not less than $3.50 900 to be de-
voted to the spreading of the gospel in
foreign lands. And there is no doubt
that the money will be forthcoming
With so great body of enthusiastic
workers devoted to the cause, 1t is hard
to estimate the sum of what may be
accomplished.
Reports from the various foreign
mission fields are encouraging The
missionaries. imbued with zeal and
courage, have steadily extended their
outposts in the "enemy's country
and have been rewarded by many con-
versions. The outlook in China is be-
lleved to be better than for a long
time; and this improved prospect is an
illustration OF how good may come out
of evil. Before the uprising of the
Boxers the missionaries in China were
beset by many difficulties. When the
allied Powers entered Pekin the Chi
nese government became impressed
with the fact that foreigners must be
given protection, and that If they did
not get it from the Chinese government
their own governments would give it
TO them. Following the settlement of
the Boxer troubles there has been more
of an open door" to Christian mis-
sionary workers in China than ever be-
fore. They are now more nearly at
liberty in their preaching and teaching
than five years ago they hoped to be
in decade. This encouraging out
look viii cause the Baptists to work
the field of China with increased en-
ergy ana enthusiasm.
But, it may be asked, are not all of
these heavy contributions for foreign
missions being made at the expense of
the home missionary work? Are not
the heather" whom we have with us
being neglected while the gospel is be-
ing carried to the heather abroad? Not
at all. The reports show that, while |
the foreign missionary funds have
been SO handsomely increased, the
funds for home missions have grown
in approximately like proportion. The
home field is not being sighted On
he contrary good and successful work
is being done in it, with Increased funds
and larger army Of workers. Among
the sunday-schools too, there have
been larger collections and a broaden
ing Of the scope Of usefuliess. On the
whole, everything goes to show that
the chuTch organization represented by
the Southern Baptist Convention has
experienced prosperous and progress
sive year, and that it starts out on its
new year under auspices that are graft
flying.