The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-09
FOREIGN MISSION
BOARD MEETS At
NORTH ADAMS

North Adams. Mass, oct. 9.--Clergy-
men and missionaries from all parts
OF the world are in this city TO attend
the annual meeting OF the American
board OF commissioners for foreign
missions. known this year as the hay
stack centennial meeting" which open
ed here today. Part OF the sessions
will be held In North Adams and part
I'm the adjoining town OF Williamstown,
where 100 years ago in the shade OF a
haystack a few men formed the plans
which resulted in the inception OF the
foreign missionary movement
A commemorative monument marks
the field where the haystack stood
The speakers during the week VIII In
clude many prominent clergymen, for
eign missionaries and native workers,
together with several American college
presidents. The meeting will continue
through Friday.
The opening session was arranged 10
be held in North Adams this after
noon, at which reports OF officers viii
be read.
Treasurer Virgins report states that
the receipts OF the board have far eN-
ceeded those Of any previous IL months.
The falling off from the previous year
in legacies was s10.7S5, but there was
gain OF s172,542 In gifts from living
donors. The total receipts were s9l3,-
l59, not including a balance OF $4,000
of the previous years gifts from John
ID. Rockefeller, TO be applied towards
buildings and equipment. The total
disbursements Of the year, not In
cluding Mr. Rockefeller's gift, were
$S53,6S0. The Twentieth century fund
now amounts to sl42,999.
Secretary Barton In his report de-
clares that aggressive measure have been
taken by the TulSish government during
the year to prevent the erection Of new
school and hospital buildings, and that
the raising Of the American legation at
Constantnople to an embassy has not
changed these affairs.
Commenting on Russia. he said that
genuine religious liberty in Russia would
open to the American board for imme-
diate advance one Of the largest doors OF
opportunity ever opened at one time to
any organization"
He states that the most serious political
conditions faced by any OF the missions
Of the board at present are in South Az
rlca, where the so-called Ethiopian
movement" has stirred up the native
Eulus, who are not accorded rights equal
10 those freely accorded the white race.
Secretary Barton urges the Importance
Of making Japan Christian, mot only
of her influence upon the continent"
Speaking OF the need Of new mission
aries, DIR. Barton's report says I'VE are
today in desperate need Of reinforcements
I'm Turkey. India, China and Africa, as
well as in other countries. We must
have more missionaries at once"
The report OF the prudential committee
says I'm part: The men and women we
are sending TO the front are breaking
down TO an alarming degree. The need
increases rapidly with the delay. and
we cannot longer withhold reinforce
ments in certain fields without imperil-
ing the work Of decades. We particu-
lary need young women thoroughly
trained Intellectually by college course
or its equivalent.
Notwithstanding the fearful San Fran
cisco disaster. that district has actually
increased it's gifts by $4,000, gain Of
81 per cent.
The debt era is soon to be thing Of
the past.
The young peoples missionary move
ment is the strongest reinforcement the
various foreign boards have received in
modern times"