Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-28
MUCH MONEY FOR MISSIONS
Board Reports Many Stations to Be
self-SuppOrting.
NATIVES CONTRIBUTING FUNDS
Spirit of Cooperation Developed in
Foreign Field Among Many De-
nominations Encouraging
Feature of work.

byterian church in the United States today
Great progress in the field Of evangelism
was indicated by the report Of the foreign
mission board Not only has the' work
prospered by the great number OF new
communicates added to the rolls Of the
church. but it was shown that the natives
in many foreign fields were contributing
sums of money large enough to make many
Of the missionary stations self-supporting
The evangelistic spirit developed in the
native churches. the spirit of cooperation
among the many denominations in the for
eign field ana the unitey OF the different
branches of the Presbyterian church IN
bDreign missionary work were matters upon
which the board laid special stress to show
the happy state Of this field of effort
| 1t was shown that in spiritual results the
| last year had been the best in the history of
the board.
Record for Contributions.
| The board reported that more money was
| contributed this year for foreign missions
through the board than during any previ-
Gus year in its history. the amount in
cluding legacies, being more than 81 900.
OF this sum churches gave $5s6Oo0, an in
crease of S9l 600 over the preceding year.
| The total expenses for the year amounted
to S1,455,OOO. A portion of the deficit re-
1
received from the Cumberland churches
than was appropriated for them. The main
reason for the deficit was that while the
legacy account fell off during the year.
approximately $4,000 was received which
had TO be applied for special purposes in
the foreign field by directing the assistance
of its donors.
Report of Mission Board.
| The report OF the foreign mission board
follows:
The year has been a successful one.
| SiXty-four new missionaries were sent out.
| The receipts from all sources were N,Sfl,-
2G5-the largest amount ever received in
| a single year. Owing to the extra demands,
aS%sYeT 69seS With on defct def hoFagR of 'he
The board has twenty-eight missions To-
Gated IN Africa, China, India, Japan.
Siam, Laos. Brazil. Chile, Columbia, Guata-
mala, Syria and among the Chinese, Japa-
nese and Coreans IN the United 5d6e states, II
963 missionaries, over 5000 native workers,
LIN schools from the primary to the uni
year year printed 1$s.26i, 4oS pages, About i20
hospitals and dispensaries. which treated
more than 100, 900 patients last year.
There are S. 4OT communicates. more than
| 10000 being added during the year. The
| contribution on the field from native
largest sum ever received from the native
Christians in the more than seventy years
The significant events Of the year are
1 found in the rapid development OF seff-sup-
port, This is shown by the large offerings
such as the Laos mission, and the Corea.
the native churches are almost entirely
Africa. nearly all the churches are self
supporting.
In COrea and the Philippines.
The evangelstic spirit of the native
church in Corea is remarkable. The, add.
faith were 3,41 This does not take into
account the large number Of cat7chumens,
or those who have renounced their heathen-
ism and professed Christ and one receiv-
ing instruction preparatory TO being re-
ceived into the church. This large in
earnestness and fervor Of the native Chris
tians. In the Philippine Islands, nearly
2lOO adults have been received into the
markable After eight and half years OF
service there are fifty Presbyterian
and 300 native helpers and teachers and
some 5000 communicates. The native church
in the Ph9pRss hdS seown ePvoe oeai ana
In China the pTes6yteries and synod rep
united with other Presbyterian churches
to form one Chinese Presbyterian church.
These native Chinese Christians boldly de-
clare that this is but a step toward a great
sions this same spirit OF unity and Co
operation is manifest. In Japan the work
z OF CO-OpcIdNlon dlllpiA6 NlC NoA AoN9 III
/. bodies has gone on with great rapidity,
! and the church itself is seeking TO do
the major part Of the evangelistic work re-
Spirit of Comfy.
The spirit of comfy among the various
denominations at work in many lands
airy conference at Shanghai. The mission
aries OF the Presbyterian church have
the dms'sH Raptists, ~ the congregstionaiists and
the disciples Of China and Corea. The
first Presbytery was organized in Sep
the Australian, Canadian. Southern Presby-
terian church, as well as the representa-
tives Of the northern Presbyterian church.
the mission spirit than the willingness on
: the part OF the varied denominations TO
sink denominational differences and unite
in order to more effectively present the
gospel OF Christ.
There has been an increased interest in
the home land. In February, a great
, mems convention was held at which l,6oC
registered delegates. each paying his own
way, were present, and dehberated for
three days on the best method for arouslng
interest In foreign missions among the men
Of the church. The sale OF mission study
text books. the demands for mission liuera-
! ture, the commendation OF missions by such
{ men as Hon. James Bryce, Hon. William
Tan' Hon; Miiism lam 2 :; 6rysh', ana Mr !:
foreign missions such as II has never had
! before. II has ceased TO be fashionable
, to sneer at foreign missions
= A shorter Cnteenism'
A shorter catechism, which shall be
/ couched in simpler language than the
shorter catechism" now in use by the
/ church, was recommended by the commit
tee on bills and overtures. This catechism
must cover the system OF faith and practice
, taught in the holy scriptures and is in
tended for home instructions and for the
: Sabbath schools. but II shall not be one
OF the standards OF the church. This shah
be known as an inteTmediate catechism,
ana committee OF six ministers and three
Z elders, OF which the moderator shall be
4 the chairman. win report on the recon-
5 mendation at the next general assembly.
Baer Hopeful OF Future.
Dr. J. Willis Baer, president OF Occi-
dental college. in presenting the report
. OF the board OF foreign missions. said that
the nation is 'foreordained 20 have a presi-
e dent next year who believes in foreign
missions" as both Secretary Taft and Mr
, Bryan had expressed their strong endorse
} ment Of the work. He quoted Secretary
Taft as sayihg. Christianity and the
a spread OF Christianity is the only basis
of universal hope" and Mr.. Bryan was