The Republican journal., 1910-02-17
The Mission Mail Bag.
THE AMERICAN IDEA IN MISSIONS.

New \ Ork City, was Df. JuiluS hlchter
of Berlin. Besides his erudite books on
missions in India, which bear that stamp
of accurate scholarship so characteristic
of Germans, he is editor and founder Of
two magazines and co-editor with Prof.
Warneck of a third. What he said on
this occasion concerning American meth
DDS of propagating the Christian faith IN
foreign lands was very significant. The
policy which most widely ditferentlates
our missionary societies from those in
Europe is. our willingness to put respon-
sibility upon the natives, leaving them to
develop institutions along their own
lines, with as little direct supervision as
possible Democracy, whether in State
or church, is principle not readily ac-
copied by Europeans, but Prof. Richter
says that marked change of sentiment
is now observable among them, due, IN
large degree, to the revolution in Iur-
kew. In continental circles it is being
remarked that chose Americans have
got hold of the right end of the problem. -
Our oldest missionary society, the
American Board, entered the Turkish
empire in 1920, and after a period OF only
26 years had the courage to place native
pastors over some of the churches. Many
looked askance upon the experiment,
but the plan is now generally adopted by
American missionary societies, though
it is considered peculiar to the United
States. Schools were started on the
same basis, the teachers never inculcat-
ing revolutionary doctrines, but sowing
the seeds of democratic thought in the
minds of the young men in Robert Col
lege and the various schools and colleges
under its care Ar inevitable sequence
was free Bulgaria and the new regime
in Turkey today. What the Berlin Con-
ference failed to accomplish, what the
chancelleries of Europe discussed in vain
for half century. came to pass through
"the American idea" working itself out
in the soil of native character, thus in
surfing political reform from within IN
stead of being imposed from without.
Prof. Richter cited Japan as another
nation where the democratic principle,
introduced through Christian missions,
had developed native power OF self-gov-
eminent in religious affairs to an extra
ordinary degree. He believes that lead
ership in teaching Christianity and plant
ing its institutions throughout Asia is
rapidly passing to the United States.
The opinion of such an eminent student
of world problems is particularly valu-
able lust now, when foreign missions
are emerging from the stage of hostile
criticism to place of recognition as
powerful factor in political and social as
well as in religious life.
BULGARIA's POPULAR QUEEN.
One of the bestowed queens in Europe
is Eleanor of Bulgaria. She has never
been fond of the pomp of court life, but
takes much interest in various forms Of
philanthropy She has founded a home
for the blind and another for the deaf
and dumb in Sofia. The only kindergar-
tens in the city were started nine years
ago by Miss Elizabeth C. Clark, who took
her training for that work in Boston, al
though she was born and has always lived
in Bulgaria She has two of these schools
with Is pupils under the auspices of the
American Board. Some of the little
children walk a mile each way every day
in order to attend.
One afternoon there was quite an eX-
citement when a note came from the
palace announcing that Queen Eleanor
was coming to visit the school, There
was d little extra cleaning for the august
guest, a chair and handsome rug were
borrowed for her use, and simple greet
ing prepared to fit one of the kinder
garten melodies. The queen was very
attentive while the children sang their
welcome and went through their regular
exercises, and exclaimed, "HoW beau
tiful! | shall remember this as long as |
live. | never saw anything like it and
have been connected with many kinder
RdFleHS III defuldly. Inc movable
chairs and tables drew her attention and
she contrasted them with the fixed desks
in German kindergartens where, as she
said, the floor can never be clean"
She remained more than an hour and
half, asking questions and talking with
the children in such simple manner that
one small boy exclaimed, "Why, the
queen did not come after ALP He had
not yet learned to recognize royalty in
ordinary everyday dress.
HOME FOR FACTORY GIRLS IN JAPAN.
1t is great compliment to foreign
missionaries when their methods of work
are adopted by the natives themselves.
There is remarkable home for factory
girls in the large manufacturing city of
Matsuyama conducted by Mr.. Omoto,
who once went into meeting held by
the Christians for the express purpose
of breaking up the service. Instead he
became believer in the truth, and gave
good evidence of his conversion by start
ing out to improve the deplorable condi-
1 q