The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-11
Work of Foreign Missions Is Re-
viewed at Meeting.
Rev. James L. Barton, Secretary,
Says Conditions Are Good.
s ARE MADE.
This Is Shown in Number Of
Schools.
Hospitals Doing Much to I'm
prove Conditions.

Milwaukee, Wis, Oct. 1.-THE an
nual survey of the missions was pre-
scented at today's session of the Ameri-
can board of commissioners for foreign
missions, which is holding its annual
meeting here by Rev James L. Bartcn.
D. D., of Boston, the foreign secretary
Of the board.
After referring to the eight honore1
missionaries of the board who have
died during the past year. Secretary
Barton began his survey of the fiel
with review of the outstanding po-
htical events of the year; the revOId-
ton in Mexico; the difficulties of the
new regime in administering the Turk
ish government; China S rapid step
towards representative government aud
the change to Republican government
in Portuguese West Africa All these
changes, he affirmed. have made con-
ditionS for missionary work brighter.
A larger religious liberty is looked for
in Mexico with more emphasis put
upon education Libery of the press,
freedom of travel, and freedom of
speech have been continued IN turkey
though under some perhaps necessary
limitations. The rapid suppression OF
the opium trade and the advance Df
other reforms in China augur well Tor
better conditions in that empire. And
if the statement of Portuguese officials
can be relied upon, missionary work N
Portuguese Africa will receive more
liberal consideration in the future,
than in the past. The relations be-
tween the natives and the government
in Natal have also been greatly i'm
proved under the new government
there.
Readjustments in mission fields and
in other management become neces-
sary from time to time. as in the case
of all living and growing bodies. DR..
Patton's visit to several of the mission
fields this year and the sending of a
commission to Turkey next year for a
conference of all Turkish missions to
review their interests together and to
decide upon new plans and policies are
an indication that the board is en-
deavoring to keep its work we'll in
hand, and adopted to new conditions
they arrive. In the interest of mis-
sionary comfy and efficiency certain
transfers of missions have been made
or are contemplated The mission at
Guam has been passed over to the
general Baptist Foreign Missionary so
city of Indiana; negotiations are in
progress with the Methodist Episcopa
church, north, with reference to pass
ing over the American board's work in
Spain to them, as that body is espe-
cially well equipped for work in Euro
pean countries. Certain changes in the
Micronesian islands and in some
parts of Turkish missions looking to-
ward better cooperation with other
missionary societies are still under
consideration.
The Work in China.
AS one looks over the fields to note
the more conspicuous events of the !
year. attention is called to the decision |
to transfer the Egschwang station |
to Techou in north China, only eight |
miles away, but on the railroad and
Grand canal, wide awake and i'm |
pOrtant location which offers a better |
center for missionary work. In West |
Africa, plans are maturing for the or |
-ganizatiOn of a training school for |
young men to provide preachers and |
teachers for the work of evangelization |
in that country. In the Madura mis- |
sion the new plan of giving into the |
hands of the native churches, a. large |
responsibility and control in general /
work of the mission while still in its /
infancy, promises a real advance At |
Van and Mardin, in eastern Turkey, |
the call is becoming very urgent for |
enlarged educational work. The sta |
ton at Van is called upon to supply |
educated leaders for not only eastern
Turkey, but southern Russia, and |
western Persia. and feels the need of a /
school of college grade Similarly
Mardin, which touches Arab peoples
stitution Of grade that will enable it
to train native preachers and teach
ers- In stormy Albania, where the sky
seems now Frightening a little the
board has decided to make Elbasan its
center of work It plans to build a
house on land already purchased, to
be followed in time by hospital and
school.
Money for Education.
Secretary Barton then reviewed the
educational advance of the year. The
sum of S1,000,000 has been received
for the higher educational endowment
fund, whose goal is set at $2.000,QOO.
The first institutions to receive its aid
are those training young men for the
ministry. The influence and power of
education is deepening constantly
throughout the east, especially in the
training of girls. Industrial educa-
ton is not being over pressed, but in
some countries, like Africa, is of large
importance.
The statistics of the year. while not
a sufficient index of growth. show
advance in many ways The mission
airy body remains about the same in
The native laborers show an
increase of more than 40. Churches
and schools have made gains. The fig
ures of medical work cover % hos
pitfalls and 81 dispensaries, and show
record service to over 35, 900 patients
last year, the total treatments in hos
pitals and dispensaries being 244,00O.
Native contributions amount to the