Evening star., 1925-10-23
MISSIONS BOARD
FACES DIRE NEED
Shortage of Funds May
Threaten Work in For
eign Fields.

American BOard OF commissioners Tor
Foreign Missions, the oldest mis-
sionary society in America. n the
principal business today Of the hien-
NAL gathering Of the National Council
Of Congregational Churches Of the
Unit ed States. Business sessions were
held this morning and afternoon.
while film. From kraal 10 Mine,
From Mine 10 kraal. VIII he shown
tonight AT the Washington Auditorium
in connection with talk by DIR.
James l.. Barton. on The Mission Of
the American Board in Turkey"
Rev. DIR. Rockwell Harmon Potter,
retiring moderator of the council. is
slated for election as president Of the
pastor Of the Center Church Of Hart.
ford, Conn. He fs the author Of The
Common Faith OF Common Men.
Organized In 1910.
The American Boa rd was orga nized
in 1910 and chartered In 1872. Its
first missionaries sailed for India in
1919. 1t has 800 missionaries OF both
sexes. unordainsd as well as ordained.
on It's roll. 1t works In Africa. q.
Bulgaria. Greece. Turkey, India
China. Japan. the Philippines, Mexico.
Spain. Czechoslovakia and in tho
South Sea lsla nds. II has always been
known for it's freedom from den"mina
IionaliSm and It's leadership in union
Christian enterprises.
Frederick A. Gaskins. treasurer Of
the American board, reported at the
meeting today that the total amount
ri money which passed through his
hand during the fiscal year. closing
susust 81. was s2,O77.s9s4s. This
was so 900 more than last year. due
largely TO the increa sed giving OF the
women OF the Congregational
churches and to certain individual
men who responded TO the special sp-
peal Of the board. he said.
Deficit In Budget.
1t was brought out. however, that
as last years budget had to he
larger than the year before 10 pro
vide for huctuation in exchange and
for necessary increa ases in the sd la
ries OF missionaries a deficit of the
year OF 4,s94.50 occurred. This il
the largest in the history Of the
board.
DIR. Shepherd Knapp. chairman OF
the prudential committee. plead toda V
that the board be allowed TO make a
special appeal for $3.50, ,000 to main
tain the present work on a really
efficienI basis" and suggested ways
he secured.
1t was generally conceded among
the delegates today that the board Is
IA cling grave crisis in its life. Eithe er
IL must have an increa sed income OF
$500 600 or proceed TO cut down its
work. The officers and members Of
the prudential committee are greatly
concerned over the possibility OF a
drastic cut which would mean a
gra dual Withdrawal from such fields
AZ Japan and Ceylon. failure To
enter opening fields in China. Africa
the Philippines and the like Much
will depend upon the action to be
taken later in the week by the Ma
tional Council leaders, IT was brought
out today.
Tells OF Refugees.
w. W. Peet. LII. d., for more tina n
80 wears an American board mis-
sionary in Turkey. spoke today on
"Turkey-After Forty four Years
He is probably known in America best
as the man who ma aged the rescue of
Miss Ellen Stone, the kidna aped mis-
sionary OF the American board. from
the brigands who had captured her
in Macedonia In 1902 than for any
other Of his acts, but there are nu-
merOuS other nearly as matte
events since that time, his friends
declared today.
DR.. Peet spoke with enthusia sm OF
the attitude of Greece toward the mil.
lion and half refugees who have re.
turned 10 that country from Turkey
and he says many OF the people them.
selves remind him in their eagerness
TO get 10 work on the land. TO make
homes for themselves and TO make q
future for their children. of the atti.
tude and ambitions OF the America ms
who were moving West across Iowa
and Nebra ska in the years before he
went to Turkey.
The American board. il was an.
nounced today. through its prudential
committee. has voted in favor of an
ca rly revision of the treaties with
China in such way as TO give effec-
tive applica ton to the principles
agreed upon at the Washington con.
ference in 1922, such as: /. Respect.
ing the sovereignty, Independence and
! integrity of China ,. Providing the
fullest and most unemba rassed op
portunity to China to develop and
ma intain for herself an effective and
sta Bile government. 4. Refraining from
king advantage of conditions In
China in order to seek special rights
or privileges abridging the rights OF
friendly states, etc.
Opposes Treaty Privileges.
The American board. It was
brought out at today's meeting il
especially interested in the removal OF
those treaty provisions which accord
special privileges TO missions and
missionaries. 1t urges that when the
! respective governments negotiate the
new treaties II be underst ood that this
board indorses the position of the
most liberal missionaries OF China who
do not desire any such distinctive
treaty privilege as have been thus fa1
imposed upon the Chinese government,
and people.
Other speakers at today's session,
were Rev. John J. Banninga of Pasu
malai on Our Marching Orders IN
India; Rev. $. r. Modak of Ahmed
nagar on "A Message From the
! Church of India; Rev. John 3. Porter
| of Prague on The Protestant Move
ment in CZechoslovakia' Presiden
George f. White OF Salonica or
Greece as a Field for the American
Board and Rev. Wynne c. Fairfield
Of Taiku on China Again in Up
hea val"