Olive Trees 1905 - Rparchives.org

Iv I B R. A •R. Y 

Reformed Presbyterian Seminary, 

Of AUeglieay Oity. 

Class, E. No ll^-.-

CONTENTS. 

Questions of tbe Hour: 

Be Not Discouraged 

"' 

Eev. J. M. Foster, Boston, Mass. 

CaU of Moses 19"^ 

Eev. A. I. Eobb, Tak Hing Cbau, China. 

Christian Evangelistic Work 269 


Church of the Euture • • • 221 

Eev. J. A. Blackwood, New Yorlc, N. Y. 

Horae Missions 

'^^ 

Eev. J. W. Sproull, D.D., Allegheny, Pa. 

Intercessory Poreign Missionaries 245 

Eev. Alfred Street, Waterloo, Ind. 

Jewish Evangelization 

l'^^ 

Eev. G. M. Eobb, PhUadelphia, Pa. 

Kingdora of Christ 121 

Eev. T. C. Sproull, Fairgrove, Mich. 

Medical Missions—Tbeir Basis and Their Value 1 

J. M. Balph, .M.D., Latakia, Syria. 

iledical Mission at Latakia 73 

J. .M. Balph, M.D., Latakia, Syria. 

Our Eesponsibility for a Ferishing World 25. 


Eower of the Gospel of Christ 173 

Eev. G. W. Benn, Carabridge, Mass. 

News of the Churches: 

Abro.\.d. 

At Home. 

Asia Minor, Mersina 6, 34, 79, 103, Allegheny, Pa... .10, 36, 57, 85, 107, 186, 

181, 205, 228, 250, 276 210, 232, 258, 279 

China, Tak Hing... .8, 35, 55, 82, 152, Boston, ilass 37 

183, 208, 230, 252, 277 Clay Center, Kansas 162 

Cypms 8, 34, 81, 104, 183, 206, 230, Hetherton, Mich 259 

251, 276 Hoplcinton, la 85 

Field Eeports to the Board 134 Houston, IU 232 

New Hebrides 185 Los Angeles, Cal 57 

Eeport of Coraraittee on Foreign Mis- .Miller's Eun, Pa 57 

sions 127 Morning Sun, la 186, 212, 259 

Eeport of Foreign Mission Board 128 New Castle, Fa 163 

Syria, Alexandretta 53 New Concord, 0 13 

" Latakia—5, 32, 53, 152, 179, 204, New York, N. Y 58, 187 

227, 250, 275 Oakdale, IU 163 

" Suadia 33, 75, 250 Olathe, Kansas 58, 86, 188

PhUadelphia, Pa 37 

Eeport of Committee on Home Missions 

158 

Eeport of Central Board 159 

Eeport of Jewish Mission Board.... 162 

Selma, Ala 259 

Sterling, Kansas 11 

Utica, 0 108 

White Lake, N. Y 212 

Wilkinsburg, Pa 164 

Monographs: 

A Crisis Hour—Dr. J. C. McFeeters. 87 

A Missionary Eomance 192 

An Old Letter 240 

A Notable Incident at Tak Hing 

Cbau—Eev. J. K. Eobb 261 

A "Eead Book" Man—the late Dr. 

Maude George 13 

A Touching Tribute to Departed 

Worth-Miss Mattie A. WyUe.... 168 

Behind Strong Bars—Translated 

• from tbe German by Eev. Louis 

Myers 233 

Bible in Cbina 42 

Dr. Metheny's Grave—Mrs. Myrta 

May Dodds 236 

Essential Conditions of Tme Giving 

—Lemuel C. Barnes, D.D 109 

Family Worship witb the Chinese—- 

Dr. Kate McBumey 63 

For the Children—Mrs. M. B. 

Stewart 92 

Historical Sketch of the Mission to 

Cbina—Eev. A. I. Eobb 280 

•Good News from Cyprus 285 

Items frora Bureau Bulletins 15 

Jennie B. Torrence—^.Mrs. Myrta May 

Dodds 213 

Lift Up—A. B. C 42 

Lookout Committee—Miss Cornelia 

E. Brigden 165 

Missionary's Debt to His Position— 

Eev. C. A. Dodds 16 

Missionary Effort—Mr. Alexander 

Adams 89 

Mission Study—ilr. E. W. Jones 65 

Our Duty to the Stranger 283 

Our Levant Missions—Eev. J. Boggs 

Dodds. ...; 40 

Pass It Along—Wm. Ashmore, D.D. 240 

Pictorial News—Eev. Julius A. 

Kempf ; 262 

Eeport on the Sabbatb—Eev. S. J. 

Crowe, D.D 237 

The Christ Life—Charles Cuthbert 

HaU, D.D 116 

Tbe Ground which Withered Not vs. 

The Prophet Devoid of Mercy— 

H. C. Mabie, D.D 169 

The Leper—Tbe Late Dr. Maude 

George 39 

The .Mission of Japan—Sidney Louis 

Gulick, D.D 114 

Tbe Last Message 216 

The Straight Gate—Dr. Kate Mc 

Burney 64 

Tbe Tithe is tbe Lord's 193 

The Quarrier Home—Mrs. C. E. Mc 

Cartney 190 

'Third Church of the Covenanters, 

Philadelphia, Pa 91 

"Through tbe Valley"—Mrs. J. M. 

AVright 60 

Tribute to Dr. Maude George—The 

Late Miss Jennie B. Torrence.... 109 

What Means the Open Door? 116 

Editorial Notes: 

Book Notices 23, 47, 70, 95, 119, 244 

Memorial Thank-Offerings 21, 45, 69, 

94, 118, 171, 194, 218, 242, 264 

Notes. .22, 46, 70, 95, 118, 147, 172, 194, 

218, 243, 264 

Treasurer's Vouchers 48

O L I V E T R E E S , 

A Monthly Missionary JournaL 

Subscription Price, 50 cents a year in tbe United 

States and Canada, and 75 cents to foreign countries, 

and when mailed to subscribers in City of Ne-w Yorfc. 

Address: 

R. M, SOMMERAm-LE, 

No. 327 West 56th Street, 

New Yorfc, 

Entered as Second Class Matter at 

Post Office, New York, N. Y.

O L I V K T R E K S 

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary Work in the Reformed Presbyterian 

Church, U. S. A. 

No. JANUARY, 1905. 

QUESTIONS OF T H E HOUR. 

MEDICAL MISSIONS-THEIR BASIS 

AND THEIR VALUE. 

J. M. BALPH, M.D., LATAKIA, STRIA. 

"A thing is great, partly by its traditions, 

and partly by its opportunities; 

partly by what it has accoraplished and 

partly by the doors of serviceableness, of 

wbicb it holds tbe keys."—George Adam 

Smith. 

The growth of raedicalmissions in the 

past two or three decades has been a raarvelous 

one; but even raore astonishing is 

the fact that the Church of Christ was so 

slow to recognize the value of what is 

now alraost universally adraitted to be one 

of the raost potent factors in the world's 

evangelization, and one that is demanded 

and can be successfully applied in alraost 

every raission fieldthe world over. Tbe 

only proper basis for the establishment of 

sueh work, it seems to me, is man's need; 

and the divine warrant, as clearly manifested 

in the life and teachings of the 

Master. 

Man, being a physical as well as a spiritual 

being, has physical as well as spiritual 

wants. Sin bas brought witb it physical 

as well as spiritual suffering; and inasrauch 

as tbe physical wants of raen are 

raore tangible and apparent, they are, in 

the eyes of all those wbo have not had a 

vision of the Christ, the thing of firstiraportance. 

How literally true do we find 

it tbat "All that a man hath will he give 

for his life." 

It is exceedingly difficult to make men 

beUeve that our lives are guided by the 

Divine law of love, if we fail to extend to 

them, according to our ability, in their 

time of suffering, the help they need. The 

Divine command, "Bear ye one another's 

burdens," comes to us with a fuller raeaning 

and increased force when we open our 

eyes to see,, and our ears to hear of the 

great and crying need of those who have 

fallen by the way, with none to raise thera 

up again. We must feed the hungry, provide 

for the needy, and ease the pains of. 

the suffering among our fellow men, so 

far as God bas given us the ability, if we 

desire to fully obey His cominand, "Follow 

me." And until we follow Hira, fully 

and unreservedly, we cannot expect to very 

readily convince raen that our religion is 

soraething that they need and that will do 

thera good. The ignorant and unregenerate 

raassesthat are found in every raission 

field, can but faintly realize, from 

their standpoint, the love that impels us 

to bring to thera the offer of eternal life. 

But, when along with that, we bind up 

tbeir wounds, heal their diseases, stand between 

them and the destroying pestilence, 

or feed the famine-stricken, .that is a demonstration 

of the Christ life that impresses 

thera with, the reality of our love. 

And when we offer thera a religion that 

teaches us to do these things, for Christis

Questions of the Hour. 

sake, and for tbeir salce, there can be no 

longer any doubt in their rainds as to the 

sincerity of our purpose. 

The Need.—To those having even a very 

raoderate knowledge of the situation in 

raission lands, the great need raust be evident 

; and arguraent to prove it is scarcely 

necessary. The cry that coraes to us frora 

all these lands is the cry of the weak to 

the strong—a universal cry for help frora 

those who bave no power to belp theraselves. 

China, with all her teeraing raillions, 

has no institutions for instruction in 

the art and science of medicine. And her 

people are the victiras of quackery and ignorance 

of the raost despicable and forbidding 

character, preying upon their 

superstitions, but. bringing thera no relief 

frora their sufferings. Only here and 

there, where foreign physicians bave established 

theraselves, has anything been 

dnne tn relieve this awful cnnditinn. In 

Persia and India the sarae conditions 

oractically exist. Africa, "the dark continent," 

sends up its wail of suffering; and 

with what result ? A few bright spots may 

be found here and there over this dark 

]iicture, but insignificant in coraparison 

with the whole. Let us loolc at the field 

nf our own Churcli in Syria and Asia 

ilinor. In Syria we have a territory of 

over five thousand square miles, with a 

population, at a very reasonable estiraate, 

of one hundred and fifty thousand. There 

raay be found in all this field fiveor six 

native physicians, raore or less capable of 

treating disease. 

Two-thirds of the people are not within 

reach of a physician—raore than that 

nuraber are not able to pay for the services 

of a ph3rsician. I siraply state facts, and 

leave the reader to judge of the need. In 

Asia Minor, where for several years we 

have not had a physician, conditions are 

largely the same. Cyprus, too, although 

under vastly superior conditions, with its 

Government physicians and hospitals and 

free dispensaries, yet affords an abundant 

field of labor for the missionary physician. 

If there is any follower of Christ wbo is 

not convinced that the urgent need alone 

is sufficient to place hira under responsibility 

to aid in this work, let rae say tbat 

this is but one side of the arch upon whicb 

ths superstructure of niedical raissions 

rests. 

The other is The Divine Warrant.—Do 

you suppose that the corapassionate One, 

whose steps were alraost constantly beset 

by the suffering ones of earth, and who was 

never too weary to turn aside to exert His 

healing power, looks with unconcern upon 

His suffering children now ? Can we, if we 

would be Christ-like, do aught but raanifest 

our corapassion for our needy and 

suffering brothers and sisters the world 

over ? Not only was a large portion of the 

tirae of the Master Himself given to this 

worlc, but when He sent out His .disciples 

He also gave them power and coraraanded 

thera to heal as well as to preach. Every 

coraraand ever given by Hira to His disciples 

looking toward the evangeUzation 

of the world has contained in it also the 

promise of healing power. If there is any 

raeaning in these words—"Inasmuch as ye 

have done it unto one of the least of these, 

ily brethren, ye have done it unto Me"— 

does it not mean that we are to "do good 

to all raen," help the needy, heal the sick 

and corafort the distressed? And why? 

For Christ's salce. Because He loved us, 

we should love all raen, and especially our 

less fortunate brothers and sisters the 

world over. 

But perhaps we raay be raet with the 

argument, that all of Christ's worlcs of 

healing, as those of His disciples, were 

perforraed by supernatural or rairaculous 

power, and that God no longer chooses to 

carry on His work in the world by tbe 

jnterventiop of the rairaculous, and conse-


quently His command to heal tbe sick cannot 

be carried out. Although we consider 

tbis argument to be founded upon 

a faulty hypothesis, a misconception of the 

infinite power of the Son of God, a failure 

to rightly interpret the words, "All power 

is given unto ile in heaven and in earth," 

yet we reply, if it were true, it would not 

exonerate us from our obligation. Tbe 

world bas been raoving on since the days 

in which Christ lived and taught on earth. 

Tbe Spirit of God bas moved upon the 

face of tbe waters, and has brought forth 

life, intelligence, energy, invention, power. 

The forces that man has at his coraraand 

have been enlarged a thousand fold, and 

the end is not yet. The science of medicine, 

if it has not kept step in the march of 

progress, has raade raany wonderful strides 

forward. Discoveries of the past quarter 

of a century have increased its power raany 

fold. Things that fifty years ago were 

classed araong the impossibilities, are daily 

perforraed without a thought of their being 

anything beyond tbe ordinary. Wby 

this phenoraenal increase in Icnowledge 

and power ? Does God intend tbat all this 

light shall be hidden under a bushel ? No; 

ratber that it sball shine to the farthest 

ends of the earth. God only requires us 

to live up to tbe raeasure of the gifts and 

powers tbat He has given us. But less 

than tbat He will not accept at our hands. 

Our responsibility is only liraited by the 

power and ability intrusted to us. With 

these Christ expects us to serve Him. And 

to serve Christ is to serve our fellow-men. 

As we raight expect of any instruraentality 

so greatly needed, and so enforced 

by Divine precept and coramand, the results 

abundantly testify to its utility: 

First—In removing prejudice and opening 

the way for the proclamation of 

the Gospel of Peace. The universal testimony 

of missionaries and other observers 

is that raedical missions have surpassed 

all other human agencies in removing 

the prejudices of the ignorant and 

hostile heathen world against the truth. 

Space forbids extended raention of cases 

illustrating this point. I siraply refer 

you to the worlc of such men as Dr. Elmslie, 

of Kashmir, who accoraplished results 

that had been repeatedly atterapted in 

vain; or that of Dr. Kenneth Mackenzie 

in Tien-tsin, or Dr. Valentine in Jeypore, 

where no raissionary had previously been 

allowed to settle, and whose work was the 

opening wedge that perraitted the entrance 

of the truth. AVhat raight we not say 

also of our own pioneer raedical raissionary, 

Dr. iletheny, or of his successor. Dr. 

A. Dodds, and the worlc accomplished by 

thera in reraoving the prejudices of the 

people and furthering the interests of 

the worlc. Although gone, their lives yet 

speak, and the nieraory of their good deeds 

and kindly rainistrations lives in the 

hearts of the people with whora they carae 

in touch. My experience affords araple 

justification for the stateraent tbat the 

raedical raissionary, under the circumstances 

existing in most mission fields, can 

and does exert an infiuence peculiar to 

the nature of his profession more powerful 

in the overcoming of opposition and prejudice 

than is any other. Let me cite the 

testiraony of Hon. John W. Foster, ex- 

Secretary of State. He says: "We found 

that in China, where the science of surgery 

is alraost unknown, the raedical raissionaries 

were proving a most helpful adjunct 

of the worlc, a door of access to the 

people not otherwise reached, a ready 

means of overcoming prejudice and opposition. 

I ara pleased to bear testimony 

to the scientific attainments and Christian 

zeal of the male and feraale workers in 

this departraent, and to coraraend the -field 

as one which can never be overcrowded 

by the Church at horae." 

Second—Medical missions bring the


gospel to many who cannot be reached in 

any other way. Fierce and bitter opposition 

and persecution are brought to bear 

against certain classes in almost all mission 

lands if they are known to attend the 

preaching of the gospel. Consequently it 

is alraost irapossible to carry the gospel to 

these classes through the ordinary channel, 

but as siclcness and disease are no 

respecters of persons, the physician finds 

hiraself surrounded in his clinics or in 

the hospital by all classes and conditions 

of raen, and thus secures an opportunity 

for the presentation of tbe gospel to those 

who would never bear it in any other way. 

Our experience is that two-thirds of the 

people who bear the gospel in our clinics 

or in the hospital do not hear it anywhere 

else. Thus several thousand people 

hear the truth, and sorae of thera many 

tiraes every year, who otherwise would not 

hear it at all. 

Third—Medical work is a constant object 

lesson—a tableau vivani, that sets 

more clearly b'efore siraple rainds than any 

words can do, the practical side of our religion, 

and alsn instructs thera in regard 

to the care of the siclc, and exerts a 

healthy and uplifting infiuence upon those 

it touches. 

All that we have said in regard to raedical 

work in general applies with added 

force to hospital work. Here we are able 

to aeeoraplish the best results, physically 

and spirituaUy. 

If the bosjiital is made what it should 

be—a Christian horae, where the siclc and 

suffering not only receive the attention 

that their cases require, but have daily 

opportunity of hearing the truth and observing 

the practical worlcing out of it in 

the lives of those who have devoted theraselves 

to the work—it cannot fail to be a 

mighty power for good. Of all those who 

have come under our care in this way but 

a very sraall fraction have gone out without 

carrying with thera a suflicient portion 

of raeraorizedtruth to enable thera to 

reach the light. While in raany horaes 

where the Scripture was unlmo-nm before, 

we have reason to believe that it is read 

now. Fatients soraetimes come back to 

us after raonths of absence and are able 

to repeat the Lord's Frayer and Scripture 

texts that they have learned, and tell us 

that they use this prayer every day. 

The existing conditions in our Syrian 

field -iraportunately deraand the earnest 

prosecution of the raedical worlc. The 

poor and the suffering are around us 

everywhere. In the raountains we have 

a population of about seventy-five thousand 

Nusairiyeh, to whom schools and the 

preaching of the gospel is forbidden, but 

the physician cannot legally be denied the 

right to go where he will araong thera. 

Here itself is an abundant field of 

labor for one raan. AVhile we pray for 

greater freedora, for tbe preaching of the 

gospel, is it not wisdora to talce advantage 

of that "that is within the bounds of possibility? 

AVe trust that we raay not be 

misunderstood as desiring to unduly exalt 

medical missions. The preaching of tbe 

gospel is the great means for the world's 

evangelization, and it is because tbat medical 

work helps to do this, because of its 

Jiractical nature, and its beneficent influences, 

because of its uplifting tendencies, 

and because of its Christ-given authority 

that we would urge its employiiiciit 

ns an aid to that end. 

Sympathy is thc safeguard ofthe human soul against selflshness.— Tliomas Cari'y le. 

There are two kinds of folded hands—those that Ue upon empty laps and those 

that lie upon finished work.—James Buckham.

News of the Churches. 

N E W S OF T H E C H U R C H E S . 

A B R O A D . 

Latakia, Syria.—A letter from Miss 

ilattie E. AA>lic, dated Nov. 10, 1904, 

contains the following iteras: 

AA'e had a long, dry suramer. Two cisterns 

here leaked, frora the roots of trees 

pushing- through the walls, and the first 

thing we knew we were out of water. AAê 

had to carry water from a neighbor. But 

that was the only drawback we experienced 

in opening our work. Last week we 

had delightful rains. It must bave been 

after such an experience as ours this sumraer 

that the Sixty-fifth Fsalra Mâs written. 

All nature seenis to rejoice and give 

thanlcs. 

The boarding schools arc fuller than 

her brothers and to be treated by the doctor. 

She told me of several of the old 

pupils, who often raeet with her for prayer 

and reading of the Scriptures. She is very 

poor, and has to worlc hard during the 

week. But she told me that she tried to 

visit and read to the siclc on Sabbath day. 

Ferhaps, I thought, there is seed being 

so'wn that we know not of. But God sees 

and counts. 

Mr. Stewart has been down from the 

mountains nearly a nionth, and all are 

well. AAê raiss Dr. Balph and Miss Edgar. 

The boys always inquire for her, and 

of course raany aslc for the Doctor. The 

daughter of Saleera Saleh has typhoid 

fever. Tbe Lnrd is trying him snrely. He 

was nbliged to take his wife to Beirut to 

be treated for cancer. During his absence 

a favorite niece died, and when he returned 

he found his only daughter siclc. 

It was supposed that the niece died of 

consumption. But she was only sick three 

weelcs. She was out in a village four hours 

away. They brought her home Friday 

night, and she died Sabbath nigbt. I was 

sorry not to see her, as I liked her very 

ranch when she was in school and ever 

since. Had I known I would have gone 

to see her, to give her corafort and en 

usual. I have sixty-one in the girls' 

school, and there are, I think, forty-five in 

the boys' sehools. The day schools are 

sraall. There arc day schools all over 

town now. This year the nuns have opened 

a school. And there is quite a glaraour in 

the thought of learning French. A little 

spattering of Frencii is considered quite 

an accoraplishraent, even thougb the girl 

raay not be able to read her own language, 

so much more full and rich. I tell every 

one that my object is that a girl raay know 

Arabic, so that she can understand God's 

AAôrd. People often reproach us'that wc 

do not teach raore English. That is not courageraent on her dying bed. Feopie 

our object. It is by knowing God's will as were so afraid of catching consuraption 

revealed in His AA'ord, and obeying it, that that few attended the funeral. It has 

these people and this land shall be made corae to be a saying, "The Lord help any 

better. The Gunaimia girls are back, and one who has consuraption!" Instead of 

two others with thera. They all studied repentance, the people try to take precautions 

with teacher Nagebe in the vacation. We 

have several frora Gendaria and four from 

Bahamra. One frora Eldainy; her raother 

is a daughter of our lamented friend, Jera 

against infection, and the poor 

patient is alraost left to die unattended.. 

I raade the sin of this neglect the subject 

of ray talk to the woraen yesterday. AVhen 

Hourani. She came to Latakia to visit ilr. Saleh's daughter took sick the people

thought of course she had taken consumption 

frora her cousin. But when it was 

Icnown to be only typhoid fever all fear 

vanished. 


Mersina, Asia Minor. —AAê are glad 

that Eev. E. J. Dodds has, in a raeasure, 

recovered his health, and, writing Nov. 4, 

1904, is able to send some items of interest 

from this field: 

The deaths of Mr. Alexander and Miss 

George raade a deep irapression on us. The 

news of the latter particularly was very 

sudden and unexpected. Yet she had given 

much unraistakable evidence of a character 

ripening for the Kingdora. It is the 

soleran warning that we have had sn often, 

and it is rendered still raore snleran in 

being doubled, and it has been brought 

home to raany in the case of bnth these 

deaths. They have been deeply felt, at 

least thrnughout the length and breadth of 

the Covenanter Church, and no doubt in 

circles beyond. AVhile there can be no 

doubt that to each of the deceased the call 

frnra this world was welcorae, their being 

cut down in the raidst nf such distinguished 

usefulness is a rebuke to the 

Church. These laraented deaths occasion 

gaps in the fighting line which the Lord 

alnne can qualify others to fill. 

Our young Chinese Mission has been 

snrely tried, but neither the raissionaries 

nor the Church will be disheartened by the 

frequent and quiclcly repeated visits of 

the death angel. We can but feel that the 

Lord has gracious designs for the Chinese 

Mission, for the accoraplishraent of which 

it was necessary to greatly endear it to the 

hearts of His people. I noted the coincidence 

that the firstof our missionaries 

tn die in Christ's service in China was 

bnrn on the day of the death of the first 

raissinnary in the Syrian Mission, Dec. 11, 

isro. 

ili^s Sterrett and her associate are back 

from .\meriea several weeks ago. I think 

iliss Sterrett seems better for her absence, 

even tlioiiali it was not a rest. The schools 

are open -md full, I think, and flourishing 

1 hope. The spirit araong the native helpers 

seems tn be good, jierhaps better tban 

for a few years past. 

Last Sabbath I was so thankful to be 

permitted to begin preaching again. It 

was a privilege I feared might never again 

be allowed me. I preached three tiraes. 

It was the firstfull day's worlc I had atterapted 

in that line for several raonths. 

Notwithstanding ray disability, the 

AVord was faithfully proclairaed by native 

brethren, who -are trained and skillful in 

the presentation of gospel truth, ilachail 

Luttoof was with us in Guzne, and gave 

unusual attention to study for spealcing 

on Sabbatii days—having carefully 

furnished himself with some helpful boolcs 

frora the Araerican press in Beirut. I 

can say that I was rauch beneflted by his 

discourses rayself. AA'ê held our meetings 

in a tent of brush-wood, as the previous 

year. I regret to say, however, that it was 

not duly respected by all our neighbors, 

and we were so discouraged that wê are 

not Ukely to gather next year in a similar 

place of worship. I think it would be 

well to haA-e sorae kind of a house suitably 

located. It would not need to-be raore 

than a plain structure of boards or of 

stone, built with raud and pointed with 

lirae outside. It should have two rooms in 

connection, for a native brother with bis , 

faraily to occupy, first,to keep and care 

for the worship roora, and second, to prevent 

its being called a church, for a 

church would not bo tolerated. This would 

be a good thing, not only for the raissionaries 

and any Protestants who happened 

to be in Guzne for the suraraer, but it 

would pay on account of the good nuraber 

of people whom we can reach in Guzne 

and whom we cannot reacii anvwhere else.


I wrote you once about Ibrahira Juraa's 

wife having been taken away from him by 

the Papists. You will be glad to learn that 

this suramer we were enabled to secure 

her restoration to him. They are very 

happy in their reunion, and I think it will 

not be easy for any one to persuade her to 

leave him again. She is giving attention 

to studying Protestantism, and I hope she 

may yet come to the light. Ibrahira Juraa 

worked with Hanna Basnah in Adana and 

vicinity during the suraraer, and they had 

rare opportunities for evangelistic work. 

The worlc, so far as opportunities to read 

to people and to spealc to thera are concerned, 

and also with reference to attendance 

at raeetings on Sabbatb, is encouraging, 

the seed is being sown; and so far as 

I can make out, this is also true of the 

Auba. 

The readers of Olive Trees are farailiar 

with the story bf Sophia and Zahra, 

sisters of Telgie Ibrahira, who has been in 

this country for raany years. In a letter 

dated Nov. 24, 1904, Miss Sterrett thus 

refers to the death of Zahra: 

Poor Zahra had a harder life than 

Sophia has had thus far, but her trials 

ceased about one raonth ago. She took 

sick suddenly the weelc after our return, 

and was delirious frora the first. We were 

late getting back, and we bad to work 

fast to get things in order for beginning 

school the second weelc, and I did not go 

to Tarsus to see her. Madeleine went, but 

Zahra could not speak, though she seeraed 

to recognize her. When she first took 

siclc, the Fellaheen said that she was possessed 

by an evil spirit, and that there was 

no use in giving ber raedicine. They 

brought a Sheikh to read over her to 

drive away the spirits, but as soon as 

Sophia's husband arrived, he drove away 

the Sheikh and brought the best doctor 

he could find in Tarsus, wbo was very 

kind, and did all he could for her; but it 

was too late. Her babe of about two 

raonths died this week. One littie girl, 

five years old, is tbe only remaining child. 

We would like to bave her, but the grandmother 

says tbat tbe FeUaheen neighbors 

will tell them that itis a great shame if they 

have to give the cbild to foreigners to 

train. About tbree years ago Zahra's oldest 

child—a boy—died here. I remember 

once, when she was talking about ber 

children, she said, "I am very rauch 

troubled wben I think of Tanker (the 

little boy), for I bave no doubt as soon as 

he will be old enough, he will be initiated 

into the Ansairia religion and I can do 

nothing to help it. The little girl, 

Fareda, I bave a bope that I can teacb 

her the Christian religion, and will be 

able to influence ber raore than I can a 

boy." As her next little boy died in infancy, 

and now the baby girl, it would 

seera that the Lord is caring for thera in 

His own way. We will watch Fareda with 

interest, and pray that she may be a 

good Cbristian girl. 

For the past tbree or four years we had 

had Zahra employed araong the-FeUaheen 

woraen as a Bible reader. Owing to her 

Uttle faraily and often in poor health herself, 

she was not able to go very far frcra 

her home; but we bope that the seed sown 

in wealcness may some time spring up and 

bring forth fruit. Once she expressed a 

doubt as to wbetber she ought to receive 

any raoney, as she could only reach a 

sraall area of the town, and that not very 

often. Two majedies per inonth was all 

wc paid ber—^not very bigh wages, of 

course, but she was satisfled witb tbat, and 

it was all we could afford. Sophia carae 

into prayer raeetinglast night, and seeraed 

glad to be able to talce so rauch liberty. 

She had come to bid us good-bye. 

For several reasons our schools are not 

as full as tbey were tbis tirae last year.

AA'e did nnt open until after the raiddle 

of October, when all the other schools 

were in session, and raany who used to 

cnme here went tn these schnols. Then 

we are charging a small fee for each 

day jiupil in the boys' school, and this 

reduced the number after the first few 

da3's to forty. 

There are fnrty-four bnys bnarding, 

some of whom pay a little. AVe insisted 

upon the girls in the boarding school paying, 

but only a few are doing so; several 

who have been here two nr three years, left 

because we asked it. I am snrry that girls 

are nnt cnnsidered wnrth paying fnr here. 

AA'e have thirty-three bnarders and twentyfive 

day pupils. 

Cyprus.—In a letter dated Nov. 30, 

1904, Dr. Calvin ilcCarroll gives his first 

impressions of Cyprus and the niissionary 

A\'ork: 

Early nn the ranrning of Oct. 27 we 

sighted the island nf our destiny, and fnr 

nine hnurs we cnuld see nothing but barren 

and sandy shores, rising into low 

mountain ranges. At four o'clock we 

reached Larnaca, and were welcomed at the 

wharf hy our brother and family, with 

several of the native workers. AA'ê were 

.permitted to land without being held in 

quarantine, as it was lifted the week before 

nur arrival, for which we were very 

thankful. 

Lamaea we find tn be a very pleasant 

]ilace in wliic-h to live, the climate at the 

present tirae being raoderate, with plenty 

of rain and also a fair araount of sunshine. 

However, wc are told that this is 

the wet raonth, and that it is very dry 

and warra during the suraraer raonths. 

Ecgarding the school worlc, ray brother 

keeps you inforraed, and as regards the 

medical department, I will tell you hnw 

things appear at firstsight. The English 

Gnvernraent lias a well-equipped hnspital 


under the direction of a thoroughly efficient 

English doctor, directly opposite nur 

chureli and school. The hospital has in 

eonnection a free clinic every day for 

those who are unable to pay for raedical 

services. Besides this, there are several 

native doctors who were educated in 

Athens and are fairly corapetent, so it will 

readily be seen that a free clinic opened 

by a church organization will scarcely 

have any more effect upon th.e native population 

than the same thing opened by 

the English Governraent, without any religious 

tendencies whatever. The sarae 

conditions exist in Nicosia, which is, however, 

about three times as large as 

Larnaca, having about twenty thousand 

population. So it appears to mc that a 

clinic will sirajily afford us an opjiortunity 

to talk with and exhort those who corae, 

the fact that wc are giving free services 

having no effect upon their raind at all. 

The prospect in Faraagusta, Liraassol and 

Kyrenia is raore jiroraising, as in these 

places there is no English doctor, the 

population of each town being probably 

three or four thousand. AVe are nnw considering 

the advisability of living in 

Nicosia, with a clinic open two or three 

days each -sA-eek, and then go for the reraainder 

of the week to Faraagusta and 

Kyrenia alternately. However, for the 

present we are studying Greek and waiting 

for our goods to corae frora Araerica, having 

heard nothing about thera except that 

they have been shipped. 

Last Sabbath ray brother went to Famagusta 

and held Comraunion services, leaving 

rae to take charge of the services in 

the chapel here. AA'e are all well. 

Tak Hing, China.—In a letter, dated 

Nov. 15, 1904, after a touching reference 

to his personal experiences, and expressing 

the belief that his children, whora he left 

ill America, are in gnod hands, both for

News of ihe Churches. 

their physical and spiritual care, Eev. A. 

I. Eobb writes: 

The trip was a very pleasing one on our 

return, and wherever I went in the horae 

land tbere was abundant evidence of personal 

sympathy and real interest in our 

work. 

The Mission has done well during the 

suramer. .My brother did not begin the 

school house on account of some rascality 

cropping out among the builders, which 

he did not feel ready to handle witb his 

liraited knowledge of tbeir affairs. AVe 

broke ground yesterday for the foundation, 

and hope to push the work along as 

fast as is possible in this country, wbere 

people do not push much. The acquiring 

of land for the hospital site was a good 

stroke of business, and we will put the 

chapel up as soon as tbe scbool is finished, 

and then the hospital. Dr. Wright is 

somewhat undecided about how to plan it, 

not knowing what the views of the Board 

are, whether it is to send out one to take 

Dr. George's place, or retain tbe McBurneys 

here, or have him work alone. There 

will be tirae to consider that, however, before 

work will begin on the hospital. The 

missionaries bave all made progress on the 

language, and all are doing excellent work 

now. The preaching services have been 

kept up, and tbe~ attendance now is, I 

tbink, larger than it was in the spring. 

Tbere are quite a number of inquirers, 

and indications tbat we will have sorae 

accessions at our next coraraunion, wbicb 

will be tbe first Sabbath of January. The 

Christians have been proving faithful, and 

two of them are out selling books, and one 

of tbese is regarded by men who are managing 

colporteurs of their own, as being in 

the front rank. I have begun an evening 

class for Bible study since my return, 

raainly for the Christians, thougb some 

others will probably attend. I ara quite 

pleased with the way things have been 

raanaged during the suraraer, and feel that 

there are capable raanagers in training 

here. 

Four years ago, while at horae, I spoke 

a nuraber of tiraes of a raan who had declared 

his faith in Christ and then been 

persecuted out of it, or until he dared not 

confess his belief. I did not see hira on 

our return three years ago, but be was at 

church the first Sabbath we were back 

this tirae, and, ray brother says, has been 

attending church a good deal all suraraer. 

He was the first raanin Tak Hing to show 

any interest in the gospel, and we are 

hoping that the sowing of those early days 

will be harvested soon. 

There has been a good deal of illness 

with Dengue fever recently, and I bad a 

turn of it rayselffor a few days, but ara 

better now. Miss Torrence started yesterday 

for Canton to stay with Mrs. Nelson 

until the last of January. Mr. Kerapf is 

digging away faithfully at the Chinese, 

and incidentally is laying on flesh in a 

raost encouraging raanner. He is sorae 

ten pounds heavier than when he left the 

United States. Our old grandraother has 

been quite ill for a nuraber of days, but is 

iraproving now. The weather is fine for 

work or anything else. 

The warden of the prison at Siaoshi in Szecbwan, Cbina, is a Christian. So he 

holds morning and evening worship for such of the prisoners as wisb to attend. 

Eighteen of the prisoners, some of tbem under sentence of deatb, attend these 

services regularly, and bave and use Bibles and hymn books. AVhenever a native 

convert begins aggressive evangelistic work in tbis fashion, the deep and permanent 

quality of tbe change produced by tbe gospel is thrown into relief.—Bureau of 

Missions.

10 News of the Churches. 

AT HOIVIE. 

Allegheny, Pa.—The following iteras are from Central Board : 

Financial Statement. 

On hand 

On band 

Nov. 1, '04. Eeceipts. Expenditures. Dec. 1, '04. 

Southern Mission $1,333.20 "$624.94 $787.40 $1,170.74 

Chinese ilission 447.94 160.00 105.37 502.57 

Indian ilission 1,502.32 382.18 245.83 1,638.67 

Jewish Mission 179.16 260.29 175.00 264.45 

Sustentation Fund 188.39 33.10 221.49 

Overdrafti 

Overdrafti 

Nov. 1, '04. 

Dec. 1, '04. 

Domestic ilission 2,590.72 580.58 340.50 2,345.64 

Doraestic Mission.—The quarterly dis- effort to start a niission there at the prestribution 

of funds to Presbyteries will be ent tirae." 

raade at the next raeeting of the Board At the first raeetingof the Board after 

on the third AAêdnesday of January, 1905. the adjournraent of the Synod, the pro- 

Eeports from clerks raust be in at that priety of raaking another effort was favortirae 

in order to be acted on. 

ably cnnsidered, and cnrrespondence was at 

Eev. E. P. Sherraan sent to the Board once coramenced. As seven members of 

an encouraging account of a visit he had the Board were abroad attending the Glasmade 

to Houlton, .Me., where there was gow Conference, no definite action was 

at one tirae a congregation of our people, taken until the meeting in Septeraber. In 

Coramunications were also received from the meantime the writer had presented tbe 

ilessrs. Thompson and McFall, of the N. clairas of Chicago to the Iowa Presbyterial 

B. and N. S. Presbytery, relating to the C. B. Society. After carefully considersarae 

subject. Mr. Thorapson was ap- ing the whole subject, it was resolved "to 

pointed by the Board tn visit Hnultnn, and apprnpriate the araounts of nioney only 

if the way be clear, preach one Sabbath from the local society to the support of 

and report to the Board. 

the mission for fnur years," if the Board 

The E. P. Congregation of Chicago was would undertake the work. Eev. J. il. 

organized on April 23, 1897. Eev. E. AVylie, who had investigated the field for 

Clarke was ordained to the ministry and hiraself, was appointed missionary at the 

installed pastor on June 18, 1902. The Septeraber raeeting, and soon after entered 

church building, erected at a cost of $12,- upon his work. Excepting the Serainary 

000—all of which has been paid—was oc- vacation nf 1897, when ilr. C. McLeod 

cupied for the firsttirae on Sabbath, Nov. Sraith relieved hira, he reraained in 

20, 1904. charge until June 21, 1899, when failing 

As far back as 1891, Chicago was rec- health obliged hira to resign. The Chioramended 

to the Board "as a center for cago ilission was about this tirae placed 

raission work" by the Mission Conference. under the care of the Iowa Fresbytery. 

In consequence of an investigation, raade Supplies were sent until 1901, when Mr. 

at its request by one of our rainisters,the Clarke was appointed to labor there. 

Board reported to the Synod of 1896: Mr. Sraith and Mr. Clarke had been 

"We do nnt think it advisable tn raake an eraplnyed as raissionaries by the Central


II 

Allegheny B. P. Congregation, of Allegheny, 

during the Seminary vacation, the 

one at Spring Garden and the other at 

Comproraise street. They wete successful 

in these fields, and obtained an experience 

tbat was of value to thera when laboring 

in Chicago. This brief resurae of the history 

of the Chicago Congregation shows 

AVhat can be accoraplished by earnest, 

believing, persistent effort in the home 

mission field; 

That a Fresbytery can cultivate a mission 

station within its bounds to better 

advantage than can the Board, exercising 

a care over it and giving it an attention 

the latter cannot; 

Tbe advisability of giving a- permanent 

appointment and an adequate support to 

those who labor in the home mission fields, 

and encouraging thera with the prospect 

of becoraing located, when they have had 

cbarge, if the work proves successful. This 

is the method adopted by our United 

Fresbyterian brethren in the neighborhood 

of Pittsburg, and they succeed as 

does no other denoraination. 

Chinese .Mission.—Nineteen scholars 

were enrolled during Noveraber. The attendance 

at the evening night school was 

seventeen; average attendance, 5 12-17. 

Average at the week evening prayer raeeting 

10>^, and on Sabbath IV^. On 

Thanksgiving Day fourteen were present. 

Twenty-three whites were also present at 

that service. The average attendance of 

Avhites on Wednesday evening was 5|, and 

on Sabbath, 14J. 

The school forwarded to the Board its 

contribution of one hundred and sixty dollars 

for the support of the work in Oakland. 

There were about sixteen contributors; 

the amounts being from flve dollars 

to twelve dollars each. Tbis does not 

include the sums given to missions, etc. 

Indian Mission.—Fifty children are 

now in attendance. 

Mrs. Carithers and her daughter Alice 

have retumed to the Mission, and have 

charge of the boarding house for the 

whites. 

Mr. S. Coulter, of Olathe, has charge of 

the bakery, and iliss Tillie Mclsaac, of 

Marchand, Fa., of the kitchen and dining 

room. The church attendance is good. 

Southern ilission.—Three hundred 

scholars are now enrolled. At Valley 

Creek there are thirty. Mr. Pickens reports 

an attendance of forty. The receipts 

for October for tuition were one hundred 

and two dollars and thirty-five cents, and 

for Noveraber, one hundred and thirty-six 

dollars and fifty-sixcents. From otber 

sources there were thirty-four dollars and 

twenty-three cents, raaking a total of 

two hundred and seventy-three dollars and 

fourteen cents. 

Sterling, Kansas.—The Ladies' Missionary 

Societ}', of SterUng (Kan.) E. F. 

Church, would offer this tribute of love 

and esteera to the raeraoryof Mrs. Agnes 

Dougherty, who was "proraoted" September 

28, 1904; aged sixty-nine years; born 

February 10, 1835. For raany years a 

great sufferer, she was a notable exaraple 

of patience. We realize we have lost a 

devoted raember and a wise counselor—- 

one who was consecrated body, soul and 

pocket-book; quiet and unassuraing, but 

we can all testify to her strong Christian 

character. Wbile sadly missed in the 

home, churcli and coraraunity, yet we rejoice 

with her that the Heavenly Father 

has seen fitto take her where "the rausic 

is so sweet," as she expressed it a few 

rainutes before ber departure frora earth 

to beaven. It was the Father's will; it is 

ours to subrait. 

Belle Huston, 

. Nettie Connery, 

ilRS. Tillie Edgar, 

Comraittee.


New Concord, 0.—The Ladies' ilis- That we hear God's voice spealcing to 

sionary Society of New Concord pays the us in this providence to be raore in FIis 

following tribute of love and respect to service, and worlc while it is day; 

the memory of ilrs. .Margaret Wylie, wife That this society extend its sympathy 

of Eev. F. H. AVylie, who entered into that to the children and friends of the derest 

which reraains for the people of God, ceased, praying that they raay be sustained 

Sept. 18, 1904 : 

by Divine grace. Especially would we re- 

AA''hereas, It has jileased our Heavenly raeraber the daughter in the horae and the 

Father to rcmo^-e from us our beloved sis- aged husband, that, as he has coraforted 

ter, 

others in their sorrow, he raay now be cora- 

Eesohed, That we hurably submit tn fnrted by the God of all comfort. 

His will AVhn dneth all things well. As Sarah Stewart, 

a snciety we shall miss her quiet infiuence, 

ilARY Cocheax, 

and earnest work in the ilaster's cause; 

Committee. 

Christian parents who neglect to gather the members of their household around a 

common altar once a day are ignoring one of the strongest bulwarks of family life. 

They are losing the opportunity to turn their thoughts and tbeir children's habitually 

toward God and Christ, toward truth and duty.— Congregationalist. 

The financial side of Chureh life will never be satisfactory until the act of giving 

has beon lifted up frnm the low level which it now occupies as a more or less unpleasant 

necessity. 

Giving is an act of worship just as truly as praying and praising. No one ca-n 

read his Bible very long without being convinced of this fact. If we belong to God, 

then our property belongs to God. Just as He allows us to use most of our time for 

the benefit of ourselves and those dependent upon us, so He allows us to use our raeans 

in the sarae Avay. 

But He requires, as He has a right to require, that a jiroportionate part of both tirae 

and raoney shall be eraplnyed in direct Christian service. 

AA'e raay differ as to what that proportion may be. There is no evidence tbat the 

Lnrd has ever released raan frora the nbligation of tithing. But even supposing that 

under New Testaraent conditions, the proportion is left very largely to our own consciences, 

yet nn nne will questinn that giving ought to be both systeraatic and proportionate. 

ilan}- penple could very well give more than one-tenth of their incorae, and be 

happier for doing it. As a raatter of fact; very few of those who jirotest raost earnestly 

against the bondage of a tithing systera give to anything like the raeasure of 

their ability. 

But the great trouble Ues rauch deeper than the questinn nf the proper proportion. 

If people who profess to belong to Christ grasped the fact that all of their contributions 

to the Church were in reality to the great Head of the Church, it would revolutionize 

the financialconditions in all of our churches. There would be a joyful enthusiasra 

about our giving which would undoubtedly lead to a great spiritual revival. 

AVhy not? That is God's jiroraise, and it holds good to-day as truly as it ever did.— 

Michigan Preshyterian.

Monographs. 13 

A "READ-BOOK" MAN. 

MONOGRAPHS. 

—The following touching notes of raissionary 

work are taken from a letter written 

by Dr. Maude George, March 28, 

1904, to her own home friends.— 

I bave a raost interesting teacher now. 

He has a good head, and Dr. McBurney 

says he reminds her of Professor Kennedy. 

He is quite exact, and wideawake. 

For a while he had a private school to 

occupy bis Sabbatbs, and did not attend 

services. We read togetber daily in tbe 

Bible, and he told me tbat he already believed 

in one true God, and did not worship 

idols. 

As a rule, tbe read-book raen are not 

worshippers of idols. He said the Heaven 

God, or Sky God, whom he worshipped, was 

the one who bad raade all things, and be 

ascribed to hira the same attributes that 

I applied to tbe true God. When I said, 

"How do you know that he is raerciful?" 

he answered, "Because he provides for 

raen, giving tbem rain and sunshine and 

harvests, etc." 

I then took up Paul's line, "AVhom, 

therefore, ye ignorantly worship. Him declare 

I unto you." I told him God bad 

revealed Himself in His Book, gave bim a 

Bible and told of Christ's work of redemption. 

He professed to accept the Bible, 

and has taken its statements as authoritative 

ever since—how sincerely, of course, 

I cannot tell, but I think it is becoming 

deeper witb bim. For instance: We 

talked one day of the comparative value of 

soul and body. He said, without hesitation, 

that the soul was the more valuable, 

giving as bis reason, "AVhy, tbat distinguishes 

us frora the beasts and birds." 

I tben asked, as politely as I knew bow 

to put the question, wby he did not act 

on his belief. He said he did. 1 answered, 

"Oh, no; you give all your tirae to providing 

for your body. You do not provide for 

your soul at all." When asked to explain 

rayself, I instanced the Sabbath day. 

"Oh," he said, "if I wouldn't work on 

Sabbath I wouldn't earn enough raoney 

to provide for rayfaraily!" 

"Exactly," I said. "You consider their 

bodies of more importance than their 

souls." 

When he saw that he was cornered, he 

said, "AVell, bow should I observe the 

Sabbath?" I explained. He asked: 

"Wouldn't it do to not work at horae without 

coming to service? Couldn't I worship 

God at home ?" 

I said: "Don't you suppose God would 

know how He would be pleased to be worshipped?" 

"Yes." "AVeU, He has commanded 

assembling of ourselves together." 

'Ts that in the Bible?" "Yes." I took 

a topical Bible whicb Dr. Jean has (splendid 

for such work), and gave hira text 

after text on the Sabbath. When he read 

of the man being put to death for breaking 

the Sabbath, he said, "It raustbe very iraportant." 

I dropped the subject to let hira have 

tirae to think. A few days later, reading 

in Paul's Epistles, I carae upon one of bis 

flights of fervent exhortation to tbe higher 

living, and having just read it, I was 

prorapted to ask, "Sin Shang (teacher), 

will you be at service next Sabbatb ?" He 

answered, "Yes." "You have given up 

your Sabbath teaching, bave you ?" "Yes." 

And he has come tbe two Sabbatbs since 

tbat conversation, and last Sabbatb bad a 

crowd of Sin Shangs witb bim. 

We read one day something about 

prayer, and be remarked with an embarrassed 

little laugh, "I pray." I asked.

14 Monographs. 

"To the true God ?" "Yes. I pray in my 

beart; it isn't necessary to speak it out, is 

it?" "No." "If I believe in ray heart, it 

isn't necessary to speak that out either, is 

it?" For answer, I gave him a deluge of 

Bible texts, had bim read each aloud to 

rae. ITe squirmed around a little and 

said, "Well, I want to study the doctrine 

further." I gave hira "Boast not thyself 

of to-morrow." 

Yesterday, in our reading, we had the 

passage in Matthew, "Where two of you 

shall agree concerning anything that you 

shall ask." I was prorapted to ask, "Sin 

Shang, do you with a true heart believe 

this doctrine?" "Yes." "Then you believe 

what this says?" "Yes." "If you 

and I should agree to pray for the Holy 

Spirit to enter your heart, wnuld ynu wish 

it?" He,answered, "You with rae pray." 

So we arose and united in prayer, he following 

me in a low voice. He thanked 

me just as I finished, and his face showed 

strong feeling. We finished reading the 

chapter, ilatt. 18; note its appropriateness 

to a forgiven sinner. It was closing time 

then, and he went away. 

This raorning I took the topical Bible, 

and with hira followed the subjects of sin, 

repentance and forgiveness. AVe had very 

little conversation on the subject. 

You remember the former teacher I 

had, who showed raarked interest at tiraes 

and of whora we were so hopeful. He is 

back teaching Dr. Wright. He and my 

teacher are good friends. He, too, had 

been teaching school on Sabbath, but came 

to churcli last Sabbath, and I judge has 

given it up. 

One day last week, having been talking 

with other read-bonk raen about the Sabbath, 

Sin Shang asked rae about sorae of 

their objections. One query was how tn 

live on six days' wages. 1 answered, 

"Christ is the Lnrd of life, and the Lord 

of the Sabbath. If you are not willing to 

trust Hira to care for you if you keep His 

coraraandraents, you, by that, give proof 

that you do not really believe on Him. If 

you are not able to rely on Him for this 

Ufe, you certainly cannot for the next life. 

How He will care for you on six days' 

work, I do not know, but I do know tbat 

He will do it if you trust Him." It 

seemed to satisfy him. 

Later.—ilonday.—ily teacher was not 

at church yesterday. I do not yet know 

why. So it goes—hope rising and falling. 

A Sequel to Foregoing. 

Extracted from a letter frora Dr. Kate 

McBumey, dated Octi 31, 1904: 

The Christian Nation carae in witb Dr. 

.Maude George's picture on the front cover. 

The teacher which she had last now 

teaches Jean and rae part of the tirae. He 

saw her photo and did not know it. I 

said it was taken before she carae back. 

He said he never saw her "so fat." He 

then asked if the paper said soraething 

about her. I said it did, and showed how 

rauch there was. He aslced what was said, 

and I told hira several things, which he 

seemed glad to hear. 

When I saw hira firstafter we returned 

he asked, "What did Dr. George say before 

she entered heaven?" I couldn't tell hira 

very well some of the things I would like 

to have said; but I referred hira to sorae 

passages of Scripture, which gave him an 

inkling of her spirit and purpose. For 

instanee, I said her purpose in coming 

to China could be inferred if he ^would 

read Eora. x, 1, reading China instead of 

Israel. He could understand. I told hira 

also that it was her earnest desire that 

Sin Shang (hiraself) and his faraily 

would all raeet her in heaven. He often 

speaks of her, and we are all sure he was 

fond of her. She labored witb hira day by 

day, answering his questions by verses of 

Scripture, and holding up the Bible as the

Monographs. 

m 

final appeal in all questions between Christianity 

and Confucianism. And the man 

really seemed interested. 

Eev. A. I. Eobb says he has never known 

of but a single exception to the rule that 

the literati are so saturated with Confucianism 

that they never become entirely 

free frora tbe teachings, even when they 

become Christians; but tbat one exception 

may be duplicated at any tirae, of 

course. AAê bope this teacher raay be the 

one to do so. He is a fine Chinaraan, 

and an able teacber, and if he is ever converted, 

we will all know that the huraan 

agent was our dear ilaude. She was so 

painstaking, so patient, so illustrative of 

the life she was trying to persuade hira to 

live, that we cannot think be is unchanged 

in bis views, even now. 

ITEMS FROM BUREAU BULLETINS. 

Japan.—A C. M. S. missionary at Kokura, 

Japan, describes a service with the 

wounded in hospital there. AVhen permission 

was given the condition was laid down 

tbat there must be neither a long serraon 

nor loud singing. The Japanese ladies of 

the four Cbristian cburcbes—Methodist, 

Baptist, and Episcopal—sang to the soldiers, 

and a Southern Baptist Convention 

ilissionary did the preaching. The officer 

who gave the qualified perraission listened 

throughout, and then declared it so good 

that sucb a service raight be held every 

day. One does not know whether to be 

most pleased at the softening of the Japanese 

through need in a great crisis, or at 

the union of the Christian denorainations 

in a purpose to use for their Master the 

opportunities of the crisis. 

A C. M. S. missionary tells this: A 

Japanese colonel caught by the Eussians 

inside of their lines was condemned to be 

shot as a spy. He took a roll of bank bills 

from his pocket and asked that they might 

be given to the Eussian Eed Cross Society. 

"I have long been a Christian," he explained, 

"but this is my first chance to doa 

definitely Christian act." 

A few years ago the pupils of a certain 

Japanese high school raobbed the home of 

two English raissionary woraen, breaking 

their window and shying stones at the 

ladies theraselves. A few weeks ago a B. 

F. Bible Society agent visited that high 

school, was courteously treated, sold Bibles 

and Testaraents to the students, and his 

biggest Bible to the scbool library. Soraething 

deeper than raere curiosity as to 

Western knowledge underlies sucb a 

change of sentiraent in an out-of-the-way 

town in Japan. 

Bishop McKira (F. E.), of Tokio, says 

that Christianity has an influence in 

Japan to-day fully one hundred tiraes its 

statistical strength, and that this is because 

its fruits cannot be raatched or approached 

by Shintoism or Buddhism. 

India.—In spite of the pleasing pic- 

• tures brought before the eyes by proofs of 

the extension of the Kingdom in India, 

sorae parts of the country still bar out 

Christian teachers as carefully as Tibet. A 

Baptist raissionaryin Bengal writes that 

flve men, rulers of as many petty native 

states in tbe southwest of that province, are 

still preventing their flve hundred thousand 

people frora bearing the gospel. No 

raissionary is tolerated within their territory, 

and the British Govemraent consents 

to this discrimination against Christians I 

A Lutheran (General Synod) missionary 

in India tells of flnding out in the 

course of the year that one of the native 

workers, besides doing bis regular work 

among the people of bis station, is walking 

eight railes, when he gets tirae, to 

teach tbe people of two other villages who 

wish to hear the Bible. It is no raore than 

bis duty to his Master. Yet what raeaning 

there is in the fact that this raan now 

has such a sense of his duty to Jesus Christ.


These nine sessions were in the Arabic 

language, excepting two sessions held in 

EngUsh, the language of the minority of 

the Frotestants nf Egypt. The general 

celebration of the U. F. serai-centennial 

of raissionswill be marked by a cnnvention 

at Pittsburg, Dec. 6-8. 

Out of the twenty-six clergymen in the 

Araerican Episcopal Mission in Liberia, 

all but one are black raen trained on the 

spot. The Liberian Congregations were assessed 

four hundred and fifty dollars as 

their share of the funds required by the 

Board in New York for missions. They 

raised the money and sent it on to be 

used in [Jtah or Alaska, or wherever the 

raanagers direct. 

Sierra Leone Colony, in AVest Africa, 

was occupied by the Church Missionary 

Society as one of its earliest fields,nearly 

one hundred years ago, the attraction being 

the needs of sorae thousands of freed 

slaves, pagan barbarians of raany tribes 

and languages, thrust ashore araong other 

savage pagans, with whom they had nothing 

but their color in coraraon. It is one 

of the proofs of the subtle power of 

Christ's gospel that Sierra Leone Colony 

is now a Christian land, with a church and 

school in alraost every village raaintained 

by black Christians, served by black rainisters, 

and supporting evangelistic enterprises 

in the regions beyond. The Sierra 

Leone Colony has about seventy-five thousand 

people, of whora fifty thousand are 

Christians and the reraainder pagans and 

Mohararaedans. The Churcb Missionary 

•Society has long since raoved on to the 

frontier, leaving the local churcli to sus 

Africa.—Fifty years ago thc United tain thc whole local work except the 

Presbyterian missionaries in Cairo were a 

lonely little group, meeting together for 

Fourah Bay College. 

Frora the Baptist ilissionary Society's 

prayer in English. On Nov. 15, 1904, station at Yakusu, Congo Free State, Mr. 

that mission celebrated its serai-centennial Stapleton writes that during the past year 

with a raeeting continued during three they have opened twenty-eight new 

days, holding three sessions each day. schools. There is a universal desire to 

learn to read "the Boolc." "Four tiraes 

during the past month a deputation of 

raen and woraen have paddled twenty 

miles each time to beg for a teacher. The 

fourth time they got their wish and went 

off, proudly taking the teacher with 

them." A collection was taken up at a recent 

native convention and brojight in 

forty-eight dnllars—enough to support 

those twenty-eight schools four raonths. 

It takes a dirae to support one of those 

schools a week, it seeras ! Look at a dirae, 

and think whether anything you can buy 

with it here raalcesso good a return! 

THE MISSIONARY'S DEBT TO HIS 

POSITION. 

(Concluded from p. 278, Dec. 1904.) 

THE MISSIONARY'S DEBT TO THE 

CHURCH THAT SENOS HIM OUT. 

Of course, as he is raore or less out of 

the eye of the.Church at home, he owes 

it to her to adorn his profession, and to 

vindicate the confidence reposed in hira in 

assigning hira to such a jiost by living an 

upright, holy life. 

But further than this, be raust not forget 

that he represents a denorainational 

society, to which he owes it that his worlc 

shall be a fair representation of its principles. 

For exaraple, the worlc of the raissionaries 

of the Eeformed Fresbyterian 

Church should not be simply a Christianizing 

work, as that terra is coraraonly'understood, 

but should be a process of instilling 

into the rainds of converts the vital and 

distinctive principles of the Covenanter 

Church. It is not for tbe raissionaryto 

assume that sucb and sucb principles of


the Churcli which he represents .are impracticable 

of application in his circuinstances, 

and that the exigencies of foreign 

mission work render it necessary that 

these principles should be held in abeyance. 

Tbe distinctive principles of our 

own Church we profess to believe to be 

fair deductions from Scrijiture, vitally affecting 

the question of the evangelization 

of the world, and acquiring iraportance 

frora their neglect by the Church at large ; 

and our missionaries owe it to their 

Cliurch to make a conscientious, continued 

effort to imbue the minds of their converts 

with them. 

The missionary owes it to his Church to 

do nothing in the fancied interests ol 

Christiaii unity, and nothing to protect 

the weak faitii of native brethren that he 

would be unwilling tn have cnme to the 

knowledge of the Churcli which he represents, 

or which he feels would meet with 

its disapproval. The missionary is a representative—an 

instructed representative— 

whose plain duty it is to carry out thc 

will of his constituents as expressed in the 

standards of his denoraination. It raay be 

that some of the principles nf his Church 

do not require to be given the sarae relative 

prorainence that would be necessary 

in the horae land. The raissionary has discretionary 

power, of course, with reference 

to this, but faithfulness to his profession 

and to his Church, not to raention cnramon 

hnnesty. fnrbids that his discretion— 

or indiscretion—should be exercised excepting 

within the liraits of the Church's 

standards. 

If a denoraination has principles nf 

truth that are worth standing for on a 

separate platforra, its missionary owes it 

to his denomination to present its principles 

to those among whom be labors with 

such fullness and clearness as he is able 

to coraraand, and to require conformity 

to them in outward practice at least. If 

fully persuaded in his nwn mind that the 

principles cf his profession are a hindrance 

to evangelistic work, it seems to the 

writer that he owes it to his Churcli to 

withdraw frora her coraraunion. 

HIS DEBT TO THOSE TO WHOM HE IS 

APPOINTED A MISSIONARY. 

This is in many respects the most important 

relation that the raissionary sustains. 

His relations with his fellowmissionaries 

and with the horae (Jhurch 

are more or less oblique, but this third 

class, if I raay borrow a graiiiniatical terra, 

is the direct object of his appointment. 

He is araong thera, not because he esteeras 

their corapanionship above that of all 

other raen, but supposedly because he is 

actuated by something of the same spirit 

that brnught his Saviour into the world, 

and in obedience to that Saviour's eouiiiiand; 

because he realizes that there are 

boundless possibilities for those whn are 

altngether unlnvely if they can only bo 

led tn an acceptance and reception of Him 

whn is altngether Invely; and because, 

having been himself redeemed freely by 

tlie precinus blond nf that Savinur, he 

feels himself a debtor to those who know 

Hira nnt. 

AA'hat, then, is the debt he nwcs to 

thera? As we have intiraated, he nwcs it 

to them—as also to the gospel that he 

teaches—to loolc on them as possible heirs 

of salvation. 

The writer confesses that the laws that 

should govern a raissionary'sexpectations 

of converts are an enigraa to hini. It 

would seem that the facts that the gospel 

is thc pnwer of Gnd unto salvatinn tn 

everyone that believeth, and that regeneration 

is the sovereign act nf Gnd tho 

Holy Spirit, shnuld justify the raissinnary 

in expecting results tangible and encntiraging. 

And yet it seems indisputable that 

there is a great difference in different penpies 

as regards receptivity nf the gnspel


message, ilay it not be possible to plead 

God's promises • against His purposes ? 

Isaiah knew that the effect of his preaching 

would be judicial blindness. Is it not 

possible that God may have the sarae purpose 

to-day with reference to sorae classes ? 

It is not within the scope of this paper 

to enter into a discussion of the questinn 

here suggested, but whatever its solution 

may be, whether or not there may corae a 

time in the history of the raissionary'sefforts 

when his duty to those to whom he 

jireacbes deraands that he should shake off 

the dust of his feet as a testimony against 

them, he certainly owes it to them to bear 

unequivocal testimony to the truth, 

whether they will hear or whether they 

will forbear. They have at least a right 

to know what God has to say to them. 

But there can be no doubt that the norm 

nf gospel effort is that the sower should 

sow in the hope of reaping—reaping, if 

not the full harvest, at least the first 

fruits, the earnest of the harvest. The 

people to whom he is sent raay appear 

hopeless, but he owes it to thera to expect 

better things of thera and things that accorapany 

salvation. Under our conditinns 

here in Syria, this seeras hard. At least 

the writer cnnfesses freely, theugh -wath 

a good degree of sharae, that it is so for 

hira; that he has little expectation of seeing 

the gospel raanifestits power in those 

to whora he tries to present it; that he 

has a good raeasure of sympathy with 

those who say, "Since the fathers fell 

asleeji, all things continue as they were 

from the beginning of creation." Such a 

spirit is greatiy to be deprecated and 

striven against, for unless the raissionary 

e.xpects to see results from the preaching 

nf the gospel, he is not likely to maintain 

a high degree of enthusiasm for the messa.cn 

itself. He owes it to those to whom 

he is sent tn Innk nn thera as possible, if 

nnt probable, sons, and to wrestle unceasingly 

with God for thera until Christ be 

formed in them, at the same time giving 

them a daUy illustration in his own life 

that for llim to live is Christ, that his walk 

is directed by the hand of an invisible 

friend. 

AVhile tbe missionary is to remeraber 

that he hiraself is corapassed with infirraity, 

he raust bear in mind, too, that 

his advantages have been lar and away 

superior to those nf the jieople to whora 

he is a missionary, and that he must 

therefore cultivate a heart of corapassion, 

that he may reasonably bear with the 

ignnrant and them that are nut nf the way. 

But he owes them much more than this. 

Although he must lonk nn their faults 

with compassinn, it does nnt follnw that 

he is tn regard thera with complacency. 

He owes it tn them tn inspire in thera by 

precept and example an aspiration tn 

snmething higher, and in order to lead 

thera to a practical vital acceptance of his 

Saviour, he must not nnly present gospel 

truth with clearness and power, but must 

raanifest a kindly interest in thera, in 

their surroundings, in the conditinns 

under which they live, and syrapathize 

with them in view cf the difficulties witb 

which they have to contend. 

Those who are objects of raissionaryeffort 

are for the raost part, owing to the 

disadvantages of their envirnnraent, in 

many nf their thoughts and feelings mere 

children, and sorae of thera very sniall 

children at that. While this fact renders 

it necessary that they shnuld be dealt with 

gently and tenderly, it at the sarae tirae 

renders it necessary that they be dealt 

with firmly. AVe perhaps sometimes allow 

ourselves tn think that this weakness nf 

the natives—as we raay call thera—deraands 

a corresponding laxity on our part 

in our relations with them. This 1 believe 

to be a serious error. The only way 

to build up strong Christian character in


our Jieople is to show thera that we expect 

it of them, arid that Christ expects it of 

them if tbey profess to be followers of 

Film. It will not do to say in effect to 

tbose who claim to accept the teachings of 

the gospel, tbat we will allow them to 

steal a little, but not too much; that they 

raay lie a little, but not too much, and that 

we do not expect them to keep the Sabbatb 

as carefully as the niissionary himself 

airas to do. AA'e owe it to those who 

have professed faith in Christ to require 

of thera a high standard of living, and to 

those who have not raade this profession, 

we owe it to set before thera such a practical 

exaraple of tbe fruitage of the gospel 

that we preach, in the persons and conduct 

of our raerabers, as sball compel the 

admission, "God is araong you of a truth." 

When we think how rauch our own 

raerabers, in very raany instances—perbaps 

as a rule'—resemble those about 

them, this may seem difficult of attainment; 

but how else can we coraraend our 

gospel to raen? For, after all, it is living 

exaraples that count, not mere orthodoxy 

of creed. It will not do for our raerabers 

to say simply that their creed is Scriptural, 

for raost of those about thera have 

no reverence for the Holy Scriptures. But 

honest, upright, Christ-like living on the 

part of our people will be—or at least 

ougbt to be—very noticeable, an epistle 

known and read of all raen,the reading of 

which will arrest their attention. 

Let tbe niissionary, in considering the 

attitude that be ougbt to raaintain toward 

those whora he aims to reach, bear always 

in mind that he is Christ's ambassador, 

sent to do Christ's work, and that he 

should therefore arra himself with the 

same mind that was in Hira. Let hira expect 

to be called on for a large display of 

that love that suffereth long and is kind. 

Let hira also be prepared to raeet with a 

Inr^c display of the basest ingratitude 

from those whom he unselfishly aims to 

serve; and yet, in spite of all this, let hira 

live such an irreproachable life that he 

raay be able to say, like Paul to the 

Corinthians when they disputed his apostolic 

authority, "Be ye followers of rae." 

THE MISSIONARY'S DEBT TO HIMSELF. 

There are two dangers that I wish to 

speak of, to which the, raissionary's environment 

seenis to me to expose him, 

namely, loss of mental poise and loss of 

spirituality. I have heard that the wife 

of one of the most famous of the United 

Presbyterian missionaries in Egypt said 

that the tendency of the foreign fieldis to 

develop the raissionary'sworst traits and 

to retire the best. A young woman in 

Araerica reraarked to the wife of a newly 

outgoing missionary, "All the missionaries 

seem nice when they first go out, 

bttt—." How the sentence ended the 

writer does not know, so he will not pretend 

to be wiser than he knows, and will 

just allow it to end with the "but." Although 

it does give tbe irapression of incorapleteness, 

it conveys a tolerably clear 

irapression aside from that. Although I 

believe that the general irapression at 

horae, in regard to foreign raissionaries,is 

more favorable than that conveyed by this 

fragraent, I believe also that there is in 

the foreign field sorae insidious influence 

or corabination of influences whose tendency 

is to rob the raissionary of his 

equilibriura, and the missionary owes it to 

himself to resist this tendency, and to 

raaintain his raental poise in the face of 

all discourageraent and disappointraent 

peculiar to his circurastances. The raorbid 

raissionaryis a raonstrosity. Can you 

iraagine the heavenly host that hovered 

over the flelds of Bethlehera on the announceraent 

of the good tidings of great 

joy to all people, accorapanying the 

angels' announceraent witb the voice of 

wailing and laraentation ? The raission-


ary's is the same raessage of glad tidings. 

AAliy should he allow his snul to be cast 

down within him ? 

Further, the tendency of the missionary's 

environment is to rob hira nf his 

spiritual life, and the raissionary owes it 

to hiraself tn take all precautions to preserve 

a spiritual frame of raind. There is 

perhaps a tendency on the part of tliopc at 

horae tn demand nf missionaries a higher 

standard of Christian living than they set 

for themselves. Doubtless thev have nn 

right so to do, as the raissionary's advantages 

for cultivating spiritual grnwth 

are vastlv inferinr tn theirs. But the missionary 

will make nn mistake in demanding 

much of hiraself. 

It may require a Uttle hernisiii—not 

necessarily ver)- much—for an intending 

niissinnary tn screw his cnurage tn the 

shipping pnint; but it requires far ranre 

hornism—nr grace rather—tn enable him 

tn jiass unscathed and unsniled for a number 

nf years thrnugh the midst nf vice nf 

every kind, surrounded by that nnly which 

is false and fnrmal in religinn. Coraing 

constantly in contact in a sncial way with 

thnse whnse comjianinnship can dn nothing 

to uplift him, he has an iraperative 

need tn inaintain hy prayer and meditation 

in divine truth constant fellnwshipwith 

the Father and His Son Jesus- 

Christ. Only in so doing can he hope to 

resist the pernicious influence of his environment. 

The missionary must rainglewith 

sinful raen even as Christ did, and 

in order to do so, he needs to be arraed 

with the sarae spotless purity. The raissinnary 

should lift up others, not allow 

himself to be dragged down, and in order 

to be qualified for this he must raaintain 

a firm grasp on those things which, 

though unseen by the eye of flesh, are 

nevertheless real and etemal. 

Eender therefnre tn all their dtie«. Owe 

no man anything but to love one another. 

AU tn Chript wc owe, and in the discharge 

nf duties devolving upon us may we do 

all heartily as tn the Lord and not to men, 

doing it under the double incentive of 

Christ's constraining love, and His 

proraise of sure and all-sufficient strength. 

"Ln, I am with you always even unto the 

end of the world" is his jiromise, and if 

this be sn, having these twn incentives as 

the mainspring nf actinn. we cannnt fail 

nf tho cnmraendatinn, ''AA'ell dnne, good 

and faithful servants." 

(Eev.) C. A. DoDDS. 

Suadia, Sijria. 

"And some one says, 'ilissinns I ilissinns! alwaj-s ilissions!' Y'es, always niissions, 

because they are the life-blond, the heart-beat, the lungs' breath nf the Bndy nf-Jesus 

Christ."—Bishop Doane ai the Boston Convention. 

The firstcnnscinus thrill of the Divine life in the soul nf man is a raissinnary passinn 

bnrn from above. If ynu shnuld find jow have no interest in raissionary work, 

before ynu criticise it, gn tn snrae quiet place nf snul comraunion with God and let 

Hira criticise you, and you will discover that, somehow or somewhere, even if that life 

was thero, it has becnrae extinguished. For your own soul's safety test ynur relationsbi]i 

to God by your interest in this great wnrk.—Rev. G. Caniphcll Morgan. 

The distinctinn between Christianity and all nther systems nf reUgion consists 

largely in this, that in these other, men are found seeking after God, while Christianitv 

is Gnd seeking after man.—Thomas .Arnold.

Editorial Notes. 21 

EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

S.taried at a season of the year wben expenditures in every direction are large and 

imperative, this memorial fund bas made a most encouraging beginning. Tbe contributions 

reported last montb amounted to One Hundred and Twenty-five Dollars; 

and these offerings, as well as those that have corae in since, reveal hearts devoted to 

God in the service that claimed the lives of these two consecrated woraen. 

Contributor. 

Amount. 

A friend. Second New York $2.00 

Mrs. J. C. Montgoraery, Second New York 1.00 

Miss Cornelia Brigden, Second New York 5.00 

ilrs. Alice L. Fenwick, Auburn, E. 1 5.00 

Mrs. Margaret Eoney, W. Alexander, Pa 2.00 

iliss Jean Eoney, W. Alexander, Pa 2.00 

ilrs. David Torrens, Second New York .25.00 

A friend. Second New York 1.00 

Mrs. Maria J. Kerr, Hebron, Kans 5.00 

Miss Alraira E. Kerr, Hebron, Kans 5.00 

A friend. Second New York 2.00 

Mrs. Margaret Watson, Second New York 5.00 

Mrs. J. B. O'Neill, Belfast, Ireland 1.17 

Union Y. P. S. C. E. pi E. Meredith, N. Y 50.00 

Congregation, Cincinnati, 0 30.00 

Mission Field. 

China and Cyprus 

China 


Latakia, Syria 

China 

Southern Mission 

China 

Cyprus 

China 

Cbina 

Cbina 

Latalcia, Syria 

China 

Cbina 

Cbina 

The raonograph, entitled "A 'Eead-Book' Man," and published in this nuraber, 

wiU arrest attention and corapel thought. It is a letter frora Dr. J. Maude George. 

Written with the freedora of a raessageto the loved ones at horae and not intended for 

publication outside the faraily circle, it is an unconscious revelation of her special 

fitness for missionary work. No one can read the story of ber intercourse witb tbat 

teacher—evidentiy a raan of raore than ordinary ability—without rejoicing in tbe 

Mediatorial Frovidence that brought hira under the influence and instruction of one 

so admirably qualifled to point the way to the only Saviour, and praying unceasingly 

that be may be led out into tbe clear light of the gospel. This beloved physician and 

ilrs. A. I. Eobb, so closely identifled in the raissionaryspirit, seem to bave possessed

22 Editorial Notes. 

a peculiarly winning power over tbe Chinese. And surely notbing can be more becoraing 

than to present a thank-offering to the Eedeemer, Who used them to accompUsh, 

during a brief bour of service in China, such tangible results as the representatives 

of the Eeformed Fresbyterian Church in America. 

All offerings sent to Olive Trees will be acknowledged in its columns and passed 

on to the Treasurer. 

E. il. Sommerville, 

327 W. 56tb Streeti 

New York. 

At our request. Dr. Jaraes M. Balph 

has prepared for Olive Trees an excellent 

paper on Medical Missions, which 

we cannot too highly commend. Coming 

from the pen of a medical raissionary who 

is well acquainted with the history of the 

subject on which he writes, and has had 

large experience as a physician both at 

horae and abroad, it deserves and will repay 

a careful reading. Naturally shrinking 

frora anything that raightbe raisinterpreted 

as personal display, the author has 

failed to give raany facts and incidents in 

regard to the raedical work in Latakia, 

Syria, that he raight have included in the 

article, and tbus increased its value as a 

contribution to the literature of Medical 

Missions. At sorae future tirae, however, 

he raay be willing to suppleraent his story 

with practical illustrations drawn frora 

the wide fleldof his own experience and 

observation. 

Olive Trees has received the Foreign 

Mission Eeport of the Fresbyterian 

Church in Canada. It contains encouraging 

statements frora ten Missions. And 

"generally, it raay be said, that peace, 

progress and prosperity prevailed in all 

their fieldsthroughout the whole of the 

year 1903." 

Olive Trees is also indebted to the 

American Board for a copy of its annual 

report on the Foreign Missions under its 

supervision. It is an inspiring volurae. 

The coraraittee appointed to examine the 

report of Secretary Barton, "covering tbe 

worlc of nine missionary fields,Austria, 

Spain, Mexico, Japan, Marathi, Madura, 

Ceylon, Eastern Turkey and European 

Turkey," reports that tbese have been 

"worked during the past year by two 

hundred and sixty-seven Araericans and 

nineteen thousand one hundred and fortyfour 

native Christians. Fifty central 

stations and seven hundred and eightyeight 

outlying stations have been tbe chief 

points of application of this force." 

* * * "Three hundred organized 

churches are established in active operation, 

with thirty-two tbousand two bundred 

and seventy-three merabers. * * * 

Two thousand two hundred and fiftynine 

new raerabers were added on 

confession of faith." After stating results 

frora each separate field—not including 

"the native workers, for they are 

theraselves the result of niissionary 

labor,'' the coraraittee continues: "You 

say this is a cold-blooded and mechanical 

way of estimating niissionary success. 

Granted; and it disregards the indirect 

results of raissionary work. But it shows 

strikingly bow ranch better nur Araerican 

Board raissionariesare doing than our 

workers at horae, despite tbe savagery, 

barbarisra and oppression found on the 

foreign fields. Abroad two hundred and 

sixty-seven raissionaries,reckoning teachers, 

doctors, industrial, kindergarten, and 

other workers and absentees, had the joy

of welcoraing out of heathen darkness into 

the light of the Church of Jesus Christ, 

twenty-two bundred and fifty-nine adult 

souls (saying notbing of children received 

into the Cburch through baptism), an 

average per missionary of over eight addiiions 

this last year, while tbe force at 

home, counting only the six thousand and 

seventy-one rainisters, and disregarding all 

other workers in the Year Book, received 

on an average less than five on confession." 

We aslc the readers of Olive Trees to 

ponder this reraarkable statement; for 

its condemnation of inactivity and slow 

growth in the horae Cburch, compared 

with the more earnest effort and consequent 

success of foreign missions, is true 

on a smaller scale of the Eeformed Fresbyterian 

Churcb. Surely no one can read 

it. and feel that be is doing enough to 

preach Cbrist in the regions beyond. 

Very encouraging, too, is tbe report of 

the coraraittee on tbe Missions in Secretary 

Smith's Department. Of these Missions 

there are three in Africa: the Zulu, the 

AA^êst African and tbe East African; two 

in Asiatic Turkey: Western and Central. 

"Fourteen out of the thirty-three churches 

of tbis Central Mission are entirely selfsupporiing, 

and the native contributions 

have reacbed the astonishingly bigh flgure 

of seventeen thousand three hundred 

and flfty-eight dollars. * * '* j^{_ 

Oorfa the work includes, araong several 

excellent features, a great Sabbath school, 

nurabering seven hundred and thirty-four 

pupils and thirty-four teachers." There 

are also two Missions in the Pacific 

Islands: the Micronesian and the Philippines. 

"On Ponape and adjacent islands" 

there are "nine hundred and seven church 

nierabers, of whora one hundred and fiftyone 

have been received during the year." 

There are four Missions in China: North, 

Foochow, Shansi, and Soutb. An item 


or two from this report will be read with 

interest: "Wbile conservatisra still controls 

the Governraent at Peking, and wbile 

reforms are feared ratber than desired, 

yet there is a great demand in Peking for 

the Scriptures—a sure proof of a changed 

attitude to Christianity." * * * "^^ 

Ing-hok," in tbe Foochow Mission, "the 

young men of the churches have visited 

raany of the hundreds on hundreds of 

villages where there is a call for work and 

a proraise of great results." We ask tbe 

young rainistersof our church to read tbe 

appeal of Dr. Sraith for laborers to reinforce 

the Shansi Mission, as it maymove 

sorae of thera to offer tbeir services 

for Syria and Cyprus. "Are there none 

araong us to hasten to this field and there 

work to-day the works of God? AVhat 

have we raen and woraen for, if not to 

carry such a work onward to success ? Why 

is raoney given to God's people, if not to 

build this raission anew, and send araong 

this waiting people the everlasting gospel, 

whose glory bas once flashed upon the 

view in sucb unearthly beauty and power ? 

If sorae tbings raust suffer loss, not this." 

A copy of the annual serraon before tbe 

Araerican Board of Comraissioners for 

Foreign Missions, preached at Grinnell, 

Iowa, Oct. 11, 1904, by Eev. Eeuen 

Thoraas, D.D., pastor of Harvard Church, 

Brookline, Mass., was raailed to us with 

the annual reporti Dr. Thoraas spoke on 

"Enlargeraent Through Service," eraphasizing 

the infiuence of Poreign Missions on 

ourselves. 

First of all, in enlarging our ideas and 

deepening our eraotions, as the worship 

faculty in huraan nature has been revealed 

to us everywhere existent. 

In the second place, if Poreign Missions 

bave expanded our intellect and 

deepened and mellowed our humanity, 

they have also tested our faitb in tbe


divinity and consequent sovereignty of 

Jesus Christ; and 

In the tbird place, it is necessary to 

take a glance at Foreign Missions as attesting 

the growth of the faith faculty in 

tbe Christianized raan. 

Olive Trees acknowledges receipt of 

the following contributions to raissionary 

work in China: $1 from Mrs. J. A. 

Thompson, College Springs, la., and $10 

frora .Mrs. Wortb Kerr, Titusville, Fa. 

The raoney has been forwarded to Treasurer 

Walter T. Miller. 

The Ladies' Missionary Society of the 

Congregation at Alraonte, Ontario, Canada, 

has sent us, through its Treasurer, 

Mrs. J. S. Waddell, $10, to be equally 

divided between the Indian and the Jewish 

ilissions. The raoney has been passed 

on to Treasurer John T. Morton. 

Two months ago Eev. E. C. Allen, of 

Grove City, Pa., when renewing subscription 

to end of 1905, enclosed four dollars 

from ilrs. Allen to aid in the circulation 

of Olive Trees. This is more than liberal 

assistance. 

Olive Trees acknowledges receipt of 

twenty-five dollars frora Mrs. ilary J. 

Waite, Toll House, Fresno County, California, 

to be appropriated as follows: 

Syrian Mission $5.00 

Mission to China 5.00 

Horae Missions 5.00 

Jewish Mission 5.00 

Indian Mission 4.50 

Olive Trees 50 

The money has been passed on to the 

Treasurers. 

Olive Trees acknowledges the receipt 

of the following amounts frora the young 

woraen of the Eeforraed Presbyterian 

Church toward the salary of their raissionary 

for 1904: 

Miss Sadie Sterrett, Olathe, Kansas.$3.65 

Miss Lizzie Sterrett, Olathe, Kansas 3.65 

A Friend of Missions, Canonsburg, 

Pa 4.00 

L. M. S. of MiUer's Eun Congregation, 

Pa 12.50 

One contribution has also been received 

toward the salary of jiastor's raissionary 

for 1904: 

Eev. J. B. Gilraore, York, N Y. .. .$15.00 

AVe are glad to know that recent news 

frora Scotsdale is favorable. Eev. W. ilc 

Leod George seeras to be iraproving in 

health, though his friends have to wait a 

long tirae before detecting any substantial 

gain. It is the prayer of every one that 

he raay be raade strong again and able to 

devote hiraself once raore to the work of 

the rainistry. 

An Araerican quarter of a dnUar, witb the figure of Liberty on it, is said to have 

looked down conteraptuously on a copper cent, with the head of a red Indian on iti 

and to have said, "Oh, you dark-skinned, feather-triraraed barbarian, do you call yourself 

a coin?" "WeU, whatever I am," said the copper cent, "I ara nftener fnund in 

raissionary meetings than you are!" 

There was a time when I had no care or concern for the heathen; that was when 

I had none for my own soul. AVlien, by the grace of God, I was led to care for ray 

own soul, I began to care for thera. In ray closet I said, "0 Lord, silver and gold 

have I none. AVhat I have I give; I offer Thee rayself! AVilt Thou accept the gift?" 

—Alexander Duff.

O L I V E T R K E S 

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary 'Work in the Reformed Presby 

terian Church, U. S. A. 

No. FEBRUARY, 1905. 2. 


OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR A 

PERISHING WORLD. 

REV. J. M. FOSTER, BOSTON. 

The Saviour taught that increase of 

knowledge, of privilege, and of opportunity 

carried witb it a corresponding increase 

of responsibUity. "And thou, Capernaum, 

whicb art exalted unto heaven, shalt be 

brought down to bell; for if the works 

which have been done in tbee, bad been 

done in Sodora, it would have remained 

until tbis day. But I say unto you, tbat 

it shall be more tolerable for the land of 

Sodora in the day of judgnient, than for 

tbee." Tbe question is often asked: Will 

the heathen wbo have never heard of Christ 

be condemned because they did not believe 

on Him ? The Scriptures do not say tbat. 

But God's Word does teacb tbat aU wUl be 

judged; tbat those who are without the 

laiv will be judged witbout the law, and 

that those who have rejected Christ will 

be punished more severely than those wbo 

have never heard of His salvation. . No 

heathen has ever been found who did as 

well as he Imew. Tbe light of nature is 

the law that condemns hira. But bis 

punishment will be least severe. The 

Jews wbo live under the law of Sinai and 

have not known Christ wiU be judged by 

that law. Their punishraent will be more 

severe. But all who have heard and 

neglected or rejected tbe gospel of God's 

Son wiU be conderaned raost severely, because 

tbey loved darkness ratber than 

light. "He that despised Moses' law died 

without raercy, under two or three witnesses 

; of how much sorer jiunishment, 

suppose you, shall he be thougbt worthy 

who hath trodden under foot tbe Son of 

God, and hath counted the blood of the 

covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an 

unholy thing, and bath done despite unto 

the Spirit of grace ?" 

But the important question is not. Will 

God, in His infinite raercy, save the 

heathen who have never heard of Christ 

and had no opportunity of accepting or 

rejecting Hira ? We can leave that to the 

infinite wisdora and goodness of God. 

"The Judge of all the earth will do right." 

But the great and all-absorbing question 

is: Can we be saved who have the gospel 

if we fail to carry the good news tb the 

]ierishing ? It is not an intellectual question 

of balancing propositions and reducing 

equations, but it is a question of conscience 

and of tbe heart. God could have 

made the bread and water of life as free 

and accessible as air and water, and He 

might have written His gospel on the 

face of the sky, so that all could read it. 

But He bas cbosen to commit the salvation 

of the world as a trust to His people, 

and charged them with the responsibility 

of carrying the message to all nations and 

tongues and people. The world will perish 

from hunger and thirst if we do not carry 

the bread and water of life to them. The

26 Questions of the Hour. 

world will go down in darlcness if we do 

not let our light shine into the darkness. 

Here is the raatterof deep and grave concern 

for us. It will be more tolerable for 

Lassar in Tbibeti or Bombay in India, or 

Canton in China, or ilukden in Manchuria, 

than for Boston in the day of 

judgraent, if we suffer thera to die without 

the gospel. "He that knew his Master's 

will and did it not, shall be beaten 

with raany stripes." 

I. The Responsibility of Knowledge- 

Sodom had been reproved by just Lot, and 

had been warned to escape from destruction. 

Neglecting all this, they fell under 

God's wrath. Capernaum had been the 

home of our Lord for raany raonths. Here 

He'raised the daughter of Jairus to life. 

They had heard His raessages. But a 

light, indifferent, worldly spirit kept them 

frora responding to His appeals. "This is 

the conderanation, that light hath corae 

into the world, and men loved darlcness 

rather than light, because their deeds were 

evil." Their condemnation was greater 

than Sodom's. We have greater knowledge 

than Capernaum. We have seen the Son of 

'God lifted up upon the cross, the world's 

sin-offering upon His high altar. We have 

seen Hira raised frora the dead and exalted 

to God's right hand. AVe have seen 

Hira receiving gifts for raen, and sending 

forth the Holy Spirit to abide with us. 

We have seen His raarvelous working 

through these nineteen Christian centuries 

in preparing the way for His Kingdora. 

AVho can raeasure the responsibility 

which this increased knowledge involves? 

"0 son of raan, I have set thee 

for a watchman unto tbe house of Israel; 

t.herefore, thou shalt hear the word at 

my mouth, and shalt warn them frora rae. 

AAHien I say, 0 wicked raan, thou shalt 

surely die, if thou dost not speak to warn 

bim from me, he shall die in his sins, but 

his blood will I require at thine hands. 

Nevertheless, if thou dost not speak to 

warn him from me, and he die in his' sins, 

thou hast delivered thy soul." Tbe worid 

is the bouse of Israel now. God's people 

are the watchman. They are charged with 

the responsibility of warning a guilty 

world and pointing them to Christ. Tbe 

blood of tbe perishing raillions will be 

required at our hands if we fail to proclaim 

the gospel. At the pool of Bethesda 

near Jerusalera there lay a great raultitude 

of irapotent folk, of blind, balti withered, 

on the five porches, waiting for tbe raoving 

of tbe waters. For an angel went 

down at a certain season into the pool, 

and troubled the water; whosoever tben 

first, after the troubling of the water, 

stepped in, was raade whole, of whatsoever 

disease he had. And a certain raan was 

there which had an infirraity tbirty and 

eight years. When Jesus saw hira lie, and 

knew that he had been now a long time 

in that case, He saith unto him, "Wilt thou 

be raade whole ?" The impotent .man answered 

him, "Sir, I have no man, wben tbe 

water is troubled, to put me into tbe pool; 

but while I am coraing, another steppeth 

down before rae." Now tbat irapotent raan 

is the perishing world. The angel is the 

Lord Jesus Christ. The water is the pure 

river that flows frnm the crystal sea. God 

has laid iijion us the duty of putting the. 

impotent raan into tbe water. But for 

nineteen hundred years be bas lain beside 

the pool, and still he says, "I bave 

nn man, when the water is troubled, to 

put me into tbe pool." Wbat a grave responsibility 

the Church carries. Shall the 

jiatlietic appeal of tbe impotent man go 

unheeded? When Israel sinned, the 

plague broke out in the camp. Moses 

commanded Aaron to go quickly, take a 

censer witb burning coals from the altar 

and incense in his hand, arid stand between 

the living and the dead, and bum the incense 

before the Lord. And the offering

Questions of the Hour. 27 

was accepted and the plague ceased. "Then 

said He, He would thera destroy, had not 

His wrath to stay; His servant Moses stood 

in breach, tbat thera He should not slay." 

The human family is Israel in the camp 

of tillsworld. Tbe wrath of God is already 

destroying sinners before God. Believers 

are called to go quickly into all 

nations and stand between the living and 

the dead, and with tbe burning coals from 

God's altar, where the Lamb of God has 

been offered, to send up tbe cloud of incense, 

the prayers of saints and stay the 

destructive plague. How shall we escape 

if we neglect so great a salvation? How 

sball we escape if we neglect the command 

to go quickly to tbe perishing with 

this incense and sacriflce ? 

The Saviour taugbt tbat there is a tone 

of mind tbat incapacitates us from recognizing 

Christ and His salvation. The 

Jews were in that case. John the Baptist 

was sent, living an ascetic life, and they 

said. He hatb a devil. Jesus came, living 

a social life, and tbey said. Behold a gluttonous 

man, a wine-bibber, a friend of pub- 

^ licans and sinners. They could not recognize 

God's message or God's own Son. 

They bad no capacity for this. They were 

like sulky cbildren in the market. When 

their corapanions played a wedding feast 

and piped, they would not dance. When 

they played a funeral procession and 

raourned, they would not laraent. They 

would not be pleased with anything, so 

that generation would not hear eitber the 

forerunner or the Messiah. They were 

iraplacable. And of course tbey would not 

carry the message of salvation to otbers. 

And professing Christians who fail to 

carry the gospel raessage to the perishing 

write theraselves down as having no capacity 

for the gospel. They die in tbeir 

sms. 

Tbe Saviour also taugbt that tbere is a 

tone of mind tbat capacitates for recognizing 

Christ and His salvation. "Wisdom 

is justified (recognized) of (by) her 

children." And those who are the children 

of Christ, having the Spirit of adoption, 

recognize tbat, like Cbrist, tbey are 

sent to seek and to save tbat which was 

lost. And hence the words of our Lord: 

"I thank Thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven 

and earth, because Thou hast hidden tbese 

things from the wise and prudent, and 

hast revealed them unto babes: even so, 

Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. 

Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are 

heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take 

My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I 

ara raeek and lowly in heart, and ye shall 

find rest for your souls; for My yoke is 

easy and My burden is light." 

When the Syrian host besieged Saraaria 

there was a great faraine in the city. At 

the gate tbere were four leprous men who 

proposed to fall to the Syrians as a last resort 

to obtain something to eat. And wben 

they came to the Syrian camp it was deserted.' 

A panic had seized tbe array, and 

they fled by night. The lepers satisfled 

their hunger and carried away spoil and 

hid it. This they did again and again. 

At last tbey said: "We do not well; this 

day is a day of good tidings, and we hold 

our peace. If we tarry till the morning 

light, some mischief will come upon us; 

now tberefore corae, that we raay go and 

tell the King's household." So they carae 

to the porter of the city and reported, and 

the famine was relieved iraraediately. 

Tbis world is the city. Satan has besieged 

it. There is a spiritual famine. God's 

people are cleansed lepers, who have found 

the needed supply. And if we bold our 

peace and fail to report to tbe perishing, 

"some mischief will come upon us." As 

Mordecai said to Queen Esther, "If thou 

altogether hold tby peace at tbis time, deliverance 

shall arise from another quarter, 

but thou shalt not escape." Our own sal-


vation is involved in reporting this to found the drumraer boy's mother, and told 

those for whom the provision is raade. her that boy's prayer was answered. That 

Paul said: "I ara debtor both to tbe Jew is pouring the oil from the full into the 

and the Greek." We think of the Old empty vessel. 

Testaraent debtor, the widow of the son Another: A Chinese girl with a beautiful 

of thc prnjihets, whose two sons were to be 

taken as bondmen to pay their father's voice, but blind, was led by her mis 

tress through the streets of Canton, to 

debt. She cried to the prophet Elisha. obtain ranney by singing. She was also 

And he directed her to borrow erapty vessels, 

not a few, and to pour the oil frnra 

her vessel inte them until they were all 

led into a life of sharae for the sarae jiurpose. 

But she fell sick and was sent to the 

Mission hospital. There it developed tbat 

full. This she did. Then the prophet she was a leper, and one of her feet was 

said, "Go, sell the oil and pay thy debt, and 

live fliou and thy two sons of the rest." 

amputated. There she was converted. And 

while there led several patients to tbe 

Now this is an allegory. The souls of Larab of God. AVhen able to get out, she 

God's people are vessels filled with the oil started a hospital for lepers. The Church 

of grace. The souls of the world are in Scotland helped her, and a building was 

emjity vessels. The only way we can pay put up for this purpose. Sbe personally 

our debt is by emptying this oil into these led eighty Chinese to Christ, and provided 

empty vessels and filling thera. And in care and corafort for several bundred. This 

filling these empty vessels our supply is is filling erapty vessels with the oil of 

not dirainished as long as there is a vessel grace. Think! A blind girl witb one foot 

tn be filled. What a wnnderful way Gnd has amputated, and a leper, leading eighty 

of enabling His people to pay their debt! souls to Jesus Christ. What a wonderful 

To illustrate: A Christian druraraer boy debt-payer she was! And what possibilities 

was wounded at Gettysburg. The surgeon, 

a .lew, had to amputate both an arra and 

a leg. He proposed to give the boy chloroforra. 

it suggests for us! 

II. The Responsibility of Privileges.— 

Capernaura was exalted to tbe beaven of 

But he refused the drug, because privileges. But being unfaithful, she was 

his Lord had declined before crucifixion. cast down to hell. Our privileges are great 

He also refused alcohol because he proraised 

beyond corapare. Our responsibility and 

bis raother he would not talce it. AVliile our privUeges are correlated. To be un 

the surgeon was sawing the bone, the boy true is the raost aggravated guilt. Men 

took the corner of the pillow in his teeth, have tried to shield tberaselves frora obligation 

and the surgeon heard, "0 Jesus, do not 

to preach the gospel to every 

forsake rae now!" Five days later the creature behind the decrees of God. They 

boy called the surgeon and said, "I am say: "God has His plan. It extends from 

dying. I want to tell you that while you the beginning to the end. He will save 

were sawing the bone, I prayed that God 

would save your soul. And I want you to 

the world in His own good tirae and way." 

The deceitful human heart seeks to evade 

write ray mother in Brooklyn, N. Y., and its responsibility. God has determined to 

tell her you found my Bible under my save the world by Jesus Christ. He has 

pillow and, I read it and prayed every also deterrained to bring this salvation to 

day since I left horae." Ten years later, the world by His people. He bas deterrained 

in Washington, D. C, that Jewish surgenn 

tbat the earth shall produce bar- 

was cnnverted. A few days later he vests for raan and beast. He bas also de-

termined tbat man must till tbe soil. 

"Work out your own salvation, for it is 

God that worketh in you to will and to do 

of his good pleasure." And "pure religion 

and undefiled before God and the 

Father is this, to visit tbe fatherless and 

widow in their affliction, and to keep himself 

unspotted from tbe world." 

1. Tbere is tbe Duty of Charity.— 

And charity includes tbree principles. 

The first is the principle of benevolence. 

Benevoleiice is always. active. Tbe word 

visit is accentuated. Not tbe letter, but 

the spirit. . Children cannot visit from 

laclc of experience. Tbe afflicted cannot 

visit because of tbe offensiveness of the 

service. It raeans tbat we are to seek tbe 

affiicted and not wait for them to come to 

us. Howard visited all the prisons of 

Europe, and then followed his "Frison Eeform." 

Ashley visited the coal miners 

and sbop hands of England, and tben came 

bis "ten hour law," and corn laws whicb 

be and Sir Eobert Feel carried tbrough 

Parliament. Wm. Carey studied the condition 

of heathen lands, and then gave bis 

life to the wOrk. The true heroes are not 

blood-stained warriors, but self-sacriflcing 

men, wbo go through flre and water to 

save the perishing. The second principle 

is sympatby. "To visit tbe fatherless 

and widow in tbeir affiiction." Not to 

help, not to advise^ but visit to sympathize. 

Tbere are cases when to offer help is an 

impertinence, and to give advice an insult. 

A pressure of the hand and the tearbedewed 

eye are more potent than a purse 

of gold or a long lecture of the best advice. 

Tbe friends of Job sat down seven 

days and seven nights, and said not a word 

because tbey saw bis grief was great. Governor-elect 

Douglass, of Massachusetts, 

has sueh power over his thousands of employees 

because be sympathizes witb them 


and makes their case his own. Moses had 

sucb power over Israel as their leader, because 

he sympathized witb tbem. He 

would ratber die than bave God forsake 

thera. Paul had such power witb bis people, 

because be sympathized with them. 

"I could wisb myself accursed for my 

bretbren, my kinsmen, according to the 

flesh." J. Hudson Taylor, Alexander 

Duff, John G. Paton, Eobert Moffat and 

David Livingstone have had such power in 

winning souls to Christ because they were 

possessed of the-Master's Spirit of sympathy 

for perishing sinners, and nothing 

could quench their zeal. The third principle 

is condescension. "To visit tbe fatherless 

and widow in tbeir affiiction." The 

case of the fatherless and widow in the 

Apostle's day was deplorable. Condescension 

includes considerateness for the 

desolate and condescension to the friendless. 

Our Lord w.ent to the ricb raan's 

feast by invitation. He went to Bethesda 

and to Bethany of His own accord. At the 

feast in Siraon's house. He honored tbe 

woman wbo washed His feet with ber 

tears and wiped tbem with the hair of her 

head. The believer will search out tbe 

needy and friendless, who have no helper, 

and lead them to tbe Lamb of God. The 

Jews would condescend to the Gentiles, 

but they had no dealings with the Samaritans. 

But our Lord preached to the 

woraan at the well, and tben to all ber 

city. The believer will condescend to 

thera of low degree. Condescension does 

not lower; evil lowers; vulgar farailiarity 

lowers; coarseness lowers. But condescension 

dignifles. Tbe Son of' God condescended 

to take our nature and obey. God 

also batb highly exalted Hira. Haughtiness 

and reserve wither the heart. Condescension 

is the badge of true manhood. 

Tbe believer follows tbe Master without 

tbe camp bearing His reproach, because 

tbis is the world's salvation. He will go 

to the ends of tbe earth; be will live witb 

any people; he will put up with any incon-


veniences and hardships; be will endure 

all kinds of harsh treatment, that be may 

win souls to Christ. Tbis is condescension. 

Benevolence, sympathy, condescension 

flll the duty of charity. 

2. There is the Duty of Purity.— 

"To keep himself unspotted from the 

world." Tbe world spots; we are spottable; 

we raust keep ourselves. Tbe world 

is not to be avoided. But we must keep 

our garments. The world bas a tainting 

influence upon delicacy of beart. A Cbristian 

working in a factory with bad men 

will be tainted unconsciously unless he 

keep hiraself. A Christian girl spending 

her time in social functions, theatre-going, 

card-playing, dancing, will be tainted. 

She must separate. The churches are so 

tainted with the world that delicacy of 

heart in benevolence, syrapathy and condescension 

is largely lost. The world has 

power to make artificial. In being natural 

we become unnatural. Bad raen in 

society wear a mask of goodness. Tbe 

world worships wealth. Men practice false 

economies, raeanness and artifices at home, 

to appear well-to-do wben abroad. The 

world worships politeness. And men indulge 

in fiatteries and unfelt corapliraents 

because they work. Tbey become hypocrites. 

The world worships feeling. And 

men feign grief and seera to weep wbile 

their bearts are cold. Tbe world worships 

high birth. And men strive to trace tbeir 

names to great families, and they make 

haste to bow down to titled men and 

women. So the world has the raultitudes 

going a-whoring after it. Tbe Cburch is 

so weak, because the world bas corae in 

and the Spirit is elirainated. Water is a 

good tbing outside the sbip. But let it 

in and the ship is logged. Tbe dykes of 

Holland do not keep out all the water of 

tbe salt sea. The barriers you set up do 

not keep the world out entirely. But to 

keep out the world you raust be active in 

benevolence, sympathy and condescension, 

and you must be in constant fellowship 

witb God, even the Father. The music 

of beaven will captivate you and tbe music 

of earth will not attract. Tbe beauty of 

heaven will captivate you and earth cannot 

allure. 

The world has power to destroy feeling. 

It excites the imagination; it thrills tbe 

nerves; it awakens tbe passions. As in 

tropical regions everything matures quickly 

and fades early, so tbe world unnaturally 

stimulates tbe growth and decay of 

tbe feelings. More bistory was made in 

the past six years tban in aU tbe nine 

bundred and sixty-nine years of Methuselah's 

life. The world drives and excites 

churcb members so mucb during tbe week 

that they have no energy or interest for 

God's service on Sabbatb. So we must 

have purity toward God and charity 

toward men to bave pure and undefiled 

religion. Tbe ordinances ciUtivate piety. 

Missionary work exercises tbe gifts. Tbe 

raan who is fed must work. Tbat is wbat 

he is fed for. The soldier wbo is drilled 

must fight. Tbat is wbat he is trained 

for. The physician wbo is prepared raust 

practice. That is wbat he was prepared 

for. Believers who are fed and drilled 

and schooled must do tbe Master's work. 

They were sent for this. 

lil. The Responsibility of Opportunities.—"As 

you have tberefore opporttmity, 

do good unto all men, especially to tbem 

who are of tbe household of faith." King 

Ahasuerus issued a decree that the Jews 

should defend themselves against tbe execution 

of Haraan's device. Tbis decree 

was translated into the languages of his 

people. Copies were transcribed by writers. 

And then by post on droraedaries 

and caraels, the messages were carried 

tbroughout all the one hundred and 

twenty-seven provinces. And all tbis was 

accomplished within tbree montbs. Tbe

Questions of ihe Hour. 31 

King's business required baste. Now, the 

Lord Jesus Cbrist has issued His decree 

tbat whosoever believeth in Him sball not 

perish, but bave everlasting life. He bas 

called upon His people to translate the 

message. Tbis is done. All tbe Bible is 

in three bundred of tbe world's great 

languages, and parts of the Bible in six 

bundred languages. It is in tbe native 

tongue of twelve bundred million people, 

leaving only tbree bundred millions 

without it. Tbe Saviour-King commanded 

copies to be multiplied. This is 

done. There are two bundred and fifty 

million copies to-day. He bas commanded 

that tbe gospel be preacbed to every creature. 

Tbis is not done. If the Church 

were in earnest, this could be done in tbe 

present generation. Tbis is our opportunity, 

because witbin tbirty years tbis 

generation will have gone tbe way of all 

the earth, and our opportunity will be gone 

forever. "Behold, now is tbe appointed 

time; behold, now is tbe day of salvation." 

We must use our opportunity now 

or it will pass from us, never to return. 

"There is a tide in tbe affairs of men 

whicb, taken at its height, carries us on to 

fortune and triumph; but, neglected, carries 

us back to dishonor, defeat and eternal 

loss." Tbis is our responsibility. 

IV. The Responsibility of Our Covenant 

Engagement.—This is above Capernaum. 

Our covenant reads: "Eejoicing 

tbat the enthroned Mediator is not only 

King in Zion, but King over all the earth, 

and recognizing the obligation of His 

coraraand to go into all the world and 

preach tbe gospel to every creature, and 

to teach all nations, baptizing thera in the 

narae of tbe Father, of the Son, and of 

the Holy Gbost, and resting witb faitb in 

the proraise of His perpetual presence as 

the pledge of success, we hereby dedicate 

ourselves to tbe great work of making 

known God's ligbt and salvation among 

the nations, and to tbis end will labor tbat 

tbe Church raay be provided with an earnest, 

self-denying and able rainistry. Profoundly 

conscious of past reraissness and 

neglect, we will henceforth, by our prayers, 

pecuniary contributions and personal 

exertions, seek tbe revival of pure and undefiled 

religion, the conversion of Jews 

and Gentiles to Cbrist, tbat all men may be 

blessed in Him, and that all nations may 

call Him blessed." 

A Baptist missionary in Japan tells of a scene before the Comraunion table, wben a 

Japanese Christian, witb strong eraotion, insisted on confessing a sin before he would 

partake of the Lord's Supper. Tbe sin was this: "In the rush and hurry of wheat 

harvest and of setting out rice plants, my mind was distracted witb the work, and for 

two days I did not take time to compose it to think upon the loving kindness of my 

Lord. * * * That I should bave been so ungrateful overwhelms rae witb sbame 

and confusion of face." Missions are wortb while when they bring to us from converts 

in tbe far East words that stir tbe secret springs of our own life. 

The son of a Mohararaedan Afghan robber chief has left bis father's castle, crossed 

the frontier, and made public profession of faith in Jesus Christ at the C. M. S. Mission 

in tbe bigoted Mohararaedan city of Peshawar. He has done this at tbe iraminent 

risk of being shot by bis angry father, and be is himself still little more than a halftamed 

savage, liable to lose control of hiraself when anything stirs his wrath. Yet 

there he is to-day trying hard to be hurable, gentle and Christ-like. He is tberefore 

witbin reach of the prayers of Christians.



ABROAD. 

Latakia, Syria.—Miss Maggie B. Edgar, 

who is in America on furlough this 

winter, sent us the following extract from 

a letter written by Miss AA^^ylie, Dec. 14, 

1904: 

"We had our Coraraunion last Sabbath. 

Mr. Stewart intended to have it the Sabbath 

before, but it rained, rained, rained, 

so he put it off. Besides, I was not in 

very good condition. I raissed two days 

frora churcli and Sabbath school * * * 

Mr. Stewart visited all the farailies before 

Coraraunion. Zahid Haddad (son of 

Salira Haddad, who left us a few years 

ago) corarauned this tirae, and behaved 

very well. The Friars (Frencii Catholic 

school) were not going to let bim corae to 

church, but Salira Haddad went to thera 

and said if his boys were not allowed to 

attend their own church he would take 

them out of school. How I wish he could 

see his own duty ! 

''There were six boys, I think, united at 

this time. Several ot tbe girls asked but 

I did not feel that they were ready; though 

most of them are baptized members, we 

both thought it best for them to wait. 

"On Saturday I noticed ilr. Stewart 

seemed cold and nervous. He began to 

chill before he was through the service, 

and had to go to bed when he went home, 

and has been sick since, but he was 

better yesterday, although the fever was 

not yet broken. 

"Abdulla AtuUa died last Saturday. 

You will be surprised to know that both 

Mr. Stewart and I had great hopes 

of him; a change in him was noticed 

since his wife died. What pleased us 

most was that he seemed to be so sorry 

that he had sinned. I have never in this 

country met with any one who felt it as 

he did. Yet he seemed to have an humble 

dependence on the Saviour for salvation. 

"He asked Mr. Stewart to pray with 

him, and you know that means a great 

deal in an 'accaber' (high class) house. 

If Abdulla AtuUa is saved, it 'will be 

owing a good deal to ilrs. Stewart's influence, 

I tbink. * * * Gazala Sarase 

and Farida Marcus went to the Eussian 

school, as tbe Bishop proraised thera work 

as soon as they would learn tbe Eussian 

prayers. I took Frotestant girls in their 

places." 

Abdulla AtuUa, spoken of in this letter, 

was a wealthy native of the higher class, 

who lived a very wicked life until about 

two or three years ago, when his wife died. 

M. B. B. 

A letter, dated January 7, 1905, from 

Rev. Jas. S. Stewart, says: 

The French stearaer is in and I may 

not have time to write much, but I must 

ten the readers of Olive Trees that 

we have had a happy New Year. The 

only drawback has been that Miss WyUe 

has been suflering for several days from 

toothache, and is still conflned to her 

room. There have been prayer meetings 

every night this week in the Chapel, and 

the attendance has been good, and the 

service interesting and profitable. Our 

winter Communion was held here in 

Latakia in December. There was an 

increase of five by profession. The season 

has been a very wet one from about the 

first of October until now. I have not 

been able to visit the out-stations since 

the summer; however, we get good reports 

from all the workers, and hope to

News of the Churches. 33 

visit them ere long and see how they do. 

The number of pupils under instruction 

in Latakia and other places is about 325. 

Tartous had an epidemic of smallpox, 

but there were not many deaths from it. 

A late letter from Brother C. A. Dodds 

of Suadia reports that all are now in 

fairly good health, although many had 

been very sick. 

Suadia, Syria.—A personal letter 

from Eev. C. A. Dodds, written Deceraber 

7,1904,contains iteras of general interest: 

Miss Cuiminghara is raucb missed in 

Suadia, and tbere are many inquiries 

about her. She is too reticent to say anything 

about ber own condition when she 

writes, and consequently we are not able 

to give any very deflnite inforraation as 

to the state of ber health. 

Our work moves along witb even step, 

and I suppose there is less of interest to 

record tban there is in the average congregation 

at home. The weather bas been 

very wet for the past raonth—unusually so 

for this time of tbe year. A few days ago 

the Orontes Eiver was up over its banks, 

and away out over the plain lying between 

us and the sea. There was a good bit of 

suffering among tbe people. Tbe rain 

was so incessant that many could not 

Icindle their ovens to bake tbeir bread, and 

others were without flour, not being able 

to get grinding done. Tbe railier Bogus, 

one of our members, at the mill just below 

tbe girls' school, bad bis mill-dara washed 

out five times by the freshets. The poor 

fellow had gone to heavy expense putting 

in new mill-stones and getting his raUl 

into first-class shape generally, and has 

not bad ten days' work yet since the 

season opened. He is quite cast down, but 

has good grit, and I tbink will corae out 

on top of his circurastances yet; I bope so, 

at least. His narae is Bogus, but I think 

perhaps be comes as near being genuine as 

any meraber- we bave. He is an Armenian, 

and I am persuaded that on the 

average one Armenian is worth five or 

more Greeks—i. e., has raore of the qualities 

tbat go to raalce a man. 

Owing perhaps principally to tbe wet 

weather, our school has not been so well 

attended as at this time last year. There 

is a new Greek school, too, which raay be 

taking sorae of the boys we had last year, 

but another one tbat was nearer to us tban 

this new one has been abandoned. Tbe 

Fellahin have been rather fitful in 

their attendance, as the Governraent bas 

been inquiring about their boys. Tbere 

are thirty-three boys sleeping in the 

scbool. Of these, five furnisb their own 

eating, the school fare not being suited 

to their palates. Tbe nuraber of outside 

pupils has varied, but has probably not 

been raore than twenty. The preaching 

service bas also been poorly attended. 

Yesterday being a pleasant day, there 

were raore out -than usual. One result of 

our wet weather has been that about fifty 

or sixty feet of our garden wall fell down. 

I have been raaking tbe atterapt this 

year to get out araong the people of the 

place raore than forraerly. They usually 

seera glad to have rae sit and talk witb 

thera and read to them. Owing to tbe bad 

roads and other work, I have not been able 

to get out as much as I should like. One 

young raan who bad told rae that he would 

look up sorae references in the Testaraent 

to the intercession of Mary, and bring 

them to me, did finally corae to see me, 

and frankly acknowledged that he couldn't 

find any, and that they, the Greeks, rendered 

her worship that tbere was no foundation 

for whatever in God's Word. He 

seemed to be convinced of the falsity of 

their teachings and of the truth of ours; 

but he said that be couldn't corae out and 

openly accept our position, as his 

people would turn hira out of the house if


he did. I had him turn to Christis words 

in Matt, x, 24, and tried to irapress on 

bim tbat wbat Christ expected of him was 

to come out and be separate frora what he 

acknowledged to be contrary to the teaching 

of God's Word. We pray, and we ask 

others to pray, tbat he raay be led to study 

the truth raore and be given grace and 

courage to foUo-w the teachings of Christ. 

Since his visit to me I have heard tbat tbe 

opinions of the whole faraily have been 

revolutionized—at least in the raatter of 

.Mariolatry. 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—The following 

iteras are taken frora a letter written 

by Eev. E. J. Dodds, Deceraber 20, 1904: 

The schools in Mersina are excellent, 

so far as I can judge. To-day they were 

exarained by the Govemraent officials appointed 

to that duty, and they were evidently 

favorably irapressed. 

Our scbool in Tarsus bas bad raany 

drawbacks. There bas been raucb opposition 

and raucb to worry. But it is good. 

Tbere are about forty pupils, boys and 

girls, ranging in age frora six to twelve 

years. They are under two teachers. 

They are learning Psalras, Catechisras 

and reading in the Bible. 

Eecently I have been spending my Sabbaths 

in Tarsus. Congregations number 

frora thirty to fifty, including the children 

of the Sabbath scbool, of whora 

there are from twenty to twenty-five. Tbe 

order in our school tbere is far ahead of 

other years, owing to the superior efficiency 

of the teachers in the matter of 

government. 

In Adana the worlc is purely evangelistic. 

It goes forward quietly. There 

are many opportunities and tbe evangelist 

seeras to be earnest and faithful. 

Cyprus.—In a letter frora Eev. Walter 

McCarroU, dated December 22, 1904, he 

gives both the discouraging and encouraging 

features of his work: 

Since last writing you, we have bad tbe 

pleasure of receiving ray brother and bis 

wife, who arrived in Larnaca October 27. 

They seera to be pleased with Cypi^s so 

far as they bave seen tbe island; and I 

trust that a door wide and effectual will 

be opened for thera by tbe divine band. 

On the last Sabbath of Noveraber I conducted 

Coraraunion in Faraagusta, wbere 

we have six raerabers, all of whom continue 

faithful. Tbe attendance of outi 

siders was practically nil. 

The young Greek, Costa, of whom I 

wrote in a forraer letter, who endured 

considerable persecution, and seeraed to 

be quite transforraed in his life, proved, 

after all, to be unconverted, as he is not a 

believer in the deity of Christ. An 

Armenian family has backslidden, and it 

has become necessary to remove their 

naraes frora the churcb roll. 

We had eight Moslem boys attending 

day school. A wealthy Turk, upon whom 

the parents of three of the boys were in 

sorae way dependent, used his power and 

had the boys removed from our scbool on 

the ground that raost of their time was 

spent in studying tbe Bible. 

Vigilant opposition has prevented the 

attendance of the people upon any of our 

services in Kyrenia, Famagusta and 

Nicosia. Eev. Sarkissian, in Nicosia, has 

been seriously ill for many weeks. His 

daughter Eachel bas gone to Araerica to 

join her'brother there. The other daughter. 

Miss Hosanna, reraains with the 

double burden of her school and the care 

of her father, as her raother suffers greatly 

frora rheuraatisra. To add to her troubles, 

her school was reduced in nurabers 

through the opening of a Catholic school 

which was free. 

On the other hand, the work is not 

without its encouraging features. Yester-


day I received a letter from Licentiate 

Dimitriades, who is now laboring in 

Nicosia, in whicb be says a great change 

bas come over tbat city. On the previous 

Sabbath the room in whicb the services 

are held was filled, and all the bearers 

reraained from beginning to end. He says 

tbat it is tbe "work of God," and that 

God has heard the prayers of the bretbren. 

He says also tbat be bas many friends 

tbere, and tbat he has great hopes and 

expectations. 

Here in Larnaca eacb Sabbath morning 

tbe attendance is encouraging, tbe little 

churcb being pretty well filled with 

Armenians, and witb a few Englisb and 

others wbo know English. Tbe teacbers 

in tbe school testify that tbey are encouraged 

and cheered by tbe interest manifested 

by tbe boys in tbe Bible lessons. 

A few weeks ago a Miss Hamilton from 

Scotland came to open a "Eest and Eeading 

Eoom" for tbe soldier boys in Liraassol. 

She is a devoted Cbristian worker, 

bas secured a roora for a "Eest" in whicb 

services can be held, and would gladly 

welcorae a worker frora the Mission to 

preach and bold services for the Greeks. 

God has tbus opened up a way for work 

in tbat town, and I pray that the rigbt 

worker will be raised up to occupy tbat 

field. Tbe two colporteurs also during 

the last quarter have met with more success 

in their sales, and have found bere 

and there one wbo bas separated himself 

from the "Orthodox" Cburch. 

I note tbe call that has been issued for 

another minister to be sent to Cyprus. I 

cannot but repeat tbat tbe greatest need 

at tbe present time for tbe work in Cypras 

is a well-equipped boarding school. The 

teacber, for tbe present at least, will be 

far more effective in accomplishing the 

purpose of the Mission tban will anotber 

preacher. A good boarding school will influence 

the work of the preachers in the 

different centers as well as wbere it is 

located. "AVhen ye pray, believe tbat ye 

have received." I believe that tbe desire 

of our bearts will be a realized fact during 

the course of the New Year. 

As we look back over tbe year just 

closing, we cannot but record tbat "goodness 

and mercy" bave followed us and 

been our guardian angels; and we rejoice 

that we bave been permitted to bave some 

humble share in the great mission of 

Christ to a lost world. 

May I pass on a good thing tbat bas 

been tbe means of a special blessing to 

my own soul? Perhaps some of your 

readers do not have it. It is "Tbe Open 

Secreti" by Eev. E. F. Norton. A book 

for tbe closet. Simple and profound. It 

teaches bow to tum the hour of secret 

prayer into a season of real fellowship 

witb God. 

Tbe health of all is good. 

Tak Hing, China.—Eev. Julius 

Kempf, in a letter dated Noveraber 15, 

1904, reports his arrival: 

AVe arrived at Tak Hing Friday, October 

28, at about eleven o'clock in tbe 

raorning. Half an hour before reacbing 

the town we sighted tbe Mission buildings, 

and as we carae nearer we could see Dr. 

Wright and tbe ladies at tbe windows and 

on the veranda witb handkerchiefs and 

tablecloths waving us a kind and bearty 

welcorae. It was a sight not soon to be 

forgotten. It made us feel doubly glad 

tbat we had at last reached the end of our 

long joumey, and it assured me tbat bere 

were new friends who were ready to take 

the place of older friends who were at 

one tirae near, but are now far, far away. 

AVhen we arrived at the Mission I was soon 

raade to feel "at borae." They gave me 

tbe two best rooms in tbe compound, supplied 

me witb all necessary things until 

my own goods sbould arrive, and raade

36 News of the Churches, 

everything as pleasant and as horae-like patches, rerainding one very mucb of the 

as I could wisb it to be. That is the way Long Island vegetable gardens; beyond 

your missionaries bere treat newcomers. the gardens toward the south flows tbe 

Frora what I had read and heard, I had West Eiver, and toward tbe west lies tbe 

forraed an iraaginary picture of ray new town; and beyond the river and tbe town, 

home and its surroundings, but when I and to the north and to the east of us, are 

saw the place I was agreeably disap- the hills and raountains. It seeras to me 

pointed. The ilission buildings and that one could not wisb tbe Mission to 

grounds are much larger than I supposed, be raore pleasantly and yet conveniently 

and the surroundings are rauch pleasanter situated. 

than I had hoped to find thera. Large, We are all well and in good bealth. 

airy rooms; broad verandas; a wide green Miss Torrence bas gone to Canton to 

terraced lawn, the upper terrace planted spend a few weeks at a Presbyterian Miswith 

ferns, pine trees, rosebushes and sion school, where she hopes to gain a litpalras, 

while potted plants line the ap- tie experience which will prove helpful 

proaches to the house. Beyond the cora- when she opens her school bere. 

pound walls are rice fields and garden 

AT HOME. 

Allegheny, Pa.—The following items are from Central Board : 


On hand t. • j t-. j j On hand 

Dec. 1.1904. Received. Expended. jan°i,i905. 

Southern Mission $1,170.04 $841.98 $513.33 $,1,499.39 

Chinese Mission 502.57 36.00 105.33 432.24 

ludianMission 1,638.6'? 485.45 804.50 1,319.62 

Jewish Mission 264.45 303.09 250.00 317.54 

Knox Acad'y Cur't Acct. in.63 273.14 228.14 156.63 


Overdrawn 

Dec. 1, 1904. 

Domestic Mission 2,345.64 329.43 2,016.21 

Distribution of funds was made to Chinese Mission. — Enrollment of 

Presbyteries as follows: scholars during raonth of December, 18; 

-^^."^^^ $443.00 number of night sessions, 14; average ati 

^^^° 50.00 tendance, 7^; average attendance on Sab- 

^^°°* 21.00 bath, 10; average attendance at prayer 

^^^^^ 267.30 meeting, lOf; average attendance of 

^'^^^^"'^^^ 37.50 whUes on Sabbath, 11J; average attend- 

^"^'^^^^ 387.50 ance of whites at prayer meeting, 4^. 

^'"^^"^^ 247.50 Southern Mission.—There has been 

ll^^^l: 262.00 an increase in the attendance of scholars 

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia 147.50 of fitteenor twenty. The janitor, on ac- 

^°'°'''^*'° 388.75 count of iU-health, resigned. Three of tbe 

~~ school boys now act as janitor. The new 

$2,252.05 blackboard in room No. 3 is proving very


Mrs. Jane E. Pitblado, a meraber of First 

Boston, will be glad to have this rainute 

for preservation: 

"At a raeetingof Conference VIL, of 

the Associated Charities of Boston, held 

on Nov. 2, 1904, the following resolutions 

were unaniraously passed: 

"Voted, That in the death of Mrs. Jane 

E. Pitblado, which occurred in August, 

1904, the Conference has sustained a 

severe loss. As agent for tbe Co-operative 

Society for over twenty-five years, Mrs. 

Pitblado was in constant and intimate relations 

witb tbe Conference, and was, 

throughout ber whole period of service, of 

the greatest assistance and encouragement 

to both the workers of the Conference and 

the poor of the district. 

"Voted, That this vote be inscribed upon 

the records of the Conference, and that a 

copy of the vote be sent to Mrs. Jaraes T. 

Fields, for transraission to the brother of 

the deceased. 

"S. Chase, Sec'y." 

satisfactory. Presbyterial and Congregational 

blanks have been sent to the clerks 

of Presbyteries. If any have failed to receive 

tbem, word should be sent to Mr. J. 

S. Tibby, Sharpsburgh, Pa., and duplicates 

will be forwarded. Tbat tbe Synodical 

report may be prepared in time, those 

of tbe Presbyteries sbould be forwarded at 

the very latest on ilay 15, and when it 

can be done, sooner. If clerks will keep 

their data until sufficient time shall bave 

elapsed to allow for the acknowledgraent 

of the reception of their reports, duplicates 

can be prepared in case of loss by 

raail. 

Attention has been called to the fact 

tbat the net decrease last year was larger 

tban reported, as one Congregation was included 

in the table of one of the Presbyteries 

tbat bad been disorganized. Tbe 

stated clerk depends entirely on clerks of 

Presbyteries for his data. He does not 

feel justified in going behind their returns 

except to correct mistakes in addition. 

J. W. Sproull. 

Philadelphia, Pa.—A tribute of love 

A few photographs of the Lacock Street from the Ladies' Missionary Society of tbe 

Cburcb, of the old Pittsburg and Allegheny 

Congregation, and of tbe Westminster 

Third Churcb of tbe Covenanters, Philadelphia, 

Pa., to tbe memory of Mrs. Mary 

College bave been struck off. McAhon, who was called from earth to 

Copies may be had by applying to Mr. T. 

S. Trumbull, 520 Federal Street, or to 

her heavenly borae on the seventh day of 

Noveraber, 1904. In her reraoval we bave 

Mrs. E. J. Hasletti 1515 Federal Streeti lost a faitbful worker and a loving 

Allegheny City, Pa. Price 25 cents; the friend. Her hospitality was boundless. 

proceeds to go for the benefit of tbe Coraproraise 

Street Mission. 

Morning Sun ilissionary Society have 

donated fiftydollars to the building fund 

of Spring Garden Cbapei. Tbis very unexpected, 

but very acceptable, gift is the 

She was never absent frora the sanctuary 

unless providentially hindered, and ever 

willing to belp in all tbe work of tbe 

Church, but especially devoted to the 

cause of Missions, and indefatigable to 

increase earnest and practical interest of 

result of an address delivered before the those around her in Mission work. 

Society by Eev. D. H. Elliott, wbo labored 

tbere during bis Serainary vacation as 

We are confident tbat it is peculiarly true 

of her that "Blessed are the dead who die 

missionary. 

Sec. in the Lord frora henceforth; yea, saitb 

the Spirit, that they raay rest frora their 

Boston, Mass.—The friends of the late labors and their works do follow thera."


In loving meraory of Mrs. Catharine "No time for a last farewell, 

Boggs, who fell asleep in Jesus on tbe No tirae for the shock of fear; 

raorning of January 7, 1905: Tbe mem- Scarcely a moraent's feet on tbe shore, 

bers of the Ladies' Missionary Society of With the guide and the boatman near. 

tbe Third Churcb of the Covenanters, Dear, how surprised you were to go, 

Philadelphia, have again seen the stately With nothing to suffer, little to know. 

steppings of the Lord in our midst, and Only a moraent of dark, 

felt tbe heavy blow of death, removing an- A dreara of tbe fleeting night— 

other of our nuraber frora the busy fleld And then the beautiful break of day, 

of labor to the beautiful borae above. We And the quiet peace of tbe light. 

have lost a loving friend—one who was And you found yourself wbere you longed 

loyal and kind and unassuraing in disposi- to stand, 

tion. Although a great sufferer, her In the calra repose of the fatherland." 

patient spirit was constantly raanifested, Mrs. E. C. Montgomery, 

and her raind was keen and bright to the 

Margaret Wilson, 

end, for she fully realized that for her to 

Elizabeth H. Forsyth, 

die was gain. We bow subraissively, and 

Coraraittee. 

say, "God's will, not ours, be done." 

In the thick of the terrible battle of Nanshan, just nortb of Port Arthur, two 

Japanese soldiers were wounded at the same moment. One of tbem, a corporal, crept 

to his comrade and tried to bind up his wound. Tbe man said to bim, "Don't 

trouble about rae, look out for your own wound; I bave believed in Jesus Cbrist." 

Then the corporal recited to the desperately wounded raan, "Thougb I walk through 

the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art witb me." "Yes," 

responded the other, "I have been laid hold of by Jesus Christ." At that 'moment a 

second bullet struck the speaker and he died. The corporal lived to reacb the hospital 

and to tell the Christian nurse of this strange coraraunion of souls on the battlefleld. 

Sorae of the raoney given by Christians in the Westi in self-denial and with 

prayer, carried the gospel to those two pagan Japanese, and so yielded fruit a 

hundred fold on the bloody slopes of Nanshan.—Bureau of Missions. 

In 1833 three white raen frora Prance appeared before the great chief Moshesh in 

Basutoland with a raessage about a Saviour and a gospel. The chief corapared their 

message to an egg, and said he would wait for it to batch before forming an opinion. 

The egg has hatched. After seventy years there are in connection witb tbe Paris Mission 

in Basutoland twenty-seven missionaries and 425 native workers, witb 22,356 

professed Christians, of whora 14,950 are coraraunicants. In the year 1903-4 these 

Bastito Christians gave nearly $20,000 for horae and foreign raissions. That is to 

say, they supported all of the 197 outistations of tbe Paris Basuto Mission, and 

besides this they sent $400 to the Mission in Barotsiland on the Zamhesi.—Bureau of 

Missions. 

' 

If, instead of a gem or even a flower, we could cast the gift of a lovely thought 

into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels must give. 

—Oeorge Macdonald.

Monographs, 39 

THE LEPER. 

M O N O G R A P H S . 

—Tbe following monograph is extracts 

from a bome letter written by Dr. J. 

Maude George in 1902.— 

You remeraber my writing of my 

first leper here—^the man who bowed so 

low, and fllled me with such pity by his 

entreaties for beaUng. I bave been giving 

bim medicine, and tbe people about 

thougbt be was improving, and raany 

lepers came. The only medicines wbicb 

offer any shadow of hope are expensive, 

and there is sucb doubt of any cases having 

been cured by medicine, tbat I have 

lately been telling clear cases of leprbsy 

that I cannot cure them, giving tbem 

back their money, the five cents whicb 

they pay to register. 

I find the Chinese very much afraidof 

it as a contagious disease. They consider 

tbat everyone must bave smallpox, and so 

they do not dread it; tbey recover from it, 

they say. But leprosy they dread. 

Tbis poor fellow lived on a boat on tbe 

river; tbe men about ^saw bim spitting 

into the river and feared that be was contaminating 

the water, so they beat him, 

and told bim be must leave, and the poor 

fellow committed suicide. I was glad I 

bad not turned bim away. The Chinese 

thougbt be was getting better. 

I sbould like to bave a dispensary day 

just for lepers, and to try tbe remedies 

tbat have been recommended. One poor 

man, last week, whom I told I could not 

cure, stood stock-still staring after me as 

Twent into tbe house. Mr. Eobb and I 

watched bim for quite a Uttle bit, and be 

bad not moved when I left off watching. 

He seemed dazed. I do not say to tbem 

wbat tbe disease is, and they seldom ask 

or mention it; but you can see their dread 

and anxiety, and it is pitiful. If they 

could just bave tbe gospel and a little 

coiony to themselves, where they could 

have sorae coraforts! The disease is not 

painful, physically, as a rule;-but lepers 

are so cruelly treated by tbe people, who 

are afraid of thera. Do pray that I may 

be guided to the best tbing to do for them. 

March 13, 1902.—I bave good news 

about tbat poor leper. It seems he did 

not die. He took opium, and it put bim 

in a heavy stupor and they thought him 

dead, but he revived, and the Chinese say 

he is cured of his leprosy. I am so glad 

he is not dead. I believe God will bring 

some good out of bis life yet. 

July 10, 1902.—I have sucb good news 

about the lepers. A doctor wbo has devoted 

his life to the study of leprosy bas 

come to Canton, and bas settled in tbat 

leper village wbere Un Ho, the little 

lame, blind girl, is. He is able to do raucb 

for tbe alleviation of tbeir condition. It 

is too soon to report cures. He is not a 

missionary, but I am so glad to be able to 

tell these people of a place where they can 

be belped. 

Another item of interest is that the 

Presbyterians on last Sabbath dedicated 

their new cbapei in that leper village—the 

outgrowth of tbe work of little Un Ho. 

You learn to recognize tbe lepers here by 

the expression of hopelessness in their 

faces. But tbe paper says that tbere was 

a new expression on tbeir faces last Sabbath, 

as they saw that there was a light 

and a joy for them, and friends who cared 

for thera. 

October 18, 1902.—In Canton I visited 

the leper specialist, and was received raost 

kindly. He seeraed glad to find one wbo 

was interested. He took me to tbe leper 

village wbere his hospital is, and there I


saw all his patients and his method of 

treatment, and he naraed for rae all his 

reraedies; but said if I could work witb 

hira eight days, I should gain rauch raore. 

I may go down again to work with him, 

as it is a raost excellent opportunity to 

leam more of the disease than I could 

learn by yfiars of reading. He takes every 

means to bave them kept clean, and the 

hospital is one of tbe cleanest spots in 

Canton, I ara sure. 

Deceraber 8, 1902.—I raust tell you 

soraething of our work with the Gerraan 

leper specialist. Dr. Eaylag. Five of us 

took the course—Dr. Wright, Dr. Todd, 

Dr. Wood, Dr. Bigler and rayself. We 

started for the leper village in chairs carried 

by coolies at 6 A. M. It took raore 

than an hour to go. A long distance 

through the narrow streets, then a little 

distance by a country road. The country 

part of the journey was nice. 

The leper hospital just outside the leper 

village consists of several rows of new 

buildings with a wall around thera, and 

there are clean parts where lepers never 

go. In these we dress for our work. 

Then we go to our work, which does seera 

to offer bope for the lepers. After the 

work we disinfect ourselves carefully and 

change our clothes, then tbe Doctor talks 

to us a while, and we return horae and 

change our clothes again after a bath. We 

learned a good deal, I think. Dr. Eaylag 

has nothing new in the way of raedicine, 

but he has a careful course of treatraent 

which does much to stop the progress of 

the disease, and he had one case apparently 

cured, and another—a young 

man who had been unable to walk for 

seven years—is able to run about and 

work. 

OUR LEVANT MISSIONS. 

Dear Olive Trees: It is with great 

=orrow that I heard this week a report 

that Eev. E. J. Dodds, of Mersina, is the 

victira of paralysis. There is room to 

hope that the report is founded on what 

seenis to be the fact of his condition, viz., 

that owing to constant overwork for 

several years through lack of proper assistance, 

he has becorae so nervous that he 

can hardly write at all. My sister, .Mrs. 

Kennedy, of Alexandretta, writes rae that 

he bas suffered greatly, so that he can 

scarcely write. His suffering, is due to 

severe pain in the nerves of the arras. 

But I raust be candid, and say that not 

only with sorrow, but with shame and 

with a feeling akin to indignation, do I 

hear of the physical break of one so 

strong, so capable, and one so devoted to 

the work as he has proved himself to be. 

Indignation raay not be a very raissionaryspirited 

eraotion, but when I see the 

horae churches so nearly all occupied, and 

when I see so raany raen not placed in 

pastorates, I feel tbat raen fail to appreciate 

their opportunities, that they are 

blinded to their privileges—may I say it? 

—that they are ignoring the call of the 

Holy Spirit to service abroad. 

Yes, I know that I am here in Sterling, 

in a raost desirable location, surrounded 

by a most devoted, energetic, liberal and 

raissionary-spirited people. I know, bowever, 

that our bearts are in Syria. We 

will do our best to be useful and loyal to 

the work here. We sball use our best endeavor 

to fan into a steady blaze the raission 

spirit of our people. AAê are in Sterling 

by the force of providences—or rather 

we are out of Syria only because we felt 

that the Master had cut us off frora the 

work by His own direct hand. I am perfectly 

willing to let whomsoever may give 

reasons for it. No one is more conscious 

of our unworthiness of a work which in 

our eyes ought to be tbe envy of every 

Christian raan and woraan, tban we ourselves. 

But tbis shall not hinder me

Monographs. 

speaking out and saying tbat a great wave 

of sadness sweeps over our bearts; in fact, 

dismay for tbe prospects of tbe work fills 

our hearts. AVben Emin Pasha was to be 

relieved by Stanley, hundreds of men 

volunteered to accompany tbe sturdy explorer; 

a Japanese Consul in San Francisco 

bas only to send word to hundreds 

of Japanese in America tbat tbey are 

needed for the flghting line, and there is 

a rush for transportation, regardless of 

social or industrial interests, while tbe 

financial question bas only one item in it 

;—"Have I saved enougb to get me across 

tbe seas?" Where is the chivalry of our 

younger rainisters? AVhy are tbere no 

volunteers to respond to tbe Cburch's call 

for raen and woraen? Surely tbe spirits 

of Mrs. EUa Eobb and of Dr. Maude 

George, of Dr. Metbenj^, of all who bave 

passed to their rewards, sbould inspire 

young raen and woraen to go to these 

needy places. 

It seems to rae that tbe tirae is near at 

hand wben the wbole work raust be abandoned 

or taken up in earnest. Steadily, 

in tbe providence of God, workers are reraoved 

tbrough inability of health. It is 

possible that tbese reraovals point to an 

unhealthy raissionary coldness—a sort of 

paralysis—in the home Cburch. If we 

concede the correctness of tbe figure of 

tbe Churcli being a body that is "compacted 

by that whicb every joint supplieth," 

we must look upon God's dealings 

with individual workers as witb tbe 

solidarity of tbe Cburch. 

Doubtless the Board bas had before it 

the possibility of necessity compelling 

tbem to withdraw a missionary from some 

point or other but illy equipped at 

present, in order to prevent disaster in a 

more vital field. As I look over tbe field, 

it is with great reluctance that I am corapeUed 

to say that I fear tbat Suadia will 

be the flrst fleld to be abandoned. If I 

were asked for an opinion, I would say 

that if the worst comes to the worst, the 

whole force of workers bad better be withdrawn 

from the Turkish Empire than to 

let the work of Cyprus suffer defeat. Next 

to Constantinople, it is most iraportant 

as the key to the Turkish Empire; at least 

Lord Beaconsfield thought so, and there 

has notbing happened within the whole 

history of our Mission to negative this 

idea; it is wholly imoccupied excepting 

by our Church; the conditions tbere are 

ideal for pushing tbe work, being under 

tbe British flag; and from it the mainland 

can, when tbe tirae is ripe, be permeated 

by ihe principles of Christ's sovereignty 

over men in all relations of life. This 

was ray opinion in 1892, when 1 volunteered 

to go to Cyprus; the other counsels 

located rae elsewhere. 

Of tbe mainland stations, I would rank 

them, Latakia, Mersina and Suadia, in 

order of iraportance. But Suadia is a 

place where raost iraportant work can be 

done, chiefly because it is unoccupied by 

any other workers. It is an.unobserved 

place, wbere there is a rainiraura of 

governmental espionage of tbe work, so 

that a good worlc is not likely to be hindered. 

On the other band, the Tarsus 

Mission occupies a very iraportant location. 

As corapared with Suadia, it bas a 

vaster population, bas greater opportunities 

to reach a population of a raost congloraerate 

character, and bas the advantages 

accruing frora a large coraraercial 

center. Suadia's population is quiet and 

permanent, whereas tbe triple center of 

the Tarsus Mission touches large numbers 

who raay learn raucb of the gospel and 

then carry it away to far distant places. 

I cannot but feel that in case of a 

forced abandonraent of any field,that our 

own rauch-loved Suadia will, in prudence, 

be first to suffer. But let no one 

think for a moraent tbat any single mis-


sionary can do the work of two. It would 

be a shame that I bope not to see if the 

Churcb abandons any of our fields. And 

yet it is only a question of a short tirae— 

how short no one can tell—of the abandonraent 

of one or raore stations, unless 

tbere is a revival of raissionary heroism 

and a new spirit of consecration bringing 

forward voltmteers for tbe service. 

There are ministers to-day in our 

Cburcb of years of useful service, who 

laraent their short-sightedness in electing 

to reraain at borae when they might bave 

gone, and now tbey cannot go. I consider 

their confidences sacred, else I would relate 

some things told rae in confidence. 

But young men and women will be •wise 

who avoid tbe chance of future regrets 

by coming forward now in voluntary resolution 

that, God permitting, they will be 

foreign inissionaries. 

Yours for a revival, 

J. Boggs Dodds. 

LIFT UP A. B. C. 

A raissionary tells of his attempt to 

teach an old chief how to read the Bible, 

whicb had just been translated into bis 

native tongue. The chief was anxious to 

learn, having for sorae years been a believer 

in Jesus, and so tbe raissionary was 

patient and persevering. "I walked witb 

hira to the public village ground. There 

I drew A, B, C in large characters upon 

the dust, showed hira tbe sarae letters in 

the book, and left hira to compare them 

and find out how many occurred on the 

first page. Fixing these in his mind, he 

carae running to me and said: 'I have lifted 

up A, B, C. They are here in my head, 

and I will hold thera fast. Give rae other 

three.'" This he repeated until be had 

raastered the alphabeti and eventually 

learned to spell and read. Tbere is soraething 

touching in the eagerness of this old 

chief to learn how to read God's Word, 

and something noble in bis perseverance, 

as well as odd in bis expression—"I have 

lifted up A, B, C." How many of us have 

lifted up and made our own the flrstprinciples 

of Christian Missions? For nineteen 

hundred years the comraand of Jesus 

to go into all tbe world and preach the 

gospel to the wbole creation bas been lying 

before our eyes; but bow many can 

say, "We have lifted up its principles and 

bold tbem fast" ? Here and there we find 

sorae who are fllled with the raissionary 

spirit, but the plain trutb is tbat the majority 

of our churches and church raembers 

do not coraprehend the great task and 

blessed privilege our Lord bas given them. 

Let us help one anotber to "lift up" and 

appropriate tbe great raissionof salvation 

for the world. 

BIBLE IN CHINA. 

A hundred years ago several distinguished 

scholars declared that a 

Chinese Bible was impossible—the language 

would not admit of any translation 

being raade into it. Tbe reply was the 

translations of Marshman and Morrison. 

The "impossible" was accoraplished. A 

far greater barrier tban that of the language 

was found in the hostility of the 

Chinese themselves; for wben Morrison's 

New Testaraent was published in Canton, 

in 1814, the Chinese would have none of 

it. Stripes and iraprisonraent were the 

penalties for assisting in its publication. 

Accordingly tbe flrstdistribution of these 

early versions was in Malacca and other 

parts of Malaysia, where Chinese lived 

under a foreign flag. Again, some forty 

years later, wben China bad reluctantly 

opened her doors to the missionary, and 

when a new and better translation of the 

Bible bad been prepared, generous friends 

in England provided funds for a million 

New Testaments for gratuitous distribution 

among tbe Chinese. Once raore the


main hindrance was found in the unwil- were distinctly hostile. Tbe present am 

lingness of the people. Only a part of the nual circulation would have seemed alraost 

raillion Testaments was printed, and but an irapossibility ten years ago. In 1893 

a portion of these could be given away, our sales and gifts amounted to 235,921 

During the next thirty years Wylie and Bibles, Testaments and portions, and it 

other intrepid missionaries traversed most was regarded as more tban an average 

of the interior provinces and met with en- year. The circulation now reported is 

couraging success in circulating God's only some tbree thousand short of being 

Word by means of sales. And yet progress four times as great.—Report of British 

was.slow, for tbe great raassesof tbe peo- and Foreign Bihle Socieiy. 

ple were still indifferent, wbile the literati 

Abeokuta is the chief city of tbe colony of Lagos on tbe Gold Coast of Africa. 

Tbe chief ruler has the narae of Alake, sometiraes called king. The city is said to be 

seventeen miles in circumference, baving a population of 150,000. Sixty years ago 

this region was devastated by the slaVe trade, and tbe people were engaged in constant 

broils. But recently this Alake has visited Bngland, where be was received by 

King Edward, and also was presented to tbe committee of the Church Missionary 

Society, wbicb bas prosecuted most successfully a Mission in this region. In an 

address to tbis committee, be acknowledged gratefully tbe beneficent labors of its 

raissionaries, and prophesied that the day was coming wben tbere would not be "one 

single Pagan or Mohammedan in Abeokuta." An illustration of the sentiments 

whicb control tbis ruler was given in the fact tbat at the beginning of tbe interview 

the Alake removed his crown in recognition of the fact, as bis secretary explained, 

tbat tbe assembly had met in the name of Christ, and he did not resume bis crown 

until after prayer at tbe close of tbe interview. This is another illustration of the 

fulfillment of tbe prophecy in the Seventy-second Psalm, that the kings and tbe great 

men of the earth will come, one after another, to bow before the Lordship of Jesus 

Cbrist.—Missionary Herald. 

Tbe Britisb and Foreign Bible Society is raising a Centenary Fund, to be held for 

emergency use. Out of tbe $1,216,000 (£250,000) planned for tbe fund, $972,000 had 

been received by tbe middle of December. A considerable proportion of tbe gifts bave 

come from foreign mission flelds. Dayaks in Borneo, wbo "used to collect huraan 

heads as boys collect postage stamps," bave sent their contribution; former cannibals 

from Oceania prepared copra, and have given tbat; women bave sat do'wn amid the 

war terrors of Manchuria and bave made embroideries to send; child-widows in India 

bave given tbe pet kid or tbe pet ben; black Australians of Nortb Queensland have 

dived for oyster shells and bave given tbem. It is not only a wonderful vote of confldence 

in the Bible tbat we meet in tbis uprising araong all kindreds and tribes and 

Uiitions; but it is a revelation that great multitudes in all parts of the world have 

actually used tbe Bible in their lives and have found that it works.—Bulletin. 

A true perception of tbe gospel is the entire forgetfulness of self, utter absence of 

any pretension, and the complete and entire refusal to accept the world's praise or 

judgment.—General Gordon.


The accompanying picture of our missionaries at Tak Hing Chau shows them as 

they appeared early in the spring of 1904. Though there have been changes since 

the group was taken, our readers wiU be glad to have it for preservation. 

Bach church should support two pastors—one for the thousands at home, the other 

for the miUions abroad.—JacoS Chamberlain.

Editorial Notes. 

46 

EDITORIAL NOTES. 

MEMORIAL 

THANK- 

OFfERING 

Every month records an increase in the offerings for tbis fund. Tbe receipts for 

December, 1904, were One Hundred and Forty-one Dollars, whereas tbose for January, 

1905, are Two Hundred and Fifty-Two. 

Contributor. Amount. Mission Field. 

Mrs. Mary Morton, Allegheny, Pa $25.00 Cbina 

Mrs; James M. Clerk, Parnassus, Pa 2.00 Latakia, Syria 

Sabbath Scbool, Utica, 0 50.00 Syrian and Southern 

Miss S. E. Caskey, Allegheny, Pa 5.00 Cbina 

No name. Second New York 15.00 China 

Mr. J. E. Wilson, Sparta, 111. 10.00 Cbina 

Mrs. E. S. O'Neill, Mansfield, 0 10.00 Cbina 

Samuel Davis, Sr., Princeton, Ind 5.00 Cbina 

S. E. Davis, Princeton, Ind 5.00 Cbina 

A Friend, Third New York .100.00 China, $50; Syria, 

$25; Indian, $25. 

Mrs. D. S. Gailey, Parnassus, Pa 25.00 China and Cyprus 

Very cordial are tbe words of "A Friend," who does not wish to have his name 

raentioned in connection witb bis generous contribution: "The plan to raise 'A 

Memorial Thank-Offering' for Missions should appeal strongly to the entire Cburcb, 

and I trust the greatest success will attend this effort in behalf of such a worthy 

cause. The consecrated missionaries who gave their lives and splendid talents to the 

service of tbe Master in China, and who came to their crowning day so early in tbeir 

career, sbould stimulate to greater deeds in behalf of Christ's Kingdom. It seems to 

me that China is one of the most promising fieldsfor missionary work, and we ought 

to be very thankful that God bas allowed our Church to enter tbat country to make 

known His salvation. The other Mission stations are interesting also, and occupied by 

earnest Cbristian men and women." Not hss bearty are the words of another, wbose 

name appears in tbe foregoing table: "I a n glad of the opportunity of thus showing 

my appreciation of the sacrifices of these devoted, lives."


It would be out of harmony with the design of "A Memorial Thank-Offering" to 

apjieal for money. But it should be bome in mind that, tbrough the lives of the twn 

consecrated woraen who have been called away frora their earthly labors, the sovereign 

Lord is speaking to His Church. No one can read "The Leper," printed as a monograph 

in this number of Olive Trees, witbout marking the Christlike compassion that 

was evidently so pronounced a feature in tbe character of Dr. J. Mande George. That 

letter, written without any idea that it would ever be given to the press, or even be 

read outside the horae circle, is profoundly impressive in its teachings. AVhat are a 

few doUars frora each family, devoted to the spread of the gospel, corapared to two lives 

rielded without any reserve to the service of the Eedeeraer ? And yet in this way there 

might be raised a large sura for the extension of His Kingdora. No one can measure 

the propagative power of the smallest coin when given in His name. 

All offerings should be sent to Olive Trees; and, after acknowledging receipt in 

these colurans, we will pass the raoney on to the Treasurers. Address: 

R. M. SOMMERVILLE, 

327 West 56th Street, New York. 

The readers of Olive Trees are requested 

to notice a slight change in the 

jiost-office address of -the raissionariesto 

China. It will secure an earlier delivery 

of letters to orait "via Canton," and address 

simply "Tak Hing Chau, AVest Eiver, 

South China.'" 

For many raonths the Board of Foreign 

Missions has, with the endorseraent 

nf Synnd, been calling for two ministers 

to serve the ilaster in Syria or Asia 

Minor. The success, if not the very life, 

of the .Missions in these flelds, depends, 

under God, upon this reinforcement. If 

the one man in each center should become 

impaired in health or be taken 

away, the work on which so much raoney 

and energy have been expended would be 

retarded in Us prngress, if not brought to 

a perraanent close. Eecently the Church 

at horae has been very solemnly rerainded 

that the raost efficient laborers may be 

ordered to lay down their tools and quit 

work before the midday of Ufe. And yet 

His voice is not heard. The pressingneed 

has been stated on the floorof Synod, 

eraphasized in official calls, and urged nnt 

only through the press, but also in personal 

letters and interviews. The professors^ 

in the Theological Serainary keep the importance 

of the raissionaryenterprise before 

the minds of the students, and many 

of these young men, talented and, as there 

is reason to believe, truly consecrated, are 

heard presenting in felicitous discourse, 

both before and after licensure, the claims 

nf the Exalted Lord to the loyalty of His 

followers. It is not talking, but. acting; 

not teaching, but exeraplifying tbe truth, 

that is deraanded now. "If ye know these 

things, happy are ye if ye do thera,'' are 

words that corae to us with the highest 

authoritv. 

In a docunient, written raany centuries 

ago, that records the story of the Ascension 

and its blessed results to the world, it is 

related that, when the Lord gave the word, 

a great array of wonien declared it to the 

complete discomflture of earthly kings 

combined in opposition to His cause. In 

fiilfillnient of that prophecy, with its clear 

\ipinn of what should take place in gospel 

days, is the prorainent position that women 

occupied during the public ministry of the 

Saviour and in tbe early ages of Christianity, 

and that they still hold in the mis-


sionary work of to-day, botb at horae and 

abroad. But where are tbe young woinen 

of tbe Eeformed Presbyterian Cburch? 

Not a single response has been made to 

tbe caU of the Board for two teachers; 

one to be associated witb Miss Torrence 

in school work at Tak Hijig Chau, China, 

and the other to go to Syria or Asia Minor 

to tbe help of tbe missionaries wbo are 

toiling alone in tbose fields; and their 

services are needed at once. 

Geneva College ougbt to be able to furnish 

the Board with teacbers baving tbe 

requisite qualifications: "The applicant 

must be a graduate of a college and have 

bad some experience in teaching, a member 

of tbe Eeformed Presbyterian Cburch, 

fully consecrated to Cbrist, and ready tn 

endure hardships and face difficulties in 

His service." Surely tbat Institution 

does not exist simply to create wives for 

the preachers, as fast as the Seminary can 

turn thera out. It is good to fumish 

Loises and Eunices of unfeigned faitii to 

train the young Tiraothys of the horae 

Chureh for future usefulness. But the 

Board requires a beloved Persis or a tireless 

Mary to labor rauch in the Lord, or 

any otber two who are ready to go anywhere, 

their human personalities fully 

surrendered to tbe Lord, and their hearts 

beating loyal to His crown. 

Allow us to call attention to a letter 

printed in tbis number frora Eev. J. B. 

Dodds, that we have entitled "Our Levant 

Missions." If the words of the Secretary 

of tbe Board have no weight, those of a 

raan who spent years in Syria and understands 

the situation exactly ougbt to be 

carefully considered and acted vpon. 

Through the courtesy of Mr. J. E. Mott, 

Olive Trees has his new book, The Pastor 

and Modern Missions: A Plea for Leadership 

in World Evangeliza.tion. The esteemed 

author is widely knowu as a leader in the 

Student Volunteer ilovement for Foreign 

ilissions. His intiraate acquaintance with 

the subject discussed in these fivelectures, 

the result of extensive reading and personal 

observation during years of travel, 

qualifies him to speak with authority. 

Fresh in illustration, skillful in making 

jioints, and evidently earnest in his desire 

that pastors should realize tbe privUege 

and responsibility of leadership, he has 

given the churches a book that is at once 

attractlAê and instructive. It ought to be 

read and pondered by every rainister in 

the Eeforraed Fresbyterian Church. And 

any one having the raeans would render 

iraportant service to the cause of Christ 

by presenting a copy to each student in 

the Theological Serainary. It costs only 

one dollar, and can be obtained by addressing 

The Student Volunteer Moveraent, 3 

AA''est Twenty-ninth Street, New York. 

* . 

Funk & AA'agnalls Cn. sent Olive Trees 

the Missionary Review of ihe World for 

January, witb a request for a notice, but 

it did not come in time for acknowledgment 

in our January issue. This nuraber 

is full of good things. Besides sixteen 

pages of general raissionary intelligence, 

presented in compact form, it contains 

valuable articles by Dr. Fierson, editor-inehief, 

Secretary Eobert E. Speer and 

nther distinguished writers nn such timely 

topics as "The AAôrld's Outlook in 1905," 

"A Missionary Beview nf the Fast Yea;r," 

"ilissionary Exhibits and How to Use 

Thera'" (with 8 half-tone illustrations), 

"The Evolution of Japan," "Sorae Factors 

in the China Froblera," "A Eecent Atterapt 

to Enter Tibet," "The Church and 

the Workingmen," "A New Plan for 

Junior ilission Bands," "Religious Conditions 

in-the Philippine-Islands," and 

"Good ilethods for Mission Bands/' 

This is a raagazine for raen who wish


to be thoroughly posted on what is being 

done in the raissionaryworld of to-day, 

and stimulated to do mnre for our King 

in the evangelization and conversion of 

His redeemed world. The subscription 

price is $2.50. But, if the other monthly 

issues are equal to the initial one for this 

year, it will be a wise expenditure of 

monev. 

Olive Trees has received, through Mr. 

Hugh Dugan, and forwarded to Treasurer 

Miller, the following contributions 

from members of Sterling (N. Y.) Congregation, 

for foreign raissions: 

iirs. Eraraa Crockett $1.00 

itrs. ilary Hunter 10.00 

Atrs. Mary A. Bazley 2.00 

ilr. H. Dugan and wife 12.00 

Olive Trees has received the foUowing 

contributions frora the young woraen of 

the Eeformed Fresbyterian Church toward 

the salary of their raissionaryfor 1905: 

iliss Maggie E. Atchison, Olathe, 

Kans $3.65 

ilrs. J.C. Taylon, E. Craftsbury, Vti 5.20 

ilrs. Margaret Lawson, Barnesville, 

N. B 5.00 

Miss Sadie E. Caskey, Allegheny, 

Pa 10.00 

L. M. Society, Olathe, Kans 13.50 

ilrs. M. E. McKee, Clarinda, la... .15.00 

ilrs. John Turbitt, New York, N. Y. 5.20 

Also from the rainisterstoward the 

salary of their raissionaryfor 1905: 

Eev. J. C. Taylor, B. Craftsbury, 

Vt $10.00 

D. McKee ileraorial 15.00 

RECEIVED, New York, January 2, 190^, through 

OLIVE Trees, from the Young IVomen of the Reformed 

Presbyterian Church, $ig2.y^; from the Ministers, $65.00; 

and from the Elders, $9.50, towards the salaries of their 

Missionaries for 1904. 

$26^.25 

RECEIVED, New York, January it, 1905, through 

OLIVE TREES, from the Young People of Second New 

York, Four Hundred Dollars, being half-year s salary of 

their representative in Cyprus. 

$400.00 

Z^C 

^ 

We are to respect our responsibUities, not ourselves. We are to respect the duties 

for which we are capable, but not our capabilities simply considered. 

— W. E. Gladstone.

O L I V E T R E B S 



No. MARCH, 1905. 3. 


HOME MISSIONS. 

REV. J. W. SPROELL, D.D, ALLEGHENY, PA. 

There should not be even the appearance 

of a conflict between Home and 

Foreign ilissions. The object of both is 

the same, viz.: To reach with the truths 

of the gospel the unsaved. There is, however, 

a difference. AA'e who reraain at 

horae cannot personally engage in the 

work abroad. AA'e can give our prayers, 

our syrapathies and our contributions. In 

the horae field we can give, in. addition, 

our services. 

There is no danger of our becoraing too 

enthusiastic in our support of the Foreign 

ilission. The duty of doing all jiossible 

to save the perishing millions in heathen 

lands cannot be urged too strongly. They 

have an especial claira upon us. The unsaved 

in Christian countries have the opportunity 

of learning of Christ if they 

will. The others bave no such opportunity 

except as we afford it to them. No. 

There is no danger of our giving too much 

for the foreign work, or sending out too 

raany raissionaries. The danger is all the 

other way. 

But then tiie borae field raust not be 

neglected. The fact that tbose perishing 

at our doors might be saved if they would 

only avail themselves of the opportunities 

afforded is calculated to bUnd our eyes to 

their needs and to our duty. That, fact 

should—and if. properly understood will— 

have tbe opposite effect. Their condition, 

so inexpressibly sad, perishing while salvation 

is within their reach, should deepen 

our interest in them, and incite us to the 

most earnest effort to do what we can to 

reacii them. 

There is danger of neglect of the home 

field. Especially is this true of our own 

Church. AVe act too much on the theory 

that there-is no necessity for our engaging 

in Horae Mission work, or that for some 

reason we are not able to engage in it successfully, 

or are not required to make the 

effort. 

The sooner we are disabused of such 

ideas the better. The very fact that we 

can give our personal services in the home 

field, and that it is the only fieldin which 

we can, is of itself, withnut reference to 

tiie coraraands of our Saviour, a sufficient 

reason why we should engage with all our 

energies in it. Not only will this not interfere 

with our work abroad; that work 

will be greatly aided by such efforts at 

home. If the heart grows feeble, tbe extremities 

will not long remain warra. 

AA-ith reference tn this work, the writer 

ean speak frora experience. ITis congregation 

(Central Allegheny) has two Missions. 

There has been a great deal of 

hard, patient and at tinies discouraging 

work in connection with thera. More will 

lia\'e to be done. But hard and discouraging 

as at times bas been the work, there 

is not one who has been engaged in it


that will not say it has been a great source 

of blessing. The following brief resume 

may be helpful and encouraging to others. 

One of our Missions is on Coraproraise 

Street, in the northern part of Allegheny, 

and the other is in Spring Garden 

Borough, adjoining the city on the northeast. 

The properties and buildings cost 

about $4,500 and are held in the narae of 

the trustees of the congregation. There is 

at the present tirae a debt on thera of 

about $1,500. This we are trying to lift. 

The ilissions bave been erainently successful. 

In both localities when we coraraenced 

our work, there was no building of 

any kind, except the school house, that 

could be used for public or religious purposes. 

At first there were great disorder 

and constant interruption. On different 

occasions the workers on Corapromise 

Street had to appeal to the police. All 

this has changed. To the ilissions the 

credit is largely due. 

The prospects in both were never 

brighter than they are to-day. The enrollment 

in Spring Garden Sabbatii School 

since Jan. 1 is 226. The average attendance 

in 1904 was 140. In the Mission on 

Compromise Street the enrollraent last 

year was over 100, and the average attendance 

about 75. Our present buildings are 

not sufficient for our work. New ones 

have becorae a necessity. Spring Garden 

has already purchased a lot adjoining the 

two on which our chapel stands. 

The work has been not only no disadvantage 

to the congregation and the 

Church at large, but a decided advantage. 

There have been added to our membership 

some of as earnest, devoted, intelligent 

and consistent nierabers as are to be 

found in the body. At the coraraunion 

held in Faith Chapel, Spring Garden 

Borough, on Jan. 15, this year, every 

raember of the .Mission comrauned except 

two, who were prevented by sickness. 

Financially, these Missions have .been 

helpful. The raerabers contribute to the 

support of the congregation. Spring Garden 

raises alraost enough to pay the salary 

of the raissionary and the other expenses 

connected with carrying on tbe work 

tbere. It expended last year $123.95 repairing 

the chapel. The Mission on Coraproraise 

Street, in addition to raising 

funds for carrying on the work there, paid 

$50 on the Mission building debt, and expects 

to jiay $100 raore this spring. Benevolent 

and church scheraes are not forgotten. 

Of the $560.54 reported by the 

treasurer of Spring Garden Mission, some 

was expended for flowers for the sick, and 

sorae for the education of a girl in Syria 

and of a boy in the Feking University in 

China. Appropriations were also made to 

the Syrian, Chinese and Cyprus Missions. 

Of course, the Missions bave been, to an 

extent, a drain on the congregation 

financially. It required a considerable 

araount of raoney to buy the lots and 

erect on the one a building and adapt the 

other to church purposes. The raoneys 

thus applied have not, however, interfered 

with congregational or church collections. 

Liberality has been developed. 

The pastor's salary is proraptly paid, and 

other expenses are raet. Collections for 

the church scheraes are taken up. In addition, 

the different organizations give to 

one or raore of these. Tbe C. E. Society 

contributes to National Eeforra, Foreign 

ilissions and Dr. Balph's Hospital. 

Quarterly collections in the Sabbath 

School are taken up for Foreign Missions. 

The J. W. S. Band raalces an annual appropriation 

for the same purpose. So 

does the Central Band, as also to the Indian 

Mission. The Chinese School pays 

for the education of a boy in the Peking 

(China) University. The Ladies' Missionary 

Society, in addition to sending 

boxes of clothing, etc., to the Missions,


contributes to the Lepers' Association, 

resciie work, tbe Foreign and Indian Missions, 

and provides for the support of two 

children raade orphans by the late faraine 

in India. 

The session sorae years ago resolved to 

report to Synod only the moneys that go 

through the regular treasurers. For this 

reason hundreds of dollars annuaUy contributed 

by merabers are not included in 

our totals. These sums are usually aclmowledged 

in tbe published receipts as 

coming frora our raembers. Were they included 

in our statistics, as Synod authorizes 

to be done, it would be seen that the 

congregation gives to tbe different schemes 

of the Church a sura in excess of the 

quota. 

Tbe Missions are a drain on the congregation 

in another way. The supplying 

of teacbers for thera to an extent cripples 

the work carried on in tbe church building. 

We are constantly in need of additional 

workers there. Our, church attendance 

is also interfered with. Sorae frora 

the Spring Garden district seldora attend 

our services in the city, while sorae frora 

the city teaching there can attend only 

one service. But then it ought to be reraerabered 

as a corapensating advantage 

tbat talent is eraployed and developed that 

otherwise might bave reraained idle. 

In both Missions there is a most efficient 

corps of teachers. Mr. T. Sproull 

Trumbull has been Superintendent in 

Spring Garden from almost the start. 

Those who cannot attend the Wednesday 

evening prayer meeting and Sabbath services 

in the city can and as a rule do attend 

the prayer raeeting and services beld 

in the Mission buildings. The few drawbacks 

we have had in carrying on our 

work are so trifling tbat they do not deserve 

raention. They are as nothing in 

coraparison with what bas been accoraplished. 

In addition, they have their 

corapensating advantages. We know tbat 

tiiose Missions have accoraplished a good 

work in the coraraunities wbere they are 

located, that they have been an advantage 

to the congregation and to the Church at 

-large, and tbat they have been a source of 

blessing to those who have been engaged 

in thera. 

Tbere is another way in which our Missions 

do good. During the serainary vacation 

two students are eraployed to talce 

charge. Tbey assist in the Sabbath 

School, the Wednesday evening prayer 

raeeting, and in the different organizations, 

visit during the week, and conduct 

services on Sabbath evenings. In tbis 

way they receive a training that will prove 

of incalculable advantage to thera in tbeir 

work in after life. It is what tbe clinics 

are to raedicalstudents. The necessity for 

such training has long been felt, and sorae 

serainaries (e. g.. Union) are endeavoring 

to supply the need. At a farewell raeeting 

beld in one of our horaes, several who 

were present and who bad labored in our 

Missions referred to this and were free to 

say that they were indebted to thera for 

a practical training it was irapossible to 

receive in the serainary. 

One of our rainisters, a very successful 

pastor, in a letter dated January, 1905, 

gives his experience in tbe following 

terras: 

"I want to bear a personal testiraony to 

•the value of tbat training. I would not 

have taken hold of the work here had it 

not been for ray experience in Coraproraise 

Street Mission. I had no idea at 

the tirae of the iraraense value of tbe 

training I was receiving. Students wbo 

do not engage in such work do not know 

what they raiss. A man never knows 

where he will be called to labor, and no 

raan can afford to turn his back on sucb 

training." 

Central Congregation is not large. It

52 Questions of ihe Hour. 

has a raerabership nf 170. Like nther been nf great advantage in our work. 

downtown city cnngregatinns, it has suf- This resurae will show that our experifered, 

and will continue to suffer because ence justifies our belief that the congreof 

merabers moving to the suburbs. It gations in our Church can engage suchas 

nnt much wealth. Snme kind friends, cessfully and with great advantage tn all 

raerabers nf nther congregations, have concerned in Home Mission work. In alhelped 

us financially. The only two large raost every eommunity there are promiscontributinns 

ever received fnr this work ing openings. All that is needed is for 

were from this class, ilr. E. S. Genrge, snme nne to raake a start. There is no 

of iliUer's Run, gave $400, aud a friend danger of failure if the wnrk is carried on 

in Australia $250. The expense, how- wisely. Tn the writer it seems imperaever, 

has been bnriie largely by our own tively necessary that we engage in Home 

raerabers. No one is any the poorer be- ilissions as we have never dnne, if, as a 

cause nf what he has given. It wnuld not Church, we are tn accnmplisb the work 

be right in this connectinn to ignore the which we believe Providence intends us to 

kind provision nur friend .Mr. Gregg made do in this cnuntry, and continue to prosefnr 

the cnngregation. It has indirectly cute with vigor the worlc abroad. 

The world is made glad by sacrifice. There is no real giving but is sacrificial, a 

kind of sacrament, a devotion, by the dedication unto another of what we prize and 

could turn to account for ourselves and fain would keep fondly, but that stUl more we 

have a heart to give it. But to give what, for ourselves, we need not and want not, 

is naught. "How can that leave a trace which has left no void ?" 

—J. L. Blake. 

The secret of happiness is not the size of one's purse, or the style of one's house, or 

the number of one's butterfly friends; the fountain of peace and joy is in the heart. If 

J'OU would nnly thrnw npen ynur .heart's windows to the sunshine of Christ's love, it 

wottld soon scatter the chilling mists, and even turn tears into rainbows. Sorae professed 

Christians pinch and starve theraselves into walking skeletons, and then try to 

excuse theraselves on the plea of ill-health or "constitutional" ailraents. The raedicines 

they need are frora Christ's pharraacy. A large draught of Bible, taken every 

raorning; a throwing open of the heartis windows to the promises of the Master; a few 

words nf hnnest prayer, a deed nr twn of kindness tn the next persnn whnm you meet, 

will do more to brighten ynur cnimtenabce and help ynur digestion than aU the 

drugs of the doctors. If ynu want tn get jour aches and trials out of sight, hide them 

under your mercies.—Theodore L. Cuyler, D.D. 

A missionary of the Presbyterian Church of England describes ten days' touring 

among the villages near Chiang Hoa, Formosa, and adds, "It is a great comfnrt to 

be able to roam all over a heathen cnuntry and yet seldnm be raore than a mile from a 

Christian dwelling." The prngress of thc Kingdom is emphasized by a moraent's 

thought on this sentence. 

*## 

The wealth of a man consists in the number of things he loves and blesses, and in 

the number of things he is loved and blessed hj.—Carlyle.


NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. 

ABROAD. 

Latakia, Syria.—In a private letter of 

Jan. 4, 1905, Miss AVylie writes: 

A large class of girls presented themselves, 

asking to prepare for joining the 

Church. Some' are children of Church 

raerabers, and sorae are not. But all are 

very j'oung, .and'I ara taking thera under 

special instruction. One little girl told 

rae her raother joined the Church many 

years ago, and tried to lead a Christian 

Through the kindness of Mrs. Jaraes S. 

Stewart, we have an excellent photograph 

- of Latakia, center of raissionary operations 

in Northern Syria, for our office 

wall. It is a pleasure to give the rea'ders 

of Olive Trees a half-tone reproduction 

of this picture reduced to less than 

half size. 

Alexandretta, Syria.—Eev. J. Boggs 

Dodds, of Sterling, Kans., encloses sorae 

selections frora a letter frora his sister, 

Mrs. Kennedy, which will be of interest 

to raany readers: 

"This (Jan. 7) is tbe Greek Christraas, 

a very wet one. They will not bave much 

of a chance to show off their new clothes, 

there being so much rain." 

I raay say that every one who can possibly 

do so, gets at least sorae new article 

of clothing at tbe New Year festival; it 

is thc day of days for display of finerj''. 

"New Year's coraing on Sabbath this 

year, Mr. Kennedy went to the British 

Consul, and aslced hira what the custora 

was here abotit the official calls when New 

Year's day fell on the Sabbath. 'AVe raake 

no dUTerence; the calls are raade on Sunday,' 

he answered. 'Well, then, we will 

not either raake or receive calls, if that is 

the custom,' replied ilr. Kennedy. He 

then went to see ilr. Lorimer [ilr. Loriraer 

is a Scotchraan of very sterling qualities, 

who is superintendent of the large 

life, but her father would not let her attend 

services. I did not know her. If can) Company in Alexandretta. He has 

licorice interests of the Stamford (Ameri 

there were freedom for the people to corae 

and hear the gospel preached, I ara sure 

we would flnd raany that we know little of 

now on the Lord's side. 

been in Turkey many years, is. thoroughly 

conversant with social custoras, a stanch 

friend nf missions, and has lately been ajipointed 

United States Consul at Alexandretta]. 

"ilr. Lorimer and he tallced it over, 

and then Mr. L. took the raatter up and 

tried to have the calls raade on ilonday. 

But the various Consuls thought that the 

[feast] day could not be changed nn account 

of business, ilr. Lorimer thereupon 

refused, as ilr. Kennedy had done, 

to participate in any social functions on 

the Sabbath. The Consuls began to think 

the matter over, and finallydecided to do 

away with all Consul and official calls this 

year, and instead, to raise some raoney for 

the poor, and to divide the raoney between 

the Eoman Catholics and the Frotestants. 

So, after dark on Saturday evening our 

portion carae around, which araounted to 

a little over eight raajedies (about $6.80). 

ilr. Kennedy and Mr. Loriraer were the 

only Frotestants to give to the fund, the 

rest being all Catholics. We feel very 

thankful about it, as it was, at least, a 

testiraony for the Sabbath, and an indication 

that our worlc is having sorae infiuence 

in this Catholic town.


• > 

»r#i 

,^;i 

imsantaiikiiU;,h..i.


"AVe had a fine service on the Sabbath. 

The Armenians and Arabs raet together. 

There were one hundred adults and one 

hundred and fifty-fivechildren. The collection 

was £1 7s. ($6.60), and was sent 

to the Bible Society. Mr. Lorimer carae 

to the services, and was greatly pleased 

and surprised at the hold we had gotten 

in the town. We have two hundred and 

twenty-five, or a few raore, in the scbool. 

The women's meeting has from twenty to 

twenty-seven present. We read and 

prayed with two hundred and six in December, 

and visited seventy others. We 

are very busy, but we enjoy it. 

"You ask how the Turks treat our 

school. They are not giving us any 

trouble at all since we got our Eerrait. 

Tbe Kairaakara (Civil Governor of the 

District) sent bis Coraraissiar (Chief of 

Staff) to call on Mr. Kennedy, as His 

Highness bad a badly swollen face. We 

have been having fine meetings during 

the week of prayer; tbe average attendance 

of Arabs was twenty-nine, and of Arraenians, 

fifty. This is a bundred per 

cent, better tban last year." 

I have reserved the "personal remarks," 

of which Mrs. Kennedy is ratber liberal 

in ber letters to ber brother, but I have 

quoted enough to show that the missionaries 

in Alexandretta are worthy of our 

prayers. They need a helper. AVho volunteers 

? 

Tak Hing:, China.—A letter from 

Eev. A. I. Eobb, dated Jan. 3,1905, makes 

a report that will flll the Church with 

joy: 

Yesterday was our communion Sabbath, 

and some tbings about it will doubtless be 

of interest to those at bome who have a 

share in this work. Tbe exaraination of 

candidates occupied an bour of each Sabbath 

for ahnost the wbole montb of December. 

A number were examined who 

were not .received, and as usual, sorae were 

told to wait. Seven adults were received, 

and one cbild baptized along witb his 

raother. There are thirty-six raen working 

on the school house, and tbey stopped 

work at the hour of service on Friday and 

Saturday and all carae in to service. It 

has been increasingly evident to us of late 

that our houses were going to be too sraall 

to answer for a chapel until the new one 

could be built, so last week we ordered a 

raat shed built to answer until the 

raeraorial btiilding can be put up. The 

service on Friday was in Dr. Wright's 

house, and'standing roora was at a preraiura, 

when flfty or raore raen crowded 

into a roora about flfteen by eighteen feet. 

On Saturday we held our flrstservice in 

the "chapel." It was not yet corapleted. 

The roof was on, so we were shaded, but 

tbe walls were not covered, so it was practically 

an open-air raeeting. By Sabbatb 

the building was corapleted and we were 

able to bave tables set for the communion 

service, a thing we bave not been able 

to do since two years ago, for lack of room. 

It added raucb to the order, dignity and 

soleranity of the occasion, and raade it 

raucb raore impressive to the spectators. 

Sometiraes we bave coraraunions when 

there is nothing particular to say about 

the converts only tbat they are persons 

who believe. Tbis tirae is an exception. 

There were four men and three women received. 

Three of these are young men— 

brothers. Two young men were received 

last spring, so that we bave five young men 

from one family now in the churcb. Tbe 

otber man who was bajitized is one of Dr. 

Wright's patients. He was blind, and bad 

a cataract reraoved, which restored' his 

sight, and his stay here brougbt hira in 

contact with the gospel and he found the 

greater deliverance from spiritual blindness. 

The firstfruits are always precious, 

and tbis case is the firstdirectly coraing


in as a result of Dr. AVright's raedical 

work. Of the women, one is an old grandmother, 

whn has been an applicant for 

three years, and whose persistent faithfulness 

has been almost her only recoraraendation, 

as her ignorance was dense and 

persistent, tnn. She and nne nf the nther 

women who passed an excellent examination 

said they first heard the gospel from 

the lips nf ilrs. Eobb, while the third 

woman is one who, I think, undoubtedly 

owes her salvation to Dr. George. She 

eame to the dispensary with a siek baby, 

told a pitiful story nf jinverty and widowhnnd. 

Dr. Genrge pitied her and manufactured 

sorae worlc for her to do, exeraplifying 

in her own behavior the corapassion 

of the compassionate God she told 

her of. AAlien it was learned that she was 

tn enter the Church, her husband's brothers 

began to persecute her, and finallyonly 

allowed her enough mora at hnrae for her 

bed, and threatened to cast her out altogether 

if she was baptized. AAliat the outcome 

will be we do not know yet, but hope 

they will be restrained. If they dn not 

disinherit her at once, it is probable they 

will not do sn, but she was bajitized and 

her little bny with her, in the face nf that 

pnwerful nppnsition frora people who may 

be said to almost hold her destiny in their 

hands, so far as human power is concerned. 

It is wonderful, and wnnderfuUy 

sweet, tn see these living raemnrials nf the 

labnrs nf the twn who have entered into 

rest arising in our midst. Truly, they 

being dead, are still speaking, and we 

trust will speak yet more effectively 

through the lives of these vlio have been 

wnn thrnugh thera. Of course the wnrk 

they laid dnwn has been carried on by 

others in instructing and leading these 

woraen in the knowledge of the truth, and 

ilrs. AVright deserves special raention 

here. 

Thirty-one persons sat down to the 

Ijord's table, twenty-two of thera Chinese. 

One old grandfather, who lives twenty 

miles away and is ill, was absent, the first 

case in the history of the ilission of a 

member being absent frora coraraunion. 

The old grandraother has been very feeble 

all winter, and a young teacher has been 

ill for nearly two raonths, with strong 

syraptoras of consuraption; but both 

seeraed to gain in strength in a wonderful 

way and were able to come to all the 

services. Miss Torrence surprised us by 

coraing in Saturday raorning, having 

corae home frora Canton for the communion. 

The behavior of the converts 

and the excellent attention and demeanor 

nf the many spectators who were present 

are worthy of mention. A ground floor 

and bare feet are not without advantages 

in a case of this kind. I never was present 

at a communion at hnme where there 

was the absnhite silence in going to and 

from the tables that we had in our mat 

shed. 

AA'e had praj'er raeeting in'English aU 

last weelc after the evening Chinese meeting, 

and last night, as there was no subject 

assigned in the week of prayer subjects, 

we made it a sort of inforraal experience 

meeting of the missionaries,.and after 

helpful talks on the doings of the day we 

sang the firstfour and last four verses of 

the hundred and third Psalm and then 

the hundred and twenty-second, and went 

to our moras rejnicing in what God hath 

wrought. 

The Governraent of India has lately decided to add one corapany of native Christians 

to each of the twelve iladras regiments. This is a new departure, and a recognition of 

the nuraerical iraportance of Christians in the Erapire.


AX HOIVIE. 

Allegheny, Pa.—The Central Board of ilissions raet at Allegheny on Wednesday, 

Feb. 15, 1905: 

Fi-nancial Statement. 

Eeceipts. Expenditures. Balance. 

Doraestic Mission $252.35 $2354.05 *$4117.91 

Southern Mission Industrial 50.00 *83.97 

Knox Academy Current 49.75 208.38 

Southern Mission 224.12 498.33 1225.18 

Chinese Home Mission 19.15 105.33 346.06 

Indian Mission 272.37 260.87 1331.12 

Jewisb Mission 120.77 300.00 138.31 

* Overdrawn. 

Eev. Isaiah Faris writes from Oakland, California: "The Chinese Sabbath attendance 

averaged 12; that of the whites, nearly 11 for the last nionth." 

Eev. AA^. AA^. Carithers writes frora the Indian Mission: "The addition to the church 

is now being used. A Sabbath school has been begun ten railes west of the Mission, 

araong the whites. Mr. McAnlis and Mr. iloore will give aid. Thc keeper of the Mission 

cattle left, but another raan had looked after the cattle. Mr. Carithers had expenses 

to raeet owing to the first raan'scourse, but expects to save the herd, though 

the weather has been storray." 

One hundred dollars was sent on to tbe treasurer of the Jewish Mission in Philadelphia. 

This fund is low, while the Doraestic Missinn fund is largely overdrawn. 

D. B. AAîLLSON. 

Los Angeles, Cal.—The congregation as "the strengthening of her stakes," 'vvUlin 

Los Angeles and Santa Ana have been ing now to aid in the answer of their o'wn 

greatly encouraged by new arrivals and prayers in a new field so full of proraise? 

sorae good workers. Tiraely assistance P. J. McDonald. 

enabled the Los Angeles, branch to purchase 

a lot for a church; but there are $850 Miller's Run, Pa.—It is with sorrow 

to be paid on it yet, and we bave a church that the Session of Miller's Run Congreto 

build as soon as the funds can be raised. ga tion records the death of two of its hon- 

For this we have to depend largely on ored merabers, Messrs. Joseph AVallace and 

God's blessing in the generosity of His R. D. Scott. The forraer was bom Oct. 

stewards in the Churcb. It requires all 24, 1805, elected and ordained ruling 

the raeans and energy of a new pioneer elder in 1859, and chosen clerk in 1860, 

congregation to raeet the local deraands and continued in this oflice until bis death, 

of the cause, sucb as current expenses and July 7, 1904. The latter was bom Jan. 

support of the ordinances. Yet in addi- 16, 1834, elected and ordained ruling eltion 

to these expenses, a littie handful of der in May, 1883, and continued in this 

fifteen or twenty bave given and proraised office until his death, Dec. 12, 1904. 

nearly $500 for a cburcb home. Are there AVe recognize that God has a right to 

not many friends who have been praying take His own, and we bow in submission 

for the "lengthening of the cords" as well 

to His will.

5S 


AVe, as a Session, bear this testimony to 

their faithful services: 

1. To their proraptness. It was their 

aira to perforra every duty in season. 

2. To their willingness for service. The 

part assigned thera was always done with 

cheerfulness. 

3. To their strong convictions and, loyalty 

to the testimony of the Eeformed 

Fresbyterian Church. They believed her 

principles, and would always defend them. 

4. To their knowledge and ability. 

When a difficult question arose in Session, 

their broad experience in Church 

law, and raature judgment enabled thera 

to lead the way in its solution. 

We shall raisstheir wise counsel, but we 

hope and pray that we may profit, both by 

their life and death, and that our great 

Counselor will guide in the discharge of 

every duty. 

By order of Session, Jan. 5, 1905. 

S. G. Conner, Mod. 

J. H. iloBuRNET, Clerk pro tem. 

New York.—At 10 o'clock, Friday, Jan. 

27, 1905, Dora Mackeown, wife of Elder 

J. J. Mackeown, of Second New York, 

finished her earthly course, in the fulness 

of her woraanhood, to enter into the joy 

of the Lord. Born in a Christian horae 

and faraUiar frora her earliest years witb 

saving truth, she grew up into the love of 

the Saviour and showed herself, even to 

the end, loyal in His serviee. A daughter 

of the late Dr. and Mrs. Chancellor, of 

Belfast, Ireland, so erainent for their 

piety, and reserabling them both in many 

features of character, her reUgious life 

was marked by quiet consecration, rather 

than an outward parade of devotedness. 

Eeceived on certificate into the fellowship 

of Second New York in October, 1894, 

she was closely identified with that congregation 

for more than ten years and 

deeply interested in every department of 

its work. Faithful and loving in bome 

and social relationships, having a kind 

word for every one, and so full of sympathy 

for the suffering that tbeir sorrows 

were her own, she will live long in the 

raeraory of those who had the privilege 

of intiraate acquaintance. 

In the reraoval of such a woraan, there 

raust be grief, and the manifestation of 

grief is quite consistent with entire acquiescence 

in the Divine will. Eesignation 

is not apathy, nor is it stoicism. 

Jesus wept. But there is also corafort. 

At such an hour the Lord Jesus is the best 

and truest friend, and if we only listen 

to His voice we raay hear Hira say, as 

distinctly as ever, "I ara the Eesurrection 

and the Life; He that believeth in Me, 

though he were dead, yet shall he live. 

And whosoever liveth and believeth in 

Me, shall never die." This assurance, 

that broke, as a gleara of sunshine on a 

dull day, through the clouds that had 

gathered round the little horae at Bethany, 

has been ever sinee as a light shining in 

a dark place, and every day is proving its 

power to comfort troubled hearts. 

Mrs. Mackeown has left behind the 

legacy of a boly example, and many delightful 

meraories to the family, and a 

wide circle of friends. In her call home 

when we were looking to enjoy her presence 

and her wise and loving ways for 

many days to come, we hear the voice of 

the Master saying, "Be ye also ready." 

Olathe, Kan.—Eeport of the J. H. 

Wylie Mission Band of the Olathe Congregation 

for the year 1904: 

The J. H. Wylie Mission Band has held 

twelve regular meetings, with an enrollment 

of thirty-three. Tbe officers are: 

President, Vice-President, Secretary and 

Treasurer. 

Our programraes consist of devotional 

exercises, recitations, songs and exercises

of different kinds, along the line of terajierance 

and raissionarywork. And sorae 

of tbe children, have prepared very good 

papers on Bible characters. At two of our 

meetings we were addressed by returned 

missionaries of Latalcia and Mersina. We 

helped the Ladies' ilissionary Society prepare 

a box for the Mission in China. Our 

raoney was raised by collections, and donations 

and proceeds of nickels, and was 

given to Miss Torrence's school in China. 

We rejoice to see tbe interest in raissions 

araong tbe cbildren of the Mission Band. 

Because of the shortness of life and the 

grea,t need of baste in our Master's work, 

we bope they may do more for Hira the 

coraing year. 

Elizabeth Graham, 

Lizzie Huey, 

Superintendents. 

treasurer's report. 

Receipts. 

CoUections $3.85 

Donations 1.61 

Proceeds of nickels 8.54 

Money donated for material for box 4.30 

$18.30 

Expenditures. 

Material for box $4.30 

Money sent to scbool in Cbina... 14.00 

$18.30 

Clyde Mitchel, 

Treasurer. 

The Ladies' Missionary Society of 


Olathe Congregation pays the following 

tribute of love and respect to the meraory 

of Mrs. il. A. (McCrea) McCaughan, wbo 

entered into that rest which reraains for 

the peojile of God, Nov. 22, 1904. For 

several months her health was failing, yet 

sha was a notable example of patience. 

AAê realize we have lost a devoted raeraber 

and a wise counselor. About six 

raonths before her death, she was called 

to lay her husband in the grave. Sbe was 

reared in a godly home, and early dedicated 

her life to the Master. Sbe was an 

ardent, devoted worshipper in the house 

of God, her place in the public sanctuary 

or prayer raeetingbeing rarely vacant. 

AA'hen we realize that "it is not talent, nor 

power, nor gifts that do tbe work of God, 

but that whicii is within the power of the 

hurablest—a siraple, earnest life bid with 

Christ in God"—we do not wonder tbat 

"many a poor one's blessing went witb 

her, beneatii the low green tent wbose 

curtain never outward swings." She was 

warra in her personal attachraents and 

indefatigable in her efforts to relieve the 

poor. "Soraetiraes, when all life's lessons 

have been learned, and sun and stars 

forevermore have set," earth's friendships 

shall again be renewed, nevermore to be 

interrupted. 

To the bereaved sister and relatives, 

we would extend our heartfelt sympathy, 

and coraraend thera to that Saviour who 

walked with her through the dark valley 

of the shadow of deatb. 

Committee. 

AVhile the Eussian war ships were passing tbrough the Suez Canal, B. F. B. S. 

Colporteurs were allowed on board, and during one day and one nigbt sold to the sailors 

700 copies of Scripture. And sorae people say that dispensers of the gospel do not 

show business enterprise! 

A Christianity intent only upon saving its own soul in the repose of luxurious 

churches, whilst tbe river of huraan sin and raiserysweeps unregarded by the door, 

will not irapress the present age.—James Stalker.


MONOGRAPHS. 

"THROUGH THE VALLEY." 

—This raonograph is a letter written by 

.Mrs. J. M. AVrighti of Tak Hing Chau, 

Nov. 25, 1904, to Mrs. R. J. George, giving 

her sorae facts connected with the last 

Ulness and death of her daughter. Dr. J. 

ilaude George. Forwarded to us for personal 

perusal, with permission to select any 

items that might, in our judgment, be of 

special interest to the Church, we publish 

the whole story, excepting a few passages 

conveying messages and requests too sacred 

to be paraded befnre the public.— 

I have nften intended to write you concerning 

dear ilaude's passing through the 

valley, but I could not. She was dear to 

me as a sister. How we miss her cheery 

voice and loving smile! We don't get 

accustomed to doing withnut her. But, as 

she said, 'Tf it is God's will, it is all 

right." 

I will begin with our trip to ilacao. 

After Mr. Nelson went horae, Maude 

again took up her study and finishedreading 

the New Testaraent. She often spoke 

of what a beautiful description of heaven 

there is in the Revelation, and that the 

Chinese rendering of it is so good. She 

said one day, "1 would alraost be wUling 

to go now, where, it says, all is peace and 

sweet blessing, and there is no raore pain 

or sickness or crying. But I raust stay 

here and tell these poor people about it 

all, that they can gn with me." Little did 

we think that in nnly a few shnrt mnnths 

she would be hnme. She Inved tn sing the 

23d Psalra to the tune "Home." She 

would sing in her beautiful clear contralto 

voice, with the light of heaven on her 

face, and, when we wnuld finish, she 

Mnitld repeat tbe words: 

The Lord is mv Shepherd; no want shall 

corae nigh. 

In pastures of verdure He makes me to 

lie; 

Beside restful waters He leads rae in 

peace; 

My soul to new life He restores by His 

grace. 

Then she would say, "That is all here 

in China. He gives us all we need. He 

gives us these beautiful bills and raountains 

covered with verdure, and the great 

peaceful river—it rests raeto see it—and 

the clear niountain air and bright sunshine 

fill rae with new vigor, and take 

away all anxious cares." 

Then the second verse: 

In right ways He leads rae for His own 

Narae's salce; 

So when in the valley of death-shade I 

walk. 

Since Thou wilt be with rae, no ill shall 

I fear; 

Thy rnd and Thy staff give rae corafort 

and cheer. 

"God raakes no raistakes. I know He 

has led rae all ray life, and it was only 

God's leading that brought rae to China. 

He nnly could give rae grace to leave my 

dear father and raother and other dear 

ones tn cnrae so far away. It is only the 

shado-\v of death. It is really the beginning 

of life. How true it all is that we 

need not fear when God is with us all the 

way.'' 

Then the third verse: 

Thou spreadest ray table in face of my 

foes; 

ily head Thou anointest, ray cup overfinws. 

Thy goodness and raercy pursue ray life's 

ways; 

At home with Jehovah I'll dwell endless 

days. 

"Here in China the Lord gives us all we 

can. need. His goodness follows us wher-

ever we go, and His raercy is ever with 

us; but, oh! it is not to be compared with 

His bome in heaven, wbere we shall ever 

be witb Hira." 

The 103d Psalra was another choice 

jewel. When Mrs. Nelson was so sick, 

Maude said, "How fitting is that verse. 

Well He knows our frarae, reraerab'ring 

We are dust, our days like grass. 

Man is like the flower blooming. 

Till the hot winds o'er it pass. 

"Poor Jeanie (that is, Mrs. Nelson) is 

so sick and so distressed; yet God Icnows 

it all, and He pities her, even as a father 

'pitieth his children." 

The 14th of John was so often her chapter 

to read to the women. She would tell 

thera that on eartii we have troubles and 

sorrows, but Jesus tells us not to sorrow, 

but just to believe—that He would prepare 

a roora for us where all will be joy 

and gladness. It was not drearaed by any 

of us who listened that so soon she would 

go to the raansion prepared for her by the 

Lord's O'wn hands. ' 

But I raust tell you about our leaving 

Tak Hing. We all intended going about 

the raiddleof July, but an English couple 

wanted our house for tbat raonth, and, as 

we had already raade arrangements for a 

house in Macao, we decided to go the 

flrst. Maude thougbt she would stay a day 

or two longer and keep Dr. Jean company, 

•but just the day before, when I went 

in to kiss her good-raorning, as I liked so 

raucb to do, for it helped rae all day, she 

said, "How would you like corapany on 

the boat to-raorrow?" I said, "That wiU 

be fine. Who is it?" She said, "I've just 

been thinking things over, and, as I ara 

no particular use here, I raay just as well 

go along with you, instead of waiting till 

next week. I don't know wbat might 

happen to hinder me, if I don't go when 

I can." She had been corapletely tired out 

with 'the strain of Mrs. Nelson's sickness. 


as there were so raany things that only 

her own loving hands could do. We knew 

she was tired, and often I would slip in 

quietly without knocking and find her on 

the bed. She would say, "I'ra just playing 

lazy for a little while." Well, that 

Thursday was a busy day, but Ave got all 

our things ready for the Priday boat in 

good tirae. 

Sueh a delightful ride we had down the 

river. The water •was very high, so we 

passed many places in daylight that were 

new to us. How she enjoyed the trip! We 

sat in our stearaer chairs and watched for 

sights, and spent the greater part of the 

afternoon that way. AVben I went to see 

if my woman was comfortable, ilaude 

said, "Bring her up here and we will talk 

to her." The woraan carae up, and Maude 

asked her all about how ber little boy 

would get along while the raother was 

away. The woraan soon seeraed miuch 

cheerier, and said that when Chau I 

Shang talked to her, she didn't feel sorrowful 

any raore. Then she got the 

woraan to explain about sliding grass 

down the mountains, and how the penple 

harvested their tea and burnt lirae—just 

drew the woraan out as she only could. 

Dr. Kate McBurney raet us at the landing, 

and Dr. Todd carae to see us, too. We 

had a good day at Mrs. Nelson's. Then 

Dr. Wright and I went on to Macao, 

while Maude stayed with Mrs. Nelson till 

they carae down the raiddle of July. 

About her sickness T can't tell you very 

much. She was very weak and pale when 

they came to Macao, but she told me "not 

to be alarraed; it was nothing serious, and 

not to frighten mania." AAê were not in 

the sarae house, and so we could not tell 

exactly how she was. AA''e went every day 

to ask about her and do whatever we could, 

but sorae days she did not want to be disturbed. 

One day she said, wlien I went 

in, "Nannie, I want to talk with you. I


know it is only a sick fancy, but I must Mr. Nelson was over in the afternoon, 

talk." Then she told me some things she but, as Mrs. Nelson was not well, he went 

wanted done, if she did not get well. back in the evening, hoping to be with 

* * * J Jistened to her, and I did us again at the end. Ah Sara and Sin Tai 

not cry -^vith ray eyes, as she ask.ed and our servants carae up in the afternoon. 

rae, "Please don't cry," but my heart We told thera she Mâs entering heaven, 

would not be still. But she and I where she could see Mrs. Eobb and "little 

both thought it was just a sick fancy, and, 

as she said, it wouldn't hasten raatters, 

Joe," and best of all could see Jesus' face. 

Poor Sin Tai cried and cried, and could 

if she did talk. That was about the not be coraforted. Ah Sara stood and 

last talk I had with her, as she partially looked, while the tears rained down his 

lost her hearing and sight. * * * jj^ face, and then be turned to Sin Tai and 

was only a few days then tillshe was with told her it was Jesus' will, and He would 

us no raore. AVe raoved her to our house care for us here, but He wanted Chau 

on Thursday, and she at once noticed the 

fresher air and we were all nearly overjoyed. 

I Shang in heaven. Mr. Nelson prayed, 

while the tears strearaed frora his eyes. 

But, as Dr. Kate has already told We had good, true friends to help us in 

you, she took a very sudden turn Friday 

night, and was not quite the sarae again. 

Saturday I brushed and braided her hair, 

our trial. Mr. Nelson helped Dr. Wright 

with all the arrangeraents, while -Dr. Kate 

and I got things ready to start horae on 

but before I was done she becarae restless, Tuesday's boat. They got a very neat 

and I Jiut up only one side that way. 

Sabbath morning I fixed the other side 

casket, and we lined it with white and 

laid her away in it with lace and flowers. 

while she slept. About nine she roused The landlady brought us two beautiful 

and said, "Is it near eating tirae? I'ra wreaths of flowers and blossoms. We laid 

awfully hungry." I fed her with broth thera on the casket and afterward on the 

and softened toast, and she said, "Oh, grave. Then Mr. and Mrs. Sporo and 

that's good." Ere long she began to talk ilr. and Mrs. Doty, of the sarae Mission 

at intervals, and we heard the words as Dr. Bigler, whora Maude so much 

"triuraph" and "victory," and a snatch of loved, came with their sweet syrapathy and 

"at horae with Jehovah." We soon offering of flowers. Everybody was kind 

noticed that she was sinlcing, and, though 

we worked all day, using all we knew, she 

never seeraed to rally. Twice she opened 

and tried to do soraething, as all loved 

her who knew her. 

The servant we call the head woman 

her eyes and looked at us, but I think her was heart-broken. All day long, while at 

vision was not of earth. Different tiraes her work, she moaned and cried, and said, 

we thought the breathing had stopped, but "Now, ray friend is gone." She would 

the strong heart worked on. When at stand and gaze at the faraily group, 

last she moved, we lifted her slightly, and where ilaude looks so fresh and loving, 

with one long, deep sigh, her blessed spirit and then turn away and weep. Afterward, 

went horae to Jesus. Dear, happy Maude! 

when I was talking with the 

Only we three. Dr. Kate, Dr. Wright woraen in the raeeting, they asked to go 

and I, were there. Sorae way we robed to the grave and weep because tbey were 

her for her last long sleep; yeti as we so sad. I told thera that Chau I Shang 

worked, we felt it was not Maude, but just 

the dear body her spirit had left. 

was in heaven and happy with Jesus, and 

she would not Avant thera to cry for her.

—A letter from Dr. Kate McBurney to 

the faraily of the late Dr. Maude George, 

dated Dec. 2, 1904, contains this touching 

story, wbich the readers of Olive Trees 

will treasure as an irapressive illustration 

of the success of our raissionary work in 

China.— 

AVe bave just bad Chinese worship, and 

I will tell you about it. Our family consists 

of Jean, Ah Sam, Tai So and myself 

regularly, and almost as regularly we bave 

with us one we call the "foot woraan," who 

is a poor patient with a large ulcer on ber 


Then the head woman broke down and 

sobbed, "Oh, we are very distressed because 

foot. She is iraproving slowly and professes 

to believe the doctrine. AVhen Mr. Nelson 

she is not here. We know you love was here in the spring he had opportunity 

us and will help us, but we need raore 

strength tban you alone can give us." 

Foor, dear people; they loved her so, and 

tears raingledas I told thera she had given 

her life to help others, and that she was 

happy to go to Jesus if her work was done; 

that now we raust be more eamest in our 

to talk with her, without Icnowing anything 

of her history, and in speaking of it 

afterward expressed his belief that she had 

the "root of the matter" in her. We were 

glad of his opinion as a skilled judge of 

Chinese people. Since she started to corae 

to Jean, she sits close beside her every 

efforts to lead good lives and help otbers; morning at worship, and repeats after 

and that Jesus had given His life for Jean her verse in turn as we read the chapter. 

people who did not love Hira, and she had 

She has learned to recognize a few 

given ber life in helping the Chinese to characters, but is perhaps too old to ever 

Imow of this loving Saviour. They now becorae able to read well. Sbe has a soft 

say it was God's will, and He knows best ferainine voice, and although she does not 

wbat to do. They pray very earnestly know the tunes, ber voice is not unpleasant, 

tbat the Heavenly Pather will keep rae 

as she quavers along trying to sing. 

strong, that I raay help thera. They are Ah Sara leads and calls on Tai So, in 

so fearful if I don't feel well, and tell me 

not to work too hard, as they need rae very 

much now. 

I am pleased with tbe way tbey are 

turn with hiraself, to lead in prayer. Yesterday 

raorning it was her turn, and when 

she bad prayed about various things, she 

prayed for Dr. George's father and raother, 

learning, and know Maude would be fllled brothers, sisters and friends, asking the 

with joy could she but know. But she is Heavenly Father to corafort their bearts 

happy with her King, and doubtless and not allow thera to grieve too deeply 

knows of the work going on among tbe for the daughter they loved so much and 

people here. So we bow' and say, "Thy gave to China, and who had so recently 

will be done." We know not the reason entered heaven. She thanked the Father 

now, but we shall know hereafter. 

for sending her bere, and for what she 

had taught the -woraen. She thanked Hira 

FAMILY WORSHIP WITH THE 

CHINESE. 

also for tbe loving raessages that friends 

in Araerica had sent to various ones here, 

and asked Hira to bless thera greatly in 

every way. I wisb you could have heard 

her. I wish you could hear her any tirae 

she prays. She is so earnest and so hurable. 

She always tells the Father that the 

Chinese are very ignorant, but that He 

can raake thera understand. Ah Sara is 

so good in prayer, too. 

Eeally, I think I enjoy Chinese worship 

alraost as rauch as the English, even 

thougb we cannot understand so well. It 

is so good to hear those who bave so recently 

worshipped idols, now praising God.


THE STRAIGHT GATE. 

—Olive Trees has perraission frora the 

faraily of the late Dr. Maude George to 

publish this incident, taken frora one of 

Dr. Kate ilcBurney's recent letters to 

thera. Every nne whn reads it raust be 

encnuraged tn sustain with increased liberality 

the wnrk sn raanifestiy nwned -and 

blessed of the Lord at Tak Hing, China.— 

Yesterday ilr. Eobb had sorae of the 

candidates for baptisra meet him for examination, 

ilrs. AA^right, Jean and I 

Avent Avith three Avomen Avho .wished to 

unite Avith the Church. One is over seventy 

years old, and you Avill surely knoAV 

her, I think. For a long time she Avas 

called "the old blind grandmother from 

the bridge." Later we got to calling her 

Nip Apo. She is the one Avho conies up 

every time, and has each time been asked 

to Avait until she understood better. 

Last spring ilr. Eobb told her he was 

pleased to find she Avas really leaming 

soinething of the doctrine, and that if she 

leamed as rauch more by next time that 

perhaps she could be received. At first 

her purpose Avas to get under shelter. She 

had an idea that if she was a raeraber she 

Avould have her teraporal necessities suppUed. 

She has learned her mistake, and 

yesterday gave evidence of having a fairly 

good idea of the plan of salvation. 

She has the good trait, perseverance, 

largely developed, and is glad to be taught. 

She is old, and perhaps this is the first 

time in her life that she has met any one 

who was Avilling to accord tn her the privilege 

nf having an opinion of her nwn— 

nutside of the neighbor Avoraen. 

Lut Hing, the woraan who helped care 

for baby George Mackay Eobb, Avas a candidate, 

and gave very good ansAvers. 

When Mr. Eobb asked her hnw lnng since 

she had worshipped idols, she replied, 

"Xnt since the 'Senai' (ilrs. A. I. Enbb) 

and Dr. Genrge taught rae it was wrong." 

Did Tai So corae? Yes, she carae, and 

was received too. AVhen Mr. Eobb asked 

frora Avliora she had learned the doctrine, 

she said, "The Heavenly Father gave us 

the doctrine." ilr. Eobb said, "I raean 

Avhich huraan being first pointed out tbe 

Avay to you?" "Oh, it was Dr. George 

Avho first taught rae the way." He then 

asked how long since she had worshipped 

idols. She said, "Not since she began to 

corae here. And before that tirae she 

had not worshipped for sorae tirae, because 

she heard there was a true God, and that 

idols Avere unable to help us. So she did 

not worship thera, but did not Imow how 

to Avorship the true God until Dr. George 

taught her." AVlien asked if she had sins, 

she said, "Yes, I certainly have, but 

Jesus is able to take thera all away." 

After she had answered a good many 

questions, ilr. Eobb asked one Avliich she 

ansAvered wrongly. He tried tn help her, 

Avithout telling her, but found she had a 

Avrong idea, so he said, "Nn." She said, 

"Oh, Mr. Robb, I ara very stupid and 

know so little!" He very kindly asked, 

"Are you Avilling to learn ?" She said, "I 

certainly ara willing to learn, and I want 

you all to help rae and ask the Holy Spirit 

to teach rae." He explained the point to 

her, and asked her raore questions, and 

then received her. 

The point perhaps would interest you. 

It was this. If one believes and desires 

baptisra, but before having an opportunity 

dies, is he saved? She said, "No." He 

raade it very plain, and still she thought 

baptisra necessary to salvation. He asked 

her Avho Avere crucified with Christ. She 

ansAvered, "Tavo tbicAês.'' He said, "What 

about thera?" She said, "One repented 

and was saved; the other did not and was 

lost." .He said, "Was the one who was 

saved bajitized?" She said, "No," and at 

once saw her error. So he raade it plain

Avithout trouble and Avithout raaterially 

1-essening her appreciation of the sacraraent 

of baptisni. 

AA'hen it was time to go to the examination 

AVC called Tai So, and found these 

three women together in the backyard 

talking over their Bibles. 

Tai So had been rather timid about the 

exaraination, -as she feels ignorant and can 

read enough to Imow there is much yet to 

leam. AA'e had tried" to reassure her as 

much as possible, but we knew there was a 

great deal for her to learn. We said, "Don't 

you think you know the iraportant 

things ?" She said, "I raay forget what I 

do knoAv.'' AA'e told her God is able to 

bring to her remembrance everything she 

had learned, and to give her Avisdnni to 

answer. She answered, "Yes, I knoAv. 

You raust aslc Hira tn be sure tn help rae.'' 

AA'hen Ave called thera tn be examined. 

Ah Sara put his head out of the door and 

said quieti}-, "You need not fear, the Holy 

Spirit Avill belp a'ou." 

did. 

MISSION STUDY.* 

And I ara sure He 

Ir. Luke xii, 56, Christ told the raen of 

His day that they were able to discern the 

face of the sky and of the earth, but Avere 

not able to discern the signs of the tiraes. 

The great object nf raission study is to 

enable the young people of our congregations 

to discern the signs of the coming 

of the kingdom of God in the world, and 

thus enable thera intelligently to frarae 

their course of action with reference to it. 

The attitude of the young people of 

our day toAvard niissions raust be based 

upon an intelligent understanding of 

what God is doing in the Avorld. In tbe 

wonderful resurae of the firsttable of the 

laAV given by our Lord, our love to God is 

*Read at a Mission Conference of the 

Young People's Societies in New York 

and Brooklyn. 


made to rest upon the intelligence or 

raind as well as the affection, sensibilities 

and Avill. AA'e must love Hint Avith all our 

mind as well as beart, soul and strength. 

This intelligent understanding is necessary 

to that firra conviction that lies at 

the base of every successful action. In 

society, intelligence has always been recogniz.ed 

as the handraaid of virtue, as ignorance 

is of vice. In spiritual things the 

sarae holds true. An enlightened Christian 

is always ready for service, while ignorance 

of the truths for Avliich we stand 

leads to apathy and indifference. We find 

raen putting forth all their efforts to understand 

the works of God in nature, and 

to know of the wonderful beauty of the 

stars and the fiowers; how .ranch raore 

should Ave desire to see His Avork in Zion 

"the perfection of beauty, for there God 

doth shine.'' It is God in the raaterial 

creation that makes it a cosmos and nnt a 

chaos, and it is God in time that makes 

it sublirae. All history is His story. If 

all history is a march of God, how much 

more the history of missions, for this is the 

one great work coraraanded by Him. This 

is the Church's Divine commission. It 

challenges and claims in all its onward 

movements the Divine co-operation. Of 

this, above all else, does He say, "Concerning 

the Avorlc of ily hands, cnraraand 

ye Me." It bears the seal of His iraperial 

authority, and draws its energy from the 

springs of His exhaustless power. It is 

vitally linked to rederaption, as both the 

raeans and condition of its final triumph. 

The annals of raissionsare filled Avitli the 

raost inspiring and interesting facts in the 

unfolding of the great plan raade in the 

eternal council for the reclaraation of a 

lost world to the fellowship and coraraunion 

of the triune God. These are the 

things the apostle tells us the angels desire 

to look into. 

To-day every, facility is offered to those

66 Monographs, 

who desire to follow the progress of the 

world's evangelization, and the study is so 

varied in its character that all tastes are 

suited, and a raissionstudy class is one of 

the raost interesting raeetings that one 

could attend. The story of the lives of 

the great raissionaries of the past century 

has been prepared in a forra that 

brings their Avonderful force and power 

within the grasp of all, and we see the 

beauty of their characters shining in the 

dark places of the earth like the glory of 

the stars in the firraaraent. 

I know of no better plan to get a society 

interested in raissinnstudy than to organize 

a class for a biographical course, 

taking one of the great heroes of raissions 

for each lesson, and getting acquainted 

with the eleraents of character that raade 

thera successful, ilany of our young people 

are deeply interested in the educational 

moveraents and methods of our day, and 

will be able to appreciate the labors of 

William Carey, the "consecrated cobbler," 

who left his awl and his last—expecting 

great things frora God and undertaking 

great things for God in India, and giving 

to three hundred raillions of people the 

word of God in twenty-four languages 

honors and starts out for his lonely work 

in the snoAV and ice of Mongolia, and wanders 

without horae or friends araong the 

noraad tribes of the great desert, walking 

Aveary miles with bleeding feet, to tell of 

his Jesus to any one who will listen ? Did 

you ever knoAV of the great purpose in the 

life of David Livingstone, that caused 

him to push through the jungles of the 

dark continent, forraing in those great 

journeys of his the forra of a cross on the 

length and breadth of Africa, the sign of 

its rederaption, "for the cross goeth not 

back"? "The end of the exploration was 

the beginning of the enterprise." Or 

raaybe we are interested in the far East, 

with its noise of battle and its awakenings 

pregnant witb possibilities. You cannot 

properly estiraate the conditions without 

taking into account the work of tbe raissionaries 

that are leavening the countries 

with the leaven of the kingdora of God. 

Would it not be interesting to have a study 

of Japanese raissions, and see what has 

been done since that day when Coraraodore 

Ferry sailed in his black ships up 

Yeddo Bay, and struck terror into tbe 

hearts of the Japanese? Would you follow 

the story of the little lad who wanted 

and dialects. Or the wnrk of Duff, a to know the God that raade him, and in 

farmer lad, the founder of educational the face of death left bis country, seeking 

missions, who started his firstschool with a place where he might learn of his 

five scholars under a banyan and built up 

a great university with a thousand students. 

Maker; of his studies in America, and his 

return to Japan; of his Cbristian univer 

Or sorae raay like to know raore of sity tbat is transforming Japan? Would 

John G. Faton, the king of the cannibals, 

who left his Covenanter home in a.quiet 

glen in Scotland and spent his life among 

you like to watch China shaking itself 

from the sleep of ages and see tbe stolid, 

conservative, ancestor-worshipping sons of 

the bloodthirsty cannibals of the New tbe Heavenly Kingdora, being transformed 

Hebrides, till he taught them to love his 

Jehovab, and changed their lives, till now 

into the citizens of tbe true heaven, and 

in the face of the raost terrible persecution 

you raay find thera clothed and in tbeir 

and cruelties that hellish malice 

right rainds. Or would you like to follow 

tbat young graduate of the Scotch University, 

could invent, witnessing their faith in 

Jesus Christ, and sealing that testimony 

the winner of the great exaras., as with their blood? The martyrs of China 

he puts aside his ambition for university have now been added to the long roll of


the faitbful ones Avho have overcome, and 

tbeir blood has becorae the seed of the 

Church in that vast and populous erapire. 

"It raay be that they never saw 

The flashing of the sword. 

Perchance their eyes were holden 

With the vision of their Lord." 

But I ara sure you cannot look upon 

their still and silent forras without realizing 

that they have stilled the carping 

tongues of those enemies of foreign missions 

wbo have thought to tie the purse 

strings of God's stewards and chain the 

feet of the bringersof glad tidings, with 

their oft-repeated cry of "Eice Christians." 

The Portuguese cruisers off the coast of 

China saw an island, and tbey cried out 

in ecstasy, "Hha Forraosa!" the Beautiful 

Isle. George Leslie Mackay carae witb 

bis Bible and his Fsalra book, and covered 

the northern part witb a network of 

churches, organizing sixty congregations 

with native pastors, and building six large 

churches, with towers bearing tbe raotto 

of tbe Covenanters of Scotland, "Tbe bush 

that burned and was not consuraed." 

The study of raissions is fraught with 

blessing to the life of the Church at 

horae, in tbat it stimulates the prayers 

and gifts of the merabers, and develops in 

thera a raore earnest and consecrated purpose. 

It bas been proved over and over 

again tbat the congregation that is most 

active in the cause of missions is the most 

successful at horae. A large collection for 

foreign missions has never yet interfered 

with tbe pastor's salary, or the current expense 

fund, because the people realize that 

all these are a part of tbe Divine plan. 

Anotber great advantage tbat comes from 

this study to the home Churcb is the evidence 

that we get of the power of tbe 

word of God. No devout student of missions 

is every skeptical of the existence or 

the providence of God, for he sees clearly 

that the Avord does not return void, but 

accomplishes the purpose for which it was 

sent. The quickened life and tbe transformed 

character are the signs following 

that Avitness to the Avritten word to-day, 

as they did to the word raade flesh in the 

days of His earthly ministry. There are 

no Higher Critics in the mission flelds, 

nor in the mission study classes. Before 

the flrst raissionary arrived in Japan, a 

Japanese nobleraan guarding the harbor of 

Nagasaki, saAv in the wake of a Dutch ship 

some black object lying in the water and 

sent for it. It was a copy of the New 

Testaraent in Dutch, and he was so anxious 

to IcnoAv its contents that he sent to 

China for a Chinese translation, and soon 

after the arrival of Dr. Verbeck, was baptized, 

the flrst Protestant convert in 

Japan, in spite of the iraperial edicts 

against tbe new religion. 

The organization of a raission class requires 

care, and should be in the hands of 

the .Missionary Comraittee, if there is one 

in the society, as the worlc requires a good 

deal of personal work in order to secure 

a good attendance. The time of meeting 

should be well considered, and should be 

so arranged that a whole evening shall be 

given to it, as the session should last frora 

one hour and a quarter to one hour and a 

balf. Tbe frequency of tbe sessions raust 

be deterrained by local conditions, every 

fortnight, if possible, as the courses as 

arranged are planned for eight sessions. 

The membership of the class sbould be 

made up of tbose who are willing to agree 

to give some time at least for preparation 

for each lesson, and to take tbeir sbare of 

assigned or supplemental topics. This 

will increase the interest and belp the class. 

in every way. It would be well, if possible, 

iu starting the flrst course, to select 

one that will appeal witb special force to


the class, as this AviU give it an impetus to inforra ourselves of the whole history 

at the start, and then acquaintance witb and progress of God's raission carapaign 

the Avork will soon make thera anxious to in the world ? Then intelligent inforraapursue 

the study further, until at last we tion will incite us to syrapathetic praying 

shall get at least a glimpse of the world- and self-denying giving, and when God 

Avide Avork of missions, and Ave will then calls to the surrender of ourselves, going 

begin tn understand the works nf the Lnrd as well as giving and praying or sending 

as Ave never did before. The aim of every those who can go. 

sessioii of the class should be that some 

one might by our study be led to see his "He has sounded forth the trurapet 

or her plaee in God's plan, fnr God ealls That shaU never caU retreat; 

men to His service by showing them the He is sifting out the hearts of raen, 

Avork that is to be done, and by the assur- Before His judgraent seat. 

ance of FIis presence in the work, raaking Oh, be sw'iit, ray soul, to answer Him! 

it effective fnr the building up nf His 

Be jubilant, rayfeet; 

Kingdom in the world. 

Our God is marching nn." 

Shal! Ave nnt then as ynung people seek 

E. W. Jones. 

Curintts are the happenings in missionary Avork in Japan. A missionary of the C. 

il. S. had gained permission tn give a lantern lecture to Avounded soldiers. AVhen he 

reached the jilace jirovided by the officers for the meeting, he found it was a Buddhist 

temple. There at one side of the high altar, and under the shadoAv of Buddha, he 

stood and preached Christ to a most attentive audience. The raissionary had to tramp 

that night seven railes in the rain to reach his home, but his heart was light, for 

joy of having had the privilege of that tallc to the friendly soldiers. 

A missionary in Japan (A. B. C. F. M.) says nf the Japanese tn-day: "I ara glad it 

is ray privilege tn work among a people who have the ability to understand and apply 

great ideas, and who ean be mastered by great ideals." The heart jêarns to show such 

people Jesus Christ as the nne great ideal, and to explain tn them His ideas of what 

manhood is. Dnes nnt nur duty tn dn this correspond, as Bishop Westcott once said, 

"Avith the grandeur of the Truth Avhicli is placed within our reach ?" 

A missionary relates the foUowing story : A graduate who had helped to loot my 

house at Chi Chou had taken a fancy to a very fine copy of the Chinese 

Classics, which he found in my study. He put one volurae under each arm and 

passed out into the yard. A large mirror had been taken out of another room, and 

was resting.against the wall Mr. Li came jauntily along, and, as lie approached 

the mirror, he espied a man carrying two books under his arms. He gazed, he 

stared, he wondered, and—blushed. "Oh, you too have got some of those books ?" 

he remarked. As he spoke he noticed that the lips ofthe man reflected in the mirror 

also moved ; and then he recognized the face of his parents' only son. "î ya—it is 

myself," said he. 

The Chinese enjoy a joke—at the expense of somebody else. Mr. Li's remarks had 

been overheard, and many times since that eventful day the neighbors have had 

much fun at his expense : "Why, it is myself \" they say when they meet him.


69 

EDITORIAL NOTES. 

' ^ ^ - i S 

MEMORIAL 

THANK- 

OFfERING 

The contributions to this fund during the montii of February are comparatively 

sinall and cover so limited an area as to indicate that many, who are undoubtedly devoted 

to missionary work, do not clearly understand that its object is siraply to testify 

in a tangible forra our gratitude to God for His grace as seen in the character and 

-successful rainistryof two beloved women who now rest frora their labors. A bundred 

cents frora one wbo does not possess large material resources will be a no less 

signal token of this gratitude than a hundred dollars frora another who is rich as the 

wdrld counts wealth. 


Miss Mary B. McDowell, Herapstead, L. I $2.50 Cyprus 

Miss Kate McCalder, Cambridge, Mass 10.00 Boys' School, Mersina 

Junior C. B. Society, Second New York 7.50 Cyprus 

Loyal Temperance Legion, New York 10.00 China and Cyprus 

Mrs. Isabella G. Torrence, New York 2.00 Cbina 

Miss Jennie Hohnes, Second Fhiladelphia 20.00 Cbina 

Miss Sarab McWiUiams, Second Philadelphia.... 5.00 China 

Miss EUa Steele, Second Philadelphia 1.00 China 

Miss Fannie McCoach, Second Philadelphia 1.00 Cbina 

Mrs. David Borland, Second Philadelphia 5.00 China 

Mrs. J. C. McFeeters, Second Philadelphia 4.00 China 

Miss NeUie A. McFeeters, Second Philadelphia 2.00 China 

Dr. R. Bruce McFeeters, Second Philadelphia 2.00 China 

Master Philip D. ilcFeeters, Second Philadelphia. 2.00 China 

Mrs. R. M. Finlay, Second Philadelphia 5.00 China 

Mr. Clarke Carapbell and family, Penbolds, Can... 3.00 China 

A Friend of Missions and his family 100.00 China, $55; Southern, 

Indian and Jewish, $15 each 

ilrg. Mary Dunn, Quinter, Kans 1.00 China 

A Member of Second New York -r. 5.00 China


iliss E. Grey, Second New York $5.00 China 

The forty-seven dollars frora Second Philadelphia, acknowledged in the foregoing 

Table, represent the araount collected by Eev. J. C. McFeeters, D.D., prior to the death 

of Dr. Maude George, toward a fund for her support in the raission fleldas the representative 

of that congregation. And it is now forwarded to us, tbat it raay be "applied 

to the 'ileraorial Thank-Offering' in ber and Mrs. Eobb's narae." 

It seems from the letter published in this issue that the Chinese women, who were 

received at the January Coramunion in Tak Hing Chau, Avere able to trace tbeir conversion 

in the way of means and instrumentalities to ilrs. A. I. Eobb and Dr. J. 

Maude George. Every one who reads the story will appreciate the sentiment of its 

writer: "It is SAveet, wonderfully sweet, to see these living raeraorialsof the labors of 

the Iavo who have entered into rest arising in our raidst." The monographs, "Family 

Worship with the Chinese" and "The Straight Gate," also show the happy influence 

that their instruction, illustrated and enforced in their lives, have had upon these 

converts. Both in their public confession of Christ, while giving Him all the glory, 

and in their prayers at faraily worship, their bearts go out to the beloved friends who 

found thera and brought thera to Jesus. Surely nothing more is needed to call forth 

the liberality of the Church than the fact that its chosen representatives were OAvned 

of God to save souls. 

At the meeting of the Board of Foreign ficiency of the work as compared with the 

Missions, held in New Yorlc, Tuesday, deraands and the opportunities." 

Jan. 24, 1905, a request of Eev. A. I. 

Robb to open a school, about the firstof 

March, baving for its main object the 

training of raen for Christian worlc, was 

The Fresbyterian Bnard of Publication, 

Philadelphia and New York, has raailed 

us "Historical Geography of Bible Lands." 

granted with great heartiness. He refers By John B. Calkin, M.A., author of 

to two of the native niembers, who in his "Notes on Education," "A Gengraphy of 

judgment would, with proper training, the AVorld," "A History of the Dorainion 

raake good evangelists, one who is twentysix 

years of age and "an intelligent raan 

and an enthusiast in Christian work," the 

other only nineteen, and "a learner, but 

of Canada," etc. Frice, $1 net. 

The author of this book is widely known 

as an educationist, having been identified 

for many years with that departraent of 

bright and earnest." Then he adds: "It public service in Nova Scotia, and as a 

is not exactly the work I would choose for careful student of the Bible. His extensive 

experience, both as a teacher and a 

rayself, but I have the conviction quite 

settled in ray nwn raind that these raen 

and such others as God raay raise up 

trainer of teachers, has given hira special 

qualifications for preparing a book that 

should be in training for work." He proposes 

will raeet the requireraents of Sabbath 

to "talce his students with hira for School teachers and other students of the 

tours in the country," and give them tiieir Bible. Here is provided, in brief compass 

"training in preaching in that way." "We 

and attractive forra, the very in 

are glad," he writes, "for what our eyes 

are seeing in these days, and that there are 

evidences of the Spirit's presence in our 

formation that every one should have at 

hand, il; he would grow in the knowledge 

of the Scriptures hiraself and be properly 

midst. We are oppressed with the insuf 

equipped for the instruction of others.


whetber from the pulpit, in the class room 

or at the fireside. This volume is unique 

in its mode of presenting geographical 

and historic facts in the purity of its style, 

and in its general accuracy. We can unhesitatingly 

coraraend it to tbe readers of 

Olive Trees. 

Tbe Fleraing H. Eevell Co., New York, 

Chicago and Toronto, has sent us "The 

Burden of the City."- By Isabelle Horton. 

Price 50 cents. 

This is a book that any one who is engaged 

in raissionary work in the cities and 

large toAvns of this country and is looking 

longingly for results will read with profit. 

The conditions that raake evangelistic. 

work necessary and plans of operations 

that are being worked out with raore or 

less success are considered under such 

headings as "Tbe Burden of tbe City," 

"Settieraent Work," "Tbe Modern Church 

and Its .Methods," "The Deaconess in City 

Missions," "Children's Work," and "Cooperation." 

The words of F. W. Gunsaulus, printed 

on a fly leaf, are wise and irapressive: 

"Horae Missions is only another narae 

for Cbristian sagacity and patriotism. 

We must rediscover tbe foundation of tbis 

Eepublic through raissionary work, and 

strengthen our belief in the future of our 

coraraonwealth. 

"To save the cbildren is to fortress 

society, and to raan tbe redoubt witb resistless 

power. The rest of ray life will 

be devoted to work in the raidst of the 

problems of this city. The time is too 

short and the opportunity too splendid to 

deal with the probleras of Araerican life 

in any other way." 

This publishing bouse has- also issued 

for free circulation a large edition of an 

address on "Lessons of the Welsh Revival," 

by Eev. G. Carapbell Morgan, D.D., 

who has visited the field and gives a vivid 

picture of this Twentieth Century Fentecost. 

Here raay be found the secret of 

poAver and consequent success in evangelistic 

Avork. 

The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive 

Eecord of the History, Religion, 

Literature and Custoras of the Jewish 

People frora the Earliest Tiraes to the 

Fresent Day. Coraplete in 12 voluraes. 

New York and London. Funk & Wagnalls 

Co. 

The eighth volume of this great work 

has been published, so that it is now complete 

up to an article on "Moravia." Each 

of these eight voluraes is most adrairable. 

The nuraerous illustrations in eacb volurae 

are very instructive, and some of 

thera are real worlcs of art. Talce, for instance, 

the raost ingenious raap of Jerusalera, 

which forras the frontispiece to the 

seventh volurae. Four transparent raaps 

are placed, one on the other, so that the 

surrounding lines fall exactly one upon 

the other. Thus a comparison can be raade 

between tbe distinctive features of any two 

or raore periods of the four into whicb the 

raain history of the city is divided. In 

the eighth volurae we found, araong the 

several bundred fine illustrations, a remarkably 

well executed cut of tbe worldfamous 

picture "Marriage Scene in Galicia." 

The print and the paper, as well as 

the binding of the work, as far as it is 

published, are very good and suitable for 

a worlc which will be much bandied by its 

fortunate owner. The greatest attraction 

of tbe Jewish Encyclopedia, however, 

does not consist in its fine illustrations 

and its good exterior, but in tbe matter 

which it contains. Jewisb and Cbristian 

scholarship have united and created 

a work wbich, witbout partiality, in a 

scientific manner, presents what tbe Jewish 

people have done for the world in dif-


- ferent ages and different countries, bringing 

their history down to the present time. 

The orthodox Jcav and the reformed Jew, 

the conservative Christian scholar and the 

most liberal high-critic, have contributed 

to the Jewish Encyclopedia the results 

of their careful investigations. Thus 

a work has been created Avliich has no 

.equal in the history of the world, a worlc, 

coraplete and reliable, in whicii both Jews 

and non-Jews should be deeply interested. 

To the Jew it brings, in condensed and 

randernized forra, all the Avisdora and all 

the achieveraents of his fathers, and calls 

upon hira to strive to be worthy of the 

great past of his nation. To the Christian 

it is a source of that inforraation conceming 

the JcAvish people Avhicli is not available 

to any but the best Hebrew scholars. 

In the JcAvish Encyclopedia he finds,in 

gond and clear language, authentic and 

authoritative inforraation concerning the 

custoras, religion, distribution and literature 

of the Jews. There he also becoraes 

soraewhat acquainted with their persecutions 

and sufferings. Thus, the Jewish 

Encyclopedia raust prove a great help tn 

every Bible student, shedding light upon 

the .ancient and modem life of the people 

of the Bible. It ought to be in the 

library of every minister Avho can afford 

the high price which the publishers raust 

charge for such a Avork. The JeAvish Encyclopedia 

ought to be found in the library 

of our Jewish Mission in Philadelphia, 

of our Theological Seminary in Allegheny, 

and of our college in Beaver 

Falls. Tn the raissinnaryaranng the Jews 

it Avill be of surpassing value in his arduous 

wnrk, giving hira needed infnrraatinn 

and also pointing hira to sources nf further 

inforraation. In the seminary and 

cnllege libraries it avUI make nur young 

men and young Avoiiien betier acquainted 

«'itli the Jcavs, and avUI thus cause thera 

tn take a greater interest in their evangelization. 

I hesitate not to make a direct 

appeal to the friends of Jewisb Missions 

in the Eeforraed Fresbyterian Church to 

provide copies of the Jewish Encyclopedia 

for Philadelphia Mission, Serainary and 

College (the price of a coraplete copy 

is $72, or $6 a volurae), and I close my 

revieAv with the repetition of the reraark 

that the Jewish Encyclopedia stands unequalled 

in the history of the world. 

Louis Meyer. 

Olive Trees thankfully acknowledges 

the receipt of Four Hundred and Seventeen 

Dollars from the Avoinen of Second New 

York and friends for Mountain Schools 

in Syria. The raoney has been passed on 

to Treasurer .Miller. 


of $106.50 frora Mr. Wra. iloody, of E. 

Nortiifield, Mass.; $27 from ilrs. Jane C. 

Sirapson, of Thompsonville, Conn., and 

$35 frora ilr. Thornton B. Jackson, of 

Rockford, III, for the work with which 

Dr. John G. Paton is identified in the 

NeAV Hebrides. 

Olive Trees is requested to say that 

the address of the Treasurer of the Home 

for the Aged is ilrs. Annette G. WaUace, 

235 Fourth Avenue, Fittsburg, Fa. 

iliss iladaleine Captain, teacher in the 

Girls' School at ilersina, Avho visited this 

country last suramer with Miss Sterrett 

and made many friends, wishes Olive 

Trees to "express her hearty thanks to 

the unknoA^-n friend w^ho sends her Sabbaih 

Reading," Avhich she receives regularly 

and enjoys very much. 

AAô are indebted tn the cnurtesy of Prof. 

D. B. WUlson for the itoras frora the 

Central Board which appear in this number.

O L I V E T R E E S 



No. APRIL, 1905. 4. 


THE MEDICAL MISSION AT LATAKIA. 

J. M. BALPH, M.D., LATAKIA, SYRIA. 

The actual work of the raedical raissionary 

so fully occupies his tirae as to 

render irapossible the keeping of such 

records as would be helpful in giving a 

detailed account of his work; nor is it 

often possible for bim to secure such 

trained native help as would be required 

for this purpose. Consequently be cannot 

be expected to give tabulated statements 

showing its extent and character and results. 

I will only aira, then, to present a 

general idea of the work, witb occasional 

illustrations drawn from meraory. 

Seventeen years bave elapsed since we 

landed at Latakia, and yet the raeraoryof 

those eariy days coraes to raeas thougb it 

had been but yesterday. The day of arrival 

brougbt the flrstpatient, and it was 

a very sbort time until the number increased 

to such an extent that the work 

of interpreting must bave been quite a 

burden to those who bad to render that 

service. 

The study of a new language, tbe treatraent 

of diseases under conditions differing 

widely from those to which I bad been 

accustomed, becoming acquainted with a 

number of diseases peculiar to the country, 

and which I had not met witb previously 

in practice—tbese were some of 

the things tbat fllled up my time during 

those firstyears. 

The language, the people and the conditions 

were all different from anything 

that I had before known; but the tbing 

that impressed rae raost was the great 

need: the unrelieved poverty and suffering 

that were to be seen everywhere; the 

pitiable condition of the great mass of the 

people, botb physically and raorally—a 

country in which three-fourths of the 

people do not know what it is to be properly 

fed, clothed or housed, and whose 

raoral condition is even raore pitiable than 

their physical. Such are the conditions 

that the missionary must raeet and contend 

with alraost anywhere in the East. 

One of my flrst experiences—and one 

I can never forget—was to see the poor, 

sick, partially clothed, wretched-looking 

people who would corae, soraetiraes by the 

dozen, and lie on the roadside near our 

house," awaiting the appearance of some 

one who could translate for thera; and 

bow glad they seeraed when tbey bad 

been seen and received a little raedicine. 

It was a day of joy and thankfulness 

when I was able to carry on the work 

without the aid of an interpreter, and 

when I could understand enough of the 

language to speak to them of spiritual 

things, as well as physical. But I realize 

now that even then the work was very iniperfectly 

done. It is only little by little 

as the years pass by that we learn to know 

the people, understand their modes of 

thougbt, often so different frora our own.


and judge with fairness tbeir motives and 

their actions; and until we can approach 

this, we cannot eome into touch with thera 

a« we should, and so lead thera on to 

better things. 

One characteristic of the people is the 

respect and deference they show to 

the physician. This raay be largely 

owing to tbe lack of raedical talent 

throtighout tbe country, and the consequent 

value they place upon skilful treatraent- 

The physician is able to bring 

thera soraething of which tbey feel the 

need, and they look upon hira as their 

benefactor. This gives hira a decided advantage 

to start with, while at the sarae 

tirae it increases bis responsibility. 

During the firstyear or two I visited a 

number of villages in company with the 

other raissionaries, and began to learn 

something of how the peasantry of the 

country Uve. The crowded condition of 

the places in which they exist—it would 

be a misnomer to speak of thera as horaes, 

for there is nothing about thera to give 

one any idea of horae—is soraething alraost 

past belief. We often see a faraily 

of ten or a dozen persons occupying a 

single room not raore than fifteen feet 

square, with a low, flat roof, without 

windows and often without a chiraney to 

cafi-y off the smoke from the flrenecessary 

for cooking. This would not be so bad if 

it Avere not that a few chickens, a goat or 

two, a cow or a yoke of oxen often occupy 

one end of this room at night. These, 

with a variety of creeping and flying 

things, often make night raiserable and 

sleep well-nigh irapossible to one not "to 

the raanor born." When sickness comes to 

those living under such circumstances it 

is terrible, and the physician is heavUy 

handicapped in his work. But I have 

often treated cases under sirailar circurastances, 

with very fair results. Erobably 

three-fourths of the population of the 

Latakia fieldlive in villages,.the majority 

of them under circumstances little better 

than those described. In none of these 

villages are tbere physicians. It can tbus 

be feadily seen that the suffering they 

raust endure can scarcely be overdrawn, for 

it is but little tbat a raissionary, whose 

tirae is otherwise taken up, and who can 

only make occasional visits, can do to belp 

tbem. The need and tbe anxiety to flnd 

sorae relief are touching in the extreme. 

I have visited from year to year certain 

villages as often as possible, and a 

short account of one of these visits will 

illustrate our methods: A visit of two 

days was planned, and in company 

with a native helper and a muleteer to 

carry horse feed, raedicines, provisions, 

etc., we set out early toward the raountain. 

We stopped at two villages on 

the way, where about twenty patients were 

treated, and one who needed an operation 

was sent down to the hospital. We arrived 

at our destination late in the afternoon, 

and hearing that a nuraber of sick people 

in a village an hour' away wished to see 

us, Avord was sent to them to corae in the 

raorning. The evening was spent calling 

on the sick in tbe village, who were not 

able to leave their houses; and before we 

had taken our supper, tbe house where we 

were staying was fllled with people. A 

few who bad ailraents were seen, and an 

hour was spent in the reading of the 

Scriptures, with explanation of what was 

read, and prayer. At an early hour in the 

raorning the people again gathered, and a 

nuraber carae from tbe village previously 

raentioned, bringing a dozen or raore sick 

people. There were several also from 

otber villages; and Avhen all had arrived, 

a service was held and about thirty sick 

people were prescribed for; sorae who 

needed surgical operations were promised 

places in the hospital. We were soon on 

our way to anottier village that we in-


tended to visit. Here a number of sick 

people were also seen, and an opportunity 

was secured for the reading of the gospel. 

Several persons who bad once been pupils 

in tbe schools were visited and spoken 

witb personally. It was encouraging also 

to meat with a man who had been at one 

time in the hospital and who had apparently 

jmdergone a great change, althougb 

he had never shown any disposition to 

corae out and malce a profession; but he 

assured me tbat be read his Bible, and 

his neigbbors testifled that he no longer 

indulged in the various forras of vice so 

prevalent among them. Early the next 

morning we were on our way bome, stopping 

at one village by tbe way to see a few 

sick and eat a lunch of bread and sour 

milk that was given us, and reaching 

home about noon, having treated over 

seventy-flAê patients and having had as 

many opportunities as could be taken advantage 

of for presenting tbe gospel to the 

people. 

Such a record, it seems to me, should 

make clear tbe great need of botb physical 

and spiritual beaiing tbat exists, and 

also tbe fact tbat far more opportunities 

can in this way be secured for preaching 

Christ than can be taken advantage of. 

Men can be reacbed in this way that cannot 

be reacbed in any other.' 

As a further Ulustration of these 

facts I mention the following: It is my 

custom on several Sabbaths during tbe 

year to visit one of the villages about two 

hours away, wbere we have regular preaching 

services by a licentiate. On tbese occasions 

I usually bave an audience of 

raore than double the nuraber tbat ordinarily 

attend. Two services are always 

held, at which the raembers are called on 

to take part, and always do so. After tbe 

services the sick are prescribed for, and 

those wbo cannot get out are visited at 

their houses. 

This outside work always interferes 

with hospital and clinics. I try to 

economize tirae as far as possible by insisting 

upon our free patients attending the 

clinics; but as this cannot always be done, 

one day is generally about as busy as another. 

The condition of many of tbe clinic 

patients is very little better than that of 

tbose seen in the villages. I frequently 

have as raany as eighty and seldora less 

than forty, and araong thera representatives 

of all classes, Mohamraedans, Pagans 

and nominally Christians sitting side by 

side and listening together to the trutb 

that Christ carae to save all of them who 

will trust in Him. Although I am often 

hurried to attend to tbis nuraber of patients, 

everj' possible opportunity is seized 

to give a word of advice, warning or encouragement. 

These patients are nearly 

all too poor to pay a fee for examination, 

but whenever possible a small amount is 

charged for raedicine. In bringing the 

people up to tbe point of paying for their 

raedicines, I bave had the valuable aid of 

our pharmacist, Mr. Fattal, who managed 

this rauch better than I could bave done. 

Professional visits to the horaes of 

the people bring rae into more direct 

touch with them than I can get in tbe 

clinics. Eich and poor are alike glad to 

secure ray services; but on tbe part of tbe 

few who are able to pay for a physician, 

there is not, as a rule, the sarae willingness 

to listen to anything of a religious 

nature as araong the poor. A great fleld 

is here open for work; but tirae is required—raore 

than I am often able to 

give, although such cases are often followed 

up through tbe belp of otbers. 

Wbere 150 to 200 visits are made in a 

month, along witb other work, it does not 

leave as mucb tirae as I could wish for 

anything of a religious nature. And yet 

not a little has been done in this way.

76 Q'uestions of the Hour. 

A few cases will serve as illustrations 

of the poverty, suffering and distress 

with which we daily meet in these visits. 

The flrstis that of a family of seven persons, 

in which the father Avas sick with 

consumption. They lived in one roora, 

which contained alraost nothing except 

their little bedding, which was spread out 

on the floor at night and piled away in a 

corner during the day. As the father was 

the only wage earner, they were soon 

overtaken by poverty and want, and to 

keep frora starvation were compelled to 

sell, one after another, the few copper 

cooking utensils that they had. Here it 

was necessary, not only to furnish raedicines, 

but soraething to procure suitable 

food for tbe sick one, whose condition, 

after all that we could do, was pitiable in 

tbe extrerae. And tbere is rarely a tirae 

that we do not have a nuraber of cases 

under our care equally as needy as this 

onc. 

Another case that coraes to raind was 

that of a widow with fivechildren. When 

all were well she could eam a scanty living, 

but three children, one after tbe 

other, were taken down with fever, and 

all had to lie in the only room they had— 

on the floor. The room was dark and 

darap, with very insufficient ventilation, 

so situated that no ray of sunlight could 

ever enter it. She received a feAV cents a 

day frora her church, but this was barely 

sufficient to keep the well ones frora starvation. 

Naturally there Avas nnthing left 

to do but supply medicines and food necessary 

for the siclc, in addition to giving 

them professional care. It is not strange 

that those thus cared for feel themselves 

under a debt of gratitude for such services. 

Last year, when the cholera broke out 

in Latakia, the flrst cases occurred in a 

Greek family living in one small room, 

Avitli a door and one window Avithout 

glass. The father flrsttook it and died; 

then three children, and during tbe time 

of their sickness, no one carae in to them 

but rayself,tbose living in the sarae court 

having fled—all except one family that 

lived up-stairs. And, although they did 

not come near, the woman of this faraily 

also took the disease and died in a few 

hours. The people were so ignorant of 

what to do and sorae so careless, tbat, although 

the Governraent furnished lime 

and various antiseptics, it was difiicult to 

have thera clean up their preraises. To 

see to this, I spent hours every day for a 

while in the fllthiest nooks and corners of 

the city, trying to bave people do what was 

necessary as a preventive raeasure. -The 

disease appeared in a large nuraber of 

places well separated frora each other, but 

did not spread generally over the city. 

One pitiable case was that of a man and 

wife, and their boy, about twelve years 

old. I was called early one raoming to 

see a woman who I was told was very sick. 

The place was a room' about fourteen feet 

square and with no opening but a door. 

It was so dark that a larap had to be lit, 

Avhen I found tbat tbe woraan was already 

lying in one corner dead, evidently from 

cholera. The busband, suspecting tbis, 

had fled, but was caugbt by the police 

and brought baclc again and iraprisoned 

in this roora with the boy. He also took 

the disease and died. The boy was then 

kept in a sraall roora adjoining for ten 

days, but escaped the disease. 

It Avas not only that we had a very contagious 

disease to corabat, but the surroundings 

in the raost of the cases were 

truly horrible. Many a tirae on going 

into the close and fllthy places where the 

disease was, I had to accustora rayselfby 

degrees to the foulness of the atraosphere, 

and nothing could be done, as the Governraent 

had no place provided for the reception 

of patients.


Our services were gladly received, and 

I tbink appreciated by tbe City Council 

and the Governor, who, in their way 

did all tbey could to carry out plans that 

were suggested; but the trouble was tbey 

did not bave the raeans to do rauch. 

Tbere was much distress among tbe sufferers, 

wbose bedding and clothing were 

generally burned, and some provision was 

made for tbese by botb Mohammedans 

and Christians; but after all was done, 

there were still many needy cases left to 

be cared for by private charity. 

AVben I visited tbis country nine years 

ago and laid before sorae of our congregations 

the subject of hospital work, it 

raet witb sucb a response as to admit of 

the beginning of the work at once. Miss 

Willia A. Dodds, who had been previously 

engaged in school work, was appointed by 

tbe Board as Matron. Upon our arrival 

in Latakia, I iraraediately set about to 

make sucb alterations in tbe lower story 

of tbe Mission building in wbich we lived 

as to flt it for hospital use. Two new 

rooms were also built, with a basement 

bath roora, from donations received specially 

for tbis purpose. Two wards—one 

for men and one for women—were fltted 

up, 'in which it is possible to accoraraodate 

fourteen patients, our general average 

being about ten. Tbe next thing was 

to secure helpers; and in this we were 

markedly guided by the Divine hand. 

Mrs. Haddad, whose death occurred about 

a year ago, was then in Latalcia on a visit, 

and agreed to stay as one of our helpers. 

She was fairly educated and had been 

employed as a Bible reader in Sidon for a 

number of years, wbicb rendered ber 

services specially valuable to us. Another 

widow lady, an Armenian, was secured 

to fillthe second place. She was 

not educated, and knew nothing of 

Protestantism, but was a good worker, 

and after several years' instruction united 

with the Church. A young girl was employed 

as cook, and she, too, has asked to 

be received into the Church, but was advised 

to wait for a while. During tbe 

seven years that the hospital was open 

tbese tbree persons were Miss Dodds' 

helpers and corapanions in the work, and 

wben ber sickness and the death of Mrs. 

Haddad closed tbe work and separated 

those wbo had been in sucb intiraate relations 

for so long, it was like the severing 

of faraily ties. I should raention. 

wiLi.iA A. dodds. 

too, that .Mr. Fattal, who bas also been 

witb us for the past seven years, rendered 

rauch valuable service in the hospital 

when not otherwise eraployed as pharmacist. 

The work of the Matron, under existing 

circurastances, has been varied in character. 

All our helpers being without any 

training in the beginning, tbey had to be 

instructed in all the duties required, froin 

tbe care of tbe sick to tbe raaking of beds, 

the sweeping of a room or tbe preparation.


of the necessary food. Tben carae the 

ordering of supplies, tbe keeping of the 

accounts connected witb the work, and a 

general oversight of tbe condition of patients, 

and the giving of those little attentions 

that native helpers would never 

think necessary, or consider beneath their 

position; for it is the doing of the little 

things—a word here and a touch there—- 

that counts for so much in gaining the 

hearts and adding to the comfort of the 

sick. The great aim in the perforraance 

of these duties, aside frora the successful 

conducting of the work, has been to raake 

thera a practical lesson in Christianity. 

While the theoretical teaching was not 

neglected, these practical things were 

raade prominent. Witbout the almost 

constant supervision of- the Matron, and 

her example before them, it would be impossible 

to find native helpers who, even 

after being instructed, would feel that it 

was necessary to follow out carefully and 

in detail what they had been taugbt. 

Every patient adraitted, whenever in a 

condition to do so, was encouraged to begin 

tbe study of the Bible, and few indeed 

ever left us without carrying away 

•with them a large portion of memorized 

truth. There were morning and evening 

prayers daily, and a Sabbatb evening service 

at wbich there were singing and 

reading of the Scriptures, with prayer and 

a short address. Occasionally one of tbe 

missionaries or native brethren had cbarge 

of this service. In our opinion the work 

of tbe hospital has been very helpful in 

every respect. 

That we bave been able to do raore and 

better work professionally is an established 

fact. That we have been able to 

do raucb raore in the way of religious 

teaching is equally certain. Tbere are 

many to-day in widely scattered districts 

who have a store of religious knowledge 

at their coraraand, and otbers wbo are 

tbe possessors of Bibles and otber religious 

books, who would bave reraained 

witbout this knowledge bad it not been 

for the hospital. A great raany Bibles 

and other books bave been distributed to 

those able to read. I ought to say that 

tbe first and largest donation of money 

for that purpose was given by our Indian 

Mission before the work was begun. The 

nuniber of patients treated in the last full 

year of ten raonths was one bundred and 

seA'enteen. Besides patients, a large number 

of their friends who come to see tbem 

are brougbt into touch witb tbe truth. A 

few by this means have been led to become 

regular attendants on tbe preaching 

services, and several children have been 

in this Avay brought into the schools. Others 

bave been helped to positions where 

they are- more directly under Mission influence. 

A large number bave been 

reached who could not have been reached 

by any other agency. It is difficult to 

corapute results witb any certainty. The 

work thus begun is soraetiraes followed up 

by others wbose tirae and abilities enable 

thera to do it better; but in looking back 

over tbese years, we feel sure that some 

have received tbeir first impulse toward 

tbe heavenly way from influences brought 

to bear upon them in tbe hospital or some 

of the other forms of raedical work. 

Many have been helped in their bour of 

need, and have thus been won over as 

friends to a work tbat they would otherwise 

have continued to oppose. How 

raany have really accepted what they have 

beard we cannot know now; but I believe 

that at least sorae have; and I am encouraged 

in a work that is difficult and trying 

by tbe fact tbat I can thus be made the 

instrument of helpfulness to a neighbor, 

and open to bim the possibilities of the 

better life, never forgetting that if any 

good has been accomplished, it is only 

through Christ tbe Lord.



ABROAD. 

Suadia, Syria.—A letter from Rev. C. 

A. Dodds contains this item: 

Licentiate Ibrahira Jukki passed away 

Tuesday, February 7, 1905, after a sickness 

of about ten days. He was seventyone 

years of age. Tbough not feeling 

well, be was present at tbe morning 

preaching service, January 29. He went 

steadily down uiitil Saturday of that 

IBRAHIM JDKKI 

week, or rather Friday nigbt. Tben be 

rallied and seemed very much better, but 

tbe improvement only lasted for a short 

time, and on Sabbath last he was worse 

again. From tbat time be declined 

rapidly until be died. His latter end was 

peace, as be died trusting in Jesus as bis 

Saviour. He was a good old man and 

will be much missed. 

Mrs. Myrta May Dodds, of Sterling, 

Kan., wbo was for many years in Suadia, 

also writes in regard to the death of licentiate 

Jukki: 

Mr. Ibrahim Jukki was sick only a 

week, and bad no fear of deatb. He died 

very peacefully. It is with tears of sorrow 

that I pen these words. I knew no 

one in Suadia who was raoredear to us as 

a personal friend. When he heard that 

we were coraing home to America, be carae 

to our bouse at once. He could not spealc 

in bis usual cheery way, but waving his 

hand he sat down in a chair and covered 

his face with his hands and wept aloud. 

After a little be said: "Is it so ? Ob, is it 

true?" We Imew what tbe dear old raan 

meant. We all cried together. It was 

some time before anything could be said. 

Tben the Lord was in our raidst as we 

sat and talked in broken, subdued tones. 

The raorning that we left Suadia his wife 

was sick, but sbe walked to the river's 

bank witb M. Ibrahim to tell us good-by. 

He, witb tears dropping down his cheeks, 

said: "0, my friends, we meet you at 

this river and say adieu, but we sball cross 

tbe river of deatb and meet in beaven." 

In all our years of work together our testiraony 

has ever been, "He is a good old 

raan, a good old man!" 

Missionaries do not realize how dearly 

tbey love tbose among wbom they labored, 

until they have to leave them far away in 

a distant land. Our bearts long to be in 

tbe work again, but He knows best. 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—Eev. E. J. 

Dodds, writing Febraary 15, 1905, quotes 

interesting items from a recent report of 

Machail Luttoof's:


He begins with the statement that the 

incidents he relates are only given as 

specimens of his daily work. 

He says that on visiting Karaja Elyas, 

be had the opportunity of reraaining there 

two days and three nights. It is a Fellah 

village, only about six railes frora Mersina. 

He found very favorable opportunities 

for reading and speaking to interested 

hearers, both at public places of resort 

and in houses. Many women and children 

were among those who listened. Much 

time was spent in reading religious tracts. 

Araong the raen sorae of the sheikhs asked 

questions. The Holy Spirit gave hira 

suitable and convincing replies. In departing, 

we distributed sorae gospels and 

tracts. He says: "I was deterrained not 

to be burdensome, and had brought a supply 

of food with me. I thinlc," he says, 

"I was earnest in my work and gentle and 

kind in my intercourse with everyone, and 

I ara happy to say this spirit was reciprocated 

on their part. 

"My next halt was at the KuUah, a 

village on the farm of Kamil Pacha. The 

people of this village would not receive 

me, saying my visit would be sure to in- 

A'olve them in trouble with the Govemment. 

I asked thera to allow rae to spend 

the night there, but they would not, and 

asked rae to leave at once. I Avent out 

and sat down under a tree and ate ray 

supper. Sorae shepherd? carae there to 

rae, and with thera a raan from Gendairia, 

who had been at sorae tirae a pupil in 

Latakia. He asked for a book for his 

wife, which I gave him, and also gave hira 

sorae tracts for the sheikh of the village. 

'T then proceeded to Kuzon Lee and Avas 

Icindly AA'eleoraed and hospitably lodged by 

Sheikh ilohararaed, a warra friend of 

ynurs. I spent the flrstpart of the night 

in evangelistic work, and when I retired 

gave thanks to Hira who had given me a 

place to Avork in the gospel cause, and to 

rest. It is a large and important village. 

I spent part of tbe next day in it, and 

distributed Scriptures and tracts, but was 

under the necessity of withdrawing in the 

afternoon because of the arrival of Governraent 

officials for the purpose of taking 

soldiers. I comraended our work there 

to the mercy and providence of tbe Holy 

Spirit, who, I trust, will make it fruitful. 

"I started to go next to Ibn Neesany. 

I bad neither horses nor loads. I sat 

doAvn by the roadside to rest and eat. I 

was addressed by a leper from Adana, 

who was passing. He said he was going 

to see if he could be healed by a sheikh 

at the village of Shettle Kalee. I gave 

him some food and read hira sorae stories 

frora the Testaraent about lepers, and 

talked to hira about Jesus and His wonderful 

works and His cleansing those who 

were afflicted with this dreadful disease. 

At Ibn Neesany I sat down at a shop, with 

the OAvner of which I was acquainted. The 

leper hacl tumed off by' another road before 

Ave carae to this village. Many people 

gathered about rae to hear rae read and 

speak, ilany rerainded rae of ray fornier 

visit Avith you. Sheikh Ali said he thought 

much of Avliat we had told hira at that 

tirae. 

"At the next village I stayed a few 

hours. Here I found two former pupils 

of our schools, one frora Suadia and the 

other frora ilersina. They were quite 

ready to introduce and belp us. I could 

not stay long because of the presence of 

Turkish soldiers. I accordingly went on 

to Shettle Kalee. The house where I 

stopped Avas a school. I had knoAvn the 

teacher in his childhood. I got him to 

read and I expounded wbat he read, ilen, 

Avomen and children were present. I distributed 

a few Scriptures and tracts. The 

school teacher insisted on ray dining with 

hira, although I had food with rae. I 

spoke very earnestly to this young raan


about the new birth and told hira that 

without it he could not be properly qualified 

to teacb. 

"I went on to another village and read 

and talked as I bad" opportunity, and I 

entrusted tbe result to tbe Holy Spirit, 

who can raalce our work result in glory to 

God and good to tbis nation. So rauch 

for the Arab village. It has also, I be 

Ueve, sorae otber narae. 

"In Kara Fanky and the Iavo Fuznies 

1 and ray books were beartily welcoraed, 

and I felt rauch joy in ray work there. 

In the forraer village a hired boy, one of 

our forraer pupils, carae to talk with rae. 

His narae was Deeb. He was partly the 

cause of ray kind reception, for be spoke 

kindly of rae to his friends, and told tbem 

of the great good the missionaries are doing 

everywhere in teaching men the gospel. 

I shall not forget him." 

The above is all in the report that concerns 

work araong tbe Fellahin and perhaps 

it is sufficient to send you at one 

time. 

AVe had a very pleasant New Year, of 

which I bad thought I would write you. 

Boxes carae frora Hopkinton, Iowa, and 

frora Parnassus, Pa. They were received 

January 2, and contained raucb for the 

schools and some nice gifts for the missionaries.- 

NatiA'e friends and neighboring 

raissionariesalso sent gifts to the children, 

and tbey were very mucb pleased 

with their New Year's celebration. 

Larnaca, Cyprus.—Writing February 

23, Eev. Walter McCarroll says, among 

other things: 

We observed tbe Week of Prayer in 

common with the evangelical churches all 

over the world. These meetings were the 

largest and most interesting that we bave 

had since our arrival in tbe island. As 

the Armenian friends who attend the Sabbatb 

services would not come to tbe 

church for prayer raeeting, we determined 

to go to thera in one of their homes. 

The change or experiment was a decided 

success. Instead of half-a-dozen we bad 

about thirty persons, and on two nights 

between forty and flfty. We have continued 

tbe cottage raeetings since with 

very satisfactory results. 

An English lady wbo bad corae to 

Cyprus for tbe winter, gave us a delightful 

surprise by loolcing us up and manifesting 

a deep sympathetic interest in our 

Avork. She was an Evangelical, and an 

earnest friend of raissions, and felt out of 

her eleraent in the formalisra and Eoraanisra 

of the Anglican Church in Nicosia, 

so she raade a trip to Larnaca especially 

to see the ipaissionaries. It was quite refreshing. 

AA^'e rejoice in tbe glad tidings of a great 

revival in AVales, and it is our earnest 

prayer that Cyprus also raay participate 

in this tirae of refreshing from the presence 

of the Lord. It was a great encouragement 

to us to read that an all-day 

prayer raeeting, as recoraraended by the 

Board, was so successfully carried into effect 

by one of our congregations in Fhiladelphia. 

Sucb a day of prayer was undoubtedly 

of iraraediate beneflt to that 

congregation, and will not be without its 

effect in the raission flelds. "Though it 

tarry, wait for it; because it will surely 

corae, it will not tarry." 

We are sorry tbat the Board does not 

see its way clear to undertake the school 

worlc in Cyprus, but we have to learn tbat 

God is not limited to methods, and that 

perhaps the Lord is seeking to lead us into 

more complete dependence upon Himself. 

Perhaps, also, the Lord is reserving the 

honor of building a Protestant scbool for 

some native of the island. It is probable 

that Pastor Sarkissian and faraily will reraove 

to Toronto, Canada, this coraing 

suraraer, wbere bis son is just completing


his . theological course. One of our 

teachers, also, Mr. Alekko Aegyptiades, 

expects to go to Nebraska to study in a 

college there. 

After careful consideration and prayer, 

it has seemed best to us that my brother 

sbould locate in Nicosia. It is the capital, 

tbe largest town on the island, and it is 

better that the work in Nicosia be under 

the iraraediate supervision of one of the 

raissionaries. We trust tbat tbis arrangement 

will be of decided advantage to the 

Mission as a whole. In one or two cases 

I see signs of the work of the Spirit, 

which I trust will develop into a genuine 

work of grace. If God gives us a hunger 

for souls. He will not let us go unsatisfled. 

We are all in usual good health. 

fact that it.is our house of worship. It 

is not a thing of beauty, but it is a temple 

of the living God just as truly as any 

great and splendid cathedral. The fact 

bas been demonstrated right here that a 

tabernacle of the Most High can be built 

out of baraboo just as well as out of marble 

and granite. You already have accounts 

of the late comraunion, and I will 

Tak Hing, China,—A letter from 

Eev. J. K. Eobb, written February 1, 

1905, contains the following paragraph: 

I think it will not be long after the 

Chinese new year begins until we will be 

able to raake a start on the chapel. At 

the present time we are holding services in 

a mat shed. It was put up for the purpose, 

and was flrstoccupied on Saturday 

of our last coraraunion. I enclose a photo 

of it, taken with the thought in raind that 

it might prove interesting to some of your 

readers, both because it is our chapel for 

the present, and because it is a curiosity 

from a raecbanical standpoint. It is about 

thirty-five feet square, and about the sarae 

in heigbt. The fraraework is composed of 

light poles, sorae of thera pine, and the reraainder 

baraboo. The roof is palm leaves, 

and the sides are covered witb bamboo 

mats about two by three feet in size. Tbe 

chief curiosity about the building is tbat 

it has been erected without the use of iron 

or steel in any form, not even nails. Its 

strength is remarkable, being able to 

stand against the strongest winds. But 

our chief interest in this shed lies in the 

not say anything about it, except that its 

being held in a rather primitive structure 

did not detract one iota from the 

soleranity of the occasion. Indeed, the 

surroundings seemed to heighten in some 

respects tbe impressiveness of the occasion. 

In a letter written in January, Eev. 

Julius A. Kerapf gives bis irapressions of 

this coraraunion season: 

We have just passed tbrough a spiritual 

and uplifting coramunion season. And to 

rae it was an intensely interesting one as 

Avell. My description of it must necessarily 

be very imperfect, as I can only tell 

what I saw, for I did not hear, or rather 

understand, a word of what was said. 

Saturday raoming services were held in 

tbe mat shed which had just. been finished, 

and which we intend to use for a 

cbapei until the permanent building has 

been erected. There were seven new'


raerabers and a child to be baptized. The 

audience, wbich was quite large, listened 

very attentively to tbe serraon, and tben 

were especially quiet Avhile the ordinance 

of baptisra was being administered. The 

seven candidates—four men and three 

woraen—stood in a serai-circle as Mr. 

Eobb put to them the questions. If one 

may judge from the expressions on their 

faces, they evidently felt the soleranity of 

tbe occasion, and realized the importance 

of the step which they were taking. One 

old man, as the water was being sprinkled 

on bis bead, smiled so happily, and gave 

such sighs of relief and satisfaction as I 

imagine an aged person would give who 

felt the great burden of accuraulated sins 

at last being lifted frora his shoulders. As 

ilr. Eobb beld his hand over the head of 

one of the woraen, his eraotions alraost 

overcarae bim so tbat he could hardly give 

utterance to the forraula of baptisra. Tbis 

woraan bas been in the eraploy of the 

Mission for about two years, and no doubt 

she has been the subject of raany prayers 

on the part of both ilr. and Mrs, Eobb 

and others in tbe Mission. Tbere has 

been rauch wrestling for her soul, and the 

prayers have been answered. 

Sabbatb raorning the sky was partly 

cloudy, but tbe Lord favored us witb not 

only a dry day, but one just warm enougb 

to make it corafortable in our airy cbapei, 

so tbat our attention was not distracted 

by the darap, chilly air 'which seems to belong 

to Soutb Cbina winters. Mr. A. I. 

Robb conducted the services, and spoke 

witb mucb feeling. Tbe Spirit of the 

Almighty seemed to be in our midst and 

to -control the audience. I was surprised 

at the quietness and attention of the 

Chinese. Some one has said that the 

Chinese are naturally irreligious and are 

very much lacking in reverence for religious 

and spiritual tbings. Our audience 

evidently was not of tbat kind of Chinese, 

for they Avere very orderly, and listened 

as respectfully as any audience at home 

would listen. Communion tables were 

used for the first time, and we were a little 

afraid there would be sorae confusion 

araong the raerabersin going to the table, 

but nothing of the kind happened, everything 

was done decently and in order. All 

the raerabers and raissionaries communed 

together, tbe women sitting at one table 

and the raen at another. There were 

thirty-two coraraunicants; twenty-three 

were native converts, the fruit of the 

church's work at Tak Hing. It was a 

great privilege and an inspiration to see 

these native Christians at the table of the 

Lord and to coraraune with thera, men 

and women who only recentiy were idolaters, 

full of superstitions and steeped in 

sin, but are now witnesses of the saving 

power of God's grace. And these, from 

present indications, are only an earnest of 

the harvest that is soon to follow, if the 

Church faint not nor grow weary in well 

doing. Now I migbt go on and tell about 

what Sin Tai, one of the new raembers, 

has to endure because of her confession of 

the name of Christ, and I might tell of 

the victory whicb A Sam gained over a 

severe test of his steadfastness, but it is 

very likely that others Avho know raore of 

tbe facts in these cases will write you 

about them. 

Mr. A. I. Eobb and Dr. Wright started 

out on an itinerary tour this afternoon. 

Their objective is Law Ting, a city fortytwo 

railes frora bere. It is reported by 

sorae of our nierabers who live in a village 

near Law Ting that there is a wbole 

faraily or clan of thirty raen in tbeir 

village, all of whora, excepting three, bave 

forsaken their idols and are studying tbe 

new doctrine. Mr. Eobb will perbaps be 

the first wbite raan that was ever in the 

village, and tbe people for the firsttirae 

will hear the gospel.


^ pleasant and encouraging. * * * We 

A personal letter frora Dr. J. M. expect all who come to the dispensary to 

Wright, dated February 4, contains items pay, if they are able. But it is impossible 

of general interest: 

for one to tell by looking at a Chinaman 

The weather is cool and all are in excel- whether he is able to pay or not. Wc feel 

lent health. The services are well at- like helping all wbo come, in tbe hope of 

tended, and the Mission seeras to have the doing them good, botb bodily and spirgood 

will of the people about us. The itually. We know of one who has conschool 

building is progressing, and fessed Christ through the infiuence of the 

proniises to be neat and comfortable when dispensary, and who can count the value 

it is-completed. of one soul? There are others of whom 

The dispensary Avork has been very we are hopeful. 

The report of the French Frotestant Mission in iladagascar gives the following 

statistics of its Avork for 1904: There are twelve European missionaries, sixty-three 

evangelists, and 516 churches, with over nine thousand raerabers. The Frotestant 

population nurabers 111,900, and the average attendance in the congregations is 

30,586. Tbere Avere 466 added to the churches the past year, and the catechuraens 

nuraber 840. There are 155 Frotestant schools, with twelve European and 541 

native teachers. The pupils number 8,008. 

Tibet, refractory Tibet, can be reached and made to see and hear. Some three years 

ago a Tibetan Lama naraed Khorafel was converted tbrough preaching of Moravian 

raissionaries frora Leli, in Kashrair. He was an able raan; was taught, and finallysent 

to preach Christ in Kalatse, near the Tibetan border, the very place wbere be used to 

serve Buddha. Noav the .Moravians tell us of the baptisra at Leb, of five Tibetans 

frora Kalatse, converted through the preaching of Khorafel. "Be what you like; be a 

Mohararaedan if you choose; but if you becorae a Christian, we will disinherit you!" 

—this is the threat hurled at one of these new converts by his friends. It was carried 

out to the letter, too. 

The first convert was baptized in Uganda only twenty years ago, but the British 

Commissioner, who has recently had a census taken, reports that there are now in 

connection with the Church Missionary Society 1,070 church buUdings providing 

accommodation for 126,851 persons, having a regular attendance of 52,471. They 

are asking the society for 200 more missionaries. 

An old and influential Japanese priest is said by Mr. Schumaker (A. B. M. U.) to 

bave discussed in a teraple lecture Christian work for Avoraen in Japan. "In Tokio," 

be said, "there are about seventy-five girls' schools. Of these, about fifteen are Christian 

and only one is Buddhist. Mark well my prophecy, that in forty years Japan 

will become Christian!" The raan raay have spoken as foreseeing calaraity, but few 

who watch Japan can doubt his foresight. 

The new Union Medical College in Feking has received a gift of ten tbousand taels 

(six thousand eight bundred dollars) from tbe Dowager Empress of Cbina.


AX H O M E . 

Allegheny, Pa.—The usual monthly raeeting of tbe Central Board was held on tho 

15th of March. 

The Treasurer reported Jor February : 

Fund. • Eeceipts. Expenditures. Balance. 

Domestic Mission $153.43 None. *$3,964.48 

Southern Industrial 7.16 $50.00 *126.81 

Southern Current 242.46 576.83 890.81 

Chinese Home 10.00 105.33 250.73 

Indian Mission 382.42 563.08 1,150.40 

* Overdrawn. 

Eev. P. J. McDonald writes from Los 

Angeles, Marcb 9, that a year bas passed 

since the organization, and tbeir numbers 

bave doubled. Tbere are sixty raembers 

and sixteen cbildren in both branches— 

Los Angeles and Santa Ana. He bas a 

class in tbe Testimony. He feels that tbe 

fleld needs a second rainister. 

Eev. Isaiah Faris writes from Oakland, 

Marcb 6, of a glad surprise in the coming 

forward of six Chinamen for baptism. 

He had the counsel of elders C. R. Dill, 

Andrew Morrow, Dr. W. R. Wallace, and 

L. M. Samson, now on the coast, and after 

examination, he baptized tbe applicants 

on the Sabbatb before. 

Eev. W. W. Carithers writes frora the 

Indian Mission tbat Miss Edgar, of the 

Syrian Mission, had been there .March 3 

to 8, and bad been a belp. The new Mission 

Sabbatb scbool was much needed; 

there were tbirty present besides tbe 

teachers. 

Eev. J. G. Eeed writes from Selraa, 

March 13, that the coraraunion bad been 

beld. There had been much sickness 

among tbe children. Miss Anna Simms 

had been giving help on Sabbath in tbe 

Valley Creek Mission. 

Next month tbe Board will make tbe 

quarterly appropriations to the Fresbyteries, 

based on the reports of clerks, tbe 

last before tbe meeting of Synod. 

Money is needed, especially for the Domestic 

Mission, the Industrial, and tbe 

Jewisb Mission funds. 

D. B. Willson. 

The closing exercises of tbe Theological 

Seminary will be held on Tuesday and 

Wednesday, April 25 and 26. The Board 

of Superintendents is to meet on Tuesday 

at 9 A. M. Discourses will be given by 

tbe students Tuesday afternoon and evening, 

Wednesday raorning and afternoon. 

Tbe graduating class is Williara Henry 

George, George Nesbit Greer, James 

Guthrie McElhinney, and William Walter 

Wilson. 

Hopkinton, la.—On November 22, 

1904, the Ladies' Missionary Society of 

Hopkinton Congregation was called upon 

to mourn the deatb of one of the oldest 

and raost esteeraed raerabers. Miss Anna 

McGlade. We, as a society, would desire 

to express our sorrow and loss, and our 

appreciation of ber Cbristian character 

and faithfulness. Tbough quiet and retiring 

in manner, tbe influence of her kind 

and cheerful disposition was felt by all. 

Her simple, child-like trust in ber 

Heavenly Father carried her safely 

through the journey of life, and as earth 

faded away ber vision of beaven grew 

brighter, her faith stronger. We would


also seek to imitate her example of: Christian 

life and helpfulness, and would be 

adrnonished to be up and doing, for the 

night cometh when no work can be done. 

To the bereaved sisters and brothers we 

extend our heartfelt sympathy. 

COJIMITTEE. 

Olathe, Kan The members of Mr. 

J. M. Milligan's Sabbath school class of 

the Olathe Congregation, would place on 

record tbe following tribute of love and 

respect to the memory of Mrs. ilargaret 

Hutcheson, who entered into rest January 

20, 1905, in the sixty-sixth year of her 

age. She was a lifelong raeraber of the 

E. F. Church, and was reraarkably inteUigent 

and devoted to its principles. She 

was a faithful student of the Word of 

God, as was evinced by her well raarked 

Bible, and by her readiness in giving apt 

.quotations from its pages. She Avas not 

one who constantly absorbed and gave 

nothing in return, as was proven by the 

efficiency Avith which she taught in the 

Sabbath school for raany years. She Avas 

spiritually rainded in an unusual degree, 

and irapressed all with whora she was 

associated with tbe genuineness of ber 

piety, and the strength of her Christian 

character. She bad raore than an ordinary 

love«for the house of God, and was 

always present when health would permit. 

Although a sufferer from heart trouble, 

she was in ordinary bealth up to within 

a few days of her death, when a severe attack 

of la grippe proved more than her 

frail form could endure, and "God took 

her." 

Eesolved, First—Tbat while we as a 

class feel the loss occasioned by her death, 

we recognize the band of Him who doeth 

all things well, and bow in hurable subraission 

to His Avill. 

Second—That we lovingly cherish her 

raeraory and honor her Christian example. 

Third—That the class extend its sympathy 

to the son and daughter and brother 

and friends, praying that they may be sustained 

by divine grace, knowing that their 

loss is her gain. 

Committee. 

God Avants us all to get rich. He tells us the safest bank in which to raake our 

deposits—one Avhere thieves never break in, Avhere no rnbbers steal, where no raotb 

can corrupt nor destroy the notes nr bonds representing our heavenly wealth. Feopie 

want to raake safe investraents. Here is the chance—"lay up for yourselves treasures 

in heaven." This kind of riches is available for us all. No one can secure a 

raonopoly on goodness; neither is it dependent on wealth, social position, or the 

recognition of men. It is available for all. 

A young lady was one day visiting an aged man, a friend of ber father, who had 

been associated with hira in early life. The raan had been one of those who run 

after the world and overtalce it. All it could give he had obtained. Eretty soon 

he inquired the state of his friend, whora he knew to be in circurastances of far less 

external corafort than hiraself. As he listened to the story of his less favored 

friend's, patience in suffering, and of the cheerfulness with which be could look forward 

to eitiier life or death, the rich raan's conscience applied the unexpressed reproach, 

and he exclaimed, "Yes, yes, you wonder why I cannot be as bappy and quieti 

too; but think of the difference: He is going to his treasure, and I-I must leave 

mine." AVhether we have or have not earthly treasures, let us lay up for ourselves 

treasures in heaven. This we can all do by faith in Cbrist and faithfulness in His 

service.—G. B. F. Hallock.



A CRISIS HOUR 

Shall We Have a Revival? 

Shall We Have a Part and Portion in the 

Revival ? 

The question is serious and fraught Let us remeraber that a revival is the 

Avith raeaning at sucb a tirae as this. 

There is "the sound of a going in the tops 

of the raulberrytrees;" and it becoraes us 

work of the Lord. He is sovereign in this 

work of grace, as in every other gracious 

work. He is not governed by the rule of 

"to bestir ourselves." The Church of the worthiness on the part of His people. 

Covenanters sbould not be lasti rather The whole work of rederaption is a revelation 

might she be expected to be flrst,to welcorae 

of sovereign grace. Hoav infinitely 

her Lord and King as He coraes in 

the present great awakening of religious 

loving of our God to corae and shoAver His 

blessings on any part of His Church as 

life. Will Covenanters everywhere set tbe prayer ascends, "Not for our righteousness, 

their hearts upon a thorough, genuine, 

and fruitful revival of religion within all 

our churches and niissions ? The Lord, by 

His glorious deraonstrations of poAver and 

but for Thy great mercies." 

ShaU We Have Share in These Gifts of 

the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit? 

The answer depends in part upon our 

grace, is arresting the attention of multitudes 

consciousness of need. Need never Avins, 

who stand astonished at His Avon 

derful doings, -and yet are expecting and 

but the consciousness of need may be regarded 

as the firstshower. Are the drops 

praying for larger and mightier revelations 

already falling? Do Ave, as a Church, re 

of His presence and purpose, not alize our spiritual poverty? Do Ave know 

knowing what to expect, wbile hoping for that we are miserably and dangerously 

a world-wide revival, the outpouring of weak and near the death point? Are we 

"the Spirit upon all flesh,"the latter-day 

showers, the purifying fires, out of which 

shall arise a "new earth." 

The Lord is showing His wiUingness 

sick of formalitv", half-heartedness, faithlessness, 

and impotency ? Are we troubled 

about our distaste for God's serAdces, our 

tearless prayers, our shut Bibles, our cold 

and power to give life, and life raore faraily altars, our worldly hearts and 

abundant, to His Church, in the great 

awakening now seen in parts' of Wales, 

tongues on the Sabbatb ? Are we brokenhearted 

because of our unbroken bearts, 

England, and Araerica. There raay our little love for Christ, our dying interest 

be excess of eraotion, and some unwarranted 

raeans included in these uprisings 

of spiritual fervor and action, of whicb 

in dying souls, our pitiless support of 

raissions, our failure to inspire others 

witb faith and hope and joy in Jesus 

we do not approve. But the excess of fervor 

Christ? Has the shower comraenced? 

will take care of itself; and the 

unscriptural means, such as hyrans and 

If so, we may expect great things from 

our Lord. 

music, were found there before the floodtide 

Shall We Become Partakers? 

set in. The spring flood sweeps the 

river of its ice and driftwood at the same 

That depends largely upon our desires. 

Are we hungry and thirsty for God, the 

time; but after the overflow the deep, living God? Are our souls longing for 

clear river, the rich green meadows, tbe 

summer sky, and the golden harvest. 

Him, and tbe fuller, mightier, overawing 

revelations of His power and presence?


Are we unsatisfied—not dissatisfied— 

Avith-all we see, and hear, and realize of 

Him in prayer, in His Word, in His 

sacraments, and in all the ministrations 

of His grace? Is the very most and best 

that we enjoy of Hira but a taste, but a 

glirapse, but a sensation, but the awakening 

of desire, a drawing on into the divine 

heart ? Are our views of Christ Jesus becoraing 

enlarged, clarified, and exalted, 

so that Ave cannot endure the disrespect 

heaped upon Hira by erapty pews, erapty 

serraons, erapty treasuries, erapty bearts? 

Is there soraething in the soul that arises 

in raingled horror and indignation at 

present conditions? Do the eyes lose 

sleeji, and the eyeUds forget their sluraber 

in watching for new revelations of 

Jesus by His Spirit and Word in the 

heart? Are the knees worn with prayer? 

Is all sense of tirae lost in the secret place 

Avhere the soul raeets God ? For all such, 

a revival is sure. "For he satisfieth the 

longing soul, and filleththe hungry soul 

with goodness." Perhaps there will be a 

sufficient nuinber of Covenanters found in 

such a spirit and attitude before our God 

as will prove that the great revival is coraing 

to us. 

What Would the Revival Mean? 

AVhen the Lord shall corae in His 

power to give His Church a reviving, 

and the world a regeneration, there 

will be many and mighty changes. 

No doubt His coming in the plenitude 

of power and life to our Church would 

produce raarvelous "things we looked not 

for." "He shall sit as a refiner and 

purifier of silver." Perhaps we would be 

alarraingly dirainished as the dross would 

run off. "Who raay abide the day of His' 

coraing ?" Assuredly at the holy presence 

of Christ revealed in awful power by the 

Spiriti great quantities of dross would 

flow from the personality of the Church; 

sordidness, selflshness, worldliness, churlishness, 

ignorance, envyings, dullness, 

deadness, coldness, and a thousand other 

adulterations of true religion. And what 

noble and mighty characters would appear 

instead of the old. "For brass I will bring 

gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and 

for Avood brass, and for stones iron." The 

ascending scale is alraost beyond the subliraest 

conception. How the pulpit would 

becorae all-powerful in the ceaseless revelations 

of Christ and His glorious work of 

love! How the pews would be crowded 

witb eager, expectant worshipping servants 

of God! How the sacraraents would 

reveal the very heart of redeeming love, 

and the interior of heaven itself! How 

believers would become centers of light, 

and power, and joy in the Lord! How 

business and wealth would be consecrated 

to the Lord and His cause! How sons 

and daughters would be fllled witb missionary 

zeal, and hasten to prepare for the 

Master's work! How tbe Synod and the 

Boards of the Church would be inspired 

to enlarge the worlc of Christ beyond the 

grandest present ideals! "The young 

raen would see visions, and the old men 

would dreara dreams." The scale of 

operations would exceed present conditions, 

as far as an inspired vision outruns 

a sober tbought, as far as a glowing sunset 

outdoes the work of a pencil. 

Shall Our Church Have a Reviving? 

The minister who cannot rejoice in 

his brother rainister'sprosperity, even as 

in his own, raay not expect it. The flrst 

drops have not yet fallen upon his soul. 

He Avho longs for it that his cburcb raay 

becorae faraous, as tbat his narae raay be 

linked with great things, can hardly look 

for tbe revival, for the sky is still brass 

above bis bead. We must be bumble, 

God's sovereignty must be acknowledged. 

AVe raust cry out, "Unclean, unclean!" 

"UnAvorthy, unworthy!" Our prayer is 

that our God in His sovereign grace will

for His own sake grant us tbe great favor. 

Will not our Cburch pray as never before ? 

We cannot allow tbe season to go past in 

indifference. The Lord is doing great 

things for otbers. Will He pass us by? 

Will not our churches make our spring 

communions solemn with mucb prayer, 

and wet witb many tears, that we may not 

be neglected by our Lord, as His Spirit 

descends in mighty showers elsewhere? 

If we catch not the inspiration that is 

now tbrilling tens of thousands—yea, 

hundreds of thousands—surely we will 

becorae more dead than we have ever yet 

been. "Ye that make mention of the Lord, 

keep not silence, and give Him no rest," 

till He do great tbings for His Covenanted 

Cburch, and for all churches, yea, 

for the whole world. Are the flrstdrops 

falling ? Then we will look for the araple 

showers. 

J. C. McFeeters. 

MISSIONARY EFFORT.* 

Very encouraging has been the success 

of tbe Cburch in extending the gospel to 

the ends of the earth. That little band of 

eleven apostles and raore tban fivehundred 

brethren who saw Jesus after He had 

risen frora the dead, has increased to a 

great raultitude,sorae of whora see Him 

as He is, and some, thougb they bave not 

seen, yet, believing, love Him and rejoice 

with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

It was estimated that Foreign Missions 

in the Nineteenth Century had drawn at 

least four raillionsouls out of heathen 

darkness, and that the professed disciples 

of Christ, counting Protestants alone, 

nuraber raore tban one bundred and 

thirty-flve raillions.So the tiny stream 

has swollen to a great river, and will yet 

spread over the wbole earth as the waters 

*Read at a Mission Conference of the 

Young People's Societies of New York 

and Brooklyn. 


cover the sea. Luther on one occasion 

said tbat "Asia and Africa bad no gospel," 

but how brightly is the ligbt now shining 

in these continents to-day, and this only a 

foretaste, according to Divine prophecy, 

of what is to follow. The world is on 

the beart of tbe Lord Jesus Cbrist, and 

He invites all wbo love Him to take part 

in the great work of extending His kingdora. 

The response bas been large, and 

many, young and old, are tbe devotees to 

the worlc. India, for instance, was, as bas 

been termed, a land of darlmess, a land 

whicb to-day holds a raostiraportant position 

in the far Bast, and which bas influenced 

all nations around her. Her history 

bas been a long raarchof successive 

trouble, conqueror trarapling over conqueror 

and race over race —a land containing 

one raillion fivehundred thousand 

square railes,and with a population 

of two bundred and eighty-four millions. 

We can rejoice and say in that land the 

cause of Christ bas gone forth conquering 

and to conquer. Her dark age is fast 

passing away. Hinduisra, Brahraanism 

and Buddhism have had their sway. Now 

the gospel is gaining a strong foothold 

and pulling down superstition and idolatry. 

Christianity bids fair to have her 

golden age in the future. If we want a 

further proof of what tbe gospel has accoraplished, 

look at Africa. When young, 

I think we bave an idea tbat this great 

land is raostlydesert, and a good land for 

lovers of sport. As we grow older, a closer 

study reveals it is not altogether so. 

Africa is three tiraes as large as Europe; 

its population is from one hundred and 

twenty-seven to two hundred raillions.It 

is only at tbe present tirae the value of 

the land is being discovered; a land ricb 

in minerals, furnished with numerous 

gold fields,and recently a syndicate was 

formed for the cultivation of the- west 

coast and tbe growing of cotton. Even


the great desert is being so irrigated tbat 

it will soon be raade to blossora as the 

rose. 

Such is the land so coraraonly called the 

Dark Continent, on account of the difficulty 

experienced in reaching it with the 

gospel. What tbe railroads bave been to 

civilized lands, the great rivers and lakes 

bave been to Africa. God has used thera 

for the conveyance of the light to the interior, 

and the naraes of Moffat, Livingstone, 

Mackay of Uganda, Mungo Eark, 

Stanley and raany others, stand out prorainently 

as the instruraents used by God 

in such a great and glorious work. Ethiopia 

is stretching forth her hands to God, 

and when He shall count the peoples, it 

shall be said, "This raan and that raan 

there was born." It is not necessary for 

me to repeat the great results of raission 

work in Africa, India, China, the Islands 

of the Sea, and even in the stations of our 

own little Church. Yet some will say the 

gospel is making no progress, and that 

valuable lives are being wasted to no purpose. 

The whole map of the world today 

is a proof of the beneficent power of 

the gospel; it is proving its superiority 

over all forms of infidelity and heatbenisra 

by the greater and more work it does. 

It has changed the face of the world, renovated 

its morals and lifted nations to a 

high state of civilization. Tbis is the 

same gospel we as young people to-day 

have to send forth, and to proclaira. AVhat 

a great honor God has conferred upon us, 

not only in asking us to give of our raeans, 

but to unite in the great work wbich has 

revealed in the past so raany heroes and 

heroines. 

We have all, if we are truly Christ's, 

an interest in the extension of His kingdora, 

and there is rauch encourageraent in 

what I have noted to spur us up to greater 

earnestness. The world says, "Waste of 

time, money and lives." But sbould we 

listen to the world's opinion ? Soldiers in 

going forth to battle do not ask tbe enemy 

as to the likelihood of defeat or victory, 

and neither are we to look to the world for 

comraission or encouragement. But some 

may say, "I can't go to Africa, India or 

China and work among the heathen." 

AVhat of our present opportunities ? AVbat 

we all require is a clearer vision and a 

grander conception of the need botb at 

horae and abroad. As Covenanter young 

people, we should be especially given to 

the work of missions. We profess to be 

witnesses, and Christ says of His followers, 

"Tbey sball be witnesses * * * 

unto tbe uttermost parts of tbe earth." 

We say we hold and proclaim a pure 

and whole gospel, and here also we can 

claim His presence, "teaching thera to observe 

all things whatsoever I bave commanded 

A'OU." We eraphasize His Kingly 

claira and try not to deny His name, a 

Governor among the nations. God has set 

before us an open door, and no raan can 

shut it, for tbou bast a little strength left 

and hast kept My word and not denied My 

narae. .We often speak of our Church's 

noble history, of tbose who stood firm 

against great odds—yea, and laid down 

their lives for civil and religious liberty. 

In more rece,nt times the missionary spirit 

has, so to speak, "caugbt on," and our 

little Churcb has provided many sons and 

daughters for the evangelization of the 

world. Sorae bave passed on to higher 

service; raany more have united with 

larger Cbristian bodies and done noble 

work outside the range of our fields of 

labor, and we have great reason to rejoice 

so raany are at work to-day, asking for 

our prayers and assistance. We at home 

often wonder bow we can be of any assistance 

to tbose who go abroad, and a 

good illustration bow we may can be taken 

from tbat great event in Britisb history 

wbicb I trust we bave all read, "The

Spanish Armada." How did the British 

defeat this great foe? They built ships, 

they manned them, tbey provided supplies 

for tbeir sailors and prayed to God for 

victory. In like manner we must provide, 

equip, send forth representatives where 

we cannot go ourselves, and we must plead 

unceasingly with God for success. God 

in His infinite love and mercy bas done 

great things for us. We have received the 

good news of salvation and its joys. Let 

us be faitbful and carry to other lives and 

homes the glad tidings. 

Many tbe starving souls 

Now waiting to be fed. 

Needing, tbough knowing not tbeir need. 

Of Christ, the Living Bread. 

Oh, hast thou known His love ? 

To others make it known, 

Eeceiving blessmgs, otbers bless— 

No seed abides alone. 

Alex. Adams. 

THIRD CHURCH OF THE COVENANTERS, 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 


Olive Trees congratulates this congregation 

on the corapletion of its new cburch 

edifice at the comer of Franklin and 

Dauphin streets, Philadelphia. The accorapanying 

picture gives so correct an 

idea of its exterior as to malce unnecessary 

a verbal description of this handsome 

building, erected at a total cost, including 

tbe lots, of about $33,500. "The auditorium 

consists of a nave and side bays, 

treated as were the side aisles of the 

medieval churches, the floor space, bowever, 

being free of colurans, so tbat every 

part of it is available for seats, frora every 

one of wbich the pulpit platforra is easily 

seen." This roora is flnely lighted, and 

has corafortable accoraraodation for an 

audience-of tbree hundred, two bundred 

and fifty on tbe flrst floorin pews of antique 

oak, and fifty in a gallery tbat is 

carried across the north end of the central 

nave. Tbe pulpit is a meraorial, as are all 

tbe stained glass windows, whicb were 

subscribed for in advance by members of 

tbe congregation. The elevation of the


floor of the auditoriura seven feet above 

the sidewalk secures good light for the 

baseraent, wbich is fitted up for Sabbath 

school purposes. 

The dedication services coraraenced on 

Sabbath, March 5, 1905. The preacher 

was Eev. D. McAllister, D.D., LL.D., 

of Pittsburgh, Pa., who delivered two eloquent 

and appropriate discourses, in the 

raorning on "A Palace of Silver," Song 

of Soloraon 8:9, and in the evening on 

"The Footsteps of the Flock," Song of 

Soloraon 1:8. In the afternoon there was 

a fraternal meeting, at which the rainister 

of the church, Eev. E. C. Montgomery, 

D.D., presided, and brief addresses were 

spoken by neighboring pastors. Interesting 

exercises were also held on ilonday, 

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, at 

which addresses were raade by rainisters 

of sister churches, closing with a reception 

to raerabers and friends. 

This congregation, which reported last 

year one hundred and fifty-twocoraraunicants, 

has been under the pastoral care of 

Dr. Montgoraery for twenty-two years. 

He took charge when the raerabership was 

sraaller than to-day, but under the blessing 

of God on his labors and those of his 

associates in church work^ it has groAvn 

in nurabers, in financialstrength, and in 

Christian devotedness. Three years ago 

the people determined to support a missionary 

in sorae foreign field. At their 

request the Board of Poreign Missions 

norainated -J. .M. Wright, M.D., who was 

about to leave for China, as their representative 

at Tak Hing Chau on the West 

River. In paying his full salary of 

$1,000, over and above their regular offerings 

to the raissionaryenterprises of the 

Reformed Presbyterian Church, they not 

only illustrate the "Forward Movement," 

but also show that they understand the 

meaning of that popular phrase. Their 

example is Avorthy of imitation. 

FOR THE CHILDREN 

Perbaps the little readers of Olive 

Trees do not know tbat away out here in 

Syria tbe cbildren do not have open yards, 

from Avbich tbey can see and be seen, to 

play in as j'ou have in Araerica. The 

yards or gardens are enclosed by high 

stone walls, so high that a raan cannot 

look over thera. And that is what Eobert 

Stewart bas to play in while he is in 

Latakia. When he is up in the house, he 

can see the otber houses and tbe sea, but 

he cannot see down into the street. When 

he is down playing he can only see the 

four stone walls bigh above hira, unless he 

goes and opens the "big gate" in the front 

Avail. It makes you tbink of a prison, 

doesn't it? But be is used to it and does 

not mind. He does not often get out, but 

the other day he took a notion he wanted 

"to go out into the street and buy a top." 

So after dinner his raarama and papa had 

business in the street and they took 

Eobert along. You never saw such funny 

little shops as he saw tbat day. It was 

the Moslera quarter of the town, and there 

were little shops full of bright colored 

calicoes, piled frora floor to ceiling round 

the two side walls and the back wall; the 

fronts open to the street, and the shopkeepers 

sitting on little cushions on the 

floor, witb their ink-horns and account 

books lying beside thera. Soraetiraes they 

are gossiping with a would-be customer, 

or often rocking back and forth reading 

the "Koran." Then there were little 

shops hanging full of bright red slippers 

or "baboosbes." And again, all along the 

wa}', were little shops spread out by the 

side of the street. But Robert could not 

flnd anything nice for a boy, so he had to 

content himself with a comb, a cheap toothbrush 

and an urabrella—"all his very oato 

to do as he pleased with." It would never 

do to go to the street and not buy any-


thing. We went on tbrough tbe little narrow 

streets, looking into all the shops, 

and constantly followed up by a troop of 

little "street Arabs," eager and curious to 

see tbe Frangie boy with a cap on bis 

head, and tbe Sitt (lady) with gold teeth 

in her mouth. We could bear them talking 

with eacb otber, but we only laughed, 

especially Eobert, and never let on. One 

said: "Yes, sbe bas, I saw tbem." "Eeal 

gold?" "Yes, real gold teetb. Watch 

wben sbe opens her mouth." "She must 

be awful old to have gold teetb." And 

then they wiggle about from one side to 

tbe otber trying to see into the "Sittis" 

mouth wben she speaks; but I kept my 

mouth tight shut after that, and wbile 

they were fussing about it an old "Sheikh" 

with a green turban wound round bis 

bead carae along and told them "if they 

did not fly away be would break tbeir 

heads open." At last we came to a little 

carpenter shop, wbere a man was sitting 

on tbe ground turning out "tops." He 

beld a chisel in bis left band and steadied 

it with the toes of one foot. In tbe other 

hand he held a stick, to wbicb a strap, 

somewhat longer tban the stick, was 

fastened at either end. He passed tbe 

strap once around the shaft, slack, and by 

drawing tbe stick toward bim and pulling 

the strap tight, be turned the shaft on 

which tbe wood was fastened for turning 

out tops. Eobert watched the perforraance, 

picked out bis top, and bad a nail 

driven into the point. Tben he gave the 

man a "tek" (almost an American cent), 

and was ready to start for borae. After 

that we saw wbere tbey iron the men's 

tarbooshes or red fezes, and also the places 

where they make all kinds of queer 

sweets. 

Then Eobert's papa had to go back to 

his work in scbool, and left him to come 

home with mamma because she wanted to 

get some cloth from one of the stores in 

the Greek quarter. Pretty soon he said 

be "bad no patience to wait any longer, 

he wanted to go home and try bis new top 

and see whether it was a good spinner." 

Fortunately he got a good spinner. Sorae 

of the school boys are very skillful at 

spinning tops. One of tbe boys can start 

the top to spinning, tben place bis hand 

under it and tben let it run do'wn tbe 

string, the top spinning all the time. Another 

boy can wrap his top with tbe string 

and throw it into tbe air. It comes down 

spinning as it falls, and goes on spinning 

after it lights on the ground. Still another 

boy gathers bis spinning top on bis 

open palm and passes it on the top of 

his head, wbere it spins away. 

The other nigbt we bad' a little social 

here at our house for all the young unmarried 

members of tbe cburcb who sat 

down to tbe last Comraunion. And bow 

many do you suppose tbere were? AVhy, 

forty. I tbink tbat was pretty nice, don't 

you? Forty young communicants in the 

Latalcia church. That makes me tbink of 

a remark one of tbe boys made as they 

were coming up the stairs. "See all thpse 

witnesses for Cbrist going to tbe social." 

Tbey had a good social time together, 

and tben Mr. Stewart bad them practice 

singing psalm tunes. Tben we passed 

them native candies, nuts and oranges. 

After a garae or two and sorae raore singing 

and "lots of fun," they sang the 133d 

Psalra, followed by a short prayer by Mr. 

Stewart, and departed, evidently well 

pleased with tberaselves or something else. 

I would just like to tell you here that 

eleven girls from the girls' boarding 

school and flve boys from the boys' boarding 

school applied for admission to 

church membership. Upon examination 

tbree boys were accepted, and the others 

were advised to wait till tbe spring Coraraunion. 

One bf your missionaries. 

M. E. Stewart.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

The offerings for this raeraorial fund during the past raonth carae from widely 

separated localities, and represent a larger number of congregations tban bave been 

reported in any previous issues of Olive Trees. 


iliss N. J. Erving, Allegheny, Pa $10.00 Equally between 

Cyprus and Jewish. 

A friend in Vermont 6.00 Latakia, Suadia, 

Mersina, $2 each. 

J. Elma Taylor, E. Craftsbury, Vt 50 Chma. 

Mrs. J. C. Eenfrew, Renfrew, Fa 6.00 Indian Mission. 

MiSs Elizabeth Littlejohn, .McKeesport, Fa 2.00 China. 

Mrs. Luella Wylie, Toledo, 0 5.00 China. 

Eev. and Mrs. J. C. Slater, AVhite Cottage, 0 10.00 Cbina. 

A raeraber of Second New York 10.00 China. 

Mrs. Susie E. Crowe and daughter, Eochester, N. Y 2.00 China. 

Miss S. J. Isaac, Aged People's Horae, Allegheny, Pa 5.00 Girls' school in 

Latakia. 

A raeraber of Second New York, Brooklyn, N. Y 1.00 China. 

Mrs. S. E. Culbertson, Wilkinsburg, Pa 10.00 Cbina. 

ilrs. Mary J. Fraser, AVliite Lake Congregation, N. Y 5.00 China. 

Jennie Fraser, White Lake Congregation, N.Y 3.00 Cbina. 

John C. Fraser, AVhite Lake Congregation, N. Y 

2.00 China. 

L. M. Society, New Concord, 0 5.00 China. 

W. M. Society, Utica, 0 16.20 Cbina. 

Covenanter Mission Band, Cedarville, 0 5.00 Cbina 

Alraost every letter that brings a Thank Offering indicates a reraarkable interest in 

the raissionary work to which these noble woraen bad devoted, their talents, whUe 

some of thera are peculiarly tender in their references to the "dear ones who gave 

their lives in the service of Christ." One woman calls wbat we regard as a liberal


contribution "only a small token of love and appreciation." It is hoped that before 

the meeting of Synod every congregation will be represented in this "Memorial 

Thank Offering." In any event, no one who desires tbe extension and establishment 

of the Kingdora of Christ in the world will hesitate to unite in the prayer witb which 

one letter closes: "Tbe Lord grant tbat the taking away of such useful lives may 

greatly increase tbe interest of the Cburch in its missionary work." 

All offerings sent to Olive Trees will be acknowledged in its columns. 

E. M. Sommerville, 

327 W. 56tb Sti, 

New York. 

The enthroned Eedeeraer has been calling 

for years, and is still calling, for two 

ministers to preach His gospel, one in 

Syria and anotber in Cyprus. No young 

man wbo desires to represent Him in the 

work of the ministry can flnd a place 

wbere the service required of him will do 

more to develop character and bring out 

all tbat is adrairable in consecrated raanhood. 

In botb fleldsthe opposition to tbe 

truth is persistent, and in sorae instances 

cowardly, but every one knows wbich side 

will be victorious in the conflict between 

light and darkness. Surely in a Church 

l;hat clairas to be identifled historically 

witb contendings even to the deatb for tbe 

crown rights of Cbrist, there ought to be 

two men Avilling to endure hardships tbat 

His name may be proclaimed to multitudes 

now on tbe way to eternal death for 

lack of knowledge. Success is assured 

anywhere and everywhere to tbe feeblest 

who have grasped the meaning of tbe twin 

facts, "All power is given Me," and "Lo, 

I ara witb you all the days." 

Ollve Trees acknowledges reeeipt of 

twenty-flve dollars frora Mr. R. W. Carapbell 

and wife, to be applied as follows: 

Indian Mission $5.00 

Southern Mission 5.00 

Mission to China 5.00 

Syrian Mission 10.00 

This money bas been passed on to the 

Treasurer, as well as twenty dollars received 

from Mrs. Carapbell for raissionary 

purposes, December 28, 1904, witb two 

dollars from Miss H. Kennier. 

Tbe following contributions have been 

received from the young woraen of the 

Reforraed Presbyterian Church towards 

tbe salary of tbeir raissionaryfor 1905: 

Miss Sara M. Robison, Dresden, O.$5.00 

A Friend of Missions, New York.. .12.50 

Another Friend of Missions, Ncav 

York 12.50 

Miss .lennie B. Torrence, Tak Hing 

Chau 3.65 

To this fund have been added ten doUars 

frora Mrs. M. B. Wright, of Waukesha, 

Wis., a yearly offering in raeraory of a 

dear child. 

Onc contribution has corae in towards 

the salary of the elders' raissionaryfor the 

year 1905: 

John Eobison, Dresden, 0 $4.50 

Olive Trees is indebted to the Young 

Feople's .Missionary Movement for a set 

of large wall cbarts, illustrating "The 

Evangelization of tbe World in This 

Generation," "World Mission Frogress," 

"Eeligious Division of Africa," "Two 

Parishes," "Eeligious Census of the 

World," and "How Araericans Spend 

Their Money." These charts are lithographed 

in colors, 36x44 inches in size, 

printed on heavy paper, and suitable for 

use in Sabbath schools, Young People's


Societies or at missionary gatherings. 

They are furnisbed to churches and other 

organizations, in unbroken sets of six, 

carefully packed in strong tubes for shipment, 

at tbe following prices a set, express 

charges prepaid: 

Style 1, plain, unmounted $1.00 

Style 2, edges bound with cloth 1.25 

Style 3, tinned top and bottom, 

ready to hang 1-50 

Style 4, edges bound witb cloth, 

wood roller and molding top and 

bottora, ready to hang 2.00 

Styles 2 and 4 are specially recoraraended. 

Orders may be addressed to 

Young People's Missionary Movement, 

156 Fifth Avenue, New York. 

The Missionary Review for March contains 

raany articles of exceptional value. 

Especially interesting are the story of Sir 

Henry M. Stanley and bis relation to the 

evangelization of Africa and the winning 

of Uganda for Christ, including development 

of the Uganda Mission since 1893, 

recent statistics and tbeir lesson, the inffuence 

of Christianity in Uganda, and 

the outlook for Uganda. The present conflict 

between Japan and Russia will attract 

attention to three papers on iraportant 

aspects of raissionary work 

needed for Japan. Tbere are other articles 

that sbould not be overlooked, "The 

Churcb in the House" at Changsha, "The 

Native Cbristian Churcb in India," and 

"The Greatest Need of Central Araerica" 

all carefully prepared and full of telling 

facts. 

Tbe opening editorial on "The Welsh 

Fentecost and God's Signals" is most 

stiraulating, while the sixteen pages of 

general raissionary intelligence at the 

close make it clear tbat the Holy Spirit 

moving so conspicuously in Wales is not 

less actively at work in all parts of the 

world. 

Fublished monthly by Funk & Wagnalls 

Co., 44-60 East Twenty-third street, 

New York. Subscription, $2.50 a year. 

The Bible Teachers' Training School, 

541 Lexington Avenue, New York, has 

sent us Roman Catholic and Protestant 

Bibles Compared: The Gould Frize Essays, 

edited by Melancthon Williams Jacobus, 

D.D. Price 50 cents. 

These essays, fllled with inforraation 

not accessible to ordinary readers, should 

be in the hands of everyone who wishes 

to know the history of the English Bible. 

Here is tbe result of researcb requiring 

raany raonths, in convenient and popular 

forra. 1 

As Ave were going to press, two books carae in from the Fleraing H. EeveU Co., 

NeAV York, Chicago and Toronto, which sball receive fuller notice in next issue: Dr. 

Grenfell's Parish, by Norman Duncan, and The White Peril in ihe Far East, by 

Sidney L. Gulick.. Price of each $1 net. 

A Mission worker in India used a strong illustration when be said to sorae Hindus, 

"Supposing that a woraan should dress a dog in raen's clothes and tell people it is her 

husband, how would the husband Uke it? But you do worse; you dress up a stick or 

a stone and tell people that it is God!" Such an appeal, right frora the mission fleld, 

helps one to raake the work real to the raind. 

No large growth in holiness was ever gained without taking time to be often and 

long alone with Qod.—Austin Phelps.

O L I V E T R E E S 



No. MAT, 1905. 5. 


BE NOT DISCOURAGED. 

REV. J. M. EOSTER, BOSTON, MASS. 

When tbe Pharisees plotted to take 

Jesus before His hour was come. He retired 

from the city of Capernaura, not 

from fear, but for prudential reasons, that 

He might flnish tbe work appointed Him 

before He suffered. The raultitude followed 

Hira, and He healed their sick. 

Opposition did not discourage Hira, but 

He girded up the loins of His raind and 

worked raore vigorously than ever. 

Matthew sees in tbis a fulflllraent of 

prophecy. Isa. 42:1-4: "Behold ray Servant, 

whora I uphold; mine elect, in 

whom ray soul delighteth; I bave put ray 

spirit upon Hira; He shall bring forth 

judgraent to tbe Gentiles. He sball not 

cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be 

heard in tbe street. A bmised reed shall 

He not break, and tbe sraoking flax shall 

He not quench: He shaU bring fortb 

judgraent unto truth. He sball not fail 

nor be discouraged, till He bave set judgment 

in tbe earth : and the isles shall wait 

for His law." 

What was the purpose of our Lord in coming 

into this world? 

He came to destroy tbe works of the 

devil, and to establish tbe reign of righti 

eousness and trutb in the earth. Hoaryheaded 

systeras of error He wUl break up. 

Ancient systems of oppression and injustice 

He will sweep away. He will 

teacb aU men to do justly, love raercy and 

to Avalk humbly with God. Tbe divine 

institutions of tbe family, tbe cburch and 

the State will be constituted and adrainistered 

according to His good and holy and 

just law. The Cbristian Sabbatb will be 

observed by individuals, farailies, churches 

and nations according to His revealed 

will. Blaspheray and profanity will cease 

from huraan lips, yea will be yea, and nay 

nay, and the oatb, one of the raostsacred 

acts of divine worship, will be administered 

only by the divinely appointed authorities 

in Church and State, and talcen 

with reverential fear on proper occasion. 

"And the isles shall wait for His law." 

The gospel messengers will visit every 

island of the sea, where "a huraan being 

lives. They will go to land "farthest 

north" and to the land "farthest soutb" 

where any raan dwells. Prora rising 

sun to wbere it sets, the word of life is to 

be proclaimed. Not a nation or people 

or tribe under heaven but will hear tbe 

good news. "This gospel raust flrst be 

preached in all nations for a witness, and 

then coraeth the end." And when the 

arabassadors of Christ bave gone into all 

the world and preached the gospel to every 

creature, teaching them to observe all 

things whatsoever He commanded them, 

then "the kingdoras of this world will becorae 

the sovereignty of our Lord and 

Saviour Jesus Christ." 

What are the hindrances in the way of 

accompUshing all this ?


In the face of this treraendous undertaking 

good people often grow discouraged 

for tbree reasons: 

1. The seeming inadequacy of the means 

employed. 

When Eussia and Japan went to war 

tbere was great preparation. Arraies were 

raustered. Navies were gathered. Stores 

of provisions were bought. Heavy loans 

were negotiated. Araraunition was purchased. 

The means were commensurate 

with the undertaking. But in the Eedeemer's 

carapaign of the world no ariny 

or navy is requisitioned. No treasuries of 

wealth provided. The use of physical 

force was expressly forbidden. "He that 

taketh the sword shall perish by the 

sAvord." "If My kingdora were of this 

vvorld, then would My servants figbt. But 

now is My kingdora not frora hence." 

"The kingdora of heaven coraeth not with 

observation; the kingdora is within you." 

AVhen raen engage in a political carapaign 

large suras of raoney are collected, the 

press is subsidized, the platforra is used, 

the raost talented speakers are sent out, 

the influence of great thinkers and high 

officials is cast into the scales. But in the 

gospel carapaign all this is wanting. "I 

thank Thee, 0 Father, Lord of beaven and 

earth, because Thou hast hidden these 

things frora the wise and prudent, and revealed 

thera unto babes: even so. Father, 

for so it seeraed good in Thy sigbt." "For 

you see your calling, brethren, how that 

not raany wise men after the flesli, not 

many raighty, not raany noble, are called. 

But God bath chosen the foolish things of 

the world to confound the wise; and God 

hath cbosen the weak things of the world 

to confound the things which are raighty; 

and the base things of the world, and the 

things that are despised, hath God chosen, 

yea, and the things which are noti to 

bring to naught the things that are: That 

no fleshsbould glory before His presence." 

The W. C. T. U. makes use of tbe pubUc 

schools in training the rising generation 

in teraperance principles. In twenty-seven 

out of forty-five States tbe evil effects of 

alcohol on tbe human system are taught 

in the public schools. Tbe Peace Society 

uses kings, queens, princes and presidents 

in its propaganda. But this kingdora is 

destitute of such porap and circurastance, 

and is persecuted by those high in place. 

Nations send gunboats to the Yellow Sea 

to protect tbeir subjects in the Boxer uprising. 

But Christ's people do not use 

force. Gen. Younghusband led the British 

forces over the raountains of Thibet 

into Lassar. They entered with blowing 

of trurapets and sound of rausketry. But 

our Lord's coraing is not lilce that. "He 

shall not cry, nor lift up nor cause His 

voice to be beard in tbe street." He does 

not appeal to the passions of men. He 

does not array one nation against another. 

His coming is lilce the dew of the raorning, 

like the light of day. "The bruised 

reed shall He not brealc, the sraoking flax 

shall He not quench, until He bring judgraent 

unto victory." When an array invades 

a country, it burns bouses, villages 

and cities, destroys crops, carries the raen 

away prisoners and leaves the women and 

children destitute. But Christis kingdom 

coraes so peacefully that the reed, bent and 

crushed by the foot of the beasti is gently 

lifted and healed. And the wick in the 

larap of the peasant which sraokes rather 

than blazes. He will not put outi but 

gently fans it into a full blaze. Any 

longing after holiness in a sinful soul He 

encourages, and any aspiration for purity 

in the polluted soul He increases. 

Can we expect that preaching gospel 

teraperance will break up the saloon systera? 

That preaching the gospel of Sabbath 

sanctiflcation will end tbe Sunday 

newspaper, the Sunday train and the Sunday 

raail service? Tbat preaching the


gospel of human brotherhood will reconcile 

the clashing interests of organized 

labor and syndicated capital in our Northern 

States, and of whites and blacks in the 

Southern? That preaching the gospel of 

peace wil} cause tbe Russian and Japanese 

arraies to disband and to beat their swords 

into ploughshares and their spears into 

pmning hooks? That the preaching of 

truth and righteousness will secure the 

peasants of Russia their civil and political 

rights, break up tbe Siberian penal 

systera, destroy tbe Turkish system 

of brigandage, explode the old systems of 

Brahraanism, Buddhism, Confucianism 

and Islaraisra, and emancipate tbose beld 

in cmel bondage? Here is wbere men's 

hearts fail. 

2. The long delay. 

It is now 1900 years since our Lord appeared, 

and yet how little is accoraplished. 

I bf),ve before rae a raissionary raap of the 

world. It is dark without tbe gospel. 

Onjy white spots bere and there where the 

gospel has corae. The Chinese Erapire 

is represented by 1,600 little squares; 

1,599 of these are jet black; only one is 

white. Out of 400,000,000 people only 

850,000 are native coraraunicants. Africa 

has wbite patches in Egypt and tbe Transvaal, 

and a few spots on tbe west coast. 

The rest is black as night. South Araerica 

is ahnost wholly black. Tbe United 

States is more than half black, partly 

cloudy, and a small portion white. Europe 

is black witb little white to relieve. The 

cry is general, "Wbere is tbe promise of 

His coming? for sinee the fathers fell 

asleep, all things continue as at tbe beginning." 

3. The poor specimens that Christianity 

produces. 

Our Lord chose twelve disciples. One 

of them betrayed Him, another denied 

Him with blasphemous oaths, another declared 

he would not believe in His resurrection 

without visible and tangible proof, 

and all forsook Him and fled. Substituting 

Mathias for Judas, these were selected 

to found the Church. And on 

Pentecost, raen raocked, saying: "Are not 

all these whicb speak Galileans?" The 

gospel is proclairaed in our land frora 

150,000 pulpits every Sabbath. But bow 

little effect is produced! The deep thinking 

Edwards, tbe fervent Whitefield, the 

fiery Phinny, and the pathetic Wesley 

are A\'ealc as otber raen. And bow weak 

and helpless the Church! Cburch raerabers 

and church haters are not distinguishable 

in politics or business. Cburch 

merabers go to the theatre, the ball roora 

and the card party just like the ungodly; 

they buy and read the Sunday newspaper 

and use the Sunday train, give unscriptural 

divorces as judges, and take thera as 

citizens, and vote to legalize the saloon 

and dens bf vice, just as the worldly do. 

And the church tbat requires her raerabers 

to separate from all secret, oath-bound 

lodges, to refuse to be stockholders or directors 

in Sabbath-breaking corporations, 

to refuse to accept authority in the political 

society and vote and hold office under 

an imraoral Constitution, is looked upon 

with raingled araazeraent, conterapt and 

indignation. And there is the opposition 

to be overcorae! Bryan exploits bis "free 

silver'' philosophy in tbis land, and Tolstoi 

his socialisra in Eussia, and they are 

let alone. Men do not care whetber philosophy 

is preacbed or not. But the gospel 

finds an antagonist in every huraan 

heart. The agents of the Araerican Bible 

Society are often arrested and cast into 

prison and severely scourged, at the instigation 

of the priests in Mexico, Central 

Araerica and South Araerica. The Sepoy 

EebeUion in India in 1857, and the Boxer 

uprising in China in 1898 were tbe buman 

hatred of the gospel discovered. Wbat 

fioods of vice and crime flow through our

100 QuestiohS of fhe Hour. 

streets I How garret and cellar reek witb 

sharae! Behind the brown-stone fronts of 

our Back Bay there is as rauch vice as in 

tbe overcrowded tenements of the North 

End. Our colleges, universities and theological 

serainaries are poisoning the fountains. 

The serious situation leads many to comproraise. 

The "higher critics" surrender 

a large part of the Bible. The Unitarians 

give up the deity of Christ and His 

tbe Jews, scorned by false prophets, imprisoned 

by the King, was discouraged. 

"Ob! that my head were waters and raine 

eyes a fountain of tears tbat I migbt weep 

day and night for ray people!" It is not 

surprising that reforraers in the horae 

land and raissionaries in heathen lands 

becorae discouraged! God looks with corapassion 

upon His Elijahs as they sit under 

the juniper tree and wish to die. He 

vicarious atonement. The larger part of coraes to thera and feeds thera with bread 

Christendora have opened the doors of the 

Church and the world has come in and 

thc Holy Spirit has gone out. This is deplorable 

cowardice before the eneray. 

The sons of Ephraira who nor bows 

Nor other arras did lack. 

When as the day of battle was. 

They faintly tumed back. 

This discouragement is nothing new. 

Abraham, the father of the faithful, was 

from heaven, and gives them drink from 

the river of life. 

But the Lord Jesus Christ is never discouraged. 

"He shall not fail nor be discouraged 

till ITe have set judgment in the earth." 

AVhen man sinned. He appeared in Eden 

and gave the promise: "The seed of the 

woman shall bruise the serpent's head," 

and then He waited 4,000 years, with the 

discouraged. He waited long years after cross in view all the tirae, before coming 

the promise was given. He was false in to suffer. He allowed men to do their 

Egypt. At last Isaac was bom. After worst in opposing Hira, and their best in 

Sarah's death he disappears as if discouraged, 

devising a salvation for theraselves, and 

until he died in faith. Moses was utterly failing in both before He ap 

discouraged. He supposed that his people 

peared. The Egyptian Erapire, notwithstanding 

would recognize hira as their divinely 

appointed leader. But when he slew the its literature, art and civiliza 

tion, beld God's people in bondage, and 

Egyptian he fled frora Pharaoh. After they were broken in pieces. The Chaldean 

forty years, he was so discouraged, that 

he deraurred when God called hira frora 

the burning bush. And bow often was he 

Erapire led God's people captive and 

held thera seventy years, and God overthrew 

great Babylon, tbe beauty of the 

provoked in the Avilderness with Israel's Chaldea's excellency. The Medo-Fersian 

unbelief? David was discouraged. "Is Erapire rose higher and fell lower than 

it true that to be gracious the Lord forgotten 

Chaldea. The Greeks were led by Alexcies 

bath? And that His tender merander 

to the ends of tbe earth. And then 

He hath shut up in His wrath ? Forever 

will the Lord cast off and gracious 

his erapire fell to pieces. The Csesars built 

a world erapire. Eorae conquered all nations. 

She built roads and navies of ships. 

be no raore? Forever is His raercy gone, 

fails His word ever more?" 

She bad her literature and arts and laws 

Elijah was discouraged. He thought and judicial tribunals. But she was 

he stood alone in the apostasy under boneycorabed witb corruption. The last 

Ahab and Jezebel. But God had reserved grand effort failed. Man's extremity was 

to Hiraself 7,000 raen who had not bowed God's opportunity. In the fullness of 

the knee to Baal. Jeremiah, unheard by time—in tbe very nick of time—God sent

His Son. And when He appeared as a 

humble peasant, tbe world knew Him not. 

They repudiated His claims and nailed 

Him to the cross. But tbis was as He intended. 

He arose and ascended to God's 

rigbt hand, from henceforth expecting, 

until His enemies be made His 

footstool. The sun shines just as calmly 

upon tbe battlefleld strcAvn witb the dead 

and dying, as upon tbe fields of waving 

grain in which harvesters are at work. Tbe 

Sun of righteousnessis equally complacent 

in beholding tbe collision of Russian and 

Japanese forces in Manchuria and the 

Yellow Sea, and gatbering tbe returns of 

agriculture, commerce and trade in the 

United States. AVhy is He so calm and 

patient and satisfied in waiting? 

1. He knows the efficiency of the means 

employed. 

"Behold My servant whom I bave 

cbosen; Mine elect, in wbom My soul delighteth 

; I bave put My Spirit upon him; 

he shall bring forth judgment to tbe Gentiles." 

A modern cannon will tbrow a 

shell weighing a thousand pounds twenty 

miles, and when it strikes the steel battleship 

of the enemy it explodes and tbe 

broken sbip quickly goes to the bottora of 

the sea, Paul says, "I am not asbamed of 

the gospel of Christ, for it is. the power of 

God." The word power is dunamis. From 

it comes, our dynamite. Tbe gospel is tbe 

dynamite of God. It will destroy all systems 

of evil. The force of gravitation 

Ufts tbe tides, holds the moon in its orbit 

around tbe earth, tbe earth and otber 

planets in their orbits around the sun, 

the sun and otber suns .in their orbits 

about their center, etc. Astronomers tell 

us that space is fiUed with revolving 

worlds; that tbeir telescopes reveal stars 

whose Ught is a miUion years in traveling 

to us and may be several millions of years. 

And aU these worlds hang by the force of 

gravitation. And that is only anotber 

Qv-estions of the Hour. 101 

name for God's power. The sarae word 

of God that called tbe worlds into being 

holds tbem in tbeir places. And that 

suggests the dynamic power in His 

Holy Word. "The words tbat I speak 

unto you, they are spirit and they are 

life." "My word, tbat goeth fortb out 

of My mouth, shall not retum unto Me 

void; it shall accomplish that which I 

please and prosper in tbe tbing whereto I 

sent it." Bunlcer Hill Monument is built 

of great blocks of granite. It was supposed 

to be immovable. But a few years 

ago a line was let down frora the top to 

the bottom of the well within, so tbat tbe 

end touched the floor. In the forenoon the 

line shifted on tbe floor. In the afternoon 

it shifted again. AVhat caused tbis ? The 

rays of the sun, so gentle and delicate tbat 

tbey do not hurt our eyes, fell upon the 

blocks of marble on the east side and tbat 

expanded thera. This shifted the center 

of gravity. In the afternoon the rays 

fell upon the west side and expanded tbe 

blocks of raarble, and tbat caused the center 

of gravity to shift in tbe opposite direction. 

And so from sunrise to sunset 

the rays were shifting that marble coluran 

and raaking it wabble. Tbe Sun of 

righteousness shines through the word 

and changes men's hard and strong hearts 

and changes institutions and events and 

history. 

2. He will have it demonstrated that He 

is the Doer of the work. 

He began to do His work in the days of 

His flesh. He continued to do His work 

in the Acts of the Apostles. And He continues 

to this day doing His work by His 

people. He holds the seven spirits of 

God—^the seven-fold operation of tbe Holy 

Gbost—in His hand. He went by tbe 

Apostles and He goes by raissionaries and 

preachers to men in the prison house of 

sin. He does the work. I do not think 

He wishes weakness and folly and ineffi-


ciency in His serA'ants. But it soraeway 

gives rae corafort to know that He used 

such weak and erring raen as the twelve. 

It gives rae confidence that He raay raalce 

ray folly the channel for discovering His 

wisdora, and ray weakness the raeans of 

exhibiting His power. He lets us try our 

plans and fail, tbat we raay be ready to 

accept His plan and give Hira the glory 

of it. When unexpected opposition arises 

we are disturbed and fall into a panic. 

But He glories in opposition. He allows 

the skeptic Renan to write a "Life of 

Christ." And then one bundred pens, 

wielded by earnest Christian men, produce 

so many "Lives of Christ." Colenso, 

the Jew, pronounces the Pentateuch a 

raytb. He is followed by tbe "Higher 

Critics" in Scotland. And the House of 

Lords decides that the United Free 

Church of Scotland cannot have her 

educational and raissionaryplants and invested 

funds to the amount of at least 

$50,000,000, for such purposes. And the 

Bible League holds a convention in Boston 

in whieh the best Christian scholars 

prove that the good old Book is the very 

Word of God. "AVhy rage the heathen 

and vain things, wby do the people mind ? 

Kings of the earth do set themselves and 

princes are corabined, to plot against the 

Lord and His Anointed, saying thus: 

Let us asunder break their bands, and 

cast their cords frora us. He that in 

heaven sits shall laugh, the Lord shall 

scorn thera all. Then shall He speak to 

thera in wrath, in rage He vex thera shall." 

He allows raen to do their worst. And 

then He looks through the cloud in tbe 

raorning watch and Pharaoh's host is 

troubled. He spealcs the decree of the 

watcher and Nebuchadnezzar is driven from 

raen. He writes on the palace wall with 

the fingerof a man's hand and Belshazzar 

is Aveighed in tbe balance and found wanting. 

He sends forth tbe angel and 185,- 

000 of Sennacherib's army are slain. I 

think of Hira in His hurailiation. He 

went up to Jerusalem where He was taken 

and crucified. Multitudes bad been 

blessed by Him, but no one stood by Him. 

His disciples forsook Him. All were discouraged. 

Tbe sun veiled its face. The 

veil of the teraple was rent frora top to 

bottom. All seemed undone. Tben the 

Saviour cried, "It is finished." He had 

reached the deepest depths. And there 

He laid the cornerstone of the Church's 

foundation. It was laid upon the Rock. 

And upon that Rock He builds His 

Church. No wonder He sits calmly upon 

tbe throne. The gates of hell cannot prevail 

against tbe Church. If tbe heavens 

should open we would see tbe man Christ 

Jesus upon the throne. His countenance 

bright and glad as the sun. Because the 

foundation has been laid and the temple 

is rising upon it. The slaughter in China 

in tbe Boxer uprising was the laying of 

the foundation of His kingdom there—the 

slaughter of Russo-Japanese troops in 

Manchuria is the laying of His kingdom 

tbere. Tbe slaughter of the peasants by 

the Russian soldiers in St, Petersburg 

and elsewhere is the laying of the .foundation 

of the kingdora of righteousnessin all 

the Russias. It is His way. "I will overturn, 

overturn, overturn it, until He come 

whose right it is to reign; and I will give it 

Hira." "The Lord did say unto my Lord, 

Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make 

Thy foes a stool whereon Thy feet may 

stand." 

So great is my veneration for the Bible tbat the earlier my children begin to 

read iti the raore confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens to 

their country, and respectable raembers of society.—Jo/m Quincy Adams.

News of the. Churches. 103 


A B R O A D . 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—Following is a 

very interesting letter from Rev. E. J. 

Dodds, dated March 13, 1905: 

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Dodds and two 

of the cbildren accompanied me to Adana, 

wbere we had a very interesting time. We 

were tbe guests of tbe Rev. W. N. Chambers. 

Our missionary friends tbought it 

would be too much for Mrs. Dodds to attend 

services in tbe quarter of tbe town 

where our poor people meet, but wben 

We found one of the brethren ill with 

pneumonia, and be died while we were 

there. I ara glad to say that he manifested 

a beautiful trust in the Saviour, 

and gave very gratifying evidence of bis 

faith. He was converted only a year ago, 

and referred to it as the bappy moment 

of bis life, thanking tbe persons who had 

been instrumental in his conversion. The 

chief instrument was Malcbi, the second 

was Murad, the tbird was a brother by tbe 

MRS. M. B. METHENY'S PROPERTY, MERSINA. LOOKING SOUTH ON MEDITERRANEAN. 

they could not dissuade her, they thougbt 

she should rest satisfied with going once, 

especially as sbe had been in a rather 

weak physical condition for some time. 

Mrs. Dodds, bowever, was determined to 

try to do her full duty by our Mission 

and by our poor brethren in Adana, and 

so she was at both tbe forenoon and afternoon 

meetmgs. It was a memorable occasion 

for the brethren in Adana. 

name of Hauna, who moved away since to 

the region of Mardin. Tbe dying raan 

said that, thougb he had attended our 

meetings and heard us preach, tbe gospel 

did not take bold of hira until Malcbi 

spoke to him in his o'wn tongue—^the 

Syriac, when it sounded not only sweet, 

but convincing. It, however, brought bim 

a cross in tbe form of a severe trial. His 

wife at flrst was interested in accompany-


ing him to the raeetings, but it happened 

that one evening when tbey were at a 

gospel meeting, thieves seized tbe opportunity 

to rob their room. Their loss was 

to the amount of about twenty dollars. It 

was about their all. The wife regarded 

it as a judgment upon thera for attending 

Frotestant raeetings, and cursed her husband 

for having influenced her to go. She 

was seized witb a spirit of raadness and 

did everything hateful she could to him 

after that. During his sickness she was 

especially bitter against him, refusing to 

cover him when chilled, or to feed hira 

when hungry. 

His narae was Abdalahdo, Servant of 

the Covenant. We have another brother 

of the sarae narae in Adana, brother of our 

evangelist. I wish we had raany raore of 

the same spirit as these two, if not of the 

same narae. My visits to Abdalahdo during 

his sickness gave opportunity for addressing 

very raany people. AVhen at the 

funeral there was additional opportunity. 

The following Sabbath I adrainistered 

the Lord's Supper in Adana. I also baptized 

two children, one the daughter of 

our evangelist, Hauna, whora they named 

Mirriam, the other the son of Malcbi, 

whom they naraed Gabriel. There was 

no accession to the raerabership. There 

was an old raan who has given, as I 

thought, much evidence of conversion. I 

hoped he would have made a profession; 

but he said he could not; first,because he 

felt he was not worthy, and second, because 

he Avas afraid he raight be corapelled 

to Avork on Sabbath. I hope his 

difficulties raay be reraoved, and that he 

raay come forward at another time. 

ilany persons take a delight in hearing 

and yet give no evidence of faith. Malcbi 

and his wife are very poor and very pious. 

He is so weak with asthma that he cannot 

work. His wife bakes bread and sells 

it every day to keep them alive, and she 

is not able to do mucb more tban keep 

them alive. She has a brother wbo hovers 

about us, attracted by the Bible reading, 

like a raotb to a larap, but never seriously 

accepts what he bears. Such persons are 

a puzzle to rae. 

Mrs. Dodds and I had visited tbe Auba 

the week before. Our two Bible readers 

were present at coramunion. The two 

Fellah Sheiklis, of whom I bave written 

before, were present as usual.- One of 

thera seeraed to have made progress in 

Bible study; but neither was ready to 

profess faitb. 

Cyprus.—A letter from Eev. Walter 

McCarroll, dated March 24, contains the 

foUoAving iteras: 

With great interest and raucb joy we 

read of tbe good work that is being done 

by our brethren in Cbina. Tbat Mission 

bas indeed sowed in tears, but now they 

are reaping with joy, a joy in whicb we all 

unite. AVben we read of such a tirae of 

refreshing frora tbe presence of tbe Lord 

in China, in Wales, and in other parts of 

the world, we are encouraged to believe 

that the Lord will be gracious and give 

us a reviving tirae in this dry and thirsty 

land. It is our daily prayer that the 

Spirit raay be poured out in such raeasure 

that raen and women will bO; aroused 

from their lethargy and indifference to 

cry out, "What must we do to be saved ?" 

Tbere is not rauch to record of particular 

interest in the work here. The Sabbatb 

raorning services not only continue to 

be well attended, but there is also an indefinable 

deepening of interest, and tbere. 

are several of whora I have strong hopes 

that the day is not far distant wben they 

will whole-heartedly confess Christ as 

Lord and Saviour. 

In Nicosia the attendance of Greeks 

upon the preaching services held by Mr. 

Diraitriades is, on the whole, encouraging.


and be is disarming the hostility of the 

people by his uniform self-restraint, courtesy 

and friendliness. We are having 

magnificent weather, and conditions are 

favorable for a bountiful harvest. 

Tbe following letter to the Young Feople's 

Society of Second New York will 

interest the young people of other congregations 

: 

Dear Friends: 

I have been wanting to write you a letter 

for a long time, but now that the sad 

news has corae to us of the deatb of Mrs. 

Mackeown, I feel I raust write to express 

our syrapathy Avitli you in this great loss. 

Mrs. Mackeown was surely one whose life 

was worthy of iraitation. How beautifully 

the description of a noble woraan, given in 

the last chapter of Proverbs, suited her. 

Her price was above rubies; sbe stretched 

out her band to the poor; she reacbed 

forth her bands to tbe needy. Her cbildren 

shall arise and call ber blessed; the 

heart of her husband safely trusted in 

her. "Give her of the fruit of ber hands 

and let her own works praise her in the 

gates." 

God has taken in a little over a year 

three noble woraen—Mrs. Eobb, Dr. 

.Maude George and Mrs. Mackeown. Wby 

we do not know. Sucb providences are 

araong tbe deep things of God, which no 

man knoweth but the Spirit of God. 

How can we mourn when "eye hath not 

seen nor ear heard, neither have entered 

into the beart of man the things which 

God hath prepared for tbem that love 

Him"? Let us be up and doing, that we 

may be ready -when the Son of .Man coraes 

to us. 

We have just been reading in March 

Oliati Trees the grand letters from 

Cbina. Surely tbere is joy in tbe hearts 

of those people whose money has made 

it possible for missionaries to take the 

Word of Life to dying souls. There is 

greater joy in the hearts of tbe raissionaries 

who have been instrumental in saving 

dying souls, but there is the greatest 

joy in the presence of tbe angels of God 

over the souls saved. May God grant that 

tbis is but tbe beginning in China of 

those that "fly as a cloud and as the doves 

to their windows" to the Holy One of 

Israel. 

Tbere must be great pleasure for the 

raissionaries to tell of Christ to people who 

have never heard of Him, and what a 

power for good the medical work must be 

among people who have known nothing 

of it. I could not belp contrasting the 

conditions ih China and the conditions 

here. I am beginning to understand rauch 

better than I used to the expression whicb 

one so often reads in raissionletters frora 

this part of the world. Sucb an one 

"knows the trutb, but is afraid of persecution 

if he leaves the Greek Church." 

We have two such cases in Larnaca, two 

who really like to bave a Cbristian go and 

read the Bible and pray with thera. Tbey 

understand the doctrine of salvation, but 

the fear of persecution keeps thera from 

confessing Christ before men. Mr. Mc 

Carroll Avrote once about a young man in 

Nicosia who was trained in our school in 

Latalcia. He knows his Bible well, and 

is always eager to talk on religious subjects. 

He also malces no hesitation in 

saying that the Greek Churcb and her 

priests are full of corruptions; but still be 

will not come out of it. We argued, 

"Come ye out and be ye separate, and 

touch not the unclean thing." He says 

he must stay in the cburch to reform it. 

Certainly tbere are only a few wbo know 

the truth as tbese I have mentioned do, 

yet, Avhile the Greek Churcb as a wbole 

is absolutely without a saving Imowledge 

of Jesus Christ, it has exactly the same 

Bible we have, and our work is not so


rauch to tell the people of a Christ, as to 

clear away the ignorance and superstition 

through which they regard Him. 

In the raedical departraent, too, conditions 

here are very different frora those 

in China. I note in Mr. Eobb's letter that 

one of the couAêrts was one who had had 

a cataract reraoved frora his eye. Such 

an operation would seera alraost like a 

miracle, and the fact that the missionaries 

could do such raarvellous things would 

raake their gospel message particularly 

irapressive. Let rae tell you about Larnaca. 

Eight opposite our church is a handsome 

little hospital, fitted up in modern 

style, with a clever English doctor in 

charge. Clinics are held every day, and 

any one who brings a paper signed by a 

priest or any man in authority receives 

treatment and medicine free. The only 

difference noticeable to the people between 

the Governraent clinics and the raissionary 

clinics is that the Governraent doctor 

bas a very nasty way with the poor people 

and our doctor is gentle and kind with 

thera. I grant that this is an appreciable 

difference, but if a patient doesn't care to 

hear tbe gospel preached, it is by no manner 

of raeans his last resort to get free 

treatraent. The sarae conditions exist in 

Nicosia. Beside the Governraent doctors, 

there are raany physicians of other nationalities, 

raany of thera having had good 

raedical educations. AVe are told that 

sorae of thera have a free day each week 

for treating the poor people. 

I have written you at greater length 

than I intended. Ferhaps it will enable you 

to understand a little raore fully our peculiar 

needs. It is God's work. He vrill 

bless it. Pray for us. Wrestle witb God 

for us as Jacob did with the angel, and 

would not let hira go until he had blessed 

hira. 

Yours in Christ's work, 

ilAME G. McCarroll. 

In the hospitals of Japan one or raore Christians are pretty sure to be found araong 

the patients in alraost every ward. The visits of missionaries to the hospitals serve 

to bring these men forward. They often aid in distributing literature and in explaining 

to others the Christian teaching. This incidental result of missionary visits to 

the Japanese hospitals—the strengthening of the faith of Christian soldiers by setting 

them to work for Christ—is apt to be overlooked. 

The Japanese army hospital at Osaka has 10,000 beds, generally all full. It is 

entirely open to Christian missionary work among the patients, and what an opportunity 

this offers for planting seeds of a new life! 

The colleges of Japan now have some 5,000 Chinese students who are receiving an 

up-to-date education. They will return to China as missionaries of Japanese civilization. 

Since Japanese civilization is not yet quite the sarae as Christian civiUzation, 

the present is a raost critical raoraentfor China, and calls for greatest efforts to raake 

Christ lead both in Japan and in China.—Bureau of Missions. 

One gets a glimpse of the real facts from the following bit of description from an S. 

P. G. missionary in South Africa: "Our bell is a broken pick tied to a branch and 

beaten with a bit of stone. You should see ray dear students at a lecture. Their ati 

tention is siraply glued frora beginning to end; and you can easily tell.wben an argument 

has gone horae, for a great light coraes over their jolly black faces, and they give vent 

to a strange grunt of appreciation."


AT 

HOIVIE. 

Allegheny, Pa.—The following iteras are frora the Central Board: 

Financial Statement— 

Onhand. Eeceipts. Expenditures. Onhand. 

Southem Mission $890.81 $131.27 $498.33 $523.75 

Chinese Mission 250.73 105.33 145.40 

ludianMission 1150.46 208.78 773.28 585.96 

Jewisb Mission .....117.32 66.11 100.00 83.43 

Industrial Mission Fund 126.81 ....... 50.00 76.81 

Sustentation Fund 340.49 831.86 .. 1172.35 

Deficit 

Deflcit. 

Doraestic Mission 3964.48 181.24 ...... 3783.24 

Appropriations for tbe quarter were as The Sustentation Fund is in.no better 

follows: condition. Five thousand two hundred 

IlUnois Fresbytery $350.00 and thirty-six doUars were recoraraended 

N. B. and W. S 112.50 last year by Fresbyteries to be paid out 

Eochester 8.64 of this fund for pastors' -support; $4,084 

Pittsburg 297.50 were paid, or 78 per cent. The balance in 

Lakes 287.49 the treasury was only $24.64. This year 

lo'wa 225.00 the araount asked for will be not less, 

Kansas 480.50 probably raore, than last. If, however, it 

Colorado 372.50 is the sarae, $2,911.65 raust yet be raised 

to pay '$4,084, or 78 per cent. Pastors 

$2134.13 Avould do well to bring tbis raatterto the 

No reports were received from New attention of their sessions and congrega- 

York, Ohio and Vermont Presbyteries, tions. 

Distribution of amounts due tbe Congre- Domestic.—The Lord's Supper was 

gations under tbeir care will be made at dispensed in Los Angeles Congregation 

the meeting of the Board on the tbird on the third Sabbath of April, and a call 

Wednesday of May, provided reports are was raoderated on the ilonday foUowreceived. 

ing. Colorado Presbytery is raanifesting 

The attention of the Cburch is called a great deal of life. The settled congreto 

the condition of the Doraestic Mission gations all appear to be growing. Its efand 

Sustentation Fun^. The forraer was forts to establish inission stations have. 

overdraAvn April 1, $3,783.24. Appropria- been very successful. 

tions were raade at the Board meeting, Chinese.—-Mr. Farris has been con- 

April 19, araounting to $2,134.13. About tinued in cbarge of the raissionin Oak- 

$143.75 are due the three Presbyteries land, Cal. Tbe raissionis in a satisfactory 

from wbicb no reports were received. The condition. There bave been six baptisms 

total deficit is not less than $6,000. This this year. The attendance of the Chinese 

Avill be reduced by tbe dividends on invest- has been good. 

ecTfunds. Still, unless soraething is done Indian.—'Mts. Carithers, under date of 

at once to reduce tbis deficit, tbe exhibit April 12, reports "the work to be moving 

that will be made' to Synod will be ex- along uniformly and advancing." The 

ceedingly unsatisfactory. 

attendance of the whites in the Sabbath-

108 News of ihe Churches.. 

scbool reached on one Sabbath as high as 

fifty. The inside of the church has been 

calcimined and painted, and at but little 

cost, as the work was done by the merabers. 

Dr. McFarland assisted at the 

Coraraunion on April 23. 

Souihern.—The work is being carried 

on successfully in the different departraents 

at Selraa. During the raonth of 

March $115.70 were paid for tuition. The 

plan of charging the scholars a sraall sum 

works well. They appreciate more highly 

their privileges. The balance in the fund 

of this mission April 1 was only $523.75. 


On the evening of AprU 20, 1905, the 

officers, teachers and a nuniber of the 

friends of Compromise Street Mission raet 

at the home of Dr. Sproull to give an expression 

of their kind feeling to Mr. 

George N. Greer, who finisheshis Seminary 

course this year. Mr. Greer, during 

his connection with the mission, by his 

was presented to the missionary. 

Secretary. 

Utica, 0.—The L. M. Society of Utica 

Congregation reports as follows: 

We have corae to the close of another 

year of work, having beld twelve regular 

raeetings and one called one. Our average 

attendance has increased, and we hope 

that an increased interest has been felt. 

Our help bas been given in several different 

directions. To the Covenanters in 

Chicago we sent assistance toward their 

building fund. To the Southern .Mission 

we sent a barrel of clothing, and money to 

pay for linoleum and paint for tbe teachers' 

horae kitchen. We bought goods and 

made it into dresses for some of the girls. 

In the Indian Mission, in response to an 

invitation for help from tbe Jonathan's 

Creek L. M. S., and in answer to a request 

frora the Donation Coraraittee of tbe Aged 

Feople's Home, we sent them a turkey at 

Thanksgiving tirae. 

We feel that our Heavenly Pather, 

tact, efficiency and affability, won the confidence 

Whose we are, and AVhom we serve, has 

and esteem of all with whom he been very kind to us, and although some 

came in contact. Both as a missionary of our raerabershave been under the band 

and a preacher he gave entire satisfaction. of affliction, yet death has not entered our 

He leaves with the kindest feeUngs and 

best wishes of all. He may rest assured 

of a cordial Avelcome any time be visits 

ranks, and our raerabershipbas been increased. 

Let us all take courage and make 

the mission. There was a large attendance. greater effort tban ever before this coraing 

The evening passed very pleasantly. year. There are raillionsgoing down to 

Games were played, and refreshments 

served. Before the company was aware 

of it, the time for separation had arrived. 

During the evening a complete set of 

death, never having even beard that there 

is a Saviour, and sball we who have 

always IcnoAvn, sit idly by at our ease and 

not put forth our utraost efforts to help 

Geike's works was presented to Mr. Greer rescue the perishing? 

as a token of esteera. 

On the following evening a meeting of 

The Treasurer gave an iteraized account 

of tbe raoneys handled, wbich 

a similar character was held in the mission araounted to $106. 

buUding, under the auspices of the Mrs. j. H. Kirkpatrick, Sec. 

Juniors, when a handsomely bound Bible Miss Mary J. Adams, Treas.


TRIBUTE TO DR. J. MAUDE GEORGE. 

—This tribute of affection, written Oct. 

17, 1904, when near the Island of Formosa, 

and mailed soon afterward, did not, 

for some unknown reason, reach Olive 

Trees tiU April 1, 1905.— 


It was well nigh crushing news wbicb 

came over tbe telepbone to me Saturday 

evening before I left horae, that our dear 

Dr. George's body lies under the sands of 

China until the raorning of the resurrection. 

I ara not sure that I can write of 

it, but ray heart seeks sorae vent for genuine 

feeling. Others will speak and write 

of her in detail, and show what her life 

was in all its wide interests. I can but 

touch ray pencil witb a tear and tell what 

this generous Christian was to rae, one of 

the least and. latest of ber countless 

friends. Dr. Maude's life was an inspiration, 

and it is a pleasure to think of her 

beautiful life, a life of faith, a sterling 

character. She had rauch to endure, but 

always bore herself with grace, dignity 

and kindness. 

She had sublirae faith in the rightness 

of things, and through the most intense 

sufferings always looked on tbe broader 

side. She will live in the meraory of 

those who knew her as a cheering thought 

and inspiration, so lovable, so strong. 

Skillful in her profession, she consecrated 

time, talent and strength to the Master's 

work. 

She has been called to a bigher service, 

and we desire to bow in submission to the 

Master's will. I find words will not express 

my thoughts of her, and I must be 

silent. 

Jennie B. Torrence. 

Tak Hing Chau, China. 

ESSENTIAL 

CONDITIONS OF TRUE 

GIVING. 

—This monograph is made up of extracts 

from an adrairable paper on "How 

to Secure Larger and More General Contributions 

frora Our Churches," written 

by Lemuel C. Barnes, D.D., and published 

by the American Baptist Missionary 

Union in its Stewardship series of 

tracts for free circulation. It is hoped 

that tbe readers of Olive Trees will put 

these conditions of true giving into practice, 

tbat the Home and Foreign Treasuries 

of the Eeforraed Fresbyterian 

Church raay be filled with the Lord's 

money.— 

First condition: More thorough-going 

instruction on the financial phases of 

religion. 

Jesus Christ taugbt plainly, over and 

over, as to the use of property. Wben it 

comes to those teachings of His, we rainisters 

are apt to mince the matter and 

to allegorize and generalize and vaporize, 

until tbere is nothing seen but mists and 

rainboAvs, Avhere God lodged thunderbolts. 

How often is the parable of the rich fool 

handled without gloves? Or the parable 

of the wise steward? Men took sucb 

teaching originally much as some of them 

will now. "And tbe Pharisees, wbo were 

lovers of money, heard all these things, 

and they scoffed at hira." A pertinent 

question is. Are we willing to be scoffed 

at, as was the Master, or even raet with a 

grieved look, for tbe sarae teaching? Besides 

Christis many teachings whicb say 

in terms "mararaon" and "money," many 

others have their primary application in 

that realm. Their secondary meanings 

rest on soraething more substantial than 

a mere figure of speech. The property


relations used to illustrate a principle are 

a fundaraental example of the principle 

taught. Thirteen of Christ's twenty-nine 

parables turn on a financial pivot. It is 

often more than a raere illustration, fnr 

property is pivotal in life. Christ spoke 

of a "talent." The Avnrd was siraply a 

denomination of money, as we should say 

$12,000, only in purchasing power it 

raeant about ten tiraes as rauch as $12,- 

000 would raean to us. AVho authorized 

the world to talce Christ's concrete wnrd 

"talent" and turn it intn an abstract nnun, 

and then raalce a verbal adjective nf it, 

and finally forget that a talented raan is, 

first of all, a raan Avho has the power of 

raaking raoney for his Lord ? If presented 

on all sides, the teaching of Christ 

and the Apostles on ranney raatters will 

nnt seem to the business man unsympathetic, 

but will rather bring dignity and 

spiritual glory to his vocation. The New 

Testaraent (to say nothing of the Old) 

is a but half-opened storehouse of needed 

instruction concerning the use nf nne's 

property, whatever the amount of that 

property may be, whether "five talents" or 

"two mites," $600,000 or but two cents. 

Second condition: More accurate instruction 

as to the needs of the world. 

Generous men have nften been fnoled in 

their benevolent investments. They are 

sonietimes dull and hesitating, because 

they feel their ignorance of where and 

how to invest most wisely. And the real 

ignorance and consequent lack of eager interest 

are far greater than the recognized. 

ilen are lamentably uninstructed in social 

science—in the social science of beneficence. 

The prevention of blind, half- 

Avasted, soraetiraes worse than wasted 

beneficence will give concentration and 

confidence, and so enlargeraent in contributing. 

To this end missionary concerts 

must be raade up of soraething more 

than bits of isolated description and 

scrappy appeals. Systematic, 'studious, 

coherent attention must be given to the 

geography, the racial characteristics, and 

the religious drifts of the whole world. 

City missions, State missions, and Araerican 

raissions raust have their due consideration 

in the missionary concert, along 

Avith raissions to the other heraisphere. 

All this instmction involves constant 

stud}', constant toil in teaching and learning. 

But without it greatly enlarged contributions 

are irapossible. And it is the 

special phase of Christian thougbt caUing 

for attention to-day as truly as "justification 

by faith" did in Luther's day. 

The raerabers of our churches bave been 

thoroughly taught as to tbe way of being 

saved theraselves, but scantily taught as 

to the Avays of saving others. Three hundred 

Protestant years have inbred one-half 

of the gospel. The tirae has arrived to 

equally instil the otber half. The churches 

have studied all phases of how to "corae." 

It is now tirae to study all phases of how 

to "go." 

Third condition: Contributions must 

be proportionate. 

The NeAV Testament phrases are concise 

and exact: "According to that a 

man hatb," "As be raay prosper." The 

Old Testament required of every raan at 

least tAventy per cent, of his incorae annually. 

But the criterion,- "As he may 

prosper," requires of many men far raore 

than tAventy per cent. Seventy-five per 

cent. Avould not be unreasonable for many 

a man araong us. It would not be as 

rauch as five per cent, from raany another. 

Are these figuresUtopian, too high 

for the actual Avorld? Not long ago a 

Baptist business raan passed into the 

treasury on high, wbere he had been laying 

up fifty per cent, of his annual income. 

He was able to do that, but no 

better able tban a hundred others who are 

not doing one-fifth of that. A school

teacber, a woman who earns but five hundred 

dollars a year, gives away two hundred 

and fifty dollars a year. "As be 

may prosper" means more tban most of 

us will admit till tbe day of judgment. 

Fourth condition: The contributions 

should be devotional in both method and 

motive. 

Christian contributions are acts of worship 

in their private origin and also in 

their public offering. Tbey spring out of 

devotion to God—His worlc in the world— 

and should be so regarded by tbe giver 

and so treated by the collector. 

The contribution is a central act of 

worship. All else outward is in word; 

this is in deed. Much in religious raeetings 

is directed toward raen. This is directed 

toward God, and ranks alone with 

prayer. It is an offering to tbe Lord. Let 

us call it so, and no longer take up collections, 

but gatber the offerings. The 

impersonal, indefinite word "collection" 

too easily covers coppers, and even buttons. 

"Offering" carries with it tbe twofold 

thougbt of something choice and 

something presented to God. 

"Give unto Jehovah tbe glory due unto 

His name; 

Bring an offering, and corae into His 

courts." 

We sball bave more general and generous 

offerings only wben the deepest fountains 

are opened and kept open. Have we 

not been too mucb like people depending 

for water on catching drippings in jingling 

tin pails and sundry dishes, or at • 

most in shallow cisterns sure to run dry in 

a dry time ? The only perennial spring of 

beneficence is benevolence in its profoundest 

sense—not benevolence siraply as wellwilling 

toward man, but benevolence as 

well-willing toward God, willing God's 

good will. Devoted offerings made in a 

devotional way will be growingly generous 

and general. 

Ill 

Fifth condition: Contributions should 

be sacrificial. 

By this is meant soraething more fundamental 

tban "giving till you feel it." 

A man whose incorae is $2,000, and wbo 

pays $800 for house rent, cannot give $10 

witbout feeling it to tbe quick. The key 

to the situation lies further back than 

feeling; it is in the deliberate scheme of 

life. "A week of sacrifice" is a poor substitute 

for a life of sacrifice. A little 

Episcopalian miss in the circle of ray acquaintance 

said, "Nobody tells what I give 

up during Lent." "Well, Caddie, wbat is 

it?" "Scalloped oysters, wbich I perfectly 

bate, and tea, which mamma never 

lets me have." "A week of sacrifice" 

araong Salvation Army people may mean 

soraething. But when a seal skin cloaked 

lady, weary of tbousand dollar gayeties, 

gives up the opera one week for tbe sake 

of five dollars for missions* there is doubt 

if it goes down in the books of eternity 

under the head of "sacrifice." 

But the trouble is deeper than superfluities. 

It is in the scale of so-called 

necessities. AVhat is the comraon way of 

doing among Christians ? We lay out our 

plan of living, or, more Ukely, drift into a 

plan of living whicb we like, or whicb 

we suppose is expected of us, and tben try 

to pay our bills bonestiy, and give all tbat 

we can out of the margin of income which 

is left. Is not that a fair, kindly, appreciative 

statement of the fact conceming 

a raajorityof the best well-to-do raerabers 

in our churches ? 

Flow raany farraers lay their plans in 

the following order: "I raust give so 

rauch this year for foreign raissions and 

other benevolent work; that will leave me 

only about so rauch whicb I can spend in 

iraproving the breed of ray cattle" ? How 

raany merchants put it to themselves in 

this way: "I must give so rauch this year 

to put struggling churches in my own


State on their feet; taking out for this 

and raany other lines of beneflcence a 

quarter of my income, leaves rae only so 

raany hundred dollars which I can spend 

in living and in increasing my capital"? 

Until our offerings come to have a flrst 

place, instead of a last place, in our plan 

sacriflce in giving is until be has rigidly, 

systeraatically scaled doAvn bis own expenses 

in order to leave raore raoney for 

beneficence. 

Sixth condition: Gladness and singleness 

of heart, instead of reluctance and 

dupUcity. 

M 

E 

N 

E 

N 

0 

U 

G 

H 

THE EVANGELIZATION 

OFTHE 

WORLD INTHIS GENERATION 

16.000 Missionaries ontheField 

50OOOReguired ta Evdngelize 

the World 

I.OOa.OOO men enga.ged in 

the Russo Japanese War 

1,195.000 in the StandinbAr 

tnies or tfie United itaresfireat 

Britain and Oermany 

l2.0DD,O00.American, British. 

and ierman College Graduates 

ofa Generation. 1-24'.''would 

EvaPQelize ihe World. 

M 

O 

N 

E 

Y 

E 

N 

0 

U 

G 

H 

$20000.000 Income of Foreign 

l\/!issionarj/ Societies or 

the World 

m 

$800,000,000 ArmyandNavy- 

Expenditures of llie United 

Stafes, Great Britan and Oermany 

$1,115,000,000 Cost to Oreat 

Britain of South/ifrlcan Wa r 

$136,207,000 Annual net Increase 

in Wealth af Protestant 

Church Members of theUnited 

Sfates over and above all £xpenditures 

$25,000,000,000 Total Wealth 

of the Protesant Church tnembers 

of Ihe Unifed States 

P D W E R E N O U G H 

AndJ esus came and spake unto them, saying,AIIPnwErl5 Qiv' 

en UntoMe inheavenanrl in earth. CaYeT/ierefnre,3ndfeach all na - 

tions, baptizing thein in the name ofthe Fathenand ofthe Son, 

and nr theliolybfiost-.tEBchini ttiem ta observe all things whatsoever 

Ihave commanded yoU:andlo.l am WithVoualways.even unfa the end 

atthe Warlcl 

WE CAN DO IT IF WEWILL 

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY THE YOUNQ PEOPLE'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 

of life, they will not be worthy offerings 

to God, but only the bones frora which we 

have already devoured the meat. 

It ought to be a Christian as well as a 

Hebrew proverb, "Honor the Lord Avitb 

thy substance, and with the firstfruits of 

all thine increase." No man knows wbat 

Many churches have fallen into the 

habit of dragging their contributions out 

of themselves witb block and tackle. All 

sorts of pulleys are used. Imagine the 

Apostle Paul getting up a ten .days' fair 

in Corinth for the sake of the poor in 

Jerusalem! Sucb a supposition would be


more than ridiculous, almost sacrilegious. 

Yet the object Avas wbat is comraonly distinguished 

as charitable, ratber than 

strictly religious. Tbink of tbe women in 

Philippi getting up a "donkey party" to 

raise the money wbicb they sent twice in 

a month to support raissionariesin Thessalonica. 

But the young ladies' foreign 

mission band in a church wbicb I know 

did that not long ago, having, in addition 

to pinning the tail on the donkey and 

other equally noble nurabers on the programrae, 

"a pair of dressed geese," personated 

by two young men done to a tum 

in "pillows and sheets," tbe daily paper 

adding, "The affair reflected great credit 

upon the ladies of tbe mission band." It 

was anotber paper in whicb appeared the 

following advertisement: "Wanted, a 

thousand persons to eat oysters for the 

beneflt of the Churcb." Eecently 

a Senator "took a crazy-quilt 

around the Senate Chamber of tbe United 

States, aslcing for Senatorial autographs 

on the white patches, so that the First 

Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mich., 

could pay off its mortgage by. putting tbe 

quilt up at a raffle." "Shades of Daniel 

Webster and Henry Clay!" exclaims the 

secular paper. "Weeping spirits of 

apostles and martyrs!" cries tbe thoughtful 

Christian. Let us say that tbese are 

extreme cases. But extreraes of what? 

Of a conimon method of raising money 

for religious uses. 

But take tbe most conservative and 

harraless schemes ever used, what are they 

but devices with which to cajole out of 

ourselves that whicb we are too closepocketed 

to freely give? It bleeds our 

hearts to pay our dues unto tbe Lord, and 

so we salve the wound with artistic entertainments. 

We must have aesthetics as 

an anaesthetic during the painful process 

of parting witb our raoney. It cuts us to 

the quick, unless we flrst benumb tbe sore 

spot with ice cream. In that way, too, 

we get a little money from outsiderslittle, 

indeed, just enough to ease their 

consciences and close our mouths. 

Eoundabout raethods are unscriptural, 

degra'ding, and, raost in point, sterilizing. 

They bring labored, but scanty crops, and 

exhaust the soil without feeding it. These 

devices hold tbe sarae relation to real religion 

that praying-raachines do. They 

belong in Thibet. They raean the withered 

end of piety. Growing generosity 

can be only wben raen bring their offerings 

of lips and hands straight into tbe 

loving presence of God. The cultivation 

of Christian simplicity, honest directness 

in financial relations with our Master, is 

one essential of larger and more general 

contributions; "not with eye service as 

men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, 

fearing tbe Lord." 

Cbristian hearts will respond to purely 

Christian raotives. A church in a far 

Western State, suddenly bereft of its 

flnancial raainstay, gathered itself up, 

without any clap-trap stimulants, without 

any professional debt-raisers, without 

any sallies of wit, without any pathetic 

stories—gathered itself up, and in tbirty 

days wiped a thirty thousand dollar debt 

clean out. It was done in the closet of 

secret prayer, tbe subscriptions were cash, 

and their separate sums knoAvn only to 

God. 

I have observed tbat Christians in tbe 

East are raade of the same stuff; subject 

to like lordly raotives. One of the churches 

in New England, long in the front rank 

for tbe size of its offerings for raissionary 

objects, in which it gained sixty-flve per 

cent, last year over tbe preceding year, 

has recently, by abolishing pew rents and 

appealing to exclusively religious motives 

for current expenses, increased its income 

for that object also by about flfty per 

cent. These cases can be duplicated by


the bundred all the way frora .Maine to 

Califomia. Wherever people rise into the 

higher sphere of raotive there is unexpected 

achieveraent. Everywhere the 

people of God are ready to hand over their 

raoney, if only tbey can becorae aware 

tbat it goes into the bands that were 

pierced. 

THE MISSION OF JAPAN,* 

We are now entering a period of universal 

convergent social evolution. Tbe 

social and psychic gains of the races and 

nations, which during the past have developed 

apart from each other, are now to 

be mutually exchanged, and this by a 

process not of racial interraarriage or 

railitary doraination, but of free social intercourse. 

By this, all those who share in 

the process will be gainers. Japan is in 

the forefront of the movement. Her position 

and history fither to be the leader. 

Already, in no sraall raeasure, has she accomplished 

for herself the amalgaraation 

of eastern and western culture. Sbe is 

now starting on tbe new roje of teacber 

and leader of the Far East. With raagnificent 

coraprebension of her opportunities 

she has opened her educational institutions 

to Chinese and Korean students. 

In December, 1904, not less than 5,000 

Chinese students were in Japan, and in 

June of the same year over ninety Chinese 

cadets were graduated from the Japanese 

Military Acaderay, and not less than 500 

more were either in the acaderay or in 

courses leading to it. Many railitary and 

other schools in the provincial capitals of 

*Taken from "The 'White Peril in the 

Far East," an Interpretation of the Significance 

of ihe Russo-Japanese War, hy 

Sidney Lewis Gulick, M.A., D.D. The 

book can ie obtained from ihe Fleming 

H. Revell Co., New York, Chicago and 

Toronto. Price $1, net. 

China eraploy Japanese instructors. Dr. 

Beach reported in October, 1904, on bis return 

frora a visit to China, that he bad seen 

a Chinese college in process of erection, in 

which were suites of rooms for fifty-six 

Japanese professors. A few days after the 

breaking out of the war, our University 

Extension Society in Matsuyama held a 

debate in regard to war questions. The 

unaniraity of opinion was striking. All 

agreed that victory would crown Japanese 

arras, but tbat Japan should in no case seek 

raUijtajy doraination of any part of the 

Asiatic rcbntinent. But equally eraphatic 

was the opinion, that she raust take the 

leading position of influence, and that 

this was to be secured only by sending to 

those lands teachers, able and true in 

knowledge and character. Japan was to 

dorainate and lead the Orient by sheer 

mental and moral ability. 

But does Japan have a mission to the 

AA''est as well? Is sbe to contribute any 

element of permanent value to universal 

civilization? Of this tbere can be no 

doubt. She has already accomplished 

rauch in art. AVhether the ambitious belief 

of some of ber young raen is to be 

realized, that Japan will produce the universal 

religinn, displacing thereby all existing 

faiths, only tirae can show. Discussion 

of this question is hardly needed here. 

Suflicient is it for us to know that such 

aspirations are found in Japan to-day. 

A raore raanifest mission of Japan to the 

West is the contribution she is likely to 

make to the developraent of our culture in 

conduct. Here the Asiatic is far and 

away superior to the Araerican and the 

European. Compared with the average 

Asiatic, the raost of us are country bumpkins 

in raatters of courtesy and in social 

relations. That is what they have conspicuously 

developed, and that is wbat we 

conspicuously lack. Japan will perhaps 

lead in bringing us to recognize our de-


feet, and may belp us to gain the better 

way. 

From being the most secluded and selfsuSicient 

people of the earth, Japan has 

advanced to tbe forefront of progressive 

open-mindedness. The white peril, so 

long feared, has proved to be tbe very 

tbis point I cannot refrain from contrasting 

the policy of the Japanese Governraent 

toAvard Cbina with the short-sighted policy 

of the United States toward the same 

country. AVhat golden opportunities we 

lose! To-day Japan is exerting the influence 

which we also might exert, did we 

RELIGIOUS CENSUS OFTHE 

WORLD 

H E A T H E N 

8 3 6 , 7 3 2 , 0 0 0 

P « r ^ ^ i ^ 

The Kingdom af Heaven islike unto 

Leaven, which a woman took and hid 

in three measures of meal till the 

whole i/vas leavened'*Matt. 13.53. 

COPYRIQHT, 1905, BY THE YOUNQ PEOPLE'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 

tonic and stimulus required to place ber 

in tbe advance guard of progressive nations. 

Sbe now takes ber part in doing 

the world's work, and seeks, in ways at 

once wise, humane, just and powerful) 

to restrain the greedy aggressor and to 

build up the weak and tbe backward. At 

not exclude Chinese students from our 

institutions by excluding them from our 

country. 

ilany quotations frora Japanese writers 

might be presented. I give but one. It 

is from my friend Mr. K. Ucbimara: 

"Two streams of civilization flowed in

116 Monographs 

opposite directions when raankind descended 

frora their priraitive horaes on the 

table-land of Iran or Arraenia. That 

toward the west passed, through Babylon, 

Fhcenicia, Greece, Eorae, Gerraany, Bngland, 

and culrainated in Araerica; while 

that through the east traveled through 

India, Tibet and China, culminating in 

Manchoo Court of Feking. .The moral 

world is also a magnet, with its two opposite 

poles, on the opposite banks of the 

Paciflc; democratic, aggressive, inductive 

Araerica, and the iraperial, conservative 

and deductive China. There have been 

constant atterapts for the union of these 

magnetic currents. Grander tasks await 

the young Japan, -who has the best of Europe 

and the best of Asia at her coraraand. 

At her touch the circuit is completed, and 

the healthy fluidshall overflow the earth." 

WHAT MEANS THE OPEN DOOR? 

AA''e are bound to study the meaning of 

signs. The word of Jesus still stands 

which rebuked raen for not reading the 

signs of the kingdora, although they 

quickly read the signs of the seasons and 

of the Aveather. The opening of long 

elosed lands is a sign of these early years 

of the tAventieth century. Signs of this 

sort crowded into the last flve years deserve 

careful attention: Tibet has received 

within the past year the flrstshock 

it ever received strong enough to dislodge 

the bars of its gates. No door is yet open 

but the bars are shattered beyond restoration. 

Arabia is now undergoing a similar 

experience. Bebels have defeated the 

Turkish troops and surround the great 

fortress of Sanaa, capital of Yemen. This 

rebellion against the Sultan, who has 

steadily stirred fanaticisra against Christian 

visitors to Arabia is the beginning of 

the end of exclusiveness there. The bars 

of the gates are dislodged. Abyssinia has 

been as obstinate as Tibet and Arabia, in 

barring out influences frora outside that 

raight disturb the self-sufficiency of its 

lazy and ignorant priests. Within a year 

the Archbishop of Abyssinia has allowed 

preachers connected witb the Swedish 

National Mission to enter the country 

with the Bible and witb schools. The 

door is ajar. China is open, for the moment 

at least, and longs for instruction 

frora educated foreigners. Japan is opened 

by the war as never before, and in some 

sort Christian rainistersreach the soldiers 

in hospital and in carap. Manchuria a 

year ago was in the iron grip of Eussia, 

wbose deterraination was flxed to petrify 

its people by making the will of tbe Czar 

and his Minister of Eeligion direct their 

very thoughts. To-day the hungry Eussian 

array is fleeingto find a place where 

it can sit doAvn and eat. Manchuria is 

open. 

All these great occurrences of one trend 

toAvard the opening of doors of intercourse 

give us a right to believe that God Himself 

is shaping the future of the nations. 

At the dedication of the L. M. S. .Mission 

Hnuse in Lendon, one of the speakers said, 

"We have prayed; God has answered, and 

we are afraid at His answer!" Let this 

not be true of us. Let us understand the 

signs of His will, and say, "Here am I; 

send rae." 

—Bureau Bulletin. 

THE CHRIST LIFE. 

I recall the wonder and delight with 

which I saw the ocean tide come up the 

Bay of Fundy and fill the erapty river 

beds. Tbrough the hours of the ebb the 

Nova Scotian rivers dwindled and shrank 

Avithin their banks. Broad and barren 

reaches of sand exposed tberaselves; ships 

listed beavilv on their sides, deserted by 

the feeble streara trickling in raid-channel. 

Then came the tide up the Bay of Fundy, 

up from the abundance of the unfatbom- ;


able sea. You could hear it coming, with bed; it filled the empty channel as one 

a distant sound of motion and life and fills a pitcher at tbe fountain; it covered 

unmeasured power. You could see it the barren sands witb motion and sparkcoming, 

with a pure white girdle of foam ling life; it lifted the heavy ships, 

that looked in sunlight like a zone of fire, gave back to them their rigbts of buoy- 

You could smell it coraing, With the smell ancy, set tbem free upon the broad waterof 

freshness, the breath of coolness, the way of world-wide opportunity; it 

wait of far-off scents from breeze-blown changed tbe very face of the land frora 

ocean leagues. You could almost feel it sadness aind apathy and dullness to animacoraing, 

for tbe beart stirred at the sight tion and color and glittering activity. 

of it, and the pulse quickened at tbe rush So Christ coraes into erapty huraan 

of it, and tbe joy of strength arose in tbe lives and fills tbem with His fullness,wbicb 

soul. is tbe very fullness of God. So stops the 

It came from the mighty fullness that ebb.of power, entering with His flood of 

could afford to give so grandly; it carae strength. The difference between a life. 

from the opulence of an ocean tbat could witbout Christ and a life with Christ is 

spend itself without fear of poverty, that the difference between ebb and flood; the 

could pour itself out to fill a tbousand one is growing emptier, the otber is growrivers, 

yet be not diminished; it came, as ing fuller. 

Arnold said, with "murmurs and scents of 

-—Charles Cuthbert Hall, D.D. 

In a South Yorkshire coal mine tbere was a heavy fall of roof. Three men were 

entorabed, one of thera young Jira Asbforth. His brother Bill, who worked in another 

part of tbe raine, had left for horae an hour previously, and was flnishing dinner 

when news of the disaster was brought. All tbe distressed mother could say was: 

"Go, Bill!" On reaching the mine, be was assured that as many were working as the 

"bank" could bold. His earnest plea, "He's my brother! he's my brother,! I must 

go!" prevailed, and he was permitted to join the rescue party. 

During the flxing of a prop a miner heard a "tap, tap." "They're living!" he 

cried. Bill now worked like a man demented, "ripping and tearing" for all he was 

worth. Asked to rest and refresh himself, he replied: "I cannot; my brother is in 

the dark and foul air." 

Could a stronger plea for attempted rescue be given? Tbis is the plea of raissions. 

A brother for whora Christ died is entorabed in tbe moral and spiritual darlmess of 

heathendom. To rescue such we sbould do not our "sbare," but our best.—Prize 

Illustration in London Chronicle. 

Tbe British and Poreign Bible Society Colporteur, distributing Bible portions 

among the wounded Eussian soldiers in the Far East, says tbat one of tbem read 

aloud the 24tb chapter of St. Matthew as far as verse 14, when another interrupted 

him: "I see this free distribution of the Evangel is also happening under God's guidance." 

Another soldier added, "May all be richly blessed wbo have part in it." Scorn 

of the dissolute men who bave ruined Eussia sbould not blind us to the sturdy qualities 

of Eussian peasants like tbese soldiers wbo are often deeply pious and who are 

yet to make tbe nation strong again.—Bulletin.

lis 


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

Olive Trees has received the following contributions to this fund during the past 

month: 

Contributor. 

Amount. 

A young woman of Central Allegheny 

Church $5.00 

Mrs. M. J. Eeed, Belle Center, 0 5.00 

Mrs. D. C. Patterson, Belle Centi^r, 0.... 5.00 

A raember of Second New York 5.00 

Eehoboth Sabbath School, Wyraan, la.... 10.50 

Ladies'Aid Society of Bklyn. Congregation 10.00 

Mr. & Mrs. C. PuUinger, Second New York. 5.00 


Hospital in Cbina. 

Cbina. 

Cbina. 

Indian and Southern. 

Cbina. 

Equally araong tbe Missions. 

China and Cyprus. 

Tbese offerings do not show a very large total, but, as the letters accorapanying them 

indicate, they are raade in a very loyal spirit. Probably tbe feeling tbat underlies 

thera all raay be expressed in this one sentence: "A sraall token of our love and appreciation 

of those noble woraen who gave their lives in the service of Christ; and it is 

our earnest prayer that in taking away the useful lives of our loved ones in Cbina, 

the Head of tbe Church will stir up new interest in missionary work." That desire 

in the heart of every raember of the Eeformed Presbyterian Church would soon add 

thousands to this fund, and there would be money to meet all the deraands of tbe 

raissions, both at horae and abroad. 

All contributions sent to Olive Trees will be acknowledged in its columns. 


327 W. 56th Street, 

New York. 

Attention is called to a series of six 

wall charts which have recently been prepared 

and lithographed in colors under 

the auspices of the Young People's Missionary 

Movement. These charts, of 

whicb two electro proofs are printed in 

this issue of Olive Trees, are 36 x 44 

inches in size, and will be furnisbed to

churches. Sabbath schools, and other organizations 

in unbroken sets of six, carefully 

packed in strong tubes for shipment, 

at tbe following prices, express 

charges prepaid: 

Style 1. Plain, nnmounted $1.00 

Style 2. Edges bound with cloth... 1.25 

Style 3. Tinned top and bottom, 

ready to bang 1.50 

Style 4. Edges bound witb cloth, 

wood roUer and raoulding 

top and bottora, 

ready to hang 2.00 

Styles 2 and 4 are specially recommended. 

Orders for these charts may be 

addressed to Young People's Missionary 

Moveraent, 156 Fifth Avenue, New 

York; or to Olive Trees, 327 W. 56tb 

Street, New York. 

•# 

Five dollars and seven cents, handed to 

us as a contribution to the hospital work 

in Latakia, Syria, frora tbe raothersattending 

the Ladies' Helping Hand of 

Second New York, have been passed on to 

Treasurer Miller. 

The Corresponding Secretary of the 

Foreign Mission Board reports having received 

frora five faraiUes in Miltonvale, 

Kans., a request to be allowed tbe privilege 

of paying the salary of tbe firstnative 

teacher in tbe scbool at Tak Hing Cbau, 

for at least fiveyears. 


A. New Year offering from Eev. J. 

W. F. Carlisle's Bible Class, 

Newburgh, N. Y 13.50 

Miss Mary S. M. Thompson and 

sisters, Pittsburg, Pa 10.00 


of tbe following contributions 'frora the 

young woinen of tbe Eeforriied Presbyterian 

Church foward the salary of their 

raissionary for 1905: 

Mass Jane M. Edgar, Manchester, 

N. H. $5.50 

Miss Bliza Cannon, Wyraan, la.... 5.20 

Mrs. Mary B. Latiraer, Eose Point, 

Pa 5.20 

The Missionary Review of ihe World 

for April, 1905, sent for notice in our columns, 

contains raany excellent papers. 

The firstarticle, on "Our Lord's Teaching 

About Money," by Dr. Fierson, tbe 

editor-in-chief, is a timely presentation 

of an important subject that claims 

prayerful study. Those who are looking 

for facts regarding the districts in India 

yet wholly destitute of gospel teaching 

should read Dr. G. S. Eddy's "Unoccupied 

Fields in India," an article the value 

of whicb is greatly increased by maps, 

diagrams and photographic illustrations. 

Other papers tbat will attract attention 

according to tbe raental raake-upof the 

reader, are "The Fresent Eeligious Situation 

in France," "Eecent Buddhist 

Since last report we have received and Events in Burraa," "Christianity's Opportunity 

forwarded to Eev. John G. Paton, D.D., 

the following contributions to the work 

with which he is identified in the New 

Hebrides: 

Mr. Wra. E. .Moody, B. Northfield, 

in Japan," "The Pastor's Op 

portunity and Eesponsibility," "A SUyer 

Dollar Missionary Serraon," etc. We can 

cordially coraraend this raagazine,which is 

publisbed raonthlyby Funk & Wagnalls 

Mass $135.00 Company, New York, for $2.50 a year. 

Mrs. Jane C. Simpson, Thompsonville, 

Its sixteen pages of tbe latest missionary 

Conn 27.00 news from all parts of the world every 

Mr. Thornton B. Jackson, Eockford, 

111 35.00 

montb is Avorth the subscription price, to 

say notbing of its instructive and stimu-


lating discussion of a great variety of missionary 

topics. 

Tavo volumes have been laid on our 

table by tbe Fleming H. Eevell Co., New 

York, Chicago and Toronto: 

The White Peril in the Far East. By 

Sidney Leiuis Gulick, M.A., D.D. Price 

$1 net, and 

Dr. Grenfell's Parish. By Norman 

Duncan. Price $1 net. 

To every one who has taken any interest 

in the Eusso-Japanese war, tbe flrst 

volume will have great value, as recording 

the views of a man wbo is well acquainted 

witb Japan and its people 

through residence in tbe country and 

close intercourse with its leading minds. 

Sorae chapters are historic, telling the 

story of Pre-Meiji tiraes, the awakening, 

the reaction, the period of discriraination 

and the recent developraent, while others 

are taken up with discussing the raission 

of Japan, the causes and raeaning of the 

war, and its ability to raaintain a prolonged 

war. In all these discussions, as well 

as in the suggestion with whicb tbe volurae 

closes- as to the perraanent peace of tbe 

Orient, the views of the writer are obviously, 

as he says in his preface, "definitely 

infiuenced" by the thinking of his Japanese 

friends, "as to tbeir national character 

and destiny." 

The wbole book is virile in thought and 

style, and will bring raental enrichment 

to tbe careful reader. 

The second volume bas been written, as 

the author tells bis readers, "to spread the 

knowledge of the work of Dr. Wilfred T. 

Grenfell, of the Eoyal National Mission 

to Deep Sea Fishermen, at work on the 

coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador; 

and to describe the character and condition 

of the folk wbom he seeks to help." 

The book is a most attractive picture bf a 

consecrated raan, and serves to show the 

loftj' heroisra to whicb tbe grace of God 

will lift any one who surrenders hiraself 

to its power. Those wbo are at work in 

the raidst of pleasant surroundings and 

are accoraplishing next to notbing, ought 

to read tbis story and learn wherein lie 

their weakness and inefficiency. 

The Synod of the Eeforraed Fresbyterian 

Cburch will meet at New Castle, 

Pa., Wednesday, May 24, 1905, at 8 P. M. 

The retiring Moderator, Eev. T. C. 

Sproull, will preach at that bour. 

On the previous day, Tuesday, May 

23, the New York Presbytery will meet in 

W. 39th St. Church, N. Y., at 10 A. M. 

When iliehael Angelo had becorae blind and decrepit with age, be was led, morning 

by morning, into the museura of the Vatican, that he might deligbt his artistic 

senses by passing his hand over the wonderful torsos. It was the deprivation of 

sight that brought the cunning of the master-hand into closer fellowship with the 

canvas and the marble. The developing process is not always easy. We shrink from 

the dark-room with its biting acids and submerging process. But we raust not judge 

before the tirae, only lie still until He traces all the linearaents, untU aU the features 

corae outi until He brings to light the hidden tbings, and aU will be made plain. 

Alone in the dark-room! There are trials no onc else can share, burdens we must 

bear alone. Soraetiraes these are awful hours of darkness and gloora. And so in oui 

lives. At tinies it is pitch dark, every star in the sky of hope gone out. Tben when 

we are nearly exhausted, wearied and worn, we see a shadow, a light, and we bear a 

voice out of the darkness. It says: 'Tt is I." 'Tis the Master. It is lighti and we 

are safe.—-Re-y. A. G. Welch in Character Photography.

O L I V K T R K K S 



No. JUNE, 1905. 


THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 

rev. T. C. sproull, fairgrove, MICH. 

,Psalm 22, 28, "Tbe Kingdom is the 

Lord's." "Before honor is humility." 

"Ought not Cbrist to bave suffered these 

things and to enter into His glory ?" "He 

humbled Hiraself and became obedient 

unto deatb, even the death of the cross, 

wherefore God also batb highly exalted 

Him and given Him a name that is 

above every name." Tbe first part of 

this Psalm tells of the suffering of Christ; 

the second tells of the glory tbat followed. 

The flrst describes the deep waters in 

which tbe Saviour struggled, the floods 

that submerged Him, tbe billows and 

waves tbat passed over Him; in tbe second 

we see Him standing npon tbe rock, 

safe forever from tbe billows. In the 

first we bebold Hira battling with tbe 

bulls of Bashan, the dogs of earth and 

the lions of hell; in the second we see 

the victory gained over all the malignant 

powers, and the conqueror of death and 

hell seated upon the throne of dominion 

and ruling tbe world by His power. In 

our text a kingdom is spoken of and a 

King is understood to whom the kingdom 

belongs, whose name is Jehovab Jesus, 

who in the last clause of tbe verse is 

called ."Governor among tbe nations." 

For the benefit of our faitb and bope and 

joy, and the renewing of our zeal and 

efforts for tbe growth and enlargement 

of this Divine Kingdora, let us dwell for 

a little upon its nature and characteristics, 

the qualifications for rulership of its 

Divine King, and briefly note some of the 

blessings wbicb this Divine Kingdom shall 

bring to the world. 

The Fact of the Kingdom. 

The term "kingdora" is frequently used 

in both the Old and New Testaraents, 

and its raost frequent reference is to an 

autbority, influence or power exercised 

in the earth, in heaven and in bell by 

Jehovah, tbe King of Kings and the Lord 

of Lords—^the Divine Man, Christ Jesus. 

This exercise of power by Jehovab is 

called in tum the Kingdom of Heaven, 

the Kingdora of God, and tbe Kingdom 

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Sometiraes it is represented as being confined 

in its operations to the hearts of 

men: "The Kingdom of God is witbin 

you." Again, tbe scene of its operation 

is in the clouds or the beavens above the 

heavens; tben it holds in check and punishes 

on the earth and restrains tbe malignant 

wrath of the accuser of tbe brethren. 

"The sceptre of Thy Kingdom is a right 

sceptre." "His Kingdom ruleth over all." 

"Tby Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, 

and Tby dominion endureth to all 

generations." "His dominion is an everlasting 

dominion—and His Kingdom 

that wbicb shall not be destroyed." 

In the New Testament the word is employed 

in almost every instance to de-

122 Questions of the Hour, 

note the autbority of Christ in the souls 

of men, in the Churcb of God and over 

tbe world at large. He is represented as 

exercising dorainion over men, beasts, 

birds,. fishes, and creeping things of the 

earth; over men as individuals and over 

all associations of men. Over all these 

"He ruleth by His power." We gather 

strong evidence of this kingdom and authority 

from the dealings of God in His 

Providence in the world. He who wisely 

t.akes note of how tbese dealings of God 

toward His Church dovetail into the 

word and prophecies, must come to the 

conclusion, flrst,tbat God's word never 

fails of accomplishment, and, second, that 

there is an authority higher and stronger 

than man that "rules in the array of 

heaven and among the inhabitants of 

earth.'" The great strong hand of the 

King is still stretched out over the puny 

nations of the world, as in the day when 

it was stretched out over Egypt, when 

"He cut Eahab and wounded tbe dragon." 

We have seen His mighty hand grasping 

the nations and shaking them out of their 

places and chasing them out of the world. 

Have we not with our own eyes seen this 

raighty King, taking in one hand little 

Japan and in the other great Eussia and 

dashing these potsherds of tbe earth together 

to the confusion and hurailiation 

of that most hideous of all despotisms, 

the empire of the Czar? The fulfiUraent 

of prophecy in the past is to us the sure 

proof that One sits above who is doing 

His OAvn will, fulfilling His own purposes, 

employing all His creatures, animate and 

inaniraate, willing or imwilling, in carrying 

out His purposes and designs. 

The Extent of His Kingdom. 

"He is Lord of aU." "His Kingdom 

ruleth Over all." The grant of power and 

authority raade by the Father to the Son 

indicates universal dorainion. "I -will 

give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, 

and the utterraost parts of the earth 

for tby possession." "And bast given 

Him to be head ovef all things to the 

Church." "The Kingdom and dominion 

and the greatness of tbe Kingdom under 

tbe wbole heavens" is given to the Lord 

of tbis Kingdom. All tbe material and 

animal creation are placed under His rule 

and control. "Tbou madest Him to have 

dominion over the works of tby hands; 

thou hast put all things under His feet; 

all sheep and oxen, yea, and tbe beasts 

of the field and the fowl of tbe air, and 

EEV. T. C. SPEOULL. 

Avhatsoever passeth tbrough the paths of 

the sea." "Fire, hail, snow, vapor and 

stormy wind, fulfilling His word." AU 

tbese do tbe bidding of tbe King. The 

grant of dorainion over all tbese creatures 

was forfeited by the faU; but Jesus Christ 

in grace and raercy has by covenant restored 

the lost dorainion to His people. 

To Noah He said, "The fear.of you and 

the dread of j'ou shall be upon every 

beast of the earth, and upon every fowl 

of the air, and upon all that move upcn 

the earth, and upon all the fishesof the

sea." "And jn that day will I raake a 

covenant for ^hem with the beasts of the 

field, and with the fowls of the beaven, 

and Avith the creeping things of the 

ground." Inferior and savage creatures 

shall never overrun and destroy the earth 

for the sake of the Cburch in covenant 

with God. 4-E spiritual beings, good and 

bad, are under His control. All the 

angels of God worship Him. The angel 

choir sang at His birth, "Glory to God 

in the highest, and on earth peace, good 

will to raen." Angels rainisteredto Hira. 

in the dgsert after His temptation, as 

they ministered to His Church in the 

ages past. Now He is gone into beaven, 

wbere angels, authorities and powers are 

made subject unto Him, and from hence 

He sends fortb His angels to be ministering 

spirits to them who shall be beirs of 

salvation. In the lifetirae of tbe King on 

the e^rth. He demonstrated His power 

over evil spirits. He cast out devils and 

made them to be subject to His will. He 

overthrew tbe evil one and destroyed bis 

wor/rs. "He spoiled principalities and 

poAfers, and made a show of tbem openly, 

triumphing over tbem in His cross." Tbe 

's(^ldiers of tbe Kingdom need fear notb- 

• ipg from these foes of the Cburch. They 

are conquered enemies, and tbe Lord will 

bruise thera under our feet shortly. Tbat 

which greatly encourages tbe servant of 

Christ is tbe thought that all tbe dwellers 

of tbe earth, all raen in all capacities of 

life and action, are under the control of 

the King of this Kingdom. "Tbou bast 

given Him power over all flesh." Men in 

tbeir individuah and corporate capacities 

all are raerabers of His Kingdom, and 

consequently His servants. "All things 

were made by Him," and raust be included 

in His Kingdora. The fact that a 

person becomes incorporated in a compact 

with bis fellow-men does not place him 

outside of the sphere of this Kingdom, nor 


exempt bim frora allegiance to its King. 

Nations in tbeir national capacities, of 

whatever degree of strength, resources, 

and advanceijient in the arts of civilization, 

are comraanded to recognize the 

Mediator as King, and do Him reverence. 

"Sit on My rigbt hand till I raake 

thine eneraies thy footstool." "All Kings 

shall fall down before Hira, all nations 

shall serve Hira." "I will give the 

heathen for thine inheritance and the utterraost 

parts of the earth for thy possession." 

In, Psalm 18th He is "made the 

Head of tbe heathen." These nations 

were given to Christ for His service and 

praise and honor; and on this doctrine 

of Christ's OAvnership of nations we base 

our right to go into all tbe world and 

evangelize the nations, even those that are 

heathen and in rebellion against the King 

of this Kingdora, tbat He may receive His 

due meed of praise, honor and glory. "Go 

ye into all the world and preach the gospel 

to every creature." On tbis doctrine 

also we base the right to testify against 

the sin of rebellion against the King and 

of disobedience to His law; and to say to 

kings and to all tbat are in authority, "Be 

wise now, tberefore, 0 ye kings; be instructed, 

ye judges of the earth. Kiss the 

Son lest He be angry, and ye perish in tbe 

way when His wrath is kindled but a 

little." On this ground, because all these 

nations are raerabers of His Providential 

Kingdora, we seek their reforraation for 

their greater happiness, prosperity and 

perpetuity, and for the greater glory and 

bonor of tbe King; and tbis we do encouraged 

by the sure proraise and prediction, 

"The kingdoras of this world are 

beeome tbe Kingdom of our Lord and 

His Christ." Missionaries, reforraers, 

workers in the Lord's vineyard, who have 

the Spirit of tbe Master in your bearts, 

as ye go fortb to serve, be encouraged. 

You bear witb you the credentials of tbe


King of heaven and earth. The Master 

Himself goes with you; you serve and 

work in His fleld and your fleld. You 

are no trespasser upon the doraain of anotber 

king when you go forth to win the 

world to Christ Jesus. You are on the 

King's own soil, and it is no discourtesy 

to plead with the rebellious subjects of 

this King to return to their allegiance and 

loyalty to tbeir Law-giver and Creator. 

"This honor is to all His saints." 

Excellencies of the Government and Laws 

of This Kingdom., 

An excellent govemraent and excellent 

laAvs calculated to secure the best interests 

of the subjects of this Kingdora. 

First—Its Government Is a Legitimate 

and Honest Government. Eule over 

this Kingdora was not obtained by 

chicanery and fraud, deceit and wrong; 

not by wading through seas of 

slaughter to a throne; but was earned 

by righteous conquest and honest purchase—by 

delivering its subjects out 

of the hand of the tyrant—"the strong 

raan arraed." Because He saved His people 

and raagnifledthe Divine attributes of 

raercy, truth, justice and love, God hatb 

given Hira power over all flesh—a name 

above every name. Both in Church and 

State, men frequentiy occupy positions 

for which they are unfitted either mentally 

or morally—positions gained through 

the influence of friends or money—but 

the power wielded by Jesus Christ, the 

King of this Kingdora, is pure and incorruptible, 

and is wielded for the best 

interests of His subjects. "Thou settest 

a crown of pure gold upon His head." 

Second—It is a Fair and Just Government. 

Every subject shall be accorded 

bis just rights, whether he be rich or 

poor, high or low. Love, kindness, and 

justice will be the rule of life and conduct 

in this Kingdom. There will be no grinding 

monopolies to oppress and impoverish 

the poor and the helpless, under the sanction 

of law. The poor shall receive special 

attention and protection. "When the 

Lord hath founded Zion, the poor of His 

people shall trust in it." "He sball judge 

His people with righteousness, and thy 

poor Avith judgraent." "He sball judge 

tbe poor of the people, and save the children 

of the needy, and break in piece? tbe 

oppressor." What a bappy change shall 

then take place in the econoraical conditions 

of millions of earth's doAvntrodden 

and oppressed ones! When this Kingdom 

shall be fully inaugurated and its 

laws and principles obeyed by its subjects, 

then it shall be said. Blessed be Eussia, 

my people, and China, the work of my 

hands, and America, raine inheritance. 

Third—This Kingdom is Characterized 

by Beneficence. The spirit, life and action 

of tbe subjects will partake of the 

spirit and life of its King. Every act 

and word of this King in His lifetirae on 

the earth exhibited His gentleness, beneflcence, 

kindliness and justice. Tbe spirit 

and motive of this Kingdom will be, "Do 

unto others as ye would that otbers should 

do unto you !"•—the spirit of unselflshness 

and kindness. You look abroad over the 

Avorld and you see a spirit exactly the opposite 

prevailing, a spirit of selfishness, 

war, rapine, and raurder araong the 

Avorld's kingdoras. The spirit that shall 

possess this Kingdora is the spirit of the 

gospel, and its law shall be the gospel of 

Christ. The spirit of tbe gospel is altruistic 

and beneficent. Tbe gospel begets 

in the hearts of huraanity this kindly and 

beneficent irapulse, which raoves raen to 

"look not every raan on his oavu things, 

but every man also on the tbings of others"—to 

regard tbe good of their fellowmen 

raore than their own selfish interests. 

This altruistic spirit was begotten through 

the gospel by the Holy Spirit in the heart 

of Paul, "I am debtor botb to tbe Greek


and to tbe barbarian, botb to the wise and 

the unwise. So as much as in me is, I am 

ready to preach the gospel to you that are 

at Eome also." Let us remember tbat tbis 

kindly and unselfish spirit, this disposition 

to pay our debts to the souls and 

bodies of our fellow-men, is not begotten 

of education, learning and philosophy; 

not by having church creeds pasted on 

our memories; not by learning correct 

principles by rote; not by a bigoted adherence 

to man-made forms and customs, 

bowever venerable witb age, wbich have 

lost tbeir heart and utility through the 

progress of the Cburch and ber wider 

reacb into broader flelds of usefulness; 

but by a knowledge and practice of the 

truths and duties of tbe gospel. If we 

expect men to partake of the spirit and 

nature of Jesus, Cbrist crucified must be 

preacbed to tbem. Dr. Chalmers said, 

"In my flrst parish I preacbed morality 

and saw no good whatever arising out of 

my exhortations, but as soon as I began 

to preach Cbrist crucifled, then there was 

a buzz and a stir, and mucb opposition, 

but grace prevailed." Spurgeon says, 

"Alas, for the /flneries of our cultured 

modern divines crying out and denouncing 

old-fashioned preaching of tbe gospel. 

' This talking about Cbrist crucifled 

is said to be archaic, conventional, antique, 

and not at all suitable to the requirements 

of tbis wonderful age. People 

want thinking nowadays, it is said; but 

I have noticed tbat as a general rule, 

wherever the new thinking drives out the 

old gospel, there are more spiders than 

people; but where tbere is siraple, earnest 

preaching of Jesus Christ, tbe place is 

crowded to tbe doors." The plain, vigorous 

and earnest preaching of Christ and 

Him crucifled, by the blessing of the 

Spirit alone can bring the golden age of 

happiness and true prosperity to tbe 

Churcb and tbe world. The Churcb of Jesus 

Cbrist is the beart and center of Christ's 

Kingdom in tbe world. And it is for ber 

to set an example of tbis beneficent and 

kindly spirit before tbe eyes of those who 

are looking for the golden age of happiness 

and prosperity in the world. Then 

God Avill "make her and tbe places round 

about His hill a blessing. There sball be 

showers of blessing." The spirit of liberty 

and progress emanating from the 

free political and religious institutions of 

Araerica, has liberalized raore than one 

hard and harsh old-world tyranny, and is 

even uoav leavening the rainds and brightening 

the hopes of the ignorant and enslaved 

subjects of the Czar, and causing 

the tyrants of dark Eussia to trerable for 

their power. Let tbis spirit of beneficence 

and good will go forth out of tbe Cburch 

into tbe world, and the kingdoms of this 

world sball soon become the Kmgdom of 

our Lord and of His Christ. 

Fourth—It is a Progressive Kingdom. 

Jesus Christ raust increase. This Kingdom 

in its progressive, conquering character 

is symbolized by the "stone cut out 

without bands," which sraote and destroyed 

Nebuchadnezzar's great iraage and 

then becarae a great niountain and fllled 

the whole earth. This Kingdom has witbin 

it tbe living principle of truth and 

righteousness and true spiritual liberty, 

and therefore must progress, prevail and 

conquer. Its subjects shall be filled with 

true religious zeal and shall spread abroad 

tbe knowledge of the trutb conceming 

Christ as Saviour and Lord, and soon all 

nations shaU call Hira blessed. Old 

tbings shall pass away, old forms of oppressive 

and godless governments, class 

legislation witb oppressive laws and 

statutes shall pass away, and sball give 

place to systeras of righteous governraent, 

and just and wholesorae laws, wbicb sball 

secure the prosperity and contentment of 

all tbe people. Labor strikes, with tbeir


attendant disorders, financial losses and 

frequent murders, will pass away. Misunderstandings 

will less frequently arise, 

and Avhen they do arise, avUI be settled by 

arbitration and mutual agreeraent, and 

the rendering of equal justice to all. Old 

systems of religious oppression, hoary and 

venerable witb antiquity, but dark and 

foul with bigotry and oppression and 

priestly tyranny, shall give place to true 

Christianity with its mild and gentle and 

beneficent influences upon raind and soul 

and body. 

A word in conclusion: First—Pray for 

the Establishment of This Kingdom. 

Prayer is one indication of an earnest 

purpose on the part of God's people to 

establish this Kingdora. God hears 

prayer. God delights in the prayers of 

His people. Prayer indicates faith in 

God and in His purpose to establish this 

Kingdora in the earth. Prayer is an indication 

of our willingness to be used by 

tbis King as He sees best for the good 

of His cause in the earth. 

Second—Work for the Coming of 

This Kingdom, when righteousness and 

peace shall fillthe earth. 0 how rauch 

the Avorld needs it! Everywhere we see 

raen groaning under tbe oppression of 

sin in theraselves and wrong-doing on the 

part of their fellow-raen. It is the duty 

of those who profess to be subjects of this 

Kingdora to put forth tbeir hands and 

strive to lift these burdens from the 

shoulders of their fellows. Let us make 

our lives an example of that truth and 

love and beneficence and good will toward 

our fellows of which Jesus Christ was the 

suprerae example. 

Tbird—Give for the Coming of This 

Kingdom. Eealizing that the flelds are 

white already to tbe harvest, let us go 

into the flelds and reap, by contributing of 

our substance to send laborers into His 

flelds that His harvest may be reaped. 

In a wild district of Western Canada the raission superintendent was addressing 

a congregation, many of whora had been reclaimed from vice, and were now raaking a 

brave struggle toward cleanness, heaven, and God. This new state of things was due 

to the Christ-like life and teaching of their young raissionary, farajliarly knoAvn as 

"the Prospector," owing to his passion for souls and bis yeaming over "regions beyond." 

The superintendent was appealing for help for these degraded regions, and 

not in vain, for the raoney question was soon settled. 

"Now," said be solemnly, "can you spare me your very best, your Prospector?" 

An eraphatic refusal was the answer, followed by deep silence. Then Ike tbe cowboy 

spoke: "Well, I surraise we got a good deal frora our Prospector. In facti 'what 

we ain't got frora hira don't count rauch. And I rather opine tbat we can't be mean 

about this. Itis a little Uke pullin' hair; but I reckon we'd better give him up." 

"Thank you, sir," said the superintendenti "your words are the best commentary 

I have ever heard upon a saying of our Lord's that bas inspired men to aU unselfish 

living: 'Freely ye have received, freely give.'"—Prize Illustration in London 

Chronicle. 

"I do not know the word discouragement," said Dr. John Scudder, "I long 

erased it from ray vocabulary." 

"I do not want your pity, dear friends, in the horaeland," wrote a raissionary from 

Zululand, "for I ara in the 'tiptop' fieldof.the world."



A B R O A D . 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN 

MISSIONS. 

The Eeport of thg Board of Poreign 

Missions for 1904-5 is in tbe main hopeful 

and encouraging. From the beginning 

of our missionary enterprises in tbe 

Levant, we bave been beset with grave 

difficulties in the prosecution of our 

Lord's work. Mohammedan hatred and 

malignity, tbe prejudice and bigotry of 

the Greek Churcb, and the soul-withering 

idolatry of the Nusairia bave been wellnigh 

insuperable obstacles to our progress. 

The chief obstacle in the path of spiritual 

progress among tbe heathen tribes is the 

determination of tbe Turkish Governraent 

to close and keep closed our outlying 

schools among the Nusairia, among which 

people our raost successful mission work 

is accomplished. In many localities 

schools could be successfully established 

were it not for the fear tbat the Govemment 

would impose upon the poor people 

burdens tbey would be unable to bear. 

We can only pray tbat tbe "Govemor 

aniong the nations," wbo gives His Cburch 

the coraraand, "Go ye into all the world 

and preach the gospel to every creature," 

would for His truth's sake cut off and 

sweep from the earth a government so 

vile, malignant and oppressive. In China 

the conditions for raission work appear 

to be mucb more favorable. Since the 

Boxer outbreak the heralds of the cross 

find more ready access to the benighted 

millions of tbat long sealed empire. 

In all our mission fields our missionaries 

give evidence of earnest, devoted 

zeal and diligence in the prosecution of 

the Lord's work. Tbey are striking vigorous 

blows against superstition and idolatry, 

and rebellion against the King of 

kings, which, by the agency of the Spirit's 

poAver, will in the end shatter tbe great 

image and reduce it to powder. For their 

encourageraent in their arduous toil and 

labor tbe Church should send to tbeir 

help additional laborera and raore raoney. 

The Cburch has botb these helps. AVhy 

not send thera raoney ? 

The Board has decided to transfer the 

Eev. C. A. Dodds frora the Syrian to 

the Asia Minor Mission to strengthen the 

bands of his brother in tbe work tbere. 

Tbis transfer avUI leave only one ordained 

minister, one physician and tbree 

women missionaries to look after the spiritual 

interests of about 150,000 people 

in Syria, a large vineyard indeed for so 

few laborers. The Board calls upon tbe 

Cburcb for vine-dressers. May the Lord 

of the fieldthrust forth His laborers and 

fill our bearts with a spirit of liberality 

that tbe workraan raay receive encourageraent 

and reward. 

Dr. Arthur Dray, appointed a year ago, 

is expected to begin work in Asia Minor 

tbis auturan. A young woraan teacher 

of experience is desired to share with 

Miss Sterrett the work of teaching in tbe 

mission schools. Dr. Calvin McCarroll is 

now in Cyprus and Avill make his beadquarters 

at Nicosia. Eev. Julius A. 

Kempf, anotber new missionary, has arrived 

in China, to help tbe brethren tbere 

to establish a new Mission at Lin Tan, a 

city somewbat larger tban Tak Hing, 

where the prospects are regarded as encouraging. 

Our Mission witbin tbe last 

year has lost one medical raissionary. Dr. 

George, wbose praise is in all the churches.


The attention of the Church is called 

to the fact that there is a considerable 

deficit in the treasury of the Syrian Mission, 

the receipts being $2,951 less than 

the necessary expenditures, increasing the 

current account debt to $9,700. 

AVe subrait the following recommendations 

: 

1. That our people cultivate an active 

interest in Foreign Missions as one of the 

great agencies in bringing the world to 

acknowledge the claims of Christ our 

King. 

2. That our ministers and elders be 

exhorted -to endeavor to convince the 

merabership of the Church of the shaine 

and wrong of allowing the Foreign Mission 

treasury to exhibit a deficit year after 

year. 

3. That the action of the Board in 

sanctioning the opening of a boarding 

school in Larnaca for the training of 

teacbers be approved. 

4. That inasrauch as there is an 

urgent deraaiid for an ordained minister 

in Northern Syria, and another in Cyprus, 

that Synod, during its present session, 

proceed to elect two rainistersto supply 

tiiese stations. 

5. AA''e record Avith sorro av the death of 

Andrew Alexander, an honored and loved 

raeraber of the Board of Foreign Missions. 

His death occurred on Jul}^ 29, 1904. He 

loved the Avork of the Board and liberally 

supported it Avith his nieans and provided 

by will for a continuance of its support. 

His liberal gifts were not confined to the 

Foreign Mission Avork of the Church, but 

other scheraes were benefited by his 

raunificence. "His works do follow him." 

6. We recoraraend that Dr. S. A. S. 

.Metheny be appointed a member of tbe 

Foreign Mission Board to fillthe vacancy 

created by the death of Mr. Alexander, 

and that Eev. E. C. Montgomery be added 

to the Board. 

T. C. Sproull, Samuel McNaugher, 

Joseph McKnight, 

John Kilpatrick, 

Oommittee. 

REPORT OF FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. 

The ultimate object of raissionary work 

is that all nations raay be led to serve the 

Lord Christ. This world-wide recognition 

of His mediatorial supremacy is the great 

event of prophecy. And all denorainations 

of Christians bear witness that the 

results of evangelistic operations in 

heathen lands are not only the conversion 

of individuals, but also the transformation 

of society, and a readiness on the part 

of those brought under the influence of 

the truth to let His law rule in every department 

of life. Through the preaching 

of tbe gospel, there are being Avrought in 

every part of the world to-day, raoral, 

social and civil changes that compel attention, 

not only calling-fortb the adoring 

praises of men who are watching the predicted 

advance of Christianity, but also 

flashing conviction into the rainds of its 

eneraies that the agency producing results 

so raarvelous raust be of God. We see 

not yet all things put under Him, but 

we see Jesus crowned as King and all 

power in His hands. 

The testiraony of the Eeformed Presbyterian 

Church binds its representatives 

to regard the cross and the crown as inseparable 

parts of the gospel message; 

and their preaching of a full Christ is 

bearing its appropriate fruit in all the 

foreign mission flelds. 

Syria.—One of the most encouraging 

features of the work in Northern Syria, 

and one that has not been emphasized in 

forraer reports of the Board, is that all 

the native workers, except licentiate 

Juraidiny, whose early days were spent 

in Lebanon, wbere be was converted to 

Christianity in 1870, were educated and

trained in our own schools; and even 

Mr. Juraidiny, before his licensure in 

1882, enjoyed the advantage of special instruction 

in theology by Dr. Josepb 

Beattie. The eight teachers in tbe two 

boarding schools at Latakia, the two in 

Tartoos, and tbe one in the bill country 

north of that town, as well as the tbree 

raen eraployed as evangelists or Bible 

readers in tbe northeastern and central 

parts of the fleld are tbe fruit of the 

Mission. Besides tbese, there are probably 

six raen not now engaged who are 

qualifled to teach sniall schools or act as 

Scripture readers, if the restrictions put 

in tbe way by the Turkish Governraent 

were removed. And at least eight of these 

workers are of Nusairia or pagan origin. 

Many others, unable to obtain work at 

home, have been forced to go to other 

flelds for employment, or bave emigrated 

to tbis country, thus lessening the net 

increase of coraraunicants tbat would be 

reported under raore favorable circumstances. 

Tbis is also true of Suadia. There were 

three teachers in tbe boys' school during 

the year, one a convert from the Greek 

Catholics in Mersina and the other two 

converts of this .ilission from the Nusairia, 

wbo, after corapleting their studies in 

Suadia, took a two years' course at 

Latakia. Tbe teacher, who assists Miss 

Cunninghara witb her large class of 

woraen, was converted in Latakia Mission 

perbaps flfteen years ago. Besides tbe 

native workers at present engaged in this 

center, there are three giris frora Miss 

Cunninghara's school under training in 

Latakia for teachers, all members of the 

Church, and another ready to go. 

At the opening of the school year in 

October, Miss Cunningham, who has been 

on furiougb in America for a few months, 

will resurae her duties in Suadia, wbere 

she has labored so efficiently for many 


years, and Miss Maggie B. Edgar, who 

has been visiting friends in the homeland 

in search of needed rest, will take 

up her work in the Latakia boys' school, 

which has been in charge of Eev. James 

S. Stewart during her absence. 

The value of school work in Syria, and 

inferentially in the other mission flelds, 

is seen in two quotations from the annual 

statements of the missionaries. Speaking 

of her school of sixty-one boarders 

and tAventy-flve day pupils from nine villages 

and Latakia, and representing flve 

different sects, not counting two Moslera 

girls. Miss Wylie says: "In the priniary 

departraent there are two grades. Twenty 

in the lower grade have coraraitted each 

forty-two verses of Scripture, seventy-flve 

verses of the Psalras in raeter and four 

pages of Brown's Catechisra. The second 

grade have coraraitted each five chapters, 

ten Psalras, all of BroAvn's Catechisra, and 

balf of the Golden Treasury, or book of 

questions on Bible incidents and characters. 

One little girl has nearly finishedit. 

In the next departraent, there are three 

grades. The raost advanced have learned 

nine bundred of the four thousand questions 

and answers on the Bible, thirty 

Psalras and eleven chapters, and have read 

frora Genesis to Judges. The next class 

have, learned the firstpart of the Shorter 

Catechisra, with proofs, six chapters and 

ten Psalras, and have read frora Matthew 

to Eoraans. The third class have comraitted 

with thera the six chapters and ten 

Fsalms, finished the Catechism witbout 

proofs, read the last half of tbe Peep of 

Day, the gospel of John, and nine chapters 

of ilatthew. 

"In the next room the advanced class 

have comra'itted twelve hundred and fortytwo 

of the Bible questions and answers, 

eleven chapters and thirty Psalras, and 

are studying Churcb history. The next 

class in this roora have learned nine bun-

130 News of ihe Churches. 

dred Bible questions, and eight chapters. 

The Bible is read in connection with these 

studies. All the advanced classes have 

learned the 49th chapter of Isaiah in remembrance 

of Dr. .Maude George. They 

requested a chapter to coramit in memory 

of my father, and I gave thera John 10. 

"The school is opened each day with devotional 

exercises of half an hour. The 

raorning Avorship consists of the reading 

of a chapter and prayer before they leave 

the breakfast table. In the evening worship 

a portion of a Fsalra is sung, a chapter 

is read in concert, and then there is a 

study hour." 

If the children of any family or Sabbath 

school connected with one of the congregations 

in the Covenanter Church at 

home had stored away in their memories 

the same amount of precious truth, within 

the same period of time, it Avould be 

heralded all over this broad land, frora - 

ilaine to California. 

The Eev. C. A. Dodds, speaking of his 

efforts to reach the outlying multitudes 

with the gospel, and his inability to accomplish 

much, says: "However, tbe little 

that I have done has enabled rae to 

realize a little better the density of the 

darkness that envelopes this lovely Suadia 

valley—a darkness that can be felt." * * * 

"It is but rarely I corae across a raan—a 

Avoraan never—who can read. Tbe 

abounding ignorance seeras, to huraan 

vision, to interpose an insurraountable 

barrier." In view of the ignorance that 

our raissionarythus describes, how trifiing 

seeras the annual expenditure of a few 

thousand dollars that the children of 

Syria, soon to be its raen and woraen, may 

be able to i-ead the words of eternal life. 

The Lord's Supper was administered in 

Suadia, AprU, 1904, when there were no 

accessions; but now there are four applicants, 

aud some inquirers, concerning 

Avhora Mr. Dndds gives interesting details 

that will be published with this Eeport. 

There are twenty-six naraes on the roll of 

coraraunicants, but that nuraber will soon 

have to be reduced, as three do not attend 

the services and seven are at present away 

from the place. The deatb of licentiate 

Ibrahim Jukki, who finished his course 

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1905, bas reraoved from 

this part of tbe field a man of erainent 

piety, baving, in the words of Eev. E. J. 

Dodds, "a beauty of character and social 

qualities that endeared hira to all persons 

capable of appreciating goodness." 

The sacraraent was also dispensed once 

at Inkzik, and twice in Latakia, fifteen 

being added to the raerabership of the 

Churcb on profession of faith, and two 

by restoration to full privileges, bringing 

the nuraber of coraraunicants up to two 

hundred and fifteen, a net increase of 

three. There was preaching every Sabbath 

at Suadia and Latakia, as well as 

Tartoos, where licentiate Juraidiny continues 

to conduct a flourishing school of 

over a hundred pupils, and preaches on 

the Sabbath to an audience that is only 

liraited by the size of tbe roora. At Gunairaia, 

an Armenian village, where there 

are about sixty coraraunicants, there is 

public worship on the Sabbath and preaching 

by the raissionary or a licentiate, as 

frequently as possible. The point at 

which there is the least encouragement is 

Bahamra, where an evangelist is regularly 

eraployed; but there is no liberty, as Mr. 

Stewart writes, "to labor aniong the Nusairia 

there nor anywhere else. Time and 

again we have been warned by the chiefs 

not to go among the villages, because the 

Governraent has threatened them with 

heavy penalties in case they permit us to 

do so. They say to us, 'If you can bring 

perraission frora the Governraent for your 

work, so that no burdens shall be put upon 

us on your account, you are welcome; 

otherwise, you raust desist.' A new en-

ollment of tbe Nusairia has been begun, 

and all are to be written down as regular 

Moslems. It is not likely tbat any 

of our merabers will be recognized as 

Christians, however rauch they may desire 

it. At the beginning of mission work 

here the case was very different, and, let 

it be understood, that the opposition now 

is not frora tbese people, but frora tbe 

Governraent. Until the Most High, -who 

ruleth i^n all the affairs of raen, again 

opens the door of faitb to these needy 

people, the Mission can do very little for 

thera. A large number of Nusairia children 

are in the boarding schools, for 

which we are thankful, but we cannot 

tell what course the Government may pursue 

with these, when the new enrollraent 

has been corapleted." 

In this Syrian field there are tbree 

hundred and eighty-seven cbildren under 

religious instruction. 

In tbe absence of Dr. J. M. Balph, who 

had to corae horae with Miss Willia A. 

Dodds, but who expects to return in the 

autumn, there is nothing to report in regard 

to tbe medical departraent. 

The Board has' decided to transfer Eev. 

C. A. Dodds from Syria to Asia Minor, 

where he will be associated witb bis 

brother, who is in urgent need of the 

help and syrapathy that corae frora congenial 

companionship, and where, frora 

his viewpoint, tbere is a brighter prospect 

of iraraediate results. This transfer will 

leave only one ordained rainister, one 

physician and three woraen raissionaries 

to raeet the spiritual necessities of the 

field that we bave undertalcen to cultivate 

in Northern Syria, Avitb its estira'ated population 

of 75,000 Nusairia, 40,000 Mosleras, 

and 35,000 belonging to norainally 

Christian sects. Surely sucb spiritual 

destitution is an appeal tbat should be so 

resistless in the ears and hearts of raen 

and woraen fully surrendered to Christ 


as to put anotber ininister and another 

raissionary teacher into the field at once. 

AVhat is needed to fill up the depleted 

ranks of laborers abroad is a baptisra of 

fire at horae. 

Asia Minor.—In Asia Minor, with 

centers of operation at Mersina, Tarsus 

and Adana, hostility from an unexpected 

quarter has signally failed to stay the 

progress of tbe worlc. A cruel attempt to 

underraine the character of the rainister 

in charge, and thus destroy his usefulness 

in the coraraunity, secretly planned and 

aftenvard openly avoAved by licentiate 

Yusef Judeed oE Tarsus, has resulted in 

the revoking of his license and his suspension 

frora the privileges of the Church 

at a special raeeting of the Syrian Coraraission, 

April 13, 1905. Though for this 

and other reasons a net decrease of five 

has reduced the active raerabershipof the 

Church to seventy-one, our raissionary, 

Avho has borne hiraself with rare prudence 

and courage during raonths of severe trial, 

is able to tell of open doors, seemingly 

earnest inquirers, two accessions, and 

large promise of an abundant ingathering. 

AVhen he is joined by bis brother and Dr. 

Arthur E. Dray, who was appointed medical 

missionary a year ago, and is expected 

to go out this auturan, the only increase in 

the staff of foreign laborers necessary will 

be a young woraan, a teacher of experience, 

to share with Miss Sterrett the burden 

of scbool work that she has so cheerfully 

borne alone since the return and 

subsequent resignation of Miss Lizzie Mc 

Naughton after ten years of very loyal 

service. Here, as in Syria, the native 

workers tbat were employed last year, 

eight teachers, two Bible women and three 

evangelists, witb one or perhaps two exceptions, 

received their education and 

training in sorae of our raissionschools. 

In this fieldthere are 370 children and 

3'oung people under religious instruction.


The resolution to raise a fund for the 

purchase of the ilersina property, belonging 

to the estate of the late Dr. David 

iletheny, referred to the Board, Avas considered 

at its first raeeting after Synod. 

It AA'as decided that in the judgraent of 

the Board it Avnuld be unwise for the 

Church to invest so rauch money in real 

estate in Turkey at the present tirae. 

The situation in reference to raission 

schools is not yet exactly defined. The U. 

S. Government proposes, as we understand 

the official position, to insist that 

the Sultan virtually granted the privileges 

deraanded by the "Concessions" Avhen his 

seeretary last August coraraunicated to 

the Araerican ilinister the consent of the 

Sultan, although this Avas not done by a 

formal state document. Instructinns 

from AA''ashington apparently authorize 

the Legation at Cnnstantihnple to proceed, 

and some steps are being taken tn 

raalce a test case upnn this basis. In any 

event, all that the Sublime Porte has so 

far conceded is that schnnls already established 

shall be regarded as free frora 

taxatien, and entitled to prntectinn. This 

should be helpful to the work at the leading 

centers, but it will not authorize the 

reopening of schnols that were unjustly 

closed years ago by Turkish officials. AVe 

can only say that, Avliile the conditions 

are far from satisfactory', the nutlook for 

iraproveraent is brighter than it Avas 

tAvelve montbs ago. 

Cyprus.—The center of Cyprus ilission 

is Larnaca, Avliere Eev. Walter ilc 

Carroll and faraily have their home, and 

Avhere the gnspel is preached every Sabbath. 

His brnther. Dr. Calvin ilcCarroll, 

Avhn was sent out in Octnber, 1904, will 

make his medical headcj[uarters at Nicosia, 

tli£ capital, and Avill visit other toAvns on 

eertain daj's for the purpose of holding 

clinics. On the island there are tAvcntyeight 

coraraunicants, eleven in Larnaca, 

seven in Nicosia, six in Faraagusta, two in 

Kyrenia and tivo in Paphos, and we locate 

thera that any one having the Map of 

our ilission Fields can ascertain where 

our Covenanter brethren in Cyprus live. 

Nineteen of these were added last year, a 

net increase of tAvelve. The Lord's Supper 

Avas adrainistered four tiraes—twice 

in Faraagusta, once in Larnaca, and once 

in N-icosia. There Avere nine native workers, 

including Iavo ordained rainisters, one 

licentiate, two colporteurs, and four 

teachers, and there were- thirty-eight 

]iupils of three nationalities under religious 

instruction. 

In corapliance with the persistent request 

.of ilr. ilcCarroU, the Board has 

sanctioned the opening of a boarding 

school in Larnaca for the training of 

iiatiA-e teachers. The 23lan that has been 

endorsed is as follows: The $1,200 

donated by Eev. D. J. Shaw, of New 

Alexandria, Pa., to erect a building in 

meraory of his Avife avUI be expended in 

the erection of a house on the raission 

pro]ierty that Avill include six or seven recitation 

moras, one to be a librar}', and a 

large coraraon study room, Avhere the principal 

will meet the classes. Across the 

'street can be procured at an annual rental 

of $100, tAVO detached buildings, one of 

Avliich will make an excellent dormitory 

for twenty-five bnys, and the nther, a 

bungaloAV, Avill serve fnr dining room, 

kitchen and home fnr the matrnn and 

servants. The missionaries themselves 

AviU, AA'ith the assistance of Dr. H. H. 

George, provide the necessary furniture. 

There Avill be five teachers, only one in 

addition to those noAV employed, and without 

an increase of salaries. The boarding 

department, which is to be self-supporting, 

Avill be in charge of ilrs. Aegyptiades, 

her husband, who is one of the teachers, 

sleeping in the dormitory and taking 

OA'ersight of the boys. According to the


flgures sent to tbe Board, tbis plan can 

be carried out at about $440 less than the 

mission estimate for last year. 

China.—Tbe Mission at Talc Hing 

Chau in Soutb Cbina continues to give 

indications of ever-Avidening success. 

There are noAv twenty-three converts, a 

net increase of ten, Avho have accepted 

Jesus Christ as their Saviour and pledged 

allegiance to Hira as King, and they are 

cheering the raissionaries with tbat clearest 

evidence of reality, a desire to disseminate 

the truth and bring others to a 

saving knoAvledge of Christ. Sorae of 

them are said to "give promise of becoming 

useful as preachers after having 

received the necessary preliminary training." 

Araong other things there are 

raentioned as full of signiflcance, the 

"distinctly friendly attitude of the coraraunit}'," 

and "the fact that men belonging 

to a higher class socially than those 

who have already united with tbe Church 

are making inquiry and are investigating 

the gospel raessage." 

This report certainly indicates diligence 

and fldelity on the part of our 

senior raissionary and his brother, Eev. 

J. K. Eobb. And the same gospel whicb 

is revealing such power will soon be 

preached to the cbildren in a school established 

for that purpose, iliss Torrence 

who spent sorae raonths last winter in 

Canton, with perraission of the Board, 

"teaching in a girls' school, and studying 

methods," hopes to begin work at Tak 

Hing Chau in Septeinber of tbis year, 

althougb no one has yet volunteered to 

go to her assistance. To young woraen 

who have Avritten to ber frora this country 

asking information, this is ber reply: 

"AA'e need sorae one able and willing to do 

the hardest work she ever undertook, and 

ready to shoulder any responsibility." 

Dr. Wright, too, and Drs. Kate and Jean 

ilcBurney, are busy in their special departraent, 

and tbere is not Avanting evidence 

of the value of inedicine as a raeans 

of bringing men to weigh the claims of 

the Christian religion. Physicians who 

are oAvned of God to heal diseases of long 

standing that bave baffled the crude treatraent 

of native doctors, Avill have the ear 

of any one to Avhom their skill has brougbt 

relief; and, when once the truth has talcen 

bold of the mind, it will eventually bring 

the Avbole man under its renovating sway. 

AVith this branch of the ilission avUI be 

forever identifled the name of Dr. J. 

ilaude George. It Avas her presence in the 

field tbat called forth a liberal donation 

for a hospital, and, while Availing for the 

erection of suitable buildings, when plans 

for the extension of the worlc, latent in 

her mind, should talce visible form, she 

Avas summoned to higher service. At 7 

o'clock on the evening of the first Sabbatb 

of Septeraber, 1904, far away frora tbe 

scenes of her happy girlhood, yet with 

friends Avhoni she had learned to love 

around her, she passed out into the light 

of the heavenly world. 

AVith the arrival of Eev. Julius A. 

Kerapf, who was appointed raissionary 

June 27, 1904, and avIio reached China in 

October, in corapany Avith Eev. A. J. 

Eobb and iliss Torrence, on their return 

to the fieldafter a brief visit to America, 

the question of another station has corae 

up for consideration. The selection of a 

suitable center, as well as the disposition 

of the forces, must be left with the raissionaries 

on the ground. Probably, however, 

as Mr. Eobb Avrites, "the choice avUI 

be Lin Tan, a city somcAvhat larger than 

Talc Hing, situated about twenty miles 

to the southwest of that place, on a sraall 

tributary of the AA''est Eiver. The field 

has not yet been thoroughly looked over, 

but all that bas been learned in regard to 

it is raost encouraging. It is entirely unoccupied, 

no station of any denoraination


being nearer than tAventy railes, and it is 

in the raidstof a fertile and populous district." 

stewardship in the raanageraent of property, 

an active friend of every raission 

In this vicinity there is a village ary enterprise, and a Covenanter loyal to 

of over thirty raen, Avho have thrown 

away their idols, and are anxiously waiting 

for our missionaries to tell them of 

the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom 

He has sent. 

For fuller particulars in regard to all 

the distinctive testiraony of the Church, 

he has finished his course, and rests from 

his labors. 

Eespectfully subraitted. 

In the narae of the Board, 

E. M. Sommerville, Cor. Sec. 

the foreign missions, the Board refers 

to the annual stateraents frora the fields FIELD REPORTS TO THE BOARD. 

that will be published in connection with 

its Eeport. 

Latakia, Syria.^The present report 

is for the forty-ninth year of the ilission's 

Attention is called to the Eeports of 

existence. Not for raany years has 

Treasurer .Miller, which should be carefully 

the nuraber of raissionaries in the field 

studied. The receipts for the Syrian been so sraall. The raedical departraent 

Mission were $2,951, less than the necessary 

expenditures, increasing the current 

account debt to $9,700. The incorae frora 

congregations, Sabbath schools and missionary 

societies was $2,645 less than last 

year, not the exact equivalent of the offering 

has of course been entirely suspended. 

Many a time have we been asked whether 

Dr. Balph is coming back and when. 

A nuraber of sad providences require a 

brief reference. One of these is the death 

of the highly esteemed President of the 

that the late President of the Board. Another is the continued illness 

Board made on the day of the annual collection 

of one of our oAvn number. Miss W. A. 

in December, 1903, but near Dodds. A third is the deatb of Mrs. Had 

enough to justify us in saying that his 

death explains the deficit, and indicates 

dad, the hospital helper, while a fourth is 

the deatb of our sister missionary. Dr. 

that the people generally are not fully M. George. In all of these we recognize 

alive to the responsibility that rests on God's call to us to be more diligent and 

thera to sustain the work. The receipts faithful, as well as submissive to the Arill 

for China Avere only $232 in excess of tbe 

expenditures, whicii Avill necessarily increase 

with the growth of the Mission. 

Any one who has the Minutes of Synod 

of Him wbo doeth all things well. 

Divine worship has been conducted each 

Sabbatb in the Latakia church either by 

your missionary or by the Bible reader, 

can verify these flgures, and grasp the situation 

Ishak Sheraah. The attendance has been 

at onee. Evidently the churches the sarae as in forraer years. The weekly 

need instruction as to Christian GiviuEr 

and the best place to preach effectively on 

prayer raeeting has been well attended, 

and the week of prayer was observed, as 

that subject is in the pulpit, not in an usual. The Lord's Supper was twice adrainistered 

official report. 

at Latalcia and once at Inkzik. 

It only remains to record our appreciation 

Licentiate Juraidiny continues to 

of the late AndreAV Alexander, the preach and teach at Tartoos. The Sab 

efficient President of the Board for nearly 

six years, who passed away July 29, 1904. 

A devout Christian, a merchant who understood 

bath school is flourishing, and the day 

school is larger than ever before, tbe number 

enrolled being considerably over one 

and acted on the principle of hundred. If we had a suitable place 

of


nieeting, Avhere both the children of the 

Sabbath school and the adults could be 

accommodated, tbe preacher migbt have 

an audience of more tban a bundred eacb 

Sabbath morning, but, as it is, all except 

the older children have to be dismissed before 

the sermon. Mrs. Juraidiny teaches 

half time, and goes mucb among tbe 

Avoraen to read to tbem and to visit the 

sick. 

At tbe village of Melkah we still bave 

a good school, and tbe teacher conducts 

gospel services. His wife, besides teaching 

tbe girls, reads to the women. During 

the past sumraer teacher Najib Haddad 

labored as an evangelist at tbe village 

of Gunaimia, and also taught a 

school. Since October the school bas been 

taught by a native of tbe place, who also 

has a class on the Sabbath and assists in 

public worship. Evangelistic Avorlc was 

also carried on at the village of Inkzik in 

the sumraer vacation, and ever since there 

has been a school ~of about forty pupils. 

At Baharara an evangelist has been 

eraployed as heretofore, but the worlc is 

not at all encouraging. We have no freedora 

to labor araong tbe Ansairia tbere 

or anywhere else. Tirae and again we 

have been warned by the chiefs not to go 

among the villages, because the Government 

has threatened the chiefs with heavy 

penalties in case they permit us to do so. 

They say to us, "If you can bring permission 

from the Governraent for your 

work, so that no burdens sball be put 

upon us on your account, you are welcorae; 

otherwise, you must desist." A 

new enrollment of tbe Ansairia has been 

begun, and all are to be written down as 

regular Moslems. It is not likely tbat 

any of our merabers will be recognized as 

Christians, however much tbey may desire 

it. At tbe beginning of mission work 

here, the case was very different, and let 

it be understood that tbe opposition now 

is not frora these people, but frora tbe 

Government. Until tbe Most High, who 

ruleth in all tbe affairs of men, opens 

again the door of faith to these needy 

people, the Mission can. do very little for 

them. A large nuraber of Ansairia children 

are in the boarding schools, and for 

this we are thankful; but we cannot tell 

Avhat course the Govemraent may pursue 

with tbese wben the new enrollment bas 

been corapleted. 

Licentiate Saleh has not been able to do 

as much as usual, partly on account of the 

sickness of bis wife. 

Since Miss Edgar's departure, the Latakia 

boys' school has been under the care 

of Mr. Stewart. The exercises of this 

school are practically tbe same as in the 

girls' school, as described below. A class 

of five will complete the course of study 

this year. All of thera are raerabers of 

the Church, and good boys, who would be 

a credit to any scbool or church. 

Tbe total nuraber of native communicants 

reported last year was 212. 

During the past year two have been restored 

and fifteen added by profession; 

but there have been four deaths, nine have 

been dropped from the roU, and one certified 

away, leaving a net increase of tbree 

natiA'e raerabers. Eleven native children 

have been baptized. 

Tbere have been eraployed two licentiates, 

two Bible readers, eight raale 

teachers, and seven feraale teachers. The 

nuraber of pupils under instruction is 

about three hundred and thirty-five. Our 

thanks are due to the Bible Lands Mission's 

Aid Society, the Eeligious Tract 

Societj, and to raany special and all general 

contributors in the bome church. 

MISS w'TLIe's report. 

"At tbe opening of the school, sixtyone 

boarders were received, and twentyfive 

have been enrolled in the day scbool. 

Four young women have been employed


as teachers, besides two hours' time of the 

head teacher in the boys' school. 

"The girls are from nine different villages 

and Latakia. They are from the 

Frotestant, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, 

ilaronite, and Ansairia sects, and there 

are two Moslem girls in the day school.' 

"In the primary departraent there are 

two grades. Twenty in the loAver grade 

have coraraitted each forty-two verses of 

Scripture, seventy-five verses of the 

Psalras in raeter, and four pages of 

BroAvn's Catechism. The second grade 

have comraitted each five chapters, ten 

Psalms, all of BroAvn's Catechism, and 

half of the Golden Treasury, nr book of 

questions on Bible incidents and characters. 

One Uttle girl has nearly finished 

it. In the next department there are 

three grades. The raost advanced have 

learned nine hundred nf the four thousand 

questions and answers on the Bible, 

thirty Psalms and eleven chapters, and 

have read from Genesis to Judges. 

"The next class have learned the first 

of the Shorter Catechism with proofs, 

six chapters and ten Psalras, and have 

read frora ilatthew to Eomans. The third 

class have comiiiitted with them the six 

chapters and ten Psalras, finished the 

Catechisra Avithout proofs, read the last 

half of the Peep of Day, the gospel of 

John and nine chapters of ilatthew. 

"In the next roora the advanced class 

have comraitted tAvelve hundred and fortytAvo 

of the Bible questions and answers, 

eleven chapters, thirty Psalras, and are 

studying church history. 

"The next class in this roora have 

learned nine hundred Bible questions and 

eight chapters. The Bible is read in connection 

with these studies. All the advanced 

classes have learned the 49th 

chapter nf Isaiah in reraembrance of Dr. 

il. George. They requested a chapter to 

comrait in reraerabrance of ray father, and 

I gave thera John 10. The school is 

opened each day with devotional exercises 

of balf an hour. The raorning worship 

consists of the- reading of a chapter and 

prayer, before they leave the breakfast 

table. In the evening worship a portion 

of a Psalra is sung, a chapter is read in 

concert, and tben there is a study hour. 

"The exercises of the Sabbath day are 

as follows: 

"In the raoming at 9 o'clock is the Sabbath 

school, followed by preaching. After 

dinner, I have a class in tbe Testimony, 

then for an hour the teachers read to the 

girls. At half past three we again attend 

the public cburch service. The evenings 

are spent in revieAving the Bible lessons 

tbat have been studied during the week. 

Last of all, is the girls' prayer meeting. 

The money collected by them was given 

for Bible distribution, and was seventy 

piasters. On Thursday afternoons I have 

as usual read and explained a portion of 

Scripture to the woraen who corae to visit 

their girls and have had prayer with them. 

"An hour and a quarter is spent each 

day in scAving and fancy needlework. 

Being with them a great deal while they 

are performing their tasks, there is many 

an opportunity of giving a moral or spiritual 

lesson, reproving, rebuking and exhorting 

Avith all long-suffering and patience. 

.Two girls will finish the course 

of study next July, botb of them being 

members of the Church. 

"The Sabbath school has had an average 

attendance of one hundred and 

thirty-three during the scbool months, but 

in the summer months, when many of the 

pupils are out of toAvn, the average was 

from forty to fifty. Several scholars did 

not miss a day. The number of teachers 

is nine, and they have attended regularly 

the Aveekly teachers' meeting conducted 

by ilr. Stewart. The collections were 

494 piasters." J. S. Steaa'aet.


Suadia, Syria.—The outlook, though 

it cannot be denied that it is principally 

dark, is not without its gliramerings of 

light. 

As to physical conditions, we bave cause 

for great thankfulness in the fact that 

the cholera wbicb ran widespread over tbe 

land suramer before last, and which, inasmuch 

as it bad lingered into the winter, 

it was feared might brealc out Avith increased 

violence last suraraer, did not 

manifest itself, being restrained by tbe 

God of all grace. However, we were not 

exempted from less frightful raanifestations 

of tbe Divine judgraents. The 

Avinter rains began unusually earl)', and 

lasted unusually long, entailing much suffering 

on the people, who were, for tbe 

most part, poorly equipped to cope Avith 

such conditions. Tben a bard, cold spell, 

either accompanying or fiowing from 

which was a severe epideraic of infiuenza, 

aggravated tbe situation and caused increased 

suffering. During this period it 

was said tbat tbere was scarcely a house 

in Suadia Avithout sickness, and in sorae 

of them as many as four or six of the inmates 

would be lying sick at one time. 

Many, especially the old, succurabed to. 

the influenza, araong thera being our venerable 

licentiate, Mallira Ibrahira Jukki, 

a godly man, who for many years bore 

faithful testiraony in Suadia to tbe truth 

as it is in Jesus. Our local doctor, too, 

Minas Sipa, of the Arraenian Protestant 

comraunity in Kessab, but one of our adherents 

while in Suadia, who had bis 

pharraacy in M. Ibrahim's store, took 

sick shortly after he did, and a few days 

after the death of our licentiate, went 

home to Kessab, where he also died, about 

two weeks later. 

Now, concerning our work. The girls' 

school closed its 1903-04 term about the 

flrst of June. Miss Cunninghara left on 

furlough that montb, and tbere has been 

no girls' school, and, of course, no medical 

work since. 

The boys' school, under the care of the 

writer, closed its 1903-04 terra about tbe 

iniddle of July, and re-opened for the 

terra 1904-05 on October 15. 

The coraraon school branches, reading, 

writing, arithraetic, grararaar, and geography 

have been studied, in addition to 

the usual religious studies. Catechism, 

Psalms, other portions of the Old Testament, 

and the Ncav Testament. I rayself 

have given, since the opening of the present 

terra, two Bible lessons Aveekly. That 

is, this has been my rule. Soraetiraes I 

have not been able to conform to it, owing 

to the pressure of other worlc. French is 

taught in addition to the other studies 

mentioned. This avc are not anxious to 

teach, but our head teacher knows French, 

and instruction has been given in that 

language to those who were willing to 

pay for it. 

Last year the boys' school took the time 

of two teachers and balf the time of a 

third, he giving tbe other half to tbe 

girls' school. This term I employed three 

teachers, ilrs. Dodds and I taking the 

extra time of the third. In addition to 

ray other work, I took about an hour and 

a quarter daily (with sorae irregularity) 

Avith hira. 

The school, hoAvever, has been sraaller 

this year than last, and, though I don't 

like to be withotit a teacher for ourselves 

when possible td have one, the expense 

of three teachers does not seera justiflable, 

and it is ray purpose, if still in charge of 

the scbool next year, to employ only two. 

The school opened in October witb 

twenty-eight boarders and flve pupils who 

slept in the school, but did not eat from 

it, thirty-three in all, besides the day 

pupils. Of this nuraber, one of the flve 

dropped out at the middle of the term, 

coming since, however, as a day pupil.


Of the twenty-eight, four, all of thera 

Fellahin, have left school. 

The pupils bave been, as usual, of the 

three origins, Greek, Armenian and Fellah. 

Of the thirty-three, fourteen are of 

Greek origin, two of these being of Protestant 

parentage; eight, of Armenian origin, 

five of these children of Protestants, 

and the remaining eleven are Fellahin, 

one of thera, the brother of our Fellah 

teacher, being Protestant, rather than 

Fellah in belief. 

Those who sleep in the school, but do 

not eat from it, are pay pupils. Of the 

out-and-out boarders, some pay a little, 

but raost of thera are free. 

The Governraent has • recently been 

raaking sorae inquiries about the Fellahin 

in attendance at our school, and as a consequence 

sorae of t.he boys have quit. 

The day scholars have ranged from ten 

or less to about twenty, the attendance 

being principally affected by the state of 

thc Aveather, but in some raeasure, too, 

by siclmess and the Greek feasts. All the 

day pupils, with the exception of one or 

two fitfulFellahin, have been Greeks. I 

thinlc perhaps the principal reason for 

our school being sraaller than last year 

has been the incleraency of the weather, 

but the Greeks have been raore active, 

too, on their OAvn behalf than formerly. 

There are, I am told, five Greek schools 

in Suadia this year. One of their teachers 

is at heart a Protestant. 

Two Bible readers have been employed, 

a man and a woman. The man is teacher 

Ahmed, who taught the primary grade in 

ths boys' school last year. He is a sober, 

steady feUow, not brillianti but I think 

substantial and growing strong in the 

Scriptures. His work is principally 

aniong the Fellahin, and I hear him highly 

spoken of by the other workers, two of 

whora, at least, have seen something of his 

worlc among his own people. They speak 

of the readiness witb which he turns to 

appropriate passages of Scripture, and 

of the respect with whicb he is regarded 

by the Fellahin. His is the one faraily of 

our people-bere in whicb I ara satisfied 

tbat faraily worship is held regularly 

night and raoming. M. Ibrahim, too, 

was faithful in this duty wbile be lived. 

I am not so sure whether it is so carefully 

observed since bis death, but I believe an 

effort is being raade to do so. 

The Bible woraan, in so far as my observation 

goes, is also faithful in her 

house-to-house visitation. She has been 

busy this past winter reading and praying 

Avith the sick. As a rule, she is well received 

wherever she goes. In addition to 

her visiting, she conducts the women's 

meeting on Tuesday afternoons. This 

worlc, it was feared, would suffer from 

Miss Cunninghara's absence, and doubtless 

it has, too; but yet the attendance, 

excepting at certain busy seasons, has been 

very encouraging, ranging frora fifteento 

twenty-five woraen. I am glad to be able 

to say that our own women attend well, 

most of them regularly, there being only 

one Avlio might attend who never does. 

The regular Sabbatb and midweek services 

have been continued—i. e.. Sabbath 

school followed by preaching service Sabbath 

forenoons, and Sabbath and Thursday 

afternoons social prayer-meeting. 

Miss Cunningham, up to the time of her 

departure, was Sabbath school superintendent, 

also teaching the women's class. 

Since then I have assuraed superintendence 

of the school, but have not taught a 

class. I have usually reviewed the school 

after the study in the classes. The attendance 

has neither been especially encouraging 

nor especially discouraging. 

There is always an audience wortb preaching 

to, and we are never at a loss to find 

seats for those Avho corae. Attendance has 

been better than for sorae raonths past.


During the calendar year 1904 there 

were given 1,265-J piasters, the equivalent 

of $44.55. Of this araount 1,020J piasters, 

the preaching service collection, were 

applied to the fund for the Mission in 

China. Of this araount tbe natives gave 

348 piasters. The remainder of the 

1,265|, or 245 piasters, was the Sabbath 

scbool collection, and was given to tbe 

Jewisb Mission. 

In this raonetary connection, we raake 

thankful acknowledgment of the receipt, 

since last report, of two £5 donations from 

the Bible Lands Aid Society. Also $50 

from tbe Thanksgiving Memorial Fund 

inaugurated by Mrs. E. J. George; and 

$5 from tbe Women's Presbyterial Society 

of Pittsburg Presbytery. Also I received, 

about tbe tirae of the last report— 

but whetber acknowledged in it or not I 

do not remember—frora Seattle Sabbatb 

scbool $10.50; frora L. M. S., of Slippery 

Eock Congregation, $10; from Mrs. M. 

E. McKee, of Clarinda, la., $25; and 

from friends in Belfast, Ireland, £6:^ stg. 

Besides, I do not remember now if tbere 

be any other. To all tbese friends wbo 

have sucb a kindly interest in tbe work 

in Suadia, we are truly thankful. 

The Lord's Supper was dispensed April 

17, 1904, Dr. Martin, of Antiocb, assisting 

and doing most of the preaching on 

the occasion. There were no accessions 

and no applicants for admission at tbe 

time. About a montb later a young man, 

a Greek, wbo a few months previous had 

married one of our Protestant girls, presented 

himself as a candidate for admission 

to Cburch privileges. I examined 

him and received hira on probation, the 

probationary period to extend to next 

comraunion season, and made announcement 

of the fact the following Sabbatb to 

the congregation. Over a month ago I 

learned that be had on one occasion last 

suramer, when I was absent in Kessab, 

attended a Greelc wedding on Sabbath. 

When I spoke to him of the sin of making 

such a use of the Sabbath, he expressed 

sorrow at having allowed hiraself to be 

led astray. AVhile I was yet considering 

what course I sbould pursue.witb reference 

to hira, he went off again on Sabbath 

to attend the festivities in connection 

with the engagement of bis young brother. 

There seeraed nothing left for me to do 

but to tell him that I could not receive 

bim at tbe coming communion as had been 

hoped. I don't know whether be is sincere 

or not, but be is surrounded by relatives 

wbo, I am persuaded, do all tbey 

can to cause bim to fall. Perhaps tbe 

most discouraging feature of the whole 

matter is that bis wife has been with him 

in bis transgression. There are at present 

no other applicants for admission. 

On Nov. 13, I began a Sabbatb evening 

class in the study of tbe Shorter Catechism, 

especially, but not exclusively, for 

those who were contemplating uniting 

with the Churcb. Of those who have been 

attending the class there are four possible 

candidates—our cook, the son of the 

school cook and two boys frora the scbool. 

The two first-naraedare not very promising 

as yet, but the two school boys, one 

of whora is the son of our Bible woraan, 

of Greek origin, the other a Fellah, 

brother of teacber Israail, are raore so, 

and I think botb bave in view uniting 

with the Churcb. Another school boy, an 

Arraenian, Avho is off borae now on sick 

leave, told me that he wishes to join the 

class when be returns. 

In addition to these, there are two inquirers 

that I know of. One of them is 

the young Greek school teacher referred to 

above. He is of the middle, well-to-do 

class, and is convinced of tbe falsity of the 

Greek teachings and of at least the soundness 

of our foundation, but says that if be 

should openly embrace Protestantism, his


people would cast him off, and he has not 

been able to screw bis courage to the point 

of enduring that. He says—though, of 

course, he knoAVs he is inconsistent—that 

he can be a follower of Christ and obey 

His teachings secretly. I give hira what 

belp and syrapathy I can, but at the sarae 

tirae insist on what he very well knows, 

that Christis attUude is uncoraproraising. 

His mind accepted the trath very readUy, 

but the flesh is weak. Soraetiraes he .attends 

our services, but so far has feared to 

come frequently. He is a cripple, whicb 

makes it harder for hira to face the consequences. 

He is raarried also, and on 

this account is doubly crippled. 

The other inquirer is an intelligent 

young Greek, also married, belonging to 

one of the wealthiest famiUes of Suadia. 

His wife, however, is as wiUing, perbaps, 

to be a Protestant as a Greek. She often 

attends our services. He has been a 

tolerably regular attendant at the preaching 

services for perhaps a year, and has 

lately becorae quite regular. A few days 

ago he carae to rae to ask the privilege of 

coraing to me once or twice a week for 

sorae special reUgious instruction. What 

the result will be is for the future to decide. 

These are the few gliraraerings of light 

that we hope hold proraise of soraething 

brighter. Perhaps it depends raore largely 

than we realize on the prayers of the 

Church, whetber or not the hope is disappointed. 

AU these young people need 

to be prayed for that they raay be given 

grace to embrace Avorthily the high calling 

that beckons to thera, at whatever 

cost. One meniber who is ready to take 

up his cross and leave everything for 

Christ, is better than a thousand who 

stipulate beforehand that they must not 

be called on to suffer too much. 

Since coming doAvn frora Kessab last 

October I have made an effort to get out 

raore into tbe by-ways and hedges than 

forraerly, though the weather, together 

with other work, prevented me from doing 

nearly so much of this as I sbould have 

liked to do. Ho'wever, the little that I 

have done has enabled me to realize a 

little better the density of tbe darknesa 

that envelops tbis lovely Suadia valley— 

darlcness that can be felt. 

My experience here has convinced me 

more thoroughly than I was ever convinced 

before, tbat the Greek church, 

which Iceeps its people in sucb woeful 

ignorance, is botb un-Christian and anti- 

Christian. One man bore tbis testimony, 

and his testiinony is true, "We 

are Christians only in name." Another 

Greelc, who contended witb me 

tbat tbere was for them neither reward 

nor punishraent because they are so ignorant, 

asked me in all innocence if 

Jesus, the Son of Mary, and Christ were 

the same person or two different persons. 

I can say, bowever, that wherever I bave 

gone, whether araong Greeks or Fellahin, 

I bave been kindly received. It is but 

rarely I corae across a man—a woman 

never—who can read. The abounding 

ignorance seems, to huraan vision, to interpose 

an insurraountable barrier; but 

after all it is more the ignorance of the 

heart that counts than the ignorance of 

tbe head, for if any man wills to do His 

will, he shall know of the doctrine. The 

Holy Spirit can lead him into the most 

important of truths, whether he can read 

or not. 

Suadia is a notoriously cloudy place, 

but wben tbe clouds clear away, as they 

soraetimes do, and the sun lights up the 

scene, there could hardly be imagined a 

lovelier looking valley. Last summer, the 

day we went up to Kessab, it was a dreary 

day, with low-lying clouds stretched like 

a pall frora raountain to raountain, enshrouding 

the valley. Up and up we

went, bour after bour, flrstunder the 

clouds, tben through them into the sunshine, 

and when we reacbed tbe ridge 

from which tbe valley is last visible, we 

turned and looked back. And wbat a 

sight met our gaze! I have never seen a 

more thrilling one. There were the same 

clouds we bad seen frora below, but the 

otber side of them. The valley was full 

from side to side, perhaps a distance of 

ten or twelve miles, clouds stretching 

aAvay toward Antioch as far as the eye 

could follow tbe valley, and away out 

over the sea, so that no glirapse of it could 

be seen; not, however, disraal, depressing 

clouds, sucb as they seeraed frora below, 

but a vast plain of clouds, level as a floor, 

and wbite as no fuller on earth could 

white them. 

We confess that the cloud often overshadows 

us and threatens to overwhelm; 

that our thoughts often become so absorbed 

with tbe darkness that we forget 

the glorious brightness of the other side; 

but still, in moments of our better thinking, 

thougb we may not see it as others 

have seen it, nor even as we ourselves have 

seen it beretofore, yet we know it is there. 

But this people, sitting in darkness, doth 

not know, doth not consider. Tbey bave 

never seen it, and when we try to tell 

them something of it, we are to tbem as 

tbose tbat mock. Oh, will you not pray 

as never before, that God will send forth 

His ligbt and His trutb to lead tbem and 

others like thera, out and up to the other 

side of the cloud into His raarvelous 

light, tbat tbey raay see tbat the cloud is 

not all darkness, but light when tbey are 

on God's side of it ? Now, tbere seeras to 

be little but waste and void and darkness. 

May the Spirit of God move upon 

the waters, and may God's voice soon be 

beard saying, "Let there be ligbt." 

C. A. Dodds. 

Asia Minor.—The work has gone on 


as usual in tbe region of the Auba. There 

bave been two Bible readers at work there 

throughout the year, Suleyman and his 

sister-in-law, Zaharah. The firstextends 

his work over a wide field,going from village 

to village. The Avoraan's Avork is 

necessarily confined to a narrower field, 

as she is unable to travel about frora place 

to place. Many of the Fellahin hear tbe 

Avord gladly, and Ave believe its influence 

is being felt, and cannot but trust that 

it will result in conversions sorae tirae. 

The women in the Auba, especially, having 

but few tilingsto occupy tbeir attention, 

are very bappy to listen to the Bible 

woman. One young raarried woraan 

spoke with great feeUng of the joy she 

experienced in hearing the Scriptures 

read. She said, "It seeras to open up ray 

heart and fill it with an indescribable 

joy. I would be happy just to sit and 

listen to it all the time." 

In Adana Ave have had only one evangelist, 

or Bible reader, employed, Hanna 

Basraah. He is an exceptionally good 

one. He seeras to corae nearer combining 

the wisdom of the serpent with the harralessness 

of the dove, tban any one else 

among the mission workers. He has beld 

two services regularly on every Sabbath 

day, and conducted a prayer-raeeting on 

Wednesday evenings. In addition to these 

regular raeetings,be has held inforraal 

raeetings several tiraes a weelc, in which 

the Bible bas been read, and sorae Bible 

topic discussed. 

When any one sets hiraself to oppose the 

word, as raany do, Hanna hears hira 

quietly through his objections, and tben 

introduces some appropriate story wbich 

captivates bis opponent, and all his other 

bearers, and be has already demolished 

tbe other's arguraent, and clearly illustrated 

the true doctrine, before any one 

of tbe corapany bas even thougbt of his 

speech as controversial. One raan wbo

142 News of the Churches, 

was conAferted a year ago, and had corarauned 

only once, died in the latter part 

of February this year. His life was in 

harmony with the gospel. His narae, if 

translated, would raean, "Servant of the 

Covenant," and he showed hiraself a true 

servant of the new covenant. He died in 

faith, though under peculiarly trying circumstances; 

his wife persecuting him to 

the last because of his acceptance of the 

gospel and adherence thereto. Since his 

death a change has come over her. She 

has becorae softened toward the gospel, 

and appears to repent her treatraent of 

her husband at the tirae of his death. Tbe 

door of opportunity is wide in Adana. 

Our evangelist is eager and active in seizing 

every opportunity. Malcbi and 

Murad also, two of the brethren, are selfappointed 

Bible readers. Alraost every 

evening they are together in the work 

reading and expounding the Scriptures 

and proving that salvation is through 

faith in Christ alone. Two Fellah 

Sheikhs, raentioned last year, continue 

their interest in hearing the word; and 

one of thera at least diligently searches 

the Scriptures. Their question always is: 

"Is it not sufficient to believe in secret 

without professing openly?" 

In Tarsus the school work Avas carried 

on under doraicile rights by placing an 

Bnglish lady in charge. She teaches 

English, French and needlework, in addition 

to protecting the school. She bas 

associated with her a good quiet girl from 

Miss Sterrettis school in Mersina. Most 

of the children, of whom there are eightyseven 

enrolled, are small. They are of 

both sexes. They all raeraorizethe little 

Catechisra and Psalms, and a number are 

sufficientiy advanced to read the Scriptures. 

Frora thirty to forty of tbem attend 

the Sabbath meetings, and join in 

reciting Catechism and Fsalras. 

On Dec. 9, Yusef Judeed, licentiate, 

was discontinued from service. His 

licensure bas since been revoked by the 

Syrian Coraraission. Since bis services 

have been discontinued, Machail Luttoof 

has been in charge of the work in Tarsus, 

and it is expected he will be placed there 

perraanently, although be is now resident 

in Mersina. The attendance upon religious 

services has been very much increased 

since the discharge of Yusef 

Judeed. 

At communion held in Tarsus in March 

four persons gave in their names as desiring 

to unite with tbe Church. Two of 

tbese were reeeived. One of tbese is a 

raan of advanced years, a raan of unusually 

strong character, and good judgraent. 

The other is a woraan advanced 

in life. She raade applioation with her 

husband; they are both white-beaded. It 

Avas thought best to try the raan with reference 

to his ability to observe the Sabbath 

during the suraraer before reeeiving 

hira into raerabership. 

In Mersina the Sabbath school has been 

carried on, as usual, but is attended almost 

exclusively by school children and members 

of the Cburch. Tbe boarding and 

day schools have been carried on as usual, 

and with about the same degree of success. 

The attendance has been regular, 

and increasing rather than dirainishing. 

Tbere has been a good accession from the 

Eoman Catholic school, and our scbool 

is rauch praised in comparison. Quite a 

good number of cbildren have completed 

memorizing the Shorter Catechism with 

proofs. In the boys' boarding school there 

has been a Sabbath evening prayer-meeting 

conducted by the boys themselves, at 

which there is always at least one teacher 

present. 

Pastoral work bas been conducted as 

usual, and the ordinances have been dispensed 

regularly. A new feature in the 

Avork for a time bas been the conducting

of Bible readings for women in several 

houses in the towns. These have been beld 

at the solicitation of the women. 

Though we have bad some trials, we 

have felt God near to us, and we are still 

hoping He will make ns glad according to 

the days in wbich we bave seen evil, tbe 

years wberein He bas afflicted us. 

E. J. Dodds, 

Evadna M. Sterrett. 

China.—During tbe past year tbe 

Mission in Cbina bas undergone experiences 

of a somewbat unusual character. 

The band of God bas been with us to bless, 

and also to admonish. We bave been 

called upon to mourn tbe departure from 

this life of one of our most efficient 

laborers, and a most beautiful character, 

Dr. J.-Maude George, whom the Master 

called home Sept. 4, 1904. God's ways 

are past finding out, and so we cannot tell 

the meaning of this most mysterious 

Providence. But we bow in humble sub- 

Inission to tbe will of Him who doeth all 

things well, and are comforted in knowing 

that sbe bas gone to be with Christ, 

whicb is far better. On the other hand, it 

was with great pleasure we welcoraed the 

arrival of Eev. Julius A. Kerapf, an addition 

to oiir working force, wbo arrived 

on the fieldlate in October, 1904, in company 

with tbe two returning workers, Eev. 

A. I. Eobb and Miss Torrence. At present 

Mr. Kempf is studying the language, 

preparatory to engaging in active work. 

We are glad to be able to report substantial 

progress in our work. Tbe a,bsence 

of tbe senior missionary for six 

months made it necessary for those of 

limited experience to take bold and conduct 

affairs as best they could. But notwithstanding 

lack of experience, no very 

serious mistakes occurred. Preaching services 

were held regularly each Sabbath, 

also Sabbath sehool before preaching, and 

•prayer-meeting in tbe afternoon. In ad 


dition to these services, a meeting for 

women each Thursday aftemoon has been 

held during th§ greater part of the year. 

The attendance at these meetings has 

usually been A*êry good, better tban we had 

expected. It is with pleasure that we report 

an accession of ten to our number of 

converts. A rather large proportion of 

these are raen and women of middle age. 

It is with peculiar satisfaction that we see 

those who are nearing the evening time of 

life, accepting the truth as it is in Jesus, 

and coming out of darkness into His marvelous 

light. We noAV have a merabership 

of twenty-three. A matter well worthy of 

raention is the spirit of helpfulness shown 

by our converts during the past year. 

This has been very gratifying to us, and 

promises much for the future. Two of 

our merabers bave been acting as colporteurs 

for sorae months, canvassing tbe 

country for many miles on all sides, and 

disposing of raany copies of the gospels. 

This is an iraportant and rapidly growing 

branch of raission work in China. Our 

colporteurs have been able to reach a 

great raany people who have never bad 

opportunity to hear the spoken word. 

Sorae of our converts give proraise of becoming 

useful as preachers, after having 

received the necessary preliminary training. 

In this line we are not able to report 

anything done. Otber matters of a 

pressing nature have prevented us from 

taking any steps toward establishing a 

school for the training of-native preach- 

"ers. It is our hope that sucb a school may 

soon be started. The -necessity for raen 

of tbis character cannot be questioned. 

The bope of China lies in native workers, 

and if our Mission is to exert a wide influence 

in this field, we must utilize the 

forces at hand, and which are being employed 

wberever successful mission work 

is being carried on in China. The attitude 

of the community toward the Mis-


sion is distinctly friendly. Very little, if 

any, open hostility bas been shown. A 

groAving interest is manifested, and a 

spirit of honest inquiry is being shoAvn by 

some. The fact that men belonging to a 

higher class socially than those who have 

already united Arith tbe Church, are making 

inquiry, and are investigating ihe 

gospel message, is signiflcant. Indifference, 

and in some cases ridicule, are met 

with, as must be expected. But for all 

the manifestations of interest in the gospel 

raessage, we thank God and take courage. 

The work of the raedical departraent 

still continues under adverse conditions. 

Laclc of sufficient roora has been a serious 

hindrance to the raost effective service, 

and yet a goodly amount of work 

has been done. The efficiency of medicine 

as an accessory to the preaching of the 

Avord in bringing men to Christ has been 

demonstrated during the year. A raan 

who had a cataract reraoved was in that 

way brought into contact with the gospel, 

and was baptized at our last comraunion. 

The physicians are studying the language, 

but all of them have now acquired a sufficient 

use of it to work successfully in 

the dispensary. Frequent opportunities 

for teaching the truth are met with. People 

are coming long distances for treatment, 

and the present outlook for exerting 

a wide infiuence for good is very 

bright. The raedicaldepartraent is rapidly 

becoraing one of the very important 

lines of the Mission's work, and its growth 

will have a pronounced effect in promoting 

the cause of Christ. We hope by 

another year to be able to report the erection 

of a hospital suitable for the needs of 

tbe medical department. 

'The school work has not yet been begun. 

The building is in process of erection, and 

will be finishedsoon. Miss Torrence, with 

the Board's perraission, has been spending 

some months in Canton, giving a part 

of ber tirae to teaching in a girls' school, 

and studying methods, and putting the 

reraainder of her time on the language. 

When the school building is finished,she 

expects to return and open a day school 

for a part of the summer, and in the early 

fall will open a boarding school for girls. 

The day school will be merely temporary, 

and will be superseded by tbe boarding 

school. 

It is with considerable satisfaction that 

we report tbe purchase of a piece of land 

that furnishes a beautiful site for our two 

meraorial buildings, the chapel and hospital. 

Work on the chapel will be begun 

soon, and when completed, the hospital 

will be next in order. With these 

buildings corapleted, the Mission will 

have araple accommodations for doing 

all the work that bas yet been 

planned. Almost all the workers have 

acquired a knowledge of tbe language sufflcient 

for active service in their respective 

departments, and it is our hope and 

expectation that next year will see marked 

progress in all departraents of the Mission's 

Avork. 

Anotber matter that is commanding 

our attention is tbe opening of another 

station. No deflnite decision has yet been 

reached, but the probability is that the 

choice will be Lin Tan, a city somewhat 

larger than Tak Hing, situated about 

twenty miles to the southwest of this 

place, on a small tributary of the Wjest 

Eiver. The field has not yet been thoroughly 

looked over, but all that has been 

learned in regard to it, is most encouraging. 

It is entirely unoccupied, no station 

of any denomination being nearer 

than twenty railes, and it is in tbe midst 

of a fertile and populous district. We 

hope to make a raore thorough investigation 

of this field during the present spring 

and summer. 

AVe are thankful to God that He has en-


abled us to report so mucb that is en- His favor raay be continued to us. 

couraging. He bas crowned the year with A. I. Eobb, President. 

His goodness. We ask your prayers that Jean McBurney, Recording Sec'y. 

T W O P A R I S H E S 

•••••••••••••••••• 

•••••••••••••••••• 

•••••••••••••••••• 

•••••••••••••••••• 

••••••••riBHaBHIBH 

THE NON-CHRISTIAN WDRLD 

ONE ORDAINED MISSIONARY 

TO 183,673 PEOPLE 

D 

THE UNITED STATES 

ONE O-RDAINED MINISTER 

TO 5-46 PEOPLE 

COPYRIQHT, 1905, BY THE YOUNQ PEOPLE'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 

Home Mission Reports witl appear 

in July Nunaber, to be issued next week. 

Olive Trees, containing letters f r o m 

the fields each month, costs only 5 0 

cents a year.


The following itenis are selected frora the Bureau of Missions Bulletin: 

A certain. Japanese soldier was so strong and well that be had never felt need of 

anything wbich he had not already. By and by he was shot doAvn, one afternoon in 

battle. Unable to raove,pelted by the rain, he lay all night, groaning on tbat Manchurian 

plain. For tbe firsttirae in his life be could do nothing for hiraself. No one 

was there to do anything for hira. For- the first time in his life he needed a God—his 

need was desperate. Perhaps he prayed to tbe unknown one, who must be somewhere. 

At all events, wbile thinking of these things be was found by sorae Chinese peasants, 

and taken to a place of safety. After be reached the hospital at Sendai, near Tokio, 

he was visited by Miss Wall, of the Frotestant Episcopal Mission. The one thought 

in this pitying woraan's heart was, "Oh that these poor fellows would listen when I 

talk about God, their loving Father!" The wounded Japanese understood tbat the 

lady had corae to teach bim about God, and he flushed with pleasure. This was the 

one thing he needed; but he said, "I say, there's anotber man in that bed over there 

who wants to know about God, too." So Miss Wall had two eager listeners to begin 

with. Was it chance that took the missionary to these two gropers after God? 

Pastor Faul, of Strenia (Saxony), publishes in his fortnightly raissionary news Bulletin 

a suraraary of raedical raissionstatistics. It seeras tbere are now in the service 

of evangeUcal raissionary societies throughout the world 701 men and 238 women physicians, 

chiefly British and Americans. Tb missions maintain 395 hospitals, 770 dispensaries, 

57 asylums for opium victims, and 78 leper asyluras. In hospitals, dispensaries 

and private practice, raissionaryphysicians treat every year about two and onehalf 

raillionsof patients. We knew before that to the poor the gospel is preached 

through the raissions; but one feels a thrill on seeing tbe healing of the sick—that 

other characteristic work of Jesus Christ—^taking on such proportions. 

The American Baptist raissionariesat Kengtung, North Burraa, bave come in contact 

with sorae tribes who have a tradition that raen from the West will corae and 

teach thera the true religion. There seeras to be an extraordinary raoveraent toward 

Christianity araong one of these tribes—the Muhsos. Eev. Mr. Young has baptized 

712 converts in that tribe, and word is going into all the north country and on into 

Southwest China, that the raen of the West are teaching the true religion at Kengtung, 

and every village raust send its head men to learn. 

Two Mohararaedans baptized at Delhi, India, by Anglican missionaries this year were 

both led to Christianity by reading books written by the late Eev. Dr. Imad ud Din of 

AmrUsar; hiraself a converted ilohararaedan. The fact that the words of this dead 

preacher live is an illustration of the value, often forgotten, of the literary branch of 

the raissionary work. . 

A missionary (Anglican) is at Obihiro in Hokkaido, Japan. "There is a cburch 

here," he says, "with sixty or seventy raerabers. The Chief of Police is an earnest 

Christian, as are also sorae of the ordinary constables. There are two Sabbath schools 

Avhose pupils number ninety." Through such littie congregations in country districts 

the leavening of the nation is being prepared.


Ul 

EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

The Synod of the Eeformed Presbyterian 

Cburcb met at New Castle, Pa., 

Wednesday, May 24, 1905, at 8 P. M. 

At that hour tbe retiring Moderator, Eev. 

T. C. Sproull, delivered tbe'excellent sermon 

tbat is printed in tbis number of 

Olive Trees. Our readers will be glad 

to bave it in a suitable form for preservation, 

with a portrait of tbe autbor. 

Tbe proceedings of Synod will appear 

in tbe official ilinutes, and we do not 

hitend to publish any of the reports except 

tbose that bear upon the missionary 

operations of the Churcb. All tbe discussions 

were raarked by brotherly love, 

and tbe wbole tone of the raeetingsfrora 

beginning to end was uplifting. When 

the report of the Committee on Foreign 

Missions was under consideration, a paper 

was introduced, reflecting on the work in 

Northern Syria, that brougbt the missionaries 

on tbe floor to the front, and raade 

it clear that they are in the fleldfor the 

glory of the Eedeemer, and that He was 

signally oAvning their labors. 

On Tuesday, May 30, Eev. J. S. Mc 

Gaw, of Sharon, la., and Mr. W. Henry 

George, who has just corapleted his course 

at the Theological Seminary in Allegheny, 

Pa., were elected missionaries to Northem 

Syria and Cyprus, all further arrangements 

being left with the Board of Foreign 

Missions. 

The court adjourned to meet in Bellecenter, 

0., May 30, 1906, at 10:30 A.M. 

The Synodical appropriations for raissionary 

purposes are as follows: 

Indian Mission $5,000 00 

Domestic Mission 12,000 00 

Jewisb Mission 3,300 00 

Southern Mission 5,000 00 

Home Chinese Mission 1,000 00 

Mission in China 6,000 00 

Syrian Mission 15,000 00 

$47,300 00 

This total seeras to be a large amount; 

and yet it is demanded by tbe requirements 

of the work. It will do tbe people 

good to ra,ise it in full. 

The Synod also asks for— 

National Eeform $7,000 00 

Testimony Bearing 4,000 00 

Sustentation 6,000 00 

$17,000 00 


of twenty-five dollars from tbe Sabbath 

school of the Second Eeformed Presbyterian 

Churcb of Boston, Mass., a contribution 

for 1904 toward tbe support of a 

native teacher in Syria. 

Since last report, Olive Trees has received 

one contribution frora the young 

woraen of tbe Eeforraed Presbyterian 

Churcb toward the salary of their raissionary 

for 1905: 

Miss M. Blair, East End, Pa $5.00 

Also one contribution frora tbe rainisters 

toward the salary of tbeir minister 

for 1905: 

Eev. B. M. Sharp, McKeesport, Fa.$20.00 

# 

Olive Trees gladly coraplies witb a request 

to announce the following arrangeraents 

for the suraraer conferences at. 

Northfield, Mass.: 

The season opens witb a student gatbering 

for young raen (June 30 to July 9), 

for tbe purpose of deepening the spiritual 

life in American colleges and training 

students to lead in organized religious 

work. It is followed iraraediately by a


parallel gathering for young women (July 

11 to 20), which airas to do for young 

woraen wbat the Student Conference does 

for young men. Two days later (July 22 

to 30), the only purely technical school 

for- Sabbath school workers in America 

begins its second annual session. At the 

sarae tirae (July 24 to 31), the Women's 

Boards of Foreign Missions of the United 

Stafes and Canada hold an inter-denominational 

gathering for the study of missions 

and the training of mission leaders. 

These schools are world-wide in their application, 

and the courses in each are so 

arranged that any one attending eitber 

school raay attend the lectures in the 

other. Less than a week after they close, 

the General Conference of Christian 

Workers (Aug. 4 to 20), the best-known, 

and perhaps the raostinfluential, asserably 

of the suraraer, will bring together teachers 

and preachers frora all parts of the 

globe. This conference will be followed, 

as in former years, by a series of post-conference 

addresses, lasting this year until 

Sept. 15. For the entire six gatherings 

constant effort bas been made to secure 

only the most helpful and conservative 

speakers. Each assembly will have its 

particular leaders, versed in the particular 

work for which it stands, while the 

General Conference will unite the several 

branches. A few of the speakers already 

secured are: Eev. Endicott Peabody, 

Eev. G. Campbell Morgan, John E. Mott, 

Jobn Willis Baer, Eobert E. Speer, Prebendary 

Webb-Peploe, Eev. Prof. James 

Denney, D.D., Eev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., 

Principal E. A. Falconer and Eev. Johnston 

Eoss. 

Attention is again called to a series of 

six wall cbarts whicb bave recently been 

prepared and lithographed in "colors 

under the auspices of the Young Feople's 

Missionary Movement. These cbarts, of 

whicii one electro proof is printed on 

page 145 of this issue, are 36 x 44 inches 

in size, and will be furnished to churches. 

Sabbath schools, and otber organizations 

in unbroken sets of six, carefully packed in 

strong tubes for shipment, at the following 

prices, express charges prepaid: 

Style 1. Plain, unmounted $1.00 

Style 2. Edges bound with cloth.. . 1.25 

Style 3. Tinned top and bottom, 

ready to hang 1.50 

Style 4. Edges bound with cloth, 

wood roller and moulding 

top and bottora, 

ready to bang 2.00 

Styles 2 and 4 are specially recoraraended. 

Orders for tbese charts may be 

addressed to Young People's Missionary 

Movementi 156 Fifth Avenue, New 

York; or to Olive Trees, 327 W. 56th 

Street, New York. 

Giving is essential to the corapleteness of Christian character. It is the croAvning 

grace because it is the raanifestationof the bighest excellence. It is the result of 

syrapathy, unselfishness, of contact with Christ, of drinking in of His Spirit.—I'r. 

Alexander Maclaren. 

No raan is really born of God until he is brought into harraony witb God's plan, and 

tben God can work in him and through bim.—D. L. Moody. 

I went to the Bast with no enthusiasm as to missionary enterprises. I came back 

with the fixed conviction that missionaries are the great agents of civUization.—Hon. 

W. B. Reed, U. S. Commissioner.

O L I V E T R K E S 



No. JULY, 1905. 7. 


JEWISH EVANGELIZATION. 

REV. G. M. ROBB, PHILADELPIIIA, PA. 

AVhile tbe Churcli is trying to obey the 

command of Christ, to go into all the 

world and preach the gospel, to raalcedisciples 

of -all the nations, why should she 

overlook the Jcavs? Are not they a nation? 

Why go to every other nation but 

thera? No other nation has a history like 

their history. Over no other nation has 

the manifest providence of God hovered as 

over thera. By a iniracle, prolonged for 

almost nineteen centuries, have they been 

kept a nation. God has not done all this 

without a purpose. Is it a ])urpose nf 

wrath or of mercy? They have beon 

under the cloud of God's displeasure all 

this tirae, "a nation scattered and peeled," 

and not Avithout cause. They filled full 

the cup of their sin AA'hen, having rejected 

and slain the Son of God, they 

persecuted and put to death His witnesses, 

who testified by the Spirit to thera, thus 

doing despite to the Spirit of God. Their 

enmity vented itself against each person 

of the Godhead—rebellion against the 

Father, A'iolence against the Son, and resistance 

of the Spirit. Tben God destroyed 

their city, scattered them to the 

ends of the earth,, and drew out a sword 

after tbem until this day. Has God kept 

thera a separate and distinct people for 

nearly two millenniums in order that 

ITe migbt torraent and scourge thera ? Is 

that the ultiraate end of God in all this ? 

ilany a tirae have persecutors, with calculating 

cruelty, so tortured their victiras 

as not to quench the life until the latest 

possible, moment, for the one purpose of 

causing all the suffering passible. 

There are those who see only one reason 

for Israel's preservation, naraely, that 

God raay punish thera. Shall we impute 

such motives to God? Is it consistent 

Avith His character? Can we think this 

of the God Avho says, "I have no pleasure 

in the death of him that dieth." "I de- 

';ire mercy and not sacrifice." "Not willing 

that any should perish, but that all should 

come to repentance" ? 

God did not deal so Avith the Canaanites. 

A\'lteii the cup of their iniquity was full. 

He commanded Israel to exterminate 

them, and only because Israel disobeyed 

God were they permitted to remain in the 

land. Gnd has said, moreover, that He 

visits the iniquities of the fathers upon 

the children unto the third and fourth 

generation of them that hate Flim, but 

that He shows raercy to thousands of generations 

of them that love Him and keep 

His comraandraents. In view of this, can 

Ave say that God has kept this people now 

for sixty generations to visit upon them 

vengeance for the iniquities of their fathers? 

Thc ultimate purpose of God for Israel 

is one of mercy. They have been cast off, 

according to Eomans, lltb chapter, but


their casting off was not total, neither was 

it flnal. There is a remnant saved out of 

Israel frora the day of their scattering 

until now—"a remnant according to the 

election of grace." The time is coraing 

Avlieii, as a nation, they will be saved. 

"And so all Israel shall be saved, even as 

it is written, 'There shall corae out of 

Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn aAvay 

ungodliness frora Jacob.'" There was a 

great purpose of raercy in the casting 

aAvay of Israel;' it was that the Gentiles, 

Avho were eneraies of God, might obtain 

mercy. Paul wrote to Gentile Christians, 

"For as ye in time past were disobedient 

to God, but now have obtained mercy by 

their disobedience, even so have these now 

been disobedient that by the mercy shown 

to you they also raay obtain niercy." AVho 

is it that have obtained raercy? We Gentile 

believers. AVhat is God's purpose 

toward us Avitli reference to Israel? 

That by the raercy shown to us they 

also may obtain raercy. Hnw is that 

to be accoraplished ? By us, Avho have obtained 

raercy, going to thera with Christ's 

proclaraation of raercy—the gospel. 

Paul, the apostle nf the Gentiles, has 

tnld us raore about Israel's future and 

God's gracious purposes for thera than all 

the others together. He was the raost 

successful nf all the Apnstles in winning 

raen tn Christ, and he had a very clear 

cnnceptinn of the relation in which Jewish 

and Gentile evangelizatinn stood to each 

other. In all his work he was controlled 

by his conception of that relation. Many 

Christians have the idea that as Israel is. 

cast off at the present tirae, thati therefore, 

no effort is to be raade to reach them 

Avith the gospel, and that God, in His appointed 

time, will save them withnut any 

direct effort on the part of Christians. 

The tirae Avas when this same idea prevaUed 

with reference to mission work in 

general. It found expression in the sneering 

remark once flung at Wm. Carey, 

"God will convert the world, sir, in His 

own tirae, and without the aid of consecrated 

cobblers." This was not Paul's 

idea with reference to the salvation of 

Israel. A careful study of the book of 

Acts will show that wherever Paul went 

to preach he always went firstto the Jews. 

If they received it well, he then reached 

out to the Gentiles also. If, however, the 

Jews rejected hira, then he tumed away 

from those particular Jews and devoted 

himself entirely to the Gentiles of that 

coraraunity; but be did not turn away 

frora the Jewish people with tbe gospel, 

for after he has turned away frora rejecters 

Avitli the words, "Seeing ye put it 

far frora you and judge yourselves unworthy 

of everlasting life, lo! we turn to 

the Gentiles, for so bath the Lord comraanded 

us;" we find that in the very next 

toA^m that he visits, he goes first to the 

Jews and- so be continues to do till the 

end of his Ufe. Paul understood God's 

plan as well as any other man, and, judging 

by his course of life, he understood 

the words "To the Jew first" to state the 

order in which Christ intended His disciples 

should offer the gospel to men. 

If Christ has fixed the order in whieh 

His gospel is to be offered to raen, then 

a dejiartiire frora that order will interfere 

with the success of raissions,because 

it Avill hinder the full measure of His 

blessing from coraing upon the Church. 

Did the Church to-day really believe, 

that Christ's plan is to have the gospel 

offered to the Jew first, not in tbe way of 

pre-eminence, but simply as a raatter of 

order, then every denoraination would first 

establish and sustain a raission to Israel, 

and follow this witb as many raissionsto 

other peoples as it could raaintain. The 

fact is, however, that, with the exception 

of the Episcopalians, there are scarcely 

any denominational Jewish missions.


It is hardly a valid excuse, that the behalf by the people of God? We raay 

Jews are so hard to reach witb the gospel. appropriately fake up the laraent of Isaiah 

If God beld us responsible for their con- (Is. 64, 7), that there is no one that stirversion, 

there raight be sorae force in the reth up hiraself to take hold of Thee on 

excuse, but since all He asks us to do is behalf of Israel. The people of God will 

to take tbe gospel to thera, and He takes not pray for Israel unless they stir theraall 

tbe responsibility for their conversion selves up to pray. But let thera meditate 

upon Himself, it has no weight at all. on Avhat God has spoken conceming Israel, 

Is it any wonder the Jews are unre- and their souls cannot keep frora being 

sponsive and hard to reach with the gos- stirred. 

pel, wben there is so little prayer on their 

Here are two incidents, taken frora the Bulletin of the .Missions Bureau, that are 

very instructive: 

A student in the Presbyterian Mission in the French Congo, Africa, tells how he 

does it. "I have a little bag," he says, "and into this I put the Lord's raoney as soon 

as I receive it. When the Sabbath coines my bag never fails rae." The two essential 

points of this African's practice are: (1) A part of all raoney gained raust be given to 

God. (2) The Lord's money must be put by iiself as soon as received. Where this 

practice is followed, one exaraines the contents of the Lord's purse when the contribution 

box coraes around, and the question settles itself. 

In the Araerican Board's Foochow Mission is a native worker of ability, who could 

instantly double his salary if he would leave the Mission and accept a place in the 

Custom House. His classmates went into Government service and get almost twice as 

rauch as he does. One day lately, this Chinese worker belped an English evangelist 

by translating his address, and did it so avcU that a gentleraan in the audience gave 

the translator $10 as a token of his pleasure. The Chinaraan took the raoney, but 

gave it to the evangelist. "He needs it," he told a friend, "more than I do." Just 

keep this incident to read again when travelers tell you that converts in China are all 

"rice Christians." 

To be efficient in Christian service, the soul must be well fed. The Avorker for 

Christ is often terapted to believe that he is growing in grace because he is serving, 

and that religious activity raay be substituted for other divinely appointed raeans 

of spiritual nurture. While Christian life a.nd experience which do not go out in 

loving service are sure to become stagnant and miasmatic, on the other band, if the 

fountain of supply is not being constantly replenished by the showers of beaven, the 

stream of service will soon be exhausted in the drains made upon it. The busier we 

are in Christ's cause, the more time do we need for Bible study, prayer and the 

services of God's house. Otherwise, our confession of faUure will find its expression 

in the words, "They made rae keeper of the vineyards, but raine own vineyard have I 

not kept."—J. Ross Stevenson. 

The sraallest things becorae great when God requires thera of us; tbey are sraall only 

in theraselves; they are always great when they are done for God, and when they 

serve to unite us with Him eternally.—Fenelon.



ABROAD. 

Latakia, Syria.—In a letter dated 

April 13,1905, Miss ilattie E. Wylie says, 

araong other things: 

I thinlc I have Avritten of the custora, 

Avlien there has been a death, for friends 

and acquaintances to call on the mourners. 

Not to do so is regarded as very 

gross neglect of the courtesies of friendship. 

The raissionariesalways go to the 

houses nf friends and pupils at such a 

time. Of' course, it was felt that this 

kindness must be retumed to me in my 

sorroAV. I shrank frora the ordeal, but I 

felt that if, in telling thera of my father's 

gond life, there should be implanted in 

the hearts of those Avho would hear, a desire 

to live the life of the righteous, it 

Avould far nverbalance the fatigue. I 

cannot tell a'ou Iioav raany subjects we 

talked of in those weeks. The people 

said, "The Lord have raercy upon hira." 

I replied, "that raercy had been granted 

long ago. It raustbe in this life, for now 

is the accepted tirae." ilay the Spirit 

bless all that was spoken in the ilaster's 

narae and for His glory. 

AA'ê had a very interesting rcvicAv on the 

Sabbath school lesson at the end of the 

quarter. AAê Avere glad to have ilr. Stewart 

Avith us. Our children ahvays lilce 

thc review, and this tirae he gave us sorae 

ncAv thoughts. That raoming in the opening 

exercises of school Ave had the healing 

of the ten lepers, and only one returned 

thanks. I told thera of our own boy 

Hanna Saida, the leper in Jerusalera, who 

is trying to tell others nf the Saviour, 

and who hopes that through his influence 

a Jew has been influenced to accept Him. 

"Here a littie, there a littie." 

Tak Hing, China.—The mail did not 

bring this letter nf Ifev. Julius A. Kempf, 

thnugh Avritten March 31, in time for ilay 

Olive Trees : 

Last month we had an opportunity of 

seeing snme strange heathenish customs. 

It was "Chinese New Year," a great holiday 

season for the Chinese, just as our 

Christraas and New Year is for us. All 

business is suspended, and a week or raore 

is spent in feasting, and worshiping at the 

heathen altars and temples. One of the 

many strange things they do is to paste 

pieces of rod paper everywhere and on 

ever\-thing. Wherever and on whatever 

the paper is pasted, it is supposed to propitiate 

or in some Avay influence the evil 

spirits, devils, as the Chinese call them, 

sn that they will nnt trouble that particular 

place or thing for the coming year. 

AVc Avere nut walking one day, and I took 

particular notice of the liberal use that is 

made of this paper. Passing through the 

toAvii, I noticed that the doorway of every 

house had three or four strips of red paper 

pasted over the top and some had long 

strips down each side. The side pieces 

had sayings and petitions written upon 

thera. Every shop had red paper over the 

entrance, on the counters, on the shelves, 

and nn the baskets or bowls. When we 

came out on the river bank we could not 

see a boat, large or sraall, that did not 

have nne nr ranre red labels pasted on 

the stern. As we passed through a farm- 

3'ard avc saw red patches everywhere, on 

the doorway of the dwelling, on the cowshed, 

on the granary, and on the raill, on 

the ]ilow and on the rack containing farming 

implements, on the Avell and on the 

buckets. We passed by several orchards


and noticed that every tree had a red 

paper pasted on its trunk. Even the cessjpools, 

connected with vegetable gardens 

and the contents of which are used as fertilizer, 

had red paper stuck over thera to 

keep the devil out of them. Every altar— 

and there are altars everywhere, under 

every big tree, at every turn of the road, 

on every street, and in the entrance of 

almost every shop and dwelling—was 

decorated witb yellow and bright red 

paper. 

There is a great big tree just outside the 

corner of our compound, and under it i? a 

large altar decorated with long strips of 

red paper. One of tbe strips has this 

proverb written upon it, "When the 

dragon is peaceful the ground is fruitful, 

and great family estates spring into being." 

A few evenings ago I witnessed a 

performance that indicated how commonly 

tbis proverb is believed. I had just 

gbne to bed—it was about half-past ten— 

when I heard a great noise, the clanging 

of cymbals, tbe beating of bamboo drums, 

and the banging of an instruraent that 

sounded like a dishpan. I went out on 

the veranda and saw about eighty men 

and boys marching in single file to this 

altar under tbe tree. They were carrying 

torches and lanterns and a large transparency 

in the shape of an entrance to a 

temple; and they talked and laugbed and 

shouted as if they were having a jolly 

good time. Tbey formed in line on eacb 

side of the altar and placed tbe transparency 

in front of it. Then a raan in 

overalls and dirty shirt went through a 

kind of incantation in the form of a 

dance before the altar. The perforraance 

was like what I suppose a Scotchman 

would have called the "Highland fling"; 

at any rate, the man flung bis legs and 

arms around at a great rate. Suddenly 

a big, horrible looking head appeared 

Avith a long, bag-like arrangeraent attached 

for a body. Tbe head and body 

Avere painted all the colors of the rainbow. 

This was the young dragon. Two raen 

Avere in the body, one raanaged the head, 

and the other the taih keeping tirae with 

the drum, cyrabals and dishpan. The 

dragon Aviggled over the ground, bobbing 

its head frnm side to side and twisting its 

tail as if it were very much displeased 

about soraething. Finally it lay still before 

the altar. Then a boy in fantastic 

dress danced around it, jabbing and slicing 

the air with a sword. I suppose he 

was raaking great slaughter of the evil 

spirits. Next a raan, brandishing a big 

sAvord over the head of the dragon, went 

through a wild dance, and when be grew 

tired, another raan witb a long spear went 

through tbe sarae perforraance. It looked 

as if they were either threatening tbe 

dragon or trying to show it their zeal to 

drive away tbe devils, wbo raight corae ,to 

disturb its peace. This whole cereraony 

lasted about an bour, and then the crowd 

raarched away as it carae. I watched tbese 

proceedings frora the veranda through a 

field glass, and saw tbe whole thing about 

as well as if I had been in the crowd. 

Tbis sarae forra of worship, I understand, 

is gone through at - every public 

altar in tbis part of the country, and per-


baps over tbe AA'hole land of Cbina. Sucb 

is the darkness and ignorance of tbis people. 

Tbeir fornis of worship, and the 

fears and superstitions on which tbey are 

based are to us foolish and ridiculous. 

But when we consider that tbese are the 

things that raake up their religion, the 

religion that deterraines tbeir eternal destiny, 

and in wbich raultitudes of thera 

are dying every day, it becotnes a serious 

raatter for us who are coraraanded, and 

ought to be constrained by the love of 

Christ, to preach the gospel to every 

creature. 

A personal letter frora Mrs. J. M. 

Wright, dated April 8, contains good 

news: 

The spring here bas been unusually 

cool. Even now, the second week in 

April, we enjoy the open flrein tbe evenings, 

and we see tbe sunshine so seldom 

that everybody takes a holiday every 

bright hour. The natives are getting 

rather anxious about their rice planting. 

Tbey say it bas been many years since it 

has been cold so long. 

The school building is still unflnished, 

though about all is done now except hanging 

doors and windows, and of course the 

painting. Ground was broken for the 

chapel on the river front sorae two weeks 

since, but we are waiting now for tbe 

building stone for the foundation. 

We very rauch enjoy our raat shed raeetings. 

AVe have an audience of eighty or 

raore every weelc at preaching services. 

Sabbath school raeets at 10 o'clock. The 

men are now divided into two classes. 

Eev. A. I. Eobb takes charge of those 

who are already Christians and who need 

meat as well as railk. The woraen are 

Avith rae, and we firststudy the parables of 

Jesus, soraetiraes reading one that is new, 

soraetiraes just reviewing. Tse Apo 

naraed twenty-six on Thursday without a 

mistake. We bave them written on white 

muslin in large characters, and she often 

comes early and reads tbem over to herself. 

Then we study tbe Sabbatb scbool 

lesson, and usually comrait to raeraorythe 

Golden Text. Tbose wbo can read a few 

characters are always so glad to help others 

who knoAV less. 

Sorae of us expect to take a trip up the 

Lo Ting Eiver next * week. You bave 

doubtless beard of tbe rillage of over 

thirty raen who are anxious to know of 

Jesus. We have just beard to-day that 

they have cast away all their idols and are 

waiting for us to tell thera about the 

true God. So on Monday Eev. A. I. 

Eobb, Drs. Kate and Jean McBurney and 

Dr. Wright and myself will start. We 

will take our cooks along, and Ab Sani 

will be good help in explaining the doctrine. 

Tai So will go to belp talk to the 

women. We will go on up to Lo Ting, 

where the Christophersons are at work. 

Tbey are such good, earnest workers, and 

have long been anxious that we make 

them a visit. We will go in a houseboat, 

taking our bedding and provisions for the 

boat trip. 

Work in the dispensary keeps growing. 

Just this week a raan carae, blind from 

cataract. It was at once removed and 

he now sees. And, ob! how happy be is, 

but not happier tban the rest of us for 

hira. - His younger brother is witb bim, 

and has been a very attentive listener at 

morning and evening worship, and we 

pray tbat the ligbt of tbe Son of Eighteousness 

may illumine their hearts and 

lives. We bave raucb to encourage us. 

All are well and busy at raany things. 

Miss Torrence, writing May 1, 1905, 

gives an interesting account of the last 

comraunion: 

Another precious coraraunion season is 

just over, and we have every reason to


rejoice and be glad, because of wbat the 

Lord is doing bere. 

Friday morning Bev. J. K. Eobb 

preacbed, taking for bis text Hosea vi, 1, 

first clause. Saturday raorning his text 

was I. Jobn iii, 16. After the serraon Rev. 

A. I. Eobb baptized tbe five native converts, 

after wbich Eev. J. A. Kerapf baptized 

little Josepb Scott Eobb. Sabbath 

morning Eev. A. I. Eobb preached from 

Isa. liii, 12, last clause. The debarring 

service followed tbis sermon, and then the 

Sacrament was administered. All the 

native members, twenty-nine in number, 

were present. We had manifestations of 

the King's presence, and doubtless tbere 

was a cloud of witnesses in heaven rejoicing 

because of sinners being saved. 

The day was beautiful, and the people 

who came Avere all orderly and attentive. 

Everything was done decently and in 

order, and apparently was not without its 

irapression on those who witnessed, raany 

of thera for the firsttirae. 

The ingathering at this time is especially 

raeraorable,because we received the 

man who was the firstin Tak Hing to say 

he believed tbe gospel. You will all remeraber 

Avben Mr. Eobb was horae in 1900 

he told of one of the workmen who dared 

to declare his belief in the doctrine, and 

how the other workmen on the bouse 

persecuted him and told him be could not 

get AA'ork, nor buy things in tbeir shops; 

neither would he be allowed to walk on 

their streets. So great was their influence 

upon.the man, that he quit attending the 

evening worship, and no one understood 

the reason. When he applied for baptismbe 

told ilr. Eobb he bad been a secret 

Avorshipper of the true God all these years, 

but be was afraid to raalce a confession. 

Now that there are so raany members, he 

felt he was not alone, and was willing to 

make a pubUc oonfession. Sabbatb, after 

service, Mr. Lai took a New Testament 

from his pocket and said Mr. McBurney 

had given it to him several years ago. 

The appearance of the book gave abundant 

evidence that it had been well read during 

these years. "For in due season we sball 

reap, if Ave faint not." 

We bad the joy of one woraan coraing 

at this tirae. You will reraember reading 

a letter frora Dr. Kate McBurney, in Avbich 

she spoke of No. 2 washworaan's bouse 

burning and leaving her without shelter 

during the cold winter. Saturday No. 2 

AvasliAvoraan was baptized. She was eraployed 

in our service in tbe fall of 1902, 

but did not attend the services only occasionally 

until tbe spring of 1903. One 

day sbe brought two woraen and carae into 

ray class. They were very loud and boisterous, 

and gave little attention at flrst; 

but wben I began to review tbe lesson, 

they became interested in the Second 

Comraandraent, and began asking questions. 

For a tirae I gave thera my undivided 

attention, and they learned to 

read part of the Second Coraraandraent. 

They were taken into the preaching service, 

but were more concerned about the 

children and tbeir clothes than about what 

was being said. From this time on tbe 

washwoman attended quite regularly wbile 

in our employ. She was learning to read, 

and knew quite a little of the gospel. After 

she left us she raade her living by cutting 

grass on the mountains and carrying it to 

market, so sbe did not bave tirae to attend 

the raeetings so well; but she carae baclc 

this Avinter to Mrs. Wright's class, and 

when sbe came in very late, Mrs. Wright 

would spend extra time to give her a 

chance to leam the Bible lesson. Tbe 

woraan is very bright, and we think learns 

exceedingly fast. We have hopes of ber 

raalcing a very useful worker when we 

bave an opportunity to put her in scbool, 

where she will receive daily instruction. 

This woraan is a widow with three sraall


children, two little girls, eight and eleven 

years old, wbo are both engaged to heathen 

boys. Then she bas a sraall boy. This 

faraily liyes on what the mother and oldest 

girl earn eacb day, whicb is 20 cents 

(Mexican), or about 10 cents gold. We 

hope to have the mother in the Bible 

training class when school opens, and tbis 

raeans we raust furnish enougb raoney to 

equal what they raake by selling grass. 

The poor woraan wants rae to take her 

girls in school. I told her, since they 

were engaged to heathen boys I could not 

furnish their rice unless tbey would proraise 

to work in the Mission long enough to 

pay back the araount of raoney expended 

on thera. 

The ilissions in Canton adopted tbis 

raethod of having the raan pay back the 

money Avben he comes for the girl. Tbere 

was an instance of this kind in Mrs. Nelson's 

school this winter. AVhen the young 

man carae for the girl he had to pay back 

the araount expended. Then, too, the girl 

had been given a good opportunity to 

leam the gospeh and was able to be a raissionary 

in the husband's faraily. 

Just before leaving Canton, I visited the 

Presbyterian Girls' School, where 170 

girls carae into the chapel service. I 

asked the Superintendent if she could mot 

give rae a helper for six raonths, and she 

said, "I can't begin to supply the need of 

Christian teachers for our own schools." 

She also said, "I bave raany young raen 

frora all denorainations corae and ask rae 

to select a Christian girl for a wife. They 

say Christian wives are the best, and tbey 

want wives who can read and have leamed 

to work and care for horaes. It is most 

interesting to watch some of the changes 

wbicb ^re going on in China, and we 

know in God's oavu tirae greater changes 

will corae. 

Some of the other raerabers will write 

about the trip to Lau Ting. 

The pb3'sicians are all busy attending 

the sick, and between.calls are engaged in 

study. 

Dr. George's last teacber is quite ill 

now witb tuberculosis. We trust the 

raany prayers offered in bis behalf may be 

heard, and tbat be may accept of tbe salvation 

offered through Jesus Christ. 

Tbere is nothing in the work bere to 

discourage us. We are praying for more 

laborers to be thrust forth into the flelds 

white to the harvest. 

A personal letter from Rev. J. K. Eobb, 

dated May 2, contains two paragraphs that 

we will give our readers: 

We began the cbapei foundation 

• _ M ^ ^ 

iiggll|BWBI' '^3^ 

ft ""^t^ \ '^^S!' r 

• • ^ ^ 

• • n 

H ^ H 

H H H ^ S 

H H H h 

^ ^ ^ H ^ H 

HEUNG SHAN MT. 

trenches about a raonth ago, and discovered 

very soon that the soil was of a 

very sandy nature for a number of feet 

down. Tbis fact has compelled us to alter 

our plans to sorae extent. We had intended 

using' briclc for the foundations, 

but after learning tbe character of tbe soil 

we decided tbat it would be necessary to 

use stone. So we have given the contract 

for the stone to a raan wbo does a good 

deal of tbat kind of work, but he caimot 

get tbe stone to tbe building site until the 

river rises. Tbe present prospect for high 

water is not very bright, but it may come 

quickly when it does come.. Until it 

comes, we are at a standstill in tbe build-


ing line. We bave a very comfortable 

place for services at present, however, and 

so do not feel any very pressing need for 

the chapel. Our present quarters will not 

be expected to meet requirements for 

longer than the sumraer, and tben we bope 

to have a perraanent house of worship. 

You mention having a photo of a mountain, 

of wbicb no description was sent. I 

presume it is tbe picture of Heung Shan 

(fragrant mountain), about two miles to 

the northwest from the Mission. This 

raotmtain is connected with a matter that 

has occasioned some interest araong us 

of late. It seeras that a report has gone 

abroad tbat a certain god, residing in tbis 

raountain, bas been quite active tbis 

spring, and tbe idea of building a temple 

to this deity bas been agitated. Ohe 

raoming a placard was found posted up 

in tbe city, saying tbat tbere was no advantage 

in doing this thing, as the people 

were already oppressed with raaintaining 

tbe gods for whom temples had been built. 

This poster announced in no uncertain 

language that these gods were only making 

the people poorer, instead of being a benefit 

to them. Tben came the sensational 

part of the declaration. The writer recoraraended 

that the people become Christians 

or Buddhists, as these faiths did not 

require the expenditure of so much money. 

The tbing tbat seemed to us to be suggestive 

was not the fact tbat tbe people should 

seek another faitb, for tbey would do so 

gladly, if tbere should be less extortionconnected 

with it than tbere is witb the 

present one. Tbe reraarkable thing is that 

any one should openly dare to recoramend 

Christianity, for even the reason given in 

the placard. 

PEN AND INK MAP OF TAK HING AND VICINITT.

158 News of the' Churches. 

A T 

H O M I 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HOME 

MISSIONS. 

The Comraittee on Home Missions have 

received two papers, one frora the Central 

Board of Missions, the other frora the 

Jewish Mission Board. These reports 

show the present condition of the following 

Missions: 

Domestic Mission.—The work in this 

field appears to be far in advance of its 

financial report. A large overdraft would 

seera to require either prorapt liberality or 

speedy retrenchraent. The latter cannot 

be entertained for a raoment, hence the 

necessity of an urgent call for funds. 

Southern Mission.—We recognize with 

gratitude the prosperous condition of the 

work in this field, and the cordial interest 

manifested in this Mission by the Church. 

The fleld is Avide and the opportunities 

great, calling for sustained and increasing 

effort of all the Churcli in order to raeet 

the requirements. It is the judgraent of 

your coraraittee, with the inforraation at 

hand, that, instead of advanced classical 

education, raore labor proportionately 

should be given to the Industrial Department. 

Indian Mission.—The success of this 

Mission also is sueh as to awaken the 

spirit of thankfulness in the Synod and 

in the Church. The increasing numbers 

attending public services and the Sabbath 

school have necessitated the enlargement 

of the church building, which has been 

accoraplished during the year. We notice 

the Church at large raanifests an interest 

in a way that raight stiraulate a healthy 

emulation in the support of other missions, 

contributing service as well as goods 

and funds. 

Chinese Mission.—The Mission has been 

conducted with much interest and good 

results during the year, and by its fruits 

proves the wisdom of its resuscitation. 

Jewish Mission.—This Mission is now 

under the care of the Board appointed by 

Synod last year. Rev. Moses Greenberg 

resigned the work Oct. 1, 1904, which 

was iraraediately taken up by. Rev. G. M. 

Robb, at the appointment tendered bim 

by the Board. The work being done by 

the missionary and his helpers is such as 

should coraraend tbe Mission very cordially 

to the Cburcb. The increase in the 

number of workers in the Mission will require 

an increase of funds for the work. 

AA''e recomraend tbe following: 

1. That our pastors and elders endeavor 

to irapress the whole Cburcb with 

the importance of Home Mission work, 

and the iraperative and imraediate need 

of its liberal support. 

2. That we urge upon the people the 

fact that all these Missions are theirs, to 

be carried continually in tbeir hearts as 

worthy of their earnest prayers and bountiful 

gifts. 

3. That we recognize in the healthy 

growth of the .Missions a loud call for 

more laborers, and will keep tbis branch 

of the Church's service persistently before 

our young people. 

4. That with gratitude to our raissionaries 

for their devotion and fldelityin the 

work to the Church for the raissionary 

spirit raanifestin sustaining the Missions, 

and to God for His abounding blessings in 

the past, we will go forward in the work 

of all these flelds with the utmost confidence 

that our Lord Jesus Christ will 

send tbe showers of the Holy Spirit that 

shall secure results even more glorious and 

heart-cheering than we bave yet seen. 

5. We recomraend that the full 

amount requested by the Boards for the 

several Missions will be ordered by Synod.

J. C. McFeeters, Louis Meter, 

J. C. Slater, John Birnie, 

W. W. Dickie, 

REPORT OF CENTRAL BOARD. 


Committee. 

Domestic Missions.—In presenting 

this our fifty-flrst annual report, we call 

' the attention of Synod to tbe present condition 

of tbe Domestic Mission fund. At 

the close of the Synodical year, April 30, 

it was overdrawn $2,773.12. Last year the course compare favorably witb sirailar 

we reported a balance of $463.43. As the courses in similar schools." Mrs. Eeed 

date for the collection is not until October, 

we cannot expect mucb in the 

way of receipts before tbe beginning of 

November, unless a special effort be made 

soon to reduce the deficit. By that date 

the Board will have declared two dividends, 

or one-half of the araount that will 

be appropriated this year for Doraestic 

gave instruction in instruraental rausic 

to a nuraber of pupils. 

Tbe araount realized frora tuition this 

year was $948.91. 

The Bible work was about the sarae as 

that of last year. One hour each day was 

spent in devotipnal exercises and study of 

the Bible or Catechisras. AVhat was coraraitted 

Mission purposes. Tbis raatter should 

during the week was recited by 

receive the careful attention of Synod. 

1904. 

each grade in concert on Thursday morning 

in tbe cbapei. The average attendance 

May 1. Balance $463 43 

of pupils" at the raoming Sabbath 

1905. 

school Avas 102, and at the afternoon 

April 30. Receipts ..$3,245 77 

Dividends.. 2,931 21 

scbool, which is specially for those wbose 

raerabership is in otber churches, was 117. 

6,176 98 The raaxiraura attendance in the latter 

Expenditures 9,413 53 was 191. In this second school tbe 

Mayl. Balance overdrawn. .$2,773 12 Blakeslee lessons were used; in the morning 

We ask for this Mission $10,000. 

tbe International. With regard to 

Southern Mission.—The teaching the progress made, Mr. Eeed states that 

force at the present tirae consists of Rev. 

J. G. Reed, Principal; Mrs. G. M. Sirams, 

Miss .Mary Wilson, Miss Hattie Kingston, 

Miss Margaret Martin, Miss Dora Robb, 

"teachers of higher schools where our 

former pupils attend, testify that they 

are easily marked by their superior knowledge 

of the Bible." 

Miss Sophia Kingston, Miss Lizzie Brown, The progress in the Industrial departments 

- and Miss Margaret Fleraing and Miss 

during the year has been en 

Mary Fowler and Prof. Bottoms, of the couraging. "Miss Fowler and Prof. Bottoms," 

Industrial Department. Miss Margaret 

Mr. Eeed writes, "have done faith 

Fleming took the place of Miss McCartney, 

ful, painstaking and effective work. They 

Miss Dora Eobb of iliss Anabel bave made their departments very popuful, 

Stewart, and Miss Margaret ilartin of 

Miss Martha Turner. 

The scbool opened its thirty-fifth seslar 

with tbe pupils. Tbis has its infiuence 

iri bringing raany in wbo would otherwise 

go to other schools. 

sion Oct. 3, 1904, and closed May 19, 


Tbe enrollraent during the year was 

376, an average attendance of 248, in 

neither case as large as the previous year. 

This was owing to local causes wbicb 

could not be prevented. A year has been 

added to the course of instruction, raaking 

tbe entire course twelve years, instead of, 

as beretofore, eleven, ilr. Reed found 

this change necessary "in order to make


Miss Fowler gives instruction in sewing 

and cooking. "A total of 336 pieces 

was made by tbe pupils." "Better work 

and a higher grade of it," she writes, "has 

been done tbis year. The supply of new 

raaehines donated by friends and Missionary 

Societies has done much to produce 

this result." "Many of the garments 

made Avere from raaterial which the girls 

theraselves provided, and the garraents 

were for theraselves." Eighteen dollars and 

twenty-six cents were realized frora tbe 

sale of material and garraents. The net 

cost of the departraent was $10.89. 

The instruction in cooking has been of 

a practical character, the object being so 

to instruct in all. that relates to cooking 

that ultiraately "the pupils will be able to 

make a perfect meal, which will nourish 

every part of the body." The progress 

made has been quite gratifying. 

Professor Bottoms' work is confined to 

carpentry. He reports that "the increased 

interest and willingness to work shown by 

the boys is real encouragement. Neater 

and more work from each has resulted." 

A large number of articles was raade, 

some of which were sold. Considerable 

work was done for the school. The net 

income frora the department was $8.91. 

Mr. Pickens is still in charge at Pleasant 

Grove. The enrollment of scholars 

Avas 75; average attendance, 27. Nine 

persons were received into the Churcli this 

A'ear from this Mission, six of whom were 

pupils frora the school. 

The enrollraent in the school at Valley 

Creek Avas 25; average attendance, 15. 

Mrs. Knight is in charge. "She bas been 

faithful," Mr. Eeed writes, "does effective 

work, and is greatly respected." Mr. Eeed 

preaches at each of these places once a 

month. Mr. Eeed in his report adds: 

"There has been harraony of feeling and 

action between the different arras of tbe 

service. A great deal of careful, painstaking 

work bas been done by the teacbers. 

They have visited a great deal among tbe 

pupils. The latter nevef made better 

progress in their studies." 

The friends at tbe Mission were cheered 

by visits from Mr. and Mrs. Price, of Allegheny, 

and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie, of New 

Castle. 

1904. 

May 1. Balance $2,447.92 


April 30. Eeceipts ..$3,661 88 

Dividends.. 730 11 4,391 99 

April 30. Expenditures 

6,839 91 

5,375 37 

On hand $1,464 54 

We ask for this Mission $5,000. 

Indian Mission.—A few changes have 

been made in the raissionforce this year. 

Mr. and Mrs. T.G.Grahara, of 01athe,Kas., 

"gave tbe training of a home to the boys." 

Mrs. Sarauel Coulter has charge of the 

baking, and .Miss Tillie Mclsaac of the 

kitchen and dining roora. 

"The healtb of aU at the Mission," 

writes Mr. Carithers, "was good, with tbe 

exception of Mrs. EUa Moore, who passed 

away at her father's horae in Olathe, Oct. 

26, 1904. She bad been a great sufferer 

for years. During the months she was 

with us we learned to set a high value on 

her presence and the work she did. She 

was faithful in daily duties up to the 

limit of her strength, and beyond it." 

The number of pupils enrolled during 

the year was 66; the largest nuraber at any 

tirae being 54. 

"The Sabbatb school araong tbe Indians 

at the Mission is held in tbe forenoon. 

Miss Coleraan is superintendent. The 

children attend this service. There is an 

average attendance of 27 old Indians. At 

the sarae bour, Mr. McAnlis, Mr. Moore 

and Yellowfish are at the Apache camp.


five miles north of the Mission, instructing 

the older Indians and tbe children in 

Bible trutb." There is an average attendance 

bere of 44. Last January a Sabbath 

school at tbe same bour was started 

among tbe whites ten miles west of tbe 

Mission, with an average attendance of 33, 

and a service for the Indians, witb an 

average attendance of about 89. In addition, 

there is a service in English for 

Indians and whites at 3 P. M., attended 

by about 130. At this service a collection 

is taken up, whicb amounted tbis year 

to $188. "Two htmdred and eleven persons 

are reacbed eacb Sabbath with Bible 

instmction." 

Three communions were held during 

tbe year. Prof. J. M. Coleman assisted at 

the first. Rev. W. J. Coleman at tbe second, 

and Rev. A. J. McFarland, D.D., at 

the third. There was an increase of nineteen, 

of wbom eight were baptized. There 

was a decrease of seven. 

An addition was made to the "cburch 

building, largely due to the enterprise and 

liberality of Miss Lillie McKnight. It is 

now completed, and is a great addition to 

the church in convenience and beauty." 

Dr. Ida Scott, who bas cbarge of the 

hospital, reports that tbe health of the 

children and workers is good this year, 

unusually good. There were no epidemics, 

no alarming serious illness, and 

no deaths araong the children. The work 

among the white people in tbe comraunity 

has increased. The nuraber of cases treated 

by Dr. Scott was 1,543. Tbis does not 

include tbose receiving care in tbe hospital. 

Mention is made of generous gifts 

from kind friends. Especial reference is 

made to Billings Congregation, which is 

the nearest congregation of our people to 

the MSssion, whicb in many ways has 

manifested an interest in the hospital work. 

Mr. Carithers makes mention in bis 

report of the "well directed work of Prof. 

and Mrs. Coleman," wbo were at the Mission 

during the suramer, and of the "good 

and faithful help by Miss Minnie Barron, 

Miss Clara Wylie, and Mr. Robert 

Huey," who visited it for a few Aveeks. A 

number of friends encouraged by their 

presence tbe workers tbis year; among 

wbom were Rev. A. I. Eobb and Miss 

Jennie Torrence, of tbe Mission in China; 

Miss Maggie Edgar, of the Syrian Mission; 

Miss Jennie Boyd, of the WUkinsburg 

Congregation; Mr. H. C. Calderwood, 

of East Bnd; Mr. Jaraes Arthur, of 

Pittsburg, and .Mr. and Mrs. Scott, of 

Beaver Palls. 

"Tbe words spoken last year in regard 

to my appreciation of the cordial help 

rendered by the workers," Mr. Carithers 

writes, "I migbt repeat of the year closing. 

Their worlc was done heartily as unto 

the Lord, and in our meetings for counsel 

and prayer our fellowship was helpful." 

"We close tbe year with thankfulness to 

God for His raercies, and for the opportunityj,o 

work for Hira, and for the work 

we see Hira doing in the hearts of those 

around us." 

1904. 

May 1. Balance on hand $2,212 04 


AprU 30. Eeceipts ..$4,672 90 

Dividends.. 63 75 4,736 65 

Expenses 

$6,948 69 

..6,123 18 

May 1. Balance on hand $825 51 

We ask for tbis Mission $5,000. 

Home Chinese Mission.—Rev. Isaiah 

Paris was continued in charge of tbis Mission 

during the year. The work has been 

carried on without interruption and with 

reasonable success. There are seventeen 

Chinese connected with the Mission, an 

increase of eight, and eight whites, an increase 

of four. At tbe coraraunion held


April 23, there Avere twelve Chinese and 

nine whites, making a total of twenty-one 

who corarauned. Mr. Faris will have 

charge of the work during tbe coming 

year. 

1904. 

May 1. Balance $1,005 02 


April 30. Receipts. ...$299 05 

Dividends... 540 72 839 77 

April 30. Expenditures 

$1,844 79 

. 1,264 00 


AVe ask for this Mission $1,000. 

Jewish Mission.—The monthly reraittances 

Avere sent to the Treasurer of 

this Mission: 

1904. 



AprU 30. Receipts 1,435 42 

$1,574 52 

Expenditures 1,405 00 

$169 52 

J. W. Sproull^ 

Chairman. 

REPORT OF JEWISH MISSION BOARD. 

We organized after last raeeting of 

Synod by election of Dr. J. C. McFeeters, 

Chairraan; Dr. T. P. Stevenson, Secretary, 

and Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, Treasury. 

Further efforts to induce Eev. Moses 

Greenberg to reconsider his resignation 

failed, and he finallyleft the work of the 

Mission Oct. 1, 1904. The Board raeanwhile 

tendered the position of raissionary 

to the Jews in Fhiladelphia to Eev. George 

M. Eobb, pastor in Syracuse. After full 

consideration and personal exaraination 

of the field, Mr. Eobb accented the appointraent, 

and entered on the work Oct. 

1. Since that time Mr. Robb has prosecuted 

tbe work with great diligence and 

with admirable judgment and prudence. 

Preaching has been maintained on the 

evenin'g of the Sabbatb, Sabbath school ori 

Sabbatb afternoons, and sewing school 

twice in tbe week. The dispensary has 

been open twice in the week, with the 

regular services of Dr. Alexander Caldwell. 

A reading room has been opened 

and furnished with newsp,apers and journals 

from foreign countries in tbe languages 

whicb are known to the Jewish 

people. The funds for tbis purpose have 

been secured largely by individual contributions. 

Miss Cora E. .Miller was appointed assistant 

teacher and visitor, beginning 

work April 1. 

The Board has earnestly sought the 

services of a Jewish helper, deeming this 

a quite indispensable factor in the work, 

on account of the difficulty which an 

Bnglish speaking missionary fluds in 

reaching tbe people. A Mr. Tenersohn is 

at present eraployed temporarily in this 

way, and conducts services during the 

absence of the missionary. 

There has been a constant and abundant 

distribution of literature, and the large 

window in front of the Mission is filled 

with open Bibles and New Testaments, 

which are read by numbers of people who 

pause for the purpose at all hours of the 

day. 

The Board earnestly asks for $3,300 

during the coming year to meet these requireraents 

of the work. 

J. C. McFeeters, 

Chairman. 

T. P. Stevenson, Secretary. 

Clay Center, Kan.—The L. M. Society 

of tbe South Brancb of Hebron 

Congregation report for 1904: 

.ilerabership of eleven, and nine meet-


ings held during the year. The Society cannot easily be flUed. She kept in close 

made two worsted quilts valued at five touch with the Church's work in its difdoUars 

eacb. One was sent to Mrs. ferent mission fields, and gave cheerfully 

Greenberg and one to Mrs. Dr. Wright. of ber means to carry on the work. The 

Miss Torrence spoke in our churoh in be- call to her came very suddenly. Witbout 

half of the work done in the Mission in a raoraentis warning, the spirit took its 

China, and supper was served that even- fligM, and life~here, with all its possibilmg 

m tbe church. ities for work, was ended, rerainding us 

Mrs. Elma Copeland, of the necessity of working while it is 

President. called to-day, before the night coraeth. 

Mks. Ella Milligan, "Blessed are the dead who die in tbe 

Secretary. Lord frora henceforth; yea, saith the 

treasurer's report. Spiriti that they may rest from their 

Receipts. 

labors and their works do follow them." 

Balance $1.91 Committee. 

Monthly fees 14.50 

Donations , 6.50 Oakdale, 111.—The L. M. Society of 

Oakdale Congregation records its appre- 

$22.91 ciation of the Christian character and 

Expenditures. 

earnest raissionary spirit of Mrs. Bliza 

Secretary's book $0.10 McClay, one of its original raerabers, who 

Materials for quilts 2.55 was called to her heavenly borae July 

Jewish Mission 5.06 4, 1903. Active in all the work of the 

Chinese .Mission in China.. 10.00 

Society since its organization, and liberal 

Latakia 2.10 in the support of every good cause, she has 

Supplies for home cburcb.. 3.10 • left an exaraple in the service of the Mas- 

$22.91 ter that is worthy of iraitation. Kind 

Mrs. Mary Milligan, and gentle in her disposition, ever ready 

Treasurer. to speak for the truth, zealous for the house 

and ordinances of God, and possessed of 

New Castle, Pa.—The L. M. Society a strong faith and an abiding interest in 

of tbe New Castle R. P. Church wishes to the Kingdora of Christ, she has left beplace 

on record a tribute to the raeraory hind a pleasant raeraory and a precious 

of one of its members, Mrs. Mary G. assurance tbat for ber to depart was to be 

Aiken, who entered into rest Thursday, with Christ. Her lifework should in- 

Marcb 23, 1905. Mrs. Aiken was a spire to more eamest efforts to hasten the 

woman of more tban ordinary ability, and - time proraised when the knowledge of tbe 

of deep consecration to her Saviour. Lord shall cover the earth as the waters 

Faithful in her attendance on all the cover the sea. 

ordinances, she was seldom, if ever, away This Society also wishes to bear testifrom 

the-meetings of our Society. Bver mony to the tme Christian character of 

willing to help, whether by contribution Mrs. J. M. Sloane, another of its raeraor 

personal work wbere need was brought bers, who has been taken away. A faitbto 

her attention, sbe found her greatest ful follower of the Saviour and an earnest 

deligbt in service for tbe Master, and worker in all reforra enterprises, we thank 

occupied a place in the Church wbich God that she was allowed to live and labor


so long in the Master's cause, and for Southem Mission $59 72 

the assurance that she has gone to sing Domestic Mission 4 75 

the triumphant song of the redeemed Aged People's Home 31 75 

from earth. We raiss her presence and Geneva College 62 

ber wise and sweet counsels, yet bow in Coraproraise Mission 30 24 

subraission to the Heavenly Father's will. Rev. R. J. Dodds' sumraer horae. 65 90 

Who doeth all things well, and tender Mersina graveyard fence 12 00 

heartfelt syrapathy to bereaved friends. Chicago Church building 89 25 

Mrs. R. Hood, Los Angeles Churcb building.... 7 00 

Mrs. S. H. Kemps, Plan of AVork Coramittee. 7 00 

ilRS. J. Boyd, Churcb erection 1 75 

Committee. Testimony Bearing 16 00 

Theological Seminary 63 

Wilkinsburg.—The following state- Jewisb Mission 41 75 

raent shows what can be done by those who Oakland Chinese Mission 7 75 

have the work of raissionsat heart: National Reforra 1 50 

Eeport of Treasurer of Woraan's Pres- Eev. J. E. Baird 10 00 

byterial .ilissionary Society of Pittsburg Pres. Horae Mission 2 00 

Presbytery, April 1, 1904, to April 1, Mission in Cbina 76 35 

1905: Syrian ilission 129 40 

liev. W. W Carithers' Salary Account. 

Balance Apr. 1, 1904.. $568 57 Total $783 26 

Amt. rec'd during yr..1,087 70 

Contingent Account. 

$1,656 27 Balance AprU 1, 1904....$55 59 

Paid to salary of Rev. Amt. received during year 17 10 

W. W. Carithers... 1,000 00 $72 69 

Expenses 23 73 

Balance Apr. 1, 1905. . $656 37 

Thank Offering Account. Balance AprU 1, 1905. .. . $49 96 

Indian .Mission $186 90 

A Japanese woraan, teacher in the Ferris Seminary (Reformed Cburch) in Yokoharaa, 

has been invited raany tiraes to leave the Serainary and take a better position 

iu a Governraent school. They offered her ten dollars, and finally twenty-two dollars 

a raonth salary if she would accept. But she stays in the missionary school on 

a salary of seven dollars and a half. The reason? She could not teacb pupils in the 

other school to seek the blessings whicb she herself has found in Jesus Christ.— 

Bureau of Missions. 

Dr. C. B. MacAfee, of Brooklyn, gives six good reasons, in the Assembly Herald, 

why he is an optiraist as to foreign missions: 1. He ahvays wins who sides with 

God. 3. The Church is bound to fall in love with the will of its Master when once 

it understands the case. 3. A praying cburch is basis enough for optiraism. 4. The 

high quality of the men sent out as foreign missionaries. 5. The fitnessof the gospel 

to supply the needs of the Avorld. G. The quality of the raen whom the gospel is finding 

and making in heathendom.



THEj LOOKOUT COMMITTEE. * 

A few years ago one man conceived tbe 

idea of the Christian Endeavor Society. 

Tbe world smiled. Many in the churches 

shook tbeir heads at the idea of uniting 

in one society for religious or spiritual 

development and growth, the Methodist, 

tbe Baptist, tbe Presbyterian, and all the 

otbers, witb their varying views; but the 

ilaster, whora tbey all serve, knew best; 

He overcarae the little differences of His 

servants. Dr. Clark's little foUoAving grew 

and raultiplied, and there is now encircling 

the globe, a tremendous throng of 

young people of many climes. You and 

I belong to tbis company. 

But perbaps you say, "I am not on tbe 

Lookout Comraittee," and tbis brings me 

to my second point—tbe constituents of 

this comraittee. Although a band of a 

dozen or less may be nominally the Lookout 

Coraraittee, and certain business must 

be transacted by tbem, each meraber of 

tbe society should consider hiraself or 

herself a member of this coinmittee, to a 

greater degree tban be may on some of tbe 

others, even thougb not asked to do so. 

Did you ever feel as though a member of 

a comraittee asked you to do a certain 

thing siraply because it was bis duty to 

do so, and not through any personal interest? 

Human nature rebels at authority; 

we will not be dictated to; but 

friendly interest is a thing wbicb we all 

enjoy. 

One of the young ladies of a certain 

society bad been very delinquent for some 

time. As sbe was passing out of churcb 

one Sabbath morning another young lady 

spoke to her, and asked her if sbe would 

* Headi at a Conference ofthe Toung People's 

Soeieties ofSd and 4th New Tork and Brooklyn. 

not try to attend the meetings, and tbe 

one spoken to asked, "Are you on the 

Lookout Coraraittee?" Her friend's answer 

was, "No, but I ara a raember of tbe 

society." That is the spirit we should 

exercise, for it had its effect. 

The norainal Lookout Coraraittee 

sbould be composed of thoroughly consecrated 

people—young men and women 

who are hungry for souls, who realize the 

dangers that surround us, and the need 

of protection from them. Lukewarm 

service will not bring a bountiful harvest. 

If the beart is not in the service, the 

mind, the band, the energies will not be 

very active. 

The name of tbis comraittee is suggestive 

of its work, whicb may be considered 

under three heads, all three the 

work of each meraber. First, bringing 

new raerabers into tbe society; second, 

keeping them there as long as circurastances 

raay allow; third, providing for 

tbem when it is no longer possible or 

advisable for thera to retain membership. 

As tbe Master said to the early disciples, 

so He sa.ys to you and to me: 

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers 

of men." The fisherman does not go 

blindly or recklessly to work to fillhis 

boat with the finny creatures, but be uses 

thougbt and consideration. He raakes 

preparation for bis work. He knows that 

to plunge into the water and try to force 

tbe fisb into his boat would be folly; but 

be sets a bait for tbem; be presents to 

their view something that he Icnows will 

tempt them, and he knows just -where 

certain kinds of fishare to be found, and 

what kind of bait would be raosteffectual 

in catching thera. Would you be fishers 

of raen? AVould you fill your Christian 

BndeaA'or raeeting room? Tben raake


preparation for your work. Do not go 

about it rashly or unthinkingly. Consider 

the tastes, the natural inclinations 

of tbe young raen and women you would 

draw into your society, and appeal to 

those tastes. Perhaps some one says, 

"How about those first opportunities?" 

Can we know.anything of a person's 

tastes or tendencies upon flrst raeeting? 

Let rae ask such an one. Did you ever 

raeet a stranger without forraing sorae 

opinion of hira? 

But having drawn the young people 

into your society has not completed your 

duty or privilege. Having accepted an 

invitation, a guest naturally expects a 

warm welcorae, an introduction to other 

guests and raembers of the family, and to 

be entertained. If his expectations are 

not realized to a pretty good degree, he 

is not very likely to come again, even 

under pressure of invitation, and the 

Lookout Comniittee should help the Social 

Committee in this. Having interested a 

young persnn in the seciety, we wish to 

enlist them in our raerabership,that they 

raay be entitled to its full privileges; but 

we raust not neglect to acquaint thera with 

the duties of raembers. Such a course is 

very likely to prove fatal. Be sure that 

prospective raerabers are fully acquainted 

with the pledge, and by personal investigation, 

satisfy yourself of their fltnessto 

becorae raerabers of the society, and then 

present their naraes at least one Aveek before 

their election to membership. And 

now we come to the second duty of the 

Lookout Coraraittee. Dr. Clark expresses 

it thus, "Affectionately to look after and 

reclaira any that seera indifferent to their 

duties as outlined in the pledge." 

This coraraittee should be to the raerabers 

of the society, what the lookout is to 

the ship at sea. The ship is ready to be 

launched. 'Tis her raaiden voyage. The 

raechanisra and equipraent are coraplete; 

but she needs a guiding band; sbe wants 

soraebody who knows the waters tbrough 

which sbe must pass; somebody who will 

lookout for the dangers wbicb may threaten 

her safety. The dense fogs may gather 

around ber, and some hand raust drop the 

anchor that is to hold her safely until the 

sunlight again raakes it possible for her 

to resurae her journey. Tben, when the 

fog bas lifted and the ship is sailing 

raajestically along, suddenly the lookout 

sights a dark object in the distance! By 

the aid of his fleldglass, he sees tbat it is 

another ship which has been less fortunate; 

she is showing signals of distress. 

Perhaps the sea is even now beating over 

her, and unless relief soon reaches -ber 

croAA', death is certain; but the lookout 

has seen her signals, and has communicated 

with the pilot, wbo is guiding his 

ship to the endangered men, and soon tbey 

are safely aboard, and are tenderly cared 

for until the shore is reached. 

Each human life is a sbip, sailing dnvm 

the sea of time. Has yours weathered the 

storras and withstood the fogs in safety? 

Seasoned and strengthened, do you appreciate 

its majestic power? Do you remember 

the tempests which tossed it 

hither and thither, the winds that swept 

over it, the battles you fought between 

right and wrong, the waves of despair 

that swept over you, until you thought 

shipAvreck Avas inevitable? 

Can you forget the anguish witb which 

you cried, 

"Jesus, Saviour, pilot rae 

Over life's terapestuous sea; 

Unknown waves before me roll, 

Hiding rock and treacherous shoal, 

Chart and compass corae from thee, 

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me." 

Then the equally fatal, thougb unrealized 

teraptations came, but you passed 

safely around them, for your Pilot knew 

each biding rock and treacherous shoal.

and ever faitbful, never withholds the 

guiding hand. But wbat of the weaker 

vessels? Perbaps tbey are as large as 

yours; perbaps tbey have sailed tbe seas 

as many years or more, but unfortunately 

are not as strong, or perhaps they are 

being threatened by dangers that your 

ship never experienced. Are you on tbe 

lookout for these ships?—^these members 

of your society wbo are being beaten 

about by tbe storras of temptation, or 

threatened by those subtle dangers so 

veneered by pleasure, so disguised with 

an appearance of rigbt, so alluring, but 

so terribly fatal ? Are you watching carefully 

for the signals of distress? Have 

you studied to make yourself acquainted 

witb these signals ? Have you sought help 

to discern tbem? Have you comraunicated 

with God in prayer, asking Hira to 

pilot the ship safely to the harbor ? Have 

you told thera of the Pilot wbo never 

fails to guide tbe sbip to its baven? Or 

are you allowing it to drift along heedless 

of danger ? If shipwrecked, will you have 

notbing to answer for? But perbaps 

soraebody asks, "Am I my brother's 

keeper?" Listen to the answer of God, 

"The voice of thy brother's blood crieth 

unto Me from tbe ground." 

How little do we appreciate tbe opportunities, 

the privileges, which may be 

ours if we only use tbem when presented. 

By one man sin entered into tbe world, 

and deatb by sin; by one man came also 

tbe resurrection. But raay one mortal of 

the present age be vested witb any great 

power? By one man's tbought and skill, 

it is possible for you to speak to your 

friend, a tbousand miles away. A mere 

boy noticed that tbe lid of a kettle kept 

rising, and studied tbe cause, and to-day 

we sit tn our comfortable car or sbip and 

are carried over land or sea by steam 

power. 

One man heard a sermon and was con^ 


verted, and tbe Judgraent Day alone will 

tell how raany souls bave been saved 

tbrough the instrumentality of Mr. Spurgeon 

! 

You and I are units; but one witb God 

is a majority, even against the devil and 

bis legions. 

A touching story of a lost opportunity 

is told by Miss Frances Havergal. During 

a visit just after she had left scbool, a 

class of girls came to her a few tiraes for 

an hour's singing, when she would make 

reraarks about tirae and expression and 

the words of the rausic. Whenever she 

raet tbese girls she had plenty of Icindly 

words for each. A few years afterward 

she sat by tbe bedside of one of thera, 

who bad been led through long and deep 

suffering into the clear light, but who told 

how eagerly she had been seeking for 

Jesus at the tirae of those singing classes; 

how sbe had longed for her friend to speak 

to ber about the Saviour; how she had 

hoped week after week tbat her hand 

would be stretched out to belp. Salvation 

carae years afterward, but she said, 

"Miss P., I ought to bave been yours." 

There is another class of people over 

whora tbe Lookout Committee sbould 

watch carefully. Circurastances soraetimes 

make it irapossible for merabers to 

attend the meetings of our society. Perbaps 

home duties or iUness or business or 

pleasure may take them away frora 

home, but not necessarily from all home 

influences. If detained frora eitber of the 

flrst two causes, a member should be visited 

by the Lookout Comraittee, if possible; 

but in any case, should at least receive 

kindly letters frora them. If it is 

Icnown that a member is to be detained 

from the raeetingsfor a long period, it is 

often advisable to grant sucb a leave of 

absence and transfer tbeir narae to tbe 

affUiated list. It is not wise to carry 

driftwood, neither do we wish to let tbe


flsh slip through our flngers. If reraoval 

makes it necessary for a raeraber to leave, 

ask hira to take a letter of introduction 

to a society which you think would be 

convenient and congenial to hira. If you 

think he is likely to be careless or indifferent 

about seeking another society, 

write to the president Or chairraan of 

Lookout Coraraittee of a desirable Christian 

Endeavor Society, giving address of 

your raeraber, and try to locate hira. To 

drop a narae entirely is soraetiraes a serious 

raatter. 

And need I say anything of reward? 

The serA'ice rendered for reward alone is 

drudgery: but Avhen love is the irapelling 

raotive, how SAveet the service, how 

rauch joy Ave flnd in it; and stiU, Paul 

said, "Every man shall receive his own 

reward, according to his own labor," and 

Christ says, "Be thou faithful unto deatb, 

and I Avill give thee a croAvn of life." What 

kind of a croAvn are you going to wear in 

thc eternal world? AVill it be glorious 

with geras, Avith souls saved through your 

service? AA''ill the splendor of other 

croAvns bring you the joy unspeakable, because 

they tell of souls saved indirectly 

through your efforts ? Mr. Spurgeon raay 

have thousands of geras in the crown of 

bis rejoicing; but think you that their 

glory Avill bring no joy to hira who was 

the means of bringing that great preacher 

to the Saviour? "Lay up, therefore, for 

yourselves treasures in heaven, where 

neither mnth nnr rust doth corrupt, nor 

thieves brealc through and steal." 

"AVatchraan, what of the night?" The 

raorning coraeth and its light will bring 

to our vicAV the ships which needed our 

help! AATU we see before us stranded 

wrecks? AA'ill we learn that annther 

stretched out the helping hand that we 

neglected to extend ? Or will we find those 

ships safely harbored with ours in 

heaven ? 

The morning coraeth, the glorious resurrection 

raorn, when tbe King of all the 

earth sball sit upon tbe great white throne 

in judgment, and the nations of the earth 

shall be gathered together before Him. 

Wbat will be His word to you and rae? 

AVill it be the fearful sentence, "Inasrauch 

as ye did it not to one of the least 

of these, ye did it not to Me"? Or will 

we receive the joyful coraraendation, 

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant, 

enter tbou into the joy of thy 

Lord"? 

Cordelia B. Brigden. 

A TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED 

WORTH. 

—This tribute to the raeraoryof the late 

Eevs. P. H. Wylie and Joseph McCracken 

is taken frora a personal letter written 

April 13, 1905, by Miss Mattie E. Wylie, 

of Latakia, Syria.— 

I knew ray dear father was growing 

feeble, yet I could not thinlc the end was 

so near, for he was still active in religious 

work. He had been ready and 

waiting for raany years. His last words 

Avhen I bade hira good-by the last time 

were that I would not see hira again, and 

he lifted his hand in benediction and said, 

"The Lord bless thee and keep thee," etc. 

I raisshis letters and bis prayers. He was 

willing for his daughter to be in tbe service 

of his Master. When I was only an 

infant he said that if I should grow up 

and be a raissionary, he would consider it 

the greatest honor that God could confer 

upon hira. Not that it was not as hard 

for hira to part with rae, as for any other 

father, for I was his only daughter. When 

I received ray appointraent, be said he had 

always prayed that one of his cbildren 

raight be a raissionary, but he had in 

mind one of his boys. "The Lord tried 

Abrahara and He has tried me." No 

difference what discouragements we had

in the .Mission, be would write, "Never 

give up. His Kingdom AviU come. Tie has 

But I am sure it would be his Saviour he 

Avould see first, and he Avould be satisfied 

promised and His proraises never fail." awaking in His likeness. 

He was a raissionary hiraself. I can remember 

ilr. McCracken was my teacher, and 

when I was a child that it was has been one of ray best friends all these 

no uncomraon occurrence for hira to be ycars. The first tirae I Avent horae I felt 

called in the night to go and pray with thc 1 could not raalce public addresses. 1 

dying—people of thc wnrld. Hc preaehed went to visit the people. He said, "Now, 

wherever there Avas an opportunity, ilattie, this Avill not do. Feopie want to 

in school houses and other churches, and 

this in tbe evenings, after be had occupied 

know about your work and you will be 

AVorn out visiting and talking. When any 

his own pulpit. When be was in one asks j'oti a question jnt it dnAvn, and 

charge of the congregations at Eushsylvanii 

and ilacedon, they were sixty miles 

when you havc found out Avhat is wanted, 

arrange your answers in order. Let thera 

apart. He had to go on horseback, and have one raeeting, iraagine yourself in 

he had his places of preaching going and sorae one's parlor, talking to your friends, 

coraing. AVhen I Avcnt horae the last and you will not find it so hard." 

tirae, one of his neighbors, a ilethodist, I took his advice. I ahvays counted 

asked rae how ray father seeraed to rae. I rauch on ray visit to his home. 1 feel his 

replied that he Avas more feeble than I death only second to my father's. What a 

expected. She said, "Oh, he is Avnrn down strange thing fnr these friends to be 

nnw. There bas been no other preacher separated, only to enter heaven Avithin 

in the neighborhood, and there Avas so tAventy-four hours of each other. 

much siclmess last winter. AVhen wc are 

siclc or in trouble, Ave all expect Father 

Wylie to come and pray with us and corafort 

THE GOURD WHICH WITHERED NOT 

VS. THE PROPHET DEVOID OF 

us." It was ahvays so wherever he 

MERCY. 

lived. Tie was so quiet and retired in his 

disposition that no one knew the good he 

did; but God reeorded it. When he gave 

up his congregation. in Londonderry, one 

of my friends wrote that if every rainister 

did as mucb as he bad done, the world 

would surely be better. 

The longer I live and the more I see of 

the world, the raore I appreciate what he 

One of the raost striking evidences that 

the spirit of the Old Testament is one 

with the New, is found in the all-embracing 

tenderness of God as slionvn in the 

book of Jonah. 

The fact that attention bas been so 

exclusively focused on the supernatural 

incident in the story is proof of much 

superficial reading of the boolc, as well as 

did for us. AVben I received tbe cablegrara 

of tbe ease with which the intended mes 

frora my brother announcing his sage raay be OA'erlooked. As Carapbell 

death, I thougbt of how often and often. 

he had come to meet us at the train five 

miles from home, and how he enjoyed our 

ilorgan has put it, "Men have becorae so 

taken up with staring at a great fish tbat 

they bave raissed the vision of the great 

visits. But there are raore of bis children God." The object of the narrative is to 

to raeethira on the other side than he,left point out and rebuke the aversion of a 

here, and I said to myself, "Did the mere provincial religionist to being 

boys know?" "Did they say to one another, 

broadened out into a corapassionate lover 

'Father is coming horae to-day'?" of 

raankind. 

169


Two explicit coraraissions to the 

prophet, tbe burial alive within the fish 

in the depths of the sea, and his resurrection 

therefrora; and the vision of the 

whole city of Nineveh in sackcloth and 

ashes, all were ineffectual. The prophet 

goes out eastward of the city, and sulks 

and speculates conceming the outcorae 

of the unwelcorae, oncoraing revival. God 

now enacts a parable for his instruction. 

He prepares a gourd, the "Palma Christi," 

so-called, to throw its friendly shade over 

him in his frowardness. A worm attacks 

the gourd and it perishes in a night, 

whereupon Jonah falls into a deeper pout 

and begs to die. God remonstrates, 

"Doest thou well to be angry because of 

the gourd?" Or, as Dr. Eobert Young 

renders, "Is doing good displeasing to 

thee because of the gourd?" "It is displeasing 

unto rae," replies this unhappy, 

anti-mission Flebrew, "even unto deatb"; 

that is, "I Avotild rather die than have 

this shade removed from ray head; and 

as for these uncircuracised Ninevites, I 

would also rather die than tbat through 

ray co-operation a shield of grace should 

be thrown over thera." Then said the 

Lord, "Thou hast had pity on the gourd 

—erablera of thine own teraporal selfdefense—for 

the which thou hast not 

labored, neither raadest it grow; and 

should not I spare Nineveh, that great 

city, wherein are raore than sixscore thousand 

persons that cannot discern beiJween 

their rigbt hand and their left hand?" 

That is, "Thou wast 'exceeding glad' for 

the gourd whicb served thy bodily comfort 

for a day; but thou wast angered because 

I caused to grow a real 'palm of 

Christ,' a gourd of eternal, divine grace, 

over a great city like Nineveb." "Unlike 

you in your Jewish exclusivisra, I have 

corapassion on heathen, on children and 

even cattle, and I would die, as I purpose 

to do in the person of ily Son, rather than 

leave Nineveh graceless." 

The real lesson in this story is the contrast 

between Jonah's Jewish self-regard 

in resenting the loss to bis own corafort, 

and Jehovah's mercy for humanity at 

large, at measureless cost to Himself. The 

gourd was a raere growth of a night, covering 

one selfish head; the canopy of grace 

for Nineveh sprang eternal frora the heart 

of God, and in principle covered the spiritual 

need of the whole world. At the 

root of this grace, the worm of envy was 

gnawing; it cared naught for the heathen, 

and would rather die than relent. Since 

God in Christ has potentially reconciled 

all unto Himself, no one needs to petition 

Hira to show raercy to the heathen; there 

is need rather that God should pray us to 

have pity on our feUows, without which 

pity even divine raercy cannot reach its 

intended realization. Huraan selfishness 

alone prevents the salvation of the heathen. 

—H. C. Mabie, D.D. 

A quiet hour spent with God at the begirning of the day is the best beginning for 

the toils and cares of active business. A brief session of prayer, loolcing above for the 

Avisdora and grace and strength of the Hoi/ Spirit, helps us to carry our religion into 

the business of the day. It brings joy and peace within the heart, and as we place all 

our concerns in the care and keeping of the Lord, faithfully striving to do His will, 

we have a joyful trust that, hoAvever dark or discouraging events raay appear, our 

Father's hand is guiding everything, and wiU give the Avisest direction to all our toils. 

—Philadelphia Methodist. 

''1 would rather wear out than rust out," said Henry Martyn, of India.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

The following contributions to this fund indicate that an interest in the Mission 

to China is not confined to one locality, and that raen,woraen and children are a unit 

in their desire to tbank God for tbe work that He accoraplished through tbe two consecrated 

laborers who have passed on to their reward: 

Contributor. 

Amount. Mission Field. 

Miss. Pearl Eodgers, JaraestoAvn, Pa $2.00 China 

E. W. Gilchristi Superior, Neb 20.00 China and Syria 

A Friend, Hetherton, Micb. 

.00 Cyprus 

J. E. S. Hawthorne and'family. College Springs, la. 7.50 Latakia, Cyprus & China 

Eev. Jaraes McCune, Eskridge, Kan 15.00 China and Syria 

Mrs. M. M. Dunlap, Hopkinton, la 5.00 Girls' School, Latakia 

Mj. & Mrs. G. E. Duquid, Cedar Lake, Ind 8.20 China 

There is a very touching story connected with tbis last-named offering. "It was," 

Avrites Rev. C. McLeod Smith, "the priv ate store of a little one of Cedar Lake Congregation, 

wbom God took on the 20th of last March. Edward Clair was the son of 

Mr. and .Mrs. Gamer Russell Duquid, the second of three children, and was six years 

add one montb old at tbe time of bis death. In loving reraembrance of tbis precious 

life, and in gratitude to tbe Giver Who entrusted hira to tbeir care for raoretban six 

3'ears, the parents and grandparents dedicate his savings to the service of saving those 

without a knowledge of Him AVho said, 'Suffer little children to come unto Me, and 

forbid thera not; for of such is the Kingdora of God.' It is tbe purpose of the bereaved 

to remember tbeir loved one by an annual missionary offering on his birthday." 

Two little cbildren of Second New York 1.00 China 

Wm. 0^ Eraser, Kauneonga, N. Y 5.00 Cbina 

Janette Fraser, Kauneonga, N. Y. 5.00 China 

A little girl of Seeond New York 50 

Mrs. Ann Richards, Hebron, Ind 25.00 

James A. Templeton and wife, Belle Center, 0 50.00 

Mrs. E. M. Morton, Cambridge, Mass 5.00 

Cyprus 

China 

China and Syria 

Cbina


Mrs. R. Speer, New Castie, Pa.. $2.00 

Mrs. D. W. MarshaU, Bridgeport, Conn 2.00 

P. 0. J., Seattle, Wash 500.00 

Mr. J. W. Pritchard on account sale of 

Dr. Maude George's picture 3.0§ 

A Covenanter faraily. Second PhUadelphia .50.O'O 

Mr. and Mrs. Thos. E. Greacen, New York 100.00 

Mrs. E. P. Smith, Staunton, 111 5.50 

China 

China 

EquaUy among China, 

Syrian, Southern, 

Jewish and Testimony 

Bearing 

China 

China and Syria $20 

each. Indian and 

Southern $5 each. 

China 

China 

Arthur R. Dray, D.D.S.,. raissionaryelect 

to Asia Minor, has successfully 

passed his final raedicalexaminatinns and 

received his diplnma. He will enter upon 

service in the fieldafter an experience of 

seven years at the il^dico-Chirurgical 

College and Hospital in PhUadelphia, Pa. 

* 

At the -request of the Cnrresjionding 

Secretary of the Poreign Mission Board, 

Ave publish the statistics of the Levant 

ilissions for the year ended March 31, 

1905: 

4 ordained American ministers— 

1 in Latalcia, Syria, 

1 ill Suadia, Syria, 

1 in Asia ilinor, and 

1 in Cyprus. 

3 medical missionaries— 

1 in Syria, and 

1 in Cyprus. 

4 American AA'omen, nnt including Avives— 

3 in Latakia, Syria, 

1 in Suadia, Syria, and 

1 in ilersina, Asia ilinnr. 

3 ordained native ministers— 

1 in Nicosia, Cyprus, and 

1 in Larnaca, Cyprus. 

3 cnlpnrteurs in Cyprus. 

5 native licentiates— 


* Died Feb. 7, lyO.'i 

1 in Suadia, Syria,* 

1 in Tarsus, Asia Minnr,t and 

1 in Cyprus. 

C Evangelists nr Bible Eeaders— 

3 in Syria, and 

3 in Asia Minnr. 

3 Bible AAôraen— 

1 in Suadia, Syria, and 

3 in Asia Minnr. 

30 native teachers— 


3 in Suadia, Syria, 

8 in Asia ilinor, and 

4 ill Ciyprtts. 

3 organized congregations in Syria— 

1 at Latakia, and 

1 at Jendairia. 

340 native coraraunicants— 

315 in Latakia Center, Syria; 15 

added during the year; * 

36 in Suadia, Syria; 

71 in Asia Minor; 3 added during 

the year; and 

28 in Cyprus; 19 added during 

the 3-ear. 

791 children and young people under 

religious instruction—- 

335 in Latalcia Center, Syria; 

52 in Suadia, Syria, 

376 in Asia Minor, and 

28 in Cyprus. 

f license revoked April 13, 1905.

O L I V K T R K E S 



No. AUGUST, 1905. 


THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF 

CHRIST. 

REY. G. av. BENN, STAUNTON, ILL. 

Eomans i, 16: "I am not ashamed of 

the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power 

of God unto salvation to every one tbat 

believeth." This verse is the therae of the 

Epistle of Eaul to tbe Eoraans. The 

Epistle to tbe Roraans is generally esteemed 

to be the most important of the 

writings of Paul; and it holds a very 

high place araong all the books inspired 

of God. We see at a glance, then, how 

significant this verse is. It may be said 

to be the central point around which Paul 

constructs the grand scheme of his whole 

teaching. For it contains bis definition of 

the gospel—its natui:e, scope and power. 

And it shows us tbe spirit by which Paul 

was actuated as a minister of Jesus Christ, 

and through whicb be was made such an 

erainent servant of the King. It was 

called fortb by tbe thougbt of bis approaching 

visit to Eorae. It was natural, 

as the prospect of visiting tbat great city 

presented itself to his mind, that there 

should arise before hira certain great considerations. 

Eorae was then in the zenith of ber 

power as the mistress of the world. Her 

soUtary grandeur was indeed imposing. 

She was the imperial city, the magnificent 

capital of the greatest empire the world 

had ever seen. AVithin her gates was most 

of tbe world's wealth, power and culture. 

To ber flowed the vast tides of the world's 

coraraerce. From her went forth her 

deputies to rule the world's kingdoms. 

Fier power seemed limitless; ber glory to 

be without end. But more than this, she 

was the center of the world's wickedness, 

the stronghold of idolatry and of crime. 

She had already entered upon tbat career 

of iniquity that was ultiraately to be her 

ruin. Crirae and vice were rampant on 

every side. A Nero and Caligula on tbe 

throne, licentiousness and imraorality 

araong the people, tbe horae destroyed, tbe 

faraily broken, religion a raockery and a 

narae. 

Such was the condition of affairs which 

confronted tbe great apostle. It was his 

purpose to visit that renowned city. It 

was his bope to proclaira tbere, witbin 

those sinful walls, a gospel frora tbe living 

God, a gospel whicb should overcorae 

that mighty power, whicb should drive 

out that awful sin, and wbich should give, 

instead of that terrible darkness, tbe ligbt 

of tbe glory of God. And be did not 

blanch or quail as he undertook tbat tremendous 

task. There never was a courage 

raore bold and audacious, and yet at the 

same tirae raore calm and reasonable than 

his. There is no thought of turning 

back or of wavering with hira, but instead 

be writes in words siraple but grand, 

"So as raucb as in rae is, I am ready to 

preach the gospel to you that are at Eome


also. For I am not asharaed of tbe gospel 

of Christ, for it is the power of God 

unto salvation to every one that believeth." 

And in this grand stateraent of his faith, 

he has given us by the inspiration of God 

a statement which applies to all Christians 

and to all times. For the reasons 

why Paul was not ashamed of his Master 

are the reasons which should inffuence all 

the followers of the Lord Jesus tUl the 

end of time. 

Let us consider, therefore, for our practical 

benefit and growth in grace the Reasons 

why we should not be ashamed of 

the gospel of Christ. 

First, we observe that we should not be 

asharaed of the gospel because It is Divine 

Power—"the power of God." Eome 

worshipped power. It was to her the 

chief thing to be desired in life. She 

sought power for herself above all else, 

and she respected power, and only power, 

in others. It was that which commended 

a thing to her more than any other consideration. 

Paul, therefore, Avith his usual 

wisdora and his usual sagacity, in writing 

to a place that Avas so powerful in itself, 

and that above all things sought poAver, 

placed firstof all this point, that he was 

not ashamed of the gospel because it was 

powerful. Yea, not only is it powerful, 

but it is itself the power of God. He is 

not content to apply an adjective to it, 

no matter how strong, but he says ii is 

power. 

From whence, you may aslc, did the 

Apostle derive his lofty assurance of the 

power of the gospel of Christ? What 

was there to raake hira think that it coukl 

overcorae the power of Eome ? 

For answer we need only go back in his 

own past experience, to that wondrous 

scene on the road to Damascus, when he, 

"breathing out threatenings and slaughter" 

against the disciples of Christ, was suddenly 

blinded by "the light from heaven. 

whicb shone round about him, and was 

raade to trerable in his astonishraent before 

the power of tbe Lord." And we 

need only reraeraber bow, when that sarae 

power was coraraunicated to hira, he becarae 

the great Apostle and one of the 

- great founders of the Church, and went 

from place to place doing a raighty work 

and raany raighty deeds in the service of 

his King. And we need only reraeraber, 

too, the Avondrous transforraation in the 

lives of others he had seen accomplished 

through this same power of the Cross; 

lioAv that in Antioch and Corinth and 

Ephesus, and all the great centers of the 

East the truth had prevailed, and many 

had been brought from the darkness of 

sin into the glorious liberty of the children 

of God. 

But we raust go back even further than 

all this. There was one otber thing which 

raore than all things else gave to Paul his 

perception of the power of the gospel. It 

was the fact that it is, as he states it, the 

power of God—not of raen or of nations, 

but of the Creator and Governor of raen 

and of nations, of Hira who is Lord of all. 

Its power is not huraan, but Divine. 

And, having this fact in raind, we see 

at once the reason of the undaunted courage 

of Paul. AA''e perceive why be was not 

asharaed to preach the gospel at Eorae or 

anywhere upon earth, and we realize how 

he foresaw that his gospel would prevail 

over all the might of men and of nations, 

and would ultimately rule the world. For 

he knew by his own past experience, that 

the power wbich should accomplish these 

raighty works was not that of Paul the 

prisoner, but that of the Lord of Hosts. 

And he realized that the cause is His "to 

AA^honi all power belongeth'in Heaven 

and in earth," and AVho " is the strength 

and power of those who trust in Him." 

And, so, having tbis blessed assurance, he 

was strong in the Lord and in the power

of His might. And we know that tbe 

calm courage of tbe great Apostle was not 

misplaced. The gospel which be proclaimed 

was power. It did overcome the 

poAver of Eome. AVithin three centuries, 

upon the very throne from Avhich the 

bloodthirsty Nero persecuted unto death 

the followers of the Lord Jesus, there sat 

a Christian Eraperor, bowing in allegiance 

before the power of the Cross. And in 

that very Rorae to-day tbe bloody Nero 

is but a despised raemory; the martyred 

Apostle is knoAvn of all raen. 

Tbere is notbing in history more raajestic 

than the march of Christianity from 

the place of its origin across tbe nations 

and doAvn the centuries to a world-wide 

dorainion. It Avas at first confined to 

Palestine, but it did not stay there, and 

it was not meant to stay there. It possessed 

itself first of tbe Roman Avorld 

around it. Tben it raet and won the 

rising nations of raedifeval Europe, and 

filled the continent witb its light. Then 

it passed to the New World, to found bere 

one of its greatest strongholds. And today 

Christian Araerica and Christian 

Europe join bands in tbe purpose to carry 

the gospel to every continent and nation 

and island of the earth. 

And to what does this marvelous history, 

this wonderful spread of the gospel, 

bear testimony but to tbe glorious fact 

tbat it is tbe power of God. Only that 

whicb is from above could work so mightily 

on earth. And surely we should not be 

asbamed of the gospel that is so raanifestiy 

the power of God. 

In the second place we observe that we 

should not be asharaed of the gospel because 

It is Saving Power—"the power 

of God unto salvation." 

We bave seen that Paul was not 

ashamed of tbe gospel because of its 

power. And tbat he glorifled it flrstof 

all because it is Divine power—the power 

Questions of the Hour, 175 

of the living God. This second reason 

why he was not ashamed of the gospel we 

Avill find to be connected Avith the end or 

purpose for which God gave that poAver— 

the salvation of men. It is saving poAver. 

And when Ave have said that, we corae at 

once to that Avhich is the great heart or 

center of the gospel raessage,that which is 

at the same tirae its distinguished characteristic, 

and its chief glory—that it is 

to save men. This, above all else, is that 

Avhich distinguishes it from all other re 

Ugious and marks it as truly Divine. 

Its chief end is salvation, and its great 

purpose to rescue raen frora their sins 

and to grant unto thera everlasting life. 

The gospel of Christ does not vieAv 

man raerely as a subject to be instructed, 

or as a seeker after truth to be enlightened, 

but it does regard hira as a slave of 

sin, frora whora the shackles raust be 

stricken and the chains torn away. Mankind 

is, as it were, at the bottom of an 

abyss. The gospel of Christ is the poAver 

from above wbich raises it out of the 

depths to Avliich it has fallen and places it 

upon the eternal shore. It is the raighty 

arm of God rescuing the world frora perdition, 

and giving to it the hope of glory. 

Or, to put it in another Avay, it is the 

golden chain which God lets down to 

earth to draw raen up to heaven. 

That was tbe raessage which he was 

ready to preach at Rorae or anywhere 

upon earth. And that was why he was 

not asharaed. For need any one be 

asharaed to be the instruraent of such a 

force as this? Rather, like Paul, he 

should glory in the Cross of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, and rejoice that grace is 

given to preach araong men the unsearchable 

riches of Christ. 

This gospel that Paul preached was a 

message tbat was especially needed at 

Rorae. 

world. 

It was needed in all tbe pagan 

For centuries raen bad been ex-


erting all the powers of intellect, and 

exhausting all the resources of philosophy 

in order to solve the mystery of life—to 

tell whence raan had corae, and whither 

he was going, and what should be his 

chief end while traveling through this 

earthly vale. But in vain. The speculations 

of raen were powerless to give either 

happiness or the life or hope for the life 

that is to corae. And it was a raessage 

that was needed eA'en by God's chosen 

people. For they had been striving to 

find life eternal in works of their own, 

and in perfect obedience to the deeds of 

tbe law. Paul hiraself once had been raost 

zealous to reach that desired goal. But 

then there bad corae to hira the wondrous 

vision, and he had learned by a revelation 

from the Most High God that the hope of 

man lies not in hiraself or in any work 

that he can do, but in Jesus Christ, the 

Saviour, and in the coraplete salvation that 

He has wrought for sinful men. And 

having experienced this truth for himself, 

he Avas eager to tell it to others, and to 

proclaim to all the fact "that there is 

now no condemnation to thera which are 

in Christ Jesus," but that to all those 

who trust in Him, He Avill give grace and 

glory. And so, instead of being ashamed 

of the gospel, it was that in which he took 

tbe greatest pride. For was it not the 

Evangel, the glad tidings of good things, 

of salvation through a Divine Eedeeraer, 

who Hiraself bore our sins in His own 

body on the tree ? And through Hira, was 

he not able to proraise unto all believers, 

the bighest attainraent of blessedness and 

of happiness in this life, and full store of 

joys and everlasting pleasures in the life 

that is to corae? Is it any wonder that 

Paul called it "the glorious gospel of the 

blessed God" ? 

And let us remember that this great 

fact about the gospel of which Paul was 

not ashamed is still its chief glory to-day 

—that it is the power of God unto salvation. 

It has lost none of its wondrous 

potency during all these years. It still 

has power to save raen frora their sins; to 

cleanse thera frnm the guilt of sin, and 

to rescue them frora the power of sin. 

And it still has power to transforra the 

lives of men, to change lives of impurity 

arid evil into lives of holiness and virtue, 

to make those who follow the Master raore 

and raore like Hira, "until they appear 

with Hira in glory." And thanks be to God, 

that wondrous power is being exercised 

araong men to-day. On every band are 

being perforraed in huraan hearts rairacles 

of grace that far transcend the power 

of raan, and that cause the angels in 

heaven to shout for joy. By the grace of 

God, Christ, the hope of glory, is being 

forraed in raany a soul. 

The revelation of God in Jesus Christ 

is the greatest power that ever infiuenced 

the race of raen. Above all other influences, 

it controls the buman heart, fills 

it with faith, inspires it with bope, and 

ennobles it with love. The history of the 

past is made luminous by the raeraorials 

of Avhat has been done in the souls of raen 

by the power of the gospel of Christ. The 

record of the present is brightened by the 

Avorkings of that sarae power in the lives 

of men and of nations. And the prospect 

of the future is made glorious by the 

knowledge that through this wondrous 

power all the ends of the earth shall see 

the salvation of our God. And surely we 

should not be asharaed of a gospel so 

grand and glorious as this. 

In tbe third place we observe that we 

should not be ashamed of the gospel, because 

It is free and impartial Power, 

"The power of God unto salvation, to 

every one that believeth—to the Jew first 

and also to the Greek." It is one of the 

chief glories of tbe gospel dispensation 

tbat it broke down tbe barriers between


all races and classes of raen, that in it own soul unto the keeping of Hira who 

"there is neither Greek nor Jew, circuracision 

is the great Shepherd and Bishop of 

nor uncircumcision. Barbarian, souls. And then we know "that whoso 

Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all ever believeth on Hira shall not perish, 

in all." The old wall of partition between 

but have everlasting life," and that "who 

Jew and Gentile was removed, and soever will, raay take of the water of life 

instead of it tbere was given the sublirae freely." And surely we should not be 

conception of the unity of mankind, a 

race unified and glorified through Christ 

asharaed of a gnspel so full and free as 

this. 

Jesus. The brotherhood of man and the Now Ave have examined, one by one, the 

fatherhood of God is a conception whicb reasons wbich Paul himself bere gives 

owes its origin to tbe Christian religion, 

and wbich will be truly consuraraated only 

why we should not be asharaed of the 

gospel: 

wben Christ shall be acknowledged as Because it is Divine Power—"the power 

Lord of all. 

of God." 

The power of the gospel of Christ extends 

to all classes of- raen upon tbe face 

of the earth—to all tiraes, to all ages and 

Because it is saving Power—"unto salvation." 

Because it is free and impartial—"to 

all circurastances. It is not liraited by every one that beUeveth." 

race npr clirae. Eich and poor, old and 

young, learned and unlearned, all corae 

And let us not forget that the gospel.is 

poAver to-day, that it is still the power 

within its sway. It saves tbe raillionaire of God, and that by its power it is dominating 

in his palace, the drunkard in tbe gutter, 

the'lives of raen and of nations, 

the prisoner in his dungeon, the prince and shaping tbe course of the world. A 

upon his throne. There is no soul, and feAV years ago one of the world's leading 

no people to whom Christ does not bring statesraen, the Prirae Minister of Great 

an infinite blessing. We bear no otber Britain, said that the nations of the earth 

voice in all tbe tide of time saying, "Corae 

unto Me, all ye tbat labor and are heavy 

laden, and I will give you rest." But for 

Avere coraposed of two great classes, the 

living nations and the dying nations— 

those sinlcing into decay, and those raanifesting 

nineteen centuries countless souls of-every 

a growing power. And that is 

narae and clirae have brougbt their burdens 

true. But he should have added that the 

and their sins to Jesus Christ, and 

bave found rest for their souls. And today 

the weary and sorrowful in every 

land are coraing to His feet and finding 

living nations are the Christian nations, 

those wbicb raost nearly accept the teachings 

of Christ. And be raight have added 

that these are now the foremost nations 

rest and peace. God doth raake effectual of the globe, and are destined to be the 

to all tbose who believe upon His Son rulers of the world. For we know, not 

the power of the gospel of Christ. 

But there is one condition—the great 

only by the history of the past, but also 

by the glorious promise of tbe Word of 

condition—faith. He to whora the gospel 

God that this mighty power of tbe gospel 

will become the power of God unto 

salvation must believe upon the Saviour 

will grow and extend still further and 

further over both raen and nations till in 

of the world. He raust receive the Lord the wonder-working providence of our 

Jesus Christ by faith, and rest upon Him God "all the earth shall bow doAm before 

alone for salvation. He must give his the power of the Lord," and He "who is


worthy to receive all glory and honor and 

power," shall take unto Hiraself His great 

power and reign. And surely we should 

not be asharaed of a gospel that is so 

raanifestiy the power of God. 

These words, of course, apply firstof all 

to the rainisters of Jesus Christ, those 

whom He has sent forth to be His messengers. 

And the lesson for thera is as 

plain as it is iraportant: that in preaching 

this gospel, "to which they have been 

called by an holy calling," they are not to 

be asharaed of the testiraony of our Lord, 

but are to proclaira it with all boldness, 

whether raen will hear or forbear. Doubtless 

tbey will often be cnnfrnnted by the 

raight of power. Many tiraes they will be 

cast down by the wickedness of sin; but, 

whether speaking to the hurablest believer 

or preaching the Word to kings, in all 

circurastances, like Faul, they are not ':o 

be asharaed of the gospel, but to reraember 

that it is the power of God unto salvation 

to every one that believeth. 

But this text has also a very important 

meaning for all the people of God. It 

bears vitally upnn their daily walk andi 

conversation. There is oftentimes a greats 

tendency to be ashamed of the gospel of 

Christ. It may not be manifested openly 

nr in words; rather, it raay be indicated 

by the very absence of sucb an open profession. 

But great dishonor is often done 

to our Lord by the want of courage on the 

part of His professed followers. Tbere is 

need of the spirit of Paul. Let us reraeraber 

the exaraple of that devoted servant 

of Cbrist. It was raanifested not 

only in writing to Eorae, but it was displayed 

there in abundant measure—yes, 

even when in prison and chains. 

Let us put alongside of this grand 

declaration which we have in tbe words of 

our text, that other noble statement which 

he made when a prisoner at Eome, and 

drawing near to the end of his days: 

"Nevertheless, I am not ashamed," he 

says, "for I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded that He is able to keep 

that which I coraraitted unto him against 

that day." And let us remember tbat 

when that day shall come, there is laid 

up not only for Faul, but for all who 

bave not been asharaed of the gospel, a 

crown which fadeth not away. 

The Bureau of Missions Bulletin for June has this to say about raissionarydeficits: 

The Church .ilissionary Society, with an income (1904-1905) of $1,643,582, reports 

a deficit of $330,039. The London Missionary Society reports an income of 

$864,835, and a deficit of $139,843. Th Beriin Missionary Society is nearly $125,- 

000 in debt. The Presbyterian Board (North) spent about $4,000 raore than it received. 

The Paris Missionary Society is about $30,000 in arrears. These deficits 

arise not so rauch frnra falling off in interest in the raissionaryenterprise as frora tbe 

treraendous pressure upon missionary societies caused by their success in getting a 

hearing. It is easy to say, as to a man wh lives beyond his incorae: "Cut down your 

scale of expense." But pagan peoples are deraanding teachers. How can one say to 

thera, "Fry in your own fat; we have to attend to our balance sheet!" As the Secretary 

of the Paris Missionary Society says "ilisgion raeans a sending. AVhat becomes 

of the Missionary Society which ceases to send ?" The fact is that we have occasion 

to meditate upon the truth that Christians belong to a growing body. The Kingdom 

is being established, and Christians cannot escape responsibility to God for meeting 

the expense of it. This is the Christian's burden. To bear this burden is a duty 

springing from profession to follow Jesus Christ.


N E W S OF THE CHURCHES. 

ABRO/\D. 

Latakia, Syria.—The following letter 

of June 13, from Eev. Jas. S. Stewart, 

gives a very encouraging story of the work 

in this field: 

We take pleasure in giving the readers 

of Olive Trees an account of some recent 

events in our field. First of all, our 

annual coramunion at Tartous. The 

writer set out for that station May 17, in 

company with Farah, our teacher at 

Gunaimia. We slept the firstnight at the 

Khan at Banias, and the next afternoon 

arrived at Tartous. We found tbe families 

of teachers Yakob Juraidiny and 

Khalil Akkari and Brother Yakob Tamy 

well and prospering. The writer preached 

each evening and twice on the Sabbath. 

The teacher frora Melkah arrived with his 

faraily on Saturday. The raeetings were 

well attended. There was a very full 

Sabbath school, and the lesson, Jesus before 

Pilate, a very good preparation for 

the soleran services that followed. Tbere 

were in all thirteen native coraraunicants, 

and we had a very refreshing season of 

coraraunion witb the Lord and with one 

another. There was present a converted 

Maronite frora a neighboring village, who 

had joined the U. P. Church in Egypt a 

few years ago. If he decides not to return 

to Egypt we expect him to unite witb us. 

His name, by the way, is Joseph. 

We exarained the various classes of 

boys and girls in tbe day school, and were 

well pleased with their progress and interest. 

Tbe report for May shows an average 

attendance of 104, and 109 for the 

Sabbath scbool—tbe largest we bave ever 

had. 

On Tuesday we visited the village of 

MeUcab, and examined the boys and girls 

to the number of thirty-four in the N. T. 

and Psalras and catechisms, as well as 

the Priraer and various reading books. 

The teacher has at a good deal of expense 

and trouble bought a lot and erected a 

house of two rooras for a dweUing and a 

place of raeeting. He bas done this at 

his own expense, but the Mission has 

loaned hira a few dollars without interest. 

The ilission should own the building, so 

as to aA'oid trouble in the future, dt is 

rauch raore difficult to rent a house there 

than at Tartous. 

There is prospect of a nuraber of converts 

in the near future, ilay the Lord in 

His raercy visit thera I We had not been 

able to resist these out-stations for about a 

year past, and the brethren were very 

loth to let us corae away. One of them 

writes since, "Would that you could corae 

to us every three or four raonths, for we 

were very sorry at your departure, and 

felt that we had lost soraething of great 

iraportance to us." We reached horae 

May 25. The next Sabbath was our preparation 

day in Latakia. Eev. C. A. 

Dodds carae on to assist us, and did nobly. 

The brethren were all glad to see bim 

back again. The writer preached Wednesday 

evening, ilay 31, and led the weekly 

prayer raeeting on Thursday evening. 

Mr. Dodds preached on Friday, Saturday 

and Sabbath, and led the raeeting for 

prayer in the evening, while the writer 

preached in the afternoon of the Sabbath. 

There were about seventy native, 

coraraunicants. Only one new raeraber 

was adraitted, but there were a large nuraber 

of boys and girls present for exaraination, 

and we hope to receive them in due 

time. A number of the bretbren were


present frora Baharara and Jendairia. 

Licentiate Salira Saleh and his family 

have sailed for Araerica. Tbe evangelist 

and Bible reader Ishak Sheraa has. resigned, 

and expects to return to his old 

borae at Hums. He cannot stand the 

work any longer, and hopes to get benefit 

frora a cooler climate. His period of 

active labor seeras to be about over. May 

the Lord reward hira. 

The schools in Latakia are hard at 

work revicAving for exarainations, and preparing 

for Coraraenceraent day. They 

will be closed by the firstof July this year. 

After that we hope to visit the out-stations 

that reraain. We have beard nothing 

yet frora the raeeting of Synod, but 

it will not be long now, we hope. 

All are in good healtb at this writing. 

Special attention is called to what Mrs. 

Jas. S. Stewart, writing June 15, has to 

say about the reading roora in Latakia: 

I wish to acknowledge in Olive Trees 

these recently received suras for the boys' 

reading roora: $39.25 frora the students 

of Geneva College, per Jos. B. C. .Mackie, 

Chairraan; $35 frora the Y. L. M. S., 

Parnassus Congregation, per Miss L. 

Ethel Boyd, Treasurer; $5 frora Y. W. 

M. S., Slippery Eock Congregation, per 

Edith Young, Treasurer. 

I ara very thankful and grateful for 

these tiraely gifts. Our reading roora can 

begin to hold up its head once raore. It 

bad begun to look quite asharaed of itself. 

Eeading matter was quite scarce, and no 

new books for a long time. One hated to 

give up a good thing once started. It is 

so hard to start again. Now we shall have 

something new and fresh. 

We have over 300 books in the case. 

These were bought with raoney donated 

by ilrs. Hugh O'Neill and the Millers 

Eun Congregation, and the Second New 

York Y. P. S. C. B. SraaUer donations 

have been used for paper and raagazine 

subscriptions, wages of librarian and all 

other expenses. It is the only thing of the 

kind in this town of 20,000 inhabitants. 

You raay well ask. What is it araong so 

raany? It does not take a steady coraer 

long to devour all the books, so they soon 

raiss the fresb literature and cease to 

corae. Then they are found sitting in the 

Casino or sraaller coffee shops. We are 

powerless to fight tbese without puttiag 

something better in tbeir place. If it 

were in a more public place, it would be 

used far more than it is. As is it, a -certain 

class of young raen and old men frequent 

it regularly. 

I am very thankful for even tbe smallest 

donations. I think the reading room a 

good thing in its place, and just the right 

thing for our boys and teacbers. 

We bave all the comraentaries that are 

in Arabic print, and they are in constant 

use by our teachers and larger boys. I 

learned the other day that the teachers 

frora the Russian school 'were coraing and 

reading thera when they had to explain a 

portion of Scripture at their raorning 

praj'ers. Last week one of their teachers 

wanted to take a coramentary home with 

him, but the librarian objected and carae 

up to ask rae about it. I asked why he 

could not sit in the roora and read. He 

said he wanted it for his sister, who had 

to explain the text at the girls' school the 

next raorning. AAlien he could not get the 

book to take away, he sat down and copied 

what he wanted on the chapter. 

We bave to be very careful about giving 

out boolcs, as they often never corae back, 

and we would soon have no books. 

Arabic boolcs, especially coraraentaries, 

are very expensive. There are large 

Bibles on the table, and those who drop 

in Sabbath day do not find anything else 

to read. Thanking you again for keeping 

up the good work, and asking your prayer

that it may be blessed to many, I remain 

yours sincerely, 

M. E. Stewart. 


him ten pounds down to secure the bargain. 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—The following 

But shortly after be sent rae word 

statement from this field, under date of to Mersina that tbe Governraent had forbidden 

June 20, is full of information tbat 

hira to let us have his house, and 

should at once encourage and call fortb 

the prayers of the Church: 

bad notified hira to refund us the raoney 

that had been paid hira, as be could not 

I have not visited either Tarsus or by any raeans be perraitted to rent to us. 

Adana since coming frora Araerica, and So I wrote to Hanna Bessraa, asking him 

I can therefore only report what I hear to receive the raoney as ray agent. Tbe 

from others. Mr. Dodds is in Guzne at 

present, but he very kindly sends me an 

account of bis last visit to Adana, wbich 

I will give in his own Avords: 

"On June 2 I went to Adana and saw 

the Bible reader Hanna Bessraa, and our 

Brother Butrus Sirtulc, who is a tailor. 

AU tbe otber brethren were out of town, 

.working in tbe villages. I saw the faraily 

•of Hanna Bessraa and il. Ibrahira's 

raother, as Avell as quite a nuraber of 

friends—Fellahin—and others who are 

not raerabers of our Cburch. Every one 

spoke well of Hanna and his worlc, and 

said that the attendance at the religious 

raeetings bad been very good, but that it 

would fall off at this season of the year, 

when all tbe people leave Adana to work 

in tbe villages. Hanna gave rae sorae interesting 

accounts of sorae of his conversations 

with inquirers. He presented rae 

with two pounds—which is raore than 

his month's wages—to be used in tbe 

worlc. He told me that he Avas thinking 

of buying himself a. donkey and visiting 

the brethren in the different places of 

work through the suraraer. By tbis 

means he hoped to be able to reach not 

only thera, but their corapanions. I bad 

engaged a house in Adana sorae two 

months before, which had seemed to me 

particularly well located for our work. 

The OAvner is a wealthy Fellah, wbo was 

very well disposed toward us, and very 

much pleased to let us have his house at 

a much lower rent tban he had refused 

from other would-be renters. I had paid 

-Fellah returned the raoney with profuse 

apologies, saying that be was thorougbly 

ashamed of baving to break his bargain, 

and that he hoped I would excuse him, 

as it was against his OAvn will, and trusted 

that by the time tbe fall season for renting 

carae round he raight still be able to let 

us have bis house. Naturally I was somewhat 

perplexed at what bad occurred, and 

wondered how the Government had so 

soon obtained all the particulars of our 

transaction. But during the above-raentioned 

visit to Adana, Hanna inforraed 

rae that he had found out the explanation 

of the business. The neighborhood in 

which the house is located is largely 

Catholic, and sorae of these Catholics went 

to the owner of the house, and asked him 

not to let it to us, as the transaction 

would be very injurious to thera. But 

the owner told thera tbat our work was of 

such a character that it could not be other 

than beneficial to thera, and every one 

else, and he was raucb pleased that we had 

taken the house, and would on no consideration 

go back on his bargain. Failing 

in this atterapt, the next step of the Catholics 

was to inforra the Assistant Gnvernor, 

who is also a Catholic, and to explain 

to hira how great an injury it Avould 

be to their sect if w'e possessed that house. 

The Assistant Governor accordingly inforraed 

the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 

and convinced hira that his duty


as a public official was to prevent us from 

opening a work in tbat neighborhood. 

"AVhile I was in Adana I hired a carriage, 

and in company with Hanna, went 

to inspect the work of Suleiraan and 

Zahra, our Bible readers in the Auba. 

All that I heard and saw tbere was of a 

gratifying nature. I riiake special mention 

of the fact that, althougb my visit 

was unannounced and unexpected, I found 

Zahra as clean and tidy as tbe most fastidious 

taste could wisb. I learned tbat 

in addition to her opportunities for reading 

to the woraen, she is also sometimes 

able to get some boys togetber to hear 

Bible stories. 

"Before I went out to the Auba, while I 

was visiting Butrus Sirtuk in his sbop in 

Adana, be told rae that he had frequent 

visits frora Suleiraan, and thought very 

highly of hira. His conversation and bis 

manner, he said, were such as to inspire 

confidence in bis sincerity." 

Either Mr. Dodds or M. Makhiel Luttoof 

went weekly to Tarsus with but few 

exceptions all winter until last week. Although 

there was much to discourage in 

connection with the Avork in that city, 

many who never attended our services before 

began to corae, and the audiences 

were in no wise dirainished by tbe defection 

of forraer merabers. 

The school was well attended, a number 

of the pupils being Fellahin. Mr. Dodds 

was always pleased with the work done by 

those in charge. One of the teachers from 

tbe Mersina boys' school has gone there 

for the suraraer and will bave charge of 

the services. 

ilr. Luttoof will take his faraily to Tarsus 

in the fall. Mr. Dodds needs his help 

in Guzne, where they now are for the 

summer. 

Almost every letter frora Mersina tells 

soniething of the work here, so I need 

hardly go into a detailed account of it. 

After this week, tbere will be but one 

teacber to bave charge of the Sabbath 

and Wednesday services, and very few 

other Cburcb members to assist.. A man 

wbose little girl bas been in school here 

for three years, and wbo united with the 

Cburch at the last communion, conducted 

the prayer meeting last Wednesday and 

made sorae commendable reraarks. He is 

a man who can read and has a fair araount 

of intelligence, witb a desire to improve. 

He bas a grocery shop and seems to live 

right. His wife attends regularly, and 

we hope tbat she, too, may be persuaded 

to join witb ber husband. She is learning 

to read. 

The Bible woman seems to be doing 

good work. She used to be a teacher in 

the schools, but has been married for many 

years, and only recently bas she been able 

to leave her family to do tbis sort of work. 

She is very good at the sort of needlework 

the Fellahin like, and in some places 

she collects a number of girls, and while 

teaching them to work, sbe tells them 

Bible stories. 

To say that tbe schools have been examined 

and closed gives no idea of the 

labor connected therewith. 

The examinations begin at 9 o'clock, at 

the close of the usual half bour of devotional 

exercises, continuing, witb the 

exception of a fifteen-minuterecess, until 

noon. Then again from 1:30 to 5:30, 

broken only by the sbort intermission. 

After having listened to these exarainations 

for two or three days, witb raore or 

less syrapathy, anxiety and in sorae cases 

with vexation, one grows weary; but after 

six or seven days of it, we begin to think 

that perhaps M'e are even nervous. 

The systeraatic dividing up of the 

sraaller pupils into graded classes, assigned 

to the older ones for special instruction 

in Bible stories and obliging 

thera to reproduce the sarae, bas resulted

in an increased ability to impart, Avitb intelligence, 

wbat they know. 

Botb instructors and instructed are 

benefited in a special way. The evidence 

of Bible knowledge, among both day 

pupils and boarders did much to offset any 

annoyance felt witb the lack in sorae otber 

studies. 

The stories connected with tbe Sabbath 

scbool lesspns are well known to even the 

smallest pupils. I heard a little Fellaha 

girl remark the day before she returned to 

her village, "I am going to tell these 

stories over and over and over again to tbe 

villagers until they enter their minds. 

They don't understand anything." I bope 

there will be several little missionaries at 

work this sumraer. Several girls are trying 

to teach sorae groAvn people to read. 

Examinations over, the thorough cleaning 

of the establishments follows, and 

then putting away of clotbes, bed-clothes, 

cooking utensils, books, etc., etc. 

My letter has groAvn to a great length, 

and I will only add that, altbougb there 

is not tbe spiritual life araong us tbat we 

very raucb desire, we are not discouraged. 

It is ours to sow tbe seed in faitb and in 

prayer, looking up and expecting an answer. 

Cyprus.—In a personal letter frora 

Eev. Walter McCarroU, dated June 15, he 

reports tbat his brother. Dr. Calvin ilc 

Carroll, "is ill witb typhoid fever, and is 

now in Nicosia hospital." "It is, how- 

CA'er," he writes, "a raild case, and if no 

complication sets in, he should be out in 

three or four Aveeks. He has the best care 

and attention." He also writes, "We expected 

to sumraer in Guzne, as Brother 

Dodds had very kindly offered us a bouse 

and furniture; but of course we cannot 

leave at the present tirae. Perhaps we 

may get away fnr a while in August. The 

healtb of my own family is excellent. 

News of the Churchea. 183 

Mrs. McCarroll being rauch stronger than 

in the winter." 

Tak Ring:, China. —A personal letter 

frora Dr. Kate McBurney to Mr. Henry 

O'Neill, Chairraan of tbe Foreign Board, 

dated May 3, contains an itera whicb 

Olive Trees has perraission to publish: 

Tbere is a village two days' journey 

frora here, called Cbe Chai. The oldest inhabitant 

is a woman over ninety years 

old. Sbe bas two sons, both over seventy 

years old. Tbese bave twelve children, 

raostly sons, several of whora are 

raarried, and sorae of them bave children 

old enough to be married. You will see 

tbere are adults of four generations living. 

The village is made up of these and their 

farailies. 

Several years ago one of the tbird generation 

went to Wu Cbau to get work. 

There be beard of the true God and believed, 

and by and by was received into 

tbe Cburcb. AVhen he went horae his people 

were greatly offended, and threatened 

to cast hira out. He was inoffensive, but 

iniproved every opportunity to talk to 

thera of "the doctrine," and prayed earnestly 

that God would turn thera frora tbeir 

idols to Himself. Some tirae later one of 

the fourth generation went to Lo Ting 

and was converted in the Mission there. 

Then tbe two prayed for the others. Over 

a year ago two of the third generation 

were working several railesfrora here, and 

began coraing to churcli on Sabbath. At 

the next Comraunion they confessed 

Christ and were received. At our Fall 

Coraraunion two of the third and one of 

the fourth generation were received. They 

Avere very anxious to have Mr. Eobb go 

out to their village and "talk the doctrine" 

to the others, and said that out of over 

forty persons only one stiU worshipped 

idols, and she Avas this old raother of 

thera aU. She Avas said to be in cora-


iriunication with devils, a sort of witch, 

and no doubt raade capital of it whenever 

she could. 

Mr. Eobb and Dr. Wright went out and 

were greatly pleased with the people and 

place. The reception they raet with was 

very different frora that of the heathen 

Chinese. The people were very anxious 

to hear the gospel, and gave the preacher 

an attentive hearing. He was there only 

one night, when they held a raeeting and 

had worship, and then Mr. Eobb talked to 

thera, explaining "the doctrine" and answering 

questions far into the night. One 

of the old raen said he would lilce to corae 

over and stay a few weeks to study and 

learn more. Mr. Eobb told him he would 

be very welcome. So he came and lodged 

with his sons, furnished his own food, attended 

worship raorning and evening, and 

finally applied for baptisra. 

When the old grandfather asked sorae of 

the women to go over and teach their 

women, as they too were very anxious to 

learn, we thought it irapossible to go; 

but after a while we decided to visit thera, 

and left Tak Hing Chau Monday evening 

in a boat. It is rauch further by boat 

than on font acrnss the ranuntains, but as 

we had tn take fnnd and bedding, it was 

easier to go by the river. AVe arrived at 

Lin Tan on AAêdnesday. It is nine railes 

frora there tn Che Chai. AVe called for two 

Sedan chairs for four woraen, and tonk 

turns Avalking and riding. • The men 

Avalked all the way. AA-'e Avere not so tired 

as we expected to be, and slept on the hard 

Chinese bed boards with considerable satisfaction. 

The village people were not 

looking for us till Thursday, as the boatmen 

could nnt prnmise tn reacii Lin Tan 

early ennugh on AVednesday to get out 

there before night. But our Avelcorae was 

nnt the less cordial. They were at their 

usual employments, but all came to see 

us. As AA'C were tbe first foreign women 

the woraen had seen, and only a few of the 

men had yet been at the Mission, we found 

ourselves objects of great interest. 

The daughter who was married and living 

nine railes away had corae horae on a 

visit. She is of tbe third generation, bright 

and attractive, and bas even leamed a few 

characters, and would be glad to leam to 

read. Jean and I are not able to do rauch 

"talking the doctrine" yet, but can teach 

the coraraandraents and other verses of 

Scripture, and can teach the woraen the 

characters we already know. So we let 

the others "talk the doctrine," and we did 

the easy things. AVhat was our surprise 

to find that the woraen and children were 

already soraewhat farailiar witb the coraraandraents, 

the Lord's Prayer, "Now I 

lay rae down to sleep," in Chinese, and 

had a fair idea of first principles. According 

to Chinese custora, it is not usual 

for raen to teach woraen, but the Christians 

had thrown custora to the winds, 

and had taught thera what they could. We 

Avere greatly pleased, ilr. Eobb led in 

Avorship, and Ave and the woraen went into 

the same apartment with the men, whicb 

Avould not pass rauster in Chinese circles, 

but again old custora was ignored. 

To our surprise, the old raother of the 

comraunity was not a wrinkled, withered, 

hard-visaged, unapproachable old witch, 

but a well-preserved dear old grandmother, 

that the whnle village nf her descendants 

evidently not only looked up to 

Avith respect, but loved her, and so did we 

as soon as Ave saw her, and we wished 

ranre than ever to see her, the last one of 

the A'illage, tum frora her idols and wor^ 

ship the true God. She Avas so nice to us 

that Ave could alraost forget that she was 

not an American, and even that she was an 

idolator. AAê are all fond nf nne nf her 

grandsons, Avho Avas received here raore 

than a year ago, as he gives proraise of 

being a very effective and consecrated


worker, wben be has had sorae training. 

He shows very plainly that he loves his 

relatives, and no doubt is a favorite of this 

grandraother. When he first went horae 

after he was baptized, she was so angry 

tbat she beat bim witb ber cane. All 

prayed for her, and gradually she would 

listen when they told ber about the true 

God. She is so .very dull of hearing that 

it is difficult to teach ber. Very old and 

never in ber life perbaps accustoraed to 

consider anything raore weighty than how 

to appease the devils wben they were displeased, 

it is uphill, work trj'ing to get ber 

to understand anything so radically different 

from ber former beliefs. When we 

were over, ilrs. AVright talked some to her. 

Tben Mr. Eobb was sitting in the yard 

talking to the men. She went out and 

tbat gave him a good opportunity of speaking 

to her, which be Avas not sIoav to erabrace. 

AVben he asked her if she had any 

sin, she promptly said, "No." He replied 

that all men were sinners, but she 

declared she had never sinned, and therefore 

heeded no Saviour. He said, "Grandmother, 

if you had a son and he would not 

acknowledge you as his mother, what 

would you think of hira ?" "He certainly 

would have sin," was ber ready reply. He 

then went on to tell her of tbe loving 

Heavenly Father's care over her all these 

long years, and- hoAV she did not acknowledge 

or thank Him for all His great blessings. 

She seemed to catch his raeaning 

very clearly. • Then Ah Sara sat down beside 

her and tried to teach her to pray. 

He firsttalked about it, and then tried to 

teach her the Lord's Prayer. He tried to 

have her repeat the first two clauses, but 

she insisted she could not. By and by one 

of her grandsons said, "Grandmother, it is 

because j'ou have allowed the devils to 

lock your raouth that you cannot say the 

prayer." Evidently she was given to 

witty retorts, and often gave answers that 

made us all laugh, in spite of ourselves, 

both Chinese and foreigners. But she bad 

no ansAver for this, and flnally all had the 

joy of hearing her repeat after Ah Sam, 

"Our Father, AVho art in heaven, hallowed 

be Thy name." That was a beginning, and 

Ave are told that sbe is gradually becoraing 

raore favorable and takes raore interest iri 

hearing about the true God. Then we 

know that every one who believes there is 

adding prayer to praj'er, and tbat every 

ncAv ons that believes is one raore in the 

circli? of her earthly intercessors, and we 

beUeve they Avill soon tell us they have no 

one in their village who worships idols and 

d CA'ils. 

One of the grandfathers of the second 

generation Avas received at our Spring 

Coraraunion last • Sabbath. He is a dear 

old-raan, so-quiet and earnest. We are 

glad Ave wenti and -ho-pe we can arrange to 

accept their very - cordial invitation to go 

New Hebrides.—In a personal letter 

written at Kew, Australia, Dr. John G. 

Paton, the heroic raissionary to the New 

Hebrides, inforras us of the death of his 

Avife on the 16th of May, after "nearly 

three raonths of severe suffering, borne 

Avith much patient resignation, having entrusted 

all in faith to the dear Lord, without 

any fear." His description of the 

closing scene is too pathetic to be paraded 

before the public. Ennugh to say that it 

Avas a peaceful falling asleep in Jesus. 

After referring brieffy to the irapressive 

funeral services, he continues: "On 

the raoming of the funeral we had a 

sorrowful cable from Norfolk Island, informing 

us of the death of our daugbterin-laAV, 

the Avife of our son Fred, the missionary 

at Aula nn Malekula, which increases 

cur grief; but she also was a devoted, 

earnest Christian, loving and 

serving Jesus."


Speaking, of tbe spiritual work of the have thought that Mrs. Paton, who was 

missions on tbe islands, be says, "I praise so active and full of churcb and raission 

tbe Lord that flve of our raissionaries, work, would have been taken away before 

who were away on furlough, have returned 

in iraproved bealth. Two are yet 

absent, and, I fear, are not likely to be 

able to return, for which I ara very sorry; 

but Jesus gives and takes away as He 

pleases. And yet He does all things well, 

though it is often heart-rending to us, 

especially in our bereaveraents, when our 

dearest are laid in the grave. AVho would 

me? But so God bas ordered it, and we 

hope soon to raeet again. To-raorrow 

(May 24) I enter on my eighty-second 

year, and will not be able to continue 

AA'ork long; but ITis will be done." 

The many friends-of Dr. Paton in this 

country will bear him on their bearts in 

prayerful synipathy at this hour of sorrow. 

AX 

HOIS/IE. 

Allegheny, Pa.—Central Board of Missions supplies the following iteras: 

On hand. Receipts. Expenditures. On band. 

Southern ilission $146^4-.54 $88.55 $535.83 $1017.26 

Chinese Mission 580.79 8.60 105.33 484.06 

ludianMission 825.51 354.75 260.83 919.43 

Jewish Mission '. 169.52 25.6.3 150.00 45.15 

Sustentation Mission 4227.68 91.09 4318.77 

Deficit. 

DeficU. 

Doraestic Mission 2773.12 81.25 2741.87 

Clerks of Presbyteries should reraeraber that quarterly distribution of Synod appropriations 

will be made by the Board at its next meeting on the tbird Wednesday of 

July. The raeetingwill be held in the Prick Building, in the office of the Trustees of 

Synod, 9:30 A. M. 

Miss McCartney bas been elected Assistant Superintendent of the Southern .Mission. 

All of the old teachers were re-elected except Miss Fleming, wbo decided to take a 

school nearer home, and so declined re-election. 


Morning Sun, la.—A tribute of love 

and respect from the Ladies' Missionary 

and Aid Society of Morning Sun, Iowa, to 

the raeraoryof Miss Etta McClure, who 

entered into rest April 28, 1905: WhUe 

our hearts are filledwith sorrow at the 

loss of a raerabergreatly beloved, we resolve 

to bow in subraission to the will of 

Hira Who doeth all things well. While 

ill-health and horae cares prevented her 

frora raeetingoften with us, we know her 

heart was in the Avork. AVe desire to bear 

testiraony to her Christian character, and 

to her willing service to the Master. Shall 

we not by her example be stimulated to 

follow our Lord raore closely, so that 

when we bear the raessage, "The Master 

calleth for thee" we shall be ready? We 

tender to the bereaved faraily and friends 

our loving sympathy. 

ilRS. Nellie Wilson, 

Mrs. W. j. Armstrong, 

Miss Martha Connor, 

Committee.


New York.—"An old man and full of 

years" has passed away. And tbese years, 

from-his earliest recollection, were spent 

in tbe service of God. Born at Newtonards 

in the Nortb of Ireland more than 

eighty-five years ago, Thompson O'Neill 

grew up under the Cbristian nurturing of 

a godly parentage, in tbe fear of tbe 

Lord. At an earh' age he made an open 

confession of faitb in Cbrist over the consecrated 

symbols of the Saviour's dying 

love, and from that hour his life was uniformly 

consistent with bis profession. He 

came to America in 1850, and after two or 

three years of residence in tbe western 

part of tbe State, he retumed to New 

York City, where be became identified, 

on certificate, witb tbe Second Eeformed 

Presbyterian Churcb, of wbich he was, 

from October, 1854, till the time of his 

death, a useful and honored raeraber. The 

esteem in wbicb be was held by the congregation 

was seen in bis election to the 

eldership in the spring of 1884; and in 

that responsible office he served faithfully 

and to tbe full measure of his ability, till 

notified at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of 

Monday, July 3, 1905, that his work on 

earth was done, and that the King deraanded 

his presence in heaven. 

During the closing days of his earthly 

life, Mr. O'Neill sat or lay a good deal 

of the tirae with bis eyes closed, as if to 

shut out everything that raight disturb 

his silent coraraunings witb tbe Saviour. 

Evidently bis raind was set on things 

above, as becarae one whose life was hid 

witb Cbrist in God. When I expressed 

tbe bope, on Friday aftemoon, tbat he 

raight have tbe presence of the Lord 

Jesus to the end, his answer was, "I bope 

so." And wben the physician asked bim 

on Sabbath evening how he felt, be replied, 

quietly at first, and then more forcibly, 

"No abiding place bere." How 

clearly this indicates where bis heart was. 

One very marked feature in the character 

of our brother was a love for the word 

and ordinances of God.- When in tbe city 

bis seat in the cburcb was never empty on 

the Sabbath, and be was always present 

at the hour for the opening of tbe service, 

devoutly waiting and prepared to worship 

God in the beauty of holiness, and this 

was true even after be had passed tbe 

four-score. The Bible was a loved companion. 

Tie not only consulted it in private 

and read it Avith bis family, but 

what be thus learned as to the will of God 

Avas so Avrought into the texture of his 

character by prayerful thinking during 

the busy day, that it swayed bis wbole 

life and put on it the starap of kingUness. 

It Avas this tbat gave him such positive 

convictions of the trutb. Although modestly 

reluctant to speak on any subject at 

public gatherings, if any one wished to hear 

hira talk, it was only necessary to bint 

tbat thc distinctive principles of tbe 

Covenanter Church were, raany of them, 

traditions received frora the fathers, 

rather than based on Scripture. Then 

his tongue Avas loosed, and becarae as the 

pen of a forcible Avriter, wbile his heart 

bubbled up Avith good raatter touching 

the King. He Avas not asharaed of the


testiraony of our Lord, and was ready 

always and everywhere to defend the 

clairas of the Redeeraer to tbe outspoken 

allegiance of both Churcb and State. 

Manifestly the great desire of Thorapson 

O'Neill was to exalt Jesus Christ in 

his OAvn heart and life, and to bave Him 

exalted in the bearts and lives of all raen. 

In all public enterprises for the spread of 

tbe truth and the establishraent of His 

Kingdora in the world he took a deep interest. 

Though not rich in this world's 

goods, he was rich in faith, often giving, 

as it seeraed to rae, far and away beyond 

his raeans for missionary and reform 

purposes, and always casting his offerings 

into the treasury with a raost cheerful 

spirit. Quiet and undemonstrative, he 

was known to the outside world only as an 

honest and industrious raan; but to those 

who were intiraately associated with hira 

in faraily and church relationships he was 

seen to possess sterling qualities of character. 

In the removal of this stamp of man 

there is much to comfort. I raay say of 

Thompson O'Neill as I once heard a 

woman say of another elder, on turning 

frora the grave where we had laid hira to 

rest in Bronxville Ceraetery: "AVell, we 

know where that raan is." It is natural 

and becoraing to weep when loved ones 

are taken away, but when we can look 

back over a well-spent life and forward to 

the blessedness in which the well-spent 

life issues, there is no reason to be disconsolate. 

What said the Saviour? "If 

any raan serve Me, let him follow Me, 

and where I ara, there shall ily servant 

be." What was the last petition in His 

intercessory prayer? "Father, I will that 

they whora Thou hast given ile be with 

ile where I ara." If we reflect on the 

state of the redeeraed in heaven in contrast 

with their condition here, we will not 

fail to see the kindness and wisdora of our 

Lord in this last request, and we will be 

ready to say with Paul, "To depart and be 

with Christ is far better." 

If we know tbe grace of Cbrist in truth, 

our heart's desire will be to be near Hira, 

to see Hira as He is, and to be like Hira. 

In reading the Scriptures, in waiting on 

His ordinances and in pouring out our souls 

before Hira, what we wisb above all tbings 

is to see Him raore clearly and enjoy Him 

raore fully. Here on earth we do not see 

the Saviour Whora we love, nor are we 

fully enriched witb the treasuries of His 

grace. But in heaven we shall behold 

His face and be satisfled with His likeness. 

Into that glory our brother has entered, 

and if we are alike faitbfiU, we shaU 

after a while follow hira into the sarae 

glory. 

Olathe. Kans.—Report of Secretary 

and Treasurer of L. il. S. of Olathe. 

1904: 

Another year has corae and gone. Let 

us pause a little and look back over the 

past. AAê have not held as raany raeetings 

during the year as usual, for the 

reason that two raeetings were prevented 

by storms. The attendance has been about 

the sarae as in years past. 

Gnd has seen fit,in His Prnvidence, to 

caU three nf our sisters to corae up higher 

and dwell with Hira. AA''e raissthese sistei-s, 

yet Ave feel assured that our loss is 

their eternal gain. Two of thera were 

charter raembers of this society; they 

had labored long and faithfully, and the 

other one, although not a meniber so long, 

did Avhat she could. AAê Avere glad to have 

iliss Jennie Torrence of our Chinese Mission 

A\'itli us at one meeting during the 

year. 

AAê made comforters for sale, and did 

some quilting fnr dift'erent raerabersof the 

soeiety. AAê alsn sent a bnx to the Chinese 

ilissinn containing a quilt, blankets, pen-

cils, tablets, combs and various other articles. 

Althougb our treasurer may not be 

able to show as large a report as in years 

past, let us not become discouraged, but 

resolve that by God's help we will endeavor 

to do raoretbis coraing year. 

Mrs. M. j. Mitchell, Pres. 

.Miss Margaret Atchison, Sec'y. 

treasurer-'s report. 

Receipts. 

Araount in treasury $40.12 

Dues collected 48.45 

Pledge money 5.00 

Proceeds of work 11.50 

Proceeds of dinner served at sale 12.04 

Eaised by Social Comraittee and 

donation to Miss Torrence.... 15.45 

Value of box to China 20.57 

Value of work for Indian ilis'n. 3.00 


Disbursements. 

Present to .Miss McNaughton... $15.00 

Draft for Ceraetery fund to Miss 

McNaughton 15.00 

Printing cards 2.00 

Books and work for Indian Mis'n 8.00 

R. il. Soraraerville 1.00 

Value of box to China 20.57 

Social and donation to Miss Jennie 

Torrence 15.45 

Freight 4.05 

Building fund 45.00 

Miscellaneous 8.81 

$134.88 

Balance in Treasury Jan. 1, 1905 $21.25 

Riiu .Milligan, Treas. 

$156.13 

RECEIVED, July lo, igos, of the Young People of 

Second New York, through OLIVE TREES, Four Hundred 

Dollars, Half 

$400.00. 

Years Salary of their Missionary in Cyprus. 

(^^tca^^y\^ 

The one and only law of life tbat sets a raan free from all the forces tbat blight and 

destroy is tbe will of God. Show rae a raan wbo lives for one day wholly in word and 

thought and deed in the will of God, and I will show you a man who is antedating 

beaven, and who for that day reaches the plane of Ufe wbich is at once broadest, freest 

and gladdest.—Gampbell Morgan. 

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is frora Him," wrote Gardiner, 

upon a rock on the coast of Tierra del Fuego, just before his death by starvation. 

Unprayed for, I feel lUce a diver at the bottom of a river with no air to breathe, or 

like a firemanon a blazing building with an empty hose.—James Gilmore.


THE QUARRIER HOME. 

Two railes frora the old town of Kilmaloohn, 

surrounded by wooded uplands 

and green raeadows, through which a 

clear, winding streara flows, nestles the 

raost unique village I ever set eyes upon. 

The turable-doAvn thatch cottage and narrow, 

crooked street, with barefnnted 

urchins playing in the gutters, whicb forra 

a part in the landscape of raost country 

toAvns, are here conspicuously absent. The 

houses are all of Gothic architecture, each 

differing frora another, and. set in its 

neatly kept gardens and green lawns. 

The streets are wide and clean and bear 

suggestive naraes, such as Youth Avenue, 

Peace Avenue, etc. Besides the sixty or 

more graceful villas in this model village, 

there are many handsome public buildings 

—a church, a school, a store, laundry, etc. 

In short, all the paraphernalia of a coraplete 

toAvn, barring the squalor and poverty. 

How comes this? What means 

this model village ? 

Let us go back half a century to the city 

of GlasgOAV and thread our way through 

the croAvded streets to one of the poorest 

districts. A barefooted, ragged little boy 

is leaning against a lamppost, and with 

wan face and wistful eye he is watching 

the passers by. Thirty-six hours since he 

MONOGRAPHS. 

had food. He does not dare to accost 

thera, but surely sorae one will notice that 

he is hungry and cold! No, no one has 

time to stoji, and he creeps back into the 

close Avith a bitter heart, and vows that if 

ever he is a man and has raoney he will 

help poor, ragged bairns. As he grew up, 

that vow was not forgotten, and after 

serving his apprenticeship to a shoeraalcer 

and saving a little raoney, he at the 

age of twenty-three, set up in business for 

hiraself, Avith bis life's work in his raind's 

eye, viz., to make a home for orphans. 

This be calculated would require £30,000. 

Yet he did not despair, but labored more 

and more diligently. His business prospered 

wonderfully, but the £30,000 was 

still far, far off. One day a lady said to 

hira, "I think God has called you to tbis 

worlc, and you should trust Him for the 

raeans.'^ This was an arrest of thought 

to hira, being now a deeply religious man. 

After much prayer, he made his scheme 

known by a letter to the papers, and resolved 

that if one person should give him 

a sura of £1,000 or £2,000, he would take 

it as a sign he was to go forward. The 

£2,000 carae. His hesitancy vanished. 

His confldence in God was conflrmed, and 

the principle established upon which the 

work should be carried on. Tbis was faith 

and prayer. He never asked for raoney, 

nor had bazaars or any other mode of 

raising funds. He took the children as 

they came, never refusing a single destitute 

child, and believed that the Lord 

Avould send the means. And He did. 

That youth's vision, that child's vow, we 

see realized in the happy village before 

us. As we drove up the avenue we met 

four wagon-loads of bright youths about 

twelve or fourteen, starting on their way 

to Canada. Tbe hearty cheers and waving 

of handkerchiefs testifled how the reports 

from the bands that had gone out in 

previous years had over-balanced the regrets 

at leaving the home, where happy 

years bad been spent. Two superintendents 

were going out with them, to settle 

them in their new bcanes, and return. 

At the central building, where are the 

reception and comraittee rooras and offlces, 

we were taken in charge by one of 

the raany fathers. One cottage will do


for a saraple of all. The one selected is 

interesting to ns as being built by ray 

brother, in meraory of our father and 

mother. As the design is to make a real 

borae for tbe orphans, tbere is a father 

and raother at the bead of eacb cottage. 

From tAventy to thirty cbildren form the 

faraily, who are trained in horae duties 

and faraily religion. None of the forraal 

"two-and-two" systera, or "all-of-a-piece" 

uniform wbich characterizes so many of 

our charitable institutions. The equipments 

in all departments are the most upto-date. 

The floors are polisbed bardwood; 

tbe batb roora tiled; the tables in 

the dining room scrubbed wbite—everything, 

including the bedrooms, Avith their 

neatly raade cot beds and clothes press 

adjoined, spealcs corafort and tidiness, 

cheerfulness and happiness. What a paradise 

such a horae, witb its loving father 

and raother, raust seem to the homeless 

waifs when they first come in! 

In the large store is found everything, 

frora a "needle to an anchor." Each 

faraily has a store book given them, in 

which are marked tbe articles tbat are 

purchased. Piles upon piles of boys' suits 

covered tbe shelves of one compartment. 

We were told that of the one hundred and 

five boys wbo started this raorning for 

Canada, eacb got tbree new ' suits and 

three pairs of shoes. All these had been 

paid for by contributions sent in for that 

purpose. 

Tbe church is a bandsome edifice, witb 

tovrer, clock and bell, accomraodating 

about two thousand people. All along the 

walls'are raottoes in large letters, such as 

these: "When father and mother forsake 

you, I will be a father unto you." How 

will tbis precious Igve-message be borne 

in on the hearts of tbe thousand and 

raore fatherless cbildren who gather there 

on tbe Sabbatb? It would take too long 

to describe tbe school and the laundry. 

the dressraaking and the tailoring establishment. 

But there is one thing we 

cannot pass over, the object wbich strikes 

the visitor first and foreraost; that is, the 

large full-rigged bark whicb lies, always 

freshly painted, seeraingly at anchor, on 

a bed of concrete. This is the horae and 

the training school of thirty boys at a 

tirae, who look forward to a seafaring life 

as do so many of the little urchins of 

these sea-girt coasts. 

We were much interested in sorae of the 

photos which were shown us with pride 

and fondness. They try to follow and 

keep in touch witb all who have passed 

through their hands. .Many of thera are 

now heads of large and proraising farailies, 

sorae farraers, or wives of farraers, 

sorae raerchants, some doctors, some ministers. 

The work has branched off in many directions. 

A home in Canada receives 

those who have been sent off, but who bave 

no place fixed bef rehand to Avinch to go. 

There is a night refuge in two or three 

parts of Glasgow where children from 

tAVO to thirteen found sleeping in closes or 

behind barrels or wandering around destitute 

are taken in for the tirae, till sent 

doAvn to tbe horae. 

Then there is a hospital for ordinary 

illness and two large sanitariuras for consumptives—one 

for raen and one for 

woraen. The open-air treatraent is pursued, 

and one raay see on the coldest, 

storraiest day, the patients sitting or lying 

in chairs or hararaocks, drinking in snow 

or rain or sunshine as raay corae along. 

For all tbis work, as one can easily see, 

an enormous income, is required. Yet 

there has never been anything lacking. I 

was told that a lady who donated the 

£2,000 necessary for a cottage wished also 

to give a sum for its up-keep; but Mr. 

Quarrier would not accept it. He said it 

raight interfere with the spirit of faitb in


which tbe undertaking had been begun 

and carried on. 

Fourteen thousand young people rescued 

from a hopeless outlook have been 

given a start in life, and multitudes of 

thera led into the light of God. 

And now the little bungry boy leaning 

against the larappost, baving lived to see 

his vision realized—the hungry fed, the 

naked clothed, the sad-hearted gladdened 

—has gone himself, about a year and a 

half ago, into the happy home above, 

where the inhabitants hunger nor thirst 

any raore, and go no raore out into the 

cold, dark streets of earth. 

This is but one of the many charitable 

institutions in this country. Few things 

strike one raore than the network of religious 

work carried on in and around 

Glasgow. Frora our window here in Kilraaloohn 

we see on the side of the hill a 

large, raagnificent edifice—the Sailors' 

Orphan Horae, where the children of sailors 

lost at sea are cared for. Further to 

the west, a house costing £4,000, the gift 

of one gentleraan, is in course of erection. 

Its purpose is to provide a "fresh-air 

fortnight" for the poor crippled children 

of Glasgow. These unfortunates are gathered 

into some dozen or more little 

halls in different parts of the city, 

where Christian men and woraen go at 

the close of their busy day and instruct 

and entertain thera. They are taught, 

where practicable, sorae work by which 

they raay earn a living, and at least pass 

a few hours raore pleasantly than they 

could do in their, too often, raiserable 

horaes. 

Then the free breakfasts is a sight 

never to be forgotten. Thousands of 

hungry little boys and girls on a biting 

winter morning getting one sraoking hot 

raeal and afterward listening eagerly as 

sorae volunteer Christian worker. tells 

thera of the Bread of Life. 

But tirae fails to even mention balf the 

beautiful schemes afoot for the consideration 

of our less favored brothers and sisters, 

and yet, and yet, what a sub-stratura 

remains of sin and sorrow. The droves 

of unemployed marching through the 

streets. The old men and women asking 

on the streets for a bit of bread; the little 

waifs with nothing but rags to keep thera 

warra urging you to buy their matches, 

etc. It is sad and pitiful and one longs 

to be able to do more to help. Yet I am 

thankful that we have been permitted to 

do the little we have; and I am specially 

thankful that Mr. ilcCartney has been 

able and has been engaged preaching almost 

every Sabbath for months. 

C. R. McCartney. 

A MISSIONARY ROMANCE. 

When Stanley was' raalcinghis way 

across Africa he carae to Uganda. He 

preached to the king, translated considerable 

portions of the Word of God, and 

believed that he left hira a Christian. 

Stanley wrote a letter to philanthropists 

and to pious people in England, asking 

that raissionaries be sent to Uganda to 

teach the king and his people the way of 

the Lord raore perfectly. He entrusted 

this letter to Colonel de Bellefonds, a 

raeraber of General Gordon's staff, who 

had journeyed up tbe Nile to visit the intrepid 

traveler. The raostiraportant sentences 

in the letter are in substance as 

foUoAvs: "Oh, that sorae pious, practical 

niissionary Avould come herel What a 

field and harvest ripe for the sickle of 

civilization! .M'tesa would give him anything 

he desired. It is tbe practical 

Christian tutor, who can teach the people 

hoAv to become Christians, cure their diseases, 

construct dwellings, understand and 

exemplify agriculture, and turn his band 

to anything like a sailor—this is the man 

who is wanted. Sucb a one, if be can be

found, would become tbe saviour of 

Africa." 

On his way back to civilization Colonel 

Bellefonds was murdered. Nearly a year 

after bis effects were recovered. In one of 

his boots Stanley's remarkable letter was 

found. It was published in the Daily Telegraph 

of Nov. 15, 1875, and created a 

great stir in the religious world, and produced 

wonderful results. Tbe Church 

Missionary Society undertook to send missionaries 

to Uganda. By tbe time Stanley 

reached the mouth of tbe Congo the first 

missionary had reached the field; others 

followed, and the wbole civilized world 

bas heard of the marvelous success of the 

work in the beart of Darkest Africa. 

Twelve years later Stanley was on his way 

to rescue Brain Fasha, and passed near 

Uganda. Two Baganda chiefs met him. 

They had with thera two tbousand Christians. 

Tbey wanted Stanley to belp thera 

place a new king on the tbrone. He refused 

to meddle with tbe affairs of the 

kingdom. But be never ceased to be 

thankful for wbat be was enabled to do for 

Uganda. Tbe bread that he. had cast 

upon the waters returned to bim after 

many days.—Missionary 'Voice. 

THE TITHE IS THE LORD'S. 

I. All earthly possessions come frora 

God, and therefore His people in offering 

unto Him their substance, serve Hira 

with that whicb is primarily His own. 

"But who am I, and wbat is my people, 

that we should be able to offer so 

wiUingly after this sort? Por all these 

things corae of Thee, and of Thine own 

have we given Thee."—I Chron. xxix, 14. 

II. God clairas, as tbe unit of measureraent, 

and the rainirauraoffering, onetenth 

of all tbe income He bestows upon 

His people, to be set apart for sacred 

uses. "And all tbe tithe of the land, 

whetber of tbe seed of the land, or of tbe 


fruit of tbe tree, is tbe Lord's; it is holy 

unto the Lord."—Lev. xxvii, 30. 

III. The offering of the tithe is a part 

of divine worship, and should always be 

given in the spirit of worship, as in the 

very presence of God.. 

"And now, behold, I..have brought the 

first fruits of the land, which Thou, 0 

Lord, hast given rae. And tbou shalt set 

it before the Lord thy God and worship 

before the Lord tby God."—Deut. xxvi, 10. 

IV. The tithe iraplies partnership 

Avith God in business, and all other things 

being equal, insures abounding success. 

"Honor the Lord with thy substance, 

and with tbe firstfruits of all thine increase; 

so shall thy barns be filled witb 

plenty, and thy presses sball burst out 

witb neAV wine."—Frov. iii, 9-10. 

V. Tithing raakes the soul rich, 

healthy and happy, greatly proraoting 

the spiritual joy, strength and fruitfulness 

of every one wbo perforras tbis duty 

Avitli a pure conscience. "The liberal soul 

shall be raade fat and be that watereth 

shall be watered also hiraself."—Prov. xi, 

25. 

VL Tithing puts God's faithfulness 

to the test, and wben perforraed in the 

right spirit will surely be followed witb 

abounding blessings, both teraporal and 

spiritual. 

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storebouse, 

that tbere raay be meat in Mine 

house, and prove Me now herewith, saith 

the Lord of hosts, if I wUl not open you 

tbe windows of heaven, and pour you out 

a blessing, that there sball not be room 

enougb to receive it."—Mal. iii, 10. 

VII. Tbe tithe sbould be set apart 

witb promptness and regularity for the 

Lord's service by every one who has any 

income, whether it be small or great. 

"Upon tbe. flrst day of the week let 

everv one of you lay by bim in store, as 

God hatb prospered him."—I. Cor. xvi, 2. 

Com.

IM 

Editorial Noiek. 

EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

The $500, given as a nucleus for this fund, has grown only to $1,421.57 in nine 

months. This total is the contribution of 104 persons and societies, only a fraction 

of tbe 9,687 coraraunicants in the Eeformed Presbyterian Churcb. This certainly 

indicates that raany clairaing the privileges of raerabershipin tbe Cburcb do not 

take a very raarkedinterest in its missionary operations, or have failed to notice the 

proposal to raise a fund of $10,000, in the form of "thank offerings" to the Lord as 

"a meraorial" of the work that He enabled two of our consecrated raissionariesat Tak 

Hing Chau to aeeoraplish in their brief hour of service, a Avork that is stiU bearing 

fruit, and must always be reckoned an important factor in the success of tbe Mission 

in Soutb Cbina. Surely there are not many like tbe woman, a meraber in one of the 

116 congregations, who, two winters ago, pro nised to give something for tbe foreign missions 

the next year, but when applied to a few montbs ago, to redeem tbe promise, 

pleaded inability, althougb it is well known sbe bad probably expended thousands to 

make her home surroundings raore attractive. The following offerings are likely to 

attract attention, and should raake sorae people tbink: 


Miss Maggie B. Edgar, Latakia, Syria $60.00 Equally araong 

China, Indian and Southern Missions 

iliss Meta Cunningham, Suadia, Syria 50.00 Cbina 

L. M. Society, York, N. Y " 10.00 Cbina and Syria 

A Member of Second Newburgh, N. Y 5.00 Equally among 

Indian, Southern, Jewisb, Chinese, and Syrian Missions 

All offerings sbould be sent to 


327 W. 56th Streeti 

New York. 

At tbe monthly meeting of the Board 

of Foreign Missions, Tuesday, June 27, 

1905, a letter was read from Ee'v. J. S. 

McGaw, whom Synod had elected to the

foreign field,saying that he would have 

to decline tbe call owing to tbe condition 

of Mrs. McGaw's bealth. Tbis is a matter 

of regret to them botb. "Work in tbe 

foreign field," be wrote, "is our ideal of 

service. It is no new subject witb us, as 

we bave considered it ever since I left the 

Seminary." After informing tbe Board 

that "their own physician in Linton and 

two of the flnest physicians in Burlington" 

united witb Dr. Maggie McCrea in 

advising tbem not to go, he added, "We 

feel it is tbe band of Providence and an 

indication for the present and perhaps for 

the rest of our lives tbat we are not to 

go to tbe foreign fleld. * * * -^g 

shall always be more interested in tbe 

work because of this montb of prayer and 

watching for the will of the Lord." 

No decisive reply was received from 

Licentiate W. Henry George. 

A minister is urgently called for to go 

to the assistance of Rev. Jaraes S. Stewart 

in Syria. He should not be left any 

longer to bear the burden of tbe work in 

that fleldalone. Present need is tbe voice 

of tbe Lord. 

At the same meeting of tbe Board, a 

letter was read from Mrs. Harry Lamphear, 

of Blanchard, la., in which sbe 

had enclosed to the Corresponding Secretary 

a draft for $4,000 for the foreign 

missions of the Reformed Presbyterian 

Churcb. Tbe money was given on condition 

tbat it sbould be "used in paying tbe 

salary of a missionary in tbe foreign fleld, 

the interest and sucb part of the principal 

as may be needed each year to be advanced 

to tbe missionary until tbe wbole aniount 

is paid." Tbis generous contribution was 

accepted, and Eev. Julius A. Kempf, of 

Tak Hing Cbau, was nominated as her 

representative in Cbina, tbe first payr 

ment of bis salary out of this fund to be 

made in October, 1905. 

Editoriai Notes. 195 

A devoted friend of missions, both home 

and foreign, who does not wish bis name 

known, informed us the other day that be 

bad 

Five Thousand Dollars 

subject to the call of Olive Trees to begin 

Avork in Lin Tan or some new center 

in China, provided that we can secure a 

similar sum from otbers for the sarae purpose. 

The brother wbo makes this generous 

offer would gladly pay the raoney at 

once, only tbat in his opinion there should 

be at least 

Ten Thousand Dollars 

in hand before opening a new station. We 

do not wish to lose this large contribution, 

and so appeal to raen and women of means 

in the Covenanter Churcb to send in wbat 

is asked for in hundreds or thousands, according 

to their ability, and over and above 

their regular offerings to work already 

in operation in China. Comraander 

Peary merely intimated through the New 

York Evening Mail that he required flfty 

thousand dollars to purchase certain necessary 

articles of equipraent before leaving 

on bis voyage of discovery, and in a few 

days there were seventy tbousand dollars at 

bis coraraand. If raerchants are willing 

to give so raucb raoney for an enterprise 

that raay or raay not be successful, surely 

raen sworn to allegiance to the King of 

kings will hasten to give this coraparatively 

trifling sum for an enterprise as certain 

of success as that their Lord reigns. 

Draw the check to tbe order of Olive 

Trees, consecrate the raoney in prayer, 

and forward it at once, as we would like 

to publish a forraal receipt frora Treasurer 

.Miller for the wbole aniount in the Septeraber 

nuraber. Please do not keep us 

waiting. 

On returning borae frora a meeting of 

the Foreign Board, Tuesday, June 27,


1905, Treasurer Walter T. Miller received 

at 11:35 F. M., a cablegrara frora Canton, 

China, announcing that Miss Jennie B. 

Torrence had fallen asleep. On the day 

previous, her father bad received a dispatch 

that she was "ill of inflararaation of 

the bowels," so that the faraily was in a 

measure prepared for news of ber death. 

It is, however, a very severe trial, and the 

Avhole Church will sympathize with the 

stricken horae at Denison, Kans., out of 

which Iavo daughters have gone, to fall on 

the fleldat Tak Hing as "the raessengers 

of the churches and the glory of Christ." 

iliss Torrence, a sketch of whose life 

and work will appear in another nuraber 

of Olive Trees, left this country for 

China in Septeraber, 1901, and in less 

than Iavo years had acquired sufficient 

coraraand of the language to teach a class 

in Chinese; sorae raonths of last winter 

she spent in Canton, studying-methods of 

teaching, and she was preparing to open a 

school for girls in a building that had just 

been corapleted at Tak Hing Chau for 

that purpose, when the Lord called her to 

service in another world, where no weakness 

nor weariness avUI darap the energies. 

This is a raystery, but a raystery without a 

shadow to any one who can see behind it 

the Sovereign Lord, ruling in huraan affairs 

and directing raissionary effort for 

the glory of God in the establishraent of 

His Kingdora. 

This reraoval calls more appealingly 

and forcibly than any words of ours could 

for volunteers to take her place. The 

vacancy should be fllledat once. 

On Saturday, June 24, 1905, Miss 

.Maggie B. Edgar and Miss Meta Cunningham 

left New Yorlc for Liverpool, 

England. There and in Ireland tbey will 

spend a few weeks visiting friends, and 

will then go on to their respective flelds 

of labor in Northern Syria in tirae for 

the opening of their schools in the 

autumn. On Friday evening previous to 

their departure. Miss Cunninghara addressed 

a raeeting in Thirty-ninth Street 

Church, New York, on tbe difficulties and 

encourageraents of the work in Suadia. 

Her address and that of Miss Edgar on the 

Sabbatii raade an excellent irapression on 

the audience, and will naturally result in 

raore earnest prayer for these devoted 

laborers and their associates in a country 

where vigorous opposition to the gospel 

has to be met and overcorae. Only that 

iliss Cunninghara was detained in other 

places on the King's business, arrangeraent 

would have been raade to tender 

these raissionaries a reception, where they 

would have had an opportunity for closer 

contact with the members of the congregation, 

and would have carried away with 

them the lasting benefits that flow from 

pleasant social intercourse, irapossible at 

a forraal public gathering. 

They reached Liverpool Saturday evening, 

July 1, after an exceptionally pleasant 

voyage. 

The statistics of the Mission at Tak 

Hing Chau, China, for tbe year ended 

March 31, 1905, are as follows: 

3 ordained Araerican rainisters, 

4 niedical raissionaries.* 

1 Araerican woraan raissionary, not 

counting wives—- 

23 native coraraunicants, 10 added during 

the year. 

*One departed- this life Sept. 4, '04. 

The duty for the raoment is always clear, and that is as far as we need concern 

ourselves; for when we do the little that is clear, we will carry the light on, and it will 

shine upon tbe next moraent's step.—J. R. Miller, D.D.,

O L I V B T R E K S 

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary Worlc in the Reformed Presbyterian 


No. SEPTEMBER, 1905. 9. 


THE CALL OF MOSES. 

rev. a. I. ROBB, TAK HING CHAU, 

china. 

"Come noAv therefore, and I will send 

thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring 

forth my people, tbe cbildren of Israel, 

out of Egypt."-Exodus 3, 10. 

There were tbree great periods in the 

life of Moses. Forty years be spent at the 

court of Pharaoh. Forty years he was a 

herdsman in the desert, and forty years 

he was the leader and I'aw-giver of the 

chosen people of God. That be early 

cherished tbe purpose to free his people, 

there can be no doubt, but when he raade 

his first attempt tbS tiraes were not ripe 

for the great undertaking. Moses hiraself 

needed further preparation. Israel 

raust drink raore deeply of tbe bitter cup 

of bondage, and Egypt raust fill her cup 

of iniquity yet more full before the great 

event could come to pass. The record 

says that when Moses was forty years old 

he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, 

and he killed the Egyptian, and hid him 

in the sand. The tbing becarae known. 

The king heard iti and sought to slay 

Moses. Nor is it strange that he should 

be wroth Avith one Avho Avould kill an 

Egyptian for smiting a slave. Moses had 

to fleefor his life. Instead of seeing his 

people go forth with banners flying, he 

had the experience of one lone Hebrew 

leaving secretly in great haste and remaining 

away very carefully for a whole 

generation. The New Testaraent tells us 

that Moses thougbt his people would have 

understood that he was to deliver thera, 

but they understood not. Eejected by his 

people, with all his plans corapletely overthrown, 

hiraself a fugitive frora justice, 

he apparently gave up all his purposes for 

the freeing of his people. He left the land 

of Egypt 'and went to Midian, where he 

settled down to the quiet life of a shepherd. 

Egypt witb all its glories of art, 

learning and war, Arith all its cruelties of 

oppression and wrong, is left behind in bis 

thought of perpetual exile. 

We, looking back over the vista of 

thirty-four centuries, can see in this period 

of Moses' life what he at the time did not 

see. God was watching over hira, and tbis 

Ufe in tbe desert was part of his training. 

AVhence came that knowledge of the 

desert that enabled him to lead, not an 

array, that would bave been a little tbing, 

but a race of slaves, degraded and irabruted 

by ten genera.tions of bitter servitude, 

a nation of farailies, with wives and 

children, with flocks and herds; whence 

carae the knowledge, I say, that enabled 

hira to lead these across the desert and 

leave thera safely at the borders of the 

proraised land ? This desert life was part 

of his training. If it was necessary that 

the deliverer of Israel should hiraself be 

an Israelite, with his faith, affections and 

purposes in syrapathy with his people; if

198 Questions of fhe Hour. 

it was necessary tbat he who was to sraite 

Egypt should know Egypt; if it was necessary 

that he who was to give law to Israel 

sbould himself know law, it was not less 

needful that he who was to lead them 

through tbe desert sbould know the desert. 

Every experience is a part of God's training. 

It was so with Moses, and is true 

to-day. It raay seera tbat eighty years 

was a long time to spend in preparing for 

forty years' work; but wben God bas a 

great work to do. He spends raucb tirae 

in preparing His workers. The length of 

service is not the test of its value. Tbe 

tirae spent in preparation is raore likely 

to be. But at last the fullness of tirae 

came. God saw that Moses was prepared 

for a beginning of his work. He saw 

Egypt's cup of iniquity full, and heard the 

cry of distressed Israel. So He called 

Moses away from bis quiet pastoral life 

and sent bim forth on that unraatched 

career as soldier, statesraan, lawgiver, 

prophet and judge. It is of this call that 

Ave wisb to speak. 

I.—The Character of the Call. 

The circumstances of the call were very 

remarkable. Moses was alone in the 

desert, and he saw a bush buming with 

flre, and it was not consuraed. He was 

araazed and stopped to see the wonder. 

The record says the "angel of the Lord 

appeared to hira in tbe bush," and that 

"God spoke to hira out of the bush," so 

that it Avas 

(A) A Divine Call. Whatever doubts 

there raay be at times as to the character 

of a call to Avork, there could be none in 

this case. "Put off thy shoes from off 

thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest 

is holy ground. Draw not nigh hither," 

was sufficient to put past question who his 

holy inquisitor was, even had it not been 

followed by the AVords, 'T am the God of 

thy father." 

(B). It was also a Personal CaU. 

"Moses, Moses!" It was not an appeal 

to an audience of a hundred or a thousand 

for some one to go. It was as explicit 

as words could raake it, and left 

no room to say sorae one else was raeant. 

It was not "Will sorae one go?" It was 

"iloses, you go!" 

(C) It was a Call to a Definite Work. 

"I will send thee unto Pharaoh, tbat thou 

raayest bring fortb ray people, tbe children 

of Israel, out of Egypt." 

Tbe call was divine, personal and deflnite. 

Would it have been any less so had 

it been addressed impersonally to the 

whole nation of Israel, provided Moses 

had Icnown it meant hira? Surely not. 

Every call of God that means us, is personal 

to us, and we cannot be honest and 

dodge it. I do not say that every call of 

God is personal to every one of His children, 

but I do say there is a call and a 

work for every one, and whatever that is, 

it is divine, personal and definite to - us. 

Honor and duty demand that we shall 

face God's call with the purpose of doing 

whatever is His call to us. 

IL—Moses' Excuses. 

Forty years before, Moses had undertaken 

to deliver his people on his own responsibility. 

He failed. Now, the cherished 

arabition of his j'oung raanhood 

coraes back and stares hira in the face, and 

invites his best effort, not as a personal 

plan, but a divinely given work, and 

he begins to raake excuse! It may 

seera strange at firstglance that he who 

had been so eager once to undertake the 

work should hesitate now when it came to 

him on so vastly better footing; but let 

us not be too hasty in judging hira, lest 

AVC conderan ourselves, iloses could oft'er 

better excuses than most of those who 

give thera, or at least had better reason 

for excuse. He had tried it once and 

failed. He had tried just enough to knoAv 

what the undertalcing meant, and had


failed completely enougb to know that be' 

was beaten. He knew the power of Egypt. 

He kneAV the discipline of ber soldiers, the 

strength of her armies, the nmnber of her 

chariots, and the treraendous resources 

that lay behind thera. He knew, too, the 

condition of his OAvn people, so degraded 

by four centuries of slavery that they 

could not even appreciate an effort to help 

thera. It is worthy of note that Moses 

was far more concerned about how he 

would succeed with bis own people than 

how be would overcorae Pharaoh. The 

double problera was clear enougb in his 

raind. He must first win his own people, 

and then face the problem of breaking 

their fetters. How great the undertaking 

was can be leamed frora this fact: only 

once in tbe history of the world bas a 

people long beld in bondage succeeded in 

breaking its oAvn fetters witbout the intervention 

of warlike hands from without, 

and then God smote Egypt witb His 

plagues and set His people free. 

Then, .Moses was eighty years old. The 

undertaking certainly called for tbe brains 

and strength and courage and elastic recuperative 

power of the most vigorous and 

virile manhood, if ever there was a project 

deraanding such qualities. "An adventure 

like tbat and I eighty years old ?" 

How raany raen would not 'have said that ? 

How many are there who would not have 

said at once, "A younger raan is needed" ? 

.Moses was eighty years old, and had failed 

once. Most people who try to escape duty 

have far less reason than that to raake 

excuse. Let us hear Moses' excuses. 

1. He was unworthy to go. "Who am I 

that I should go unto Pharaoh, and tbat 

I should bring forth the children of Israel 

out of Egypt?" As we see it now in the 

light of accomplished events, Moses was 

entirely wrong in offering that excuse. 

He was really the best prepared raan in all 

the world for that very thirig. God had 

spent eighty years in. getting hira ready for 

it. But how did it look to Moses? Do 

you not thinlc his life looked very rauch 

like a failure to himself at that time? If 

he were candid with himself, he would 

perhaps say, "I bave had the greatest opportunities 

that ever carae to one of ray 

race. Egypt bas given me all her learning, 

and all her discipline, and that on 

the footing of a prince, and now at the 

age of eighty years I have demonstrated 

that I can herd sheep." "I failed once, 

forty years ago, when I was fresh frora 

conquests under Egyptian favor. Will I 

be raore likely to manage it better now 

after forty years among my flocks?" 

God's reply is noteworthy. He does not 

explain to Moses tbat he has underestimated 

himself, that he is really excellently 

fitted for the work and specially trained 

for tbis very thing. No. He siraply 

says, "Certainly I will be witb thee"; and 

tbat is the guarantee of success. Tbe 

eighty years of Moses' discipline shows 

how carefully God would prepare -His instruraents, 

but who can regard tbe withering 

plagues that smote Egypt, tbe divided 

sea, the smitten rock, the brazen serpent, 

tbe raanna that for forty years fell in 

daily benediction frora heaven, and above 

all, the visible symbol of Jehovah's presence 

in the pillar of cloud by day and fire 

by night, and dare say that the personal 

qualifications of Moses were any factor in 

the case as corapared with tbe presence 

of the Great Jehovah? "I will be with 

thee." J.esus Christ said tbat in a way 

that raalcesit as personal to you and rae 

as God's proraise was to Moses. 

2. He did not know enough. "Behold, 

when I corae to the children of Israel and 

shall say unto tbem, the God of your 

fathers hath sent rae unto you, and they 

shall say to rae. What is his narae? wbat 

shall I say unto them?" And God answered 

that as He always does thsse who


seek for truth, by revealing Himself raore 

fully to iloses. "I ara that I ara." Go 

and tell your people, I Ara hath sent rae 

unto you. Then as though to forestall 

further' objections and raake assurance 

certain. He unfolds to Moses the Avhole 

plan for the deliverance of His people. 

You go to the people, and they will receive 

you; then j'ou shall go to Pharaoh 

and raake certain requests and so on. The 

whole plan is outlined in such a way that 

one who desired to do the thing could have 

asked for nothing raore of assurance, but 

another objection coraes frora Moses. 

3. They would not believe him. The 

first two objections raight easily be accepted 

as honest, at least. This one savors 

of unbelief. God has just told him that 

his people will hearken to him and accept 

hira, and in the face of this, Moses says, 

"But behold, they will not believe rae nor 

hearken to ray voice." Consider a reply 

of that character in the face of God's declaration! 

And consider the forbearance 

which passes it over and even makes concession 

to the weak faith of the man and 

says, "Very well, you think they will not 

believe you. I will give you credentials." 

And He gave hira rairacles,the rod raade 

a serpent, the leprous hand and the water 

raade blood, as the sign that God had sent 

hira. Fast all question, the credentials 

are satisfactory, and having nothing more 

outside hiraself about which to raalceexcuse, 

Moses coraes baclc to hiraself and 

says: 

4. He is not eloquent. It is raarvelous 

how raany people feel their inaptitude to 

speak just at certain occasions. I have 

known men in almost every Avalk of life, 

on the farm, in business of many kinds, 

and in their daily callings, and in their 

social and business contact with their fellow-men, 

their gift of speech stands them 

in good stead. No coraplaint is ever heard 

that they cannot accomplish their work 

or make themselves companionable on account 

of lack in power of speech, but let 

these same people be asked to teach a 

Sabbath school class, or to speak to a 

friend about his soul, or perhaps give the 

friendly warning to a tempted one tbat 

raay mean all the difference between life 

and death, and they suddenly reraeraber 

that they are not eloquent. But God said 

to Moses, "I will be with thy raouth." 

When Moses said, "I ara not fit to go," 

God said, "I will be with you." When he 

says in effecti "My raouth is not fitto go," 

God says, "I will be witb thy mouth." 

And noAv comes out the real objection that 

lay behind all tbe others. 

5. Moses did not want to go. "Send, 

0 Lord, I pray Thee, by the hand of him 

whom Thou wilt send." "Send any one, 

only do not send rae." And we do not 

wonder that God was wroth with .Moses,. 

and yet even here He makes a concession 

and says, "Aaron is coming to raeet you, 

and he will talk for you." There was 

nothing raore to say, and Moses went. 

What was wrong with iloses, let us ask, 

that caused hira so unwillingly to accept 

a work under God's direction that he 

had at one time voluntarily undertaken to 

do? I think it was lack of surrender to 

God's will. He was not anxious to know 

the will of God, and hardly could be persuaded 

to do it Avhen made plain to hira. 

It is the great trouble with raany to-day. 

Unconsecrated Christianity, if I may use 

the terra, is responsible for raany great 

tilings left undone. And the excuses of 

Moses have been standard for the unAvilling 

from bis day to this. The pastor, the 

leader of the prayer meeting, the superintendent 

of the Sabbatii school, is apt to 

hear them with painful frequency. Have 

you not heard thera ? "Oh, I am not fitto 

do that." "I don't know enough." 'Tt is 

no use to try that, it won't go." "I can't 

talk." "Get sorae one else," and you

know and we all know tbat ordinarily, 

even if tbe persons have not tbe fineequipment 

of Moses, tbey are at least measurably 

capable of doing wbat is asked, and 

behind all excuses is tbe ugly fact of unwillingness 

to be and do what God wants 

them to be and to do. 

Tbere is more tban one instructive lesson 

to learn from tbis remarkable passage 

in tbe life of Moses. Not least of 

thera is this: 

(1) We are not competent judges of 

what God can do with us. The Scottish 

bard could say 

"0 wad sorae power the giftie gie us. 

To see oursels as ithers see us." 

While this raight be at times a questionable 

advantage, as tbey may not see any 

more correctly than we do, it is past 

question that God's knowledge of us is as 

rauch more intimate and accurate than 

our knowledge of ourselves, as He is 

higher than we. "He knoweth our 

frame." He knows our capacities, experiences 

and discipline to perfection, 

where we can see but as in a glass darkly. 

He knoAvs raore of things whence we are 

entirely ignorant. He knows His own 

hidden purpose and plan for each of our 

lives. Is it not a wonderful tbing that 

God, tbe great God, the everlasting and 

true, bas a definite purpose as to what 

every one of us shall becorae and wbat we 

sball do ? And tbat this purpose in every 

case is to make of us the noblest and best 

that is possible ? Let us dare to take this 

fact and stand upon it, .that Jesus is able 

to take me, yes, even sucb a life as mine, 

and flll it with His glory, and mak^ it 

sbine out Upon otbers and tben associate 

me witb Himself to sbare in tbe glory tbat 

He shares with the Father. He knows our 

capacities, and He knows His OAvn plans 

for us. On botb points we are ignorant. 

Moses tbought he was to be a great deliverer, 

and God sent him into exile. Tben 

Questions of ihe Hour. 201 

he concluded himself only fltfor the desert 

wben God bad cbosen bim to stand before 

Sinai and to establish a system of jurisprudence 

tbat bas served tbe world as a 

model for thirty-four centuries. He saw 

himself flt only to herd sheep, wben God 

saw him as a chosen instrument to cower 

kings, sraite nations and effect tbe raost 

reraarkable deliverance that ever came to 

an oppressed people. Soraetimes men 

rush into public life when God is calling 

thera to keep sheep; but they are quite 

as likely to cling to tbeir sheepfolds, or 

their little horaes, or their horae ties or 

their horae worlc, the circle of their 

friends and tbe dear native land, when 

God is saying, "Corae now tberefore, and 

I will send thee" "far hence unto the 

Gentiles," and wben He sees them to be 

quite prepared as well. Are we not, then, 

to use our judgment of our oAvn gifts? 

Yes, use all the judgraent you have, 

prayerfully and honestly, and use it in 

determining what God wants you to do, 

and when tbe call by His providence or 

Word or Spirit is unraistakable, dare to 

use your best gifts, trusting the presence 

of God to raake you sufficient, and 

considering that He knows better tban 

vou what you are able to do. We are responsible 

for obedience, God is responsible 

for results. 

(2) Age is not necessarily either an 

excuse from service nor a barrier to it. 

(3) The Message is greater than the 

messenger. It is a remarkable fact that 

the two raen who have done raore to 

uplift and enlighten the world, perhaps, 

tban any others, were, by their own statements, 

men lacking in eloquence. Moses 

was not a man of words, and Paul was 

conteraptible in bis speech. Whetber their 

contemporaries beld this estiraate of tbem 

we do not know, but we do know tbat 

God gave thera raessagesthat for nobility 

of sentiment, sublimity of conception, ex-


alted raoral character, profundity of spiritual 

insight, eloquence of utterance, and 

vast influence upon the eternal destinies 

of men, have never been surpassed, and 

only equalled by those who, like themselves, 

were under the inspiration of the 

Holy Spirit of the Uving God. What 

raatters tbe cadences of tbeir voices, the 

personal presence, their grace of raanner 

or facility of expression as corapared with 

tbe mighty import of their messages that 

raeant life or death to a fallen race ? Let 

no one who stands as God's raessenger 

dare to exalt hiraself at the expense of bis 

raessage. Let no one who has a message 

to give dare to be silent because he thinks 

the messenger a poor one. Give God's 

message. 

(4) The manner of accepting a caU is no 

indication of how it wlll be carried out. 

Moses was not a volunteer. Indeed, so far 

as Ave can learn from ê record, he was a 

raost unwilling subject when called to 

God's work, who only went after pulling 

baclc until God becarae angry, and because 

he could not escape frora the work. 

Centuries later, when Israel had fallen 

on evil days, there was a prophet who bad 

a wonderful vision of God. And an angel 

carae and touched his lips with a live coal 

from off the altar, and when he heard tbe 

voice of the Lord saying, "AVhora shall I 

send, and who will go for us," he 

proraptly said, "Here ara I; send rae." 

Isaiab was a volunteer. Yet sball we say 

that because of this he served his people 

and his age any better than did Moses, 

the raan of God ? Let the record of their 

lives speak for thera. No one shall say 

that Moses fell one whit behind the 

evangelical prophet in the faithfulness 

and disinterestedness of his service. 

Coraing down to the time of the Reforraation, 

two other raen stand out in' 

raarked distinction. Martin Luther was 

a volunteer if ever there was one. Witb a 

lion-like courage tbat made the sound of 

battle as sweet music in his ears, a spirit 

that rose higher and higher as opposition 

and hatred grew raore deadly and deterrained, 

he needed no urging and no call 

but that frora within. "Yes, I'll go to 

Worras, and would if tbe devils were as 

thick as tbe tiles on the houses." And 

the raanner of his utterance is not only an 

indication that he is glad to go, but alraost 

that he hopes there will be enough 

devils around to let hira show tbem he is 

not afraid. Here was the spirit and the 

joy of the volunteer. There was another 

raan a few years later. A frail raan physically, 

though of giant intellect. A man 

who loved his books and the quiet of his 

library and wbo hated public life. Tbe 

cause of the Reforraation deraanded a 

leader at Geneva in Switzerland, and the 

call carae to hira. It raeant tbe giving up 

of the quiet life with his books, wbich he 

so rauch loved, and it raeant daily contact 

and dealing with men and public affairs 

which was not to bis taste. He determined 

in his own mind that be could 

not make the sacrifice and told as mucb to 

his friend Farel. Then that impetuous 

Frenchman stood up before him, and in 

scathing words denounced hira as one who 

would be false to his trust and false to his 

God if he rejected the call to that work. 

Reason and conscience told him Farel was 

right, and because John Calvin dare not 

refuse, he accepted the call to Geneva and 

raade it the head of the Reforraation and 

the center of learning for all Europe. 

AVho shall say that the scholar unwillingly 

called frora his books was less 

faithful and efficient than the raan who 

faced the Diet at Worras ? Surely not we 

who have profited by. his teachings. No, 

the raanner of entering on a work is' not 

the vital point. I believe in volunteering, 

and I believe in choosing raen who bave 

raanifest gifts, for any and every office


that Christ bas established in His Cburcb. tbeir work. Jesus Cbrist surrendered ab- 

The manner of accepting a call is no in- solutely to the wiU of God in order to 

dication of bow it will be carried outi buti work out our eternal salvation. He asks 

(5) The degree of surrender is an in- no less than this from every one wbo is 

dication. The four raen raentioned had saved by His blood. I coraraend to you 

tbis tbing in common, that when tbey tbe following words, found, I believe, 

once accepted their worlc, tbey surrendered written on tbe fly leaf of a missionary's 

themselves unreservedly to tbat work. Bible after bis death, as a succinct state- 

WUness Moses pleading for that sinning ment of the spirit tbat God asks of each 

people in tbe wilderness, and asking tbat one, "Send me anywhere, only go with 

he may die rather tban tbey. Witness the rae. Lay any burden upon me, only susastonisbing 

labors of Calvin at Geneva, tain me. Sever any tie but tbat one which 

These surrendered flrst and sought their binds me to Thy service and Tby heart." 

work. Those surrendered in aflcepting 

Tasteless poison is tbe most dangerous kind, for it shows no danger signal to tell 

us of its presence in food or drink. Tbere is less to be feared of carbolic acid than 

of ptomaines. Tbe devil's tasteless poisons are the sins of omission. AVhen be would 

get us to commit active sin, be must try to conceal the fumes of taste or smell, and it 

is not always easy to do tbis. So he prefers to begin witb the suggestion that we 

simply leave something undone, and most of us swallow tbat poison unsuspectingly. 

Tbere is no great barm in staying horae frora churcb or Sabbath school, and doAvn 

goes the poison. So witb tbe letter we did not write, the word for Cbrist we did not 

speak, the book we did not read: bow tbe great poison-raixer raust chuckle over tbe 

success of bis tasteless draughts! For they are deadly. character-wreckers, and sure 

forerunners of other sins from whicb we would at flrstrecoil. Watch and pray against 

the sins of omission.—Church Echo. 

Some of God's best beloved who have carried the burdens of otbers and brougbt light 

to many a darkened home, are traveling through strangely painful passages on tbeir 

way home. Oh! for millions of money to rainisterto our dear Lord in the persons of 

His servants who are wrapped in night and anxiously waiting for the moming. Ye 

men and woraen of wealth, and all you who bave even the widow's mite, give quickly. 

You will have tbe consciousness of having done a Christ-Uke service, and of having 

honored the Master. Jesus sits over against the treasury. Recognition of your 

benevolence sball come on another day, as the ransomed of the Lord who bave tbus 

ministered to His best beloved shall feel on their heads the pressure of the pierced 

band, and bear His approving word, "Ye did it unto me."—Roberi Sample, D.D. 

The British and Foreign Bible Society has recently received $193.60 for its Centenary 

Fund from Malay Christians in the island of Sangir. The gift caUs attention 

to tbe wide pervasiveness of modern missionary effort. The island of Sangir raost 

of us wUl have to bunt up on tbe atlas. It lies about midway between the northern 

point of Celebes, in the Dutch East Indies, and tbe southern point of Mindanao, in 

the PhUippines. .Missionaries- from the Netherlands have been working tbere for, 

years.—Bureau of Missions.


N E W S OF T H E CHURCHES. 

A B R O A D . 

Latakia, Syria.—Eev. James S. Stewart, 

writing June 28, gives interesting 

iteras: 

The closing exercises of the boys' school 

were held last week; Tbere were flve 

graduates, all raembers of the Church. 

To-day the closing exercises of the girls' 

school will be held. Two girls will graduate, 

also raembers of the Church. The 

schools at Tartous, Melkah,. Gunaimia 

and Inkzik will continue through the 

sumraer with but slight interruptions. 

Since our report the Lord's Supper has 

been dispensed at Tartous and at Latakia, 

and we hope to hold sirailar services at 

Gunairaia and Inkzik during the sumraer. 

Under date of July 10, Miss Mattie R. 

Wylie sends sorae additional items: 

ilr. Stewart and faniily went to Kessab. 

July 1, and expected to assist Eev. C. A. 

Dodds at coramunion in Suadia last Sabbath.- 

Mr. Stewart has not been very 

well. The native doctors say bis system is 

full of malaria, and that he ought to remain 

in the mountains all suraraer. But 

he is anxious to visit tbe out-stations. 

I have been busy since school closed, 

having, sorae long needed repairs made. 

Besides, there is the usual sumraer work 

of preparing stores for the winter, whitewashing 

tbe house, making over mattresses, 

cleaning bedsteads and a host of 

otber tbings. 

Tbe accompanying picture shows the 

graduates of tbe boys' school at Latakia, 

June 22, 1905. They hold in their hands 

their cherished diploraas. All are members 

of our Cburch. At the left is Khalil 

Awad, a grandson of our deceased Licentiate, 

Isa Hauranie. His parents are 

Protestants, his father being a convert 

from tbe Greek Orthodox Churcb. Tbey 

live at Eldany, where we used to have a 

school and church. The second is Boulus 

Kbishu. -His faraily are converts frora 

the Armenian cburch at Gunaimia. His 

older brother is our teacher there. Boulus 

is the flrst graduate from that village. 

He would like to continue his studies and 

be a preacher. Tbe raiddle boy is Sadik 

Gebra, an Arraenian convert. His older 

brother is a raember of the Cburch, and 

his younger brother, who is still iri schooh 

PRUIT OP latakia mission. 

has asked to be received. The fourth is 

Nuse Sultan, of Jendairia., the only Ansairia 

meraber of the class. His father 

was forraerly a teacber for the Mission. 

His older brother, Kamil, who graduated 

a few years ago, has lately been drafted 

into the army, but is trying to raise the 

flfty Turkish liras necessary to purchase 

bis release. The fiftb and last is Habib 

Hanna, whose father is a Greek and bis 

raother an Armenian. His older brother, 

Escander, wbo is also a graduate of Latakia, 

taugbt sebool tbe past year at

Nem of the Churche$. 205 

Suadia. These boys will bave a very bard 

time to maintain their Protestant princi- 

' ples in actual struggle for a livelihood, 

but tbe Lord knoweth bow to deliver tbe 

godly out of temptation. 

James S. Stewart. 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—The young 

people wbo met Miss Captain, native 

teacber in tbe girls' school at Mersina, 

came to ours, as they know now that our 

school gives better teaching. We always 

give attention to morals, and, of course, 

special efforts are made to distribute tbe 

trutb to all the pupils, and undoubtedly 

tbey bave all been benefited. Tbe cbildren 

in scbool are mostly of the poor class, 

and Avhen the working season comes, they 

are obliged to leave for work, and to earn 

a few piasters. This, of course, breaks 

'•?... 

' 

. ^ ^ ^ " T ' ^ t;:0^.., „Jjife W*;l 

X 

D ^ ^ -•^' :\ i 

m^l^y- f 

HBH|^hP^|Hh|l^^ ^"^^^^^ 

•' m s m r S l t e g : -• 

\ M 

V. -i^'^H^QÎH^BMUf 

'^w^^'^PPmmHB 

,' ;..i 

,,' •*. 

' 

- '%, • 

- # 

.-'SSSis. 

W m 

•'•'•).-5p ' „ • ' ' • 

GUZNE, SUMMER HOME OP EBV. E. J. DODHS AND PAMILY. 

when in America for a few weeks last 

summer, will be glad to bave tbis letter 

from her: 

Dear friends across tbe ocean: 

Now that our school year is finished, I 

find time to write to you bow it passed. 

I am glad to say that we bad good success. 

Tbe two schools were full of pupils. Several 

boys left the CathoUc school and 

up some of the classes and makes the 

teacher's task difficult. 

Tbe behavior of the pupils was good 

in general, and, of course, this is the effect 

of a Christian spirit. 

I am glad to say tbat our minister's 

bealth is good now, and also that of tbe 

family. They are up in Guzne, but Mr. 

Dodds comes down every once in a while.


Miss Sterrett had lots to do this year 

in caring for the two schools, but we are 

glad to say that she has good health, although 

tired. 

We are glad that Dr. Dray is coming 

out soon. He bas raany friends in Mersina, 

awaiting bis coraing. 

On the Sabbath of the lltb of June, we 

had a review of twelve Sabbath school lessons, 

and the pupils all answered very 

nicely, and seeraed to reraember much of 

what they had learned. Tbere are two 

little boys and several girls who never raiss 

being present in tbe Sabbath school, and 

at all the other serrices. They are well 

interested in dwelling in the bouse of 

God. During the suraraer great teraptations 

stand in the way of our boarding 

pupils, chiefiy the bad exaraple of their 

parents. 

AVe pray always that God raay keep His 

chosen ones, and we ask all the friends 

in Araerica to help us with their prayers. 

I reraain 

Yours in the Lord's work, 

Madeline Captain. 

Cyprus.—Writing July 12, Eev. Walter 

McCarroll reports bis brother still ill, 

but "the hospital doctor thinks that he 

will be up agairi in a few days, as there is 

now no indication of typhoid." The illness 

of Dr. McCarroll and otber raatters 

have detained our raissionariesso long in 

Nicosia, that they will probably be unable 

to carry out their plan of a visit to Guzne 

in Asia Minor this suraraer. Having returned 

frora Alexandria, whither he went 

to confer with Mr. Cooper, agent of the 

British and Foreign Bible Society, in regard 

to colportage in Cyprus, Mr. McCarroU 

intended, the day after writing, to 

leave for Polis, in the district of Paphos. 

A daughter was born to Dr. and Mrs. 

Calvin McCarroU, July 11, 1905. 

A letter of August 1 brings the following 

items from Mr. .McCarroU: 

Since last writing many events of considerable 

interest to us have taken place, 

and have occupied time and attention so 

much that we bave found little time for 

writing. A record of these events may be 

of interest to your readers. 

ily brother, as you will remeraber, reraoved 

to Nicosia early in April. Early 

in June he becarae ill, but thought it 

nothing serious until the second week, 

Avhen his disease was pronounced typho|id 

fever. As ray brother's wife was in indifferent 

health, it was thougbt best to 

have bim taken to tbe hospital, where be 

would receive the best of care and attention. 

The fever proved to be a raildcase, 

and after four weeks be was discharged as 

cured, but, unfortunately, he suffered a 

relapse the night of his horae-coraing, and 

Avas corapelled to spend anotber fortnight 

in the hospital, frora which he carae out 

finally on July 23. In the raeantime my 

brother's wife concluded to take up ber 

abode in the hospital, wbich sbe did early 

in the morning of July 11, and shortly 

after gave birth to a baby girl. Mother 

and daughter progressed so favorably that 

at the end of a fortnight they were able to 

return to their home. The patients now 

were horae, but naturally very weak. The 

hospital doctor insisted that tbey must 

leave the heat of Nicosia and go to 

Troodos for a month in order to recuperate, 

to whicii place they therefore went on 

July 38. My own faraily, after a six 

weeks' sojourn in Nicosia, returned to 

Larnaca the sarae day. 

In the raeantirae other events bad 

transpired. About the middle of June 

Mrs. Ae,gyptiades learned of the serious 

illness of her daughter in Naples, and decided 

that duty called ber tbere. Her son 

Alekko, who had been teaching in our 

school, departed for Smyrna on June 24,

Newsjof tJ^n ^^tuyjês. 207 

taking Avith bim Electra, a granddaughter 

of Mr. and ilrs. Aegyptiades. 

Alekko, was to go on to Araerica direct 

from Smyrna. 

On June 30 the Sarkissian family was 

ready, for tbe long journey to Toronto, 

Canada, and ilrs. Aegyptiades for Naples. 

On tbe same day, by the sarae steamer, Mr. 

and Mrs. Ezekiel, of the orphanage, 

started for tbe United States. I accompanied 

thera as far as Port Said, as I had 

been summoned to Alexandria on business 

AA'ith.the B. & F. B. Society. 

Pastor Sarkissian met witb an unfortunate 

but rather amusing accident on 

the way to Port Said. He was seasick, 

and lost beyond recovery his wbole lower 

set of false teeth. Miss Hosanna, his 

daughter, was also so unfortunate as to 

injure one of her limbs quite seriously, so 

that sbe was able to raove only with the 

greatest pain and difficulty. Fortunately 

tbey bad Iaa'o or three days in Port Said, 

and with good medical care she recovered 

sufficiently to continue ber journey. Tbe 

last word showed that they had reached 

London safely. 

My own journey took me by rail frora 

Port Said to Alexandria, through the 

Delta of Egypt, certainly one of the raost 

fertile portions of God's earth. Upon the 

beneflcence and unfailing rainistry of the 

Eiver Nile depend the sustenance and 

prosperity of the raillionsthat inhabit the 

Delta. Hoav curious appeared tbe villages 

Avith their little raud houses, each one 

ending in a chiraney two or three feet 

high—eacb village looking in tbe distance 

something like a cluster of bee-hives, apparently 

with accommodation sufficient 

for one or two bundred people, but really 

containing thousands. A population of 

eight or nine millions of Mosleras in the 

Delta alone, Avith but balf a dozen raissionaries, 

and tbese located principally in 

Cairo. Wbat favorable conditions bere 

exist for missiopary work! The fields 

• are white unto harvest, the laborers so 

,few. 

As the Bible Society bad decided to 

discontinue its grant in aid of colportage 

work in Cyprus, and as this grant 

amounted to the Avages of one colporteur, 

the Society agreed to transfer one raan to 

Egypt and eraploy hira there. Accordingly, 

in the end of July, Colporteur 

Varavois, with his faraily, reraoved to 

Alexandria. Within tbe last few weeks, 

therefore, tbree paid workers and five 

merabers have removed frora the island. 

On July 13, accorapanied by Licentiate 

Diraitriades, I raade a trip to Foils, 

a town in the Paphos District, and sorae 

eighty railes frora Nicosia. Two of our 

merabers live in Polis. Dr. Bairamian 

is district raedical officer there. I arranged 

for a service in the house of the 

doctor on Sabbath, but the attendance of 

outsiders, as we expected, was very small, 

only two. This service we held at six 

o'clock in the evening. Since the people 

would not come to us, we deterrained to 

go to thera. Accordingly, both in the 

niorning and evening of tbe Sabbath, we 

went to the raarket and took our seats at 

a coffee house and opened a discussion. 

Both discussions were with Mosleras, and 

in each case raany attentive listeners. 

They asked us such questions as: Which 

of the raany sects of the Christian religion 

is rigbt ? If the Christian religion 

is the true religion, and a Saviour is 

necessary, why did not the Saviour corae 

ages before He did ? These questions gave 

opportunity for opening in some degree 

the plan of salvation. In the evening we 

Avere invited to explain and solve the 

raj-stery of the Trinity. This is the great 

stumbling-block to the mind of tbe 

iloslem. He is a pure Monotheist, and 

cannot conceive of a tri-personality. Althougb 

we cannot say that any one was


convinced, yet tbe seed was sowed and 

some day may bring fortb fruit. The 

following Sabbath found us in Faraagusta 

at the otber side of tbe island. Here we 

found the work in raore hopeful condition 

than we expected. The sister of one of 

our raembers seems to be converted, and 

has expressed a desire to becorae a raeraber. 

Mr. Kassilian spoke of two or three 

others as earnest friends, secretly, of the 

evangelical cause, and he was full of hope 

for the work there. 

Brother E. J. Dodds had very kindly 

invited us to suraraer in Guzne, and also 

offered us a bouse there, and it had been 

our intention to go; but now that so rauch 

of tbe suraraer has passed, it seems scarcely 

worth while to go. We are thankful 

for continued good health, and for 

strength to do some worlc for the Master; 

but we are sad, because of the apparently 

strange providence that has reraoved another 

devoted worker from the Mission 

in China. Are there not raany volunteers 

ready to spring forward to fillthe places 

of the fallen ? Is God testing the devotion 

of our Church ? 

Tak Hing, China. — A personal letter 

frora Eev. A. I. Robb, written June 30, 

frora which we are alloAA'ed to exercise our 

own judgment in making extracts, contains, 

araong others, the following touching 

and irapressive passages: 

We confidently expected her (Miss Torrence's) 

recovery until within fifteen hours 

of her death. I know not what to say to 

you or any one else in the face of these 

recurring removals, just when the workers 

were ready for their best, and the work 

waiting to be done. * * * -^g ^^^ 

take comfort in the thought that it is well 

with thera, and that they are entered into 

their reward. But why this reraoval of 

workers at the entrance on their work? 

AVhy are we as a Mission so sorely crippled. 

and wby is tbe Church's work made so to 

suffer? I think no one here is discouraged. 

Tbe opportunities and the evidences 

of God's blessing on our work are too manifest 

for us to be cast down; but we cannot 

help but wonder if there is not some 

great lesson tbat He is trying to teach 

us, and we too blind to see or too deaf to 

bear. It is less tban twenty months since 

death clairaed tbe one, at that time most 

fitted to give help to tbe women. Two 

hundred and ninety-four days go by, and 

another, the one then raost fittedto help 

the woraen, is called home. Two hundred 

and ninety-four days go by and a third one, 

the leader for tbe women's work, is taken 

frora us, and we lay her beside the others 

in the silent dust. 

Of one thing I am sure, it does not 

mean the cessation of our work, nor the 

relaxing of our efforts. The opportunity 

is here. The people, especially the women, 

are seeking the light, and mourning, not 

alone the loss of a friend, but because 

there is one less to teach thera the way of 

life. It is said that Avhen Garibaldi was 

asking his little array of a thousand men 

to go with him against treraendous odds 

to strike for the freedoni of Italy, he was 

asked what he could proraise thera, and he 

said, "I can promise you wounds, hunger, 

hardship and death, and the glory of enduring 

these for your beloved country." 

And they cheered the man who offered 

thera this. I hope the death roll in our 

Mission here will not be a hindrance to 

any who raight otherwise be ready to 

corae, but no one can proraise exeraption 

frora separations and trials and loneliness 

and illnesses and perbaps death in this faroff' 

land of darkness. The conditions call 

for a consecration that will dare to lay 

life itself on the altar of service whenever 

it is God's will to ask it. I ara sure those 

who have fallen asleep made no less a surrender 

than this. But Jesus Christ made

all this a'Condition of being a disciple at 

all. "If any man cometh to Me and 

hateth not bis oAvn father, and mother, and 

wife, and cbildren, and bretbren, and sisters, 

yea, and his own life also, he cannot 

be My disciple."—Luke 14, 26. R. V. 

Tbere is notbing in China to make it anything 

but attractive to every disciple, according 

to Christ's deflnition of discipleship. 

News of the Churchta. 209 

The Churcb has been good to tbe Mission 

in China. We bave never lacked for 

money support, and prayers and interest 

and sympathy have been freely given; and 

I think I am not wrongly measuring the 

Churcb of my fathers and my birth, when 

I express the belief sbe will flll up the 

ranks. There ougbt to be two to take up 

tbe educational work araong tbe women 

and girls. We would praise God to know 

that they are coraing in the fall. 

All are well at tbe station, and the work 

on the chapel is raovingnicely. The walls 

are waist high, and unless 'delay occurs we 

will be in it by early fall. 

Some one at borae can write an estiraate 

of Miss Torrence's character. Let rae 

give you this from Mrs. Nelson's note of 

A'csterday: "I do not know bow to express 

wbat I feel of personal loss. It took 

me a long wbile to appreciate Miss Torrence, 

but I truly say tbat when I did 

corae to knoAv' ber, I found ber pure gold 

and ara proud to have been considered ber 

friend." She said soon after sbe was 

taken ill tbat she did not think she would 

get well. AVhen I asked her if she was 

ready to go, sbe at once said, "Yes, to depart 

and be witb Cbrist is far better." 

The coffin was, exactly like that in wbich 

ber sister was laid away, and all arrangeraents 

were raanaged by one of our native 

Christians, and managed well. Tbe heavy 

coffin was carried out and lowered carefully 

and silently. Tbe grave is beside 

Dr. George's. It is a comfort to know that 

tbe four wbo lie side by side in tbis distant 

land, are a joyous company in tbe 

presence of Jesus. 

Writing July 24, Rev. Julius Kempf 

says among other things : 

The Mission in China, with all its success 

and bright prospects, is not without 

its dark hours and disappointments. It 

hasjust passed under another cloud ; and 

yet we cannot but believe that it is in 

order that the light of the glory of the 

Sun of Righteousness may shine all the 

brighter upon it. 

As far as her usefulness was concerned. 

Miss Torrence's death seemed, to our 

limited vision, most untimely. Everything 

was in readiness for her to begin 

the school work, which is so much needed 

here, and on which her heart was set, 

and for which she made such careful preparations. 

The school building is finished 

; desks, books, beds, bedding, practically 

everything necessary for school 

work is at hand. We eannot understand 

why she should be called away just at 

this time. But we know that He to 

whom the work belongs does understand. 

And He knows what is best for the accomplishment 

of His great purpose. And although 

His acts sometimes seem to hinder 

the work that is so dear to Him and to 

us, yet we can take comfort and courage 

from the assurance that "He doeth all 

things well." 

Now in what are you rightly bappy? Not in thinking of what you bave done 

yourself; not in your oavu pride; not your own birth; not in j'our own being, or your 

own will, but in looking at God; watching what He does; what He is; and obeying His 

law, and j'ielding yourself to His will.—John Ruskin.

•210 News of the Churches. 

A T 

H O M I 

Allegheny, Fa.--Central Board of Missions reports as follows for July 


Balance 

June 1, '05. 

Southern Mission $1,017.26 


Jewish Mission 45.15 

Chinese Mission 484.06 

Sustentation 3,318.77 

Deflcit 

June 1, '05. 

Doraestic ilission $2,741.87 

Receipts. 

$202.78 

220.74 

170.00 

16.20 

25.30 

Balance 

July 1, '05. 

$1,011.31 

971.49 

175.35 

394.93 

1,857.93 

Deflcit 

July 1, '05. 

$3,615.27 

000 frora the estate of 

Expenditures. 

$308.73 

168.68 

40.00 

105.33 

42.02 

$126.60 

There is really a balance in the Sustentation Fund. The 

Mr. Alexander is not included in above stateraent. 

Appropriations for the last quarter of the year ending June 30 were made as follows : 

Pittsburg Presbytery ". ' $347.50 

Lakes Presbytery 387.50 

New York Presbytery 34.00 

Eochester Presbytery 8.64 

Illinois Presbytery 350.00 

loAva Presbytery , 261.00 

N. B. and N. S. Presbytery 112.50 

Colorado Presbytery 385.00 

Total $1,576.14 

Making a tntal deflcit in the Doniestic Mission Fund of $4,191.41. No reports were 

received frora Kansas, Ohio or Vermont Presbyteries. Those from Pittsburg, Lakes, 

NeAV Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and Colorado Presbyteries were for tbe flrstquarter 

of the present Synodical year, instead of the last quarter of tbe last year. 

The Chinese ilission was the only one frora whicb a report was received. The average 

attendance of scholars at fivepra.yer raeetings was 10 3-5; on four Sabbaths, 10;^. 

The enrollraent Avas 17, average attendance at the night school 5 3-3. Average attendance 

of whites at prayer meeting, Q>\, and on Sabbaths, 8 1-5. During the absence of 

ilr. Faris, Mr. James Arthur rendered valuable assistance at the Mission. 

The Board will meet hereafter at the regular tirae, the third AVednesday of eacb 

month, 9 :30 A. M., in the office of Synod's Treasurer, Penn Building, Penn Avenue, 

Pittsburg, instead of as before, in the Seminary Building. 

Central Board reports as follows for August: 

On Hand 

July 1, '05. 

Southern Mission $1,011.31 

Chinese Mission 394.93 


Sustentation 3,067.10 

Receipts. 

$1,383.41 

5.00 

954.80 

1,857.93 

Expenditures. 

$402.55 

105.33 

131.88 

On Hand 

Aug. 1, '05. 

$1,893.17 

294.60 

1,804.41 

209.17

News .of ihe Churches.. .211 

Deficit. 

Doniestic Mission $2,615.17 

The Board met u;i the office of Treasurer 

J. S. Tibby, 507 Penn BuUding, 

Pittsburg, Aug. 15, 9:30 A. M. The 

room, though small, is sufficiently large 

to accommodate a full meeting. Being 

centrally located, it is convenient for all. 

Besides, $500 are saved annually in rent. 

The attention of tbe Church is called 

to the condition of tbe Domestic Mission 

Fund. The reports frora Kansas and 

Obio Presbyteries were not received at the 

previous meeting. Five hundred dollars 

were appropriated to tbe forraer and 

$50.00 to the latter, i. e., $550.00 more 

than stated in the last report. 

At tbe beginning of the last year we 

had a balance of $463.43. At the close 

there was a deficit of $2,773.13. We tbus 

began tbis year witb $3,236.55 less than 

we did the lasti The deficit is $2,773.12. 

Synod appropriated for tbis year $12,- 

045.00. If we add to tbis the deficit, we 

have a total of $14,818.12 to be raised in 

order to meet our obligations. The total 

amount received in 1904-1905 for this, 

fund was $6,176.98: That we raay pay 

to tbe Presbyteries the amounts appropriated, 

there must be raised an additional 

sum of $8,641.14. 

Tbe deflcit already is $4,455.91. As 

tbe collection for this fund will not be 

taken up until Oct. 1, tbe receipts will be 

very small until the close of tbat month. 

On tbe third Wednesday of October the 

Board Avill make another distribution, 

which will araount to about $3,011.35, 

making a total deficit at that date of about 

$7,467.16. 

Wbat sbould the Board do in the circumstances 

? It has no reserve fund from 

whicb to draw. Will it be justified contracting 

a debt tbat may amount to thousands 

wben Synod next meets? Such a 

debt reported would practically end our 

Deficit. 

$179.50 $2,020.14. $4,455.92 

Domestic .Mission work for a tirae. Or 

should it refuse to go any further in debt 

and state the facts to Synod at its next 

raeeting? That would occasion a great 

deal of hardship, as raany pastors depend 

to a considerable extent upon the aid tbey 

receive frora this fund to raeet necessary 

expenses. 

The way out of tbe difficulty is witb the 

raerabers of the Cburcb. By contributing 

proraptly and Uberally, the amount needed 

to raeet all obligations will be raised. 

Will tbey do it? A committee bas been 

appointed by the Board to present this 

wbole raatter to the Churcb. Pastors, 

elders, deacons and merabers are asked to 

give it the consideration its iraportance 

deraands. 

Miss Mary Peoples, of Princeton, Ind., 

was elected to take charge of the kitchen 

and dining roora in the Indian Mission. 

Tbe force at present consists of W. W. 

Carithers, Superintendent; W. S. Mc 

Anlis, Miss Rena McAnlis, .Miss Mary 

Adaras, Miss Lillie McKnight, Miss Mary 

McFarland, Miss Anna Coleraan, Sarauel 

Coulter, Sloane Moore, Miss 0. M. Eussell, 

Dr. Ida Scott and Miss Mary Peoples. 

The school will open tbe first Monday 

of Septeraber. In the raeantiraetbe work 

is carried on as usual, so far as it can be 

during tbe vacation raonths. It appears 

that in sorae way the question as to the 

second coraing of Christ bas been introduced 

among the Apaches, and excites no 

little interest. It is not likely to give us 

mucb trouble. Tbe Mission is taking care 

of the children, gathering tbem into the 

Sabbatii school, and thus bringing thera 

under proper religious instruction. 

In tbe Southern Mission there is but 

little to report. Mr. Pickens is now in 

charge of Valley Carap, and Miss Siraras 

is at Pleasant Grove. Mr. Kingston re-


ports tbat tbe work is going on satisfae- tbe year a box of clothing and a barrel 

torily. The Sabbath services, be states, of fruit were sent to tbe Indian Mission, 

are well attended. J. W. Sproull. and two boxes of clothing were sent to the 

^ Southern Mission. Our Literature Com- 

The session of tbe Reformed Presby- mittee reports to have distributed someterian 

Theological Seminary, Allegheny, thing over 2,000 papers, besides a number 

Pa., for 1905-6, will begin on Tuesday, of Bibles, quarterlies and magazines at 

•September 19, 1905, tbe opening lecture horae and abroad. Our Subscription 

to be given in the evening of that day by Coraraittee reports twenty-three subscrip- 

Professor Willson. 

tions taken for Olive Trees. As we go 

forth the coraing year, may we not be 

Morning Sun, la.—Annual report of weary in well doing, knowing that the 

the Ladies' Missionary and Aid Society of "harvest truly is great, but the laborers 

Morning Sun, la.: 

are few." May the glory of God and love 

We come again to the close of another to our fellow-raen be the animating prinyear's 

work. The year that has just passed ciple in all that we do. 

has not dift'ered greatly with those preced- 

Mrs. Thos. Huston, Secretary. 

ing. God has blessed us with peace and Treasurer's Receipts. 

some degree of prosperity. Death bas Balance carried forward $13.99 

again entered our Society and called horae Merabership dues 111.50 

one of our loved raerabers. One of the Donations 10.59 

ties which bind us to earth has thus been By subscription 5.41 

severed; but we trust that another has Subscription for Thank Offering 45.00 

been added to the bonds which bind us to $186.49 

heaven. Sorae of our meetings were made 

Disbursements. 

especially interesting by the presence of To Syrian Mission $51.65 

sorae of our field raissionaries, among Cyprus Mission 45.00 

whom were Miss Maggie Cunninghani, Spring Garden -Church 50.15 

of Chicago; Miss Edgar, of the Syrian Southern Mission 2.74 

Mission, and Mrs. Reed, of the Southern Indian Mission 12.13 

Mission. In April this year we were en- Horae work 19.10 

tertained, together with ladies of otber Balance in treasury 5.72 

societies of our town, at a raissionarytea $186.49 

at the horae of Mrs. TrurabuU, in honor of Box sent to Indian Mission, value $35.05 

Miss Maggie Edgar. In June our raan- Box sent to Southern Miss., value 55.70 

agers arranged for a congregational din- $90.75 

ner, which was held as usual on our pas- Mrs. E. W. McElhinney, Treasurer. 

tor's lawn. We have held twelve regular 

raeetings, and one special prayer raeeting White Lake, N. Y The New York 

for preparation for coraraunion the past Presbytery will raeet at White Lake, 

year. We have an enrollraent of forty- Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 3 P. M. In the 

one raerabers,with an average attendance evening there will be a popular raeeting 

of twenty. Two of our merabers have for the discussion of Teraperance and 

withdrawn frora our Society this year by other Reforra questions. The forenoon of 

reraoving from our midst, and one bas Wednesday will be devoted to special 

been called to the horae above. During prayer.


JENNIE B. TORRENCE. 


"That God, which ever lives and loves. 

One God, one law, one element. 

And one far-off divine event. 

To wbicb the whole creation moves." 

Tbe "divine event" comes to all, and 

one by one our loved ones pass beyond to 

be witb "God who ever lives and loves." 

So recently we looked into the face of 

our Jennie, yes, our Jennie, because she 

belonged to the wbole Covenanter Churcb, 

and some of us bad our heart-strings tuned 

anew to her sweet consecration and surrender 

to the work in Tak Hing Chau. 

Only one year has gone. 

"Last year we joyously sang: 

We ceased: a gentler feeling crept 

Upon us: Surely rest is meet: 

'She rests,' we said, 'her sleep is sweet,' 

And silence followed, and we wept." 

Shocked and grieved, we wondered wby, 

ob! wby has our Jennie gone to rest wben 

now so ready for the work in China's 

needy land, but, 

"We know transplanted huraan worth 

Will bloom to profit otherwhere." 

Jane Isabella Torrence was bom in 

Breraer County, Iowa, February 32, 1866. 

She was naraed for her grandraother, Jane 

Boggs Torrence, and for her aunts, Mrs. 

Jane Shields and Mrs. Isabella Dodds. 

When abofut one year old sbe was taken by 

ber parents to Winchester, Kansas, where 

ber uncle, Eev. Josiab Dodds, was her 

pastor, after whicb bis successor. Dr. D. 

H. Coulter, was her spiritual guide for a 

time. In 1881 she went witb ber father's 

family to make her horae in Denison, 

Kansas. Tbere at tbe age of sixteen she 

united witb the cburcb, under the pastijrate 

of Eev. J. S. T. MUligan. Tbere 

was henceforth nothing more enjoyable to 

her tban to meet witb God's people, and 

she was never asharaed to confess her 

Saviour. She developed into an all-round 

Cbristian AA'orker. The Sabbath school 

was her delight; the prayer meeting a 

place in whicb her voice was heard in 

helpful reraarks and earnest prayer; the 

Christian Endeavorers willingly gave her 

a place as leader and guide in raany lines 

of worlc; the Missionary Society saw her 

developing into a woraan fit to make a 

heroine in any fieldof mission service. 

Witb tbis beautiful growth in spiritual 

things she was faithfully applying herself 

in school life. Corapleting the school 

work at horae, she attended Carapbell University. 

All tbe way through ber childhood 

and young womanhood there was 

ever manifest a quiet, deterrained spirit to 

excel in the better things of life. AVben 

she saw a worlc before her to perforra she 

turned not to the right hand nor to the 

left, but facing the storra, she pressed forward. 

One little instance of childhood 

shows her deterrained spirit. She, with 

her brothers and sisters, was at school, 

when the weather changed and the wind 

began to blow—cold and fierce—each succeeding 

bour threatening raore severe cold. 

Jennie said: "I'ra going bome," and 

straight home she went, facing the storra 

without wraps or corapany, wbile all the 

other children, living iri her direction, 

stopped at her uncle's horae to wait for 

wraps. She was none tbe worse of tbe 

march alone, and it was only one of many 

experiences of which her life was so full, 

in whicb alone she went on to victory. 

A most excellent pupil herself, sbe, 

during twelve years of teaching, ever inspired 

her pupils to fittheraselves for life's 

future work by doing well to-day tbe tasks 

assigned. Her strength of character was


raanifest in her gentle but flrra and effective 

control of the most difficult 

schools. All these qualiflcations raade ber 

a peer in her profession. But to know ber 

as a neat and accoraplished scbool teacher, 

ladylike and refined, one would never 

tbink of her being able to feed the horses, 

milk the cows, bitch the team to drive it 

either in tbe raower, hay-rake, or the carriage. 

The tbing before her to be done 

was hers to do, and well did she perforra 

tbe same. Whether in work or pleasure. 

BEPORE LEAVING POE CHINA, 1901. 

from the kitchen to the parlor, she was 

mistress of tbe situation. 

Her friends were not surprised when 

our Mission Board gladly chose one so 

fully prepared in heart and mind for work 

in some difficult field. The cry of the 

heathen world bad ever appealed to her 

beart, and when the door opened she was 

ready to enter in. Her sister, our lamented 

Mrs. A. I. Eobb, often had to be 

left alone—the only white woman in Tak 

Hing Cbau. To go to ber and to the 

heathen Chinese people, sbe was wUling to 

leave borae and loved ones and her native 

land to serve tbe Master she loved raostof 

all. 

Numerous testimonials were sent to the 

Board by men in public life, whose namea 

comraand tbe confidence of the wbole 

Churcb. All are full of assurance that 

"Miss Torrence has unusual ability, and 

adaptation to perform the raost difficult 

work." Dr. Coulter, of Winchester, 

Kansas, wrote: "I am happy to say that 

I have knoAvn Miss Jennie. Torrence well 

from her childhood. She has fine qualities, 

is a devout Cbristian, an eamest 

worker in the congregation and in tbe 

Young People's Society, accomplished in 

manner, agreeable in disposition and possessed 

of sound, good sense and fine tact. 

She has fought her way through hardships 

to success, and is not likely to quail before 

the difficulties of any position." Dr. 

H. H. George, Field Secretary of the 

National Reform Association, wrote: 

"Miss Jennie Torrence is a deeply devout 

Christian, an everyday unflagging Christian, 

untiring in Christian zeal. Her 

heart is set on mission work. I know of 

no young lady better suited witb all-round 

qualiflcations." So we migbt quote excellent 

testiraonials frora many otbers, 

and the Churcb knows that her good qualities 

were never over-estimated. 

The Boxer Massacre prevented ber being 

sent to China in 1900, the year of her 

appointraent. Rev. A. I. Robb and 

faraily were compelled to leave the disturbed 

land. Coming to the United 

States, they spent several montbs. After 

things had quieted down somewhat, they, 

with Miss Torrence, started back to the 

land where so many missionaries 'and multitudes 

of Cbristian natives bad been 

cruelly murdered. Under these dark 

clouds it took a braver heart and a more


consecrated purpose to go forward to work 

and perhaps to die in a foreign land by the 

hand of crael men—tbe very men for 

whom they were willing to give their lives 

to save tbem from etemal death. 

Before Miss Torrence started on her 

long joumey westward, sbe attended 

Synod in CedarviUe, Obio, where sbe won 

tbe hearts of all who heard her by ber 

eamest and touching words. 

From the time of her faj-eweU to her 

bome land, the church papers have contained 

many interesting letters about her 

travels, work and study. Her days were 

full of those experiences wbicb test character 

and bring a blessing to a cbild of 

God. Bravely she met the new and trying 

things which come to one in a degraded 

heathen land. Added to all tbese was 

sickness in her sister's family, wbicb 

made her heavy study and diligent preparation 

for future work a great responsibihty. 

But wben tbe angel of deatb took 

away tbat precious sister and the motherless 

little ones clung to her for mothering, 

her cup was full to overflowing. Her 

beautiful letters told of tbe depth of her 

sorrow in the lonely bome, but they 

breathed the surrender to God's holy will. 

From the smitten bome tbe raessenger 

again bore away little Joseph and took 

hira to his mother's arms in heaven above. 

With the three little motherless children, 

the broken-hearted father and 

"Aunt Jennie" started to the home land. 

Reacbing tbe old bome at Denison, 

Kansas, the little ones were left in loving 

hands, wbile Mr. Robb and Miss Torrence 

"went about among tbe churches doing 

good." Only a few hours could Miss Torrence 

spare for her Aunt Belle Dodds and 

for Sterling Congregation, but ber story 

of China's cry: "You'll come back to us, 

youTl come back to us and bring others to 

tell us about your Jesus," so appealed' to 

all of us tbat we thought we must be 

more diligent in praying and working and 

giving, but to one, now up in years and on 

the shady side of life, ber words were so 

stirring, that be said: "I would tbat I 

had given my life. to mission work in 

heathen lands. I feel like deeding all 

that I have toiled to save tbese many years 

to China's millions. Her story was a 

blessing to my soul!" Wben sbe was leaving 

on the train one tried to make her take 

a personal contribution. "Ob, no!" sbe 

said, "I'll give it to the work, it's not for 

me." 

in china, 1905. 

Her heart was set upon the-school for 

girls in Tak Hing Chau. Her head was 

full of plans for thera, her years of study 

were in special preparation for them; and 

just when she was ready to open the 

school, with prospects bright, pain and 

weakness came, life's tide ebbed away and 

she, too, has gone to join tbe flvebrothers 

and sisters who had gone before and to 

aAvait the coming of mother and father 

and the six who yet remain.


The father and raother,so raany thousands 

of miles away, have had only cablegrams 

of saddest news and letters of particulars 

to tell thera of their beloved 

child's passing hence. They should have, 

and certainly do have the prayers of God's 

people that they raay be sustained in their 

sore trial. Her father, Mr. Joseph Torrence, 

Denison, Kansas, writes: "Dear 

Jennie fell asleep on the morning of June 

26, at 3 o'clock, and was laid in the grave 

tbe sarae day ere the setting of the sun. 

Irvin Robb, Jean McBurney and Dr. and 

Mrs. Wright were all there were of the 

raissionaries present, the others being at 

school in China. Thus we see her working 

and leaming and loving wherever 

she went, raaking for herself dear friends 

always. She has gone, but the ever-widening 

influence of her brief career will ex 

Maceo. Death was unexpected, as they 

thought she was on the mend. Sabbath 

noon the change came, she sank gradually, 

the spirit leaving without a struggle." tend. 

He also Avrites: "God alone who doeth 

all things well bas done it! He only can 

give grace to sustain us in this our affliction, 

for our hearts faint and fail us. May 

He be pleased to speak to some loyal heart 

to go forth and flllthe vacant place on 

earth and carry forward the work she has 

laid down. May the Lord bless and keep 

the little band of workers in Tak Hing 

Chau is our prayer." 

When the afflicted father and raother 

can write with such consecration and 

resignation, while two daughters and one 

little grandson lie buried in far-off China, 

with still the burden of their prayers being 

that God will yet call forth others to 

labor in His vineya,rd, who is ready to respond 

to the call? 

The whole Cburch will appreciate the 

kind letter of sjmipathy to the Secretary 

of our Mission Board, frora Judson 

Smitb, D.D., Secretary of the American 

Board of Comraissioners of Foreign Missions. 

He says: "Word has just come to 

me frora our raissionary, Mr. Nelson, at 

Canton, of the death of Miss Jennie B. 

Torrence, at Tak Hing. Miss Torrence 

carae to tbe belp of Mrs. Nelson and our 

girls' scbool at Canton, and raade herself 

raost useful and raostwelcorae to our missionaries 

there. I beg to express to you 

both my personal recognition of her valuable 

services in that work, and my sincere 

sorrow to leam of her death. It must be a 

great loss to your raissionary force in 

Southern China, as well as a grief personally 

to all who knew ber, etc., etc." 

Miss Torrence was always making a 

wise iraproveraent of every opportunity to 

learn how to open and conduct a girls' 

Some one, we have faith to believe, 

will be her successor to carry out ber plans 

for the poor little girls in China. The 

Lord will answer her prayers and bring a 

blessing upon those for whom she bas 

given her precious life. She is ready to 

welcome to Heaven's golden streets tbe 

poor Chinese whom Christ redeeras. 

Truly, she did "serve the Lord with gladness," 

and now she has His "Well done!" 

Myeta May Dodds. 

THE LAST MESSAGE. 

Tak Hing Chau, China. 

Mrs. Rhu Milligan, 

Olathe, Kansas. 

My Dear Cousin : 

This is Saturday afternoon, and after a 

week of bard study and work I will take 

tirae to write a few letters. 

1 want to tell you we bad a grand opening 

the second of May. All the boxes 

which had been sent for the scbool were 

brought out to our back yard, and Mr. A. 

I. Eobb and one of the natives pulled tbe 

nails, and the ladies of the Mission were 

standing by, and uttered great exclamations 

as the various articles were taken

out of the different boxes. Our thoughts 

M'ent back to tbe home land, to the many 

friends whose hands had prepared sorae 

of tbe useful things. And we knew their 

prayers were said on our behalf each day. 

How much, we need the prayers of the 

whole Church. 

Again I want to thank your L. M. S. 

and Mission Band for the splendid box 

you sent. Tbe natives were standing 

around in great numbers and united with 

us in enjoying the feast of good things. 

They bad many questions to ask, and 

wben Ave told tbem the sisters in the 

Churcb at home had sent them for the 

scbool, they would say, "Ab, they certainly 

have good hearts. May the Heavenly 

Father bless thera!" In all the boxes 

everything was in good condition, and 

everything very useful. 

I have been able to secure tbe iron beds 

I so rauch wanted. I drew a pattem and 

bad thera raade in Canton at a cost of 

twenty beds for fiftydollars. I consider 

this very reasonable and rejoiced that our 

plan had been perfected. The shipraent 

of hardware from New York has not arrived 

and has delayed- the worlc on the 

school building. 

Last Thursday I had a class of twentyone 

women and six girls, all eager to learn 

to read. It is wonderful tbe number of 

women who come and want me to take 

tbeir girls. They are willing to give thera 

to me, if I will only feed and clothe them. 

You will see in tbe papers tbe account 

of our communion, and I will not write 

more about it, only to say tbat it was a 

time of great rejoicing among us, as the 

ripe sheaves were being gathered in. There 

is notbing on this side to discourage us. 

Everything' of tbat kind is in the home 

land when we think of the long continued 

eaU of tbe Board for more workers and no 

response by the young men and women at 

home. What is wrong? Do parents pray 


for workers to be sent forth and tben withhold 

their own sons and daughters? 0 

tbat the Church could realize bow these 

souls are passing into Christless graves. 

Pray with us and for us that laborers raay 

be thrust forth. 

All are well. Drs. McBurney are studying 

and helping Dr. Wright in the dispensary. 

Dr. Wright has perforraed a 

nuraber of cataract operations bn the eye 

Avhich have been very successful, and have 

given hira great favor with the natives. 

opening mission boxes, mat 2, 1905. 

The work on the cbapei has stopped, 

Avaiting for the river to rise so the stone 

can be brought for the foundation. But 

in the Lord's OAvn tirae it will be built, and 

Ave are trj'ing to be patient and wait His 

time. 

With best wishes to all the friends in 

L. il. S. and Mission Band and your 

faraily. Your loving cousin, 

Jennie B. Torrence.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

The contributions that we add, this raonth, to the $1,421.57 already received for this 

fund are not very large, viewed frora the huraan standpoint, but they are liberal indeed 

in the eyes of Hira who looks not at the absolute, but tbe relative aniount of the 

offerings cast into His Treasury. It is the self-surrender whicb accompanies tbe material 

gift that calls forth His approval and secures His reward. 

Contributor. 

Amount. 

A mother and daughter. Second New York $2.00 

iliss Dell Adaras, Waukesha, Wis 5.00 

iliss Addie Pinley, Sparta, 111 1.50 

iliss Maggie L. SprouU, DoAvnievUle, Pa 30.00 


China 


Doraestic Missions 

China, Syria, Southern, 

Indian & Jewisb 

The firstof these offerings is connected with an earnest prayer "that the Spirit of God 

will put it into the hearts of many to give of what God has given thera, and also tbat 

sorae young people raay be led to consecrate theraselves to the grand service in which 

three noble woraen have laid down their lives, that the work raay continue and the tirae 

soon corae when China shall be won for Christ." Not until the Church has been brought 

to realize that prayer for the evangelization of the world is raeaninglessw'ithout giving 

for the accoraplishraent of the professed desire, and that giving will be without good 

results unless linked with prayer for the blessing of God and the worlcing of His Spiriti 

shall the Kingdora corae in visibility and power. 

The friends of Foreign Missions are rerainded that 

FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS 

are pledged through Olive Trees to open a new station in China, provided that $5,000 

more are secured for that purpose. No sooner Avas this announceraent raade in the 

August number than a meniber of Second Noav York came forward with an offer of $100, 

and a meraber of Olathe Congregation, after consulting with bis faraily, sent word 

that he would give another $100. 

This is an excellent beginning, but $4,800 are still required to coraplete the fund of 

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.


Tbere may be some merabers of the Covenanter Church wiUing to give $1,000 or $500 

for tbis object, but in any event there muse be forty-eight men or women in its communion 

wbo can contribute $100 eacb without any sacrifice, and could as easily raake 

the offering to-day as a year hence. Delay has defeated raany a worthy enterprise. 

The naraes of contributors and the amount of the contribution will be published 

when we are able to report the whole sura in hand. 

At the repeated request of Olive Trees 

Eev. A. I. Eobb has sent for publication 

in its colurans the manuscript of the sermon 

Avith whicb this number opens. Only 

a few weeks before leaving for Cbina be 

delivered it in the Second Reformed Presbyterian 

Church, New York, wbere it 

made a profound impression on the people, 

wbo felt that tbey had been listening 

to a discourse whicb had been wrought 

out in the personal experience of the 

preacher. Although not elected by Synod, 

he was as evidently called of the Eedeemer 

to foreign raissionary worlc as were Barnabas 

and Saul when the Church at Antioch 

was instructed to separate or set 

thera apart to the work of foreign evangelization 

to which He had called thera. 

Mr. Robb bad consecrated hiraself to God, 

ready to serve Hira anywhere; and, in 

consenting to go to China, he was not influenced 

by tbe vote of a Christian Asserably, 

nor by the urgent request of a 

Board, but manifestly acted under the 

resistless irapulse of a divine call. Though 

he has never said so to us, nor to any one 

else, so far as we know, it is easy to conceive 

that this prayerful study of the call 

addressed to Moses to go down into Egypt 

and bring His Covenant people, the children 

of Israel, out of that land of bondage, 

Avas to him the call of tbe same Jehovah to 

go to Tak Hing and deUver His chosen 

ones in that idolatrous land out of their 

ruinous servitude to sin and Satan. 

Probably tbe author of this discourse 

has preached it from American pulpits to 

a few hundreds, but through Olive Trees 

be wUl preach it to thousands. And we 

can only pray that it may be to many 

young raen and woraen in the Reforraed 

Fresbyterian Church, who are now hesitating, 

tbe voice of God'constraining thera 

to His service in tbe foreign field and assuring 

thera of -abundant success. 

The unexpected death of Miss Jennie 

B. Torrence, just as she was ready to enter 

upon the special work for which she had 

been sent to China, should lead tbe young 

AA'oraen of the Eeforraed Fresbyterian 

Church to weigh tbe claims of our Mission 

there. Eead her last message to 

friends in America, and also Eev. A. I. 

Eobb's personal letter to the Corresponding 

Secretary of the Board, in which he 

refers to the vacancy thus created in the 

ranks of the laborers in that field,as well 

as the encouraging opportunities for service, 

and then reraeraber that two teachers 

should be on the ground as soon as. 

possible. There is no nobler work to Avhich 

a young Avoraan can devote her life than 

that of teaching and training heathen 

children for Christ. And the only qualifications 

requisite for the position now 

vacant at Tak Hing Chau are teaching experience, 

a raissionary spirit and youth. 

The applicant should not be raore than 

thirty years of age, and in good health. 

The Board avUI raeet the last Tuesday of 

September, aijd we shall be glad to have, 

before that time, the names of any who are 

AvUling to go and can be ready before the 

close of the year. 

As Rev. J. S. McGaw and Licentiate 

AA''. Henry George have both declined tbeir


election by Synod as foreign raissionaries, 

we again appeal to the young rainistersof 

the Church to^ consider the clairas of the 

Syrian Mission. Rev. Jaraes S. Stewart 

is now the only rainister in Northern 

Syria, and he has a very heavy burden to 

carry. The evangelist or Bible reader, 

Ishak Sheraa, who could occupy the pulpit 

in Latakia wh.en • he was necessarily 

away, has returned, an old raan, to his 

native Huras to end his days with relatives 

and friends. And Licentiate Salera Saleh, 

Avho was regularly eraployed at the outlying 

stations on Sabbath, is now in America, 

an old raan and unfit for further labor. 

The necessary retirement of these native 

brethren, considered along with the transfer 

of Eev. C. A. Dodds to Mersina, raeans 

a large increase of worlc for ilr. Stewart, 

who has for years been doing raore than 

should be exacted of any nne raan. 

"Suadia," he says in a reeent stateraent 

to the Board, "is a long Avay frora Latakia, 

but we shall do the best we can for that 

station." In a spirit of true self-surrender, 

he is willing, as all our missionaries 

have proved themselves, to serve the 

Church even beyond his strength, but that 

is no reason why he should be left to serve 

alone till shattered health irapairs his usefulness 

and ultiraately forces hira out of 

the field and perhaps into the grave. Surely 

the Covenanter Church has snrae one 

in the ranks of its young rainistersready 

to go to his help for the sake of the Narae. 

This Mission also requires two young 

woraen to be associated with Miss Wylie 

in Latakia and Miss Sterrett in Mersina. 

The need is pressing, and two teachers 

should be in the fieldbefore the end of the 

year. 

Sorae tirae ago Olive Trees received 

$3 frora "a raeraber of Holrawood Congregation," 

now over eighty-four years bf 

age, "for a poor Avidow woraan in Tak 

Hing," whose house and its contents were 

"liurned while she was in the mountains 

gathering something to sell, to live on." 

The raoney has been forwarded, as requested, 

to Dr. Kate McBumey. More 

reeently $3.90 were received "to go to 

iliss Meta Cunninghara for her to use as 

she thinks best in her work, a gift frora 

the L. M. Society of South Branch of 

Hebron Congregation.'' About the sarae 

time the minister of Chicago Church, 

Rev, Robert Clarke, sent Avord that the 

C. E. Society of the congregation had, at 

a special meeting, unaniraously decided to 

raise $100 during the coraing year for 

foreign raissions, as it had last year. 

"This," he Avrites, "in no way interferes 

with or dirainishes the liberal contributions 

raade by our young people to all the 

work of the congregation and of the 

Church at large." 

of liberalitj'. 

This is a fine exaraple 

The Fleming H. Eevell Co., Ncav Yorlc, Chicago and Toronto, has sent us 

AU Aboui Japan. By Miss BeUe M. Brain. Price $1.00 nci. 

This is a coraplete history of Japan frora the earliest days down to the present hour, 

Avritten for children. It contains a vast amount of information respecting this wonderful 

country with Avhich old and young ought to be farailiar. Its early exclusiveness, the 

subsequent opening of its gates to AVestern civiUzation, and its gradual progress until 

now it holds a commanding position among the nations of the Avorld, are described in 

a jiinst instructive and attractive style. In this book, beginning Avitli glimpses of the 

Sunrise Land aud closing with a reference to the great revival of Christianity iu the 

firet year of this century that made glad the hearts of Christian missionaries, there is 

not a dull page. We heartily commend it to our readers.

O L I V E T R B E S 

A Monthly Jourtial devoted to Missionary 'Worlc in the Reformed Presbyterian 


No. OCTOBER, 1905. 10. 


THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE. 

REV. I. A. BLACKWOOD, NEW YORK. 

It is said tbat one of the heaviest burdens 

of the Archbishop of Canterbury is 

that there are flve thousand English 

clergymen, eaeh of wbom knows, and 

Icnows exclusively, what is wrong with the 

Church of England, waiting to get an 

audience with hira. The spirit of these 

flve tbousand Englisb clergy seeras to be 

Avidespread. For everybody we raeet, 

every paper we take up, every convention 

we attend, all are anxious to let us knoAV 

wbat is tbe raatter Avith the Church. 

Strong intima,tions and even positive assertions 

also are made that the Cburch is 

soon to go out of business. 

I for one do not believe that it is going 

to go to pieces. The Church is a divine 

society, divinely conceived, divinely organized, 

and divinely endowed. It is the last, 

the latest and the best expression of the 

Kingdom of God on earth, variously 

terraed "tbe creation of God," "the House 

of God," "tbe Dwelling Place of God," 

"tbe Flock of God," "the Tabernacle of 

the Most High," "the Kingdom of God," 

"the Body of Christ," "the Bride of 

Christi'; and tbose gathered into it, "the 

*A sermon founded on Psalm 87, 3, 

preached by the Minister of ihe Fourth 

Reformed Presbyterian Ghurch of New 

York, ai ihe installation services in Brooklyn 

Church, Wednesday, July 5, 1905. 

Brethren," "th.e Disciples," "the Saints," 

"the Electi" "the Faithful," "Christians." 

Such naraes reveal and enthusiastically 

declare that the Church can never fail, 

and those Avho belong to her cease frora 

their holy endeavors until the consuraraation 

of better days. 

For the Church, Christ becarae incarnate, 

for it He lived and taught and suffered 

and died, that He raight present it 

unto God blaraeless, immaculate, glorious. 

It cannnt fail and Avill not fail, but it 

may change frora Avliat it is tn Avhat it 

ought to be and to AA'hat it will be. 

Our therae is the Church of the future. 

The Church of the future, of Avhich glorious 

things are spoken, will be a better and 

more effective nrganization than the 

Church of the present. AA"e venture to 

suggest sorae characteristics of the Church 

of the future: 

First, it WiU be a Church of a purer, 

simpler, and more spiritual worship. 

Good men are inquiring on all hands 

for the way tn greater spirituality, tn 

greater spiritual poAA'er, and so to larger 

spiritual results for the Kingdora of God. 

One answer, as it seeras to us, is a retum 

to a sirapler, purer and more spiritual 

worship. In the Church of to-day it is 

entertainment versus worship. Woodrow 

AAHlson, President of Princeton University, 

in an address delivered some months ago, 

said: "Did you ever know any amount 

of entertainment to go further than the


hour it lasted ? If you raean to draw j'Oung 

people, you have only one excuse for it, 

and that is to follnw up the entertainraent 

with soraething that is not entertaining, 

but Avhich grips the heart like the touch of 

a hand. I dare say that there is sorae 

excuse for alluring persons to a place 

Avhere good Avill be done thera, but I think 

it would be a great deal franker not to 

allure thera. I think it would be a great 

deal better siraply to let thera understand 

that it (the Church) is the place where 

life is dispensed, and that if they Avant life 

they must corae to that place." Prof. 

Thoraas Hall, of Union Theological Serainary, 

declares that the Church in endeavoring 

to entertain, has entered intn corapetition 

with the "vaudeville"' and "Sunday 

concert," nnly to be outdone. For if 

a people Avish entertainraent simply, they 

will go where they can get it better to 

their taste. Rev. F. B. ileyer, of London, 

recently told before a large audience of 

ministers in New York how he managed 

his organist and clinir outfit, saj'ing thc 

secret nii.ght be nf use tn snrae nf his 

brethren in bnndage to this thing. He 

said that fnr the entertaining part of the 

evening programme, he alloAved thirtj' 

minutes before his regular service for 

worship began, and that when he carae in 

at 8 o'clock that part was all out, and they 

began the real service. 

They are representatives that may be 

taken as sounding a note that is pretty 

universal. If the Churcli is to be strong 

and her people strong, and the Avork is tn 

prosper, the God of the Church will be 

approached in a more spiritual fashion. 

AVorshi]), true worship, spiritual AA'orship, 

>vill be found in the Church of the future 

in a larger measure than in the Churcli of 

to-day. 

Second, the Church of the future wUl 

be more aggressive. 

The Churcli has a raessage and ^ mission. 

Its raessage is the gospel. Its 

raission is to carry that gospel to a dying 

Avorld. Its raission is to save souls. Its 

message is what the world wants. The 

world's deepest cry is not "Give me better 

shoes, give rae raore bread, give rae raore 

artistic homes, but give rae soraething for 

ray soul." Ministry to the souls of raen 

is the Church's chief mission, and in this 

it Avill be still raore aggressive. 

It Avill be more aggressive in evangelism. 

The Church to-day as a whole rests 

too comfortably and too composedly in the 

Churcli home, satisfied with Church coraforts. 

AA'ê are satisfied with houses for 

Avorship rather than with souls which 

ought tn Avorship. AAê go in rather than 

out. The coraraand of the Saviour was to 

go out. To go out into the highways and 

byAvays and carry a raessage and an invitation 

into the barren and waste districts 

and corapel thera tn cnme into the Kingdom. 

AVe dnii't cry nur goods. The 

former inistnr of this congregation nnce 

said something better: "That to herald 

thc gospel meant to be active in crying 

it everywlicrc, even as the fruit and vegetable 

^•endnrs in nur streets, crj'ing out, 

herald their gnnds." The Churcli has a 

gospel, but is not crying it as we believe 

the (ihurch of the future will. The too 

often shalloAv, ignorant and sensational 

evangelism of this day avUI be, and is beginning 

to be superseded by a type deeper, 

more scholarly and more spiritual. 

The Church will be more aggressive in 

the work of foreign missions. 

The fields are ripe to the harvest. The 

donrs are open. The financial resources 

are in our hands. These sources of consecrated 

A^'ealtll Avill fl.owin larger streams. 

These open doors avUI find readier feet tn 

enter tbem. These ripened but unoccupied 

fieldswill yield a innrc abundant harvest, 

The best of what lias been is liut 

beginning t9 what will be.


Tbe Cburcb of tbe future will be raore 

aggressive in declaring a full gospel, a 

gospel for reforms, a gospel for great 

probleras that face our day and threaten 

our country, and our present civilization. 

The supreme work of the Church is to get 

the souls of raen and Avoraen cleansed, but 

close to that is to have a place for these 

cleansed raen and women to live in, and a 

cleaner place for even bad men and 

women, that it raight not be possible for 

them to be so bad. At the close of one of 

his addresses in the Broadway Tabernacle, 

New Yorlc, this last winter. Evangelist 

Dawson, of London, who bad told of his 

Avork and tbat of his Church for the unsaved 

about thera, and related the beautiful 

and pathetic story of how his own 

young daughter was used to reclaira lost 

girls, was asked by one in the audience 

what he and his Church were doing for 

the removal of conditions that made such 

woraen possible. His answer, as I listened, 

was to ray mind evasive. His real answer 

was, "We are doing nothing to rectify 

social conditions." His answer is pretty 

much that of the entire Church—a gospel 

for lost individuals, but not a wider gospel 

for social conditions that are wrong. 

For social conditions of irapurity that 

foster seventy thousand undone woraen in 

London and correspondingly large numbers 

in New York, Chicago and all our 

great cities. For conditions that make 

one hundred thousand drunkards yearly 

in our land. For conditions sociah political 

and econoraic tbat tolerate lying and 

stealing in raunicipal and corporate life 

so that colossal fortunes of unclean Avealth 

are built by a few at the expense of the 

raany. FaUing into line with Amos, that 

stern prophet of national righteousness, 

Avho addressed a message to conditions almost 

parallel to those that prevail in our 

day, not hesitating to designate the women 

proud of heart who oppressed the poor 

and crushed the needy as the "kine of 

Bashan," nor to reprove raen whose gains 

Avere gotten by "oppression," "violence" 

and "robbery," who dwelt in "ceiled 

houses" and rested on "beds of ivory," nor 

to rebuke a nation fast losing God out of 

its life; and into line with the social 

teachings of Jesus in His Serraon on the 

Mount,. the Church of the future will 

preach a fuller gospel, addressing itself to 

present and pressing probleras, not advancing 

to Socialism, but returning to 

Biblicalisra. 

Third, the Church of the future will 

have higher standards. 

There will be a higher standard of intelligence 

for entrance. The day raust 

pass away when the nod of the head or 

the signing of a card is all that is required 

for entrance into Church raerabership. 

Years of study are required, and a rigid 

exaraination raust be passed before any 

young student can find entrance into any 

of our great universities. To enter a university 

raeans soraething. It is an honor 

to be coveted. The day is coraing .when 

it will raean raore to belong to the Church 

of Jesus Christ. The raerabership will be 

mor-e intelligent in divine things. A larger 

knoAvledge of these things will be required 

for entrance. Says one: "We believe 

that the coming Church will require candidates 

for full coraraunion to corarait to 

raemory an outline of doctrine and a 

digest of government, and that no one will 

be accorded the privilege of- merabership 

except a creditable exaraination is sustained. 

Unless the Church raakes it mnre 

difficult tn becnrae a meraber there will be 

no incentive." 

There will be a higher Standard for 

continuance in the Church. I was reading 

recently in a religious weekly, a list 

nver fnur inches long of corporations that 

Avill not perrait a young man to be in their 

employ who sraokes cigarettes. It is well


known that railroads and other corporations 

will not alloAV a raan who is addicted 

to drinking intoxicants in their employ. 

Higher standards nf living are demanded 

by these nrganizations Avhose ends are 

simply material. Shall not the Church, 

Avhose ends are spiritual, raise an equal, 

if not a higher standard ? The Church 

is bound to return to discipline. The 

dead and corrupt parts will be cut nff and 

cast away. Continuance in Avill mean consistency 

with the Church. 

Fourth, it Will be a Church of a wholly 

consecrated and adequately compensated 

ministry. 

Ministers as well as elders, deacons and 

raerabers can well talce lessons from one 

Junius, a saint of bygone days. Junius 

Avas perfectly satisfied with himself and 

his Avork fnr Christ. He regarded hiraself 

as a coraplete success. He had a dream. 

The dream was this: "One night a 

stranger came into his roora and greeted 

hira Avith a sraile, and aslced him, 'Junius, 

how is your zeal?' Conceiving of his zeal 

as a physical quality, Junius put his hand 

into his bosom and brought forth his zeal 

and presented it to the stranger for inspection. 

The stranger took it and put it 

into the scales and carefuUy Aveighed' it. 

'One hundred pounds,' he exclaimed. 

Junius Avas pleased, for this was the raaxiraura 

Aveight. The stranger, pushing his 

investigation further, broke the raass into 

atoms and poured all into a crucible and 

put the crucible intn the flre. AVhen the 

mass was thornughlj' fused, he took it out 

and set it doAvn to cool. It congealed in 

cnoling, and Avlien tumed out on the 

hearth exhibited a series nf layers, all of 

which fell apart at the touch of the hammer. 

The stranger scientifically tested 

and Aveighed each, and took c-arefiil notes. 

AVhen he had finislied, he i)resented the 

analj'sis to Junius. The paper read thus: 

'Analj'sis of the zeal of Junius, the great 

churchraan and a candidate for a crown 

of glory. His zeal araounts in all to a 

hundred pounds: Bigotry, ten pounds; 

personal ambition, twenty-three pounds; 

love of praise, nineteen pounds; pride of 

denoraination, fifteen pounds; pride of 

talent, fourteen pounds; love of authority, 

twelve pounds; love to fellow-raen, 

three pounds; love to Jesus Christ, four 

pounds.' Instantly sraitten with sharae 

and confusion, Junius cried out, '0 Christ, 

talce Junius out of ray Churcli life and put 

Thyself intn it. Help rae to live wholly 

for Thee, and in this Avay serve Thy 

Church.' " Praying the prayer of Junius, 

the- rainistry and raerabership of the 

Church will lose out the selfish eleraents, 

and the analysis will stand, 50 per centi of 

love of fellow-raan and 50 per cent, of love 

for Jesus Christ, for on these two hang the 

Avhole law and the prophets. 

The rainistry in the Church to be will 

be adequately, we say not richly, recorapensed. 

The average salary of the Presbyterian 

rainisteras given by Dr. Eoberts, 

of Philadelphia, is $600; that for Methodist 

rainister is still less. Sorae receive 

raore than this, raany therefore raust receive 

rauch less. One raan, the president 

of a large life assurance society, receives 

as large an annual salary as the sura total 

paid to all the rainisters of our Church. 

The Church has raen of brain and piety 

in her service, which if applied in other 

Avalks nf life, would bring large returns; 

but it is not large but sufficient returns 

that are needed. The Church calls for 

and greatly needs a consecrated rainistry. 

Let it raake that cnnsecratinn easier and 

mnre useful by relieving the pastor of all 

nn.\iety about financial support. Let the 

Church bring to its finances the sarae 

comraon sense methnds as are applied tn 

business. Vou men in stores and shops 

and nn farras could not retain your help 

one month on the same principles 1 know

Questions of ihe Hour. !225 

sorae very devoted pastors to be dealt with. 

Increased cost of living—and the cost 

of living has increased from 25 to 50 per 

cent, during the past ten or twenty years 

—increased social demands, entailing 

larger expenditure; increased outlay for 

pastoral visitation in scattered parishes; 

increased cost of keeping abreast of the 

tiraes in both magazines and library, bas 

not met witb a corresponding increase in 

wbat should eonstitute the pastor's minimum 

salary as flxed by Synods and General 

Assemblies. Moved by Christ-like 

motives, and by a sense of justice and 

fair dealing, the Church of tbe future will 

remember ber servants with a rightful 

financial support, relieving them of 

anxiety as to immediate necessities and 

comforts during active service, and also 

for tbat period when they can no longer 

continue in the field. More adequate provision 

will be made for tbe retired minister. 

We bear tbis often: "Eetire bim," 

but too seldora do we hear what should 

accompany tbat cry: "Remunerate him." 

We hear mucb of teachers' pensions, and 

soldiers' pensions and pensions for public 

servants, retired at a certain age with a 

good per centi of their salary still to be 

paid them. Shall the Churcb fall below 

civic and financialbodies in the treatraent 

of ber retired servants? You say, "We 

have such a systera now." True, and our 

own Churcb likely leads all churches in 

this raatter. But wbat are we doing? 

Asking for the sraaU sura of $1500 year 

by year and receiving much less, to be 

doled out to these men who can no longer 

preach, or to their widows who survive 

them, in most cases inheriting very little 

or no estate. 

' The Church of Jesus Christi 'with all its 

-imperfections, torpor, indifference, narrowness, 

conventionality, lovelessness and 

inefficiency—^what would the world do 

without it? The Cburch is a great river. 

What does a river do for a country? Its 

upper waters set wheels agoing and belp 

do tbe world's business. Its pools make 

swimraing places for small boys in sumraer, 

their sporting places in winter. In 

its shallows cattle flnd refreshraent in 

heat of suraraer. Its broader, deeper 

waters carry cargoes of freight and boats 

with croAvded passengers. Sweeping past 

great cities, it carries their sewerage far 

out to sea. All along its course harvests 

are richer and trees greener, and tbe wbole 

country through which it passes, made 

more fertile. So with the Church. In it 

is a divine power tbat strengthens lives to 

do the world's work honestly and well. Tbe 

lives of children are gladdened and 

strengthened by its training. Tired lives 

are refreshed by its sweet coraforts. It 

helps carry burdens of sorrow and responsibility. 

It is the place .where lives 

deflled by sin are cleansed by the blood of 

Jesus Christ. It gladdens witb new hope 

and lifts to higher standards of living 

wheresoever its presence coraes. 

The Cburch will last and will grow 

raore glorious. The Church of to-day is 

but a spring bud. AVbat will the full 

blooraed beauty of the flower be? In answer 

to one who said, "Christianity bas 

been tried for nineteen bundred years and 

is played out," Alexander Maclaren replied, 

"Christianity a failure! Christianity 

played out! It bas never been played 

in. If the twilight of tbis great rederaption 

day bas lasted for over nineteen 

bundred years, wbat will be tbe glory of 

full meridian day?" Christianity a failure? 

No. Christianity has never been 

"played in." Tbere are crowns and 

croAvns in store for the bead of Christ. 

There is a sweep for His Kingly sceptre 

that will encircle a thousand times over its 

present sweep. Christianity played out? 

There are songs yet to be sung that bave 

never been sung. Tbe triumphant song

226 Questions, of the Hour. 

is ready. Its music is seti Heaven is reigneth. The kingdoms of this world 

waiting. The coraing Churcb will join bave become the Kingdom of our Lord 

heaven in that song of flnal triuraph: and of His Cbrist, and He shall reign for- 

"Hallelujah. The Lord God oranipotent ever and ever." 

"Let the people have liberty and the laws"; the city was Florence, and the speaker 

was the raonk of San Marco. "Let the people have direct access to God"; the land is 

Germany, and the speaker is Luther. "Let the people control their oAvn church life"; 

the land is SAvitzerland, and the speaker is Calvin. "Let the people read the Bible 

for themselves, and own their own books"; the land is Holland, and .the speaker is 

Erasmus. "Let each raan present his own prayer to God"; the city is Paris, and the 

speaker is Coligny. "There is only one King who rules by divine right, a sovereign 

citizen, to whora the raonarch is responsible"; the land is England, and the speaker is 

Crorawell. "Let us have a new country, where we ma.y lay the foundations free frora 

the debris of past centuries"; the land is Massachusetts, and the speakers were our Pilgrim 

Fathers. And nnw has corae the new era, Avlien the old walls around China 

and the old cruelties in the islands of the sea have fallen, and the world is becoraing 

one world, and the nations are becoraing one people, and the strong tribes are helping 

the weak ones to raalcetheir governraents safe, their laws just, their liberties secure. 

All this is historv. All these are facts that cannot be denied, that cannot be rainiraized, 

that can only be confessed; verily, the leaven has worked; verily, the light could 

not be hid. Events prove that Christianity has a self-propagating power.—Newell 

Dioight Hillis, D.D. 

* * * 

AVe need an aggressive evangelistic moveraent in the non-Christian nations of the 

world for a variety of reasons. Firsti because of that subtle and insidious spirit of 

criticisra and unbelief whieh is working in every direction to-day. This spirit manifests 

itself not only in Christian countries, but soraetiraes in Christian churches. 

There are sorae who would have us believe that the methods of the Apostolic Churcb 

are obsolete, that some new gospel is needed to raeet the need of the world. AVe need 

fresh evidences of the realityof facts and forces which hold your life and raine. We 

need new deraonstrations of the fact that tbe gospel is the power of God unto salvation 

to every man that believeth, however hardened, or debased, or depressed his condition 

may be. We need new proofs of the fact that the Holy Spirit is able to shake 

mightily whole coraraunities to-day in the raost difficult non-Christian nations as He 

was in the days of Peter and Paul. We need new deraonstrations of the fact that the 

power of prayer is not dirainished, that it is still able to raove the arra that raoves 

the world, and to achieve, objectively, wonderful works.—Bishop Thoburn. 

John E. Mott states that sixty per cent, of the coraraunicants of the Araerican 

churches give nothing for Foreign Missions. It is said on good autbority that the 

Christian people of the United States and Canada give on an average twenty-nine 

cents a year for world-wide evangelisra. This is the amount given by tbe most prosperous 

body of people on the globe to accomplish a task which ranks flrst araong the 

duties of the Chtirch, alike in obligation, in magnitude, and in urgency. Would it 

be so if raissions had the place in the Churcb tbey have inthe plan of God?


N E W S OF THE CHURCHES. 

ABROAD. 

Latakia, Syria—In a statement to Then I went to Inkzik where I held a 

the Poreign Board, written- at Kessab, 

Aug. 16, Rev. James S. Stewart bas much 

to say about tbe work in Syria that should 

encourage the Horae Cburch: 

On the second Sabbath of July Thad 

the pleasure of assisting at the Suadia 

coraraunion and enjoying the hospitality 

comraunion last Sabbatb. One boy, a Latakia 

pupil, was received on profession, 

and another not so instructed had to be 

kept back for further teaching. It is interesting 

to 'trace the streara of influence 

in this place back to Eev. Lyde, the Latakia 

pioneer raissionary. He bad a trusty 

of Mr. Dodds' home. The death of Licentiate 

servant Avho accorapanied hira in hia 

Ibrahim Jukki seeraed to be still 

fresh in tbe minds of the people. His unobtrusive, 

unselflsh Christian life doubtless 

has borne and will yet bear much 

fruit. As to the reraoval of Eev. C. A. 

travels for several years and raarried a 

native of Inkzik. He was anxious to obtain 

an education but was disappointed. 

His only son, bowever, studied at the 

Mission school in Suadia and becarae a 

Dodds frora Suadia, I did not raeet anyone, 

Protestant and a teacber. Through his 

whether of the brethren or the influence his parents and two cousins 

patrons of the school, wbo was at all joined the Church. One of the cousins 

pleased with the prospect. I was beset by teaches tbe village school, and his wife 

applicants for places in the Latakia will probably soon join us. There is no 

boarding school, but could receive none. 

We cannot find places for raore tban half 

danger that the influence of Rev. Lyde 

will be soon exhausted. His worlcs do follow 

of those wbo apply in our own field. 

hira. There is- rauch in this to en 

I spent Sabbath, July 23, at Jendairia 

and held raeetings under a figtree. From 

courage us to hope on and to work on, in 

the full confldence that God's word Arill 

forty to flftypersons were present in the not retum unto Hira void. 

morning, but tbe afternoon meeting was The school is just now small, fifteen 

not so large. The gospel leaven continues pupils, but is successful. Tbe Greek 

to work there, and will doubtless do so, so 

long as we can give the boys and girls of 

tbe village a Cbristian training at Latakia 

schools. 

Sabbath before last I spent at Gunairaia 

and had meetings on several week 

day evenings. Aug. 27 Mr. Dodds will 

priest begged me to take his son into tbe 

Latakia scbool, where be would receive 

better training tban in the village scbool. 

A neighboring village sent in a request for 

a teacher. They are now witb great difficulty 

paying their OAvn teacber and furnishing 

the books, but would gladly accept 

(D. V.) assist me in dispensing tbe 

our teacher and give us full cbarge 

Lord's Supper there. The school has of the school if we would release thera of 

been very successful, having bad;during the financial burden. Tbis is not our 

the past winter from forty to forty-five 

pupils. I found twenty-three present, and 

examined them in the Bible, Psalms in 

Meter from 1 to 23, and catechisms. 

ideal of a people hungering for tbe bread 

of life, but it raay prove to be God's 

opportunity, because a little scbool means 

a place and chance tb preach the word.

^28 


If the minister, who proposed that our 

Church sbould now abandon Syria, were 

earnestly desirous to spend tbe riper years 

of his life in apostolic labors in this field, 

be migbt tum many to righteousness and 

so shine for ever. And be might even 

prove to be sent of God to organize victory 

out of what he considers inglorious defeat. 

The Mission has not succeeded, and 

is not likely to succeed, under present 

governraental conditions, in building up 

self-supporting congregations. But on the 

otber hand, only the faithlessness of the 

Church or ber raissionaries can prevent 

the bearing of a testimony for tbe truth 

where it is most needed, and also the 

plucking of some as brands from the 

burning. 

Mersina, Asia Minor.—Rev. R. J. 

Dodds sends interesting iteras frora this 

field, Aug. 25: 

Reports from Adana are very encouraging. 

Our evangelist has been very ill 

for a part of the time, but when well bas 

had splendid opportunities. Ibrahim, one 

of the teachers from tbe Boarding School 

in Mersina, has been with him, and has 

assisted hira in holding meetings, visiting 

the siclc, etc. 

Our woraan Bible reader in Auba had 

her sewing machine and other things 

Stolen this sunimer. She and Suleyman 

report their opportunities for reading the 

Bible and conversing about it as very good. 

In Tarsus the Sabbath meetings have 

been held regularly, and bave been well 

attended, and tbere is reason to believe 

they will still improve. We are hoping 

for the Lord's blessing. Machiel Luttoof 

is anxious to be at his work there. But 

riow we need him in Guzne, and even if 

he were in Tarsus now he could not, we 

tbink, do more than is being done by 

Shamoon Bahnu, a teacher frora the Mersina 

Boarding School.

In Guzne we have held Sabbath njeetings 

forenoon and afternoon. At firstfor 

a considerable time we had the meetings 

in our own housei, but now we have a 

booth made of branches, and have begun" 

holding Wednesday prayer meetings. 

The attendance is much smaller tban 

other years, partly owing to tbe presence' 

of priests, wbo bave had raeetings for 

raerabers of their own flocks, but chiefly, I 

think, to the inconvenience of our place 

of meeting. 

Last Sabbath a Greek family was present 

in the forenoon. Tbe father is an invalid, 

drawing near, it seeras, to death. 

He said he was rauch touched and proflted 

by tbe serraons. Tbe oldest son, as tbe 

result of its effect on hira, took a Turkish 

Testament in the afternoon and went to 

read to a group of lumberraen. 

Last week we went to the raountainsfor 

a picnic with the raissionariesof the A. 

B. C. F. M., and spent a very pleasant day 

witb them at a fountain of water under a 

grove of walnut trees, about an hour's 

walk from our house. Yesterday evening 

we were to supper at the A.^ B. C. F. M. 

home, and spent a pleasant evening. With 

the exception of tbese two outings, we 

bave been at our work, including tbe pursuit 

of our studies in preparation for 

further usefulness. 

Miss Sterrett. is now with us enjoying 

the raountain air. We think she should 

have taken the wbole sumraer in the mountains, 

but she felt she could noti and certainly 

her presence in Mersina has been a 

great thing for the work there. 

Our forraer teacher in Tarsus, Katrine, 

bas been conducting a subscription school 

in Mersina this suraraer. Also, Mirriara, 

a pupil teacher of the Mersina school, bas 

been conducting a sirailar scbool with 

great success. Whenever I visited she bad 

upward of flfty cbildren, buti I believe, 

she had seventy names-on the roll. The 

News of the Churched. 229-

23a 


teacher of the Maronite scbool bas carried 

it on all sumraer, because he is a poor 

man and needs the subscriptions. But I 

ara happy to say-that he uses our religious 

books because they are tbe cbeapest and 

easiest to secure. 

Cyprus.—Rev. W. McCarroll writes as 

foUoAvs, under date of August 31: 

As far as one can judge from reports, 

Cyprus seeras like a suraraer resort compared 

with New York, Chicago and other 

large cities of America. At any rate, we 

bave not found the heat here unbearable. 

Ara glad to say that ray brother and 

family have returned from Troodos much 

improved in health and strength. One of 

our workers. Rev. Aegyptiades, has been 

unable for work for nearly two raonths, 

owing to illness. 

AAê record one or two cases for thanksgiving. 

The two raen who took their 

stand with the Evangelicals raore tban a 

year ago in Nicosia, and who afterward 

raanifested that they were not converted, 

I ara glad to say now are regular attenders 

upon the preaching services and give every 

evidence of genuine conversion, raanifesting 

real enthusiasra for the cause. .Mr. 

Kassilian Avrites rae that a Moslera has 

cast in his lot with the brethren in Famagusta 

and wishes to be enrolled as a 

Christian, and that a nuraber of Greeks 

raanifest an interest in the truth. There 

are Iavo Moslera young raen here in Larnaca 

who, I believe, becarae convinced of 

the truth of Christianity in the school 

last year, but are deterred by persecution 

frnra cnraing out openly as Christians. 

Pray for thera. 

AAê are looking forAvard to the raeeting 

of Coraraission, which is to be held in 

Larnaca at the end of October. We hope 

then to Avelcome sorae of nur raissionaries 

who are now retuming frora their 

furlough in America. 

Tak Hino;, China—A letter from 

Rev. A. I. Robb, written Aug. 5, contains 

iteras of interest: 

All are in usual healtb at the Mission. 

We are enduring rather trying heat, 

though we have occasional respite when 

the therraoraeter gets below 83. It has 

been, on the whole, a very fair suraraer, 

thougb warraer than sorae. We are hoping 

for the tirae not now far distant when 

the nights will begin to get cooler. Then 

the heat of the day ceases to be so trying. 

Our work is raoving along with so little 

variety as to be alraost monotonous. Services 

are fairly attended, though our evening 

Bible class has fallen to often less 

than ten. These are all earnest learners 

and alive to the truth. They are watching 

the situation in China witb keen interest. 

It may possibly be known to you 

that in Wu Chau, forty-flve miles west of 

us, the raagistrate entered several of the 

largest teraples and with his own hands 

threw down and broke the idols. Sorae of 

thera the people tied up witb strings after 

his departure, and others were hopelessly 

ruined. The wonderful thing about it is 

that the people raade so little fuss about 

it. Indeed, the fact that the idols suffered 

such indignity without retaliating 

has served to lessen their faith in thera. 

Just noAv comes the word that the Viceroy 

has ordered the closing of one of the 

wealthiest temples in Canton City, and 

that all worship there shall cease. Last 

night, as we Avere talking of these things, 

one of our Christians said: "The stopping 

of idol Avorship is very easy, compared with 

ceasing to worship ancestors." He said it 

Avas not in general a very hard blow to a 

raan to learn that idols are false, for their 

faith in thera at best is often weak, but to 

refuse to worship one's ancestors is, in the 

eyes of the people, equivalent to rejecting 

that raost iraportant coramand to "Honor 

father and motber," and that is unpar-


donable. It is quite true that the actual 

spirit of the Christians to their parents 

is far better than that of the heathen, but 

to the heathen themselves who see only 

outward forms as the essence of all religion, 

the Christian is a traitor to his family. 

It was suggestive to me to bear tbe 

case from a Cbristian Chinaman's point 

of view. 

Th-e thirst for Western learning is coming 

in like tbe rising tide. Japan's infiuence 

is being felt, but the much-talked-of 

boycott has never been mentioned in my 

bearing once, and has probably never been 

heard of by one Chinaman in a hundred, 

or even in a thousand. New methods, 

good AVestern methods, are rapidly superseding 

tbe old Chinese plan of teaching, 

witb marvellous results, too. 

It is bard for us to see tbat new building, 

with its neatly finished walls, good 

slate blackboards, modern seats, fineairy 

rooms all coraplete, just ready to open 

school, and abundant supplies for a beginning, 

and girls and woraen so anxious 

to learn, and no one to take up the work. 

We plan to do all- we can, but there are 

needed persons trained and given up to 

tbat special work. It is an opportunity, 

and tbere should be two for the work. 

We . have announced coraraunion for 

September flrst Sabbath, and expect to 

hold a congregational Bible study the 

whole preceding week. We plan to begin 

the previous Sabbath, and,' taking two 

chapters a day, to go through the Gospel 

by Mark. Tbere will be early morning 

meetings for the study of the Ten Coraraandraents, 

and evenings will be given 

up to prayer raeetings. It is an experiraent, 

and we hope your prayers will be 

joined with ours for its success. 

A. business letter frora Rev. A. I. Robb, 

dated Aug. 18, contains an itera for the 

churches: 

It will cheer you to know that four 

raore of the village near Lin Tan, all raen 

grown, and three of thera heads of 

farailies, expect to attend our week of 

study, and one of thera is already an applicant 

for baptisra, and all of them have 

openly declared their faith and attended 

and taken part in their faraily worship 

for raonths. Tbese men will give strong 

moral support in their district. 

The adberents of Christianity, according to Dr. Roberts, amount to 477,080,158. The 

next religious faitb in point of nurabers is Confucianisra, with 256,000,000 adberents. 

Hinduisra is third with 190,000,000, and ilohararaedanism fourth with 176,834,372. 

Buddhism is given 147,900,000. The various smaller heathen faiths count up only 

118,129,470. This, on a basis of population of the globe, is 1,430,000,000. In 

otber words, the adherents of Christianity coraprise just about one-third of the world's 

population.—The Presbyterian. 

Last year the four leading raissionary societies in England had to report an aggregate 

deficit of about $357,000. On tbis condition of the trea:sury. Sir Andrew Wingate 

makes the following comraent: These deficits are no call to you to go back, they 

are the silver trumpets wbich are sounding the advance, not witbout means, but for 

you to supply the means. These deficits are the answer to your prayers. We see how 

the Japanese are responding .to loan after loan which is being demanded of them, and 

why? Because tbere is victory on the fleld, and therefore raore funds are required 

to raake tbat victory sure. And are we, tbe great Christian people of this country, 

when victory is in tbe air, going to relax our efforts ?

232: News gf the .Churches. 

A T 

H O M I 

Allegheny, Pa.—Items from Central Board of Missions for September: 


Balance -r, • ^ -n j-i. Balance 

Aug. 1, '05 Receipts Expenditures g^p^, ^^ -qS 

Southern Mission |1,892.17 $24.00 $93.33 $1,822.84 

ludianMission I,86ti52 77.60 93.33 1,785.79 

Chinese Mission 294.60 5.00 105.33 194.27' 


Deficit 

Deflcit 

Domestic Mission 4,455.94 273.45 50.00 4,232.49 

The meeting of the Board on tho 3d Wednesday of October wiU be that at which 

the distribution for the first quarter ofthe year 1905-1906 wUl be made. Congregations 

receiving aid and Clerks of Presbyteries will please take notice. The condition 

of the Domestic Mission Fund is again called to the attention of the Church. 

Indian Mission—At no time in the history of the Mission have the prospects been 

more encouraging; 27 girls and 22 boys are in attendance at the school. On account 

of the prevalence of diphtheria, the work in the district west of the Mission 

has been teraporarUy suspended. The addition to the chapel has been completed and 

supplies a much-felt-want. There has been an exceptionally good attendance at the 

church services. Some repairs will have to be made on the buildings. 

Chinese Mission^Loo Hoy Lee has returned to the Mission and acts as interpreter. 

During the month the enroUment was 16, average attendance at night 5|; at 

prayer meeting 10 and on Sabbaths 9. The average attendance ofthe whites at prayer 

meeting was 3| and on Sabbaths 7|. 

Southern Mission—Miss Martin is unable to go South this year and Miss Annabella 

Stewart, a former teacher, has accepted the appointment and will be present 

at the opening of the school on October 2d. 


Houston, 111—A tribute of esteem 

from the L. M. Society of Old Bethel to 

tbe raeraory of Mrs. Lyde Patterson, who 

departed this life June 3, 1905. We 

would bear testiraony to her Christian 

character and faithfulness to the Church, 

horae and friends. We will long remember 

her dauntless spirit, her raissionary 

zeal and encouraging words, born of faith 

in God's proraises when the outlook seeraed 

raost unpromising. Her hearty way of 

undertaking, and pleasure in performing 

her daily round of duties, thus leaving a 

Olive Trees costs only flfty cents a year. 

testimony to the world that God's grace is 

ever ready to assist all who seek for it. 

To tbe family and friends we extend 

our syrapathy, and coraraend tbem to the 

same gentle Shepherd's care in Whora the 

departed found such comfort in the times 

of intense bodily suffering, and Whose 

presence soothed and comforted ber even 

when deatb laid bis icy hand upon her, 

and in Whose presence there is fullness 

of joy forever. 

N. T. Hayes, 

Mary McMurtry, Gom.


BEHIND STRONG BARS. 


A Scene from the Life of India's 'Women. 

Translated and Condensed from 

Bibelblatter, Basle. 

by louis MEYER. 

She is-almost a cbild still, and yet a 

widow. Yea, a widow, who is obliged to 

bear upon her young shoulders the curse 

of Indian widowhood threefold. Husband 

and her two lovely children, all she had, 

have been taken away by the fearful 

plague. Once she was Sundari the Beautiful, 

the daughter of the much-respected 

Brahman priest; now sbe is tbe Bald- 

Head, wbose long, plaited hair bas fallen 

under the razor. All her beauty bas 

faded, and all her ornaments bave been 

seized. Her jewels and her costly flnery 

were taken away as unbecoming a despised 

widow. Never again shall she be perraitted 

to wear the silken garments of 

wbicb sbe was so proud in the days of her 

alas, too sbort wedded life. Now she 

must dress herself in comraon calico. Her 

bead has been shaved to make her despised' 

among men, disgraced araong woraen. Is 

it only three years ago that she was 

brought, richly ornaraented and lovingly 

welcoraed, into the horae of her, fatherin-law? 

Now she is scorned and raaltreated 

by every raember of the household. 

And, worst of all, like all others, she considers 

herself the one reason of all ber 

unhappiness. 

To-day she has been cleaning one of 

the interior rooms of the large house. 

Carefully has she swept every corner and 

nook, that no malicious scorpion sbould 

hide itself. It was no easy task for one 

so feeble and unused to work to move all 

tbe heavy boxes of hardwood which stood 

along tbe walls. Ah, how heavy that one 

box was wbich she knew so well and wbich 

contained all her beautiful garraents and 

ornaraents Avhich she may never enjoy 

again! 

At last she has almost flnishedber task. 

One box reraains to be dusted, the one 

which contains the school boolcs of her 

dead busband. Reverently she lifts book 

after book. Most of thera are English, 

whicb she cannot understand. One book 

only is printed in the Tarail letters which 

she knows. Alraost involuntarily sbe 

opens it and looks at its pages. Half in 

jest, her husband one day had taught ber 

to read the Tarail, but when she asked 

hira what the meaning of the •printed 

sentences Avas, he bad replied that women 

should loolc after the cooking and not 

worr J' over books. Of that day she is 

thinking, as she turns the leaves which 

she cannot understand. At last one sentence, 

and one sentence only, draws her 

attention. It contains but the few words, 

"Devan oruvare" (there is but one God). 

Her eyes are flxed upon these. She raust 

read thera again and again. What do 

they mean? Suddenly a sharp voice-calls 

her name loudly. Frightened, she shuts 

tbe book and puts it in its place, conscious 

that she will be beaten if caught 

reading a book. Then she hastens away; 

but the mysterious words cling to ber. 

* * * * * * H! 

Outside, the Indian sun shines with a 

raerciless heat. Even the buffaloes have 

sought the nearest pond, in which they 

bave buried theraselves, so that only their 

nozzles reraain visible. In the houses, it 

is sultry and close. Lazily the woraen are 

lying in their hot rooras, waiting witb 

longing for the cool hours after sunset. 

In a dark windowless roora Sundari, the 

j'oung widoAV, lies upon a rough dirty

234 Monographs, 

mattress of Indian grass. A few rays of 

light fall through the cracks of tbe door 

and the small space between walls and 

roof, showing tbat she is dressed in a 

white garraent. Her eyes glow and her 

lips are dry frora fever, but none cares 

for her. It is one of the raonthly fast 

days, obligatory upon every Indian widow. 

Every fast day is a day of suffering and 

anguish, and that she be not terapted to 

quench her burning thirst witb a stolen 

drink of water, she is locked up and left to 

herself. Is she not a widow, who must expiate 

the death of ber busband? It 

would be sin in the eyes of her co-religionists 

to ease her suffering. Sbe must bear 

her fate, for a curse is upon her. But 

while the hours slowly pass, and while 

gradually the j'oung widow loses consciousness, 

and raurraurs confused sentences 

again and again, the feverish lips 

raurraur,"Devan oruvare, Devan oruvare." 

They are still unforgotten. 

* * * * * * * 

More and raore increases the beat, and 

Sundari suffers greatly. She is very ill, 

and at last the faraily becoraes worried. 

A native doctor is called in, an old raan, 

alraost blind, and very ignorant. Long 

is his talk with Sundari's raother-in-law, 

and after much praise of hiraself, he 

gives her sorae prescriptions for the sick 

widow. Let us not dwell upon the cruelty 

of that raedical (?) treatraent. Let us 

only say that Sundari grows worse and 

worse, until at last the faraily is forced to 

loolc for help in another direction. 

Not very far frora Sundari's horae is situated 

a beautiful, long building, with wide 

porches, the hospital of the Mission, ilany 

people gather there every raorning to flnd 

help and healing, if possible, frora all 

kinds of ills and diseases. One raorning 

Sundari is araong them, separated frora 

the throng because she is the daughter of 

a Brahraan. Near her sits an old servant 

of her mother-in-law to watch her. Sundari 

is very ill, so that her mother-inlaw, 

after much hesitation, has decided to 

try the European physician. 

Feeble and listless sits the patient on 

the floor,waiting for tbe medical missionary 

to call for her. A friendly looking 

woman comes, and sits down near the 

girl. With a soft voice she comraences to 

sing. Sundari listens, without understanding 

the raeaning of tbe words. Then 

the Bible woman—for such she is—^briefly 

addresses tbe woraen patients. To alraost 

all of them her words are obscure 

and meaningless. Gradually their interest 

is awakened. Questions are asked and 

kindly answered. The sympathy of the 

Bible woraan for ber ailing sisters becoraes 

raore and more manifest. She 

speaks of her own peace and Christian 

happiness and joy. At last she speaks of 

the Great Physician, who alone can cure 

the restlessness and difficulties of the 

heart. Sundari listens Avith greatest attention, 

but, alas, she does not comprehend. 

Suddenly a word reaches her ear 

which causes her to start. A siraple 

Avoraan just has aslced a question, and the 

Bible woraan answers, "Oh, no, raother, 

there is but one God. Hira alone I fear; 

none else." Startled Sundari reraerabers 

the unforgotten words which she read, 

"Devan oruvare.'^ What can be their 

raeaning? She thinks of the large beautiful 

teraples, Avith long rows of gods, 

sorae stone, sorae gold, sorae raale, sorae 

female. She thinks of the goddess of 

good luck to which she prayed every day 

—and yet, she has met only raisfortune 

and trouble. She thinks of the sweet 

sraelling floAvers wbich she when still a 

child brought to the fearful loolcing idol. 

And noAv she hears again from the lips of 

this kind woraan the words which in an 

hour of sorrow sunk deep down into ber 

beart, "Devan oruvare."


What does the woman with tbe book 

mean wben she says that she fears only 

one God? Sundari fears the whole multitude 

of demons and is fully persuaded 

that all her troubles—death of husband 

and children, widowhood, and siclmess— 

are caused by them. Too well she remembers 

tbe tree at the entrance to the village, 

where she was born, which was inhabited 

by an evil spirit. From the 

branches of that tree the demon would 

jurap upon tbe passers-by and throttle 

tbem. And this God of the kind woman 

is kind even to widows. Is it possible? 

Oh, if He were kind to sucb as Sundari. 

The very possibility gives new courage and 

strength to the sufferer. 

Soon after this the doctor gives her a 

cool, soothing draught. With gratitude 

she says to him, "The medicine is good; 

I sball retum tb you." But in ber heart 

sbe says, "I want to hear again tbe woman 

\rith tbe book." 

Sickness and sorrow have corae to the 

borae of the Bible Avoraan. Her child is 

sick, and tbe anxious raother is sitting by 

fbe side of its bed. The shadows of the 

night are over the village. All is dark. 

Only in tbe borae of tbe Bible woraan a 

feeble light continues to burn. The long 

watches of the night are alraost over, and 

tbe morning is beginning to dawn. The 

child's fever is broken, and its recovery 

seems assured. It bas fallen asleep, and 

the mother is unrolling her raattress,that 

sbe raay rest a little and sleep. Hark! 

tbere is a knock at the door. The woraan 

is 'frightened, for she and the child are 

alone in the bouse. What does the 

knocking at the door raean? Cautiously 

sbe approaches the door and listens. Anotber 

knock is heard and a feeble voice 

says, "Alas, wiU none hear?" "Who is 

tbere?" asks tbe Bible woman. And a 

frightened voice answers, "Oh, mother. 

mother, it is Sundari, tbe widow. I ran 

away hither, because my life was threatened." 

Quickly tbe door is opened. Sundari 

is welcomed, and a bed is at once 

prepared for ber. Her story is quickly 

told, as follows: 

"This morning the raembers of my family 

discovered that I had come to believe 

in thy doctrine. I was beaten because I 

no longer fear their gods, considering 

tbem simple dolls. Tben I was ordered to 

make a pilgrimage to a certain temple, 

but I refused. One of the merabers of 

the faraily remarked tbat I was pne of 

those who worship the God of the Christians, 

and thus bring dishonor upon their 

farailies. I was tortured with questions 

which I could not answer, and tbey grew 

more and more angry. At last my motherin-law 

ordered silence and said, "Leave 

her alone. Sbe will regain ber senses 

between now and to-morrow. If not, we 

surely can cure Bald Head. No Cbristian 

shall be permitted in our family." 

Then I was shut in the dark roora, in 

which I had to spend ray widow's fast 

days. I was afraid, for I well knew their 

plans, and I was in their power. But 

God showed rae a way of escape. Wben 

all was quiet in the night, I made an 

opening between the thatched roof and 

the wall, and I escaped witbout suffering 

barm and without being heard. Now I 

ara here. Eeturn I will not, for it is true 

that I no longer want to serve the idols 

of ray family, but thy God, the One true 

God, I want to serve henceforth." 

* * * * * * * 

Sundari has corae into a new world. 

Her faraily has cast ber off and considers 

ber dead. But a new life, a new being has 

comraenced for the despised and disgraced 

widoAV. She is freed from ber iron chains. 

Tbe strong bars are broken. Her widowhood 

is no longer ber curse. The barbarous 

days of fasting are over, and no

236 Monographs._ 

razor shall touch her bead again to mark 

her as a widow to be despised, i She 

founds her oAvn home, and earns her own 

living. Once more she becomes a student, 

that she may be able to teach others. 

* * '. * * * * * 

A few years have passed, and we meet 

Sundari again. We flnd her in the midst 

of a large crowd of children in a Christian 

orphanage of Southern India. Not many 

years ago Sundari would have turned 

away with horror from the crowd of 

Pariahs, whose touch must deflle ber, tbe 

daughter of a Brahraan priest. Noav she 

sits in their raidst and teaches thera the 

Word of God in the Tarail language. 

Her hair is not as long yet as it was before 

she becarae a widow, but tbe tired 

look of despair is no longer in her face. 

She has learned to hope. A ray of the 

eternal light has fallen into her soul. Her 

beart bas grown warra. And all the wondrous 

change within and without has come 

to pass through the comforting words of 

life, "Devan oruvare" ("there is but one 

God"). 

DR. METHENY'S GRAVE. 

Our steamer dropped anchor in Mersina 

Bay. Tl»e sad farewell was over, and we 

had left the Syrian shore. Mersina was 

our firstport. 

As usual, we were greeted by a busy 

throng of bright-eyed girls and boys. 

Prom the window of Miss Sterrett's room, 

tbe faithful friend and cousin of the 

lamented Dr. David Metheny, we could 

see the tombstone that raarks tbe last 

resting place of the beloved physician. 

When I went down to take tbe picture of 

tbe raonuraent, I was surrounded by 

dozens of school girls, while scores of boys 

peeped at us through the high board fence 

—how like the busy world of work and 

worry, care and pleasure, in which Dr. 

Metheny spent so many useful years. I 

thought that the friends of one who served 

so long and well would lilce to see the picture 

of his grave. 

One naturally thinks of a graA'e being 

in some verdant spot, where silencft 

reigns, or raaybe if the grave is in some 

foreign land of tropical sun, we see, - in 

imagination, a bleak and lonely place. 

But Dr. Metheny's grave, enclosed by a 

high iron fence, is in the raidstof life and 

work, in sight of hundreds of syrapathetic 

eyes. A\''hen I was there, green vines were 

clirabing the fence, and lovely flowers had 

been planted by thoughtful ones. Tbe 

gate had been unlocked and sorae school 

girls had placed bouquets.of fresh blossoras 

on the grave. In the raidstof a wellbeaten 

glayground for Arab school girls.

it was a refreshing, verdant resting place. 

To-day the heart-breaking message 

frora far-off China comes to aged parents 

and loving friends that "Miss Jennie Torrence 

has fallen asleep." Tbe death angel 

hovering over the home of Dr. Metheny 

in Turkey took one wbo had planned and 

prayed and gave to plant tbe "Banner of 

our King" in the midst of China's millions. 

One by one the same angel bas 

gathered borae three "Daughters of the 

King" who gave their lives for Him in 

Cbina, and, too, two wee larabs were 

taken, one from China, one.from Turkey, 

to the arras of the Shepherd of Israel. 

The Avhole Church will wonder why there 

is such an ingathering of harvesters when 

heart and hand and brain were young and 

ready to serve so efficiently in the fleldof 

ripening golden grain. To-day, only, is 

ours! Watch and work and pray, for 

to-niorrow we may die. 

Myrta May Dodds. 

REPORT ON THE SABBATH. 

The Scriptures teacb that tbe "Sabbatb 

is a sign betAveen God and the cbildren of 

Israel forever; for in six days tbe Lord 

made heaven and earth, and on tbe seventh 

day He rested and refreshed." 

This sign was recognized by Israel from 

generation to generation, and the "raen 

of Issachar bad an understanding of the 

times to know what Israel ought to do." 

The descending obligation frora age to age 

'to reeognize tbis divinely appointed sign 

'has reached the twentieth century, and is 

accepted by a great cloud of witnesses, including 

the entire membership of the Eeformed 

Presbyterian Cburch, whose constant 

testiraony bas always been in favor 

of observing the Sabbath throughout aU 

generations for a perpetual covenant. 

With tbis end in view, let us read the 

signs of the times and note some encouragements. 

•Monographs. 237 

A remarkable victory was won wben the 

Louisiana Purchase Exposition was closed 

on Sabbath against the deraands of tbe 

Sunday newspapers, railroads and otber 

Sabbath-breaking institutions. A prominent 

clergyman in New York said on this 

subject, "No grander victory for the Sabbath 

bas ever been gained by tbose who 

are striving to perpetuate its authority 

and power, and save it frora destructive 

desecration. The effect will be far-reaching 

and of inestiraable value in the defense 

of righteousness, and tbe proraotion 

of good in our land." Tbe Centennial 

Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, and 

the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. 

Louis in 1904, were closed on Sabbath, 

and the success of these splendid expositions, 

flnancially and otherwise, has been 

attributed largely, if not wholly, to this 

potent fact, and they stand as perpetual 

monuraents in favor of good citizenship 

based upon the fundaraental Divine law 

of Sabbath observance. A signal victory 

was won in the Pennsylvania Legislature 

by the defeat of the strenuous atterapt to 

change the law of 1794. Testiraony frora 

raany other countries shows that the 

raoveraent for Sabbath rest bas raade decided 

advances within the last few years. 

In several, laws have been passed curtailing 

the hours of toil on the Lord's Day. 

The Canada Lord's Day Alliance, through 

its secretary, has been specially active in 

visiting railway managers throughout the 

Dominion to urge a decrease of trains on 

Sabbath; also it has influenced the Minister 

of Customs to refuse to provide facilities 

for excursion stearaboats in the harbors 

of Canada; also to prevent them landing 

on tbat day from otber countries, 

notably frora United States. This Canada 

society, called "The Lord's Day Alliance," 

is very active, baving two secretaries in 

tbe field, and now bas over 300 branches 

through Ontario and Manitoba. In


France tbe Sunday Popular League is 

struggling to get back the liberty and 

other privileges of the day of rest, of 

which they have been robbed in consequence 

of tbe fact tbat Pleasure's holiday 

Sabbath has led on to Greed's work day 

Sabbath. A recent order assures the closing 

at noon on Sabbath of sraaller postoffices 

to the nuraber of 7,000; in building 

industry the worlcraen are urging 

their right to Sabbath rest. All classes 

who are subjected to toil without relaxation 

are asking for Sabbatii rest. In 

Belgiura within the past year or two 889 

of the trains run on Sabbath have been 

dispensed with. The purpose of the Governraent 

in Holland is to introduce a bill 

for the better observa.nce of the Lord's 

Day, which Avill secure to all laborers, 

even those eraployed upon the railways, 

absolute cessation frora toil. It calls for 

the suspension of all business, and the 

closing of such arauseraents as require the 

labor of others to constitute the entertainraent 

; so that, if adopted, it will not only 

shut up the factories and forges, but the 

theatres and beer gardens. In London no 

Sunda.y newspapers are printed, and no 

drug stores are open on Sabbath, and Sir 

E. Satow, the British representative, respects 

the Sabbath and does not receive 

foreign erabassies on the Lord's Day. In 

Germanj', both the Eraperor and the people 

are turning attention to the building 

up of the safeguards of the day of rest 

for the cultivation of the raental, raoral 

and religious nature. No wonder when 

59 per cent, of the factories and 77 per 

cent, of the transportation concerns of 

that great country allow their eraployes 

no respite frora continuous seven-day-inthe-week 

toil. The Mayor of Madrid, in 

Spain, has set the good example of establishing 

Sabbath rest in the municipal 

abattoirs. The royal decree of the King 

last August almost raakes a revolution in 

that country, not only prohibiting work 

and traffic on Sabbatb after 11 o'clock in 

the raorning, but even prohibiting bull 

fights except on special occasions. In 

SAvitzerland tbe Pederal Council has 

strictly prohibited the printing of newspapers 

during the twenty-four hours of 

Sabbath. Postal service has been lessened 

and four hundred freight trains suppressed. 

Recently the Council decided to 

suppress at once cheap Sunday pleasure 

trains on Sabbath. Great progress has 

been raade in securing for raihvay eraployes 

their rest day rights. Switzerland, 

in spite of the infiuence of the old Continental 

Sunday, has taken stand far in 

advance of anything in our OAvn land, and 

has set an example which all raight do 

well to foUoAV. In Italy raass meetings 

are being held in all iraportant centers, 

for the special purpose of preparing public 

sentiment for the passage and enforcement 

of a national Lord's Day law. In 

Vienna, Austria, a city of two raillioninhabitants, 

there is only one Sunday newspaper 

printed, and that is issued and sold 

on Saturday, and the Monday edition is 

not published until 6 o'clock in the 

evening, so that no labor is required on 

Sabbath. In Australia the Sabbath rest 

is said to be protected raore corapletely 

than in any other part of the world. The 

Australian workingraan never labors raore 

than forty-eight to fifty-two hours a week, 

for the Saturday half holiday prevails 

everywhere in the Colony. Like regulations 

obtain in New Zealand, and in the 

Transvaal it is stated officially that no 

work other than that absolutely necessary 

for the raaintenance of the raines is 

perraitted on Sabbatb. The Railway Passenger 

Agents' Association of Araerica, at 

their convention in Old Point Corafort, 

Oct. 18, 1904, discussed the subject of excursions 

on Sabbath. Tbat question was 

placed on tbe docket at their own initia-

tive sorae two raonths before the convention 

as a subject of. vital interest to the 

railways. They discussed it frora three 

standpoints. First, the financial; as it 

bad proved a failure flnancially to some 

of the railways and was a question with 

others as to the net gain. Second, the 

moral point, the demoralization of the 

employes of the railway to such an extent 

that they became hardened as to conscientious 

scruples, and did not care anything 

for life or property when tbey had 

to labor seven days in the week year in 

and year out. Thus the wrecks caused by 

men over-worked and having little regard 

for life or property Avas a great flnancial 

loss to the corapanies. Third, the coramunities 

to wbicb the excursions on Sabbath 

were sent, either raountain or sea- 

"side resorts, were greatly derhoralized. 

Tbe standard of raorality being lowered 

thus by excursions on tbe Lord's Day deterred 

many of tbe better classes from 

going the other six days in the week, thus 

proving an injury to the morals and 

finances of the communities. The general 

passenger agent of the Southern Systera 

declared that the railways raust take the 

stand, and he was in favor of iraraediate 

action. The Cbicago & Northwestern report 

that they bad not only abandoned excursion 

trains on Sabbath, but had reduced 

all freight traffic to a miniraura, 

as also the passenger service, thus giving 

as many of their men as possible tbeir 

Sabbath. After thorough ventilation, it 

was decided to refer the whole matter 

back to tbe local and territorial passenger 

associations for tbeir consideration and 

action. All tbe various Canadian and 

United States Sabbath assoeiations. State, 

Provincial and National, were federated 

into "The Federation of Sunday Rest Associations 

of Canada and United States." 

This is the first time any sucb federation 

bas been attempted, and tbe outlook is 


very hopeful for co-operation work. This 

action Avas talcen at tbe World's Sunday 

Rest Congress at St. Louis, Oct. 11-14, 

1904. The Undertakers' Congress was 

held at St. Louis about the sarae tirae, and 

passed with marked unanimity and great 

enthusiasra a resolution asking the Christian 

rainisters and churches to have no 

raore funerals on Sabbath in this country 

except in rare cases of emergency. The 

Araerican Retail Druggists' Congress, held 

in St. Louis, 1904, passed a resolution 

begging the Christian churches to assist 

thera in closing their drug stores on Sabbath. 

Our noble President also stands for 

a boly Sabbath and a pure horae. These 

signs of the tiraes indicate the grave responsibility 

tbat rests on the raerabership 

of the Church to guide the multitudes that 

are in the valley of decision in the settlement 

of this great question according to 

the fundaraental and boly law of Sabbath 

observance. The great confiict is on,, and 

we wrestle not against fiesh and blood, 

but against principalities, against powers, 

against the rulers of the darlmess of this 

world, against spiritual wickedness in 

bigh places. Surely we need the whole 

arraor of God and tbe leadership of the 

Lord of the Sabbath in order to stand 

firm and be accorded the victor's crown. 

The American Sabbath Union, tbe National 

Reforra Association, and the 

Women's Christian Teraperance Union 

have been successful in the Frovidence of 

God in doing a great work, and should receive 

the grateful encourageraent and 

hearty support of all who are laboring for 

tbe spiritual and temporal welfare of 

huraanity, and the upbuilding of the 

Kingdom of God. 

S. J. Crowe, 

Louis .Meyer, 

W. S. Fulton, 

J. E. Magee, 

W. E. Sterrett.

,240 Monographs. 

PASS IT ALONG. 

I am going to suppose a case. Such an 

actual case never happened. It would have 

made a stir over all Christendom if it had. 

It was at the Lord's Supper; tbere was 

a good churchful of disciples, and the 

deacons carae along with the cup. Tbe 

rule was for the raan at tbe end of tbe pew 

to partake hiraself, and then pass it along 

to the next, and be to tbe next, and so on 

till the last one was reached. One man, 

right in the raiddle of tbe pew, got hold 

of it and partook and then beld on to the 

cup. 

"Pass it on," said the raan next to bim 

who had had it; but he would not do it. 

"Pass it on," said tbe man beyond who 

wanted it; but he would not do it. 

"Pass it on," said tbe deacon in a low 

but eamest voice; but be would not do it. 

The pastor saw tbere was sorae trouble 

in that pew. He slipped down on tiptoe, 

and, seeing how it stood, he said, 

"Pass it on; the cup is intended for all; 

'drink ye all of it.' It is not intended for 

you alone. It has corae all tbe way doAvn 

from the table till it reached you. Don't 

stop it; pass it along." But the man 

clutched all the harder, and would not 

pass it on. He wanted to keep it all for 

hiraself. 

There is the Cup of Salvation. Cbrist 

filled it with His own hands. He gave it 

to His disciples to drink. Drink and pass 

it along. "Freely ye bave received, freely 

give." "Ye shall be witnesses unto rae 

both in Jerusalera, and in all Judea, and 

in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts 

,of the earth." "Go ye, therefore." 

So the apostles partook and tben passed 

it on. Tbey of Jerusalem passed it on to 

Antiocb; and tbey of Antioch passed it 

on to Ephesus and Corinth and Philippi; 

and they of Ephesus, Corinth and Philippi 

passed it on to Rome; and they of Rome 

passed it on to Britain; and tbey of Britain 

passed it on to us in America; and 

we of America are to pass it on to Japan 

and Cbina and India, and to tbe isles of 

tbe sea which have it not. 

But now sorae tbere are who have got 

the cup and bold on to it, and will not 

pass it on. "It is good," they say; "blessed—ob, 

raostblessed,"—^but tbey will not 

pass it on. The heathen are perishing for 

want of that cup, but tbey will not pass 

it on. Tbere is raoresalvation in tbat cup 

than they can ever use themselves, but 

they will not pass any of it along. AVhen 

the brethren in other places conclude they 

raust do soraething to hold forth the word 

and spread the blessing and corae and ask 

thera to join, saying, "We have found it 

so good ourselves, let us pass it over to 

those millions of poor Chinamen," they 

say, "No. We do not believe in passing 

the cup along." So they never give anything 

to save otber people. Is that all 

right ? 

—Wm. Ashmore, D.D. 

AN;0LD LETTER. 

•—Through the courtesy of Rev. E. M. 

Elsey, of Glen Carapbell, Pa., Olive 

Trees is able to give its readers the folloAving 

"copy of a letter written by Dr. R. 

J. Dodds, our pioneer raissionary, on being 

called to the foreign field. Mrs. Margaret 

Beckett, wife of the elder to whom it was 

written, gladly gives it for publication, 

thinking that at this tirae it will be of 

interest to tbe Cburcb and perbaps an 

encourageraent to those called to tbe same 

field, in raaking their decision."—•• 

N. Y., June 19, 1856. 

Dear brother: 

You will perhaps have learned before 

this coraes to band that I have received 

and accepted an appointment on tbe Foreign 

Missions. 

When I considered all circumstances I


can not doubt that I was called to tbe I start to bring up my boy to Pennsyl- 

Foreign fleld by the Head of the Church, vania. It is very probable that my next 

and I durst not refuse for fear Fle would day with you will be the lasti but I hope 

blight my usefulness at horae. I have to write to ray people often frora Palescast 

my people on the kind care of the tine. I bid you good bye till I see you. 

good Shepherd of Israel. I will it all ilay God be always Arith you. 

when I go. I will bave to sail about tbe 

Your affectionate brother, 

first of October. I must go to Iowa before 

R. J. Dodds. 

Never raind where your work is. Never mind Avhether it be visible or not. Never 

mind if your narae is associated with it. You may never see the issues of your toils. 

You are working for eternity. If you cannot see results here in tbe hot working day, 

the cool evening hours are drawing near when you raay rest frora your labors, and 

then they raay follow you. So do your duty and trust God to give the seed you sow 

"a body as it batb pleased Hira."—Alexander Maclaren. 

King Andereya, of Bunyoro, recently wrote to his forraer missionary teacher, as 

follows: "I am writing to tell you that I send you an offering to God for His 

Church, tbat is 100 rupees. For to-day I have come into possession of my portion of 

the yearly taxes. Who is it tbat bas given rae greatness and glory and riches, all 

to be possessed by me? Ob, my father, it is well that you should pray for me without 

ceasing, tbat He raay grant me Arisdom to walk ever in His path of righteousness, 

and that I raay ever fear and love Hira. I praise Him much that He has given me 

to-day these tokens. Farewell my father." 

A Japanese statesman, an ex-member of the Cabinet, recently said: "No raatter 

hoAv large an array or navy we bave, unless we have righteousness at the foundation 

of our national existence, we shall fall sbort of success. I do not hesitate to say that 

we raust rely upon religion for our bighest Avelfare, and when I look about rae to 

see upon what religion we can best rely, I ara conA'inced that the religion of Christ is 

the one raost full of strength and promise for- the nation." 

During a naval battle an English vessel was swept by shot and shell. When Captain 

Haldane brougbt up the reserves to take the places of the slain, they were seized 

Avitb a panic, and he cursed them. An old Scotch marine saluted him and said 

quietly, "I believe that God answers prayers, and if your prayer had been answered 

where would we be?" After the battle the captain thought of the faithfulness of 

the raarine, who had been slain during the conflict, and Avas converted. He becarae 

a preacher in Edinburgh, and tbrough his influence, Robert Haldane, whose voice 

shook Geneva, as be proclairaed tbe gospeh was led to Christ. All through the testiraony 

of tbat old Scotch raarine. 

Do you know what Luther said? "Suffer and be still and tell no man thy sorrow. 

Trust in God—His help will not fail thee." This is Avhat Scripture caUs keeping 

silence before God. To talk rauch of one's sorrows makes one weak, but to tell one's 

sorrows to Him who heareth in secret makes one strong and calm.— Tholuck.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

*Through an error in footing Olive Trees reported in September issue only 

$1,421.57 received for this fund. The correct total, .including August receipts, 

acknowledged in the same nuraber, was $2,329.57, and we have since received the 

following sums: 

Contributor. 

Amount. 

Jonathan-Creek Sabbath School $12.58 

L. M. Society of Illinois Presbytery 41.05 

A. M. Milligan Society of Pittsburgh Congregation.. 5.00 

Mrs. Jane Porter, Houlton, Kas 39.00 

Young Women's League, Brooklyn Congregation .. 10.00 

Mrs. J. G. McConneU, BeUe Center, 0 5.00 

Mrs. E. J. Wylie, Belle Center, 0. 5.00 

iliss .Maggie A. Wylie, Belle Center, 0 5.00 

Mission Field 

China 

China 

Cbina 

China $14.00 

& Syria 25.00 

Cbina 

China 

China 

China 

More, though not necessarily larger, contributions raust be raade to this fund, if 

the original idea of raising $10,000, to be divided aniong the several raissionsat bome 

and abroad, is to be realized before the close of the year. 

In this connection special attention is called to the Circular of the Central Board, 

in which are set forth the financialstraits of the Domestic ilission, and which states 

definitely that raore than 

FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS 

will be required this year to raeat its obligations. AVould it not be a fine thing for 

each raember-of the Reforraed Presbyterian Churcli to send to Olive Trees a thank 

offering of one dollar for what God honored three noble woinen, now resting frora 

their labors, to do in China, witb instructions to pay it into the Treasury of the 

Domestic Mission. To accomplish this result there should be appointed in .each congregation 

an agent who should make it his business to visit the people, explain the 

necessity of prorapt action and solicit their co-operation. Any one acquainted with 

their financial eircumstances could easily secure a sura equivalent to a -dollar a 

raember, taking less than a hundred cents from sorae and insisting on raore than a 

hundred cents frora others, daaling with thera according to tbeir several ability. For


it raust be borne in mind that raising money for Church purposes, as well as for 

secular enterprises, demands the application of business principles. The amount 

secured in this way would pay the debt, and, added to Avhat will be given in the plate 

collections on thc first Sabbath of October, would enable the Central Board to carry on 

its work without being forced to curtail operations in any direction. This would 

bring spiritual prosperity to the contributors, relief frora anxiety to raany consecrated 

laborers and glory to the Head of the Church. Address: 

E. M. Sommekville, 327 W. 56tb Streeti New York. 

Tbe raany friends of foreign raissionary Avork are invited to co-operate witb us in 

endeavoring to secure the amount of raoney necessary to entitle us to claira tbe 

generous offer of 


to open a neAV station in Cliina. This appeal is made to the men and Avoraen of the 

Reformed Presbyterian Churcb who have good incomes and are always ready to bear 

a part in enterprises that have for their object the spread of the truth as it is in Jesus 

and the establishment of His Kingdom. Only forty-six hundred dollars are needed 

now, and, unless many favoring signs fail, Ave avUI soon be in a position to report the 

fund of 

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS 

complete and in the hands of Treasurer Miller. Intelligent Christians are not apt to 

give on impulse, but as faitliful stewards, alive to their responsibility, and after weighing 

carefully and prayerfully the claims of every new scheme. It is to such persons 

that we speak, and consequently Ave are expecting frora each one to whora the request 

coraes at least one hundred dollars of his trust funds. 

* % * 

At the meeting of the Foreign Board, Department. I hercAvith abandon the atin 

New Ynrk, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1905, a tempt tn have a Bnarding School in 

letter was read from Rev. AA^ McCarroll, Cyprus. As a consequence there is no use 

in which occurs this stateraent regarding for the ShaAv ilemorial in Larnaca, and 

the Boarding School: 

so it is still at the disposal of the Board." 

"I may say frankly that the plan sub- The proposal to rttn a Boarding School 

raitted to the Board has gone "to pieces. in Cypras cannot be carried out at pres- 

The AA'atkins place has been rented to an- ent, and fcAv tears Avill be shed over the 

other party for three years, and ilrs. collapse nf the enterprise. If there were 

Aegyptiades has gone to Italy to care for Iavo ministers on the island it might be 

a daughter Avho is ill. I could have had AA'ise to try the experiment, buti as Mr. 

the place- and the services of Mrs. ilcCarroll is alcne there and no one ready 

Aegyptiades, had I said the word when to go to his assistance, it seeras wiser to 

you authorized it, but for otber reasons I let the raatter rest for a while. We condid 

not do so, tbe chief of which is a rais- gratulate our brother on the defeat of his 

take in my estimate, as I now find that plan, thotigh it had the endorsement of 

two of my Avorkers wiU reduce the ex- the Board. The Lord Jesus who, in FIis 

penses barely within the liraits of the esti- mediatorial sovereignty, directs and conmate 

of last year, without the expense of trols all events, instead of allowing him 

matron, servants and rent for Boarding to shrivel into a local school teacher, has


set him free from the entangleraents of 

such a position that he raay go out and 

preach everyAvhere, the Lord, we trust, 

Avorking with hira and confirming the 

word Avitli signs fnllowiug. 

One hardly knows what to say or think 

of the inability of the Foreign Board to 

obtain the services of anotber ordained 

minister for Syria. Certainly there are 

no new arguments to advance. Indeed, 

we are persuaded that in this case no 

logic will be effective, but that learned in 

the school nf Christ. It seeras a strange 

prnvidence that so raany rainisters are 

]irevented by personal or faraily affliction 

frnm devoting theraselves to a work in 

whicii they avowedly take a deep interest, 

and in Avhich they are eager to engage. 

AA"e were cheered a feAV days ago' with 

news of nne Avho is studying with a vieAV 

to foreign raissionaryAvork, and it raay be 

the privilege of the Board tn send him to 

Syria, Avhen he shall have completed his 

studies. But in nur judgment Rev. James 

S. Stewart needs assistance at once. Nor 

arc there Avanting encouraging features in 

the Avork in this destitute field. It is 

nnly necessary to read the statement 

published in this number of Olive Trees, 

in which Mr. Stewart gives an account of 

his visits to sorae of the out-stations, to be 

convinced that he should-have an associate, 

and that the success attending the 

labors of native evangelists and teachers is 

well fittedtn encourage the hnrae Church. 

The Reforraed Fresbyterian Churcb requires 

four j'oting woraen for its foreign 

fields, teachers, not over thirty j'ears of 

age, in good health, experienced in teaching, 

possessed nf a raissionary spirit, and 

fully surrendered tn God. TAvn are 

needed in Tak Hing Cliau, China, tn talce 

charge nf the schnol work on which Miss 

Jepnie B, TorTopce -âs ahovit to enter 

when suddenly called to rest from ber 

labors. Two are needed for the Levant 

ilissions; one to share tbe abundant labors 

of iliss Wylie, who has borne the burden 

and heat of the day for years at Latakia, 

Syria, and should now have belp, and another 

to be associated with Miss Sterrett, 

Avho.is most untiring in her efforts to keep 

the school worlc agoing in Mersina, Asia 

ilinor. It is not conceivable that there 

are not four j'oung women in the Covenanter 

Church qualified to fill these 

positions. But we cannot reach thera. 

If any one is acquainted with such 

teachers as the Church deraands for service 

in its foreign fields, we shall be glad 

to have naraes and addresses, that we may 

open correspondence Avitli thera. 

Funk & AVagnalls Co. has sent us The 

M'l.monaiij Revieiv of ihe World for September. 

This nuraber sustains the reputation 

nf this raagazine fnr carefully 

Avritten artieles and reliable missionary 

intelligence. Naturally the death of J. 

Hudson Taylor, the founder and director 

bf the China Inland Mission, bas called 

forth papers nn his life and character, 

meraorial addresses and biographical 

facts, that every nne interested in a fully 

surrendered life will read with pleasure 

and prnfit. Eev. Genrge AVashburn, D.D., 

LL.D., Constantinople, introduces this 

issue Avith a tiraely article nn The Gnvernraent, 

Church and People of Russia. It 

also cnntains an excellent report of the 

tfl-enty-second session of the International 

Missionary Union by its President, Rev. 

T. J. Gracey, D.D.; an instructive paper 

' on AVhat the ilissionaries have done for 

the Northwest, by I). 0. Shelton, Secretary 

of Home ilissionary Societj', and a valuable 

article nn The Revival of Buddhisra 

in Ceylon, translated and condensed frora 

.Evangelisclies Missions Magazin, Basel, by 

our own Louis Meyer, of Hopkinton la.

O L I V B T R K E S 

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary 'Work in the Reformed Presbyterian 


No. NOVEMBER, 1905. 11. 


INTERCESSORY FOREIGN MIS 

SIONARIES. 

Practical Suggestions from a Missionary 

to Earnest Christians. 

REV. ALFRED E. STREET. 

"Jeboval * * * wondered that 

there was no intercessor."—Isaiah 59, 16. 

Tbe foUoAring is not a literary presentation 

of trutb, but is designed to be a 

practical suggestion for work. Tbis purpose 

bas determined the form of presentation. 

It has grown out of thc writer's experience 

in addressing churches, and the 

reception that bas been accorded the truths 

bere presented bas revealed the need for 

tbeir more general diffusion. 

Cbrist did not comraand us to pray the 

Lord of tbe "harvest tbat He send fortb 

raissionaries, but 'Taborers." Tbe difference 

engageraent as real as an appointment by 

is intentional, for there are otbers a foreign mission board. His striking 

just as necessary as raissionaries. ("Missionary" 

is the Latin form of the Greek 

"Apostle," meaning "one sent.") 

Tbose harvest bands wbo directly reach 

the souls of men and save tbem can be 

divided generally into (1) Native Workers, 

and in all countries tbe burden of. 

peculiarities are that be is working in tbe 

realm of "the heavenlies" instead of among 

visible men, and tbat there are no restrictions 

as to the number who can be intercessors, 

to the place of their residences, or 

to the variety, sweep and completeness of 

the results accomplished. 

evangelization rests upon thera; (2) Missionaries, 

who are no longer needed when 

II. Necessity for Intercessory Foreign 

the natives have learned all tbey can 

teacb (some centuries ago tbey finished 

*Published ai the request of the Church 

News Associaiion, 31 TJmQn Square, N&w 

Yorlc. 

their work aniong the Englisb); (3) Intercessors, 

wbo give tbeir time and 

strength to the distinct work of definite 

intercessory prayer. 

Of these tbree classes, if comparison is 

possible araong things all of wbich are 

necessary, the intercessor is most important 

because be is working at tbe very 

root and foundation of all harvest success, 

and, in so far as man is responsible, his 

faithfulness deterraines the success of all. 

I. Definition. 

An intercessory foreign missionary is a 

"laborer" Avho cannot go in person to the 

foreign field, but who has set himself 

apart to pray for the definite details of the 

foreign raissionary work. He only is entitled 

to tbe narae who enters upon an engageraent 

to work for definite fields; an 

Missionaries. 

That niission field wbich has the largest 

nuraber of raissionaries (faithful intercessors), 

whose names are not in tbe pub 

Ushed lists, will ahvays be the most successfully 

harvested. 

This is so—


(a) Because of the nature of missionary 

activity. 

Eph. 6, 10-20 reveals the fact clearly, 

concisely and completely, showing that we 

are not priraarily overcoraing the prejudices 

and superstitions of raen, but "principalities, 

po'-vvers, Avorld rulers of this 

darkness, spiritual hnsts of wickedness in 

tho heavenlies," Avliich are varinus grades 

of rulers nrganized intn invisible kingdoms 

of darlcness. In Dan. 10, some of 

these principalities arc mentioned by 

name: 'T-'riiice of Greece," "Prince of 

Persia,'' "Kings of Persia,' etc., while 

Christ calls the head of all these kingdoms 

the "Prince of the AA''orld." Other 

forces are revealed m "the linrses and 

charints nf fire round about Elisha," and 

the "tAvelve legions of angels" mentioned 

bj' Jcsus. Thus revelation shows missionary 

activity tn be a spiritual war betAvecii 

the fnrees of C'hrist and tliose of Satan, 

nnt raan trying to reform and civilize 

mail. Tliis war is waged fnr the pnssessioii 

nf living men and through the medium of 

living men. C'hrist seeks men tn be "members 

nf His bndy,'' while Satan "enters" 

the hearts nf men, so that each works out 

his purposes through the men Avho submit 

to him. It foUoAvs that raen must go in 

person, as Jesus carae to the Avorld in 

person, to do the Avork raade possible by 

prayer. 

(b) Because prayer based on God's word 

is the only weapon man can use to 

touch the invisible foe. 

AA'e can reach a Chinaraan by speaking 

face to face with him, but we can strike 

the spiritual .Prince of China only by Avay 

of the place "above Avliere Christ is"' ever 

living to make iiitercessinn. An inspectinn 

nf Eph. 6 shnws that the end of putting 

on the arraor nf God is tn pray fnr 

all the saints, but especially for Paul, whn 

represents his raissinnarysuccessnrs. This 

arranr is not for selfish prntection, but tn 

enable us to "stand" and, like iloses, 

Aaron and Hur, by supplication give victory 

to those fighting Araalek. Jesus did 

not call upon the tAvelve legions of angels, 

but upon His disciples, and that tbey 

should Avatch Avitli Him in prayer while 

He fought the invisible foe, arid in this 

has shoAvn the Avaj'.for all who "flght the 

fight of faith." Even now it is by intercession 

that He continues the war. 

(c) Because the missionary on the field 

cannot alone do his work. 

AAQien the intercessors' hands fall 

Araalek prevails on the raission field today. 

The enemy is strong. Jesus refused 

tn bnw doAvn to Satan, but the heathen 

bnw and Avorship; therefore the blackness 

nf darkness broods over those lands, a 

stifling, clinking pnAver of death. Tbere 

a Christiaii is like a diver at the bottom of 

the sea. 

In Christiaii countries prayer is continually 

offered for the pastor and for 

every detail of the wnrk of the church; 

s[)ecial raeetings are held to pray for a revival. 

In open-air raeetings, while one is 

speaking, others are praying. Exactly in 

tbe same Avay one or Iavo raissionaries 

alnne aranng thnusand s or raillions need 

other persons to pray definitely while they 

worlc or speak. Only the need is raore 

urgent as the bottom of the sea is more 

dangerous than the air, just as there are 

raore deaths "nn the firing line" than in 

the quiet of the home. 

The body of Christ does not consist of 

each one of us individuallj', but of all 

together, and if a missionary is left Avithout 

sufficient aid in ]irayer, he suffers, 

limps, sturables. Some have even fallen 

away. He may succeed in fighting his 

A\'ay to the very presence of God and receive 

blessings unspeakable, but mean- 

Avhile the heathen .perish, and God tells us 

that their blood is to be required at the 

hands of those A\ho did nnt do their part.

III. What can be done by Intercessory 

Missionaries, 

(a) A host of intercessors can be 

speedUy enlisted for this Avar. 

(b) Enougb missionaries and money 

can be fotind reallj- to accomplish our 

task. 

(c) Suitable men can be sent as iiiissiona,ries, 

and the unsuitable can be prevented 

from malcing the mistake of going. 

Such mistakes have in the past cost raany 

lives and thousands of dollars. They can 

be prevented by the Lord of the harvest 

only Avben He is aslced to do so. Even 

Christ Hiraself prayed all night before He 

chose tbe firsttwelve missionaries. (It is 

a significant fact that there is no distinct 

command for man to send forth raissionaries. 

Tbat work Avas done by Christ Hiraself, 

and then by His Spirit when He 

chose Paul and Barnabas. When they 

tried to choose fellow workers they quarreled 

over the choice. The coraraand is 

to pray.) 

(d) Many urgent questions of general 

missionary policy can be solved only 

through much'prayer. 

(e) Individual heathen can be prayed 

for by name and tbus saved. 

(f) A native ministry can be raised 

up and maintained. 

. (g) Revivals can continually spring 


nn the foreign field and save thousands. 

The experience of one raissionaryAvas that 

as far as raan can see results, he was able 

to do raore for the heathen toiling as an 

intercessor in Araerica than while he was 

araong the heathen Avithout intercessors 

pleading for hira. 

IV. How to do the work o.' an Intercessory 

Missionary. 

(a) Decide deliberately that this intercession 

is to be a regular binding duty. 

(&) Select fixed daj's, hours, times, 

and mako thera talce precedence, as far as 

possible, of all other engagements. 

((-) Begin hurablj', letting experience 

enlarge and guide. 

(cl) Wait on the Lord of the harvest 

for directions as to Avhat part of the field 

you are to belong to. 

(e) Leam the nanies of all raissionaries 

of all connections- in your field, and 

praj' for thera by narae. 

(/) Do not pity the missionary or 

condole Avitii him, but give him your sympathetic 

help. 

(g) AA'rite to the raissionaries you are 

praying for, asking pointedly what their 

difficulties and needs are. Tell them you 

do not Avant something bright and newsj', 

but something dark and discouraging, and 

that Avhen they are worn out you want 

thera to drop j'ou a pnstal telling j-ou that, 

up on tbe foreign fields. 

so that vou can pray thera strong again. 

(h) Fresh fillingsof the Holy Spirit (ll) Pray for every need or condition 

can be given to overburdened raissionaries. that ynu ean learn about. This article 

(;•) The health and strength of missionaries 

is only siiggestivc. 

can be maintained under the (./•) Fnrm tho habit of letting God im 

severe strain of their physical and social 

surroundings. 

press upon you the things to pray for. He 

will do it. 

(k) Lonely missionaries, those without 

(/.•) Not raany words are needed, but 

many friends, can be cheered and much tirae raust bc spent in "waiting" 

helped untU their usefulness is raany upon Ilim, the very silence calling, for 

tinies raultiplied. 

His AviU tn bc done. Silence enables.one 

Experience has repeatedly shown that to draw very near to God. "AA'e know not 

the believing prayer of one humble intercessor 

at horae can bring about a revival 

how to praj- as Ave ought" and Ave must let 

"the Spirit Himself raake intercession."


(Z) Study and practice the art of 

praying until you are expert in it. Tbe 

Bible furnishes its laws and examples, 

which can be worked out by patient practice 

only, just like any other art. 

V. Warnings. 

Some raay be terapted to cherish a subtle, 

hidden' feeling that by doing tbis 

work they are conferring a favor on some 

one by helping. Not at all. It is the 

other way; the unspeakable favor is 

granted you of sharing the burden of intercession 

daily- carried by the risen man 

Cbrist Jesus in heaven. 

Wben details of raission work begin to 

come to your knowledge, be exceedingly 

careful how you judge, conderan or decide 

in raatters that you have never raet 

and that. have puzzled the wisest raen 

for raany decades. No war is sweet or 

gentle, but you afe now fighting Satan, enthroned 

among men, the most unscrupulous 

and borribje of enemies—worse than 

raan can iraagine. When raatters utterly 

unexpected and discouraging arise, Satan 

will try to turn you away in disgust; therefore, 

remeraber that the worse qre the 

troubles the greater is tbe need for your 

prayers. 

Many, many tiraes you will be terapted 

to give it all up as useless, for every possible 

forra of deception will be araong his 

"wiles" to stop your intercession; for if 

he can stop each one his victory is assured, 

and there are alarmingly few intercessore. 

Be ready patiently to toil on Arithout apparent 

results; time is required for thera. 

to show, ilany a laborer has worked for 

years without seeing the results that overjoyed 

his successors; cannot j'ou do the 

same ? 

Woe l)c to any one who tries to become 

an intercessory raissionarywhile the Lord 

is calling hira to go in person. In Mat. 

7, 23 Christ calls such "ye that work iniquity 

or. laAvlessness," for although they 

had been erainently successful workers in 

the cburch, what they did was not "tbe 

will" of God for tbem. 

VI. General Truths. 

(1) Indirect Work. Every Christian 

should do sorae work as an intercessory 

missionary; but there are some at home 

Avhom the Lord calls to give tbeir daily 

toil for tbe salvation of the nations. Many 

are needed who, by teaching, writing and 

exhorting, shall arouse Christians to a 

sense of their responsibility for tbe death 

of those who perish, not because tbey are 

sinners, but because the salvation prepared 

for thera by Christ has never been 

offered thera by men. In the work bere 

suggested, house to bouse visitation among 

cburch merabers has been proved most effective 

in arousing thera to their privileges 

in the foreign fields. A caution is 

here needed, for sucb work is only indirect, 

and raost jealous, prayerful care is 

needed to prevent it frora displacing the 

direct work of intercession. Any work 

that is visible so appeals to our pride that 

it is raore attractive than is the lonely 

toU of intercession. 

(2) Rejected. It is generally considered 

that God has not called one to the 

foreign work because age, health, family 

relations, rejection by a raission board or 

other outward circurastances prevent him 

from going abroad. Such circumstances 

have no bearing whatever on the question 

as to whetber the Lord wants you to work 

directly for the salvation of the heathen. 

God is waiting for you to take your place 

in the vital, difficult and blessed work of 

joining Christ in interceding before 

Hira. It is not an evidence of obedience 

quietly to drift along at ease, letting the 

lar-aAvaj', unseen raultitudes perish for 

thc lack of your prayers. Sorae laborers 

raust not go to the mission fields. 

(3) Substitutes. When a draft is 

made for war service, only a limited num-

Questions of the Hour., 249, 

ber of men is called out, and a "substitute" 

bas to be one of those not drafted in 

his own name.. But in this spiritual war 

every citizen of heaven is drafted, and no 

substitutes are possible, because there are 

none left undrafted. Yictory is impossible 

unless tbose at home meet and rout 

the invisible foe. It is unjust to send a 

raan into the deadly blackness of heathenism 

withottt giving your life in interces-^ 

sion for him, while he gives his life for the 

heathen. AA^^ must "lay down our lives fnr 

the brethren." (I. John 3, 16.) 

(4) Candidates. Beware of ever 

urging any one to go as a missionary. The 

Holy Spirit only can do tbat with safety. 

We should rather urge that one set bis will 

as flint that be is goirig to "do tbe will 

of my Father in heaven," and that he 

then pray, "Lord, send fortb laborers"; 

and if the Lord really wants hira in foreign 

flelds, it is only a matter of time 

when it will be made so plain tbat tbere 

will be no room for doubt. 

(5) Rewards. There is a peculiar 

suppleraentary reward given for all raissionary 

work. It is in addition to the 

honors of. faithful labor, and is determined 

not bv what is done, but by what is 

"left." For every comfort or friend that 

you leave in order to do this worlc, you 

Avill receive one hundred fold (10,000 per 

cent.) of the comfort, rest and satisfaction 

that they could afford. This is indescribably 

true of both raissionary and 

intercessor, and is the kind of "joy set before 

Hira" that enabled Jesus to "endure." 

The missionary leaves by talcing ship, the 

intercessor leaves by shutting the door of 

his closet. Attendance on church meetings 

and conventions becomes a selflsh indulgence 

of religious feelings when it leads 

to the neglect of tbe hard work God wants 

you to do. ilen are dying in agony while 

you are enjoying a "beautiful" service, 

and v-hile God is calling you to forget your 

verj- existence in watching and praying 

with groaiiings that cannot be'uttered. 

The unspealcable riches in Christ are 

discovered by the raissionary, whether he 

is araong the heathen preaching to thera, 

or in the horae land interceding for thera. 

Thes8_ things are not raere raatters of intellectual 

theory, but they have been 

proven in experience. They sbould become 

your experience also, for they are a 

foUoAving in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. 

The Cburch prays, "Awake, awake! Put on thy strength, 0 arra of the Lord!" The 

Lord's reply often is, "Awake! awake! Put on thy strength, 0 Zion." Instead of calling 

upon God, we need to rouse ourselves to do our part. Prayer, it has been said, is 

not a talisman, to be used as an easy substitute for our activity and vigilance. Prayer 

is rather a ministrv, in .which our OAvn powers can be quickened into raore vigorous and 

healthy exercise. When we have done all that God has put into our own power to do, 

we can go to Hira and say, "0 God, our arraory is erapty, our reserves are all caUed 

out, our last man is on the fleld, our araraunition is spenti and the enemy stiU boasts 

himself in tbe fleld;" tben we can properly say, "Awake I awake! Put on thy strength 

0 arm of tbe Lord!" In that case our prayer would shake the very beavens, and we 

'should have as our eager and willing allies the innuraerable hosts of the Eternal 

God.—Mission Intelligencer. 

Tbe Emperor of Japan is said to bave given $5,000 from bis personal purse to the 

Y M C. A. a token of his appreciation of the work tbree secretaries'did in the army 

ever since the beginning of the war between Japan and Eussia.



ABROAD. 

Latakia, Syria.—In a letter from 

Constantinople, Turkey, Sept. 21, 1905, 

Miss Maggie B. Edgar wrote that she and 

Miss Cunninghara had "found pleasant 

corapany on the way. God has been good 

to us, and we have reason to be very 

thankful for His loving care. We will 

spend to-day seeing soraething of Constantinople. 

We spent two or three hours 

at Athens on the 19th, and had a drive 

about Naples on Saturday last while the 

stearaer lay there. We expect to reach 

Latakia on the 30th, and we will not be 

sorry to corae to the end of our wanderings 

and settle down to work again." 

Suadia, Syria Writing frora Kessab, 

Sept. 9, Eev. C. A. Dodds reports sorae 

items of interest: 

We have been here in Kessab a little 

over a month now. We expect to go down 

to Suadia next week, wind up our affairs 

tbere, and get away for Mersina early in 

October. 

Two weeks ago I was with Mr. Stewart 

at Gunaimia, on the occasion of his comraunion 

there. Gunairaia, with a coraraunicants' 

roll of seventy or raore,is the 

raost hopeful point, I suppose, in the 

Latakia fleld. But a suitable worker is 

hard to find, and we have no building, the 

Governraent having heretofore frustrated 

all efforts to secure one. Our services on 

this occasion were held in the houses of 

the brethren. On Sabbath at the coraraunion 

service, I counted about thirtyeight 

raen and grown boys, about thirty 

women and groAvn girls, and about twentyflve 

little boys and girls. It seeras a great 

pity that, with sucb a congregation, we 

cannot have a house of worship. After 

the coraraunion, Mr. Stewart baptized 

four babies. 

1 have been to Suadia but once since 

coming up, to Kessab. Sorae of our adherents 

there are endeavoring to secure 

the organization of a Protestant sect— 

i. e., trying to get tbe Governraent to 

recognize thera as Protestants, tbe hope 

being that if they can gain sucb recognition, 

the burden of their taxes will not be 

so heavy upon them. The people of 

Suadia are coraplaining loudly of the exactions 

raade upon thera. 

Mersina, Asia Minor. —In a September 

letter, not intended. for publication. 

Miss Sterrett says, among other things: 

iladeleine and I raade about flftycalls 

this vacation, and need to raake sorae 

eight or ten raore before we begin the 

year's work. One of the needs of every 

mission center is a lady whose time could 

be wholly devoted to visiting. In the hurried 

way in Avhich we are obliged to make 

our calls, there is next to no time for any 

extended conversation or discussion. We 

can do little more than show ourselves 

friendly and keep in touch witb parents 

and friends of past and present pupils. 

Only on a few occasions .did we bave satisfactory 

talks. 

There is so raucb nonsensical superstition 

among the women that only line 

upori line and precept upon precept can 

have any effect. They know so little of 

their OAvn religion that they cannot discuss 

a religious question with any degree 

of intelligence. 

The sumraer has been the hottest I have 

ever experienced in Mersina, and tbis is 

the testiinony of tbe oldest residents.

There was, and is still, mucb sickness. 

Some of our friends have passed away, including 

tbe little daughter of one of our 

members. This little cbild is the first 

one buried in the cemetery since the wall 

was completed and the gate set up. Markers 

may now be placed at the graves without 

fear of their being destroyed or carried 

away. We are most thankful to all 

those who contributed to the building of 

this wall. 

How sorry we are to bear of the death 

of Miss Torrence! We syrapathize with 

the parents, who have been called to part 

witb another daughter. May tbe Lord 

comfort them and help us all to leam 

Avbat He desires to teacb us in tbese 

tbings. It is bard to understand, and interpret 

as we mSy, we cannot know now, 

but we do know that it is right, because 

He doeth all things well. 

Cyprus.—Dr. Calvin McCarroll writes, 

under date of Sept. 27, as follows: 

After coming to Cyprus we reraained 

for a foAV raonths in Larnaca, wbere we 

studied Greek what spare tirae we bad. 

Owing to tbe popularity of Dr. Moore, 

patients began coraing ahnost frora the 

first, and soon we had quite a large nuraber 

of them, especially the Turks, who 

are the most prosperous business men of 

the toAm; also tbe former treasurer of 

tbe Turkish Empire, who is now in exUe 

in Cypras. After studying the condition 

of affairs in Cyprus, and especially the 

bitter opposition to tbe work in Nicosia, 

we decided tbat tbe best way to overcome 

tbe opposition was to locate the medical 

departraent of tbe Mission in Nicosia, 

wbicb is the capital of tbe island, and has 

abont 20,000 inhabitants, and is twentyfive 

miles "from Larnaca. So we moved 

here in the spring, but had scarcely got 

settled and ready to begin work, wben I 

was taken with typhoid fever. After two 


weeks I was taken to the hospital, where 

there is an Bnglish doctor and two English 

nurses. Tbere I remained for four 

weeks, and was dismissed as well, but tbe 

next day was compelled to return to tbe 

hospital for two weeks longer, during 

which time our home was blessed by the 

advent of a sweet little girl, who flrst saw 

the light in the hospital. Tben, on account 

of the intense heat and our weakness, 

we went for a raonth to Mt. Troodos, 

which is fifty railesfrora Nicosia and over 

6,000 feet high. This is the suramer retreat 

for the English, and has a delightful 

climate. The mountains being covered 

with pine trees, Troodos is probably a 

better sumraer resort than any on tbe 

raainland; but there is one thing that we 

raiss very rauch, and that is green grass. 

There is none in Cyprus, not even in the 

raountains, and on the plains it does not 

rain during the suraraer for five or six 

raonths. During our sojourn in the bills 

Ave gained rapidly in strength and flesh 

and returned feeling very well indeed and 

ready to take up the work witb renewed 

vigor. Although the weather is still warra 

it is gradually getting cooler. To-day it 

is ,86 degrees Fahr. in our horae. 

AVe opened the clinic yesterday, and flve 

patients raade their appearance, which we 

consider very good for the flrstday. Eev. 

Mr. Aegyptiades is now ray Greek teacber. 

He also translates for rae-in tbe medical 

work, and preaches in Greek and Turkish, 

as Eev. Sarkissian and faraily bave 

gone to Toronto, Can., and Licentiate 

Diraitriades has returned to Larnaca to 

teach in the school, wbicb, my brother 

writes, opened last week auspiciously. Tbe 

Greek doctors, of whom tbere are seventeen 

in Nicosia, are doing all they can to 

hinder our work, and say to the people, 

"AVhy do you go to tbe American doctor 

wben there are so many Greek doctors? 

He is a Protestant," which the Greeks re-


gard as the raost .disgraceful epithet that 

can be applied. There is, hoAvever, a raan 

in a village, whose daughter 1 had successfullj' 

treated, but Avho had been to all the 

Greek doctors Avithout success. He carae 

intn tnAvn yesterday and told everybody 

he sa'w about it, and advertised us as much 

as he could. Although the worlc will be 

slow, we have faitii to believe that the 

Lnrd will build u]3 His own Avork, and not 

suff'er it to go baclc. 

The hatred, or at least the open opposition, 

is not as intense as it was last winter, 

although there is still some. One of 

our adherents Avas Avorking on the railroad, 

when it was rumored that he was a 

Protestant. The other men threatened 

to kill hira if he reraained among them, 

and so the overseer discharged him. Only 

a few weeks ago another adherent was 

seen walking with ilr. Diraitriades, and 

the people said, "AAQiy do you say you are 

not a Frotestant? Now we know. Tomorrow 

we will fix you," and so it happened. 

The next day they threw water 

on him, caught him, tied his feet and beat 

hira, so that lately he has not corae to our 

raeetings. One day two raen entered the 

shop of one of our raerabers, who i's a 

blacksmith, and began beating him, there 

being a large crowd around, including 

policemen, but nothing was done till next 

day, when coraplaint was made to the 

chief of police. The men were arrested, 

but afterward raade peace with the man, 

Mr. Niko, and were discharged. When we 

have services there are men who come and 

look in the window to see who is at the 

meeting, and, if there are any Greeks, they 

report to a committee, which deals with 

those who come. 

Two weeks ago, with Mr. Diraitriades, 

I visited Kyrenia to encourage tbe 

brethren there. We found one who is 

faithful, but is oppressed by the Coraraissioner, 

who is a Roraan Catholic and 

hates Prntestants. Another man, who has 

a store, Avas persecuted by his wife, who 

furnished money for his business, and, 

losing his customers, he decided it was better 

to give up his religion than his customers. 

There is a raissionaryhospital in 

Kyrenia, managed bj- two English nurses, 

who have prayers Avitli the patients. They 

are now in England on \aeation, and when 

.they retum Ave expect to hold services occasiimally 

in the hospital there. 

The Greeks believe that thej- are the 

nnly church, and are sn self-satisfied that 

they will have nothing to dn Avitli our religion, 

while, in fact, they do not know 

what they believe. Tliey have only portions 

of the Scripture whicii the priests 

read on feast daj'S, but have no Bibles in 

their homes, not even the priests. There 

are many things regarding their superstitious 

practices that I might write, but 

Avill leave fnr annther time. 

Tak Hing, China.—A letter of Aug. 

22, 1905, frora Dr. Kate McBurney wiU 

interest our readers: 

Our comniunion is a little over a week 

off, and our thoughts are raostly anticipatory 

; so this letter raay be more of a 

prospectus than a chronicle. 

AA'e are wondering who avUI hear the 

Lord's call to corae and take up Miss Torrence's 

wnrk. AA'e bnpe Iaa'o good teachers 

will soon cnme. If it cnuld nnly be this 

autumn, how glad \\-e would be!. It would 

raean a whole year—and while one feels 

he has not made any very great progress 

in one year here, yet the first year is 

very necessary, if not iraraediately advantageous 

to the work. We are sure there 

are those at horae Avhora the Lord could 

use for very eff'ective work here, iliss 

Torrence left her department in a very 

satisfactory condition. She was ready 

with furnishings and appUances to open 

the school as soon as the building was


ready. Sbe spared no eff'ort to have her 

school thorougbly equipped. She was tireless 

in her enthusiasm, and always ready 

to interest A-isiting Chinese Avoraen and 

girls in the school. AVe have seen her 

stand before the blackboard with a piece 

of chalk and deraonstrqte to A\-omen and 

girls that tiiej-could leam to read if they 

but had the opportunity. She brought 

Lau Yung up from Canton for the 

Chinese Ncav Year vaeation. She is the 

girl Eev. A. 1. Eobb rescued from slavery 

and is educating. Sho is a practical deraonstration 

of Avhat can be done for the 

poor degraded girls nf China, iliss Tnrrence 

shoAved the Avnmen and girls here 

Avhat had beoii dnne for Lau Yung— 

and some of them had IcnoAvn her before 

slie went to school. She is a Christian, 

and an intelligent nne fnr her years. 

It is a nnteAvorthj- fact that there is 

not an unmarried woman in our raerabership, 

nor is there one Avho attends any of 

our services with any regularity. Once in 

a wbile a little girl comes Avith her mother, 

but rarely the same one twice. It is not 

in accordance with Chinese custorii to 

bring unmarried Avomen—I should say 

girls, for they are not allowed to grow to 

Avninanhond unmarried—out in public. 

Ah Sara, .Ah Puk and Ah Kwai, three of 

our Christians, have recently becorae engaged 

to heathen girls. An effort was 

made to get Christian- wives, but in all 

the schools within reach the answer was 

that the demand far exceeded the supply, 

as not only Christian raen desired Christian 

wives, but that heathen raen had 

learned that Christians made better wives 

than heathen girls. However, the latter 

form of alliance is discouraged in the 

schools as much as possible. There are 

girls who were betrothed before entering 

th.e schools, and so there are sorae raen 

who are introduced to Christianity 

through the influence of a wife, wbo 

raalces a better wife than he had been 

trained to expect. We hope that these 

three heathen wives raay be led by their 

husbands to accept the Saviour, but at the 

same tirae we realize there are hard lines 

for both sides of the house. There are 

other Christian boys Avho will need wives 

by and by. AAê hope they will be willing 

to wait until sorae can be trained in the 

school, as that is their only hope of getting 

Christian wives under present conditions. 

If the girls Avere in sehool, they 

eould attend all the serA-ices and it would 

be entirely proper, under the chaperonage 

of the teachers. 

Comraunion is to be on first Sabbath of 

September. Mr. Eobb has planned a 

series of meetings for Bible study for the 

weelc preceding. There are to be several 

meetin.us each day, to be taken charge 

of by the Iavo ilr. Robbs, Leung Sin 

Shang and ilrs. Wright respectively. Sorae 

of the meetings Avill be separate for the 

men and Avomen. These raeetings are for 

all, but Avere planned especially for raembers 

and others from a distance who can 

but rarely attend ser\ices. 

The bretbren frnm the Chung village 

have sent a letter saj'ing there are fnur 

new men Avlin Avish to come, and one or 

two Avninen. The "Chung iîllage" is so 

familiar here that we may forget that the 

Church at home has not quite the same 

opportunity to learii of the places here 

that Ave ha\Q- In explanation, I avUI say 

tJiis is t.he village Avhere all except the 

old great-grandraother have put away 

their idols montiis agn—sorae nf thera 

years ago. It is nine railes from Lin Tau, 

where there is some ])rospect of an opening 

for a new station. It is not to be 

Avnndered at if avc shnuld nccasionally forget 

that all at home do nnt know these 

places and people so familiar to us, when 

Ave,get letters from here and there over 

the Church, witb kindly messages for


"Farmer Tom," "Ah Sam," "Tse Aps," 

and "Tai So." How they do enjoy thera, 

too! 

Aug. 31.—The Chung people carae on 

last Saturday. One of the two old 

grandfathers, five raenof the third generation, 

one of the fourth, and the wife of the 

other grandfather, Avith her daughter-in- ' 

law, making nine in all. Six of these are 

candidates for baptism and are all accepted. 

They are to be baptized on Saturday. 

Our first general raeeting, jireparatory 

to the coraraunion, was held on last Saturday 

evening. It was a prayer raeeting, 

and did us all good. On Sabbatii forenoon 

Eev. A. I. Robb began a series of 

raeetings, whicl) are to be continued 

throughout the week, naraely, a studj- of 

the gospel according to ilark. Rev. J. 

K. Robb explained the secnnd chapter 

In the evening another prayer meeting 

Avas held. On ilonday morning at 6 :30 

another meeting began, the explanation of 

the Ten Commandments. Leung Sin 

Shang, the teacher fl-lio A\'as received at 

last communinn, had charge of this. He 

explains two comraandraents each raorning, 

closing on Friday morning. Tbe 

otber meetings tn enntinue until Mark is 

finished, which will be nn Sabbath. 

Saturday morning's early meeting is 

nnw nver. Eev. A. T. Robb explained the 

Sacrament of Baptisni. To-raorrnw 

raorning at 6 :30 he is to talk nn the Sacraraent 

nf the Lord's Supper. 

Others have come in from a distance 

during the week. Snrae of these are raerabers; 

nthers are interested persnns Avho 

corae to hear further of this doctrine. The 

meetings are well attended, and those whn 

attend are ninstly either Christians or 

ones Avho are known to be interested. 

There are usually a few at the daylight 

mpetings who drop in tn see Avliat1-= gning 

nn, but for the most part tbe audiences 

are th'^ roughly interested and syrapathetic. 

The forenoon raeeting is over. Bight 

persons were baptized. Four Chung raen, 

tAVO Chung woraen and two others—men. 

Another raan expected to be baptized, but 

is siclc. He raay be able to get out tomorrow. 

We hope he can. He has believed 

for sorae tirae, but had considerable 

to contend with in a large faraily connection 

not favorable to Christianity. 

ilonday.—The services are all over, and 

the raembers frora a distance are gone or 

preparing to go. Yesterday was a good 

day. Forty communicants sat down at 

the tables. If there is a lilce increase at 

our next comraunion it will be necessary 

to haA'e a second table service. Some who 

Avere here this tirae seem favorably imiiressed 

and sorae have asked to be considered 

candidates for raerabership. These 

if in earnest will persist, and by next time 

A\-e will have had raore acquaintance with 

thera. The Chungs tell us there are more 

belieA'ers Avho hope to come for next coraraunion, 

but they could not all leave home 

at this time. Thirteen nf thera are 

Churcli members, and eleven of these are 

Covenanters. They tell us that the old 

great-grandraother does not say anything 

against the doctrine, but has not accepted 

it for herself. Hnwever, she is willing to 

hear about it, and alloAvs thera tn read the 

Rible tn her, and tbey are hnpeful. There 

ari^ already three generatinns of thera-represented 

in the Church, and these are 

praying fnr her. All the raen can read, 

and the women are trying tn learn. One 

of the woraen who was baptized is of the 

second generation and is sixty-six years 

old. She will probably never be able to 

read, bttt likes tn hear the Bible read. 

AVhen aslced what she shnuld do on Sabbath 

when deprived of an opportunity to 

attend services, she said, "Read the Bible." 

"If unable to read ?" She said if no one 

could read, theA' could recite the Com-


maridments; but seemed to think there 

was always sorae one who could read. 

There are those wbo earn enough in 

one day to supply food for one day only. 

Tbus it becoraes a serious consideration 

when they firstconsider tbe Cbristian religion, 

and soraetiraes they believe tbis 

doctrine true a long tirae before they are 

far enougb on to be willing to trust God 

for what tbey would not be able to earn 

on Sabbatb. .How raany of our horae 

Christians have ever been tried to that 

extent ? 

All tbe Chinese raembers who were not 

present are accounted for. One has lost 

his reason. One fell and injured her hip 

and could not walk so far. One is far 

gone in consumption and was having a 

chill at the time he would have started. 

Tbe fourth is a carpenter and has gone to 

Wu ChoAA' to Avork. 

One interesting feature of the week I 

will chronicle separately, so you can divide 

the letter easily. I know it is too long, 

but you can cut out as rauch as you wish. 

Rev. A. I. Robb announced in one of the 

prayer meetings that a Memorial Fund 

had been established in meraorj' of those 

who had been called away from the work, 

and gave an interesting account of how it 

started, and hoAV ilrs. George's letter about 

ilrs. Robb was written to Olive Trees, 

but not sent when the cablegram arrived 

announcing her OAvn daughter's dea.th. 

And that recenth a letter came frora Mrs. 

George asking that the Chinese Christians 

should have an opportunity to join those 

who are contributing. ilr. Robb gave 

them until the next day to think it over. 

AVhen be aslced about it again, there was a 

hearty consent, one old lady thinking it 

so important that she held up botb hands 

when they were asked to raise hands. One 

of the Christian teachers was asked to 

write a stateraent and give the raerabers 

an opportunity to subscribe. Tbere were 

several who surprised us by their liberality. 

The gifts will not look large to you, 

but knowing their poverty, would raagnify 

the gifts several fold. I need not list 

these as Rev. J. K. Robb was tbeir choice 

for treasurer of this fund, and he will report 

it. This is a very important step in 

the development of these new disciples, 

and Ave are thankful and rejoice to see 

thera take it. Oh, that men would praise 

the Lord for His goodness, and for His 

wonderful worlcs tn the children of raen. 

The following account of the auturan 

communion serA'ices is frora Rev. J. K. 

Robb: 

Our early fall communion was held last 

Sabbath (Sept. 3), and was a time of 

great enjoyraent and blessing to us all. 

Our preparatory services for this communion 

were something of a departure 

from the usual services at such times. On 

the Sabbath preceding the coraraunion we 

began the study of the gospel according to 

Mark, chapter by chapter. It had been 

announced two or three weeks before, that 

we intended having a week's study of the 

Bible before the coraraunion. So on the 

Saturday before we began this course of 

study, our raerabers began coraing in, prepared 

to stay until after the services were 

concluded. Their nurabers were gradually 

increased as the days went by, until on 

coraraunion Sabbath, all but four were 

present. Two of this nuniber were ill, 

one was disabled, and tbe fourth one was 

not in tbe neighborhood, being at work 

in Wu ChoAv. Two preaching services were 

held each day, one at 10 A. M. and the 

other at 2 P. M. My brnther conducted 

the raorning services, and I the 

afternoon services, covering a chapter at 

each service. In addition to tbese two 

services, a raeeting was held eacb raorning 

at 6:30, at which Mr. Leung, a Christian 

teacher, and one of our raerabers, ex-

25fl 


pounded the Ten Coramandments. Bach faraily united with the Church at tbis 

evening at 7 :30 a general prayer meeting 

Avas held, conducted by the Chinese themsehes. 

coraraunion—four inen and two woraen. 

A good deal has already been written about 

The 15tli of Mark was under con 

this family. I will only recite a few of 

sideration on the raoming of coraraunion the leading facts, for the sake of refreshing 

Sabbath, and the story of the crucifixion 

the memories of your readers. There 

was appropriate to the occasion. The closing 

are two brothers, botb elderly raen, by the 

chapter, telling of the resurrection, name of Chung. These two men have 

Avas discussed in the afternoon, and forraed twelve sons. Snme years ago one of the 

a fitting conclusion to the preaching serviees. 

snns carae in cnntact with the gospel at 

The weelc Avas a full one, and a AA'u C'hoAv and confessed his faith in 

ratber hard one, tno, but not the less enjoyable. 

Christ, mueh tn the displeasure of his 

friends. Some time later another son be 

Our cninmtininn seasons are generally came a C'hristian, through the teachings 

tiraes Avben something unusual occurs. of a Christian Alliance missionary. Sorae 

This one through Avliich Are have just of the other brothers had become interested 

passed Avas no exception to the rule. In 

by this time, and the two youngest 

fact, it secuied to have more than the began attending our services. After a time 

usual ainnunt of the unusual abnut it. they united with the Church here. A little 

Xot tlie least nnteAvnrthy was the degree 

later three others united with us. At 

nf > interest manifested tn the very last. 

We always have gnnd attentinn, but Avith 

sn many services a day, and fnr sn raany 

days, it Avould nnt be surprising to see interest 

flag. Sueh was nnt the ease, however, 

in our raeetings. The Aveather was 

the coramunion just preceding this last 

one, one of the two old men confessed the 

name of Jesus, and at our last one four 

more nf the brnthers, and nne old woman, 

the mother of sorae nf these twelve sons, 

and a younger woraan, the wife of one of 

wiirm, at times very hot, and yet the interest-at 

thera, all were baptized. One reraarkable 

all our meetings was exceedingly 

good. 

Our prayer meetings were of special interest 

to the missionaries, for the reason 

feature of the case is the fact that the first 

one to become a C'hristian and teach his 

friends is a man of very ordinary abilities. 

He is not a scholar, nnt even a man 

that they were in the hands of Chinese entirely. 

of any great talent. But he Icnows what 

The leaders Avere appointed by us, 

but the topics were chosen by the leaders 

themselves, and the exercises, except in a 

very few enses. were taken part in by the 

Chinese alnne. AAê intended these prayer 

be believes, and is not afraid to say tbat 

he belicA'cs it. This seenis to be a characteristic 

of the family, hoAvever, and it is 

a fine spirit nf helpfulness that is a source 

of constant Avnnder and gratification to us. 

meetin.iis tn be especially for thera. The AA'e had an accession of eight. One 

passa.iics chosen for consideration show the 

spirit of tbe raeetings. Luke l.'i, 11-33 

and .Jnhn 3, 14-36 are very gnnd exaraples 

other had asked to be baptized, and was 

accepted, and then his cnurage failed him. 

At least that seenis tn be the irapression 

of the passages discussed during the Aveek. among the Chinese C'hristians. He is the 

These prayer raeetin.os were one nf the youngest of eight brothers, and is a raan 

features nf the week's services. 

nf snme raeans. Should he become a 

.'A.nnther raatterof unusual interest was 

the fact that a large nuinber of tbe Clmng 

Christian, he Avould in all probability lose 

his share nf the familv inheritance, and

Netvs of ihe Churches. 257 

have to endure a good deal of hardship in eases make us Icel asbamed of ourselves, 

other forms, for the sake of Christ. VVe by their entire confidence in the iiromises 

had surmised tbat he believed, but were a of the Lord. 

little surprised when he asked to be bap- W'e are happy to be able to give so entized, 

knoAving . that his brothers Avere cntiraging a report ot the communion seahostilo 

to the gospel. He evidently is not son W'v are greatly encouraged over the 

ready yet, bttt we have hopes for hira. He spirit shoAvn hy all who have attended our 

knows the truth, and avUI not be at ])eace s('i-\i(-es. W'v did not fov.


AT HOIVIE. 

Allegheny, Pa—The Central Board of ilissions supplies the following iteras: 

Southern Mission 

Chinese Mission 

Indian Mission 

Sustentation Fund 

On hand 

Septi 1, '06. 

$1822.84 

194.27 

1785.79 

220.72 

Received. 

$51.50 

53.30 

1008.32 

13.65 

Expended. 

$133.33 

105.01 

306.89 

On hand 

Octi 1,'05. 

$1741.01 

141.94 

2487.22 

234.37 

Deficit 

Sept. 1, '05. 

Domestic ilission 4232.46 309.00 61.43 3984.89 

Quarterly distribution was made as follows: 

Colorado Presbytery $375.00 

Lakes Presbytery 412.50 

New York Presbytery 93.00 

Eochester Presbytery 34.56 

Pittsburg Presbytery 262.50 

Ohio Presbytery 50.00 

N. B. and Nova Scotia Presbytery 175.00 

Kansas Presbj'tery 620.00 

Yermont Presbytery 38.00 

Illinois Presbytery 350.00 

$2409.56 

No repnrt was received frora ToAva Presbyterj'. 

Two thnusand four hundred and nine dollars and fifty-sixcents added to the deficit 

Oet. 1, is the present indebtedness of this fund—$6,394.46. 

Cli.inefte Missian.—The enrollraent during September Avas 16; average attendance 

at the night schnnl, 6; prayer meeting, 91; Sabbath services, 9^. Average attendance 

of Avhites at prayer raeeting, 3^; at Sabbath schnnl, Sf. 

Lew Yen, the interpreter, has retumed and is helping in the wnrk. 

If this ilissinn is tn be enntinued, ilr. Faris thinks a building should be purchased. 

Indian Mission.—The number nf scbnlars in attendance at the school is fifty-one. 

The Sabbath services have been Avell attended by both Indians and whites. The West 

ilissinn has been resuraed, as also wnrk amnng the .Apaches. There is need of a suitable 

person to take charge nf the bnys. 

The proposition to start a broom factory was regarded favnrably )iy the Beard. The 

enst would not exceed $375 nr $400. There is a balance nf $139.60 in the Industrial 

Department Fund, Avliich cnuld be ap|)lied tn tbis ]nir])ose. Definite action was not 

taken. 

Souilieni Mission.—The school opened on Oct. 2. There Avas agood attendance. All 

the teachers have arrived. An additional one is needed, but tbe condition of the funds 

Avill not justify tbe expense. Fbr the same reason it was decided not to open a 

branch daj schnol in East Selraa. A Sabbath school aa'UI be started there. 

J. W. Sproull.

Hetherton, Mich—The Ladies' Missionary 

Society of Hetherton, Mich, has 

corae to the close of another year. Our 

members number twelve, one aged raeraber 

having been called to higher service during 

the year. We have beld eleven regular 

raeetings and one missionary entertainment, 

with an average attendance of 

eight. Aniount of raoney raised during 

the jear, twenty-one dollars and seventy 

-oents. Sent to foreign raissions,ten dollars 

: to pastor's salary, ten dollars. 

ilRS. Belle Jameson, Sec'y. 

Morning Sun, la—The ladies of the 

Missionary and Aid Society have to record 

the death of another of tbeir nuraber, 

Mrs. Margaret Cavan, who fell asleep 

Aug. 10, 1905. She sleeps, and her 

Avnrks praise her. Faithful to her trust, 

she has left behind a precious raeraory, 

and we Avish to bear testiraony to her 

Christian character. May the remembrance 

of her pleasant, cheerful, uncomplaining 

life be blessed to each meraber 

of the societj'. While we miss her genial 

presence and counsel, we rejoice in the 

hope of raeeting her again, when life's 

labors are ended. AA'e extend our syrapathy 

to the bereaved children and 

friends, especially the faithful daughter 

whn so tenderly and lovingly cared for her 

during her last illness, and we coraraend 

them all to the Saviour, Whom she so 

dearly loA'ed. 

Mrs. R. Elliott, 

Mrs. W. j. Marshall, 

Mrs. D. Kilpatrick. 


Miss McCartney and Miss Stewart. Miss 

McCartney has been in the work here so 

long that "Miss. Cartney" has becorae a 

household name. 

We have an enrollment of 275 now, and 

several coraing in every day. The price 

for picking cotton has been raised—60 

cents per 100 pounds—and it terapts 

raany of our pupils to work a raonth or two 

before entering. Of course, tbe country 

pupils cannot be spared until their parents' 

crop is picked. 1 wisb all our Olive 

Tree readers could see a cotton field during 

the cotton picki'ng season. I do not 

Icnow of anything raore interesting in 

nature. Frora the tirae the pretty buds 

corae in the cotton plant to the tirae the 

bales are put on the railroad track, the 

cotton is pretty, interesting and profitable. 

Selraa is a town of about 16,000 or 20,- 

000 inhabitants, one-half of whora are colored 

likely. The white people live in the 

center, and tbe colored people all around; 

but the chief negro settleraents are in 

AVest and East Selraa. All religious and 

educational Avorlc is in AVest Selraa. The 

difl'erence between the character of the 

two settleraents is raost raarked. The respectable, 

honest and thrifty negroes predominate 

in West Selma; squalor, ignorance 

and vice predominate in Bast Selraa. 

We cannot but feel that the presence of 

the church and school house has raade the 

difference, for the sarae blood runs in 

their veins, their ancestors were of the 

sarae class. Of course raany of the children 

of Bast Selraa corae to West Selraa 

to school, etc., but it is too far for little 

children to walk. The workers here have 

Selma, Ala.—Another year's work has always longed to have a branch work in 

begun in Selraa. Our force of workers is East Selraa. Chiefly three things have 

now complete, and a splendid working stopped any effort—lack of raeans, a fear 

force- U is. Earnestness, enthusiasm and 

consecration are lighting every face. We 

are exceedingly glad to have with us two 

of our former valued and loved workers. 

of the opposition of the white people near 

there (the Congregational Cburcb once 

had a school there, but it was bumed, and 

it was always thought to have been set on


fire by the whites), and a fear of the indifference 

of the negroes to their condition. 

Bver since ilrs. R. J. George took 

such an earnest interest in this needy field 

and felt that she wanted to see something 

done for these poor people in Bast Selma, 

it has come to us with greater force than 

ever. But we felt that a test of the case 

ought tn be made befnre asking the 

Church to take up the work. It was 

thought advisable to firststart a Sabbath 

school, and if that seeraed to prosper, open 

a day school, and if it raet with encourageraent, 

ask our brethren "to come over into'" 

East Selma and "help them." Last suraraer 

iliss Sophia Kingston opened a 

Sabbath school. She rented a sraall cottage, 

paying the rent herself, and announced 

that she Avould open a Sabbath 

school. There were nn seats, sn she bnrroAved 

tAvo barrels and a board, thinking 

this would likely seat her audience; but 

that was soon full, and the "raen carae, 

hringing their chairs with thera to sit on," 

as Miss Sophia said. The white penple 

also treated her very kindlj', and she tnok 

heart, and after two nr three weelcs started 

a day schnnl, and she has an enrnllraent of 

tAventy-six now. I am giving the details 

of this test school, so the Church raay 

know all about boAv it sprung up and why, 

if the Bnard decides to undertake work 

there. 

The bnxes from the Ladies' Missionary 

Societies are coraing in again. When I see 

dresses and boys' clothes and quilts, etc., 

corae tumbling out of these boxes, and 

think nf the lnve and prayers that came 

Avith them, I ara always rerainded of 

Dorcas and how the widows and orphans 

came weeping when she was still in death, 

shoAving the coats and garraents which 

she had made. Your eyes, dear sisters, 

will not open on such a scene as t.hat, as 

Dorcas' did, but Gnd grant they raay open 

Avhen they close in their last long sleep 

on a far raore glorious scene—your 

Saviour's srailing face, as He says, "Well 

-done, gnod and faithful servant." I want 

tn thank j'ou in this public Avay for the 

help you give us in this Avay. May I ask 

that the societies whieh are planning to 

send boxes this year will send thera as 

early as you can. If you could possibly 

prepare thera and send them as early as 

November we wnuld be ranst heart.ily glad. 

Of enurse, we can use thera and are glad 

tn get them any time between October and 

May 1, but Ave can use thera tn better advantage 

if they cnrae befnre Deceraber. 

Eemeraber that freight is sIoav and the 

distance great. It took one box two years 

tn get tn us, but that Avas altogether unusual. 

1 ask for your prayers for your 

Avnrk and nurs here, and for your Christlike 

sympathy for a race Avhich bears' such 

bitter prejudice and daily injustice. 

ilRS. J. G. Reed. 

C. 1. Scofield says: It is raost significant that this present tirae is marked by so 

great a revival of interest in the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Some have not hesitated 

tn call it "the discovery of the Holy Ghost." More boolcs and tracts on the Holy Spirit 

have issued frora the press within the last thirtj' j'ears than in all previous tirae. Who 

ean doubt that this is of God ? It is very solemn. Gnd is calling His penple away from 

"might" and "power'" tn the Spirit Hiraself. They have depended upon "might"— 

ai-eat men ; power of organizatinn; suppnrt of governraents; wealtii—and tbese bave 

proved broken reeds. Use this lesson to teach that we need, not the power of the Spirit, 

but the Spirit of power. To be filled with Hira, guided by Hira, endued witb gifts 

by Him, yielded in spirit, soul and body to Him—this is the crowning lesson of 

service.



A NOTABLE INCIDENT AT TAK HING 

CHAU. 

One of the most notable features of the 

communion Aveek, Septeraber, 1905, was 

the circulation of a paper aranng the 

Chinese, for subscriptions to the Meraorial 

Fund that is noAv being published in 

Olive Trees. The matter came as a suggestion 

from ilrs. E. J. George, who requested 

that the native Christians be asked 

to contribute. It Avas proposed to thera at 

one of the raeetingsduring the week, and 

was taken up Avitli great enthusiasra. The 

amount found opposite each name is what 

is promised to be jiaid during the course 

of a year. I enclose a paper containing 

the beading of the paper that was circulated 

among the Chinese, translated rather 

freely. It will explain itself. 

Believing tbat all raen should know the 

doctrine of Jesus Christ, and wishing that 

they may know it, and alsn wishing tn 

manifest the grace that is in our hearts, 

it is our desire to establish a school for the 

purpose.of teaching His truth. 

Some years ago, three Araerican 

women, Mrs. Ella T. Robb, Dr. J. Maude 

George and Miss Jennie B. Torrence, 

teachers of the Word, carae to Tak Hing 

and earnestly taught the doctrine of Jesus. 

They were not perraitted to see the fulfillment 

of their long-cherished plans, having 

been called to the heavenly horae. Dr. 

George's mother, in memory of these tbree 

women, has given a sum of money to be 

used in teaching tbe gospel to those who 

do not know of Jesus. Other Christian 

friends have also contributed raoney for 

this purpose. It is our desire to aid in 

this work, our purpose being the establishment 

of a Christian school in Tak 

Hing. We therefore subscribe the sum 

opposite our names for this purpose. 

1. Tse' Yan Shang $5.00 

2. Lei AVing Ue 2.00 

3. Hung lm T'ing 2.00 

4. ilak Kai Uen 8.00 

5. Chung On T'ai 6.00 

6. Tse Kwong Ki 4.00 

7. Kwok Sain Nam 3.00 

8. Ch'ue Hon Shang 3.00 

9. Leung Mau Hing 3.00 

10. Chung Ying T'ai 3.00 

11. Chung Fo Wing 3.00 

12. Tara Ying Ch'eung 3.00 

13. Ch'an Wing Chai 2.00 

14. Ch'ue Pak On 1.00 

15. Chung Shik Man 1.00 

16. Chung Shan Wo 1.00 

17. Chung Ch'iu T'ai 1.60 

18. Chung Hong T'ai 1.00 

19. Yeung A Man 1.00 

20. Chung Yat T'ai .50 

21. Chung Shui Wing 50 

22. Lo Kw'an Tai 1.20 

23. Ch'an Lin Tai 1.00 

24. Ch'ik Lin Tai 40 

25. Lei AVing Kw'an 80 

26. AA'an Kun Lin 10 

27. Tse A Po 04 

28. Nip A Kiu 02 

29. Cheung Suet Hing 50 

30. Chung Mau Sam 2.00 

Total $59.56 

Sorae of these naraes are deserving of 

special mention: 

No. 4 is a raan who believed the gospel 

before the raissionaries went home in 

1900, but he was afraid to say so. He bas 

united witb the Churcb during the present 

year. He bas a testaraent that was 

given hira by Mr. McBurney. 

Nos. 8 and 10 are two of our brightest 

young raen. A Sara and Shap Yi are their 

everyday naraes. 

No. 13 is tbe man wbose br^^tbers are


.trying to disinherit hira because of his decision 

for Christ. 

No. 15 is one of two old men, fathers 

of twelve sons, all, with a single exception, 

avowed disciples of Christ. (See Mr. 

Robb's letter, p. 256.) 

No. 22 is a woraan wbom Dr. George befriended. 

No. 25 is her little boy whom she is 

sending to school in Canton this year, and 

paying his expenses herself. 

No. 27 is our first convert. She has 

no income, but "hath done what she 

could." 

No. 28 is another of the sarae kind. 

No. 30 is the flrstof the Chung brothers 

to confess Christ. He is in the raerabership 

of the Baptist Mission at Wu Chow, 

but is working here, and wished to contribute 

to the Meraorial Fund. 

This is not a large sum in itself, being 

less than $30 gold. It represents a good 

deal of effort on the part of the subscribers, 

all the subscriptions of $3 and over 

being at least a half raonth'ssalary. Miss 

Torrence's narae was put in by the Chinese 

theraselves, without a suggestion frora any 

one. We hope it raay be included in the 

Meraorial at borae. 

J. K. Robb. 

PICTORIAL NEWS. 

Hl^^^^HR^mnrv^V - 

I 

; ^ H 

Picture No. 1 gives a very good side 

view of the raat shed.over tbe new chapel 

site. It also shows what progress bas been 

made on the building. Picture No. 2 is 

a view of the opposite side. The chapel, 

as J'OU perhaps know, fronts on one of the 

A letter frora Rev. Julius A. Kerapf, 

dated Sept. 9, brought us pictures that will 

be of interest to readers of Olive Trees : 

When the Chinese build tbey flrsterect 

over the site of the building a mat shed 

large enough to enclose the whole building 

when completed. These mat sheds are 

raade of very light poles, palm leaves and 

bamboo matting, and are constructed witbout 

tbe use of a single nail. Everything is main roads tbat run into Tak Hing, and 

flrraly bound togetber witb split bamboo. no doubt you will be surprised to know 

The sheds are necessary in order to protect 

the workmen from tbe heat of the in pictures 1 and 2. It is like all the 

that tbat main road is the one you see 

sun and also from the rain. 

highways in this part of tbe country, so 

j


narrow that two persons cannot wallc 

abreast, and so crooked that you are always 

wondering where the next turn leads 

The other two pictures show you the 

inside of the mat shed in which preaching 

services are at present being held. 

to. Hundreds of people pass along this 

road every day. On the left of the road 

in picture 1 you see tbe cultivated raulberry 

bushes, tbe leaves of whicb are fed 

to silkworms. 

Picture No. 3 shows tbe temporary work 

sheds in tbe rear of the cbapei. 

Picture No. 4 is a view looking down 

tbe river from the chapel. 

Picture No. 5 is a view looking up the 

river. Tbe number of boats seen in these 

two pictures give some idea of the araount 

of traffic done on tbe West River. In 

tbis picture you see a woman carrying two 

huge bundles of grass. 

•Just a year ago this morning I left 

horae for China. The goodness and mercy 

of God have followed me all the days.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

H flDemorial ^banhôfEering. 

Adding Septeraber receipts to the total reported in the last issue of Olive Trees, 

this fund araounted on Oct. 1 to $2,452.20. And the following contributions have been 

received since tbat date: 

Contributor 

Amount Mission Field 

Mrs. S. M. Atchison, Olatiie, Kans $10.00 Cbina. 

Mrs. A. R. Bwing, Glenwood, Minn 1.00 China. 

Lake Reno Sabbath School, Horae 'Department 4.40 China. 

ilrs. Sarah Torrence, Denison, Kans 5.00 China. 

Only a few were nioved to contribute last raonth, but the offerings are liberal, and, 

as the letters covering them indicate, made frora the purest raotives and in the very spirit 

of Christ. On one of thera may be read, as it seems to us, the invisible endorsement, 

""Not ray Avill, but Thine be done." But if our readers wish to see a striking example of 

liberality, and a fresh illustration of the change wrought in men, when brought under 

the regenerating power of the gospel, they should read "A Notable Incident at Tak Hing 

Chau." (See page 261.) If these Chinese converts are constrained to give "Memorial 

Thank-offerings" out of their deep poverty, thus evincing their gratitude to God for 

His great mercy in turning them from their idolatry, the sinceritj- of their professed 

love for the consecrated laborers wbom He used to bring them to Himself, and the 

reality of their conversion, what should not the home churches be willing to give out 

of their abundance that the sarae grace raay reacii the hearts and govern the lives of 

raany raore. 

It is not yet the privilege of Olive Trees to report the receipt of tbe full amount 

needed to secure the 


proraised by a generous friend of missions, to open a nev- station in Cbina. Two 

donations of $100, one of $50, and two of $5 have come in since the statement made 

last month, and these will be properly a.cknowledged when the contributions for tbis 

object are all in. Treasurer Walter T. Miller has also received $1,400 from a devoted 

woman in the merabership of one of our congregations, to be used in providing a 

raemorial for her husband. This liberal offering is to be added to tbis fund, and ber


name will appear with those of other contributors when it is full. Less than tbirty 

bundred are thus required now to make up the sum of 

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS 

and we ask the members of the Eeformed Presbyterian Church to consider our request 

for their co-operation in this movement to extend the work of the Church in China, 

from whicb the monthly mail brings most encouraging news. Surely no one will let this 

opportunity slip of helping forward an enterprise dear to tbe hearts of all Christians, 

because dear to tbe beart of tbe Lord Himself. 

There is a very loud call for an ordained 

minister to be associated vrith Rev. Jaraes 

S. Stewart, now laboring alone in Syria. 

The young ministers of the Church are 

again urged to consider tbe claims of tbis 

fleld. The opposition to tbe preaching of 

tbe gospel under the Turkish government 

is very determined, but certainly not more 

determined than the opposition made to 

tbe ministry of our Lord and tbat of tbe 

disciples wbom He sent fortb to carry forward 

the work that He had begun. Tbose 

men did not refuse to obey His orders, because 

of tbe hardships and privations that 

they would meet witb as His chosen representatives. 

On the contrary, they counted 

it an honor to have fellowship with 

their Master in His sufferings. Besides, 

the sovereign Lord is mightier than all 

His enemies, and can easily defeat tbeir 

schemes, if we are only faithful to the 

gospel trust. Surely no one need hesitate 

to go when He calls Who is Head over all 

things to tbe Church and must reign till 

every knee shall bow and every tongue 

confess that He is Lord. Four young 

women are also caUed for, two for China 

and two for Syrian Mission. Wbo is wUling 

to consecrate herself to this service? 

AVe plead with tbe merabers of the 

Cburcb to give theraselves to mbre iraportunate 

prayer to the Lord of tbe harvest 

that He wiU raise up and qualify and 

thrust out men and women wbose labors 

He will own for tbe conversion of sinners 

the overthrow of error and the visible 

establishment of His Kingdom. 

Oakdale Congregation, Illinois, has 

sent us, through Mr. J. W. Torrens, 

$61.25 to pay for slate blackboards in tbe 

new scbool building at Tak Hing Chau. 

The raoney was raised for tbis purpose 

at the suggestion of the late Miss Jennie 

p. Torrence. "We were thinking," writes 

Mr. Torrens, "of sending wbat we 

had when tbe news came of her death, 

which made us all so sad. She was with 

us in our borae one Sabbath over a year 

ago, when tbe Synod raet at Sparta. It 

Avas our flrst raeeting, and we all loved ber, 

as we love all our missionaries." This 

offering has been passed on to Treasurer 

Walter T. Miller, and tbe naraes of the 

contributors will be found on the second 

page of the cover. 

ilore recently we received from "A 

Husband and Wife" in Denver, Colo., 

$100, to be equally divided between tbe 

Syrian Mission and tbe fund to open a 

new station in China. 

The Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, 

Chicago and Toronto, has laid on our 

table tbe following books: 

Things As They Are. By Amy Wilson 

Carmichael. Price, $1.00 net. 

This book, from the graphic pen of a 

Avell-known KesAvick missionary, is a picture, 

as Eugene Stock says in bis preface, 

"drawn without prejudice, witb all sympathy, 

Avith full recognition of what is 

good, and yet with an unswerving determination 

to tell tbe tmtb and let the 

facts be known" of Hindu life. Tbe facts


that .Miss Carraichael has put on record in 

regard to the Avork in Southern India are 

confirmed by many experienced missionaries. 

JRev. T. Stewart, il. A., Secretary 

United Free Church ilission, Madras, 

says: "Every missionary can tell of cases 

when people have been avou for Christ, 

and mention incidents of more than passing 

interest. Miss Carraichael is no exception, 

and could tell of not a few 

trophies of grace. The danger is, lest in 

describing such incidents, the iinpression 

should be given that they represent the 

norraal state of things, the reverse being 

the case." Dr. A. AV. Rudisill, Methodist 

Episcopal Press, Madras, says: "The early, 

chapters bring out with vivid, striking, 

alraost startling reality the wayside hearers 

in India. One can alraost see the 

devil plucking away the words as fast as 

they fall, and hear the opposers of the 

gospel crying out against it." Pandita 

Earaabai says: "I can honestly corroborate 

everything said in regard to the religious 

and social life of the Hindus. I 

carae frora that part of the country, and 

I ara very glad that the book has succeeded 

in bringing the truth to light." 

We wish for this volurae a wide circulation, 

as it cannot fail to call forth raore 

earnest prayer for the men and woraen 

who are laboring in foreign fields. There 

is a natural tendency on the part of missionaries 

to dAvell on the brighter side of 

the worlc, and thus they often leave an 

incorrect impression of results. "Far 

ranre," Avrites Miss Carraichael, ''has been 

Avritten about the successes than about the 

failures, and it seeras to us that it is raore 

important that you should ImoAV about the 

reverses than the successes of the Avar. 

We shall have all etemity to celebrate the 

victories, but we have nnly the fcAV hours 

before sunset in whicii tn Avin thera. AAê 

are not winning thera as we should, because 

the fact of the reverses is so little 

realized, and the needed reinforcements 

are not forthcoraing, as they would be if 

the position were thoroughly understood. 

Reinforceraents of raen and woinen are 

needed, but, far above alh reinforceraents 

of prayer." 

Pastor Hsi. By Mrs. Howard Taylor 

{nee Gera'ldine Guinness). Price $1.00 

net. 

This is a most interesting story of one 

of China's Christians. It tells bow this 

"raan of position and influence, a cultured 

Confucianist," Avas brought under tbe 

poAver of the gospel, confessed Christ, grew 

in grace and knowledge, becarae a raissionary 

to his countryraen, persevered in the 

Avorlc, lamenting the failures and rejoicing 

in the successes of an eventful life, 

and at last finishedhis course in the faith. 

No one can read this book Arithout adoring 

the grace that has appeared to men, 

bringing salvation and waiting on God for 

the proraised enduement of power for service 

that he may be a faithful Avitness 

unto Christ, the Lord. 

Indian and Spanish Neighbors. By 

Julia II. Johnston. Price 50 cents net. 

This is one of a series of books prepared 

with the avowed purpose of presenting 

"every phase of mission work in 

the United States and its dependencies 

by the Home Mission Societies of different 

denominations," and tbus giving 

"year after year an eA'er widening view of 

our country's needs and the responsibility 

resting upon the Church of Christ." It 

is full of inforraation with which every 

CHiristian patriot should be familiar in 

regard to the North American Indians: 

origin, tribes, characteristics, environment, 

language, religion, Avrongs and rights, 

progress in legislation and adininistration, 

the educational problera, seed sowing and 

sheaves; and the Spanish-speaking people: 

earlier and later days in New .ilexico, 

Arizona, California, previous and


present condition of Cuba, yesterday and 

to-day in Porto Eico. AA''e gladly commend 

this volurae to our readers, though 

Ave confess that the coraraendation would 

be more hearty if it contained, a single 

line about the Cache Creek Mission in 

Oklahoma, Avliere most successful work has 

been carried on ainong the Indians by the 

Eeforined Presbyterian Church. 

Home Mission Readings. By Alice M. 

Guernsey. Price 50 cente net. 

This is a collection of stories .and 

sketches, prepared for use in raissionary 

raeetings. Tbey deal Avitli different aspects 

of Avork in tbe home field, and niight 

be recited or read with pleasure and profit 

at social gatherings. 

Waxiving. By Caroline Aiioater Mason. 

Price, 30 cents net. 

This is a pretty piece of thinking,' in 

which the authoress, in a style peculiarly 

her own, tells'bow a young Avoraan de 

A'oted to the innocent amusements of life 

and unacquainted Avitli the missionary 

problems, was brought into contact with 

sorae consecrated woraen, and through adrairation 

of their character and devotedness 

was led to wholly different views of 

life. The story is Avholesoine. 

The Young Feople's ilissionary Movementi 

156 Fifth Avenue, New Yorlc, has 

Icindly mailed us 

Daybreak in the Dark Continent. By 

Wilson S. Naylor. Price 50 cents in cloih 

and 35 in paper. 

This is the fourth textbook of the foreign 

mission study course, and is a very 

valuable addition to that series. The title 

is singularly appropriate, indicating that 

Africa, with its teeming population, is 

now open to the gospel. Not less suggestive 

are the chapter headings: The Dark 

Continent; Dark Peoples and Their Customs; 

A Eeligion of Darlcness; AVliat of 

the Night? The Moming Coraeth; The 

Religion of Light; Heralds of the Dawn, 

and Daybreak. This volume is not merely 

the result of extensive reading, though 

the author has consulted the most eminent 

authorities, but; having accompanied 

Bishop Hartzell in one of his raissionary 

tours through the dark continent, he writes 

frora the viewpoint of personal contact 

Avith the conditions he describes. The 

maps aro excellent, and the illustrations, 

especially one representing the transformation 

of home life, and another in whieh 

Ave have on the same page a group of unevangelized 

natives and a theological seminary 

class, spealcing to the eye, serve to 

deepen the impression made by the written 

story. 

AAê not only coraraend this book to the 

readers of Olia'e Trees, , but venture to 

urge the young people of the Reformed 

Presbyterian Church to secure it for their 

study this winter. 

The National Reform Association, 209 

Ninth Street, Pittsburg, Pa., has recently 

issued 

Sabbaih Laws in ihe United States. 

By Rev. R. G. Wylie, D.D. Price, 75 

cents in cloth and 36 cents in paper. 

This is a book that will delight every 

nne who loves the Sabbath and wishes to 

see this nation loyal to the Loi'd of the 

Sabbath. The author has rendered important 

service to the cause of Christ in 

preparing it at a large expenditure of tirae 

and labor. Here is inforraation on a subject 

of ever-pressing interest, in corapact 

forra, that otherAvise would be in reach of 

onlj' a fcA^'. Let the Christians' of this 

land read what Dr. AVylie has brought to 

their door in regard to the history of our 

Sabbath laws and Sabbath legislation, and 

then study thc eighth chapter on the fivefold 

basis for Sabbatii laAvs, and the ninth 

chapter on the ultiraate ground of Sabbath 

laAvs, and they will be not only raore


intelligent Christians, but, witb tbe blessing 

of God, raore loyal to the CroAvn of 

Christ and more ready to stand up in defense 

of His day, as a personal safeguard 

and essential to national stability. 

Tbis volurae raerits a wide circulation. 

The leaders and raoulders of public opinion 

need the very instruction tbat it supplies, 

and raen of means could not make 

a wiser use of money than to put a copy 

into the bands of every minister, legislator, 

magistrate and judge in the United 

States. 

Sorae one has been thoughtful enough 

to send us a copy of the lecture witb 

which Prof. D. B. Willson opened the present 

session of tbe Reformed Presbyterian 

Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa., 

Sept. 19, 1906. It is entitied "A Wave 

nf Unbelief." In this tiraely address Dr. 

AVillson quietly exposes the folly of the 

higher critics, and, with a faith that one 

loves tn see in a teacher cf the future ministers 

nf the Church, predicts that the 

raoveraent against the inerrancy of the 

Old Testament Scriptures is only a wave 

that will pass away. "With all their 

scholarship," he says, "these men are blind 

leaders of the blind. The Pietist Revival 

in Gerraany, when the Bible carae again to 

be revered and loved, will be repeated in 

English-speaking lands. There is such an 

increase in Bible helps. In the horaes of 

the people you will find Teachers' Bibles 

with notes, references, concordances. 'The 

Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot 

save; neither His ear heavy that it 

cannot hear.' If God. give His spirit to 

the raany Avho are now engaged in Bible 

study in the home, in the church, the 

academy, the college, tho university, they 

AviU tum in faith to Him and tn nur Lord, 

AVho bade the penple 'search the Scriptures.., 

.they are they that testify of 

Me.'" 

Olive Trees is requested to say tbat tbe 

Foreign ilissions Industrial Association, 

105 E. Twenty-second Street, New York, 

Rev. Edwin M. Bliss, General Secretary, 

would be glad to correspond witb missionaries 

engaged in any line of industrial 

work, or any people wbo are selling articles 

made in raissionlands, for tbe beneflt 

of Missions. 

Tbis Association is botb philanthropic 

and missionary in its object and method. 

Eecognizing tbe tmtb tbat the industrial 

and social conditions in mission lands are 

essential factors in the development of 

Christian life, it aims to improve those 

conditions: 

1. By furnishing eraployment to those 

who, through adoption of the Christian 

faith, arc cut off from their ordinary 

ineans of livelihood, also to widows with 

large farailies, orphans and others in need. 

2. By introducing new ideas, new 

methods, new industries, raising thus the 

conception of life as well as the actual 

habit of living. 

3. By malcing it evident that the promise 

of the gospel is for this life as well as 

for that which is to come. 

4. By the introduction of true business 

principles in raissionlands. 

The Association does not offer any 

financial return for contributions to its 

Avork. Aside frora tbe necessary expenses 

of adrainistration, no one, whetber connected 

with its raanageraent or a donor 

to its funds, Avill reap advantage from it. 

All contributions and all profits will be 

held in trust for the advantage of mission 

fields,to speed the time when tbose 

coraraunities shall be able to carry on their 

0A\'n evangelistic worlc, develop their own 

Christian comraunity, as weU as individual 

Ufe. 

Olive Trees, 50 cents a year.

O L I V K T R E E S 

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary 'Work in the Reformed Presbyterian 


No. DECEMBER, 1905. 12. 


CHRISTIAN EVANGELISTIC WORK 

Eev. j. M. Foster, Boston". 

Tbe Gospels report wbat Jesus began to 

do and teacb. Tbe Acts record what He 

continued doing after He sent the Holy 

Spirit. The greatest text for evangelistic 

work is Acts 11:20, 21: 

"And sorae of thera were men of 

Cyprus and Cyrene, wbich, when tbey were 

come to Antioch, spake unto tbe Grecians, 

preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand 

of the Lord was with them, and a great 

number believed, and turned unto the 

Lord." 

Tbis is tbe Church's standing model for 

Cbristian evangelistic work. We are apt 

to read over this chapter without noting 

that our text is one of tbe most important 

in tbe Book. The fact that our Church 

has missionaries in Cyprus and Antioch 

is calculated to arrest our attention, as if 

a selah were written after tbese verses. 

Many of tbe best interpreters take the 

word Grecians to raean Greeks by nationality, 

that is, pure heathen, and not mere 

Helenists, that is, Greek speaking Jews. 

If tbat be true, the Church is here breaking 

away from the bonds of Judaism and 

preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. 

Tbis appears all the more significant 

wben Ave note the fact that this seems to 

bave been an independent moveraenti promoted 

without the knowledge or advice of 

the Church authorities. Before Peter 

would preach the gospel of tbe Son of 

God to the house of Cornelius, be must 

have a vision from heaven accorapanied 

by a call thrice repeated, and a special 

coraraand to go witb the raessengers 

whicb Cornelius had sent, before he would 

yield. And we know that his preaching 

Christ to Cornelius gave offense to the 

brethren in Jerusalera, and it was not 

until Feter had rehearsed the vision and 

God's caU and the gift of the Holy Ghost 

to Cornelius' house witnessed by their ovm 

brethren, that they were satisfied. But 

here a few Jewish converts froni Cyprus 

and Africa, who are so obscure that not 

even their naraes have been preserved, 

without the counsel of apostle or minister, 

without a heavenly vision or comraand to 

guide tbem, without precedent, raoved 

only by their profound conviction of the 

truth and the great love wbich was shed 

abroad in their hearts, not suspecting that 

they were doing anything more tban ordinary, 

opened the door of tbe gospel to the 

Gentiles. 

The boldness of this step appears also 

when we remeraber that their raove raore 

than likely antedated Peter's going to 

Cornelius. In the verse preceding our 

text we read: "No'w they whicb were 

scattered abroad upon tbe persecution that 

arose about Stephen, traveled as far as 

Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, 

preaching tbe word to none but unto 

Jews only." 

Turning back to the eighth


chapter of the Acts, almost tbe sarae language 

is used in the firstverse, and also ' raailed hand of persecution scattered the 

to set the world on fire." Wben the 

in the fourth verse. So we conclude that disciples abroad, thc coals of fire were 

-tbe author, having foUoAvcd one line of scattered. Wherever they went they carried 

their faith with thera, and they 

work a certain distance, goes back again 

to the date of Stephen's persecution in talked about it, and tbose who heard tbeir 

this chapter. If that be correct, then 

tbere were three distinct and independent 

lines of work radiating from- tbat persecution 

'and all taking tbe gospel to the 

Gentiles: Peter preaching to Cornelius, 

Philip preaching in Samaria, and these 

converted Jews frora Cyprus and Africa 

preaching in Antioch. And they seem 

to have been independent of the others, as 

if the Spirit would supply a threefold 

cord that could not be broken. And tbe 

Antiocb mission seems to be leader of all. 

For, while we have no account that 

Peter's preaching in Cornelius' house or 

Philip in Samaria resulted .in the establishing 

of a church in either place, a 

Christian church resulted from the 

preaching in Antioch. And later Barnabas 

and Paul came and much people believed, 

and "tbe disciples were called 

Christians first in Antioch." This passage 

is suggestive of thoughts in Christian 

evangelism: 

Christian evangelism originates in the 

spontaneous impulse of the Holy Spirit in 

the heart of the worker. 

The Jewish church in Jerusalem was 

zealous for Jewish converts, but had no 

thought of the Gentiles. Stephen's address 

before the Sanhedrira proclairaed 

the world-wide raission of the gospel. 

Then God allowed the persecutors to scatter 

the Christians. In Ezekiel's prophecy, 

10:2, "the raan clothed Avith linen" was 

coramanded to "go into the temple and fill 

thine hand with coals of fire from between 

the cherubim, and scatter thera over the 

city." And every coal kindled a fire on 

a separate roof, and the whole city was set 

on fire. The Saviour said: "I ara corae 

story wondered and believed. And when 

these Cypriote and African Jews carae to 

Antioch, the Christ in their bearts was 

still the power of an endless life, tbey believed 

that what had saved thera would 

save others, and they were ready to prove 

their devotion to Hira who bad redeeraed 

them with His blood by making Hira 

known as Saviour and Lord. Tbe Holy 

Ghost taught thera what to speak. (1) 

This impulsive power of tbe Holy Spirit 

was the expression of their personal possession 

of Christ. The possession of 

worldly goods is calculated to cultivate 

covetousness, and the boarding spirit soon 

gains ascendency. But tbe possession of 

the true riches prompts the possessor to 

desire to have otbers sbare his treasure 

with hira. It is true tbat tbe possession 

of Icnowledge in tbe fields of science, 

literature and art prompts tbe finder to 

tell of his discoveries to otbers. And we 

are not surprised that when Archimedes 

discovered a certain law in hydrostatics, 

he rushed out into the streets of Athens, 

shouting "Eureka!" I bave found it! 

And when the believer finds Cbrist, in 

AVhom are all the treasures of wisdom and 

knowledge, be is iraraediately seized with 

an unquenchable desire to tell others of 

Hira Avho is wisdora. This is the fire of 

the Holy Ghost in the beart. Jereraiah 

tells us that when he tried to refrain frora 

speaking God's word, "His word was in 

raine beart as a burning fire shut up in 

my bones, and I was Aveary with forbearing, 

and I could not stay." Tbe colored 

preacher, at his plow, when met by a 

white minister, said: "AVben I tbink of 

what Jesus did for me in coming doAvn


from beaven, enduring tbe contradiction 

of sinners against Himself and dying 

npon the cross, a power comes over me 

tbat I cannot control (bold that mule) 

Glory," be shouted in a voice like many 

waters that affrighted the beast. Profound 

convictions must have expression. 

Deep affection must manifest itself. We 

know that still waters run deep. We 

know tbat the greatest love is often silent. 

And we are naturally suspicious of tbat 

religious experience that is constantly on 

exhibition. But it is also true that tbe 

love of Cbrist constraineth us. The 

womap. of Samaria was obeying this law 

when she went to tbe city and said: 

"Come, see a Man which told rae all 

things tbat ever I did! Is not this the 

Cbrist?" 

(2) The impulsive power of the 

Spirit was the expression of tbeir pity 

and compassion for the perishing, Divine 

love brought the Son of God to this world. 

All through His ministry He was moved 

with corapassion for tbe multitudes because 

they were as sheep without a shepherd. 

The beart of God yearned over the 

lost world, and He desired to gather them 

as a ben gathers her chickens under her 

wings. Now, this sarae compassion is 

coramunicated to His people. AVhat 

would you say of tbe man frora a shipwreck, 

getting into tbe life-boat and 

manifesting no desire to belp others wbo 

were drowning all about him into the 

boat! And what shall we say of those 

professing Christians who are willing to 

be saved in the ark of Christis great salvation, 

and yet discover no anxiety for the 

salvation of their brethren! Even Dives 

iri tbe lake of fire desired tbat a message 

be sent to his fivebrethren, warning them 

against coming to those tormenting 

flames! And shall not Christis children 

who have tasted of the good word of life 

and tbe burning love of God, be desirous 

of helping the perishing? Wbat would 

be said of the man in the besieged city, 

whose larder was stored with food and 

who kept it for hiraself and family, while 

his friends fought with the dogs and cats 

for the offal and ate the fleshof their OAvn 

children? "The man that withholdeth 

bread, the people shall curse hira." And 

the raan who withholds the bread of life, 

the severest anathema abides upon hira. 

The law of Christ's kingdora is: "Freely 

you have received, freely give." 

(3) The impulsive power of the Spirit 

was the expression of their loyalty to 

Christ. Tbey knew that Jesus bad ascended 

to the throne and had been invested 

witb universal dorainion. They 

knew that He had left the interests of 

His kingdom here in the bands of His 

disciples, and that His honor among men 

depended upon their loyalty. His loyalty 

is questionable wbo keeps silent wben he 

is araong eneraies and the honor of his 

sovereign is assailed. Professing Christians 

are as sheep sent fortb in the midst 

of wolves. While they are to be wise as 

serpents and harmless as doves, they raust 

not shun to declare the wbole counsel of 

God. They are Christ's witnesses. If 

they are silent, Christ's kingdora is in 

darkness. Every believer takes up Christ's 

words: "To this end was I bom and for 

this cause came I into the world, that I 

might bear witness unto tbe truth." No 

true believer can escape the experience of 

Paul: "Necessity is laid upon me; yea, 

woe is me if I preach not the gospel." It 

would be going too far to say, that no 

man can be a true Christian unless be 

openly preaches Christ. But it is certainly 

true, that no raan can be a good 

Christian, rauch less the best, who does 

not speak for Christ—a word in season 

to the needy. 

Christain evangelism is an universal 

obligation upon believers. Note that


these believing Jews were not led by any 

Church official. In facti the Church was 

yet very loosely organized. They were not 

acting upon orders given them in Jerusalem. 

They had no heavenly communication. 

They believed and therefore spake. 

They had heard the voice of God in their 

hearts: "Seek ye My face!" Their hearts 

had echoed back, immediately and swiftly, 

in the sarae language God bad used, flrraly 

and decisively, and converting a general 

call into a personal resolution, "Thy 

face. Lord, seek will I." And when God 

in Christ had taken possession of their 

- hearts, they began voicing God's raessage 

to others. This is a clear proof of the 

universal obligation of evangelizing. This 

.honor is to all the saints. 

This does not signify a set^ forra nf public 

address. For that raost are unflt. It 

only raeans that everyone who has found 

Christ will in some way speak up and 

spealc out, making known what be has 

found. Here is a raan who brings his 

five little boys to God's house every Sabbath, 

and Sabbath evening in the horae 

he talks to thera of Jesus. That is preaching 

Christ. There is a raother who brings 

her four little girls to church each Lord's 

day, and every raorning and evening gathers 

thera around the faraily altar and worships 

God. That is preaching Christ. 

There is a man whose fiery spirit will 

brook no restraint. But his gentle Christian 

wife, by her quiet Christian conversation, 

subdues that ungoverned spirit, 

and the lion and larab dwell together in 

peace. Yonder is a man who Icnows not 

God and obeys not His gospel. But his 

faithful wife, with the armor of God upon 

the right hand and the left, launches the 

arrow of truth between the joints of the 

harness and he bows to Christ. That is 

preaching Christ. A New York banker 

testified: "I rode in on the train every 

raorning for twenty years with a business 

friend without saying a word to him about 

his salvation. I was startled to read in 

the paper that he had died suddenly the 

previous evening. I felt rebuked and resolved 

that I would try and belp the 

twenty clerks in my office. So I sent for 

one to corae to ray private office. He was 

alarraed, because this had never occurred 

before. I told hira that I believed in 

Christ and asked hira if he had the sarae 

faith. This was repeated witb tbe other 

nineteen. The result was a raajority of 

thera were in prayer raeeting the next 

Wednesday evening." That is preaching 

Christ. A raarket raan in Boston, while 

EA'angelist Dawson was here, resolved 

that be would speak to his friend. He 

found hira on 'change. After exchanging 

corapliraents his friend said: "Have you 

heard Dawson?" "I have not," he replied, 

and then tuming and looking in bis eyes, 

he said: "How is it with your soul, William?" 

That is preaching Christ. A 

man desired the salvation of another wbo 

was above him in social and intellectual 

grade. But he prayed for him. At last 

meeting his friend, he said: "Will you 

perrait me to say, I bave longed for your 

salvation and have praj'ed for your conversion." 

That is preaching Christ. 

Sorae are deterred frora tbis, because 

they raay blunder. One of the last incidents 

related by the sainted iloody was 

this: A man, converted in the Salvation 

Array, was told that every day he ougbt 

to speak to sorae one about bis salvation. 

One day, late at night, going home on the 

street car, he noticed a well dressed man 

and reflned, sitting opposite. He had a 

desire to speak to hira, but hesitated because 

of their evident difference of rank. 

But at last be mustered up courage, and 

touching his Imee, as he leaned over, said: 

"Are you a Christian?" Tbe man 

straightened up and said: "I am a theological 

professor." The poor man did not


know what that raeant. He knew wbat Saviour King. It inatters not whether 

a professor of Christ was. But a "theological 

you use a golden cup or tin cup, a silver 

professor" puzzled hira. At last pitcher or earthen pitcher. Only so- you 

he leaned over again and said: "I would 

not alloAv that to interfere with your bebring 

it fuU of the water of life and press 

it to the lips of tbe thirsting sinner. The 

, coraing a Christian." We sraUe at the French doctor performed a certain delicate 

mistake. But it softened the heart of that 

operation three hundred times and 

learned man. The man who has Christ lost every case, but the operation was 

formed in bis heart, who has tasted of the splendid. An Bnglish doctor only attempted 

good word of God and the powers of the 

world to come, and wbose life is bid with it eight tiraes and saved seven 

out of eight. Let us have done with the 

Cbrist in God, cannot but speak the splendor of the operation and give attention 

tbings be has seen and heard. God, who 

to the saving of life. The raan who 

coraraanded the light to sbine out of darkness, 

can say: "I ara crucifled with Christ, 

hath shined into our hearts that we 

may reflect the ligbt for others. It is at 

our peril if we hide tbe ligbt. 

Christian evangelism means delivering 

nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ 

liveth in me: and the life I now live, I 

live by the faith of the Son of God wbo 

loved rae and gave Hiraself for rae,"will 

the simplest message. These Christians not flnd difficulty in telling tbis to others. 

had heard of the song of the angels when In the language of Sarauel to Saul: 

the Son of God became incarnate; they 

bad beard of the Spirit descending upon 

Him in the form of a dove at the Jordan; 

tbey had heard of His transfiguration on 

"AVhen the Spirit of the Lord coraes upon 

thee, thou shalt do as occasion serve thee." 

You speak to a man about his salvation 

and he sharply resents it. Do not be discouraged. 

tbe Mount, and the voice from heaven: 

The message had its effect. 

"This is .My beloved Son, hear ye Him!"; "Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall 

they had heard- of FIis boly life and His I be glorious in His eyes." The gospel 

deatb upon the cross for sinners; they is a savor of life unto life to some, and a 

. bad beard of His resurrection from the savor of death unto death to others. In 

dead. His ascension to God's right hand 

and the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. 

either case a sweet odor ascends to God. 

Do your duty and leave consequences with 

Tbese facts they talked about to the God. Abel did his duty and Cain slew 

heathen Avho had gods many and lords hira. Our Lord did His work and the 

many in Antioch. To do this it is not raen whora He helped nailed Him to the 

necessary to multiply words or use cross. Stephen did his duty and the Jewish 

rhetoric, or make a forraal address. Tbe 

council fell upon him and stoned hira. 

flrst serraon was very short. Andrew Speak for Christ at all hazards. 

found his brother Peter and said: "We Christian evangelism is accompanied 

have found tbe Messiah," and be brougbt by an unseen Helper. "The hand of the 

bim to Jesus. Anyone who bas tbe root Lord was witb thera." The keynote of 

of the matter in bim can do that. It matters 

not whether you speak sraoothly or 

the Acts is the present Lord working by 

His Spirit. AVben Peter preached in tbe 

awkwardly, only so you speak. "They house of Cornelius the Holy Ghost fell 

spake" means simply, they talked. You upon those wbo beard. When Paul 

can talk of your business or household preached to the twelve disciples of John 

affairs. 'Why can you not speak of your in Ephesus tbe Holy Ghost fell upon


tbem. And so the record goes. The 

cloud which they saw fall upon the bearers 

of the gospel we do not see, but the 

fact is just as -patent to-day. The Revelation 

represents Christ upon the throne. 

The seven spirits of God are in His hand. 

"The seven horns and the seven eyes" are 

the seven-fold operation of 'the Holy 

Spirit. By these Jesus exercises His universal 

dominion. He breaks the seals, 

blows the trumpets and pours out the vials, 

representing His judgraents upon rebellions 

and apostate nations, and prepares 

the way for His gospel raessengers. By 

this dreadful war between Russia and 

Japan, the latter brealcing the power of 

the forraer on sea and land. He is "preparing 

the Avay of the kings of the Bast" 

for the gospel. And by the orderings of 

His providence and the dispensations of 

His grace. He prepares the way for every 

worker, so that "the hand of the Lord was 

Avith thera." AVhen Lyman Beecher 

preached on "The Sovereignty of God," 

he did not knoAV that young AVendell 

Phillips was in the audience, and that he 

went to his room, threw hiraself on the 

floor and gave hiraself to the service of 

God. That poor Scotch rainister was 

troubled because a deacon complained, 

that only one joined at the coraraunion, 

and he only a boy. But that boy was 

Eobert Moffat, the apostle of South 

Africa. AVhen David Brainard recnrded 

his work among the Indians in New England 

and beyond, he did not know that a 

j'oung cobbler in England would read his 

memoirs, and himself becorae a raissinnary. 

That was AVilliara Carey, the angel 

nf the Church in India. When Chalraers 

preached in Edinburgh, he did not know 

that a lady in the audience was brought 

to Jesus, and twenty years later she wrote 

hira frora the mission fleld, reminding 

bun of the serraon. When the poor minister 

of Bcclefechan, Scotland, dispensed 

the AA''ord in his hurable way be did not 

know that he was writing upon the raind 

of young Thoinas Carlyle a raessage tbat 

reraained witb bim until death. 

We, tbe descendants of the Scotch Covenanters, 

have coraraitted to us the dispensation 

of' the gospel of Christ's cross 

and croAvn. It is not a popular message. 

It requires courage to speak it. David 

said: "I'll speak Thy word to kings, and 

I with shame shall not be raoved." Faul, 

when asked if he would go to Eorae and 

preach Christ, replied: "I ara not 

ashamed of the gospel—it is the power of 

God unto salvation." Luther stood before 

the council at Worms and said: "I cannot 

subrait ray faith either to tbe Pope or 

the council. I stand here and can say no 

more. God help me! Amen." Knox 

stood up in the Scotch tribunal and said: 

"I ara in a place where I ara deraanded of 

God to spealc the truth, and therefore the 

truth I speak, irapugn it who so list." 

These raen were God's spokesraen. One 

with God is a raajority. In this faitb we 

stand. The raountains are full of horses 

and chariots of flre round about us. Let 

us have faith in the power of God's word. 

"My word shall not return unto Me void: 

it shall aeeoraplish that which I please 

and prosper in the thing whereto I .have 

sent it." The lyddite shell falls upon the 

eneray's ship and blows it to pieces. The 

gospel is the power of God. 

Eobert ilorrison, the flrstProtestant niissionary to China, died strong in tbe faith 

that the country Avould becorae Christian. Yet he labored in that country for 

twenty-seven years flghting against hatred, opposition and persecution, and won by his 

own efforts but two conversions. There is a lesson of faith that many of God's workers 

need to learn.

News of ihe Churches. 275 


A B R O A D . 

Latakia, Syria.—Eev. Jas. S. Stewart's 

October stateraent to the Board contains 

the foUoAving iteras: 

Tbe Lord's Supper was dispensed Aug. 

27, at Gunairaia, Rev. C. A. Dodds assisting. 

Eight persons were received on exaraination, 

all but two having been in the 

Latakia schools. A few raerabers were 

not able to attend the services, and a few 

are backsliders; but about seventy corarauned. 

Pour children Avere baptized. 

The school there is doing well, and we 

hope will do still better during the coraing 

year, if it please tbe Lord to keep it open. 

The Latakia schools are again in operation, 

and we hope for a good year. The 

school at Tartoos is full, and the workers 

are well. Our two schools at ilelkab and 

Inkzik are snialler than usual. 

AVe bave not yet secured a good raan for 

Suadia, to take the place of teacher and 

preacher, but raay be able to find one yet. 

We earnestly desire an interest in your 

pravers. 

On Octi 14 .Miss Maggie B. Edgar wrote 

as follows: 

It will be two weeks to-morrow since 

Miss Cunningham and I landed in 

Latakia. It was tirae for school to open, 

and I began the very next day to prepare 

and opened on tbe 9tb. Tbere was a good 

deal to do in a short time, and raany interruptions, 

for of course our friends 

wanted to welcorae us back; and it is 

good to be at work again. The school is 

well filled up. There are now forty-four 

boys in and one or two yet to corae. Tbe 

day school, too, bas a better attendance 

than for sorae time at the beginning. We 

have a new teacher this year, one of the 

boys who graduated in July,. Khaleel 

Assad. One of the teachers who was with 

us is either to go to Suadia or to be engaged 

as evangelist. 

We had a most pleasant voyage all the 

way out, and have great reason for thankfulness 

and praise to God for His goodness. 

Miss Cunninghara, writing about the 

same time, reports an incident whicb 

shows sorae of the difficulties that our 

raissionaries to Syria and their converts 

have to contend with: 

The people in Genderia are in the usual 

fuss. The Governraent has just written 

thera Mosleras. One of thera has a son, a 

graduate of tbe boys' school here some 

two years ago, who has been called upon 

for military service. He is not strong 

and thinks he could not stand it, and so 

is trying to buy himself off, but 'fifty 

Turkish pounds is a great sura for a poor 

boy to raise. Then, if he should succeed 

in raising enougb to buy himself off, what 

is the rest of them to.do? It is a very 

bard matter to decide, and it seems a 

sharae that nothing can be done to have 

thera written Christians. 

A personal letter frora Dr. J. M. Balph, 

dated Oct. 18, reports safe arrival at 

Latakia: 

We arrived here on the 15tli inst., after 

a journey of seventeen days on the Mediterranean 

via Srayrna, Constantinople 

and Beirut. We had a very pleasant tirae, 

having the corapany of quite a nuraber of 

raissionaries returning to their various 

fields of work. 

Mr. Stewart and faraily leave to-mor-

276- News of the Churches. 

row for Beirut, wbere they will put Elizabeth 

in school and then go on to Larnaca 

for the meeting of Commission. We had 

pleasant visits at Larnaca, Mersina and 

Alexandretta on our way out, and found 

the missionaries all well and the worlc well 

under headway. We will not be able to 

open the hospital for a week or two, as we 

are short of help and sorae repairs will 

have to be raade. It is a discouraging 

feature that we will have to atterapt the 

work without a raatron; but we trust that 

sorae one may soon be found willing to 

take up that worlc. I have written to 

Beirut to try to get some one to take the 

place of Mrs. Haddad, but do not know 

Avhether we shall succeed or not. 

Mersina.—In a letter dated Oct. 26, 

Rev. C. A. Dodds tells of his departure 

frora Suadia, Syria: 

AAê left Suadia on the 9th inst., but 

have not yet reached ilersina, having 

turned aside for a visit at Larnaca and 

for Coraraission raeetingat the sarae place. 

AA'e had hoped iliss Cunninghara would 

be iri the fieldbefore our departure, but, 

although she had reached Latakia, the 

raissionaries there thought it not best for 

her to undertake the tiresorae joumey so 

soon. So Suadia,- for the tirae, is left 

Avithout a raissionary, and also without a 

teacher, as the Latakia Mission had not 

been able to find a suitable person to place 

in charge of the boj's' school. 

The first stage of our journey was to 

Antioch, the afternoon of Monday, the 

9tli. We spent Tuesday at the horae of 

Dr. ilartin, and I had the privilege that 

evening of baptizing his little daughter 

Margaret. Wednesday raorning we took 

carriage for Alexandretta. Mrs. Dodds 

bad not seen a carriage or carriage road 

for four years, and Mary's misconceptions 

of what a carriage was appeared in her 

remark shortly after entering it, "I 

thought carriages think, like horses and 

raules, but it seeras they don't think." 

We bad only one short day at Alexandretta 

with Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, sailing 

Thursday evening for Larnaca, where 

We arrived the next niorning and were 

raet by Mr. and ilrs. McCarroll, whose 

hospitality we have been enjoying since. 

The short sail frora Syria to Cyprus 

seems to have transported us into another 

world. Here, under British rule, there is 

evidence of progress on every hand—quite 

a contrast Avitli the conditions left behind 

in Suadia, where the people are grad-- 

uaUy, but a.pparently surely, unless relief 

comes, being crushed out of existence. On 

Friday of last week I accompanied Mr. 

McCarroll to Nicosia. That evening we 

had a preaching service, after which two 

raerabers were received into the fellowship 

of the Church. The encouraging facts in 

connection witb the conversion of one of 

those, Mr. Peponiades, ilr. McCarroll will 

doubtless report to you. On Saturday I 

went down to Famagusta, where I 

preached on Sabbath, Mr. McCarroll returning 

to Larnaca. At Famagusta I 

Avas entertained in the home of Mr. Kassilian, 

who seems an intensely earnest 

Christian. The work in Cyprus, as nearly 

as I can judge, seeras to have raany encouraging 

features. 

Cyprus.—An interesting October letter 

frora Eev. W. McCarroll follows: 

The events of interest for the past 

raonth deserve a brief record. First and 

foremost has been tbe visit of Rev. C. A. 

Dodds and family in the interira between 

their departure frora Suadia and the 

taking up of their work in Mersina. Mr. 

Dodds expected that he would get a little 

rest in Cypms, but be carae to the wrong 

place, for we made him bustle around tbe 

island and work for bis living. He did 

not, however, appear to grow thin on it.

The raerabers of Coraraission bave now 

arrived, and it is our prayer tbat our meeting 

together will be a time of spiritual reviving. 

On our visit to Nicosia we had tbe pleasure 

of examining and receiving into raerabership 

the two Greek converts of wbom I 

wrote in a forraer letter. One of these is 

Mr. Peponiades, wbo is possessed of considerable 

property. A short time ago be 

visited ilr. Kassilian in Famagusta and 

bad his will put in order. An extract from 

Mr. Kassilian's letter will be in place bere. 

He said: "He made bis will here in the 

presence of witnesses. I wrote it in accordance 

with the law. By this will he 

bequeathes tAvo-thirds of all his movable 

and iraraovable property to tbe Reforraed 

Presbyterian Church of Cyprus, and the 

reraaining one-third to his lawful relatives." 

"I made three copies of the will, one to 

be delivered to the District Court of 

Nicosia, one to be sent to you, and the 

tbird to be kept in bis own safe. You are 

tbe executor of the will; that is, you and 

your successors and agents." 

According to report, he is wortb anywhere 

from £50,000 to £150,000; but I 

have not the slightest idea of the real 

value of his property. He is childless, but 

has a Arife living. He bas also promised 

£200 for the erection of a Mission building 

in Nicosia, togetber with a site of 

about three acres of ground admirably 

located in the heart of the city. The 

transfer of tbe ground and money to the 

Mission will be completed, I trust, within 

a week or so. 

God is hearing tbe prayers of His people 

in the horae land, and has, I ara sure, 

showers of blessings for this island. It is 

bard for a rich man to enter into the 

kingdom of heaven; but the tbings that 

are impossible with men are possible with 

God. He has given us the earnest and 


pledge; let us be raore iraportunate still 

that we raay speedily have the full harvest. 

The Medical Department has now gotten 

a good start in Nicosia, and the 

patients seeking free treatment and free 

medicines are a considerable nuraber. Mr. 

Aegyptiades, who is my brother's righthand 

man, seeras to be diligent in iraproving 

his opportunities for religious conversation 

at the clinics. 

Tak Hing, China.—Dr. Jean Mc 

Burney, in a letter of Octi 10, talks in a 

very instructive way about the school 

work: 

There are sorae little girls, sorae white 

girls and sorae Indian girls and sorae 

groAvn up people who bave sent raoney to 

belp the little Chinese girls to come into 

school and learn bow to worship and 

serve the true God. AVhen Miss Torrence 

was talcen away, and only the empty school 

house left, our hearts were sad and disappointed. 

It looked as thougb there 

would be a delay of some years. A teacher 

would have to be found and sent out, and 

then two or tbree years of hard study and 

experience among the women and girls 

would be necessary before the school could 

be started. That was not God's plan, however. 

Some of you knew a young lady in 

Kansas by the name of Miss Maraie 

Greenlee, and perhaps you reraeraber how 

sorry you were when Dr. Wright came and 

took her away from you. He brought her 

to China, and sbe bas been studying 

Chinese and teaching the woraen, and now 

is ready to take up the work that Miss 

Torrence laid down, and so we have a 

superintendent who hopes to open a school 

for girls this raorning, Monday, Oct. 16. 

She tried very hard to find a Chinese 

woraan who could assist her in tbe work, 

as that is necessary in all the schools. 

She could not get one in Tak Hing, as


tbis is the firstChristian scbool here. In surprise, and said, "Is this for me? Do 

other places, where girls have already been you love me so mucb as to give me the 

trained, the deraand for teachers is still best?" Perhaps you will think it rather 

greater than the supply, so that where a 

graduate is available to other missions, 

she is usually not one of those best qualified 

extravagant to furnish the teacher with 

toAvels, soap, bedding and other things. 

This may be a little out of the usual order 

for teaching. While Mrs. Wright was in Araerican schools. She also gets ber 

in Canton recently, one of the raissionaries board free, but then the Chinese bave the 

raet with a disappointment. She had engaged 

irapression that the people over in Araer 

one AA'ho gave proraise of raaking a ica are very rich indeed, and can afford to 

good teacher to open a school in the be liberal. You raay also be surprised at 

country. But when the tirae carae, the the princely salary she gets, and witb the 

people of the village did not seera favorable 

to having a school opened there, so 

the arrangement had to be cancelled. 

It was time to open schools, and teachers 

were engaged, and this one was without 

iraraediate prospects of work. Mrs. 

AA''right had let it be known that we needed 

a teacher. Here was the need and tbe 

supply. Hasn't God proraised to supply 

all your need? So Miss Lura was 

proraptly engaged and carae back with 

Mrs. Wright when she returned frora 

Canton. She coraes well recoraraended, 

and frora anything we can see yet we are 

ready to believe she will prove satisfactory. 

One thing we notice is that she is not 

afraid of worlc, and has turned in to help 

Mrs. Wright get tbings ready for school. 

Another thing is that she does not seera to 

hold herself at a preraiura araong the 

woraen who have not been so fortunate as 

she in being educated, but is friendly and 

helpful to thera all, even to the woraen 

Avho are grubbing weeds and rubbish out 

of the yard. ilrs. Wright has been reopening 

sorae of the boxes of supplies that 

iliss Torrence took so rauch pleasure in 

collecting while in Araerica. She was 

giving out sorae towels to Miss Lura for 

her own use and the use of the girls. 

One pair was a little larger and nicer than 

the others, and Mrs. Wright decided it 

should be for tbe use of the teacher. Miss 

Lura received it with a smile of pleased 

prospect of a rise at the New Year if she 

proves satisfactory. She is to receive, besides 

all these privileges and conveniences, 

the large araount of alraost $2 a month, 

and she considers herself quite privileged 

to have the position. She is a bride of this 

year. This does not mean that her husband 

is able to keep her. She is probably 

as free from any assistance from hira as if 

she were single. But it gives her a prestige 

here that she could not have as a 

single woraan. 

The school opens up this moming witb 

encouraging prospects. There are likely 

to be as many as we are willing to adrait 

free. Even the sraall sura necessary to 

pay for their rice,is raore than sorae are 

able to pay. Girls of scbool age—^many 

of thera—are able to belp with the work 

and thus are a factor in malcing the 

raoney, and besides, it is here as it is at 

horae. Those who live on a farra have 

abundance to eat witbout any appreciable 

expense, but when they go away to school 

it is different. So it is probable that tbose 

who enter at firstwill be furnisbed wholly 

or in part until tbe New Year, after wbicb 

the school Arill be soraewhat known, and 

the idea of "putting out raoney" for a 

girls' education will begin to seera not so 

preposterous. 

These letters frora tbe foreign fields 

ought to be read in every family.


AT H O M E . 

Allegheny, Pa. —The Central Board of Missions sends the following iteras: 


On hand 

On hand. 

Oct. 1, '05. Eeceipts. Expenditures. Nov. 1, '05. 

Southern ilission $1741.05 $113.50 $751.03 $1103.48 

Chinese Mission 141.94 106.33 36.61 

Indian Mission . . - 2487.22 429.06 300.03 2616.26 


Deflcit 

Deficit 

Octi 1, '05. 

Nov. 1, '05. 

Domestic Mission 3984.89 2535.77 2409.66 3868.68 

Domestic Mission.—A communication $140 for church work since last Decemwas 

received from Sj'nod's Board of Trus- ber. 

tees to the effect that they would not ad- Indian Mis.sion.—ilr. Caritbgrs has 

vance more than $6,600 to this fund. This. been authorized to go on with the broom 

will very probably enable the Board to pay manufactory. An addition will be built 

in full tbe appropriations for the second to the barn. The raachinery will cost 

quarter, i. e., at our January raeeting. about $87.79, not including freight from 

Whether or not those for the third quar- St. Louis. It avUI be necessary to employ 

ter can be paid will depend entirely on the sorae one to teach the Indians how to raake 

collections. The raoney advanced to meet the brooms. This is an experiraent. The 

the Church's obligations is talcen frora the expense will be sraall and the indications 

general fund. For its use the Doraestic are tbat it will be successful. It is ex- 

Mission fund is charged interest. This is pected that tbe Lord's Supper will be disjust, 

as otherwise the income from raoneys pensed on tbe last Sabbath of Noveraber. 

intended for otber schemes would be mis- Sorae member of Kansas Fresbytery will 

applied. 

be asked to assist and to reinain a short 

Chinese Home Mission —Tbe attention tirae and belp with work of the Mission. 

of tbe Cburcb is called to the condition of A new Indian Agent has been aptbis 

fund. Only $36.61 are on hand to pointed, but as he served under the old 

carry on the work. From Oct. 9 to Nov. for some time and is familiar with the 

5 tbere was an enrollraent of 18 Chinese, duties required of him,, it is not likely 

Tbe average attendance at tbe night school tbere will be any change. 

was 5f; at the prayer meeting, 8^; at the Souihern Mission.—The number of 

Sabbatb service, 11:|; of whites at the scholars enrolled is 343, of whora 27 are 

prayer meeting, 2^, and at the Sabbath in the high school department, and 3 in 

service, 7J. Tbe rent on "the building tbe sewing school. There is proraise of a 

used for school and raissionpurposes bas large attendance this year; $144.59 bave 

been increased. It is now $25 per raonth. been collected as school fees—a larger sum 

Mr. Faris writes with reference to a new than was ever before collected during the 

scholar, aged nineteen,-who is making very first month. 


encouraging'progress in his studies. -^ 

Tbe Chinese scholars bave contributed Send an ofl'ering to the Domestic Mission.



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

MISSION TO CHINA. 

Divide the past fifteen years into three 

equal periods. CaU the first "The Period 

of the Church's Preparation (1890 to 

1895)." 

Call the second 'The Preparatory Period 

on the Field (1895 to 1900)". 

Call the third "The Period of Active Effort 

(1901 to 1905)." 

This gives ynu in general outline the 

history of the Mission to China. Under 

the firstperiod note the following: 

of North China. The population of the 

The question of establishing a mission district is large. The county of which 

in China first came formally before Synod 

in 1890, when it was strongly advocated 

by Dr. David iletheny, who personally 

pledged several thousand dollars ($6,000 ?). 

Tak Hing is the seat has a poiiulation of 

100,000, and that is not much over a tenth 

of the whole unoccupied territory. There 

are five cities of frora 10,000 to 20,000 

to start it. Synod failed to authorize it, people, wbich are centers of trade for several 

but the pledge reraained. tiraes that number, besides In 1892 the. 

many 

question again came up in Synod and carried. 

The Board Avas-instructed to send 

out a minister and a physician as soon as 

practicable. As none volunteered, in 1894 

Synod appointed Eevs. E. McBurney and 

E. J. ilclsaac, missionaries to China. Rev. 

Mclsaac, at that tirae in charge of the 

Southern .Mission, declined the appointraent. 

In July of the following year 

(1896) the Avriter offered his services to 

the Board, Avas accepted and appointed to 

accorapany Rev. E. McBurney to China. 

We sailed frora San Francisco Nov. 13, 

1896, and reached Canton, China, Dec. 12 

of the sarae year. 

The education of the Churcb at horae 

and finding men to begin the work occupied 

fiveyears. 

The Pjteparatory Period on the Field 

(1895 to 1900) covers in general the 

following points: 

The first two years were given to acquiring 

the language and finding a location. 

In September, 1897, we rented a 

building for a chapel in Tak Hing Chau, 

having decided to make that place the 

basis for our work. 

The city is near the geographical center 

of a district nearly a hundred railessquare, 

in all of which there was neither chapel 

nor other place of Christian instruction. 

It is one hundred and fiftymiles west of 

Canton Citj', on the north bank of the 

Kiang Si or West River, and in the Atlas 

is usually called Te King in the language 

sraaller places. 

The house that we rented (the only one 

Ave could get) was a poor one, even for 

China, with two rooras downstairs, one of 

which was used for a chapel and the other 

for native helpers. The one roora upstairs 

was for the raissionaries who studied, ate 

and slept there. For nearly a year and a 

half Ave spent rauch of our tirae there, 

preaching to the people the best we could, 

while our farailies still lived at the coast. 

It is probably safe to say that on the whole 

we learned rauch raore tban our auditors. 

In January, 1899, we succeeded in purchasing 

property in a good location a sbort 

distance outside the city. It bad sorae 

good native buildings, whicb with sorae 

changes were habitable for our farailies 

during the cool weather. But failing 

health made it necessary for Mrs. Mc 

Burney to be taken home in February of 

this same year, so it was but one faraily


that on the firstof May left the civilization 

unchanged. Tbe workers were different. 

of the treaty ports aqd began life in We were accompanied this tirae by Dr. 

that heathen city. To the writer it was J. Maude George and Miss Jennie B. Torrence. 

an unmixed delight to have his wife and 

The weeks when we were all 

little one with hira, and life was much 

more enjoyable than it had been in the 

crowded together in the little native house 

awaiting the corapletion of the "foreign" 

dark little upstairs of the chapel. That it house Avere very happy ones. The newcoraers 

must bave been a severe trial to her who 

were zealous in their studies and 

was tbus for the flrst time completely cut all were well. 

' 

off from fellowship with the outside world 

one can easily guess, but no coraplaint 

was ever heard, and if tbere was loneliness 

The first fruit was gathered when an 

old grandraother, seventy-five years of age, 

who had believed before we went horae, 

it was never alloAved to show. Once, however, 

was baptized March 16, 1902. Our first 

Avhen a lady frora forty-flve miles 

further inland came do'Avn with her husband 

coraraunion was held July 6 of the sarae 

year, when we four missionaries and the 

and was in the yard before we dis 

one convert sat down together at the 

covered them, Mrs. Robb went out, and the Lord's table. Three more were received 

two woraen, who had never raet, ran into before the end of tbe Synodical year. 

each other's arras and burst into tears. Nine were added in 1903 and ten in 1904, 

Sunshine quiclcly followed the shower, while fourteen have been received thus far 

and we had a delightful visit of two days 

that none of us ever forgot. 

We labored at tbis tirae in the face of 

suspicion, ignorance and hatred, such as 

made it look like useless effort; but it was 

a necessary part of the development of our 

in 1905. 

There has been no death araong the 

native Christians and no serious case of 

discipline. 

Our working force was increased by tbe 

arrival of Rev. J. K. Robb and faraily and 

work. Some began to show interest, and Dr. J. M. Wright and wife, who firstset 

one or two expressed belief. Eev. Mc foot on Chinese soil Oct. 28, 1902. Then 

Burney returned to China in the fall of 

1899, and gave his time during the winter 

to building a comfortable house for us. 

It A^âs not completed when the spring of 

by Drs. Kate and Jean McBurney, who 

reached Canton Nov. 25, 1903, and lastly 

by Rev. Julius Kempf, who first saw the 

"City of Raras" at the gateway of our 

1900 brought the Boxer movement. We province Octi 26, 1904. 

left our station July 9, being tbe last Sorae have fallen asleep. Mrs. Ella 

family but one in the province to leave an Eobb went frora us to be witb Jesus Nov. 

interior station. Tbe property was turned 16, 1903, and was followed just two 

over to tbe local magistrate. Tbe missionaries 

months later by ber second son, Josepb 

went to tbe coast, tben to Japan and Kerr. On Sept. 4, 1904, Dr. Maude 

finally bome. The period closed after five George slept in Jesus, and- on Jtme 26 

years Arithout a single convert who bad 

received tbe seal of Christian baptism. 

The Period of Active Effort (1901 to 

1905). 

On October 22, 1901, we landed 

again in Tdk Hing, after an absence of 

fifteen months. The place was quiet and 

of this year Miss Torrence was laid beside 

those who bad been so near and dear 

to her in life. If I were to add a word 

concerning the life and service of these 

who have finishedtheir work, I would say 

that, to me, the firstexhibited, above all 

other traits, tbe Christian grace of love.


She lived in her affections, and here was 

undoubtedly the secret of her inffuence. 

She loved her work and the people. Just 

two months before her death, after seeing 

a woraan baptized for whora she had long 

prayed and whom she dearly loved, she 

said, "This pays me for coming to China." 

Dr. George Avas many-sided; but the thing 

that above all glorified her life and work 

Avas her joyous enthusiasm. Everything 

she touched took on a halo, and all her 

service was crowned with a splendor of a 

consecration not only willing but glad. 

iliss Torrence stands for fldelity. In 

her book-case there are now laid away lessons 

and plans, the fruit of much study, 

so complete that another might take them 

and find all done but assignment of lessons 

for many weeks. "They rest from 

their labors and the works do follow 

thera." 

It will be evident to all that this sketch 

is of a work only beginning. That the 

future calls us, rather than the past. Perhaps 

now there is one Christian araong 

ten thousand people where ten years ago 

there were none. This will help you to 

raeasure the work still to do. The .work 

of the Mission thus far has been raainlyin 

the line of preaching and personal work. 

There has been no one to do other work. 

Preaching services are held regularly, 

with Sabbath school and prayer meeting. 

Daily Bible study meetings are attended 

by from six to twenty persons. Weelcly 

raeetings are held for the woraen. Frequently 

a nuraber of merabers go to homes 

where they are welcome and hold a Sabbath 

service. Two of our raerabers bave 

been selling Scriptures over our district 

for over a year. Over 2,300 gospels and 

raany tracts Avere sold last year. 

With the increasing effectiveness of the 

newer raissionaries, we are planning for 

larger work. The Board wisely allows two 

years in which study is the firstconsideration, 

and during the third year work is 

preferably done under direction. Eev. J. 

K. Eobb and Dr. Wright have now completed 

three years on the field, and the 

McBurney sisters, two. 

The work of the physicians has already 

•proven a powerful factor in bringing people 

within reach of the gospel and disposing 

thera to regard it with favor. We 

expect this influence to greatly increase 

when, during the coraing raonths, a hospital 

rises under the direction of Dr. 

Wright. 

Educational work is greatly needed for 

the instruction of our Christians' children 

and the training of native workers, on 

whora the great bulk of the work raust 

ultiraately fall. Before you read this, we 

expect the school for girls to be opened 

under the raanageraent of Mrs. Wright, 

with a native assistant. A teacher frora 

horae is needed for this worlc. 

The converts have subscribed about $30 

to open a reading roora, preaching place 

and perhaps boj's' school in the city. 

We hope to open a new station at Lin 

Tan in the near future, and preaching 

places in other centers. 

A final word. Boolcs might be written, 

and doubtless are being written, conceming 

the present "renaissance" in China. 

Suffice it to say, that in a recent conference 

of missionaries the stateraent was 

raade, and received with approval, that 

"considering the vastness of the field,the 

greatness of the present opportunities, and 

the enormous possibilities for the rapid 

and permanent establishraent of Christian 

character, infiuences and institutions, the 

China of to-day is nnapproached, not only 

among present mission fields but in the 

Avhole history of Christianity from 

Calvary to now." I think it is true. Sorae 

day we as a Churcli will count it an honor 

that we are perraitted to lay some foundation 

stones for the fair structure that will

ise in tbis Celestial Kingdom. We ask 

your earnest prayers, generous gifts, and 

above aU, a personal consecration that will 

make you willing to do whatever Cbrist 

Avants you to do for Cbina, that, in tbis 

day of our opportunity, you may honor 

your EUng by bringing this great people 

to worship at His feet. 

A. I. EOBB. 

Tak Hing Chau, Oct. 7, 1905. 

OUR DUTY TO THE STRANGER.* 

Our first tbought is of the strangers 

wbo bave long been among us—the negro, 

the Indian, tbe ilexican. The firstgreat 

need of all of tbese is to be understood. 

AA'e cannot even pray for thera effectively 

until we know tbeir needs—have tried 

putting ourselves in tbeir places, iraagining 

how we would act and feel, and how 

we would want to be thought of and 

treated. 

The ignorance and degradation of the 

raillions of our colored people, and the 

bitterness and injustice of the race feeling 

against tbem appals us. But, after all, 

our duty lies right there in our little 

corner of the field at Selma, except as 

our broadened understanding and quickened 

syrapathies go out in earnest prayer 

for the race, and for other Christians helping 

in this work. 

It is so easy for us wbo hardly see a 

negro once a year, to talk beautifully of 

equal rights for our coraraon brothers, 

and condemn tbeir treatment by the 

Southern whites. We are justly proud of 

the record of our Church; we bave opened 

tbe doors of our Churcb college to them. 

But do we realize that these colored 

students at Geneva are practically ostracized? 

That the majority of white students 

raeeting thera daily in classrooras 

*Read at the L. M. Society of Morning 

Sun Congregation, and requested for publication 

in Olive Trees. 


and hallways, never speak to thera? I 

refer to this in no spirit of criticisra. 

Indeed, I have a sneaking suspicion that 

we who are here this afternoon would do 

tbe sarae thing. While we tell our colored 

sister that God is her Father and Jesus 

her brother, don't Ave, down deep in our 

hearts, dislike to touch her or sit beside 

her ? Don't we wish she would stay araong 

her own people, and leave us corafortably 

to ourselves to hire a devoted raissionary 

to go down and do our worlc? I know 

tbis brings up the old vexed questions of 

social equality and the raixingof the races. 

But, dear friends, tbe people and the probleras 

are here; here, too, are Jesus' teaching 

on the subject! We cannot bope to 

right society, but can we not each one 

take the question deeply horae, until the 

spiritis light, and Christ's consuraing love 

have burned out of our own hearts, at 

least, all this race and caste prejudice 

Avhich is sucb a hindrance to the coraing of 

tbe kingdora? 

This applies, too, to the work araong tbe 

Indians. We cannot reach the 265,000 in 

the United States; but our syrapathetic 

understanding and heartfelt prayer can 

go out through the open channel of our 

Mission. There are tbings we can do with 

our bands. Suppose we cut out pieces for 

a "nine-patch," and baste carefully into 

blocks, so that the over-taxed workers 

would have work all ready for the clumsy 

little brown fingers? Suppose we write to 

our field raatron,Avho goes about among 

the caraps, and find out just what garraents 

or comforts we could prepare and 

send to her, Avith loving raessages to our 

little sisters of the teepee? 

Our Church has no direct contact with 

the thousands of ilexicans of the South- 

Avest, except as some of them raay stray 

into sorae of the Mission services. But it 

will be good for u.? to read what other 

churehes are doing for thera.


Picture the scenes at the New York 

port, where shiploads of iraraigrants, tli8 

poor and outcast of every land, are crowding; 

raany of tiiem knowing no word of 

our lan.gttage, of our history or custoras; 

yet, frora hencefovth citizens, part of the 

American people! There is a Christian 

organization to welcome these strangers, 

giA'e them reliable information, and save 

thera frora sharpers awaiting thera on 

every side. They give thera, too, naraes of 

rainisters and Christian workers to Avhora 

they may go when they reach the new 

horaes. AVe might flnd nut about tbis 

work, and give it practical help. 

But the problem of our foreigners cannot 

be met v/holesale. AA^'e can nnly touch 

it here and there as we corae into contact 

witb their settleraents in the cities. 

Most of our city churches do talce up this 

work, forraing mission Sabbath schools 

and night classes, and sending visitors to 

the homes. With two of these races we 

come into touch through our Church missions: 

the Chinese at Oakland and the 

Jews at Philadelphia. Here, too, we 

migbt be more helpful if we sent a personal 

letter aslcing for deflnite inforraation 

about wbat they need that we could 

do. 

AATiat can we as a society—better, as 

members of this society—do in home raission 

work? Clearly not the work of the 

city. Yet the city problem is vital; we 

ought to study it. "The Problem of the 

City" in Josiab Strong's "New Era," and 

the chapter on "Immigration" in his "Our 

Country," and Jacob Riis's "Children of 

the Sluras" and "The Making of an 

American," we can hardly afford to miss 

reading. "Darkest Chicago and Her 

Waifs" gives practical suggestions of ways 

of helping. 

The Morraon question is strongly before 

us. We need to know just what tbat 

Church believes and practices; more than 

that,- we ought to open up this knowledge 

to the public. I believe a very practical 

Avorlc fnr us this winter would be the securing 

of literature on the subject, studying 

it and passing it on; scattering it broadcast, 

personally, by mail, and in every 

pnssibie way. Surely we owe this to our 

Utah sister eating out ber heart in bitterness 

in her desolated horae. 

But I think we are each thinking of our 

strangers, our neighbors who are not 

Christians. Well, are we neighborly with 

thera? Have Ave visited with thera and 

set up friendly relations, so that in trouble 

they would naturally tum to us ? Or have 

we ignored thera, having our own good 

tiraes in our own little exclusive set, and 

then one day astonished thera by raaking 

a patronizing little call, telling them they 

ought to go to church, and leaving thera 

a tract? If so, we need not wonder if 

they resented it. Few of us realize how 

very exclusive a little church set really 

get to be, with our comraon interests and 

tastes; and how utterly shut out of it outsiders 

feel. This feeling raay be foolish 

and unjust, but it is there, and must be 

overcome. We cannot accomplish raucb 

in a forraal way, and as a society; but in 

a quiet, personal way. We cannot even 

pray people wholesale into the Kingdom; 

they must be hand-picked, one by one, by 

those interested enough to study their 

needs, their likes and dislikes; not as a 

class or community, but my neighbor at 

the end of the lane, and yours across the 

street. AVhen we are so interested, we will 

not fail to reraember thera in earnest 

prayer. If "two or tbree" of us are interested 

in the sarae person, we can unite our 

prayers, and so plead Christ's wonderful 

proraise. And as we watch and pray, an 

opportunity will surely corae for the 

"word in due season." 

A Member of the L. M. Society. 

Morning Sim, la.

GOOD NEWS FROM CYPRUS. 

The following letter is from a meraber 

of the Eeformed Presbyterian Cburch, 

who lives in Faraagusta, and is interpreter 

for the English Governor of that district. 

It was Avritten to Eev. Henry Barson, 

Sept. 5,1905, and is printed in full, except 

two items relating to inquirers that we 

do not think it Avould be prudent to publish 

at the present tirae: 

My dear Brother: 

I was rejoiced to receive your letter of 

July 4. You are very kind to reraeraber 

lis always. Now, my reverend brother, let 

me give you good news. 

But I have better news: Ftitberto we 

bad our churcb (the house used as a' 

cburcb) in an out-of-tbe-way street of the 

toAvn—in a house wbere ilr. Zacharaki, 

the colporteur, lived. Now, ilr. Zacharaki 

and family bave been transferred to 

Larnaca. And I brougbt the church to 

my bouse. I separated a room downstairs,. 

which opens right into -the street. The 

passers by not only bear us singing Psalms 

and preaching the Word, but they cannot 

help seeing us, and most of them stop to 

bear and not a few of thera corae in. It is 

now two Sabbatbs we used tbis roora. The 

first Sabbath we bad ten Greeks—raen and 

woraen—ray neighbors, one of whora is a 

Greek teacher. Last Sabbath—Sept. 4— 

we bad five persons. The Greek teacher 

yesterday. Sabbath, invited us to go to bis 


house and hold a raeetingin his house before 

his faraily. Oh, how.gladly we went! 

Brother Stavro frora Kyrinia, who is now 

Avorking here witb Brother Pbilipos, the 

confectioner, and Brother Mehraet Sureya, 

the Turkish brother, raarchedto the teacher's 

house, and there, we read John 3 and 

spoke about conversion or regeneration, 

justification- and sanctification, things 

they had never heard before. We prayed 

in turn, except Mr. Sureya, who cannot 

pray yet. 

I raay raention that we have three 

Nicodemuses—two men and one woraan— 

all Greeks. 

Brother Stavro is preaching for us. 

Then I speak in Turkish, ily children 

sing very nicely, especially my eldest 

daughter, except tbe very young ones. 

I feel I am the Lord's—His absolute 

property; I shall work for Him not only 

in this town, but wherever I go, until God 

calls raefrora this world, which I now find 

is Eden to FIis children; but it was hell 

before to rae, hence to everybody wbo do 

not know the free gift of God, who nobody 

else than the Lord Jesus Christ. 

My Avife sends you her love and respects. 

So do Brethren Fhilipps, Stavro of Kyrinia, 

and Nicola—a brother whora you do 

not know. 

ilay God give you all His blessings, and 

preserve you, through Jesus Christ our 

Lord, Amen! 

Michael Kassilian. 

The late Joseph Parker had tbis to say about professing Christians who would let 

the heathen alone: These people, wbose ancestors painted theraselves blue and did 

not wear any clotbes worth mentioning, and were not indisposed to eat one another 

wben circumstances seemed to point in tbat direction of that kind of gruesome spectacle, 

gather tbeir fur clotbes around them and say: "Perhaps it would be just as well 

to leave the heathen alone." Persons who so talk never saw Christ, never felt the power 

of His love, have nothing whatever to do with Christ, and wben they touch the cup of 

His blood bring tbeir blasphemy to a culmination. 

AVben He was come near. He beheld the city and wept over it. Luke 19, 41.


EDITORIAL 

NOTES. 

a riDemorial ^banl^ôffering. 

The work that God wrought in China through the three consecrated woraen who 

have fiLnishedtheir course and now enjoy the reward of faithful, service is still fresh in 

the raemory of the Church which they represented at Tak Hing Chau; The total 

receipts for this fund, including October offerings, were at the beginning of this montb 

$2,472.60, and there have since come in a few contributions that indicate great interest 

in the cause of Christ: 

Contributor Amount Mission Field 

ilrs. Thoraas Montgomery, New York $1.00 China. 

ilrs. Rev. E. C. AUen, Grove City, Pa 100.00 India, 15; Doraestic, $12; Jewish, 

$16; Southern, $13; 

Home Chinese, $5; Cyprus, 

$15; China, $25. 

Miss Susan Somraerville, New Yorlc 1.00 China. 

Mrs. Stewart Wrighti Olathe, Kans 5.00 China. 

We are very glad to be able to inforra our readers that raore than the amount necessary 

to secure the conditional offer of 


from a friend of missionary work, at home and abroad, has been obtained without any 

difficulty, the contributors expressing themselves as counting it a privilege to share in 

so good an enterprise. Their naraes, except where requested not to give the naraes, 

the congregations to which they belong, unless not in the raerabershipof the Reformed 

Presbyterian Church, and their indivdual offerings will be found in the following 

stateraent, which is deeraed worthy of preservation in the history of the Mission at 

Tak Hing Chau: 

Mrs. Robert McNeiU, Sr Second Nbav York :$100.00 

ilr. R. N. Redpath Olathe Cong., Kans 100.00 

iliss M. Louise Carson First Philadelphia 100.00 

Mr. J. J. Mackeown. Second New York 100.00


Mrs. Harry Lanphear Blanchard Cong., Ia 100.00 

Mrs. C. E. Brigden Second New York 5.00 

Mrs. M. ilcllvaine ilaryville, B. Tenn 5.00 

"Husband and wife" Denver Cong., Colo 50.00 

Mr. T. J. Joseph Hoplcinton Cong., Ia 100.00 

ilrs. Mary A. Brown (a meraorial of her 

busband, David Oliver Brown) New Alexandria Cong., Pa 1400.00 

ilrs. Samuel Murtland Second New York 140.00 

Mr. William Steele Third Philadelphia 600.00 

ilr. Eobert ilcNeill Second New York 50.00 

ilr. James Carlew Second New York 200.00 

"Let the redeemed of tbe Lord say so"... .New York 1000.00 

Mrs. AndreAV Alexander Second New York 760.00 

Mrs. M. M. Gregg Central AUegheny Cong 100.00 

Mr. and ilrs. Thos. B. Greacen New York 200.00 

.Mrs. R. M. Somerville Second New York 60.00 

Adding to the generous offerings, indicated in the foregoing statement in the order 

in which tbey were raade,the 

FIVE TH0USAND:[D0LLARS 

proraised no less than five months ago and now deposited in a trust corapany subject to 

the order of Olive Trees, our Church has in hand the sura of 

TEN THOUSAND AND [FIFTY DOLLARS 

with wbich to open a new station in China. The brethren, who were not in a position 

to contribute when Ave wrote soliciting their co-operation, and the raany others, to 

whom we made no direct application for assistance, must not feel themselves shut out 

from a share in this worlc. Their money will always be acceptable and will be added 

to this fund. 

Tbis number of Olive Trees closes the to speak of baving received witbin the 

nineteenth year during wbich we bave last few months renewals and new subtried, 

witb raore or less success, to keep scriptions for 1906, and we have good 

before the Churcb the iraportance of rais- reason to expect that New Year's Day will 

sionary work, and reliable news in regard show a full list. The paper seems to be 

to its missionary operations. We thank so well established in the hearts of those 

the brethren who have furnished leading interested in the progress of the gospel 

articles on tbe. great question of the hour and the coraing of the Kingdora that it is 

and bave tbus largely increased the educa- no longer necessary to urge its special 

tional value of the magazine. We solicit clairas. 

tbeir continued assistance. Olive Trees ^ 

is also deeply indebted to the raany friends Special attention is called to Dr. Jean 

of world-wide evangelization wbo are act- McBurney's letter on page 277. The 

ing as voluntary agents, and have largely point tbat we wish our readers to raark-is 

increased its circulation. We invite their what she says about the school at- Tak 

co-operation until tbis Uttle raonthly shall Hing Chau. Knowing that no American 

be a Avelcome visitor in every home. It is teacher had yet volunteered to take up 

peculiarly gratifying to be in a position tbe work upon which Miss Torrence was


about to enter at tbe time of her death, 

and realizing that, if a teacher were on 

the ground, she would require at least 

two years to master the Chinese language 

sufficiently to be qualified for the duties 

of the position, Mrs. Dr. Wright has assuraed 

charge of the work with all the 

labor and responsibility tbat it involves. 

Such devotedness shows the iraportance 

that raissionaries,farailiar with the condition 

of children in heathen horaes, attach 

to the scbool as an effective raeans of 

bringing thera into contact with the truth 

and under its saving power. The conduct 

of Mrs. Wright in this matter is the 

voice of the Redeeraer, saying to persons 

and inffuences that would keep the young 

aAvay frora Hira, "Suffer the Uttle children 

to corae unto Me, and forbid them 

not, for of such is the Kingdom of God." 

Surely thore are young woraen in the 

Covenanter Church who will consecrate 

themselves to this service, when the need 

is so imperative both in China and in 

the Levant Missions. The Church should 

bo iraportunate in prayer to the Lord of 

the harvest that He would send forth 

laborers into these destitute fields. 

According to the Secretary of the Foreign 

Board, no one bas yet offered hiraself 

for service in Syria, as the associate of 

Rev. Janies S. Stewart, though the call 

has been before the Church for raonths. 

He has received letters from some of the 

young rainisters, with the cheering inforraation 

that they are talcing counsel 

with God on the subject, while others, in 

reply to his direct application to thera. 

have expressed theraselves as deeply interested 

in the work, but not qualified. It 

seems to us that the essential thing is to 

be willing. The qualifications corae frora 

the Head of the Church, and will not be 

withheld frora any one who is ready to 

yield unquestioning obedience to tbe decisive 

coraraand, "Go, preach, disciple, 

teach." 

Olive Trees has received, since last report, 

the following contributions frora tbe 

young women of the Reforraed Fresbyterian 

Church toward the salary of their 

niissionary for the year 1905: 

Mrs. S. G. Conner, Canonsburg, Pa.$10.00 

Miss Jennie N. Conner, Canonsburg, 

Pa 12.00 

Also one contribution toward the salary 

of pastors' raissionaryfor 1905 : 

Rev. A. Kilpatrick, Valencia, Pa.. .$5.00 

To this fund have been added two dollars 

mailed to us last suraraer by Rev. 

Henry .Easson, with instructions to devote 

to any branch of raissionaryservice. 

Olive Trees aclcnowledges the receipt 

of $30 frora ilr. B. L. Johnston, of New 

York, for the support of a native teacher 

in the New Hebrides. The raoney was in 

part contributed by a foreign raissionary 

society in Middle Stewiacke, N. S., - a 

society that has been in existence since 

1858, only raissing one ineeting during 

that tirae, and in which his brother, who 

was associated with Dr. Paton on the 

island of Tanna, took a great interest. 

ilr. Wra. E. Moody, of E. Northfield, 

has also forwarded $11 for the sarae fund. 

Sorae time ago an editorial in tbe New York Tribune had this to say about missions: 

"The missionary irapulse is the very essence of Christianity. Without it 

Christianity would be of less value to the world than tbe raost epheraeral rautual benefit 

society. The church raust continually strive to preach tbe good news of the gospel 

to every creature, or else it shirks its comraission, and forfeits its right to be numbered 

among the ethical forces of the world."

Olive Trees 1905 - Rparchives.org

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?