38 The Methodist Mission in Central China. sings for joy and my eyes fill with tears of gratitude as I record these accessions; but these are but the first fruits of a glorious harvest that I am firmly convinced shall be gathered in. The Lord seems to have given these people into our hands. Now, I wish you could see for yourself how willingly they listen to our teaching and how anxious they seem to know more about the Gospel. They belong chiefly to what are called "the low caste "-just the class from which all great religious movements have begun. Not long ago I was petitioned by a whole community to open a boarding school. "We will gladly give you our children," said they, "to be instructed and brought up." What a blessing this would be if we could but get hold of the children. Practically my native work has been supported by my English congregation this year, so that we have not come far short of Bishop Taylor's plan to make our English work in India a basis for supporting and developing native work. I must explain in regard to the converts I have baptized this year; they are for the most part Guzeratis and Punjabis. These are not natives of Sindh, but have in large numbers settled down in Karachi and are employed in government and municipal work. We have not been able to do anything as yet among the Sindhis. There are from three to four million Sindhis in Sindh. Hitherto they have proven very inaccessible. I do not think there are five Sindhi Christians in the whole of Sindh, and this after one society (Church Missionary Society) laboring for over sixty years in Sindh. The first and only Sindhi convert in Karachi was baptized about four or five years ago, and, curious enough, he was led to decide for Christ through the instrumentality of the Rev. Dennis Osborne, of our church. This young man, a bright, intelligent young fellow, had been under conviction for some time, but was afraid to openly confess Christ, for a Sindhi to confess Christ means disownment, social ostracism, and bitterest persecution even unto death. However, this young man attended some special services which Brother Osborn was conducting in our English church. Here he got so blessed and so convicted of his duty that he went the following day to the Church Missionary Society missionary (Rev. A. E. Ball) and asked him to baptize him before his resolution failed him again. He was baptized, and had in consequence to leave "all" for Christ" father, mother, houses, and land." He lived a consistent, faithful Christian, and went to his reward during the last epidemic of plague. The Methodist Mission in Central China. BY REV. A. J. BOWEN. 10 by the ladies and 7 by the Mission. We all felt that this was the least possible number we could ask for, as large fields stand open for each one, and will remain unoccupied until more men and women are sent. God has given us largely during the past year— 1,715 souls more than the previous year; and we are persuaded that the field is ripe for the harvest, and that the laborers are too few. We ask earnestly for more laborers. God is saving this people, and will save, but according to the faith and self-sacrifice of the Church. Give, and you shall increase, withhold, and you shall not lay up riches, whether they be dollars or stars in the heavenly crown. Brother Nichols and Miss Abbott, on Nan-chang Circuit, have happy faces and full hearts over the triumphs of the Gospel there, and are planning for a large work during the next year. The oldest work in our Mission, Kiukiang Circuit, left vacant by the return of Brother Wright, has been neglected, except as our superintendent has had time and opportunity to visit some of the sta tions. Brother James, at Nanking, and Brother Newman, at Wuhu, have been incessant in labors for converts, and also for making the churches pure, while Brother Little, at Yang-chow, like Sidney Smith in Yorkshire, is raising not a little dust, and withal much interest in that conservative city. Kiukiang Institute, under the efficient management of Brother Jackson, is doing a splendid work for the Church, a work which is bearing increasingly abundant and precious fruit. · Chinkiang Institute is trying to teach the hands as well as the head and heart, but has been greatly handicapped during the year by the unavoidable absence of the principal performing the duties that fall to the superintendent. Nanking University, founded and supported by the Church, is trying to make the most of the high privileges of a Christian college in a heathen land. As President Ibuka, of Japan, has said that her best men were coming from the Christian schools, so we believe that China's best men will be developed in the Christian institutions. The Central China Mission's greatest need at present is the hearty sympathy and the fervent prayers of the home Church. We can do much with little money and few men, but we are helpless without the supplications of God's people for his kingdom. UN Our School at New Umtali, Rhodesia. BY REV. MORRIS W. EHNES. [NDER the direction of Bishop Hartzell, Mrs. Ehnes and I sailed from New York on SeptemHE Methodist Church in Central China is doing ber 3, 1898, en route to Umtali, arriving here on not satisfied with present success. At the recent sessions of the Estimate Meetings of the members of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and the members of the Parent Board 17 new missionaries were asked for Central China for the coming year, the day urreed upon by Hartzell and the British South Africa Company, to take over a large tract of land and several buildings at a point ten miles from here, and four stands in the village and twenty acres on the commonage for school and church purposes. The Building of Korean Chapels. We found a school conducted by a lady, who was unable to make it a success on account of poor health, and the public dissatisfied with the accommodation for their children. By a satisfactory arrangement with the lady she conceded her school to us without any compensation on our part and gave us every assistance she could. The cooperation of the government was next secured, and a small two-room house rented for our home, and a small two-room building for our school at a rental of $85 per month. Everything was now in readiness to begin our work. 39 highly of our school. Lately two children were taken from Natal schools and brought here. Our enrollment this month is 27, and we are extremely busy. Besides teaching school we are conducting a weekly prayer meeting, which has had an average attendance of eight. These little gatherings are very helpful and God is blessing us. I am also conducting a Sunday evening service for the railway men, which is very well attended. God is gradually opening the way for us in this part of the continent. If our school continues to increase, we shall soon However, by some misfortune our school desks and books were delayed, but the former teacher gave us the loan of her books, etc., until ours should arrive. On November 25 we opened our school with an enrollment of 13. The rainy season had begun, but the people wanted their children to attend school need another teacher, and there is now an opening for a pastor. The Building of Korean Chapels. BY REV. W. A. NOBLE. the many problems that confront the mission and we were anxious to begin. It was rather trying ary, "self-support" on the Pyeng Yang Circuit on us as newcomers, walking about a mile through rain and mud to school, but we did our best and trusted God. Before Christmas we had an enrollment of 17. Allowing only two weeks' holiday, we opened again with 20. About March the fever season began and many of our pupils were ill. Some removals also cut down our attendance. We became somewhat anxious, because our expenses were a good deal more than our income, so we began to look for cheaper buildings, and the beginning of May we heard of one that was to be vacated; there was one large room, which had been used for a store, and two small rooms, each 11x12 feet, for dwelling purposes. This building was centrally located, and would give us a much better schoolroom, and our home under the same roof. After praying for it constantly for over two months God finally gave us this building, in which we are now located. Our rents are a little more than half and our accommodations much better in every way. Our schoolroom is furnished with American desks, a large blackboard, and the room is well lighted and comfortable. The people are well pleased with our system, which is thorough and rigid, and speak very in Korea does not present the grave difficulties that it does in some other fields. I commenced work on this circuit a little over three years ago. A small room in the city of Pyeng Yang was the only place of worship that represented our Church in the whole north of Korea. Since then we have built seven chapels without a cent of money from the Board at home. Not only have our people built the chapels, but have kept them in repair, paid all the running expenses, and in some cases enlarged the buildings and built schoolhouses. The reason that leads the people to build churches so easily is twofold. First, the love of the Eastern people for a spectacular religion; the Korean is in earnest, but faith in an intangible being is a new thought, and he often hungers for something that will appeal to the senses, and takes easily to ritualism. One expression of that feeling is the building of the chapel, and when once the congregation has taken up its abode in its new home it requires constant watchfulness and effort on the part of the missionary to lead their thought from the building to Him whom no building can contain. The second cause, and the principal one, is the 40 A Parting Scene in Africa. fact that the homes of the people in the country are not large enough to accommodate even a small number that would gather. A room eight by twelve is a large room for a country house, and in some villages there are no rooms outside the women's quarters, and then it is impossible to gather unless a family is ready to move out for such an occasion. Chapels, as generally built by our people, cost about twenty dollars, but require, on the part of the church members, as much thought and preparation as a church in a country village in America costing $2,000, and when built they are quite as proud of them. We have two ways of collecting money-by Sunday contributions and special subscriptions. By the latter method, when friendly rivalry enhances their enthusiasm, they will often give all their living for a considerable period. A short time ago, after a Sunday service I asked for contributions to enlarge our church. While talking I noticed a gray-haired man over seventy years old listening very attentively. He sat well up to the front. His white hair and beard aided by a late sickness made him appear especially aged. He had walked thirty-two miles to attend this service, having saved his money for a long time to pay his way at the inns while on the journey. After I had made the request for money he pulled a string of cash from around his waist, all the money he had, and gave it to the church, putting his trust in the One who cares for the old. and make their round without a sign of progress or hope; but at last for him and for his children the pain and fear have been removed. And for him peace-ah, what peace-as he hopes for the Church triumphant. A Parting Scene in Africa. (A quotation from a letter of Rev. H. C. Withey on leaving Africa for America, September, 1899.) IT T was quite a mournful time the morning we came away, many of the natives being in tears; at the same time we had a very loving separation from the brethren, after a season of prayer, and singing, "God be with you till we meet again." The last Sunday before we had a very impressive time. Four of the boys, of their own accord, having made an earnest request to be baptized before we left, I examined them quite thoroughly in the class meeting, and afterward Brother Dodson called together the four brethren who were there, and we had an hour or more of conference and prayer about it, after which we all concluded that the clearest thing to do was to accede to their request. Sebastiao Ribeiro and Isabella also presented an infant to be baptized, 'and we had a very solemn service. We all felt the occasion was a very fitting one for our last Sabbath in Quiongoa. I felt much drawn out in prayer for the precious souls there all the way down to Loanda (225 miles). May the Lord watch over them. I felt fully persuaded in my mind that I was coming out in the order of God. Never till then did I feel that the way was open. It is necessary for the missionary to present the needs of building the chapel while the class is in its first love. Korea is an ancient land, but the people are childlike, and, when corrected of old habits are moved more by sentiment and impulse than by reason. One might call the first two years of their Christian life the enthusiastic period; then com- Calcutta Publishing House and Bengali Church. mences the thoughtful period; that is a time of awakening to the deeper things of Christianity. The latter sometimes proves to be the sifting period. It is often easier to give up spirit worship, build chapels, and support schools, having for a reward the fellowship and security of the Christian community, than to take up the cross of a constant, pure life, and interpret life not only with privileges, but with duties that bring no apparent reward. I BY REV. JOSEPH CULSHAW. JOINED the Methodist Mission January 4, 1893, and was appointed by Bishop Thoburn to the Methodist Publishing House, Calcutta. I arrived in Calcutta January 7, 1893, and have been engaged in our Press ever since in the capacity of manager. In January, 1898, I was appointed agent of the Press. I am now agent of the Press and preacher in charge of the Calcutta Bengali Church. In the Press we publish the Indian Witness, Indian Epworth Herald, and the Mohila Bandhub (the Woman's Friend in Bengali), all our own Church publications. We also publish Our Indian Magazine, the organ of the Y. W. C. A., and the The White Ribbon, the organ of the W. C. T. U. We also publish other papers, Sunschool and Bengali tract literature. When it has been decided to build a church, generally the greater part of the amount needed is collected, and then the work begins. Those who are able to cut timber go to the woods, which generally are a long way off, as timber in this country is very scarce; others level the ground and do other work that their previous experience will permit, all using the most primitive of tools. In six or eight weeks the church is completed; the walls of mud, the roof The Bengali Church has a membership of 145, and of straw, and the floor of stone and mud, under 77 probationers and 156 baptized children. We have which the fire is kindled to warm the building. The a native pastor, Rakhal Chumder Biswas, who is pastor is informed that the chapel is completed, and a great help to the preacher in charge. The mema request is sent that he should come and dedicate bers of the church are from various classes of society the building to the service of God. The dedication-schoolboys and girls from our own schools, cooks, is always impressive. A home has been built for house-servants, carpenters, clerks, &c. We have a the weary pilgrim. He and his ancestors have long fully organized church, with Sunday school, Epworth wandered without a place of rest. The long, weary League, &c., in full operation. We have the joy occenturies drag their heavy length before his view, casionally of seeing genuine conversions. MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Methodist Episcopal Foreign Missionaries Past and Present, Connected with the Work of the Missionary Society. Rev. John Ward Gamble arrived in India December 16, 1878; left December 27, 1879. In New Jersey Conference. P. O., Vineland, N. J. Rev. Francis Dunlap Gamewell arrived in China October 22, 1881; married Mary Q. Porter June 29, 1882; returned to United States in April, 1887; sailed for North China July 26, 1889. Professor in Peking University. P. O., Peking, China. Rev. Joseph Hendry Garden arrived in India December 31, 1884; married Frances Elizabeth Byers June 1, 1887; is preacher in charge of Vikarabad. P. O., Vikarabad, India. Rev. Otis Gibson and wife (Eliza Chamberlin) arrived in China August 12, 1855; left March 11, 1865. Dr. Gibson organized the Chinese Mission in San Francisco, Cal., in 1868, and died January 25, 1889, in San Francisco, Cal. Mrs. Gibson lives at 912 Dolores Street, San Francisco, Cal. Rev. George King Gilder joined the India Mission in 1874; married June 12, 1879. Mrs. Gilder died May 19, 1881. Mr. Gilder married Emily A. Caldwell September 12, 1882, who died October 6, 1898. Mr. Gilder is Presiding Elder of the Godavery District, South India Conference. P. O., Raipur, Central Provinces, India. Rev. Joseph Hamilton Gill and wife (Mary Elizabeth Ensign) arrived in India December 14, 1871. Mr. Gill is Presiding Elder of the Garhwal District, North India Conference, and preacher in charge at Pauri. P. O., Pauri, India. Rev. James P. Gilliland and wife (Nannie) went to the West Coast of South America in 1879. Mrs. Gilliland died in Serena, Chili, March 30, 1892. Mr. Gilliland returned in 1894, married Adaline Pratt Lewis, and went to Argentina, South America, in 1898, sailing from New York July 2. Is preacher in charge at Concordia. P. O., Concordia, Argentina. | Rev. Archibald Gilruth arrived in India November 6, 1876; married Agnes Mulligan in Bombay, June 11, 1884; left India, February 7, 1890. In Ohio Conference. P. O., Richmond Dale, O. Rev. Wallace Jonathan Gladwin arrived in India in 1871; married Dora Miles in 1876; became an independent missionary in 1882; died January 11, 1897, in Bombay. Miss Mary A. Gouchenour sailed for China in 1893, and married in China, in June, 1894, Dr. W. F. Seymour, a missionary of the Presbyterian Church. S. M. E. Goheen, M.D., went to Liberia in 1836 and returned in 1841. Rev. Wm. Goodfellow and wife (Mary E. Dempster) arrived in Argentina, South America, December 25, 1857, and left August 9, 1869. Dr. Goodfellow died in Chicago, Ill., November 3, 1898. Mrs. Goodfellow resides in Chicago. Rev. Frank Ambrose Goodwin arrived in India December 19, 1874. His wife (Elizabeth Bunton) followed him in 1875. They left Calcutta February 19, 1881, and Mr. Goodwin died August, 16, 1881, at Biddeford, Me. Mrs. Goodwin resides at 111 Renwick Avenue, Syracuse, N. Y. Rev. Charles W. Gordon, one of Bishop Taylor's missionaries in Angola, Africa, was recognized by the Board of Managers as a missionary of the Society April 19, 1898. He arrived in Angola in March, 1885. P. O., Malange, Angola, Africa. Rev. John Talbot Gracey and wife (Anna Ryder) sailed for India June 1, 1861, arrived in Lucknow, India, October 22, 1861, and left in 1868, arriving in New York May 7. Dr. Gracey is now in the Genesee Conference and resides at 177 Pearl Street, Rochester, N. Y. Rev. Richardson Gray, M.D., arrived in India October 20, 1873; married Margaret G. Budden June 9, 1875; returned in 1883. Is practicing medicine in East Orange, N. J. Rev. Charles A. Gray arrived in Singapore, Malaysia, July 1, 1889, and died in August, 1889, in Singa pore. Miss Vesta O. Greer went to China in 1887; returned in 1890 and married a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, Rev. Mr. Pool. James J. Gregory, M.D., and wife went to China in 1888 and returned in 1896. Mrs. Gregory died August 16, 1896, and Dr. Gregory died in January, 1897. Mr. G. P. Gregory went to Chili in 1894 and left the Mission in 1895 to engage in independent work. Mr. Eddy Horace Greeley and wife (Elizabeth C. Shults) sailed for Liberia May 15, 1894. Mrs. Greeley died April 19, 1897, at White Plains, Liberia, and Mr. Greeley returned in July, 1898. Resides at 803 Case Avenue, Cleveland, O. Rev. Charles Wesley Green and wife (Sallie Q. Stevenson) arrived in Japan August 20, 1882; left July 17, 1890. In Philadelphia Conference. P. O., Pen Argyl, Pa. Rev. Wm. Green and wife (Emma Aveline) arrived in Mexico in March, 1887; left in May, 1895. Mr. Green is a supernumerary preacher of the New York Conference. Rev. Almon Witter Greenman and wife (May Rosamond Gammon) arrived in Mexico May 20, 1880; returned to the United States in 1889; sailed for South America in November, 1890. Dr. Greenman is Presiding Elder of the First District, South America Conference, and Publishing Agent. P. O., Buenos Ayres, Argentina. Rev. Wm. Henry Grenon and wife (Emma Christine) joined the India Mission in 1891. Mr. Grenon is pastor of the Jabalpur English Church. P. O., Jabalpur, India. 42 Methodist Episcopal Foreign Missionaries Past and Present. Rev. Charles Minot Griffith and wife (Elva) sailed for Chili March 20, 1895; returned in October, 1898. In North Nebraska Conference. P. O., Pendee, Neb. Rev. Wm. Groves and wife (Clara) sailed for Chili, South America, in December, 1893; returned in 1898. Mr. Groves is supplying Linn Creek Charge in Saint Louis Conference. Rev. L. T. Guild and wife (Ruth Thomas) sailed for Bulgaria October 11, 1893; left Bulgaria April 13, 1894. In Nebraska Conference. P. O., Beatrice, Neb. Rev. Fred. L. Guthrie sailed for China September 11, 1899. P. O., Hinghua, China. H Wm. James Hall, M.D., arrived in Korea December 17, 1891; married Rosetta Sherwood Hall, M.D., June 27, 1892; died in Korea November 24, 1894. Mrs. Hall is now a medical missionary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and stationed in Pyeng Yang, Korea. Osman F. Hall, M.D., sailed for Chungking, West China, February, 1899. P. O., Chungking, West China. Rev. Henry H. Hall sailed for China in 1870; married in 1873, and left in April, 1876. In the California Conference, and is a Chaplain in the United States Army. Albert C. Hammett, M. D., sailed from New York for South Africa May 13, 1899. He left Umtali in October, arriving in New York November 14, 1899, P. O., Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Jessie A. Hanna sailed for Chili in 1897; is teacher in Santiago College. P. O., Santiago, Chili. Miss Laura Catherine Hanzlik sailed for China Jan. 19, 1891. Nurse in Nanking Hospital. P. O., Nanking, China. Rev. Clark Pettingill Hard arrived in India December 18, 1874; married Lydia E. Van Someren at Madras December 19, 1877; left India December 3, 1892. In Illinois Conference. P. O., Elkhart, Ill. Rev. James Hepburn Hargis and wife (Florence Woodward) arrived in Italy January 15, 1884; left Italy May 15, 1885. Dr. Hargis died in Germantown, Philadelphia, August 8, 1895. Mrs. Hargis resides in Carlisle, Pa. Rev. Francis Marion Harrington and wife (Mary Rhoda Shinn) arrived in Chili May 20, 1895. Returned on furlough in August, 1899. P. O., Tipton, Ia. Rev. Merriman Colbert Harris and wife (Flora L. Best) arrived in Japan, December 14, 1873; left May 25, 1886. Dr. Harris is Presiding Elder of the Japanese District, California Conference. Resides at 1329 Pine Street, San Franciso, Cal. Rev. Sylvanus Decker Harris and wife (Tillie K. Lloyd) arrived in China in August, 1873; left in March, 1875. In Newark Conference. P.O., Martinsville, N. J. Rev. John Harrow, missionary in Bishop Taylor's Liberia work, was recognized by the Board as a missionary of the Society April 19, 1898. Is stationed at Garraway, Liberia. P. O., Cape Palmas, Liberia. Edgerton Haskell Hart, M.D., and wife (Rose Elizabeth Munn) sailed for China August 29, 1893, and Dr. joined the Central China Mission in 1895. Hart is in charge of the medical work at Wuhu, China. Rev. Virgil C. Hart and wife (Addie) arrived in Foochow, China, May, 27, 1866; left in 1888. Dr. Hart is now Superintendent of the West China Mission of the Canada Methodist Church. P. O., Kiating, West China. Rev. Isaiah L. Hauser and wife arrived at Madras, India, March 11, 1861, and returned in 1866. Rev. James Frederick Hayner and wife (Mabel Sylvester Shattuck) sailed for China September 12, 1893. P. O., Peking, China. Rev. Benj. S. Haywood and wife (Harriet Porter) went to Mexico in January, 1899. P. O., Pachuca, Mexico. Rev. Isaac Taylor Headland and wife sailed for China September 24, 1890. Mrs. Headland died in China December 12, 1890. Mr. Headland married Mariam Sinclair, M.D., June 11, 1894; is Professor in Peking University. P. O., Peking, China. Rev. Geo, S. Henderson and wife joined in India in 1894; Mr. Henderson is in charge of the Seamen's Mission in Calcutta. Address, 19 Lall Bazar, Calcutta, India. Professor Ernest F. Herman and wife sailed for Chili June 29, 1899. P. O., Concepcion, Chili. Rev. Geo. Cavender Hewes sailed for India October 21, 1891; married Anna Butcher December 3, 1896; preacher in charge at Budaon. P. O., Budaon, India. Professor George Matthews Hewey and wife (Lucy N. Hatch) arrived in Peru in January, 1894; left in November, 1898. Resides at 212 Flag Street, Aurora, Ill. Rev. Henry Hickok and wife sailed for China October 14, 1847; arrived in China April 14, 1848; left February 15, 1849. Mr. Hickok, after returning to the United States, joined the Presbyterian Church in northern New York. Rev. Wm. W. Hicks and wife (Clara) arrived in India January 17, 1862; left in 1863, returning to America. Rev. Charles Baylis Hill and wife (Harriet Glenora Green) sailed for Burma December 14, 1897. Mr. Hill is in charge of the English church at Rangoon. P. O., Rangoon, Burma. Rev. Wm. Thos. Hobart and wife (Emily Marcia Hatfield) sailed for China in September, 1882. Mr. Hobart is Presiding Elder of Tsunhua District, North China Conference. P. O., Tang Shan, China. Professor C. H. Holland sailed for Chili June 29, 1899. He is a teacher in the college at Concepcion. Rev. Wm. H. Hollister and wife (Emma Hodge) sailed for India in 1887. Mr. Hollister is in charge of the Kolar Mission. P. O., Kolar, India. Rev. James M. Hoover sailed for Penang, Malaysia, July 29, 1899. A teacher in the Penang Anglo-Chinese School. P. O., Penang, Straits Settlements. Rev. Willis Collins Hoover, M.D., and wife (Mary Louise Hilton) sailed for Chill in October, 1889. Dr. Hoover is Presiding Elder of the Iquique District, Western South America Conference, and in charge of the Spanish Mission in Iquique. P. O., Iquique, Chili. |