American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Mission Rooms, Congregational House, Boston, Mass. Rev. N. G. CLARK, D.D. Rev. JUDSON SMITH, D.D. } Corresponding Secretaries. LANGDON S. WARD, Treasurer. Rev. CHARLES C. CREEGAN, D.D., Field Secretary. CHARLES E. SWETT, Publishing and Purchasing Agent. 恰 Letters for the above-mentioned persons should be addressed CONGREGATIONAL House, No. 1 Somerset Street, Boston, Mass. Communications relating to the pecuniary affairs of the Board should be sent to the Treasurer; subscriptions and remittances for the MISSIONARY HERALD, to the Publishing Agent. Mrs. ELIZA H. WALKER, having care of Missionary children, may be addressed Auburndale, Mass. District Secretaries. New York and the Middle States, Connecticut, and Ohio, Rev. Charles H. Daniels, No. 39 Bible House, New York City. States of the Interior, Rev. S. J. Humphrey, D.D., Rev. A. N. Hitchcock, Ph.D., Merchants Building, Woman's Boards of Missions. W. B. M., BOSTON. Miss ABBIE B. CHILD, Secretary. Miss ELLEN CARRUTH, Treasurer. No. 1 Congregational House, Beacon Street, Boston. W. B. M. OF THE INTERIOR. Miss M. D. WINGATE, No. 59 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Secretary. Mrs. W. B. M. FOR THE PACIFIC. Mrs. H. E. JEWETT, Secretary, Oakland, Cal. Mrs. R. E. COLE, Letters relating to “LIFE AND LIGHT" should be addressed Secretary "Life and Light,” No. 1 Congregational House, Boston, Mass. Legacies. In making devises and legacies, the entire corporate name of the particular Board which the testator has in mind should be used, as follows: "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, incorporated in Massachusetts in 1812." “The Woman's Board of Missions, incorporated in Massachusetts in 1869.” "The Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior, incorporated in Illinois in 1873." Honorary Members. The payment of $50 at one time constitutes a minister, and the payment of $100 at one time constitutes any other person, an Honorary Member of the Board. Publications. THE MISSIONARY HERALD, published monthly at $1.00 per year. Pamphlet Sketches of the several Missions of the Board, 35 cents for the set. Concert Exercises" and Leaflets for free distribution may be obtained at the Mission Rooms. The MISSION DAYSPRING, for children, published monthly by the American Board and the Woman's Boards of Missions at $3.00 for 25 copies; $1.50 for 10 copies; single copies, 20 cents. THE AMERICAN BOARD ALMANAC, annually. Price, 10 cents; $6.00 per hundred. WALL MAPS, including Map of the World. Set of seven. Price on cloth, $10.00; on paper, $6.00. LIBRARY. THE MISSIONARY HERALD. VOL. LXXXV. SEPTEMBER, 1889. — No. IX. THE receipts for the first eleven months of the financial year from donations were about $9,000 less than those from the same source during the corresponding period of the preceding year, and from legacies about $28,000 less, a total falling off of about $37,000. The last month is always the most critical one as related to receipts. Let every effort be made by the friends of the Board that the donations from churches and individuals may be largely increased, so that, if possible, they may exceed those of the preceding year. The books of the Treasurer will be kept open as usual for all contributions intended for the present year, during the first week of September. We have no confirmation of the telegram which appeared in the daily press of July 30, concerning an earthquake on the island of Kiushiu, Japan, which is said to have destroyed many lives and a vast amount of property in the city of Kumamoto, where several of our missionaries reside. There has not been time to hear from Japan by due course of mail, and we trust that nothing of such a serious nature as reported has occurred. In all probability the Messrs. O. H. and S. L. Gulick and Mr. Clark and their families had left Kumamoto prior to the date named to attend the annual mission meeting on Mount Hiyeizan. It is an occasion for rejoicing that the British House of Commons has passed a resolution acknowledging the fact that the fiscal system of the government of India is responsible for the increase in distilleries and the opening of liquor and opium shops, and calling upon the government for immediate action in reference to the abatement of these evils. The Bombay Guardian affirms that under the recent policy of the government in reference to licensing the sale of liquors the number of consumers has doubled in ten years. While this is the case the number of the drinkers is as yet not more than fifteen per cent. of the population. How long will it be before Christian nations will learn to act on Christian principles? THE fidelity of some Chinese converts may be learned from a nickname given a few of them living near Shao-wu. They are there called the "Kneel-in-bed sect," and some heathen declared that the Christians always went to sleep on their knees. In the place and at the time when their neighbors would suppose they would be asleep, these Christians were at prayer. SINCE the letters given on another page from the West Central African Mission were in type another mail has arrived, but it brings no special news. The health report is fairly good, though some of the members of the mission have been suffering from fever. Mr. Arnot, the Scotch missionary, and his party, on their way to the Garenganze, had arrived at Benguella, but found themselves unable, as are our own missionaries, to secure porters for the interior. Mr. Sanders' efforts with King Kwikwi to induce him to supply carriers were at one time supposed to be successful, the king promising as many carriers as were needed; but shortly after he changed his mind and said he was going to war speedily. The discovery of a new and superior kind of caoutchouc, which brings a good price at the coast, is likely to interfere seriously with the transport of missionaries and their supplies into the interior. It is said that a porter can obtain for the delivery at Benguella of a load of this india-rubber as much cloth as he can carry back to his home. As long as this profitable trade continues (and there seems to be no likelihood of its ending) it will be exceedingly difficult to find carriers, and our missionaries are seriously embarrassed. Mr. Arnot has a plan for purchasing mules at Santiago, but it is a question whether this experiment will work well. ON the fourth page of the cover of this number will be found a notice from the Committee of Arrangements at New York concerning the approaching Annual Meeting of the Board, giving particulars as to rates of fare from different points; also, as to accommodations which may be secured in hotels and boarding-houses. The Committee desire to aid in every way possible those who need their assistance in securing accommodations. In one of their recent letters they say: "It is greatly desired that there be a large attendance at this meeting, held in our city for the first time since 1832, and that the meeting be one of oldtime power and enthusiasm." The arrangements made as to fares and accommodations are certainly favorable, and we trust that the hopes of our friends in New York in regard to the meeting will be fulfilled. MR. BATES, of the East African Mission, finds in the new station at Bembe, where he is now well settled, that a bell would be of material advantage in marking definitely the time and place of religious services and in attracting the natives to regular attendance. For about $50 a bell that would meet the need can be provided, and any friend sending to us this sum for the purpose may be assured that he is furnishing real aid to the missionary work. RECENT letters from the West Central African Mission allude to some utterances of the natives in reference to the death of Dr. Webster, which bear witness not only to the excellence of this missionary who has fallen, but also to the warm-hearted devotion of the people. Mrs. Stover speaks especially of the bearing of the wives of two of their converts, who wept day and night as the sad tidings were brought to them, and of one of the young men who said, "My heart is like a great sore which throbs with pain all the time." Our missionaries were greatly comforted in their affliction by the evident sincerity of the sympathy manifested by the natives about them. SIMULTANEOUS MISSIONARY MEETINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS. - In the August number of the Missionary Herald we gave notice of the proposed union missionary meetings to be held throughout Massachusetts during the week beginning September 29, and we promised to give further information this month. Our Methodist brethren, with whom the suggestion originated (so far as Massachusetts is concerned), have already made arrangements for a large number of meetings, and circulars have been sent to all their churches asking them to enter heartily into the plan. Our Baptist brethren have already pledged their coöperation, and it is expected that all their churches will share in these meetings. The time selected is believed to be quite favorable for our Congregational churches, as an earlier date would be too soon after the summer vacation, and the National Council and the annual meetings of the American Board and the Missionary Association will take place immediately after the time named. In the course of a few days, circulars will be sent to the pastors of the Congregational churches in the State, stating more fully the plan proposed. The officers and the Prudential Committee of the American Board most heartily concur in the suggestion that an entire week be given to the purpose of making all our people better acquainted with the needs of the heathen world, with the work which our great missionary societies are endeavoring to do, and the imperative demand for more money and missionaries, that we may hasten the coming of Christ to the millions who as yet have not known of him. So far as is possible, the secretaries of the American Board and returned missionaries will respond to calls for assistance during the week named, but the responsibility for arranging and securing enthusiastic and successful conventions must rest with the pastors and other friends of the cause in the several cities and towns. Secretary Creegan, whom we rejoice to welcome back after his brief trip abroad, will be glad to answer any inquiries and to render such assistance as he can, to the end that the proposed programme may be successfully carried out. THERE are several schools at the Hawaiian Islands which desire teachers, both male and female, either as principals or assistants. Such teachers will receive their support from the residents at the islands, and the schools are in no sense "mission schools," but the American Board is much interested in securing for them efficient Christian teachers, men and women of character, ability, and experience. Any persons who are qualified and are desirous of entering upon this form of service at the Hawaiian Islands may send their communications to Secretary Judson Smith at the rooms of the American Board, Boston, who will transmit them to Honolulu. MR. MCNAUGHTON, of Smyrna, sends a hearty message of thanks to those who have responded so generously to his appeal for books for the use of pastors in his missionary district. A supply of thirty-one volumes had arrived at Smyrna and proves all that he had desired. We are happy to say, also, that in response to the appeal in our May number for back volumes of the "Notes on the International Sunday-school Lessons" for use of students in the Marash Theological Seminary, a generous supply of these volumes (Peloubet's, Vincent's, and others) have been sent in, and a shipment of them will soon be made. For all these gifts, cordial thanks are presented to the donors. |