Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 23, 1909

No male missionary may preach the gospel to any but the lowest caste women of India, and even these listen with timidity and are ill at ease in the presence of a strange white man. The missionaries’ wives work among them; but the affairs of their households, the claims of their children, and the necessary and legitimate sharing in the plans and burdens of their husbands, prevent them from being able to meet adequately the great demand for a female evangelistic and teaching agency. If the women of India, the home-makers and mothers of Hinduism, are to be evangelized and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and saved to honored and worthy womanhood, this must be done by unmarried women from Christian lands preparing a band of native women-workers to carry the gospel into secluded zenanas in the cities and to mohullas in the villages of that populous land.—Selected.

IN the United States there is one minister to every seven hundred people. In China there is one ordained minister to every one million people.

As yet the Koreans have had access to only the New Testament in their own language. They are calling very earnestly for the Old Testament. One gentleman, for example, over seventy years old, said: “I wish I could live until I could read the Old Testament in my own language.” They have been able to pick up some from the Chinese versions, but this is very difficult for a Korean. The British and Foreign Bible Society hope to have the Korean Old Testament ready during the present year.

THE people in Korea are reported to be thorough Bible students. One missionary said: “I have gone through a theological seminary, but these Koreans know their Testament better than I do.” One woman walked over three hundred miles with a bag of rice (her provision while away from home) on her head, so that she could engage in the study of the Bible for ten days where classes are held for Bible study. Others bring their rice, and in addition strap their babies upon their backs, and walk long distances to attend. Surely Korea is ripe for the last gospel message.

To a criticism by a church-member, that preachers and other church leaders talk too much about money, an editor replies sharply that if church-members were not so nigardly and tardy, the talking would not be necessary. It is possible that the manner in which the talking about money is done has as much to do with the restiveness under asking as the asking itself. A blunt, perfunctory, censorious tone and manners do not open pocketbooks, even of those in whom the grace of giving is well developed. A promoter who wants to interest Mr. Moneybags in his scheme, is not careless as to the manner in which his approach and appeal are made. Why may not the “children of light” learn lessons from the “children of darkness” here?—The United Presbyterian.

REV. J. G. DUNLAP, of the Presbyterian Board, speaking of the work in Japan, says: “A general feeling of discouragement pervades the church in Japan at present. We are passing through a reaction such as has not been felt in a dozen years. In several departments of the central government a dead-set is being made against Christian work, notably in the department of education, and in the army, and the church is feeling the effects. Everywhere it is harder to get people to listen to Christian teaching, and weak-hearted Christians are falling out of the ranks. The victory of an Eastern nation over a Western has given to many a new faith in the East and its ways and beliefs, and we are witnessing revivals of Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism. Meanwhile, the growing suspicion and hostility of the West toward the Japanese is driving the latter back upon themselves.”