MISSIONARY NEWS | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 11.

MISSIONARY NEWS.

“‘The John Williams’ is the name of a new steamer recently completed by the London Missionary Society. She has just sailed for the South Seas, and is to be used for carrying the Gospel to the various islands occupied by the L. M. S. in the South Pacific.”

“At one station of the Baptist mission in Haiti, a church of fifteen members supports three evangelists, three local preachers, and two Bible and tract colporters. The work in Haiti seems to be characterized by a strong missionary spirit on the part of the converts.”

“A very encouraging movement is reported from Jamaica. The Trinidad College has undertaken to send two missionaries to the Hindus of Jamaica, and aims to meet all the calls that come for missionary work in the West India Islands. This institution aims especially to prepare missionaries to labor in the West Indies.”

“The chiefs of Mengo, Africa, are becoming church builders. Each one is building a church and giving a garden for the benefit of the preachers and the uplifting of their people.”

“Venezuela, more than nine times as large as England and Wales, and two and a half times larger than Germany (area 566,059 square miles), with a population of 2,234,385 men and women, has only one missionary.

“Ethiopia is certainly lifting up her hands, not only to God, but in defense against the vices of civilization. A Zulu church recently organized has among its by-laws that ‘no member is permitted to drink the white man’s grog.’ No Christian ought to drink it, by-laws or not.”

“We find an example of liberal giving among the Christians of Ceylon, which is commendable, and really puts to shame our giving. Four methods of giving are practiced: First, the tithes of their earnings; second, the setting apart by each of a tree, the product of which is for benevolent purposes; third, an offering of labor; fourth, a handful of rice for every day’s meal. Truly they know the blessedness of giving.”

“The China Inland Mission was founded in 1865 by Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, and as to character, is evangelical, interdenominational, and international. Upon its staff are 634 foreign missionaries, including associates, and 366 native helpers. The stations number 112, with 108 out-stations, and are located in 14 provinces. Over 4,500 members are in fellowship, with 134 organized churches.”

“One authority, Dr. R. N. Cust, estimates the languages of Africa at 438, with 153 dialects, making altogether some 600.”

“The people of Dahomey are among the most degraded savages of the world. Visitors to the World’s Fair became familiar with many of their characteristics. Rev. T. J. Marshall, a native minister, is now translating the Bible into their language.”

“A foreign missionary week which had eighteen meetings, addressed by thirteen different missionaries, representing China, India, Ceylon, Morocco, Lovedale, and the Kongo, was held lately at the Wynd church, Glasgow. The closing meeting was a missionary consecration service, at which 31 persons publicly yielded themselves for foreign service. Over 300 others pledged themselves to be helpers to foreign mission work, are formed into a missionary parliament, and are to circulate among themselves a dozen of the leading missionary monthlies.”

“A writer in the Missionary Review says that out of the 3,000,000 converts in all the foreign mission fields, 30,000 have gone as workers into the field, or 1 out of every 100, while Protestant Christendom has sent forth but 1 out of 500. These converts serve as native preachers, teachers, catechists, and lay helpers, and often prove most effective allies to the regular missionary force sent from England and America.”