MISSIONARY NOTES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 20, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 41.

MISSIONARY NOTES.

FROM the annual report of the Baptist Missionary Union, we take the following items:—

“In the Bible work the year has witnessed the printing of a new edition of the Telugu New Testament and the revision of the Assamese Bible. In Burma a second edition of the Pwo-Karen Bible is in progress, also a new edition of the Sgau-Karen Bible, plates for which are being made in Boston, and at such small cost that the Bible soon can be put into the hands of every Karen who will read it.

“In Burma the new stations of the Shan States at Thibaw and Moné, and among the Kachins at Myitkyina, have been made secure. Marked progress has been made in self-support and education, and a decided evangelistic spirit has developed among the native Christians. Graduates from the theological seminary are gladly offering to go to the regions beyond.

“The record of the past year in Assam has been one of steady, quiet progress. Nowhere in all the wide field is there richer promise of harvest than among the hill tribes of this country.

“China still remains the stronghold of Satan's dominion in Asia, but, trusting in the divine promises, reënforcements have been sent to this difficult field. Advance stations have been opened in Southern China, and in some of them the reception accorded to the missionaries has been almost phenomenal. The work among the Hakkas gives increasing promise for the future. In Eastern China two new families and three single women have been added to the missionary staff. Steps have been taken towards establishment of a mission in Central China, which are delayed, however, by the state of the treasury. The eleven new missionaries, under the guidance of Mr. Upcraft, have reached their distant home in Suichaufu, in good health, and enter upon their work with much enthusiasm.”

The report further states that the work in Japan has been conducted under trying circumstances; yet the missionaries have persevered in evangelizing efforts, in spite of the determined opposition of the anti-foreign party. And in reference to the Kongo country it is stated that the past year has perhaps been one of the most trying in the history of that mission. Three of their most efficient workers died during the year, and “the work still continues to suffer from the terrible ravages of the rum traffic. In fact, the appalling evil, if anything, is on the increase.” In the matter of assisting the work of the society mention is made of one lady who undertook to support a Bible woman, as her own personal gift to the Lord, taking boarders to raise the money. She succeeded so well in this that she afterwards did washing to earn means with which to support a preacher.