Much reporting in Christian Standard during its early decades consisted of reports filed from states, regions, ministry groups, and individual churches. In October 1887, the Twelfth Annual General Convention of the Christian Church took place in Indianapolis. Our Oct. 29, 1887, issue carried reports from that gathering and many associated meetings. The missionary report we offer today is representative of the way this type of news was shared 135 years ago.
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THE F. C. M. S.
Oct. 29, 1887; p. 3
The Central Christian Church was filled to overflowing yesterday morning (Oct. 19), at the meeting of the Foreign Missionary Society. Isaac Errett, who has been President of the Society since its organization in 1875, and widely known as the editor of the Christian Standard, was in the chair. The devotional exercises continued until 10 o’clock, Milton Wells, of Wisconsin; J.H. Garrison, of Missouri; A.N. Gilbert, of Illinois; D.R. Lucas, of Iowa, and F. M. Rains, of Kansas, participating. Brief talks were then given by Sweeney, Errett and L.H. Jameson.
The standing committees were announced by the President, the chairmen being as follows: Prayer for Missions, Jabez Hall; Obituaries, John Shackleford, Kentucky; China, India and Japan Missions, J.H. Garrison, Missouri; Persian Missions, General F.M. Drake, Iowa; English and Scandinavian Missions, J.T. Toof; Turkish Missions, Z.T. Sweeney; Missionary Intelligence, R.T. Mathews, Kentucky.
The Society then heard an exhaustive report from the Board of Managers, which was presented by the Corresponding Secretary. It gave a sketch of the condition of each of the missions of the Society, which are scattered all over the world. The net increase in membership through the missions is 502. The report was referred to the several appropriate committees.
M.W. Green, of Australia, was then introduced, and spoke of the work on that continent. He said this mission field was larger than the United States, with a cosmopolitan, English-speaking population of 4,000,000 people. There are 8,000 communicants in the church among these, an increase from 200 in 1862. Twelve American missionaries have ministered to these people, but America has never supported any of the missions nor the missionaries. He asked that aid be extended from this country. At the close of his remarks the Society adjourned for the morning.
In the afternoon, as the attendance had become so large that Central Church would not accommodate the audience, the session was held in the First Presbyterian Church. The opening exercises were conducted by Prof. John Shackleford, of Lexington, Ky. The report of the Treasurer, W.S. Dickinson, of Cincinnati, was then heard. The balance on hand, October 15, 1886, was $731.42; the receipts for the year ending October 15, 1887, were $47,757.85; the disbursements for the same period were $47,597.75; the balance on hand October 15, 1887, was $891.52.
Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Isaac Errett, of Cincinnati; Vice Presidents, S.M. Jefferson, T.M. Worcester and B.C. Deweese; Recording Secretary, C.W. Talbot; Corresponding Secretary, A. McLean; Treasurer, W.S. Dickinson; Auditor, J.F. Wright.
George T. Smith, of Japan, was introduced and spoke of the work in that country. He has been in charge of the missions there for four years, and is now home for a few months’ vacation. He described the physical features of the country and the manners and customs of the people. The latter was illustrated by means of a boy dressed in Japanese costume and by specimens of the art and workmanship of the country. Japan was opened to civilization by the Americans, who made the first commercial treaty with the government in 1854, and secured the privilege of locating in five cities in 1859. Americans are more highly esteemed than any other foreigners. There was opposition to opening the country to foreigners because the soil was considered sacred, and a rebellion arose in 1867-8, but as it was found that foreigners could not be driven out, the country went to the other extreme. For twenty years they have been adopting Western civilization. They have changed their army, navy, police, courts and medical practice. They have adopted the American system of newspapers, schools and banks. Missionaries have been working ever since the country was opened. In the first seven years the only result of all their labors was one convert. At the end of thirteen years the Presbyterians had one church and ten converts. Now the Protestant churches have 150 churches and 18,000 converts. Of these churches 37 are self-supporting. There are 100 missionaries in the country, and 250,000 Buddhist priests, and yet the missionaries, the intelligent Japanese, and the priests, all believe that Christianity will win the country. It is probable that by 1900 the missionaries will be withdrawn from Japan, and the native church will be left to carry on the work. The mission of the Christian church has been very successful. It has two churches and has made over 60 converts in four years’ work. Mr. Smith will return to Japan in March next, taking other missionaries with him.
Reports of the various Committees were next heard. They were adopted without discussion until the report of the Committee on Turkish missions was reached. Prof. Shackleford then read a letter from a Presbyterian missionary printed in the New York Independent, accusing the Christian missionaries there of proselyting. In reply, several members who were familiar with the work explained that the charge was not founded in reason, and that there had been no interference with other denominations except of that accidental character which could not be avoided. The report of the Committee was then adopted.
In the evening the First Church was again crowded. After an extended, but very fine song service, Bayard Craig, of Denver, was introduced. He spoke from the text, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John iii. 16).
“Sin,” Craig said, “is the arch enemy of our race. The hope of the world is in the increasing power of Christ’s kingdom. We are here in that cause to-night. We are not here to recount battles fought and won. We have come in from the front to consult together and prepare for renewed strife against the host of sin. The banner of the cross has been planted in all the great capitals of the world, but Christianity is not strongest in the dying monarchies of Europe. It flourishes most with the advancing populations of England and America. Christianity has more believers to-day than any other religion.
“The Bible has been translated until nine-tenths of the people of the world may read the Word of God in their own tongue. We are called on to push forward the advance in a day of mighty opportunities. We need for our Great Commander to impart to us anew his love of humanity. We are on the mount with Christ to-night. We are elevated above the petty cares and trials of life to commune with God. Man rises to his highest plane when he feels only that God loves man. That is the greatest truth of all. In its exaltation the lesser truths fall out of sight. Class and race distinctions disappear, and we know only man. God so loved man.
“It is the nature of love to give. God gave his Son. He gave him to love us and teach us. If desire for worldly domain had actuated him he could not have been our Saviour. Scorned, scourged, and spit upon, his love was not turned aside. Death did not destroy it. He rose from the tomb, gathered his followers about him, and sent them out to tell how God loved the world. The church is but the broadening stream of God’s love. The early church was preeminently a missionary church. Its members went to every land and left their impress on all peoples. I think the ideas of individual liberty and equality of Magna Charta and the Declaration of Independence are to be traced to the words of Jesus Christ.
“There is no economy in penuriousness in God’s work. Freely ye have received, freely give. Give and it shall be given unto you. Sow bountifully and ye shall reap also bountifully; sow sparingly and ye shall reap also sparingly. If you build a manufactory in which a pressure of 160 pounds of steam is needed, it would be no economy to put in a boiler that could furnish only 140 pounds. If a church needs $3,000 to run it nicely you take away half its usefulness by raising only $2,500. It is a business proposition. American merchants have learned that they must sow bountifully if they would reap bountifully, and they act on it in business. It ought to be more closely followed in the churches.
“We ought to plead for subscriptions of twenty-five cents for missionary work. Our missionaries ought not to be pinched for money. We can not compensate them for loss of friends, or possibly of health, but we can at least see that they are comfortable and that they have facilities for their work. We need more love for man in this work. Sectarian pride may have a temporary effect, but it will not be lasting. What you do, do quickly. The world is at peace now. Wars may stop the work within ten years. No one knows what the future has in store. You can not go yourselves, but you can make your money work in the cause. You can help others to win souls to Christ. You can transmit your gold into Christian love and joy.”
Dr. Errett and General Drake, of Iowa, then spoke, urging liberal donations, and subscriptions and pledges amounting to about $10,000 were given. The meeting then adjourned.
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