FUEL FOR* AISSPNARY FIRESi BY BELLE /n.BRT^lN WHERE NO WODD IS, THERE THE FIREC15:^9 GOFTHOUT.PROV-26,20 N^^ ^ OF PR/Scf] V ^ MAR 18 1931 BV 2095 .B73 1894 Brain, Belle Marvel, 1859- 1933. Fuel for missionary f ires FUEL FOR MISSI FIRES SOME PROGRAMMES FOR USB IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETIES, SUNDAY-SCHOOLS, MONTHLY MISSIONARY CONCERTS, AND MISSION BANDS. BY J BELLE M. BRAIN. Witk knowledge to supply the fuel, the Word and Spirit to add the spark, and prayer to fan the flame, missionary fires tvill be kindled, and souls will be set ablaze with holy zeal. UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. BOSTON AND CHICAGO. Copyrighted, 1894, by United Society of Christian Endeavor, Bostoh All Rights Reserved electrotyped by c. j. peters & SON. presswork by F. H. GILSON CO. BOSTON, MASS. TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE MISSIONARY CONVERSAZIONE First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ohio Now Scattered through the Old World, the New World, AND THE Blessed Heavenly World above, whose Wise Counsel, Efficient Help, Loving Sympathy, and Earnest Prayers made it Possible to Work OUT THE Plans in the Following Pages, this Little Volume is Lovingly Dedicated. BELLE M. BRAIN. Springfield, Ohio, Sept. i, 1894. WJun time with unrelentless hand. Dissolves the union of some little baftd, Fond fnem^ry loves to hmier o^er the place, A nd all our pleasures and our pains retrace.''^ A PART of the matter in the following pages has appeared from time to time in the columns of the Sunday School Times in the "Ways of Working" Department. Through the kindness and courtesy of the publisher it is now republished. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGES The Programme. — Its Character 9-10 Prayer 11-12 Scripture'Lessons ^3-^7 Presenting Missionary Information 18 Missionary Budgets ^9-33 Sketches of Missionary Heroes 34-38 An Evening with Carey 39*4° Tourist Letters 40-41 Watchmen and Heralds 41 Contests and Debates 41-42 Objection Box 43-44 Sharp-Shooting 45-4^ Quotations 49-52 Facts for Thinking Christians 53-56 Scripture Problems 57-59 Picture Meeting 59 Curio Meeting 60 Missionaries I have seen 60 Missionary C amp-Fire 60 Worth repeating 61 Missionary Poems 61 Surprise Meeting 62 7 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGES Do You believe in Missions ? 63 Two-Minute Talks 63 A Story Three Yards Long 63 Sermon with Hidden Text 64 Conversations 64-65 Dissected Story 66-69 A Palaver 69 A Palaver about Robert Moffat 70-80 A Pow-Wow 80-81 A Journey through Siam and Laos 82-93 Social Missionary Evenings 93 An Evening in Japan 93-95 Japanese Etiquette 95-96 An African Palaver 96-98 An Evening in China 98 Chinese Etiquette 98-100 Titles for Papers 101-104 Hints to Leaders 105-108 List of Books, Magazines, etc 109-115 Fuel for Missionary Fires. THE PROGRAMME. — ITS CHARACTER. The supreme object of every missionary meeting should be to advance the cause of missions. This should be the definite aim in selecting every item of a missionary programme. Comic recitations, secular solos, and dramatic readings are often given a place, on the pretext of attracting those not interested in missions. No mat- ter how excellent or elevating they may be in them- selves, they have no right to a place on a missionary programme. Such a mixture is likely to result in defeat, and to be ridiculed by the very ones it was desired to reach. If the leader himself thinks there is so little interest in missions that he must resort to other things to keep his meeting from being stupid, others are likely to agree with him. There is won- derful drawing power in Christ ; there is wonderful fascination in Christian work ; and in winning others we may safely depend upon prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of Him who said, " Lo, I am with you alway." Let nothing foreign to the subject of missions creep into the programme. It need not therefore 9 lO FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. be dull ; no study can be made more fascinating if rightly presented. Prayer, Scripture-reading, spirited singing of grand old missionary hymns and inspiring new ones, mis- sionary readings and recitations, missionary infor- mation presented in an endless variety of ways — this may form a safe skeleton outline for all missionary programmes. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. II PRAYER. * ' Praying A Iways. ' ' Begin every meeting with prayer — a few moments' silent prayer, followed by a short, earnest, direct prayer for a special blessing on this special meeting, and above all else for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Not only at the beginning, but at intervals during the meeting, let prayers be offered up to God. Prayers for the missionaries on the field by name ; for the converts ; for the heathen ; for more laborers ; for money ; for more interest at home ; for our- selves ; for our societies. But let us pray because we want these blessings, because we need God's presence and the Spirit's power. Too often prayer is offered just because it is the proper thing to pray at a missionary meeting. Sentence Prayers. — Call for sentence prayers, urging all who will to offer a single sentence of prayer for some definite, special blessing. " Lord, save me" {Alafi. 14: 30), Peter's prayer for himself; and " Lord, help me" {Mail. 15 : 25), the Canaanite woman's prayer for her daughter, are examples of Scripture sentence prayers that were speedily and wonderfully answered. Always designate the way of closing. Let the leader say, — " Will Mrs. A. please make the closing prayer ?" or, — 12 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. " Will Mr. B. close by leading us in singino- one verse of ' Nearer, My God, to Thee,' while our heads are still bowed ? " or, — " In closing, we will all join in our Lord's Prayer ; " or, — ■' Will Miss C. close by singing for us, as a solo, one verse of some hymn that will draw us nearer to our Master ? " A Chain of Prayer. — Ask several members to lead in short prayers, one following another in the order that the names are called. Sometimes assign a definite subject for prayer to each, sometimes allow each to pray as the Spirit prompts. Bible Prayers. — Study Bible prayers. Some one suggests asking the members to come prepared to engage in a season of sentence prayers all taken from Scripture. Examples. — "Thy kingdom come;" "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to thee;" "Create in me a clean heart;" "O Lord, open thou my lips ; " "Search me and know my heart." The Lord's Prayer. — Sometimes pray the Lord's Prayer. It is often repeated, but seldom PRAYED. Ask the society to stand, with bowed heads, and when the room is very still, all unite in praying, very softly and slowly, the dear old prayer. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 13 SCRIPTURE LESSONS. " The nvord of the Spirit, which is the word of GodV Always make use of the Bible. But use it as the word of God — the all-powerful "sword of the Spirit." Don't read it because it is customary to read a passage of Scripture at a missionary meeting. Read it expecting to accomplish something by it. Believe God when he says of his word, " It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." {Fsa. 55:11.) "The seed is the word of God." Sow it expecting a harvest as surely as the farmer expects to reap when he sows his field with grain. There are many methods of using Scripture, many ways of presenting Bible truth. Try sometimes one, sometimes another. I. Single Texts. — Sometimes a single text, fol- lowed by a few pointed remarks, will be an arrow sinking deep into some heart, and will have greater influence than a whole chapter aimlessly read. Example. — Stir up the gift of God that is in thee — the gift that is in thee. Not your neighbor's gift, not some great gift, not the gift you wish you had, but the gift that you have. Everybody has some gift — what is yours? "Where hast thou gleaned to-day?" Only five little words, but what a searching question. " Why stand ye here all the day idle?" " Silver and gold have I none, but such 14 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. as I have give I thee.^' " Happy is he that con- demneth not himself in that thing which he al- loweth." These are examples of texts that can be so used, and the Bible is full of others equally pow- erful. 2. Scripture Lesson with Golden Text. — Choose a short, powerful passage of Scripture, se- lecting from it a Golden Text, adding a few pointed comments. Examplds. — Feeding of the Five Thousand. {Matt. 14:15-21.) Golden Text, "Give ye them to eat." (v. 16.) The story of the Lepers at the Siege of Samaria. (2 Kings 7:3-16.) Golden Text, "We do not well : this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." {v. ^) 3. Bible Questions and Answers. — Choose two readers, and have them stand on opposite sides of the room, or one at. the front and one at the back. Let one ask questions, and the other answer. Ques. ** Will a man rob God? '' Atts. " Yet ye have robbed me." Ques. " Wherein have we robbed thee? " Ans. " In tithes and offerings." {Mai. 3: 8.) Ques. •' What must I do to be saved? " Ans. " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." {Acts 16: 30, 31.) Ques. " What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to me? " FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 15 Ans, " I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people." (Ps. 116: 12-14.) 4. Responsive Readings. — a. Let the leader read the first verse, and the audience the second, and so on to the end of the reading. d. Let the leader read the first half, and the audi- ence respond with the last half. Examples. — The Beatitudes. {Afati. 5:1-12.) The leader reads v. i and 2 as a preface. Leader. " Blessed are the poor in spirit;" Response, " For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Leader. " Blessed are they that mourn;" Response. " For they shall be comforted." II, and the audience all oi v. 12. The 23d Psalm : — Leader. *'The Lord is my shepherd;" Response. " I shall not want." Leader. '* He maketh me to lie down in green pas- tures;" Response. *' He leadeth me beside the still waters." * * The 19th Psalm and others can be so used. * * c. Where the audience is seated in sections, let each section and the leader read in turn. l6 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. Example. — Ps. 103, where there are three sec- tions, — Leader, 7k i ; First Section, v. 2 ; Second Section, V. 3 ; Third Section, v. 4. Leader, 7/. 5 ; First Sec- tion, V. 6 ; and so on, all uniting in the last three verses. 5. Bible Testings. — a. Either with or without previous notice, call on the audience for texts proving certain statements. Example. — Give texts proving three things about sin. 1. That all have sinned. 2. That the results of sin are fatal. 3. That there is a remedy for sin. Many texts will probably be given on so easy a subject ; and the result will be a strong Bible-reading on sin, to which every one has listened with more interest and attention than if the leader had pre- pared it. b. Announce a subject, and ask the audience to give all the Bible says about it. Example. — Daily Duties mentioned in God's Word. There is a long list, and hunting for them is a profitable exercise. The leader should use a black- board to write them down as they are given. c. Prepare a Bible-reading on any desired subject, using the most familiar texts. Write the references on slips, and distribute them. Call for them by number, and after each one is read, call on the audi- ence to name the book of the Bible in which the FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 1 7 text is found — of course not allowing the one hold- ing the slip to answer. Example. — Giving. " Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse." {Malachi.) " Freely ye have received, freely give." {Matthew.) " God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians.) Don't have too many references ; ten is a good number. 6. Sometimes use as Bible-Readings the mark- ings given us from the Bibles of Moody and other Christian workers. Exafnples. — " Seven Blessings " of Revelation. Eight " Overcomes " of Revelation. Six Things " Worth Knowing " in i John 3. Five " Precious Things " of Peter. Seven "Walks " of Ephesians. 7. God's Calls and Men's Answers. — This is a good subject for a Bible-reading or a Bible-talk. Tell of Isaiah, who volunteers; Jeremiah, who is timid till strengthened by God's promise. Moses, who raises many objections, but finally does his work ; Jonah, who runs away from duty, but is made willing through trial ; Paul, who asks what he shall do, etc. * * " Some can go." " Go ye." {Mark 16: 15.) *' Most can give." " Give ye." {Matt. 14: 16.) ♦' All can pray." " Pray ye." {Matt. 9 : 38.) l8 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. PRESENTING MISSIONARY INFORMATION. In preparing the strictly missionary part of the programme, there is such a store to select from, that one is bewildered by an embarrassment of riches. But too often only the very driest items, told in the most prosy manner possible, are selected. Of course they are received in a most unenthusiastic manner, and even the stanchest friends of missions are obliged to vote the meeting stupid. The great storehouses of missionary literature are crowded with thrilling facts ; and so much that is of great and stirring interest is continually happening in connection with mission-work, that there is no excuse for a dull programme. The plans given here for presenting missionary news have all been tested by a society of young ladies and gentlemen called the " Missionary Con- versazione."' It held monthly week-day evening meetings, and succeeded in rousing not only enthusiastic, but last- ing interest in missions. Its programmes have embraced many plans, run- ning through the meetings of an entire year, such as " Budgets of Mission News," " Watch Towers," *' Tourist Letters," " Sketches of Heroes," etc. Also many plans that were found helpful tor use at a single meeting. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 19 MISSIONARY BUDGETS. Publish a Budget of Missionnry A'ews once a month during an entire year, its subject being the topic for the month as selected by the various mis- sion-boards. Or issue a single Budget on" some spe- cial subject, and let it form the central feature of one programme. Prepare the Budget in either one of two ways : — 1. Appoint for each Budget two editors, whose duty shall be to prepare and read one number. Let the editors take two turns each in reading, to avoid monotony. 2. Appoint one person as editor, and let him call upon different members for contributions. In read- ing, let each contributor read his own production, the editor giving the title and introducing the author. Each Budget should have one or more short edito- rials, a poem, a number of good articles, a missionary letter, news from the field, a column of short items, advertisements, and any novel and unique features which the editors are bright enough to introduce. In the table of contents that follow, " Chopsticks," " Fans," " Arrows," " Scissorings," etc., are head- ings of columns of short articles. Make the Budget as attractive as possible in every way. Write it (if possible typewrite it) on any convenient size of paper, and make covers of heavy car Iboard tied with ribbon, and decorated in either pen and ink or water-colors by any member of the society willing to consecrate a little artistic talent. •O ooo + 1,000 = 5 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 59 Add the number of verses in the shortest Psalm. (^Ps, II7-) 5 + 2=7 Multiply by the number of Job's daughters before his trial. (/(3(^ 1 : 2; 42: 13.) 7X3 = 21 Ans7uer, 21. Only twenty-one out of every 100,000 professing Christians are foreign missionaries, leaving 99,979 at home to preach the gospel. * * * PICTURE MEETING. Let each number on the programme have for its text or subject a picture of something connected with the mission-woriv in the field for that month. Make appeals through the " eye gate " as well as the " ear gate." It is said that Dr. Alexander Dufi's first pur- pose to give his life to mission-work came as a result of his father's taking the lad on his knee and showing him pictures of idols on Sunday afternoon. Example. — Picture Meeting on India. Picture of William Carey. Talk : India as Carey found it compared with India of To-day. Picture of a Hindoo Idol. Talk : India's Gods and Their Worship. Picture of a Leper Camp. Talk : Among the Lepers of India. Picture of Hindoo W^omen. Talk : Zenanas and Zenana Workers. An appropriate reading would be " A Picture that made a Missionary,"'' p. 379 in " Mission Stories of Many Lands." 6o FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. CURIO MEETING. Let each number on the programme have for its text or subject some curiosity from the foreign field. Example. — Curio Meeting on China. A Chinese woman's tiny shoe. Talk : Foot- binding. A pair of chopsticks. Talk : Chinese Manners and Customs. Chinese book. Talk: Chinese Language and Literature. A most interesting article to use at a " Curio Meeting" would be "Rejected Idols," p. 243 in " Mission Stories of Many Lands." It is an account, with pictures, of the gathering of a collection of re- jected idols in Japan, to be sent to Yale College. ♦ * * MISSIONARIES I HAVE SEEN. The great meetings and conventions of the present day have given many opportunities to both hear and see missionaries from the field. Ask everybody to come prepared to tell about some missionary they have seen, and if possible give some word from that missionary that was inspiring and helpful. * * * MISSIONARY CAMP-FIRE. Ask a number of persons to read or tell a bright, short, interesting missionary story. Limit the time for each story, tapping the bell when time is up. Stories are sometimes dangerously long. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 6l REFERENCES. — " Runaway Bob," a Story of Robert Morrison, the Pioneer Missionary to China. See Church at Home and Abroad, p. i6y, February, 1892. "Cyrus Hamlin — How He came out of a Missionary Box." Church at Home and Abroad, p. 462, November, 1891. Address 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. "The Story of the Chrj'santhemums — A Story of Neesima." Youth^s Coinpanion, Jan. i, 189 1, Boston. " Stories of another Samuel whose Mother was Hannah." (Bishop Crowther.) Herald a7id Presbyter, Aug. 28, 18S9, Cincinnati, O. See also Mission Stories 0/ Many Lands and Missionary Biogra^ phies. ♦ * * WORTH REPEATING- AsK a number of persons to bring to the meeting something about missions that they have heard or read, and that they consider of sufficient interest to be worth repeating to the society. MISSIONARY POEMS. In almost every society there is some one who can write poetry. Utilize this gift for the benefit of the missionary programme. Ask the poet to write a poem describing some great and thrilling event in missionary history. Subjects for poems will be found in studying the History of John G. Paton's work ; ^ of the " Lone Star Mission among the Tele- gus of India; "^ William Duncan's work at Metlak- 1 Story of John G. Paton ; Thirty Years Among- South Sea Can- nibals. Price $1.50. Pub. Dept. U. S. C. E., Tremont Temple, Boston. "^ Mission to the Telegus. Price 5 cents. A Pentecostal Day in Ongole. Price 2 cents. Frojn Darkness to Light. Price, J1.25. Am. Baptist Missionary Union, Tremont Temple, Boston, 62 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. ahtla ; ^ Egerton R. Young's work among the Indians of British Columbia ; ^ Fred S. Arnot's pioneer work in Central Africa.^ * * * SURPRISE MEETING. Hand an envelope with sealed directions to six of the brightest and most talented members of the society. Copy of Sealed Instructions. SURPRISE MEETINGS. Please do one of the following things at our next meeting, keeping secret what you decide to do. Whatever you do must be strictly mission- ary, and appropriate for our meeting. 1. Sing a solo, arrange for a duet, trio, or quar- tette, or arrange responsive music for the society. 2. Prepare and conduct a Bible-reading. 3. Give a recitation or reading. 4. Write a poem. 5. Make a short address. 6. Write a paper. 7. Tell a story. 1 Metlakahtla, a Marvel among Missiofts, I. and 11. Missionary Review, November and December, 1893. Funk and Wagnalls, New York City. 2 By Canoe and Dog Train. Price $1-25. Stories from Indian Wigwams and Northern Camp-Fires. Price $1.25. Pub. Dept. U. S. C. E., Tremont Temple, Boston. 2 Garenganze ; or. Seven Years' Pioneer Mission Work in Cen- tral Africa. Price $1.25. Pub. Dept. U. S. C. E., Tremont Temple, Boston. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 63 DO YOU BELIEVE IN MISSIONS? Pass slips of paper, and ask everybody to answer the question by either "yes '^ or " no," and then to write out the reason for either answer. Collect the papers, without the names, and read the answers. It brings everybody face to face with a most vital question. two-minute talks. Invite a dozen good speakers to come and give a two-minute talk on missions. Ask some bright, wide-awake, witty talker to introduce each speaker, and tap the bell or strike the gavel at the end of two minutes. * * * A STORY THREE YARDS LONG. For a Japanese meeting have a paper with this title. Write it on paper about five or six inches wide, and three yards long. (Of course it may be any number of feet or yards long, according to the length desired.) When it is all written, begin at the end and roll it up. In reading, do not unroll it any faster than you read. Japanese letter-paper often comes in rolls, and letters are written by the foot or yard. 64 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. SER1V40N WITH HIDDEN TEXT. Some years ago a celebrated Baptist divine preached a sermon at Chautauqua, announcing tl.at he would not give his text till the close of the dis- course, because he desired his hearers to discover it for themselves. It is said that the interest and at- tention were unusual even for Chautauqua. The plan is very good for a missionary sermon or paper. Such subjects as " Giving for Missions," ♦' Praying for Missions," " Interesting Others," " Our Duty to Give the Heathen the Gospel," can be used. Give the writer his subject, and let him choose his own text. In announcing it, call it a sermon, or sermonette, and don't give either the subject or the text. CONVERSATIONS.' In many 0/ our Traveller's Clubs and Chautauqua Circles, etc., "Conversations' on a given subjed. are very popular, and are valuable in bringing out a number of speakers and much information. The idea lends itself nicely to missionary meetings. 1 References. — Murdered Millions. Paper, 15 cents ; cloth, 30 cents. Dr. Geo. D. Dowkoutt, 2S8 Lexington Ave., New York City. Medical Missions — Facts and Testimonies to their Value and Snccess. Price 5 cents. Address W. B. Jacobs, 132 La Salle Street, Cliicago, 111. Files 0/ the Medical Missionary Record. $1 per year. Address 288 Lexington Ave., New York City. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 65 Appoint some one to lead the conversation, select six topics, and assign them to different persons to prepare a three-minute talk. Ask all the members to come prepared to take part in a short discussion after each topic. ExiDiiple. — Conversation on Medical Missions. 1. Jesus our example in Medical ^Missionary Work. 2. Native Doctoring. 3. Medicine the Golden Key. 4. Some Missionary Hospitals. 5. Pen Pictures of Noted Medical Missions. 6. Some Incidents of Medical Missions. HOW THE WORK IS DONE. Every one should know all about the missionary machinery of his own church and denomination. At some meeting have short papers on : — 1. Our Missionary Board. Where it is, and What it does. 2. Our Woman's Board (or Boards). 3. Our Relation to the Boards. 4. How the Money is sent. 5. Our Special Objects for This Year. For information on this subject consult your pastor. Presbyterian Societies will find admirable short papers In Chil- dren's Work for Ckildreti, January, March, May, July, and October, 1891. Price s cents each. Pres. Board of Pub.,Witherspoon Build- ing, Philadelphia. '' Ezra, Me, and tlie lioards. " Price 2 cents. Miss S. B. Stebbins, Room 48, Le Moyne Block, Chicago, 111. 66 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. DISSECTED STORY. A Plan for Little Folks. Select a short, bright missionary story, and cut it into sections, some long, others quite short. Paste each section on a card, and number it. Pass them at or before the meeting to children who read well, and call for them by number. It will rouse interest and hold attention better than when the whole story is read by one person. * * * JACK AND THE JAPS. 1. This Jack was a jolly good boy. He was jolly because he liked fun; he was good because he liked to make others happy. Once a month J?.ck worked like a beaver in his father's woodshed, splitting wood, to earn five cents to take to the " Cheerful Workers." He felt quite proud of his five cents. The Cheerful Workers were raising money to educate a boy in Japan. 2. On Saturday Jack started off on his new bicycle, at least it was as good as new, though it was a second-hand one that its former owner had out- grown. He had been saving his money a whole year, and it cost him just five dollars. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 67 3. I CANNOT tell you what they did at the meeting, but that night Jack had a fearful dream. He thought his bicycle had got started, and took him straight across America to California. When he came to the Pacific Ocean a long, narrow bridge stretched across it, and over it whizzed his bicycle; and the first thing Jack knew he was making a tri- umphant entry into Japan. 4. The Japs seemed glad to see him. They crowded around him, and chatted and laughed and danced with delight at him and his bicycle. Fi- nally one boy asked, " Do you belong to the Cheer- ful Workers ? " — " Yes, I do," said Jack proudly. " How much did you give for us Japs?" said an- other. "Five cents," meekly answered Jack, wondering what was coming next. "Oh, ho!" said all the boys. "What did you pay for your bicycle? " asked another boy. " Five dollars," said Jack. "Good, ain't it? Oh, ho ! " answered all the boys again. " Mighty mean boy," said the first Jap. " Gives five cents for us and five dollars for himself." 68 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 5. All of a sudden the air grew full of sticks and mud. Poor Jack ! What should he do? Every- where the Japanese boys were coming after him like an army of giant grasshoppers, their shoes clattering, their hair flying, and every boy yelling, " Oh, ho ! oh, ho ! Five cents for the Japs and five dollars for Jack. Mighty mean boy! " 6. But somehow the bicycle got off, and Jack started for the shore; but alas! no bridge was to be seen, and the first thing Jack knew he went down, plunged head first, bicycle and all, into the Pacific Ocean. 7. He was just thinking how cold the water was, and whether his mother would cry when she knew her Jack was drowned, when his eyes flew open, and lo ! he and the water-pitcher and the towel- rack were a pile of ruins on the floor. His mother was standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes, and holding a candle in her hand. " Why, Jack," said she, " what are you doing? " — " Oh, mother, the Japs! " gasped Jack. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 69 8. Next morning Jack had to account for his con- duct. His father said, " My son, there's a lesson in your dream. The Bible says ' Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' " " Jack and the Japs." Price i cent. A tract published bj' the Woman's F. M. S. of the M. E. Church, 36 Bromfield Street, Boston. Another story that would lend itself to this plan most admirably is " How a Baby Organ Became a Missionary," p. 350, Church at Home and Abroad, October, 1894, Pliiladelphia. A PALAVER. A PALAVER is the African name for a " big talk.'* As June is the month to which most mission-boards assign the study of Africa, it would be most appro- priate at meetings held during that month. A " Palaver about Robert Moffat " is given here^ and any wide-awake leader can arrange such an exer- cise on any desired subject. Palavers would be excellent about " Samuel Adjai Crowther, the Slave Boy who became a Bishop ; "■ about "David Livingstone;" about "African He- roes ; " about the " Slave Trade ; " about " Rum, the Giant Foe,"" etc. 70 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. A PALAVER ABOUT ROBERT MOFFAT. For directions, see the exercise called " Sharp- Shooting" on page 45. Conduct the palaver in a similar manner. * * I. Robert Moffat. Born Dec. 21, 1795; died Aug. 10, 1883. Such is the brief notice of the beginning and end- ing of a life such as might have been written after any name. But what of the eighty-eight years be- tween these dates .'' 2. When Robert Moffat was about sixteen years of age he left his home in Scotland, and went to England. Here he soon fell in with some earnest Christians, and was converted. As he" grew in the Christian life, he was fired with an intense zeal and longing for saving souls, and an intense desire to serve God in some marked manner took possession of him. How? when? where? became the momen- tous questions to him. They were soon answered for him. God was leading him all the while. One day, as he was crossing a bridge, his eye fell on a large placard posted on it, announcing a missionary convention. By the date of the meeting he discovered that it was too late for him to attend it ; but two things he re- membered and noted down: "London Missionary Society," and "Rev. William Roby, Manchester." FUFL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 7 1 Before this placard Robert Moffat was held by the Spirit of God, until he felt sure his way of serving God was to be as a missionary of the cross ; and from that hour he gave himself to that work, and nothing could turn him from it. 3. How to become a missionary was the next question. With much trembling and hesitation this enthu- siastic young man of only twenty years applied to the London Missionary Society, and of course his offer was refused. But at last, through the in- terest of Mr. Roby, whose name he had seen on the placard, he received an appointment. And so, in God's good time, his desire was granted. 4. It was no light trial for Robert Moffat's parents to give up their young son ; yet they declared that they dared not forbid his going, lest they should be planting themselves in the Lord's way. In God's kindness, both parents were allowed to welcome him back to England. * * 5. There was another parting very hard for young Moffat to bear. He had loved Miss Mary Smith, a lovely girl, who had joyfully consented to go with him, and share his work. Her parents had con- sented to the betrothal of their daughter to him, and he had expected to marry her before leaving 72 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. England. But at the last her parents absolutely refused to give her up. It was a keen, bitter dis- appointment to them, both, for Mary Smith's heart, too, was full of zeal and devotion to missions. But both felt that nothing must be allowed to stand in the way of God's work ; and so Moffat went forth alone — forth from father and mother, lorth from promised wife, from Scotland, from the mountains, the streams, the heather, the simple speech, the Sabbath-day, the dear old bell, the prayer, the psalm, the sermon — each of these precious memo- ries woven into his very life. But dearer than all else to Robert Moffat was the loving Saviour, who left all and gave his life to save him. 6. At last, on the 31st day of October, 1816, with the broken "God bless you and keep you" ringing in his ears and throbbing in his heart, Robert Moffat's vessel weighed anchor, and he was gone. Moffat was to go to South Africa, to Namaqualand, to a station called Africaneer's Kraal. The chief of this tribe, Africaneer, was a remarkable man, — a perfect terror, an outlaw, for whose head, on ac- count of cruel deeds, the government offered a hun- dred pounds sterling. The people of the hamlet would rather face wild beasts any Vlme than this mighty, bloodthirsty chief. The sailors on Moffat's vessel lov;k<;d w'th wonder on this youth of twenty-one, wV^o was so gladly starting out to brave such d'^^ ge^'s. They lis*:eaed FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 73 to his stories of Africaneer and his people with mute astonishment. They could not understand Avhat hidden power impelled their young friend to give his life to such work. But his answer to them was, " I am ready, not only to be bound, but to DIE, for the name of the Lord Jesus." 7. Arriving in Africa, Moffat's plan of going to Africaneer was met with ridicule and discourage- ment. He was told that " he might as well preach to monkeys ; " that they would use him for a mark to shoot at, and make a drinking-cup of his skull, and a drumhead of his skin. 8. Moffat pushed bravely on, and at last found Africaneer. Under two former missionaries the chief had been led to think of a better life; but the change was not permanent. At first he met Mr. Moffat coldly ; but very soon his heart was won, and he bade his women bring material and build him a house. In half an hour they had a house ready for him, and it was his home for six months. 9. Very, very lonely was the young missionary ; but God was with him, and his work began to grow. Africaneer began to come to the meetings, and show a growth in -Christian life that astonished Mr. Moffat. He also began to help the work forward in every way 74 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. possible ; and instead of harming the missionary, he exercised a most careful oversight over him, -and gave him all the comforts in his power. At last Mr. Moffat desired to visit Cape Town for supplies, and begged Africaneer to go with him. But for a long time the chief refused. He dared not venture there. But at last he went, Moffat promis- ing that no harm should come to him. All along the route Mr. Moffat took pleasure in holding up this chief as an object-lesson to the people, proving the wonderful power of God and the gospel of Christ. So sweet and mild and lovely was all 'of Africaneer's conduct, that, instead of being ar- rested and hanged, he was fully pardoned, and kindly entertained as Mr. Moffat's friend ; and men every- where flocked to see him, saying, " Can this man really be Africaneer?'" * * 10. Quite like a romance reads the next chapter of Robert Moffat's life. When he and Mary Smith parted in England, they hoped to be married some time in the future. But during these two years even that hope had been taken away ; for she wrote beg- o;ing him to forget her, as her parents were growing more firm in their purpose to refuse to allow her to join him. Perhaps to test his purpose God allowed this severe trial to come to Robert Moffat, and then, when he found how strictly true he was to his vows, gave him all he desired ; for just before he started for the colony, the glad news reached him that Mary .Smith had started for Africa. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 75 She wrote to him that " God had changed the hearts of her parents, and that they had calmly re- signed her into the hands of the Lord, declaring they no longer dared to hold her." And so Robert Moffiit liad the intense pleasure of welcoming her to Cape Town. They were married in St. George's Church in 1820; and henceforth, in thinking of Robert Moffat, we must think also of the brave, earnest woman at his side, enduring what he endured, and quite as much of a missionary as he was. * * 11. It seemed many times as though everything was against their work. On Sunday, while the Mof- fats were at church, the people would go and steal the food cooking for their dinner. * * 12. On Sunday, tours were often taken into the sur- rounding country to hold services ; but many things hindered in this. On several diiferent occasions he left the chief of the kraal in a rage, and deeply insulted, because he refused to take his choicest daughter as an extra wife. Of course going back to such a kraal to preach was impossible. 13. The people were possessed that the mission- aries were great criminals hiding from justice. What else could make them leave the white man's country, with all its blessings? When the missionaries ex- plained that it was to save their souls, they laughed them to scorn. 76 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 14. One terrible hindrance was tlie influence and power of the rain-makers. These men were the doctors and prophets of this people, and they were reverenced as though they were gods. Of course they hated the missionaries. If their predictions failed, and the glaring sun poured down its fiery rays on the thirsty earth instead of rain, the blame was laid on the missionary. Something he had said or done, something he had in his house, or perhaps his white face, had kept the rain away. Of course this enraged the people. 15. During this time Mary [Nlot^tafs faith shone •out grandly. " Mary," said her husband one day, '"Mary, this is hard work."' '•It is hard, my love,*' she said; ''but take courage." "But think, my dear, how long we have been preaching to this people, and no fruits yet appear." Mrs. Moffat replied, " The gospel has not yet been preached to them in their own tongue wherein they were born. They have only heard it from the interpreters, who have no real love for the truth." " From that hour," says Mr. Moflfat, " I gave my- self with untiring dilisrence to the language." 16. By faith, Mary Moffat, when there was no glimmer of dawn, replied to a friend in England, who had written to ask what she could send to them FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 77 that would be of use to them in their work, " Send us a communion service ; we shall need it some day." They had been at work seven years already. For ten years they had no souls for their hire, no need for the communion service ; but at last, the vety day before they held their first communion with the first- fruits of the Bechwana people, a tardy box arrived from England, and behold ! it was the communion service asked for three years before. * * 17. Blessings at last ! Ten long years of work ! It had been a long night ; but at last came, almost without warning, a marvellous outpouring of God's Spirit, and the fruit of their loving, patient toil ap- peared at once. It was a tender, quiet change. Men and women, with broken hearts and tearful eyes, flocked to the missionaries, confessing themselves sinners, and ac- knowledging Christ as their Saviour. Notwithstanding their faith and prayers, Robert and Mary Moffat were astonished at the abundant answers, "exceeding abundant, above all they had asked or thought." The little chapel became too small. Women came to Mary Moffat to learn to be good wives and mothers and housekeepers. On all 1 lands it was a new birth, new creatures, new prac- tices. Prayer-meetings and praise-meetings were held by the natives from house to house, and often lasted till morning dawn. Some of those who had been the sharpest thorns to the missionaries became the strongest helpers. 78 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. Practical results grew out of the change. A large new church and brick schoolhouse were built, and all paid for by the natives. Respectable homes were built, and women given their right places. Chairs, tables, beds, and candles, and even decorations, crept into the homes. The food and mode of cook- ing it were changed. The sick and dying were properly cared for, and the dead buried. In Christ Jesus we are all new creatures, whether in Africa or America. * * l8. One morning, as Mr. Moffat was leaving home, a Bechwana man came to him with a face full of perplexity and sadness. Mr. Moffat took his hand and asked what was the matter. " You remember my good dog that guarded the sheep? He was so bold and fierce in driving off the wild beasts that came to devour them. Now he is spoiled ; I may say I have lost him." " What has happened?" " He has torn my New Testament in pieces, and eaten most of its leaves." " You shall have another Testament immediately.'' " Thank you, sir. But what shall I do with the dog ? He was such a fighter ! But my New Testa- ment was so full of love and gentleness, and my dog has eaten so many of its leaves, I know the fight is taken out of him.'''' Very real was the man's distress till Mr. Moffat explained and recalled the old lessons to his mem- ory. At last he departed comforted. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 79 19. Nearly fifty-four years on African soil ! And now he is an old man of seventy-five years — too old to longer bear such burdens. At last the conviction forced itself upon him that his work was done among his people. He had hoped to die among them, but God ordered otherwise. His strength was gone ; and nothing but this last sacrifice — a separation — could benefit them. He could only help by rousing new interest at home. The parting with the people was agonizing. As his last sermon is preached to them, can we not almost hear their sobs and see their tears as they listened to their saintly and beloved pastor's last words ? At last Robert and Mary Moffat sailed for Eng- land, letting their bodies be carried forever from the land where their hearts would be ever. Warm welcomes were extended to them at home. All these years the Christian world had been looking on, and they !:ad come home to find themselves famous. In 1 87 1, soon after arriving home, Mary Moffat died. The blow was a severe one to her husband^ to whom his wife had grown dearer and closer as the years went by. His sore affliction, however, did not stop his work for missions. He attended meet- ings, addressing them often, and pleading for Africa. His death occurred Aug. 10, 1883, in his eighty- eighth year. * * 20. That all their children should become mission- aries, and give their life's work to Africa, was the 8o FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. ardent wish of both Mr. and Mrs. Moffat ; and they saw their wish partly fulfilled, in five of them being engaged in that work. Their eldest daughter, Mary, became the wife of David Livingstone, that illustrious man whom Mof- fat really gave to Africa and to the world ; for it was he who influenced him, and was the means of win- ning him to work for Africa. Do foreign missions pay? Would it have been better to leave the people of Africa alone in their degradation and blood-shedding? Will any one on the home-field be a sufferer for sharing in the great work of their salvation, and thus relieving the world of a little of the burden of sin under which it groans, and winning souls to praise and glorify the name of our Redeemer. * * * A POW-WOW. Pow-wowis the name of a " big talk " among the North American Indians. A good exercise, with this name, can be arranged by adapting the idea of a topic party to a missionary meeting. Select five topics. Have cards printed or written with a list of topics, and- a dotted line underneath each one. Give one to each person present, and request the gentlemen to select a partner for each topic. When each gentleman has selected a lady for each topic, tap the bell, and announce that the gen- tlemen may claim partners for the first topic, and dis- cuss it for just five minutes. And so on through the whole list. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 8l Care must be taken in the selection of topics. It is not wise to select very deep subjects, that require much knowledge to discuss. R PoW-WoW. 1. Cnliian i^igijts. 2. Intiian ilegenUs. 3. Es a "ticaii" Cntifan tfje onig gooti Enliian? 4- Mission bjorfe among ifje Untiians. 5. InUians JI !jabe seen. $2 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. A JOURNEY THROUGH SIAM AND LAOS. As Reported by Six Tourists. How much interest we would all have in any for- eign field had we actually been there to see for our- selves. Everything that brings us into clearer knowledge of missionaries and their work, brings us into closer sympathy with them, and makes us better able to " hold the ropes." The following account of a journey through Siam and Laos was prepared with this end in view. In giving it, assign the parts to six different per- sons ; one to be leader (a good speaker), who shall describe all the journeys, and five others, who shall each tell about one station. A good map adds much to the effectiveness. Though the journey is, of course, only a" pen-and- ink " trip, still every little detail of it is true. Each of the trips between stations is taken from the ac- count of an actual journey of some missionary, and is correct in mode of travel, while all the incidents are actual happenings. The exercise as here given is incomplete, because no account of the missionaries and their work in the schools, hospitals, and churches that are found at the different stations is given. They are purposely omit- ted, because even in a few months conditions at any station may change, and the "news'" be decidedly stale. Every one using this exercise is urged to sup- ply the omissions by studying the latest magazines. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 83 and the latest report of the Board of Foreign Mis- sions, which can be borrowed from the pastor, who always has a copy, a7id will be glad to have it so used. Leader. It has been my great privilege, in com- pany with a party of our young people, to take a trip through the land of the White Elephant. At the re- quest of our president, we will try to tell you some of the things we heard and saw. As Siam lies on the other side of the globe, and travelling there was slow work, our trip was a long one in point of time. As we desired to have as pleasant and prosperous a time as possible, and as our special aim was to make a visit to the mission stations there, we wrote to the secretaries of the Board of Foreign Missions for letters of introduction to the missionaries, and also any suggestions they might be able to give us. They were more than kind, and sent us the same instructions they sent to missionaries under appoint- ment to that field. They cautioned us to be careful about drinking water after leaving the United States, and to eat cautiously of strange food and fruits ; to buy pith hats at Hong-Kong, and wear them; to carry, in ad- dition, sun-umbrellas when on the water, and not to sit on deck, even under an awnings without pith hats ; to use no wines or liquors for any kind of sick- ness, as they are dangerous in a hot climate. We took clothing for both warm and cold weather, though more of light weight than heavy. As men wear white altogther in Siam, the gentlemen in our 84 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. party were advised to order white suits made in Hong- Kong. Each of them also took a full-dress suit of black, because they were informed that such a suit would be necessary if they should receive an invita- tion to call on the king. Better carry a dress suit all around the globe than miss a chance to pay a visit to royalty because one had nothing to wear. All preparations were at last made, and our little party left San Francisco on the City of Pekin. Our voyage was one of great interest. We reached Japan after being on the sea many days. Here we received our first impressions of heathenism ; for we had scarcely landed when five hundred Japanese surrounded us in their odd native boats, each trying to secure passengers, much after the manner of Niagara hackmen. The strange sounds of hundreds of voices in an unknown tongue cannot be described. From Yokohama, where we landed, we went di- rect to Hong-Kong, where we spent several days. Here we bought pith hats, and the gentlemen went to the Chinese tailors, and were measured for white duck suits. Their orders were filled with neatness and despatch. At last, all our business in Hong-Kong being finished, we set sail once more, and seven days later our little party at last found itself in Siam, landing at Bangkok, twenty-five miles up the river Menam, almost two months after we left San Francisco. Mr. A. will tell you what we saw there. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 85 BANGKOK. Mr. a. As soon as we landed in Bangkok we began to realize that all the strange stories of floating houses, many idols, lazy priests, and superstitious heathen were actually true. No one can imagine it without seeing it. (Add late news from Bangkokt) Leader. Leaving Bangkok, we turned our faces towards Petchaburee, travelling in a little house-boat, rowed by five men. The little cabin had drawers and cupboards, where our clothing and provisions were stored away. The seats were arranged along the sides of the boat, and at night the floor between the seats was raised to the same level, thus furnish- ing bedsteads, while the boat-cushions were mat- tresses. The men rowed most of the night, and the splashing of the oars was a good lullaby to hush us to sleep. It was twelve o'clock at night when we reached Petchaburee, and of course every one had retired. But the mission compound is right on the bank of the river, and we had no trouble in finding it. We called for some one to unlock the gate, and we were soon made welcome. Miss B. will tell you something about Petchaburee. * * * PETCHABUREE. Miss B. It falls to my lot to tell you about Petch- aburee. How much we enjoyed our visit, and such a cordial welcome as we received ! I must tell you, though, that we were not the only visitors. There were others who were not so welcome, at 86 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. least if we may judge by the treatment they re- ceived. A large scorpion came into the dining-room while we were at dinner one day, and a few days after- wards two of the same deadly creatures were found under the boat-cushions. Several times large cobras, from three to eight feet in length, came into the back yard, and one ugly fellow, about five feet in length, had the audacity to crawl onto the porch. None of us enjoyed such company. (Add news from Petcha- buree.) Leader. From Petchaburee we went to Rat- buree, the new station in Siam. We made use of the telegraph line between the two stations to an- nounce our coming. Ratburee is on the Meklong River, just about half-way between Petchaburee and Bangkok. We made the trip in an ordinary row- boat, going along the coast to the mouth of the Mek- long, and then up stream to the city. Our journey took just twenty-four hours. Miss C. will tell you about Ratburee. * * * RATBUREE. Miss C. I must tell you something funny. All through Siam we could distinguish the word "rat," and its plural " rats," used quite often by the natives, and also the missionaries. We wondered and won- dered how our American slang had taken so deep a hold upon the Siamese, when at last we discovered that RAT is the polite name by which to address a young lady! (Add news from Ratburee.) Leader. From Ratburee we went back to Bang- FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 87 kok to prepare for the long and trying journey up the Menam to the Laos country. On all hands we heard much to discourage us from going; the trip up the river, with its forty-two rapids, was not without danger, and would take over two months' time. Nevertheless, we were determined to go, and enjoy it, too, if possible. We had a long and tedious waiting for the boats, but at last we set our faces toward Laos. Our little fleet of six boats pushed off the landing at six o'clock in the morning. As these boats were our home for so long a time, I will describe them for you. Each boat was twenty feet long and eight feet wide. The centre part was covered with bamboo basket-work. The boatmen occupied the front end of the boat, where they row, pull, cook, eat, and sleep. Our little cabins were just high enough for us to stand up straight, and measured eight by ten feet. Under the cabin floors we stored away some of the delicious fruits of Siam, — oranges, bananas, limes, pomelloes, etc. ; and we could get them by pulling up the loose boards of the floor. We had no windows or doors ; one end of the cabin was entirely open, and for windows we could lift up half of three sides and rest them on sticks. As the journey was so long, and also full of inter- est, I kept a little diary, not trusting to my memory, I will give a few of the entries. (These entries are from the memoir of Mary Campbell.) Feb. 8. — Two days out from Bangkok. Our little fleet lifted anchor this morning about daylight, and then stopped before a sala (resting-place) for break- 88 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. fast. We spread our table under the shade of a tree, and had a real picnic meal. Feb. ID. — Our first Sabbath on the river. Some- how it seems as though even in a heathen land the Sabbath is different from other days. It is so quiet, so peaceful, so beautiful, and only one boat passed us all day. We had service about ten o'clock — such a precious service. Ma7-ch 12. — The river scenery is so beautiful! We seem to be in a little round valley, with moun- tains from fifteen hundred to two thousand feet rising all around us. To-day we passed the first of the forty-two rapids, and it was very exciting to watch the men seeking a channel between the rocks, and then bending every nerve to get the boats through. The water was running swiftly, and dashing over the stones. It was hard work ; but the men at last suc- ceeded, and sent up a glad shout when it was past. To-morrow we must pass through one much higher, when the men will have to draw the boats up with ropes. To-night when the boats stopped we walked to the nearest mountain. One of the customs here, during the dry season, is to set fire to the grass. In this way whole mountains are set on fire. Following this custom, we each set fire to the dry grass. How we longed to see the spiritual fire spread as rapidly ! Just now one of the mountains on the opposite side of the river is burning. It is a grand sight — the fire sweeping up the sides in great tongues, then lighting up the whole sky and other mountain peaks. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 89 lfa?'ch 26. — We are all rejoicing because we passed the last rapids yesterday. We shall be in. Chieng-Mai in two weeks. April 8. — Here we are at last! Last night we were about ten miles from the city, and all retired early, so as to be up at daybreak. This morning we watched eagerly at every bend of the river for the first glimpse of the city. About two o'clock this afternoon we first caught sight of the mission-houses on the right bank of the river, under great trees. We waved our handkerchiefs and a Siamese flag to friends on the bank ; some one sent up a kite (a salute of honor in Siam), and we landed at last after our long journey. Mr. D. will tell you about our visit here. CHIENG-MAI. Mr. D. What shall I tell you about Chieng-Mai? We saw so much that was strange and interesting, 1 hardly know what to tell about. Well, I believe the saw-mill was the most interesting to me. Do you remember some years ago tlie children of this country gave money to build a hospital at Chieng-Mai? and how Dr. Cheek took a saw-mill with him, because the hand-saws of the Laos were so slow? It took one man a whole day to saw a single log. I remember very well hearing how hard it was to take the heavy machinery up the river through the rapids. I did not understand it then, but after com- ing up the river, and seeing the ponderous saw-mill. 90 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIJIES. I cannot imagine how they ever managed it at all. But they did, and there was the dear old mill at work. It has company now, for a second mill was sent out, with the machinery for making door and window frames. (Add late news from Chieng-Mai.) Leader. From Chieng-Mai we went to Lakawn. We had our choice of two routes, — one overland, about sixty miles by elephant ; and the other by boat down the Menam to the mouth of the Maa Wang, and then up stream to Lakawn, about two hundred miles. We decided to go overland by ele- phant. You will be interested in the way the queer " how- dahs " are put on. First they put on a thick mat of bark, and another of raw hide, to keep the poor ele- phant's back from getting sore. (Even an elephant's hide has some feeling.) The crupper and the ropes passing under the body and around the neck are made of rattan. The driver sits on the great fellow's head, and guides him by pressing his feet against the monsters ears. Unfortunately Siamese elephants are not trained to kneel as readily as those in India, and we had a hard time scrambling up to our places. Some of us rode on a huge old elephant that walked with a very rough gait, tossing us about in the howdah, every bit as bad as the tossing of a ship at sea, and with the same result, — sea-sickness. We reached Lakawn safely, sending, our elephants and drivers back to Chieng-Mai, as we intended go^ng back to Bangkok by boat. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 9^ On the way to Lakawn, at each village a curious crowd gathered round us. At one village some old women fondled our hands, exclaiming over their whiteness, and a man sagely remarked that we must have washed with soap. Miss E. will tell you about Lakawn. ♦ * ♦ LAKAWN. Miss E. Such curious crowds of people as we found at Lakawn, gazing at us and our strange be- longings ! But I am sure we returned their looks with interest ; for curious as they thought us, we thought them even more so. On every house-pillar we saw either a scarlet or a white piece of cloth. What do you suppose it was for? We could not imagine, but at last learned that it was to keep the evil spirits from getting in ; and when we passed the prince's house, we saw a white cotton string stretched around the entire place, for the same purpose. Occasionally we met people with cotton cords tied loosely around their neck, ankles, and wrists. These people were sick, and were trying to prevent the evil spirits going through their bodies. Poor, supersti- tious people ! (Add late news from Lakawn.) Leader. We started down the river in boats, very much like those in which we came up. We were more than glad to learn that the journey down stream would take only two weeks. At last we came to the rapids again, and it was both interesting and exciting to watch the preparations. First a bulwark of thatch was built around the bow 92 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. of each boat to prevent the water rushing in. Then a second great steering oar was rigged, to give double control of the boat, and an extra steersman taken on, whose special business is to take boats through the rapids. Next we heard a deafening roar of water ; the boat made a plunge, the rowers strained every muscle, and the two steersmen danced around like madmen in their efforts to keep her in the channel, and the next minute we found ourselves in smooth, quiet water, and everybody gave a deep sigh of re- lief, and then drew a long breath to get ready for the next one. The river was high, and full of logs, and it was a very exciting trip. It rained a good deal of the time, and for two whole days we journeyed through ele- phant grass so rank and tall that we could see noth- ing on either side. We reached Bangkok in safety, then took steamer to Hong-Kong, from Hong-Kong to Yokohama, from Yokohama to San Francisco, and then home. Dear friends, we found Siam truly a beautiful land ; but it is full of idols, and the people are superstitious and degraded. And yet those who have heard the truth and accepted it have made noble Christians. Siam with her millions has only a little handful of workers, — only a little band of consecrated men and women, and yet tlie people are so open to gospel teachings ! Truly in Siam the harvest is great, but the laborers few. What are we going to do about it, you and I ? Our Lord's command is to us all alike. I beg of you FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 93 to wor'c, pray, and give for the work in Siam and Laos. Perhaps God wants you there. You will go if he does, will you not ? * * * SOCIAL MISSIONARY EVENINGS. The three "evenings" (China, Japan, and Africa) here planned and outlined are suitable for missionary teas and missionary socials rather than for regular missionary meetings. If the society raises its money by using jugs, they can be used as "jug-breaking"' festivals. Or if the money is raised by pledges, such an "evening^' would furnish an opportune time and place to secure pledges. It is hoped that no society will use them for making money by charging admission or selling refreshments. The Japan evening was planned by carefully study- ing books of travel and missionary letters ; the Chi- nese evening with the personal assistance of Mrs. Mateer of China ; and the African evening through a correspondence with Miss Isabella Nassau of the Gaboon and Corisco Mission, Western Africa. AN EVENING IN JAPAN. Decorate the room with Japanese curios of all kinds, fans, banners, lanterns, parasols, etc., also with a profusion of flowers, especially chrysanthe- 94 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. THE PRINTED INVITATION. Veil are cordially invited to spend An Evening in Japan With the Missionary Conversazione, Nov. 13, at 7.30 p. M. Programme at 8 o'clock. Scripture Reading and Prayer Solo, " I Bring Thee a Broken Hear A Story Three Yards Longi . Japanese Lullaby 2 Reading, "The Widow's Mitts "^ Japanese Melodies ^ .... Rev. - Mr. K- Mr. B- Miss W- Miss A- Mrs. K- Refreshments. — Tea, candy of all kinds, little cakes (odd kind, with a " foreign look "). This re- freshment is offered guests in Japan. Serve it on little tables about eight inches high (these can be quickly and easily made), and allow the guests to sit on the floor ; provide several high tables also. For- eigners are often served in European style in Japan. Serve the sweetmeats on a white paper. Serve the tea in tiny cups, putting the tea-leaves into the cups at the table, and pour boiling water over them from a 1 See page 63. 2 See Children's Work for Children, September, 1891. Price 4 cents. Pres. Board of Pub., Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pa. s A tract called " Two Mitts." Price 2 cents. Miss S. B. Steb- bins, Room 48, Le Moyne Block, Chicago, 111. * From Songs of the Orient. Price 20 cents. Silver, Burdett & Co., Boston, New York, and Chicago. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 95 small Japanese teapot. Milk and sugar are never used in Japan ; but sugar is sometimes offered to for- eigners. * * * JAPANESE ETIQUETTE. As we are in Japan this evening, we think it will be best for us to give you some hints about Japanese etiquette, in order that you may avoid blunders. We will also give you a few Japanese phrases to use. First, the phrase "Shikata ga nai," which means " There is no help for it." If anything is " Shikata ga nai," why get angry? A well-bred Japanese never gets angry; it is not polite. Therefore, if all does not exactly suit you to-night, if you must wait a long time for your turn at table, if some one hurts your feelings, or tramps on your toes, don't get angry (it is not polite), simply smile, and say " Shikata ga nai." Another phrase for you is " O Hey O,*' which means " Good-morning." But you say it is evening. No, no ; it is evening in America, and you are in Japan, where it is morning. Next we must teach you to walk. It is a strict law of Japanese etiquette that in walking the toes must be turned in, and the soles of the feet re- main parallel to the floor, and scarcely leave it. It makes an awkward, slovenly motion, but you have come to Japan, so " Shikata ga nai." At supper you must sit on the floor. Let us teach you how to do it gracefully, in true Japanese fashion. Kneel down, and sit on your heels. Of course it 96 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. makes tlie instep ache — never mind, " Shikata ga nai." In Japan it makes them very weary* to sit on chairs. It is a very common thing in church to see some one tired of sitting foreign fashion, gravely stand upon the seat, double his feet under him, and sit down on them ! We shall serve you some tea and sweetmeats. The sweetmeats will be served on white paper. Japanese etiquette demands that you only eat a small part ; the rest must be carefully wrapped up in the white paper, and carried home in the sleeves, which are the pockets of a Japanese gown. One more hint. If you don''t enjoy your neigh- bor's conversation, just say what the Japanese street- arabs say when they hear the foreigners talk : " Ijin no pa pa, neko no pa pa,"" which means, " Your talk is all the same as a cat's."' AN AFRICAN PALAVER. Decorate the rooms with palm-leaves, or any kind of green hung above the windows and doors. Drape the windows with any kind of crimson material. The civilized natives are very fond of crimson curtains. THE INVITATIONS. Vou are cordially invited to attend An African Palaver With the Missionary Conversazione, First Presbyterian Church, March 18, at 7.30 p. M. fuel for missionary fires. 97 Programme at 8 o'clock. Scripture Reading. Prayer. Duet, " The Lord is my Shepherd " Mr. and Mrs. K African Greeting . . Miss C and Miss S Palaver about Robert Moffat. " Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime." African Cradle Song i Miss B Recitation Mr. W African Lullaby Miss H Refreshments. More Palaver. African greeting. — When a guest arrives he enters, seats himself without speaking or seeming to observe his host ; the host is seated in the same dig- nified silence. This lasts about half a minute, then the host says, looking at his guest, — " Mbolo." (May you live to be old.) The guest responds heartily, "E! Mbolo ke." (Yes ! May you live to be old also.) Host. " O re mbia-mbia ? " (Are you well ?) Guest. " E ! Ave ke ?" (Yes ! and you also ?) Host. " Akera. Mi re mbia-mbia." (Thanks, I am well.)" REFRESHMENTS, — SALTED PEANUTS AND BANANAS. The peanuts must be beautifully browned, and salted after th^ brown skin and shell are removed. *See Cradle Songs of Matty Nations, $2.50. Dodd, Mead, & Company, New York City. - Pronounce a as in father ; e as a ; i as e. In mbia and mbolo sound both consonants. 98 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. The bananas should be peeled, and the linty sub- stance rubbed off, and held with a green leaf fastened around one end. (A lettuce leaf fastened on with a small wooden toothpick makes them very pretty.) AN EVENING IN CHINA.i Decorate the room with Chinese things, — fans, lanterns, and especially banners and umbrellas. Very pretty transparencies which are quite Chinese can be made by making a light frame and covering it with some very thin white paper ; cut grotesque figures of animals, Chinese dragons, etc., from thin, colored papers, and paste them carefully on the white paper. Brush the whole surface over with a coat of oil to make it transparent. They are very much used for transoms and windows. CHINESE ETIQUETTE. When a guest arrives a great hand-shaking takes place (Chinese shake their own hands, by placing one on top of the other, and moving both up and down) . The hostess insists on the guest taking the best chair. The guest objects, saying, " No; you." The hostess insists ; the guest still objects. Finally the hostess takes the guest by the shoulders and pushes her into a chair. When the guest leaves there is more hand-shaking. The guest says, " I must go.^' 1 See insert for sample programme. ■ P R i F E ^^^^H F E ^^^^H 1 L MP Ip Y mm R E Y E needs E L H tije , '■'■:^ Y A V Lord sending G I E Hesus ; the V R Gospel E E C Gbrist. to E 1 V E D /^ _ ^-^ 7^. a: 7^.5e HrtS BEEN SELECTED FROM THe CHINESE HYMNAL AND WILL BF RHNDFHFn '-U/l?o - p will Ri R oper? S<;riptur^ 0'! g door 1.65509. ^ ff for - ProHer. R n g '■f' Rcodlng. . V^jGal Solo. Mi^ I) . «1 Miss B . ' u. "MUSIC. A 1 ^ •MUSIC, ' ({} : '^I?ii?a*s 8 £ <5i?ii}^s^ /nilliotjs, p ■ n etiquette. M . Original Poem. "Budget Mr. W . Mi. C . * MUSIC »i»^^wr.T*» v^W P R I N G F I E L D IT I o mm R s T P R E S B Y T E R I A N Q H U H C H Y ! E liiiUii FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 99 The hostess responds, " Go slowly." After the feast this dialogue takes place : — Guest. " I have made you much trouble." Hostess. "Don't mention it; I have prevented you getting a good meal." Guest. " How can you say so? We have eaten our fill of good things.*' Nothing must be touched with the fingers at the table ; everything must be taken with chopsticks. The chopsticks must not go into the mouth ; the food must be tossed in. In sipping tea, one may make as much noise as he pleases. When all are seated at the table, a great bowing begins ; each bows many times to the other, with clasped hands. Then all begin to drink at once, and drink very fast. DIRECTIONS TO THE REFRESHMENT COMMITTEE. Serve the refreshments on small tables about eight or ten inches high. Provide also several high tables for people who do not care to sit on the floor. The waiters for each "table will need six large saucers, a Chinese teapot, and as many small cups and saucers and bowls as there are places at the table. Use no tablecloth, spoons, or plates. If real chop- sticks cannot be obtained, make some by splitting up a bamboo fishing-pole. In China, fancy dishes are served first, substantial ones last. lOO FUEL FUR MISSIONARY FIRES. First co2irsc. Tea (see directions for Japanese evening) : preserved ginger, cut in small pieces ; dates ; lady-fingers, made long and narrow ; dough- nuts the size and shape of a peanut with the shell on. Seco7id course. Rice cooked without salt, and with the grains broken as little as possible ; slaw made of shredded turnips, with a very salty catsup poured over it ; large cucumber pickles, taken right from the brine (no vinegar), and cut into small cubes. When the guests come to the tables they should find on them four saucers ; one filled with dates, one with lady-fingers, one with ginger, and one with doughnuts. Serve the tea immediately. The guests have no plates ; they eat from the common dish. When the first course is finished carry out the tea- cups only (let the sweetmeats remain), and bring in a small bowl of rice for each guest, and one large saucer of slaw, and another of pickles, and place them on the table with the sweetmeats. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 1 01 TITLES FOR PAPERS. {Most of these have been taketi from missionary magazines^ programmes, etc. For material, see list of books, leaflets, etc., at the end of the book.) Shakespeare says, " Whaf s in a name?'' and a missionary leader wisely answers, " Much, every way." It is certainly true that a paper or exercise with an attractive name will be more likely to secure and hold attention than one with a prosy name. 1. A Journey through South America with Uncle John Makebelieve. 2. India seen through a Tourist's Spectacles. 3. Syria viewed from a Pilgrim's Standpoint. 4. Egypt seen with an American's Eyes. 5. The People of Down-trodden Persia. 6. Tlie Fifth Gospel —The Land of Our Lord. 7. Marvels of Missionary History. (A series of papers.) See files of the Missionary Re- view of the Wo7'ld. 8. Miracles of Missions. (Also a series.) See Miracles of Missions by A. T. Pierson. 9. A Telephone Talk with Our Missionaries in , Alaska. 10. Looking Backward. " II. Looking Forward. 12. Trials of Missionary Life. 13. Rescuing Perishing Chinese. 14. How Our Missionaries travel. 15. The Great Importance of winning China for Christ. , I02 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 1 6. How the Gospel is spread in India. 17. A Tour in Japan via the Pen-and-ink R.R. 18. A Voyage Among the Islands of the Sea. 19. A Bird's Eye View of Canton. 20. Missionary Heroes. 21. Missionary Heroines. 22. Missionary Martyrs. 23. The Day dawns in Korea. 24. Life Among the Karens. 25. Unoccupied Territory in Asia'. 26. Alaska and Her Needs. 27. A Child Widow — "Put Yourself in Her Place." 28. A Native Christian Convert — "Put Yourself in His Place." 29. The " Problem of the Unemployed " in our Church. 30. Christ for every Creature, and every Creature for Christ. 31. The Great Scourge of Africa. 32. The Power of the Gospel as seen in Converted Indians. 33. Samuel Crowther — Born a Savage, died a Bishop. 34. A Day with Our Workers in Damascus. 35. Our Mail-Bag from Ceylon. 36. Glances at Mexico. 37. Something about the Turks. 38. Mexico in the Toils of Papal Power. 39. Robert Morrison, the Pioneer in China. 40. Africa's Twofold Curse. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 103 41. Missionary Progress in Assam. 42. Under the Southern Cross — Missions in Aus- tralia. 43. Facts and Figures from Many Lands. 44. Hardships of Native Converts. 45. The Christless Toilers of China. 46. The Telegu Mission — A Wonderful Chapter in Missionary History. 47. A Boat Trip on Chinese Rivers. 48. What Our Missionaries are doing in Siam. 49. Good Cheer from Syria. 50. The Curse of Caste. 51. A Tour through Brazil. 52. Hindrances and Helps in Persia. 53." Among the Lepers in India. 54. Things Japanese that are Promising. 55. Affairs in Korea. 56. The Bible as a Missionary Weapon. 57. Great Openings in Eastern Lands. 58. The Gospel among the Jews. 59. The Flowery Kingdom. 60. Visits to the McAU Mission — Pages from the Diary of a European Tourist. 61. Japan in a Nut-shell. 62. Heathen Ceremonies. 63. Baby Days in Japan. 64. India, our April Country. 65. Heathen Sports. 66. Odd Bits of Information about the Laos Land. 67. Great Lessons from Small Things. 68. Odd Superstitions Among the Mexicans. I04 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. 69. A Day's Outing Among the Indians. 70. How a Missionary spends Her Time. 71. Unoccupied Territory. 72. Chinese Punishments. 73. Startling Facts. 74. The Celestial Empire. SWhat We have done. What We are doing. What We can do. 76. Missionary Ships. See Life and Light, July, 1894, and Lesson Leaflet — Topic, "Mis- sionary Ships,'- Woman's Board of Missions, Congregational House, Boston. FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES, 105 HINTS TO LEADERS. *' A BAD leader says, 'Go on, boys.' " " A good leader says, ' Come on, boys.' " Be A LEADER. Others are always ready to follow a leader. But be sure your leading is right. When others are following, it behooves one to be very careful. * * The Siamese motto, " Never do anything yourself that you can possibly get any one else to do for you,'^ is an admirable motto for a missionary leader. This does not mean that you may be lazy — oh, no ! far from it. It is often harder to put others to work than to do it all yourself. Besides, there is much that no one can do for you. The more members you can enlist as helpers, the more successful will the meeting be. Get as many as possible to be " partners in the concern," and they " will come to see how the business is getting along.'^ Never forget to thank those who have helped you. As soon as the programme is over, the leader's first duty (and a very pleasant duty it is) should be to go to all who have helped in any way and thank them for it. We all like to know that we have helped, and that our help has been recognized, and we are readier to work for a leader who is grateful. And it helps to keep the leader from magnifying Io6 FUEL FOR MISSIONARY FIRES. his own importance, to recognize how much of the success was due to the loving help of the members. Dr. John Hall has said, " Hand-shaking is a means of grace." Don't forget this, and have a welcoming committee at the door, and a social committee to see that no one goes away without a personal greeting. * * A gloomy room will often kill a missionary meet- ing. If the church parlor is not bright and cheery, make it so. If it is too large, shut off a cosey corner by using large screens. If the meeting is held on a week-day, appoint a committee to transform it for the time into a homelike room. Put on the table a dainty cover or scarf, and if possible a few fresh flowers. Arrange the chairs in little groups, and don't have too many of them. Empty chairs don't create enthusiasm. Maps, missionary pictures, pho- tographs, or drawings, and curiosities from foreign mission countries are invaluable. Missionary interest to " prosper and be in health " and to grow must have exercise as well as food. So plan plenty of work, and hold a work-meeting once in a while. It will promote sociability better than a regular social. Send a box to some missionary every once in a while. Don't forget that " love grows through sowing," and interest comes from doing. FUEL FOR xMISSIONARY FIRES. 107 Remember that numbers, though desirable, do not make a successful meeting. A successful meeting is one that adds to the interest in missions, and to a knowledge of the work. Send people away to work, to pray, and to give better than before. * * It is vastly more important that the meeting is ac- ceptable to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, than that any chance visitors shall be charmed with it. Remembering this makes many a leader brave, where he would otherwise be embarrassed and dis- tressed by the presence of strangers. Melinda Rankin, the pioneer missionary to Mexico, says this word, which ought to sink deep into every leaders heart, " The word 'discouragement^ is not found in the dictionary of the kingdom of heaven. N.ever let yourself use the w^ord if you have God's work to do." If one plan fails, try another, but don't give up. In making the programme, the first thing to do is to pray over it. Go to God as to an earthly friend, and plead his promise in Jas. 1:5. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God . . . and it shall be given him." Pray for subjects ; pray to be led to ask the proper persons to present them ; pray that those asked may be wilHngto accept ; pray that noth- ing may hinder their coming to the meeting to fulfil their promise ; pray for plans ; pray in regard to every detail in carrying them out. Io8 FUEL 'for missionary FIRES. You may be sure of answers. Surround yourself with a little circle of praying friends, and ask them to pray with you for these things. Never hold a meeting just for the sake of holding a meeting, and never hold a meeting without present- ing direct and definite appeals of some kind. Al- ways seek in some way to impress on those present the great need of money, of workers, of prayer. It has been stated that in battle only one bullet in a thousand hits the enemy and only one in ten thousand proves fatal. This is because the great body of soldiers shoot at random, anywhere, every- where, and do not take definite aim. There is the same waste in much of our church-work. Many and many a meeting is held with little or no result, be- cause our missionary shot is fired at random, with no definite purpose or aim. " What profit should we have if we pray unto him? " Job 21 : 15. "PRAYER AND PAINS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST WILL ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING." John Eliot. Ceafim for missionary Commimes. We publish a number of leaflets for Missionary Commit- tees, among which are the following : — Plans for the Missionary Committee. By the Yale Band. Price, lo cents each ; gi.oo a dozen, post-paid. Suggestions for the Missionary Committee of the Christian ' Endeavor Union. Price, 2 cents each ; 50 cents a hun- dred, post-paid. The Missionary Committee at Work. By W. Henry Grant. Giving suggestions for meetings, subjects, and pro- grammes. Price, 3 cents each ; }?2.oo per hundred. A Missionary's Visit. A dialogue. By Mrs. J. L. Hill. Price, 3 cents each ; $2.00 per hundred. Maps and Money. By V. F. P. Price, 3 cents each ; $2.00 per hundred. Money and the Kingdom. By Rev. Josiah Strong, D. D. This is Chapter 15 of " Our Country," and is of especial interest to all tithe-givers. Price, 2 cents each ; $1.60 per hundred. The Missionary Prayer Circle. Prepared by the Yale Mis- sionary Band. Subjects for prayer in young people's societies and in private devotions, covering a period of twenty-six weeks. Price, 5 cents a dozen. Missionary Reading-Circle Slips. Pledges to be used in securing readers of missionary books. Price, 20 cents per hundred. Missionary Pledge Cards. Price, 30 cents per hundred. The Pocketbook Opener. By Rev. J. F. Cowan, D.D. In- teresting and profitable, as illustrating the different prin- ciples of giving. This is printed in imitation of an alli- gator leather pocketbook. Price, 50 cents per hundred. Missionary Committee Report Blanks. The book contains a sufficient number of blank reports to last two years. Price, including postage, 29 cents. Portfolio of Missionary Programmes, By S. L. Mershon. This booklet contains twenty complete programmes for missionary meetings, togetlier with suggested thoughts on how to have the most interesting meetings. Price, ID cents, post-paid. UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, Boston and Chicago. Books Tor missionary Committees. The Missionary Manual. By Amos R. Wells. 134 pages, bound in cloth. Price, 35 cents. No set of workers in our young people's societies is so eager for work to do or so enthusiastic in doing the work as our missionary committees. These energetic laborers have long needed a full and systematic manual of direc- tions and suggestions, such as this book aims to be. A few volumes have taken up this task in part and with admir- able success, but none with the completeness of detail or anything like the fulness attempted in this book. Those that use this book will find it practical. Indeed, at least half of the plans here set forth have been tried and proved by large numbers of societies all over the world. At the same time, however, recognizing the value of novelty in this work, as in most work, the author made up the volume to a very large extent — probably half — of orig- inal plans which have not before been published. These new methods will be found as useful as the old have been, and will give fresh life to thousands of missionary meetings. Fuel for Missionary Fires. By Belle M. Brain. Bound in cloth. Price, 35 cents. A book packed full of practical plans for missionary meetings. By following the suggested plans or programmes fiven in this book your missionary meetings will be the rightest that you ever held. There is great variety. It is bright, pithy, sententious throughout. The best book of this nature ever published. Everything tried and proved. missionary exercises. These exercises are very complete, and are compiled especially to awaken interest in the foreign field. They contain the entire programme, including hymns and scrip- ture readings. A separate sheet comes with Numbers 3» 4, 5, and 6 for the exclusive use of leader and speakers. Wo. I. A War Meeting. No. 2. The Whole Wide World for Jesus, Ko. 3. Lessons from the Lives of Great Missionaries. No. 4. Saved to Serve. No. 5. The Church and World-Wide Missions. No. 6. The Ultimate Triumph of World-Wide Missions. Price, sample copy complete, 5 cents; twenty-five copies. 50 cents; fifty copies, 75 cents ; one hundred copies, $1.50. Two copies of speaker^s part free with each quantity order. UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, Boston and Chicago. tbe f^onquest missionary Cibrary. TEN VOLUMES FOR $5.00. This is by far the best library for the price that has ever been published. It contains ten of the latest and best mis- sionary books. The books are uniform in size, and are nicely bound in cloth, with a neat cover design. The li- brary is beautifully illustrated, there being nearly loo full- page illustrations, besides many sraaller ones. The library must be bought entire, and in no case will a set be broken. It may be ordered either from our Boston or Chicago office, as may be the most convenient. E.xpress charges must be paid by the purchaser. Money must accompany every order. Chinese Characteristics. By Rev. Arthur H. Smith, for twenty-two years a missionary to China. Sixteen full- page illustrations from photographs, together with an index and a glossary. Price, $1.25. From Far Formosa. The Island, Its People, and Missions. By Rev. G. L. MacKay, D.D., for twenty-three years a missionary on the island. Edited by Rev. J. A. Mac- Donald. With 4 maps, 16 illustrations, and an index. Price, $1.25. TheGist of Japan. The Islands, Their People, and Mis- sions. By Rev. R. B. Peery, A.M., Ph.D., of the Luth- eran Mission, Saga. With illustrations and index. Price, $1.25. In Afric's Forest and Jungle; or, Six Years among the Yarubans. By Rev. R. H. Stone. Cloth, well illus- trated. Price, $1.00. Fellow Travellers. By Rev. Francis E. Clark, D.D. Im- pressions of men, things, and events. Illustrated from photographs. Price, $1.25. Korean Sketches. By Rev. Tames S. Gale. A mission- ary's observations in the Hermit nation. Fully illus- trated. Price, ^i.oo. Nineteen Centuries of Missions; or, the Students' Hand- book of Foreign Missions. By Mrs. William W. Scud- der. With an introduction by Rev. F. E. Clark, D. D. Price, 50 cents. On the Indian Trail. Stories of missionary work among the Cree and Saulteaux Indians. By Egerton R. Young. Price, $1.00. Our Sisters in India. By Rev. E. Storrow. Illustrated with 30 engravings. Price, $1.25. The Transformation of Hawaii. How American mission- aries gave a Christian nation to the world. By Belle M. Brain. With numerous illustrations. Price, $1.00. UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. Boston and Chicago. 46 Evenings with missions. There is no excuse for a dull missionary meeting, if the missionary committee will use the material given in our several missionary booklets and exercises. Our series of " Evenings with Missions " covers the whole field of home missions and several foreign fields. Each booklet contains all the information necessary for a most interesting and instructive meeting, together with a complete suggested programme. No. I. Mexico. Justly called "the land of flowers" and our next-door neighbor ; yet how little we know about it. No. 2. The Indians. Two hundred and fifty thousand in the United States who have been driven from their old hunting-grounds. What are we doing for them ? No. 3. A Trip to Alaska. While the interest in the Klon- dike is so intense, what more interesting subject for a missionary meeting than this ? No. 4. The Freed People. Freed in name but imprisoned in ignorance. Learn what is being done for them. No. 5. The Chinese in America. Is it right to sing — "Peace on earth, good will" — if you please — " To all nations and peoples " — except the Chinese ? No. 6. Immigration and Evangelization of the Great West. A very instructive and interesting exercise descriptive of the emigrant from his landing at Castle Garden to his settlement in the Great West. No. 7. Romanism in America. Contrasting the Roman Catholic restrictive policy with the American spirit of independence and freedom. No. 8. The Mormons. Do you know anything about this cancer which is at the very heart of our civihzation ? No. 9. General Survey of the Home Field. A very instruc- tive evening may be spent with this subject, showing the providence of God in the settlement of our country. No. 10. India. ^ These subjects are always interesting. No II Africa \ The leaflets give plenty of material for „ ■ * pi,- * I most excellent programmes. They de- JNO. 12. Lnina. ) gcribe the manners and customs of the people, the horrors of heathenism, and the splendid work of our devoted missionaries. Price of the above is ten cents each. UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, Boston and Chicago. 43 Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 1 1012 01234 7847 CTf^e^ cfaJLoJ^ /fjilwt^c A O CtAJi