PAW, r:x* ©OF MoFh... What it Is What it Costs What it Wants n S*^nop0i0 ot tbe Bnnual IReportt 5ime, 1899, No. J7. ♦♦♦♦189S»'9,... (ijf 3 CDs *5^ foreign [{fissions of tfte lleformed ifTlinerlca. ♦ ♦♦ Founded in ♦ ♦ 1832 Independent since 1857 Incorporated ♦ . 1860 B S*^nop0i0 ot tbe Bnniial IReport, 3imc, \S 99 . Please read carefully and keep for reference. • •• SOME HELPS • • • The Mission Field ilonthly Reports from oar riisslons 50 Cents a Year Address “ MISSION FIELD,” 25 East 22d St., New York ™H-Mission Gleaner Bi-monthly Reports of the Work of our Women, Published by the Woman’s Board of Foreig^n Missions 25 CENTS A YEAR Address MRS. A. L. CUSHING 25 East 22d St., New York .. The Day Star .. A four-page illustrated Monthly paper for Re¬ formed Church Sunday-Schools and Mission Bands Eight Cents each per year, In orders of 25 copies or more to one address Single copies, per year. Twenty-five cents each Address “THE DAY STAR,” 25 East 22d St., New York These publications are indispensable to those who wish to keep in touch with the missionary work of the Reformed Church. Why ast subscribe for all? Our Foreign Missions 1898 - 9 . THE WORK AS IT IS! Amoy Mission^ China, Founded Afcot Mission, India, ** North Japan Mission, ** South Japan Mission, ** Arabian Mission, ** J842. 1853. 1859. J859. J889. Thk Amoy Mission, China, 1842, Missionaries. —Revs. P. W. Pitcher, and Hobart B. Studley. Medical Missionary .—Rev. J. A. Otte, M.D. Assistant Missionaries. —Mrs. Talmage, Miss M. B. Talmage. Miss K. M. Talmage, Mrs. Pitcher, Miss Cappon, Miss Zwemer, Miss Morrison, Miss B. N. Duryee, and Miss Calkoen. P. O. Address for all, Amoy, China. In America. — Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Rapalje, Rev. and Mrs. B. W. Kip. Stations, 4; out-stations, 41; churches, 12; communicants, 1315; contributions in 1898, 16,165. Native Pastors, 12; unordained helpers, 30. 2 Two Boys’ Schools, on Kolongsu, middle aiid primary, have 112 scholars. Three Girls’ schools, have 114 scholars. The Theological School was suspended during the year. Parochial Schools, 19 ; scholars, 303. The number of patients treated in two hospitals and one dispensar}" at Amoy was i3>847- During the year Hope Hospital (on the Island of Kolongsu), w^as completed and dedicated with appropriate services. The Woman’s Hospital erected with funds contributed by friends in the Netherlands, was also completed and both are now filled with patients. The Neerbosch Hospital at Sio-Khe was still without a resident physician. The weakness of the missionary force is apparent from the small number of mission¬ aries on the field. The number has not been so reduced since 1882. New missionaries, however, have been ap¬ pointed as follows : Dr. C. Otto Stumpf and Miss Eleanor Barwood to the Sio-Khe sta¬ tion and hospital. Miss Angie M. M3^ers, M.D. for medical work in connection with the Mission and Miss Louise Brink. These have all been secured and appointed through contributions or pledges of mone}^ in addition to the regular appropriations. 3 The work of the churches was scarcel}' less prosperous than during the previous year. The total number added to the churches on confession was 128. The net increase in communicants, however, was but II, owing chiefly to the large number of deaths from plague and fever, 78 having died during the year. It is surprising that with such losses, or so little gain, the contri¬ butions should show anincrease of nearly 28^. It is manifestly impossible that this wade field, with its more than two millions of in¬ habitants, should be properly cared for and supplied with the preaching of the Gospel, or its churches and village communities visited and looked after, by so small a force. Double the number would not really meet the requirements of such a field. The Arcot Mission, India, 1S53. Missionaries. —Revs. Jared W. Scudder, D.D., Palmaner; Jacob Chamberlain, D.D., Madanapalle; John Scudder, D.D., Vellore; John H. Wyckoff, Thidivanam; Louis R. Scudder, M.D., Ranipettai;'EzQ.'k\el C. Scud¬ der, Arni; Lewis B Chamberlain, Madana¬ palle; Janies A. Beattie, Chittoor; Henry Huizinga, Ranipettai; Henr}^ J. Scudder, Vellore; and Mr. William H. Farrar, Arni. Assistant Missionaries. —Mrs. J. W. vScud- 4 der, Mrs. J. Chamberlain, Mrs. John Scudder, Mrs. J. H. Wyckoff, Mrs. L. R. Scudder, Mrs. B. C. Scudder, Mrs. L. B. Chamber- lain, Mrs. J. A. Beattie, Mrs. H. Huizinga, Mrs. H. J. Scudder, Mrs. W. H. Farrar: Miss J. C. Scudder, Palmaner; Miss M. K. Scudder, Ranipettai; Miss Bizzie von Bergen, 3 Iadanapelle; and Miss Louisa H. Hart, M.D., Ranipettai. In America. —Rev. and Mrs. William I. Chamberlain. General P. O. Address. —Madras Presi¬ dency, India. Particular stations as given above. Native Pastors, 12; other native helpers— male, 208; female, 115. Total, 335. Stations, 7; out-stations, 150; churches, 24; communicants, 2,304; contributions, $2,310. Village schools, 156; scholars, 4,828. Sunday schools, 156; scholars, 4,621. Girls’ Board Schools, 3; at Chittoor, Rani¬ pettai and Madanapalle; scholars, 193. Boys’ Boarding Schools, 5; at Arni, Mada¬ napalle, Tindivanam and Vellore, and the Theological Seminary at Palmaner. Total of students, 376. The Arcot Mission College at Vellore had 1,004 students at the close of i8q8. This number has since been greatly diminished on account of the panic about the plague. 5 At the hospital and dispensary at Rani- pettai, 12,882 patients were treated and 781 surgical operations performed. The year has been in some respects a try¬ ing one. Famine and famine prices for food produced great distress, which was re¬ lieved toward the end of the year by copious rains. Succeeding the famine came the cholera and afterward the plague. The entrance of the latter caused a degree of fright approaching panic, which interfered greatly with both educational and evangelis¬ tic work. Notwithstanding these hindrances the Mission reports progress in almost every particular. The Rev. Henry Huizinga has been able to devote his entire time and strength to evangelistic work. A large amount of such work has also been done in the villages by the helpers, by the students in the boarding schools, by Christian En¬ deavor Societies and the Gospel Extension Societies of the natn^e churches. Including the work carried on by Bible women and in the zenanas, the Gospel was preached or spoken 75,275 times in 26,476 places to 804,480 hearers, and 51,824 tracts, mostly hand bills were distributed. The number of churches remains the same. Three new pastors have been ordained. 6 making 12 in all. The number of communi¬ cants is 2,304, a net gain of 96. But 223, or a little over 10^ of the previous membership were received on confession during the year. The contributions amounted to Rs. 4,169^ an increase of Rs. 387, or about 10^ over the previous year. This is the more remarkable because of the distress prevailing during most of the year. The Convention of the Christian Kndeavor Societies of South India was held at Vellore in August, 1898, in which 104 societies with 2,422 memoers were represented. A pro¬ cession numbering about 600 marched through the city of Vellore with banners and music on the last day of the Convention. Most of the stations report valuable services rendered by the Christian Endeavor Societ¬ ies. Thk North Japan Mission, 1859. Missionaries. —Revs. James II. Ballagh, Yokohama; E. Rothesay Miller, Morioka; Eugene S. Booth, Yokohama; Howard Harris, Ichhwseki; Frank S. Scudder, Nagano; and Prof. Martin N. Wyckoff, vSc. D., Tokyo. Assistant Missionaries. —Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Wyckoff, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Scudder, Mrs. Jennie D. Schenck, Miss M. / Leila Winn, Aomori; Miss Anna cleF. Thompson, Yokohama; Miss Mary De3^o, Ueda; Miss Julia Moulton, y'okohama. General Address. —Japan. Stations occupied by missionaries, 7; out- stations and preaching places, 17. Native pastors, 6; other native helpers, men, 16; women, 15. Total, 37. The Church of Christ in Japan with which our Missions are connected numbers 70 churches, of which 23 are self-supporting. The total membership is reported to be 10,010, but the number is probably larger. The contributions of the Japanese Christians for the year 1898, were 1:30,296.12 silver. All the churches formerly connected with our North Japan Mission belong to the Church of Christ, and during the last year only two with 516 communicants were con¬ nected with our own Mission. At present there are no organized churches under the Mission’s care or receiving aid from it. Among those established, and until recently, either in whole or in part supported by our Mission, are some of the largest in the em¬ pire, but they can no longer be reported as belonging to us. In the Meiji Gakuin, or Christian college, 74 students were reported as belonging to the Academical Department, or 16 more 8 than a year ago. Of the whole number, 21 were professing Christians, and 6 were bap¬ tized during the year. This department has now come into connection with the School system of the city of Tokyo, thus securing certain privileges for its students without any interference with or departure from the Christian conduct and character of the school. This arrangement has been made in the hope of securing a larger number of students, which hope seems to be already realized to some extent. The Theological department had 13 on its roll. Five were graduated, 2 from the regular and 3 from special courses. The Ferris Seminary has not yet recov¬ ered from the losses sustained by reason of the changes made last year. It reports 42 scholars, of whom 15 are Christians and 7 were baptized during the year. Eight of the scholars were candidates for baptism. The renewal of the primary department, it is hoped, will enable the school to report larger numbers for the year to come A new station was opened in the summer of 1898, by Rev. H, Harris, at Ichi-no-seki, with f9.vorable prospects, Mr. Harris being freed from his work in the Academical de¬ partment of the Meiji Gakuin by the return of Dr, Wyckoff from this country. 9 The vacancies occasioned by the death of Dr. Verbeck and the return of Dr. Poppen to this country have not yet been filled. The evangelistic work carried on by the ladies has also suffered from the loss of Miss Brokaw. On the other hand Miss Harriet J. Wyckoff has been added to their number. Thk South Japan Mission, 1859. Missionaries —Revs. Henry Stout, D.D., Nagasaki; Albert Oltmans, Saga; Albertus Pieters, Nagasaki; Assistant Missionaries. —Mrs. Stout, Mrs. Oltman, Mrs. Pieters, Miss Sara M. Couch, Miss Harriet M. Lansing and Miss Anna K. Stryker. General Address. —Japan. In America. —Rev. and Mrs. H. V. S. Peeke. Stations occupied by missionaries, 3; out- stations and preaching places, 15. Native pastors, 3; other native helpers, men, 17; women, 2. Total, 22. Four churches with 318 communicants. With the return of Dr. Stout, his wife and daughter, the entire force was on the field at the close of the year. Since that, how¬ ever, Mr. Peeke has been obliged to leave Japan and return to this country on account of his health. lO While there has been no growth in the membership of the churches but rather a decline, yet the outlook seemed hopeful; self-support on the part of the churches had received a new impulse; an interesting work of Christ was going on at Oita, on the east coast, and generally, more Bible reading, more listening to good instruction, more prayer on the field than ever before seemed to have characterized the year. The new chapel at Nagasaki, was secured and opened after much effort and many disappointments. The Theological department of Steele College remained suspended during the year. In the Academical department 70 students were reported. The sad conduct of some of the Christian students led to their expulsion and had an injurious effect upon the religious interests of the school. To aid students needing help to support themselves, an industrial department has been added to the school without expense to the Board. The Sturges Seminary reported 54 students, of whom 27 were boarders. Four of the boarders were received into the church dur¬ ing the 3^ear. Rev. Charles M. Myers has been appointed to Steele College as a teacher of English. II The Arabian Mission, 1889. (Adopted by the R. C. A., 1894.) Missionaries —Revs. James Cantine, Mus¬ cat; Samuel M. Zwemer, F.R.G.S., Bahrein; Fred. J. Barny, BusraJi; George E. Stone, Muscat. Medical Missionaries —H. R. Lankford Worrall, M D., Busrah; Sheldon J. Thoms, M.D., Bahrehi. Assistant Missionaries. —Mrs. Zwemer, Mrs. Barny and Mrs. Thoms, M.D. General Addi^ess —Via Bombay. Open London Mail. Under Appointme 7 it. —Rev. Harr}^ J. Wiersum. The Mission Occupies:— 1. The Busrah Vilayet: area, 50,000 square miles, or about the size of New York State; population, 700,000. 2. Bahrehi Isla^ids afid Adjacefit Coast: area, undefined; population, 300,000. 3. Oma 7 i: area, undefined; population, 500,000. This 5^ear completes a decade in the his¬ tory of this Mission. It has been sadly afflicted in the death of Rev. Peter J. Zwemer, who had returned on furlough and for the restoration of his health, which had become greatly impaired. He died in the 12 Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, on Oct. i8, 1898, to the great grief of the Board and those associated with him in the work of the Mission. On the other hand, large additions were made to the force, the Rev. and Mrs. S. M. Zwemer being accompanied on their return to the field, by the Rev. George B. Stone and Miss Margaret Rice, who became Mrs. Fred J. Barny. In October the force was still further increased by the addition of Dr. Sharon J. Thoms and Mrs. Marion (Wells) Thoms, M. D. For the first time the Mission is able ‘ ‘ truthfully to say we have enough mis¬ sionaries to occupy our three stations on the coast.” The eyes and plans of the Mission will now be directed to the interior and the Church should prepare for the advance which is sure to be made as the way opens* The return of Mrs. S. M. Zwemer has made possible the renewal of work among women, and the addition of Mrs. Barney and Mrs. Thoms will make this extension possible. So far as experience goes no hin¬ drance has as yet been made to such work. Mr. Harry J. Wiersum, a graduate of Hope College and Princeton Seminary, has been appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Rev. P. J. Zwemer. 13 The number of patients treated in the dis¬ pensaries at Bahrein and Busrah was 4,157. The total number of missionaries under the care of the Board in all the Missions, including those now under appointment and intending to proceed to their respective fields this summer is as follows: Ordained missionaries 31, unordained 5 (of whom 3 are physicians); married women, 31; unmar¬ ried, 24; in all, 91. The following table shows the condition of the Missions up to Dec. 31, 1898 : 14 GENERAL SUMMARY, 1898-1899. CHINA INDIA NO. JAPAN so. JAPAN ARABIA ' TOTAL Stations. 4 7 7 3 24 Out-stations and Preaching Places. 4.1 150 17 15 2 225 Missionaries, or- dained . 6 II 5 4 4 30 Missionaries, 7 mo 7 -- dained . I 1 2 4 Assist. Missionaries mari'ied . 5 12 6 4 3 30 Assist. Missionaries unmarried . 7 4 7 4 22 Native ordained ministers. 12 12 6 3 Other native Help- ers, me 7 t . 30 208 16 17 II 282 Native Helpers, W 07 nen . I 115 ^5 2 133 Churches. 12 24 §2 4 42 Communicants. 1315 2304 516 318 4453 Received on Confes- sion, in 1898. 128 223 28 20 399 Seminaries, boys'.. 2 4 I J I 9 Scholars. II 2 340 74 70 18 614 Seminaries, girls'.,. 3 3 I I 8 Scholars. 114 193 42 54 403 Theological Schools ° I I I ° 1 4 Students. . 36 13 49 Sunday Schools,... 156 37 22 215 Scholars. 4621 1650 274 6545 Day Schools. 19 156 2 177 Scholars. 303 5832 30 65 Hospitals and Dis- pensaries. + 3 I 2 6 Patients Treated... 131847 12,882 4^57 30,886 Native Contribu- tions*. $6,165 $2,310 $770 $742 $9,987 *A 11 contributions in silver. ° Temporarily sus¬ pended. -f One, at Sio-Khe, closed. § Aided during part of the year, but now separate from the Mission. The same is true of the other Churches formerly re¬ ported. But all are connected with the “ Church of Christ in Japan,” and many of them self-supporting. 15 COMPARATIVE SUMMARY, 1858-1899. 1858. 1868. M 00 CO 1888. 1898. 1899, * Stations. Out-stati on s and Preaching 6 10 II II 22 24 Places. Missionaries, 3 18 49 123 241 225 men . Missionaries, 8 M 16 28 36 34 fnar'd worneti . Missionaries, unmar'd worn - 6 12 14 21 31 30 e}t . Native Ordain- I 7 9 20 22 ed Ministers... Other Native 4 6 26* 30 33 Helpers, men .. Native Helpers 22 76 86 173 2 II 282 women . 2 10 47 4 ": ^33 Churches. 7 13 51 47 47 *42 Communicants B’ding Schools, boys ' . 297 816 1563 4559 5564 *4453 2 I 7 10 9 Scholars. B’ding Schools, girl ^ . 55 40 308 517 614 I 3 5 10 8 Scholars. Theological 46 97 300 456 403 Students. 7 19 32 61 49 Uay Schools... 6 17 44 106 201 177 Scholars. Hospitals and Dispensaries.. Pat’ntsTreated Native Contri- 87 413 1 15507 1341 I 9673 2612 6059 A 18046 6165 6 30886 butions. It,590 $8,325 $ro 758 *$9,987 * Loss apparent, not real; due to the separation of Churches no longer under the care of the North Japan Mission, to the “Church of Christ in Japan,” with which they are enrolled with their communicants and contributions. i6 WHAT THK WORK COSTvS. The total receipts of the Board, exclusive of the Arabian Mission, were $115,548.02, Of this amount $3,204.45 were for special objects outside of the appropriations, leav¬ ing $112,343.57 to apply on the appropria¬ tions. Deducting from this . amount the interest received from the Security Fund $2,065 and the amount of legacies, $5,327.24, the sum of all gifts by collections and per¬ sonal contributions was $104,951.33. Of the receipts stated $29,022.27 Were received from the Woman’s Board for regular work and $1,153.40 for special objects, making a total from that source of $30,175.67. The receipts of the Arabian mission were for the regular work, $8,606.27, and for special objects, chiefly the building fund, $2,684.70, making a total of $11,29034. Of this sum, $897.10 came through the Woman’s Board. If this amount be added to the receipts of the Board of Foreign Missions, the total of receipts and contributions for foreign missions for the year will be found to be $126,838.36, which is $2,500 more than the total of the preceding year. Expenditures. The expenditures have been as follows: For the Amoy Mission, $21,832.65; for the Arcot Mission, $43,133.59 for the North Japan Mission, $25,675.81 and 17 for the South Japan Mission, ^20,143.84; a total for all the missions, except the Arabian of $110,785.89. For interest on loans there were paid $1,659.88, and for other home expenses $8 676 10, making a total expense of $121,208.87. The cost of administration was 7.23 per cent of the total amount ex¬ pended. For the Arabian Mission the expenditures were for salary, field work and traveling to and from the field, $12,876.72, and for home expenses $804.87, making a total of $13,672.59. The appropriations for 1899 are $9,811.50. Added Debt. The receipts of the Board were not sufficient to meet the expenses for the year by $9,000. It has been repeatedly stated that the very least sum for which the missions can be maintained is $120,000. For 1899 they asked for $124,241, exclusive of all home expenses. The amounts appro¬ priated to them were $92,376. It is mani¬ fest that such appropriations are utterly inadequate and that so long as they con¬ tinue to be made, the missions will continue to suffer as thev now do under the burden of hurtful and painful retrenchment. There is no reason either in the character and worth of the work, or in the ability of the church to maintain it, why this should be the case. i8 What The Work Wants. Assuming that the Church clings, and will cling, to its reiterated determination not to suffer the Board to give up or seek to trans¬ fer to others any of its Missions, the situa¬ tion seems to the Board to demand: 1. Adequate measures for the removal of the debt. 2. Such an increase in the regular con¬ tributions by the churches as shall bring the amount fully up to $120,000 without ref¬ erence to bequests or interest on invested funds. This is surely not too much to ask for the support of a work such as ours. It is evident that nothing less will suffice. 3. To meet present needs and prepare for coming demands there should be improved methods of securiug these contributions. If it were possible to introduce some effect¬ ive organization for Foreign Missions into ever}^ Church and Classis, similar to the Auxiliaries and Classical Unions of the Woman’s Board, or the Societies and the Focal Unions of Christian Endeavor, no doubt the cause would be far better served than it is or can be now. 4. In one particular line a great advance might easily be made with advantage to contributors and the work at large. The 19 whole number of missionaries who are sup¬ ported, or have their support pledged, by societies and individuals is eighteen, includ¬ ing three in the Arabian Mission. There seems to be no reason why this number may not be largely increased, and thus vacancies filled and needed reinforcement furnished to the missions, in addition to the regular contributions of churches and individuals. Doubtless the donors would be greatly blessed in the doing, and a new inspiration given to the churches. 5. Since the Son Himself is not to have the heathen for His inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for His posses¬ sion without asking for it, and since He has put the petition for it, “Thy kingdom come,” into the mouths of His disciples, nothing is more needed, and nothing can be more distinctly helpful in every way, than increased and constant prayer. The observ¬ ance of a single Sabbath, the first in Novem¬ ber, for several years past, for the presenta¬ tion of facts and principles and for prayer respecting Foreign Missions, has undoubt¬ edly been productive of good, and would be again. Even more to be desired is the universal revival of the regular monthly meeting of prayer for missions in both Church and Sunda3^-school. Nor will the 20 full measure of this power be exercised, nor its full benefits received, until every pulpit and every closet becomes a place of per¬ petual intercession, for the salvation of lost men and the coming of the Redeemer’s kingdom. N ew foresqn MISSION HAP Showing all the Fields ol our Own Foreign riission Work. /ust the thing for Pastor's Study or Lecture Room Watt PRICE REDUCED. Printed on Linen, Sent Postage Paid, Size, X feet. on Receipt of $ 1.50 Address BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS, R.C. A. 23 Bast 22d Street, New York. JV. B.—Copies of this tract for gratuitous distribution can be had in any number de¬ sired by application to the Corresponding Secretary. Let the people have the facts. foreign jj^isslons... of tbe lleformod ^burcl) Founded in . . J832 Independent since J857 ncorpofated. « I860 B Synopsis ot the Bnnual IReport, 5une, 1S99, \ Please read carefully and keep for reference.