MSI ;■ ■ ■ r , .«•• . fo J| JM‘lV Ft $ » Vi . I 1 V 1 )’ t’l MHHi | i A uwa mm 4 ! * ss.ri'c. ii’i' < ■ •<<••« A Setting Forth by Means of Diagrams and Explanatory frllnfeyjjffil} ft ',»y■iiTiirii'r M.t jnft'fff' ■•*f , nf i, i; i> n.n »im , r Notes of the Extent of the Foreign Missionary Field - . . : Occupied Exclusively by the Congregationalists of America, in Comparison with their Field at Home, together with a Statement of the Forces and Equipment Needed to Adequately Meet the Needs of the Foreign Field I ! iiw-y-t .1 C.L*:. isifiV;*'. i i! BY m SAMUEL B. CAPEN, LLD. President of the American Board site tVlffii f HE , is r® 131' 11:1 w&SliiiJlPI 5 V Jvti PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS ■ No. 14 Beacon Street Boston, Mass. . ffi'r- i 4*' ' •<" ' ' mk 1 ,'i-J t . . « 4 I- .'• ; , 1v If: rn rfi ■ FACING THE FACTS Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https ://arch i ve. org/detai Is/f aci ngf actssettiOOcape FOREWORD The diagrams and tabulated needs herewith submitted are a copy for the most part of charts prepared by the President of the Board and used at the annual meeting in Minneapolis, October 14, 1909. The following extract from his address we give as in some respects explanatory. “The Apportionment Plan proposed by the National Advisory Committee, which provides practically for the ‘underwriting’ of the whole ‘missionary budget’ by the local churches, is appealing strongly to the common sense of our men. It covers the whole field of home and foreign missionary interest. They approve it because it is definite, practical, fair, and in harmony with everyday business methods. ‘What is to be done and what is my share?’ is a question we are familiar with in everyday life. “But while our first effort should be to urge all our churches to accept the allotments as assigned to them, yet it ought to be made clear that this will not adequately provide for the work which as a denomina¬ tion we ought to do and which we can do if we will. We must translate ‘The Call of the East’ into men and money. The time has come to have the appeal of the American Board based upon the needs of the field and not upon what we think the people will give. We ought to have all our churches understand more fully what the pressure is from the front and how very far short we have come in answering the call. We ought to have it known that in some of its stations the American Board is furnishing only about twenty per cent of what is absolutely necessary, and we are practically compelling many of our missionaries to finance their own work to a large extent. What should we think of sending out an army and compelling the brave men at the front to find most of their food, ammunition, and clothing? “I think the Home Societies ought to do the same thing and put before the churches what they need to cover their field. Then let the Advisory Committee put the whole appeal before the churches and expect them to furnish the men and means needed to do what God has committed to our care. “I know there are some who are fearful lest the amount should be so large as to paralyze effort. In reply I would say: “First. Has not the time fully come for a more audacious faith, or perhaps a more real faith? How do we know that the very greatness of the problem may not be the very challenge needed? The great Otis and Swett legacies years ago were unexpected, and God may have it in 4 FACING THE FACTS his purpose to lead other men to make similar generous legacies. Certainly we may have from the living some unexpected gifts of large amount. Such great gifts are being made for education and philanthropy; may we not expect now similar gifts for missions ? “Second. While I believe the great gifts will come from some source, it ought to be noted that they are not absolutely essential. If we could have a universal adoption of the personal pledge by every man in our churches, paid, if possible, on the weekly offering plan, it would give every board all the money it needs. “ Third. We shall be much more likely to increase the scale of giving if people really comprehend what is needed. If our railroads and other great corporations need great funds they ask for them, showing that they are necessary and that they will pay. Shall not the church do likewise, showing to all how greatly larger gifts are needed and what splendid returns they will bring? We certainly shall not receive if we do not ask. Let us make the appeal based on large plans, believing that we may thus claim the Master’s promise.” On Saturday, October 16, the Congregational Brotherhood passed the following significant resolutions, endorsing fully the position taken by the President of the Board: “The Brotherhood invites the seven national societies to co-operate with it in the selection of a committee of a hundred laymen and a co¬ operating committee of a hundred pastors to undertake — “(1) To project a campaign on systematic and comprehensive lines which shall have as its objective the lifting of the gifts of our churches to the ideal called for by the apportionment plan, namely, two million dollars a year, realizing, however, that this apportionment is upon the basis of the minimum requirements of the societies and that if great advances are to be made this year many churches which are fully able to do so must double, treble, or even quadruple their present apportion¬ ments. “(2) To seek during the course of this campaign, as a basis for present and future missionary activity, the adoption of the following cardinal missionary methods by each local church: (а) A missionary committee. (б) A weekly missionary offering plan. (c) An every member canvass. ( d) Some plan of systematic missionary investigation. ( e ) Some plan of promoting prayer for missions. FACING THE FACTS 5 “It is suggested that the seven national societies arrange to co-operate with the above committees by lending the assistance of their secretaries and missionaries. “It is further suggested that the seven societies be asked to place before our churches during the coming year through the Advisory Com¬ mittee a statement of their needs, based upon what God is evidently calling them to do, and not upon what, by reason of former experience, they have reason to expect the churches to give.” 6 FACING T FI E FACTS 1 to 34 Of the Protestant population of the United States somewhat more than 20,000,000 are church members and about 45,000,000 are outside the church, or a proportion of about one to two. There are 700,000 members in the Congregational churches of the United States. In comity, therefore, with other de¬ nominations, the Congregationalists are responsible for reaching of the non-Christian population double its own membership, or, in round numbers, 1,500,000. The position, therefore, is this: — the Home Parish of the Congregationalists contains 2,200,000, of whom one-third, or 700,000, are Christians and 1,500,000 are still outside the church. The Congregational Parish Abroad, for which, under comity agreements with other denominations, w r e are wholly responsible, contains 75,000,000, of whom but 73,000 are Chris¬ tians. Our Parish Abroad is, therefore, 34 times as large as our Parish at Home. FACING THE FACTS 7 Our Home and Foreign Fields Home Field, 2,200,000 Persons 8 FACING THE FACTS 12 to 1 The Congregationalists of the United States give annually for the support of their own churches and for missionary work in the Home Field $9,000,000. They give, exclusive of legacies, for the support of the work in our Foreign Field about $750,000, or $12 at home to $1 abroad. (If we should include in the expenditure in our Home Field the various forms of City Missionary work, Y. M. C. A., etc., the amount would be $25 at home to $1 abroad.) FACING THE FACTS 9 Expenditures in Home and Foreign Fields Spend in Foreign Field $750,000 10 FACING THE FACTS 1 to 225 In the United States there is one ordained minister to every 550 persons. The American Board has on an average in the Congregational Field Abroad one ordained missionary to every 400,000 persons; if we include wives and single women it would be one to every 125,000 persons. The average parish abroad is, therefore, 225 times as great as the average parish at home. There are some sections where there is but one ordained missionary to a million people. F A C I NG THE FAC T S 11 Average Parish, Home and Foreign Fields Average Home Parish 550 Persons Average Foreign Parish 125,000 Persons 12 FACING THE FACTS 400 to 1 Congregationalists in the United States give for the 2,200,000 persons in their Home Field, $9,000,000 per annum, or $4 per capita. They give for the 75,000,000 persons in their Foreign Field, $750,000, or one cent per capita. This is 400 to 1. FACING THE FACTS 13 Per Capita Gifts for Home and Foreign Fields Home Field $4.00 Foreign Field I cent 14 FACING THE FACTS 1 to 42 Seven hundred thousand Congregationalists give about $750,000 for the work of the American Board, or $1 per capita. The 73,000 members in our native churches abroad gave last year $262,764, and this represents not nearly the full amount of their giving, but only what was reported by our missions. A day’s wage abroad averages about 20 cents; a day’s wage at home averages at least $2.50, or twelve times as much. This gift of $262,764, there¬ fore, is equivalent to a gift in the United States of over $3,000,000; this equals $42 per capita from the 73,000 native Christians. The suggestion is sometimes made that we are pauperizing the native Christians. The facts are that they are giving an equivalent of $42 to our $1. FACING THE FACTS 15 Per capita Gifts to A. B. C. F. M. from Home and Native Christians From Home Christians, $1.00 per capita From Native Christians, equal to $42 per capita 16 FACING THE FACTS 1 to 4300 In the United States there is one physician to every 577 persons. In the non-Christian world there is one medical missionary to every 2,500,000 persons. This is a proportion of 1 to 4300. If this proportion were applied to the United States, it would give our whole country but thirty-two physicians and sur¬ geons; it would give New England but two; and some of the smaller states would have to share the services of their neighbors’ doctors. Even if we should take into account the trained native doctors and the foreign doctors practising privately or under government, the results would be only a trifle less startling. Even this does not tell the whole story; the American Board has one field of 5,000,000 per¬ sons with only one medical missionary. FACING THE FACTS 17 Physicians at Home and Medical Missionaries Abroad □ Average Field of Physicians in the United States 577 Persons Average Field of Medical Missionaries in non-Christian Lands 2 ( 500,000 Persons 18 FACING T FIE FACTS NEEDS OF THE BOARD Under an Adequate Missionary Policy MISSIONARY REINFORCEMENTS Additional Missionary Families Turkey.42 China.32 India and Ceylon.17 Papal Lands. 7 Japan. 8 Micronesia ) _ Philippines j Africa.10 Total.121 Outfit and Traveling Expenses.$145,200 New Mission Buildings 115 Churches.$186,000 24 j hospitals ) . 166,000 ( Dispensaries j 11 Mission Presses. 60,000 103 Residences (Av. $2800). 288,400 253 $700,400 Annual Increase for Missionaries’ Salaries 42 Turkey.$ 46,200 32 China. 35,200 17 India and Ceylon.18,700 7 Papal Lands. 7,700 8 Japan. 8,800 r j Micronesia ). 5,500 ( Philippines j 10 Africa.11,000 121 $133,100 Annual Increase for Native Work Turkev.$ 28,700 China *. 20,000 India and Ceylon. 35,500 Papal Lands.14,000 Japan. 8,000 Micronesia ) 4>0 oo Philippines ) Africa.10,000 $ 120,200 FACING THE FACTS 19 NEEDS OF THE BOARD Under an Adequate Missionary Policy EDUCATIONAL REINFORCEMENTS College Reinforcements Turkey.19 China. 5 India. 7 Ceylon. 1 Japan. 2 Mexico. 2 Africa. 1 Micronesia. 1 Total.38 Outfit and Traveling Expenses.$34,000 New Educational Buildings 14 Theological. 22 Collegiate. 23 Schools. 27 Residences. $ 65,500 253,000 168,100 75,600 86 $562,200 Annual Increase for Education Turkey. China. India. Ceylon. Japan . Mexico. Africa. Micronesia. $38,100 13,000 15,500 2,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 Or about 4% on proposed $2,000,000 Endowment $82,600 20 FACING THE FACTS NEEDS OF THE BOARD Under an Adequate Missionary Policy SUMMARY OF NEEDS Outfit and Traveling Expenses 121 Missionary Families. 38 Teachers. Plant 253 Mission Buildings .... 86 Educational Buildings . Increased Annual Expense 121 Missionary Families. Higher Education. Native Work. $145,200 34,000 $179,200 $700,400 562,200 $1,262,600 $133,100 82,600 120,200 $335,900 4 * FACING THE FACTS 21 The Present Work of the Board In view of the foregoing statement as to the pressing needs of the Board and the importance of an adequate financial policy of advancement, our readers will be interested to know the extent of the Board’s work at the present time together with the cost of the same. The receipts of the Board in 1908-1909 were $953,573.69, including legacies and income from invested funds. Deducting what was paid upon the debt of preceding years we have $894,275.83, as the amount which was disbursed during the year. This sum was made to cover: — The salaries of 581 missionaries. The outfits of missionaries newly appointed. The traveling expenses of missionaries going to their fields or return¬ ing. Touring expenses of missionaries on the field. Grants for missionaries retired on account of old age or physical infirmity. The conduct of fifteen colleges. The conduct of fifteen theological seminaries and training schools. The conduct of 144 high schools. The conduct of 1309 common schools (70,979 pupils in attendance). The employment of such of our 4564 native workers as are not supported by native churches. The conduct of our 71 hospitals and dispensaries, treating over 300,000 cases. The conduct of our printing presses and publication plants which issued millions of pages of literature in 27 languages. The conduct of our extensive industrial work. The administration expenses of the Board, including salaries of officers, clerks, etc., expenses of missionaries and speakers visiting the churches, office expenses at Boston, New York, Chicago, and Berkeley, magazines and leaflets for informing the churches — everything which properly belongs in this class of expenditures. 22 FACING THE FACTS With such an extensive missionary plant already in operation, every increase in receipts adds materially to the work. The increase of the $150,000 contemplated under the Apportionment Plan would at least double the effectiveness of our missionaries, so great are the opportunities under present world conditions. The securing of the sums called for, if we should pursue an adequate missionary policy, would so enormously increase the fruitfulness of the work in extending Christianity as to make a mathematical statement impracticable. By the division of the world field among the different denominations, 75,000,000 persons are assigned to us as our special responsibility. This great multitude must be brought to Christ by the Congregationalists of America. FACING THE FACTS 23 As to Administration Expenses The following extract is from an address by President Capen at the Providence meeting of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement in Novem¬ ber, 1909: “When I was in Hartford a short time ago, a gentleman stated that ‘it costs a dollar to get a dollar to the heathen.’ In the city of Water- bury, I was advised that a gentleman made the statement that ‘it costs three dollars to get a dollar to the heathen.’ At Minneapolis, at the meeting of the American Board, a gentleman told me that he had sup¬ posed that ‘out of a gift of three dollars, two dollars go into expenses.’ At Worcester, a few days ago, a statement was made that ‘out of every dollar given for missions, ninety cents go into the expenses.’ With such ignorance on the part of so many, it may be well to say that the total expenses of administration, collecting funds, correspondence, agencies, rents in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Berkeley, publica¬ tions and miscellaneous charges is 9.45%. From this we deduct the interest from a fund existing for that purpose, leaving the net expense account 9.18%,”