THE KING’ S BUSINESS
801
The Moravian Church has long been fore most in missions. It has forty thousand members in its home churches, and more than twice that many in its mission fields. According to recent figures, more than one hundred million people in Asia and A frica are not included in the evangeliza tion plans o f any missionary agency. There is work for every man and every woman in western lands, who seeks to find a useful sphere o f service in foreign countries.^ The first accredited missionary work to be done in the Philippine Islands, says Missions, was begun in 1899, by Dr. J. B. Rogers, under the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. The Methodists, Bap tists, United Brethren, Disciples o f Christ, Episcopalians and Congregationalists fol lowed in quick succession, all o f these, with the exception o f the Baptists, beginning their work in Manila. It was soon found that the work was overlapping, which fact led to the organization, in 1901, o f the Evangelical Unionx>f the'Philippine Islands. By this means the work in the islands was divided, the various boards being assigned certain territory in which to labor, Manila, however being left as common ground. The Presbyterians were assigned the territory in Luzon, east and south o f Manila; the Methodists the territory in Luzon between Manila and the Linzayen Gulf;.the United Brethren the west coast o f Luzon, north o f Linzayen Gulf; the Baptists and Pres byterians together the islands o f Panay and Negros; the Congregationalists, the island o f Mindanao. This plan has worked admir ably and Mission work in the Philippine Islands has flourished. The Presbyterian School at Dumazuete, and the Lilliman Institute and the Baptist Industrial School at Jaro, have been strong forces in reach ing and training the Philippine youth. A number o f the Silliman graduates are tak ing advanced work in the colleges o f South ern California.
It is a fact worthy o f note which comes to us from Bishop Oldham, in thè St. Louis Globe, that not an American missionary has been killed in the holy war proclaimed by thè Turkish Sultan, although there have been many massacres in European and Asi atic Turkey and in Persia, Says Bishop Oldham: “W e cannot lay the flattering unction to our souls that our flag has pro tected them. Most o f the fanatics never heard o f America, and the few who have, care nothing ahout.it.” The Bishop ascribes this “moral miracle’” to the lives the mis sionaries have led in the communities where the fanatical uprisings have occurred. “ They chave ministered,” he says, “unto the sick, cared for the poor, and in every other way within their power emulated the great Exemplar.” A missionary writes to the Christian Her ald regarding work in Mexico: “ Cheap money has brought Mexico to a serious economic crisis. The prices of foodstuffs have increased in alarming proportions. I suppose Zitacuaro is about as cheap a place to live as any in Mexico yet here, during the last few weeks, lard has increased SO cents on the pound, sugar 75 cents on the pound; manta, the cloth o f the poor, $1 on the yard; corn, $20 on the cargo, and beans $30. A common day laborer has to work about ten days in order to buy enough manta for a shirt; a day to buy a small piece o f soap, etc. I f the economic prob lem cannot be solved within the next six months we may look for a very serious sit uation. Under such conditions the entire country suffers, because everywhere you look one sees that things are out o f joint and very abnormal. But the religious forces in Mexico may well feel optimistic and expect great things.” Another missionary writes, taking up this theme, “Mexico is ablaze with fine opportunities for preach ing the Gospel. I only wish we had fifty more missionaries and at least 500 more native workers. The Lord is moving the 'hearts o f the Mexican people in this day o f golden opportunity.”
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