A manual of missions

Front matter

BV

Book \%SA

BHITHSONIAV. DEPOSIT

Contents

INTEODTJCTION.

TAGS

The Missionary Work widely extended — Some ask, "To what purpose is tliis waste ?" — In reply, consider — i. The Origin of the Missionary Cause — ii. The Commandme'nt of our Lord — iii, The Example of the Primitive Church — Iv. The Benevolent Nature of the Christian Religion — v. The Spiritual Condition of Men without the Gospel — vi. The Events of Providence in our Day — vii The Seal of the Holy Spirit — viii. The Certainty of final Success, - - - 5

Appendix

last of Missionaries among the Indian Tribes, -...-. -72

General Statement of Eeceipts, - - - ...... .73

*** The peculiar form of this book has been chosen, in order to admit the Maps unfolded.

Introduction

« aCjjj) Itfnsftrom come ! "

The work of Christian Missions has become one of the marked features of this age. The larger bodies of Christians, and many of the smaller, have their missionary stations in various parts of the world. Large sums of money are expended for the support of missionaries, the establishment of schools, and the printing of the Holy Scriptures. Hundreds of men of superior education, and their wives, women of refined manners and cultivated minds, have gone to live among the Indians of our western forests, the Negroes and the Hottentots of Africa, the Hindus and the Chinese, the Feejeeans and others in the islands of the sea ;— they and their families are found living far from their early homes, in unfriendly climes, amongst rude and debased tribes, and patiently laboring year after year to instruct the ignorant, and convert the depraved and degraded people around them. This stands out to public view.

Some observers see aU this without sympathy, and some venture even to condemn the conduct of these missionaries and their supporters at home. " To what purpose is this waste ? Why should the labors of so many superior men and women be lost to their friends and their own people?"

In reply, some of the grounds on which the Church is led to support the cause of missions may be very briefly stated. These will appear if we consider, —

I. The Origin of the Missionary Cause. — This we ascribe to nothing lower nor later than the eternal love and purpose of God. The world perishing in its sin against himself was before the mind of God from eternity. Every human being, sinful, lost, and hopeless, like the apostate angels, was known unto God from the beginning. All the dreadful darkness, wickedness, and wretchedness that should abound amongst fallen men, which if unrestrained would make the earth to be but the vestibule of hell itself, — all these God foresaw before the world was made. The wickedness of men makes it necessary that judgments should fall upon the earth, yet still the purpose of God towards our fallen world was from eternity full of grace. And from the divine counsels proceeds the only salvation of lost sinners. To accomplish this, God " spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up." " For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son to die, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In this we " know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich." The invitation is now sent forth, among the Heathen, Mohammedans, Jews, and all others, " Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." He that believeth shall be saved ; he that believeth not is condemned already. The Church has been established among men, and her ministers and members have received the means of grace for their own salvation, and as trustees for those who are destitute. Freely they have received ; freely they must give. Their agency in this work is contemplated in the divine purpose. Angels might have been employed as missionaries, but this was not the will of God. His purpose to save his people was to be fulfilled by the agency of redeemed sinners.

This was the origin of the missionary work. It is not of human devising. It is not of this world. It is not of time. It is of God, from

INTRODUCTION everlasting. Its progress among men is by the grace and power of God. And hence its final issue is a matter of certainty, and its triumph shall be to the glory of God, in this world and in everlasting ages.

n. The Commandment of oue Lord. — " Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt, xxviii. 18-20 ; Mark xvi. 15 ; Luke xxiv. 47.

The permanent obligation of this commandment is clearly shown by its own nature. While any nation or even any human being is unacquainted with the gospel, this law remains in full force. The promise accompanying it also shows its permanent authority. The promise of the Saviour's presence is inseparable from the commandment. How then can the Church, or the ministers of the gospel, expect the fulfilment of this most precious promise of our Lord, while neglecting the duty with which it is connected ?

To show how lamentably this commandment has been hitherto neglected by the Church — " Let us imagine that instead of the world, a single country had been pointed out by our Lord as the field of action. And since we are most familiar with our own land, let us just suppose that the particular country specified was the United States :* and that instead of the command to go forth and preach the gospel to every creature, the order had been to go through all the parts of this country and preach the gospel to every inhabitant. I find that on a scale which would make the population of the United States represent that of the world, the population of the city of New York might be taken as a sufficiently accurate representation of our own country.

" In order then to have a just picture of the present state of the world, only conceive that all who had received the above commission, somehow or other, had contrived to gather themselves together within the limits of this single city. Imagine to yourselves all the other parts

* This striking qnotation is taken from the lamented IJrqnhart's Memoirs, with American names snhatltnted for English.

of the state of New Tork, and all the other portions of this widely extended confederacy, immersed in heathen darkness ; and that by these Christians, who had so unaccountably happened to settle down together in one little spot, no effort "was made to evangelize the rest of the land except by collecting a little money, and sending forth a few men," — and you have a true but sad picture of what Christians are now doing for the spread of the gospel in the world at large.

HI. The Example op the Primitive Church. — Hardly any thing was more characteristic of the early Christians than the missionary spirit. They evidently understood our Lord's commandment as requiring them to spread the gospel everywhere in the world, and to do this in foreign countries without waiting until the work of evangelization was completed in their own. They were to begin at Jerusalem, and thence to go forth amongst all nations, preaching repentance and forgiveness of sin in the name of Jesus Christ. See the example, particularly, of one of the earliest churches, if not the first, organized among the gentiles. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, and the church in that city sent forth two of the most eminent ministers, Paul and Barnabas, on an extended foreign missionary expedition. This was done while the church itself was few in numbers, feeble in resources, in the midst of a heathen city, no doubt actively engaged in home missionary labors, but yet willing to make sacrifices for those perishing in the regions beyond the limits of Antioch or of Syria. This was the spirit which animated the Church in the purest age of her history, and this was the secret of her power at home and abroad. She watered the fields of others, and God watered her own gardens. She scattered, and yet increased. The faith, and love, and devotedness of her own members were strengthened by their missionary labors. The examples of apostolic missionaries reacted upon the churches, making her members apostolic. The death of devoted laborers in the spread of the gospel, called other laborers into the harvest. And the work advanced with power,

IV. The Benevolent Nature of the Christian Relioion. — It prompts us to love our neighbor as ourselves ; to do to others as wc would have others to do unto us ; to do good unto all men as we have opportunity. The influence of divine grace on the heart is the very

INTRODUCTION opposite of every tHng selfish ; it is diffusive and evangelistic. It leads us to pity them tliat sit in darkness and the shadow of death. It constrains us to carry or send the gospel with all its blessings to every creature.

Y. The Spiritual Condition of Men without the Gospel. — This is truly deplorable. Ignorance, superstition, and depravity, — almost all kinds of evU, — abound in countries where the light of the Sun of righteousness does not shine. Under afflictions their inhabitants are destitute of support, and in death they are without hope. This is stated with solemnity. Some think the heathen will be saved without the gospel. They certainly will not be condemned for rejecting a Saviour of whom they have never heard ; they will be judged according to the light which they enjoyed. Eom. i. 20 ; ii. 12-15. But " without holiness no man shall see the Lord." With hearts depraved, and living in sin to the very end of life, on what grouod can we expect their salvation ? God may, indeed, extend salvation to sinners without the means of grace ; he does this, in the case of those who are saved in infancy, and of such as received immediate revelations from heaven before the written word was given. But the sacred Scripture shows that salvation is now extended to adult men only through Jesus Christ, and through the means of grace. Thus it is written, " Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher ? . . . So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Eom. x. 13, 14, 17.

VI. The Events of Peovidence in oue Day. — These point in the line of Christian Missions. The changes among the nations of the earth within the last twenty years have removed many barriers to the spread of the gospel, and opened doors which had been closed for centuries. The wonderful progress of commerce is tributary to the progress of missions. The steam printing-press, the steam railway-coach, the ocean steam-ship, and the electric telegraph, are all servants of the God of missions, and tend greatly to promote the interests of the missionary work. Christian and pagan nations are now brought into close relationship. The British and the Hindus live under the same laws. Our countrymen and the Chinese are meeting on the shores of the Pacific ; the Chinese themselves are moved by a strange revolution, looking towards Christianity. Africa can be reached with ease from Liverpool or New York. Multitudes of Roman Catholics are seeking their homes in countries where the Bible is an open book.

VII. The Seal of the Holy Spirit. — " If this work be of men, it will come to naught ; but if it be of God," it cannot be overthrown. No more decisive proofs of the favor of Heaven have been given to any cause than to that of foreign missions, by the gracious work of the Holy Spirit. Souls have been converted in every mission. The power of Budhism, Brahmanism, and Fetichism, has been broken in many instances. The False Prophet and the Papal Anti-Christ have both been compelled to yield their subjects to the missionary, to be led to Jesus Christ for salvation. Converts in large numbers among the Indian tribes, in Africa, Asia, and the islands of the sea, have adorned their Christian profession by an exemplary life, and many have died in the faith and hope of the gospel. The concluding chapter of this volume gives encouraging returns of church-members in different missionary lands.

Vni. The Certainty of final Success. — For this, the Church relies on the word of God. " The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, Lord ; and shall glorify thy name." " Until the fulness of the Gentiles be brought in ; and so all Israel shall be saved." These are examples of prophetic language concerning the prevalence of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. With these predictions in view, no Christian can doubt the final issue of the contest now waging in the world between the powers of darkness and of light. Nor can any reasonable doubt be entertained concerning the success of the measures now commonly employed by the Church in the missionary work, as tending to the general diffusion of Christianity. These measures are the same, substantially, in unenlightened as in Christian lands. The simple story of the cross, the preaching of Christ and him crucified, is the main characteristic of the work of missions in modern as in ancient times. All Protestant missionaries "preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; but unto them which are called,

INTRODUCTION both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." The success of this apostolic preaching will become more marked in coming ages, until aU nations are converted unto God. We know no other means of success ; we look for no other dispensation of grace ; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as on the day of Pentecost, shall be witnessed in every place where the gospel is preached ; and the long ages of the one thousand years, each measured in prophetic time, shall bring forth their myriads of truly Christian people. Then shall our Redeemer " see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied."

On grounds like these does the Church of Christ proceed in her missionary work. Her faith is in God, and in the power of his grace. Inspired by this view, and sustained by the presence of the Saviour, her sons and daughters go forth as missionaries. They labor in various fields, with various success, enduring manifold privations, for longer or shorter days ; and then they go to their rest. But their works do follow them. Their noemory is dear to the Church. Nations now hear then shall in future ages bless their names. The Saviour will give to them a crown of life. And in the heavenly glory, they will evermore rejoice that they were counted worthy to be missionaries of the cross.

This Manual, it is hoped, will be acceptable to many of the friends of missions. It has been prepared chiefly for the use of those who have not had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the fields of labor occupied by the Presbyterian Church. It is not a history of these missions. ; the time for writing this has not yet come. Most of the missionaries are yet among the living, and long may their lives be spared! Their labors, moreover, have been but lately commenced. The aim of the author has been simply to embody such information in this little work as would be likely to prove useful and convenient for reference. The pecuniary avails of his labor are devoted to the missionary cause.

The last two chapters have been added at the suggestion of a valued friend, to whom this book is otherwise much indebted.

New Tork, April, 1854.

♦f

THE BOAED OF FOPiEICtN MISSIONS

The New Testament contains frequent accounts of the missionary labors of the early Christians, which go to show that they acted together in this work. They considered it the common and great work of the Church, in which all its members, clerical and lay, male and female, were called to take a part. Pecuniary gifts were made and missionaries sent forth in aid of this cause. Whatever part individuals might perform, each in his own sphere, it seems to be evident that, under some simple method of organization, the early Christians were united in their efforts to preach the gospel to every creature. And from some things in the sacred narrative, we infer that their proceedings were either directly or indirectly under the supervision of their church courts. In the first age of Christianity, we may believe, the work of missions was the work of the Church. Acts xiii. 1-4, and xiv. 27.

Whatever may have been the practice of the first Christians in this matter, it appears to be manifestly expedient that Christians of the present age should carry forward the missionary work under some kind of organization. In union there is strength ; isolated and individual efforts are commonly feeble, and liable to interruption. Without some common channel for the waters, many a pm'c stream could never reach the sea ; many sincere disciples could do little but pray for the spread of the gospel, if there were no common method of receiving and expending their offerings.

The missionary work, however, is great. It embraces the unevangelized nations, of whatever country. It includes every good method of planting and building up the Church. Its object is simple and grand, but the means it employs to achieve this object are varied, according to the various gifts of the laborers, and the differing circumstances of unevangelized people. The followers of Christ, moreover, are living in different countries. A universal missionary institution could be conducted only on the plan of concentrating the whole power in the hands of a few men, who would be virtually irresponsible to their brethren. The fallen Church of Eome is the only body that attempts to carry forward missions by such an organization, and her success does not invite imitation. Even when Christians live in the same country, though delightfally one in spirit and in purpose, they embrace different views of doctrinal and ecclesiastical questions. Their harmony and efficiency at home would not be promoted by their fusion into one denomination, neither would their missionary labors abroad be more effective by being placed under the charge of a common Society. Questions about the mode and subjects of baptism, the use of ruling elders in the Church, not to instance purely doctrinal points, present themselves as readily at a missionary station, when the gospel begins to bring forth fruit in the conversion of souls, as they do in a Christian land ; and if the missionaries hold conflicting opinions on these questions, the peace and prosperity of their infant churches are likely to be seriously injured.

lO

It is best for each large body of Christians to have their own missionary organization ; and the simpler this can be made, the better. Its form must depend in some degree on the distinctive institutions and customs of the denomination : the prevailing views of Church government in each body will materially influence the form of missionary movement. On the Independent theory, which considers every particular church as sustaining no relations to other churches, excepting those of Christian fellowship, it would be difficult to frame a Missionary Society on a plan that would secure direct responsibility to the churches as churches. This form of church government provides no common court of appeal, no general superintending body. Eecourse must be had to some kind of associated action separate from the churches, or not ecclesiastical ; and reliance must be placed mainly on the public opinion of the denomination for a satisfactory administration of its affairs. The Methodist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian denominations have their respective peculiarities, also, and it would»be easy to show how these have affected the question of missionary polity.

A Society may be denominational, and yet not ecclesiastical, — supported exclusively by the members of some one denomination, sending forth only missionaries of its order, and yet not amenable to its ecclesiastical authorities, but to those persons only who contribute to its funds. In some conditions of the Church, this form may be expedient, and, indeed, the only one practicable ; as where the prevailing state of feeling is hostile to missions. lu the Presbyterian Church, it should be acknowledged with gratitude, no expedient of this kind is needful. The duty of Christian missions is commonly recognized, and it is found quite practicable to frame a missionary organization agreeing with and amenable to its general Church organization. In this way the opportunity is offered to all its members to promote the missionary work, with the same free choice in action, the same safeguards for truth and order, the same responsibility to ecclesiastical control, the same immense power resulting from oneness of views, purity of doctrines, and the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ, the spirit of missions, — precisely the same abroad, as at home ; in the Presbytery of Lodiana as in the Presbytery of New York.

It is not the object, however, of this paper to discuss the question of the best method of superintending the missionary work ; and for information respecting the origin of the Board, I would refer the reader to tie late venerable Dr. Ashbel Green's Historical Sketch of Presbyterian Missions.* Those who have read this little volume will need no recommendation of its merits ; to others, it may be commended as a lucid and weU-written compend of information, and invaluable as a book of reference.

Before surveying the missionary fields and missions of the Presbyterian Church, it may gratify some readers, if we show in what way the Board, under whose charge these missions are placed, fuMs its sacred trust.

The Board consists of sixty ministers, and as many laymen, whose term of office is four years. Its members are appointed by the General Assembly, one fourth part each year. To them is " intrusted, with such directions as may from time to time be given, the superintendence of the foreign missionary operations of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America ;" and they are required to " make annually to the General Assembly a report of their proceedings ; and submit for its approval such plans and measures as may be deemed useful and necessary." The Board is, therefore, simply a Standing Committee of the General Assembly, and the title of Committee would have more clearly indicated its relations to that venerable court. For convenience in holding certain real estate and in the transaction of some kinds of business, a charter has been obtained for the Board under a general law of the State of New York, with the same title precisely as designated by the General Assembly, "The Board of Freign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." This charter is not a close but an open one, and the members of the incorporated body are the same persons, and no others, who are appointed as members of the Board by the General Assembly.

The Board appoints annually an Executive Committee and the Executive Officers. On these devolves the immediate charge of the mis-

* A Historical Sketch, or Compendious View of Domestic and Foreign Missions in the Presbyterian Church. By Ashbel Green, D.D. Philadelphia: William S. Martien. 1838.

BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.

sionary work. Weekly meetings are held by the Committee, at which every thing relating to the interests of the missionary cause at home and abroad may be brought under consideration. The selection of missionary fields, the appointment of missionaries, the kinds of labor in each country and at each station, the measures suitable for promoting an interest in the missionary work among the churches at home, receive continued and careful attention. Most of these are matters of deep importance. They require the exercise of enlarged views and the most sober judgment. A general acquaintance with the missionary field, and with the history of missions, and a particular knowledge of the missionary work under the charge of the Board, are required for the proper decision of questions that occur from time to time. An application for funds to build a missionary chapel, or a request for appointment as a missionary or teacher, may easily bring under consideration the whole subject of the best method of expending missionary fands. in view both of the exigences of the various missions and the amount of moneys at the disposal of the Committee.

The appointment of missionaries is one of the most important of these duties. In making appointments the Committee must rely very much on recommendations of pastors, instructors, and others. They are anxious to send forth only those who have been called to this work by the Head of the Church. As a part of the evidence of this divine call, they must take into consideration the qualifications of the applicant. His reputation for piety, prudence, and zeal, his talents and scholarship, his health and its adaptation to particular climates, are all matters of great moment. Qualifications of a superior class are greatly to be desired ; but men of respectable talents, with good judgment and habits of industry and energy, all under the control of humble, loving, and devoted piety, may be very useful in most missionary fields. It may well be doubted whether it is expedient to send out men whose qualifications are not fuUy equal to the average attainments of the ministers of the churches in this country. A rule was adopted by the Board, at the request of the Executive Committee, that no ordained minister should be sent to a foreign field, without the recommendation of his Presbytery. This places the responsibility of deciding on the qualifications of missionaries, to a large degree, on the Presbyteries ;

and it should go far to secui-e the right kind of men. But the nature of the work itself, and the sacrifices which it involves, wOl always furnish presumptive evidence that the brethren who offer as volunteers to engage in it are men worthy of confidence and honor.

The missionaries become members of the Presbyteries which have been organized in their respective fields of labor, and all ecclesiastical matters are transacted as is usual in these church courts. With these, the Committee do not interefere, unless by Christian counsel at the request of the missionaries. Financial and other business matters are transacted with the missionaries, not as Presbyteries, but as missions or sub-committees ; and as a general rule it is expedient to leave local details as far as possible in their hands. The general supervision must, from the nature of the case, be reserved to the Committee. This is particularly necessary in the expenditure of the funds devoted to missionary purposes. Estimates are sent up, embracing the various kinds of vvork in each mission — the sum desired for the support of missionaries and native assistants, for building churches, chapels, or schoolhouses, for schools, for the press, &c., being separately stated. In forming these estimates, the missions proceed upon the expenses of the preceding year as a basis, with such enlargement or diminution as may be called for by their circumstances and prospects. With estimates from all the missions before them, the Committee then apportion to each such part of the probable receipts of the Board as the wants of each mission appear to require. The probable income to be thus apportioned is itself a matter of estimate, founded upon the income of the preceding year, and the hope of enlarged contributions by the churches to this cause. In the proper fulfilment of their trust in these financial matters, the Committee are called to exercise their matuvest judgment. Errors or mistakes here would involve the whole work in serious difficulties. Were expenditures to be authorized without a strict regard to the probable means of payment, a debt would soon be created, embarrassing alike to friends at home and to the missionaries abroad. On the other hand, it is no easy matter to withhold aid which is urgently solicited, and which the churches are so well able to give.

The arrangements of the Board for the receipt and expenditure of the funds committed to its charge for the missionary worl'C, are thoronghiy

MANUAL OF MISSIONS.

business-like and satisfactory. Every donation, though as small in amount as the widow's two mites, can be traced in its course from the time it leaves its donor's hands, and for every doUar expended a satisfactory exhibit can be shown — all bebg on record in books kept for the purpose. Youchers are preserved for all moneys expended. It is believed that nothing has been at any time lost through want of uprightness or fidelity. Errors of judgment there may have been, and a consequent injudicious expenditure of money in some cases. To acknowledge this is but to concede that the Executive Committee and Officers are far from being infallible in judgment. But it is no small thing to be able to say, that in twenty years, out of an expenditure amounting altogether to more than a million and a half of dollars, nothing has been lost through want of fidelity on the part of those who were charged with its disbursement. The further merit of economy in the administration of the funds of the Board may be justly claimed, and is shown, amongst other ways, by the low per centage of cost for executive services.