Butterfield, Henry W., Igatpuri, India. Horley, William E., Ipoh, Perak, Straits Settlements. Lee, David H., Calcutta, India. Madden, Robert H., Sironcha, C. P., India. Plomer, Claudius H., Ajmere, India. Pykett, George F., Penang, Straits Settlements. Unmarried Ladies. Abbott, Miss Effie L., Nanking, China. On Furlough. Bishop, Mrs. Olive Whiting, Evanston, Ill. McGill, Mrs. Lizzie Johnson. Mead, Samuel J., Montpelier, Vt. Neeld, Mrs. Emma Avery, Allegheny City, Pa. Scranton, Wm. B. (M. D.), Lausanne, Switzerland. Stone, Mrs. Marilla Mark, Titusville, Pa. Verity, Mrs. Francis Wheeler, Lake Mills, Wis. L. I., N. Y. Walker, Wm. F., Greencastle, Ind. Walker, Mrs. Mary Morrison, Greencastle, Ind. Idolatry among Hindu Christians. Bishop Thoburn in a letter to the Indian Witness writes as follows: "In very many cases throughout North India our people have been careless in regard to some features of idolatry. At the time of baptism it has often been considered sufficient for the candidates to promise to give up idolatry, or perhaps in addition to this to surrender their idols, but not many missionaries at first understood how the whole system of idol worship permeates Hindu life. The smooth stone under the Burr tree in front of a house may easily enough be thrown away, but another concealed idol may be in a riche in the wall within. It is easy also to have a tulsi plant growing at the door, or a hidden shrine on which some object of worship can be placed behind the house. Worst of all it has happened in numerous instances that missionaries have been so ignorant of the customs of the people, or else are so lacking in their powers of observation, that no attention has been paid to an idol shrine built of masonry in the most conspicuous place in the village. There may be no idol at present upon the shrine, but until every vestige of the system is utterly uprooted, the poor creatures will be exposed to temptation in ways which few Europeans can understand, and after a longer or shorter time will be found to have idolatry in various forms still among them. I have been very glad to find on both sides of the Ganges that our people are now engaged in a determined effort utterly to uproot and cast away every vestige of this mentally benumbing and morally degrading system. Few Europeans have any idea of the blighting influence of idol worship. It degrades both the intellect and the heart of its victim, dishonors God, fosters superstition." Statistics of the Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. THE statistics of the Foreign Missions given on this page are not in all cases the same as those reported for the General Minutes. Why they vary we do not know, and give them as reported to the Mission Rooms. They are those that will appear in the Annual Report of the Missionary Society. The summary of the statistics of the Home Missions, given on page 141, do not include the more than 2,400 English-speaking Missions that are supported in part by the Missionary Society. Summary of the Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Total.. 235 211 33 17 786 726 1,017 1,104) 2,486 101.223 76.254 182,482 160,7-9 19,169 12,161 11,519 16 46 314 58 286 4.622 190 17-24 174 872 646 966 1,168 2,000 96,840 72,789 165.978 142,703-18,261 11,496 9,135 9 29 190 49 356′ 5,887 2011 401 456 31 5 1,482 513 2,490 2.362 481 1,285 5.857 1.876 412 416 637 250 2,499 2,211 3.17 282 556 1,512 887 אן 1.220 166 529 175 136 75 1.19 31,2 4,296 196,197 1,030 $2.757.286 1,240 471 8870,700 $1.348,117) $1,073.999 $14.203 $26,578 $223,522 $44,736 $161,250 -132) 34,652 4.011 185.863 954 2,757.3-5 803 423 733,228' 1,205,8350 1,076.314 14,491 30,258 220,872 $3,574 149,999 NOTE.-By Foreign Missionaries is meant male missionaries. In Schools, Pupils, all Properties and Values, and Collections those of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society are included. "Other Helpers" include Bible Readers, Colporteurs, Chapel Keepers. "Adherents" incinde the Christian community, in addition to the members and probationers. The number of members and probationers is given from the latest information at hand, General Notes. length the case of a missionary lady from India, who had written asking him and his people to pray for The New York Observer calls Mormonism "Ameri- a cure in her case. He boldly affirms that she had can Mohammedanism." It is reported that Russia is becoming more tolerant to dissenters. The Russian Senate has lately decided to permit the sect known as "Old Believers" to hold religious services in their homes. The American Bible Society has sent Rev. A. J. McKim to Porto Rico to begin the work of supplying the people with the Bible. The American Baptist Home Missionary Society has sent Rev. H. P. McCormick, formerly a missionary in Mexico, as a missionary to Porto Rico, with headquarters in San Juan. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has appointed Rev. Geo. N. MacDonnell missionary in Cuba, with headquarters at Havana. In a conference of the English Church Missionary Society's missionaries in India, held in December, a resolution was adopted requesting the parent committee to confer with the directors of the large missionary societies carrying on work in India in order that some united policy may be adopted in their respective Indian missions with reference to the question of self-support in the Indian churches and of increased independence to be given the native membership. Rev. H. Loomis writes from Japan: "At the opening of the present session of the Japanese Diet, the Liberal party had a majority in the Lower House, and the president of the last session was again chosen to the same position. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a very earnest Christian. At the close of the last Diet he had a prayer meeting in the official residence, and stated that it had been his custom to ask God's blessing and guidance at the beginning of every meeting. There is no one in the Liberal party who has greater influence in deciding as to the policy to be adopted. It is, therefore, practically settled that the course of the government in the future will be favorable to the missionaries and their work. "The president of the Progressive party is also friendly to Christianity, and while at the head of the Cabinet said that Japan was under great obligations to the Americans, because they had sent here so many missionaries. "No one in Japan has been so prominent as a statesman, or had so long or so successful a career, as Marquis Ito. On his return from Europe and the United States he spoke approvingly of the missionaries and their work. He has recently been making a visit to China, and I am informed by a friend who was present at some of his most important interviews with the Chinese authorities that, while he is not a professed Christian, his words were those of a Christian statesman, especially so when he exposed the dangers arising from official corruption, and recommended a most liberal attitude toward Christianity." Bishop Thoburn writing in the Indian Witness of Dr. Downie, of Chicago, whose "Leaves of Healing" have been scattered in India, says: "In a paper before me this arrant impostor spreads out at great failed to be cured before because of her connection with the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society. Now it so happens that the lady in question had never belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society, and that a year or so previously she had severed her connection with the only society with which she had ever been connected. His diagnosis, therefore, was wholly at fault. The subject of faith healing has a fascination about it which leads many persons to regard it with extraordinary interest; but surely the fact that the Bible teaches us to call upon God in times of sickness for help, and healing if it be according to his will, should not make us blind to the transparent devices of bold impostors like this creature Downie. A good missionary only a few days ago expressed his extreme surprise when I assured him that the man was worthless. He said he had supposed of course that he was a good man, but as a matter of fact he had never investigated t..e case at all. Those who attach special importance to the teaching which usually goes under the name of 'divine healing,' should take pains to see to it that no impostor is encouraged in the name of a scriptural doctrine." Recommended Books. Agatha's Unknown Way, written by "Pansy," and published by the Fleming H. Revell Company, is a sweet little story of missionary guidance, and suggestive of a way in which others may create a missionary interest in the home churches. Price, 30 cents. Christian Science Examined is a book of 80 pages, written by Mr. Henry Varley, showing most conclusively the sophistry of the system and the injury it produces. Professing allegiance to the Bible, it denies nearly every truth revealed therein. The book is published by the Fleming H. Revell Company. The Transformation of Hawaii, by Belle M. Brain, is published by the Fleming H. Revell Company. Price, $1.00. It is the story written for young folks of "How American Missionaries Gave a Christian Nation to the World." It contains a description of the Hawaiian Islands; an account of the Hawaiians as they were one hundred years ago; the introduction and work of the missionaries and the overthrow of idolatry; church building; the Hawaiian Society of Foreign Missions; the annexation of the islands to the United States. The illustrations are good,the story well told, and the book deserves a large circulation. The Cry Heard, by Ella Perry Price, is published by Curts & Jennings and by Eaton & Mains. Price, $1.00. Bishop McCabe in the introduction says: "It is a missionary story of thrilling interest. I have read every word, and like it exceedingly." It is a most excellent book for a Sunday school library, and will be found interesting by many who generally avoid missionary books because they are “dry.” Read by our young people, it is likely to add to the number who hear the " cry" of the many millions who have not heard of Christ. L APRIL, 1899. FAMILY LIFE IN CHINA. BY MRS. MARY H. PILCHER. IFE in China is a stern thing for both | is of the same thickness over the whole body, men and women, but, as in all places and has little weight, while it has all needful where Christ is not, the heaviest burdens are warmth. Children are sometimes betrothed in infancy, but as betrothal is as binding as marriage, the Chinese have learned wisdom and usually defer it until a year or two before the marriage, which takes place when the girl is about fifteen. The proposals of betrothal are made by the parents of the young man through a matrimonial agent or "go-between," whose business it is to know the history and expectations of the marriageable people of the neighborhood. But there is one thing in which the Chinese woman is exceptionally blessed; she has inherited from former generations a style of dress at once modest, economical, health- Sometimes the selection of the bride is left ful, and becoming. It takes but eight yards wholly to the go-between, and sometimes of cloth for a complete suit of winter gar- she simply carries messages between the ments. Its truest economy, however, is in parents, who have formed their plans prethe saving of mental worry, which comes viously. The betrothal is often made withfrom always cutting by the same patterns. out either of the persons concerned being It allows unrestricted play to every muscle, aware of what is being done in their behalf, and the bride is brought to her husband's after death, the woman must rely on her home without ever having seen him or any son's wife, while her own daughter performs member of his family. these services for some one else. Her happiness depends more on the character of her mother-in-law than on her husband. She is domestic servant for the whole household and especially waiting-maid to her mother-in-law. The wife may be divorced for scolding, barrenness, leprosy, and disobedience to her husband's parents, and thieving; but all these causes are null when CHINESE BOY. One source of great unhappiness to Chinese women is the law which forbids the breaking of betrothal contracts, even though these be made in infancy, of the parties involved. Miss Fielde, a missionary in the southern part of China, writes: "At one of the chapels somewhat remote from Swatow, a beautiful girl of nineteen years old fled from her home to me and begged me to adopt her as my daughter. She said she would serve me as a slave if I would but steal her and carry her away concealed in a boat. She had been betrothed in childhood to a boy who had since developed a loathsome and incurable disease, and though she had not seen him she knew how horrible he was, and would rather die than marry him. Her parents were not willing to carry out the contract they had made many years previous, and the boy's parents would not release them from the bargain. Her mother urged her to kill herself as the only solution of the question. I could make no terms with the boy's parents, and sought the officials, but reIceived no help from them. There was no legal way in which this child could be saved from her fate. Some weeks later she was taken to the house of her husband's parents, and soon after I heard of her death. Whether she died of grief or by suicide I do not her parents are not alive to receive her back know." again. A man cannot have more than one wife, but he may take concubines, whose children are legally subject to the authority of the wife. A husband may beat his wife to death and go unpunished, but a wife who strikes her husband a single blow may be divorced and beaten a hundred blows with the heavy bamboo. Suicide is not uncommon among brides, nor among older women. At a village near Swatow, some years ago, seven young women entered into a compact to drown themselves together. Three of them had been lately married, and after spending the customary four months at the houses of their father-in-laws had come home to visit their own mothers. They had been playmates and were neighbors, and so they spun and sewed together and rejoiced in their reunion. Mutual confidence revealed mutual griefs. One was married to an opium smoker, a yellow bundle of bones vibrating between besotted sleep and sottish waking. One was wedded to a gambler who spent his days and nights wasting the family subThe prosperity of a Chinese household is stance. One had a mother-in-law so stern in proportion to the number of sons. The and cruel that life was a torture to those daughters leave home and become part of under her authority. All three of the brides another family forever. For domestic serv- were miserable, and as they mingled their ice, care in sickness, help in old age, and lamentations their four unmarried friends offerings for the sustenance of her spirit and companions said to each other, " This is As long as a woman is childless she serves, as soon as she becomes a mother she begins to rule, and her dominion increases perpetually with the number of her descendants and the diminution of her elders. Married at fifteen she is often a great-grandmother at sixty, and is at the head of a household of some dozens of persons. |