native professor's chair. "In an enthusiastic meeting who said that they had no option if they wished to presided over by Dr. Parker at least 2,500 rupees live and carry on trade in the Philippines. In the were brought within sight. A Hindustani friend gave 500 rupees. The professors and teachers in the seminary subscribed each a half month's salary. Several alumni present did the same. The students made themselves each responsible for a small sum. The native church guaranteed 100 rupees.”

Bishop Thoburn, writing from Manila, says: "God has good and gracious purposes concerning the Philippines. The Chinese will come in, if permitted, in

large numbers, and in a generation or two a stronger type of physical and moral manhood will be found here than exists now. Vital Christianity will infuse a new life into the people, the superstition and immoral phase of Romanism which holds religious sway here now will rapidly give way before the advance of education and a pure Gospel. It is my belief that at the close of another century 50,000,000 of happy Christian Filipinos will be found living on these fair islands, all of whom will bless the day when, in the providence of God, the Americans first set foot upon Philippine soil."

In the Malaysia Mission Conference the appointments of the missionaries lately made for 1899 are; B. F. West, Presiding Elder of Penang District and pastor of English work in Penang; W. E. Horley, pastor at Ipoh, S. H. Wood, teacher; G. F. Pykett, principal of the Anglo-Chinese School at Penang and in charge of the Penang Tamil Mission, W. E. Curtis, teacher; W. G. Shellabear, presiding elder of the Singapore District and agent of the Publishing House; John E. Banks, principal of the Singapore AngloChinese School; Christopher Egland, John R. Denyes, C. S. Buchanan, and J. H. Whitaker, teachers in Singapore school; H. L. E. Leuring, in charge of Singapore Chinese Church and Malay Church; F. H Morgan, pastor of Singapore English Church and Tamil Mission.

Rev. Benjamin S. Haywood writes from Pachuca, Mexico: "We are standing upon the threshold of grand events. Glorious triumphs are now being won, for Christ. Native help is active and alert. Some time ago an intense Catholic who could neither read nor write was gloriously converted under one of our native workers. Since then he has employed a novel, method to do his part toward scattering the word. He carries always with him the New Testament, and when he meets a man he politely stops him and asks him if he can read; then, if an affirmative answer is given, he kindly asks him if he would please be so kind as to read from a very interesting book that a friend gave him and the contents of which he is very anxious to learn. By complying the stranger friend gives a double blessing. This is repeated during the day ad finem. This unique method of Gospel evangelization has resulted in the conversion of many." Bishop Thoburn, writing recently from Manila, Philippine Islands, says: "The Chinese in Manila are nearly all Roman Catholics. I was extremely surprised when I learned this on arrival here, but the reason was explained by an intelligent Chinaman,

1

first place they wished to secure Filipino wives, as it is not their custom to bring Chinese women away from their native land. In the next place they wished permission to carry on business as merchants, and this permission could only be obtained by their professing the Roman Catholic faith. Most of those

who have settled here have accordingly become Roman Catholics nominally, but their boys, not being allowed to wear the cue, grow up as Filipino Cath

olics and are said to be extremely bigoted and conservative. Many of them are among the insurgents now in arms against the Americans."

General Notes and Comments.

The pledges on the payment of the debt of the Missionary Society have not all been met. Those who have not forwarded the money are urged to do so at once, that the old account may be speedily closed.

The

On page 281 is a communication from Mrs. Hartzell respecting the mission work in Africa. She will leave this month to join Bishop Hartzell in Africa, and is very desirous of having more money contributed for special work in Africa. openings for work are many and the need urgent. Money can be sent to Secretary Leonard at 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, and receipts will be forwarded to contributors.

We have devoted several pages to the history and work of the Woman's Home Missionary Society, because it is doing a very valuable work. Its annual report is very comprehensive and satisfactory, and we rejoice in its success.

We had intended in this number giving an account of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, but must wait until next month, as up to the present time we have been unable to obtain all the information needed, the annual report of the society, and the annual reports of some of the branches failing to give what many of our readers desire to know.

The corresponding secretaries of the Missionary Society have sent out an appeal for special contributions to aid in commencing and prosecuting mission work in Porto Rico. They give extended extracts from the report of Bishop Ninde and Secretary Leonard which we published in full in the April magazine, and the action of the Board of Managers, which we published in the May number. The appeal closes with the following: "We respectfully request our pastors to call attention, in such manner as they may deem proper, to the importance of prompt action, and to receive and forward to the Missionary Office, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, the offerings of their people, making drafts or checks payable to the order of Homer Eaton, treasurer. No money can be used for work in Porto Rico during the present year that is not contributed for that special purpose. All contributions will be receipted for as specials, and can be credited to pastoral charges where full apportionments are raised."

The Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian manifesting their powerlessness. It is more and Church in the United States (North) has established more widely known that Christianity has a message a mission in the Philippines. This has been done by to the individual and to the nation; that it brings the transfer of the Rev. J. B. Rodgers from Brazil to peace and hope and a new life." Manila, and the appointment of the Rev. D. S. Hibbard, of Kansas, who sailed from San Francisco for Manila on April 4.

The American Bible Society has appointed, as its first agent for the Philippines, Rev. Jay C. Goodrich of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has had charges in the East Ohio Conference and the Upper Iowa Conference.

Dr. B. C. Henry, of China, considers it a very hopeful aspect of the reform movement in China that many, if not most, of the present leaders of new thought in China's new experience of intellectual life have gained their knowledge from Christian sources, and have been directly or indirectly under the influence of Christian teachers or writers.

Dr. M. C. Harris, writing from Hawaii, says: Rev. George B. Pratt, missionary in Porto Rico of "Among the nearly forty thousand Japanese in the Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Hawaii are seven preachers and evangelists of the Church in the United States, reports that he has been Methodist Episcopal Church and twelve under the warmly received by the English-speaking people. He Hawaiian Board. Only about half of the people can finds many Church of England Negroes in San Juan. hear the Gospel, and a large increase in missions and Rev. Hugh Nethescott, Rev. James L. Smiley, and preachers is a desideratum. On Easter Sunday I Mr. Wm. Wilson, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, | baptized eleven men in the new Japanese church of have gone to the Philippines to engage in missionary Honolulu. Last year a lot was secured and a church work, both for the army and the natives. A large and parsonage were built at a total cost of $5,000. tent has been provided in which to hold services and All of the money was raised here except a grant of administer the sacraments. Small tents also for the $250 from the Board of Church Extension. The inuse of the missionaries have been purchased, and fluence upon the Japanese of these churches is manithey carried a considerable quantity of medicine for fest in signal reformations of conduct, earnest selfuse among the natives. support, and devotion to Christ."

The statistics for Protestant missionary work in Japan show 692 missionaries, an increase of 33; 423 organized churches, an increase of 39; 40,981 adult members, an increase of 403; 308 native ministers, an increase of 6; 725 unordained preachers and helpers, an increase of 145.

The Korean Repository reports: "The total number of Korean Scriptures (portions) published in 1898 was 93,000, and the actual sales 34,913, as against 6,335 in 1897, 2,997 in 1896, and 1,253 in 1895. The readiness with which Koreans buy Scriptures and Christian books generally is a constant and pleasant surprise to the missionary."

The Foochow Bulletin for February gives the following account of fruit-bearing in the mission field: "About thirty years ago a little girl of nine years entered the girls' boarding school in Foochow. A few years afterward she was married and went to a village about forty miles distant. Years passed during which time she had no Christian associations. Some time since Christian workers visited the village and found her still living in the Christian faith and her husband interested in the truth and reading Christian books and the Bible. A few days ago he walked thirty miles to receive Christian baptism."

A recent visitor to Porto Rico reports: "The people of Porto Rico are not only ready, but anxious for the Gospel; indeed, it is touching beyond expression to hear these ignorant, helpless, and so long-oppressed people pleading for the best things of life which for centuries were cruelly denied them."

Dr. Wm. Imbrie writes from Japan: "Christianity in Japan is face to face with heathenism-and heathenism is simply godlessness-just as truly as it was in the Roman Empire during the early centuries of our era; and now, as then, the national religions are

Dr. Griffith John, of China, writes: "The year 1898 has shown us that China is really waking up from her long sleep, and that there are men among her sons to whom the welfare of their country is dearer than life itself. The reform movement will render the year 1898 an ever-memorable year in the history of China. The movement is not dead, but still lives and must grow in strength and influence. There can be no doubt that the Chinese are turning to the West for instruction and guidance, and that the missionary's opportunities of influencing the nation as a nation are greater to-day than they ever were before. I have never felt so hopeful for the conversion of China as I do to-day."

The American Illustrated Methodist Magazine is not a missionary magazine, but it will do some good missionary work if it continues as well as it has begun in the style, letter press, matter, etc. Well illustrated, well edited, well printed, it deserves success. It is published in St. Louis, corner of Oliver and Second street; price, one dollar a year.

The Redemption of Africa. By Frederick Perry Noble. Two volumes. Published by the Fleming H. Revell Company. Price, $4. This is the ablest and best book on Africa for the Christian student that has been published. Its fullness of facts, its impartiality, its style, its maps and statistics make it a monumental work. It opens with pre-Christian Africa and gives all the information needed to understand the history and progress of Christianity as connected with Africa. It examines and reports on all the Christian missions on the continent. It carefully analyzes the different methods that have been adopted in prosecuting mission work. We expect to make extracts from it next month.

JULY, 1899.

WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE HE Woman's Foreign Missionary Society | sending female missionaries to women in of the Methodist Episcopal Church was the foreign mission fields of the Methodist organized in Boston, Mass., March 22, 1869, by Episcopal Church and in supporting them Mrs. E. W. Parker, Mrs. Wm. Butler, Mrs. and native Christian teachers and Bible Thomas A. Rich, Mrs. readers in those fields. Lewis Flanders, Mrs. Albert Ellis, Mrs. Thomas Kingsbury, Mrs. W. B. Merrill, Mrs. O. T. Taylor, and Mrs. L. H. Daggett. At this meeting the following officers were elected: Mrs. Bishop Baker, president; Mrs. B. J. Pope, recording secretary; Mrs. T. A. Rich, treasurer; Mrs. Ruby W. Thayer, corresponding secretary. Mrs. Thayer declined, and Mrs. Dr. Warren, Mrs. Jennie F.

Willing, and Mrs. E. W. Parker were appointed to conduct the correspondence of the society.

The society was recognized by the corresponding secretaries of the General Missionary Society, and the General

Conference of 1872 gave it full recognition and authority to act under the direction and approval of the missionary authorities.

In June, 1869, the society commenced the publication of the Heathen Woman's Friend, the name of which has since been changed to Woman's Missionary Friend.

The first missionaries of the society were Miss Isabella Thoburn and Miss Clara Swain, M.D., who sailed from the United States for India November 23, 1869. The following year Miss Fannie J. Sparkes was sent to India, and each succeeding year has added to the list of missionaries, until now there are over 180.

The purpose of the society is to engage and unite the efforts of Christian women in

The payment of $1 annually constitutes membership, and $20 life membership. Any person paying $100 becomes a manager for life, and the contributions of $300 constitutes the donor a patron for life. The payment of $10 constitutes a child under fifteen years a life member.

ORGANIZATION AND MAN

AGEMENT.

The organization of the society consists of eleven associated coordinate Branches, a General Executive Committee, and auxiliary societies.

The eleven associated Branches and their territorial limits are as follows: New England

Branch-New England States; New York Branch-New York and New Jersey; Philadelphia Branch-Pennsylvania and Delaware; Baltimore Branch-Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia; Cincinnati Branch--Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee; Northwestern Branch-Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin; Des Moines Branch-Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas; Minneapolis Branch-Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; Topeka BranchKansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas; Pacific BranchCalifornia, Nevada, and Arizona; Columbia River Branch-Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The Cincinnati Branch has auxiliaries in other Sothern States.

The officers of each Branch society consist of a president, not less than ten vice presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, an auditor, and not less than ten managers. These, with the exception of auditor, constitute an executive committee for the administration of the affairs of the Branch, nine of whom shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. These officers are elected at the annual meeting of the Branch, and continue in office until others are chosen in their stead, No Branch projects new work or undertakes the support of new missionaries except by the direction of the General Executive Committee.

The management and general administration of the affairs of the society are vested in a General Executive Committee, consisting of the corresponding secretary and two delegates from each Branch, which delegates, together with two reserves, are elected at the Branch annual meetings. Said committee meets annually at such time and place as the General Executive Committee determines.

tary, and treasurer, who together shall constitute a local executive committee.

The corresponding secretaries of the several Branches constitute a Committee of Reference,which considers all questions relating to the society in the interim between the annual meetings of the General Executive Committee.

The officers of the General Executive Committee and of the society are: President, Mrs. Cyrus D. Foss, 2043 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; recording secretary, Mrs. John Talbot Gracey, 177 Pearl Street, Rochester, N. Y.; general treasurer, Mrs. Harriet Bond Skidmore, 230 West 59th Street, New York city.

Committee of Reference; Mrs. H. B. Skidmore, chairman; Mrs. B. R. Cowen, secretary. Constitutional Publication Committee: Mrs. L. A. Alderman, chairman; Mrs. S. L. Keen, secretary. Committee on Literature: Mrs. J. T. Gracey, Miss P. J. Walden, Mrs. J. H. Knowles, Mrs. O. W. Scott, Mrs. R. H. Pooley.

Editors: Woman's Missionary Friend, Miss Louise Manning Hodgkins; Der Missions Frauen-Freund, Mrs. Ph. Achard Jacoby; Children's Missionary Friend, Mrs. O. W. Scott; The Study, Mrs. J. T. Gracey.

TO THE

MISSIONARY

OF THE CHURCH,

AUTHORITIES

The duties of the General Executive Committee are: To take into consideration the interests and demands of the entire work of the society, as presented in the reports of Branch corresponding secretaries and in the esti- RELATION mate of the needs of mission fields; to ascertain the financial condition of the society; The constitution of the society says: to appropriate its money in accordance with 1. This society shall work in harmony the purposes and methods herein indicated; with and under the supervision of the Misto devise means for carrying forward the sionary Society of the Methodist Episcowork of the society; fixing the amounts to pal Church. The appointment, recall, and and the be raised; employing new missionaries, de- remuneration of missionaries signing their field of labor, examining the designation of their fields of labor shall reports of those already employed, and be subject to the approval of the Board of arranging with the several Branches the work to be undertaken by each; to transact any other business that the interest of the society may demand, provided all the plans and directions of the committee shall be in harmony with the provisions of the constitution.

Managers of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and annual appropriations to mission fields shall be submitted for revision and approval to the General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

2. All missionaries sent out by this society Auxiliary societies are constituted as fol- shall labor under the direction of the parlows: Any number of women who shall con- ticular Conference or Missions of the Church tribute annually to the society not less than in which they may be severally employed. $10 may form a society auxiliary to that They shall be annually appointed by the Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary president of the Conference or Mission, and Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church shall be subject to the same rules of rewithin whose prescribed territorial limits moval that govern the other missionaries. they may reside, by appointing a president, 3. All the work of the Woman's Society in one or more vice presidents or managers, a foreign lands shall be under the direction recording secretary, corresponding secre- of the Conference or Missions, and their