Letters for Rev. N. G. CLARK, D. D. Corresponding Secretaries, LANGDON S. WARD, Treasurer, Rev. E. E. STRONG, Editor of Missionary Herald, CHARLES HUTCHINS, Publishing and Purchasing Agent, should be addressed THE MISSIONARY HERALD. VOL. LXXV.-JANUARY, 1879. - No. I. eers. THE map of Japan, presented in this number, has been engraved from a large and elegant map of the empire recently prepared by English enginThe missions of our Board are confined to southern Japan, and a map of that section only was given in the "Herald" some years ago. Such is the interest in the extraordinary developments throughout the whole empire that a complete map will doubtless be welcomed. AN item of special interest has just come to hand from the city of Sapporo, in the northern island, Yezo. It will be remembered that in this city, President Clark, of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, established an agricultural institute under the direction of the Japanese government. His account at the time, of the moral and religious impressions produced upon the students, was of striking interest. At the request of President Clark, a Methodist missionary from Hakodate has visited Sapporo, and baptized twenty-two of the students, and expects soon to organize a vigorous church there. THE readers of the "Herald" will notice the change in type and the improved typographical appearance, for which thanks are due to H. O. Houghton & Co., of the Riverside Press. In place of the annual survey of the missions of the Board, which the January number has heretofore contained, will be found a list of the missionaries, and also a table giving the names of the stations, with their pronunciation, and the situation of each with reference to some well known locality. Pastors, and others, will find this table useful for reference. GRATUITOUS CIRCULATION OF THE "HERALD." The "Herald" will be sent free to all ministers of churches which contribute annually to the treasury of the Board; to honorary members; to donors of not less than ten dollars, to collectors of not less than fifteen dollars, and to treasurers of churches contributing not less than twenty dollars for the year: Provided those who are thus entitled to receive the " Herald" free, will so inform the Publishing Agent by annually sending their names and post-office address. For obvious reasons, to prevent great waste, it is important that this last condition should be punctually regarded by those who desire to receive the magazine. regularly and promptly. Notification by postal card is all that is necessary. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? One quarter of our financial year ended December 1. Receipts from donations for three months were $44,073.12; nearly $5,000 less than the amount received for the same period last year. Receipts from legacies for three months were $12,501 ;, over $12,000 less than the amount received for the same period last year. This deficiency of over $17,000, so early in the financial year, is ominous. Does it mean unusually large contributions for the coming months? If not, the problem before us will be grave enough, at home as well as abroad, before the year closes. May a spirit of renewed missionary consecration be poured upon us all at the dawn of this New Year! A MISSIONARY BOARD, acting for one of the largest religious denominations of the United States, has recently appropriated, in advance of receipts, the large sum of $670,000, for all its missionary operations, home and foreign. Of this action, a newspaper organ of the denomination referred to says: "There is something approaching to sublimity in the calm earnestness with which the Missionary Board, ministers and laymen, representative men from all portions of the Church, set down an apportionment, an outlay of over a half million of dollars, depending entirely upon the loyalty and piety of the church for its provision, and with an impending debt of over an hundred thousand dollars." This is well said, provided it is remembered that it applies to the Missionary Board and not to its constituency. All official boards, in which the few must act for the many, do approach the sublime in faith and hope, when they thus move in advance of those they represent. But what shall be said of those to whom they look for support? What of the action of the thousands of professed disciples of Christ who do, or do not, contribute to the Lord's treasury? The sum above named seems large, and the Board appropriating it was unquestionably courageous, but it will be found that it amounts to an average donation, for the year, of forty cents for each enrolled church member of the denomination concerned. This, be it noticed, is for all missionary purposes, home and foreign. The portion set apart for foreign missions amounts to nearly sixteen cents per member. In view of the mighty interests at stake, does not such giving, from those who profess to seek first the kingdom of God, seem to be close upon, not the sublime, but that which is said to be only a step from it, the ridiculous? When shall it be written of any branch of Christ's Church, that, in the giving of its members, it approaches sublimity? How much, GOLD IN INDIA! Such is the cry coming across the seas. and whether in quantities that will pay, is still uncertain. But it will not be long uncertain. Explorers will go, and if they find the precious metal abundant, men from all parts of the world will flock thither, leaving home and enduring hardness. Few will blame them. The answer to all remonstrances will be - "There is gold there." There are souls in India. No doubt about that now- - one hundred and sixty millions of them. They will exist when gold is as dross. They may be won now and saved. Who will go for them? Alas, no crowds hasten to seek these treasures. The few who do go are barely sustained, and many are wondering why they go at all! |