2. Religious Publication Houses. 5. Higher Education and the Churches. Section 1.-Foreign Missions. HE present century is pre-eminently "The Missionary Age." For long centuries little distinctively foreign mission work was done, and the territory of Christendom was not much enlarged. But how wonderful the enlargement of the area of Christianity and the number of its converts during this century—one of the brightest periods in the history of God's kingdom. The American Foreign Missionary societies were generated by the quickened spiritual life pervading the churches since the great revival of 1800. In their inception Christian missions were the spontaneous, impulsive action of vital spiritual forces, manifested first in isolated efforts of individuals and local churches, before the great national societies were organized. The work has wonderfully expanded, and the "grain of mustard seed" is rapidly growing to a tree of stately proportions. Providence has wrought in friendly co-operation with the expanding zeal of the churches, and openings for Christian work, never before so grand and inspiring, have been entered in lands only nominally Christian, and also amid the dense shadows of utter heathenism, large harvests every-where awaiting the reapers. Notwithstanding the unparalleled demands for Christian labor in our own rapidly-extending domains, in our multiplying heterogeneous populations, the churches of the United States have recognized their obligations to the whole world, and Christian work is every-where a unit. The cosmopolitan character of the United States has given our foreign missionaries favor in the eyes of all nations, and a ready access to lands long closed to Christ and his Church. The magnificent continents of Asia and Africa and the WOMEN IN FOREIGN MISSION WORK. 701 teeming islands of the Pacific have been penetrated on all sides, and the missions of American churches now dot the map of the world. Only condensed summaries of the work of these societies can be here given. Women's Foreign Missionary Societies. From the beginning of the foreign missionary movements Christian women have shared in the toils and perils of the work. A carefully-prepared table of missionary statistics in the Missionary Herald of October, 1870, shows that the number of female missionary "helpers," American and European, in the employ of the various missionary societies of the world was 2,267-only thirty-seven less than the number of male missionaries. From 1823 to 1872 the number of female assistants annually employed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions has ranged from 65 to 205, while the male missionaries sent out, ordained and unordained, ranged from 81 to 184. The statistics of other societies also show that Christian women have borne a prominent part in the labors and triumphs of the missionary cause. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary claims among her graduates 150 foreign missionaries, and Wellesley College, a much younger institution, claims 21 missionaries. It has been long apparent that one of the greatest hinderances of Christian missions in many pagan lands, particularly in Asia, has been the rigid customs of society, restricting and depressing women, so that few female converts have thus far been won to Christianity, and these at great sacrifices. Pagan women, until quite recently, have remained almost wholly unreached and unblest. Gradually the conviction gained ground that efforts specifically in their behalf must be put forth, and that female missionary societies, organized for the purpose of sending Christian women into the foreign fields, would be promotive of good results. This rising conviction culminated in the organization of the "Woman's Union Missionary Society," in New York city, in January, 1861. As its name indicates, this organization was composed of ladies from various religious bodies. It has zealously and successfully prosecuted its work. Its receipts from the beginning have amounted to $779,552. The next in order was the "Woman's Board of Missions" (Congregational), which was organized October 27, 1868, and was followed immediately by the "Woman's Board of Missions for the Interior," another Congregational Society, at Chicago, on the 7th of November, 1868. These two societies have FROM REPORTS FOR 1885. been multiplied until more than twenty foreign missionary societies of ladies now exist in the churches of the United States, as follows: NOTE.-There are about a dozen other woman's boards very recently organized, a statement of whose receipts we have been unable to obtain. Most of the above receipts are included in those of the various denominational boards, but not all. * In a few instances the receipts are limited at 1885, and in a few others 1887 are included. 1881 to 1886. Aggregate. FOREIGN MISSIONS OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES. 703 Eight and a half millions of dollars raised by the women's boards for foreign missions in the brief period of their organization is a most encouraging fact. An exhibit of the foreign missionary work of all the churches is a desideratum; and it will be given in such a way that the inquirer may easily ascertain what our churches. are doing on each continent and in cach country. Foreign Missions of the Evangelical Churches of the United States. A. B. C. F. M. Am. Bapt. Miss'n'y Un. Am. Bapt. Miss'n'y Un. Am. Bapt. Miss'n'y Un. 8 23 20 40 2 3 14 2 15 306 Norway. 2 37 I 27 42 70 4.396 Roumania. NOTE.-All the above missions credited to the American Baptist Missionary Union are supported, as they have been for some years, in part by that board. All of the above missions receive pecuniary aid from the churches of the United States. Some European divines object to the classification of the above missions among our " Foreign" Missions; but they are evangelizing movements originated and fostered by churches in the United States, among papal and lapsed rationalistic populations not reached by the European churches. |