Baptist Missionary Magazine

there is nothing but a blank; a future, in-
definite, uncertain; old ideals are broken;
old friends are lost; old ways are left; old
means of support fall away.

What shall the new convert do?

I tried to encourage him. I told him of the hopes which the religion of Jesus Christ brings for the future and of the comfort for the present time. I explained that being so ignorant of our religion he could not serve the mission well for a long time.

His face was sad, and he slowly turned to go away. Before he faded into the bewildering sunshine he once again turned and said, "I am a Christian," and he was gone.

For many days I wondered what had become of my noontide guest. He had not told me whence he came nor even his name, but everywhere I went I watched the dusky faces of those who gathered to hear the preaching of the Word to see if among them all I might again meet with my would-be convert. At times I felt that perhaps he had come simply, as so many do, in the hope of obtaining employment. He might be simply a "rice" Christian, seeking daily food by means of the profession of a new faith; but more often I felt that there must be something genuine behind his first confident profession, "I am a Christian."

One day we pitched our travelling tents on the outskirts of a large village. In the early morning we made our usual progress through the streets of the village, singing Christian hymns, giving tracts, and inviting all to come to the preaching service at the tent. In the pariah palem many of the poor people listened to the songs and received the tracts and promised to come. In the handsomer and cleaner and more orderly caste quarters of the village few listened to the songs or received the tracts, but many expressed their contempt for the strange religion, in both manner and words. Fierce threats, and even

stones assailed us, but we made a safe escape, and at the morning service a goodly number of pariahs were present but none from the Brahman quarters. Resting through the sultry noon, when it is almost death to the white man to be exposed to the direct rays of the Indian sun, we again visited the village. As the shades of evening drew on, in some way I became separated from my native helpers and associates, and losing my way in the growing darkness I wandered through the streets of the village, vainly seeking the way to our encampment.

As I passed through the streets in the caste portion of the village the hatred of the morning, intensified by the preaching of the day, again showed itself. Stones began to fly about my head and a noisy and turbulent crowd gathered on either hand. I realized my danger and hastened to escape, if possible; but the peril became more serious. In vain I tried every side street and alley which I came across. My way was hedged up by an impenetrable mass of angry people, and I saw that I was caught in a trap. Realizing that something must soon be done or my life might be the forfeit, I plunged desperately into the first narrow alley, with the resolve to push my way through at every hazard. I struggled with those who sought to detain me, and for a time succeeded in warding off the blows aimed at my unlucky head. The darkness and confusion were in my favor, but one straight blow disabled my right arm. I felt my strength failing and feared that all was

over.

Just then a strong arm grasped mine. I knew vigorous blows were directed at those in front and on every side, and in the grasp of a powerful man I was hurried rapidly through the group of men who closed the way through the alley but quickly dispersed before the vigorous assault of my unknown helper. The peril past, we hurried rapidly forward until I

saw the lights of our encampment on the outskirts of the village.

Turning in wonder to thank my unknown helper I saw that he had not escaped unscathed. Blood was streaming from wounds on his head; his left arm now hung helpless by his side. As we approached the light of our civilized lamps

at the tent he made as if to go away. I turned to thank him and to ask his name -and saw that it was my noontide guest. "Why, is it you?" I said.

He gravely smiled and as gravely said, before disappearing in the darkness, "Sahib, I am a Christian."

And I began to believe him.

Tidings from Podili

REV. ALFRED C. FULLER

THE following is taken from a recent

very interesting letter written by Dr. Clough just after one of his great Quarterly Meetings held at Podili Mission:

By way of explanation we will say that the Quarterly Meeting is a very important event among the Christians in the Telugu country; at the time of this meeting the Christian people from all the region gather themselves together at the mission headquarters; here they assemble in great convocation. In some ways it reminds one of the coming together of the Jews to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover and other great feasts. At these meetings they transact whatever may arise in the way of busines; candidates for baptism are examined, if there be any, and if satisfactory the ordinance is performed, generally on the afternoon of Sunday. They also gather around the table spread in memory of the sufferings and death of our risen Lord. Difficulties, disputes and misunderstandings are adjusted, and generally, at some time during the three-days' session, a number of couples are married. The work for the coming three months is planned and this is the Quarterly Meeting of the Telugu Mission. The letter is written to the former missionary at Podili and here it

is:

American Baptist Mission House,
PODILI, INDIA, Oct. 9, 1899.

REV. ALFRED C. FULLER,

Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A.

My dear Friend, Another Quarterly Meeting has come to a close and I am sitting at your great writing-table while the punkah is gracefully swinging over my head and making the heat bearable; by the by, this house is admirably planned for comfort and health. The weather is yet. hot and but little rain has fallen; the result is, the people are uneasy and some are fearful; but on the whole they are of good courage and are at peace among themselves and generally with all men.

This morning I have been with the people for two hours. The Quarterly Meeting was a success clear through to the end; at the service Sunday morning there were 381 present by count. The Lord's Supper was celebrated at this service. In the afternoon over 400 were present; thirty-three candidates were baptized, making in all 106 baptisms in Podili for the year thus far. Your sincere friend,

J. E. CLOUGH.

REV. I. N. CLARK, D.D., DISTRICT SECRETARY, KANSAS CITY, MO.

BOUNDED on the

north by Nebras

ka, east by Missouri, south by the Indian Territory and Oklahoma, and west by Colorado, Kansas embraces a geographical area of 81,700 square miles, with a population of 1,500,000. Sixty years ago, it belonged to the Louisiana purchase, which was bought by the United States government from France in 1803. It was occupied by Indians under treaty arrangement with the government as an important reservation, several tribes being located within its limits. It was organized into a territory and assumed territorial relations with the government in May, 1854, and was finally numbered with the other states of the Union by act of Congress, January 29, 1861.

REV. 1. N. CLARK, D.D.

From 1854, its territorial day, until now, its experiences have been varied, sometimes often thrillingly interesting, touching closely the realm of the dramatic and sensational. At one time in bitter contest with proslavery aggression; at another at war with the grasshopper. Now fighting by scientific inoculation, chinch bugs and other pests of field and harvest; then piercing the hot atmosphere with tremendous projectile explosives, to cluster the scattered vapors and shake down the refreshing rains. Again in hot battle with saloons and alcoholism; then with trusts, mortgages and merciless combinations. ever from the beginning has Christianity had on these plains, fierce engagement

And

with ungodliness and the numerous and almost indescribable phases of irreligion. Thanks be to God, the victory has come to the standard of temperance, of education, of righteousness, of true religion! Not that the conflicts are all over, the victories all won and perpetual tranquillity assured, but that splendid and diversified successes al along the line afford cheering prophecy of larger achievements in the future.

Half a century ago the Missionary Union then known as the "General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States of America for Foreign Missions," was planting the seed of the Kingdom on this soil. It was in 1815 that Luther Rice said, "Not only do I conceive it proper that a mission should be established in the West on account of the importance of the region itself, but indispensably necessary to satisfy the wishes and expectations of pious people in all parts of the United States." In 1817 the Convention in session in Philadelphia provided for the occupancy of this, the then further or remote West. in the following instruction: "The Board shall have power at their discretion to appropriate a portion of their funds to domestic missionary purposes in such parts of this country, where the seeds of the Word may be advantageously cast." One thousand dollars was appropriated for the inauguration of this western work, and the Reverends John M. Peck and James E. Welch were sent forth as exploring pioneer missionaries. In the instructions which they carried were these remarkable, almost prophetic words: "Western as well as Eastern regions are given to the Son of God as an inheritance. The Gospel will triumph among the settlers of the Mississippi and the sublimer Missouri, and extend

to all the red inhabitants of the wilderness." Following this programme, missions were founded among the red men of the West. The Ottawas, Chippewas, Miamis, Kickapoos, Putawatomies, Shawanoes, Delawares, Cherokees, Stockbridges and other tribes received the benefit of these missionary appropriations and labors. From 1817 to 1864 the Missionary Union had charge of this work. In the latter year all the Indian work was transferred to the A. B. H. M. Society. It was during this period that Charles Journeycake, the great Delaware chief and impassioned preacher, was baptized, in 1833, by the Rev. Mr. Likins. This was twenty-one years before Kansas was made a territory and opened for settlement. Journeycake was probably the first person baptized in what is now the state of Kansas. In 1835, his father and mother were baptized, and these formed the nucleus of the first Baptist church among the Delaware Indians, and perhaps the first Baptish church in this great state. There was a little later a Shawanoe Indian church, a Stockbridge church and an Ottawa Indian church. In 1860 Dr. S. M. Osgood was appointed district secretary of the Missionary Union. His territory included all the country west of the Missouri River, and his tender appeals and loving ministries strongly marked church beginnings and gave missionary trend to their early movements. In 1866, Dr. C. F. Tolman was placed in charge of all the Southwest, and entered upon his official duties with inspiring zeal and efficiency. In 1871, a district was formed of all the territory lying west of the Mississippi River, called the "Western District," and over this, Rev. James French was given the supervision. He operated for one year. The annual report of 1872, referring to this matter, says: "As a result of Mr. French's explorations, it was not wise to keep a secretary in the comparatively new and poor region embraced in the district." Two fruitful districts and a large

part of a third have since been formed of this poor territory, in which there is now a resident population of 10,000,000, with fully 2,500 Baptist churches having a membership of 160,000. After the resignation of Mr. French, this territory was again committeed to the care of Dr. Tolman. 1867, Dr. Tolman made his first visit to Kansas and the region west of the Missouri River. Many of the older people will remember the fervency of his appeals and the Iskill with which he enlisted the attention and sympathy of his audiences. The South-Western District was formed in 1886, embracing the states of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. Two or three times the district boundary lines have been changed. The most recent revision 'puts nine states and territories in charge of the present secretary, who has made the attempt to give tillage to the field, since its formation, now more than thirteen years.

From the beginning of its territorial history, and through all the changeful perio:ls of its statehood to this auspicious moment, Kansas Baptists have maintained unfaltering devotion to the Missionary Union in the great work it is doing among pagan and papal peoples. Its pioneer ministers who founded its churches, and had the tug and battle of their primitive pastorates, had strong and heroic words for wider missions; and in the sittings were men and women whose undimmed vision and large heartedness kept them in touch with the lost millions beyond the seas. Of the worthy multitude who wrought well in those earlier days, whose hearts grasped with lively solicitude the whole field of Christian missions may be mentioned: John Tecumseh Jones, Rev. Robert Atkinson, Dr. J. W. Warder, T. R. Peters, J. C. Post, H. K. Stimson, J. B. Hardwick, Homer Eddy, A. S. Merrifield, J. B. Mulford, A. L. Vail, F. S. Walker, J. P. Way, E. Anderson, W. W. Willis, T. C. Coffee, L. M. Whiting, A. B. Charpie, Granville Gates, A. G. Sawin, J. F. Harper, C. J. P.

Fox, Geo. Merriam, H. H. Branch, E. B. Tucker, John Cairnes, J. B. Thomas, J. Heritage, A. B. White, L. A. Holt, B. F. Tabor, Dr. E. Gunn, J. W. Saunders, J. H. Rider, W. E. Bates, M. D. Gage, E. O. Taylor, Dr. John Fulton, W. A. Briggs, O. W. Van Osdell, S. P. Wright, J. Currier, L. M. Newell, J. C. Pope, A. J. Essex, Winfield Scott, J. B. Tuttle. These all with many other workers are now out of the state. Some of them have conquered in the final battle and rest in the pleasures of victory.

Of the pastors at this time, it may be confidently said that ninety-nine per cent of them have only helpful words for this blessed work, and give the use of their pulpits in most cordial welcome to its agencies and appeals. Entrenched in the confidence and fidelity of such a ministry and people as we now have in this young and thrifty Commonwealth, world missions is secure in its advocacy, as also in the increasing support of its dependent worthy treasury.

and

In 1829 when Kansas, or part of the territory of Kansas, was an important Indian reservation, the Shawanoes, Delawares, Ottawas and other tribes came to it and pitched their tepees on the banks of the Kansas River and along the windings of Ottawa creek. Here missions were established and churches were founded. It was from these Indian Christians and Indian Baptist churches that the first offerings towards universal missions came credited to Kansas.

Sept., 1843, Shawanoe Ch. Mo. Concert
1843, Delaware
June, 1844, Shawanoe

$6.12
11.25 $17.37

3.32
2.25 5.57

46.00

But now the heart of the country was inflamed, the engines of war were unlimbered, North and South were jolting together in terrific battle. When the brighter and better banner was unfurled in victory at Appomattox and peace came once more to the land, the Missionary Union transferred to the Home Mission Society all its Indian missions with all government appropriations and government lands, and turned again its entire missionary appropriations and activities toward the occupancy of fields over the seas. In 1860, Dr. Osgood sent out circular letters and messages of information and appeal to the scattered Baptists and little churches that were found in Kansas. The first veritable contribution from an English church in Kansas was from the church in Wathena, June, 1859, $2. That was forty years ago, and I think the church has not failed to make some offering in every year from that date to 1899. In the same year (1859) there was an urgent appeal sent out from the Rooms for one dollar donations to cancel debt of the American Baptist Missionary Union. Five persons in Kansas sent one dollar each. I have not been able to secure their names, which were published in the old Macedonian. Then as now there were missionary debts, then as now awakening appeals must be made, and thus will it ever be so long as delinquents are in the majority, and worldly societies have stronger claim upon the finances of the churches than the Lord's treasury. The annual contributions from Kansas were as follows: