THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY (Founded 1792) 138th ANNUAL REPORT For the year ending March 31st, 1930 LONDON PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY A T THE CAREY PRESS 19, FURNIVAL STREET, E C . 4. Telegraphic Address: “ Asiatic, Fleet, London.'" Telephone; Holhom S88S (2 lines). CONTENTS PAGE “ SEEING THE MULTITUDES ” 5-8 THE GIFTS OF THE CHURCHES ................................................ 8 FROM THE FIELDS ........................................................................... 9-15 OUR WOMEN’S W O R K .......................................................................... 16-19 OUR MEDICAL W O R K ..........................................................................19-23 HOME BASE AUXILIARIES .............................................................. 24-25 THE MISSIONARY ROLL CALL, 1929 26-28 PART II. THE SOCIETY : COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS, 1928-29, &c. 33 LIST OF MISSIONARIES ............................................................ 48 STATIONS AND STAFF........................................................................ 68 STATISTICS AND TABLES ............................................................ 75 PART III. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOCIETY ... 109 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS ... 109-113 GIFT AND SELF-DENIAL W E E K ..................................... 113-115 WOMEN’S F U N D ................................................................................... 116 MEDICAL FUND ................................................................................... 117 BIBLE TRANSLATION AND LITERATURE FUND .............. 119 LONDON BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION ......................... 121 ENGLISH COUNTY SUMMARIES ................................................- 129 WALES : COUNTY SUMMARIES ................................................ 161 SCOTLAND: COUNTY SUMMARIES ..................................... 178 IRELAND, CHANNEL ISLANDS AND ISLE OF MAN ... 181 SPECIAL FUNDS ................................................................................... 182 SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THREE YEARS ... 188 GENERAL SUMMARY OF CASH A C C O U N T .......................... 189 TREASURERS’ CASH ACCOUNT ................................................. 192 SPECIAL FUNDS ACCOUNTS ................................................. 196 AUDITORS’ CERTIFICATE ............................................................ 198 GIRLS’ AUXILIARY ........................................................................ 199 THE “ WANTS” DEPARTMENT ... 200 TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR AT HOME AND ABROAD .............................................................................................. 201 The Baptist Missionary Society 1 9 2 9 = 3 0 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH YEAR ANNUAL REPORT, 1930 “ SEEING THE MULTITUDES” AN INTRODUCTION HIS is a refrain in the Gospel story. Sometimes it is the disciples who see the multitude; sometimes it is the Pharisees; some­ times it is our Lord. They do not see the same thing, for surely T it is true, in the things that matter, that the eye sees what it brings along with it. The disciples and our Lord are distressed by the multitudes in their hunger and ignorance and helplessness. But the disciples again and again would rid themselves of the distress by sending the multitudes away, by leaving them to themselves, by seeking to remove their difficulties and solve their problems through losing sight of them. It was when our Lord saw the multitudes that He ascended into the mountain and gave to His disciples what we know as The Sermon on the Mount. It is well to remember that it was to the disciples the sermon was given, but that it was born of the sight of the multitudes. When they were an-hungered, He again turns to His disciples, asking them what provision they had to meet the situation. They felt helpless, but He takes what they have and the multitude is fed. It was when He saw the multitude scattered and like sheep without a shepherd that He had compassion on them ; but again it is to His disciples that He turns when He says : “ The harvest truly is plenteous, but the reapers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He send forth labourers into His harvest.” So our Lord and the disciples and the multitude are joined together again and again. When the Report for the year is read, it will be impossible to lose 5 6 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. [1930. sight of the multitudes. India and China are proverbially known as the lands of masses and crowds. Here are some figures :— INDIA AND CEYLON. Fields. Chief Stations. Populations. Bengal, South and North 8 1 1 ,000,000 Bengal, East 8 10,000,000 Bihar and Orissa 14 1 1 ,000,000 North India 7 5,000,COO Ceylon 3 1,500,000 40 38,500,000 CHINA. Chief Fields. Size of B.M.S. Sphere. Populations. Stations. Shantung .. Equal to W a l e s ........................... 4 3,200,000 Shansi Equal to the six English Northern counties 3 1,300,000 Shensi Equal to about half England 3 1,800,000 10 6,300,000 Let it be noted, however, that the figures given as the “ population ” refer to the communities for whom we are responsible, within the area of the working of our stations. Of course, the total population of these areas is considerably more. If these figures are added, it will be seen that the B.M.S. is responsible for the evangelisation of peoples totalling in number the population of the British Isles. But we need not only to remember them in numbers, but as men and women and children, with the needs and the failures, the heart­ aches and agonies, the hopes and disappointments, that men have everywhere. “ Only like souls I see the folk thereunder, Bound who should conquer, slaves who should be kings— Hearing their one hope with an empty wonder Sadly contented in a show of things.” When the crowds gathered on that first triumphal Palm Sunday, shouting “ Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” we are told that the Pharisees were greatly stirred, and said to one another : “ Perceive ye how we prevail nothing. Behold, the world is gone after Him.” We are also told that at that time our Lord was troubled. And then follows one of the most difficult bits in the whole of the Gospel story. It is clear, however, that what troubled the mind of Jesus was that it could be thought that by the working of a wonder like the raising of Lazarus from the dead, or the hope that He would deliver Israel from Roman bondage, the crowd would come 1930.] " s e e i n g t h e m u l t i t u d e s ’ 5 1 after Him. He knew that even if He could attract them on such terms, He could not so hold them, and He knew also that there was only one way by which the crowd could be saved. Once again there comes to Him the temptation which came to Him first in the wilder­ ness, but again our Lord issues triumphant, choosing the only way by which the crowds can be won. “ And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” It is the only way for Him and for us; for in that episode He turns to His disciples and says, “ If any man will serve Me, let him follow Me, and where I am there shall also My servant be. If any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.” There is much in the story of the year to cause us pain and sadness. There is the famine in Shensi, with its thousands who have died. And yet we are thankful that to some extent our missionaries have been able to save the lives of many, and that the people at home have responded to the call. Indeed, the famine in China has appealed to the hearts of our people, as we knew it would. Our representatives asked us to contribute £100 a month towards relief, and this was immediately met. Then, later, they asked for more, and latterly we have been sending them £200 a month. It is gratifying to record that as each call came it was more than met. What all this has meant to our Chinese brethren and our representatives cannot be estimated. In the homeland, as is stated elsewhere in this Report, many of the Auxiliaries have been visited by Miss Pearce Gould, Mr. Hemmens, and Dr. Adam, for consultation and suggestion towards the better efficiency of our machinery at home. A very hearty welcome has been given to them in all places, and they have been reassured as to the real and determined interest of those upon whom we depend so much in the churches at home. They have been able to verify the sacrificial zeal of multitudes of our people who by prayer and gifts show their desire for the coming of the Kingdom of our Lord. We would take this opportunity of thanking all those who have made their visits possible and pleasant, and very many who by word and counsel have given them encouragement. There is much cause also for thankfulness as we remember what has been done throughout our field, amidst all the turmoil in India, and the continued disturbances in China, and the peculiar difficulties in Africa through the incoming of industrialism. There has been a notable quantity of Christian literature sold, especially in China ; and, indeed, the sale of Scriptures everywhere has been most encouraging. e have to record baptisms everywhere. In China there are nearly twice as many baptisms from the non-Christian community as from within, and the total of baptisms from our three fields is greater than that of the previous year. For all this we must give thanks to God. 8 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. [1930. THE GIFTS OF THE CHURCHES. It is pleasant to record an increase in tlie general contributions of our churches during the year, although many parts of the country still feel the depression in trade and commerce, and although many of our most generous givers have been called Home to their rest. It is quite clear that the Society must depend more and more upon a larger number of people who will give regularly and consistently, though not with such large individual gifts as heretofore. The increase on the General Fund is £3,000 more than in 1928, but it is £8,000 less than what we received in 1927. We received for the deficit £16,675, which is more than we received in 1928 by £1,200, and so the accumulated deficit of £19,700 was reduced before the end of the year to £2,900.